1.14. The deſcription of an auncient Pict. Chap. 14.

The deſcription of an auncient Pict. Chap. 14.

[1] [2] THe Pict (ſaith Herodian) hath generally no vſe of apparell, howbeit the nobler ſorte of them do wrappe theyr heades and wombes in houpes of yron, which they take for great bra|uery, eſteeming this kinde of attyre in ſuche as weare the ſame, to be a token of wealth and ri|ches, and ſo great an ornament, as if they had worne Golde or any coſtly iewelles. Beſide this, and the ſhauing of theyr nether lippe, they paynted ouer their bodies with the images of al kindes of beaſtes, ſo that he was the gayeſt mã, that had his ſkinne moſt diſguiſed in this ma|ner. Certes none of them regarded to weare a|ny apparell, bycauſe they eſteemed it a greate glory to haue theſe paintings ſeene. In warres they were bolde, and deſirous to ſhedde bloud, contenting themſelues (in ſteede of other ar|mour) with a ſhorte launce, and narrow target, or buckler, theyr ſwordes were tied to their na|ked ſides with a thong, and as for Iacke, ſhirt of Mayle, or Helmet, they made no regarde of them, bycauſe they would trouble thẽ in ſwim|ming, or otherwiſe at a pinche, whẽ they ſhould be compelled to wade. Dion wryting general|ly of the whole countrey, diuideth it with Hero|dien into the Calidons, and Meates, ſaying that the ſayde country is very ſauage, their Cities voyde of walles, & fields, without townes: they liue moreouer (ſaith he) by hunting and pray, and often times with the fruite of their trees: & albeit that they haue exceeding plenty of fiſh, [page 22] yet they eate not of it. They liue naked in tents and without ſhoes on theyr feete, theyr wiues are common, and children generally looked vn|to: they haue moreouer a populous regiment, & are very ready to ſteale: they fight in wagons, & haue little light & ſwift horſes, whiche runne alſo very ſwiftly, and ſtande at their feete with like ſtedfaſtneſſe. In ye nether end of their laun|ces they haue hollow bullets of Braſſe, in eche is a litle peece or two of yron, whiche ratleth when they ſhake it, & maketh a ſtrange noyſe where many of them are togither. They haue alſo narrow daggers: but chiefly they can ſ [...]|ſteyne hunger and colde beſt of all men, & like|wiſe ſore labour: and if it happen them to hun|ger and haue no meate at hand, they wil ſitte in the marriſhes vp to the chinnes by many dayes togither. In the wooddes they feede on rootes or barkes of trees, and they haue a kinde of meate among them, whereof if they take but ſo muche as a beane, they neyther hunger nor thirſte in a long time after. And thus much of the meates (whiche were the neareſt vs) and the Caledons that dwelled beyond the wall, and both in their prouince called Maxima Ceſarienſis, wherof let this ſuffice.