WHen I first determined to Write the Famous At­chievements of our Ancestors, and, after I had purged them from the mixture of vain Fables, to vindicate them from oblivion; I thought it con­ducive to my purpose, to repeat from the very beginning,The Authors design. (as much as so long a distance of Time; and first the scarcity, then the loss, of Learned Monuments, would permit,) What the situation of the Countrys were; What was the nature of the Soil and Air; What were the ancient Names and Manners,More Islands than one an­ciently called Britanny. The situation of Britanny. Albion and Ire­land two of the biggest of them. and Who were the first Inha­bitants, of the Islands, called of old, Britanny; which are extended between Spain and Germany, in a long Tract of Land toward France. Albion and Ireland, Two of them, do far exceed the rest in Bigness, and therefore of these Two I shall speak first; afterwards, as conveniency serves, I will explain the site and the Names of the rest.

The first, for bigness, is Albion, That now alone retains the Name of Britain, which was heretofore common to them all.Albion. Concern­ing its breadth and length, other Writers do, in effect, agree with Caesar, namely,Its length and breadth. that the length of it from North to South is 800 miles; and the breadth, where it is widest, which is (as some think) where it looks towards France; or, (as others say) from the point of St. Davids in South-Wales, to Yarmouth in Norfolk, almost [Page 2] 200 miles; From thence it narrows by degrees, till we come to the borders of Scotland. The Romans, who, as yet, knew not the fur­thest parts thereof, believed the Island to be Triangular, but when they proceeded a little further,It was ac­counted Tri­angular by the Romans. they found, that beyond Adrian's Wall, it extended it self broader by degrees, and ran out far towards the North-East. This in brief, concerning its bigness.

The Climate of Britain is more temperate than That of France, as Caesar affirms, but the Climate of I [...]eland i [...] milder than them both. The Air thereof is seldom clear, but commonly darkened with thick Mists,The Air. the Winters are mild enough, rather Rainy than Snowy. The Soil brings forth Corn plentifully,The Soil. and, besides Corn, it pro­duceth all sorts of Metals. It is also very fruitful in Breeds of Cattle. They, who inhabit the extream parts of the Islands, which are more infested with cold,The Food of some of its Inhabitants, in old time. do eat Bread made of Oatmeal; and, for Drink, they use a Wine or Strong Liquor made of Corn steeped into Malt: Some do boil Whey, and keep it in Hogsheads under Ground for some months, which is counted, by many of them, not only an wholesom, but a very pleasant, Drink. There was no Controversy concerning the Name of Britain amongst the Ancients, except that the Greeks call'd it Brettania, the Latines, Britannia. Other Nati­ons have their Appellation of it, some one, some 'tother, at their pleasure. But of late some Men have started up, not so much desi­rous of Truth as of Contention, who hoped to make themselves Famous by Carping at other Eminent Persons; for they imagined, that they must needs obtain a great opinion of Learning amongst the Vulgar, who dared to enter the Lists against, and to Combate with, all Antiquity; And though the Dispute were of a thing of no great consequence, yet, because it concerned the very name of their Coun­try, they thought it worth contending for, with all their might, as if all the Ancient Glory of the whole Nation had lain at stake. They say,Its ancient Names, Three, (according to some) Pruda­nia, Pryta­neia, and Bri­tannia. that three ancient Names of the Island have their several Assertors, viz. Prudania, Prytaneia, and Britannia. Lud contends with might and main for Prudania; Thomas Eliot, a British Knight, for Prytaneia, but very modestly; almost all other Nations do re­tain the Name of Britain.

Lud, to maintain his Assertion for Prudania, useth the Authority of a certain old Paper-Fragment, [...] or L [...]yd, and [...], Two W [...]i­te [...]s [...] British Antiqui [...]ie [...], in Hen. 8. and Queen Eliz. Reigns. which rust, mouldiness, and length of time (and nothing else,) have almost made Sacred, with him. Tho' he counts that proof firm enough of it self, yet he strengthens it by Etymology; by the Songs of the Bards; by the custom of the Coun­try-Speech; and by the venerable rust of Antiquity. But, in the first place, I ask him; Whence came that Fragment, on which he lays the stress and weight of his Cause?Prudania. Lud or [...] Authority dis­all [...]wed of, and why. When was it writ? Who was the Author of it? Or, what says it, that makes for his Asserti­on? Concerning the Name, the Time, the Author, all these (may he perhaps allege,) are uncertain, which proves, (he thinks) the Antiquity thereof. An Excellent Proof, indeed! where the Certainty, Credit and Authority of the Testimony doth depend on Ignorance, Meanness, and Obscurity; And that which is assumed to explain the matter in controversy, hath more intricacy and weakness in it, than the Cause, which it is brought to maintain▪ Who then gives Testi­mony [Page 3] in this case? I know not, (says he.) What then does he pre­tend to in lieu of a Testimony? I know not that neither, (replies [...]) but this I have heard, that, in that Fragment, it is called Prudania. But, prithee, tell me, what is that Prudania? Is it a Mountain, or a River? A Village, or a Town? A Man, or a Woman? Here I am posed too, (says he;) but, I conjecture, that Britain is signified by that Name. Go too, then, let Prudania signifie Britain. Yet what doth this thy Fragment make for thee? I would ask this Question of thee▪ Whether it affirms Prudania to be the true Name of the Island, or else doth not rather upbraid their Ignorance, who ascribe that false Name to it? Here too I am Nonplust, (says Lud ▪) but this I am certain of, that here is the sound of a British word, and the force of the British Language doth appear, even in the very [...] thereof. For Prudania is, as it were, Prud [...]ania, which is in British Excellent Beauty, from P [...]d, signifying Beauty, and Cam, White: The asperity of the Word being somewhat mollified. But for that reason, it should be called Prudcamia, not Prudania, which Word the Bards do pronounce Pruda, in their Country Speech. [...] I shall not here speak, how trivial, deceitful, and oftentimes ridicu­lous, this Enquiry after the Original of Words is. I pass by Varro, and other Learned Men, [...] Words. who have been often derided upon this ac­count: I omit also the whole Cratylus of Plato, wherein he is guilty of the same fault. I will only affirm this, that, before equal Judges, a Man may more easily prove, that the Word Cambr [...] is derived from Canis and Brutum, a Dog and a Brute, than you shall persuade me, that Prudania comes from Prudcamia. For by this means you may derive Quidlibet [...] Quolibet, as you please. And indeed, Lud himself shews, what little confidence he puts in his own proofs, when he calls in the Bards to his Aid, a race of Men, I grant indeed, very ancient, [...] but yet Antiquity affirms, they committed nothing to Writing. But of these I shall speak more elsewhere.

Let us now come to the last refuge of Lud: Caesar, says he, who first mentioned the Name of this Island in Latin, called it Britain, whose Steps almost all Latin Writers having trod in, did not change the said Name. Here Lud begins with a Notorious mistake; That Caesar was the first of the Latins, who called it by the Name of Bri­tain; for, before ever Caesar was born,Lucretius [...] Aristotle [...] the Name o [...] Britain. Lucretius makes mention of Britain; and Aristotle, amongst the Greeks, long before him; and Propertius, not long after Caesar, when he saith

shews thereby, that, in his Age, the Description of the World in Maps, was wont to be fastned to the Walls of Mens Houses: I would ask your self, Sir, do you indeed think, that Caesar, [...] who was so well-skilled in all sorts of Learning, did never see the Description of the World? Or, can you be persuaded, that the Island of Britain alone, the greatest in the whole World, then so famous both in the Latin and Greek Monuments, was omitted in those Maps? Or, do you be­leive, [Page 4] that Caesar, who was so inquisitive to know the Affairs of Bri­tain, as, What Men did Inhabit that Country, then, and before his time; What Animals and Plants did grow, or were bred, therein; What were the Laws and Customs of the Country, do you, I say, be­leive, that he, who had been so solicitous about those things, would have neglected to set down the Name of the whole Island? Or, that he, who, with so great Faithfulness and Diligence, gave right Names to the Cities of the Gauls, would deprive the Britains of their An­cient Glory? Upon the whole, I see no reason at all, why Lud should think, that the old Name of the Island was Prudania, (for he values himself much on the account of this Title,) unless Words do also contract Antiquity from the rust of a Worm-eaten Paper. This is all I have to say against Lud, at present, who by home-bred Wit­nesses, and by his own Dreams together, hath thought fit to oppose himself against the current verdict of all the Learned Men, that now are, or ever have been, in the World.

E [...]iot's Autho­rity disallow'd.As for Sir Thomas Eliot, my task will be easier with him; he, being induced not only by probable conjectures, but also by some, not ob­scure, Authors, thinks, that the Island was sometimes called Pry­taneia. Prytaneia. He judged it not improbable, that an Island abounding with plenty of all things, not only for the Necessities, but even the very Ornaments, of Life, should be so called. In this case, if we should weigh the reason of Names, Sicily might be rather called Prytaneia, and some other Islands also, which are, as more Fruitful, so far less in compass, than Britain. Besides, in those Authors, by whose Testi­mony the Name Prytaneia is confirmed, it easily appears, that the Orthography is vitiated.Stephanus. As for Stephanus, there is the highest incon­stancy in him. In the Word Albion, he says, that That is the Island of Brettain, following Martian therein, as he alleges. In the Words Invernia and Inverna, it is writ Praetanica. Elsewhere, says he, in the Ocean are the Brettish Islands, whose Inhabitants are called, Brettains. Martian and Ptolomy. But Martian and Ptolomy, in these Words, make P the first Letter; if any one compare the places, without doubt, he will find, that the Writing is corrupted, and that Stephanus himself was of opinion, that Brettania ought to be writ by B the first Letter, and two tt's. Eliot, I believe, was not ignorant of this, and therefore, being content to advise his Reader, as much as he thought fit, what things Men, greedy of Praise, will scrape together for the Ostentation of their Learning, he leaves the matter in dispute intirely to his Judg­ment. But▪ Lud, that you may know his disposition more fully, of the Three Names of this large Island, approves That most, which hath the fewest Assertors, viz. Prudania; next to that, he commends Pry [...]aneia. But he rejects Britannia, which Name was now famous thr [...]gh all Nations, and celebrated both in Greek and Latin Monu­men [...], (as Pliny affirms,) as corrupted by Iulius Caesar, and that a long time after, whom he falsely affirms, (as hath been said) to have first mentioned the Name of Britannia in Latin, and that he drew others with him into the same Errour. But I can prove the Anti­quity of the Word Britannia, by many clear and ample Testimonies, i [...] that were the matter in dispute; and that it was not corrupted by Cae [...]ar, but delivered down to us, pure from Hand to Hand, by our [Page 5] Ancestors, save that the Ancients were wont to write it with a dou­ble T. T. (Brittania;) And therefore it was, as I suppose, that Lu­cretius made the first syllable of the word Bretain long in Verse; but now the Latins leave out one T, which is still retained in the word Britto. The Greeks, who write Brittania, come nearest to the Pro­nunciation of the Country-Speech, which the Britains themselves, and all their Neighbours, do yet retain. For the Neighbouring Gauls call all British Women Brettae; and Bretter, with them, is to speak British; and a Promontory in Aquitania is commonly called Cape-Bretton; and both sorts of Scots, (i. e.) both the Albians, and the Hibernians, do so speak; only with this difference, that they who do delight in the German Dialect, do sometimes use the Transposition of Letters, and pronounce Berton for Breton. But Dyonysius Af [...]r in that Verse.

Where, mentioning the Bretanes to inhabit near the cold Surges of the Ocean, in putting away one T, in the word [...], he hath used a Poe­tical Liberty, (as he hath also done in the word [...] for [...],) by eliding the Letter. Here the consent of so many Nations, almost from the very beginning, both among themselves, and with the An­cients, both Greeks and Latins, shall be of greater accompt with me, than all the Hodgepodge Trash of Lud, raked by him out of the Dunghil, on purpose to be ridicul'd, and preserved only for igno­miny; and, though they have a confident Patron, to urge them to give in a false Testimony against Antiquity, yet they have not yet dared, to appear, as it were, in open Court. Let him shew, if he can, what Author ever wrote Prudania, before Aristotle: Let him turn and wind himself, as he please, he will never be able to do it; seeing, some Ages after Aristotle, 'tis certain, That the Bards com­mitted nothing to Writing. Away then with that (shall I say?Bards com­mitted no­thing to Writing.) vain-glorious, or not rather witless, Boast of Antiquity, of which no Argument, no Footstep, no nor the least Print of any, can be found.

Amidst this disagreement of Opinions, and the diverse manners and customs of Speech; Lud thinks it most adviseable, always to look to Antiquity, and the Country-manner of Speech, as a Pole-Star, and, by That, to direct the whole course of his Language: For my part, I would not much dissent from him, if that, which was in ancient use, and therefore thought certain, might be always ob­served and kept. Ancient words cannot always be ob­served, and Why? But there are several Reasons why that cannot be done.

First, Because, in every Language, 'tis very difficult to find out the 'tis hard to find the Origin of old Words. Original Words; and therefore 'tis more adviseable, in this case, to follow the Custom of the Learned, than by a vain and ri­diculous Labour, always to search after Originals, as after the Which was unknown to the Ancients, but later In­quiries have found it out. Fountain of Nilus, especially, since the Original of Words depends not on the Judgment of the Wiser sort, but on the pleasure of the Vulgar, who, for the most part, are rude and incult, and therefore anxiously to inquire after their Judgments, is a piece of needless Cu­riosity; [Page 6] and, if you should find out what they mean, it would not be worth your Labour. For, as in the Generation of all other Things, which either grow naturally of themselves, or else are invented by Men for the use of Life; the First Embryo's are very imperfect, and come forth less acceptable, not only for Use, but even for Sight; yet afterward, by Culture, they wax gentle, and are made amiable by due Treatment: ' [...]is so in Language, which, taking its first Rise from Men rude and impolite, came forth harsh, rugged, and uncouth; then, by use, it gradually puts off its natural Horror and Unpleasantness, becoming more gentle and sweeter to the Ear, and more easily insi­nuating into the mind of Man. And therefore, in this case, (if in any case at all) I think something is to be indulged to the Custom of Men more polite than others; and that such a pleasure, which is neither uncomely nor ungraceful, as far as it is not hurtful to Mens Manners, is not to be despised. But if any one be born under such an ill Constellation, that he rather affects the Language of Cato and Ennius, than of Cicero and Terence; and when Corn is found out, yet had rather feed on Mast still, my Vote is, Much good may it do him. But this our present dispute is not concerning the Purity and Elegan­cy of the Latin Tongue, for it nothing affects It, to know, how the Britains did heretofore sound forth their Letters or Words: My whole endeavour is, to shew, how the Latins pronounced the Bri­tish, not how the British pronounced the Latin, Tongue. For my part, I had rather be ignorant of the doting Fables of the old Bri­tains, than to forget that little of the Latin Tongue, which I imbi­bed, when I was a Youth. And there is no other cause, why I take it less in disdain, that the old i. e. The Language of the Highlan­ders. Scotish Language doth by degrees de­cay, than that, thereby, I joyfully perceive those barbarous Sounds, by little and little, to vanish away, and, in their place, the sweetness of Latin Words to succeed: And in this Transmigration of Languages, if one must needs yield to another, Good-now, of the Two, let us pass from Rusticity and Barbarism, to Culture and Humanity; and, by our Choice and Judgment, let us put off that uncouthness which accrued to us by the Infelicity of our Birth. And if our Pains and Industry can avail any thing in this case, let us bestow them all this way, viz. To polish, as much as we can, the Greek and Latin Tongues, which the better part of the World hath publickly received; and, if there be any Soloecisms or Flaws sticking thereto, from the Contagion of Barbarous Languages, let us do what we can to purge them away.

Besides, this over-anxious diligence about Foreign Names, especi­cially in transferring them into another Language, can never be kept, neither is it expedient that it should: For what Language hath not these Letters and Sounds, which cannot fully be expressed by the Characters of another Tongue? What Nation, besides the German, can pronounce the Letter The Letter W. hard to be pronounced, but by those that Germa­nize. W? Who can give that sound to the Letters D. G. P. T. X. and Z. in Latin, which the Spaniards, the Britains, and part of the Scots, do?

Because of this absurdity of Sound, as I suppose, it is, that Pliny. Pliny, reckoning up the Cities of Spain, denies, that some of them can be well pronounced in the Latin Tongue: Some he calls Ignoble, and of Barbarous Appellation; Others, he says, cannot be so much as [Page 7] named without grating the Ear. What, I beseech you, would Lud do in this case, if he were to write the History of Britain in Latin? With all his rust of Barbarism, I believe, he would scarce know how to pronouce the Genuine Names of the Brittons. For seeing he vexes himself so much how he should write Lud, either Lhuyd, or Llud, or else bare Ludd, neither of which can be writ, pronounced, or heard amongst Latinists without regret. If he retains the true Sound, he will make not a Latin, but a Semi-Barbarous Oration. But if he bend Foreign Words to the sound of the Latin, he will commit as great a Trespass, as Caesar is said to have done in the Word Britannus. What then shall we do, to please so captious and so morose a Person, as Llud? Shall we call the Island Prudania, rather than Britannia? Lud himself, who is so severe a Censor of others, will not exact this of us: He will permit it to be called Prudania, from Pruda. But if any one dare to pronounce and call it Britannia, or Brettannia, he'll lay about him, and accuse him presently of violating Sacred Antiquity, of corrupting and contaminating the Ancient and Sincere Language; and, from a Robust and Masculine sound, of turning it into an Effeminate and soft Pronunciation. What shall we do in this case? Is it lawful for us to change or cleanse any Word from the uncouthness of its ancient Deformity? Or, if we may not change, yet, pray, may we not polish some rough Words, and in­cline them a little from their incult Barbarity, that they may become more acceptable to Mens Ears? As we see our Ancestors have done in the Words M [...]rini, M [...] ­rem [...]r [...]a, Ar­m [...]rici. Morini, Moremarusa, and Armorici; so that if we cannot make those Words Latin-Denizons, yet at least, we may imi­tate the Garb and Similitude of the Latin, in them. But, I see, Lud will not allow us that Liberty. He calls us back to the August Anti­quity of the Prudany's, and forbids us to divert in the least from Bards and Sanachys. But the Ancient Greeks and Latins were never so strait­laced: For, after that the rigor of their Ancient Speech began a lit­tle to remit, there was none amongst them, who had rather pronounce Famul and Volup, than the Words which were substituted in their rooms; and they used a very great Liberty in Translating Latin Words from Greek, and Greek from Latin. Whoever blamed the Latins, for turning Polydences into Pollux, Heracleis into Hercu­les, Asclepios into Aesculapius? Or, who hath reproved the Greeks, for calling Catulus, Catlus; and Remus, Romus? Nay, What did the Greeks do, in Translating Barbarous Words into their own Language? Did they ever make any scruple to turn Al, a Punick Termination, into As, in the end of Words? If a Man pronounce Annibas for Annibal, must he (forsooth) present­ly tread under foot the Majesty of all History? Must he be said to corrupt the Truth, or to do a Notorious Injury to the Punick Lan­guage? See, how the desire of Humanity and Culture, which was amongst the Ancient Saxons, and the Danes, who passed over later into Britain, doth differ from this Immanity, and affected Slovenli­ness, of Lud! They, being rude and ignorant of all Learning, when they came to Men barbarous, and of a stammering Speech, were so far from suffering themselves to be infected with their Soloecisms; that, on the contrary, when they had once tasted of the sweetness of [Page 8] the Latin Tongue, they pared off much of the roughness which they had brought upon it: They so smoothed some harsh Words, as to make them less offensive to the Ear,Oxonia and Roffa, for Ox­onfordia and Raufchestria; i. e. O [...]f [...]rd and Rochester. such as are Oxonia and Roffa, for Oxonfordia and Raufchestria, and many others, Lud himself not contradicting. And he allows himself the same Liberty in many other Words, though he be so severe an Exactor in this one Word Britannia. But now, he doth pertinaciously contend against the Ancient Custom of all Nations, for a new, obscure, and uncertain Word. Sure it is, that the Royal Name of Lud, of a Danish Ori­ginal, and kept as a Palladium to this very Day, may not be buried in Oblivion. To prevent which, Lud manages a Contest against the consent of the Multitude, the Antiquity of Time, and even against Truth it self.

There is yet also another Observation in the Word The Word Britannia hath divers Acceptations. Britannia, That Foreign Writers make it the Name of the whole Island; but the Britains and English, who have wrote the British History, some­times agree with Foreign Writers, in their Appellation of it; and sometimes they call only that part of the Island Britain, which was a Roman Province; and that variously too, as the event of War changed the Borders; sometimes they made the Wall of The Walls of Adrian and Severus. Adrian, sometimes That of Severus, to be the Limits to their Empire: The rest, which were without those Walls, they sometimes termed Bar­barous,Bede. sometimes Outlandish, People. Bede, in the beginning of his first Book, writes thus: Wherefore the Picts, coming into Britain, began to Inhabit the North Part of the Island; for the Britans Inha­bited the South. He says also, Chap. 34. Aidan was King of the Scots, who Inhabit Britain. And Lib. 4. Chap. 4. writing of the return of Colman out of England into Scotland, he says, In the mean time Colman, who was of Scotland, leaving Britain: And elsewhere, Then they began for many Days, to come from the Country of Scotland into Britain. And farther, Oswald was slain near the Wall that the Romans had built, from Sea to Sea, to defend Britain, and to repel the Assaults of the Barbarians. Claudian. The same Form of Speech is found in the same Author, Lib. 2. Chap. 9. Claudian doth not seem to be igno­rant of this manner of Speech, peculiar to the Britains, when he writes, That the Roman Legion, which curbed the Fierce Scot, lay between the Britains; i. e. opposite to the Scots, that it might cover the Britains from their Fury, in the farthest part of England, and Borders of Scotland. William of Malmsbury and Geoffry of Monmouth. William of Malmsbury, and Geoffry of Monmouth, none of the obscurest Writers of British Affairs, do often use this kind of Speech, in whom a Man may easily take Notice, that That only is called Britain, which is contained within the Wall of Severus. Though this matter be so clear to them, than no Man can be igno­rant of it, yet it hath produced great mistakes amongst the Writers of the next Age, what some have affirmed in their Works, i. e. That Alured, Athelstan, and some other of the Saxon Kings, did some­times Reign over the whole Island, when yet, 'tis clear, they never passed beyond the Wall of Severus. For when they Read, That they held the Empire of all Britain, they presently thought, that the whole Island was possessed by them.

[Page 9]Neither is the Observation much unlike, in the use of those Names Britannus and Britto;Britannus and Britto. for all the old Greek and Latin Writers ca [...]l the whole Island Britannia, and all its Inhabitants Britains, without any distinction. The first, that I know, of the Romans, who called them Brittons, was Martial, in that Verse,B [...]itton, first [...] by Mar­ti [...]l.

The Vulgar commonly call the Inhabitants of the Gallick Penin­sule, Brittons, though Gregory Bishop of Tour [...]. Turonensis always calls it Britain, Brittons in France. and its Inhabitants Britains. The Romans do constantly call their Provincials Britains, though their Provincials themselves like the Name of Brittons well enough. Both Names have one Original, viz. Britannia: and, as they both flow from one Root, so they both signifie one and the same thing. And that the Verses of Auson. Epigr. 109. &c. Ausonius the Poet do plainly shew.

They who contend, that the Britains were a Colony of the Gauls, do say, that Hercules begat a Son on Celto, a Gallick Virgin, called Britannus, from whom the Nation of the Britains had their Original. Pliny placeth this Nation near to the A People of Gallia-Bel­gica, lying be­twixt the Ri­ver Lye and the S [...]me, in West-Flanders, (as some write,) not far from Bollogne, Ypre, and St. Omers. Their chief Ci­ty was called Teroven, now but a small Village. Morini, the Inhabitants of Artois. Atrebates, and the Inhabitants about Bollogne, or betwixt Bol­logne and Ca­lais. Gessor [...]aci. Neither are there wanting some Greek Gram­marians to confirm it; as Suidas, and he who wrote the Book called Etymologi [...]um Magnum. C. I [...]lius Caesar, and C. Cornelius Tacitus, seem to have been of the same Opinion; and so do other Latin Writers also, not unlearned, yet not so famous as those two. Besides, the Reli­gion, Speech, Institutions and Manners of some Nations, inhabi­ting near the Gallick Sea, do evince the same thing; out of which the Britains seem to me to have been exhausted by Transmigrations; and the Morini by little and little to have been quite extinguished. The Word Morinus seems to draw its Etymologie from More, in old Celtick, is the Sea. More, which, in the old Gallick Tongue, signifies the Sea. Venta, called in old Latin, Venta Belgarum, (because Inhabited by the Gallo-Belgae) i. e. Winchester; and Inhabitants of Essex, as Lud; or ra­ther of Suff [...]lk, Norfolk, Cam­bridge, and Huntington, as Camden and Leland. Icenum derived from Calais, a [...] some; but Witsand, [...]by the Plandri­ans called Isten, and Esse [...],) a Port betwixt Calais and Bollogn [...], in which some Footsteps of the word Iconi do appear, as others. Icium, these Names make it very probable, that their Colonies Transported with them in­to a Foreign Soil their own Country Terms in the place of a Sirname; and at their very entrance, meeting with the Britains, whom they acknowledged to be their Off-spring, they brought them home, and did, as it were, entertain them at their own Houses. For Morinus amongst the old Gauls, signifies Near the Sea. Marinus: And Moremarusa, Mare Mortuum: Though Gorropius hath almost stoln from us those two last Names, whilst he is studious to extol his People of Dowar, as some, of Brabant and Bosleduc, as others; and of Namur, as divers say. Advatic [...] beyond measure. Neither can the People of Little-Britain in France, to the West of Norman­dy. Aremorici, or Armorici, de­ny that they are of our Stock; for we have ample and clear Testi­monies, both old and new, as Pledges thereof. Because Ar, or Are, is an old Gallick Preposition, which signifies At, or Vpon; as if we should say, At or Vpon the Sea; i. e. Maritime. And Morema­rusa is derived from More, i. e. Mare, the Sea, the last Syllable be­ing long, after the manner of a Greek Participle. As for Aremo­rica, or Armorica, (he which shall not know them at first hearing, is wholly ignorant of the old Gallick Tongue) they also signifie Ma­ritime, and so Strabo Interprets them, who in Greek always renders them Dwellers near the Sea. Ap [...]ceanita Caesar writes thus of the Armori [...]ks, Lib. 5. That great F [...]ces of the Gauls, out of the Cities called Armoricae, were gathered together to oppose him. The Dead Sea. And Lib. 7. Out of all the Ci­ties near the Ocean, which, according to their Custom, are called Ar­moricae. And Lib. 8. And the other Cities situate in the extream parts of France, near the Sea, called Armoricae. As often as Caesar [Page 11] makes mention of these Cities, he always adds, Which are so called; but he so adds it, that it rather seems an Epithet, or Sirname of a place, than its proper Name. Neither is That found to be the Name of a City in any other Authentick Writer; yet that Word is spread far and near in that Coast, viz. from Spain to the Rhene: And amongst all Writers, I find Pliny alone to seem not to understand the force of the Word; for he thinks, that all Gascoigne, or Guienne, of which Bourde­aux is the chief City. Aquitain was sometimes so called. But enough of it at present, more may be said of the Gallick Tongue hereafter.

