Britanniæ speculum, or, A short view of the ancient and modern state of Great Britain, and the adjacent isles, and of all other the dominions and territories, now in the actual possession of His present Sacred Majesty King Charles II the first part, treating of Britain in general.

CHAP. III. Of the Inhabitants: Of the Laws, Re∣ligion, Manners, and Punishments of the Antient Britains; Of their Lan∣guage, Stature, Diet, Attire, Recre∣ation, Traffick, Shipping, Coins, and Buildings; Of their Arms and man∣ner of Fighting: Of their Computa∣tion of Time.

BRITAIN, being a Country,* 1.1 so rich in Commodities, so beauti∣ful in situation, and so well stored with every thing, necessary for the support of Human Life, that, if the World had been by its omnipotent Creator fashioned like a Ring, as it is like a Globe, she might well have been esteemed the only Gemme there∣in: it is no wonder, that she has been possest by many Nations, and coveted by many more; and that, whereas some Countries are still held by their Aborigines, or the first, that laid claim to them, it should be a matter of no small difficulty to find out the first In∣habitants of this Island.

The first Inhabitants of the Island,

now called Great Britain, had their Original (as may be reasonably con∣jectured from their calling themselves Kumero, Cymro, and Kumeri, which Name was so ancient amongst them, that Cymro and Cymri doth now signifie as much as Aborigines) from the Cimbri of the Continent, who are supposed to be the Relicks of the ancient Cimmerii, that, proceed∣ing from Scythia into the Countries, afterwards called Sarmatia and Germa∣ny, and establishing themselves upon the Sea-coasts of Gaul, passed over into this Island likewise, and here seated themselves. But in process of time, and before the Dayes of Caesar, the Germans Valor decreasing, the Gauls, increasing in Number and Power, re∣covered their antient Seats, and pro∣ceeded into Britain also, and invaded part of the Cimbri, who had long be∣fore placed themselves in this Island; and altho they obtained the Sea-coasts, and entred far into the Inland parts, and so by long possession came to be called Britains, yet they were by the more antient Inhabitants, who esteemed themselves the only Aborigi∣nes of the Island, looked upon only as Incroachers.

Soon after (if not contemporary with the Cimbri) are the Phaenicians supposed to have been in this Island, who, being in the first Ages of the World the best, if not only Naviga∣tors, passing through the Straits to discover the Western Seas, first of all the Inhabitants of the Mediterranean found out these Islands, arriving first at the Isles of Scilly, which finding to abound with Tynn, they called in their Language Bratanac, which the Greeks by a Word of like signification ren∣dred Cassiterides. The Phaenicians, af∣terwards discovering the Western parts of this Island, now called Corn∣wall and Devonshire, the same name was communicated thereunto, and by Degrees to all the Islands, situated in the Western Ocean.

The Usefulness of those excellent Commodities, brought by the Phaenici∣ans from Britain, rendred the Greeks very curious in search of the Place, from whence they came, which the Phaenicians as studiously concealed from them: Yet Colaeus having discovered the Western Seas, the Greeks found out these Islands, where they setled vast Colonies, landing first at Man

and Anglesey, and introduced into the whole Island a great number of their Religious Ceremonies, and other Cust∣oms.

In the Year of the World 3913. Julius Caesar, being offended with the Britains for having under-hand assisted his Enemies the Gauls, invaded this Nation, but may be said rather to have discovered it, than conquered it: from which he was so far, that Lucan sayes positively of him,

Territa quaesitis ostendit terga Britannis. But afterwards in the Time of Clau∣dius the Southern Parts of it were made a Roman Province.

The Britains being thus partly sub∣dued by the Romans, some of them, impatient of subjection, sheltring themselves behind the Cheviot Hills, and Mount Grampius, infested the Ro∣man Colonies, and retaining the an∣cient Custom of painting themselves, when the other Britains, now civili∣zed, had left it off, were distinguished by the Name of Picts, those only being called Britains, who were under the Romans Jurisdiction. These Picts inhabited the more Southern Parts of so much of the Island, as was left un∣conquered

by the Romans, the more Northern parts being long before pos∣sest by the Scots, who Anno mundi 3641. coming out of Ireland, seated them∣selves there, and called it Scotland.

