thereof the settling a Staple building of Store-houses the viewing the ground on shore for landing and drying of Nets making and drying of Fish and the building of Block-houses for the security of Trade The manner of the Hollanders fishing for Herring with Busses and other Vessels for Ling and Cod according to the Journal kept thereof is as followeth We set sail from Gravesend the 27th of April 1633 and having Letters from the Earl of Pembroke to Mr. William Dicks of Edinbourg in Scotland we directed our course towards Scotland but by reason of soul weather weâ—e forced into Harwich and set sail from thence the 30 th Ditto the wind not favouring us we came to an Anchor in Yarmouth Road and there going on shore were informed that the Hollanders Busses did drive at Sea for Herrings on that Coast and that from the Holms before Yarmouth to Bookness in Scotland North North-East is 96 Leagues and from Bookness to the South end of Shotland North and by East about 53 Leagues The fifth of May we set sail from Yarmouth and by stress of wind were forced into Scarbrouh and there going on shore were informed of the Hollanders Busses fishing on that Coast and that from Searbrough Northwards towards Catness in 45 Fathom or thereabouts in that fair way is usually the first Summer Herrings caught From Scarbrough we set sail and came to an Anchor before Leith in Scotland the 13 th Ditto where going on shore and from thence to Edinburg delivered my Letters to Mr. William Dicks who was at that time Governor of the Island of Shotland and did receive the Revenue of those Islands Having received my Instructions and Letters from Mr. William Dicks directed to Mr. James Scot who lived at that time in the North parts of the Islands of Shotland and was Agent or Deputy to the said William Dicks We set sail from Leith and came to an Anchor at Casten in the Islands of Orkney the 22 Ditto And because these Islands are very considerable as to the Fishing Trade I cannot pass them by without a brief description thereof which is as followeth The Islands of Orkney are 31 and lye from the North and North-East Point of Scotland the first and Southermost Island is called Elhey but the greatest and chiefest Island of Orkney is called Maland which lieth Southermost from the Point of Catness on the North side of this great Island are the Havens where the Ships come to that Trade in those parts and to the Island called Lewis and the Islands therebouts The Lewis Islands are the Islands on the West of Scotland and those Seas being also very considerable as to the Fishing-Trade I make bold to give account thereof as followeth These Islands lying Westward from Scotland and to the Northward of Ireland are in number 34. There are four great Islands that lie near the main Land but the greatest and chiefest Island is called Lewis which lyeth Northward from the foresaid Islands but the Northermost of all the Islands which lyeth towards the Orkanes about sixteen Leagues from Lewis is called Rona betwixt Rona and Orkney lye some small Islands The Island Lewis lyeth from Shotland South-West or more Westerly about 58 Leagues and from the South end of Lewis to the North-West of Ireland is 27 Leagues In and between these Islands are many very good Sounds and Havens for Ships Lewis with the Islands belonging to it ly South and By-West and South South-West about 29 Leagues I shall farther add to my boldness and give you an account of the Islands of Fero. These Islands lye Northward from the Lewis Islands about 54 Leagues and from Shotland Westerly about 58 Leagues and are in number 22. The Sounds and Havens are many The Southermost great Island is called Sugdro on the North side of this Island are several good Sounds and Havens but the best and chiefest of all the Havens and where all the Trade and Merchandise is is called Tor-Haven which lyeth on the great Island Strone But these Islands being out of my Road I shall return to my former Discourse on the Coast of Orkney and Shotland The South part of Shotland lyeth about 20 Leagues Northward from the Island called Maland but between the Islands of Orkney and Shotland lye two Islands the one called Fair-hill and the other called Fulo these two Islands lye about 10 Leagues one from the other Fulo lyeth North-North-East from Fair-hill The Island Fair-hill lyeth from the North-East point of Orkney about 9 Leagues and the Southermost point of Shotland lyeth from Fair-hill North and By-East about 8 Leagues and from Fulo East and By-South about four Leagues Being informed of the manner of the Hollanders fishing for Herring Ling and Cod with Busses and Dogger-boats in those Seas and the Inhabitants of the Islands manner and way of Fishing we set sail from Casten and came to an Anchor by Sunbroug-head being the South part of Shotland the third of June and going ashore spake with the Good-man of Quandale one of the chief of those parts the said Gentleman with other of the Inhabitants did inform me of their manner of Trading with the Hamburgers and others and of the Hollanders fishing for Herring on that Coast also of their Dogger-boats that fish only for Ling and Cod. After I had received information from the Inhabitants of the several Islands and the manner of Fishing and Trading there we set sail from thence and came to