This Map of THE ISLANDS OF ORKNEY, is Humbly Dedicatid To D R HUTTON the King's first Physician by ja Wallace.    

AN ACCOUNT OF THE ISLANDS OF ORKNEY.  
By JAMES WALLACE, M. D. And Fellow of the Royal Society.  
To which is Added, an ESSAY concerning the Thule of the Ancients.  
LONDON, Printed for Jacob Tonson within Gray's-Inn-Gate, next Gray's-Inn-Lane, 1700.   

To the Right Honourable, CHARLES, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, Ld. Lieutenant of the County of Sussex, and one of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council.  
My LORD,  
THE way to make these Bleak Northern Islands more Temperate, will be your Lordship's taking 'em into your Indulgence and Protection: They are not so distant as to be unacquainted with your Character, for the Latitude that is so must not be inhabitable.  
Every one that wants 'em feels the Effects of your Lordship's good Actions, but no Body sees you do ' 'em. Your care and concern for mankind is your own, but your Fortune is your Friends. Your Wit is the only thing you are not enough Diffusive off, and what others covet of you most, you yourself value least.  
In the Ardour to declare the perfections of your Lordship's Pen, I forget to conceal the Imperfections of my own, which are most pardonable when I most profess to be,  
My LORD, Your Lordship's Most Obedient, and most Humble Servant, James Wallace.   

THE CONTENTS.  
CHAP. I. THE several Names by which Orkney is called. The Longitude and Latitude of this Country. An account of a Stone generated in the Air. How this Country is bounded. Some odd Phaenomena about the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea. The number of the Islands; and a short Account of each of them, with their different Harbours. The chief Products of this Country. Page 1  
CHAP. II. Of the Plants growing naturally in Orkney. Of those Beans called the Molucca Beans thrown in there. A Description of a strange Fish taken in Sanda. An Account of their Land and Sea-shells. Of their Mines. Of some exotic Fowls driven in there, and some other effects of violent Storms. Of their Lakes and Locks. pag. 15  
CHAP. III. Of the Ancient Monuments and Curiosities of this Country. An Account of the Dwarfie Stone in Hoy. Of the Obelisks and standing Stones in Stennis. Of the figured Stone Causey near Skeal. Of some Urns and Burial Places found in several places. An Account of the Finn-men that are sometimes driven in there. pag. 51  
CHAP. IV. Some peculiar Customs, Manners and Dispositions of the Inhabitants of this Country. An Account of a Woman that had a Child in the 63d Year of her Age. An Account of their Diseases and some of their particular Cures. A particular Language amongst them. Their way of Transporting and Weighing their Corn. Their custom of Sheepshearing: And the way they have to catch Sea-Fowls. And an Account of some Remarkable Accidents that have fallen out here. pag. 62  
CHAP. V Of the Town of Kirkwall. pag. 78  
CHAP. VI Of the ancient State of the Church of Orkney. Of the Cathedral Church at Kirkwall. Bishop Robert Rei's erection of the Chapter. Bishop La's Transaction with King James IU. pag. 81  
CHAP. VII. Of the Plantation of the Christian Faith in Orkney; and of the Bishops thereof. pag. 91  
CHAP. VIII. The History of the first Plantation of the Isles of Orkney; and of the ancient and present Possessors of them. The Pights or Picts the first Possessors. Of Belus and Ganus Kings of Orkney. When it came to the Possession of the Kings of Scotland. When the Norwegians got footing, and when they were expelled. An Account of the Earls of Orkney. Of the Surname of Sinclar. A double of an ancient Manuscript relating to the Affairs of Orkney; wherein there is an Account of the first Possessors of that Country, different from the former, and a full Account of the Earls of Orkney till that time. Of Bothwell Duke of Orkney. Of the Earls of the Surname of Steward and Douglass. When this Country was again re-annexed to the Crown. Of the Stewardry. The several ways how Orkney hath been a Honorary Title. Of the Lawrightmen and their Office. pag. 105  
An Essay concerning the Thule of the Ancients. pag. 148   

The Author not being in Town these following errors are desired to be corrected.  
PAge 15 line 9 locks, read loches. p. 19 l. 25 chamaeustus r. chamaecistus. p. 25 l. 1 laetifolia r. latifolia. p. 28 l. 26 Cardamini r. Cardamine. p. 33 l. 8 surge r. spurge. p. 37 l. 6 Seols r. Seals. p. 46 l. 19 Foists r. Toists. p. 47 l. 18 Greehead r. Greenhead. p. 51 l. 13 eight feet r. eighteen. p. 64 l. 19 though we have also sure account r. though we have no sure account. p. 66 l. 28 Cumfrey r. Comfrey. p. 67 l. 13 They use Arby, the Caryophyllus marinus, Thrift or much as they call it. r. They use the Caryophyllus marinus Thrift or Arby as they call it. p. 71 l. 8. lecspound r. leispound. p. 72 l. 2 and l. 10. wrack r. seaweed. p. 73 l. 11 Foists r. Toists. p. 73 l. 20 fowl r. fowls. p. 74 l. 17. perhaps some hundred of Fathoms r. perhaps some fifty or sixty Fathoms. p. 101 l. 12 Patreek r. Patrick. p. 101 l. 26 who r. whom. p. 107 l. 6 Twisio r. Twisco. p. 107 l. 9 Kelders 1. Keldees. p. 118 l. 20 accompany r. carry. p. 120 l. 13 Sheris r. Sheriff. p. 123 l. 13 patefacciones r. patefacciores. p. 133 l. 30 regnirem r. regni. p. 136 l. 11 digne r. digni. p. 145 l. 23 near three thousand and five hundred pounds r. near three thousand pounds Sterling. p. 153 l. 1. Tu r. Tu. p. 153 l. 25 Caledonio r. Caledonios'. p. 155 l. 5 imperva r. impervia. p. 161 l. 22 maria r. mari. p. 162 l. 15 Agricola r. Agricolae. p. 166 l. 20 Romani r. Roman. p. 173 l. 4 means r. meant. l. 5 had r. has p. 173 l. 21 where the country of the Pights was, add of which the North east part was our Thule.   


Figured Stones  
Molocca Beans  
Penna Marina  
Piscis non scriptus  
pecten vide pag: 44  
A Circle of long stones  
Concha Anatifera  
Another molucca bean  
Urna Sepulchralis  
patella articulata cymbi formis  
Duarfie Stone  
Ember Goose  
Obeliscús  
Fibúa    

CHAP. I. The several Names by which Orkney is called. The Longitude and Latitude of this Country An account of a Stone generated in the Air. How this Country is bounded. Some odd Phaenomena about the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea. The number of the Islands; and a short Account of each of them, with their different Harbours. The chief Products of this Country.  
THIS Country in our English Language is called Orkney; by the Latins, both Ancient and Modern, it is called Orcades. Pomponius Mela writes it with an aspiration, Orchades. What reason there is for the Name is not condescended upon, but it's probable the Latin Name may be from Orcas, which Ptolemy makes to be a Promontory of Cathnes over-against this Country, or from some Colony of the Picts, who first Planted this Country, and from some Similitude with the Name whereby they called themselves, might be so called by the Romans. As for the English name Orkney, it may be derived from some Pictish Prince, as Erick or Orkenwald, or some other who has been famous in the first Plantation; or might have got the name from some remarkable Title which the first Planters the Pights took to themselves; for Picts or Pights (as Verstegan says) in the Teutonick Tongue signifies Fighters; and Orkney may come from Ear, which signifies Honour, and Kin, which signifies on Offspring, as if the name were intended to show, That they were an Offspring or Generation of Honour.  
This Country lies in the Northern temperate Zone and thirteenth Climate; the Longitude being 22 Degrees and 11 Minutes, and Latitude 59 Degrees and 2 Minutes, the Compass varying eight Degrees; so that the length of the longest Day is eighteen Hours and some odd Minutes; yet notwithstanding that this Country is so far removed to the North, the Air is temperate and wholesome, agreeing well with those Constitutions that can endure a little Cold. At Midnight it is so clear for a great part of June, that one may read a Letter in his Chamber; yet it cannot be true what Bleau reports, That from the Hill of Hoy a Man may see the Sun at Midnight; for it cannot be the true Body of the Sun that is seen, but the Image of it refracted through some watery Cloud about the Horizon, seeing it must be as far depressed under our Horizon in June, as it is elevated above it in December, which is by many Degrees; for from that Hill the Sun is to be seen in the shortest Day in December above five Hours.  
The Air and Clouds here, by the operation of the Sun, do sometimes generate several things; as some Years since, some Fishermen Fishing half a League from Land, over-against Copinsha, in a fair Day, there fell down from the Air a Stone about the bigness of a Football, which fell in the middle of the Boat and sprung a Leak, to the great danger of the Lives of the Men that were in it, which could be no other than some Substance generated in the Clouds. The Stone was like condensed or petrified Clay, and was a long time in the custody of Captain Andrew Dick, at that time Steward of this Country; and Captain Dick, who is yet alive, told me he gave it to the late Earl of Glencairn.  
Here the Winters are generally more subject to Rain than Snow; nor does the Frost and Snow continue so long here as in other parts of Scotland, but the Wind in the mean time will often blow very boisterously, and it Rains sometimes not by drops but by spouts of Water, as if whole Clouds fell down at once. In the Year 1680, in the Month of June, after great Thunder, there fell flakes of Ice near a foot thick.  
This Country is wholly surrounded with the Sea, having Pightland-Firth on the South, the Deucaledonian Ocean on the West, the Sea that divides it from Zetland on the North, and the Germane Sea on the East. Zetland stands North-East and by East from Orkney, and from the Start of Sanda in Orkney to Swinburg Head the most Southerly Point in Zetland is about eighteen leagues, where there is nothing but Sea all the way, save Fair Isle, which lies within eight Leagues of Swinburg-Head.  
Pightland-Firth, which divides this Country from Cathnes, is in breadth from Duncansbay in Cathnes to the nearest point of South-Ronalsha in Orkney about twelve Miles, in it are a great many different Tides, reckoned to the number of twenty four, which run with such an impetuous force, that a Ship under sail is no more able to make way against the Tide, than if it were hindered by a Remora, which I conceive is the reason why some have said they have found the Remora in these Seas.  
In this Firth, about two Miles from the Coast of Cathnes, lies Stroma, a little pleasant Island, but because of its vicinity to Cathnes, and its being still under the Jurisdiction of the Lords of that Country, it is not counted as one of the Isles of Orkney. On the North-side of this Isle is a part of Pightland-Firth, called the Swelchie of Stroma, and at the West-end of the Isle, betwixt it and Mey in Cathnes, there is another part of the Firth, called the Merry Men of Mey, both which are very dangerous to Seamen.  
The Sea ebbs and flows here as in other places, yet there are some Phaenomena, the reason of which cannot so easily be found out; as in the Isle of Sanda, it flows two hours sooner on the Westside than it does on the East-side; and in North Faira (which lies betwixt Eda and Westra) the Sea ebbs nine hours and flows but three: And at Hammoness in Sanda, both ebb and flood run one way, except at the be beginning of a quick Stream, when for two or three hours the flood runs South.  
The Sea here is very turbulent in a Storm, and uneasy even to those on Land, especially in those places of the Country that lie exposed to Pightland-Firth, and the Western Ocean, for when the Storm beats that way, the Sea dashes with such violence against the Rocks, that a great deal of the Sea is carried (in some places near a quarter of a mile) on the Land, and falls like a great shower of Rain on the Ground, which is very oft prejudicial to their Corn at certain Seasons.  
The Tides also are very swift and violent, by reason of the multitude of the Isles and narrowness of the Passage; for, when all the rest of the Sea is smooth, these Tides carry their Waves and billows high, and run with such violence that they cause a contrary motion in the Sea adjoining to the Land, which they call Easter-birth or Wester-birth, according to its course; yet notwithstanding of the great rapidity of these Tides and Births, the Inhabitants, daily almost, travel from Isle to Isle about their several affairs in their little Cockboats or Yoals, as they call them.  
Whatever the Ancients have written of the number of the Islands of Orkney, it's certain there are but twenty six, at present inhabited, viz. South-Ronalsha, Swinna, Hoy and Waes', Burra, Lambholm, Flotta, Faira, Cava, Gramsey, Pomona or Mainland, Copinsha, Shapinsha, Damsey, Inhallo, Stronsa, Papa-Stronsa, Sanda, North-Ronalsha, Eda, Rousa, Wyre, Gairsa, Eglesha, North-Faira, Westra, Papa-Westra. The rest of the Islands are called Holms, and are only used for Pasture; all of them being separated from one another by some narrow straits. Most of these Islands names end in a or ay, which in the Teutonick signifieth Water, to show that these Isles are pieces of Land surrounded with Water.  
These Islands are of different Natures, some Sandy, some Marsh, some abounding in Heath and Moss, and some that have none, some of them Mountainous and some Plain. Of these some are called the South-Isles, and others the North-Isles, and that as they stand to the South or North of the greatest Island, called the Mainland.  
South-Ronalsha is the Southermost of these Islands, five Miles long, fertile in Corn, and abounding with People. To the Southeast lie the Pightland Skerries, dangerous to Seamen; but to the North is St. Margaret's Hope, a very safe Harbour for Ships, which has no difficulty in coming to it, save a Rock in the middle of the Sound, betwixt this Island and Burra, called Lippa. From Burwick, in this Isle, is the usual Ferry to Duncansbay in Cathnes.  
A little separated from this, to the South-West, lies Swinna, a little Isle, and only considerable for a part of Pight land-Firth lying a little to the West of it, called the Wells of Swinna, which are two Whirlpools in the Sea (occasioned, as is thought, by some Hintus that is in the Earth below) that run about with such violence, that if any Boat or Ship come within their reach they will whirl it about and about till it be swallowed up and drowned. They are only dangerous in a great Calm; for if there be any Wind, and the Boat under Sail, there is no danger to go over them. If a Boat happen to come near them in a Calm, by the force of the Tide driving that way, the Boatsmen, for their preservation throw a Barrel or an Oar, or any bulky thing that comes next to hand, into the Wells, and when it is swallowed up the Sea remains smooth for a time for any Boat to pass over.  
Beyond this, and to the West of South-Ronalsha, lies Waes' and Hoy (thought to be the Dumna of Pliny) which are but one Isle, about twelve Miles in length, full of high Mountains, and but thinly inhabited, unless in Waes', where the Ground is very pleasant and fertile. From Snelsetter in Waes' is the other Ferry from this Country to Ham, in Cathnes. Here are several good Harbours, as Kirk-hope, North-hope, Ore-hope, and others, but not now much frequented, tho' North-hope be one of the best Harbours in this Country, if not in the whole World, and most proper for those that design a Fishing Trade.  
To the North of South-Ronalsha lies Burra, a pleasant little Isle, fruitful in Corns and abounding in Rabbits. Betwixt Burra and the Mainland is Lambholm, and to the West, towards Hoy-mouth, lies Flotta, Faira, Cava, Gramsey, all of them fruitful and pleasant Islands, tho' they be not large.  
Next to these is the Mainland, called by the Ancients Pomona or Pomonia, about twenty four Miles in length, and well inhabited. About the middle of this Island, to the North, stands Kirkwall, the only Town in all this Country. There are in the Mainland four excellent Harbours for Ships, one at Kirkwall, both large and safe, without any danger by Shoals or blind Rocks as they come to it, unless they come from the West by Inhallo and Gairsa: Another Harbour is at Deirsound, which is a great Bay, and a very safe Road for Ships, having good anchoring ground, and capable of sheltering the greatest Navies. The third is at Grahamshall, toward the East-side of this Isle, where there is a convenient Road; but the Ship that sails to it from the East, would do well to keep betwixt Lambholm and the Mainland, for the other way betwixt Lambholm and Burra (which appears to them to be only open) is very shallow and dangerous, even for small Ships. The fourth is at Kairston, a small Village, at the West end of the Mainland, where there is a very safe and commodious Harbour, well fenced against all Winds by two small Holms that stand at the entry.  
To the East of the Mainland lies Copinsha, a little Isle, but very conspicuous to Seamen, as is that Holm to the North-East of it, called the Horse of Copinsha.  
To the North of the Mainland, lie the North-Isles, the first of which is Shapinsha, about five or six Miles in length, and hath a very safe Harbour for Ships at Elwick.  
Of an equal bigness to that toward the Southeast lies Stronsa, where there is two very good Harbours; one at Lingasound, fenced with Lingaholm, the other at Strynie, fenced with a little pleasant Isle to the North of it, called Papa-Stronsa.  
Beyond these, toward the North, at some distance, lies Sanda, about twelve Miles long, but very narrow, well inhabited; it hath two Roads for Ships, one at Kitletoft, guarded by a little Holm, called the Holm of Elsnes, the other at Otterswick, guarded by the most Northern-Island in all this Country, called North-Ronalsha, which is a little fruitful Isle, but both it and Sanda have no Moss Ground, but are obliged to bring their Peits and Turfs (which is the only Fuel they have through this whole Country) a great way off, from the next adjacent Island, Eda.  
This Eda lieth to the Southeast of Sanda, thought to be the Ocetis of Ptolemy, near five Miles in length, full of Moss and Hills, but thinly inhabited, unless it be about the skirts of it; it has a safe Road to the North, called Calf-sound.  
Three Miles to the West of Kirkwall, at the bottom of a large Bay, lies a little Island, called Damsey, with a Holm near it as large as itself.  
To the North North-West lies Rousa, about six Miles long, but very hilly and ill inhabited. Betwixt it and the Mainland lies Inhallo, and towards Kirkwall lies Wyre and Gairsa, small but profitable Islands.  
North from Kirkwall, at eight Miles distance, is Eglesha, near three Miles in length, very pleasant and fertile, having a safe Road for Ships betwixt it and Wire. In this Isle there is a little handsome Church, where, it is said, that Saint Magnus, the Patron of this Country, lies Buried.  
To the North of Eglesha is Westra, seven Miles long, pleasant, fertile and well inhabited. There is in it a convenient Harbour for Ships, at Piriwa. At the East of it lies Faira, called for distinction, Faira by North; and to the North and by East, is Papa-Westra, a pleasant Isle, three Miles in length, famous in this Country for Saint Fredwell's Chapel and Lake, of which many ridiculous things are reported by the Vulgar.  
All these Islands are indifferently fruitful, well stored with Fields of Corn and Herds of Cattle, and abound with Rabbits, and the greatest plenty of Muir-fowl and Plover that there is any where, but have no Hares or Partridges.  
The chief products of this Country, and which are Exported yearly by the Merchant, are, Butter, Tallow, Hides, Barley, Malt, Oatmeal, Fish, Salted Beef, Pork, Rabbit-skins, Otter-skins, white Salt, Stuffs, Stockings, Wool, Hams, Writing-Pens, Downs, Feathers, etc.  
A Southeast and North-West Moon causeth high Water throughout all this Country.   

CHAP. II. Of the Plants growing naturally in Orkney. Of those Beans called the Molucca Beans thrown in there. A Description of a strange Fish taken in Sanda. An Account of their Land and Sea-shells. Of their Mines. Of some exotic Fowls driven in there, and some other effects of violent Storms. Of their Lakes and Locks.  
I Did not find this Country so well stored with Plants as I expected; as for instance, I found none of the Malva kind, nor several other Plants that I thought might have agreed well enough with this Country; but such as I did find, I thought an account of them might not be unacceptable, tho' I am far from pretending this to be so very exact as it should have been; these being the Names of those only I have by me.  

