ABSTRACT
THE more part aswel of Cosmographers, as Chronographers, do with on accorde affirme, that the nation of Ireland (the vttermost weasterne Ile known) is halfe as big as Britannia. Which I take to be true, if the word Britannia so farre displaie the signification, that it comprise England, Wales, and Scotland. To which opinion Giraldus Cambrensis relieth, saieng, that Britannia conteineth in length eight hundred miles, and two hundred in breadth. Ireland he taketh to be in length from the mounteins called Torrach (the author of Polychronicon termeth them Brendane his hilles) to saint Columbe his Iland eight daies iourneie, rating of long Irish miles fortie miles to the daie: and in breadth from Dublin to saint Patrike his hilles and the sea of Connaght foure daies iorneie, according to the former rate. So as by Cambrensis his surueie, who was a curious insearcher therof, Ireland is thrée hundred & twentie miles long of Irish miles, and one hundred and three score miles broad. And accounting thrée hundred and twentie Irish miles to amount to foure hundred English miles, which may well be reckoned according to their iudgements that haue trauelled in the Irish territories; Ireland will be found halfe as big as Britannia: which Girald. Cambrensis auoucheth, saieng, that Ireland is as big as Wales and Scotland. Ireland hath on the east, England, within one daies sailing; on the southeast it hath France; Hispaine on the south, distant thrée daies sailing; on the west the maine ocean sea.
The length and breadth of Ireland. Girald. Cambrens. lib. I. topog. dist. I. rub. 2. Polych, lib. I. cap. 32
