THE MANNERS AND CVS∣TOMES OF THE ANCIENT BRITAINES.
CHAPTER IV.
HAuing thus farre spoken of the ancient Names of this famous Iland, and of the Nations acknowledg∣ed to bee the first Planters and Possessors thereof; it remaineth that somewhat be mentioned of the Man∣ners and Customes of those people and times, though not so pleasing or acceptable as were to be wished; for that the clouds of ignorance and barbarous inciuilitie did then shadow and ouer-spread almost all the Nati∣ons of the earth: wherein I desire to lay imputation no further then is sufficiently warranted by most au∣tenticke Writers: and first from Cesar, who formost of all the Romanes discouered and described our anci∣ent Britaines.
* (2) Touching their persons: All the Britaines (saith Cesar) vsed to die themselues with woad, which setteth a blew colour vpon them, and that maketh them more terri∣ble to behold in battle. But Pomponius Mela therein mo∣ueth Page 167 a doubt. They died their bodies (saith he) with woad; but whether to make a gallant shew, or for what *other cause else is vncertaine. And yet Herodian here∣in absolutely determineth, where hee saith, that the *Britaines knew no vse of garments at all, but about their wastes and neckes wore chaines of iron, suppo∣sing them a goodly ornament▪ and a proofe of their wealth: and their bare bodies they marked with sun∣dry pictures representing all manner of liuing crea∣tures; and therefore they would not be clad, for hi∣ding the gay paintings of their bodies. To which painting Pliny also agreeth, and describeth that hearbe woad, to bee like to the Plantine in Gallia, naming it Glastum, with the iuice whereof (saith he) the women of Britaine, as well wiues as yoong women, anoint and die their bodies all ouer, resembling by that tincture the colour of the Aethiopians, in which manner they vse at solemne feasts and sacrifices to goe all naked. And Dio Nicaeus out of the epitome of Xiphilinus, saith, that the custome of that Nation was, to abide in tents all naked and vnshod. Notwithstanding, Ce∣sar doth elsewhere report, that they clad themselues in leather, which perchance is meant of the ciuiller sort of them, and in time of battle. Solinus likewise speaking of the Britaines, saith, their Country is peo∣pled partly with Barbarians, who by meanes of artifi∣ciall incisions of sundry formes, haue from their child∣hood diuers shapes of beasts incorporate vpon them; and hauing their markes deepely imprinted within their bodies, looke how their growth for stature, so doe these pictured characters likewise increase. Nei∣ther do these sauage Nations repute any thing a grea∣ter testimonie of their patience, then by such durable skarres to cause their limmes drinke in much painting * and colour. These skarres by Tertullian are tearmed Britannorum stigmata, The Britaines markes. And vn∣to this skie-colour, or blewish dyings, it seemeth Mar∣tial*had relation in his praises of Lady Claudia:
* And of this vse of painting, as our great Antiquarie*iudgeth, both the Britaines had their primitiue deri∣uation, and the Picts (a branch of British race) a long * time after, for that their accustomed manner, were called Picti by the Romanes, that is, the painted people.
(3) The haire of their heads, saith Cesar, they let grow, and wore long, which naturally was curled, and of colour yellow, (as in the Panegyricke Oration a∣scribed *to Mamertinus, and spoken in praise of Maxi∣mianus, is to be seene) all other parts of their bodies being shauen, sauing only the head and vpper lippe. Yet their complexions were much different, as by *Tacitus wee see, who auoucheth that some of those Ilanders were red of haire, as the Caledonians in the * Northerne Promontories; the haire of the Silures co∣loured and curled, like to the old Spaniards; and those neerest vnto Gallia resembled their complexions, though not altogether so yellow, saith Strabo. But *their wit by Tacitus is preferred before them, and their statures more tall, as Strabo affirmeth, whose li∣neaments *shewed a good making of body, and mea∣surable proportion in all parts answerable. Their women faire, and of exceeding good features, as is * described by the Romane Writers. Such was Boudicea, saith Xiphilinus; Claudia and Helena, saith Martial and Eutropius.
