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Title: Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of Britaine
Author: Raphaell Holinshed
William Harrison
John Hooker
Release Date: April 11, 2013 [EBook #42506]
Language: English
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HOLINSHED'S
CHRONICLES
ENGLAND, SCOTLAND,
AND
IRELAND.
IN SIX VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
ENGLAND.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON; F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON; T. PAYNE; WILKIE
AND ROBINSON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME;
CADELL AND DAVIES; AND J. MAWMAN.
1807.
AMS PRESS INC.
NEW YORK
AMS PRESS INC.
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10003
1965
MANUFACTURED in the U.S.A.
[ORIGINAL TITLE.]
THE
FIRST AND SECOND VOLUMES
OF
CHRONICLES,
COMPRISING
1 The description and historie of England,
2 The description and historie of Ireland,
3 The description and historie of Scotland:
FIRST COLLECTED AND PUBLISHED
BY
RAPHAELL HOLINSHED,
WILLIAM HARRISON, AND OTHERS:
Now newlie augmented and continued (with manifold matters of singular note and worthie
memorie)
TO THE YEARE 1586,
By JOHN HOOKER aliàs VOWELL Gent.
AND OTHERS.
WITH CONUENIENT TABLES AT THE END OF THESE VOLUMES.
HISTORIÆ PLACEANT NOSTRATES AC PEREGRINÆ.
THE CONTENTS OF VOLUME I
Page
ADVERTISEMENT.
iv
DEDICATION.
v
THE NAMES OF THE AUTHORS FROM WHOM THIS HISTORIE OF ENGLAND IS COLLECTED.
ix
AN HISTORICALL DESCRIPTION OF THE ILAND OF BRITAINE, BOOK I
1
AN HISTORICALL DESCRIPTION OF THE ILAND OF BRITAINE, BOOK II
221
AN HISTORICALL DESCRIPTION OF THE ILAND OF BRITAINE, BOOK III
369
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
ADVERTISEMENT.
THE CHRONICLES OF HOLINSHED having become exceedingly scarce, and, from their Rarity and Value,
having always brought a high Price whenever they have appeared for Sale, the Publishers have thought
they should perform an acceptable Service to the Public by reprinting them in a uniform, handsome, and
modern Form.
It cannot now be necessary to state the Importance and interesting Nature of this Work. The high Price
for which it has always sold, is a sufficient Testimony of the Esteem in which it has been held. Holinshed's
Description of Britain is allowed to contain the most curious and authentic Account of the Manners and
Customs of our Island in the Reign of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth, in which it was written. His History of
the Transactions of the British Isles, during these Periods, possesses all the Force and Value of
contemporary Evidence, collected by a most skilful Observer; and the peculiar Style and Orthography in
which the Work is written, furnish a very interesting Document to illustrate the History of the English
Language.
The original Edition of the Chronicles of Holinshed, it is well known, was published by their Author in a
mutilated State. A Number of Pages, which had obviously been printed with the rest of the Work, were
found to be omitted, except in a few Copies obtained by some favoured Persons. In the present Edition,
these Castrations are faithfully restored; and in order that the Purchaser may depend upon finding an
exact as well as a perfect Copy, it has been a Law with the Publishers, not to alter a single Letter, but to
print the Work with the utmost Fidelity from the best preceding Edition, with the Author's own
Orthography, and with his marginal Notes. The only Liberty taken, has been to use the Types of the
present Day, instead of the old English Letter of the Time of Elizabeth.
The Publishers submit to the Public this Edition of a curious and valuable Chronicle of our History, with a
confident Hope, that it will gratify both the Historical Student and the General Reader. If it meet with the
Reception which they anticipate, they will be encouraged to select some others of the rarest and most
important of our ancient Chronicles, and reprint them, in like Manner, for the Convenience and
Gratification of the Public.
TO THE
RIGHT HONORABLE, AND HIS SINGULAR GOOD LORD AND MAISTER,
S. WILLIAM BROOKE KNIGHT,
LORD WARDEN OF THE CINQUE PORTS, AND BARON OF COBHAM, ALL INCREASE OF THE
FEARE AND KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, FIRME OBEDIENCE TOWARD HIS PRINCE, INFALLIBLE
LOUE TO THE COMMON WEALTH, AND COMMENDABLE RENOWME HERE IN THIS
WORLD, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME LIFE EUERLASTING.
