amonge the shyres of Englonde it may stande amonge them wel ynough for it is neyther to Wales neyther in Scotlonde but it is in Englonde and is Ioyneth vnto deuenshyre and soo may ther ben acompted in Englonde .xxxvij. shyres and an half with the other shyres ¶ De legibus leguÌ„que vocabulis DVnwallo that heet Moliuncius also made fyrste lawes in Brytayne the whiche lawes were called Moliuncius lawes and were solempnely obserued vnto William conquerours tyme. Moliuncius ordeyned amonge his lawes that Cytees Temples and wayes that lede men therto and plowmen solowes sholde haue preuylege and fredome for to saue all men that wolde flee therto for socoure and refuge Thenne afterwarde Marcia quene of Brytons that was Gwytelinus wyf of her the prouynce hadde the name of Mercia as some man suppose She made a lawe full of ryght of wytte and of reason and was called merchene lawe ¶ Gyldas that wrote the Cronycles hystoryes of the Brytons torned these two lawes out of Bryton speche in to latyn And afterwarde kyng Aluredus torned all out of latyn in to Saxons speche and was called merchene lawe Also the same kyng Aluredus wrote in Englysshe and put to an other lawe that heet westsaxon lawe Thenne afterwarde Danes were lordes in this londe and so come forth the thyrde lawe that hete Danelawe Of these thre lawes saynt Edwarde the thyrde made one coÌ„mune lawe that yet is called saynt Edwardes lawe I holde it well done to wryte here and expowne many termes of these lawes Myndebruche hurtynge of honour and worshypp In Frensshe bleschur dhoÌ„nour Burbruck in Frenssh bleschur de court ou de cloys Grithbruch brekynge of peas Myskennynge chauÌ„gynge of speche in courte Shewynge settynge forth of marchaundyse in Frensshe disploier de marchandyse Hamsokne or Hamfare a rese made in hous Forstallynge wroÌ„ge or bette downe in the kynges hyghwaye Frythsoken surete in defence Sak forfayt Soka sute of court and therof cometh soken Theam sute of bondmen fyghtyng wyte Amersement for fyghtynge Blodewyte MersemeÌ„t for shedynge of blood Flytwyte amendes for chydynge of blood Leyrwyte amendes for lyenge by a bond woman Gulâ—wyte amendes for trespas Scotâ—â—â—rynge to werke of bayllyes Hydage tayllage for hydes of londe Daneghelde tayllage gyuen to the Danes that was of euery bona taterre that is of euery oxe londe thre pens A wepentak and an hondred is all one For the countree of townes were wonte to gyue vp wepen in the comynge of a lorde Lestage custome chalenged in chepynges fayres and stallage custome for standynge in stretes in fayre tyme. ¶ Of kyngdoms of boundes markes bytwene them ca. xij THe kyngdome of Brytayne stode without departynge hole and all one kyngdome to the Brytons from the fyrst Brute vnto Iulius Cezars tyme and fro Iulius Cezars tyme vnto Seuerus tyme this londe was vnder trybute to the Romayns Netheles kynges they hadde of the same londe from Seuerus vnto the last prynce Gracyan successours of Brytons faylled and Romayns regned in Brytayne Afterwarde the Romayns lefte of her regnynge in Brytayne by cause it was ferre from Rome and for grete besynesse that they had in other syde Thenne Scottes and Pyctes by mysledynge of Maximus the tyraunt pursewed Brytayne and warred ther in with grete strengthe of men of armes longe tyme vnto the tyme that the Saxons come at the prayenge of the Brytons agaynst the Pyctes and put out Gurmonde the Irysshe kyng with his Pyctes and the Brytons also with her kyng that heet Careticus drofe hem out of Englonde in to Wales and so the Saxons were vyctours and euery prouynce after his strength made them a kyng And so departed Englonde in to seuen kyngdoms Netheles afterwarde these seuen kyngdomes euery after other come all in to one kyngdome all hoole vnder the prynce Adelstone Neuertheles the Danes pursewed this londe fro Adel wolfys tyme that was Aluredes fader vnto the thyrde saynt Edwardes tyme about hondred .lxx. yere that regned coÌ„tynuelly therin After the Danes .xxx. yere the thyrde saynt Edwarde regned therin .xxiij. yere and a lytell more And after hym Haralde helde y e kyngdome .ix. monethes And after hym Normans haue regned vnto this tyme But how longe they shall regne he wote to whome no thynge is vnknowen ¶ R. Of the forsayd seuen kyngdomes and her markes meres bouÌ„des whan they began and how longe they endured here shall I somwhat shortely telle ¶ Alfre The fyrst kyngdome was the kyngdome of Kente that stretcheth fro the eest Occean vnto the Ryuer of Tamyse There regned the fyrst Hengistus and began to regne by the acomptynge of Dyonyse the yere of our lorde four hondred .lv. that kyngdome dured thre hondred .lviij. yere vnder .xv. kynges vnto the tyme that Baldrede was put out and Egbert kyng of westsaxon Ioyned that kyngdome to his owne The seconde kyngdome was of southsaxon that had in the eest syde Kente in the south the see and the yle of Wyght in the west Hampshyre and in the north sothery there Ella regned fyrste with his thre sones and began to regne the yere after the comynge of the Angles euen .xxx. But that kyngdome within a shorte tyme passed in to the other kyngdomes The thyrde kyngdome was of eestsaxon and hadde in the eest syde the see in the west the countree of London in the south Tamyse and in the north southfolke The kynges of this countree of westsaxon fro the fyrste Sebertes tyme vnto the tyme of the Danes were there .x. kynges the whiche were subget somdele to other kynges Neuertheles oftest and lengest they were vnder the kynges of Mercia and vnto that tyme that Egbert the kyng of westsaxon Ioyned that kyngdome to his owne The fourthe kyngdome was of eest Angles and conteyneth Norffolke and Suffolke and hadde in the eest syde and in the north syde the see in the northwest Cambrygeshyre in the west saynt Edmondes dyche and Herfordshyre and in the south Estsex And this kyngdome dured vnder twelue kynges vnto the tyme that kyng Edmonde was slayne And thenne the Danes toke wrongfully bothe y â— kyngdoms of eest Angles and of Eestsaxon Afterwarde the Danes were put out and dryuen awaye or made subgette And thenne the elder kyng Edwarde Ioyned bothe the kyngdomes to his owne The fyfthe kyngdome was of Westsaxon and dured lengest of all these kyngdomes and hadde in the eest syde Southsaxon in the north Tamyse in the south and in the west the see Occean In that kyngdome regned Serdryk with his sone Kenryk and began to regne the yere of our lorde fyue hondred and .xix. and thenne after the comynge of Angels .lxxi. so sayth Denys the other kyngdoms passed in to this kyngdom The sixt kyngdome was of Mercia was grettest of all The markes the meres therof were in the west syde the Ryuer Dee fast by Chestre and Seuarne faste by Shrowesbury vnto Brystowe in the eest the eest see in the south Tamyse vnto London in the
the Romayus myght not be ouercome but in her owne coūtree soo Englysshmen may not be ouercome in straūge londes but in her owne coūtre they be lyghtly ouercome ¶ R. These men despysen her owne prayse other mennys And vnnethe be pleased ner apayd with theyr owne astate what befalleth becometh other men they wyl gladly take to hemself Therfore it is that a yeman arayeth hym as a squyre a squyre as a knyght a knyght as a duke a duke as a kyng Yet some go about wyll be lyke to all maner state ben in no state For they take euery degre that be of no degre for in berynge outwarde they ben mynstrals and herowdes In talkynge grete spekers In etynge drynkynge glotons In gaderynge of catell hucksters and tauerners In araye tormentours In wynnynges argi In trauayll tantali In takynge hede dedaly In beddes sardanapali In chirches mawmetes In courtes thonder oonly in preuy lege of clergye and in prebendes they knowleche hemself clerkes ¶ Treuisa As touchynge the termes of latyn as argi tantaly dedaly sardanapaly ye must vnderstonde them as the poetes feyned of them Argus was an herde and kepte bestes he hadde an hondred eyen And Argus was also a shyp a shypman and a chapman and so Argus myght see before behynde on euery syde Therfore he that is wyse and ware and can see that he be not deceyued may be called Argus And so the Cronycle sayth in plurell nombre that Englysshmen ben argi that is to saye they see about where as wynnynge is That other worde tantali the poete feyneth that Tantalus flewe his owne sone wherfore he is dampned to perpetuell penaūce and he standeth alwaye in water vp to the nether lyppe and hath alwaye type apples and noble fruyte hangynge downe to the ouerlyppe but the fruyte ne the water may not come within his mouth he is soo holde and standeth bytwene mete and drynke and may neyther etene drynke and is euer an hongred a thyrst that wo is hym a lyue by this maner lykenesse of Tantalus they that do ryght nought there as moche is to doo in euery syde ben called tantali It semeth that it is to saye in trauayll they ben tantali for they doo ryght nought therto The thyrde worde is dedali take hede that Dedalus was a subtyll and a slye man And therfore by lykenes they that ben subtyll and slye they be called dedali And the fourth worde is sardanapali ye shal vnderstande that Sardanapalus was kyng of Assyryens and was full vnchast and vsed hym for to lye softe And by a maner of lykenes of hym they that lyue vnchastly ben called sardanapali ¶ R. But amonge all Englysshe medled togyders is so grete a chaungynge and dyuersyte of clothynge and of araye and so many maners and dyuerse shappes that well nyghe is ther ony man knowen by his clothynge and his araye of what some euer degre that he be Therof prophecyed an holy Anker in kyng Egelfredes tyme in this maner Henri li. vi Englysshmen for as moche as they vse them to dronkelewnes to treason and to rechelesnesse of goddes hous fyrste by Danes and thenne by Normans and at the thyrde tyme by the Scottes that they holde the moost wretches and lest worth of all other they shall be ouercome Thenne the worlde shall be so vnstable and so dyuerse and varyable that the vnstablenes of thoughtes shall be bytokened by many maner dyuersytees of clothynge ¶ Here foloweth the descrypcyon of the londe of Wales ¶ Of the londe of Wales ca. xvi NOw this boke taketh on honde Wales after Englonde So take I my tales And wende in to Wales To that noble blood Of pryamus blood Ernowleche for to wynne Of grete Iupyters kynne For to haue in mynde Dardanus kynde In these foure tytles I fonde To telle thestate of that londe Cause of the man I shall telle And then prayse the londe and welle Then I shall wryte with my penne All the maners of the menne Thenne I shall fonde Te telle merueylles of the londe ¶ Of the name and why it is named Wales ca. xvij WAles now is called Wallia And somtyme it heet Cambria For Camber Brutes sone Was prynce and there dyde wone Thenne Wallia was to mene For Gwalaes the quene Kyng Ebrancus chylde Was wedded thyder mylde And of that lorde Gwalon Withdraweth of the soun And put to l. i. a. And thou shalt fynde Wallia And though this londe Be moche lesse than Englonde As good glebe is one as other In the doughter as in the moder ¶ Of the commodytees of the londe of Wales ca. xviij THough that londe be luyte It is full of corn of fruyte And hath grete plente ywys Of flesshe and eke of fysshe Of beestes tame and wylde Of