Tintagell, all which many of the common sort doo repute and take for
Iles: wherefore as one desirous to note all, I thinke it not best that
these should be omitted: but to proceed. When we be come further, I
meane vnto the Sauerne mouth, we meet the two Holmes, of which one is
called Stepholme, and the other Flatholme, of their formes béeing in
déed parcels of ground and low soiles fit for little else than to beare
grasse for cattell, whereof they take those names. For Holme is an old
Saxon word, applied to all such places. Of these also Stepholme lieth
south of the Flatholme, about foure or fiue miles; the first also a mile
and an halfe, the other two miles or thereabout in length; but neither
of them a mile and an halfe in breadth, where they doo seeme to be the
broadest.
It should séeme by some that they are not worthie to be placed among
Ilands: yet othersome are of opinion, that they are not altogither so
base, as to be reputed amongst flats or rocks: but whatsoeuer they be,
this is sure, that they oft annoie such passengers and merchants as
passe and repasse vpon that riuer. Neither doo I read of any other Iles
[Sidenote: Barri.]
which lie by east of these, saue onelie the Barri, and Dunwen: the first
[Sidenote: Barri is a flight shot from the shore.]
of which is so called of one Barroc, a religious man (as Gyraldus saith)
and is about a flight shot from the shore. Herin also is a rocke
standing at the verie entrance of the cliffe, which hath a little rift
or chine vpon the side, wherevnto if a man doo laie his eare, he shall
heare a noise, as if smithes did worke at the forge, sometimes blowing
with their bellowes, and sometimes striking and clinking with hammers,
whereof manie men haue great wonder; and no maruell. It is about a mile
in compasse, situat ouer against Aberbarry, and hath a chappell in it.
[Sidenote: Dunwen.]
Dunwen is so called of a church (dedicated to a Welsh woman saint,
called Dunwen) that standeth there. It lieth more than two miles from
Henrosser, right against Neuen, and hath within it two faire mils, &
great store of conies. Certes if the sand increase so fast hereafter as
it hath done of late about it, it will be vnited to the maine within a
short season. Beyond these and toward the coast of southwales lie two
other Ilands, larger in quantitie than the Holmes, of which the one is
[Sidenote: Caldee.]
called Caldee or Inis Pyr. It hath a parish-church with a spire steeple,
and a pretie towne belonging to the countie of Pembroke, and
iurisdiction of one Dauid in Wales. Leland supposeth the ruines that are
found therein to haue béene of an old priorie sometimes called Lille,
which was a cell belonging to the monasterie of S. Dogmael, but of this
[Sidenote: Londy.]
I can saie nothing. The other hight Londy, wherein is also a village or
towne, and of this Iland the parson of the said towne is not onelie the
captaine, but hath thereto weife, distresse, and all other commodities
belonging to the same. It is little aboue sixteene miles from the coast
of Wales, though it be thirtie from Caldée, and yet it serueth (as I am
informed) lord and king in Deuonshire. Moreouer in this Iland is great
plentie of sheepe, but more conies, and therewithall of verie fine and
short grasse for their better food & pasturage; likewise much Sampere
vpon the shore, which is carried from thence in barrels. And albeit that
there be not scarslie fourtie housholds in the whole, yet the
inhabitants there with huge stones (alredie prouided) may kéepe off
thousands of their enimies, bicause it is not possible for anie
aduersaries to assaile them, but onelie at one place, and with a most
dangerous entrance. In this voiage also we met with two other Ilands,
one of them called Shepes Ile, the other Rat Ile; the first is but a
little plot lieng at the point of the Baie, before we come at the
Blockehouse which standeth north of the same, at the verie entrie into
Milford hauen vpon the eastside. By north also of Shepes Ile, and
betwéene it & Stacke rocke, which lieth in the verie middest of the
hauen, at another point is Rat Ile yet smaller than the former, but what
[Sidenote: Schalmey.]
commodities are to be found in them as yet I cannot tell. Schalmey the
greater and the lesse lie northwest of Milford hauen a good waie. They
belong both to the crowne, but are not inhabited, bicause they be so
[Sidenote: Schoncold.]
often spoiled with pirates. Schoncold Ile ioineth vnto great Schalmey,
and is bigger than it, onlie a passage for ships parteth them, whereby
they are supposed to be one: Leland noteth them to lie in Milford hauen.
