not then why, about Marseilles, Greek was so respected, nor why in the Romaunt French now snch Hellenisms are: here you see apparent original of it; yet conclude, upon the former reasons, that the Druids and Gauls used a peculiar tongue, and very likely the same with the now Welsh, as most learned Camden hath even demonstrated; although I know some great scholars

there are, which still suspend their judgment, and make it a doubt, as ever things of such antiquity will be. But (if you will) add hereto that of the famous and great lawyer Hotoman (h), who pre

sumes that the word Græcis in Cæsar's text is

crept in by ignorance of transcribers, as he well might, seeing those commentaries, titled with name of J. Cæsar, commonly published, and in divers MSS. with J. Celsus, are very unperfect, now and then abrupt, different in style, and so variable in their own form, that it hath been much feared by that great critic Lipsius (k), lest some more impolite hand hath sowed many patches of base cloth into that more rich web, as his own

metaphor expresses it. And if those characters which are in the pillars at Y-Voellas, in Denbighshire, are of the Druids, as some imagine (yet seeming very strange and uncouth) then might you more confidently concur in opinion with Hotoman. In sum, I know that Græcis literis may be taken as well for the language (as in Justin (/), I remember, and elsewhere) as for the character: but here I can never think it to be understood in any but the last sense, although you admit Cæsar's copy to be therein not interpolated. It is very justifiable which the author here implies, by slighting Cæsar's authority in British originals, in respect that he never came farther into the isle than a little beyond Thames towards Berkshire (m); although some of ours idly talk of his making the Bath, and being at Chester, as the Scotish historians most senselessly of their Julis Hoff built by him, which others refer to Vespasian (n), some affirm it a temple of the god Terminus (0) whereas it seems expressly to be built by Carausius, in time of Dioclesian, if Nennius deceive us not. But, this out my way.

(h) Franco-Gall. cap. 2. quem v. etiam ad Cæsar. Com.

(k) Elect.2. cap. 7. Epistolic. quæst. 2. cap. 2. () Hist. lib. 20. in extrema.

(m) Cæsarem si legas, tibi ipsi satisfacias, verùm & ita Leland ad Cyg. Cant. in Baln.

() Veremund. ap. Hect. Boet. hist. 3. (0) Buchanan. hist. 4. in Donaldo.

POLY-OLBION.

THE ELEVENTH SONG,

THE ARGUMENT.

The Muse, her native earth to see, Returns to England over Dee; Visits stout Cheshire, and there shows To her and hers, what England owes ; And of the nymphets sporting there In Wyrral, and in Delamere. VOL. IV.

And having put herself upon the English ground, First seizeth in her course the noblest Cestrian shore ; [yore, §. Of our great English bloods as careful here of As Cambria of her Brute's now is, or could be then; [of men. For which, our proverb calls her, Cheshire, chief S. And of our counties, place of palatine doth hold,

came,

And thereto hath her high regalities enroll'd: Besides, in many fields since conquering William Her people she hath prov'd, to her eternal fame. All, children of her own, the leader and the led, The mightiest, men of bone, in her full bosom bred: And neither of them such as cold penurious need Spurs to each rash attempt; but such as soundly feed, [they return Clad in warm English cloth; and maim'd should (Whom this false ruthless world else from their doors would spurn)

Have livelihood of their own, their ages to sustain. Nor did the tenant's pay the landlord's charge

maintain :

(From which thou tak'st thy name) fair Chester, call'd of old [did hold, §. Carlegion; whilst proud Rome her conquests here Of those her legions known the faithful station then, [Wales men; So stoutly held to tack by those near NorthYet by her own right name had rather called be, §. As her the Britons term'd, the fortress upon Dee,

Than vainly she would seem a miracle to stand, Th'imaginary work of some huge giant's hand :" Which if such ever were, tradition tells not who. But back a while, my Muse: to Weever let us go, [doth scorn; Which (with himself compar'd) each British flood His fountain and his fall, both Chester's rightly born; [doth divide, The country in his course, that clean through Cut in two equal shares upon his either side: And, what the famous flood far more than that enriches, [Wyches, The bracky fountains are, those two renowned The Nant-wych, and the North; whose either briny well,