Acetosa pratensis B. P. common Sorrel.  
Acetosa arvensis Lanceolata B. P. Sheep's Sorrel.  
Adianthum album Tab. Ruta muraria B. P. white Maidenhair.  
Adianthum nigrum Off. I. B. black Maidenhair.  
Adianthum aureum majus Ger. golden Maidenhair.  
Alchimilla vulgaris B. P. Lady's Mantle.  
Alchimilla minime montana Percepier Anglorum Ger. Parsly break-stone.  
Alliaria B. P. Sauce alone, or Jack-by-the-Hedge.  
Alsine media B. P. common Chickweed.  
Alsine arvensis hirsuta magno flore I. B. Mouse-ear Chickweed.  
Alsine plantaginis folio B. P. Plantain-leaved Chickweed.  
Alsine sperula dicta major B. P. Spurrey.  
Alsine minor multicaulis B. P. fine Chickweed.  
Alsine palustris portulacae aquaticae similis J. Ray, small water Chickweed.  
Alsine Hederulae folio B. P. Ivy-leaved Chickweed.  
Alsine veronicae foliis flosculis cauli adhaerentibus B. P. speedwell Chickweed.  
Ambrosia campestris repens, Swine's cresses.  
Anagallis flore Phoeniceo B. P. Male pimpernel.  
Anagallis aquatica major folio oblongo B. P. the greater long-leaved Brook-lime.  
Anagallis aquatica minor folio subrotundo B. P. common Brook-lime or Waterpimpernell.  
Androsaemum Mathioli Park. Ascyrum sive Hypericum glabrum bifolium non perforatum B. P. Mathiolus his Tutsan or elegant St. John's wort not perforate.  
Angelica Sylvestris B. P. wild Angelica.  
Angelica Sylvestris minor sive erratica B. P. Goutweed or Ashweed.  
Anthillis maritima B. P. Sea-pimpernel.  
Aparine vulgaris B. P. common Goosegrass.  
Argentina Ger. Argentine or Silverweed.  
Artemisia vulgaris J. B. common Mugwort.  
Arundo vulgaris B. P. common Reed.  
Asperula Ger. common white-flowered Woodroof.  
Asphodelus minimus luteus palustris Acori folio Lob. Hist. Oxon. Bastard Asphodel.  
Atriplex Sylvestris angusto & folio oblongo B. P. narrow-leaved wild Arrach.  
Atriplex marina nostras J. Ray; English Sea-Arrach.  
Auricula muris pulchra flore albo J. B. Mouse-ear with a white Flower.  
Auricula muris pulchra, flore albo, folio tenuissimo J. B. fair-flowered Mouse-ear with cut leaves.  
Barba Caprae floribus compactis B. P. Meadow-Sweet or Queen of the Meadow.  
Bardana major sieve Lappa J. B. Burdock.  
Bellis major J. B. the greater wild white Daisy.  
Bellis Sylu. minor B. P. common small wild Daisy.  
Buglossum Sylvestre minus B. P. wild or corn Bugloss.  
Buglossum Sylvestre minus caulibus procumbentibus B. P. small wild Bugloss.  
Bursa Pastoris J. B. Shepherd's purse.  
Bursa Pastoris minor loculis oblongis B. P. Paronychia vulgaris Ger. Nailwort or whitlow Grass.  
Calamintha vulgaris arvensis verticulata B. P. Water Calamint.  
Caltha Palustris J. B. small marsh Marigold.  
Campanula pratensis rotundifolia vulgaris B. P. the lesser round leaved Bell-flower.  
Campanula pratensis flore conglomerato B. P. little Throatwort or Canterbury Bells.  
Carduus vulgatissimus viarum Ger. common-way Thistle.  
Carduus nutans J. B. Thistle with a bending head.  
Carduus lanceatus B. P. the Spear-thistle.  
Carduus Polyacanthus primus Ger. Thistle upon Thistle.  
Carduus Polyacanthus secundus Lob. walted Thistle with small leaves.  
Caryophyllata vulgaris B. P. Avens.  
Caryophyllus pratensis laciniato flore simplici B. P. wild Williams or Cuckoc-flowers.  
Caryophyllus minimus muscosus nostras Park. Chickweed-breakstone.  
Caryophyllus montanus minor B. P. Thrift or Sea Gillyflower or Arby.  
Chaerephyllum Sylvestre B. P. common wild Chervile.  
Chamaeustus flore luteo B. P. Dwarf Cistus or little Sun-flower.  
Chamaedries Sylvestris Ger. wild Germander.  
Chamaemelum inodorum B. P. Mayweed or Dogs Chamomel.  
Chamaemelum inodorum flore pleno, double-flowered Mayweed.  
Cheledonium minus Ger. lesser Celandine.  
Chrysanthemum Segetum Ger. Corn Marigold.  
Cicuta major B. P. common Hemlock.  
Cochlearia folio sinuato B. P. common Sea-Scurvy-grass.  
Consolida media pratensis B. P. common Bugle.  
Convolvulus minor arvensis B. P. small Bindweed.  
Coronopus' Sylvestris hirsutior B. P. Buckhorn Plantain.  
Cruciata vulgaris B. P. Crosswort.  
Cyanus minor segetum B. P. common blue-bottle or Sun-flower.  
Cynaglossum majus vulgar B. P. common Hounds-tongue.  
Daucus nostras, wild Carrot or Birds-nest.  
Dens leonis B. P. Dandelyon.  
Digitalis purpurea folio aspero B. P. purple Fox-gloves.  
Echium marinum B. P. Sea-bugloss.  
Echium scorpoides arvense B. P. Mouse-ear Scorpion-grass.  
Echium Scorpoides palustre B. P. water Scorpion-grass.  
Equisetum arvense longioribus setis B. P. common Horse-tail.  
Equisetum palustre longioribus setis B. P. the greater Marsh Horse-tail.  
Equisetum palustre brevioribus setis polyspermon B. P. Female Horse-tail.  
Equisetum faetidum sub aqua repens B. P. stinking-water Horse-tail.  
Equisetum nudum Ger. naked Horse-tail.  
Erica baccifera procumbens nigra B. P. Berry bearing Heath.  
Erica vulgaris glabra B. P. common Heath or Heather.  
Erica humilis cortice cineritio Arbuti flore B. P. fine leaved Heath.  
Erica ex rubro nigricans Scoparia B. P. Low-Dutch-Heath or Broom-Heath.  
Eruca Sylvestris minor luteo parvoque flore J. B. small water Rocket.  
Erysimum vulgar B. P. Hedge Mustard.  
Erysimo Similis hirsuta non laciniata alba B. P. Hairy-hedge Mustard with uncut leaves.  
Eupatorium aquaticum folio integro Park. water Agrimony with undivided leaves.  
Euphrasia J. B. Eyebright.  
Euphrasia pratensis rubra B. P. Eyebright Cow-wheat.  
Filix ramosa major pinnulis obtusis non dentatis B. P. common Brakes or female Fern.  
Filix non ramosa dentata B. P. male Fern.  
Fumaria officinarum B. P. Fumitory.  
Gallium album J. B. white Lady's Bedstraw.  
Gallium luteum B. P. yellow Lady's Bedstraw.  
Gallium sive Molugo montana minor Gallio albo similis J. Ray. small Mountain Bastard Madder.  
Gentianella autumnalis centauri minoris foliis Park. Dwarf autumnal Gentian.  
Geranium Batrochoides folio Aconiti B. P. the lesser Crowfoot Crainsbill.  
Geranium Cicutae folio inodorum B. P. unsavoury Crainsbill.  
Geranium Columbinum tenuius laciniatum B. P. Dovesfoot with uncut leaves.  
Geranium lucidum saxatile B. P. shining rock Crainsbill.  
Geranium Robertianum primum B. P. Herb Robert.  
Glaux Maritima B. P. Sea-Milkwort.  
Gnaphalium montanum flore rotundiore B. P. Mountain Cudweed or Cats-foot.  
Gnaphalium medium B. P. middle or black headed Cudweed.  
Gramen Caninum Arvense B. P. Dogs-grass.  
Gramen Cristatum J. B. smooth crested grass.  
Gramen Avenaceum panicula flavescente locustis parvis J. Ray. Oat-grass with a yellow pannicle.  
Gramen aquaticum genicalatum spicatum B. P. spiked float Grass or water Grass.  
Gramen Asperum J. B. rough Grass.  
Gramen avenaceum dumetorum spica simplici J. Ray. Single-spiked-hedge Oat-grass.  
Gramen Cyperoides majus angustifolium Park. the greater narrow-leaved Cyperus Grass.  
Gramen exile duriusculum in muris & aridis proveniens J. Ray. small hard Grass.  
Gramen palustre echinatum J. B. Hedgehog-grass.  
Gramen pratense paniculatum majus B. P. the greater Meadow Grass.  
Gramen pratense paniculatum minus B. P. the lesser Meadow Grass.  
Gramen pratense paniculatum molle B. P. soft tufted Meadow Grass.  
Gramen parvum praecox spica laxa canescente, J. Ray. Vernal-grass with a soft lose Spike.  
Gramen secalinum Ger. Rie-grass.  
Gramen Sparteum spicatum foliis mucronatis vel spica secalina B. P. Sea Matweed or Bent.  
Gramen Tomentosum Ger. Cotton-grass.  
Gramen Tremulum J. B. Quaking-grass.  
Gramen Typhynum majus Ger. the greatest Cats-tail-grass.  
Hieracium minus folio subrotundo B. P. small Swine's succory.  
Hieracium dentis leonis folio obtuso majus B. P. Long-rooted Hawk-weed.  
Hieracium Chondrillae folio radice succisa majus B. P. yellow Devilsbit.  
Horminum pratense foliis serratis B. P. common wild-clary.  
Hyoscyamus niger vulgaris B. P. Blackhenbane.  
Hypericum vulgar B. P. common St. John ' s-wort.  
Hypericum Ascyrum dictum caule quadrangulo J. B. common St. Peter ' s-wort.  
Jacea nigra pratensis laetifolia B. P. Black knap-weed.  
Jacobaea vulgaris J. B. common St. James ' s-wort.  
Imperatoriae affinis maritima umbelliferae scotica Sutherlandi. Scot 's sea Master-wort.   
I don't know why some choose rather to call this an Apium, others á Seseli, and some a Ligusticum; I shall describe the Plant, and take liberty to do it in Latin, since it runs best that way, and so any may judge whether it has more the Character of an Apium or Imperatoria. Folia allata sunt ex tribus segmentis amplis subrotundis, laete virentibus, palmaribus, tripartitis & in ambitu incisis componuntur. Caulis ad cubitum assurgit, striatus, cavus, geniculis nonnullis interceptus, in quibus folia adsunt inferioribus longe minora. Flores in umbellam planam & latam disponuntur, rosacei, pentapetali, candidi, cum chalice in duo semina abeunte striata, compressa, & ala foliacea tenuique cincta. There is no Plant more common by the Sea side on the Rocks, especially in Waes' and Hoy, than this; but 'tis very frequent in most other places of this Country.  

Iris palustris lutea sive Acorus Adulterinus J. B. yellow water Flagg or Flower-de-luce.  
Juncus acutus panicula sparsa B. P. common hard Rush.  
Juncus laevis panicula sparsa major B. P. common Rush.  
Juncus maximus & scirpus major B. P. Bull Rush.  
Juncus aquaticus capitulis equiseti major B. P. club Rush.  
Juniperus vulgaris B. P. the Juniper Bush.  
Kali spinosum cochleatum B. P. prickly Glasswort.  
Lamium album B. P. white dead Nettle or Archangel.  
Lamium rubrum B. P. red dead Nettle or Archangel.  
Lapathum vulgare folio obtuso J. B. round leaved Wild Dock.  
Lapathum folio acuto B. P. sharppointed Dock.  
Lapathum folio acuto crispo B. P. sharppointed Dock with curled leaves.  
Lapathum unctuosum sive Bonus Henricus J. B. common English Mercury.  
Latuca Sylvestris costa spinosa B. P. cut-leaved wild Lettuce.  
Lens palustris J. B. Duck Meat.  
Lichen sive hepatica terrestris B. P. common ground Liverwort.  
Lichen cinereus terrestris J. Ray. Ash-colour'd-ground Liverwort.  
Linaria lutea vulgaris J. B. common Toad-flax.  
Linum pratense flosculis exiguis B. P. Dwarf wild flax.  
Lolium album Ger. Darnel.  
Lonchitis aspera B. P. great bastard Spleenwort.  
Lotus sive Melilotus pentaphyllos minor glabra B. P. Birds-foot trefoil.  
Lunaria minor Ger. small Moonwort.  
Lychnis Sylvestris alba simplex B. P. the white Campion.  
Lychnis segetum major B. P. Cockle.  
Lychnis Sylvestris quae Behen album vulgo B. P. Spatling Poppy.  
Lychnis Maritima repens B. P. English Sea Campion.  
Lychnis Sylvestris viscosa rubra angustifolia B. P. German Catchflea with white Flowers.  
Lysimachia Siliquosa glabra major B. P. the great smooth leaved lose Strife.  
Lysimachia Siliquosa galbra minor B. P. the lesser or smooth leaved loose-Strife.  
Lysimachia Siliquosa hirsuta parvo flore B. P. hairy-codded willow Flower.  
Marubium nigrum faetidum B. P. black Horehound.  
Melampyrum luteum common Cow-Wheat.  
Mentha rotundifolia palustris sive aquatica B. P. Water Mint.  
Millefolium vulgar B. P. Yarrow or Millefoil.  
Millefolium aquaticum ranunculi flore & capitulo Park. Crowfoot Water-Milfoil.  
Muscus terrestris clavatus B. P. Club-moss.  
Muscus clavatus foliis cupressi B. P. Cypress-moss or Heath-moss.  
Muscus pixiodis terrestris B. P. Cup or Chalice-moss.  
Myrrhis Sylvestris seminibus asperis B. P. small Hemlock Chervil.  
Myrtillus, Whortle bush or Whorts.  
Nasturtium pratense magno flore B. P. Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flowers.  
Nasturtium pratense magno flore sive Cardamini floor albo, Hist. Oxon. Ladies Smock with white Flowers.  
Nasturtium aquaticum B. P. common Water-cresses.  
Nasturtium Sylvestre tenuissime divisum B. P. Flixweed.  
Nymphaea major alba B. P. the great white water Lily.  
Oenanthe Apii folio succo viroso Morisoni, Hemlock Dropwort.  
Ononis spinis carens purpurea B. P. Purple Restharrow.  
Ononis non spinosa flore albo, white flowered Restharrow without prickles.  
Ophrys bifolia B. P. two blade.  
Orchys mus foliis maculatis B. P. the male Fools Stones.  
Orchys faemina B. P. the female Fools Stones.  
Panax Coloni B. P. Clowns All-heal.  
Papaver erraticum majus B. P. Corn Poppy.  
Papaver corniculatum luteum B. P. yellowflowered Horn-Poppy.  
Pedicularis pratensis lutea B. P. yellow rattle or Coxcomb.  
Pedicularis pratensis purpurea B. P. red rattle Grass.  
Pedicularis pratensis rubra clatior J. Ray. great red rattle or Louse-wort.  
Persicaria mitis maculosa & non maculosa B. P. dead or spotted Arsmart.  
Persicaria urens sive Hydropiper B. P. hot Arsmart.  
Petasites major B. P. common Butterbur.  
Pimpinella Saxifraga major umbella candida B. P. great Burnet Saxifrage.  
Pimpinella Saxifraga minor B. P. small burnet Saxifrage.  
Plantago latifolia sinuata B. P. great Plantain.  
Plantago angustifolia major B. P. Ragwort or lesser Plantain.  
Plantago aquatica latifolia B. P. Water-plantain.  
Polygala vulgaris B. P. Blue Milkwort.  
Polygonum latifolium B. P. common Knotgrass.  
Polypodium vulgar B. P. common Polypody  
Potamogeiton rotundifolium B. P. round leaved Pondweed.  
Potamogeiton salicis folio B. P. narrow-leaved Pondweed.  
Prunella vulgaris B. P. selfheal.  
Ptarmica, Sneezewort.  
Ranunculus pratensis repens hirsutus B. P. common Crowfoot.  
Ranunculus pratensis erectus acris B. P. upright Meadow Crowfoot.  
Ranunculus palustris Apii folio laevis B. P. round leaved marsh Crowfoot.  
Ranunculus longifolius palustris major B. P. the great Spearwort.  
Ranunculus palustris serratus B. P. dented Spearwort.  
Ranunculus aquaticus folio rotundo & capillaceo B. P. water Crowfoot with various leaves.  
Ranunculus aquaticus Cotyledonis folio B. P. marsh Pennywort.  
Raphanus rusticanus B. P. Horseradish.  
Rapistrum slore luteo B. P. wild Mustard.  
Ros solis folio rotundo B. P. Sun-dew.  
Rosa Sylvestris vulgaris B. P. the common wild brier bush.  
Salix pumila repens Ger. small creeping Willow.  
Sanicula officinarum B. P. common Sanicle.  
Sanicula montana slore Calcari donato B. P. Butterwort.  
Saxifraga rotundifolia alba B. P. common white Saxifrage.  
Saxifraga rotundifolia aurea B. P. Golden Saxifrage.  
Saxifraga Anglicafacie seseli pratensis Park. Meadow Saxifrage.  
Scabiosa pratensis hirsuta quae officinarum B. P. common Scabious.  
Scandix semine rostrato sive pecten Veneris B. P. Venus' comb or Shepherds-Needle.  
Scordium alterum sive Salvia agrestis B. P. Wood Sage.  
Scrophularia nodosa foetida B. P. common Figwort.  
Scrophularia aquatica major B. P. Water Betony or Figwort.  
Sedum parvum acre floor luteo J. B. Stone crop or Wall-pepper.  
Sedum Tridactylites tectorum B. P. paronychia folio rutaceo Ger. Rue Whitlow Grass.  
Senicio minor vulgaris B. P. common groundsel.  
Serpillum vulgar minus B. P. wild Thyme.  
Sideritis alsines trissaginis folio B. P. Ironwort with Germander Chickweed leaves.  
Sium angustifolium majus B. P. Water-Parsnip.  
Sium minimum foliis ferulaceis Hort. Reg. Blessen. minimum Jo. Ray. the least Water-parsnip.  
Sonchus laevis laciniatus latifolius B. P. smooth Sowthistle.  
Sonchus asper laciniatus & non laciniatus B. P. prickly Sowthistle.  
Soncho affinis Lampsana Domestica B. P. Nipplewort or Balagan.  
Sparganium non ramosum B. P. Bur-reed.  
Sphondylium vulgar B. P. Cow-parsnip.  
Succisa sive morsus Diaboli J. B. Purple-flowered Devils Bit.  
Telephium vulgar B. P. common Orpine.  
Thalictrum minus B. P. the lesser Meadow Rue.  
Tithymallus Helioscopius B. P. Sun surge.  
Tormentilla Sylvestris B. P. Tormentil.  
Tragopogon pratense luteum B. P. yellow Goat's beard.  
Trifolium pratense album B. P. white flowered trefoil.  
Trifolium pratense purpureum B. P. Purple flowered trefoil.  
Trifolium luteum lupulinum minimum Hist. Oxon. the least hop trefoil.  
Trifolium palustre B. P. marsh Trefoil.  
Tussilago J. B. Coltsfoot.  
Typha palustris major B. P. Catstail.  
Valeriana Sylvestris major B. P. great wild Valerian.  
Valeriana palustris minor B. P. small wild or marsh Valerian.  
Verbascum vel primula veris flore simplici B. P. common Primrose.  
Veronica mas supina & vulgatissima B. P. the male Speedwell or Fluellan.  
Vicia Multislora B. P. tufted Vetch or Birds tears.  
Vicia segetum cum siliquis plurimis hirsutis B. P. small wild Tare.  
Viola martia inodora Sylvestris B. P. wild or Dog's Violet.  
Viola tricolor arvensis B. P. Pansies or Hearts-ease.  
Virga aurea angustifolia minus serrata B. P. common golden Rod.  
Urtica aculeata foliis serratis sive Canabis spuria B. P. Bastard Hemp.  
Urtica urens maxima B. P. common Nettle.   
There are no Trees any where in all this Country, except some few Ashes Thorn and Plumb Trees that are in the Bishop's Garden in Kirkwal. There are in some gentlemen's Gardens in Kirkwal, and several other places of the Country, some Apple and Cherry-trees, but they seldom bear Fruit that comes to any maturity; and the Trees grow never higher than the Garden Walls. And, except some few wild Roses and Juniper that I see in Hoy, and the Myrtillus and Heath, which is common every where, I don't remember to have seen any Bush or Shrub growing wild in all the Country. Yet in a great many Gardens they have several very good Plants both for Use and Ornament; Cabbage, Turnip, Carrot, Parsnip, Skirret or Crummocks, etc. grow to as great a bigness here as any where; and Artichokes to a greater than ever I have seen them in any other place.  
I do not understand the reason why Trees don't grow here, since in the same Latitude in Norway, and some degrees more Northerly, Trees thrive very well, even on small Rocks surrounded by the Sea. I know not whether it be in places where the Sea makes such a breach as it does in some places of this Country, where the Sea-water, with the violence of the Storm, is carried a great way on the Land, and blasts all it falls on: This, with the violent Winds that oft blow in this Country, I think, may be one reason why Trees don't prosper so well; but if they have the same Breaches in Norway, I don't know what to say to it. Whether Trees have grown here of old; or, what is more probable, if it be the remains yet of the Flood, but commonly, in their Mosses, they find Trees of twenty or thirty Foot long.  
After Storms of Westerly Wind, amongst the Seaweed, they find commonly in places exposed to the Western-Ocean these Phaseoli, that, I know not for what reason, go under the Name of Molucca Beans. The ingenious Doctor Sloan in the Philosophical Transactions, Number 222, gives a very satisfactory Account, how from the West-Indies, where they commonly grow, they may be thrown in on Ireland, the Western parts of Scotland and Orkney. You have the Figures of four different sorts of them.  
Here is good store of Sheep and Cows, which tho' they be little, yet yield abundance of Milk. Their Ewes are so fertile, that most of them have two at a Birth, some three. I myself saw one that had four all living and following the Dam.  
Their Horses are but little, yet strong, and can endure a great deal of Fatigue, most of which they have from Zetland and are called Shelties. There are great Herds of Swine and rich Warrens almost in every Isle, well stored with Rabbits. Frogs are seen but seldom, yet there are some Toads, tho', as it is thought, they are not poisonous, as indeed there are few, if any, poisonous Animals in all this Country.  
Many Ottars and Seols are to be had every where, and oft times Spout Whales and Pellacks run in great number upon the shore and are taken, as in the Year 1691, near Kairston in the Mainland, there run in a Bay no less than a hundred and fourteen at once.  
The Stellae-marinae and Urtica-Marina are oft thrown in great plenty. In the Sea they catch Ling, Keeling, Haddock, Whiteing, Mackrel, Turbat, Scate, Congre-Eels, Sole, Fleuks, etc. and sometimes they catch Sturgeon.  
In the Year 1682, in Winter, there was taken a strange but beautiful Fish in Sanda (where several of them had been taken before) it was about an Ell in length, deep Breasted, and narrow at the Tail; the Head and Finns, and a stroke down the Back were all of a deep scarlet colour, which made it beautiful to look on; the rest was of a brownish colour, without scales, having several whitish spots in the Body; the Fish of the half next the Head was like Beef, and of the other half next the Tail was like Salmon.  
Herring swim through these Islands in great plenty, but the People are not so frugal, or have not the way, to catch them. Some Years ago, many Ships from Fife frequented this Country for the catching of Herrings; but the Seamen having been in the Year 1645, at the Battle of Kilsyth, they were there almost all Killed; since which time that Trade failed; tho' the Hollanders, to our eternal Reproach, fail not to keep it up to their great advantage.  
Sometimes strange Fishes are cast a shore, to which the People give as strange Names. I see one like a Goose Feather, the Body being like the Quill, and the Tail like the Feather, of a reddish colour. This seems to be what Gesner calls, Penna Marina Sitardi. As for that strange sleeping Fish that Boethius mentions in his Description of this Country, I could never hear of it.  
I have oft observed in the Head of the grayish Snail, those bright white Stones Doctor Lister mentions in his excellent Book, De Cochleis & Araneis Angliae, The People here beat them to Powder, and reckon it a Specific for the Gravel.  
As to their Land Shells, I cannot so well describe, since, after I understood any thing of that part of Natural History, the very short time I stayed there gave me but little opportunity to make so nice an enquiry as I should otherwise have done; only I observed a great variety of the Cochleae Terrestres, both as to their Maculae and Fasciae, and that buccinum rupium, etc. which Dr. Lister describes Tit. 8. De Cochleis Terrestribus. Since there are no Rivers, there can no River-shells be expected here; but in their small Rivulets the buccinum exiguum trium spirarum à sinistra in dextram convolutarum was common: And of the Sea-shells I found the  
Buccinum album, laeve, maximum, septem minime spirarum.  
Buccinum crassum, rufescens, striatum & undatum.  
Buccinum tenue, laeve, striatum & undatum.  
Buccinum bilingue, labro propatulo. This Doctor Lister in his Synopsis Conchyliorum, makes a West-India Shell. I found it here common, as I found it afterwards in several other places of Scotland.  
Buccinum angustius, tenuiter admodum striatum, octo minimum spirarum.  
Buccinum minus, albidum, asperum, intra quinas spiras finitum.  
Buccinum minus, ex albo subviride, ore dentato, eoque ex slavo leviter rufescente.  
Buccinum tenue, dense striatum, 12 mininimum spiris donatum.  
Cochlea fusca fasciis crebris angustisque praedita.  
Cochlea rufescens, fasciis, maculatis, maxim ad imos orbs, distincta.  
Nerita ex fusco viridescens, aut ex toto slavescens, modo pallid, modo intense ad colorem mali aurantii maturi.  
Nerita fasciatus, unica lata fascia insignitus, caeterum subfuscus ex viridi.  
Nerita reticulatus.  
Trochus albidus maculis rubentibus distinctus, sex minimum spirarum.  
Trochus crebris striis fuscis & transverse & undatim dispositis donatus.  
Trochus minor coerulescens; striatus, umbilicatus, apice brevi.  
Concha Veneris exigua, alba, striata. Nuns, called in Orkney, John-a-Groats buckies.  
Echinus marinus, orbicularis, esculentus. The largest of this kind I ever see any where are in Orkney; I have seen several of them twenty or thirty Inches in Circumference. The common people reckon the meat of the Sea Urchin or Ivegars as they call them a great Rarity, and use it oft instead of Butter.  
Patella ex livido cinera, striata. The Limpet.  
Patella fusca, compressa, dense striata.  
Patella articulata, cymbiformis. I never see any of this kind any where but this one; yet Rondeletius has something pretty near it, and I have lately had one from the West-Indies that seems to be of that same kind, but bigger; see the Figure.  
Patella minor, fusca, tenuis, umbone nigro ad extremitatem anteriorem detruso, tribus inde lineis coeruleis per dorsum decurrentibus pulchre distincta.  
Patella ovalis minor, viridis, nigra, fascia in medio donata.  
Patella maxima ex albo viridescens, umbone ad partem anteriorem admoduni dotruso.  
Ostreum vulgare maximum. The largest Oysters ever I see any where, are got in some places of this Country, and the fittest for pickling; I have seen them so large that they must be cut in two or three pieces before they can be eaten: But the people are so careless that they have in few places Drags to take them up as they do elsewhere, but for the most part at a great ebb, go in amongst the Rocks and cut them off with a Knife.  
Concha longa lataque in mediis cardinibus cavitate quadam pyriformi insignita.  
Concha quasi rhomboides in medio cardine utrinque circiter tribus exiguis denticulis donata.  
Concha è maximis admodum crassa, rotunda ex nigro rufescens.  
Concha tenuis subrotunda, omnium minime cava, cardinis medio sinu & amplo & pyriformi.  
Concha crassa ex altera parte compressa ex altera subrotunda.  
Concha parva subrotunda ex parte interna rubens.  
Pecten maximus circiter 14 striis admodum crassis & eminentibus & iisdem ipsis striatis insignitus. Scallop or Clamshell.  
Pecten tenuis, subrufus, maculosus, circiter 20 striis majoribus at laevibus donatus.  
Pecten minimus, angustior, inaequalis fere & asper, sinu ad cardinem cylindraceo, creberrimis minutissimisque striis donatus.  
Pecten minor utrinque aequaliter auritus, profunde striatus, & ex albo & rubro pulchre variegatus.  
I could name a great many more of these kind of Pectines, that are by some reckoned distinct species, but I think them all of the same kind, and that they have these accidental Colours, etc. from their being sometime exposed to the weather, since I could never see any live shells have such Colours or be so variegated: And tho' they were I doubt if it be altogether warrantable in this part of natural History, to distinguish Shells only differing in some accidental Colours, more than it would be to reckon black and red Haired, those of a large or smaller Stature, different Species or Tribes of men.  
I observed in Stroma a little Island that lies in Pightland Firth, and in some places in Orkney, where there went extraordinary cross and strong Tides, almost all the thinner sort of Pectines, so twisted and of such an irregular shape, that I was surprised to see it. I cannot think the odd strange tumbling the Tides make there, can contribute any thing to that frame; yet after all I never see them so in any other place. See the Figure of one of them.  
Pectunculus maximus at minus concavus, plurimis minutioribus & parum eminentibus striis donatus, rostro, acuto & minus incurvato.  
Pectunculus albus, exiguus, muricibus insigniter exasperatus.  
Pectunculus maximus subfuscus valde gravis Listeri, Synop. Conch. Numb. 108.  
Pectunculus maximus insigniter echinatus.  
Pectunculus vulgaris, albidus, rotundus, circiter 26 strijs majusculis at planioribus donatus. The Cockle.  
Tellina intus ex viola purpurascens, in ambitu serrata. I have a great many more of these Tellinae of different Colours, and some very beautifully variegated, but I reckon them on the same score with the Pectines that are so.  
Concha laevis, altera tantum parte clausilis, apophysi admodum prominente, lataque praedita.  
Solen sive concha tenuis longissimaque ab utraque parte naturaliter hians. The Spout Fish.  
Musculus ex coeruleo niger. The common Muscle.  
On a Log of wood which has been some time in the Sea, and afterwards thrown upon the shore by some Storm, I have seen thousands of the Balani Rondeletij, or the Concha Anatifera; and on the Rocks every where the  Balanus cinereus, velut è senis laminis striatis compositus, ipso vertice, altera testa bisida rhomboide occluso. 
There is such abundance almost every where of Shellfish, but especially Cockles, that the whole Country is served no other way with Lime, but by those Shells burned, which makes a very fair Lime, and does very well in Plaster, though I doubt whether it be so proper for Building as stone Lime is.  
As to the Crustaceous Fishes, as Lobsters, Crabs, etc. they are in as great abundance here, as any where.  
Here is plenty of tame and wild Fowl; they reckon they have 8 or 9 different sorts of wild Geese, and of grey Plover, Moorfowl, Wild-Duck, Swans, Teal, Whaps, or Curlew, etc. there is no place better stored. They have likewise many Foists and Liars both Sea Fowls very fat and delicious. Sometime the Stock-Owl and Bittern have been seen in this Country. Eagle and Earns as they call them, and Gledes or Kites are here in great plenty, and very hurtful to their young Store: Yea, they have been found to seize upon young Children and carry them a good way of; and there is yet a Man alive, one John Hay, living now in Sanda, who was thus carried away by an Eagle, while a young Child in swaddling clothes (his Mother having left him on the Grass, till she went a little way to carry somewhat) to her Nest; but was so speedily by the blessing of God prevented that no harm was done to him. There is a Law in this Country, that if any kill any of these Earns or Eagles, he is to have a Hen out of every house in the Parish in which it is killed.  
Hawks and Falcons have their Nests in several places of these Islands; as in the Noup, Swendal, and Rapnes in Westra; at Highberry and Aith-head in Waes'; at Braebrake, Furcarsdale and Rathwick in Hoy; at Halcro, Greehead and Hocksa in South-Ronalsha; at Bellibrake and Quendal in Rousa; at Rousumhead and Lambhead in Stronsa, in the calf of Eda; at Gatnip, Gultack, Mulehead, in Dierness, Copinsha, Blackcraig of Stromnes, Yeskrabie, Birsa, Marwick and Costahead in the Mainland. The King's Falconer comes every Year, and takes the young, who has Twenty Pound Sterling in Salary, and a Hen or Dog out of every House in the Country, except some places that are Privileged.  
There are several Mines of Tinn, Led, and perhaps of other Metals, especially in the Mainland, South-Ronalsha, Hoy, Stronsa, Sanda, but are neglected, or not improved, through Poverty or Carelessness. A great deal of Marle is found, especially in the Mainland, of which the Husbandman makes good use for manor. In many places are Quarries of excellent free or sand Stone and Slate. Not far from Birsa at Buckquoy and Swinna are to be found some Veins of Marble and Alabaster.  
On the shore, sometimes, is to be found Sperma Ceti, Ambergreese, Watersponges, and a great many Cuttle-bones, or Os Sepiae. Sometimes they catch Exotic Fowls, driven in by the Wind in time of a Storm; as one some time ago that had along Beak, a large tuft on the Head, in fashion of a Crown, with speckled Feathers, very pleasant to see, which, I believe, was the Upupa; and two or three Years ago, in Sanda; there was a very beautiful Bird driven in there alive; they afterwards shot it, and I had it sent me; 'twas something like a Woodpecker, but of extraordinary lively Colours, especially a light Blue and a Green. And I have seen the Albardeola, or Shovelaer, driven in there.  
Some Years since, the Day being exceeding Stormy, there were found before a Gentleman's Door in Kirkwal, some little distance from the Sea, seven or eight Quiths (a Fish something less than a Whiting) half alive, as if they had been but newly taken; it's like the violent Wind, they swimming on the top of the Water, had heaved them out of the Sea, and when the strength of the blast was gone, they had fallen on that place.  
But how violently the Wind blows here, and how great is the force of the Sea breach, may appear from this, That at Cantick-head and Osnua-head in Waes', there are, by the violence of the Sea and Winds, large Stones thrown up from the bottom, a great way above the Rock, some so large, That some Men can hardly move them.  
This Country being divided in to small Islands, it cannot be expected there should be in it any Rivers, yet there is every where a great many Rivulets or bourn's, as they call them, well replenished with Trout, both small and great, some of them like to young Salmon.  
There is a large Loch or Lake in the Mainland, called the Loch of Stennis, but unfruitful. Besides that, there are in every Island some small Loches, but they serve for no other use but to afford Water to their Mills and Cattle. There be also some Loches that have some remarkable properties, as Saint Tredwell's Loch, in Papa-Westra, which, they say, is Medicinal; but for what I know not: There is another Loch in Shapinsha, of which, it is said, that if any wash their feet in it, they will strike out in Blisters. The Loch of Swanna, in the Mainland, will have, in some parts, a thick scum, of a Copper Colour, upon it, which makes some think there is some Mine under it.  
This Country is most commodious for Navigation, there being every where excellent Bays and Ports for Shipping, the most remarkable of which I have given an account of in the last Chapter.   