Beside these also we found the Bateholme, Stockeholme, Midland, and
Gresholme Iles, and then doubling the Wellock point, we came into a
Baie, where we saw saint Brides Iland, and another in the Sound betwéene
Ramsey and the point, of all which Iles and such rocks as are offensiue
to mariners that passe by them, it may be my hap to speake more at large
hereafter.
[Sidenote: Limen or Ramsey.]
Limen (as Ptolomie calleth it) is situat ouer against S. Dauids in Wales
(wherevnto we must néeds come, after we be past another little one,
which some men doo call Gresholme) & lieth directlie west of Schalmey.
In a late map I find this Limen to be called in English Ramsey: Leland
also confirmeth the same, and I cannot learne more thereof, than that it
is much greater than anie of the other last mentioned (sithens I
described the Holmes) and for temporall iurisdiction a member of
Penbrookeshire, as it is vnto S. Dauids for matters concerning the
church. Leland in his commentaries of England lib. 8. saieth that it
contained thrée Ilets, whereof the bishop of S. Dauids is owner of the
greatest, but the chanter of S. Dauids claimeth the second, as the
archdeacon of Cairmarden dooth the third. And in these is verie
excellent pasture for sheepe and horses, but not for other horned beasts
which lacke their vpper téeth by nature (whose substance is conuerted
into the nourishment of their hornes) and therefore cannot bite so low.
[Sidenote: Mawr.]
Next vnto this Ile we came to Mawr, an Iland in the mouth of Mawr, scant
a bow shoot ouer, and enuironed at the low water with fresh, but at the
high with salt, and here also is excellent catching of herings.
After this, procéeding on still with our course, we fetched a compasse,
going out of the north toward the west, and then turning againe (as the
coast of the countrie leadeth) vntill we sailed full south, leauing the
shore still on our right hand, vntill we came vnto a couple of Iles,
which doo lie vpon the mouth of the Soch, one of them being distant (as
we gessed) a mile from the other, and neither of them of anie greatnesse
almost worthie to be remembred. The first that we came vnto is called
[Sidenote: Tudfall.]
Tudfall, and therein is a church, but without anie parishioners, except
they be shéepe and conies. The quantitie thereof also is not much aboue
[Sidenote: Penthlin.]
six acres of ground, measured by the pole. The next is Penthlin, Myrach,
or Mererosse, situat in maner betwixt Tudfall or Tuidall and the shore,
and herein is verie good pasture for horsses, wherof (as I take it) that
[Sidenote: Guelyn.]
name is giuen vnto it. Next vnto them, we come vnto Gwelyn, a little Ile
which lieth southeast of the fall of Daron or Daren, a thing of small
quantitie, and yet almost parted in the mids by water, and next of all
vnto Bardsey an Iland lieng ouer against Periuincle the southwest point
or promontorie of Northwales (where Merlin Syluestris lieth buried) and
whither the rest of the monks of Bangor did flie to saue themselues,
when 2100. of their fellowes were slaine by the Saxon princes in the
quarell of Augustine the monke, & the citie of Caerleon or Chester raced
to the ground, and not since reedified againe to anie purpose. Ptolomie
calleth this Iland Lymnos, the Britons Enlhi, and therein also is a
parish-church, as the report goeth. From hence we cast about, gathering
still toward the northest, till we came to Caer Ierienrhod, a notable
rocke situat ouer against the mouth of the Leuenni, wherein standeth a
strong hold or fortresse, or else some towne or village. Certes we could
not well discerne whether of both it was, bicause the wind blew hard at
southwest, the morning was mistie, and our
mariners doubting some flats to be couched not far from thence, hasted
awaie vnto Anglesei, whither we went a pace with a readie wind euen at
our owne desire.
This Iland (which Tacitus mistaketh no doubt for Mona Cæsaris, and so
dooth Ptolomie as appeareth by his latitudes) is situat about two miles
from the shore of Northwales. Paulus Iouius gesseth that it was in time
[Sidenote: Anglesei cut from Wales by working of the sea.]
past ioined to the continent, or maine of our Ile, and onelie cut off by
working of the Ocean, as Sicilia peraduenture was from Italie by the
violence of the Leuant or practise of some king that reigned there.
