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
Being therfore past S. Edmunds point, we found a litle Ile ouer against
the fall of the water that commeth from Holkham, & likewise another ouer
against the Claie, before we came at Waburne hope: the third also in
Yarmouth riuer ouer against Bradwell, a towne in low or little England,
whereof also I must néeds saie somewhat, bicause it is in maner an
Iland, and as I gesse either hath béene or may be one: for the brodest
place of the strict land that leadeth to the same, is little aboue a
quarter of a mile, which against the raging waues of the sea can make
[Sidenote: Little England.]
but small resistance. Little England or low England therefore is about
eight miles in length and foure in bredth, verie well replenished with
townes, as Fristan, Burgh castell, Olton, Flixton, Lestoft, Gunton,
Blundston, Corton, Lownd, Ashebie, Hoxton, Belton, Bradwell, and
Gorleston, and beside this it is verie fruitfull and indued with all
commodities.
Going forward from hence, by the Estonnesse (almost an Iland) I saw a
small parcell cut from the maine in Orford hauen, the Langerstone in
Orwell mouth, & two péeces or Islets at Cattiwade bridge; and then
[Sidenote: Merseie.]
casting about vnto the Colne, we beheld Merseie which is a pretie Iland,
well furnished with wood. It was sometime a great receptacle for the
Danes when they inuaded England; howbeit at this present it hath beside
two decaied blockehouses, two parish churches, of which one is called
east Merseie, the other west Merseie, and both vnder the archdeacon of
[Sidenote: Foulnesse.]
Colchester, as parcell of his iurisdiction. Foulenesse is an Ile void of
wood, and yet well replenished with verie good grasse for neat and
sheepe, whereof the inhabitants haue great plentie: there is also a
parish church, and albeit that it stand somewhat distant from the shore,
yet at a dead low water a man may (as they saie) ride thereto if he be
skilfull of the causie; it is vnder the iurisdiction of London. And at
this present master William Tabor bacheler of diuinitie and archdeacon
of Essex hath it vnder his iurisdiction & regiment, by the surrender of
maister Iohn Walker doctor also of diuinitie, who liued at such time as
I first attempted to commit this booke to the impression.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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