Chronicles (1 of 6): The Historie of England (1 of 8) - From the Time That It Was First Inhabited, Vntill the Time That It Was Last Conquered: Wherein the Sundrie Alterations of the State Vnder Forren People Is Declared; And Other Manifold Observations Re by Raphael Holinshed
page 20 of 32 (62%)
page 20 of 32 (62%)
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Britaine, within short time subdued the Samotheans, the first
inhabitantes thereof, without finding any great resistance, for that (as before ye haue heard) they had giuen ouer the practise of all warlike and other painefull exercises, and through vse of effeminate pleasures, wherevnto they had giuen themselues ouer, they were become now vnapt to withstand the force of their enimies: and so (by the testimonie of [Sidenote: _Nichol. Perot._ _Rigmanus Philesius_. _Aristotle_. _Hum. Lhoyd_.] Nicholaus Perottus, Rigmanus Philesius, Aristotle, and Humfrey Llhoyd, with diuers other, both forraine & home-writers) this Iland was first called by the name of Albion, hauing at one time both the name and inhabitants changed from the line of Iaphet vnto the accursed race of Cham. This Albion (that thus changed the name of this Ile) and his companie, are called giants, which signifieth none other than a tall kind of men, of that vncorrupt stature and highnesse naturallie incident to the first [Sidenote: _Berosus_.] age (which Berosus also séemeth to allow, where he writeth, that Noah was one of the giants) and were not so called only of their monstrous greatnesse, as the common people thinke (although in deed they exceeded the vsuall stature of men now in these daies) but also for that they tooke their name of the soile where they were borne: for _Gigantes_ [Sidenote: What _Gigantes_ signifie] signifieth the sons of the earth: the Aborigines, or (as Cesar calleth them) Indigenæ; that is, borne and bred out of the earth where they inhabited. Thus some thinke, but verelie although that their opinion is not to be |
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