Prolicionycion [sic]

¶ Cronica Ranulphi Cistrensis Monachi De orbis dimensione prescianus in Cosmagraphia ¶ Capitulum quintum

IVlius Cezar by counseyl of the Senatours / And Aldermen of Rome sought and serched historyes and bokes of his yeres of doyng and dedes. And ordeyned wysemen and redy to me∣sure and descryue alle the world aboute. Thenne fro Iulius tyme to Saturmus tyme xxxij yere. Messagers wyse men and wel y taught in the practy∣ke of Geometrye cunnyng and prouffytable to mesure and g••s∣se hygnes and lownes· lengthe and brede and depnes also were redyly sente to euery londe aboute to Iugges and Capytayns / to Gouernours of londes / ffor they shold mesure and descryue Londe and water / woodes and laundes valeys and playnes / Montaynes and downes. And the see stronde and euery place where ony man myght goo or ryde. or shippe sayle· And wryte and certefye the senatours where and what wondres were foun∣den / R. This witnesseth Iherome in translatyng the hystorye of Eusebi libro secundo / ca^o. secundo / there he sayth that pylate Iuge of the Iurye certefyed. Tiberyus cezar of merueylles & wonders that Criste wrought in the Iewrye / & Tiberius certefyed the Se∣natours· but the Senatours byleued not· ffor they had not herd a fore so wonder werkes / prescianus & so by warnyng and certe∣fyeng of Capytayns of londes it was founden and knowen that alle the world aboute hath sees of dyuerse names ·xxx· I∣londes / lxxij. Famous montaynes / xl / Prouynces / lxxviij / No∣ble cytees / iij.C / lxx Grete Ryuers / lvij· Dyuerse nacions an. C and fyfe and twenty / ¶The roundenes of the world aboute is thre honderd sythes / and fyften sythes an honderd thousand paas The lengthe of the erthe that men dwelle Inne fro the eeste to the weste / that is fro Inde to the pylers of hercules in the See Ga∣dytan is iiij score sythes. & / v / sythes. an· C / lxxviij myle / but the waye from that one ende to that other is moche lasse by water∣than by londe. The brede of the erthe fro the southe to the north that is from the clyf of Occean in Ethyopia the londe of blak men to the mouthe of the Ryuer of Thany is wel nyghe haluen dele lasse than the lengthe. and conteyneth / liiij.C / and / lxij myle also it is fonde that the deppest place of the See of myddel erthe conteyneth doun right fyften furlonge depe. R / Tholomeus sayth

that the Roundenes of a Cercle about conteyneth thryes so moch as the brede and the seuendele of the brede / So that the propor∣cion of two and twenty to seuen· So that is acounted that the roundenes of the erthe aboute conteyneth twenty thousand and fourty myle / yf we departe that somme a thre and the seuenth part of the thyrde. the thycknes of the erthe thurghout is almost sex thousand and fyue honderd. four score and enleuen myle / Thenne half the thyknes of the erthe inward / and doun right / is thre thousand two C· fyue & fourty myle· and somwhat ouer as it were half a myle / So yf helle is in the myddel of the erthe doun right it may be knowen how many myle it is to helle.

¶ De orbis diuisione / Augustinus de cinitate dei libro sexto ca∣pitulo / Octauo ¶ Capitulum Sextum

THe departyng of the world take hede that the grete See of Occean beclyppeth alle the erthe aboute / And the Erthe is departed in thre grete partyes. Asia that is one parte· Europa that other / And Affryca the thyrdde / But the thre partyes ben not alle euen lyke moche / ffor Asia one of the thre conteyneth half the erthe / And stretcheth fro the southe by the eeste vnto the north / And is closed aboute with the see of Occean / But it endeth wes••ward atte grete See / Beda de na∣turis. his endes ben the mouthe of the Ryuer Nylus in the south and of the Ryuer thanays in the northe. Ysidorus libro quarto / decimo / capitulo quarto / That other parte europa stretcheth doun∣ward fro the Ryuer thanays by the northe / Occean to the costes of Spayne and ioyneth to the grete See by Eeste and by southe And endeth in the Ilonde Gades. ¶ Item / Ysidorus / capitulo quinto / Affryca the thyrdde parte stretcheth fro the west to the southe vnto the Coost of Egypte / And these two partyes Affry∣ca and Europa ben departed a sounder by an Arme of the See Plenius libro 3^o. c^o. p^o. The mouthes of that Arme conteynen ffyften thousand paas in lengthe / and fyue thousand paas in breed. And of thylke mouthes the See of myddel erthe be∣gynneth / And by dyuerse armes spredeth and wexeth inward the londes

De parcium orbis descripcione· plenius liliro sexto· prescianus in Cosmagraphia ¶ Capitulum septimum

ASia is mooste in quantite / Europa is lasse / And lyke in nombre of peple / But Affrica is lest of alle the iij partyes bothe in place & in nombre of people· And therfore somme men that knewe men and londes acounted but two partyes of therthe only· Asia and Europa. And they acounted that Affryca is na∣rowe in brede and euyl doers / Croupt ayer· wylde beestes / And venemo{us} dwellen therin / Therfore they that acounte Affryca the thyrde part acounte not by space and mesure of lengthe and bre∣de / But by dyuerse disposicions better and worse and departe Affryca fro Europa and Asya as a sore membre that is not fro membrys that ben hoole and sounde and in good poynt at the beste Also Affryca in his kynde hath lasse space. And for the sturenes of heuen it hath the more wyldernes / And though Affryca be lytil. it hath more wyldernes and waste londe. ffor grete brennyng of hete of the sonne / Thenne Europa for al the chele and grete colde that is therinne / ffor why alle that lyueth & groweth maye better endure with cold than with hete· But me∣sure ruleth bothe / Plenius libro sexto / Therfore it is that Europa nouryssheth and bryngeth forth fayr men larger and gretter of body myghtyer of strengthe· hardyer and bolder of herte and fay∣rer of shappe than Affryca. ffor the sonne beme alwaye abydeth vpon the men of Affryca / And draweth oute the humours and maketh hem short of bodyes· black of Skyn / Crypse of beer / And by drawyng oute of spyrytes maketh hem coward of herte / The con••••••rye is of northeren men In the cold without stoppeth smal•• hooles and porus. and holdeth the hete withinne· And so ma∣keth hem fatter gretter and whyter withinne. and so hardyer and bolder of herte

¶ De mari magno medio siue mediterraneo Plenius libro 3^o. capitulo primo· ¶ Capitulum octauuin

THenne the grete see of myddel erthe begynneth in the wes∣te at hercules pylers / there the see Occean of Athlant bre∣keth out & maketh the see gadytan· The lengthe of that see is .xv M· paas / & the brede .v / m. paas / & hath in the right side affrica & in the lyft syde europa. & therof spryngen the Inner sees / the endes

therof is the water thanayan the northsyde. & nylus in the south side / ysid / lib^o. 14 / The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 see flowynge oute of the Occean tur∣neth in to the southe. and thenne in to the north / Balearis is the fyrst grete hauene and passage of the see / and shedeth in to sp••••∣ne· Thenne the other mouthe gallycus passeth by the prouynce of Narbon. thenne lygustyus by Ianua a cyte / Thenne tyrenus to ytalye archeth / Thenne the hauen of Scicilia passeth to creta then∣ne the passage of creta stretcheth in to pamphilia and Egypte and fro thens the streme of the grete hauen and mouthe Elespontus breketh oute a brode in grete wawes and stremes· And torneth northward But besydes grece at Boforn it wexeth narow and streyght. as narow as the space of vij furlonges· And there ex∣erses the kynge made ouer a brydge of shippes for to passe in to grece and warre therin· Plenius libro sexto / There the see is so narowe bytwene Europa and Asia that men may here in eyther syde out of other houndes berke / and fowles synge / but yf weder and wynde lette· Giraldus de p^o. c^o. x^o. / that narow place is na∣med seynt georges arme. And stretcheth forth by constantynople and bytwene Europa and asia· And in that see is the Ilond abydes / ysid. libro nono / Thenne the see shede••h northward and maketh the see propontydes. thenne it naroweth to the narownes of vj.C / paas / & is the see trach̄ / Thenne the see ponticus that pas¦seth by north / by trasia and Misia stretcheth to the waters and mareys of meotydes. and receyueth there the ryuer thanays / then¦ne it stretcheth estward and passeth by the lasse Asia vnto the endes of yberya and armeny. and that see is named Eusinum / Ysid lib^o. nono. And that see is swetter shorter and more mysty For ffresshe Ryuers al aboute renne and fallen therto. ¶ In that grete mouthe and baye ben ylondes as chachos / Pathmos and other. Plenius lib^o. / 6^o. / And the see ponticus floweth not ne torneth agayn. but euer renneth in to the see propontydem and Ebespontum / R. The cause therof is myght and strengthe of Ry∣uers & bakwaters that rennen therto / dryue forth the see eusinum alway in one cours / & the strength & the flood of the see elespon∣ticus that is fer fro occ••••n may not withstōde the cours / & strēgth of the strong stremes that renne that cours. ysid lib^o. nono / as the erthe that is one hath dyuerse names bycause of dyuerse pla•••••• so this grete see by cause of dyuerse Kyngdomes / Ilondes peple / Cytees & townes that it passeth by / & happes that falle therin is dyuersly named and hath dyuerse names

¶ De Occeano / ysidorus libro 13^o. ¶ Capituluin nouum

THe see of Occean byclyppeth alle therthe aboute as a gar∣lond. and by tymes cometh and goth / ebbyng & flowyng and floweth in sees and casteth hem vp / And wyndes blowen therin. Plenius libro secundo / / capitulo 99 / The hyghe flood of Oc¦cean aryseth vpon the costes of brytayn four score Cubites high And that rysynge and depnes is better knowen by the clyues than in the hyghe see / ffor betynge of veynes is better knowen in the vtter partyes of the body than in ward in the myddel within Eueryche flood aryseth more in occean than in the grete see that is for the hoole to gyder is myghtyer and stronger than ony party by hym self / Or for the hool Occean is grete and large and re∣ceyueth. more workyng of the mone than ony partye by hym self that is smaller and lasse· Therfore lakes / Ryuers / Pondes and other ffresshe wuters ne ebbe ne flowe as Occean doth / Plenius libro secundo· capitulo 7. Occean spredeth and shedeth in to dyueerse mowthes and costes toward the londe / And in many places wel nyghe toucheth the Inner sees. so neyghe that the mouthe that is called· Arabicus / and is the mouth and the coste of the reede see is fro the see of egypte. but fyfty thousand paas also the mouth and see that is called caspius is but thre honderd / lxxv / myle fro the grete see that is called Eusinus / Beda de naturis. Amonge alle the mowthes and sees that cometh toward the lond and out of the Occean thre ben holden mooste famous. The mouth and see hath two names and is called gadytanus and athlantycus also The second is called caspius / and entreth out of nor••heest and de∣parteth bitwene the northsyde of Inde and Sicia that lond An•• that stretcheth toward the grete mouthe and see that is named Eusmus / The thyrdde mouthe and see is the reed see and cometh out of the northeest. and departeth the south syde of ynde fro ethi∣opia and egypte / ffro thylke two londes thenne the reed see stret∣cheth forth and departeth in ij mouthes and sees. that one is na∣med persicus & stretcheth northward / that other is named. Arabi∣cus and stretcheth westward and toward the grete see. This rede see is not reed of kynde / but it flassheth and wasseth on the reede cleues and stones and so is y dyhed reed as a roose / therfor of the clyues and stronde of the reede see is gadred vermylon and rede precious stones-Solmus. by the see that is called caspius ben

hylles that ben called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hilles of caspij and haue in length•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 / thousand paas / and in brede vn••ethe the space of a cartwaye / In the sydes of the hylles of caspij salt veynes melte and wose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 humours and moysture y dreyed and clongen by heete of 〈…〉〈…〉 ne. ioyneth and cleueth to gyder / as yse or glas / And so men 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not clymme on the hylles the weye is so slyther. Also euery draught is ful drawe in the space of xxviij / thousand paas· the londe is drye withoute socoure· and addres and serpentes fallen therto· so that but it be wynter ther maye no man come therinne· .R / Marcianus sayth that the yates of Caspij ben faste shette wi••h yron barris and in spryngyng tyme faste barred for ser∣pentes and adders / And the mayster of historyes sayth that atte prayers of kyng Alexander the hilles of caspij were closed and ioyned to gyders / Paulus in historia long. li^o. p^o. / Ther ben many swole wyngys and whirlyngys of waters by the see brynkes tweyne ben in the see of myddel erthe bytwene Italye and the Ilonde Scicilia / thylke two swolowes ben called scylla and ca∣rybdys of the whiche speketh vyrgyle / and seyth Scilla is peril∣lous in the rightsyde / and carybdys in the lyft syde / Other swo∣lewys and perylles of water ben in Occean / One is in the west•• clyue of brytayn and is called the nauel of the see / the other is bytwene brytayn and gallycia· and it is seyd that these swo∣lewes twyes in the nyght and daye swole wyth in stremes and flodes and caste hem vp agayn· Also it draweth in shippes and casted hem agayn as swyftly as an arowe to a mans sight.

¶ De prouyncijs orbis / Et primo de Paradiso. ¶ Capitulum decimum

FOr the knowleche of erthly paradyse / thre poyntes muste be knowen / wherfor thre questions must be axed· the fyrst ques¦tion axeth yf ony suche place is on erthe / The seconde axeth whytherward· and where is paradyse in erthe. the thyrde axeth what countrey and place is paradyse in erthe· ffor the fyrst four maner witnessis we haue that paradyse is in erthe / ffyrst storyes that lykened Sodome er it were ouertourned to paradyse· The se∣conde witnes is of hem that assayed· wrote and sayde that they had seen that place / The thyrdde wytnes / ben the foure Ryuers that rennen out of paradise. ffor the heed of thylke ryuers ben not founden in see ne in ffresshe water ner in londe that men dwelle

Inne though Kynges of Egypte and many other trauaylled wel ofte and sought ther after. Therfor Ysid ·xiij. eth· sayth that Iherom toke hede that other vnderstondyng byhoueth of the Ry∣uers of paradyse than Auctours wryten. Also Basilius in ex∣am••ron / ysid eth̄ libro xiiij. and Iosephus libro primo sayen that waters fallyng of the hyghest hylle of paradyse maken a grete ponde / and out of that ponde / as it were a welle the four Ryuers spryngen / Petrus capitulo 14 / Of the whiche four Ryuers the fyrst is physon / And is to menyng ful wexynge of plente / That Ryuer physon passeth in to Inde and draweth with hym golden grauel· Phison hath another name· and is called ganges of a Kynge of Inde. whiche was named Gangarius. But Ganges is to saye. Felawship and Companye. For it receyueth t••n grete Ryuers that rennen therto / The seconde is called / Gyon and Nylus also. And goth aboute Ethiopia and Egypte The thyrdde is Tygris / And as Iosephus sayth dyglath also that is to saye sharpe. ffor it is swyfte as Tygris whiche is a ryght swyft beeste. And Tygris passeth toward Assyria that londe / Ysidorus libro tercis decimo· The mooste certayne Auctour Salustius sayth that ther cometh a welle oute of Cerannes the hilles of Armenye and spryngeth oute of the foote of the hylle that is called Cancasus. And that welle is the heed of tweyne Ryuers· of Tygris & of Eufrates. the whiche two Ryuers som∣tyme ben· departed a sonder and somtyme medlid to gyders. and of••e tyme they ben swolowed in to the erthe / And after spryn∣gen vp agayn. And longe after goon aboute. Mesopotonya that londe / and dounward in to the reed Se••e. R. And though men rede in bokes that Nylus cometh oute of Paradyse / Yet somme men affermen and saye that Nylus spryngeth in the weste side of the londe of Ethiopia not fe•• fro the hylle that is na∣med Athlas / And gooth aboute Ethiopia and dounward by Egypte / Seche the proprete of Nylus in the Chapytre Egiptus· ¶ The fourth witnes and proof that suche a place is in Erthe that is called Paradyse· is old Fame and longe durynge· ffor men shal bileue olde fame that is not withseyde· But Fame of Paradyse hath endured withoute gaynsayeng sixe thousand yere and more. For fro the begynnynge of the world vnto oure dayes it hath endured. And Fame that is fals endu∣reth not so longe. ffor it falleth oute of mynde or is dispreuyd by Sothnes knowen / ¶ Of the seconde question that Axeth in

whiche syde of the world and in what place paradyse shold be· Though that shorte wytted men and lytil of assaye saye that pa∣radyse is longe sayllyng out of the erthe that men dwelle Inn••· And also departed from the erthe. and is as hyghe as the mone / it is not to be bileued· ffor nature and reason bothe withsaye it / ffor yf paradys were departed atwynne fro the erthe that men dwelle Inne· ne water ne eyer myght bere such a burthen / also the fuyer occupyeth alle the myddel space bytwene thayer & the mo∣ne / thenne paradyse is not there· ffor thenne nothyng myght lyue therinne / also yf paradyse were so hyghe· somtyme it shold take a waye the lyght and make eclypse of the mone. but of suche an eclypse herde we neuer Also yf paradyse were so hygh & departed a sonder from euery londe & erthe. how shulde the four Ryuers that spryngen oute of paradyse passe by the ayer and the wyde see and come in to londes that men dwelle Inne / And yf men saye that paradyse is so hyghe that in one place it contynueth to the erthe that men dwelle Iune / Thenne the erthe is enlong & not round al about as wyse men descryuen hit· but that may not ston∣de· For it is knowe by experyence and assaye that in euery eclyp¦se of the mone the erthe maketh a round shelde / Therfor the erthe with alle his partyes muste nedes be rounde· And so wyse men conclude that paradyse is in the vttermest endes of the eest. and that it is a grete contrey of the erthe no lasse than Inde or Egyp¦te / and a large place and couenable for al mankynde to dwelle Inne· yf mankynde had not synned. Of the thyrdde that axeth of paradyse what maner place it shold be. ysid sayth / libro 14 / ca / 3^o. / that this name paradis y tourned oute of grue in to latyn is as moch to say as an orchard but paradise in ebrew is called edē that is to saye lykynge· The whiche tweyne y put to gyder maketh an Orchard of lykyng .R. no wonder· ffor in that place is all thyng that acordeth to lyf· Ysid libro quarto decimo / There is helthe for the eyer is attemperat neyther to hote ne to colde so that nothyng that lyueth maye deye therinne. that withnessith Enok and hely that yet ben there a lyue· Iohannes damascenus that place hath fayr weder and myrthe / ffor it was the celer and place of alle fairenes. no maner tree leseth there his leues. ne flowres ther fade Ther i•• myrthe and swetenes of fruyt and trees that growe the∣re / Genesis secundo capitulo / It is wryton euery tree therinne is swete to ete and fayr to sight / Therinne is sykernes and sewrte. for the place is hyghe / R / petrus / ca· 13^o. sayth that the water of the

grete flood cometh not in paradyse Though somme men saye that paradyse is hyghe as the mone / that is not soth in wordes and in dede but that speche is saued by an excusacion of spekyng that is called yperbolyca / So that they that speken wolde mene that paradyse in heyght passeth alle other londes / Treuisa / So we prayse an erthly man Iordan or Iohan· and saye that he was the best man that euer was. and yet he was neuer so good as cri∣ste· So in wordes that / subtil men wel dyuyne the menyng is tre¦we & good / but alas as ysidorus sayth libro nono. capitulo primo Oure waye to paradyse is faste stopped by cause of the synne of our forn fader / hit is closed al about with a brennyng wal so that the brennyng therof arecheth to heuen. as somme men wolde wene paradyse is closed with that wal to holde out mankynde / angels stonden / on that wal to kepe wel paradys that none euil goostes mowe come therin.

¶ De Asia & prouincijs eius. Ysidorus lib^o. / 14 ¶ Capitulum vndecimum

YSydorus sayth that asia hath the name and is called after a woman that dwellyd therinne / whiche was named Asia In Asia ben many prouynces and londes the whiche I shal de∣scryue & rekene al along. & begynne with ynde. ynde hath in the est syde the sonne rysyng / In the south the see Occean / In the weste the Ryuer of ynde. In the north the hylle that is called Canca∣sus. And so ynde is ende. In ynde ben men of coloure and hewe dyed / In ynde is a byrd that is named phytacus. elephantis pe∣per· and a tre that is called hebanus / yuory and precious stones beryls / Crisopassis / Carbunclis· adamantis. and golden hylles. to the whiche it is ful harde for to come / For dragons and grypes & for dyuerse maner men grysly and wonderly shapen· Amonge alle the londes of this world / ynde is grettest and mooste ryche strengest and mooste ful of peple / In wonder and meruaylles moost wonderful. In Inde a croppe of a fyghe tree is so grete and so wyde sprad· that many companyes of men may sytte atte mete wel ynough there vnder / That causeth the goodnes of the londe / temperure of weder and plente of water· Plenius libro sex∣to / capitulo / 19 / In ynde ben many kynges and peoples / Somme of hem tylleth the londe / Somme vseth chaffare & marchandyse Somme knygthode and chyualrye. And somme ben grete clerkes

¶ In ynde ben treees that haue toppes as hyghe as men shal shote with an arowe. Also of a gobet bytwene tweyne knottes of a reed in ynde men make a boot that bereth thre men attones ouer a depe water / In ynde ben men of fyue Cubyte longe that wexe not seke n••r yelde vp the breth. Also ther ben satiri and other dy∣uerse men grysly and wonderly shapen. Ther Inne ben men of a Cubyte long / and ben named pygmey. These pygmey geten childe¦ren. and engenderen in the fourth yere· and wexe hore in the ·v· They gadre a grete hoost / and ryden vpon weders and Rammes to fyghte with Cranes / and destroyen theyr nestes and her egges For the Cranes that ben theyr enemyes shold not encrece and wex¦e to many / There ben bis•• phylosophers that biholde on the sonne al the day long / Also somme haue heedes as it were houndes. And the voys that they make / is lyker to berkynge of houndes than to mannes voys They ben clothed in wylde beestes Skynnys / And Armed with her owen teth and nayles and lyuen by huntyng and hawkyng. Other ther ben that haue no mouth and lyuen by odour & smellis / & ben clothed in mosse & heery toftes that growe out of trees / Other wexe hoer in yongthe and wexen black in el∣de / In some hylles of ynde ben men that haue the sooles of their feet ouertorned and .viij. fyngers in one hand. Tull de tust / 9^o. / In one contrey of ynde euery man hath many wyues. but whan the husbonde is deede. the wyues shal goo to gyders and loke whiche of hem was best byloued of the husbonde / and she shal be buryed with hym and put in the erthe quyck and a lyue / And in that countrey that is the fayrest happe and fortune acounted and also worship that ony wyf myght haue / Petrus / 19 / 6· In ynde hen trees that ben called trees of the sonne and of the mone. Prestes that ete of the Apples of thylke trees lyuen v / C / yere / they were called the trees of the sonne ffor eueryche of them qua¦ked / and shook as sone as the sonne beme touched his toppe / and answerd men that stode about. The same doyng was of the trees of the mone· By these trees. the grete kyng Alysaundre was for∣boden that he shold neuer come in babylone / Ysydorus libro / 15 / Offyr is an Ilond of Inde ther Inne is grete plente of gold / And the passage therto out of grece is by the reed see

¶ Capitulum duodecimum ¶ De parchia Ysid libro. 14

YSydorus sheweth that parchia that kyngdom for mygh•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 strengthe of men of that londe that her name spradd 〈…〉〈…〉 the londes of Assiria and media and was woonte to cont•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the londe of four contreyes· of Assiria· Media Persida and of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mania / the whiche londe· perchia stretcheth in lengthe fro the Se•• that is called caspius vnto the Reede See / And in brede from the Ryuer of Inde / to the Ryuer that is called Tigris / That is the bygynnyng of the londe / that is named. Mesopotonya / Tro∣gus libro decimo capitulo / quynto. Perchij the men of Perchia in the langage of the countrey of Scicia were outlawes· and whan the kyngdom was taken from the men of Media to the men of Persidia / thenne were the perchi as it were praye to the vyctours and were as it were vnknowen emonge men of the eeste l••ndes vnto the tyme that men of macedonia bycam kynges and lordes of londes. Thenne afterward they serued the Macedoyns whan the macedoyns were vyctours in the eeste londes / But atte laste they were parteners with the Romayns and deled / lordship with hem· These perchij vseden the maners of men of Scicia▪ that put hem out somtyme. therfor her armes & wepen ben fethery. swel¦lyng wyttes. gyleful espyes ¶Men they acounte violente· and wynmen mylde. and euer they ben vnesy to her owen neyghbours or to straunge men / They ben comynly stylle and lytil of speche / more redy to doo than for to speke· therfore they holden pryue good happes / and bonchyef. as wel as euyl happes and meschyef They ben obedyent to theyr lordes for drede and not for shame / They ben alle disposed to lecherye with theyr owne wyues / eue∣ryche of them hath many wyues / No trespaas amonge them is punysshed so greuously as aduoultrye by her lawe. therfore they forbeden theyr wyues open sight. festes & companye of other men· They lyuen scarcely & by lytil mete· & ete no fflessh but veneson. Giraldus .17. Thylke men after they lefte kyng S••lencus dwel¦leden vnder the kyng Arsaces· And therfor they were called Ar∣sacide / That kynge Arsaces taught hem fyrst lawes. he gadred knyghtes and buylded castellys / Cytees and stronge walled townes. And atte laste Arsaces the kyng ioyned the kyngdom of hircania to his Empyre / And so men of hircania longed to his empyre. Emonge the whiche afterward among other kynges co¦me Metridates. Metridates soone after the deth of Crassus consul of. Rome / Regned and helde the kyngdom .xliij yere· In the whiche tyme he dyde many viages and had many fair vyctoryes

as it is declared within forth in his place / Trogus libro .14 / par¦chij the men of Parchia ben in the myddel bytwene Scitas men of Scicia and medes men of media that londe / And Parchij ha∣ue many bondmen emonge them. For they ben neuer made free. theyr fre men ryden alway on horsbak· And theyr bondmen goon a foote· And in batayll they fyghten on hors / they goo•• to pryue offyce / and to comyn festes· but they teche bysyly theyr childeren to ryde and to shote. And eueryche of hem by his rychesse and po∣wer fynde to theyr kynde horsmen in bataylle for to fygthe· they conne not fyght in comyn maner. ner they conne not bisege cas∣tels nor stronge walled townes / they fygthe on hors rennyng in ful cours and tornyng agayn / And ofte in strengest and har∣dyest fight / they feyne for to flee and sodenly torne / and fyght a∣agayn that they mowe the slylyer wynne and slee theyr enemy∣es / In batayll they vse tabours and no trompe. and they mowe not endure longe for to fyghte / No men shold hem awelde and withstonde yf they were as stronge and stalworth to endure· as they ben angry and hasty to fighte· their buryeng is wonderful ffor beestes teeren· eten and al to halen theyr flessh. And they bu¦rye only but the bones

¶De assiri••s ysid libro .14 ¶ Capitulum / 13 /

Take hede that Assiria hath the name of Assur· Sēmes sone for he was. the fyrst that dwellyd therinne after noes flode this londe Assiria hath in the eest side Inde. In the south media / In the weste the Riuer tigris and in the north the hylle that is called cancasus / there ben the yates of caspye· there the hilles ben longe and narowe / trogus libro / 42 / Egeus was kyng of Athe∣nes / Medus was Egeus sone and folowed the dedes of Iason that was his owne stepfader· and buylt the cyte of media and called the cyte Media also / In worship of his moder that was named Medea / that londe medea hath in the north side the see / In the eest Inde· In the west Caldea / and in the south persida Ysid libro .14· Persida is y named and hath the name of Per∣seus that conquered that londe· and made hit a worthy lande that was to fore vnworthy· Persida hath in the est Inde. In the west the reed See In the north media / and in the south / Carmania. In that persida began first wicchecraft in nembroth the geants tyme that after the spredyng of many langages & tonges wente

in to Persida / and taught men of that londe to worshippe th•• ••••∣re and the sonne that is called in her langage el. the Ch••ef 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of that londe was named Elam after Elam Semmes sone. That Cyte was called afterward Elamayda / And is now cal∣lyd persipolis of that Cyte speketh holy wryt in libro macha••••••o∣rum. And of that Cyte they had the name they were 〈◊〉〈◊〉 callyd ••lamyte in Actibus Apostol••rum / Mesopotanea 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bytwene Tigris in the eest syde. And Eufrates in the weste 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And begynneth out of the north bitwene the two hylles 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and cancasus and hath Babylone in the south syde / ¶ ysido•••••• libro quinto decimo· Though baby••••nia were afterward y called a partye of Caldea / it was fyrst so solempne that it conteyneth as∣siria / caldea & Mesopotanea thre londes· The chyef cyte of babylo∣lonia was babylon the Cyte that Nemproth the Grant buylded· And Semeramis the quene afterward made that Cyte more Petrus Capitulo 37 / The Cyte is called babylon and the londe babilonia though that one be wel ofte take for that other / but the tour is called and named babel / Ocac̄ / libro secunde. Babylon was buylded as a ca••tel / And walled with four walles square al aboute / Euery walle was fyfty cubytes in brede and four ty∣me so moche in heygthe· ¶ The leng••he of euery walle from one corner to another was sixtene myle· the walles were al aboute foure honderd and four score forlonge that is foure and fourty myles / the walles were made of brende tile. And of glue in stede of morter so that nether water ne fuyre myghte hem shyfte ne depar te. ¶ In this Cyte were an Honderd yates and a diche withoute that was seen· ¶ The Ryuer Eufrates ranne by the myddel. of the Cyte thurghoute / Netheles Cyrus Kynge of Persida toke that Cyte afterward and destroyed it / as it is afterward w••eton. ¶ Iherome sayth that of the Releef of this cyte were buylded two g••ete Cytees in Persy∣da / And the place of Babilone is nowe wyldernes and fulle of wylde beestes· Caldea as Cassydea hath the name of Casseth Nachors sone· Nachor was abrahams brother / caldea is a gre••e kyngdom besides Eufrates in Semaar a felde of that kyngdom the toure babel was y buyld / Iosephus libro p / That tour babel was buylded two honderd .lxxij / paas highe. the lengthe somde∣le lasse to hem that b••helde hit neyghe / For the brede was so moche. ¶ R· Somme men saye that the tour was thre myle highe / ¶But Iuo Carnotensis seyth in his Cronyke that this

towr was fyue myle and almoost two honderd paas high and four myle broode / Arabia is sette by south Caldea / And hath in the eest syde Persida and in the west the Reed See / In arabi¦a is stoor myrre / and canel / and a byrde that is called pheny•• The northeest porcion of Arabia is named Saba and is called Saba after saba Chus sone. this Saba is byclypped i•• ••hre sy∣des with the Reed See / ¶Iosephus libro primo. In this Ara∣bia in the contrey of Madyan is· the mount of Syna / the mount Oreb is a partye of the mount of syna / and is highe / and hath grete plente of gras and of leese / But it is harde to come therto / for high Rokkes and scarres ¶Moyses was the fyrst man that ladde thyder beestes· hit is named also the mount of Couenaunt and of drede· For god almygthy therupon made thondryng and lyghtnyng and gaf the lawe to the folke of Israel that were at the hille foote / so that noman durste approche to it but he were puryfyed and made clene ¶ Treuisa / Fenyx is a wonder birde For of alle that kynde is but one a lyue ¶ / R / In the con∣tre of Arabie toward Circyus. is the hylle that is called mons¦••••bani· that hille departeth thre londes a sonder· Arabia· Iude & Fenys / that hille is ful high / so that snowe lyeth alway in som∣me side of that hylle / And it is a certeyn marke and token to ship men that sayllen in the grete see and ledeth hem to dyuerse mow∣thes and hauens / hit is an hille of helthe and plente. For Cypres¦se Cedre trees & herbes growen theron that droppen gōme & smel¦le swete. by the whiche trees gomme and swetnes seke men ben he led· and venym destroyed· Siria hath the name of Cyrus A∣brahams neuew and lyeth bytwene the water Eufrates in the eest syde. And the grete See in the weste syde. And hath in the north syde Armenia and capadocia / And in the southe syde the see that is named Arabicus. & conteyneth many prouynces that ben Comagena / Palestina. Fenys / Canaan / Idumea and Iudea· that is the Iurye. Damascus was somtyme the chyef Cyte of that prouynce· Eleaser Abrahams seruaunt buylded and made that Cyte damascus· Raysyn kynge of Damaske helpe awaye the ten· lygnages of Israel ayenst the kynges of Iuda / Damas¦cus is as moche to saye as shedyng of blood. For there Caym slo∣we Abel and hydde hym in the sonde