CHAP. III. Of the Ancient Monuments and Curiosities of this Country. An Account of the Dwarfie Stone in Hoy. Of the Obelisks and standing Stones in Stennis. Of the figured Stone Causey near Skeal. Of some Urns and Burial Places found in several places. An Account of the Finn-men that are sometimes driven in there.  
THere is in Hoy, lying betwixt two Hills, a Stone, called the Dwarfie-Stone, which is one entire Stone, thirty six Foot long, eighteen Foot broad, nine Foot thick; hallowed within by the Hand of some Mason (for the prints of the Irons are to be seen on it to this day) with a square hole of about two Foot high for the entry, and a Stone proportionable standing before it for a Door. Within, at one end, is a Bed excellently cut out of the Stone, with a Pillow, wherein two Men may lie together at their full length; at the other end is a Couch, and in the middle a Hearth for a Fire, with a round hole cut out above for the Chimney. It stands in a desolate melancholy place, more than a Mile from any inhabited House, and all the Ground about it nothing but high Heath and Heather. It's thought to have been the residence of some melancholy Hermit. See the Figure of it.  
At the West-end of this Stone stands on exceeding high Mountain, of a steep ascent, called the Wart Hill of Hoy; near the top of which, in the Month of May, June, and July, about Midday, is seen something that shines and sparkles admirably, and which is often seen a great way off. It hath shined more brightly before than it does now, tho' many have climbed up the Hill, and attempted to search for it, yet they could find nothing. The Vulgar talk of it as some enchanted Carbuncle; but I take it rather to be some Water sliding down the face of a smooth Rock, which when the Sun at such a time shines upon, the reflection causeth that admirable splendour.  
At Stennis, in the Mainland, where the Loch is narrowest, in the middle, having a Causey of Stones over it for a Bridge, there is, at the South-end of the Bridge, a Round set about with high smooth Stones or Flags, about twenty Foot high above ground, six Foot broad, and each a Foot or two thick. Betwixt that Round and the Bridge are two Stones standing of that same largeness with the rest, whereof one hath a round hole in the midst of it; and at the other end of the Bridge, about half a Mile removed from it, is a large Round about an hundred and ten paces in Diameter, set about with such Stones as the former, but that some of them are fallen down; and at both East and West of this bigger Round, are two artificial (as is thought) green Mounts; both these Rounds are ditched about. See the Figure of it.  
Some think that these Rounds have been places whereon two opposite Armies have encamped; but I think it more probable that they have been the high places in the Pagan times, whereon Sacrifice was offered, and that these two Mounts were the places where the Ashes of the Sacrifice was fling. And this is the more probable, because Boethius, in the Life of Mainus, King of Scots, makes mention of that kind of high Stones, calling them the Temples of the Gods. His words are these. In Memory of what King Mainus ordained anent the worship of the Gods, there remains yet, in our days, many huge Stones drawn together in form of a Circle, named by the People the Ancient Temples of the Gods; and it is no small admiration to consider by what Art or Strength so many huge Stones have been brought together. So far Boethius.  
There are besides in many other places of this Country, Obelisks, or great high Stones, set in the Ground like the former, and standing apart (and indeed they are so very large that none sees them, but wonders by what Engine they have been erected) which are thought to be set up either as a memorial of some famous Battle, or as a monument of some remarkable Person that has been buried there; that way of honouring deserving and valiant Men, being the invention of King Rentha, as Boethius says.  
There is in Rousay, betwixt high Mountains, a place, called the Camp of Jupiter Fring. The name is strange and would import some notable accident; but what it was I could not learn.  
At the West-end of the Mainland, near Skeal, on the top of high Rocks, more than a quarter of a Mile in length, there is something like a Street all set in red Clay, with a sort of reddish Stones of several figures and magnitudes; having the Images and Representations of several things, as it were, engraven on them; and, which is very strange, a great many of these Stones, when they are raised up, have that same Image engraven under, which they have above. This Causey is all along the tops of Rocks, and though they be otherwise of a very considerable height above the Sea, yet the West Ocean in a Storm leading that way, does dashwith such violence against the Rocks, that the Sea breaches do wash the Ground on the tops of the Rocks. If these Stones had not the same Figure on that side next the ground that they have above, I should think the Sea washing over them might occasion these different figures, by washing away the softish parts of the Stone and leaving the harder, and so accordingly give them these accidental Shapes and Figures. Tho' there are a great many of them still remaining, yet the Gentlemen living near that place have taken away those that had the prettiest Figures to set their Chimneys with, as they use to do in Holland with painted Bricks and Tiles.  
In the Links of Skeal, where the Sand is blown away with the Wind, are found several places built square, with Stones well cemented together, and a Stone lying in the mouth, having some black Earth in them. The like of which also are found in the Links of Rousum in Stronsa; where also, some Years ago, was sound another remarkable Monument. It was a whole round Stone like a Barrel, hollow within, sharp edged at the top, having the bottom joined like the bottom of a Barrel; on the mouth was a round Stone conform to the mouth of the Monument, and above that a large Stone for the preservation of the whole; within was nothing but red Clay and burned Bones. See the Figure. It's like that this and the other Foursquare Monuments have been some of these Urns wherein the Romans, when they were in this Country, laid up the Ashes of their dead. Likewise in the Links of Tranabie, in Westra, have been found Graves in the Sand, in one of which was seen a Man lying with his Sword on the one Hand, and a Danish Axe on the other; and others that have had Dogs, and Combs and Knives buried with them, which seems to show the way how the Danes, when they were in this Country, buried their dead, as the other was of the Romans. Besides in many places of the Country are found little Hillocks, which may be supposed to be the Sepulchers of the ancient Pights. For Tacitus tells that it was the way of the ancient Romans, and Verstegan that it was the way of the ancient Germans and Saxons, to lay dead Bodies on the ground, and cover them over with turss and clods of earth, in the fashion of little Hillocks: hence it seems that the many Houses and Villages in this Country, which are called by the name of Brogh, and which all of them are built upon, or beside some such rising ground, have been cemeteries for the burying of the dead in the time of the Pights and Saxons: For the word Brogh in the Teutonick Language, signifies a burying place.  
In one of these hillocks near the circle of high Stones, at the North end of the Bridge of Stennis, there were found nine Fibulae of Silver of the shape of a Horse-shoe, but round. See the Figure of one of them.  
Moreover in many places of this Country, are to be seen the ruins and vestiges of great but antique Buildings; most of them now covered over with Earth, and called in this Country Pights Houses, some of which its like have been the Forts and Residences of the Pights and Danes, when they possessed this Country.  
Among the rest there is one in the Isle of Wyre, called the Castle of Cubberow, or rather Coppi-row, which in the Teutonick Language, signifies a Tower of Security from outward violence. It is Trenched about, of it nothing now remains but the first Floor. It is a perfect Square, the Wall eight foot thick, strongly built and cemented with Lime, the breadth or length within Walls not being above ten foot, having a large Door and a slit for the Window. Of this Cubbirow the Common people report many Idle Fables, not fit to be inserted here.  
In the Parish of Hara in the Mainland, in a Marle-pit as they were digging Marle for manor to their ground, there was found in the Marl a large piece of a Heart's horn, as I was credibly informed by a Gentleman who got the Horn from these men, and had it then by him.  
In the Parish of Evie near the Sea are some small hillocks, which frequently in the night time appear all in a Fire, and the Church of Evie called St. Nicholas, is oft seen full of Light, as if Torches or Candles were burning in it all night. This amazes the people greatly, but possibly it's nothing else but some thick glutinous Meteor, that receives that Light in the night time.  
At the Noup-head in Westra is a Rock surrounded with the Sea, called Less, which the inhabitants of that Isle say, has this strange property; that if a Man go upon it, having any Iron upon him, the Sea will instantly swell in such a Tempestuous way, that no Boat can come near to take him off, and the Sea will not be calmed till the Iron be thrown away: I being there to make an experiment of it, offered Money to a poor fellow, to go upon the Rock, with a piece of Iron, but he would not do it on any terms.  
Sometimes about this Country, are seen these men they call Finn-men. In the year 1682, one was seen in his little Boat, at the South end of the Isle of Eda, most of the people of the Isle flocked to see him, and when they adventured to put out a Boat with Men to see if they could apprehend him, he presently fled away most swiftly. And in the year 1684, another was seen from Westra; I must acknowledge it seems a little unaccountable, how these Finn-men should come on this coast, but they must probably be driven by Storms from home, and cannot tell when they are any way at Sea, how to make their way home again; they have this advantage, that be the Seas never so boisterous their Boat being made of Fish Skins, are so contrived that he can never sink, but is like a Seagull swimming on the top of the Water. His shirt he has is so fastened to the Boat, that no Water can come into his Boat to do him damage, except when he pleases to untie it, which he never does but to ease nature, or when he comes ashore. A full account of these Finn-men, may be had en L'histoire naturelle & moralle des Antilles Chap. 18. One of their Boats which was catched in Orkney, was sent from thence to Edinburgh, and is to be seen in the Physician's Hall, with the Oar and Dart he makes use of for kill Fish. There is another of their Boats in the Church of Burra in Orkney.   

