Camera regis, or, A short view of London containing the antiquity, fame, walls, bridge, river, gates, tower, cathedral, officers, courts, customs, franchises, &c. of that renowned city / collected out of law & history and methodized for the benefit of the present inhabitants by John Brydall ...

SECT. I. Of the Origination or Etomology of the word London.

TOuching the name of London, from what occasion the City should be so denominated, divers Authors conceit di∣versly.

Some are of opinion, that London took the name of Ludstone; for King Lud not onely repaired this City, but also increas∣ed the same with fair buildings, Towers, and Walls, and after his own name, cal∣led it Cair Lud, i. e. the Town of Lud, and the strong Gate, which he erected, in the west part of the City, he likewise for their own honour and reputation na∣med it Ludgate.

Others say, it is so called from the word Llhwn; for seeing Caesar, and Stra∣bo do write, that the ancient Britains cal∣led those woods, and Groves by the names of Cities, and Towns which they had fenced with Trees, cast down and plashed, to stop up the passage; and see∣ing that such VVoods or Groves are in the Brittish tongue named Llhwn, they are in inclined to the opinion, that Lon∣don

thence took name, as one would say, by way of excellency, the City, or a Ci∣ty thick of Trees.

Again, Others are of opinion (which seemeth to be the most probable) that whence London had the same, there also it took the name, even from Ships which the Brittains in their dialect call Longh; so that Londinum may seem to sound as much as a Ship Road, or City of Ships: for the Brittains term a City Dinas, whence the the Latines have fetch'd their Dinum. And hence it is, that elsewhere it is cal∣led Longidinum, and in the Funeral Song of a most ancient Brittish Poet, Llong Porth, that is an Harbour or Haven of Ships: And by this very term Bononia, or Bolea in France, which Ptolomy calleth Gessori∣acum Novale, in the Brittish Glossary is named Bolung-Long. For many Cities have drawn their names from Ships, as Naupactus, Naustathmas, Nauplia, Nava∣lia Augusti, &c. But of these none hath better right indeed to assume unto it the name of a Ship Road or Haven, than our London, as you shall understand at after. See more of this business in Hollinshead, Stow, Geoffry of Monmouth, and Camb∣den.