History of the Cambridge Academy, Book I.

Cantaber. Partholomus.

in Britain. Returning therefore, Gurguntius from Dacia (which he had already subjugated because of denied tribute), both being met in the Scottish sea, they sought quiet seats in Britain. Although Gurguntius had denied them in this island, he nevertheless conceded them in Ireland, which Julius Caesar once called Britain, as Fabius Quaestor records in his deeds of the English. For it was empty at that time, nor inhabited by any people or aborigine, as the writers report.

Fabius Quaestor. Partholomus, monarch of his people.

To that place the king had sent Partholomus to inhabit, with an annual tribute, and he retained Cantaber with him, a man of noble character, eloquent in letters, and prudent in the experience of affairs, whom King Gurguntius favored greatly for these reasons. The school of the Athenians had taught these letters and eloquence and this order of civil discipline before he had arrived here. And as if nothing should be wanting to him that might be conferred on a son-in-law, King Gurguntius gave his daughter to him in marriage, and conferred a good part of the kingdom as a dowry, so that now nature had given him a father in Spain, and a brother in Ireland, and virtue had produced a father-in-law, the king of Britain.

Cambridge, a most ancient city.

By their favor he accomplished many things, and founded a city, which grew so afterwards that writers commemorate it among the 28 most noble cities of all Britain. For with scholars and peoples flocking to the opinion of a new city, in a short time both the people and the city became great.

Various naming of the city of Cambridge. H. Huntind. Gul. Malmesb. R. Nennius. R. Marrham. Beda.

The common people of the Britons called it Cairgrant, and a city of scholars, others called it Cantelrigiam and Grantebrigiam, and the Saxons called it Grantecestriam. By which name also, in his own time, the city of Cambridge was called, as Bede is the author in his ecclesiastical history of the English people, as are also Henr. Huntind., William of Malmesbury, Ranulph, Nennius, and Ralph Marrham concerning ancient cities. From which name of Cambridge,