A prospect of the most famous parts of the vvorld Viz. Asia, 3 Affrica, 5 Europe, 7 America. 9 With these kingdomes therein contained. Grecia, 11 Roman Empire, 13 Germanie, 15 Bohemia, 17 France, 19 Belgia, 21 Spaine, 23 Italie, 25 Hungarie, 27 Denmarke, 29 Poland, 31 Persia, 33 Turkish Empire, 35 Kingdome of China, 37 Tartaria, 39 Sommer Ilands, 41 Civill Warres, in England, Wales, and Ireland. You shall find placed in the beginning of the second booke marked with these [3 asterisks in triangle formation] and (5) together with all the provinces, counties, and shires, contained in that large theator of Great Brittaines empire. / Performed by John Speed.

THE BRITISH ILANDS PROPOSED IN ONE VIEVV IN THE ENGLISH MAP: WITH A GENERALL DESCRIPTION OF GREAT BRITAINE UNDER THE ROMANES. CHAPTER 1.

THE State of every Kingdome well managed by prudent Go∣vernment, seemes to me to represent a humane Body, gui∣ded by the soveraignty of the reasonable Soule: the Countrey and Land it selfe representing the one, the Actions and State affaires the other. Sith therefore the excellencies of the whole are but unperfectly laid open, where either of these parts is defective,* 1.1 our intendment is to take a view as well of the outward body and Li∣neaments of the now-flourishing British Monarchy (the Ilands) Kingdomes and Provinces thereof in actuall possession,* 1.2 (for with others, no lesse justly claimed in the Continent, we meddle not) which shall be the content of our first or Chorographicall Tome,* 1.3 containing the foure first Bookes of this our Theater: as also of its successive government and vitall actions of State, which shall be our second or Historicall Tome,* 1.4 containing the five last Bookes. And here first we will (by example of the best Ana∣tomists) propose to the view the whole body & Mo∣narchy intire (* 1.5 as farre as conveniently we could comprise it) and after will dissect and lay open the particular Members, Veines and Ioynts (I meane the Shires, Rivers, Cities and Townes) with such things as shall occure most worthy our regard, and most behovefull for our use.

* 1.6(2) The Iland of Great Britaine (which with her adjoyning Iles is here first presented) containeth the Kingdomes of England and Scotland, and is of many accounted the greatest Island in the World, though * 1.7 Iustus Lipsius gives that praise to Cuba in America, as the Orientall Navigators do unto Sumatra (taken for Ptolomees Taprobana) or to Madagascar, the Island of S. Laurence, both which are neere unto, or under the Equinoctiall Line; In which we will not con∣tend: as pleasing our selves with her other praises greater then her Greatnes; yet with this honour also, that is was (without question) the greatest Island of the Romane World,* 1.8 and for any thing yet certainly knowne, of all the rest. Concerning whose Positure in respect of Heaven, * 1.9 Lucretius (the * 1.10 first of the Latine Writers that names Britain) seemeth to place it in the same Parallel with Pontus, where he saith:

Nam quid Brittannum coelum differre putamus? &c. What differs Britaines heaven from that of Nile? Or Pontus welkin, from Gadz warmer Isle?

In which, by a certaine crosse comparison, he oppo∣seth two likes against two unlikes, Britain & Pontius against Egypt and Gades. But to seek into profound Antiquity, rather then present practise, for matters, in which Vse makes perfectnesse, were to affect the gi∣ving light by shadowes, rather then by Sun-shine.

* 1.11(3) It is by experience found to lie included from the degree fifty, and thirty scruples of Latitude, and for Longitude extended from the 13. degree, & 20. minutes, unto the 22. and 50. minutes, according to the observation of Mercator.* 1.12 It hath Britaine, Nor∣mandy, and other parts of France upon the South, the Lower Germany, Denmarke, & Norway upon the East; the Isles of Orkney and the Deucaledonian Sea, upon the North; the Hebrides upon the West, and from it all other Ilands and Inlets, which do scatteredly inviron it, and shelter themselves (as it were) under the shadow of Great Albion (another name of this famous Iland) are also accounted Britannish,* 1.13 and are therefore here described altogether.

(4) Britaine thus seated in the Ocean hath her prayses, not onely in the present tense, and use of her commodities, but also in those honorable Eulogies, which the * 1.14 learnedst of Antiquaries hath collected out of the noblest Authors, that he scarce feemeth to have left any gleanings: neither wil we transplant them out of his flourishing Garden, but as necessity compels,* 1.15 sith nothing can be further or otherwise better said.