(4) That the strength of nature wrought long in * the Britaines, we read out of Plutarch, who reporteth that the people liued one hundred and twenty yeeres, for that, saith he, their cold and frozen Country kept in their naturall heat: whose conditions by Diodorus*Siculus are commended to be plaine and vpright, farre from the wilinesse and craft of the Romanes. And by *Strabo thei• dispositions are partly resembled to the Gaules, but yet somewhat more rude and plaine; and those most ciuill, who were the inhabitants of Kent, by reason of their oftner conuersing with other Nati∣ons, as Cesar sheweth. But the farther from the con∣tinent, * the more rude, and lesse acquainted with other kind of riches besides cattell, as Pomponius Mela affir∣meth.
* (5) Now touching their domestick matters▪ Their buildings were many, and like to them of the Gaules saith Iulius Caesar; notwithstanding they giue the name of Townes to certaine combersome woods, which they haue fortified with rampires and ditches, whither they retreat, and resort to eschue the inuasions of their enemies. Which stand them in good stead, saith Strabo: for when they haue by felling of trees, mounted, and fenced there∣with a spacious round plot of ground; there they build for themselues houses and cottages, and for their cattell set vp stalls and folds, but those for the present vse onely, and not for long continuance. Which, as Diodorus Siculus saith were vsually thacked *with reed; but the cities without walls, and the coun∣try without townes, as Dion describeth the Calidoni∣ans*and Meats.
* (6) Their wiues were ten or twelue a peece, as Caesar hath alledged, which they held common a∣mong brothers and parents, yet the issue reputed his▪ who first maried the mother when she was a maide: and Dio indeed affirmeth no lesse, adding withall, that *the children thus begotten, were fostred and brought vp in common among them. And Eusebius likewise *testifieth, that many Britaines together kept one wife in common to them all. This community in mariage moued Iulia the Empresse of Seuerus, to twite the *wife of Argetecaxus, that the fashion of the women of Britaine in accompanying with men, was very impu∣dent; to whom she replied and said, we British women*do indeed herein differ from you Roman Ladies; for wee satisfie our appetite, by accompanying with the worthiest*men, and that openly, but you with euery base fellow, in a corner.
* (7) For their diet; it was a heinous matter with them to eat either Hen, Hare, or Goose, saith Caesar, which notwithstanding they bred for their plea∣sures; neither fed daintily at full and rich tables, as Diodorus Siculus affirmeth, but rather in necessity * could liue vpon barkes and roots of trees, and with a kind of meat no bigger then a beane, after which for a good time they did neither hunger nor thirst, saith Dio Nicaeus: who likewise testifieth that the Britains,*did till no ground, neither eat fish, though their ri∣uers *thereof be pleneously stored, but liue vpon prey, venison, and fruits: to which also Caesar addeth milke,* whereof (saith Strabo), they had not then skill to make cheese. And according to Solinus, their vsuall drinke was made of barley. But for tillage Pliny see∣meth to contradict Dio, affirming that the Britaines manured their grounds with Marle in stead of dung; which argueth no such simplicity in gardening, plan∣ting, and in other like points of husbandry as Strabo*doth taxe them with. And this foresaid temperance of diet differeth much from that, which Saint Hie∣rome chargeth their neighbors the Anthropophagi of *Ireland, who vsed to feed on the buttocks of boies, and womens paps, as their most dainty and delicate dish.
