that there were found two Teeth of a certain Giant of such a huge bigness that two hundred such Teeth as men now adaies have might be cut out of them These Teeth he sales he saw himself but not without great Admiration And a Gentleman named R. Cavendish in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth reports also that he saw some Relicks of this nature near the very same place That which Geropius and Mr. Cambden answer to this out of Suetonius seems frivolous That the Bones of Sea Fish have been taken for Giants Bones Men certainly may easily distinguish between them neither is it ever to be rationally supposed men ever entombed Fishes as those in Germany were found to be But that which comes nearer to our purpose concerning the Phoenicians in Britain and their Gigantick bodies is the Tradition which has been preserved in Cornwal a place they most resided in for the sake of their Tynn Traffick which Tradition of the being of Giants in those Parts was preserved to the daies of Havillan the Poet who lived four hundred years since In some of whose Verses the Phoenicians seem to be exactly described neither can this relate as Mr. Cambden implies to the Great bodies of Cornish men who are not so disproportional to their Neighbours as to create so serious a description The Verses are these of Cornwal Titanibus illa Sed Paucis famulosa domus quibus uda serarum Terga dabant vates Cruor haustus Pocula trunci Antra Lares dumeta Thoros Coenacula rupes Praeda cibos raptus Venerem spectacula caedes Imperium Vires animos suror impetus arma Mortem pugna sepulchra rubus monstrisque gemebat Monticolis tellus sed eorum plurima tractus Pars erat occidui terror majorque premebat Te furor extremum Zephyrt Cornubia limen Here Giants lodg'd a brood of Titan's Race Raw Hides their Cloathing Blood their drinking was Their Cups were hollow Trees their Houses Dens Bushes their Beds their Chambers craggy Pens Hunger with Prey their Lust with Rapes they cas'd The sport of slaughtering Men their Eye-sight pleas'd Force gave them Rule their rage did Arms supply Being kill'd in Groves instead of Graves they lye These Monsters every quarter did molest But most of all the Cornwal in the West This description of them agrees exactly with the Character the British Histories all along gives of those Giants that lived before Brutes entrance into this Island which Histories though by some are esteemed Fabulous yet let any one consider whether it be not much more probable to imagine that there were many Truths delivered down and so taken up and corrupted by those Writers than to think they had no grounds to begin their Histories or that they were so unreasonably given to Deceiving as to have no other motives in the publishing their Writings but to put Tricks and Cheats upon the World especially in the matter of Giants a thing which they could not but fore-see would in all Ages be hardly credited Now if there be any truth in the British Histories those men of vast Proportions called by them GIANTS could be none but the Phoenicians as the Time of the being of such Giants viz. about the year MMDLX this Island corresponding with the Age of the Phoenicians Navigation hither doth plainly shew I do verily believe from their hard usage of the Islanders whom they found at their first entrance and whom all along they oppressed this custome of making of Wicker Statues and firing them upon special occasions was introduced for we see even to these daies the burning of Persons in Effigle is preserved in many civiliz'd Nations but the making them in Wicker rather than any other Materials may very easily be attributed to the manner of the Boats the Britains used on their Coasts thereby in their own little Models representing the Phoenicians Navigation their Wicker Vessels becoming an Emblem of the Phoenician Ships that enslaved them That the Skiffs they sayled in were made of this sort of work Caesar testifies when he writes Ships they had of which the Keels and Foot-stocks were of slight Timber but the Bodies were winded and worked with Osyers and covered with Leather These sorts of Vessels Lucan also describes after the same manner Primùm Cana Salix madefacto vimine parvam Texitur in puppim caesoque induta juvenco Victoris patiens tumidum super emicat amnem Sic Venetus stagnante Pado fusóque Britannus Navigat Oceano At first with twisted Osyers Boats were made And when the Wicker was with skins o're-laid These Vessels on the Seas the Britain guides On swelling Rivers the Venetian rides This shall suffice to have been spoken of this Custome of the Britains in making these Wicker Statues which I have treated of more largely because in reading the British History where frequent mention is made of Giants we may know to what Nation we may refer and their Original Although after the manner of those Historians the greatness of their Stature and the cruelty of their Natures may be too much magnified yet seeing the Trading of the Phoenicians is made out from undoubted Authority as from Greek and Latin Historians whose testimony in matter of Fact is necessary in other respects we ought not to question but they were the Phoenicians men of Great bodies who gave first the occasion of this Tradition and who by their Traffick hither might bring that Thraldom on the People the remembrance of which they preserved after the Phoenicians themselves had forsaken them But to return to the Customes of the Britains They used a Drink made of Barly as Solinus witnesseth a Custome used by us at this very day a thing unknown in former Ages in any Country of Europe Britain only excepted For in other Nations they used Wine and Water either by themselves or intermixt even in colder Countries than Britain which of it self is not deficient to produce Grapes and to ripen them so that excellent Wine may and is daily produced did not the richness of the Soyl invite the Natives to more useful improvements We find Ovid in his Tristibus complaining of his banishment among the Getes giving this instance of the Coldness of the Country That they did not draw their Wine out of their Vessels as in hotter Countries but that they were constrained to take the Hoops off and so opening the Vessel brake the frozen Wine with Chizels having thawed it by the fire drank it We do not find any Country that had the use of making drink of Barly but if the Country of it self would not bear Wine they had it brought them from hotter Countries or else pleased themselves with Water only Now we must seek elsewhere for this Custome of the Britains and we shall find that this also they might have from the Phoenicians To the proof of which let us consider that the Phoenicians by their Colonies planted themselves on all the Sea Coasts of
punctual Chronology in things of so vast a distance the Religious care of the Historiographers lest the minutest Circumstances should be omitted Who can but admire at their ingenious Contrivances least the Reigns of these things should want some diverting Circumstances and their Governments run dully without the usual rubs of Ambition and Usurpation If we seriously consider these matters we may easily find that the Government of these Princes began not many hundred years ago The Opinion of Isacius Tzetzes concerning imaginary Regions in the British Seas was never more true then when we consider these Aiery Princes and their phantastical Governments so that hitherto we find rather an History of Utopia than Britain From Samothes his Reign beginning An. Mundi MDCCCCX which is 254 years after the Flood to the end of Phranicus his Reign are 945 years so that the Entrance of Brute into this Island according to this account is in the year of the World MMDCCCLV and after the Flood 1199 years But as if there were some great truth in this matter that required wonderful Exactness we find much variance in Authors Berosus makes Samothes's Kingdom about 152 years after the Flood and that it continued 335 years in his Posterity Mr. Hollinshead saies 310 and then Albion Arrived but from Samothes to the end of Bardus his Reign is but 247 years so that here a vast Inter-regnum is made between Bardus and Albion Besides the differences between 254 and 152 years in which Samothes is said to begin his Kingdom cuts short the seventy five years of Bardus his Reign which are assigned him by the Count Palatine The Entrance of Brute according to this Computation differs something from that which is generally received namely That he arrived at this Island in the year of the World 2887 and after the Flood 1231 in the Eighteenth year of Eli his Priesthood and before Christ 1059. And here Mr. Speed comes upon Brutes History with his Scripture Chronology like a Goliah Let us see to what purpose Brute saith he is the fourth discent from AEneas namely thus AEneas Ascanius Silvius Brutus Now allowing favourably according to Herodotus and I add according to the Britains Thirty years for a Generation we shall find that if Brute entred this Isle Anno Mundi 2887 that the Trojan War in the daies of AEneas happened Anno Mundi 2768 in the Eight and thirtieth year of Gideons Government But this cannot be saies Mr. Speed why not Because saies he Clemens Alexandrinus alleadged out of Pergamenus and Letus placeth the Trojan War fully Two hundred and thirty years after namely in the Reign of King Solomon so that Brute entred not this Island in Ely's Priesthood but in the Usurpation of Juda's Kingdom by Athaliah in the year of the World 3118. and so we see Brutes Antiquity cut off Two hundred and thirty years O wonderful exactness in Chronology will any one henceforth be able to defend Brutes History no certainly especially if they consider the deadly blow that is coming Josephus saies he confidently affirms he is able to prove by Phoenician Records that the City Carthage was built by Dido Sister to Pigmaleon 155 years after the Reign of King Hiram which was Solomons Friend and 143 years and eight months after the building of his most beautiful Temple Now Dido and AEneas according to Virgil were contemporary By this computation we find Troys destruction fell out about the twentieth year of Joash his Reign over Judah which was in the year of the Worlds Creation 3143 to which if we add One hundred and twenty years for the Four discents from AEneas to Brute then will Brutes Conquest of this Island fall with the twelfth of Jothams Reign in Anno Mundi 3263 and thus we see Brute hath miserably lost again 375 years of his Antiquity The greatest loss is to follow and here it is that Mr. Speed saies that he has made a deep breach into Brute's History Manethon saies he the Historian Priest of Egyt in his second Book cited by Josephus affirmeth that the Israelites departure from AEgypt was almost 1000 years before the Wars of Troy and this Mr. Speed saith Josephus seems to allow By this measure Brute is lessened 752 years but I would fain know why he thinks Josephus allows this Computation when as before Josephus is brought in confidently maintaining another Account and that out of the Phoenician Annals Josephus might allow this Computation of Manethon the Egyptian perhaps according to the Egyptian manner of Years which consisted of three Months and so the 1000 years will in reality be but 250 effectually But what makes all this against Brute whose time depends upon the timing of the Trojan War for can any one be so mad or simple as by any Scripture Computation to bring down the War of Troy below the daies of Alexander and almost equalling it with the Punick Clemens Alexandrinus might erre in this Chronology and Virgil is generally reproved for making AEneas and Dido contemporary The Trojan War it self is so disputable that who can expect an exact timing of it If the Author that Jeffery of Monmouth pretends to have translated did place the Entrance of Brute under the Priesthood of Ely it was a fancy grounded upon some Computation of his own which whether it be true or false concerns not the question of Brutes Arrival who knew not and consequently could not deliver down his Entrance in the Priesthood of Ely There are too many Circumstances that condemn the story of Brute and it is vain to confute an Author in a small matter whereas greater things may be laid to his charge like him who declaiming against Nero insisted most in his defects in Musick so if there were nothing to be said against Brutes and Samothes's stories but the ill harmony of Time possibly they may be found as perfect in those points as most Histories But the destroying of Brute by any Computation is as if one would by the same Weapons prove there was never a Trojan Horse or Minerva's fatal Statue and so I proceed to Brutes History THE CHRONICLE OF THE British Kings CHAP. XI The History of BRUTE BRUTUS Brito or as the Count Palatine calls him Brotus is on all hands agreed to be the Off-spring of AEneas but whether by his Wife Creusa or Lavinia there is great variance manifested in Authors AEnaeas dying he left his Kingdom to Ascanius whom he had by his first Wife Creusae Lavinia his second Wife surviving and finding her self big with Child began to dread the power of Ascanius least the odious name of a Step-mother and the jealousie of an half Brother and Competitor in the Kingdom might carry him on to some violence against her Person Upon this she fled into the Woods and was delivered of a Son whom she named Silvius Posthumus from the place of his Birth and by reason he was born after the decease
make us believe a Conjunction here more than in any other part of the World And here I must desire it to be granted that the Earth continues for many miles together in most parts of the World the very same under Water as it is on the next Neighbouring dry Land and that in no place or very rarely and by accident there is a mutation of the Soyl just upon the Sea-shoar I mean that upon the Sea the uttermost bounds of the Earth shall be fat and sertile stony or minerally and immediately where the Sea begins it shall be of a different nature The want of this Consideration seems to have been the Reason why men in several parts of the World have thought by the likeness of soyls there hath been a Conjunction of Earth when the truth is it was nothing more but the very fame Vein of ground which ran under Water from one Country to another V and F are the Air part whereof is above part under the upper Crust of the Earth E D is the Water M and G the Mineral Earth upon which the upper Crust E is supposed to fall I the Fire Now supposing the upper Crust of Earth E be dried by the heat of the Sun it follows in time that it would shrink and so wanting the continuation of its parts which is necessary to support the Arch some of it would fall upon the Mineral Earth C whereby the Water D and Air F would arise and be uppermost and other parts of E remain above yet so hollow within as to keep Water in its Concavity which drayned through the Earth would produce Springs and being rarified into Vapours would cause Earthquakes Now that which makes to our business is this Suppose all the distance between 1 2 3 4. to be of a Sandy and Rocky nature if the breach be in the middle point betwixt 1 and 4 the shoar 1 and shoar 4 will be of the same Nature in respect the Earth is the same all along between them which now is supposed to be under Water between those two Points E E E the upper Crust of the Earth 1 2 3 9. V 6 the several Breaches the Breach at 9 and V makes the Mountain whose top is at 4 the Concavity at F. From 2 to 8 as likewise from 7 to X the Water is above the Earth and maketh two Seas the shoars whereof are at 8 and X from 8 to 9 and so to X is dry Land And because in the Nature of the thing it is more reasonable to imagine the Breaches to be made where the Soyls differ therefore it happens that different and opposite Shoars are most commonly of a different Nature yet it follows not that Shoars of the same Nature and Soyl ought to be imagined of later date in their Separation than