Britain, or a chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Ilands adioyning, out of the depth of antiqvitie : beavtified with mappes of the severall Shires of England / written first in Latine by William Camden ; Translated newly into English by Philémon Holland.

William Camden

Date:: 1610

Credit: Britain, or a chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Ilands adioyning, out of the depth of antiqvitie : beavtified with mappes of the severall Shires of England / written first in Latine by William Camden ; Translated newly into English by Philémon Holland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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138/1348 page 110

I!o Britans of eArmorica, i »» deeds, (for, the caufe of deferved revenge for pracedent wickedneffe, was full nourifbed) A qu » the fire kindled, and fet a flaming by thefe prophane men from fea to fea, ceafed not 10 con- am 55 (ame all the cities, and countreys bordering thereabout, watill uch time a burning wek y, Aere all tbeinland foile of the land it licked up with a red flaming, and terrible tongue alk ANM y) Hato tbewesterue Ocean. In this violent furious invafion, comparable tothat of the Afsy- qu »» tans in old time againfe Inda, is fulfilled alfo im us (according tothe hiftorie that which the im »» Prophet by way of forrowfull lamentation uttereth: They have burnt with fire thy Sancfu- EU 95 ave, they have polluted in the Land the Tabernacle of thy mame. And againe, O Ged, the » Gentiles ave come into thine heritage, they have defiled thy holy temple, ec. infuch wife, >> 45 4 the Colonies by the force of many engines, and all the Inhabitants together with the » Prelates of the Church, both Priefls and People, by drawne fword glittering on every fide, »» and crackling flame of fire, were at once laid along onthe ground: yea, and that which was »» A pitious fpectacle to behold im the mids of the fireets the flome workes of turrets, and high »» Walles,rent and torne in funder from aloft the facred altars,and quarters of carcafes (cove- ,» red with imboffed workes of jmeagerie) of a blondy hue, were feene all blended and mixed », together (as it were) in acertaine horrible wine-preffe, niither was there any Sepulcher at » AM abroad, fave onely the ruins of buildings, and the bowels of wilde beafls and fowles. WVhen we fhall read thefe reports, let usnot be offended and difpleafed with good Gildas, for his bitter invectives againft either the vices ofhis owne countreymen the Britans, or the inhumane outrages of the barbarous enemies, orthe infatiable cruel- tic of our Fore-fathers the Saxons. But fince that for fo many ages fucceffively enfu- ~ ing, we are all now by a certain engraffing or commixtion become one nation,molliz fied and civilized with Religion, and good Arts, letus meditate and confider, both what they were, and alfo what we ought to be: left that for our finnes likewife, the fupreameRuler of the world, either traflate othernations hither, when wee arefirft rooted out, or incorporate them into us, after we are by them fubdued. BRITANS OF ARMORICA, 24 Vring this moft wofull, defperate, and lamentable tempeftuous fea- M fon, fame poore remaines of Britans, being foundin the mountaines, were je killed up by whole beapess others, pined with famine, came and yeelded. y JA themfelves unto the enemies, vpon compofition to ferve them as Bond- artes co «4 faves for ever; fo they might net be killed out of hand, which was reputed *Afonear 2o @@Ofbighfavour sand efpeciall grace.T here were alfo that went over feainto flrange lands, their filt (ec y, Paging under their (bred failes with a howling and wailing note, in fread of the Mariners ungow. 4, *Celenfma, after this maner : Thou bas given us [O Lora] asfheepe tobe devoured,and »» feattered ws amongthe heathen. Others azaine remained flillin their owne countrey, albe- » ftinfearefull eflate, betaking themfelves (but Jet continually fufpectine the worft) to lich, Bencacor 29 JIeqpt Piles and mountaines intrenched, to woods , and thicke growen forreffs , yea lile Britain, 5 40 the rockes of the fea, Of thofe who paffed beyond-fea; no doubt were they who » for to fave their lives, went overin greatnumberto * Armorica in France, and were ‘kindly received of the Armoricans. That thisis true, befides the communitie oflan- *O: Wed. “SHage, (the fame in maner with that of our * Britans) and to fay nothing of other men, authors, who all accord in this point; hee who lived necreft unto that age, and was -borne: even: in Armorica, and wrote the lifeof S. Wingualof the Confeffor, fuffici- ,, ently dotliproove. Av off-/pringsfaith he,of the Britans embarked in F lotes arrived in » this land, onthis fide the Britifh fea, what timeas the barbarous nation of the Saxons fierce : » A armes, and wncivillin maners, poffelfed their native and mother-foile. Then, Vfay,this F 99 are of: (pring feated themfelves clofe within rhismooke and fecret corner. Inwhich place ~ ino! Igy they being weariedwith travaile aud tone, [at quiet for awhile without any warres. How- . beit, our writers report, that our:Britans long before this time, fetled themfelves in »» this coaft.. For, he of Malmsburie writeth thus : Conflantinus Maximus being faluted | » Dy the Armie, Emperenr, having proclaimed au Expedition into'the higher lands, brought | may Gildas. P M ml x M eg OS &

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