¶ Hit is so that in many and diverse places the common croniclez of england been had and also now late enprinted at westmynstre And for as much as the description of this land which of old time was named albion/ and afar Britain is not described ne commonly had/ ne the nobleness and worthiness of the same is not known/ Therefore I intend to set in this book the description of this said I'll of Britain with the commodities of the same  

¶ In the first shall be told the names of the Ilonde Ca j  
Of the setting bounding length & breed Ca ij.  
Of the worthiness & prerogatines Ca iij.  
Of the marvels and wonders Ca iiij.  
Of the chief parties of the land Ca v.  
Of the Ilondes thereto adjacent Ca uj  
Of the kings high ways & streets Ca. seven  
Of famous rivers & streams Ca viij  
Of ancient cities & towns Ca ix.  
Of provinces & shires Ca x.  
Of the laws & names of laws Ca xj.  
Of kingdoms of bounds & merkis between them Ca xij  
Of bishoprics and their sees Ca xiij.  
Of how many manner people have dwelled therein Ca xiv  
Of the languages of manners & usage of the people of the land ca xv  
Of the land of wales Ca xuj.  
Of the name why it is named wales Ca xvij.  
Of the comoditees of the land of wales Ca xv. ij.  
Of the manners & rites of the welshmen Ca xix.  
Of the marvels & wonders of wales Ca xx.  
Of the description of scotland Ca. xxj  
Of the description of Irlonde Ca xxij.  
Of the bounding of Irlonde Ca twenty-three.  
Of the greatness & quality of that land Ca xxiv  
Of the defaults of the land Ca xxv.  
Of them that first inhabited Irlonde Ca xxuj.  
Of the conditions & manners of Irisshmen Ca xxvij  
Of the marvels & wonders of Irlonde Ca xxv●ij.  
Of the marvels of saints of Irlonde Ca xxix    

¶ The names of this Island Capitulo. j  
FIrst as Galfride saith this land was named Albion after the name of Albyne the oldest daughter of Diocleslan/ and had xxxij. sisters/ And they were first that inhabited this land/ And because she was the oldest sister she named this land Albion after her own name as the chronicle rehearseth/ Othir say that this land was named Albion as it where the white land of white rocks about the clines of the see that were say fro far ¶ Afterwards Brutus conquered this land and called it britain after his own name Then Saxons or englishmen conquered this land and called it Anglia that is Englond/ Or it is called Anglia of a queen that owed this land that was named Angela and was a noble duke's daughter of the Saxons/ Or as ysid saith ethi. xv. Anglia hath that name as it were an angle and a corner of the world Ozels' as Beda saith li. j saint Grectorie saw english children to sell at Rome and he accorded to the name of the land/ and said they ber, soothly anglis/ for their face shined as angels/ for the noblede of the land shone in the children faces/ Alfre. The brittyssh anglia is cleped the other world/ and for great plenty of all good the great Charles called it his own chambre/ Solinus. The edge of the frenish clif should be the end of the world/ if the island of britain ne were not/ which is worthy to have the name of an other world/ Alfre. This Ilonde is called insula for it is in salo/ that is the see/ and is beaten of with diverse course of waters with stremezes and with wawes of the sce   

¶ Of the setting bounding length & breed of this land Ca ij  
THis britain is accounted a noble land both in our stories and also in the stories of greeks/ and is set against Germania. Gallia. France & spain between the north and the west and the see between/ This land is thirty mile from the cliff of the men that he called morini gessorico/ Beda li. j And for this Ilonde lieth under the north heed of the world/ it hath light and bright nights in the summer time/ So that often time at midnight men have questions and doubt wethir it be even tide or dawyng/ that is for the time of the year that the son goth not far under the earth by night/ but passeth by the north side and cometh soon in to the East again/ And therefore in the summer been there days full long of xviij. hours/ And the nights of vj. hours And after in the winter been long nights of xviij. hours/ and short days of vj. hours Also in armenia macedonia Italia and in other lands of the same line the longest day and longest night also is of xv. hours/ and the shortest day or night is of ix. hours Plius in meroe/ that Ilonde is chief of black men/ there is the longest day xij. hours/ In alexandria in egypt of xiij. hours/ In Italia of xv. hours/ In Britain of xviij. hours/ In the Ilonde named Tylem all the vj. summer months is day/ and all the six winter months is night/ Ysido. li. xiv. Britain is set within Ocean as it were without the world/ and is set against france and spain/ Giraldus Britain is endlong and larger in the middle than in th'ends/ Orous/ Britain stretcheth in length out of the south in to the north/ and in the southeast side/ it hath france in the south spain/ In the north norwey/ and in the west hibernia that is Irlonde/ when shipmen passen the next cliff of that land they see a cite that heat rutpi mouth/ Beda li. j That cite is now called shortly of englishmen Reptacestre/ Solinus/ Britain is viij. C. mile of length/ and it be moten from the cliff of Totenesse to the angle of Calydon/ Alfre. That is from penwithstreet xv. mile beyond michels stowe in cornewaille/ unto Catenesse that is be yond scotland/ and Britain is more than ij. C. mile broad from mevenia that is the uttemest place in wales unto yarmouth in norfolk/ Beda Only outake the longest out sheting of diverse forlondes with the which Britain is all about xlviij. scythe lxx thousand pace   

¶ Of the worthiness and prerogatives Ca iij  
IS france passeth Britain so Britain passeth ireland in feyr weather and noblete/ but not in health/ Beda li. j● For this Ilonde is best to bring forth trees and fruit/ Ruthern and beestis/ And win groweth therein in some place The land hath plenty of fowls and of beasts of diverce manner kind/ The land is plenteous & the see also/ The land is noble copious and rich of noble wells and rivers with plenty of fish/ There is great plenty of small fish of salmon and of celes/ Wilhel. de pon̄. li. iij. So that the people in some place feedeth their swine with fish/ Beda libro primo/ There been oft-times taken Dolphins/ See calves/ and balaynes' great fishes as whales kind/ and diverse manner shellfish/ among which shellfish been muscles that within 'em have Margeri peerless of all manner of colour and hew of rody and red purpur and of blue/ and specially and most of white There is also plenty of shellfish that men dyen there with fyn reed/ the redness there of is wonder fair and stable/ and staineth never with cold ne with heat with weet ne with dry/ But ever the older the colour is the fairer/ There been also saltwelles and hot wells/ there of runnen streams of hot baths departed in to diverse places according/ for man and woman of all manner age old or young/ Basilius seith that the water that runneth and passeth by wines of certain me tall taketh in his course great heat/ This Ilond is plenteous of wines of metuls/ bras of iron/ of lead/ of tin/ and of silver also. Plius libro vj. ca vj. In this Ilonde under the turf of the land is good marvel founden/ the thrift of the fatness drieth himself therein/ So that ever the thikker the field is marled/ the better coin it will bear/ There is also another manner white marvel/ that the land is better four score year that there with is marled  
Solinus In this Ilonde groweth a stone that is called gagates if ye will know his fairness/ it is black as gems been/ If ye will know his kind/ it brenneth in water and quencheth in oil and as to his might/ if the stone be frotted and chafed it holdelth what him neigheth as succuns a stone that is so named/ Ysidorus libro decimoquinto. There been sheep that berin good wool/ There been many hearts and wild beasts and few wolves/ therefore sheep been the surer without keeping left in the field R/ In this Ilonde also been many atees and towns fair and noble and rich/ many great rivers and streams with great plenty of fish/ many fair woods and great/ with right many beasts tame and wild/ The earth of that land is copious of metal oor/ and of saltwelles/ of quareyes of marble of dmerse manner stones/ of reed of white of soft and of 〈◊〉/ of chalk and of white lime/ There is also white clay and reed for to make pots/ crokkes/ stones/ and other vessel and brent tile to cover with houses and churches/ as it were in the other samia/ that is named samos also/ flanders loveth well the wool of this land And holland the skins and fells of all manner of beasts/ Guyan the iron and the lead/ Irlonde the oor and the salt/ Alle Europa loveth and desireth the white metal of this land/ Alfredus/ Britain hath enough of matter that there needeth to buy and sell/ or is needful to man's use/ theridamas lacketh nethir salt ne iron/ Therefore a versifiour in his metre praiseth this land in this manner/ Englond is a good land fruitful of wool/ but it is a corner/ Englond is full of play/ free men/ well worthy to play/ free men/ free tongues/ free hearts/ and free been all their things/ their hand is more free and better than their tongue/ Also england is beautevous of land/ flower of lands all about that land is full paid with fruit & good of his own/ that land relieveth strange men that hath need thereto And when hunger grieveth other lands that land feedeth hem/ That land beareth fruit & corn good ynouh That land is well at cese/ as long as men live in peace/ Est & west in each land/ been known well the havens of england/ her ships foundes & oft helpeth many lands/ their meet & money/ men have there more common always/ And for to learn men gladly give yefts In land & strand/ wide speak men of england/ land honey milk cheese this Ilonde thereof shall bear the prize/ This Ilonde hath no need to other lands/ all lands must seche help at this alone/ Of the liking of their woun/ might wonder king salomon/ the richesse that there is an/ would desire Octavian   

¶ Of the marvels & wonders Ca iiij.  
IN Britain been hoot wells/ well arrayed & a dressed to the use of mankind/ mistress of thilk wells is the great spirit of Minerva/ In her house the fire endureth always that never changeth in to ashes/ but there the fire slaketh/ it changeth in to stone clots/ Alfre. In Britain been many wonders nethebes four been most wonderful/ The first is at pecton there bloweth so strong wind out of the chines of the earth/ that it casteth up again clotheses that men cast in The second is at stone hinge besides saleofbury/ there been great stones & wonder huge & been reared an high as it were yates/ so that their famen yates set upon other yates/ nevertheless it is not known clearly ne apperceived how & wherefore they hen so areared and so wonderfully hanged The third is at cherdhoke/ there is a great hollowness under earth/ oft many men have walked therein & have seen rivers & streams/ but nowher can they find none end/ The fourth is that rain is seen raised upon hills & anon sprung about in the fields/ Also there is a great pond that containeth lx. Ilondes covenable for men to dwell in/ that pond is biclipped about with vj. score roches/ and upon every roche an eagles nest/ And lx. Rivers rennen in to that pond/ & none of 'em all run in to the see but one/ There is a pond closed about with a wall of tile and of stone/ In that pond men wash and bathe well oft/ And every man fel●th the water hoot or cold right as he will himself/ There been salt wells far from the see and been salt all the week long unto saturday none and fresh fro saturday none unto monday/ The water of these wells when it is sudden turneth in to small salt fair and white Also there is a pond/ the water thereof hath wonder wirching/ for though all an host stood by the pond and turned their face thitherward the water would draw him violently toward the pond and wet all their clotheses/ so should horse be drawn in the same wise/ And if the face be turned away fro the water/ the water noyeth not/ There is a well that no stream runneth fro/ nethir thereto/ and yet four manner fishes be taken therein/ that well is but xx. foot long and xx. foot broad/ and not deep but to the knee/ and closeth with high banks on every side/ In the country about wynchestre is a den or a cave/ out of that cave bloweth always a strong wind/ so that noman may endure to stand to fore that den or cave Therre is also a pond that turneth tree in to iron if it be there in a year/ And so trees been shapen in to whestones/ Also there is in the top of an hill a buriels every man that cometh and meeteth that burial/ he shall find it even of his own bengthe and measure And if a pilgrim kneel thereto/ anon he shall be all fresh and feel no grief of weariness/ Gir. in top. Fast by the minster of wynburney that is not far fro Bath/ is a wood that beareth moche fruit if the trees of that wood fall in to water or ground that is nigh and lie there all a year/ the tre● turnen in to stones/ Gir. in itinere vuder the cite of chestr 〈…〉 enneth that river dee/ that now departeth Englond and wale 〈…〉 changed every month his fords as men of the country ●●llen/ and leaveth oft the channel/ but whether the water draw more toward Englond or toward wales to what side that it be/ that year men of that side have the worse end and be overset/ And men of that other side shall have better end and been at their above/ when the water so changeth his course it bodeth such haps/ This river dee runneth and cometh out of a lake that heat pymblemere/ In this river is great plenty of salmon/ nevertheless in the lake is never salmon founden/ Wilhel. de re. li. ij Take heed how great light & brightness of god's mildness hath be showed upon englishmen/ sith they turned first to right believe/ So that of no men in one province been founden so many hole bodies of men after her death in likeness of everlastingness that shall be after the day of doom/ as it well seemeth in these holyiseintes/ Edeldrede Edmonde/ the king Elphege/ Edgar Cutberd & saint Edward & many other/ I trow that it be do by special grace of god almighty for the nation that is set as it were without the world should take heed to buring of bodies without corruption and roting/ and been the more bold and steadfast for to trust on the final arising of deed bodies for to last evermore after the day of doom   

¶ Of the chief parties of the land Ca v  
AFter the first Brutes time the Ilonde of Britain begun for to have the principal parties that been loegria cambria that is wales/ And Albania that is now scotlond ●oegria had that name of locrinus that was Brutus' oldest son/ and heat loegria as it were locrinus land/ but now loegria is called englonde/ The bounds & merkes were thereof sometime the frenssh see both by east & by sonth/ Beda li. j ca ij. And by north two arms of the see that breaketh far in to the land either against other/ But they reach not togethers/ the east arm of thilk twain beginneth about a two lifull mile fro the minster of Ebburcuring In the west side of penulton in that arm is a town that is called Guydy/ The west arm of thilk twain hath in the right side a strong cite that heat Alcliud which in her language is called Clirtstone and standeth upon a river that is called Clynt also/ R/ Somme men would mean that loegria endeth at humbre/ and stretcheth no ferther northward/ The second party of Britain is called Albania that is scotland and hath that name of Albanactus brutes son and stretcheth fro the foresaid two arms of the see north ward unto the see of norway/ nevertheless the south parties of Albania where as picts dwelled sometime/ lieth from the water of tweed unto the scottissh see/ All that longed sometime to the kingdom of Northumberland brenicorn the northside of nurthumberland fro the first time of english kings/ to that time when kynadius king of scotland that was Alpinus son died away the picts/ and so joined that country to the kingdom of scotland The third party of britain is wales wallia that heat Cambria also/ and had that name Cambria of Camber Brutes sone/ for he was prince of wales/ In the East side Severn departed sometime between england and wales/ But now in the northside the river dee at Chestre/ and in the south the river that is named vaga at the Castle of strigelin departeth england & wales/ Also king Offa for to have a distinction for evermore between the kings of england and of wales made a long dyche that stretcheth forth out of the southside by Bristol under the hills of wales northward and passeth the rivers Severn and d'ye almost to the heeds & unto the mouth of the river dee beyond Chestre fast by the castle it runneth between colehill and the minster of basingwerk in to the see/ This dyche is yet in many places seen/ In saint Edward's time walsshmen should not pass that dyche with weepen upon a great pain/ And that was at earl harold procuring as it shall be said here after/ But now in either sides both ayondhalf and a this half the dyche and specially in the shires of Chstre of Srowsbury and of herford in many places been englishmen and welshmen meddled togethers   