Thereby also (as he saith) the inhabitants were constreind at the first
to make a bridge ouer into the same, till the breach waxed so great,
that no such passage could anie longer be mainteined. But as these
things doo either not touch my purpose at all, or make smallie with the
[Sidenote: Anglesei.]
present description of this Ile: so (in comming to my matter) Anglesei is
found to be full so great as the Wight, and nothing inferiour, but
rather surmounting it, as that also which Cæsar calleth Mona in
fruitfulnesse of soile by manie an hundred fold. In old time it was
reputed and taken for the common granarie to Wales, as Sicilia was to
Rome and Italie for their prouision of corne. In like maner the Welshmen
themselues called it the mother of their countrie, for giuing their
minds wholie to pasturage, as the most easie and lesse chargeable trade,
they vtterlie neglected tillage, as men that leaned onelie to the
fertilitie of this Iland for their corne, from whence they neuer failed
to receiue continuall abundance. Gyraldus saith that the Ile of Anglesei
was no lesse sufficient to minister graine for the sustentation of all
the men of Wales, than the mountaines called Ereri or Snowdoni in
Northwales were to yeeld plentie of pasture for all the cattell
whatsoeuer within the aforesaid compasse, if they were brought togither
and left vpon the same. It contained moreouer so manie townes welnéere,
as there be daies in a yeare, which some conuerting into Cantreds haue
accompted but for three, as Gyraldus saith. Howbeit as there haue beene
I say 363. townes in Anglesei, so now a great part of that reckoning is
vtterlie shroonke, and so far gone to decaie, that the verie ruines of
them are vnneath to be séene & discerned: and yet it séemeth to be
méetlie well inhabited. Leland noting the smalnesse of our hundreds in
comparison to that they were in time past, addeth (so far as I remember)
that there are six of them in Anglesei, as Menay, Maltraith, Liuon,
Talbellion, Torkalin, and Tindaithin: herevnto Lhoid saith also how it
belonged in old time vnto the kingdome of Guinhed or Northwales, and
that therein at a towne called Aberfraw, being on the southwestside of
the Ile, the kings of Gwinhed held euermore their palaces, whereby it
came to passe, that the kings of Northwales were for a long time called
kings of Aberfraw, as the Welshmen named the kings of England kings of
London, till better instruction did bring them farther knowledge.
There are in Anglesei many townes and villages, whose names as yet I
cannot orderlie atteine vnto: wherefore I will content my selfe with the
rehearsall of so many as we viewed in sailing about the coasts, and
otherwise heard report of by such as I haue talked withall. Beginning
therefore at the mouth of the Gefni (which riseth at northeast aboue
Gefni or Geuenni, 20. miles at the least into the land) we passed first
by Hundwyn, then by Newborow, Port-Hayton, Beaumarrais, Penmon, Elian,
Almwoch, Burric (whereby runneth a rill into a creeke) Cornew, Holihed
(standing in the promontorie) Gwifen, Aberfraw, and Cair Cadwalader, of
all which, the two latter stand as it were in a nuke betweene the
Geuenni water, and the Fraw, wherevpon Aberfraw is situate. Within the
Iland we heard onelie of Gefni afore mentioned, of Gristial standing
vpon the same water, of Tefri, of Lanerchimedh, Lachtenfarwy and
Bodedrin, but of all these the cheefe is now Beaumarais, which was
builded sometime by king Edward the first, and therewithall a strong
castell about the yeare 1295. to kéepe that land in quiet. There are
also as Leland saith 31. parish-churches beside 69. chappels, that is, a
hundreth in all. But héerof I can saie little, for lacke of iust
instruction. In time past, the people of this Ile vsed not to seuerall
their grounds, but now they dig stonie hillocks, and with the stones
thereof they make rude walles, much like to those of Deuonshire, sith
they want hedge bote, fire bote, and house bote, or (to saie at one
word) timber, bushes and trees. As for wine, it is so plentifull and
good cheape there most commonlie as in London, through the great
recourse of merchants from France, Spaine, and Italie vnto the aforesaid
Iland. The flesh likewise of such cattell as is bred there, wherof we
haue store yearelie brought vnto Cole faire in Essex is most delicate,
by reason of their excellent pasture, and so much was it esteemed by the
Romans in time past, that Columella did not onelie commend and preferre
them before those of Liguria, but the emperours themselues being neere
hand also caused their prouision to be made for nete out of Anglesei, to
feed vpon at their owne tables as the most excellent beefe. It taketh
now the name of Angles and Ei, which is to meane the Ile of Englismen,
bicause they wan it in the Conquerors time, vnder the leading of Hugh
earle of Chester, and Hugh of Shrewesburie. Howbeit they recouered it
againe in the time of William Rufus, when they spoiled the citie of
Glocester, ransacked Shrewesburie, and returned home with great bootie
and pillage, in which voiage also they were holpen greatlie by the
Irishmen, who after thrée yeares ioined with them againe, and slue the
earle of Shrewesburie (which then liued) with great crueltie. The
Welshmen call it Tiremone and Mon, and herein likewise is a promontorie
[Sidenote: Holie head, or Cair kiby.]
