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HISTORY 
 
 ORKNEY ISLANDS. 
 
 I INCLUDING 
 
 A VIEW OF 
 
 THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THEIR ANCIENT AND MODERN INHABITANTS; 
 
 THEIR MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY ; 
 
 THEIR NATURAL HISTORY, OR MINERAL, BOTANICAL, AND ANIMAL PRODUCTIONS: 
 
 THE PRESENT STATE OF 
 
 THEIR agriculture; manufactures; fisheries; and commerce; 
 
 AND THE MEANS OF THEIR IMPROVEMENT : 
 tVJTH A MA-P OF THE ISLANDS, AND yJElVS OF REMARKABLE SCENERY. 
 
 Bv THE LATE Rev. Dr. BARRY, 
 
 MINISTER OF SHAPINSHAY IN ORKNEY. 
 
 THE SECOND EDITION, 
 
 WITH CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS 
 
 By THE Rev. JAMES HEADRICK. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 
 
 i8o8. 
 
Stiahan and Pfc-fton, 
 Pnntcrs-Street, Louduii, 
 
 M 
 
3 7l^li 
 
 TO 
 THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 LORD DUNDJS, 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 THE HISTORY OF TPIE ORKNEY ISLANDS was 
 lately publiflied by my Father, under your Lordihip's Patronage ; and 
 the Favourable Opinion you have been pleafed to exprefs of the Work, 
 had my Father Uved to enjoy it, would have added greatly to the 
 Satisfadlion derived from the Approbation of the Public. 
 
 A Second Edition being called for, may I requeft the Honour of 
 dedicating it likevvife to your Lordfhip. — I owe it to the Memory of 
 my Father ; — I owe it alfo to the perfonal Favours conferred on my- 
 felf ; and ftill more to the Feelmgs of a Family, happy in the Oppor- 
 tunity of thus publickly exprcfling their Gratitude to their Patron and 
 Benefa6tor. 
 
 I have the Honour to be, 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 Your Lordfliip's much obliged 
 
 And moft obedient Sci-vant, 
 
 ,,. . - JOHN BARRY. 
 
 ohapinlhay, 
 Dec. JO, 1807, 
 
 A 2 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2011 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/historyoforl<neyiOObarr 
 
PREFACE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 SECOND EDITION. 
 
 In fubmhtlng this fecond Edition of Dr. Barry's Hiftory of the Orkney 
 Iflands to the public infpedion, the Editor is aware, that, if he could offer 
 an account of a Terra aujlralis bicogu'tta, curiofity would be excited, and the 
 book would be perufed with avidity. He is aware that a cluflcr of Iflands, 
 which, with a fair wind, are only three or four days' fail from the capital 
 of the Empire, cannot excite that interefl: from their novelty, which we 
 would take in the defcription of places inhabited by favages ; where volca- 
 nos vomited forth fubterranean fires; where the traveller, at every ftcp, 
 encountered ftrange minerals, plants, and animals ; and which could not be 
 reached without the circumnavigation of the globe. In fuch cafes, the dif- 
 ficulties furmounted, and the dangers incurred while obtaining informa- 
 tion, render the adventures of the hiftorian more interefting, than cither the 
 utility or importance of the information he conveys. 
 
 Although our author has kept out of view his own adventures, while 
 employed in coUeding the information he exhibits, we are not to fuppofe,, 
 that fuch a work could be drawn up in the clofet, amidft the calm of learned 
 retirement. Our Author mud often have croffed the rapid founds which 
 interfcd thefe Iflands, where the tides run like torrents defcending from the 
 fides of mountains; and, when they encounter a ftrong wind, raife com- 
 motions which would appal any perfon but the native iflanders. Often 
 muft he have grappled with the mountain billows of the Atlantic, and of 
 the Northern Ocean, and, when he reached land, fubmitted to accommoda- 
 tions or rather privations, which would fcare the inhabitants of diftrids 
 more populous and better cultivated. — Thefe circumftances, while they may 
 be urged as an excufe for any defeds that may appear in his work, ought 
 
 alfo 
 
VI PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 alfo to enhance the value of the information he has obtained, and has com- 
 municated to the Public. 
 
 The favourable reception of the firfl; Edition of this work by a difcerning 
 Public, evinces that there are perfons among us, who confider a knowledge 
 of the various dlflriifts of our own country, their natural and local re- 
 fources, and the means of calling thefe into adion, to be of the higheft im- 
 portance to the ftatefman, the political economift, the patriot, and every 
 perfon who wifhes to advance the glory and profperity of his country. 
 Our Author exhibits to our view aclufter of iflands, fcattered in the Northern 
 Ocean, which, though in the diredl tra£t of the immenfe commerce between 
 the North and the South, had hitherto efcaped the notice of our politicians 
 as a conftituent member of the Britiili Empire. Thefe Iflands are inhabited 
 by a brave and hardy race of men, who are a fort of amphibious animals, and 
 are all addided to a fea-faring life. Even the women navigate boats, 
 through terrible feas, with the utmofl: fkill and ability. The excellent har- 
 bours with which thefe Iflands abound, render them of the higheft impor- 
 tance, not only to merchantmen, but to the Royal Navy ; as they command 
 the navigation of the Northern Ocean. Neither is the foil unfruitful, nor 
 the climate unpropitious for the produdion of grain and green crops ; of 
 flax, hemp, and the materials of fiflaing and navigation. The feas fwarm 
 with a vafl variety of fiflies, and often are the tables of our London epicures 
 loaded with the delicious fiflies which are caught upon their fliores. It 
 will be feen that thefe Iflands furnifli a greater proportion than the extent 
 of their population, of brave and orderly feamen to the Royal Navy. They 
 alio furnifli expert feamen to the whale fifliery, to the Hudfon's Bay Com- 
 pany, and to complete the crews of the numerous veflels which pafs 
 through their feas. Were their land only reduced into a tolerable ftate of 
 cultivation, thefe Iflands might become a greater vent for our manufadures, 
 than any colonies, of equal extent, fituated at the antipodes. This would 
 encourage our coafling trade, which forms our beft feamen, and who are 
 always at hand to repel the dangers of their country. Were the fllheries 
 alio put in a train of improvement, it is impoflible to calculate the amount 
 to which the population of thefe Iflands might be increafed, or the invincible 
 ftrength they would add to our naval power. Such fuggeftions are at all 
 
 times 
 
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. VU 
 
 times worthy of the attention of thofe who manage our public affairs ; but 
 they are of peculiar importance when the Northern Powers are dragged into 
 hoftility againft us. In fuch a cafe the Orkneys would prove an excellent 
 naval ftation ; and it would at all times be defirable to have docks and ac- 
 commodations there for repairing any damage which fhips might fuftain, 
 either from the feas, or from the enemy. 
 
 It will feen, however, that unfortunately, fince their annexation to the 
 Crown of Scotland, thefe Iflands have not enjoyed fo great a comparative 
 degree of profperity, as when they were under their own magnanimous 
 Earls, and were the friends and allies, rather than the vaflals, firft of Nor- 
 way, and afterwards of Denmark, In their antient inftltutions we behold 
 the rudiments of a free government, and of the Britifh conftitution. Their 
 chief, though hereditary, and treated with profound refpedt, could neither 
 make laws, nor engage in any important imdertaking, without the confent 
 of his Udalers, or Freeholders. It will be feen that thefe Iflands formed 
 the point of rendezvous of thofe piratical expeditions, which, during feveral 
 centuries, carried havoc and difmay through the fouth of Europe. Their 
 indifputed naval fuperiority enabled them, at all limes, to choofe their point 
 of attack ; and their power was very formidable, when fuccefs in fighting 
 did not depend fo much on the numbers brought into the field, and the 
 fcientific tadics of their leaders ; as on the fkill, the experience, and 
 valour of individuals. It will be feen that Rollo, a fon of an carl of 
 Orkney, founded the Dukedom of Normandy in France ; and that a de- 
 fcendant of his, in the perfon of William the Conqueror^ founded the dy- 
 nafty of kings which ftlll governs England ; and that from an Earl of 
 Orkney our Gracious Sovereign derives his defcent : who happily unites 
 In his perfon the hereditaiy claims of all the fovereigns who ever fwayed 
 the fceptre in Scotland or in England. It will be feen that thefe Earls ex- 
 crcifed a very extenfive dominion, when compared with the dimenfions 
 and refources of the parent (late ; that they were feared, and their forbear- 
 ance often purchafed by the greateft monarchs. It is hard to fay how far 
 their power and dominion might have been extended in times fo favourable 
 for their projeds, liad they kept the fovereignty indivifible, and fliared 
 among their children only property and effeds. But the frequent divifion 
 
 of 
 
• •» 
 
 Vni PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 of their territories among their children, occafioned bloody contefts among 
 themfelves about the right of fucceffion ; and it was only when the whole 
 principality was united under a daring and enterprifing chief, that he could 
 extend his views abroad, or engage in foreign expeditions. 
 
 But fince the re-annexation of thefe Iflands to the crown of Scotland, 
 their progrefs has been retrograde, or, at leaft, they have become ftationary, 
 while other parts of the Empire were advancing in improvement. This 
 may partly be afcribed to their diftance from the feat of government ; the 
 frequent minorities of our kings ; and the many interruptions of their plans 
 for improving the fifheries, and promoting the profperity of their fubjefls. 
 The antient revenues which they furniflied for fupporting the dignity of 
 their Earls, and carrying on their government, were removed, and ex- 
 pended at a diftance ; and, in addition to thefe, the iflanders were fubjeded 
 to all the taxes impofed by the Scottifh, and afterwards by the Britifh 
 Parliament. The antient revenues, being moftly paid in kind, operate as 
 an invincible obftacle to the improvement of agriculture ; becaufe it is not 
 the intereft of the cultivator to improve the quality of the corn, meal, malt, 
 butter, and other articles he pays to his fuperior ; and he is only anxious 
 to procure the requifite quantity, however inferior they may be in quality. 
 Such payments alfo compel the cultivator to adhere to the antient fyftem 
 which was introduced at the commencement of agriculture, and operate as 
 an efFedual bar againft his adopting an enlightened rotation of crops, with 
 a fuitable proportion of green crops and fown grafles. From the known 
 patriotifm of the Noble Lord who holds in property the rents of the Earldom 
 of Orkney, it is to be hoped, that, were this matter properly reprefented to 
 him, he would agree to accept of the annual market price of the various 
 articles payable to him, to be afcertained by an impartial jury, in place of 
 the ipfa corpora. There can be no doubt but this commutation, while it 
 unfettered the induftry of the people, and relieved them from the domina- 
 tion of his fatraps, would much increafe his Lordfhip's fortune. 
 
 The aukward weights and meafures now ufed in coUeding thefe rents, 
 fhould alfo be abolifhed, and their value reduced to known and permanent 
 ftandards. The crown or bifhop's lands fhould alfo be rendered private 
 property, fubjed to a pecuniary converfion of the rents they now pay. 
 
 9 The 
 
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION, Jx 
 
 The next ftcp is the divlfion of commons; the abolition of run-rig, or 
 mixed occupancy of the cultivators of the full, and afligning to each a fe- 
 parate farm. — Thefe obftacles have hitherto retarded the improvement of 
 thefe Iflands, and, unlefs they be removed, improvement is phyfically im- 
 poflible. Thefe firft obfiacles being removed, tlie I'ubfcquent fteps of 
 improvement are ably detailed by our Author, in the progrefs of his 
 work. 
 
