all their force do it Upon his return home and the loss of his Commission his goods were confiscated to the Emperor for he was reported to have entertained Magnentius Magnentius being thus murder'd Constantius Paulus Catena Britain submitted it self to Constantius and forthwith Paul a Notary born in Spain was sent here who under the mask of friendship â—nd kindness would attempt the ruine of others with great s gacity That he might punish some soldiers who had conspired with Magnentius when they were not able to make resistance and he had outragiously like a torrent broke in upon them Amâ—â—an Ma cellin l. 14. he seized upon many of their Estates And thus he went on with great slaughter and ruine condemning many of the freemen to Irons and some of them to bonds and fetters by arraigning them of faults that were no ways imputable to them Hereupon a crime so foul was committed as will brand the Reign of Constantius with eternal infamy Martin Vicegerent of Britain There was one Martinus that governed these Provinces as Vicegerent or Deputy who out of compassion to the miseries and calamities of these innocent people applied himself often to the said Paul that the guiltless might be spar'd and when he found his intercession was to no purpose he threatned to leave the Province hâ—ping that that would awe and stop the proceedings of this malicious persecutor of these harmless and quiet people Paulus thinking this would spoil his trade and being a devilish fellow for a train of mischief from which very faculty he was called Catena took care to hook in the Deputy who defended others in the like danger And he went very near to bring him bound prisoner with Tribunes and many others before the Emperors * Comitatus Imperatoris Privy Council This imminent danger so inraged him against Paulus that he drew his sword and made a pass at him but being not home enough to dispatch him he stabb'd himself in the side with it And this was the unhappy fate of that just man that had the courage to protect others from injury and oppression After this villany Paulus all in blood returned back to the †Principis castra head quarters bringing several with him almost ready to sink under their chains and reduced to great sorrow and misery Of these some were outlaw'd some banished and others put to death At last God's vengeance fell upon him and he himself underwent the just reward of his outragious cruelty being burnt alive in the reign of Julian Afterwards these are the words of Ammianus Marcellinus when by the inroads of those barbarous nations the Scots and Picts the peace of Britain was disturbed the frontiers wasted and the Provinces wearied and grew heartless with the many slaughters that had been formerly made of them Julius who by Constantius was declared Caesar and his Partner in the Empire being then in his winter quarters at Paris was in such circumstances that he durst not venture to relieve them as Constantius before him did lest he should leave Gaul without all rule and government considering also that the Almans were in an uproar at that time He took care therefore to send Lupicinus Lupicinus to settle matters in these parts who was * Magister Armorum Master of the Armory at that time a warlike man and an expert Soldier but proud and haughty and like a Tragoedian as they say †Tragico cothurno Strepentem strutting about in his high shooes of whom it was long doubted whether his fault was more covetousness or cruelty He therefore with a supply of light armed souldiers consisting of Herulians Batavians and several Companies of the Maesians marched in the midst of winter to Bologn Having got ships and embarked his men he took the advantage of a fair wind and arrived at Rhutupiae Rhutupiae a place just opposite and from thence marched to London London that there he might resolve according to the state of affairs and proceed the sooner to give them battle Under this Constantius who was a great favourer of the Arians that heresie of theirs crept into Britain wherein from the beginning of Constantine the Great a sweet harmony between Christ the head and his members there had continued till such time as that deadly and perfidious Arianism like a serpent spitting out her venom upon us from beyond sea made even brothers grow inveterate to one another's ruine And thus a passage being made as it were over the Ocean all other cruel savages spouting from their mouths the deadly poison of every heresie wound their own country to which novelty is ever grateful and every thing that 's old nauseous and contemptible Sulpitius Severus In favour of these Arians Constantius conven'd a Council of four hundred western Bishops at Ariminum allowing all of them necessary provisions But that was deemed by the Aquitanes French and Britains very unbecoming and therefore refusing that maintenance from the Emperor they chose rather to live at their own charges * Hilary in his Epistle to the Bishops calls those Bishops of the Provinces of Britain Three only out of Britain who were not able to maintain themselves were maintained by the State having refused a contribution from the rest as more safe and honourable to live upon the publick than at the charge of particular persons After this upon the death of Constantius Julian Emperor Am. Marcellin Julian the Apostate who set up for Emperor in competition with Constantius drove Palladius one of his great Officers out of Britain and sent away Alipius who was Praefect in the same Island to Jerusalem to rebuild it where such strange flashes of fire broke out near the foundations as deterr'd them from that attempt and many thousand Jews who were forward in advancing that work in opposition to the decrees of providence were overwhelmed in the rubbish This dissolute Emperor and pretended Philosopher durst not as 't is already observed come to the relief of the oppressed Britains though at the same time he extorted every year great quantities of corn for the support of his German Armies In the reign of Valentinian the Emperor Valentinian Emp. when all nations were at war with one another Britain was continually insested by the Picts the Saxons the Scots and the Attacotti Upon this Fraemarius King of the Almans was sent here and made Tribune of a body of Almans which at that time was eminent for their strength and number to check the Barbarians in their incursions However by confederacy among these barbarians Am. Marcellinus l. 27 28. Britain was reduced to great misery Nectaridus Count of the sea-shore slain and Bulchobaudes the General cut off by treachery This news was received at Court with great concern and the Emperor sent Severus at that time * Domesucorum Cemitem High Steward of his Houshold to punish these insolencies if good fortune should put it in
self same language encountred one another often with great sharpness so also did the Picts and Britains especially when the last became confederates with the Romans These such as they are were the motives that induced and in a manner forced me to think the Picts a remainder of the Britains But perhaps the authority of Bede may countervail all this and if it please the Reader let the tradition of so great a man though built upon the mere report of others prevail against and cast these conjectures Ammianus Marcellinus divides the Picts into Dicalâ—donii and Vecturiones Dâ—â—â— dâ—â—â— Vâ—â—nâ—â— I should rather read it Deucalidonii and do suppose them to have inhabited the West coast of Scotland where the Deucalidonian Ocean comes up Although I formerly imagined them to be thus called as if one should say Nigri Caledonii for Dec signifies black in British just as the Irish at this day call the Scotch of that country Duf Allibawn that is to say black Scots and as the Welch called those Pirates that infested them from that coast Yllu du the black Army yet a man may conjecture that they took that name from their situation For Deheu Caledonii implies the Caledonians living on the right hand that is to the Westward as those other Picts dwelling towards the left or the East which Ninnius calls the left-hand-part were termed Vecturiones perhaps deduced from the word Châ—vithic which signifies so in British and are fancied by some to be corruptly named in Ptolemy Vernicones An old Saxon fragment seems to express them by the word Pegweorn for so it names an enemy-nation to the Britains whereas the antient Saxons called the Picts d Pihtas is common in the Saxon but Pehits I never observed Pehits and Peohtas Hence in Whitkindus Pehiti is every where read instead of Picti The manners of those antient and barbarous Britains that afterwards went by the name of Picti Câ—â—â— aâ—â— neâ—◠〈◊〉 Picâ—â— Paâ—â— we have already described from Dio and Herodian It remains now that I add what followed Upon the decline of the Empire when the Romans unwarily raised those Troops of Barbarians some of these Picts 〈…〉 drawn over by Honorius when the state of the whole Empire was calm into the standing Army of the Empire were called Honoriaci These in the reign of that tyrant Constantine e See a more distinct account of his Election and Actions given by Mr. Camden in the County of Southampton who was elected upon the account of his name laid open the passes of the Pyrenees and let the Barbarians into Spain And at length having first by themselves and after with the Scots their Allies infested this Province of the Romans they began to civilize those of the South being converted to Christianity by Ninia or Ninianus the Britain â—ede a very holy man about the year 430. but those of the North who were separated from the others by a craggy ridge of high mountains by Columbanus a Scot of Ireland and a Monk also of singular holiness in the year 565. Who taught them wherever he learned it to celebrate the feast of Easter between the 14th day of March and the 20th and always upon Sunday and also to use another kind of tonsure than the Romans did namely that like the imperfect form of a Crown These points were sharply contested for a long time in this Island till Naitan King of the Picts with much ado brought them to a conformity with the Roman Church In this age many of the Picts according to the manner of those times went in Pilgrimage to Rome and among others one of them is recorded in the Antiquities of St. Peter's Cathedral there in these words â—sterius Count 〈◊〉 the â—cts Asterius Count of the Picts and Syra with his men have performed their Vows At last they were so confounded by the Scots rushing in upon them from Ireland that being defeated in a bloudy Engagement about the year 740. they were either quite extinguished or else by little and little fell into the name and nation of the other Which very thing befel the mighty Kingdom of the Gauls who being conquered by the Franks sunk by degrees into their name When the Panegyrist intimates that before Caesar's time Britain was haunted by its half naked Enemies the Picts and Scots he seems to speak according to the custom of that age for certainly they were not then in Britain under that name Moreover seeing Sidonius Apollinaris says thus in his Panegyrick to his Father-in-law Victricia Caesar Signa Caledonios transvexit ad usque Britannos Fuderit quantum Scotum cum Saxone Pictum Tho' Caesar 's conq'ring arms as far As Caledonian Britains urg'd the war Tho' Scots and Picts with Saxons he subdu'd I cannot but exclaim in the words of another Poet. Sit nulla fides augentibus omnia Musis No credit justly should the Muses find That soar so high they leave the truth behind Caesar ever large enough in things that shew his own glory would never have concealed exploits if he had done them But these writers seem not unlike some good learned Authors of this age who in writing the history of Caesar tell us that he conquer'd the French in Gaul and the English in Britain whereas at that time there was then no such names in being as either that of the English here or that of the French there for those people many ages after came into these countries That the Pictones Pictones of Gaul were the same nation with our Picts I dare not with John Picardus believe seeing the name Pictones was famous in Gaul even in Caesar's time and these of ours are no where exprest by that name unless it be in one passage of the Panegyrist where I know that Pictonum by a slip in the transcriber is put for Pictorum SCOTS THE place among the British Nations next in order to the Picts is in justice due to the Scots but before I treat of them lest some spiteful and ill-natur'd men should misconstrue those things for calumny which with all sincerity and plain-dealing I have here collected out of antient Writers concerning the Scots I must caution the Reader that every word here is to be referred to the old true and genuine Scots only whose posterity are those that speak Irish who possess for a long way together that now called the West part of Scotland and the Islands thereabouts and are commonly termed Highland-men For those more civilized who inhabit the East part of the country though they are adopted into that name yet are not really Scots but of the same German original with us English This they cannot but confess nor we but acknowlege being called as well as we by the aforesaid Highland-men Sassones Besides they speak the same language that we do namely the Saxon with some variation in Dialect only which is an infallible proof of the same original In which regard I am so
Albion or whether it may not come from Albedo whiteness for that they call Ban so that Ellanban may be as much in Scotch as a white Island or whether it might not come out of Ireland which is call'd by their Poets Banno and so Allabany be as much either as another Ireland or a second Ireland For Historians call Ireland â—cotia Major and the kingdom of the Scots in Britain Scotiae Minor Moreover seeing the Scots call themseâ—ves in their own language Alvin Albin and Alvinus whence Blondus has named them Scoti Albienses or Albinenses and Buchanan Albini let the Criticks consider whether that in S. Jerom where he inveighs against a certain Pelagian a Scotchman should not be read Albinum for Alpinum An Alpiâ—e Dog S. Aâ—â—â—n a 〈◊〉 the Maâ—â—yrologie 〈◊〉 Sâ—pâ— is call'd Aâ—pinus when he calls him An Alpine Dâ—g huge and corpulent who can do more mischief with his hâ—â—ls than with his BRITANNIA Saxonica teeth for he 's the off-spring of the Scotch nation bordering upon Britain And he says in another place he was overgrown with Scotch browis I do not remember that ever I read of Alpine Dogs in any Author but that the g Of what great value the British Dogs were our Author has shown at large in Hamshire Scotch Dogs were then famous at Rome as appears from Symmachus Seven Scotch Dogs says he were so admired at Rome â—cotch â—ogs l. 2. â—pist â—76 Praeâ—â—â—nis die the day before the Plays that they thought them brought over in iron-cages But when the Scots h Of the first coming of the Scots into Britain see Stillingfleet's Orig. Britann p. 280. came into Britain to the Picts though they provoked the Britains with continual skirmishes and ravages yet the Scotch-state came not immediately to a full growth but continu'd a long time in that corner where they first arriv'd nor did they as Bede says for the space of one hundred and twenty seven years â—b 1. cap. 〈◊〉 take the field against the petty kings of Northumberland till at one and the same time they had almost quite routed the Picts and the kingdom of Northumberland was utterly destroyed by Civil wars and the invasions of the Danes For then all the north part of Britain fell under the name of Scotland together with that inner country on this side the Cluid and Edinburgh Frith For that this was a part of the kingdom of Northumberland â—de and in the possession of the Saxons is universally agreed upon By which means it comes to pass that all the inhabitants of the East part of Scotland called Lowland-men as living Low are originally Saxons and speak English But that such as live towards the West called Highland-men from their high situation are real Scots and speak Irish as we observ'd before being mortal enemies to those Lowlanders that speak English That the Attacotti â—ttacotti a warlike nation did infest Britain along with the Scots we have the authority of Ammianus Marcellinus and that these were a part of the Scotch nation is the opinion of H. Lhuid but how true I know not 2. conâ— Joviaâ—n St. Jerom expressly calls them a British People Who tells us that when he was young probably in the Emperor Julian's time He saw in France the Attacotti a British People feeding upon man's flesh and when they found in the woods droves of hogs herds of beasts or sheep that they us'd to cut off the buttocks of the herdsmen and the paps of the women and look upon these as the richest dainties For here we are to read Attacotti upon the authority of Manuscripts and not Scoti with Erasmus who at the same time owns the place to be faulty Though I must confess in one Manuscript it is Attigotti in another Catacotti Vincentius in his Speculum readâ— it Attigotti I Aethicus's Geography they are read Cattiganci and in a third Cattiti But of the Scots it cannot as 't is commonly be understood for Jerom in that place speaking of the Customs of several nations begins the sentence immediately following thus The Scotch nation has no wives peculiar to single men c. And in another place where Jerom mentions the Attacotti Erasmus puts in the room of it Azoti These as we learn from the Notitia were Stipendiaries in the decline of the Roman Empire For they are reckon'd amongst the Palatine-Aids in Gaul Attecotti juniores Gallicani and Attecotti Honoriani Seniores and in Italy Attecotti Honoriani juniores By this addition of Honoriani they seem to have been some of those Barbarians that Honorius the Emperor receiv'd into league and listed them in his army not without great damage to the Empire Among the nations that made incursions into Britain the Ambrones Ambrones are reckon'd up by John Caius one who has employ'd his time upon the best Studies and to whom the Commonwealth of Learning is extreamly indebted upon reading these words in that part of Gildas where he treats of the Picâ—s and Scots Those former enemies like so many * Ambrones lupi ravenous wolves enrag'd with extremity of hunger and thirst leaping over the sheep-folds and the shepherd not appearing carried with the wings of oars the arms of rowers and sails driven forward by the winds break through and butcher all they come near Here the good oâ—d man remembred that he had read in Festus how the Ambrones pour'd into Italy along with the Cimbrians but then he had forgot that Ambro as Isidore observes signifies a Devourer And neither Gildas nor Geâ—ffrey of Monmouth who calls the Saxons Ambrones use the word in any other sense Nor have I ever found in any ancient Author that there were other Ambrones that invaded Britain The ENGLISH-SAXONS â—glish â—ons WHen the Roman Empire under Valentinian the younger was declining and Britain both a It was most of all exhausted by the proceedings of Maximus who being set up Emperor by the souldiery in Britain to secure himself against Gratian anâ— Valentinian carried over the flower of the Bâ—itains and would not let them return home See Ninnius cap. 23. Stillingfl Orig. Brit. p. 288. robb'd of her ablest men by frequent levies and abandon'd by the Roman garisons was not in a condition to withstand the incursions of the Picts and Scots â—all'd 〈◊〉 Guorâ—rn Vortigern who either was constituted General by the Britains or as some think usurp'd that title b Not so much against the Scots and Picts as his own Subjâ—cts For tho' those northern nations did no doubt very much terrifie him yet he had moâ—e reason to be jâ—alous of the Britains themselves if what Gildas tell us be true that in the confusion they were left in they set up Kings and quickly dethron'd them advancing worse to that dignity in order to confirm his own government and to recover the sinking state sends for the Saxons out of Germany to his relief He was says Ninnius
Tuesday Tuesday is derived from Tuisco the founder of the German nation They had a Goddess they called Eoster to whom they sacrificed in the month April upon which says Bede The Goddess Eoster Time of Sacrifice they called April Eoster-monath and we at this day call that season the Feast of Easter z But rather as I think of the rising of Christ which our Progenitors call East as we do now that part whenece the Sun riseth Hol. It had been well if he had told us what Progenitors these were that called the rising of Chrst East for my part I know none such The Angles saith Tacitus as do the other neighbouring nations worship'd Herthus i.e. their mother earth Herthus a Goddess a See Sir Henry Spelman's Glossary under the title Herthus imagining that she interested her self in the affairs of men and nations In our language that word still signifies earth but not in the German for they use Arden to signifie earth Earth The same Ethelwerd before mentioned has left us this account of their Superstitions as to what relates to his own times The Northern Infidels have been seduced to such a degree that to this day the Danes Normans and Suevians worship Woodan as their Lord. And in another place The barbarous nations honoured Woodan as a God and those Pagans offer'd Sacrifice to him to make them victorious and valiant But Adam Bremensis gives a more full account of those matters In a Temple call'd in their vulgar tongue Ubsola the furniture whereof is all of gold the people worship the Statues of three Gods Thor the most powerful of them has a room by himself in the middle on each side of him are Wodan and Fricco The emblems of them are these Thor they take to be the ruler of the air Thursday and to send as he sees convenient thunder and lightning winds and showers fair weather and fruit Wodan the second is more valiant 't is he that manages wars and inspires people with courage against their Enemies Fricco the third presents men with peace and pleasure and his statue is cut with a large * Priapo ingenti privy-member They engrave Wodan armed as Mars is with us Thor seems to be represented with the Scepter of Jupiter But these errors have at length given way to the truth of Christianity After they had fix'd themselves in Britain A Monarchy always even in the Saxon Heptarchy they divided it into seven Kingdoms and made of it a Heptarchy But even in that he who was most powerful was as Bede has observed stil'd King of the English nation l. 2. c. so that in the very Heptarchy there seems always to have been a sort of Monarchy Afterwards Austin who is commonly called the English Apostle Austin the English Apostle was dispatcht hither by Gregory the Great and banishing those monsters of heathenish profaneness did with wonderful success plant Christ in their hearts and convert them to the Christian Faith How it came to pass that Gregory should have so peculiar a concern for the Conversion of the English nation Conversioâ— of the English to Christianity we may learn from venerable Bede vvho has left us what himself had by tradition The report goes that on a certain day Lib. 2. c. 1. when the merchants were newly come ashore and great variety of wares was exposed to sale many Chapmen flockt together and amongst the rest Gregory himself He took notice amongst other things of some boys that were to be sold their bodies were white their looks sweet and their hair lovely After he had view'd them he enquired as the story goes from what country or nation they came They told him from the Isle of Britain the inhabitants whereof were all of that beautiful complexion Next he asked them whether the people of that Island were Christians or were yet involved in the errors of Paganism The answer was that they were Pagans At which fetching a deep sigh Alas says he that the father of darkness should be master of such bright faces and that such comely looks should carry along with them a mind void of internal grace Another question he put to them was about the name of that country They told him the people were called Angles And says he not amiss for as they have Angelical looks so it is fit that such should be fellow-heirs with the Angels in heaven But what was the name of that peculiar province from whence these were brought 'T was answered the inhabitants of it were called Deiri Hol-Deirness Yes says he Deiri as much as de ira eruti i.e. delivered from wrath and invited to the mercy of Christ. What is the King's name of that Province They told him Aello And alluding to the name 't is fitting says he that Alleluia should be sung in those parts to the praise of God our Creator Upon this going to the Pope for it happen'd before he was made Pope himself he beg'd of him to send the English nation some ministers of the Gospel into Britain by whose preaching they might be converted to Christ adding that himself was ready by the assistance of God to finish this great work if it should please his Holiness to have it carry'd on Concerning the same Conversion Gregory the Great writes thus Behold how it has pierced into the hearts of all nations how the very bounds of East and West are joyned in one common Faith Even the British tongue which used to mutter nothing but barbarity has a good while since begun to eccho forth the Hebrew Halleluias in divine Anthems And in a Letter to Austin himself Who can express the general satisfaction among all faithful people since the English nation by the operating Grace of Almighty God and the endeavours of you our Brother has quitted those black errors and is enlightned with the beams of our holy Faith since with a most pious zeal they now tread under foot those Idols before which they formerly kneeled with a blind sort of veneration In an antient Fragment of that age we read thus Upon one single Christmas-day to the eternal honour of the English nation Austin baptized above ten thousand men besides an infinite number of women and children But pray how should Priests or any others in holy Orders be got to baptize such a prodigious number The Archbishop after he had consecrated the river Swale The river Swale in Yorkshire Bede tells this whole matter of Paulinus Archbish of York not of Austin ordered by the Criers and principal men that they should with faith go in two by two and in the name of the holy Trinity baptize each other Thus were they all regenerate by as great a miracle as once the people of Israel passed over the divided Sea and Jordan when 't was turned back For in the same manner here so great a variety both of sex and age passed such a deep chanel
Theod i.e. a nation Anglcynne Englcynne Engliscmon tho' at the same time every particular Kingdom had a distinct name of its own And this as it is evident from other Writers so especially from Bede who entitles his history The History of the English nation So even in the Heptarchie the Kings that were more powerful than the rest were stiled the Kings of the English nation Then it was that the name of Britain fell into disuse in this Island and was only to be found in Books being never heard in common talk So that Boniface Bishop of Mentz an English-man born Epist ad Zachariam P. P. terms our nation Transmarine Saxony But King Eadred as appears from some Charters about the year 948. stil'd himself King of Great Britain and Eadgar about 970. used the title of Monarch of all Albion When 't was called England then were the Angles in the height of their glory and as such according to the common revolution of things were ready for a fall For the Danes after they had preyed upon our coasts for many years together began at last to make miserable havock of the Nation it self The Names of the ENGLISH-SAXONS I Had design'd here to insert a Catalogue of the order and succession of the Saxon Kings as well in the Heptarchy as Monarchy but because this may not be a proper place for 'em and 't is possible a heap of bare names may hardly be so acceptable perhaps I shall oblige the reader more by drawing up a short scheme of the observations I have made especially out of Alfrick the Grammarian concerning the force original and signification of the names themselves Not that I pretend to explain every name for that would be too much labour besides that such barbarous names wherein there is a great emphasis â—phyrie â—heolog â—niâ—â— a concise brevity and something of ambiguity are very hardly translated into another language But because most of them are compounds the simples whereof are very few I shall explain the latter that so the signification of the former which always implied something of good luck may be the more easily discovered and to shew that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nominum the derivation of names mentioned by Plato is to be found in all nations 〈◊〉 Eal. AEL EAL and AL. in compound names as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek compounds signifies all or altogether So Aelwin is a complete conqueror Albert all illustrious Aldred altogether reverend Alfred altogether peaceful To these Pammachias Pancratius Pamphilius c. do in some measure answer 〈◊〉 Ulf 〈◊〉 AELF which according to various dialects is pronounced ulf wolph hulph hilp helfe and at this day helpe implies assistance So Aelfwin is victorious aid Aelfwold an auxiliary governour Aelfgifa a Lender of assistance With which Boetius Symmachus Epicurus c. bear some analogy ARD signifies natural disposition As Godard Ard. is a divine temper Reinard a sincere temper Giffard a bountiful and liberal disposition Bernard a filial affection ATHEL Adel. and Aethel is Noble So Aethelred Athel and Ethel is noble for counsel Aethelard a noble genius Aethelbert eminently noble Aethelward a noble Protector BERT is the same with our bright Bert. in the latin illustris and clarus So Ecbert eternally famous or bright Sigbert famous conqueror And she that was term'd by the Germans Bertha was by the Greeks call'd Eudoxia as is observ'd by Luitprandus Of the same sort were these Phaedrus Epiphanius Photius Lampridius Fulgentius Illustrius BALD Bald. as we learn from Jornandes was us'd by the northern nations to signifie the same as the latin audax bold and is still in use So Baldwin and by inversion Winbald is bold conqueror Ethelbald nobly bold Eadbald happily bold Which have the same import as Thraseas Thrasymachus Thrasybulus c. a Here we may take in the termination burh in the names of Cuthburh Cwenburh both which come from the Saxon burh signifying a tower castle c. and from that a defence or protection so Cwenburh is a woman ready to assist Cutburh eminent for assistance And also Ceol in Ceolwuâ—t c. which comes from the old Saxon Ceol a ship from whence Malmesbury tells us the Saxons landed in 3 Crules KEN and Kin Ken and Kin. denote kinsfolk So Kinulph is help to kindred Kinehelm a protector of his kindred Kinburg the defence of her kindred Kinric powerful in kindred CUTH signifies knowledge or skill So Cuthwin Cuth is a knowing conqueror Cuthred a knowing counsellor Cuthbert famous for skill Much of the same nature are Sophocles Sophianus c. EAD in the compounds and Eadig Ead. in the simple names denotes happiness or blessedness b It may likewise be derived from the Saxon eath signifying easie gentle mild Aed and Ed are of the same original Thus Eadward is a happy preserver Eadulph happy assistance Eadgar happy power Eadwin happy conqueror Which Macarius Eupolemus Faustus Fortunatus Felicianus c. do in some measure resemble c Ferth and forth are a common termination and come from the Saxon fyrth an army FRED Fred. is the same with peace upon which our fore-fathers call'd their sanctuaries fred-stole i.e. the seat of peace So Frederic is powerful or wealthy in peace Winfred victorious peace Reinfred sincere peace d Gar in Edgar Ethelgar is derived from the Saxon gar a weapon d rt c. Gâ—slâ— GISLE among the English-Saxons signifies a pledge Thus Fredgisle is a pledge of peace Gislebert an illustrious pledge like the Greek Homerus e Heard whether initial as in Heardbearht or final as in Cyneheard signifies a guard of keeper in Saxon. HOLD Hold. in the old Glossaries is taken in the same sense with wold i.e. a governor or chief officer but in some other places for love as Holdlic lovely HELM Helm denotes defence as Eadhelm happy defence Sighelm victorious defence Berthelm eminent defence like Amyntas and Boetius in the Greek HARE and Here Hare and Here. as they are differently pronounc'd signifie both an army and a lord So Harold is a General of an army Hareman a chief man in the army Herebert famous in the army Herwin a victorious army Which are much like Stratocles Polemarchus Hegâ—sistratus c. HILD Hild. in Aelfrick's Grammar is interpreted a Lord or Lady So Hildebert is a noble Lord Mahtild an Heroick Lady and in the same sense is Wiga Wiga found LEOD Leod. signifies f Rather a nation countrey or people the people Thus Leodgar is one of great interest with the people LEOF Leof denotes love So Leofwin is a winner of love Leafstan the best belov'd Like these Agapetus Erasmus Erastus Philo Amandus g The final syllabâ—â—s maer mer in Aelmaer Aethelmer c are derivâ—d from the Saxon maer famous noted great From whence we commonly sâ—y at this dâ—y he 's a mere