In the Decay of the Roman Empire the Britains, deserted by the Romans, and weakned by the many Armies, they had drawn from them, and in∣fested by the Scots and Picts, did in the Reign of King Vortigern call in the Saxons to their Assistance, who by de∣grees possest themselves of all the flourishing parts of the Island, driving the Britains into the mountainous Parts of Wales and Cornwal.

Of the Laws,* 1.2 whereby the Antient Britains were governed, the most re∣markable, that have come to our knowledg, are seven, said to have been made by Molmutius Dunwallo, translated out of the British speech in∣to the Latin by Gildas, and after∣wards into the English Saxon by King Alfred. They are these that fol∣low:

1. That the Temples of the Gods should enjoy such Priviledges, that whatever Malefactor should fly thi∣ther

for Sanctuary, should not be forced from thence, till he had obtained Par∣don for his Crime.

2. That the Wayes, leading to the Temples, and the Roads of great Cities, should have like Priviledges.

3. That Plows, Oxen, and other la∣boring Cattle should enjoy the like Immunities, lest, the Ground being un∣tilled, the People might perish for want of Bread.

4. That a certain number of Plows should be used in every County of the Land, with severe Penalties to be inflicted upon those, that should lessen the Number.

5. That no Oxen or laboring Beasts should be seized for Debt.

6. That Buying and Selling should be by certain set Weights and Mea∣sures.

7. That Thieves and Robbers should be severely punished.

* 1.3The great Goodness and Wisdom of GOD having created Man for the Enjoyment of himself, and all other things for the use and service of Man in order to his attaining of this sublime End, it is but just, that

Man should pay a Soveraign Adora∣tion and Respect to this bounteous Creator, and a punctual Obedience to all his Commands. The true Manner of performing this Adoration was by Adam, who received it of GOD him∣self, taught his Posterity; but they deviating from his Precepts, and be∣coming guilty of all sorts of Impieties, the Almighty sent an universal Deluge, which washt away all Mankind (eight Persons only excepted) from off the Face of the Earth.

The Posterity of Noah, who with his Wife, his three Sons, and their Wives, alone escaped this common Calamity, too soon forgetting the se∣vere Punishment, inflicted upon the former Generation of Men for their Irreligion, left the Service of the true Deity, adoring the Inventions of their own Heads, and the Works of their own Hands: so that amongst all the Inhabitants of the Earth there were antiently none but the Jews, who Worshipt the true GOD in the true manner.

No wonder then, that the Religion of the antient Britains was Paganish Superstition, they having many Idol-Gods,

the chief whereof were these, that follow.

1. Taramis, or the Thunderer, the same with Jupiter, to whom, as to many other of their Gods, they of∣fered human Sacrifices.

2. Tutates, or Mercury, who was esteemed the Inventor of all Arts and Sciences, and particularly of Letters, and the Sickle; as also the Leader in in all Journeys, and Guide in all Wayes; and whose Patronage was esteemed to be of a wonderful Efficacy for promoting Gain in Mony, or any kind of Merchandize. To his Ho∣nour there were Mounts cast up, and consecrated, especially where many Wayes met, and his Statue erected upon them, pointing to the Wayes.

3. Hesus, the same with Mars, the God of War and Peace, called also Camulus: from whom came Camu∣lodunum or Mars-Hill, now Maldon in Essex. To him also were Men sa∣crificed.

4. Hues, or Bacchus, whose Priests were called Eubages. Of the Feasts of this God Pliny is supposed to speak, where he saies, That the Bri∣tains died themselves like Aethiopians

at some solemn Sacrifices, and performed their Worship with Men and Women go∣ing naked.

