The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

CHAP. I. Of its Situation and Fruitfulness. The Manners, Cu∣stoms, and Religion of the Antient Britains. How it was first Inhabited. Why call'd Britain; and the Name of ENGLAND given to the Part we Inhabit. Julius Caesar Invited over, &c.

THIS Island of Great Britain (con∣taining at present Three Na∣tions or People, of different Languages) is the largest in Europe; and inferiour to none in the other parts of the World, for Fertility, Power, good Govern∣ment, and Glory of it's Great Actions. It is Situated in a healthful Climate, between 51 and 58 Degrees of North Latitude. Bounded on the East with Germany and Denmark; on the West with Ireland and the Atlan∣tick Ocean; on the North with the Ducalidonian Seas; and on the South with France and Normandy.

ENGLAND (the noblest and largest part of it, and a distinct Kingdom of it self, though at present all under One happy Monarch) formerly sustained many Kings at once, all of them commanding great Powers, as will appear in the Series of History. For in spaci∣ousness it extends it self from North to South, in the broadest place, 386 Miles; and from the Lands End in Cornwal, to the Isle of Thanet in the East of Kent, it stretches 340 Miles; besides the spaciousness of the many Islands, as Wight, Man, Anglesey, and others of note, which I shall have occasion to mention, with every thing else that may give satisfaction to the Rea∣der. It is, for Longitude, placed between the Parallels of 14 and 16, Containing 25 Cities, in which are Bishops Seas. 'Tis full of Parks, Rivers, and Forrests; and abounding in plenty of Arable Ground, Pleasant Pastures and Cattel, throughout its 40 Counties; and the like in the 13 Counties of Wales, once a distinct Kingdom, but now annexed to the English Diadem.

As to the time of the first Peopling this fruitful Land, some will have it soon after the Floud, by Seme∣moth••us, Sixth Son of Japhet; others that it was Peopled by King Brutus, in the 2887th Year of the Worlds Creation; and that we are of Trojan Original: So that this must be about 1231 Years after the Deluge, when Elie was High-Priest. But it is rather generally accepted (though many other Stories, without any good ground, or much credit, are mentioned) That a Colony of some neighbouring Nation (viz) from Ger∣many, wafted over, and finding it so pleasant a Soile, gladly planted themselves in it.

But since this is doubtful, and all we can gather concerning the Natives, before the Landing of Julius Caesar, is from Forreign Authors, we must be content to pass these over.

As for the Name of this Island, being call'd Britain, it is held to come from the word Brith, which signifies Painting, or Staining their Skins; and also going Naked, (which was the Custom of the Antient Britains.) They Raced their Skins, drawing on them the Figures of Birds, Beasts, Flowers, Suns, Stars, &c. to distinguish their Dignity; which, like the slic'd Bark of a Tree, grow∣ing wider as they grew up, made them appear Ter∣rible to their Enemies; and indeed they were, for the most part, Fierce and Cruel, (especially those in the Northern parts, who Traded not with the Civilized Gauls) insomuch that they Sacrificed every Tenth Captive (taken in the Wars among themselves) to their Idols, of which they had a great number, called by the Names of Planets, and in the form of divers living Creatures. And to these senseless Stocks their Druid's, or Magi (whom they accounted their Wise Men, and served in stead of Flamins and Priests) compelled them to pay their Adoration; Worshiping in Groves, ac∣counting Fortified Woods their Towns and Cities.

They wore about their Middles Iron Chains, and to them, both Men and Women had short Swords girded; bearing in their Hands a Spear with a Brass Knob or Bell at the end of it, to make a greate noise of Terrour in Combates; the Women usually going to War with them, and not only Fighting Couragious∣ly by their Husbands sides, Animating them by their Courage, but often Commanding Battalions and Armys, as the Romans too fatally found, when they strugled, with much Slaughter, 123 Years for this Island.

The Britains appear by all Authors to have been very sparing in their Diet; and not much given to Venery: Though they had many Wives in Common, amongst Brothers and Kindred, yet the Children redounded to his credit who first Cropt the Mothers

Virgin Rose. And by this means, as Plutarch (a very judicious Author) affirms, they were of so Healthful and Lively a Constitution, That many, if not most, in the warm Southern parts, according to the Term of a Natural Life, exceeded 130 Years. Yet they much delighted in Ornaments, as Bracelets, Beads, Iron Rings, &c. And preferred their Paint'd and Carv'd Skins before the most gaudy Cloathing.

