gan. ~ This Queen of Iflands was at firft called Albion, either from Albion Mareoticus, who feated himself herein, or ab albis rupibus, from the white Rocks, appearing towards the Coaft of France; or from Olbion fig. Glamor-nifying rich or happy, in Regard of its Fertility, Temperature, and Riches. Next it was called Britain, either from the two British Words Pryd and Cain, which fignify Beauty and White; or from the Greek Word Пpulavea fignifying Metal, with which it aboundeth; or from the British Word Bryth, that is, painted, ftained, coloured (the Inhabitants of Old ufing to dye their Bodies with Woad) to which the Greeks added Tania (that is, a Region) thence called Britons Land or Britainy. At last, the Southern and beft Part of it (from the Anglo Saxons then inhabiting it) was called Angle-Land, now England, which faid Part of Britain is bounded on the Eaft with the German, on the Weft with the Irish Sea, on the South with the British Ocean, on the North with the River Tweed, and a Line drawn from it to the Solway Weltward. The longest Day in the Northern Part of England is feventeen Hours, and near thirty Minutes; and the shortest Day, in the most Southern Part thereof, almoft eight Hours long. England's Dimentions in Length, from Berswick to the Lands-End, is 3 86 Miles; in Breadth, from Sandwich to the Lands End, 279; in Compass (by Reason of many Bays and Promontories) about 1300 Miles. England, in the Romans Time, was divided into Britannia prima, containing the Sou h Part of England; Britannia fecunda, containing the Weltern Part, now called Wales; and Maxima Cæsarienfis, containing the Northern Parts beyond Trent. The firft of these, in the Britons Time, belonged to the Archbishoprick of London, the fecond to the Archbishoprick of Caerleon, and the third to the Archbishoprick of York. The Britains, or firft Inhabitants of this Ifland, were derived from the Gauls, as both their Speech, Laws, Cuftoms, and Buildings manifeft. The Story of Brute, with his Trojans, conquering this Inland in A. M. 2887, or whenever else, feems to be only a Fable of Geofrey of Monmouth's framing. Amongst the ancient Britains; none, fave the better and more civil Sort, did wear any Cloathing. They painted their bare Bodies with fundry Pictures, reprefenting all manner of living Creatures, Flowers, and the heavenly Bodies, conceiting that this made them appear the more terrible to theirEnemies. About their Waifts and Necks they wore Chains of Iron, fuppofing them to be a goodly Ornament. The Hair of their Heads they wore long, which was naturally curl'd; all other Parts they fhaved, fave the Upper Lip. Of all the Province, the Kentish were the moft civilized Perfons, by reafon of their Converfe with other Nations in trafficking and merchandizing. Their Buildings were many, and like to thofe of the Old Gauls (French) poor rude Cottages, yet did they give the Name of Towns to certain cumbersome Woods, which they fortified with Rampiers and Ditches, whither they made their Retreat and Refort, to efchew the Invafions of their Enemies. The Romans first taught them to build their Houfes of Stone. Their Wives were many, Ten or Twelve a piece, which they held .common among Parents and Brethren; yet was the Iffue reputed his only who first married the Mother when she was a Maid. The Children they brought up in common amongst them. Their Diet was fpare and mean, being Barks and Roots of Trees, and Milk; alfo a Kind of Food they had no bigger than a Bean, after the eating of which, for a confiderable Time, they did neither hunger nor thirft. They eat likewife Venifon and Fruits. Their ufual Drink was made of Barley. Their Religion was Paganih Superftition. They had many Idol Gods, and ufed Man's Flesh in their Sacrifices. They had Priefts and Intructors, the Chief of which were Druides, who were the Sacrificers, Ducuffers, and Interpeters of reli gious Matters; they decided alfo as temporal Judges almost all Controverfies in the Civil State, and fuch as refufed to land to their Judgment, they put under their Interdiction, which