The most Ancient Name of the Island is thought to be Albion; or, as Aristotle, or rather Theophrastus, in the Book Intituled, De Mundo, writes it Albion, o [...] Albium, the Ancient Name of this Isl [...]nd. Albium. But that Name is rather taken out of Books, than used in common Speech, unless amongst the old Scots, who, as yet, call themselves Albinick, and their Country Albin. Many think, that the Name was imposed on it, because the White Rocks did first appear to them, as they Sailed from France. But it seems to be ve­ry absurd to me, to fetch the Original of a British Name from the Latins, there being then so rare a Commerce between Barbarous Nations. Others are of Opinion, That the Name was imposed by Albion, the Fabulous Son of Neptune, Albion the Son of Neptune, whom they feign to have been sometimes King of Britain: A bold Fiction, and having no ground from Anti­quity to support it; yet some are not ashamed to name the Kingdom so, upon so weak a Foundation as That of a near Appellation. For I see no other Foundation in History, which might occasion this Fable. Amongst the Greeks, 'tis true, Diodorus Siculus and Strabo have made mention of Albion and As also B [...]r­gion. Bergion; of the Latins, Cato, Hy­ginus, and Mela, from whom we may gather, That Albion and Ber­gion, the Sons of Neptune, being Liguria was anciently a Country ly­ing betwixt the Po in Italy, and the Rhos [...] in France. Ligurians, infested the High-Ways with Robberies, which lead from the Country of the A Peop [...]e living in the Skirts of the Alps. Albicans into Italy. These Men, when Hercules, after he had Conquered G [...]ryon, was returning out of Spain, sought to Rob him of his Prey, and maintained so sharp a Fight with him, that he, being almost des­perate, (as old Story says,) was forced to implore the Aid of Iupiter, who sent down a showr of Stones, to relieve his Son; and that the Field of Stones remained to Posterity as a Testimony of that Fight. I will not deny, but that both the Island, and the Robber too, took its Name from Album signifies High, as well as White. Album. But this I say, That Album was a com­mon Name amongst many Nations, and that it signified, with them, not only Colour, but Height too. And Festus Pompeius affirms, that what the Latins call Alba, the Sabins call Alpa, from whence the Alps had their Name, because they are white with continual Snow. For my part, as I assent concerning the one, that Album and Alpum were Sy­nonymous amongst the Ancients, and I have the Authority not of Festus only, but of Strabo also, to support my Opinion; so I also judge, the Alps were so called, rather from their Height, than their Whiteness. My Reasons are, First, Because Alba is the Name of many Cities in Italy, France and Spain, which are all situate on Hills, or near them: And besides, because Strabo acknowledges, that those Names, Alba, Alpa, Alpia, Albionia, Albici, without any difference, are derived from the same Root, in the Signification of Height; and therefore he shews, That they are most used, where the Alps begin to grow high. Hence, in Liguria, there is Albinga, under the C [...] ­ [...]eses. Albingaunum, [Page 12] and Ventimig­lid, belonging also to the Re­publick of Genoua. Albium Inti [...]elium; and among the A People made up of Gauls and Illy­rians, whose Possessions reached down to the Adria­tick Sea, near Istria. Iapodes, there is an high Hill, where the Alps do end. There are other Places, which may seem to be named from their height. In Italy there is the River Til [...]r. Albula, rising in the Mountains of Etruria, and the Waters called Albulae flowing down from the Tiburtine Mountains. In Gallia Nar­bonensis there are the Albici, a Mountainous People. In Germany there is the River Elbe. Albis, arising from the Mountains of Bohemia. In Asia, the River Cohan. Albanus flows down from Mount Cauc [...]sus, and the Albanians dwell about the same Mountain. By which Instances, it will appear to be a Truth, That Album is not a Word of one, but many Nations, and in all the Places which I have named, their height doth not render them always, or unchangeably, White; yea, some Months they are not White at all. The Names of the Ligurian Giants do also confirm this Conjecture, Albion and Bergion, both of them, as I judge, being named from their Talness. What the An­cients thought of the Word Album, I have said enough. That the Ger­mans call Berg, in the German Lan­guage signifies High. High, Berg, is known to all: And there is a place in Pliny that shews, it was anciently used in the same sense amongst the Gauls, in his Third Book, which I am of Opinion must be thus read; Whence Cato affirms, the Bergo­mates, a People of Bergamo in Italy, now under the Ve­netian. Bergomates to have had their Original, they discover themselves by their Names to be situated more highly, than happily; Therefore Albion and Bergion, Men, it seems, far taller than their Neighbors, in confidence of their Strength, did com­mit Robberies in those Coasts of Liguria, whom Hercules, travelling that way, subdued by force of Arms. But none of the Ancients ever affirmed, That they Reigned in Britain, and the then State of the Gallick Affairs makes it very improbable, that it should be so; and it is likely, that the State of Britain was not much more quiet; in which Land, the Great Albion left a Famous Kingdom, that he might play the Robber at Home. But I, though I do not much differ from their Opinion, who assert, That Albion was so called from Album, so I think, the occasion of the Name was not from the Colour, but from the Height, of the Mountains: They, who imposed that Britain, why called Albion. Name, were, I believe, something inclined thereunto by com­paring England with Ireland, there being but a Narrow Sea between Them: For they seeing one Shore to be altogether Mountainous, and the other depressed, level, and spread into Campagne or open Fields, they called the first Albion, from its height: But whether they gave any Name to the second, from its low Situation, the Length of Time, and the Negligence of the Inhabitants in Recording Ancient Affairs, hath made uncertain. Besides, this also adds Strength to my Opini­on, That the Name of the Island, derived from Album, whether Albion, or Albium, as yet pertinaciously remains in The Name Albion is still retained in part of Scotland. Scotland, as in its Native Soil; neither could it ever be extirpated there, not­withstanding so many Mutations of Inhabitants, Kingdoms, Lan­guages, and the Vicissitude of other things. These things seem true, or at least probable, to me; yet if any Man can inform me better, I will easily be of his Opinion.

Hitherto of the Ancient Names of the Island: The next thing, is, To explain the The Situa­tion of the se­veral Counties [...]n Albion, des­cribed by Eng­lish Writers. Situation of the Countries. The English Writers have plainly and clearly enough described their own several [Page 13] Counties: But Hector Boe­tius blamed. Hector Boetius, in his Description of Scotland, hath delivered some things not so true, and he hath drawn others into Mistakes, whilst he was over-credulous of those, to whom he committed the Inquiry after Matters, and so Published their Opini­ons, rather than the Truth. But I shall briefly touch at those things which I am assured of, and those which seem obscure and less true, I will correct as well as I can.

England, how divided. England, as far as concerns our present purpose, is most con­veniently divided by Four Rivers, Two running into the Irish Sea viz. Dee and Severne; and Two into the German Sea, i. e. Thames and Hum­ber. Between Dee and Severne lies Wales, being distinguished into Now only into two, viz. North and South-Wales; for Pembroke-Shi [...]e, with part of its ad­jacent Coun­ties, hereto­fore called West-Wal [...]s, is now counted part of South-Wales. Three several Regions. Between Severne and Thames, lies all that part of England, which is opposite to France. The Countries interjacent be­tween Thames and Humber, make the Third Part; and the Countries reaching from Humber and Dee, to Scotland, make up the Fourth.

But The Situ­ation of Scot­land, and the several Coun­ties thereof. Scotland is divided from England, first, by the River Tweed; then, by the high Mountain Cheviot; and where the Moun­tain fails, then by a Wall or Trench newly made, and afterwards by the Rivers Eske and Solway. Within those Bounds, from the Scotish Sea to the Irish, the Counties lies in this Order. First, Merch. M [...]rch, in which the English do now possess Berwick, situate on the left side of the Tweed. On the East it is bounded with the Firth of Forth. On the South, with England. On the West, on both sides the River Tweed, lies Tiviotdale ▪ or Tividale. Tiviotdale, taking its Name from the River Tiviot: It is divided from England by the Cheviot-Hills. After this, lie three Counties not very great, Lyddisdail. Liddisdail, Eusedail. Eusedail, and Eskdail. Eskdail, being so called of three Rivers, which have a near Appella­tion, viz. Lidal, Eue, and Eske. The last is Annandale. Annandale, ta­king its Name from the River Annand, which divides it almost in the middle, and, near to Solway, runs into the Irish Sea.

Now to return again to Forth, or the Scotish Sea. Forth, on the East it is bounded by Lothian. Cockburnes Path, and Lamormoore-Hills do divide it from Merch. Then, bending a little to the West, it touches Lauderdale and Twedale. Lauder­dale and Twedale; the one so called from the Town Lauder; the other from the River Tweed, dividing it in the middle. Liddisdale, Nithisdale, and Clidesdale. Liddis­dale, Nithisdale, and Clidesdale, do border on Twedale on the South and West. The River Nith gives Name to Nithsdale, running through it into the Irish Sea. Lothian, whence so cal­led. Lothian was so named from Lothus, King of the Picts. On the North-East it is bounded with the Forth, or Scotish Sea, and it looks towards Clidesdale on the South-West. This Country does far excel all the rest, in the Civility of its Inhabitants, and in plenty of all things for the use of Life. It is Watered with five Rivers, [...]ine, both the Eskes, (which before they fall into the Sea, joyn in one Chanel,) Leith and Almond. These Rivers, ari­sing partly from the Lamormoore-Hills, and partly from Pentland-Hills, disgorge themselves into the Firth of Forth. Lothian contains these Towns, Dunbar, Hadington, Dalkeith, Edinburgh in Lothian. Edinburgh, Leith, and Linlithgoe. More to the West, lies Clidsdale divided. Clidsdale on both sides the River Clid, which, by Reason of its length, is divided into two Prefectures or Sheriffwicks. In the uppermost of them there is an Hill, not very high, yet out of it, Rivers run into three di­vers [Page 14] Seas, Tweed into the Scotish, Annand into the Irish, and Clyd into the Deucaledonian-Seas. The most eminent Cities in it, are Lanerick and Glasgo. Kyle. Kyle on the South-west is adjoining to it; Be­yond Kyle is Galloway. Galloway. It is separated from Nithsdale by the River Clyd, bending almost wholly to the South, and by its Shore that re­maining part of Scotland is also covered.

It is all more fruitful in Cattle, than Corn; it hath these Rivers running into the Irish Sea, Vre or Ore, Dee, Kenn, Cree, and Luss; it hath scarce any great Mountains, but only some small Hills, in it; between which, the Water, stagnant in the Valleys, makes a­bundance of Lakes, by which, in the first Showres, after the Au­tumnal Aequinox, the Rivers are encreased, which bring down an incredible quantity of Eeles,Abundance of Eels taken. which the Inhabitants take in Weels made of Osier Twigs, and, salting them, get no small Profit there­by.Mul of Gallo­way. The Boundary of that side is the Mul of Galloway, under which, in the mouth of the River Lus, is a Bay, which Ptolomy calls Now Glen­luce. Re­rigonius. The Bay commonly called Loch-Rian, and, by Pto­lomy, Vidogara, flows into it on the other side from the Firth of Clyd. The Land running betwixt those Bays, the Inhabitants do call Rinns, Rinns. of Galloway. Nonantum. (i. e.) the edge of Galloway: They also call Nonantum, the Mul, (i. e.) the Beak, or Jaw. But the whole Country is called Galloway (for Gallovid, in old Scotish, signifies a Gaul.)

Carrick.Below Loch-Rian, on the Back side of Galloway, there lies Carrick-Bailiery, gently declining to the Firth of Clyd. Two Rivers pass through it, Stinsiar and Girvan, both of them having many plea­sant Villages on their Banks. Between the Rivers, there are some small Hills, fruitful for Pasture, and not unfit for Corn: 'Tis all not only self-sufficient with Land and Sea-Commodities, but it also sup­plies its Neighbours with many Necessaries. The River Down sepa­rates it from Kyle, Kyle. which ariseth from a Lake of the same Name, wherein is an Island, with a small Castle. Kyle follows next, bor­dering upon Galloway on the South, and on the North East, on Clyds­dale; on the West it is separated from Cuningham by the River Ir­wyn: The River Aire divides it in the middle. Near it is scituated Air, Air. a Town well traded; the Country in general abounds more with valiant Men, than with Corn or Cattle; for the Soyle is poor and sandy, and that sharpens the Industry of the Inhabitants; and their Parsimony confirms the Strength both of their Bodies and Minds.Cuningham. After Air, Cuningham runs on to the North, and doth, as it were, justle out and streighten the Clyd, and brings it into the com­pass but of a moderate River. The Name of the Country is Danish, and, in that Language, signifies the King's House, which is an Ar­gument,Renfrew. That the Danes did somtimes possess it. Next is Renfrew, scituate at the Eastern Coast thereof, so called from a little Town, wherein they were wont to celebrate their Conventions, 'tis com­monly called the Barony of Renfrew. Two Rivers, both of them called Carth, White Carth. and Black Carth. Clydsdale. divide it in the midst. After the Barony of Renfrew, Clydsdale is stretched out on both sides of the River Clyd, and, in regard of its largeness, is divided into many Jurisdictions. It pours out many famous Rivers; on the left hand, Even and Duglass, which run into Clyd; and on the right, another River called Even, which [Page 15] divides Lothian from Sterlingshire. These two Currents take the common Appellation of Rivers, instead of a proper Name, as, in Wales, the River called Avon doth, in a divers Dialect. The Ri­ver Ev [...]n or Avon separates the County of Sterling on the South,Sterling. from Lothian; on the East, the Firth of Forth, unti [...] at last, being les­ned, it is reduced to the just magnitude of a River, and admits a pas­sable Bridge near Sterling. There is but one memorable River which divides this Country, called Carron-Water, Carron-water. near which there are some ancient Monuments. On the left hand of Carron, there are two small Hills or Barrows, made of Earth by Man's hand, (as the thing it self shews) commonly called Duni pacis, Duni pacis, Emblems of Pe [...]e. (i. e.) Emblems of Reconci­liation. But about two Miles lower, on the same River, there is a round Edifice made without any Lime, but so formed with sharp Stones, that part of the upper Stone is, as it were, Mortassed into the lower, so that the whole Work, mutually conjoyned, sustains it self with the weight of the Stones, from top to bottom, growing nar­rower and narrower by Degrees. The top of it is open: The com­mon People have several Fancies, according to their divers Humours,A strange Edifice. concerning the Use and Author of this Structure. For my part, I once conjectured, That it was a Temple of the God Terminus, which, they say, was wont to be built round and open at top; And the Du­ni pacis near adjoyning seemed somwhat to strengthen my Conjecture, as if a Peace had been made there, of which these Hills are a Mo­nument, because there the Romans terminated the Bounds of their Jurisdiction and Empire; neither could any thing have altered my Opinion, unless I had been informed by creditable persons, That, in a certain Island, there are many Edifices in other respects like the Structure which I have spoken of, but that they are greater, and not so compact. There are also two Chapels in Ross of the like shape. These things made me suspend my Opinion, and to judge that these were Monuments or Trophies of some famous Deeds, placed, as it were, at the fag-end of the World, that they might be preserved from the Injury and Fury of Enemies. But whether these were Tro­phies, or (as some think) Sepulchres of famous Men, I believe they were Monuments consecrated to be perpetuated to Posterity, but built by rude and unskilful Workmen, after the similitude of the Temple erected at Carron. On the right side of Carron, the Ground is generally plain and level, only▪ there is a little Hill in it, almost in the mid-space between the Duni pacis and the Temple or Chapel; and therein, at the bending of the Angle, the Footsteps of an ancient City do yet appear. But the Foundation of the Walls, and the de­scription of the Streets, partly by reason of Countrymens Plowing up the Ground, and partly, by plucking out the square Stones to build some Rich Mens Houses thereabouts, are quite blended and confused. English Bede expresly calls this place Guidi, Guidi. and places it in the very Angle of the Wall of Severus. Besides him, many fa­mous Roman Writers make mention of this Wall; yea, several foot­steps thereof do yet appear, and many Stones are dug out, with In­scriptions containing a Gratulation of Safety and Victory, received by the Centurions and Tribunes of the Romans, or else some Fune­ral Epitaphs are engraven therein. And seeing the Wall of Severus [Page 16] is seldom less distant than 100 Miles from Adrian's Wall,Adrian's Wall built before Severus's. (as the Remains of both do shew) which was built by him before; Eng­lish Writers betray their great Ignorance, either in not understand­ing the Latins, who have delivered these things down to us; or else their Carelesness, who have wrote that so confusedly, which is so plainly recorded: However it be, the thing is worthy, if not of a sharp Reprehension, yet of a light Admonition, at least; especially, since by the Monuments lately spoken of, and by Bede's English Hi­story too, it plainly appears, That there was somtimes the Boundary betwixt the Britains and the Scots. Maldon not in Scotland, but in Essex. But those who fancy Maldon to be scituate here, are the same Men, who affirm, That the Chapel or Structure we spoke of, was the Temple of Claudius Caesar; but they are hugely mistaken in both, seeing Maldon, a Colony of the Romans, is above 300 Miles distant from that place, if we may believe Pto­lomy, and the Itinerary of Antoninus. Cornelius Tacitus doth plain­ly confute this their mistake, as in all his other Narrations, so especially, when he says, that the Romans having lost Maldon, fled to the Temple of Claudius Caesar for safety. But that Structure, whe­ther it were a Chapel or Temple of Terminus, or else a Monument of some other thing, having no Doors, nor sign of any, and being open also at top, for the casting in of Stones, can scarce contain, much less shelter, Ten Soldiers. Moreover, about 40 Years after the Expediti­on of Iulius Caesar into Britain, Iulius Agrico­la. Iulius Agricola was the first of the Roman Generals who penetrated with his Army into those parts; Besides, Adrian also, 50 Years after Agricola, setled the Bounds of the Roman Province,Adrian's Wall, where? between the Rivers Tine and Eske, by making a Wall, of which, divers Footsteps in many places do yet remain. But Septimius Severus, about the Year of our Lord 210, entring in­to Britain, Severus's Wall, now Grames Dike, where? built a Wall 100 Miles beyond the Limits made by Adri­an, from the Firth of Clyd to the Conflux of Forth and Avon, of which, many clear and evident Tokens yet remain. Besides, we ne­ver read in ancient Writings, that the chief Seat of the Picts was at Maldon, Abernethy, once the Royal Se [...]t of the Picts, then St. Andrews. but at Abernethy; there was thei [...] Royal, and also Epis­copal, Seat, which was afterwards translated to St. Andrews. And if it be demanded, what moved the Romans to draw a Colony thi­ther, and how they maintained it in a Soil so barren, and (at that time) woody, uncultivated, and obnoxious to the daily injuries of the fiercest of their Enemies; I suppose, they will answer, (for I see not what else they can say, thereto) that it was supplyed from the Sea, for then Ships came up to the very Gates of the City, thô against the stream of Carron-Water. If that were true, then the Grounds lying on both sides the Forth, must needs be overwhelmed with the inundations of the Ocean, and must therefore be barren, which alone, in that Tract, ought to have born Corn. But this is yet a more difficult Question; That seeing the Sea-water did run on both sides the Forth, why the Romans did not there make their Boundary-Wall, rather than unnecessarily carry it many Miles fur­ther?

Lennox.Beyond the County of Sterling lies Lennox, divided from the Ba­rony of Renfrew by Clyd, and from the County of Glasgow by the River Kelvin; from the County of Sterling by Mountains, and [Page 17] from the Stewarty of Menteath by the Forth;Menteath. at length it is ter­minated in the Mountain Grampius, or Grantsbain, at the foot of which, through an hollow Valley, Loch-Lomund spreads it self,Loch-Lomund. which is 24 Miles long, and 8 broad; it contains above 24 Islands; besides a multitude of other Fishes, it hath some of a peculiar kind, very plea­sant to eat, they call them Pollacks. At length,Pollacks, an unusual Fish. breaking out to­wards the South, it pours out the River Levin, giving Name to the whole Country, and near the Castle of Dumbarton, and a Town of the same Name, falls into Clyd. The furthermost Hills of Mount Grampius, do heighten the extreme parts of Lennox, Mount Gram­pius. Loch-Ger. Loch-Long. being divided by a small Bay of the Sea, called Loch-Ger, from its shortness. Be­yond that, there is a Bay much larger, called Loch-Long, from the River Long, falling into it; That is the Boundary between Lennox and Cowel. Cowel it self, Argyle and Knapdale are divided into many parts,Cowel. Argyle. Knapdale. by reason of several narrow Bays of the Sea running down into them, from the Firth of Clyd: There is one Bay, or Loch, more eminent than the rest, among, them called Loch-Finn, Loch-Finn. obtaining its Name from the River Finn, which it receives into it; it is above 60 Miles in length. There is also in Knapdale a Loch called Loch-Awe, Loch-Awe. in which there is a small Island, and a Castle, that is fortified. The River Awe, or Owe, issues out from that Loch, which is the only River in that Country, that empties it self into the Deucaledonian Sea.

Beyond Knapdale, to the South-West, there runs out Cantyre; i. e. Cantyre. The Head of the Country; it stands over against Ireland, from which it is divided but by a Narrow Sea: It is not so Broad, as it is Long; and it is joyned to Knapdale by so Narrow an Isthmus, or Neck of Land, that it is scarce a Mile over;A Narrow Neck of Land joyns Cantyre to Knapdale. Birlings a small sort of Se [...]-Vessels. and that space too is nothing but Sand, so plain and level, that sometimes Seamen, to make their Voy­ages shorter, do hale their small Vessels, called Birlings, over it, from one side of Loch-Tarbet to the other.

Lorn touches Knapdale, it borders immediately on Argyle, and reaches as far as the Country of Abyr, commonly called Loch-Abyr: It is a plain Country, and not unfruitful;Lorn or Laern. where the Moun­tain Granze­ben, or the Grampian-Hills, run from Aberdeen in the North, to Dunbarton in the West. Grampius is lowest, and more passable, that Country is called Braid-Al­bin. Braid-Albin, which is as much as to say, The highest part of Scotland; and where the loftiest Pic, or Top, of all is, that is called Drum-Al­bin. Drum-Albin, i. e. The Back of Scotland, and not without cause; for from that Back, there run down Rivers into both Seas, some into the North or German, others into the South or Deucaledonian Sea. For from Loch-Earn. Loch-Earn it pours out the Ri­ver Earn, towards the South-East, which falls into the River Tay, about three Miles below Perth. From this River, the Country cal­led in Highland, or old Scots, Language, Strath-Earn. Strath-Earn, takes it Name, being situate on both sides of its Banks. For the Highlan­ders use to call a Country, lying at the fall of Rivers, Strat, wha [...]. Strat. Between the Mountains of this Country and the Forth, lies the Stew­arty of Menteath. Menteath, taking its Name from the River Teath, which runs through the middle of it. Next to Menteath stand the Moun­tains called Ocel-Hills. Ocel-Hills, a great part of which, as also of the Country lying at the Foot of them, is reckoned within the Stewarty of Strath-Earn; but the rest of the Country, even unto the Forth ▪ [Page 18] Man's Ambition hath divided into several Stewarties, as the Stew­arty of Clacman, Culross, and Kinross, Stew­arties. Clacman, of Clacman, Culross, and Kinross, Stew­arties. Culross, and of Clacman, Culross, and Kinross, Stew­arties. Kinross. From these Stewarties and the Ocel-Hills, all the Country lying between the Forth and the Tay, grows narrow like a Wedge, Eastward even to the Sea; and it is all called by one Name Fife. Fife, a Country self-sufficient with all necessaries for the use of Life: It is broadest where Loch-Leven, and the River It ariseth out of Loch-Leven, and falls into the Forth at the Town of Leven. Leven, running through it, do divide it; and from thence it narrows on each side, till you come to the Town of Or Creal, on the East point of Fife. Cara [...]l ▪ it sends forth but one remarkable River, and that's called Leven. Its whole shore is stor'd with abun­dance of Towns, of which the most remarkable, for the Study of the Arts is St. Andrews heretofore cal­led Fanum Re­guli, an Uni­versity. St. Andrews, which the Highlanders call Fanum Re­guli: More to the Inland, almost in the middle of the County, lies Cowper, the Shire-Town of Fife Cowper, the Shire or Assize Town, whither the rest of the Inha­bitants of Fife do come for the Administration of Justice. Where it touches Strath-Earn stands the Town of Abernethy, anciently the Royal Seat of of the Picts. Abernethy, the Anci­ent Royal Seat of the Picts. Here the River Earn falls into the Tay.