¶De Regione Iudee

¶ Capitulum / 14

IVdea is a kyngdom of Siria / a partye of palestina and hath the name of Iudas Iacobs sone. & was somtyme called cananea of cham Noes sone / eyther of the ten ma¦ner of peple that the Iewes put out of that londe· Petrus / Iu¦dea is taken in many manere / otherwhile for the londe of biheste / And thenne it hath the name of the Iewes and of Iudas. And so it ts taken in this speche / The grete Pompeus made Iudea trybutaryes / And otherwhyle it is taken for the Royamme of Iuda· And so it is wreton of Ioseph. that whan he herde that Archelaus regned in Iudea· he drad for to goo thyder. And som¦tyme it is taken only for the lotte of the lygnage of Iudas· And so speketh holy wrytte / and sayth· Iudea and Iherusalem drede ye not. ¶ Gir· d tercia / In this Iudea the lond of bihest the lengthe therof is fro dan. to Bersabee· And Iherome sayth in Epistola ad dardanum. that it is scarcely an hunderd and six¦ty myle in lengthe· And the brede is fro Ioppen to Bethlehem scarcely six and fourty myle of that londe / ¶ But secundum librum numerorum. Iudea is byclypped in this manere aboute And hath in the southe the dede see ¶And thenne it stretchith forth by Sina and Cades berne vnto the streme of Egypte that renneth westward in to the grete See· And in the northsyde the hille that is named / moūt Taurus. And in the est the hille moūt Libani / And the begynnyng of the See Tyberyadis and of the streme Iordan that spryngen atte foote of mount Libany bothe Tiberyadis and Iordan Thenne Iordan renneth in to the dede see. and departeth Iudea and Arabie. ¶This londe Iudea was byhoote to our forn faders· but not alle had / As Paule sayth ad hebreos ¶ Alle they ben dede and receyueden not the bihestes / ¶And so it muste be. that ther ben two londes of biheeste erthly and goostly: In that one is heuenly Iherusalem· and in that o∣ther erthely Iherusalem· by the whiche erthly Iherusalem· the heuenly Iherusalem is bitokened / ¶This londe Iudea is ryche and fruyteful. And hath plente of wyn and of spycerye / Of ce∣dres / Of Cypresse / Of Bame Of Olyues / Of pomegarnet· Of Palmes of Fygges. Of Mylke▪ and of hony / ¶ And bath in the myddel as it were in the Nauel of the erthe the Cyte Ihe∣rusalem ¶ Ysydorus libro quinto Capitulo primo / The Iewes seyn that Sem Noes sone that is named Melchisedech

also made and buylded the Cyte Iherusalem after Noes flood and called it Salem / But afterward a people that were called Iebusey dwellyd therinne and named it Iebus / So of thylke two names Iebus and Salem is made one name Iherusalem Afterward Salamon called that cyte Iherosolyma / and poetes that speken shortly callen the Cyte Solyma in her short ••peche / And after that helyus Adryan the Emperour callyd that Cyte Helya / and walled it and made it more aboute so that oure lordes Sepulcre that was somtyme withoute the Cyte is nowe closed withynne· R / ¶ Netheles it semeth that Iheronimus in episto∣la ad euangelistā presbitum. wole saye that Salem Saliin that Mechisedech made and dwellyd Inne / was another Cyte than Iherusalem. there he sayth that Salem is a toun besyde Sicolim that yet is called Salem / And the•• in is seen the palays of Mel∣chisedech· And therof speketh holy wrytte· Genesis. And sayth that Iacob wente in to Salem the Cyte of Sychem / that is in the ••onde of Canaan Will de / re libro primo / No welle is within Iherusalem but waters ben gadred and kepte in Cisternes / ffor the Cyte is so sette that it hath in the north syde the mount of Sy¦on. And is disposed that the water that falleth dounward and southward with the dependaunt toward Iherusalem taketh no fylthe but is clene ynowgh and renneth in to the Cyte and. ma¦keth no fylthe but renneth in to the cysternes as though it we∣re lakes and welle stremes / And somme therof renneth in to the brook that is called torrens Cedron· And maketh the brook torrentem Cedron wexe and be wel the more ¶ In the toppe or sommet of the mount Syon was a Ryal tour made for fayrenes and defence / ¶ In the· syde of mount Syon was the Temple as it were in the myddel bytwene the tour and the Cy¦te / The Cyte was lower than the tour· And therfore ofte holy wrytte clepeth Ihrlm the doughter of syon For as a dougther is mayntened and defended by the Moder and subgette to the Moder. So the Cyte was lower and subgette to the temple and the towre also / ¶The grete Constantynus are••ed there somtyme the Chirche of the holy Sepulcre. Mysbyleued men mysdyde neuer that Chirche / ¶And that is as men suppose· For euery yere on Eester euen· cometh fyre fro heuene & tendeth & lighteth the lampes therin / but whan that myracle began first it is vncerteyn & vnknowen / salamō the kyng walled this cyte somtyme with thre walles al aboute / netheles not only for strengthe / but for

distinction of dyuerce maner men that dwellden therin The Pre¦stes and clerkes that serued in the temple· ¶ And also the kyn ge and his meyne dwelleden within the fyrste walle by the mount of Syon· with in the seconde walle dwellden Prophetes and myghty men and stalworth / so speketh holy wrytte that Ol∣da the prophetisse dwellyd in Iherusalem in the second distincti∣on. within the thyrd dwellyd the comyn peple and men of crafte· .R. Fast by Iherusalem in the north side of the temple is the moūt of olyuere for plente of olyues· Seynt Augustin super Iohan∣nem calleth it the hylle of crisme and of vnction. the lyght and of fatnes the hille of medecyn and of fedyng For the fruyt of olyue is ful of lyght lykyng and vnctuous. And it was specially the hylle and the mount of lyght for it was bischyne with lyght of the sonne alday / And with lyght of the temple al nyght· In that hylle Salomon whan he wexr mad and al by shrewd for loue of women he buylde temples and highe places for mau¦metrye so seyth holy wrytte / Romanos / 2^o..1^o.. capitulo / Oute of that mount ascended Criste in to heuen / And in that mount he shal deme the world atte laste / Atte foote of that mount spryn∣geth the brook torrens cedron and renneth in to the valeyr of Io¦saphat bytwene the brynk of torrens cedron. and the mount was the orchard that Criste wente in ofte for to bydde and praye· In that Orchard Criste was taken by whiche was a Thorpe that heet Gethsamany / In that mount was the lytil street of prees∣tes that heyght bethphage. ¶ In the syde ofthe hylle was the towne of lazar Martha and Marie Mawdeleyn· that town was named Bethania / Hug ¶In the north syde of the mount syon is the mount of Caluarye. there Criste deyde on the Rode / And is called Golgatha in the langage of Siria. Golgatha is as moche to saye as a bare sculle / For whan theuys and mysdo∣ers were byheded / the heedes were lefte there. And so atte laste the skulles wexen al bare / ¶Other wonders of the temple loke in libro Regum. Ysidorus li^o. decimo quinto / capitulo primo Also in the Royamme of Iuda is the See of wyldernes that is the dede See / and from Iherusalem two Honderd furlonges that make fyue and twenty myle and departeth Iudeam / Palestinam and Arabiam / Ysidorus eth̄ libro terc••odecimo That lake stret∣cheth from the ende of Iudea not fer fro Ierico vnto Zores of Arabia seuen Honderd forlonges and foure score the whiche maken foure score and fourten myle / that lake is in brede

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an honderd and fyfthy furlonges· and stretcheth nygh to the con∣tre of Sodoma that lake is called lacus salinarum / for salte is made there· Also ther is moche glu•• in that countrey / & therfore it moeueth notwith wyndes for the glue withstondeth alway for water that hath glue stondeth stylle / and that lake susteyneth no shippe ne none other mater but it be glewed ¶ Petrus capitu¦lo quinto. Nothyng may vndo the glue of that place but only the blood that is called sanguis menstruus / Ysidorus libro. terciodeci¦mo / Hit is also cleped the deed see· For that see bryngeth forth nothyng that is quyck and a lyue. so that it receyueth neyther water fowles ne ffysshes so that what quyck thyng that dippeth therin· anon it leepeth vp agayn and alle deede thynges it swo∣loweth so fer forth that a lantern with light fletyth and swym∣meth· And if the lyght be queynt / it dippeth doun and deenchith Iosephus libro primo that was assayed and y knowen in that grete prynces tyme vaspasianus by two men that londen her hon¦des byhynde and were caste in there / but anon they were caste vp agayn· Ysidorus libro nono ca^o. tercio / That Royame is called pen¦tapolis / Also for fyue wycked cytees that there were a dr••int and y brent to asshes that were somtyme more ryche & more plenteous than Iherusalem. ffor saphirs and many other precious stones & gold also were fonde emonge the claye of that londe. As Iob wytnesseth. visesimo quarto capitulo. ¶ But now ther semeth somer shadowe and lykenes of fyre both in herbis and in trees for appels that there growen semen so fayr and so ripe / that who that hem seeth wylleth hem for to eten / but thylke Appels fallen anon to asshes· as they ben handled and smoken as they were a fyre· R. ¶ But there is another pentapolis in Affryca

¶ Capitulum / 15.

CAnaan is a Royamme of Siria and is named canaan for canaans childeren were the fyrste that dwellyd the∣rinne / after Noes flood / and conteyned / b•• nacions alle acursyd as it were by herytage of cham noes sone / Treuisa / Cham was Noes sone and had his faders Eurs· for he lowhe his fader to scorn whan he sawe his pryue membrys albare & vnheled whyle he laye a sleep. R / palestina is a prouynce of Syria / and that hight somtyme Philistea· The chyef Cyte therof hight

philistini· And nowe is named Ascalon. and after the Cyte is the prouynce called palestina or philistea· And men of that con¦trey ben called palestini & phylystei also / For in the speche of he∣brew is no· p· but in stede of / p / they vse / ph / therfor philistei & pa∣lestini ben al one· And be also called Allofily / that is to saye a∣lyens and straunge men· ffor they were alway alyens & straūge to the folke of Israel / that prouynce hath in the southe syde E∣gypte / In the west Tirus / In the north Iudea / and in the e••ste ydumea / ydumea hath the name of Edom· Edom and Ezau is alle one Iacobs broder / that ydumea is a strong londe hylly and hote and stretcheth to the reed see· ysidorus libro nono. In this y∣dumea is Iacobs welle· that welle chaungeth hewe and colour four sythes a yere / And is thre monethes pale as asshes / other thre monethes reede as blood. the thrid thre monethes grene as gras· the fourth thre monethes clere as water / Palestina was to con∣teyne Samaria / the chyef cyte of that londe was somtyme called Samaria. now it is called and named Sebaste / Samaria hath the name of the hylle that is called· Somer / And Samaria lieth bytwene Iudea and Galilea / men that dwellyd in Samaria were dryuen oute and Assirij were brought Inne / Assirij holden moyses lawe / But in somme thynges they discorde fro the Ie∣wes / and also they ben called Samaryte· that is to saye kepers / ffor whan men of the londe were taken. they were ordeyned war∣deyns of hem / Sychem that hyght sichima also is a lytil lond in Samaria. and hath the name of sichem Emors sone that fyrste dwellyd therinne. Also there is a Cyte that hight Sychem and now is called neopolis. that Cyte Iacob bought somtyme with moneye and grete trauayll· and yaf it to Ioseph his sone aboue his lotte so seyth Iherome / Genesis octo decimo capitulo / And this was a Cyte of refuge and of socoure. so it is wreton. Io∣sue visesimo capitulo For that londe. was de tribu and of the lygnage of Ephraym· And th••re were Iosephs bones buryed after they were y brought oute of egypte wytnes of holy wrty•••• / Iosue vltimo capitulo In that place Iosephs bretheren fedden and kepte droues and flockes of bestes / But afterward abyme∣lech̄ Ierobabels sone destroyed that place / and slowe the men that dwelled therinne. and sewe salt therinne / for the londe shold nomore bere fruyte and corn wittnes· Iosue capitulo nono / And there is Iacobs welle where criste rested by whan he was wery of weye & of goyng. galylea is a lond bitwene Iudea· & palestina

and is double / the ouer galylea / and the nether galylea / and Ioynen to gyders. And also to Siria and to Fenicia. In eyther galylea is good lond and grete plente of corn and of fruyt / grete lakes and huge prouffytable and helthful. And somme lake is so grete and so ful of ffysshe that men chepe it a see / so the lake of Tiberiadis is called the See of Tiberiadis / And genosar that la¦ke is called also· Also in the weste syde of the nether galilea to∣ward the grete see faste by the cyte ptholomayda that is called Acres Also is a welle that torneth in to glas alle metal that is caste therinne· Cedar is a londe in the ouer syde of palestina and hath the name of Cedar that dwellyd therin / that Cedar was Is¦mael oldest sone· The ofspryng of Cedar and of Ismael were af¦terward named Ismaelyte / And also agreani more rightfully than Saraceni. For they come of Agar that was Ismaels moder and serued Sara· But afterward for pryde they toke wrong∣fully the name of Sara and called hem self Saraceni / Methodius These men haue none hows but walke in wyldernes & dwelle in tabernacles & in tentes· and lyue by praye & by veneson. these men shal somtyme gader to gyders and goo out of wyldernes & occupye the londes aboute eygthe wykes of yeres / that is eygthe sithes seuen yere. And they shal ouertorne cytees and townes & slee preestes and defowle clerkes and holy places and teye her beestes to tombes of holy sayntes that shal bifall for wyckednes of euyl lyuyng of Cristen men / R this doyng semeth fulfylled in the last tyme of Eraclius themperour. whan that false prophete machometus occupyed Persida· and made Egypt and affryca sub¦gette· and wrote and brought in the fals lawe and secte of Sa¦rasyns / as it is Innermore playn wreton after heraclius tyme Fe¦nicia is a londe in the whiche is conteyned two londis tirus & si∣don & hath in the est syde / arabia· In the south syde the Reed See In the north the mount libani / and in the west the grete see· Ysid libro. 2 ca· 5. Phenyx· Agenoris sone bitoke reede lettres to the phenyces that ben men of fenicia and therfor that colour was called phenyceus· And afterward the lettre chaunged / and that was called punyceus that is reed / huḡ C / fenix / ffor phenyces were fyrst fynders of lettres. yet▪ we wryte capitael lettres with reed colour in token and mynde that phenyces were fyrste fynders of lettres

¶ Capitulum / 16 /

EGipte hath the name of egypte danays broder / and highte somtyme Aeria and hath in the eest. syde the reed se••· in the

south the Ryuer Nylus. and blac men. In the north the grete see and the ouer partye of Siria / and in the west libia / Egypte is zelde beraynd. and hath water and moysture only of the Ryuer nylus / and is ryche of corn of fruyt and of Marchandyse· Petr{us} capitulo· 94¶ Egypte ayenst kynde of other londes whan it hath plente of corn. it is bareyn of pasture· And grasse groweth after¦ward in tyme. There ben Cocodrylly and ypotamy also that ben water horses. Egipt hath in the ceste side a grete wyldernesse and dyuerce maner beestes wonderly shape· and in the west canopea / the whiche Ilond is the ende of egipt / and begynnyng of libia. ther is the mouth of Nylus. ffor there Nylus falleth in to the gre¦te see. R· Though men rede in bookes that Nylus that is named gyon renneth out of Paradyse / Yet it is sayd that Nylus spryn∣geth vp in the west ende of Ethiopia not fer from the hylle that is named Mons. Athlas / And thenne nylus goth for••h aboute Ethiopia and doun in to Egypte and ouerfloweth the playn countrees of Egypt. and by cause of slyme that renneth therwi••h it maketh the londe fatte and good to here corn and fruyt. so seyth Ierome vpon the prophete Amos by goddes owen ordenaunce· Nylus ouerfloweth and watreth alle the londe of Egypte / For heepes of grauel stoppe his cours that it may not lyg••tly falle in to the grete see· But after that it hath so biflowe & watred the lon¦de the heepes of grauel departe and falle / And thenne the water falleth in to the chanel agayn and renneth in to the grete see. Ne∣theles. Ysid seyth libro 13 / that nylus is dryuen agayn and let••e of his cours with the northeren wynde· And so the water swel∣leth floweth and wexeth grete· But beda in libro de naturis seyth that the Northeren wynde blowith in maye and stopped the cours of the water of Nylus with heepes of grauel and so the water a∣ryseth and ouerfloweth the londe / But whan the wynde ceseth the grauel to shedeth and the water falleth in to the chanel and so renneth dounward in to the grete see

¶ Capitulum. 17 /

TEre take hede of two londes that eche of hem is named Scicia / the ouer is in Asia / and the nether is in Europa. The ouer Scicia is a grete londe in the north / and hath moche wildernes by cause of grete colde and chele and stretcheth

somtyme estward vnto Inde / northward toward oecean / And southward to the hylle caucasus And westward vnto Germania but now it is made lasse and endeth in the west syde to hircania / in the whiche londe ben the hilles Iperborey. grete gripes· gold & smaragdes. and other precious stones· Trogus libro secundo Thylke men destyngeth not nether marke her feldes by boundes / ne by dyches they haue none hows for to dwelle in· their wyues and her childeren they lede in cartes· and they ben clothed in wyld beestes skynnes. wollen clothes vse they none· they lyue by mylk and by hony. they recche not of gold ne of Syluer they make no∣thynge that they drede to leese / they accompte no trespaas gretter than Robbery / their men of warre and vyctours desire nothyng but worship· they were neuer subget yet to ony man. They ouerca¦me vesor the kyng of Egypte in warre and bataylle / they chaced and fered darius the kynge of Perce / and made hym flee / They sloughe Cyrus the kynge also / they destroyed Zephirona and his ryches / Zephirona was the grete Alysaunders Capytayn. thryes they cōquerd asia· and asia was afterward to hem a thousand & fyue honderd yere / the men of this peple be by hem self / And the wymmen by them self· Also they made kyngdoms of dyuerce lon¦des. the men made of perchia and bactria· And the wymmen of Amasonia kyngdoms myghty and strong / And so it is emonge hem vncerteyn and vnknowe whether is more worthy and more noble in nature and kynde· men or wymmen. In the first iourney in asia after that they had dryuen chaced and poursewed vasor the kynge of Egypt. In the tornyng agayn they abode / xv. yere for to make pees in asia. But wyues made grete pleyntes and sorow that her husbondes were so long from home / and so the men were sente fore and torned home / and dwellyd with theyr wyues. In the second Iourney the men were by treson y slayn / & the wyues toke grete wreche of the enemyes / In the thyrde iourney the men were oute and absent four yeres to geder. And the wyues wed∣ded her owne seruauntes and bonde men that were lefte at home for kepyng of beestes But whan her lordes and husbondes had the vyctorye / and torned home agayn / the wyues & the newe hus¦bondes gadred hem to geders and arrayed hem in a grete bataylle to fyghte agayn their old lordes and husbondes that were coming homeward / and whan they mette to gyders Fortune was vnsta¦ble and vnstedfaste ones with that one syde and efte with that other that the lordes bithought hem and concluded to fyghte other

wyse with theyr owne londe men than with theyr enemyes of straunge londes / And caste away her owen Armour and wepen of knygthes. and bare whippes in her hondes. And so feered the chorles and the fals wyues that had broken theyr wedlock that they had shameful deth. ffor somme were slayn with yron and somme were hanged ful highe / After this iourney was peas in Scicia vnto the tyme of darius kyng of Persida / thenne darius was ouercome of the Scytes men of Scicia· And in the tornyng homeward he ouercome macedones that ben men of macedonia of that lond. And warred vpon Athenienses men of Athenes / Bactria is a lond that cham Noes sone dwellyd first in / And stretcheth fro the See Caspius vnto the Ryuer of Inde· And hath in the west side the mount cancasus and in the south perchia This hille cancasus is lengest of alle the eest hilles and mooste famous / and stretcheth fro the endes of Inde vnto the hille that is named mount Taurus / So that mount Taurus and cancasus is conteyned al one hylle. but somme men saye that the weste syde of cancasus that is toward Armenia / is. and heyte mount Tau∣rus / That mount cancasus hath in the north syde the see that is na¦med caspius and hircania that lond. And in the south syde perchi∣a and assiria and babilon / That hille by cause it stretcheth to dy∣uerse contreys & londes hath many and dyuerse names· that hylle is highest on the eest syde / And for whytnes of snowe that lyeth alway theron· it is called mons cancasus. that is to saye the why∣te hille. ¶ Albertus sayth that hille is so highe that men that dwelle therby seen the sonne beme in the weste syde thre houres within nyght And so many houres to fore the day in the eest sy∣de of the hille· Hircania that lond hath in the eest syde the See caspius. In the south Armenia / In the north Albania / And in the west Iberia that lond· And lyeth by the syde of the moūt can¦casus / and hath the name of that woode that is called hircania. In that lond ben dyuerse wyld beestes and fowles. Tigris that beeste and pantera also / That londe is wyde and large / and hath .xliiij. maner men / Somme tyllen londe. And somme lyuen by huntyng· And somme eten mans flesshe· there ben birdes that ben called hircane: her fethers shynen by nyght· ¶Iberia that lond lyeth vnder moūt Taurus / and lyeth westward fast by pontus / & ioyneth to armenie / albania that lond hath in the est syde the see caspius and stretcheth dounward by the mouthes of the north Occean vnto the waters that ben named meotydes / And the men

of that londe ben born with whyte heer and with yelowe eyen y peynted / And seen better by nyght than by daye. The houndes of that londe ben so grete so grym and so stronge that they throwe doun bulles & sleen lyons One of thylke houndes was sent to kynge Alysaunder and faught with in lystes with· a lyon and an Olyphaunt and with a wylde boor. and had the maystrye Gotha is the nether partye of Scicia toward Circiū· to that lon∣de Gotha lyeth that Ilonde Goclandia that Ilond hath plente of alle maner marchandise / And hath in the north syde dacia / and in the southe syde / Occean And is cleped gothia of gos Iaphets sone the men of that countrey ben redylyer called gothy than go∣gy / And ben right stronge men grete grym. and sturne & of hem come the dacies in Europa Setuly in Affryca Amazones in a∣sya / Armenia that is called also Ararath / Ararath hath the na¦me of Armenyus Iasons knyght / the whiche Armenius whan he had y lost Iason his kynge of thessalia / he gadred knygthes that royled aboute / and toke Armenia / and dwellyd therin· that londe stretcheth to the mount Taurus / And Cancasus from the See cas¦pius vnto Capadocia and hath in lengthe .xj· C / thousand paas And in brede. vij / C· Myle. ther is that hille mount Ararath / the∣re noes shippe abode after noes floode / And ther be two Armeny∣es the more. and the lasse. the ouerer and the nether / And so ben two panonyes also /

¶ Capitulum· 18 /

CApadocia that londe nouryssheth and fedeth many horses. & hath in the eest syde Armenya / In the west Asia the lasse In the north Amazonya / And in the south mount Taurus. ther by lyeth Scicilia and Isauria vnto the see Sylycus that stret∣cheth toward the Ilond of Cyprus / The lasse Asia ioyneth to ca∣padocia in the eest syde / And is byclypped and closed in the other sydes with the grete See· For it hath in the north syde that mouth and see that is called Ensinus / In the west the mouthe and See propontydes. & in the southe the see of Egypte· This lasse Asia conteyneth many prouynces and londes / For fyrste in the northe side it conteyneth bythinia in the begynnyng vpon the See ayenst Tracia / and is named also the more ffrigia· The chyef cyte of by∣thinia is named Nychomedia. Thenne is galathia and hath the name of men that were Gally that come atte prayer of the kyng

of Bithinia to helpe hym in his warris and dwellyd in that lon¦de galathia· but tho that londe was called gallogrecia / ¶ And the men of that londe gallogreci as men y medlyd of gallys and of grecis. But now they ben called galathe. and to hem Poule wryteth his epystle ad Galathas· ¶ The thyrdde is the lasse ffrigia· And hath the name of frigia Europaes dougther / Age∣nors dougther / & that frigia was named dardania also of darda∣ni{us} Iupyters sone in that londe is the cyte of troye that is named Ilium also Troye is named after troos erictonius sone that was dardanius sone that was Iupyters sone ¶ That londe hath in the eest syde lidia / and in the west the mowth and the See Eles¦pontus The fourthe is lidia / and is in the eest syde of the eeste ffrigia / ¶ In that lidia regned somtyme the ryche kyng Cresus. But whan that londe was to lytil for two bretheren that were kynges that highte lyddus and Tirenus. hit happened by lotte that Tirenus wente oute with many men and gate hym a lond in the ouer partye of Galya / and called his londe Tirea / It se¦meth that the See Tyrenus hath the name of this kyng Tirenus as the lond lidia hath the name of his broder liddus. The chyef Cyte of lidia is callyd smyrma to that cyte seynt Iohan euange∣lyst wryteth in thapocalipsis / the chyef Ryuer of lidia is named pactolus and bryngeth forth golden grauel as poetes tellen / The fythe prouynce of the lasse Asia is called pamphilia and Isauri∣a also· the chyef cyte of that londe is namod Selencia. that cyte se¦lencus. Anthyochus buylded and arered· Thenne is Scilicia· and conteyneth licia / and that is called licaonia therin were noble cy∣tres lystris and derben as it is wreton in Actibus apostolorum By thylke Cytees men saylle out of Siria to Italya / But the chyef cyte of alle these was Tharsis dounward toward the See Amasonia that lond is somme in Asia. And somme in Eur••pa and is neygh to Albania· The fyrst Amazones were the wyues of gothes that toke wrecche of her husbondes deth that were tray¦tourly slayne. For they toke prayes and slowe men and saued wymmen. and lyued long without husbondes· And afterward made hem two quenes / that one lad the Ooste and mayntened the warre· And warred faste▪ That other quene was at home and reuled the londe and gouerned the peple at home. And these wym¦men helde vnder hand a grete dele of Asia about an honderd yere / And atte laste these wymmen wold haue childeren· And toke husbondes of the nexte contreys aboute· And certayn tymes lete

theyr husbondes lye by them· and certayn tymes absteyned them

¶ But they slewe alle the men childeren / And saued the mayde childeren / And taught hem for to shote· And to do dedes of Armes & of chyualrye. And for grete brestes shold not lette hem to shote / of euery mayde of seuen yere old they brente of the right breste. And therfor they were called vrimamme. that is to saye brente brestes / And they were named Amazones that is to saye withoute breste. Hercules was the fyrste that chastysed the ylle disposicion of these wommen / And thenne Achilles / And atte laste the grete Alysaunder / And though ysid eth· 14. seyth that the grete Alysander destroyed Amazones / netheles the storye of ¶ Alysaundre sayth that whan kyng Alysaunder axed of hem trybute. Thalestrys the quene of Amasones wrote to kyng aly¦sander in this maner· ¶ Of thi wytte is wonder that thou desy∣rest to fygthe with wymmen. For yf fortune fauoure vs / And thou be ouercome it shal be grete shame and vylonye whan thou art ouercome of wymmen / and yf our goddes be wroth with vs and thou ouercome vs for to wynne the maystrye of wymmen / thou getest but lytil worship / ¶Kyng Alysander was plesyd with this and graunted hem fredom / and sayd wymmen muste be ouercome with fayrenes / and loue and not with steornes and dre¦de / ¶Trogus bbro / 2 / This quene Thalestrys after that she had ben kyng Alysaunders lemman fourty dayes she torned agayn in to her owen londe / And afterward in short tyme fyl in wyth her owen peple

¶De Affryca et eius prouyncijs ysid libro 14 Capitulum / 19

Alle Auctores of. historyes witnesse that affryca hath the na∣me of affer Madians sone abrahams sone that was goten on Cethura. Affryca stretcheth forth from the endes of Egypt by the south by the nether Ethiopia vnto the hylle of Athlas / And is closed in with the grete see bothe in the eeste syde & in the north side also / & hath in the west syde the weste Occean / R. Iosephus libro primo capitulo octauo· And Ysidorus libro nono / sayn that this Affer lad his ooste toward libia· and ouercome his ene¦myes by the helpe of the more hercules and named the men and the lond after his owne name Affryca. hercules wedded ethea affers doughter and gate on her dederym. Of dederym cam pharon·

This Affryca conteyneth many prouynces and londes / Fyrst it conteneth the west dele of Ethiopia· thenne libia. tripolis getu∣la· numidia. and two maritania / Of alle these nowe by ordre is our speche. Ethiopia hath thre partyes the fyrst is hylly and mō¦tuous. and stretcheth fro the mount Athlas vnto / Egypte / The myddel partye is ful of grauel. The thyrdde that is the eest par∣tye is almoost al wyldernes that partye is bytwene the south oc¦cean and the Ryuer Nylus And hath the Reed see in the eest syde / And heyte Ethiopia of the colour & hewe of the men of the lond that len blac men. & is for the grete brennynng & heet of the sonne. whiche is to hem ful nygh / In Ethiopia ben many dy∣uerse peple wonderly and grysly y shapen / some ar named goro∣mantes and somme trogodyte whiche ben swyftyer than hertes / And somme curse the soune for his grete heete. Somme ete serpen¦tes and addres / somme hunte lyons and panters. Somme dygge caues and dennes and dwelle vnder erthe and make her noyse with gruntyng and chirkyng of teth· more than with voys of the throte ¶ Somme goo naked and doo no werke / Somme withoute heedes and haue mouth and eyen in the breest / Among somme of hem ben foure footed beestes without eeres / And Oly∣fantes also. Somme of hem haue on hound for her kyng and dy∣uyneth by meuyng and styryng of hym· somme lyue only by ho¦nysoukles y dreyd with smoke or with the sonne· Ther ben also cameleons and basylyscus· vnycornes camels· pardes and dra∣gons that haue in her brayn and heedes many precious stones / Camelion is a flekked beste in colour lyke to a lupaerd. and so is pardus and panthera also & somdele of the kynde But pantera is frende to alle maner beestes sauf to the dragon alone. For hym be hateth as deth· ¶ Basylyscus is kyng of serpentes that with smel and sight sleeth beestes and fowles· ysid libro terciodecimo In Affryca among the peple that ben called trogodyte is a wel¦le that maketh hem that drynke therof to haue good voys shry•••• and clere. Also emong the other peple garamantes is a welle al the day so cold that noman may drynke therof· And al the night it is so hote that noman may touche. ¶ Libia Cirenensis that londe hath in the eeste syde Egypte· In the south Ethiopia / In the west the peryllo{us} place of the see that is call••d the more Cir∣tes and tragoditas also / And in the north the grete see 〈◊〉〈◊〉 libro quinto seyth that libia hath the name of that 〈…〉〈…〉 named lib••s and is the wynde that bloweth out of Affryca 〈◊〉〈◊〉

libia hath the name of libia Epaphies doughter. that Epaphye was Iupytres sone. ¶ That woman libia regned in that londe libia. And the peple of that londe heyghte phutey of phut chames sone / Tripolitana that regyon hath in the eest syde aras philenorn the antres and wyndes of that peple that ben sette bytwene the peple trogodyte and the more Syrtes. Syrthes maiores ben pe∣rylous places fast by the grauelly see that is named mare Are∣nosum ¶ And Tripolitana hath in the southe syde getulos and garamantes that stretcheth vnto the Occean of Egypt. and hath in the west syde bisancium vnto the lake that is called lacus sal∣marum / And in the north side he hath the see of myddel erthe· and the peryllous place that is called sirtes minores / the lasse sirtes· Getula is the myddel londe of Affryca and hath the name of ge¦thes that folke of the gothes· And in an Omely seynt Gregory seyth that thylke men haue no ffysshers

¶ Capitulum 20·

NVmidia hath in the eeste syde Sirtes minores the lasse Sirtes a peryllous place in the see. In the south Ethi∣opia: In the weste mauritania· And in the north the see Siculus In that is Ruscida and Cartago the grete Cyte that was in this maner arered and buyld as Auctours tellen ysido∣rus libro quinto decimo / capitulo tercio decimo / Fenyces men of fe¦nycia that londe wente fro the reed see and buylded these cytees first in Siria they buyld Sydon· and Tirus In affryca vtyca· In boecia thebe· and in the mouth of the west occean gades / ffor in olde tyme the Fenyces were greet marcha••ntes and passed in to dyuerse londes with marchaundyse that they brought and resseyued therfor lond and place to buylde on cytees and townes ¶ Trogus libro octo decimo / Dido whiche was named elissa al so wente out of Fenycea wtth a grete companye of yonglynges chosen / And sayled fyrste in to Cipris / And there this womman Dido toke with her four ••••re maydens for to brynge forth chil∣deren / And come in to Affryca / And there for ese and reste of her men that were wery of sayllyng she bought as moche londe as she myght beclyppe with an Oxes hyde· And kytte the hyde vnto a 〈…〉〈…〉 was ful longe and smal. And beelypte ther with 〈…〉〈…〉 / And cleped it birsa that is a thwonge ¶Ysidorus

libro quintodecimo. ¶ Or cartada that was a newe toun / After the name was chaunged and the place callid cartago. And thus Cartago was y buyld .lxxij yere to fore the cyte of Rome ¶ R Papias seyth the same / And historyes telle that Rome was buyld the fourth yere of Achas kynge of Iuda / thenne if we acounte redyly and put to gyder four yere of Achas / xvj ye∣re of Ionathas and lij yere of Ozias that / Regned to fore A∣chas it foleweth that Cartago was founded about the fyrse yere of Ozias the kyng / Netheles ysid li / 5 eth· & magister in historia scolastica sayen as it semeth that Cartago was founded aboute the xxxiiij yere of kyng dauid / Marianus sayth that Cartago was buyld about the iiij yer of amazias kyng of Iuda / thenne it may not stonde that virgilius and frigius dares in his histori of the bataylle. of Troye seyn that eneas sawe that woman dido For eneas was deede thre honderd yere & more er cartago was founded that dido founded or ther was another dido and older than she / or Cartago was rather y buylde / Therfor seynt austyn libro ·p· confessionū sayth that wyse men denyen that eneas sawe cartago / or dido that womman / Therfore Orosius li / quarto. sayth that Cartago is al aboute / xxij / M. paas •• and euery walle is .xl· cubites highe / and / xxx / foote broode / and the Cyte is byclypped with the see wel nyghe al aboute oute take faucibus that iij·M were opend. Mauritana is the name of two londes / the fyrste ce∣zarencis that hath in the est side numidia In the south the grauel of the Occean· In the west the Ryuer malua. & in the north the gewys of the grete See / Tyngytina is the laste prouynce of af∣fryca / and hath in the eeste syde the Ryuer malua / In the northe the see gadytanus / In the west the hylle Athlas & the see occean Mauritania· hath the name of mauron that is blac as it were the countrey of blak men / In this affryca is the hylle Athlas in the west syde and ende not fer from occean. And Athlas is so highe ouer other hilles that lewde men wenen that it retcheth to the mo¦ne. ther is ofte by nyght y seen / fyre fami and Saturi whiche ben spyrytes of thaye•• dyuersly shewed Also ther is ofte herd tymbres pipes and trompes / Augustinus de ciuitate dei / l•• / 18 Athlas was an astronomyen promotheus broder / therfore some feynen that Athlas bereth heuen. And of this man Athlas the hille hath his name and is called athlas also· And it is so highe that lewed men wene that it bereth heuen ¶ Take hede that pum¦pe ni punici & punyces also bē called ffenices affri & cartaginēses

as they were men of Fenycea of Affryca or of Cartago /

For that woman dido that founded Cartago was a comelyng and come fro Fenycea

¶De Europa et eius partibus ¶ Capitulum 21

YSidorus libro quarto seyth that Europa hath the name of Europa Agenors doughter kynge of libia and Iupiter kyng of Creta rauesshed Europa Agenors doughter. But this Europa is the thyrdde dele of this wyde world / And begynneth fro the Ryuer thanay. and the water meotydes and stretcheth dounward by the north Occean vnto the endes of spayne atte ylond Gades. & is byclypped by eest & also by south with the gre¦te see. In Europa ben many prouynces and Ilondes the which now shal be descryued / But first take hede that in the north side of the world / the water meotydes and the Ryuer thanays depar¦te a sonder the more Asia and europa / the ryuer thanays hath the name of thanas the first kynge of Scicia / that Ryuer thana∣ys begynneth fro the hylles ripheis and goth doun in to the see of myddelerthe / ysidorus libro quartodecimo. the lower scicia / that londe is ful of cold· and begynneth from the Ryuer thanays and stretcheth bytwene the Ryuer danubius and the northe Occean vnto the germania that coūtre. Alama is a partye of the lower Scicia And stretcheth somdele fro the waters meotydes toward dacian / misia that londe is closed in the northeest with the mouth of danubius and ioyneth in the southeest to Tracia / And in the southe to macedonia / In the weste to histria. and in the southe weste to dalmacia / Misia is a good lond of corne and of whete / therfor the old cereris called it a berne· Sclauia is a partye of Misia. ¶ ther ben also two londes eyther is named Sclauia· the more is named properlych Sclauonia and conteyneth som∣me ofDalmacia / and Sarmatas and hath wylde men. And See theues / ¶ The lasse Sclauia stretcheth fro wandalia and bohemia vnto Saxone / And therinne ben more myld men and people Pannonia hath the name of penninis Alpibus / that ben hilles that ar called Alpes. And thylke hilles departe pannonia & ytalia / ther is another pannonia beyonde the waters meotydes in the yonder scicia out of the more pānonia hinny wēt

an hontyng and passed long by marreys and waters & folowed the trace of hertes as Erodotus seyth / and so atte laste they fon∣de the lasse pannonia and torned home agayn / and toke with· hem grete strengthe and cam agayn in to the lasse pannonia and put¦te oute the men that were therinne / And called the londe hongaria But a partye therof is named bulgaria / And hath in the eest si∣de Misia / In the Southe eeste histria. In the weste Alpes the hilles that so be named ¶ In the weste gallia belgyca that is Fraunce / And in the northe that Ryuer Danubius and Ger∣mania that londe This londe Bulgaria hath vaynes of gold and hilles in the whiche men dygge marble and salt good atte beste /