 In addition to what our Author has faiJ upon the improvement of the 
 fiflieries, the Editor begs leave to refer to a work of his lately publilhed, 
 entitled a Viczv of the Ijlatid of Arran, &c. wherein he points out arrange- 
 ments which he conceives to be indilpenfably neccflary for Government to 
 adopt, as well as individual proprietors, or our fiflieries muft remain for 
 ever in their prefent languifliing condition, and the nation be deprived of 
 the benefit of that population they are adapted to fuftain ; our naval great- 
 nefs of that additional ftrength they are calculated to fupply ; and every 
 clafs of our people of that command of commerce, and confequent wealth, 
 of which the filheries are the inexhauflible fourcc. He would feel much 
 diffidence if his ideas on this fubjed reRed entirely upon his own obferva- 
 tions ; but he has taken advantage of the experience of his friend Captain 
 Frafer, who has had much better opportunities of fludying the fubje£t, both 
 theoretically and by laborious inveftigation, and whofe ideas are found, 
 rational, and praftical. 
 
 In a Note fubjoined to p. 380. the Editor ftates, that other products, per- 
 haps more valuable than alkaline fait, may be extraded from the marine 
 fuci, or fea-weeds. lie conceives that this aflertion may require fome ex- 
 planation. Several years ago, when he was employed by the worthy 
 Lord Seaforth, in exploring his Ifland of- Lewis, having met with a con- 
 tufion vvhich rendered him incapable of doing his duty lomc time, he em- 
 ployed himfelf in making experiments on fea weeds. He found that they 
 contained the lalts which arc diilblved in lea-water ; foluble mucilage, and 
 a portion of ligneous fibres: but no particle of alkaline falts was he able to 
 trace in them, unlefs the plants were previoufly fubjecfted to combuftion or 
 to putrefadion. The mucilage was of tv/o forts, one of which diilblved 
 in cold, and the other in warm water. He tliought that a mucilage might 
 
 a be 
 
 ( 
 
X PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 be extraded from thefe weeds, of two forts, which might be of eflential 
 ufe in many of our manufad;ures. 
 
 But what he chiefly alludes to, is a bituminous fubftance he ftumbled 
 upon in thefe vegetables, which feems well adapted to fupply the place of 
 tar in the conftrucftion of fliips. It is more nearly allied to Japan varnifh, 
 than to common tar, and therefore he gave it the name of marine iianiifh. 
 As opportunity offered he made many experiments on this fubftance after- 
 wards, and fent feveral fpecimens of it to that refpedable Nobleman, Earl 
 Spencer, then Firft Lord of the Admiralty. It appeared to abound moft in 
 thofe fuci, which were fituated fartheft towards the north; and, when he 
 was laft in Caithnefs, he paffed over to Orkney, and devoted himfelf to the 
 conftrudion of an apparatus which might obviate all the errors he had for-^ 
 merly committed, and try the experiment on a large fcale. But in a thinly 
 inhabited country he could not get labourers, except when it fuited their 
 convenience, and the diftant points from which he was obliged to colled 
 his materials, occafioned fuch a lofs of time, that the feafon was too far 
 advanced, and the weather too bad, to admit of trying the experiment after 
 his apparatus was conftruded. 
 
 It is true we have public bodies whofe profefled objcd is to afford affift- 
 ance to experiments which may increafe the greatnefs, and promote the 
 profperity, of their country. But thefe are generally under fuch ftupid 
 management, that their only effed is to fwell the ephemeral importance of 
 thofe who dired them : and all wife and rational men endeavour to prevent 
 their ignorance from doing harm, and think much is gained when they 
 confine themfelves to childilli and frivolous purfuits ; as they defpair of 
 feeing them inftrumental in doing any good. 
 
 The refult of burning the fuci the Editor found to be, the produdion of 
 two fpecies of alkaline fait, — potafli and foda. The potafli feemed to be owing 
 to a combination of fome principle in the atmofphere with the mucilaginous 
 fubftance in the plant. The foda feemed to be produced from the decom- 
 pofuion, or fome change effeded upon the marine fait, which entered into 
 the compofition of the plant. He afcertained that the greater the heat, in 
 contad with atmofpheric air, the greater the quantity of alkaline fait pro- 
 duced from a given quantity of fuci j and that by a more fcientific com- 
 
 7 buftion 
 
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION, XI 
 
 buflion of our fea-weeds, we might obtain alkalii^e fait equal, or fuperior 
 In value to Spanifli barilla, while we alfo obtained the other produds 
 alluded to, of great ufe in our maaufadlure?, and in the conftrucliou of 
 fliips. All this he prnpofed to effe£t by methods which would lead a 
 greater proportion of our population to live upon the fea ; and thus they 
 would be qualified to man thofe fliips from which their previous labours 
 had excluded the irruptions of water. 
 
 The fcenery of thefe Iflands furprifcs a ftranger by its novelty. No 
 hedgeSjfevv trees, but ftuntcd bufliesin different places, which conflant cutting 
 for making creels or bafkets, prevents from attaining the fize of trees. I'he 
 iflands are generally low and of fmooth furface, and when feen from an 
 eminence, with the intervening founds and bays glancing in the fun-beams, 
 they appear like imoothed lawns interfeded by artificial ponds and canals; 
 with this fole difference, that the wild beauties and majeftic features of Na- 
 ture, far furpafs the puny efforts of hmiian ai t. 
 
 In fummer no darknefs, or very long days with fliort intervals of night ; 
 at this feafon the fetting and rifing fun, when feen from an eminence, ex- 
 hibits a fpedacle of the moft refplendent glory, which excites aftonifliment, 
 but which bafiles defcription. His orb, magnified to an enormous fize by 
 his oblique pofition, appears like a vaft globe of liquid iron finking into the 
 ocean. Bright flaflies of light are refledlcd from the bounding waves in 
 the diftant horizon, and refemble the commotion excited in water, when a 
 vafl; mafs of hot iron is plunged into it. Streams of various coloured light 
 tinge the intervening fea ; while the flcy is occupied by golden rays, which 
 fill more than a quadrant of the horizon. After the fun is down, the fplen- 
 did blaze of golden rays appears to move round towards the north ; and the 
 fun foon rlfes again, to the eaft of north, with renovated glory and 
 fplendor. 
 
 It may be neceffary to explain the views which have direded the Editor 
 in preparing this fecond Edition for the prefs. — He is aware that the ar- 
 rangement might have been improved ; but it fliould be confidered, that 
 the Reverend Author was more folicitous about the colledion of his ma- 
 terials than about their faftidious arrangement. That his work was not 
 drawn up amidfl: the calm receffes of ftudy, where method is expeded, 
 
 a 2 even 
 
XU PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 even when the matter is not worth the trouble of methodizing ; and that 
 materiam fuperabit opus. He made no alterations but fuch as he fuppofed 
 the author himfelf would have made, had he been alive. When he dif- 
 fered in opinion, or when he thought additional explanation neceflary, it is 
 generally fubjoined as a note, to which the letter E. is annexed. In confe- 
 quence of his diftance from the prefs, he obeferves that a few typographical 
 errors have crept in j but he is happy to find they do not materially affedt 
 the fenfe. 
 
 JAMES HEADRIGK. 
 
 Dunlchen by Forfar, 
 Nov. 1807. 
 
 CON- 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 INTRODUCTION - - - - - ' . i 
 
 BOOK I. 
 A View of the Iflands, confidered as a whole, combined with a Geo- 
 graphical Defcription of each - - ^ _ ^ 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Some Obfervations that Regard the IJlandt in general • - ibid' 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 A Geographical Defcription of the IJJands - - • - . j^ 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 An Account of the earlieft Inhabitants, with whatever is moft 
 Remarkable in their Manners, Cuftoms, and Inftltutions ; of the 
 Tranfadions and Charader of thofe People that conquered, and 
 mingled with, or fucceeded them ; and a Defcription of fome 
 remaining Monuments of both thefe People ; of the Changes 
 the Iflands underwent in fubfequent Ages under different Sove- 
 reigns and different Rulers; and the Influence thefe feem evidently 
 to have had in retarding their Improvement - - 68 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 The Time they were probably firfl difcovered, the Origin of their Name, their 
 frji Inhabitants^ and the Mode of Government that^ if not atfrji, at leaji 
 at a very early Period, feems ts have prevailed - - ibid, 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Of the Manners and Cufloms of the Piils - - - 89 
 
 CHAP^ 
 
XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 Of the Arrival of the Scandinavians ^ and their TranfaSlions in thefe IJlands \\i 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 Of the Tranfa£liom in the IJlands ^ till they became fubjecl to the Crown of Scotland i6o 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 Of feme Monuments of Antiquity that are afcrihed to the Scandinaviam^ or, at 
 
 leajt, referred to the Period when they pojfejfed thefe IJlands - 211 
 
 CHAP. vr. 
 Of the IJlands after they became Snbject to another Sovereign ; the many Changes 
 that they underwent ; and the influence which thefe feeni manifejily to have 
 ad, in retarding their Improvement - - . . 240 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 The prefent State of thefe Iflands, their favourable Situation and 
 Circumftances, and the Advantages that might be derived from 
 them - " - - - - - 268 
 
 CHAP I. 
 Their Natural Hijiory . - . - _ mj^ 
 
 Sect. i. Mineralogy - - - . - 269 
 
 Sect. 2. Botany - - - « . ^jz 
 
 Sect. 3. Zoology - - - - . ap^ 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 The Inhabitants of the IJlands - - - » 231 
 
 Sect. i. The Population - , - _ _ /^/^, 
 
 Sect. a. Manners and Cu/ioms - - « • ^37 
 
 CHAP^III. 
 Indujlry « - - . - . 349 
 
 Sect. J. Agriculture - • - - * 350 
 
 Sect. 2. Manifadures - - _ . » 274 
 
 Sect. 3. Commerce ... . . 288 
 
 Sect. 4, Fijheries - - - - -, - 391 
 
 Ap. 
 
CONTENTS. XV 
 
 l'*£C. 
 
 Appendix, No. I. — Diplona, or Dedunion, concerning the Genealogies of the 
 Ancient Counts of Orkney, from their Fir/i Creation to the Fifteenth Century : 
 Drawn up from the mofl aicthentic Records, by Thomas, Bijhop of Orkney, 
 with the AJfiftance of his Clergy, and others, in confequence of an Order from 
 Eric, King of Denmark .^ to invefligate the Right of William Sinclair to the 
 Earldom - - - - - - -4.01 
 
 Appendix, No. II. — Dean Gule's Tranflation of the foregoing Dedu&ion of the 
 Orkney Counts, tranfcribcd from the Original Copy bound in with Dr. Ben- 
 netts Book of Battles, a MS. originally belonging to the Family of Rcjlin, the 
 Second Page being fuhfcribed by William Sinclare of Roflin, at whofe Defire 
 the Dean fays this Tranflation was made. It afterwards fell into the Handt 
 of Dr. George Mackenzie, who, in the Beginning of the Third Volume of his 
 Lives, mentions it at large, giving us alfo an ExtraSl from the firjl Part of 
 the following Tranflation, The late Mr. James Macke?izie had the MS. 
 from Hildin, Dr. George^ s Nephew ; which he again gave to the Lord SinclarCy 
 who promifed to lodge it in the Advocate's Library, Edinburgh - a\o 
 
 Appendix, No. \\\.—From Sir James Balfour's Catalogue of the Scottijh Nobi- 
 lity, MS. in the Advocate's Library, Edinburgh. He was Lord Lyon, King 
 at Arms, in the Beginning of King Charles the Firm's Reign - - 420 
 
 Appendix, No. IV. — Earls of the Orkneys - - . _ ^34 
 
 Appendix, No. V. — Table of the Ancient Counts of Orkney, according to the 
 Genealogical Series above flated, alfo of the Line ofthefe Counts down to this 
 Day. A Succejjjonfo long continued, andfo well vouched, that no Family in 
 any Nation can boajl of the like ; having for its Foundation thefe concurring 
 Authorities ; firjl, thofe followed by the Little Parliament of this Country, in 
 their Genealogical Series before ??ientioned ; fecondly, thofe followed in the 
 Or cades ofTorfaus, and Orkneyinga Saga ; and laflly, the Authority of that 
 great Antiquary, Sir James Balfour, King at Arms, in his Catalogue of the 
 Scots Nobility - - - - - . -426' 
 
 Appendix, No. VI. — Exemplum ContraSlus Matrimonialis inter Screniffmum 
 Scotia Regem Jacobum Teriium et Screnijlmam Principem Margaretham 
 Potentijfmi Principis Chrijliani Primi Dania Norvegicc, et Svccia Regis 
 Filiam, E Torfai Hifl. ex trad urn - - . _ .28 
 
 Ap- 
 
Xvi ^ CONTENTS. 
 