those which are of a different Nature neither is it material whether the Shoars be steep and Cliffy or whether plain and eaven or whether they answer one another or no. For we find in sounding of the depths of the Seas Hills and Valleys as well as on the dry Land neither does it follow more that the Cliffs of Dover and Bullen were a continued Ridge of Hills than that Highgate and Penman in Flint-shire are All that I think worthy to be observed is this that where a Shoar is high and steep there as to the main matter the further you go from Shoar for some distance the fewer fathom of Water you find And on the contrary where a Shoar is plain by degrees you go deeper and deeper and in this also you must allow for height of ground which often casually happens in the bottom of the Sea as well as on the dry Land The Reason of it is this because that Arch of Earth which we called Mineral Earth and was formed under Water being a less Circle of vast proportion as included by two Outward ones could not have Superficies enough for the upper Earth to lie upon it for where the fall is greater and steeper of necessity not far off must there be some Ascent proportionable as we find Dover and the opposite Clyffs exactly in the mid-way an Ascent of ground called the Riff or Trowen Shoal not sandy but of a Rocky substance scarce four Fathom deep at low Water the farther you go from it East or West being deeper and deeper still as afore allowing for casual and accidental Hillocks in the bottom From all which I think that the similitude of Soyls and equality of Promontories are no Argument to make us believe that after the general ordering the Earth Dover and Bullen were more joyned than any other parts whatever but were Primitively disjoyned as other Nations were And this Argument will hold good whether according to Des Cartes we suppose the Earth above the Water as a Postulatum only and no further or whether with Moses we certainly believe that the Waters were above the Earth for according to both the Earth must shrink and by ascent and descent gather it self together to make room for the Waters which in its hollow or concave places were to be gathered together As for Verstegans Argument That there is nothing broken but what was whole I think he might have joyned the two Promontories as easily with any other Principle as two entire parts joyned make a whole or that the Parts are less than the whole Of the same force is his Observation That steep places near the Sea are called Cliffs when as in the In-lands they are rather called Hills or Mountains and this he would have to intimate as much as if they had been cleaved from some other Promontory According to his Principle Nothing is broken in Nature that hath not been whole a Principle undeniable yet makes no more for the Cliffs of Dover than any other in the World which are not answered by other Cliffs as perhaps Dovers are These are his Reasons that shew the probability of such a Breach Let us now examine his Arguments by which he thinks he has put it out of all doubt Such as he calls evident Reasons and remarkable Demonstrations which he saith ought to be admitted as sufficient as Authors nay beyond some who deliver it by Hear-say but to give my Judgment in this case I should think the least Tradition in Antiquity that there was such athing to be of more force than all his Demonstrations to perswade and convince a man of so great a change in the World Although to him it might seem never so easie and common yet we read that some who had rashly undertook to cut the Isthmus of ground on which Corinth stood they were daily and hourly terrified and affrighted with Noises and hideous Out-cries and their works notwithstanding all their diligence went backwards Nature will not easily permit such Changes whether it proceeds from guilt of mind being a presumption that naturally would startle humane nature to set surer bounds to Kingdoms than first ordained or whether it
a Person as who with Scipio the Great had been an Eye-witness of most Places of Note and had seen most Phoenician Records some notable History of Britain But thus much we are sure that in his daies the Islands were called BRATANACS preserving the C of their first Original as in his Works is found Those three Persons Pytheas Dicaearchus and Eratosthenes whose Opinions Strabo introduceth Polybius comparing and confuting as they writ of Britain all three of them so were they much Ancienter than Polybius As for Eratosthenes Suidas makes him to live in the One hundred twenty sixth Olympiad in the daies of Ptolomaeus Philadelphus Dicaearchus was the Schollar of Aristotle Ancienter than he and Pytheas cited by both of the former precedes them both so that I find three most Eminent Persons among the Greeks to have written concerning Britain even in those daies when Mr. Cambden imagin'd it to lie in a Nook of the World obscurely and unknown For as the Trade of it was great for Tynn and Lead so that the Graecians had none but what was brought from thence as Mr. Cambden himself confesses so it manifestly appears that the Cassiterides were known before Homers daies who writes of Lead which otherwise he could not do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Goddess to the bottom fell like Lead Now let any judge whether the Scilly Islands could be discovered and many Voyages made thither and this Island of BRITAIN to be unknown As for those Verses of Avienus which Mr. Cambden seems to slight so much as to call them Credulous who give any belief to them although he makes use of them afterwards in his description of the Scilly Islands Thus much is to be said in general Festus Avienus professes that himself had read all the Navigations of Himiko in the Punic Annals Haec olim Himilco Poenus Oceano super Spectasse semel probasse retulit Haec nos ab imis Punicorum Annalibus Prolata longo tempore edidimus tibi These things of Old on Western Sea Himilco saies he try'd and saw From hidden Punick Annals we Relate what we from thence did draw Certainly it is unreasonable to condemn an Author upon no ground in the World but Humor neither do I think it a fond Credulity but an act of true Judgment to give Assent to a Person who professes himself to have read it and especially where there is nothing related but what agrees with the whole consent and current of those times And this way of proceeding is unequal to Reject without being able to give some Reason so it reflects upon the Authority of all Ancient Writers whose Veracity cannot be made out otherwise than by their constant assevering that they have Heard and Read such things which they relate without Assent to which their Histories become dead and useless Now to deny that to Festus Avienus which we grant to other Authors without giving any Reason for our dislike but only because it makes not to our purpose seems to me rather the Act of a Judge than an Inquirer or diligent Searcher after Antiquities And looks as if it proceeded from the thoughts of having obtained the utmost heights and top of Truth and Antiquity so that it is lawful to judge and condemn Authors at pleasure However Festus Avienus in this matter agrees with all Antiquity as to the Sailing of the Phoenicians into the Western Sea there arriving at the Isles of Scilly to Traffick for Tyun and Lead with the Inhabitants all which things are made out from Strabo Diodorus Siculus and Solinus and therefore needs not to lie so heavy upon the Credit of Festus Avienus as though he were the only Person that sustained them And here it will not be amiss to take notice how Mr. Cambden although he will not have Britain to be known long before Caesars time that the beginning of his Antiquities to speak the truth in time are very much below the discovery of this Island may seem to be of a higher date than indeed they are yet where he speaks of the Plenty of this Nation how the Ground was enriched with all sorts of Corn he cites Orpheus who reported it to be the very Seat of Lady Ceres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Loe here the stately Hall of Ceres Queen And saies that this is meant of BRITAIN which if he means as he speaks certainly he contradicts himself in saying It was not known but by Name only to the Ancients seeing that Orpheus one of the Argonauts treats in particular of the Commodities in this Country in which it is blest above all Nations in the World even to this day But enquiring closer after the Truth you will find Orpheus to be of a later date than he is generally thought to be of for in his daies Britain was not discovered to the Greeks but the Phoenicians who kept it private to themselves as I shall shew hereafter out of Strabo so that this feigned Orpheus is indeed the true Onomacritus as may be learnt out of Tacitus and Clemens Alexandrinus an Athenian Poet who lived in the daies of Pisistratus and as they say in the Fiftieth Olympiad but rather in the Five and fiftieth before Christ five hundred and sixty years when the Graecians began by the discovery of the Phoenicians to enter the Atlantick Ocean and to be Eye witnesses of those Places they formerly had only by Hear-say And when no doubt as Pliny writes our Island was celebrated to the Greeks not only for its Mines of Tynn and Lead by which it was useful to all the World but its plenty of Provisions also by which it sustained and blest its Inhabitants so that Mr. Cambden forced by the Truth oftentimes confesses what in other places he would have lie dark and obscure namely That BRITAIN for a long time was unknown but here I suppose we must take him in his Poetical humour only and so I shall leave him and proceed to shew what Foot-steps the Phoenicians left among the Ancient Britains of their Language and Customes and what remains to this day And first I will begin with Strabo because what he speaks of has relation to the Plenty of England for all sorts of Grain in his fourth Book Artimidorus asserts That there was an Island near Britain I suppose one of the Scilly Islands and in most probability St. Maries in which they worshipped Ceres and Proserpina with the same Rites they did in Samothrace Now this Artimidorus lived in the daies of Ptolemeus Lathyrus before Colaeus the Greek had ever discovered any thing of these Seas so that the Graecians could not introduce the Worship of Ceres and Proserpina into any British Island It remains therefore that they were brought in by the Phoenicians who had taught the Samothracians first their Worship and the Mysteries of their Cabiri which were so many that Juvenal takes notice of them jurent licet Samothracum Et nostrorum ar as Now
the Greeks called them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this People it is they imagine to be of Greek Stock and to be the primitive Planters of this Island being as Caesar and Tacitus write they were of a different Stature and Complexion from those whom they gather to have come out of Gaul besides their similitude of Language and Manners 7. Another Reason they give for their Opinion is that although they do not believe all the History of Brute to be true in every point concerning the Trojans who on the matter may be accounted Graecians if we consider Dardanus their Founder and the vicinity of the two Nations so they cannot imagine but there was some Truth in the ground of that History although so obscured with the Fabulous superstructures of some Writers that not being able to undergo the test of Wise men the whole Story has had the fate to be accounted Idle and Ridiculous For say they if one consider the consonancy of the Greek Language with the British likewise several Manners and Customes the British had which were peculiar to them only and the Greeks and to no other of these Western Nations certainly we may reckon them to be of one Stock or Language yet the first Historian finding this great Probability might be ambitious according to the Customes of those times to derive his Country-men from a Trojan Race and so put this general Truth into a particular dress of his own These are the Reasons given by Wise men by which they verily think the Britains to be primitively of a Greek Original which though it cannot be true considering how I have shewed before that the Phoenicians Traded into these Islands some hundred of years before ever any Greek entered these Seas yet does it plainly shew that they were of longer standing in these Islands than is commonly supposed 1. Now as for the first Reason given That these Islands must be planted by Navigators I think will not hold good unless we call there Navigators who in small Wicker Boats used to row between Britain Gaul and Belgium for from that Continent do I rather believe the first Planters to come than from the Mediterranean through the Streights 2. To the second Reason I answer That the Greeks were not in the first Ages of the World esteemed the best Navigators but that the Phoenicians preceded them both in time and experience in those Arts has been shewn already 3. To the Third That although their Colonies were numerous yet were they not so early as those of the Phoenicians 4. To the Fourth That although their Language was very frequent in Britain and the Welch to this day has very much in it yet cannot we reasonably suppose that it was the only Language of the Country because we find not their Tongue in any Country so soon and so much corrupted so as in Caesar there is no notice taken of it at all which he certainly would have done if he had found the British Tongue only a derivation from the Greek or corruption in Dialect and not a quite different Language As for the similitude that is made between Druids and Roman Clergy at this day I think it holds better if we suppose the Religion and Worship of the Greeks brought hither and preserved in its Native Language than to conjecture that the People understood it at first but by time and ill manners lost the knowledge of it 5. To the Fifth That the Chariots of Greece as well as other Customes of theirs used by the Britains argues the Greeks to have been here indeed but proves not they were the only Planters or brought those Chariots to take possession of an empty Country 6. To the Sixth Although there were two different Nations in this Island yet Caesar and Tacitus takes no notice of the Inland People more than the Gaulish Britains as I may call them as being of a more Greekish extraction 7. To the Seventh That although there may be some Truth couched in the History of Brute yet do not the Histories of Brute prove but that there were others before him in this Island which makes me wonder at Mr. Cambden and Others that think that in adhering to the History of Brute we must cast off the search and enquiry into the Antiquity of the Inhabitants of this Island Mr. Sheringham to prove that the Greeks and Britains had no Commerce together brings in an Ancient Poet in Eustathius who reckoning up all the Greatest Islands known to the Graecians never makes mention of Britain which he would have done in the first place had he ever heard of it The Verses are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of the Seven ISLANDS Nature made SICILY the first place had For Greatness next is SARDO Height Then CYRNUS next Jove's Country CRETE Narrow EUBEA then and CYPRUS last Of all is Little LESBOS placed But to this may be Answered That this Poet as usually all Poets do reckon only the Islands of the Mediterranean which were most obvious to the Greeks and troubled not himself with the exactness of things as we see by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Besides it may be Answered That although the Islands about Britain and Britain it self were known to the Greeks yet at first they did not know this to be an Island having nothing to do in the more Northern parts It was not long before the Romans time when Thule and six daies say I beyond Britain was discovered of which Pythias makes mention The Graecians as well as the Phoenicians at first contented themselves with the Commodities of the Southern and Western parts of these Islands and no doubt but they secured themselves by little and little of the nature of the People and conveniencies of Ports and all other Provisions before they ventured too far Northward Now in my Opinion this makes nothing against the Greek Voyages into these parts to whom the Cassiterides or the Scilly Islands and Cornwal and Devonshire might be known yet they had not discovered Catness or the extreamest point of Scotland What he saies afterwards That before the Arrival of Caesar into this Island the Name of Britain cannot be found is a great mistake and madvertency for Polybius in his Third Book makes mention of it particularly and by Name where he promises to give an account 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the British Islands and the making and ordering of their Tynn which he performed if we may believe Strabo who brings him in conferring and confuting the Opinions of Pytheas Dicaearcbus and Eratosthenes concerning the Magnitude of Britain Thus Mr. Sherringham ran himself into the same Error of Mr. Cambden I suppose by mistaking of Polybius But granting that we do not find the Name of Britain or very rarely before Caesars time among the Greeks yet the Name of Cassiterides
