settled themselves on the Coasts of Germany toward the Northern Sea, from the Rhene as far as the Citty Donia, now call'd Denmarc, saith Ethelwerd an ancient and Trincely Writer, Grand-child to Ethelwolf a Saxon King in the year nine hundred and fifty. So that their Territory comprehended anciently, besides the now Dutchy of Saxony, the countrey of Holsatia, and some other adjoyning Pro∣vinces.
4. The Angli, saith the same Authour, came out of a Region call'd Anglia, situated between the Saxons and the Iutes (Giotos:) Their Capitall Citty in the Saxon tongue is call'd Sle∣swic, and by the Danes, Hattby. Therefore Brit∣tany is now call'd England, from these Conque∣rours: and from thence came their first Captains Hengist and Horsa. So that the ancient pre∣cise seat of these our Progenitours the Angli is a small Province in Denmark at this time also call'd Angel.
5. The Iutes (call'd by Ethelwerd, Giots) whence soever they receiv'd their appella∣tion, were anciently seated on the Nor∣thern coast of the Cimbrian Chersonesus, called by the Danes to this day Iutland. They were probably derived from the Gutti, placed by Ptolomy in Scandia, and their seat is still call'd Gothland. Yet these are not to beesteem'd the same Goths or Getes which with their victo∣ries anciently measured all Europe: for their habitation was neer the Euxin Sea beyond the River Ister or Danubius, as the Roman Hi∣storians doe unanimously affirm. Now in what speciall Provinces of Brittany these Iutae seated themselves, it does not by any marks appear: for we doe not find any men∣tion of any Principality of the Iutes in this Island, as we doe of the Saxons and Angli: So that perhaps they were mingled up and down, as accessaries to the other two. Though in the opinion of some they were Iutes which possessed themselves of the Kingdom of the South-Saxons and the Isle of Wight.
6. As touching the disposition of these three Nations, which are all comprehended under the Title of Saxons, especially by Ex∣tern Writers, we have already declared from Zosimus and others, that they were esteemed the most valiant, of the most robustious bodies and most agile, of all the Germans; terrible for their sudden and violent incursions, &c. There∣fore Witichindus the Monk treating of them saith, That the Franks wondred to see such men of tall stature, of invincible courage, of new ha∣bits, wearing their long haire spread over their shoulders and arms: but especially they admir'd the undauntednes of their courage. They were cloath'd in short coates, and arm'd with long lances, and their posture was to lean upon their sheilds, having great daggers behind upon their reins. Moreover so impatient they were of any scorn or dishonour, that when Symmachus being Consul at Rome had prepared great numbers of them to fight as Gladiatours for the entertainment and delight of the peo∣ple, the night before they were to be produ∣ced into the Theater, twenty nine of them without any ropes strangled themselves.
7. Their principal exercise and skill was in Piracy by sea: for which purpose they contented themselves with small flat boates, (My••parones) so agile and manageble that they did so torment the coasts of Gaule, Spain and Brittany, that the Romans were oblig'd to appoint for their guards in op∣portune places all along those shores sol∣diers and Officers which they entitled (Comi∣tes littoris Saxonici per Britanniam, Galliam, &c.) Counts of the Saxon coasts through Britta∣ny, Gaule, &c.
8. Concerning their Religion, Adam Bremensis thus describes it: In a Temple of theirs, call'd in their Native language Vbsola, adorn'd with gold throughout, the people adore the Statues of three Gods: The most powerfull of them, called Thor, is placed in a Chappell in the midst, and on each side are set the Statues of Wodan and Fricco. The signification of which Names is this: Thor, say they, presides in the aire, and sends thunder, lightning, showers and calm seasons: so that he governs the fruits of the Earth. Then Wodan, which signifies Valiant, di∣sposes of warrs, and administers courage to them against their Enemies. And the third Fricco is the God which bestows peace and pleasure on men, whose statue is fram'd with a huge Priapus. But Wodan they carve in arms, as the Romans did Mars: And Thor with a Scepter, answering to Iupiter.
9. From these three Deities they gave names to three days in the Week: For from Wodan, whom others interpret to be Mercury, Wednesday took its appellation: From Thor, Thursday: and from Fricco, or Frea suppos'd to be the Wife of Woden, Friday, Tewsday had its name from Tuisco, the founder of the German Nation, who thence are nam'd Tuitsch, or Dutch. The month of April they call'd Eoster-Monath, whence still remains the same Name for the Solemnity of our Lords Resur∣rection, usually falling on that Month. Tacitus adds that generally the Nations worshipped Herthus, as their common mother the Earth, for the same name is still in use with us, wheras the Germans now call it Arden. To Wodan they usually offred human sacrifices, chosen from among their captives.
10. Yet among all these abominations, there were in those ancient Saxons some qualities very commendable, especially their Chastity. This was of old observ'd by Tacitus, who saith, Their Mariages are severe, and cha∣stity exactly observ'd among them. For they are almost the only Barbarians who content them∣selves with single wives, unlesse a few of their Nobles, who not for lust, but honour are sought to and even wooed by severall women, &c. Their wives are confin'd to their houses, free from the sights of impure spectacles, and provocations of in∣temperate Feasts, &c. And afterward Salvian