* (8) For their religion, or rather diabolicall super∣stition, was as the rest of the world, (some few excep∣ted) when Satan had clouded the truth of Gods do∣ctrine, by the foggy mists of confused darknesse. For Tacitus makes their superstitions, and ceremonies to be the same in conformity with the Gaules. And what that was, Dio Cassius in his Nero, and Solinus in his hi∣story, *doe declare; who doe ascribe to them the most inhumane offering of mans flesh in their sacrifices. * And besides their ancient Idols, such as Dis, Iupiter, Apollo, Diana, and the like, they worshipped Andates for their Goddesse of Victory, vnto all which they performed no small adorations and honors, imputing their prosperities vnto them: vnto whom also they erected temples with such magnificence as they then had; whose walles, as it seemeth, long after remained, whereon some of those prophane portraitures with deformed lineaments were seene by mournfull Gil∣das,Page 168* carrying a sterne and grim countenance, after the *wonted heathenish manner: here see we (saith he) vpon these desert walles, the vgly features of the Britains Idols, meerly diabolicall, and in number almost exceeding those of Egypt. So by Tacitus they are noted with the com∣mon custome of the Gentiles, which was that they sought for the direction of their Gods by the looking into the entralls of Beasts, yea and of men too; and that they honored the Altars of their Gods with the sacrifice and blood of such as they tooke captiue in * wars. And Plinie writing of Magick, saith, that in his daies the art thereof in Britaine was highly honored, and all the people thereunto so much deuoted, yea and with all such complements of ceremonies in the same to be performed, that a man would thinke the Persians had learned all their Magick skill from them. Priests and instructers had they, whereof the chiefe were called Druides, whose office was imploied about *holy things, saith Caesar; for they had the managing of publike and priuate sacrifices, and to interpret and discusse matters of religion. Vnto them doe resort great numbers of yong men to learne at their hands, and they be had in great reuerence. For they deter∣mine *almost all controuersies, and matters in vari∣ance, as well publike as priuate. And if there happen any thing to be done amisse, if there be any murther committed, if there rise any controuersie concerning inheritance or bounds of lands, they take the matter into their power, and award either recompence or penalties in the case. And if there be any, be he priuate person, or be it corporation, that will not stand to their iudgement, they interdict him, which punish∣ment among them is held most grieuous. They that *are so excommunicated are accounted in the number of the wicked and vngratious: all men shun them, all men eschue their company and communication, l•st by conuersing with them, they should defile them∣selues and receiue harme. If they demand law, they may not haue it: neither may they enioy any place of *honor. Ouer all these Druides there is one Primate, which hath chiefe authority ouer them. When he is dead if there be any of the rest that excelleth in wor∣thinesse, he succeedeth: or if there be any equall, he is chosen by voices of the rest, and diuers times they striue for the soueraignty by force of armes.
These men at a certaine season of the yeere, in the *borders of the Caruntes (whose country is counted the middle of all Gallia) do sit together in a place hal∣lowed, whereunto resort from all sides all such as haue any controuersies: and looke what is decreed and iudged by them, that they stand vnto. This order * of discipline is thought to haue had beginning in Bri∣taine, and from thence to haue been brought into Gal∣lia. And at this day, they that are desirous to attaine this skill more exactly, do commonly repaire thither to learne it. These Druides customably are exempted from the wars, neither do they pay taxes and tallages with other folke: for they are priuiledged as from the warres, so from all other burthens. Allured with so great rewards, many euen of their owne accord, do register themselues in that order, and diuers are sent thither by their parents and kinsfolke. Where they *are reported to learne a great number of verses by heart. Whereof it commeth to passe, that diuers continue twenty yeeres in learning. Neither do they thinke it lawfull to put them in writing, whereas in all other things, for their accounts, as well publike as priuate, they vse the Greek letters.
