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
Then is there the lake Londors, vpon whose mouth saint Andrewes dooth
stand, the lake Lewin vnto whose streame two other lakes haue recourse
in Fifland, and then the Firth or Fortha, which some doo call the
Pictish and Scotish sea, whither the kingdome of the Northumbers was
sometime extended, and with the riuer last mentioned (I meane that
commeth from Londors) includeth all Fife, the said Fortha being full of
oisters and all kinds of huge fish that vse to lie in the déepe. How
manie waters run into the Firth, called by Ptolomie Lora, it is not in
my power iustlie to declare: yet are there both riuers, rills, & lakes
[Sidenote: Clacke. Alon.]
[Sidenote: Dune. Kerie.]
[Sidenote: Cambell.]
[Sidenote: Cumer. Tere.]
[Sidenote: Man.]
[Sidenote: Torkesan.]
[Sidenote: Rosham.]
[Sidenote: Mushell. Blene.]
[Sidenote: Twede.]
that fall into the same, as Clacke, Alon, Dune, Kerie, Cambell, Cumer,
Tere, Man, Torkeson, Rosham, Mushell, Blene, and diuerse other which I
call by these names, partlie after information, and partlie of such
townes as are neere vnto their heads. Finallie, when we are past the
Haie, then are we come vnto the Twede, whereinto we entred, leauing
Barwike on the right hand and his appurtenances, wherein Halidon hill
standeth, and conteineth a triangle of so much ground beyond the said
riuer, as is well néere foure miles in length, and thrée miles in bredth
in the broad end: except mine information doo faile me.
The Twede (which Ptolomie nameth Toualsis or Toesis, & betwéene which
and the Tine the countie of Northumberland is in maner inclosed, and
watred with sundrie noble riuers) is a noble streame and the limes or
bound betwéene England & Scotland, wherby those two kingdomes are now
diuided in sunder. It riseth about Drimlar in Eusbale (or rather out of
a faire well (as Leland saith) standing in the mosse of an hill called
Airstane, or Harestan in Twede dale ten miles from Pibble) and so
comming by Pibble, Lander, Dribiwgh, Lelse, Warke, Norham and
Hagarstone, it falleth into the sea beneath Barwike, as I heare. Thus
saith Leland. But I not contented with this so short a discourse of so
long a riuer & briefe description of so faire a streame, will ad
somewhat more of the same concerning his race on the English side, and
rehearsall of such riuers as fall into it. Comming therefore to Ridam,
it receiueth betwéene that and Carham a becke, which descendeth from the
hilles that lie by west of Windram. Going also from Ridam by
Longbridgham (on the Scotish side) and to Carham, it hasteth immediatlie
to Warke castell on the English, and by Spilaw on the other side, then
to Cornewall, Cald streame, and Tilmouth, where it receiueth sundrie
waters in one botome which is called the Till, and whose description
insueth here at hand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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