upon the disordered English kill'd great numbers of them whilst they stood doubtful whether they should run or fight But the greatest part posting themselves on the higher grounds got into a body encouraged one another and opposed the Enemy with great resolution as if they had made choice of that place for an honourable death At last Harold was shot through the head with an arrow and there with his two brothers Githus and Leofwine lost his life Upon this Edwin and Morcar with some few who had saved their lives made their escape by flight giving way to the hand of providence and the present necessity after they had fought without intermission from seven a clock in the morning to the dusk of the evening The Normans lost in this battle about 6000 men and the English a far greater number William overjoyed with his victory ordered a solemn thanksgiving to Almighty God and fixed his tent in the middle of the slain where he stayed that night Next day after he had buried his men and granted leave to the English to do the like he returned to Hastings to consider of proper methods how to prosecute his victory and to refresh his soldiers So soon as the news of this victory reached London and other cities of England the whole Nation was in a surprise and in a manner struck dead Githa the King's mother was so overcome with grief that no way could be found to comfort her She humbly desired of the Conqueror to grant her the bodies of her sons which she buried in Waltham-Abby Edwin sent away Queen Algitha his sister into the more remote parts of the Kingdom The Nobility desired the people not to despair and begun to consider of methods how to settle the Nation The Arch-bishop of York with the City of London and Sea-soldiers Bâ—â—â—â—les commonly called Botescarles were for making Eadgar King and renewing the war with William Edwin and Morcar were secretly contriving how to get the government into their their own hands But the Bishops Prelats and others upon whom the Pope's Anathema made a deeper impression thought it most advisable to surrender and not to incense the Conqueror with a second battel the issue whereof was but at best doubtful nor resist God who for the crying sins of the nation seemed to have delivered up England into the hands of the Normans William leaving 〈◊〉 strong garison in Hastings resolved to march in a hostile manner directly towards London but to diffuse a greater terror through the nation and to make all sure behind him he divided his forces and marched through part of Kent Suffex Surrey Hamshire and Berkshire Where he came he burnt villages and towns plundering them passed the Thames at Wallingford and filled all places with horror The Nobility all this while were at a stand what to do nor could they be persuaded to lay aside private animosities and consult the publick interest of the nation The Clergy to avoid the curses of the Church and censures of the Pope by which he did at that time sway both the minds of men and whole kingdoms and considering that the affairs of the nation were not only decay'd but quite ruin'd stood so firm to their resolution of surrendring that many so save themselves withdrew privately out of the City But Alfred Archbishop of York Wolstan Bishop of Worcester along with some other Bishops and Edgar Etheling Edwin and Morcar met the Norman Conqueror at Berkhamsted He made them most glorious promises upon which hostages were given and they submitted themselves to his protection Forthwith he went to London where he was received with great joy and acclamations and saluted under the title of King Next he prepares all necessaries for the inauguration which he had appointed to be on Christmas-day and in the mean time employed all his care and thoughts upon the settlement of the nation This was the period of the Saxon's government in Britain which lasted six hundred and seven years The revolution that hapned in the Kingdom some imputed to the avarice of Magistrates others to the superstitious laziness of the Clergy a third sort to the Comet which then appeared and the influence of the Stars a fourth attributed it to God who for hidden but always just reasons disposes of Kingdoms But others who looked nearer into the immediate causes threw it upon the imprudence of King Edward who under the specious colour of religious chastity neglected to secure a succession and so exposed the Kingdom as a prey to ambition WHat an insolent and bloody victory this was the Monks who writ about it do fully inform us Nor can we question but in this as in all others villany had the upper hand William as a token of his conquest laid aside the greatest part of the English laws brought in Norman customs and ordered that all causes should be pleaded in French The English were dispossessed of their hereditary estates and the lands and farms divided among his Soldiers but with this reserve that he should still remain the direct Proprietor and oblige them to do homage to him and his successors that is that they should hold them in see but the King alone be chief Lord and they â—uciaâ— â—eal â—illiâ—â—he â—ucâ— Feudatory Lords and in actual possession He made a Seal on the one side whereof was engraven Hoc Normannorum Gulielmum nosce patronum By this the Norman owns great William Duke On the other side Hoc Anglis signo Regem fatearis eundem By this too England owns the same their King Further as William of Malmsbury tells us in imitation of Caesar's policy who would not have those Germans that skulk'd in the forrest of Ardenna and by their frequent excursions very much disturb'd his army suppressed by the Romans but the Gauls that whilst foreigners destroyed one another himself might triumph without blood-shed William took the same methods with the English For there were some who after the first battle of that unfortunate Harold had fled over into Denmark and Ireland where they got together a strong body of men and returned three years after To oppose them he dispatched away an English army and General and let the Normans live at their ease For which side soever got the best he found his interest would go forward And so it proved for after the English hâ—d skirmâ—shed for some time one with another the victory was presented the King without any trouble And in another place After the power of the Laity was destroyed he made a positive declaration The English thrown out of their Honours that no Monk or Clergy-man of the English nation should pretend to any place of dignity wherein he quite receded from the easiness of King Canutus who maintained the conquered party in full possession of their honours By which means it was that after his death the natives found so little difficulty in driving out the foreigners and recovering their ancient freedom After he had setled those
of the Cistercian Order That part of it which is now standing is a farm-house belonging to my Lord of Leicester from whom many noble persons still remain Echingham next adjoyning had also a Baron in the time of K. Edward 2. Baron Echingham William de Echingham whose ancestors were * Seneschalli Stewards of this Rape But the Inheritance by heirs females came to the Barons of Windsor and the Tirwhitts Then the Rother dividing his waters into 3 chanels Robertsbridge or Rotherbridge Bodiam passes under Robertsbridge where in the reign of Hen. 2. Alured de St. Martin founded a Monastery m Call'd S. Mary's of Robertbridge and of the Cistercian Order That part of it which is now standing is a farm-house belonging to my Lord of Leicester and so running by Bodiam a Castle belonging to the ancient and famous family of the Lewkneys built by the Dalegrigs here falls into the sea Now I have pass'd along the sea-coast of Sussex As for the Mediterranean parts there is nothing worth taking notice of unless I shou'd reckon up the Woods and Forests of great extent both in length and breadth the remains of the vast and famous wood Anderida Among which to begin at the west the most noted are these the Forest of Arundel S. Leonard's Forest Word Forest 31 And not far off East-Grensted anciently a parcel of the Barony of Eagle and made a Market by King Henry 7. Ashdown Forest under which lies Buckhurst Baron Backhurâ—t the seat of the ancient family of the Sackvils of which Q Elizabeth in our memory advanced Thomas Sackvil 32 Her Alley by the Bullens a Gentleman of great wisdom to be Baron of Buckhurst took him into her Privy Council elected him into the most honorable Order of the Garter and made him Lord Treasurer of England whom also of late K. James created Earl of Dorset Waterdown Forest 33 Where I saw Bridge a lodge of the Lord Abergavenny and by it craggy rocks rising up so thick as tho' sporting Nature had there purposed a sea Hereby in the very confines of Kent is Groomebridge an habitation of the Wallers whose House there was built by Charles Duke of Orleans father to K. Lâ—wis 12. of France when he being taken Prisoner in the Battel at Agincourt by Richard Waller of this place was here a long time detained Prisoner and that of Dallington the least of all Earls of Sussex See the Eâ—â—ls â—f Arundel Sussex has had 5 Earls of the family of D'Aubeney who were likewise called Earls of Arundel 34 the first of them was William D'Aubeney the son of William Butler to King Hen. 1. and Lord of Buckenham in Norfolk who gave for his Arms Gules a Lion rampant Or and was call'd sometimes Earl of Arundel and sometimes Earl of Chichester because in those places he kept his chief residence He had by Adeliza daughter of Godfrey Barbatus Duke of Lorrain and Brabant Queen Dowager to King Hen. 1. William the 2d Earl of Sussex and Arundel Father of William the 3d. Earl unto whom Mabil sister and one of the heirs of the last Ranulph Earl of Chester bore William the 4th Earl and Hugh the 5th Earl who both died issueless and also 4 Daughters married to Robert Lord of Tateshall John Fitz-Alan Roger de Somery and Robert de Mount-hault Afterwards the title of Arundel sprouted forth again as I said before in the Fitz-Alans But that of Sussex lay as it were forgotten and lost till our age which hath seen 5 Ratcliffs descended of the most noble house of the Fitz-Walters that fetch'd their original from the Clares bearing that honour viz. Robert created Earl of Sussex by K. Hen. 8. 21 Hâ—â—t who married Elizabeth daughter of Henry Stafford Duke of Buckingham by whom he had Henry the 2d Earl to whom Eliz. the daughter of Tho. Howard Duke of Norfolk bore Thomas who was Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth and dy'd without issue a Heroe of very great worth and honour in whose mind were joyntly seated both the wisdom of a Statesman and the courage of a Soldier as England and Ireland had reason to acknowledge Henry his brother succeeded him after Henry Robert his only son an honourable young Gentleman who now enjoys the Earldom This County contains 312 Parishes So much for Sussex which together with Surrey was the seat of the Regni afterwards the Kingdom of the South-Saxons The kingdom of the South-Saxons called in Saxon †The true reading is Suth-seaxna ric Suþ-seaxan-ric which 31 years after the coming in of the Saxons was begun by Aella who according to Bede First amongst the Kings of the English Nation ruled all their southern Provinces which are sever'd by the River Humber and the adjacent limits The first Christian King was Edilwalch baptiz'd in the presence of Wulpher King of Mercia his Godfather who gave him in token of adoption two Provinces the Isle of Wight and the Province of the Meanvari But in the 306th year from the beginning of this Kingdom upon Aldinius the last King 's being slain by Ina it came wholly under the Dominion of the West-Saxons ADDITIONS to SVSSEX a THE County of Sussex as in the north part it still abounds with wood so as our Author observes the greatest part of it seems to have been formerly in the same condition For I can never believe but that vast Weald being 30 miles in breadth and beginning in the south part of Kent must in it's way to Hamshire take up a considerable tract of this Shire And if so we may inferr from hence this account of it that the inhabitants could be but very few and thin-plac'd for a long time Which is plain from the two * Lambard Perambulat p. 224. Somner's Forts and Forts p. 107. Kentish Antiquaries affirming that for a great while the whole Weald was scarce any thing else besides a desert and vast wilderness not planted with towns or peopl d with men but stuff'd with herds of deer and droves of hogs only Which account may be very rationally grounded upon this bottom that no part of the Weald appears by the several Grants to have been let out by the King the only Lord and Proprietor of it in Manours but in so many Dens which imply'd only a woody place yielding covert and feeding for cattel and that there is no other use of them express'd but only Pannage for hogs From which hint is gather'd the primitive state of the greatest part of this County b In after times our Author observes among other things that they deaâ—t in the Glass-trade Put that lasted not long for whether it was that it turn'd to little account or that they found themselves out-vy'd by other places there are now no Glass-houses in the whole County At present as in our Author's time they are most famous for the Iron-works which are in several places of this County some whereof have both
high taken down when half-dead and beheaded and the trunk of his body thrown into the fire a punishment too inhumane and but very seldom made use of in this kingdom Upon this his goods being confiscate King Edward the first frankly gave this Castle with the Hundred of Felebergh to 66 Sir Bartholomew Bartholomew de Badilsmer but he too within a short time forfeited both of them for Treason as I observed but just now 'T is a current report among the Inhabitants that Julius Caesar encampt here in his second expedition against the Britains and that thence it was call'd Julham as if one should say Julius's station or house and if I mistake not they have truth on their side For Caesar himself tells us that after he had march'd by night 12 miles from the shore he first encounter'd the Britains upon a River and after he had beat them into the woods that he encamp'd there where the Britains having cut down a great number of trees were posted in a place wonderfully fortify'd both by nature and art Now this place is exactly twelve miles from the sea-coast nor is there e're a river between so that of necessity his first march must have been hither where he kept his men encamp'd for ten days till he had refitted his fleet shatter'd very much by a tempest and got it to shore Below this town is a green barrow said to be the burying place of one Jul-Laber many ages since who some will tell you was a Giant others a Witch For my own part imagining all along that there might be something of real Antiquity couch'd under that name I am almost perswaded that Laberius Durus the Tribune Liberius Dâ—rus the Tribune slain by the Britains in their march from the Camp we spoke of was buried here and that from him the Barrow was call'd Jul-laber y At five miles distance from hence the Stour dividing it's chanel runs with a violent current to Durovernum Duroverâ—â—m the chief City of this County to which it gives the name for Durwhern signifies in British a rapid river It is call'd by Ptolemy instead of Durovernum Darvernum by Bede and others Dorobernia by the Saxons Cant-Æ¿ara-byrig i.e. the City of the people of Kent by Ninnius and the Britains Caer Kent i.e. the City of Kent by us Canterbury Canterbury and by the Latins Cantuaria A very ancient City and no doubt famous in the times of the Romans Not very large as Malmesbury says 67 Four hundred years since nor very little famous for it's situation for the fatness of the neighbouring soil for the walls enclosing it being entire for it's convenience for water and wood and besides by reason of the nearness of the Sea it has fish in abundance While the Saxon Heptarchy flourish'd it was the Capital city of the Kingdom of Kent and the seat of their Kings till King Ethelbert gave it with the Royalties to Austin 68 The Apostle as they call'd him Austin the English Apostle consecrated Archbishop of the English nation who here fix'd a seat for himself and Successors And tho' the Metropolitan-dignity with the honour of the Pall this was a Bishop's vestment What a Pal. is going over the shoulders made of a sheep's skin in memory of him who sought the Lost sheep and when he had found it lay'd it on his shoulders embroider'd with Crosses and taken off the body or coffin of S. Peter were settl'd at London by S. Gregory Pope yet for the honour of S. Augustine it was remov'd hither For Kenulfus King of the Mercians writes thus to Pope Leo. An. â—93 Because Augustine of blessed memory who first preach'd the word of God to the English nation and gloriously presided over the Churches of Saxony in the city of Canterbury is now dead and his body bury'd in the Church of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles which his Successor Laurentius consecrated it seemeth good to all the wise men of our nation that that city should have the Metropolitan honour where his body is bury'd who planted the true faith in those parts But whether the Archiepiscopal See and Metropolitical Dignity of our nation were settl'd here by the authority of the Wise men i.e. to speak agreeably to our present times by authority of Parliament or by Austin himself in his life time as others would have it 't is certain that the Popes immediately succeeding fixt it so firm that they decreed an Anathema and hell-fire to any one that should presume to remove it From that time 't is incredible how it has flourisht both by reason of the Archiepiscopal dignity and also of a School which Theodore the seventh Archbishop founded there And tho' it was shatter'd in the Danish wars and has been several times almost quite destroy'd by the casualties of fire yet it always rose again with greater beauty After the coming in of the Normans when William Rufus as 't is in the Register of S. Augustine's Abby gave the City of Canterbury entirely to the Bishops which they had formerly held only by courtesie what by the name of Religion and bounty of it's Prelates especially of Simon Sudbury who repair'd the walls it did not only recruit but altogether on a sudden rose up to that splendour as even for the beauty of it's private buildings to be equal to any city in Britain but for the magnificence of it's Churches and their number exceeds even the best of them Amongst these there are two peculiarly eminent Christs and S. Austin's both for Benedictine Monks As for Christ-Church 't is in the very heart of the City and rises up with so much Majesty that it imprints a sort of a Religious veneration at a distance The same Austin I spoke of repair'd this Church which as Bede tells us had formerly been built by the Romans that were Christians he dedicated it to Christ and it became a See for his Successors which 73 Archbishops have now in a continu'd series been possess'd of Of whom Lanfrank and William Corboyl when that more ancient fabrick was burnt down rais'd the upper part of the Church to that Majesty wherewith it now appears as their Successors did the lower part both done at great charges to which the pious superstition of former ages contributed For numbers of all sorts both highest middle and lowest quality flock'd hither with large offerings to visit the Tomb of T. Becket Archbishop He was slain in this Church by the Courtiers for opposing the King too resolutely and warmly by asserting the Liberties of the Church was register'd on that account by the Pope in the Kalendar of Martyrs had divine honours pay'd him and was so loaded with rich offerings that gold was one of the vilest Treasures of his Shrine All says Erasmus who was an eye-witness shin'd sparkl'd glitter'd with rare and very large jewels and even in the whole Church appear'd a profuseness above that of Kings n At the
VALE ANNO DOMINI M.D.XLIII ET ANNO REGNI HENRICI OCTAVI XXXVI When Leith a town of good account in Scotland and Edinburgh the principal city of that Nation were on fire Sir Richard Lea Knight saved me out of the flames and brought me into England In gratitude to him for this his kindness I who heretofore served only at the baptism of the Children of Kings do now most willingly offer the same service even to the meanest of the English Nation Lea the Conquerour hath so commanded Adieu A. D. 1543. in the 36th year of King Henry the 8th l But to return to our business As Antiquity hath consecrated this place to Religion so Mars seems to have made it a seat of war To pass by others when our Nation had now almost spent as it were its vital spirits in the Civil wars between the two Houses of York and Lancaster there were two battels fought within this very town by the heads of the two parties with various success In the first fight Richard Duke of York defeated the Lancastrian party took King Henry the sixth prisoner and slew a great many persons of the best quality But four years after the Lancastrians had the advantage under the conduct of Queen Margaret routed the Yorkists and recovered their King m About this town to omit a certain fort in the neighbourhood which the vulgar call the Oister-hills but I am apt to think was the Camp of Ostorius the Propraetor the Abbots erected several pious and charitable foundations as a little Nunnery at Sopwell and St. Julian's Hospital for Lepers and another named St. Mary â—f the â—â—dow de Pree for infirm women Near which they had a great Manour named Gorambery where 17 Sir Nicholas Nicholas Bacon Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England hath erected a structure becoming his character Near to this place lyeth Redborne â—â—â—borne which in modern language signifieth a Red-water And yet the water that runneth by this place 18 From Mergrate sometime a Religious House now a Seaâ— of the Ferrers out of the House of Groby is no more red than that of the Red-Sea It was a place in old time very famous for the Reliques which were there found of Amphibalus the Martyr who was the person that first instructed St. Alban in the Christian Faith for which faith he also suffer'd under Dioclesian At present it is most remarkable for the old military high-way commonly calld Watlingstreet upon which it is seated and also for a certain brook near it call'd â—t is also â—d Weâ—r Wenmer which as the vulgar believe when ever it breaks out and swells higher than usual always portends dearth or troublesome times n Near unto this we have reason to look for Duro-co-brivae â—o-coâ—a a station of which Antoninus makes mention though indeed the distance would perswade us otherwise For Redborne in our language and Dur-coh in the British or Welch tongue signifie one and the same thing to wit Red water Now to search after the situation of ancient places we have no better guides than ancient Inscriptions the course of the great roads the reason and similitude of names and rivers or lakes adjoyning although they do not exactly correspond to the several distances that are assign'd in the Itinerarie which may very well be since corrupted and the passage from one place to another cut shorter Certainly the old Duro-co-brivae must needs have been seated in the same place where that Roman high-way crossed this water to wit below Flamsted For just at this place at seven miles distance from Verulamium though now through the negligence of transcribers the number is chang'd to twelve a good large spring riseth at the road-side and crosseth it with a small stream which though here it have no name yet below St. Albans it is call'd Col. â—ra what 〈◊〉 And as to that termination Briva which is an adjunct to the names of very many places it signified as I suppose among the ancient Britains and Gauls a Bridge or the passage over a River since we find it no where us'd but at rivers In this Island there were one or two Durobrivae that is unless I am much deceiv'd passages over the water In Gaul there was Briva Isariae now Pontoise where was the passage over the Isara or Ysore Briva Oderae over the Odera and Samarobriva for that is the right name over the river Soain Somewhat higher upon a small hill standeth Flamsted â—msted which in the time of Edward the Confessor Leofstan Abbot of St. Albans gave to three Knights Turnot Waldef and Turman upon condition that they should secure the neighbouring country from robberies But William the Conquerour took it from them and gave it Roger de Todeney or Tony an eminent Norman with the title of Barony But in time it was by a daughter transferr'd to the Beauchamps Earls of Warwick Hence I passed southwards to Hemsted â—â—â—â—ted a small Market-town call'd Hehan-hamsted when King Offa made a grant of it to the Monastery of St. Albans It is seated among hills by the side of a small river which a little lower runs into another that goes through Berkhamsted â—â—â—khamâ—â—â—â— In this place the Nobles of England had a meeting when by the perswasion of Fretheric then Abbot of St. Albans they were plotting to throw off the new Norman Government And thither came William the Conqueror in person as we read in the life of this Fretheric much concern'd for fear he should to his great disgrace lose that Kingdom which with so much blood he had purchas'd And after many debates in the presence of Lanfranc the Archbishop the King to settle a firm peace took an Oath upon all the Reliques of the Church of St. Alban and upon the holy Evangelists which the Abbot Fretheric administred That he would inviolably observe all the good approv'd and ancient Laws of the Kingdom which the most sacred and pious Kings of England his Predecessors and especially King Edward had established But most of these Noblemens estates he soon after seized and confiscated and bestowed this town upon Robert Earl of Moriton and Cornwal 19 His halfbrother who according to the common tradition built here a Castle with a rampart and a double ditch to it In which Castle Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwal dy'd full of years and honours Upon default of issue of that Earl King Edward the third gave this town and castle to Edward his eldest son that most renown'd and warlike Prince whom he created Duke of Cornwal from whence even in our times it continues to be part of the possessions of the Dutchy of Cornwal This castle is now nothing else but ruin'd walls and one rude heap of stones above which upon a small hill Sir Edward Cary Kt. Master of the Jewels to the King descended from the house of the Carys in Devonshire 20 And the Beauforts
Envy resign'd up these and two other castles to wit Blank and Hanfeld to King Edward the third In another corner North-eastward the river Mynwy and Wy meeting do almost encompass the chief town of this County which is thence denominated for the Britains call it Mynwy and we Monmouth Monmouth On the North-side where it is not guarded with the rivers it is fortify'd with a wall and a ditch In the midst of the town near the market-place stands the castle which as we find in the King's Records flourish'd in the time of William the Conquerour but is thought to have been re-built by John Baron of Monmouth From him it devolv'd to the House of Lancaster when King Henry the third had depriv'd him of his Inheritance for espousing so violently the Barons Interest against him Or rather as we read in the King's Prerogative for that his heirs had pass'd their Allegiance to the Earl of Britain in France Since that time this town has flourish'd considerably enjoying many privileges granted them by the House of Lancaster But for no one thing is it so eminent as the birth of King Henry the fifth that triumphant Conquerour of France and second Ornament of the Lancastrian Family who by direct force of arms subdu'd the Kingdom of France and reduc'd their King Charles the sixth to that extremity that he did little better than resign his Title Upon whose prosperous Success John Seward a Poet in those times and none of the lowest rank bespeaks the English Nation in this lofty stile Ite per extremum Tanain pigrósque Triones Ite per arentem Lybiam superate calores Solis arcanos Nili deprendite fontes Herculeum finem Bacchi transcurrite metas Angli juris erit quicquid complectitur orbis Anglis rubra dabunt pretiosas aequora conchas Indus ebur ramos Panchaia vellera Seres Dum viget Henricus dum noster vivit Achilles Est etenim laudes longè transgressus avitas March on brave Souls to Tanais bend your arms And rowze the lazy North with just alarms Beneath the toâ—rid Zone your enemies spread Make trembling Nile disclose it's secret head Surprize the World 's great limits with your hast Where nor Alcides nor old Bacchus past Let daily triumphs raise you vast renown The world and all its treasures are your own Yours are the Pearls that grace the Persian Sea You rich Panchaea India and Catay With spicy ivory barks and silk supply While Henry great Achilles of our land Blest with all joys extends his wide command Whose noble deeds and worthy fame surpass The ancient glories of his heavenly race Monmouth also glories in the birth of Galfridus Arthurius Bishop of St. Asaph Geofrey of Monmouth or Ap. Artâ—â—c who compiled the British History an Author well experienced in Antiquities * Fâ—de 〈◊〉 vidâ—tâ—â— non anâ—â—quá but as it seems not of antique credit so many ridiculous Fables of his own invention c hath he inserted in that work In so much that he is now amongst those writers that are censur'd by the Church of Rome The river Wy wherein they take Salmon plentifully from September to April is continued from hence Southward with many windings and turnings It 's now the limit between Glocestershire and Monmouthshire but was formerly the boundary betwixt the Welsh and English according to that verse of Necham Inde vagos Vaga Cambrenses hinc respicit Anglos Hence Wye the English views and thence the Welsh Near its fall into the Severn-Sea it passes by Chepstow Câ—eâ— t â— which is a Saxon name and signifies a market or place of trading In British 't is call'd Kaswent or Castelh Gwent 'T is a town of good note built on a hill close by the river guarded with walls of a considerable circumference which take in several Fields and Orchards The castle is very fair standing on the brink of a river and on the opposite side there stood a Priory whereof the better part being demolish'd the remainder is converted to a Parish-church The bridge here over the Wy is built upon piles and is exceeding high which was necessary because the tide rises here to a great height The Lords of this place were the Clares Earls of Pembroke who from a neighbour castle call'd Strighul where they liv'd were entitled Earls of Strighul Earâ—s â—f Strigâ—â—l and Pembroke of whom Richard the last Earl a man of invincible courage and strength sirnam'd Strong-bow from his excellency in Archery was the first that made way for the English into Ireland By his daughter it descended to the Bigots c. And now it belongs to the Earls of Worcester This place seems of no great antiquity for several do affirm and that not without reason that it had its rise not many ages past from the ancient city Venta Veâ—ta which flourish'd about four miles hence in the time of Antoninus who calls it Venta Silurum as if it had been their chief city Which name neither arms nor time have consum'd for at this day 't is call'd Kaer-went Kaer-wenâ— or the city Venta But the city it self is so much destroy'd by the one or the other that it only appears to have been from the ruinous walls the checquer'd pavements and the Roman coyns d It took up about a mile in circumference on the South-side is a considerable part of the wall yet remaining and more than the ruins of three Bastions What repute it had heretofore we may from hence gather that before the name of Monmouth was heard of this whole Country was call'd from it Went-set or Went's land e Moreover as we read in the life of Tathaius a British Saint it was formerly an Academy Lâ—â—anâ—â—ff or place dedicated to Literature which the same Tathaius govern'd with commendation and also founded a Church there in the reign of King Kradok ap-Ynyr who invited him hither from an Hermitage Five miles to the West of Kaer-went is seated Strighul-castle at the bottom of the hills which now we call Strugle but the Normans Estrig-hill built as we find in Domesday-book by William Fitz-Osbern Earl of Hereford and afterwards the seat of the Clares Earls of Pembroke whence they have been also commonly call'd Earls of Strighull Beneath these places upon the Severn-Sea not far from the mouth of the river Wy lies Port Skeweth P â—t Skewâ—â—h call'd by Marianus Port-Skith who informs us that Harald built a Fort there against the Welsh in the year 1065. which they immediately under the conduct of Karadok overthrew 1 And adjoyning to it is Sudbroke the Church whereof call'd Trinity-Chapel standeth so near the Sea that the vicinity of so tyrannous a neighbour hath spoil'd it of half the Church-yard as it hath done also of an old Fortification lying thereby which was compassed with a triple Ditch and three Rampiers as high as an ordinary house cast in form of a Bow the string whereof is the Sea-cliff That this was a
They are at this day distinguish'd from the Welsh by their speech and customs and they speak a language so agreeable with the English which indeed has much affinity with Dutch that this small Country of theirs is call'd by the Britains Little England beyond Wales Little England beyond Wales This saith Giraldus is a stout and resolute Nation and very offensive to the Welsh by their frequent skirmishes a people much inured to cloathing and merchandize and ready to increase their stock at any labour or hazard by sea and land A most puissant Nation and equally prepared as time and place shall require either for the sword or plow And that I may add also this one thing a Nation most devoted to the Kings of England and faithful to the English and which in the time of Giraldus understood Soothsaying or the inspection of the Entrails of beasts even to admiration Moreover the Flemings-way which was a work of theirs as they are a Nation exceeding industrious is seen here extended through a long tract of ground The Welsh endeavouring to regain their old country have often set upon these Flemings with all their power and have ravag'd and spoil d their borders but they always with a ready courage defended their lives their fortunes and reputation a Whence William of Malmesbury writes thus of them and of William Rufus William Rufus had generally but ill fortune against the Welsh which one may well wonder at seeing all his attempts elsewhere prov'd successful But I am of opinion that as the unevenness of their country and severity of the weather favour'd their rebellion so it hinder'd his progress But King Henry that now reigns a man of excellent wisdom found out an art to frustrate all their inventions by planting Flemings in their country to curb and continually harass them And again in the fifth book King Henry often endeavour'd to reduce the Welsh who were always prone to rebellion at last very advisedly in order to abate their pride he transplanted thither all the Flemings that liv'd in England For at that time there were many of them come over on account of their relation to his mother by her father's side insomuch that they were burdensome to the Kingdom wherefore he thrust them all into Ros a Province of Wales as into a common shore as well to rid the Kingdom of them as to curb the obstinacy of his enemies On the more westerly of these two rivers call'd Cledheu in a very uneven situation lies Haverford Haverford-west call'd by the Britains Hwlfordh a town of good account as well for it s neatness as number of inhabitants 3 Situate upon an hill side having sâ—arce one even street but is steep one way or other This is a County of it self and is govern'd by a Mayor a Sheriff and two Bayliffs It is reported th t the Earls of Clare fortify'd it on the noâ—th-side with walls and a rampire and we have it râ—corded that Richard Earl of Clare made Richard Fitz-Tankred Governour of this castle Beyond Ros we have a spacious Promontory extended far into the Irish sea call'd by Ptolemy Octopitarum Octopitarum by the Britains Pebidiog and Kantrev Dewi and in English St. David's Land St. David'-land A Land saith Giraldus both rocky and barren neither clad with trees nor distinguish'd with rivers nor adorn'd with meadows but expos'd continually to the winds and storms however the retiring place and nursery of several Saints For Calphurnius a British Priest as some have written I know not how truly begat here in the vale of Rhôs St. Patrick St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland on his wife Concha sister of St. Martin of Tours And Dewi a most Religious Bishop translated the Archiepiscopal seat from Kaer-Leion to the utmost corner of this place viz. Menew b or Menevia which from him was afterwards call'd by the Britains Ty Dewi i.e. David's House by the Saxons Dauyd-Mynster and by our modern English St. David's St. David's For a long time it had its Archbishops but the plague raging very much in this Country the Pall was translated to Dôll in Little Britain which was the end of this Archiepiscopal dignity Notwithstanding which in the later ages the Britains commenc'd an Action on that account against the Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitan of England and Wales but were cast What kind of place this St. David's was heretofore is hard to guess seeing it has been so often sack'd by Pirates at present it is a very mean city and shews only a fair Church consecrated to St. Andrew and St. David Which having been often demolish'd was built in that form we now see it in the reign of King John by Peter then Bishop thereof and his successors in the Vale as they call it of Rhôs under the town Not far from it is the Bishop's palace and very fair houses of the Chanter who is chief next the Bishop for here is no Dean the Chancellour the Treasurer and four Archdeacons who are of the Canons whereof there are 4 Twenty two twenty one all inclosed with a strong and stately wall 5 Whereupon they call it The Close This Promontory is so far extended westward that in a clear day we may see Ireland and from hence is the shortest passage into it which Pliny erroneously computed to be thirty miles distant from the Country of the Silures for he thought their country had extended thus far But we may gather from these words of Giraldus that this Cape was once extended farther into the sea and that the form of the Promontory has been alter'd At such time as Henry 2. saith he was in Ireland Truâ—iâ—â—â— Stâ—nâ—â— trees 〈◊〉 sea by reason of an extraordinary violence of storms the sandy shores of this coast were laid bare and that face of the land appear'd which had been cover'd for many ages Also the Trunks of trees which had been cut down standing in the midst of the sea with the strokes of the axe as fresh as if they had been yesterday with very black earth and several old blocks like Ebony So that now it did not appear like the sea-shore but rather resembl'd a grove by a miraculous Metamorphosis perhaps ever since the time of the Deluge or else long after at leastwise very anciently as well cut down as consumed and swallowed up by degrees by the violence of the sea continually encroaching upon and washing off the land c And that saying of William Rufus shews that the lands were not here disjoyn'd by any great sea who when he beheld Ireland from these rocks said He could easily make a bridge of ships whereby he might walk from England into that Kingdom There are excellent and noble Falcons Falcons that breed in these rocks which our King Henry 2. as the same Giraldus informs us was wont to prefer to all others For unless I am deceiv'd by some of that neighbourhood they are of that
