A. D. 500. 223 



The Romanized Britons were much fuperior to all their invaders in 

 the arts and faiences, except the art of war. But the faint light of learn- 

 ing and knowlege remaining in the idand, was almofl extinguifhed by 

 the long continued and bloody wars, which during feveral dark cen- 

 turies depopulated the country, and defolated the cities of Britain. 



The following particulars of the manners, manufadures, &c. of the 

 inhabitants of the Britifh iflands beyond the limits of the Roman con- 

 quefts (to whom I have fcarcely had an opportunity of paying any at- 

 tention hitherto), are chiefly colleded from the antient biographers of 

 the faints, almofl the only writers of the weflern world in the dark ages, 

 and brought together as throwing fome glimmering of light upon the 

 fmall portion of arts, manufadures, trade, and navigation, exifling in 

 thefe remote regions about this time *. 



The Irifli ftill retained the cuflom, noted by SoHnus, of adorning 

 their fwords and daggers with the poliflied teeth of animals. [Adamnani 

 Vita Columbce, MS. Bib. Reg. 8, d, ix. L. iii, c. 39.] The manufadture of 

 fwords and other weapons was in very early times pradifed in every 

 part of the Britifli iflands. 



The luxury of riding in chariots was common in Britain and Ireland. 

 IPatricii Synod, can. 9. — Cogitofi Vita Brigita, ap. MeJJingham, cc. 6, 7, 1 1. 

 — Adamn. L. i, c. qq ; L. ii, c. 43.] 



A common article of drefs was a cloak or plaid (peplum, pallium, 

 fagum) adorned with a variety of colours, which was probably of home 

 manufadure. \^Adamn. L. iii, c. i.] They had fine Unen, which, with 

 other articles of fumptuous drefs, may be prefumed to have been im- 

 ported. The bodies of the dead, at leaft thofe of eminent rank, were 

 wrapped in fine linen. IPatricii Synod, can. 9 — Cogitos. c. 11. — Adamn. 

 L. iii, c. 26.] Decency of drefs Vv^as recommended to all, but particu- 

 larly to clergyiTien and their wives. [Patrlcii Synod, can. 6.] 



In the churches and abbays there were bells, which the pious and in- 

 duftrious abbats fometimes made with their own hands. [Fita Gilda 

 quoted in U//erii Brit, eccles. antiq. p. 905, cd. 1639.! — Adamn. L. i, £•. H ; 

 L. iii, c. 23.] 



Water mills were introduced in Britain by the Romans, as appears 

 by the remains of a Roman mill lately difcovered at Mancheft;er : [JVbit- 

 akcr's Hiji. of Manchejier, p. 315] and as they are frequently mentioned 

 during the Saxon period, we may be aflured, that an engine fo very ufe- 

 ful, and alfoof fuch limple confl:rudion, was never allowed to go out 

 of ufe. About this time they were alfo ufed in Ireland. \_Cogitos.- 



^- 13-] 



Veflels made of glafs for drinking out of were ufed even in the ex- 



* Patric flourifhed from A. D. 432, the year td were written very foon after their own time,, 

 of his mlffion, to 493 : Brigit, about 500 : and and may be trufted to in every thing but thee 

 Columba, from 522 to J97. The lives here quot- miracles. 3 



