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
In Maldon water are in like sort thrée Ilands inuironed all with salt
[Sidenote: Osithe.]
[Sidenote: Northeie.]
streames, as saint Osithes, Northeie, and another (after a mersh) that
beareth no name so far as I remember. On the right hand also as we went
[Sidenote: Ramseie.]
[Sidenote: Reie.]
toward the sea againe, we saw Ramseie Ile, or rather a Peninsula or
Biland, & likewise the Reie, in which is a chappell of saint Peter. And
then coasting vpon the mouth of the Bourne, we saw the Wallot Ile and
his mates, whereof two lie by east Wallot, and the fourth is Foulnesse,
except I be deceiued, for here my memorie faileth me on the one side,
and information on the other, I meane concerning the placing of
Foulenesse. But to procéed. After this, and being entered into the
Thames mouth, I find no Iland of anie name, except you accompt Rochford
hundred for one, whereof I haue no mind to intreat, more than of
Crowland, Mersland, Elie, and the rest, that are framed by the ouze.
Andredeseie in Trent, so called of a church there dedicated to saint
Andrew, and Auon (two noble riuers hereafter to be described) sith I
touch onelie those that are inuironed with the sea or salt water round
[Sidenote: Canwaie.]
about, as we may see in the Canwaie Iles, which some call marshes
onelie, and liken them to an ipocras bag, some to a vice, scrue, or wide
sléeue, bicause they are verie small at the east end, and large at west.
The salt rilles also that crosse the same doo so separat the one of them
from the other, that they resemble the slope course of the cutting part
of a scrue or gimlet, in verie perfect maner, if a man doo imagine
himselfe to looke downe from the top of the mast vpon them. Betwéene
these, moreouer and the Leigh towne lieth another litle Ile or Holme,
whose name is to me vnknowne. Certes I would haue gone to land and
viewed these parcels as they laie, or at the least haue sailed round
about them by the whole hauen, which may easilie be doone at an high
water: but for as much as a perrie of wind (scarse comparable to the
makerell gale, whereof Iohn Anele of Calis one of the best seamen that
England euer bred for his skill in the narow seas was woont to talke)
caught hold of our sailes, & caried vs forth the right waie toward
London, I could not tarie to sée what things were hereabouts. Thus much
therefore of our Ilands, & so much may well suffice where more cannot be
had.
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE THAMES, AND SUCH RIUERS AS FALL INTO THE SAME.
CAP. XI.
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