¶ Degrecia et eius prouincijs. ¶ Capitulum 22

AVctours tellen that Grece with the prouynces therof is lady of kyngdomes noryce of knyghthode and of chyual¦rye / Moder of philosophie fyndar and mayster of Arte. and of science And hath the name of one grecus that regned there somtyme / Netheles that londe is called comynly Ilyricus / ¶ The men therof ben called greci / Graij· Achei. Achim / Argini·. Acciti. Ioues Ionij and Ellenes ¶ But whan the grete con∣stantin made constātinopolim the chyef cyte of thempyre of rome Thenne were the Grekes called Romanij / as it were men of ne∣we Rome so seyth Rabanus ¶ And vnto this ••aye the Gre∣kes be but Romayses. And were somtyme stalworth. orped / and best men of Armes and natheles subget to lawes ¶ Ysi∣dorus / d. Capitulo / 17 ¶ In this londe was somtyme the study¦e / and the Scole of Pallas and minerua· of grettese Arte and seyence of knyghthode and of Chyualrye ¶ And the Clergye and the chyualrye helde so to geders that in the comyn prouffyte was alwaye good ••peed / ¶ And the old Graij auentured and gate many thynges by Clergye and dedes of Armes / But that vertue keled and withdrowhe in hem that cam after∣ward and passed from the Grekes to the Latyns. So that to fo¦re where welles / were ben now but lakes. or more veryly drye chanels without water For now they holde synonys feynyng v∣lyxes gyle / atrenis cruelnes and fyghte with sleyghte and with

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cawtelis and not with Armure and wepen / This londe Grecia is fast by the grete see· & conteyneth many prouynces that ben Tracia / lacedimonia / Macedonia. Achaia Archadia· Thessalia. elladia and boecia / tracia is called epyrus also for epyrote dwel lyd therin and hath in the south syde the see Egyus / In the west Macedonia / In Macedonia dwellyd somtyme dyuerse men that hyghte massagete sarinate and gothy. ysid lib^o. / 15 / In this lon¦de is a welle that quenchyth brennyng brondes· & tendeth bron¦des that be acquenchyd. The chyef cyte of this londe is constanti¦nopolis in the est syde openly y seen bytwene the two sees ponti∣cus & propontydes / and openly y seen out of water and of londe And was somtyme the chyef Cyte of the eeste / right as Rome was of the weste / and higthe somtyme Bisanciū / of this Cyt•• W / libro quarto Regum speketh in this maner The grete con∣stantinus bylded and made this Cyte euen and pere to Rome / and demed that the emperour shold not be the chyef the apostlis were chyef and namely y crowned / / And he brought also ma∣ny relyquyes of holy seyntes that myght helpe ayenst theyr e∣nemyes / ymages of false goddes and tripodes delphycos that were Appollynes ymages he brought to be scorned and spyght to them that behelde hem and sawe. So this Emperour vouched sauf to bylde· the Chyef Cyte of thempyre in good corne coun∣tree· where there is good temprure of heuen and of weder beside the londe Misia that hath grete plente of corn and fruyte That Cyte is y seen and shewed to alle shipmen that sayllen thy∣derward oute of what londe that they come of Asia and of Eu∣ropa· And is wel nygh byclypped al aboute with the grete see and is cornerd within the clyppyng of the wallys fast by the see sydr. And is byclypped with a walle of twenty thousand paas. therwith heepes and huppels of stones and of grauel caste in to the see besydes the cyte / the londe is eched and made more· Also the Ryuer danubius that is callid hister also is y lete and y lad in to dyuerce places of the Cyte by goters vndrr erthe ¶ In this maner whan the water shal renne in to the cyte men take oute a barre that the water is stopped with. and lete the water renne / and stoppen whan hem lyken / And so Danubius fyndeth water ynough to an hunderd stretes· In this cyte con∣stantinus arered & bylded two famous chirches but Iustinian{us} the emperour buylded afterward the thyrd chirche in worship of Diuina Sophia that is oure lord Criste that Agia calleth

diuina sophya· in Englysshe the wysedom of god. And men telle that the werke passeth al the buyldyng of the world. And is more noble than men can telle· ¶ Thyder brought seynt helene the holy crosse that our lord Criste deyde on. There resten thappostles Andrewe and Iames that was called frater domini / In En∣glysshe oure lordes broder / there resteth Mathias and Prophetes also. Helyseus samuel. and Daniel. and also luke the euangelist and marters ful many / also confessours Iohan with the golden mowth / vasyleus and gregorius Nasasenus and vyrgyns Aga¦tha and Lucia / Lacedomonia that heyghte spartanya / also· is a prouynce of grecia fast besides Tracia / Men of that prouynce ben called lacedomones of lacedomon Semelis sone / and ben callyd spartani also· Trogus libro 3 ¶ These men somtyme beseged the Cyte Mesena ten yere to gyder / And were wery and agreued of pleyntes and of grucchyng of her wyues / And dradd also that longe abydyng from home in warre and in bataylle shuld make hem Childeren at home / And ordeyned therfor that maydens of her londe shold take yonglynges eueryche after other· For they hoped to haue the serenger Childeren yf euery womman assayed many men / ¶ But for the shameful doyng of the moders the childeren that were goten and brought forth in that maner we∣re called spartani· And whan they were .xxx· yere old they dred de sore of nede and of meschyef· For none of them wyst who was his owne fader therfore they take hem a leder and a Capytayne one phalantis Aracius sone / And toke no leue of her Mode••s· but. wente forth and were cast•• hether and theder by dyuerse for∣tunes / And atte laste cam in to ytalya. and droof oute the men that dwellyd there / And made the chyef Cyte Artarentum. ma∣cedonia hath the name of macedo deucalyons neuew. And was called somtyme Emathya of Emathyus the kynge / that hath in the ees•• side the see egeus / In the south achaia / In the west dal∣macia / and in the north misia / In this prouynce is the hylle mons olimpus & departeth two londes Tracia· and Macedonia. Petrus ca / 3· The hille passeth the cloudes in the vpprist of that hylle come no clowdes reine ne wynde / vpon that hille lettres that were wre¦ton in powdrr were founden withoute hurtynge or wemme atte yeris ende so fowles maye not lyue there For the ayer is to clere ¶ And philosophers maye not dwelle there to lerne the cours of the sterres withoute sponges watred and holden at her nose thirles to make thycker the Ayer. that they drawe to cole wyth

her herte· ¶ There is also mons athos that retcheth to the cloude•• the shadowe of that hylle arecheth to the Ilond lempnum. That Ilond is from that hylle / lxx myle· ¶ Dalmacia that lond hath in the eest syde Macedonia. In the west histria. In the north Misia. And in the south the See Adryaticus / Achia hath the na∣me of Acheus the kynge. And is wel neyghe an ylond closed in the see· For it hath in the eeste syde the see Tirenus· And in the north the see Creticus / In the southe the see Ionius And only in the •• west it ioyneth to Macedonia and to Attica· The chyef cyte of that londe is named Corinthus / there kynge Alysaunder gadred his hoost for to wynne al the world. thyder paule wrote his pistel ad corintheos / archadia that heygte Scicionia also & hath the na¦me of Archas Iupiters sone / and is an angle or a corner of A∣chaia & lyeth bttwene the two sees Ionius and egens and is sha¦pen as a playn leef· there in is albeston that •• wole neuer quenche be it ones sette a fyre· there ben also whyte Ousels though Ou∣sels be black emonge vs ther ben whyte ¶ Thessalia ioyneth in the southsyde to Macedonia / And was somtyme Achylles coun∣trey. And there began laphyte / thylke men chastysed and tamed horses firste with brydles / and satte on her backes / therfore the lewde pepple supposed that it had. be al one body man and horse that they satte vpon / ¶ And therfore an hunderd horsemen of thessalia were called Centauri· that name is gadred of tweyne of Centum that is an honderd and aura that is the wynde· And so that name was to hem gyuen Centauri / as it were an honderd wynde waggers / for they wagged the wynde faste in her redyng ¶ Trogus / li. 14 ¶ In this prouynce is the hille pernasus Poe∣tes acounte that hille noble and famous and hangeth with two copped stones / In the toppe therof is the temple of Delphicus ap¦pollyn. & in the wendyng of the myddel playn is a pytte / oute of that pytte philosophers were euspired / And dyuerse answers / we¦re yeuen oute of that pytte. Therfor yf noyse of men or of trompes sownen in a valeye / the stones answere eueryche other. ¶ And diuerse ecco sowned / ¶ Ecco is reboundyng of noyse Ysido∣rus libro tercio decimo In this prouynce ben two ryuers. sheep that drynke of that one shal wexe blac / and sheep that drynke of that other shal wexe whyte / And yf they drynke of bothe they shal wexe splekked of dyuerse colour / Also in this prouynce ben thylk likyng places to walke in that philosophres & poetes callē tempore florida· that is lykyng place with floures / Of this place

wryten theodolus and ouidius / ¶ Also in this prouynce was the thyrdd particuler flood and fylle in deucalyons tyme pryn∣ce of that londe / that Prynce saued men that fledde to hym in shippes and bootes / Therfore poetes feyned that he and his wyf pirra caste stones and made men / ¶ Elladia that londe hath the name ellena the kyng that was / deuo••lyons sone and pirras also

Of this Ellena the grekes were called ellenes· This londe is na¦med Attyca also of Athys that was grauius dougther· and ly¦eth bytwene Macedonia and Achaya / and ioyneth in the northe side to Archadia· This londe is very grecia / and hath two partyes Boecia ys that one. And peloponensis is that other / The Chyef Cyte of this londe is called Athenes / there was somtyme a grete studye of lecture and of Clergye / And men of alle nacions and londes come theder for to lerne Athenes that Cyte was buyld in this maner. Aug / de / ci / li / 18 ¶ That tyme that Egypte was sme••on with god almyghtyes wretthe vnder moyses hande somme Egypciens dradde beste Egypte shold be loste / And fledde out of Egypte to other londes / And so Cicrops fledde oute of Egypte in to Grecia / And there he buylded the Cyte of Attenes that was called afterward Athenes· In this maner as barr•• seyth· An Olyu•• was sodenly seen in that Cyte Attenes· And a water braake oute sodenly in an another place / ¶Thenne Cy¦crops axed counseyl of Appolyn· delphycus a maumete in the mount pernasus / and axed what these shold be to mene / And be answerd & sayde that the Olyue bitokened the goddesse min••rua And the water betokened Neptunus / And sayde that it was in power and choyse of cyteseyns after whether of the ·ij. goddes the Cyte shold be named / therfor the Cytezeyns both men & wom¦men gadred hem to gyders as it was the manere that tyme· that bothe men and wymmen shold come to comyn counseil / Thenne in that counseyl men yaf the dome for neptunus and wymmen for minerua / And for ther was one womman moo than men / My∣nerua had the. maistrye. And the Cyte was called by her name Athene. ffor mynerua in the speche of grue is called Athena Then̄e was Neptunus wroth wode & made the flode•• of the see tarise & ouerflowe & hele the londes of them of athenes as d••uels maye lyghtly doo suche chekkes. Thenne for to plese 〈…〉〈…〉 for to abate his wrath & his anger wymmen were punysshed b•• double payne / that one was that no woman shold afterward come in comyn counseyl ¶That other payne was that no childe

shold afterward bere his mod••es name· ¶ To that prouynce Ellaida lyeth Ele••pontus the grete mouth· of the grete see and hath the name· of elle ffryxus suster that fledde the malyce and the pursiewte of her stepdame and was drowned in that mouth and see· And for that happe / ••hat see and the londe aboute is na∣med after elle Elespontus ¶Varro. seyth that fast besides that place ben men that hele smytyng of serpentes with touche and with spotyl. Trogus libro secundo ¶Athemensis men of athe¦nes vsed fyrst crafte of wolle of wyne and of oyle / and taught to eere and sowe / and to ete acornes / they florysshed fyrst in lore of clergye and of lawe / ¶ The fyrste kynge of that londe hight Cy∣crops / after hym come granus that hight Granans also· Then¦ne his sone Athys yaf his name to that londe and cleped it after hym self Atheniensis / ¶Thenne after Athys regned Amphy∣gyonydes In his tyme wa•• the grete flood in thessalia / Thenne afterward the kyngdom descended to Erictonius· After hym reg¦ned egeus. & after hym his sone theseus / The theseus sone of de∣mophon / he helpe the grekes ayenst the troyans Boecia ¶Oxe lond that name of bos / that is an oxe· whan Cadm{us} Agenores sone at his faders heste sought his suster Europa that Iupiter had rauesshed & myght not fynde her he dradde his faders wratthe And he coude none other rede but fledde· as an outlawe / It hap∣ned that he folowed the foote of an oxe. and fonde the place that the oxe laye in. and called it Boecia / And buylded there the cyte thebe· In that Cyte bella Ciuilia debanuerunt / and there was ap¦pollo born and hercules in thylk more thebanus also / ¶In that londe is a lake wonderful and wode· For who that drynketh ther of shal· brenne in wodenes of lecherye· ther ben also two wellys in that londe. who that drynketh of that one he shal be foryetful. And who that drynketh of that other· he shal haue good mynde / ¶ Petrus· take hede that men of thebe in egypte ar called thebei / And men of thebe that is in grecia ar called thebani / and the men of thebe in Iudea ben called thebyt••

¶ Capitalum / 23 /

YSydorus libro quartodecimo. we rede in storyes that gre∣kes dwellyd somtyme in Italia / and called that londe the grete grecia that londe hight somtyme hesperya of hespera the ster¦re that ladde the grekes whan they saylled theder and was her

lodesterre· hespera that is venus. Afterward that londe hight sa∣turnia of saturnus that dwellyd there / For saturnus hydde hym self there in that londe for drede of his owne sone Iupiter. And called that londe lacium / that is saturnus hydles· After that that londe hyghte ¶Eusonia of eusonius vlixes sone· But ate laste that londe was called ytalya of Italus rege siculorum kynge of Scicilia. And is the noblest prouynce of al Europa. And is clo∣sed in the north side with the mouth and see Tirenus· And in the west with the sydes of the hylles that hight Alpes. Out of thyl¦ke hylles spryngen thre the noblest Ryuers of al Europa / that ben called the Ryuer danubius· and rone· ysid libro tercio deci¦mo ¶In this Italia is Cetheroes welle that heleth sore eyen. ther is also the lake clitorius who that drynketh of that lake no wyn shal hym greue / ¶Plenius libro secundo capitulo o••todecimo. ¶ Faste by the hilles that ben called Alpes Apennini is that welle Nouacius that welleth and spryngeth in the hoote somer and drye / and fordryeth in cold wynter and wete ¶ Treuisa Al¦pes Appennini that ben penitus hilles / Hanibal was a grete du¦ke & heygthe penitus also & wente by Alpes to Rome. therfor of the two names Alpes & penitus is that one name shortly made appennini. And so ben many lettres lefte of the two / ¶Paulus libro secundo In this Italia ben many prouynces and londes that ben called Calabria Apulia Campania / Beneuentana / Tu¦scia / Emilia liguria lumbardia / calabria / Apulia is a parte of Italia· And lyeth estward vpon the see. And is departed from the Ilond Scicilia with an arme of the see· Grekes were the first that buylded therinne. the chyef therof is brondus••um / and hath the name of that worde of grue brunca / that is an hertes heede. For the Cyte is shapen as an hertes hede / fro thens men saylle to the holy londe· ¶ In this londe Apulia ben hote wellys & holsom· The more com••ania is a lond in the myddel bytwene the demaynes of Rome and Apulia. the chyef cyte therof is Capna and hath that name of Capacitas. that is ablenes to receyue and to take / For that cyte receyueth and taketh ynough of alle plen∣te· and is counted the thyrdde cyte after the moost famous cytes Rome and Cartago. In that londe ben famous Cytees No∣thelis and puteolis. ther ben vyrgyls bathes that were somtyme in grete worship / But there is another lasse campania in gallia senosenci / that is ffruūce· The chyef cyte of that campania is called Trecas and Trecensis also. that is Troys in Champayn / R

In this Italia were somtyme dyuerse lordes eueryche after other that were grekes / Ianus Saturnus / Italus. Eneas and his ofsprynge and afterward gally senosences that ben ffrensshe men vnder duke Brenius Thenne afterward aboute the yere of Grace four honderd Gothy hynny wandaly atte last vnder the yere of grace / fyue honderd / . echt and fourty. ¶ In the prynce tyme Iustinus Narcencartularius prayde longobardy for to co∣me in to Italia & of the longobardy yet to this daye to hyther side of ytalia from Alpes wel nyghe to Rome beyghte lombardia How longobardy cam to that name. Paulus / Romanus dyaco¦nus in primo libro historye longobard / seyth in this maner wy∣nnyli that highte longobardi also and. haue the name of her longe berdes wente with two dukes Ibor and Ayon and her moder Gambara that was ful redy and wyse oute of scandinauia an Ilond of Germania in the northsyde. ¶this scandinania is y called an ylond not for it is in the see / But for in the playn of the· brynkes. it is alway wasshen with wawes / Oute therof wen¦te winnily and werryd in scormyga & ouercome the wandales Thenne deyed Ibor ond Aion & they made hem a kyng agel∣mundus Aions sone the whiche regned ouer hem / xxxiij yere▪In his tyme· a comyn woman had seuen childeren at one burthen as it shal be after more clerely shewed / One of hem that was na¦med lauissius was the second kyng of longobardys / and regned after Agelmundus. ¶ whan Agelmundus the kyng was to bolde vpon his owen truste / the bulgaris cam vpon hym in a nyght / & slowe hym standyng / After hym / lethen regned & was the. thyrdde kyng of the longebard. And Regned fourty yere After hym hyldecoc ¶After hym the fyfthe gudehoc regned in Odocaes tyme that was Italycus and ladde his men to the lond of Rugorum. After hym the sixthe Claffo. ¶ After hym the seuenth Cato that waccho slough Cato and outlawed his sone for euermore· waccho was Cato broders sone. & so whan waccho was deed his sone waltarycus was the eygthe kynge of longo∣bardys and regned seuen yere after hym· The / ix· Audoenus that ladde first the longobardes in to Pannonia. After hym his sone Albuynus was the .x. kynge of the longobardes / Narses patrici¦us prayde this kyng Albuinus to come with his men: and take ytalia. That was in Iustinus thēperours tyme. the yere of oure lord / v / Clxviij / and that was after that longobardes had dwel¦lyd in pannonia .xlij. yere / Of this Albuins conqueste and· of

his wonderful ende· / Seche within forth in his place aboute the yere of our lord· v / C· lxx

¶De vrbe Romana ¶ Capitulum. xxiiij

AVctours wryten and tellen that the Cyte of Rome is y buylded in Tuscia that is a partye of Italya / Of the fondacion therof and Gouernynge. Auctours wryte many dyuerse doynges and specially. Martinus de condicione e¦ius / Magister vero gregorius. of the wōdres of the cyte wryteth shortly many thynges that ben worthy to be kept in mynde ¶ Martinus it is wryte that many Kynges regned aboute the place of Rome / For Eustodius sayth that after that toure babel was y buylt and men bigonne to speke dyuerse tonges and lan¦gages. ¶ Noe with certayn men toke a ship and sayl∣led in to Italia / And buylded a Cyte of his name and ended there his lyf ¶Thenne Ianus Iaphets sone that was Noes so∣ne buylded Ianiculum by yonde the Ryuer Tiberis There is nowe a Chirche of seynt Iohan that heyght seynt Iohans chirche ad Ianiculum. About that tyme Nemproth that hight Saturnus al¦so whiche was gelded of his owne sone Iupyter come to the for∣seyd Ianus kyngdom / And buylded a Cyte there as the Capi∣tol is now. ¶Also Italus that tyme the kyng with Sciculis men of Scicil••a come to Ianus & to Saturnus and buylt a cyte fast by the Ryuer Albula / That Ryuer is now called Tyb••r & is a Ryuer of Rome ¶ Also hercules Italus sone buylded a cy¦te named galeria bynethe the Capytol· ¶ After that Tiberis the kynge come oute of the este· And euander the kyng out of Archa¦dia and buylded Cytees / Vyrgylius acordeth herto and seyth / thē¦ne the fader euander at Rome was maker of towres / Thenne af∣terward come Romulus and closed within one walle alle thylke cytees aboute and made one grete cyte of alle closed in one / And brought gentilmen and noble oute of ytalia with theyr wyues for to dwelle therinne / ¶Titus ¶whyle that Cyte was poure. was no place more holy· ne rycher of good ensample. But after∣ward ryches gadred and encreaced And syn they haue ben couey¦tous and lecherous· ¶Marcus ¶Two bretheren that were born at one burthon / Remus and Romulus buylden Rome in the hil¦le palatinus And was buyld the / xj Kalendes of Maye· Tho

bigan the vij Olimpus that was the fyrste yere of Achaz kyn¦ge of Iuda. and four honderd / liiij yere after the takyng of troye ¶R / But more veryly as Solynus seyth· four honderd and xxxiiij / after the takyng of troye. Marc̄ / The whiche Cyte of Rome was afterward / wonderly y highte with walles. with toures with yates. with tēples· with palays· & dyuse & wōderful werkes / & had on the walles thre honderd / lxj towres and contey∣neth about two and twenty myle without that is by yonde tiber and the Cyte leonina / But as men seyn it conteyneth al aboute two and fourty myle and had in alle ·xvj pryncipal yates / ten a thishalf tybre that were named port capu••na· port apia· port lati¦na: port Asmaria / port matronij / port leuycana port numentana / port salaria. port princiana and port colina / Also by yonde tybre ben thre yates· And thre in the cyte leonina Gregorius emong the wonders of this cyte that yet ben seen / seyth if is a grete wō∣dre of so many defensable towres of so many buyldynges of pa∣layces whether. it were by wycchecraft or by mannes dede. R / So that now ben veryfyed the versis that hildebertus episcopus cenonean made. & willelmus malmēsb putteth hem in his book of kynges as here foloweth / Rome nothyng is pere to the / though thou neygh al fallyng be▪ On alle thou shewest thy bounde· how grete thou were whan thou were sounde

¶De palacijs Rome

THere were many palayces ryal and noble y buylde in Ro¦me in worship of Emperours and of other noble men also Among the whiche the grettest and moost palays of alle was in the myddel of the cyte in tokē of one principalite of all the world wyde / Also the palays of pees· therin Romulus dyde do sette his owne ymage of gold and sayde / hit shal neuer falle til a mayde bere a child / And that ymage fylle whan Criste was born / Di¦oclisians palays hath pylers as highe an a stone caste / and so gre¦te about that an c men al a yere worchyng shold vnneth hewe one of thylk pylers. Also there was a palays of sixty emperours· & yet stondeth a part therof. that al Rome may not destroye / De templis There as pantheon the temple of all mawmetrye was is now a chirche of alle halowen And by cause our lady is after Criste is chyef and holyest of alle mankynde / that chirche hath the name of our lady. and is called sancta maria rotunda that is the round chirche of our lady. And hath in brede the space of / ij /

C·lx· foote / Faste by that temple is an Arche of Marble. And that is the Arche of Augustus Cesars victoryes and grete de∣des / In that Arche ben alle his grete Actes descryued Ther is also Scipions Arche· he ouercome hauibal. Atte seynt steuen in piscina was the temple olouitreum that was made of cristal & of gold. there was Astronomye y grauen and y peynted with sterres and signes of heuene seynt sebastian destroyed that tem¦ple· Also the capitol was arayed with glas and with gold as it were the myrour of alle the world aboute / There the consuls & senatours gouerned and rewlid alle the world as moche as was in her power / And there was Iupyters temple. And in that temple was Iupyters ymage of fyn gold syttyng in a trone. R Here takehedr that only thre temples were in Rome that had flamynes. that were bisshops to serue / fals goddes and mametrye and highte flamynes as it were filamynes of filo that is a threde that they bonde aboute her heede. whan they myght not in the holy day suffre on her pylyons and her cappes for hete / In Iupyters temple serued fflamen dialis that is the day bisshop· For Iupyter was cleped diespyter / that is the fa¦der of the day. Also in Mars temple was flamen Marcialis / that is mars bisshop ¶And in Romulus temple was Flamen quyrinalis that is quirinus bisshop· For Romulus was called quyrinus also ¶De domibus ¶In rome was an hows y made wel nyghe al of gold & lefette •• with precious stones / ¶ Men sayde that / that hows was worth wel nygh the thyrdde part of of al the world / In that hows euery lond and prouynce had an ymage y sette by Nigromancie. Eueryche of thylke ymages bare his owne londes name wreton an on his breste. And a co¦kerbelle of syluer honged aboute his neck. So that yf ony lond rebelled or aroose ayenst Rome / Anon the Image of that londe torned his bak toward the ymage of Rome and the belle about his necke shold rynge / And the preestes that kepte that hows / eueryche by his cours. warned the prynces of that doynge / ther was also an horsman of bras on highe on the coppe of that hous and meued also with a spere in his hond· and tourned the poynt of his spere towarde that lond that wold so arryse· ¶ And so the Romayns myght lightly come vpon theyr enemyes vnware In that hows also was a fyre that no man myght quenche. And men axed of the craftes man that made it· how longe it shold endure· And he answerd and fayde hit shold endure for

euermore vnto. that a mayde had born a child / & the same nyght that Criste was born that· hows fylle down. and the fyre was quenchyd that same nyght and tyme Also beaneus appollo that man closed a confeccion of brymstōn and of blak salt in a vessel of brasse. and sette it a fyre with a candel that he had halewed in his manere· and made there a bath with bathyng places that al way were hoote / There was also in an hows an ymage of yron. and was named Bellefrontes ymage / whiche weyed fyftene M pound with his hors that he sat on And henge in the ayer with no poste ne piler bynethe vnder sette / ne holde with cheyne aboue but adamante stones that were in the vawte and in· the Arches aboute drowhe euen the yron eueryche to his syde so that the yron ymage myght not dounward ne vpward ne toward neyther side but henge alway euen a mydde / ¶De Artificijs. There is a· place in Rome in Eraclea and is called theatrum· that is a place to stonde or sytte Inne / for to loke wel aboute / the∣re in is wonderly grauen cabans and dennes. dyuerse outgoyn∣ges benches and seges al aboute· and is hoole and sound al on marbel stone· & this werk is sette vppn vj crabbes y hewē of hard marbelst one In that place may noman so pryuely speke. ne to hym self ne to another man / But alle that he sayth be herde al aboute / ¶ Fast by Augustus Cezars palays is awalle ma∣de of brente tile / And stretcheth dounward out of the hyghe hil∣les by the yate porte asmaria. that wall is made vpon grete Ar∣ches and huge that wal stretcheth a dayes Iourney from Rome in a grete conduyte vpan that walle the watres and stremes of the welles of the montaynes rennen in to Rome· And thenne it is departed in dyuse conduytes & pipes of bras. & so ran somty∣me in to euery palays of Rome / For the water of tiber is hool∣som and good for hors / And vnhelsome and euyl for men / ther∣for the old Romayns made fresshe water come out of foure par¦tes of the cyte by weyes craftely made / & therof men myght ta¦ke al that they wold whyle the comins of rome were in her flou¦res. By that wal is the bath. that bianeus made of the whiche bath was spoken to fore. In Albisterio a place that hight mu∣tatorium Cezaris were made whyte stoles for emperours / Also ther was a candelstyk made of a stone that higthe Albeston. whan it was ones yteyned and sette a fyre and y sette without ther coude noman quenche it with no crafte that men coude de∣uyse / R ¶ In this maner it myght be that the geant pallas

aboute the yere of oure lord a thousand and fourty· that yer was founde in Rome a geants body buryed hool and sound / the space of his woūde was four foote longe and an half· The lengthe of his bodye passed the heygthe of the walles. at hys heede was y founde a lanterne brennyng alwaye that noman coude quenche with blast ne with water ne with other crafte / vnto the tyme that there was made a lytil hoole vnder the lighte / bynethe that the ayer myght entre. Men seyen that Turnus slowghe this ge∣ant Pallas whan eneas fought for lauina that was Eneas wyf. This / geantes epytaphium is this the wrytyng of myn∣de of hym that laye there was thys Pallas euanders sone ly∣eth here· hym turnus the knyght with his spere slowhe in his ma¦nere ¶ De statuis et signis ¶ There was at Rome a bulle· of bras in the shap of Iupiter ouercast and shape to men that loked theron. That bulle semed lowhyng and startelyng· Ther was also the ymage of venns al naked in the same maner as venus shewde her self to that man Paris somtyme of troye / and was so craftely made that in the mouth and lippes that were as whyte as ony snowe semed fresshe blood and newe. ther is also at Ro∣me a wonder copped pyler and is Romulus Piler. that pyler pylgryms and palmers that fast can· lye calle hit seynt Peters corn hupple and sayen that whan nero themperour had rauisshed it hit torned in to an hylle of stone. as grete as it was byfore of corne / Emonge alle pilers Iulius cezars pyler is moost won∣derful / and hath in heyghte two honderd and fyfty foot. In the coppe therof in a round thyng of bras ben Iulius cezars bones and asshes / Of that pyler and arche ben verses y. made that ben thus to menynge and namely of the ouermest stone / yf the stone is one. telle what craft brought hym vpon. And yf they be ma∣ny stones. telle where they ioynen at ones· This arche and pyler is y founded and sette vpon four lyons / pylgryms ful of lesyn∣ges / calle this arche and pyler seynt Peters nelde and lye and saye that thylk man is clene of synne that may crepe vnder that stone· ¶ ther ben also in Rome two grete horses of marbel sto∣ne / For in Tiberius tyme two yonge philosophers praxitellus & Fibia / come to Rome and yeden al naked. And whan thempe∣rour axed hym why and wherfor they wente so naked / they an¦swerd. and sayde. For we haue forsaken al thynge. And for al thyng is to vs naked and bare and openly knowen. ye sir Em∣perour and alle that thou spekest in counseyl and pryuete we

know atte beste / ¶Treuisa the first poynt of this doyng and answere techeth that who that forsaketh / al thynge forsaketh his clothes· And so it foloweth that they that ben wel clothed and goth aboute and beggeth and gadreth money & corn and catel of other men forsaketh not al thyng R Themperour assayde and fonde soth al that they sayde. and at her owen prayer / made in mynde of hem two grete horses of marbel· there is another signe and token byfore the popes palays an horse of bras and a man sit¦tyng theron And holdeth this righthonde as though he spake to the peple and holdeth his brydle in his lyft honde and hath a cuc¦ko bytwene his hors heeres. And a seke dwerf vnder his feete Pylgrymes clepen that man. Theodoricus And the comyns calle hym Constantinus / But Clerkes of· the courte calle hym Mar∣cus and quintus cursius also· this signe stoode somtyme to fore in piters awlter· In the Capitoyl vpon the four pilers of bras / but seynt gregory threwe doun hors & man & sette hym to fore the popes palays / They that call hym marcus tell this reson & skylle There was a dwarf of the kynred of mesenis his craft was Ny∣gromancie whan he had subdewed kynges that dwellyd nygh hym and made hym subgette to hym. Thenne he wente to Rome to warre with the Romaynes / And with his crafte· he bynam the romayns power▪ & myght for to smyte. & biseged hem long ty¦me y closed within the cyte / This dwerf wente euery daye tofore the soune rysyng in to the felde for to doo his crafte: whan the ro¦mayns had espyed that maner doyng of the dwarf they spak to marcus a noble knyght & bihighte hym lordship of the Cyte. & a Memorial in mynde for euermore yf be wolde deffende· hem & saue the Cyte / then̄e Marcus made an hool thurgh the wall long¦er it were daye for to abyde his craft to cache this dwerf· And whan it was tyme the cucko sange and warned hym / of the daye Thenne marcus reysed to. & by cause he myghtnot hitte the dwerf with wepen he caught hym with his honde / and bare hym in to the cyte / And for drede leste he sholde helpe hym self with his crafte yf he myght speke. he threwe hym vnder the hors feet / And the hors alto trade hym / And herfore that / ymage was made in remembraunce of this dede / They that calle that ymage and sig∣ne quintus cursius telle this skylle and reson / ther was somtyme in the myddel of Rome a grete clyfte or hoole in the erthe oute of that hool come smook & brymstone & slewe many men· thenne Quintus cursius toke counseyl of phebus and armed hym· and

entred in to the hool· thenne anon fleygh a cuckou oute of the hool· & thenne the erthe closed to gyder and so the hool was stop∣ped. Another signe is colloseus ymage that is called also the y∣mage of the sonne or of Rome / There is grete wonder how it myght be yoten or arered / the ymage is so grete the lengthe therof is six score foot and six. this ymage was somtyme in the ybond herodius fyften foot heygher than the heyghest place in rome. this ymage bare in his right honde a spere al round y shape as the world· And in his lyft hond a swerd that bytokeneth myght of batayll· in token that it is lasse maystrye to wynne & to conquere than it is to kepe and to saue that / that is conquerd and wonne. this ymage was of bras but it was so ryally ouergylt that it shone in derknes and yaf grete bemes of light· Also it meued a∣boute with the sonne in suche a maner that alwaye his face was toward the sonne. Alle the Romayns that come therby worship∣ped that ymage in token of subiection & of thraldome ¶Seynt gregory destroyed that ymage with fyre ffor he myght not destro¦ye it with strengthe / ¶Of that ymage is only y left the heede and the right hond holdyng the spere / that is the Roundenes & the likenes of the worlde. For of al that ymage lefte nomore vnbrente that heed and that honde ben nowe to fore the popes palays vpon / ij / pylers of marble· & wōderly by craft of milting that bras was y yoten / that the heere semeth softe to a mannes sight. and the mouth as though it were spekyng ¶ Polier / ••••∣bro secundo / ¶For to highte the noblete of this Cyte the Ro∣mayns made a womans ymage in bras· ••hat ymage h••ld in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 honde a spere the shape of the wyde worlde / ¶And whan t••e ymage was ful made hym semed that the legges were to feble for to bere suche an ymage. hit was so grete and so huge. But the craftes man that hit made answerd and sayde / the legges shal dure alway and ••ere the ymage at the beste and neuer fayll vnto a mayde bere a child / but the legges faylled and the ymage fylle doun whan Criste was born / Faste by vaspasianus palais is a stone that is called parius. in that stone is y coruen a whyte sowe with xxx / pigges that giue water to hem that will wesshe there. there is also a tabel of bras that forbedeth synne / therin ben wreton the chyef poyntes of the lawe· ther ben wreton as it were reules in metre· the menyng therof is vnderstādē in this writing neext folowyng· Euery nyght where a cocke waketh som man er it dawe / Al his songe in a flocke· maye lyke noman by the lawe·

whan somer is hote· the throstle syngeth with mery note whan the daye goth away / the birde is stylle and leueth his laye· In towne as it longes / The osul twiterith mery songes / ¶ At nyght for drede / truly no songe doth he grede / whan floure spryn∣geth on rote· the nyghtyngale in his note / Twiterith wel faw∣nyng with swete songe in the dawnyng· Thral maketh his fare / with mouth / thenne chiterith the stare / Of morow songe kynde· they haue at euen no mynde