an Anchor in Bracey-Sound otherwise called Broad-Sound a very gallant Harbour where many Ships may lye Land-lockt for all Winds Having informed my self by the Inhabitants of those parts of the manner of their Trading and Fishing and the Hollanders fishing for Herrings driving on that Coast we set sail from thence and came to an Anchor in Evey-Sound the Northermost Sound in Shotland on the 12 Ditto and there going on shore I continued about 11 or 12 Months and in that time travelling the greatest part of the Island by Sea and Land did thereby better inform my self concerning the manner of Trading and Fishing by the Inhabitants and the Hollanders at Sea The Land of Shotland lyeth North and By-East and South or South and West about 60 Miles But there are many Islands belonging to Shotland which I shall have occasion to mention hereafter That which is most considerable are the Sounds and Harbours On the West-side of the Southward Point of Shotland there is a good Harbour and Sound called St. Magnus and on the East-side near Sunbrough-head is a fair Sand-Bay where there is good Anchoring in ten or twelve Fathom to the Northward of this last Sound there is another Sound called Hambrough-Haven which is a lade-place for the Hamburgers and Scots About 9 or 10 Leagues from the Southward point of Shotland there is a Chanel that runneth through the Land the South-part of the Land divided by the Channel is called Swanberg the other part so divided or the North-part is called Laxford within
this Chanel aforesaid are several Sounds or Harbours but the best and chiefest Sound in Shotland is Brace-sound or Broad-sound as before mentioned out of this Sound the aforesaid Channel doth run Northward On the North-part of Swanberg lieth the high hill of Hanglix from the said Hanglix about 9 Leagues Northwards lie some out-Rocks called the Stars to the Northward of the Stars there is a very good Harbour called Bloom-Sound to the Northward of this last Sound is another good Haven called Huâ—-Sound being the Northernmost or North-East-Sound or Haven belonging to the Island called Ounst There are other Havens or Sounds which lie through the Land between and about that part of Shotland called Laxford and the Island called Jello There are also other Islands and Sounds which for brevity sake I forbear to mention The Merchants which Trade with the Inhabitants of Shotland are Hamburgers Breamers Luberghers Scots and English The chief Inhabitants of the Islands are Scots the meaner or inferior sort are a mixed People of Daâ—es and Scots The Islands of Shotland as I have been informed were given to King James of blessed Memory by the King of Denmark with Queen Ann being part of her Dowry The Commodities of Shotland which the Inhabitants do for the most part Trade withal is Ling and Cod which they take with Hooks and Lines in small Boats called Yalls about the bigness of Gravesend Oats the Ling they sell for 3 d. a piece being a Ling of the largest size and is called a Gild Ling if smaller then we have two for one or three for two and so proportionable The Cod is sold for 2 d. the Gild Cod and is measured as the Ling. I bought of Fisher-men the Inhabitants of the Island called Ounst 11655 Gild Ling and 834 Gild Cod at 3 d. the Gild Ling and 2 d. the Gild Cod which Ling and Cod were taken by the said Fishermen at several times in their small Boats and brought to my Booth or place of abode every morning as they were caught the said Ling and Cod being very good and Merchantable were salted aboard the Ship that landed me and within seven weeks after my landing I sent her for London with the said Fish to the Right Honourable the Earl of Pembrook as by my Books of Account delivered into his hands and left with him may appear There is also other small Fish which the Inhabitants do catch with Angles sitting on the Rocks and in their small Boats with Hooks and Lines in the Sounds and between the Islands and these small fish are very considerable for although they cannot spend them by reason of the multitude they take and have not industry to make use of them for â—ransportation yet the Livers they preserve and with the Livers of the Ling and Cod make Train-oyle but if it were improved as taking them with Nets the Train-oyl I say would amount to a cosiderable sum And if this increase of Trade were carried through the whole Islands it would be a great encouragement to all Merchants Trading into those parts There were several other Merchants in the Island where I did inhabit that bought Ling and Cod of the Fishermen so that the quantity which I sent for England was not above the fifth part taken in that Island with which the whole quantity of fish that was bought by other Merchants throughout the whole Islands of Shotland being added together would amount to a very considerable Sum or Quantity to the lading of many Vessels which might be much more improved and encrease Trading thereby furnishing the Inhabitants with Mony and Commodities In the Islands of Shotland there were Beeves and Sheep sold at a very reasonable rate I bought for my own use and the Victualing the Ship sent to London three Oxen for 3 l. and at another time four Oxen for 5 l. which were fat and about the bigness of the small sort of Cattel we have in England There were also fat