Their Agriculture was but little, though the Earth much invited them to it, by its promising Fruitfulness. They had not the use of Ploughs, and only Sowed their Grain on the Mellowest Land after Rain; then laying great weights on bundles of Bushes drag it over, in the nature of Harrowing. Yet they had found out the way of making their Drink with sodden Barly, which (though perhaps in a higher Improvement) continues to this day, to the great Advantage and Health of the Moderate People of the Nation. As for the flesh of Fowl and Wild Creatures, they declin'd it; as they did likewise Fish and Milk. Then Hares were found in such abundance, That they Flock'd to∣gether like Sheep, fearless of the Hunter or his Hounds.

Their Opinions in Theology were, That the Souls of Men Dyed not, but (according to Pythagoras) had a Transmigration from one Body to another. And on their Solemn Days their Druid's and Bards Sung the Praises of Renowned Heroes, such as had Dyed in War, or been Famous for any Rare Invention; and this they did to Incourage and stir up others to Imitation.

Their Coin was either Rings, or Iron, Imbossed Shield∣wise, with the Device outward, on the Imbossment; valued at a rate proper to answer the price of such things as they Traded for at Home or Abroad, which was but little, especially Abroad, for want of Shipping. Caesar observing at his coming, that their Vessels were

[illustration] map of Albion and Hibernia

INSULAE ALBION et HIBERNIA cum minoribus adjacentibus

made of Light Wood; and some of the Carkases of their Boats Cover'd with Skins, &c.

Nor did they carry any Provisions with them when they set out, only creeping along the Shoar, or, in Calm Weather, Wafting over to the Gallick or Belgian Shoar: And most of their Business was to carry Grain and Metals, with the latter of which the Island did then, and still abounds: And some are apt to think, for that cause, the Greeks Coasting in these Seas, and finding the Island abounding with Metals, Named it Britania, from Prutania, Metal, or the Metal-Island.

As for ENGLAND (that now so called, Ex∣empt from Wales and Scotland) it had its Denomina∣tion from the East Angloens, who seated themselves in the East Angle Kingdom, to the Eastern Sea, in the time of the Saxon Heptarchie, or Seven Kingdoms; and that Name (through all Revolutions and Changes) it has retained for above 900 Years. This Land has been taken for the Fortunate Island, set forth with many Praises and Encomiums by the Greek Poets; and Charles the Great (rightly) termed it, The Grainary and Store-House of the Western World.

Thus having given you a Brief Account of the Antient Inhabitants of this Country, I proceed to shew how it was divided amongst their several Tribes; and so come closer to the more sollid Body of History.

ENGLAND and WALES was possessed by 17 Tribes of Native Britains, under these distinctions, viz. 1. The Canti, possessed Kent. 2. Regni, Sussex and Sur∣ry. 3. Durotriges, Dorsetshire. 4. Damnonij, Cornwall and Devonshire. 5. Belgae, Somersetshire, Wilts••••re and Southamptonshire. 6. Artabatij, Berkshire. 7. Dobuni, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. 8. Cati∣euclani, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire and Bed∣fordshire. 9. Trinobants, Hartfordshire, Middlesex

and Essex. 10. Iceni, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge and Huntingtonshires. 11. Coritani, Rutland Northamp∣tonshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Notinghamshire. 12. Cornabij, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, and Cheshire. 13. Ordo∣vices, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Carnarvanshire, Mont∣gomeryshire, and Merionethshire. 14. Brigantes Pa∣risi, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Richmondshire, Durham, Westmoreland, and Cumberland. 15. Silulers, Here∣fordshire, Radnorshire, Monmouthshire, and Gla∣morganshire. 16. Dimetae, Caermarthenshire, Pem∣brookshire, and Cardiganshire. 17. Ottodoni, Nor∣thumberland, Tweedale, Tiffedale, March, and Louthain.

