[Sidenote: _Bale._]
After Bardus, the Celts (as Bale saith) loathing the streict
ordinances of their ancient kings, and betaking themselues to pleasure
and idlenesse, were in short time, and with small labour brought vnder
the subiection of the giant Albion, the sonne of Neptune, who altering
the state of things in this Iland, streicted the name of Celtica and
the Celts within the bounds of Gallia, from whence they came first to
inhabit this land vnder the conduct of Samothes, as before ye haue
[Sidenote: _Annius._]
heard, accordinglie as Annius hath gathered out of Berosus the
Chaldean, who therein agréeth also with the scripture, the saieng of
[Sidenote: _Theophilus._]
Theophilus the doctor, and the generall consent of all writers, which
fullie consent, that the first inhabitants of this Ile came out of the
parties of Gallia, although some of them dissent about the time and
[Sidenote: _Sir Brian Tuke._]
maner of their comming. Sir Brian Tuke thinketh it to be ment of the
arriuall of Brute, when he came out of those countries into this Ile.
[Sidenote: _Caesar._]
[Sidenote: _Tacitus._]
[Sidenote: _Bodinus._]
Caesar and Tacitus seeme to be of opinion, that those Celts which
first inhabited here, came ouer to view the countrie for trade of
merchandize. Bodinus would haue them to come in (a Gods name) from
Languedoc, and so to name this land Albion, of a citie in Languedoc
[Sidenote: _Beda._]
[Sidenote: _Polydor._]
named Albie. Beda, and likewise Polydore (who followeth him) affirme
that they came from the coasts of Armorica, which is now called little
Britaine.
But that the authorities afore recited are sufficient to proue the
time that this Iland was first inhabited by the Celts, the old
possessors of Gallia; not onelie the néernesse of the regions, but the
congruence of languages, two great arguments of originals doo fullie
[Sidenote: _Bodinus._]
confirme the same. Bodinus writeth vpon report, that the British and
Celtike language was all one. But whether that be true or not, I am
not able to affirme, bicause the Celtike toong is long sithens growne
wholie out of vse. Howbeit some such Celtike words as remaine in the
writings of old authours may be perceiued to agrée with the Welsh
toong, being the vncorrupted spéech of the ancient Britains. In déed
[Sidenote: _Pausanias._]
Pausanias the Grecian maketh mention how the Celts in their language
called a horsse _Marc_: and by that name doo the Welshmen call a
horsse to this day: and the word _Trimarc_ in Pausanias, signifieth in
the Celtike toong, thrée horsses.
Thus it appeared by the authoritie of writers, by situation of place,
and by affinitie of language, that this Iland was first found and
inhabited by the Celts, that there name from Samothes to Albion
continued here the space of 310 yeares or there abouts. And finallie
[Sidenote: _Iohn Bale._]
it is likelie, that aswell the progenie as the spéech of them is
partlie remaining in this Ile among the inhabitants, and speciallie
the British, euen vnto this day.
* * * * *
_Of the giant Albion, of his comming into this Iland, diuers opinions
why it was called Albion: why Albion and Bergion were slaine by
Hercules: of Danaus and of his 50 daughters._