She every brook receives. First, Clarwen cometh in, | First planted in those parts our brave courageous With Clarwy which to them their consort Eland

Besides, in all the world no nation is so dear
As they unto their own; that here within this isle,
Or else in foreign parts, yea, forced to exile,
The noble Briton still his countryman relieves ;
A patriot, and so true, that it to death him grieves
To hear his Wales disgrac'd: and on the Saxons'
swords

Oft hazardeth his life, ere with reproachful words
His language or his leek he'll stand to hear abus'd.
Besides, the Briton is so naturally infus'd

[callWith true poetic rage, that in their measures', art
Doth rather seem precise, than comely; in each

To man, whose mind doth still variety pursue;
And therefore to those things whose grounds were
very true,

Though naked yet and bare (not having to content
The wayward curious ear) gave fictive ornament;
And fitter thought, the truth they should in
question call,

[and all, Than coldly sparing that, the truth should go And surely I suppose, that which this froward

time [crime, Doth scandalize her with to be her heinous That her most preserv'd: for, still where wit

bath found

[ground:
A thing most clearly true, it made that, fiction's
Which she suppos'd might give sure colour to
them both:
[grow'th,
From which, as from a root, this wond'red errour
At which our critics gird, whose judgments are so
strict,

And he the bravest man who most can contradict
That which decrepit age (which forced is to lean
Upon tradition) tells; esteeming it so mean,
As they it quite reject, and for some trifling thing
(Which time hath pinn'd to truth) they all away
will fling,

These men (for all the world) like our precisians
be,
[see
Who for some cross or saint they in the widow
Will pluck down all the church: soul-blinded sots

that creep

In dirt, and never saw the wonders of the deep. Therefore (in my conceit) most rightly serv'd are they

§. That to the Roman trust (on his report that stay)
Our truth from him to learn, as ignorant of ours
As we were then of his; except t'were of his
powers?

Who our wise Druids bere unmercifully slew;
Like whom, great Nature's depths no men yet ever
knew,
Ispir'd;
Nor with such dauntless spirits were ever yet in-
Who at their proud arrive th' ambitious Romans
fir'd,
[mortal state;
When first they heard them preach the soul's im-
And even in Rome's despite, and in contempt of
fate,

Grasp'd hands with horrid death: which out of hate
and pride

They slew, who through the world were reverenced
beside.
[though we
"To understand our state, no marvail then
Should so to Cæsar seek, in his reports to see
What anciently we were; when in our infant war,
Unskilful of our tongue but by interpreter,
He nothing had of ours which our great bards did
sing,
[bring
Except some few poor words; and those again to
Unto the Latin sounds, and easiness they us'd,
By their most filed speech, our British most abus'd.
But of our former state, beginning, our descent,
The wars we had at home, the conquests where
we went,
[here

He never understood. And though the Romans
So noble trophies left, as very worthy were
A people great as they, yet did they ours neglect,
Long rear'd ere they arriv'd. And where they do
object,

The ruins and records we show, be very small
To prove ourselves so great: even this the most

of all

Thus as she swoops along, with all that goodly Upon her other bank by Newtown: so again §. Comes Dulas (of whose name so many beavers be, As of none others is) with Mule, prepar'd to see The confluence to their queen, as ou her course she makes:

Then at Montgomery next clear Kennet in she
takes;

Where little Fledding falls into her broader bank;
Forkt Vurnway, bringing Tur and Tanot: grow-
[fields;

ing rank,

sire

She plies her towards the Pool, from the Gomerian
Than which in all our Wales, there is no country
yields
An excellenter horse, so full of natural fire,
As one of Phœbus' steeds had been that stallion's
[kind,
Which first their race begun; or of th' Asturian
§. Which some have held to be begotten by the
wind,
[receives,
Upon the mountain mare; which strongly it
And in a little time her pregnant part upheaves.
But, leave we this to such as after wonders long:
The Muse prepares herself unto another song.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

AFTER Penbroke in the former song, succeeds here Cardigan, both washed by the Irish seas. But, for intermixture of rivers, and contiguity of situation, the inlands of Montgomery, Radnor, and Brecknock are partly infolded.

Whose kind, in her decay'd, is to this isle unknown.

That these rivers were in Tivy frequent, anciently is testified by Sylvester Girald (@) describing the particulars, which the author tells you, both of this, and the salmons: but that here are no

(a) Topograph. Hib. dist. 1. cap. 21. Itin. cap. 3. Cam. 2,

beavers now, as good authority of the present as much. Although, in particular law learn time (b) informs you.