Hauing had iust occasion, Right Honorable, to remaine in London, during the time of Trinitie terme last
passed, and being earnestlie required of diuers my freends, to set downe some breefe discourse of
parcell of those things, which I had obserued in the reading of such manifold antiquities as I had perused
toward the furniture of a Chronologie, which I haue yet in hand; I was at the first verie loth to yeeld to
their desires: first, for that I thought my selfe vnable for want of skill and iudgment, so suddenlie & with
so hastie speed to take such a charge vpon me: secondlie, bicause the dealing therein might prooue an
hinderance and impechment vnto mine owne Treatise: and finallie, for that I had giuen ouer all earnest
studie of histories, as iudging the time spent about the same, to be an hinderance vnto my more
necessarie dealings in that vocation & function wherevnto I am called in the ministerie. But when they
were so importunate with me, that no reasonable excuse could serue to put by this trauell, I
condescended at the length vnto their yrkesome sute, promising that I would spend such void time as I
had to spare, whilest I should be inforced to tarie in the citie, vpon some thing or other that should
satisfie their request; and stand in lieu of a description of my Countrie. For their parts also they assured
me of such helps as they could purchase: and thus with hope of good, although no gaie successe, I went
in hand withall, then almost as one leaning altogither vnto memorie, sith my books and I were parted by
fourtie miles in sunder. In this order also I spent a part of Michaelmas and Hilarie termes insuing, being
inforced thereto I say by other businesses which compelled me to keepe in the citie, and absent my selfe
from my charge, though in the meane season I had some repaire vnto my poore librarie, but not so great
as the dignitie of the matter required, and yet far greater than the Printers hast would suffer. One helpe,
and none of the smallest that I obtained herein, was by such commentaries as Leland had somtime
collected of the state of Britaine, books vtterlie mangled, defaced with wet and weather, and finallie
vnperfect through want of sundrie volumes: secondlie, I gat some knowledge of things by letters and
pamphlets, from sundrie places & shires of England, but so discordant now and then amongst
themselues, especiallie in the names and courses of riuers and situation of townes, that I had oft greater
trouble to reconcile them one with an other, than orderlie to pen the whole discourse of such points as
[Page vi]
they contained: the third aid did grow by conference with diuers, either at the table or secretlie alone,
wherein I marked in what things the talkers did agree, and wherin they impugned ech other, choosing in
the end the former, and reiecting the later, as one desirous to set foorth the truth absolutelie, or such
things in deed as were most likelie to be true. The last comfort arose by mine owne reading of such
writers as haue heretofore made mention of the condition of our countrie, in speaking wherof, if I should
make account of the successe, & extraordinarie cōming by sundrie treatises not supposed to be extant, I
should but seeme to pronounce more than may well be said with modestie, & say farder of my selfe than
this Treatise can beare witnes of. Howbeit, I refer not this successe wholie vnto my purpose about this
Description, but rather giue notice thereof to come to passe in the penning of my Chronologie, whose
crums as it were fell out verie well in the framing of this Pamphlet. In the processe therefore of this
Booke, if your Honor regard the substance of that which is here declared, I must needs confesse that it is
none of mine owne: but if your Lordship haue consideration of the barbarous composition shewed
herein, that I may boldlie claime and challenge for mine owne, sith there is no man of any so slender skill,
that will defraud me of that reproch, which is due vnto me for the meere negligence, disorder, and euill
disposition of matter comprehended in the same. Certes I protest before God and your Honour, that I
neuer made any choise of stile, or words, neither regarded to handle this Treatise in such precise order
and method as manie other would haue done, thinking it sufficient, truelie and plainelie to set foorth such
things as I minded to intreat of, rather than with vaine affectation of eloquence to paint out a rotten
sepulchre; a thing neither commendable in a writer, nor profitable to the reader. How other affaires
troubled me in the writing hereof manie know, and peraduenture the slacknesse shewed herein can better
testifie: but howsoeuer it be done, & whatsoeuer I haue done, I haue had an especiall eye vnto the truth
of things, and for the rest, I hope that this foule frizeled Treatise of mine will prooue a spur to others
better learned, more skilfull in Chorographie, and of greater iudgement in choise of matter to handle the
selfe same argument, if in my life time I doo not peruse it againe. It is possible also that your Honour will
mislike hereof, for that I haue not by mine owne trauell and eysight viewed such things as I doo here
intreat of. In deed I must needs confesse, that vntill now of late, except it were from the parish where I
dwell, vnto your Honour in Kent; or out of London where I was borne, vnto Oxford & Cambridge
where I haue bene brought vp, I neuer trauelled 40. miles foorthright and at one iourney in all my life;
neuerthelesse in my report of these things, I vse their authorities, who either haue performed in their
persons, or left in writing vpon sufficient ground (as I said before) whatsoeuer is wanting in mine. It may
be in like sort that your Honour will take offense at my rash and retchlesse behauiour vsed in the
composition of this volume, and much more that being scambled vp after this maner, I dare presume to
make tendour of the protection therof vnto your Lordships hands. But when I consider the singular
affection that your Honour dooth beare to those that in any wise will trauell to set foorth such profitable
things as lie hidden, and therevnto doo weigh on mine owne behalfe my bounden dutie and gratefull mind
to such a one as hath so manie and sundrie waies benefited me that otherwise can make no recompense,
I can not but cut off all such occasion of doubt, and therevpon exhibit it, such as it is, and so penned as it
is, vnto your Lordships tuition, vnto whome if it may seeme in anie wise acceptable, I haue my whole
desire. And as I am the first that (notwithstanding the great repugnancie to be seene among our writers)
hath taken vpon him so particularlie to describe this Ile of Britaine; so I hope the learned and godlie will
beare withall, & reforme with charitie where I doo tread amisse. As for the curious, and such as can
rather euill fauouredlie espie than skilfullie correct an error, and sooner carpe at another mans dooings
than publish any thing of their owne, (keeping themselues close with an obscure admiration of learning &
knowledge among the common sort) I force not what they saie hereof: for whether it doo please or
displease them, all is one to me, sith I referre my whole trauell in the gratification of your Honour, and
such as are of experience to consider of my trauell, and the large scope of things purposed in this
Treatise, of whome my seruice in this behalfe may be taken in good part, that I will repute for my full
recompense, and large guerdon of my labours. The Almightie God preserue your Lordship in continuall
health, wealth, and prosperitie, with my good Ladie your wife, your Honours children, (whom God hath
indued with a singular towardnesse vnto all vertue and learning) and the rest of your reformed familie,
vnto whom I wish farder increase of his holie spirit, vnderstanding of his word, augmentation of honor,
and continuance of zeale to follow his commandements.
Your Lordships humble seruant
and houshold Chaplein.
W. H.
¶ THE NAMES OF THE AUTHORS
FROM WHOME THIS
HISTORIE OF ENGLAND
[Page vii]
[Page viii]
[Page ix]
IS COLLECTED.
A.
Aelius Spartianus.
Aelius Lampridius.
Asserius Meneuensis.
Alfridus Beuerlacensis.
Aeneas Syluius Senensis.
Auentinus.
Adam Merimouth with additions.
Antoninus Archiepiscopus Florentinus.
Albertus Crantz.
Alexander Neuill.
Arnoldus Ferronius.
Annius Viterbiensis.
Amianus Marcellinus.
Alliances genealogiques des Roys & Princes de
France.
Annales D. Aquitaine per Iean Bouchet.
Annales de Bourgoigne per Guilamme Paradin.
Annales de France per Nicol Giles.
Annales rerum Flandricarum per Jacobum Meir.
Antonius Sabellicus.
Antonius Nebricensis.
Aurea Historia.
B.
Biblia Sacra.
Beda venerabilis.