5. Belenus, who was the same with Apollo, represented by the Bri∣tains with an Harp. His Priests were called Paterae.

6. Belisama, or the Moon, The Queen of Heaven, viz. Diana, the Sister of Apollo, called also Ardurena and Ardoena, the Goddess of Woods and Mountains. She had somtime a Temple in London, where now stands the Cathedral of St. Paul.

7. Onvana, or Minerva, to whose Honour there was a Temple erected, where is now the Cathedral of Bath.

8. Adraste, or the Goddess of Victory, supposed to be the same with the Venus armata of the Cytheraei and Lacedaemonians, and the Venus Victrix of the Romans. In Temples, and in Groves, called by her Name the Groves of Adraste, they sacrificed to her Pri∣soners alive.

They are thought also to have wor∣shipped Ceres and Proserpina, to whom and other Infernal Deities were per∣formed Nocturnal Sacrifices, where

many abominable Lusts, and horrid Villanies were committed.

In these parts likewise was Wor∣shipped Ogmius or the Phoenician Hercules, who was represented an Old and decrepit Man, bald-pated, white-haired, wrincle-skinned, and Sun-burnt, having a Globe in one hand, and a pair of Compasses in the other.

Besides these they had also for Gods Portenta (saith Gildas) ipsa dia∣bolica paene numero Aegyptiaca vincen∣tia Many ugly Spectres, meerly Dia∣bolical, exceeding in number even those of Aegypt. Some of which Re∣presentations were remaining even to his dayes in the Ruines of their Ci∣ties, having deformed Lineaments, and stern and grim Countenances.

For the performance of their Sa∣crifices, and other Superstitious Ce∣remonies of their Idolatrous Religion, they had many Priests and Instructers, the chief whereof were the Bards and the Druids. The Bards, who are justly esteemed the most ancient Order in Britain, and were long be∣fore the Druids, being supposed to have their Original from the Phoeni∣cians, were made use of in the Deify∣ing

of Great Men, composing in Verse the Praises of the Gods and Heroes, and the whole Body of their Divinity: till that, the Druids, who were brought in by the Greeks, get∣ing the upper hand, they degenera∣ted by degrees into common Ballad-singers, and those, that before sang of the Immortality and Essence of the Soul, the Praises of the Gods, and the Encomiums and Vertues of Great Men, gave themselves up now to the composing of Mystical Rimes, Charms, Spels, and Incantations: to which, as the Britains of old, so the Welsh are even at this day prodigiously addicted.

The Druids, succeeding, did not totally abolish the Customs and Opi∣nions of the Bards, but retained the most useful of them, particularly the Doctrine of the Immortality of the Soul, to which they added that of its Transmigration, first taught by Pytha∣goras, about whose Time, or not long after, the Greeks are supposed to have entred this Island. These grew so powerful, that they not only became the sole Interpreters of Religion, ne∣cessarily present in the exercise there∣of,

without whom neither publick nor private Sacrifices could be performed; but were made Judges also of all Con∣troversies and Crimes, and absolute Determiners of all Disputes about Inhe∣ritances and Bounds of Lands, issuing out their Excommunications for Non∣performance of their Decrees even upon the Temporal Magistrates themselves, and making themselves feared by ha∣ving it in their power to determin, whose Blood would be the most ac∣ceptable Sacrifice to the Gods. No wonder therefore, that they were ex∣empted from War, and Taxes, and enjoyed many other great Priviledges and Immunities.