¶ De quibusdam Romanorum institutis et obseruancijs ysidorus eth libro octodecimo. capitulo de triumphis et hug capitu¦lo tris. ¶ Capitulum / 25

WHan Duc / kynge. consul / or Emperour hadde don ony grete voyage and vyctorye and come in to Rome / At his comyng he sholde be receyued with thre manere worship / Alle the people sholde come ayenst hym with al the solempnyte myrth comforte and ioye that they couthe make / Alle the prysonners shold folo∣we his chare with her hondes y bounden byhynde her backes· This vyctour shold hem self were on Iupiters cote / And sitte on a chare that four whyte horses shuld drawe vnto the capitoyl ¶Therof speketh ouidius with four horses al snow whyte / thou shalt syre emperour wende / yet amonge al this worship· For he sholde not foryete hym self / this one Anoye he hadde / A Chorle was with hym in his chare. and smote hym alwaye in the nekke and that for two skylles / That one was / For he sholde not be to proude of that grete worship· ¶ That other skylle was for euery man shold hope to come to that worship. if he made hym self worthy by his dedes / ¶ Whyle the chorl smote the vyctour. he shold ofte saye to hym / in this maner notho solitos that is to saye knowe thy self / as who seyth be not to proud of this worship / And also that daye euery man had leue to saye to the vyctour. what someuer he wolde· and no blame sholde be take therfore And so were many dispyteous wordes saide to Iulius Cezar. And he toke therof no maner wreeche· One sayde to Iulius at siche a tyme salue Calue that is hayl balard· And another sayde hayle kyng and quene· R. Loke within in Iulius cezar. In vita Iohis Elemosinarij / whan themperours of Rome were crowned sholde come to hym craftes men that make tombes and axe of hem of what maner stone or metal they shuld make theyr tom∣bes as who seyth thou shalt deye / Gouerne. myldely the people

¶Hug capitulo Clarus Whan the Romayns wold warre in ony londe / one sholde goo to thendes of that lond and clerely de∣clare and shewe the mater· and cause of the warre / and that decla¦racion was called clarigacion / thenne a spere y pyght in the londe warned that the Romayns wold warre ¶ Ysidorus libro .19. capitulo / visesimo secundo. whyle consuls rewled Rome· the knyghtes of Rome sholde were reed clothes the daye to fore that they sholde fyghte / That was don for they shold not knowe & be abasshed whan they sawe the reed blood renne on her clothes and suche knyghtes were named Rosati / as it were y clothed in Rooses R Take hede what papie seyth Virgyle calleth the Ro¦mayns togati. that ben men clothed in gownes / thre maner gow∣nes they vsed and were called pretaaxta palmata & candidata / the first maner gowne pretaxata gentilmēs childeren vsed for to were of xiiij· yere old / the second maner palmata vsed vyctours for her noble dedes / the third maner goun candidata vsed· lordes & maystres rulers of the lawe. Hug / ca. fastus / the dayes that the Romayns wel spedde were named fasti that is leueful. For it was leeful to hem thylk dayes to vse dyuerse doyng & dedes / the dayes that the romayns myspedde were called nephasty as it we¦re not leeful· and they heelde thylk dayes & wrought not. but for no loue ne deuocions but for drede of euyl happes / Hug / ca / 5 / the feste of thylk dayes is called quinquatria that is the fyue black dayes for the sorow and bytternes that the romayns had whan the Frensshemen and hanybal beseged them al aboute / For then̄e no romain durst ones goo out of the toun·· Hug / c. classis. whan romulus had ordeyned for the comyn prouffit ••e departed a sondre the grete & the mene / & cleped either partye classis / In worship of hem he ordeygned a moneth and called it Mayus. that is the mo∣neth of the grete· men· The mene men were called the second Clas∣sis. And in worship of hem he ordeygned a moneth and called it Iunius that is the moneth of yonger men ¶ Afterward the Romayns were departed in four partyes. In the fyrste partye were consuls and doctours· In the second classis were tribuni and men of· lasse dignite / In the third were for men· & in the fourth we¦re bondmen. tribun{us} is he that receyueth tribute and paieth knygh¦tes & a leder or· capitain of thousand knyghtes hight Tribunus ¶Hug. c / calon / The Romayns vsed / somtyme in euery monethe to make a fayre and the fayr began the fyrste daye of the nonas and dured to the fyrst day of Idus Idus is as moche to saye as

delyng and departyng for thenne the fayr was departed / Also for the begynnyng was oftyme vnknowe to Marchauntes and to chapmen / therfor the first day of the moneth hight kalende of calo calas that is calle and crrye· A cryour shold stonde vpon a tour· And as many dayes as were from that day to the begyn∣nyng of the fayre he shodd crye calo. Therfore it is that in somme moneth in the kalender hath but foure nonas / and somme hath sixe / And that don for theues that were hidde in wodes for to aspye chapmen shold not knowe whan the fayr shold bygynne / Hug / ca / mereor. Somtyme knyghtes after that they were· lx / yere old were not compellyd for to doo dedes of Armes· But men yaf hem feldes or townes. or somwhat ellys of the comyn tresorye wherby they shold lyue / And thenne suche a knyght was cleped Emeritus or emerite milicie as it were a knyght sette oute of the nedeful dedes of Chyualrye / ¶ R Therfor Anatarn that is by yonde Tiber heyght Emerytor••a / For suche knyghtes spente there what they had to fore goten and ywonne / ¶ Hug· ca / lita It was vsage in Rome that the cytezeyns shold doo not ellis to fore none but dispute of the comyn prouffyt· therfor comin wym¦men of rome were cleped nonarye / for they shold not to fore none goon oute to her comyn place / leste they shulde lette yonge men from the comyn prouffyt Hug. ca. nepa ¶Somtyme in Rome fader and moder shold not norysshe and teche her owne childer••n / For it was supposed that they wold be to tendre and not chasty∣se and bete hem. Neyther maystres· that were al straunge & oute of the kynne shold teche childeren of Rome. lest they wold recche to lytil of the childeren & bete hem to sore / therfor maystres shold teche the childeren of Rome that were not to neygh ne to ferre of her owne kynne Hug. capitulo· proles¶ There were somtyme in Rome that serueth of nought elles but for to gete childeren / & dwellyd alway in the cyte / and were / not compelled to dedes of Armes. And suche men were cleped proletar^ij that is to saye ge∣ters of childeren R Netheles in hanybals tyme they were con¦streyned sor to goo out for scarsenes of knyghtes / Vale / libro 2

¶ An honderd yere & lx after that the cyte was y buyld / was no deuorse made bytwene a man and his wyf / Netheles Carbili∣us a bastart was the first that lefte his wif only / for the womā was bareyn though he semed y meued of Reason. yet he was not al blamels for he. put couetise of children to foxe the feyth of wedlok ¶ysidorus li 6 Though the grekes wryte first in waxe

with poyntels of yron / the Romayns ordeyned. that noman shold wryte with poyntels of yron but with poyntels of boone ¶ Poli libro secundo ¶ Who that wyl loke bookes of story∣es Amonge alle men that were syth Rome was fyrste made. he shal fynde that the Romayns were moost couetous & proud / he shal finde also that the maystrie that they had in the world about they gate hit by punysshyng of peple by false wyles & by gyle so ferfoth that vnnethe ony of her prynces lyued his lyf kynde∣ly to his ende· therfor euery Romayn that ouercometh other is o¦uercome with flateryng and with fayr wordes / And yf wordes faylle. yeftes shal hym a welde / yf yeftes faylle. worship maketh hym prysoner / Pol· libro septimo decimo / capitulo / 11 / whyle the Cytees. of ytalia loued pees and worshipped right wysenes and leued false othes / thenne they had lykyng and welthe in her owen londe· But whan they yeue hem to falsehed and to strif Anon the pryde of the Romayns. & the wodenes of duche men or somme other wrecbe of god Almyghty falleth vpon hem. vnto the tyme they amende by penaunce and contrition. For tre∣spaas of that peple putteth away al pryncipalyte or maketh her prynce more mylde

¶ De Germania / et eius prouyncijs / ysid / ech̄ / 14 ¶ ca / 26.

YSidorus sayth that very germania hath in the eest syde the mouth of the Ryuer danubius in the south the Ryn that ryuer / and in the north and in the west the see of occean· ther ben two londes / eyther is called germania· the ouer Germania stret∣chith besides Alpes to that mouth· and cost of the grete see. that is called adriaticus· there the see is as it were lakes in the contre∣ys of aqu••lia. the other germania is lower toward the weste a∣boute the Ryne· and is comynly called Almania / or trutonia· In eyther Germania ben many prouynces and londes· that ben boe∣mia westfalia / bauaria / thuringia. Sueuia / Saxonia· Franconia lothangia / frisia / and selandia ¶Paulus libro p. the north contre is fer from the sonne and holsome for men to dwelle in and able to brynge forth childeren / therfore it is that there is more multi∣pli••acion and encreace of men and childeren in the north contre than in the south that is ful nygh the son̄e &· vnholsō & seke••ew for men to dwelle in / And so though euery londe and. contre haue his owne proper name. ¶Netheles alle the countrey and londe

from the Ryuer thanays vnto the west is called germania. For hit gendreth and bryngeth sorth mo men and childeren than it maye wel sustene· Therfore it is that so ofte goon dyuerse men out of that syde of the world in to other londes / by lotte or ayenst her wille or by her good wille for to gete other londes / so dide go∣thi wandali / saxones· wynnily and longobardi Boemia is the firste prouynce of the eeste germania / And hath in the eest syde Misia and Alania. In the southe the Ryuer Danubius and Pannonia In the west bauaria and turingia / And in the north and northweste Saxonia. and is closed almost about with hil∣les & wodes & hath grete plente of leese & grasse that smelleth ful swete and of dyuerse wylde beestes· Emong / the whiche is one beeste and is called booz in the langage of boemia· But he deffē¦deth not hym self with his hornes but he hath a large Ryuel as it were a bagge vnder his chynne / therinne he gadreth water & heteth it in his rennyng skaldyng hoote & throweth it vpon hun∣ters and houndes that poursiewe hym and skaldeth of the heere of hem and brenneth hem ful sore / ¶ Thuringia hath in the eeste boemia / In the / weste Franconia / In the northe westfalia And in the southe the Ryuer Danubius. ¶ Franconia is as it were the myddel prouynce of Germania. and hath in the eeste thuringia / In the west sueuia. In the north a partye of westfali¦a / and in the south bauaria and the Ryuer Danubius Baua¦ria hath in the eest the Ryuer Danubius and Retica / westfalia hath in the est side saxonia in the west Frisia / in the north Occeā In the south a partye of Fraūce & of sueuia· Sueuia hath in the eeste Bauaria / In the weste the Ryuer that is called the Ryne In the north a partye of Franconia· and in the southe Rethica & Alpes / Saxonia hath in the eeste Alania in the west westfalia / In the north Occean· And men of that countre ben more lighter and strenger on the see than other scommers or theuys of the see and pourfiewe here enemies ful hard and bothe by water and by lond and ben called Saxones of Saxum that is a stone For they ben hard as stones and vnesy to fare with. In the hyl∣les of Saxonia is wel nygh al maner of metals founden refer∣ued tyn ¶ In Germania ben saltwelles. Of the whiche wel∣les is salte made as whyte as ony snowe / ¶ Faste by that hylle that copper is digged in / is a grete hylle of whiche hylle the stones smelle as sweete as violet / ¶ Also faste by the monasterye of seynt Michel is marble founden the fayrest that

may be· Beda / c. visesimo quinto / the old saxones haue no kyng but many knyghtes· of her owne rule· ¶But in tyme of ba∣tayll they cast lott which of her knyghtes shal be leder & capitain And they folowe hym that is so chosen by lott. as chyef lord and mayster duryng the bataylle But whan the batayll is don thē∣ne shal he be as he was byfore· that is to wete he and other alle lyche grete of power and of myght / Pleuius libro quinto Frisia is a lond vpon the coste of the west Occean. And begyn∣neth in the south syde fro the Ryne and endeth atte see of Den∣marke· ¶ Men of Frisia ben highe shauen aboute / And euer the more gentilman and noble the higher he is shorn The men ben fayre of bodye Cruel and bolde of herte And vse speres in stede of Arowes / and loue fredom moost of ony thynge / Therfor they suffre noman to be a kynght that wold be her lord. Netheles they ben· gouerned and ruled by domes men and Iuges / And euery yere they chese of hem self her owne Iuges they loue wel chastyte and kepe besily her childeren and suffre hem not to marie til they be foure and twenty yere old / Therfor they haue stronge and stalworth childeren / they haue no wodes / therfor they make hem fyre of turues / ¶ S••landia is a lytil londe vpon the see / whiche renneth thurgh the londe and causeth xvij Ilondes and about eueryche a shippe may saylle / And hath in the est holandia In the north Frisia in the west Occean / and in the south Flan∣dria / And is enuironed with water and highe bankes to bolde oute the rysynge of the see and floodes. there is good cornlond and scarsete of trees for the Rotes may not take depenes ne far∣nes for saltnes of the erthe ¶The men ben grete of bodye and mylde of herte / ¶Paulus libro primo· In the west syde of Germania is a people called scribonius that hath snowe al the somer tyme / and eteth rawe flesshe & ben clothed in ghoot buk skynnes. In her countrey whan the nyght is short. men may see alle the nyght the sonne bemes / And after· in the wynter whan the daye is shorte though men see / the light of the sonne / yet the sonne is not seen / Item fast beside that peple scribonius vnder the clyf of Occean is a denne vnder on highe stone· therinne slepen seuen men and haue longe slept and ben hool and sound in body & clothyng & al withouten wēme ffor which cause the comyn peple haue hem in grete worship & reuence. they ar supposed romains by her clothing ther was a mā somtime that for couetise wold stripe o¦ne of hem· and haue his clothyng / but forwith his arme waxed

al dreye It may be that god list to kepe hem so hool and sound for mysbyleued men in tyme to comyng shuld thurgh hem be cō¦uerted and torned to good byleue

¶ De Gallia et / Francia R / ¶ Capitulum. 27

••It is wreton in storyes that gallia which is ffrancia hath that name gallia of whytenes of peple / ¶ Gala is a w••••de in grewe and is lac in Latyn. and mylke in Englysshe T••••rfor Sibilla called hem gallos that is whyte And sayth that the mylky neckes ben wesshen with gold / ¶Hug· capitulo gala By the dyuersite of heuen is diuersite of ••••lours of face of quan¦tite and gretenes of bodye of maners and of wytte· therfore in Rome ben heuy men· In grece light· In Affryca gyleful. In gal¦lya wytty men and wyse R¶ Here take hede as Augustinus de Ciuitate dei libro secundo capitulo quinto toucheth that Gally in one maner speche were the preestes. that were in the temple of that goddesse that hight Cibeles· And haue that name not of that londe gallia / but of that Ryuer gallus that is in Frigia. Alle they that dranke of that Ryuer shold wexe wood and we¦re alle gelded in their mynde of that child Athis that thylk god¦desse Cibelis loued with al her myght· / That child waxe wood & gelded hym self for fraude & gyle that he had don to that god∣desse Cibeles so sayth Ouidius de fastis / But of galli that ben Franci & frensshe men / Entropius libro 2 / seyth gally ben wel hasty and her bodyes passen the comyn stature of other men But it is foūden by assaye that as the gally ben more hasty than stronge in the fyrste refe or bront / so afterward in fyghtyng they ben more feble than wymmen. For as they ben like alpes in grete¦nes of body so they be somwhat like to the snowe that lyeth vpon the Alpes that breketh oute in swote and melteth with heete of fyghtyng as snowe doth with hete of the sonne Git / capitulo. septimo decimo / thenne gallea with his partyes al hoole hath in the northe side Germania / In the eest the Ryne. In the southest the Alpes. In the west the see Occean that is called bothe britā∣nycus and gallycus that is englysshe and Frensshe / For it depar¦teth englond and Fraunce· In the south the see of myddel erthe that wessheth aboute· by the prounce of Narbon / ¶ In Iulius cezars tyme Gallia was departed on thre / ¶ But for dyuerse

happes that bifelle afterward in that lond the countrey and lond that stretcheth from the Ryne to seyne from that one Ryuer to that other is now called gallia belgyca that is very Fraunce / & that countreye that stretcheth from thens to the Ryuer of leyr is called· gallia lugdunensis· ¶ the ouer partye therof heyghte burgundia / And the nether partye is called Neustria· And the Countreye that stretcheth from the Ryuer of leyr to the water of geronde is called gallia acquytanyca / that is guyan. And. stret∣cheth out of the eeste fro the Ryuer of Roen vnto the west Occe∣an. the ouer partye therof heyght Celyca that is heuenly and hye by cause that hye montaynes ben therinne / Fro the Ryuer of Ge¦rond to the see of myddel erthe and to the montaynes that be cal∣led montes Pyrenij / Grete hilles of spayne is cleped gallia nar¦bonenses· And now somme therof is called gothia / And somme vasconya that is gascoyn· And so gallya al hoole 〈◊〉〈◊〉 closed about with thre noble waters with the Ryne in the north••yde with Ro∣ne in the est / and with the bruttyssh occean in the weste side / In Gallea ben many quareys & noble for to digge in stones And beside Paris is grete plente of a manere stone that is called gipsus / and is called whyte plastre. also ¶ whan that stone is brente and tempred with water and torned in to plastre. thenne men make therof ymages walles chambres· paments / and dyuer¦se manere werkes that dure longe ynowgh / Ther is that fayre floure the cyte of Paris which is noryce of thewes· Boteler of lettres shinyng in Europa as Athenes dyde somtyme in gre∣cia ¶ Giraldus / d p. The Frensshe men that ben callyd Franci also and many other men the strengest of europa / come of the tro∣ians. For after that Troye was taken· Antenor with his men fled away by waters that hight paludes meotydes and by the Ryuer Thanays and dwellyd in pannonia / And bulde there a Cyte and callyd it Sicambria / Of that Cyte he and alle his were afterward called Sicambri· After anthenors deth they ordey¦ned hem two leders and capytains Trogotus and Franco / And of thylke Franco they were afterward called Franci / Tur∣pinus de gestis karo•••• seith that whan kyng Charles had made spayne subgette and was come home to paris agayne· he made all the bonde men of gallia free in worship of seint Iames & of seint denys / But they shuld euery yere offre foure pens to the Chirche werke of seint denys / And so they were called Franci sancti dio¦nifij / that is to saye seint denys free men· And so it cam aboute /

that Gallia was called Francia by cause of that fredom. Other men tellen that valentilianus themperour called hem francos as it were ferancos that is sterne and wyther in the langage of at¦tica. that is grecia· For sicambri that ben frensshe men were tribu¦tary to Rome longe tyme to fore valentinianus tyme also / But whan Alani men of allania were enemyes to Rome· Sicambri had her tribute foryeuen / for ten yere for to warre ayenst the men of Allania. and whan the ten yere were don and Alani ouerco¦men the Romayns axed their tribute. And Sicambri warned it and wold none paye. therfor valentinianus the emperour war∣red vpon hem with a grete hooste / and had the vyctorye / thenne for that myshappe Sicambri were sore wroth and warred in the londes of Rome / and also on the londes that were. subgett to rome also / therfor Sicambri were afterward called Franci as it were feranci / that is wyther and sterne / And of that duc Franco they were called Franci as it were Francoes men· also of her fredom that kyng charles yaf them they ben named Franci / that is free mē for to mene Treuisa but how that euer they come to that name Franci ben frensshe men and hight both Sicambri· and gally / and so it is al one peple Sicambri / gally Franci and ffrensshe men. ¶R Franci made hem a kyng that was called Ferramundus Marconurus sone / and made al the lond subget fro sicambria vn¦to the Ryne ¶Willellmus de / r· libro primo Whan Ferramun¦dus was deed they made his sone kynge that had thre names and heyght Clodion· Clodyus and Crinicus / And of hym kyn∣ges of Fraunce were called Crinici / After Clodyus they made his sone kyng· that highte meroneus· And after hym kynges of France were called Meronyngy vnto pypyns tyme / ¶ In the same maner kynges sones of Englond had names after the na∣mes of theyr fader / as. Edgars sone was called Edgaryngus & Edmondue sone was named Edmondignus. Comynly he that cometh of the kynges blood is called adelingus· Gir. de / p. After meroneus regned his sone childericus / hym cristned Remigius This childericus atte prayer of the Romayns put that peple Go∣thi arriani out of guyan. whan he was dede his sone Childeber∣tus helde the kyngdom with his thre bretheren / Theodericus Clo∣donurus and Clotarius this was in the tyme of the grete pope Gregory / After this childebertus regned his broder Clotarius / he wedded seynt Radegunde· And after hym regned his sone Chil∣dericus with his thre bretheren Carbertus gundian{us} & sigesbert{us}

After Childericus regned his sone Clotarius / he bigate dagober∣tus and his suster Batildys / vnder this dagobertus Pipinus was the grettest man of the kynges hows / And that was in the tyme of Eraclius themperour. after dagobertus regned his sone Clodonius / in his tyme seynt Benets body was translated and born out of the prouynce beneuentana in to Fraunce / After clo¦doneus regned his sone Clotarius / And after hym his broder the odericus In his tyme ebronius that was the grettest of the kyn¦ges hous poursiewed seynt leodegarius· and dide hym moch woo and tene. and martred hym atte laste / After theodericus regned Clodoneus / And after hym his yonger broder childebertus· after hym his yong sone dagobertus / And after hym the kynges lig∣nage faylled / ¶For after hym regned his broder Daniel that was a Clerk / But franci chaunged danielis name and called hym childericus / After hym regned one of his kyn that was cal∣led theodoricus / And after hym his broder hildericus / he was put doun for grete Nycete and made a clerk / and lyued as a monk in an abbaye / And thenne faylled the lygnage in men of Ferra∣mūd{us} blood but yet it lasted & dured in a woman that was Ba¦tildis / dagobertus suster / In this maner batildis was wedded vnto ausebertus and had by hym a sone that hight arnold. thēne this Arnoldes sone hight arnulphus / that Arnulphus wedded duc pipins doughter / Pipinus was the grettest of the kyng da∣gobertus hows. kynge dagobertus was batildis broder· Th••s Arnulphus was afterward made bisshop mentensis Thenne his sone Ansegilius gate pupinus that had two other names / vetulus and breuis· willelmus de / r· libro primo This pipi∣nus gate Charles that heyght tutidis and marcellus also / And had that name tutidis of tudere that is beten and bounsed For he bete oute of Fraunce alle tyrantes and sarasyns that warred therin / And destroubled the londe & peple / This charles folowed the sentence of his forfaders & helde the kynges of Fraūce in his retenue.. And he hym self was called an Erle and helde hym paid and content with that name· Giraldus this charles gate the second pupinus and charles the grete· that was afterward a monke· This. second. pupin{us} was of kynges kynde. For he cam of batildis that we spak of bifore and therfor he was made kyn¦ge of Fraunce by assente of alle the Chiualrye & by auctorite of pope steuen. that was pope neyt after zacharye / This pupi¦nus gate charles the grete· This Charles was made kynge after

his faders deth the yere of our lord .vij C.lxix· For his noble de∣des the Romayns chose hym afterward for to be seynt Peters ad¦uocate / Afterward Patricius and thenne emperour and augus∣tus. And fro that tyme thempyre of constantinople torned fro the Romayns to the Frensshe men For they wold not helpe the chir¦che of Rome ayenst the longobardes that warred agaynst the ro¦mayns. this charles gate lowys that was afterward emperour. this lowys gate the ballid charles that was emperour also· the balled charles gate lowys. lowys gate lotharius· lotharius gate lowys the last kyng of this lignage. whan this lowys was dede Franci toke hugh duk of bergoyn and made hym her kynge / this Hugh gate Robert· Robert gate harry / harry gate philip / philip gate lowys. lowys regned in harry clerkes tyme the conquerours sone / the grete charles ofspryng regned in Fraūce vnto hughis tyme that was called capet by his surname· Of hym come other kynges of Fraunce / as it is within in his place openly declared kynges of his ofspryng regned in ytalia and Almania vnto the yere of our lord .ix / C / xij / whan Conradus kynge of duche men toke thempyre to hym self / R. ¶ longe afterward as the comyn fame / A woman that was quene of Fraunce by heritage wedded a bocher for his fayrenes / therrfor in reproof of that dede Frensshe men ordeyned euonge hem self / that no woman shold af afterward be heyre of the royame of Fraūce / Gir / The Romayns were somtyme vyctours of alle the world· but stalworth men & wight that dwelletd in Fraūce ouercome hem in many batayls

But atte laste in Gayus Iulius cezars tyme gallia that is Fraunce was made subget· and so occupyed by Romayns about a four honderd yere vnto the last tyme of valentinianus thempe¦rour / whan dyuerse men of straunge londes werred in gallia· For firste wandaly and hinni / thenne sueui and burgondi that ben of sueuia a lond of Almania that is Almain· thenne gothi and sicambri. thenne norways and danes made hem self cytees in gallia / In gallia that is Fraunce ben many prouynces and lon∣des that ben / Braban / Flaundres Pycardye· Normandye: The lasse brytain. ¶ Peyto· Guyan Angeoy· Gascoigu. Bur∣goyn. Salina prouyncia / Campania the lasse that is champayn And aluerne also is in Fraunce Flaundria that is fflaundris a prouynce of Gallia belgyca. andis vpon the coste of the see Occe¦an and in the north Frisia / In the eest germania / In the south Pycardia· And in the west occean. and inthe north a partye of

Englond· and though fflaundres be a lytil lond hit is ful plen∣teuous of many prouffytable thynges of ryches / of pasture / of beestes of marchandyse / of Ryuers of hauens of the see and of good townes / The men of fflaundres hen fayr stronge and ryche and brynge forth many childeren & ben pesible to her neyghbours and trewe to straūgers· noble crafty men & grete makers of cloth / whiche is sente aboute wel nyghe in al Europe / ¶The londe is pleyn and skarse of wode / therfore in stede of wode they brenne turnes that smelleth worse than woode· & maketh fowler asshes Braban is bysouth eest fflaundres and is plentiuous of mar∣chandyse and makyng of cloth / For of the wulle that they haue out of englond they make cloth of dyuerse colours. And sende it in to other prouynces and londes as fflaundres doth / For though Englond haue wolle atte beste / it hath not so grete plente of good water for dyuerse celours and hewes as fflaundres hath & braban· Netheles at london is one well that helpeth wel to make good scarlett / and so is at lyncoln one certayn place in the brook that passeth by the toun / ¶ Pycardya is a prouynce of gallia and hath that name after the toun that hete ponticus / that nowe is called phyten so seyth Erodotus / Pycardya hath many noble castels and townes as Amyens. belgys or belnacus / Tournay and many other· And lyeth bytwene Flaundres in the north••ide and normandye in the south syde / & ha••h in the weste side the se••. & the south syde of Englond / Ther ben two pycardyes that one is ner Fraunce / And eyther ioyneth to thendes of Flaunders and of braban. the men therof ben boystous men of dedes and ha∣ue gretter speche than other men of Fraunce / ¶ Normandye that heet neustria also and hath that name of Norwayes that sail¦led oute of norway and out of denmarke / and gate a countreye vpon the cleues of Occean· in gallea / And called it Normandye The chyef cyte therof is Roan vpon the mouth of the Ryuer of Seyne / there Seyne renueth in to the see of Occean / ¶Norman∣dye hath in the south the lasse brytayn in the weste the Frensshe Occean / & in the northwest the south syde of Englonde· The lasse brytayne hath the name of bretons that twyes occupyed that lond Fyrste by brenius that was kynge bellinus broder / and eftso∣nes by bretons that were poursiewed and greued by the saxones in vortigers tyme kyng of Britons· as is wreton and contey∣ned in the story of brytons ¶This prouynce hath in the eest. syde Andegauia. that is Andegoy. In the north normandye. In the

south guyan. In the weste Occean acquytanicus / that is the see that is by the side of guyan ¶. Giraldus in toppicis ¶In this britayne is a welle yf the water of that welle be ta∣ke in a bugles horn and poured vpon a stone next to the welle. be the weder neuer so fayre ne drye anon it shal reyne / And in Fraūce is a welle faste by the castel of pascense the water therof is right good for men and nought for wymmen. Noman can hete that water of that welle with fyre ne with ony crafte that ony can deuyse Pyctauia that is peytow. is a prouynce of gallia Narbonenses / Englysshe men. Scottes and pyctes seylled and dwelled there / and cleped the countrey pictauia / And the chyef Cyte pyctauus that is peyters so seyth Erodotus / this prouynce scretcheth ferre vpon the Occean / And in the eest syde turonia / therby passeth the Ryuer of leyr / In the southe syde spayne / In the north the lasse brytayn and the see of guyan· and in the west the see of Occean / the men of that londe ben of the condicions of Frensshe men by cause they medle with them and of the countrey that is so neyghe to them· So that they be now stronge. of bodye fayr of face hardy of hert / and fel of wytte

¶ De Aquitania / Capitulum. 28

AQuitania that is guyan· And hath that name Aquitonia of aquis that ben waters For the water of the ryuer of le∣yer goth about a grete dele of that lōd. many a perticuler prouince is comprehended vnder the name of that lond. Plenius sayth that it· hath in the north and eeste gallia lugdunensis· In the southe and eeste it stretcheth to the prouynce of Narbon / Audegauia that is angeoy a prouynce of gallia. and as it were in the myddel by∣twene gyan and lytil brytayn· ¶Vasconia that is gascoyn & was somtyme conteyned vnder guyan And hath in the est side the hilles pirenij· In the west th•• west Occean· In the sou••h est the playn of the prouynce of tholous. And in that other ••yde it neygheth to peytow / ¶In that londe ben many woodes hylles & wynes / And the Ryuer garonna departeth bytwene that londe & the prouynce of tholouse. & entreth in to the see of Occean faste by bourdeux / whiche is chyef cyte of that londe· the men of that lond ben called vascones / as it were wacones ¶The grete pompeus put hem doun of moūt pireneus and gadred hem all in to a toun

whan spayne was ouercome so sayth Erodotus the wryter of histroyes / The men of that londe ben called nowe basclenses and ben swyft and hardy and vse balles and arblestres and gladly do robbe and reue· and so they be stronge theues / they ben clothed is slight clothes and fowle Burgundia is a partye of gallia Senosenses and stretcheth vnto Alpes pirenei / and hath that na¦me burgundya of borugh townes that Austrogoti bylded therin whan they purposed to destroye ytalia. this londe is ful cold to∣ward Alpes pirenei· Men that dwellen toward that side of bur∣goyne haue botches vnder the chynne y swollen and bagged as though they were double chynned / that is by cause of grete cold of waters of snowe that melteth emong hem alway

¶De Hispania / Trogus libro vltimo and ysidorus libro auin∣to decimo / ¶ Capitulum / 29

TRogus sayth that Trigonia is spayne al hool· and the hil¦les pirenei ioynen spayne in the north side to gallia Narbo¦nenses and is closed in the other sides al about with the see of oc∣cean and with the see Tirenus / And so spayne is wel nyghe al an ylond / ¶ For it is byclypped with the see wel nygh al about But ther ben two spaines the hyther begynneth fro the playnes & valeys of pyreneis. & stretcheth by cantabria & endeth at carta¦go spataria / the yonder spayne conteyneth the west party vnto the see gadytanus. where as hercules sette his pylers beside the moūt Athlas / This spayne is a playn lond. and hath grete p••ence of castels of horses of metal and of hony. And heete somtyme hispe¦ria of hespera the eue sterre that lad the grekes thyder & was her lodesterre / A fterward hit was called hiberia· of the Ryuer hibe∣rus but atte laste it hete hispania of the ryuer hispalus / or of his¦panus that hercules ordeyned gouernour and kyng there· In his¦pania ben sex prouynces as terraconensis / lusitania· galicia bethi¦ca tingitina Astruria / and arogonia / ysidorus libro quinto decimo capitulo secundo / This Cartago of spayne is called spataria· For to haue difference bitwene this cartago and the grete Cartago of Affryca. that Scipio consul of Rome destroyed / Affri men of af¦fryca made this cartago spataria / And atte last gothy destroyed it / For gothy were lordes of spayne longe tyme and specially in honorius themperours tyme· But afterward the sarasyns were ouercome of charles the grete· and loste the west londes of / spayn

gallicia and luscitania / and helde only the este londes and coun∣treyes of spayne