¶ Of the Ilondes thereto adjacent Capitulo sext.  
britain hath three Ilondes that been nigh and longen thereto all without the Ilondes orcades/ as it were ansuering to the three chief parties of britain/ For the isle of wight longeth and lieth to loegria that is england/ The Ilonde Mon that is called Angeseya also longeth to wales/ & the Ilonde Eubonia that hath two other names & is called Menaiva & man all so/ which longeth to scotlonde/ And all these three Ilondes wight Mon and Man been almost yliche moche/ and of the like quantity of the which three all arewe now followeth our speech/ Beda li. j ca iij. Claudius' sense vaspasianus and vaspasianus won wight and wight stretcheth out of the east in to the west thirty. mile long/ And out of the south in to the north xij. mile/ and is in the east side six mile fro the south cliff of Britain/ and three mile in the west side/ Beda li. iiij. ca u The measure of this Ilonde as englishmen guess is a M. households and two hundred/ Gir. in itinere. Mon that is called Angleseya also is departed from north wales by a short arm of the see as it were ij. mile broad In mon been iij. C. towns lxiij. & been acompded for candredes that been iij. hundreds the Ilonde is as it were thirty. mile long & xij. mile broad/ Candredus is so much land as containeth an HUNDRED towns/ the name candredus is made out of two languages of brittissh & of Irissh in praising of this Ilonde walsshinen be wonde to say a proverb and an old saw/ mon mam kembry/ that is to say in english/ that land is so good that it seemeth that it would find corn enough for all the men of wales Therefore virgyls uses may be according thereto/ as much as gua was/ beasts long Inneth daws/ So moche eft/ bringeth cold dew in a night/ In that arm of the see that departeth this land and north wales/ is a swolow that draweth ships to it that saylleth by and swoloweth 'em in/ right as doth Cilla and Charybdis that been two perilous places in the see of middle earth/ Therefore men may not sail by this swallow/ but slily at full see/ R Of the marvels and woundres of the island Mon thou shalt find tofore in the chapter of wales/ Gir. in itinere/ The third Ilonde that is called both Eubonia and Menavia that is man stone/ death in the middle between the Irissh vlster and the scottyssh gall way/ as it were in the navel of the see/ Beda li. ij. ca ix. This Ilonde man containeth as it were two Ilondes/ The first is southward the more country and the better corn land/ and condeyneth ix. c. and lx. households. The scconde condeyneth the space of CCC. and moo as englishmen guess/ Gir. in top. Sometime was strife weather this Ilonde Man should long to britain or to Irlonde And for as much as venomous woemes that were brought thither lived there/ It was jugged that the Ilonde Man should long to Briteyne/ R/ In that Ilonde is sortilege and wicchecraft used For women there sell to shippmen wind as it were closed under three knots of thread/ so that the more wind he will have/ the more knots he must undo/ There oft by day time men of that land seen men that been deed tofore hon beheaded or hole and what death they died Aliens set their feet upon feet of the men of that land for to see such sights as the men of that land done/ Beda li. ij. Scots dwelled first in this island/ Thanatos that is Tenet and is an Ilonde besides kente/ and hath that name Thanatos of death of serpents/ for there been none/ And the earth thereof sleeth serpents yborn in to other lands/ There is noble corn land and fruitful/ Hit is supposed that this Ilonde was balewed and blessed of saint Austyn the first doctor of englishmen for there he arrived first   

Of the kings high ways and streets. Capitulo septimo.  
MOliuncius king of Britons was the twenty-three. of hem and the first that gave hem law/ he ordained that plowmen solowes/ god's temples and high ways that leaden men to cities and towns should have the freedom of succour/ so that every man that went to any of them for succour or for trespass that he had do/ should be safe for pursuit of all his enemies/ But afterward for the ways were uncertain & strife was had/ Therefore Belinus the king that was the foresaid Moliuncius's son for to put away all doubt and strife/ made four high kings ways privileged with all privilege and freedom/ And the ways stretch through the Ilonde/ The first & gretese of the four ways is called fossae/ & stretcheth out of the south in to the north/ and beginneth from the corner of cornewaille & passeth forth by Devonshire by somerset & forth besides Tetbury upon Cotteswold beside Coventry unto Leycestre & so foth by wild pleynes toward newerke & ended at lincoln/ The second chief kings high way is named watlingstrete & stretcheth thwert over fossae out of the southeast in to the northwest/ & beginneth at dover & passeth by the middle of ken'te over teinse beside london by west westminster & so forth by saint Albon in the west side by donstaple by stratford by towcetre by wedon by south lylleborn/ by atheriston unto Gilbertes hill that now is called wrekene & forth by Severn & passeth besides wrokcestre & then forth to stratton & so forth by the middle of wales unto Cardykan and endeth at Irissh see/ The third way is called Erynnugestrete and stretcheth out of the west norweste in to east southeast and beginneth in menevia that is in saint davids land in west wales and stretcheth forth unto southampton/ The fourth is called Ryken yldestrete & stretcheth forth by worchestre by wycombe by byrmyngeham by lichefeld by derby by chestrefeld by york & forth unto tynmouthe   

¶ Of famous Rivers and streams Ca viij  
Three famous rivers rennen through britain by the which three Rivers merchants of beyond the see comen in ships in to Britain well neyh out of all manner of nations and lands/ These three Rivers been Temse/ Severn and humbre/ The see ebbeth and floweth at mouths of these three Rivers and departeth the three provinces of the Ilonde as it were the three kingdoms asunder/ The three parties been/ loegria/ Cambria and Northumbria/ that been middle england/ wales and northnmberland/ R/ These name temse seemeth made one name of two names of two rivers that been tame and ice/ for the river tame runneth besides dorchestre and falleth in ice/ therefore all the river fro the first heed unto the east see is named Tamyse or temse/ Temse beginneth besides tetbury that is three mile bynorth malmesburx/ There the temse springeth of a well that runneth cestward and passeth the fosse and departeth Gloucestre shire/ and wylshyre/ and draweth with him many other wells and streemes and waxeth great at grecestre and passeth forth than toward hampton and so forth by Oxenford by wallyngford by reading and by london/ Wilhelmus de pon̄. ca ij. at haven of Sandwhiche it falleth in to the east see/ and holdeth his name forty mile beyond london/ and departed in somplace kente and essex westsex and mercia that is as it were a grete-dele of middle england/ R/ Severn is a river of Batayne and is called habern in britone and hath that name habern/ of habren that was Estrildes' daughter/ Guendolon the queen drenched this habren therein/ therefore the britons called the river babrens after the woman that was drowned therein/ but by corrupt latin it is called sabrina Severn in english Severn beginneth in the middle of wales & passed first toward the east unto shrowesbury/ and then turneth southward unto briggenorth wircestre and gloucester and falleth in to the west see besides bristol and departed in some place england and wales Wilhel. de pon̄. li. iiij. Sevarn is swift of stream/ fish craft is there in/ woodness of the swolewing and of whirling water casteth up & gadrith to heap great heaps of gravel/ Severn oft ariseth & overflowrth the banks/ R/ Humbre hath that name of humbre king of hunes for he was drowned therein And runneth first a crook out of the southside of york/ and then it departed the province of lyndeseye that longed sometime to the merces fromthe other country northumberland/ Trent and ouse rennen in to humbre and maken the river full great Trevisa/ The merces were men as it were of middle england as it shall be said here after   

¶ Of ancient cities and towns Ca ix.  
THe kingdom of britain was sometime made fair with xxviij. noble cities without right many castles that were walled with towers with yates & with bars strongly builded/ Alf●●. These were the names of the cities/ ●●●lud that is london/ Caerbranc/ that is york/ Caerkente/ that is Caunterbury/ Caergoraugon that is wircestre/ Caerlirion that is leicester/ Caerclon that is Gloucestre/ Caercolden that is Colchestre/ Carrei that is Chichestre/ Saxons called it sometime Cissoncestre/ Caerceri that is C●●cestre/ Caerguent that is wynchestre/ Caerguent/ that is Cambridge/  that is luguba●●a and Krarlyll/ Caerperis that is porchestre/ Caerdrom that is dorchestre Caerludcoit that is lincoln and lindecolin Ca●rmerthyn that is merlins cite/ Caersegent that is sicestre and is upon Temse not far from R●dyng/ Caerthleon that is Caerlegion also and height first leg●cestre and now is named Chestre Caerbathon that is Bath and hightr sometime Athamannus city/ Caerpaladour that is septon that no whighte Shaftesbury/ R/ Other cities hen founden in cronyks for understanding of stories/ of whom it shall follow/ Wilhel. de pon̄. London is a rial and a rich Cite upon Tamyse/ of burgeysses of richesses of merchants of chaffer and of merchandise/ Therefore it is that sometime when dearth of victuals is in all england commuly at london it is best cheap because of the byars and sellars that be●● at london/ Gaufre. Brutus the first king of Batons builded and edified this city of london the first cite of Britain in remeinbraunce of the city of Troy that was destroyed and called it Troyene weth and trinovantum that is new Troy/ Afterwards king lud called it  after his own name/ therefore Britons had great indignation as Gildas telleth/ Afterwards englishmen called the city london/ and yet after that Normans called it loundres/ and is named in latin londonia/ Rudhudibras king ●eyles son was the viij. king of Britons/ he builded Caunterbury the chief Cite of kente/ and called it / Afterwards englishmen called it dorobernia/ but that is not dover that standeth upon the cliff of the french see And is from this dover xij. Englissh mile/ Afterwards this dorobernia was and is called Caunterbury/ The same king Rudhudibras builded wynchestre and called it Caerguent/ And after englishmen called it went and wynchestre after the name of one wine an Englisshman that was bishop there/ all west saxon was subgrtte to him/ the same king builded palodour that is S●p●on/ that now is called Shaftesbury/ Britons tell that an Eagle prop●●cied there sometime/ Bladud beyles son a nigro man●●r was the ix. king of Britons/ he builded Bath & called it Caerbadun/ englishmen called it after Athamannes cite/ but at last men called it bathonia that is bathe/ wilful. de pon̄. li. ij. In this cite welleth up and springeth hot baths and men ween that julius Caesar made there such baths/ R/ But Gaufe●. moan mutensis in his britons book saith that Bladud made ●hilke baths because that william hath not seen that britons book wrote so by telling of other men/ or by his own g●essing as he wrote other things not best avisedly/ Therefore it seemeth more soothly that bladud made not the hot baths/ n● julius Caesar died such a deed though bladud build and made the city/ but it accordeth better to ●●endly reason that the water runneth in the earth by veins of b●y ms●on and sulphur and so is kindly made ●oot● in that course & springeth up in diverse places of the cite/ And so there been ●oot baths that washeth of tetres foores and skabbiss/ Treuisa/ Though men might by craft make hot baths for to dure long enough this accordeth well to reason and to philosophy that treateth of hot wells and baths that been in diverse lands though the water of this bath be more trobly and sourer of savour and of smell than other hot baths been that I have seen at akon in Almayn And at Eyges in Savoy/ which been fair and clear as any cold well stream/ I have been bathed therein and assayed them/ R/ Claudius Caesar married his daughter to Arviragus king of britons/ This Claudius' Caesar bilded gloucester in the wedding of his daughter Britons called this cite first after Claudius name/ but afterward it was called glouc●stre after one glora/ which was duke of that country/ and standeth upon Severn in the march of england and wales/ Shrowesbury is a cite upon sevarne in the march of england and wales. set upon the top of an hill/ And it is called shrowesbury of shrobles and fruit that grew there sometime on that hill/ Britons cleped it sometime pengwern/ that is the heed of a fair tree/ Shrowesbury was sometime the heed of powesie that stretcheth forth thwert over the middle of wales unto the jussh see/ Notyngham standeth upon Trent and sometime heat Snotyngham that is the woning of dens for the danes duel ●●d there sometime and digged dens and caves under hard stones and rocks and dnelled there/ R/ Lyncoln is chief of the province of lyndesaye/ and was called sometime Caerludcoyt/ & afterward lyndeoolyn/ It is uncertain who bilded first this cite but if it were king lud/ and so it seemeth by meaning of the name/ for Caer is britissh and is to say a cite and coyt is a wood/ and so it seemeth that Caerludcoyt is to say Lud'S wooed touneking edgar come thither sometime with seven. kings that were subject to him A metrer breaketh out in this manner in praising of this cite/ Clestre castle town as it were/ name taketh of a castle/ It is unknown what man bild this cite now/ Tho begecestria cheese/ heat now town of legiones/ Now walssh and english, hold this town of great pris/ Stones on wall/ seemeth work hercules all/ there long with might/ to dure that heap is height/ Saxon small stones/ set upon great been atones/ There under ground/ loting double vout is found/ that helpeth with sondes/ many men of western lands/ Fyssh flesh and corn low/ this cite town hath enough/ ships and chaffer/ see water bringeth enough there/ Godestalle there is/ that was Emperor ere this/ And ferth henry king/ earth is there righten duelling/ Of king harald/ powder is there yet y halde/ Bacchus and mercurius/ Mars and venus/ also laverna/ Protheus and pluto regnen there in the town/ Treuisa/ God wot what this is to mean/ but poets in her manner of speech feign as though every kind craft and living had a diverse god every from other/ And so they feigned a god of battle and of fight and called him mars/ and a god of covetise of richesses and merchandise/ and called him mercurius And so bachus he called god of win/ Venus' goddess of love and beauty/ laverna god of theft and of robbery Protheus god of falsehood and of guile and Pluto god of hell/ And so it seemeth that these verses would mean/ that these foresaid gods reign and been served in chester/ Mars with fighting and cokking/ Mercurius with covetise of richesses and merchandise/ Bacchus with great drinking/ Venus' with love lewdly/ Laverna with theft and robbery/ Protheus with falsehood and guile/ Thenne is Pluto not unserved god of hell/ R/ Theridamas babilon lore more might hath truth the more   

