Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Of Allemeyne or Germany and of þe provinces of hit. Capitulum vicesimum sextum. Isidorus, Etymologia|rum libro nono.

ISIDORUS rehersethe that Germany, or Allemeyne properly seyde, hathe on the este to hit the durre of the floode callede Danubius, on the sowthe the floode callede Renus, of the northe and the weste the occean. There be ij. Ger|manyes; the superior whiche extendethe vn to Alpes to the bosom of the grete see that is callede the see Adriatike. And the inferior Germany, towarde the weste, is abowte the floode callede Renus, whiche is callede communely Almayne. There be mony peple in either Germany, and prouinces, as [Aleman|nia.] Boemia, Westefalia, Bauarrea, Turingea, Sveuia, Saxonia, Franconia, Lothoringia, Frisia, Selandia. Paulus, libro quinto. For the northerne plage, in as moch as hit is more removede from hete, in so moche hit is more hollesome for childer to be gendrede and to be noryschede. Hyt is in contrary wise of the plage meridian; for in as moche

as hit is more nye to the son, in so moche hit is more nyous to nature. Wherefore alle that region from Thanay unto þe weste, thauȝhe euery place be namede by theire propre names, generally thei be callede Germany, for that londe gendrethe so mony peple that hit may vnnethe suffise to norysche theyme. That causede so mony peple to haue goen from hit, as Hunes, Gothes, Wandalynges, Saxones, Winuli and Longobardes. Boemia is the firste prouince of esturne Germanye, hauenge on the este parte to hit Mesia, [Misia, MSS. (as usual.)] of the weste Danuby and Pannony, of the meridien Bauarria and Thuringia, of the northe weste Saxones, allemoste com|passede abowte with hilles and woodes, beynge habundante in yerbes and pastures and mony wilde bestes. Amonge whom is a beste like to an oxe in body and in hornes, whiche is callede in their langage loz, whiche defendethe hym not with his hornes, but gedrethe water in a grete voide place vnder

his chynne, whiche makenge the water hoote, in rennenge castethe [castetethe, Harl. MS.] hyt on hunters and on dogges folowenge hit, hurtenge theyme soore with that water. Thuringia hathe on the este to hit Boemia, on the weste Franconia, on the northe Westefalia, on the sowthe Danubyus. Franconia is as the myddelle prouince of Germayne, hauenge on the este to hit Thuringia, at the weste Sweuia, at the northe parte of Westefalia, at the sowthe Bauarria and Danubius. Bauarria hathe on the este to hit Danubius, at the weste Sweuia, at the northe Franconia, at the sowthe parte of Danuby and Rethica. Westefalia hathe on the este to hit Saxones, at the weste Frisia, at the northe the occean, and at the sowthe parte of Franconia and of Sueuia. Sveuia hathe at the este of hit Bauarria, at the weste Renum, at the northe parte of Franconia, at the sowthe Rethica and Alpes. Saxonia hathe on the weste to hit Westfalia, on the northe the occean, on þe sowthe Thuringia. Isidorus, libro quarto decimo. The peple of Saxones whiche be moore nowble in vertu and agilite not oonly on londe, but [folio 42b]

also on the see, is moche contrarious to theire enmyes. Wherefore thei be callede Saxones, as importable and harde as a ston. In the hilles or mownteynes of whom allemoste alle kyndes of metalles be founde, tynne excepte. Also Germayne hathe salte welles, of whom white salte is made. Also nye to the hille where copur is geten is a grete hille, the stones of whom smelle lyke violettes. Also feire marbole is founde in the hille nye to the Abbay of Seynte Michael. Beda, libro quarto, capitulo vicesimo quinto. The olde Saxones vsede not a kynge but other men in worschippe; which perceyvenge batelle to be inducede made a gouernoure to theyme after as the chaunce scholde ffalle, whom thei folowede in tyme of batelle. The batelle doen, alle the nowble men were of egalle honor. Plinius, libro quinto. Frisia is a region sette on the brynke of the weste ocean, takenge begynnenge of

the sowthe parte from the floode callede Rhenus, and is endede with the see of Danes. The men of that londe be rowndede in the maner of a cercle, as moche as men be of moore nobilite, in so moche thei be rowndede more hye. That peple is stronge and of semely stature, bolde in herte, vsenge speres for arowes, luffenge moche liberte. Wherefore thei wylle not suffre a knyȝhte to haue pre|dominy in theyme. They be obediente to iugges, whom thei make yerely; luffenge clennesse and chastite; kepenge theire childer with grete diligence, not suffrenge theyme to be maryede tylle they atteyne to xxiiij^ti yere in age. Wherefore thei gette myȝhty childer. Whiche wontenge woode brenne turfes made of the erthe. Selandia is a litelle londe, and in the costes of the see, compassede abowte as an yle with armes of the see, hauenge at the este to hit Holande, at the northe Frisia, at the weste the occean, at the sowthe Flandres; hauenge grete hepes

in hit in a circuite for cause of the see; in whiche londe be fewe trees, for a tree may not take þer roote for saltenes of the erthe. The peple of hit is of grete stature, stronge off body, meke in mynde. Paulus, libro primo. Also in the sowthe weste of Germayne be peple callede Scribonij, whiche haue plente of snawe in the tyme of somer, and eite rawe flesche of bestes, hauenge clothes of the ruȝhe skynnes of bestes; where the beames of the sonne be seen contynually, somme nyȝhtes abowte the solstice of somer; and also abowte the solstice of wynter, thauȝhe liȝhte appere in the day, the son is not seene. Item, libro primo, capitulo quarto. A denne is seen nye to men of that cuntre vnder an hie hille, where vij. men slepenge haue lyen longe, the clothes and bodies of theym incorrupte, whiche be supposede to be Romanes, as after their habite; whom a man movede thro auaryce willenge to

vnclothe anoon his armes wexede drye. Perauenture God preseruethe theyme incorrupte for that entente, that men of Barbre may be conuertede to the feithe by theyme.