The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 486, April 23, 1831 — John Shaqi
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 486, April 23, 1831Various
History
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 17, No. 486, April 23, 1831
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
"About 30 yeres sence, it hapned in Wilshire, at Juy Church, aboute
two myles from Sarisbury, as men digged to make a foundation, they
founde an holow stone couered with another stone, wherin they founde a
booke, hauevinge in it little above xx leaves (as they saide) of very
thicke vellume, wherin was some things written. But when it was shewed
to priests and chanons, whiche were there, they could not reade it.
Wherfore after they had tossed it from one to another (by the meanes
wherof it was torne) they did neglecte and caste it aside. Long after
a peece therof happened to come to my handes: whiche notwithstandynge
it was all to rente defaced, I shewed to Maister Richard Pace, than
chiefe secretary to the kynges moste royal majestie, wherof he
exceedingly rejoysed. But because it was partely rente, partely
defaced and blourred with meate (or weate) whiche had fallen on it, he
could not finde any one sentence perfect. Notwithstandynge after longe
beholdynge, he shewed me, it seemed that the said booke conteined some
auncient monument of this yle, and that he perceived this woorde
_Prytania_, to be put for _Brytannia_. But at that tyme he sayde no
more to me. Afterwarde, I gevyng much study and diligence to the
readynge of hystories, consyderynge wherof this woorde _Britannia_
first came, fyndynge that all the yles in this parte in the occean,
were called _Brittaniæ_, after conjecture of Albion, remebringe
(remembering) the sayde wrytynge, and by chaunce fyndyng in Suidas,
that _Prytania_ in Greeke, with a circumflexed aspiratio (aspiration,)
doeth signifie metalles, fayres and markettes, also revenues belongyng
to the commune treasure: I then conceyved this opinion, that the
Greekes flourishynge in wisdome, prowesse, and experience, of
saylynge, beynge entred into the occean sea, founde in the yles greate
plenty of tyn, leade, yron, brasse, and in divers places golde and
sylver in great quantitie, they called all those yles (isles) by this
generall name Prytania, &c."
I have, with few exceptions, preserved the spelling.
Your constant reader and admirer,
AN ANTIQUARY.
* * * * *
POLAND.
(_For the Mirror._)
The following account of Poland, may be acceptable at the present
time, when this heroic people are making a noble effort to throw off
the yoke of Russian despotism.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account