AS all the Regions with the whole worlds frame , and all therein was created by the Almightie , Cicero . for his last and most perfect worke , that goodly , vpright , provident , subtile , wittie , and reasonable creature , which the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , for his vpright looke ; the Latines Homo , for that he was made of Molde ; Petrus Nanuius . and we with the Germains , call Man of his principall part , the mind , being the verie image of God , and a pettie world within himselfe : so he assigned in his divine providence , this so happy and worthy a region to men of answerable worth , if not surpassing , yet equalling the most excellent inhabitants of the earth , both in the endowments of minde , lineaments of bodie , and their deportment both in peace and warre , as if I would enter into discourse I could very easily shew .

But overpassing their naturall inclination by heauenly influence , P●ol . in Quad●●● . answerable to the disposition of Aries , Leo , and Sagittary , & Iupiter , with Mars Dominators for this Northwest part of the world , which maketh them impatient of servitude , lovers of libertie , martiall and couragious . I will only in particular note somewhat , and that summarily of the Britaines , Scottish , and English , the three principall inhabitants .

The Britaines , Britains the most antient people of this Isle antiently inhabited the same from sea to sea , whose valour and prowes is renowned both in Latine & Greek monuments , and may appeare in these two points which I will heere onely note . First that the most p●●ssant Roman forces , when they were at the highest , could not gaine of them , being but then a halfe-naked people , Plinius . in thirtie whole yeares the countries from the Thames to Str●●ling . And when they had gained them , and brought them into forme of a province , they found them so warlike a people , that the Romanes levied as many Cohorts , Notitia provin●●arum . companies , and ensignes of Britans from hence for the service of Armenia , Aegypt , Illyricum , their frontire Countries , as from any other of their Provinces whatsoeuer . Pict-Britans . As for those Britane which were farther North , and after as is most probable , called Pictes , ( for that they still painted themselues when the Southerne parts were brought to civilitie , ) they not onely most couragiously defended their libertie , but offended the Romans with continuall and most dangerous incursions . The other remainder of the Britans , which retyred themselues to west parts , now called W●●es , with like honour of fortitude , for many hundred yeares repelled the yoake both of the English and Norman slaverie . But since they were ●●ted to the imperiall Crowne of England , Welsh-Britans . they have , to their iust praise , performed all parts of dutifull loyaltie and allegiance most faithfully therevnto . ] Great also is the glorie of those Britans , American or French Britans . which in most dolefull time of the English invasion , with-drew themselves into the West parts of Gallia , then called Armorica : For they not onely seated themselves , there maugre the Romans , ( then indeede low , and neare setting , ) and the French : but also imposed their name to the countrey , held and defended the same against the French , vntill in our grandfathers memorie , it was vnited to France by the sacred bonds of matrimonie . ]

Next after the Britans , Scottishmen . ● the Scottishmen comming out of Ireland , planted themselves in this Islco● the North side of Cluid , B●●a lib. ● . partly by force , partly by fauour of the Pictes , with whom a long time they annoyed the Southerne parts , but after many blody battels amongst themselves , the Scottishmen subdued them , and established a kingdome in those parts , which with 〈◊〉 courag● and warlike prowesse , they have not onely maintained at home , but also hath purchased great honour abroad . For the French cannot but acknowledge they have seldome atchieved any honourable acts without Scottish hands , who therefore are deservedly to participate the glorie with them . As also divers parts of France , Germany , and Suitzerland , cannot but confesse , that they owe to the Scottish Nation , the propagation of good letters and Christian religion amongst them .

After the Scottishmen , the Angles , Englishmen or Saxons , by Gods wonderfull providence were transplanted hither out of Germanie . Englishm●● A people composed of the valiant Angles , Iutes , and Saxons , then inhabiting Iutland , ●olsten , and the sea coasts along to the river Rhene , who in short time subduing the Britans , and driving them into the mountanous Westerne parts , made themselves by a most compleate conquest , absolute Lords of all the better soyle thereof , as farre as Orkeney . Which cannot be doubted of , when their English tongue reacheth so farre along the East coast , vnto the farthest parts of Scotland , and the people thereof are called by the Highland-men , which are the true Scots , by no other name then Saxons , by which they also call vs the English .

This warlike , victorious , stiffe , stowt , and rigorous Nation , after it had as it were taken roote heere about one hundred and sixtie yeares , and spread his branches farre and wide , being mellowed and mollified by the mildenes of the soyle and sweete aire , was prepared in fulnes of time for the first spirituall blessing of God , I meane our regeneration in Christ , and our ingrafting into his mysticall bodie by holy baptisme . Which Beda our Ecclesiastical Historian recounteth in this manner , and I hope you will give it the reading . Gregorie the Great Bishop of Rome , on a time saw beautifull boyes to befold in the market at Rome , & demanded from whence they were ▪ answer was made him out of the Isle of Britaine Then asked he againe , whither they were Christians or no● they said no. Alas for pittie said Gregorie , that the soule 〈…〉 be Lord of such faire folkes ▪ and that they which carrie such grace in their 〈…〉 in their hearts . Then he would know of them by what name their Nation was called , and they told him 〈◊〉 , And iustly be they so called ( quoth he , ) for they haue Angelike faces , and seeme meete to be made cohair●● with the Angells in heaven .

