Cap. II. Of the Position, Circuit,
Forme, and Quantitie of the Ile of Britaine.
How Britaine lieth from the maine.
BRITANNIA or Britain as we now terme it in our English toong, or
Brutania as some pronounce it (by reason of the letter y in the first
syllable of the word, as antiquitie did sometime deliuer it) is an Ile
lieng in the Ocean sea, directlie ouer against that part of France
which conteineth Picardie, Normandie, and thereto the greatest part of
little Britaine, which later region was called in time past Armorica,
of the situation thereof vpon the sea coast, vntill such time as a
companie of Britons (either led ouer by some of the Romane Emperours,
or flieng thither from the tyrannie of such as oppressed them here in
this Iland) did setle themselues there, and called it Britaine, after
the name of their owne countrie, from whence they aduentured
thither. It hath Ireland vpon the west side, on the north the maine
sea, euen to Thule and the Hyperboreans; and on the east side also the
Germane Ocean, by which we passe dailie through the trade of
merchandize, not onlie into the low countries of Belgie, now
miserablie afflicted betwéene the Spanish power and popish
inquisition (as spice betweene the morter and the pestell) but also
into Germanie, Friezeland, Denmarke, and Norwaie, carrieng from hence
thither, and bringing from thence hither, all such necessarie
commodities as the seuerall countries doo yeeld: through which meanes,
and besides common amitie conserued, traffike is mainteined, and the
necessitie of each partie abundantlie reléeued.
The longitude and latitude of this Ile.
It conteineth in longitude taken by the middest of the region
19. degrees exactlie: and in latitude 53. degrées, and thirtie
min. after the opinions of those that haue diligentlie obserued the
same in our daies, and the faithfull report of such writers as haue
left notice thereof vnto vs, in their learned treatises to be
perpetuallie remembred. Howbeit, whereas some in setting downe of
these two lines, haue seemed to varie about the placing of the same,
each of them diuerslie remembring the names of sundrie cities and
townes, whereby they affirme them to haue their seuerall courses: for
my part I haue thought good to procéed somewhat after another
sort; that is, by diuiding the latest and best chards each way into
two equall parts (so neere as I can possiblie bring the same to passe)
wherby for the middle of latitude,
Longest day.
I product Caerlile and New castell vpon Tine, (whose longest day
consistetn of sixteene houres, 48. minuts) and for the longitude New
berie, Warwike Sheffield, Skipton, &c: which dealing, in mine
opinion, is most easie and indifferent, and likeliest meane to come
by the certeine standing and situation of our Iland.
Touching the length and bredth of the same, I find some variance
amongst writers: for
The compasse of Britaine.
after some, there are from the Piere or point of Douer, vnto the
farthest part of Cornewall westwards 320. miles: from thence againe to
the point of Cathnesse by the Irish sea 800. Wherby Polydore and other
doo gather, that the circuit of the whole Iland of Britaine is
1720. miles, which is full 280. lesse than Cæsar dooth set
downe, except there be some difference betwéene the Romane and
British miles, as there is indeed; wherof hereafter I may make some
farther conference.
Martianus writing of the bredth of Britaine, hath onlie 300. miles,
but Orosius hath 1200. in the whole compasse. Ethicus also agreeing
with Plinie, Martianus, and Solinus, hath 800. miles of length, but in
the breadth he commeth short of their account by 120. miles. In like
maner Dion in Seuero maketh the one of 891. miles: but the other; to
wit, where it is broadest of 289. and where it is narrowest, of
37. Finally, Diodorus Siculus affirmeth the south coast to conteine
7000. furlongs, the second; to wit, à Carione ad Promontorium
15000. the third 20000. and the whole circuit to consist of 42000 But
in our time we reckon the breadth from Douer to Cornewall not to be
aboue 300. miles; and the length from Douer to Cathnesse, no more than
500. which neuerthelesse must be measured by a right line, for
otherwise I see not how the said diuision can hold.
The forme.
The forme and fashion of this Ile is thrée-cornered, as some
have deuised, like vnto a triangle, bastard sword, wedge, or
partesant, being broadest in the south part, and gathering still
narrower and narrower, till it come to the farthest point of
Cathnesse northward, where it is narrowest of all, & there endeth
in maner of a promontorie called Caledonium & Orchas in British
Morwerydh, which is not aboue 30. miles ouer, as dailie experience by
actuall trauell dooth confirme.
Promontories of Britaine.
The old writers giue vnto the thrée principall corners,
crags, points, and promontories of this Iland, thrée seuerall
names. As vnto that of Kent, Cantium, that of Cornewall, Hellenes,
and of Scotland, Caledonium, and Orchas; and these are called
principall, in respect of the other, which are Taruisium, Nouantum,
Epidium, Gangacum, Octapites, Herculeum, Antiuesteum, Ocrinum,
Berubium, Taizalum, Acantium, &c: of which I thought good also to
leaue this notice, to the end that such as shall come after, may
thereby take occasion to seeke out their true places, wherof as yet I
am in maner ignorant, I meane for the most part; bicause I haue no
sound author that dooth leade mée to their knowledge.
The distance from the maine.
Furthermore, the shortest and most vsuall cut that we haue out of
our Iland to the maine, is from Douer (the farthest part of Kent
eastward) unto Calice a towne in Picardie 1300. miles from Rome, in
old time called Petressa and Scalas, though some like better of
blacknesse where the breadth of the sea is not aboue thirtie
miles. Which course, as it is now frequented and vsed for the most
common and safe passage of such as come into our countrie out of
France and diuers other realms, so it hath not beene vnknowne of old
time vnto the Romans, who for the most part vsed these two hauens for
their passage and repassage to and fro; although we finde, that now
and then diuerse of them came also from Bullen, and landed at
Sandwich, or some other places of the coast more toward the west, or
betweene Hide and Lid; to wit, Romneie marsh, (which in old time was
called Romania or Romanorum insula) as to auoid the force of the wind
&. weather, that often molesteth seafaringmen in these narrowe
seas, best liked them for their safegards. Betweene the part of
Holland also, which lieth néere the mouth of the Rhene and this
our Iland, are 900. furlongs, as Sosimus saith; and besides him,
diuers other writers, which being conuerted into English miles, doo
yeeld 112. and foure od furlongs, whereby the iust distance of the
neerest part of Britaine, from that part of the maine also, dooth
certeinlie appéere to be much lesse than the common maps of our
countrie haue hitherto set downe.