For store and sorts of salts, make Weever to excel. Besides their general use, not had by him in vain, §. But in himself thereby doth holiness retain Above his fellow floods: whose healthful virtues taught, [sought, Hath of the sea-gods oft caus'd Weever to be For physic in their need: and Thetis oft hath [been When by their wanton sports her Ner'ides have So sick, that Glaucus' self bath failed in their

seen,

cure:

Yet Weever, by his salts, recovery durst assure. And Amphitrite oft this wizard river led

Into her secret walks (the depths profound and dread)

Of him (suppos'd so wise) the hid events to know Of things that were to come, as things done long ago.

In which he had been prov'd most exquisite to be; And bare his fame so far, that oft 'twixt him and Dee [skill. Much strife there hath arose in their prophetic But to conclude his praise, our Weever here doth will [he steers: The Muse his source to sing; as how his course Who from his natʼral spring, as from his neighb'ring meres

Sufficiently supply'd, shoots forth his silver breast, As though he meant to take directly tow'rd the

east ;

Until at length it proves he loit'reth but to play, Till Ashbrook and the Lee o'ertake him on the way, Which to his journey's end him earnestly do haste: Till having got to Wych, he taking there a taste Of her most savory salt, is, by the sacred touch, Fore'd faster in his course, his motion quicken'd much [near To North-wych: and at last, as he approacheth Dane, Whelock draws, then Crock, from that black ominous mere

Accounted one of those that England's wonders make; [Brereton's lake; Of neighbours, Blackmere nam'd, of strangers, Whose property seems far from reason's way to

stand:

For, near before his death that's owner of the land,

гасе :

By which the world her first did for a wonder note. His handmaid Howty next to Weever holds her [apace When Peever, with the help of Pickmere, makes To put in with those streams his sacred steps that tread,

Into the mighty waste of Mersey him to lead. Where, when the rivers meet, with all their stately train,

Proud Mersey is so great in ent'ring of the main, As he would make a show for empery to stand, And wrest the three-forkt mace from out grim Neptune's hand;

F

To Cheshire highly bound for that his wat'ry store, As to the grosser loughs on the Lancastrian shore. From hence he getteth Goyt down from her peakish spring,

And Bollen, that along doth nimbler Birkin bring From Maxfield's mighty wilds, of whose shagg'd Sylvans she

Hath in the rocks been woo'd, their paramour to be:

[long,

Who in the darksome holes and caverns kept her And that proud forest made a party to her wrong. Yet could not all entreat the pretty brook to stay; Which to her stream, sweet Bollen, creeps away. To whom upon their road she pleasantly reports The many mirthful jests, and wanton woodish sports

In Maxfield they have had; as of that forest's fate: Until they come at length, where Mersey for more

state

Assuming broader banks, himself so proudly bears, That at his stern approach, extended Wyrral fears, That (what betwixt his floods of Mersey, and the

Dee)

In very little time devoured he might be: Out of the foaming surge till Hilbre lifts his head, To let the foreland see how richly he had sped. Which Mersey cheers so much, that with a smiling brow [that throw He fawns on both those floods; their amorous arms About his goodly neck, and bar'd their swelling breasts: [he rests, On which whilst lull'd with ease, his pleased cheek The Naiads, sitting near upon the aged rocks, Are busied with their combs, to braid his verdant

The subtle sea-nymphs had, their Wyrral's love to win.

