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

Of the kynges hie weyes. Capitulum quadragesimum quintum.

Gaufridus: Molimicius, the xxiiij^ti kynge of Briteyne, and the firste maker of lawe of theyme, ordeinede that the ploes of [folio 63b] tillers, the temples of goddes, and the weies ledenge to cites

scholde ioye the immunite of confute, so that noo man giltty fleenge to eny of these thre scholde not be borowede of eny man for his defence. And within a litelle space folowenge there was movede a grete dissencion of the weies, in that there was noo certitude in theyme. Wherefore Belinus kynge, and son to Molimicius, causede iiij. hie weyes to be made thro Englonde, defendede and storede with grete priui|lege to remove alle dubitacion. The firste of whom, and the moste, begynnethe in an angle in Cornewaile at Totte|nesse, and is extendede in to the northe, and terminate in the ende of Scottelonde at Katenesse. ℞. Neuerthelesse that weye begynnethe more truly, after somme men, in Corne|wayle, goenge by Deueschire and Somerseete, nye Tewkes|bery on Cotteswolde, and from that coste to Couentre, and soe vn to Leirecestre, and so furthe thro a grete pleyne, is terminate at Lyncolne. The secunde principalle weye is callede Watlingestreete, goenge ouerthwarde the firste weye,

that is to say, from the sowthe este in to the northeweste; begynnenge at Dover, and goenge thro the myddes of Kente vn to Temmyse, nye to London at the weste of West|mynster; goenge from thens to Seynte Albanes at the weste, by Dunstaple, thro Stratforde, Toucestre, Wedunam, at the sowthe of Lilleburne, thro Atheriston, to the hille of Gilberte, that is callede now Wrekene; and from that hit kyttethe ouer Seuerne nye to Worcestre, and so Stratton, and from thens thro the myddes of Wales, and is endede at Cardigan in the see of Yrlonde. The thridde principalle way is callede Emyngestrete, whiche begynnethe at Seynte Dauides in Westewales, goenge to Sowthe Hampton. The iiij^the principalle wey is callede Rikenilde [Bikenilde, Harl. MS.] Strete, goenge from Seynte Davides þro Worcestre, thro Birmicham, Liche|felde, Derby, Chesterfelde, Yorke, and to the floode of Tyne that is callede Tynnemowthe.