¶De Insulis maris. magni ¶ Capitulum. 30

GAdes is co••••nably fyrst sette amonge the Ilondes of the grete see and stondeth in the west ende of spayne in a mouth of the west Occean / there the grete see Occean breketh in to the In¦ner londes and departeth a sonder Affryca and Europa· Tiries cam seylyng out of the reed see and occupyed that ylond & called it gades in his langage / And gades is to saye byclypped / For it is byclypped al about with the see. And is from the lond an hon¦derd paas and ten there. as hercules sette his pilers whiche ben right wonderful as it were in the vttermest ende of the world· And tho pylers ben called after the name of the Ilond· Gades also· ¶Hug / capitulo gade And to gyue knowleche that there is no place ne lond ferther westward that stronge man hercules sette tho pylers there by gades· thenne estward from these pylers and from the Ilond gades ben the Ilondes baleares that ben cal¦led maiorica and minorica / thenne is there the Ilond Sardina ¶And hath in the south syde Affryca and in the north Scicilia / and hath nether addres ne venym but ther groweth an herbe that is called apium whiche maketh men lawgh hem self to deth· this ylond hath hoote welles and holsom which water maketh theuys and men that forswere hem self blynde yf theyr eyen touche the water of thylke welles / The Ilond Corsica is cornerd with ma¦ny forlondes stretchyng in to the see / therinne is noble leese and pasture for beestes. therinne is a stone that is named aconites / Corsica hath in the est side the see Tirenus. In the south the ylond Sardima / xxx / myle thens. In the west the ylondes baleares. & in the north the see ligusticus. and liguria a prouynce of ytalia / & is eyht score myle in lengthe and .xxvj in brede And hath that name Corsica of a woman that heyght Corsa / This Corsa had a bole that ofte left company of other beestes and swam in to that Ilond and cam home in moche better poynt than he wente out Corsa sawe that and wayted her tyme and toke a boote and folo∣wed after the bole in to that ylond / ¶ And sawe that ther was· londe for to bere corne and grasse / and brought theder first men that were called ligures / aradia that is called aradium al¦so is an ylond that is al one cyt••· not fer from the cyte tirus and

hath many shipmen that ben ful stronge in fyghtynge / Ciclades ben / liij / ylondes to gydre & ar named of Cyclon in grewe whiche is a cercle in englysshe. For they ben set al round as it were a cer∣cle aboute the ylond that highte delon / Netheles som men seyn that they be so called by cause of highe rockes that ben al about them The first of them is rodes toward the eest / And these ylondes en∣de toward the north in the clyf of the lasse asia / & hath out of the south in to the north fyfty myle / and out of the eest in to the west two honderd myle / the myddel ylond of them is named delon that is to saye y shewed / For it was somtyme byschyne with the son∣ne to fore other londes after no••s flood / the same delon is called Ortigia. For ortigie ben called conturnices curlewes. whiche ben there grete plente. ¶ And in that place lacona bare Appolyn delphycus. Samos otherwyse called Samia is an Ilond. in whiche pyctagoras Iuno and sibilla were born. In that londe is whyce cleye and reed· Of whiche cleye men make erthen vessel at beste / Cyprus that lond heyght paphon and cichym also / And is beclypped in the south with the see of phenicia / in the west with the see pamphilicus / and in the northwest with scicilia· & is .viij. score mile in lengthe / & / vj / score & / v. in brede / In that yle bras and craft of brasse was first y foūden / the wynes of that lond is strē∣gest of all wynes / Creta hath that name of one cretus that dwel¦lyd therin· that ylonde heyght centapolis also. that is a londe that hath an .C· cytees· for therin were somtyme an / C· cytees somtyme & there was saturnus & Iupiter born· & were first kynges there & of right it longeth to grecia of old tyme / and hath in the. south side the see libicus / And in the north the see of grecia & stretcheth oute in to the eest and in to the west / and was the first londe that was parfyght and noble in crafte of rowyng with oores / Armes & shotyng with arowes. and yaf lawe wreton. and taught men ride on horsbak And ther was the craft of musike and syngynge of ydeis dactilis founde / ¶ They of Creta made it more and yaf it in knowleche to other londes aboute / ¶That londe is now called Candia / In that ylond ben many sheep and g••eet / & fewe roes & hertes· therin be no foxes ne wolues ne addres ne such venemo{us} beestes / And that lond hateth so venym that yf men brynge ony venemous beestes or wormes of other londes they deyen anone· & though ther be no grete venemo{us} beestes in that lond yet ben ther Attercops venemous that ben called Spalangya in· that londe Oro{us} seith that this ylōd is viij score & vij mile in lēgthe / & an / C

myle in brede / In this Ilonde is one of the foure laborintus as it shal be sayd afterward / Treuisa / For to late men haue knowle¦che what laborint{us} is· it is an bous wōderly buylded & wrought with halkes & huyrenes tornynges & windynges so diuersly by wōderful wayes & wrynclis that who that gooth in to that hows & wold come out / agayn though he retorne hytherward & thyder ward ceste west north or southward whyther euer he drawe & for alle the wayes he can chese / though he trauaylle neu{er} so sore / he shal be so mased that out can he not goo / but yf he haue the craft that serueth therfore. Scicilia. that Ilond was somtyme called trinatria as it were thre square by cause of thre hilles that ben therin / The hilles ben called pelorū pachinū / libeū· & afterward was called sci¦cilia of sciculus that was ytalus brother· & that londe hight som¦tyme scicania of scicanus the kyng / & hath in the northsyde apu∣lia a partye of ytalie & is departed fro that part with grete waters of an arme of the see· or clouen by erthskakyng thus seyth salus¦tius / & the see bytwene secilia & ytalye is now thre myle brode· & is called regium that is to saye broken of In that see ben two grete perylls wonderful & wyde y knowe / that one is scilla / that other is caribdis· men of that lond calle scillā a grete stone that is seen aboue the water shapen as· a mā byclypped about with hoū∣des heedes & feynen & saye that it semeth. that the wawes berketh that beteth therupon / caribdis is a perillo{us} whirlyng see that cas∣teth vp water & wawes & swoloweth hem in agayn thryes in a day / ysid / li / 14. In this ylond men ered first with plowe for to so∣we in corne and other seedes. & ther was comedia / songe of gestes first foūden / Beda de naturis· The londe of scicilia is holowe & ful. of caues· & moch sulphur or brymstone. & glue. so that the a∣yer & fire hath way ynowgh therto / & fire closed in the caues & in the chinnes within the erthe. stryueth with the ayer & other thyn¦ges that ben contrarye to fyre / And that causeth ofte smoke and brennyng leyte to breke out in many places ¶ And somtyme the strengthe of the wynde that is within maketh to breke oute heepes of grauel and of stones / For suche doynge it is that the brennynge of the hille that is called the mount Ethna dureth so longe / ysid li· 14 / That hille mount ethna toward the south∣eest hath many chynnes and holowe dennes or caues within the erthe ful of brymstone that resseyueth moche wynde and engen∣dryth fyre and smoke / R. In that place ben seen dyuerse figures and shappes and herde ruful voys and gronyng. ¶ Therfore

somme men wenen that sowles ben there in payne / as it semeth that seynt gregory maketh mynde in his dyaloge· Gir· in to / there is a welle in scicilia yf aman cometh therto clothed in red. anone the water of that welle spryngeth vp as high as that mannes hede ¶ And for ony other colour or hewe the water meueth not. There ben also •• Cicades birdes that syngen wel in the best wys•• and they haue a pype open vnder the throote / And syngen better whan the heed is of than whan it is on. And better whan they ben dede than whyle they ben a lyue· Therfor herdes of that londe bihede them for to haue the swetter songe / ¶ And in that londe is a Cyte called Palarna that yeldeth euery yere more of certayn rente than the kyng of Englond. hath of siker rente of Englond ¶ Ysidorus libro 13 / In Scicilia ben two welles that one of hem maketh a barayn woman to bere childeren / And that other maketh a childyng woman barayn· In Scicilia is salt agrigen¦tinus wonderful and contrarye to other salt ffor it melteth in fy∣re and lepeth and sperclyth in water· byside Scisilia is an Ilond that is called Eola· and hath that name of Eolus· Poetes fey∣nen and saye that Eolus is god of wyndes· For whyle he was Ruler of the ix Ilondes eueryche of hem heyght / Eola. By ry∣synge of moysture of myste and of smoke he wolde telle whan it shold rayne / And therfore symple men supposed that he had the wynde in his power and myghte / ¶ The same nyne Ilon••es hight wl••ane that is fyry. for fyre brenneth there alwaye· There ben other Ilondes in the see Eusinus / That see Eusinus is a grete partye of the see of myddel erthe / Amonge the whiche ylon¦des the ylond of Colchos is famous. there as Iason fette the gol¦den fflyes as it shal be. declared after about the bataylle of troye ¶And pathmos is an Ilond in the same see / there as seynt Io∣han the euāgelyst was whan he was exyled sute of other londes

¶De Iusulis Occeani / Ysidorus libro quinto ¶Cap^o. 31

INsule fortunate that ben the gracious Ilondes and ben of good temprure of wynde and. of weder y sette in the west Occean / And of some men named paradyse by cause of goodnes of the londe and of temperate weder ¶ There ben gracious tymes· The hylles ben couerd with Corne ¶ And herbes gro¦we as it were grasse. ¶Therfore by cause of plente of Corne and of Fruyte they ben called Fortunate that is gracious / ¶For there ben trees of seuen score foote highe ¶ There is the Ilonde Capria that is the Ilonde of Gheet. ¶ For there

ben many gheet· and weders also / there is the Ilond Canaria. that is the Ilond of houndes / ¶ Dacia that is denmarke is an Ilond that ioyneth to the northsyde of germania / Men of that Denmarke were somtyme ful sterne and good men of Armes. Therfore they occupyed somtyme grete countrees in brytayne & in Fraunce / & ben called daci as it were dagy· For they come of the gothes ther ben many men in dacia and ben fayr of stature & semely of face and of heer. And though they ben sterne ayenste theyr enemyes / they ben esy and mylde to good men and trewe But it may not be forgoten that they brought grete drynkyng in to Englond. ¶ Wyntlandia that Ilond is by west denmarke· and is a bareyn lond. and men oute of byleue they selle wynde to the shipmen that come to theyr portes and hauenes as it were clo∣sed vnder knottes of threde / And as the knottes be vnknytte the wynde wexed at theyr wille / Iselond that Ilond hath in the este side Norwaye / In the north the froren see / that is mare congelatū The men of· that lond ben short of speche and trewe of theyr wor∣des and clothed in wylde beeste skynnes. and ben Fysshers and haue one man bothe kynge and preest. Ther ben gerfawcons and gentil haukes. and there ben whyte beers that breken the yse for to drawe out Fysshe. there ben no sheep in that lond ne corne but ootes and that is for grete cold. That Ilond is from Irlond & from brytayn thre dayes sayllyng Solinu•• de mirabilibus Tyle is the vttermest Ilond of Occean / bytwene the northe and the west coost by yonde brytayn. And fewe men knowe that lond ¶ Plenius libro secundo· ¶ Tyle hath the name of the sonne for from spryngyng tyme whan the day & nyght be euē vnto heruest tyme it is alway byschyne with the son̄e / & efte from that tyme to spryngyng tyme agayne / whan the day & nyght be. euē about sep¦tēber it hath no light of the sōne / but alway derk nyght & no day & therfor the lōde is not couenable for mē to dwelle in. In somer for heete. & in wynter for colde / & derknes. & by cause therof there may no corne growe / also the see is there hard y frore / Bitwene that Ilōd & britain ben the ylōdes that hight· scādia lingos & ver¦gyon / Netheles tile is vj dayes saylling out of brytain / R / gir in top / ffor seint augustyn / d· ci / de / speketh of tile· & saith that it is an ylōd of ynde & that the trees of tile leese neuer their leues. but be ware· that thou be not begyled by lykenes of names ¶ For that ylond of ynde is called Tilis in the nominatif· caas· And the ylond of Occean is named Tile in the nominatif caas / and

ben lyche in other· As yf thou canst declyne thylke two names and speke latyn so seyth ysidore eth libro quinto decimo Norwaye stretcheth somdele eest toward denmarke and gothia· And hath in the southsyde scotland and in the northsyde Iselond / the Ilond is brood byclypped aboute with the see and is ful sharp and cold and hath many hilles and wodes· wilde beestes whyte beres baw¦sons and brockes and scarcete of corne / Men of that londe lyue more by fisshyng and huntyng than by brede and corn. In the northsyde of that londe many nyghtes in the somer tyme a∣boute the stintyng of the sonne / the sonne goth. not doun but shy∣neth al nyghte / And efte as many dayes in the winter aboute the stintynge of the sonne / the sonne aryseth not to yeue hem light· therfore al that tyme they muste werke by candel light / what werke that hem nedeth. In that londe is a welle that tour∣neth tree and lether in to stone· and it abyde therinne a yeer hool•• The men of that londe ben shipmen and theuys of the see / Tre∣uisa ¶ For to knowe what the stintyng of the sonne is to m••••nyng take heede· that the sonne styntith twyes a yere / ones atte somer whan it goth none higher ¶· And eftsones at winter whan it gooth no lower / And so in eyther tyme is the stinting of the sonne

¶ De hybernia •• •• ¶ Capitulum 32

HYbernia that is Irlond. And was of old tyme incorperate in to the lordship of britain so seith Giraldus in sua topo∣graphia where he descriueth it at fulle yet it is worthy and semely to praise that lond with larger praysing. For to come to clere and ful knowleche of that lōd· these tytles that folowe opene the way Therfor I shal telle of the stede and place of that lond how grete and what manere londe it is / Wherof that londe hath plente. and wherof it hath defawte· ¶Also of what men that dwellid therinne firste. Of men Of maners of that lond of the wondris of that lond of and worthynes of halowes and saintes of that lond. ¶De situ hibernie locali. / ¶Irlonde is the laste of alle the weste ylondes and height hibernia of one hiberus of spayn that was hermonius broder For these two bretheren gate and wan that lond by conqueste / ¶ Or it is called hibernia of that Riuer hiberus that is in the weste ende of spayne And that lond

heyghte Scotland also / For scottes dwellyd there somtyme er they cam in to that other Scotland that longed to brytayne Therfor it is wreten in the martiloge· Suche a day in Scotland seynt bryde was bore / and that was in Irlond / this londe hath in the southest side spayne thre dayes sayllyng thennes a sydehalf And hath in the eest syde the more brytayn· thennes a dayes sayllyng In the weste syde it hath the endels occean. and in the northsyde Iselond thre dayes sayllyng thens Solinus but the See that is bytwene Britain and Irlond is al the yere ful of grete wawes and vnesy· So that men maye selde saylle sikerly bytwene / that see is six score myle brood / ¶ De eius quan∣to et quali / Irlond is an Ilond grettest after brytayn and stret∣cheth northward from brendans hilles vnto the londe Columbina and conteyneth. viij / dayes iourneyes Euery iourney of .xl / myle And from deuelyn to patriks hilles· and to the see in that syde in brede is four iourneyes And Irlond is narower in the myddel than in thendes al otherwyse than brytayn is· as Irlond is shor¦ter northward than brytayn / so it is lenger southward / the lond is not pleyn but ful of montaynes· of hilles / of wodes of ma∣reys and of mores. the londe is soft rayny· wyndy· and lowe by the see side and withyn hilly and sondy. Solynus / there is grete plente of noble pasture and of leese / therfor the beestes must be of¦te dryue oute of theyr pasture leeste they ete ouermoche for they shold shende hein self yf they myght ete at theyr wylle· Gir· Men of that lond haue comunely theyr helth / and straungers haue of¦te a peryllous flux by cause of the moysture of the mete / the flessh of kyen is there holsome and swynes flesshe vnholsome· Men of that londe haue no feuer but onely the feuer ague. and that right selde / therfor the holsomnes and helthe of that londe and the clen¦nes oute of venyme. is worth al the boost and rychesse of trees of herbes of spycerye / of ryche clothes and of precious stones of the eeste londes / ¶The cause of the helthe and holsomnes of that londe is the attemperat hete and colde that is therinne / ¶ In quibus rebus sufficit In this londe ben moo kyne than Oxen / more pasture than corne. more gras than seed / ¶ There is grete plente of samon of lamprayes of Eelis and of other see fysshe Of Egles / of Cranes of pecokes / of Curlewes of sperhaukes / of goshaukes and of gentil faucons. Of wolues / and right shrewd myse / there ben attercoppes blood soukere and eeftes that doon none harme / Ther ben feyres lytil of body and ful hardy and

stronge / There ben bernacles fowles like to wylde ghees / whiche growen wonderly vpon trees as it were nature wrought agayn kynde / Men of Religyon ete bernacles on fastyng dayes by ••au∣se they ben not engendryd of fflesshe wherin as me thynketh they erre· For reson is ayenst that· Fro yf a man. had eten of Adams legge· he had eten flesshe· And yet Adam was not engendred of fader and moder· but that fflesshe cam wonderly of therthe & so this fflesshe cometh wonderly of the tree / In this londe is plente of hony and of mykle of wyn and not of vyne yerdes / Solinus and ysidorus wryten that Irlond hath no bees Netheles it we¦re better wryten that Irlond hath bees and no vyneyerdes Also Beda sayth that ther is grete huntynge to robuckes / And it is y knowe that ther ben none. It is no wonder of beda for he sawe neuer that lond but somme men had told hym suche tales / Also ther groweth that stone saxogonus and is called Iris al¦so / as it were the rayne bowe / yf that stone be holde agaynste t••e sonne anon it shal shape a reynbowe· there is also founden a stone that is called gagates and whyte margery perlis In auibus rebus deficit· whete cornes ben there ful smale vnnethe y clen∣sed with mannes hond Reserued men· alle beestes ben smaller there than in other londes. there lacked wel nygh alle / maner ffys¦she of Fresshe water that is not gendred in the see· ther lacken vn¦kynde fawcons gerfawcons. partrychis Fesaunte Nyghtyngale and pyrs / ther lacken: also Roo and bucke and ylespyles won∣tes and other venemous beestes therfore somme men ••••ynen and that fauorably that seynt patrik clensed that lond of wormes & of venemous beestes· But it is more probable and more skylful that this londe was from the begynnynge alway without suche wormes· For venemous beestes and wormes dyen there anone if men brynge hem theder oute of other londes / And also venyme & poyson brought theder oute of other londes / lesen theyr malyce as sone as it passeth themyddel of the See / ¶Also powdre and er∣the of that londe caste and sowen in other londes dryuen awaye wormes so ferforth that yf a turf of that londe be putte aboute a worme it sleeth hym or maketh hym thrille the erthe for tescape awaye / In that londe cockes crowe but lytil to fore day· so that the first crowyng of cockes in that lond and the thyrdde in other londes ben like ferre to fore the day

¶ De Incolis prioribus ¶ Capitulum 33

GYraldus sayth that Casera Noes nece drad the flood and fledde with thre men and fyfty wymmen in to that Ilond and dwellyd therin first the last yere to fore noes floode / But af¦terward bartholanus Seres sone that come of Iaphet noes sone come theder with his .iij. sones by happe or by craft thre hon∣derd yere after noes flood and dwellid there and encreced to the nōbre of ix / M / men / And afterward for stenche of kareyns of geants that they had kyld / they deyden al saue one ruanus that lyued a thousand and fyue honderd yere vnto seynt patriks tyme / And enformed the holy man of the forsayd men / and of al their doingisand dedes / thenne the thyrdde tyme come thyder Nymeth out of Sichia with his four sones and dwellyd there ij honderd yere and sixtene. and atte last of his ofsprynge by dy∣use mishappes of warres and of moreyn they were clene destro∣yed and the lond lefte voyde .ij / C yere after· the fourth tyme fyue dukes that were bretheren gādius / genandus Sagandius / Ru∣theragus sclauius of the forsayd nimethis successours come out of grece & occuppyed that londe & deled it in fyue partyes. And euery partye conteyned / xxij / candredes ¶ A candrede is a coun¦traye that conteyneth an honderd townes / & they sette a stone in the myddel of the londe as it were in the nauel & begynnynge of / v / kyngdomes / Atte laste slani{us} was made kynge of al the londe· the fyfte tyme whan this nacion was .xxx. yere to gyder they wexe feble. four noble men that were myllesi{us} the kyngis sones come out of spayne with many other in a Nauye of / lx / shippis / and two of the worthiest of these foure bretheren that hi¦te hiberus and hermon deled the londe bitwene hem tweyn But afterward couenaūt was broken bytwene hem both and hiber{us} was slayn thēne hermon was kynge of all that londe / & from his tyme to the first patriks tyme were kynges of that nacion sex score & euleuen. & so fro the comynge of the hyber∣mensis vnto the fyrst patrik were a thousand yere and viij·C / They had that name hibermenses & hibernici of the forsayd hibe∣rus. or ellys of hiberos a Ryuer of spayne· they were called al¦so Gaytels and scottes of one / gaytelus that was phenius ne∣uew / this gaytelus coude speke many langages after the lan∣gages that were made at nemproths tour / And wedded one sco¦ta pharoes doughter / ¶ Of these dukes come the hibermenses

¶ Men saye that these gaytelus made the yryshe langage and called it gaytelaf. as it were a langage gadred / of alle langa∣ges and tonges Atte laste Belinus kyng of bretayn had a sone that hight gurguncius· As this gurguncius come oute of den∣marke atte Irlondes Orcades he fonde men that were called bas¦clenses and were come thyder oute of spayne. these men prayde & besoughte for to haue place to dwelle Inne· And the kyng sente hem to Irlond that was tho voyde and waste. and ordeyned and sente with hem dukes and capitayns of his owne / And so it se∣meth that Irlond shold longe to. brytayn by right of old tyme ffrom the first seynt patrik vnto Fedlinudius the kyngis tyme four honderd yere regned xxxiij. kynegs eueryche after other in Irlond In this Fedlinudius tyme Turgesius duke and capy¦tayn of Norweyes brought thyder men of Norweye and occupy∣ed that londe and made in many places depe dyches and castels sengle double and treble and many wardes strongly walled / & many therof stonde yet alhoole / But Irysshe men retche not of castels· For they take wodes for castels and mareys and mores for castel dyches ¶But atte laste Turgesius deyde by gyleful wyles of wymmen / And Englysshe men seyn that gurmundus wan Irlond and made thylke dyches / and make no mencion of Turgesius / And yrysshe men speke of Turgesius / And knowe not of gurmundus. therfor is to wete that gurmundus had wō∣ne brytayn and dwellyd therinne / And sente Turgesius with grete strengthe in to yrlond for to wynne that lond / and by cause Turgesius was Capytayn and leder of that viage and iourney and seen emonge them therfor yrysshe men speke moche of hym as a noble man that was seen in that lond and knowen. Atte la¦ste whan gurmundus was slayn in Fraunce· Turgesius / loued the kynges doughter of meth in Irlond. And her fader behyghte Turgesius that he wolde sende her hym to the lowe lacherin with xv. maydens. And Turgesius promysed to mete hem there with .xv· of the noblest men that he had / And helde couenaunt and thought no gyle. but there come / xv / yōg berdles men clothed like wymmen with short swordes vnder her clothes / and fylle on tur∣gesius and slewe hym right there and so he was traitoursly slain after he had regned / xxx / yere· Not long after thre bretheren ame¦lanus Syracus and iourus come in to Irlond with her men out of Norwaye as it had ben for lone of pees and of marchandyse and dwellyd by the see sides by assente of Irysshe men / that

were alway ydel as paules knyghtes / And the norwayes byl∣ded thre cytees· deuelyn waterford and lymeryche. and encreced and after wexe rebelle ayenst men of that londe and brought first sparthes in to Irlond / So fro Turgesius tyme vnto Rotheriks tyme kyng of cannaccia that was the laste that was kynge of al the londe were xvij kynges in Irlond And so the kynges that regned in Irlond from the first hermons tyme vnto the last Rotheriks time were in al an honderd four score and one knygis that were not crowned nether enoynted ne by lawe of herita∣ge. but by myght maystrye & by strengthe of Armes· The second harry kyng of Englond made this Rotherick subgette the yere of kynge harryes age fourty. and of his regne xvij· the yere of our lord .xj.C lxxij

¶ De Incolarum moribus Solynus· ¶ Capitulum / 34

SOlinus sayth that men of this lond ben straunge of nacion houseles and grete fyghters / and acounte right and wrong al for one thyng and ben syngel of clothyng scarce of mete cruel of herte and angry of speche. and drynketh first blood of dede mē that ben slayn and thenne wesshen theyr vysages ther with / and holde hem paid with fflesshe and fruyt in stede of mete and with mylke· in stede of drynke / & vse moche pleyng Idlenes & hūtyng & trauaylle ful lytil / In theyr childhode they ben hard norys∣shed & hard fedd & they be vnsemely of maners & of clothyng and haue breche and hosen alle one of wolle and strayt hodes that scretcheth a cubyte ouer the sholders behynde and foldynges in stede of mantels and of clokes / Also they vse no sadles / bootes ne spores whan they Ryde. But they dryue theyr horses with a Chambred yerd in the ouer ende· in stede of byttes with trenches and of brydles of Reest they vse brydles that lette not theyr horse to ete theyr mete / they fyghte vnarmed naked in bodye netheles with two dartes and speres· and with brood sparthes they fight with one hande / these men forsake tylyeng of lond and ke∣pen pasture for beestes / they vse long berdes & lōg lockes hanging doun behynde her heedes· they vse no crafte of flaxe of wolle of metal ne of marchaundyse but yeue hem to ydlenes and to slou¦the and rekene reste for likyng and fredom for Rychesse / And though Scotland the doughter of Irlond vse harpe tymbre and

tabour. Netheles Irysshe men be connyng in two manere Instru∣mentis of musike in harpe & tymbre that is armed with wyre & strenges of brasse. In whiche Instrumentes though they playe hastely and swyftly / they make right mery Armonye and melo∣dye with thyck tewnes werbles and notes. And begynne from bemol••and playe secretely vnder dymme sowne in the grete stren¦ges and torne agayn vnto the same. So that the grettest party•• of the craft hideth the craft / as it wold seme as though the cra•••• so hydde shold be ashamed / yf it were take / these m••n ben of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 maner in her lyuyng they paye no tythes· they wedde lawful•••• they spare not theyr alyes but the broder weddeth the brode•••• wif they ben besy for to betraye theyr neyghbours & other. they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sparthes in their hondes in stede of staues and fyghte ayens•• them that truste moost to them· these men ben variable and vnst••••faste trechours and gyleful· who that deleth with them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 more to be ware of gyle than of crafte of pees than of brennyn•• brondes / of hony than of galle· of malyce than of knyghthode •• They haue suche maners that they ben not stronge in warres in batayll ne· trewe in pers. they become gossibs to them that they wil falsely bitraye in the gossibrede & holy kynrede / eueryche dryn¦keth others blood whan it is shed. they loue somdele her no••ice •• her pleyfers whiche that souke the same mylke that they souked while they were childeren And they poursiewe their bretheren their cosins and their other kyn· And despisen their kyn while •• they lyue / And auenge their deth whan they be slayn / So long•• hath the vsage of euille cu••tomme endured emonge them that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath goten the maistrye ouer them and torned treson in to kynde so ferforth that they ben traitours by nature / and alyens and m••n of straunge londes that dwelle amonge them folowen their ma∣ners that vnnethe ther is none but he is besmitted with their tre∣son also / Amonge them many men pissen syttyng and wymmen standyng. ther ben many men in that londe fowle shapen in lym∣mes and in bodye / For in their lymmes they lacke the benefi••e· of kynde / So that nowher ben none better shapen than they that be there wel shapen & none worse shapen than they that be euil shapen And skylfully nature hurt and defowled by w••ckednes of ly∣uyng bryngeth forth suche foule gromes and euyl shapen of hem that with vnlawful delyng with fowl maners and euyl ly∣uyng so wyckedly defowleth kynde. and nature / In this londe and in wales olde wyues and wymmen were woonte and ben

yet as men seyne ofte for to shape them self in likenes of hares for to mylke their neyghbours kyne and stele her mylk / And of¦te gerhoundes rennen after hem and poursiewe them and wenen that they be hares / Also somme by crafte of nygromancye make fat swyne for to be reed of colour and selle them in markettis and feyres· But assone as the swyne passe ony water they tourne in to their owne kynde / whether it be strawe / heye gras or turues / But these swyne may not be kept by no craft for tendure in like¦nes of swyne ouer thre dayes / Among these wonders and other take hede that in the vttermost ende of the world falled ofte new merueylles and wondres. As though kynde playde with larger loue secretely and fer in thendes than openly and neygh the myd∣del / therfore in this Ilonde ben many grysly wonders and mer∣uaylles

¶ De locorum prodigijs· Giraldus{us} Merueylles of Irlond / ¶ Capitulum / 35

MAny men tellen that in the northside of. Irlond is the lond of lyf. In that Ilond noman may deye but whan they ben old and be vexed with grete s••kenes· they ben born oute in to the next londe and deye there / ¶ Ther is another ylond in Irlond that no woman therin may bere a childe· but yet she may conceyue Also ther is an Ilond in whiche no dede body may roten In vltonia that is vlster is an Ilond in a lake wonderly depar¦ted in tweyne / In that one partye is grete disturbaunce and dis¦comfort of Fendes / And in that other partye grete lykyng and comforte of holy Angels· there is also seynt patriks purgatorye that was shewd at his prayers to conferme his prechyng and his lore· whan he prechyd to mysbyleued of sorow and of payne that euyl men sholde suffre for her wicked werkes / And of ioye & blysse that good men shal resseyue for her holy dedes. He telleth that who that suffreth the paynes of that purgatorye· yf it be en∣ioyed hym for penaunce. he shal neuer suffre the paynes of helle-but he dye fynally without repentaunce of synne / as the ensam∣ple is sette more fulle at this chapytres ende ¶ Treuisa / But truly noman maye be saued. but yf he be very repentaunt what sommeuer penaunce he doo / And euery man that is very repen∣taunt at his lyues ende / shal be sikerly saued / though he neuer

here of seynt patriks purgatorye / There is an Ilond in Cannacte Salo that is in the see of Conaccia halewed by seynt Brandan / that hath no myse. there dede bodyes ben not buryed but ben kept oute of therthe and roten not / In mamonia is a welle / who that wassheth hym with the water of that welle he shal wexe hore on his heede / ther is another welle in vltonia. who someuer is wes∣shen therin he shal neuer wexe hore afterward / Ther is a welle in mownstre or momonia / yf. ony man touche that welle anone shal falle grete rayne in al the prouynce / ¶ And that ray∣ne shal neuer cesse / til a preest that is a clene mayde singe a mas¦se in a chappel fast by and blesse the water and with mylke of a Cowe that is of one heer besprynge the welle / And so recon∣cyle the welle in this straunge maner At glyndalcan aboute the Oratorye of seynt keywyn withges berith apples as it were ap∣ple trees & ben more holsom than sauery / that holy seynt brought forth these apples by prayers for to heele his child that was seek Ther is a lake in vlster and moche fyssh therin whiche is .xxx myle in lengthe and xv in brede· the Ryuer ban renneth oute of that lake in to the north Occean And men saye that this lake be¦gan in this maner / there were men in that countrey that were. of euyl lyuynge / coeuntes cum brutis / And there was a welle in that londe in grete reuerence of old. tyme and alway couerd· and yf it were lefte vncouerd the welle wold ryse and drowne al the londe: & so it happed that a woman wente to that welle for to fet¦che water And hied her fast to her childe that wepte in the crad∣be and lefte the welle vncouerd / than the welle sprang so fast that it drowned the woman and her childe and made al the countre a lake & ffyssheponde· for to preue that this is soth it is a grete argu¦ment that whan the weder is cleer / Fysshers of that water see in the ground vnder the water Roūd towris and hyghe shapen as steples and chirches of that lond / In the northsyde of Irlond in the countrey of Ossiriens. euery seuen yere atte prayer of an holy abbot. tweyne that ben wedded a man and a woman must nedes be exyled and forshappen in to lykenes of wolues and a∣byde oute seuen yere / And at thende of seuen yere / yf they lyue they come home agayn and take agayn theyr owne shappe / And then shal other tweyne goo forth in theyr stede and so forshapen for other seuen yere / there is a lake in this lond yf a pool of tree be pyght and stycked therin that part of the shaft or pool that is in therthe shal torne in to yron / And that part that abydeth in

the water shal torne in to stone· And the part that abydeth aboue shal be tre in his owen kynde. Also ther is a lake that torneth ha¦sell in to asshe and asshe in to hasell yf it be don therin / ¶ Also in Irlond ben thre samon leepes· there as samons lepee ayenste a roche a longe speres lengthe / Also in lagenia is a ponde / ther be seen colmans birdes / the birdes ben cleped certelles & come homly to mannes honde. but yf men do hem wrong or harme· they gon a way and come not agayne / & the water there shal wexe bytter & stynke / And he that dyde the wronge shal not asterte withoute wreche and meschyef but yf be doo amendes / ¶ R As tou∣ching patriks purgatorye· ye shal vnderstande that the second s••int patrike that was abbot and not bisshop whyle he prechyd in Ir∣londe laboured and studyed for to torne thylke wycked men that lyued as beestes out of her euyl lyf for drede of paynes of helle· And for to conferme hem in good lyf / And they sayde they wold not torne but somme of them myght knowe somwhat of the gre¦te paynes / and also of blysse that he spak of ¶ Thenne seynt Patrik prayd to god almyghty therfore / And our lord ihesu crist appierid to seynt patrik and toke hym a staf / and ladde hym in to a wylde place and shewed hym there a Round pytte that was derke within and sayde / that yf a man were very repentaunt and stable of bileue and wente in to this pytte and walked therinne a day and a nyght he sholde see the sorowes and the paynes of euyl men and the ioye and blysse of good men / ¶ Thenne crist vanyssyhed out of patriks sight / And seynt patrik arered & bylded there a chirche· and put therin chanons Reguler· and clo¦sed the pytte about with a walle· and is now in the chirche yerd atte est ende of the chirche / and fast shytte with a stronge dore / for noman shold goo in nycely with oute leue of the bisshop or of the Priour of the place ¶ Many men went in and cam out agayn in patriks tyme· And told of paynes and ioye that they had seen· and the merueylles· that they sawe ben there yet wreton. And by couse therof many men torned & were cōuerted to right bileue· al¦so many men went in and cam neuer agayn ¶In kynge steuēs tyme kyng of Englond a knyght that hight oweyn wente in to seynt patriks purgatorye / & cam agayn & dwellyd euer after du∣ryng his lyf in the nedes of thabbay of ludensis that is of thor∣dre of cistews & he tolde many wōders that he had seen in patriks purgatorye. the place is called patriks purgatorye· & the chirch is named / Reglis / ¶ No man is enioyned for to goo in to that

purgatorye but counseylled that he sholde not come therinne But take vpon hym other penaūce / and yf / a man haue auowed and be stable and wole nede goo therinne he shal first goo to the bis∣shop / And than he shal be sent with lettres to the prioure of the place / and they bothe shal counseylle hym to leue. and yf he will nedes goo therto / he shal be in prayers and in fastyng / xv. dayes. And after .xv. dayes he shal be houseld and lad to the dore of the purgatorye with procession and letanye. and yet he shal be coun∣ceylled to leue it And yf he be stedfast and will entre the dore shal be opened: And he y blyssyd and goo on goddes name and holde forth his waye / And the dore shall be faste shette til the next daye And whan the tyme is the priour shal come and opene the dore / ¶ And yf the man be comen he ledeth hym in to the chirche with procession. And there he shal be xv / dayes in prayers and in fas∣tyng