CHAP. IU. Some peculiar Customs, Manners and Dispositions of the Inhabitants of this Country. An Account of a Woman that had a Child in the 63d Year of her Age. An Account of their Diseases and some of their particular Cures. A particular Language amongst them. Their way of Transporting and Weighing their Corn. Their custom of Sheepshearing: And the way they have to catch Sea-Fowls. And an Account of some Remarkable Accidents that have fallen out here.  
THE People here are generally civil, sagacious, circumspect and piously inclined; Though Boethius reports them to be great Drunkards and Maginus says of them, quod sunt bibacissimi, nunquam tamen inebriantur, yet now it is not so; for though they use strong Ale and Beer (the nature of the Country requiring strong Liquor) yet generally they are Sober and Temperate, but withal much given to Hospitality and Feasting, very civil and liberal in their entertaining of Strangers, and much inclined to speak ill of those that are peevishly or niggardly disposed.  
Buchanan tells a Story, which is still believed here and talked of as a truth, though now there be nothing of it. That at Scapa a place about a mile of Kirkwal to the South, there was kept a large cup, and when any new Bishop landed there, they filled it with strong Ale, and offered it to him to drink, and if he happened to drink it of cheerfully, they promised to themselves a Noble Bishop, and many good years in his time.  
In many places the Landlord has his Tenant bound to give him and his followers, a liberal Entertainment once a year, especially at Christmas (at which time the People of this Country are generally inclined to Feasting) and the Tenant want fail to have good Victuals and strong Ale (which they call Bummock) in readiness, and will be much offended if the Landlord refuse to make merry with them.  
The People are generally personable, and comely, Polyd. Virgil says of them, Quod statura sunt procera, semper sano corpore, pariter ac ment, quo fit ut multo longissimam degant aetatem, etsi piscibus ut plurimum victitant. The Women are Lovely and of a Beautiful countenance, and very broody and apt for generation; one Marjory Bimbister in the Parish of Evie, was in the year 1683, brought to bed of a Male child in the sixty third year of her age, as may be seen by the following attestation.  
We under subscribers testify and declare that Marjory Bimbister in the Parish of Evie in Orkney, was in September 1683. untimeously delivered of a Male child; though we have also sure account of her age in our Register of Baptism, yet many of the Parish who are of sixty four years, and whose age is certainly known, report that to their knowledge she is as old as they: besides herself remembers, that in the year 1631, (which was a year of Famine in this Country, and from which the common People usually reckon) she was keeping Cattle, being then a Girl, as she thought; about nine or ten Years of Age. In the Year 1660, she was married to Adam Hourie, to whom, about five Years after, viz. Anno 1665, she had a Child, from which time she was Barren till September 1683, when she was delivered of a male Child; at which time, it is probably thought, both by her Neighbours and nearest Relations, that she was at least about Sixty two or Sixty three Years.  
Sic Subscribitur Ja. Grahame, Minister.  Will. Ballenden.  Edward; Sinclair, Clerk.  Will. Halcro.  
By reason of the temperance of their Diet and wholsomness of the Air, the People usually live to a great Age. A Man in the Parish of Ham died not many Years since, who lived upwards of Fourscore Years with one Wife, in a married estate. There is also a Gentleman, yet living in Stronsa, who was Begotten of his Father when he was an hundred Years old, and did live till he saw this same Man's Children.  
Some there be also of an exceeding high Stature, as that young Man, who, for his height, was usually called, The Much Man of Waes', as being a great deal higher than the common sort of Men. At the Chaple of Clet, in Sanda, is a Grave to be seen, wherein, they say, a Giant was buried; and indeed the Stone that is laid upon the Grave is about twelve Foot long; so that, if the Body has been proportionable to the Grave, it has been exceeding Monstrous.  
The more common and general Diseases here are the Scurvy, Agues, Consumptions, etc. Commonly in the Spring they are troubled with an Aguish Distemper which they call the Axes, but for this there are Quacks amongst them that pretend an infallible Cure, by way of Diet-drink, infusing a hotchpotch of several Plants (I suppose what are greenest at that time) in an English Gallon of Ale; the Receipt is this, They take of Buckhorn, Plantain, Water Plantain, Lovage, wild Daisy, Rocket, Roots of Elecampane, Millefoil, Roots of Spignell, Dandelyon, Parsley Roots, Wormwood, Cumfrey, Tansey, Thrift or Sea-Pink; Garden Angelica, and a kind of Masterwort, the Imperatoriae assinis; of all these they take a like quantity, to wit, about half a handful, and of this Infusion they drink half a Pint Morning and Evening. This is what they call the Axes Grass, and the old Women talk wonders of it, pretending there are so many of the Herbs good for the Liver, so many good for the Head, and so many for the Heart, Spleen, etc.  
In Phthisical Distempers they use Arby, the Caryophyllus Marinus, Thrift or much as they call it, boiled with sweet Milk.  
Instead of a Cupping-glass they have a Horn with a small thin Skin at the smaller end. The way how they use it is thus: The Surgeon with the point of his Knife gives three or four small cuts or gashes on the place where he purposes to set the Horn; and having set the broadest end on the Wounds, he sucks the small end a little, and then lets it stand till the abundance of Blood it draws makes it fall off. Some have a way, as they pretend (if they be to Cure any aching or inward Pain) to draw out several little Worms out of the part affected, whereby they remove the Pain. Others there be that use Charms for the curing of the Rickets, etc. but these are much kerbed by their Ministers.  
All speak English, after the Scots way, with as good an Accent as any County in the Kingdom, only some of the common People, amongst themselves, speak a Language they call Norns; which they have derived to them, either from the Pights, or some others, who first planted this Country; for by the following Lord's Prayer, in that Language, it has but little of the Danish or Norwegian Language, to which I thought it should have had more affinity, considering how long time they were possessors of this Country.  
Favor i it i chimrie, Helleur it i nam thite, gilla cosdum thite cumma, veya thine mota vara gort o yurn sinna gort i chimrie, ga vus da on da dalight brow vora; Firgive vus sinna vora sin vee Firgive sindara mutha vus, lyv vus ye i tumtation, min delivera vus from olt ilt, Amen. Or On sa meeteth vera.  
Since Gesner, in his Mithridates, nor Bishop Wilkins, in his Real Character, have nothing like this, I thought this Formula might not be unacceptable.  
Anciently, as they are yet in great measure, they were much given to Superstition, as appears by the many Chapels that are here and there dispersed through the Country; but the Chapels to which most frequently they made their Pilgrimage, were to the Chapels of the Brough of Birsa, and to the Chapel of the Brough at the Mulehead in Deirness; these two Chapels standing at the furthest extremities of the Mainland East and West; nor to this day are these Pilgrimages omitted by the common People, who still, for the obtaining of some good, or deprecating of some evil, do frequent some Chapels they have most veneration for. Besides, they have this general custom; The day that is dedicated to the Memory of the Saint who is Patron of the chief Church, where Sermon is made, is kept Holy by the common People of the whole Parish; so that they will not Work on that day: And those that live next the smaller Chapels do moreover keep holy that Day, that is dedicated to the Memory of that Saint, that Chapel is denominated by.  
Here they make no use of Poaks or Sacks, but a sort of Vessel made of Straw, which they call Cassies, in which they keep and transport their Corn: Nor do they make use of Peck and Firlot, or any other Measure, for their Grain, as they use to do through the rest of the Kingdom, but weigh all, which they have a particular way of doing with Bismires for small Weights; and Poundlers', as they call them, for great Weights. In most it resembles a Stillyard that Money is weighed on. It is a Beam of Timber marked with different weights, which hath a Stone at one end (which Stone on the Malt Poundler should be a setten weight, and on the Bear Poundler sixteen Mark) and a Hook at the other end for hanging up the Cassie in which the Corn or Meal is, and there is a Ring in the middle near the Sheir that has a Pole thrust through it, by which, by the help of a Man at each end all is supported, that the Cassie may swim fair. The least weight is called a Mark, which will be eighteen Ounces, twenty four Marks make a Lecspound or Setten, six Settens make a Meil (equivalent to a Boll) and eighteen Meils make a Cauldron.  
In every Isle they have a Wart-hill, or Wardhill, which is the most conspicuous and elevated part of the Isle, on which, in time of War, they keep Ward; and when they see the Enemy's Ships approaching, they put a Fire, thereby to give notice to the adjacent Isles of the nearness of the Enemy, and to advertise them to be on their Guard, or to come to their help; this they distinguish by the number of Fires.  
Their Corn Land is every where Parked, and without these enclosures their Sheep and Swine, and some of their Cattle go at random, without a Herdsman to keep them. The most ordinary Manor they have for their Land, especially in places near the Sea, is, Seaweed, Sea-ware, as they call it; and in Bays, after Storms, when the Wrack is driven in greater plenty, all the People of the Neighbourhood come and divide the Wrack according to the proportion of Land they have about that place; but methinks 'tis the greatest slavery in the World, for the common People, as they do there in Winter, to carry this Wrack in small Vessels made of Straw or Cassies on their Backs to their Land.  
All their Sheep are marked on the Ears or Nose, every man that hath Sheep hath his own Mark, whereby his Sheep are distinguished from others: And 'tis strange to consider how so madifferent Marks could be invented, as are found cut in so little room. They use to Fleece their Sheep about the beginning of May, and the way they take to apprehend them (for they go wild) is both strange and pleasant. The Bailiff of the Parish, with the Lawrightmen which are the Bailiffs Assessors, and the persons to whom the Sheep belong meet together on a day appointed, having with them Sheep Dogs, trained up for the Hunting of them, and when they would have such a Sheep caught, they point him out by the finger to the Dog, upon which he runs and singles out that Sheep from all the rest, and never leaves of running till he catch him, which being fleeced or shorn by the owner, they then go on and hunt for others.  
They have also a pleasant way of taking the Sea Fowls when they are young as Foists, Liars, Kittiwaeks, Gulls etc. which build very thick on shelves of high Rocks; under the Rock there is a Boat with men having a large Net, which at the two uppermost corners is fastened with two long Ropes, which are in the hands of men at the top of the Rock, who hoist up the Net till it be over against the place where the young Fowl sit, than they that are in the Boat under the Rock, have a Rattle which makes so frighting a noise, that all the young Fowls take wing and fly forward into the bosom of the Net where they are caught: Then the Net is laid down in the Boat and the Prey seized upon, and thus they go from Rock to Rock taking as many as they can.  
Others have this way in taking these Fowls, a Man that is accustomed to the exercise has a Rope well bound about his middle, with which he is let slide down the steep Rock, till he be over against the place where the young Fowls are, of whom he apprehends as many as he is able to carry and then is hoist up with his Prey. They use that way also in taking the young Hawks. There are some Fellows so hardy that go a catching of Sea Fowls without any help, by tying a Rope about his own middle, and tying the other end to a Stake, which he drives well in the Ground, and so lets himself go over the Rock (perhaps some hundred of fathoms) and catches what Fowls he can and then hoises himself up again.  
Several remarkable accidents have fallen out in this Country, besides some already mentioned. I shall instance in three or four only, whereof the witnesses are still alive. About the year 1634, when Bishop Grahame was Bishop of this Country, a young Boy named William Garioch, his Father being dead, had some little Land, and some small portion of Cattle, left him by his Father in the Parish of Ham; his Uncle took him in his Service, and having a greedy desire after the Young man's Possessions, it happened that he stole a Setten of Barley (which will be about Twenty Eight pound weight) from his Uncle: For which he pursued him before the Sheriff of the Bishopric, and the Young man, at that time about Eighteen years of Age, the Theft being proved was Sentenced to be hanged. When he was at the Gallows he prayed that God would inflict some visible Judgement on his Uncle, who because of the greedy desire he had to his little Portion, had for so small a matter procured his Death. It came to pass that his Uncle walking through the Churchyard of Kirkwal, upon the Young man's Grave, the Bishop's Dog seized on him and tore out his Throat, whereby he became a sad monument of God's wrath, against such impious greedy wretches.  
Some years ago, one James Lenay and some others, Fishing in a Boat beside Auskerie, in a fair day it came to pass, that their leaning all on one side of the Boat, that it overturned and all were drowned, except the said Lenay, who by providence got up, and sat on the Keil of the Boat, in which condition he continued for the space of four days, driven by the Tides, sometime this way, and sometime that, sometimes to Westra, and back again to Stronsa, till at last he was seen floating by Spurness in Sanda, where by the careful endeavour of the Gentleman who was owner of the Ground he was delivered.  
There was one John Smith who lived in Stronsa, who, with three others used to fish not far from Land; their way was to rise early and stay many Hours a Fishing. This Man having, by several days Fishing, gotten a great plenty of Fish, his Wife was desirous that he would omit that exercise for a time, and stay at home to take his rest. He was very unwilling to do so, wherefore next Morning she rises before him, and being desirous he might take a longer Sleep, after so many days toil, she stopped the holes and windows of the Room where he lay that he might sleep the more sound, and then she went to the Fields to her work, where, working with her Servants she was surprised with this sad accident. The three men that used to fish with her Husband, because he came not, had taken the Boat themselves and gone a Fishing, and suddenly the Boat overturned (no man knows how) and the men were all drowned. This the Woman and her Servants seeing startled them greatly, but tho' she was grieved for their death, yet she was glad that her Husband (by her Policy) went not to Sea with them, and thereupon runs hastily to the house to acquaint her Husband with that sad accident, and to congratulate with him for his preservation: when opening the door she was surprised with a more sad and astonishing sight, even the Death of her own husband: For he having risen out of his bed, had fallen with his head in a large vessel wherein they used to make Urine, where he was choked and found dead.  
Strange are the effects that are here sometimes produced by Thunder and Lightning, for by it, Anno 1670 the Steeple of the Cathedral Church at Kirkwal was burned, and sometimes it will seize on low Cottages. In the year 1680 the Lightning entered a Gentleman's Cow-stall, where were twelve Cows standing side for side, as they used to be, and killed every other one, that is, it killed the first, and miss the second; it killed the third, and miss the fourth, and so of the rest; so that six were killed and six remained alive and untouched.   

CHAP. V Of the Town of Kirkwall.  
THE only remarkable Town in all this Country is Kirkwall, an ancient Burrough long possessed by the Norwegians, by whom it was called Cracoviaca, built upon a pleasant Oyse or Inlet of the Sea, near the middle of the Mainland; narrow streeted, and about a mile in length, having a very safe Harbour and road for Ships. Here is the Seat of Justice, the Steward, Sheriff, Commissary, all of them keeping their several Courts in this place. Almost all the Houses in this Town are Slaited, but the most remarkable Edifices in it are the Cathedral Church and the Bishop's Palace. As for the King's Castle it is new demolished, but by the Ruins it appears to have been a strong and stately Fort, and probably built by some of the Bishops of Orkney, as would appear from a remarkable Stone set in the midst of the Wall, which looks towards the street, with a Bishop's Mitre and Arms engraven'd on it. There is here a public School for the Teaching of Grammar, endowed with a competent Salary, and at the North end of the Town is a place built by the English in Oliver's time, Ditched about, with a Breast-work, and some other Fortifications, on which they have some Cannon planted for the defence of the Harbour.  
This Town had been erected into a Royal Burrough in the time of the Norwegians, and Anno 1486, King James the Third gave them a Charter, confirming their old Erection and Privileges; specifying their antiquity, and giving them power to hold Burrough Courts, to incarcerate and arrest, to make Laws and Ordinances, and to elect their own Magistrates yearly for the right Government of the Town, and to have a weekly Market on Tuesday and Friday, and three Fairs in the Year, one about Palm-Sunday, the other at Lammas, and the third at Martinmas, each to continue three Days; he moreover disponed over to them some Lands about the Town, with the Customs and shore deuce, and the power of a Pitt and Gallows, and all other privileges granted to any Royal Burrow within the Kingdom, exeeming them from sending any Commissioners to Parliament, unless their own necessities require it. This Charter is dated at Edinburgh the last of March 1486, and in the Year 1536 February the 8th, King James V ratified the former Charter, by a new Charter of Confirmation. And in the Year 1661. King Charles II. after his Restoration ratified the former Charters, at Whitehall May 25th, whereupon the Parliament at Edinburgh, August 22d 1670 confirmed all by their Act, yet with this special provision, That what was granted to them by that Act, might not prejudice the Interest of the Bishop of Orkney.  
This Town is governed by a Provost, Four Bailiffs, and a Common Counsel, as in other Royal Burroughs.   

CHAP. VI Of the ancient State of the Church of Orkney. Of the Cathedral Church at Kirkwall. Bishop Robert Reid 's erection of the Chapter. Bishop Law 's Transaction with King James VI.  
THE Church of this Country, as also that of Zetland, was under the Government of one Bishop, styled Bishop of Orkney and Zetland. The Bishop's Revenue was great before, but at present, it will not amount to much more than Six hundred Pound Sterling; and now the King's Exchequer, considering how much that Country has of late been impoverished, Farm it out for Four hundred Pound Sterling.  
The Cathedral Church is St. Magnus' Church in Kirkwall; it was founded, as is thought, by St. Magnus, or rather by Rolland Earl of Orkney, who founded it in memory of his Cousin St. Magnus, See the double of the Manuscript in the 8th Chapter; but it has been enlarged by some of the Pious Bishops of that See; for Bishop Steward enlarged it to the East, all above the Grease, and Bishop Reid three Pillars to the West. It's as beautiful and stately a Structure as is in the Kingdom, and perhaps by much the longest as it is now; for I have measured it, and, by some Feet, it is longer than that of St. Giles at Edinburgh; it's built cross-ways, for the most part of Freestone, standing on Pillars, all most curiously vaulted, and the Steeple elevated to a great height, in which is a set of as excellent and sweetly chimed Bells, as are in any Cathedral of the Kingdom. In the Year 1670, the Pyramid of the Steeple, being covered with Wo●d, was burned by Thunder; but by the Care of Bishop Mackenzie, and his Liberality, and some other Charitable Persons, it is again Repaired.  
Besides the Cathedral, there are one and thirty Churches more in this Country, wherein Divine Service is celebrated, as also a great many ancient Chapels, above an hundred in number, which shows that this Country was no less anciently than it is at present addicted to Devotion.  
This Diocese had its several ancient Dignities and Privileges for a long time; but these, by the constant trouble this Country was in by the change of Masters, being lessened and grown worse, Bishop Robert Reid made a new Erection and Foundation of the Chapter, viz. Seven Dignities, whereof the first was a Provost or Dean, to whom, under the Bishop, the Correction and oversight of the Canons, Prebendaries and Chaplains was to belong. He had allotted to him the Prebend of Holy Trinity, and Vicarage of South-Ronalsha, with the Maintenance of the Church of Burza. 2. An Archdeacon, who was to Govern the People according to the disposition of the Canon-law, and to him was allotted the Archdeacon's ancient Rights, the Vicarage of Birsa and Chaplainry of St. Ola, within the Cathedral Church of Kirkwall, together with the Maintenance of the Church of Hara. 3. A Precentor who was to rule the Singers in the Choir, in the elevation or depression of their Songs; and to him was allotted the Prebend of Orphir and Vicarage of Stennis. 4. A Chancellor, who was to be learned in both Laws, and bound to read in the Pontifical Law publicly in the Chapter to all that aught to be present, and to look to the preserving and mending the Books of the Choir and Register, and to keep the common Seal and Key of the Library; to him was allotted the Prebend of St. Mary in Sanda, and Vicarage of Sanda. 5. A Treasurer, who was to keep the Treasure of the Church and Sacred Vestments, and to have a care of the Bread, Wine, Wax, Oyland Lights, for the Church; to him was allotted the Rectory of St. Nicholas in Stronsa, and Vicarage of Stronsa. 6. A Subdean, who was to supply the place of the Provost, in his absence; to him was allotted the Personage of Hoy, and Vicarage of Waes'. 7. A Subchantor, who was bound to Play on the Organs each Lord's Day and Festivals, and to supply the place of the Chantor, in his absence; to him was allotted the Prebend of St. Colm.  
Likewise he erected Seven other Canons and Prebendaries, to wit, 1. The Prebendary of Holy-cross; to him was given the Personage of Crosskirk in Sanda; he was to be a special keeper of Holy things under the Treasurer, and was to take care of the Clock and Ringing of the Bells at Hours appointed, and to take care that the Floor of the Church was cleanly swept. 2. The Prebendary of St. Marry; to whom was given the Chaplainry of St. Mary and Vicarage of Evie; he was to have a care of the Roof and Windows of the Cathedral, and to have them helped if need were. 3. The Prebendary of St. Magnus, to whom was allotted the Prebend of St. Magnus; he was to be Confessor of the Households of the Bishop, Provost, Canons and Chaplains, and their Servants in the time of Easter, and to administer the Eucharist to them. The 4th. Prebendary was to have the Chaplainry of St. John the Evangelist, in the said Cathedral Church. The 5th. Prebendary was to have the Chaplainry of St. Laurence. The 6th. was to have the Prebend of St. Katherine. And the 7th. Prebendary was to have the Prebend of St. Duthas. To which seven Dignities and seven Prebendaries, he moreover assigned and allotted (besides the former Churches and Titles) the Rents and Revenues of the Personages of St. Colm in Waes', and Holy-cross in Westra; as also the Vicarages of the Parish Churches of Sandwick and Stromnes, with their pertinents for their daily Distributions.  
Besides these, he erected thirteen Chaplains; to the first was allotted the Chaplainry of St. Peter, and he was to be Master of the Grammar School: To the second was allotted the Chaplainry of St. Augustin, and he was to be Master of the Singing-School: The third was to be Stellarius or the Bishop's Choirister. The fourth the Provost Choirister. The fifth the Archdeacon's. The sixth the Precentors. The seventh the Chancellors. The eighth the Treasurers. The ninth the Subdeans. The tenth the Prebendaries of Holy-cross. The eleventh the Prebendaries of St. Mary. The twelfth the Prebendaries of St. Katherine. The thirteenth the Chaplains of Holy-cross. Every one of these Choiristers were to have twenty four Meils of Corn, and ten Marks of Money for their Stipend yearly, besides their daily distributions; which were to be raised from the Rents of the Vicarage of the Cathedral Church, and from the foundation of Thomas Bishop of Orkney, and of the twelve Pounds left by King James III. and King James IV. Kings of Scotland. To these he added a Sacrist, who was to ring the Bells, and light the Lamps, and carry in Water and Fire to the Church, and to go before the Processions with a white Rod, after the manner of a Beadle; and for this he was to have the accustomed Revenue, together with forty Shillings from the Bishop yearly.  
He moreover ordained six Boys, who were to be Taper-bearers, and to sing the Responsories and Verses in the Choir, as they were to be ordered by the Chanter. Of which six Boys, one was to be nominate and maintained by the Bishop; the second by the Prebendary of St. Magnus; the third by the Prebendary of St. John; the fourth by the Prebendary of St. Laurence; the fifth by the Prebendary of St. Katherine; the sixth by the Prebendary of St. Duthas: And every one of them was to have, besides their Maintenance, twenty Shillings Scots a Year. To every one of the foresaid Dignities, Canons, and Prebendaries, he assigned certain Lands in Kirkwal for their Dwelling Houses.  
The Charter of this erection is dated at Kirkwal, October 28. Anno 1544; and in the following Year it was confirmed by another Charter granted by David Beaton Cardinal of St. Stephen in Mount Celio, and Archbishop of St. Andrews, having Authority so to do. It is dated at Stirling, the last of June, and eleventh Year of Pope Paul the Third; and confirmed by Queen Mary, at Edinburgh, the last of April, Anno Regni 13.  
In this condition the Church stood as long as Popery continued, but the Reformation coming in, and Robert Steward, Earl of Orkney, having obtained the Bishopric from Bishop Bothwell, in exchange for the Abbacy of Holyrood-house, he became Lord of the whole Country, and he and his Son Earl Patrick, who succeeded him, did in the Church what they pleased.  
At last James Law being made Bishop of Orkney, and the Earldom being united to the Crown (by the death and forefaulture of the foresaid Patrick, Earl of Orkney, as we shall have occasion to speak more of in the 8th Chapter) he, with the consent of his Chapter, made a Contract with King James VI In which they resign to the King, and his Successors, all their Ecclesiastical Lands and Possessions, with all Rights and Securities belonging thereto, to be incorporated and united to the Crown, especially by such as should be thought necessary to be united to it; and the King gives back and dispones to the Bishop several Lands in the Parishes of Ham, Orphir, Stromnes, Sandwick, Shapinsha, Waes', Hoy, St. Ola, and of Evie, Burra, and Flotta, to be a Patrimony to the Bishop and his Successors for ever; disponing moreover to him and his Successors the Right of Patronage, to present to all the Vicarages of Orkney and Zetland, with power to them to present qualified Ministers as oft as any Church should vake. Disponing also to them the heretable and perpetual Right and Jurisdiction of Sheriffship and Bailiffry within the Bishopric and Patrimony thereof, exeeming the Inhabitants and Vassals of the Bishopric, in all Causes, Civil and Criminal, from the Jurisdiction of the Sheriff or Steward of the Earldom. As also he gave to the Bishop and his Successors the Commissariot of Orkney and Zetland, with power to constitute and ordain Commissars or Chancellors, Clerks, and other Members of Court. This contract was made Anno 1614; and in the Year following, by an act of Platt, dated at Edinburgh the 22d of November, the several Dignities and Ministers both in the Bishopric and Earldom, were provided to particular Maintenances (besides what they were in possession of before) payable by the King and Bishop to the Ministers in their severl bounds respective. And as it was agreed by that Contract, and determined by that Act of Platt, so are they provided for at this present.   