West towards the Elysian Fields and Fortunate Islands and in the Judgment of the best Authors were seated on the Western Coasts of Britain Plutarch on the Life of Sertorius writes of him That at his retreat from Spain he was obliged to take the Sea where not being secure nor permitted safely to Land upon the Spanish or African Coasts being then in the Mediterranean Sea he passed the Streights and turning on the Right hand of the Spanish shoar he met divers Saylors from the Fortunate Islands seated 10000 furlongs from the Coast of Africk to which Islands he intended to go had not the Cilician Privateers who understood his design forsaken him Thus Plutarch The Islands MONAE are about the same distance and the Ships coming from them arriving from the Spanish Coast seems to make it more probable that they were Islands Northward on the British Coast than those which go under the name of Fortunate Islands Now if there be any likelyhood of truth in these Conjectures certainly the Plantation of the Greeks here is very Ancient and must of necessity be long before those times Mr. Cambden assigns for the first discovery of these Islands by them and so consequently Brith could not give name to them For many hundred years before Julius Caesars daies or before ever Philaeas Taurominites had been in Britain the name of the ELYSIAN Fields and Fortunate Islands was sung by all Poets Mr. Cambden reports out of Robert of Avesbury That when Pope Clement the sixth had given the Fortunate Islands to Lewis of Spain he made great preparations in mustering Men in France and Italy in order to the taking possession of them that the English verily believed that all those Levies were made against them and our Leigier Embassadors at Rome Prudent Personages as he calls them were so strongly possest with this Opinion that they withdrew from Rome and hastned for England to give warning of it Mr. Milton after most of the former Conjectures thinks there are no Two such Islands so probable as the Monae are to be the FORTUNATE ones seeing undoubtedly they were in the Atlantick Sea and upon the British Coasts as they were strongly reported to be in Ancient time But leaving these Conjectures I come now to shew what Foot-steps remain of the Greeks and certain Evidences of their being once very conversant in these Islands And I shall begin first with their Language and afterwards with their Customes Manners Habits and Religions which were continued even to JULIUS CAESAR's daies and are not as yet utterly rooted out from among them And here it is to be observed as touching the British Language that above all Nations in the World they have been curious in preserving of it entire without mixture and carefully and studiously avoided the entertainment of any strang and forreign Words into it as may be seen in Merlyn and Thaliassen two of their Poets who although writ so long ago yet setting aside some sinall variations is the very same Language spoken by them at this day not only by the Britains of England but of Armorica also in France a thing much to be wondered at did we not consider the exact Orthography they preserved so that if you take half a dozen Scribes and dictate to them a sentence of their Language they will all agree in the same way of writing which exactness is not observed in Our or any other Language but that there will be as many waies of writing as there are men appointed for that purpose This Observation was made by Sr. John Price who made an Experiment of it Now this exact Orthography and the natural care that through all Ages they had of preserving their Language has been the cause that the Old Language of the Britains setting aside what Words crept in by force from the Romans and Saxons who conquered them has been preserved so entire as it is The Foot-steps of the Greek Language is evidently seen not only in particular British Words which agree in sound and sence but in the very nature and Idiom of the two Languages Some are of Opinion that the Greek Characters were used in Britain and that they were changed by the Roman Conquest who alwaies were very careful to obtrude their Language upon them whom they overcame as a certain sign of Dominion over them and a surer Union with such Provinces And this I am apt to credit because Caesar after the Conquest of the Helvetii as I said before found their Publick Records written in Greek Characters The Ancient Greeks had but Two and twenty Letters no more had the Britains and as afterwards the Greeks for conveniency did receive two more into their Alphabet so have the Britains Moreover it is to be observed that the British Letters agree exactly in sound with the Greek as is most remarkable in c and g not to instance in d and u which c and g are alwaies pronounced by the Britains as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not as now they are before i and e where c is pronounced like an s and g like an j Consonant Of Vowels the Britains had Anciently six now they have added a seventh viz. a w but this relishes of the Teutonick Their Consonants after the manner of the Greeks are divided into semivocales and mutas and these again into tenues medias and aspiratas which in the flexion of Nouns and Verbs pass one into another exactly after the Greek manner R in the beginning of words is alwaies with an Aspirate as it is in the Greek Tongae out of which Observations in the British and Greek Language I would note these things 1. First That the Druids of Britain and Gaul by the number of Letters having only twenty two as may rationally be supposed after the manner of the Ancienter Greeks came into Britain very early when the Greeks had not as yet learnt the use of their other Letters or if they had notwithstanding they were not frequently known among them 2. Secondly The Druids using the same Characters which were common in Greece in the time of Julius Caesar it appears that neither were they of so Ancient a standing in this Island and Gaul as the first and primitive Times of Greece when the Greeks learnt their Letters from the Phoenicians and without doubt something nigh their Character Besides Pliny observes out of an Ancient Inscription in the Greek Tongue that formerly the Graecians had very nigh the same Characters with the Latins If I be not mistaken did write an H instead of their Aspiration after the manner of the Phoenician and if the Phoenicians did not themselves bring the use of Letters and the number of them into Britain but contented themselves with Trading only hither yet I am sure the Graecians had not only the first number of their Letters from them but Characters also and as may be very rationally conjectured might bring them
the long wished for Island he Lands his Trojans and marches up into the Country to take possession Joyful was he to see the pleasant prospect of so large a Dominion and blest the Gods that they gave him so glorious a Reward for all his labours But all things were not so well as he imagined for from the Clyffs and craggy Rocks he began to perceive mighty Giants arising This sight he communicated to Corinaeus who at first was much surprized at the Object but at last they both pluckt up their wonted Spirits and with a few Trojans valiantly assailed these Monsters In a few Conflicts they found not their Weapons to want success so that they soon convinced these Goliahs that no strength or vastness of Limbs was able to resist a Trojan Puissance Corinaeus after several general Engagements had a longing desire to enter into a nearer trial of skill with some one of them Gogmagog undertakes him and a day of wrestling was appointed and attended with great expectation The Giant at his first grapling by a close-Hug breaks a Rib of Corinaeus but sorely paid for it by the fall Corinaeus gave him from the Clyff of Dover to his utter destruction which from hence is said afterwards to be called Cwymp y Cawr or the fall of the Giant This was a good Omen of the Trojans further success and Corinaeus for this piece of service was rewarded with the Principality of Cornwal Brute by degrees destroyed the whole Race of these Giants and quietly possessing the Island the first work he undertook was the building of a City which he called Troy-novant now London In this City he kept his Royal Court ordaining and enacting that from henceforth the whole Island should be called after his Name BRITAIN and so the Inhabitants Britains Being at the point of Death in the fifteenth year of his Reign and the four and twentieth of his Arrival he divided his Kingdom to his three Sons To Locrinus he bequeathed that part now called ENGLAND To Camber WALES To Albanact SCOTLAND and so called it after his name Albania Brute in that sickness is supposed to have died and was buried in his new City TROY Novant but the particular place where was never yet discovered by any and I much question whether it ever will SOME OBSERVATIONS UPON THIS History of Brute IT is not material whether this story of BRUTE be to be referred to Jeoffery of Monmouth Henry of Huntington or Segibertus Gemblasensis a French-man who lived an hundred years before Jeoffery and treats of Brute and his Trojans Arrival into Gaul and his passage into Britain For if Segibertus or any other Person had the name of Brute before Jeoffery and some particular Actions of such a Prince yet the composing of his Genealogy the methodizing the Circumstances of his Life the Timing of his Entrance the Succession of his Line depends all upon the Credit of Jeoffery and the truth of his Translation and so was esteemed in the daies in which he lived and put forth his History For how long a Trojan Original might be in these parts or how long Britannia might be derived from Brutus is not the thing in question but this was the custome of Ancient times to derive Nations from some particular Persons even amongst the Greeks and Romans and was an old Vanity of the World to refer their beginning to some Divine HERO To make this pretended Brute to be a Trojan and to fasten him upon a Genealogy contrary to the truth of those Histories from which that Genealogy is fetcht and upon whose Credit it depends is the thing for which Brutes History is chiefly condemned Segibertus Gemblasensis might have the same design in deriving his Britain in France from Brutus as the Britains might derive their Britannia I do not deny but Jeoffery of Monmouth might have several hints of Brutus nay a British History of him but it will not justifie the Fiction neither can the multitude of Authors in or about that time take away from the Credit of Ancienter Historiographers as Caesar Tacitus Gildas Ninius and as many as wrote twelve hundred years since who make no mention of any such Person more than that do profess by all their Enquiry they could learn nothing of the Britains concerning their Original so that whatever Original is pretended nevertheless the story of the Trojan Brute and all the Legend of his life seems to be brought into the World not long before those times as appears by Mr. Cambden and Speed nay Mr. Sheringham of late in his Vindication of this story in one place ingeniously confesses That these Tales might be invented and so intruded upon the Vulgar But where ever the story of Brute is to be told the Character of it and the Compiler ought never to be omitted It is the saying of William of Newborough who lived in the Age of Geoffery ap Arthur of Monmouth and writes thus of him In these our daies saith he a certain Writer is risen who deviseth foolish Fictions of the Britains he hath to Name Geoffery and a little after With how little shame and with what great confidence doth he frame his Lies About the same time was Francio invented for the Francks Scota Pharaolis Daughter for the Scots Hiberus for the Irish Danus for the Danes Brabo for the Brabanders Gothus for the Goths Saxo for the Saxons and is Brutus for the Britains any thing truer who can think it Scriverius in his Preface to the Antiquitics of Ancient Batavia falls severely upon Jeoffery of Monmouth and gives his History the name of Groote grove lange dicke taste lijck ende unbeschaemte logen that is A most impudent Lie a great one a heavy one a long thick one which like the AEgyptian Darkness was so palpable it might be felt Never had a Lie so many dimensions given it before nor so much substance ascribed to it Well fare Brute and his Trojans above all stories this carries the Honour of the day That which gave some Authority to this Fiction was the use King Edward the first made of it in vindicating his Title to Scotland against the pretence of Pope Boniface and the Church of Rome who laid claim to that Kingdom by Ancient Right as part of St. Peters Patrimony and that Churches Demesne This Action of the King stampt some Character upon this late Invention and the Judgment of so wise a Prince in favour of Brute in a matter of so high a Concern brought this new Embrio into some credit in the World It will not be amiss therefore to examine the whole Circumstances of this debate between the King Pope and Barons of this Realm King Edward having made a considerable progress towards the Conquest of Scotland and being there in Person receives a Prohibition from the Pope who was backt on by the French King to proceed any further in that business until he had proved his Title at Rome to which place the