Their Jurisdiction extended over the whole Island and some part of Gallia, and they were subject to two Primates: one of which, under whom were the Northern Druids, had his Residence in the Isle of Man; the other, under whom were the Southern, in An∣glesey. Yet Caesar writes, that they were subject but to one Chief, who was constituted by Election. This being a Place of Great Repute, there were in its vacancy many Competitors, in∣somuch that the Secular Power was

sometimes engaged in the Quarrel, each Prince endeavouring to strength∣en his Authority by advancing a Fa∣vourite of his own to that Seat. They had once a year a solemn Meet∣ing at Chartres in France, but their chief Residences were in the Isles of Man and Anglesey, whither resorted both from Britain and Gaul those, who desired to be initiated in their Ceremonies, where they continued sometimes near twenty years to be instructed in the Mysteries of their Religion, which they were not per∣mitted to carry away any otherwise, than in their Memories. When Bri∣tain was invaded by the Romans, the the Southern Druids retired to Angle∣sey, and the Northern to Man: at length those of Anglesey, being driven out of their Seat, repaired likewise to Man, where they continued till such time, as King Cratilinth Anno Domini 277. with great difficulty expelled them.

They taught among other things, that the Life of a Man, either in a desperate Sickness, or in the Perils of War, could not be secured, un∣less another suffered in his stead:

wherefore in such Cases they either sacrificed Men, or vowed so do after their delivery. The most acceptable Sacrifice to their Gods were esteemed Murtherers, Robbers, and such like Criminals, but where those were wan∣ting, Innocents often suffered. They made in some places the Image or Statue of a Man, the Limbs whereof were made of Osier Twigs, woven together like Basket-ware: this they filled with live Men, and setting it on fire, caused the poor Creatures to perish in the Flames and Smoak.

The first Occasion of erecting these Wicker Images is supposed to have been in Detestation of the Slavery, they suffered under the Phoenicians, who, being Men of a vast and ex∣ceeding Stature, had for a long time subdued, and kept them under, and were (no doubt) those Giants, whom the British Histories say to have so long infested the Land. The Tra∣dition of whose being in Cornwall was preserved to the dayes of Ha∣villan the Poet, who lived about four hundred years since. Whose Verses concerning Cornwall are these.

—Titanibus illa Sed paucis famulosa Domus, quibus uda Ferarum Terga dabant Vestes, Cruor Haustus, Pocula Trunci, Antra Lares, Dumeta Thoros, Caenacula Rupes, Praeda Cibos, Raptus Venerem, Spectacula Caedes, Imperium Vires, Animos Furor, Impetus Arma, Mortem Pugna, Sepulchra Rubus: Monstrisque gemebat Monticolis tellus: sed eorum plurima Tractûs Pars erat occidui, Terror, majorque premebat Te Furor, extremum Zephyri, Cornubia, Limen.

—Here lodgd of Old A Race of Titans, impious and bold: Their Bodies with raw Hides they clad, allaid With Blood their Thirst, of hollow Trees they made Their Cups, their Beds were Mosse Bushes, Dens Their Houses were, their Chambers craggy Pens: Their Hunger Prey, Rape did their Lust supply:

The Sport of slaughtring men did please their Eye: Force gat them Rule, Fury them Courage gave, Rage Arms, a Battle Death, a Grove a Grave: These Monsters dwelt on Hills, and did molest Each Quarter of the Land, but most the West, Thou, Frighted Cornwall, never having Rest.

The Druids officiated only in Groves of Oak, planting for that purpose very many up and down the whole Island: for they highly venerated this Tree, and more especially the Missle∣toe growing thereon, without a Branch whereof they performed no Sacrifice, and which, being found on a Tree, was esteemed a sure Sign, that the GOD, whom they were then about to serve, had made choise of it. This was by them gathered with many Su∣perstitious Ceremonies and great De∣votion. 1. They observed, that at the time of gathering it the Moon was to be neither more nor less than six dayes old. 2. Having prepared their Sacrifices under the Tree,

they brought thither two young Bul∣locks milk-white, whose Horns were then, and not before, bound up. 3. The Priest, cloathed in white, climbed the Tree, and with a golden Bill cut down the Missletoe, which was recei∣ved below in a Souldiers white Cas∣sock. 4. They blessed the Gift, mum∣bling over many Orisons. The Mis∣sletoe, thus gathered, was reputed a Soveraign Antidote against Poyson and Barrenness.