 Appendix, Nc. Yll.-^Defcriptio Infularum Orchadiarum, per me Jo: Ben, 
 
 ibidem Colentem, in anno 1^2^ - - ,- - - 437 
 
 Appjendix, No. VIII — [^Frcm the CoUedion of Papers refpedllng Orkney, in 
 
 fojfcffion of the Antiquarian Society of Scotland.~\ - - 451 
 
 Appendix, No. IX. — A Short Relation of the mofl ConfiderahkThings in Orkney, 
 
 by Mr. Matheiu Mackailc, Apothecary at Aberdeen. — MS. Adv. Lib. Edin. 453 
 Appendix, No. X. — The Ads of Bailiary for executing of Jujiice through the 
 
 County of Orkney , _ . . _ . 460 
 
 Appendix, No. XI. — From the Orcades ofThormodus Torfaus - - 483 
 
 Appendix, No. XII. — Refpite in favour of Edward Sine/are and others for the 
 
 Slaughter of the Earl of Cathnefs. Fro?n the Original Parchment - 496 
 
 THE 
 
 J 
 
DIREiniONS FOR PLACING THE I'TATES. 
 
 Map of tlic Oikiiry I>laiiils ....... To fncc tho Title. 
 
 \'irw of Kitkwall . .......... Pa<;(' 23 
 
 Ca»tlc of Birsa 34 
 
 \'n \v of SliomiHSs, <S;c. ..... ...... 36 
 
 Dwartie Stone, under the IliU of Hoy ....... .41 
 
 Motliland Ciibllc, Wcstray - ... 63 
 
 Ancient Piciv House at Quanterness ......... 104 
 
 Stones of Stcnliouse Orkney ^ ........ . 217 
 
 Palace of the Bishop of Orkney, &c. ........ 236 
 
 Cathedral of St. Magnus, and Ruins of the Bishop's Palace .... 237 
 
 3luins of the Earl of Orkney's Palace < . .»,,,, 254 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 or THE 
 
 ORKNEY ISLANDS 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 J.N order that a more diflin(fl and comprehenfive view of thefe iflands 
 may be given, it is intended to look back to early times ; and, by means of 
 thofe feeble and fcattered rays of light, furnifhed occafionally by ancient 
 writers, to point out who were their firft inhabitants; from what country it 
 is probable they came ; to what form of government they were fubjedt ; 
 and what were their manners, their cuftoms, their religion and laws, till 
 towards the end of the ninth, or beginning of the tenth century, they 
 became incorporated in the mafs of their Scandinavian invaders. 
 
 The Scandinavians had about that time acquired, on their native lakes 
 and ftiores, a high degree of renown, both on account of their military 
 prowefs, and of the colonies which they had fent out, not only into Ork- 
 ney and Shetland, but alfo into the northern coads of Britain, the Feroes, 
 Iceland, and the Weflern Ifles. Into whatever country they came, or 
 whatever was their intention, to invade, to plunder, to conquer, or to pro- 
 cure fettlcments, they difplaycd the fame military fpirit which they had 
 done at home ; and, in Iceland, they added to this virtue a wifdora, which, 
 among a barbarous people, has feldom been equalled, and never furpaOed, 
 in forming themfelves into a regular republic, the laws and conftitution of 
 
 B which 
 
2 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 \\hich have been the admiration of the learned, and are as well authenti- 
 cated as thofe of any ^ate in ancient times. 
 
 That branch of the Sea dinavians who conquered the firft inhabitants of 
 the Orkney Iflands, and fettled among them, fhewed in their condudt the 
 fame intrepid fpirit, the fame love of glory and contempt of death, and all 
 the other prominent and diftinclive features, that marked the charadter of 
 the colonies as well as that of the parent ftate. This will appear evidenc 
 from the details that fhall be given in delineating their character, as dif- 
 played in their military tranfadtions and civil inftitutions; in their manners, 
 their cuftoms, their religious ceremonies and fuperftitions, feveral monu- 
 ments of which they have left behind them. 
 
 From about the middle of the fifteenth century, when the Idands ceafed 
 to acknowledge a foreign mafter, and were ceded to the Scottifh down (to 
 which, on account of their vicinity, they fhould have always belonged), 
 we fliall naturally be led to confider the change in their condition which 
 this new connexion produced. Here, inftead of the improvement that 
 might have been expeded, we are compelled, however reludantly, to re- 
 gret the unhappy influence which the charadter, combined with the number 
 and rapid fucceflion of thofe whom their new Sovereign appointed as 
 grantees, farmers, and rulers, appears but too evidently to have had, in re- 
 prefling the genius of the people, damping the ardour of their fpirit, and 
 checking their induftry in the arts of life. 
 
 After having thus taken a pretty extenfive view of the Iflands from the 
 time they were firft inhabited ; ftated fads, with the caufes that led to them, 
 and the confequcnces which they produced ; drawn with fidelity the por- 
 traits of the principal adois ; and traced the various changes which they 
 have undergone, to that period when they were granted irredeemably to a 
 fubjed, who foon afterwards fold them ; our attention will be direded to 
 their prefent ftate. 
 
 In this part of the plan, which we regard as of chief importance, the 
 utmoft pains (hall be taken to ftate fads fairly, and place them in the 
 cleareft and moft interefting point of view. In order that nothing, of 
 importance may be omitted, we ftiall give a fketch of their natural hiftory, 
 together with fome account of their population, and the manners and cuftoms, 
 
 character 
 
INTRODUCTION. ^ 
 
 character and Indiiftry of die people by whom they are at prefent inhabited. 
 As agriciihure conflitutcs not only the firfl: and moft neceffary, but the 
 noblefl: of all the arts, it Hiall be, under this laft divifion, treated of at con- 
 fiderablc length, along with a brief account of their filheries, their com- 
 merce, their manufa<flures, and particularly that of kelp, which for a long 
 time part has been juftly confidered as their ftaple commodity. In the exe- 
 cution of this part of our fubjed, many pradices will meet our approba- 
 tion ; fome will merit cenfure ; errors and defeds fliall be candidly pointed 
 out, and afcribed to what appears to be their true caufes; and fuch improve- 
 ments fuggefted, as may, it is apprehended, contribute in foine degree to 
 the advantage of the empire at large, as well as to the internal prol'perity 
 of the Iflands themfelves. 
 
 But neither their ancient nor their prefent ftate can be underilood accurately, 
 unlefs a previous defcription be given of the whole of the iflands that com- 
 pofe the group. Their furface, and general appearance, their temperature, 
 foil and climate, muft be ftated, and the advantages of their fituation accu- 
 rately pointed out; the excellence of their harbours, capable at all times of 
 receiving fliips almoft in any number, and of any fize, together with. the 
 figure, dimenfions, the relative fituation and the produdlions of each, the 
 improvements of which they are refpedively fufceptible, and the objeds of 
 curiofity which they contain, muft all be exhibited in fuch a confpicuous 
 point of light, that whoever attends to thefe particulars, may find no difficulty 
 in thoroughly comprehending the fubfcquent part of the work. 
 
 If the hiftory of thefe iflands be thus confidered, it will appear to be 
 both important and extenfive, and will naturally divide itfelf into three 
 books. 
 
 Book I. will contain, befides a general view of all the iflands that com- 
 pofe the clufter, a ftiort geographical defcription of each, comprehending- 
 its refpedive produdions, its figure, extent, and relative fituation, its har- 
 bours, and fuch other objeds as feem beft calculated to gratify a laudable 
 curiofity, or to ferve the more important purpofes of conveying ufeful in- 
 formation. 
 
 B 2 Book 
 
4 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Book II. will compnfe an account of the earlleft inhabitants; whatever 
 is moft remarkable in their manners, cuftonis, and inftitutions ; the tranf- 
 adions and charader of thofe people that conquered and mingled with, or 
 iucceeded them ; a defcription of fome remaining monuments of both thefe 
 races of people ; of the changes of the iflands in fubfequent ages, under 
 different rulers, and of the influence thefe feem evidently to have had in 
 retarding their improvement. 
 
 Book III. will exhibit the prefent ftate of thefe iflands with refped to 
 their mineral, vegetable and animal produdions ; their population, language, 
 manners, cuftoms ; and the different fpecies of induftry that prevail at this 
 time. Agriculture, in particular, on account of its importance, will occupy 
 a confiderable portion of this book ; to which will naturally fucceed, the 
 confideration of manufadures, fifheries and commerce : the caufes of their 
 low ftate at prefent will be confidered, and the means that might be em- 
 ployed for improving them to fuch a degree as could not fail to ameliorate 
 the condition of the people, and at the fame time contribute to the advantage 
 of the State. 
 
 BOOK 
 
[ 5 3 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 A VIEW OF THE ISLANDS, CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE, COMBINED WITH 
 A GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF EACH. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 SOME OBSERVATIONS THAT REGARD THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL; 
 
 1 HE iflands that compofe the group, known to the ancients by the 
 name of Orcades, and ftyled by the moderns Orkney, are fituated in the 
 Northern Ocean, between the coaft of Caithnefs, and Shetland, from the 
 former of which they are diftant only about four, and from the latter nearly 
 twenty leagues. From obfervatlons that have been taken with fufficient 
 fkill and accuracy, the latitude of Kirkwall, the centre, has been found to 
 be fifty-nine degrees and nine minutes north, and the longitude two degrees 
 and thirty minutes wcfl, from the meridian of Greenwich. Their form, as 
 may eafily be conceived, is, from the force of the ocean, and the rapidity of 
 the tides, extremely irregular; and, from this circumftance, the dimenfions . 
 of fome of them are alcert .ined with no fmall difficulty. 
 
 Of thofe that arc inhabited, fome are fo fmall as not to exceed a mile ia 
 length ; whereas the Mainland, or principal ifland, extends to nearly thirty. 
 They are feparated from one another by portions of water, denominated 
 founds, friths, or ferries, fome of which are only a mile broad, and others 
 more than five. Though thus clofely connected together, the whole of 
 them are of confiderable extent ; for, from the fouth weft to the north-eaft, 
 the points fartheft removed from each other, the diftance is not lefs than 
 feventy miles, and they are upwards of forty in the other diredion. 
 
 Compared with the flerile wilds in fome of the fifter iflands to the north, 
 or even with the lofty hills and bleak raarfliy plains to the fouth of them, 
 
 tliey 
 
^ OBSERVATIONS ON THE I3LAND3 IN GENERAL. BOOK I. 
 
 they gain fo much, that their appearance is pleafantly inviting and favour- 
 able. To the eye, their furface prefents much variety. 
 
 Great Britain itfelf is in a great meafure level towards the eaft coaft, 
 through its whole extent, from the North-Foreland Head in Kent, to Dun- 
 canfbay in Caithnefs, and rifes gradually as it advances towards the weft, till 
 it fwelis at laft into a ridge of hills or mountains, which Providence in its 
 kindnLfs feems to have ere£ted as a bulwark againft the fury of the Atlantic 
 wares. 
 
 The fame conformation, though comparatively on a very fmall fcale in- 
 deed, is obfervable in the Orkney Iflands. Many, to their fad experience, 
 too well know how low their eaftern coafts, efpecially toward the north, 
 are ; for this circumftance, more than any other, has caufed many fatal 
 fhipwrecks. 
 