Of provinces and shires Ca x.  
TAke heed that england contryneth xxxij. shires and provinces that now been called earldoms reserved cornwall & the Ilondes Alfre. These been the names of the earldom & shires/ Kente Southsex Sotherey Hampshire Barokshire that hath his name of a bore ook that is in the forest of windsor/ for at that bore ook/ men of that shire were wont come to geddes and make their tretis/ & there take council & advice/ Also wyldshyre that heat sometime the province of Semeran/ somerset/ Dorsete Devonshire that now is called Devonia in latin/ These ix. southshyres the Tamyse departed from the other deal of england which were sometime governed and reuled by the westsayons' law/ Eestsex myddelsex southfolk northfolk hertfordshyre huntingdon shire Northampton shire Cambriggeshyre/ Bedfordshire Buykynghamshire Leycestreshire Derbyshire Nottingham shire Lincolnshire Yorkshire Durhamshire Northumberland Caerleylshire with Cumberlond Appelbyshire with westmerlond/ Lancastershire that containeth fine little shires/ These xv. north and Eestshires were sometime governed and reuled by that law which is called danelawe But Oxenford shire warwykshire gloucestreshire wircestreshire herfordshire shropshire staffordshire chestreshire These viij. middle and west shires were sometime governed and reuled by the law called Mercia in latin and merchene law in english/ It is to weet that yorkshire stretcheth from the river of of humbre unto the river of Teyse/ And yet in yorkshire been xxij. hondredis hundred and candred is all one/ Candred is one word made of walssh and Irissh/ and is to meaning a country that containeth an hundred touncs/ and is also in english called wepentak/ for sometime in the coming of a new lord/ tenants were wont to yield up her weepen in stead of homage/ Duramshire stretcheth from the river Teyse unto the river of Tyne/ And to speak properly of nurthumberland it stretcheth fro the river of Tyne unto the river of tweed that is in the beginning of scotland/ Then if the country of Northumberland that was sometime from humbre unto tweed be now accounted for one shire and one earldom as it was sometime/ Thenne been in england but xxxij. shires/ but if the country of Northumberland be departed in to vj. shires/ that hen Euerwykshire Duramshire nurthumberland Caerleylshire Appelbyshire and lancasshire/ Thenne been in england xxxuj. shires without cornwall and also without the Ilondes/ King william conqueror made all these provinces and shires to be descreved and moten/ Thenne were founden xxxuj. shires and half a shire/ Towns two and fifty thousand four score Parissh churches xlv. M. and two/ Knights fees lxxv. M. whereof men of religion have xxviij. M. xv. knights fees/ But now woods been hewn down and the land new tilled & made moche more than was at that time and many towns and villages builded/ and so there been many more villages and towns now than were in that time/ And where as afore is written that Cornewayle is not set among the shires of england/ it may stand among them well enough/ for it is neither to wales neither in scotland but is in england and joineth to devenshire And so may there been accounted in england xxxvij. shires and an half with the other shires.   

¶ De legibus legumque vocabulis  
●Vnwallo that heat Moliuncius also made first laws in Britain the which laws were call moliuncius laws/ and were solemnly observed unto william conquerors time/ Moliuncius ordained among his laws/ that cities temples and ways that lead men thereto/ and plowmen solowes should have privilege & freedom for to save all men that would flee thereto for succour and refuge/ Thenne afterward Marcia queen of britons that was gwytelinus' wife of her the province had the name mercia as some men suppose/ She made a law full of right of wit and of reason/ and was called merchene law/ Gildas that wrote the histories of britons turned these two laws out of briton speech in to latin/ And afterward king Aluredus turned all out of latin in to Saxons speech/ and was called merchene law/ Also the same king Aluredus wrote in english and put to another law that heat westsaxon law Thenne afterward danes were lords in this land/ and so come forth the third law that heat dane law/ Of these three laws saint Edward the third made one common law that yet is called saint Edward's law I hold it well done to writ here and expone many terms of these laws/ Myndebruche/ hurting of honour and worship/ In french bheschur dhonnour/ Burbrucg in french bleschur de court ou de cloys/ Grithbruch breaking of peace/ Myskenning changing of speech in court/ showing setting forth of merchandise in french Disp●oier de merchandise/ Hamsokne or hamfare a rese made in ●ous/ forestalling wrong or let done in the kings high way/ frith soaken/ sewrte in defence/ Sak forfeit Soka/ suit of court/ and their of cometh/ soaken/ Theme/ suit of bondmen fyghtyngwyte Amersement for fighting/ Blodewyte/ Mersement for shedding of blood ●●itwyte/ amendss for chiding of blood Leirwyte/ amendss for lying by a bond woman Guliwite/ amendss for trespass/ Scot a gadring to work of bayllies/ Hidage/ taillage for hides of land/ Danegheld tallage yei●en to the danes/ that was of every bona taterre, that is every ox land three pens/ A wepentak and an houndred is all one/ For the country of towns were wont to give up weepen in the coming of a lord/ Lestage/ custom y chalengid in chepiuges fairs and stallage/ custom for standing in streets in feire time   

¶ Of kingdom of bounds & merkis between them Ca xij  
THe kingdom of britain stood without departing hole & all one kingdom to the britone from the first brute unto julius Caesar'S time/ and fro julius Caesar'S time unto Severus time this land was under tribute to the romans nevertheless kings they had of the same land from severus unto the last prince gracian successors of britons failed & romans reigned in britain/ Afterwards the romans left of her regning in britain because it was far from rome/ & for great business that they had in other side/ Then scots & picts by misleding of Maximus the tyrant pursiewed britayne & warred therein with great strength of men of arms long time unto the time that the saxons come at praying of the britons against the picts/ & put out Gurmonde the Irissh king with his picts & the britons also with her king that heat Careticus & drove hem out of england in to wales/ & so the saxons were victors/ & every province after his strength made hem a king/ And so departed england in to seven. kingdom nevertheless afterward those seven. kingdoms every after other come all in to one kingdom all hool under the ●nce adelstone/ Nevertheless the danes pursued this land fro Adelwolfis time that was Aluredes father unto the third saint Edwardes time about C. ixx. year that reigned therein continually thirty. year After the danes the iij. saint Edward reigned therein twenty-three. year & a little more And after him herald held the kingdom ix. months/ & after hem Normans have reigned unto this time/ But how long they shall regne/ he wot/ to whom no thing is unknown/ R/ Of the foresaid seven. kingdoms of her merkes' meres and bounds when they began & how long they endured here shall I some what shortly tell/ Alfre. The first kingdom was the kingdom of kent/ that stretcheth fro the East Ocean unto the fever of Tamyse/ There reigned the first hengistus And began to regne by the acompting of dionise the year of our lord cccc. lv. that kingdom dured ccc. lviij. year under xv. kings unto the time that baldrede was put out & egbert king of westsaxon joined the kingdom to his own The two kingdom was of southsaxon that had in the est side kente in the south the see & the isle of wight in the west hampshire & in the north sothery their ella reigned first with his three sons/ And began to regne the year after the coming of the angles even thirty. But that kingdom within a short time passed in to other kingdoms/ The third kingdom was of eestsaxon/ and had in thee est side the see/ in the west the country of london/ in the south Tamyse/ in the north southfolk/ The kings of this country estsaxon fro the first sebertes time unto the time of the Danes were ten kings which were subject somedeal to other kings/ nevertheless oftest and longest they were under the kings of Mercia/ and unto that time that Egbert king of westsaxon joined that kingdom to his own/ The fourth kingdom was of eest anglis and contained Norfolk and suffolk/ and had in the east side and in the north the see/ in the northwest Cambrigeshyre/ in the west saint Edmond's dyche and herfordshire/ And in the south Estsex/ This kingdom dured under twelve kings unto the time that king Edmond was slain/ And then the danes took wrongfully both the kingdoms of eest anglis and of Eestsaxon/ Afterwards the danes were put and driven away or made subject/ And the elder king Edward joined both the kingdoms to his own/ The fifth kingdom was of westsaxon and dured longest of all these kingdoms/ and had in the east side sonthsaxon/ in the north Tamyse/ in the south and west the see Oxcean/ In that kingdom reigned Serdrik with his son kenryk and began to regne the year of our lord. u C. xix. and after the coming of angles lxxj. so saith denys the other kingdoms passed in to this kingdom/ The sixth kingdom was of mercia and was greatest of all/ The marks and the meres thereof were in the west side the riner dee fast by Chestre and Severn fast by Shrowesbury unto Bristol in the este/ the east see/ in the south Tamyse unto london/ In the north the river humbre And so westward and downwardly unto the river mersee unto the corner of wirhall/ there humbre falleth in to the west see/ Penda wibbes son reigned first in this kingdom/ in the year of our lord Ihesu christ vj. C. xxuj. so saith denys/ And fro the coming of angles an HUNDRED lxxv. year/ This kingdom dured under xviij. kings about cc. lxiij. year unto the last Colwulf/ to the which Colwulf the danes betook that kingdom to keep/ when Burdred the king was put out/ but the elder Edward the king put out the danes & Joined the kingdom of mercia to his own kingdom nevertheless at beginning this kingdom of mercia was de●●rted in three in west mercia/ in middle mercia & est mercia The seven. kingdom was Northambimbror● that is the kingdom of nurthumberland/ the meres and marks thereof were by west & by east the see of Ocean by south the river of humbre and so downwardly toward the west by th'ends of the shires of nottingham & of derby unto the river of Mersee/ & by north the scottissh see/ that heat forth in scottissh/ weris in britissh/ the scottissh see in english/ This kingdom of Northumberland was first dealed in two provinces/ that one was the south side & heat deyra/ & that other was the north side & heat brenicia/ as it were two kingdoms/ And the river departed these two kingdoms that time/ for the kingdom of deyra was from the River of humber unto the river of Tyne/ The kingdom of brenicia was fro tyne to the scottissh see/ And when picts dwelled there as Beda saith li. iij. ca ij. that Ninian that holy man converted men of the south side/ I●● the king reigned there first and began to regne the year of our lord u C. xlvij. so seith dyonise/ In deyra reigned king Elle the year of our lord u C. xlix. These two kingdoms were othirwhile as it is said departed between ij. kings & sometime all hool under one king/ and dured as it were xx. Englissh kings CCC. xxj. year/ Atte last Osburtus & Elle were slain in the ix. year of her kingdom/ the danes slow hem/ and nurthumberland was wide without king viij. year/ Then afterward the danes reigned in nurthumberland xxxuj. year unto the ooning of the kingdom Adelstone/ he made subject the kings danes scottissh and walssh/ & reigned first alone in Englond and held the kingdom of england all hool and all one kingdom that was the year of our lord v. ij. C. xxvij. That river of Mersee was sometime the mark and mere between the kingdom of mercia and the kingdom of nurthumberland/ that may be showed in two manners/ first by the property of this mersee/ that is as much to say as a see that is a bound & a mere for it departeth one kingdom from another/ Also it is writ in croniks of henry & of alfred/ that king Edward the elder fastened a castle at mamcestre in nurthumberland/ but that city mamcestre is fro the river of mersee scarly. iij. mile   

¶ Of bisshopriches and of their see● Ca xiij  
Lucius was the first king cristend of the britons/ in his time were three archbishops sees in Britain/ one was at london/ ●nothir at york/ and the third at Caerusk the city of legions in glamergone/ that city now is called Carleon to these archbishops sees were subject xxviij. bishops and were called flames/ to the archbishops see of london was subject cornwall & all middle england unto humbre/ To york all northhumberlond from the bow of humbre with all scotland/ To Caerleon all wales/ theridamas were in wales seven. bishops & now been but four/ Tho sevarne departed england and wales/ wilhel. de pon̄. li. j but in saxons time though saint gregory had granted london the priverege of tharchebisshops see nevertheless saint Austyn that was sent in to england by saint Gregory turned tharchebisshops see out of london in to Caunterbury/ After saint Gregory's day at prayer of king athelbright and citizens and burgesses of Caunterbury/ there tharchebisshops see hath dured unto now save that in the mean time Offa king of Mercia was wroth with men of Caunterbury/ and benam hem that worship/ and worshipped Adulph bishop of lichfeld with the archbishops pall by assent of Adrian the Pope upon ●●as by yefts send/ nevertheless under kenulph the king it was restored to Caunterbury again The worship of the see of york hath dured there always and dured yet though scotland be withdraw fro his subjection by passing of time/ Gir. in itinere libro primo/ The archbishops see was ytorned out of Ca●rleon in to Menevia that is in the west side of de mecia upon the Irissh see in saint davids time under king Arthur/ From saint davids time unto sampsons time were in Menevia archebisshops twenty-three. Afterwards fill a pestilence in all wales of the yellow evil/ that is called the jaundice And then ●●●●son the Archebisshopp took with him the pall and went in to britayne Armonica the lass Britain and was there bishop of do leusis/ From that time unto the first harry's time king of Englond were at menevia which is called saint davids xuj. bishops all without pall/ whether it were for uncunning or for poverty/ nevertheless always fro that time the bishops of wales were sacred of the bishop of menevia of saint davies/ & the bishop of menevia was sacred of the bishops of wales as of his suffrigans & made no profession ne subjection to none other church/ Other bishops that come afterward were sacred at Caunterbury by compelling and heest of the king/ in token of that sacring and subjection boneface archebisshopp of Caunterbury that was legate of the cross song in every Cathedral church of wales solemnly/ Amas he was the first archbishop of caunterbury that so died in wales/ & that was done in the second harry's time/ R/ But now been but two primates in all england of caunterbury & of york/ To the primate of Caunterbury been subject xiij. bishops in england & four in wales The primate of york hath but two suffrigans in england that been the bishops of caerleil and of durham/ Of all these sees and chauning of her places I shall show you her following Take heed in the beginning of holy church in england bishops ordained their sees in low places and simple that were covenable for contemplation for prayers and devotion/ But in william conquerors time by doom of law Canon it was ordained that bishops should come out of small towns in to great cities/ Therefore was the see of dorchestre changed to lyncoln/ lychfeld to chester Tetford to Norwych/ Shirborn to Salisbury/ wells to Bath/ Cornwayll to Exestre/ and selesey to Chichestre/ The bishop of Rochestre hath no parissh but he is th'archbishops chaplain of Caunterbury/ Sigh the see of Caunterbury was first ordained by saint Austyn/ it changed yet never his place/ Chichestre hath under him only southsex and the isle of wight/ And had his see first in selesey in the time of tharchbishop Theodore/ And the see dured there CCC. xxxiij. year under xx. bishops fro the first wilfrede unto the last stygande/ at commaundemeut of king willian conqueror changed the see fro selesey to Chichestre  