As for the Tay, the greatest River in Scotland. Tay it self, that breaks out from Loch-Tay Twenty four Miles long. Loch-Tay, which is in Braid-Albin; (a Loch Twenty Four Miles long) it is without que­stion the greatest River in Scotland; for winding about towards the Grampian-Hills, it touches upon Athol. Athol a fruitful Country, situate in the very Woody Passages of Mount Grampius. That part there­of, which is extended into a Plain, at the Foot of the Mountain, is called the Blare of Athol. Blare of Athol, which Word signifies a Soil devoid of Trees.

Below Athol, on the Right side of the River Tay, stands the Town of Caledonia, i. e. Dunkel, or Dunkelden, Why so cal­led? Caledonia, which yet retains its Ancient Name, though vulgarly called Dunkelden, (i. e.) an Hill full of Hasel-Trees. For those Trees, growing thick in such unmanured places, and sha­dowing the Country, like a Wood, gave Name both to the Town, and also to the People thereabouts. For the Caledons, or Caledonians, heretofore one of the famousest Nations amongst the Britains, made up one part of the Kingdom of the Picts, as we may be informed by Ammianus Marcellinus divides the Picts into Ca­ledons and Vec­turions. Ammianus Marcellinus, who divides the Picts into Two Tribes; i. e. The Caledones and the Vecturiones, though at this Day there is hardly any Footstep left of either of those Two Names.

Twelve Miles below Dunkelden, on the same Right-hand Bank of the Tay, stands Perth on the South of Tay, called St. Iohnston's, from St. Iohn the Evange­list, its Patron. Perth, otherwise called St. Iohnstons. And on the Left-Bank of the Tay, below Athol, towards the East, stands Gowry-land is the far­thest East-point of Perth­shire; the Plain thereof is called the Carss of Gowry, and the Hilly part the Brae of Gowry. Gowry, a County abounding with rich Corn-Fields.

Below Gowry, between the Tay and the Esk, is extended Angus, called also Aeneia, Horestia, and Forestia. An­gus, or, as the Highlanders call it, Aeneia; some call it Horestia, or, according to the English Dialect, Forestia. In it there are these two Cities, Wherein there was an Abby near the Water Ila. Cowper, and that which Boetius, to gratifie his Country­men, ambitiously calls The Gift of God. Deidonum, but, I think, the old Name thereof was Dundee called Taodunum, and why? Taodunum, i. e. Dundee, from Dune, i. e. an Hill situated by the River Tay; for at the Foot of that Hill the Town is built.

[Page 19]Fourteen Miles beyond the Tay, in a direct Line along the Shore, we meet with the Town of It stands near the Sea, on a little Brook in An­gus, called Br [...]th [...]ck. Aberbrothock, sometimes called Abrin­ca. Then follows the Promontory, called Redhead, or Reedhead. Red-Head, which shews it self at a very great distance. The River South-Esk runs through the middle of Angus; and the North-Esk divides it from the Mearns. The Called the Sheriffdom of Mearns, lying betwixt Dye and North-Esk. Mearns is, for the most part, a plain and level Country, till it toucheth Mount Grampius, beyond the little Town of Fordun, and Dunotter, a Castle belonging to the Earls of Marshal: Then it grows lower and lower, declining towards the Sea. Beyond Mearn, towards the North, is the River Or Dee. Die, commonly called Diemouth; and about a Mile beyond it, is the River It ariseth in Strathdon, the Hilly part of Mar [...], and falls into the Ger­man Sea, at old Aberdene. Don. Upon the one, there stands Aberdene, standing on the Don; and Aberdee, standing on the Dee, or Dye, now both called Old and New Aberdene. Aberdone, a Town famous for Salmon-Fishing; and upon the other, stands Aberdene, standing on the Don; and Aberdee, standing on the Dee, or Dye, now both called Old and New Aberdene. Aberdee, (for so 'tis called in old Records) where the Bishops-See is, and also a Flourishing University: But now adays both Towns are distinguished only by the Names of Old and New Aberdene, standing on the Don; and Aberdee, standing on the Dee, or Dye, now both called Old and New Aberdene. Aberdene.

From this narrow Front, between those two Rivers, begins Marr, hath the German Ocean on the East; Dee, on the South; Badenach, on the West; and Bam [...]shire, on the North. Marr, which growing wider and wider by degrees, extends it self 60 Miles in length, even unto Badenach. Or Bade­n [...]ck, a conti­nued Ridge of Hills. Badenach is all full of Hills and Mountains, which sends forth Rivers into both Seas.

Called Loch-Abyr, from a little Loch lying in the midst of a shaking Bog, over against Enver-Loc [...]ie, or, as some call it, Inner-lochie. Abyr borders upon Badenach, it declines gently towards the Deucaledonian Sea; a Country (for a Scotish one) very much abound­ing with all Land and Sea-Commodities: As it is fruitful in Corn and Pasture, so it is also very pleasant by reason of its shadowy Groves, and the delightful Fountains, Brooks and Rivulets, which glide along through it. As for the Multitude of Fish, hardly any County in Scotland can compare therewith: For, besides the plenty of Fresh-water Fish, which so many Rivers do afford, the Sea also contri­butes its Dole of Salt-water ones; piercing, in a long Chanel, through the level part of the Country, and there being somewhat curbed and pent in by the higher boundary of the Land, for some space, at length it diffuses and spreads it self abroad again, representing the form of a Meer, or rather Loch. Hence 'tis called Abyr; i. e. in our Country Language, A Road for Ships: They give also the same Name to the Country thereabouts; those that affect to speak after the English mode call both, i. e. That Bay of the Sea, and the Country too, Loch-Abyr, but mistakingly and without ground. These three Counties The three Counties of Loch-Abyr, Badenach, and Marr, com­prehend the Bredth of Scot­land betwixt both Seas. Abyr, Badenach and Marr, do take up all the bredth of Scotland between the two Seas, the Deucaledonian and the German.

On the North, next to Marr, stands Buchan abounds with Salmon. Buchan, divided from it by the River Don; it stretcheth out it self farthest of any County in Scotland, into the German Sea: 'Tis Rich in Pasture, and in a good breed of Sheep; and is able to maintain it self with all Con­veniencies for the support of Life. The Rivers in it abound with Salmon; and yet (which is strange) there is one of its Rivers, cal­led The Water of Ratra, in Buchan, hath no Salmon in it. Ratra, that hath not a Salmon in it. On the Shore of Ratra, [Page 20] there is a strange kind of An unusual Cave, turning Water into Stone. Cave, the Nature whereof I can­not pass over in silence. The Water therein drops down from a natural Vault or Arch, and is turned into Pyramids of Stone, inso­much that if Men did not cleanse it ever and anon, the whole space, to the very Roof, would be quickly petrified and filled up. The Stone thus concreted is of a middle Nature, between Stone and Ice; for it is friable, and never arrives at the hardness and solidity of Marble. When I was at The like Cave at Tho­louse in Lan­guedoc [...]: Tholouse, about the Year of our Lord 1544. I was informed by creditable Persons, that there was a Cave in the Neighbouring Pyrenaean Hills, altogether like This in Scotland.

Beyond Buchan to the North, lie two small Counties, South of Bamss on the Sea-Coast. Boin and E [...]y, lying on the South of the Spey. A [...]y, which reach to the River Spey, that separates them from Mur­ray. As for the River Or Spey, it watereth Bade­nach and S [...]r [...]th-Spey, and falls into the German Ocean near G [...]rm [...]ch. Spey, That hath its rise in the ridge of Hills in Badenach, of which I have made mention before; and not far from the Fountain thereof, is a Loch-L [...]uch. Loch, which sends forth a River called Lochty, or rather Lo [...]chty. Lochtee, which roles it self into the West-Sea. At the Mouth thereof (as they say) there was once a Noble Town, called Or, En­v [...]r-Lochty, standing on the West-side of the Mouth of the River Lochty, in Loch-Abyr. Inner-Locht [...]e, borrowing its Name from the Loch afore­said. The Truth is, if you consider the Nature of the Neighbouring Soil, and the conveniency of Transporting and Carriadge by Sea, it is a place very fit for a Mart-Town: And our Ancient Kings, temp­ted and invited by those conveniencies, made their abode there for some Ages, in the Castle of A Castle on an high Rock in Lorn, of old the Habi­tation of the Scotch Kings. Evonia, which some do falsely per­suade themselves to be Evonia is not Dunstaf­nage. Dunstafnage; For the Rubbish and Ruins of that Castle are yet to be seen in Lorn. There are some small Counties, lying betwixt Buchan and the West-Sea, but having scarce any thing remarkable in them, I shall not waste time to describe them.

Beyond the Spey, even unto the River Ness, there follows Mu [...]r [...]y-Land, some call it M [...] ­r [...]eff land, from More, the Sea, and Rie [...], [...]ent Murray, heretofore (as 'tis thought) called Varar. Between those two Ri­vers, (the Spey and the Ness) the German Ocean doth (as it were) drive the Land backward to the West, and so, with a vast Bay, doth abridge the largeness thereof. This whole Country (for the higness of it) abounds with Corn and Pasturage; but as for Plea­santness, and the profit arising from Fruit-bearing Trees, it bears a­way the Bell from all the other Countries in Scotland. It hath two Eminent Towns in it, Elgin and Inverness: A Chief Town in Mur­r [...]y, within four Miles of the Sea. Elgin stands on the River L [...]ssie, and as yet retains its Ancient Name. O [...] Enver­ness, on the South-side of the Ness, where it falls into Murray Firth. Innerness is situate by the River Ness, which issues out of It is a nar­row and deep Loch, arising near the West-Sea, in Glen­dulphin; the Water thereof never freezeth, perhaps because encompassed with high Rocks and Mountains, which keep off the severity of the cold Air. Loch-Ness, a Loch 24 Miles long; the Water thereof is almost always warm, and all the year long 'tis never so Cold as to Freeze; yea, in the sharpest Winter that is, if Flakes of Ice are conveyed into it, they will quick­ly be thawed by the warmth of its Waters.

Beyond Loch-Ness towards the West, there are only Where Scotland is narrowest; i. e. but 8 Miles broad between Loch and Loch, or Sea and Sea. eight Miles of Continent, interjacent▪ so small a Portion of Ground hin­ders the Conjunction of the two Seas, and consequently the making of the rest of Scotland an Island; for all that space of Land, which lies betwixt that narrow Neck and the Deucaledonian Sea, is cut off from the rest by several Bays of the Sea, breaking into it.

[Page 21]That part of the Country, which lies beyond Loch-N [...]s [...], and those narrow Streights, or Neck of Land, before-mentioned, is wont to be divided into four Provinces or Shires, viz. Ross, Strath-Navern, Sutherland, and Caithness; [ [...] by the mist [...]ke of the [...]; for the whole of it is menti­oned by and by, in its pro­p [...]r pl [...]ce. Navern, or, as commonly call­ed, Strath-Navern, taking its Name from the River Navern] Be­yond the Mouth of Ness, where it disembogues it self into the German Sea, lies R [...]s is a Shire that ex­tends it self, cross ways▪ from the Eas [...], to the Wes [...], Sea, which no County in Scot­land doth, be­sides. Ross, which runs out into the Sea with ve­ry high Promontories, as the Name it self shews, for Ross, in the Scotish Dialect, signifies a Promontory. This Province hath more of Length, than Bredth, in it, for it reaches from the Ger­man, quite home to the Caledonian, Sea: Where it is Mountai­nous, 'tis barren and untilled; but the Plains thereof scarce yield to any part of Scotland for Fruitfulness. It hath also many pleasant Valleys in it, which are Watered with Rivers, full of Fish, together with several Lochs, well-stored with Fish. But the greatest of them all is Loch-Loubrun. From the Deucaledonian Sea, the Shore grows somewhat narrower, and turns back towards the North-East: From the opposite Shore, the German Sea, making its way between the Clefts of high Rocks, within Land, expands it self into a spacious Bay, which affords a safe Harbour, and Road, for Ships, against all Storms; for the Passage into it is not dangerous, and when you are once entred, even the greatest Ships, that are, may be secure from all Injury of Wind and Weather.

At the farthest point of Ross, towards the North, lies Navern, or [...]. Na­vern, so called from the River It a [...]ise [...] Sutherland, and running s [...]rait North, frameth Loch-Navern, and falls into the Deucaledonian Sea at Inver-Na [...]a, or Inn [...]-Navern, as some call it, West of Verve­drum, or Stra­th [...]-Ho [...]d. Navern, which the Vulgar, fol­lowing the Propriety of their Country Speech, call It a [...]ise [...] Sutherland, and running s [...]rait North, frameth Loch-Navern, and falls into the Deucaledonian Sea at Inver-Na [...]a, or Inn [...]-Navern, as some call it, West of Verve­drum, or Stra­th [...]-Ho [...]d. Strath-Na­vern. Ross bounds it on the South; The Deucaledonian Sea washeth it, West and North; And on the East it reaches to Caithness.

A Name given it by the P [...]cts, as some think: It hath Assin-Shire al­so to the West of it. Sutherland is so interjected between the three last mentioned Provinces, that it borders on them All, and, in some Quarter or other, touches them all: For on the West of it lies Strath-Navern; On the South and East, Ross; And on the North, Caithness. The Inhabitants thereof, according to the Nature of the Soil, are more given to Pasturage than Tillage. I know no remarkable thing in it, save only that it hath some Mountains of White Mar­ble in Suther­land. Mountains of White Marble, (a rare Miracle, in so cold a Country) which yet are of little or no use to the Inhabitants, because That luxuriant Humour, which affects Curiosity, hath not yet reached to this Place.

Caithness, the most Nor­thern Shire in Scotland. Caithness is the last Province of Scotland, towards the North, in which Coast Strath-Navern also meets It. These Two Coun­ties do contract the Bredth of Scotland into a narrow Front. In that Front, there are Three high Promontories: The highest of them all is in Strath-Navern, which Ptolomy calls Farrow-Head, is the farthest North-West point of Scotland, lying in the small E­dar-da-cheules. Orca, or Tarvedrum, now Farrow-Head, is the farthest North-West point of Scotland, lying in the small E­dar-da-cheules. Farrow-Head; The other Two are in Caithness, but not so high as the former; i. e. Vervedrum, now called Because Strathy-Head is, by some, rec­koned to be in Strath-Na­vern, not in Caithness, therefore they make Hoia to be the Hill of Hoy in Caithness, which hath a Fountain at Top, and, at its Bottom, bub­bles forth a River, that runs to the Town of Wick in Caithness, the usual Port for Ships to and from the Orcades. Hoia, i. e. Strathy-Head; and Betubium, (Dunsbey-Head) falsly called by Hector Boetius, Dume; some call it Duncans-Bei, from which word, some Letters being substracted, the word Duns-Bei seems to be derived. At the Foot of the Hill there is a small Bay, which little Vessels, com­ing [Page 22] from the Orcades, use as an Haven or Port. For a Bay of the Sea is there called Bei. And this Creek, or Bay, being called by the Neighboring Inhabitants the Bei of Duncan, or Donach; from both those words conjoyned, the Country Language hath formed or Dungisby. Dunis-Bei.

In this Tract, Ptolomy places the The Cor­navii in Caith­ness in Scot­land, and in Cornwal in England, too. Cornavii, (or Caithness-men) some Footsteps of which Name do yet remain, for they commonly call the Castle of the Earls of Caithness, Now Castle Sinclare. Gernico; for those whom Ptolomy, and other Foreiners call Cornavii, the Britains call Kernici. And seeing he places the Cornavii, not in this Tract only, but even in a far distant part of the Island, viz. Cornwal in England ▪ they who retain the old British Speech, do yet call the same persons, Ker­nici: And, perhaps, 'tis no absurd conjecture, to imagine, that the Cornovalli are so called for Kernico­valli, Who? Kernicovalli, (i. e.) the Kernic-Gauls, yea, in the very midst of the Island, some footsteps, thô obscure ones, of the Name seem to have remained. For Bede writes, that the beginning of the Wall of Severus was not far distant from the Mo­nastery of Kebercur­nig. Kebercurnig; whereas there is now no sign of a Mo­nastery in those parts; but there remains not far from thence, the halfe-ruined Castle of the Duglasses, called Abrecorn, or Abercorn. Abrecorn: Whether both of those words, or only one of them, be corrupted from Kerni­cus, I leave to the Reader to judge.

It remains now, that I speak somthing concerning the Islands of Scotland, (which Part of the British History is involved with abun­dance of mistakes.) But omitting the Ancients, who have deliver­ed nothing certain on this Subject, I shall only insist on what the Writers of our times have, more truly and plainly, acquainted us with. Of all the Islands, which do, as it were, begirt Scotland, they make three The Islands of Scotland divided into three ranks, with their se­veral Names. viz. 1st. Western,2. Orcades, or Orkny,3 Schetland, Isles. Classes or Ranks, The Western, the Orcades, and the Zealandish, or Shetland, Islands.

Those are called the Western-Isles, called Hebrides, Aemodae, and Aebudae. Western Isles, which lve between Scot­land and Ireland, on the West of Scotland, in the Deucaledonian Sea, and do reach almost to the Isles of Orkney, or Orcades. They, who have written of the British Affairs, either now, or in the Age before us, call them Hebrides, a new Name, of which there are no Foot­steps, or any Original, in Ancient Writers. For, in that Tract of the Sea, some Authors place the Aebudae, or Aemodae, but with such inconstancy amongst themselves, that they scarce ever agree in their Number, Situation, or Names. Strabo (to begin with the most Ancient) may be the better excused, because he followed uncertain Report, That part of the World being not fully discovered, in his time. These Number ac­cording to Mela, Capella, Ptolomy, Soli­nus, and Pliny. Mela reckons the Aemodae to be Seaven, Martianus Capella makes the Acmodae to be as many; Ptolomy and Solinus count the Aebudae, Five; Pliny numbers the Acmodae to be Seaven; and the Aebudae Thirty. I, for my part, think it fit to retain the Names most used by the Ancients, and therefore I call all the Western Isles The Name Aebudae, most approved by this Author. Aebudae; and I purpose to describe the Site, Nature, and Commo­dities of every one of them, as out of Later, so out of Surer, Authors.

In performing this Task, I will principally follow Donald Monro, some­time Dean of Murray, Tra­velled over the Islands of Scotland, and described them. Donald Monro, a Pious and Diligent Person, who himself Travelled over all those Islands, and viewed them Ocularly. They lye dispersed in the Deucaledonian Sea, being above Three hundred and odd, in num­ber. [Page 23] The Kings of Scotland were Masters of them, time out of mind, until Donald, the Brother of Malcolm the Third, yielded up the possession of them to the Kings of Norway; that, by his Aid, he might forcibly seize upon the Crown of Scotland, to which he had no Right. The Danes and Norwegians enjoyed them about One hun­dred and sixty years, until, being overcome in a great Battel, they were outed of them by Alexander the 3d. King of Scotland, drove the Danes and Normans out of these Islands, after they had pos­sest them a­bout 160 years. Alexander the Third, King of Scotland. These Islanders, either confiding in their strength, or else egg'd on and induced by Sedition, have some time endeavoured to vindicate their Liberty, and to set up Kings of their own; For of late, Iohn of the Family of the Donalds, as well as others before him, usurped the Name of King. The Dispo­sition, Cu­stoms, &c. of their Inha­bitants. In their Diet, Habit, and the whole Admini­stration of their Domestick Affairs, they use the Ancient Parsimony. Hunting and Fishing afford them Food. They boil their Flesh in Wa­ter poured either into the Paunch, or into the Skin, of the Beasts, they kill; and in Hunting they sometime eat raw Flesh, when the Blood is squeezed out. The Broth of boiled Flesh-meat is their Drink. They sometimes drink Whey very greedily in their Feasts, after it hath been kept, in proper Vessels, for some years. That kind of Drink they call Blandi­um, an old Drink made of Whey, cla [...]fi­ed with Herbs. Blandium: But for the most part of them, they drink Water. They make their Bread of Oats and Bar­ley, (for they have no other Grain growing in those parts,) which is not unpleasant to the Taste; and, by frequent use, they are very expert at making and moulding of it. In the Morning they eat a little of it, and so go a Hunting; or, if they have any other work to do, they are content with that light Breakfast, and Fast till the Evening. They use party-coloured Garments, and especially strip'd Plads. Of all Colours they love the Purple and the Blew, most. Their Ancestors wear Party-coloured Plads, variously striped, which custom some of them do still retain. But, now-a-days, ma­ny of them wear their Apparel of a dark brown colour, almost like Heath, that so, lying in the Heath-bushes, they might not, in the day-time, be discovered by their Cloaths. Being rather loosly happ'd, than closely covered, with this sort of Blanketing, they en­dure the fiercest weather, even in the open Air, and sometime they sleep in them, thô cover'd all over with Snow. In their Houses, they also lye on the Ground, only they lay under them Fern or Heath, which they place with their roots downward, and their brush up­wards, so prettily, that their Beds are almost as soft as a Featherbed, but far more wholsom. For Heath, it [...] Nature. Heath being endued with a Natu­ral power of exiccation, doth exhaust superfluous Humors, and re­stores vigor to the Nerves, after it hath freed them from such noxi­ous Guests; so that they, who lye down in the Evening weary and faint, in the Morning rise up nimble and spritely. They are all of them very regardless of their Bed-Ticks and Coverlets; yea, they affect an uncouth slovinglyness therein; for, if any occasion, or ne­cessity, cause them to Travel into other parts; when they go to Bed, they throw the Bed and Blankets of their Hosts on the ground, and wrap themselves up in their own Garments, so betaking themselves to their Rest; the Reason they give, is, lest such barbarous effe­minateness (for so they call it) should taint and corrupt their Na­tive [Page 24] and inbred hardiness. In War, they cover their Bodies with Iron Helmets and a Coat of Mail, made of Iron Rings, reaching al­most down to their Anckles. Their Weapons are Bows and Arrows, for the most part hooked, the Iron barbs standing out on both sides, which cannot be drawn out of the Body, they pierce, unless the O­rifice of the wound be made very wide: Some of them Fight with broad Swords, and Poleaxes. Instead of a Trumpet, they use a Bag-Pipe. They are much given to Musick, but on Instruments, of a pe­culiar kind, called Clarsbachs; of which, some have Strings made of Brass-Wire; others, of Guts, which they strike either with their long Nails or with a Quill. Their only ambition is, to deck their Fiddles with very much Silver and Jewels. The meaner sort, instead of Jewels, use Chrystal. They sing Songs, not unelegant, containing commonly the Elogies of Valiant Men; and their Bards ordinarily handle no other Argument. Their Language is some what like the old Gawlish.

These Islands of Scotland, which use the Antient Tongue; and are called the Western or Aebudae Isles are thus usually reckoned. The first of them is Isle of Man called Mana, Eu­bonia, Meva­nia, Manim. Ma [...]a, by some falsly called Mona, but by the anci­ent Eubonia; Paulus Orosius calls it Mevania, or rather Menavia; for in the old Language, 'tis called Manim. The last Age call'd the Town in it Sodora in Man, once the Bishop of the Island [...] See. Sodora, in which the Bishop of the Islands had his See. It is a Province almost equally distant from Ireland, from Gallo­way in Scotland, and from Cumberland in England: It is Twenty four Miles long and Eight broad.

The next Isle arising in the Firth of Clyde is Ailze, Alsa, or Ailze, an high and precipitous Rock, excepting only one plain passage into it. It is uninhabited almost all the year, but only at certain Seasons, a great number of Skiffs and Busses flock thither to Fish for Cod and Whi­ting. It abounds with Conies and Sea-Fowl, but especially with abounds with Soland G [...]ese. Soland-Geese. It is almost equally distant from Carrick on the South-East; from Ireland, on the South-West; and from Cantyre on the North-West: The Isle Or, Arran. of Arran is situate Twenty four Miles from Ailze, inclining towards the North, it is Twenty four Miles long and Sixteen broad; 'tis full of high Craggy Mountains, so that only the Sea-Coasts thereof are inhabited; where it is lowest, the Sea breaks into it, and makes a great Bay, the entrance whereof is shut in by the Island Molas, i. e. Lamlach. Lamlach or Lamlash. So that by reason of the height of the Mountains, which break the force of the Wind, it is, within, a very safe Harbour for Shipping; and there is such plentiful Fishing in those Waters, which are perpetually Calm, that if the Inhabitants catch more than what will serve them for one day, they throw them again into the Sea, as into a safe Trunk or a Fish-pond, to be thence taken out at their pleasure.

Not far from Arr [...]n lies a small Island called Flada Flada. or Fladda, which is full of Rabbets. Boot Isle. Boot Isle, being Eight Mile long and Four broad, is situate more inwardly in the Firth of Clyde, and is Eight Miles distant from Arran, aforesaid, on the North-East. On the North-West, 'tis distant from Argyle about half a Mile; on the East, from Cuningham, Six Miles. 'Tis all in a manner Low-Land, and so, very convenient for Corn and Pasturage. It hath but one [Page 25] Town in it, bearing the Name of the Island; and in it an old Castle Named Rothsey Ca­stle. Rothsey. It hath also another Castle at the Bay, called in the Country Language, Cames, or Keames Castle. Keames Castle. On the South-West thereof, is the low Island Mernoch. Mernoch, for the bigness thereof fruitful enough, and well Cultivated, it is a Mile long and half a Mile broad. More inward in the Firth of Clyde, are the two Cumbras, Two. Cumbras, the greater and the lesser, at a small distance one from another; the greater abounding with Corn; the lesser with Fallow-Deer.

From the Promontory of Cantyre, a little more than a Mile, lies Avona, now Sanda. Sanda, called Portuosa, i. e. fit for a Port, it got that Name from being a Road for Ships; for when the Danes posses­sed those Islands, their Fleets directed their Course thither for Shel­ter. From the same Promontory to the South-West, over against the Irish shoar stands Rahglin near Ireland. Rahglin; as also Four Miles from Cantyre, is a small Island called Cara. Cara; and not far there from Gaga. Gaga, Six Miles long, and a Mile and a half broad.

