[Sidenote: British.]
What language came first with Samothes and afterward with Albion, and
the giants of his companie, it is hard for me to determine, sith
nothing of sound credit remaineth in writing, which may resolue vs in
[Sidenote: Small difference betweene the British
and Celtike languages.]
the truth hereof. Yet of so much are we certeine, that the speach of
the ancient Britons, and of the Celts, had great affinitie one with
another, so that they were either all one, or at leastwise such as
either nation with small helpe of interpretors might vnderstand other,
and readilie discerne what the speaker meant. Some are of the opinion
that the Celts spake Greeke, and how the British toong resembled the
same, which was spoken in Grecia before Homer did reforme it: but I
see that these men doo speake without authoritie and therefore I
reiect them, for if the Celts which were properlie called Galles did
speake Gréeke, why did Cesar in his letters sent to Rome vse that
language, because that if they should be intercepted they might not
vnderstand them, or why did he not vnderstand the Galles, he being so
skilfull in the language without an interpretor? Yet I denie not but
that the Celtish and British speaches might haue great affinitie one
with another, and the British aboue all other with the Greeke, for
both doo appéere by certeine words, as first in tri for three, march
for an horsse, & trimarchia, whereof Pausanias speaketh, for both.
Atheneus also writeth of Bathanasius a capitaine of the Galles, whose
name is méere British, compounded of Bath & Ynad, & signifieth a noble
or comelie iudge. And wheras he saith that the reliques of the Galles
tooke vp their first dwelling about Isther, and afterward diuided
themselues in such wise, that they which went and dwelled in Hungarie
were called Sordsai, and the other that inhabited within the dominion
of Tyroll) Brenni, whose seate was on the mount Brenhere parcell of
the Alpes, what else signifieth the word Iscaredich in British, from
whence the word Scordisci commeth, but to be diuided? Hereby then, and
sundrie other the like testimonies, I gather that the British and the
Celtish speaches had great affinitie one with another, as I said,
which Cesar (speaking of the similitude or likenesse of religion in
both nations) doth also auerre, & Tacitus in vita Agricolæ, in like
sort plainlie affirmeth, or else it must needs be that the Galles
which inuaded Italie and Greece were meere Britons, of whose likenes
of speech with the Gréeke toong I need not make anie triall, sith no
man (I hope) will readilie denie it. Appianus talking of the Brenni
calleth them Cymbres, and by this I gather also that the Celts and the
Britons were indifferentlie called Cymbri in their own language, or
else that the Britons were the right Cymbri, who vnto this daie doo
not refuse to be called by that name. Bodinus writing of the means by
which the originall of euerie kingdome and nation is to be had and
discerned, setteth downe thrée waies whereby the knowledge thereof is
to be found, one is (saith he) the infallible testimonie of the sound
writers, the other the description and site of the region, the third
the relikes of the ancient speech remaining in the same. Which later
if it be of any force, then I must conclude, that the spéech of the
Britons and Celts was sometime either all one or verie like one to
another, or else it must follow that the Britons ouerflowed the
continent vnder the name of Cymbres, being peraduenture associat in
this voiage, or mixed by inuasion with the Danes, and Norwegiens, who
are called Cymbri and Cymmerij, as most writers doo remember. This
also is euident (as Plutarch likewise confesseth In vita Marij) that
no man knew from whence the Cymbres came in his daies, and therfore I
beleeue that they came out of Britaine, for all the maine was well
knowne vnto them, I meane euen to the vttermost part of the north, as
may appeare furthermore by the slaues which were dailie brought from
thence vnto them, whom of their countries they called Daui for Daci,
Getæ for Gothes, &c: for of their conquests I need not make
rehearsall, sith they are commonlie knowne and remembred by the
writers, both of the Greekes and Latines.
[Sidenote: British corrupted by the Latine and Saxon speeches.]
The British toong called Camberaec dooth yet remaine in that part of
the Iland, which is now called Wales, whither the Britons were driuen
after the Saxons had made a full conquest of the other, which we now
call England, although the pristinate integritie thereof be not a
little diminished by mixture of the Latine and Saxon speaches withall.
Howbeit, manie poesies and writings (in making whereof that nation
hath euermore delited) are yet extant in my time, wherby some
difference betwéene the ancient and present language may easilie be
discerned, notwithstanding that among all these there is nothing to be
found, which can set downe anie sound and full testimonie of their
owne originall, in remembrance whereof, their Bards and cunning men
haue béene most slacke and negligent. Giraldus in praising the Britons
affirmeth that there is not one word in all their language, that is
not either Gréeke or Latine. Which being rightly vnderstanded and
conferred with the likenesse that was in old time betwéene the Celts &
the British toongs, will not a little helpe those that thinke the old
Celtish to haue some sauour of the Gréeke. But how soeuer that matter
standeth, after the British speach came once ouer into this Iland,
sure it is, that it could neuer be extinguished for all the attempts
that the Romans, Saxons, Normans, and Englishmen could make against
that nation, in anie maner of wise.
[Sidenote: The Britons diligent in petigrées.]
Petigrées and genealogies also the Welsh Britons haue plentie in their
owne toong, insomuch that manie of them can readilie deriue the same,
either from Brute or some of his band, euen vnto Æneas and other of
the Troians, and so foorth vnto Noah without anie maner of stop. But
as I know not what credit is to be giuen vnto them in this behalfe,
although I must néeds confesse that their ancient Bards were verie
diligent in there collection, and had also publike allowance or
salarie for the same; so I dare not absolutelie impugne their
assertions, sith that in times past all nations (learning it no doubt
of the Hebrues) did verie solemnelie preserue the catalogs of their
descents, thereby either to shew themselues of ancient and noble race,
or else to be descended from some one of the gods. But
Stemmata quid faciunt? quid prodest Pontice longo
Sanguine censeri? aut quid auorum ducere turmas? &c.
[Sidenote: Latine.]
Next vnto the British speach, the Latine toong was brought in by the
Romans, and in maner generallie planted through the whole region, as
the French was after by the Normans. Of this toong I will not say
much, bicause there are few which be not skilfull in the same.
Howbeit, as the speach it selfe is easie and delectable, so hath it
peruerted the names of the ancient riuers, regions, & cities of
Britaine in such wise, that in these our daies their old British
denominations are quite growne out of memorie, and yet those of the
new Latine left as most vncertaine. This remaineth also vnto my time,
borowed from the Romans, that all our déeds, euidences, charters, &
writings of record, are set downe in the Latine toong, though now
verie barbarous, and therevnto the copies and court-rolles, and
processes of courts and leets registred in the same.
[Sidenote: The Saxon toong.]
The third language apparantlie knowne is the Scithian or high Dutch,
induced at the first by the Saxons (which the Britons call Saysonaec,
as they doo the speakers Sayson) an hard and rough kind of speach, God
wot, when our nation was brought first into acquaintance withall, but
now changed with vs into a farre more fine and easie kind of
vtterance, and so polished and helped with new and milder words, that
it is to be aduouched how there is no one speach vnder the sunne
spoken in our time, that hath or can haue more varietie of words,
copie of phrases, or figures and floures of eloquence, than hath our
English toong, although some haue affirmed vs rather to barke as dogs,
than talke like men, bicause the most of our words (as they doo
indéed) incline vnto one syllable. This also is to be noted as a
testimonie remaining still of our language, deriued from the Saxons,
that the generall name for the most part of euerie skilfull artificer
in his trade endeth in Here with vs, albeit the H be left out, and er
onlie inserted, as Scriuenhere, writehere, shiphere, &c: for
scriuener, writer, and shipper, &c: beside manie other relikes of that
spéech, neuer to be abolished.
[Sidenote: The French toong.]
After the Saxon toong, came the Norman or French language ouer into
our countrie, and therein were our lawes written for a long time. Our
children also were by an especiall decrée taught first to speake the
same, and therevnto inforced to learne their constructions in the
French, whensoeuer they were set to the Grammar schoole. In like sort
few bishops, abbats, or other clergie men, were admitted vnto anie
ecclesiasticall function here among vs, but such as came out of
religious houses from beyond the seas, to the end they should not vse
the English toong in their sermons to the people. In the court also it
grew into such contempt, that most men thought it no small dishonor to
speake any English there. Which brauerie tooke his hold at the last
likewise in the countrie with euerie plowman, that euen the verie
carters began to wax wearie of there mother toong, & laboured to
speake French, which as then was counted no small token of gentilitie.
And no maruell, for euerie French rascall, when he came once hither,
was taken for a gentleman, onelie bicause he was proud, and could vse
his owne language, and all this (I say) to exile the English and
British speaches quite out of the countrie. But in vaine, for in the
time of king Edward the first, to wit, toward the latter end of his
reigne, the French it selfe ceased to be spoken generallie, but most
of all and by law in the midst of Edward the third, and then began the
English to recouer and grow in more estimation than before;
notwithstanding that among our artificers, the most part of their
implements, tooles and words of art reteine still their French
denominations euen to these our daies, as the language it selfe is
vsed likewise in sundrie courts, bookes of record, and matters of law;
whereof here is no place to make any particular rehearsall. Afterward
[Sidenote: The helpers of our English toong.]
also, by diligent trauell of Geffray Chaucer, and Iohn Gowre, in the
time of Richard the second, and after them of Iohn Scogan, and Iohn
Lydgate monke of Berrie, our said toong was brought to an excellent
passe, notwithstanding that it neuer came vnto the type of perfection,
vntill the time of Quéene Elizabeth, wherein Iohn Iewell B. of Sarum,
Iohn Fox, and sundrie learned & excellent writers haue fullie
accomplished the ornature of the same, to their great praise and
immortall commendation; although not a few other doo greatlie séeke to
staine the same, by fond affectation of forren and strange words,
presuming that to be the best English, which is most corrupted with
externall termes of eloquence, and sound of manie syllables. But as
this excellencie of the English toong is found in one, and the south
part of this Iland; so in Wales the greatest number (as I said)
retaine still their owne ancient language, that of the north part of
the said countrie being lesse corrupted than the other, and therefore
reputed for the better in their owne estimation and iudgement. This
[Sidenote: Englishmen apt to learne any forren toong.]
also is proper to vs Englishmen, that sith ours is a meane language,
and neither too rough nor too smooth in vtterance, we may with much
facilitie learne any other language, beside Hebrue, Gréeke & Latine,
and speake it naturallie, as if we were home-borne in those countries;
& yet on the other side it falleth out, I wot not by what other
meanes, that few forren nations can rightlie pronounce ours, without
some and that great note of imperfection, especiallie the French men,
who also seldome write any thing that sauoreth of English trulie. It
is a pastime to read how Natalis Comes in like maner, speaking of our
affaires, dooth clip the names of our English lords. But this of all
the rest dooth bréed most admiration with me, that if any stranger doo
hit vpon some likelie pronuntiation of our toong, yet in age he
swarueth so much from the same, that he is woorse therein than euer he
was, and thereto peraduenture halteth not a litle also in his owne, as
I haue séene by experience in Reginald Wolfe, and other, whereof I
haue iustlie maruelled.
[Sidenote: The Cornish toong.]
The Cornish and Deuonshire men, whose countrie the Britons call
Cerniw, haue a speach in like sort of their owne, and such as hath in
déed more affinitie with the Armoricane toong than I can well discusse
of. Yet in mine opinion, they are both but a corrupted kind of
Brittish, albeit so far degenerating in these daies from the old, that
if either of them doo méete with a Welshman, they are not able at the
first to vnderstand one an other, except here and there in some od
words, without the helpe of interpretors. And no maruell in mine
opinion that the British of Cornewall is thus corrupted, sith the
Welsh toong that is spoken in the north & south part of Wales, doth
differ so much in it selfe, as the English vsed in Scotland dooth from
that which is spoken among vs here in this side of the Iland, as I
haue said alreadie.
[Sidenote: Scottish english.]
The Scottish english hath beene much broader and lesse pleasant in
vtterance than ours, because that nation hath not till of late
indeuored to bring the same to any perfect order, and yet it was such
in maner, as Englishmen themselues did speake for the most part beyond
the Trent, whither any great amendement of our language had not as
then extended it selfe. Howbeit in our time the Scottish language
endeuoreth to come neere, if not altogither to match our toong in
finenesse of phrase, and copie of words, and this may in part appeare
by an historie of the Apocripha translated into Scottish verse by
Hudson, dedicated to the king of that countrie, and conteining sixe
books, except my memorie doo faile me.
Thus we sée how that vnder the dominion of the king of England, and in
the south parts of the realme, we haue thrée seuerall toongs, that is
to saie, English, British, and Cornish, and euen so manie are in
Scotland, if you accompt the English speach for one: notwithstanding
that for bredth and quantitie of the region, I meane onelie of the
soile of the maine Iland, it be somewhat lesse to see to than the
[Sidenote: The wild Scots.]
[Sidenote: Redshanks.]
[Sidenote: Rough footed Scots.]
[Sidenote: Irish Scots.]
[Sidenote: Irish speech.]
other. For in the north part of the region, where the wild Scots,
otherwise called the Redshanks, or rough footed Scots (because they go
bare footed and clad in mantels ouer their saffron shirts after the
Irish maner) doo inhabit, they speake good Irish which they call
Gachtlet, as they saie of one Gathelus, whereby they shew their
originall to haue in times past béene fetched out of Ireland: as I
noted also in the chapiter precedent, and wherevnto Vincentius cap. de
insulis Oceani dooth yéeld his assent, saieng that Ireland was in time
past called Scotia; "Scotia eadem (saith he) & Hibernia, proxima
Britanniæ insula, spatio terrarum angustior, sed situ f[oe]cundior;
Scotia autem à Scotorum gentibus traditur appellata, &c." Out of the
14. booke of Isidorus intituled Originum, where he also addeth that it
is called Hybernia, because it bendeth toward Iberia. But I find
elsewhere that it is so called by certeine Spaniards which came to
seeke and plant their inhabitation in the same, wherof in my
Chronologie I haue spoken more at large.
In the Iles of the Orchades, or Orkeney, as we now call them, & such
coasts of Britaine as doo abbut vpon the same, the Gottish or Danish
speach is altogither in vse, and also in Shetland, by reason (as I
take it) that the princes of Norwaie held those Ilands so long vnder
their subiection, albeit they were otherwise reputed as rather to
belong to Ireland, bicause that the verie soile of them is enimie to
poison, as some write, although for my part I had neuer any sound
experience of the truth hereof. And thus much haue I thought good to
speake of our old speaches, and those fiue languages now vsuallie
spoken within the limits of our Iland.