 Towards the weft coaft, on the other hand, from the one extremity of the 
 iflands to the other, the land is fo elevated as, with a few interruptions, to 
 form itfelf into a range of hills, not high indeed, but much more fo than 
 what are generally met with in the interior of the country. Thefe hills, the 
 higheft of which does not exceed twelve hundred feet, do not always run in 
 the longeft diredion of the iflands, but frequently ftretch acrofs them ; and 
 while their fides that face the Weftern Ocean are bold and fteep in the ex- 
 treme, their oppofite ones, for the moft part, fhelve away into plains of 
 confiderable extent, with a gentle declivity *. 
 
 The ftiores in this quarter are in many places bounded by rocks awfully 
 majeftic. In fome places they remain entire : in others they have yielded 
 to the force of the billows and the ravages of time, and are confcquently 
 {battered into a thoufand different fhapes, altogether forming a fcene highly 
 interefting. To the philofopher, fuch a fcene prefents an opportunity of 
 contemplating the different ftrata, and even fometimes of difcovering fome 
 
 • The weftern elevation of thefe Iflands is owing to the pofition of the ftrata, which generally- 
 rife towards the weft, or fouth-weft, and dip, or are inclined, towards the eaft and north-eaft. We 
 believe the late Dr. Walicer was the firft who obferved that rocks, iflands, and continents, were 
 generally high towards the weft, and floped towards the eaft. Where the caufe of this, as in the 
 Orkneys, can be obferved to be the particular pofition of the mineral ftrata, it feems to indicate a 
 general conformity in the pofition of the ft»ata throughout the globe. But the caufe which pro- 
 duced this conformity of the ftrata, is wholly unknown. — E. . 
 
 6 of 
 
CHAP. I. OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. 7 
 
 of thofe valuable minerals, which have been for ages hidden in the bofom 
 of the earth, and would have been fo for ever, had not the ocean brouglit 
 them to light. If his foul be alive to the awful imprefTions of the fuhlime, 
 he will be loft in aftoniftiment in contemplating the tremendous power of 
 the billows, that on one hand of him have formed pillars of an immenfe 
 fize, and thrown arches of a magnitude fo vaft, as to mock the boldeft and 
 moft fuccefsful attempts of human art, and, on the other, dug in the foiid 
 rock, caverns fo dark and unfathomable, as cannot fail to ftrike the moft 
 undaunted heart with terror. But however grand and lubiime, or intereding, 
 fuch objeds may be, to either the intelledl or the fancy, we muft not b flow 
 on them fuch a degree of attention, as to negledt taking notice of thofe hills 
 that lye behind them. 
 
 Toward the fouth-weft, where they are h'gheft, with no great flretch of 
 imagination they maybe confideredasa continuation of thofe in Strathnaver*. 
 As they advance along the ocean towards the north, they gradually diminilli 
 in point of fize, till they fink as it were down into a plain, when they ap- 
 proach the noithern extremity. This circumftance alone, though we had 
 no other, might furniih fome ground to conclude that thcfe iflands had, in 
 fome remote age, been joined with, and made a part of the continent of 
 Great Britain. Several others concur to corroborate the fame opinion. 
 Separated from Caithnefs by a rapid frith of about twelve miles broad, ia 
 which feveral little iflands are fcattered, the fhores on l)Oth fides, if examined 
 accurately, will be found to contain many points of refemblancc. 
 
 If, on the one fide, the land be high, it is alio often fo on the other ; 
 the foil is fomettmes the fame on the oppofite fides j the nature of the rocks,.. 
 
 * Between the rocks on the weR ofOrlrnej', and tliofe of Strathnaver, the firft that sre viGble are 
 thofe at Sandfidc, in the pariih of Keay, Caiihnefs. Ncareft the fc.i, thefe are citliir calcareous- 
 fandftone, flag, or filicions fchlltus ; in fome places exhibiting veins or blotches of garnet rock. 
 They alfo contain ftrata of dark blue limeitone ; veins of ponderous fpar, in which mafles of 
 galena are interfperfed; and exhibit m:iny fiiiall ilrings and cubical cryftats of galena, dilTeminated 
 through the ftrata. Thefe rocks are inteice; ted by low elevations of fyenite, or red granite, behind 
 which higher ridges of micaceous fchiftus^ and of granite, occur. The other rocks tow.irds Strath- 
 naver have not been explored. 
 
 The weftern rocks of Orkney, facing thofe of Strathnaver, are moftly red, grey, and white 
 fendflone, and may have been conncfled with the others by a regular gradation ; though this is 
 not very probable.— E. 
 
 and 
 
S OBSERVATIOIJS Ol^ THE ISLA^NDS IN GENERAL. BOOK I. 
 
 and even their direflion, and the angle they form with the horizon, are 
 likewire fimilar; and the two high heads of Berey in Waas, and Dunnet in 
 Caithnefs, which may be confidered as the jaws of the Pentland Frith, have 
 been obferved to contain in theni rtrata of evident fimilarity. 
 
 Should thefe and fuch like appearances be confidered as having a tendency 
 to prove their former jumfUon with the continent, there are not wanting 
 Others to fhow, that probably in fome remote period the Orkney Iflands were 
 united together, and formed one continued tra£t of land. Befides the argu- 
 ments already adduced to prove their former connexion with the continent, 
 the different iflands exhibit on their oppofite fhores fo many qualities in com- 
 mon, as can fcarcely efcape the moft carelels obferver. To the eye, the 
 land on each f de of the water has the fame appearance, whether wet or dry, 
 high or low, green or heathy ; the plants, whether marine or terreftrial, are 
 very often of the fame kind, as are alfo the clay, fand, fhells and ftones ; 
 and wherever they (Iretch out towards each other, and the diftance between 
 them is fhort, the water is frequently fo extremely (hallow, as to render the 
 failing between them, even for boats and fmall craft, attended with danger, 
 ilf we attend to thefe circumftances, and allow them their due weight, even 
 if we took no notice of others of the fame , nature that might be mentioned, 
 we fhall be led to conclude, that what are now fo many iflands, diflferent in 
 fize, in figure, and in place, were once united to the continent and to one 
 another. Neither are agents wanting, in nature, to produce this effect, 
 which at firft fight might feem to be extraordinary. The waters of the 
 ocean, either adiiig by themfelves in a gradual, Ilov;, and imperceptible 
 manner, or that element, in conjundlion with fire hid in the bowels of the 
 earth, generating between them air, and fteam, or vapour, are abundantly 
 fufficient for that purpofe. Such agents have produced fimilar effeds in 
 many other inftances*. 
 
 To 
 
 •There is much probability in the conjeflure of our author, that the Orkney Iflands were 
 fcrnierly joined to the main land of Scotland, and to each other. It is alfo very probable, that 
 C.iithueis and the Orkneys were formerly much more extenfive than they are now. 
 
 But to account tor their feparaiion, or the diminution of their fuperficial extent, there is no 
 occafion to have recourfe to fubterraneous heat ; as we fee caufes every day optratir^g, fuliy ade- 
 <juate to produce the eticfts. In Caithnefs, where the ftrata are interfeded by veins of lojt matter, 
 
 the 
 
CUAV. I. OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. 9 
 
 To the fame caufes, Tingle or united, wc ought perhaps to afcribe the 
 exlftence of moftof the iflands that are to be found. 
 
 Great Britain herfelf, the principal one in the world, if not in extent, at 
 Jeafl: in point of induflry, riches, glory, and felicity, bears on her fouthern 
 extremity evident marks of having been once joined to her rival France. 
 Sicily claims the fame kindred with the oppofite Italian fliores ; the Canary 
 and Cape Verd iflands have, it is probable, formerly made a part of Africa ; 
 and that infinite multitude of iflands, which lye in the great Pacific Ocean, 
 and which the nobly enterprifing fpirit of this age and nation has difcovered 
 not only to fpeak the fame language, but to have many cuftoms in common, 
 have, it is likely, conftituted one continued immenfe tra£t of land, which 
 either fubterraneous fires, earthquakes, or the ocean, or all of them united, 
 have broken into thofe fragments that now appear. 
 
 Even continents themfelves, which from their nature might be fuppofed 
 
 the fea has cut mines very far into the land ; and is often feen milling acrofs hcaJLuids, througli 
 fuch mines, with terrible violence. 
 
 The Old Man of Hoy, though not mentioned by our author, affords an appofite iliuftration of the 
 opinion we formed on the fubjeft. This Ihipendous monument rifes bold from the fea, well from 
 the Wart, or Ward Hill of Hoy, the higheft land in Orkney. It is feveral hundred yards diftant 
 from the rocks of Hoy ; and, owing to the rife of the ftrata towards the weft, is seen, from remote 
 points of view, to overtop the high hills contiguous. Its elevation may be about 1,500 feel above 
 the fea. It exhibits a perpendicular fciilion of the fand-ftone ftrata, built upon each other with all 
 the regularity of mafonry. In fome afpedts it refcmbles a rude pyramid, wliofe bafe has been nar» 
 rowed by the waves ; and threatens to crufh you by its fall. In others it refembles the ruins of a 
 vaft cathedral, or of a turreted Gothic caftle. In no afpe<fl can it be contemplated without wonder 
 and aftonifliment, mixed with pious veneration of that Being who conftrufted the univerfe. 
 
 The rocks oppofite to the Old Man form a compartment, confifting of fand-ftone, alternating 
 with thick beds of clay, moftly of a red colour; and thofe towards the bottom, calcareous. Ic is 
 well known that the latter ftrata cannot rcfift the viciflltudes of the weather, and much lefs the 
 fury of the fea. That this compartment of fofter ftrata formerly extended to the OUl Man, and 
 that the chafm has been fcooped out by the fea, appears abundantly certain ; and likewife that the 
 Old Man is the fragment of another compartment, more hard, and capal)le of refifting the fury of 
 the waves. In proof of this it may be mentioned, that towards the north of the Old Man, where 
 the fofter ftrata are not defended by his daring firmncfs, they are undermined below, and the con- 
 fequent fall of the ftrata which reft upon them, has produced a fpeiflacle of the moft terrific ruins. 
 Thefc ftupcndous efFei?ls have been produced by the mere impulfe of the waves. But after the 
 waves had formed a pafi'.ige, fo that the tide could ebb and flow from one fea to anotlicr, the 
 rapidity of the currents would foon wafli away all the foft minerals oppofcd to them, and widen 
 their channel. Accordingly, no rocks are now feen in the Pcntland Frith, or other founds which 
 nnterfcft the Orkneys, expofed to the aftion of the currents, but what arc endowed with great hard- 
 nefs, which qualifies them to refift their erofive power. — E, 
 
 C more 
 
10 OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. BOOK J. 
 
 more permanent, are not exempted from revolutions. In one quarter, the 
 ocean is conftanlly beating down the land, wearing it away, and changing 
 its appearance fo much, that it can hardly be recognized. Sometimes it 
 fwallows up extenfive tradts of land, and buries in fand fpacious harbours, 
 while at other times it has left its ancient bed, and opened up new coun- 
 tries to view. That tliis capricious element is conftantly fhifting place, and 
 producing changes on the furface of this earth, cannot admit of a doubt, 
 fince on no other fuppofition can we account for the almofl infinite num- 
 ber of fhellf, corals, beds of oyfters, fea-fifli entire and broken, which are fo 
 frequently found in places the mod remote from the fea, even in the very 
 bowels of the earth, and on the tops of high mountains. But to return. 
 
 The hills compofing the ridge that fkirts the weftern coaft, as well as 
 thofe that interfeft the main land^ and occupy fome of the other illands, are 
 feldom fingle and detached, but for the moft part formed into ridges of fome 
 extent, with fmall intervening valleys ; and their tops, inftead of rifinghigh 
 into a conical form, are generally either flat or rounded. Some few of theni 
 are almofl entirely covered with verdure; the bottoms of moft of them con- 
 fift of corn-fields, interfperfed with patches of rich old grafs, excellently fitted 
 for the feeding of black cattle ; the foil confifts of fandy or clayey loam j 
 their fides produce an excellent mixture of heath and grafs, for flieep pafture, 
 on a thin ftratum of peat-mofs, while their tops are ufually brown, on a 
 bottom of peat-mofs, clay, or gravel. There are fpots on fome of them 
 delightfully romantic, where the attention is arretted, and the ear pleafed 
 with the murmurs of the rills, and the eye feafts on flowers, that rear their 
 heads and fhed their fragrance amidft various kinds of ftirubs. 
 