¶ De episcopis occidentalibus/ Wilhelmus.  
Have mind that all the province of westsaxon had always one bishop fro the beginning unto Theodorus time/ by grant of king Islo king of westsaxon the first birinus ordained a see at dorchestre that is a simple town by south Oxenford beside walingford between the meeting together of thames & tame/ when birinus was deed kenwal●us the king ordained a see at wynchestre as his father had purposed/ there agilbert a french man was first bishop of all the province of westsaxon/ fro that time the cite and the see of dorchestre pertained & longed to the province of mercia/ for that Cite standeth within Temse/ And the Temse departed between mercia and westsaxon/ After that agilbert was put out of wynchestre that though hihte wynton/ Theridamas was there an english bishop there that was called wine/ Somme men suppose that the city hath the name of this wine/ and is called wynchestre/ as it were wines Cite/ At the last he was put out and after him come Leutherius the foresaid Agelbertes nephew/ After leutherius bedda a while was bishop there/ when he was deed Theodorus tharchbishop ordained ij. bishops to the province of westsaxon/ Daniel at wynchestre/ to him were subject two countries Sothery & southampshire/ Aldelme at shir born/ to him were subject six countries/ Berkshire wiltshire somerset dorseteshire devenshire & cornwall/ Treuisa/ It seemeth by this that westsaxon contained sothery/ southampshire Berkshire wiltshire Somerseteshire dorseteshire devenshire and cornwall/ Wilhel. Afterwards in elder Edward's time to these two sees were ordained by commandment of formosus the pope three other sees/ At wells for somerset/ At kyrton for devenshire/ & at saint german for cornwall/ Not full long afterward the sixth see was set at rammesbury for wiltshire at last by commandment of king william conqueror all these sees save wynchestre were turned & changed out of small towns in to great cities for shirborn & Ramesbury were turned in to Salesbury Now to that see is subject Berkshire wiltshire & dorsete/ The see of wells was turned to Bath/ thereto is now subject all somerte/ The sees of kyrton & of cornwall were changed to Exestre/ thereto is subject devenshire & cornwall   

¶ De orientalibus episcopis  
●It is known that the ●est saxons always fro the beginning to now were subject to the bishop of london But the province of east angles that containeth norfolk & suffolk had on bishop at donwyk/ the bishop heat felix & was of bourgoyne & was bishop xvij. year/ After him Thomas was bishop u year/ After him boneface xvij. year/ Thenne busy afterward was ordained by theodorus and rewlid the province while he might endure by himself alone/ After him unto Egbertes time king of westsaxons an C. xliij. two bishops reulid that province one at donwyk & another at Elingham/ nevertheless after ludecans' time king of Mercia left & was only one see at Elingham unto the u year of willian conquerors/ when herfastus the twenty-three. bishop of the estrene changed his see to Tetford/ and his successor Herbertus changed the see fro Tetford to Norwhiche by leave of king william the read/ The see of Ely that is ney●e thereto the first king harry ordained the ix. year of his regne/ and made subject there to Cambriggeshire that was to fore a part of the bishoprics of Lyncolne/ And for quitting there of/ he yaf to the bishop of lincoln a good town called spalding   

¶ De episcopis mercio●● Wilhelmus.  
HEre take heed that as the kingdom of mercia was always gretéest for the time/ so it was dealed in more bisshopriches and specially by great heart by king offa/ which was xl. year king of mercia/ he changed the archbishops see fro canterbury to lychefeld by assent of Adrian the pope/ Thenne the province of mercia and of lyndeffar in the first beginning of her cristendome in king wulfrans time had one bishop at lychfeld/ the first bishop that was there heet●d wyna/ the second heat Celath/ & were both scots/ After hem the third Trumpher/ the fourth jarmuannus/ the fift Chedde/ But in Edelfredes time that was wulfers brother when Chedde was deed/ Theodorus th'archbishop ordained there wynfrede Cheddes deacon/ nevertheless apud hymdon after that for he was unbuxom in some point he ordained there Sexwulf abbot of medamstede that is named burgh/ But after sexwulfs fourth year Theodorus tharchbishop ordained five bishops in the province of mercia/ And so he ordained Bosell at wircestre/ Cudwyn at lichfeld/ the foresaid Sexwulf at Chestre/ Edelwyn at lindsay at cite Sidenia/ and he took Eata monk of the abbey of held at whitby and made him bishop of dorchestre besides Oxenford/ Tho this dorchestre heat dorking/ and so the see of that longed to westsaxon in saint birines time longed to mercia from theodorus the arcbhbishop's time/ Ethelred king of mercia had destroyed kente/ this bishop Sexwulf took pictas bishop of Rochestre that come out of kent and made him first bishop of herford/ Atte last when sexwulf was deed hedda was bishop of lychfeld after him/ & wilfred flemed out of northumberland was bishop of chestre/ nevertheless after two year alfred king of northumberland died/ and wilfred turned again to his own see hagustalden/ And so hedda held both the bisshopriches of lichfeld and of chester After him come Albyn that heat wor also/ and after him come three bishops/ Torta at chestre Witta at lichfeld and Eat● was yet at dorchestre/ After his death bishops of lyndeseye held his see CCCliiij. year/ unto remigius changed the see to lyncoln by leave of the first king william/ But in Edgar's time bishop leofwinus joined both bisshopriches together of chester & lindeffar while his life dured   

¶ De episcopis northumbranis/ Wilhel. de pon̄. li. ca xj.  
AT york was done see for all the province of nurthumberland/ Paulinus held first that see and was ordained of the bishop of caunterbury/ and held that see of york seven. year. Afterwards when king Edwin was slain & things were distourbed/ Paulinus went thence by water way in to kent from whence he come first & took with him the pall/ Wilhel. li. iij. And so the bisshoprich of york ceesed thirty. year/ & the use of the pall seced there an HUNDRED xxv. year unto that Egbert the bishop that was the kings brother of the land recovered it by authority of the pope R/ When saint Os walled reigned Aidanus a scot was bishop in brenicia that is the north side of nurthumberland/ after him Finianus/ after him Salmanus/ Wilhel. ubi s. Atte last he went into scotland with great indignation for wilfrede undertook him for he held unlawfully esterday/ thirty. year after that Paulinus was go from thence wilfride was made bishop of york/ Beda li. iiij. but while he dwelled long in france about his sacring at exciting of quartadecimanorum/ that were they that held Easter-Day the xiv. day of the moan Chedde was y take out of his abbey of lesting and wrongfully put out in to the see of york by assent of king Oswy/ But three year afterward Theodorus tharchbishop died him a way and assigned him to the province of Mercia/ and restored wilfred to the see of york/ But after wilfrede by cause of wrath that was between him and the king Egfrid was put out of his see by help of theodorus tharchbishop that was corrupt with some manner meed/ this was done after that wilfred had been bishop of york ten year/ Thenne at instance of the king/ the odorus made bosack bishop of york/ and Cumbert at hagustald church/ and eata at lindeffar church that now is called haly island in the River of tweed/ Aidanus founded first the see/ and Theodorus made Eadhedus bishop of Repoune that was comen again out of lindesaye/ wilfrede had be Abbott of Repoun/ Theodorus sent Trunwynus to the land of picts in th'ends of england fast by scotland in a place that heat candida casa/ & whiterne also/ there saint Nynian a briton was first foundour & doctor/ But all these sees outake york failed little and little/ For the see of candida casa that is Galewey that longed tho to Englong dured many years under ten bishops/ unto that it had no power by destroying of the picts/ The sees of hagustald and of lindeffar was sometime all one under ix. bishops about four score year and ten and dured unto the coming of the danes In that time under hyngar and hubba Ardulf the bishop go long about with saint cubert's body unto king Aluredes time king of westsaxon and the see of lyndeffar was set at kunegestre that is called ku/ nyngisburgh also/ that place is called now ubbesford upon tweed/ Atte last the yvij. year of king Egbert king edgaris son that see was changed to durham/ & saint Cuthbertes body was brought thither by the doing of Edmond the bishop/ and fro that time forward the see of hagustald & of lyndeffar faileth utterly The first king henry the ix. year of his reign made the new see at Caerleyl  
THe archebisshopp of Caunterbury hath under him xiij. bishops in england and four in wales. he hath rochestre under him & that see hath under him a part in kent alone London hath under him estsex myddelsex and half herfordshyre/ Chychestre hath under him southsex & the isle of wight Wynchestre hath under him hampshyre & southereye/ Salesbury hath under him barkshire wildshire & dorset/ Exetre hath under him devenshire and cornwall/ Bath hath under him somerseteshire alone/ Wircestre hath under him gloucester shire wircestreshire & half warwykshire/ Herforde hath under him herfordshire & some of shropshire/ Chestre is bishop of Coventry & of lychfeld/ & hath under him chestreshire staffordshire derbishire half warwykshire some of shropshire/ & some of lancastreshire fro the riner of mersee unto the river of ripyll/ Lyncoln hath under him the provinces that been between Tamyse and humbre that been the shires of lyncoln of leicester of northampton of huntyngdon of bedford of ●okyngham of oxenford and half herdfordshire/ Ely hath under him Cambrigeshyre out take merlonde/ Northwyche hath under him merlonde/ Norfolk and Suffolk/ Also tharchbishop of Counterbury hath four suffrygans in wales that been/ Landaf/ Seint Davies Bangor/ and saint Assaph/ the archebisshopp of york hath now but two bishops under him that been Durham and Caerleyll/ R/ And so been but two primates in Englond/ what one of hem shall do to that other and in what manner point he shall be obedient and under him/ It is fullx contained with Inn about the year of our lord Ihesu christ a. M. lxxij. to fore the first king william/ and the bishops of england by commaundeinent of the pope/ the cause was handled and y treated between the foresaid primates/ and ordained and deemed that the primate of york shall be subject to the primate of Cannterbury in things that longen to the worship of god and to the believe of holy church thereof/ of the which saith Beda li. iiij. ca xj. that Sexnulfus was first bishop there. But Beda saith li. iiij. ca twenty-three. that lyndeff●rn church is an Ilonde that is called haly Ilonde in the river thwede next berwyk/ And so it is gathered of beda's Saws that tweed runneth in to the famous arm of the see that now departeth english men & scots in the eesthalf/ & in that arm been three Ilondes/ That one is Mailros that now is called menros/ Thenne above toward the west is lyndeffarn church that is called haly Ilonde Then the third is above upward and is the Ilonde farne/ and is called also farny Ilonde/ Then upward above that two mile is a rial cite upon the brink of tweed/ that sometime he●hte Bebanbourgh that is bobles cite/ and now is called bamburgh and hath a right strong castle/ Gir. in itinere/ Two cities there been either is called Caerlegion and Caerleon also/ Oon is Demecia in South-Wales that is named Caerusk also/ there the river Uske falleth in to sevarne fast by Glamorgan/ Bellinus king of britons sometime bilded the cite and was sometime the chief cite of Demecia in southwales/ Afterwards in Claudius' Caesar'S time it was y called the city of legions when at prayer of Genius the queen Vaspasianus and Arviragus were accorded and legions of rome were sent into Irlonde though was Carleon a noble cite and of great authority & by the romans rially bild & walled about with walls of f●●nt tile/ great nobleye that was there in old time is there yet in many places seen/ as the great palaces giants towers/ noble baths/ relief of the temples places of theaters/ that were places high and rial to stand and sit in/ And to behold about/ the places were rially closed with rial walls that yet somedeal standeth right nyhecloos/ And within the walls and without is great building under earth/ water condytes and ways under earth and stews also thou shalt see wonderly made with straight side ways of breathing that wonderly cast up heat/ In this cite were sometime three noble churches/ one was of saint julius the martyr and there in a great company of virgins/ That other was of saint Aaron/ that was of the order of black canons/ that church was right nobly adorned/ The third church was the chief mother church of all wales and the chief see/ But afterward the chief see was turned out of that cite in to Menevia that is saint davies land in westwales In this Caerleon was Amphibalus y born that taught saint alone/ There the messengers of rome come to the great Arthur's court if it is ●●effull to trow Trevisa/ if Girald was in doubt whether it were leeffull for to trow it or no/ it were a wondre sweu en as men would ween for to have evermore in mind/ and ever be in doubt if all his books were such what lore were therein & namely while he maketh non evidence/ for in neither side he telleth what moveth him so for to say/ R/ There is another cite of legions there his cronike was bytravailled as it is clearly known by the first chapter of this book/ Treuisa/ that is to understanding in the latin writing/ For he that made it in latin turned it not in to Englissh/ ne it was turned in to englissh in the same place that it was first in latin/ The understanding of him that made this cronik is thu● written in latin in the beginning of this book/ Presentem cronicanm compilaint frater Ranulphus Cestrensis monachus/ that is to say in Englissh/ Broder Ranulph monk of Chestre compiled and made this present cronike/ R/ The city of legions that is Chestre standeth in the march of england toward wales between two arms of the see that been named dee and Mersee/ This Cite in time of Britons was heed and chief city of all venedocia that is North wales/ The founder of this city is unknown/ For who that seethe the foundements of the great ston●s would rather ween that it were romans work or work of Giants/ than it were made by setting of Britons/ This city sometime in britissh speech heat Carrthleon legecestria in latin/ and Chestre in english and the city of legions also/ For their lay● a wyn●●r the legions of knights that julius Caesar sent for to 〈◊〉 Irlonde/ And after Claudius' Caesar sent legions out of that city for to win the Ilondes that be called orcades/ what ever william malmesbury by telling of other men met of this city/ This city hath plenty of livelihood of corn of flesh of fyssh/ and specially of pris of Salmon/ this city receiveth great merchandise and sendeth out also/ Also neyh this city been salt wells/ Metal and oore/ Northumbres destroyed this city sometime/ But afterward Elfleda lady of Mercia builded it attain and made it much more/ In this same city been ways under the earth with vowtes and stonewerk wonderly y wrought three chambered works great stones grave with old men's names therein/ There is also julius Caesar'S name wonderly in stones grave and other noble men's also with the writing about/ This is the city that Ethelfryd king of Northumberland destroyed/ and slough there fast by nigh two thousand monks of the minster of Bang●●/ ¶ This is the city that so that in what place ever it be in england that the primate of cannterbury will hot & constrain to gather a counsel of clergy/ the pmate of york is holden with his suffrigans for to be 〈◊〉 & for to be obedient to the ordinance that there shall lawfully be ordained when the primate of Caunterbury is deed/ the pmate of york shall come to Caunterbury & with other bishops he shall sacre him that is chosen/ & so with other bishops he shall sacre his own primate if the primate of york he deed/ his successor shall come to the bishop of Caunterbury & he shall take his ordinance of him & do his oath with profession & lawful obedience/ After within about the year of our lord xj. C. lxxxxv. in the time of king Richard been reasons set for the right of the party for either primate/ and what one primate died to that other in time of Thurstinus of Thomas & of other bishops of york from the conquest unto king harry's time the third/ Also there it is said how each of them start from other/ This place is but a forspeking & not a full tretis thereof/ Therefore it were noyefull to charge this place with all thilk reasons that there been made    