Whilst these Tribes were scattered up and down in the several Counties, then full of Woods, which they Inhabited, Lud, King of the Trinobants, Dyed: He was wonderfully beloved, not only of his own Subjects, but of all the Britains, for the good offices he had done them, in reconciling their Differences, puting an End to many Bloody Wars that fell out amongst them; and civilizing their Manners, constituting sundry wholsom Laws, thereby making them lay aside many of their Barbarous Customs. He held a free correspondence with the Gauls, and was much Honoured by them; their Kings sending him divers Rich Presents, as also Artificers to assist him in Building or Enlarging Troy Novant, or New Troy, which he afterward called by his own Name, Care Lud, or Lud Town, now the fam∣ous City of London, which then reached no further than Dowgate Eastward; the Houses standing up and down Angular, and not Regular in Streets: Yet he Inclosed it with a good Wall, defended by Bullwarks, and on it many Watch-Towers, calling its Western Gate Lud's Gate, which Name it retaines to this day,

placing his own Effigies, in Marble, on the Inside of it. At his Death he Recommended his two Sons, Andra∣gius and Temantius (being very Young) to the care of Cassibelan his Brother, who held his Regal Seat at Verulam, now called St. Albanes, in Hartford-shire. Upon the Death of King Lud the People came and offered the Principality to him, and the Heirs of his Body, by consent of the Three Estates of the Trino∣bants, viz. those of Essex, Middlesex, and Hartford-shire. But in consideration of his Trust, and his Nephews Rights, he contented himself with only a Part, for when they came to Age, he placed Andrageus in Troy∣novant, or London, joyning to it all Middlesex, and the Dukedom of Kent, which in that time he had Conquered, bringing the Canti under his Subjection. And to Temantius he gave the Dukedom of Cornwall, his Right by Marriage, Reserving to himself Hart∣fordshire and Essex only.

Thus, for the space of Seven Years, the Nation con∣tinued in a happy state, after the Death of King Lud, before whose Departure a Terrible Blasing-Star, with a Bloody Taile, appeared at South West, for the space of Fifteen Nights; being likewise seen in many other Lands: Fore-running the Miserys that afterward befell this Kingdom. For now Andrageus, a Prince of a haughty Spirit, considering his Ʋnkle detained from him part of his Inheritance, raised a mighty power and Invaded Hartfordshire: But three Miles beyond Barnet, being Fought with by Cassibelan, he was there over∣thrown, with a fearful Slaughter, & soon after driven out of most of his Possessions; which so possessed him with Anger and desire of Revenge, That hearing Julius Caesar, who was then but a Roman Consul, had subdued all Gallia, now called France, and a great part of Germany, and given Refuge to divers distressed

Princes, restoring them to their Principalities upon their submiting to become Tributaries to Rome; and that he rather sought Fame and Glory, than to Enslave the People he subdued, being the greatest Captain that, or any former, Ages had produced, he resolved to cast himself upon him for Protection; preferring his Re∣venge before the Safety of his Country; and great was the Destruction, and many the Miseries the War brought upon it.

The Young Prince, Armed with this Resolution, (notwithstanding the Grave Counsels of his Fathers Courtiers to disswade him from it, laying before him, That he ought to submit his Private Injuries to the Publick Peace of all the People of the Nation) he took with him his Treasure, and some of his trusty Con∣fidents, and Sailed in a small Vessel to that part of Gallia now called Normandy, where he found Caesar retired from the Toiles of War, and setling the affaires of the Country, with a design to return to Rome, and ob∣tain of the Senate a renewal of his Consulship, or longer continuation of his Government: When being Intro∣duced by Caesars Lictor's, he bending one Knee to the Ground, and Rising again, Spake, in the Gallick Language, to this effect.

Most Mighty Caesar, Great Captain of Rome, and of the World; behold a Distressed Prince of the Britains before you, craving your Protection; and Imploring a Re∣dress of my Wrongs, from you who are the Scourge of Ty∣rants, and ever compassionate to the Injured.

Caesar wondering at first (by the strangeness of his Garb) who he should be, or to what this Discourse might tend, till having heard at large (as has been re∣lated) the cause of his coming, and the Fruitfulness of the Country; and Thirsting after more Honour to raise his Fame to what it at last aspir'd to, viz. The

Empire of the World, he not only comforted him, and ••eated him in his own Pavillion, but promised him ••••stance, as Romes Confederate, to make War on his ••••kle so soon as the season would permit, and his ••••••ires were setled with the Gauls and Germans.