was accounted the moft grievous Punishment. Thefe Druides were priviledged from the Wars, and all other Burthens, Taxes, and Payments. Over all the rest of them, there was one Primate. The main Thing they laboured to perfuade Men, was, that the Soul is immortal. They taught only by Word of Mouth. The Merchandizing of the ancient Britains confifted chiefly in lvory Boxes, Sheers, Onches, Bits, and Bridles, Wreaths and Chains, with other Conceits made of Glats and Amber. And as their Merchandize was mean, fo was their Shipping alio; the Keels and Ribs whereof B 2 were Their Armour were Shields and fhort Spears, in the lower End of which Spears was faftened a round Bell of Brafs, which at the Beginning of a Fight they fhook with a great Courage, conceiting that fuch a rattling Noife did difmay the Enemy. In the Beginning of a Battle they fought in Chariots, but when they had wound themselves in amongst their Enemies, they fought on Foot, upon Occafion retiring to their Chariots, which in the mean Space that they fought on Foot, were drawn all together. They were fo expert in managing their Chariot Horfes, that running them forcibly down a fleep Hill, they could top and turn them in the Mid-way. Julius Caefar found the Ifland of Britain, not in a monarchical Eftate under one King, but divided into feveral Provinces or petty Kingdoms. The Names of which Provinces were, 1. Cantii, the Inhabitants of Kent. 2. Regni, Suffex and Surry. 3. Durotriges, Dorfetfire. 4. Danmonii, Devon and Cornwall. 5. Belga, Somerset, Wilshire and Hampshire. 6. Attrebatii, Berkshire. 7. Dobuni, Oxford and GlouceCofbire. 8. Catieuchlani, Warwick, Bucks and Bedford. 9. Trinobantes, Hertford, Effex, and Middlefex. 10. Iceni, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridge. 11. Coritani, Northampton, Lincoln, Leicefter, Rutland, Derby, and Nottingham. 12. Carnavii, Stafford, Worcef ter, Cheshire, and Shropshire. 13. Brigantes, Parifii, Lancafhire, York, Richmond, Durham, Weftmoreland, and Cumberland. 14. Ordovices, Flint, Denbigh, Merioneth, Carnarvon, and Montgomery. 15. Silures, Hereford, Radnor, Brecknock, Monmouth, and Glamorgan. 16. Pembroke, Cardigan, and Caermarthen, called Dimete. 17. Ottadini, Northumberland, Tiviotdale, Twedale, Merch, and Lothian. 18. Selgovi, Liddesdale, Euf dale, Eskdale, Annandale, and Niddifdale. 19. Novantes, Kile, Carick, Galloway, and Cunningham. 20. Fife, Renfrew, Clud/dale, Lennox, Striveling, Menteib, called Damnii. 21. Caledonii, Gadini, Perth, Strathern, Albany, Argyle, and Lorn. 22. Expedii, Cantire. 23. Vicemagi, Murray. 24. Venricones, Merina, Angus, Mar. 25. Tezali, Buqubane. 26. Cateæ, Creones, Cerontes, Raffe, Sutherland. 27. Carnonace, Carini, Cornabii, Strathnaver. 28. Simerte, Logi, Caithness. The 1 The most memorable KINGS of the BRITAINS, in the Times of the ROMANS. in Mandubrace, a Prince of the Trinobantes, who after that he was beaten out of his Country by Caffibelan, fled unto Cefar into Gallia, and was a great Incendiary against his native Land, perfuading Cæfar to make a Second Expedition into Britain. Cunobeline, Grandfon of King Lad, the chief City for whofe Refidence was Camalodunum, now called Malden in Effex, which was the principal Seat of the Kingdom. Adminius, Catracratus, and Togodumus, Sons of Cunobeline, the laft whereof made gallant Refiftance against the Romans. Cegidunus, who received in pure Gift, at the Hands of the Romans, certain Cities, over which he peaceably reigned King. Caractacus, a most renowned Prince of the Silures, who in nine Years Refiftance waded thro' many Adventures against the Romans, but at laft was betray'd and carried to Rome, where being led in Triumph, he was for the Bravénefs of his Spirit released of his Bonds, and accepted into Claudius Cæfar's Favour. Venutius, a famous King of the Brigantes. Voadicea, or Boadicea, Queen to Prafutagus, after her Husband's Death receiving Incivilities from the Romans, oppos'd herself against them, and in one Battle flew eighty thoufand of them. Those two strong Cities, Verolamium, and