The Island of Iura, a large Island, former­ly called Dera, and why? Iura is distant Twelve Miles from Gaga, be­ing in length Twenty four Miles: It's Maritime parts are inhabited well enough; but, being Woody inwardly, it abounds with several Sorts of Deer. Some think it was anciently called Dera, which in the Gothish Language signifies a Stag. Two Miles distant from Iura, lies Scarba. Scarba, in length from East to West four Miles, in breadth, one; 'tis Inhabited but in few places. The Tide is so vio­lent between It and Iura, that there is no passage neither with Sails nor Oars, but at certain Seasons only.

After This, there are many Islands of Many lesser Island [...], [...] their Name [...]. less note, spread up and down, as B [...]llach or Genisteria, Gewrasdil, Lunga, both the Fiola's or Findlass's; also the three Garvillans, distinguished by their respective Garvillan Vsk [...]a, Garvil­lan More, and Garvillan [...]eg. Sirnames; then Culbrenin, Dunconnel, Luparia, Belhac, Whoker, Gavin, Luing, Seil, and Suin, these Three last named are fruitful enough in Corn and Cattle, and are under the Jurisdiction of the Earls of Argyle. The next to these is Slata, or Sleach. Sleach, so called, because out of a Rock therein, Tyles, named Slats, are cut and ex­tracted. Then follow Naosg, Easdale, Schanni, and the Isle called Tyan. Tyan, from an Herb, which is prejudicial to Fruits, not unlike Guild or Loose-strife, but that 'tis of a more dilute Colour; then Vridich and the Rye Island. Then Dow, i. e. the black Island; and the Island Eglish, or of the Church and Triarach; after these follow the Islands, Ard or High, Ishol, Green, Heath, as also Tree, Goat, Coney-Isles, and that which is called the Island of the Otiost and Eris-bach; as also Once the Bishop of Argyle's [...]. Lismore, in which, heretofore, there was the Bishop of Argyle's See; it is eight Miles in length, two in bredth, in it there are found Metals, besides the Commodities common to other Isles. Then succeed Ovilia, and Siuna, Ilan na Port, and Geirach, as also Falda, the Isle of Cloich, Gramry; the Islands More, Ardiescara, Mu­sadil, and Bernera heretofore called the Holy Sanctuary, the Noble Yew-Isle, Molochasgar and Drinacha, which is all covered over with Thorns, Elder, and the Ruins of great Houses, then another Isle Dri­n [...]ch, which is full of Wood; also Ramsay and K [...]rrera.

[Page 26]The greatest Island of the Western ones, next to Iura, is Yla, a large Island. Yla, which is Twenty four Miles long, and Sixteen broad; it is extended from South to North; and is very fruitful in Cattel, Corn, Deer, and Lead, there is a River of fresh Water in it, called Avonlaggan. Avon­laggan, as also a Bay of Salt Water, in which are sundry Islands; besides, it hath a Lough of fresh Water, in which there is an Island called Finlagan, once the Seat of the Prince of the Islands. Finlagan, which heretofore was the chief of all the Islands, in which the Prince of the Islanders, assuming the Name of King, was wont to dwell. Neer to that but lesser, is the Island called Ilan na-Co­vihaslop, called also the Island of Council, and why? Ilan na-Covihaslop, called also the Island of Council, for there was a Court in it, wherein Fourteen of the cheif Men did daily sit for the Administration of Justice, and Determining matters of Con­troversie, whose great Equity and Moderation procured Peace, both Foreign and Domestick; and as a concomitant of Peace, the affluence of all things. Many small Islands be­tween Ila, and Iura, with their Names. Between Ila and Iura there is seated a small Island called Rock Isle, taking its Name from an heap of Stones therein; moreover on the South side of Ila, lie these Islands, Chourna, Maal­mori, Osrim, Bridi, Corshera, the Island Ishol, Immersi, Bethick, Texa, Gearach, Naosg, Rinard, Cana, Tarskeir, Achnar, the Isle More, the Island resembling the Figure of a Man, the Island Iean, and Stacha­badda; at the West corner of Yla stands Oversa, there also the Sea is very raging, not passable for Ships but at certain Hours. The Island Channard, and toward the North-West are situate Vsabrast, and Ta­nast, Naomph, and the Island Banni; Eight Miles from Yla, more toward the North, lies Oversa, next to it Porcaria, and half a Mile from Oversa, lies Collonsa.

Beyond Collonsa to the North lies Mull, Mull a, large Island. twelve Miles distant from Yla. This Island is Twenty four Miles in length, and as many in breadth; 'tis Craggy, yet not wholly devoid of Corn. It hath ma­ny Woods in it, and great Herds of Deer, and a Port safe enough for Ships; over against Icolumkill it hath two large Rivers full of Salmon, besides other lesser Rivers, not without Fish; it hath also two Loughs, in each of which are several Islands, and Castles in them all. The Sea, breaking into it in divers places, makes four Bays, all abounding with Herrings. On the South-West is seated Calaman. Calaman, or the Island of Doves; on the North-East stands Erra. Erra, both these Islands are Commodious for Cattle, Corn, and Fishing.

The Island of Icolumkill. Icolumkill is distant from them two Miles; it is Two Miles long, and above a Mile broad, fruitful in all things, which that Climate can produce, and famed for as many ancient Mo­numents, as could be well expected in such a Country; but it was made yet more famous by the severe Discipline and Holiness of St. Columbus. It was beautified with two Monasteries, one of Monks the other of Nuns; with one Curia, a Parish Church. Curia, or (as they call it,) a Pa­rish Church, and with many Chapels, some of them built by the Magnificence of the Kings of Scotland; and others by the Petty Kings of the Islands; in the old Monastery of Columbus, his Monastery. St. Columbus, the Bishops of the Islanders placed their See; their ancient Mansion House, which was before in the Isle of Man, being taken by the English. There remains as yet, among the ancient Ruins, a Church-yard or Burying place, common to all the Noble Families which dwelt in the Western [Page 27] Islands. Three Tombs or C [...] ­meterys for the Kings of Three several Nations. There are three Tombs in it more eminent than the rest, at a small distance one from another, having little Shrines looking to­ward the East, built over them. In the West part of each of them there is a Stone with an Inscription, declaring whose Tombs they are, the middlemost of them hath this Inscription; The Tombs of the Kings of Scotland, for it is reported that Forty four of the Scotish Kings were there buried: In the Right-Hand one, there is this Ti­tle Carved, The Tombs of the Kings of Ireland, for Four Kings of Ireland are said to be interred there; that on the Left side is inscribed, The Tombs of the Kings of Norway, for Report says, That Eight Kings of that Nation were inhum'd there. In the rest of the Coeme­tery, the Eminent Families of the Islands have each their Tombs a­part. There are Six Islands adjacent to it, small indeed, yet not un­fruitful, which have been given by ancient Kings, and by the Prin­ces of the Islanders, to the Nunnery of St. Columb.

The Island Soa. Soa, though it hath convenient Pasturage for Sheep, yet its greatest Revenue is from the Sitting and Hatching of Sea-Fowl, and especially from their Eggs. The next to that, is Nuns Island. Nuns-Island. Then Rudana; after that Reringa, after which follows Skanny. Skanny ▪ distant half a Mile from Mull; it hath one Parish in it, but the Parishioners live mostly in Mull: The Shore abounds with Coneys. A Mile from Skanny, stands Eorsa. All these are un­der the Jurisdiction of the Monks of St. Columbus his Monastery.

Two Miles from Eorsa. Eorsa, stands Vlva. Vlva, which is five Miles long, and, for its bigness, fruitful in Corn and Pasturage. It hath an Haven very commodious for Galleys, Long-Boats, or Berlins. On its South-side lies Colvansa. Colvansa, the Soyl thereof is fruitful, and it hath a Wood of Hasel in it. Almost three hundred paces from it, is situate Gomedra. Gomedra, two Miles long, and a Mile broad, running out from South to North. Four Miles from Gomedra, on the South, stands Stafa. Stafa, both of these two last-named Isles having many good Havens in them. Four Miles from hence, toward the North-West, are the two Carni­burghs, Two. Carniburghs, the greater and the lesser, so Fortified round about with the Precipices of Rocks, and a most ra­pid Current, besides; that, their Natural Strength being assisted by Art, they are impregnable. A Mile from these, is an Island whose Soil is almost all black, as being concreted out of old rotten Wood and Moss mixt together. They dry the Turff of it for Fewel, and therefore 'tis called Black, or Turff Island. Turff-Island, for so they there call that sort of Earth, which the English call Moss. Then succeeds Lunga. Lunga, two Miles in length, and Baca half less than It. Baca.

From thence towards the West, about Six Miles distance,Terriss. stands Tirriss, in length Eight Miles, in bredth Three, of all these Islands, most abounding with all things necessary to maintain Life; for in it is plenty of Cattle and Corn, they also get much by Fishing and the breed of Sea-Fowl. There is in it a Lake or Lough of fresh Water, and an old Castle, as also an Haven, not unsafe for Galleys and Long-Boats. Two Miles from hence stands Gun Isle▪ Gunn Isle, and at an equal distance from Gun, Coll. Coll, Twelve Miles long, two broad, a very fruitful Isle. Not far from thence is Calfa. Calfa, which is almost all covered with Wood. After that, two Charn More, and Charn Beg. Islands follow, Charn More, and Charn Beg. Sir­nam'd [Page 28] Green, the greater and the lesser. And as many lie, of the same Glass More and Glass Beg. Sirnames, over against the Promontory of Mull. From it, at no great distance there lye two Islands, Sirnamed Glassae, i. e. Sky blew; then Ardan Rider. Ardan Rider, i. e. the high Island of the Horseman: Next Luparia, or the Island of Wolves; after this, is the Island More. Island More; from the Island Coll, toward the South, there is extended from East to West, Rum. Rum, Sixteen Miles long, Six broad, and be­cause it is inhabited but in few places, the Sea-Fowl do almost every where lay their Eggs up and down in the Fields; so that in the Spring one may take up as many of them, as he pleaseth. In the high Rocks of Rum, the Soland Geese, spoken of before, are taken in great abundance. Four Miles from thence to the South-East is the Island Naich. Naich, or of Horses, and half a Mile from thence is Muick, full of Falcons, &c. Muick ▪ for its bigness, abounding with all necessaries. Falcons build their Nests therein; and it hath also a Port convenient enough for Shipping. Not far from it are Cana, and Egg Isle, small, yet fruitful, Islands; the later abounding with Soland Geese.

Then there is Soavreti [...]l. Soavretil, fitter for Hunting than any other Commodities of Life. Thence from North to South is extended Sky, the biggest Isle a­bout Scotland. Sky, the greatest of all the Islands about Scotland, as being in length Forty Two Miles; in bredth sometimes Eight, sometimes Twelve; in many places it is full of Mountains, which abound with Woods, and those Woods are full of Pastures. The Campagne is also fruit­ful of Corn and Cattle; and, besides other Cattle, there are in it a great Breed of Mares. It hath five great Rivers in it, all very full of Salmon; besides many lesser ones, not void of Salmon, neither. The Sea penetrating on every side into the Land, makes many Bays of Salt-Water therein; of which Three are most eminent, besides Thirteen others, all full of Herrings. It hath also a Lough of Fresh-Water in it, and five Castles. This Island, in the old Scotch Dialect, was called Skianacha, the old name for Sky. [...] Skianacha, i. e. Winged, because the Promontories, be­tween which the Sea made its Influx, did stretch out themselves, as so many Wings; but use hath obtained, that 'tis now called Sky, i. e. a Wing.

About Sky there lie scattered some smaller Islands, as Oransa. Oransa, full of Corn, and Cattle; and Na gunner. Na gunner, having plenty of Woods, and Conies; as also Paba. Paba, infamous for Robberies, where Thieves, lurking in the Woods, do way-lay Travellers as they pass. Then comes Scalpa. Scalpa, situated Eight Miles from it to the North-West, besides other Commodities, it hath great Herds of Deer in its Woods. Between the Mouth of Lech-Carron and Raarsa, lies Crouling. Crou­ling, a Port safe for Ships. And from Scalpa Scalpa, two Miles toward the North, lies Raarsa. Raarsa, seven Miles long, and two broad, it hath Woods of Beech-Trees in it, and many Deer in them. Half a Mile from it, is Rona. Rona, which is quite covered over with Woods, and Heath. It hath a Port in its inmost Bay, noted for Pyracy, as being very commodious to surprize Sea-Passengers. And in the Mouth of the Bay, (which, from its shallowness, is called Gerloch. Gerloch) there is an Island of the same Name. From Rona, six Miles towards the North, lies Fladda. Fladda. Two Miles from Fladda, is Tr [...]nta. Tr [...]nta, and [Page 29] on the South side of Sky, Oransa. Oransa: A Mile from thence lie little V [...]a More ▪ Buia, then great and V [...]a B [...]g. Buia; and after them Five small Islands of no note; after them follows Several small Islands. Ishol, fruitful in Corn; and neer it is Ovia, then Askerma, and Linadel; and Eighty Miles from Sky to the North-West lie, Linga, Gigamena, Bernera, Megala, Paba, Flada, Scarpa Vervecum, i. e. of Weathers, Sandrera, and Watersa. Watersa, which, besides other great conveniences, hath a Haven capable of holding many, and those very great, Ships; whither at certain sea­sons of the year, a great company of Fisher-men flock together, from the Countries round about. These Nine last Islands are under the Government of the Bishop of the Islands. Two Miles distant from Watersa, lies Barra. Barra, Seven Miles in length, extending it self from the South-West, to the North-East, not unfruitful in Corn, but most noted for Cod and Whiting Fishing: A Bay of the Sea makes an influx into it, at a narrow Mouth; but within, it is broader and also round. It hath one Island in it, and therein a strong Fort or Castle. In the North part of Barra, there ariseth an Hill full of Grass from top to bottom; on the top of it A strange Spring, carry­ing down shapeless Fish into the Sea. riseth a Spring of fresh Water▪ which flowing down in a Rivulet, carries with it into the neighbouring Sea, some small Animals, as yet shapeless; which, in some sort, though obscurely, do represent those Shell-fish we com­monly call Cockles, or Periwinkles. Cockles. This part of the shore, to which the Bor­derers retire, they call the Great Sands; because, when the Sea Ebbs, the Sand is uncovered for a Mile and more; there they dig up great Shell-fish, and the People there about believe it to be as a Seminary of those shapeless Fish, which the forenamed drill carries down from its Fountain, and that they are either produced there, or, at least, grow bigger in the Sea.

Between Barra and Vyist, lie these Divers small Islands. small Islands following, Or­bansa, Ovia or Eoy, Hakerset, Garulinga, Flada, Buiia the greater, and Buiia the less, Haia, Heldisay, Gega, Linga, Fara, Fuda, Heath Island. From these, towards the North, lies Vyist a great Island. Vyist, Thirty Miles long, and Six broad. The Tide flowing into this Island in two pla­ces, represents the appearance of Three Islands, but when it Ebbs, it again coalesces into One: In it are many Lakes of fresh Water, the biggest of which is Three Miles long. The Sea, wearing away the Land, hath made it self a passage into this Lough; neither can it be excluded by the Inhabitants, no not by a Jitty or Bank of Sixty Foot high, but that it insinuates it self between the Stones, not well compacted together, and there often leaves some small Sea-Fish behind. There is a A strange sort of Fish. Fish taken in it, in other respects like a Salmon, save that his Belly is white, and his Back black, and he is without Scales like to Salmon. Moreover, there are in it abundance of Loughs of fresh Water. It hath Caves in it covered with Heath, which are lurking places for Robbers. There are Five Parish-Churches in it for the performance of Holy Duties.

Eight Miles from thence, towards the East, lies Helscher Ve­tularum. Helscher Vetula­rum, so called, as I suppose, because it belongs to the Nuns of the Island of Icolumkill. A little further towards the North, appears Havelschy­er. Havelschyer, to which at certain seasons of the year, many Sea-Calves, [or Seals] do resort, and are there taken. About Sixty [Page 30] Miles beyond that, to the North-West, stands Hirta. Hirta, very fruit­ful in Corn, Cattle, and especially in Sheep, which are here fatter than in any other of the Islands. The Inhabitants are ignorant of all Arts, and especially of Religion. After the Summer solstice, the Lord of the Island sends thither his Proctor or Steward, to gather up his Rent or Tribute, and, with him, he sends a Priest to Baptize all the Children, which were born the year before; but if the Priest come not, then every Man A Custom of Baptizing once a Year. baptizeth his own Children; they pay to their Lord a certain number of Sea-Calves and of Muttons, dried in the Sun, and also of Sea-Fowl. The whole Island doth not exceed a Mile in length, and it is almost of equal bredth, neither can any part of it be seen from any neighbouring Island, besides Three Mountains which are on the Shore, and these cannot be discerned neither, but from the highest places of other Islands. In those Mountains there are Large fair Sheep in Hirta. Sheep exceeding beautiful, but by reason of the Violence and Rapidness of the Sea-Current, and Tide, they can scarce become at, by any Body.

But to return to Vyist; on the North Promontory thereof, there is situate the Isle Valay. Valay, a Mile broad and two Mile long. Be­tween that Promontory and the Isle Harrick, these Islands are inter­jacent,Soa and seve­ral smal Islands. small indeed, but not unfruitful, viz. Soa, Stromoy, Pabaia, Bernera, Erisay, Keligera, Saga the less, Saga the greater, Hermo­dra, Scarvay, Gria, Linga, Gillan, Hea, Hoia, Ferelaia, Soa the lesser, Soa the greater, Isa, Senna the less, Senna the great, Tarransa, Slegana, T [...]ema, and, above Harick, Scarpa; and due West, there are Seven Islands, at Fifty Miles distance above Lewis, which some call Flavanae, in which are wild Sheep. Flavanae, others the Sacred, or Sanctuary, Islands, they a­rise up into Grassy Mountains, but are void of all human Culture; neither are there in them any four-footed Beasts, but only wild Sheep, which the Hunters catch, but eat them not when they have done. For they esteem the Fat more palatable than the Flesh; for the Flesh is so unpleasant, that no Man will eat it, unless enforced by extre­mity of Hunger.

Furthermore, almost in the same Tract, nearer to the North, lie Garvillan, and other little Islands. Garvellan, i. e. the Craggy Island, Lamba, Flada, and Kellasa, the two Berneraes, the great and the small, Kirta, Buiia the little, Buiia the great, Vexa, Pabaia, and Sigrama the great, or Cunicularia so called from its plenty of Conies, Sigrama the less, and the Island of Pygmees. Island of Pygmies; in this last there is a Chapel, where the bordering Peo­ple do believe, that Pygmies were heretofore buried; for many Stran­gers, digging deep into the Earth, have found, and yet do find, little and round Heads, and the small Bones of other parts of human Bodies, nothing derogating from the ancient Reports concerning Pygmies.

Lewis, &c.In that Shore of the Island Lewis, which looks toward the South-East, Two Bays of the Sea do break into the Land, one of which they call the South, the other the North, Lough; both of them do yield abundance of Fish, to those which take pains to catch them, and that during the whole year. From the same shore of Lewis, more to the South, stands Fable Isle, then Adams Isle, then the Isle of Lambs, as also, Huilin, Viccoil, Havera, Laxa, Erin, the Isle of [...]columkill, Toray, I [...]ert, Scalpa, Flad [...], and Shevy. At the East [Page 31] side of this Island there is a subterraneous A Vault able to shelter Ships in a Storm. passage, Arched at Top, longer than a Man can shoot an Arrow into: Under which Vault, small Ships use to shelter themselves, making to it, by Sails or Oars, to a­void the Violence of the Tide, which rages at the Neighbouring Pro­montory, with a huge Noise, to the extreme Terrour and Danger of the Mariners. More to the East, lies an Island which they call Schan-Castle. Schan Castle, a place naturally fortified, abounding with Corn and Fish, and also affording sufficient Provision to the Inhabitants by Eggs of Sea-Fowl, which there make their Nests.

At the Shore, where Loch-Brien or Broom. Loch-Brien, or Broom, opens to the Land, lies the Isle En. En, which is almost all covered with Woods, and good for nothing but to harbour Thieves in, to rob Passengers. More to the North is the Island Gruinorta, or [...]. Gruinorta, being also full of Woods possessed by Robbers and Pyrates. And looking towards the same Coast, is an Island, named the Island of Cleirach or [...] Isle. Cleirach, which, beside Pasturage, abounds with the Eggs of Sea-Fowl. Next to that, is Afulla, and then Harary, &c. Harary, the Greater; then Harary, the Less; and, nigh it, the Island of Horses, or Na [...]stich; and near that again, the Isle Merta [...]ka. These Eight Islands are situate before the Mouth of the Bay, which is vul­garly called Lough-Broom, or Brian. At some distance from these Islands, which lie before Lough-Broom, Harrick and Lewis run to­ward the North; They are Sixty Miles in length,Harray, or Harrick, and Lewis are but one Island, of which Harray is the South part. and Sixteen in bredth: These make but one Island, for they are not distin­guished by the Arms of the Sea, that slow into it, but by the Meers of the Land, and the Possessions of their several Lairds: But that part, which is exposed to the South, is wont to be called Harray. In it there was a Monastery called Roadilla Mo­nastery. Roadilla, built by Maccloyd, of Harray. The Soil is fruitful of Corn, but it yields its increase rather by digging, than plowing: The Pastures in it are very fit for Sheep, especially one very high Mountain, which is green with Grass, even to the very Top. Donald Monro, a Learned and Pious Man, relates, That, when he was there, Wild Sheep in Harray b [...]t no Foxes no [...] Wolves. he saw Sheep (for that kind of Cattle) very old, wandring up and down without any certain Owner: And the Number of them is increased from hence, that neither Fox, Wolf, or Serpent, was ever seen there; though betwixt This part and Lewis, great Woods are interjacent, which breed many Stags, but low ones, and not big-bodied at all. In this part of the Island, is a River very full of Salmon. In the North part lies Lewis is the North part of the Island. Lewis, inhabited enough towards the Shore. It hath four Pa­rish-Churches in it, one Fort, seven great Rivers, and twelve lesser ones, all of them, according to their bigness, full of Salmons; in many places the Sea penetrates into the Land, and there diffuses it self into Bays, all abounding with plenty of Herrings. There is also great plenty of Sheep, which wander freely amongst the Thickets, and Heath-Bushes: The Inhabitants drive them into a narrow place, like a Sheep-fold, and there, every Year, they sheer them, after the ancient custom. The Champion part of the Country abounds with Heath-Bushes, in which the Earth is black at top, occasioned by Moss, and the Coalition of Rotten Wood, gathered together for many A­ges, even a Foot thick. This upper Crust, being cut into long and slender Turffs, and dryed in the Sun, serves for Firing, in stead of [Page 32] Wood: The next Year after, the naked Ground, being Dunged with Sea-Weed, is sown with Barley. In this Island there is commonly so great a quantity of Whales ta­ken in abun­dance about the Island Lewis. Whales taken, that sometimes (as the old Inhabitants relate) Twenty seven, some very great, some smaller, fall to the share of the Priests for their Tithes. There is also a great Cave in this Island, in which, when the Tide is out, the Water is yet two Fathom deep; but when the Tide is in, 'tis above four Fathom. There Multitudes of People, of both Sexes, and of all Ages, sitting on the Rocks, with Hooks and Lines, do promiscuously catch all sorts of Fish, in great abundance.

There is a small Island, about Sixty Miles from Lewis, to the North-East, of a low and plain Soil, and well inhabited, its Name is Rona, with the Condition of its Inhabi­tants. Rona, the Inhabitants thereof are rude Persons, void almost of all Religion. The Laird of it assigns a certain number of Families to Inhabit and Till it, and he allows them a sufficiency of great and small Cattle, whereby they may live well, and pay their Tribute, too; that which is above their own provision, they send every year to Lewis, to their Land-lord, who lives there; they commonly pay him, in the Name of a Tribute or Rent, a great quantity of Barly-Meal, sewed up in the Skins of Sheep, (for that kind of Grain grows plentifully amongst them,) Muttons and Sea-Fowl dried in the Sun, as much as remains, as a Surplusage of their yearly Provision; and if the multitude of Heads doth abound, they send also the Supernumerary Persons to their Land-lords. So that these, in my Judgment, are the only Persons in the whole World, who want nothing, but have all things to Satiety. And besides, being ignorant of Luxury and Co­vetousness, they enjoy that Innocency and Tranquillity of Mind, which others take great pains to obtain, from the Precepts and Insti­tutions of Wise Men. And this they have from their Ignorance of Vices, neither doth any thing seem to be wanting to their great Happiness, but that they do not understand the excellency of their Condition. There is in this Island, a Chapel, dedicated to St. Ro­nanus, Ronanus, his strange Spade. wherein (as old Men say,) there is a Spade always left, where­with if any one Dye, there is alway a place marked out, and pre­pared for his Grave; moreover in this Island, besides other Fishery, many Whales are also taken.

Sixteen Mile from thence, towards the West, lies the Island Suilkyr. Suilkyr; a Mile long, which brings forth no Grass, no not so much as Heath, only it hath black Rocks, some of which are covered with black Moss. Sea-Fowl do commodiously lay their Eggs, and hatch them there. Before the young are fledg'd enough to fly away, the neighbour Islanders sail thither from Lewis, and they allow them­selves Eight days time, more or less, to cull or gather them up, un­till they load their Or Berlins. Skiffs with their Flesh dried in the Sun, and also with their Feathers. In this Island also, there is a rare kind of Bird unknown in other parts, called A rare Bird, called Colca. Colca, it is little less than a Goose, she comes every year thither, and there Hatches and Feeds her young, till they can shift for themselves. About that time, her Feathers fall off of their own accord, and so leaves her Naked, then she betakes her self to the Sea again, and is never seen more, till the next Spring. This also is singular in them, that their Feathers have [Page 33] no Qu [...]lls, or Stalks, but do cover their Bodies with a gentle Down, wherein there is no Hardness at all.