Caesar, at his coming into Britain,* 1.4 found it Inhabited by two sorts of People: The more inland parts by such, as esteemed themselves 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or to have had their Original out of the very Soil, they lived in, quos natos in Insula ipsa memoria prodi∣tum dicunt, as he has it; The Mari∣time parts being possest by such, as re∣sorted thither from Gaul and Belgi∣um, for the sake either of Traffick or Conquest. The want of observing this Distinction is the Cause of the seeming Contradictions, that are found in such Writers, as discourse of the Manners and Customs of the ancient Britains.

Those on the Sea-coasts were more civilized, had Houses, Orchards, Gardens, tilled and manured their Grounds, and agreed very much in manners with the Gauls; but the Inlan∣ders for want of Converse, and living in a perpetual State of War, were more rude and barbarous, symbolizing with the Germans, from whom they are thought to have had their Ori∣ginal.

The Britains are generally repre∣sented by most Authors to be of a kind and gentle Disposition, not hav∣ing the Craft and Subtilty of other Nations, but a fair-conditioned Peo∣ple, of a plain and upright Dea∣ling.

That they were valorous, none can doubt, who considers, with what dif∣ficulty, notwithstanding the many Di∣visions and Quarrels amongst their own petty Princes, they were subject∣ed to the Romans; how serviceable they were to them afterwards in their Wars; how vigorously, tho then ve∣ry few, their Land having been dis∣peopled by the Romans, they with∣stood the numerous Forces of the Saxons, whom their own Invitation

first gave footing amongst them; and, when over-powered by them, they were forced to retire into the more Western Parts of this Island, how stoutly they maintained their Liber∣ties against the English Kings both of the Saxon and Norman Race; and how by a voluntary Submission, rather than Force, they were brought under Subjection to the Crown of England: Since which time they have been out∣gone by none in Loyalty and Fidelity to their Prince.

The Inlanders had all things amongst them in common, and would not ad∣mit of any Propriety, insomuch that ten or twelve of them promiscuously made use of the same Women, Bre∣thren with Brethren, and Parents with their own Children, the Issue, which was bred up by a common Stock, being more particularly reputed his, who had the first Enjoyment of the Mothers Virgin Embraces.

They inured themselves to all Hard∣ship, being able to undergo any Cold, Hunger, and Labor whatever: so that they would stick themselves in Boggs up to their very Heads, con∣tinuing there many dayes together

without any Sustenance.

The Britains were generally very much addicted to Magick, as are their Descendents the Welsh even to this very day.

* 1.5It was the Custom of the antient Britains, that, when any great man died, his Relations made Enquiry (if there were Suspicion) amongst his Wives concerning his Death, who, if they were found guilty, were puni∣shed with Fire and other Torments: From whence Sir Edward Cook de∣rives the Law of England at this day for burning those Women, who kill their Husbands.

Thieves and Murderers were reser∣ved by them to be offered in Sacrifice to the Gods: and so were Captives, taken in their Wars.

The greatest Punishment, not ca∣pital, amongst them was Excommuni∣cation, which was issued out by the Druids not only against private, but also against publick persons. Those, upon whom this Censure was inflicted, were accounted impious and profane, unca∣pable of any Honorable Office, and excluded the Benefit of the Law,

none daring to approach them, or converse in talk with them, tho at a distance, for fear of being in∣fected by them.

The old Language of the Britains,* 1.6 who have been above all other Nati∣ons curious to preserve it entire with∣out any mixture, was the same (set∣ting aside some small Variations) that is spoken at this day not only by the Britains of England, but also by those of Armorica in France. Which altho it has in it many Phoenician, and more Greek Words, yet the Idiom of it, as to the main, appears to be Teutonick, and the Words, which they received either by Trading with the former Nations, or the Invasion of the Gauls, seem much to be modelled to that Dialect.

