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
Eight miles beyond this lieth the Helscher, appertinent to the nuns of
Iona: then haue we the Hasker, verie plentifullie benefited by seales,
which are there taken in time of the yéere. Thrée score miles from this
also is the Hirth, whose inhabitants are rude in all good science and
religion; yet is the Iland verie fruitfull in all things, and bringeth
foorth shéepe farre greater than are else-where to be found, for they
are as big as our fallow deare, horned like bugles, and haue their
tailes hanging to the ground. He that is owner of this Ile, sendeth ouer
his bailiffe into the same at midsummer, to gather in his duties, and
[Sidenote: Baptisme without preests.]
with him a préest to saie masse, and to baptise all the children borne
since that time of the yéere precedent: or if none will go ouer with him
(bicause the voiage is dangerous) then doth each father take paine to
baptise his owne at home. Their rents are paid commonlie in dried seales
and sea foule. All the whole Ile is not aboue a mile euerie waie; and
except thrée mounteines that lie vpon one part of the shore, such as
dwell in the other Iles can see no part thereof.
Being past the Visse, we came after to Walaie, the Soa, the Strome, to
Pabaie, to Barner, Ensaie, Killiger, the two Sagas, the Hermodraie,
Scarfe, Grie, Ling, Gilling, Heie, Hoie, Farlaie, great So, little So,
Ise, Sein the more, Sein the lesse, Tarant, Slegan, Tuom, Scarpe,
Hareie, and the seauen holie Ilands, which are desert and bréed nothing
[Sidenote: Wild sheepe.]
but a kind of wild shéepe, which are often hunted, but seldome or neuer
eaten. For in stéed of flesh they haue nothing but tallow; and if anie
flesh be, it is so vnsauorie, that few men care to eate of it, except
great hunger compell them. I suppose, that these be the wild sheepe
which will not be tamed; and bicause of the horrible grenning thereof,
[Sidenote: Tigers.]
is taken for the bastard tiger. Their haire is betweene the wooll of a
sheepe, and the haire of a goat, resembling both, shacked, and yet
absolutelie like vnto neither of both: it maie be also the same beast
which Capitolinus calleth Ouis fera, shewed in the time of Gordian the
emperour; albeit that some take the same for the Camelopardalis: but
hereof I make no warrantise.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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