But Weever now again to warn them doth begin To leave these trivial toys, which inly he did hate, That neither them beseem'd,nor stood with his estate (Being one that gave himself industriously to know What monuments our kings erected long ago: To which, the flood himself so wholly did apply, As though upon his skill, the rest should all rely) And bent himself to show, that yet the Britons bold,

Whom the laborious Muse so highly had extoll'd, Those later Saxon kings excell'd not in their deeds, And therefore with their praise thus zealously proceeds;

"Whilst the celestial powers th' arrived time attend, [end, When o'er this general isle the Britons' reign should And for the spoiling Pict here prosp'rously had wrought,

waste

Into th' afflicted land which strong invasion brought, And to that proud attempt, what yet his power might want, [supplant, The ill-disposed Heavens, Brute's offspring to Their angry plagues down pour'd, insatiate in their [struction haste.) (Needs must they fall, whom Heaven doth to deAnd that which lastly came to consummate the rest, [press'd Those prouder Saxon powers (which liberally they Against th' invading Pict, of purpose hired in) From those which paid them wage, the island soon did win;

And sooner overspread, being masters of the field; Those, first for whom they fought, too impotent

to wield

A land within itself that had so great a foe;

And therefore thought it fit them wisely to bestow; Which over Severn here they in the mountains shut, [they put. And some upon that point of Cornwal forth Yet forced were they there their stations to defend. “Nor could our men permit the Britons to descend [as high, From Jove or Mars alone; but brought their blood §. From Woden, by which name they styled Mercury. [fore,

Nor were the race of Brute, which ruled here beMore zealous to the gods they brought unto this shore,

Than Hengist's noble heirs; their idols that to raise, [days. §. Here put their German names upon our weekly "These noble Saxons were a nation hard and strong,

On sundry lands and seas in warfare nuzzled long; Affliction throughly knew; and in proud fortune's spite, [might:

Even in the jaws of death had dar'd her utmost Who under Hengist first, and Horsa, their brave chiefs,

From Germany arriv'd, and with the strong reliefs Of th' Angles and the Jutes, them ready to supply, Which anciently had been of their affinity, By Scythia first sent out, which could not give them meat, [seat. Were forc'd to seek a soil wherein themselves to

*See, concerning their coming, to the 1st, 4th, and 8th songs.

In Kent; where his great heirs, ere other princes
Of Saxony's descent, their fulness to oppose,
With swelling Homber's side their empire did con-
fine.

And of the rest, not least renowned of their line,
§. Good Ethelbert of Kent, th' first christ'ned En-
glish king,
[bring

To preach the faith of Christ, was first did hither Wise Augustine the monk, from holy Gregory sent. This most religious king, with most devout intent, That mighty fane to Paul, in London did erect, And privileges gave, this temple to protect.

"His equal then in zeal, came Ercombert again, From that first christ'ned king, the second in that reign.

The gluttony then us'd severely to suppress, And make men fit to prayer (much hinder'd by excess)

§. That abstinence from flesh for forty days bezan, Which by the name of Lent is known to every

thereby

Directly to the south, did properly obtain The Southern Saxons' name; and not the last [archy: Amongst the other reigns which made the heptSo in the high descent of that South-Saxon king, We in the bead-roll here of our religious bring Wise Ethelwald: alone who Christian not became, But willing that his folk should all receive the name, [receiv'd §. Saint Wilfrid (sent from York) into this realm (Whom the Northumbrian folk had of his see bereav'd)

And on the south of Thames, a seat did him afford, By whom that people first receiv'd the saving word. "As likewise from the loins of Erchinwin (who [be prais'd: Th' East-Saxons' kingdom first) brave Sebert may Which, as that king of Kent, had with such cost

rais'd

and state

Built Paul's; his greatness so (this king to imitate) Began the goodly church of Westminster to rear; The primer English kings so truly zealous were.

surpass,

"Then Sebba of his seed, that did them al Who fitter for a shrine than for a scepter was, (Above the power of flesh, his appetite to starve That his desired Christ he strictly might observe) Even in his height of life, in health, in body strong, Persuaded with bis queen, a lady fair and young, To separate themselves, and in a sole estate, After religions sort themselves to dedicate.

"Whose nephew Uffa next, inflam'd with his high praise

(Enriching that proud fane his grandsire first did raise)

Abandoned the world he found so full of strife,
And after liv'd in Rome a strict religious life.

Sebba, a monk in Paul's.

3

came;

Who sharing out themselves a kingdom in the east,

[vest, With th' Eastern Angles' name their circuit did inBy Uffa in that part so happily begun : [won Whose successors the crown for martyrdom have From all before or since that ever suffer'd here; §. Redwald's religious sons: who for their Saviour dear,

By cruel heathenish hands unmercifully slain, Amongst us evermore remember'd shall remain, And in the roll of saints must have a special room, Where Derwald to all times with Erpenwald shall [succeeds,

come.

"When in that way they went, next Sebert them Scarce seconded again for sanctimonious deeds: Who for a private life when he his rule resign'd, And to his cloyster long had strictly bim confin'd, A corslet for his cowl was glad again to take, His country to defend (for his religion's sake) Against proud Penda, com'n with all his Pagan

power,

Those christ'ned Angles then of purpose to devour: And suff'ring with his folk, by Penda's heathenish pride,

As he a saint had liv'd, a constant martyr dy'd. When, after it fell out, that Offa had not long [wrong, Held that by cruel force, which Penda got by §. Adopting for his heir young Edmond, brought him in, [win: Even at what time the Danes this island sought to Who christ'ned soon became, and as religious grown As those most heathenish were who set him on his

throne,

Did expiate in that place his predecessors' guilt, Which so much Christian blood so cruelly had spilt. Por, taken by the Danes, who did all tortues try, His Saviour Jesus Christ to force him to deny; First beating him with bats, but no advantage got, His body full of shafts then cruelly they shot; The constant martyr'd king, a saint thus justly crown'd.

To whom even in that place, that monument renown'd

Those after-ages built to his eternal fame.
What English hath not heard Saint Edmond

Bury's' name?

"As of those Angles here, so from their loins again, [Sexian reign, Whose hands hew'd out their way to the West(From Kenrick, or that claim from Cerdick to descend)

A partnership in fame great Ina might pretend
With any king since first the Saxons came to shore.
Of all those christ'ned here, who highlier did adore
The Godhead, than that man? or more that did
apply

His power t' advance the church in true sincerity?
Great Glastonbury then so wondrously decay'd,
Whose old foundation first the ancient Britons laid,
He gloriously rebuilt, enriching it with plate,
And many a sumptuous cope, to uses consecrate :

* In Suffolk.

And had a conquest first of the Northumbrians

made,

And tributary long of mightier Hengist held, Till Ida (after born) the Kentish power expell'd, And absolutely sat on the Dierian seat, But afterward resign'd to Ethelfrid the Great ; An army into Wales who for invasion led, At Chester and in fight their forces vanquished; Into their utter spoil, then public way to make, The long religious house of goodly Bangor brake, §. And slew a thousand monks, as they devoutly For which his cruel spoil upon the Christians made pray'd. (Though with the just consent of Christian Saxons slain) [distain. His blood, the heathenish hands of Redwald did That murderer's issue next, this kingdom were exild:

And Edwin took the rule; a prince as just and [mild As th' other faithless were: nor could time ever In all the seven-fold rule an absoluter king; bring And more t' advance the faith, his utmost power that lent:

§. Who re-ordained York a bishop's government; And so much lov'd the poor, that in the ways of trade,

Where fountains fitly were, he iron dishes made, And fast'ned them with chains the way-farer to ease, [pease. And the poor pilgrim's thirst, there resting, to ap"As Mercia, 'mongst the rest, sought not the

least to raise The saving Christian faith, nor merits humbler [praise. §. Nor those that from the stem of Saxon Creda

came

For piety and zeal, behind the others best; (The Britons who expulst) were any whit in fame, Though heath'nish Penda long and proudly did infest The christ'ned neighbouring kings, and forc'd them [all to bow; Till Oswy made to God a most religious vow, Of his abundant grace would he be pleas'd to grant, That he this Paynim prince in battle might supplant A recluse he would give his daughter and delight, Sweet Alfled then in youth, and as the morning, bright:

And having his request, he gave as he obtain'd; Though his unnatural hands succeeding Wulpher stain'd [had

In his own children's blood, whom their dear mother §. Confirm'd in Christ's belief, by that most re

verend Chad: