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
After these we come vnto the Ise, a pretie fertile Iland, to the Oue, to
the Askoome, to the Lindill. And foure score miles from the Skie towards
the west, to the Ling, the Gigarmen, the Berner, the Magle, the Pable,
the Flad, the Scarpe, the Sander, the Vateras, which later hath a noble
hauen for great ships, beside sundrie other commodities: and these nine
last rehearsed are vnder the dominion of the bishop of the Iles. After
[Sidenote: Bar.]
this we come to the Bar, an Iland seauen miles in length, not
vnfruitfull for grasse and corne, but the chiefe commoditie thereof
lieth by taking of herrings, which are there to be had abundantlie. In
one baie of this Iland there lieth an Islet, and therein standeth a
strong castell. In the north part hereof also is an hill which beareth
good grasse from the foot to the top, and out of that riseth a spring,
which running to the sea, doth carrie withall a kind of creature not yet
perfectlie formed, which some do liken vnto cockels; and vpon the shore
where the water falleth into the sea, they take vp a kind of shelfish,
when the water is gone, which they suppose to be ingendred or increased
after this manner. Betwéene the Barre and the Visse lie also these
Ilands, Orbaus, Oue, Hakerset, Warlang, Flad, the two Baies, Haie,
Helsaie, Gigaie, Lingaie, Fraie, Fudaie, and Friskaie. The Visse is
thirtie miles long and six miles broad; and therein are sundrie fresh
waters, but one especiallie of three miles in length: neuerthelesse, the
sea hath now of late found a waie into it, so that it cannot be kept off
with a banke of three score foot, but now and then it will flowe into
the same, and leaue sea-fish behind it in the lake. There is also a fish
bred therein almost like vnto a salmon, sauing that it hath a white
bellie, a blacke backe, and is altogither without scales: it is likewise
a great harbour for théeues and pirats.
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