¶ Of how many manner people hath dwelled therein C●. xiv  
BRytons dwelled first in this Ilonde the xviij. year of hely the prophet/ the xj. year of Soluius posthumus king of latins/ xliij. year after the taking of Troy/ to fore the building of rome CCCC. xxxij. year. Beda li. j They come hither and took her course from Armorik that now is that other britain/ they held long time the south countries of the Ilonde/ it befell afterward in vaspasianus time duke of Rome/ that the picts shipped out of scicia in to Ocean/ & were driven about with the wind & entered in to the north costs of ireland & fond there scots and prayed to have a place to dwell inn/ & might none get/ For Irlonde as scots said might not sustain both people/ Scots sent the picts to the northsides of Britain/ and behight them help against the Britons that were their enemies if they would arise/ & took 'em wives of her daughters/ upon such condition if doubt● fill/ who should have right for to be king/ they should rather cheese hem a king of the mother side/ than of the father side/ of the wy● men kin rather than of the men kin/ Gaufre/ In vespasian the emperors time when Marius Aruiragns son was king of britons One Rodryk king of picts came out of scicia and 'gan to destroy scotland/ then Marius the king slew this roderik and give the north party of scotland that heat Cat●enesia to the men that were come with roderik and were overcome by him for to dwell Inn/ But these men had no wives ne none might have of the nation of britons/ therefore they sailed in to Irlande & took to their wives irishmen daughters by that covenant that the mother blood should be put tofore in succession of heritage/ Gir. ca xvij. nevertheless Sirinus' super Virgi●●ū saith that picts been agatirses that had some duelling place about the waters of Scicia/ and they been called picts of peynting and smiting of wounds that been seen on her body/ So that they seemed as men were painted with wounds therefore they were called picts as painted men/ These men and these goths been all one people/ For when Maximus the tyrant was went out of britain in to france for to occupy them pire/ Thenne gracianus and valentinianus that were brethren & fellows of th'empire bronght these goths out of Scicia with great yefts with flattering and fair behests in to the northcontrey of britain/ For they were stall worth and strong men of arms/ And so these thieves & ●ribours were made men of land & of country and dwelled in the north countries and held their cities & towns Gaufre. Carancius the tyrant slow bassianus by help and treason of the picts that come in help and succour of bassianus/ and gave the picts a duelling place in albania that is scotland/ there they dwelled long time afterward meddled with britons R/ Then sith that picts occupied first the north side of scotlonde It seemeth that the duelling place that this Carans●us gave hem is the south side of scotland that stretcheth from the thwert over wall of romans work to the scottyssh see/ and containeth Galleway and lodovia that is lodeway/ Thereof Beda li. iij. ca ij. speaketh in this manner/ Nynyan the holy man converted the south picts/ Afterwards the Saxons come and made that country long to bremcia the north party of Northumberland/ unto the time that kynadius Alpinus son king of scotland put out the picts/ and made that country that lieth between tweed and the scottyssh see long to his kingdom/ Beda li. j c●. j Afterwards long time the scots were led by duke renda/ and come out of Irlonde that is the proper country of scots and with love or with strength made 'em a place fast by the picts in the northside of that arm of the see/ that breaketh in to the land in the west side that departed in old time between britons and picts/ Of this duke kend● the scots had the name and were called dalrendines as it were renda's part/ For in her speech a part is called dal/ Gir. p. the picts might have no wives of britons/ but they took 'em wives of Irissh scots and promised 'em fair for to dwell with hem/ and granted 'em a land by the see side/ there the see is narrow/ that land is called now Gallewaye/ Marianus/ Irissh scots landed at argayll that is scottyn clif for scots landed there for to do harm to the britons/ or for that place is next to Irlonde for to come a land in to Britain/ Beda/ And so the scots after the britons and picts made the third people duelling in britain/ R/ Then after that come the saxons at praying of the britons/ to help 'em against the scots and picts/ And the britons were soon put out in to wales/ and saxons occupied the land little and little/ and eft more to the scottyssh see/ And so saxons made the fourth manner of men in the Ilonde of britain/ Beda li. u ca ix. For saxons and angles come out of Germania/ yet some britons that duellen nigh call 'em shortly germans/ R/ nevertheless about the year of our lord viij. C. Egbertus king of westsaxon commanded and bad all men to call the men of the land englishmen/ Alfre. Thenne after that the danes pursued the land about a cc. year/ that is for to say fro the foresaid Egbertes time/ unto saint Edward's time/ & made the fifth manner of people in the Ilonde/ but they failed afterward/ Atte last come normans under duke william and subdued englishmen/ and yet keep they the land/ and they made the sixth people in the Ilonde/ But in the first king harry's time come many flemings and received a duelling place for a time beside maylroes in the west side of england/ and made the seventh people in the Ilonde/ nevertheless by commandment of the same king they were put thence and driurn to haverfordes side in the west side of wales/ R/ And so now in britayne danes and picts fayllen all out and five nations dwell therein that been scots in Albania/ that is scotland/ Britons in Cambria/ that is wales/ but that flemings dwell in that is west wales/ And Normans and englishmen been meddled in all the Ilonde/ for it is now doubt in stories how & in what manner they were put away & destroyed out of britain/ Now it is to declare how the picts were destroyed & failed/ Gir. p. ca xvij. Britain was sometime occupied with saxons/ & peace was made and stablished with the picts/ then the scots that come with the picts saw that the picts were nobler of deeds and better men of arms though they were lass in number than the scots/ Thenne the scots having thereof envy turned to their natural treason that they have oft aside/ for in treason they pass other men/ and been traitors as it were by kind/ for they prayed all the picts specially the great of 'em to a feste/ & waited her time when the picts were merry & had well drunk/ they drew up nails that held up hollow benches under the pites and the picts unware & suddenly fy●● in over the hams in to a wonderful pitfall/ Thenne the scots fill on the picts & slow hem & ●●fte none alive And so of two people the better werriours were holy destroyed/ But the other that been the scots which been traitors all unlike to the picts took profit by that falls treason/ for they took all that land & hold it yet unto this time and call it scotland after her own name/ In king Edgarus time kynadius aspinns son was duke and leader of the scots & warred in pict land & destroyed the picts/ he warred six scythes in saxon & took all the land that is between tweed & the scottissh see with wrong & with strength●   

¶ Of the languages of manners and usages of the people of that land Ca xv  
AS it is known how many manner of people been in this Ilonde there been also so many languages and tongues/ nevertheless walssh & scots that been not meddled with other nations keep neyh yet their language & speech/ But yet the scots that were sometime confederate & dwelled with picts draw somewhat aft their speech But the flemings the dwell in the west side of wales have left her strange speech & speaken like to saxons/ also englishmen though they had fro the beginning three manner speeches/ southern/ northern & middle speech in the middle of the land as they come of three manner of people of germania/ nevertheless by commixtion and meddling first with Danes & afterward with Normans in many things the country language is appaired/ for some use strange wlaffing chitering harring garring & grisbyting/ This appairing of the language cometh of two things/ ones because that children that go to school learn to speak first English/ & than been compelled to constrewe her lessons in frenssh & that have been used sin the normans' com● in to england/ Also gentlemen's children been learned & taught from their youth to speak French/ & up londissh men will counterfete & liken hem self to gentlemen/ & are busy to speak French for to be more set by/ wherefore it is said by a common preerbe/ jack would be a gentleman if he could speak French/ Cre. this was much used to for the great death/ but sith it is somedeal changed/ for sir johan Cornewayll a master of grammar changed the teaching of grammar school & constructton of frenssh in to englissh And other schoolmasters use the same way now in the year of our lord. M. CCC. lxxxv. the ix. year of king Richard the second/ & leave all frenssh in scoles & use all construction in english/ wherein they have advantage one way that is that they learn the sooner their grammar And in another disadvantage/ for now they learn no frenssh ne can none/ which is hurt for them that shall pass the see/ And also gentlemen have much left to teach their children to speak French/ R/ Hit seemeth a great wonder that english have so great duiersite in their own language in son and in speaking of it/ which is all in one Ilonde/ And the language of normandy is comen out of another land/ and hath one manner son among all them that speaketh it in england/ for a man of kente/ Sonthern western/ & northern men speaken frenssh all like in son & speech/ but they can not speak their english so/ Crevisa/ nevertheless there is as many diverse manner of frenssh in the ream of france/ as diverse english in the ream of england/ R/ Also of the foresaid tongue which is departed in three is great wonder/ for men of the east with men of the west accord ●et● in swooning of their speech/ than men of the north with men of the south/ Therefore it is that men of mercij that been of middle england as it were partiners with the ends/ understand better the side languages northern & southern than northern & southern understand either other/ Wilhel. de pon̄. li. iij. all the languages of the northumbres & specially at york is so sharp shitting froting & unshappe/ that we southern men may uneath understand that language/ I suppose the cause be that they be nigh to the aliens that speak strangely/ And also by cause that the kings of england a bide and dwell more in the south country/ than in the north country The cause why they abide more in the south country than in the north country/ is by cause that there is better corn land more people/ moo noble cities/ & moo profitable havens in the south country than in the north.  

¶ ●e gentis huius moribus/ Gir. in itinere  
FOr the manners and the doing of walsshmen and of scots been to fore some what declared/ Now I purpose to tell 〈◊〉 and declare the manners and conditions of the meddled people of england/ But the flemings that been in the west side of wales been now all turned as they were englishmen because they company with englishmen/ And they be mighty & strong to fight/ and been the most enemies that walishmen have & use merchandise and clothing and been full ready to put 'em self to adventures and to peril in the see and land because of great winning/ and been ready sometime to go to the plough and sometime to deeds of arms when time and place asketh/ It seemeth of these men a great wonder that in a boon of a wethers right shoulder when the f●ssh is sudden away and not roasted they know what have be done/ is done/ & shall be done/ as it were by a spirit of prophecy and a wound full craft/ They tell what is done in far countries/ tokens of peace or of were/ the state of the royalme/ slaying of men/ and spousebreche such things they declare certainly of tokens and sign that is in such a sholdre boon/ R/ But the englishmen that dwell in england been medlid in the Ilonde and been far fro the places that they sprung of first/ turnen to contrary deeds lightly without enticing of any other men by her own assent/ And so uneasy also full v●paciente of peace/ enemy of business and full of sloth/ Wilhelmus de pon̄. li. iij/ saith that when they have destroyed her enemies all to ground/ then they fighten with 'em self and sleeth each other/ as a void and an empty stomach wircheth in hit self/ R/ nevertheless men of the south been esier and more mild than men of the north/ For they be more unstable more cruel and more uneasy/ The middle men been sommedele partners with both/ Also they use 'em to gluttony more than other men and been more costlew in meet and clothing/ Me supposeth that they took that unce of king Hardeknet that was a Done/ For be ●●te set he forth twice deboe mess at dinner & at supper also/ Th●se men been speedful an horse & a foot/ Able & ready to all manner deeds of armes and been wont to have victory and mastery in every fight where no treason is walking and been curious and can well tell deeds and wonders that they have say/ Also they go in diverse lends uneath been any men richer in her own land or more gracious in far and in strange land/ they can better win and get new than keep her own heritage/ Therefore it is that they be sprad so wide and ween that every land is their own The men be able to all manner sbeyght and wyttr/ but to fore the deed blondering and hasty/ And more wise after the deed than tofore/ and leaven of lightly what they have begun/ Polinus. li. vj. Therefore Eugenius the pope said that englishmen were able to do what ever they would/ and to be set and put tofore all other ne were that light wit lettith/ And as hanybal saide that the romans might not be overcome/ but in her own coutre/ so englishmen mow not be overcome in strange lands/ but in her own country they be lightly overcome/ R/ These men despisen her own/ and praise other men's/ And uneath been pleased ner apaid with their own estate/ what befalleth and becometh other men/ they will gladly take to hem self/ Therefore it is that a yeoman arrayeth him as a squire/ a squire as a knight/ a knight as a duke/ a duke as a king/ Yet some go about and will be like to all manner state/ and been in no state For they take every degree that be of no degree/ for in bearing outward they been mynstrals and berowdes/ In talking great speakers/ In eating and drinking glotons/ In gathering of cattle hucksters and taverners/ In array tormentors/ In wynnyngis argi/ In travail tantali/ In taking heed dedaly/ In beds sardanapali/ In churches mametis In courts thunder/ only in privilege of clergy and in prebends/ they knowledge hem self clerks/ Treuisa. As touching the terms of latin as argi/ tantali/ dedali sardanapali/ ye must understand 'em as the poets feigned of them/ Argus was an herd and kept beasts/ be had an hundred eyen/ And Argus was also a ship/ a shipman and a chapman/ And so Argus might see before and behind and on every side/ Therefore he that is wise and ware and can see that he be not deceived/ may be called Argus/ And so the chronic saith in plural number/ that englishmen been argi/ that is to say they see about where as winning is/ That other word tantali/ the poet feigneth that Tantalus slow his own son/ wherefore he is dampened to perpetual penance/ & he standeth always in water up to the neither lip/ and hath always ripe apples and noble fruit hanging down to the over lip/ but the fruit ne the water may not come within his mouth/ he is so hold and standeth between meet and drink and may neythir eat ne drink/ and is ever an hungrid and a thirst that woe is him a live/ by this manner likeness of Tantalus/ they that do right naught there as moche is to do in every side been called tantali/ It seemeth that it is to say/ In travail they been tantali/ for they do right naught thereto/ The third word js dedali/ Take heed that Dedalus was a subtle and a sly man/ And therefore by likeness they that been subtle and sly they be called dedali/ The fourth word is Sradanapali/ You shall understand that Sardanapalus was king of Assiryens and was full unchaste/ & used him to lie soft/ And by a manner of likeness of him they that live unchastely been y cleped sardanapali/ R/ But among all english medlid togethers is so great changing & diversity of clothing & of array & so many manners & diverse shapes/ that well neyhe is there any man known by his clothing & his array of what someu degree that he be/ Thereof prophesied an holy Anchor in king Egelfrede's time in this manner/ Henri. li. vj. englishmen for as much as they use them to dronkelewnes/ to treason & to reche●esnes of god's house/ first by danes & then by normans'/ & at third time by scots that they hold most wretches & jest worth of all other they shall be oucome Thenne the world shall be so unstable & so diverse & variable that the unstableness of thoughts shall be bitokened by many manner diversities of clothing    