CHAP. VII. Of the Plantation of the Christian Faith in Orkney; and of the Bishops thereof.  
NIcephorus writing that Simon Zelotes, after he had preached the Gospel in several other Kingdoms, came at last ad occidentalem oceanum insulasque Britannicas (by which Orkney must be especially understood) and there Preached the Gospel. Whatever truth may be in that, yet it is certain, That the Christian Faith was greatly promoted in this Country about the beginning of the Fifth Century (Eugenius II. being then King of Scotland) at which time Palladius being sent by Pope Celestin to Purge that Kingdom of the Heresy of Pelagius that had infected it. He Instituted,  
1. Servanus (called St. Serf in the Calendar) Bishop of Orkney, that he might instruct the Inhabitants of these Isles in the Faith of Christ, which Polyd. Virgil says he did very carefully. He was a Man of Eminent Devotion and Piety, and Master of the famous Kentigern, whom he used to call Mongah (which, in the Nourish Tongue, signifieth, Dear Friend) which afterwards became the Name by which he was usually called. From him there has been a continual Succession of Bishops in this Country; but by reason of the many alterations that fell out in it, and the loss of ancient Records, his Successors for many years are not known, yet in History we read of these that follow.  
2. William Bishop of Orkney, who lived in the time of King Robert the Third.  
3. Thomas who lived in the time of King James the First.  
4. William Tulloch, who was Bishop of this Country in the time of King James the Third; of him we read, that Anno 1468, he was sent, with several other Noble Persons, to Christiern King of Denmark and Norway, to seek his Daughter, the Lady Margaret, in Marriage to the said King James. About July they came to Hafnen in Denmark, where King Christiern then remained, and were of him joyfully received and well heard concerning their Suit; insomuch, that, by advice of his Council, he agreed that the Lady Margaret should be given in Marriage to King James, and that the Isles of Orkney and Zetland should remain in the Possession of him and his Successors, Kings of Scotland, till either the said King Christiern or his Successors in Name of Dowry should pay to King James, or his Successors, the Sum of Fifty thousand Florins of the Rhine. Upon this the Bishop and the other Ambassadors return with the espoused Lady to Scotland in November, and in the Abbey Church at Holyrood-house, She was Married and Crowned Queen. Afterwards she was brought to Bed of a Son, called James (who afterwards succeeded to the Crown) whereupon Christiern, to congratulate the happy Birth of this young Prince, his Grandchild, renounced, by a Charter under his Great Seal, all the Right, Title and Claim, which he or the Kings of Denmark might have to the Isles of Orkney and Zetland. This Bishop was translated from this to the Bishopric of Murray, and continued five Years Bishop of that See, and there dying was buried in St. Mary's Isle in the Canonry Church of Elgin.  
5. To him succeeded Andrew Bishop of Orkney, who also lived in the Reign of King James the Third, and was Bishop at that time when the Town of Kirkwall got their erection into a Royal Burrough, confirmed by the said King Anno 1486.  
6. After him succeeded Edward Steward, Bishop of Orkney, who lived in the Reign of King James the Fourth; of him Boethius gives a noble Testimony. He enlarged the Cathedral Church to the East all above the Grease.  
7. To him succeeded Thomas Bishop of Orkney, who Endowed something for the maintenance of the Choiristers of the Cathedral.  
8. After him was Robert Maxwell Bishop of Orkney; he caused to be built the Stalls that are in the Cathedral; and it was he that caused found and made those excellent Bells that are in the Steeple of the Cathedral, which, at his own expenses were founded in the Castle of Edinburgh, in the Year 1528, in the Reign of King James the Fifth, as their inscription bears. The next Year Anno 1629, May 18. The Earl of Cathnes and the Lord Sinclar came with a great Army by Sea into Orkney to have taken possession of it, as of a Country to which they pretended some Right, but the People of the Country, under the command of Sir James Sinclar (natural Son to Robert Sinclar, the last Earl of Orkney of that Surname) encounted the Earl with such courage at a place called Summersdale, that his Army was wholly discomfited; the Earl himself, with 500 of his Men, being killed, and the Lord Sinclar, with all the rest, taken Prisoner's. It is said of this Sir James Sinclar, that presuming on his merits and the good service he had done the King, by that engagement, begged of King James the Fifth, then Reigning, the Isles of Sanda and Eda, which he represented to him then as small Islands, or Holms, only sit for Pasture, and upon his Request obtained them; which, I conceive, may be the reason why Buchanan does not reckon any of these, either Sanda or Eda, amongst the Isles of Orkney, by being deceived with that opinion, that they were but Holms, whereas they are amongst the most considerable Islands in this Country; but the King being afterward better informed, and that he had been imposed on by Sir James, threatened that his Head should pay for it when he came to Orkney; for fear of which, when he heard of the King's Arrival, he cast himself in the Sea, in a place called the Gloup of Linksness, and was drowned. The King coming in Person to this Country to settle the Troubles and Commotions that were in it, was nobly entertained by the Bishop all the time of his stay, and having put a Guard in the King's and Bishop's Castles (having first visited some of the Western Isles) he returned to Edinburgh, taking with him some of the Factious Gentry. At this time also the Town of Kirkwall gave such demonstrations of their Affection and Loyalty to their King, that sometime after he ratified their Erection into a Royal Burrough by a new Charter of confirmation Anno 1536  
9 To him succeeded Robert Reid Bishop of Orkney, a very deserving, Man, of an excellent Wit and great Experience. He caused to be built a stately Tower to the North end of the Bishop's Palace, where his Statue in a stone is as yet remaining set in the Wall. He greatly enlarged the Cathedral Church, adding three Pillars to the former Fabric, and decoring the entry with a magnificent Porch. He moreover built St. Olaus' Church in Kirkwal, and a large Court of Houses to be a College for the instructing the Youth of this Country in Grammar and Philosophy. He made a new foundation of the Chapter, enlarging the number of Canons, Prebendaries, and other Officers, and settling large and ample Provisions on them, as is set down in the former Chapter. In a Book Dedicated to him by Adam Senior, a Monk of the Cisteroian Order, I find that he had a right to the Monastries of Beaulie and Kinloss; but whether he had these as Bishop of Orkney, or only in commendam, I cannot determine.  
He was in great credit with his Prince King James the Fifth, who consulted him in all his weighty Affairs. In his time he performed many Honourable Embassages to the Credit and Benefit of his Country. Amongst the rest he was one of those that accompanied the young Queen Mary when she was sent into France to be Married to the Dolphin (afterwards Francis the second King of France) tho' both in his going and coming he had bad Fortune; for in his going the Ship he was in Perished on the Coast of France, near to Boulogne, the Bishop and the Earl of Rothes that was with him hardly escaping by the Ship's Boat: And in his return from the Court of France he died at Diep, the 14th of September 1558; of whom Ant. Bardol gives us this Epigram.  

Quid tentem angusto perstringere carmine laudes  
Quas nulla eloquii vis celebrare queat?  
Clarus es eloquio; Coelo, dignissime praesul,  
Antiqua generis nobilitate viges,  
Commissumque gregem pascis relevasque jacentem,   

Exemplo ducens ad melioratuo;  
Ac, velut exoriens terris sol discutit umbras,  
Illustras radiis pectora caeca tuis:  
Hortaris tardos, objurgas, corripis omnes  
In mala praecipites, quo vetus error agit:   

Pauperibus tua tecta patent, tua prompta voluntas  
Atque bonis semper dextera larga tua est:  
Nemo lupos melius sacris ab ovilibus arcet,  
Ni Christi lanient diripiantque gregem.   
10. The Reformation being set afoot about this time, there succeeded to him Adam Bothwel Bishop of Orkney, the first Reformed Bishop of this Country, and who continued long in his Bishopric notwithstanding of the prejudice that the Church had then to that Order.  
This Bishop was a Man of great employment and action; it was he that Married the Earl of Bothwel, then made Duke of Orkney, with the Queen in the Palace of Holyrood-House. To him Queen Mary, when she had resigned the Crown, gave a Procuration for the inaugurating the Prince her Son; who accordingly, on the 29th of July 1567., Crowned and Anointed him in the Church of Sterling: And in the Year following, when the Earl of Murray Regent, was to go to England, about the debate betwixt the King and his Mother (who was detained Prisoner there.) This Bishop was one of those, who, by the Estates of the Kingdom, were Commissioned to attend the Regent, and assist him in that debate. And afterwards, at the desire of Queen Elizabeth, Anno 1571, he, with others were sent into England, for the composing of some differences between the Kingdoms.  
He made an exchange of the Bishopric of Orkney, with Robert Steward, natural Son to King James the Fifth, then Earl of Orkney, for the Abbacy of Holyrood-House, whereby it came to pass, that the Bishop's Son afterwards was made Lord Holyrood-House, Robert Steward being Earl of Orkney, and also obtaining the Bishopric of Orkney, as is said, by the exchange of the Abbacy of Holyrood-House which he before possessed, he and his Son Earl Patrick who succeeded him, uplifted the Rents of the Bishopric as their own Hereditary Patrimony. The Church of Orkney in the mean time (according to the custom then received in Scotland) being governed by a Superintendant, with Episcopal Power to direct all Church Censures, and Ordain Ministers.  
11. This Superintendant was Mr. James Annan, at that time Minister of the Churches of Sanda and Westra.  
But Anno 1606, King James the Sixth, by consent of his Parliament and assembly of the Church, having restored the Estates of Bishops in Scotland.  
12. James Law was made Bishop of Orkney, and tho' for some time he was deprived of the Temporalities of his Bishopric, by the Oppression of Patreek Earl of Orkney, yet after his death he enjoyed them peaceably. Considering, the many and great Quarrels and Mischiefs that had always been between the former Earls and Bishops of Orkney, and their several Vassals, because their Lands did lie mixed through other; therefore he made that Transaction and Contract with King James the Sixth, of which, in the last Chapter, you have had an Account; whereby the Bishopric is separated from the Earldom, and the Bishop is made sole Judge within his own bounds. He was a Person who King James did much respect, and often employ in several important Matters. After his Election to the Bishopric, he was, with some other Prelates, sent for by the King to Court, to advise with them about settling the State of the Church in Scotland. And the next Year we find him presiding in the Convocation or Assembly at Linlithgow. He had a chief hand in the Trial of those Oppressions and Treasonable Acts, for which Patrick Earl of Orkney was Executed. After he had sat Bishop nine Years, he was translated from this See to the Archbishopric of Glasgow.  
13. To him succeeded George Graham Bishop of Dumblane, who sat Bishop of Orkney twenty three Years; but in the Year 1638, at the Assembly at Glasgow, he resigned his Bishopric.  
14. After Bishop Graham had been divested of the Bishopric, King Charles the First did promote Robert Baron, Doctor and Professor of Divinity in the Marishal College of Aberdeen to the Bishopric of this Country; but he being forced to fly to Berwick, he there died before his Consecration. In the Interval of Presbytery the Rents of the Bishopric were granted to the City of Edinburgh till the Year 1662.  
15. In which Year Episcopacy being again restored Thomas St. Serf (who seems to have his name from Servanus, the first Bishop of Orkney, commonly called St. Serf) formerly Bishop of Galloway, and the only old Bishop who was then alive, was made Bishop of Orkney; he lived two years after his Instalment, and died at Edinburgh.  
16. To him, Anno 1664, succeeded Andrew Hony-man, Archdeacon of St. Andrews, a Godly and Learned Prelate, the Author of The Seasonable Case and Survey of Napthalie; he repaired the Church of Sandwick, and did many other works of Charity. Anno 1669, being at Edinburgh, and going into the Archbishop of St. Andrew's Coach with him, he was shot through the Arm with a poisoned Ball, which by the fanatics was designed for the Archbishop; this so weakened him that he lived not many years after, for he died in February 1676, in great peace, and with great resignation, contrary to what is asserted in a late scandalous Pamphlet, as is ready to be attested, if need were, by several Gentlemen of untainted Reputation, Witnesses when he died.  
17. To him succeeded Murdoch Mackenzie, Bishop of Murray, translated from that See to this, Anno 1677, a most worthy Bishop, and greatly beloved of all for his Hospitality, Peaceableness, Piety, and prudent Government; he did on his own Charges repair the Lady Church in Shapinsha. He lived to a good Age, being near an hundred Years, and yet great was his vigour of Body and Vivacity of Judgement, even to his Death; but to the regret of all that knew him, and the loss of the whole Country. He died February 1688.  
18. To him Anno 1688, succeeded Andrew Bruce, formerly Bishop of Dunkeld. He died last March.   

CHAP. VIII.  
The History of the first Plantation of the Isles of Orkney; and of the ancient and present Possessors of them. The Pights or Picts the first Possessors. Of Belus and Ganus Kings of Orkney. When it came to the Possession of the Kings of Scotland. When the Norwegians got footing, and when they were expelled. An Account of the Earls of Orkney. Of the Surname of Sinclar. A double of an ancient Manuscript relating to the Affairs of Orkney; wherein there is an Account of the first Possessors of that Country, different from the former, and a full Account of the Earls of Orkney till that time. Of Bothwell Duke of Orkney. Of the Earls of the Surname of Steward and Douglass. When this Country was again re-annexed to the Crown. Of the Stewardry. The several ways how Orkney hath been a Honorary Title. Of the Lawrightmen and their Office.  
THE first Planters and Possessors of this Country were the Pights, as the generality of our Historians do affirm, who call Orkney, Antiquum Pictorum regnum. There are yet in this Country several strange Antique Houses, many of which are now overgrown with Earth, which are still by the Inhabitants called Pights Houses; and the Firth that runs betwixt this Country and Cathnes, is still from them called Pightland-Firth, i. e. the Firth that runs by the Land of the Pights. Tho' Buchanan, to establish his opinion, would rather have it called, Fretum Penthlandicum, from Penthus, a Man of his making.  
These Verses of the Poet Claudian.  
— Maduerunt Saxone fuso  
Orcades; incaluit pictorum Sanguine Thule,  
do evidently prove that the Pights, or some other Colony of the Germane Nation, particularly the Saxons, at that time were the Possessors and Inhabitants of these Northern Isles: And to this Day many of the Inhabitants use the Norns, which has yet the greatest affinity with the old Gothick Language, not much differing from the Teutonick, which is supposed to be the Language the Pights used. Besides the Surnames of the ancient Inhabitants of this Country are of a Germane Original, as the Seaters are so called from Seater, one of the old Germane Idols, which they worshipped for Saturn; the Taits from Twitsh, i. e. the Dutch who got that name from Twisio, the Son of No and Tythea, the famous Progenitors of the Germans; the Keldas, from the ancient Culdees or Kelders, who (as Spotswood thinks) were the ancient Priests or Ministers of the Christian Religion amongst the Pights, so called because they lived in Cells; the Backies from some small running Water, which, in the ancient Teutonick, is called Backie: So the names that end in stane, which are very frequent in this Country, as Hourstane, Corstane, Yorstane, Beistane, etc. which is a Pictish or Teutonick termination of Surname, signifying the superlative degree of comparison; and many more reasons might be added, if it were needful, to show that the Pictish Blood is, as yet, in this Country, and that that People were the first Possessors of it.  
These Pights, as is generally acknowledged, were of a Germane descent, coming, at first, from that part of Germany that borders on the Baltic Sea, where, at present,, are the Dukedoms of Meckleburgh and Pomerania. They were so called because they were notable Warriors and Fighters; their true Name (as Verstegan says) being Phightian; that is, Phighters or Fighters. They were by the Romans called Picts, tho' some of them called them Pictavi, and might have been so called of them, either from some resemblance of that name of Phightian that they took to themselves, or from their singular Beauty and comely Form, as if they had been a painted People; and so Boethius, in his character of them, puts both these properties together, saying of them, Quod erant corporibus robustissimis candidisque;. The like saith Verstegan of them, That they were tall and strong of Body, and of a very fair Complexion; and so it is to this day; there being no People in Scotland that more resemble the Pights in these qualities, than the generality of the Orkney Men and Women do, being generally strongly built, and very beautiful and lovely. Or the Romans might have called them Picts, because, being a People much delighting in Wars, they had their Shields painted with divers colours, for Alex. ab Alex. Lib. 2. gen. dierum Cap. 22. observes, That it was the way of the Germane Nation so to do, saying, Germani scuta lectissimis coloribus distinxere: Though I think it more probable they were called so, because to make themselves more terrible to their Enemies, they used to paint their Bodies with the Images of different Beasts, or imprint them on their Flesh with some Iron Instruments, which has given occasion to Claudian to say of them.  
— Ferroque not at as  
Perlegit exanimes Picto moriente Figuras.  
But at what time these Pights first planted these Isles is somewhat controverted by our Historians. Some say that in the Year of the World 4867, the Pights having left their native Country, to seek out some new Habitation to themselves, came first to Orkney, where they left a Colony to plant the Country, and then with their main body Ferrying over Pightland-Firth, and passing through Cathnes, Ross, Murray, Marr and Angus, at last settled themselves in Fife and Lothian, which, from them, by our Writers, is called Pictlandia. Others think that the Pights did not settle here till the time of Reuther King of Scots; at which time the Scots by an intestine division warring upon one another, each party being assisted by considerable numbers of the Pights; they fought so desperately, that besides Gethus King of the Pights, the greatest number of both the Scots and Pictish Nobility were killed, together with many thousands of the Commons of both Nations; which great slaughter, with the Invasion of the Britain's at that time, constrained the Pights (who perceived themselves unable to resist them) to fly to the more Northern parts of the Kingdom, and so to Orkney, where they abode for a time, and made Gothus, the Brother of the foresaid Gethus, their King; and after some years having left some few of their number to People and Plant this Country, they returned to Lothian, and having expelled the Britain's, settled themselves again in their ancient Possessions.  
This Country being thus planted, the People grew and multiplied, and, for a long time, were governed by Kings of their own, after the manner of the Pights and other Nations. There is still a place in this Country, that by reason of its name and antique Form would seem to be the residence of some of these Kings; it is called Coninsgar, or the King's House; 'tis in the Parish of Sandwick in the Mainland; but the memory and actions of these Kings are, by the injury of Time and carelessness of our Writers, buried in silence; so that only we find mention made of these two, Belus King of Orkney; Holinshed calls him Bladus, and Boethius Balus; but it is more probable he was called Belus; for there is at this time still remaining a Stone in the Church of Birsa (where probably the King had his principal residence, as to this day one of the Earls chiefest Palaces is remaining) having this name Belus engraven on it in very odd ancient characters, which has probably been taken from some ancient Buildings thereabouts. This Prince, upon what provocation is not recorded, levied an Army, and crossing Pightland-Firth, Invaded Cathnes and Ross, making Prey of all he met with; but Ewen the second being at that time King of Scotland, hearing of this Invasion, came with his Army so unexpectedly upon him, and assaulted him so vigorously, that he put his Soldiers to flight, a great many escaping by Boat, but Belus himself was put to that straight that he slew himself, lest he should fall into his Enemy's hands.  
After him we read of another King of Orkney, called Ganus, in the time of Caratacus King of Scots; and of him it is reported, by Boethius, that he, with his Wife and Children, were carried Captives to Rome by Claudius Caesar when he went from Britain; and Hermannus Shedel in his general History of the several Ages of the world, speaking of the Emperor Claudius, says, Quod insulas Orchades Romano adjecit imperio; sexto quo profectus erat mense Romam rediit & triumphavit maximo apparatu. This Juvenal takes notice of when he says in his second satire,  
Littora Juvernae promovimus, & modo (captas  
Orcadas, & minima contentos nocte Britannos.  
A little after this the Romans had not such cause to triumph over Orkney; for when Agricola was their General in Britain Anno Christi 87, as Henry Isaacson computes it in his Chronological Tables; he sent a Navy to sail about Britain, to discover the largeness of it, and whether it was an Island or not; and after they had coasted many days towards the North, they came at last in sight of Orkney (which Tacitus, for want of better information, imagines to be unknown before that time) but fearing to pass through Pightland-Firth for fear of Shallows, they seized some of the Country People that lived in the next Islands, constraining them to go aboard and pilot them through the Firth; but they suspecting that the Romans had a hostile design on their Country, not caring for their own Lives, they entered the Straight at such an inconvenient time, that the Ships were born with the violence of the stream against Rocks and Shelves in such a manner, that they were all almost torn, broke and lost without recovery, only some few of the Navy that were not so hasty to follow, perceiving the sad loss of their fellows, returned by the same way they came and reported these lamentable Tidings to Agricola: And indeed there is a place in Shapinsha, over against which are impetuous Tides and dangerous Shallows at this day, called Agricola; but whether it got that name from this accident I am not able to determine.  
But yet it seems that Orkney was a considerable thing in the Eyes of the Romans: For Polyd. Virgil. lib. 3. Ang. Historiae, speaking of the division of the Empire among the Sons of Constantine the Great, reckons Orkney amongst the famous Kingdoms that fell to the share of his Son Constantine; says he, Huic sorte evenit Britannia cum Gallia, Hispania & Orchadibus.  
This Country it's like continued thus under the Government of their own Princes, till the fatal Ruin and Subversion of the Pictish Kingdom in Scotland, in the Year 839; at which time Keneth the second, that Martial King of Scots having in many Battles overthrown the Picts, at last expelled them out of all Scotland, seizing on Fife and Lothian, and the other large Territories that they had therein; he pursued them to Orkney, vanquishing these Isles and adding them to his other Dominions.  
Orkney being thus annexed to the Crown of Scotland, it continued many years under the Government of the Scottish Kings and their Lieutenants, till about the Year 1099, at which time Donald Bain, Lord of the Isles, having usurped the Crown, and caused himself to be proclaimed King of Scotland; and being thereupon hardly put to it by the injured Heir and discontented Nobility, that he might not lose what he had unjustly usurped, he invited Magnus' King of Norway to come to his assistance, with an offer of the Isles for his pains; who coming with his Navy Invaded Orkney and the Western Isles, putting Garrisons in all convenient places.  
By this means the Norwegians got possession of this Country, who held it for the space of 164 years, when they came to lose all again upon this occasion: Anno 1263, Alexander the Third being then King of Scotland, Atho (by some called Hagin) King of Norway, hoping from the divisions that were then in the Kingdom, and the Famine that was then sore pressing the Land, to make some further conquest in Scotland, he comes with a great Navy and Army of Danes and Norwegians to the West Isles, and conquers Arran and Bute (which were the only Isles at that time under the dominion of the Scots) and from this success hoping for greater matters, he lands on the Continent and takes in the Town and Castle of Air. But King Alexander having assembled a great Army, assaults him in Battle at Largesse, kills his Nephew, a Man of great Renown, and after a great Slaughter of his Soldiers (to the number of twenty four thousand) puts the remainder to flight. Immediately upon this defeat King Acho hears of another sad loss; namely, That his Fleet by a Storm were all cast away and broken against the Rocks, except four in which he presently embarked and fled away to Orkney; being come thither, he sent to Norway and Denmark for a new Army and Fleet, with an intention again to Invade Scotland the next Summer; but he died the beginning of the following Year, January 22, Anno 1264, and was buried in that place where the Cathedral now stands, under a Marble Stone which is seen to this day, and goes under the name of his Monument.  
After his death King Alexander Invaded the Isle of Man, and the Western Isles, which, after some opposition, he recovered, and intending to make the like attempt for the recovery of Orkney and Zetland; there came Ambassadors to him from Magnus' King of Norway and Denmark, who succeeded Acho in these Kingdoms; after several Treaties it was at last condescended upon that King Alexander should pay to the King of Norway the Sum of 4000 Marks Sterling, with the Sum of 100 Marks by year; and that for this Magnus' King of Norway should quit all Right that he might pretend to the Isles of Orkney and Zetland, and the other Isles of Scotland, which accordingly he did, by Letters under his Great Seal, renouncing and giving over all Right and Claim that he had or might have both for him and his Successors to these and all the other Isles of Scotland; and, for the better confirmation hereof, a Marriage was agreed upon betwixt the Lady Margaret, Daughter to Alexander and Hangonanus (or Haningo or Aquin as others call him) Son to King Magnus, both Children, to be completed when they came to a Marriageable Estate.  
Orkney being in this manner recovered from the hands of the Danes and Norwegians, it continued ever after annexed to the Crown of Scotland; King Alexander giving the property of it to a Nobleman surnamed Speire, Earl of Cathnes, whose Son Magnus Speire Earl of Cathnes, Orkney and Zetland, was in great repute in the days of King Robert Bruce.  
But he dying without Heirs Male, his Daughter Elizabeth Speire succeeded him in the Estate, and was Married to Sir William Sinclar, who accompanied Sir James Douglass when he went to accompany the Bruces Heart to Jerusalem. He was great Grandchild to Willielmus de Sancto claro, second Son to Valdosius' Earl of Saint Claire in France. This Sir William Sinclar, by his Wife Elizabeth Speire, had a Son called William also, who was made Earl of Orkney and Zetland by King David Bruce. He was first Married to Florentina, Daughter to the King of Denmark, and after her death was Married to Jane Halyburton, Daughter to Walter Lord Dirleton.  
To him succeeded Henry Sinclar, usually called Prince of Orkney; he was also made Duke of Oldenburgh by Christiern the first King of Denmark. He Married Geils or Egidia Dowglass Daughter to William Dowglass Lord of Niddisdale, and of Geils Stewart Daughter to King Robert the Second. So much was he favoured by King Robert the Third, that when he was to send his Son Prince James (afterward King James the First) to France, he appointed this Henry, Prince of Orkney, to be his Governor, who taking Ship with him at the Bass, came as far as Flamburgh-head, but by reason of the Sickness and Indisposition of the young Prince, they were necessitated to land, and so were both detained Prisoners by the English. He had a Daughter called Beatrix Sinclar, who was Married to James the gross Earl of Douglass: And in the Inscription that is on her Tomb at Douglass, her Father, the Earl of Orkney, is styled Lord of the Isles, and Lord Sinclar.  
To him succeeded his Son William Sinclar, Earl of Orkney and Zetland; he Married Elizabeth Douglass, Daughter to Archibald Earl of Douglass, surnamed Fineman, by whom he had a Daughter that afterwards was Married to Alexander Duke of Albany, second Son to King James the Second. In the Douglass History we find a Note of this Earl's Titles, viz. Prince of Orkney, Duke of Oldenburgh, Earl of Cathnes, Lord Sinclar, Lord of Niddisdale, with the Valleys of Neth, Sheris of Dumfreis, great Admiral of Scotland, Warden of the Marches, great Justice General, Baron of Erkefoord, Caverton, Cousland, Rosline, Pentland, Harbartshire, Dysart, and Newburgh in Buchan. He was questionless a Man of great power and eminence, and very intimate with King James the Second, whom he followed and assisted in all his difficulties, and by him was made Lord Chancellor of the Kingdom and Lieutenant after that Office was taken from the Earl of Douglass. And from that same King he got a confirmation of the Earldom of Cathnes united into a Baronry with his Lands of Orkney, in compensation of his claim to the Lordship of Niddisdale, and of other Offices and Pensions that he pretended to as being Son to Geils Douglass Daughter to William Douglass Lord of Niddisdale, and of Geils Stewart Daughter to King Robert the Second, by his Wife Elizabeth Muir. This confirmation is dated April 29, Anno 1436.  
The following Paper I transcribed from an ancient Manuscript, now in the hands of the Reverend Mr. Robert Norry Minister of Dundee. By the Characters and way of Writing it seemed to be of the Age it relates to, viz. 1403, tho' in some things it differs from the Account you have had before; yet because this may be more likely, and that it gives a better Account of the Earls of this Country, I thought it might not be unacceptable to the curious.  
Quoniam inter ceteras hujus fluctuantis seculi curas & solicitudines, pensata temporum, morum ac hominum in hac lacrimarum valle, labilitate & brevitate, testante venerabili illo Cronographo Martino, Domini nostri pape Penetentiario & Capellano, necesse videtur de congruo extrahere progenitorum, regum, principum & aliorum preclarorum genelogias per quas mundus iste transitorius regitur, Reges regnant & principes gubernant signantque in deduccionem & agniccionem veritatis, quo ad eorundem successionem veresimiliter evenire speratur. Illustri ergo & excellentissimo Domino nostro, principi supremo, Norwegie regi, suisque successoribus, satrapis, patriciis, consulibus & proceribus dicti regni, Thomas Dei & Apostolice sedis gracia Episcopus Orcadie & Zetlandie, Canonici Ecclesie Cathedralis sancti magni Martyris gloriosissimi, legifer, ceterique proceres, nobiles populus ac communitas ejusdem, gracia, pax, caritas, gaudium lonagnimitas, misericordia a Deo Patre omnipotent & a Jesus Christo in spiritu sancto. In omnibus vobis per quem reges regnant & in cujus manu corda sunt regum cum omni subjectione, humilitate & obediencia prompti & parati vestram in Jesus Christi visceribus zelantes & ficientes salutem in caritate non ficta. Requirentes ut in dicendis in nostra simplicitate vestra suppleat regia sublimitas, & quia scimus firmiter & longi temporis spacio, efficax rerum magistra, nos experientia docuit, quod in dubium non revocamus qualiter erga Comites Orcadie regalis ipsa sublimitas, zelum semper exuberantem exercuit, Quamobrem firmam spem gerimus, plenamque fiduciam obtinemus quod illa regia majestas verba nostra benegne recipiat, diligenter intelligat & effective prosequatur, ut infra pectoris claustrum solicite considerare convenit ipsa regia sinceritas & diligenter attendere, quod adulatorium vestre serenitati aliquid non scribimus, quod secundum Petrum Blessensem in suo prologo canentem, Olei venditores esse non intendimus, sed patefacciones veritatis.  
Ergo arbitramur pium esse & meritorium, testimonium perhibere veritati ne veritas occultetur, presertim illa per quam innocenti possit prejudicium generari, & cum uterque reus est qui veritatem occultat & mendacium dicit, quia ille prodesse non iste nocere desiderat quod a nobis Deus avertat, potissime cum in dicendis per quondam recolende memorie Erici vestri predecessoris regis nostri admoniti patentes literas fuissemus testimonium perhibere veritati prout lacius in sequentibus patebit. Hinc est quod nos Thomas Episcopus, Capitulum, Cononici, Legifer, ceterique proceres, nobiles, populus, communitas sive plebei antedicti, coram Deo in fide ac fidelitate quibus vestre regie Majestati tenemur astricti fideliter attestamur & ad perpetuam rei memoriam deducimus fidemque facimus vobis & omnibus presentibus & futuris. Jesus Christi fidelibus sancte matris ecclesie filiis in forma & effectu subsequentibus. Coram nobis congregatus, comparens magnificus & praepotens Dominus, Dominus Willielmus de Sancto Claro Comes Orcadie Dominus le Sinclar in ecclesia sancti magni martyris in Orcadia proposuit in hunc modum; supposuit enim quod nobis bene & ad plenum cognita res fuisset, quo modo magnis retroactis temporibus antecessores sui & progenitores ac ipsi Orcadie comites juste ac juridice, inconcusse, linialiter & gradatim jure hereditario comitatui Orcadie superdicto successerant ac illam per tempora magna & longeva nulla aliena generatione interveniente, quietissime possederant. Et qualiter divers cart, evidency, instrumenta, libri censuales & alia diversa probacionum genera fuerant igne consumpta, deperdita & alienata, hostilitatis tempore & guerrarum, emulorum inimicorumque nonnullorum, defectu & carencia firmissime domus seu municionis inexpugnabilis ubi hujusmodi collocarentur; subjunxit idem Dominus Comes quod habuit literas quondam supremi Domini nostri Regis Erici illustris, Patentes, quas nobis ostendit & perlegi fecit, precepta continentes subsequencia, scilicet quod si quis nostrum habuerit vel qui habuerint aliquas cartas, evidencias, cirographa, instrumenta, munimenta, codicillos, acta vel privilegiorum literas ad progenitores, antecessores vel ad se spectantes, dictumque suum comitatum concernentes, quod indilate & sine mora aut contradictione seu obstaculo quibuscunque eidem Domino comiti deliberaret vel deliberarent, secundum quod ipsius Domini nostri Regis evitare velimus indignacionem. Virtute quarum literarum sicut eadem comitis continebat proposicio nos requisivit ut si de hujusmodi antedictis munimentis, aliqua habuissemus in nostris scriniis, Apothecariis, Thecis, Cistis, Archivis seu cartophilaciis, quod ipsam sibi deliberaremus & in casu quo non habuerimus, sed sciremus ab aliis ea haberi quod sibi intimaremus & revelaremus. Et si nec unum nec reliquum sciremus, tunc nos requisivit earundem literarum autoritate, quatenus nos Deum, justitiam & equitatem pre oculis habentes in declaracionem veritatis velimus sagaciter & studiose mature digestis iterim iterim ac tertio perscrutari scripturas, cronicas, autenticas & approbatas que faciunt fidem illas perlegere, diligenter inspicere, sane concipere & intelligere, ac naturas infeodacionis & ecclesiarum fundaciones perspicue intendere, quibus sic mature rimatis & ad plenum discussis velimus supremo Domino nostro manifestare per genealogias accronicas, autenticas, per quos & a quibus lineater & gradatim idem Willielmus Comes processit & per quanta tempora, legitime, just, been & inconcusse predecessores sui & ipse gavisi sunt dicto comitatu cum universis & singulis suis insulis, commoditatibus & justis suis pertinenciis, ne hujusmodi successio ultra debitam procelaretur hominum memoriam. His omnibus sic propositis, avisatis, discussis, digestis mature & ad plenum conceptis & intellectis, habitis prius diversis & singulis hinc inde tractatibus, ad honorem Dei omnipotentis, manifestationem veritatis & obedienciam & reverenciam supremi Domini nostri Regis tanquam filii obediencie preceptarii mandatarii prout decet in his quae audivimus a senioribus nostris, deinde que legibus intelleximus & concepimus & ad plenum sano effectu degessimus per libros Scripturas, cronicas regnorum utrorumque Scocie & Norwegie & progenitorum eorundem; sic quod singulariter singuli & universaliter universi, uno animo, una fide, unico consensu & assensu respondemus fidem ut prefertur & testimonium veritatis facientes universis superscriptis. Quod universa genera munimentorum, cartarum, evidenciarum & aliarum probacionum species que apud nos erant ob reverentiam supremi Domini nostri dicto Domino Comiti deliberavimus & exhibuimus ante dictum comitatum concernencia. Sed verum est & in veritate attestamur ex relatione fide dignorum antecessorum & progenitorum nostrorum quod principulus & precipuus mansus sive manerium Dominorum Comitum Orcadie fuit diversis temporibus igne combustis & ad nihilum redactus & funditus destructus & patria tota depredata & vastata per emulos nostros & inimicos per quas depredaciones, consumpciones & destrucciones firmiter credimus quod principales evidency, cart & alley patents, divers litere fuerunt & sunt alienate & consumpte spectantes & concernentes ad antecessores & progenitores dicti Domini Comitis defectu unius castri in quo tutissime ipse evidency, & cart, & alia patrie jocalia firmissime poterant collocare. Ast quantum ad linealem progressum & gradum successionis dicti Domini Comitis & suorum antecessorum seu progenitorum Comitum Orcadie, nos prenominati superius expressatis, justa nostrum ingenium, sensum & intellectum perscrutati sumus & mature avisati lucidissime per diversa linquarum genera, Scripturas autenticas & approbatas cronicas scilicet in linqua latina & Norwegica per quas reperimus infeodaciones ecclesiarum nostrarum, genealogias nostras & antecessorum nostrorum, cartis & evidenciis ipsorum & nostrorum manifestantibus & claro stili eloquio testimonium perhibentibus ac fidem facientibus; in quibusdam Cronicis, libris, cartis ac aliis autenticis Scripturis reperimus nomina diversorum comitum Orcadie tempora in feudacionum ipsorum juxta modum & formam sequentem, sed de eorum strenuis & notabilibus operacionibus, gestis, nominibus filiorum siliarumque suarum, de modo migrandi ab hac luce, de divisione seu unione hereditatis ipsorum, de incremento vel decremento possessionum suarum pro presenti brevitatis causa pretermittimus; & nos ad antiquas, cronicas & genealogias autenticas & approbatas referimus.  
