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
There is also not farre off the Garuell, the Lambe, the Flad, the
Kellas, the two Bernars, the Kirt, the two Buies, the Viraie, the
[Sidenote: Ile of Pigmeies.]
Pabaie, the two Sigrams, and the Ile of Pigmeies (which is so called
vpon some probable coniecture) for manie little sculs and bones are
dailie there found déepe in the ground, perfectlie resembling the bodies
of children; & not anie of greater quantities, wherby their coniecture
(in their opinion) is the more likelie to be true. There is also the
Fabill Ile, Adams Ile, the Ile of Lambes, Hulmes, Viccoll, Haueraie,
Car, Era, Columbes Ile, Tor Ile, Iffurd, Scalpe, Flad, and the Swet; on
whose east side is a certeine vault or caue, arched ouer, a flight shoot
in length, wherevnto meane ships do vse to runne for harbour with full
saile when a tempest ouertaketh them, or the raging of the sea, in those
parts do put them in danger of wrecke. Also we passed by the old castell
Ile, which is a pretie and verie commodious plat for fish, foule, egges,
corne, and pasture. There is also the Ile Eust or Eu, which is full of
wood, and a notable harbour for théeues, as is also the Grinort;
likewise the preests Ile, which is verie full of sea foule and good
pasture. The Afull, the two Herbrerts, to wit, the greater and the
lesse; and the Iles of Horsses, and Mertaika: and these 8 lie ouer
against the baie which is called the Lake Brian. After this, we go
toward the north, and come to the Haraie, and the Lewis or the Leug,
both which make (in truth) but one Iland of thrée score miles in length,
and sixtéene in breadth, being distinguished by no water, but by huge
woods, bounds, and limits of the two owners that doo possesse those
parts. The south part is called Haraie, and the whole situate in the
[Sidenote: Lewis called Thule by Tacitus, with no
better authoritie than the Angleseie Mona.]
Deucalidon sea, ouer against the Rosse, & called Thule by Tacitus,
wherein are manie lakes, and verie pretie villages, as lake Erwijn,
lake Vnsalsago: but of townes, S. Clements, Stoie, Nois, S. Columbane,
Radmach, &c. In like sort, there are two churches, whereof one is
dedicated to saint Peter, an other to S. Clement, beside a monasterie
called Roadill. The soile also of this Ile is indifferent fruitfull; but
they reape more profit vnder the ground than aboue, by digging. There is
neither woolfe, fox, nor serpent séene in this Iland; yet are there great
woods therein, which also separate one part from the other. Likewise
there be plentie of stags, but farre lesse in quantitie than ours: and in
the north part of the Iland also is a riuer which greatlie aboundeth with
salmons. That part also called Lewisa, which is the north half of the Ile
is well inhabited toward the sea coasts, and hath riuers no lesse
plentifull for salmon than the other halfe. There is also great store of
herrings taken, whereof the fisher men doo raise great gaine and
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