In execution of this plan I have already compiled a list of names of books and authors; these have been gathered partly from an examination of the works themselves, partly from catalogues and other sources where such works are mentioned. Now, however, as my resources are nearly exhausted, and my labours by no means complete, I take the liberty to lay my plan before those who may be disposed to concur with me, those who may be able to procure me information, those who have the possession or the care of libraries in which such books are to be found, and of which catalogues have not been printed; and, for the end I have in view, I invite them all to help me in the completion of my work. The editors of the Navorscher have consented to open their columns to contributors. To spare needless trouble, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not include any works published in Belgium, or in the colonies now or formerly in our possession.

Martinus.

Amsterdam, March 11. 1851.


WHAT WAS THE COUNTRY OF THE ANGLES?

What country was inhabited by the Angles before they occupied Britain? Adam of Bremen (Hist. Eccl. c. 3.) says:

"Igitur Saxones primo circa Rhenum sedes habitant et vocati sunt Angli quorum pars inde veniens in Britanniam, etc."

Notwithstanding the opinion of Turner, and most other historians, I venture to offer a few facts in confirmation of the monk's testimony. 1. The names of places on the Lower Rhine, and more especially in Guelderland, point to an Anglian origin for instance, Engelanderholt, Engelenburg and Engelenberg, Angerlo olim Angelerlo. Engeland, near Beekbergen, is mentioned in a charter[[3]] dated 801 as villa Englandi. Several other places bear the same name: two near Hardenberg, one in the land of Putten, another in our parish; which also contains Henschoten olim Hengestschoten, and owes its own name to Woden. Near Nimwegen, we have Horssen. 2. Many local names in the same district, which can only be explained by reference to the A.-S. Hulkestein on the Zuyder Sea, Hulkestein near Arnhem, from A.-S. hulc, a dwelling: thus, stone buildings, castles. Thri, A.-S., three, is mentioned in a charter dated 855 as the name of a villa, now the hamlet Drie, near Ermelo. Hierd and Heerd, from A.-S. hierde, perhaps also Hardewick or Harderwyk from the same. Braclog, a wood near Engelanderholt, from brac, enemy, and locen, an enclosure, is mentioned in a charter (801). Luntern and Lunhorst, from A.-S. Lun, poor. Wigmond, from wig, war; and mund, defence. Culenburg, from ciol or ceol, a ship. Klingelbeck, near Arnhem, from clingan, to shrink up. Ysseloord from ord, a point; and thus confluence of two rivers, as we see also on the Rhine, Roerort and Angerort. Herwynen, Herveld, Hernen, Herwaarden, Winden Delwynen, Sennewyn, can be explained[[4]] by A.-S. here and win. 3. The agreement between the names of places here, and those of every part of England occupied by the Angles. Out of a great number of instances collected by Mr. Molhuysen (see Nyhoff's Bijdragen, vol. iii.) I will take a few. In Kent we have Appledore, Appleton, Appleby; here Appeldorn, Appel, Appeltern, Appelenburg on the Wahal. Ashe and Ash; Asch, near Buren, and others. Barne; Bern near Heusden, and Baarn near Amersfoort. Barnefield; Barneveld. Bonington, Boningen. Dover; Doveren. Gillingham; Gellinchem. Hearne; Hiern, near Waardenburg. Herne; Hernen. Leisdon; Leusden. Lone; Loenen. Sandwich; Sandwyk, near Tiel. Watchorne; Waghorn, in the Velume. In Yorkshire: Beel; De Beele, near Voorst. Byland; Byland. Campe; Campen. Catwich; Katwyk. Dodworth; Dodewaard. Ecope; Heicop. Grimestone; Grimmestein, on the Eem. Heck; Eck. Hampall; Empel, near Engelen. Herfield; Herveld. Hewick; Ewyk, &c. &c.—The evident similarity of names in this list, which might be extended through several pages, affords at least a strong presumption that a part of the land of our fathers is to be sought here. I will just add that there is a MS. containing copies of charters, registers, &c., collected by Opstraeten van der Moelen, a genealogist, who died in the early part of the seventeenth century, now in the possession of Mr. Van Asch van Wyck. In this is an article entitled "De Nobili et Antiqua Familia dicta Amersfoort seu potius Heemsfurt vel Hemefurt a vado Heeme seu Hemi fluvii." The writer makes mention of the well-known grant of Charlemagne to the cathedral of Utrecht, by which Lisidunum (Leusden) and four forests on the banks of the Eem were ceded to this church: Hengestschoten, Fornese, Mocoroth, and Widoc. The writer considers the last-named forest to be that of Wede or Woden; and derives thence the family-name Weede. Concerning Hengestschoten is remarked:

"Hengist, qui circum annum 450 Britanniam insulam cum suis Frisonibus et Saxonibus occupat." And further: "Weede nomen adhunc retinere videtur a Woden, qui fuit avus avi Hengesti, sicut Hengestschoten, nune prædium dominorum Oestbroek, ab Hengisto nominatur."