Unto the charming harp thy future honour sung,

Of the bards, their singing, heraldship, and more of that nature, see to the fourth song. Ireland (c) (saith one) uses the harp and pipe, which he calls tympanum: Scotland the harp tympan, and chorus: Wales the harp, pipe, and chorus. Although tympanum and chorus have other significations, yet, this Girald (from whom I vouch it) using these words as received, I imagine, of saint Hierome's epistle to Dardanus, according to whom, for explanation, finding them pictur'd in Ottomar Luscinius his Musurgy, as several kinds of pipes, the first dividing itself into two at the end, the other spread in the middle, as two segments of a circle, but one at both ends, I guess But I refer myself them intended near the same. to those that are more acquainted with these kind of British fashions. For the harp his word is cithara, which (if it be the same with lyra, as some think, although urging reason and authority are to the contrary) makes the bards' music, like that exprest in the lyric (d):

-bibam

Sonante mistum tibiis carmen lyrâ, Hâc Dorium, illis Barbarum. Apply it to the former notes, and observe with them, that the Pythagoreans used (e), with music of the harp (which in those times, if it were Apollo's, was certainly but of seven (f) strings) when they went to sleep, to charm (as the old Scots were wont to do, and do yet in their isles, as Buchanan (g) affirms) and compose their troubled affections. Which I cite to this purpose, that in comparing it with the British music, and the attributes

ing, it might seem that Britain was requited, if the satyrist (1) deceive not in that;

Gallia causidicos docuit facunda Britannos (k).

Which, with excellent Lipsius (/), 1 rather apply to the dispersion of the Latin tongue through Gaut into this province, than to any other language or matter. For also in Agricola's time somewhat before, it appears that matter of good literature was here in a far higher degree than there, as Tacitus in his life hath recorded. Thus hath our isle been as mistress to Gaul twice. First in this Druidian doctrine, next in the institution of their now famous university of Paris; which was done by Charlemain, through aid and industry of our learned Alcuin (he is called also Albin, and was first sent ambassador to the emperor by Offa, king of Mercland) seconded by those Scots, John Mailros, Claudius Clement, and Raban Maurus(m). But I know great men permit it not; nor can I see any very ancient authority for it, but infinite of later times, so that it goes as a received opinion; therefore without more examination in this no more fit passage, I commit to my reader.

One bard but coming in their murd'rous swords hath staid.

Such strange assertion find I in story of these bards' powerful enchantments, that with the amazing sweetness of their delicious harmonies (~), not their own only, but withal their enemies' armies have suddenly desisted from fierce encounters; so, as my author says, did Mars reverence the Muses. This exactly continues all fitness with what is before affirmed of that kind of music; 'twixt which (and all other by authentic affirmance) and the mind's affections there are certain Mingara * (0), thereof before remembered out of Heracleotes and as in this particular example is apparent. Girald, you may see conveniency of use in both, how agreeth this with that in Tacitus, which calls and worth of antiquity in ours; and as well in a musical incentive to war among the Germans, pipes as harp; if you remember the poetic story Barditus? Great critics would there (p) read Barritus, of Marsyas. And withal forget not that in one of the oldest coins that have been made in this king-which in Vegetius and Ammian especially, is a dom, the picture of the reverse, is Apollo having his harp incircled with Cunobelin's name, then chief king of the Britous; and for Belin and Apollo, see the eighth song.

But

peculiar name for those stirring up alarms before the battle used in Roman assaults (equal in proportion to the Greeks' aλaλayuss, the Irish Kerns' Pharroh, and that Roland's song of the Normans, which hath had is like also, in most nations). But, seeing Barrhitus (in this sense) is a word of

By whom first Gaul was taught her knowledge. Understand the knowledge of those great philoso-later time, and scarce yet, without remembrance phers, priests, and lawyers called Druids (of whom to the tenth song largely). Their discipline was first found out in this isle, and afterwards transferred into Gaul; whence their youth were sent hither as to an university for instruction in their learned professions: Cæsar (h) himself is author of

(b) Powel, & Camden.

(c) Girald. Topograph. 3. dist. cap. 11.
(d) Horat. Epod. ix.

(e) Plutarch. de Isid. & Osiride.

(f) Horat. Carm. 3. od. 11. Homer in Hymn. ad Elu. Serv. Honorat. ad 4. Æneid. (ubi testudinem primò trium Chordarum, quam à Mercurio Caducei precio emise Apollinem septemque discrimina vocum addidisse legimus, & videndus Diodor. Sicul. lib. z.) unde 'Ezráyλwooos, "Ezráployyes &e.. dicitur Græcis.

(g) Hist. Scot. 4. in Fethelmacho.
(h) Comment. 6.

of his naturalization, allowed in the Latin; and, that this use was notable in those Northerns and Gauls (9), until wars with whom, it seems Rome had not a proper word for it (which appears by Festus Pompeius, affirming that the cry of the army was called Barbaricum) I should think some

what confidently, that Barrhitus (as the common copies are) is the truest reading*; yet so, that Barditus formed by an unknowing pronunciation is, and by original, was the selfsame. For, that Lipsius mending the place, will have it from Baren in Dutch, which signifies, to cry out, or from Har Har (which is as Haron in the Norman customs and elsewhere) or from the word Beare for imitation of that beast's cry, I much wonder, seeing Tacitus makes express mention of verses harmonically celebrating valiant performers, the recital whereof hath that name Barditus, which to interpret we might well call singing. But to conjoin this fiery office with that quenching power, of the bards, spoken of by the author, I imagine that they had also for this martial purpose skill in that kind of music, which they call Phrygian, being (as Aristotle says) Ogyarrixǹ ПabyTixǹ xal 'Eswarian, as it were, madding the mind with sprightful motion. For so we see that those which sing the tempering and mollifying Pæans (r) to Apollo, the Γήνελλα & Καλλίνικος after victory, did among the Greeks in another strain move with their Pæans to Mars, their 'Oge, and provoking charms before the encounter; and so meets this in our bards dispersed doubtless (as the Druids) through Britain, Gaul, and part of Germany, which three had especially in warfare much community.