likelyhood Son of Silvius but others will needs have him Brother of Jago succeeded Anno Mundi 3364. There is nothing Recorded of this Prince but that he was buried at York after he had reigned four and fifty years GORBODUG the Son of Kinimacus the fourth from Silvins An. Mundi 3418 is stigmatized with the same reproach of Tyranny and was buried at Troy-novant after he had Ruled rather to compleat the account of Histories than in truth sixty three years He left behind him two Sons Ferrex and Porrex FERREX and PORREX began joyntly to reign Anno Mundi 3476. This is the third time that the Kingdom fell not entirely to the Elder Brother As after the Laws of Troy the Sovereignty And all resort of Right doth appertain To the Eldest Brother in Property The Eldest Sisters right so by right should have been Soveraign Lady and over them all Queen By equitee of that ilk Law and Right In place where it is holden Law perfeight These Brothers for five years in great Amity ruled the Island until Porrex the younger inflamed with the Ambition of being sole Governour attempts privately upon the life of Ferrex But it seems Ferrex had notice given him of his Brothers design thought it proved not so timely as to give opportunity to avoid the stroak by any other way than flight Gallia was esteemed the nighest and securest retirement where Arriving he sollicits the Princes of that Realm and especially Gunhardus or Suardus to assist him in vindicating his Right to the Crown This just Request being obtained he returns into Britain and with a mighty Army gives his Brother battle Fortune not favouring the just and equitableness of his cause his Army was defeated and in the Battle himself lost his life Porrex enjoyed not long his unnatural Conquest for his own Mother Idone or Widen looking upon him as the bloody murtherer of her Son Ferrex by a deed no less Barbarous prosecutes her Revenge for finding Porrex asleep privately murthered him neither could Motherly pity asswage her Anger until she had cut and mangled his Body in a thousand pieces For this unnatural and much admired Cruelty she was slain by the sury of the Multitude This extinguisht the House of Gorboduc and periodized the Line of AEnaeas insomuch as the Kingdom fell into innumerable divisions from thence into a Heptarchy One seized Loegria another Cambria a third Cornwal a fourth Albania and the fifth division is not specified distinctly by any Authors but is supposed to be Northumberland or Kent which in old Pedigrees their names are cited to be these RUDAUCUS King of Wales CLOTENUS King of Cornwal PINNOR King of Loegria STATORIUS King of Scotland YEVAN King of Northumberland Histories make particular mention of Pinnor otherwise called Pireman King of Loegria and of Rudacus King of Cambria Staterus King of Albania Cloten King of Cornwal but are silent in the other Princes names This Heptarchy is conjectured to have continued One and fifty years until Dunwallo Son of Cloten King of Cornwal whether by the clearest Right and Title or the longest Sword obtained the whole Kingdom is uncertain According to the foregoing Computation we need not with Polidore Virgil invert the Order of the British History in this place but continue the succession of Monarchy from this Period with Guintolin and not Donvallo Molmutius For allowing Molmutius to follow immediately after the Heptarchy his two Sons Belinus and Brennus will be found to be Kings of Britain about the time when Rome was sackt and so may not be obliged to set those two Princes any farther backward as Polidore hath done three hundred years but rather a little more forward For from the Entrance of Brute Anno Mundi 2850 to Belinus and Brennus Anno Mundi 3574 are 724 years whereas Rome is supposed to be sackt in the seven hundred and tenth year after Brutes Arrival as is gathered by Polidore Virgil out of Eusebius This Controversie with some others relating to the same Belinus and Brennus is particularly managed by Sr. John Price against Polidore Virgil as also by many others But seeing the true evidence of this matter is to be made out by Computations which account in seven hundred years according to diversity of Authors differ half in half it is the safer way in my Judgment to follow the usual method in the Succession of the British Kings than by the dependance of the uncertainty of Chronology in things of so vast a distance to invert the whole Order of their Reigns and so like Witches who would conjure them out of the World read them backwards MOLMUTIUS called Dūnvallo Son of Cloten King of Cornwal either judging himself to have the better Right or longer Sword invaded his Neighbour Princes First he began with Pinnor King of Loegria whom he overcame and slew before he could joyn with his Confederates Rudacus King of Cambria and Staterius King of Albania After this success he sets upon the fore-mentioned Princes with an Army of thirty thousand Men but the Victory hanging too long for his eager expectation he made use of a stratagem for counterfeiting the Arms of his Enemies he gave them a terrible overthrow in the Encounter The King of Northumberland or Kent is not mentioned in this Battle wherefore he is supposed beforehand to have surrendred his Kingdom By thismeans Molmutius Dunvallo called also Donebant became the sole Monarch of this Island Anne Mundi 3529. If he got the Crown by Oppression he managed it with no less prudence and moderation enacting several excellent Laws translated out of the British Speech into the Latin by Gildas and afterwards out of the Latin into the English Tongue by Alfred King of England And these Laws are Recorded by Count Palatine and are taken notice of by Mr. Sheringham and particularly recited by Mr. Selden in his Janus Anglorum They were to this effect 1. Ut Templa Deorum c. That the Temples of the Gods should enjoy such Priviledges and Immunities that no Malefactor flying to them for Sanctuary could be seized or by force drawn from them before he had obtained pardon 2. That High-waies leading to Temples or Roads to great Cities should have the like Priviledges 3. That Ploughs Oxen and other Labouring Cattle should enjoy the same Immunities and the reason of this Law is given because otherwise the Ground might lie untill'd and the People perish for want of Bread 4. He set out the number of Ploughs that should be in every Shire and Hundred with severe Penalties upon all that should be the occasion of lessening the Number 5. The fifth is the same almost with the third only it seems a little to restrain it namely That no Oxen or Labouring Beast should be seized for Debt unless there were no other Goods or Chattels to make satisfaction 6. He ordained set Weights and Measures for buying and selling 7. A Law against Thieves and Robbers These are the Molmutian Laws
to Southampton The fourth Hekencldis-street or Kikeneldis-street which goeth forth by Worcester Wickham Bermingham Leichfield Darby Chester-field and by York to Tinmouth By this time Brennus had got so sar into favour with Seginus the Duke of Armorica that he married his Daughter and by the consent of his Nobles in case he failed of Issue-Male the same Duke was admitted Heir of the Crown and not long after by the death of the said Prince he was accordingly received as their lawful Prince all States of the Realm swearing Fealty to him Being now in the possession of a Kingdom Brennus raiseth a powerful Army and Lands in Britain intending to revenge the wrongs done him by his Brother Belyn And now was it that both Armies were ready to give Battle when their Mother Conwenna interposed as a Mediatress between them and by her many tears and powerful perswasions brought them to a Friendly accord so that embracing each other they were heartily Reconciled to the exceeding joy of all Spectators After their Arrival at Troy-Novant they consulted which way best to employ their Armies where the motion was made by Brennus and accepted by Belinus to joyn Forces and undertake the Conquest of all Gallia which Enterprize was attended with a Fortune beyond expectation For they did not only Conquer all Gallia but Italy and great part of Germany also and in the end sacked Rome it self where some say Brennus lost his life others that he survived that great and general Overthrow Some make Belinus a Partner with him in his Greatness others say he went not into Gallia with him or if he did that he soon returned leaving the management of all those Forreign employments to the Conduct of his Brother Brennus whom we will leave to the Histories of the Romans as if so be this were the same Brennus that sackt Rome to receive what Fate in most probability is assigned to him Vitus maketh him to have killed himself at his Repulse before Delphos BELYN now absolute Monarch of Britain sets himself to the beautifying of his Dominions He built Caerleon upon Uske called from thence Caer Uske and Caer Huth where he placed an Arch-Flamen He also adorned Troy-novant with a Gate called to this day Belings-Gate on the top of which he caused a Tower to be made and at the Basis or Foundation thereof an Harbour for Ships to Ride in He is said to be the first Founder of the Tower of London After he had Reigned two and twenty years he died being the first of all the British Kings whose Corps was consumed in a Funeral-pile and his Ashes carefully gathered in a Brazen some say a Golden Urne and preserved on the highest Pinnacle of the Gate or Arch he had built as some think for that purpose GURGUINT Sir-named Brabtruc according to others Barbarous i. e. the Red-beard the English Chronicle calleth him Corinbratus and was the Son of Belyn and succeeded him Anno Mundi 1596. In his daies the Danes refused the payment of their Tribute whereupon he sailed into Denmark and by sorce of Arms obliging them to renew their Treaty received Homage of their Kings and Chief Nobility then Embarked again for Britain In his Return he met with a Fleet of thirty Sail about the Isle of Orkney these he Encounter'd and having taken their Captain Bartholoin or Partholoin he demanded of him what he was and the reasons of his Adventures into those Parts Partholoin answers That He and his Followers were named Balences or Basclenses and were Exiles of Spain and banished their Country with their Wives and Children and thereupon struck out to Sea to seek out an Habitation It is said the King gave them Ireland being a place not then Peopled After his Arrival into Britain the King made it his business to establish and confirm the Laws of his Ancestors and in his Reign that Famous University of Cambridge was Founded by Cantaber Brother of Bartholin This King also built Caer-werith or Lancaster Caer-Peris or Porchester in Hampshire the Seat of a Flamen and Caer-Gaurvie now Warwick where he was buried after he had reigned nineteen years GUINTELINUS or Guintellus the Son of Gurguint was Crowned King Anno Mundi 3615 He was a Prince learned prudent and of singular Justice and Moderation and that which conduceth more to the Glory of his Reign was that he was blest with a Lady with no less Endowments and Excellencies her names was Martia From this Lady that Law called Mathehelage or Marchenelaghe had its beginning and Name translated by King Alphred out of the British into the Saxon Tongue Mr. Hollinshead wonders and admires at Providence that two such wise Princes should come at once to the management of the Kingdom especially at a time when so many Civil Discords were reigning But I find none of these Civil Discords reigning either in his own his Fathers Grandfathers or Great-Grandfathers daies 'T is true Belyn had War with his Brother but in a few years it was wholly ended to the great satisfaction of them both Where then are these Civil Discords Indeed Polidore Virgil out of his great Providence placeth this King before his Great-Grandfather which I suppose he did for the wonderful wisdom of this Prince and his Wife whom he thought best able to end the Civil dissensions caused by the Pentarchy and therefore where Polidore admires the wonderful Providence of God we ought to take him as applauding his own Invention for never before him was ever such an Invention made for the stating of the British Kings But Mr. Hollinshead who followeth on the Received course of the Succession ought not to complain of Civil Discords in this Kings Reign because they had been long since ended And this I take notice of more especially because I find the same Errour in other Authors who have written after Polidore which was grounded from the delight of their own Fancies rather than to deliver the truth exactly down to the People This King Reigned twenty six years and was Interr'd at Troy-Novant now London SICILIUS the second and Son of Guintolin being about seven years of Age was received as King under the Regency of his Mother Martia Anno Mundi 3641 and it seemeth that those Laws called Martiae were exacted by this Queen during the Minority of her Son rather than in the life of her Husband The Count Palatine will have this King to have reigned fifteen years alone but it is generally thought he Governed not above fifteen in all seven under the Tuition of his Mother and eight after his full Age and having given the signs of a hopeful Prince he was suddenly snatcht out of this World by Death and then the Government fell to KIMARUS the Son of Sicilius who began his Reign over Britain A. M. 3656 and being of a wild and ungoverned disposition as given up to all manner of Lusts and Exorbitances was kill'd in the Woods in his pursuit after his game of Hunting some say by
He reigned ten years and was buried at Winchester COILUS began his reign Anno Mundi 3813 and reigned ten years then was buried at Notingham PORREX the second began Anno Mundi 3823. This was a good Prince he reigned five years CHERIMUS Sirnamed the Drunkard succeeded Anno Mundi 3828 and swayed the Scepter one year Then succeeded FULGENTIUS the eldest Son of Cherimus Anno Mundi 3829 and reigned also but one year after him ELDRED the second Son of Cherimus reigned another year more Anno Mundi 3830. ANDROGEUS the third Son of Cherimus enjoyed the Government another year being 3831. URIANUS the Son of Androgeus began his reign Anno Mundi 3831 and he lived three years and in that time gave himself to all Riot and Intemperance ELIUD Anno Mundi 3835 He was a great Astrologer and ruled five years DEDANTIUS or Dedacus A. M. 3840 and he Ruled five years DETONUS A. M. 3845 he reigned two years as Mr. How affirmeth the Count Palatine speaketh nothing of this King but placeth Clotenus after Dedacus so likewise doth Fabius and after Clotenus he setteth Gurguenites the same as I suppose with Gurguenius put in the same Order by Count Palatine so that supposing this Detonus to be the same person with Clotenus the next Prince is GURGUINEUS A. M. 3847 reigned three years Merianus by the consent of all Writers reigned two years Bleduns or Bladunus two years Gapenus three years Ovinus two years Sisilius the third two years Then BLEDGABREDUS succeeded Anno Mundi 3861 He so far exceeded all men saith the Count Palatine in the Art of Singing that he seemed to be the God of Musick and besides his skill in Vocal saith Galfridus he was expert in all Instrumental harmony He reigned ten years ARCHIMALUS succeeded he was the Brother of Bledgabredus and Ruled two years ELDOLUS began his Government Anno Mundi 3873 and Reigned four years In his daies many Prodigies in the Heavens as flakes of Fire breaking through the Element loud Noises appeared RODIANUS or Redian succeeded and reigned two years REDARGIUS Count Palat. calls Roderecius he reigned three years SAMULIUS was King two years Penisillus three Fabian saith Samulius Penisillus was the same Person and reigned five years PYRRHUS Pyrrus or Phyrrus according to Fabian was King two years and CAPORIUS two years after him DINELLUS the Son of Caporius Fabian calls Glyguell Dinell who began his Reign Anno Mundi 3891. Com. Pal. commends him for many Princely Vertues he reigned four years and then died HELI his Successor reigned not a year so that we see the beginning of King LUDS Reign who succeeded Heli falls in the year of the World 3895 twenty years before Julius Caesars Arrival into this Island who is supposed to have made it Tributary in the ninth year of Cassibelan the Successor of Lud so that taking in the Eleven years of King Lud and the Ninth of Cassibelan and we shall find the time to fall exactly I know there is great difference in Authors not only concerning the Names of these Princes but the Numbers of them and the times of their Reigns and thereby great confusion is made in the British History but more especially from Elidure to Lud But this Calculation I have faithfully gathered by comparing the Authors of most Credit and so have set down their Names as they are most generally Received And seeing there is so little time allowed from Elidure to Lud for such a number of Princes being two or three and thirty and but 186 years allotted for their Reigns we cannot give Hely forty years according to Jeoffery of Monmouth but are forced to comply with others who abridge him seven Months Likewise Coel the First by the Count Palatine hath twenty years assigned him whereas others allow him but ten But to give my Opinion concerning this matter I think that the making of