(_To the Editor._)
To the elucidation of the word Britannia, contained in your 486th
number, I beg to add the opinion of the same author on the subject
of Albion:--
"Albion (the most ancient name of this Isle) containeth Englande and
Scotlande: of the beginning (origin) of which name haue been sundrie
opinios (opinions): One late feigned by him, which first prynted the
Englishe Chronicle,[1] wherein is neither similitude of trouth, reasone,
nor honestie: I mean the fable of the fiftie doughters of Dioclesian,
kyng of Syria, where neuer any other historic maketh mencion of a kyng
of Syria, so named: Also that name is Greke, and no part of the language
of Syria. Moreouer the coming of theim from Syria in a shippe or boate
without any marynours (mariners) thorowe (through) the sea called
_Mediterraneum_, into the occean, and so finally to finde this He, and
to inhabit it, * * * * is both impossible, and much reproche to this
noble Realme, to ascribe hir first name and habitation, to such
inuention. Another opinion is (which hath a more honeste similitude)
that it was named _Albion, ab albis rupibus_, of white rockes, because
that unto them, that come by sea, the bankes and rockes of this He doe
appeare whyte. Of this opinion I moste mervayle (marvel), because it is
written of great learned men, First, _Albion_ is no latin worde, nor
hath the analogie, that is to saie, proportion or similitude of latine.
For who hath founde this syllable _on_, at the ende of a latin woord.
And if it should have bæn (been) so called for the whyte colour of the
rockes, men would have called called it (I believe this to be a
misprint) _Alba_, or _Albus_, or Album. In Italy were townes called
Alba[2] and in Asia a countrey called Albania, and neither of them took
their beginning of whyte rockes, or walles, as ye may read in books of
geographic: nor the water of the ryuer called _Albis_, semeth any whiter
than other water. But if where auncient remembraunce of the beginning
of thinges lacketh, it may be leeful for men to use their conjectures,
than may myne be as well accepted as Plinies (although he incomparably
excelled me in wisedome e doctrine) specially if it may appéer, that
my coiecture (conjecture) shal approch more neere to the similitude
of trouth. Wherfore I will also sett foorth mine opinion onely to
the intent to exclude fables, lackyng eyther honestie or reasonable
similitudes. Whan the Greekes began first to prosper, and their cities
became populous, and wared puissaunt, they which trauailed on the seas,
and also the yles in the seas called _Hellespontus, Æigeum and Creticu_
(m), after that thei knewe perfectly the course of sailynge, and had
founden thereby profyte, they by little and little attempted to serch
and finde out the commodities of outwarde countrees: and like as
Spaniardes and Portugalls haue late doone, they experienced to seeke out
countries before unknown. And at laste passynge the streictes of
Marrocke (Morocco) they entered into the great occean sea, where they
fond (found) dyvers and many Iles. Among which they perceiuing this Ile
to be not onely the greatest in circuite, but also most plenteouse of
every necessary to man, the earth moste apte to bring forth," &c. The
learned prelate goes on to enumerate the natural advantages of our
country. He continues--"They wanderynge and reioysinge at their good and
fortunate arrival, named this yle in Greeke _Olbion_, which in Englishe
signifieth happy."
_Foley Place._