often heard After this confluence with the Gwilie the Towie goeth to Caermardine then to Lanigang then to Lanstephan S. Ismaels and so into the sea Next vnto the Towie is the Taue whose head is in the blacke mounteines as at the roots of Wrenni vaur hill in Pembrookeshire from whence it runneth by Lanuurnach Langludien Lanualteg and taking in the Dudderie from southwest out of the same countie by Lanbederuelfraie and Lindwie it goeth to Eglesware chappell beneath which it crosseth the Marlais by north that runneth by Lanbedie and Whitland Thence meeting with one rill called Uenni as I take it that commeth through Cardith forrest on the one side and the Caire on the other that runneth into it west of Landowror it hasteth to S. Clares where it taketh in the Carthkinnie or Barthkinnie as Leland calleth it and the Gow or Tow both in one chanell of which the first riseth aboue Capell Bettus from whence it runneth by Talacouthe Kilsant and Langinnin the other issueth out of the ground aboue Trologh Bettus by Midrun ioining with the former a little aboue S. Clares they run into the Taue and from thence to Lanihangle and betwéene it and Abercowen admitteth finallie the Gowen or Gow streame which comming likewise from the blacke mounteines goeth by Ebbernant so into the Taue who directeth his course by Lancharne castell and then into the sea The next water that we come to is the Gwair which is but a small thing rising aboue Lambeder Uelfraie and going from thence by east of castell Merhie hill Cruinuier and Argwaire it is not long yer it fall into the sea and so we leaue Cairdinshire and go ouer into Penbrooke Then passed we by an other comming out of Rathe forrest called Coit Rathe the water it selfe rising about Templeton Thence leauing the Monkeston rocke we came to Tenbie or Diubechie Piscood and passing into the port betwéene the castell and S. Katharines rocke we found it serued with two little backe waters of so small countenance that they are not worthie of anie further talke to be spent in their descriptions yet the one seemeth to be called Florence brooke the other Fresto Gunfreston standing betwéene them both whereby their sight cannot perish After this we passed betwéene Londie and an other Ilet or rocke lieng by northwest of the same to Ludsop point so to Abertrewent where I found a sillie fresh water named Trewend that riseth a mile or thereabout within the land From thence we went southwards by Brode hauen till we came to S. Gowans point Then gathering west and by north before we came at Shepe Iland we found another fresh water that riseth short of Kiriog Maharen and running south of Uggarston Windmill hill or betwéene it and Castell Norton and Gupton it holdeth on flat west all the waie till it come to the Ocean Being passed this water we cast about toward the northwest by the Poptons and Pennar till we came to the Pennar mouth out of which the salt water issueth that in maner inuironneth Penbroke From this omitting sundrie salt créekes on both sides of the hauen not appertinent to our purpose we came to the fall of two waters in one chanell aboue whose confluence Williamston parke standeth and whereof one a méere salt course incloseth thrée parts of Carew castell The other rising neere to Coit Rath forrest is a fresh going by Geffraiston Creswell Lawrenie it leaueth the parke on the south side goeth into the hauen after confluence with the former Now come I to the two swords or hauen of Milford whereinto two riuers direct their course from the northeast called Dugledu or the two swords and betwéene them both is a rill which they call also Cultlell that is to saie the knife Hereof riseth a merrie tale of a Welshman that lieng in this place abroad all night in the cold weather and peraduenture not verie well occupied was demanded of his hostesse where he did breake his fast the next morrow at what inne he laie in the night precedent bicause he came so soone to hir house yer anie of hir maids were vp Oh good hostesse quoth he be contented I laie to night in a dangerous estate for I slept betweene two swords with a long knife at my heart meaning indéed that he laie betwéene these two riuers and his brest towards the south neere to the head of Cultlell But to passe ouer these iests Here Leland speaketh of a riuer called Gwilie but where it riseth or falleth he maketh no certeine report wherefore it is requisit that I proceed according to my purpose The one of these swords is called Clotheie or Clothie of which I find this short and breefe description The Clothie riseth at the foot of Wrennie vaure hill and comming downe to Monachlodge Langelman Lannakeuen and Egremond it receiueth a rill from by northwest before it come at Lanhaddon castell which commeth from aboue the moore by Clarbaston and Bletherston his head arising in the hill west of Mancloghaie as Leland dooth informe me Yer long also and beneath Lanhaddon it taketh in another on the cast side from Narbarth castell comming by Robeston then going by Eunaston Slebach Picton castell Sister houses Minware Martheltwie at Rise castell point west of Coit Kenles as I haue béene informed it taketh in the other sword named Dugledie wherof I read as followeth The head of the Dugledie is somwhere at northwest betwixt S. Laurences S. Dugwels from whence it runneth to Trauegarne Redbaxton taking in a rill by the waie from Camrose at the west it goeth to Hauerford or Hereford west and there vniteth it selfe with a water which peraduenture is the same that Leland called Gwilie Certes it riseth short of Walton and comming by S. Leonards chappell and Pendergest it falleth I saie into the Dugledie ouer against the towne of Hauerford or Herford west but in Welsh Hulford as Lhoid dooth set it downe Beneath Herford it taketh in another water from south west whose head is short of S. Margarets chappell and enterance betweene Harraldston and Herford which Harraldstone receiueth the name of Harrald the successour of Edward the confessour as some call him who was a gréeuous mall vnto the Britons that remained in the time of the said Edward as I haue noted elsewhere Then the Dugledie still descending taketh in the Frese frō Fresethorpe a rill of no great accompt and therefore I go from it making hast vnto Culthell omitting two rils betwéene it and the Clotheie on the southside of no great weight and moment The Cultlhell commeth into the Dugledie beneath Bolston with a streight course from by north of three or foure miles rising by west of Slebach and comming by Bowlston after whose vnition with the aforesaid water they run on as one till they méet with the Clothie casting out by the
waie sundrie salt créekes as the maine chanell dooth from thence foorth vntill it passe the Sandie hauen the Dale rode whither a sillie fresh rill commeth of small value be come about againe to the large Ocean Hauing thus shewed the courses of those few fresh waters that come to Milford hauen we cast about by the Blockehouse and S. Annes chappell to Gateholme I le that lieth betwéene S. Annes and the Wilocke point directlie ouer against Stockeholme Iland that is situat further off into the sea toward the southwest and is full halfe so great as the Scalmeie that I elsewhere described Betwéene the Willocke point also and the Scalmeie directlie west is the Midland I le full so great as the Gateholme As for the two rocks that lie by north and south of the Scalmeie of which the one is called the Yardland stone the other Mewstone it shall not be greatlie requisit to stand on their discourses sith they are such as may hardlie be taken for Ilands and euen in like sort we may iudge of S. Brides Ile which is southwest of Calthrop rode likewise of the Gresholme whereof I find this short description The Gresholme lieth directlie west of Scalmeie from whence if you saile thither on the south side you must néeds passe by the Mewstone rocke if on the north of Scalmeie you must leaue the Yarland stone on your left hand Wherto if you note well the situation of these Ilands alreadie named and confer them with the Ramseie and S. Dauids land you shall find them to produce as it were two dangerous points including the Brid baie wherein notwithstanding the greatnesse are 1000 perils and no fresh brookes for me to deale withall Finallie hauing doubled the Willocke point we thought it not good altogether to leaue that baie vnsearched at lestwise to sée what Ilands might there be found long entred into the same we beheld one which the men of the countrie call S. Brides Iland a verie little place and situate néere the land before I came at Galtroie rode From thence we went about by the little hauen Doluach hauen Caruaie hauen Shirelace rocke Carnbuddie and Earnaie baies Portelais and so into the found betwéene Ramseie and the point In this sound likewise is a little I le almost annexed to the maine but in the middest thereof I meane of the sound is a rocke called the horsse a mile and more by north of Ribbie rocke that lieth south east of Ramseie and more infortunate than ten of Seians colts but thanked be God I neuer came on his backe Thence passing by S. Stephans and Whitesand baies we saluted the Bishop and his clerks as they went in procession on our left side being loth to take anie salted holie water at their hands and came at last to the point called S. Dauids head which Ptolomie calleth Octapitanum promontorium except I be deceiued But here gentle reader giue me leaue to staie a while and insert the words of Leland touching the land called S. Dewies or S. Dauids land whereof some men may peraduenture haue vse his words are these Being therefore past this hauen and point of Demetia in casting about the coast we come to S. Dewies or S. Dauids land which Ptolomie calleth Octapitanum promontorium I read to be separated from the rest of the countrie much after this maner although I grant that there may be and are diuerse other little creekes betwixt Newgale and S. Dauids head and betwixt S. Dauids and Fischard beside those that are héere mentioned out of a register of that house As we turne therefore from Milford S. Dauids land beginneth at Newgale a créeke serued with a backe fresh water Howbeit there is a baie before this creeke betwixt it and Milford From hence about foure miles is Saluach creeke otherwise called Sauerach whither some fresh water resorteth the mouth also thereof is a good rescue for balingers as it I meane the register saith Thence go we to Portelais three miles where is a little portlet whither the Alen that commeth through saint Dewies close dooth run It lieth a mile southwest from S. Dewies saint Stinans Chappell also is betwéene Portelais and Portmaw The next is Port Maw where I found a great estuarie into the land The Pendwie halfe a mile from that Lhand Uehan is thrée miles from Pendwie where is a salt créeke then to Tredine three miles where is another creeke to Langunda foure miles and another créeke is there in like sort where fishermen catch herrings Héere also the Gwerne riuer diuideth Penbidiane from Fischerdine Kemmeis land From Langunda to Fischard at the Gwerne mouth foure miles and here is a portlet or hauenet also for ships And thus much of S. Dauids land Besides this also Leland in a third booke talketh of lhinnes and pooles but for asmuch as my purpose is not to speake of lakes and lhinnes I passe them ouer as hasting to Teifie in Latine Tibius and after Ptolomie Tuerobius or Tiuirobius which is the next riuer that serueth for my purpose And yet not forgetting to touch the Gwerne for after we came from saint Dauids head we coasted along toward the southeast till wée came ouer against saint Catharins where going northwards by the bread hauen and the Strombles head we sailed thence northeast and by north to Langlas head then flat south by the Cow and Calfe two cruell rockes which we left on the left hand so coasted ouer to Abergwin or Fischard where we found a fresh water named Guin or Gwerne whose course is in maner directlie out of the east into the west from Uremie hils by pont Uaunt and Lanichair vntill it come within a mile of the foresaid towne It riseth flat north of the Perselie hill from whence it goeth by Pont vaine Lauerillidoch Lanchar Landilouair so to Abergwine or Abergwerne for I read both From Abergwine we cast about by Dinas head till we come to the fall of Neuerne where Newport standeth The head of this riuer is aboue Capell Nantgwin from whence it runneth by Whitchurch but yer it come at Kilgwin it taketh in a little water that riseth short of Wrenie vaure and thence go foorth as one vntill they come to Newport Cardigan hauen is the next fall that I did stumble on wherein lieth a litle Iland ouer against the north point Hereinto also commeth the Teifie a noble riuer which riseth in Lintinie and is fraught with delicate samons and herein and not else where in all the riuers of Britaine is the Castor or Beuer to be found But to procéed The verie hed thereof I saie is foure miles aboue Stradflore in Luitie and after it hath run from thence a little space it receiueth a brooke from southeast that commeth out of Lin Legnant and then after the confluence runneth on to Stradflore abbeie beneth which it
were not yet resolued of the diuision of the earth For my part as I indeuour not to remooue the credit of that which antiquitie hath deliuered and yet loth to continue and maintaine any corruption that may be redressed so I thinke good to giue foorth a new diuision more probable better agreeing with a truth And therefore I diuide the whole into fiue seuerall parcels reteining the common diuision in the first three as before and vnto the fourth allowing not onelie all that portion that lieth by north of the Magellan streicts and those Hyperborean Ilands which lie west of the line of longitude of late discouered by Frobisher and called by hir Maiestie Meta incognita but likewise so manie Ilands as are within 180. degrées Westwards from our beginning or common line of longitude whereby they are parted from those which by this diuision are allotted vnto Asia and the portion it selfe made equipollent with the same for greatnes far excéeding either Europa or Africa if it be not fullie so much in quantitie as they both vnited and laid togither The fift last part is the Antartike portion with hir Ilands annexed that region I meane which lieth vnder the South pole cut off from America or the fourth part by the Magellan streiâ—ts from Africa by the sea which passeth by the Cape of good hope a countrie no lesse large for limits and bounds than Africa or America and therefore right worthie to be called the fift howsoeuer it shall please the curious to mislike of this diuision This also I will adde that albeit the continent hereof doo not extend it selfe vnto the verie Antartike point but lieth as it were a long table betwéene two seas of which the later is vnder the South poole and as I may call it a maine sea vnder the aforesaid pricke yet is it not without sundrie Ilands also adioining vnto it and the inner most sea not destitute of manie as by experience hath béene of late confirmed Furthermore whereas our describers of the earth haue made it such in their descriptions as hath reached litle or nothing into the peaceable sea without the Antartike circle it is now found by Theuet and others that it extendeth it selfe northwards into that trace by no small number of leagues euen in maner to the Equator in so much that the westerlie part thereof from America is supposed to reach northward so far from the Antartike article as Africa dooth southwards from the tropike of Cancer which is no small portion of ground I maruell why not obserued by such as heretofore haue written of the same But they excuse themselues by the ingratitude of the Portingals and Spaniards who haue of purpose concealed manie things found out in their trauell least they should séeme to open a gap by dooing otherwise for strangers to enter into their conquests As for those Ilands also which lie in the peaceable sea scattered here and there as Iaua the greater the lesser Sumatra Iapan Burneo c with a number of other I refer them still vnto Asia as before so as they be without the compasse of 90. degrées eastward from the line of longitude not aboue 180. as I doo the I le of S. Laurence and a number of other vnto Africa within the said proportion wishing so little alteration as I may and yet not yéelding vnto any confusion whereby the truth of the diuision should hereafter be impeached And whereas by Virgil speaking of our Iland saith Et penitùs toto diuisos orbe Britannos And some other authors not vnwoorthie to be read and perused it is not certeine vnto which portion of the earth our Ilands and Thule with sundrie the like scattered in the north seas should be ascribed bicause they excluded them as you sée from the rest of the whole earth I haue thought good for facilitie sake of diuision to refer them all which lie within the first minute of longitude set downe by Ptolome to Europa and that as reason requireth so that the aforesaid line shall henceforth be their Meta partition from such as are to be ascribed to America albeit they come verie neere vnto the aforesaid portion may otherwise without preiudice be numbred with the same It may be that some will thinke this my dealing either to be superfiuous or to procéed from I wot not what foolish curiositie for the world is now growne to be very apt and readie to iudge the hardest of euerie attempt But forsomuch as my purpose is to leaue a plaine report of such matter as I doo write of and deliuer such things as I intreat of in distinct and vpright order though method now and then doo faile I will go forward with my indeuour referring the examination of my dooings to the indifferent and learned eare without regard what the other doo conceiue and imagine of me In the meane season therefore it shall suffice to say at this time that Albion as the mother and the rest of the Ilands as hir daughters lieng east of the line of longitude be still ascribed vnto Europa wherevnto some good authours heretofore in their writings their owne proper or naturall situations also haue not amisse referred them Of the position circuit forme and quantitie of the I le of Britaine Cap. 2. BRitannia or Britain as we now terme it in our English toong or Brutania as some pronounce it by reason of the letter y in the first syllable of the word as antiquitie did sometime deliuer it is an Ile lieng in the Ocean sea directlie ouer against that part of France which conteineth Picardie Normandie and thereto the greatest part of little Britaine which later region was called in time past Armorica of the situation thereof vpon the sea coast vntill such time as a companie of Britons either led ouer by some of the Romane Emperours or flieng thither from the tyrannie of such as oppressed them here in this Iland did setle themselues there and called it Britaine after the name of their owne countrie from whence they aduentured thither It hath Ireland vpon the west side on the north the maine sea euen to Thule and the Hyperboreans and on the east side also the Germane Ocean by which we passe dailie through the trade of merchandize not onlie into the low countries of Belgie now miserablie afflicted betwéene the Spanish power and popish inquisition as spice betwéene the morter and the pestell but also into Germanie Friezeland Denmarke and Norwaie carrieng from hence thither and bringing from thence hither all such necessarie commodities as the seuerall countries doo yéeld through which meanes and besides common amitie conserued traffike is mainteined and the necessitie of each partie abundantlie reléeued It conteineth in longitude taken by the middest of the region 19. degrees exactlie and in latitude 53. degrées and thirtie min. after the opinions of those that haue diligentlie obserued the same in our daies
I shuld bereaue another of that trauell Yet Plinie saith lib. 4. cap. 16. that it lieth not farre off from and ouer against the Silures which then dwelled vpon the west coast of our Iland and euen so farre as Dunbritton and beyond but to our Cair kybi The Britons named it Enylsnach or holie I le of the number of carcases of holie men which they affirme to haue beene buried there But herein I maruell not a little wherein women had offended that they might not come thither or at the least wise returne from thence without some notable reproch or shame vnto their bodies By south also of Hilarie point somewhat inclining toward the east lieth Inis Lygod a small thing God wot and therefore not worthie great remembrance neuertheles not to be omitted though nothing else inforced the memoriall thereof but onelie the number and certeine fale of such Iles as lie about our Iland I might also speake of the I le Mail Ronyad which lieth north west of Anglesei by sixe miles but bicause the true name hereof as of manie riuers and streames are to me vnknowne I am the more willing to passe them ouer in silence least I should be noted to be farther corrupter of such words as I haue no skill to deliuer and exhibit in their kind And now to conclude with the description of the whole Iland this I will ad moreouer vnto hir commodities that as there are the best milstones of white red blew and gréene gréets especiallie in Tindaithin so there is great gaines to be gotten by fishing round about this I le if the people there could vse the trade but they want both cunning and diligence to take that matter in hand And as for temporall regiment it apperteineth to the countie of Cairnaruon so in spirituall cases it belongeth to the bishoprike of Bangor This is finallie to be noted of Anglesei that sundrie earthen pots are often found there of dead mens bones conuerted into ashes set with the mouthes downeward contrarie to the vse of other nations which turned the brims vpwards whereof let this suffice Hauing thus described Anglesei it resteth to report furthermore how that in our circuit about the same we met with other little Ilets of which one lieth northwest thereof almost ouer against Butricke mouth or the fall of the water that passeth by Butricke The Britons called it Ynis Ader that is to say the I le of birds in old time but now it hight Ynis Moil or Ynis Rhomaid that is the I le of porpasses It hath to name likewise Ysterisd and Adros Being past this we came to the second lieng by north east ouer against the Hilarie point called Ynis Ligod that is to saie the I le of Mise and of these two this latter is the smallest neither of them both being of any greatnesse to speake of Ynis Seriall or Prestholme lieth ouer against Penmon or the point called the head of Mon where I found a towne as I told you of the same denomination Ptolomie nameth not this Iland whereof I maruell It is parcell of Flintshire and of the iurisdiction of S. Asaph and in fertilitie of soile and breed of cattell nothing inferiour vnto Anglesei hir mother although that for quantitie of ground it come infinitelie short thereof and be nothing comparable vnto it The last Iland vpon the cost of Wales hauing now left Anglesei is called Credine and although it lie not properlie within the compasse of my description yet I will not let to touch it by the waie sith the causey thither from Denbighland is commonlie ouerflowne It is partlie made an Iland by the Conwey and partlie by the sea But to proceed when we had viewed this place we passed foorth to S. Antonies Ile which is about two or thrée miles compasse or more a sandie soile but yet verie batable for sheepe and cattell it is well replenished also with fresh wels great plentie of wild foule conies and quarries of hard ruddie stone which is oft brought thence to Westchester where they make the foundations of their buildings withall There are also two parish churches in the same dedicated to S. Antonie and S. Iohn but the people are verie poore bicause they be so oft spoiled by pirats although the lord of the same be verie wealthie thorough the exchange made with them of his victuals for their wares whereof they make good peniworths as théeues commonlie doo of such preies as they get by like escheat notwithstanding their landing there is verie dangerous and onlie at one place Howbeit they are constreined to vse it and there to make their marts From hence we went on vntill we came to the cape of Ile Brée or Hilberie and point of Wyrale from whence is a common passage into Ireland of 18. or 20. houres sailing if the wether be not tedious This Iland at the full sea is a quarter of a mile from the land and the streame betwéene foure fadams déepe as ship-boies haue oft sounded but at a lowe water a man may go ouer thither on the sand The I le of it selfe is verie sandie a mile in compasse and well stored with conies thither also went a sort of supersticious fooles in times past in pilgrimage to our ladie of Hilberie by whose offerings a cell of monkes there which belonged to Chester was cherished and mainteined The next Iland vpon the coast of England is Man or Mona Caesaris which some name Mana or Manim but after Ptolomie Monaoida as some thinke though other ascribe that name to Anglesei which the Welshmen doo commonlie call Môn as they doo this Manaw It is supposed to be the first as Hirtha is the last of the Hebrides Hector Boetius noteth a difference betwéene them of 300. miles But Plinie saith that Mona is 200000. miles from Camaldunum lib. 2. cap. 75. It lieth also vnder 53. degrées of latitude and 30. minuts and hath in longitude 16. degrees and 40. minuts abutting on the north side vpon S. Ninians in Scotland Furnesfels on the east Prestholme and Anglesei on the south and Ulsther in Ireland on the west It is greater than Anglesei by a third and there are two riuers in the same whose heads doo ioine so néere that they doo seeme in maner to part the I le in twaine Some of the ancient writers as Ethicus c call it Eubonia and other following Orosius Meuana or Maeuania howbeit after Beda and the Scotish histories the Meuaniae are all those Iles aforesaid called the Hebrides Eubonides or Hebudes whereof William Malmesburie lib. 1. de regibus beside this our Mona will haue Anglesei also to be one Wherefore it séemeth hereby that a number of our late writers ascribing the said name vnto Mona onelie haue not beene a little deceiued Iornandes lib. de Getis speaketh of a second Meuansa Habet aliam Meuaniam saith he necnon Orchadas But
barnacls questioned with diuers persons about the same I haue red also whatsoeuer is written by forren authors touching the generation of that foule sought out some places where I haue béene assured to sée great numbers of them but in vaine Wherefore I vtterlie despaired to obteine my purpose till this present yeare of Grace 1584. and moneth of Maie wherein going to the court at Gréenewich from London by bote I saw sundrie ships lieng in the Thames newlie come home either from Barbarie or the Canarie Iles for I doo not well remember now from which of these places on whose sides I perceiued an infinit sort of shels to hang so thicke as could be one by another Drawing néere also I tooke off ten or twelue of the greatest of them afterward hauing opened them I saw the proportion of a foule in one of them more perfectlie than in all the rest sauing that the head was not yet formed bicause the fresh water had killed them all as I take it and thereby hindered their perfection Certeinelie the feathers of the taile hoong out of the shell at least two inches the wings almost perfect touching forme were garded with two shels or shéeldes proportioned like the selfe wings and likewise the brestbone had hir couerture also of like shellie substance and altogither resembling the figure which Lobell and Pena doo giue foorth in their description of this foule so that I am now fullie persuaded that it is either the barnacle that is ingendred after one maner in these shels or some other sea-foule to vs as yet vnknowen For by the feathers appearing and forme so apparant it cannot be denied but that some bird or other must proceed of this substance which by falling from the sides of the ships in long voiages may come to some perfection But now it is time for me to returne againe vnto my former purpose There hath sometime beene and yet is a bishop of this I le who at the first was called Episcopus Sodorensis when the iurisdiction of all the Hebrides belonged vnto him Whereas now he that is bishop there is but a bishops shadow for albeit that he beare the name of bishop of Man yet haue the earles of Darbie as it is supposed the cheefe profit of his sée sauing that they allow him a little somewhat for a flourish notwithstanding that they be his patrons and haue his nomination vnto that liuing The first bishop of this I le was called Wimundus or Raymundus and surnamed Monachus Sauinensis who by reason of his extreame and tyrannicall crueltie toward the Ilanders had first his sight taken from him then was sent into exile After him succéeded another moonke in king Stephens daies called Iohn and after him one Marcus c other after other in succession the sée it selfe being now also subiect to the archbishop of Yorke for spirituall iurisdiction In time of Henrie the second this Iland also had a king whose name was Cuthred vnto whome Vinianus the cardinall came as legate 1177. and wherin Houeden erreth not In the yeare also 1228. one Reginald was viceroy or petie king of Man afterward murthered by his subiects Then Olauus after him Hosbach the sonne of Osmond Hacon 1290. who being slaine Olauus and Gotredus parted this kingdome of Sodora in such wise that this had all the rest of the Iles the other onelie the I le of Man at the first but after the slaughter of Gotredus Olauus held all after whom Olauus his sonne succeeded Then Harald sonne to Olauus who being entered in Maie and drowned vpon the coastes of Ireland his brother Reginald reigned twentie and seuen daies and then was killed the first of Iune whereby Olauus aliàs Harald sonne to Gotred ruled in the I le one yeare Next vnto him succéeded Magnus the second sonne of Olauus and last of all Iuarus who held it so long as the Norwaies were lords thereof But being once come into the hands of the Scots one Godred Mac Mares was made lieutenant then Alane thirdlie Maurice Okarefer and fourthlie one of the kings chapleines c. I would gladlie haue set downe the whole catalog of all the viceroyes and lieutenants but sith I can neither come by their names nor successions I surcesse to speake any more of them and also of the I le it selfe whereof this may suffice After we haue in this wise described the I le of Man with hir commodities we returned eastwards backe againe vnto the point of Ramshed where we found to the number of six Ilets of one sort and other whereof the first greatest and most southwesterlie is named the Wauay It runneth out in length as we gessed about fiue miles and more from the southeast into the northwest betwéene which and the maine land lie two little ones whose names are Oldborrow and Fowlney The fourth is called the Fouldra and being situate southeast of the first it hath a prettie pile or blockhouse therin which the inhabitants name the pile of Fouldra By east thereof in like sort lie the Fola and the Roa plots of no great compasse and yet of all these six the first and Fouldra are the fairest and most fruitfull From hence we went by Rauenglasse point where lieth an Iland of the same denomination as Reginald Wolfe hath noted in his great card not yet finished nor likelie to be published He noteth also two other Ilets betwéene the same and the maine land but Leland speaketh nothing of them to my remembrance neither any other card as yet set foorth of England and thus much of the Ilands that lie vpon our shore in this part of my voiage Hauing so exactlie as to me is possible set downe the names and positions of such Iles as are to be found vpon the coast of the Quéenes Maiesties dominions now it resteth that we procéed orderlie with those that are séene to lie vpon the coast of Scotland that is to saie in the Irish the Deucalidonian the Germans seas which I will performe in such order as I may sith I cannot do so much therin as I would Some therefore doo comprehend and diuide all the Iles that lie about the north coast of this I le now called Scotland into thrée parts sauing that they are either occidentals the west Iles aliàs the Orchades Zelandine or the Shetlands They place the first betwéene Ireland and the Orchades so that they are extended from Man and the point of Cantire almost vnto the Orchades in the Deucalidonian sea and after some are called the Hebrides In this part the old writers in déed placed the Hebrides or Hemodes which diuers call the Hebudes and the Acmodes albeit the writers varie in their numbers some speaking of 30 Hebudes and seuen Hemodes some of fiue Ebudes as Solinus and such as follow his authoritie Howbeit the late Scottish writers doo product a summe of more than 300 of these Ilands in all which