 But what is of much more confequence, Providence, ever bountiful in 
 adding to the comfort of man, has with no fparing hand fpread peat-mofs 
 over a confiderable portion of thefe iflands. From obfervations that have 
 been made on this fubftance, as it occurs in different fituatlons, it has been 
 found to exhibit a very dlff"erent appearance on elevated ground, from 
 what it does on the plains. In low ground it is more black, more fmooth,. 
 and of a much more- coaly appearance. On the hills it is more foft and 
 fpongy, lefs difpofed to adhere or unite into a mafs, and of a much browner 
 colour; the latter kind, when put on the hearth, kindles inflantly into st 
 
 blazej 
 
CHAP. I. OBSERVATIOKS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. II 
 
 blaze, and is confumed with rapidity ; the former catches the flame more 
 flowly, but burns with more force, and for a much longer time. If peat- 
 mofs be a fubftance compofed of matter derived from vegetables, fuch as 
 thofe plants that are called mufci or molTes, woo.l, heath, and others of a 
 fimilar nature, in a certain ftage of their putrefadion, this difference, which 
 is no lefs ftriking than general, can be explained on rational principles. Heat 
 and moifture, it is well known, are two of the moft ailive agents in fer- 
 mentation; and they have carried on that procefs much farther in the peat- 
 mofs in low, warm, and moifl: ground, than in places that are more cold and 
 dry, on account of their fnperior elevation*. 
 
 This fubftance, combined with clay or with fand, forms a foil here as 
 common as any other, and univerfally known by the name of Yarpha, or 
 bog foil, whofe chara^Steriftic is a black colour conne£led with the power of 
 retaining moifture, which has been fuppofcd to account for the dampnefs 
 prevalent in the country. As the iflands, however, confift of hill and dale, 
 high and low land, as well as of plains of confiderable dimenfions, they muft, 
 it is evident, in regard to foil, admit of much variety. 
 
 Accordingly, in thofe places that are moft elevated, the yarpha foil is 
 moft frequent ; in plains, that which is compofed of fand more commonly 
 predominates. In fhort, fand, clay and gravel, together with fandy loam, 
 clayey loam, and gravelly loam, and the yarpha already mentioned, which 
 is evidently compofed of fand or clay, in union with a coaly matter derived 
 from decayed vegetables, make up the lift of foils combined together in an 
 almoft infinite variety of proportions, through the different diftrids of the 
 fame ifland, or in different iflands. 
 
 * The rtreisc of this is generally the cafe in the fouthern diflriAs of Scotland. Moflcs, in low, 
 flat fituations, generally yield a porous fpongy peat, of a brown, or ycllowifh colour ; while thofe 
 on higher grounds yield a hard black peat. The reafon is, tliat the firll kind of moflcs are gene- 
 rally in a growing (late, while the latter have long ccafec" t ' grow, or to increafe in bulk. When a 
 mofs has cc.ifed to grow, it gradually alfumes a coat of co.ir j herbaceous plants, beneath which the 
 denfcft peat is always found. No putrcfaiftive pi-ocefs gees on in molfcj, unlefs it be excited 
 by artificial means. The mofs plants, by long maceration in water, are gradually reduced to a 
 pulpy ftatc ; and the denfity of the peat is commonly proportioned to the len;;th of time the plants 
 have been fubjt'i5led to that maceration. Perhaps fome part of the effcifl may be owing to the fpccies 
 of the plants thcnifelvcs. The mufd are a very numerous tribe of plants, nod yet fufficiently ex- 
 plored by botanills. Many of them arc fo fmall as to efcape the naked eye, — E. 
 
 C 2 Various, 
 
12 OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. BOOK I. 
 
 Various, however, as they are, they poflefs fome qualities in common ; 
 for they are almofl all of them thin or fhallow, fcldom more than one or 
 two feet deep at moft, refting on the folid rock, without any intervening 
 ftrata ; and, with a very few exceptions, they are uncommonly fertile. So 
 much indeed is this the cafe, that, were the hand of inJuftry direded to 
 their cultivation with the fame (Ivill, and exerted with the fame vigour that 
 it is in other places, they would yield to few other parts of the kingdom in 
 the produdion of feveral of the common forts of grain, of almoft all kinds 
 of graffes, roots, and other valuable vegetables. 
 
 But to what caufes are we to afcrihe this fertility which fo far exceeds 
 expedation ? Tlie very rocks, perhaps, on which the foil refts, and which, 
 on a fuperficial view, might appear to render it unfruitful, may by their 
 nature contribute fome way or other to an effed that is fo beneficial. Some 
 of thefe rocks are aluminous, or compofed of clay, others are a kind of 
 fand-ftone, and both of them are frequently fo foft and friable, as to break 
 ■with the plough, and mix in fmall portions with the foil that covers them. 
 In fome few places, calcareous rock or limeftone forms a bed for the foil, 
 more hard, more folid, and far lefs liable to be broken into fragments : but 
 whether any of thefe beds, or all of them, have any influence in rendering 
 the foils they fupport more fertile, is a point not of very eafy determination. 
 They may perhaps part with a portion of their fubftance, to furnilh thofe 
 ingredients which render the foil produdive ; or perhaps they only prevent 
 the rain from fmking below the roots of the plants, and at the fame time 
 colled the rays of the fun ; and the heat and moifture thus produced by 
 their means, may not only furniOi and prepare food for the difierent plants, 
 but even ftrengthen the powers of vegetation *. 
 
 The climate of thefe iflands, bad as it may be, has frequently been re- 
 prefented as worfe than it is. To afcertain its real nature, fo as to inftitute 
 a comparifon between it and that of other countries, a train of obfervations 
 
 * A confideruble extent of the folid ftrata of the Orkneys confifls of calcareous fand-ftone flag; and 
 the lime-iione ftrata are only the fame variety of rock, with a greater proportion of lioie and of bltii- 
 men in their conipofition. The deconipofition of thefe rocks leaves in the foil, or fub-foil', a portion 
 of carbonate of lime, which occafions the fertility in qiieftion. This fhews, that in eftimating the 
 ^mlue of primary foils, how important it is to afcertain the quality of the rocks on which they reft, 
 and from whofe decompofition they have been, fonned-— £► 
 
 mud 
 
CHAP. I. OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS JN GENERAL. 1^ 
 
 muft be formed, founded on an exati reglftcr of the weatlier, kept for a 
 length of time by a flcilful hand, with inftruments conftrudcd for the pur- 
 pofe, and placed in a convenient fituation. As none fuch have yet been 
 made, we are in a great meafure ignorant on this point, except fo far as we 
 are guided by our own obfervation. 
 
 Many hundred years iigo, it was obferved that the fouth-weft wind was 
 more prevalent tlian any other in Great Britain. The fame obfervatioa 
 may with propriety be extended to this country ; for the wind blovi'S more 
 frequently from that point of the compafs than from any other, and at the 
 fame time with more violence ; and, as it comes from the mountainous tra£l 
 of the Weft Highlands, brings, as might be expected, not only the moft 
 frequent, but the heavieft: rains, and alio raifes the tides through the whole 
 {hores to their greateft elevation. From the fouth-eafl, too, the winds are 
 very frequent, and fometimes even ftormy. In the fpring, fummer, and 
 harveft months, while thefe winds prevail, the weather is fometimes dry and 
 cold, fometimes damp, and not unfrequently thick, dark, and foggy; and 
 ■when this laft kind of weather continues for any time, it feldom fails to 
 have a manifeft efrc(St in depreffing the animal fpirits, and generating colds, 
 coughs, fore throats, and fimilar complaints that are the effedls of fuch a 
 ftate of the atmofphere. On the other hand, the north-weft, north, and 
 north-eaft winds, bring for the moft part cold, drv, wholcfome weather, "nd 
 in the fame degree that the others relax and fink, thefe brace and elevate 
 the animal fyftem. The eaft and weft winds are neither remarkable for 
 their ftrength, nor their long continuance, nor indeed are they marked with 
 any ftriking peculiarity. Seldom do calms for any length of time prevail 
 here ; and the winds, from whatever quarter they blow, and in whatever 
 feafon, are feldom or never tempeftuous, but often loud and ftrong ; and 
 this circumftance has an evident tendency to render the climate falubrious. 
 
 Through the whole of the iflands, rains fall in confiderablc quantity; but on 
 the weft coaft, on account of its fuperior height, by far the greateft quantity 
 falls. During the winter, when in other parts of the kingdom the land is 
 locked up in froft, and deep buried in fnow, rains more conim<;nly previtil 
 here, and are either fo conftant, or recur fo foon, that they render it incon- 
 renieiit to travel either by land or water; and, befidcs drenching the culti- 
 vated 
 
14 OBSEIIVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. BOOK I, 
 
 vated fields, and hurting the roots of the grafs, introduce difeafes among 
 Iheep, horfes, and black cattle. From thefe and fome other eiFe£ts that 
 might be mentioned, as well as from lome recent atttmpts to obtain a mea- 
 furement, we have reafon to conclude that the annual quantity of rain that 
 falls in thefe illands amounts to twenty-fix inches at an average. 
 
 Snows are neither fo frequent, nor in fuch quantity ; but they come 
 "with confiderable violence, and generally from the north-weft and fouth- 
 eaft quarter of the heavens ; and though what falls in the courfe of a year 
 may not be much fliort of the quantity in other northern diftrids, it con- 
 tinues only a few days at a time on the furface uf the earth, owing perhaps 
 not only to the greater warmth, but alfo to the vapours that are conftantly 
 rifing from the fea and floating in the atmofphcre. A peculiarity of the 
 climate with refpe£l to the feafon of fnow and hall, merits fome attention. ■ 
 Some part of the month of June, which in Britain is well known to be of 
 a pleafant and genial warmth, is here often not only colder than the pre- 
 ceding months, but almoft as much fb as any winter month. For about 
 two weeks, and even fometimes more, about the middle of that month, the 
 wind blows from the north, ftrong and piercing, accompanied with fnow 
 and hail fhowers, which drive domeftic animals to feek fhelter ; clothe the 
 fields with a dreary afpefii:, by checking the progrefs of the young plants, 
 and blafting their buds and their blofToms, and to a ftranger would feem to 
 threaten the iflands with famine. As foon as that period is part, the wind 
 veers round, warm fhowers fucceed, which revive the tender herbage, which 
 now recovers its former bloom and verdure; the whole tribe of animals 
 again rejoice, and the heart of the hufbandman is gladdened with the prof- 
 pe£t of future plenty. 
 
 The caufe of this extreme and feemingly unnatural cold, evidently is the 
 diffolving of the immenfe fields of ice in the Northern Ocean, which hap- 
 pens at that feafon, and the confequent evaporation. 
 
 About forty years ago, the north wind wafted over the ocean, what is 
 flill recolleded by the old people, by the name of the black fnow, which at 
 the time ftruck the inhabitants with terror a-id aftoniftiment. Ever inclined 
 lo dread any uncommon appearance, which they have neither the capacity 
 zior inclination to account for or explain, as portending fome calamity, the 
 
 people 
 
CHAP. I. OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. I5 
 
 people were in the mofi: painful perplexity in regard to the threatened dif- 
 after, when their tears were happily difpellcd by an acoi.u..t of an eruption 
 of Mount Hecla, from which, in all probability, th's black fnow proceeded. 
 If the didance between Iceland and O.kncy ftap-gcrs the faith of any with 
 refpe£t to this matter, they fliould recollect what has been Rated as a faft, 
 that in fome of the eruptions of iEtna or Vefuvius, the alhes have been 
 carried by the winds to the plains of Egypt*. 
 