so many Kings from Elidure to Lud to succeed one another cannot agree either with Truth or Reason for as also the latter Princes of this Catalogue for above twenty years together have not excepting three or four of them above one two or three years at most assigned them for their Reigns so the Compilers of this History have been too profuse in the time they gave for the first Kings Reigns and this will appear if we consider Elidure died an Old man in the year of the World according to the best of their Computations 3716. Yet we hear of a Son of his named Gurguntius beginning his reign Anno Mundi 3783 that is sixty seven years after his Fathers death and continuing his Reign twenty years so that he lived in all after his Fathers decease eighty seven years now allowing his Father to have begat him but twenty years before his death which is but reasonable considering his years and we shall find Gurguntius to be 107 years Old a prodigious Age so Rimo lived seventy one years after the death of his Father Peridurus so strangly prodigal were the Composers of this Genealogy to the former Princes and so exceeding niggardly to the latter It is more rational therefore to believe these Kings not to have all of them succeeded one another but many of them to have been Rulers contemporary of particular Provinces of the Island as the Government thereof was found to be even twenty years after at the Invasion of it by Julius Caesar. King HELY built him a Palace and resided most especially in that part of the Kingdom called after his name Ely but Bede derives the Isle of Ely from Eels Polidore l'irgil from the Greek Helos signifying a Fennish or Morish Ground Humphry Llhoid whom Mr. Cambden followeth from Nelig in the British Tongue signifying an Osyer or Sallow which grows in abundance in those Parts and of which the Inhabitants make great profit by weaving Baskets and such like Wares This King was buried in the same Island LUD the eldest Son of Hely began his Reign Anno Mundi 3895 He was endowed with all the excellent qualities belonging to a Prince and is set down as an excellent Pattern of a wise and prudent Governour Amongst the most remarkable Monuments of his Reign was his Repairing or building the Walls of Troy-novant and on the West-side thereof erecting a most sumptuous and beautiful Gate called at this day Lud-gate Verstegan will by no means suffer that this Gate took its denomination from King Lud because of the last termination of it Gate shews the Name to be of Saxon and not British Original but Verstegan might have considered that the Saxons although they expressed the Names of many British Places by words of their own Language signifying the same thing yet what could they substitute in the room of a proper Name which remains alwaies the same in all Languages Besides he forgot clearly that there are many Places in England that remain mixed compounds of both the British and Saxon Tongues As for Example Durham Dunholne Dorchester and a thousand
thing he gave himself to was to understand the minds and inclinations of the People and like a prudent Person experienced in such Affairs he had learnt That Force and Arms were unable to keep a Nation in obedience unless Injustice and Oppression were removed Whereupon to make sure of Peace he resolved to take away the Causes of War and because the Branches would continually grow unless the Root was cut up and nothing was so powerful as Example he began the Reformation in his own Family reducing it to a convenient Number and good Orders and bridling the Licentious behaviour of his Domesticks a work of as much difficulty and no less honour than the subduing of a Province He suffered the management of no Publick Affairs to pass through the hands of his Attendants or Servitours nor gave any Commands for favour or affection No Souldier was advanced by bribing his Officer nor could any by under-hand means beg an Employment He was accounted fittest for Trust who behaved himself as the best Souldier and although he was not able to execute all things himself yet was nothing done without his privity and consent Small faults he would either wink at or pardon great ones he corrected with severity yet oftner pleased with the repentance of the Criminal than his punishment advancing such as he thought would be careful not to offend by which means he was provoked by the fewer Offences He truly stated the proportion of Corn and Tribute to be paid by which proceeding he cut off the Exactions of his Officers and their unnecessary Fees and other Grievances that were more burthensome than the Tribute it self For the poor People were forced to attend at the publick Granaries which in mockery were fast locked against them and when opened the Publicans obliged them to take greater quantities of Corn than their need required and at a racking price which they were often constrained to sell again at a low rate to make mony for other Necessaries or the payment of their Tribute They proclaimed the Mercates at their distances from the People and lying through bad Roads which Inconvenience could not be bought off without a round sum which if not presently paid the Carts and Waggons of the Inhabitants were prest to remove the Grain which before lay convenient to be delivered out to the great oppression of the Britains and the lucre of the Roman Officers By redressing of these Grievances in his first year he brought Peace into some credit and reputation which before by the negligence or connivance of men in Command had as ill a name as War About this time died VESPATIAN whose Actions in Britain were as great as those in his Empire he was made Legate of a Legion by Claudius and in this Island fought thirty times with the Enemy conquered two potent Nations and above twenty strong Towns He was a moderate Prince if not given too inordinately to the love of Riches and in a Triumph which was given him by the Senate he professed himself rather wearied with the Pomp and long Solemnity than touched with the Honour of it Being about to give up the Ghost he said in a jesting manner to the Standers by I think I am making a God by which saying he secretly reproved them who would be esteemed Gods after they had given the surest Testimonies of their being Men. THE British History IN the same year died Arviragus of whom in the Roman Histories not one word in these Times unless we may take Mr. Hollinsheads word that he was the same with Prasutagus mentioned by Tacitus I know generally the British Histories make him die ten years before but I rather follow Count Palatine as coming nighest to truth who continueth his Reign to this time so that be governed in all thirty five years even to the daies of Titus for had he lived only in the daies of Claudius and Nero how came Javenal to make mention of him in the time of Domitian in these words Omen habes magni clarique triumphi Regem aliquem capies aut de temone Britanno Excidet Arviragus This sure a glorious Triumph do's fore-tell Some King you 'l take or from his British Throne Arviragus will headlong tumble down He died and was buried in Claudiocestria now Glocester a City he had built in the honour of Claudius and left the Kingdom to his Son Marius MARIUS otherwise Meurig or Maw MARIUS succeeded his Father Arviragus as there is difference in his Name so is there also variance concerning the Person The Count Palatine will have him the same with Cogidunus others with Arviragus and some make him a Roman The Controversie is not worth the deciding only this may be said That if the British Kings were to be displaced upon the account of Time as Polidore Virgil hath done some of them there was never greater necessity than now seeing we are got into an uncertain Chronology and so Marius the supposed Cogidunus should be placed before Arviragus who undoubtedly by Roman Authority lived in the daies of Domitian as before hath been shewn In the Reign of this Marius the Picts infested this Island which story for the credit of the British History I shall defer to the end of his Reign and so proceed to the Romans THE CONTINUATION OF THE Roman History TITUS VESPATIAN WHen TITUS entered upon the Empire it was the second year of Agricola's Government in Britain who having in his first Entrance reformed Abuses and taken away the encroachments of his Officers and Collectors when Summer was once come he drew together his Army and breathed them a little with short and quick Marches praising such as kept up to their Ensigns and punishing the straglers and himself alwaies chose the places to encamp in and before-hand searcht the Woods and sounded the Waters they were to pass by which means he suffered not the Enemy to take any rest but continually allarumed them with fresh Excursions Having thus pretty well amazed them he began with kind and gentle Behaviour to shew them the allurements of Peace by which 〈◊〉 many Cities that before stood upon Terms of equality now laid down their Anger gave Hostages and received Garrisons which were all placed with such care and fore-sight and in such places of advantage that never any of them were attempted whereas before no new fortified place in all Britain escaped unattacked The following Winter was spent in wholesome and profitable Devices for to the end that the Britains who lived rude and scattered and so apter for War might be brought to the sence of Pleasures and to live in ease and quiet and in the Institutes and Customes of a Civil life he privately encouraged and in publick promoted the building of Houses Temples and places of general Resort commending the readiness of some and quickning the slowness of others making that which was Necessity to become Emulation And now the Noble-mens Sons he caused to be instructed in the liberal
there were but three only that of Jupiter Flamen Dialis of Mars Flamen Martialis of Romulus Flamen Quirinalis but afterwards every God had his Flamen Neither had any of these ever any Sacerdotal Power and Jurisdiction over any particular Province or that officiated alone in one Parish only for there being in the time of Numa thirty Parishes in the City of Rome and afterwards thirty six over every Parish or such division was set two Flamens neither were they subject to any superiour Flamen who was dignified and distinguisht by the Title of Arch-flamen I acknowledge that some were called the greater Flamens others the lesser but this was not from their Power but the Antiquity of their Order for the first three were instituted by Numa and the Nobility the rest by the Commonalty Concerning the Flamens and Arch-flamens of the Gentiles and the Limits of their Jurisdiction after they were changed into Bishops and Arch-bishops GAlfridus Arturius saith That the Blessed Teachers after they had almost rooted out Paganisme from the British Nation purging the Temples which were founded in honour of many of their Gods consecrated them to one God and delivered them to Religious men to be lookt after There were then constituted twenty eight Flamens and three Arch flamens as we have said before who according to the Custome of the Gentiles burnt Incense to their Gods and offered up Sacrifices unto them delivering therefore these by vertue of the Apostolick Doctrine from their Idolatry they consecrated Bishops in the place of Flamens and Arch-bishops instead of Arch-flamens The principal Seats of the Arch-flamens were in our most eminent Cities viz. London York and Caer-leon upon the River Uske in Glamorganshire Superstition therefore being driven out of the aforesaid places three Arch-bishops were forthwith made in other places they ordained Bishops and over several Parishes assigned to every one his Power and Office To the Province of the Metropolitan of York fell Deira and Albania which are divided from Leogria by the River Humber To the Arch-bishop of London submitted Loegria and Cornubia which Provinces Severn separates from Wales which was subject to the Arch-bishops See at Caerleon Affairs being thus ordered the aforesaid Holy Teachers returned to Rome and desired that all things they had done might be confirmed by the Pope they were therefore honoured by the Roman Church with the Pall and all other Ceremonies usual in their kind they returned again into Britain being accompanied by divers Religious persons by whose Doctrine and Preaching the British Nation was very much confirmed establisht and strengthned in the Faith of Christ. Their Acts are to be found in the Books of Gildas the Historiographer so that now we shall proceed to that of Vodinus or Theonus as Mr. Cambden calls him This Vodinus or Theonus for his constancy in the Christian Faith was Martyred by the Saxons at their first arrival in Britain After Fugacius and Damianus had setled every thing in order and establisht the Religion of Christ the holy Rites and Ceremonies thereof the Government and Discipline of the Church they returned to Rome and having obtained their Constitutions to be confirmed and ratified by Eleutherius still sitting in that Chair they came again into Britain by whose incessant Preaching and Sanctity of life the Britains suckt in that Religion the seeds whereof remained even unto the daies of Dioclesian who after Nero and Trajan raised the greatest Persecution the Church ever underwent And this is the first establishment of Christian Religion by publick Authority which for the Honour of our Nation is very early an hundred eighty and one years after the death of CHRIST and the reason why it got footing so soon in Britain above other Nations among many Causes this especially is given by Historians namely The Learning Piety and Devotion of the Druids who were so eminent in this Island as that they Decided and Judged not only in Spiritual but Civil Affairs and were resorted unto like Oracles for their profound Judgment and skill in Questions of the highest concern And many of their Tenents of which the Immortality of the Soul was chief were great inlets to that Religion which besides the great Vertue and Holiness it carried with it it taught Rewards of Vertue and Punishments of Vice upon surer grounds than the Heathens had ever built for their Imaginary vertue namely evident Miracles and certain Demonstrations that there was an Almighty Power that strictly examined the Actions of every Man I know that many Objections are made to destroy the Authority of this History which well examined will not prove to have so great force as at first sight they appear to carry First it is said That it is very improbable there should at this time be any King of Britain considering that this Island for many years since remained a Roman Province To which is Answered That it was the Custome of the Romans in their Provinces to continue Princes in their Governments and to make them Instruments of their Bondage giving them the shew of Power though they were in effect but Vassals and what hindereth but Lucius might hold his Kingdom in fee of them Besides in the daies of this Emperour as is gathered from Authentick Histories the Britains refused to obey Commodus and it is certain that they held and possest freely all those parts of the Island that lay beyond the Wall which was built between Tinmouth and Solway-Frith and that those Northern Britains had Princes of their own but especially Let us consider how that Antoninus Pius not many years before having ended War permitted Kingdoms to be ruled by their own Kings and Provinces by their own Comites Others there are who curiously searching into the time of this supposed Lucius find great difference in Authors Bede who is the Ancientest Reporter of this History yet lived five hundred years after placeth him under M. Aurelius Antoninus and Verus Emperours But this since is not found to agree with truth for the Date of the Letter sent back by Eleutherius through the hands of Fugacius and Damianus which by many is not thought to be forged but authentick is thus LUCIUS AURELIUS COMMODUS Second time Consul with Vespronius which was the year that M. Aurelius died in and in this agreeth both forreign and domestick Writers as for others who refer it to an hundred seventy nine years after Christs Passion it is manifest that it is the fault of Transcribers who should have writ an hundred seventy nine years after his Birth The British Histories make it five years after but in this it is not much to be regarded This LUCIUS Sirnamed by Ninnius Leuer-Maur by a Table remaining in the Church of St. Peters in Cornhill is supposed to be the Founder of that Church and the Church it self thought to have been the Cathedral of the Metropolitan See of London There are who ascribe the Foundation of St. Peters at Westminster to him but