hors sheep oxen mylde Good londe for all sedes For corn gras and herbes that spredes Ther ben woodes and medes Herbes and floures there spredes Ther ben Ryuers and welles Valeyes and also hylles Valeyes brynge forth flode And hylles metals gode Cooll groweth vnder londe And gras aboue atte honde There lyme is copyous And slattes for hous Hony and mylke whyte There is deynte and not lyte Of braket meete and ale Is grete plente in that vale And all that nedeth to the lyue That londe bryngeth forth ryue But of grete ryches to be drawe And close many in shorte sawe Hit is a corner small As though god fyrst of all Made that londe so fele To be selere of all hele Wales is deled by A water that heet twy North wales from the south Twy deleth in places full couth The south heet Demecia And the other Venedocia The fyrst shoteth and arowes beres That other deleth all with speres In Wales how it be Were somtyme courtes thre At Carmerthyn was that one And that other was in Mone The thyrde was in Powysy In Pegwern y t now is Shrowesbury There were bysshops seuen And now ben foure euen Vnder Saxons all atte honde Somtyme vnder prynces of that londe ¶ Of the maners and rytes of the Walsshmen ca. xix THe maner lyuynge of y t londe Is wel dyuerse from Englonde In mete and drynke and clothynge And may other doynge They be clothed wondre well In a shyrte and in a mantell A cryspe breche well fayne Bothe in wynde and rayne In this clothynge they be bolde Though the weder be ryght colde Without shetes alwaye Euermore in this araye They go fyght playe and lepe Stande sytte lye and slepe Without surcot gowne cote kyrtell Without jopen tabard clok or bell Without lace chaplet that her lappes Without hode hatte or cappes Thus arayd gone the segges And alwaye with bare legges They kepe none other goynge Though they mete with the kynge With arowes and shorte speres They fyght with them y t them deres They fyght better yf they neden Whan they go than whan they ryden In stede of castell and
he wolde sende her hym to the lowe larherin with .xv. maydens Turgesius promysed to mete there w t .xv. of the noblest men that he had helde couenauÌ„t thought no gyle but ther come xv yonge berdles men clothed lyke wyÌ„men w t short swerdes vnder her clothes fylle on Turgesius slewe hym ryght there so he was traytoursly slayne after he had regned xxx yere Not longe after thre brethern Amelanus Siracus Iuorus come in to Irlonde w t hyr men out of Norwaye as it had ben for loue of peas of marchauÌ„dyse dwelled by the see sydes by assente of Irysshmen that were alwaye ydle as Poules knyghtê° y e Norwayes buylded thre cytees Deuelyn Waterforde Lymeryche encreced after wexe rebell ayenst men of that londe brought fyrst sparthes in to Irlonde So fro Turgesius tyme vnto Roderyks tyme kyng of Connacia that was y e last that was kyng of all the londe were .xvij. kynges in Irlonde And so the kyngê° that regned in Irlonde from y e Hermons tyme vnto the last Roderyks tyme were in all an C .lxxxi. kyngê° that were not crowned neyther enoynted ne by lawe of herytage but by myght maystrye strength of armes The seconde Henry kyng of Englonde made this Roderyk subget the yere of kyng Henryes age .xl. and of hit regne .xvij. the yere of our lorde .xi. hondred .lxxij. ¶ Of the condycyons and maners of Irlonde ca. xxvij sOlinus sayth that men of this londe ben strauÌ„ge of nacoÌ„n houseles grete fyghters acouÌ„te â—yght wronge all tor one thynge ben syngle of clothynge scarse of mete cruell of herte angry of speche drynketh fyrst blood of deed men y â— ben slayne then wesshen theyr vysages therwith holde hem payed w t flesshe fruyte in stede of mete with mylke in stede of dryÌ„ke vsen moche playenge ydlenes huntynge trauayll but lytell In theyr chilhode they ben harde nourysshed harde fed they be vnsemely of maners of clothynge haue breche hosen allone of wolle strayte hodes y â— stretcheth a cubyte ouer the sholders behynde foldynges in stede of mantels of clokes Also they vse no sadels bootes ne spores whan they ryde but they dryue theyr horses w t a chambred yerde in y e ouer ende In stede of byttes w t trenches of brydles of reest they vse brydles y â— lette not theyr hois to ete theyr mete they fyght vnarmed naked in body netheles w t two dartes speres w t brode sparthes they fyght with one honde These men forsaken tyllyÌ„ge of londe kepen pasture for bestes They vse longe berdes longe lockes hangynge downe behynde her hedes they vse no craft of flaxe of wolle of metall ne of marchaundyse but gyue hem to ydlenes to slouth reken rest for lykynge fredome for ryches And though Scotlonde the doughter of Irlonde vse harpe tymbre tabour Netheles Irysshmen be connynge in two maner Instrumentê of musyke in harpe tymbre y t is armed w t wyre strenges of brasse In whiche Instrumentes though they playe hastely swyftely they make ryght mery armonye melodye w t thycke tewnes werbles notes begynne from bemoll playen secretly vnder dyme sowne in the grete strenges torne ayene vnto the same so y t the grettest partye of the craft hydeth the craft as it wolde seme as though the craft so hydde sholde be ashamed yf it were take These men ben of euyll maners in her lyuynge they paye no tythyngê they wedde lawfully they spare not theyr alyes but the brother wedded the brothers wyf they ben besy to betraye her neyghbours other they bere sparthes in theyr hondes in stede of staues fyght ayenst them y t trust moost to them these men ben varyable vnstedfast trechours gyleful who y t dealeth with them nedeth more to beware of gyle than of craft of peas than of brennynge brondes of hony than of galle of malyce than knyghthode they haue suche maners y t they ben not stronge in warre in batayll ne trewe in peas they become gossybs to them that they wyll falsely betraye 〈◊〉 gossybrede holy kynrede Eueryche drynketh others blood whan it is shedde they loue somdele her noryce her playfers whiche y t souke the same mylke that they souked whyle they were childern And they pursewe theyr brethern theyr cosyns and theyr other kyn despysen theyr kyn whyles they lyue auenge theyr deth whan they ben slayne Soo longe hath the vsage of euyl custome endured amonge them that it hath goten the maystrye ouer them torneth treason in to kynde so ferforth y t they ben traytours by nature And alyens men of strauÌ„ge londes that dwelle amonge them folowen theyr maners that vnneth ther is none but he is besmetted with theyr treason also Amonge them many men pyssen syttynge wyÌ„men standynge There ben many men in that londe foule shapen in lyÌ„mes in body for in theyr lyÌ„mes they lacke the benefyce of kynde So that nowhere ben none better shapen than they y t ben there well shapen none worse shapen than they y t ben euyl shapen And skylfully nature hurte defouled by wyckednes of lyuynge bryngeth forth suche foule gromes euyll shapen of hem that w t vnlawful delynge with foule maners euyll lyuynge soo wyckedly defouled kynde nature In this londe in Wales olde wyues wyÌ„men were wonte ben yet as men saye ofte for to scape themself in lykenes of hares for to mylke theyr neyghbours kyne stele her mylke ofte greyhoundes rennen after them poursewen them wenen that they be hares Also some by crafte of Nygromancye maken fatte swyne for to be reed of colour selle them in markettes and feyres But as soone as these swyne passe ony water they torne in to theyr owne kynde whether it be strawe heye gras or turues But these swyne may not be kept by no craft for tendure in lykenes of swyne ouer thre dayes Amonge these wondres other take hede that in the vttermest ende of the worlde falleth oft newe meruaylles wondres As though kynde playde w t larger loue secretly ferre in thendes than openly nyghe in the myddell therfore in this ylonde ben many grysely wondres meruaylles ¶ Of the meruaylles and wondres of Irlonde ca. xxviij MAny men tellen y t in the north syde of Irlonde is the londe of lyf In that ylonde noman may deye but whan they ben olde ben vexed w t grete sekenes they ben borne out in to the nexte londe deye there There is an other ylonde in Irlonde that no woman therin may bere a childe but yet she may conceyue Also ther is an ylonde in whiche no deed body may roten In vltonia that is Vlster is an ylonde in a lake wonderly departed in tweyne
The descrypcyon of Englonde Here foloweth a lytell treatyse the whiche treateth of the descrypcyon of this londe whiche of olde tyme was named Albyon And after Brytayne And now is called Englonde and speketh of the noblenesse and worthynesse of the same ¶ Hit is so that in many and dyuerse places the comyn Cronycles of Englonde ben hadde and also now late enprynted at Westmynstre And for as moche as the descrypcyon of this londe whiche of olde tyme was named Albyon and after Brytayne is not descryued ne comynly hadde ne the noblenesse worthynesse of the same is not knowen Therfore I entende to sette in this booke the descrypcyon of this sayd Yle of Brytayne with the commodytees of the same ¶ In the fyrst shall be tolde the names of the Ylonde Ca. j. ¶ Of the â—ettynge bouÌ„dynge lengthe and brede ca. ij ¶ Of the worthynesse and prerogatyues ca. iij. ¶ Of the merueylles and of the wondres ca. iiij ¶ Of the chyef partyes of the same londe ca. v. ¶ Of the Ylondes that ben therto adiacent ca. vj. ¶ Of the kynges hye wayes and stretes ca. vij ¶ Of the famous Ryuers and stremes ca. viij ¶ Of auÌ„cyent cytees townes ca. ix ¶ Of prouynces shyres ca. x. ¶ Of the lawes and the names of the lawes ca. xj ¶ Of kyngdoms of boundes markes bytwene them ca. xij ¶ Of bysshoryches theyr sees ca. xiij ¶ Of how many maner people haue dwelled therin ca. xiiij ¶ Of the langages of maners vsage of the people of that londe ca. xv ¶ Of the londe of Wales ca. xvj ¶ Of the name and why it is named Wales ca. xvij ¶ Of the commodytees of the londe of Wales ca. xviij ¶ Of the maners and rytes of the Walsshmen ca. xix ¶ Of the merueylles and wondres of Wales ca. xx ¶ Of the descrypcyon of Scotlonde somtyme named Albania ca. xxi ¶ Of y e descrypcoÌ„n of Irlonde ca. xxij ¶ Of y â— bouÌ„dynge of Irlonde ca. xxiij ¶ Of the gretnes and qualyte of that londe ca. xxiiij ¶ Of the defautes of y â— londe ca. xxv ¶ Of them that fyrste enhabyted Irlonde ca. xxvj ¶ Of the condycyons and maners of Irysshmen ca. xxvij ¶ Of the merueylles and wondres of Irlonde ca. xxviij ¶ Of the merueylles of sayntes of Irlonde ca. xxix ¶ Explicit tabula ¶ The names of this Ylonde Ca. j. FIrste as Galfrydus sayth this londe was named Albyon after the name of Albyne the oldest doughter of Dyoclesyan and had xxxij systers And they were fyrst that enhabyted this londe And by cause she was the oldest syster she named this loude Albyon after her owne name as the Cronycle reherseth Other saye that this londe was named Albyon as it where the whyte londe of whyte rockes about the clyues of the see that were seen fro ferre Afterwarde Brute conquered this londe called it Brytayn after his owne name And thenne Saxons or Englysshmen conquered this londe called it Anglia that is Englonde Or it is called Anglia of a quene that owed this lâ—nde sthat was named Angela was a noble dukes doughter of the Saxons Or as Ysyd sayth Ethi .xv. Anglia hath that name as it were an angle and