this day call it Bulness â—ess and tho' it is but a very small village yet has it a Fort â—imenâ— and as a testimony of its antiquity besides the tracks of streets and pieces of old walls it has a harbour now choakt up and they tell you that there was a pav'd Cawsey ran all along the shore from hence as far as Elenborrow h A mile beyond this as appears by the Foundations at low water begins the Picts-wall that famous work of the Romans formerly the bound of the Province and built to keep out the Barbarians who in those parts were as one expresses it continually * Circumlatraverunt barking and snarling at the Roman Empire I was amaz'd at first why they should be so careful to fortifie this place when 't is fenc'd by a vast arm of the Sea that comes up some eight miles but now I understand how at low-water 't is so shallow that the Robbers and Plunderers made nothing of fording it That the figure of the Coast hereabouts has been alter'd appears plainly from roots of Trees cover'd over with Sand at a good distance from the shore which are commonly discover'd when the Tide is driven back by the violence of Winds I know not whether it be worth the while to observe what the Inhabitants tell you of Subterraneous Trees without boughs Trees under ground they very commonly dig up discovering them by the Dew 10 In Summer which never lyes upon the ground that covers them Upon the same Friths a little more inward is Drumbough-Castle of late times the possession of the Lords of Dacre but formerly a Station of the Romans Some will have it the Castra Exploratorum but the distances will by no means allow it There was also another Roman Station which by a change of the name is at present call'd e To distinguish it from Burgh under Stane-more in Westmoreland Burgh upon Sands Burgh upon Sands 1307. from whence the neighbouring tract is call'd the Barony of Burgh This by Meschines Lord of Cumberland was bestow'd upon Robert de Trivers from whom it came to the * The Morvils call'd de Burgh super Sabulones Lib. Inq. Morvills the last of whom Hugh left a daughter who by her second husband Thomas de Molton had Thomas Molton Lord of this place and father of that Thomas who by marriage with the heir of Hubert de †Vaulx Vallibus joyn'd Gillesland to his other possessions all which were carry'd by Mawd Molton to Ranulph de Dacre But this little Town is noted for nothing more than the untimely death of King Edward the first Edw. 1. after he had triumph'd over his enemies round about him He was a Prince exceeding famous in whose valiant breast God as it were pitcht his Tent and as by courage and wisdom so also by a gracefulness and stateliness of body rais'd him to the very highest pitch of Majesty Providence exercis'd his youth with constant wars and difficulties of State to fit him for the Government which after he came to it he so manag'd by conquering the Welsh and subduing the Scots that he deserves the Character of one of the greatest Ornaments of Britain i The Inhabitants say that under this Burgh in the very aestuary there was a Sea-fight between the Scotch and English and that ‖ Reverso aestu when the Tide was out it was manag'd by the Horse which seems no less strange than what Pliny relates not without great admiration of such another place in Caramania This aestuary is call'd by both Nations Solway-Frith Solway-Frith from Solway a Town of the Scots that stands upon it But Ptolemy names it more properly Ituna for the Eiden a very considerable river Ituna Eiden river which winds along Westmoreland and the inner parts of this County falls into it with a vast body of waters Hist Mailros still remembring what rubs and stops the carcasses of the Scots gave it in the year 1216. after it had dâ—own'd them with their loads of English spoils and swallow'd up that plundering Crew The Ituna or Eiden assoon as it enters this County receives from the west the river Eimot flowing out of the Lake call'd Ulse or Ulse-water which I mention'd before Near its bank upon the little river Dacor is f Here is a Castle standing which formerly has been a magnificent building and a seat of the family but there are no remains of a Monastery nor does it appear by any Records to have been standing since the Conquest Dacre-Castle Dacre noted in latter ages for giving name to the family of the Barons de Dacre â—arons Dacre and mention'd by Bede for having a Monastery in his time as also by Malmesbury for being the place where Constantine King of the Scots and Eugenius King of Cumberland put themselves and their Kingdoms under the protection of King Athelstan k Somewhat higher at a little distance from the confluence of Eimot and Loder at which is the round trench call'd King Arthur's Table stands Penrith which implies in British a red hill or head for the ground hereabouts and the stone of which it is built are both reddish 'T is commonly call'd Perith Perith. and is a noted little market town fortify'd on the west-side with a Royal Castle which in the reign of Henry 6. g It is now in ruins and was never repair'd out of the ruins of Maburg nor was that ever a Roman Fort but a Danish Temple This is very obvious to a curious eye and will be shewn at large in Mr. Nicolson's History of the Kingdom of Northumberland Part 6. was repair'd out of the ruins of Maburg a Roman Fort hard by It is adorn'd with a pretty handsome Church l has a large Market-place with a Town-house of wood for the convenience of the Market-people which is beautify'd with Bearâ— climbing up a ragged staff the Device of the Earls of Warwick Formerly it belong'd to the Bishops of Durham but when Anthony Becc Bishop of this See was grown haughty and insolent by his great wealth Edward the first as we read in the book of Durham took from him Werk in Tividale Perith and the Church of Simondburne For the benefit of the Town W. Strickland Bishop of Carlisle descended from a famous family in those parts did at his own proper charges draw a Chanel or water-course from h This is a Rill falling from the Peat-Mosses in the Fells about Graystock from whence it has its name Peterill or the Little-river Petre. Upon the bank of this lay Plompton-park very large Call'd oâ—â—â— Haâ—a de Plompten and formerly set apart by the Kings of England for the keeping of Deer but by King Henry 8. with greater prudence planted with houses being almost in the frontiers between England and Scotland m Near this I saw several remains of a demolish'd City which for its nearness to Perith they call Old Perith
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Old Time moves slowly though he knows no stay And steals our voices as he creeps away Unseen himself he hides from mortal view Things that are seen and things unseen does shew However I comfort my self with that Distich of Mimnermus which I know by experience to be true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oblectes animum plebs est morosa legendo Ille benè de te dicet at ille malè E'en rest contented for thou l't ever find Thy labours some will blame and some commend The Preface to the Annals of Ireland AS the Press had got thus far the most honourable William Lord Howard of Naworth out of his great Zeal for promoting the Knowledge of Antiquity communicated to me the Annals of Ireland in MS. reaching from the Year 1152. to the Year 1370. And seeing there is nothing extant that I know of more perfect in this kind since Giraldus Cambrensis and the excellent Owner has given me leave I think it very proper to publish them The World is without doubt as much indebted to the Owner for preserving them as to the Author himself for writing them The Stile is rough and barren according to the Age it was writ in yet the Contents give great Light into the Irish History and would have been helpful to me if I had had the use of them sooner As they are I here present them to the Reader faithfully copied exactly from the Original even with the Errors if he has any thing of this nature more perfect I hope he 'll communicate it if not he must be content with this till some one or other will give us a more compleat account of these Affairs and continue it down to the present Time with mâ—r eleg ance a Work of no great Difficulty THE ANNALS of IRELAND IN the Year of our Lord MCLXII died Gregory the first Archbishop of Dublin a worthy Person in all respects and was succeeded by Laurence O Thothil Abbat of S. Kemnus de Glindelagh a pious Man Thomas was made Archbishop of Canterbury MCLXVI Rothericke O Conghir Prince of Conaught was made King and Monarch of Ireland MCLXVII Died Maud the Empess This Year Almarick King of Jerusalem took Babylon and Dermic Mac Morrogh Prince of Leinster while O Rork King of Meth was employed in a certain expedition carried away his Wife who suffer'd her self to be ravish'd with no great difficulty For she gave him an Opportunity to take her as we find in Cambrensis MCLXVIII Donate King of Uriel founder of Mellifont Abby departed this Life This year Robert Fitz Stephens neither unmindful of his promise nor regardless of his faith came into Ireland with thirty * Militibus Knights MCLXIX Richard Earl of Strogul sent a certain young Gentleman of his own family nam'd Remund into Ireland with ten Knights about the Kalends of May. The same Earl Richard this year attended with about 200 Knights and others to the number of a thousand or thereabouts arriv'd here on S. Bartholomew's eve This Richard was the son of Gilbert Earl of Stroghul that is Chippestow formerly Strogul and of Isabel Aunt by the Mother's side to K. Malcolm and William King of Scotland and Earl David a hopeful man and the morrow after the same Apostle's day they took the said City where Eva Dermick's daughter was lawfully married to Earl Richard and her Father gave her MCLXX. S. Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury suffer'd martyrdom This same year the City of Dublin was taken by Earl Richard and his party and the Abby de Castro Dei i. of God's Castle was founded MCLXXI Died Dermick Mac Morrah of a great age at Fernys about the Calends of May. MCLXXII The Valiant King Henry arriv'd at Waterford with 500 Knights and among other things bestow'd Meth upon * Dominus Sir Hugh Lacy. The Abbey de Fonte vivo was founded this year MCLXXIV Gelasius Archbishop of Armagh the first Primate of Ireland a pious man died at a great age He is said to have â—een the first Archbishop that wore the Pall His Predecessors were only titular Archbishops and Primates in reverence and honour to S. Patrick the Apostle of this Nation whose See was so much esteem'd by all men that not only Bishops and Priests and those of the Clergy submitted themselves to the Bishop but Kings and Princes Gilbert a Prelate of great worth succeeded him in the Archbishoprick MCLXXV William King of Scots was taken prisoner at Alnwick MCLXXVI Bertram Verdon founded the Abbey of Crokesdenne MCLXXVII Earl Richard died at Dublin about the Kalends of May and was buried in Trinity Church there This year Vivian a Cardinal call'd from S. Stephens in the Mount Caellius was sent Legat of the Apostolick See into Ireland by Pope Alexander MCLXXVIII On the ninth of the Kalends of December the Abby de Samaria was founded This same year Rose Vale that is to say Rossglass was founded MCLXXIX Miles Cogan and Ralph the son of Fitz-Stephen his Daughter's Husband were slain between Waterford and Lismore c. as we read in Cambrensis The same year Harvie Mont Marish enter'd into the Monastery of S. Trinity in Canterbury who founded the Monastery of Mary de Portu i.e. of Don Broth. MCLXXX Was founded the Abby of the Quire of Benedict and also the Abby of Geripount This Year Laurence Archbishop of Dublin on the 18th of the Kalends of December died happily in Normandy within the Church of S. Mary of Aux After him succeeded John Cumin an Englishman born at Evesham elected unanimously by the Clergy of Dublin the King himself stickling for him and was confirm'd by the Pope This John built S. Patrick's Church at Dublin MCLXXXIII Was confirm'd the Order of the Templers and Hospitallers and the Abby De Lege Dei was founded MCLXXXV John the King's Son made Lord of Ireland by his father came into Ireland in the 12th year of his age which was the 13th since his father's first coming the 15th since the arrival of Fitz-Stephens and the 14th since the coming of Earl Richard and return'd again in the same 15th year of his Age. MCLXXXVI Was confirm'd the Order of the Carthusians and the Grandians This year Hugh Lacy was kill'd treacherously at Dervath by an Irishman because the said Hugh intended to build a Castle there and as he was shewing an Irishman how to work with a Pick-ax and bow'd himself down forwards the Irishman struck off his Head with an Axe and so the Conquest ended The same year Christian Bishop of Lismore formerly Legat of Ireland who copied those vertues which he had both seen and heard eminent in his pious Father S. Bernard and Pope Eugenius a venerable person with whom he liv'd in the Probatory of of Clareval and by whom he was made Legat of Ireland after his Obedience perform'd in the Monastery of Kyrieleyson happily departed this Life Jerusalem and our Lord's Cross was taken by the Sultan and the Saracens
With Gruter himself Mr. Camden kept a constant correspondence whilst he liv'd and when he dy'd left him 5 l. for a ring to be a memorial of their old acquaintance Peireskius that universal Patron of Learning understood the value of Mr. Camden's friendship and as he was always ready to lend him the utmost assistance he was able so did he find him highly serviceable in whatever related to the affairs of England Particularly Monsieur du Chesne in his Preface to the Norman Writers gratefully acknowledges that the Elogium Emmae the Writings of Gulielmus Pictaviensis and several Catalogues of the Norman Nobility who came over along with the Conquerour were all owing to Mr. Camden and that they were procur'd for him by the interest of Peireskius His acquaintance with Thuanus was late but when begun it was very intimate and lasted till the death of that Glory of France and the Prince of modern Historians as Mr. Camden afterwards stil'd him Diarie The first Letter he sent him was by the hands of Mr. Lisle in the year 1606. Whether this was about the business of Mary Queen of Scots I know not but 't is certain if Thuanus had taken Mr. Camden's advice he had not given so much offence to the English Court by that pâ—rt of his History That he desir'd Mr. Camden's information upon that head is plain from his Letter to him but what particulars were return'd we know not only thus much in general That he should by all means be very nice and tender in the relation of that matter Thus far we learn from Thuanus's own Letter sent the next year after along with the second Tome of his History Sed valde vereor says he ut temperamentum illud de quo monueras in rerum Scoticarum narratione ubique servaverim Wherein he also tells him that if the Scotch affairs of that time could have been wholly pass'd over he was sensible how much odium and ill will he had avoided but that being so very notorious and so much in every body's mouth it had been an unpardonable crime in an Historian to wave them That he deliver'd every thing upon the authority of several of that Kingdom who had been eye-witnesses and laid no farther stress upon what Buchanan had said than as he found it confirm'd by them For which reasons he desires that if any reflections should be made upon it at Court Mr. Camden would do him this friendly office to clear him from all suspicion of being an Enemy to either the English or Scotch nation and to satisfie every one that he had acted in it with the utmost integrity But King James was extremely offended to find it run so much to the disadvantage of his mother and the more because he knew several of the matters of fact upon which the charge was grounded to be utterly false Whereupon he employ'd Mr. Camden to draw up Since printed by Dr. Smith at the end of his Epistles Animadversions upon that part of the History and to transmit them to Thuanus which indeed make the story much more fair on the Queen's side than either he or Buchanan had represented it It has been said That when Mr. Camden's first Volume of the Annals appear'd Thuanus writ severely to him finding that it was so different from what had pass'd between them in Letters If they who affirm this have Thuanus's Letter to produce I have nothing to say to it But if their only authority be a current report of the Kingdom one may observe two or three circumstances which seem to make against it or at least to imply that he could have no great reason to quarrel with Mr. Camden upon that score For in the beginning of his Letter sent along with the second Tome he excuses himself and says he 's afraid he has not altogether observ'd that moderation and tenderness which Mr. Camden had prescrib'd in the Scotch affairs and absolves him from any false information in matters of fact when he tells us towards the end of the same Letter that he set down the whole matter as he had it from particular persons of that Kingdom Rem ut ex Scotorum qui interfuerant sermonibus didici ita literis mandavi ad eorum fidem scripta à Buchanano expendi So that if Mr. Camden did gratifie his request and sent him his observations upon that head it seems he made no use of them Again if he had been led into errors and thrown under his Majesty's displeasure by any instructions Mr. Camden sent over it might have been expected from one of his candour and modesty that in the Animadversions he should at least have beg'd his pardon and let him know that when he writ that was his opinion but that he had since been better inform'd by his Majesty and the sight of Records Whereas instead of this there is a vein of sharpness runs through that whole Paper and he gives Thuanus very broad hints that he had follow'd Buchanan but too close So that expressing his dislike of several passages in this History the very next year if Thuanus had been drawn into those errors by Mr. Camden he might have made his resentments long enough before the publication of the Annals He settl'd an intimate acquaintance with Hottoman who was Secretary to Robert Earl of Leicester after whose return into France where he was employ'd on an Embassy into Germany they two kept a close correspondence Nor must we forget the learned Franciscus Pithoeus who settl'd a very early familiarity with him or Petrus Puteanus of whose fidelity he had so great a confidence that when he had taken up a resolution of suppressing the second part of the Annals till after his death Dr. Barnet says it was committed to Monsieur de Thou Ansâ—â—er to Mons Varillas he thought he could not lodge the Copy-in any safer hands His acquaintance at home lay mostly among the Learned having no inclination to court the favour of great men nor time to spend upon that sort of attendance One that could solve his scruples inform him in what was new or any way help on his Designs came to Mr. Camden with a more effectual Mr. Tho. Savil of Oxford was one of the first of this kind whose untimely death in the flower of his age was a very sensible loss to Mr. Camden But his intimate acquaintance with his brother Sir Henry Savil made amends for it who was so great an admirer of Mr. Camden's Learning and Goodness that he would fain have prevail'd upon him to spend his latter days at his house in Eaton-College I am sure Camden's Ep. 251. says he you might make me a happy man in my old age without any discontent I hope to your self I dare say we would all do our best that you should not repent of your living here The same Sir Henry was exceeding serviceable to him Ep. 251. 252. in the settlement of his History-Lecture in Oxford having experienc'd the
his power But he was soon after recalled and succeeded by Jovinus who sent back †Possibly a place corrupted Theodosius Proventusides with all speed to intimate the necessity there was of greater supplies and how much the present state of affairs required it At last upon the great distress that Island was reported to be in Theodosius was dispatch'd hither eminent for his exploits and good fortune He having selected a strong body of men out of the Legions and Cohorts began this expedition with great hopes The Picts Picts were at that time divided into two nations the Dicalidonae and Tecturiones and likewise the Attacotti a warlike people and the Scots Attacots Scots were ranging up and down the country for spoil and booty As for Gaul the Franks and Saxons who border upon it were always making inroads both by land and sea and what by the spoil they took the towns they burnt and the men they kill'd were very troublesome there If fortune would have favoured this brave Captain now bound for the remotest part of the world was resolved to have curbed them When he came to the Coast of Bologn which is severed from the opposite Country by a narrow sea apt to run high at some times and again to fall into a plain and level surface like a champaign country at which time 't is navigable without danger he set sail and arrived at Rhutupiae a safe harbour over against it When the Batavians Herulians the Jovii and Victores brave bold men who followed him were landed likewise he set forward for London an ancient town London called Augusta called in after ages Augusta Having divided his army into several bodies he fell upon the enemy dispersed up and down the country and laden with spoil and booty They were soon routed and forced to leave their prey which was nothing but cattle and prisoners they had took from this miserable Country After he had made restitution of the booty to the respective owners saving only some small part to refresh his army he entered the City in great state which though in the utmost affliction and misery at that time soon revived upon it in hopes of recovery and protection for the future This success soon put him upon greater designs yet to proceed warily he considered upon the intelligence he had got from fugitives and captives that so great a multitude as the enemy composed of several nations and those of a fierce heady temper were not to be routed but by stratagem and surprise Having published his declaration and a pardon therein to such as would lay down their arms he order'd all deserters and others dispers'd up and down the country for forage and provision to repair to him This brought in many upon which reinforcement he thought to take the field but deferred it upon other considerations till he could have Civilis Civilis sent to be his Deputy a man somewhat passionate but very just and upright and also Dulcitius Dulcitâ—s a gallant Captain and experienced in the arts of war Afterwards taking heart he went from Augusta formerly called Londinum with a good army which with much ado he had raised and thereby proved a great support to the sinking state of the poor Britains He took in all such places as might favour him in cutting off the enemy by ambuscade and imposed nothing upon the common souldiers but what he would do himself Thus he discharged the office of an active and hardy souldier as well as of a brave General and by that means defeated several nations who had the insolence to invade the Roman Empire laid the foundation of a lasting peace and restored both Cities and Castles that were reduced to great streights to their former happiness In this juncture there happened an ill accident which might have been of dangerous consequence if it had not been timely prevented One Valentinus Valentine raises a disturbance in Britain of Valeria Pannonia a proud man and brother-in-law to Maximinus that intolerable Deputy afterwards Lieutenant was banished for an heinous crime into this Island where like some savage of a restless temper he put all things in disorder by plots and insurrections against Theodosius and that purely out of pride and envy he being the only man that could cope with him However that he might proceed with conduct and security in these ambitious pursuits he endeavoured to draw in all exiles and deserters to him with the encouragement and prospect of much booty But these designs taking air and coming to the General 's ear before they were full ripe for execution he took care like a wise Captain to be before hand with him both to prevent and punish the conspirators Valentinus himself with some of the chief of his cabal he committed to Dulcitius to see executed but upon laying things together for he was the wisest and most experienced souldier of his time he would suffer no farther enquiry after the other Conspirators lest the general terror which it would strike might again imbroil the Province which was now in peace and quietness From this he turned his thoughts upon the reformation of some things which now grew intolerable being freed from all dangers that might divert him and sensible that fortune was ever favourable to his designs and so he applied himself to the repairing of Cities and garison-towns as we have already said and the strengthening the Frontiers and Castles with watches and intrenchments Having thus recovered the Province which was possessed by the enemy he restored it so compleatly to its former state that upon his motion it had a * Rector Legitimus Valentia lawful Governor set over it and was afterwards by the Prince's order called Valentia The Areans a sort of men instituted by the ancients were displaced by him as corrupt and treacherous being plainly convict of giving intelligence of our affairs to the Barbarians for rewards and bribery For their business was to run to and fro with news from the neighbouring Countreys to our Captains After these regulations and some others made by him with great applause he was sent for to Court leaving the Provinces in such a calm and happy condition that he was no less honoured for his success and victories than Furius Camillus or Cursor Papirius And so being attended with the acclamations of all as far as the sea he sailed over with a gentle gale and arrived at the Prince's camp where he was received with great joy and commendation For these famous exploits here a statue on horseback was erected in honour of him as Symmachus to his son Theodosius the Emperor informs us The founder of your stock and family was one that was General both in Africa and Britain honoured by the Senate with his Statues on horse-back among the ancient Heroes Thus Claudian likewise in his Commendation Ille Caledoniis posuit qui castra pruinis Qui medio Libyae sub casside pertulit aestus Terribilis Mauro
never had any such mode of painting among them or that they were the Agathyrsi of Thrace a people so very far off and not rather that they were the Britains themselves seeing they were in the same Island and had the very same custom of painting Nor are these Barbarians who so long infested the Romans by their sallies from the Caledonian wood expressed by any other name in old Authors such as Dio Herodian Vopiscus c. than that of Britains Likewise Tacitus who gives a full account of that war that his father in law Agricola carried on in this outward part of Britain calls the Inhabitants by no other name than this of Britanni and è Caledonia Britanni whereas these new-comers the Picts had been here ten years before according to the report of our modern writers which I would have notice taken of because Tacitus knew nothing at all of them in his time Nor would those Roman Emperors who carried on the war with success against them namely Commodus Severus with Bassianus and Geta his sons have assumed the title of Britannici upon the conquest of them in case they had not been Britains Without doubt if the Romans to whom every thing unknown was magnificent had conquered any other nation different from the Britains and which they knew not of before whether they had been call'd Picts or Scots would have had those titles of Picts or Scots in their Coins and Inscriptions Tacitus conjectures from their red hair and the bigness of their limbs that they came originally from Germany but immediately after he more truly ascribes it to the climate which models the bodies in it Whereupon also Vitruvius Those parts towards the north-pole produce men of huge bulk taunish colour and lank red hair Moreover that the Caledonians who were without dispute Britains were the very same with the Picts we have another hint in that of the Panegyrist Caledonum aliorumque Pictorum sylvas c. as if the Caledonians were no other than the Picts And that these Caledonians were a British Nation Martial intimates in this verse of his Quinte Caledonios Ovidi visure Britannos Friend Ovid who your voyage now design To Caledonian Britains c. Ausonius also who at the same time shews us they were painted when he thus compares their colour to green moss mixt with gravel Viridem distinguit glarea muscum Tota Caledoniis talis pictura Britannis Green moss with yellow sand distinguish'd grows Just so the Caledonian Britain shows But as these went current for a long time by no other name than that of Britains and that too drawn from their painted bodies so afterwards about the time of Maximinian and Dioclesian before which the word Picts is not to be met with in any Writer when Britain had been so long a Province that the Inhabitants began to understand the Provincial Latin these then seem first to have been call'd Picts to distinguish them from those who were confederate with the Romans and call'd Britains And what could give occasion for calling them Picts but that they painted themselves But if any one does not believe that ever our Britains made use of the Provincial Latin he has not observ'd what care was taken by the Romans to induce the Provinces to speak that language nor what multitudes of Latin words have crept into the British tongue So that I need not urge this point any farther with the authority of Tacitus who writes that in Domitian's time the Britains affected the eloquence of the Roman language But as for this name of the Picts Lib. 4. c. 37. the authority of Flavius Vegetius will clear all doubts concerning it He in some measure demonstrates that the Britains us'd the word Pictae to express a thing coloured in the very same sense that the Romans did For he says that the Britains call'd your Scout-pinnaces Pictae the sails and cables thereof being dy'd blue and the mariners and souldiers clad in habits of the same colour Certainly if the Britains would call ships from their sails of blue-dye Pictae there is no reason in the world why they should not give the name Picti to a people that painted their bodies with several colours and especially with blue for that is the dye that woad gives This farther makes for our purpose that the Northern Picts converted to Christianity by the preaching and example of S. Columbanus are called in the old Saxon Annals a In all the Copies I have sâ—en they are simply called Pihtas Brittas Pechtas as if one should say British Picts Language of the Picts The reason why I have not many arguments drawn from the language of the Picts is because hardly a syllable of it is to be found in any Author however it seems to have been the same with the British Bede tells us that a Vallum b Made against the incursion of the Picts Hol. began at a place called in the Pictish tongue Penuahel now Pengual in British plainly signifies a head or the beginning of the vallum Moreover in all that part of the Island which was longest possest by the Picts and that was the East part of Scotland many names of places seem to implie a British original for example Morria Marnia from the British word Mor because those countreys bordered upon the sea Aberden Abenlothneâ— Aberdore Aberneith that is to say the mouth of the den of the Lothnet of the Dore and of the Neith from the British word Aber which signifies the mouth of a river So Strathbolgy Strathdee Strathearn that is the vale of Bolgy of the Dee and of the Earne from the word Strath which means a vally in British Nay the very Metropolis of the Picts owns its name to be the off-spring of no other language but the British I mean Edinburgh which Ptolemy calls Castrum alatum for Aden signifies a wing in British Nor will I wrest it to an argument that some of the petty Kings of the Picts were called Bridii that is to say in British c The true signification of Brith see before under the â—itle Name of Britain and Somner's Gloslarie to the Decem Scriptores under Britannia painted as I have often observed already From what has been said it pretty clearly follows that â—e language of the Picts was not different from that of the Britains and therefore that the nations were not several and distinct although Bede speaks of the language of the Picts and Britains as quite different in which place perhaps he may seem to have meant only dialects by the term of language Nor is it strange that the Picts should by their incursions give great slaughter to their Countrymen the Britains seeing at this day in Ireland those that are there subject to the English have no such malicious and spiteful enemies as their own fellow-natives the Wild-Irish For as Paulus Diaconus has it Just as the Goths Hyppogoths Gepidians and Vandals changing their name only and speaking the