Sheep sold for 2 s. and 2 s. 6 d. per sheep there were also other Creatures for food as Conies and Fowl But desiring not to multiply words I forbear to mention them The Fuel or Firing in Shotland is Peat and Turf There may be Salt-pans set up there and good Salt made to serve all the Fishing Fleet. There are very good Shores for landing and drying of Nets and making and drying Fish There is no Night in the North of Shotland part of two Moneths in the year as June and July In an Island North of Ounst being not inhabited but stockt with wild Cows and Conies I did kill with my Birding piece ten couple of Conies in one night shooting from a little before Sun-set to Sun-rising and it was as light as a Cloudy Winter-day I do not remember any Frost or Snow in Shotland if any it was not of long continuance the coldest weather is by reason of great Winds in the Winter-quarter the wind blowing so violent that no ship dare look on the North-Coast so that the people of those Islands have little commerce with other Nations in that Quarter I can speak by experience being blown down flat to the ground by the violence of the wind was forced to creep on my hands and knees to the next wall and going by the wall got into an house or else must have stayed by the wall till the violence of the Wind were over Sometimes it lasteth half a day and sometimes more There are several Towns in Shotland so called being about eight or ten houses together where they plow and sow corn as Oates which is their chiefest Bread and if my memory do not much deceive me there was good Barley growing in my time But the Land might be much improved if the inhabitatants were industrious they are like unto the idle Irish not improving any thing either by Sea or Land spending that in the Winter which they get in Summer although their Winter might be very profitable unto them if they were laborious and industrious as the Hollanders are The Goods and Commodities that are vendible in Shotland are Hooks and Lines for the taking of Ling and Cod Nets for the taking of Herring Strong-Beer Bisket Wheaten Meal Salt Pease Fruits of all sorts Strong-Water Monmouth-Caps and many other particulars which is not needful at this time to mention The Inhabitants of the Island of Ounst usually have a Bark that they Trade with to Norway where they may buy Timber for Houses ready framed also Deal-Boards Tar Ships Barks and Boats of all sorts and other necessaries for their use With their small Fishing-Boats called Yalls they will Row into the Main about two or three Leagues more or less where the Banks are that they lay their Hook and Lines for Ling and Cod in one of these Boats Rowing with two men and sometimes four according to the largeness of the Boat they do usually bring to Shore every morning that they go to Sea about fifty or sixty Ling and Cod.
Stopping Overflowing of the Gall which causeth Choler and produceth the Jaundice and such like Lung-sick Maggots Redwater Fever â—cab or Itch Wildfire which is a very infectious sickness and will indanger whole Flocks I might here set down or prescribe several Antidotes against all the former Diseases but it is not my Task at this time Now as Sheep are veâ—y profitable Cattel and yet incident to many Diseases and therefore subject to loss so are Conies yet by the prudent care of the Shepherd and Warrener all these losses in both may be prevented for in Conies there are but 3 adherent Diseases which are Fevers Madness and the Rot but they have many Enemies as Tumblers Lurchers Greyhounds Mungrels Foxes Polecats Stotes Weasels Wild-cats House-cats and such like also other Vermin as Hauks Buzards Ringtails Kites Oules Ravens Crows and many more yet a greater than any of these is Man with all his Engins as Guns Bows Snares Ferrets Hayes Pursnets and the like Now considering all these a Warrener may charge to his account of profit and loss at least the one third part of every years Breed of Rabbets and if he save two parts of three it will sufficiently pay the Rent of the Land and return good profit into his Purse We should here have set down the several Receipts to Cure and prevent the Diseases in Conies with the manner and way of keeping and feeding them but especially designing the Improvement of this little Plot by other ways as well as that I proceed On the South-west side of the Dwelling-house and flanking the South Point of the Kitchen Garden and about the middle Distance between the said Point and North-east side of the South-west Grove just opposite to the Warren shall be made the quantity of 10 Acres of Land or 40 Perch square of ground into a Fish-pond this Water shall be kept in the nature of a Decoy but not absolutely so because it is an improper place being among Woods or the Wood growing so near unto it for the best decoy Ponds are in Champion Fenn Countries In the middle of this our Decoy Pond shall be made an Oval or round Island containing one Acre of Land and in the middle of this Island shall be built a round house 30 foot over or 90 foot about This House shall be one intire-Room 20 foot high built with heart of Oak the Roof of the said House would be covered with the best sort of Slait The other part of the House being built thick with Timber then the space between the said Timber shall be made up or inclosed