a corner of the worlde Or els as Beda sayth li. j. Saynt Gregory sawe Englysshe childern to selle at Rome he accorded to the name of the londe and sayd they ben sothely angles for her face shyned as angels for the noblyte of the londe shone in the childern faces ¶ Alfre The Bryttysshe Anglia is called the other worlde for grete plente of all good the grete Charles called it his owne chambre ¶ Solinus The edge of the frensshe clyt sholde be the ende of the worlde yf the Ylonof Brytayne ne were not whiche is worthy to haue the name of an other worlde ¶ Alfre This Ylonde is called Insula for it is in salo that is the see is beten of with dyuerse course of waters with stremes with wawes of the sâ—e ¶ Of the settynge bouÌ„dynge lengthe brede of this londe ca. ij THis Brytayne is acouÌ„ted a noble londe both in our storyes also in the storyes of Gâ—ekes is sette ayenst Germania Gallia Fraunce Spayne bytwene the north the west and the see bytwene This londe is fyfty myle from the clyf of the men that be called morim gessorico ¶ Beda li. j. And for this Ylonde â—yeth vnder the north heed of the worlde it hath lyght bryght nyghtes in the somer tyme. So that oftentyme at mydnyght men haue questyons doubte whether it be euen tyde or dawynge y t is for the tyme of the yere y t the sonne goth not ferre vnder y â— erthe by nyght but passeth by the north syde cometh soone in to the eest agayne And therfore in the somer ben thyr dayes full longe of .xviij. houres the nyghtes of .vj. houres And after in the wynter ben longe nyghtes of .xviij. houres shorte dayes of .vj. houres Also in Armenia Macedonia Italia and in other londes of the same lyne the lengest daye lengest nyght also is of rv houres the shortest daye or nyght is ofix houres ¶ Pliuê° in mewe That Ylonde is chyef of black men ther is the lengest daye .xij. houres In Alexandria in Egypte of .xiiij. houres In Italia of .xv. houres In Brytayne of .xviij. houres In the Ylonde named Tyle all the .vj. somer monethes is daye all the .vj. wynter monethes is nyght ¶ Ysyd li. xiij Brytayne is sette within Occean as it were without the worlde is sette ayenst FrauÌ„ce Spayne ¶ Giraldus Brytayne is endlonge and larger in the myddel than in thendes ¶ Orosiê° Brytayne stretcheth in length out of the south in to the north in the southest syde hit hath FrauÌ„ce in the south Spayne in the noth Norwaye in the west Hys bernia that is Irlonde Whan shypmen passen the next clyf of that londe they se a cyte that heet Ruâ—py mouth ¶ Beda li. j. That cyte is now called shortly of Englysshmen Reptacestre ¶ Solinê° Brytane is viij hondred myle of lengthe it be moten from the clyf of Totenesse to the angle of Calydon ¶ Alfre That is from Penwith strete .xv. myle beyonde Michels stowe in Cornewayle vnto Catenesse y t is beyonde Scotlonde Brytayne is more than two hondred myle brode from Meneuia y t is the vttermest place in Wales vnto Yarmouth in Northfolke ¶ Beda Oonly outake the lengest out shetynge of dyuerse forlondes with y â— whiche Brytayne is all about xlviij sythe .lxx. thousande paas ¶ Of the worthynesse and prerogatyues ca. iij. AS Fraunce passeth Brytayne so Brytayne passeth Irlonde in fayre weder noblyte but not in helthe ¶ Beda li. j. for this ylonde is best to brynge forth trees and fruyte Ruthern beestes And wyne groweth therin in some place The londe hath plente of foules of beestes of
or caue There is also a ponde that torneth tree in to yron yf it be therin a yere And so trees ben shapen in to whestones Also there is in the toppe of an hylle a buryels euery man that cometh and meteth that buryell he shall fynde it euen of his owne lengthe mesure And yf a pylgryme knele therto anone he shall be all fresshe and fele no gryef of werynes ¶ Gir. in top Faste by the mynster of Wynburney that is not ferre fro bathe is a wood that bereth moche fruyte yf the trees of that wood falle in to water or grouÌ„de that is neygh and lye there all a yere the trees tornen in to stones ¶ Gir in itinere Vnder the Cyte of Chestre renneth that Ryuer Dee that now departed Englonde and Wales That Ryuer chaunged euery moneth his fordes as men of the contree tellen leueth often the chanell but whether the water drawe more towarde Englonde or towarde Wales to what syde that it be that yere men of that syde haue the worst ende be ouersette And men of that other syde shall haue better ende and ben at theyr aboue Whan the water so chauÌ„geth his course hit bodeth suche happes This Ryuer Dee renneth and cometh out of a lake that heet Pymblemere In this Ryuer is grete plente of samon neuerthelesse in the lake is neuer samon founden ¶ Wilhel de re li. ij Take hede how grete lyght and bryghtnesse of goddes myldenesse hath be shewed vpon Englysshmen sythen they fyrste torned to ryght byleue So that of no men in one prouynce ben founden soo many hoole bodyes of men after her deth in lyknes of euerlastyngnes that shall be after the daye of dome as it well semeth in these holy sayntes As Edeldrede Edmonde the kyng Elphege Edgar Cutherd saynt Edwarde and many other I trowe that it be do by a specyall grace of god almyghty for the nacyon that is sette as it were without the worlde sholde take hede to buryenge of bodyes without corrupcyon and rotynge and ben the more bolde and stedfast for to trust on the fynall arysynge of deed bodyes for to laste euermore after the daye of dome ¶ Of the chyef partyes of the same londe ca. v. AFter the fyrst Brutes tyme the ylonde of Brytayne began for to haue the pryncypall partyes that ben Loegria Cambria that is Wales And Albania that is now Scotlonde Loegria hath that name of Locrinus that was Brutes oldest sone and heet Loegria as it were Locrinus londe but now Loegria is called Englonde The bouÌ„des and merkes were therof some tyme the Frensshe see both by cest and by south ¶ Beda li. j. ca. ij And by north two armes of the see y t breketh ferre in to the londe eyther ayenst other But they reche not togyder the eest arme of tylke tweyne begyÌ„neth about a two lytell myle fro the mynstre of Ebburcurynge In the west syde of Penulton in that arme is a towne that is called Guydy The west arme of thylke tweyne hath in the ryght syde a stronge Cyte that heet Aldiud whiche in her langage is called Clynâ—stone and standeth vpon a Ryuer that is called Clynt also ¶ R. Some men wolde mene that Loegria endeth att Humbre stretcheth no ferther north warde The seconde partye of Brytayne is called Albania that is Scotlonde and hath that name of Albanactus Brutes sone and stretcheth fro the forsayd two armes of the see northwarde vnto the see of Norwaye Neuerthelesse the south partyes of Albama where as Pictes dwelled somtyme lyeth from the water of Twede vnto the Scottesshe see All that longed some tyme to the kyngdome of NorthuÌ„berlonde Brenycon the north syde of Northumberlonde fro the fyrste tyme of Englysshe kynges to y t tyme whaâ— Kynadius kyng of Scotlonde that was Alpinus sone dyde awaye the Pictes and so Ioyned that conâ—ee to y â— kyngdome of Scotlonde The 〈◊〉 partye of Brytayne is Wales Wallia that heet Cambria also and hath that name Cambria of Camber Brâ—tes sone for he was prynce of Wales In the cest syde Seuarne departed some tyme bytwene Englonde and Wales But now in the north syde the Ryuer Dee at Chestre in the south the Ryuer that is named Vaga at the Castell of Strygelyn departeth Englonde and Wales Also kyng Offa for to haue a dystynceyon for euermore bytwene the kynges of Englondâ— of Wales made a longe dyche that strecheth forth out of the south syde by Brystowe vnder the bylles of Wales northwarde and passeth the Ryuers Seuarne and Dee all moost to the heedes and vnto the mouth of the ryuer Dee beyonde Chestre fast by the castell it renneth bytwene Colehylle the mynstre of Basyngwerk in to the see This dyche is yet in many places seen In saynt Edwardes tyme Walsshe men sholde not passe that dyche w c wepen vpon a grete payne And that was atte erle Haroldes procurynge as it shall be sayd here after But now in eyther sydes bothe ayonde half a this half the dyche specyally in the shyres of Chestre of Shrowesbury of Herforde in many places ben Englysshmen and Walsshmen medled togyders ¶ Of the Ylondes that ben therto adiacent ca. vj. BRytayne hath thre Ylondes y t ben nyghe longen therto all without the ylondes Orcades as it were answerynge to the thre chyef partyes of Brytayne For y eyle of Wyght longeth lyeth to Leogria that is Englonde The ylonde Mon that is called Angleseya also longeth to Wales And the ylonde Eubonia y t hath two other names is called Meneuia and Man also whiche longeth to Scotlonde And all these thre ylondes Wyght Mon Man ben almoost alyke moche of y e lyke quatyte of the whiche thre all a rewe now foloweth our speche ¶ Beda li. j. ca. iij. Claudius sente Vespasianus Vespasianus wanne Wyght and Wyght stretcheth out of the cest in to the west .xxx. myle longe And out of the south in to the north .xij. myle is in the eest syde .vj. myle fro the south clyf of Brytayne and 〈◊〉 myle in the west syde ¶ Beda li. 〈◊〉 ca. v. The mesure of this ylonde as Englysshmen gesse is a thousande housholdes two hondred ¶ Gir. in itinere Mon that is called Angleseya also is departed from northwales by a shorte arme of the see as it were two myle brode In Mon ben iij. hondred townes lxiij and ben accompted for candredes that ben iij. hondredes the ylonde is as it were .xxx. myle longe .xij. myle brode Candredus is so moche londe as coÌ„teyneth an hondred townes that name candredus is made out of two langages of Brytysshe and of Irysshe In praysynge of this ylonde Walsshmen he wonte to saye a prouerbe an olde sawe Mon man kembry that is to saye in Englysshe that londe is so good that it semeth y t it wolde fynde corne ynough for all the men of Wales Therfore
Virgyls verses may be acordynge therto as moche as guawes bestes longe Inneth dawes So moche efte bryngeth colde dewe in a nyght In that arme of the see that departed this londe north-northwales is a swolowe that draweth shyppes to it that saylleth by swoloweth hem in ryght as doth Cylla and Carybdis y t ben two peryllous places in the see of myddell erthe Therfore men may not saylle by this swalowe but slyly atte full see ¶ R. Of the merueylles and wondres of the ylonde Mon thou shalt fynde tofore in the chapytre of Wales ¶ Gir. in itinere The thyrde ylonde that is called both Eubonia Meneuia that is Man standeth in the myddell bytwene the Irysshe vlster the Scottysshe gallewaye as it were in the nauell of the see ¶ Beda li. ij ca. .ix. This ylonde Man conteyneth as it were two ylondes The fyrst is southwarde the more couÌ„tree and the better corne londe conteyneth .ix. hondred and .lx. housholdes The seconde conteyneth the space of CCC and moo as Englysshmen gesse ¶ Gir. iij top Somtyme was stryfe whether this ylonde Man sholde longe to Brytayne or to Irlonde And for as moche as venemous wormes y t were brought thyâ— lyued there it was Iuged y t the ylonde Man sholde longe to Brytayne ¶ R. In y t ylonde is Iortylege wytchecraft vsed For woman there selle to shypmen wynde as it were closed vnder thre knottes of threde so y t the more wynde he wyll haue the mo knottes he must vndo There often by daye tyme men of that londe seen men y t ben deed â—â—fore honde byheded or hoole and what deth they deyed Alyens sette theyr feet vpon feet of the men of y â— londe for to see suche syghtes as the men of y â— londe done ¶ Beda li. ij Scottes dwelled fyrst in this ylonde ¶ Thanatos that is Tenet is an ylonde besydes â—ente and hath that name Thanatos of deth of serpentes for there ben none And the erthe therof sleeth serpentes yborn in to other londes There is noble corne londe fruytfull Hit is sapposed that this ylonde was halowed blessyd of saynt Austen the fyrste doctour of Englysshmen for there he arryued fyrst ¶ Of the kynges hye wayes and stretes ca. vij MOliuncius kyng of Brytons was the .xxiij. of hem and the fyrst that gaf hem lawe He ordeyned that plowmen folowes goddes temples hyghe wayes that leden men to Cytees townes sholde haue the fredom of socour so that euery man that wente to ony of them for socour or for trespaas y t he hath doo sholde be sauffor poursute of all his enemyes But after warde for the wayes were vncertayne stryf was had Therfore Belinus the kyng y t was the forsayd Moliuncius sone for to putte awaye all doubte stryf made foure hyghe kynges wayes preuyleged with all preuylege fredom And the wayes stretche thrugh the ylonde The fyrst gretest of the foure wayes is called Fosse and stretcheth out of the south in to y â— north begynneth from the corner of Cornewayle passeth forth by Deuenshyte by Somersete forth besydes Tetbury vpon Cottes wolde besyde Couentre vnto Leycestre so forth by wylde playnes towarde Newerke ended at Lyncoln The seconde chyef kynges hyghe waye is named Watlyngstrete stretcheth thwart ouer Fosse out of the southeest in to the northwest begynneth at Douer and passeth by the myddell of Kente ouer Temse besyde London by west Westmestre so forth by saynt Albon in y â— west syde by Don staple by Stratforde by Toweetre by Wedon by south Lylleborn by Atheryston vnto Gilbertes hylle that now is called Wrekene forth by Seuarne passeth besydes Wrokcestre thenÌ„e forth to Stratton so forth by y â— myddell of Wales vnto Cardykan endeth atte Irysshe see The thyrde waye is called Erynnugestrete stretcheth out of the west northwest in to erst southeest begynneth in Menâ—uia y â— is in Saynt Dauyds londe in weste Wales stretcheth forth vnto Souhthampton The fourth is called Rykenyldestrete sretcheth forth by Worchestre by Wycombe by Byrmyngeham by Lychefelde by Derby by Chestrefelde by Yorke forth vnto Tynmouthe ¶ Of the famous Ryuers and stremes ca. viij THre famous Ryuers rennen through Brytayne by the whiche thre Ryuers marchauÌ„tes of beyonde the see comen in shyppes in to Brytayne well nyghe out of all maner of nacyons londes These thre Ryuers ben Temse Seuarne and humbre The see ebbeth floweth atte mouthes of these thre Ryuers departeth the thre prouynces of the Ylonde as it were the thre kyngdomes a sondre The thre partyes ben Loegria Cambria Northumbria That ben myddell Englonde Wales and Northumberlonde ¶ R. These name Temse semeth made one name of two names of two Ryuers that ben Tame Yse for the Ryuer Tame renneth besydes Dorchestre falleth in Yse therfore all the Ryuer fro the tyrite heed vnto y â— eest see is named Tamyse or Temse Temse begynneth besydes Tetbury that is thre myle by north Malmesbury There the Temse spryngeth of a welle that renneth eestwarde passeth the Fosse departeth Glouceâ—tre shyre Wylshyre and draweth with hym many other welles stremes wexeth 〈◊〉 at grecestre passeth forth thâ—n 〈◊〉 Hampton so forth by 〈◊〉 by Wallynforde by Redynge and by London ¶ 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 ca. ij Atte hauen of Sandwhiche hit falleth in to the test see holdeth his name .xl. myle beyonde London and departed in some place Lâ—câ—te Essex Westâ—ex Mercia that is as it were a grete dele of myddel Englonde ¶ R. Seuarne is a Ryuer of Brytayne is called Habern in Brytona hath that name Habern of Habeâ—en y t was Estryldes doughter Guendolon the quene drenched this Habren therin therfore the Brytons called the Ryuer Habren after the woman that was drowned therin but by corrupt latyn it is called Sabrina Seuarne in Englysshe Seuarne begynneth in y â— myddell of Wales passed fyrst towarde the eest vnto Shrowesbury thenÌ„e tomed southwarde vnto Bryggenorth Wyrcestre Gloucestre falleth in to the west see besydes Brystowe departed in some place Englonde Wales ¶ Wilhel de pon li. iiij Seuarne is swyft of streme fysshe craft is therin wodenes of the swolowynge of whyrlynge water casteth vp gadreth to hepe grete hepes of grauel Seuarne ofte aryseth ouerfloweth the hankes ¶ R. Humbre hath that name of Humbre kyng of Hâ—â—es for he was drowned therin And renneth fyrste a crook out of the southsyde of Yorke and thenne it departed the prouynce of Lyndeseye that longed somtyme to the Merces from the other countree Northumberlonde Trente Ouse rennen in to Humber maken the Ryuer full grete ¶ Treuisa The Merces were men as it were of myddel Englonde as it shall be sayd here after ¶ Of auÌ„cyent cytees townes ca. ix THe kyngdom of Brytayn was some
tyme made fayre with xxbiij noble Cytes without ryghte many Castels that were walled with toures with yates with barres strongely buylded ¶ Alfre These were the names of the Cytees Caâ—rlud that is London Caerbranck that is Yorke Caerkente that is CauÌ„terbury Caergoraugon that is Wyrcestre Caerlirion that is Leycestre Caerclon that is Gloucestre Caercolden that is Colcestre Carrei y t is Chichestre Saxons called it somtyme Cyssoncestre Caer-ceri that is Cyrcestre Caerguent that is Wynchestre CaergrauÌ„te y t is Cambrygge Caerleyll that is Lugubalia Karlyll Caerperis that is Porchestre Caerdrom y â— is Dorchestre Caerludcoit y t it Lyncoln Lyndecolyn Caermerthyn that is Merlyns Cyte Caersegent y t is Sycestre is vpon Temse not ferre from Redynge Caerthleon that is Caerlegyon also hyght fyrst Legecestre now is named Chestre Caerbathon y t is Bathe hyght somtyme Athamannê° cyte Caerpaladour that is Septon y t now hyght Shaftesbury ¶ R. Other cytees ben fouÌ„den in Cronycles for vnderstandynge of storyes of whom it shall folowe ¶ Wilde pon London is a ryall and a ryche cyte vpon Tamyse of burgeysses of tychesses of marchauÌ„tes of chaffare of marchauÌ„dyse Therfore it is that somtyme whan derth of vytayls is in all Englonde commuly at London it is best chepe by cause of the byers and sellers that ben at London ¶ Gaufre Brute y â— fyrst kyng of Brytons buylded edefyed this cyte of London the fyrst cyte of Brytayne in remembrauÌ„ce of the cyte of Troye y t was destroyde called it Troyeneweth TrinouantuÌ„ that is newe Troye After warde kyng Lud called it Caerlud after his owne name therfor Brytons had grete indygnacyon as Gyldas telleth Afterwarde Englysshmen called the cyte London yet after y â— Normans called it Londres is named in latyn Londonia Rudhudibras kyng Leyles sone was the .viij. kyng of Brytons he buylded CauÌ„terbury the chyef cyte of Prente called it Caerkente After warde Englyssmen called it Doâ—oberma but that is not Douer y t standeth vpon the clyf of the Frensshe see is from this Douer .xij. Englysshe myle Afterwarde this Doroberma was is called CauÌ„terbury The same kyng Rudhudibras burlded Wâ—nchestre called it Caerguent 〈◊〉 Englysshmen called it Wente Wâ—nchestre after the name of one wyne an Englysshman that was bysshop theâ—e All westsaron was subgette to hym the same kyng buylded Paladour y â— is Septon that now is called Shafâ—eâ—bury Brytons tellen that an Egle prophecyed there somtyme Bladud Leâ—les sone a Nygromancer was the it kyng of Brytons he burlded Bathe called it Caerbathon Englysshmen called it after Athamannus cyte but atte last men called it Bathoma y â— is Bathe ¶ Wilhel de pon li. ij In this cyte welleth vp spryngeth hoote bathes men wene that Iulius Cezar made there suche bathes ¶ R. But Gaufre monemuteÌ„sis in his brytons boke sayth that Bladud made thylke bathes bycause william hath not seen that brytons boke wrote so by tellynge of othe men or by his owne gessynge as he wrote other thynges not best auy sedly Therfore it semeth more sothly that Bladud made not the hoote bathes ne Iulius Cezar dyde suche a dede though Bladud buylde made the cyte but it accordeth better to kyndly reason y t the water renneth in the erthe by vaynes of brymstone sulphur and so it is kyndly made hoote in y t course spryngeth vp in dyuerse places of y â— cyte And so there ben hote bathes that wasseth of tetres soores and skabbes ¶ Treuisa Though men myght by crafte make hoote bathes for to dure longe ynough this accordeth well to reason to phylosophye that treateth of hote welles bathes that ben in dyuerse londes though the water of this bathe be more trobly sourer of sauour of smelle than other hote bathes ben that I haue seen at Akon in Almayn And at eyges in Sauoye whiche ben fayre clere as ony colde welle streme I haue ben bathed therin and assayed them ¶ R. Claudius Cezar maryed his doughter to Aruiragus kyng of Brytons This Claudius cezar buylded Gloucestre in y e weddynge of his doughter Brytons called this cyte fyrste after Claudiê° name but afterwarde it was called Gloucestre after one Glora whiche was duke of y t contree stondeth vpon Seuarne in the marche of Englonde Wales Shrowesbury is a cyte vpon Seuarne in y e marche of Englonde Wales ysette vpon the toppe of an hylle and it is called 〈◊〉 wesbury of shrobbes fruyte y t 〈◊〉 there somtyme on y t hylle Brytons called it somtyme Pengwern that is the heed of a fayre tree Shrowesury was somtyme the heed of powesye that stretcheth forth thwart ouer the myddell of Wales vnto y â— Irysshe see Notyngham standeth vpon Trente somtyme heet Snotyngham that is y e wonnynge of dennes for the Danes dwelled there somtyme dygged dennes caues vnder harde stones rockes and dwelled there ¶ R. Lyncoln is chyef of the prouynce of Lyndesaye was called somtyme Caerludcoit afterwarde Lyndecoln It is vncertayne who buylded fyrst this cyte but yf it were kyng Lud so it semeth by menynge of the name for Caer is brytysshe is to saye a cyte coit is a wood and so it semeth that Caerludcoit is to saye Luddes wood towne Kyng Leyr was Bladuddes sone buylded Leycestre as it were in the myddell of Englonde vpon the Ryuer Sos vppon Fosse the kynges hye waye ¶ Wilhel de pon li. iij. YOrke is a grete cyte in eyther syde of the water of Ouse that semed as fayre as Rome vnto the tyme that the kyng William had with brennynge fyre defouled it the couÌ„tree about So that a pylgrym wolde now wepe he sawe it yf he had knowen it tofore ¶ Gaufre Ebrancus the. v. kyng of Brytons buylded Yorke and called it after his owne name Caerbranck he buylded also two other noble cytees one in Scotlonde is called Edenburgh an other towarde Scotlonde in thendes of Englonde is called Alcluid ¶ R. Edenburgh is a cyte in the londe of Pictes bytwene the Ryuer of Twede the Scottesshe see heet somtyme the castell of Maydens was called afterwarde Edenburgh of Edan kyng of Pyctes that regned there in Egfridus tyme kyng of North humberlonde Alcliud was somtyme a noble cyte is now well nygh vnknowe to all Englysshmen for vnder the Brytons Pyctes and Englysshmen it was a noble cyte vnto the comynge of the Danes But afterwarde about the yere of our lorde .viij. C. lxx it was destroyed whan y â— Danes destroyed the contrees of Northumberlonde But in what place of Brytayne that cyte Alcliud was buylded Auctours tellen dyuersely ¶ Beda li. j. sayth that it was buylde by west y t arme of the see that departed bytwene the Brytons the Pyctes somtyme there Seuerus famous walle endeth westwarde so it