¶De preconijs sanctorum / ¶ Capitulum 36

HCre Graldus maketh mynde that as men of this nacion ben more angry than other men and more hasty for to take wreche whyles they ben alyue. So seyntes and halowes of this londe ben more wrecheful than sayn••es of other londes / Clerkes of this lande ben chaste and sayen many prayers and don grete abstynence a day and drynketh al nyght. So that it is acounted for a myracle / that lecherye regneth not there as wyne regneth· And they that ben euyl of them ben worst of all other / so good men amonge them though they be but fewe ben good atte beste / Prelates of that coūtrey ben ful slowe in correction of trespaas and besym contemplacion and not in prechyng of goddes worde· Therfore it is that alle the sayntes of that lond. ben confessours & no martir emonge them and no wonder. For alle the prelates of this londe ben chosen oute of abbayes in to the clerg••e / ¶ And don as monkes sholde· what Clerkes and prelates shulde doo is to them vnknowen· therfor whan it was put ayenste the bisshop of Cassil how it myght be that so many sayntes ben in Irlond & neuer a martir amonge hem alle syth that the men ben so shreud and so angry / and the prelates so recheles and slowe in correction of trespaas / the bisshop answerd frowardly ynowgh and sayde our men ben shrewd and angry ynowgh to hem self. but to god¦des seruaūtes they ••eye neuer honde / but do to hem grete reuerence

and worship· But Englysshe men come in to this londe that can make martres and were wont to vse that craft / ¶R The bis¦shop sayd so by cause that kyng harry the second was tho newe comen in to Irlond fresshly after the marterdom of seynt thomas of Counterbury / ¶Gir· in this lond in wales and in scotland ben belles and staues with croked heedes and other such thynges for relyquyes in grete reuerence & worship / So that men of this londe dreden more for to swere vpon ony of thylke belles & gold staues than vpon the gospel· The chyef of all suche relyquyes is y holde Ihesus staf· that is at deuelyn / with the which staf· they saye that the first seynt patrik droo•• the wormes oute of Irlond ¶Augustinus de ciuitate d••i / Capitulo septimo. yf men axe how it maye be that dyuerse maner beestes and of dyuerce kynde that ben kyndly goten bitwene male und female come and ben in I∣londes after noes flood / Men supposen that suche beestes swam in to Ilondes aboute· And first to the nexte and so forth in to other Or els men seylly•••• in to ylondes brought with hem such beestes f••r loue of huntynge or angels at god almyghtyes commaun∣dement brought suche beestes in to Ilondes aboute. or the erthe brought hem forth firste and fulfylled tho goddes commaunde∣ment that commanded the erthe to brynge forth gras and quyck beestes

¶ De Scocia ¶ Capitulum / 37

HYt is a comyn sawe that the Countrey whiche nowe is na∣med Scotland is an out stretchyng of the north partye of britayn· & is departed in the southside· from britain with armes of the see / And in the other sides al about byclypped with the see This londe heet somtyme Albania· and hath that name of Alba¦nactus that was kynge brutus sone / For Albanactus dwellyd first the••nne / Or of the prouynce Albania. that is a countrey of Scicia and nygh to amasona· therfor Scottes ben called as it we∣re scites· For they cam oute of Scicia / Afterward that londe heet pyctauia. For the pyctes regned therinne a thousand yere / and .lxx / Or somme men telle a thousand thre honderd .lx· yere And atte last heet hibernia as Irlond heygthe / Gir in top For ma∣ny skylles one skyl is for affynyte and alye that was bitwene them and yrysshe men / For they toke wyues of yrlond and that is o••enly seen in her bileue· in clothyng in langage and in speche

in wepen and in maners ¶ Another skylle is for Irysshe men dwellyd ther somtyme / Beda / libro primo Out of yrlond that is the propre countraye of the scottes come yrysshe men with her duke that was called renda· And with loue & with strengthe made hem chyef sees and cytees beside the pyctes in the northsyde Gir / Now the londe is shortly called scotland of scottes that come out of yrlōd & regned therinne ·iij / C / xv / yere vnto the rede willia¦ms tyme that was malcolyns broder· R. many euydencis we ha¦ue of this scotland that it is ofte called and heyte hibernia as yr¦lond doth / therfor beda libro 2. c· p / seyth that laurence archibisshop of dunbar was archibisshop of scottes that dwellyd in an ylond that heet hibernia & is next to brytayne. Also beda li / 3· c / 27. seyth Pestelence of moreyn bare donn hibernia / Also. libro tercio· capi∣tulo secundo seyth that the scottes that dwellyd in the south side of hibernia / also libro 4· capitulo tercio / he sayth that chadde was a yonglyng and lerned the rewle of monkes in hibernia / Also libro quarto capitulo visesimo secundo / Egfridus kyng of northū∣berland destroyed hibernia. Also libro· 4 ca. 15. The moost dele of scottes in hibernia / And in the same chapytre he clepeth hibernia proprely named / That west ylonde is an honderd myle from eue∣ryche brytayne and departed with the see bitwene / And called hibernia that countray that now is callid scotland / there he telleth that adanman abbote of this ylond seyled to hibernia for to teche yryshmen the lawful ester daye And atte laste cam agayne in to scotlōd· Ysi / ethli 14. Mē ofthis scotlād / ben named scottes in their own lāgage & pyctes also· for sōtymeher body was peinted in this man. they wold sōtyme with a sharp egged tole prycke & kerue her own bodyes· & make theron dyuse figures & shappes / & peynte hem with Inke or with other peynture / or colour· And by cause they were so peynted they were called picti / that is to saye peynted ¶Erodotus Scottes ben light of herte. straunge and wylde ynowgh / but by. medlynge of Englysshe men they ben moche a∣mended / they ben cruel vpon theyr enemyes And hateth bondage most of ony thyng / And holde for a foule slouthe yf a man deye in his bed ¶ And grete worship yf he deye in the felde. They ben lytil of mete and mowe faste longe / And eten selde whan the sonne is vp / ¶ And ete flesshe fysshe mylke and fruyte more than breed. And though they ben fayre of shappe They ben defowled and made vnsemely ynowgh with theyr owne clo¦thyng. they preyse faste the vsage of theyr owne forfaders· And

despysen other mennes doynge / her ••onde is fruytful ynowgh in pasture gardyns and feeldes / Gir / de / p / capitulo / 18 / The prynces of Scottes as the kynges of spayn ben not wonte to ben enioyn¦ted ne crowned. In this Scotland is solempne and grete mynde of seynt andrew thappostel. For seynt Andrew had the north con¦treys of the world scytes and pyctes to his lotte for to preche and conuerte the peple to Cristes bileue / And was atte laste martred in achaia in Grecia in a cyte that was named patras / And his bones were kept two honderd ·lxxij / yere vnto constantinus them¦perours tyme / And thenne they were translated in to Constanti∣noble & kepte there an .C / & ten yere vnto theodosius themperours tyme· Thenne vngust kyng of pyctes in Scotland destroyed a gre¦te partye of brytayn and was bisette with a grete hoost of britons in a felde called merk / And he herd seynt Andrew speke to hym in this maner / vngus / vngus / here thou me cristes apostle / I pro¦myse the helpe and socour / whan thou hast ouercomen thyn ene∣myes by myn helpe. thou shalt yeue the third dele of thyn heritage in almes to god almyghty and in worship of seynt Andrew· & the signe of the crosse wente to fore his hooste. And the thyrdde day he had vyctorye and so torned home agayn / and deled his he∣ritage as he was boden. And for he was vncertayn what cyte he sholde dele for seynt andrew / he fasted thre dayes / he & his men pra¦yd seynt andrew that he wold shewe hym what place he wold che¦se / And one of the wardeyns that kept the body of seynt andrew in Constantynoble was warned in his sweuene that he shold go in to a place whyder an angle wolde lede hym. And so he cam in to Scotland with seuen felaws to the toppe of an hille named Ragmund / The same hour lighte of heuen bishone and byclypped the kynge of pyctes that was comyng with his hooste to a place called carceuan / There anon were heled many seke men / there met with the kynge Regulus the monke of constantynoble with the relyques of seynt Andrew ¶ There is founded a chirche in worship of seynt Andrew That is hede of alle the chirches in the londe of pyctes that is scotland / To this chirche comen pylgryms out of all londes / there was regulus first abbot and gadred mon¦kes· And so alle the tienthe lond that the kyng had assigned hym he departed it in dyuerse places amonge ab••••yes /

¶ De wallia

Now this book taketh on honde Wales to fore englond So take I my tales / And wende in to wales / To that noble blood Of priamus blood Knowleche for to wynne. Of grete Iupiters kynne For to haue in mynde Dardanus kynde In thyse four titles I fonde To telle thestate of that londe Cause of the man I shal telle And then preyse the lond & welle Then I shal wryte with my pēne Alle the maners of the menne Thenne I shal fonde To telle merueilles of the londe Of the name how it is named wales Wales now is called wallia And somtyme it heet cambria For camber brutes sone Was prynce & there dide wone Thenne wallia was to mene / For gwalaes the quene Kyng ebrancus child was wedded thyder myld And of that lord gwalon withdraweth of the soun And put to / l· i· a And thou shalt finde wallia / And though this londe Be moche lesse than englond As good glebe is one as other In the doughter as in the moder Of the commodytees of the lond of wales Though that lond be luyte. It is ful of corn & of fruyte And hath grete plente ywys Of flesshe & eke of fysshe Of beestes tame & wild Of horse sheep oxen mylde Good londe for alle seedes / For corn gras & herbes y^t spredes Ther ben wodes & medes / Herbes & floures there spredes Ther ben riuers & welles Valeys & also hilles Valeys brynge forth flood And hilles metals good Cool groweth vnder londe And gras aboue atte honde There lyme is copious And slattes for hows. Hony & mylke whyte / There is deynte & not lyte Of braket methe and ale Is grete plente in that vale And all that nedeth to the lyue That londe bryngeth forth ryue. But of grete ryches to be drawe And close many in short sawe Hit is a corner smal As though god first of al made that londe so fele To be selere of al hele Wales is deled by / A water that heet twy / Northwales from the southe / Twy delith in places ful couth. The southe heet demecia And the other venedocia / The first shoteth & arowes beres. that other deleth al with speres. In wales how it be Were somtyme courtes thre At carmarthyn was that one And that othir was in mone

The thirde was in powysy In pengwern y^t now is shrous∣bury Ther were bisshops seuen And now ben four euen· Vnder saxons al atte honde Somtyme vnder pⁱnces of y^t lād

¶ Of maner & rites of the walssmen

The maner lyuyng of y^t londe· Is wel dyuerse from englond In mete & drynk & clothyng And many other doyng / They be clothed wonder wel In a shirt & in a mantel A crisp breche wel fayn Bothe in wynde & in rayne. In this clothyng they be bolde Though the weder be right colde Without shetes alway Euermore in this aray They goo fighte pleye & lepe Stonde sitte lye & slepe Without surcot goun cote & kir∣tell. Without iopē tabard cloc or bel / without lace & chaplet y^t her lap¦pes Without hode hatte or cappes· Thus araid goon y^e segges And alway with bare legges They kepe none other goyng / Though they mete with y^e kyng With arowes & short speres They fight with them y^t hē deres They fight better if they neden Whan they go thā whā they ridē In stede of castel & tour They take wode & mareis for so / Whan they see it is to doo cour / In fyghtyng they wol be a go· Gildas seyth they ben varyable In pees & not stable Yf men axe why it be It is wonder for to see Though men put oute of londe To put out othir wold fonde But al for nouʒt at this stonde For al many wodes bē at grōde And vpon the see amonge Ben castels buylded stronge The men maye dure longe vn ete And loue wel comune mete They can ete & ben mury / Withoute grete cury. They ete breed cold & hoot Of barly & of ote Brode cakes round & thynne As wel semeth so grete kynne Selde they ete breed of wheet And selde they done ones ete They haue gruel to potage And lekes kynde to companage / Also butter mylke & chese Y shape enlong & corner wese Suche messes they ete snel And that maketh hē drynk wel Methe & ale that hath myght Theron they spende day & nyght Euer the redder is the wyn. They holde it the more fyn Whan they drynke atte ale They telle many a lewd tale or whan drink is an hōdling They ben ful of Iangling / Atte mete and after eke Her solace is salt and leke The husbond in his wise Telleth that a grete prise / to yeue a caudron with gruele To hem that sitten on his mele He deleth his mete at mele And yeueth euery man his dele.

And alle the ouerpluse He kepeth to his owne vse / Therfor they haue woo And mishappes also They ete hoote samon alway / All though phisik say nay Her howses ben lowe with al And made of yerdes smal Not as in citres nyhe / But fer a sonder & not to hihe Whan al is eten at home / Then to hir neyghbours wil they & ete what they may finde & see / And then torne home a ye. rome The lyf is ydle that they ledes In brēning sleping & such dedes Walsshmen vse with her myght· to wesshe their ghestes fret a nyʒt Yf he wessh her feet al & somme· Then they knowe y^t they be wel They lyue so esily in a rowte That selde they bere purs about At her breche out & home come They hong their money & combe / It is wonder they be so hende And hate crak atte nether ende· And without ony core· Make their wardroppe atte dore They haue in grete mangery / harp tabour and pipe for mīstralcie They bere corps with sorow gret· and blowe lowde hornes of gheet They prayse fast troyan blode For therof come al her brode / Neyh kyn they wyl be Though they passen an ·C / degre / aboue other mē they wil hē diʒt & worship prestes with her myʒt As angels of heuen right they worshipe seruaūtes of god. Oft giled was thys brood And yerned batayl al for wode For merlins {pro}phecie almyʒt And oft for sortelegye. Best in maners of britons. For companye of saxons Ben torned to better right That is knowen as clere as light they tillē gardins felde & dounes And drawe hem to god tounes They ride armed as wole god And goo y hosed & y shood And sitten fayr at hir mele And slepe in beddes fair & fele· So they seme now in mynde More englissh than walssh kinde Yf men axe why they now doo so More than they woonte to doo / They lyuen in more pees Bycause of theyr ryches For their catel shold slake Yf they vsed ofte wrake Drede of losse of her good Make them nowe stylle of mode Al in one it is brought Haue nothyng & drede nought / The poet seyth a sawe of preef / the fotemā singeth to fore y^e thef / And is bolder on the way / than the horsmen riche and gaye

Of the marueylles & wonders of wales

THer is a pool at brechnok therin of fish is many a flok oft he changeth his hewe on cop And bereth· aboue a gardin crop Ofte tyme how it be Shape of hous ther shal thou see Whan y^e pole is frore it is wōder

Of the noyse that is ther vnder Yf the prynce of the londe hoote / Briddes singe wel mery noot / As merily as they can And singe for none other man / Besides carlion Two myle fro the toun Is a roche wel bright of leem Ryght ayenst the sonne beme / Goldelyf that roche heyghte For it shyneth as gold ful briʒt Such a flour in stone is nought withowt fruyt yf it were souʒt / If men coude by craft vndo y^e veynes of therthe. & com therto Many benefyce of kynde Ben now hid fro mānes minde And ben vnknowe· yet / For defawte of mannes wytte Grete tresour is hid in grounde And after this it shal be founde By grete studye & besynes Of hem that come after vs / that old men had by grete nede We haue by besy dede / Treuisa In bokes ye may rede that kynde failleth not at nede / Whan nomā had craft in mynde then of craft halp god & kynde Whan no techer was in londe Men had craft by goddes honde they that had craft so thenne / taught forth craft to other mēne som craft y^t yet come not in place som mā shal haue by gods grace R· an ylond is with nois & strif In west walis at kerdyf Fast by seuarn stronde Barry hiht that ylond In that hither side in a chene / Shal thou here wonder dene And dyuerse noys also If thou put thyn ere to. Noys of leues & of wynde Noys of metal thou shalt fynde Froting of yrē & whestones thou Hetyng of ouens then with fire all this may wel be shalt here / By wawes of the see that breketh in thare With suche noys and fare / At penbrook in a stede. Fendes doo ofte quede And throweth foul thyng in And despyseth also synne. Neyther craft ne bedes may / Doo thens that sorow awaye whan it greueth soo To the men it bodeth woo· At crucinar in west wales Is a wonder burials Euery man that cometh it to see Semeth it euen as moche as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Hool wepen there a nyght Shal be broken er day light· At nemyn in northwalis. A litil ylond there is That is called bardysey Monkes dwelle there alway Men lyue so long in that hurst / That the oldest deyed first / Mē saye y^t merlin ther buryed is That highte also siluestris There were merlyns tweyne And prophecied beyne One hite ambrose & merlyn And was y goten by gobelyn. In demecia at carmerthyn. Vnder kyng vortigerin He tolde his prophecie

Euen in snowdonye· Atte hede of the wat of coneway In the side of mount eriri Dynas embreys in walsshe Ambrose hille in englysshe / Kyng vortigere sate on / The wat{er} side & was ful of wone Then ambrose merlin {pro}phecied to fore hym right tho. Treuisa What witte wold wene. Thate a fend myght gete a child Somme men wold mene that he may no such werk welde That fende that goth a nyght / wymmen ful ofte to gile Iucubus is named by right. And gyleth men otherwhyle Succubus is that wight God graūte vs none suche vyle. Who that cometh in hir gyle Wonder happe shal he smyle With wonder dede Bothe men & wymmen seed Fendes wole kepe· With craft & bringe an heepe So fendes wylde May make wymmen bere child / Yet neuer in mynde / Was child of fendes kynde For withouten eye Ther myght no suche child deye Clergye maketh mynde Deth sleeth no fendes f••nde But deth slowe merlin Merlin was ergo no gobeblin / Another merlin of albin lond / That now is named scotland· And he had names two Siluestris and calidonius also Of that wode calidoni For there he tolde his prephecie / And heet siluestris as well For whan he was in batel And sawe aboue a grisly kynde And fyll anon out of his minde And made nomore abood But ran anon vnto the wood· Treuisa Siluestris is wood / Other wilde of mode Other ellis / That atte wode he duelles R. Siluestris merlyn Tolde prophecie wel & fyn And prophecied wel sure Vnder kyng Arthure / Openly & not so cloos As merlyn ambros Ther ben hilles in snowdonye That ben wonderly hye With heyght as grete a waye. As a man may goo a day And heet eriri on walsshe. Snowy hilles in englysshe In these hilles ther is Leese ynowe for al beestes of wa¦lis These hilles on coppe beres Two grete fysshe weres / Conteyned in that one ponde / Meueth with y^e wynde an ylōd As though it dyde swymme And neyheth to the brymme So y^e heerdes haue grete wonder And wene y^t the world meueth In that other is perche & fysshe vnder / Euery one eyed is So fareth al· wel In albania the mylwel / In rutlond by tetingel Ther is a lytil welle That floweth not alway /

As the see twyes a day But somtyme it is dreye And somtyme ful by the eye· Ther is in norwallia In mon that heet anglesia A stone accordyng wel neyhe As it were a mannes thyhe / How ferre euer that stone / Be borne of ony mon On nyght it goth home his way That he fonde by assaye Hughe therle of shrewsbury· In tyme of the first harry / For he wolde the soth finde That stone to anothir he gā bīde With grete cheynes of yron / And threwe al y feren. Y bounden at one heepe In to a water depe Yet a morow that stone / Was seene erly in mon / A cherle helde him self ful sligh And bonde this stone to his thye His thygh was roten or day / And the stone wente away Yf men don lecherye Neyhe that stone by Swote cometh of that stone But childe cometh ther none Ther is a roche right wonderly. Th•• roche of heryng by countrey / Though ther crye ony man born And blowe also with an horn Noyse ther made though y^u abide Thou shalt here none in this side Ther is another ylonde Fast by mon at honde Hermytes ther ben ryue Yf ony of hem don stryue Alle the myse that may be gete Come & ete al their mete Thenne seceth neuer that woo Tyll the strife sece also As men in this lond / Ben angry as in yrlond So seyntes of this contrey / Ben also wrecheful alway. Also in this lond In yrlond & in scotland / Ben belles & staues That in worship men haues / And ben worshiped so thēne / Of clerkes & of lewed men That dreden also / To sweren on ony of tho Staf eyther belle As it were the gospelle At basyngwerke is a welle That sacer hete as men telle· hit sprīgeth so sore as mē may see What is cast in it throweth a ye Therof springeth a grete stronde It were ynowgh for al y^e lond Seke at that place Haue bothe hele & grace In the welmes after than ones Ben founde reed sperclid stones In token of the blood reed That the mayde wenefrede Shad at that pytte whan her throte was kytte He that dyde that dede Hath sorow on his seede His children at al stoundes Berken as welpes & houndes For to they pray y^t mayde grace Ryght at that welle place Eyther in shrowsbury strete There that mayde resteth swete

¶De britannia ¶ Capitulum 39

AFter the Ilond of Occean now brytayn shal be descryued By cause of britayn al the trauayll of this storye was by∣gōne. The first poynt that shal be told shal be of the names of the ylōd / thenne of the stede & place of lengthe and brede / the thyrdd of the worthynes of the londe· the fourth of merueylles and won¦ders that ben therinne / the fyfthe of the chyef partye of the londe· the sixth of ylondes that ben bisides that londe· the seuenth of the kynges heyhe wayes· the viij of famous ryuers and stremes· the ·ix· of olde cytees and townes· the tenthe of prouynces and shi∣res / the .xj / of lawes and of names of lawes / the ·xij of kynge∣doms of boundes and of merkes bytwene kyngdoms / the / xiij / of bysshopriches & of bisshops sees / the .xiiij how many maner mē ha¦ue dwelled in that ylond / the fyftenth of langage of maners & of vsage of men of that londe

¶ De varia insule nuncupacione

FYrst this londe heyte albyon / as it were the whyte lande of whyte rokkes about the clyues of the see that were seen fro ferre. Afterward bruyte conquerd this londe / And called it bry∣tain after his owne name. thenne saxons or englysshe men con∣querd this londe and called it anglia that is englond or it is cal∣led anglia of a quene that owed this lond that was named an¦gela / and was a noble dukes doughter of the saxons· or as ysid seyth eth / 15 / Anglia hath that name as it were an angle and a corner of the world / or ellys as beda sayth libro primo· Seynt gre¦gory sawe englysshe children to selle at Rome. And he acorded to the name of the londe and sayde they ben sothly anglis. For her face shyneth as angels / For the noblete of the londe shone in the children faces. Alfred ¶ The brytysshe Anglia is cleped the other world and for grete plente of al good the grete charles called hit his owne chambre / Solynus / The edge of the frēsshe clyf sholde be the ende of the worlde yf the ylonde of brytayn ne were not· whiche is worthy to haue the name of another world / ¶Al••o This Ilond is called Insula· For it is in sa•••• that is the see and is beten of with dyuerse cours of waters with stre∣mes and with wawes of the see

¶ De situ eius et dimensione. plenius libro secundo capitulo. 77 ¶ Capitulum 40

THis britayn is acounted a noble londe. bothe in our storye•• and also in the storyes of grekes / and is sette agaynst Ge••••man••a gallia Fraunce and spayne bytwene the northe and the west and the see bytwene· this londe is fyfty myle from the clyf of the men that be called morini gessorico Beda libro primo And for this ylond lyeth vnder the north hede of the world· Hit hath light & bright nyghtes in the somer tyme / So that oftyme at mydnyght men haue questions and doubte whether it be euen ty∣de or dawynge / that is for the tyme of the yere· that the sonne goth not fer vnder the erthe by nyght / But passeth by the north side and cometh sone in to the eest agayn. And therfore in the so∣mer ben ther dayes ful long of xviij houres. And the nyghtes of six houres / And after in the wynter ben longe nyghtes of / xviij: houres and short dayes of vj Also in Armenia / Macedonia / Ita∣lia and in other londes of the same lyne the lengest daye and len∣gest nyght also is of xv houres / And the shortest daye or nyght is of / ix / houres / Plenius in meroe / that ylond is chyef of black men / ther is the lengest daye ·xij houres. In allexandria in egypte of xiij houres· In ytalia of xv houres. In Brytayn of xviij hou¦res / In the ylonde named tile in alle the six somer monethes is day· And all the six wynter monethes is nyght / ysidorus libro 14 Brytain is sette within occean as it were withoute the world And is sette agaynst Fraunce and spayne Giraldus ¶Bri∣tayne is endlonge and larger. in the myddel than in thendes / Oro{us}· Britain stretcheth in length out of the south in to the north And in the south eest side. hit hath Fraunce· in the south spayn. In the north norway / and in the west hiber••ia that is Irlond Whan shipmen passen the next clyf of that londe they see a Cyte that heet rutpimouthe. Beda li primo. That Cyte is now called shortly of englysshe men reptacestre / Solynus / britain is / viij.C myle in lengthe· And it be moten from the clyf of totenesse to the angle of calydon. Alfr̄· That is from penwithstrete / xv. myle by¦yonde mychels stowe in Cornewayll vnto catenesse that is beyon¦de scotland. And britain is more than two / C· myle brood from meneuia that is the vttemest place in wales vnto yarmouthe in norf••lke / beda only ••outake the lēgest out shetyng of dyuerse for lōdes with the which britain is al about ·xlviij / sith ·lxx.m / paas

¶ De prerogatiuis huius insule attollendis / gir in top / ¶ Capitulum 41 /

AS ffraunce passeth britayn so Brytayn passeth Irlond in fayre weder and noblete / but not in helthe / ¶ Beda libro primo For this ylond is best to brynge forth trees and fruyte Ruthern and beestes / And wyn groweth therinne in somme pla¦ce / ¶ The londe hath plente of fowles and of beestes of dyuerse maner kynde· The londe is plentiuous and the see also. The londe is noble copious and ryche of noble welles and Ryuers with plente of Fysshe· Ther is grete plente of smal fysshe of samō & of eels / W / de pō li. 3^o. So that the peple in somme place fedeth their swyne with ffyssh ¶Beda libro primo Ther ben oftymes taken dolphins· See calues and balaynes grete ffysshes as wha¦les kynde / And dyuerse maner shelfysshe ¶ Amonge whiche shel¦fysshe ben muscles that haue within hem margery perles of alle maner of colour and hewe· of rody and reed purpure and of ble∣we and sp••cially and mooste of whyte / ¶Ther is also plente of shellefysshe that men dyen ther with fyn reed. the redenes therof is wonder fayr and stable. and steyneth neuer with cold ne with heete with weet ne with drye· but euer the older the colour is the fayrer· Ther ben also saltwelles & hote welles. therof rennen stre∣m••s of hoote bathes departed in to dyuerse places acordyng for man and woman of alle maner age old or yonge ¶ Basilius seyth that the water that renneth and passeth by vaynes of cer∣tayn metalle taketh in his cours grete hete / This ylond is plenti∣uous of veynes of metals / of bras of yron of lede of tyn· and of syluer also. Plenius libro 16 / capitulo sexto / ¶In this y∣londe vnder the turf of· the londe is good marle founden / the thryfte of the fatnes dryeth hem self therinne. So that euer the thykker the felde is marled / the better corne it wole bere / Ther is also another maner whyte marle / that the londe is better foure score yere that therwith is marled ¶Solynus ¶In this ylond groweth a stone that is called gagates / yf ye wil knowe his fay¦renes / it ts blac as gemmes ben. yf ye wil knowe his kynde / 〈◊〉〈◊〉 brenneth in water and quencheth in oyle. and as to his myght / yf the stone be froted & chauffed hit holdeth what hym neygheth as succuns a stone that is so named. ysidorus libro 15· ther ben 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that berin good wulle / ther ben many hertes and wylde beestes and fewe wolues / therfore sheep ben the surer withoute kepynge

lefte in the folde. R / In this ylond also ben many cytees and tow¦nes fayr and noble and ryche many grete Ryuers and stremes with grete plente of ffysshe· many fayre woodes and grete with right many bestes tame and wilde / The erthe of that londe is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of metal oor. and of salt welles. of quareis of marbl•• of dyuerse maner stones· of rede. of whyte of softe and of hard / of chalke and of whyte lyme· there is also whyte clay & rede for to make pottes crokkes stenes and other vessel and brent tile to co∣uere with howses and chirches as it were in the other Samia / that is named samos also. Flaundres loueth wel the wulle of this lond. And holand the skynnes and felles / Guyan the yron and the lede / Irlond the oor and the salt / Alle Europa loueth and desireth the whyte metal of this londe / Alf•• / Brytayn hath ynow of mater that ther nedeth to bye and selle: or is nedeful to mannes vse / ther lacketh neyther salt ne yron· therfor a vercifi∣our in his metre preys••••h this londe in this maner / Englond is a good lond fruytfulle of wolle / but it is a corner / Englond is ful of pleye / Fre men wel worthy to pleye / Fre men / Fre tonges fre herte & fre ben alle theyr thynges / theyr honde is more fre and better than their tonge / ¶Also englond is beauteuous of lond Floure of londes al aboute that londe is ful payd with fruyte & good of his owne. that londe releueth straunge men that hath ne∣de therto / ¶ And whan honger greueth other londes. than lon¦de fedeth hem / that lond bereth fruyt and corne good ynowgh. that londe is we•• at eese as long as men lyue in pees. Eeste & weste in eche lond ben knowen wel the hauenes of englond· her shippis fondes and ofte helpeth many londes· theyr mete and moneye· men haue there more comyn alway And for to lerne men gladly yeue yeftes. In lo••de and stronde / wyde speke men of englond / londe hony mylke cheese / this ylond therof shal bere the prise. this ylond hath no nede to other londes. Alle londes muste seche helpe at this allone / Of the lykyng of theyr won. myght wondre kynge Salamon the rychesse that ther is an / wolde desire octauian

¶De mirabilibus in ea stupendis Solynus· Capitulum. 42

IN brytayn ben hoote welles. wel arayed and adressyd to the vse of mankynde. maystresse of thylk welles is the gre¦te spyrite of minerua· In here hows the fyre endureth alwaye

that neuer chaungeth in to asshes· But there the fire slaketh· hit changeth in to stony clottes ¶Alf•• ¶ In Britayne ben many wonders. Netheles four ben moost wonderful / The first is at pec¦ton ther bloweth so stronge a wynde out of the chynes of the er∣the that it casteth vp agayn clothes that men caste in / The se∣conde is at stonhenge besides salesbury· there ben grete stones and wonder huge and ben rered an heygh as it were yates· So that ther semen yates sette vpon other yates / Netheles it is not kno∣wen clerly ne apperceyued how and wherfor they ben so arrered and so wonderfully honged / the thyrdde ts atte cherdhoke / there is a grete holownes vnder erthe. ofte many men haue walked therin and haue seen Ryuers and stremes / But nowher can they fynde none ende· the fourth is that rayne is seen reysed vpon hilles and a none y spronge aboute in the feldes· Also ther is a grete ponde that conteyneth / lx· ylondes couenable for men to dwelle in / that ponde is byclypped about with / vj / score roches / & vpon eueri roche an egles nest / And .lx. Ryuers rennen in to that ponde / and none of hem alle rennen in to the see but one / ther is a ponde closed a∣bout with a wal of tile and of stone / In that ponde men wasshe and bathe wel ofte· & euery man feleth the water hoote or cold right as he will hym self / ther ben salt welles f••r from the see. & ben salt al the weke longe vnto saterday none / And fresshe fro sa∣terday none vnto monday / the water of these welles whan it is soden torneth in to smal salt fayr and whyte / Also ther is a pon∣de the water therof hath wonder wirchyng / For though al an hooste stode by the ponde and torned theyr face thyderward / the water wold drawe hem violently toward the ponde and wete al theyr clothes so shold horse be drawen in the same wyse. And yf the face be torned away fro the water / the water noyeth not Ther is a welle that no streme renneth fro neyther therto / And yet four maner ffysshes be taken therin. that welle is but .xx / foote longe and / xx / foote brode / And not depe but to the kne. and closed with high bankes on euery side / In the countray about wynchestre is a den or a caue out of that caue bloweth al¦way a strong wynde· so that noman may endure to stond to fore that denne or caue / ther is also a pond that torneth tre in to yron yf it be therin a yere / And so trees ben shapen in to whestones. al¦so ther is in the toppe of an hill a buryels euery man that cometh and meteth that buryel· he shal fynde it euen of his owne lengthe and mesure· And yf a pylgrym knele therto / anon he shal be al

fresshe and fele no grief of werynes Gir in top ¶ Faste by the mynster of wynburney that is not fer fro bathe is a wode that bereth moche fruyte / yf the trees of that wode falle in to water or ground that is neyh and lye there al a yere / the trees tornen in to stones / Gir in itinere Vnder the cyte of chestre renneth that ry∣uer dee that now departeth englond and wales / that Ryuer chaū¦geth euery moneth his fordes as men of the countray tellen· and leueth ofte the chanel. But whether the wat••r drawe more to∣ward englond or toward wales / to what syde that it be. that yere men of that side haue the werse ende and be ouersette. And men of that otherside shal haue better ende & be at theyr aboue / whan the water so changeth his cours hit bodeth suche happes / this Ryuer d••e renneth & cometh out of a lake that heet pymblemere / In that Ryuer is grete plente of Samon. netheles in the lake is ne¦uer Samon founden· W / de· r / libro secundo ¶ Take hede how grete light and brightnes of goddis myldenes hath be shewed vp¦on englysshe men. sith they torned first to right bileue. So that of no men in one prouynce ben founden so many hoole bodyes of men after her deth in lykenes of euerlastyngnes that shal be after the day of dome as it wel semeth in these holy saintes / Etheldrede. ed¦monde / the kynge elphege / Edgar / Cutberd and seynt Edward and many other / I· trowe that it be do by special grace of god al¦myghty for the nacion that is sette as it were without the world shold take hede to duryng of bodyes without corupcion & roting and be the more bold and stedfaste for to truste on the fynal ary: syng of dede bodyes for to laste euermore after the daye of dome.