Berosus.
Brian Tuke knight.
Blondus Forliuiensis.
Berdmondsey, a Register booke belonging to that
house.
C.
Cæsars Commentaries.
Cornelius Tacitus.
Chronica Chronicorum.
Chronica de Dunstable, a booke of Annales
belonging to the Abbey there.
Chronicon Io. Tilij.
Chronica de Eyton, an historie belonging to that
colledge, although compiled by some
Northernman, as some suppose named
Otherborne.
Chronicles of S. Albon.
Chronica de Abingdon, a booke of Annales
belonging to that house.
Chronica de Teukesburie.
Claudianus.
Chronicon Genebrard.
Chroniques de Normandie.
Chroniques de Britaine.
Chroniques de Flanders published by Denis
Sauage.
Continuation de Historie and Chroniques de
Flanders by the same Sauage.
Couper.
Cuspinianus.
Chronica Sancti Albani.
Caxtons Chronicles.
Carion with additions.
Crockesden, a Register booke belonging to an
house of that name in Staffordshire.
D.
Diodorus Siculus.
Dion Cassius.
Dominicus Marius Niger.
E.
Edmerus.
Eusebius.
Eutropius.
Encomium Emmæ, an old Pamphlet written to hir,
conteining much good matter for the
vnderstanding of the state of this realme in hir
time, wherein hir praise is not pretermitted,
and so hath obteined by reason thereof that
title.
Enguerant de Monstrellet.
Eulogium.
Edmund Campian.
F.
Fabian.
Froissart.
Franciscus Tarapha.
Franciscus Petrarcha.
Flauius Vopiscus Siracusanus.
Floriacensis Vigorinensis.
G.
Gviciardini Francisco.
Guiciardini Ludouico.
Gildas Sapiens.
Galfridus Monemutensis, aliàs Geffrey of
Monmouth.
Giraldus Cambrensis.
Guilielmus Malmesburiensis.
Galfridus Vinsauf.
Guilielmus Nouoburgensis.
Guilielmus Thorne.
Gualterus Hemmingford, aliàs Gisburnensis.
Geruasius Dorobernensis.
Geruasius Tilberiensis.
Guilielmus Gemeticensis de ducibus Normaniæ.
Guilielmus Rishanger.
Guilielmus Lambert.
Georgius Lillie.
Guilamme Paradin.
H.
Higinus.
Henricus Huntingtonensis.
Henricus Leicestrensis.
Hector Boece.
Historie Daniou.
Historia Ecclesiastica Magdeburgensis.
Henricus Mutius.
Historia quadripartita seu quadrilogium.
Hardings Chronicle.
Halles Chronicle.
[Page x]
Henricus Bradshaw.
Henricus Marleburgensis.
Herodianus.
Humfrey Luyd.
I.
Iohannes Bale.
Iohannes Leland.
Iacobus Philippus Bergomas.
Iulius Capitolinus.
Iulius Solinus.
Iohannes Pike with additions.
Iohannes Functius.
Iohn Price knight.
Iohannes Textor.
Iohannes Bodinus.
Iohannes Sleidan.
Iohannes Euersden a Monke of Berry.
Iohannes or rather Giouan villani a Florentine.
Iohannes Baptista Egnatius.
Iohannes Capgraue.
Iohannes Fourden.
Iohannes Caius.
Iacob de Voragine Bishop of Nebio.
Iean de Bauge a Frenchman wrote a pamphlet of
the warres in Scotland, during the time that
Monsieur de Desse remained there.
Iohn Fox.
Iohannes Maior.
Iohn Stow, by whose diligent collected summarie,
I haue beene not onelie aided, but also by
diuers rare monuments, ancient writers, and
necessarie register bookes of his, which he
hath lent me out of his own Librarie.
Iosephus.
L.
Liber constitutionum London.
Lucan.
Lælius Giraldus.
M.
Marianus Scotus.
Matthæus Paris.
Matthæus Westmonaster. aliàs Flores
historiarum.
Martin du Bellay, aliàs Mons. de Langey.
Mamertinus in Panegyricis.
Memoires de la Marche.
N.
Nicephorus.
Nennius.
Nicholaus Treuet with additions.
O.
Orosius Dorobernensis.
Osbernus Dorobernensis.
Otho Phrisingensis.
P.
[Page xi]
Pausanias.
Paulus Diaconus.
Paulus Aemilius.
Ponticus Virunius.
Pomponius Lætus.
Philip de Cumeins, aliàs M. de Argenton.
Polydor Virgil.
Paulus Iouius.
Platina.
Philippus Melancthon.
Peucerus.
Pomponius Mela.
R.
Rogerus Houeden.
Ranulfus Higeden, aliàs Cestrensis the author of
Polychronicon.
Radulfus Cogheshall.
Radulfus Niger.
Register of the Garter.
Records of Battell Abbey.
Richardus Southwell.
Robert Greene.
Radulfus de Diceto.
Robert Gaguin.
Rodericus Archiepiscopus Toletanus.
Records and rolles diuerse.
S.
Strabo.
Suetonius.
Sigebertus Gemblacensis.
Sidon Appollinaris.
Simon Dunelmensis.
Sextus Aurelius Victor.
T.
Trebellius Pollio.
Thomas More knight.
Thomas Spot.
Thomas Walsingham.
Titus Liuius de Foroliuisijs de vita Henrici. 5.
Titus Liuius Patauiensis.
Thomas Lanquet.
Thomas Couper.
Taxtor a Monke of Berry.
Theuet.
Thomas de la More.
Tripartita Historia.
V.
Vvlcatius Gallicanus.
Volfgangus Lazius.
W.
Whethamsted, a learned man, sometime Abbat of
Saint Albons a Chronicler.
William Harrison.
William Patten of the expedition into Scotland.
1574.
William Proctor of Wiats rebellion.
Besides these, diuers other bookes and treatises of historicall matter I haue seene and perused, the
names of the authors being vtterlie vnknowne.
REGVM ANGLIÆ
SERIES & CATALOGUS.