Besides this generall Language of the Country, the Greek, or at least a Dialect thereof, was preserved en∣tire amongst the Druids, who not on∣ly therein concealed the Mysteries of their Religion, which they commit∣ted not to Writing, but delivered down by a Traditionary Conveyance to those only, who admitted them∣selves

of that Order, and under∣went the Severities of a long and te∣dious Discipline: But their Records also were preserved in the Greek Tongue and Characters, which, unin∣telligible by the Vulgar, none could have Recourse unto, but Persons of Repute and Learning: Nor were they permitted to take any thing a∣way in Writing, but by Memory on∣ly, the Trust of keeping these things being reposed in some persons, who for their singular Fidelity, Integrity, and Learning were chosen for that purpose.

* 1.7The antient Britains were of Sta∣ture taller than the Gauls (whose Ex∣pression concerning them to Caesar was, that other Nations seemed as Nothing in their Eyes) their Hair not so yellow, nor their Bodies so com∣pact, knit, and firm, having but bad Feet to support them; but the other Lineaments of their Body were well made, and their Features excellent. The Goodness of their Constitution was such, that they are said to have lived to the Age of an hundred and

twenty Years. Strabo saies, that he saw very Youths amongst them taller by half a foot than the tallest men. Nor were the Women less remarkable for Beauty, than the Men for Stature. Yet were not the Complexions of the People every where the same: the North Britains being fair, having large Limbs, and long yellow Hair, as the Ger∣mans; the South Britains swarthy, and having curled Hair like the Spaniards; the Coast, lying upon France, agree∣ing in Language, Customs, and every thing with the Gauls.

They were so exceeding swift of Foot, that, laying their Hands on the Manes of their Horses, they could e∣qual them in their Race.

Their Diet was simple, not dainty;* 1.8 and that of the inland Britains very spare and mean: for living continu∣ally in War, and frequently shifting the Places of their Abode, not much unlike the Cossacks in the Ʋkraine, they tilled not any Ground, kept no Sheep, nor made any Cheese; but satisfied their Hunger with any sort of Prey, as Venison, Natural Fruits, and Milk, and many times with Roots and Barks

of Trees. They esteemed it unlawful to eat either Hare, Hen, or Goose. The Sea-coast or Gaulish Britains had Gardens and Orchards, manured their Grounds with Marl, howed their Corn, and brought it in by Sheaves; but never threshed more than for pre∣sent use only. These were daintier in their Diet than the former, having particular Dishes in great Request, the most delicate whereof was the Chenerotes, a Fowl somwhat less than Wild-Geese. The Britains had also a kind of Food, of which eating but the Quantity of a Bean, they did for a considerable time after neither hun∣ger nor thirst. Their usual drink was made of Barley, a thing in for∣mer Ages unknown to any Nation of Europe, the Britains only excepted: to whom this Custom is (not impro∣bably) conjectured to have been brought by the Phoenicians from Aegypt.

* 1.9Man, being created in a State of perfect Integrity, had before his fall no other Cloathing, but his own Innocency. But no sooner had he transgressed the Command of GOD by eating the

forbidden Fruit, but being divested of that Robe of Purity, wherewith he was clad in his Creation, he grew ashamed likewise of his external Na∣kedness, which he sought to cover with Figleaves. Soon after he recei∣ved from GOD himself a Coat of Skins, and this was the first Original of Apparel, which Pride, playing upon conceited Opinions of Decency, has since infinitely varied in matter, form, and fashion, still continuing to do the same.

Of the Old Britains, the Inlanders were for the most part cloathed with Skins, some few only going naked. The Sea-coast or Gaulish Britains had the same sort of Habits, as the Gauls: The most remarkable whereof were Gaunacum, whence our Word Gown, which was a thick Covering, made of course Wool, having a Nap on both sides like Freez, worn by the Gauls and better sort of Britains to keep out the Cold; and Bardiacus, a Garment of divers Colours woven to∣gether, the gaudy Shew whereof was no doubt very pleasing in the eyes of the Britains; to which may be added Brachae, a Garment common both to

the Gauls and Britains, descending be∣low, and covering the knees: of which Martial saith,

Quam veteres Brachae Britonis pau∣peris.—

The Hair of their Heads, and up∣per Lips they wore long, but shaved it off in all other parts.