Camalodu num, fhe took and facked. Petillius, Lieutenant of the ninth Legion, fhe difcomfited: Catus, the Procurator, fhe forced to fly beyond the Seas. All feared the heroic Prowefs of this Princefs; but at length fhe was vanquished in Battle, when, rather than live fubject to her Foes, the poifened herself. Arviragus ftoutly withstood Clau dius. Gulgacus, a rightly valiant Prince of the Caledonians in the Time of Domitian. These were the Oppugners of Roman Power for above an hundred Years; nor were the Britains then fubdued without themselves; for their own Divifions made Way for the Romans to become their Masters, and to poffefs their Country. About the Year of the World's Creation 3913, and before the Birth of Chrift Fifty four Years, the fortunate Romans, under the Conduct of Julius Cæfar, first took Footing in Britain about Deal; and fo welcome was the News of Cafar's Landing in Britain to the Roman Senate, that they decreed unto his Honour a general Thanksgiving for twenty Days, which was the firft fo great Honour ever granted; the former greatest Victories having had but Five, or at most but Ten Days af figned them. Emperors of ROME commanding in BRITAIN, Aius Julius Cæfar was A. M. 3925 CA Forces in Gallia, when he invaded A D. after which, he affum'd the Title Small Profit with great Danger, is 17-39. and Authority of Perpetual Dictator. He was very fuccessful in War, and of a moft undaunted Spirit upon all Occafions. In Fifty leveral Battles by him fought, he always prevailed, one only excepted. Four times he was created Conful, and Five Times entred Rome in Triumph Once entring into a Boat in tempeftuous Weather, and the Waterman afraid to put forth from Shore, he thus animated him, Proceed couragioufly against the Storms, for thou carrieft Cæfar, and Cæfar's Fortunes. Ad when he was forewarn'd of the Confpiracy made a gainst him in the Senate, Houfe, and diffuaued from going thither at that Time, he answered. That he had rather die than admit Fear into his Breaft. So refolutely going to the Place, he was by Brutus, Caffias, and other Confpirators, murder'd in the Senate-Houfe, receiving in his Body Twenty three Wounds. He was bald-headed, therefore to cover it, he always wore the Triumphant Laurel Garland. Some report, that the Baths by the City of Bath were first found out by him; others fay, by an ancient British King called Bladus. For twenty Years after Cafar's coming into Britain, the Britains retain'd their own Kings and Laws, having no Roman Prefects over them. like thofe that fishing with a Golden Hook, hazard more than the Fish is worth. He died in the Embraces of his Wife Livia, of whom he took this Farewell; Livia, noflra conjugii memor vive, & vale. A. D. Laudius Tiberius Nero CL 17. was ordained by Auguf tus for his Succeffor. Such an impudent Letcher he was, that he caused naked Women and Maidens to bring in, and attend him at Supper. Such a notorious Drunkard, that he caufed the People, inftead of Claudius Tiberius Nero, to call him Caldus Biberius Mero, a Wine-bibber. his Time the World's Saviour was crucified, about Five Years after which Time the Gofpel was planted in Britain, as faith old Gildas. This Emperor, as is conjectured, was fmothered to Death by Caligula. A. D. CA In Aius Caligula, Nephew 39. to Tiberius, was at fome Times exceeding prodigal, at other Times fordidly covetous, always cruel, proud, and libidinous: He would force rich Men to make their Wills, and therein to declare him their Heir; which when they had done, he would prefently cause them to be poifoned, fcoffing at them, and faying, That when Men had once made their Wills, it was fit they fhould die. His own Mother he defamed to be incestuously begot.;_tis Grandmother he poifoned, his Brother Tiberius he murdered; ́ his Three natural Sitters inceftuously polluted. He made himself a God, commanding that Men thould wor fhip him as fuch, and ordained his great Horfe for his Priest; but as Decius faith, Truly, a fit Prieft for fuch a God, and a fit God for fuch a Prief. Howbeit, tho' he would be |