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
It should séeme by some that they are not worthie to be placed among
Ilands: yet othersome are of opinion, that they are not altogither so
base, as to be reputed amongst flats or rocks: but whatsoeuer they be,
this is sure, that they oft annoie such passengers and merchants as
passe and repasse vpon that riuer. Neither doo I read of any other Iles
[Sidenote: Barri.]
which lie by east of these, saue onelie the Barri, and Dunwen: the first
[Sidenote: Barri is a flight shot from the shore.]
of which is so called of one Barroc, a religious man (as Gyraldus saith)
and is about a flight shot from the shore. Herin also is a rocke
standing at the verie entrance of the cliffe, which hath a little rift
or chine vpon the side, wherevnto if a man doo laie his eare, he shall
heare a noise, as if smithes did worke at the forge, sometimes blowing
with their bellowes, and sometimes striking and clinking with hammers,
whereof manie men haue great wonder; and no maruell. It is about a mile
in compasse, situat ouer against Aberbarry, and hath a chappell in it.
[Sidenote: Dunwen.]
Dunwen is so called of a church (dedicated to a Welsh woman saint,
called Dunwen) that standeth there. It lieth more than two miles from
Henrosser, right against Neuen, and hath within it two faire mils, &
great store of conies. Certes if the sand increase so fast hereafter as
it hath done of late about it, it will be vnited to the maine within a
short season. Beyond these and toward the coast of southwales lie two
other Ilands, larger in quantitie than the Holmes, of which the one is
[Sidenote: Caldee.]
called Caldee or Inis Pyr. It hath a parish-church with a spire steeple,
and a pretie towne belonging to the countie of Pembroke, and
iurisdiction of one Dauid in Wales. Leland supposeth the ruines that are
found therein to haue béene of an old priorie sometimes called Lille,
which was a cell belonging to the monasterie of S. Dogmael, but of this
[Sidenote: Londy.]
I can saie nothing. The other hight Londy, wherein is also a village or
towne, and of this Iland the parson of the said towne is not onelie the
captaine, but hath thereto weife, distresse, and all other commodities
belonging to the same. It is little aboue sixteene miles from the coast
of Wales, though it be thirtie from Caldée, and yet it serueth (as I am
informed) lord and king in Deuonshire. Moreouer in this Iland is great
plentie of sheepe, but more conies, and therewithall of verie fine and
short grasse for their better food & pasturage; likewise much Sampere
vpon the shore, which is carried from thence in barrels. And albeit that
there be not scarslie fourtie housholds in the whole, yet the
inhabitants there with huge stones (alredie prouided) may kéepe off
thousands of their enimies, bicause it is not possible for anie
aduersaries to assaile them, but onelie at one place, and with a most
dangerous entrance. In this voiage also we met with two other Ilands,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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