Reperimus itaque imprimis quod tempore Haraldi Comati primi Regis norwegie qui gavisus est per totum Regnum suum, haec terra sive insularum patria Orcadie fuit inhabitata & culta duabus nacionibus scilicet Peti & Pape que due genera naciones fuerant destructe radicitus ac penitus per norwegenses de stirpe sive de tribu strenuissimi principis Rognaldi, qui sic sunt ipsias naciones aggressi quod posteritas ipsarum nacionum Peti & Pape non remansit. Sed verum est quod tunc non denominabatur Orcadia sed terra Petorum sicut clare verificatur hodie adhuc cronica attestante, per mare dividens Scociam & Orcadiam quod usque ad hodiernum diem mare Petlandicum appellatur & sicut pulchre subjungitur in ijsdem cronicis Rex iste Haraldus Comatus primo applicuit in Zetlandiam cum classe sua & consequenter in Orcadia & contulit illam Orcadiam & Zetlandiam antedicto principi Rognaldo robusto ex cujus stirpe ut prefertur prefate endue naciones, fuerant everse & destructe sicùt cronice nostre clare demonstrant a quo quidem Rognaldo processerunt linealiter & gradatim omnes Comites Orcadie & possederunt temporibus suis dictum Comitatum libere sine quacunque exaccione quocunque Canone seu sensu, excepto obsequio prestando regibus Norwegie tributi racione, sicut in clausula sequenti lacius patebit que in Cronica de verbo in verbum continetur. Revera enim usque hodie illorum posteritatis dominio subjacent excepto quod jure tributario Norwegie regibus deserviunt, Qui quidem princeps Rognaldus strenuissimus hujusmodi comitatum libere & jure donavit cuidam fratri suo Swardo nomine, qui Comes Swardus procreavit quendam filium Gothornum nomine, qui comes Gothornus possedebat dictum Comitatum per unum annum & decessit sinc herede legittimo & sic reversus est dictus Comitatus dicto principi Rognaldo, qui pure & libere illum contulit cuidam filio suo Eyward nomine qui postea cognominabatur Turffeid, qui quidem per long a tempora possedebat dictum Comitatum & habundavit opibus & plenus fuit divicijs. Cui successit filius ejus Thurwider Gedclevar cui successit filius ejus Itlanderver cui successit filius ejus Comes Swardus robustus ac corpolentus, magnus & strenuissimus bellifer, Adhuc tamen non fuit regeneratus sacri baptismatis lavacro neque alij Comites prenominati. In cujus quidem Comitis Swardi diebus supervenit Olaus Thurgonus Rex illustrissimus de occidentalium partium guerris, cujus induccione comes ille Swardus una cum gente Orcadie devenerunt, Christiani gentilitatis relinquentes errorem. Cui Comiti Swardo successit filius ejus comes Thurfinus procreatus ex filia quondam excellentissimi Principis Malcomi Regis Scotorum illustris. Qui quidem Rex contulit dicto Thurfino terras de Cathnes & Sutherland sub unica denominatione comitatus in Scocia & illis gavisus est una cum comitatu Orcadie Zetlandie & pluribus alijs dominijs in Scocie Regno jacentibus & vixerat diu & strenuissimus erat in campis post cujus quidem Comitis Thurfini obitum successit sibi ejus filius Comes Erlinus primus & iste Erlinus primus genuit Comitem Paulum & Erlinum Secundum qui Paulus Comes genuit Comitem Hacoin Comes Erlinus Secundus procreavit Comitem Magnum gloriosissimum Martyrem patronum Orcadie qui sanctissime abijt ab hac luce virgo & martyr. Post cujus quidem Magni martiris decessum & post obitum Comitis Hacoin successit Comes Rolandus qui primo fundavit Ecclesiam Sancti Magni Martiris, illamque magnis possessionibus divicijs & redditibus dotavit, predictus virque Sapiencia & virtute pollebat per plura bona pietatis opera famabatur venerabaturque & reputabatur pro sancto viro. Post cujus quidem obitum successit ejus frater Ericus comitatui Cui successit Comes Haraldus Cui successit comes Joannes filius ejus, Cui Joanni successit comes magnus Secundus a quo Alexander Scotorum Rex cepit comitatum de Sutherland Cui Magno comiti secundo successit comes Gilbertus primus, cui successit Comes Gilbertus secundus ejus filius qui gavisus est comitatibus Orcadie & Cathnes in Scocia. Qui quidem Gilbertus secundus procreavit Magnum tertiùm & quandam filiam Matildam nomine Iste Comes Magnus filius Gilberti secundi genuit Comitem Magnum quartum & quondam Joannem & ille Magnus comes quartus ab hac luce abijt sine prole, cui successit Joannes ejus frater in antedictis comitatibus Orcadie & Cathnes Joannes iste genuit quendam magnum Comitem quintum. Cui Magno quinto jure Successionis linealiter successit Dominus Malisius comes de Stratherne in Scocia tanquam heres ligittimus Jure hereditario ad utrosque comitatus Orcadie & Cathnes sicut clarissime manifestant munimenta, evidency & cart utrorumque regnorum Scocie & Norwegie. Qui quidem Comes Malisius revera primo desponsavit filiam Comitis de Monteith in Scocia & ex ea genuit filiam Matildam nomine post cujus quidam prime uxoris obitum desponsavit filiam quandum quondam Hugonis Comitis de Rosse & ex ea procreavit quatuor filias & decessit sine masculis sicque ejus dominia terrae & possessiones fuerant divise inter illas filiam vero antiquiorem ex prima uxore procreatam Matildam scilicet duxit in uxorem Welandus de Ard qui ex ea procreavit quendam filium Alexandrum de Ard qui Alexander Jure Regni Scocie & consuetudine hereditaria successit Comiti Malisio de Strathern in principali manerio sive manso ratione sue matris Comitatus de Cathania & possedebat jure & appellacione Comitis & eadem ratione & eodem jure gavisus est certa perticata sive quantitate terrarum Orcadie & gerebat se pro Balivo & Capitaneo gentis Orcadie Norwegie Regis ex parte Idemque Alexander de Ard tempore suo vendidit & alienavit quondam recolende menmorie Domino Roberto Stewart primo Scotorum Regi dictum comitatum de Cathnes mansum sive manerium principale & omnia alia jura spectancia seu concernencia ad se ratione matris ejus tanquam ad antiquiorem sororem jure & consuetudiene regnirem Scocie cum denominacione comitatus sive Comitis Iste vero Alexander finialiter decessit sine herede de sua corpore quocunque legittimo procreato. Nunc vero vertamus stylum ad quatuor filias ex secunda uxore procreatas, quarum una desponsata erat cum Domino Willielmo de Sancto Claro Domino le Sinclar qui Dominus Willielmus ex ea genuit Dominum Henricum de Sancto Claro qui Dominus Henricus desponsavit Jonnetam filiam Domini Walteri de Haliburton Domini de Dirletoun & ex ea procreavit Dominum Henricum de Sancto Claro secundum qui ultimo decessit comes Orcadie indubitatus qui in uxorem habuit venerabilem Dominam Dominam Egidiam filiam filij antedicti quondam Domini Roberti Scotorum regis illustris filiamque quandam strenuissimi Domini Willielmi de Douglas Domini de nydysdale & ex ea procreavit presentem Dominum Wilielmum de Sancto Claro comitem Orcadie, Dominum le Sinclare. Quedam alia filia second uxoris desponsata fuit cum quodam milite denominato Here Ginsill de Swethrick partibus oriundo, qui vero miles in Orcadie partibus venit & jure ac ratione sue uxoris gavisus est quadam parte terrarum Orcadie que quidem uxor ab hac luce sine herede migravit ligittimo ex suo corpore procreato. Tertia vero filia second uxoris fuit nupta cum quodam Gothredo nomine Gothorno le Spere qui ex ea procreavit quendam filium Dominum Malisium le Spear militem qui tandem decessit sine herede ligittimo de suo corpore genito similiter & quarta filia decessit sine herede ex suo corpore ligittime procreato Verum iste Dominus Henricus, primus Dominus le Sinclare, ejus matre, Alexandro de Ard & domino Malisio Spere adhuc viventibus ad Dominum nostrum supremum regem Norwegie adivit Hacoin nomine cum quo rege certas fecit pacciones, condiciones & appunctuamenta per quas reversus est ad Orcadie parts illisque gavisus est usque ad extremum vite sue comesque Orcadie obijt & pro defension patrie inibi crudeliter ab inimicis peremptus est. Et post decessum istius Henrici comitis primi in Orcadie partibus supervenit dicti Comitis Henrici primi mater filia Domini Malisij Comitis prenominati & ibi fixe remansit usque post obitum filij ejus Henrici Comitis primi & supervixerat post obitum omnium sororum suarum, filiorum filiarumque suorum sic quod ipsius antedicti quondam Comitis Henrici primi mater successit omnibus sororibus ejus eorundemque filijs & filiabus tanquam unica & legittima heres comitatus Orcadie & terrarum de Cathnes sibi tanquam uni sorori debitarum parte duntaxat & porcione exceptis sororis sue antiquioris de terris de Cathnes sub denominacione & appellacione comitatus sive Comitis quam partim ut superius dictum est alienavit & vendidit ipse quondam Alexander de Ard regi Scocie prenominato Hujusque rei testes sunt adhuc viventes fide digne qui ipsum matrem Henrici primi oculis viderunt labijsque sunt locuti cum ea communicantes ad plenum Cui successit ejus nepos Henricus Secundus filius primi Henrici, cui Henrico Secundo successit presence & superstes Dominus Wilielmus comes modernus Dominus le Sinclar.  
Excellentissime Princeps ut premissimus in principio ita fine protestamur quod vestra serenissima regia sublimitas ac ipsius benignissima majestas Justa ingenij nostri modulum & sensuum capacitatem nos linqua 〈…〉 naturam incultam nebulis ignorancie multipliciter obfuscatam velit rudes indoctos a Rhetorica sciencia alienas in fecunda facundia ignaros habere excusatos quamvis barbarico more non poetice locucionis, modo grosso loquamur, quia Insulares sumus a literarum sciencia penitus alieni, imo quod condecenti rethorice locucionis stilo sive Scriptura non referimus vestre regie majestatis ea & nos submittimus correctioni. Sed verum est ut attestamur quod more nostro barbarico omnia que superius vestre majestati scribimus vera sunt, quia ex antiquis libris, scriptures autenticis, cronicis approbatis & relacionibus fide dignorum antecessorum nostrorum, ac infeodacionibus nostris ecclesiarum nostrarum ista extruximus & compilavimus. Et si opus esset plura quam in presenti epistola vestre celsitudini lacius manifestare sciremus ipsamque in premissis informare, sed quia longa solent sperni, hec pauca sufficiunt pro presenti Et ut hec nostra epistola taliter qualiter compilata vestre regie majestati ac dominis vestri consistorij & palacij circa latera vestra existentibus majorem fidem ac roboris firmitatem faciat animos vestros ad plenum informet ac inter archana 〈…〉 vestrorum radicem emittat veritatis firmam & ceteros Christi fideles sancta matris Ecclesie filios instruat ad Deum & sacrosancta dei evangelia per nos corporaliter tacta juramus quod premissa modo quo super relata deponimus ad Dei honorem vestreque celsitudinis, predecessoris mandatum & non alias nec prece nec precio, odio, amore vel favore vel sub spe cujuscunque muneris presentis vel futuri sed pro veritate duntaxat dicenda. In quorum omnium & singulorum fidem & testimonium premissorum sigilla Thome Episcopi, Canonicorum & Capituli antedictorum, totiusque populi & communitatis patrie nostre Orcadie quod dicitur sigillum commune & mei Henrici Randale legiferi in nostra publica & generali sessione non sine magna maturitate & plena digestione presentibus sunt appensa apud Kirkwaw mensis maij die quarto Anno Domini millesima quadringentesimo tertio.  
To this William Sinclar Earl of Orkney, succeeded his Son Robert Sinclar, Earl of Orkney; but he being, as I am informed, forefaulted for non compearance to the Parliament, the Earldom of Orkney and Lordship of Zetland was again annexed to the Crown; and so it continued till the Reign of Queen Mary.  
At which time James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, was, by her, made Duke of Orkney, by that Dignity to make him the more worthy to be a Husband for herself; who were Married by Adam Bothwell Bishop of Orkney in the Palace of Holyrood-House, after the manner of the Reformed Church, on the 15th of May 1567. He perceiving how much he would be envied by the Nobility for that Marriage, and for a suspicion they had that he was the Murderer of her former Husband, he caused to be built a strong Castle in Westra in Orkney, called the Castle of Noutland, to be a place of retreat in case a storm should fall. And so it came to pass; for being deserted by the Queen at Carberry Hill and pursued by the Lords of the Congregation, he made to Sea with two or three Ships which he had prepared before hand for that purpose and came to Orkney; but being denied entrance into the Castle of Kirkwall (the Castle of Noutland not being fully finished) by Gilbert Balfaur the Keeper of it, he betook himself again to Sea, playing the Pirate, and making Prey of all Ships that he could master and seize upon; till at last he was driven from this Country by William Kirkaldie of Grange, and so flying from this to Zetland, and from thence to Norway, he was there apprehended and convoyed to Denmark, where he was put into a vile Prison, in which, after the space of ten years, he made a base end, answerable to the wicked life he had lived.  
After the death of James Hepburn, Duke of Orkney, the Lord Robert Stuart, natural Son to King James the Fifth, was made Earl of Orkney in August Anno 1581.; and being before provided to the Abbacy of Holyrood House, he made an exchange of that with Adam Bothwell for the Bishopric of Orkney, and so became sole Lord of the whole Country. He built or repaired the Palace of Birsa, the chief Residence of the Earls of Orkney, having this Inscription above the Gate: Dominus Robertus Stuartus Filius Jacobi quinti Rex Scotorum hoc opus instruxit. Which Inscription, together with the Motto he took above his Coat of Arms, Sic fuit, est. & erit, I am informed did militate something against his Son when he was tried for his Life. In his time King James the Sixth was married to Queen Anne the King of Denmark's Sister; at which time there was a new Renunciation of the Right that the Kings of Denmark might pretend to these Isles of Orkney and Zetland.  
To him succeeded his Son Patrick Stuart Earl of Orkney. He was a great Oppressor of the Country: Spotswood's character of him is in these words. This Nobleman (says he) having undone his Estate by Riot and Prodigality, did seek, by unlawful Shifts, to repair the same; making unjust Acts in his Courts, and exacting Penalties for the breach thereof; if any Man was tried to have concealed any thing that might infer a pecuniary mulct, and bring profit to the Earl, his Lands and Goods were declared confiscated; or if any Person did sue for justice before any other Judge than his Deputies, his Goods were escheated; or if they went forth of the Isles without his Licence, or his Deputies, upon whatsoever occasion, they should forefault their Movables; and, which of all his acts were most inhuman, he ordained, That if any Man was tried to supply or give Relief unto Ships, or any Vessels distressed by tempest, the same should be punished in his Person, and fined at the Earl's Pleasure. So far Spotswood.  
These Acts produceed by the Complainers and confessed by the Earl himself, were by the King's Privy Council discerned unlawful, and the practice thereof prohibited in all times.  
These Oppressions moved King James the Sixth, that he might deliver these injured People from so great a Tyranny, to purchase Sir John Arnot's Right, to whom the Earl had given the Mortgage of his Estate, and so he took the Country into his own hand, sending Sir James Stuart to it, whom he made Chamberlain and Sheriff of the Country, who came and took possession of the Castles of Kirkwall and Birsa in the King's Name.  
The Earl at this time being Prisoner in the Castle of Dumbarton, sent his natural Son Robert Stuart with an express Command to retake these Houses again; who accordingly did so. But the Earl of Cathnes being commissioned by the King to be Lieutenant in these bounds, with Order to recover these Castles and pacify the Country: Shortly after his coming, he took in the Castle of Kirkwall, which he demolished, and in it seized on the said Robert Stuart, with some of the Earl's Servants, whom he sent to Edinburgh, where shortly after they were hanged. And the next Year, being February the 6th 1614, the Earl himself, for several treasonable Acts and Oppressions proven against him (being brought from Dumbarton to Edinburgh) was there Beheaded. He was a Man of profuse spending, and the Builder of that beautiful Fabric, which afterwards was appropriated to be the Manse of the Bishops of Orkney. The King by these means being fully possessed of this Country, he made Sir James Stuart Lord Ochiltrie Chamberlain and Sheriff, as is said. After whom others succeeded to be Governors in it, till the Year 1647; at what time William Douglass Earl of Morton got a Wadset or Mortgage of this Country from King Charles I.  
To him succeeded his Son Robert Douglass Earl of Morton, Anno 1649; in which Year the Marquis of Montrose came to this Country, from Holland, with several Commanders and some Companies of Foreign Soldiers; and having stayed some few Months in Kirkwall, he there raised some Forces, most of which were either killed or taken Prisoners at that unfortunate encounter of Carbersdale.  
To him succeeded, in the possession of Orkney and Zetland, his Son William Douglass Earl of Morton. Anno 1664, or thereabouts, in the first Dutch Wars, there was a great Ship, called The Carmelan of Amsterdam, cast away at Zetland, in which Ship (as was said) were some Chests of Coined Gold, which were seized on by some who acted for the Earl; whereupon the Lords of the Treasury called the Earl to an Account, and so redeemed the Mortgage of Orkney and Zetland, and obtained a Decreet of Declarator against him; and in the Year 1669, these Countries of Orkney and Zetland, thus redeemed from the Earl of Morton, were (excepting the Bishop's interest) reannexed to the Crown, and erected into a Stewardry by Act of Parliament.  
Thus Orkney hath been a Honourary Title several ways, to several: Belus and Ganus (as we have read) were Kings of Orkney, Henry and William Sinclars were styled Princes of Orkney, Bothwel, by Patent from Queen Mary, was made Duke of Orkney, and the Lords of this Country of the Surname of Sinclar and Stuart were entitled Earls of Orkney, as were the Earls of Morton when they had possession of this Country, and at present the Right Honourable George Earl of Orkney, Brother to his Grace the Duke of Hamilton, has the honorary Title of this Country, but they have ever since the Year 1669, when these Countries were again adjoined to the Crown, been governed by those they call Stewards of Orkney. The King's Exchequer gives a Lease to any that gives highest for it at a Roup. The present Farmers and Taxmen have it for Eighteen hundred Pounds Sterling; so low by the oppression and changing of Taxmen has this Country fallen, being reckoned, in the Earl of Morton's time, to near three thousand and five hundred Pounds; when the Taxmens' Lease is out, which is commonly in three or five Years, the Lords of the Treasury Roup it of new, and he that bids most is Taxman and Steward for the Lease of Years he takes it for.  
The Government of the Steward is in the King's bounds, the manner and procedure of his Jurisdiction is after the form of Sheriffship, the Title only differing. The Bishop's part is governed by a Sheriff, both he and the King's Steward have one and the same manner of punishing of Delinquents, and administration of Justice, and that according to the custom and practice of other Shires in the Kingdom; Both their seats of Justice is at Kirkwal.  
Under the Sheriff and Steward, are some Judges of their Creation and Appointment called Baliffs. In every Parish and Isle there is one. Their Office is to oversee the manners of the Inhabitants, to hold Courts, and to decern in civil petty matters to the value of ten pounds' Scots, but if the matter be above that, it is referred to the Sheriff or Steward, or their Deputies under and subservient to these Bailiffs, are six or seven of the most honest and intelligent persons, within the Parish called Lawrightmen. These in their respective bounds, have the oversight of the People, in the fashion of Constables, and delate to the Bailiff such enormities as occasionally fall out, which the Bailiffs punish according to the importance and circumstances of the Fault, and if it be above his limits or extent of his Power, he sends the delinquent to the seat of Justice, either to the Steward or Sheriff respective.  
These Lawrightmen have a privilege inherent to their Office, by the custom of the Country, which is not usual elsewhere: and it is this, if there be at any time any suspicion of Theft, they take some of their Neighbours with them, under the silence of the night and make search for the Theft, (which is called Ransalling) they search every house they come to, and if the Theft be found, they seize upon him with whom it is found and bring him to the seat of Justice for Punishment.   