sometime belonged to the Scots sometime to the Norwegians and sometime to the Danes The first of these is our Manaw of which I haue before intreated next vnto this is Alisa a desert I le yet replenished with conies soland foule and a fit harbor for fishermen that in time of the yeare lie vpon the coast thereof for herings Next vnto this is the Arran a verie hillie and craggie soile yet verie plentifull of fish all about the coast and wherein is a verie good hauen ouer against the mouth whereof lieth the Moll which is also no small defense to such seafaring men as seeke harbor in that part Then came we by the Fladwa or Pladwa no lesse fruitfull and stored with conies than the Bota Bura or Botha or eight miles long foure miles broad a low ground but yet verie batable and wherein is good store of short and indifferent pasture it hath also a towne there called Rosse and a castell named the Camps There is also another called the Marnech an Iland of a mile in length and halfe a mile in breadth low ground also but yet verie fertile In the mouth likewise of the Glot lieth the more Cumber and the lesse not farre in sunder one from another and both fruitfull inough the one for corne and the other for Platyceraton The Auon another Iland lieth about a mile from Cantire and is verie commodious to ships wherof it is called Auon that is to saie Portuosa or full of harbor and therefore the Danes had in time past great vse of it Then haue we the Raclind the Kyntar the Cray the Gegaw six miles in length and a mile and a halfe in breadth the Dera full of déere and not otherwise vnfruitfull and therefore some thinke that it was called the I le of déere in old time Scarba foure miles in length and one in breadth verie little inhabited and thereinto the sea betwéene that and the I le of déere is so swift and violent that except it be at certeine times it is not easilie nauigable Being past these we come to certeine Ilands of no great fame which lie scattered here and there as Bellach Gyrastell Longaie both the Fiolas the thrée Yarues Culbrenin Duncomell Lupar Belnaua Wikerua Calfile Luing Sele I le Sound of which the last thrée are fruitfull and belong to the earle of Argile Then haue we the Slate so called of the tiles that are made therin The Nagsey Isdalf and the Sken which later is also called Thian of a wicked herbe growing there greatlie hurtfull and in colour not much vnlike the lillie sauing that it is of a more wan and féeble colour Vderga kings Ile Duffa or blacke I le Kirke I le and Triarach There is also the I le Ard Humble I le Greene I le and Heth I le Arbor I le Gote I le Conies I le alias idle I le Abrid Ile or bird I le and Lismor wherein the bishop of Argill sometime held his palace being eight miles in length and two miles in breadth and not without some mines also of good mettall There is also the Ile Ouilia Siuna Trect Shepey Fladaw Stone I le Gresse great I le Ardis Musadell Berner sometime called the holie sanctuarie Vghe I le Molochasgyr and Drinacha now ouergrowne with bushes elders and vtterlie spoiled by the ruines of such great houses as haue heretofore béene found therin There is in like sort the Wijc the Ranse and the Caruer In this tract also there are yet thrée to intreat of as Ila Mula and Iona of which the first is one of the most that hath not béene least accounted of It is not much aboue 24 miles in length and in breadth 16 reaching from the south into the north and yet it is an excéeding rich plot of ground verie plentious of corne cattell déere and also lead and other mettals which were easie to be obteined if either the people were industrious or the soile yéeldable of wood to fine and trie out the same In this Iland also there is a lake of swéet water called the Laie and also a baie wherein are sundrie Ilands and therevnto another lake of fresh water wherein the Falangam Ile is situate wherein the souereigne of all the Iles sometime dwelled Néere vnto this is the round I le so called of the consultations there had for there was a court sometime holden wherein 14 of the principall inhabitants did minister iustice vnto the rest and had the whole disposition of things committed vnto them which might rule vnto the benefit of those Ilands There is also the Stoneheape an other Iland so called of the heape of stones that is therein On the south side also of Ila we find moreouer the Colurne Mulmor Osrin Brigidan Corkerke Humble I le Imersga Bethy Texa Shepeie Naosig Rinard Cane Tharscher Aknor Gret I le Man I le S. Iohns Ile and Stackbed On the west side thereof also lieth Ouersey whereby runneth a perilous sea and not nauigable but at certeine houres Merchant I le Vsabrast Tanask Neff Wauer I le Oruans Hog I le and Colauanso Mula is a right noble I le 24 miles in length and so manie in bredth rough of soile yet fruitfull enough beside woods deere good harbrough for ships replenished with diuers and sundrie townes and castels Ouer against Columkill also it hath two riuers which yeld verie great store of salmons and other riuellets now altogither vnfruitfull beside two lakes in each of which is an Iland and likewise in euerie of these Ilands a castell The sea beating vpon this I le maketh foure notable baies wherein great plentie and verie good herrings are taken It hath also in the northwest side Columbria or the I le of doues on the southeast Era both verie commodious for fishing cattell and corne Moreouer this is woorth the noting in this I le aboue all the rest that it hath a plesant spring arising two miles in distance from the shore wherein are certeine little egs found much like vnto indifferent pearles both for colour and brightnesse and thereto full of thicke humour which egs being carried by violence of the fresh water vnto the salt are there within the space of twelue houres conuerted into great shels which I take to be mother pearle except I be deceiued Iona was sometime called Columkill in fame and estimation nothing inferiour to anie of the other although in length it excéed little aboue two miles and in breadth one Certes it is verie fruitfull of all such commodities as that climat wherein it standeth dooth yeeld and beareth the name of Columbus the abbat of whome I haue spoken more at large in my Chronologie There were somtimes also two monasteries therein one of moonks builded by Fergus another of nuns and a parish church beside many chappels builded by the Scotish kings and such princes as gouerned in the Iles. And when the English had once gotten possession
also neat and gotes whereby they abound in white meat as butter and cheese wherein next vnto fish the chéefe part of their sustenance dooth consist There is also a bishop of the Orchades who hath his see in Pomona the chéefe of all the Ilands wherein also are two strong castels and such hath béene the superstition of the people here that there is almost no one of them that hath not one church at the least dedicated to the mother of Christ. Finallie there is little vse of physicke in these quarters lesse store of éeles and least of frogs As for the horsses that are bred amongst them they are commonlie not much greater than asses and yet to labour and trauell a man shall find verie few else-where able to come neere much lesse to match with them in holding out their iournies The seas about these Ilands are verie tempestuous not onelie through strong winds and the influences of the heauens and stars but by the contrarie méetings and workings of the west ocean which rageth so vehementlie in the streicts that no vessell is able to passe in safetie amongst them Some of these Ilands also are so small and low that all the commoditie which is to be reaped by anie of them is scarselie sufficient to susteine one or two men and some of them so barren and full of rocks that they are nothing else but mosse or bare shingle Wherefore onelie thirteene of them are inhabited and made account of the rest being left vnto their sheepe and cattell Of all these Ilands also Pomona is the greatest and therfore called the continent which conteineth thirtie miles in length and is well replenished with people for it hath twelue parish churches and one towne which the Danes sometime lords of that Iland called Cracouia but now it hight Kirkwa There are also two pretie holds one belonging to the king the other to the bishop and also a beautifull church and much building betweene the two holds and about this church which being taken as it were for two townes the one is called the kings and the other the bishops towne All the whole Iland is full of cliffes and promontories whereby no small number of baies and some hauens are producted There is also tin and lead to be found in six of these Iles so good and plentifullie as anie where else in Britaine It lieth foure twentie miles from Cathnesse being separated from the same by the Pictish sea wherein also lie certeine Ilands as Stroma foure miles from Cathnesse which albeit that it be but foure miles from Cathnesse is not reputed for anie of the Orchades Going therefore from hence northward we come to the first I le of the Orchades called south Rauals which is sixtéene miles from Dunghilsbie aliàs Dunachisbie that in two houres space such is the swiftnesse of the sea in that tract This I le is fiue miles long and hath a faire port called saint Margarets hauen Then passe we by two desert Iles which lie towards the east wherein nothing is found but cattell some call them the holmes bicause they lie low and are good for nothing but grasse On the northside lieth the Bur and two other holmes betweene the same Pomona From Bur toward the west lie thrée Iles Snu Flat and Far and beyond them Hoie and Uall which some accompt for two and other but for one bicause that in March and September the flats that lie betwéene them doo séeme to ioine them togither after the tide is gone This neuerthelesse is certeine that in this single or double I le which is ten miles in length the highest hilles are to be séene that are in all the Orchades And as they lie eight miles from Rauals so are they two miles from Pomona from saint Donats in Scotland full twentie miles And on the north side of it lieth the Brainse in a narrow streict as Buchanan dooth remember And these are the Iles which lie betweene Pomona and Cathnesse As for the west side of the continent I find that it lieth open to the sea without either shelues Ilands or rocks appéering néere vnto it but on the east side thereof Cobesa dooth in maner ouershadow it Siapiusa also an I le of six miles long lieth within two miles of Cracouia Toward the east on the west side of Pomona lieth the Rouse of six miles in length and by east of that the Eglisa wherin as they saie their patrone S. Magnus lieth interred From hense southward lie the Uera Gersa and not far off the Uester which is fourescore miles from Hethland Papa Stronza which is also eightie miles from Hethland as the Uester In the middest also of this tract lieth Far or Fara which is to saie faire I le in old English faire eie and within sight so well of Hethland as the Orchades by reason of three insuperable rocks which are apparant in the same a verie poore Iland and yet yearelie robbed of such commodities as it hath by such Flemish and English fishermen as passe by the coasts thereof in time of the yeare to catch fish for the prouision of their countries Next vnto this is the greatest of all the Hethlands an Iland called the Maine sixtie miles in length and sixteene in bredth full of rocks and whose coasts are onelie inhabited the innermost parts being lest vnto the foules of the aire bicause of the barrennesse and vnfruitfulnesse of the soile yet of late some haue indeuoured to impeople it but with no successe correspondent to their desire Wherefore they returned to their former trades making their chéefe commoditie and yearelie gaine by fish as aforetime Ten miles from this toward the north lieth the Zeale twentie miles in length eight in bredth and so wild that it will suffer no creature to liue thereof that is not bred therein Betwéene this Iland also and the Maine are other smaller Ilands to be found as the Ling Orne Big and Sanferre And from hense nine miles northward Usta twentie miles long six in bredth plaine pleasant but inuironed with a swift and terrible sea Betwéene this also and the Zeale are the Uie the Ure and the Ling also towards the west the two Skenes Chalseie Nordwade Brase and Mowse on the west side lie the west Skenes Rottia Papa the lesse Wunned Papa the more Ualla Tondra Burra Haura the more Haura the lesse in maner so manie holmes dispersed heere and there whereof I haue no notice Some call these the Shetland and some the Shotland Iles. Buchanan nameth them in the third member of his diuision Zelandise and toward the end of his first booke seemeth to auouch that they liue in maner as doo the inhabitants of the Orchades although not in so ciuill wise nor in such large measure and aboundance of diet in their houses He addeth moreouer that their apparrell is after the Germaine cut comelie but not so chargeable and costlie and how they raise their gaine by skins of
riseth in a mounteine therby and goeth into the sea two miles aboue Duegeuelth Auon Duegeuelth is three miles aboue Conweie which rising in the mounteins a mile off goeth by it selfe into Meneie salt arme On the said shore also lieth Conweie and this riuer dooth run betwixt Penmaine Maur and Penmaine Uehan It riseth about three miles from Penmaclon hils which lie about sixtie miles from Conweie abbeie now dissolued out of a lake called Lin Conweie and on the north and west of this riuer standeth the towne of Conweie which taketh his name thereof This riuer which Ptolomie calleth Toesobius as I take it after the deriuation thereof from the head passeth on the west side by Spittieuan and Tiherio beneath which it taketh in a streame comming from the east out of Denbighshire deriued from thrée heads and of the greatest called Nag Soone after also another and then the third which commeth in from the west by Lanpen Mawr next of all the Leder on the same side which commeth by Dolathelan castell and aboue that from a Lin of the same denomination Beneath this and selfe hand lieth likewise the Ligow or Ligwie proceeding from two lakes that is the Mumber and the Ligow On the right hand as we still descend is the Coid then the Glin a little lower we méet with the Lin Gerioneth and after we be past another on the right side we come to the Perloid which commeth out of Lin Cowlid to the Ygan to the Idulin to the castell Water on the left then to the Melandider on the right without the sight of anie other till we come almost to Conweie where we find a notched streame comming from by west and called Guffen or Gyffin into the same by one chanell on the norrtheast side of the towne beneath Guffin or Gyffin and ouer against Lansanfraid in Denbighshire so farre as I now remember Some part of Carnaruonshire stretcheth also beyond Aber Conweie or the fall of Conweie it is called Ormeshed point wherein also is a rill whose fall into the sea is betwéene Penrin and Landright And thus we haue made an end of the chéefe waters which are to be found in this countie The next is a corner of Denbigh by which we doo as it were step ouer into Flintshire and whose first water is not great yet it commeth from southwest and falleth into the north or Irish sea called Virginium beneath Landilas as the next that commeth south from Bettas dooth the like thrée miles beneath Abergele and is not onelie called Gele as the name it selfe importeth but also noted to take his course through the Canges Hauing thus gone ouer the angle of Denbighshire that lieth betwéene those of Carnaruon and Flint we come next of all vnto Aber Cluide or the fall of Clotha or Glota which is a streame not to be shortlie intreated of It riseth among certeine hilles which lie not far distant from the confines of Merioneth and Denbighshires Southeast from his fall and hauing run foure or fiue miles from the head it commeth about to Darwen taking in the Maniton on the left hand and the Mespin on the right and soone after the third from by-west whose head is not farre from Gloucanocke Beneath Ruthen also it taketh in the Leueneie and after that another and the third all on the right hand and so holdeth on till it méet with the Cluedoch then with the Ystrade which passeth by Whitchurch on the left hand After which we come to the Whéeler on the right and so to his ioining with the Elwie which is beneath S. Asaphes a bishops sée that is inuironed with them both This Elwie riseth aboue Gwitherne beneath Lanuair taketh in the Alode which commeth from lin Alode by Lanfannan and ioineth with him fiue miles beneath Langrenew The Cluda therefore and the Elwie being met the confluence passeth on to the sea by Rutland castell where it taketh in the Sarne which commeth from by east and hath a course almost of sixteene miles From hence we tooke sea toward the Dée mouth and as we passed by the rest of the shore we saw the fall of a little brooke néere Basing Werke of another néere to Flint of the third at Yowleie castell which with his two armes in maner includeth it and the fourth beneath Hawarden hold which in like sort goeth round about the same from whence we came to the Dée where we landed and tooke vp our lodging in Chester In this place also it was no hard matter to deliuer set downe the names of such riuers and streames as are also to be found in Angleseie finding my selfe to haue some leasure and fit opportunitie for the same and imagining a iourneie thither also as vnto the other places mentioned in this description whither as yet it hath not béene my hap to trauell I thought it not amisse to take it also in hand and performe it after this maner Ferrieng therefore ouer out of Carnaruonshire to Beaumarise I went by land without crossing of anie riuer or streame worthie memorie till I came to the Brant which hath his fall not farre from the southest point of that Iland This Brant riseth farre vp in the land not farre from Lauredenell and holding on his course southward to Lanthoniell Uaall it goeth on to Bodoweruch Langainwen and so into the sea The next fall we came vnto was called Maltrath and it is producted by the confluence of two riuers the Geuennie and the Gint who ioine not farre from Langrestoll This also last rehearsed hath his head neere to Penmoneth the other being forked riseth in the hillie soile aboue Tregaion and Langwithlog so that part of the Iland obteineth no small commoditie and benefit by their passage Next vnto this we came vnto the Fraw whose head is neere to Langinewen and passage by Cap Maer after which it falleth into a lake from whence it goeth east of Aberfraw and so into the sea The next riuer hath no name to my knowledge yet hath it a longer course than that which I last described For it riseth two or thrée miles aboue Haneglosse and passing from thence to Treualghmaie after the descent of foure miles it falleth into the sea After this we came to an other which riseth more to Cap legan ferwie and falleth into the sea southeast of the little Iland which is called Ynis Wealt it is namelesse also as the other was and therefore hauing small delight to write thereof we passed ouer the salt créeke by a bridge into Cair Kibie which by the same is as it were cut from the maine Iland and in some respect not vnworthie to be taken for an I le In the north side therefore of Cair Kibie is a little rill or créeke but whether the water thereof be fresh or salt as yet I doo not remember This place being viewed I came backe againe by the aforesaid bridge into the
betwéene Chester and Darbishires Going also toward Goitehall it méeteth with a faire brooke increased by sundrie waters called Goite whereof I find this short and briefe description The Goite riseth not far from the Shire méere hill wherein the Doue and the Dane haue their originall that parteth Darbishire and Chestershire in sunder and thence commeth downe to Goite houses Ouerton Taxhall Shawcrosse and at Weibridge taketh in the Frith and beneath Berdhall the Set that riseth aboue Thersethall and runneth by Ouerset After this confluence also the Merseie goeth to Goite hall at Stockford or Stopford towne méeteth with the Tame which diuideth Chestershire and Lancastershire in sunder and whose head is in the verie edge of Yorkeshire from whence it goeth southward to Sadleworth Firth then to Mukelhirst Stalie hall Ashdon Underline Dunkenfield Denton Reddish and so at Stockford into the Merseie streame which passeth foorth in like sort to Diddesbirie receiuing a brooke by the waie that commeth from Lime parke by Brumhall parke and Chedle From Diddesbirie it procéedeth to Norden Ashton Aiston Flixston where it receiueth the Irwell a notable water and therefore his description is not to be omitted before I doo go forward anie further with the Merseie although it be not nauigable by reason of sundrie rockes and shalowes that lie dispersed in the same It riseth aboue Bacop and goeth thence to Rosendale and in the waie to Aitenfield it taketh in a water from Haselden After this confluence it goeth to Newhall Brandlesham Brurie and aboue Ratcliffe ioineth with the Rache water a faire streame and to be described when I haue finished the Irwell as also the next vnto it beneath Ratcliffe bicause I would not haue so manie ends at once in hand wherewith to trouble my readers Being therfore past these two our Irwell goeth on to Clifton Hollond Edgecroft Strengwaies and to Manchester where it vniteth it selfe with the Yrke that runneth thereinto by Roiton Midleton Heaton hill and Blackeleie Beneath Manchester also it méeteth with the Medlocke that commeth thither from the northeast side of Oldham and betwéene Claiton and Garret Halles and so betwéene two parkes falling into it about Holne Thence our Irwell going forward to Woodsall Whicleswtâ—c Ecles Barton and Deuelhom it falleth néere vnto Flixton into the water of Merseie where I will staie a while withall till I haue brought the other vnto some passe of which I spake before The Rache Rach or Rish consisteth of sundrie waters whereof ech one in maner hath a proper name but the greatest of all is Rache it selfe which riseth among the blacke stonie hils from whence it goeth to Littlebrough and being past Clegge receiueth the Beile that commeth thither by Milneraw chappell After this confluence also it méeteth with a rill néere vnto Rachedale and soone after with the Sprotton water and then the Sudleie brooke whereby his chanell is not a little increased which goeth from thence to Grisehirst and so into the Irewell before it come at Ratcliffe The second streame is called Bradsha It riseth of two heds aboue Tureton church whence it runneth to Bradsha and yer long taking in the Walmesleie becke they go in one chanell till they come beneath Bolton in the More From hence receiuing a water that commeth from the roots of Rauenpike hill by the way it goeth by Deane and Bolton in the More and so into Bradsha water which taketh his waie to Leuermore Farnworth Leuerlesse and finallie into the Irwell which I before described and whereof I find these two verses to be added at the last Irke Irwell Medlocke and Tame When they meet with the Merseie do loose their name Now therefore to resume our Merseie you shall vnderstand that after his confluence with the Irwell he runneth to Partington and not farre from thence interteineth the Gles or Glesbrooke water increased with sundrie armes wherof one commeth from Lodward another from aboue Houghton the third from Hulton parke and the fourth from Shakerleie and being all vnited néere vnto Leigh the confluence goeth to Holcroft and aboue Holling gréene into the swift Merseie After this increase the said streame in like sort runneth to Rigston there admitteth the Bollein or Bolling brooke water into his societie which rising néere the Chamber in Maxwell forrest goeth to Ridge Sutton Bollington Prestbirie and Newton where it taketh in a water comming from about Pot Chappell which runneth from thence by Adlington Woodford Wimesleie Ringeie and Ashleie there receiuing the Birkin brooke that commeth from betwéene Allerton and Marchall by Mawberleie and soone after the Marus or Mar that commeth thereinto from Mar towne by Rawstorne and after these confluences goeth on to Downham and ouer against Rixton beneath Crosford bridge into the Merseie water which procéeding on admitteth not another that méeteth with all néere Lim before it go to Thelwall Thence also it goeth by Bruche and so to Warrington a little beneath crossing a brooke that commeth from Par by Browseie Bradleie and Saukeie on the one side and another on the other that commeth thither from Gropenhall and with these it runneth on to nether Walton Acton grange and so to Penkith where it interteineth the Bold and soone after the Grundich water on the other side that passeth by Preston and Daresbirie Finallie our Merseie going by Moulton it falleth into Lirepoole or as it was called of old Liuerpoole hauen when it is past Runcorne And thus much of the Merseie comparable vnto the Wiuer and of no lesse fame than most riuers of this Iland Being past these two we come next of all to the Tarbocke water that falleth into the sea at Harbocke without finding anie mo till we be past all Wirall out of Lirepoole hauen and from the blacke rockes that lie vpon the north point of the aforesaid Iland Then come we to the Altmouth whose fresh rising not far into the land commeth to Feston and soone after receiuing another on the right hand that passeth into it by Aughton it is increased no more before it come at the sea Neither find I anie other falles till I méet with the mouth of the Yarrow and Duglesse which haue their recourse to the sea in one chanell as I take it The Duglesse commeth from by west of Rauenspike hill and yer long runneth by Andertonford to Worthington and so taking in two or thrée rilles by the waie to Wigen where it receiueth two waters in one chanell of which one commeth in south from Brin parke the other from northeast Being past this it receiueth one on the north side from Standish and another by south from Hollond and then goeth on toward Rufford chappell taking the Taud withall that descendeth from aboue Skelmersdale towne and goeth through Lathan parke belonging as I heare vnto the earle of Derbie It méeteth also
And herevpon their Hector Boetius as an hen that for laieng of one eg will make a great cakeling solemnlie triumphing for a conquest before the victorie alledgeth that hereby the Britons were made tributaries to the Scots and yet he confesseth that they won no more land by that supposed conquest but the same portion betwéene them and Humber which in the old partitions before was annexed to Albania It is hard to be beléeued that such a broken nation as the Scots at that time were returning from banishment within foure yeares before and since in battell loosing both their kings and the great number of their best men to be thus able to make a conquest of great Britaine and verie vnlikelie if they had conquered it they would haue left the hot sunne of the south parts to dwell in the cold snow in Scotland Incredible it is that if they had conquered it they would not haue deputed officers in it as in cases of conquest behooueth And it is beyond all beliefe that great Britaine or any other countrie should be woon without the comming of anie enimie into it as they did not but taried finallie at the same wall of Adrian whereof I spake before But what need I speake of these defenses when the same Boecius scantlie trusteth his owne beliefe in this tale For he saieth that Galfride and sundrie other authentike writers diuerslie varie from this part of his storie wherein his owne thought accuseth his conscience of vntruth herein also he further forgetting how it behooueth a lier to be mindfull of his assertion in the fourth chapter next following wholie bewraieth himselfe saieng that the confederat kings of Scots and Picts vpon ciuill warres betwéene the Britons which then followed hoped shortlie to inioie all the land of great Britaine from beyond Humber vnto the fresh sea which hope had bene vaine and not lesse than void if it had béene their owne by anie conquest before Constantine of Britaine descended from Conan king thereof cousine of Brutes bloud to this Maximian and his neerest heire was next king of Britaine he immediatlie pursued the Scots with wars and shortlie in battell slue their king Dongard in the first yeare of his reigne whereby he recouered Scotland out of their hands and tooke all the holdes thereof into his owne possessions Uortiger shortlie after obteined the crowne of Britaine against whom the Scots newlie rebelled for the repressing whereof mistrusting the Britons to hate him for sundrie causes as one that to auoid the smoke dooth oft fall into the fire receiued Hengest a Saxon and a great number of his countriemen with whom and a few Britons he entred Scotland ouercame them wherevpon they tooke the Iles which are their common refuge He gaue also much of Scotland as Gallowaie Pentland Mers and Annandale with sundrie other lands to this Hengest and his people to inhabit which they did accordinglie inioie But when this Hengest in processe of time thirsted after the whole kingdome of the south he was banished and yet afterward being restored he conspired with the Scots against Aurilambrose the sonne of Constantine the iust inheritor of this whole dominion But his vntruth and theirs were both recompensed togither for he was taken prisoner by Eldulph de Samor a noble man of Britaine and his head for his traitorie striken off at the commandement of Aurilambrose In the field the Scots were vanquished but Octa the sonne of Hengest was receiued to mercie to whome and his people this Aurilambrose gaue the countrie of Gallowaie in Scotland for which they became his subiects And hereby appeareth that Scotland was then againe reduced into his hands Uter called also Pendragon brother to Aurilambrose was next king of the Britons against whome these sworne Saxons now foresworne subiects confederate with the Scots newlie rebelled but by his power assembled against them in Gallowaie in Scotland they were discomfited Albania againe recouered vnto his subiection Arthur the sonne of of this Uter begotten before the mariage but lawfullie borne in matrimonie succéeded next to the crowne of great Britaine whose noble acts though manie vulgar fables haue rather stained than commended yet all the Scotish writers confesse that he subdued great Britaine and made it tributarie to him and ouercame the Saxons then scattered as far as Cathnesse in Scotland and in all these wars against them he had the seruice and obeisance of Scots and Picts But at the last setting their féet in the guilefull paths of their predecessors they rebelled and besieged the citie of Yorke Howell king of the lesse Britaine cousine to king Arthur being therein But he with an host came thither and discomfited the Scots chased them into a marsh and besieged them there so long that they were almost famished vntill the bishops abbats and men of religion for as much as they were christened people besought him to take them to his mercie and grace and to grant them a portion of the same countrie to dwell in vnder euerlasting subiection Upon this he tooke them to his grace homage and fealtie and when they were sworne his subiects and liegemen he ordeined his kinsman Anguisan to be their king and gouernour Urian king of Iland and Murefrence king of Orkeneie He made an archbishop of Yorke also whose authoritie extended through all Scotland Finallie the said Arthur holding his roiall feast at Cairleon had there all the kings that were subiects vnto him among which Angusian the said king of Scots did his due seruice and homage so long as he was with him for the realme of Scotland bare king Arthurs sword afore him Malgo shortlie after succéeded in the whole kingdome of great Britaine who vpon new resistance made subdued Ireland Iland the Orchads Norwaie and Denmarke and made Ethelfred a Saxon king of Bernicia that is Northumberland Louthian and much other land of Scotland which Ethelfred by the sword obteined at the hands of the wilfull inhabitants and continued true subiect to this Malgo. Cadwan succéeded in the kingdome of great Britaine who in defense of his subiects the Scots made warre vpon this Ethelfred but at the last they agréed and Cadwan vpon their rebellion gaue all Scotland vnto this Ethelfred which he therevpon subdued and inioied but afterward in the reigne of Cadwallo that next succeeded in great Britaine he rebelled Whervpon the same Cadwallo came into Scotland and vpon his treason reseised the countrie into his owne hands and hauing with him all the vicerois of the Saxons which then inhabited here as his subiects in singular battell he slue the same Ethelfred with his owne hands Oswald was shortlie after by Cadwallos gift made king of Bernicia and he as subiect to Cadwallo and by his commandement discomfited the Scots and Picts and subdued all Scotland Oswie the brother of this Oswald was by the like gift of Cadwallo made next king of Bernicia and he by like commandement newlie subdued the Scots and Picts and held them in that
altogither passe ouer this chapter without the rehersall of something although the whole summe of that which I haue to saie be nothing indeed if the performance of a full discourse hereof be anie thing hardlie required Of fishes therefore as I find fiue sorts the flat the round the long the legged and shelled so the flat are diuided into the smooth scaled and tailed Of the first are the plaice the but the turbut birt floke or sea flounder dorreie dab c. Of the second the soles c. Of the third our chaits maidens kingsons flath and thornbacke whereof the greater be for the most part either dried and carried into other countries or sodden sowsed eaten here at home whilest the lesser be fried or buttered soone after they be taken as prouision not to be kept long for feare of putrifaction Under the round kinds are commonlie comprehended lumps an vglie fish to sight and yet verie delicat in eating if it be kindlie dressed the whiting an old waiter or seruitor in the court the rochet sea breame pirle hake sea trowt gurnard haddocke cod herring pilchard sprat and such like And these are they whereof I haue best knowledge and be commonlie to be had in their times vpon our coasts Under this kind also are all the great fish conteined as the seale the dolphin the porpoise the thirlepole whale and whatsoeuer is round of bodie be it neuer so great and huge Of the long sort are congers eeles garefish and such other of that forme Finallie of the legged kind we haue not manie neither hane I seene anie more of this sort than the Polypus called in English the lobstar crafish or creuis and the crab As for the little crafishes they are not taken in the sea but plentifullie in our fresh riuers in banks and vnder stones where they kéepe themselues in most secret maner and oft by likenesse of colour with the stones among which they lie deceiue euen the skilfull takers of them except they vse great diligence Carolus Stephanus in his maison rustique doubted whether these lobstars be fish or not and in the end concludeth them to grow of the purgation of the water as dooth the frog and these also not to be eaten for that they be strong and verie hard of digestion But hereof let other determine further I might here speake of sundrie other fishes now and then taken also vpon our coasts but sith my mind is onelie to touch either all such as are vsuallie gotten or so manie of them onelie as I can wel rehearse vpon certeine knowledge I thinke it good at this time to forbeare the further intreatie of them As touching the shellie sort we haue plentie of oisters whose valure in old time for their swéetnesse was not vnknowne in Rome although Mutianus as Plinie noteth lib. 32 cap. 6. preferre the Cyzicene before them and these we haue in like maner of diuerse quantities and no lesse varietie also of our muskles and cockles We haue in like sort no small store of great whelkes scalops and perewinkles and each of them brought farre into the land from the sea coast in their seuerall seasons And albeit our oisters are generallie forborne in the foure hot moneths of the yeare that is to saie Maie Iune Iulie and August which are void of the letter R yet in some places they be continuallie eaten where they be kept in pits as I haue knowne by experience And thus much of our sea fish as a man in maner vtterlie vnacquainted with their diuersitie of kinds yet so much haue I yéelded to doo hoping hereafter to saie some what more and more orderlie of them if it shall please God that I may liue and haue leasure once againe to peruse this treatise and so make vp a perfect péece of worke of that which as you now sée is verie slenderlie attempted and begun Of sauage beasts and vermines Chap. 4. IT is none of the least blessings wherewith God hath indued this Iland that it is void of noisome beasts as lions beares tigers pardes wolfes such like by means whereof our countrimen may trauell in safetie our herds and flocks remaine for the most part abroad in the field without anie herdman or kéeper This is cheefelie spoken of the south and southwest parts of the Iland For wheras we that dwell on this side of the Twed may safelie boast of our securitie in this behalfe yet cannot the Scots doo the like in euerie point within their kingdome sith they haue greeuous woolfes and cruell foxes beside some other of like disposition continuallie conuersant among them to the generall hinderance of their husbandmen and no small damage vnto the inhabiters of those quarters The happie and fortunate want of these beasts in England is vniuersallie ascribed to the politike gouernement of king Edgar who to the intent the whole countrie might once be clensed and clearelie rid of them charged the conquered Welshmen who were then pestered with these rauenous creatures aboue measure to paie him a yearelie tribute of woolfes skinnes to be gathered within the land He appointed them thereto a certeine number of three hundred with free libertie for their prince to hunt pursue them ouer all quarters of the realme as our chronicles doo report Some there be which write how Ludwall prince of Wales paid yearelie to king Edgar this tribute of thrée hundred woolfes whose carcases being brought into Lhoegres were buried at Wolfpit in Cambridgeshire and that by meanes thereof within the compasse and terme of foure yeares none of those noisome creatures were left to be heard of within Wales and England Since this time also we read not that anie woolfe hath béene séene here that hath beene bred within the bounds and limits of our countrie howbeit there haue béene diuerse brought ouer from beyond the seas for gréedinesse of gaine and to make monie onlie by the gasing and gaping of our people vpon them who couet oft to see them being strange beasts in their eies and sildome knowne as I haue said in England Lions we haue had verie manie in the north parts of Scotland and those with maines of no lesse force than they of Mauritania were sometimes reported to be but how and when they were destroied as yet I doo not read They had in like sort no lesse plentie of wild and cruell buls which the princes and their nobilitie in the frugall time of the land did hunt and follow for the triall of their manhood and by pursute either on horssebacke or foot in armor notwithstanding that manie times they were dangerouslie assailed by them But both these sauage cretures are now not heard of or at the least wise the later scarselie known in the south parts Howbeit it this I gather by their being here that our Iland was not cut from the maine by the great deluge or flood of Noah but long after otherwise the generation of those