Conquestor, Rufus, prior Henricus, Stephanúsque,
Alter & Henricus, Leonino corde Richardus,
Rex & Ioannes, Henricus tertius inde:
Eduardus primus, Gnatúsque, Nepósque sequuntur:
His infœlicem Richardum iunge secundum:
Henricus quartus soboles Gandaui Ioannis,
Præcedit Gnato quinto, sextóque Nepoti:
Eduardus quartus, quintus, homicida Richardus,
Septimi & Henricus octauus clara propago:
Eduardus sextus, regina Maria, Philippus:
Elisabeth longos regnet victura per annos,
Seráque promisso fœlix potiatur olympo.
CARMEN CHRONOLOGICON
THOMÆ NEWTONI CESTRESHYRIJ.
Gramine, fluminibus, grege, principe, fruge, metallis,
Lacte, feris, armis, vrbibus, arte, foris,
Quæ viget ac floret generosa Britannia, quæque,
Obruta puluereo squalluit ante situ:
Exerit ecce caput, genuinum nacta nitorem,
Et rutilum emittit cum grauitate iubar.
Et quod blæsa hominum mutilarat tempore lingua,
Illud habet rectum pumice tersa nouo.
Loydus in hac pridem gnauus prolusit arena,
Lelandus, Prisius, Stous, Holinshedius,
Lambardus, Morus, Camdenus, Thinnius, Hallus,
Vocalis, Grafton, Foxius, Harrisonus,
Hardingus, Gildas, Staniherstus, Beda, Neuillus,
Doctáque Flemingi lima poliuit opus:
Nec te cane senex, magne ô Parkere, silebo,
Cui decus attulerat pontificalis apex.
Omnibus his meritò est laus debita & optima merces,
Quòd patriæ accendant lumina clara suæ.
Longa dies opus hoc peperit, longæua senectus,
Et libri authores perbeet, atque librum.
AN
HISTORICALL DESCRIPTION
OF
[Page xii]
Wil. Conqu.
Wil. Rufus.
Henricus 1.
Stephanus.
Henricus 2.
Richardus 1.
Ioannes.
Henricus 3.
Eduardus 1.
Eduardus 2.
Eduardus 3.
Richardus 2.
Henricus 4.
i Henricus 5.
Henricus 6.
Eduardus 4.
Eduardus 5.
Richardus 3.
Henricus 7.
Henricus 8.
Eduardus 6.
Phil. & Mar.
Elisabeth.
Loydus.
Lelandus.
Prisius.
Stous.
Holinshedius.
Lambardus.
Morus.
Camdenus.
Thinnius.
Hallus.
Vocalis aliàs
Hookerus.
Graftonus.
Foxius.
Harrisonus.
Hardingus.
Gildas.
Staniherstus.
Beda.
Neuillus.
Flemingus.
Parkerus.
[Page 1]
THE ILAND OF BRITAINE;
WITH A BRIEFE REHERSALL OF
THE NATURE AND QUALITIES OF THE PEOPLE OF
ENGLAND,
AND
SUCH COMMODITIES AS ARE TO BE FOUND IN THE
SAME.
COMPREHENDED IN THREE BOOKES, AND WRITTEN BY W. H.
A TABLE OF SUCH CHAPITERS AS ARE CONTEINED IN THE FIRST
BOOKE
OF THIS DESCRIPTION.
Page
1
Of the diuision of the whole earth.
2
2
Of the position, circuit, forme, and quantitie of the Ile of Britaine.
4
3
Of the ancient denominations of this Iland.
6
4
What sundrie nations haue dwelled in Albion.
9
5
Whether it be likelie that anie giants were, and whether they inhabited in this
Ile or not.
14
6
Of the languages spoken in this Iland.
22
7
Into how manie kingdoms this Iland hath beene diuided.
26
8
The names of such kings and princes as haue reigned in this Iland.
31
9
Of the ancient religion vsed in Albion.
33
10
Of such Ilands as are to be seene vpon the coasts of Britaine.
52
11
Of riuers, and first of the Thames, and such riuers as fall into it.
78
12
Of such streames as fall into the sea, betweene the Thames and the mouth of
Sauerne.
91
13
The description of the Sauerne, and such waters as discharge themselues into
the same.
117
14
Of such waters as fall into the sea in compasse of the Iland, betweene the
Sauerne and the Humber.
123
15
The description of the Humber or Isis, and such water-courses as doo
increase hir chanell.
156
16
Of such fals of waters as ioine with the sea, betweene Humber and the
Thames.
168
17
Of such ports and creeks as our sea-faring men doo note for their benefit
vpon the coasts of England.
181
18
Of the aire, soile, and commodities of this Iland.
183
19
Of the foure high waies sometime made in Britaine by the princes of this
Iland.
189
20
Of the generall constitution of the bodies of the Britons.
192
21
How Britaine at the first grew to be diuided into three portions.
195
[Page 2]
22
After what maner the souereigntie of this Ile dooth remaine to the princes of
Lhoegres or kings of England.
196
23
Of the wall sometime builded for a partition betweene England and the Picts
and Scots.
214
24
Of the maruels of England.
216
OF THE DIUISION OF THE WHOLE EARTH.
CHAPTER I.
We read that the earth hath beene diuided into thrée parts, euen sithens the generall floud. And the
common opinion is, that Noah limited and bestowed it vpon his three sons, Japhet, Cham, and Sem,
preserued with him in the Arke, giuing vnto each of them such portions thereof as to him séemed good,
and neuerthelesse reteining the souereigntie of the whole still vnto himselfe: albeit as yet it be left
vncertaine how those seuerall parts were bounded, and from whome they tooke such names as in our
times are attributed to each of them. Certes the words, Asia, Europa, and Africa, are denominations
giuen but of late (to speake of) vnto them, and it is to be doubted, whether sithens the time of Noah, the
sea hath in sundrie places wonne or lost, added or diminished to and from each of them; or whether
Europa, and Lybia were but one portion; and the same westerlie regions of late discouered (and now
called America,) was the third part (counting Asia for the second) or the selfe region of the Atlantides,
which Plato and others, for want of traffike thither in their times, supposed to be dissolued and sunke
into the sea: as by their writings appeereth.