An Essay concerning the Thule of the Ancients.  
THere is no place oftener mentioned by the Ancients than Thule, and yet it is much controverted what place it was; some have attempted the discovery of it, but have gone wide of the marks the Ancients left concerning it; yet they seem all to agree that it was some place towards the North, and very many make it to be one of the British Isles, and since Conradus Celtes saith it is encompassed with the Orkney Isles. It will not be amiss to subjoin to the description of Orkney, this Essay concerning it.  
Some derive the name Thule from the Arabic word Tule, which signifies far off, and as it were with allusion to this the Poets usually call it, ultima Thule, but I rather prefer the reason of the name given by the learned Bochartus, who makes the same to be Phaenician, and affirmeth that it signifieth Darkness in that language. Chanaan lib. 1. Cap. 40. Thule propriè Syris umbrae sunt, hinc translata significatione, Thule pro tenebris passim sumitur; itaque Gezirat Thule erat insula tenebrarum, quod idem est ac tenebricosa, quod nomen insulae ad extremum septentrionem sitae quam congruat nemo non videt.  
Hence Tibullus panigyrico ad Messalam speaking of the frigid Zone hath this:  
Illic & densa tellus absconditur umbrae. And these places of Homer Odyss. 1. vers. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad caliginem; & lib. 3. vers. 1190 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neque enim scimus ubi sit caligo, is by Strabo interpreted, nesoimus ubi sit septentrio, Lib. 1. pag. 34. and lib. 10. pag. 454 and 455. And agreeing to this Statius lib. 3 ad Claudiam uxorem.  
Vel super Hesperiae vada caligantia  
Thules, and lib. 4 ad Marcellum.  
— Aut nigrae littora Thules.  
And indeed this derivation of the word carries more reason than any other they give it, and is an evident proof that the ancients agreed in placing their Thule towards the North: we shall see next what Northern Country they pitched on for it.  
The ancients seem most to agree that Thule was one of these Isles that are called British. Strabo one of the most ancient and the best of Geographers extant saith, Pythias Massiliensis, circa Thulen Britannicarum insularum septentrionalissimam ultima ait esse. Yet he himself maketh it nearer than Pythias did; Ego autem illum septentrionalem finem multo propius meridiem versus existimo, qui enim hodie terras perlustrant ultra Hyberniam nihil possunt refer, quae non longe versus septentrionem ante Britannicam jacet plane ferorum hominum domicilium & propter frigus male incolentium, ibi ergo finem constituendum censeo.  
Catullus, Carmine ad Furium seems to be of this mind in these Verses.  
Sive trans altas  
Gradietur Alps,  
Caesaris visens  
Monumenta magni,  
Gallicum Rhenum  
Horribilesque et  
Ultimosque Britannos.  
And Horace carm. lib. 1. Ode 35.  
Serves iturum Caesarem  
In ultimos orbis Britannos.  
And Silius Italicus lib. 1 in these Verses,  
Coerulus haud aliter cum demicat Incola Thules  
Agmina falcifero circumvenit acta covino.  
For it appears from Caesar's Commentaries that the bluish Colour and the fight out of the hooked Chariots were in use with the inhabitants in Britain. Pliny likewise seems to be of this opinion, for he treats of Thule in the same Chapter where he treats of the British Isles, and Tacitus, vita Agricolae saith when the Roman Navy sailed about Britain, despecta est & Thule.  
Ireland properly so called was probably the first of the British Isles that got the name Thule, as being the first the Carthaginians met with steering their course from Cadiz to the West. And hence it is we find Statius, Sylva tertia ad Claudiam uxorem calls Thule, Hesperia.  
— Et si gelidas irem mansurus ad Arctos,  
Vel super Hesperiae vada caligantia Thules.  
And seemeth to be the same said by Aristotle to have been discovered by the Carthaginians, lib. de mirabil. auscultat. where he saith, extra a columnas Herculis aiunt in mari a Carthaginensibus insulam fertilem desertamque inventam, ut quae tam sylvarum copia, quam fluminibus navigationi idoneis abundet, cum reliquis fructibus flore at vehementer, distans à continente plurimum Dierum itinere, etc. And Bochartus confirms this by what he observes that the ancient writer Antonius Diogenes, who wrote twenty four Books of the strange things related of Thale, not long after the time of Alexander the great, had his History from the Cypress Tables digged at Tyrus out of the Tombs of Mantima and Dercelis, who had gone from Tyrus to Thule, and had stayed some time there.  
But though this be the first Thule discovered by the Carthaginians, yet it is not that mentioned by the Roman writers, for they speak of the Thule in which the Romans were and made conquest of; but it is certain they were never in Ireland properly so called. That they were in Thule appears from these Verses in Statius lib. 5. protreptico ad Crispinum.  
Tu disce patrem quantusque nigrantem  
Fluctibus occiduis fessoque Hiperione Thule  
Intrarit, mandata gerens.  
Now the Father of Crispinus to whom he writeth was Bolanus, the same Vectius Bolanus who was Governor of Britain under Vitellius (as Tacitus informs us) which is yet more clearly proved by the following Verses, of the same Poet.  
Quod si te magno tellus fraenata parente Accipiat.  
Quanta Caledonios attollet gloria campos  
Cum tibi longaevus referet trucis incola terrae,  
Hic suetus dare Jura parens, hoc cespite turmas  
Affari nitidas, speculas, castellaque long  
Aspicis ille dedit, cinxitque haec maenia fessa  
Belligeris; haec dona This, haec tela dicavit.  
Cernis adhuc titulos: hunc ipse vacantibus armis  
Induit hunc Regi rapuit thoraca Britanno.  
The words Caledonio and Trucis Incola terrae do show that by Thule, is meant the North part of Britain which was then possessed by the Pights designed by the name Caledonios', and the Scots designed by Trucis incola terrae. The same Epither Claudian gives to the Scots in these Verses,  
Venit & extremis legio praetenta Britannis,  
Quae Scoto dat fraena truci.  
And of this North part of Britain, that Verse of Juvenal is likewise to be understood.  
De conducendo loquitur jam Rhetore Thule.  
The best exposition of which is taken from Tacitus, vita Agricolae. Jam vero principum filios, liberalibus artibus erudire & ingenia Britannorune, studijs Gallorum anteferre, ut qui modo linguam Romanam abnuebant, eloquentiam concupiscerent.  
Claudian does yet more particularly give the name of Thule to the North part of Britain, while he speaks Carm. the 3ᵒ Consul. Honorij, of the great exploits done there by Theodosius, the Father of Theodosius the Emperor and Grandfather of Arcadius and Honorius.  
Facta tui numeravit avi quem Littus adustae.  
Horrescit libyae; ratibusque imperva Thule,  
Ille leves Mauros, nec falso nomine pictos  
Edomuit, Scotumque vago mucrone secutus,  
Fregit Hyperboreas remis audacibus undas  
Et geminis fulgens utroque sub axe trophaeis  
Tithyos alternae refluas calcavit arenas.  
And in these lines  
Ille Caledonios' posuit qui castra pruinis,  
Qui medio libyae sub casside pertulit aestus  
Terribilis Mauro, debellatorque Britanut  
Littoris, ac pariter Boreae vastator & austri.  
Quid rigor aeternus coeli? quid sidera prosunt?  
Ignotumque fraetum? Maduerunt Saxone fuso  
Orcades, incaluit pictorum Sanguine Thule  
Scotorum cumulos flevit glacialis jerne.  
Where by placing the Moors and Britain's as the remotest People then known, and condescending upon the Scots and Pights, as the Inhabitants of Thule and jerne, he demonstrateth clearly that Thule is the North part of the Isle of Britain inhabited by the Scots and Pights, for this jerne or as some read it Hyberne, can no ways be understood of Ireland, properly so called, first because Ireland can never deserve the Epithet Glacialis; since by the Testimony of the Irish writers, the Snow and Ice don't continue any time there: Secondly the Romans were never in Ireland, properly so called, while as it appears by the forementioned Verses, that Theodosius past our Firths of Forth and Clide, called by him Hyperboreae undae, and entered Strathern which to this day bears the name jerne, in which Roman Medals are found, and the Roman Camps and viae militares yet are extant, the Vestiges of their being there beyond all dispute, and therefore is so to be understood in the same Poet's lines, upon Stilico employed in the British Wars.  
Me quoque vicinis pereuntem gentibus inquit  
Munivit Stilico, totam cum Scotus jernam  
Movit, & infesto spumavit remige Thetis  
Illius effectum curis, ne bella timerem  
Scotica, nec Pictum tremerem.  
Now Thetis in these Verses and the undae Hyperboreae in the Verses before mentioned cannot be understood of the Sea between Scotland and Ireland; for Ireland lieth to the South of the Roman Province; and the Situation of the Scots and Pights Country is to the North of it: for it was separate by the two Firths of Forth and Clide from the Roman Province, which does clearly show it was to be understood of them, which is also imported by the words Hyperboreas undas and Remis, which cannot be understood of the Irish Sea which is to the South of the Roman Province, and is very tempestuous and cannot so well be passed by Oars as the Firths of Forth and Clide; but the same Poet has put this without all doubt in these Verses,  
Venit & extremis legio praetenta Britannis  
Quae Scoto dat fraena truci, ferroque notatas  
Prelegit exanimes Picto moriente Figuras.  
For were it to be understood of the Irish Sea, than the Wall and the Praetenturae should have been placed upon the Scotish shore that was over against Ireland, whereas they were placed over against that Country which is called Strathern now, and is the true jerne, not only mentioned by Claudian, but likewise by Juvenal, in these Verses,  
— Arma quid ultra  
Littora Juvernae promovimus & modo captas  
Orcades, & minima contentos nocte Britannos.  
Where he directs us to the Situation of the Country of the Scots and Pights, Juverna being the Country of the Scots which had been overrun in part by Julius Agricola Governor of Britain under Domitian the Emperor, who first entered the Orcadeses and as Tacitus observeth, Despecta est Thule, they saw the North part of the Country beyond jerne the Country of the Pights which lies to the North of the Firth of Forth and upon the Germane Sea, and is designed in these words, minima contentos nocte Britannos; all which particularly relate to Ross and Cathnes. And the Inhabitants of this Juberna and Thule are the very same the Panegyrist Eumenius speaks of in his Oration to Constantine the great; where he saith that the Nation of Britain in the time of Caesar, was rudis & soli Britanni Pictis modo, & Hibernis assueta hostibus Seminudis: They had not been in use of War, but with these half naked people of the British Soil, the Pights and the Irish, who for their lose and short Garments may to this day be called half naked.  
They were called Hyberni as being at first a Colony from Ireland, and as possessing that tract of the Isle of Britain which is called by the ancient writers jerne glacialis and jerne simply and by the writers of the middle age Hybernia as may be seen in the Roman Martyrology, Martyrol. Roman. Sexto decem. Sanctus Beanus Episcopus Abredoniae in Hybernia. Now never any Irish writer yet could say that in Ireland properly so called there ever was a Town or Bishops See called Aberdeen or a River called Don.  
And that this part of Britain then possessed by the Scots, was called Hybernia, is clear from the testimony of venerable Bede Ecclesiast. hist. lib. 4. cap. 26. who names it Hybernia in the beginning of the Chapter and in the next page calls the same Country Scotia.  
'Tis certain that as the Wall betwixt Tyne and Solway Firth, called Murus Picticus, was built to exclude the Pights, so was that betwixt Edinburgh and Dumbarton Firth to exclude the Scots highlanders, and was designed first by Agricola, as appears from Tacitus vita Agricolae where he saith, nam Glotta & Bodotria diversi maris aestu per immensum revecti, angusto terrarum spatio dirimuntur, quod tum praesidiis firmabatur: atque omnis propior sinus tenebatur; summotis velut in aliam insulam hostibus: That is, for Clide and Forth two arms of two contrary Seas shooting mightily into the Land, were only divided asunder by a narrow Partition of Ground, which passage was guarded and fortified then with Garrisons and Castles, so that the Romans were absolute Lords of all on this side having cast out the enemies as it were into another Island; and indeed as Tacitus remarks, inventus in ipsa Britannia terminus; so the Romans made this indeed the outmost limit of their province, and gave the name Britain to that part of the Island within the Roman Wall which was built on this narrow neck of Ground between the two Firths.  
And hence it is that the venerable Bede calleth those people that dwell beyond the Wall, Transmarinae gentes, but explaineth himself thus lib. 1. cap. 12. Transmarinas autem dicimus has gentes, non quod extra Britanniam sunt positae, sed quia à parte Britonum erant remotae, duobus sinubus maris interjacentibus, quorum unus ab orientali maria alter ab occidentali, Britanniae terras longe lateque irrumpit: And a little before this he tells who these Transmarinae gentes were, viz. Scotorum à Circio, that is, the Scots from the Northwest, & Pictorum ab Aquilone, and the Picts from the North: Which Firths relate to that part of the Isle without the Roman Province; but Ireland properly so called cannot be said to lie to the North-West of the Roman Province.  
Now we will endeavour to show that what Juvenal saith in the Verse, 
— Arma quod ultra  
Littora Juvernae promovimus, etc.  is to be meant of that part, which is now called Strathern and the rest of Perthshire and the West Highlands, the Country of the Scots, designed by Bede, à Circio, which are truly so situated in respect to the Roman Province; and this we will make out from what we meet with in Tacitus, vita Agricola, for first he saith, Tertius expeditionum annus novas gentes aperuit, vastatis usque ad Taum (aestuario nomen est) nationibus. The third years expedition discovered people they were not before acquainted with, having overrun all those that were on this side Tay, which he describes to be a Firth. It appears by this they were other people than these he had to do with before, because they are called novae gentes. In the next place he says the fourth Summer was spent in taking possession of what they had overrun, and he observes in that expedition the small Isthmus, or neck of Land that keeps Clyde and Forth from meeting, and this was so secured by Garrisons, Summotis velut in aliam insulam hostibus, that the enemy by these means were removed as it were into another Isle. Now if we will compare what we observed out of Bede of the Gentes Transmarinae beyond these two Firths, we will see clearly that these novae gentes were the Scots and Pights; the Scots in the Country towards the North-West, and the Pights in the Country North-East: but this is yet more confirmed by the account, that is given by Tacitus of the Action in the sixth Summer of Agricola's Government; Ampla civitate trans Bodotriam sita, being informed of a great people, that dwelled beyond Forth; and civitate being in the singular makes it to be understood of the people that lie nearest, that is the Scots, and quia motus universarum ultra gentium & infesta hostili exercitu itinera timebantur, because he apprehended that all the people beyond Forth would rise against him, and for that he feared that in his passage he might be attaqued by the Enemy's Army, he tried their Havens with his Fleet, where by the by there is a pretty description of the nature and quality of the Country in these words ac modo Sylvarum & montium profunda, modo tempestatum ac fluctuum adversa, hinc terra & hostis, hinc auctus oceanus militari Jactantia comparentur: Which very well agreeth to the Woody and Mountainous Country mixed with Valleys that lieth to the North of this Firth and to the roughness of these Firths when agitated with winds, and a little below this he saith ad manus & arma conversi Caledoniam incolentes populi, where he gives an account of a bloody Battle they had with the Romans where Agricola was put to it to make use of all his force and art.  
What is meant by Caledonia, he has told us where he speaks of the figure of Britain, that what the Ancients said of it, agreed to that part upon this side of Caledonia; sed immensum & enorm spatium procurrentium extremo jam littore terrarum, velut in cuneum tenuatur, by which he makes Caledonia to contain all the rest of Britain, to the North of these Firths. And that they were different people that were possessors of it, is clear by the words Caledoniam incolentes populi. By the Caledonijs simply the Romans understood the Pights, that inhabited the country that lay upon the Germane Sea; but as he mentions several people here, so he gives you afterwards the Horesti, that is the Highlanders, the name of old given to the ancient Scots, and kept by their descendants even to this day. And after that he had given an account of the great preparations, he relates the battle he fought with these people the last summer of his Government, where he tells us that he marched up the Grampian hills, where the Enemy were encamped on, and the way of their Fight, and the description he makes Galgacus their Commander in chief give of them, may clearly see that they were different People, and no other than those that Claudian and other Authors call Scots and Pights.  
But because it is controverted by some late writers, whether they were Natives of Britain, or Irishes who from Ireland properly so called then invaded Britain, we shall bring some arguments Tacitus furnishes us with, to prove that they were Natives of the British Soil; for in the account even in this last expedition, he says, Nam Britanni nihil fracti pugnae prioris eventu, & ultionem aut servitium expectantes, tandemque docti commune periculum concordia propulsandum legationibus & foederibus omnium civitatum vires excitaverant jamque supra trig inta millia armatorum aspiciebantur, & adhuc affluebat omnis Juventus, & quibus cruda & viridis senectus, clari bello, ac sua quisque decora gestantes. Where it is observable that although he called them before novae gentes, yet here he calls them Britanni, which was the name the Romani gave to all that inhabited this Island, but it was never given by any of the Roman Authors to the inhabitants of Ireland, the words legationibus & foederibus omnium civitatum vires exciverant shows how the Scots and Pights were united and composed one Army, for the Britons spoken of here are the inhabitants of Caledonia, and so it is that Tacitus says Galgacus designed them in these words Ostendamus, quos sibi Caledonia viros seposuerit. We find likewise in our Author, several marks of distinction, first they are Gentes, now the Critics have observed that Gens is a more general name, and so Universim Britanni Gens Britannorum appellantur; Natio is a particular people a part comprehended under the general name Gens: so the Caledonijs, the Silureses, and the rest mentioned by Ptolemee in his Map of Britain are nationes Britannicae. Our Author also speaks of Civitates which are not Towns, but Gentes, people, and the Clans that composed them, which lived under the command of their chiefs: so Galgacus is described here, inter plures duces virtute & genere praestans. And these same names we find in Ptolemee, are certainly the Ancient names of the Clans; but Ptolemee has been deficient, in that he has not set down the general names, the people designed themselves by, which in this part of the Island was Albanich and Peaghts, that is Albanenses and Picti, which two names prove them to be the ancient and first inhabitants of Britain, whom Caesar designs in these words, Interior pars ab ijs incolitur qui se natos in insula dicunt, which Galgacus owns here speaking to his Army, he calls them Nobilissimi totius Britanniae, eoque in ipsis penetralibus siti. It is worth the observing that that part of the Island which lay to the North of Humber, was by the confession of the learnedst of the British Historians (as priceus defen. hist. Britan. pag. 60. Ranulph. Higden. polychronic. lib. 1. Luddus Fragment.) called Albania, and a part of the country still carries the name of Broad Albine.  
And to clear that, the same people he designed Caledoniam incolentes populi, were the same called novae gentes, appears from this that follows, that when because of the summers being much spent, spargi bellum nequibat, in sins Horestorum exercitum deducit, and a little after, ipse peditem atque equites lento itinere, quo novarum gentium animi ipsa transitûs mora terrerentur, in Hybernis locavit; where they are called by the same name novae gentes, for Tacitus here relates, that because the Summer was spent, and that the War could not be extended against the Pights and Scots both, he marched with his to the borders of the Scots whom he calls Horesti, that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Montani, Highlanders, and indeed I have seen Roman Medals that were found in Argileshire, and a great many have been found in several parts of Pearthshire, besides a great many Roman camps are still to be seen there. And in the Sixth year of Agricola's Government, some of these camps had been attacked, by some of those that dwelled in Caledonia, for he saith, Castilia adorti metum ut provocantes addiderant, and a little after it is said of these same people, Universi nonam legionem ut maxim invalidam nocte aggressi inter somnum ac trepidationem, caesis vigilijs irrupere jamque in ipsis castris pugnabant. This camp seems to be the very same which is yet extant near to Airdoch, and the reason I take it to have been one of Agricola's camps is, for that our Author hath observed before, Adnotabant periti non alium ducem opportunitates locorum sapientius legisse, nullum ab Agricola positum castellum aut vi hostium expugnatum, aut pactione aut fuga desertum; for if we will consider this same Camp, we will find it has all the advantages, Vigetius de re militari lib. 1. cap. 22. saith a Camp should have Castilia munienda sunt loco tuto, ubi & lignorum, & pabuli, & aquae suppetit copia; & si diutius commorandum sit, loci salubritas eligenda est, cavendum autem ne mons sit vicinus altior, qui ab adversarijs captus possit officere; considerandumque ne torrentibus inundari consueverit campus. This is upon a heath in a slooping ground; it hath the water of Kneck running close by it, whose banks are so high, that it could not overflow, and there is wood near to it, and more has been about it, there is no Mountain nor considerable height so near, as that they could from thence annoy it. The same Vegetius adds, haec castella saepe structa instar oppidorum & in finibus imperij, & ubi perpetuae stationes & praetenturae contra hostem; and the largeness of this Camp and its Situation upon the Frontiers, makes this to be a Praetentura.  
The Praetorium, or the General's quarter is a large square, about a hundred paces every way, around it are five or six Aggeres or Dykes, and as many Valla or Ditches, the deepness of a man's height, there are Ports to the four quarters of the World, and to the East there are several larger Squares, with their circumvallations continued for a good deal of way. To the West is the bank of the water of Kneck, and five or six miles to the North-East of this by the water of Earn near to Inch Pasery is a lesser camp, the Castrum exploratorum, the camp for the advance guard, and a little to the Eastward of this, beginneth the Roman via militaris, called by the common people The street-way, this in some places is raised from the ground almost a man's height, and is so broad that Coaches may pass by other with ease upon it, and this runneth towards the River of Tay, the length of which Agricola's devastations reached, as our Author Tacitus tell us. Tertius expeditionum annus novas gentes aperuit, vastatis usque ad Taum (aestuario nomen est) nationibus: And the Grampian hills towards which he marched, when he fought the last Battle in the last year of his Government, ad montem Grampium pervenit, quem jam hostes insiderant, are but a few miles distant from these Camps.  
There was a stone with this inscription DIS MANIBUS AMMONIUS DAMIONIS COH I HISPANORUM STIPENDIORUM XXVII HEREDES F. C. lately taken up out of the Praetorium of the Praetentura, below which are some Caves, out of which some pieces of a Shield were taken up, and several Medals, have been taken up thereabouts. I have seen one in Silver of Antoninus pius found there. The people that live thereabouts, report there was a large Roman Medal of Gold found there, and great quantity of Silver ones have been found near to the water of Earn, amongst which I have seen some of Domitian, some of Trajan and some of Marcus Aurelius. And whereas it is said, that this man for whom this Sepulcral inscription was made, was cohortis primae Hispanorum, if we will look to the notitia Imperij Romani we will find amongst the Troops placed Secundum lineam valli, this cohors prima Hispanorum was one. And it would seem the Poet Claudian had this very same praetentura in his view in these Verses,  
Venit & extremis legio praetenta Britannis,  
Quae Scoto dat fraena truci, etc.  
And so without all question the Glacialis jerne is means of this very Country, which had now the name of Strathiern, where all these vestiges of the Roman exploits are found; and these called Scoti by Claudian, are the very same people Eumenius calleth Hyberni soli Britanni the Irish of the British Soil: and Tacitus calleth Horesti, Highland men or Braemen, the name some of their descendants yet bear, while on the other side all Authors both ancient and modern agree, that the Romans were never in Ireland properly so called, and there are no Roman Camps, viae militares, nor Roman Coins to be found there.  
It remaineth now that we show where the Country of the Pights was, who in the Verse last cited are joined with the Scots and were not far from this same Praetentura, since the Poet immediately subjoins to  
— Quae Scoto dat fraena truci  
— Ferroque notatas,  
Perlegit exanimes picto moriente figuras.  
That this Thule was a part of Britain the Roman writers seem to be very clear, especially Silius Italicus lib. 17. in these Verses,  
Cerulus haud aliter cum dimicat incola Thules  
Agmina falcifero circumvenit acta covino.  
For Silius here seemeth to have in his view what Caesar in his Commentaries hath delivered of the Britons fight in Essedis, and Pomponius Mela lib. 3. cap. 6. where he speaks of the Britons saith Dimicant non equitatu modo, aut pedite, verum & bigis & curribus Gallice armati covinos vocant, quorum falcatis axibus utuntur. And our Author Tacitus tells us, that in the Battle fought with our Countrymen at the Grampian hills, media covinarius & eques strepitu ac discursu complebat; and a little below that, Covinarij peditum se praelio miscuere, & quanquam recentem terrorem intulerant, densis tamen hostium agminibus & inaequalibus locis haerebant. These Covinarij are called by Caesar, Essedarij, so I believe no Body will doubt but that Silius the Poet by Cerulus incola Thules meant the Britons. We also find an appellation of the same nature given to one of the Tribes of the Scots, by Seneca in ludo, in these Verses,  
Ille Britannos  
Ultra noti  
Littora ponti  
Et ceruleos  
Scoto Brigantas  
Dare Romuleis  
Colla Catenis  
Jussit.  
For so it is read by Joseph Scaliger and by Salmasius, exercitat. Plini. in Solinum pag. 189. upon these words, Gelones Agathirsi collimitantur cerulo picti: & sane Pictos sive Agathirsos, haud aliter interpretare liceat, quam aliquo colore fucatos, sic picti Scotobrigrantes Senecae, & Picti, populi Britanniae ab eadem ratione dicti. And it would seem by these Verses,  
Et ceruleos  
Scoto Brigantas  
Dare Romuleis  
Colla catenis  
Jussit.  
That Seneca who was Contemporary with Claudius, had in his View the Victory which Ostorius under Claudius the Emperor Governor of Britain obtained over Caratacus King of Scots, whose History may be seen elegantly done by Tacitus in the 12th Book of his Annals where he shows us that Caratacus being brought before Claudius in Chains, he made a brave discourse to him, and amongst other things tells him, neque dedignatus esses, claris majoribus ortum, pluribus gentibus imperantem foedere pacis accipere; and without doubt besides the Silureses mentioned there by Tacitus, these Scoto-brigantes were of the number of these gentes he commanded. Claudius was so well pleased with his manly behaviour (saith Tacitus) Caesar veniam ipsique & conjugi & fratribus tribuit, atque illi vinculis exsoluti, etc.  
But to make it appear, which part of Britain the Thule mentioned by the Romans was, it will be fit to see to which part of Britain the Epithets attributed by the Authors to Thule do agree best. First than it was a remote part, Ultima Thule, as this is the remotest part of Britain, and as Tacitus bringeth in Galgacus expressing it, nos terrarum ac libertatis extremos recessus; ipse ac sinus famae in hunc diem defendit. Then Thule was towards the North, and so is this Country in respect of the Roman Province: And then thirdly it might deserve the name Thule, because of its obscure and dark aspect: it being then all overgrown with Woods. Fourthly the length of the day is attribute to Thule, and upon this Account it must be the Country to the North and to the East of jerne by these Verses of Juvenal,  
— Arma quid ultra  
Littora promovimus Juvernae & modo captas  
Orcades, & minima contentos nocte Britannos.  
For it is of the North and East parts of Britain the Panegyrist saith, Panegiri Constantino Constantij filio Constantij dicti; O! fortunata & nunc omnibus beatior terris Britannia. And a little below, Certain quod propter vitam diliguntur longissimi dies, & nullae sine aliqua luce noctes, dum illa littorum extrema planities non attollit umbras, noctisque metam coeli & siderum transit aspectus, ut sol ipse qui nobi videtur occidere, ibi appareat praeterire, this same is applied to the Northmost part of Britain by Tacitus, where he saith of it, Dierum spatia ultra nostri orbis mensuram, nox & clara & extrema Britanniae parte brevis ut sinem atque initium lucis exiguo discrimine internoscas, quod si nubes non officiant, aspici per noctem solis fulgorem nec occidere & exsurgere, sed transire affirmant. And Lesly in his History observeth that in Ross and Cathnes the nights for two Months are so clear that one may read distinctly. The like we have before observed of Orkney.  
Another property of Thule given by Tacitus is, that about it Mare pigrum & grave remigantibus perhibent, which agreeth indeed to the Sea upon the North-East part of Scotland, but not for the reason Tacitus gives, for want of Winds, but because of the contrary Tides, which drive several ways, and stop not only Boats with Oars, but Ships under sail that if any where it may be there said of the Sea,  
Nunc spumis candentibus astra lacessit  
Et nunc Tartareis subsidet in ima Barathris.  
But Thule is most expressly described to be this very same Country we treat of by Conradus Celtes, itinere Baltico,  
— Orcadibus qua cincta suis Tyle & glacialis Insula.  
The same Epithet Claudian gives to jerne where he calleth it Glaciales jerne, and this Thule he makes to be encompassed suis Orcadibus, which Isles lie over-against it; and a little after he gives the like Epithet to mare pigrum:  
Et jam sub septem spectant vaga rostra Triones  
Qua Tyle est rigidis insula cincta vadis.  
And afterwards he makes the Orcadeses to lie over-against this Thule, and seems to have in his view the Rocks and Weels in Pightland Firth in these Lines,  
Est locus Arctoo qua se Germania tractu,  
Claudit, & in rigidis Tyli ubi surgit aquis,  
Quam juxta infames scopuli & petrosa vorago  
Asperat undisonis saxa pudenda vadis,  
Orcades has memorant dictas a nomine Graeco.  
By all which I think it appeareth sufficiently that the North-East part of Scotland, which Severus the Emperor and Theodosius the Great infested with their Armies, and in which as Boethius observes Roman Medals were found, is undoubtedly the Thule mentioned by the Roman writers, and which if we will believe the learned Angrimus jonas, Specimen Island. Hist. was meant by Ptolemee, where he saith, ubi nec omittendum; quod parallelo xxi per Thulen ducto ab ipso Ptolemaeo, latitudo respondeat 55 gr. & 36. So that our Country in these ancient times passed under the name of Hybernia and Thule, and the Hyberni and Picti Incolae Thules, are the same people who were afterwards called Scots.  
It seems indeed the name Scot at first was only proper to some tribes of those people who called themselves Albanich, such as the Scoto. brigants mentioned by Seneca, and the Scottodeni in Ptolemee, which by the corruption of the copies is now read Ottodeni; but they it seems were never called Scots generally, nor their country Scotia, till after Keneth the Second, King of Scotland, who subdued the Pights and incorporated them into one nation with our Ancestors. Yet Wernerus Ralwingius, fasciculo temp. saith, edente Lino papa, Scotica gens oritur ex Pictis & Hybernis in Albania, quae est pars Angliae; which confirms very much what we have been proving all along, but makes the name to have been used generally sooner than it appeareth to us from our Historians.  
I shall only add one remark more, and that is, that we need not have recourse, for the rise of the name Scot, to the fabulous account of the Monks, who will needs have it from one Scota, Pharaoh's daughter married to Gathalus; since without that strain, if it be granted that the Country was once called Thule, which in the Phoenician language signifies darkness; we have a very clear reason for the name Scotia, which signifieth the same in the Greek tongue, and it is very well known that it was usual with the Greeks (who next to the Phoenicians were the Famousest Navigators) not only to retain the Phoenician name of the place, but likewise to give one in their own Language of the same import: And since the learned Brochartus has very ingeniously deduced the Greek name of the whole Island 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Barat anac and Bratanack in the Phoenician tongue, which signifies a Land of Tinn, which the Greeks not only inflected to their own termination, but likewise called the British Isles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Lands of Tinn, which is the signification of the Phoenician and Greek names; we make take the same liberty to derive the Greek name Scotia from the Phoenician Thule.  
FINIS.