(5) That Britaine therefore the Seas High Ad∣mirall, is famously known: and the Fortunate Island supposed by some, as Robert of Avesbury doth shew: whose ayre is more temperate (saith Caesar) then France; whose Soile bringeth forth all graine in abundance, saith Tacitus; whose Seas produce orient Pearle, saith Suetonius; whose Fields are the seat of a Summer Queen, saith Orpheus; her wildest parts free from wilde beasts, saith the ancient Panegyrick, and her chiefe Citie worthily named Augusta, as saith * 1.16 Amianus: So as we may truly say with the royall Psalmist, Our lines are fallen in pleasant places, yea, we have a faire inheritance. Which whatsoever by the goodnesse of God, and industrie of man it is now, yet our English * 1.17 Poet hath truely described unto us the first face thereof, thus:

The Land which warlike Britaines now possesse, And therein have their mightie Empire raisde, In ancient times were salvage Wildernesse, Vnpeopled, unmanur'd, unprov'd, unpraisde.

(6) And albeit the Ocean doth at this present thrust it selfe betweene Dover and Callis,* 1.18 dividing them with a deepe and vast entrenchment; so that Britaine thereby is of a supposed * 1.19 Penisle made an Iland: yet * 1.20 divers have ••tifly held, that once it was joyned by an arme of land to the continent of Gallia. To which opinion Spencer farther alluding, thus closeth his Stanza:

Ne was it Iland then, ne was it paisde Amid the Ocean waves, ne was is sought Of Merchants far, for profits therein praisde, But was all desolate, and of some thought By Sea to have bin from the Celtick Mainland brought

Which as a matter meerly conjecturall (because it is not plaine that there were no Ilands nor hils before Noahs floud) I leave at large: Virgil surely (of all Poets the most learned) when describing the Shield which Vulcan forged (in Virgils braine) for Aeneas,* 1.21 he cals the Morini (people about Call is) * 1.22 the outmost men, doth onely meane that they were Westward, the farthest Inhabitants upon the Continent, signi∣fying withall that Britaine as being an Iland, lay out of the world: but yet not out of the knowledge of men, for the commodities thereof invited the fa∣mous Greeke Colonies of Merchants, which dwelt at Massilia in France, to venture hither, as hath been well * 1.23 observed our of Strabo.

[illustration] map of Great Britain and Ireland

THE KINGDOME OF GREAT BRITAINE AND IRELAND

(7) And as Iulius Caesar was the first Romane which ever gave an attempt to Conquer it, so will we close its praises with a late * 1.24 Epigram, concerning the outward face of the Isle, and the motive of Cae∣sars coming.

ALBIONIS vertex frondoso crine superbit, Arboreas frondes plurimus ales habet. Gramineam Montes & fundant pascua pubem; Et carpunt, circum pascua, gramen oves: Sed LATII caruit potioribus Insuladonis, Victori potior Gloria ni LATIO.

Albions high tops her woody locks farre shew, With quiers of chanting Birds these woods resounding, Her Downes and Meadowes clad in verdant hew, Meadows & Downs with flocks and heards abounding. * 1.25 Latium had greater wealth, yet Caesar thought, To British Glory, Latiums, Wealth worth nought.

* 1.26(8) The division of Britaine concerning the go∣vernment and territories thereof, at such time as Cae∣sar here arrived, doth not sufficiently appeare, Cae∣sar himselfe makes so sparing mention herein, that we have little cause to beleeve * 1.27 Florus, where he makes Livie say, that after Caesar had slain an huge multitude of Britaines, * 1.28 he subdued the residue of the Isle, but rather with exquisite Horace, that he did not at all touch them, as the word * 1.29 intactus doth in him purport.

* 1.30(9) Kings there were, and therefore that Division which was here in Caesars time, was into Kingdomes; the old names of whose Nations, as also the know∣ledge of their several abodes, hidden under the rub∣bish of so many ages, have * 1.31 of late with infinite la∣bours and exquisite judgement, beene probably re∣stored and bounded; yet that no mans expectation and desire be too much frustrated, reason wils that we briefly set forth such divisions of the Land, as many repute not ancient onely, but authenticke.