Not long before my time, we reckoned Asia, Europa, and Africa, for a full and perfect diuision of the
whole earth, which are parcels onelie of that huge Iland that lieth east of the Atlantike sea, and whereof
the first is diuided from the second by Tanais (which riseth in the rocks of Caucasus, and hideth it selfe in
the Meotine moores) and the Ocean sea; and the last from them both by the Mediterrane and red sea,
otherwise called Mare Erythræum. But now all men, especially the learned, begin to doubt of the
soundnes of that partition; bicause a no lesse part than the greatest of the thrée ioined with those Ilands
and maine which lie vnder the north and Southpoles, if not double in quantitie vnto the same, are found
out and discouered by the diligence of our trauellers. Hereby it appeereth, that either the earth was not
exactlie diuided in time past by antiquitie; or els, that the true diuision thereof came not to the hands and
notice of their posteritie, so that our ancestors haue hitherto as it were laboured in the Cimmerian
darkenesse, and were vtterlie ignorant of the truth of that whereabout they indeuoured to shew their
trauels and knowledge in their writings. Some peece of this confusion also is to be found amongst the
ancient and Romane writers, who (notwithstanding their large conquests) did sticke in the same mire with
their successors, not being able (as appeereth by their treatises) to deliuer and set downe the veritie. For
Salust in his booke De bello Iugurthino cannot tell whether Africa be parcell of Asia or not. And with the
same scruple Varro in his booke De lingua Lat. is not a litle incumbred, who in the end concludeth, that
the whole earth is diuided into Asia and Europa: so that Africa is excluded and driuen out of his place.
Silius also writeth of Africa, (as one not yet resolued wherevnto to leane,) that it is;
Aut ingens Asiæ latus, aut pars tertia rerum.
Wherein Lucane lib. 9. sheweth himselfe to be far of another iudgement, in that he ascribeth it to Europa,
saieng after this maner:
Tertia pars rerum Lybia: si credere famæ
Cuncta velis, si ventos cœlúmque sequaris,
Pars erit Europæ, nec enim plus littora Nili
Quàm Scythicus Tanais primis à gradibus absunt.
Whereby (I saie) we may well vnderstand, that in the time of Augustus Tiberius, Claudius & Nero, the
Romanes were not yet resolued of the diuision of the earth. For my part, as I indeuour not to remooue
the credit of that which antiquitie hath deliuered (and yet loth to continue and maintaine any corruption
that may be redressed) so I thinke good to giue foorth a new diuision more probable, & better agreeing
with a truth. And therefore I diuide the whole into fiue seuerall parcels, reteining the common diuision in
the first three, as before; and vnto the fourth allowing not onelie all that portion that lieth by north of the
Magellan streicts, and those Hyperborean Ilands which lie west of the line of longitude, of late
discouered by Frobisher, and called by hir Maiestie Meta incognita: but likewise so manie Ilands as are
within 180. degrees Westwards from our beginning or common line of longitude, whereby they are
parted from those, which by this diuision are allotted vnto Asia, and the portion it selfe made equipollent
with the same for greatnes, and far excéeding either Europa or Africa, if it be not fullie so much in
Noah first
diuided the
earth among
his sonnes.
The diuision of
the earth not
yet certeinlie
knowne.
Variance
among the
writers about
the diuision of
the earth.
[Page 3]
The earth
diuided into fiue
parts, whereas
Belforest hath
but foure, in
Prefat. lib. 4.
quantitie as they both vnited and laid togither. The fift & last part is the Antartike portion with hir Ilands
annexed, that region (I meane) which lieth vnder the South pole, cut off from America, or the fourth part
by the Magellan streicts; & from Africa by the sea which passeth by the Cape of good hope; a countrie
no lesse large for limits and bounds than Africa or America, and therefore right worthie to be called the
fift: howsoeuer it shall please the curious to mislike of this diuision. This also I will adde, that albeit the
continent hereof doo not extend it selfe vnto the verie Antartike point, but lieth as it were a long table
betwéene two seas, of which the later is vnder the South poole, and as I may call it a maine sea vnder
the aforesaid pricke, yet is it not without sundrie Ilands also adjoining vnto it, and the inner most sea not
destitute of manie, as by experience hath béene of late confirmed. Furthermore, whereas our describers
of the earth haue made it such in their descriptions, as hath reached litle or nothing into the peaceable sea
without the Antartike circle: it is now found by Theuet and others, that it extendeth it selfe northwards
into that trace, by no small number of leagues, euen in maner to the Equator, in so much that the
westerlie part thereof from America, is supposed to reach northward so far from the Antartike article, as
Africa dooth southwards from the tropike of Cancer, which is no small portion of ground; & I maruell
why not obserued by such as heretofore haue written of the same. But they excuse themselues by the
ingratitude of the Portingals and Spaniards, who haue of purpose concealed manie things found out in
their trauell, least they should séeme to open a gap by dooing otherwise, for strangers to enter into their
conquests. As for those Ilands also which lie in the peaceable sea, scattered here and there, as Iaua the
greater, the lesser Sumatra, Iapan, Burneo, &c: with a number of other, I refer them still unto Asia, as
before, so as they be without the compasse of 90. degrees eastward from the line of longitude, & not
aboue 180. as I doo the Ile of S. Laurence, and a number of other vnto Africa within the said
proportion, wishing so little alteration as I may: and yet not yeelding vnto any confusion, whereby the
truth of the diuision should hereafter be impeached.
And whereas by Virgil (speaking of our Iland) saith;
Et penitùs toto diuisos orbe Britannos,
And some other authors not vnworthie to be read and perused, it is not certeine vnto which portion of
the earth our Ilands, and Thule, with sundrie the like scattered in the north seas should be ascribed,
bicause they excluded them (as you sée) from the rest of the whole earth: I have thought good, for
facilitie sake of diuision, to refer them all which lie within the first minute of longitude, set downe by
Ptolome, to Europa, and that as reason requireth: so that the aforesaid line shall henceforth be their Meta
& partition from such as are to be ascribed to America; albeit they come verie neere vnto the aforesaid
portion, & may otherwise (without prejudice) be numbred with the same. It may be that some will thinke
this my dealing either to be superfluous, or to procéed from (I wot not what) foolish curiositie: for the
world is now growne to be very apt and readie to iudge the hardest of euerie attempt. But forsomuch as
my purpose is to leaue a plaine report of such matter as I doo write of, and deliuer such things as I
intreat of in distinct and vpright order; though method now and then doo faile, I will go forward with my
indeuour, referring the examination of my dooings to the indifferent and learned eare, without regard
what the other doo conceiue and imagine of me. In the meane season therefore it shall suffice to say at
this time, that Albion as the mother, and the rest of the Ilands as hir daughters, lieng east of the line of
longitude, be still ascribed vnto Europa: wherevnto some good authours heretofore in their writings, &
their owne proper or naturall situations also haue not amisse referred them.
OF THE POSITION, CIRCUIT, FORME, AND QUANTITIE OF THE ILE OF BRITAINE.
CAP. II.
Britannia or Britain, as we now terme it in our English toong, or Brutania as some pronounce it (by
reason of the letter y in the first syllable of the word, as antiquitie did sometime deliuer it) is an Ile lieng in
the Ocean sea, directlie ouer against that part of France which conteineth Picardie, Normandie, and
thereto the greatest part of little Britaine, which later region was called in time past Armorica, of the
situation thereof vpon the sea coast, vntill such time as a companie of Britons (either led ouer by some of
the Romane Emperours, or flieng thither from the tyrannie of such as oppressed them here in this Iland)
did setle themselues there, and called it Britaine, after the name of their owne countrie, from whence they
aduentured thither. It hath Ireland vpon the west side, on the north the maine sea, euen to Thule and the
Hyperboreans; and on the east side also the Germane Ocean, by which we passe dailie through the
trade of merchandize, not onlie into the low countries of Belgie, now miserablie afflicted betwéene the
Spanish power and popish inquisition (as spice betweene the morter and the pestell) but also into
Germanie, Friezeland, Denmarke, and Norwaie, carrieng from hence thither, and bringing from thence
hither, all such necessarie commodities as the seuerall countries doo yeeld: through which meanes, and
besides common amitie conserued, traffike is mainteined, and the necessitie of each partie abundantlie
reléeued.
Cape di bona
Speranza.
The forme of
the fift part.
Unto what portion
Britaine is referred.
[Page 4]
How Britaine
lieth from the
maine.
It conteineth in longitude taken by the middest of the region 19. degrees exactlie: and in latitude 53.
degrées, and thirtie min. after the opinions of those that haue diligentlie obserued the same in our daies,
and the faithfull report of such writers as haue left notice thereof vnto vs, in their learned treatises to be
perpetuallie remembred. Howbeit, whereas some in setting downe of these two lines, haue seemed to
varie about the placing of the same, each of them diuerslie remembring the names of sundrie cities and
townes, whereby they affirme them to haue their seuerall courses: for my part I haue thought good to
procéed somewhat after another sort; that is, by diuiding the latest and best chards each way into two
equall parts (so neere as I can possiblie bring the same to passe) wherby for the middle of latitude, I
product Caerlile and Newcastell vpon Tine, (whose longest day consisteth of sixteene houres, 48.
minuts) and for the longitude, Newberie, Warwike, Sheffield, Skipton, &c: which dealing, in mine
opinion, is most easie and indifferent, and likeliest meane to come by the certeine standing and situation
of our Iland.
Touching the length and bredth of the same, I find some variance amongst writers: for after some, there
are from the Piere or point of Douer, vnto the farthest part of Cornewall westwards 320. miles: from
thence againe to the point of Cathnesse by the Irish sea 800. Wherby Polydore and other doo gather,
that the circuit of the whole Iland of Britaine is 1720. miles, which is full 280. lesse than Cæsar dooth set
downe, except there be some difference betwéene the Romane and British miles, as there is indeed;
wherof hereafter I may make some farther conference.
Martianus writing of the bredth of Britaine, hath onlie 300. miles, but Orosius hath 1200. in the whole
compasse. Ethicus also agreeing with Plinie, Martianus, and Solinus, hath 800. miles of length, but in the
breadth he commeth short of their account by 120. miles. In like maner Dion in Seuero maketh the one
of 891. miles: but the other; to wit, where it is broadest, of 289. and where it is narrowest, of 37. Finally,
Diodorus Siculus affirmeth the south coast to conteine 7000. furlongs, the second; to wit, à Carione ad
Promontorium 15000. the third 20000. and the whole circuit to consist of 42000. But in our time we
reckon the breadth from Douer to Cornewall, not to be aboue 300. miles, and the length from Douer to
Cathnesse, no more than 500. which neuerthelesse must be measured by a right line, for otherwise I see
not how the said diuision can hold.
The forme and fashion of this Ile is thrée-cornered, as some have deuised, like vnto a triangle, bastard
sword, wedge, or partesant, being broadest in the south part, and gathering still narrower and narrower,
till it come to the farthest point of Cathnesse northward, where it is narrowest of all, & there endeth in
maner of a promontorie called Caledonium & Orchas in British Morwerydh, which is not aboue 30.
miles ouer, as dailie experience by actuall trauell dooth confirme.
The old writers giue vnto the thrée principall corners, crags, points, and promontories of this Iland, thrée
seuerall names. As vnto that of Kent, Cantium, that of Cornewall, Hellenes, and of Scotland,
Caledonium, and Orchas; and these are called principall, in respect of the other, which are Taruisium,
Nonantum, Epidium, Gangacum, Octapites, Herculeum, Antiuesteum, Ocrinum, Berubium, Taizalum,
Acantium, &c: of which I thought good also to leaue this notice, to the end that such as shall come after,
may thereby take occasion to seeke out their true places, wherof as yet I am in maner ignorant, I meane
for the most part; bicause I haue no sound author that dooth leade mée to their knowledge.
