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
is Alisa a desert Ile, yet replenished with conies, soland foule, and a
fit harbor for fishermen that in time of the yeare lie vpon the coast
thereof for herings. Next vnto this is the Arran, a verie hillie and
craggie soile, yet verie plentifull of fish all about the coast, and
wherein is a verie good hauen: ouer against the mouth whereof lieth the
Moll, which is also no small defence to such seafaring men as seeke
harbor in that part. Then came we by the Fladwa or Pladwa, no lesse
fruitfull and stored with conies than the Bota, Bura, or Botha, of eight
miles long & foure miles broad, a low ground but yet verie batable, and
wherein is good store of short and indifferent pasture: it hath also a
towne there called Rosse, and a castell named the Camps. There is also
another called the Marnech, an Iland of a mile in length, and halfe a
mile in breadth, low ground also but yet verie fertile. In the mouth
likewise of the Glot, lieth the more Cumber and the lesse, not farre in
sunder one from another, and both fruitfull inough the one for corne,
and the other for Platyceraton. The Auon another Iland lieth about a
mile from Cantire, and is verie commodious to ships, wherof it is called
Auon, that is to saie, Portuosa, or full of harbor: and therefore the
Danes had in time past great vse of it. Then haue we the Raclind, the
Kyntar, the Cray, the Gegaw six miles in length and a mile and a halfe
in breadth; the Dera full of déere, and not otherwise vnfruitfull: and
therefore some thinke that it was called the Ile of déere in old time.
[Sidenote: Scarba.]
Scarba foure miles in length, and one in breadth, verie little
inhabited, and thereinto the sea betwéene that and the Ile of déere is
so swift and violent, that except it be at certeine times, it is not
easilie nauigable. Being past these, we come to certeine Ilands of no
great fame, which lie scattered here and there, as Bellach, Gyrastell,
Longaie, both the Fiolas, the thrée Yarues, Culbrenin, Duncomell, Lupar,
Belnaua, Wikerua, Calfile, Luing, Sele Ile, Sound, of which the last
thrée are fruitfull, and belong to the earle of Argile. Then haue we the
[Sidenote: Slate Ile.]
Slate, so called of the tiles that are made therin. The Nagsey, Isdalf,
and the Sken (which later is also called Thian, of a wicked herbe
growing there greatlie hurtfull, and in colour not much vnlike the
lillie, sauing that it is of a more wan and féeble colour) Vderga, kings
Ile, Duffa or blacke Ile, Kirke Ile and Triarach. There is also the Ile
Ard, Humble Ile, Greene Ile, and Heth Ile, Arbor Ile, Gote Ile, Conies
Ile aliàs idle Ile, Abrid Ile or bird Ile, and Lismor, wherein the
bishop of Argill sometime held his palace, being eight miles in length
and two miles in breadth, and not without some mines also of good
mettall. There is also the Ile Ouilia, Siuna, Trect, Shepey, Fladaw,
Stone Ile, Gresse, great Ile, Ardis, Musadell, & Berner, sometime called
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