Juitae but I rather think with the worthy Mr. Sheringham who hath writ copiously of this Subject That it proceeded from the Learned ignorance of some Transcriber who being not so deeply read in the forreign Jutes as he was in Wihts that is the Inhabitants of the Isle of Wight who in Latin were called Vitae presently thought that these were the People intended by Bede and so instead of the Jutae fairly put in his Neighbours the Vitae Neither is this a marvel seeing Verstegan mounteth the same Steed The Isle of Wight saith he retaineth that Name from the Vites just with as much truth as London was so called by the Saxons from the similitude it had with Londen in Sconieland For who knoweth not that the name of Vectis taken from the British Guith whence comes With and Wight was known by that name to the Romans hundreds of years before the Saxons Arrival Hear what Mr. Speed saith of this matter in his Geographick Tables on the Isle of Wight Wight Island was in time past named by the Romans Vecta Vectis and Vectesis by the Britains Guyth by the English Saxons Wuitland and Wicthland and Wicthaea for an Island they termed AEa and in these daies usually called by us the Isle of Wight It is encompassed round with the British Seas and severed from the main Land that it might seem to have been joyned to it and therefore it is thought the British name Guyth hath been given to it which betokeneth Separation Now changing of Guyth into With which was the custome of the Saxon Dialect just as the French Guerre Gard Gued by them is turned into War Ward and Wadd and we have a truer Original of the Isle of Wight and the Vitae than any that is fetched out of Germany to this multitude of Reasons and Testimonies For a total conclusion of this dispute take the testimony of Ethelwerd an Ancient Saxon Writer who in plain terms sheweth that the Wihtii that is those Islanders took name from the Island and not the Island from them The Kentisb saith he drew their Original from the Giots as likewise did the Whitians who from the Isle of Wight lying upon Britain received their name Thus we see the Wihtians were descended of the Giots or Jutes and were called Vitae from the Island but of any such name as the Vites in Germany no authentick History maketh mention That the Saxons were the same with the Getes and a branch of the Cimbri proved by the Language Customes c. of both Nations HAVING thus far proceeded in deriving the Names of our Ancestors the SAXONS ANGLES and JUTES People of different Appellations yet agreeing in Customes Language and Original it remaineth to be shewn from whence their Antiquities are to be fetched and by what thred we are to trace them until we come to some general Stock out of which like so many several Branches they are derived The name of SAXON and ANGLE affordeth no light into their Original the former being given them or taken up upon a particular account of a Weapon they wore different from other Nations the latter from the scituation of their Country so that these being circumstances of a newer date and pointing no higher than the knowledge of such names in the World it remaineth to be shewn that out of JUTE as their Ancient title the true Antiquities of the whole Nation are to be derived JUTE therefore as I have proved in the former Treatise is the same Name with GETE as is manifest out of ancient Manuscripts and Records there mentioned Now if they were the same People as they bear the same Name we have then an undoubted Line which cannot fail us from whence to bring down our Ancestours It remains therefore to be proved by other Reasons as well as coherence in Name that the GETES and SAXONS were one and the same Nation which done we shall find the Original and Progress of the Getes under Wooden to be the same with the Saxons and we need seek no higher for their Original First therefore the Language of the Saxons and Getes is the very same excepting only the difference of Dialect by the Getick Language I mean the Gothick for that the Gothes and Getes were one and the self-same Nation is Learnedly proved by Mr. Sheringham from the authority of Greek and Latin Writers the place from whence the Gothes proceeded from the agreement of both Nations in Manners and Language Now that the Saxon Language and that of the Getes is one is proved from the derivation of many words in the Gothick Tongue which have the like signification in the Saxon. And first Grotius proveth that the Scythians who spake the Getick Tongue derived their Name from Schieten which is as much in their Language as to shoot because they were excellent Archers Now who knoweth not that scyttan in the Saxon Tongue signifieth to shoot Again Pliny writeth that Moeotis in the same Language is called Temerinda which he saith signifieth with the Gates as much as the Mother of the Sea Now who seeth not that Temerinda is nothing else but the Saxon ê§ Meren Dam i. e. the Mother of the Sea Maeotis seemeth to be derived from the Gothick Moat signifying a Marsh or Ditch of Water according to Mr. Sheringham in the latter signification the Saxon Tongue vet preserveth the name of Motes The River Tanais the Getes called Sylin according to the same Pliny because it divideth Asia from Europe Now sylan in the Saxon Tongue is to divide or separate The Saxons are derived from saex a crooked Sword or Hanger which they used now Sags as I have shewn in the Gothick Tongue signifieth the same The Gothick Iett and Saxon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both signifie a Giant from whence comes Iotum heimar i. e. the habitation of Giants and Iotum-land now Jut-land The Massagetes were called the greater Getes now the Saxons at this day use Massie in the same signification The Catti Neighbours to the Massagetes Hadrianus Junius deriveth from Catts because of their quickness in seizing their prey others from Catz or Cacs in the Gothick Tongue signifying Hunting because they were great Hunters hence the Italian Caccia taken from the Gothes and to Catch in the Saxon yet remaineth The Syndi a People of the Getes so called by the Gothes because they lived upon the Sea Sund in the Gothick is the Sea and part of the Baltick to this day in the Saxon is called the Sownd The Country of the Syndi is called by Strabo Syndica from the Gothick Syndic or Syndike because that living Low they cast up Trenches to keep out the Sea called in their Tongue Sund. Now Dike which with us is a Ditch in the Dutch Tongue signifieth a Rampier Graukenii another Getick or Gothick Nation was so called from their Tawney Vestures as other Getes were called Moelanchaeni by the Greeks from their Black habits Grauken in the Saxon Tongue is Tawney Sigunni
sometimes as a Goddess as she wore a Female Vesture This is perfectly the Armata Venus of the Romans who took this Notion of her from the Greeks who promiscuously write her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 making her an Hermophrodite Venus So that we must not wonder that the Saxons coming acquainted with the Roman Theology like other Nations in great measure conformed to it For the analogy between the Gods of both People as it now stands appears nothing but a modern compliance of the Saxon Priests with the Romans and of no higher date than the mutual knowledge both Nations had of each other Neither ought it to confound the History of each others Theology as to the genuine original Offices and Names of their distinct Deities And if there appear any essential likeness between both Nations as to the order number and coincidence of some of their Idols in some circumstances with one another we must not think the Saxon custome sprang from the Roman more than the Roman from the Saxon But it arose from some Third and ancienter People from whom both taking pattern in many things drew the same lines and figures The Northern Writers mention many of Wodens Companions called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Diat that is Gods some whereof were Deified by Woden himself before his death others afterwards the names of which because they are summarily delivered by Arn-Jonas as he found them in ancient Writings and Monuments and may possibly serve to interpret several Names yet remaining among us I shall not think tedious to set down They are in number fifteen Odin otherwise Uggur Thor Uugue or Uuguar Freger Bedar Balldur Tyr Niordur Bragie Hoddur Forsete Loke Uale Uullur Haettir As also Asian Women that came along with him called Asiniur who attained Divine Honour Frygg one of Wodens Wives Freya the other Fulla Snotra Gerdur Gesson Gua Loffu Skade Iorde Idun Ilmur Bill Niorun vel Iorun Hlin Hnoss Nanna Rindur Scofn Sol Saga Sygin or Sygity Uer Uar Thrudur Ran Hildur Gendul Hlock Mist or Niss Skegul Hrind or Rund Hrist or Rik Shuld Nipt Dis or Disa The memory of these Women our Age still retaineth in their proper Names As Gerdut likewise Thorgirdur compounded of Thor and Gerdut so Iduii Ioruii Sygny Thrudur Hildur Besides these many of Wodens Sons or Nephews as Balldur Meile Uiidar Nephur Uale Ale Thor Hilldulfur Hermodur Sigge Skiodur in the Edda Skioldur Assabragur Dlldner Itrekur Hemdallur Semingur or Hemingar Hauddar Brage Cunilanghen Cnidrid Bierii Hlodid Hardveor Sonnungur Uingthor Rymur To which I may add out of the Edda according to Rossenius his Translation his Sons Uegdeg and Begdeg some of these Princes were renowned for particular qualifications Woden excell'd in wisdom and the Art Magick Thor is commended for Spirit Baldur for Beauty from whose name a common Flower but of beautiful Colours is called Balden-braa that is Balders-brow Suenonius in his Notes to Saxo Grammaticus supposeth that there were three different Wodens The first and ancientest was called the Asian and in distinction Odin hin Gamble that is Woden the Elder He was the Son of Saturn The second was Upsalensis and among the Swedes had a splendid Temple shining with Gold built to his Honour He is also called an Asian but was a Scythian born these two Saenonius thinks are confounded in History The third was called Mithoden that is the middle Odin of whom Saxo Grammaticus makes mention he whilst the other Woden was abroad in the World took occasion to feign himself a God but at the others return trusting more to his Heels than his Cheating tricks he fled into Phaeonia where hoping to hide himself he was slain by the Rabble Whether there be any truth in this Conjecture we cannot determine certainly the History of Hengist and Horsa would require some such salvo who according to Bede and Malmsbury derived themselves in the third degree from Woden which if true necessarily implies there was one WODEN at least if not two later in time than him we have hitherto spoken of to which opinion Verstegan inclineth But when we consider that it was the usual way of Heathen Poets not to make their Hero's above three descents from Jupiter himself Sic à Jove tertius Ajax saith Ovid why may not the same liberty be allowed to the Saxon Scaldi to flatter their Princes in placing their Names nigher their fountain of Honour the much admired Woden who was the same to the Saxons as Jupiter to the Greeks and Romans and they gave him the like Titles For as he was saluted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hominum pater atque Deorum so Woden was stiled by the Saxons Fader allra Gudanna og Mannguna Father of Gods and Men. I have given a larger Treatise of him because he was by far the most renowned of all their Idols the words of the Edda are these Odinns er eedstur og ellstur Acanna hann radur ollumm hlutumm og so sem onnur Godinn eru Mattug tha thiona honum ell so sem born fodur WODEN is the highest and chief of the Asae and governs all things and although the other Gods are powerful yet they wait upon him as Children do on their Fathers THOR according to the Danish History was the Son of Woden and came with him from Asia hence he is called Asathor that is Thor the Asian and from him Thursday taketh name He was esteemed next in Honour to Woden and to him they sacrificed Men as the highest testimony of their devotion he is written sometimes Thaar and hath been thought by many to be the same with Taramis of the Gauls or Jupiter Tonans Certain it is whether from the similitude of Name or some other account after the knowledge the Saxons had of the Romans he was generally taken in after Ages for Jupiter A memorable instance of this may be given out of an old Book of Saxon Homilies in the publick Library of Cambridge treating of the false Gods of the Gentiles An man þaes eardigende on þam iglande Creta Saturnus gehaten sÆ¿ydlic Æ¿aelraeoþ sua ê§ he abat his sunus þa ða hi geborena þaeron unfaederlice macode heora flaesc him to mete he laefde sua ðeah aenne tolipe þeade he abit his broðre on aer ðe þaer Jovis gehaten hetol ðrymlic he afligde his faeder of þam fore raede igland Æ¿olde hine acþelle gif he him come to se Jovis þaes sua sþiðe gal ê§ he on his sÆ¿uster ge Æ¿ifode seo Æ¿aes gehaten Juno suiðe healic gyden heora dotra þaeron Minerva Venus þaforlag se faeder fullice buta manega his magan manlice geþemde þas manfullan men Æ¿aeron ê§a maerostan godas ðe ða haeðenan Æ¿orðoðon ac se sunu Æ¿aes sua ðeah suiðor ge Æ¿ordod ðon ðe faeder þaere on heora fulan bigenge se Jovis is ar þorðost ealra ðaera goda þe ða haeðenan haefdon on heora geddylde