In Caesars Dayes the Britains pain∣ted their Faces, Hands, and such o∣ther parts of their Bodies, as were commonly exposed to sight, with Woad, that they might appear more terrible in Battel. But in after Ages amongst those Britains, who, being by the Romans driven out of their pos∣sessions, betook themselves both Men and Women to their Arms, and were reduced to a Savage Life, this use of Painting, practiced before only in Time of War, and that by none but men, grew into such Request, partly, because it was (as they fancied) ter∣rible to their Enemies, and partly, because wanting Cloaths, they had no other distinction of their Dignities, that the Women, as well as the Men, painted all their Bodies with terrible Creatures, and because by their being exposed naked in the Fields, and of∣ten

subject to wet weather, their Painting was apt to wash off, they made Incisions into their Flesh, where∣by to keep it in. From hence in pro∣cess of time, these painted Britains were called Picts.

About the same Time also, as it is not improbably conjectured, was the Custom taken up of wearing Iron Rings about their Necks and Bellies, which being first begun by a necessity of Carriage, was afterward esteemed an Ornament.

The chiefest Recreation of the Bri∣tains,* 1.10 whose Habitations were most in the Woods, was Hunting, they hav∣ing excellent Dogs for that purpose: insomuch that Strabo witnesseth, that the Dogs, called Agasaei, so much estee∣med by the Greeks, were of British Race, which Dogs are by us to this day called Gase-hounds.

The Trading of the antient Bri∣tains,* 1.11 tho not to be compared with that of After-times, was not yet so inconsiderable, as they would per∣swade us, who affirm, that it con∣sisted chiefly in Ivory Boxes, Sheers,

Onches, Bits and Bridles, Wreaths and Chains, with other Conceits made of Glass and Amber: For Strabo, relating their Traffick, sayes, that, in exchange for Tynne and Lead, Skins and Furrs, they received Earthen Vessels, Salt and Brazen Ware of the Phaenicians, who were the first, that traded hither, and so industriously concealed this Navi∣gation from others, that a certain Master of a Ship, being jealous of a Roman Vessel, that followed him, for to learn this Traffick, purpose∣ly ran his Ship upon the Sands, and having brought those, by whom he was followed, into the same Destructi∣on, himself escaped Shipwrack, and re∣ceived Satisfaction for his Losses out of the publick Treasury.

* 1.12Their Shipping indeed was very mean: for they had only certain lit∣tle Skiffs, the Keels and Footstocks whereof were made of slight Tim∣ber, but the Bodies were wound and wrought with Osiers, and covered with Leather.

* 1.13For the better supply of the mutu∣al

Necessities of Mankind, People at first bartered or exchanged (according as occasions required) one Commodity for another; but that being found troublesom, some one or other Com∣modity was every where found out to be the Standard of Commerce and Traffick. This amongst all civilized Nations terminated in Gold and Sil∣ver, which, as most beautiful, pliable, portable, and least Subject to rust, were (even in the Dayes of Abraham) chosen to be the Instruments of Ex∣change, and the Measure of all other things, and were at first paid only by weight, till the Romans about three hundred years before CHRIST first invented the Art of Coyning.

Yet have not these two Me∣tals so far prevailed, but that other matter hath been, and in divers pla∣ces still is used for Money. The an∣tient Britains particularly instead of Money made use of Iron Rings, sized at a certain Weight, and besides these of brazen Pieces, some of which had a figure of a Shield embost, and on that side a certain Image, the De∣vice being within: which kind of Coin was in use in no other part of

the World, except in some places, be∣longing to Greece.