Next follow the The Orcades. Orcades, lying scattered in the North of Scotland, partly in the Deucaledonian, and partly in the German Seas. Con­cerning the Name of them, Writers, both Ancient and Modern, do well enough agree; but the reason of the Name, no Man (that I know) hath explained. Neither doth it appear, who first possessed them: All say, that they were of a German Original, but from what Nation of Germany, they say not: If we may form a conjecture from their Speech, both heretofore and now, they use the Goths, a People o [...] Sar­ma [...]a Euro­paea, thence transplanted into Germany near the River Oder in Sil [...]sia. Gottish Lan­guage. Some think, they were Picts, induced by this Argument, that the Sea, dividing them from Caithness, is called the Pentland Or Picts and Sea. Sea, or Firth. They judge also, that the Picts themselves were of the Race of the Saxons, grounding their Opinion chiefly on the Verses of Claudian, in his seventh Panegyrick, which run thus:

Englished thus:

But their error may easily be refuted, partly out of Bede the An­glo-Saxon, who, affirming, that the Britains sang the The Bri­tains praised God in Five Tongues. Praises of God in five several Languages, reckons the Pictish to be one; but if the Picts had then spoke the Saxon Language, he would not have distinguished it from the Saxon; (which then the English used, without corruption;) And partly also, out of those very Verses of Claudian, where he expresly declares; That the Picts were a diffe­rent People from the Saxons; For, he says, that the Orcades were the Country of the Saxons; and Thule, of the Picts; but whatsoe­ver their Original were, in this our Age, they use a Language dif­ferent both from Scotch and English, but very near the Gothish. In their daily conversation, the common People do as yet retain much of their Ancient Parsimony, and therefore they are very sound in mind, and healthy in Body. The Inha­bitants of the Orcades, Parsimonious and long liv'd. Few of them dye of Diseases, but almost all of them, of old Age; and their Ignorance of Delights and Pleasures contributes more to the maintaining of their health, than the Skill and Diligence of Physitians doth, to others. The same Parsimony makes much, both for the elegancy of their Beauties, and the talness of their Stature. They have but a small increase of Corn, except only of Oats, and Barly. Out of which they extract both Bread and Drink too. Of Animals, which Herd together, they have Sheep, Kine, and divers Goats, so that they have abun­dance of Milk, Butter, and Cheese among them; They have also an innumerable company of Sea-Fowl, of which, and of Fishes, their Diet doth, for the most part, consist. There is No vene­mous Creat­ture in the Orcades, nor any Tree. no venemous Crea­ture [Page 34] there, no, nor any one Deformed to look upon. They have little Horses, in shew contemptible, but strong enough, for all uses, even beyond belief. They have never a Tree growing, no, nor Shrub, neither, besides Heath; which happens, not so much for the fault of the Soil, or Air, as of the Laziness of the Inhabitants, as doth easily appear by the roots of Trees, which, in many Places, are there digged out of the Earth. As oft as Foreigners import any Wine thither, they drink it greedily, even to excess. They have an An­cient Cup, or Goblet among them, which, to (procure the greater Authority to their Carousings) they say, did belong to Magnus his Bouncing Cup, or Was­sail Bowl. St. Magnus, who first instructed them in the Principles of the Christian Religion. It so far exceeds the bigness of other Drinking-bowls, that it may seem to have been a relick of the Feast of the Lapithae. They try an Experiment upon their A strange Test for a Bishop. Bishops, at their first coming to them, therewith; He that can drink up a whole One, at one Draught, (which seldom happens) they count him a very Nonsuch of a Man; and do look upon it as an happy Omen and Presage, that the Crop of the following Years will be superabundant. From which pra­ctice of theirs, a Man may easily conjecture, that their Parsimony which I spake of, proceeds not so much from Reason and Choice, as from Penury and Want; and the same necessity which produced it at first, did perpetuate, and transmit, it to their posterity; Till, the Neighbor-Nations being corrupted by prevailing Luxury, their Ancient Discipline was, by degrees, weakned and impaired, and They also gave up themselves to charming Pleasures and Delights; and being thus inclined to Luxury, they were hurried on thereto, by their commerce with Pyrates, who, not daring to land on the Con­tinent, because it was full of Inhabitants, took in fresh Water at these Islands, and there, either chang'd their Wine, and other Mer­thandize, for the Provisions of the Country; or else, sold them to the Islanders, at a low price; And, the Islanders, being few in num­ber; and unarmed too, and dispersed also in the tempestuous Sea, that they could not convene to assist one another, being conscious of their own weakness, either did receive, or, at least, did not reject Security, brought home to their doors, especially, it being mixed with Gain and Pleasure, to boot, which are the usual Companions thereof. But this pollution of Manners did infect the Great ones mostly, and the Priests. Among the Vulgar, many footsteps of their former Moderation do yet remain. The Sea very Tempestuous about the Or­c [...]des, and the reason, why? The Sea is there very raging and tem­pestuous, which is caused, not only by the violence of Winds, and the position of the Heavenly Constellations; But also by the meet­ings of contrary Tides, raised up, and flowing in from the West Ocean, and making such a conflict between the Streights of the Land, that the Surges, occasioned thereby, sometime meeting, op­posite one to another, and being all impetuously whirled together, cannot be passed, neither by Oars nor Sails; If any Mariners dare come too near, one of these Three mischiefs befals them. They are either driven back, with a forcible violence, into the Sea; or else, by the rapidness of the foaming Waves, they are dashed upon Shelves and Rocks; Or, lastly, are swallowed up by the rolling Vortices of the insucking Waters. There are only two Seasons, wherein these [Page 35] Streights are passable; either, when, upon the Falling back of the Tides, the conflict of Waters ceasing, the Sea is thereby calmed; or, else when it comes in a full Chanel, to the height of its increase at Spring-Tides, That force languishing, on both sides, which raised and made the Waters Tempestuous and Stormy; The Ocean, as it were, founding a Retreat to its Storms, and thereupon, the Mountainous Sur­ges thereof do retire (that I may so speak) into their own proper Caverns and Recesses.

Authors do not agree, con­cerning the number of the Orcades. Moreover, Authors do not agree concerning the number of the Orcades; Pliny reckons them to be Forty; others, about Thirty; But Orosius comes nearest the Truth, he makes them Thirty Three, of which, Thirteen are inhabited; the rest, not; but left to feed Cattle. For many of them are low, and so narrow in compass, that if they should be Tilled, they would scarce maintain above one person or two. Some of them shew like bare Rocks, or else, such as are covered but with squalid Moss.

The biggest Isle of the Orcades, is call'd by many of the Ancients Pomona, or the Mainland, the greatest Island of the Orcades. Pomona; At this day they call it the Main Land, because it exceeds the rest so much in bigness; for it is Thirty mile long; It is well inhabited, for it hath in it Twelve Parish Churches, and one Town, besides; which, the Danes, who were long Masters of the Orcades, called Cracoviaca; we Scotchmen, call it, by a corrupt name, Danes long Masters of the Orcades. Kirkwall the chiefe [...]t Town in Mainland. Kirkwall. In this Town there are two Castles of a reasonable bigness, standing near together, one belonging to the King, the other to the Bishop. And between them is a Church magnificent enough, for those places; Between the Church, and the Castles, there are frequent Buildings on both sides, which the Inhabitants call Two Cities, one the Kings, the other the Bishops. The whole Isle runs out into Promontories, between which the Bays of the Sea making an influx, do afford safe Anchoring for Ships, and here and there, a good Port. In Six several Places of this Island, there are Metals White and black Lead in Mainland. i. e. White and Black Lead, so good, that there are not better in all Britain. This Island is about Twenty four Mile distant from Caith­ness. The Pictish Sea, called Pentland Firth divides Mainland from Caith­ness. Pentland Firth, running between them; of whose Nature we have spoken before.

In that narrow Sea, there are many scattered Islands, of which Stromoy. Strom-oy, not unfruitful for the bigness of it, is distant from Caithness but a Mile, but they do not reckon that amongst the Orcades, because of its propinquity to the British shore; and also because the Earls of Caithness have always been Lords of it. Sayling from hence towards the North, we meet with South Ra­nalds-Oy, the first Isle of the Orcades. South Ranalds, or Ranals-Oy, the first of the Orcades, which is Sixteen Mile from Dungsby-head, Skiffs and small Ships pass over in Two Hours from it, to this Island, the Tide being with them, though there be no Wind, such is the Violence of this Current. This Island is Four Miles in length, and it hath a convenient Port, Sirnamed St. Margarets hope. From it, a little towards the East, are two small Islands, uninhabited, and left for Cattle to Pasture in. They call them in their Country Speech, Holme, what? the Holmes, that is, Grassy Plains situate by Waters. To the North, is the Island Burra, and two Holmes between That and Mainland. From [Page 36] Bura, &c. Burra toward the West, there lie Three Islands in order, Scuna, Flata, and Fara; and beyond them, Hoia, and Valis or Waes-Isle, which some make Two, others but One Island, because about both the Equi­nocts (at which times, the Sea doth most Tempestuously foam and rage) the Tide falling back, and the Lands being bared, they cohere and are joyned together by a narrow neck of Land, and so make One Island; but upon the return of the Tide, and the renewed inter [...]a­cency of the Sea, they again represent the form of Two. In this Island are the highest Mountains of all the Orcades. Hoia, and Waes-Isle. Hoia and Waes Isle are extended Ten Miles in length, and from Ranalsa, they are distant Eight Miles; from Duncansby or Dungisby, in Caithness, above Twenty Mile. On the North is the Island Granisa. Granisa, situate in a very narrow Arm of the Sea. For Hoia is distant from the near­est Promontory, which is That of Pomona, or Mainland only two Mile. These are the Islands situate in the very Streights, between Mainland and Caithness. The West side of Mainland looks to the open Sea, no Islands or Rocks appearing therein: From its East Pro­montory it a little runs out into the Sea; Coupins-Oy. Coupins-Oy, almost co­vers it on the North. Nearer the shore is Siapins-Oy. Siapins-Oy, something inclining to the East, situate over against Kirk-wall, two Miles di­stant. it self being Six Mile long. On the West part of Mainland, lies Rows-Oy. Rows-Oy, Six Miles in length. From thence toward the East stands Eglis-Oy, or Eglisa, where St. Magnus was buried. Eglisa, or Eglis-Oy, where Fame reports, that St. Mag­nus was buried. From hence to the Southward, lie Wyer-Oy, Gress-Oy, and Wester-Oy, &c. Fair Isle in the mid way between the Orcades, and Schetland. Wyer-Oy, and Gress-Oy, and not far from thence Wester-Oy, which is Eighty Miles distant from Schetland. Papa, and Stronza, are also Eighty Miles distant from Schetland. Almost in the middle of the passage be­tween them, lies Many out­landish Fisher­men resort to Fair Isle. Fara, or Fair Isle, which is conspicuous and visible both from the Orcades, and from Schetland too; for it ariseth into Three very high Promontories, begirt with lofty Rocks, every way inaccessible, save that toward the North East, it being a little lower, affords an Harbour safe enough for small Ships. The Inha­bitants thereof are very Poor; for the Fishermen, which Sail that way every year, coming to Fish from England, Holland, and other Countries near the Sea, do plunder and carry away, what they please.

The next after It, is the greatest Island of Schetland Isles, the great­est of them called Main­land, as well as the greatest of the Orcades. the Schetlandish, and therefore the Inhabitants call it the Continent or Mainland, it is Sixty Miles in length, and in some places Sixteen in bredth, it spreads it self into many small Promontories: Two of them I shall Name, the one long, but narrow, running to the North; the other broad­er running to the South-East. The Maritime parts of it are, for the most part, inhabited; but to the inward parts no Animal comes but Fowl. Some few years since, the Inhabitants endeavoured to form Plantations, further then their Ancestors had done, but the success did not answer. Their wealth is from the Sea, for it lies conveni­ent for Fishing on every side.

Ten Mile further toward the North, is the Isle Zeal, Yell. or Yell, above Twenty Mile long, and Eight broad; so uncouth a place, that no Creature can live therein, unless he be born there. A Merchant of Breme is reported to dwell in this Island, who doth import all [Page 37] sorts of Foreign Wares (which the Inhabitants have need of) in great abundance. Between this Island and Mainland, lie these small Islands, L [...]nga, Orna, Bigga, The Names of some [...]all Sc [...]etland [...]. Sancterry. About Nine Mile beyond it, to the North, stands Vuist, extended above Twenty Mile in length, and Six in bredth. 'Tis of a plain and level Soil, otherwise 'tis not unsightly to the Eye,Vuist, or Vust Isle. but that it is surrounded with a very raging Sea. Between it and Yell, Via, Vra, Linga, are interjected. Beyond it toward the West, are the two Skerrys and Burra; on the East is Balta, Honnega, Fotlara, or Pheodor-oy, Seven Mile long, di­stant Seven Mile from Vuist, and Eight from Yell, 'tis over against the Streights which divide Vuist from Yell. Then many Petty Islands lie on the East-side of the Mainland, as Mecla, the Three Eastern Skirrys, Chualsa, or Divers other small Islands. Whals-Oy, Nostvada, Brasa, and Musa; the West side is begirt with the Western Skirrys, Rotti, Papa the less, Vemendru, Papa the greater, Vallu, Trons Isle, Burra, Hara the greater, Hara the less, and amongst them almost as many Hol­mes, or Plain Islands, for Pasturage only are interspersed.

The The Schet­landers man­ner of Life and Trade. Schetlanders live after the same manner, as the Islanders of the Orcades do, save that as to their Houshold Provision, they are a little more hardy. Their Apparel is after the German Fashion, which according to their Abilities is not uncomely. Their incomes arise from a sort of Cloth, which they make very thick, and sell to the Norwegians, as also from Oyle, expressed out of the inwards of Fishes; from Butter, and from Fishing: They Fish in small Vessels of two Oars, which they buy of the Norwegians. Part of the Fish which they catch, they Salt, and part they dry in the Wind. Out of those being sold, they raise up a Sum of Money to pay their Tri­bute, and to provide Houses, wherein they may dwell, and Houshold Stuff, so that a great part of their livelihood arises from thence. They who study neatness in their Houshold Utensils, have some Sil­ver Vessels also. They use Measures, Numbers and Weights, after the German Fashion. Their Language is also German, Their Lan­guage. or almost the ancient Gothish. They know not what 'tis to be Drunk, only every Month they invite one another, and on those days they are Their In­nocent Mirth, and Longaevi­ty. in­nocently Merry and Jocund, without those Brawls and other Vices, which are occasioned by Drunkenness, for they persuade themselves that this custom contributes much for the maintaining of Mutual Friendship. The firmness of their Health appeared in one Nam'd One Law­rence, a Schet­lander, Marri­ed at an Hun­dred years of Age, and lived above an Hun­dred and Forty. Lawrence in our Age, who, after he was an Hundred years old, Married a Wife. And when he was an Hundred and Forty, he used to Fish with his Skiff even in a very rough and Raging Sea, he died but lately, not by the force of any grievous Disease, but only by the Infirmities and Languishment of old Age.

WHEN I endeavored to retreive the Memory of Bri­tish Affairs, for above Two Thousand years past, ma­ny Impediments did offer themselves in Bar to my design; amongst which This was the chiefest, That there were for a long time no Monuments of Learning in those Coun­tries, whence the knowledge of our Original was to be fetched; and when Letters came, though but late, into play, they were nipp'd al­most in the very Bud; for I may safely affirm, That all the Nations which hitherto have seated themselves in Britain, have passed thi­ther from France, Spain and Germany. The French first of all re­ceived the The Origin of Letters. Characters of Letters from the Marsellian Greeks, by which they used to make up their Accounts, and to send Letters one to another. The Figures of the Letters, were Greek; but the Lan­gauge was Gallick. But their Laws and the Rites of their Religion, they did not commit to Writing, no not in Iulius Caesars time; and much less did they Record their Noble Exploits, which yet, 'tis very probable, were very considerably Great; and those things which were either acted, or suffered, or else undergone in Italy, Germany, Thrace, Macedonia, Graecia, and Asia, had been buried likewise in the same Oblivion, (so that Posterity would never have come to the knowledge of them,) if Foreign Writers had not Recorded and Transmitted them down to us. I confess, in Spain, the Greeks had the use of Letters; and before them, the Phaenicians, who inhabited the shore of the Mediterranean Sea: But of the Barbarians, only the Turdetani, a People dwel­ling in part of Portugal, and in Algarbia, and Medina Sidonia. Tur­detani (as Strabo writes,) had any knowledge of them. But as for any Ancient Writer, there was yet none that I know of. For Varro, Pliny, and if there were any other Latin Authors, who touched any thing, by the by, concerning the first Inhabitants of Spain, they con­firm their Opinions therein, rather by bare Conjectures, than the solid Testimony of Writers: In that part of Britain which Caesar. Caesar visited, there were no ancient Records at all; and among the more Inland Inhabitants, which were more Barbarous, they were much less to be expected. So that when he asked them, concerning the Origin of their Nation, and the oldest Inhabitants thereof, as he writes, they return'd him no certain answer at all.

After Caesar, Cornelius Tacitus. Tacitus, an Author both Faithful and Di­ligent, when the Roman Navy had coursed about Britain, and had discovered all the inmost Roads and Recesses thereof; yet he found out nothing of certainty, that he could commit to Posterity. More­over Gildas lived 400 years after Tacitus. Gildas, who lived above Four Hundred years after Tacitus, doth affirm, that what he writes was not from any Monuments of Antiquity, of which he could find none at all, but from Transma­rine Report. As for Germany re­ceived Letters last of all. Germany, That Country was furnished with Learning last of all; but seeing, she had nothing to produce out of old Records, which could be avouched for Truth, according to her wonted Ingenuity in other Cases, she Coyned no Fictions of her [Page 39] own, to obtrude on the World. So then, they, who affirm, that they deduce the Original of the Britans from old Annals, must first tell us, Who transmitted down those Annals to us? As also, Where they have been concealed so long? And how they came down un­corrupted to us, after so many Ages? In this case, some fly to the Bards and Sanachies a sort of Chan­ters, inferiour to Bards, called by the Dynny­wossals (or Gentlemen) of the Highlands, Sanachies, con­tracted from Seneciones. Sanachies, as the Preservers of Ancient Records, but ve­ry ridiculously, which will be more clearly understood, if I explain what kind of Men these were, to whom they would have credit to be given, in matters so Momentous, and those so obscure too, and so remote from our Memory. First Strabo, Am­mianus Mar­cellinus and Lu [...]an, des­scribe, who the B [...]rds we [...]e. Strabo, and Ammianus do clearly enough express, what the Bards were, both before, and also in their Times. But Strabo, Am­mianus Mar­cellinus and Lu [...]an, des­scribe, who the B [...]rds we [...]e. Lucan doth it very plainly and succinctly, as to our present purpose, in these Verses,

Englished thus:

But the very Oldest of them were altogether ignorant of Letters, neither did they leave any Records of Ancient Matters behind them.

The other were Bardlings or Sanachies, (as they call them,) which were maintain'd by the chief of the Ancient Clans, and by some Wealthy Men besides, one a peice, on purpose to Chant out (by Heart,) the Memories of their Patrons, and the Atchievements of their Ancestors, from their first Rise. But these too, having no Learning at all, let any Man judge, what credit is to be given to them, all whose hopes and subsistence did depend on Soothing and Flattering of others. Besides, though what they deliver were most true, yet it would not much advance the Writer of an History: Lastly, let us consider, how often the Writers of such Famous Deeds as are past, are found in manifest Mistakes, how often they them­selves do Waver, Doubt, Fluctuate, and are at a loss, and how vastly some of them do differ from others, and not a few contradict themselves. If such Lapses are incident even to those, who seek after Truth, with great Labour and Study, what can we hope for, from such other Persons, who being without Learning (by which they who casually mistake, may be better informed, and those who mistake on purpose, may be confronted,) do trust their Memory, alone? I might allege, that the Memory is often times impaired by Disuse; it is weakned by Age; or wholly lost by some Diseases. Besides, if they have a desire to please their Patrons, (as it often comes to pass,) or, on the contrary, if they have a mind to cross them; or, if the Passions of Anger, Hatred, or Envy do intervene, (which pervert the Judgment,) Who can affirm any thing for Truth, upon such Mens Authorities? Or, Who would take the pains to [Page 40] refute it, though it were False? Or, Who would deliver down for certain, what he received from such uncertain Authors? Wherefore, in so great a silence of old Great uncer­tainties a­mongst the ancient Wri­ters of British Affairs, and the Reasons why? Writers, (concerning matters of Anti­quity,) who were all so hugely ignorant, even of things acted in their own times, there being nothing assuredly true and sincere, I count it more modest, to be silent in what one knows not, than by devising Falshoods to betray ones own Ignorance, and to slight and despise the better Judgments of other Men.

It follows then, that there was so great a scarcity of Writers a­mongst all the Nations of the Britains, that, before the coming in of the Romans thither, all things were buried in the profound Darkness of Silence, in so much, that we can get no Information of what was Acted, even by the Romans themselves, otherwise than from Greek and Latin Monuments: And as for those things, which preceded their coming, we may believe rather their Conjectures, than our own Fictions. For what our Writers have delivered, every one concern­ing the Original of his own Sept or Nation, is so absurd, that I should have counted my time lost to go about to refel it, unless there were some who delighted in such Fables, as if they were as true as Gospel, and so prided themselves with the Ornaments of other Mens Feathers.

Moreover, the disagreement of later Writers makes a great acces­sion to the difficulty of this Task, for they deliver such Repugnancies, that a Man cannot well tell, whom to follow; yea, there is such an absurdity amongst them, that all of them seem most deservedly fit to be rejected. Neither do I so much wonder at the Silence of the Ancients, in a matter so obscure, or the Dissonancy of later Writers in feigning Falshoods; as at the agreeing impudence of some few: For they write of those times, in which all things were dubious and uncertain, with so much positiveness and confidence, as if their de­sign were rather to court the Readers Ear, than to respect the Faith­ness of their Narrations.

For in those first times, seeing the use of Tillage was not common, neither among the Britains, nor many other Nations; but all their Wealth consisted in Cattle, Men had no regard to their substance, which was very small, because they were either expelled from their Habitations by such as were more powerful than themselves; or, they themselves did drive out the weaker ones; or else, they sought out better Pasture for their Cattle in Wild and Desert places: Upon one or other of these Grounds, they easily changed, their Dwellings, and the Places, they removed to, with new Masters soon got new Names. Besides, the Ambition of the wealthier sort added much to the diffi­culty, who, to perpetuate their Memory to Posterity, called Countrys, Provinces and Towns by their own Names. Almost all the Cities in Several Countries have changed their Names. Spain, had two Names. The Names of the Inhabitants in It, and also the Names of the Cities and Countries therein, received frequent al­terations. Not to speak of Egypt, Greece, and other remote Countries.

[Page 41]Add hereunto, that those Nations, who live in the same Country, have not always the same Names. That which the Latins call Spain hath several Names. His­pania; The Greeks, Iberia; The Poets, Hesperia; St. Paul in his Epi­stle, Theodoret and Sozomen in Their History, call Spania (i. e.) Spain. The Name of the Greeks, so celebrated by the Latins, and all Nati­ons of Europe, is more obscure than the Greeks themselves. The Hebrews and Arabians keep their Old Words, almost in all Nations, which were not so much as heard of by other People. Scot, and En­glish are the common Names of the British Nations, which, at this day, are almost unknown to the Or Highlan­ders. Ancient Scots, and Britains; for they call the one Albines, the other Saxons. And therefore 'tis no wonder, if, in so great an uncertainty of Human Affairs, as to the Names of Men and Places; Writers, who were born at several times, far distant one from another, and having different Languages, and Manners too, do not always agree amongst themselves. Though these things have occasioned difficulties great enough, in search­ing out the first Original of Nations, yet some of the Moderns too, be­ing acted by a Principle of Ambition, have involved all things in more thick and palpable darkness. For, whilst every one would fetch the Original of his Nation, as high as he could; and so endea­vour to enoble it by devised Fables, by this immoderate Licence of coyning Fictions, What do they but obscure ▪ That, which they ought to Illustrate? And, if at any time they speak Truth, yet, by their frequent and ridiculous Untruths, at other times, they detract from their own Credit; And are so far from obtaining that Esteem, which they hoped for, that, by reason of their Falshoods, they are laughed at, even by those, whom they endeavour'd to cajole into an Assent.

To make this plain, I will first begin, as with the Ancientest Na­tion, so, from the most notorious and impudent Falshood. They who compiled a The Fabu­lous Origin of the Britains. New History of the Ancient Britains, having in­terpolated the Fable of the Danaides, proceed further to feign, That one Diocletian, a supposed King of Syria, and Labana his Wife, with their 33 Daughters. Diocletian, King of Syria begat 33 Daughters on his Wife La­bana; who killing their Husbands on their Wedding night, their Father crouded them all together into one Ship, without any Ma­ster or Pilot; who, arriving in Britain, then but a Desert, did not only live solitarily in that cold Country; and not very full of Fruits growing of their own accord, neither; but also, by the Compression of Cacodaemons (forsooth) they brought forth Giants, whose Race continued till the arrival of Brutus. They say, the Island was called Albion from Albine. Albine, and that Brutus, and his Knight-Errant Ad­ventures. Brutus was the Nephews Son of Aeneas, the Trojan, and the Son of Aeneas Sylvius. This Brutus having accidentally killed his Father with a Dart, it was looked upon as a lamentable and piteous Fact, by all Men; yet, because it was not done on purpose, the punishment of Death was remitted, and Banishment either enjoyned, or voluntarily underta­ken, by him. Brutus, a Parricide. This Parricide having consulted the Oracle of Diana, and having run various hazards through so many Lands and Seas, af­ter 10 years arrived in Britain, with a great number of Followers; and by many Combats having conquered the terrible Giants in Al­bion, he gain'd the Empire of the whole Island. Brutus his Three Sons. He had three [Page 42] Sons, (as they proceed to Fable) Locrinus, Albanactus, and Camber; between whom the Island was divided; Albanactus ruled over the Albans, afterwards called Scots; Camber over the Cambrians, (i. e.) the Welsh; They did both Govern their several Precincts (as Vice-roys) yet so, as that Locrinus had supreme Dominion, who, being Ruler of the rest of the Britans, gave the Name of An old Name for England. Loegria to his part. Later Writers, that they might also propagate this Fabu­lous Empire as much as they could, do make this Addition to it, That Vendelina succeeded her Father Locrinus; Madanus, Vendelina. Vendelina; Men­pricius, Madanus; and Ebrancus, Menpricius, which later, of Twen­ty Wives begat as many Sons; of which, Nineteen passed into Ger­many ▪ and by force of Arms conquered that Country, being assist­ed by the Forces of their Kinsman, Alba Sylvius ▪ and from those Bro­thers the Country was called Germany, whence so cal­led, accord­ing to old Story. Germany. These are the things, which, the Brittons, and after them, some of the English, have deli­vered concerning the first Inhabitants of Britain.

