O happy Britain ( said the old Panegyrist ) and more blisful than all other Regions ! Nature hath inriched thee with all commodities of Heaven and Earth , wherein there is neither extream cold in Winter , nor scorching heat in Summer ; wherein there is such abundant plenty of Corn , as may suffice both for Bread and Wine ; wherein are Woods without wild-beasts , and the Fields without noisom Serpents : But infinite numbers of Milch-Cattel , and Sheep weighed down with Fleeces ; and that which is most comfortable , long Days and lightsom Nights . And as our English Lucan sings , The fairest Land that from her thrusts the rest , As if she car'd not for the World beside ; A World within her self with wonders blest .

This Queen of Islands was at the first called Albion , either from Albion Marcoticus who seated himself herein , or ab albis rupibus , from the white Rocks appearing towards the Coasts of France , or from Olbion , signifying rich or happy , in regard of its fertility , temperature , and riches . Next , It was called Britain , either from the two British words Pryd and Cain , which signifie Beauty and White , or from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying Mettals , with which it aboundeth , or from the British word Beyth , that is , painted , stained , coloured ( the Inhabitants of old using to dye their bodies with Woad ) to which the Greeks added Tania , ( that is , a Region ) thence called Britons-Land or Britanie . At last , The Southern and best part of it ( from the Angle-Saxons then inhabiting it ) was called Angle-Land , now

England , which said part of Britain , is bounded on the East with the Germane , on the West with the Irish , on the South with the British Ocean , on the North with the River Tweed , and a Line drawn from it , to the Solway Westward . The longest day in the Northern part of England is Seventeen hours and near Thirty minutes ; and the shortest day in the most Southern part thereof , almost Eight hours long . Englands dimension in length , from Berwick to the Lands-End is 386 miles , in breadth from Sandwich to the Lands-End 279 ; in compass ( by reason of the many Bays and Promontories ) about 1300 miles .

England , in the Romans time , was divided into Britania prima , containing the South part of England , Britania secunda containing the Western part , now called Wales ; and Maxima Caesariensis containing the Northern parts beyond Trent . The first of these in the Britains time belonged to the Arch-Bishoprick of London , the 2d . to the Arch-Bishoprick of * * Glamorgan . Caerleon , and the 3d. to the Arch-Bishoprick of York .

The Britains , or first Inhabitants of this Island , were derived from the Gauls , as both their Speech , Laws , Customs , and Buildings manifest . The Story of Brute with his Trojans Conquering this Island in A.M. 2887 , or whenever else , seems to be only a Fable of Geofry of Monmouths framing . Amongst the Ancient Britains , none save the better and more civil sort did wear any cloathing . They painted their bare bodies with sundry Pictures , representing all manner of living creatures , flowers , and the heavenly bodies , conceiting , that this made them appear the more terrible to their enemies . About their Wasts and Necks they wore Chains of Iron , supposing them to be a goodly Ornament . The hair of their heads they wore long , which was naturally curled ; all other parts they shaved , save the upper-lip . Of all the Provinces , the Kentish were the most civilized persons , by reason of their converse with other Nations in Trafficking and Merchandizing . Their buildings were many , and like to those of the old Gauls ( French ) poor rude Cottages , yet did they give the name of Towns to certain cumbersom Woods , which they fortified with Rampiers and Ditches , whither they made their retreat and resort , to eschew the invasions of their enemies . The Romans first taught them to build their Houses of Stone .

Their Wives were many , Ten or Twelve apiece , which they held common among Parents and Brethren ; yet was the Issue reputed his only , who first Married the Mother when she was a Maid . The Children they brought up in common amongst them . Their diet was spare and mean , being Barks and Roots of Trees , and Milk , also a kind of food they had no bigger than a Bean , after the eating of which , for a considerable time they did neither hunger nor thirst . They eat likewise Venison and Fruits . Their usual drink was made of Barley .

DOmitius Nero was elected Emperor by the Soldiers . His own Father he poysoned , NERO , A. D. 56. upon his Mother he first committed incest , then murder ; he deflowred the Vestals , slew his Brother Germanicus , and Sister Antonia , his Wives Poppea and Octavia , his Ant Domitia , his Son-in-Law Rufinus , and his famous Tutour Seneca , with many of the Roman Nobility , and raised the first persecution against the Christians . He set the City of Rome on fire , 1st . Persetion . charging the innocent Christians with the fact , and tormenting them for it . He caused St. Peter and St. Paul to be put to death , the first by crucifying , the other by beheading . But this Tyrant was grown so hated , that the Senate adjudged him to be shamefully whipt to death ; which he hearing of , run himself upon his own Sword . In the first five years of his Reign he was very compassionate , in so much , as being requested to sign a Writ for the execution of a Malefactor , he said , Would God I had never learnt to Write . In the year of our Redemption , 67 , Joseph of A●imathea was sent by Philip the Apostle to plant the Gospel in Britain , who laid the foundation of the Christian Faith at a place then called Avalon , afterward Iniswitren , now Glastenbury , where he dyed and was buried . In Nero the progeny of the Caesars ended .

SErgius Sulpitius Galba was elected Emperor by the Soldiers and Senate , GALBA , A. D. 70. who when he had Reigned only Seven Months , was by the procurement of Otho , slain by a Troop of Horsemen .