author signifieth for Ada the sonne of the foresaid Ida succéeded his father in the kingdome of Brenitia reigning therein seuen yeares and Ella the sonne of Histria a most valiant duke began to gouerne Deira as both the said Matth. Westm. and other doo affirme VOtiporus the sonne of Aurelius Conanus succeeded his father and began to reigne ouer the Britains in the yéere of our Lord 576 in the 11 yeare of the emperour Flauius Anicius Iustinus in the fourth yeare of the reigne of Childeric king of France and in the fourth yeare of Clephis the Gothish king in Italie This Uortiporus vanquished the Saxons in battell as the British histories make mention and valiantlie defended his land and subiects the Britains from the danger of them and other their allies In the time of this kings reigne the foresaid Ella began to rule in the south part of the kingdome of Northumberland called Deira as before is mentioned according to the account of some authors who also take this Uortiporus to begin his reigne in the yeare 548. After that Uortiporus had ruled the Britans the space of 4 yeares he departed this life and left no issue behind him to succéed him in the kingdome Against this Uortiporus Gyldas also whetting his toong beginneth with him thus And why standest thou as one starke amazed Thou I say Uortiporus the tyrant of Southwales like to the panther in maner and wickednesse diuerslie spotted as it were with manie colors with thy hoarie head in thy throne full of deceits crafts and wiles and defiled euen from the lowest part of thy bodie to the crowne of thy head with diuers sundrie murthers committed on thine owne kin and filthie adulteries thus proouing a naughtie sonne of a good king as Manasses was to Ezechias How chanceth it that the violent streames of sinnes which thou swallowest vp like pleasant wine or rather art deuoured of them the end of thy life by little and little now drawing néere can not yet satisfie the What meanest thou that with fornication of all euils as it were the full heape thine owne wife being put away thou by hir honest death dooest oppresse thy soule with a certeine burthen that can not be auoided of thine vnshamefast daughter Consume not I pray thée the residue of thy daies to the offense of God c. These and the like woords vttered he exhorting him to repentance with admonitions taken out of the scriptures both for his comfort and warning ¶ If the circumstance of this that Gyldas writeth of Uortiporus be marked it may be perceiued that Geffrey of Monmouth and also Matthew of Westminster the author of the floures of histories are deceiued in that they take him to be the sonne of Aurelius Conanus and rather it may be gathered that not onlie the same Aurelius Conanus and Uortiporus but also Constantinus yea Cuneglasus and Maglocunus of the which he also intreateth as partlie shall be hereafter touched liued and reigned all at one time in seuerall parts of this I le and not as monarchs of the whole British nation but as rulers each of them in his quarter after the maner as the state of Ireland hath béene in times past before the countrie came vnder the English subiection if my coniecture herein doo not deceiue me Malgo reigneth ouer the Britains the noble qualities wherewith he was beautified by his filthie sinnes are blemished Gyldas reproueth Cuneglasus for making warre against God and man and this Malgo for his manifold offenses the vile iniquities wherevnto the British rulers were inclined the valiantnesse of Kenrike king of the Westsaxons his victories against diuers people his enimies succession in the gouernment of the Westsaxons Northumberland and Kentish Saxons the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons in this Iland Cheuling with his Westsaxons encounter with the Britains and get the vpper hand three kings of the Britains slaine and their people spoiled of their lands goods and liues The xvij Chapter AFter the deceasse of Uortiporus Malgo the nephue of Aurelius Conanus as some write was made king of Britaine began his reigne ouer the Britaines in the yéere of our Lord 580 in the fiftéenth yéere of the emperour Iustinian and in the 37 yéere of the reigne of Childerike king of the Frenchmen This Malgo is reported to haue béene the comeliest gentleman in beautie and shape of personage that was to be found in those daies amongst all the Britains and therewith of a bold and hardie courage He manfullie defended the country which he had in gouernance from the malice of the Saxons and subdued the out Iles as Orkenie and others But notwithstanding the noble qualities with the which his person was adorned yet he spotted them all with the filthie sinne of Sodomie so that he fell into the haâ—red of almightie God and being pursued of the Saxons receiued manie ouerthrowes at their hands as by the report oâ— the English writers is gathered more at large Finallie when he had reigned fiue yéeres and od moneths he departed this life It séemeth that this Malgo is named by Gyldas Maglocunus the which Gyldas before he speaketh of him inueieth against one Cimeglasus whom he reprooueth for that he warred both against God and man against God with grieuous sinnes as namelie adulterie in forsaking the companie of his lawfull wife and kéeping to concubine a sister of hirs that had professed chastilie against man with materiall armor and weapons which he vsed to the destruction of his owne countrimen with whom he kept warres and not against the enimies of the common wealth From Cuneglasus he commeth to the foresaid Maglâ—cunus whome he nameth the dragon of the Iles and the expeller of manie tyrants not onelie out of their kingdoms but also out of life the last of whom he treateth as he himselfe saith but the first in all mischéefe euill greater than manie in power and likewise in malice verie liberall in giuing but more plentifull in sinne strong and valiant in arms but stronger in destruction of his owne soule And so procéeding chargeth him with the sinne of the Sodomits sore blameth him for that where it had pleased God to make him higher than all other dukes of Britaine in kingdome and degrée he did not shew himselfe better but contrarilie far woorse than they both in maners and conditions He declareth also a little after that this Maglocune in his yoong yéeres slue in battell his vncle being king with the most valiant souldiers in maner that he had Also that where the said Maglocune tooke vpon him the profession of a moonke he after renounced the same and became a woorsse liuer than euer he was before abandoning his wife and kéeping his brothers sonnes wife while hir husband yet liued Thus by that which Gyldas writeth of the kings and rulers of the Britains which liued in his daies ye may perceiue that they were giuen to all
anie giants were and whether they inhabited in this I le or not 6 Of the languages spoken in this Iland 7 Into how manie kingdoms this Iland hath beene diuided 8 The names of such kings and princes as haue reigned in this Iland 9 Of the ancient religion vsed in Albion 10 Of such Ilands as are to be seene vpon the coasts of Britaine 11 Of riuers and first of the Thames and such riuers as fall into it 12 Of such streames as fall into the sea betweene the Thames and the mouth of Sauerne 13 The description of the Sauerne and such waters as discharge themselues into the same 14 Of such waters as fall into the sea in compasse of the Iland betweene the Sauerne and the Humber 15 The description of the Humber or Isis and such water-courses as doo increase hir chanell 16 Of such fals of waters as ioine with the sea betweene Humber and the Thames 17 Of such ports and creeks as our sea-faring-men doo note for their benefit vpon the coasts of England 18 Of the aire soile and commodities of this Iland 19 Of the foure high waies sometime made in Britaine by the princes of this Iland 20 Of the generall constitution of the bodies of the Britons 21 How Britaine at the first grew to be diuided into three portions 22 After what maner the souereigntie of this I le dooth remaine to the princes of Lhoegres or kings of England 23 Of the wall sometime builded for a partition betweene England and the Picts and Scots 24 Of the maruels of England REGVM ANGLIAE SERIES catalogus COnquestor Rufus prior Henricus Stephanúsque Alter Henricus Leonino corde Richardus Rex Ioannes Henricus tertius inde Eduardus primus Gnatúsque Nepósque sequuntur His infoelicem Richardum iunge secundum Henricus quartus soboles Gandaui Ioannis Praecedit Gnato quinto sextóque Nepoti Eduardus quartus quintus homicida Richardus Septimi Henricus octauus clara propago Eduardus sextus regina Maria Philippus Elisabeth longos regnet victura per annos Seráque promisso foelix potiatur olympo CARMEN CHRONOLOGICON Thomae Newtoni Cestreshyrij GRamine fluminibus grege principe fruge metallis Lacte feris armis vrbibus arte foris Quae viget ac floret generosa Britannia quaeque Obruta puluereo squalluit ante situ Exerit ecce caput genuinum nacta nitorem Et rutilum emittit cum grauitate iubar Et quod blaesa hominum mutilarat tempore lingua Illud habet rectum pumice tersa nouo Loydus in hac pridem gnauus prolusit arena Lelandus Prisius Stous Holinshedius Lambardus Morus Camdenus Thinnius Hallus Vocalis Grafton Foxius Harrisonus Hardingus Gildas Staniherstus Beda Neuillus Doctáque Flemingi lima poliuit opus Nec te cane senex magne ô Parkere silebo Cui decus attulerat pontificalis apex Omnibus his meritò est laus debita optima merces Quòd patriae accendant lumina clara suae Longa dies opus hoc peperit longaeua senectus Et libri authores perbeet atque librum ⧠An Historicall description of the Iland of Britaine with a briefe rehersall of the nature and qualities of the people of England and such commodities as are to be found in the same Comprehended in three bookes and written by W. H. Of the diuision of the whole earth Chapter 1. WE read that the earth hath beene diuided into thrée parts euen sithens the generall floud And the common opinion is that Noah limited and bestowed it vpon his three sons Iaphet Cham and Sem preserued with him in the Arke giuing vnto each of them such portions thereof as to him séemed good and neuerthelesse reteining the souereigntie of the whole still vnto himselfe albeit as yet it be left vncertaine how those seuerall parts were bounded and from whome they tooke such names as in our times are attributed to each of them Certes the words Asia Europa and Africa are denominations giuen but of late to speake of vnto them and it is to be doubted whether sithens the time of Noah the sea hath in sundrie places wonne or lost added or diminished to and from each of them or whether Europa and Lybia were but one portion and the same westerlie regions of late discouered and now called America was the third part counting Asia for the second or the selfe region of the Atlantides which Plato and others for want of traffike thither in their times supposed to be dissolued and sunke into the sea as by their writings appeereth Not long before my time we reckoned Asia Europa and Africa for a full and perfect diuision of the whole earth which are parcels onelie of that huge Iland that lieth east of the Atlantike sea and whereof the first is diuided from the second by Tanais which riseth in the rocks of Caucasus and hideth it selfe in the Meotine moores and the Ocean sea and the last from them both by the Mediterrane and red sea otherwise called Mare Erythraeum But now all men especially the learned begin to doubt of the soundnes of that partition bicause a no lesse part than the greatest of the thrée ioined with those Ilands and maine which lie vnder the north and Southpoles if not double in quantitie vnto the same are found out and discouered by the diligence of our trauellers Hereby it appeereth that either the earth was not exactlie diuided in time past by antiquitie or els that the true diuision thereof came not to the hands and notice of their posteritie so that our ancestors haue hitherto as it were laboured in the Cimmerian darkenesse and were vtterlie ignorant of the truth of that whereabout they indeuoured to shew their trauels and knowledge in their writings Some peece of this confusion also is to be found amongst the ancient and Romane writers who notwithstanding their large conquests did sticke in the same mire with their successors not being able as appeereth by their treatises to deliuer and set downe the veritie For Salust in his booke De bello Iugurthino cannot tell whether Africa be parcell of Asia or not And with the same scruple Varro in his booke De lingua Lat. is not a litle incumbred who in the end concludeth that the whole earth is diuided into Asia and Europa so that Africa is excluded and driuen out of his place Silius also writeth of Africa as one not yet resolued wherevnto to leane that it is Aut ingens Asiae latus aut pars tertia rerum Wherein Lucane lib. 9. sheweth himselfe to be far of another iudgement in that he ascribeth it to Europa saieng after this maner Tertia pars rerum Lybia si credere famae Cuncta velis si ventos coelúmque sequaris Pars erit Europae nec enim plus littora Nili Quà m Scythicus Tanais primis à gradibus absunt Whereby I saie we may well vnderstand that in the time of Augustus Tiberius Claudius Nero the Romanes
Toliapis other Athanatos bicause serpents are supposed not to liue in the same howbeit sith it is not enuironed with the sea it is not to be dealt withall as an Iland in this place albeit I will not let to borow of my determination and describe it as I go bicause it is so fruitfull Beda noteth it in times past to haue conteined 600. families which are all one with Hidelands Ploughlands Carrucates or Temewares He addeth also that it is diuided from our continent by the riuer called Wantsume which is about thrée furlongs broad and to be passed ouer in two places onelie But whereas Polydore saieth the Thanet is nine miles in length not much lesse in bredth it is now reckoned that it hath not much aboue seauen miles from Nordtmuth to Sandwich and foure in bredth from the Stoure to Margate or from the south to the north the circuit of the whole being 17. or 18. as Leland also noteth This Iland hath no wood growing in it except it be forced and yet otherwise it is verie fruitfull and beside that it wanteth few other commodities the finest chalke is said to be found there Herein also did Augustine the moonke first arriue when he came to conuert the Saxons and afterward in processe of time sundry religious houses were erected there as in a soile much bettered as the supersticious supposed by the steps of that holy man such as came ouer with him There are at this time 10. parish churches at the least in the I le of Thanet as S. Nicholas Birchington S. Iohns Wood or Woodchurch S. Peters S. Laurence Mownton or Monkeron Minster S. Gyles and all Saincts whereof M. Lambert hath written at large in his description of Kent and placed the same in the Lath of sainct Augustine and hundred of Kingslow as may easilie be séene to him that will peruse it Sometime Rutupium or as Beda calleth it Reptacester stood also in this Iland but now thorough alteration of the chanell of the Dour it is shut quite out and annexed to the maine It is called in these daies Richborow and as it should seeme builded vpon an indifferent soile or high ground The large brickes also yet to be seene there in the ruinous walles declare either the Romane or the old British workemanship But as time decaieth all things so Rutupium named Ruptimuth is now become desolate and out of the dust thereof Sandwich producted which standeth a full mile from the place where Reptacester stood The old writers affirme how Arthur Mordred fought one notable battell here wherin Gwallon or Gawan was slaine at which time the said rebell came against his souereigne with 70000. Picts Scots Irish Norwegiens c and with Ethelbert the first christian king of Kent did hold his palace in this towne and yet none of his coine hath hitherto beene found there as is dailie that of the Romanes whereof manie péeces of siluer and gold so well as of brasse copper and other mettall haue often beene shewed vnto me It should appéere in like sort that of this place all the whole coast of Kent therabout was called Littus Rutupinum which some doo not a little confirme by these words of Lucane to be read in his sixt booke soone after the beginning Aut vaga cum Tethis Rutupinà que littora feruent Vnda Calidonios fallit turbata Britannos Or when the wandering seas and Kentish coasts doo worke And Calidons of British bloud the troubled waues beguile Meaning in like sort by the latter the coast néere Andredeswald which in time past was called Littus Calidonium of that wood or forrest as Leland also confirmeth But as it is not my mind to deale anie thing curiouslie in these by-matters so in returning againe to my purpose and taking my iourney toward the Wight I must needs passe by Selesey which sometime as it should séeme hath béene a noble Iland but now in maner a Byland or Peninsula wherin the chéefe sée of the bishop of Chichester was holden by the space of thrée hundred twentie nine yeares and vnder twentie bishops Next vnto this we come vnto those that lie betweene the Wight and the maine land of which the most easterlie is called Thorne and to saie truth the verie least of all that are to be found in that knot Being past the Thorne we touched vpon the Haling which is bigger than the Thorne and wherein one towne is situat of the same denomination beside another whose name I remember not By west also of the Haling lieth the Port the greatest of the three alreadie mentioned and in this standeth Portsmouth and Ringstéed whereof also our Leland saieth thus Port Ile is cut from the shore by an arme of the maine hauen which breaketh out about thrée miles aboue Portsmouth and goeth vp two miles or more by morish ground to a place called Portbridge which is two miles from Portsmouth Then breaketh there out another créeke from the maine sea about Auant hauen which gulleth vp almost to Portbridge and thence is the ground disseuered so that Portsmouth standeth in a corner of this I le which Iland is in length six miles and three miles in bredth verie good for grasse and corne not without some wood and here and there inclosure Beside this there is also another Iland north northwest of Port I le which is now so worne and washed awaie with the working of the sea that at the spring tides it is wholie couered with water and thereby made vnprofitable Finallie being past all these and in compassing this gulfe we come by an other which lieth north of Hirst castell southeast of Kaie hauen whereof I find nothing worthie to be noted sauing that it wanteth wood as Ptolomie affirmeth in his Geographicall tables of all those Ilands which enuiron our Albion The Wight is called in Latine Vectis but in the British speach Guidh that is to saie Eefe or easie to be séene or as D. Caius saith separate bicause that by a breach of the sea it was once diuided from the maine as Sicilia was also from Italie Anglesei from Wales Foulenesse from Essex Quinborow from Kent It lieth distant from the south shore of Britaine where it is fardest off by fiue miles a halfe but where it commeth neerest not passing a thousand paces and this at the cut ouer betwéene Hirst castell and a place called Whetwell chine as the inhabitants doo report It conteineth in length twentie miles and in bredth ten it hath also the north pole eleuated by 50. degrées and 27. minutes and is onelie 18. degrees in distance and 50. od minuts from the west point as experience hath confirmed contrarie to the description of Ptolomie and such as folow his assertions in the same In forme it representeth almost an eg and so well is it inhabited with meere English at this present that there are thirtie six townes villages and castels to be found
since this I le was left desolate for when the inhabitants thereof returned from a feast holden in S. Maries Ile they were all drowned and not one person left aliue There are also two other small Ilands betwéene this and the Annot whereof I find nothing worthie relation for as both of them ioind togither are not comparable to the said Annot for greatnesse and circuit so they want both hogs and conies wherof Annot hath great plentie There is moreouer the Minwisand from whence we passe by the Smithy sound leauing thrée little Ilands on the left hand vnto the Suartigan Iland then to Rousuian Rousuiar and the Cregwin which seauen are for the most part replenished with conies onelie and wild garlike but void of wood other commodities sauing of a short kind of grasse or here there some firzes whereon their conies doo féed Leauing therefore these desert peeces we incline a little toward the northwest where we stumble or run vpon Moncarthat Inis Welseck Suethiall We came in like sort vnto Rat Iland wherein are so manie monstrous rats that if anie horsses or other beasts happen to come thither or be left there by negligence but one night they are sure to be deuoured eaten vp without all hope of recouerie There is moreouer the Anwall and the Brier Ilands in like sort void of all good furniture conies onelie excepted and the Brier wherein is a village castell and parish-church bringeth foorth no lesse store of hogs and wild foule than Rat Iland doth of rats whereof I greatlie maruell By north of the Brier lieth the Rusco which hath a Labell or Byland stretching out toward the southwest called Inis widdon This Rusco is verie neere so great as that of S. Maries It hath moreouer an hold and a parish within it beside great store of conies and wild foule whereof they make much gaine in due time of the yeare Next vnto this we come to the Round Iland which is about a mile ouer then to S. Lides Iland wherein is a parish-church dedicated to that Saint beside conies wood and wild foule of which two later there is some indifferent store the Notho the Auing one of them being situat by south of another and the Auing halfe a mile ouer which is a iust halfe lesse than the Notho and the Tyan which later is a great Iland furnished with a parish-church and no small plentie of conies as I heare After the Tyan we come to S. Martines Ile wherein is a faire towne the I le it selfe being next vnto the Rusco for greatnesse and verie well furnished with conies fresh springs Also betwixt this and S. Maries are ten other smaller which reach out of the northeast into the southwest as Knolworth Sniuilliuer Menwetham Vollis 1. Surwihe Vollis 2. Arthurs Iland Guiniliuer Nenech and Gothrois whose estates are diuers howbeit as no one of these is to be accounted great in comparison of the other so they all yéeld a short grasse méet for sheepe and conies as doo also the rest In the greater Iles likewise whose names are commonlie such as those of the townes or churches standing in the same there are as I here sundry lakes and those neuer without great plentie of wild foule so that the Iles of Sylley are supposed to be no lesse beneficiall to their lords than anie other what soeuer within the compasse of our Ile or neere vnto our coasts In some of them also are wild swine And as these Iles are supposed to be a notable safegard to the coast of Cornewall so in diuerse of them great store of tin is likewise to be found There is in like maner such plentie of fish taken among these same that beside the feeding of their swine withall a man shall haue more there for a penie than in London for ten grotes Howbeit their cheefe commoditie is made by Reigh which they drie cut in peeces and carie ouer into little Britaine where they exchange it there for salt canuas readie monie or other merchandize which they doo stand in need of A like trade haue some of them also with Buckhorne or dried whiting as I heare But sith the author of this report did not flatlie auouch it I passe ouer that fish as not in season of this time Thus haue we viewed the richest and most wealthie Iles of Sylley from whence we must direct our course eastwards vnto the mouth of the Sauerne and then go backe againe vnto the west point of Wales continuing still our voiage along vpon the west coast of Britaine till we come to the Soluey whereat the kingdomes part from which foorth on we must touch such Ilands as lie vpon the west and north shore till we be come againe vnto the Scotish sea and to our owne dominions From the point of Cornewall therefore or promontorie of Helenus so called as some thinke bicause Helenus the son of Priamus who arriued here with Brute lieth buried there except the sea haue washed awaie his sepulchre vntill we come vnto the mouth of Sauerne we haue none Ilands at all that I doo know or heare of but one litle Byland Cape or Peninsula which is not to be counted of in this place And yet sith I haue spoken of it you shall vnderstand that it is called Pendinas and beside that the compasse thereof is not aboue a mile this is to be remembred farder thereof how there standeth a Pharos or light therein for ships which saile by those coasts in the night There is also at the verie point of the said Pendinas a chappell of saint Nicholas beside the church of saint Ia an Irish woman saint It belonged of late to the Lord Brooke but now as I gesse the Lord Mountioy enioieth it There is also a blockhouse and a péere in the eastside thereof but the péere is sore choked with sand as is the whole shore furthermore from S. Ies vnto S. Carantokes insomuch that the greatest part of this Byland is now couered with sands which the sea casteth vp and this calamitie hath indured little aboue fiftie yeares as the inhabitants doo affirme There are also two rocks neere vnto Tredwy and another not farre from Tintagell all which many of the common sort doo repute and take for Iles wherefore as one desirous to note all I thinke it not best that these should be omitted but to proceed When we be come further I meane vnto the Sauerne mouth we meet the two Holmes of which one is called Stepholme and the other Flatholme of their formes béeing in déed parcels of ground and low soiles fit for little else than to beare grasse for cattell whereof they take those names For Holme is an old Saxon word applied to all such places Of these also Stepholme lieth south
which should be prima as yet I do not read except it should be Anglesei and then saith Malmesburie well In like sort Propertius speaketh of a Meuania which he called Nebulosa but he meaneth it euidentlie of a little towne in Umbria where he was borne lib. 4. eleg De vrbe Rom. Wherfore there néedeth no vse of his authoritie This in the meane time is euident out of Orosius lib 1. capite 2. that Scots dwelled somtime in this I le as also in Ireland which Ethicus also affirmeth of his owne time and finallie confirmeth that the Scots and Irish were sometime one people It hath in length 24. miles and 8. in bredth and is in maner of like distance from Galloway in Scotland Ireland and Cumberland in England as Buchanan reporteth In this Iland also were some time 1300. families of which 960. were in the west halfe and the rest in the other But now through ioining house to house land to land a common plague and canker which will eat vp all if prouision be not made in time to withstand this mischéefe that number is halfe diminished and yet many of the rich inhabiters want roome and wote not how and where to bestowe themselues to their quiet contentations Certes this impediment groweth not by reason that men were greater in bodie than they haue béene in time past but onelie for that their insatiable desire of inlarging their priuate possessions increaseth still vpon them and will doo more except they be restrained but to returne to our purpose It was once spoiled by the Scots in the time of king Athelstane chéeflie by Anlafus in his flight from the bloudie battell wherein Constantine king of Scotland was ouercome secondlie by the Scots 1388. after it came to the possession of the English for in the beginning the kings of Scotland had this Iland vnder their dominion almost from their first arriuall in this Iland and as Beda saith till Edwine king of the Northumbers wan it from them and vnited it to his kingdome After the time of Edwine the Scots gat the possession thereof againe and held it till the Danes Norwaies wan it from them who also kept it but with much trouble almost 370. yeares vnder the gouernance of their viceroies whome the kings of Norwaie inuested vnto that honor till Alexander the third king of that name in Scotland recouered it from them with all the rest of those Iles that lie vpon the west coast called also Sodorenses in the daies of Magnus king of Norwaie And sithens that time the Scotish princes haue not ceased to giue lawes to such as dwelled there but also from time to time appointed such bishops as should exercise ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in the same till it was won from them by our princes and so vnited vnto the realme of England Finallie how after sundrie sales bargains and contracts of matrimonie for I read that William Scroope the kings Uicechamberleine did buy this I le and crowne thereof of the lord William Montacute earle of Sarum it came vnto the ancestours of the earles of Darbie who haue béene commonlie said to be kings of Man the discourse folowing shall more at large declare Giraldus noteth a contention betwéene the kings of England Ireland for the right of this Iland but in the end when by a comprâ—mise the triall of the matter was referred to the liues or deaths of such venemous wormes as should be brought into the same and it was found that they died not at all as the like doo in Ireland sentence passed with the king of England so he reteined the Iland But howsoeuer this matter standeth and whether anie such thing was done at all or not sure it is that the people of the said Ile were much giuen to witchcraft and sorcerie which they learned of the Scots a nation greatlie bent to that horible practise in somuch that their women would oftentimes sell wind to the mariners inclosed vnder certeine knots of thred with this iniunction that they which bought the same should for a great gale vndoo manie and for the lesse a fewer or smaller number The stature of the men and also fertilitie of this Iland are much commended and for the latter supposed verie néere to be equall with that of Anglesei in all commodities There are also these townes therein as they come now to my remembrance Rushen Dunglasse Holme towne S. Brids Bala cury the bishops house S. Mich. S. Andrew kirk Christ kirk Louel S. Mathees kirk S. Anne Pala sala kirk S. Marie kirk Concane kirk Malu and Home But of all these Rushen with the castell is the strongest It is also in recompense of the common want of wood indued with sundrie pretie waters as first of al the Burne rising in the northside of Warehill botoms and branching out by southwest of kirk S. An it séemeth to cut off a great part of the eastside thereof from the residue of that Iland From those hils also but of the south halfe commeth the Holme and Holmey by a towne of the same name in the verie mouth whereof lieth the Pile afore mentioned They haue also the Bala passing by Bala cury on the westside and the Rame on the north whose fall is named Ramesei hauen as I doo read in Chronicles There are moreouer sundrie great hils therein as that wherevpon S. Mathees standeth in the northeast part of the I le a parcell whereof commeth flat south betwéene kirk Louell and kirk Marie yéelding out of their botoms the water Bala whereof I spake before Beside these and well toward the south part of the I le I find the Warehils which are extended almost from the west coast ouertwhart vnto the Burne streame It hath also sundrie hauens as Ramsei hauen by north Laxam hauen by east Port Iris by southwest Port Home and Port Michell by west In like sort there are diuers Ilets annexed to the same as the Calfe of man on the south the Pile on the west and finallie S. Michels Ile in the gulfe called Ranoths waie in the east Moreouer the sheepe of this countrie are excéeding huge well woolled and their tailes of such greatnesse as is almost incredible In like sort their hogs are in maner monstrous They haue furthermore great store of barnacles bréeding vpon their coasts but yet not so great store as in Ireland and those as there also of old ships ores masts peeces of rotten timber as they saie and such putrified pitched stuffe as by wrecke hath happened to corrupt vpon that shore Howbeit neither the inhabitants of this I le nor yet of Ireland can readilie saie whether they be fish or flesh for although the religious there vsed to eat them as fish yet elsewhere some haue beene troubled for eating of them in times prohibited for heretikes and lollards For my part I haue béene verie desirous to vnderstand the vttermost of the bréeding of