Here I cannot but stand amazed at their design, who might easily, and without any reflection at all, have imitated the Athenians, Arcadi­ans, and other famous Nations, and have called themselve, Born in the same Country▪ where they live. Indigenae, see­ing it would have been no disgrace to them to own that Origin, which the Noblest and wisest City in the whole World counted her Glory; especially, since that Opinion could not be refuted out of Ancient Writers; and had no mean Assertors, besides; yet, that they had ra­ther forge Ancestors to themselves, from the Refuse of all Nations, whom the very Series of the Narration itself did make suspected, even to the unskilful Vulgar; and also none of the Ancients, no, not by the meanest suspition, did confirm. Besides, if that had not pleas­ed them, seeing it was free for them, (as some of the Poets have Writ) to have assumed Honourable Ancestors to themselves, out of any old Books; I wonder in my heart, what was in their Minds, to make choice of such, of whom all their posterity might justly be ashamed. For what great folly is it, to think nothing Illustrious, or Magnificent but what is Profligat and Flagitious, or, at least, but a size below it; yet some there are, that value themselves, among the ignorant, upon the score of such Trifles; as for Iohannes An­nius. Iohn Annius, a Man (I grant) not unlearned, I think, he may be pardoned, seeing Poets claim a Liberty to celebrate the Original of Families, and Na­tions, with the mixture of Figments, but 'tis not equal to allow the [...]ame Privilege to those who undertake, professedly, to write an History.

To begin then farthest off: What is more abhorrent from all be­lief, than that a few The Story of the 33 Sisters confu­ [...]ed. Girles, without the help of Men to manage their Vessel, should come from Syria, through so many Seas (which Voyage, even now adays, (when Men have attain'd, by Use and Custom, more skill in Navigation,) is yet hazardous, (thô with a brave and well-furnished Navy,) to the fag end, as it were, of the World, and into a desolate Island too; and there to live without Corn or Fruits of Trees; Yea, that such Ladies of a Royal Stock should not only barely maintain their Lives, in so cold a Climate, destitute of all things; But also should bring forth Giants; and that their Co­pulations, or Marriages, might not seem unsuitable to their State, [Page 43] that they were got with Child (would you think it?) by Caco­daemons. As for that Diocletian, pray, at what time, and in what part of Syria, did he Reign? How comes it to pass, that Authors make no mention of him, especially since the Affairs of no Nation are more diligently transmitted to Posterity, than those of the Syrians are? How came he to be called The Fable of Diocletian confuted. Diocletian? Certainly that Name took its rise a Thousand Years after him, amongst the Barbarians, and being Originally Greek, is declined after the Latin form.

The next Accession of Nobility, (forsooth) is Brutus his Story refelled. Brutus, the Parri­cide, that he so might not, in that respect, be inferiour to Br [...]tus and Romulus com­pared. Romulus. This Brutus, whatsoever he were, whom the Brittons make the Au­thor of their Name and Nation, with what Forces, with what Com­merce of Language, could he penetrate so far into Britain? Espe­cially in Those Times, wherein the Roman Arms, even in the most flourishing State of their Commonwealth, having conquered almost all the World besides, could scarce come: For it is needless to menti­on, how, before Rome was built, the Affairs of Italy were at a very low ebb; and how the Inhabitants thereof were averse from all Pe­regrination and Travel. Neither need I enquire, Whether he came by Land, or Sea? The Alps, till that time, were pervious only to Hercules; and the Gauls, by reason of their connatural Fierceness, were as yet unacquainted with converse of Foreigners. As for Sea-Voyages, The Carthaginians and the Greeks inhabiting Marseilles, scarce dared to venture into the Ocean, but very late, and when things were well setled at Home; And, even then, their Voyages were ra­ther for Discovery, than Conquest; much less can we believe, that Alban-Shepherds, a wildish sort of people, would undertake so bold an attempt. Besides, all Men, who are not ignorant of Latin, do know, that the Name of The Name of the True Brutus, when it began, and how? Brutus began to be celebrated under Tar­quinius Superbus, almost Five Hundred Years after that Commentitious Brutus; when Lucius Iunius, a Nobleman, putting off his Native Grandeur, descended below himself, on purpose, to avoid the Cru­elty of their Kings; And, on pretence of being Foolish, he took that new Sirname to himself, and transmitted it to his Posterity. But the Monk, who was the Forger and Deviser of this Fable of Brutus, seem­ed to see the absurdity of the Invention, himself; yet, he thought to stop all Mens Mouths with the pretence of Religion (forsooth) in in the Case, and would have every Body think, that they obeyed the Oracle of Diana. Herein, I will not be nice in inquiry, why this Oracle of Diana was unknown to Posterity, when the Oracles of Faunus the Third King of the Aborigi­nes, to whom Saturn (by whom he was entertained) caused a Grove and Cave to be dedicated, whence Oracles were given forth, (according to old Story.) Faunus, Cumaea, so called from Cuma in the Gulph of Naples. of Sybilla, and the Little Pieces of Oak-Wood-Lotteries, marked with Letters or Words, almost like Dice, which when they were thrown, the Priest gave his Response according to the Letter which was uppermost, at Praeneste, now Palestrina, in Italy. Praenestine Vaticinations, or Lots, were then in so great Credit.

I will only ask, In what Language did Diana answer? If they say, In Latin; I demand, How Brutus could understand a Language, which arose Nine Hundred Years after his time? For, seeing Ho­race, a very Learned Man, doth ingenuously confess, That he did [Page 44] not understand the Salii were Twelve Priests, insti­tuted by Nu­ma Pompilius, in Honour of Hercules, or, as some say, of Mars. And the Carmen Saliare, which they sang, was composed by the same Nu­ma, in an ob­solete and al­most unintel­ligible Lan­guage or Style. Saliar Rythmes, which were made in the Reign of Numa Pompilius, How could that Brutus, who died so ma­ny Years, before the Priests called Salii were Twelve Priests, insti­tuted by Nu­ma Pompilius, in Honour of Hercules, or, as some say, of Mars. And the Carmen Saliare, which they sang, was composed by the same Nu­ma, in an ob­solete and al­most unintel­ligible Lan­guage or Style. Salii were instituted, under­stand Verses, made long after Horace his time, as the Tenour of their Composure doth shew? Besides, how could the Posterity of Brutus, so totally forget the Latin Tongue, that not the least Footsteps of it remain'd amongst them? And whence got They that Language which they now use? Or, if it be granted, that their (supposed) Gods, as well as their Men, then spake British in Italy, yet surely it was not the Tongue the Britains now make use of; For That is so patch'd up of the Languages of the Neighbour-Nations, that several Countries may know and own their own Words therein. But if they say, That those Ancient Latins spake British, how could that Monk understand so old a Word, which was given forth 2000 Years before? But why do I prosecute these things, so particularly, see­ing it appears by many other Arguments also, that the same Monk did forge this whole Story, and begat such a Brutus, (in his own Brain) as never was in Nature, and also devised the Oracle of Dia­na, too. I shall add the Verses themselves, that the Vanity of such cunning Sophisters may more easily be discovered.

Brutus's supposed Ad­dress to the Oracle, with Diana's An­swer there­unto. Brutus's Address to the Oracle.

Englished thus:

The Oracles Answer.

Diana answers in Verses of the same kind, (so that they must needs be made by one and the same Poet) not perplexed and ambiguous ones; or, such as may be interpreted divers ways, but clear and per­spicuous ones, wherein she promiseth That which she could never give, viz. The Empire of the whole World.

Rendred thus:

I suppose, by these Verses, compared with the Histories, the whole Forgery will be discovered, and that plainly enough. For, besides the vain promises on both sides, the Rythms say, That the Island was not then inhabited but desolate, but that it was inhabited before; But where (I pray,) then were those Portentous Figments of Gog­magog and Tentagol, and other frightful Names of Men, invented for Terrour, (shall I say,) or for Laughter, rather? What will become of those doughty Combates of Corineus, and others, the Companions of Brutus, against not the Earth-born, but Hell-born, Giants? Thus far concerning Brutus, and his Oracle.

Though these be so great Fictions, yet Posterity is so little asha­med of them, that, but a few years ago no mean Writer amongst them, hath impudently feigned, That the Trojans spake the British Language. Homer. Homer and Dionysius Halicarnas­seus. Dionysius Halicarnasseus, do easily refel the vanity of this shameless Opinion. For the one gives Greek Names to all the Trojans; the other in a long and serious Disputa­tion, doth contend, that the Trojans were Originally Greeks? I pass by this consideration, that when Brute arrived in England with no great Train, how within the space of Twenty years he could establish Three Kingdoms; and how, they, who, all of them put together a [...] first, could scarce make up the number of one mean Co­lony, should in so short a time People an Island the biggest in the whole World, and furnish it not only with Villages and Cities, but set up in it Three large Kingdoms also; yea, who a while after, it seems, grew so numerous, that Britain could not contain them, but they were forced to Transport themselves into the large Country of Germany; where, overcoming the Inhabitants, they compelled them to assume their own Name, which was not a British, but a Latin one; and so from those Nineteen Brothers, (forsooth,) (which indeed were not properly own Brothers, as we say, for almost each of them had a several Mother,) that the Country should be called Germany. I have related this Fable, as absurd as it is, not to take the pains to refute it, but to leave it to the Germans themselves for Sport and Ridicule.

[Page 46]This in General concerning the Fables of the Brittons. But the intent of those who devised them, seems not very obscure to me, for that Monstrous Fiction of Devils lying with Virgins, seems to tend hereto; viz. That they might either prove an Alliance between their Brutus, and two of the greatest Neighbouring Nations; or else, that they might vye with them in the Nobleness of their Original. For the Gauls affirmed, (as Caesar hath it) that they were descended from Father Pluto; and so did the Germans, according to Tacitus. The cause of devising this Figment, concerning Brutus, seems to be alike. For seeing the Buthrotii, Inhabitants of Buthrotum, (new Butrinto) a small Vil­lage in Epirus on the Sea coast not far from the Isle Corfu, once a large Roman Colony. Buthrotii in Epirus, other People in Sicily; The Ro­mans, Campanians, and Sulmonenses in Italy; The Arverni, In­habitants of Auvergne in the Dukedom of Burgundy, their chief City is Clermont. Arv [...]rni, Burgundians. He­dui, People of the Franch Country. Sequani, and last of all the Francs, Ori­ginally a Peo­ple of Franco­nia in Germa­ny, who in the declining of the Roman Empire, con­quered Gallia, and called it Frankinland, now France; they were composed of so many war­like Tribes, that the Turks do call all the Western Chri­stians Francs to this very day. Francs in Gaul, did cele­brate, I know not what, Trojans as their Founders. The Writers of British Affairs, also thought it very conducive to the advancement of the Nobility of their Nation, if they derived its Original too, from the very Archives of Antiquity, and especially from the Trojans, either because of the famousness of that City, which was praised by almost all Nations; or else, by reason of its Alliance with so ma­ny Nations, which are said to have started up, as it were, out of the same common Shipwrack of that one Town. Neither did they think themselves guilty of any effrontery in the Falshood, if they did some­what participate of the (feigned) Nobility, which upon the same ac­count was common to so many Nations, besides themselves. Hence a­rose, as I judge, the Fiction of Brutus, and other Fables of an older date, as impudently devised, as foolishly received; it will, perhaps, be enough to shew the vanity of all those things, to put the Reader in mind, that they were unknown to Ancient Writers; that when Learning flourished, they dared not peep abroad, that they were coyned in its decay, recorded by unlearned Flatterers, and entertain'd by igno­rant, and too credulous, Persons, who did not understand the Fraud of such Cheaters. For such is the disposition of those Impostors, who do not seek the publick good by a true History, but some private ad­vantage by Flattery, that when they seem highly to Praise, the [...] they most of all deride and jeer. For what do they else, who, pre­tending to advance the Nobility of a People, for its greater splendor do fetch it from the Skum and Riffraff of Nature? And yet, credu­lous, (shall I say,) or not rather sottish Persons, do Pride themselves with a pretended Eminency of an Original, which none of their Neighbours will envy them for.

They also who have wrote of Old Scotish Writers blam­ed. Scotish Affairs, have delivered down to us a more Creditable and Noble Origin, as they think, but no less Fabulous than That of the Britains. For they have adopted Ancestors to us, not from the Trojan Fugitives, but from those Greek Hero's, whose Posterity Conquered Troy. For, seeing in those An­cient times, two Nations of the Greeks were most of all celebrated, the Dores, and Iones, who? Dores and the Dores, and Iones, who? Iones, and the Princes of the Dores were the Argivi; and of the Iones, the Athenians. The Scots make one The Scots fabulous Ori­ginal from one Gathelus a Grecian and Scota his Wife. Gathelus to be the chief Founder of their Nation, but whether he were the Son of Argus, or of Cecrops, that they leave in doubt; and that they may not be inferior on this accompt, to the eminency of the Romans, they added to him a strong Band of Robbers, with [Page 47] which he going into Egypt, perform'd gallant Exploits, and after the departure (would you think it) of Moses, was made General of the Kings Forces in that Land. And that afterwards, with his Wife Scota, the Daughter of the King of Egypt, he sailed about the whole shore of Europe, adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, and having passed through so many Countries, which were desolate in that Age, or else, inhabited but by few, and in few places, as Greece, Italy, France, (not to mention the numerous Islands of the Mediterranean Sea,) some will have him to Land at the River Now E [...]r [...], a [...]amo [...] River in Spain, ri­sing in the Mountains of Ast [...]r [...], and disinboguing it self into the Mediterranean, in Catal [...]n [...]a. Iberus, but leaving that Coun­try which he could not keep, they draw him on further to Gallaecia the Country about Comp [...] ­stella in Spain. Galaecia, a Country much more Barren. Some Land him at the Mouth of the River Durius, o [...] D [...]ro, Du [...]o in Spanish, ari­sing in old Ca­st [...], and after a course of 14 [...] Spanish Leagues falls into the At­lantick Ocean, below Port a Port. Durius, being the first of all Men, as I sup­pose, who adventured into the Ocean with a Navy of Ships; and that there he built a brave Town, which is now called from his Name Portus Gatheli, or Port a Port, whence the whole Country, which from Lusus and Lusa, the Children of Bacchus, was a long time cal­led Lusitania and Portuga [...], the Original of those Names. Lusitania, began to be called Lusitania and Portuga [...], the Original of those Names. Portugal, and afterwards being forced to pass into Gallaecia, he there built Brigantia, now cal­led Compostella; also that Braga in Portugal was built by him, at the Mouth of the River Munda.

These are the things which the Scots have fabulously wrote con­cerning the Original of their Nation. In feigning of which, how uncircumspect they were, we may gather from hence, that they did not give a Greek Name, to that Grecian Gathelus, who was in­deed unknown to the Greek Writers; that they allotted a Latin Name, from an Haven or Port, to the City built by him rather than a Greek one, especially in those times, when Italy it self was known to few of the Greeks; that they doubt whether he were the Son of Argus, or of Cecrops; seeing Argus lived almost an Hun­dred years before Cecrops. That he, who had arrived at such a Fi­gure by his Prudence, even amongst the most ingenious Persons of the World, as to enjoy the Second place to the King, and to be put in Moses, the Fugitiv's, room; and besides, being a stranger, to be honoured with the Marriage of the Kings Daughter; that he, I say, leaving the fruitfullest Region in the World, and passing by the Lands of both Continents, both to the Right and Left, and also so many Islands all fruitful in Corn, and some of them also famous for the Temperature of the Air, as Crete, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia, (which, at that time, were rather seiz'd than cultivated, and inha­bited by a wild sort of People,) should break out into the very Ocean, the very Name whereof was formidable, especially since Men had then but small skill in Marine Affairs; or, that he built the City of Port-Gathelus, or Port a Port, at the River Duero, the Name of which City was never heard of till the Sarazens obtain'd the Dominion of Portugal; also, that he built Braga, at the Mouth of the River Munda, seeing there is so many Miles distance between Braga and Munda; Two Rivers also being interjected betwixt them, viz. Duero and Vouga, or Vaca; and Braga it self is not altogether a Ma­ritime place: Moreover, I may well ask, how Gathelus a Grecian, born of a Noble Family; and besides, eminent for famous Deeds, seeing he was of a most ambitious Nation, in commending his Name [Page 48] to Posterity, and being conveighed with a great Train into the ex­tream parts of the World, and as then matters stood, almost rude and barbarous, having built Towns, did not impose his own, no not so much as a Greek, Name on them. For the Name of Portugal, or, (as some will have it,) the Port of Gathel, being unknown to so many Ancient Writers, who have professedly undertook to describe the Names of Countries, and Places, began to be celebrated but about Four Hundred years ago. And the silence of all the Greeks and La­tins, concerning the coming of Gathelus into Spain, makes it much suspected, especially since the Ancients make notable and frequent mention of the Phaenicians, Persians, Carthaginians, Iberians, Gauls, and of the Companions of Hercules and Bacchus, who came into that Country. But our Fablers, (as I judge) never read the Mo­numents of the Ancients; if they had, seeing it was free for them to assume an Author and Founder of their Nation and Nobility, out of any of the Famous Grecians, they would never have pick'd up an Ignobler Person, for their Founder; passing by Hercules and Bac­chus, who were Famous amongst all Nations, and whom they might have cull'd out, as well as any other, for the Original of their Race.

These are the things which our Writers have delivered, concern­ing the Rise of our Nation, which, if I have prosecuted more large­ly, than was necessary, it is to be imputed to them, who pertinaci­ously defended them, as a Palladium, properly the Image of Pal­las in Troy, which as long as they kept in her Temple, Troy could not be taken, (as the T [...]ojans thought,) but when Vlyss [...]s stole it away then they were soon destroyed by the Greeks. Palladium dropt down from Heaven. He that considers That, will, no doubt, by reason of the obstinacy of my Adversaries, be more favorable to me. Concerning the other Nations, which came later into these Islands, and fixed their Habi­tations there, Picts, Saxons, Danes, Normans, because their History doth not contain any Monstrous absurdity, I shall speak of them hereafter, in a fitter place.

But these two Nations (which I have mentioned,) seem to me to have deduced their Original from the Gauls, and I will give you the reasons of my Judgment therein, when I have first premised a few things, concerning the Antient Customs of the Gauls; all Gaul tho' it be fruitful in Corn, yet it is said to be, and indeed is, more fruit­full in Men; so that, as Strabo relates, there were 300000 of the The Ancient Gauls in Cae­sars time, divi­ded from the Belg [...]s, by the River S [...]n; and from the Aq [...]itanians, by the Garron, from whom the old Gre­cians called, the North-West part of E [...]rop [...], Ce [...]to-S [...]thia. Celiae, only, who were able to bear Arms, though they inha­bited but a third part of France, therefore though they lived in a fruitful Country, yet being overburthened by their own multi­tudes, 'tis probable, that for the lessening of them, they were permitted to use From which no Issue could insue. Masculine Venery. Yet neither when by this Expedient, there seemed not provision enough made against the penury of their Soil, the company of Heads being as yet numerous and burdensome, some­times by publick Edicts, and sometimes by private Persuasions, they sent forth many Colonies into all the neighbouring Countries, that their Multitudes at home might be exhausted.

To begin with Colonies of Gauls sent in­to Spain. Spain, They sent their Colonies so thick thither, that Ephorus, as Strabo relates, extends the length of Gaul even to the Gades or Cadiz, and indeed all that side of Spain toward the North, by the Names of the People and Nations inhabiting them, hath long witnessed a French Original. The first we meet with, are, the Celtiberi.

These did propagate their bounds so far, that, though they inha­bited a Craggy Country, and besides not over fruitful, yet Ma [...]cus Marcellus exacted from them Six Hundred Talents, as a Tribute. Moreover, from the Celtae and Celtiber [...], whence? Celtae, or Celt [...]beri, the Celtici derive their Original, dwelling by the River Anas, by Ptolomy Sirnamed Celtici Boe­tici. Boe­tici; and also other Celtici Lus­tanici. Celts in Portugal, near to the River Anas, and if we may believe Pomponius Mela, a Spaniard, the Celts do inhabit from the Mouth of the River Duero, unto the Promontory, which they call Celticum or Ne [...]ium Pr [...] ­m [...]ntorium. Nerium, i. e. Capo [...] Terrae, but distin­guished by their Sirnames, viz. the Groni [...], Presamarci, Tamarici, Nerii, and the rest of the Gallaeci, whose Name shews their Original to be Gauls.

On the other side, there passed out of France into Italy, the People of Piemont. Ligurians, the People a­bout Br [...]xia and Verona. Libii, The Salassii; of P [...]emo [...] also. the Salassii, Insubres of Gall [...]a-Trans­padana about Millan. the Insubres, Of Main, or rather Normandy. the Cenomani, the Bo [...] Peo­ple of Acqu [...] ­tain. Boii, and the Senones were a War­like People of Gaul inhabi­ting the Coun­try now called Le Sennois. Senones, and, if we may be­lieve some Ancient Writers, the Venetians themselves. I need not relate how large Dominions these Nations had in Italy, seeing all who are but a little versed in History, cannot be ignorant thereof, neither will I be too scrupulous in inquiring what Troopes of Gauls made their Seats in Thrace, or, leaving it, having subdued Macedo­nia and Greece, passed into Bithinia, where they erected the King­dom of Galatia. Gallo-Graecia in Asia, seeing that matter doth not much concern our purpose.

My discourse then hastens to Germany, and concerning the Colonies of Gauls sent into Germany. Gaulish Colonies therein, we have most Authentick Evidences, C. Iu­lius Caesar, and C. Cornelius Tacitus; the first of them in his Com­mentaries of the Gallick War, writes, that at one time the Gauls were esteem'd more Valiant than the Germans. And therefore that the A Colony from Langue­dock in France, to the Neecar in Germany, and the Coun­try about that River. Tectosages possessed the most fruitful part of Germany about the Hercynian Forest; and the Bohemians, as the other affirms, do de­clare by their Names, that their Founders were the Aquitani­ans in Gaul. Boii. And sometimes the Swissers. Helvetians possessed the nearer places between the Rivers Main and Rhene, also the Decumates People of Wirtenburg. Decumates beyond the Rhene, were of Gallick Original, and the Gothini, on the River Oder. Gothini neer the Da­now, whom Claudian calls Gothunni: Arrianus in the Life of Alex­ander calls them Getini; and Flavius Vopiscus, in the Life of Probus Gautunni. But Claudian reckons even the Gothunni amongst the The Getes were a People of Dacia about Moldavia. Getae; and Stephanus is of Opinion, that the Getes are called Getini, by Ammianus, so that perhaps the Getes themselves may acknowledge a Gallick Original, seeing it is certain, that many Gallick Nations passed over into Thrace, and there resided in that Circuit thereof, which the Getes are said to have possessed; Tacitus also writes, that [Page 50] in his time, the Gothini used the Gallick Language; besides, the Danes. Cimbri, as Philemon says, and (if we believe Tacitus) the Prussians or Livonians. Aest [...] ­ones, dwelling by the Swedish Sea, where they gather Amber, did speak British, which Language was then the same with the Gall [...]ck, or not much different from it. There are many Footsteps of Gallick Colonies, through all Germany, which I would willingly recite, but that, what I have already alleged is enough for my purpose; viz. To shew how widely France did extend her Colonies, round about Brittain.

What then shall we say of Colonies of Gauls, sent into Britain. Britain it self; which did equal those Nations neither in greatness, strength, nor skill in Military Affairs? What did she, that was so neer to the Valiantest of the Gauls, and not inferiour to the neighbour Nations, either in the mildness of the Air, or the fruitfulness of the Soil; did she, I say, entertain no Foreign Colonies? Yes, many, as Caesar and Tacitus affirm, and, as I hold, all her [...] Inhabitants came from thence. For 'tis manifest, that Three Na­tions ancient­ly inhabited Britain; the Britons, Picts, and Scots. three Nations did anciently possess the whole Island, the Brittons, Picts, and Scots, of which I will speak here­after.

To begin then with the Brittons, whose Dominion was of largest extent in Albium: The first, that I know, who hath discovered any certainty concerning them, was C. Iulius Caesar. He thinks, that the inmost Inhabitants were Indigenous, i. e. born in the same Coun­try. Indigenae, because, after diligent en­quiry, he could find nothing of their first comming thither; neither had they any Monuments of Learning, whence he might be infor­med. He says, that the Maritime parts of the Island were possessed by the In Caesar's time, Belgium was accounted part of France. Belgae, whom hopes of Prey had allured thither, and the fruitfulness of the Soil, and mildness of the Air, had detained there. He thinks this a sufficient argument to confirm his Opinion, that many did retain the Names of the Cities, whence they came, and that their Buildings were like those of the Gauls.