 The climate prefents to us another ftriking peculiarity. In m )fi: other 
 countries, it is well known, thunder and lightning are, if not the efTcd, at 
 lead the attendant of warm weather in fummer; and commonly the more 
 hot and fultry that feafon happens in fuch places to be, tltey occur the more 
 frequently. The reverfe of all tliis happens here ; for they very (eldom are 
 obferved in fummer, even in the hotteft weather, but mofl commonly in 
 winter, not indeed when the temperature is mild and the fky ferene, but 
 when the elements are in commotion : when it blows, rains, halls, or fnowp, 
 thunder and lightning are frequently the confequence. To whatever cau!c 
 we may afcribe their appearance at this feafon, it feems to have no influence 
 in rendering ihem either more violent or deftrudive ; they are lefs fo here 
 than in other places ; they are not accompanied with hailftones of fuch vafl: 
 magnitude ; nor have they fuch a tremendous glare, nor fuch loud and 
 awful peals. 
 
 Notwithflanding thcfe irregularities, the climate poflefles one quality fu - 
 perior to what is found in more favoured countries. As the iflands ftretch 
 far to the north, it might have been expedled they would have experienced 
 all the inconveniences that arife from the extremities of heat and cold, that 
 are felt under the fame parallel in either the old or the new continent. 
 This, however, is by no means the cafe ; for, while the inhabitants of 
 Hudfon's Bay and Peterfburg are alternately panting with heat, or fliiver- 
 ing with cold, the inhabitants of the Orkneys enjoy a temperature compa- 
 ratively mild and moderate. In proof of this, it may be obferved that the 
 medium heat, as appears by the fprings, amounts to forty-five degrees ; and 
 the whole range, between the extremities of cold in winter and heat in 
 
 ''Buffon, Hilt Naturelle. 
 
 fummer, 
 
l6 OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. BOOK" J. 
 
 luinmer, is from twenty- five to fcventy-five degrees of Fahrenheit's thermo- 
 meter. The range of the barometer is three inches. Hence, the few epide- 
 mical dilbrders which occur as the confequence of extremities of temperature, 
 the good health and vigour, which the people often enjoy to an advanced 
 age, and the inftances that we fometimes meet with of longevity. There 
 are none of t'hofe difcafes that are called endemical. 
 
 Thus, befides much variety and confiderable extent of furface, an ex- 
 cellent foil, capable by due cultivation of furnifliing abundance, and a cli- 
 mate by no means very unfavourable, the iflands poflefs other advantages 
 that refult from their nature and circumftances. We fhall finifh this general 
 account with a fliort notice of the conveniences which they poffefs for naval 
 accommodation. 
 
 Around their whole coafis, the land, with a few exceptions, may be de- 
 fcried at the diftance of ten leagues, where the water is in depth fifty-two 
 fathoms. So near the weft fhore as one league, the depth of water is be- 
 tween forty and fifty fathoms ; but on the oppofite fide of the group, at 
 the fame diftance from land, the depth of the v/ater does not exceed thirty- 
 two fathoms. 
 
 The flood-tide. In moft places, comes from the north-weft, and, when 
 no obftacles from land, rocks, or fhallows intervene, direfls its courfe to the 
 eaft, fouth-eaft or fouth, according as it is new made, half run, or approach- 
 ing to ftill water. 
 
 At full and new moon, It is high water about half an hour after nine, 
 when the ordinary fpring-tldes rife eight feet perpendicularly, and the ex- 
 traordinary ones fourteen ; and at the quadratures, the ufual neap-tides rife 
 three and a half, and fuch as are uncommon above fix feet in height. 
 
 The greateft rapidity of the fpring-tides, even In thofe channels where 
 they run quickeft, is nine miles In an hour, and the neap-tides have only 
 about a fourth part of that velocity. 
 
 If thefe fpring-tides be either at their greateft height, or their loweft, the 
 •water conthuies ftill for the fpai c of only half an hour; and if the neap- 
 tides, it remains one hour and an half. 
 
 From whatever quarter fhips come, there Is almoft at all times an eafy 
 -and ready accefs to fuch as are acquainted with the proper channels ; and 
 
 S as 
 
CHAP. I. OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. I7 
 
 as foon as they have got within the precin£ts, however ftormy the weather 
 may be, or however Ihattered their condition, little or no difficulty will arife 
 to their finding an excellent harbour. For one part of the year, the nig'it 
 is nearly as fit as the day for entering the harbours ; for fo far-do the iflands 
 extend to the north, and fuch is the effedl of having no land immediately 
 beyond them, that the twilight is in general fo bright for two months in 
 the fummer, as to enable a perfon, with the ordinary powers of vlfion, to 
 read in the houfe at midnight with the utmoft facility. Neither does the 
 darknefs even at other feafons, either much retard or endanger the entrance 
 of fliips, or their failing among thefe iflands ; for the moon, from the re- 
 flection of the water, fhines with fuch an uncommon degree of fplendour, 
 that not only the little iflands, but even the rocks and tides are almofl: as 
 confpicuous in the night as in the day. But even in the long nights, and 
 when the moon does not fliinc, light from a diflerent fource feafonably rifes 
 to facilitate navigation, by dil'pelling the darkncis that would otherwife over- 
 fpread our coafts. 
 
 This is the Aurora Borealis, now very improperly denominated the 
 Northern Lights, fince, by late difcoveries, they have been found to belong 
 equally to both hemifpheres. Here they happily appear, both more fre- 
 quently and with greater fplendour, than in mod other regions ; for during 
 the harveft, winter, and fpring months, they arife almofl: every unclouded 
 night, and often fliine with the moft magnificent brilliancy. 
 
 The light of the moon at her quadratures, fometimes, on fuch occafions, 
 fcarcely equals them in illuminating the friths and the iflands. 
 
 Between the fetting of the fun and the clofe of the twilight, they com- 
 monly make their fiift appearance in the north, iflliing for the mofl: part 
 from behind the clouds, like a fountain of pale light, the form of which is 
 undefined, and continue in this ftate a little above the horizon, fometimes 
 only for a Ihort period, and at other times for the fpace of feveral hours, 
 without any motion that can be difcovered. They form themfelves one 
 while into an arch, the height of which is about thirty degrees, and its 
 breadth about fixty ; and the pillars on which it is fupported feveral times 
 broader than the rainbow ; and fo long as they retain this fhape, they are 
 without any fenfible motion. At another time, they extend farther over 
 
 D the 
 
iS OBSERVATIONS ON THE ISLANDS IN GENERAL. BOOK I. 
 
 the heavens, rife much higher, anume a greater variety of fhapes, and dif- 
 cover a dufky hue, with a motion that is flow, but perceptible. Very often 
 they exhibit an appearance quite different, and fpread themfelves over the 
 whole heavens, diffufmg every where a furprifing degree of light, and ex- 
 hibiting the moft beautiful phenomenon. 
 
 Their motion, in this cafe, is in various direftions, extremely fwift, and 
 as it were in feparate columns, refembling fomewhat the evolutions of a 
 great army. Their lowefl: extremities are diftindly defined, and deeply 
 tinged with the colours of the rainbow ; but their upper ones are tapering 
 and fainter. -In feveral places at once, they kindle into a blaze, dart along 
 in almoft all diredions, for fome feconds at a time, and then, as if by the 
 ftrength of their exertions they had fpent their force, they are extinguifhed. 
 in a moment, leaving a brown track in the fky behind them. Near the 
 place where they difappeared, in a fhort time they flafh out anew, and with 
 equal rapidity trace the fame path in fimilar motions, and again expire in 
 the fame manner. Thus they often continue for feveral hours together, to- 
 the great fatisfadion and amufement of the fpedaiors on land, and advanr- 
 tage of the mariner, when they gradually die away, and leave through the 
 whole heavens a colour refembling that of brafs. If the night be uncom" 
 monly ftill, and their motions very rapid, a whizzing noife has been thought 
 to have been diftindly heard from them at various intervals. This beauti;- 
 ful corrufcation, which has never yet been fatisfadorily explained, is faid to 
 have appeared much feldomer eighty or ninety years ago, than it does at 
 prefent. It appears now, however, very often, and feems to occupy that 
 fpace in the heavens which is between the region of the clouds and the 
 fummit of the atmofphere, as the clouds in motion never fail to eclipfe it j. 
 and as it cannot be feen from two places greatly diftant from one another at 
 once, nor yet in conjundion witli the fame fixed ftars, it evidently has no. 
 great degree of elevation. 
 
[ ^9 3 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 A GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 
 
 Though many of the ancients mention this country, there Is good rea- 
 fon to believe that their knowledge of it was very limited ; eiiher from not 
 having beftowed on it the degree of attention neceflary, or from having 
 drawn their information from an erroneous fource. The truth of this ob- 
 fervation will readily gain credit, if it be confidered that they differed widely 
 in opinion, not only with regard to what, in its own nature, was more 
 intricate, but even concerning the very number of the iflands, which was 
 not a point certainly very difficult to afcertain. While fome of them 
 reckoned the number only three, others extended it to forty, and others 
 thought it more confiflent with truth to ftate them at fome of the interme- 
 diate numbers *. 
 
 Depending on no fuch vague authority, our Information Is drawn from 
 an adual furvey, made half a century ago, with much fkill and accuracy, 
 and fince confirmed by repeated obfervations f . According to this furvey, 
 
 * The fole or the principal authors among the ancients who have mentioned thefe iflands, 
 
 follow : 
 
 A. D. N» 
 
 45. Pomponius Mela, lib. 3. c. 6. who reckons them - - - 30 
 
 77. Pliny, lib. 4. c. 16. who dates them at no fewer than - - - 40 
 
 84. Juvenal, who makes no mention of their number. 
 
 97. Tacitus. 
 140. Ptolemy --..-.....30 
 
 116. Suetonius. 
 
 240. Solinus, who reckons them only at- - « - ..3 
 
 306. Eutropius. 
 
 397. Claudian. 
 
 416. Orofius ----.-_--. j3 
 
 552. Tornandcs, Goth. c.i. - - - - - - - 34 
 
 406. Itinerarium Antonini. 
 
 657. Ifidorus, lib. 14. c. 6. - • - - • . • . jj 
 
 •J- Mr. Murdo MacKenzie, a native of this place, who being well acquainted with mathematical 
 fcience, undertook a nautical furvey about 1750, which he completed to the entire fatisfadion of 
 naval people, who, in a matter of this kind, arc the only competent judges. 
 
 D 2 their 
 
20 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 their number amounts to no fewer than fixty-feven, twenty-nine of which 
 only are inhabited ; and the remaining thirty-eight, which in the primitive 
 language of the country have been denominated Holms, are much inferior 
 in point of fize, and have always been appropriated to pafturage. Befides 
 all thefe, there are feveral which are overflowed at high water, and have 
 fcarcely any foil for the prcdudtion of vegetables ; on thefe, land animals 
 can with difficulty fubfift : thefe, in the fame language, are called Sherries, 
 a name which indicates fharp, ragged rocks. Even in thefe, however, in- 
 fignificant as they may appear, temporary huts are fometimes ereded in the 
 fummer feafon, on purpofe to accommodate a few people employed in cut- 
 ting, colleding, drying and burning the marine plants for the kelp manu- 
 fadure. The Holms are at that feafon frequently occupied in the fame 
 manner, for the fame beneficial purpofe. As the grafs on the latter feems 
 to be very fine, and is at the fame time luxuriant, both the fheep and cattle 
 that feed on them foon acquire an uncommon degree of fatnefs. But there 
 is fomething either in the nature of the plants which they produce, occa- 
 fioned by their being frequently drenched by the fait water, or in the ani- 
 mals fometimes feeding on fea-weed, that renders their flefh lefs pleafant 
 than that of others fed in different circumftances. Situated for the moft 
 part near the larger iflands, from which they appear to have been torn, both, 
 the Holms and Skerries belong generally to thofe proprietors whofe lands 
 are not the neareft, but divided from them by the (halloweft water. 
 
 Excellent are the haunts they form for feveral kinds of amphibious ani- 
 mals. To them the feal, and the otter in particular, very often refort ia 
 hot weather ; where, ftretching themfelves at full length on the rocks, they" 
 ba{k in the fun's rays, for many hours at a time, with the utmoft apparent 
 fatisfadion. They are joined in this fequeftered abode by various kinds of 
 fea-fowls, both native and migratory, which repair thither in the proper 
 feafon, with a viejv to build their nefts and rear their young unmolefted. 
 
 The other iflands, which have been already mentioned as amounting to 
 twenty-nine in number, are in general of a much larger fize, and all in- 
 habited, fome of them better, and others worfe ; but all of them poffeffing 
 a population much inferior to what it might be, were that degree of culti- 
 vation bellowed which would richly reward the hand of induftry. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 21 
 
 The names they feverally bear, though at firft fight they may feem to be 
 whimfical and arbitrary, are perhaps derived fome of them from their form 
 and appearance, fome from their foil, their fize or their fituation, and fome 
 from places on the continent from which the inhabitants from time to time 
 migrated, and where it may be eafily conceived they left behind them 
 many objects of their affedion. 
 
 Not only Norway, lait even Iceland, contain places of the fame name 
 with fome of thofe that diftinguilh thefe iflands; and, what may juftly 
 excite more fur^ rife, feveral of the Ha:buda:, or Weftern iflands, have 
 the fame names alfo, which perhaps they have obtained when occupied 
 by the fame people, or when under the dominion of the ancient Counts 
 of Orkney *. 
 
 To the flighteft obfervation it will appear, that the names of moft of 
 the iflands terminate in a, aj\ or ey, all of which, in the different dialeds 
 of the Gothic language, (of which that formerly fpoken here was unquef- 
 tionably one), fignify an ifland of a large extent, as Holm implies one that 
 is fmaller, and only fit for pafturage f . 
 
 From time immemorial, and indeed perhaps fince they were firft inha- 
 bited, they have been divided into north and fouth ifles, on account of their 
 fituation, with refpedl either to the mainland, or, more probably, to Kirk- 
 wall, which for many ages paft at leaft has been confidered as their capital. 
 Following this divifion, we fliall begin with the principal ifland, which, on 
 account of its importance in feveral refpedls, juftly merits the preference. 
 
 • D.Monro, Dean of the Ifles, MS. Adv. Lib. Edinburgh. — The names which the inhabited 
 iflands at prefent bear, together with the fame as mentioned by X Buchanan and 4' Torfxus, 
 follow. Pcntl.md Sl;erry. Swanay, X Suna, + Sviney. Waes, X Valis. •f Kalfey. Flotay, 
 •p Flota. Faray, + Fara. Cava. Riffa. Hoy, X Hoja, <*• Haey. Grsmfay, X Gramfa, <t 
 Grimfey. S. Ronaldfhay, X Ranaldfa, <* Rouvaldfay. Burray, X Burra, -i- Borgar. Lamb- 
 holm. Copinihay, X Cobefa, + Kolbcnfey. Mainland, X Pomona, '^ Pomona. Damfay, X 
 Damifey, f Daminfey in fmu Urldafiordo. Shapingfhay, X Siapinfa. Gairfay, X Gerfa, 4> 
 Garckfey. Weir, X Vira, ♦ Foeroe. Inhallow or Enhallow, -f Eyinhalga. Stronfay, X 
 Stronfa, ♦ Strionfey. P.ipay-Stronfay. Eday, rf Eidoe. N. Faray, X Fara, + Fridarey. 
 Sanday, '^ S.indey. N. Ronald(hay, + Ronardfey. Weftray, X Vertra, Vefturey. Papay-Weftray, 
 X Papa, -t Papey or Papley. Egillhay, X Eglifa, * Eigilfey. Rufay, X Rufa, ♦ Rolfsey. 
 
 Thofe without any mark before ihem are mentioned by neither of thcfe authors. 
 
 \ Ihre, Glof. Suigoih. 
 
 I. The 
 
S2 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 I. The ingenuity of etymologlfts has been exercifed, to account for the ori- 
 gin of the names of the Mainland, or Pomona. The latter appellation 
 lias been traced, ridiculoufly enough, to a word in the Roman language, 
 that implies the core or heart of an apple, in allufion to the fituation of this 
 with regard to the reft of the iflands. Two Britifh words, ^o«, moti^ parva 
 patria^ or fmall country, have alfo been alligned as the origin of this name ; 
 and the authors who have cfpoufed thefe different opinions, have fupported 
 them with a warmth far beyond the importance of the point to be afcer- 
 tained. The former has alfo been traced to different fources, the moft pro- 
 bable of which is two Icelandic words that fignify Greatland ; and this name 
 is very applicable, if a comparifon be made between it and the other iflands. 
 But whatever may have been the origin of thefe names, they have either 
 been confidered as of little moment, or involved in obfcurity, fince the in- 
 genious hiftorian, * to whom we are indebted for much of our information 
 refpeding the ancient ftate of this country, though he has attempted an 
 explanation of the names of fome of the reft, has paft in filence that in 
 queftion, though an ifland of much greater confequence. 
 
 From eaft to weft, its longeft diredion, it extends not lefs than thirty 
 Englifti miles, and through that fpace difcovers, in point of appearance, 
 foil, culture and elevation, a very confiderable degree of variety. 
 
 A ridge of hills, of no great height, rifes towards its eaftern extremity, 
 which ftretches weftward along the north fide of the parifli of Holm, fuffers 
 an interruption at the bay of Scalpa, is continued again through a confider- 
 able part of the parifti of Orphir, (where the diredion is fuddenly changed 
 toward the north at nearly a right angle), and extends through the pa- 
 rifties of Frith and Rendal, fix miles diftant from, and in a line nearly 
 parallel to, the hills of Stromnefs and Sandwick, the weftern boundaries 
 of the ifland. 
 
 Through this whole extenfive trad, the hills are generally green on the 
 fides, many parts of which are very produdive when cultivated ; and the 
 tops are covered with fuch an excellent mixture of various forts of grafs and 
 
 * Torfseus. 
 
 1 heath, 
 

 5: 
 
 ^ 
 
 * 
 
 
 N 
 X 
 
 (; 
 
CHAP. n. GEOGTIAPIIICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 23 
 
 heath, as afFords almofl: conftantly a fecure haum for muhitudcs of moor- 
 fowl, as well as pafture for flieep and black cattle, and horfes. Its breadth 
 is by no means fo confiderable ; for though it reaches nearly fixteen miles 
 on the wen fide, the caft does not extend above five or fix ; and near the 
 niiddle it is fo narrow, as to form a neck of land, which comprehends little 
 more than a mile in length, dividing the iflmd into two peninfulas. The 
 fpacious and beautiful bay of 8calpa bounds the one fide of this ifthmus, 
 and the bay of Kirkwall the other ; and the ground that lies between them 
 is at once fo flat, fo damp, and, in other rcfpe£ls, of fiich a nature, as to 
 render it probable that the fea fome time or other has occupied the whole 
 fpace between them. The ancient town of Kirkwall fiands on the north 
 fide of this tradt of land, towards the fouth-eaft fide of the bay of the 
 fame name ; and by a little rivulet which runs through the middle of tha^ 
 town, (over which a ftone bridge of one arch has been built, for the conve- 
 nience of the inhabitants), is divided into the old town, that bends along 
 the bay, and the new that Wretches a confiderable way to the fouthward. 
 
 The country pariQi, in the middle of which the town ftands, is named 
 St. Ola, which, before the cathedral of St. Magnus became the ordinary 
 place of worfliip, or even perhaps before its foundation, had a church ap- 
 propriated to it, which it is well known ftood near the fhore of the road or 
 bay of Kirkwall. Around its fite many of the houfes yet ftanding bear 
 fuch evident marks of antiquity, that no doubt can be entertained of their 
 very early erection ; and thefe perhaps were fome of the very houfes that, 
 from their fituation, had conferred on them, as we learn from ancient 
 authorities*, the name of Kirkiovog, or the kirk on the bay, a name 
 afterwards corrupted or converted into Kirkwall. The town has only one 
 ftreet, nearly a mile long, with many excellent houfes ranged on each fide 
 of it, which, both for the ftyle in which fome of them are built, and the 
 manner In which they are finiflied and furnilhed, (to fay nothing of the 
 neat little gardens that are annexed to them), may bear a comparifon with 
 thofe of any fmall town in the kingdom. Several of the gentlemen of pro- 
 perty refide here, and a confiderable number of (hopkeepersj but the body 
 
 * Torfsus, Orkneinga Saga,, &c, 
 
 of 
 
S4- GEOGHArmcAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I, 
 
 of the people is compofed of tradcfmen, boatmen, fervants, and day-labour- 
 ers : and when the population of the country parifli, which makes a fourth 
 of the whole, is confidered, the united parilhes of Kirkwall and St. Ola, in 
 which there are two eflablifhed clergymen, contain, the former about two 
 thoufand, and the latter five hundred inhabitants. Even in very old times 
 it appears to have been a place of no fmall confequence ; but the nature of 
 its conftitution, and the extent of its immunities and privileges, as enjoyed 
 under a foreign government, we are in a great meafure unacquainted vvith, 
 for want of fuch documents as might ferve for our inftrudion. lis being a 
 place of much note, gives us reafon for believing they muft have been more 
 than ordinary ; and whatever they were, they were all, foon after the ceffion 
 of the iflands, confirmed to it by a charter from the Scotifli Sovereign, erect- 
 ing it into a royal burgh, which was corroborated by two fucceeding mo- 
 narchs ; and the whole rights and advantages it conveyed were at laft 
 folemnly ratified by an a£l of Parliament. The government is in the hands 
 of a Provoft, four Magiftrates, a Dean of Guild, Treafurer, and fifteen 
 other members, which together compofe a Council, that meets at Michael- 
 mas every year for the purpofe of alternately eleding and being eleded, and 
 at other times to collect and difpenfe the public funds, and tranfadt the other 
 branches of bufinefs of the community. Kirkwall, with the four northern 
 burghs, Wick, Dornoch, Tain, and Dingwall, choofe a burgefs to reprefent 
 them in the Britifli Parliament. In this town, the Sheriff, the Admiral, the 
 Commiflary, and Juftice of Peace Courts, are alfo occafionally convened for 
 the adminiftralion of juftice ; and for the cognizance and regulation of 
 ecclefiaftical matters, the three Prefbyteries of which the provincial fynod is 
 compofed, and alfo the fynod itfelf, meet at leaft once a year, or oftener, 
 according to circumftances. Here is alfo a cuftom-houfe and poft-office, 
 and a ftore-houfe, into which are colleded the rents, that are moftly paid 
 in kind, of both the bifhoprick and earldom, which are generally let in 
 leafe to merchants, who fometimes difpofe of them here, fometimes fend 
 them out of the country. 
 
 There arc alfo in it public buildings. Among thefe may be reckoned 
 the town-houfe, fupported on pillars, forming a piazza in front, and in every 
 refpedl a neat and commodious building, the firft ilory of which is divided 
 
 into 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 25 
 
 into apartments for a common {)riron, the fecond for an afTembly-hall, 
 with a large room adjoining for the courts of juftice ; and the higheft is fct 
 apart as a lodge for the accommodation of the ancient fraternity of free- 
 mafons. To the weft of this, and at no great diftance, are the fchool-houfes, 
 in which are taught the feveral branches of Englllh education, Greek, 
 Latin, and Mathematics. Thefe, however, are trlfiing, compared with the 
 relics of the Bifhop and Earl's palaces, the caftlc, once a place of great 
 ftrength, and at their head that venerable pile the cathedral of St. Magnus, 
 For nothing, however, is it more celebrated than for its excellent harbour, 
 broad, fafe and capacious, with a bottom of clay fo firm, and a depth of 
 water fo convenient, as to afFuid anchorage for fliips of a large fize, and in 
 great numbers. 
 