Since which time , they made such happy progresse in the Christian profession both of faith and works , that if I should but enter into consideration thereof , I should be over-whelmed with mayn tides of matter . Many and admirable monuments thereof , do every where , at home present themselves to your view , erected informer times , ( and no small number in our age , although few men note them , ) not for affectation of ●ame , or ostentation of wealth , but to the glorie of God , increase of faith , of learning and to maintenance of the poore . As for abroad , the world ca● testifie that foure Englishmen have converted to Christianitie , eight Nations of Europe , Wi●frid alias Boniface , the D●●shire-man converted the German Saxons , Franc●●●ns Hossians , and Thuringians , Willebred the Northerne man , the Frisians and Hollanders . Nicholas Braksp●● of Middlesex , who was after called Pope Hadrian the Normegians , and not long since , Thomas of W●lden of Essex , the Lit●●●ians . Neither will I heere note which strangers have noted , that England hath bred more Princes renowned for sanctitie , then any Christian Nation whatsoever . It doth also redound to the eternall honour of England , that our countrimen have twice beene schoolemaist 〈…〉 France . First when they taught the Gaules the discipline of the 〈◊〉 and after , when they and the Scottishmen first taught the French the liberall Arts , and persuaded Carelus Magnus to found the Vniversitie of Paris . They also brought into Fraunce the best lawes which the Parl●ament of 〈◊〉 and Burdeaux have now in vse . 〈◊〉 . They at the lowest ebbe of learning , amazed the world with their excellent knowledge in Philosophie , and Divinitie : for that I may not 〈◊〉 of Alexander of Hales , the 〈…〉 Schoolemaster to the 〈◊〉 Doctor Thomas Aq●●● , one Colledge in Oxford brought forth in one age those foure lights of learning : 〈◊〉 colledge Sco●us the Subtile , Bradward●ne the Profound , Okham the Invincible , and Burley the Perspicuous , and as some say , Baconthorpe the Resolute ; which Titles they hadde by the common consent of the iudiciall and learned of that and the succeeding ages . Yet their militarie glorie hath surpassed all , for they have terrified the whole world with their Armes in Syria , Aegypt , Cyprus , Spaine , Sicill , and India .

They have traversed with most happy victories both France and Scotland , brought away their Kings captives , conquered Ireland and the Isle of Cypres , which King Richard the first gave frankly to Guie of Lusigni●● , and lately with a maidens hand , mated the mightiest Monarch in his owne Countries . They beside many other notable discoveries , twice compassed the whole globe of the earth with admirable successe , which the Spaniards have yet but once performed . Good Lord , how spaciously might a learned pen walke in this argument ! But lest I should seeme over prodigall in the praise of my countrimen , I will onely present you with some few verses in this behalfe , and first this Latine Rythme of the middle time in praise of the English Nation , with some close cautions . It s quilted as ●t were out of shreds of divers Poets , such as Schollers do call a Cento .

They could call Fortilitie and fruitfulnesse of land significatively Eordes-wela , as wealth of the earth .

They could call a Comet , a Faxed starre ; which is all one with Stella Crinita , or Cometa . So they did call the iudgement seate Domesettle .

That which we call the Parlament of the French Parier to speake , they called a Witten mot , as the meeting and assembly of wise men .

The certaine and inward knowledge of that which is in our minde , be it good or bad , which in the Latine word we call Conscience , they called Inwit , as that which they did inwardly wit and wote , that is , know certainely .

That in a river which the Latines call Alveus , and Cana●is , and from thence most nations of Europe name the Chanel , Kanel , Canale , &c. they properly called the Streame-race .

Neither in the degrees of kinred they were destitute of significative woordes ; for he whom we of a French & English compound word call Grandfather , they called Eald-fader , whom we call Great Grandfather , they called Thirdafader . So Proavus , which we call Great Great Grandfather , they called Fortha-fader , as Abavus , Fiftha-fader .

An Eunuch , for whome we have no name , but from the Greekes , they could aptly name Vnstana , that is , without stones , as we vse Vnspotted for without spotte , Vnlearned , for , without learning .

A Covetous man whome we so call of the French Convoitise , they truely called Git-sor , as afore & eagre Getter , and Gatherer .

That which the Latines call Abortus , and wee in many wordes , Vntimely Birth , or , Borne before the full time , they called Miss-borne .

A Porter , which wee have received from the French , they could in their own word as significatively call A Doreward .

I could particulate in many more , but this woulde appeare most plentifully , if the labours of the learned Gentlemen Maister Laurence Nowell of Lincolnes Inne , who first in our time recalled the studie heereof , Maister William Lambert , Maister I : Ioscelin , Maister Fr: Tate were once published . Otherwise it is to bee feared , that devouring Time , in few yeeres will vtterly swallow it , without hope of recoverie .

The alteration and innovation in our tongue as in all others , hath beene brought in by entrance of Strangers , as Danes , Normans , and others which have swarmed hither , by trafficke , for new words as well as for new wares , have alwaies come in by the tyranne Time , which altereth all vnder heaven , by Vse , which swayeth most , and hath an absolute command in words , and by Pregnant wits : specially since that learning after long banishment , was recalled in the time of King Henry the eight , it hath beene beautified and enriched out of other good tongues , partly by enfranchising and endenizing strange words , partly by refining and mollifying olde words , partly by implanting new wordes with artificiall composition , happily containing themselves within the bounds prescribed by Horace . So that our long is ( and I doubt not but hath beene ) as copious , pithie , and significative , as any other tongue in Europe : and I hope we are not yet and shall not heereafter come to that which Seneca saw in his time , I● Epistolis . When mens mindes beginne once to iniure themselves to dislike whatsoever is vsuall , is disdained . They affect noveltie in speech , they recall forworne and vncuth words , they forge new phrases , and that which is newest , is best liked ; there is presumptuous and farre fetching of words . And some there are which thinke it a grace if their speech doe hover , and thereby hold the hearer in suspence : you know what followeth .