Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of BritaineHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of Britaine
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
[Sidenote: S. Maries Ile.]
The first and greatest of these therefore, called S. Maries Ile, is
about fiue miles ouer, or nine miles in compasse. Therein also is a
parish-church, and a poore towne belonging thereto, of threescore
housholds, beside a castell, plentie of corne, conies, wild swans,
puffens, gulles, cranes, & other kinds of foule in great abundance. This
fertile Iland being thus viewed, we sailed southwards by the Norman
[Sidenote: Agnus Ile.]
rocke, and S. Maries sound vnto Agnus Ile, which is six miles ouer, and
hath in like sort one towne or parish within the same of fiue or six
housholds, beside no small store of hogs & conies of sundrie colours,
verie profitable to their owners. It is not long since this Ile was left
desolate, for when the inhabitants thereof returned from a feast holden
in S. Maries Ile, they were all drowned, and not one person left aliue.
[Sidenote: Annot.]
There are also two other small Ilands, betwéene this and the Annot,
whereof I find nothing worthie relation: for as both of them ioind
togither are not comparable to the said Annot for greatnesse and
circuit, so they want both hogs and conies, wherof Annot hath great
[Sidenote: Minwisand.]
[Sidenote: Smithy sound.]
[Sidenote: Suartigan.]
[Sidenote: Rousuian.]
[Sidenote: Rousuiar.]
[Sidenote: Cregwin.]
plentie. There is moreouer the Minwisand, from whence we passe by the
Smithy sound (leauing thrée little Ilands on the left hand, vnto the
Suartigan Iland, then to Rousuian, Rousuiar, and the Cregwin, which
seauen are (for the most part) replenished with conies onelie, and wild
garlike, but void of wood & other commodities, sauing of a short kind of
grasse, or here & there some firzes wheron their conies doo féed.
Leauing therefore these desert peeces, we incline a little toward the
[Sidenote: Moncarthat.]
[Sidenote: Inis Welseck.]
[Sidenote: Suethiall.]
[Sidenote: Rat Iland.]
northwest, where we stumble or run vpon Moncarthat, Inis Welseck, &
Suethiall. We came in like sort vnto Rat Iland, wherein are so manie
monstrous rats, that if anie horsses, or other beasts, happen to come
thither, or be left there by negligence but one night, they are sure to
be deuoured & eaten vp, without all hope of recouerie. There is
[Sidenote: Anwall. Brier.]
moreouer the Anwall and the Brier, Ilands in like sort void of all good
furniture, conies onelie excepted, and the Brier (wherein is a village,
castell, and parish-church) bringeth foorth no lesse store of hogs, and
wild foule, than Rat Iland doth of rats, whereof I greatlie maruell.
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