[Sidenote: 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.
[Sidenote: 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
[Sidenote: Longest day.]
middle of latitude, I product Caerlile and Newcastell vpon Tine,
(whose longest day consisteth of sixteene houres, 48. minuts) and for
the longitude, Newberie, 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.
[Sidenote: The compasse of Britaine.]
Touching the length and bredth of the same, I find some variance
amongst writers: for 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.
[Sidenote: 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.
[Sidenote: 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, Nonantum, 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.
[Sidenote: 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.