north the Ryuer Humbre And so westwarde downewarde vnto y e Ryuer Mersee vnto the corner of Wyrhall there Humbre falleth in to the west see Penda Wybbes sone regned fyrst in this kyngdome in the yere of our lorde Ihesu Cryste .vi. hondred .xxvi. soo sayth Denys And fro y â— comynge of Angles an hondred .lxxv. yere This kyngdome dured vnder xviij kynges about two hondred .lxiij. yere vnto the laste Colwulf to the whiche Colwulf the Danes betoke that kyngdome to kepe whan Burdred the kyng was put out but the elder Edwarde the kyng put out y e Danes Ioyned the kyngdome of Mercia to his owne kyngdom Netheles at y â— begynnynge this kyngdome of Mercia was departed in thre in west Mercia in myddell Mercia eest Mercia The. vij kyngdome was Northamhymbrorum y t is the kyngdome of North humberlonde the meres and markes therof were by west by eest the see of Occean by south the Ryuer of Humbre so downewarde towarde the west by thendes of y e shyres of Notyngham of Derby vnto the Ryuer of Mersee by north the Scottes see that heet forth in Scottes werys in Brytysshe 〈◊〉 Scottysshe see in Englysshe This 〈◊〉 of Northumberlonde was fyrst dealed in two prouynces that one was the south syde heet Deyra that other was the north syde heet Brenicia as it were two kyngdoms the Ryuer departed these two kyngdomes that tyme for the kyngdom of Deyra was from the Ryuer of Humbre vnto y e Ryuer of Tyne The kyngdome of Brenicia was fro Tyne to the Scottysshe see And whan Pyctes dwelled there as Beda sayth li. iij. ca. ij That Ninian that holy man conuerted men of the south syde Ida the kyng regned there fyrst began to regne the yere of our lorde fyue hondred .xlvij. so sayth Dyonyse In Deyra regned kyng Elle the yere of our lorde fyue hondred xlix These two kyngdomes were otherwhyle as it is sayd departed bytwene two kyngê somtyme all hole vnder one kyng dured as it were .xx. Englysshe kyngê CCC .xxi. yere Atte last Osbertus Elle were slayne in the .ix. yere of her kyngdom the Danes slewe them Northumber londe was voyde without kyng viij yere Then afterwarde the Danes regned in Northumberlonde xxxvi yere vnto the oonynge of y â— kyngdons Adelstone he made subget y â— kyngê Danes Scottysshe Walsshe regned fyrste allone in Englonde helde y e kyngdome of Englonde all hole and all one kyngdome y â— was the yere of our lorde .viij. C. xxviij That Ryuer of Mersee was somtyme the marke mere bytwene the kyngdome of Mercia the kyngdome of Northumberlonde that may be shewed in two maners fyrste by the properte of this Mersee that is as moche to saye as a see that is a bouÌ„de a mere for it departed one kyngdome from an other Also it is wryten in Cronycles of Henry and of Alfrede that kyng Edwarde the elder fastned a castell at Mamcestre in Northhumberlond but that cyte Mamcestre is fro the Ryuer of Mersee scarsely thre myle ¶ Of bisshopryches theyr sees ca. xiij LVcius was the fyrst kyng crystened of the Brytons in his tyme were thre Archebysshops sees in Brytayne one was at London an other at Yorke the thyrde at Caerusk the cyte of Legyons in Glamorgan that cyte is now called Caerleon To these Archebysshops sees were subget .xxviij. bysshops were called Flammes To the Archebysshops see of London was subget Cornewayle and all myddel Englonde vnto Humbre To Yorke all Northumberlonde from the howe of Humbre with all Scotlonde To Caerleon all Wales ther were in Wales vij bysshops now ben but foure Tho Seuarne departed Englonde Wales ¶ Wilhel de pon li. j. But in y â— Saxons tyme though saynt Gregory had grauÌ„ted London the preuylege of tharchebysshops see Netheles saynt Austen that was sente in to Englonde by saynt Gregory torned tharchebysshops see out of London in to Caunterbury After saynt Gregoryes dayes at y â— prayer of kyng Athelbryght and Cytezeyns burgeyses of CauÌ„terbury there tharchebysshops see hath dured vnto now saue that in the meane tyme Offa kyng of Mercia was wroth with men of CauÌ„terbury and benam them that worshyp and worchyped Adulph bysshop of Lychfelde with the Archebysshops palle by assent of Adryan the pope vpon caas by yeftes sente Netheles vnâ— Kenulph the kyng it was restored to CauÌ„terbury agayne The worshyp of the see of Yorke hath dured there alwaye dured yet though Scotlonde be withdrawe fro his subieccyon by passynge of tyme. ¶ Gir. in itinere li. j. The Archebysshoppes see was torned out of Caerleon in to Meneuia that is in the west syde of Demecia vpon the Irysshe see in Saynt Dauyds tyme vnder kyng Arthur From saynt Dauyds tyme vnto Sampsons tyme were in Meneuia xxiij Archebysshops Afterwarde fylle a pestylence in all Wales of the yelowe euyll that is called the IauÌ„dys And thenne Sampson the Archebysshop toke with hym the palle and wente in to Brytayne Armonica the lasse Brytayne and was there bysshop of Dolensis From that tyme vnto the fyrste Henryes tyme kyng of Englonde were at Meneuia whiche is called Saynt Dauyds .xxi. bysshoppes all without palle whether it were for vnconnynge or for pouerte Netheles alwaye fro that tyme the bysshoppes of Wales were sacred of the bysshop of Meneuia of saynt Dauyds and the bysshopp of Meneuia was sacred of the bysshoppes of Wales as of his suffrygans and made noo professyonne subieccyon to none other churche Other bysshoppes that come afterwarde were sacred att Caunterbury by compellynge and heest of the kynge in token of that sacrynge and subieccoÌ„n Boneface archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury that was Legate of the Crosse songe in euery Cathedrall chirche of Wales solempnely Amas he was the fyrst archebysshop of CauÌ„terbury y t so dyde in Wales that was done in the seconde Henryes tyme. ¶ R. But now ben but two prymates in al Englonde of CauÌ„terbury of Yorke To y â— prymate of CauÌ„terbury ben subget xiij bysshops in Englonde iiij in Wales The prymate of Yorke hath but two suffrygans in Englonde y t ben the bysshops of Caerleyll of Durham Of all these sees chauÌ„gynge of her places I shall shewe you here folowynge Take hede in the begynnyâ—ge of holy chirche in Englonde bysshops ordeyned theyr sees in lowe places symple y â— were couenable for contemplacoÌ„n for prayers deuocyon But in William conquerours tyme by done of lawe Canon it was ordeyned y t bysshops sholde come out of smale townes in to grete cytees Therfor was the see of Dorchestre chauÌ„ged to Lyncoln Lychfelde to Chestre Tetforde to Norwyche Shyrborn to Salesbury Welles to Bathe Cornewayle to Exestre Seleseye to Chichestre The bysshop of Rochestre hath no parysshe but he is y e archebysshops chapelayn of CauÌ„terbury Syth the see of Caunterbury was fyrst ordeyned by saynt Austen
it chauÌ„ged yet neuer his place Chychestre hath vnder hym oonly Southsex the yle of Wyght and had his see fyrst in Seleseye in the tyme of the archebysshop Theodore the see dured there CCC xxxiij yere vnder .xx. bysshops fro the fyrste Wilfrede vnto the laste Sâ—ygande at the commauÌ„dement of kyng William conquerour chaunged 〈◊〉 see fro Seleseye to Chichestre ¶ De episcopis occidentalibus Wilhelmus HAue mynde that all the prouynce of westsaxon hadde alwaye one bysshop fro the begynnynge vnto Theodorus tyme by grauÌ„te of kyng Islo kyng of westsaxon the fyrst Birinus ordeyned a see at Dorchestre y t is a symple towne by south Oxenford besyde Walyngforde bytwene the metynge togyder of Temse and Tame whan Birinus was deed Kenwalcus the kyng ordeyned a see at Wynchestre as his fader had purposed there Agil bert a Frensshman was fyrst bysshop of all the prouynce of westsaxon fro that tyme the cyte and the see of Dorchestre perteyned longed to the prouynce of Mercia for y t cyte standeth within Temse And the Temse departed bytwene Mercia westsaxon After that Agilbert was putte out of Wynchestre that tho hyght wynton Thenne was ther an Englysshe bysshopp there that was called Wyne Some men suppose that the cyte hath the name of this Wyne and is called Wynchestre as it were Wynes cyte At the last he was put out and after hym come Leutherius the forsayd Agelbertes neuewe After Leutherius Hedda a whyle was bysshop there whan he was deed Theodorus the archebysshop ordeyned two bysshops to the prouynce of westsaxon Danyell at Wynchestre to hym were subgette two countrees Sothery and Southampshyre And Adelme at Shyrborn to hym were subget sixe couÌ„trees Barkshyre Wylt shyre Somersete Dorseteshyre Deuen shyre Cornewayle ¶ Treuisa It semeth by this that westsaxon conteyned Sothery Southamshyre Barkshyre wyltshyre Somersetshyre Dorseteshyre Deuenshyre Cornewyle ¶ Wilhel Afterward in elder Edwarees tyme to these two sees were ordeyned by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of Formosus y â— pope thre other sces At Welles for Somerfete At Kyrton for Deuenshyre at saynt Germayn for Cornewayle Not longe afterwarde the sixt see was sette at RaÌ„mesbury for wyltshyre At the last by coÌ„mauÌ„dement of kyng William conquerour all these sees saue wynchestre were torned chauÌ„ged out of small townes in to grete cytees for Shyrborn RaÌ„mesbury were torned in to Salesbury Now to y t see is subgette Barkshyre wyltshyre Dorsete The see of Welles was torned to Bathe therto is now subgette all Somersete The sees of Kyrton of Cornewayle were chauÌ„ged to Exestre therto is subgette Deuenshyre Cornewayle ¶ De orientalibus episcopis IT is knowen y t the eest saxons alwaye fro the begynne to now were subget to the bysshop of London But the prouynce of eest Angles that conteyneth Norffolke Suffolke had one bysshop at Donwyk the bysshop heet Felix was of Bourgon was bysshop xvij yere after hym Thomas was bysshop v. yere after hym Boneface xvij yere Thenne Bysy afterwarde was ordeyned by Theodorus and rules the prouynce whyle he myght endure by hymself allone after him vnto Egbertes tyme kyng of west saxons an hondred xliij two bysshops ruled that prouynce one at Donwyk and an other at Elyngham Netheles after Ludecans tyme kyng of Mercia lefte was only one see at Elyngham vnto the. vâ— yere of William conquetour whan Herfastus the .xxiij. bysshop of the estrene chaunged his see to Totforde his succesour Herbertus chauÌ„ged the see fro Tetforde to Norwhiche by leue of kyng William the reed The see of Ely y t is nyghe therto the fyrst kyng Henry ordeyned the .ix. yere of his regne made subget therto Cambryggeshyre that was tofore a parte of the bysshopryche of Lyncoln And for quytynge therof he gaaf to the bysshop of Lyncoln a good towne called Spaldynge ¶ De episcopis merciorum Whilhelmus HEre take hede that as the kyngdome of Merciâ— was alwaye grettest for the tyme so it was dealed in mo bysshopryches and specyally by grete herte by kyng Off a whiche was .xl. yere kyng of Mercia he chauÌ„ged the archebysshops see fro CauÌ„terbury to Lychfelde by assente of Adryan the pope Thenne the prouynce of Mercia of Lyndeffar in the fyrst begynnynge of her crystendome in kyng Wâ—lfrans tyme had one bysshop at Lychfelde the fyrst bysshop y t was there heeâ— Dwyna the seconde heeâ— Câ—lath were both Scottes after them the thyrde Trumpher the fourth Iarmuanus the fyfth Chedde But in Edelfredes tyme y t was Wulfrans broder whan Chedde was deed Theodorus the archebysshop ordeyned there Wynfrede Cheddes deken Netheles apud Hydon after that for he was vnbuxom in some poynt he ordeyned there Sexwulf abbot of Medamstede that is named Burgh But after Sexwulfus fourth yere Theodorus tharchebysshop ordeyned fyue bysshops in the prouynce of Mercia And so he ordeyned Bosell at Wyrcestre Cudwyn at Lychfelde the forsayd Sexwulf at Chestre Edelwyn at Lyndesey atte cyte Sidenia he toke Eata monke of the abbay of Hylde at Whythy and made hym bysshop of Dorchestre besydes Oxenforde Tho this Dorchestre heet Dorkynge so the see of y â— longed to westsaxon in sayÌ„t Birines tyme longed to Mercia from Theodorus the archebysshops tyme. Ethelred kyng of Mercia had destroy de Kente this bysshop Sexwulf toke Pyctas bysshop of Rochestre y t come out of Kente made hyÌ„ fyrst bysshop of Herforde Atte last whan Sexwulf was deed Hedda was bysshop of Lychfelde after hym Wilfred flemed out of Northumberlonde was bysshop of Chestre Netheles after two yere Alfrede kyng of Northumbrelonde deyed Wilfred torned agayne to his owne see Hagustalden and so Hedda helde both the bysshopryches of Lychfelde of Chestre After hym come Albyn y t heet Wor also after hym come thre bysshoppes Torta at Chestre Witta at Lychfelde Eata was yet at Dorchestre After his deth bysshops of Lyndeseye helde his see iij. hondred liiij yere vnto Remigius chauÌ„ged the see to Lyncoln by leue of the fyrst kyng William But in Edgars tyme bysshop Leofwinus Ioyned both bysshop ryches togyder of Chestre Lyndeffar whyle his lyf dured ¶ De episcopis Northumbranis Wilhel de pon li. ca. xi AT Yorke was one see for all the prouynce of Northumberlonde Paulinus helde fyrst y t see was ordeyned of the bysshop of CauÌ„terbury helde that see of Yorke vij yere Afterwarde whan kyng Edwyn was slayne thynges were dystourbed paulinus wente thens by water awaye in to Kente from whens he come fyrst toke with hym the palle ¶ Wilhel li. .iij. And so the bysshopryche of Yorke ceased xxx yere the vse of the palle ceased there an hondred xxv yere vnto that Egbert the bysshop y t was the kynges broder of the londe recouered it by auctoryte of the pope ¶ R. whan Saynt Oswalde regned Aydanus a Scot was bysshop in Brenicia that is the northsyde of Northumberlonde
men kyn ¶ Gaufr In Vespasyan the Emperours tyme whan Marius Aruiragus sone was kyng of Brytons One Rodryk kyng of Pyctes cam out of Scicia gan to destroye Scotlonde Thenne Marius the kyng slewe this Rodryke gaf the north partye of Scotlonde that heet Cathenesia to the men that were come with Rodryk were ouercome by hym for to dwelle â—nne But these men had no wyues ne none myght haue of the nacyon of Brytons therfore they saylled in to Irlonde toke to theyr wyues Irysshmens doughters by y t couenauÌ„t y t the moder blood sholde be put tofore in successyon of herytage ¶ Gir ca. xvij Netheles Sirinus sup VirgiliuÌ„ sayth that Pyctes ben agatyrses that had some dwellynge place about the waters of Scicia they ben called Pyctes of peyntynge smytynge of wouÌ„des y t ben seen on her body So y t they semed as men were peynted with wouÌ„des therfore they were called Pyctes as peynted men These men these gothes ben all one people For whan Maximus the tyraunt was wente out of Brytayne in to FrauÌ„ce for to occupye th empyre Thenne Gracianus Valentinianus y t were brethern felowes of th empyre brought these gothes out of Scicia with grete gyftes with flateryng fayre behestes in to y e north countree of Brytayne For they were stalworth stronge men of armes so these theues bryboâ—â—s were made men of londe of couÌ„tree dwelled in the north couÌ„trees helde there cytees townes ¶ Gaufre Carancius the tyrauÌ„t slewe Bassianus by helpe treason of the Pyctes y t come in helpe socour of Bassianus and gaf the Pyctes a dwellynge place in Albania that is Scotlonde there they dwelled longe tyme afterwarde medled with Brytons ¶ R. Thenne syth y t Pyctes occupyed fyrst the north syde of Scotlonde It semeth y t the dwellynge place y t this Carancius gaf hem is the south syde of Scotlonde that stretcheth from the thwart ouer walle of Romayns werke to the Scottysshe see conteyneth Gallewaye Lodouia y t is Codewaye ¶ Therof Beda li. iij. ca. ij speketh in this maner Ninian the holy man conuerted the south Pyctes Afterwarde the Saxons come made y t couÌ„tree longe to Brenicia y â— north partye of Northumberlonde vnto the tyme that Kynadius Alpinus sone kyng of Scotlonde put out the Pyctes made that couÌ„tre y t lyeth bytwene Twede the Scottysshe see longe to his kyngdome ¶ Beda li. j. ca. j. Afterwarde longe tyme the Scottes were ledde by duke Renda come out of Irlonde y â— is the propre couÌ„tree of Scottes with loue or with strength made hem a place fast by the Pyctes in the north syde of that arme of the see that breketh in to the londe in the west syde y â— departed in olde tyme bytwene Brytons Pyctes Of this duke Renda the Scottes had the name were called Dalrendines as it were Rendaes parte for in hyr speche a parte is called dal ¶ Gir â— The Pyctes myght haue no wyues of Brytons but they toke hem wyues of Irysshe Scottes promysed hem fayre for to dwelle with hem grauÌ„ted hem a londe by the see syde there the see is narowe that londe is called now Gallewaye Marianus Irysshe Scottâ— londed at Argayll that is scotten clyf for Scottes londed there for to do harme to the Brytons or for that place is nexte to Irlonde for to come a londe in Brytayne ¶ Beda And so the Scottes after the Brytons and Pyctes made y e thyrde peple dwellyng in Brytayne ¶ R. Thenne after that come the Saxons atte prayenge of the Brytons to helpe hem ayenst the Scottes Pyctes And the Brytons were soone put out in to Wales Saxons ocupyed the londe lytell lytell and efte more to the Scottysshe see And so Saxons made the fourthe maner of men in the ylonde of Brytayne ¶ Beda li. v. ca. ix For Saxons and Angles come out of Germania yet some Brytons that dwellen nyghe callen hemshortly Germayns ¶ R. Netheles about y â— yere of our lorde viij hondred Egbertus kyng of westsaxon coÌ„mauÌ„ded hadde all men to calle the men of the londe Englysshmen ¶ Alfre Thenne after that y â— Danes pursued the londe about a two hondred yere that is for to saye fro the forsayd Egbertus tyme vnto saynt Edwardes tyme made the fyfth maner of people in the ylonde but they faylled afterwarde At the last come Normans vnder duke William subdued Englysshe men yet kepe they the londe and they made the sixth people in the ylonde But in the fyrst kyng Hemryes tyme come many Flemynges receyued a dwellynge place for a tyme besyde Maylros in the west syde of Englonde and made the seuenth people in the ylonde Netheles by coÌ„maundement of the same kyng they were put thens dryuen to Hauerfordes syde in the west syde of Wales ¶ R. And soo now in Brytayne Danes and Pyctes fayllen all out fyue nacyons dwellen therin that ben Scottes in Albania that is Scotlonde Brytons in Cambria that is Wales but that Flemynges dwelle in that is west Wales And Normans and Englysshmen ben medled in all the ylonde for it is now doubte in storyes how in what maner they were put awaye and destroyed out of Brytayne Now it is to declare how the Pyctes were destroyed and faylled ¶ Gir. â— ca. xvij Brytayne was some tyme occupyed with Saxons peas was made stablysshed with the Pyctes thenne the Scottes that come with the Pyctes sawe that the Pyctes were nobler of dedes better men of armes though they were lasse in nombre than the Scottes Thenne the Scottes hauynge therof enuye torned to theyr naturell treason that they haue ofte vsed For in treason they passe other men ben traytours as it were by kynde for they prayed all the Pyctes specyally the grete of hem to a feest and wayted her tyme whan the Pyctes were mery and hadde well dronke they drewe vp nayles that helde vp holowe benches vnder the Pyctes the Pyctes vnware and sodaynly fylle in ouer the haÌ„mes in to a wonderfull pytfalle Thenne the Scottes fylle on the Pyctes and slewe them lefte hone alyue And so of two maner people the better warry ours were hoâ—ly destroyed But the other that ben the Scottes whiche ben traytours all vnlyke to the Pyctes toke prouffyte by that fals treason for they toke all that londe holde it yet vnto this tyme calle it Scotlonde after hyr owne name In kyng Edgarê° tyme Kynadiê° Alpmus sone was duke leder of the Scottes and warred in Pycte londe destroyed the Pyctes he warred sixe sythes in Saxon and toke all the londe y t is bytwene Twede the Scottysshe see with wronge with strengthe ¶ Of the langages of maners vsage of the people of that londe ca. xv AS it is knowen how many
toure They take wood mareys for socoure Whan they seen it is to do In fyghtynge they wolde be ago Gyldas sayth they ben varyable In peas and not stable Yf men axe why it be It is no wonder for to se Though men put out of londe To put out other wolde fonde But all for nought at this stonde For all many woodes ben at gronde And vpon the see amonge Ben castels buylded stronge The men may dure longe vn ete And loue well conume mete They can ete and ben mury Without grete cury They ete brede colde and hote Of barly and of ote Brode cakes rounde and thynne As well semeth so grete kynne Selde they ete brede of whete And selde they done ones ete They haue gruell to potage And lekes kynde to companage Also butter mylke and chese Y shape endlonge and corner wese Suche messes they ete snell And that maketh hem drynke well Meete and ale that hath myght Theron they spende daye and nyght Euer the redder is the wyne They holde it the more fyne Whan they drynke atte ale They telle many a lewde tale For whan drynke is an handlynge They ben full of Ianglynge Atte meete and after eke Her solace is salt and leke The husbonde in his wyse Telleth that a grete pryce To gyue a caudron with gruwele To hem that sytten on his mele He deleth his meete atte mele And gyueth euery man his dele And all the ouerpluse He kepeth to his owne vse Therfore they haue woo And myshappes also They eten hote samon alway All though physyk saye nay Her houses ben lowe with all And made of yerdes small Not as in cytees nyghe But ferre a sonder and not to hyghe me Whan all is eten at home Then to hyr neyghbours wyl they to And ete what they may fynde se And then torne home aye The lyf is ydle that they ledes In brennynge slepynge suche dedes Walsshmen vse with her myght To wesshe theyr ghestes feet a nyght Yf he wesshe her feet all and somme Then they knowe y t they be welcome They lyue so esely in a route That selde they bere purs aboute At her breche out and home They honge theyr money and combe It is wonder they be so hende And hate crak atte nether ende And without ony core Make theyr wardrope atte dore They haue in grete mangery Harpe tabour pyp for mynstralcy They bere corps with sorowe greet And blowe loude hornes of gheet They prayse fast Troyan blode For therof came all her brode Nyghe kyn they wyll be Though they passe an hondred degre Aboue other men they wyl hein dyght And