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: Rusco.]
[Sidenote: Inis widd[=o].]
By north of the Brier, lieth the Rusco, which hath a Labell or Byland
stretching out toward the southwest, called Inis widdon. This Rusco is
verie neere so great as that of S. Maries. It hath moreouer an hold, and
a parish within it, beside great store of conies and wild foule, whereof
they make much gaine in due time of the yeare. Next vnto this we come to
[Sidenote: Round Iland. S. Lides.]
the Round Iland, which is about a mile ouer, then to S. Lides Iland,
(wherein is a parish-church dedicated to that Saint, beside conies,
wood, and wild foule, of which two later there is some indifferent store)
[Sidenote: Notho. Auing.]
the Notho, the Auing, (one of them being situat by south of another, and
the Auing halfe a mile ouer, which is a iust halfe lesse than the Notho)
[Sidenote: Tyan.]
and the Tyan, which later is a great Iland, furnished with a
parish-church, and no small plentie of conies as I heare. After the Tyan
[Sidenote: S. Martines.]
we come to S. Martines Ile, wherein is a faire towne, the Ile it selfe
being next vnto the Rusco for greatnesse, and verie well furnished with
conies & fresh springs. Also betwixt this and S. Maries, are ten other,
smaller, which reach out of the northeast into the southwest, as
[Sidenote: Knolworth.]
[Sidenote: Sniuilliuer.]
[Sidenote: Menweth[=a].]
[Sidenote: Vollis. 1.]
[Sidenote: Surwihe.]
[Sidenote: Vollis. 2.]
[Sidenote: Arthurs Ile.]
[Sidenote: Guiniliuer.]
[Sidenote: Nenech.]
[Sidenote: Gothrois.]
Knolworth, Sniuilliuer, Menwetham, Vollis. 1. Surwihe, Vollis. 2.
Arthurs Iland, Guiniliuer, Nenech and Gothrois, whose estates are
diuers: howbeit as no one of these is to be accounted great in
comparison of the other, so they all yéeld a short grasse méet for
sheepe and conies, as doo also the rest. In the greater Iles likewise
(whose names are commonlie such as those of the townes or churches
standing in the same) there are (as I here) sundry lakes, and those
neuer without great plentie of wild foule, so that the Iles of Sylley,
are supposed to be no lesse beneficiall to their lords, than anie other
whatsoeuer, within the compasse of our Ile, or neere vnto our coasts.
[Sidenote: Wild swine in Sylley.]
In some of them also are wild swine. And as these Iles are supposed to
be a notable safegard to the coast of Cornewall, so in diuerse of them
great store of tin is likewise to be found. There is in like maner such
plentie of fish taken among these same, that beside the feeding of their
swine withall, a man shall haue more there for a penie, than in London
for ten grotes. Howbeit their cheefe commoditie is made by Keigh, which
they drie, cut in peeces, and carie ouer into little Britaine, where
they exchange it there, for salt, canuas, readie monie, or other
merchandize which they doo stand in need of. A like trade haue some of
them also, with Buckhorne or dried whiting, as I heare. But sith the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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