But they armed with the power of God and not the Devil bearing a Silver cross before them for their Banner and the Image of our Lord and Saviour painted on a Table and singing Litanies prayed unto the Lord for the eternal salvation of themselves and of those for whose sakes and to whom they were come But when with the Kings leave sitting down they had preached the Word of life to him and to all his Nobles that were with him the King made Answer saying The words and promises which Ye have made are indeed fair but unto which as being new and uncertain I cannot suddenly yield my assent laying aside the Religion I have so long maintained with all the English Nation But because ye are strangers and come a great way and as it seems to me would impart to us the knowledge of things you believe the truest and best we will not in the least give you any molestation but rather courteously receive you and take care that all things necessary shall be provided for your maintenance neither do we prohibit but that ye may gain all ye can to the Faith of your Religion And accordingly he alotted them their residence in the City of Canterbury which was the Metropolis of all his Kingdom neither did he abridge them of the freedom of meeting of preaching or neglect their temporal provision It is reported that when they came nigh to the City after their manner with the holy Cross and the Image of the great King our Lord Jesus Christ with an agreeable-voice they sang this Litany We pray thee O Lord in thy mercy that thy sury may be turned away and thy Anger from this City and thy holy House because we have sinned Allelujah But when they came to the Dwellings provided for them they began to imitate the Apostolical life of the Primitive Church by applying themselves to continual prayers watchings and fastings to the preaching the Word of God to all that would hear them by despising all things of this World as superfluous and receiving only those things that were necessary for those they taught for their sustenance living exactly according to the Rules they taught others having a mind ready to suffer any Adversity even to die for the truth that they preached The success of which was some believed and were baptized admiting the simplicity of their innocent lives and the sweetness of their heavenly doctrine There was near this City towards the East a Church anciently built in honour of St. Martyn whilst the Romans inhabited Britain in which the Queen whom above we declared to have been a Christian was wont to pray In this therefore first they begun to assemble sing pray perform Mass preach and baptize until the King being converted to the Faith they obtained a greater liberty of Preaching every where and of building and repairing Churches But when he among the rest being delighted with the pure life of these Saints and their sweet Promises the truth of which they confirmed by shewing many Miracles believing was baptized many flocked in from all parts to hear the word and leaving the Rites of Heathenism joyned themselves to the unity of the holy Church of Christ at whose Faith and Conversion the King is reported so far to have congratulated as nevertheless not compels any to receive Christianity only those that believed he embraced with a nearer affection as fellow-Citizens with him of the heavenly Kingdom For he had learnt from the Teachers and Authors of his salvation that the service of Christ ought to be voluntary not constrained neither did he deser long but gave his Teachers places befitting their Degrees in his Metropolis of Canterbury and conferred upon them Possessions necessary in several kinds in the year of Christ 601. THE ANSWERS OF GREGORY TO THE QUESTIONS SENT BY AUGUSTINE The first Arch-Bishop of CANTERBURY For the better government of the new erected Church of English-Saxons Out of Bede's Hist. Ecclesiast lib. 1. cap. 27. IN the mean while Augustine the Man of God came to Arles and by Etherius Archbishop of the same City according to the Commands he received from the holy Father Gregory was ordained Archbishop of the English Returning therefore into Britain he sent immediately to Rome Lawrence the Priest and Peter the Monk to certifie Pope Gregory that the Christian Faith was received by the English and that he himself was made Bishop desiring also his opinion in certain Questions he thought necessary to be resolved in to all which he speedily received Answers proper to the Questions proposed which we thought fit here to insert into our History The first Question of Augustine Bishop of the Church of Canterbury Of Bishops how they should converse with their Clergy of those things that are presented to the Altar by the offerings of the Faithful how many portions there ought to be and how a Bishop ought to behave himself in the Church The Answer of Gregory Pope of the City of Rome How Bishops ought to act in the Church the Holy Scripture witnesses which you understand very well no doubt and especially the Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy in which he endeavors to teach him how he ought to behave himself in the House of God And it was ever the custome of the Apostolick See to deliver Instructions to Bishops that were ordained that out of every thing that came to the Altar there ought to be made four divisions viz. One for the Bishop and his family for hospitality and entertainments the second for the Clergy the third for the Poor and the fourth for repairing Churches But because your Brotherhood is well skilled in the Orders of a Monastery you know nothing ought to be possest by the Clergy apart in your English Church which lately by God's grace is brought to the Faith it ought to imitate the Conversion which was used by our Fathers in the beginning of the Church among whom none said any thing was his of those things he possessed but all things were in common among them The second Question of Augustine I desire to be informed whether Pr 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 able 〈◊〉 marry and if they shall marry whether they must 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Question Bede hath not but joyne the following Answer to the first Question Sr. Hen. Spelman hath added in out of the Bath Edition An. 1518. The Answer of Gregory If there be any of the Clergy out of holy Orders that cannot contain they ought to provide themselves Wives and to receive their stipends from without because concerning those portions which we have spoken of before we know 't is written that 't was divided to every one as every one had need And indeed there ought some consideration and care to be had of their Stipends that they may be kept under Ecclesiastical Rules that they shew good Manners in their lives that they may be diligent in singing Psalms and that they keep by God's assistance their hearts tongues and bodies
day of the Sabbath which ye do who will not celebrate it upon the first day of the Sabbath Peter solemnized the Lord's day of Easter from the sisteenth Moon till the twenty first which ye do not who observe the Lords day of Easter from the fourteenth to the twentieth Moon so that on the thirteenth Moon at Evening ye often begin Easter Neither did our Lord the Author and giver of the Gospel eat the old passover on that day but on the fourteenth Moon at Evening or deliver the Sacraments of the New Testament to be celebrated in Commemoration of his Passion also the twenty first Moon which the Law especially commends to our Observation ye utterly reject in the celebration of your Easter so that as I said before ye neither agree with John nor Peter Law or Gospel in the solemnizing the great Festival To these things Colman answered Did Anatholius a holy man and much commended in the sore-mentioned Church History think contrary to either Law or Gospel who writ that Easter was to be kept from the fourteenth to the twentieth Is it to be imagined that our most reverend Father Columba and his Successors men beloved of God either thought or acted any thing contrary to Holy Writ When there were many amongst them of whose heavenly Holiness the wonders and powerful Miracles they wrought have given sufficient Testimony who as I ever thought them to be Holy men so I will never desist from following their times manners and discipline Then Wilfrid 'T is evident said he that Anatholius was a man very holy learned and praise-worthy but what does that concern ye when ve do not observe his Decrees for he in his Easter following the Rule of Truth set forth a Circle of nineteen years which ye are either ignorant of or else utterly contemn if ve acknowledg it to be kept by the whole Church of Christ. He in the Lord's Easter so reckoned the fourteenth Moon that he acknowledged that on the same day after the manner of the Egyptians to be the fifteenth Moon at evening so he observed the twentieth day for the Lord's Easter but so that he believed that the day being done to be the one and twentieth of which rule of distinction he proves thee ignorant because sometimes ye plainly keep your Easter before the full Moon that is on the thirteenth Month. As concerning your Father Columba and his Followers whose sanctity ye say ye will imitate and whose rules and precepts confirmed by heavenly signs ye are resolved to follow I might Answer when many at Judgment shall say to the Lord that they have prophesied in his Name and cast out Devils and wrought many wonders the Lord will answer that he never knew them But far be it from me that I should speak this of your Fathers since 't is more reasonable of uncertain things to entertain good thoughts than bad for which reason therefore I do not deny them to be the Servants of God and beloved by God who out of an innocent simplicity and a pious intention love God Neither do I think such an observation of Easter to be much prejudicial to them as long as no body comes among them that can shew decrees of a better institution which they may follow who nevertheless I believe had some Catholick Calculator better instructed them would have followed those things which they knew and had learned to be the Commands of God You therefore and your Associates if you despise to follow the decrees of the Apostolick See when you have heard them nay of the Universal Church and those confirmed by Holy writ without doubt ye sin What though your Fathers were holy are the paucity of these in a corner of the farthest Island to be preferred before the Universal Church of Christ over the World What if this your Columba and ours too if he be Christ's was holy and powerful in Miracles ought he to be preferred before the blessed Prince of the Apostles to whom the Lord said thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it and to thee will I give the Keys of the kingdom of Heaven After Wilfrid had thus spoken the King said Colman is it true that these words were spoken by the Lord to Peter Who answered True O King Then said he Have you any thing that you can bring to prove so great power was given to Columba but he said No we have not The King again said Do both you agree without any controversie on this that these words were principally spoken to Peter and the Keys of the kingdom of Heaven were given him by the Lord They both answered Yes Then the King thus concluded And I say unto you because he is the Door-keeper I will not contradict him but as far as I know and am able I desire to obey his commands in all things lest perchance I coming to the Gates of the Kingdom of Heaven there be no body to open he being turned aside whom you have proved to hold the Keys After the King had said thus both those that sate down and those that stood great and small assented so that the less perfect Institution being abandoned every one made haste to apply themselves to those things they thought better The Dispute being ended and the Assembly dismist Agilbert returned home Colman seeing his Doctrine slighted and his Party despised taking along with him those that were resolved to be of his sect i. e. they that would not admit of the Catholick Easter and shaving of the Crown for there was no little question about that returned into Scotland to treat with his Party what he should do in the business Chad leaving the tract of the Scotish Doctrine returned to his See as acknowledging the observation of the Catholick Easter This Disputation fell out in the year of the Incarnation of our Lord 664 the twenty second year of King Oswy and the 30th year of the Bishoprick of the Scots which they had born in the Province of the English The wife of Oswy was Eanfled Daughter of Edwin King of Northumberland after the death of her husband she spent her daies in the Monastery of Streanshalch where she deceased and was interred in the Church of St. Peter in the same Monastery The Issue of King Oswy by Eanfled was this Elwin was slain in a battel against Ethelred King of the Mercians Elfled the eldest Daughter at a year old according to the Vow of her Father was committed to Hilda Abbess of Streanshalch to be bred up in Religion where she was afterwards Abbess and was buried in the Church of St. Peters in that Monastery Offrid the younger Daughter was married to Ethelred King of Mercia His natural Issue Alkfrid who succeeded Ethelwald in Deira came at last to the whole Crown of Northumberland Alkfled married to Peada Son of King Penda she is taxed by most Writers for the death of her Husband EGFRID
King of Northumberland and Alnud slain by the Danes and Canonized for a Saint ETHELRED ETHELRED the Son of Mollo succeeded who having caused three of his Nobles Adwulf Kinwulf and Ecca to be treacherously slain he was driven out of his Kingdom by Edelbald and Herebert who overcame him in a set battel ELFWALD ELFWALD the Son of Oswulf succeeded a just and upright Prince yet not freed from civil Commotions for in his second year Osbald and Ethelheard two Earls raising an Army against him routed his general Bearn and pursuing burnt him at a place called Seletune Others relate that Siga was chief Conspirator and that the King was slain at Scilcester on the wall and his body buried at Hexam upon Tine Siggan five years after laid violent hands on himself Elfwald left Issue Alfus and Alfin both slain by Ethelred Son of Mollo OSRED OSRED the Son of Alcred succeeded and the same year was deposed and driven from his Kingdom ETHELRED ETHELRED Son of Mollo after twelve years banishment imprisonment saith Alkuin was restored again to the Crown having taken Osred his Predecessour he shaved his Crown and encloystered him at York next he draws by fair promises Alfus and Alfwin Sons of Elfwald from the place they had taken Sanctuary in and barbarously murthers them at a place called Wonwaldremere a Village by the great Pool in Lancashire now called Winandermer Nor was his following Reign less bloody for Osred who by force had been made a Monk not liking the life had desired Banishment and obtained it And going into the Isle of Man raises some small Forces by the encouragement of certain Northumbrian Nobility with whom he kept intelligence and who promised by oath to assist him in his return but coming into his Country he is basely betrayed and deliveren unto Ethelred who immediately put him to death To strengthen himself in these Violencies he marries Elfled the Daughter of Ossa putting away his former wife but he enjoyed not long his Cruelties and Injustice for he was slain by his own Subjects at Cobre in the year 798. After his death many petty Princes or Dukes rather seized the Kingdom dividing it into parcels much molested by the Danes who made continual Inroads into those as well as other quarters which shall be treated of in order in the life of Egbert the West-Saxon who laid this as well as other Provinces to his own Dominion THE KINGDOM OF THE East-ANGLES Contained Counties Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgshire Isle of Ely KINGS Uffa Titulus Redwald Earpenwald Sigebert Egric Anna. Ethelherd Edelwald Aldulf Elswold Beorn Ethelred Egilbert UFFA TITULUS THE name of this Province testifieth what Nation they were who seated themselves in it to wit the Angles a People of Denmark of the same stock and Original with the Saxons who coming some of them with Hengist others with other Captains chose at length these quarters as the principal Rendezvous of their particular Tribe whither they flocked so fast that as Bede reporteth their Native Country in his daies was left almost desolate and uninhabitable The first time of their fixing in these parts is uncertainly guessed at but with most probability supposed about the year 500 when coming over in several parcels saith Bede they were divided into as many Principalities and petty Governments continually striving among themselves as they had leasure and rest from the Common enemy But about the year 575 UFFA the eighth from Woden in strength and policy overpowered the rest and either quelling or uniting different factions moulded the several Lordships into one Crown which he wore with great honour leaving his name to his Subjects many years after called Uffins and his Scepter to his Son TITULUS who upheld the greatness of it during his whole Reign with equal glory but the particulars of his life and actions are utterly lost and had not the lustre of his Son and Successour redeemed his Name from oblivion he might well have been left out in the Catalogue of Kings And this is the reason I shall begin the date of this Kingdom from Redwald his Son who raised it to the highest glory and made its Infancy more illustrious than its riper years And this is to be said of this Province above others that in its first appearance in History we find it in its full proportions though they not so great as of other Kingdoms REDWALD REDWALD the Son of Titulus came to the Kingdom about the year 593. In this first beginnings he was Tributary to Ethelbert King of Kent and served him as a Vice-Roy over all his Dominions by which means he gained experience in Government and after the death of that Potent King so managed his business that he became Monarch of the English-men and had all his Neighbours at his disposal The great Scene of his life which raised him to extent of dominion and reputation in the World was his encounter with Edilfrid the Wild a mighty Conquequerour and who had stretched his Dominions from Sea to Sea Him Redwald in the height of his glory and the pride of Victory undertakes in the quarrel of Edwin as hath been related in the life of that Prince and overthrows with his whole Host at the River Idle near Nottingham after which he marched into Northumberland where having established Edwin in his Throne he returns into his own Country loaden with Honour leaving the World to admire his Moderation and Justice as well Conduct and Valour He had formerly been Baptized in Kent but it seems more in compliance to Ethelbert than that he was really perswaded of the truth of that Religion For returning into his own Country by the perswasions of his Wife he was easily brought to his old Idolatry but fearing perhaps that the Christian Faith might prove true he was not willing wholly to reject either so that to be sure on one side or other he crected in the same Temple an Altar for the service of Christ and another for burnt Sacrifices to his Idols This Prince kept his usual Court of residence at Rendelisham nigh Ufford in Suffolk and as Bede interpreteth the word Rendelisham it is nothing but Rendil's Mansion place that is saith Mr. Cambden Redwald's Court. EARPENWALD EARPENWALD the Son of Redwald succeeded him in the Kingdom and by the perswasions of Edwin King of Northumberland openly professed the Christian Religion which his Father would not own but by halves but he not long survived his Conversion for he was slain by Ricbert a Pagan He had been baptized by Foelix a Bishop a Burgundian by Nation whom Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury sent into the Province to teach the Nation who held his Seat at a place called Dommoc now Dunwick a Town well peopled even to the Conquerours daies and long after much frequented and strongly fortified till upon the removal of the Bishop's Seat and the breaking in of the Sea it became almost desolate SIGEBERT SIGEBERT succeeded in the