with strong Wyer in the manner of a Bird-cage and the use of the said Cage or Aviary is to keep all kinds of singing and whistling Birds Through the middle of the Floor of the said House shall run a small stream of Water which may pass in and out through a leaden Pipe This water is not only for the Birds to drink but also to wash and bath themselves in There must be made likewise in this Aviary several Tables and convenient places with troughs to put their several seeds and food in also Perches or places to roost or perch on and they must be under the roof of the said House In 4 equal parts round the out side of the Aviary shall be built 4 Seats in the form of an Arbor or half Arbor the length of the said Seats would be about 6 foot both ends of two of the Seats must be planted with Holly or Holme Plants and the other two Seats are to be planted with Ivy and those Plants are to grow up and cover the top of the Seats by closing together and so become an Arbor Round the Island and about 3 foot from the water side must be planted at every 9 foot distance of land 4 Holly or Holme Plants and they must be set 4 square and 18 inches one from the other These bushes must be kept as shrubs by often cutting of them and not suffered to grow above 4 foot high but the 4 Plants are to grow that they may joyn close together on the top also round the sides to the bottom or ground as one Bush leaving only one small hole that the Ducks may go in at to lay their Eggs. This performed the bushes will make a gallant show and are of good use to save the Decoys Eggs from Crows Magpies and such like Vermin Round the outside of the Pond and Island would be planted with Reed such as usually grow on the sides of great Rivers or in the Fenn Countries The Stock of decoy Ducks constantly kept in this Pond shall be about 60 pair the Eggs and Breed of them may be worth 20 pound yearly besides that which may be gained by other advantages they bring in Moreover this Pond shall be stored with 2000 young Fish or Fâ—y of Carp Bream Tench and Pearch but I shall advise to put in a greater number of Carps than of all the other 3 kinds if 100 Eels be cast in they will not much prejudice the other Fish There may be likewise cast in good store of Gudgeon Loch Dace and Roch which are good prey and food for the greater sort of Fish and will make good sport and be a profitable Recreation for such as delight in Angling And because we have not feeding for these Carps as for those about the Warren therefore all the bottom and banks of the Pond would be paved with flot grass which naturally grows under water for it is a great feeder of fish Now about five years after the Pond is stored the Fish may be taken and will yield to be sold if not above 30 miles from London 80 pound also there may be left or reserved a sufficient Stock against the next Fishing season which may be about 5 years after Next to be considered and presented to view is a Dove-house which would be built in the middle of the Barn yard this House is not to be stored or stocked with ordinary wild or house Pigeons but with those called Carriers for we shall have of our ordinary wild Pigeons breed in the Woods as Ring-doves Stock-doves Turtle Doves and such like but those called Carriers the original of them came first out of Asia although many hundred are now kept in and about London and because they are known but to few people we shall tell you why they are so called and declare the use and profit of them In several Towns and Harbours bordering on the Seas and now under the Command of the Turk to omit particulars we shall mention one for all In Aleppo several persons keep these Pigeons in Houses built for the same purpose and do make the same profit of them as is made by Post Horses of these Pigeons there is of several Colours as white black and blew as also all these colours mixed as black and white blew and white motley dunn and kite-colour Such Ships as trade in those parts when they set sail
this South-west Grove and the Dwelling-house just opposite to the Warren is the great Fish-pond or Decoy by Boat you may over into the Island in the middle of which you may behold a stately Bird-cage or Aviary full of singing and whistling Birds round this Cage at an equal distance one from the other are 4 Seats covered over with several Greens There having rested your self and afterwards walking round the Island you may behold pleasant to your sight several Holley or Hombe Bushes kept very neat and handsom for the Decoys and other wild Ducks to lay their Eggs in as those in the Warren made of wood for the tame Ducks And taking Boat again you may walk into the Arable Land and behold Gods blessing by the great increase of Corn and returning through the Pasture Fields into the Dwelling-House you may rest and be refreshed with such food as this pleasant Land doth afford and being satisfied pause with your self and consider although this be not the Paradise we read of yet it does much resemble the same for what was Paradise but a Garden and Orchard of Trees and Herbs full of pleasure and nothing there but delights so is there here for first here is the Nightingale the pretty Robin-red-brest and the little Wren with all the musical Birds that both whistle and sing with a pleasant Consort of Wind musick