of the I le of Manaw a bishops see was erected in the old monasterie of Columbus whereby the iurisdiction of those Iles was still mainteined and continued Certes there remaine yet in this Iland the old burials apperteinâ—ng to the most noble families that had dwelled in the west Iles but thrée aboue other are accompted the most notable which haue little houses builded vpon them That in the middest hath a stone whereon is written Tumuli regum Scotiae The burials of the kings of Scotland for as they saie fourtie eight of them were there interred Another is intituled with these words The burials of the kings of Ireland bicause foure of them lie in that place The third hath these words written thereon The graues of the kings of Norwaie for there eight of them were buried also and all through a fond suspicion conceiued of the merits of Columbus Howbeit in processe of time when Malcolme Cammor had erected his abbeie at Donfermeling he gaue occasion to manie of his successors to be interred there About this Iland there lie six other Iles dispersed small in quantitie but not altogither barren sometimes giuen by the kings of Scotland and lords of the Iles vnto the abbeie of saint Columbus of which the Soa albeit that it yeeld competent pasturage for shéepe yet is it more commodious by such egs as the great plentie of wildfoule there breeding doo laie within the same Then is there the I le of Shrewes or of women as the more sober heads doo call it Also Rudan next vnto that the Rering There is also the Shen halfe a mile from Mula whose bankes doo swarme with conies it hath also a parish church but most of the inhabitants doo liue and dwell in Mula There is also the Eorse or the Arse and all these belong vnto saint Columbus abbeie Two miles from Arse is the Olue an Iland fiue miles in length and sufficientlie stored with corne and grasse not without a good hauen for ships to lie and harbor in There is also the Colfans an Iland fruitfull inough and full of cornell trées There is not far off also the Gomater Stafa the two Kerneburgs and the Mosse I le in the old Brittish speech called Monad that is to saie Mosse The soile of it is verie blacke bicause of the corruption putrefaction of such woods as haue rotted thereon wherevpon also no small plentie of mosse is bred and ingendered The people in like maner make their fire of the said earth which is fullie so good as our English turffe There is also the Long six miles further toward the west Tirreie which is eight miles in length and thrée in breadth of all other one of the most plentifull for all kinds of commodities for it beareth corne cattell fish and seafowle aboundantlie It hath also a well of fresh water a castell and a verie good hauen for great vessels to lie at safegard in Two miles from this also is the Gun and the Coll two miles also from the Gun Then passed we by the Calfe a verie wooddie Iland the foure gréene Iles the two glasse or skie Ilands the Ardan the I le of woolfes then the great Iland which reacheth from the east into the west is sixteene miles in length and six in breadth full of mounteins and swelling woods and for asmuch as it is not much inhabited the seafoules laie great plentie of egs there whereof such as will may gather what number them listeth Upon the high cliffes and rocks also the Soland géefe are taken verie plentifullie Beyond this about foure miles also is the Ile of horsses and a little from that the hog Iland which is not altogither vnfruitfull There is a falcon which of custome bréedeth there and therevnto it is not without a conuenient hauen Not farre off also is the Canna and the Egga little Iles but the later full of Soland géefe Likewise the Sobratill more apt to hunt in than méet for anie other commoditie that is to be reaped thereby After this we come to the Skie the greatest Ile about all Scotland for it is two and fortie miles long and somewhere eight in some places twelue miles broad it is moreouer verie hillie which hilles are therevnto loaden with great store of wood as the woods are with pasture the fields with corne and cattell and besides all other commodities with no small heards of mares whereby they raise great aduantage and commoditie It hath fiue riuers verie much abounding with salmons and other fresh streams not altogither void of that prouision It is inuironed also with manie baies wherein great plentie of herrings is taken in time of the yéere It hath also a noble poole of fresh water fiue castels and sundrie townes as Aie S. Iohns Dunwegen S. Nicholas c. The old Scots called it Skianacha that is Winged but now named Skie There lie certeine small Ilands about this also as Rausa a batable soile for corne gras Conie Iland full of woods and conies Paba a theeuish Iland in whose woods théeues do lurke to rob such as passe by them Scalpe I le which is full of deere Crowling wherein is verie good harbour for ships Rarsa full of béechen woods and stags being in length seuen miles and two in breadth The Ron a woodie Ile and full of heath yet hath it a good hauen which hath a little Iland called Gerloch on the mouth thereof and therein lurke manie théeues There is not farre off from this Ron to wit about six miles also the Flad the Tiulmen Oransa Buie the lesse and Buie the more and fiue other little trifling Iles of whose names I haue no notice After these we come vnto the Ise a pretie fertile Iland to the Oue to the Askoome to the Lindill And foure score miles from the Skie towards the west to the Ling the Gigarmen the Berner the Magle the Pable the Flab the Scarpe the Sander the Uateras which later hath a noble hauen for great ships beside sundrie other commodities and these nine last rehearsed are vnder the dominion of the bishop of the Iles. After this we come to the Bar an Iland seauen miles in length not vnfruitfull for grasse and corne but the chiefe commoditie thereof lieth by taking of herrings which are there to be had abundantlie In one baie of this Iland there lieth an Islet and therein standeth a strong castell In the north part hereof also is an hill which beareth good grasse from the foot to the top and out of that riseth a spring which running to the sea doth carrie withall a kind of creature not yet perfectlie formed which some do liken vnto cockels and vpon the shore where the water falleth into the sea they take vp a kind of shelfish when the water is gone which they suppose to be ingendred or increased after this manner Betwéene the Barre and the Uisse lie also these Ilands Orbaus Oue
beasts as marterns sheepe oxen and gotes skins and therevnto a kind of cloth which they weaue and sell to the merchants of Norwaie togither with their butter fish either salted or dried and their traine oile and exercise their trade of fishing also in their vncerteine skewes which they fetch out of Norwaie Their speech is Gothish and such of them as by their dealing with forren merchants doo gather anie wealth that they will verie often bestow vpon the furniture of their houses Their weights measures are after the Germaine maner their countrie is verie healthie and so wholesome that of late a man was found which had maried a wife at one hundred yeares of age and was able to go out a fishing with his bote at one hundred and fortie and of late yéeres died of méere age without anie other disease Dronkennesse is not heard of among them and yet they meet and make good chéere verie often Neither doo I read of anie great vse of flesh or foule there although that some of their Ilands haue plentie of each Nor anie mention of corne growing in these parts and therefore in steed of bread they drie a kind of fish which they beat in morters to powder bake it in their ouens vntill it be hard and drie Their fuell also is of such bones as the fish yéeldeth that is taken on their coasts and yet they liue as themselues suppose in much felicitie thinking it a great péece of their happinesse to be so farre distant from the wicked auarice and cruell dealings of the more rich and ciuill part of the world Herein also they are like vnto the Hirthiens in that at one time of the yeare there commeth a priest vnto them out of the Orchades vnto which iurisdiction they doo belong who baptiseth all such children as haue béene borne among them since he last arriued and hauing afterward remained there for a two daies he taketh his tithes of them which they prouide and paie with great scrupulositie in fish for of other commodities paie they none and then returneth home againe not without boast of his troublesome voiage except he watch his time In these Iles also is great plentie of fine Amber to be had as Hector saith which is producted by the working of the sea vpon those coasts but more of this elsewhere This neuertheles is certeine that these Ilands with the Orchades were neuer perfectlie vnited to the crowne of Scotland till the mariage was made betwéene king Iames and the ladie Marie daughter to Christierne king of Denmarke 1468 which Christierne at the birth of their sonne Iames afterward king of Scotland and called Iames the fourth resigned all his right and title whatsoeuer either he or his ancestors either presently or hertofore had might haue had or herafrer may or should haue vnto the aforesaid péeres as appéereth by the charter From these Shetland Iles and vntill we come southwards to the Scarre which lieth in Buquhamnesse I find no mention of anie I le situat vpon that coast neither greatlie from thence vntill we come at the Forth that leadeth vp to Sterling neither thought we it safetie for vs to search so farre as Thule whence the most excellent brimstone commeth thereto what store of Ilands lie vnder the more northerlie climats whose secret situations though partlie seene in my time haue not yet bin perfectlie reueled or discouered by anie bicause of the great aboundance of huge Ilands of ice that mooueth to and fro vpon their shores and sundrie perilous gulfes and indraughts of water and for as much as their knowlege doth not concerne our purpose wherfore casting about we came at the last into the Firth or Forth which some call the Scotish sea wherein we passe by seuen or eight such as they be of which the first called the Maie the second Baas and Garwie the third doo séeme to be inhabited From these also holding on our course toward England we passe by another I le wherein Faux castell standeth and this so far as my skill serueth is the last Iland of the Scotish side in compassing whereof I am not able to discerne whether their flats and shallowes number of Ilands without name confusion of situation lacke of true description or mine owne ignorance hath troubled me most No meruell therefore that I haue béene so oft on ground among them But most ioifull am I that am come home againe although not by the Thames mouth into my natiue citie which taketh his name of Troie yet into the English dominion where good interteinement is much more franke and copious and better harborough wherein to rest my wearie bones and refresh at ease our wether beaten carcasses The first Iland therefore which commeth to our sight after we passed Berwike is that which was somtime called Lindesfarne but now Holie Iland and conteineth eight miles a place much honored among our monasticall writers bicause diuerse moonks and heremits did spend their times therein There was also the bishops see of Lindesfarne for a long season which afterward was translated to Chester in the stréet finallie to Duresine Dunelme or Durham It was first erected by Oswald wherein he placed Aidanus the learned Scotish moonke who came hither out of the I le called Hij whereof Beda speaking in the third chapter of his third booke noteth that although the said Hij belong to the kings of Northumberland by reason of situation néerenesse to the coast yet the Picts appointed the bishops of the same and gaue the I le with the see it selfe to such Scotish moonks as they liked bicause that by their preaching they first receiued the faith But to returne to Lindesfarne After Aidan departed this life Finanus finished and builded the whole church with sawed timber of oke after the maner of his countrie which when Theodorus the archbishop of Canturburie had dedicated Edbert the bishop did couer ouer with lead Next vnto this is the I le of Farne and herein is a place of defense so far as I remember and so great store of egs laid there by diuerse kinds of wildfoule in time of the yeare that a man shall hardlie run for a wager on the plaine ground without the breach of manie before his race be finished About Farne also lie certeine Iles greater than Farne it selfe but void of inhabitants and in these also is great store of puffins graie as duckes and without coloured fethers sauing that they haue a white ring round about their necks There is moreouer another bird which the people call saint Cuthberts foules a verie tame and gentle creature and easie to be taken After this we came to the Cocket Iland so called bicause it lieth ouer against the fall of Cocket water Herein is a veine of meane seacole which the people dig out of the shore at the low water and in this Iland dwelled one Henrie sometime a famous heremite who as his life declareth came
of the Danish race And from thence vntill we came vnto the coast of Norffolke I saw no more Ilands Being therfore past S. Edmunds point we found a litle I le ouer against the fall of the water that commeth from Holkham likewise another ouer against the Claie before we came at Waburne hope the third also in Yarmouth riuer ouer against Bradwell a towne in low or little England whereof also I must néeds saie somewhat bicause it is in maner an Iland and as I gesse either hath béene or may be one for the brodest place of the strict land that leadeth to the same is little aboue a quarter of a mile which against the raging waues of the sea can make but small resistance Little England or low England therefore is about eight miles in length and foure in bredth verie well replenished with townes as Fristan Burgh castell Olton Flixton Lestoft Gunton Blundston Corton Lownd Ashebie Hoxton Belton Bradwell and Gorleston and beside this it is verie fruitfull and indued with all commodities Going forward from hence by the Estonnesse almost an Iland I saw a small parcell cut from the maine in Oxford hauen the Langerstone in Orwell mouth two péeces or Islets at Cattiwade bridge and then casting about vnto the Colne we beheld Merseie which is a pretie Iland well furnished with wood It was sometime a great receptacle for the Danes when they inuaded England howbeit at this present it hath beside two decaied blockehouses two parish churches of which one is called east Merseie the other west Merseie and both vnder the archdeacon of Colchester as parcell of his iurisdiction Foulenesse is an I le void of wood and yet well replenished with verie good grasse for neat and sheepe whereof the inhabitants haue great plentie there is also a parish church and albeit that it stand somewhat distant from the shore yet at a dead low water a man may as they saie ride thereto if he be skilfull of the causie it is vnder the iurisdiction of London And at this present master William Tabor bacheler of diuinitie and archdeacon of Essex hath it vnder his iurisdiction regiment by the surrender of maister Iohn Walker doctor also of diuinitie who liued at such time as I first attempted to commit this booke to the impression In Maldon water are in like sort thrée Ilands inuironed all with salt streames as saint Osithes Northeie and another after a mersh that beareth no name so far as I remember On the right hand also as we went toward the sea againe we saw Ramseie I le or rather a Peninsula or Biland likewise the Reie in which is a chappell of saint Peter And then coasting vpon the mouth of the Bourne we saw the Wallot Ile and his mates whereof two lie by east Wallot and the fourth is Foulnesse except I be deceiued for here my memorie faileth me on the one side and information on the other I meane concerning the placing of Foulenesse But to procéed After this and being entered into the Thames mouth I find no Iland of anie name except you accompt Rochford hundred for one whereof I haue no mind to intreat more than of Crowland Mersland Elie and the rest that are framed by the ouze Andredeseie in Trent so called of a church there dedicated to saint Andrew and Auon two noble riuers hereafter to be described sith I touch onelie those that are inuironed with the sea or salt water round about as we may see in the Canwaie Iles which some call marshes onelie and liken them to an ipocras bag some to a vice scrue or wide sléeue bicause they are verie small at the east end and large at west The salt rilles also that crosse the same doo so separat the one of them from the other that they resemble the slope course of the cutting part of a scrue or gimlet in verie perfect maner if a man doo imagine himselfe to looke downe from the top of the mast vpon them Betwéene these moreouer and the Leigh towne lieth another litle Ile or Holme whose name is to me vnknowne Certes I would haue gone to land and viewed these parcels as they laie or at the least haue sailed round about them by the whole hauen which may easilie be doone at an high water but for as much as a perrie of wind scarse comparable to the makerell gale whereof Iohn Anele of Calis one of the best seamen that England euer bred for his skill in the narow seas was woont to talke caught hold of our sailes caried vs forth the right waie toward London I could not tarie to sée what things were hereabouts Thus much therefore of our Ilands so much may well suffice where more cannot be had The description of the Thames and such riuers as fall into the same Cap. 11. HAuing as you haue séene attempted to set downe a full discourse of all the Ilands that are situat vpon the coast of Britaine and finding the successe not correspondent to mine intent it hath caused me somewhat to restreine my purpose in this description also of our riuers For whereas I intended at the first to haue written at large of the number situation names quantities townes villages castels mounteines fresh waters plashes or lakes salt waters and other commodities of the aforesaid Iles mine expectation of information from all parts of England was so deceiued in the end that I was fame at last onelie to leane to that which I knew my selfe either by reading or such other helpe as I had alreadie purchased and gotten of the same And euen so it happeneth in this my tractation of waters of whose heads courses length bredth depth of chanell for burden ebs flowings and falles I had thought to haue made a perfect description vnder the report also of an imagined course taken by them all But now for want of instruction which hath béene largelie promised slacklie perfourmed and other sudden and iniurious deniall of helpe voluntarilie offered without occasion giuen on my part I must needs content my selfe with such obseruations as I haue either obteined by mine owne experience or gathered from time to time out of other mens writings whereby the full discourse of the whole is vtterlie cut off and in steed of the same a mangled rehearsall of the residue set downe and left in memorie Wherefore I beséech your honour to pardon this imperfection and rudenesse of my labour which notwithstanding is not altogither in vaine sith my errors maie prooue a spurre vnto the better skilled either to correct or inlarge where occasion serueth or at the leastwise to take in hand a more absolute péece of worke as better direction shall incourage them thereto The entrance and beginning of euerie thing is the hardest and he that beginneth well hath atchiued halfe his purpose The ice my lord is broken and from hencefoorth it will be more easie for
le so it is nothing inferiour vnto them in aboundance of all kind of fish whereof it is hard to saie which of the three haue either most plentie or greatest varietie if the circumstances be duelie weighed What some other write of the riuers of their countries it skilleth not neither will I as diuerse doo inuent strange things of this noble streame therewith to nobilitate and make it more honorable but this will I in plaine termes affirme that it neither swalloweth vp bastards of the Celtish brood or casteth vp the right begotten that are throwne in without hurt into their mothers lap as Politian fableth of the Rhene Epistiloram lib. 8. epi. 6. nor yéeldeth clots of gold as the Tagus dooth but an infinit plentie of excellent swéet and pleasant fish wherewith such as inhabit néere vnto hir bankes are fed and fullie nourished What should I speake of the fat and swéet salmons dailie taken in this streame and that in such plentie after the time of the smelt be past as no riuer in Europa is able to excéed it But what store also of barbels trouts cheuins pearches smelts breames roches daces gudgings flounders shrimps c are commonlie to be had therein I refer me to them that know by experience better than I by reason of their dailie trade of fishing in the same And albeit it seemeth from time to time to be as it were defrauded in sundrie wise of these hir large commodities by the insatiable auarice of the fishermen yet this famous riuer complaineth commonlie of no want but the more it looseth at one time the more it yéeldeth at another Onelie in carps it séemeth to be scant sith it is not long since that kind of fish was brought ouer into England and but of late to speake of into this streame by the violent rage of sundrie land-flouds that brake open the heads and dams of diuers gentlemens ponds by which means it became somewhat partaker also of this said commoditie whereof earst it had no portion that I could euer heare Oh that this riuer might be spared but euen one yeare from nets c But alas then should manie a poore man be vndoone In the meane time it is lamentable to see how it is and hath béene choked of late with sands and shelues through the penning and wresting of the course of the water for commodities sake But as this is an inconuenience easilie remedied if good order were taken for the redresse thereof so now the fine or paie set vpon the ballaffe sometime freelis giuen to the merchants by patent euen vnto the lands end Iusques au poinct will be another cause of harme vnto this noble streame and all through an aduantage taken at the want of an i in the word ponct which grew through an error committed by an English notarie vnskilfull in the French toong wherein that patent was granted Furthermore the said riuer floweth and filleth all his chanels wise in the daie and night that is in euerie twelue houres once and this ebbing flowing holdeth on for the space of seauentie miles within the maine land the streame or tide being alwaies highest at London when the moone dooth exactlie touch the northeast and south or west points of the heauens of which one is visible the other vnder the earth and not subiect to our sight These tides also differ in their times each one comming latter than other by so manie minuts as passe yer the reuolution and naturall course of the heauens doo reduce and bring about the said planet vnto those hir former places whereby the common difference betwéene one tide and another is found to consist of twentie foure minuts which wanteth but twelue of an whole houre in foure and twentie as experience dooth confirme In like sort we sée by dailie triall that each tide is not of equall heigth and greatnesse For at the full and change of the moone we haue the greatest flouds and such is their ordinarie course that as they diminish from their changes and fuls vnto the first and last quarters so afterwards they increase againe vntill they come to the full and change Sometimes also they rise so high if the wind be at the north or northeast which bringeth in the water with more vehemencie bicause the tide which filleth the chanell commeth from Scotland ward that the Thames ouerfloweth hir banks néere vnto London which hapneth especiallie in the fuls and changes of Ianuarie and Februarie wherein the lower grounds are of custome soonest drowned This order of flowing in like sort is perpetuall so that when the moone is vpon the southwest and north of points then is the water by London at the highest neither doo the tides alter except some rough winds out of the west or southwest doo kéepe backe and checke the streame in his entrance as the east and northeast doo hasten the comming in thereof or else some other extraordinarie occasion put by the ordinarie course of the northerne seas which fill the said riuer by their naturall returne and flowing And that both these doo happen eft among I refer me to such as haue not sildome obserued it as also the sensible chopping in of thrée or foure tides in one naturall daie wherof the vnskilfull doo descant manie things But how so euer these small matters doo fall out and how often soeuer this course of the streame doth happen to be disturbed yet at two seuerall times of the age of the moone the waters returne to their naturall course and limits of time exactlie Polydore saith that this riuer is seldome increased or rather neuer ouerfloweth hir banks by landflouds but he is herein verie much deceiued as it shal be more apparantlie séene hereafter For the more that this riuer is put by of hir right course the more the water must of necessitie swell with the white waters which run downe from the land bicause the passage cannot be so swift and readie in the winding as in the streight course These landflouds also doo greatlie straine the finesse of the streame in so much that after a great landfloud you shall take haddocks with your hands beneath the bridge as they flote aloft vpon the water whose eies are so blinded with the thicknesse of that element that they cannot see where to become and make shift to saue themselues before death take hold of them Otherwise the water of it selfe is very cléere and in comparison next vnto that of the sea which is most subtile and pure of all other as that of great riuers is most excellent in comparison of smaller brookes although Aristotle will haue the salt water to be most grosse bicause a ship will beare a greater burden on the sea than on the fresh water and an eg sinke in this that swimmeth on the other But he may easilie be answered by the quantitie of roome and aboundance of waters in the sea whereby it becommeth of more force to susteine such vessels
direct their course toward Peuenseie beneath which they meet with another rising at Foington and thence go in one chanell for a mile or more till they fall togither into Peuenscie hauen The Cuckmer issueth out at seuerall places and hereof the more easterlie branch commeth from Warbleton ward the other from Bishops wood and méeting beneth Halling they run in one bottome by Micham Arlington Wellington old Frithstan and so into the sea Unto the water that commeth out at Newhauen sundrie brookes and riuerets doo resort but the chiefe head riseth toward the west somewhat betwéene Etchinford and Shepleie as I heare The first water therefore that falleth into the same on the east side issueth out of the ground about Uertwood and running from thence by Langhton and Ripe on the west side it falleth into the aforesaid riuer beneath Forle and Glime or thrée miles lower than Lewis if the other buttall like you not The next herevnto hath his head in Argas hill the third descendeth from Ashedon forrest and ioining with the last mentioned they crosse the maine riuer a little beneath Isefield The fourth water commeth from Ashedon forrest by Horstéed Caines or Dusestate Caines and falleth into the same likewise east of Linfield Certes I am deceiued if this riuer be not called Isis after it is past Isefield The fift riseth about Storuelgate and meeteth also with the maine streame aboue Linfield and these are knowen to lie vpon the right hand as we rowed vp the riuer On the other side are onelie two whereof the first hath his originall neere vnto Wenefield and holding on his course toward the east it meeteth with his maister betweene Newicke and Isefield or Ifield as some read it The last of all commeth from Plimodune or Plumpton and hauing met in like sort with the maine riuer about Barcham it runneth foorth with it they rest in one chanell by Barcham Hamseie Malling Lewis Piddingburne and so foorth into the maine The next riuer that we came vnto west of Brighthemston is the Sore which notwithstanding I find to be called Brember water in the ancient map of Marton colledge in Oxford but in such sort as I take it as the Rother or Limen is called Appledoure streame bicause of the said towne that standeth thervpon But to procéed it is a pleasant water thereto if you consider the situation of his armes and branches from the higher grounds verie much resembling a foure stringed whip Whereabout the head of this riuer is or which of these branches may safelie be called Sora from the rising in good sooth I cannot say For after we had passed nine or ten mils thereon vp into the land suddenlie the crosse waters stopped vs so that we were inforced to turne either east or west for directlie foorth-right we had no waie to go The first arme on the right hand as we went riseth out of a parke by south of Alborne and going on for a certeine space toward the northwest it turneth southward betwéene Shermonburie and Twinham and soone after méeteth with the Bimar not much south from Shermonburie whence they run togither almost two miles till they fall into the Sore That on the west side descendeth from about Billingeshirst going toward the east it crosseth with the fourth which riseth a litle by west of Thacam east from Pulborow and so they run as one into the Sore that after this confluence hasteth it selfe southward by Brember Burleis the Combes and yer long into the Ocean The Arun of which beside Arundell towne the castell and the vallie wherin it runneth is called Vallis Aruntina or Arundale in English is a goodlie water and thereto increased with no small number of excellent pleasant brookes It springeth vp of two heads whereof one descendeth from the north not far from Gretham and going by Lis méeteth with the next streame as I gesse about Doursford house The second riseth by west from the hils that lie toward the rising of the sunne from East maine and runneth by Peterfield The third commeth from Beriton ward and ioineth with the second betwéene Peterfield and Doursford after which confluence they go togither in one chanell still toward the east taking a rill with them that cōmmeth betwéene Fernehirst and S. Lukes chappell southwest of Linchmere and meeting with it east of Loddesworth as I doo read and likewise sundrie other in one chanell beneath Stopham to Waltham Burie Houghton Stoke Arundell Tortington ford Climping all on the west side and so into the sea Hauing thus described the west side of Arun let vs doo the like with the other in such sort as we best may The first riuer that we come vnto therfore on the east side and also the second rise of sundrie places in S. Leonards forrest ioining a little aboue Horsham they méet with the third which commeth from Ifield parke not verie farre from Slinfeld The fourth hath two heads whereof one riseth in Witleie parke the other by west neere vnto Heselméere chappell and meeting by west of Doursfeld they vnite themselues with the chanell growing by the confluence that I spake of beneath Slinfeld a little aboue Billingshirst The last water commeth from the hils aboue Linchemere and runneth west and south and passing betwéene Billingthirst and Stopham it commeth vnto the chanell last mentioned and so into the Arun beneath Stopham without anie further increase at the least that I doo heare of Burne hath his issue in a parke néere Aldingburrie or rather a little aboue the same toward the north as I haue since beene informed and running by the bottomes toward the south it falleth betwéene north Berflete and Flesham Erin riseth of sundrie heads by east of Erinleie and directing his course toward the sunne rising it peninsulateth Seleseie towne on the southwest and Pagham at northwest Deel springeth about Benderton and thence running betwéene middle Lauant and east Lauant it goeth by west of west Hampnet by east of Chichester or west of Rumbaldesdowne and afterward by Fishburne where it meeteth with a rill comming north west from Funtingdon a little beneath the towne then running thus in one streame toward the sea it méeteth with another rillet comming by north of Bosham and so into Auant gulfe by east of Thorneie Iland The Racon riseth by east of Racton or Racodunum as Leland calleth it and comming by Chidham it falleth into the sea northeast of Thorneie aforesaid The Emill commeth first betwéene Racton and Stansted then downe to Emilsworth or Emmesworth so vnto the Ocean separating Sussex from Hampshire almost from the very head Hauing in this maner passed along the coasts of Sussex the next water that I remember riseth by east of the forrest of Estbirie from whence it goeth by Southwike west Burhunt Farham and so into the gulfe almost full south Then come we to Bedenham creeke so called of a
