MEDULLA Hiftoriæ Anglicanæ. I T BRITAIN. HIS moft flourishing Island Britain, is bounded on the South, with Normandy and France; on the Eait, with Germany and France; upon the Weft, with Ireland, and the Atlantick Ocean; and on the North, with the Deu calidon Seas. The length thereof, from the Lyzardpoint Southward in Cornwall, to the Straithy-head in Scotland, containeth 624 Miles; the breadth, from the Lands-end in Cornwall in the Weft, unto the Ifland Thanet in the Eait, containeth 340 Milcs. It is cited under the 9th and 13th Climates of the Northern temperate Zone; infomuch, that at the Summer Solftice, in the Northern parts of Scotland, there is no Night at all, but only an obfcure Twilight. A Country it is for Air mild, for Soil fruitful, and for length of Days pleafant and delightful. In Winter the abfence of the Sun is relieved with the warmth of its invironing Seas; and in the Summer the heat is moderated by frequent showers and Sea-winds. O happy Britain! (faid the old Panegyrift) and more blissful than all other Regions! Nature hath inriched thee with all Commodities of Heaven and Earth, wherein there is neither extream Cold in Winter, nor fcorching Heat in Summer; wherein there is such abundant plenty of Corn, as may fuffice both for Bread and Wine; wherein are Woods without Wild-beasts, and Fields without noifome Serpents: But infinite numbers of Milch-Cattle, and Sheep weigh'd down with Fleeces; and that which is most comfortable, long Days and lightfome Nights. And as our English Lucan fings, The fairest Land that from her thrufts the reft, This Queen of Iflands was at firft called Albion, either from Albion Marcoticus, who feated himself herein, or ab albis rupibus, from the White Rocks, appearing towards the Coaft of France, or from Olbion, fignifying rich or happy, in regard of its Fertility, Temperature, and Riches. Next, it was called Britain, either from the two British Words Pyd and Cain, which fignifie Beauty and White; or from the Greek Word Hpurarea fignifying Metals, with which it aboundeth; or from the British Word Bryth, that is, painted, ftained, coloured, (the Inhabitants of Old ufing to dye their Bodies with Woad) to which the Greeks added Tania, (that is, a Region) thence called Britons Land or Britainy. At last, the Southern and beit part of it (from the Anglo-Saxons then inhabiting it) was cal led Angle-Land, now England, which faid part of Britain, is bounded on the East with the German, on the Weft with the Irish, on the South with the British Ocean, on the North with the River Tweed, and a Line drawn from it, to the Solway, Weftward. The longest Day in the Northern part of England is Seventeen Hours, and near thirty Minutes; and the shortest Day in the most Southern part thereof, almoft eight Hours long. England's dimenfion in length, from Berwick to the Lands-end, is 386 Miles, in breadth from Sand wich to the Lands-end 2793 in compass (by reafon of the many Bays and Promontories) about 1300 Miles. England in the Romans time, was divided into Britannia prima, containing the South part of England; Britannia fecunda containing the Western part, now called Wales; and Maxima Cafarienfis, containing the Northern parts beyond Trent. The firit of thefe, in the Britains time, belonged to the Archbishoprick of London, the feGlamor-cond to the Archbishoprick of * Caerleon, and the third to the Archbishoprick of York. gon. The Britains, or first Inhabitants of this Ifland, were derived from the Gauls, as both their Speech, Laws, Cuftoms, and Buildings manifeft. The Story of Brute, with his Trojans Conquering this Iland in A. M. 2887, or when ever elfe, feens to be only a Fable of Geofrey of Monmouth's framing. Amongst the Ancient Britains, none fave the better and more civil fort did wear any cloathing. They painted their bare Bodies with fundry Pictures, reprefenting all manner of living Creatures, Flowers, and the Heavenly Bodies, conceiting, that this made them appear the more terrible to their Enemies. About their Walls and Necks, they wore Chains of Iron, fuppofing them to be a goodly Ornament. The Hair of their Heads they wore long, which was naturally curled; all other parts they fhaved, fave the upper Lip. Of all the Provinces, the Kentish were the molt civilized Perfous, by reafon of their converfe with other Nations in Trafficking and Merchandizing. Their Buildings were many, and like to thofe of the Old Gauls (French) poor rude Cottages, yet did they give the Name of Towns to certain cumberfome Woods, which they fortified with Rampiers and Ditches, whither they made their retreat and refort, to efchew the Invafions of their Enemies. The Romans first taught them to build their Houses of Stone. Their Their Wives were many, Ten or Twelve apiece, which they held common among Parents and Brethren; yet was the Iffue reputed his only, who firft Married the Mother when he was a Maid. The Children they brought up in common amongst them. Their Diet was fpare and mean, being Barks and Roots of Trees, and Milk; alfo a kind of food they had no bigger than a Bean, after the eating of which, for a confiderable time, they did neither hunger nor thiril. They eat likewise Venifon and Fruits. Their usual drink was made of Barley. Their Religion was Paganish Superftition. They had many Idol Gods, and ufed Man's fleth in their Sacrifices. They had Priests and Inftructors, the chief of which were Druides, who were the Sacrificers, Dilcuffers, and Interpreters of Religious matters; they decided alfo as temporal Judges almoft all Controverfies in the Civil State, and fuch as refused to fiand to their judgment, they put under their Interdiction, which was accounted the most grievous Punishment. Thefe Druides were priviledged from the Wars, and all other Burthens, Taxes and Payments. Over all the reft of them, there was one Primate. The main thing they laboured to perfwade Men was, That the Soul is Immortal. They taught only by word of Mouth. The Merchandizing of the Ancient Britains confifted chiefly in Ivory Boxes, Sheers, Onches, Bits and Bridles, Wreaths and B 2 Chains, |