washeth the Western Coast of Ireland, as that which flowe's between great Britain and Ireland, is to bee called the British Sea. For, not onely this (which of old was called great Britain, and somtimes sim∣ply the Great Island) but also the Isle of Ireland, with the other adjacent Isles, were termed Britanniae: So that many times Albion and Ireland are equally called British Isles and Britannides; as you may see in Strabo, Ptolomie, Marcianus Heracleötes, Plinie, Eustathius upon Dionysius Afer, and others. Moreover, Ireland is called by Ptolomie 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 little Britain. And, saith Ethelward, an antient Writer, They go to Ireland, called heretofore Britannides by the great Julius Caesar. Perhaps hee had a more perfect Copie of Julius Caesar's Book: For in none of his Commen∣taries which wee use, is Ireland called by that name. And it hath been observed by learned men, that that book hath been maimed and alter'd by one Julius Celsus, whose name wee finde now and then in the Manuscript Copies.
Towards the North this Sea is named the Northern, Caledonian, and Deucaledonian Sea, wherein lie scatter'd the Orcades Islands, Thule, and others, which beeing called the British or Albionian Isles; yea, and Bri∣tannides, gave name to the neighboring Sea. And indeed Thule (which som would have to bee Island; others, and that with most reason, do conceiv it to bee the biggest of the Shetland or Zetland Isles, called ••hilensel by the Seamen, and som there are again that think otherwise) was of old not onely termed a British Isle, but also by som expresly placed in Britain it self. Mahumedes Acharranides an Arabian, called likewise Aracensis and Albategnius, a famous Mathe∣matician, who lived above nine hundred years ago,