Furthermore, the shortest and most vsuall cut that we haue out of our Iland to the maine, is from Douer
(the farthest part of Kent eastward) unto Calice a towne in Picardie 1300. miles from Rome, in old time
called Petressa and Scalas, though some like better of blacknesse where the breadth of the sea is not
aboue thirtie miles. Which course, as it is now frequented and vsed for the most common and safe
passage of such as come into our countrie out of France and diuers other realms, so it hath not beene
vnknowne of old time vnto the Romans, who for the most part vsed these two hauens for their passage
and repassage to and fro; although we finde, that now and then diuerse of them came also from Bullen,
and landed at Sandwich, or some other places of the coast more toward the west, or betweene Hide
and Lid; to wit, Romneie marsh, (which in old time was called Romania or Romanorum insula) as to
auoid the force of the wind & weather, that often molesteth seafaringmen in these narrowe seas, best
liked them for their safegards. Betweene the part of Holland also, which lieth néere the mouth of the
Rhene and this our Iland, are 900. furlongs, as Sosimus saith; and besides him, diuers other writers,
which being conuerted into English miles, doo yeeld 112. and foure od furlongs, whereby the iust
distance of the neerest part of Britaine, from that part of the maine also, dooth certeinlie appéere to be
much lesse than the common maps of our countrie haue hitherto set downe.
OF THE ANCIENT NAMES OR DENOMINATIONS OF THIS ILAND.
CAP. III.
In the diligent perusall of their treatises, who haue written of the state of this our Iland, I find that at the
The longitude
and latitude of
this Ile.
Longest day.
[Page 5]
The compasse of
Britaine.
The forme.
Promontories
of Britaine.
The distance
from the
maine.
[Page 6]
Dis, Samothes.
first it séemed to be a parcell of the Celtike kingdome, whereof Dis otherwise called Samothes, one of
the sonnes of Japhet was the Saturne or originall beginner, and of him thencefoorth for a long while
called Samothea. Afterward in processe of time, when desire of rule began to take hold in the minds of
men, and ech prince endeuoured to enlarge his owne dominions: Albion the sonne of Neptune,
Amphitrite surnamed Marioticus (bicause his dominions laie among the ilands of the Mediterran sea, as
those of Plutus did on the lower grounds neere vnto shore, as contrariwise his father Jupiter dwelled on
the high hils néerer to heauen) hearing of the commodities of the countrie, and plentifulnesse of soile here,
made a voiage ouer, and finding the thing not onelie correspondent vnto, but also farre surmounting the
report that went of this Iland, it was not long after yer he inuaded the same by force of armes, brought it
to his subiection in the 29. yeare after his grandfathers decease, and finallie changed the name thereof
into Albion, whereby the former denomination after Samothes did grow out of mind, and fall into vtter
forgetfulnesse. And thus was this Iland bereft at on time both of hir ancient name, and also of hir lawfull
succession of princes descended of the line of Japhet, vnder whom it had continued by the space of 341.
yeres and nine princes, as by the Chronologie following shall easilie appeere.
Goropius our neighbor being verie nice in the denomination of our Iland, as in most other points of his
huge volume of the originall of Antwarpe lib. 6. (whom Buchanan also followeth in part) is brought into
great doubt, whether Britaine was called Albion of the word Alb, white; or Alp an hill; as Bodinus is no
lesse troubled with fetching the same ab Oibijs, or as he wresteth it, ab Albijs gallis. But here his
inconstancie appeareth, in that in his Gotthadamca liber. 7. he taketh no lesse paines to bring the
Britaines out of Denmarke, whereby the name of the Iland should be called Vridania, Freedania,
Brithania, or Bridania, tanquam libera Dania, as another also dooth to fetch the originall out of Spaine,
where Breta signifieth soile or earth. But as such as walke in darkenesse doo often straie, bicause they
wot not whither they go: euen so doo these men, whilest they séeke to extenuate the certeintie of our
histories, and bring vs altogither to uncerteinties & their coniectures. They in like maner, which will haue
the Welshmen come from the French with this one question, vnde Walli nisi a Gallis, or from some
Spanish colonie, doo greatlie bewraie their oversights; but most of all they erre that endeuour to fetch it
from Albine the imagined daughter of a forged Dioclesian, wherewith our ignorant writers haue of late
not a little stained our historie, and brought the sound part thereof into some discredit and mistrust: but
more of this hereafter.
Now to speake somewhat also of Neptune as by the waie (sith I haue made mention of him in this place)
it shall not be altogither impertinent. Wherfore you shall vnderstand, that for his excellent knowledge in
the art of nauigation (as nauigation then went) he was reputed the most skilfull prince that liued in his
time. And therfore, and likewise for his courage & boldnesse in aduenturing to and fro, he was after his
decease honoured as a god, and the protection of such as trauelled by sea committed to his charge. So
rude also was the making of ships wherewith to saile in his time (which were for the most part flat
bottomed and broad) that for lacke of better experience to calke and trim the same after they were
builded, they vsed to naile them ouer with rawe hides of bulles, buffles, and such like, and with such a
kind of nauie (as they say) first Samothes, & then Albion arriued in this Iland, which vnto me doth not
séeme a thing impossible. The northerlie or artike regions, doo not naile their ships with iron, which they
vtterly want, but with wooden pins, or els they bind the planks togither verie artificiallie with bast ropes,
osiers, rinds of trées, or twigs of popler, the substance of those vessels being either of fir or pine, sith
oke is verie deintie & hard to be had amongst them. Of their wooden anchors I speake not (which
neuerthelesse are common to them, and to the Gothlanders) more than of ships wrought of wickers,
sometime vsed in our Britaine, and couered with leather euen in the time of Plinie, lib. 7. cap. 56. as also
botes made of rushes and réeds, &c. Neither haue I iust occasion to speake of ships made of canes, of
which sort Staurobates, king of India fighting against Semiramis, brought 4000. with him and fought with
hir the first battell on the water that euer I read of, and vpon the riuer Indus, but to his losse, for he was
ouercome by hir power, & his nauie either drowned or burned by the furie of hir souldiers.