¶ Of the land of wales Ca xuj  

Now this book taketh on hand  
Wales after england  
So take I my tales  
And wend in to wales  
To that noble blood  
Of Priamus' blood  
Knoleche for to win  
Of great jupiter's kin  
For to have in mind  
Dardanus kind  
In these four titles I fond  
To tell the state of that land  
Cause of the man I shall tell  
And then praise the land & well  
Then I shall writ with my pen  
all the manners of the men  
then I shall fond  
To tell marvels of the land    

¶ Of the name how it is named walis Ca xvij.  

Wales now is called wallia  
And sometime it heat cambria  
For Camber brutes soon  
Was prince & there died won  
Then wallia was to mean  
For gwalaes the queen  
King Ebranais child  
was wedded thither mild  
And of that lord gwalon  
withdraweth of the sound.  
And put to l. i a.  
And thou shalt find wallia  
And though this land  
Be moche less than england  
As good glebe is one as other.  
In the daughter as in the mother    

Of the commodities of the land of wales Ca xviij  

Though that land be luyte  
It is full of corn & of fevyte  
And hath great plenty iwis  
Of flesh & eke of fish.  
Of beestis tame & wild  
Of horse sheep oxen mild  
Good land for all seeds  
For corn grass & herbs that spreads  
There been woods & medes  
Herbs & flowers there spreads  
There been Fivers & wells  
Valleys & also hills  
Valleys bring forth flood.  
And hills metals good.  
Cool groweth under land.  
And grass above at hand.  
There lime is copious  
And slats for house  
honey and milk white  
There is dainty & not light  
Of braket meath & a●●  
Is great plenty in that vale  
And all that needeth to the live  
That land bringeth forth ryue●  
But of great riches to be draw  
And close many in short saw  
Hit is a corner small  
As though god first of all  
Made that land so feel  
To be selere of all hele  
Wales is dealed by.  
A water that heat twy  
North wales from the south  
Twy delith in places full couth  
The south heat demecia.  
And the other venedocia.  
The first shooteth & arrows bears  
that other dealeth all with spears  
In wales how it be  
Were sometime courts three  
At carmarthyn was that one  
And that other was in moan.  
The third was in powisy.  
In pengwern that now is shrous  
There were bishops seven  
And now been iiij. even. bury  
Under saxons all at hand  
Sometime under pnces of the land    

¶ Of the manner & rises of the welshmen Ca xix.  

The manner living of the land  
Is well diverse from england  
In meet & drink & clothing  
And many other doing.  
They be clothed wonder well.  
In a shirt and in a mantel  
A crisp breach well fain.  
Both in wind & in rain  
In this clothing they be bold  
Though the weather be right cold  
Without sheets always.  
Evermore in this array.  
They go fight play & leap.  
stand sit lie & sleep  
Without surcoat goun cote & kirtle  
Without iopen tabard clock or bell  
without lace & chaplet that her laps  
Without hood hat or caps  
Thus arrayed gone that sedges  
And always with bore legs.  
They keep none other going  
Though they meet with the king  
With arrows & short spears.  
They fight with them that hem deres  
They fight better if they needen.  
When they go than when they ridden  
In stead of castle & tour.  
They take wood & marsh for succour  
When they seen it is to do  
In fight they will be a go.  
Gildas saith they been variable  
In peace and not stable.  
If men axe why it be  
It is no wonder for the see  
Though men put out of land  
To put out other would fond.  
But all for nought at this stand  
For all many woods been at gronde  
And upon the see among.  
Been castles builded strong  
The men may dure long/ un eat  
And love well conume meet  
They can eat & been mury  
Without great cury  
They eat breed cold & hoot.  
Of barley & of oat.  
Broad cakes rowed & thin  
As well seemeth so great kin.  
seld they eat breed of wheat  
And seld they done once eat.  
They have gruel to pottage.  
And leeks kind to companage  
Also butter milk & cheese.  
Yshape endlong & corner we se  
Such messes they eat snell  
And that maketh hem drink well  
Methe & ale that hath might.  
thereon they spend day & night  
Ever the redder is the win.  
They hold it the more fin  
When they drink at ale  
They tell many a lewd tale  
For when drink is an hondling  
They been full of jangling.  
at meet and after eke  
Her solace is salt & l●ke.  
The husband in his wise.  
Telleth that a great prize.  
to give a cauldron with gruwele  
To hem that siten on his meal.  
He dealeth his meet at meal  
And giveth every man his deal  
And all the overpluse  
He keepeth to his own use  
Therefore they have woe  
And mishaps also  
They eaten hot salmon always  
All though physic say nay  
Her houses been low with all.  
And made of yards small  
Not as in cities nigh  
But f●r asunder & not to hi●e.  
When all is eaten at home  
Then to her neyhbours will they roam  
& eat what they may find & see.  
And then torn home ay  
The life is idle that they ledes  
In burning sleeping & such deeds  
welshmen use with her might  
to wash their guests feet a night  
If he wessh her feet all & some  
Than they know that they be well  
They live so easily in a rout.  
That seld they bear purse about  
At her breach out & home  
They hung their money & comb come  
It is wonder they be so hende  
And hate crack at neither end  
And without any core  
Make their wardrobe at door  
They have in great mangery  
harp tabor & p●p for minstralcie  
They here corpse with sorrow great  
and blow loud horns of gheet  
They praise fast trojan blood  
For thereof come all her broad  
Neyh kin they will be.  
Though they pass an HUNDRED degree  
above other men they will hem diȝt  
& worship priests with her might  
As angels of heaven right  
they worshire servants of god  
Often giled was this broad  
And yearned battle all for wood almyght  
For merlins prophecy  
And often for sort ●egye  
Best in manners of britons  
For company of saxons  
Ben turned to better right  
That is known as clear as light  
they tillen ctardins field & downs  
And draw 'em to good towns  
They ride armtd as will god  
And go y hosed & y shood.  
And sitten fair at her meal.  
And s●epe in beds fair & feed  
So they seem now in mind  
Moore english than welsh kind  
If men ask why they now do so  
Moore than they wonted to do.  
They liven in more peace.  
Because of their riches  
For their cattle should slake.  
If they used oft wreck  
dread of loss of her good  
Make them now still of mode.  
All in one it is brought  
Have nothing & dread naught  
The poet seith a saw of proof.  
the footman singeth tofore the thef  
Andrea is bolder on the way  
than the horseman rich & gay.    

¶ Of the marvels & wonders of wales Ca xx.  

there is a pole at brechnok.  
therein of fish is many a flock  
often he changeth his hew on cop  
And beareth above a gardin crop  
Oft time how it be  
Shape of house there shalltou see  
When the pole is frore it is wonder  
Of the noise that is there under  
If the prince of the land hot  
birds sing well merry note.  
As merrily as they can  
And singen for none other man  
Besides Carleon  
Two mile fro the town.  
Is a roc●e well bright of leem  
Right against the sun beem  
Goldclyf that roche hihte  
For it shineth as god full▪ briȝt  
Such a flower in stone is nought  
Without fruit if it were sought  
If men could by craft undo.  
the veins of th'earth & come thereto  
Many benefice of kind  
Ben now hid fro man's mind  
And been vnknowe yet  
For default of man's wit  
great treasure is hid in ground  
And after this it shall be fond.  
By great study & business  
Of 'em that comen after us.  
that old men had by great need.  
We have by busy deed/ Treuisa  
In books ye may read.  
that kind f●illeth not at need  
When noman had craft in mind  
then of craft halp god & kind  
When no teacher was in land.  
Men had craft by god's hand.  
they that had craft so then.  
taught forth craft to other men  
some craft that yet come not in place  
some man shall have by god's grace  
R/ a Ilond is with nois & strife  
In west Wales at kerdyf  
Fast by Severn strand  
Barry hiht that Ilonde.  
In that hither side in a chene.  
Shall thou here wonder dene  
And diverse noys also  
If thou put thine ear to  
Noys of leaves & of wind.  
Noys of metal thou shalt find  
Froting of Iren & westones thou shalt here  
Heting of ovens then with fire  
all this may well be  
By wawes of the see  
that breaketh in there.  
With such noys and far  
At penbrok in a stead  
fiends do oft quede  
And throweth foul thing in  
And despiseth also sin  
Neythir craft ne beads may  
Do thence that sorrow away  
When it grieveth so  
To the men it bodeth woe.  
At crucinar in west wales  
Is a wonder burials  
Every man that cometh it to see  
Seemeth it even as much as he  
Hool weepen there a night  
Shall be broken ere day light  
At nemyn in north walis  
A litil Ilonde there is  
That is called bardisey.  
Monks dwell there always.  
Men live so long in that hur'st  
That the oldest dieth first  
Men say that merlin there buried is  
That hihte also siluestris.  
There were merlins twain.  
And prophesied beyne  
One hyte ambrose & merlin  
And was ygoten by gobelin.  
In demecia at carmerthyn.  
Under king vortigerin  
He told his prophecy.  
Even in snowdonye  
Atte heed of the wat of coneway  
In the side of mount eriri  
Dynas embreys in walssh  
Ambrose hill in english.  
King vortigere sat on  
The watside & was full of won  
Then ambrose merlin prophesied  
to fore him right though/ Treuisa  
What wit would ween  
That a fend might get a child  
Somme men would mean.  
that he may no such work weld  
That fiend that goth a night  
women full oft to guile  
Incubus is named by right  
And gyleth men other while.  
Succubus is that wight  
God grant us none such vile  
Who that cometh in her guile.  
Wonder hap shall he smile  
With wonder deed.  
Both men and women seed  
fiends will keep  
With craft & bring an heap  
So fiends wild  
May make women bear child  
Yet never in mind  
Was child of fiends kind  
For withouten eye.  
There might no such child die  
clergy maketh mind.  
Death sleeth no fiends kind  
But death slow merlin.  
Merlin was ergo no goblin  
Anothir merlin of albyn land  
That now is named scotland  
And he had names two  
Silvestris & calidonius also  
Of that wood calidoni.  
For there he told his prophecy  
And beet siluestris as well.  
For when he was in battle.  
And saw above a grisly kind  
And fell anon out of his mind  
And made no more abode  
But ran anon unto the wood  
Treuisa Silvestris is wood  
Other wild of mode  
Other ●llis  
That at wood he duelles  
R/ Silvestris merlin  
Told prophecy well & fyn  
And prophesied well sure  
Under king arthure  
Openly & not so close  
As merlin Ambros.  
There been hills in snowdonye.  
That been wonderly high  
With height as great away.  
As a man may go a day  
And heat eriri on walssh.  
Snowy hills in english  
In these hills there is.  
Leese ynouh for all bestis of walis  
These hills on top bears  
Two great fish wears  
Contained in that one pond.  
Meveth with the wind an Ilond  
As though it died swim  
And neyheth to the brim  
So that heerdes have great wonder  
And ween that the world moveth under  
In that other is perch & fissh  
Every one eyed is  
So fareth all well.  
In albania the mylwell.  
In rutlond by tetingel  
Theridamas is a little well.  
That floweth not alway  
As the see twice a day  
But sometime it is dry  
And sometime full by the eye.  
There is in norwallia  
In mon that heat anglesia  
A stone according well neyhe.  
As it were a man's thyhe.  
How far ever that stone  
Be borne of any money  
On night it goth home his way  
That he fond by assay  
Hugh th'earl of shrewsbury.  
In time of the first harry  
For he would the sooth find  
That stone to another he 'gan bind  
With great chains of Iren.  
And threw all y feren.  
ybound at one heap  
In to a water deep  
Yet a morrow that stone.  
Was feign early in mon.  
A cherle held himself full sligh  
And land this stone to his thy  
His thigh was rotten or day  
And the stone went away.  
If men done lechery.  
Neyh that stone by  
Swote cometh of that stone  
But child cometh there none  
There is a roche right wonderly.  
The roche of hearing by country  
Though there cry any man born.  
And blow also with an horn  
Noise there made though thou abide  
Thou shalt here none in this side  
Theridamas is another Ilonde  
Fast by money at hand.  
hermits there been rive  
If any of 'em don strive  
all the mice that may beget  
Come & eat all their meet.  
Then seceth never that woe.  
Till the strife sense also  
As men in this land  
Ben angry as in Irlonde  
So seintes of this country  
Ben also wrechefull alway.  
Also in this land  
In ireland & in scotlonde  
Been bells & staves.  
That in worship men haues  
And been worshipped so thenne  
Of clerks & of lewd men  
That dreaden also  
To sweren on any of though  
Staff exther bell  
As it were the gospel  
At basingwerke is a well  
That sacer hebe as men bell  
vit sprigeth so sore as men may see  
What is cast in it throweth ay  
Thereof springeth a grebe strand  
It were enough for all the land  
Seek at that place  
Have both hele & grace  
In the welmes ofter than ones.  
Been found read sperklid stones.  
In token of the blood red  
That the maid wenefrede  
Shad at that pit.  
when her throat was cut  
He that died that deed  
Hath sorrow on his seed  
His children at all stounds  
Berken as welpes & hounds.  
For to they pray that maid gooce  
Right at that wrlle place  
Either in shrowsbury street  
There that maid rested sweet    

¶ Of the description of Scotland Ca xxj.  
HYt is a common saw that the country which is now named scotland/ is an outstretching of the north party of britain & is departed in the south side from britain with arms of the see/ Und in the other side all about beclipped with the see/ this land heat sometime albania/ & had that name of albanactus/ that was king brutus son/ for albanactus dwelled first therein/ or of the province albania/ that is a country of Scicia & nygve to amazona/ therefore scots been called as it were scittes/ for they come out of Scicia/ Afterwards that land beet pictavia for the picts reigned therein a thousand year lxx. or as somme tell a M. CCC. lx. year. And at last beet hibernia as Irlonde heybte/ Gir. in top. For many skyles/ one skill is for affinity & ally/ that was between them & Irisshmen/ for they took wives of ireland and that is openly seen in her believe/ in clothing in language & in speech/ in weepen & in manners/ Anothir skill is for Irisshmen dwelled there sometime Beda li. j Out of Irlonde that is the proper country of scots come Irisshmen with her duke that was called Renda/ And with love and with strength made 'em chief sees and cities besides the picts in the northside/ Gir. Now thee land is shortly called Scotland of scots that come out of Irlonde & reigned therein CCC. xv. year unto the read william's time that was Malooline brother/ R/ Many evydencis we have of this scotland/ that it is oft called and height hibernia as ireland doth/ Therefore Beda libro. ij. ca xj. saith that laurence Archebisshopp of dunbar was archebisshopp of scots that dwelled in an Ilonde that heat hibernia & is next to Britain/ Also Beda li. iij. ca xxvij. saith/ Pestilence of mowyn bore down hibernia/ Also libro tercio ca ij. saith that the Scots that dwelled in the south side of hibernia Also libro quar to ca iij. be se●th that chadde was a youngling and learned the rule of monks in hibernia/ Also li. iiij. ca xxij. Egfridus king of nurthumberland destroyed hibernia/ Also li. iiij. ca xv. The mosto deal of scots in hibernia/ And in the same chapter he chepeth hibernia properly named/ that west Ilonde is an hundred mile from every Britain/ and departeth with the see between/ and called hibernia that country that now is called scotland/ there he telleth that Adamuan abbot of this Ilonde sailed to hibernia for to teach Irisshmen the lawful esterday/ And atte last come again in to scotland/ Ysidorus ethi. li. xiv. Men of this scotland been named scott●s in their own language/ and picts also/ For some time her body was painted in this manner/ they would sometime with a sharp egged to be prick and fierue her own bodies/ and make thereon diverse figures and shapes and peynte hem with ink or with other painture or colour/ and because they were so printed they were called picti/ that is to say painted/ Erodotus/ Scots been light of heart/ strange and wild enough/ But by meddling of englishmen they been much amended/ they been cruel upon their enemies/ and hateth bondage most of any thing and hold for a foul sloth if a man die in his bed/ And great worship if he die in the field/ They been licell of meet and mow fast long/ And then seld when the sun is up/ And eaten flesh fissh milk and fruit more than breed/ And though they be fair of shape/ they been defouled and made unseemly enough with their own clothing/ They praise fast the usages of their own forfndres/ And despisen other men's doing/ her land is fruit full enough in pasture/ gardens and fields/ Giraldus de p. co●● xv. ij. The princes of Scots as the kings of spain been not wont to been anointed ne crowned/ In this scotland is solemp ne and great mind of saint Andrew the apostle/ For saint Andrew had the north contreres of the world scytes and Pictes to his lot for to preach and convert the people to Cristes' believe And at the last he was martyred in Achaia in grecia in a city that was named Patras/ And his bones were kept two ninety two and seventy year unto Constantinus the Emperonrs time/ And then they were translated in to Constantinople and kept there C. x. yece unto Theodostus themperors time Then ungust king of picts in scotland destroyed a great party of britain and was beset with a great host of britons in a field called mark/ & he herd saint Andrew speak to him in this manner/ Vngus ungꝰ here thou me Christ's apostle I promise the help & succour/ when thou hast overcomen thine enemies by my help/ thou shalt give the this de debe of thine beritage in alms to god almighty & in worship of saint Andrew/ and the sign of the cross went to fore his host and the third day he had victory and so turned home again/ and dealed his heritage as he was boden/ And for he was uncertain what cite he should deal for saint Andrew/ he fasted three days/ he & his men prayed saint Andrew that he would show him what place he would cheese/ And one of the wardens that kept the body of saint Andrew in Constantinople was warned in his sweven that he should go in to a place whither an angel would lead him/ & so he come in to scotland with seven. fellows to the top of an hill named Ragmund/ The same hour light of heaven bishone and biclipped the king of picts/ that was coming with his host to a place called Carceuan/ There anon were heeled many seek men There met with the king Regulus the monk of Constantinople with the relics of saint Andrew/ There is founded a church in worship of saint Andrew that is heed of all the churches in the land of picts that is Scotland/ To this church comen pilgrims out of all lands/ There was Regulus first abbot & gathered monks/ And so all the tienthe land that the king had assigned him/ he depart it in diverce places among abbeys   

¶ Of the description of Irland Ca xxij.  
HYbernia that is Irlonde/ And was of old time incorpe●ate in to the lordship of Britain so saith Giraldus in sua toppogravia/ Where he discriveth it at full/ Yet it is worthy and seemly to praise that land with larger praising/ for to come to cheer and full knoweleche of that land these titles that follow open the weigh/ Therefore I shall tell of the place and stete of that land how great and what manner land it is/ whereof y●●●●de hath plenty/ and whereof it hath defaute/ also of what men that dwelled therein first/ Of manners of men of that land/ Of the wonders of that land/ aod of worthiness of hallows and saints of that land   

¶ Of the bounding of ireland Ca/ twenty-three.  
IRloud is the last of all the west Ilondes & hihte hibernia of one hiberus of spain that was hermonius brother/ for these two brethren gate & won that land by conquest/ Or it is called hibernia of that river hiberus that is m the west end of spain/ & that land heihte scotlond also/ for scots dwelled there sometime ere they come in to that other scotland that longed to Britain/ Therefore it is written in the Martiloge/ Such a oay in scotland saint Bride was borne/ & that was in Irlonde/ This land hath in the southeast side spain three days sailing thence a side half/ & hath in the est side the more britain thence a days sailing in the west side it hath the endless Ocean/ and in the northside Iselond three days sailing thence/ Solinus/ But the see that is between britain & Irlonde is all the year full of great wawes & uneasy/ so that men may seld sail si●●●ly between/ that see is C. xx mybe broad   

¶ Of the gretnrs & quality of that land Capitulo. xxiv.  
IRlonde is an Ilonde greatest after britain/ and stretcheth norward from brendans hills unto the land Columbina & containeth viij. days journeys/ every journey of xl. mile/ and from develin to patrick hills & to the see in that side in breed four journeys/ and Irlonde is nawwer in the middle than in th'ends/ all othirwyse than britain is/ as Irlonde is shorter northward than britayne/ so is it longer southward/ the land is not plain but full of mountains of hills of woods of marsh and of mores/ The land is soft rainy windy & lowr by the ser side & within hilly & sondy/ Solinus/ theridamas is great plenty of noble pasture & of lose/ therefore the beasts must be often driven out of their pasture be'st they ●te overmuch for they should shend 'em self if they might eat at their will/ Girald men of that land have commonly their health and strangers have oft a perilous flux because of the moisture of the meet/ The flesh of ●●ren is there wholesome/ and swines flesh unwholesome/ Men of that land have no fever but only the fever ague & that right seld Therefore the wholesomeness & health of that land & the cleanness out of venom is worth all the host & richesse of trees of herbs of spycerie/ of rich clotheses/ & of precious stones of the est lands The can●e of the health & holsomnrs of that land is the attenꝑate heat & cold that is therein In quibus rebus sufficit In this land been more kine than oxen/ more pasture than corn/ more grass than seed/ There is great plenty of salmon/ of lampreys/ of Eelis and of other see fissh/ Of eagles of crane's/ of peacock's/ of curlewes/ of sparhawks/ of goshawks and of gentle falcons/ Of wolves and right shrewd mice/ There been attercoppes/ blood soukers and ecftes that done none harm/ There been fairs little of body and full hardy and strong/ There been bernacles fowls like to wild ghees/ which grown wonderly upon trees/ at it were nature wrought again kind/ men of religion eateth bernacles on fastingdayes because they been not engendered with flesh/ wherein as me thinketh they err/ for reason is against that/ For if a man had eaten of Adam's beg he had eaten flesh/ and yet Adam was not engendered of father and mother/ But that flesh come wonderly of th'earth/ and so this flesh cometh wonderly of the tree In this land is plenty of honey and of milk of wine and of vyneyerdes/ Solinus and Ysidorus written that Irlonde hath no bees/ nevertheless it were better written that Irlonde had ●ees and no vynyerdes Also Beda saith that there is great hunting to roobuckes And it is know that there been none/ It is no wonder of Beda for he saw never that land/ but some man had told him such tales/ Also there groweth that stone Saxagonus and is called Iris also as it were the rain bow/ if that stone be hold against the son a none it shall shape a rainbow/ there is also founden a stone that is called gagates and white margery pearls   

¶ Of the defaults of the land Ca xxv  
WHete corns been there full small uneath yclensed with man's hand/ Reserved men/ all beasts been smaller there than in other lands/ Theridamas lacketh well nigh all manner fish of fresh water that is not gendrid in the see There lacken unkind faucons/ gerfaucons/ partrychis fesaunte/ nightingals & pies/ There lacken also roe and buck and Ilespiles wonts and other venomous beasts/ Therefore sommen feign and that favourably that saint patrick cleansed that land of worms and of venomous beasts/ but it is more probable and more skilful that this land was from the beginning always without such worms/ for venomous beasts and worms dyen there anon if men bring 'em thither out of other lands And also venom and poison brought thither out of other lands losen their malice as soon as it passeth the middle of the see/ Also poudr● and earth of that land cast & sawen in other lands driven away worms so farforth that if a turf of that land be put about a worm/ it slayeth him or maketh him thrill the erthhe for tescape away/ In that land cocks crow but little to fore day/ so that the first crowing of cocks in that land and the third in other lands been like far to fore the day   

¶ Of them that first inhabited Irlonde Ca xxuj.  
GYraldus saith that Casera Nors' niece dread the flood and fled with three men and thirty women in to that Ilonde and dwelled therein first the last year tofore noah's flood/ But afterward Bartholanus Seres son that come of japhet noah's son come thither with his three sons by hap or by craft/ CCC. year after noah's flood and dwelled there and increased to the number of ix. M. men/ And afterward for stench of ka●●eyns of giants that they had killed they deyden all save one Ruanuz that lived a thousand and V C. year unto saint patriks time/ and informed the holy man of the foresaid men and of all their doyngiss and deeds/ Thenne the third time come thither Nymeth out of scicia with his four sons and dwelled there two hundred year and xuj. And at last of his offspring by diverse mishaps of wars and of moreyne they were clean destroyed and the land left wide CC. year after/ The fourth time five dukes that were brethren/ Gandius/ Genandus/ Saganduis/ Ruth●ragus/ Slaviꝰ/ of the foresaid Nimethis' successors come out of Grece and occupied that land and dealed it in five parties/ And every party contained xxij. candredes/ A candrede is a country that containeth an hundred towns/ And they set a stone in the middle of the land as it were in the navel and beginning of five kingdoms Atte last Slavius was made king of all the land/ The fifth time when this nation was thirty. year together they wax feeble Four noble men that were Millesius the kings sons come out of spain with many other in a navy of lx. ships/ And two of the worthiest of these four brethren that heat Hiberus and Hermon dealed the land between 'em twain/ But afterward covenant was broken between hem both and Hiberus was slawe/ Thenne Hermon was king of all that land/ And from his time to the first patriks time were kings of that nation C. xxxj. And so fro the coming of the hybermensis unto the first patrick were a M. year & viij. C. They had that name hibermences and hibernia of the foresaid hiberus or else of hiberus a river of spain/ they were called also Gaytels and scots/ of one gaytelus that was phenius nephew/ This gaytelus coude speak many languages/ after the languages that were made at nemproths tour/ and wedded one scotta phawes daughter/ Of these dukes come the hibermensis/ Men say that this gaytelus made the Irissh language and called it gaytelaf as it were a language gathered/ of all languages and tongues/ Atte last Belinus king of Britain had a son hihte gurguncius/ As this Gurguncius come out of denmark at Ilondes Orcades/ he fond men that were called basclensis and were come thither out of spain/ these men prayed and besought for to have place to dwell inn/ And the king sent 'em to Irlonde that was tho wide and waste/ and ordained and sent with hem dnkes and captains of his own/ And so it seemeth that Irlonde should long to Britain by right of old time/ From the first saint patrick unto Fedliundius the kings time CCCC. year/ reigned xxxiij. kings everich after other in Irlonde/ In this Fedliundius time Turgesius duke and captain of Norweyes brought thither men of Norweye and occupied that land and made in many places deep ditches & castles single double and triple and many wards strongly walled/ and many thereof stand yet all hole/ but Irisshmen recche not of castles/ for they take woods for castles and marsh and mores for castle ditches/ But at last Turgesius died by guileful wiles of women/ and englishmen say that Gurmundus won Irlonde & made thilk ditches/ and make no mention of Turgesias/ and Irisshmen speak of turgesius and know not of Gurmundus Therefore it is to weet that gurmundus had won britayne & dwelled therein/ and send Turgesius with great strength in to Irlonde for to win that land/ and because Turgesius was captain & leader of that voyage & journey and seen among them Therefore Irisshmen speak moche of him as a noble man that was seen in that land and known/ Atte last when Gurmundus was slain in france/ Turgesius loved the kings daughter of meet in Irlonde/ & her father behihte Turgesius that he would send her him to the low larherin with xv. maidens And Turgesius promised to meet there with xv. of the noblest men that he had/ and held covenant and thought no guile/ but there come xv. young berdles men clothed like women with short swords under her clotheses/ & fill on Turgesius & slow him right there and so he was traitoursly slain after he had reigned thirty. year/ Not long after three brethren Amelanus Siracus & juorus come in to ireland with her men out of Norwey as it had been for soue of peace and of marchandyfe and dwelled by the see sides by assent of Irisshmen/ that were always idle as Paul'S knights/ And the Norway's bilded three cities/ Develin Waterford and lymerich and encreced and after wax rebel against men of that land and brought first sparths in to ireland/ So fro Turgesius time unto Rotheriks' time king of Connaccia that was the last that was king of all the land were xvij. kings in Irlonde And so the kings that reigned in Irlonde from the first hermons time unto the last Rotheriks time were in all an C. lxxxj. kings that were not crowned nethir anointed ne by law of heritage/ but by might mastery and by strength of arms The second harry king of england made this Rotherik subgete the year of king harry's age forty/ and of his reign xvij/ the year our lord xj. C. lxxij.   

