[1] [2] _WHAT manner of people did firſt inha|bite this our coũtrey which hath moſt ge|nerally & of longeſt continuaunce bene knowne among all nations by ye name of Britaine, as yet it is not certainly knowne: neither can it be de|cided from whence the firſt inhabitantes thereof came, by reaſon of ſuch diuerſitie in iudgements as haue riſen amongſt the learned in this behalfe. But ſith the originall in maner of all nations is doubtful,The originall [...] nations [...]r the moſte [...] vncertain. and euen the ſame for the more parte fabulous (that always excepted which we fynde in the holy ſcriptures) I wiſhe not any man to leane to that whiche ſhall be heere ſet downe, as to an infallible truth, ſith I do but only ſhewe o|ther mennes coniectures, grounded neuertheleſſe vppon likely reaſons (concernyng that matter wherof there is now left but little other certayn|ti [...], [...]hether Bri+ [...] vvere an [...]de at the [...]ſt. or rather none at all. To fetche therfore [...] matter from the furtheſt, and ſo to ſtretch it for|ward, it ſe [...]eth by the report of Dominicus Ma+rius Niger, [...]ogr. com| [...]ent. lib. 2. yt in the beginning whẽ God framed the worlde and diuided the waters aparte from the earth, this Iſle was then a partel of the con|tinent, [...]o ylande at [...] fyrſte, as [...] cõiecture. & ioyned without any ſeparation of ſea to the mayne lande. But this opinion as al other the lyke vncertaynties, I leaue to be decided of the learned: Howbeit for the firſt inhabitation of this Iſle with people, I haue thought good to ſet down in part what may be gathered out of ſuch writers as haue touched that mater, & may ſeene to giue ſome light vnto the knowledge thereof.