miles aboue Totnes or as another saith by Ratter Harberton Painesford and Asprempton into Darent which yer long also commeth to Corneworthie Grenewaie Ditsham Darntmouth towne whervnto king Iohn gaue sometimes a maior as he did vnto Totnesse from thence betwéene the castelles and finallie into sea From hence we went by Stokeflemming to another water which commeth from blacke Auton then to the second that falleth in east of Slapton and so coasting out of this baie by the Start point we saile almost directlie west till we come to Saltcombe hauen Certes this port hath verie little fresh water comming to it and therefore no meruell though it be barred yet the head of it such as it is riseth neere Buckland and goeth to Dudbrooke which standeth betwéene two créekes Thence it hieth to Charleton where it taketh in a rill whose head commeth from south and north of Shereford Finallie it hath another créeke that runneth vp by Ilton and the last of all that falleth in north of Portlemouth whose head is so néere the baie last afore remembred that it maketh it a sorie peninsula as I haue heard it said Then come we to the Awne whose head is in the hils farre aboue Brent towne from whence it goeth to Dixford wood Loddewell Hache Aunton Thorleston and so into the sea ouer against a rocke called S. Michaels burrow Arme riseth aboue Harford thence to Stoford Iuie bridge Armington bridge Fléet Orchardton Ownewell and so vnto the sea which is full of flats and rocks so that no ship commeth thither in anie tempest except it be forced therto through the vttermost extremitie and desperat hazard of the fearefull mariners King Philip of Castile lost two ships here in the daies of king Henrie the seuenth when he was driuen to land in the west countrie by the rage of weather Yalme goeth by Cornewood Slade Stratleie Yalmeton Collaton Newton ferrie and so into the sea about foure miles by south east from the maine streame of Plimmouth Being past these portlets then next of all we come to Plimmouth hauen a verie busie péece to describe bicause of the numbers of waters that resort vnto it small helpe that I haue for the knowledge of their courses yet will I doo what I may in this as in the rest and so much I hope by Gods grace to performe as shall suffice my purpose in this behalfe The Plimne or Plim is the verie same water that giueth name to Plimpton towne The mouth of this gulfe wherein the ships doo ride is walled on ech side and chained ouer in time of necessitie and on the south side of the hauen is a blocke house vpon a rockie hill but as touching the riuer it selfe it riseth in the hils west of Cornewood and commeth downe a short course of thrée miles to Newenham after it be issued out of the ground From Newenham also it runneth to Plimpton and soone after into the Stoure which Stoure ariseth northwest of Shepistour goeth froÌ„ thence to Memchurch Hele. Shane Bickleie and so to Eford where taking in the Plim it runneth downe as one vnder the name of Plim vntill it go past Plimmouth and fall into the hauen south east of Plimmouth aforesaid I haue oftentimes trauelled to find out the cause whie so manie riuers in England are called by this name Stoure and at the first supposing that it was growne by the corruption of Dour the Brittish word for a streame I rested thervpon as resolued for a season but afterward finding the word to be méere Saxon and that Stouremare is a prouince subiect to the duke of Saxonie I yéelded to another opinion whereby I conceiue that the said name was first deriued from the Saxons But to returne to our purpose Plimmouth it selfe standeth betweene two créeks not serued with anie backewater therefore passing ouer these two we enter into the Thamer that dischargeth it selfe into the aforsaid hauen Going therfore vp that streame which for the most part parteth Deuonshire from Cornewall the first riueret that I met withall on the east side is called Tauie the head whereof is among the mounteins foure miles aboue Peters Tauie beneath which it meeteth with another water from by west so that these two waters include Marie Tauie betwéene them though nothing neere the confluence From hence the Taue or Tauie runneth to Tauistocke aboue which it taketh in a rill from by west and another aboue north Buckland whose head is in Dartmore and commeth therevnto by Sandford and Harrow bridge From hence it goeth into Thamar by north Buckland moonks Buckland Beare and Tamerton follie Hauing thus dispatched the Tauie the next that falleth in on the east side vpwards is the Lidde which rising in the hils aboue Lidford runneth downe by Curriton and Siddenham and so to Lidstone aboue which it receiueth the Trushell brooke which rising north east of Brediston goeth by Trusholton to Ibaine where it receiueth a rill that commeth by Bradwood from Germanswike and after the confluence runneth to Liston and from thence into the Thamar The next aboue this is the Corewater this ariseth somewhere about Elwell or Helwell and going by Uirginston runneth on by saint Giles without anie increase vntill it come to Thamar Next of all it taketh in two brookes not much distant in sunder whereof the one commeth in by Glanton the other from Holsworthie and both east of Tamerton which standeth on the further banke other side of the Thamar and west northwest of Tedcote except the quarter deceiue me Certes the Thamar it selfe riseth in Summersetshire about thrée miles northeast of Hartland and in maner so crosseth ouer the whole west countrie betwéene sea and sea that it leaueth Cornewall a byland or peninsula Being therefore descended from the head by a tract of six miles it commeth to Denborow Pancrase well Bridge Reuell Tamerton Tetcote Luffencote Boiton and Wirrington where it meeteth with a water on the west side called Arteie that riseth short of Iacobstow Two miles in like sort froÌ„ this confluence we met with the Kenseie whose head is short of Warpeston by south east from whence it goeth by Treneglos Tremone Tresmure Trewen Lanfton and so into the Thamar that runneth from hence by Lowwhitton vnto Bradston and going on toward Dunterton taketh in a rill from south Pitherwiâ—c and by Lesant beneath Dunterton also it crosseth the Enian This riuer riseth at Dauidston and directeth his race by saint Clethir Lancast and Trelaske first and then vnder sundrie bridges vntill it méet with the Thamar From hence also the Thamar goeth by Siddenham to Calstocke bridge Calstocke towne Clifton Cargreue there abouts taking in a créeke aboue Landilip and running on from thence hasteth toward Saltash where it receiueth the Liuer water The head of Liuer is about Broomwellie hill from whence it goeth on to North hill Lekenhorne South hill and taking in
of saint Buriens and an other somewhat longer than the first that issueth by west of the aforesaid towne wherein is to be noted that our cards made heretofore doo appoint S. Buriens to be at the very lands end of Cornewall but experience now teacheth vs that it commeth not néere the lands end by thrée miles This latter rill also is the last that I doo reade of on the south side and likewise on the west and north till we haue sailed to S. Ies baie which is full ten miles from the lands end or Bresan I le eastward rather more if you reckon to the fall of the Haile which lieth in the very middest and highest part of the baie of the same The soile also is verie hillie here as for saint Ies towne it is almost as I said a byland and yet is it well watered with sundrie rilles that come from those hilles vnto the same The Haile riseth in such maner and from so manie heads as I haue before said howbeit I will adde somewhat more vnto it for the benefit of my readers Certes the chéefe head of Haile riseth by west of Goodalfin hilles and going downe toward saint Erthes it receiueth the second and best of the other three rilles from Goodalfin towne finallie comming to saint Erthes and so vnto the maine baie it taketh in the Clowart water from Guimer south of Phelacke which hath two heads the said village standing directlie betwixt them both The Caine riseth southeast of Caineburne towne a mile and more from whence it goeth without increase by west of Gwethian and so into the sea west of Mara Darwaie From hence we coasted about the point left the baie till we came to a water that riseth of two heads from those hilles that lie by south of the same one of them also runneth by saint Uni another by Redreuth and méeting within a mile they fall into the Ocean beneath Luggam or Tuggan A mile and a halfe from this fall we come vnto another small rill and likewise two other créekes betwixt which the towne of saint Agnes standeth and likewise the fourth halfe a mile beyond the most easterlie of these whose head is almost thrée miles within the land in a towne called saint Alin. Thence going by the Manrocke and west of saint Piran in the sand we find a course of thrée miles and more from the head and hauing a forked branch the parts doo méet at west aboue saint Kibbard and so go into the sea I take this to be saint Pirans créeke for the next is Carantocke pill or créeke whose head is at Guswarth from whence it goeth vnto Trerise and soone after taking in a rill from by west it runneth into the sea coast of saint Carantakes Beyond this is another créeke that riseth aboue little saint Colan and goeth by lesse saint Columbe and east and by north hereof commeth downe one more whose head is almost south of the Nine stones going from thence to great saint Columbes it passeth by Lamberne and so into the sea S. Merous créeke is but a little one rising west of Padstow and falling in almost ouer against the Gull rocke Then turning betwéene the point and the blacke rocke we entred into Padstow hauen thrée miles lower than port Issec and a mile from port Gwin whose waters remaine next of all to be described The Alan ariseth flat east from the hauen mouth of Padstow well néere eight or nine miles about Dauidstone neere vnto which the Eniam also issueth that runneth into the Thamar Going therefore from hence it passeth to Camelford saint Aduen saint Bernard both Cornish saints and soone after receiueth a rill at northeast descending from Rowters hill Thence it goeth to Bliseland and Helham the first bridge of name that standeth vpon Alin Yer long also it taketh in one rill by south from Bodman another from saint Laurence the third by west of this and the fourth that commeth by Wethiell no one of them excéeding the course of thrée miles and all by south From hence it goeth toward Iglesaleward and there receiueth a water on the east side which commeth about two miles from saint Teath by Michelston saint Tuchoe saint Maben mo Cornish patrons and finallie south of Iglesall méeteth with the Alen that goeth from thence by S. Breaca to Woodbridge Hereabout I find that into our Alein or Alen there should fall two riuerets whereof the one is called Carneseie the other Laine and comming in the end to full notice of the matter I sée them to issue on seuerall sides beneath Woodbridge almost directlie the one against the other That which descendeth from northwest and riseth about saint Kew is named Carneseie as I heare the other that commeth in on the southwest banke hight Laine and noted by Leland to rise two miles aboue S. Esse But howsoeuer this matter standeth there are two other créekes on ech side also beneath these as Pethrike creeke and Minner créeke so called of the Cornish saints for that soile bred manie wherewith I finish the description of Alen or as some call it Dunmere and other Padstow water From Padstow hauen also they saile out full west to Waterford in Ireland There are likewise two rockes which lie in the east side of the hauen secretlie hidden at full sea as two pads in the straw whereof I thinke it taketh the name Yet I remember how I haue read that Padstow is a corrupted word for Adlestow and should signifie so much as Athelstani locus as it may well be For it is euident that they â—ad in time past sundrie charters of priuilege from Athelstane although at this present it be well stored with Irishmen But to our purpose Leland supposeth this riuer to be the same Camblan where Arthur fought his last and fatall conflict for to this daie men that doo eare the ground there doo oft plow vp bones of a large size and great store of armour or else it may be as I rather coniecture that the Romans had some field or Castra thereabout for not long since and in the remembrance of man a brasse pot full of Romane coine was found there as I haue often heard Being thus passed Padstow hauen and after we had gone three miles from hence we came to Portgwin a poore fisher towne where I find a brooke and a péere Then I came to Portissec alià s Cunilus two miles further and found there a brooke a péere and some succor for fisher boats Next of all vnto a brooke that ran from south east directlie north into the Sauerne sea and within halfe a mile of the same laie a great blacke rocke like an Iland From this water to Treuenni is about a mile where the paroch church is dedicated to saint Simphorian and in which paroch also Tintagell or Dundagie castell standeth which is a thing inerpugnable for the situation and would be
neither regarding either maners or obedience doo oftentimes come to confusion which if anie correction or discipline had béene vsed toward them in youth might haue prooued good members of their common-wealth countrie by their good seruice and industrie I could make report likewise of the naturall vices and vertues of all those that are borne within this Iland but as the full tractation herof craueth a better head than mine to set foorth the same so will I giue place to other men that list to take it in hand Thus much therefore of the constitutions of our bodies and so much may suffice How Britaine at the first grew to be diuided into three portions Cap. 21. AFter the comming of Brutus into this Iland which was as you haue read in the foresaid treatise about the yeare of the world 2850 or 1217 before the incarnation of Christ although Goropius after his maner doo vtterlie denie our historie in this behalfe he made a generall surueis of the whole Iland from side to side by such means to view and search out not onelie the limits and bounds of his dominions but also what commodities this new atchiued conquest might yéeld vnto his people Ferthermore finding out at the last also a conuenable place wherin to erect a citie he began there euen the verie same which at this daie is called London naming it Trenouanton in remembrance of old Troie from whence his ancestors proceeded and for which the Romans pronounced afterward Trinobantum although the Welshmen doo call it still Trenewith This citie was builded as some write much about the tenth yeare of his reigne so that he liued not aboue fiftéene yeares after he had finished the same But of the rest of his other acts attempted and doone before or after the erection of this citie I find no certeine report more than that when he had reigned in this Iland after his arriuall by the space of foure and twentie yeares he finished his daies at Trenouanton aforesaid being in his yoong and florishing age where his carcase was honourablie interred As for the maner of his death I find as yet no mention thereof among such writers as are extant I meane whether it grew vnto him by defect of nature or force of gréeuous wounds receiued in his warres against such as withstood him from time to time in this Iland and therefore I can saie nothing of that matter Herein onelie all agree that during the time of his languishing paines he made a disposition of his whole kingdome diuiding it into three parts or portions according to the number of his sonnes then liuing whereof the eldest excéeded not eight and twentie yeares of age as my coniecturs giueth me To the eldest therefore whose name was Locrine he gaue the greatest and best region of all the rest which of him to this daie is called Lhoegres among the Britons but in our language England of such English Saxons as made conquest of the same This portion also is included on the south with the British sea on the est with the Germane Ocean on the north with the Humber and on the west with the Irish sea and the riuers Dee and Sauerne whereof in the generall description of this Iland I haue spoken more at large To Camber his second sonne he assigned all that lieth beyond the Sauerne and Dee toward the west which parcell in these daies conteineth Southwales and Northwales with sundrie Ilands adiacent to the same the whole being in maner cut off and separated from England or Lhoegria by the said streams wherby it séemeth also a peninsula or by-land if you respect the small hillie portion of ground that lieth indifferentlie betweene their maine courses or such branches at the least as run and fall into them The Welshmen or Britons call it by the ancient name still vnto this day but we Englishmen terme it Wales which denomination we haue from the Saxons who in time past did vse the word Walsh in such sort as we doo Strange for as we call all those strangers that are not of our nation so did they name them Walsh which were not of their countrie The third and last part of the Iland he allotted vnto Albanact his yoongest sonne for he had but three ill all as I haue said before whose portion séemed for circuit to be more large than that of Camber and in maner equall in greatnesse with the dominions of Locrinus But if you haue regard to the seuerall commodities that are to be reaped by each you shall find them to be not much discrepant or differing one from another for what soeuer the first second haue in plentie of corne fine grasse and large cattell this latter wanteth not in excéeding store of fish rich mettall quarries of stone and abundance of wild foule so that in mine opinion there could not be a more equall partition then this made by Brute and after the aforesaid maner This later parcell at the first tooke the name of Albanactus who called it Albania But now a small portion onelie of the region being vnder the regiment of a duke reteineth the said denomination the rest being called Scotland of certeine Scots that came ouer from Ireland to inhabit in those quarters It is diuided from Lhoegres also by the Solue and the Firth yet some doo note the Humber so that Albania as Brute left it conteined all the north part of the Iland that is to be found beyond the aforesaid streame vnto the point of Cathnesse To conclude Brute hauing diuided his kingdome after this maner and therein contenting himselfe as it were with the generall title of the whole it was not long after yer he ended his life and being solemnelie interred at his new citie by his thrée children they parted each from other and tooke possession of their prouinces But Scotland after two yeares fell againe into the hands of Locrinus as to the chiefe lord by the death of his brother Albanact who was slaine by Humber king of the Scithians and left none issue behind him to succéed him in that kingdome After what maner the souereigntie of this I le dooth remaine to the princes of Lhoegres or kings of England Chap. 22. IT is possible that some of the Scotish nation reading the former chapter will take offense with me for meaning that the principalitie of the north parts of this I le hath alwais belonged to the kings of Lhoegres For whose more ample satisfaction in this behalfe I will here set downe a discourse thereof at large written by diuerse and now finallie brought into one treatise sufficient as I thinke to satisfie the reasonable although not halfe enough peraduenture to content a wrangling mind sith there is or at the leastwise hath beene nothing more odious among some than to heare that the king of England hath ought to doo in Scotland How their historiographers haue attempted to shape manie coloured
excuses to auoid so manifest a title all men may see that read their bookes indifferentlie wherevnto I referre them For my part there is little or nothing of mine herein more than onelie the collection and abridgement of a number of fragments togither wherein chéeflie I haue vsed the helpe of Nicholas Adams a lawier who wrote thereof of set purpose to king Edward the sixt as Leland did the like to king Henrie the eight Iohn Harding vnto Edward the fourth beside thrée other whereof the first dedicated his treatise to Henrie the fourth the second to Edward the third and the third to Edward the first as their writings yet extant doo abundantlie beare witnesse The title also that Leland giueth his booke which I haue had written with his owne hand beginneth in this maner These remembrances following are found in chronicles authorised remaining in diuerse monasteries both in England and Scotland by which it is euidentlie knowne and shewed that the kings of England haue had and now ought to haue the souereigntie ouer all Scotland with the homage and fealtie of the kings there reigning from time to time c. Herevnto you haue heard alreadie what diuision Brute made of this Iland not long before his death wherof ech of his children so soone as he was interred tooke seisure and possession Howbeit after two yeares it happened that Albanact was slaine wherevpon Locrinus and Camber raising their powers reuenged his death and finallie the said Locrinus made an entrance vpon Albania seized it into his owne hands as excheated wholie vnto himselfe without yéelding anie part thereof vnto his brother Camber who made no claime nor title vnto anie portion of the same Hereby then saith Adams it euidentlie appeareth that the entire seigniorie ouer Albania consisted in Locrinus according to which example like law among brethren euer since hath continued in preferring the eldest brother to the onelie benefit of the collaterall ascension from the youngest as well in Scotland as in England vnto this daie Ebranke the lineall heire from the bodie of this Locrine that is to saie the sonne of Mempris sonne of Madan sonne of the same Locrine builded in Albania the castell of Maidens now called Edenborough so called of Aldan somtime king of Scotland but at the first named Cair Minid Agnes 1. the castell on mount Agnes and the castell of virgins and the castell of Alcluith or Alclude now called Dunbriton as the Scotish Hector Boetius confesseth whereby it most euidentlie appeareth that our Ebranke was then thereof seized This Ebranke reigned in the said state ouer them a long time after whose death Albania as annexed to the empire of Britaine descended to the onelie king of Britons vntill the time of the two sisters sonnes Morgan and Conedage lineall heires from the said Ebranke who brotherlie at the first diuided the realme betwéen them so that Morgan had Lhoegres and Conedage had Albania But shortlie after Morgan the elder brother pondering in his head the loue of his brother with the affection to a kingdome excluded nature and gaue place to ambition and therevpon denouncing warre death miserablie ended his life as the reward of his vntruth whereby Conedage obteined the whole empire of all Britaine in which state he remained during his naturall life From him the same lineallie descended to the onelie king of Britons vntill and after the reigne of Gorbodian who had issue two sonnes Ferrex and Porrex This Porrex requiring like diuision of the land affirming the former partitions to be rather of law than fauor was by the hands of his elder brother best loued of queene mother both of his life and hoped kingdome beereaâ—ed at once Wherevpon their vnnaturall mother vsing hir naturall malice for the death of hir one sonne without regard of the loosing of both miserablie slue the other in his bed mistrusting no such treason Cloten by all writers as well Scotish as other was the next inheritour to the whole empire but lacking power the onelie meane in those daies to obteine right he was contented to diuide the same among foure of his kinsmen so that Scater had Albania But after the death of this Cloten his sonne Dunwallo Mulmutius made warre vpon these foure kings and at last overcame them and so recouered the whole dominion In token of which victorie he caused himselfe to be crowned with a crowne of gold the verie first of that mettall if anie at all were before in vse that was worne among the kings of this nation This Dunwallo erected temples wherein the people should assemble for praier to which temples he gaue benefit of sanctuarie He made the law for wager of battell in cases of murder and felonie whereby a théefe that liued and made his art of fighting should for his purgation fight with the true man whom he had robbed beléeuing assuredlie that the gods for then they supposed manie would by miracle assigne victorie to none but the innocent partie Certes the priuileges of this law and benefit of the latter as well in Scotland as in England be inioied to this daie few causes by late positiue laws among vs excepted wherin the benefit of wager of battell is restreined By which obedience to his lawes it dooth manifestlie appéere that this Dunwallo was then seized of Albania now called Scotland This Dunwallo reigned in this estate ouer them manie yeares Beline and Brenne the sonnes also of Dunwallo did after their fathers death fauourablie diuide the land betweene them so that Beline had Lhoegres Brenne had Albania but for that this Brenne a subiect without the consent of his elder brother and lord aduentured to marrie with the daughter of the king of Denmarke Beline seized Albania into his owne hands and thervpon caused the notable waies priuileged by Dunwallons lawes to be newlie wrought by mens hands which for the length extended from the further part of Cornewall vnto the sea by north Cathnesse in Scotland In like sort to and for the better maintenance of religion in those daies he constituted ministers called archflamines in sundrie places of this Iland who in their seuerall functions resembled the bishops of our times the one of which remained at Ebranke now called Yorke and the whole region Caerbrantonica whereof Ptolomie also speaketh but not without wresting of the name whose power extended to the vttermost bounds of Albania wherby likewise appeareth that it was then within his owne dominion After his death the whole Ile was inioied by the onelie kings of Britaine vntill the time of Uigenius Peridurus lineall heires from the said Beline who fauourablie made partition so that Uigenius had all the land from Humber by south and Peridurus from thence northwards all Albania c. This Uigenius died and Peridurus suruiued and thereby obteined the whole from whom the same quietlie descended and was by his posteritie accordinglie inioied vntill the reigne of Coell the first of that name In his time an obscure nation by most
writers supposed Scithians passed by seas from Ireland and arriued in that part of Britaine called Albania against whome this Coell assembled his power and being entred Albania to expell them one Fergus in the night disguised entered the tent of this Coell and in his bed traitorouslie slue him This Fergus was therfore in reward of his great prowesse made there king whervpon they sat downe in that part with their wiues and children and called it Scotland and themselues Scots from the begining of the world foure thousand six hundred and seauentéene yeares after the Scotish accompt which by iust computation and confession of all their owne writers is six hundred yeares lacking ten after that Brutus had reigned ouer the whole Iland the same land being inioied by him and his posteritie before their comming during two and fiftie descents of the kings of Britaine which is a large prescription Certes this intrusion into a land so manie hundred yeares before inhabited and by so manie descents of kings quietlie inioied is the best title that all their owne writers can alledge for them But to proceed Fergus herevpon immediatlie did diuide Albania also among his capteins and their souldiers whereby it most euidentlie appeareth that there were no people of that nation inhabiting there before in proofe whereof the same partition shall follow The lands of Cathnes lieng against Orkneie betwéene Dummesbeie and the water of Thane was giuen vnto one Cornath a capteine and his people The lands betwéene the water of Thane Nes now called Rosse being in bredth from Cromart to the mouth of the water of Locht were giuen to Lutorke another capteine and his people The lands betwéene Spaie and Nes from the Almane seas to the Ireland seas now called Murraie land were giuen to one Warroch and his people The land of Thalia now called Boin Ainze Bogewall Gariot Formartine and Bowguhan were giuen to one Thalis and his people The lands of Mar Badezenoch and Lochquhaber were giuen to Martach and his people The lands of Lorne and Kintier with the hilles and mounteins thereof lieng from Mar to the Ireland seas were giuen to capteine Nanance and his people The lands of Athole were giuen to Atholus another capteine and his people The lands of Strabraun Brawdawane lieng west from Dunkell were giuen to Creones Epidithes two capteins The lands of Argile were giuen to Argathelus a capteine The lands of Linnox Clidisdale were allotted to Lolgona a capteine The lands of Siluria now called Kile Carrike Cuningham were giuen to Silurth another capteine The lands of Brigance now called Gallowaie were giuen to the companie called Brigandes which as their best men were appointed to dwell next the Britons who afterward expelled the Britons from Annandale in Albanie whereby it is confessed to be before inhabited by Britons The residue of the land now called Scotland that is to saie Meirnis Angus Steremond Gowrie Strahern Pirth Fiffe Striueling Callender Calderwood Lougthian Mers Teuedale with other the Rement Dales the Sherifdome of Berwicke were then enioied by a nation mingled in marriage with the Britons and in their obedience whose capteine called Beringer builded the castell and towne of Berwicke vpon Twede these people were called Picts vpon whome by the death of this Coell these Scots had oportunitie to vse wars whereof they ceased not vntill such time as it pleased God to appoint another Coell king of Britons against whose name albeit they hoped for a like victorie to the first yet he preuailed and ceased not his warre vntill these Scots were vtterlie expelled out of all the bounds of Britaine in which they neuer dared to reenter vntill the troublesome reigne of Sisilt king of Britons which was the twelft king after this Coell During all which time the countrie was reinhabited by the Britons But then the Scots turning the ciuill discord of this realme betweene this Sisilt and his brother Blede to their best aduantage arriued againe in Albania there made one Reuther their king Upon this their new arriuall new warre was made vpon them by this Sisilt king of Britons in which warre Reuther their new king died and Thereus succéeded against whome the warre of Britons ceased not vntill he freelie submitted himselfe to the said Sicill king of Britons at Ebranke that is Yorke where shortlie after the tenth yeare of his reigne he died Finnane brother of Iosine succeeded by their election to the kingdome of Scots who shortlie after compelled by the warres of the same Sicill declared himselfe subiect and for the better assurance of his faith and obeisance to the king of Britons deliuered his sonne Durstus into the hands of this Sicill who fantasieng the child and hoping by his owne succession to alter their subtiltie I will not saie duplicitie saith Adams married him in the end to Agasia his owne daughter This Durstus was their next king but for that he had married a Briton woman though indeed she was a kings daughter the Scots hated him for the same cause for which they ought rather to haue liked him the better and therefore not onelie traitorouslie slue him but further to declare the end of their malice dishinherited as much as in them was the issues of the same Durstus and Agasia Herevpon new warre sproong betwéene them and vs which ceased not vntill they were contented to receiue Edeir to their king the next in bloud then liuing descended from Durstus and Agasia and thereby the bloud of the Britons of the part of the mother was restored to the crowne of Albania so that nature whose law is immutable caused this bond of loue to hold For shortlie after this Edeir attended vpon Cassibelane king of Britons for the repulse of Iulius Caesar as their owne author Boetius confesseth who commanded the same as his subiect But Iulius Caesar after his second arriuall by treason of Androgeus preuailed against the Britons and therevpon pursued this Edeir into Scotland and as himselfe saith in his commentaries subdued all the I le of Britaine Which though the liuing Scots denie it their dead writers confesse that he came beyond Calender wood and cast downe Camelon the principall citie of the Picts And in token of this victorie not farre from Carron builded a round temple of stone which remained in some perfection vntill the reigne of our king Edward called the first after the conquest by whome it was subuerted but the monument thereof remaineth to this daie Marius the sonne of Aruiragus being king of all Britaine in his time one Roderike a Scithian with a great rabble of néedie souldiours came to the water of Frith in Scotland which is an arme of the sea diuiding Pentland from Fiffe against whome Marius assembled a power by which he slue this Rodericke and discomfited his people in Westmerland but to those that remained aliue he gaue the countrie of Cathnesse in Scotland which prooueth it be within his owne