¶De partibus brytannye principalibus ¶ Capitulum 34

AFter the firste brutes tyme thr Ilonde of brytayn bygan for· to haue the principal partyes· that ben beogria· Cambria that is wales / And albania that is now scotland· Loegria had that name of locrinus that was brutes oldest sone / and heet Lo∣egria as it were locrinus londe / but now loegria is called Eng¦lond / the boundes & merkes were therof somtyme the frenssh see bothe by est and by southe / Beda libro primo capitulo visesimo And by north two armes of the see that breketh fer in to the lon¦de eyther ayenst other. but they reche not to gyders· the est arme of

thylk tweyn begynneth about a two lytil mile fro the mynstre / of ebburcuring. in the west side of penultō in that arme is a toun that is called guydy. the weste arme of thylk tweyne hath in the rightside a strōg cyte that heet alcliud which in her langage is cal¦led clintstone / & standeth vpon a ryuer that is called Clynt also. ¶R Somme men wold mene that loegria endeth at humber / and stretcheth no ferther northward. the second partye of brytayn is called Albania that is scotland· and hath that name of alba∣nactus bruytes sone and stretcheth fro the forseyd two armes of the see northward vnto the see of norwaye. Netheles the south par¦tye of albania where as pyctes dwellyd somtyme lyeth from the water of twede vnto the scottysshe see / Al that longed somtyme to the kyngdom of Northumberland. brenycorn / the northside of northumberland fro the first tyme of englysshe kynges to that ty¦me whan kynadyus kyng of scotland that was alpin{us} sone did away the pyctes and so ioyned that contray to the kyngdom of scotland / the thyrdde partye of brytayn is wales. wallia. that heet Cambria also. And hath that name cambria of camber brutes so¦ne / For he was prynce of wales· In the est s••de seuarn departed somtyme bytwene englond and wales / But now in the northside the Ryuer dee at chestre and in the south the ryuer that is named vaga at the castel of strygelyn departeth englond. and wales· Also kyng Offa for to haue a distinction for euermore bytwene the kynges of Englond and of wales made a longe dyche that stretcheth forth out of the southside by briston vnder the hilles of wales / northward and passeth the Ryuers Seuarn and dee al¦most to the heedes and vnto the mouth of the Ryuer dee by yonde chestre fast by the castel it renneth bytwene cobehill and the myn∣stre of basyngwerke in to the see· This dyche is yet in many pla¦ces seen In seynt edwards tyme walsh men shold not passe that dyche with wepen vpon a greet payne. and that was at erle beral¦des procuryng as it shal be sayd here after / but now in eyther si∣des bothe ayond half and a this half the dyche & specially in the shyres of chestre of shrousbury and of herford· in many places ben englysshe men & walsshmen medled to gyders

¶ De Insulis britannye adiacentibus ¶ Capitulum 44

BRytayn hath thre ylondes that ben neygh and longen therto al withoute the ylondes orcades / as it were answeryng to

the thre chyef partyes of brytayn. for the yle of wight ••ongeth & lieth to loegria that is englond / The Ilond mon that is called anglesia also longeth to wales· And the ylond eubonia that hath two other names and is called menauia and man also· which lon¦geth to Scotland· And alle these thre ylondes wight mon and man ben almoste yliche moche And of the lyke quantite of the whiche / thre al arewe nowe foloweth oure speche. ¶ Beda libro primo capitulo tercio Claudyus sente vaspasianus and vaspa¦sianus wan wight And wight stretcheth oute of the est in to the west / xxx. myle long. And out of the south in to the north .xij my¦le ¶ / And is in the est side six myle fro the south clyf of bry∣tayn· and thre myle in the weste side / Beda libro quarto capitulo quinto / the mesure of this ylond as englysshe men gesse is a thou¦sand howsholdes and two honderd ¶ Gir in itinere· Mon that is called anglesia also is departed from northwales by a short arme of the see as it were two myle brood· In mon ben thre honderd townes .lxiij. And ben acompted for candredes / that ben thre hon¦dredes / the Ilond is as it were .xxx myle long and / xij / myle / can¦tredus is so moche londe as conteyned an honderd townes. that name cantedrus is made one of two langages of brytysshe and of yryssh. In praysyng of this ylond walsshe men ben wonte to saye a prouerbe and an old sawe· Mon main kembry / that is to saye in englyssh mon moder of wales / For whan othir londes lac¦ken mete. that londe is so good that it semeth that it wold finde corne ynough̄ for alle the men of wales. therfor vyrgyls verses maye be acordyng therto· as moche as guawes· beestes longe In∣neth dawes So moche efte / bryngeth cold dewe in a nyyhte. In that arme of the see that departeth this londe and northwales is a swolow that draweth shippes to it that saylleth by and swolo∣weth hem in right as doth cilla and caribdis that ben two peryl∣lous places in / the see of mydde••erthe / therfor men may not sayl¦le by this swolow but slyly atte ful see· R ¶ Of the marueyl¦les and wonders of the ylond mon thou shalt finde tofore in the chapytre of wales. Gir in itinere. The thyrd ylond that is called bothe eubonia and menauia that is man stondeth in the myddel bytwene the yrysshe vlster and the scotyssh Gallewaye as it we¦re in the nauel of the see Beda libro secundo capitulo nono This ylond man conteyneth as it were two Ilondes / The first is southward the more countrey and the better corne londe / and con∣teyneth ix.C and lx husholdes· ¶ The second conteyneth the

space of thre honderd and moo as englisshe men gesse Gir in top / Somtyme was stryf whether this ylond man sholde longe to Brytayn or to yrlonde / And for as moche as venemous wormes that were brought thyder lyued there It was Iugged that the ylond man shold longe to brytayn. R. In that Ilond is sortilege & wyccecraft vsed. For women there selle to shipmen wynde as it were closed vnder thre knottes of threde / So that the more wynde he wold haue / the mo knottes he must vndo. there ofte by day ty∣me men of that lond seen men that ben deed to fore hond· byheded or hoole & what deth they deide alyens setten their feet vpō feet of the men of that lond for to see such sightes as the men of that don ¶ Beda li / 1 Scottes dwellid first in this ylond / Thanatos that is tenet· and is an ylond besides kente and hath that name thanatos of deth of serpentes. for there ben none / And the er∣the therof sleeth serpentes y born in to other londes / Ther is a no∣ble cornlond & fruytful / hit is supposed that this ylond was hale¦wed and blessyd of seynt anstyn the first doctour of englyssh men For there he arryued first

¶ De platris regalibus Ganfe ¶ Capitulum. 45

MOliuncius kynge of Brytons was the ·xxiij· of hem and the first that yaf hem lawe. he ordeyned that plowmen solowes goddes temples and high weyes that leden men to Cy∣tes & townes sholde haue the fredom of socour / so that euery man that wente to ony of the thre for socour or for trespas that he had do shold be sauf for poursuete of alle his enemyes but afterward for the weyes were vncertayn and strif was had. therfor Be∣linus the kyng that was the forsaid molyuncius sone for to put away all doubte & stryf made four highe kynges w••yes priuele¦ged with alle priuelegys & fredō / & the wayes stretche thurgh the ylōd The fyrst & grettest of the four wayes is called Fosse / and stretcheth out of the south in to the north and begynneth from the corner of corne wayle and passeth forth by deuenshyre by somer¦sete / & forth besides tetbury vpon cotteswold beside couentre vnto leycetre & so forth by wylde pleynes toward newerk & endeth at lyncoln. the second chyef kyn••tes high way is· named wat••ingstre¦te & stretcheth thwert ouer fosse out of the southest in to the north west· & begyneth at douer / & passeth by y^e middel of kēt ouer tem¦se biside lōdō by west westmestre· & so forth by seint albō in the

west side by donstable by stratford by toucetre by wedō by south lylleborn by atheriston vnto gilbertus hille that now is called wrekene· And forth by seuarn & passeth besides wrokcetre / & thē¦ne forth to stratton and so forth by the myddel of wales vnto car¦dykan and endeth atte yrysshe see the thyrdde way is called Eri¦myngestrete and stretcheth out of the west northwest in to eeste southeeste and begynneth in meneuia that is in seynt dauid lon¦de in west wales and stretcheth forth vnto southampton· The fourth is called Rykenyldestrete and stretcheth forth by worce∣tre by wycombe by birmyngham by lychefeld by derby by ches∣trefeld by york and forth vnto tynmouthe

¶ De famosis fluminibus Alfr ¶ Capitulum 46 /

THre famous Ryuers rennen thurgh brytayn by the which thre riuers marchaūtes of by yonde the see comē in shippes in to brytayn wel nygh out of al maner nacions & londes These thre riuers ben temse seuarn & humbre / the see ebbeth & flo∣weth atte mouthes of the thre riuers & departeth the thre prouin¦ces of the ylond as it were the thre kyngdoms a sondre· the thre partyes ben loegria Cambria & northumbria· that ben myddel en∣glond wales & northumberland. R / these name temse semeth made one name of two names of two riu{er}s that ben tame & yse. for the riu{er} tame renneth besides dorchestre & falleth in yse. therfor al the riuer fro the first hede vnto the eest see is named tamyse or temse Tamise begynneth besides tetbury that is thre myle by north mal¦mesbury / there temse springeth of a welle that renneth estward & passeth the fosse & departeth gloucetre shyre and wylshyre & dra¦weth with hym many other welles & stremes and wexth grete at grecestre & passeth forth than toward hampton & so forth by oxen¦ford by wallynford by redyng & by london W d. po / c. & atte hauen of sandwych it falleth in to the est see· and holdeth his name ·xl. mile beyonde london / & departed in som place kente & esex westsex & mercia that is as it were a grete dele of myddel englond. R / Seuarn is a / riuer of britain & is called habern in britons / & hath that name habren of habren that was estrildes doughter Gue¦delon the quene drenchid this habren therin therfore the Britons called the Ryuer Habren after the woman that was drowned thrinne. ¶ But by corrupte latyn it is called Sabrina Se∣uarn in englysshe Seuarn begynneth in the myddel of wales

And passith first toward the eest vnto shrowesbury / And then̄e torneth southward vnto brigge northe wyrcetre and Gloncetre & falleth in to the weste see besides bristow and departeth in somme pla••e Englond and wales· W / de pon / li· 4 / Seuarn is swyfte of streme· Fysshe craft is therin / wodenes of the swolewyng and of whyrlyng water casteth vp & gadrith to heepe grete hepes of gra¦uel / Seuarn ofte aryseth and ouerfloweth the bankes / R· Hum∣bre hath that name of humber kyng of hunes ffor he was drow∣ned therin· and renneth first a crookout of the southside of yorke ¶And thenne it departeth the prouynce of lyndeseye that longed somtyme to the merces from the other contrey northumberland / Trente and Ouse rennen in to humber and maken the Riuer ful grete Treuisa ¶ The merces were men as it were of myddel englond as it shal be sayd here after

¶ De Antiquis vrbibus beda libro primo capitulo primo. ¶ Capitulum .47

THe kyngdō of britayn was sōtyme made fair with ·xxviij noble cytees without right many castels that were walled with toures with yates & with barres strongly buylded Alf•• These were the names of the cytees caerlud that is london. caer∣branc that is york / caerkēt that is caūterbury. caergorāgō that is wircetre. caerliriō that is leiceter caerclō that is gloucetre· carcoldē that is colchestre / carrey that is chicestre· Saxons called it somty∣me cissancestre· caercery. that is circetre· caerguent that is winches¦tre Ca••••graunt that is cambrygge· caerleyl that is lug••balia & karlyl / caerperis that is porchestre / caerdrō that is dorcestre· caer∣ludcoit that is lyncoln & lindecolyn. caermerthyn that is merlius cyte / caersegent that is sisecetre & is vpon temse not f••r from re∣dyng / caerthleon that is caerlegyon also & hight first ligecetre & now is named chestre caerbathon that is bath & hight somtyme athamān{us} cyte. ca••rpaladour that is septon that now highte s••af¦tesbury· ¶R Other Cytees ben founden in Cronycks for vn¦derstondyng of storyes of whom it shal folowe W / de pon̄ London is a rial and a ryche cyte vpon Tamyse of burgeyses of rychesses of marchaūtes of chaffare and of marchandyse: therfor it is that somtyme whan derth of vytaylles is in al englond co∣mynly at london it is best cheep by cause of the byars and sellars that ben at London ¶Ganf•• Bruyt the first kyng of briton̄s buylded and edefyed this cyte of London the firste cyte of Bry∣tayn in remembraunce of the Cyte of Troye that was destroyed

And calleth it troyeneweth and trinouantum that is new troye Afterward kynge lud called it caerlud after his owne name· therfor brytons had grete indygnation as gyldas telleth· After¦ward Englysshmen called the Cyte London. and yet after that Normans called it Loūdres and is named in latyn Londonia / Rudhudibras kyng leyles sone was the viij kyng of brytons He bylded Caunterbury the chyef cyte of kente. And called i•• caerkent. Afterward englysshmen called it Dorobernia but that is not douer that stondeth vpon the clyf of the frensshe see. And is from this douer / vij englyssh myle / Afterward this dorober∣nia was and is called caunterbury· The same kyng Rudhudi¦bras bylded wynchestre and called it caerguent· And after En¦glyssmen called it wente and wynchestre after the name of one wyne an englyssman that was bisshop there / all westsaxon was subgette to hym the same kynge buylded palodour that is Sep∣ton that is now called Shaftesbury· Brytons tellen that an egle prophecyed there somtyme / Bladud leyles sone a nygromancer was the ix kyng of brytons / he bylded bathe and called it caer¦badum / Englyssmen called it after Athamannes cyte / But atte laste men called it bathonia that is bathe W· de pon / libro secun¦do ¶In this cyte welleth vp and spryngeth hote bathes. And men wene that Iulius cezar made there suche bathes R But ganf•• monemutensis in his britons book seith that bladud made thylke bathes· By cause that wiliam had not seen that Britons booke wrote so by tellyng of other men or by his owne ghessyng as he wrote other thynges not best aduysedly / Therfore it semeth more sothly that bladud made not the hote ba∣thes ne Iulius cezar dyde suche. a dede / though Bladud bilded and made the Cyte ¶ But it acordeth better to kendly re∣son that the water renneth in the erthe by veynes of brymstone / and sulphure· ¶ And so is kendely made hoote in that cours / and spryngeth vp in diuerse pla••es of the Cyte ¶ And so ther ben hoote bathes that wasshe••h of tetres soores and skab∣bis ¶ Treuisa ¶ Though men myght by crafte make hoote bathes for to dure longe ynowgh / this acordeth wel to reason and to philosophye that treteth of hoote welles and bathes. that ben in diuerse londes though the water of this bathe be mo∣re troubly and henyer of sauoure and of smelle than other ho∣te bathes ben that I haue seen at Akon in Almayne ¶ And at Egges in Sauoye. whiche ben as fayre and clere as ony

cold welle streme I haue ben bathed therinne & essayed them / R Claudius cezar maried his doughter to arruiragus kyng of bri¦tons / this claudi{us} cezar bylded gloucestre in the weddyng of his doughter / britons called this cyte first after claudi{us} name / but af∣terward it was called gloucestre after one glora. which was duk of that contrey / & stondeth vpon seuarn in the marche of englond & wales. shrowesbury is a cyte vpon seuarn in the marche of en¦glond & wales y sette vpon the toppe of an hille / & it is called shrowesbury of shrobbes and fruyte that grewe there somtyme on that hille / britons cleped it somtyme pengwern that is the hede of a fair tree / shrowesbury was somtyme the hede of powesye. that strethecth forth thwert ouer the myddel of wales vnto the yryssh see / notyngham stondeth vpon trente / & somtyme heet snotyngham that is the wonnyng of dennes· For the danes dwellyd ther som¦tyme / & digged dennes & caues vnder hard stones & rokkes and dwellyd there / R / Lyncoln is chyef of the ••rouynce of lyndesaye. & was somtyme callid caerludcoyt & afterward lyndecolyn· It is vncerteyn who bylded firste this cyte / but yf it were kyng lud / & so it semeth by menyng of the name· For caer is bry••ysshe & is to saye a cyte and coyt is a wode· & so it semeth that caerludcoit is to saye luddes wode toun· Kyng leyr was bladuddis sone & bylded leycetre as it were in the myddel of englond vpon the ryuer sos & vpon fosse the kynges hye waye

¶Willelmus de pon / libro tercio. ¶ Capitulum .48

YOrke is a grete Cyte in eyther side of the water of Owse. that semed as fayr as Rome vnto the tyme that the kynge William Conquerour had with brennyng and fuyre defowled it and the countrey aboute / so that a pylgrym wold now wepe & he sawe it. yf he had knowen it to fore· Gauf•• / Ebrancus the fyfth kyng of britons bylded yorke and called it after his owne name Caerbranck· ¶ He bylded also two other noble Cytees one in Scotland and is called edenburgh. And another toward scot∣land in thendes of englond and is called alcliud· R. Edenburgh is a Cyte in the londe of pyctes bytwene the riuer of twede and the scotysshe see· And ••eete somtyme the castel of maydens· And was called afterward Edenburgh of Edan kynge of Pyct••s / that regned there in Egfridus tyme kynge of Northumberlond

alcliud was somtyme a noble cyte and is now wel nygh vnkno¦we to alle englysshemen / For vnder the brytons & pyctes and en¦glyssmen it was a noble Cyte vnto the comyng of the danes but afterward about the yere of our lord / viij.C·lxx. hit was destro∣yed whan the danes destroyed the countreyes of northumberl••nd But in what place of brytayn that cyte alcliud was bilded. aue¦tours tellen dyuersly / ¶ Beda l•• / p. seyth that it was bylde by west that arme of the see that departeth bytwene the britons and the pyctes somtyme there seuerus famo{us} welle endeth wes••ward & so it semeth by hym that it is not ferre from caerleyl / For that Cyte is sette atte ende of that walle: Other wryters of storyes wryten that the cyte of alclyud is that cyte that nowe is called Aldburgh that is to saye an old toun· and stondeth vpon the Ry¦uer o wse not fer for burgh brygge that is xv myle westward oute of york and it semeth that he preueth that by ganfride in his book of dedes of britons / he wryteth that elidurus kynge of bri∣tons was lodged atte cyte alcliud by cause of solace & hunting- And fonde his broder agalon maskyng in a wode neygh there be¦side that heyghte calatery / But that wode calatery· whiche is cal∣tres in englysshe recheth almost to york and stretcheth toward the north by aldeburgh in lengthe by space of twenty myle the most dele of that wode is now throwen donn and the londe y tylled Other men wold suppose that Alcliud was that cyte that now is called burcham in the north countrey of westmerlond fast by comberlond / & stondeth vpon the Ryuer Eden the cyte is ther yet wonderly seen. Deme ye now where it is bylded Treuisa hit is not harde to assoylle yf men take hede that many townes bere one name· as cartago in affryca & cartago in spayne newport in wa∣les & newport in the parisshe of barkeley wotton vnder egge and wotton basset wyckwar wyck payn / & wyck in the parissh of bar¦keley· & two shyre tounes eyther is callid hampton / as southhāp¦ton & northāpton / so it semeth by the storyes that one alcliud was in yorck shyre / another in westmerlond / & one fast by in the right side of the west arme of the see· that departeth englond & scotlond but that alcliud was a right strong cyte as beda sayth. & that cite stondeth fast by a Ryuer that is called cliud / & ther is no such ri∣uer in yorkshyre. nether in westmerlond as men of the contrey tel¦le me / sōme men saye that the riuer cliud is nowe named sulwach / sulwach is but / v. myle fro caerleyl. R Caerleyl is a cyte in the contrey of northenglond toward the northwest. And hath

another name whiche is lugubal / leyl the / vij / kyng of Brytons bylded Carleyl R ¶In this cyte is somwhat of that famous wa••••e that passeth northumberlond W / de pon· In this cyte is yet a thre chambred hows made of vawte stones that neu{er} myght be destroyed with tempest of weder ne with brennyng of fyre / also in the countrey fast by in westmerlond in the fronte of a thre chā¦bred place. is wreton. in this maner. Marij victorye· what this writing is to saye I doubte somwhat / but yf it were so that sōme of the combres laye there somtyme whan the consul marius had put hem out of ytalye· but it semeth better that it is writen in mynde of marius kynge of brytons that was / Aruiragus sone This marius ouercome in that place Rodryck kyng of pyctes· so seyth Ganfr. in his brytisshe booke· Wiliam malmesbury sawe ne¦uer that booke At hagustaldes chirche is a place f••ur score myle oute of yorke northwestward the place is as it were destroyed so seyth wil ·li 3. de pont That place longed somtyme to the bissho∣prich of yorke / there were somtyme howses with vyce arches and vou••es in the maner of Rome· Now that place is called bestolde¦sham and heglesham also. Beda .li. 3. ca· p· seyth that that place faste by the longe walle of the werke of Rome in the north half ¶R Ther is diffrence bytwene the prouynce of lyndeffar and the chirche of lyndefarne / ffor the prouynce of lyndeffar and lyn∣desaye is al one and lyeth by eest lyncoln / & lyncoln is the he∣de therof / Of the which sayth beda li. 4. c / 11· that sexnulph{us} was fi••st bisshop. there / but beda sayth· li. 4 / c / 23· that lyndeffern chirche is an ylond that is called haly ylond in the Ryuer thwede next berwyck. And so it is gadred of Bedaes sawes that twede ren∣neth in to the famo{us} arme of the see that now departeth englyssh men and scottes in the eest half / And in that Arme ben thre ylon¦des / that one is mailros that nowe is called menros / Then aboue toward th•• west is lyndeffarn Chirche that is called haly ylond Thenne the thyrd is aboue vpward / and that is the ylond farne And is callyd also / Farny ylond / thenne vpward aboue that two myle is a Ryal Cyte vpon the brynke of twede that somtyme heighte Bebenborgh that is bobbes Cyte / And nowe is called Bamburgh· And hath a right stronge castel Gir in itinere Two Cytees there ben eyther is called Caerlegyon & Caerleon· also· One is demecia in southe wales that is named Caerusk also / ¶There the Ryuer vske falleth in to seuarne fast by glam∣morgan. Bellinus kynge of Brytons somtyme bilded that cyte

And was somtyme the chyef cyte of demecia in southwales / Afterward in claudius cezars tyme hit was y called the cyte of legyons whan atte prayer of Genyus the quene vaspasianus & arinragus were acorded and legyons of Rome were sent in to y••lond / tho was carleon a noble cyte and of grete auctorite and by the Romayns ryally and walled about with walles of brent tile Grete nobley that was there in old tyme is there yet in many pla¦ces seen / as the grete palayses gyantes towres noble bathes / Re∣leef of the temple places of the atres that were places hye and ri¦all to stonde / and sitte in And to beholde about / the places were ri¦ally closed with rial walles that yet somdele stondeth right nyghe cloos / And within the walles and without is grete byldyng vn¦der erthe / water condytes and weyes vnder erthe and stewes al∣so thou shalt see wonderly made with strayte side wayes of bre∣thynge that wonderly cast vp heete. In this Cyte were somtyme thre noble chirches one was of seynt Iulius the martir and ther in a grete company of virgyns / That other was of seynt Aaron / that was of the ordre of blac chanons. That chirche was with hem nobly adourned· The thyrdde chirche was the chyef moder chirche of alle wales· And the chyef See But afterward the chyef see was torned out of that cyte in to meneuia / that is seynt dauyes londe in west wales· In this Carleon was amphibalus y borne / that taught seynt albone· There· the messagers of rome co¦me to the grete Arthurs court / yf it is leeful to trowe Treuisa Yf giraldus was in doubte whether it were leefful for to trowe it or no. hit were a wonder sweuen as men wold wene for to haue euermore in mynde. and euer be in doubte· yf alle his bookes were suche what lore were therinne / and namely whyle he maketh none euydence / For in neyther side he telleth what moeueth so for to saye ¶R There is another cyte of legyons / there this cronyke was bytrauaylled / as it is clerly knowen by the first chapytre of this book· Treuisa That is to vnderstōdyng in latyn wrytyng For he that made it in latyn torned it not in to englyssh / ne it was tor∣ned in to englysshe in the same place y^t it was made first in latyn The vnderstondyng of hym that made this Cronyk is thus wre¦ton in latyn in the begynnynge of this book / Presentem Crony∣cam compylauit Frater ranulphus cestrensis monachus· that is to saye in englysshe· Broder Ranulphus monke of chestre compi¦led and made this present Cronyke ¶R The cyte of legyons that is chestre stondeth in the marche of Englond toward wales

bytwene two armes of the see that ben named dee / and mersee This cyte in tyme of brytons was heed and chyef cyte of alle ve∣nedocia that is in northwales. The founder of this cyte is vnkno¦we For who that seeth the foūdamentes of the grete stones wol¦de rather wene that it were Romayns werke· or werke of gyan¦t••s / than were made by settynge of brytons / This cyte somtyme in brytysshe speche heet Carthleon legecestria a latyn. And chestre¦an englyssh and the cyte of legyons also / For ther lay a wynter the legyons of knyghtes that Iulius cezar sente for to wynne yr¦lond And after claudyus cezar sente legyons out of that Cyte for to wynne the ylondes that be called Orcades / what euer wil∣iam malmesbury by tellyng of other men mette of this cyte /

¶This cyte hath plente of lyuelode / of corn of fflesshe of ffysshe and specially of pris of Samon / this cyte resseyueth grete mar∣chandyse and sendeth out also· Also neygh this cyte ben salt· wel¦les / Metal and oore / Northumbres destroyed this cyte somtyme But afterward Elfleda lady of mercia bylded it agayne and made it moche more· In this cyte ben wayes vnder erthe with vowtes and stonewerke wōderly y wrought thre chambred wer¦kes / grete stones y graue with old mennes names therin There is also Iulius Cezars name wonderly in stones y graue & other noble mēnes also with the wrytyng about· this is the cy¦te that Ethelfryd kynge of northumberland destroyed. & s••ough there fast by neygh two thousand monkes of the mynster of ban¦gor / ¶ This is the cyte that kyng Edgar cam to somtyme with seuen kynges that were subget to hym. A metrer breketh oute in this maner in praysynge of this Cyte / Chestre Castel toun as it were name take of a castel ¶ It is vnknowe what man byld this cyte now Tho legecestria chees ••ete now toun of Le∣gyones ¶Now walsshe and Englysshe holde this toun of grete pris / Stones on walle / Semeth werke hercules alle. There longe with myght to dure that hepe is y hight· Saxon sm••le stones / set¦te vpon grete ben attones Ther vnder grounde lotyng double vout is founde That helpeth with sondes / many men of westren londes Fisshe flesshe and corne low This cyte toun hath ynowgh· ship¦pes and chaffre See water bringeth ynowgh thare. Godestalle there is that was emperour er this And ferth henry kynge er∣the is there righten dwellyng. Of kynge haralde. Powder is ther yet y halde / Bachus and marcurius Mars and venus also lauer¦na· Protheus and pluto regnen there in the toun Treuisa

God wote what this is to mene But poetes in her maner of spe¦che feynen as though euery kynde craft and liuyng hath a dyuer¦se god eueryche from other And so they feyned a god of batayll and of fyghtyng & called hym mars / & a god of couetyse of Ry¦chesse and marchandyse and called hym mercurius. And so ba∣chus he called god of wyn. venus goddesse of loue and beaute. la¦uerna god of thefte & of Robberye▪ Protheus god of falsshede & of gyle / and pluto god of helle· And so it semeth that these verses wold mene that these forsay•••• goddis regne & ben serued in chestre Mars with fyghtyng and ••••••kyng Mercurius with couetise of Rychesse and marchandyse / bachus with grete drynkyng· venus with loue lewdly Lauerna with theft and Robberye / Protheus with falshed and gyle thenne is pluto not. vnseruyd god of hel∣le ¶R Ther babilon lore more myght hath trouthe the more

¶ De shiris Anglie siue prouyncijs / ¶ Capitulum 49

TAke hede that Englond conteyneth .xxxij· shyres and pro∣uynces / that now ben called Erldomis / reserued Cornewayl and the Ilondes ¶Alfr These ben the names of the Erldoms & Shyres· Kent Southsex / Sortherey. Hampshire. barokshire that hath his name of a bare ook that is in the forest of wyndesore For at that bare ooke men of that shyre were wonte come to gy∣ders and make their tretis and there take counseyl and aduys Also wildshyre that heet somtyme the prouynce of semeran So∣mersete Dorsete / deuenshire that now is called deuonia in latyn. These .ix. southshires tamyse departeth frō the other dele of englōd whiche were somtyme gouerned and Rewled by the westsaxon lawe / Estsex Myddelsex· Southe folke north folk hertfordshire. Huntyndonshyre. Northamptonshyre / Cambryggeshyre / bedford¦shyre / Buykynghamshyre Leycetre shyre Derby shyre / notyng¦hamshyre Lincolnshyre yorkshyre / Duramsihre· Northumberhand Caerlelshyre with Cumberlond Appelbisshyre with westmer∣lond lancasshyre that conteyneth fiue litil shires / These fyftene northe and eest shyres were somtyme gouerned and rewled by that lawe whiche is called denelawe / But Oxenforshire War∣wikshire. gloucestreshyre ▪ wircetre shire Herdforshire shropshire sta¦ffordshire Chestresire ¶These viij middel and west shires were

somtyme gouerned and Rewled by the lawe called mercia in latyn and merchene lawe in englysshe· It is to wete that york¦shyre stretcheth from the ryuer of humbre vnto the Ryuer of tey¦se. and yet in yorkshyre ben / xxij hondredis hundred and candred is al one. candred is one word made of walsshe and prysshe And is to menyng a countrey that conteyneth an honderd tow∣nes / And is also in englyssh called wepentak· For somtyme in the comyng of a new lord. tenauntes were wonte to yelde vp her wepē in stede of homage. durāshire stretcheth frō the ryu{er} teise vn¦to y^e riu{er} of tine / & for to speke proprely of Northumberlād it stret¦cheth fro the ryuer Tyne vnto the Ryuer of Twede that is in the begynnyng of Scotland / thenne yf the countray of Northū∣berland that was somtyme from humbre vnto Twede be now a∣compted for one shire And for one erldom as it was somty∣me· Thenne ben in englond but / xxxij shires but yf the countray of Northumberland be departed in to vj shires that ben euer wik∣shire duramshire Northumberlond carleylshire Appelbyshire and Lancasshire· thenne ben in englond xxxvj shires withoute Cor∣nuale and also without the ylondes Kynge william conquerour made alle these prouynces and shires to be descryued and meten thenne were fonden xxxvj shires and half a shyre / Townes L / ij / M / four score Parissh chirches / xlv M and ij / knyghtes fees / lxxv·M Wherof men of Relygyon haue xxviij thousand .xv. knyghtes fees / But now wodes ben hewen doun and the lande newe tylled and made moche more than was at that tyme and many townes and vyllages buylded and so ther ben many moo vyllages and townes now than were in that tyme And where as a fore is wreton that cornuayll is not sette amonge the shi∣res of englond it may stonde amonge them wel ynowgh For it is neyther in wales ne in scotland but is in englond And ioy∣neth to deuensshire / And so may ther ben acompted in englond xxxvij shires and an half with the other shires

¶De Legibus legum{que} vocabulis ¶ Capitulum 50

DVnwallo that heet Moliuncius also made first lawes in bri¦tayne the whiche lawes were called moliuncius lawes And were solompnly obserued vnto wiliam conquerours tyme

Molyuncius ordeyned amonge his laws / that Cytees Temples and weyes that lede men therto and plowmen solowes shold ha∣ue priuelege and fredom for to saue alle men that wold flee ther to for socour and refuge / Thenne afterward marcya quene of bri∣tons that was gwytelynus wyf. Of her the prouynce had the name mercia. as somme men suppose. ¶She made a lawe ful of right of wytte and of reson / and was called merchene lawe / Gil∣das that wrote the historyes of brytons torned these two lawes out of briton speche in to latyn· And afterward kyng Aluredus torned alle out of latyn in to saxon speche / and was called mer¦chene lawe / Also the same kyng Aluredus w••ote in englyssh & put to another lawe that heet westsaxon lawe / Then̄e afterward danes were lordes in this lond / and so cam forth the thyrdde la∣we that heet dane lawe / Of these thre lawes seynt Edward / the cōfessour made one comyn lawe that yet is called seynt edwardes lawe / I holde it wel don to wryte here and expowne many ter∣mes of these lawes· Myndebruche. hurtyng of honour and wor∣ship· In frensshe bleschur dhonour· Burchbruch in frensshe / ble∣schur de court on de cloys / Gritchbruch brekyng of pees· Mysken¦nyng chaungyng of speche in court / Shewyng settyng forth of marchandyse / In frensshe displeir de marchandyse· Hamsokne· or hamfare a rese made in hows / Forstallyng / wronge or lete doun in the kynges hye waye· Frythsoken sewrte in defence· Saka / for fait Soka Sute of courte / and therof cometh soken / Theam sute of bondmen· Fyghtingtwyte. Amersement for fightyng. Blode∣wyte. Mersement for shedyng of blode Flytwite. amendes for she∣dynge of blode. leyr wyte· amendes for lyeng by a bondewoman / Gul••ewite amendes for trespas· Scot a gadryng to werke of bai¦lyes / hydage tayllage for hydes of londes Danegheld tayllage yeuen to the danes that was of euery bonata terre that is euery Oxe londe thre pens / A weepentack and an honderd is al one ¶For the contre of C townes were woonte to gyue vp wepen in the comyng of a lord. Lestage custome y chalengyd in chepyn∣gys and fayres stallage custome for stondynge in stretes in feyre tyme

¶ De Regnis regnorum{que} lymitibus ¶ Capitulum 51

THe kyngdom of britayn stode without departyng hool & al one kyngdom to the britons from the firste bruyte vnto

Iulius cezars tyme / And fro Iulius cezars tyme vnto Seue∣rus tyme this londe was vnder trybute to the Romayns Nethe∣les kynges they had of the same lond from Seuerus vnto the la¦ste prynce gracyan successours of brytayns faylled / And Ro∣mayns regned in brytayn Afterward the Romayns lefte of the Regnyng in Brytayn. by cause it was fer from Rome of for grete besynesse that they had in other side ¶Thenne Scottes and pyctes by mysledyng of maximus the tyraunt poursiewed bry¦tayn and warred therin with grete strengthe of men of Armes long tyme vnto the tyme that the Saxons come atte prayeng of the brytons ayenst the pyctes and put out gurmund the yrysshe kynge with his pyctes and the brytons also with her kyng that heet Carecticus and drof hem oute of Englond in to wales / And so the saxons were victours and euery prouynce after his strength made hem a kyng & so departed englōd in to vij kyngdōs Netheles afterward these vij kyngeddoms euerych after other come all in to one kyngdō al hool vnder the prince adelstō / nethe¦les the danes poursued this lōd fro athelwulfis tyme that was a luredus fader vnto the thyrde seynt edwardes tyme about / C / lxx yere and regned therin continuelly xxx yere after the danes the / iij. seynt Edward regned therin xxiij yere and a lytil more / And after hym haralt helde the kyngdom ix monethis And after hem Normans haue regned vnto this tyme But how long they shal regne he wote to whom nothyng is vnknowen ¶R Of the for said seuen kyngdomes of her merkes meres and boundes / whan they began and how long they endured / here shal I somwhat shor¦tly telle ¶Alf•• The first kyngdom was the kyngdom of kent that stretcheth fro the eest Occean vnto the Ryuer of Tamyse. the¦re regned the first hengistus & began to regne by the acompting of dyonyse the yere of our lord four / C / lv· That kyngdom dured thre honderd lxviij / yere vnder ·xv / kynges vnto the tyme that Baldrede was put out. And Egbert kyng of westsaxon̄ ioyned that kyngdom to his own. the second kyngdom was of southsax¦on that had in the eest side kent In the south the see and the yle of wight. In the west hampshyre and in the north sothery. Ther ella regned first with his thre sones / And began to regne the ye¦re after the comyng of the angles euen / xxx / But that kyngdom within a short tyme passed in to other kyngdoms The thyrdde kyngdom was of eestsaxon· and had in the est syde the see· In the weste the contrey of London· In the southe Tamyse / In the

north southfolk. The kynges of this contreye estsaxon fro the first Sabertes tyme vnto the tyme of the danes were ten kynges whiche were subget somdel to other kynges / Netheles oftest and lengest they were vnder the kynges of mercia and vnto. that ty¦me that Egbert kyng of westsaxon ioyned that kyngdom to his owne The fourth kyngdom was of eest anglis and conteyned Norfolk and Suffolk and had in the eest side and in the north the see· In the northwest cambrygeshyre· In the west seynt Ed∣mundes dyche and hertfordshyre. And in the southe Ests••x / This kyngdom dured vnder / xij / kynges vnto the tyme that Kynge Edmunde was slayn / And thenne the danes toke wrongfully bothe the kyngdoms of eest angles and of eestsaxon ¶ After¦ward the danes were put and dryuen away or made subgette And the elder kyng Edward ioyned bothe the kyngdoms to his owne / the fyfth kyngdom was of westsaxon & dured lengest of alle these kyngdoms and had in the est side southsaxon. In the north Tamyse. In the southe and weste the see Oxcean· In that kyngdom regned Cerdrick with his sone kenrik and began to reg¦ne the yere of our lord .v·C·xix / And after the comyng of anglis lxxj· so seyth denys the other kyngdoms passyd in to this kyng¦dom. The sixte kyngdom was of mercia and was grettest of alle The markes and the meres therof were in the west side the Ry∣uer dee fast by chestre and seuarn fast by shrowesbury vnto bri∣stowe / In the eest the est see· In the south Tamyse vnto London In the north the Ryuer humbre / And so westward and doun∣ward vnto the Riuer mersee vnto the corner of wirhal ther hū∣bre falleth in to the west see / Penda wybbes sone regned firste in this kyngdom the yere of our lord ·vj / C / xxvj / so seyth denys And fro the comyng of angles an / C.lxxv / yere / This kyngdom dured vnder xviij kynges about two C lxiij yere vnto the laste colwulf / to the which colwulf the danes bitoke that kyngdom to kepe whan burdred the kyng was put out / But the elder Ed¦ward the kynge put out the danes and ioyned the kyngdom of mercia to his own kyngdom / netheles atte begynnyng this kyng¦dom of Mercia was departed in thre In west mercia In myddel mercia and est mercia / The seue nth kyngdom was northamhim¦brorum that is the kyngdom of northumberlond The meres and markes therof were by West and by est the see of occean by south the riuer of humbre and so dounward toward the west by then∣des of the shires of Nothyngham and of derby vnto the Ryuer

of mersee / And by northe the scottysshe see that heete forthe in scottysshe werid in brytysshe· the scotyssh see in englysshe ¶ This kyngdom of northumberlond was first deled in two prouynces / that one was the south side and heete deyra / and that other was the north side and heet brenicia as it were two kyngdoms· And the Riuer departed these two kyngdoms that tyme· For the kyng¦dom of deyra was fro the Ryuer of humber vnto the Riuer of ti¦ne. The kyngdom of brenycia was fro tyne to the scottysshe see· And whan pyctes dwellyd there as beda seyth libro terci•• capitu¦lo secundo / that ninian that holy man conuerted men of the south side / ¶ Ida the kyng regned there first and began to regne the re¦re of oure lord / v / C / xlvij. so seyth dyonyse. In deyra regned the kyng elle the yere of our lord .v.C.xlix· These two kyngdoms were other whyle as it is sayd departed bytwene two kynges & somtyme al hool vnder one kyng ¶And dured as it were .xx en¦glysshe kynges. thre hondred & / xxj / yere / Atte laste osbrutus & elle were slayn in the / ix· yere of her kyngdome / the danes slowe hem· And northumberlond was vode without kyng viij yere ¶ Thenne afterward the danes regned in northumberlond / xxxvj yere vnto the oonyng of the kyngdom of adelston· he made subget the kynges danes scotyssh and walssh / And regned first al one in englond and helde the kyngdom of englond all hoole and all one kyngdom that was the yere of our lord / viij / C.xxvij That Ryuer of mersee was somtyme the marke and mere by∣twene the kyngdom of mercia and the kyngdom of northumber¦lond that may be shewd in two maners •• firste by the proprete of this mersee that is as moche to saye as a see that is a bound and a mere / For it departeth one kyngdom from another ¶ Also it is wryte in Cronycks of Henry and of alfrede that kyng coward the elder fastned a castel at mauncestre in northumberlond / But that cyte maūcestre is fro the Riuer of mersee scarsely thre myle·

¶De episcopatibus et sedibus / Alfr ¶ Capitulum. 52

LVcius was the first kynge Cristend of the brytons in his tyme were thre Archibisshops sees in Brytayn / One was at London· Another at york And the thyrdde at caruske the cyte of Legyōs in glamorgan· that cyte now is called carleon / to these

Archibisshops sees were subget xxviij bisshops and were called Flamynes to the archibisshops see of London was subgette C••••¦nual and al myddel englond vnto humbre / To yorke al northum¦berlond from the lowe of humbre with al Scotland To Caer¦leon alle walles / ther were in wales seuen bisshops and now ben but four· Tho Seuarne departed englond and wales / W de pon libro primo. But in saxōs tyme though seynt gregorye had graū¦ted london the pryuelege of tharchibisshops see· Netheles seynt Austyn that was sente in to Englond by seynt Gregory torned tharchebisshops see out of London in to caūterburye After seynt Gregoryes daye atte prayer of kyng Athelbert and Cytezeyns & burgesyes of caūterbury. ther tharchebisshops see hath dured vn∣to now / Saue that in the mene tyme Offa kyng of mercia was wroth with men of caunterbury / and bynam hem that worship· And worshipped adulph bisshop of lichfeld with tharchibisshops pal by assente of adrian the pope vpon caas by yeftes sente Nethe¦les vnder kenulph the kynge it was restored to caunterbury a∣gayn. The worship of the see of york hath dured there alway and dureth yet though Scotland be withdrawe fro his subiection by passyng of tyme. Gir in iti / li / p: the archibisshops see was y tor¦ned out of caerleō in to meneuia that is inthe west side of demecia vpon the pryssh see in seynt dauids tyme vnder kyng arthur from seynt dauids tyme vnto sampsons tyme were in meneuia Arche¦bisshops. xxiij / aftward fyll a pestylence in al wales of the yelow euyl that is called the Iaūdis / & then̄e sāpsō tharchibisshop toke with hym the palle and wente in to Brytayn armonyca the las∣britayne and was there bisshop of dolensis / From that tyme vnto the first harryes tyme. kyng of Englond were at meneuia. which is called seynt dauids xxj bisshops alle without palle whe¦ther it were for vnconnyng or for pouerte / Netheles alway fro that tyme the bisshops / of wales were sacred of the bisshop of me¦neuia of seynt dauyes / And the bisshop of meneuia was sacred of the bisshops of wales as of his suffrigans & made no professi¦on ne subiection to none other chirche / ¶ Other bisshops that come afterward were sacred at caunterbury by compellyng and heest of the kyng. In token of that sacrynge and subiection bone face archibisshop of caunterbury that was legate of the crosse sōge in euery cathedral chirch of wales solēpnly· amasse he was the first archebisshop of caūterbury that so dyde in wales. & that was don in the second Harryes tyme· ¶R But now ben but

two primates in al̄ Englond of Caunterbury and of york / To the primate of caunterbury ben subget .xiij. bisshops in Englond and foure in wales ¶ The primate of york hath but two Suf∣frigans in englond that ben the bisshops of caerleyl and of dur¦ham ¶ Of alle thyse sees and chaungyng of her places I shal shewe you here folowyng· ¶ Take hede in the begynnyng of holy chirche in Englond bisshops ordeyned theyr sees in lowe places and symple that were couenable for contemplacion for prayers & deuocion / But in wiliam conquerours tyme by dome of lawe canon it was ordeyned that bisshops shold come out of smale tou¦nes in to grete cytees· ¶Therfore was the see of dorchestre chaū∣ged to lyncoln / lychefeld to chestre: Tetford to norwiche. Shir∣born to salisbury welles to bathe· Cornwayl to Ex••tre And Se∣lesey to Chicestre. The bisshop of Rochestre hath no paryssh but he is tharchebisshops chappellayn of Caunterbury. Syth the See of caunterbury was first ordeyned by seynt Austyn / it chaunged yet neuer his place· Chicestre hath vnder hym only southsex and the yle of wight / And had his see. first in Selesey in the tyme of tharchebisshop theodore. And the see dured there thre honderd ·xxxiij / yere vnder .xx. Bisshops fro the first wilfrede vnto the last Stigande atte commaundement of kynge william conque∣rour chaunged the see from Selesey to chicestre.

¶ De Episcopis occidentalibus. Willelmus ¶ Capitulum 53

HAue mynde that al the prouynce of westsaxon had alway one bisshop fro the begynnyng vnto theodoras tyme / By graunt of kynge Islo kynge of westsaxon the first byrinus ordeyned a see at dorchestre that is a symple toun by southe Ox∣enford beside wallyngford bytwene the metynge to gyder of Tems and Tame whan birinus was dede kenwalcus the kyng ordeyned a See at wynchestre as his fader had purposed. there Agilbert a frensshe man was fyrste bisshop of al the prouynce of westsaxon / ¶ Fro that tyme the Cyte and the See of Dor∣chestre perteyned and longed to the prouynce of mercia

¶For that cyte stondeth within Temse· And Temse departeth bitwene mercia and westsaxon· After that Agilbert was put oute of wynchestre that tho highte wynton ¶ Ther was there an englyssh bisshop there that was called wyn O Somme men

suppose that the cyte hath the name of this wyne and is called wynchestre as it were wynes cyte / Atte last he was pute out & after hym come lentherius the forseyd agelbertes neuew / After lentherius hedda a whyle was Bisshop there whan he was dede theodorus tharche bisshop ordeynd two bisshops to the Prouynce of westsaxon Danyel at wynchestre to hym were subgette two contreyes Sothery and Southampshire· Adelin / at shirborn to hym were subgette six countrees / Barkshire· wiltshire / Somerse∣te Dorsete shire / Deuenshire and cornuayl ¶ Treuisa It semeth by this that westsaxon conteyned sothery / Southampshire / bark¦shire. wiltshire Somerseteshyre Dorsetshire deuenshire and Cor∣nuayl. ¶Willelmus Afterward in elder Edwardes tyme to these two sees were ordeyned by commaundment of Formosus the pope· thre other sees at welles for Somersete / At. kryton for Deuenshyre / And at seynt germayn for Cornuayle. Not ful lon¦ge afterward the sixth see was sette at Ramesbury for wytlt∣shire / Atte laste by commaundement of kynge wiliam conque∣rour alle these sees saue wynchestre were torned and chaunged out of smal townes in to grete cytees For shirborn and Rames¦bury were torned in to Salesbury ¶Now to that see is subget barkshire wiltshire and dorsete. The see of welles was torned to bathe / therto nowe is subget al Somersete. the sees of kyrton and of cornuayl were chaūged to exetre / therto is subget / Deuen¦shire and cormuayl

¶ De Orientalibus episcopis willelmus ¶ Capitulum 54

OIt is knowen that the eeste saxons alwaye fro the begyn∣nyng to now were subget to the Bisshop of London But the Prouynce of eeste Angles that conteyneth Norfolke and suffolke had one Bisshop at donwyck The Bisshop heete Felyx and was of burgoyn and was bisshop xvij yere After hym thomas was bisshop fyue yere / After hym Boneface xvij / yere / Thenne bysy afterward was ordeyned by theodorus and rewlid the prouynce whyle he myght endure by hym self alone· After hym vnto egbertes tyme kyng of westsaxons an hondred / xliij / two bisshops rewled that / prouynce. one at donwyck & ano¦ther at elyngham / Netheles after ludecans tyme kyng of mercia lefte and was only one see at elyngham vnto the / fyfth / yere of

wiliam conquerour whan herfastus the / xxiij bisshop of the estre¦ne chaunged his See to Tetford. And his successour herebertus chaunged the See fro Tetford to norwiche by leue of kyng wil¦iam the Rede. the see of ely that is nygh therto the firste kynge harry ordeyned the ix yere of his regne and made subget therto Cambrigshyre that was to fore a parte of the bissoprich of Lyn∣colne And for quytyng therof he yaf to the bisshop of lyncoln a good toun callyd spaldyng

¶ De Episcopis merciorum· Willelmus / ¶ Capitulum 55

HEre take hede that as the Kyngdom of Mercia was al¦waye grettest for the tyme so it was deled in moo Bis∣shopryches and specially by grete herte of kynge Offa / whiche was fourty yere kynge of mercia. he chaunged tharche∣bisshops see fro caunterbury to lychefeld by assent of Adryan the pope. thenne the prouynce of mercia and of lyndefar in the first begynnyng of her cristendom in kyng wulfrans tyme had one bisshop at lychefeld the first bisshop that was there heet dwyna the second heet Celath / and were bothe Scottes After hem the thyrdde Trumpher / the fourth germuannus. ¶ The fyfthe Chedde / but in Edelfredes tyme that was wulfers broder whan Chedde was deed theodorus tharchebisshop ordeyned there wyn∣frede cheddes deken / Netheles apud hyndon after that for he was vnbuxom in som poynt he ordeyned there sexwulf abbot of me∣damstede that is named burgh / But after sexwulfs fourth ye∣re theodorus tharchebisshop ordeyned fyue bisshops in the prouin¦ce of Mercia And so he ordeyned bosel at wyrcetre· cud wyn at lychefeld / the forseyd sexwulf at chestre· Edelwyn at lindesey at¦te Cyte Sydenia And he toke eata monke of the Abbay of hil∣de at whytby· and made hym bisshop of dorchestre besides Oxen∣ford ¶ Tho this dorchestre heet dorkyng. And so the see of that longed to west Saxon in seynt byrynes tyme longed to Mercia from theodorus the archebisshops tyme Also whan Ethelred kynge of Mercia had destroyed kent. This Bisshop Sexwulf toke pyctas bisshop of Rochestre that come out of kent and made hym first bisshop of herford· Atte laste whan Sexwulf was de∣de hedda was bisshop of lychefeld after hym and wylfred flemed

oute of northumberlond was bisshop of chestre / Netheles after two yere alfrede kynge of northumberlond dyed and wilfred torned agayn to his owne see of hagustalden / And so hedda helde bothe the bisshopryches of lychfeld and of chestre. after hym come Albyn that heet wor also / & after hym come thre bisshops Torta at chestre wytta at lychefeld / and eata was yet at dorchestre / after his deth bisshops of lyndeseye helde his see thre honderd & / liiij / yere vnto Remygyus chaunged the see to lyncoln by leue of the first kyng wiliam· But in edgars tyme bysshop leofwnus ioi¦ned bothe bisshopryches to gyder of chestre and lyndeffar whyle his lyf dured

De episcopis northūbranis W· de pon. li· 4 ca / 11· Capitulum / 56

AT Yorke was one see for al the prouynce of Northumber∣lond / Paulinus helde first that see and was ordeyned of the bisshop of caunterbury and helde that see of yorke seuen yere Afterward whan kynge edwyn was slayn and thynges were distroubled paulinus wente thens by water wey in kente· from whens he come first and toke with hym the palle ¶Will lib^o. / 3

¶ And so the bisshopryche of york ceesed / xxx. yere and the vse of the palle seced there an / C.xxv· yere vnto that Egbert the bis∣shop that was the kynges broder of the londe recouerid it by au∣toryte of the pope ¶ R ¶ Whan seynt Oswold Regned ai¦danus a Scotte was bisshop in brenicia that is the Northside of Northumberlond / after hym ffinianus· After hym Salmannus ¶W vvi sup / Atte laste he wente in to Scotland with grete indignacion for wilfride vndertoke him for he helde vnlawfully esterday / xxx. yere after that paulinus was goon from wylfryde was made bisshop of york Beda libro quarto ¶ But whyle he dwellyd longe in Fraunce aboute his Sacryng at exityng of quartatadecimanorum that were they that helde Esterday the .xiiij / daye of the mone Chedde was y take oute of his Abbaye of lestynge and· wrongfully putte oute in to the see of yorke by assente of kyng Oswy / But. thre yere afterward Theodorus tharchebisshop dide hym away and assigned hym to the prouince of mercia / and restored wylfrede to the see of york / ¶ But after wilfrede by cause of wrath that was bytwene hym & the kynge Egfryd was putte out of his see by helpe of theodorus tharche∣bisshop that was corrupt with som maner mede / This was don after that wilfred had ben bisshop of york x yere / Then̄e atte Instaunce of the kynge. theodorus made bosam Bisshop of Yorke

And Cumbert at hagustald chirche / & ••ata at lyndeffar chirche that now is called holy ylond in the Ryuer of Twede / Aidanus founded firste the see / And theoder••s made eadhedus bisshop of reponn that was comen agayn out of lyndesaye· wylfrede had be abbot of Repon. Theoderus sente Trunwynus to the lond of pyc¦tes in thendes of Englond fast by scotland in a place that heete Candida casa. and whyterne also· There seynt Nynyan a bryton was first foundour and doctor / But all these sees out take york fayled lytil and lytil / For the See of Candida casa that is ga∣lewey that longed tho to Englond dured many yeres vnder ten bisshops vnto that it had no power by destroyng of the pyctes The sees of Hagustald and of lyndeffar was somtyme al one vnder .ix. bisshops about four score yere & ten & dured vnto the co∣myng of the danes / In that tyme vnder hyngar and hubba ar∣dulph the bisshop yede long about with seynt cutb••r••s body vnto kyng aluredes tyme kyng of westsaxons· and the see of lyndefar was sette at kunegestre that is callyd kunyngysburgh also / that place is now called vbbesford vpon twede / Atte laste the xvij ye¦re of kyng egbert kyng edgardes sone· that see was chaunged to durham. And seynt cuthberts hody was brought thyder by the doyng of Edmond the bisshop / And fro that tyme forward the see of hagustald and of lyndeffar faylled vtterly· The first kyn¦ge henry / the .ix· yere of his regne made the newe see at caerleyl /

¶ Capitulum 57

THe Archibisshop of caunterbury hath vnder hym ·xiij bis∣shops in englōd· & ·iiij / in wales / he hath rochestr̄ vnder him & that see hath vnder hym a part in kent allone / London hath vn¦der hem estsex myddelsex & half hertfordshire Chichestre hath vn¦der southstx•• & the yle of wight. wynchesere hath vnder hym hāp∣shyre & southerye. salesbury hath vnder hym barkshire wiltshire & dorset· excetre hath vnder hym deuēshire & cornuayl· bathe hath vnder hym somerseteshire allone. wyrcetre hath vnder hym glou¦cetreshire wircetreshire & half warwyckshire / herford hath vnder hym herdfordshire & som of shropshyre / Chestre is bisshop of couē¦tre & of lychfeld· & hath vnder hym chestreshire staffordshire. der¦byshyre half warwykshire: som of shropshire and som of lancas¦treshyre· fro the Riuer of mersce vnto the Ryuer of Rypyl / Lyn∣coln hath vnder hym the prouynces that ben bytwene Tamyse and humbre that ben the shyres of Lyncoln Of Leycetre Of

Northampton of. huntyngdon of bedford of bokynham Of Ox∣enford & half hertfordshyre / Ely hath vnder hym Cambregeshire oute take merlond ¶ Northwyche hath vnder hym merlond / Norfolk and suffolk Also tharchibisshop of Caūterbury hath four suffrygans in wales / that ben landaf. Seynt Dauyes ban∣gor and seynt Assaph. ¶ The Archebisshop of Yorke hath nowe but two Bisshops vnder hym that ben durham and caer¦leyl / R. ¶And so· ben but two Prymates in englond. What one of hem shal doo to that other and in what poynt he shal be o∣bedyent & vnder hym / It is fully conteyned withinne about the yere of our lord a thousand .lxxij / to fore the first kyng wiliam And the bisshops of englond by commaundement of the pope The cause was handled and y treated bytwene the forsayd pry∣mates / And ordeyned and demed that the primate of yorke shal be subget to the primate of Caunterbury in thynges that longen to the worship of god and to the bileue of holy chirche So that in what place euer it be in englond that the primate of Caunter¦bury w••l hote and constrayne to gad••e a Counseyl of Clergye /

The prymate of yorke is holden with his Suffrygans for to be there and for to be obedyent to the ordynaunce that there shall be lawfully ordeyned. Whan the prymate of Caunterbury is dede the prymate of yorke shal come to Caunterbury and with other Bisshops he shal sacre hym that is chosen and so with other bis¦shops he shal sacre his owne prymate· yf the prymate of york be dede / his successour shal come to the Bisshop of caunterbury and he shal take his. ordenaunce of hym and doo his ooth with profes¦sion and lawful obedyence / ¶ After within aboute the yere of oure lord .xj. honderd four score and .xv. in the tyme of kyng Rychard ben resons sette for the right of the partye for ey∣ther prymate / & what one Prymate dyde to that other in tyme of th••rstinus of thomas & of other bisshops of york from the Con∣quest vnto kyng harryes tyme the thyrdde / Also there it is said how eche of them starte from other / This place is but a forspe∣kyng and not a ful tretis therof· therfore it were noyeful to char¦ge this place with alle thylke resons that there ben made.

DA quot quando et quibus inhabita ta ••it gentibus ¶ Capitulum 58

BRitons dwellyd first in this Ilond the .xviij yere yere of Hely the prophete the xj yere of Siluius postumus kyng of latyns / xliij yere aftir the takyng of Troye to fore the buyldyng of Rome four honderd and xxxij yere ¶ Beda libro primo· They come hether and toke her cours from armorik that now is that other brytayn / they helde long tyme the south contre∣yes of the ylond / ¶ Hit befel afterward in vaspasianus tyme duke of Rome that the Pyctes shipped out of Scicia in to Occe∣an and were dryuen aboute with the wynde and entred in to the north costes of Irlond and fonde there Scottes and prayd to ha¦ue a place to dwelle in / and myghte none gete / For Irlond as Scottes saide myght not susteyne bothe peple ¶ Scottes sente the pyctes to the northsides of brytayn. And behight hem helpe a∣yenst the Brytons that were theyr enemyes yf they wold aryse

And toke hem wyues of her doughters vpon suche a condicion yf doubte fylle· who sholde haue right for to be kynge they sholde rather chese hem a kyng of the moder side than of the faders side / of the women kyn rather than of the men kynde Ganfr In vaspasiane themperours tyme whan marius aruirag{us} sone was kyng of Britons / One Roderik kyng of pyctes cam out of Sci∣cia and▪ gan to destroye Scotland / thenne marius the kynge sle∣we this Roderick. And yaf the northe partye of Scotland that heet Cathenesia to the men that were come with rotherik and we¦re ouercome by hym for to dwelle Inne / but these men had none wyues ne none myght haue of the nacion of brytons. therfore they saylled in to Irlond and toke to theyr wyues prysshmens doughters by that couenaunt that the Moder blode sholde be put to fore in succession of herytage. Gir. c / 17. Netheles syrin{us} su{per} vir¦giliū seith that pyctes ben agatyrses that had somme dwellyng place about the waters of scicia / & they ben called pyctes of peyn¦tyng and smytyng of woundes that ben seen on her bodyes / For they hadde moche flewme and were ofte boxed and bete blood and had many woundes seen on her bodye So that they semed as men were peynted with woundes / therfore they were called pyctes as peynted men ¶ These men and the gothes ben al one peple. For whan maximus the tyraunt was wente oute of Brytayn in to Fraūce for to occupye thempyre· Thenne Gra∣cianus and valentinianus that were bretheren and felaws of thempyre brought thyse Gothes oute of Scicia with grete yef∣tes with fflaterynge and fayre byhestes in to the Northe

owne name In kynge edgards tyme kynadyus Alpynus so¦ne was duke & leder of the Scottes and warred in pycte londe & destroyed the pyctes he warred six sithes in Saxon and toke al the londe that is bitwene twede and the scotyssh see. with wrong and with strengthe

¶ De Incolarum Anguis ¶ Capitulum 59

AS it is knowen how many maner peple ben in this Ilond ther ben also many langages and tonges. Netheles walsh men and scottes that ben not medled with other nacions kepe neygh yet theyr first langage and speche· but yet tho scottes that were somtyme confederate and dwellyd with pyctes drawe som∣what after theyr speche / But the Flemynges that dwelle in th•• westside of wales haue lefte her straunge speche & speken lyke to saxōs / also englysshmen though they had fro the begynnyng thre maner speches Southern northern and myddel speche in the mid¦del of the londe as they come of thre maner of people of Germa∣mania. Netheles by commyxtion and medlyng first with dan s and afterward with normans In many thynges the countreye langage is appayred / ffor somme vse straunge wlaffyng / chyte∣ryng harryng garryng and grisbytyng / this appayryng of the langage cometh of two thynges / One is by cause that children that gon to scole lerne to speke first englysshe / & than ben cōpellid to constrew•• her lessons in Frenssh and that haue ben vsed syn the norm••ns come in to Englond / Also gentilmens childeren ben lerned and taught from theyr yongthe to speke frenssh / And vplondyssh men will counterfete and likene hem self to gen¦tilmen and arn besy to sp••ke frensshe for to be more sette by. Wher∣for it is sayd by a comyn prouerbe· Iack wold be a gentilman if he coude speke frensshe. ¶Treuisa This maner was moche v∣sed to fore the grete deth· But syth it is somdele chaunged For sir Iohan cornuayl a mayster of gramer chaunged the techyng in gramer scole and construction of Frenssh in to englysshe. and other Scoolmaysters vse the same way now in the yere of oure lord / M·iij / C·lx·v. the / ix yere of kyng Rychard the secund and leue all frenssh in scoles and vse al construction in englissh. wher in they haue auantage one way· that is that they lerne the son∣ner theyr gramer And in another disauauntage / For nowe they

lerne no ffrenssh ne can none / whiche is hurte for them that shal passe the see / And also gentilmen haue moche lefte to teche theyr children to speke frenssh ¶R Hit semeth a grete wonder that Englyssmen haue so grete dyuersyte in theyr owne langage in sowne and in spekyng of it / whiche is· all in one ylond· And the langage of Normandye is comen oute of another lond / and hath one maner soune among al men that speketh it in englond For a man of Kente Southern / western and northern men spe∣ken Frensshe al lyke in sowne & speche. But they can not speke theyr englyssh so Treuisa Netheles ther is as many dyuerse manere of Frensshe in the Royamme of Fraunce as is dyuerse englysshe in the Royamme of Englond ¶R Also of the for∣sayd tong whiche is departed in thre is grete wonder / . For men of the este with the men of the west acorde better in sownyng of theyr speche than men of the north with men of the south / Therfor it is that men of mercij that ben of myddel englond as it were partyners with the ēdes vnderstāde bet•• the side lāgages northern & sothern than northern & southern vnderstande eyther other· W / de p. li / 3· Alle the langages of the northūbres & speci¦ally at york is so sharp slytyng frotyng and vnshape that we so¦thern men may vnneth vnderstande that langage I suppose the cause be that they be nygh to the alyens that speke straungely And also by cause that the kynges of englond abyde and dwel¦le more in the south countreye than in the north countrey. The cause why they abyde more in the south countrey than in the north countrey. is by cause that ther is better corn▪ londe more pe¦ple moo noble cytees. & moo prouffytable hauenes in the south contrey than in the north

¶ De gentis huius moribus ¶Gir in itinere. Capitulum· 60

FOr the maners and the doyng of walssmen and of Scot¦tes ben to fore somwhat declared· Now I purpose to telle & declare the maners and the condicions of the medlid peple of en¦glond / B••t the Flemyngys that ben in the weste side of wales ben now tornyd as they were englysshe by cause they companye with englyssmen / And they be myghty and strong to fighte And ben the moost enemyes that walshmen haue and vse mar¦chaundyse and clothyng / And ben ful redy to put hem self to

auentures and to peril in the See and londe by cause of grete wynnyng / And ben somtyme redy to goo to the plowe / and som¦tyme to dedes of armes whan place and tyme axeth It semeth of these men a grete wōder that in a boon of a wethers right shol¦der whan the fflesshe isw soden away and not rosted they knowe what it haue be don / is don and shal be don as it were by a spy¦ryte of prophecye and a wonderful craft ¶They telle what is don in ferre countreyes tokenes of pees or of warre. the state of the Royamme / sleyng of men and spousebreche suche thynges they declare certaynly of tokenes and signes that be in suche a sholdre boone ¶R But thenglissmen that dwellen in englond and ben medled in the ylond and ben fer fro the places that they spronge of firste tornen to contrary dedes lightly withoute enty∣syng of ony other men by her owne assente / And so vnesy also ful vnpacient of pees enemy of besynes & ful of slouthe W de pon̄ / libro tercio / Seyth that whan they haue destroyed her enemy¦es al to ground. thenne they fighte with hem self and sleeth eche other as a voyde· and an empty stomak wircheth in hit self. ¶R Netheles men of the south ben esyer and more mylde / than men of the north / For they be more vnstable. more cruel and more vnesy. The myddel men ben somdele parteners with bothe / Also they vse hem to glotony more than other men and ben more cest∣lew in mete and clothyng / me supposeth that they toke that vyce of kynge hardekunt that was a dane. For he heete sette forth twyes doble messe at dyner & at soper also these men ben spedeful on hors and a foote. able and redy to alle maner dedes of armes And ben wonte to haue vyctorye and maystrye in euery fight where no tr••son is walkyng. And ben curious and can wel telle dedes and woundres that they haue seen. Also they goo in dy∣uerse londes vnnethe ben ony men rycher in her owen londe / or mo¦re gracious in fer and in straunge londes / They can better wyn¦ne and gete newe than kepe her owen herytage ¶Therfor it is that they be spradde so wyde and wene that euery londe is their owne. The men ben able to al maner sleyght and wytte But to fore the dede blondryng and hasty And more wyse after the dede And leueth of lyghtly what they haue begonne Pol / li / 6. Therfore Eugenius the pope sayde that Englyssmen were able to doo what euer they wold / & to be sette & put to fore all other / ne were that light wytte lettyth. And as Hanybal sayde that the Romayns myght not be ouercome / but in her owne countrey

¶ So englyssmen· mowe not be ouercome in straunge londes but in her owen countrey they be lightly ouercome ¶ R These men despysen her owne and prayse other mennys / And vnnethe ben plesyd ner appayd with theyr owne astate· what befalleth and becometh other men. they wyl gladly take to hem self· therfor it is that a yeman arayeth hym as a squyr / a squyer as a knight A knyght as a duke / A duke as a kynge· yet somme goo about and lyke to al maner state and ben in no state. ¶ For they that wil take euery degre be of no degre ¶ For in beryng outward they ben mynstrales and herowdes. In talkynge gre••e speke••s / In etyng and drynkyng glotons In gaderyng of catel hucksters and tauerners. In araaye tormentours / In wynnyngys Argy / In trauayl tantaly In takynge hede dedaly. In beddes Sarda∣napaly In chirches mamet••s· In courtes chonder only in pry∣uelege of clergy and in prebendis they knowleche hem self cler∣kys / ¶ Treuisa ¶As. touchyng the termes of latyn as argy tantali dedali Sardanapali ye must vnderstande hem as the poetes feyned of hem / Argus was an herde and kept beestes. he had an honderd eyen / and argus was also a ship a shipman and a chap∣man And so Argus myght see before and behynde and on eue∣ry side Therfor he that is wyse and ware and can see that he be not deceyued may be callyd argus· And so the Cronyke seyth in plurel numero that Englyssmen ben Argy / that is to saye they see about where as wynnyng is / ¶ That other word tantali the poete feyned that tantalus slowe his owne sone· wherfore he is dampned to perpetuel penaunce· And he standeth alway in water vp to the neyther lyppe. And hath alway Rype apples and no¦ble fruyt hangyng doun to the ouer lyppe / but the fruyt ner the water maye not come within his mouth· he is so holde and stan∣deth bytwene mete and drynk and may neyther ete ne drynke· & is euer an hongred & a thyrst that wo is hym a lyue· by this ma¦ner lyknes of tantalus they that do right nought / there as moch thynge is to doo in euery side ben callyd tantali / It semeth that it is to saye in trauayl they be tantali / For they doo right nought therto / the thyrdde worde is dedali. take hede that dedalus was a subtyl and a slye man / And therfore by lykenes they that ben subtyl and slye ben called dedali / the fourth word is Sardanapali Ye shal vnderstande that Sardanapalus was kyng of assyryens and was ful vnchast and vsed hym to lye softe· And by a ma∣nere of lykenes of hym they that lyue vnchastly ben y cleped

Sardanapaly R But amonge alle Englysshe men medled to gyders is so grete chaungyng and dyuersyte of clothyng and of aray and so many manere & dyuerse shappes that wel nyghe is there ony man knowen by his clothynge and his Araye of what someuer degre that he be. therof prophecyed an holy anker in kyng Egelfredes tyme in this maner Henricus libro sexto Englyhssmen for as moch as they vse them to dronkelewnes / to treson and to rychelesnes of goddes hows / First by danes and thenne by Normans· and atte thyrdde tyme by scottes that they holde moost wretches and leste worth of alle other· they shal be ouercome· thenne the world shal be so vnstable and so dyuerse and varyable that the vnstablenes of thoughtes shal be bitoke∣ned by many maner dyuersitees of clothyng

¶ Explicit liber primus