far in this from casting any reflection upon them that I have rather loved them the more as men of the same blood and extraction and have ever respected them even when the Kingdoms were distinct and now much more since by the favour of God we are united into one body under one sovereign head of England and Scotland which may the Almighty sanctifie to the good happy prosperous and peaceful state of both nations The f See Bishop Usher's Antiquitat Ecclâ—s Britan. cap. 15. beginning and etymology of the Scotch nation as well as its neighbours is so wrapt up in mists and darkness that even the sagacious Buchanan either did not discover it or only discovered it to himself for he has not answered the expectation of the world concerning him in this point Upon this account I have long forbore entring the lists and playing the fool with others in admiring fables For a man may as colourably refer the original of Scotland to the Gods as to Scota that sham-daughter of Pharaoh Scota Pharaâ—h's daughter King of Aegypt who was married to Gaithelus son of Cecrops the founder of Athens But as this opinion is rejected by those that are ingenuous among the Scots themselves as sprung from a gross ignorance of Antiquity so this other of a later date absurdly taken from a Greek original that the Scots are so called quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say obscure ought likewise to be hissed out and exposed as spightfully contrived in dishonour to a most famous and warlike nation Nor is that opinion of our Florilegus namely that the Scots are so called as arising from a confused meddley of nations universally current Yet I cannot but admire upon what grounds Isidorus could say l. 9. c. 2 That the Scots in their own tongue have their name from their painted bodies because they are marked by iron needles with ink and the print of various figures Which is also cited in the same words g Dâ—â—â—â—â— out oâ—â—â—m Hoi by Rabanus Maurus in his Geography to the Emperor Lodovicus Pius now extant in Trinity College Library at Oxford But seeing Scotland has nursed up those that can trace her Original from the highest steps of Antiquity and do it both to their own honour and that of their Country if they will but employ their whole care and thoughts for a while upon it I will only give some short touches upon those things which may afford them some light into the truth of it and offer some others which I would have them weigh a little diligently for I will not pretend to determine any thing in this controversie First therefore of their original and then of the place from whence they were transplanted into Ireland Ireland the Câ—untry of the Scots For 't is plain that out of Ireland an Isle peopled formerly by the Britains as shall be said in its proper place they were transported into Britain and that they were seated in Ireland when first known to any Writers by that name So Claudian speaking of their inroads into Britain Totam cum Scotus Hibernem Movit infesto spumavit remige Thetis When Scots came thundring from the Irish shores And th' ocean trembled struck with hostile oars In another place also Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Hiberne And frozen Ireland moan'd the crowding heaps Of murther'd Scots Orosius likewise writes that Ireland is peopled by nations of the Scots Agreeable is also that of Isidore Scotland and Ireland are the same but it is called Scotland because it is peopled by nations of the Scots Gildas calls them Hibâ—rnos grassatores Irish robbers Bede also The Scots who inhabit Ireland an Island next to Britain And so in other places Eginhardus who lived in the age of Charles the Great expresly calls Ireland the Island of the Scots Thus also Giraldus Cambrensis That the Scotch nation is the off-spring of Ireland the resemblance of their language and dress as well as of their weapons and customs continued to this day do sufficiently prove But now for that I had to offer to be considered by the Scots Gaâ—oâ—â—â—l 〈◊〉 Gâ—â—thel and Gael Since they who are the true genuine Scots own not the name of Scots but call themselves Gaoithel Gael and Albin and many people are called by their neighbours after another name than what they give themselves by which the first rise of a nation is often traced as for instance the people of the lower Pannonia who call themselves Magier are called by the Dutch Hungari because they were originally Hunns those bordering upon the forest Hercynia go by the name of Czechi among themselves whereas they are called by others Bohaemi because they are the off-spring of the Bott in Gaul the Inhabitants of Africa who have also a name among themselves are nevertheless called by the Spaniards Alarbes because they are Arabians the Irish who call themselves Erenach are by our Britains called Gwidhill and both the Irish and Britains give us English no other name than Sasson because we are descended from the Saxons Since these things are thus I would desire it might be examined by the Scots whether they were so called by their neighbours quasi Scythae For as the low Dutch call both the Scythians and Scots by this one word Scutten so it is observed from the British writers that our Britains likewise called both of them Y-Scot Ninnius also expresly calls the British inhabitants of Ireland Scythae and Gildas names that Sea over which they passed out of Ireland into Britain Vallis Scythica Vâ—llis Scythica For so it is in the Paris Edition of him whereas others absurdly read it Styticha vallis Again King Alfred who 7 hundred years ago turned Orosius's History into Saxon translates Scots by the word Scyttan and our own borderers to Scotland do not call them Scots but Scyttes and Scetts In his Hâ—podigma For as the same people are called so Walsingham has it Getae Getici Gothi Gothici so from one and the same original come Scythae Scitici Scoti Scotici But then whether this name was given this nation by the neighbours upon account of its Scythian manners or because they came from Scythia I would have them next to consider Lib. 6. For Diodorus Siculus and Strabo expresly compare the old people of Ireland Sâ—rabo l. 4. which is the true and native country of the Scots with the Scythians in barbarity Besides they drink the blood out of the wounds of the slain they ratifie their leagues with a draught of blood on both sides and the wild Irish as also those that are true Scots think their honour less or greater in proportion to the numbers they have slain as the Scythians heretofore did Farther 't is observable that the main weapons among the Scots as well as among the Scythians were bows and arrows For Orpheus calls the Scythians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Aelian and Julius Pollux Sagittarii that
is to say Archers whereupon the learned are of opinion that both nations took their name from their skill in arching Nor is it strange that several nations should take the same name from the same manners since those that have travelled the West-Indies tell us that all stout men who with their bows and arrows infest the whole India and the Islands about it Caribeâ— Benzâ—â— are called by this one name of Caribes though they are of several nations But that they came from Scythia the Irish Historians themselves relate for they reckon Nemethus the Scythian and long after that Dela descended from the posterity of Nemethus that is to say of Scythian extraction among the first inhabitants of Ireland Ninnius also Eluodugus's Scholar expresly writes thus In the fourth age of the world he means that space between the building of the Temple and the Babylonish Captivity the Scythians possessed themselves of Ireland Agreeable with this is the authority of modern writers of Cisnerus in his Preface to Crantzius Tom. 1. p. 37 and Reinerus Reineccius who says there remains descended from the Scythians a nation of Scots in Britain c. Yet I very much question notwithstanding the Getes were a Scythick nation whether Propertius means our Irish in this of his Hibernique Getae Pictoque Britannia curru And Irish Getes and British foes that ride In painted Chariots But the honour of the Scots forsooth is not to be saved in this point From whence the Scoâ— cam◠〈◊〉 Irelanâ— unless they be transplanted from Spain into Ireland For this both they and their Historians as zealously stickle for as if their lives and liberties were at stake and indeed not without reason And therefore all this is but lost labour if there are no Scythians to be found in Spain Scythâ—â—â— in Spâ—â—â— That the Scythians then were there not to mention that Promontory among the Cantabri called Scythicum next to Ireland nor to heed what Strabo writes that the Cantabri were like the Scythians in manners and barbarity is clearly shewn us by Silius Italicus who was born in Spain For that the Concani Concaâ— a nation of Cantabria were the off-spring of the Massagetae that is the Scythians appears by this verse of his Et quae Massagetem monstrans feritate parentem Cornipedis fusa satiaris Concane venâ Lib. â— Concans that show themselves of Scythian strain And horse's blood drink from the reeking vein Some few lines after he informs us that the Sarmatae who are granted by all to be Scythians built Susana a City of Spain in this verse Sarmaticos attollens Susana muros Susan that rears her proud Sarmatian walls From these Sarmatae or Scythians the Luceni Luceni which Orosius places in Ireland seem to be descended seeing Susana is reckon'd by the Spaniards themselves among the Lucensii as likewise the Gangani of Ireland from these Concani For the Lucensii and Concani among the Cantabri were neighbours as the Luceni and Gangani were in that coast of Ireland which lies towards Spain If any one starts the question Who these Scythians were that came into Spain I can say nothing to it unless you 'll allow them to have been Germans I wish the Scots themselves would consider a little farther of it Germaâ—s in Spain That the Germans formerly enter'd into Spain not to urge Pliny who calls the Oretani of Spain Germans Seneca who was himself a Spaniard will shew us De Câ—â—â— ad Alâ—â—â— L. 4. c. 1. The Pyrenees he says did not stop the passage of the Germans the freakishness of humane nature drew it self into these impassable and unknown ways And that the Germans were called Scythians may not only be gather'd from Ephorus and Strabo who call all those nations towards the north Scythians but also from Pliny The name of the Scythians says he is every where used among the Sarmatae and Germans Aventinus is a witness that the Germans were nam'd Scythae and Scythulae by the Hungarians Now to derive their Original from the Scythians can no ways be dishonourable since they are not only a most antient people but have conquer'd many other nations and have ever been invincible themselves and free from the yoke of any other empire I must not omit that the Cauci and Menapii who were reckon'd among the most famous nations in Germany are placed by the same names and at the same distance by Ptolemy in Ireland which makes it probable that they took both their name and original from the said Germans â—â—â—aâ—s If the Scots are not descended from these I would have them consider whether they are not the off-spring of those Barbarians who were driven out of Gallaecia in Spain by Constantine the Great according to King Alphonsus's Chronicle For it is from those parts that they would have themselves to have been transplanted into Ireland If they examine what these Barbarians were I do not doubt but they 'll agree with me that they were Germans For in the reign of Gallienus Orosius says that the remoter Germans possess'd themselves of Spain then wasted and who could these remoter Germans be but the Scythians But that edition of Aurelius Victor published by Andreas Schottus calls those Germans Franks Yet seeing these Franks and the remoter Germans sailing out of Germany were carried a long way by stress of weather into the ocean and as Nazarius says to Constantine infested the Spanish coasts all along our seas who can ever believe that they left Ireland a most fruitful Island and rarely well situated for cruising upon Spain for the dry barren soil of Biscay Nay rather as the Norwegians from Scandia in the time of Charlemain and afterwards often invaded Ireland and got possession there so we may imagine and that very probably that formerly the Franks did the same and that they were transported from thence to Spain and being driven out there by Constantine the Great â—â—sius â— 7. return'd to Ireland 'T is also likely that more of them afterwards went thither as well when the Vandals and the Goths made those tragical outrages in Spain and the barbarians fell to war among themselves and so kill'd and plunder'd one another as when the invasion of the Saracens gaul'd the Spaniards and drove many of them into Gallitia and Cantabria But let others examine these matters it may suffice for me that I was at least willing to remove this cloud The next query I would offer to be consider'd by them is how it comes to pass that the Irish who are the Ancestors of the Scots and the Scots themselves glory in the name Gael and Gaiothel and in their languages are called Gaicthlac and why they named that part of Britain where they first settled Argathel From what original can they derive these names From the Gallaeci in Spain many of whom doubtless shifted into Ireland and whose first original is to be fetch'd from the Gallati or Gauls or from the Goths as some
moderns are of opinion who would deduce the word Gaiothel as Cathalonia in Spain from the Goths Here they may seek proofs from the resemblance between the Gothick language and the Irish which yet has no congruity with any other language of Europe that I can find but only the British and the German How true that of Huntington may be The Scots came from Spain to Ireland in the fourth age of the world a part of them still remaining speaks the same language and are called Navarri I say how true this passage is let others judge I here take no notice of David Chambres a Scotchman who has been informed by the Jesuites that the Scotch language is spoke in the East-Indies I am afraid the distance of that country might prompt the credulous man to take the liberty of telling a lye which he never made G ths and Higâ—lanâ—ers have â—he same â—pparel If arguments may be drawn from the habits we shall soon find the same dress and apparel among the Highlâ—nders of Scotland that was formerly used by the Goths as appears by Sidonius who in his description of a Goth has given you the fair draught of a Scotch Highlander They shine says he with yellow they cover their feet as high as the ancle with hairy untann'd leather Their knees legs and calves are all bare Their garment is high close and of sundry colours hardly reaching down to their hams Their sleeves only cover the upper part of their arms Their inner coat is green and edged with red fringe Their belts hang down from the shoulder The lappets of their ears are cover'd with * Flagellis locks of hair hanging over them for so the manifold and distinct twists that there are in the hair of the Scotch and Irish are properly called Their Arms are hooked Spears which Gildas terms uncinata tela and hatchets to fling Thâ—y were also strait bodied coats as Porphyrio says without girdles In Horat. de Arte Poet. If this is not the very habit of the Irish-Scots I appeal to their own judgments I would also have them think upon this passage of Giraldus Cambrensis in his first Book De Institutione Principis When Maximus was transported from Britain into Gaul with the whole strength of men arms and ammuniton that the Island could raise to possess himself of the Empire Gratian and Valentinian brothers and partners in the Empire shipped over the Goths a nation hardy and valiant being at that time either their allies or subject and obliged to them by some Imperial favours from the borders of Scythia into the north parts of Britain in order to annoy them and make them call back the usurper with their youth But they being too strong both by reason of the natural valour of the Goths and also because they found the Island destitute of men and strength possest themselves of no small territories in the northern parts of the Island But now who these Goths were others must find out unless they may be allowed to be Scots and perhaps they may have some light into that search from Procopius where Belisarius answers the Goths expostulating why they had granted Sicily to the Romans in these words Lib. 2. de Bello Gothorum We permit the Goths likewise to have Britain which is much more excellent than Sicily being heretofore conquer'd by the Romans For 't is reason that they who bestow favours should receive either equal thanks or an equal return of kindness To this also may seem to be referr'd what the Scots write of Fergusius the Scot's being a companion of Alarick the Goth at the sacking of Rome Lib. 6. cap. 25. what Irenicus tells us of Gensricus King of the Vandals going over to Scotland and Britain and what Cambrensis I know not upon how good authority relates of the Gaideli or Scots taking not only their name but their original from the Vandals who as P. Diaconus informs us were the same with the Goths Nor is it to be thought a diminution of the glory of the Scots if they own themselves the progeny of the Goths when the most potent Kings of Spain value themselves upon that extraction and the greatest of the Nobility among the Italians either derive their pedigree from the Goths or at least pretend to do it Levinus Lemnius And the Emperor Charles the fifth was wont to say in good earnest that all the Nobility of Europe were derived from Scandia and the Goths However all this is not so weighty as that I dare persuade my self that the Scots are the real off spring of the Goths In short Diodorus Siculus I would have the learned part of the Scotchmen consider whether they are not descended from the old British Inhabitants of Ireland for it is certain that the British formerly inhabited Ireland and whether they were called Scythae or Scoti because they were like the Scythians in manners or because they were the real Scythians that came out of Scandia or Scythia to whom the Gallaeci Franks or Germans driven out of Spain and also the Goths or Vandals joined themselves when Spain was imbroil'd with a bloody war or else that medley of people that flocked into Ireland and thereupon got that name among the nations thereabouts The language says Giraldus of the Irish is called Gaidelach being as it were a compound of all other languages And Florilegus whencesoever he takes it Under the year 77. The Scots have their Original from the Picts and Irish as being made up out of several nations For that is called Scot Scot. which is amassed together out of several things Almans Agathias l. 1. Thus the Almans according to Asinius Quadratus went by that name because they arose from a medley of different men Neither can it seem strange to any one that so many nations should formerly crowd into Ireland seeing that Island lies in the center between Britain and Spain and very advantageous for the French-Sea and that in these eight hundred years last past it is most certain from History that the Norwâ—gians and the Oustmans from Germany and that the English the Welsh and the Scots out of Britain have planted and settled themselves there This is the sum of what I would desire to be considered by the Scots in this matter In the mean time let them remember I have asserted nothing but only hinted some things which may seem pertinent to this enquiry If all this gives no light into the original of the Scots they must apply themselves for it elsewhere for I am perfectly in the dark in this point and have followed the truth which has still fled from me with much labour to no purpose yet I hope nothing is said in this search that can reasonably disgust any one Wâ—en the Sâ—â—ts 〈◊〉 into Bâ—itâ—in G. Bu haâ—â—â— H. Lhuidus Concerning the time when the name of Scots was first broached in the world there is some dispute and
upon this very point Humfrey Lhuid the best of Antiquaries by the best of Poets is quarrelied by Buchanan For Lhuid having said that the name of Scoti was not to be found in Authors before Constantine the Great Buchanan flies upon him catches him fast and with two petty arguments thinks to dispatch him the one drawn from the Panegyrist and the other from his own conjecture Because the old Panegyrist says that Britain in Caesar's time was infested by the Irish enemies By consequence forsooth the Scots at that time were planted in Britain whereas no one before ever said so much as that those Irish had then any settlement much less that they were Scots The Panegyrist without question after the common way of writers had his eye upon his own times in it and not upon those of Caesar As for the conjecture it is not his own but that of the most learned Joseph Scaliger For in his notes to Propertius while by the by he restores that verse of Seneca's to the true Reading Ille Britannos Et caerulos Colla Cathenis Ultra noti Scuta Brigantes Jussit c. Littora ponti Dare Romuleis He puts it Scotobrigantes and forthwith cries out that the Scots are indebted to him for the discovery of their original for my part I am sorry I cannot second this opinion having ever honour'd him upon many accounts and much admir'd his learning For this conjecture is not the product of Copies but of his own ingenuity and parts and the sense will bear either Reading caeruleâ—s scuta Brigantes as all the Books have it or Caeruleos cute Brigantes as the most learned Hadr. Junius reads it Yet Buchanan chusing rather to play the fool with his own Wit and that of another than to close with the common and true Reading cries up this conjecture to the skies First because Authors do not inform us that the Britains painted their shieâ—ds Secondly that he said Scoto-Brigantes for difference sake that he might distinguish them from the Brigantes of Spain and Ireland Lastly that in this verse he might distinguish between the Britains and the Brigantes as different nations But if one may dispute this point what should hinder them from painting their shields who painted themselves and their chariots To what end should he coin the new word Scoto-Brigantes for distinction sake When he calls them Caeruleos and says they were subdued by Claudius does not this sufficiently distinguish them from the other Brigantes That observation of the Britains and Brigantes as being different nations does not look like a Poet who could never be ignorant of the poetical way of expressing the whole by a part Wherefore seeing these pleas will not carry it I will reinforce Buchanan with a supply from Egesippus who is commonly thought very antient For where he treats of the greatness of the Romans he says * i.e. Ireland lâ—b 5. c. 15. Scotland f See Bishop Usher's Antiquitat Britannicarum Eccles p. 329. fol. which owes nothing to other Countreys dreads them and so does Saxony inaccessible by reason of its bogs But hold this argument will not come up to the point for he liv'd since Constantine as appears by his own Writings nor does this make any more for the Scots living in Britain than that verse of Sidonius but now cited Yet a more weighty reason than all this is that which the most famous and learned J. Cragius has started after a nice enquiry out of Jâ—sephus Ben Gâ—riâ—n concerning the destruction of Jerusalem that the Scots in a Hebrew copy are expresly so named where Munster in his latin translation falsly puts the Britains for the Scots But I have not sufficiently discovered in what age this Ben-Gorion lived 'T is plain he lived since Flavius Josephus seeing he has made mention of the Franks Yet if I may engage against so many great men in this controversy As far as I have observed the first mention of the Scotch nation we meet with in Authors is in the reign of Aurelian For Porphyry who then writ against the Christians takes notice of them in these words as S. Hierom tells us Against the Pâ—â—gian◠〈◊〉 Cresipâ—er Nor has Britain a fruitful province in the hands of Tyrants nor the Scotch nations nor any of those barbarous nations all round to the very Ocean heard of Moses and the Prophets At which time also or a little before Antiquaries observe that the names of those mighty nations the Franks and Almans were first heard of in the reign of Gallienus That of some Authors therefore is not grounded upon sure authority that the Name and Kingdom of the Scots flourish'd in Britain many ages before the birth of Christ Rather take the time of it from Giraldus When Nellus the great reigned in Ireland the six sons of Muredus King of Ulster possess'd the north parts of Britain So from these a nation was propagated and call'd by a peculiar name Scotland which inhabits that corner even to this day But that this happen'd about the time when the Roman Empire began to decay is thus inferr'd In the reign of Lagerius son of this Nellus in Ireland Patrick the Irish Apostle came thither it being then much about the year 430 after Christ's nativity So that this seems to have fallen about the time of Honorius Augustus For whereas before they lived after a rambling manner without any fixed abode as Ammianus says and had long infested Britain and the marches thereof then they seem to have settled in Britain But they would have it The Lib. â— P sâ—â—tensis purs hiâ— returâ— undeâ— the year 424. that they then first return'd from Ireland whither they had withdrawn themselves when they were routed by the Romans and the Britains and they take this passage of Gildas to be meant of that time The Irish robbers return home with design to come back again shortly About this time Reuda mention'd by Bede is thought by some to have settled himself in this Island upon a winding of the River Cluid northward either by force or love Bede l. 1. c. 1. From this Captain says he the Dalreudini are so called to this day for in their tongue dal signifies a part and from this Reuda it is as others think that we call them Râ—dshanks 'T is thought also that this Simon Brech whom the Scots affirm to have been the founder of their nation flourish'd in these times The true name of him was Sinbrech that is to say freckled Sin as we read it in Fordon perhaps the very same Brichus who about the age of S. Patrick with Thuibaius Macleius and Auspacus Scotchmen infested Britain as we find it in the life oâ— S. Carâ—ntocus But since the Scots who live in Britain call the Country which they inhabit Alban and Albin Alban aâ—d Albin and the Irish themselves Allabany it will be no disingenuous inquiry whether this Allabany may not have some remains of the old name
apprehensive of danger from the Picts and Scots c This must be meant of the Roman party left in the Island who might be suppos'd to have a greater respect for Ambrâ—sius For the Northern nations breaking in upon Rome at that time did so effectually divert that nation that no harm câ—uld be fear'd from those parts from the Râ—man power and from Aurelius Ambrosius The Saxons immediately under the command of Hengist and Horsa d See Bish p Usher's Antiquitat Britann p. 207 c. arriv'd in Britain with their Ciules e I rather think it was a general name for their ships For William of Malmesbury describing their coming says they brought 3 Ciules which the Saxon Annals express by Scipas And 't is a word oo very commonly maâ—e use of in the names of men which generally consisted of something sublime and never of diminutives Unless these Ciules wâ—re their piratiâ—g vessels then we need not woâ—der that they got into their names since piracies were tâ—e peculiar talent and glory of that nation for so they call'd their flat-bottom'd boats or pinnaces and by their success against the Scots and Picts in two several engagements rais'd their reputation considerably And because the Britains did absolutely depend upon their conduct they sent for fresh supplies out of Germany partly to man the frontier garisons f This conduct of Vortigern's in trusting the Saxons with the frontier garisons is by some very much approv'd and by others as much condemn'd Mr. Sommer in his Gavelkind p. 40. calls it the most prudent course he could have took for the benâ—fit and security of his subjects But Bishop Stillingfleet Orig. Britan. p. 319. proves it to be the very worst method he could have fixt upon and partly to divert the enemy upon the sea-coast Guortigern says Ninnius at the instance of Hengist sent for Octha and Ebissa to come and aid him and they with forty of their Ciules sailing round the Picts coasts wasted the Orcades and possess'd themselves of a great many Islands and countries * Trans mare Fresicum beyond the Frith even as far as the borders of the Picts At length being mightily satisfied with the lands customs and plenty of Britain and building upon the cowardize of the natives under the pretence of ill pay and short diet they enter into a league with the Picts raise a most bloody war against their Entertainers the Britains in all parts put the poor frighted Inhabitants to the sword wast their lands raze their cities and after many turns and changes in their several battles with Aurelius Ambrosius who had took upon him the government Aurelius Ambrosius by Gildas Ambrosius Aurelianus g Probably murder'd by their own subjects according to Gildas's character of their behaviour at that time in the administration whereof his parents had lost their lives and the h How far the British History of Arthur may be admitted See Stillingflâ—et's Orig. Britan. p. 335. Usher Primord p. 61 c. warlike Arthur at length dispossess the Britains of the best part of the Island and their hereditary estates At which time in a word the miserable natives suffer'd whatever a Conqueror may be imagin'd to inflict or the conquer'd fear For auxiliary troops stocking daily out of Germany still engag'd a fresh the harrass'd Britains such were the Saxons the Jutes for that is their right name not Vites and the Angles They were indeed distinguish'd by these names but promiscuously call'd Angles and Saxons But of each of them let us treat severally and briefly that so far as is possible we may discover the originals of our own nation Only I must beg leave first to insert what Witichindus a Saxon born and an ancient writer has left us concerning the coming over of the Saxons Britain being by Vespasian the Emperor reduc'd into the form of a province and flourishing a long time under the protection of the Romans was at last invaded by the neighbouring nations as seeming to be abandoned by the Roman aids For the Romans after that * In the texâ— Martialis buâ— in the margin Possibly Martianus Martian the Emperor was murder'd by his own soldiers were heavily annoy'd with foreign wars and so were not able to furnish their allies with aids as they had formerly done However before they quitted this nation they built a large wall for it's defence going along the borders from sea to sea where they imagin'd the enemy would make the most vigorous assaults But after a soft and lazie people were left to encounter a resolute and well-disciplin'd enemy it was found no hard matter to demolish that work In the mean time i The former experience Britain had had of the Saxon courage was sufficient to point out that nation before any other For even in the times of the Romans they were not afraid to prey upon our coasts aâ—d to that degree as to oblige'em to guard the coasts with the Officer called Comes Littoris Saxonici the Saxons grew famous for their success in arms and to them they dispatch a humble embassy to desire their assistance The Embassadors being admitted to audience made their addresses as follows Most noble Saxons The miserable * Bretti for Britanni Britains shatter'd and quite worn out by the frequent incursions of their enemies upon the news of your many signal victories have sent us to you humbly requesting that you would assist them at this juncture k Witichindus seems to make 'em too lavish in their promises For it they had given up their lands and liberty in such express terms what occasion had the Saxons to have recourse to the pretences of ill pay and short diet after they had took up the resolution of making themselves Masters by force of arms A land large and spacious abounding with all manner of necessaries they give up entirely to your disposal Hitherto we have liv'd happily under the government and protection of the Romans next to the Romans we know none of greater valour than your selves and therefore in your courage do now seek refuge Let but that courage and those arms make us conquerors and we refuse no service you shall please to impose The Saxon Nobles return'd them this short answer Assure your selves the Saxons will be true friends to the Britains and as such shall be always ready both to relieve their necessities and to advance their interest The Embassadors pleas'd with the answer return home and comfort their countrymen with the welcome news Accordingly the succours they had promis'd being dispatch'd for Britain are receiv'd gratefully by their allies and in a very little time clear the kingdom of invaders and restore the country to the Inhabitants And indeed there was no great difficulty in doing that since the fame of the Saxon courage had so far terrify'd them that their very presence was enough to drive them back The people who infested the Britains were the
