Britain, or A chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the ilands adjoyning, out of the depth of antiquitie beautified vvith mappes of the severall shires of England: vvritten first in Latine by William Camden Clarenceux K. of A. Translated newly into English by Philémon Holland Doctour in Physick: finally, revised, amended, and enlarged with sundry additions by the said author.

NOVANTES, [ C] GALLOWAY.

FRom Nidisdale as you goe on Westward, the NOVANTES inha∣bited in the vales, all that tract which runneth out far and wide to∣ward the West, between the sea and Dunbritain Frith, or Clyds∣forth: yet so indented and hollowed with nookes and creekes, that here and there it is drawne into a narrow roome: and then againe in the verie utmost skirt it openeth and spreadeth it selfe broad at more libertie: whereupon some have called it the [ D] CHERSOMESUS, that is, The Biland of the NOVANTES. But at this day their coun∣trey containeth Galloway, Carick, Kyle, and Cunningham.

* 1.1Galloway, in the Latine Writers of the middle time Gaelwallia and Gallovidia, so called of the Irish, who in times past dwelt there, and terme themselves short in their owne language Gael, is a countrey rising up everie where with bills, that are better for feeding of cattell than bearing of corne: the inhabitants practice fishing, as well within the sea lying round about them, as in little rivers, and the Loches or meeres in everie place standing full of water at the foot of the hills: out of which in Septem∣ber they take in Weeles and Weere-ners, an incredible number of most sweet and favourite eeles,* 1.2 whereby the make no lesse gain than others do by their little nagges, [ E] which for being well limmed, fast knit, and strongly made for to endure travaile, are much in request and bought from hence. Among these, the first place that offereth itselfe by the river DEA,* 1.3 mentioned in Prolomee, which keeping the name still full and whole,* 1.4 they call Dee, is Kircoubright, the most commodious port of this coast, & the second Stewartie of Scotland, which belongeth also to the Maxwels: then Cardines, a sort set upon a craggie and high rocke by the river Fleet, and fensed with strong walls. Neere unto it the river Ken, corruptly read in Ptolomee IENA, runneth into the sea: after it is Wigton, an haven towne with a narrow entrance unto it, between the two rivers, Bluidnoo and Crea, which also is counted a Sheriffdome, over which Agnew is Sheriffe.* 1.5 In times past it had for Earle Archibald Douglasse, renowned in [ F] the French warre, and at this day, by the favour of King James the sixth, John Lord Fleming, who deriveth his pedegree from the ancient Earles of Wigton.

* 1.6Neere unto this Ptolomee placed the Citie LEUCOPIBIA, which I know not, to say truth, where to seeke. Yet the place requireth that it should be that Episcopall seat of Ninian, which Bede calleth Candida Casa, and the English and Scottish in the

[ A] verie same sense whit-berne: what say you then if Ptolomee after his manner transla∣ted that name in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.7 that is, white-houses (in stead whereof the * 1.8 Tran∣scribers have thrust upon us Leucopibia) which the Britans tearmed Candida Casa. In this place Ninia or Ninian the Britan, an holy man, the first that instructed the South-Picts in Christian saith, in the reigne of the Emperour Theodofius the younger, had his seat, and built a Church consecrated to the memorie of Saint Martin, after a manner unusuall among the Britans, as Bede saith, who wrote that the English in his time held this country, and when the number of the faithfull Christians multiplied, an Episcopall See was erected at this Candida Casa. A little higher there is a Bi-land [ B] having the sea insinuating it selfe on both sides with two Bayes, that by a narrow neck it is adjoined to the firme land: and this is properly called CHERSONESUS, and PROMONTORIUM NOVANTUM, commonly, the Mull of Galloway.

Beyond this Northward, there is a Bay taking a great compasse, and full of Ilands, into which very many rivers on everie side doe out-lade themselves. But first of all, from the verie cape or top of the Promontarie is ABRAVANUS, which being set lit∣tle out of his own place, is so called of Ptolomee, for Aber-Ruanus, that is, The mouth of Ruan. For at this day that river is named Rian, and the lake out of which it flow∣eth, Logh-Rian, exceeding full of Herrings and Stone-fishes.

This Galloway had in times past Princes and Lords over it:* 1.9 of whom the first re∣corded [ C] in Chronicles was Fergus, in the reigne of Henrie the first, King of England, who gave for his Armes, A Lion rampant Arg, crowned Or in a shield Azur: who af∣ter many troubles that he had stirred, was driven to this exigent by King Malcolm, that he gave his sonne Ucthred to the King for an hostage, and himselfe wearie of this world, tooke the habit of a Chanon at Holy Rood house in Edenburgh. As for Uc∣thred, Gilbert his younger brother tooke him prisoner in battaile, and when hee had cut out his tongue, and plucked his eyes forth of his head, he cruelly bereaved him both of life and inheritance. But within some few yeeres, when Gilbert was dead, Ucthreds sonne recovered his fathers inheritance, who of a sister of William Morvill Constable of Scotland,* 1.10 begat Alan Lord of Galloway, and Constable of Scotland: [ D] This Alan, by Margaret the eldest daughter of David Earle of Huntingdon, had Der∣volgilda wife to Iohn Balliol, and the mother of John Balliol King of Scotland, who contended with Robert Brus for the Kingdome of Scotland; and by a former wife, as it seemeth, hee had Helen, married to Roger Quincy Earle of Winchester, who thereby was Constable of Scotland; like as William Ferrars of Groby, the Nephew of the said Roger by a daughter and one of the heires. But these Englishmen soone lost their inheritance in Scotland, as also the dignitie of Constable: which the Com∣nins Earles of Bucquan, descended likewise from a daughter of Roger Quincie, obtai∣ned, until it was translated unto the Earls of Arroll. But the title of the Lords of Gal∣loway fell afterward to the family of the Douglasses.

[ E]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Galloway.
• * 1.2

  Galloway nagges.
• * 1.3

  The river Dee.
• * 1.4

  Kircoubright.
• * 1.5

  Earles of Wig∣ton.
• * 1.6

  Leucopibia.
• * 1.7

  Herna house or habitation.
• * 1.8

  Or Copiers.
• * 1.9

  Lords of Gal∣loway.
• * 1.10

  Constables of Scotland.