Cornelius Tacitus, a grave Author, adds; that their Manners are not unlike, and that they are equally bold in running into Dangers, and as fearful how to get out of them; that there were great Factions and Sidings among them Both. And lastly, that Britain, in his time, was in the same State as Gaul was, before the coming of the Ro­mans. Pomponius Mela adds further, That the Brittons used to Fight on Horseback in Chariots and Coaches, being harnessed in French Armour. Add hereto, that Bede, who lived before all those, who have wrote such Fabulous things of the Origin of the Britons, and is of greater Authority than them all, affirms; That the first Inhabitants of the Island came out of the Tract of Britany in France. Armorica. Some Grammatists of the Greeks, differ much from the above menti­oned Authors, for they say, that the Brittons received their Names from Britannus, the Son of Celto. They assuredly agree in this, that they would derive their Original from the Gauls; of the later Au­thors, Robertus Robertus Cae­nalis. Caenalis, and Pomponius Laetus. Pomponius Laetus, in the Life of Dioclesian, (an Author not to be despised) do subscribe to this Opi­nion; both of them, as I suppose, being convinced by the Power of Truth. Yet, Both seem to me to mistake in this point, that they deduce them from the Peninsula of the Brittons, which is now called [Page 51] Britany to the River Loir, especially since the Maritime Colonies of Britain, as Caesar observes, do testifie by their very Names, whence their V [...]z. From the Belgians. Transportation was.

It follows, that we speak of the Gallick Colonies, sent into Colonies of Gauls sent in­to Ireland. Ireland; I shewed before, that all the North side of Spain was possessed by Gallick Colonies. And there are many reasons assignable, why they might pass out of Spain into Ireland, for either the easie passage might be a great inducement; or else, the Spaniards, might be ex­pelled out of their Habitations by the excessive Power and Domina­tion of the Persians, Phaenicians, and Graecians, who, having over­come the Spaniards, rendred them Weak and Obnoxious to their Oppression and Violence. Moreover, there were Causes amongst the Spaniards themselves, for they being a People cemented and made up of many Nations, and not well agreeing among themselves, the desire of Liberty, and the avoiding of Servitude, in the midst of Civil Wars and new Tumults, arising amongst a People that was greedy of War, might make them willing to depart: He that weighs these causes of Transmigration, will not wonder, if many of them did prefer a mean condition abroad, conjoyned with Liberty, before a Domestick and bitter Servitude, and when they were once arrived there, the State of Spain growing daily more and more Turbulent, made them willing there to abide; for sometimes the Carthaginians, and sometimes the Romans, did exercise all the Miseries of Servility upon the Conquered Spaniards, and so compelled them to avoid those Evils, by a flight into Ireland, there being no other neighbour Na­tion into which, either in their Prosperity they might so well trans­port their over-abounding Multitudes; or else wherein, in adversity they might find a shelter against their Calamities. Besides, the Clemency of the Air did retain them there, for, as Caesar says, the Air of Britain is more temperate than That of France. And Ireland exceeds Both in goodness of Soil, and also in an equal Temperature of the Air and Climate. Besides, Men born and educated in a barren Soil, and given to Laziness besides, as all Spaniards are, being trans­ported almost into the richest Pastures of all Europe, no marvail, if they willingly withdrew themselves from homebred Tumults, into the bosome of a Peace beyond Sea. Notwithstanding all that I have said, yet I would not refuse the Opinion of any Nation concerning their Ancestors, provided it were supported by probable Conjectures, and ancient Testimony.

For Tacitus, upon sure Conjectures, as he thinks, doth affirm, that the West side of Britain or Albium, was inhabited by the Posterity of the Spaniards. But it is not probable, that the Spaniards should leave Ireland behind them, being a Country nearer and of a milder Air and Soil, and first Land in Albium, but rather that they first arrived in Ireland, and from thence emitted their Colonies into Britain. And that the same thing happen'd to the Scots, all their Annals do testi­fie; and Bede, Lib. 1. doth affirm. For all the Inhabitants of Inhabi­tants of Ire­land, anciently called Scots. Ireland were first of all called Scots, as Orosius shews; and our An­nals relate, that the Scots passed more than once out of Ireland into Albium: First of all, Fergusius, the Son of Ferchard, being their Cap­tain; and after some Ages, being expelled from their Habitations [Page 52] they returned into Ireland; and again, under their General Reutha­rus, they return'd into Britain. And afterwards in the Reign of Fergusius the Second, great aid of Irish-Scots were sent, who had their Quarters assigned in Gallaway. And Claudian in his time shews, That Auxiliaries were transmitted thence against the Ro­mans; for he says,

And in another place,

But in the beginning, when both People, i. e. the Inhabitants of Ire­land and their Colonies sent into Albium, were called Scots, that there might be some distinguishment betwixt them,Irish-Scots and Albin-Scots. some Scots were called Irish-Scots, others Albin-Scots; and by degrees, their Sirnames came to be their Names, so that the ancient Name of Scots was almost forgotten, and not to be retrieved from common Speech, but only from Books and Annals. As for the Name of Picts, I judge it not their Antient and Country Name, but occasionally given them by the Romans, because their Bodies were indented, as it were, with Scars, which the Verses of Claudian do shew,

And elsewhere,

H [...]rodian. Herodian also makes mention of the same Nation, but con­cealing its Name, and says plainly, That they did paint their Bo­dies; [Page 53] but he doth not affirm, That they did it with Iron; Neither (says he) are they acquainted with the use of Apparel, but they sur­round their Belly and their Neck with Iron, as thinking that Metal to be an Ornament and sign of Riches; as the other Barbarians do, Gold. And moreover, they mark their Bodies with sundry Pictures, and with Animals of all shapes, and therefore they will put on no Garments, lest they should hide their Paint. With what Name they call themselves, the thing is so ancient, that it is hard to deter­mine. 'Tis certain, their Neighbour-Nations do not agree concern­ing their Name; for the Brittons call them Pictiades, Picti, and Peachti, old Names for Pic [...]s. Pictiades; The Eng­lish, Pichti; The old Scots, Peachti. And besides, the Names of some places, which were heretofore under the Jurisdiction of the Picts, but are now possessed by the Scots, seem to have a different Appellation from them all. For the Hills called Pentland-Hills in Lo­thian. Pentland-Hills, and the Pentland-Firth, the Firth between Ca [...]hness and O [...]kny. Pentland-Bay, or Firth, seems to be derived from Pen­thus, not from Pictus. But, I verily believe, those Names were im­posed, in after-times, either by the English, or else by the Scots, who used the English Tongue; for the Ancient Scots did neither under­stand nor use them. As for the Name of Picts, whether the Romans Translated a Barbarous Word into a Latin one of a near sound; or, whether the Barbarians applyed a Latin Word, every one to his own Country Tone and Declension, 'tis all a case to me. Well then, be­ing agreed of the Name, and it being confest by all Writers, That they came from the Eastern Parts into Britain; from Scythia, say some; from Germany, say others; it remains, that tracing their Foot­steps by Conjectures, we come as near the Truth as we can. Nei­ther do I perceive any surer Foundation of my Disquisition, than by painting their Bodies; so did the A [...]ii, a People o [...] Po­land, but for­merly accoun­ted part of Germany. Arii in Germany, and the People of Eu [...]op [...]a Sar­matia and Scythia, now under the Moscovite. A­gathrrsi, but it was only, that they might appear more terrible to the Enemy in War, and they did it only with the Juyce of Herbs. But seeing the Picts mark'd their Skins with Iron, and stigmatized them with the Pictures of divers Animals: The better way will be to in­quire, What Nations, either in Scythia, Germany, or the Neighbor-Countries, did use that Custom of painting their Bodies, not for Ter­ror, but Ornament. And, First, we meet with the Geloni, Inhabitants of Scythia Euro­pea upon the River Bori­sthenes. Geloni, according to Virgil, of whom Claudian speaks in his first Book against Ruffinus;

We meet also with the People of [...]. Getae in Thrace, mentioned by the same Poet;

[Page 54]Therefore, seeing the Geloni, as Virgil writes, are Neighbors to the Getes, and either the People of Sarmatia Eu­ropaea, so called because com­pounded of Goths and Huns, whence Claudian calls them Mixti Gothunni. Gothunni, or Getini, according to Arr [...]anus, are number'd amongst the Getes; and seeing the Gothunni, as Tacitus says, speak the Gallick Language; what hinders, but that we may believe the Picts had their Original from thence?

But, from whatsoever Province of Germany they came, I think it very probable, that they were of the ancient Colonies of the Gauls, who seated themselves either on the The Bal­tick, or rather the Bothnick Sea or Gulph. Swedish Sea ▪ or on the The River Danulius, ari­sing in the Alps, and run­ning through Germany, Hun­gary, &c. at last dischargeth it self by six Mouths into the Euxin Sea. Da­now. For the Men of a Gallick Descent, being counted Foreigners by the Germans, (as indeed they were) I judge their Name was used in a way of reproach, so that one word, i. e. Walsch hath several Acceptations. Walsch, (with them) signifies a Gaul, a Stranger, and a Barbarian, too. So that it is very credible, That the Ancestors of the Picts, either being expell'd by their Neighbors, or driven up and down by Tempests, were easily reconciled to the Scots; yea, were befriended and aided (as 'tis re­ported) by them, as a People allyed to Them, almost of the sam [...] Language with them, and their Religious Customs not unlike. So that, it might easily come to pass, that thereupon they might mix their Blood, and, by Marriages, make a Coalition, as it were, into one Nation. For otherwise, I do not see, how the Scots, which then possessed Ireland, being a fierce and rough-hewn People, should so ea­sily enter into an Affinity and compleat Friendship with Strangers, who were necessitous and destitute of all things, which they never saw before, and with whom they had no Commerce, in point of Laws, Religion, or Language.

But here the Authority of Bede, the Anglo-Saxon, doth somewhat obstruct my passage, who is the only Writer, that I know of, that affirms, That the Picts used a different Language from the Scots; For, speaking of Britain, he says, That It did search after, and profess the Knowledge of the highest Truth, and the sublimest Science in five Languages, the English, British, Scotish, Pictish, and Latin. But, I suppose, Bede calls five Dialects of one and the same Tongue, Five Tongues, as we see the Greeks do, in the like case: And as Caesar doth, in the beginning of his Commentaries of the Gall [...]ck War. For he says, That Three parts of Gaul did use different Languages and Cu­stoms. But Strabo, though he grants that the Aquitans, i e. the Gu [...]en­no [...] in France. Aquitans used a different Language from the other Gauls; yet, he affirms, That all the rest of the Gauls used the same Language, but with a little Va­riation. The The Bri­tish and the Scots anciently used one Lan­guage, but a different way of pronuncia­ [...]ion. Scots also do not differ from the Britains in their whole Language, but in Dialect rather, as I shall shew hereafter; seeing their Speech, at present, doth so far agree, that it seems of old to have been the same, for they differ less than some Gallick Provin­ces do, which yet are all said to speak Gaulish. And therefore other Writers give not the least suspition of a different Language; and They, as long as Both Kingdoms were distinct, as if they had been People of one Nation, did always contract Marriages one with ano­ther; and as they were mixed in the beginning, so afterwards they carried themselves as Neighbors, and oftentimes as Friends, until the Destruction of the Picts.

[Page 55]Neither did the remainder of them, (who, when their Military Race was extinct, yet must needs be many) in any degree, corrupt the Scotish Tongue: Nor indeed are there any Footsteps of a Foreign Language in the Places and Habitations which they left. For all the Countries of the Picts, and many particular Places therein too, do yet retain Scotish Appellations, except a very few, who, upon the Saxon-Tongu's prevailing over our Country-Language, had German Names imposed upon them.

Neither is This to be omitted, That, before the coming of the Saxons into Britain, none of the British Nations used Interpreters to understand one another. Wherefore, seeing the Scotish, English ▪ and German Writers do unanimously accord, That the Original of the Picts had their Origin from Germany. Picts was from Germany; and it is also manifest, That the Gothunni, or Getini, were Colonies of the Gauls, whose Language they spoke; and that the Aestii spake British, by the Swedish, or Baltick Sea: Whence may we rather fetch the Descent of the Picts? Or, They being expell'd from their Native Habitations, Whither should they go but to their own Kindred? Or, Where were they likely to obtain Marriage-Unions, but amongst a People of Affinity with them, in Blood, Language and Manners?

But if any one deny, That the Picts were descended from the Go­thunni, or People of Prussia and L [...] ­vonia. Aestii, or Getae, being induc'd to that Persuasion by the great distance of those Countries from Britain; Let him but consi­der, How many, and How great Migrations of People were made, even in all parts of the World, in those Times, wherein the coming of the Picts into Britain is recorded to have been, and also for many Ages after; and then he may easily grant, that such things might not only be done, but be done with great facility, too. The Gauls did then possess a great part of Spain, Italy, Germany, and Britain, by their Colonies; They proceeded so far as Palus Maeotis, and the Cimmerian Bosphorus, by their Depredations; and after they had wasted Thrace, Macedonia, and Greece, they fixed their Seats in Asia.

The Danes. Cimbri, People of Swisserland. Ambrones, and People of Germany, near the Baltick Sea. Teutones, having wasted Gaul, pierced into Italy: The Geloni, whom Virgil places in Thrace, are, by other Writers, said to dwell near to the Of V [...]logna in Moscovy, which was then called Scythia, or Sar­matia Europaea. Agathyrsi, in Scythia.

The Goth [...], for a great while, an obscure Nation, yet, in a short time, like a Flood, over-ran Europe, Asia, and Africa. And there­fore, seeing, for many Ages after, Those, who were Grandees, and more powerful than others, challeng'd to themselves the Seats of their Inferiours; the Weak, being obnoxious to the Injuries of the Strong, left their Country, which they could not keep; so that, its no great Wonder amongst the Wise, if Men, having long con­flicted with adverse Fortune, and being tossed up and down by many Peregrinations; having, besides, no certain Habitation, did, at length, betake themselves to remote, or far distant, Countries.

[Page 56]Besides, we see, That the Roman Writers do place Two Ancient Nations within those Limits, which did bound the Kingdoms of the Scots and Picts, the Mayatae. Mayatae and A [...]tacottae. A [...]tacottae. Of these, (I sup­pose) the A Nation of the Picts, that lived North of [...] Wall in [...] and the Me [...]ss. Mayatae, whom Dion alone, of all the Authors that I know, doth mention, were of the Picts Race, seeing he places them in the Countries nearest to the (t) Caledonian Sea; and it is certain, that the Picts did inhabit those Provinces. As for the One of the [...] of the Picts, living near the S [...]ts on the East Sea, betwixt Twee [...] and T [...]e in [...] mixt People of Picts and S [...]o [...], that in­habited the [...] man [...]. Attacottae, it appears out of Marcellinus, That they were the Progeny of those, who, sometimes being excluded by A [...]rian's Wall, afterwards enlarging their Dominions unto the Wall of Severus, were comprehended within the Roman Province, because I find in a Book of the Romans concerning Camp Discipline through their Provinces, that, among the Foreign Auxiliaries, there were some Troops of the Attacottae, as well as of the Britains: Which makes me hesitate, Whether of the Two to admire in Lud, his Boldness, or his Stupidity; His Boldness, who affirms, That the Attacottae were Scots, but without any certain Author, or probable Conjecture; His Stupidity, that, in the very place of Marcellinus, cited by him, he sees not, that the Scots are plainly distinguished from the Atta­cottae. For Marcellinus says, The Picts, Saxons, Scots, and Atta­cottae, vexed the Britains, with perpetual Miseries. Of the same Stupidity is he guilty, when he affirms, That the Caledonii were of the Nation of the Britains; whereas, 'tis plain, they were Picts, which Lud himself doth clearly demonstrate by a Testimony out of a Panegyrick, dedicated to Constantius, which he produces against himself. For, says the Author of that Oration, The Woods of the Caledones and of other Picts; That Testimony (such was his Fol­ly) he produces for himself, not observing, (such was his Stupi­dity) that it makes against him. If we look to the Word it self, 'tis Scotish, for Calden in Scotch is that Tree called the Hasel, whence, I judge, came the Name of the Caledonian Woods, and the Town of the Caledonians, situate by the River Tay, which is yet called Or Dun­k [...]den in Perthshire. Dancalden, i. e. the Hasel-Hill-Town. And if I dared to indulge my self so much Liberty, as to disagree from all the Books of Pto­lemy, for the Deucaledonian, I would write the Duncaledonian, Sea; and for the Dicaledones in Marcellinus, Duncale­dones. Duncaledones: Both the Sea and the Nation being Sirnamed from the Town, Duncalden. What I have written may satisfie any favourable Reader, yet I shall add other Testimonies, which The Same­ness of Religi­on, Language, Names of Pla­ces, are Chara­cters of one and the same Nation C. Plinius thinks to be manifest Signs of the Originals of Nations, viz. Religion, Language, and Names of Towns.

First of all, it is manifest, That the Bond of Religion, and the Identity of Sentiment as to the (supposed) Gods, hath been always held the strictest tye of Obligation, and Allyance, amongst Nations. Now the Britains and the Gauls maintain'd the same Divine Worship, they had the same Priests,The Britains and Gauls of one Religi­on. the Druydes, amongst them, who were in no Nation, else; whose Superstition had so besotted the Minds of both Nations, that many have doubted, which of the two (first) learn'd that sort of Philosophy, one from the other. Tacitus also says, that they had the same Sacred Rites and Superstitious Observations. And [Page 57] that Tomb erected nea [...] [...] on the [...]. New Carthage, called M [...]rcurius Teutates, as Livy writes, doth shew, that the Spaniards, the greatest part of whom drew their Original from the Gauls, were not free from those Rites. Also, the same kind of Priests or Sacrists, called by both of them Bards were the He [...]lds, Poets, and M [...]si [...]ians of the Ancient Gaul [...] and Bri­tains. Bards, were in great Honour, both amongst the Gauls and Bri­tains. Their Function and Name doth yet remain among all th [...]se N [...]i­ons, which use the old British Tongue: and so much Honour is gi­ven to them, in many places, that their Persons are accounted Sa­cred, and their Houses, Sanctuaries: Yea, in the height of their Enmities, when they manage the cruellest Wars one against another, and use their Victories, as severely; yet these B [...]rds p [...]s [...]'d [...] b [...] ­tween the A [...] ­mies of [...] greeting Nati­ons. Bards and their re­tinue have free liberty to pass and repass, at their pleasure. The Nobles, when they come to them, receive them honourably, and dismiss them with Gifts. They make Canto's not unelegant, which, Rhapsodists ( [...]) Re­hea [...]e [...], or I [...]terp [...]e [...]e [...] [...] Verses by piece-meal. Rhapsodists recite, either to the better sort, or else to the vulgar, who are very desirous to hear them; and sometimes they sing them to Musical Tunes and Instruments. Many of their Ancient Customs yet remain; yea, there is almost nothing changed of them in Ireland, but only in Ceremonies and Rites of Religion. This for the present concerning their Religion. It remains now, that we speak concern­ing their Ancient Language, and the Names of the Towns, and of their People. But these Parts, thô several, (for the most part▪) shall yet be promiscuously handled by me; because that many times one depends upon another, as its foundation; especially, sithence a proper Name, either by its Origination or Declination, doth assert, or indicate, the Country whence a Man comes: Yet, thô these things are intwisted, and do mutually confirm one another, for the Rea­der's Instruction, I will sometime handle them, severally, as much as I can.

First of all, Tacitus in the Life of his Father-in-law, Agricola, Tacitus doth affirm, That the Gaulish Tongue did not much differ from the British; whence I gather, that they were sometimes the same; but, by little and little, either by Commerce with Foreign Nations; or, by the Im­portation of new Commodities, unknown before to the Natives; or, by the Invention of new Arts; or, by the frequent change of the Form of Garments, Arms, and other Furniture; A Speech, or Lan­guage, that was very flexible of itself, might be much alter'd, some­times augmented, sometimes adulterated, many new words being found out, and many old ones corrupted. Let a Man but think with himself, how much the Inconstancy and Humourousness of the Vul­gar doth assume to it self, in this particular; and how ready Men are, and always were, to loath present things, and to study Innovations; he will find the judgment of the best of Poets, and the only Censor, in these Cases, to be most true,

And a little after,

'Tis true, he spake this of the Latin Tongue, which, by the great care of the Romans, was kept uncorrupted, and which all the Na­tions contained within the large bounds of their Empire, did dili­gently Learn. And therefore 'tis no wonder, if a Language, (even before Colonies were sent into all parts, out of Gaul,) which al­ready had different Dialects at home; and also, was afterwards cor­rupted by the mixture of divers Nations, being in it self too barba­rous at first, and almost neglected by those themselves that used it; and after it again re-enter'd, from a Foreign Soil, into Britain, which was then divided into Kingdoms, for the most part, obnoxious to Strangers; 'tis no wonder, I say, if, upon all these prejudices it was not always consistent with it self. For at first, the The Celts were a nume­rous People Inhabiting principally a­bout Lyons, from whom one part of France was called Gallia Celtica. Celtae, and the Inhabi­tants of Bel­gium (now the Low Coun­tries or the Netherlands) in Caesar's time, counted a third part of France, by the Name of Gal­lia Belgica. Belgae did use a different Dialect, as Strabo thinks. After­wards, when the Celtae sent abroad great Colonies into Spain, as the Names of Celtiberi and Celtici do declare. And the Belgae made their descent into the Maritime parts of Britain, as may be collected from the Names of Winchester. Venta Belgarum, of the Inhabitants of Berkshire, so called from the Atrebates of Gallia Bel­gica, who transported themselves thi­ther. Atrebates, and Living in Norfolk, Suf­folk, Cam­bridge and Huntington­shire, trans­planted from the Iceni in Belgium. Iceni, it must needs follow, that on the one side the Spani­ards, and on the other the Romans, the English, the Danes, and the Normans, must bring in many strange Words with them, and so corrupt the Country Speech. Yea, I rather judge it more worthy of Admiration, that the Languages of neighbouring Nations, ha­ving been adulterated by the coming in of so many strange People, and in great part chang'd by the Speech of neighbour Counties, that yet, so long time after, the Britains should not differ in their whole Language, but only in certain Idioms and Dialects only: For, if any one of them, though of another Nations, do hear a Man speak British; yet he may acknowledge the sound of his own Language, and may understand many Words, though he do not comprehend his whole Discourse. Neither ought it to seem strange to us, if the same Words do not signifie the same things in all Nations, if we consider, what alterations Commerce with neighbouring Countries doth daily make in the Speech of all Nations; and, how much change is made by daily Conversation with Foreigners; how many new Words are coined to express things, newly invented; how many are [Page 59] imported with Wares and Traffick, even from the furthest parts of the World; how many old obsolete Words are difus'd; how many are lengthned by the addition of Letters or Syllables; and how ma­ny are shortned by contrary Decurtations; and some also new par­geted (as it were) by mutation or transposition of Letters. I will not inquire, in how short a time, and how much, the The Iones were a Colony of the Greeks, which Inhabi­ted I [...]nia, on the Med [...] ­terranean Sea in Asia. Ionick Speech did degenerate from the The At­tick Dialect was used in and about A­thens, and was the smoothest and purest Greek. Attick, and how much the other Greeks differ'd from them both. Let us but observe the Speech of the no­blest Nations in Europe, how soon did the French, Italick, and Latin Tongues, all derived from the same Root, degenerate from the pu­rity of the Latin; yet in the mean time, they differ no less amongst themselves, than the old Scotish and the British Tongues do. Yea, if we look over all the Provinces of France, (I mean those who are judg'd to speak true Gallick or French) what a great difference shall we find between the Inhabitants of Containing the Provinces of Savoy, Pro­vince and Languedock. Gallia Narbonensis, and the Formerly inhabiting the Kingdom of Navar, but now the Country called Gascoign. Gascoigners? And how vastly the Inhabiting Limosin, Peri­cord, and Auvergn. Limosins, the Inhabiting Limosin, Peri­cord, and Auvergn. Peri­gordins, and the Inhabiting Limosin, Peri­cord, and Auvergn. Auvergnians, though neighbours to both, yet differ from both, in their Speech? And how much the rest of the Pro­vinces of France do differ, even from all of them? And, to come nearer home; the English Laws of William the Norman, established Five Hundred years ago, and wrote in French ▪ yet now no French Man can understand them, without an Interpreter. Nay, if those old Men, who have lived long in the World, can remember, that many Words are grown obsolete, which were in use when they were Children; and what Words unheard of by our Ancestors, have suc­ceeded in their places; they will not at all wonder, that the same Original Language, in length of time, should be changed, and seem wholly different from it self; especially amongst Nations far remote, and also often warring one against another. On the other side, when I see that concord (lasting so many Ages rather than years,) in the British Language, and that even amongst Nations, either very di­stant one from another, or else maintaining mutual Animosities a­gainst one another; such a concord, as is hardly to be found amongst many Tribes and People of the Gauls, who yet have long lived under the same Kings and Laws: I say, when I ponder within my self, such an agreement in Speech, which as yet preserves its ancient Affinity of Words, and no obscure markes of its Original; I am ea­sily induc'd to believe; that, before the coming in of the Saxons, all the Britains used a Language, not much different from each other; and it is probable, that the Nations, adjoyning to the Gallick shore, used the Belgick Tongue, from whose limits a good part of the Bri­tans, bordering on France, had made a Transmigration, as Caesar in­forms us. But the Irish, and the Colonies sent from them, being derived from the Celtae, Inhabitants of Spain, 'tis probable, they spake the Celtick Tongue. I suppose, that these Nations returning, as it were, from a long Pilgrimage, and possessing themselves of the neigh­bour-Seats, and almost coalescing into one People, did confound the Idioms of their several Tongues respectively; so that, it was neither wholly Belgick, nor wholly Celtick, nor yet wholly unlike to either of them: Such a mixture we may observe in those Nations, which are thought to speak the German Tongue, and yet have much de­clined [Page 60] from the ancient Phrase thereof: I mean, the Danes, the Ma­ritime Saxons, those of Fre [...]sland, those of Flanders, and the English; amongst all which, 'tis easie to find some Letters, Sounds, and In­flections, which are proper to the Germans only, and not common to any other Nation; besides, I suppose, that a surer symptom of the Affinity of a Language may be gathered from this Sound of Let­ters; from the familiar way of each Nation in pronouncing certain Letters; and from the judgment of the Ear thereupon; and also, from the Composition and Declension of Words, than from the sig­nification of single or particular Words. Examples hereof we find in the German Letter W, in the composition of the Words More-Marusa and Armoricus, of which, I have spoken before: And in the Declension of those Words, which amongst the Gauls, end in Ac, of which there is a vast number, which Form amongst the Scots is Hypocoristical i. e. diminutive, as Thingling from Thing. Hypocoristical, i. e. Diminutive, and so it was amongst the ancient Gauls. From Drix, which, amongst the Scots, signifies a Briar, is derived Drissac, i. e. a Briarling, or little Briar bush. And from Brix, which signifies a Rupture or Cleft, Brixac, which now the French pronounce A well for­tified Town in Alsatia, built on an Hill, and a strong pass on the Rhene. Brisac. For what the Scots pronounce Brix, that the French call Bresche, even to this very day, there being no difference at all in the signification of the Words: The Cause of the different Writing, is, that the ancient Scots, and all the Spaniards to this very day, do use the Letter X for double SS. And therefore the old Gauls, from Brix, have called a Town of the People of Le-Main in France. Caenomani, Now Bressia. Brixia; and again, from Brixia, Brixiacum, now commonly Brisac. After the like Form, Aureliacum, i. e. A Town of Au [...]gn in France. Orilhach, is deri­ved from Aurelia, i. e. Orleans; and, from In Portugal. Evora, which is called Cerealis or Ebora, Sirnam'd by the Spaniards, Foelicitas Iulia, Eboracum, i. e. York, is derived; as the Brigantes have declined it, (who had their Origin from the Spaniards) retaining in the Declen­sion thereof, the propriety of the French Tongue. Furthermore, besides those things which I have mentioned, all that Coast of Bri­tain, which is extended to the South-West, retains the sure and manifest Footsteps of a Gallick Speech and Original, according to the clear testimony even of Foreigners themselves. First, in that Coast, there is Cornuvallia, i. e. Cornwal, as many call it, but by the Ancients 'twas called Cornavia, and, by the Vulgar, Kernico; even as in Scotland, the Cornavii in Scotland, and England too; in the one, the Ca [...]thness-Men; In the other, the Cor­nish-Men are so called. Cornavii, placed by Ptolemy in the most Northern District of that Country, are commonly called Kernicks; so that Etymology o [...] Cornwal. Cornuvallia is derived from Kernick and Valli, as if you should say Kernico-Galli, i. e. Cornish Gauls. Moreover, Vallia, i. e. Wales, another Peninsula in the same side, doth avouch its An­cestors both in Name and Speech. They who come near in Lan­guage to the Sound of the German Tongue, pronounce it by W, a Letter proper to the Germans only; which the rest of their neighbours, who use the old Tone, can by no means pronounce: Yea, if you should Torture them to make them pronounce it aright, yet, the Cornish, the Irish, or Highland-Scots could never do it. But the French, who call it Vallia, do always prefix G before it; and not in that Word alone, but they have many others also, which begin with G; for they, who, by reason of the Propinquity of [Page 61] the Countries do Germanize, do call the French Tongue The French Tongue by some called Walla. Walla; and besides, in a multitude of other Words, they use this change of Letters: On the other side, that Country which the English call Wales and North-Wales; the French call The French pronounce Gales and North-Gales, for Wales and North-Wales. Gales and North-Gales, as yet pertinaciously insisting on the footsteps of their ancient Tongue.