or Byland, called Holie head (which hath in time past beene named Cair
kyby, of Kyby a monke that dwelled there) from whence the readiest
passage is commonlie had out of Northwales to get ouer into Ireland, of
which Ile I will not speake at this time, least I shuld bereaue another
of that trauell. Yet Plinie saith, lib. 4. cap. 16. that it lieth not
farre off from and ouer against the Silures, which then dwelled vpon the
west coast of our Iland, and euen so farre as Dunbritton, and beyond:
[Sidenote: Enilsnach, holie Ile.]
but to our Cair kybi. The Britons named it Enylsnach, or holie Ile, of
the number of carcases of holie men, which they affirme to haue beene
buried there. But herein I maruell not a little, wherein women had
offended, that they might not come thither, or at the least wise returne
from thence without some notable reproch or shame vnto their bodies. By
south also of Hilarie point, somewhat inclining toward the east, lieth
Inis Lygod, a small thing (God wot) and therefore not worthie great
remembrance: neuertheles not to be omitted, though nothing else inforced
the memoriall thereof, but onelie the number and certeine tale of such
Iles as lie about our Iland. I might also speake of the Ile Mail Ronyad,
which lieth north west of Anglesei by sixe miles; but bicause the true
name hereof, as of manie riuers and streames are to me vnknowne, I am
the more willing to passe them ouer in silence, least I should be noted
to be farther corrupter of such words as I haue no skill to deliuer and
exhibit in their kind. And now to conclude with the description of the
whole Iland, this I will ad moreouer vnto hir commodities, that as there
are the best milstones of white, red, blew, and gréene gréets,
(especiallie in Tindaithin) so there is great gaines to be gotten by
fishing round about this Ile, if the people there could vse the trade:
but they want both cunning and diligence to take that matter in hand.
And as for temporall regiment, it apperteineth to the countie of
Cairnaruon, so in spirituall cases it belongeth to the bishoprike of
Bangor. This is finallie to be noted of Anglesei, that sundrie earthen
[Sidenote: Ancient buriall.]
pots are often found there of dead mens bones conuerted into ashes, set
with the mouthes downeward contrarie to the vse of other nations, which
turned the brims vpwards, whereof let this suffice.
Hauing thus described Anglesei, it resteth to report furthermore, how
that in our circuit about the same, we met with other little Ilets, of
which one lieth northwest thereof almost ouer against Butricke mouth, or
the fall of the water, that passeth by Butricke. The Britons called it
[Sidenote: Adar.]
[Sidenote: Moil.]
[Sidenote: Rhomaid.]
[Sidenote: Ysterisd.]
[Sidenote: Adros.]
[Sidenote: Lygod.]
Ynis Ader, that is to say, the Ile of birds in old time, but now it
hight Ynis Moil, or Ynis Rhomaid, that is the Ile of porpasses. It hath
to name likewise Ysterisd, and Adros. Being past this, we came to the
second lieng by north east, ouer against the Hilarie point, called Ynis
Ligod, that is to saie, the Ile of Mise, and of these two this latter is
the smallest, neither of them both being of any greatnesse to speake of.
[Sidenote: Seriall.]
[Sidenote: Prestholme.]
Ynis Seriall or Prestholme, lieth ouer against Penmon, or the point
called the head of Mon, where I found a towne (as I told you) of the
same denomination. Ptolomie nameth not this Iland, whereof I maruell. It
is parcell of Flintshire, and of the iurisdiction of S. Asaph, and in
fertilitie of soile, and breed of cattell, nothing inferiour vnto
Anglesei hir mother: although that for quantitie of ground it come
infinitelie short thereof, and be nothing comparable vnto it. The last
Iland vpon the cost of Wales, hauing now left Anglesei, is called
[Sidenote: Credine.]
