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
[Sidenote: Cair Maridunum.]
Of this region also Caermarden, which the old writers call Maridunum,
was the chéefe citie and palace belonging to the kings of Southwales,
vntill at the last through forren and ciuill inuasions of enimies, the
princes thereof were constrained to remooue their courts to Dinefar
(which is in Cantermawr, and situate neuerthelesse vpon the same riuer
Tewy, wheron Caermarden standeth) in which place it is far better
defended with high hils, thicke woods, craggie rocks, and déepe
marises. In this region also lieth Pembroke aliàs Penmoroc shire,
whose fawcons haue béene in old time very much regarded, and therein
likewise is Milford hauen, whereof the Welsh wisards doo yet dreame
strange toies, which they beleeue shall one daie come to passe. For
they are a nation much giuen to fortelling of things to come, but more
to beléeue such blind prophesies as haue béene made of old time, and
no man is accompted for learned in Wales that is not supposed to haue
the spirit of prophesie.
[Sidenote: Pictland.]
[Sidenote: Scotland.]
[Sidenote: Picts.]
[Sidenote: Scots.]
That Scotland had in those daies two kingdoms, (besides that of the
Orchades) whereof the one consisted of the Picts, and was called
Pightland or Pictland, the other of the Irish race, and named
Scotland: I hope no wise man will readilie denie. The whole region or
portion of the Ile beyond the Scotish sea also was so diuided, that
the Picts laie on the east side, and the Scots on the west, ech of
them being seuered from other, either by huge hils or great lakes and
riuers, that ran out of the south into the north betwéene them. It
séemeth also that at the first these two kingdoms were diuided from
the rest of those of the Britons by the riuers Cluda and Forth, till
both of them desirous to inlarge their dominions, draue the Britons
ouer the Solue and the Twede, which then became march betweene both
the nations. Wherefore the case being so plaine, I will saie no more
of these two, but procéed in order with the rehersall of the rest of
the particular kingdoms of this our south part of the Ile, limiting
out the same by shires as they now lie, so néere as I can, for
otherwise it shall be vnpossible for me to leaue certaine notice of
the likeliest quantities of these their seuerall portions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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