to usher in the Spring and refreshing and easing those cares of which we by our offence are all made Heirs In the Summer to furnish your Table a fat Buck will be in season also young Peacocks Turkies Phesants Partridge and many other Fowl which are at your command with variety of Fish and other Flesh as Hares Rabbets and such like your Orchards and Gardens will afford you several sorts of Fruit and pleasant Flowers both for colours and scent and in the Groves and Woods most stately Trees and pleasant Walks What shall I say a thousand pleasant Delights are attendant in this Pleasant Land And what is there of all these few that I have reckoned which does not please the eye the ear the smell the taste yea the other sence may also take great pleasure in handling such rare Fruit and Flowers as are presented In the Winter there will come in a new supply to furnish your Delights at Table and that is Felfares Black-birds Thrushes Quail Rayl Woodcocks Snipes Wildgeese Duck and Mallard Widgen and Teal with many more And the remainder of the Summer Stock now in season as Turkies Pheasant Partridge Hares Conies and such like and a hot Pasty made of the flesh of a Barren Doe will not be out of season neither a fat Pig and Gammon of Bacon The Bees have laboured all the Summer to provide Hony and Wax for your Winter occasions and the Dairy-Maids have not been idle but provided Butter and Cheese to serve your Family all Winter and Spring besides the Monies made at Markets The Kitchen Garden will also furnish your Table with several sorts of Roots and Herbs and the Physick Garden with Roots Herbs and Seed to preserve your health Now the pretty Silk-worms are hard at labour spining Silk to cloath you and if the Gardener be an Artist he hath provided from the Grape both Sack and Claret to chear your spirits And in the Bowling-green you may by Exercise add unto all these pleasures by refreshing your senses keep your body in health But to sum up all if you did know the yearly profit that does arise out of this pleasant land you would find it a sufficient overweight to all your pleasures I did intend here to set down the particular and total Charge thus to plant 200 Acres of Land with the yearly profit that may arise from the same as I have performed in planting a thousand Acres with Timber-trees and Underwoods But this already swelling the bulk of my Book beyond my intentions promise the next opportunity when I shall have an occasion to speak of something concerning the whole Body of Husbandry both to do that and also to polish these rough-hewed lines laying down the best way of improving all kind of Earths simple and compound rich and barren We shall now conclude this Treatise with giving you the Vertues and Use of all Plants growing in this our Paradise And I shall begin with the first planted and so in order proceed The Hawthorn THis Plant being well planted and liking the ground makes the best Fence or Hedge that can be made by any Plant The Seed or Berries are wholsom Winter food for the Deer and spare Swine also good food for Blackbirds Felfares Thrushes and such like The Uses Physical The seed in the berries beaten to powder and drunk in Wine is very good against the Stone and Dropsie the Distilled water of the Flowers stayeth the Lask and if Clothes be wet in the Water will wonderfully draw out any thorn or splinters that abide in the flesh if applyed to the place grieved The Blackthorn Sloes are very good Winter food for spare Swine also Deer will feed on them The Vses Physical All the parts of the Sloe-bush are binding cooling and drying and all effectual to stay bleeding at the Nose and Mouth or any other place the Decoction of the Berries either fresh or dried or the Conserve which is most familiarly taken is very good to stay the Lask of the belly or stomach or the Bloody-flux and helpeth to ease the pains in the Sides Bowels and Guts but the distilled water of the Flowers first steeped in Sack for a night and drawn therefrom by the heat of a Balneum Anglice a Bath is a most certain Remedy tried and approved to ease all manner of gnawings in the Stomach Sides and Bowels or any griping pains in any of them To drink a small quantity when the extremity of pain is upon them the simple distilled water of the Flowers or green Berries are good to wash and gargle the mouth and throat wherein are swellings sores or kernels and to stay the defluxions of Rhume to the eyes or other parts as also to cool the heat and inflamations in them and to ease the hot pains of the head to bathe the forehead and temples therewith The Oak THe Timber of this Tree is the Walls and Bulwark of England being converted to the use of building Ships also it is sound and long-lasting Timber for building Houses and for many other uses The seed called Acorns are very good food for the Deer Swine and Poultry The Vses Physical The Acorn-cups and the Bark and Leaves do bind and dry very much the Decoction of the inner bark and powder of the Cups stay â—â—â—iting or flux of blood in Man or Woman and the involuntary flux of natural seed The Acorns in powder taken in Wine provoke Urin and resist the poyson of venemous Creatures The distilled Water or Decoction of the leaves is a special Remedy for the Whites in Women The Oken Buds are good to be used