Old English Chronicles Part 52

53. Less considerable people dwelt near the coast. Of these the Cantae[608] were situated beyond the Varar, and the above-mentioned altars, to the river Loxa,[609] and in their territory was the promontory Penoxullum.[610]

54. Next in order is the river Abona,[611] and the inhabitants near it, the Logi.[612] Then the river Ila,[613] near which lived the Carnabii,[614] the most remote of the Britons. These people being subdued by the propraetor Ostorius, and impatiently bearing the Roman yoke, joined the Cantae, as tradition relates, and, crossing the sea, here fixed their residence. Britain in these parts branches out into many promontories, the chief of which, the extremity of Caledonia, was called by the ancients Vinvedrum, and afterwards Verubium.[615]

55. After these people were placed the Catini,[616] and the Mertae[617]

further inland near the Logi. In these regions was the promontory of the Orcades,[618] contiguous to which are the islands of that name. Beyond this part flowed the Nabaeus,[619] which bounded the territory of the Carnabii.

56. In the lower part of this region were situated the Carnonacae,[620]

in whose territories was the promontory Ebudum,[621] beyond which the ocean forms a large bay, formerly called Volsas.[622] The lower coast of this bay was inhabited by the Cerones;[623] and beyond the Itys,[624]

the territory of the Creones extended as far as the Longus.[625] The promontory stretching from thence, and washed by the ocean and the bay Lela.n.u.s,[626] is named after the inhabitants the Epidii.[627]

57. I cannot repa.s.s the Varar without expressing my wonder that the Romans, in other respects so much distinguished for judgment and investigation, should have entertained the absurd notion, that the remainder of Britain exceeded in length and breadth the regions which they had subdued and occupied. There is, however, sufficient evidence that such was their opinion; for whoever attentively considers their insatiable desire of rule, and reflects on the labour employed in the erection of those stupendous works which excite the wonder of the world, in order to exclude an enemy scarcely worthy of their notice or resentment, must in this respect, as in all others, adore the providence of the Divine Being, to whom all kingdoms are subject, and perpetual glory is due, now and for ever. Amen!

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 401: Rather by the estuary of the Severn.]

[Footnote 402: Thames.]

[Footnote 403: Severn.]

[Footnote 404: Here some word is evidently omitted in the original. We would supply it by comparing this description with that of Britannia Secunda in the second section, and read "_Sabrina et Deva_," &c., by the Severn and the Dee from the Silures and Ordovices.]

[Footnote 405: The wall or vallum erected by Severus between the Solway Frith and the mouth of the Tyne.]

[Footnote 406: Bodora and Bodotria, Frith of Forth.]

[Footnote 407: Clotta. Clyde.]

[Footnote 408: Dumbarton.]

[Footnote 409: Murray Frith.]

[Footnote 410: These remarks seem to have been drawn from the _Not.i.tia Imperii_, and consequently refer to a late period of the empire.]

[Footnote 411: Cantium contained the present county of Kent, as far as the Rother, except a small district in which Holwood Hill is situated, and which belonged to the Rhemi.]

[Footnote 412: Rochester.]

[Footnote 413: Canterbury.]

[Footnote 414: Dover.]

[Footnote 415: Situated on the Lymne.]

[Footnote 416: Reculver.]

[Footnote 417: Richborough.]

[Footnote 418: The Medway.]

[Footnote 419: The Stour.]

[Footnote 420: A rivulet at Dover.]

[Footnote 421: The Rother.]

[Footnote 422: The North Foreland.]

[Footnote 423: The Bibroci, Rhemi, or Regni, inhabited part of Hants, and of Berks, Suss.e.x, Surrey, and a small portion of Kent.]

[Footnote 424: Uncertain. Stukeley calls it Bibrox, Bibrax, or the Bibracte of the Itinerary.]

[Footnote 425: Chichester.]

[Footnote 426: Holwood Hill.]

[Footnote 427: Pevensey.]

[Footnote 428: Part of Hants, and Berks.]

[Footnote 429: Silchester. For the proofs that this place was the site of Calleva see the Commentary on the Itinerary.]

[Footnote 430: Kennet.]

[Footnote 431: Part of Hants, and Berks.]

[Footnote 432: Probably Egbury Camp.]

[Footnote 433: The Belgae occupied those parts of Hants and Wilts not held by the Segontiaci.]

[Footnote 434: This is an error: the ancient Clausentum was at Bittern, on the Itchin, opposite Northam.]

[Footnote 435: Portchester.]

[Footnote 436: Winchester.]

[Footnote 437: Old Sarum.]

[Footnote 438: This pa.s.sage as printed in the original is very obscure; but the meaning is supplied by Caesar, from whom it is taken, and a subsequent page where Richard mentions the same fact.--_Vide the Chronology in_ b. ii. c. i. sect. 9.]

[Footnote 439: Thames.]

[Footnote 440: There was a tribe of Celts called Senones seated on the banks of the Seine as late as the time of Caesar, and this was one of the tribes who marched with Brennus against Rome. But we cannot discover from whence Richard drew his information that these Senones originally emigrated from Britain, leaving their country to be occupied by the Belgae.]

[Footnote 441: Nearly all Somersetshire.]

[Footnote 442: Ilchester.]