But to proceed, when the said Albion had gouerned here in this countrie by the space of seauen yeares,
it came to passe that both he and his brother Bergion were killed by Hercules at the mouth of Rhodanus,
as the said Hercules passed out of Spaine by the Celtes to go ouer into Italie, and vpon this occasion (as
I gather among the writers) not vnworthie to be remembred. It happened in time of Lucus king of the
Celts, that Lestrigo and his issue (whom Osyris his grandfather had placed ouer the Janigenes) did
exercise great tyrannie, not onelie ouer his owne kingdome, but also in molestation of such princes as
inhabited round about him in most intollerable maner. Moreouer he was not a little incouraged in these
his dooings by Neptune his father, who thirsted greatly to leaue his xxxiii. sonnes settled in the mightiest
kingdoms of the world, as men of whom he had alreadie conceiued this opinion, that if they had once
gotten foot into any region whatsoeuer, it would not be long yer they did by some meanes or other, not
onelie establish their seats, but also increase their limits to the better maintenance of themselues and their
posteritie for euermore. To be short therefore, after the giants, and great princes, or mightie men of the
world had conspired and slaine the aforsaid Osyris, onlie for that he was an obstacle vnto them in their
tyrannous dealing; Hercules his sonne, surnamed Laabin, Lubim, or Libius, in the reuenge of his fathers
death, proclaimed open warres against them all, and going from place to place, he ceased not to spoile
Neptunus
Marioticus.
The first
conquest of
Britaine.
Britaine under
the Celts 341.
yeares.
Neptune God of
the sea.
The maner of
dressing of
ships in old
time.
[Page 7]
Lestrigo.
Janigenes were
the posteritie
of Noah in
Italie.
Neptune had xxxiii.
sonnes.
their kingdomes, and therewithall to kill them with great courage that fell into his hands. Finallie, hauing
among sundrie other ouercome the Lomnimi or Geriones in Spaine, and vnderstanding that Lestrigo and
his sonnes did yet remaine in Italie, he directed his viage into those parts, and taking the kingdome of the
Celts in his waie, he remained for a season with Lucus the king of that countrie, where he also maried his
daughter Galathea, and begat a sonne by hir, calling him after his mothers name Galates, of whom in my
said Chronologie I haue spoken more at large.
In the meane time Albion vnderstanding how Hercules intended to make warres against his brother
Lestrigo, he thought good if it were possible to stop him that tide, and therefore sending for his brother
Bergion out of the Orchades (where he also reigned as supreame lord and gouernour) they ioined their
powers, and sailed ouer into France. Being arriued there, it was not long yer they met with Hercules and
his armie, neare vnto the mouth of the riuer called Roen (or the Rhodanus) where happened a cruell
conflict betwéene them, in which Hercules and his men were like to haue lost the day, for that they were
in maner wearied with long warres, and their munition sore wasted in the last viage that he had made for
Spaine. Herevpon Hercules perceiuing the courages of his souldiours somewhat to abate, and seeing the
want of artillerie like to be the cause of his fatall daie and present ouerthrowe at hand, it came suddenlie
into his mind to will each of them to defend himselfe by throwing stones at his enimie, whereof there laie
great store then scattered in the place. The policie was no sooner published than hearkened vnto and put
in execution, whereby they so preuailed in the end, that Hercules wan the field, their enimies were put to
flight, and Albion and his brother both slaine, and buried in that plot. Thus was Britaine rid of a tyrant,
Lucus king of the Celts deliuered from an vsurper (that dailie incroched vpon him, building sundrie cities
and holds, of which some were placed among the Alps & called after his owne name, and other also
euen in his owne kingdome on that side) and Lestrigo greatlie weakened by the slaughter of his brethren.
Of this inuention of Hercules in like sort it commeth, that Jupiter father vnto Hercules (who indeed was
none other but Osyris) is feigned to throw downe stones from heauen vpon Albion and Bergion, in the
defense of his sonne: which came so thicke vpon them, as if great drops of raine or haile should haue
descended from aboue, no man well knowing which waie to turne him from their force, they came so fast
and with so great a violence.
But to go forward, albeit that Albion and his power were thus discomfited and slaine, yet the name that
he gaue unto this Iland died not, but still remained vnto the time of Brute, who arriuing héere in the 1116.
before Christ, and 2850. after the creation of the world, not onelie changed it into Britaine (after it had
beene called Albion, by the space of about 600. yeares) but to declare his souereigntie ouer the rest of
the Ilands also that lie scattered round about it, he called them all after the same maner, so that Albion
was said in time to be Britanniarum insula maxima, that is, The greatest of those Iles that beare the name
of Britaine, which Plinie also confirmeth, and Strabo in his first and second bookes denieth not. There
are some, which vtterlie denieng that this Iland tooke hir name of Brute, doo affirme it rather to be so
called of the rich mettals sometime carried from the mines there into all the world as growing in the same.
Vibius Sequester also saith that Calabria was sometime called Britannia, Ob immensam affluentiam totius
delitiæ atque vbertatis, that was to be found heerein. Other contend that it should be written with P
(Pritannia.) All which opinions as I absolutelie denie not, so I willinglie leane vnto none of them in
peremptorie maner, sith the antiquitie of our historie carrieth me withall vnto the former iudgements. And
for the same cause I reiect them also, which deriue the aforesaid denomination from Britona the nymph,
in following Textor (or Prutus or Prytus the sonne of Araxa) which Britona was borne in Creta daughter
to Mars, and fled by sea from thence onelie to escape the villanie of Minos, who attempted to rauish and
make hir one of his paramours: but if I should forsake the authoritie of Galfride, I would rather leane to
the report of Parthenius, whereof elsewhere I haue made a more large rehersall.
It is altogither impertinent, to discusse whether Hercules came into this Iland after the death of Albion, or
not, although that by an ancient monument seene of late, as I heare, and the cape of Hartland or
Harcland in the West countrie (called Promontorium Herculis in old time) di...
