A 12th century overview of the island of Britain

Chapter 2 of Geoffrey of Monmouth's (1100-1155) "History of the Kings of Britain" :

"Britain, the best of islands, is situated in the Western Ocean, between France and Ireland, being eight hundred miles long, and two hundred broad. It produces every thing that is useful to man, with a plenty that never fails. It abounds with all kinds of metal, and has p…