came to inhabit in this land And for this later not vnlikelie sith before the comming of the Saxons the king of the Suessionenses had a great part of this Iland in subiection as Caesar saith and in another place that such of Belgie as stale ouer hither from the maine builded and called diuerse cities after the names of the same from whence they came I meane such as stood vpon the coast as he himselfe dooth witnesse But sith coniectures are no verities and mine opinion is but one mans iudgement I will not stand now vpon the proofe of this matter least I should séeme to take great paines in adding new coniectures vnto old in such wise to deteine the heads of my readers about these trifles that otherwise peraduenture would be farre better occupied in matters of more importance To procéed the refore As soone after the first inhabitation of this Iland our cities began no doubt to be builded and increased so they ceased not to multiplie from time to time till the land was throughlie furnished with hir conuenient numbers whereof some at this present with their ancient names doo still remaine in knowledge though diuerse be doubted of and manie more perished by continuance of time and violence of the enimie I doubt not also but the least of these were comparable to the greatest of those which stand in our time for sith that in those daies the most part of the Iland was reserued vnto pasture the townes and villages either were not at all but all sorts of people dwelled in the cities indifferentlie an image of which estate may yet be seene in Spaine or at the lestwise stood not so thicke as they did afterward in the time of the Romans but chéefelie after the comming of the Saxons and after them the Normans when euerie lord builded a church neare vnto his owne mansion house and thereto imparted the greatest portion of his lands vnto sundrie tenants to hold the same of him by coppie of court roll which rolles were then kept in some especiall place indifferentlie appointed by them and their lord so that the one could haue no resort vnto them without the other by which means the number of townes and villages was not a little increased If anie man be desirous to know the names of those ancient cities that stood in the time of the Romans he shall haue them here at hand in such wise as I haue gathered them out of our writers obseruing euen their manner of writing of them so neare as to me is possible without alteration of anie corruption crept vp into the same 1. London otherwise called Trenouanton Cair Lud. Londinum or Longidinium Augusta of the legion Augusta that soiourned there when the Romans ruled here 2 Yorke otherwise called Cairbranke Vrouicum or Yurewijc Eorwijc or Eoforwijc Yeworwijc Eboracum Victoria of the legion victrix that laie there sometime 3 Canturburie Duroruerno alià s Duraruenno Dorobernia Cantwarbirie 4 Colchester Cair Colon. Cair Colden Cair Colkin of Coilus Cair Colun of the riuer that runneth thereby Colonia of the colonie planted there by the Romans Coloncester Camulodunum Plin. lib. 2. ca. 75. Tacitus Ptolome 5 Lincolne Cair Lud Coit of the woods that stood about it Cair Loichoit by corruption Lindum Lindocollinum 6 Warwijc had sometime 9 parish churches Cair Guttelin Cair Line or Cair Leon. Cair Gwair Cair Vmber Cair Gwaerton 7 Chester vpon Vske was a famous vniuersitie in the time of Arthur Cair legion Carlheon Cairlium Legecester 〈◊〉 legionum 8 Carleill Cair Lueill Cair Leill Lugibalia Cair Doill 9 S. Albanes Cair Maricipit Cair Municip Verolamium Verlamcester Cair Wattelin of the street wheron it stood 10 Winchester Cair Gwent Cair Gwin Cair Wine Venta Simenorum 11 Cisceter Cair Churne Cair Kyrne Cair Kery Cair Cery Cirnecester Churnecester 12 Silcester Cair Segent Selecester 13 Bath Cair Badon Thermae Aquae solis 14 Shaftesbyry Cair Paladour Septonia 15 Worcester Wigornia Cair Gworangon Brangonia Cair Frangon Woorkecester 16 Chichester Cair Key or Kair Kis Cair Chic 17 Bristow Cair Odernant Badon Oder Cair Bren. Venta Belgarum Brightstow 18 Rochest Durobreuis corruptlie Rofcester Roffa Durobrouis Dubobrus Durobrius 19 Portchester Cair Peris Cair Poreis 20 Cairmarden Cair Maridunum Cair Merdine Maridumum Caiâ— Marlin Cair Pridâ—in 21 Glocester Cair Clowy Cair Glow Claudiocestria 22 Leircester Cair Beir Cair Leir Cair Lirion Wirall teste Matth. West 895. 23 Cambridge Grantabric Cair Graunt 24 Cair Vrnach peraduenture Burgh castell 25 Cair Cucurat 26 Cair Draiton now a slender village 27 Cair Celennon 28 Cair Megwaid As for Cair Dorme another whereof I read likewise it stood somewhere vpon the Nene in Huntingdon shire but now vnknowne fith it was twise raced to the ground first by the Saxons then by the Danes so that the ruines thereof are in these daies not extant to be séene And in like sort I am ignorant where most of them stood that are noted with the staâ— I find in like sort mention of a noble citie called Alcluid ouer and beside these afore mentioned sometime builded by Ebracus of Britaine as the fame goeth and finallie destroied by the Danes about the yeare of Grace 870. It stood vpon the banks of the riuer Cluda to wit betwéene it and the blanke on the north and the Lound lake on the west and was sometime march betwéene the Britons and the Picts and likewise the Picts and the Scots neuerthelesse the castell as I heare dooth yet remaine and hath béene since well repared by the Scots and called Dombrittain or Dunbritton so that it is not an hard matter by these few words to find where Alcluid stood I could here if leisure serued and hast of the printer not require dispatch deliuer the ancient names of sundrie other townes of which Stafford in time past was called Stadtford and therfore as I gesse builded or the name altered by the Saxons Kinebanton now Kimbalton But if anie man be desirous to sée more of them let him resort to Houeden in the life of Henrie the second and there he shall be furthor satisfied of his desire in this behalfe It should séeme when these ancient cities flourished that the same towne which we now call saint Albons did most of all excell but chéefelie in the Romans time and was not onelie nothing inferior to London it selfe but rather preferred before it bicause it was newer and made a Municipium of the Romans whereas the other was old and ruinous and inhabited onelie by the Britons as the most part of the Iland was also in those daies Good notice hereof also is to be taken by Matthew Paris and others before him out of whose writings I haue thought good to note a few things whereby the maiestie of this ancient citie may appeare vnto posteritie and the former estate of Uerlamcester not lie altogither as it hath doone hitherto raked vp in forgetfulnes through the negligence of such as might haue
Aristotle Socion Plinie Laertius Bodinus and others which I will gather in briefe and set downe as followeth They had as Caesar saith the charge of common priuate sacrifices the discussing of points of religion the bringing vp of youth the determining of matters in variance with full power to interdict so manie from the sacrifice of their gods and the companie of men as disobeied their award Polydore affirmeth how they taught that mens soules could not die but departed from one bodie to another and that to the intent to make men valiant and dreadlesse of death Tullie writeth that partlie by tokens and partlie by surmises they would foretell things to come And by the report of Hector Boetius some of them were not ignorant of the immortalitie of the one and euerlasting God All these things they had written in the Greeke toong insomuch that Wolf Lazius vpon the report of Marcellinus declareth how the Gréeke letters were first brought to Athens by Timagenes from the Druides And herevpon it commeth also to passe that the British toong hath in it remaining at this day some smacke of the Gréeke Among other abuses of the Druides they had according to Diodorus one custome to kill men and by the falling bleeding and dismembring of the to diuine of things to come for the which and other wicked practises their sect was first condemned for abhominable as some haue written and dissolued in Gallia as Auentinus witnesseth by Tiberius and Cladius the emperours and lastlie abolished here in Britaine by the report of Caius when the gospell of Christ by the preaching of Fugatius and Damianus was receiued among the Britaines vnder Lucius king of Britaine about the yeare of our sauior 179. BArdus the sonne of Druis succéeded his father in the kingdome of Celtica and was the fift king ouer the Celtes and Samotheans amongst whom he was highlie renoumed as appeareth by Berosus for inuention of dities and musicke wherein Annius of Viterbo writeth that he trained his people and of such as excelled in this knowledge he made an order of philosophicall poets or heraulds calling them by his owne name Bardi And it should séeme by doctor Caius and master Bale that Caesar found some of them here at his arriuall in this I le and reported that they had also their first begining in the same The profession and vsages of these Bardi Nonnius Strabo Diodorus Stephanus Bale and sir Iohn Prise are in effect reported after this sort They did vse to record the noble exploits of the ancient capteins and to drawe the pedegrées and genealogies of such as were liuing They would frame pleasant dities and songs learne the same by heart and sing them to instruments at solemne feasts and assemblies of noble men and gentlemen Wherefore they were had in so high estimation that if two hosts had beene readie ranged to ioine in battell and that any of them had fortuned to enter among them both the hosts as well the enimies as the friends would haue holden their hands giuen eare vnto them and ceassed from fight vntill these Bards had gone out of the battell Of these Bards Lucane saith Vos quoque qui fortes animas bellóque peremptas Laudius in longum vates dimittitis aeuum Plurima securi fudistis carmina Bardi And you ô poet Bards from danger void that dities sound Of soules of dreadlesse men whom rage of battell would confound And make their lasting praise to time of later age rebound Because the names of these poets were neither discrepant from the ciuilitie of the Romans nor repugnant to the religion of the Christians they of all the other sects before specified were suffered onlie to continue vnabolished in all ages insomuch that there flourished of them among the Britains according to Bale before the birth of Christ Plenidus and Oronius after Christ as Prise recounteth Thalestine and the two Merlins Melkin Elaskirion and others and of late daies among the Welshmen Dauid Daie Iollo Gough Dauid ap William with an infinite number more And in Wales there are sundrie of them as Caius reporteth remaining vnto this day where they are in their language called as Leland writeth Barthes Also by the witnes of Humfrey Llhoyd there is an Iland néere vnto Wales called Insula Bardorum and Bardsey whereof the one name in Latine and the other in Saxon or old English signifieth the Iland of the Bardes or Barthes Thus farre the gouernement of the Celts in this I le An appendix to the former chapter AFter Bardus the Celts as Bale saith loathing the streict ordinances of their ancient kings and bâ—â—aking themselues to pleasure and idlenesse were in short time and with small labour brought vnder the subiection of the giant Albion the sonne of Neptune who altering the state of things in this Iland streicted the name of Celtica and the Celts within the bounds of Gallia from whence they came first to inhabit this land vnder the conduct of Samothes as before ye haue heard accordinglie as Annius hath gathered out of Berosus the Chaldean who therein agréeth also with the scripture the saieng of Theophilus the doctor and the generall consent of all writers which fullie consent that the first inhabitants of this I le came out of the parties of Gallia although some of them dissent about the time and maner of their comming Sir Brian Tuke thinketh it to be ment of the arriuall of Brute when he came out of those countries into this I le Caesar and Tacitus séeme to be of opinion that those Celts which first inhabited here came ouer to view the countrie for trade of merchandize Bodinus would haue them to come in a Gods name from Languedoc and so to name this land Albion of a citie in Languadoc named Albie Beda and likewise Polydore who followeth him affirme that they came from the coasts of Armorica which is now called little Britaine But that the authorities afore recited are sufficient to proue the time that this Iland was first inhabited by the Celts the old possessors of Gallia not onelie the néernesse of the regions but the congruence of languages two great arguments of originals doo fullie confirme the same Bodinus writeth vpon report that the British and Celtike language was all one But whether that be true or not I am not able to affirme bicause the Celtike toong is long sithens growne wholie out of vse Howbeit some such Celtike words as remaine in the writings of old authours may be perceiued to agrée with the Welsh toong being the voncorrupted spéech of the ancient Britains In déed Pausanias the Grecian maketh mention how the Celts in their language called a horsse Marc and by that name doo the Welshmen call a horsse to this day and the word Trimarc in Pausanias signifieth in the Celtike toong thrée horsses Thus it appeareth by the authoritie
souldiers secretlie in a wood and there to remaine in couert till the morning that Brute should come foorth and giue a charge vpon the enimies wherewith Corineus should breake foorth and assaile the Galles on the backes This policie was put in practise and tooke such effect as the deuisers themselues wished for the Galles being sharplie assailed on the front by Brute and his companie were now with the sudden comming of Corineus who set vpon them behind on their backes brought into such a feare that incontinentlie they tooke them to flight whom the Troians egerlie pursued making no small slaughter of them as they did ouertake them In this battell Brute lost manie of his men and amongst other one of his nephues named Turinus after he had shewed maruellous proofe of his manhood Of him as some haue written the foresaid citie of Tours tooke the name and was called Turonium because the said Turinus was there buried Andrew Theuet affirmeth the contrarie and mainteineth that one Taurus the nephue of Haniball was the first that inclosed it about with a pale of wood as the maner of those daies was of fensing their townes in the yeare of the world 3374. and before the birth of our sauiour 197. But to our matter concerning Brute who after he had obteined so famous a victorie albeit there was good cause for him to reioise yet it sore troubled him to consider that his numbers dailie decaied and his enimies still increased and grew stronger wherevpon resting doubtfull what to doo whether to procéed against the Galles or returne to his ships to séeke the Ile that was appointed him by oracle at length he chose the surest and best way as he tooke it and as it proued For whilest greater part of his armie was yet left aliue and that the victorie remained on his side he drew to his nauie and lading his ships with excéeding great store of riches which his people had got abroad in the countrie he tooke the seas againe After a few daies sailing they landed at the hauen now called Totnesse the yeare of the world 2850 after the destruction of Troy 66 after the deliuerance of the Israelites from the captiuitie of Babylon 397 almost ended in the 18 yeare of the reigne of Tineas king of Babylon 13 of Melanthus king of Athens before the building of Rome 368 which was before the natiuitie of our Sauior Christ 1116 almost ended and before the reigne of Alexander the great 783. Brute discouereth the commodities of this Iland mightie giants withstand him Gogmagog and Corineus wrestle together at a place beside Douer he buildeth the citie of Trinouant now termed London calleth this Iland by the name of Britaine and diuideth it into three parts among his three sonnes The fourth Chapter WHEN Brute had entred this land immediatlie after his arriuall as writers doo record he searched the countrie from side to side and from end to end finding it in most places verie fertile and plentious of wood and grasse and full of pleasant springs and faire riuers As he thus trauelled to discouer the state and commodities of the Iland he was encountred by diuers strong and mightie giants whome he destroied and slue or rather subdued with all such other people as he found in the Iland which were more in number than by report of some authors it should appeare there were Among these giants as Geffrey of Monmouth writeth there was one of passing strength and great estimation named Gogmagog with whome Brute caused Corineus to wrestle at a place beside Douer where it chanced that the giant brake a rib in the side of Corineus while they stroue to claspe and the one to ouerthrow the other wherewith Corineus being sore chafed and stirred to wrath did so double his force that he got the vpper hand of the giant and cast him downe headlong from one of the rocks there not farre from Douer and so dispatched him by reason whereof the place was named long after The fall or leape of Gogmagog but afterward it was called The fall of Douer For this valiant déed and other the like seruices first and last atchiued Brute gaue vnto Corineus the whole countrie of Cornwall To be briefe after that Brute had destroied such as stood against him and brought such people vnder his subiection as he found in the I le and searched the land from the one end to the other he was desirous to build a citie that the same might be the seate roiall of his empire or kingdome Wherevpon he chose a plot of ground lieng on the north side of the riuer of Thames which by good consideration séemed to be most pleasant and conuenient for any great multitude of inhabitants aswell for holsomnesse of aire goodnesse of soile plentie of woods and commoditie of the riuer seruing as well to bring in as to carrie out all kinds of merchandize and things necessarie for the gaine store and vse of them that there should inhabit Here therefore he began to build and lay the foundation of a citie in the tenth or as other thinke in the second yeare after his arriuall which he named saith Gal. Mon. Troinouant or as Hum. Llhoyd saith Troinewith that is new Troy in remembrance of that noble citie of Troy from whence he and his people were for the greater part descended When Brutus had builded this citie and brought the Iland fullie vnder his subiection he by the aduise of his nobles commanded this Ile which before hight Albion to be called Britaine and the inhabitants Britons after his name for a perpetuall memorie that he was the first bringer of them into the land In this meane while also he had by his wife .iij. sonnes the first named Locrinus or Locrine the second Cambris or Camber and the third Albanactus or Albanact Now when the time of his death drew néere to the first he betooke the gouernment of that part of the land nowe knowne by the name of England so that the same was long after called Loegria or Logiers of the said Locrinus To the second he appointed the countrie of Wales which of him was first named Cambria diuided from Loegria by the riuer of Seuerne To his third sonne Albanact he deliuered all the north part of the I le afterward called Albania after the name of the said Albanact which portion of the said Ile lieth beyond the Humber northward Thus when Brutus had diuided the I le of Britaine as before is mentioned into 3. parts and had gouerned the same by the space of 15. yeares he died in the 24 yeare after his arriuall as Harison noteth and was buried at Troinouant or London although the place of his said buriall there be now growne out of memorie Of Locrine the eldest sonne of Brute of Albanact his yoongest sonne and his death of Madan Mempricius Ebranke Brute Greenesheeld Leill Ludhurdibras Baldud and Leir the nine rulers of
of Gallia which now is called France whose name was Aganippus hearing of the beautie womanhood and good conditions of the said Cordeilla desired to haue hir in mariage and sent ouer to hir father requiring that he might haue hir to wife to whome answer was made that he might haue his daughter but as for anie dower he could haue none for all was promised and assured to hir other sisters alreadie Aganippus notwithstanding this answer of deniall to receiue anie thing by way of dower with Cordeilla tooke hir to wife onlie moued thereto I saie for respect of hir person and amiable vertues This Aganippus was one of the twelue kings that ruled Gallia in those daies as in the British historie it is recorded But to proceed After that Leir was fallen into age the two dukes that had married his two eldest daughters thinking it long yer the gouernment of the land did come to their hands arose against him in armour and rest from him the gouernance of the land vpon conditions to be continued for terme of life by the which he was put to his portion that is to liue after a rate assigned to him for the maintenance of his estate which in processe of time was diminished as well by Maglanus as by Henninus But the greatest griefe that Leir tooke was to see the vnkindnesse of his daughters which seemed to thinke that all was too much which their father had the same being neuer so little in so much that going from the one to the other he was brought to that miserie that scarslie they would allow him one seruant to wait vpon him In the end such was the vnkindnesse or as I maie saie the vnnaturalnesse which he found in his two daughters notwithstanding their faire and pleasant words vttered in time past that being constreined of necessitie he fled the land sailed into Gallia there to seeke some comfort of his yongest daughter Cordeilla whom before time he hated The ladie Cordeilla hearing that he was arriued in poore estate she first sent to him priuilie a certeine summe of monie to apparell himselfe withall and to reteine a certeine number of seruants that might attend vpon him in honorable wise as apperteined to the estate which he had borne and then so accompanied she appointed him to come to the court which he did and was so ioifullie honorablie and louinglie receiued both by his sonne in law Aganippus and also by his daughter Cordeilla that his hart was greatlie comforted for he was no lesse honored than if he had beene king of the whole countrie himselfe Now when he had informed his sonne in law and his daughter in what sort he had béene vsed by his other daughters Aganippus caused a mightie armie to be put in a readinesse and likewise a great nauie of ships to be rigged to passe ouer into Britaine with Leir his father in law to see him againe restored to his kingdome It was accorded that Cordeilla should also go with him to take possession of the land the which he promised to leaue vnto hir as the rightfull inheritour after his decesse notwithstanding any former grant made to hir sisters or to their husbands in anie maner of wise Herevpon when this armie and nauie of ships were readie Leir and his daughter Cordeilla with hir husband tooke the sea and arriuing in Britaine fought with their enimies and discomfited them in battell in the which Maglanus and Henninus were slaine and then was Leir restored to his kingdome which he ruled after this by the space of two yéeres and then died fortie yeeres after he first began to reigne His bodie was buried at Leicester in a vaut vnder the chanell of the riuer of Sore beneath the towne The gunarchie of queene Cordeilla how she was vanquished of hir imprisonment and selfe-murther the contention betweene Cunedag and Margan nephewes for gouernement and the euill end thereof The sixt Chapter COrdeilla the yoongest daughter of Leir was admitted Q. and supreme gouernesse of Britaine in the yéere of the world 3155 before the bylding of Rome 54 Uzia then reigning in Iuda and Ieroboam ouer Israell This Cordeilla after hir fathers deceasse ruled the land of Britaine right worthilie during the space of fiue yeeres in which meane time hir husband died and then about the end of those fiue yéeres hir two nephewes Margan and Cunedag sonnes to hir aforesaid sisters disdaining to be vnder the gouernment of a woman leuied warre against hir and destroied a great part of the land and finallie tooke hir prisoner and laid hir fast in ward wherewith she tooke such griefe being a woman of a manlie courage and despairing to recouer libertie there she slue hirselfe when she had reigned as before is mentioned the tearme of fiue yéeres CUnedagius and Marganus nephewes to Cordeilla hauing recouered the land out of hir hands diuided the same betwixt them that is to saie the countrie ouer and beyond Humber fell to Margan as it stretcheth euen to Catnesse and the other part lieng south and by-west was assigned to Cunedagius This partition chanced in the yéere of the world 3170 before the building of Rome 47 Uzia as then reigning in Iuda and Ieroboam in Israell Afterwards these two cousins Cunedag and Margan had not reigned thus past a two yéeres but thorough some seditious persons Margan was persuaded to raise warre against Cunedag telling him in his eare how it was a shame for him being come of the elder sister not to haue the rule of the whole I le in his hand Herevpon ouercome with pride ambition and couetousnesse he raised an armie and entring into the land of Cunedag he burned and destroied the countrie before him in miserable maner Cunedag in all hast to resist his aduersarie assembled also all the power he could make and comming with the same against Margan gaue him battell in the which he slue a great number of Margans people and put the residue to flight and furthermore pursued him from countrie to countrie till he came into Cambria now called Wales where the said Margan gaue him eftsoones a new battell but being too weake in number of men he was there ouercome and slaine in the field by reason whereof that countrie tooke name of him being there slaine and so is called to this daie Glau Margan which is to meane in our English toong Margans land This was the end of that Margan after he had reigned with his brother two yéeres or thereabouts AFter the death of Margan Cunedag the sonne of Hennius and Ragaie middlemost daughter of Leir before mentioned became ruler of all the whole land of Britaine in the yeare of the world 3172 before the building of Rome 45 Uzia still reigning in Iuda and Ieroboam in Israell He gouerned this I le well and honourablie for the tearme of 33 yeares and then dieng his bodie was buried at Troinouant or London Moreouer our writers doo
where the courts of iustice were kept there was a maruellous great noise heard with much laughing and a sturre in the theatre with great wéeping and lamentable howling at such time as it was certeinlie knowne that there was no creature there to make anie noise The sea at a spring tide appeared of a bloudie colour and when the tide was gone backe there were séene on the sands the shapes figures of mens bodies Women also as rauished of their wits and being as it were in a furie propheâ—â—ed that destruction was at hand so that the Britains were put greatlie in hope and the Romans in feare But those things whether they chanced by the craft of man or illusion of the diuell or whether they procéeded of some naturall cause which the common people oftentimes taketh superstitiouslie in place of strange woonders signifieng things to follow we would let passe least we might be thought to offend religion the which teaching all things to be doone by the prouidence of God despiseth the vaine predictions of haps to come if the order of an historie saith Polydor Virgil would so permit the which requireth all things to be written in maner as they fall out and come to passe But the Britains were chiefelie mooued to rebellion by the iust complaint of Uoadicia declaring how vnséemelie she had beene vsed and intreated at the hands of the Romans and because she was most earnestlie bent to séeke reuenge of their iniuries and hated the name of the Romans most of all other they chose hir to be capteine for they in rule and gouernement made no difference then of sex whether they committed the same to man or woman and so by a generall conspiracie the more part of the people hauing also allured the Essex men vnto rebellion rose and assembled themselues togither to make warre against the Romans There were of them a hundred and twentie thousand got togither in one armie vnder the leading of the said Uoadicia or Bunduica as some name hir She therefore to encourage hir people against the enimies mounted vp into an high place raised vp of turfes sods made for the nonce out of the which she made a long verie pithie oration Hir mightie tall personage comelie shape seuere countenance and sharpe voice with hir long and yellow tresses of heare reaching downe to hir thighes hir braue and gorgeous apparell also caused the people to haue hir in great reuerence She ware a chaine of gold great and verie massie and was clad in a lose kirtle of sundrie colours and aloft therevpon she had a thicke Irish mantell hereto in hir hand as hir custome was she bare a speare to shew hirselfe the more dreadfull The oration of queene Voadicia full of prudence and spirit to the Britains for their encouragement against the Romans wherein she rippeth vp the vile seruitude and shamefull wrongs which their enimies inflicted vpon them with other matters verie motiue both concerning themselues and their enimies hir supplication and praier for victorie The eleuenth Chapter NOw Uoadicia being prepared as you heare set foorth with such maiestie that she greatlie incouraged the Britains vnto whome for their better animating and emboldening she vttered this gallant oration in manner and forme following I doo suppose my louers and friends that there is no man here but dooth well vnderstand how much libertie and fréedome is to be preferred before thraldome and bondage But if there haue bene anie of you so deceiued with the Romane persuasions that ye did not for a time see a difference betwéene them and iudged whether of both is most to be desired now I hope that hauing tried what it is to be vnder both ye will with me reforme your iudgement and by the harmes alreadie taken acknowledge your ouersight and forsake your former error Againe in that a number of you haue rashlie preferred an externall souereigntie before the customes and lawes of your owne countrie you doo at this time I doubt not perfectlie vnderstand how much free pouertie is to be prefered before great riches wherevnto seruitude is annexed and much wealth in respect of captiuitie vnder forren magistrats wherevpon slauerie attendeth For what thing I beséech you can there be so vile grieuous vnto the nature of man that hath not happened vnto vs sithens the time that the Romans haue bene acquainted with this Iland Are we not all in manner bereaued of our riches possessions Doo not we beside other things that we giue and the land that we till for their onelie profit paie them all kinds of tributs ye â— for our owne carcases How much better is it to be once alost and fortunate in deed than vnder the forged and false title of libertie continuallie to paie for our redemption a fréedome How much is it more commendable to lose our liues in defense of our countrie than to carie about not so much as our heads toll free but dailie oppressed laden with innumerable exactions But to what end doo I remember and speake of these things since they will not suffer by death to become frée For what and how much we paie for them that are dead there is not one here but he dooth well vnderstand Among other nations such as are brought into seruitude are alwaies by death discharged of their bondage onelie to the Romans the dead doo still liue and all to increase their commoditie and gaine If anie of vs be without monie as I know not well how and which way we should come by anie then are we left naked spoiled of that which remaineth in our houses we our selues as men left desolate dead How shall we looke for better dealing at their hands hereafter that in the beginning deale so vncourteousie with vs since there is no man that taketh so much as a wild beast but at the first he will cherish it and with some gentlenesse win it to familiaritie But we our selues to saie the trueth are authors of our owne mischiefe which suffered them at the first to set foot within our Iland and did not by and by driue them backe as we did Cesar or slue them with our swords when they were yet farre off and that the aduenturing hither was dangerous as we did sometime to Augustus and Caligula We therefore that inhabit this Iland which for the quantitie thereof maie well be called a maine although it be inuironed about with the Ocean sea diuiding vs from other nations so that we séeme to liue vpon an other earth vnder a seuerall heauen we euen we I saie whose name hath béene long kept hid from the wisest of them all are now contemned and troden vnder foot of them who studie nothings else but how to become lords haue rule of other men Wherefore my welbeloued citizens friendes and kinsfolkes for I thinke we are all of kin since we were borne and dwell in this I le and haue one
Rome and Italie and was so busied in the affaires of the empire iu those parts that as was thought he could not returne backe into Britaine seized into his hands the whole dominion of Britaine and held himselfe for king THis Octauius then beginning his reigne ouer the Britains in the yéere of our Lord 329 prouoked Constantine to send against him one of his mothers vncles the foresaid Traherne This Trahernus or as some name him Traherne entred this land with three legions of souldiers in a field néere vnto Winchester was incountered by Octauius and his Britains by whome after a sore battell there striken betwixt them in the end Traherne was put to flight anâ—â—chased insomuch that he was constreined to forsake that part of the land and to draw towards Scotland Octauius hauing knowledge of his passage followed him in the countrie of Westmerland eftsoones gaue him battell but in that battell Octauius was put to the woorsse and constreined to forsake the land fled into Norway there to purchase aid and being readie with such power as he there gathered what of Britains and Norwegians to returne into Britaine Before his landing he was aduertised that an earle of Britaine which bare him heartie good will had by treason slaine Traherne Octauius then comming to land eftsoones got possession of Britaine which should be as Fabian gathereth about the yéere of our Lord 329 in the 20 yéere of the reigne of the emperour Constantine and about two yéeres after that the said Octauius first tooke vpon him to rule as king After this as the British chronicle affirmeth Octauius gouerned the land right noblie and greatlie to the contentation of the Britains At length when he was fallen in age and had no issue but one daughter he was counselled to send vnto Rome for one Maximianus a noble yoong man coosine to the emperour Constantine on the part of his mother Helena to come into Britaine and to take to his wife the said daughter of Octauius and so with hir to haue the kingdome Octauius at the first meant to haue giuen hir in mariage vnto one Conan Meridoc duke of Cornewall which was his nephue but wen the lords would not thereto agrée at the length he appointed one Maurice sonne to the said Câ—â—an to go to Rome to fetch the forenamed Maximianus Maurice according to his commission and instruction in that behalfe receiued came to rome and declared his message in such effectuall sort that Maximianus consented to go with him into Britaine and so taking with him a conuenient number set forward and did so much by his iournies that finallie he landed here in Britaine And notwithstanding that Conan Meridoc past not so much to haue béene dooing with him for malice that he conceiued towards him because he saw that by his meanes he should be put beside the crowne yet at length was Maximianus safelie brought to the kings presence and of him honorablie receiued and finallie the mariage was knit vp and solemnized in all princelie maner Shortlie after Octauius departed out of this life after he had reigned the terme of fiftie and foure yeares as Fabian gathereth by that which diuers authors doo write how he reigned till the daies that Gratian and Ualentinian ruled the Roman empire which began to gouerne in the yeare of our Lord as he saith 382 which is to be vnderstood of Gratian his reigne after the deceasse his vncle Ualens for otherwise a doubt maie rise because Ualentine the father of Gratian admitted the said Gratian to the title of Augustus in the yeare of our Lord 351. But to leaue the credit of the long reigne of Octauius with all his and others gouernement and rule ouer the Britains since the time of Constantius vnto our British and Scotish writers let vs make an end with the gouernement of that noble emperour Constantine an assured branch of the Britains race as borne of that worthie ladie the empresse Helen daughter to Coell earle of Colchester and after king of Britaine as our histories doo witnesse Unto the which empresse Constantine bare such dutifull reuerence that he did not onelie honour hir with the name of empresse but also made hir as it were partaker with him of all his wealth and in manie things was led and ruled by hir vertuous and godlie admonitions to the aduancement of Gods honour and maintenance of those that professed the true christian religion For the loue that she bare vnto Colchester and London she walled them about and caused great bricke and huge tiles to be made for the performance of the same whereof there is great store to be séene eyuen yet to this present both in the walls of the towne and castell of Colchester as a testimonie of the woorkemanship of those daies She liued 79 yeares and then departed this life about the 21 yeare of hir sonnes reigne First she was buried at Rome without the walls of the citie with all funerall pompe as to hir estate apperteined but after his corps was remoued and brought to Constantinople where it was eftsoones interred Hir sonne the emperour Constantine liued till about the yeare of Christ 340 and then deceassed at Nicomedia in Asia after he had ruled the empire 32 yeares and od moneths We find not in the Romane writers of anie great stur here in Britaine during his reigne more than the British and Scotish writers haue recorded so that after Traherne had reduced this land to quietnesse it maie be supposed that the Britains liued in rest vnder his gouernement and likewise after vnder his sonnes that succéeded him in the empire till about the yeare 360 at what time the Picts and Scots inuaded the south parts of the land But now to end with Octauius that the christian faith remained still in Britaine during the supposed time of this pretended kings reigne it maie appeare in that amongst the 36 prouinces out of the which there were assembled aboue 300 bishops in the citie of Sardica in Dacia at a synod held there against the Eusebians Britaine is numbred by Athanasius in his second apologie to be one And againe the said Athanasius in an epistle which he writeth to the emperour Iouinianus reciteth that the churches in Britaine did consent with the churches of other nations in the confession of faith articuled in the Nicene councell Also mention is made by writers of certeine godlie learned men which liued in offices in the church in those daies as Restitutus bishop of London which went ouer to the synod held at Arles in France and also one Kibius Corinnius sonne to Salomon duke of Cornewall and bishop of Anglesey who instructed the people that inhabited the parts now called Northwales and them of Anglesey aforesaid verie diligentlie But now to speake somewhat of things chancing in Britaine about this season as we find recorded by the Romane writers some trouble was likelie to
the same daies tooke name of them the one being called Wodensdaie and the other Freadaie which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of spéech were somewhat altered though not much as from Wodensdaie to Wednesdaie and from Freadaie to Fridaie The foresaid Woden was father to Uecta the father of Westgistus that was father to the foresaid Hengistus and Horsus But now to rehearse further touching those thrée people which at this time came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie Of the Uites or Iutes as Beda recordeth are the Kentishmen descended and the people of the I le of Wight with those also that inhabit ouer against the same I le Of the Saxons came the east the south the west Saxons Moreouer of the Angles procéeded the east Angles the middle Angles or Mercies and the Northerne men That these Angles were a people of Germanie it appeareth also by Cornelius Tacitus who called them Anglij which word is of thrée syllables as Polydor saith but some write it Angli with two syllables And that these Angli or Anglij were of no small force and authoritie in Germanie before their comming into this land maie appeare in that they are numbred amongst the twelue nations there which had lawes and ancient ordinances apart by themselues according to the which the state of their common wealth was gouerned they being the same and one people with the Thuringers as in the title of the old Thuringers lawes we find recorded which is thus Lex Angliorum Werinorum hoc est Thuringorum The law of the Angles and Werinians that is to saie the Thuringers which Thuringers are a people in Saxonie as in the description of that countrie it maie appeare But now to the matter Hengist perceiuing that his people were highlie in Uortigernes fauour began to handle him craftilie deuising by what means he might bring him in loue with his daughter Ronix or Rowen or Ronowen as some write which he beléeued well would easilie be brought to passe bicause he vnderstood that the king was much giuen to sensuall lust which is the thing that often blindeth wise mens vnderstanding and maketh them to dote and to lose their perfect wits yea and oftentimes bringeth them to destruction though by such pleasant poison they féele no bitter taste till they be brought to the extreame point of confusion in déed A great supper therefore was prepared by Hengist at the which it pleased the king to be present and appointed his daughter when euerie man began to be somewhat merrie with drinke to bring in a cup of gold full of good and pleasant wine and to present it to the kingâ—â— saieng Wassail Which she did in such comelie and decent maner as she that knew how to doo it well inough so as the king maruelled greatlie thereat and not vnderstanding what she ment by that salutation demanded what it signified To whom it was answered by Hengist that she wished him well and the meaning of it was that he should drinke after hir ioining thereto this answer Drinke haile Wherevpon the king as he was informed tooke the cup at the damsels hand and dranke Finallie this yoong ladie behaued hir selfe with such pleasant woords comelie countenance and amiable grace that the king beheld hir so long till he felt himselfe so farre in loue with hir person that he burned in continuall desire to inioy the same insomuch that shortlie after he forsooke his owne wife by the which he had thrée sonnes named Uortimerus Catagrinus and Pascentius and required of Hengist to haue his daughter the said Rowen or Ronowen in mariage Hengist at the first séemed strange to grant to his request and excused the matter for that his daughter was not of estate and dignitie méet to be matched with his maiestie But at length as it had béene halfe against his will he consented and so the mariage was concluded solemnized all Kent being assigned vnto Hengist in reward the which countrie was before that time gouerned by one Guorongus though not with most equall iustice which Guorongus was subiect vnto Uortigerne as all other the potentats of the I le were This mariage and liberalitie of the king towards the strangers much offended the minds of his subiects and hastened the finall destruction of the land For the Saxons now vnderstanding the affinitie had betwixt the king and Hengist came so fast ouer to inhabit héere that it was woonder to consider in how short a time such a multitude could come togither so that bicause of their great number and approoued puissance in warres they began to be a terrour to the former inhabitants the Britains But Hengist being no lesse politike in counsell than valiant in armes abusing the kings lacke of discretion to serue his owne turne persuaded him to call out of Germanie his brother Occa and his sonne named Ebusa being men of great valure to the end that as Hengist defended the land in the south part so might they keepe backe the Scots in the north Héerevpon by the kings consent they came with a power out of Germanie and coasting about the land they sailed to the Iles of Orknie and sore vexed the people there and likewise the Scots and Picts also and finallie arriued in the north parts of the realme now called Northumberland where they setled themselues at that present and so continued there euer after but none of them taking vpon him the title of king till about 99 yéeres after their first comming into that countrie but in the meane time remaining as subiects vnto the Saxon kings of Kent After their arriuall in that prouince they oftentimes fought with the old inhabitants there and ouercame them chasing away such as made resistance and appeased the residue by receiuing them vnder allegiance When the nobles of Britaine saw and perceiued in what danger the land stood by the dailie repaire of the huge number of Saxons into the same they first consulted togither and after resorting to the king mooued him that some order might be taken for the auoiding of them or the more part of them least they should with their power and great multitude vtterlie oppresse the British nation But all was in vaine for Uortigerne so estéemed and highlie fauoured the Saxons and namelie by reason of the great loue which he bare to his wife that he little regarded his owne nation no nor yet anie thing estéemed his owne naturall kinsmen and chiefe friends by reason whereof the Britains in fine depriued him of all kinglie honour after that he had reigned 16 yéeres and in his steed crowned his sonne Uortimer Gyldas and Beda make no mention of Uortimer but declare that after the Saxons were receiued into this land there was a couenant made betwixt them and the Britains that the Saxons should defend the countrie from the inuasion of enimies by their knightlie force and that in
Westsaxons and shortlie after slaine of the Eastangles as before ye haue heard Then one Ludicenus or Ludicanus was created king of Mercia and within two yeeres after came to the like end that happened to his predecessor before him as he went about to reuenge his death so that the kingdome of Britaine began now to réele from their owne estate and leane to an alteration which grew in the end to the exection of a perfect monarchie and finall subuersion of their particular estates and regiments After Ludicenus succeeded Wightlafe who first being vanquisht by Egbert king of Westsaxosn was afterwards restored to the kingdome by the same Egbert and reigned 13 yeeres whereof twelue at the least were vnder tribute which he paied to the said Egbert and to his sonne as to his souereignes and supreame gouernours The kingdome of Northumberland was brought in subiection to the kings of Westsaxons as before is mentioned in the yéere of our Lord 828 and in the yéere of the reigne of king Egbert 28 but yet béere it tooke not end as after shall appéere Ethelwulfus otherwise called by some writers Athaulfus began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons in the yéere 837 which was in the 24 yéere of the emperor Ludouicus Pius that was also K. of France in the tenth yéere of Theophilus the emperor of the East about the third yéere of Kenneth the second of that name king of Scots This Ethelwulfe minding in his youth to haue béene a priest entered into the orders of subdeacon and as some write he was bishop of Winchester but howsoeuer the matter stood or whether he was or not sure it is that shortlie after he was absolued of his vowes by authoritie of pope Leo and then maried a proper gentlewoman named Osburga which was his butlers daughter He was of nature courteous and rather desirous to liue in quiet rest than to be troubled with the gouernment of manie countries so that contenting himselfe with the kingdome of Westsaxons he permitted his brother Adelstan to inioy the residue of the countries which his father had subdued as Kent and Essex with other He aided Burthred the king of Mercia against the Welshmen and greatlie aduanced his estimation by giuing vnto him his daughter in mariage But now the fourth destruction which canced to this land by forren enimies was at hand for the people of Denmarke Norway and other of those northeast regions which in that season were great rouers by sea had tasted the wealth of this land by such spoiles and preies as they had taken in the same so that perceiuing they could not purchase more profit anie where else they set their minde to inuade the same on ech side as they had partlie begun in the daies of the late kings Brightriâ—e and Egbert The perfecution vsed by those Danes séemed more gréeâ—ous than anie of the other persecutions either before or sithens that time for the Romans hauing quicklie subdued the land gouerned it noblie without seeking the subuersion thereof The Scots and Picts onelie inuaded the north parts And the Saxons seeking the conquest of the land when they had once go it they kept it and did what they could to better and aduance it to a flourishing estate The Normans likewise hauing made a conquest granted both life and ancient lawes to the former inhabitants but the Danes long time and often assailing the land on euerie side now inuading it in this place and now in that did not at the first so much couet to conquer it as to spoile it nor to beare rule in it as to waste and destroie it who if they were at anie time ouercome the victors were nothing the more in quiet for a new nauie and a greater armie was readie to make some new inuasion neither did they enter all at one place nor at once but one companie on the east side and an other in the west or in the north and south coasts in such sort that the Englishmen knew not whether they should first go to make resistance against them This mischiefe began chieflie in the daies of this king Ethelwulfe but it continued about the space of two hundred yeeres as by the sequele of this booke it shall appéere King Ethelwulfe was not so much giuen to ease but that vpon occasion for defense of his countrie and subiects he was readie to take order for the beating backe of the enimies as occasion serued and speciallie chose such to be of his counsell as were men of great experience and wisedome Amongst other there were two notable prelats Suithune bishop of Winchester and Adelstan bishop of Shireborne who were readie euer to giue him good aduise Suithune was not so much expert in worldlie matters as Adelstan was therefore chieflie counselled the king in things apperteining to his soules health but Adelstan tooke in hand to order matters apperteining to the state of the commonwealth as prouiding of monie and furnishing foorth of men to withstand the Danes so that by him manie things were both boldlie begun and happilie atchiued as by writers hath béene recorded He gouerned the sée of Shireborne the space of 50 yéeres by the good counsell and faithfull aduise of those two prelats King Ethelwulfe gouerned his subiects verie politikelie and by himselfe and his capteins oftentimes put the Danes to flight though as chance of warre falleth out he also receiued at their hands great losses and sundrie sore detriments In the first yéere of his reigne the Danes arriued at Hampton with 33 ships against whome he sent earle Wulhard with part of his armie the which giuing battell to the enimies made great slaughter of them and obteined a noble victorie He sent also earle Adelhelme with the Dorsetshire men against an other number of the Danes which were landed at Portesmouth but after long fight the said Adelhelme was slaine and the Danes obteined the victorie In the yéere following earle Herbert fought against the Danes at Merseware and was there slaine and his men chased The same yeere a great armie of Danes passing by the east parts of the land as through Lindsey Eastangle and Kent slue and murthered an huge number of people The next yéere after this they entered further into the land and about Canturburie Rochester and London did much mischiefe King Ethelwulfe in the fift yéere of his reigne with a part of his armie incountred with the Danes at Carrum the which were arriued in those parties with 30 ships hauing their full fraught of men so that for so small a number of vessels there was a great power of men of warre in so much that they obteined the victorie at that time and put the king to the woorse About the tenth yéere of king Ethelwulfs reigne one of his capteins called Ernwulfe and bishop Adelstan with the Summersetshire men and an other capteine called Osred with the Dorsetshire
that time he lay vpon pledges receiued of the king for his safe returne Elphegus bishop of Winchester and duke Ethelwold were appointed by king Egelred to bring Aulafe vnto him in most honorable maner The same time was Aulafe baptised king Egelred receiuing him at the fontstone and so he promised neuer after to make anie war within this land And receiuing great gifts of the king he returned into his countrie and kept his promise faithfullie but the euils tooke not so an end for other of the Danes sprang vp as they had béene the heads of the serpent Hydra some of them euer being readie to trouble the quiet state of the English nation About this season that is to say in the yéere of our Lord 995 bishop Aldaine which was fled from Chester in the stréet otherwise called Cunecester with the bodie of saint Cuthbert for feare of the inuasion of Danes vnto Rippon brought the same bodie now vnto Durham and there began the foundation of a church so that the sée of that bishoprike was from thencefoorth there established and the woods were there cut downe which before that time couered and ouergrew that place wherevpon it began first to be inhabited Earle Uthred who gouerned that countrie greatlie furthered the bishop in this worke so that all the people inhabiting betweene the riuers of Coquid and Theis came togither to rid the woods and to helpe forwards the building of the church and towne there The Danes inuading the west parts of this land make great hauocke by fire and sword they arriue at Rochester and conquer the Kentishmen in field king Egelred ouercommeth the Danes that inhabited Cumberland and wasteth the countrie the Summersetshire men are foiled the miserable state of the realme in those daies the English bloud mixed with the Danes and Britaines and what inconueniences grew thervpon the disordered gouernement of king Egelred sicknesses vexing the people treason in the nobles the tribute paid to the Danes vnmercifullie inhansed the realme brought to beggerie king Egelred by politike persuasion and counsell marrieth Emma the duke of Normandies daughter vpon what occasion the Normans pretended a title to the crowne of England they conquer the whole land what order king Egelred tooke to kill all the Danes within his kingdome and what rule they bare in this realme yer they were murdered the thraldome of the English people vnder them whereof the word Lordane sprang The third Chapter IN the ninteenth yere of king Egelreds reigne the Danes sailed about Cornewall and comming into the Seuerne sea they robbed tooke preies in the coasts of Deuonshire Southwales and landing at Wicheport they burned vp the countrie and came about vnto Penwithstréet on the south coast and so arriuing in the mouth of Tamer water came vnto Lidford and there wasted all afore them with force of fire They burned amongst other places the monasterie of saint Ordulfe at Essingstocke After this they came into Dorcetshire and passed through the countrie with flame and fire not finding anie that offered to resist them The same yéere also they soiourned in the I le of Wight and liued vpon spoiles preies which they tooke in Hampshire and Sussex At length they came into the Thames and so by the riuer of Medwey arriued at Rochester The Kentishmen assembled togither and fought with the Danes but they were ouercome and so left the field to the Danes After this the same Danes sailed into Normandie and king Egelred went into Cumberland where the Danes inhabited in great numbers whome he ouercame with sore warre and wasted almost all Cumberland taking great spoiles in the same About the same time or shortlie after the Danes with their nauie returning out of Normandie came vnto Exmouth and there assaulted the castell but they were repelled by them that kept it After this they spread abroad ouer all the countrie exercising their accustomed trade of destroieng all before them with fire and sword The men of Summersetshire fought with them at Pentho but the Danes got the vpper hand Thus the state of the realme in those daies was verie miserable for there wanted worthie chiestains to rule the people and to chastise them when they did amisse There was no trust in the noble men for euerie one impugned others dooing and yet would not deuise which way to deale with better likelihood When they assembled in councell and should haue occupied their heads in deuising remedies for the mischiefe of the common wealth they turned their purpose vnto the altercation about such strifes contentions and quarels as each one had against other and suffered the generall case to lie still in the dust And if at anie time there was anie good conclusion agreed vpon for the withstanding of the enimie reléefe of the common wealth anon should the enimie be aduertised thereof by such as were of aliance or consanguinitie to them For as Caxton Polychr and others say the English bloud was so mixed with that of the Danes and Britains who were like enimies to the Englishmen that there was almost few of the nobilitie and commons which had not on the one side a parent of some of them Whereby it came to passe that neither the secret purposes of the king could be concealed till they might take due effect neither their assemblies proue quiet without quarelling and taking of parts Manie also being sent foorth with their powers one way whilest the king went to make resistance another did reuolt to his enimies and turned their swords against him as you haue heard of Elfrike and his complices and shall read of manie others so that it was no maruell that Egelred sped no better and yet was he as valiant as anie of his predecessors although the moonks fauour him not in their writings because he demanded aid of them toward his warres and was nothing fauorable to their lewd hypocrisie But what is a king if his subiects be not loiall What is a realme if the common wealth be diuided By peace concord of small beginnings great and famous kingdomes haue oft times procéeded whereas by discord the greatest kingdoms haue oftner bene brought to ruine And so it proued here for whilest priuat quarels are pursued the generall affaires are vtterlie neglected and whilest ech nation séeketh to preferre hir owne aliance the Iland it selfe is like to become a desert But to proceed with our monasticall writers certes they lay all the fault in the king saieng that he was a man giuen to no good exercise he delighted in fleshlie lustes and riotous bankettings and still sought waies how to gather of his subiects what might be got as wll by vnlawfull meanes as otherwise For he would for feined or for verie small light causes disherit his natiue subiects and cause them to redéeme their owne possessions for great summes of monie Besides these oppressions diuers
a notable rebell and pirat his troubled conscience his wicked life and wretched death The third Chapter THE king hauing perfect knowledge that earle Goodwine had refused to come to the court in such order as he had prescribed him and that he was departed the realme with his sonnes he proclaimed them outlawes and gaue the lands of Harold vnto Algar the sonne of earle Leofrike who guided the same verie woorthilie and resigned them againe without grudging vnto the same Harold when he was returned out of exile Also vnto earle Oddo were giuen the counties of Detionshire and Summersetshire Moreouer about the same time the king put his wife quéene Editha from him and appointed hir to streict keeping in the abbeie of Warwell This Editha was a noble gentlewoman well learned and expert in all sciences yet hir good name was stained somewhat as though she had not liued so continentlie as was to be wished both in hir husbands life time and after his deceasse But yet at the houre of hir death which chanced in the daies of William Conqueror she cleared hir selfe in taking it vpon the charge of hir soule that she had euer liued in perfect chastitie for king Edward as before is mentioned neuer touched hir in anie actuall maner By this streict dealing with the quéene that was daughter to earle Goodwine now in time of hir fathers exile it hath séemed to manie that king Edward forbare to deale with hir in carnall wise more for hatred of hir kin than for anie other respect But to proceed In the second yéere to Goodwines banishment both he and his sonnes hauing prouided themselues of ships and men of warre conuenient for the purpose came vpon the coasts of England and after the maner of rouers tooke preies where as they espied aduantage namelie on the coasts of Kent and Sussex In the meane time also Griffin the K. of Wales destroid a great part of Herefordshire against whom the power of that countrie also manie Normans that lay in garrison within the castell of Hereford comming to giue battell were ouerthrowne on the same day in the which about two and twentie yéeres before or as some ropies haue thirtéene yéeres the Welshmen had slaine Edwine the brother of earle Leofrike Shortlie after earle Harold and his brother Leofwine returning out of Ireland entered into the Seuerne sea landing on the coasts of Summersetshire and Dorsetshire where falling to spoile they were incountred by a power assembled out of the counties of Deuonshire and Summersetshire but Harold put his aduersaries to flight and slue thirtie gentlemen of honor or thanes as they called them with a great number of others Then Harold and his brethren returning with their preie and bootie to their ships and coasting about the point of Cornwall came and ioined with their father their other brethren then soiorning in the I le of Wight King Edward to withstand their malice had rigged and furnished foorth sixtie ships of warre with the which he himselfe went to the water not sticking to lie aboord at that season although he had appointed for capteines and admerals two earles that were his coosins Odo and Rafe who had charge of the whole armie Rafe was his nephue as soone to his sister Goda by hir first husband Gualter de Maunt. But although they were knowne to be sufficient men for the ordering of such businesse yet he thought the necessitie to be such as his person could not be presentlie spared Therefore he was diligent in foreséeing of things by good aduise although age would not giue him leaue to execute the same by his owne hand and force of bodie But as the nauies on both parts were readie to haue ioined they were seuered by reason of a thicke mist that then rose wherby their furious rage was restreined for that time and immediatlie therevpon Goodwine and his complices were forced by a contrarie wind to returne to the places from whence they came Shortlie after by mediation of friends a peace was made and earle Goodwine restored home and obteined againe both the kings sauour and all his former liuings for he was such an eloquent wise man that he clered and purged himselfe of all such crimes and accusations as in anie sort had béene laid against him Thus haue some written concerning this agréement betwixt king Edward and erle Goodwine where other make somewhat larger report thereof as thus At the same time that the two sonnes of erle Goodwine Harold and Leofwine came foorth of Ireland and inuaded the west countrie king Edward rigged foorth fortie ships the which throughlie furnished with men munition and vittels he sent vnto Sandwich commanding the capteines there to wait for the comming of erle Goodwine whom he vnderstood to be in a readinesse to returne into England but notwithstanding there wanted no diligence in them to looke to their charge erle Goodwine secretlie with a few ships which he had got togither ariued in Kent and sending foorth his letters and messengers abroad to the citizens of Canturburie to them of Sussex Southerie others required aid of them who with one consent promised to liue and die with him The capteines of the nauie at Sandwich aduertised hereof made towards the place where they thought to haue found erle Goodwine but he being warned of their comming escaped by flight and got him out of their danger wherevpon they withdrew to Sandwich and after returned to London Earle Goodwine aduertised thereof sailed to the I le of Wight and wasted vp and downe those seas till his sonnes Harold and Leofwine came and ioined their nauie with his and ceassing from spoile onlie sought to recouer vittels to serue their turne And increasing their power by such aid as they might any where procure at length they came to Sandwich wherof king Edward hauing knowledge being then at London he sent abroad to raise all the power he might make But they that were appointed to come vnto him lingred time in which meane while earle Goodwine comming into the Thames so vp the riuer arriued in Southwarke on the day of the exaltation of the crosse in September being monday and their staieng for the tide solicited the Londoners so that he obteined of them what he could desire Afterwards without disturbance he passed vp the riuer with the tide through the south arch of the bridge at the same instant a mightie armie which he had by land mustered in the fields on that south side the same riuer and herewith his nauie made towards the north side of the riuer as if they ment to inclose the kings nauie for the king had also a nauie an armie by land but yet sith there were few either on the one part or the other that were able to doo anie great feat except Englishmen they were loth to fight one against another wherevpon the wiser sort on both sides sought meanes to make an atonement and
bread is verie ill kept or not at all looked vnto in the countrie townes and markets Browne bread Panis Cibarius Summer wheat and winâ—er barâ—eie verie rare in England Drinke Malt. Making of malt Bruing of beere Charwoore Cider Perrie Metheglin Mead. Hydromel Lesse time spent in eating than heretofore Canutus a glutton but the Normans at the last excéeded him in that vice Long sitting reprehended * That is at thrée of the clocke at afternoone Li. 4. epig. 8. Andrew Boord Strange cuâ—s Much cost vpon the bodie and little vpon the soule Beards Excesse in women Ezeâ—h 16. Attire of merchants The parlement house diuideth the estate of the realme into nobilitie and the commons Time of summons Of the vpper house Places of the peeres Of the lower house Speaker Petitions of the speaker Clerke of the parlement Of the nether house Samothes Albion Brute Mulmutius The praise of Dunwallon Martia Martian law Saxon law Dane law Ordalian law Fire Water The cup yet in vse Water Ciuill law Canon law Lawiers of England not alwaies constant in iudgment Parlement law Number of congregates in the parlement Common law Customarie law Prescription Terme Deceipt Manie of our lawiers stoope not at small fées Poore men contentious Promooters séeke matters to set lawiers on worke withall The times of our termes no hinderance to iustice Thrée sorts of poore A thing often séene At whose hands shall the bloud of these men be required Thomas Harman Halifax law Mute Cleargie Pirats Three things greatlie amended in England Chimnies Hard lodging Furniture of household This was is the time of generall idlenesse By the yeare Six and twentie cities in England Sitomagus Nouiomagus Neomagus Niomagus Salisburie of Sarron Sarronium Sarrous burg Greater cities in times past when husbandmen also were citizens The cause of the increase of villages Leouitius placeth yorke in Scotland de eclipsibus A legion conteined sixtie centuries thirtie manipuli thrée cohortes Cair Segent stood vpon the Thames not farre from Reding When Albane was martyred Asclepiodotus was legat in Britaine Sullomaca and Barnet all one or not far in sunder This soundeth like a lie The best keepers of kingdomes The wandles in time past were called windles King Hen. 8. not inferior to Adrian and Iustiman White hall S. Iames. Oteland Ashridge Hatfield Enuéeld Richmond Hampton Woodstocke 〈◊〉 Gréenewich Dartford Eltham Of the court 〈…〉 Traines of attendants Striking within the court and palace of the prince 〈…〉 The Britons fasted all the while they were at the sea in these ships Suborned bodgers Bodgers licenced Tillage and mankind diminished by parkes The decaie of the people is the destruction of a kingdome Gipping of going vp to anie place Pegened Lespegend Nunc sortè Tringald Ealdermen Tineman Michni Hundred law Warscot Muchehunt Ofgangfordell Purgatio ignis triplex ordaliâ— Pegen Forathe Helfehang Pere Pite Gethbrech Ealderman Staggon or Stagge Frendlesman Bubali olim in Anglia Ilices aliquando in BritaÌ„nia nisi intelligatur de quercu Greihounds Uelter Langeran Ramhundt Pretium hominis mediocris Pretium liberi hominis Great abundance of wood sometime in England Desire of much wealth and ease abateth manhood ouerthroweth a manlie courage The like haue I séene where hens doo féed vpon the tender blades of garlike * This gentleman caught such an heate with this sore loade that he was faine to go to Rome for physicke yet it could not saue his life but hée must néeds die homewards Marises and tennes Chap. 25. The Pyritis is found almost in euerie veine of mettall in great plentie diuersities and colour and somtimes mixed with that mettall of whose excrements it consisteth Crosse bath Common bath King bath Hot houses in some countâ—res little â—etter than brodels Colour of the water of the baths Taste of the water Fall or issue of the water Hot good to enter into baths at all seasons Sterbirie a place where en armie hath lien Copper monie Siluer restored Old gash New gold Oxen. Athenaeus lib. 10. cap. 8. Horsses Geldings Shéepe Shéepe without hornes Goats Swine Bores Brawne of the bore Baked hog Flat fish Round fish Long fish Legged fish Woolfes Tribute of woolfes skins Foxes Badgers Beuers Marterns Stags Hinds haue béene milked * Galenus de Theriaca ad Pisonem * Plin. lib. 10. cap. 62. Adder or viper Sée Aristotle Animalium lib. 5. cap. vltimo Theophrast lib. 7. cap. 13. Snakes Sol. cap. 40. Plin. lib. 37. cap. 11. Todes Frogs Sloworme Efts. Swifts Flies Cutwasted whole bodied Hornets Waspes Honie Sée Diodorus Siculus Homelie kind of dogs Tie dogs Some 〈…〉 Some bite and barke not Occasion of the name Paung Gathering Sée 〈◊〉 Raising The lord Mountioy Gold Siluer Tin Lead Iron Copper Stéele Geat Laon. Chalchonvtle Triall of a stone Lib. 7. A common plague in all things of anie great commoditie for one beateth the bush but another catcheth the birds as we may see in batfowling Priuileges doo somtimes harme Night Vesper Crepusculum Concubium Intempestum Gallicinium Conticinium Matutinum Diluculum Watches Houre weeke * Ferias Moneth Triuethus in Antartico Britannia Pag. 5 6 7 8 15. 16 28 29 of the description and pag. 202 of the historie of England The originall of nations for the most part vncerteine whither Britaine were an Iland at the first Geog. com lib. No Ilands at the first as some coniecture In the first part of the acts of the English votaries Britaine inhabited before the floud Genesis 6 Berosus ant lib. â— Noah In comment super 4. lib. Berosus de antiquit lib. 1. Annisus vt supr Iaphet and his sonnes Iohannes Bodinus ad fac hist. cogn Franciscus Tarapha Britaine inhabited shortlie after the floud Theophilus episcop Antioch ad Anâ—ol lib. 2. The words of Theophilus a doctor of the church who liued an Dom. 160. Gen. 2. De migr gen Cent. 1. Anti. lib. 1. Bale script Brit. cent 1. Caesar commenâ— lib. 8. In epithes temp De aequiuocis contra Appionem Lib. de Magic success lib. 22. Script Brit. cent 1. De ant Cant. cent lib. 1. This I le called Samothes Magus the son of Samothes Lib. 9. Annius in coâ— men super â—â—dem Geogr. De diui lib. 1. DE fastis li. 5. H. F. Sarron the sonne of Magus De ant Cant. lib. 1. Bale script Brit. cent 1. Lib. 6. Druis the son of Sarron De morte Claud Anti. lib. 5. Annius super euâ—ndem De bello Gallico lib. 9. De belio Gallico 6 Hist. an lib. 1. De diui lib. 1. Hiâ—t Sâ—oti li. 2. Demigr gen 〈◊〉 2. Marcellinus Anna. B oiorum lib. 22. De ant Caut. Bardus the sonne of Druis Berosus ani lib. 2. Annius in comâ—en super eurâ—dem Ant. Cant. li. 1. script Britain cent 1 Nonnius Marcel Strabo Diodor. Sicul. lib. 6. â—arol Stepha â—n dict hist. Bale Iohn Prise Lucan lib. 1. H. F. Iohn Bale script Britan. cent 2. Iohn Prise defen hist. Brit. Caius de ant Cant lib. 1. Iohn Leland syllab an
4. AS few or no nations can iustlie boast themselues to haue continued sithence their countrie was first replenished without any mixture more or lesse of forreine inhabitants no more can this our Iland whose manifold commodities haue oft allured sundrie princes and famous capteines of the world to conquer and subdue the same vnto their owne subiection Manie sorts of people therfore haue come in hither and settled themselues here in this I le and first of all other a parcell of the linage and posteritie of Iaphet brought in by Samothes in the 1910. after the creation of Adam Howbeit in processe of time and after they had indifferentlie replenished and furnished this Iland with people which was doone in the space of 335. yeares Albion the giant afore mentioned repaired hither with a companie of his owne race procéeding from Cham and not onelie annexed the same to his owne dominion but brought all such in like sort as he found here of the line of Iaphet into miserable seruitude and most extreame thraldome After him also and within lesse than sixe hundred and two yeares came Brute the sonne of Syluius with a great traine of the posteritie of the dispersed Troians in 324. ships who rendering the like courtesie vnto the Chemminits as they had doone before vnto the séed of Iaphet brought them also wholie vnder his rule and gouernance and dispossessing the peeres inferior owners of their lands and possessions he diuided the countrie among such princes and capteines as he in his arriuall here had led out of Grecia with him From hencefoorth I doo not find any sound report of other nation whatsoeuer that should aduenture hither to dwell and alter the state of the land vntill the Romane emperours subdued it to their dominion sauing of a few Galles and those peraduenture of Belgie who first comming ouer to rob and pilfer vpon the coasts did afterward plant themselues for altogither neere vnto the shore and there builded sundrie cities and townes which they named after those of the maine from whence they came vnto vs. And this is not onelie to be gathered out of Cesar where he writeth of Britaine of set purpose but also else-where as in his second booke a litle after the beginning for speaking of Deuiaticus king of the Swessions liuing in his time he affirmeth him not onelie to be the mightiest prince of all the Galles but also to hold vnder his subiection the I le of Britaine of which his sonne Galba was afterward dispossessed But after the comming of the Romans it is hard to say with how manie sorts of people we were dailie pestered almost in euerie steed For as they planted their forworne legions in the most fertile places of the realme and where they might best lie for the safegard of their conquests so their armies did commonlie consist of manie sorts of people and were as I may call them a confused mixture of all other countries and nations then liuing in the world Howbeit I thinke it best bicause they did all beare the title of Romans to reteine onelie that name for them all albeit they were wofull ghests to this our Iland sith that with them came all maner of vice and vicious liuing all riot and excesse of behauiour into our countrie which their legions brought hither from each corner of their dominions for there was no prouince vnder them from whence they had not seruitours How and when the Scots a people mixed of the Scithian and Spanish blood should arriue here out of Ireland when the Picts should come vnto vs out of Sarmatia or from further toward the north the Scithian Hyperboreans as yet it is vncerteine For though the Scotish histories doo carrie great countenance of their antiquitie in this Iland yet to saie fréelie what I thinke I iudge them rather to haue stolne in hither within the space of 100. yeares before Christ than to haue continued here so long as they themselues pretend if my coniecture be any thing Yet I denie not but that as the Picts were long planted in this Iland before the Scots aduentured to settle themselues also in Britaine so the Scots did often aduenture hither to rob and steale out of Ireland and were finallie called in by the Meats or Picts as the Romans named them because they painted their bodies to helpe them against the Britains after the which they so planted themselues in these parts that vnto our time that portion of the land cannot he cleansed of them I find also that as these Scots were reputed for the most Scithian-like and barbarous nation and longest without letters so they vsed commonlie to steale ouer into Britaine in leather skewes and began to helpe the Picts about or not long before the beginning of Cesars time For both Diodorus lib. 6. and Strabo lib. 4. doo seeme to speake of a parcell of the Irish nation that should inhabit Britaine in their time which were giuen to the eating of mans flesh and therefore called Anthropophagi Mamertinus in like sort dooth note the Redshanks and the Irish which are properlie the Scots to be the onelie enimies of our nation before the comming of Caesar as appeareth in his panegyricall oration so that hereby it is found that they are no new ghestes in Britaine Wherefore all the controuersie dooth rest in the time of their first attempt to inhabit in this Iland Certeinlie I maruell much whie they trauell not to come in with Cantaber and Partholonus but I see perfectlie that this shift should be too grosse for the maintenance of their desired antiquitie Now as concerning their name the Saxons translated the word Scotus for Irish whereby it appeareth that those Irish of whom Strabo and Diodorus doo speake are none other than those Scots of whom Ierome speaketh A duersus Iouinianum lib. 2. who vsed to féed on the buttocks of boies and womens paps as delicate dishes Aethicus writing of the I le of Man affirmeth it to be inhabited with Scots so well as Ireland euen in his time Which is another proofe that the Scots and Irish are all one people They were also called Scoti by the Romans bicause their Iland originall inhabitation thereof were vnknowne and they themselues an obscure nation in the sight of all the world Now as concerning the Picts whatsoeuer Ranulphus Hygden imagineth to the contrarie of their latter enterance it is easie to find by Herodian and Mamertinus of which the one calleth them Meates the other Redshankes and Pictones that they were setled in this I le long before the time of Seuerus yea of Caesar and comming of the Scots Which is proofe sufficient if no further authoritie remained extant for the same So that the controuersie lieth not in their comming also but in the true time of their repaire and aduenture into this Iland out of the Orchades out of which they gat ouer into the North parts of our countrie as the
writers doo report and from whence they came at the first into the aforsaid Ilands For my part I suppose with other that they came hither out of Sarmatia or Scythia for that nation hauing how alwaies an eie vnto the commodities of our countrie hath sent out manie companies to inuade and spoile the same It may be that some will gather those to be the Picts of whom Caesar saith that they stained their faces with wad and madder to the end they might appeare terrible and fearefull to their enimies and so inferre that the Picts were naturall Britans But it is one thing to staine the face onelie as the Britans did of whom Propertius saith Nunc etiam infectos demummutare Britannos And to paint the images and portrattures of beasts fish and foules ouer the whole bodie as the Picts did of whom Martial saith Barbara depictis veni Bascauda Britannis Certes the times of Samothes and Albion haue some likelie limitation and so we may gather of the comming in of Brute of Caesar the Saxons the Danes the Normans and finallie of the Flemmings who had the Rosse in Wales assigned vnto them 1066. after the drowning of their countrie But when first the Picts then the Scots should come ouer into our Iland as they were obscure people so the time of their arriuall is as far to me vnknowne Wherefore the resolution of this point must still remaine In tenebris This neuerthelesse is certeine that Maximus first Legate of Britaine and afterward emperour draue the Scots out of Britaine and compelled them to get habitation in Ireland the out Iles and the North part of the maine and finallie diuided their region betwéene the Britaines and the Picts He denounced warre also against the Irishmen for receiuing them into their land but they crauing the peace yéelded to subscribe that from thence-foorth they would not receiue any Scot into their dominions and so much the more for that they were pronounced enimies to the Romans and disturbers of the common peace and quietnesse of their prouinces here in England The Saxons became first acquainted with this I le by meanes of the piracie which they dailie practised vpon our coastes after they had once begun to aduenture themselues also vpon the seas thereby to seeke out more wealth than was now to be gotten in the West parts of the maine which they and their neighbours had alreadie spoiled in most lamentable and barbarous maner howbeit they neuer durst presume to inhabit in this Iland vntill they were sent for by Vortiger to serue him in his warres against the Picts and Scots after that the Romans had giuen vs ouer and lest vs wholie to our owne defense and regiment Being therefore come vnder Hengist in three bottoms or kéeles and in short time espieng the idle and negligent behauiour of the Britaines and fertilitie of our soile they were not a little inflamed to make a full conquest of such as at the first they came to aid and succour Herevpon also they fell by little and little to the winding in of greater numbers of their countrimen and neighbours with their wiues and children into this region so that within a while these new comlings began to molest the homelings and ceased not from time to time to continue their purpose vntill they had gotten possession of the whole or at the leastwise the greatest part of our countrie the Britons in the meane season being driuen either into Wales and Cornewall or altogither out of the Iland to séeke new habitations In like maner the Danes the next nation that succéeded came at the first onelie to pilfer and robbe vpon the frontiers of our Iland till that in the end being let in by the Welshmen or Britons through an earnest desire to be reuenged vpon the Saxons they no lesse plagued the one than the other their fréends than their aduersaries seeking by all meanes possible to establish themselues also in the sure possession of Britaine But such was their successe that they prospered not long in their deuise for so great was their lordlinesse crueltie and infatiable desire of riches beside their detestable abusing of chast matrons and yoong virgins whose husbands and parents were dailie inforced to become their drudges and slaues whilest they sat at home and fed like drone bées of the sweet of their trauell and labours that God I say would not suffer them to continue any while ouer vs but when he saw his time he remooued their yoke and gaue vs libertie as it were to breath vs thereby to see whether this his sharpe scourge could haue mooued vs to repentance and amendment of our lewd and sinfull liues or not But when no signe thereof appeared in our hearts he called in an other nation to vex vs I meane the Normans a people mixed with Danes and of whom it is worthilie doubted whether they were more hard and cruell to our countrimen than the Danes or more heauie and intollerable to our Iland than the Saxons or the Romans This nation came out of Newstria the people thereof were called Normans by the French bicause the Danes which subdued that region came out of the North parts of the world neuerthelesse I suppose that the ancient word Newstria is corrupted from West-rijc bicause that if you marke the situation it lieth opposite from Austria or Ost-rijc which is called the East region as Newstria is the Weast for Rijc in the old Scithian toong dooth signifie a region or kingdome as in Franc-rijc or Franc-reich Westsaxon-reich Ost saxon-reich Su-rijc Angel-rijc c is else to be séene But howsoeuer this falleth out these Normans or Danish French were dedlie aduersaries to the English Saxons first by meane of a quarell that grew betwéene them in the daies of Edward the Confessour at such time as the Earle of Bullen and William Duke of Normandie arriued in this land to visit him their freends such Normans I meane as came ouer with him and Emma his mother before him in the time of Canutus and Ethelred For the first footing that euer the French did set in this Iland sithence the time of Ethelbert Sigebert was with Emma which Ladie brought ouer a traine of French Gentlemen and Ladies with hir into England After hir also no small numbers of attendants came in with Edward the Confessour whome he preferred to the greatest offices in the realme in so much that one Robert a Norman became Archbishop of Canturburie whose preferment so much enhanced the minds of the French on the one side as their lordlie and outragious demeanour kindled the stomachs of the English nobilitie against them on the other insomuch that not long before the death of Emma the kings mother and vpon occasion of the brall hapning at Douer whereof I haue made sufficient mention in my Chronologie not regarding the report of the French authors in this behalfe who write altogither in the fauour of their Archbishop
genus delicti 21 Poena forisfactio non vna eadémque erit liberalis quem Dani Ealderman vocant illiberalis domini serui noti ignoti nec vna eadémque erit causarum tum ciuilium tum criminalium ferarum forestae ferarum regalium viridis veneris tractatio nam crimen veneris ab antiquo inter maiora non immeritò numerabatur viridis verò fractione chaceae nostrae regalis excepta ita pusillum exiguum est quòd vix earespicit nostra constitutio qui in hoc tamen deliquerit sit criminis forestae reus 22 Si liber aliquis feram forestae ad cursum impulerit siue casu siue praehabita voluntate ita vt cursu celeri cogatur fera anhelare decem solidis regi emendet si illiberalis dupliciter emendet si seruus careat corio 23 Si vero harum aliquot interfecerit soluat dupliciter persoluat sitque pretij sui reus contra regem 24 Sed si regalem feram quam Angli Staggon appellant alteruter coegerit anhelare alter per vnum annum alter per duos careat libertate naturali si verò seruus pro vtlegato habeatur quem Angli Frendlesman vocant 25 Si verò occiderit amittat liber scutum libertatis si sit illiberalis careat libertate si seruus vita 26 Episcopi abbates barones mei non calumniabuntur pro venatione si non regales feras occiderint siregales restabunt rei regi pro libito suo sine certa emendatione 27 Sunt aliae praeter feras forestae bestlae quae dum inter septa sepes forestae continentur emendationi fubiacent quales sunt capreoli lepores cuniculi Sunt alia quà m plurima animalia quae quāquam infra septa forestae viuunt oneri curae mediocrium subiacent forestae tamen nequaquā censeri possunt qualia sunt bubali vaccae similia Vulpes lupi nec forestae nec veneris habentur proinde eorum interfectio nulli emendationi subiacet Si tamen infra limites occiduntur fractio sit regalis chaceae mitiùs emendetur Aper verò quanquam forestae sit nullatenus tamen animal veneris haberi est assuetus 28 Bosco nec subbosco nostro sine licentia primariorum forestae nemo manum apponat quòd si quis fecerit reus sit fractionis regalis chaceae 29 Si quis verò ilicem aut arborē aliquam quae victum feris suppeditat sciderit praeter fractionem regalis chaceae emendet regi viginti solidis 30 Volo vt monis liber homo pro libito suo habeat venerem siue viridem in planis suis super terras suas sine chacea tamen deuitent omnes meam vbicúnque eam habere voluero 31 Nullus mediocris habebit nec custodiet canes quos Angli Greihounds appellant Liberali verò dum genuiscissio eorum facta fuerit coram primario forestae licebit aut sine genuiscissione dune remoti sunt à limitibus forestae per decem miliaria quando verò propiùs venerint emendet quodlibet miliare vno solido Siverò infra septa forestae reperiatur dominus canis forisfaciet decem solidos regi 32 Velteres verò quos Langeran appellant quia manifestè constat in ijs nihil esse periculi cuilibet licebit sine genuiscissione eos custodire Idem de canibus quos Ramhundt vocant 33 Quòdsi casu inauspicato huiusmodi canes rabidi fiant vbique vagātur negligentia dominorum redduntur illiciti emendetur regi pro illicitis c. Quòdsi intra septa forestae reperiantur talis exquiratur herus emendet secundum pretium hominis mediocris quòd secundum legem Werinorum 1. Churingorum est ducentorum solidorum 34 Si canis rabidus momorderit feram tunc emendet secundum pretiū hominis liberalis quod est duodecies solidis centum Si verò fera regalis morsa fuerit reus sit maximi criminis And these are the constitutions of Canutus concerning the forrest verie barbarouslie translated by those that tooke the same in hand Howbeit as I find it so I set it downe without anie alteration of my copie in anie iot or tittle Of gardens and orchards Chap. 19. AFter such time as Calis was woone from the French and that our countriemen had learned to trade into diuerse countries wherby they grew rich they began to wax idle also and therevpon not onlie left off their former painfulnesse and frugalitie but in like sort gaue themselues to liue in excesse and vanitie whereby manie goodlie commodities failed and in short time were not to be had amongst vs. Such strangers also as dwelled here with vs perceiuing our sluggishnesse and espieng that this idlenesse of ours might redound to their great profit foorthwith imploied their endeuours to bring in the supplie of such things as we lacked continuallie from forren countries which yet more augmented our idlenes For hauing all things at reasonable prices as we supposed by such means from them we thought it méere madnesse to spend either time or cost about the same here at home And thus we became enimies to our owne welfare as men that in those daies reposed our felicitie in following the wars wherewith we were often exercised both at home and other places Besides this the naturall desire that mankind hath to estéeme of things farre sought bicause they be rare and costlie and the irkesome contempt of things néere hand for that they are common and plentifull hath borne no small swaie also in this behalfe amongst vs. For hereby we haue neglected our owne good gifts of God growing here at home as vile and of no valure and had euerie trifle and toie in admiration that is brought hither from far countries ascribing I wot not what great forces and solemne estimation vnto them vntill they also haue waxen old after which they haue béene so little regarded if not more despised amongst vs than our owne Examples hereof I could set downe manie in manie things but sith my purpose is to deale to this time with gardens and orchards it shall suffice that I touch them onelie and shew our inconstancie in the same so farre as shall séeme be conuenient for my turne I comprehend therefore vnder the word garden all such grounds as are wrought with the spade by mans hand for so the case requireth Of wine I haue written alreadie else-where sufficientlie which commoditie as I haue learned further since the penning of that booke hath beene verie plentifull in this Iland not onlie in the time of the Romans but also since the conquest as I haue séene by record yet at this present haue we none at all or else verie little to speake of growing in this Iland which I impute not vnto the soile but the negligence of my countrimen Such herbes fruits and
roots also as grow yéerelie out of the ground of seed haue béene verie plentifull in this land in the time of the first Edward and after his daies but in processe of time they grew also to be neglected so that from Henrie the fourth till the latter end of Henrie the seuenth beginning of Henrie the eight there was litle or no vse of them in England but they remained either vnknowne or supposed as food more meet for hogs sauage beasts to feed vpon than mankind Whereas in my time their vse is not onelie resumed among the poore commons I meane of melons pompions gourds cucumbers radishes skirets parsneps carrets cabbages nauewes turneps and all kinds of salad herbes but also fed vpon as deintie dishes at the tables of delicate merchants gentlemen and the nobilitie who make their prouision yearelie for new séeds out of strange countries from whence they haue them aboundantlie Neither doo they now staie with such of these fruits as are wholesome in their kinds but aduenture further vpon such as are verie dangerous and hurtfull as the verangenes mushroms c as if nature had ordeined all for the bellie or that all things were to be eaten for whose mischiefous operation the Lord in some measure hath giuen and prouided a remedie Hops in time past were plentifull in this land afterwards also their maintenance did cease and now being reuiued where are anie better to be found where anie greater commoditie to be raised by them onelie poles are accounted to be their greatest charge But sith men haue learned of late to sow ashen keies in ashyards by themselues that inconuenience in short time will be redressed Madder hath growne abundantlie in this Iland but of long time neglected and now a little reuiued and offereth it selfe to prooue no small benefit vnto our countrie as manie other things else which are now fetched from vs as we before time when we gaue our selues to idlenesse were glad to haue them other If you looke into our gardens annexed to our houses how woonderfullie is their beautie increased not onelie with floures which Colmella calleth Terrena sydera saieng Pingit in varios terrestria sydera flores and varietie of curious and costlie workmanship but also with rare and medicinable hearbes sought vp in the land within these fortie yeares so that in comparison of this present the ancient gardens were but dunghils and laistowes to such as did possesse them How art also helpeth nature in the dailie colouring dubling and inlarging the proportion of our floures it is incredible to report for so curious and cunning are our gardeners now in these daies that they presume to doo in maner what they list with nature and moderate hir course in things as if they were hir superiours It is a world also to sée how manie strange hearbs plants and annuall fruits are dailie brought vnto vs from the Indies Americans Taprobane Canarie Iles and all parts of the world the which albeit that in respect of the constitutions of our bodies they doo not grow for vs bicause that God hath bestowed sufficient commodities vpon euerie countrie for hir owne necessitie yet for delectation sake vnto the eie and their odoriferous sauours vnto the nose they are to be cherished and God to be glorified also in them bicause they are his good gifts and created to doo man helpe and seruice There is not almost one noble man gentleman or merchant that hath not great store of these floures which now also doo begin to wax so well acquainted with our soiles that we may almost accompt of them as parcell of our owne commodities They haue no lesse regard in like sort to cherish medicinable hearbs fetched out of other regions néerer hand insomuch that I haue séene in some one garden to the number of three hundred or foure hundred of them if not more of the halfe of whose names within fortie yéeres passed we had no maner knowledge But herein I find some cause of iust complaint for that we extoll their vses so farre that we fall into contempt of our owne which are in truth more beneficiall and apt for vs than such as grow elsewhere sith as I said before euerie region hath abundantlie within hir owne limits whatsoeuer is needfull and most conuenient for them that dwell therein How doo men extoll the vse of Tabacco in my time whereas in truth whether the cause be in the repugnancie of our constitution vnto the operation thereof or that the ground dooth alter hir force I cannot tell it is not found of so great efficacie as they write And beside this our common germander or thistle benet is found knowne to bée so wholesome and of so great power in medicine as anie other hearbe if they be vsed accordinglie I could exemplifie after the like maner in sundrie other as the Salsa parilla Mochoacan c but I forbeare so to doo because I couet to be bréefe And trulie the estimation and credit that we yéeld and giue vnto compound medicines made with forren drugs is one great cause wherefore the full knowledge and vse of our owne simples hath bene so long raked vp in the imbers And as this may be verified so to be one sound conclusion for the greater number of simples that go vnto anie compound medicine the greater confusion is found therein because the qualities and operations of verie few of the particulars are throughlie knowne And euen so our continuall desire of strange drugs whereby the physician and apothecarie onelie hath the benefit is no small cause that the vse of our simples here at home dooth go to losse and that we tread those herbes vnder our féet whose forces if we knew could applie them to our necessities we wold honor haue in reuerence as to their case behooueth Alas what haue we to doo with such Arabian Grecian stuffe as is dailie brought from those parties which lie in another clime And therefore the bodies of such as dwell there are of another constitution than ours are here at home Certes they grow not for vs but for the Arabians and Grecians And albeit that they maie by skill be applied vnto our benefit yet to be more skilfull in them than in our owne is follie and to vse forren wares when our owne maie serue the turne is more follie but to despise our owne and magnifie abou◠measure the vse of them that are sought and brought from farre is most follie of all for it sauoureth of ignorance or at the leastwise of negligence and therefore woorthie of reproch Among the Indians who haue the most present cures for euerie disease of their owne nation there is small regard of compound medicins lesse of forren drugs because they neither know them nor can vse them but worke woonders euen with their owne simples With them also the difference of the clime dooth shew hir full effect For whereas they will heale one another in short
other like creatures could not haue extended into our Ilands For that anie man would of set purpose replenish the countrie with them for his pleasure and pastime in hunting I can in no wise beléeue Of foxes we haue some but no great store and also badgers in our sandie light grounds where woods firzes broome and plentie of shrubs are to shrowd them in when they be from their borrowes and thereto warrens of conies at hand to féed vpon at will Otherwise in claie which we call the cledgie mould we sildom heare of anie bicause the moisture and toughnesse of the soile is such as will not suffer them to draw and make their borrowes déepe Certes if I may fréelie saie what I thinke I suppose that these two kinds I meane foxes and badgers are rather preserued by gentlemen to hunt and haue pastime withall at their owne pleasures than otherwise suffered to liue as not able to be destroied bicause of their great numbers For such is the scantitie of them here in England in comparison of the plentie that is to be seene in other countries and so earnestlie are the inhabitants bent to root them out that except it had béene to beare thus with the recreations of their superiors in this behalfe it could not otherwise haue béene chosen but that they should haue béene vtterlie destroied by manie yeares agone I might here intreat largelie of other vermine as the polcat the miniuer the weasell stote fulmart squirrill fitchew and such like which Cardan includeth vnder the word Mustela also of the otter and likewise of the beuer whose hinder féet and taile onlie are supposed to be fish Certes the taile of this beast is like vnto a thin whetstone as the bodie vnto a monsterous rat the beast also it selfe is of such force in the téeth that it will gnaw an hole through a thicke planke or shere thorough a dubble billet in a night it loueth also the stillest riuers it is giuen to them by nature to go by flockes vnto the woods at hand where they gather sticks wherewith to build their nests wherein their bodies lie drie aboue the water although they so prouide most commonlie that they tailes may hang within the same It is also reported that their said tailes are a delicate dish and their stones of such medicinable force that as Vertomannus saith foure men smelling vnto them each after other did bleed at the nose through their attractiue force procéeding from a vehement sauour wherewith they are indued ther is greatest plentie of them in Persia chéefelie about Balascham from whence they and their dried cods are brought into all quarters of the world though not without some forgerie by such as prouide them And of all these here remembred as the first sorts are plentifull in euerie wood and hedgerow so these latter especiallie the otter for to saie the truth we haue not manie beuers but onelie in the Teisie in Wales is not wanting or to séeke in manie but most streams and riuers of this I le but it shall suffice in this sort to haue named them as I doo finallie the marterne a beast of the chase although for number I worthilie doubt whether that of our beuers or marterns may be thought to be the lesse Other pernicious beasts we haue not except you repute the great plentie of red fallow déere whose colours are oft garled white and blacke all white or all blacke and store of conies amongst the hurtfull fort Which although that of themselues they are not offensiue at all yet their great numbers are thought to be verie preiudiciall and therfore iustlie reprooued of many as are in like sort our huge flocks of shéepe whereon the greatest part of our soile is emploied almost in euerie place and yet our mutton wooll and selles neuer the better cheape The yoong males which our fallow deere doo bring foorth are commonlie named according to their seuerall ages for the first yéere it is a sawne the second a puckot the third a â—â—rell the fourth a soare the fift a bucke of the first head not bearing the name of a bucke till he be fiue yéers old and from hencefoorth his age is commonlie knowne by his head or horns Howbeit this notice of his yéers is not so certeine but that the best woodman may now and then he deceiued in that account for in some grounds a bucke of the first head will be so well headed as another in a high rowtie soile will be in the fourth It is also much to be maruelled at that whereas they doo yéerelie new and cast their horns yet in fighting they neuer breake off where they doo grife or mew Furthermore in examining the condition of our red déere I find that the yoong male is called in the first yéere a calfe in the second a broket the third a spaie the fourth a stagon or stag the fift a great stag the sixt an hart and so foorth vnto his death And with him in degrée of venerie are accounted the hare bore and woolfe The fallow déere as bucks and does are nourished in parkes and conies in warrens and burrowes As for hares they run at their owne aduenture except some gentleman or other for his pleasure doo make an inclosure for them Of these also the stag is accounted for the most noble game the fallow déere is the next then the roe whereof we haue indifferent store and last of all the hare not the least in estimation because the hunting of that seelie beast is mother to all the terms blasts and artificiall deuises that hunters doo vse All which notwithstanding our custome are pastimes more méet for ladies and gentlewomen to exercise whatsoeuer Franciscus Patritius saith to the contrarie in his institution of a prince than for men of courage to follow whose hunting should practise their armes in tasting of their manhood and dealing with such beasts as eftsoones will turne againe and offer them the hardest rather than their horsses féet which manie times may carrie them with dishonour from the field Surelie this noble kind of hunting onelie did great princes frequent in times past as it may yet appéere by the histories of their times especiallie of Alexander who at vacant times hunted the tiger the pard the bore and the beare but most willinglie lions because of the honorable estimation of that beast insomuch that at one time he caused an od or chosen lion for force and beautie to be let foorth vnto him hand to hand with whome he had much businesse albeit that in the end he ouerthrew and killed the beast Herevnto beside that which we read of the vsuall hunting of the princes and kings of Scotland of the wild bull woolfe c the example of king Henrie the first of England who disdaining as he termed them to follow or pursue cowards cherished of set purpose sundrie kinds of wild beasts as bears libards ounces lions at Woodstocke one