worshyp prestes with her myght As angels of heuen ryght They worshyp seruauntes of god almyght Oft gyled was this brode And yerned batayll all for wode For Merlyns prophecye And oft for sortelegye Best in maners of Brytons For companye of Saxons Ben torned to better ryght That is knowen as clere as lyght They tyllen gardyns felde downes And drawe hem to good townes They ryde armed as woll god And go y hosed and y shood And sytten fayre at her mele And slepe in beddes fayre and fele So they seme now in mynde More Englysshe than walsshe kynde Yf men axe why they now do so More than they wonte to do They lyuen in more pees By cause of theyr ryches For theyr catell sholde slake Yf they vsed ofte wrake Drede of losse of her good Make them now stylle of mode All in one it is brought Haue nothynge and drede nought The poete sayth a sawe of preef The foot man syngeth tofore y e theef And is bolder on the waye Than the hors man ryche and gaye ¶ Of the merueylles and wondres of Wales ca. xx THer is a pole at Brechnok Therin of fysh is many aflok Oft he chaungeth his hewe on cop And bered aboue a gardyn crop Ofte tyme how it be Shape of house ther shalt thou se Whan the pole is frore it is wonder Of the noyse that is ther vnder Yf the prynce of the londe hote Byrdes synge well mery note As meryly as they can And syngen for none other man Besydes Caerleon Two myle fro the town Is a roche well bryght of leem Ryght ayenst the sonne beem Goldclyf that roche hyght For it shyneth as god full bryght Suche a floure in stone is nought Without fruyte yf it were sought Yf men coude by craft vndo The veynes of therthe come therto Many benefyce of kynde Ben now hyd fro mannes mynde And ben vnknowe yet For defaute of mannes wytte Grete tresour is hyd in grounde And after this it shall be founde By grete studye and besynes Of hem that comen after vs That olde men had by grete nede ¶ Treuisa We haue by besy dede In bokes ye may rede That kynde fayleth not at nede Whan noman had craft in mynde Then of craft halpe god and kynde Whan no techer was in londe Men had craft by goddes honde They that had craft so thenne Taught forth craft to other menne Some craft that yet come not in place Some man shall haue by gods grace ¶ R. An ylonde is with noyse stryf In west Wales at Kerdyf Fast by Seuarne stronde Barry hyght that ylonde In that hyther syde in a chene Shalt thou here wonder dene And dyuerse noys also Yf thou put thyn eere to Noys of leues and of wynde Noys of metall thou shalt fynde Frotynge of yren westones y u shalt here Hetynge of ouens then with fyre All this may well be By wawes of the see That breketh in thare With suche noys and fare At Penbrok in a stede Feudes do ofte quede And throweth foule thynge jnne And despyseth also synne Neyther craft ne bedes may Do thens that sorowe away Whan it greueth soo To the men it bodeth woo At crucynar in west wales Is a wonder buryals Euery man that cometh it to se Semeth it euen as moche as he Hoole wepen there a nyght Shall be broken er daye lyght At nemyn in north wales A lytell ylonde there is That is called bardysay Monkes dwelle there alway Men lyue so longe in that hurst That the oldest deyeth fyrst Men saye that Merlyn there buryed is That hyght also syluestris There were Merlyns tweyne And prophecyed beyne One hyte Ambrose and Merlyn And was ygoten by gobelyn In demecia at carmerthyn Vnder kyng Vortygeryn He tolde his prophecye Euen in snowdonye Atte heed of the water of coneway In the syde of mount eryry Dynas embreys in Walsshe Ambrose hylle in Englysshe Kyng Vortygere sate on The watersyde and was full of wone Then Ambrose Merlyn prophecyed ¶ Treuisa Tofore hym ryght tho What wytte wolde wene That a fende myght gete a childe Some men wolde mene That he may no suche werke welde That fende that gâ—th a nyght 〈◊〉 full ofte to gyle 〈◊〉 is named by ryght And gyleth men other whyle Succubus is that wyght God graunte vs none
suche vyle Who that cometh in hyt gyle Wonder happe shall he smyle With wonder dede Bothe men and wymen sede Fendes woll kepe With craft and brynge an hepe So fendes wylde May make wymmen bere childe Yet neuer in mynde Was childe of fendes kynde For withouten eye Ther myght no suche childe deye Clergye maketh mynde Deth sleeth no fendes kynde But deth slewe Merlyn Merlyn was ergo no goblyn An other Merlyn of Albyn londe That now is named Scotlonde And he had names two Siluestris and Calidonius also Of that wood Calydonye For there he tolde his prophecye And heet Siluestris as well For whan he was in batell And sawe aboue a grysly kynde And fyll anone out of his mynde And made nomore abood But ran anone vnto the wood ¶ Treuisa Siluestris is wode Other wylde of mode Other elles That atte wood he dwelles ¶ R. Siluestris Merlyn Tolde prophecye well and fyn And prophecyed well sure Vnder kyng Arthure Openly and not so close As Merlyn Ambrose There ben hylles in snowdonye That ben wonderly hye With heyght as grete awaye As a man may go a daye And heet eryry on Walsshe Snowy hylles in Englysshe In these hylles ther is Leese ynough for all bestes of Walis These hylles on coppe beres Two grete fysshe weres Conteyned in that one ponde Meueth with the wynde an ylonde As though it dyde swymme And neyheth to the brymme So that herdes haue grete wonder And wene y t the worlde meueth vnder In that other is perche and fysshe Euery one eyed is So fareth all well In Albania the mylwell In Rutlonde by Tetyngelle Ther is a lytell welle That floweth not alwaye As the see twyes a daye But somtyme it is drye And somtyme full by the eye Ther is in Norwallia In Mon that heet Anglesia A stone accordynge well nyghe As it were a mannes thyghe How ferre euer that stone Be borne of ony mon On nyght it goth home his waye That he founde by assaye Hughe therthe of Shrowesbure In tyme of the fyrst Harry For he wolde the soth fynde That stone to an other he gan bynde With grete chaynes of yren And threwe all y feren Y bounde at one hepe In to a water depe Yet a morowe that stone Was seyne erly in mon A chorle helde hymself full slyghe And bounde this stone to his thyghe His thyghe was roten or daye And the stone wente a waye Yf men done lechery Nyghe that stone by Swote cometh of that stone But childe cometh ther none Ther is a roche ryght wonderly The roche of herynge by contrey Though ther crye one man born And blowe also with an horn Noyse ther made though thou abyde Thou shalt here none in this syde Ther is an other ylonde Fast by Mon at honde Hermytes ther ben ryue Yf ony of hem done stryue All the myse that may begete Come and ete all theyr mete Thenne cesseth neuer that woo Tyll the stryfe cesse also As men in this londe Ben angry as in Irlonde So sayntes of this contreye Ben also wretchefull alweye Also in this londe In Irlonde and in Scotlonde Ben belles and staues That in worshyp men haues And ben worshyped so then Of clerkes and of lewde men That dreden also To sweren on ony of tho Staff eyther belle As it were the gospelle At Basyngwerke is a welle That Sacer heet as men telle Hit spryngeth so sore as men may se What is cast in it throweth aye Therof spryngeth a grete stronde It were ynough for all that londe Seke at that place Haue bothe hele and grace In the welmes ofter than ones Ben fouÌ„de reed spercled stones In token of the blood rede That the mayde Wenefrede Shad at that pytte Whan her throte was kytte He that dyde that dede Hath sorowe on his sede His childern at all stoundes Berken as welpes and houndes For to they praye that mayde grace Ryght at that welle place Eyther in Shrowesbury strete There that mayde rested swete ¶ Of the descrypcyon of Scotlonde somtyme named Albania ca. xxi IT is a comyn sawe y t the couÌ„tre which is now named Scotlonde is an outstretchynge of y e north partye of Brytayne is departed in the south syde from Brytayne w t armes of the see in the other syde all about be clypped w t the see This londe heet some tyme Albania had y t name of Albanactus y t was kyng Brutes sone for Albanactus dwelled fyrst therin or of the prouynce Albania y t is a couÌ„tre of Scicia nyghe to Amazona therfore Scottes ben called as it were scyttes for they come out of Scicia Afterwarde y t londe heet Pictauia for y e Pyctes regned therin a. M. lxx yere or as some telle a M. CCC lx yere And atte last heet Hibernia as Irlonde hyght ¶ Gir. in top For many skylles one skyll is for affynyte alye y t was bytwene them Irysshmen for they toke wyues of Irlonde that is openly seen in her byleue in clothynge in langage in speche in wepen in maners An other skyll is for Irysshmen dwelled there somtyme ¶ Beda li. j. Out of Irlonde y t is the propre couÌ„tre of Scottes come Irysshmen w t her duke y t was called Renda And w t loue w e strength made hem chyef sees cytees besydes the Pictes in y â— northsyde ¶ Gir. Now y e londe is shortly called Scotlonde of Scottes y t come out of Irlonde regned therin CCC xv yere vnto y e reed Williams tyme y t was Malcolins brod ¶ R. Many euydencê we haue of this Scotlonde y t it is ofte called hyght Hibernia as Irlonde doth ¶ Ther for Beda li. ij ca. xi sayth y t Laurence arche bysshop of Dunbar was archebysshop of Scotts y t dwelled in an ylonde y t heet Hibernia is next to Brytayne Also Beda li. iij. ca. xxvij sayth Pestylence of moreyn bare downe Hibernia Also li. iij. ca. ij sayth That the Scottê y t dwelled in the south syde of Hibernia Also li. iiij ca. iij. he sayth that Cladde was a yonglynge lerned the rule of monkes in Hibernia Also li. iiij ca. xxij Egfridus kyng of Northumberlonde destroyed Hibernia Also li. iiij ca. xv the moost dele of Scottê in Hibernia in the same chapytre he called Hibernia proprely named y t west ylonde is an hondred myle from eueryche Brytayne departed with the see bytwene called Hibernia y t couÌ„tre y t now is called Scotlonde chere he telleth y t Adamuan abbot of this ylonde saylled to Hibernia for to teche Irysshmen the lawfull esterdaye And atte last come agayne in to Scotlonde ¶ Ysy ethi li. .xiiij. Men of this Scotlonde ben named Scottes in theyr owne langage Pictes also for somtyme her body was peynted in this maner they wolde soÌ„tyme w t a sharpe egged tole prycke kerue her owne bodyes make theron
dyuerse fygures shappes and peynte hem with ynke or w t other peynture or colour by cause they were so peynted they were called Picti that is to saye peynted ¶ Erodotê Scottes ben lyght of herte strauÌ„ge wylde ynough but by medlynge of Englyshmen they ben moche amended they ben cruell vpon theyr enemyes hateth bondage most of ony thynge and holde for a foule slouth yf a man deye in his bedde grete worshyp yf he deye in the felde They ben lytell of mete mowe fast longe eten selde whan the sonne is vp eten flesshe fysshe mylke fruyt more than brede And though they be fayr of shappe they ben defouled made vnsemely ynough w t theyr owne clothynge They prayse fast the vsages of theyr owne forfaders despysen other meÌ„nes doynge her londe is fruyt full ynough in pasture gardyns feldes ¶ Gir. de â— ca. xviij The prynces of Scottes as the kynges of Spayne ben not wonte to be enoynted ne crowned In this Scotlonde is solempne grete myÌ„de of sayÌ„t Andrewe thapostle For saynt Andrewe had the north contrees of the worlde Scytes Pyctes to his lotte for to preche conuerte y e people to Crystes byleue And atte last he was martred in Achaia in Grecia in a cyte y t was named Patras his bones were kepte CC. lxxn yere vnto Constantinus themperours tyme and thenne they were transleted in to Constatynople kept there C. x. yere vnto Theodosiê themperours tyme. And thenÌ„e Vngus kyng of Pyctes in Scotlonde destroyed a grete parte in Brytayne was besette w t a grete hoost of Brytons in a felde called Merke he herde saynt Andrewespeke to hym in this maner Vngus vngus here y u me crystes apostle I promyse the helpe socour whan y u hast ouercomen thyn enemyes by my helpe y u shalt gyue the thyrde dele of thyn herytage in almesse to god almyghty in the worshyp of saynt Andre we the sygne of y â— crosse went tofore his hoost the thyrde day he had vyctory so torned home ayene deled his herytage as he was boden And for he was vncertayne what cyte he sholde dele for saynt Andrewe he fasted thre dayes he his men prayed saynt Andrewe y t he wolde shewe hym what place he wolde chese And one of the wardeyns y t kept the body of saynt Andrewe in Constanstinople was warned in his slepe y t he sholde go in to a place whyder an angell wolde lede hyÌ„ so he come in to Scotlonde with vn felowes to y t toppe of an hylle named Ragmonde The same hour lyght of heuen beshone beclypped the kyng of Pyctes y t was comyng w t his hoost to a place called Carceuan There anon were heled many seke men There met with the kyng Regulus the monke of Constantynople with the relyques of saynt Andrewe There is founded a chirche in worshyp of saynt Andrewe y t is heed of all the chirches in the londe of Pyctes y â— is Scotlonde To this chirche comen pylgryms out of al londes There was Regulus fyrst abbot gadred monkes And so al y e tyenthe londe that the kyng had assygned hym he departed it in dyuerse places amonge abbayes ¶ Of y e descrypcoÌ„n of Irlonde ca .xxij. HIbernia y t is Irlonde was of olde tyme Incorperate in to the lordshyp of Brytayne soo sayth Gir. in sua toppÌ„ Where he descryueth it at full Yet it is worthy semely to prayse y e londe w t larger praysynge for to come to clere full knowleche of y t londe these tytles y t folowe opene y e waye Therfore I shal telle of the place stede of y t londe how grete what maner londe it is wherof y t londe hath plente wherof it hath defaute also of what men y â— dwelled therin fyrst Of maners of men of y â— londe Of the wondres of that londe of worthynes of halowes and sayntes of that londe ¶ Of y e bouÌ„dynge of Irlonde ca .xxiij. IRlonde is the last of all the west ylondes hyght Hibernia of one Hiberus of Spayne y t was Hermonius broder for these two brethern gate wanne y t londe by conquest Or it is called Hibernia of y t ryuer Hiberê° y t is in the west ende of Spayne y t londe hyght Scotlonde also for Scottes dwelled there somtyme er they come in to y t other Scotlonde y t longed to Brytayne therfor it is wryten in the Martyloge Suche a day in Scotlond sayÌ„t Bryde was born y t was in Irlonde This londe hath in the southest syde Spayne thre dayes sayllynge thens a syde half hath in the est syde y e more Brytayne thens a dayes sayllynge in the west syde the endles Occean in the north syde Yselonde thre dayes sayl lynge thens ¶ Solinus But the see y t is bytwene Brytayne Irlonde is al the yere full of grete wawes vnesy so y t men may selde saylle sykerly bytwene that see is C. xx myle brode ¶ Of the gretnes and qualyte of that londe ca. xxiiij IRlonde is an ylonde grettest after Brytayne stretcheth north warde from Brendas hylles vnto the londe Columbina conteyneth .viij. dayes Iourney euery Iourney .xl. myle from Deuelyn to Patryks hylles to the see in y t syde in brede .iiij. Iourneys Irlonde is narower in y â— myddel than in thendes al otherwyse than Brytayne is as Irlonde is shorter northwarde than Brytayne soo is it lenger southward y e londe is not playne but full of montayns of hylles of wodes of mareys of mores the londe is softe rayny wyndy lowe by y e see syde within hylly sondy ¶ Solinus Ther is grete plente of noble pasture of leese therfore the bestê must be oft dryuen out of theyr pasture lest they ete ouermoche for they sholde shende hem self yf they myght ete at theyr wyll ¶ Gir. Men of y t londe haue coÌ„munely theyr helth strauÌ„gers haue ofte a perylous flux bycause of the moysture of y e mete The flesshe of kyen is there holsome swynes flesshe vnholsome Men of y t londe haue no feuer but only the feuer ague y t ryght selde Therfore the holsomnes helth of y t londe the clennes out of venyme is worth all the boost rychesse of trees of herbes of spycer of ryche clothes of pretyous stones of the cest londes The cause of the helth holsomnes of y t londe is the attemperate hete colde y t is therin In â—bz rebz sufficit In this londe ben mo kyen than oxen more pasture than corn more gras than seed ther is plente of samon of lamprayes of celes of other see fysshe Of egles of cranes of pecoks of curlewes of sperhaukes of goshaukes of gentyl fawcons Of wolues ryght
shrewed myse Ther ben attercoppes blood soukers cettes y â— done none harme ther ben â—eyres lytell of body full hardy stronge ther ben bernacles foules lyke to wylde ghees whiche growen wonderly vpon trees as it were nature wrought agayne kynde Men of relygyon eteth bernacles on fastyndayes bycause they ben not engendred w t flessh wherin as me thynketh they erre for reason is ayenst that For yf yf a man had eten of Adams legge he had eten flesshe yet Adam was not engendred of fader moder but y t flesshe come wonderly of the erthe so this flesshe come wonderly of y e tree In this londe is plente of hony of mylke of wyne of vyneyerdes ¶ Solinê Ysid wryten y t Irlonde hath no bees Netheles it were better wryten y t Irlonde had bees no vyne yerdes ¶ Also Beda sayth y t ther is grete huntynge to roobuckes it is knowe y t there ben none It is no wonder of Beda for he sawe neuer that londe but some man told hyÌ„ suche tales Also ther groweth y t stone Saxagonus is called Iris also as it were y e raynbowe yf y e stone be holde agaynst the sonne anone it shall shape a raynbowe ther is also fouÌ„den a stone y t is called Gagates whyte margery perles ¶ Of the defautes of y e londe ca .xxv. WHete cornes ben there ful small vnneth yclensed w t maÌ„nes honde reserued mâ—n al bestes ben smaller there than in other londes Ther lacketh wel nygh al maner fysshe of fresshe water y t is not gendred in the see ther lacken vnkynde faucons gerfaucons partrychis fesauÌ„te nyghtyÌ„gals pyes ther lacken also Roo bucke Ilespiles wontes and other venemous bestes Therfore some men feynen y â— fauourably y t saynt Patryke clensed y â— londe of wormes of venemous bestê but it is more probable more skylful y t this londe was from the begynnyng alwaye without suche wormes for venemous beestes wormes deyen there anone yf men brynge hem thyder out of other londes And also veyyme and poyson brought thyder out of other londes lesen theyr malyce as soone as it passeth y e myddell of the see Also pouder erthe of y t londe caste sowen in other londes dryuen awaye wormes â—o ferforth y t yf a turt of y t londe be put about a worme it sleeth hyÌ„ or maketh hym thrylle y e erthe for teâ—cape awaye In y e londe cockes crowe but lytell tofore daye soo y t the fyrst crowynge of cockes in y t londe the thyrde in other londes ben lyke ferre tofore the daye ¶ Of them that fyrste enhabyted Irlonde ca. xxvi O Iraldus sayth y e Casera Noes nece drad the flood fledde w t thre men fyfty wyÌ„men in to y â— ylonde dwelled therin fyrst the last yeretofore Noes flood But afterwarde Bartholanê° Seres sone that come of Iaphet Noes sone come thyther w r his thre sones by happe or by craft CCC yere after Noes flood dwelled there encreaced to y e nombre of .ix. M. men afterwarde for stenche of kareyns of geauÌ„tes y t they had kylde they deyeden all saue one Ruanus y t lyued a M. v c. yere vnto saynt Patryks tyme enformed the holy man of the forsayd men of all theyr doynges dedes Then the thyrde tyme come thyder Nymeth out of Scicia w t his .iiij. sones dwelled there CC .xvi. yere And atte laste of his ofspryng by dyuerse myshappes of warres of moreyne they were clene destroyed y e londe lefte voyde CC yere after The fourth tyme fyue dukes y t were brethern Gandiê° Genandus Sagandius Rutheragus Slauiê° of the sayd Nymethes successours come out of Grece occupyed y â— londe deled it in fyue partyes euery partye conteyneth .xxij. candredes A candrede is a couÌ„tree y t conteyneth C. townes they sette a stone in y e myddell of the londe as it were in the nauell begynnynge of fyue kyngdomes At the last Slauius was made kyng of all y e londe The fyfth tyme whan this nacyon was .xxx. yere togyder they wexe feble Foure noble men y t were Millesius the kynges sones come out of Spayne w t many other in a nauye of .lx. shyppes And two of the worthyest of these .iiij. brethern y â— heet Hiberus Hermon deled the londe bytwene hem tweyne but afterwarde couenauÌ„t was broken bytwene hem both Hiberus was slayne Thenne Hermon was kyng of all y t londe And from his tyme to the fyrst 〈◊〉 tyme were kyngs of y t nacion C .xxxi. And so fro the comynge of the Hibernensis vnto the fyrst Patryk were M .viij. yere They had that name Hibernenses Hibernia of y e forsayd Hiberus or els of Hiberus a Ryuer of Spayne They were called also Gaytels Scottê° of one Gaytelus y t was Phenis neuewe This Gaytelus coude speke many langages after the langages y t were made at Nemproths tour wedded one Scotta Pharoes doughter Of these dukes come y e Hibernensis Men saye that this Gaytelus made y e Irysshe langage called it Gaytelaf as it were a langage gadred of all langages tonges At the last Belinus kyng of Brytayne had a sone hyght Gurgunciê° As this Gurgunciê° come out of Denmarke atte ylondes Orcades he fouÌ„de men y t were called Basclensis were come thyd out of Spayne thyse men prayed besought for to haue place to dwelle jnne And y e kyng sente hem to Irlonde y t was tho voyde waste ordeyned sente w t hem dukes capteyns of his owne so it semeth y t Irlonde sholde longe to Brytayne by ryght of olde tyme. From the fyrst saynt Patryk vnto Fedliundiê° the kyngê° tyme. CCCC yere regned xxxiij kyngs eueryche after other in Irlonde In this Fedliundius tyme Turgesius duke captayne of Norwayes brought thyder men of Norwaye occupyed y t londe made in many placâ— depe dyches castels sengle double treble many wardes strongly walled many therof stande yet all hole but Irysshmen reche not of castels for they take wodes for castels mareys mores for castel dyches but atte last Turgesius deyed by gylefull wyles of women Englysshmen saye that Gurmundus wanne Irlonde made thylke dyches make no mencoÌ„n of Turgesiê° Irysshmen speke of Turgesiê° knowe not of GurmuÌ„dus Therfor it is to wete y t GurmuÌ„dus had wonne Brytayne dwelled therin and sente Turgesiê° w t grete strength in to Irlonde for to wynne that londe bycause Turgesius was captayne leder of that vyage Iourneye seen amonge them therfore Irysshmen speke moche of hym as a noble man that was sern in that londe knowen Atte last whan GurmuÌ„dus was slayne in FrauÌ„ce Turgesius loued the kyngê° doughter of Irlonde her fader behyght Turgesius that