But Pol [...]dore V [...]rgi [...], mista­ken. Polydore Virgil pleaseth himself with a new fancy; which, he thinks, he was the first inventer of; whereas no Man, though but meanly skilled in the German Tongue, is ignorant, that the Word Walsch signifies a Stranger or Foreigner; and, that therefore the Valli were call'd Foreigners by them; but he reckons, as we say, without his Host: For, if that Name were derived from Stranger­ship, I think it would agree better to the Angles, or English, as an adventitious People, rather than to Those; whom, by reason of their Antiquity, many of the ancients have thought to be Indigenous: Or, if that name were imposed upon them by the English, they might with better reason have given it to the Scots and Picts, than to the Britains, because with the former they had less acquaintance and very rare Commerce: And if the English called them Valli in re­proach, would the Brittons, (think we) who, for so many Ages, were the deadly Enemies of the English, and now made more obnox­ious to them by this affront, own that Name? Which they do not unwillingly, calling themselves in their own Tongue O [...] Cumbri, [...] their King Camber, as some. Cumbri. Be­sides, the Word Walsh, doth not primarily signifie a Stranger or Bar­barian; but, in its first and proper acceptation, a Gaul. And there­fore, in my Judgment, the Word Vallia is changed by the English from Gallia, they agreeing with other Neighbour Nations in the Name, but observing the propriety of the German Tongue in pro­nouncing the first Letter by W, viz. Wallia. The Ancient Inha­bitants of that Peninsula were called The Inhabi­tants of South-Wales. Silures, as appears out of Pliny, which Name in some part of Wales was long retained, even in succeeding Ages. But Leland. Leland, a Britain by Birth, and a Man very diligent in discovering the Monuments of his own Country, doth affirm, That some part of Wales was somtime called Ross, which Word in Scotland, signifies a Peninsule. But the Neighbour Nati­ons seem in Speaking, to have used a Name or Word, which held forth the Original of the Nation, rather than One that de­monstrated the site and form of the Country. The same hath hap­pened in the Name Scots; For whereas they call themselves Al­bini, a Name derived from Albium: Yet, their Neighbours call them Scoti, by which Name their Original is declared to be from the Irish, or Hibernians.

On the same side and Western Shore, follows Gallovidia, i. e. Gal­way, which word ('tis evident) both with Scots and Welch, sig­nifieth a Gaul, as being made up of Gallus and Wallus, part impo­sed by the one, and part by the other.Galloway, whence deri­ved. For the Valli or Welch call it Wallowithia. This Country yet useth for the most part its ancient Language. These three Nations comprehend all that Tract and side of Britanny, which bends towards Ireland; and they as yet retain, no mean indications, but rather deeply imprinted Marks of their Gallick Speech and Affinity; of which, the cheif is, that the [Page 62] Ancient S [...]ts, i. e the Highlanders divide the Nations, inha­biting Britain into Two, the first Gael, the second, Galle or Ga [...]d, i. e. Gallae [...]i and Gal [...]i. Ancient Scots did divide all the Nations, inhabiting Britain, into two Sorts, the one they call Gael, the other Galle or Gald, i. e. ac­cording to my Interpretation, Gallaeci and Galli. Moreover the Gal­laecians do please themselves with that Title, Gael, and they call their Language (as I said before) Gallaecian, and do glory in it, as the more refin'd and elegant, undervaluing the Galli as Barbarians, in respect of themselves: And though originally the Scots called the Britains, i. e. the most Ancient Inhabitants of the Island, Galli; yet custom of speaking hath by degrees obtained, that they called all the Nations, which afterwards fixed their Seats in Britain by that Name, which they used rather as a Contumelious, than a National, one. For the Word Galle or Gald signifies That amongst them, which Barbarian doth amongst the Greeks and Latins; and Walsch among the Germans.

Now at last we are come to this point, i. e. That we are to de­monstrate the Community of Speech, and thereupon an ancient Another Ar­gument of Affinity be­tween the Gauls and Britains, from the Names of Towns, Rivers, &c. Affinity between the Gauls and the Britains, from the Names of Towns, Rivers, Countries, and such other Evidences. A Ticklish Subject, and to be warily handled; for I have formerly proved, that a publick Speech or Language may be altered for many Causes; for though it be not changed altogether, and at once, yet it is in a perpetual Flux, and doth easily follow the inconstancy of the alterers, by reason of a certain Flexibility, which it hath in its own Nature. The Truth whereof doth appear chiefly in those Ranks of things, which are subject not only to the Alterations of Time, but are also obnoxious to every Man's Pleasure or Arbitrement; such as are all particular things invented for the daily use of Mans Life, whose Names either grow obsolete, or are made new and refined, for very light and trivial Causes. But the Case is far different in those things, which are time-proof, and so, after a sort, are Perpetual or Eternal. As the Heavens, the Sea, the Earth, Fire, Mountains, Countries, Rivers; and also in those, which, by their Diuturnity, as far as the infirmity of Nature will permit, do in some sort imitate those per­petual and uncorrupted Bodies; such are Towns, which are built as if they were to be Sempiternal. So that a Man cannot easily give Names to, or change the old of, Nations and Cities, for they were not rashly imposed at the beginning, but in a manner by general and deep advice and consent by their Founders, whom Antiquity did greatly Reverence, ascribing Divine Honour to them; and, as much as they could, making them Immortal. And therefore, these Names are deservedly continued, and receive no alteration without a mighty Perturbation of the whole Oeconomy of things, so that if the rest of a Language be changed, yet these are pertinaciously retained, and are never supplanted by other Names, but as it were, with unwil­lingness and regret. And the cause of their imposing at first, con­tributes much to their continuance. For those, who, in their Pere­grinations, either were forced from their old Seats; or, of their own accord, sought new; when they had lost their own Country, yet retained the Name thereof, and were willing to enjoy a Sound most pleasing to their Ears; and by this umbrage of a Name, such as it was, the want of their Native Soil, was somewhat alleviated and addule'd [Page 63] softned unto them, so that thereupon they judged themselves not altogether Exiles, or Travellers, far from Home. And besides, there were not wanting some Persons, who, being superstitiously inclined, did conceive an Holier and more August Representation in their Minds, than could be seen in Walls and Houses, and did sweetly hug that Image and delightful Pledge of their own former Country, with a love, more than Native. And therefore, a surer Argument of Af­finity is taken from This sort of Words, than from Those, which, on Trivial Causes, (and oft on none at all) are given to, or taken away from, ordinary and changeable Things. For though it may casually happen, that the same Word may be used in divers Countries, yet it is not credible, that so many Nations, living so far asunder, should fortuitously agree in the frequent imposing of the same Name.

In the next place, Those Names succeed, which are derived from, or compounded of, the former Primitives. For, oft-times, the Derivative Words shew the Affinity of a Language more than their Primi­tives. Si­militude of Declination and Composition doth more certainly declare the Affinity of a Language, than the very Primitive words thereof do; for these are, many times, casually given: But the Other, be­ing declined after one certain Mode and Form, are directed by one fixed Example, which the Greeks call [...]. And therefore this certain and perpetual manner of Nominal Affinity, (as Varro speaks) doth, after a sort, lead us to an Affinity of Stock, and old Commu­nion of Language. Moreover, there is a certain Observation to be made in all Primogenious Words, from whence we may know, which are foreinly introduced, and which are Patriots. For, as the Words Philosophia, Geometria, and Dialectica, though oft used by Latin Writers, yet have scarce any Latin Word of kin to them, or derived from them, from whence they may seem to draw their Original; so, on the other side, the Words Paradisus and Gaza, are used by the Greeks; and yet it appears by this, That they are Inquiline or Forein, because they can't shew any Original, nor any Progeny, derived from them, in the Genuin Greek Tongue.

The same Observation may be also made in other Tongues, which will help us to judge, what Words are Domestick, and what are Adventi­tious, or Forein. Let it suffice to have spoken thus much in General. Let us now propound Examples, concerning every Particular part; Where, First, we meet with those Words, which end in Bria, Briga and Brica. Strabo, in his Seventh Book, with whose Opinion Ste­phanus concurs, says, That Bria signifies a City; to confirm their O­pinion, they produce these Names, derived therefrom, Or Brutobri­ca, a City of Thrace, on the Coast of the Aegaean Sea, now called, by the Greeks, Aenos, or [...] ▪ and by the Turks, Ygnos. Pultobria, A [...] Ancient Town in Spain. Brutobria, A City of Bulgaria, situate on the [...]uxien Sea. Mesembria, and Selivre, a City of Thrace, situate upon the Propontu, 15 Miles West from Constantinople. Selimbria. But the place by them called Brutobria, by others is named Brutobrica; and the places, which Ptolemy makes to end in Briga, Pliny closes with Brica; so that, 'tis probable, Bria, Briga and Brica are synonymous, all signifying a City or [...] ▪ with words compounded of them. That Bria, Briga and Brica, signifie the same thing. But that they all have their Original from Gaul, appears by this, That the Gauls are reported, anciently, to have sent forth Colonies into Thrace and Spain, and not They into Gaul; and therefore, amongst proper Classick Authors, we usually read the Words following.

• [Page 64]
  Braga in Port [...]gal.
  Abobrica in Pliny, in the Circuit of Braga.
• Amalo-brica in the Itinerary of the Emperor Antoninus.
• Arrabida.
  Arabrica, Pliny, in the Bracarens [...]an Circuit also.
• Castanheira in Portugal.
  Arabrica another, Ptolemy, in Lusitania, or Portugal.
• Arcos.
  Arcobrica, Ptolemy, amongst the Celtiberians, i. e. New-Castillians.
• Azvaga in Portugal.
  Arcobrica another, Ptolemy, amongst the Lusitanian-Celticks.
• Alcasor near Saragossa in Spain; which being at f [...]st called Salduba, from the Salt-Pits there, was afterwards re­built by Caesar Augustus, and called Caesarea Augusta, some Footsteps of which Name do yet remain in the word Saragossa.
  Arcobrica a Third, in the * Caesar-Augustan-Province.
• Atzburgh.
  Artobrica, Ptolemy, in the
  People of Bavaria and Suab [...] in Ger­many, so called from the Ri­vers V [...]ndis (Werd) and L [...]us (Leck,) near which they lived.
  Vindilici's Country.
• Villar del Pedroso.
  Augustobrica, Pliny, and Ptolemy, in Portugal.
• Puente del Arcobispo.
  Augustobrica another, Ptolemy, in the
  People of Extremadura in Spain.
  Vecton's Country.
• Ardea ol Muro.
  Augustobrica a Third, Ptolemy, in the
  Part of old Cas [...]le in Spain.
  Pelendon's Country.
• Axabrica, Pliny, of the Lusitanicks.
• Boppart, in the Bishoprick of T [...]eves, or T [...]ers.
  Bodobrica, in the Itinerary of Antoninus, and in the Book of the Knowledge of the Roman Empire, in High-Germany.
• Broughton in Hampshire, as Cumden: Quaere, Whether not Stockbridge, which though a mean place now, yet was formerly a noted Town, as appears by its sending Burgesses to Parliament at this Day: It is yet a considerable Pass, between Winchester and Salisbury.
  Brige, in the Itinerary of Antoninus, in Britany.
• Brige, in Strabo, a Town by the
  Which divide France from Italy, or rather Piem [...]nt from Dauphine.
  Cottian Alps.
• Bruto-brica, in Strabo, between the
  Inhabitants of Extremadura, or Andalusia, in the Kingdom of Corduba, in Spain.
  Turduli and the River
  Guadalquivar, a famous River in Spain.
  Boetis.
• Barcelos, a Town now of Portugal, formerly of Spain, near the River Celand, Inhabited heretofore by the Celerini.
  Caeliobrica, Ptolemy, of the Celerini, i. e. People in Portugal.
• Caesarobrica, Pliny, in Portugal, also.
• Catobrica, of the
  People of Hispania Boetica.
  Turduli, in the Itinerary of the Emperor Anto­ninus.
• Corimbrica, Pliny, in Portugal, if I mistake not, corruptly for Conim­brica, of which mention is made in the Itinerary of Antoninus, which City, as yet, keeps it ancient Name, by the River Munda, in Por­tugal.
• Cotteobria, Ptolemy, in the
  In Extra-medura, in Spain.
  Vecton's Country.
• Deobrica, Ptolemy, among the Vecton's, also.
• Miranda de Ebro.
  Deobrica, another, Ptolemy, of the
  B [...]s­camers.
  Autrigones.
• Deobricula, Ptolemy, of the
  People of Burgos in Spain.
  Morbogi.
• Dessobrica, not far distant from
  Lagos in Portugal.
  Lacobrica, in the Itinerary of Anto­ninus.
• Bermeo, as some; Bilbao, in Spain, as others.
  Flavio-Brica, Pliny, at the Port
  Bermeo, as some; Bilbao, in Spain, as others.
  Amanus. Ptolemy, in the Au­trigons, calls it Magnus, but I know not whether Magnus, ought to be writ in Pliny, or no.
• Alanguera in Portugal.
  Serabrica in the
  Province of Santaren, in that Kingdom.
  Scalabitan Province, which Pliny writes Iera­brica.
• Fuente d'Ivero, as some; or else Braganza, as others, say.
  Iuliobrica, in Pliny, and in the Itinerary of Antoninus, of the Cantabrians, or Biscainers, heretofore called Brigantia.
• Lagos.
  Lacobrica, in the
  Inhabitants of the Kingdom of Leon in Spain.
  Vaccaeans Country, in Pliny, Ptolemy, and Fe­stus Pompeius.
• Lacobrica, at the
  Cape of St. Vincent, in Portugal.
  Sacred Promontory, in Mela.
• Langroi [...]a.
  Lancobrica, of the
  Dwelling by the River Anas in Portugal.
  Lusitanick Celts, Ptolemy.
• [Page 65]
  La [...]sanne.
  Latobrigi, near to the Svitzers, Caesar.
• Mon [...]briga.
  Medubrica, Sirnamed Plumbaria, by Pliny, in Portugal; this, if I mistake not, is called Mundobrica, in the Itinerary of Antoninus.
• Sant [...]ago de Lacem.
  Merobrica, Sirnamed Celtica, in Portugal; Pliny, and Ptolemy.
• Ma [...]abriga.
  Mirobrica, in the Country of the
  Inhabiting the Country of La Man­cha, in New-Castile.
  Oretani.
• Villa de Ca­pilla.
  Mirobrica, another in
  Es [...]remed [...] ­ra.
  Beturia, or, in the Country of the
  Inhabiting part of Alg [...] ­b [...]a and Mea [...] ­na [...].
  Tur­ditani Boetici, Pliny, and Ptolemy.
• Va [...] de N [...] ­bro.
  Nemetobrica, in the Country of the Lusitanick Celts, Ptolemy.
• Valera
  Nertobrica, in the Turduli's Country of Boetica, Ptolemy.
• Almun [...]a.
  Nertobrica, another, in the
  Spaniards, lying beyond the River [...]e­rus in Arragon and Castile.
  Celtiberians Country, Ptolemy, which, in the Itinerary of Antoninus, is called Nitobrica.
• Segorve, as Clasius thinks.
  Segobrica, in the Celtiberians Country, Pliny, but Ptolemy counts it the Head City of Celtiberia.
• Talega, or Tal [...]ga, in Portugal.
  Talabrica, in Lusitania, Pliny and Ptolemy.
• Alcantara.
  Turobrica in the Celts Country of Boetica, Pliny.
• Bra­ganza, as some; or rather B [...]g [...]a de Regoa.
  Tuntobrica amongst the
  The Gallicians living near Braga, in Portugal.
  Bracarean Gallaeci, Ptolemy.
• Vertobrica, Sirnamed Concordia Iulia, Pliny, in the Celt-Beticks Country.
• Volobrica, of the
  Inhabitants in and about Spire, in High Germany.
  Nemetes, Ptolomy.

Very many Names of Towns, and Nations, seem to belong to this Class, in all the Provinces, into which the Gauls distributed Colonies; For, as Burgundus and Burgundio seem to be derived from Burgo; so doth Brigantes from Briga. The Nominative Case of this word, in Stephanus, is Brigas, whence we decline Brigantes; as we do Gi­gantes, from Gigas. The Brigantes, according to Strabo, are situate by the Cottian Alps; and, in the same Tract, is the Village, or Town Brige. And the Dwelling in and about [...]ri­anzon. Brigiani, in the Trophy of Augustus, are rec­koned amongst the Alpin Nations. Bregentz. Brigantium, is an Alpine Town; and the Brigantii, are in the Country of the Or Bavari­ans. Vindelici, accor­ding to Strabo; and Brigantia, in the Itinerary of Antoninus; And the Mountain Monti de Brianza. Briga, (Ptolemy) is near the Fountains of the Rohsne and the Danow. Also Brigantium in Rhaetia, (Ptolemy) is the same Town, I suppose, which in the Book of the Knowledge of the Provinces of the People of Rome, is called Brecantia, and the Bodensée, or Lake of Con­stance. Brigantine Lake. And in Ireland, are the Inhabitants of Galway, Waterford and Tipperary. Brigantes, Ptolemy: The Brigantes also are in Albium, Ptolemy, Tacitus, and Seneca. And the Town Brige, or Brage, and Isobrigantium, in the Itinerary of Antoninus. And the Town Brianzon. Brigantium, in Orosius, by the Capo de Fi­n [...] terrae; or Nerium, in Ga [...]icia. Celtick Promontory, and Fla­viobrigantium, or Besanzon, in Ptolemy, in the Almeria. Great Port: And a later Brigantia, i. e. Braganza, now in the Kingdom of Portugal.

There is also another Class or Rank of Words, which do either begin in Words com­pounded of Dunum Dunum, or end therewith, which is a Gallick Word, as appears by those Heaps of Sand of the Morini, as yet called Duni, or the Downs; and those other Heaps of Sand in the Sea over against them in the English Shore, which retain the same Name of Downs. Yea, Plutarch, (I mean, He, who wrote the Book of Rivers) in [Page 66] declaring the Original of Lugdunum, i. e. Lions, acknowledges Du­num to be a Gallick Word. And indeed in expressing the Names of Villages and Towns, there is scarce any one Word or Termination, more frequent than That, amongst the Nations, who yet preserve the old Gallick Tongue almost intire; I mean, the Brittons in Or Lugdu­nensis, the Country about L [...]ons in France. Gallia Celtica; and the Highlanders, or Islanders. Ancient Scots in Ireland and Albium; and the Valli or Welch; the Kernicovalli, or Cornish, in England; for there is none of those Nations, which do not challenge that Word or Ter­mination for their own; only here is the difference, That the old Gauls did end their Compound Words with Dunum, but the Scots ordinarily place it in the beginning of Words; of this sort, there are found,

THô I have sufficiently demonstrated in the Two former Books, how fabulous, yea, how portentous, the Memoirs are, which the Writers of the British Affairs have deliver­ed, concerning their Ancestors; and have also shewn, by plain and clear evidences, that the Ancient Britains had their Origi­nal from the Gauls: Yet, because, I perceive, I have to do with Men, that pertinaciously adhere to a manifest Falshood, rather than with such as lapse by Rashness or Ignorance; I thought it worth my labour, if, out of Writers of great Authority amongst all Learned Men, I took off the edge of such Hair-brain'd Mens boldness; and, by that means, supply'd Good Men, and Lovers of Truth, with suf­ficient Arms to restrain and curb their daring and affronting Impu­dence. In the rank of such Classick Authors, I judge, Iul [...]us Caesar deserves the first Place, both for his Diligence in searching, [...] his Cer­tainty in knowing, and Sincerity in declaring things to others. He, in the Fifth Book of his Commentaries concerning the Gallick War, writing of Britain, says thus, ‘The inner part of Britain is inhabit­ed by such, as they themselves record to be born in the Island; and the Maritine Coasts, by such as came out of Belgium, either to make Incursions, or Invasions; and after the War was ended, they continued in the Possessions they had gained, and were called by the Names of the Cities, from whence they came. The Country is very populous, and well-stored with Houses, much like those of the Gauls; They have great store of Cattle; they use Brass for Money, or Iron rings, weighed at a certain rate. In its Mediterranean parts, there is found great quantity of Tin, and, in the Mountainous parts, Iron; th [...] but in a small quantity; their Brass is brought in by other Nations. They have all sort of Trees, that they have in Gallia, excepting the Beech and the Firr. Their Religion will not suffer them to eat either Hare, Hen, or Goose, notwithstanding they have of them all, as well for novelty as variety. The Country is more temperate, and not so cold, as Gallia: The Island lyeth Triangular, whereof one side fronteth Gallia; on which side, That Angle, where­in Kent stands, points to the East, where almost all Ships arrive from France: And the lower Angle, to the South; This side con­taineth above 500 miles. The other Angle lyeth toward Spain, and the Western Coast, in that Circuit, where also Ireland lyeth, which is an Island half as big as England, (as some think) and as far di­stant from it, as Gallia; In the Midway between England and Ireland, lyeth an Island called Man; besides many other small Islands, of which some write, That in Winter time, for 30 days together, they have a continual Night, whereof we learned nothing by inqui­ry; only we found, by certain measures of Water, that the Nights in England were shorter than in the Continent. The length of this side, according to the opinion of the Inhabitants, containeth 700 miles. The Third side lyeth to the North, and open Sea, sa­ving that this Angle doth somewhat point toward Germany. This [Page 82] side is thought to contain 800 miles. And so the whole Island con­taineth in circuit 2000 miles. Of all the Inhabitants, they of K [...]nt are most courteous and civil, all their Country bordering upon the Sea, and little differing from the fashion of Gallia. Most of the Inland People sow no Corn, but live upon Milk and Flesh, they are clothed with Skins, and have their Faces painted with a blew co­lour, to the end, they may seem more terrible in Fight. They wear the Hair of their Heads, long; having all other parts of their Body shaven, except their Head▪ and upper Lip. Their Wives are common to Ten or Twelve, especially Brethren with Brethren, and Parents with Children; but the Children that are born, are ac­counted His, unto whom the Mother was first given in Marriage.’

And awhile after, he says,

‘By these He understood, that (Verulam,) Cassivellanus's Town was not far off, fortified with Woods and Bogs, and well stored with Men and Cattle. The Britains call that a Town, when they fortifie Woody Fastnesses with a Ditch and a Rampire, and so make it a place of Retreat, when they stand in fear of incursi­ons from their Enemies. [...] taken by Caesar. Thither Caesar marched, with his Army, and found it well fortified both by Art and Nature; And, as he as­saulted it in Two several places, the Enemy stood to it awhile, but at last, were not able to bear the brunt and fury of the Assailants, but made their escape a back way out of the Town. Thus he took it, and found therein great store of Cattle, and, in the onset, slew and took prisoners many of the Britains.’