* 1.14The Buildings of the Sea-coast Bri∣tains were many, and like to those of the old Gauls: The Inlanders had no Houses but certain cumbersome Woods stood them instead of Cities and Towns: for when they had by felling of Trees en∣compast a spacious round plat o•• Ground, and fortified it with Rampires and Ditches, they built there for them∣selves Huts and Cottages, and for their Cattel set up Stalls and Folds, making thither their Retreat and Resort, to eschew the Invasions of their Enemies

* 1.15The Britains, (being as we have ob∣served) a People very swift of foot never burdened themselves with an Armor, which they could not a their pleasure fling off. Their Defen∣sive Arms were only Shields; for Of¦fensive Weapons they had short Spears at the lower end of which was fastne•• a round Bell of Brass, which at th•• beginning of a fight they shook with great Courage, conceiting, that such a ratling Noise did dismay the Ene¦my. They had also Daggers, and

Swords, which those, who went na∣ked, girt about their Bodies with Iron Chains.

The different Interests of the many petty Princes,* 1.16 amongst whom this Island was divided, keeping them in continual Wars, the Britains must of necessity be well-experienced Souldi∣ers: But their Manner of fighting was so peculiar to themselves, that Caesar related it for a Wonder in the Western Parts. They fought in a Body, cal∣led Caterva, or Caturfa, as the Ro∣mans had their Legion, and the Ma∣cedonians their Phalanx.

Their usual manner of fighting was in Chariots, of which they had se∣veral sorts, the most remarkable whereof were the Covinus and the Essedum.

The Covinus was a sort of Chariot, carrying no men at all, but only him, that guided it. It was exceedingly well harnassed and armed, having at both Ends of the Axletrees Hooks and and Scyths fastned, so that driving furiously into the Enemies Battel, they made whole Lanes of slaughtered men, the Scyths cutting off those in the

middle, who did not speedily make way, and the Hooks catching up those, that had escaped the Scyths.

The Essedum carried many persons, who, as the Charioteer rode through all the parts of the Battle, bestowed their Darts, which, with the terrible appearance of the Horses, and the ratling Noise of the Wheels, usually brake the Ranks of their Enemies. When they had wound themselves in amongst their Enemies, they leapt out of their Chariots, and fought on foot, the Charioteers in the mean time dri∣ving out of the Battle, and drawing up their Chariots, whither they re∣tired, when over-powered by the Ene∣my. In the managing their Chariot-Horses daily Practice had rendred them so expert, that driving forci∣bly down a steep Hill, they could stop, and turn short in the midst of their Career, run upon the Beam, stand up∣on the Harness, and skip presently back into their Chariots.

The Horses, used by the Britains in their Chariots, were small and swift: their Harness was not only substantial, but also curiously wrought & engraven, as may be gathered from these Words of Propertius,

Esseda caelatis siste Britanna jugis.

The Britains began their day at Sun-set,* 1.17 which Custom they are sup∣posed to have learnt from the Phaeni∣cians, who, as all other Eastern Nati∣ons, used the same manner of Com∣putation, which they received from the Jews, who were taught by Moses, that the Evening and the Morning were the first Day. Thus, what the Romans called Septimana, is in the British Tongue to this day called With-nos. and in English a Sennight, the Ab∣breviation of Seven Nights.

From the same Original also was their Observation of the New Moon, in whose first Quarter they began not only their Months, and New Years, but their several Ages likewise, which were comprehended in a Cycle of thir∣ty Years.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Inhabi∣tants.
• * 1.2

  Laws.
• * 1.3

  Religion.
• * 1.4

  Manners.
• * 1.5

  Punish∣ments.
• * 1.6

  Lan∣guage.
• * 1.7

  Stature.
• * 1.8

  Diet.
• * 1.9

  Attire.
• * 1.10

  Recrea∣tion.
• * 1.11

  Traffick.
• * 1.12

  Ship∣ping.
• * 1.13

  Money.
• * 1.14

  Build∣ings.
• * 1.15

  Arms.
• * 1.16

  Manner of Fight∣ing.
• * 1.17

  Compu∣tation of Time.