* This order they seeme (in mine opinion) saith he, to haue taken for two considerations: partly because they will not haue their discipline published among the common people; and partly because they will not that they which shall learne, trusting too much to their bookes, should haue the lesse regard of remem∣brance: in that it hapneth well neere to most men, that vpon trust of the helpe of their booke, they are slacker in learning things by heart, and lesse care to *beare them in mind. This is one of the chiefest things that they labour most to beat into mens minds, that the Soules die not, but do after death passe from one to another: and hereby they thinke men should be most stirred vnto virtue, when the feare of death is nothing regarded. Also they dispute many other things: as of the starres, and of their mouings: of the *bignesse of the world, and the earth: of the nature of things: of the strength and power of the goddes im∣mortall: and do therein instruct the youth. Vnto these Druides and their doctrine had Lucan the Poet *relation in his first booke towards the end, where he writeth thus of them.
In English thus.
* (9) These Britaines being meerly barbarous, as most of the Western parts of the world then were, li∣ued priuately to themselues with scarce any com∣merce, or entercourse with any other nation: neither indeed were much known to forraine people, for a long time. For the first notice of them extant, was by *Polybius the Greek writer, that accompanied Scipio in his warres, about the yeere of the worlds creation 3720. and two hundred and nine, before the birth of our Sauiour Christ. Which Author nameth their Iland*to be plenteously stored with Tynne: but of other things therin is silent, saying that al those parts which lay betwixt Tanais and Narbor bending Northward in his daies were vnknown and vncertaine, and there∣fore the reporters of them he held as dreamers. So doth Master Cambden another Polybius, & no way his *inferior, account it a prodigall humor of credulity, to be perswaded that Himilco, from the state of Carthage sent to discouer the coasts of Europe, in the said expe∣dition * entred this Iland: or that Hannibal should war in this Iland, because Polybius in the Eclogues of his tenth booke saith that he was inclosed within the streits of Britaine, which place is mistaken for the Brutij in Italy: or that Alexander came from the East Indians, to Gades, and from thence into Britaine, though Cedrenus say so, seeing all other writers are a∣gainst it; or that Vlysses, (ancient enough if he be that *Elishah the sonne of Iauan, the fourth sonne of Ia∣pheth) should visit Britaine in his trauels, whereof Bro∣daeus maketh doubt; though Solinus report that an Altar in Caledonia was erected, and Vlysses in Greeke letters thereon inscribed. Which might very well be: for who doubteth but that the Greekes, in their vaine deuotions, did both build and sacrifice vnto their Gods, which they made of their worthiest men? and sith Vlysses, (in regard of his farre sea-trauels) was had *in speciall account among all nauigators, why might not such monuments be reared, and his name inscri∣bed, as farre as the Grecians trauelled, though his per∣son neuer came there?
And if the Romanes, at whose greatnesse the whole world trembled, were so lately known in those anci∣ent Page 169 times, as that neither Thucydides nor Herodotus made mention of them: yea and with much adoe at *last were heard of by the Grecians themselues: as Iose∣phus affirmeth; And if the Gaules and Spaniards, (in∣habitants in the continent) for many yeeres together were vtterly vnknowen to the worlds historiogra∣phers; shall we then thinke, that this remote Iland, and people then far from ciuility, were noted foorth with markes of more certainty? surely to my see∣ming, nothing lesse: seing that their next neighbours * the Gaules knew not so much as what manner of men they were: none resorting thither, except some few merchants, and they no further, then vpon the sea coasts, neither able to describe the bignesle of the I∣land, the puissance of the inhabitants, their order for war, the lawes that they vsed, the customes of the people, nor their hauens for the receit of ships; all which Caesar by diligent inquiry sought after, but could find no satisfaction till he had sent some pur∣posely to search it out.
(10) Neither is this their want of knowledge to bee wondred at, seeing the entercourse of their traf∣ficke * was vpheld by so meane commodities: for Stra∣bo saith, that their merchandizing chiefly consisted in Iuory Boxes, Sheeres, Onches, Bits, and Bridles, Wreaths & Chains, with other conceits made of Am∣ber and Glasse; for which notwithstanding they were compelled to pay customes and imposts vnto Octaui∣an Augustus, as elsewhere shall be shewed.
(11) And as their commodities were very mean, so were their meanes either for exportation or im∣portation very slender in those times; I meane their * shipping. It is true, that some are of opinion, that Ships were first inuented in these our Seas: but that this should be true, I haue cause to doubt, that Art being long before inspired by God himselfe into the heart of Noah for making the Arke, and no doubt practised by that paterne of many others. But that the ancient Britaines had ships of reasonable vse, *though of simple Art, Cesar testifieth, saying, that the keeles and ribs of their ships were of light wood, and couered ouer with leather: which kinde the now-Britaines call Corraghs: and with them (saith Polyhistor) they did saile betwixt Britannie and Ireland, (which sea for rough∣nesse and danger may bee compared with any other whatsoeuer) though the bulke of their vessels were but of some flexible wood, couered with the hides of Bufflles: and as long as they were sailing, so long did they abstaine from meat: whereby it seemeth they neuer sailed any great *iourneys. And of this their shipping Pliny also speak∣eth, and Lucan singeth, thus:
But after-times brought the Britaines to more exqui∣site skill in nauall affaires, insomuch as the royall Na∣uie of this Kingdome hath beene reputed (and so is at this day) not only the inuincible walles of our owne, but the incredible terror of al other Kingdoms, which haue or shall enuy our happie peace: and the aduen∣tures likewise of Merchants, and the skill of our Sea∣men, hath left no corner of the world vnsearcht.
* (12) And their trafficke amongst themselues was not of much worth, in that, as Cesar saith, the Coines*which they had were either of brasse, or else iron rings sized at a certaine waight, which they vsed for their monies. Of which kind some haue auerred they haue seene found and lately taken vp in little cruses or pitchers of earth. But as times grew more ciuill, and trafficke more fre∣quent, they shortly after stamped both siluer and gold;*and thereon the faces of their Kings, euen in the daies of Iulius Caesar, who was the first that had his owne stampt on the Romane Coynes. Many of these are a∣mongst vs remaining, whereof I haue inserted some few, as in their due places shall follow, which I recei∣ued from the liberall hand of that most learned Knight, and worthy storer of Antiquities Sir Robert*Cotten of Cunington. These Coynes are commonly im∣bossed *outward and shield-like, whereon the inscripti∣on, or face, is seen; the reuerse hollow, and therein their deuise set: and by these formes are they known to be the Britaines, no other nation stamping the like, except some few among the Grecians. *
(13 We come lastly, to speake of the manner of their warfare, which Caesar thus describeth. First (saith he) they ride round about all parts of the battell, ca∣sting off their darts: and often times with the terrible *noise of their horses, and the ratling of their chariot wheeles, they amaze the enemy and breake their ar∣ray. And when they haue wound themselues in a∣mong the troopes of horsemen, they leape foorth of their waggons, and fight on foot. In the meane while the waggoners withdraw themselues somewhat out of the battell, and set their waggons in such order, that if they be ouercharged by the enemy, they may haue speedy and easie recourse vnto them. By meanes whereof they are both as ready to remoue as the horsemen, and as stedfast to stand in the battell as the footmen, and supply both duties in one. And they are come to such perfectnesse by daily practice and exer∣cise, that euen in steepe and falling places they will stop their horses running a full gallop, and guide and turne them in a short roome, & run vpon the vergies, and stand stedfastly vpon the beames, and quickly re∣couer themselues back againe into the waggons.
* These would often giue ground to egge their ene∣mies from their maine battell, and then would leape out of their chariots and fight on foot. And they kept also such an order in fighting on horseback, that whe∣ther the enemies chased, or were chased, they were alwaies in danger. For they neuer fought in great *companies together, but scatteringly a great way di∣stant the one from the other, and had stals lying in diuers places one to supply another, hauing euer fresh * and lusty men in the roomes of them that were wea∣ry. Of this their manner of fight in chariots, Strabo al∣so declareth; and Diodorus Siculus saith that the Bri∣taines liued after the manner of the first age of the world, vsing chariots in their fight, as the report goes of the ancient Greeks at the Troian warres. Pomponius Mela also describing these Britaines, affirmeth that their fight was not only with horsemen and footmen, but also with waggons and chariots, harnessed, and armed at the ends of the axle-trees with hookes and sithes, after the manner of the Gaules; but with appa∣rance of greater courage, as Tacitus saith; as being *not yet mollified by long peace. Their strength in *field consisteth most of footmen, yet some countries there are (saith he) that war in waggons, the greatest persons guiding the same; and so much doth Iuuenal*intimate, who in shew of prophecie but indeed in flattery of the Emperor Domitian, salutes him after this manner.
* (14) Some haue thought that their women also were not exempted from the wars; but certaine it is that many of that sex were renowned for their valour amongst them. Which made Tacitus to say, it was vsu∣allPage 170for the Britains to fight vnder the conduct of women, (which the Romans found to their smart) nor to make any difference of sexes for gouernment. A more noble patterne whereof, neuer had any age, then in our late *glorious Virgin Queen, (the wonder of her sexe, and of al future ages,) who, as she was inferior to no Prince euer liuing, for her admirable gouernment in vphol∣ding of her kingdomes peace, so was she a match (to say no more) to the proudest monarchs, in her mana∣ging *of her wars; as (when occasion was offered) she was ready to make good, in her owne roiall person in the field. But besides the vse of armes, the ancient Bri∣tish women had another imploiment in the field, *which I will only set downe in Tacitus his words, speaking of Paulinus Suetonius his assailing of Angle∣sey: The British Army (saith he) stood on the shore, thicke of men and munition, and women running vp and downe amongst them, like furies, carrying burning firebrands in*rufull attire, and with their haire hanging about their shoulders. The Druides meane while went with their hands lift vp to heauen, pouring out praiers and imprecations. The strangenesse of which sight so amazed the Ro∣man souldiers, that they stood still like stocks, whiles the other wounded them at their pleasure; till Pauli∣nus encouraged them, and they excited one another, not to be so danted by an army of women and wi∣zards. &c.
(15) In the relations of these things, let no man thinke, that the glory of these ancient and warlike nation of Britains, is any waies disparaged, or made in∣ferior to them that would be more famous, whose *beginning haue been as meane, and state as rude, if not more. For let vs consider the Romans so lauish in their owne worths and greatnesse; who notwithstanding, bring their name and originall from Romulus, a ba∣stard by birth, nourished by a beast, educated among a sort of rustick shepheards: and grown to the ripe∣nesse of his owne affections, he became ring-leader of a damned crue, that liued by robberies and without lawes: besides the shedding of his naturall brothers blood, as Titus Liuie their owne historian witnes∣seth: *and both himselfe and followers, had in such contempt and derision by their neighbour nations, that they both disdained and refused to giue them their daughters in mariage, lest in time they also should become lawlesse, vntill that by subtilty and force, they had rauished their virgins, and thereby made them vnworthy of other matches. Yet when their after fortunes and successe had mounted them vpon the wings of glory, and seated them on the necks of their subdued neighbors, their Caesars would needs be more then mortall, and their pedigrees must lineally be brought from the Gods.
* (14) And, to let passe many others, the like may be said of the beginners of the Scythian and Turkish Empires, two golden pillers raised vpon leaden bases, howsoeuer now, the power of their command, circles three parts of the earth. Nay what more is, that preti∣ous, roiall, and Gods only people, from whom the e∣ternall*King of Kings descended, in their offrings made in time of their highest glory, were by the Lord thus commanded to acknowledge and say: A Syrian was*my father, who being ready to perish for hunger, went down into Egypt, and soiourned with a small company. And the richest stone of that most beauteous building in his highest pride is counselled by the Prophet, to looke back*to the rocke whence it was hewen, and to the hole of the pit whence it had been digged.