* 1.32(10) Our seeming ancient Historians begin it at Brute, who to every of his three sonnes gave a part, called presently after their names; as * 1.33 Loegria to Locrine his eldest sonne: * 1.34 Cambria, to Camber his se∣cond sonne; * 1.35 and Albania to Albanist his third son; And doubtlesse, if there had been more Nations of fame in this Iland,* 1.36 Brute should have had more sons fathered on him: which conceit some ascribe to Monmouth, holding that before him it was never so divided.

* 1.37(11) Ptolomey naming Britaine the Great and the Lesse, hath been by some mistaken, as so dividing this Iland into two parts; but his proportion and di∣stance from the Aequator, compared with his Geo∣graphicall description will evince, that he calleth this our Iland GREAT BRITAIN, and Ireland BRITAIN THE LESSE.

(12) Howbeit some latter doe make indeed the South and more Champion to be called GREAT BRITAIN, and the North more mountainous, BRITAIN THE LESSE; whose Inhabitants an∣ciently were distinguished into the MAIATAE, and CALEDONII, and now by the Scots are into Heghlandmen and Lawlandmen. But that Northerne clime being more piercing for the Romanes constitu∣tions and * 1.38 lesse profitable or fruitfull, they set their bounds not farre from Edenburgh, and altogether neglected the other parts more Northward.

* 1.39(13) This neerer part of Britain they then divi∣ded into two parts; for the more Southern tract, to∣gether with Wales, Dio termeth the Higher, and that more Northward the Lower, as by the seats of their Legions doth appeare; for the second Legion Augu∣sta (which kept at Caerleon in South-Wales) and the twentieth called Victrix (which remained at Chester) he placeth in the HIGHER BRITAIN: but the sixt Legion surnamed also Victrix, resident at Yorke, ser∣ved (as he writeth) in the LOVVER BRITAIN; which division, as seemeth was made by Severus the Emperour,* 1.40 who having vanquished Albinus, Gene∣rall of the Britaines, & reduced their State under his obedience, divided the government thereof into two Provinces, and placed two Prefects over the same.

(14) After this againe the Romanes did apporti∣on Britaine into three parts,* 1.41 whose limits our * 1.42 great Antiquarie assigned by the ancient Archiepiscopall Seates, grounding his conjecture on 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the saying of Pope Lucius, who affirmes that the ••••••lesiasticall Iurisdictions of the Christians, accorded with the precincts of the Romane Magis••••••••••s,* 1.43 and that their Archbishops had their Sees in those Cities wherein their Presidents abode: so that the ancient Seats of the three Archbishops here, being London in the East,* 1.44 Caerleon in the West, and Yorke in the North; Londons Diocesse (as seemeth) made BRIT. PRI∣MA; Caerleon, BRIT. SECVNDA; and Yorke MAXI∣MA CaeSARIENSIS.

(15) But in the next age, when the power of their Presidents began to grow over-great, they again di∣vided Britaine into five parts, adding to the three for∣mer VALENTIA and FLAVIA CaeSARIENSIS: the first of w^ch two seemeth to have been the Nor∣therly part of MAXIMA CaeSARIENSIS, reco∣vered from the Picts and Scots by Theodosius the Ge∣nerall, under Valence the Emperour, and in honour of him,* 1.45 named VALENTIA: and Flavia may be conjectured to receive the name from Flavius the Emperour (son of Theodosius) for that we read not of the name BRIT. FLAVIA,* 1.46 before his time.

(16) So these five partitions had their limits as∣signed after this manner:* 1.47 BRIT. PRIMA con∣tained those coasts that lay betwixt Thamesis, the Severne,1 1.48 and the British Sea: BRITAIN SECUN∣DA extended from Severne unto the Irish Seas,2 1.49 con∣taining the Countrey that we now call WALES: FLAVIA CaeSARIENSIS, was that which lay betwixt the Rivers Humber and Tyne:3 1.50 and VALEN∣TIA from the said River,4 1.51 and Picts-wall reached un∣to the Rampire neere Edenburgh in SCOTLAND,5 1.52 the farthest part that the Romanes possessed when this Division was in use. For the severall people in∣habiting all those parts, with their ancient Names and Borders (whether designed by the Romanes or the old Britaines) together with our moderne Names and Shires, answerable to each of them: we will re∣ferre you to the Tables thereof, * 1.53 elsewhere.

(17) This whole Province of BRITAINE, as in our History shall appeare,* 1.54 was highly esteemed of the Emperours themselves, assuming as a glorious surname BRITANNICUS: coming thither in person over those dangerous and scarce knowne Seas; here marrying, living, and dying; enacting here Lawes for the whole Empire,* 1.55 and giving to those Captaines that served here, many Ensignes of great honour:* 1.56 yea Claudius gave Plantius (the first Prefect of that Province) the right hand, as he ac∣companied him in his Triumph:* 1.57 and his owne Tri∣umph of BRITAIN was set out with such magnifi∣cence, that the Provinces brought in golden crowns of great weight, the Governours commanded to at∣tend, and the very Captains permitted to be pre∣sent at the same: A Navall Coronet was fixed upon a pinnacle of his Palace. Arches and Trophees were raised in Rome, and himselfe on his aged knees mounted the staires into the Capitoll, supported by his two sonnes in Law: so great a joy conceived he in himselfe for the Conquest of some small portion of BRITAIN.

(18) How the Romanes found it, held it, and left it, as times ripened and rottened their successe, with the Names, the Inhabitants, Manners and Resisters, I leave to be pursued in the following Histories, and will onely now shew thee these three Kingdomes that are (in present) the chiefe Bodies of GREAT BRITAINES MONARCHIE;* 1.58 two of which (Scotland and Ireland) shall in their due places have their father and more particular descriptions.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The scope of this Worke.
• * 1.2

  The distribu∣tion of the wh••le Work.
• * 1.3

  The first Tome Chorographi∣call.
• * 1.4

  The second Tome Histori∣call.
• * 1.5

  For some I∣lands as Ger∣sey, and Gern∣sey we have left to their proper places.
• * 1.6

  Britaine the greatest Iland.
• * 1.7

  Lib. de Con∣s••an.
• * 1.8

  The Site of Britaine.
• * 1.9

  Dere••••a. l. 6.
• * 1.10

  Buchanus so noteth against Humph. Lloyd.
• * 1.11

  The degrees of Britaines Site.
• * 1.12

  The Coun∣tries abutting upon Britaine.
• * 1.13

  All the Ilands about Britain counted Bri∣tish.
• * 1.14

  Cambdens Bri∣tannia.
• * 1.15

  Britaines Eulo∣gies.
• * 1.16

  Lib. 18. c. 7. Psal. 16.
• * 1.17

  Spen••ers Fai∣rie Queen, l. 2. Can. 10. Stan 5.
• * 1.18

  Britaine once no Isle.
• * 1.19

  Or half Isle.
• * 1.20

  Twine. Verste••an.
• * 1.21

  Aeneid lib. 8.
• * 1.22

  Extremique huminum Mo∣rini.
• * 1.23

  D. Cockes E∣pist. l. 3 Report.
• * 1.24

  Ca••••. Iuda. M. S.
• * 1.25

  Italie.
• * 1.26

  Britaine but slenderly knowne to Caesar.
• * 1.27

  Epit. Liv l. 105.
• * 1.28

  Rebquam I••silae partem in potestatem sub••g••t.
• * 1.29

  Epod. 7.
• * 1.30

  Britaine had Kings in it in Caesars time.
• * 1.31

  In Cambdens B••itannia.
• * 1.32

  Britaines sup∣posed divisi••n 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Brutes three 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.33

  England.
• * 1.34

  Wales.
• * 1.35

  Scotland.
• * 1.36

  G••ff, of Mon∣mouth father to Brutes three sonnes.
• * 1.37

  Britaine the Great and Lesse.
• * 1.38

  Appiau.
• * 1.39

  Britaine the Higher and Lower.
• * 1.40

  Her••dian.
• * 1.41

  Britaine divided into three parts.
• * 1.42

  Camb. p. 111. Sexius Rusus
• * 1.43

  Dist. 80. cap. 1.
• * 1.44

  Britannia prima. Britannia secunda. Maxima Caesariensis. Britaine divi∣ded into five parts.
• * 1.45

  Valentia why called.
• * 1.46

  Amianus. l. 28. Flavia why called.
• * 1.47

  The bounds of Britaines five parts▪
• 1 1.48

  Britannia prima.
• 2 1.49

  Britannia secunda.
• 3 1.50

  Flavia Caesa.
• 4 1.51

  Max. Caesar.
• 5 1.52

  Valentia.
• * 1.53

  Lib 5 cap. 5. and 6.
• * 1.54

  The Empe∣rours respect of Britaines Conquest. Their sur∣names hence.
• * 1.55

  Their resi∣dence here.
• * 1.56

  Their favours.
• * 1.57

  Their Tri∣umphs.
• * 1.58

  Scotland vide lib. 3. Ireland vide lib. 4.