Spenser's English Rivers. 89 



(Cheshire, p. 602). Camden combats the last explanation, 

 though he admits the ancient British custom of regarding rivers 

 as sacred. Spenser, however, accepts it, as being to him more 

 easily explicable (as from Lat. diviis) and interesting. Cam- 

 den's account of the river brings it to Chester, of which city he 

 gives a detailed description (pp. 604 ff.). 



For the Conway in North Wales, Spenser depends upon 

 Camden, who describes it as 'breeding certaine shelfishes, which 

 being conceived of an heavenly deaw, bring forth pearles' (Car- 

 narvonshire, p. 669). 



The Lindus is the modern Witham of Lincolnshire, which 

 flows generally north past Grantham, eastward past Lincoln, and 

 southeast to Boston and the Wash. Spenser's description seems 

 to echo Harrison's : 'Now come I to the course of the Witham, 

 a famous river, whereof goeth the biword, frequented of old, 

 and also of Ancolme, which I before described: 



Ancolme ele, and Witham pike, 



Search all England and find not the like. 



Leland calleth it Lindis, diverse the Rhe, and I have read all 

 these names my selfe: and thereto that the Lincolneshire men 

 were called in old time Coritani and their head citie Lindus, 

 Lindon and Lindocollinum' (i. 169).*^ Again Holinshed makes 

 Lindum and Lindodunum the old names of Lincoln (i. 320). 

 Camden mentions but discredits the derivation of Lincoln from 

 Lindus (p. 328). • 



Then came the bride, the lovely Medua came, 



Clad in a vesture of miknowen geare, 



And uncouth fashion, yet her well became ; 



That seem'd like silver, sprinckled here and theare 



With glittering spangs, that did like starres appeare, 



And wav'd upon, like water chamelot, 



To hide the metall, which yet every where 



Bewrayd it selfe, to let men plainely wot, 



It was no mortall worke, that seem'd and yet was not.^' 



Her hair fell loose over her shoulders to her waist, 'as a new 

 spring,' and down upon it from her flowery chaplet ran drops of 



*" Quoted by Dr. Harper, p. 14. 

 " St. 45- 