Our Cimbri with the Gauls

National transmigrations touched to the fourth song give light hither. The name of Cimbri (which most of the learned in this later time have made the same with Cimmerians, Cumerians, Cambrians, all coming from Gomer Japhet's son (s), to whom with bis posterity was this north-western part of the world divided) expressing the Welsh, calling themselves also Kumry. The author alludes here to that British army, which in our story is conducted under Brennus and Belinus (sons to Molmutius) through Gaul, and thence prosecuted, what in the eighth song and my notes there more plainly.

Where, with our brazen swordsThe author thus teaches you to know, that, among the ancients, brass, not iron, was the metal of most use. In their little scythes, wherewith they cut their herbs for enchantments (1), their priests' razors, ploughshares for describing the content of plotted cities, their music instruments, and such like, how special this metal was, it is with good warrant delivered; nor with less, how frequent in the making of swords, spears, and armour in the heroic times, as among other authorities that in the encounter of Diomedes and Hector manifesteth (u):

πλάγχθη δ' από χαλκόρι χαλκός 4. Which seems in them to have proceeded from a

* Locus. Gallice & Britannicè Cantor. Fest. & vide Bodin. meth. hist. cap. 9. qui Robartum Dagobartum & similia vocabula hiuc (malè verò) deducit.

(r) Suid. in Hary.

(s) Genes. 2.

willingness of avoiding instruments too deadly in wounding; far from a styptic faculty in this, more than in iron, the cure of what it hurts is affirmed more easy, and the metal itself, aquaxons (x), as Aristotle expresses it (y). But that our Britons used it also it hath been out of old monuments by our most learned antiquary observed (z).

That to the Roman trust (on his report that stay)

For indeed many are, which the author here impugns, that dare believe nothing of our story, or antiquities of more ancient times; but only Julius Cæsar, and others about or since him. And surely his ignorance of this isle was great, time forbidding him language or conversation with the British. Nor was any before him of his country, that knew or meddled in relation of us. The first of them that once to letters committed any word deduced from Britain's name was a philosophical poet (a) (flourishing some fifty years before Cæsar) in these verses:

Nam quid Britannum cœlum differre putamus,
Et quod in Ægypto est, quà mundi claudicat axis?
In the somewhat later poets that lived about Au-
gustus, as Catullus, Virgil, and Horace, some pas-
sages of the name have you, but nothing that dis-
covers any monument of this island proper to her in-
habitants. I would not reckon Cornelius Nepos (c)
among them, to whose name is attributed, in print,
that polite poem (in whose composition Apollo seems
to have given personal aid) of the Trojan war,
according to Dares the Phrygian's story; where,
have been with Hercules at the rape of Hesione :
by poetical liberty the Britons are supposed to
whose glory the true author's name of that book
I should so, besides errour, wrong my country, to.
will among the worthies of the Muses ever live.
Read but these of his verses, and then judge if he
were a Roman:

-Sine remigis usu

Non nosset Memphis Romam,non Indus Hiberum,
Nou Scytha Cecropidem, non Nostra Britannia
Gallum.

And in the same book to Baldwin archbishop of
Canterbury:

At tu dissimulis longè cui fronte serenâ
Sanguinis egregii lucrum, pacemque litatâ
Emptam animâ Pater ille pius, summumque.

cacumen

In curam venisse velit, cui cederet ipse
Prorsus, vel proprias lætus sociaret habenas.
Of him a little before :

-quo præside floret

Cantia (d), & in priscas respirat libera leges.

Briefly thus: the author was Joseph of Excester (afterwards archbishop of Bourdeaux) famous

(x) Of remedial power.

(y) Problem. a. Sect. A.
(z) Camd. in Cornub.

See for this more in the tenth song.

(a) Lucret. de Rer. Nat. 6.

(c) Cornelius Nepos challenged to an English

(4) Sophocles, Carminius, Virgil. ap. Macrobium Saturnal. lib. 5. cap. 19. Pausan. in La- | wit. conic. y. & Arcadic. n. Samuel. lib. 1. cap. 17. (u) Iliad. 2.

"Brass rebound from brass."

(d) Ita n. legendum, non Tantia aut Pontia, uti ineptiunt qui Josepho nostro merenti suam inviderunt coronam in Codice Typis excuso.

in this and other kinds of good learning, under | upon the conjectures on the name of Lisbon, the Henry II and Richard 1. speaking among those verses in this form: