Angliae Regni Florentissimi Nova Descriptio. 1579 Abraham Ortelius in "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum".
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Translation of Text Above
That part of the island Albion that lies in the South, called Anglia by those using Latin, and by almost all foreigners England, is not called like that by its own inhabitants, for the English divide it into two, calling the Eastern part situated at the Germanic sea England (although the Saxons occupied it a long time ago), but the Western part, which is bordered by the rivers Dea and Sabrina, where they still use the old Britannic language, is by the English just mentioned called Wallia or Wales. But those Britans call themselves Cambros and their country Cambria. And they call the English Saxons and their country Lhoegria in their ancient language, unfamiliar as they are with the words England and English. This shows how large the difference is between the languages of the inhabitants of this island.
This entire England, or as we should say Lhoegria and Cambria has an English king, to whom many Dukes, Counts and Princes of these lands are subjected. This is a country with a very temperate climate all through the year. Its air is thick, usually resulting in clouds, winds and rain, with few extremes in heat and cold. For although it is further North than Brabant, Flanders and other countries at this side of the sea, yet there is never in England as much frost in winter as there is here. There are many hills here, without any trees or fountains, which produce scanty vegetation but still enough to feed their sheep abundantly. On these hills you find very white flocks of sheep which, either through characteristics of the air or the earth produce the softest and finest wool. And since there are no wolves here, nor any other predatory beasts, you can see flocks of sheep and other cattle which roam the mountains, valleys and common grounds by day and by night, or in the fields where, after the harvest has been taken in, according to an ancient custom, they are allowed to graze together. Old tales say a lot about the sheep with the Golden Fleece, but it seems truly to be the case that the inhabitants of this island keep their riches in this respect, that they obtain much gold and silver through the sales of their merchants, which all remains there, since it is forbidden to take it out of the country, and elsewhere. It abounds with all kinds of cattle, except Asses, Mules, Camels and Elephants. Nowhere can bigger or more ferocious dogs be found. Its fertile ground does not only yield corn and seeds, but also all kinds of timber except poplars and (as Cæsar states) beeches. But now you everywhere see beeches too. The green Laurel nowhere thrives better than in these northern regions here. Also Rosemary grows so lushly that gardens are fenced with it. But vines do not grow here, because the grapes do not ripen, so that in the gardens it is planted for its shade, rather than produce. Nowehere do you see so many crows as you do here, which inflict much damage, because not only do they eat fruits, but they also pick seeds, so that they equip children with bows and arrows to chase them away, because shouts do not deter them.
The Ocean bordering this island abounds with all kids of fish, amongst which much highly esteemed Pike, as also in large ponds, where they lose their stench and are fed with eals and other small fish and become miraculously fat. When this fish is sold on the market, its belly will be opened with a knife, (which is remarkable), to show how fat it is, and if it is not sold, it will not die of that wound, and is sown together again with needle and thread, and instantly heals again in the pond through its slime. Nowhere are more delicious oysters to be found in abundance than here. It also produces Gold, Silver, Copper and Iron, but only in small quantities. Lead and Tin of excellent quality is mined here and exported. The people of this country are tall in stature, fair, and of a white countenance, mostly with grey eyes and like their language is not very different from that of the Italians, they also hardly differ in bodily appearance and in manners. Their clothes resemble those of the French. The women are white as snow, and of excellent stature, dressed daintily. Their food consist mostly of meat. They drink beer made of barley, which is a good and profitable drink, also very popular in the Netherlands, and imported there. Their lunch and dinner is taken merrily, pleasantly, courteously and abundantly. In war they are courageous, very good marksmen, but impatient to wait long or to persist, and if they come to blows, they fight as bravely as they can, because the winner takes it all. They do not build castles or bulwarks, and those that were built in old times, and which are in dilapidating condition are not kept up with labour. They have splendid cities and many nice villages.
The metropolitan city is London, where the Kings Court is found, a Merchant City situated on the river Thames. A beautiful stone bridge on twenty pillars has been made across it, which on both sides has been built up with so many houses that it seems to be a street, rather than a bridge. To this Kingdom also belongs the island named Ireland, and some other smaller islands, such as Wight, Menauia and Man, where the Druids used to live, which the English call Anglesey, nowadays also called Sorlingen. The islands Guernsey and Jersey, although they seem to be nearer to France, are yet under the jurisdiction of England. This England, its history has been described with great diligence by Humfredus Lhuidus, whereas some other writers seem to be phantasizing when describing it. Read the booklet Noruicus by Alxander Neuyllius. My good friend Daniel Rogersius has written about the manners and laws of the ancient Britains, and he intends to publish about Britannia under Roman rule.
