Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of BritaineHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of Britaine
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
From hence it hasteth vnto Créekelade, aliàs Crekanford, Lechlade,
Radcotebridge, Newbridge, and Eouesham, receiuing by the waie an infinit
sort of small streames, brookes, beckes, waters, and rundels: and here
on this side of the towne diuideth it selfe into two courses, of which
the one goeth straight to Botleie and Hinkseie, the other by Godstow, a
village not farre off. This latter spreadeth it selfe also for a while
into sundrie smaller branches, which run not farre yer they be reunited,
and then beclipping sundrie pleasant meadowes, it passeth at length by
Oxford, of some supposed rather to be called Ouseford of this riuer,
[Sidenote: Charwell.]
where it meeteth with the Charwell, and a litle from whence the
originall branches doo ioine and go togither by Abbandune (aliàs Sensham
or Abington as we call it) although no part of it at the first came so
néere the towne as it doth now, till a branch thereof was led thither
[Sidenote: Some write, that the maine streame was brought thither
from which ranne before betweene Andredeseie and Culenham.]
the maine streame, thorough the industrie of the moonks, as (beside the
testimonie of old records thereof yet extant to be séene) by the decaie
of Cair Dour, now Dorchester it selfe, sometime the throughfare from
Wales and the west countrie to London, which insued vpon this fact, is
easie to be seene. From hence it goeth to Dorchester, and so to Thame,
where ioining with a riuer of the same denomination, it looseth the name
of Isis or Ouse (whereof Ouseneie at Oxford is producted) and from
thenceforth is called Thamesis. From Thame it goeth to Wallingford, and
so to Reding, which in time past, of the number of bridges there, was
[Sidenote: Pontium.]
called Pontium; albeit that the English name doth rather proceed from
[Sidenote: Saint Marie ouer Rhee.]
Rhe, or Ree, the Saxon word for a water-course or riuer; which maie be
séene in Ouerée, or Sutherée, for ouer the Ree, or south of the Rhee, as
to the skilfull doth readilie appéere; yet some hold (and not altogither
against probabilitie and likelihood) that the word Sutherée is so called
of Sudrijc, to wit, the south kingdome, wherevnto in part the Thames is
a bound. But that holdeth not in denomination, either of the said church
or name of the foresaid countie. Other affirme likewise, that Reding is
so called of the Greeke word ([Greek: rheô]) which is to ouerflowe.
Certes, as neither of these coniectures are to be contemned, so the last
c[=o]meth most neere to mine aid, who affirme, that not onelie the
course of euerie water it selfe, but also his ouerflowing was in time
past called Rhe, by such Saxons as inhabited in this Iland: and euen to
this daie in Essex I haue oft obserued, that when the lower grounds by
rage of water haue béene ouerflowen, the people beholding the same, haue
said; All is on a Rhe, as if they should haue said; All is now a riuer,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account