Credine, and although it lie not properlie within the compasse of my
description, yet I will not let to touch it by the waie, sith the causey
thither from Denbighland, is commonlie ouerflowne. It is partlie made an
Iland by the Conwey, and partlie by the sea. But to proceed, when we had
viewed this place, we passed foorth to S. Antonies Ile, which is about
two or thrée miles compasse or more, a sandie soile, but yet verie
batable for sheepe and cattell, it is well replenished also with fresh
wels, great plentie of wild foule, conies and quarries of hard ruddie
stone, which is oft brought thence to Westchester, where they make the
foundations of their buildings withall. There are also two parish
churches in the same, dedicated to S. Antonie and S. Iohn, but the
people are verie poore, bicause they be so oft spoiled by pirats,
although the lord of the same be verie wealthie thorough the exchange
made with them of his victuals, for their wares, whereof they make good
peniworths, as théeues commonlie doo of such preies as they get by like
escheat, notwithstanding their landing there is verie dangerous, and
onelie at one place. Howbeit they are constreined to vse it, and there
to make their marts. From hence we went on, vntill we came to the cape
[Sidenote: Hilberie.]
of Ile Brée, or Hilberie, and point of Wyrale, from whence is a common
passage into Ireland, of 18. or 20. houres sailing, if the wether be not
tedious. This Iland at the full sea is a quarter of a mile from the
land, and the streame betwéene foure fadams déepe, as ship-boies haue
oft sounded, but at a lowe water a man may go ouer thither on the sand.
The Ile of it selfe is verie sandie a mile in compasse, and well stored
with conies, thither also went a sort of supersticious fooles in times
past, in pilgrimage, to our ladie of Hilberie, by whose offerings a cell
of monkes there, which belonged to Chester, was cherished and
mainteined.
The next Iland vpon the coast of England is Man or Mona Cæsaris, which
some name Mana or Manim, but after Ptolomie, Monaoida, as some thinke,
though other ascribe that name to Anglesei, which the Welshmen doo
commonlie call Môn, as they doo this Manaw. It is supposed to be the
first, as Hirtha is the last of the Hebrides. Hector Boetius noteth a
difference betwéene them of 300. miles. But Plinie saith that Mona is
200000. miles from Camaldunum, lib. 2. cap. 75. It lieth also vnder 53.
degrées of latitude, and 30. minuts, and hath in longitude 16. degrees
and 40. minuts, abutting on the north side vpon S. Ninians in Scotland,
Furnesfels on the east, Prestholme and Anglesei on the south, and
Vlsther in Ireland on the west. It is greater than Anglesei by a third,
and there are two riuers in the same, whose heads doo ioine so néere,
that they doo seeme in maner to part the Ile in twaine. Some of the
[Sidenote: Eubonia.]
[Sidenote: Meuania.]
ancient writers, as Ethicus, &c: call it Eubonia, and other following
Orosius, Meuana or Mæuania, howbeit after Beda and the Scotish
histories, the Meuaniæ are all those Iles aforesaid called the Hebrides,
Eubonides, or Hebudes (whereof William Malmesburie, lib. 1. de regibus
(beside this our Mona) will haue Anglesei also to be one. Wherefore it
séemeth hereby that a number of our late writers ascribing the said name
vnto Mona onelie, haue not beene a little deceiued. Iornandes lib. de
Getis speaketh of a second Meuania; "Habet & aliam Meuaniam (saith he)
necnon & Orchadas." But which should be prima, as yet I do not read,
except it should be Anglesei; and then saith Malmesburie well. In like
sort Propertius speaketh of a Meuania, which he called Nebulosa, but he
meaneth it euidentlie of a little towne in Vmbria where he was borne,
lib. 4. eleg. De vrbe Rom. Wherfore there néedeth no vse of his
authoritie. This in the meane time is euident out of Orosius, lib. 1.
capite 2. that Scots dwelled somtime in this Ile, as also in Ireland,
which Ethicus also affirmeth of his owne time, and finallie confirmeth
that the Scots and Irish were sometime one people. It hath in length 24.
miles, and 8. in bredth, and is in maner of like distance from Galloway
in Scotland, Ireland and Cumberland in England, as Buchanan reporteth.