Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (2 of 8): The Second Booke Of The Historie Of England — John Shaqi
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (2 of 8): The Second Booke Of The Historie Of EnglandHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (2 of 8): The Second Booke Of The Historie Of England
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 55 B.C.
[Sidenote: Brute and Corineus ioin their companies together.]
After that Brute and the said Troians, by conference interchangeablie
had, vnderstood one anothers estates, and how they were descended from
one countrie and progenie, they vnited themselves togither, greatlie
reioising that they were so fortunatlie met: and hoising vp their sailes,
[Sidenote: They arrive on the coasts of Gallia, now called France.]
directed their course forward still, till they arriued within the mouth
of the riuer of Loire, which diuideth Aquitaine from Gall Celtike, where
they tooke land within the dominion of a king called Goffarius, surnamed
Pictus, by reason he was descended of the people Agathyrsi, otherwise
[Sidenote: Goffarius surnamed Pictus _Les annales d'Aquitaine_.]
named Picts, bicause they used to paint their faces and bodies, insomuch
that the richer a man was amongst them, the more cost he bestowed in
[Sidenote: Agathyrsi, otherwise called Picts, of painting their bodies.
_Marcellus Plinie. Herodotus li.4_.]
painting himselfe; and commonlie the haire of their head was red, or (as
probable writers say) of skie colour. Herodotus calleth them [Greek:
chrysothórous] bicause they did weare much gold about them. They vsed
their wives in common, and bicause they are all supposed to be brethren,
there is no strife nor discord among them. Of these Agathyrsi, it is
recorded by the said Herodotus, that they refused to succour the
Scythians against Darius, giving this reason of their refusall; bicause
they would not make warre against him who had doone them no wrong. And
of this people dooth the poet make mention, saieng,
[Sidenote: _Virg. Aeneid. 4_.]
Cretésq; Dryopésq; fremunt pictíq; Agathyrsi.
[Sidenote: _Cæsar com. li. 5_.]
To paint their faces not for amiablenesse, but for terriblenesse, the
Britons in old time vsed, and that with a kind of herbe like vnto
plantine. In which respect I sée no reason why they also should not be
called Picts, as well as the Agathyrsi; séeing the denomination sprang
[Sidenote: _P. Mart; com. part 2. sect. 60_.]
of a vaine custome in them both. And here by the way, sithens we have
touched this follie in two severall people, let it not séeme tedious to
read this one tricke of the Indians, among whom there is great plentie of
pretious stones, wherewith they adorne themselves in this maner; namelie,
in certein hollow places which they make in their flesh, they inclose and
riuet in precious stones, and that as well in their forheads as their
chéekes, to none other purpose, than the Agathyrsi in the vse of their
painting.
The countrie of Poictou (as some hold) where the said Goffarius reigned,
tooke name of this people: & likewise a part of this our Ile of Britaine
now conteined within Scotland, which in ancient time was called Pightland
[Sidenote: Pightland or Pictland.]
or Pictland, as elsewhere both in this historie of England, and also of
Scotland may further appeare. But to our purpose.
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