ALBION from that Nation also It is agreed on most hands that it had its denomination of ALBION from its Whiteness and it is observable that Orpheus or rather Onomacritus calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the WHITE ISLAND and the British Poets name it Inis Wen the White Island whether from the Plasterish Soyl as Faucastorius thinks or the White Rocks about it is uncertain That it came from the Latins ALBIS RUPIBUS is impossible because it was known to the Greeks by this Name long before the Latins and that it proceeded from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying WHITE in the Greek Tongue is very unlikely because being called Albion when the rest of the Islands about it were named Bretanicks It may be supposed to have gone by this Name long before the Greeks entered these Seas when the Tynn Mines in Cornwal and Devonshire were not yet found out For upon the discovery of the Mines in those Countries the name of BRITAIN was given to part of this Island also and ALBION by degrees began to grow out of use From ALBEN therefore in the Phoenician Tongue signifying WHITE it may with most probability be derived and as the Greeks translated Brat-anac the Country of Tynn into Cassiterides and afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 why might they not turn likewise Alben into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or White Island and afterwards vary it into Albion Bochartus taketh notice that the Mountains upon France commonly called the Alpes were sometimes named ALBIA from their continual Whiteness Now seeing that the Phoenicians were in Liguria and those parts of France as likewise in Britain before the Greeks it is rather to be supposed that ALBION and ALBIA came from their Alben than the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 White and it may be easily thought that both the Latin word Albus and Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were both originally derived from the Phoenician Alben I will only set down one conjecture more of the name of Albion and that is ALPIN which in the Phoenician Tongue signifies a high Mountain In the Country of the Silures now South Wales there are many high Cliffs which the Britains from the Phoenicians call Pens to this day Now seeing it may be supposed that the Phoenicians Landed in those parts why might they not call that part of the Island Alben or Alpin from whence Albion might afterwards proceed the B and P being easily convertible and seeing that the name of ALBION is so Ancient it is far more probable it was taken from those parts where the first Traders arrived than from the Cliffs of Dover frequented only by the little Traffick of the Continent And that which maketh further to the confirmation of this Derivation of Albion from Alben White in the Phoenician Tongue or Alpin High and Mountainous in the same Dialect is that the High-land Scots who were once part of the Britains and to this day retain the British Language call that Country which they inhabite Alban or Albin whereupon Blondus terms the Scots Albinenses as well as Albienses and Buchanan Albini why might not therefore the whole Island in former times be generally called Alban or Albin and afterwards Albion by corruption seeing that the same Author names the Scots Albienses and Albinenses promiscuously Moreover it is to be observed as to the Derivation of Albion from Alpin that St. Hierom inveighing against a Pelagian a Scot by Nation calleth him an Alpine Dog which Mr. Cambden would correct and in the place of Alpin puts in Albin by which name the Highlanders call their Country Because saith he of Alpin Dogs I never remember I have read ought but Scotish Dogs were very famous at Rome even in those daies As if St. Hierom by Alpin Dog meant a Dog of the Alpes and not of Scotland I see therefore no reason why the word should be changed for if the Greeks could call the Alpes as well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Albions as well as Alpions and that from the Phoenician Alben and Alpin why might not St. Hierom call the Scots Alpins as well as Albins upon the same account especially seeing the change is so inconsiderable What the Highlanders call Alban and Albin the Irish call Allabany and Mr. Cambden putteth the question whether this word Allabany may not have some token in it of the ancient ALBION but why doth he not rather ask whether Alban and Albin by which the Natives call their Country doth not rather carry some footsteps of Albion than Allabany a Foreign word pronounced after the broad and scattering manner of the Irish. The Reason is plain Alban and Albin have nothing in them of the Scottish which is also the British or of the Irish Tongue higher than which he never goeth But Allabany will afford matter for a pretty Derivation It is Question saith he for a liberal and searching Wit to travel in he gives therefore two Conjectures as touching the name of Allabany but not one of Alban or Albin might it not come of Whiteness saith he which they call Ban and import as much as Ellan-Ban that is a White Island or from Banne by which the Irish Poets call their Country and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek word signifies ANOTHER so that Allabany may sound as much as another Ireland for saith he pray mark the Reason Ancient Historians call Ireland Scotland the Greater and the Kingdom of the Scots in Britain Scotland the Less but I never heard that they were called Ireland the Greater and Ireland the Less so that Allabany allowing Banne in the Poets sence will never truly derive it as for his joyning a Greek word to make out the Derivation I pass it over seeing it is no more than what he hath done in Britain it self Thus you see he taketh care for the Irish Allabany but as for Alban and Albin of the Highlanders carrying the true foot-steps of Alpin and Alben in the Phoenician Tongue and the undoubted Mother not only of the Ancient Albion but the more Modern Albania and this corrupt Allabany he provideth not at all yet I doubt not but the derivation of this Island from Alben or Alpin in the Phoenician Tongue and the Natives pure pronunciation thereof Alban and Albin will be more satisfactory to the Enquirers into Truth after the name of ALBION than any thing that can be produced from the distorted Pronunciation thereof ALLABANY Mr. Milton will have it Alebion and to have some relation to Lybia from the Greek Colonies in those parts but had he considered that they were Phoenician Colonies as shall be shewn in the sequel their names only being Greekified he might have given a more solid Reason As for the Giant Albion and Albina Dioclesians Daughter I think they are not worth the mentioning in this place as the Original of ALBION Likewise King Brutus for BRITANNIA I will pass over leaving the Truth of that story to be
discussed in the British History Concerning the Phoenicians on the West Coasts of Africk because Mr. Milton saies that Albion has some relation to Lybia I will be more particular especially seeing he takes notice only of the Greeks and not Phoenicians who were many years before acquainted with those Places and from whose Idiom Alebion is easily derived In HANNO's Navigation written by himself in the Phoenician Tongue and set out in Greek by Sigismundus Gelenius at Bazil Anno 1533 I find that the Phoenicians on the West part of Africk built divers Cities The question is what Hanno this was Gerardus Vossius makes him that Hanno whom the Garthaginians sent against Agathocles but Isaac Vossius proves this Hanno to be Ancienter because Scylax who flourished under Darius Nothus records Cities built by that Hanno For my own part I verily believe it was Hanno who is mentioned by AElianus who desired to be esteemed as a God no doubt as his Predecessour Hercules had been for his excellency in Navigation a manifest sign he lived early in the Deifying Age of the World However it be with a great Fleet of Threescore Sail and accompanied with Thirty thousand Men he passes the Streights of Gibraltar and after two daies Sail finding a pleasant Plain of Ground he built Dumathiria so called from its low Scituation although corrupted by the Greeks after their manner into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the like Afterwards passing a Promontory to which he gave the name Solois or Solountis for its Cragginess he came to a Lake a daies Sail where he built Caricum Gytta Acra Melitta Arambe the last of which is only remaining so that all the Coast West of Africa from the Streights Mouth to Cerne Chernaa of the Phoenicians signifying the last Habitation was filled with the Colonies of Phoenicians and beyond Cerne they had not one Colony From this Cerne or Herne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cheth being resolved in h I think the Ancient name of Ireland Erne and Jerne as Strabo calls it proceeded rather than from Ibernae as Learned Bochartus shews it although both of the same signification and implies as much as the uttermost Habitation as indeed Ireland is Westward But if Hibernia be not derived ab Hiberno tempore by the Romans which I think not by reason that Ireland hath not such sharp Winters by far as England Then I think Iberne of the Phoenicians takes place signifying the uttermost Land for naturally from it proceeded 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Juverna and from Herne comes Jerne and Jerna and Jernis as Orpheus or rather Onomacritus taught by the Phoenician writes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It lay against Jerne Isle These Derivations I take to be truer than to fetch it from Erin of the Natives and that from Hiere signifying the west Wind among them because I have shewn before that Countries that have their name from Scituations and Customes receive them from ab extra for to the Natives Ireland is no more a West Country than England unless they compare it with Eastern parts But to speak the truth of the matter every Country by its scituation receiving a Name has it from its Neighbours as the West Indies and East Indies are called as they lie to us there being no such name known among them So Anciently Gallia was divided by the Romans into Cisalpina and Transalpina In like manner you may imagine the East Saxons were called by the West and the West Saxons by the East or else by some Third Person It is easie to imagine how Jerne might by long use come to be Erin among the Natives if we do but consider what strange Alterations and Mutations have happened in the English Tongue it self in a few years yea how one Dialect varies from another as may be seen in the Chapter treating of that Subject The Reason which concludes me in the Belief that Ireland took its name from the Phoenicians is because in the uttermost Coast of Spain westward is a Promontory called by Strabo Jerne and the River next unto it is called by Mela Jerne so that we see when Spain was the uttermost bounds of the knowledge of the Phoenicians Spain was called 〈◊〉 but when these Islands were discovered then Ireland took the name as being the Uttermost I cannot imagine how the Names should so exactly correspond if they had not the same Original Besides in the farthermost parts of Ireland there is a River called by Ptolomy Jernus agreeing in name with the River Jerne in Spain and all this cannot be from Hiere signifying West in Irish because there is no Language in Europe besides the Irish that have any such kind of word to signisie the West for we find those Countries that have any thing of West Position are in the Teutonick called so adding West as Westrich Westphalia to Germany Westminster Westchester c. to London So that Mr. Cambden is much to be suspected as guilty of a mistake in his Derivation of Ireland and Irish men whom he fetches out of Spain from the point Jerna from whence supposing they came By the way of my discourse let me ask this Question By whom was the River and Promontory Jerna in Spain called if he saies By the Inhabitants themselves from Hiere it being west of Spain I would be glad to know from whence came this Hiere it having no relation to the Spanish Tongue nor any Dialect or Language in Europe besides and we know none that lived Anciently in those parts of Spain but were either Phoenician or Greek Colonies which have nothing like in their Languages relating to Hiere signifying the West But in the Phoenician Tongue the derivation is so easie from Iberne or Herne to bring Berne and Jerne that seeing the Phoenicians lived west of any in Spain and Africk and called the uttermost part of both after that Name as is manifest out of the Periplus of Hanno It is therefore reasonably to be supposed when they came to discover these Lands and found Ireland the Uttermost that then they gave it the name Jerne so that the Derivation of Ireland runs thus Herne or Iberne of the Phoenicians turned by the Greeks into Jerne as Orpheus Aristotle and Claudian have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Eustathius and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Martian of Heraclea by Juvenal and Mela Juvernia by Diodorus Siculus Iris by the Natives Erin from the Britains or Welch Yuerdon and the English Ireland Now I think the Derivation of it is not to be sought from Eria and that from Hiere which is made the Root of all these Derivations according to Mr. Cambden's way than which nothing is more easie and fallacious but from the Phoenicians Seeing we have said thus much of Ireland it will not be amiss to treat of THULE also a place Famous in the Writings of the Ancients because the examination of the Name of this Island and shewing of it