and yet which is almost incredible not one received any harm A strange miracle this was but what is yet a greater the River cures all diseases and infirmities Whoever steps in faint and disordered comes out sound and whole What a joyful sight was this for Angels and men So many thousands of a Proselyte nation coming out of the chanel of the same River as if it had been out of the womb of one Mother One single pool preparing so many inhabitants for the heavenly mansions Hereupon his Holiness Pope Gregory with all the companies of the Saints above broke forth into joy and could not rest till he had writ to Eulogius the holy Patriarch of Alexandria to joyn with him in that his transport for so vast a number being baptized on one Christmas day No sooner was the name of Christ preached in the English nation Religiâ—â— theâ—â—â—â— but with a most fervent zeal they consecrated themselves to it and laid out their utmost endeavours to promote it by discharging all the duties of Christian Piety by erecting Churches and endowing them so that no part of the Christian world could show either more or richer Monasteries Nay even some Kings preferred a religious life before their very Crowns So many holy men did it produce who for their firm profession of the Christian Religion their resolute perseverance in it and their unfeigned piety were Sainted that in this point 't is equal to any country in the whole Christian world And as that prophane Porphyrie stiled Britain a Province fruitful in tyrants so England might justly be called an Island fruitful in Saints Afterwards The â—â—ing oâ— Saxâ—â— they begun to promote humane learning and by the help of Winifrid Willebrod and others conveyed that and the Gospel together into Germany as a German Poet has told us in these Verses Haec tamen Arctois laus est aeterna Britannis Quòd post Pannonicis vastatum incursibus orbem Illa bonas artes Graiae munera linguae Stellarumque vias magni sydera coeli Observans iterum turbatis intulit oris Quin se relligio multum debere Britannis Servata latè circum dispersa fatetur Quis nomen Winfride tuum quis munera nescit Te duce Germanis pietas se vera fidesque Insinuans coepit ritus abolere prophanos Quid non Alcuino facunda Lutetia debes Instaurare bonas ibi qui foeliciter artes Barbariemque procul solus depellere coepit Quid tibi divinumque Bedam doctisssmus olim Tam varias unus bene qui cognoverat artes Debemus Let this to Britain's lasting same be said When barbarous troops the civil world o'respread And persecuted Science into exile fled 'T was happy she did all those arts restore That Greece or Rome had boasted of before Taught the rude world to climb the untrod spheres And trace th' eternal courses of the stars Nor Learning only but Religion too Her rise and growth to British soil doth owe. 'T was thou blest Winifred whose virtue's light From our dull climate chas'd the fogs of night Profanest rites thy pious charms obey'd And trembling superstition own'd thy power and fled Nor smaller tokens of esteem from France Alcuinus claims who durst himself advance Single against whole troops of ignorance 'T was he transported Britain's richest ware Language and arts and kindly taught them here With him his Master Bede shall ever live And all the learning he engross'd survive And Peter Ramus farther adds Briâ—â—â— twiâ— schâ—â—â—stris 〈◊〉 Fraâ—â— that Britain was twice School-mistris to France meaning first by the Druids and then by Alcuinus who was the main instrument made use of by Charles the Great towards erecting an University at Paris And as they furnish'd Germany with Learning and Religion so also with military discipline Nay The 〈◊〉 chiâ—◠〈◊〉 of thâ—â—â—â—ons 〈◊〉 Gerâ—â— what is more those Saxons who live in the Dukedom of Saxony are descended from them if we may depend upon Eginhardus's words The Saxon nation as antiquities tell us leaving those Angles which inhabit Britain out of a desire or rather necessity of settling in some new home march'd over sea towards the German Coasts and came ashore at a place named Haduloha 'T was about that time Theoderick King of the Franks made war upon Hirminfrid Duke of the Thuringi his son in law and barbarously wasted their land with fire and sword After two set battles the victory was still depending though there had been considerable losses on both sides Upon which Theoderick disappointed of his hopes of Conquest sent Ambassadors to the Saxons Their Duke at that time was one Hadugato who as soon as he heard their business and their proposals of living together in case of victory marched with an Army to their assistance By the help of these who fought it out stoutly like men that dispute for Liberty and Property he conquer'd the enemy spoil'd the inhabitants put most of them to the sword and according to promise yeilded the land to the Auxiliaries They divided it by lot and because the war had reduced them to so small a number that they could not people the whole part of it especially all that which lies Eastward they let out to the Boors each of which according to his quantity was to pay a certain Rent The rest they cultivated themselves On the South side of them lived the Franks and a party of the Thuringi who had not been engaged in the late war from whom they were divided by the river Unstrote On the North side the Normans a most resolute nation on the East the Obotriti and on the West the Frisians Against these they were always maintaining their ground either by truces or continual skirmishes But now let us return to our English Saxons The Saxons for a long time lived under their Heptarchy in a flourishing condition till at last all the other Kingdoms shatter'd with civil wars were subdued to that of the West-Saxons For Egbert King of the West-Saxons after he had conquered four of these Kingdoms and had a fair prospect of the other two to unite them in name as he had already done in government and to keep up the memory of his own nation â—ut the 〈◊〉 800. published an Edict wherein 't was ordered that the whole Heptarchy which the Saxons had possessed themselves of â—land should be called Engle-lond i.e. the land of the Angles From hence came the Latin Anglia taking that name from the Angles who of the three nations that came over were most numerous and most valiant The Kingdoms of Northumberland and Mercia two of the largest with that of the East-Angles were theirs whereas the Jutes had no more than Kent and the Isle of Wight and the Saxons East West and South-Saxony very narrow bounds if compared with those large territories of the Angles From these now time out of mind they have been call'd by one general name Angles and in their own language Englatheod
as were design'd for a march and imagining that this had won the favour of the Gods they immediately set to sea and fell to their oars There was another way the Danes had of appealing their Gods or rather of running into most detestable superstition which Ditmarus a Bishop and an author of somewhat greater antiquity than Dudo thus describes Lib. 1. But because I have heard strange things of the ancient sacrifices of the * North-mannâ— Normans and Danes I would not willingly pass them over There is a place in those parts the capital city of that Kingdom call'd Lederun in the province of Selon There they meet once every nine years in January a little after our Twelfth-day and offer to their Gods 99 men and as many horses with dogs and cocks for hawks being fully perswaded as I observ'd before that these things were most acceptable to them About the time of King Egbert The Danish pâ—â—â—ders in the 800 year of Christ they first disturb'd our coasts afterwards making havock of every thing and plundering over all England they destroy'd Cities burnt Churches wasted the lands and with a most barbarous cruelty drove all before them ransacking and over-turning every thing They murder'd the Kings of the Mercians and East-Angels and then took possession of their kingdoms with a great part of that of Northumberland To put a stop to these outrages a heavy tax was impos'd upon the miserable Inhabitants called b i.e. a certain sum paid to the Danes from the Saxon Gyldan to pay and thence our Yield Dangelt Dangelt the nature whereof this passage taken out of our old Laws does fully discover The Pirates gave first occasion to the paying Danigeld For they made such havock of this nation that they seem'd to aim at nothing but its utter ruine And to suppress their insolence it was enacted that Danigeld should yearly be paid which was twelve pence for every hide of land in the whole nation to maintain so many forces as might withstand the Incursions of the Pirates All Churches were exempt from this Danigeld nor did any land in the immediate possession of the Church contribute any thing because they put more confidence in the prayers of the Church than the defence of arms But when they came to dispute the cause with Alfred King of the West-Saxons he what by retreats and what by attacks did not only by force of arms drive them out of his own territories but likewise slew the Deputy-Governor of the Mercians and in a manner clear'd all Mercia of them And his son Edward the Elder prosecuting his Father's conquests recover'd the Country of the East-Angles from the Danes as Athelstan his spurious son to crown their victories after a great slaughter of them subdu'd the Kingdom of Northumberland and by his vigorous pursuit put the Danes into such a fright that part of them quitted the kingdom and the rest surrendred themselves By the courage of those Princes was England deliver'd out of that gulph of miseries and had a respite of 50 years from that bloody war But after Aethelred a man of a cowardly spirit came to the Crown the Danes raising fresh hopes out of his dullness renew'd the war and made havock of the nation till the English were forc'd to purchase a Peace with annual contributions And so insolently did they behave themselves that the English form'd a Plot and in one night slew all the Danes through the whole nation to a man imagining that so much blood would quench the flaming fury of that people and yet as it happen'd it did but add more fuel to it For Sueno King of the Danes incens'd by that general massacre invaded England with a powerful army and push'd forwards by an enraged spirit put Ethelred to flight conquer'd the whole nation and left it to his son * Cnut in the Coins Canutus He after a long war with Ethelred who was then return'd and his son Edmond sirnam'd Ironside but without any decisive battle The Danes infested England 200 years reign'd about 20. was succeeded by his two sons Harald his spurious one and Canutus the Bold After the death of these the Danish yoke was shaken off and the government return'd to the English For Edward whose sanctity gain'd him the name of Confessor Edward the Confessor the son of Ethelred by a second wife recover'd the Regal Dignity England now began to revive but presently as the Poet says Mores rebus cessêre secundis The loads of Fortune sunk them into vice The Clergy were idle drousie and ignorant the Laity gave themselves over to luxury and a loose way of living all discipline was laid aside the State like a distemper'd body was consum'd with all sorts of vice but Pride that forerunner of destruction had of all others made the greatest progress And as Gervasius Dorobernensis observes of those times They ran so headlong upon wickedness that 't was look'd upon as a crime to be ignorant of crimes All these things plainly tended to ruine The English at that time says William of Malmesbury us'd cloaths that did not reach beyond the middle of the knee their heads were shorn their beards shaven only the upper lip was always let grow to its full length Their arms were even loaded with golden bracelets and their skin all set with painted marks The Clergy were content with a superficial sort of learning and had much ado to hammer cut the words of the Sacraments The NORMANS AS in former ages the Franks first and afterwards the Saxons coming out of that East-Coast of Germany as it lies from us I mean the more Northerly parts of it plagu'd France and Britain with their Piracies and at last became masters the Franks of France and the Saxons of Britain so in succeeding times the Danes first and then the Normans follow'd the same method came from the same Coast and had the same success As if providence had so order'd it that those parts should constantly produce and send out a set of men to make havock of France and Britain and establish new kingdoms in them They had their name from the Northern parts from whence they came â—d â—nt for Nordmanni signifies no more than Northern men in which sense they are likewise term'd c From the Saxon Leod a people or nation Nordleudi â—dâ—â—i â—molâ— i.e. Northern people as being the flower of the Norwegians Suedes and Danes In the time of Charles the Great they carry'd on their trade of Piracies in such a barbarous manner both in Friseland England Holland Ireland and France that that Prince when he saw their vessels in the Mediterranean cry'd out with a deep sigh and tears in his eyes How am I troubl'd that they should venture upon this coast â—r Sanâ— de Geâ— Caroâ—â—agni even while I am living I plainly foresee what a plague they are like to prove to my successors And in the publick Prayers and
King chose as it were out of their own body The general inclination was towards Harold Godwin's son much fam'd for his admirable conduct both in Peace and war For tho' the nobleness of his Birth lay but on one side his father having by treason and plunder render'd himself eternally infamous yet what by his courteous language and easie humour his liberal temper and warlike courage he strangely insinuated himself into the affections of the people As no one threw himself into danger with more chearfulness so in the greatest extremities no man was so ready with advice He had so signaliz'd his courage and success in the Welsh wars which he had some time before happily brought to an end that he was look'd upon as a most accomplish'd General and seem'd to be born on purpose to settle the English Government Moreover 't was hop'd the Danes who were at that time the only dread of this nation would be more favourable to him as being the son of Githa Sister to Sueno King of Denmark From what â—ther parts soever attempts whether foreign or domestick might be made upon him he seem'd sufficiently secur'd against them by the affections of the Commonalty and his relation to the Nobility He married the sister of Morcar and Edwin who at that time bore by much the greatest sway and Edric sirnam'd the Wild a man of an high spirit and great authority was his near kinsman It fell out too very luckily that at the same time Sueno the Dane should be engag'd in the Suedish wars and there was an ill understanding between William the Norman and Philip King of France For Edward the Confessor while he lived under banishment in Normandy had made this William an express promise of the Crown in case himself died without issue And Harold who was then kept prisoner in Normandy was bound under a strict oath to see it perform'd and made this one part of the conditon that he might marry the Duke's daughter For these reasons a great many thought it most advisable to make a present of the Crown to the Duke of Normandy that by discharging the promise they might prevent both the war that then threatned them and destruction the certain punishment of perjury as also that by the accession of Normandy to England the government might be established in the hands of so great a Prince and the interest of the nation very much advanc'd But Harold quickly cut off all debates that look'd that way for finding that delays would be dangerous the very day Edward was bury'd contrary to all mens expectation he possessed himself of the government and with the applause of those about him who proclaimed him King without all ceremony of inauguration put on the diadem with his own hands This action of his very much disgusted the Clergy who looked upon it as a breach of Religion But as he was sensible how difficult it was for a young Prince to establish his government without the reputation of piety and virtue to cancel that crime and to settle himself on the throne he bent all his thoughts towards promoting the interest of the Church and the dignity of Monasteries He show'd Edgar Aetheling Earl of Oxford and the rest of the Nobility all the favour imaginable he eas'd the people of a great part of their taxes he bestowed vast sums of money upon the poor and in short what by the smoothness of his discourse patience in hearing others and equity in all causes he gained himself a wonderful love and authority So soon as William Duke of Normandy had certain intelligence of those matters he pretended to be infinitely afflicted for the death of Edward when all the while the thing that lay upon his stomach was his being disappointed of England which he had so long promised himself Without more ado by advice of his Council he sends over Embassadors to remind Harold of his promise and engagement and to demand the Crown Harold after mature deliberation returned him this answer That as to Edward's promise the Crown of England could not be disposed of by promise nor was he obliged to take notice of it since he governed by right of election and not any hereditary claim And for what concerned his engagement that was plainly extorted by force treachery and the fear of perpetual imprisonment did likewise tend to the manifest damage of the Nation and infringe the privileges of the Nobility and therefore he look'd upon it as null in it self That if he could make good his promise he ought not or if he would that it was not in his power being made without the knowledge of the King or concurrence of the People That the demand seem'd highly unreasonable for him to surrender the government to a Norman Prince who was altogether a stranger when he had been invested with it by the unanimous consent of all Orders The Norman Duke did not very well relish this answer but plainly perceived that Harold was seeking out ways to avoid the perjury Upon which he sent over another Embassy on the same errand to put him in mind of the strictness of his Oath and that damnation from God and disgrace among men are the certain rewards of perjury But because William's daughter who as betroth'd to Harold was a tye upon him for the discharge of his promise was now dead they were entertained with so much the more coldness and returned with the same answer as the first In all appearance there was nothing like to ensue but open war Harold prepares a fleet levies soldiers places garisons upon the sea-coasts as he sees convenient in short omits nothing which may any way contribute towards repelling the Normans In the mean time what was never before so much as thought of the first storm of the War comes from Tosto Harold's own brother He was a man of a high spirit and cruel temper and had for some time presided over the Kingdom of Northumberland with great insolence till at last for his barbarous dealings with inferiors impudent carriage towards his Prince and a mortal hatred to his own brethren he was cashiered by Edward the Confessor and went over into France And at this juncture push'd forward in all probability by Baldwin Earl of Flanders drawn in by William Duke of Normandy for Tosto and William had married two of Earl Baldwin's daughters he declares open war against his brother whom he had for a long time mortally hated He set out from Flanders with 60 sail of Pirate-vessels wasted the Isle of Wight and very much infested the Kentish coast but being frighted at the approach of the Royal Navy he set sail and steered his course towards the more remote parts of England landed in Lincolnshire and plundered that County There he was engaged by Edgar and Morcar and defeated then made for Scotland with a design to renew the war Now were all thoughts in suspence with the expectation of a double assault one from Scotland another from
matters his principal care was to avoid the storm of the Danish war which he saw hanging over him and even to purchase a Peace On this occasion he made Adalbert Archbishop of Hamburg his instrument For Adam Bremensis says There was a perpetual quarrel between Sueno and the Bastard but our Arch-bishop being brib'd to it by William made it his business to strike up a peace between the two Kings And indeed 't is very probable there was one concluded for from that time England was never apprehensive of the Danes William however made it his whole business to maintain the dignity of his government and to settle the Kingdom by wholsome laws For Gervasius Tilburiensis tells us That after the famous Conqueror of England King William had subdued the furthest parts of the Island and brought down the Rebels hearts by dreadful examples lest they might be in a condition of making outrages for the future he resolved to bring his Subjects under the obedience of written laws Whereupon laying before him the Laws of England according to their threefold division that is Merchanlage Denelage and West-Sexenlage some of them he laid aside but approved others and added to them such of the foreign Norman Laws as he found most conducive to the peace of the Kingdom Next as we are assured by Ingulphus who lived at that time he made all the inhabitants of England do him homage and swear fealty to him against all â—â—hers He took a survey of the whole nation so that there was not a single Hide of land through all England but he knew both the value of it and its owner Not a lake or any other place whatsoever but it was registred in the King's Rolls with its revenue rent tenure and owner according to the relation of certain taxers who were picked out of each County to describe the places belonging to it This Roll was called the Roll of Winchester and by the English Domesday Domesday-book called by Gervasius Tilburiensis Laher Judiciarius as being an universal and exact account of every tenement in the whole nation I the rather make mention of this Book because I shall have occasion to quote it hereafter under the name of William's Tax-book The Notice of England the Cessing-book of England The publick Acts and The Survey of England But as to Polydore Virgil's assertion that William the Conqueror first brought in the Jury of Twelve Jury of 12. there is nothing can be more false For 't is plain from Ethelred's Laws that it was used many years before that Nor can I see any reason why he should call it a terrible Jury Twelve men Twelve men who are Freeholders and qualified according to Law are picked out of the Neighbourhood these are bound by oath to give in their real opinion as to matter of fact they hear the Council on both sides plead at the Bar and the evidence produced then they take along with them the depositions of both parties are close confined deny'd meat drink and fire till they can agree upon their verdict unless want of these may endanger some of their lives As soon as they have delivered it in he gives sentence according to law And this method was looked upon by our wise Forefathers to be the best for discovering truth hindering bribes and cutting off all partiality How great the Norman courage was I refer you to other writers I shall only observe The Warlike courage of the Normans that being seated in the midst of warlike Nations they never made submission their refuge but always arms By force of these they possessed themselves of the noble Kingdoms of England and Sicilie For Tancred * Nepeâ— Nephew to Richard the Second Duke of Normandy and his Successors did many glorious exploits in Italy drove out the Saracens and set up there a Kingdom of their own So that a Sicilian Historian ingenuously confesses that the Sicilians enjoying their native Soil Th. Fazâ—llus lib. 6. Decadis Posterioris their Freedom and Christianity is entirely owing to the Normans Their behaviour also in the wars of the Holy land got them great honour Which gave Roger Hoveden occasion to say That bold France after she had experienced the Norman valour drew back fierce England submitted rich Apulia was restored to her flourishing condition famous Jerusalem and renowned Antioch were both subdued Since that time England has been equal for warlike exploits and genteel Education to the most flourishing nations of the Christian world The English Guards to the Emperors of Constantinople So that the English have been peculiarly made choice of for the Emperor of Constantinople's guards For as our country man Malmsbury has told us he very much admired their fidelity and recommended them to his son as men deserving of respect and they were formerly for many years together the Emperor's guards Nicetas Choniata calls them Inglini Bipenniferi and Curopalata Barangi Barangi These attended the Emperor where-ever he went with halberts upon their shoulders as often as he stir'd abroad out of his closet and pray'd for his long life clashing their halberts one against another to make a noise As to the blot which Chalcondilas Chaâ—condilas has cast upon our nation of having wives in common truth it self wipes it off and confronts the extravagant vanity of the Grecian For as my most learned and excellent Friend Ortelius has observed upon this very subject Things related by any persons concerning others are not always true These are the People which have inhabited Britain whereof there remain unto this day the Britains the Saxons or Angles with a mixture of Normans and towards the North the Scots Whereupon the two Kingdoms of this Island England and Scotland which were long divided are now in the most potent Prince King JAMES happily united under one Imperial Diadem It is not material here to take notice of the Flemings who about four hundred years ago came over hither In the County 〈◊〉 Pembâ—â—â—â— and got leave of the King to settle in Wales since we shall mention them in another place Let us then conclude this part with that of Seneca From hence it is manifest De Conâ—latioâ—â— Albiâ—â— that nothing has continued in its primitive state There 's a continual floating in the affairs of mankind In this vast orb there are daily revolutions new foundations of cities laid new names given to nations either by the utter ruine of the former or by its change into that of a more powerful party And considering that all these nations which invaded Britain were Northern as were also others who about that time overran Europe and after it Asia Nicephorus's Nicephorus observation founded upon the authority of Scripture is very true As God very often sends terrors upon men from heaven such are thunder fire and storms and from earth as opening of the ground and earthquakes as also out of the air such as whirlwinds and immoderate
I cannot but observe that some very learned men have betray'd a want of judgment by bringing Scotland into this number which some of them urge to have been the Maxima Caesariensis others the Britannia Secunda As if the Romans had not altogether neglected those parts possessed as it were by the bitterness of the air and within this number only included such Provinces as were governed by Consular Lieutenants and Presidents For the Maxima Caesariensis and Valentia were rul'd by persons of Consular dignity and the other three Britannia Prima Secunda and Flavia by Presidents If one ask me what grounds I have for this division and accuse me of setting undue bounds he shall hear in few words what it was drew me into this opinion After I had observed that the Romans call'd those Provinces Primae which were nearest Rome as Germania Prima Belgica Prima Lugdunensis Prima Aquitania Prima Pannonia Prima all which lye nearer Rome than such as are called Secundae and that the more nice writers called these Primae the Upper and the Secundae the Lower I presently concluded the South part of our Island as nearer Rome to be the Britannia Prima For the same reason since the Secundae Provinciae as they call them were most remote from Rome I thought Wales must be the Britannia Secunda Further observing that in the decline of the Roman Empire those Provinces only had Consular Governors which were the Frontiers as is evident from the Notitia not only in Gaul but also in Africk and that Valentia with us as also Maxima Caesariensis are called Consular Provinces I took it for granted that they were nearest and most expos'd to the Scots and Picts in the places above mentioned And as for Flavia Caesariensis I cannot but fancy that it was in the middle of the rest and the heart of England wherein I am the more positive because I have that ancient writer Giraldus Cambrensis on my side These were the Divisions of Britain under the Romans Afterwards the barbarous nations breaking in on every hand and civil wars prevailing more and more among the Britains it lay for some time as it were without either blood or spirits without the least face of government But at last that part which lyes northward branched into two Kingdoms of the Scots and Picts and the Pentarchy of the Romans in this hither part was made the Heptarchy of the Saxons For they divided this whole Roman Province except Wales which the remains of the Britains possessed themselves of into seven Kingdoms viz. Kent South-Sex East-Anglia West-Sex Saxon Heptarchy Northumberland East-Sex and Mercia But what this Heptarchy of the Saxons was and what the names of the places in that age you will more easily apprehend by this Chorographical Table Considering that such Tracts or Counties as these Kingdoms contained could not so conveniently be represented in a small Chorographical Table because of its narrowness I chose rather to explain it by this other Scheme which at once gives the Reader an entire view than by a heap of words The Saxon Heptarchy 1. The Kingdom of Kent contain'd The County of Kent 2. The Kingdom of the South-Saxons contain'd The Counties of Sussex Surrey 3. The Kingdom of the East-Angles contain'd The Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge with the Isle of Ely 4. The Kingdom of the West-Saxons contain'd The Counties of Cornwall Devonshire Dorsetshire Somersetshire Wiltshire Hamshire Berkshire 5. The Kingdom of Northumberland contain'd The Counties of Lancaster York Durham Cumberland Westmorland Northumberland and Scotland to the Fryth of Edenburgh 6. The Kingdom of the East-Saxons contain'd The Counties of Essex Middlesex and part of Hertfordshire 7. The Kingdom of Mercia contain'd The Counties of Glocester Hereford Worcester Warwick Leicester Rutland Northampton Lincoln Huntingdon Bedford Buckingham Oxford Stafford Derby Shropshire Nottingham Chester and the other part of Hertfordshire 〈…〉 Counties BUT yet while the Heptarchy continued England was not divided into what we call Counties but into several small partitions with their number of Hides a Catalogue whereof out of an old Fragment was communicated to me by Francis Tate a person very much conversant in our Law-Antiquities But this only contains that part which lies on this side the Humber Myrena contains 30000 * A hidâ—sas some will have iâ— includes as much land as one plow can till in a year but as others as much as 4 Virgats Hides Woken-setnae 7000 hides Westerna 7000 hides Pec-setna 1200 hides Elmed-setna 600 hides Lindes-farona 7000 hides Suth-Gyrwa 600 hides North-Gyrwa 600 hides East-Wixna 300 hides West-Wixna 600 hides Spalda 600 hides Wigesta 900 hides Herefinna 1200 hides Sweordora 300 hides Eyfla 300 hides Wicca 300 hides Wight-gora 600 hides Nox gaga 5000 hides Oht-gaga 2000 hides Hwynca 7000 hides Cittern-setna 4000 hides Hendrica 3000 hides Vnecung-ga 1200 hides Aroseatna 600 hides Fearfinga 300 hides Belmiga 600 hides Witherigga 600 hides East-Willa 600 hides West-Willa 600 hides East-Engle 30000 hides East-Sexena 7000 hides Cant-Warena 15000 hides Suth-Sexena 7000 hides West-Sexena 100000 hides Tho' some of those names are easily understood at the first sight others will hardly be hammered out by a long and curious search for my part I freely confess they require a quicker apprehension than I am master of Called in the Coins Aelfred Afterwards when King Alfred had the whole government in his own hands as our forefathers the Germans which we learn from Tacitus administer'd justice according to the several Lordships and Villages taking an hundred of the common-people as assistants to manage that business so he to use the words of Ingulphus of Crowland first divided England into Counties because the natives themselves committed robberies after the example and under colour of the Danes Moreover he made the Counties to be divided into so many Centuries or Hundreds Hundreds and Tithings ordering that every man in the Kingdom should be ranked under some one or other hundred and tithing The Governours of Provinces were before that called * Vicedomini Lieutenants but this office he divided into two Judges now called Justices and Sheriffs which still retain the same name By the care and industry of those the whole Kingdom in a short time enjoyed so great peace that if a traveller had let fall a sum of money never so large in the evening either in the fields or publick high-ways if he came next morning or even a month after he should find it whole and untouch'd This is more largely insisted upon by the Malmesbury Historian Even the natives says he under pretence of being barbarians i.e. Danes fell to robberies so that there was no safe travelling without arms But King Alfred settled the Centuries commonly called Hundreds and the Tithings that every English man living under the protection of the Laws should have both his hundred and his tithing And if any one was accused of a misdemeanour he should get bail in the
these the two Archbishops and all the Bishops of England â—â—hops â—rons are also Barons of the Kingdom or Parliamentary Barons as also were in the memory of our grandfathers several belonging to Monasteries whereof this is a List Abbots of â—bots â—rliaâ—ntary â—rons Glassenbury St. Austin's Canterbury St. Peter's Westminster St. Albans St. Edmundsbury Peterburgh St. John's of Colchester Evesham Winchelcomb Crowland Battaile Reding Abingdon Waltham S. Cross Shrewsbury Cirencester St. Peter's at Glocester Bardney S. Benedict of Hulm Thorney Ramsey Hyde Malmesbury St. Marie's at York Selbey Prior of Coventry The Order of St. John of Jerusalem commonly stil'd Master of the Knights of St. John and would be counted the first Baron of England To these as to this day to the Bishops it belong'd by right and custom in every Parliament as the Publick Records word it to be present in person as Peers of the Realm along with the rest of the Peers to consult treat order decree and define by virtue of their Baronies held of the King For King William the first as the Ecclesiasticks of that age complain'd though those of the next look'd upon it as their greatest glory put the Bishopricks and Abbies holding Baronies in Frank almoigne Matth. Paris and so free from all secular services under military service enrolling every Bishoprick and Abbey according to the number of souldiers he and his successors might demand in times of war Since that the Ecclesiastical Barons enjoy all the immunities which the other Barons of the Realm do except that they are not judged by their Peers For as they by the Canons of the Church are not to be present at sanguinary causes so in the same causes they themselves are to be judged in matters of fact by twelve Jury-men But whether this be agreeable to the strict rules of the Law let the Lawyers determine Vavasors Vavasors or Valvasors formerly took place next the Barons derived by Lawyers from Valvae folding-doors a dignity that seems to have come to us from the French Sigonius For whilst their dominion in Italy lasted they call'd those Valvasors who govern'd the common people or part of them under the Duke Marquiss Earl or Chieftain and as Butler the Lawyer words it Had a full power of punishing but not the right of fairs and markets This is a piece of honour never much in vogue among us or how much soever it was it is now long since by degrees quite disused In Chaucer's age it was not very considerable as appears from what he says of his Frankelin or free-holder A Sheriff had he been and a contour Was no where soch a worthy Vavasour The Lesser Noblemen are the Knights Esquires Lesser Noblemen Knights and those which we commonly call Gentlemen Knights call'd by our English Lawyers in Latin Milites have almost in all Nations had their name from horses Thus they are called Cavelliers by the Italians Chevalier by the French Reuter by the Germans Marchog by the Welsh all with respect to riding They are called Knights only by the English a word in the ancient English as also German tongue signifying promiscuously servant or one that does service and a young man Upon which in the old Saxon Gospels the Disciples are call'd Leornung cnyhts and in another place we read Incnyht for a Client and our Common Lawyer Bracton mentions the Radcnihtes i.e. Serving horsemen who held lands upon this condition that they should furnish their Lord with horses from whence by shortning the name as we English love contractions I was perswaded long since that Knights remains now in use with us But for what reason the Laws of our own Country Knights why call'd Milites and all the Writers since the Norman Conquest should term them in Latin Milites I do not well apprehend Not but I know that in the decline of the Roman Empire the name of Milites was transferr'd to such as were always about the King's body and had the more considerable employments in the Prince's retinue But if I know any thing of this matter the first who were call'd so among us were they that held beneficiary lands or in fee for their service in the wars For those fees were called Militarie and they that in other places are term'd Feudataries were with us stil'd Milites souldiers as the Milites or souldiers of the King of the Archbishop of Canterbury of Earl Roger of Earl Hugh c. because they had by these persons lands bestowed upon them on this condition that they should fight for them and pay them fealty and homage whereas others who served in the wars †Pro solidis Solidarii for so much in money were call'd Solidarii and Servientes However these Milites or Equites which you please are fourfold with us The most honourable are those of the Order of S. George's Garter the second the Bannerets the third of the Bath and the fourth such as we call in English simply Knights and in Latin Equites aurati or Milites without any addition Of the Knights of the Order of S. George I will speak in their proper place when I come to Windsor Of the rest in this place briefly Banerett Banerets otherwise but falsly call'd Baronets have their name from a banner for they were allowed upon the account of their military bravery to use a square banner as well as the Barons and from thence they are by some truly call'd Equites Vexillarii and by the Germans Banner-heires I cannot trace their antiquity beyond the times of Edward the third when England was at it's height for martial discipline so that till time sets this matter in a clearer light I must believe that this honorary title was then first invented as a reward to warlike courage In the publick Records of that age among the military titles of Banerets there is mention also made of Homines ad vexillum Purs 2. Pat. 15. E. 3. M. 22 23. men at the banner and of homines ad arma men attending in arms which last seem to be the same with that other And I have read a Charter of King Edward the Third's whereby he advanced John Coupland for taking David second King of Scots in a battle at Durham to the honour of a Baneret in these words Desiring so to reward the said John who took David de Bruis and cheerfully delivered him up to us and to set such a mark upon his loyalty and valour as may give others example to serve us faithfully for the future we have advanced the said John to the Quality of a Baneret and to support that title have for us and our heirs granted to the same John the sum of 500 l. yearly to him and his heirs c. Nor may it be improper to mention out of Frossardus the form by which John Chandos a celebrated souldier in his time was made Baneret When Edward Prince of Wales was ready to engage
another small river that runs into it from the East â—â—â—kesbuâ—â—â— between which is seated Tewkesbury in the Saxon tongue Theocsbury by others nam'd Theoci Curia so call'd from Theocus that there led the life of an hermit a large and fair town having 3 bridges over 3 rivers leading to it famous for the making of woollen cloth â—â—â—tâ—rd and smart biting Mustard but formerly most noted for an ancient Monastery g founded by Odo and Dodo two brothers in the year of our Lord 715 where their palace formerly stood as they shew us by the following inscription HANC AULAM REGIA DODO DUX CONSECRARI FECIT IN ECCLESIAM Which being almost ruin'd by age and the fury of Wars was repair'd by Robert Fitz-hamon Fitz-hamon a Norman 4 Lord of Corboile and Thorigny in Normandy translating Monks from Cranborn in Dorsetshire hither piously designing to make what satisfaction he was able for the loss the Church of Bajeux in Normandy sustain'd which Henry 1. consumed with fire to free him from prison but afterwards repenting of the fact rebuilt it It cannot saith William of Malmesbury be easily conceiv'd how much Robert Fitz-hamon adorned and beautified this Monastery where the stateliness of the buildings ravish'd the eyes and the pious charity of the Monks the affections of all persons that came thither In this Monastery he and his successors Earls of Glocester were interr'd who had a castle hard by call'd Holmes that is now ruin'd Neither was it less famous for the bloody overthrow that the Lancastrians received in this place in the year 1471 in which battel many of them were slain more taken and beheaded their power so weaken'd and their hopes so defeated by the death of Edward the only son of K. Hen. 6. and he very young whose brains were barbarously beaten out here that they were never afterwards able to make any head against King Edw. 4. Whence J. Leland writes thus of this town Ampla foro partis spoliis praeclara Theoci Curia Sabrinae qua se committit Avona Fulget nobilium sacrisque recondit in antris Multorum cineres quondam inclyta corpora bello Where Avon's friendly streams with Severn joyn Great Tewkesbury's walls renown'd for trophies shine And keep the sad remains with pious care Of noble souls the honour of the war From hence we go down the stream to Deorhirst Deorhirst which is mentioned by Bede it lyeth very low upon the Severn whereby it sustaineth great damages when the river overfloweth It had formerly a small Monastery which was ruined by the Danes but reflourished under Edward the Confessor who as we read in his Will assigned it with the government thereof to the Monastery of St. Denis near Paris But a little after as Malmesbury saith it was only an empty monument of antiquity h Over-against this in the middle of the river lies a place call'd Oleneag and Alney by the Saxons now the Eight i.e. an Island Famous upon this account that when the English and Danes had much weaken'd themselves by frequent encounters to shorten the War it was agreed that the fate of both nations should be determin'd by the valour of Edmund King of the English and Canutus King of the Danes in a single combat who after a long doubtful fight agreed upon a peace and the Kingdom was divided between them but Edmund being quickly taken out of the world not without suspicion of poyson the Dane seised upon the whole i From Deorhirst the river Severn 5 Runneth down by Haesfield which K. Hen. 3. gave to Richard Pauncefote whose successors built a fair house here and whose predecessors were possessed of fair lands in this country before and in the Conqueror's time in Wiltshire after various windings and turnings parts it self to make the Isle of Alney rich and beautiful in fruitful green meadows and then hastens to the chief city of the county which Antoninus calls Clevum or Glevum the Britains Caer Gloui the Saxons Gleaucester we Glocester Glocester the vulgar Latins Glovernia others Claudiocestria from the Emperour Claudius who as is reported gave it that name when he here married his daughter Genissa to Arviragus the British King whom Juvenal mentions Regem aliquem capies vel de temone Britanno Excidet Arviragus Some captive King thee his new Lord shall own Or from his British chariot headlong thrown The proud Arviragus comes tumbling down as if Claudius his three wives brought him any daughters besides Claudia Antonia and Octavia or as if Arviragus was known in that age when his name was scarce heard of in Domitian's reign But leaving those that make their own conjectures pass for the records of venerable antiquity I should rather adhere to Ninnius his opinion who derives this name from Glouus the great grand-father of King Vortigern only I find Glevum mention'd long before by Antoninus which the distance from Corinium with its name confirm to be the same But as the Saxon name Gleauecester came from Glevum so Glevum by analogy came from the British name Caer Glowi and that I believe from the British word Glow which in their language signifies fair and splendid so that Caer Glow is the same as a fair City Upon the same account among the Greeks arose the names of Callipolis Callidromos and Callistratia and amongst the English Brightstow †And Shirley and in this County Fair-ford 6 Fairley c. This City was built by the Romans on purpose to be a curb to the Silures and a Colony placed there call'd Colonia Glevum for a The Inscription is still to be read at Bath I have seen the remains of an ancient stone in the walls of Bath near the North-gate with the following Inscription * decurio DEC COLONIAE GLEV VIXIT ANN. LXXXVI This City lyes extended upon Severne and on that side where it is not wash'd with the river is secured in some places with a strong wall being beautify'd with many fair Churches and handsome well-built Streets On the south part was once a Castle built of square stone but now almost quite ruin'd it was first raised in the time of William the Conqueror and 16 houses were demolished in that place as Doomsday book mentions it to make room for this edifice About which as Roger de Monte writes Roger the son of Myles Constable of Glocester commenced his action at Law against King Henry 2. and also Walter his brother lost the right he had both to the City and Castle Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons first took this City by force of arms from the Britains in the year 570. then it came under the Jurisdiction of the Mercians under whom it long flourished in great repute here Osrick King of the Northumbrians by the permission of Ethelred King of the Mercians founded a great and stately Monastery for Nuns over which Kineburga Eadburga and Eva all Mercian Queens successively presided Edelfieda likewise that famous Lady
almost thro' the middle of this County It first watereth Banbury Banbury formerly Banesbyrig where Kynric the West-Saxon overcame the poor Britains when they fought for their Liberties and Country in a memorable battel h And in latter times Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick fighting for the Lancastrian Interest gave such an absolute defeat to the York party that he soon after took the distressed King Edward 4. and carry'd him off prisoner i The town which at present is most famous for making k good Cheese has a Castle built by Alexander Bishop of Lincoln for this manour belong'd to that See who in his way of living consulted more his state and grandeur than his ease and safety and brought very many mischiefs on himself by his vain and expensive buildings Give me leave to add one remark that the coins of Roman Emperours found here and in the fields adjoyning are a fair argument for the antiquity of this place 5 Near to Banbury is Hanwell where the family of Cope hath flourish'd many years in great and good esteem I must not here pass by Broughton the seat of Rich. Fienes or Fenis to whom and to the heirs of his body our potent Monarch K. James in the first year of his reign granted and confirm'd the name stile title degree dignity and honour of Baron of Say and Sele he being descended in a right line from James Fienes Lord Say and Sele High Treasurer of England in the reign of Hen. 6. 6 Who was cruelly beheaded by a rabble of Rebels in the time of K. Hen. 6. The Cherwel for many miles after it has left Banbury sees nothing but well cultivated fields and most delightful meadows among which stands 7 Heyford-warine so denominated from Warine Fitz-Gerold Lord thereof Heyford Purcell likewise so named of the Purcells or de Porcellis ancient Gentlemen the old owners Blechingdon an ancient possession of the family of Povre Islip Iâ—â—â—â— formerly Ghistlipe the birth-place of King Edward whom for his piety and chastity our Ancestors honour'd with the title of Confessor as he himself witnesses in his original charter whereby he gives this his manour to the Church of Westminster l and at a small distance is Hedindon Hedâ—â—dâ—â— which K. John gave for a Barony to Thomas Basset m At Islip the Cherwel is joyn'd from the east by a small brook which runs by i Perhaps as much as to say Birini castrum â—mplying it to be a frontier-garrison of the West-Saxons against the Mercians rais'd out of the â—â—ins of Alchester by the advice and assistance of Birinus Bishop of Dorchester Burcester Burâ—â—â—er in Saxon Burenceaster and Bernaceaster a town of ancient name but where I have observ'd nothing of antiquity only that Gilbert Basset and Egeline de Courtney his wife in the reign of Hen. 2. built here a Monastery in honour of k It was dedicated to S. Mary and S. Edburg the memory of the latter is still preserved in a Well call'd S. Edburg's Well as also in a green foot-path leading to it call'd Tadbury walk corruptly for the Edâ—uâ—y-way-walk St. Edburg and that the Barons Le Strange of Knocking were lately Lords of this place n Toward the west we meet with some few remains of an old deserted Station which they call Allchester perhaps instead of Aldchester Alâ—hâ—â—tâ—â— or the old Castrum o thro' which a military way led from Wallingford as the neighbours believe to Banbury They call this Akeman-street-way Baâ— mâ—ny â—â—â— Aâ—â—â—ceâ—er a ridge whereof does still appear for some miles together on the deep plains of Otmore often overflow'd in winter p But where the Cherwel flows along with the Isis and their divided streams make several little sweet and pleasant islands is seated on a rising vale the most famous University of Oxford Oâ—â—â—â—â— in Saxon Oxenford our most noble Athens the seat of the English Muses the prop and pillar nay the sun the eye the very soul of the nation the most celebrated fountain of wisdom and learning from whence Religion Letters and good Manners are happily diffus'd thro' the whole Kingdom A delicate and most beautiful city whether we respect the neatness of private buildings or the stateliness of publick structures or the healthy and pleasant situation For the plain on which it stands is walled in as it were with hills of wood which keeping out on one side the pestilential south-wind on the other the tempestuous west admit only the purifying east and the north that disperses all unwholsome vapours From which delightful situation Authors tell us it was heretofore call'd Bellositum Some writers fancy this city in the British times had the name of Caer Vortigern and Caer-Vember and was built by God knows what Vortigerns or Memprics Whatever it was under the Britains it is certain the Saxons call'd it Oxenford in the same meaning no doubt as the Grecians had their Bosphorus and the Germans their Ochenfurt upon the river Oder that is a ford of Oxen. In which sense it is still call d by the Welsh Rhid-Ychen Yet Mr. Leland with some shew of probability derives the name from the river Ous in Latin Isis and believes it to have been heretofore call'd Ousford especially since the little islands which the river here makes are call'd Ousney Wise Antiquity as we read in our Chronicles even in the British age consecrated this place to the Muses whom they transplanted hither as to a more fertile nursery from l So written in most of our Historians to favour a groundless notion of a Greek and Latin School the first at this place truly written Creccagelade the latter at Latinlade rightly call'd Leccelade See Somner's Glossar to the Decem Script under Greglada Greek-lade now a small town in Wiltshire Alexander Necham writes thus Italy does challenge the glory of Civil Law Divinity and the Liberal Arts make Paris preferable to all other cities Wisdom too and Learning have long flourish'd at Oxford â—â— 2. de 〈◊〉 reâ— and according to the prophecy of Merlin shall in due time pass over thence to Ireland But in the following Saxon age remarkable for the continual ruin and subversion of towns and cities this place underwent the common fate and during many years was famous for nothing but the reliques of St. Frideswide â—eswide a virgin of great esteem for the sanctity of her life and first reputed a Saint on this occasion that when by a solemn vow she had devoted her self to the service of God and a single life Earl Algar courted her for a wife and pursuing her in her flight was miraculously as the story goes struck blind This Lady as we read in William of Malmesbury built here a Religious house as a trophy of her preserv'd virginity into which Monastery when in the time of Ethelred several Danes sentenc'd to death were fled for refuge the enraged Saxons burnt them and the house together But
the Clergy and Laity residing upon any of the lands appertaining to this Monastery so that the Abbot hereof is not subject to any Archbishop Bishop or any Legate whatsoever but to the Pope alone This also deserves our Observation that when that great Prince Offa made a gift to the Pope of the Peter-pence commonly called Romescot out of his Kingdom he obtained of the Pope this particular privilege for the Church of St. Alban the Protomartyr of England that that Church might collect and retain to it's own use when collected all the Romescot or Peter-pence throughout Hertfordshire in which County that Church standeth Wherefore as the Church it self by the King's grant enjoys all manner of Royalties so the Abbot of the place for the time being hath all Episcopal Ornaments Also Pope Hadrian 4 who was born near Verulam granted to the Abbots of this Monastery these are the words of the Privilege That as St. Alban is well known to be the Protomartyr of the English Nation so the Abbot of his Monastery should in all times be reputed the first in dignity of all the Abbots in England Neither afteâ—wards did the Abbots neglect any particular that might be either useful or ornamental to it filling up with earth that very large Pool or Mere which lay under the town of Verulam The memory of this Pool remains in a certain street of the town still called Fishpool-street Anchors digg'd up Near which when certain Anchors in this age happen'd to be found in digging some men led into that mistake by a corrupted place in Gildas presently concluded that the Thames had formerly had it's course this way But concerning this Mere or Fishpool take if you please what is written by an ancient historian Alfricus the Abbot purchased for a great sum of money a large and deep pond called Fishpool which was very prejudicial by it's vicinity to the Church of St. Alban For the Fishery belonged to the Crown and the King's Officers and others that came to fish in it were troublesome and chargeable to the Monastery and the Monks The said Abbot therefore drein'd all the water out of this Pool and reduc'd it to dry land If I should lay any great stress on the Stories common amongst the people and should upon that bottom tell you what great store of Roman Coins how many images of gold and silver how many vessels how many marble pillars how many capitals in fine how many wonderful pieces of ancient work have been here fetch'd out of the earth I could not in reason expect to be credited However this short account which follows take upon the credit of an ancient Historian About the year 960. Ealred the Abbot in the reign of K. Edgar searching out the old subterraneous vaults of Verulam broke them all down and stop'd up all the ways and subterraneous passages which were arched over head very artificially and very firmly built some whereof were carried under the water which in old time almost encompassed the whole city This he did because these were ordinary lurking places of thieves and whores He also filled up the ditches of the city and stopt up certain caves thereabouts whither malefactors use to fly for shelter But he laid aside all the whole tiles and all such stones as he found fit for building Hard by the bank they happen'd upon certain oaken planks which had nails sticking in them and were covered over with pitch as also some other shipping-tackle particularly Anchors half eaten with rust and Oars of fâ—r And a little after Eadmer his Successor went forward with the work which Ealdred had begun and his diggers levelled the foundations of a palace in the middle of the old city and in a hollow place in the wall contrived like a small closet they happen d upon books having covers of oak and silk strings to them one whereof contain'd the life of St. Alban written in the British language the rest certain Pagan Ceremonies And when they had open'd the earth to a greater depth they met with old stone-tables tiles also and pillars pots and great earthen vessels neatly wrought and others of glass containing the ashes of the dead c. And at last out of these remains of old Verulam Eadmer built a new Monastery to St. Alban Thus much as to the Antiquity and Dignity of Verulam Now as to the praises of the place give me leave to add this Hexastic of Alexander Necham who was born there 400 years ago Urbs insignis erat Verolamia plus operosae Arti naturae debuit illa minus Pendragon Arthuri Patris haec obsessa laborem Septennem sprevit cive superba suo Hic est Martyrii roseo decoratus honore Albanus civis inclyta Roma tuus To ancient Verulam a famous town Much kindness art hath show'd but nature none Great Arthur's fire Pendragon's utmost power For seven long years did the proud walls endure Here holy Alban citizen of Rome Obtain'd the happy crown of martyrdom And in another place Hic locus aetatis nostrae primordia novit Annos foelices laetitiaeque dies Hic locus ingenuus pueriles imbuit annos Artibus nostrae laudis origo fuit Hic locus insignis magnósque creavit alumnos Foelix eximio Martyre gente situ Militat hic Christo noctéque dieque labori Invigilat sancto Religiosa cohors Here my first breath with happy stars was drawn Here my glad years and all my joys began In gradual knowledge here my mind increast Here the first sparks of glory fir'd my breast Hail noble town where fame shall ne're forget The Saint the citizens and happy seat Here heaven's true Soldiers with unwearied care And pious labour wage the Christian war But now the old Verulam is turned into Corn-fields and St. Albans St. Aâ—â—â—â—â— flourisheth which rose up out of the ruins of it a neat and large town The Church of the said Monastery is still in being a pile of building which for its largeness beauty and antiquity may justly challenge a particular regard When the Monks were turned out it was by the towns-men purchased for four hundred pound otherwise it had been laid even with the ground and was converted into a parochial Church It hath in it a very noble Font of solid brass wherein the Children of the Kings of Scotland were wont to be baptized Which Font Sir Richard Lea A Fâ—â—â—aâ—en 〈◊〉 the Scâ—â—â— spoâ—ls Master of the Pioneers brought hither amongst the rest of the spoils taken in the Scotch wars and gave it to this Church whereon is to be read this proud Inscription CUM LAETHIA OPIDUM APUD SCOTOS NON INCELEBRE ET EDINBURGUS PRIMARIA APUD EOS CIVITAS INCENDIO CONFLAGRARENT RICHARDUS LEUS EQUES AURATUS ME FLAMMIS EREPTUM AD ANGLOS PERDUXIT HUJUS EGO TANTI BENEFICII MEMOR NON NISI REGUM LIBEROS LAVARE SOLITUS NUNC MEAM OPERAM ETIAM INFIMIS ANGLORUM LIBENTER CONDIXI LEUS VICTOR SIC VOLUIT
Isabella and Delaley and other large Possessions which by the Outlawry of Richard Earl of Arundel were then forfeited to the Crown Richard himself was styl'd Princeps Cestriae Prince of Chester But this title was but of small duration no longer than till Henry the fourth repeal'd the Laws of the said Parliament for then it became a County Palatine again and retains that Prerogative to this day which is administred by a Chamberlain 11 Who hath all jurisdiction of a Chancellour within the said County Palatine a Judge Special 12 For matters in Common-Plees and Plees of the Crown to be heard and determin'd in the said County two Barons of the Exchequer three Serjeants at Law a Sheriff an Attorney an Escheator 13 And the Inhabitants of the said County for the enjoying of their Liberties were to pay at the change of every owner of the said Earldom a sum of money about 3000 marks by the name of a Mize as the County of Flint being a parcel thereof about 2000 marks if I have not been misinform'd c. We have now survey'd the Country of the Cornavii who together with the Coritani Dobuni and Catuellani made one entire Kingdom in the Saxon Heptarchy then called by them Myrcna-ric and Mearc-lond but render'd by the Latins Meâ—cia from a Saxon word Mearc which signifies limit for the other Kingdoms border'd upon this This was by far the largest Kingdom of them all begun by Crida the Saxon about the year 586. and enlarg'd on all hands by Penda and a littlâ— after under Peada converted to Christianity But after a duration of 250 years it was too late subjected to the Dominion of the West-Saxons when it had long endured all the outrage and misery that the Danish wars could inflict upon it This County has about 68 Parishes ADDITIONS to CHESHIRE AS the County of Chester exceeds most others in the antiquitâ— and Royalty of it's jurisdiction and multitude of it's ancient Gentry so the famous Colony settled in it under the Roman Government has render'd it very considerable for Antiquities Nor had that Subject wanted a due examination or the remains of Antiquity layn so long undiscover'd if most of it's Historians had not been led away with a chain of groundless stories and extravagant conjectures 'T is true Sir Peter Leicester has made due searches into the Records relating to this County especially to Bucklow-Hundred and reported them with great exactness and fidelity but the Roman affairs he has left so entirely untouch'd that 't is plain he either industriously declin'd them as foreign to his business or wanted experience to carry him through that part of history In like manner Sir John Doderidge a man of great learning in his Treatise concerning this County hath exactly stated the ancient and present revenues thereof but was not so diligent in his enquiries concerning the original of the County Palatine as might from a man of his Profession have been reasonably expected However his defect in this point is in a great measure supply'd by what the learned Mr. Harrington has left upon that subject a Gentleman by whose death Learning in general and particularly the Antiquities of this County which he had design'd to illustrate and improve have suffer'd very much a To begin then with Mr. Camden who first observes that this is a County Palatine County Palatine It may be worth our notice that it had this additional title upon the coming over of the Normans At first indeed William the Conquerour gave this Province to Gherbord a Nobleman of Flanders who had only the same title and power as the Officiary Earls amongst the Saxons had enjoy'd the inheritance the Earldom and grandeur of the Tenure being not yet settl'd Afterwards Hugh Lupus son of the Viscount of Auranches a Nephew of William the Conquerour by his sister receiv'd this Earldom from the Conquerour under the greatest and most honourable Tenure that ever was granted to a Subject Totum hunc dedit Comitatum tenendum sibi haeredibus suis ita liberè ad gladium sicut ipse Rex tenebat Angliae coronam The vast extent of the Powers convey'd in this Grant carry'd in them Palatine jurisdiction tho' it is certain that neither Hugh Lupus nor any of his successors were in the Grant it self or any ancient Records stil'd Comites Palatini As to the original of Palatinates in general it is clear that anciently in the decline of the Roman Empire the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the name imports were only officers of the Courts of Princes The term in process of time was restrain'd to those who had the final deteâ—mination of Causes under the King or Emperour And those that exercis d this sovereignty of jurisdiction in any Precinct or Province were call'd Comites Palatini and the place where the jurisdiction was us'd Palatinatus a Palatinate Instances of such personal offices in the Court we may still observe in the Palatine of Hungary and examples of such local authority we have in the Palatinates of the Rhine Durham and Lancaster Whether therefore the ancient Palatines were equal to the Praefecti Praetorio the Curopalatae the Grand Maistres in France or the ancient Chief Justices in England we need not dispute since it is clear that the Comites Palatini as all new-erected Officers titles retain'd many of the powers of the ancient but still had many characters of difference as well as some of resemblance By virtue of this Grant Chester enjoy'd all sovereign jurisdiction within its own precincts and that in so high a degree that the ancient Earls had Parliaments consisting of their own Barons and Tenants and were not oblig'd by the English Acts of Parliament These high and unaccountable jurisdictions were thought necessary upon the Marches and Borders of the Kingdom as investing the Governour of the Provinces with Dictatorial power and enabling them more effectually to subdue the common enemies of the Nation But when the same power that was formerly a good bar against Invaders grew formidable to the Kings themselves Henry 8. restrain'd the sovereignty of the Palatinates and made them not only subordinate to but dependent on the Crown of England And yet after that restraining Statute all Pleas of Lands and Tenements all Contracts arising within this County are and ought to be judicially heard and determin'd within this Shire and not elsewhere and if any determination be made out of it it is void and coram non judice except in cases of Error Foreign-Plea and Foreign Voucher And there is no other crime but Treason that can draw an inhabitant of this County to a Tryal elsewhere This jurisdiction tho' held now in other Counties was most anciently claim'd and enjoy'd by this County of Chester The Palatinate of Lancaster which was the Favourite-Province of the Kings of that House was erected under Edw. 1. and granted by him to Henry the first Duke of Lancaster and even in the Act of
Monuments of this kind in Wales some of which we shall take notice of in other Counties In Anglesey where there are many of them as also in some other places they are call'd Krom-lecheu a name deriv'd from Krwm which signifies crooked or inclining and lhech a flat stone but of the name more hereafter 'T is generally supposed they were places of burial but I have not yet learn'd that ever any Bones or Urns were found by digging under any of them Edward Somerset Lord Herbert of Chepstow Ragland and Gower obtain'd of K. Charles 1. the title of Earl of Glamorgan Earls of Glamogan his father the Lord Marquiss of Worcester being then alive the Succession of which Family may be seen in the Additions to Worcestershire DIMETAE a _THE remainder of this Region which is extended Westward and call'd by the English West-Wales West-Wales comprehending Caer-mardhin-shire Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire was thought by Pliny to have been inhabited by the Silures But Ptolemy to whom Britain was better known placed another Nation here whom he call'd Dimetae and Demetae Moreover both Gildas and Ninnius used the word Demetia to signifie this Country whence the Britains call it at this day Dyved changing the M into V according to the propriety of that Language If it would not be thought a strain'd piece of curiosity I should be apt to derive this appellation of the Demetae from the words Deheu-meath which signifie the Southern plain as all this South-Wales has been call'd Deheu-barth i.e. the Southern Part. And I find that elsewhere the Inhabitants of a champain Country in Britain were call'd by the Britains themselves Meatae Nor does the situation of this Country contradict that signification for when you take a prospect of it the Hills decline gently and it dilates it self gradually to a Plain a Seing it was the custom amongst the Romans to retain such names of the places they conquer'd as the ancient Natives made use of adding only a Latin termination it may seem more probable that Dimetia was mâ—de out of the British name Dyved than the contrary But whatever the original name of this County might be I cannot subscribe to our Author's conjecture of the etymon of it for we find no such word in the British Language either in Manuscripts or common use as Meath for a plain champain Country Tho indeed if there were such a word they that are well acquainted with those Counties would scarce allow it applicable to them CAER-MARDHIN-SHIRE THE County of Kaer-Vyrdhin call'd by the English Caer-Mardhin-shire is a Country sufficiently supply'd with Corn very well stock'd with Cattel and in divers places affords plenty of Coal It is bounded on the East with Glamorgan and Brecknock shires on the West with Pembroke on the North divided from Cardiganshire by the river Teivi and on the South with the main Ocean which encroaches on the Land here with such a vast Bay 〈◊〉 that this Country might seem out of fear to have withdrawn it self In this Bay Kydweli first offers it self the territory whereof was possessed for some time by the sons of Keianus a Scot until they were driven out by Kynèdhav a British Prince But now it is esteem'd part of the Inheritance of Lancaster by the heirs of Maurice of London or de Londres who removing from Glamorganshire after a tedious war made himself Master of it and fortified old Kydweli with Walls and a Castle now decay'd with age For the Inhabitants passing over the river of Gwen-draeth vechan built new Kydweli invited thither by the conveniency of a Haven which yet at present is of no great use being choak'd with shelves â—â—hâ—an â—â—an of â—y conâ—â— When Maurice of London invaded these Territories Gwenlhîan the wife of Prince Gryffydh a woman of invincible courage endeavouring to restore her husband's declining state enter'd the field with display'd banner and encounter'd him But the success not being answerable to her courage she with her son Morgan and divers other Noblemen as Giraldus informs us were slain in the field 〈◊〉 of â—or and â—â—eli By Hawis the daughter and heiress of 1 Sir Thomas of London Thomas de Londres this fair Inheritance with the Title of Lord of Ogmor and Kydweli descended to Patrick Chaworth and by a daughter of his son Patrick to Henry Earl of Lancaster The heirs of Maurice de Londres as we read in an old Inquisition were obliged by this Tenure in case the King or his Chief Justice should lead an Army into these parts of Kydweli to conduct the said Army with their Banners and all their Forces through the midst of the Country of Neath to Lochor â—â—iver 〈◊〉 or â—â—s A little below Kydweli the river Towy which Ptolemy calls Tobius is received into the Ocean having passed the length of this County from North to South First by Lhan ym Dhyvri so call'd as is supposed from the confluence of rivers which out of malice to the English was long since demolish'd by Howel ap RhÅ·s â—â—r Afterwards by Dinevor-castle the Royal Seat of the Princes of South-Wales whilst they flourish'd situated aloft on the top of a Hill And at last by Caer-mardhin which the Britains themselves call Kaer-Vyrdhin Ptolemy Maridunum Maridunum and Antoninus Muridunum who continues not his journeys any farther than this place Caer-Mardhin and is here by negligence of the Copyists ill handled For they have carelesly confounded two Journeys the one from Galena to Isca the other from Maridunum to Viroconovium This is the chief town of the County pleasantly seated for Meadows and Woods and a place of venerable Antiquity fortified neatly saith Giraldus with brick-walls partly yet standing on the noble river of Towy navigable with ships of small burden tho' the mouth of it be now almost stopp'd with a bed of Sand. Here our Merlin Merlin or Myrdhin Emris the British Tages was born for as Tages was reported to have been the son of a Genius and to have taught the Tuscans South-saying so our Merlin who was said to have been the son of an Incubus devised Prophecies or rather mere Phantastical Dreams for our Britains Insomuch that in this Island he has the reputation of an eminent Prophet amongst the ignorant common people a Soon after the Normans enter'd Wales this town fell into their possession but by whose means I know not and a long time it encounter'd many difficulties having been often besieged and twice burnt first by Gryffydh ap RhÅ·s and afterwards by RhÅ·s the said Gryffydh's brother At which time Henry Turbervil an Englishman reliev'd the castle and cut down the bridge But the walls and castle being afterwards repair'd by Gilbert de Clare it was freed from these miseries so that being thus secured it bore the tempests of war much easier afterwards The Princes of Wales eldest sons of the Kings of England settl'd here their Chancery and Exchequer for South-Wales Opposite to this city
the confines of the parishes of Kelhan and Lhan y Krŵys and is at present whatever it was put up for the mere-stone or boundary betwixt this County and Caer-Mardhin-shire Not far from it is Maen y prenvol which I have not seen but suppose from the name to be a monument of that kind we call Kistvaen for Prenvol in this country in North-Wales Prennol signifies a small coffer or chest Gwely Taliesin in the parish of Lhan-Vihangel geneu'r glyn by its name and the tradition of the neighbours concerning it ought to be the grave of the celebrated Poet Taliesin ben beirdh †Id est Taliesinus protovates who flourish'd about the year 540. This grave or bed for that 's the signification of the word Gwely seems also to be a sort of Kist-vaen 4 foot long and 3 in breadth composed of 4 stones 1 at each end and 2 side-stones whereof the highest is about a foot above ground I take this and all others of this kind for old heathen monuments and am far from believing that ever Taliesin was interr'd here But to proceed from these barbarous monuments which yet I take to be no more rude than those of our neighbour nations before they were conquer'd by the Romans to something later and more civilized I shall here add an Inscription I lately copied from a large rude stone in Penbryn parish not far from the Church It stood not long since as I was inform'd in a small heap of stones close by the place where it lies now on the ground The stone is as hard as marble and the letters large and very fair and deeper inscrib'd than ordinary but what they signifie I fear must be left to the Reader 's conjecture I must confess that at first view I thought I might venture to read it Cor Balencii jacit Ordous and to interpret it The heart of Valentius of North-Wales lies here supposing that such a person might have been slain there in battel In old Inscriptions we often find the letter B. used for V. as Balerius for Valerius Bixsit for Vixsit Militabit for Militavit c. and the word Ordous I thought not very remote from Ordovices But I am not satisfied with this notion of it my self much less do I expect that others should acquiesce therein In this same parish of Penbryn was found some years since a British gold coyn weighing I suppose above a Guinea which is now in the possession of the worshipful John Williams Esquire of Aber Nant bychan who was pleas'd to send me the figure of it inserted now amongst some other Antiquities at the end of these Counties of Wales From this and many others found in several places of this Kingdom it 's manifest the Britains had gold and silver coyns of their own before the Roman Conquest unless such as contend for the contrary can make it appear that these coyns were brought in by the Phoenicians or some other trading Nation which I think no man has yet attempted For seeing such of these coyns as want Inscriptions are always a little hollow on the one side and have also impressions or characters if I may so call them different from those of Roman and all other coyns it 's very plain the art of coyning them was never learn'd of the Romans for if so we had never met with these unintelligible characters on them but Roman letters such as by some coyns of ‖ Bâ—â— waâ—â— aâ—a 〈◊〉 veâ—â— Cassivelaunus and Cunobelin we find they made use of after their conquest Since Mr. Camden's time Thomas Brudenel Baron Brudenel of Stoughton was created Earl of Cardigan Earâ—â— Carâ—â—â—â—â— by K. Charles 2. Apr. 20. 1661. upon whose death Robert his son succeeded in his estate and titles NORTH WALES By Rob t Morden ORDEVICES THose Countries of the Silures and Dimetae we have last survey'd were in after-times when Wales became divided into three Principalities call'd by the Natives Deheubarth or the Right-hand part and in English as we have already observ'd South-Wales The other two Principalities which they call Gwynedh and Powys we North-Wales and Powisland were inhabited by the Ordovices call'd also Ordevices and Ordovicae and in some Authors tho' corruptly Ordolucae A couragious and puissant Nation these were as being inhabitants of a mountainous country and receiving vigour from their native soil and who continued the longest of any unconquer'd by either Romans or English For they were not subdu'd by the Romans till the time of the Emperour Domitian when Julius Agricola reduced almost the whole nation nor were they subjected by the English before the reign of Edward the first For a long time they enjoy'd their liberty confiding as well in their own strength and courage as the roughness and difficult situation of their country which may seem in a manner as if nature had design'd it for Ambuscades and prolonging of war To determine the limits of these Ordevices is no hard task but to render a true account of the name seems very difficult However I have entertain'd a conjecture that seeing they are seated on the two rivers of Devi which springing not far asunder take their course different ways and that * Read Ar-dhyvi Oar-devi in the British language signifies Upon the rivers of Devi they have been thence call'd Ordevices So the Arverni receiv'd their name from their situation on the river Garumna the Armorici from inhabiting a maritim country and the Horesci from their bordering on the river Esk. Nor is the name of the Ordevices so entirely extinct in this country but that there remain some footsteps of it For a considerable part of it which lies on the sea is at this day call'd by the inhabitants Ardudwy out of which the Romans by a softer pronunciation may seem to have coyn'd their Ordovices and Ordevices But now this whole tract one small County excepted is call'd in Latin Gwynedhia and Venedotia and in British Gwynedh from the Veneti in Armorica as some suspect who as Caesar writes were us'd often to sail into Britain And if it were allowable to change but one letter I might suppose this name also not unknown to the Greeks and to Pausanias who in his Arcadia informs us that Antoninus Pius had sufficiently chastised our Brigantes for making inroads into Genounia a Roman Province in Britain Now if we may be allow'd to read Genouthia Genounia for Genounia that word comes so near Guinethia and this Guinethia or Gwynedh borders so much on the country of the Brigantes that unless Pausanias understood this region let Sibylla her self discover what country he meant To the Ordovices belong'd those Countries which are now call'd in English by new names Mont-Gomery-shire Meirionydh-shire Caernarvon-shire Denbigh-shire and Flint-shire MONTGOMERYSHIRE MOntgomeryshire in British Sîr Dre ' Valdwyn from it's chief town is bounded on the south with Cardigan and Radnor Shires on the east with Shropshire on the north with Denbigh and on the west with
new name an ancient Altar was found among the rubbish of an old Castle with this Inscription â—c Duplaâ—s Numeri â—xploratoâ—m Bremeâ—i Aram â—stituerunt â—umini eâ—s Capione â—harâ—cimo â—ibuno voâ—â—n solveâ—nt Libâ—nâ—s mereto D. R. S. DVPL N. EXPLOR BREMEN ARAM. INSTITVERVNT NÌ„ EIVS C CAEP CHARITINO TRIB V S L M May we not hence guess that here was that Bremenium â—remenium so industriously and so long sought after which Ptolemy mentions in these parts and from which Antoninus begins his first journey in Britain as from its outmost limit g For the bounds of the Empire were seas great rivers mountains desart and unpassable countries such as this part affords ditches walls empailures and especially castles built in the most suspected places whereof there are here great plenty of remains Indeed since the Barbarians having thrown down Antoninus Pius's Wall in Scotland widely spoil'd this Country and Hadrian's Wall lay unheeded till Severus's time we may believe the limits of the Roman Empire were in this place and hence the old Itinerary that goes under the name of Antoninus begins here as à Limite i. at the furthest bounds of the Empire But the addition of i. à vallo is a gloss of the transcriber's since Bremenium lies fourteen miles northward from the Wall unless we take it to be one of those Field-stations already mention'd to have been built beyond the Wall in the Enemy's Country To the south of old Bremenium within five miles Battel of Otterburn 1388. lies Otterburn where a stout engagement happen'd betwixt the Scots and English Victory three or four times changing sides and at last fixing with the Scots for Henry Percy for his youthful forwardness by-nam'd Whot-spur who commanded the English was himself taken prisoner and lost fifteen hundred of his men and William Douglas the Scotch General fell with the greatest part of his army so that never was there a greater instance of the martial prowess of both Nations h A little lower the river Rhead washes or rather has almost wash'd away another Town of venerable antiquity now call'd Risingham Risingham which in the old-English and high-Dutch languages signifies as much as Giants-Town as Risingberg in Germany is Giants-Hill i There are here many remains of antiquity The Inhabitants report that the placc was long defended by the god Magon against a certain Soldane or Pagan Prince Nor is the story wholly groundless for that such a god was here worship'd appears from these two Altars lately taken out of the River and thus inscrib'd 〈◊〉 Mogonâ— Cadenoâ— â—â—ini Doâ—â—ini nostri â—ugusti M. â— Secundiâ— Benefiâ—aâ—ius Conâ— Habiâ—ici Priâ—â— tam â—se 〈◊〉 posuit DEO MOGONTI CAD ET N. DN AVG. M. G. SECVNDINVS BF COS. HABITA NCI PRIMAS TA PRO SE ET SVIS POSVIT DEO MOVNO CAD INVENTVS DO V. S. From the former of these some guess may be made that the place was called Habitancum and that he who erected it was Pensioner to a Consul and Mayor of the Town For that the chief Magistrates of Cities â—rimas Towns and Forts were call'd Primates the Codex Theodosii will abundantly teach us Whether this god were the tutelar Deity of the Gadeni whom Ptolemy makes next neighbours to the Ottadini I am not yet able to determine let others enquire Here were also found the following Inscriptions for which among others we are indebted to the famous Sir Rob. Cotton of Conington Knight who very lately saw and copy'd them D. M. BLESCIVS DIOVICVS FILIAE SVAE VIX SIT AN. I. ET DIES XXI CVI PRAEEST M PEREGRINIVS SVPER TRIB COH I. VANG FECIT CVRANTE IVL. PAVLO TRIB DEAE TER TIANAE SA CRVM AEL TIMOTHEA P. V. S. LL. M. HERCV LI IVL. PAVLLVS T R I B. V. S. AVR. ANTONI NI PII AVG. M MESSORIVS DILIGENS TRIBVNVS SACRVM As also what exceeds all the rest in finery of the work a long Table thus curiously engraven and by the h And yet our Author places Viniolana their station at Winchester a great distance from hence Why then should another Inscription found at Rochester with a word in it that looks like bremâ—nium so forcibly prove that this was the old name of that place fourth Cohort of the Gallic Troops dedicated to the Sacred Majesty of the Emperours But to return A little lower Rhead with several other brooks that have joyn'd it runs into Tine and so far reaches Rhedesdale which as Doomsday-Book informs us the Umfranvils held in Fee and Knights Service of the King for guarding the Dale from Robbers All over the Wasts Wasts as they call them as well as in Gillesland you see as it were the ancient Nomades Nomades a Martial sort of people that from April to August lye in little Hurts which they call Sheals heals and Shealings here and there dispers'd among their Flocks From hence North-Tine passes by Chipches Chipcâ—â—â— a little Fort formerly belonging to the Umfranvils then to the 4 Hairuns new commonly call'd Heron. Herons k and not far from the small Castle of Swinborn Swinbâ—â—â— which gave name to a Family of note and was sometime part of the Barony of William Heron afterwards the seat of the Woderingtons and so comes to the Wall which is cross'd at Collerford Collerâ—â—â—â— by a Bridge of Arches where are still to be seen the ruins of the large Fort of Wallwick Ciâ—urnâ—â— If Cilurnum where the second wing of the Astures lay in garison was not here it was in the neighbourhood at Scilcester in the Wall â—â—ester â—reden where after Sigga a Nobleman had treacherously slain Elfwald King of Northumberland the Religious built a Church and dedicated it to Cuthbert and Oswald Oswald which last has so far out-done the other that the old name being quite lost the place is now call'd S. Oswald's This Oswald King of Northumberland being ready to give Battel to l Cedwall the Britain so Bede calls him whom the British Writers name Caswallon King â—dwalla â— Caswalâ— as it should seem of Cumberland erected a Cross and humbly on his knees begg'd of Christ that he would afford his heavenly assistance to those that now call'd on his name and presently with a loud voice thus address'd himself to the Army â—de l. 3. c 2. â—out the â—â—r 634. â—ristianiâ— first proâ—â—'d in â—â—rthumâ—â—â—land Let us all on our knees beseech the Almighty Living and True God mercifully to defend us from our proud and cruel Enemy We do not find says Bede that any Banner of the Christian Faith any Church any Altar was ever erected in this Country before this new General following the dictates of a devout Faith and being to engage with a most inhumane Enemy set up this Standard of the Holy Cross For after Oswald had in this Battel experienc'd that effectual assistance of Christ which he had pray'd for he immediately turn'd Christian
dedicated his Books of the Ecclesiastical History of England and who afterwards Rog. Hoveden renouncing the World took upon him the habit of a Monk in the Church of Lindisfern and listed himself a Souldier of the Kingdom of Heaven his body being afterwards translated to the Church of Northam When also the Danes had miserably wasted the Holy Issand wherein S. Cuthbert so much magnified by Bede was Bishop and lay buried some endeavour'd by a religious stealth to convey his body beyond Sea but the winds standing contrary they with all due reverence deposited the sacred Body at * The printed Books have corruptly Bulbeford Will. Malmesb de Gest Pont. lib. 1. Ubbanford whether a Bishop's See or no is uncertain near the river Twede where it lay for many years till the coming of King Ethelred This and other matters were taught me for I shall always own my Instructors by George Carlton born at this place being son to the Keeper of Norham-Castle whom for his excellent Proficiency in Divinity whereof he is Professor and other polite Learning I love and am lov'd by him and I were unworthy of that love if I should not acknowledge his Friendship The old people told us that at Killey Killay a little neighbouring Village below Norham were found within the memory of our Grandfathers the studds of a Knight's Belt A golden Hilt and the hilt of a Sword of massie Gold which were presented to T. Ruthall Bishop of Durham A little lower you have the mouth of Twede on the farther bank whereof stands Berwick Berwick the last Town in England and best fortify'd in all Britain hh Some derive the name of this Town from one Berengarius a Romantick Duke Leland fetches it from Aber the British word for the mouth of a river and so makes Aberwick to signifie a Fort built upon such a mouth But they will best understand the true etymology of it who know what is meant by the word Berwicus in the Charters of our Kings Ingulphus renders Berwicus a Mannour wherein nothing's more common than I give the Townships of C. and D. cum suis Berwicis ii For my part what it should mean I know not unless it be a Hamlet or some such dependency upon a place of better note For in the Grants of Edward the Confessor Totthill is call'd the Berwicus of Westminster Wandlesworth the Berwicus of Patricksey and a thousand of the like But why all this pains 'T is lost labour if as some maintain the Saxons call'd it anciently Beornica-ƿic that is the Town of the Bernicians for that this part of the Country was call'd Bernicia we have already noted and the thing is too well known to be here repeated But whence ever it had its name its situation carries it a good way into the sea so that that and the Twede almost incircle it Being seated betwixt two mighty Kingdoms as Pliny observes of Palmyra in Syria it has always been the first place that both Nations in their wars have had an eye on insomuch that ever since Edward the first wrung it out of the Scotch hands the English have as often retaken it as the Scots have ventur'd to seize it But if the Reader pleases we will here give him a summary abstract of its History The oldest account I find of Berwick is that William King of Scots being taken prisoner by the English pawn'd it for his ransom to our Henry the second redeemable only within such a time kk Whereupon says the Polychronicon of Durham Henry immediately fortify'd it with a Castle But Richard the first restor'd it to the Scots upon their payment of the money Afterwards King John as the History of Melross reports took the Town and Castle of Berwick at the same time that he burnt Werk Roxburgh Mitford and Morpath and with his Rutars wasted all Northumberland because the Barons of that county had done homage to Alexander King of Scots at Feltun A great many years after this when John Baliol King of Scotland had broken his Oath Edward the first reduc'd Berwick in the year of our Lord 1297. But soon after the fortune of war favouring the Scots our men quitted it and they seiz'd it but the English forthwith had it surrender'd to them again Afterwards in the loose reign of Edward the second Peter Spalding surrender'd it to Robert Brus King of Scots who warmly besieg'd it and the English vainly attempted its recovery till our Hector Edward the third bravely carry'd it in the year 1333. In the reign of Richard the second some Scottish Moss-troopers surpriz'd the Castle which within nine days was recover'd by Henry Percie Earl of Northumberland Within seven years after this the Scots regain'd it but by purchace not by their valour Whereupon the said Henry Percie being then Governour of the Town was accus'd of High-treason but he also corrupted the Scots with money and so got it again A long time after this when England was almost spent in civil wars Henry the sixth being already fled into Scotland deliver'd it up to the King of Scots the better to secure himself in that Kingdom Two and twenty years after Thomas Stanley with a great loss of men reduc'd it to the obedience of Edward the fourth Since which time the Kings of England have several times fortify'd it with new works but especially Queen Elizabeth who lately to the terrour of the enemy and security of the Burghers hath drawn it into a less compass than before and surrounded it with a high stone wall of firm Ashler work which is again strengthen'd with a deep ditch bastions and counterscarp so that its fortifications are so strong and regular that no besiegers can hope to carry it hereafter Not to mention the valour of the Garrison and the surprizing plenty of Ammunition and all warlike stores Be it also remember'd that the Governour of this place was alwaies a person of the greatest wisdom and eminence among the English Nobility and was also Warden of these eastern Marches The Mathematicians have plac'd this Town in 21 degrees and 43 minutes of longitude and in 55 and 48 of northern latitude So that the longest day in this climate consists of seventeen hours and 22 minutes and its night has only six hours and 38 minutes Brita has 〈◊〉 of Day So truly has Servius Honoratus written of this Country Britain says he has such plenty of day that she has hardly any room for night Nor is it a wonder that the Souldiers of this Garrison are able to play all night at dice without a candle if we consider their thorow twilight and the truth of Juvenal's expression Minimâ contentos nocte Britannos Britains with shortest nights content Take at parting J. Jonston's Verses upon Berwick Scotorum extremo sub limite Meta furoris Saxonidum gentis par utriusque labor Mille vices rerum quae mille est passa ruinas Mirum quî potuit tot superesse
of Scotland is contain'd in less bounds being divided from England by the water of Tweed to Carhoom then by Keddon-burn Haddon-rigg Black-down-hill Morsla-hill Battinbuss-hill to the risings of the rivers Keal and Ted after by Kersop-burn Liderwater Esk to the Tod-holls the Marchdike to White-sack and Solloway-frith On the west it hath the Irish-Sea on the north the Deucaledonian and on the east the German Ocean On all which sides bordering upon the Sea it hath several Isles belonging to it From the Mule of Galloway in the south to Dungsbay-head in the east-point of Cathness in the north it is about 250 miles long and betwixt Buchan-ness on the east sea and Ardnamurchan-point on the west 150 miles broad The most southerly part of it about Whitern is 54 degrees 54 min. in Latitude and in Longitude 15 degrees 40 min. The northermost part the above-mentioned Dungsbay-head is 58 degrees 32 some say 30. min. in Latitude and 17 degrees 50 minutes in Longitude The longest day is about 18 hours and two minutes and the shortest night 5 hours and 45 minutes The air temperate It was not without reason that Caesar said Of Britain Coelum Gallico temperatius for even in Scotland the air is more mild and temperate than in the Continent under the same Climate by reason of the warm-vapours from the sea upon all sides and the continual breezes of the wind from thence the heat in Summer is no way scorching The constant winds purifie the air and keep it always in motion so that 't is seldom any Epidemick disease rages here Hills in Scotland The nature of the Country is hilly and mountainous there being but few plains and they of no great extent Those they have are generally by the sea-side and from thence the ground begins to rise sensibly the farther in the Country the higher so that the greatest hills are in the middle of the Kingdom These hills especially upon the skirts of the Country breed abundance of Cows which not only afford store of butter and cheese to the Inhabitants but likewise considerable profit by the vent of their hides and tallow and the great numbers that are sold in England when there is no Prohibition Their size as also that of their sheep is but small but the meat of both of an exceeding fine taste and very nourishing The High-Lands afford great Flocks of Goats with store of Deer and are clear'd from Wolves The whole Country has good store and variety of fowl both tame and wild The quality of the soil Quaity 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 compared in general with that of England is not near so good 'T is commonly more fit for pasture and for that purpose is very well watered Where the surface is leanest there are found Metals and Minerals and considerable quanties of Lead are exported yearly there is also good Copper but they will not be at the pains to work it But in much of the in-land Country especially where it lyeth upon some of the Friths the soil is very good and there all sorts of grain grows that is usual in the South parts of Britain The Wheat is frequently exported by Merchants to Spain Holland and Norwey Barley grows plentifully and their Oats are extreme good affording bread of a clean and wholesome nourishment In the Low-grounds they have store of Pease and Beans which for the strength of their feeding are much used by the Labouring people In the skirts of the Country which are not so fit for Grain these grow great woods of Timber to a vast bigness especially Firr-trees which are found to thrive best in stony grounds Springs of Mineral-waters which the people find useful in several diseases are common enough No Country is better provided with Fishes Besides flocks of smaller Whales the Porpess and the Meerswine frequently cast in great Whales of the Baleen or Whale-bone kind and of the Sperma Ceti kind are cast now and then upon several parts of the shore Besides the grain and other commodities already named the Merchants export alablaster linnen and woollen cloath freezes plaids plaiding stuff stockings malt and meal skins of Rabbets Hares c. fishes eggs oker marble coal and salt The Christian Religion was very early planted here Chrisâ—nity 〈◊〉 in Scoâ—land for Tertullian's words Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca Christo verò subdita must be understood of the north part of the Island possessed by the Scots and separated by a wall from that part which was subject to the Romans The Religion of the Kingdom establisht by Law is that which is contain'd in the Confession of Faith authoriz'd in the first Parliament of King James 6. and defined in the 19th Article of the said Confession to be That which is contained in the written word of God For the promotion of Learning they have four Universities St. Andrews Glasgow Aberdeen Learnâ—â—â— in Scoâ—land and Edenburgh wherein are Professors of most of the Liberal Arts endowed with competent Salaries The Division of SCOTLAND ALL the Northern part of the Island of Britain was antiently inhabited by the Picts who were divided into two Nations the Dicalidonii and Vecturiones of whom I have spoken already out of Ammianus Marcellinus But when the Scots had gotten possession of this Tract it was shar'd into seven parts amongst seven Princes as we have it in a little antient Book Of the Division of Scotland in these words The first part contained Enegus and Maern The second Atheodl and Goverin The third Stradeern with Meneted The fourth was Forthever The fifth Mar with Buchen The sixth Muref and Ross The seventh Cathness which Mound a Mountain divides in the midst running along from the Western to the Eastern Sea After that the same Author reports from the Relation of Andrew Bishop of Cathness that the whole Kingdom was divided likewise into seven Territories The first from Fryth so termed by the Britains by the Romans Worid now Scottwade to the River Tae The second from Hilef as the Sea surrounds it to a Mountain in the North-east part of Sterling named Athran The third from Hilef to Dee The fourth from Dee to the River Spe. The fifth from Spe to the Mountain Brunalban The sixth Mures and Ross The seventh the Kingdom of Argathel as it were the border of the Scots who were so called from Gathelgas their Captain With respect to the 〈…〉 and. 〈…〉 andâ—â— manners and ways of living it is divided into the High-land-men and Low-land-men These are more civilized and use the language and habit of the English the other more rude and barbarous and use that of the Irish as I have already mentioned and shall discourse hereafter Out of this division I exclude the Borderers â—â—â—derers because they by the blessed and happy Union enjoying the Sun-shine of peace on every side are to be lookt upon as living in the very midst of the British Empire and begin being sufficiently tir'd with war to grow
between Fife and Strathern with old barbarous verses upon it and had a certain privilege of a Sanctuary that any Homicide ally'd to Mac-duff Earl of Fife within the ninth degree if he came to this cross and gave nine cows with a * Colpindaâ—h Heifer he should be acquitted of the manslaughter When his Posterity lost this title I cannot yet learn but it appears by the Records of that Kingdom that King David 2. gave this Earldom to William Ramsay with all and every the immunities and the law which is called Clan Mac-duff And it is lookt upon as undeniable that the families of Weimes and Douglas and that great Clan Clan-Hatan whose head is Mac-Intoskech descended from them I find also by the learned J. Skene Clerk Register of Scotland in his Significations of words that Isabella daughter and heir to Duncan Earl of Fife granted upon certain conditions to Robert King of Scotland in trust for Robert Steward Earl of Menteith the Earldom of Fife who being afterwards Duke of Albany and eagerly affecting the Crown put David the King 's eldest son to one of the most miserable deaths that of hunger But his son Murdac suffered a punishment due to the wickedness both of his father and his own sons being put to death by King James the first 7 For their violent oppressions when a decree passed That the Earldom of Fife should for ever be united to the Crown But the authority of Sheriff of Fife belongs by inheritance to the Earl of Rothes Earl of Rothes m Vid. Hect. Boeth lib. 12. c STRATHERN â—â—â—â—h-ern â—â—â—attry AS far as the River Tay which bounds Fife on the North side Julius Agricola the best of all the Propraetors of Britain under Domitian the worst of the Emperors carried his victories in the third year of his Expedition having so far wasted the Kingdom Into this aestuarie falls the noted River Ern â—â—e River 〈◊〉 which rising out of a Logh of the same name bestows it on the Country it runs through for it is called Straith-ern which in the antient British signifies a Valley upon Ern. The Banks of this Ern are adorned with Drimein-Castle â—â—â—â—ein belonging to the family of the Barons of Dromond â—â—â—â—ns â—â—â—mond who have risen to great honours since King Robert Steward the 3. married a wife out of this family For the Women of that family for charming beauty and complexion are beyond all others insomuch that they have been most delighted in by the Kings 〈◊〉 of â—â—â—â—râ—â— And upon the same bank Tulibardin-Castle shews it self aloft and that with more honour since by the favour of K. James 6. John Murray Baron of Tulibardin was advanced to the title and dignity of Earl of Tulibardin Upon the other bank lower stands Duplin-Castle Duplin the seat of the Barons Oliphant Baron Oliphant and still remembers how great an overthrow not to be equalled in former Ages the English that came to assist King Edward Balliol gave the Scots there insomuch that the English writers of that time attribute the victory wholly to God's power and not to any valour of man and the Scots report that there fell of the family of Lindsay 80 persons and that the name of Hays had been quite extinct had not the head of the family left his Wife big with child at home Not far off stands Innermeth Lords of Innermeth well known for its Lords the Stewards of the family of Lorn 8 Inch-chafra i.e. in the old Scottish tongue the Isle of Masses hereby may be remembred whenas it was a most famous Abbey of the Order of St. Augustin founded by the Earl of Strathern about the year 1200. But after the conflux of the Ern and the Tay by which the latter more expatiates it self he looks up upon Aberneth Abernethy standing upon his banks antiently the Royal Seat of the Picts and a populous city which as we read in an old fragment Nectanus K. of the Picts gave to God and S. Brigid until the day of judgment together with the bounds thereof which lie from a stone in Abertrent to a stone near Carful that is Loghfol and from thence as far as Ethan But a long time after it fell into the possession of the Douglasses Earls of Angus who are called Lords of Aberneth and are some of them there interred The first Earl of Strathern Earls of Strathern that I read of was 9 Malisse who in the time of K. Henry 3. of England marry'd one of the heirs of Robert Muschamp a potent Baron of England Long afterward c. Robert Stewart in the year 1380. then David a younger son of K. Robert 2. whose only daughter being given in marriage to Patrick Graham was mother of Mailise or Melisse Graham from whom K. James 1. took the Earldom after he had found by the Records of the Kingdom that it had been given to his * Avo paterno Mother's Grandfather and his Heirs Male This Territory as also Menteith adjoyning is under the government of the Barons Dromond hereditary Stewards of it Menteith Menteith Stewartry as they say hath its name from the River Teith called also Taich and thence in Latin they name this little Territory Taichia Upon the bank of which lies the Bishoprick of Dunblain Dunblain erected by K. David the first of that name * See the Additionâ— Kird-bird At Kirk-Bird that is St. Brigid's Church the Earls of Menteith have their principal residence as also the Earls of Montross l. Montross is now a Marquisate of the same family not far off at Kin-kardin This Menteith as I have heard reaches to the Mountains that enclose the East side of Logh-lomond The antient Earls of Menteith were of the family of Cumen anciently the most numerous and potent in all Scotland but ruin'd by its own greatness The later Earls are of the House of Graham Earls of Menteâ—th ever since Mailise Graham attain'd to the honour of Earl d ARGATHELIA or ARGILE BEyond Logh-Lomond and the western part of Lennox near Dunbritton-Forth Argile lays out it self call'd in Latin Argathelia and Arogadia commonly Argile but more truly Argathel and Ar-Gwithil that is near to the Irish or as some old Records have it the brink or edge of Ireland for it lies towards Ireland whose inhabitants the Britains call'd Gwithil and Gaothel A Countrey much running out in length and breadth all mangled with Lakes well stock'd with fish and rising in some places into mountains very commodious for feeding of cattle wherein also wild Cows and Deer range up and down But along the coast what with rocks and what with blackish barren mountains it makes a horrid appearance In this tract as Bede observes Britain received after the Britons and Picts a 3d Nation the Scots into the Picts territories who coming out of Ireland with Reuda their Leader got either by force or friendship the habitation
which they still keep of which leader they are to this day called Dalreudini Dalreudini for in their language Dal Dal. signifies a part And a little after Ireland says he is the proper Country of the Scots for being departed out of it they added unto the Britons and Picts a 3d Nation in Britain And there is a very good Arm of the sea or a bay that antiently divided the Nation of the Britons from the Picts which from the West breaketh a great way into the Land and there to this day standeth the strongest City of the Britons call'd Alcluith In the Northern part of which bay the Scots whom I now mentioned when they came got themselves room to settle in Of that name Dalreudin there are now extant no remains that I know of nor any mention of it in Writers unless it be the same with Dalrieta Dalrieâ—â— For in an old little book of the Division of Albany we read of one Kinnadius who 't is certain was a King of Scotland and subdu'd the Picts in these very words Kinnadius two years before he came into Pictavia so it calls the country of the Picts enter'd upon the government of Dalrieta Also there is mention made in a more modern History of Dalrea Dalrea hereabouts where King Robert Brus fought a battle with ill success K. James the 4. with consent of the States of the Kingdom enacted that Justice should be administred to this province by the Justices Itinerant at Perth whensoever the King should think convenient But the Earls themselves have in some cases their Jura Regalia who are persons of very great authority and of a mighty interest deriving their pedigree from the antient petty Kings of Argile through an infinite series of Ancestors and taking their sirname from their Castle Cambel But they are oblig'd to King James the 2. for the honour and title of Earl who as it is recorded created Colin Lord Cambel Earl of Argile Earls oâ— Argile in regard to his own virtue and the dignity of his Family Whose Posterity by the favour of their Kings have been a good while General Justices of the Kingdom of Scotland or according to their way of expressing it Justices generally constitute and Great Masters of the King's Houshold e CANTIRE LOgh-Finn Logh-Finn a Lake that in the season produces incredible sholes of herrings divides Argile from a Promontory which for about 30 miles together growing by little and little into a sharp point thrusts it self with such a seeming earnestness towards Ireland separated from it by a narrow streight of scarce 13 miles as if it would call it over to it Ptolemy names this the Promontory of the Epidii Epidium between which name and the Islands Ebudae opposite to it methinks there is some affinity It is now called in Irish which language they use in all this Tract Can-tyre that is the Land's head 'T is inhabited by the family of Mac-Conell very powerful here but yet at the command of the Earl of Argile they sometimes in their Vessels make excursions for booty into Ireland and have possessed themselves of those little Provinces they call Glines and Rowte This Promontory lieth close to Knapdale by so small a neck of land being scarce a mile over and sandy too that the Sea-men by a short cut as it were transport their vessels over land from the Ocean to Logh-Finn Which a man would sooner beelieve than that the Argonautes laid their Argos upon their shoulders and carried it along with them 500 miles 10 From Aemonia to the shores of Thessalia f LORN SOmewhat higher lies Lorn towards the North a Country producing the best Barley divided by Logh-Leave a vast Lake upon which stands Berogomum Beâ—ogoâ—um a Castle wherein the Courts of Justice were antiently kept and not far from it Dunstafag that is Stephen's Mount antiently a seat of the Kings above which is Logh-Aber â—â—gh-â—â—â—r a Lake insinuating it self so far into the land out of the Western sea that it would meet the Lake of Ness which empties it self into the Eastern Ocean did not the hills which lie between separate them by a very narrow neck The chiefest place in this tract is Tarbar in Logh-Kinkeran where K. James 4. by authority of Parliament constituted a Justice and Sheriff to administer justice to the inhabitants of the Southern Isles These Countrys and these beyond them were in the year of Our Lord 605. held by those Picts which Bede calls the Northern Picts where he tells us that in the said Year Columbanus a Priest and Abbot Lib. 3. ca. 4. famous for the profession of Monkery came out of Ireland into Britain to instruct those in the Christian Religion that by the high and fearful ridges of mountains were sequester'd from the Southern Countrys of the Picts and that they in requital granted him m It does not appear that the Western-Isles belong'd to the Picts at that time so that they could not dispose of any part of them 'T is more probable that it was Hoia one of the Orkney-Isles the Island Hii lying over against them now call'd I-comb-kill of which in its proper place Its Stewards in the last Age were the Lords of Lorn but now by a female heir it is come to the Earls of Argile who always use this among their other titles of honour BRAID ALBIN MORE inwardly amongst the high and craggy ridges of the mountain Grampius where they begin a little to slope and settle downwards lies Braid-Albin n Now an Earldom in the family of the Campbels that is the highest part of Scotland For they that are the true and genuine Scots call Scotland in their Mother-Tongue Albin as that part where it rises up highest Drum-Albin that is the Ridge of Scotland But in a certain old Book it is read Brun-Albin where we find it thus written Fergus the son of Eric was the first of the seed of Chonare that enter'd upon the Kingdom of Albany from Brun-Albain to the Irish-sea and Inch-Gall And after him the Kings of the race of Fergus reigned in Brun-Albain or Brunhere unto Alpinus the son of Eochal But this Albany is better known for its Dukes than the fruits of its ground The first Duke of Albany that I read of 〈◊〉 of â—â—â—â—ny was Robert Earl of Fife advanced to that honour by his Brother K. Robert the 3. of that name yet he spurr'd on by ambition most ungratefully starved to death David this very brother's son and next heir to the Crown But the punishment due to this wicked fact which himself by the forbearance of God felt not came heavy upon his son Mordac or Murdo second Duke of Albany who was condemned for treason and beheaded after he had seen his two sons executed in like manner the day before The third Duke of Albany was Alexander 2. son of King James 2. who being Regent of the Kingdom Earl of
sons renown'd in fight And roving savages an hideous sight On barren cliffs their horned troops appear And with unequal steps pursue the trembling deer These I present and lakes the first in fame For choicest fish and fenns of flying game And mines of tin and veins of silver ore Which mother earth unlocking all her store From her deep bosom yields as if she 'd shew A nearer passage to the shades below And wond'ring ghosts expose to mortal view If what Irish Authors relate may be credited Why call'd Ogygia this Island was not without good reason call'd Ogygia or veryancient by Plutarch For they begin their Histories from the highest degrees of antiquity so that the originals of other nations are but novelties in respect of theirs and they themselves but infants They tell us that Caesarea a certain grand-daughter of Noah inhabited this Island before the deluge that 300 years after the flood Bartholanus a Scythian arrived here and had great conflicts with the Giants That long after this Nemetha the Scythian came hither and that he was soon driven out by the Giants that afterwards Dela with some Greeks possess'd himself of the Island and then Gaothelus with his wife Scota the daughter of Pharaoh King of Egypt came hither that the Countrey took the name Scotia from her and the language that of m The Polychronicon lib. 1. c. 33. tells us that Gaithelus made the Irish tongue which is called Gaithlaf as being a collection out of all tongues Vide Girald Topogr dist 3. cap. 7. Gaothela from him and that all this was about the time when the Israelites departed out of Aegypt Some few years after Hiberus and Hermion call'd Ever and Erimon by the Irish writers the sons of Milesius King of Spain planted their colonies in this country unpeopled by a pestilence at that time by the permission of Gerguntius King of the Britains as the British History inform us I shall neither meddle with the truth nor falsity of these relations antiquity must be allowed some liberty in such things However Ireland first inhabited by the Britains as I doubt not but this Island was n Of the original of the Irish and their language whether it was the same with the British see Ware 's Antiquitat Britan. p. ◠anciently inhabited as soon as mankind began to multiply and disperse in the World so 't is very plain that its first inhabitants came from Britain For not to mention the many British words to be met with in the Irish tongue and the ancient names which shew themselves to be of British extraction The nature and manners of that people as Tacitus says differs not much from the Britains It is call'd by all the ancient writers the British Island Diodorus Siculus makes Irin a part of Britain Ptolemy calls it Britannia Parva Britannia Parva as one may see by comparing his Geography with his Magna Constructio and Strabo in his Epitome calls the inhabitants expresly Britains Thus likewise the Island it self is call'd an Island of the Britains by the ancient Geographer Festus Avienus shews as much also from Dionysius where he treats of the British Islands Eminus hic aliae gelidi prope flabra Aquilonis Exuperant undas vasta cacumina tollunt Hae numero geminae pingues sola cespitis ampli Conditur occidui quà Rheni gurgitis unda Dira Britannorum sustentant agmina terris Two others that the North's cold streams divide Lift their proud clifts above th' unequal tide Wide are their fields their corn and pasture good Where Western Rhine rouls on his hasty flood And furious Britains make their wild abode Nor is there any Country from which by reason of vicinity people could more easily be transported into Ireland than from our Britain for from hence the voyage is as short and easie as from France to Britain But afterwards when the Romans had established an universal Empire 't is not to be question'd but that many out of Spain Gaul and Britain retir'd hither as secured from the plagues and grievances of the Roman tyranny For my part I cannot understand those words of Tacitus but with relation to this very thing Ireland situated exactly between Spain and Britain lies very convenient for the French-sea and would unite the strong members of the Empire with great advantages its ports and havens are better known than those of Britain by reason of resort and traffick For though Julius Agricola entertained a petty Prince of Ireland who was forced from thence by his rebel-subjects that he might the more advantageously invade that Island which he thought could be conquered and kept in subjection with one Legion and some few Auxiliaries and says moreover that it would prove a mighty support to the Roman interest in Britain if the Roman Arms were on all hands of it and liberty banish'd as it were out of sight Yet we do not find that the Romans made any attempts upon it Some indeed think they did and endeavour to strain this inference from that of Juvenal Arma quid ultra Littora Juvernae promovimus modò captas Orcadas minima contentos nocte Britannos What though the Orcades have own'd our power What though Juverna's tam'd and Britain's shore That boasts the shortest night That Panegyrick spoken to Constantine the Emperor seems also to intimate as if Ireland was subject to him The words are Britain is so recovered that even those nations which lie along the coasts of the same Island are become obedient to your command We are likewise informed by later Chronicles that Ireland together with Britain and Thule fell to Constantine's share the son of Constantine the Great at the division of the Empire Nay that silly story of Caesarea Caesarea Noah's Grandchild has so much of Caesar in it that it seems to intimate the arrival of some Caesar or other in Ireland However I can never imagine that this Island was conquered by the Romans Without question it had been well for it if it had and might have civilized them For wheresoever the Romans were Lords and Masters they introduced humanity among the conquer'd and except where they rul'd there was no such thing as humanity learning or neatness in any part of Europe Their neglect of this Island may be charged upon them as inconsiderateness For from this quarter Britain was spoil'd and infested with most cruel enemies which seems foreseen by Augustus when he neglected Britain for fear of the dangers that threatned him from the adjacent nations Towards the decay of the Roman Empire a nation of the Scots or Scythians for formerly as Strabo writes all westward were term'd Celto-Scythae grew potent in Ireland and made a great figure in the world In the reign of Honorius and Arcadius the Emperors it was inhabited by nations of the Scots as Orosius writes Hence Claudian his Cotemporary Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis Jerne O're heaps of Scots when icy Ireland mourn'd And in
24 Yet will I note thus much which I have since hapned upon in the Records When as King Richard aforesaid had advanced that Robert Vere Earl of Oxford to be Marquiss of Dublin and had given to him the Seigniory of Iâ—eland during his life Pr. pat an 9. Ric. 2. m. 1. he desirous to augment his honour by more ennoblishing him with honourable Arms granted also that as long as he should live and hold the said Seigniory he should bear these Arms Azure 3 Crowns Or in a border in his Standards Pennons Coat-armors and other things werein Arms are to be shewed in all Marshal matters and eâ—sewhere at his pleasure But this grant was soon after recalled and those Arms abolished Where the river Liffy runs into the sea stands Houth almost encompassed by the salt water Baroâ—â— Hoâ—â— S. â—aâ—reâ—ce which gives the title of Barons to the noble family of S. Lâ—urence who have lived there so happy that in a long series of successors for they derive their pedigree as low as Henry the seventh's time no one of them as 't is said has ever been attainted of treason or left in minority A little distance from hence is Malchid Maâ—châ—â— eminent for its Lords the Talbots an English family More to the north inward stands b Fingall Fâ—ngaâ— which is an Irish word and signifies a nation of Foreigners for they call the English Gall i.e. Strangers and Saissâ—nes as it were Saxons a small territory well cultivated and the granary in a manner of this Kingdom it yields such plentiful crops of corn every year Here the earth strives as it were to be grateful to the husband-man which in other parts of this Island is so neglected that for want of tillage it seems to reproach the sloth and idleness of the Inhabitants Here are scatter'd up and down this Country many eminent families of the English besides those but now mentioned the Plunkets the Barnwells the Russâ—lls the Talbots Dillons Nettervills Holywoods Lutterels Burnells Fitz-Williams Goldings Ushers Cadleys Finglases Sarfelds Blackneys Cruces Baths c. Thus much as briefly as I could of Leinster which formerly went no farther I cannot tell whether it would best deserve laughter or penning that Thomas Stukely Thomâ—â— Stuâ—â—â— when he had lost his reputation and fortune both in England and Ireland and escap'd the danger of the Law by his fair promises and ostentation insinuated himself so much into the favour of Pope Gregory the thirteenth that he conferr'd upon him the titles of Marquiss of Leinster Earl of Weisford and Caterlagh Vicount of Murrough and Baron of Ross and Ydron Thus big with the vanity of these titles intending to invade Ireland he turn'd into Africa and along with three Kings that were slain in one battle ended the scene of his life honourably enough d This is a Barony in the County of Dublin METH THE remaining part of the Country of the Eblani was formerly a Kingdom and the fifth part of Ireland call'd in Irish Mijh in English Methe by Giraldus Midia and Media because perhaps it lay in the middle of the Island For they say that Kil-lair a Castle in these parts which seems to be that called by Ptolemy Laberus Labeâ—us as the name it self intimates is as it were the Navel of Ireland For Lair in Irish signifies a Navel a This Description of Meath comprehends also West-Meath and Longford This Meth lyes extended from the Irish Sea as far as the river Shanon The soil of which as Barthol Anglicus tells us yeilds good corn and makes good pasture which is well stockt with cattle the County is also well furnished with fish and flesh and other victuals as butter cheese and milk and well watered with rivers The situation is pleasant and the air wholsom By reason of woods and marshes in the borders of it the entrance or access is difficult so that for the great number of inhabitants and the strength of its towns and castles it is commonly by reason of the peace it enjoys called the Chamber of Ireland Within the memory of our fathers when the Country was too large to be governed by one Sheriff for the more easie administration of Justice it was divided into two by Act of Parliament in the 38th of Hen. 8. the County of Meth and the County of West Meth. The County of METH THE County of Meth on the South bounds upon the County of Kildare on the East upon the County of Dublin and the Sea on the North upon the territory of Louth and on the West upon the County of West-Meth The whole is subdivided into 18 Baronies Dueleke Scrine Slane Margallen Navan Kenles the moiety of the Barony of Fower near Kenles Killalou Demore Clove Moylagh Loghern Old-castle Luyn Moyfeuraraghe Deese Rathtouth and Dunboyn The Boyn R. Boâ—n in Ptolemy Buvinda in Giraldus Boandus a noble river rising in the North side of the King's County runs through the middle of this shire In the hither part on this side the Boyn the places memorable are Galtrim â—â—â—trim where the Family of the Huseys have long dwelt â—â—in Killin-Castle built by Hugh Lacy Keeper of Ireland in Henry the second 's time and Dunsany â—â—â—sany which has its Barons of Parliament eminent for their antient and noble family descended from the Plonkets others derive them from the Danes but their Arms are the same only in different colours with Allan Plonket of Kilpeck in England â—â—â—kett who was also a Baron in Edward the first 's time These Plonkets in Ireland have been eminent ever since 25 Sir Christopher Christopher Plonket a man of great wisdom and gallantry who was Deputy as they call it to Richard Duke of York Viceroy in Henry the sixth's time enjoy'd the Barony of Killin which fell to him by his wife as heir to the Family of the Cusakes and his second son had the title of Baron of Dunsany â—â—â—â—n â—â—â—sany conferr'd upon him for his great worth and virtue Beyond the Boyn 〈◊〉 â—ramletâ—â—â—â—n stands Trimletstoun which is a Barony belonging to one of the Family of the Barnwells 〈◊〉 â—nwell For 26 Sir Robert Barnwell John Barnwell was made a Baron of Parliament by Edward the fourth Then Gormanston which has its Vicounts â—â—counts â—â—rmanâ—â—on men of great worth descended from the Prestons of Lancashire as 't is thought and Slane â—â—ons â—oâ— which has also its Barons of the Family of the Flemings and b The name is Athboy Abâ—y a populous Market-town Upon the Boyn after it has passed Glan-Iores i.e. the land of the sons of George who was of the Family of the Birminghams whose heir by marriage brought a fair inheritance with the Castle of Carbray Carbray to the Prestons it arrives at Trim Trim. an eminent Market-town where William Pepard built a Castle This was an antient Barony of the Lacyes which afterwards became one of
any expence or writing by certain judges whom they choose among themselves and call Deemsters Deemsters For the Magistrate taketh up a stone and after he has mark'd it gives it to the plaintiff by virtue whereof he summons in his witnesses and the defendant If the case is difficult and of great consequence it is referred to the hearing of twelve men whom they call the Keys of the Island Keys of the Island Annos They have also certain Coroners these they call Annos who are instead of Sheriffs and execute their office As for the Ecclesiastical Judge he hears and determines all causes within eight days from the citation and the party must either stand to his sentence or go to gaol As their language is peculiar so likewise are their laws and money as I have heard which are both signs of a distinct soveraignty The Ecclesiastical laws in force here next after the Canon law come nearest to the civil Neither the Judge nor the Clerks of the Court have any fees either for the process or instruments As for those mischievous effects of witchcraft of which English writers tell us there 's nothing in it The richer sort and those that have estates imitate the gentry of Lancashire in splendid living and integrity The women never stir abroad but with their winding sheets about them to put them in mind of mortality If a woman be tried and receives sentence of death she is sow'd up in a sack and thrown from a rock into the sea Stealing and begging from door to door is universally detested The people are wonderful religious and all of them zealously conformable to the Church of England They are likewise great enemies to the disorders as well Civil as Ecclesiastical of their neighbour Countreys And whereas the whole Isle is divided into two parts south and north the Inhabitants of this speak like the Scots and those of the other like the Irish If I should here subjoin a short history of the affairs of this Island it would be worth my while and truth it self seems to challenge it that hereby I may preserve the memory of such actions as are if not already buried in oblivion yet next door to it That this Island as well as Britain was possessed by the Britains is granted on all sides But when the northern nations broke in like a violent tempest upon these southern parts it became subject to the Scots In the time of Honorius and Arcadius Orosius says that it was as much inhabited by the Scots as Ireland was * By others Built and Ninius tells us of one Binle a certain Scot that held it Yet the same author observes that they were driven out of Britain and the Isles belonging to it by Cuneda the Grandfather of Maglocunas who from the cruel ravages he made in this Island is call'd the Dragon of the Isles by Gildas Afterwards this Island and likewise Anglesey aforesaid was subjected to the English Monarchy by Edwin King of the Northumbrians if we suppose them both to be signified by the word Menaviae as Writers would have us think At this time it was reputed a British Island At last when the north overswarming a second time sent out another Brood of Normans Danes and Norwegians to seek their fortune in the world the Norwegians who most sadly infested this sea by their piracies possessed themselves of this Island and the Hebrides and set up petty Princes over them of whom I will here add this Historical Account as it is word for word in an old Manuscript lest it should perish by some unlucky accident The title it bears is Chronicon Manniae i.e. A Chronicle of Man It seems to have been written by the Monks of Russin-Abbey the most eminent Monastery that was in this Island A CHRONICLE of the KINGS of MAN IN the year of our Lord 1065. died Edward King of England of pious memory to whom Harold son of Godwin succeeded Harold Harfager King of Norway rais'd war against him and was so beaten at a battle at Stainfordbridge that his men ran away In this flight one Godred sirnamed Crovan the son of Harold the black escaping out of Iseland came to Godred the son of Syrric King of Man at that time and was honourably entertained by him The same year William the Bastard conquered England and Godred the son of Syrric King of Man died and was succeeded by his son Fingall An. 1066. Godred Crovan got a numerous fleet together and arrived at Man where he fought with the inhabitants but was overcome and put to flight Having rallied his forces and his fleet he landed again at Man fought the inhabitants and was routed by them Having rais'd a great army the third time he came by night to the port called Ramsa and laid an ambuscade of three hundred men in a wood upon the hollow brow of a hill call'd Scacafel As soon as the sun was up the inhabitants drew themselves up in battalia and fell upon Godred with great violence When both parties were close engaged the three hundred men that lay in ambush behind came out to the assistance of their Countrymen and put the Islanders to flight When they saw themselves overcome and no place to retreat to for the tide was in so that there was no passing the river Ramsa and the enemy was at their heels pursuing them in a moanful manner they petitioned Godred to spare their lives Godred being moved with compassion at the calamitous condition of a people among whom he had himself been brought up for some time recall'd his army and hindred them from making any farther pursuit The next day Godred gave his army their choice whether they would divide the lands of the Isle among them and live there or seise upon the wealth and substance of the Country and return home with it But his army was rather for spoiling the Island and enriching themselves with the goods of it and so for departing However Godred himself with some of the Islanders that stayed with him settled in the south part of the Island and granted the north part to the remains of the natives upon condition that none of them should ever presume to claim any part of it as their inheritance Hence to this very day the whole Island is the King 's and all the rents that arise in it belong to him Godred then reduced Dublin and a great part of Laynestir As for the Scots he brought them to such subjection that if any of them built a ship or a boat they durst not drive * Plus quam tres clavos inscrere above 3 nails in it He reigned sixteen years and died in the Island call'd Yle leaving three sons Lagman Harald and Olave Lagman being eldest seised upon the Kingdom and reigned seven years His brother Harald continued a long time in rebellion against him but being at last taken he had his privy members cut off and his eyes put out Afterwards Lagman
adjacent Fort may apprehend the Delinquent and send him under a guard to Castle-town where he is brought before the Governor of the Island and being examined is either sentenced or dismissed according as his innocence or his guilt appears As for private injuries and injustices which require a suit of Law they are decided according to their customary Laws twice a year in their Sheeding-Courts The principal Forts are the Castle of Russin where the Lord of the Island keeps his Court and Peel-Castle which Mr. Camden calleth only a Block-house but it is now acknowledged to be the second Fortress of the Island and is of great importance It is strongly fortified both by nature and art by the sea round about it and by walls and ramparts within It is the common prison for all Offenders in the Island the Kings of England have frequently banished hither and confined to this prison several noble persons The Inhabitants This Island seems to have been peopled from the Hebrides or western Isles of Scotland their language being the very same with the Scots-Irish The people are stiled Manksmen and their language Manks Many of their words are derived from the Latine and Greek and some are pure English Such words for the most part signifie things foreign and which originally were not known to them or in use amongst them In their language they always put the substantive before the adjective as man good woman fair The Peasants of the Island are tall in stature but of a gross heavy spirit and surly temper imposing upon others and shewing little respect to strangers They live in little Huts made up of small stones and clay instead of walls and most commonly thatched with broom which have only one room and that without any cieling In this single room the whole family lyes and among the meaner sort they are forced to place their cows in a corner of the room They are very sparing and abstemious in their diet their constant food being salt-butter herrings and oat-cakes Their drink is either simple water or water mixed with milk or butter-milk Their bedding is generally hay or straw and they are much addicted to the musick of the Violin The inhabitants are not mutinous or rebellious but continue firm in their loyalty to the Lord of the Island and detest all our commotions and divisions both in Church and state Their Gentry are very courteous and affable and are more willing to discourse with one in English than their own language In all their carriage apparel and house keeping they imitate the English Gentry They do not live in towns or villages but in mansion-houses built upon their own lands in the Country which for the most part are high well-built houses after the English fashion There are but about six families of note in the whole Island yet some of these are of great antiquity and especially those that bear the sirname of Christian and Cannel For out of these two families they ordinarily choose their Deemsters who are their Judges In former times there were several Noblemen of this Island but at present there are none save the Lord of the Island Not only the Gentry but likewise such of the Peasants as live in the towns or frequent the town-markets do both understand and speak the English language Their Customs as to Foreigners If any who is not a native desires to live in the Island he must have the leave of the Lord or of the Governor in the Lord's absence and then he enjoys all privileges as if he had been a native When any strangers arrive in the Island the Governor is presently acquainted with it who sends the Comptroller or some other officer to the town where the strangers land to examine what they are whence they come and what their business is in the Island Before this officer the stranger is to appear immediately after his landing and after satisfying him in these questions is dismissed It is expected of all strangers of what quality soever that after their arrival the very same day if it be not too late they go and visit first the Lord and afterwards the Governor of the Island who both reside in Castle-town If they land at any of the other havens and be unprovided of a horse the Comptroller by his place is to furnish them with a horse to carry them to Castle-town and this at the charges of the Lord of the Island Upon their arrival at Castle-town they are waited on by a Gentleman of quality who conducts them first to the palace of the Lord and afterwards to the Governor's apartment where after some few general questions they are civilly dismissed Their â—anner of â—ade The method of trading and commerce which the inhabitants of this Island use with foreigners is singular and truly beneficial both to the natives and to strangers The Country at a Tinwald or their prime Court always chooses four Merchants to buy the foreign commodities for the whole Island and they are sworn by the Deemsters to deal justly and fairly for the Country's profit When any ship arrives in the Island with salt iron pitch or tar or any other foreign commodity these four Merchants together with the foreign Merchant appear before the Governor of the Island to treat about the prices of the commodities imported and to make a bargain Whatsoever bargain is made by these four the Country is to stand to and obliged to take the goods of the foreign Merchant and pay for them according to the rates agreed on The people of the Country are to bring in their native commodities of wooll hides tallow or such like and are to have for the same according to the agreement made their equal proportion of the salt iron or other commodities imported If the commodities brought in by the country people will not extend to the value of the stranger's commodities then the four Merchants are to assess the rest of the commodities upon the Country every one his equal proportion for which they are to pay ready money according to the prices agreed on by the four Merchants By this means the foreign Merchant is much encouraged to bring in things necessary for the Island and the people have by the faithfulness of their four Merchants the full benefit of the commodities imported which otherwise some private men of the Country would certainly enhance for their own profit The foreigners viz. the English Scots and Irish and none almost of any other nation drive the greatest trade in the towns the natives thereof being for the most part Mariners or Fishermen although there are not at present above three or four in a town that have small little boats of their own wherewith they trade transporting and importing petty commodities In former times this Island was better stored with shiping being able to equip a fleet of fourscore sail * Chron. of Man but at this day they have not any bark above sorty tun In