¶ Of the conditions and manners of Irisshmen Ca xxvij.  
SOlinus saith that men of this land been strange of nation houseles and great fighters/ and account right & wrong all for one thing/ and been single of clothing/ scarce of meet cruel of heart/ angri of speech/ and drinketh first blood of deed men that been slain/ and then wesshen their visages there with and hold 'em paid with flesh & fruit in stead of meet and with milk in stead of drink/ And usen moche playing Idleness and hunting and travail but little In their childhood they been hard nourished and hard fed and they be unfemely of manners and of clothing and have breach and hosen alone of wool & straight hoods that stretcheth a cubit over the shoulders behind and foldinges in stead of mantles & of cloaks/ Also they use no saddles/ boots ne spurs when they ride/ but they drive their horses with a chambered yard in the over end/ In stead of bits with trenches & of badles of reest/ they use bridles that let not their horse to eat their meet/ They fight unarmed naked in body/ nevertheless with ij. darts & spears/ & with broad sparths they fight with one hand/ These men forsake tilling of land and keepen pasture for beasts/ they use long herds & long locks hanging down behind her hedes/ They use no craft of flax/ of wool/ of metal/ ne of marchan dice/ but give 'em to Idleness & to sloth/ & reckon roast for liking and freedom for richesses/ And though scotlond the daughter of Illonde use harp timber & talour/ nevertheless Irisshmen be cunning in two manner instrumentis of mustke/ in harp & timber that is armed with wire & strenges of brass/ In which instrumentis though they plaxe hastily & swiftly they make right merry harmony & melody with thick tewnes werbles & notes/ & begin frombemol & playen secretly under dime son in the great strenges/ & torn again unto the same/ so that the greatest party of the craft hideth the craft/ as it would seem as though the craft so hid should be ashamed if it were take/ These men 〈◊〉 of evil manners in her living/ they pay no tithings they wed lawfully/ they spare not their alyes/ but the brother wedded the brothers wife/ they been busy for to betray her neyhbours & other/ they here sparths in their lands in stead of staves & fight against them/ that trust most to them/ These men been variable and unsteadfast trechours & guileful who that dealeth with them/ needeth more to beware of guile/ than of craft of pecs than of brenning brands/ of honey than of gall/ of malice than of knighthood/ they have such manners that they been not strong in were & in battle ne true in pecs/ they become gossibs to them/ that they well falsely betray in the gossibrede and holy kindred/ everich drinketh others blood when it is shed They love somedeal her norice & her pleyfers which that suck the same milk that they soaked while they were children/ And they pursue their brethren their cousin's/ and their other kin/ And despisen their kin whiles they live/ and avenge their death when they been slain/ So long hath the usage of evil custom endured among them/ that it hath gotten the mastery over them & turneth treason in to kind so farforth that they been traitors by nature/ And aliens and men of strange lands that dwell among them followen their manners that uneath there is none but he is bismytted with their treason also/ Among them many men pissen sitting and women standing/ There been many men in that land foul shapen in lymives and in body/ For in their limbs they lak the benefice of kind So that no where been none better shapen than they that been there well shapen/ and none worse shapen than they that been evil shapen/ And skilfully nature hurt & defouled by wickedness of living bringeth forth such foul grooms & evil shapen of bein that with unlawful dealing with foul manners & evil living so wickedly defouleth kind & nature In this land & in wales old wyuce & women were wont & been yet as men say oft for to shape themself in likeness of hares for to milk their neighbours kine and steel her milk/ And oft greyhounds rennen after them and poursiewe them and weenen that they be hares Also some by craft of Nygromancie maken fat swine for to be read of colour and sell them in markettis & in fairs/ But assoon as these swine pass any water they torn in to their own kind whether it be straw hay grass or turfs But these swine may not be kept by no craft for tendure in likeness of swine over three days Among these wonders & other take heed that in the uttermost end of the world falleth oft new marvels and wonders/ As though kind played with larger love secretly & fex in th'ends/ that openly & neyh the middle/ therefore in this Ilonde been many grisly wonders and marvels   

¶ Of the marvels & wonders of Irlonde Ca xxviij.  
MAny men tell that in the northside of Irlonde is the land of life/ In that Ilonde noman may die/ but when they been old and been vexed with great sickness/ they been born out in to the next land and die there/ There is another Ilonde in Irlonde that no woman therein may bear a child/ but yet she may conceive/ Also there is an Ilonde in which no deed body may rotten In ultonia that is vlster is an Ilonde in a lake wonderly departed in twain/ In that one party is great disturbance & descomfort of fiends/ and in that other party great liking and comfort of holy angels/ There is also saint patriks purgatory that was showed at his prayers to confirm his preaching & his lore when he preached to misbelieved men of sorrow & pain that evil men should suffer for her wicked wirkes/ And of joy and of bliss that good men shall receive for her holy deeds/ he telleth that who that suffereth the pains of the purgatory/ if it be enjoined him for penance/ he shall never suffer the pains of hell/ but he die finally without repetaunce of sin/ as the ensample is set more full/ at this chapters end/ Treuisa/ But truly noman/ may be saved but if he be veri repentant what somever penance he do/ and every man that is very repentant at his lives end/ shall be sickerly saved/ though he never here of saint patriks purgatory/ There is an Ilonde in Connacte Salo/ that is in the see of Conaccia/ halewed by saint Brandan/ that hath no mice/ there deed bodies been not buried/ but been kept out of th'earth & rotten not/ In mamonia is a well/ who that washeth him with that water of that well/ he shall wax whore on his heed/ There is another well in ultonia/ who somever is washen therein he shall never wax whore afterward/ There is a well in Mounstre or Momonia/ if any man touch that well anon shall fall great rain in all the province/ & that rain shall never cease till a priest that is a clean maid sing a mass in a chapel fast by & bless the water/ And with milk of a cow that is of one here bespringe the well/ & so reconcile the well in this strange manner At Glindalcan about the oratory of saint keywyn with ges berith apples as it were apple trees/ and been more wholesome than sau●ry/ That holy saint brought forth these apples by prayers for to hele his child that was seek/ There is a lake in blster and moche fissh therein/ which is thirty. mile in length and fourteen in breed The River Ban runneth out of that lake in to the north Ocean/ And men say that this lake began in this manner/ There were men in that country that were of evil living/ coeuntes cum brutis/ And there was a well in that land in great reverence of old time/ and alway covered/ and if it were left uncovered the well would use and drown all the land/ And so it happened that a woman went to that well for to fecche water and hihed her fast to her child that wept in the cradle/ and left the well uncovered/ then the well sprung so fast that it drowned the woman and her child and made all the country a lake and a fisshponde/ For to prove that this is soothe it is a great argument/ that when the weather is clear/ fishers of that water see in the ground under the water round touris and hihe shapen as steeples and churches of that land In the northside of Irlonde in the country of ossiriens/ every seven. year at the prayer of an holy Abbot/ twain that been wedded a man and a woman most needs been exiled & forshapen in to likeness of wolves and abide out seven. year/ And at end of seven. year if they live they come home again and take again their own shape/ and then shall other twain go forth in their stead/ and so for shapen for other seven. year/ There is a lake in this land if a pool of tree be pight and styked therein that part of the shaft or pool that is in th'earth shall torn in to iron/ And that part that abideth in the water/ shall torn in to stone/ And the part that abideth above shall be tree in his own kind/ Also there is a lake that turneth hazel into ash and ash in to hazel/ if it be done therein/ Also in Irlonde 〈◊〉 three salmon leepes/ there as salmons leap against a roche a long ●●●res length Also in lagenia is a pond there he seen colmans birds/ the birds been cleped certelles and come homely to man's hand/ but if men do 'em wrong or harm/ they go away and come not again/ and the water there shall wax bitter and stink/ And he that died the wrong shall not a start without wretch and mischief but if he do amendss/ R/ As touching patriks purgatory/ ye shall understand that the second saint Patrick that was Abbot and not bishop while he preached in Irlonde labourid and studied for to torn thilk wicked men that lived as beasts out of her evil life for dread of pains of bell/ and for to confirm 'em in good life/ and they saide they would not torn but some of them might know somewhat of the great pains/ and also of bliss that he spoke of/ Thenne saint patrick prayed to god almighty therefore/ and our lord Jesus' christ appeared to saint patrick 〈…〉 him a n1 and lad him in to a wild place and she●●d hi● there a round pit that was dark within & said/ that if a man were veri repentant and stable of believe and went in to this pit/ and walked therein a day and a night/ he should see the sorrows and the pains of evil men/ and the joy and bliss of good men Thenne christ vanished out of patriks sight/ and saint Patrick areared and builded there a church and put therein Canons regular & closed the pit about with a wall/ & is now in the church yard at East end of the church/ & fast shut with a strong door/ For noman should nicely go in without leave of the bishop/ or of the prior of the place/ Many men went in and come out again in patriks time and told of pains & joy that they had seen- and the marvels that they saw been there yet written And because thereof many men turned & were converted to right believe/ Also many men went in and come never again/ In king Stephen's time king of Englond a knight that hihte Owayne went in to saint patriks purgatory and come again and dwelled ever after during his life in the needs of th'abbey of ludensis that is of th'order of Cistews and told many wonders that he had seen in patriks purgatory/ The place is called Patriks purgatory and the church is named reglis/ Noman is enjoined for to go in to that purgatory/ But counciled that he should not come therein but take upon him other penance/ And if a man have avowed and be stable and will need too therein/ he shall first god to the bishop & then he shall be sent with letters to the prior of 〈◊〉 place & they both shall council him to leave/ & if he will needs 〈◊〉 thereto he shall be in prayers & in fasting xv. days/ and after 〈◊〉 he shall be houseld & led to the door of the purgatory with procession and litany/ and yet he shall be counceilled to leave it/ and if he be steadfast and will entre/ the door shall be opened and he y blessed & go in on God's name/ and hold forth his way/ and the door shall be fast shut till the next day/ and when the time is the prior shall come & open the door/ and if the man be comen he bedeth him in to the church with procession/ and there he shall be xv. daye● in prayers and fasting   

¶ Of the marvels of saints of Irlonde Ca xxix.  
HEre Giraldus maketh mind that as men of this nation been more angri than other men & more hasty for to take wretch whiles they been a live/ so saints and halowies of this land been more wrechefull than saints of other lands/ clerks of this land been chaste & say many prayers & done great abstinence a day/ and drinketh all night/ so that is accounted for a miracle/ that lechery reigneth not there as wine reigneth/ and they that been evil of them been worst of all other/ So good men among them though they be but few/ been good at best Prelates of that country been but slow in correction of trespass/ and busy in contemplation and not in preaching of God's word/ Therefore it is that all the saints of that land been confessors and no martyr among them/ and no wonder/ for all the prelate's of this land been chosen out of abbeys in to the clergy/ and done as monks should/ what clerks and prelate's should do is to them unknown/ therefore when it was put against the bishop of Cassyll how it might be that so many saints been in Irlonde and never a martyr among 'em all sith that the men been so shrewd and so angri/ and the prelate's so reckless and slow in corrections of trespass/ The bishop answered feowa dly enough and said/ our men been shrewd & angri ynouh to hem self/ but to god's servants they beye never hand but do to hem great reverence and worship/ But englishmen come in to this land that kan make martyrs/ and were wont to use that craft/ R/ The bishop said so because that king harry the second was though new comen in to Irlonde freshly after the martyrdom of saint Thomes of Caunterbury/ Gir. in this land in wales and in scotland been bells and staves with crooked hedes & other such things for relics in great reverence & worship/ so that men of this land dreaden more for to swear upon any of thilk bells and gold staves than upon the gospel/ The chief of all such relics is hold Ihus staff/ that is at develin/ with the which staff they say that the first saint patrick drove the worms out of Irlonde/ Augus. de. ci. dei ca seven. If men ask how it may be that diverse manner beasts & of diverse kind that been kindly gotten between male & female come & been in Ilondes after noah's flood/ Men supposen that such beasts swam in to Ilondes about. and first to the next & so forth into other/ Or else men seylling in to Ilondes brought with 'em such beasts for love of hunting/ or angels at god almyghties commandment brought such beasts in to Ilondes about/ or the earth brought hem forth first & fulfilled though god's commandment/ that commanded the earth to bring forth grass & quick beasts.  
Here endeth the description of Britain the/ which containeth england wales and scotland/ & also because Irlonde is under the rule of england & of old time it hath so continued therefore I have set the description of the same after the said brituyne/ which I have taken out of Policronicon/ And because it is necessary to all englishmen to know the properties commodities & marvels of them/ therefore I have set them in enprinte according to the translation of Crevisa/ which at request of the lord Barkeley translated the book of Policronicon in to englissh/ Fyny●●hed by me william Carton the xviij. day of August the year of our lord god M. CCCC. lxxx. and the xx. year of the reign of king Edward the fourth.