 Towards its fouth-eaft fide, there are ftlll to be feen the veftiges of a very 
 rude temporary fort thrown up on the fpur of the occafion by Oliver Crom- 
 well ; and on the oppofite fide of the bay another of the fame kind has 
 evidently been marked out, in order that they might co-operate iu either 
 annoying or protedting the harbour. 
 
 Moft of the lands in the parifli of St. Ola, that lye around Kirkwall, 
 formerly made a part of the temporality of the biOiopric of Orkney, and 
 were feued either at the Reformation, or on the profpefl of the abolition 
 of Epifcopacy. Some of them belonged alfo to the prebendaries of St. 
 Peter, &c. 
 
 As the foil in many parts of them is good, fuch as have fallen into 
 private hands have been partly enclofed and cultivated ; but thofe that have 
 been granted to the town, on condition, it is faid, of their fupporting the 
 cathedral of St. Magnus, and arc ftill in the hands of the community, re- 
 main, from various caufes, in the fame rude and uncultivated ftate as before, 
 though equally fufceptible of improvement. A very great proportion of 
 them is ftill an undivided common, belonging jointly to the town and pri- 
 vate gentlemen, all of which almoft is capable of fubftantial melioration; 
 and if ever agriculture flouridi here, that land will not only fervc to increafe 
 the revenue of individuals, and augment the town's funds, but alfo furnifli 
 more ample provifionfor the inhabitants. 
 
 E • The 
 
Z6 GEOGUAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK 1. 
 
 The Bay of Inganefs, on the eaftern extremity of this parifh, is fo well 
 fiieltered from the weft wind, which here is commonly the raoft violent, 
 and fo commodious in other refpeds, that fome feafaring men of repuiatioa 
 prefer it as a harbour even to the road of Kirkwall. 
 
 Toward the eaft, it is bounded by the united parilhes of St. Andrew's and 
 Deernefs, that confift of an extenfive tradl of plain ground, fome part of 
 which is tolerably well cultivated. They reach in that quarter to the far- 
 theft part of the main land. To thefe pariflies a road was made many years 
 ago, on which has been ere£led a ftone bridge, confiftlng of two arches, over 
 a dangerous rivulet ; and thefe improvements, however trifling they may 
 appear, by facilitating the communication with Kirkwall, have already had 
 fome influence on their condition. The name of the one parifli feems to be 
 derived from the tutelar faint of Scotland, to whom the church is dedicated, 
 and that of the other from the deers, which, tradition fays, formerly fre- 
 quented this peninfula, in which at that time ftood a foreft, that rendered it 
 a fit habitation for them. In fupport of this tradition, it may be obferved, 
 that in a peat-mofs here, deers' horns are faid to have been found deep 
 buried in the earth, the roots of trees dug up, and hazel nuts in numbers 
 difcovered, to all appearance entire, but totally without kernels*. 
 
 In fupport of this opinion, we are told, that in a deluge of rain and con- 
 fequent inundation, the roots of thefe trees were extremely moiftened and. 
 loofened in the earth, to which a violent ftorm of wind fucceedlng, the whole 
 •was fliattered, broken, overturned, and configned to deftrudlon f . To 
 compenfatc for the lofs thus fuftained, a gold mine is faid to have been dif- 
 covered here about the beginning of the fixteenth century, which was foon 
 deferted through fear and fuperftition :}:. 
 
 Near the very top of the Mull, (which fignifies a promontory) §, and the 
 boundary of the mainland to the north-eaft, a chapel had been reared in the 
 dark ages, the accefs to which is equally difficult and dangerous ; and this 
 circumftance, perhaps, no lefs than other motives, might have contributed 
 
 * Bleau's Atlas. Wallace, Defcripuon of the Orkney IflanJs. 
 
 t Ben. MS. Adv. Lib. Eainburjrh. 
 
 J Ben. M6. Adv. Lib- Edinburgh. § Ihre, Glof. Sulgoth. 
 
 to 
 
CHAP, II. GEOGARPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 27 
 
 to render it a place of devout pilgrimage, into which the people took great 
 delight frequently to fcramble, in order to perform their vows, and leave 
 their fuperflitious oblations. For fome time pafl: they have begun to fee the 
 folly of a pradice fo repugnant to the fpirit of rational religion. 
 
 This parifh of Deernefs forms a penlnfula, which, from the Mull-head 
 of Deernefs to the ifthmus that divides it from the other, is in length up- 
 wards of four miles, and varies in breadth from one to three, chiefly on ac- 
 count of the large and beautifully winding harbour of Deer found. This 
 harbour, which feparates the puriflies from one another, is nearly in the 
 dire(f^ion of N. E. and S,W,, four miles long, from one to two and a half 
 broad. Its entrance is from the north ; and as it is furroundcd with land on 
 every fide, has a bottom of clay mixed with land, and a fufficient depth of 
 water, it cannot fail to be an excellent harbour. 
 
 The population of thefe parKhes does not at prefcnt exceed fourteen 
 hundred. 
 
 Turning from them toward the fouth, a large tra£l of high land prefents 
 itfelf, of a yarpha or deep peat foil, mollly covered with heath, and crowded 
 with moorfowl, on the fouth fide of which lies the parifli of Holm, fpread- 
 ing at great length along the pleafantly winding Holm found. 
 
 From eaft to weft this parifli is in length near five miles, and in breadth 
 not above one. It was formerly divided into two, with the names of Holm 
 and Paplay. The divifion on the wefl had probably the firft name given it, 
 from a little ifland in the found called Lambholm or Lamon ; and the eafl- 
 crn diflrldl as probably derived the name it bore from the people who at a 
 very early period inhabited that fertile and beautiful diftriit. They have 
 long been united under their prefent name, and form one of the moll com- 
 pact and profperous parifhes in the country. Through its whole extent the 
 foil is thin and ftony, compofed of a mixture of clay and fandy loam ; but 
 as mofl of the cultivated land lies on a gentle declivity fronting the fouth, 
 and is at the fame time better improved than other parts, their crops are 
 not unfrequently better than thofe of their neighbours. Their houfes are 
 well built, clean, and neat ; their little gardens in good order; and, befides 
 raifing bear and oats, one fees with pleafure little patches of their farms en- 
 clofed, where they have fome of the artificial grafles in much pcrfedion. 
 
 E a Flax, 
 
28 GEOGRAnilCAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. £00K I. 
 
 Flax, alio, for many years paft, has been raifed with effiO. in this 
 parifh by the ordinary farmers, who, in the winter feafon, or other intervals 
 of agricultural labour, prepare and drefs it, when the females of the fanily 
 fpin it to be manufaaured into linen, of & grij or finenefs between nine 
 and eighteen hundred, which is commonly fold at the Englifh. market for a 
 good price, to the amount of twenty tlioufand yards annually. 
 
 Notwithftanding the comfortable condition of thefe people, their numbers 
 have decreafed fmce the furvey was taken for eftablifhing the fund in Scot- 
 land for the minifters' widows; for at that time, or about ten years after- 
 wards, they amounted to eleven hundred and eighty-five, whereas now they 
 cannot be faid to exceed feven hundred. The valued rent of the parifh is 
 two thoufand three hundred and fixty-five pounds Scots, befides fradlions^ 
 and the real rent feven hundred pounds Sterling. 
 
 Bending our courfe weftward along the poft-road that leads to Kirkwall^ 
 keeping in view the fouth fhore, we again pafs through a corner of St. Ola, 
 around the Bay of Scalpa ; and after travelling over an extenfive tra£l of 
 hi<^h, broken, wet, marfhy ground, enter the more fertile parts of the parilh 
 of Orphlr. The eaft fide of this parifli, for fome length, is at firft fight 
 very unpromifing, bleak and barren, the foil a broken peat-mofs cut down 
 from time to time for fuel, or wafhed off by the water ; here and there a 
 folitary patch of cultivated land, with a few dreary ftraggling houfes, and 
 the furface even fcantily covered with heath. But the centre of the parifli 
 makes ample amends for this fcene of fterility. In advancing forward, the 
 foil improves firft into a mixture of mofs and clay ; then into one compound- 
 ed of fand, clay and gravel ; and at laft it difcovers a rich loam, that predo- 
 minates over a large trad in the middle. The grain raifed here, more on 
 account of the excellence of the foil than the fkill of the farmers, is rather 
 better than in fome other places ; and what adds to the fame efFe£t, is their 
 making ufe of compoft manure in preference to fea-weed, which is found, 
 wherever it is ufed folely, to fpoil the quality of the grain. Befides culti- 
 vating their little farms, the ordinary employment of the people is to furnifli 
 peat to fome of the neighbouring people that are in want of that article, 
 and to burn a little kelp in the feafon ; and while they are employed occa- 
 fionally through the whole year in catching cooths or fUlocks, properly coal- 
 
 fifh, 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. ig 
 
 firti, a part of their time is fpent in fifhing the dog-fi(h, for obtaining its oil, 
 in fummer. Mackerel and herring often vifit thefe coafts, the former of 
 which are fometimes caught in fmall numbers ; but the latter, eltiier from 
 want of ficill, induftry or capital, are fuffered to pafs by in myriads. But 
 this fcandalous negledt of what miglit contribute fo much, not only to their 
 wealth, but their comfort, is fo far from being confined to them alone, that 
 it attaches equally to the other inhabitants of Orkney. B. fides thefe and 
 many oihcr kinds of fifh, they have trouts in the WaukmlU Loch in abund- 
 ance, which is perhaps the reaion that otters haunt it fo often, and with fo 
 much fccming fatisfadion. Befides the advantages of excellent grain and 
 plenty of fifh, the inhabitants are fo fortunate as to procure health by the 
 frequent ufe of a chalybeate fpring, in the virtue of which they place fuch 
 implicit confidence as fuperfedes the necefilty of medicine. A harbour, fit 
 enly for fmall (hips, at Howton, is the only one in the pariih *'; but it has 
 acquired celebrity from being the fcene of fome remarkable tranfadlions of 
 old, when the parifli contained the palace, and was the chief refidence of 
 Earl Paul and other ancient Counts of Orkney. From the high ground to the 
 north, near the place where that palace is fuppofed to have been fituated, 
 there is a view as extenfive as it is pleafant. To the eaft the eye is delighted 
 with the winding and indented fhores of the mainland, the cultivated fields 
 flieltered from the northern b'aft by the hills in that diredion, the fouth ifles 
 under the meridian fun, and the feacontrading itfelf as it advances weft ward, 
 till it is loft in the Atlantic Ocean, with the romantic hills of Hoy, Waes, 
 and Strathnaver terminating the varied profped. 
 
 As we turn to the north-weft, on leaving this profped, we enter the 
 united pariflies of Frith and Stennis, where the firft objed that ftrikes the 
 attention is a plain between two hills, covered with a number of little hil- 
 locks or artificial tumuli, at only a fmall diftance from one another. Though 
 this has evidently been a field of battle, as the ftyle of the monuments re- 
 fers to a remote period, it cannot contain the graves of the Earl of Caith- 
 nefs and his troops, who fell at the battle of Bigfwcll or Summerdale, in the 
 fixteenth century. Here the Loch of Siennls opens to the view in all its 
 
 • Earochia bonum portum pifcatoribus prebcns. Ben. MS. Adv. Lib. EdiiiburgJi. 
 
 beauty,. 
 
JO GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 beauty. Rifing at the head of the Bay of Cah-flon, from the Bridge of 
 Waith, through which the tide in fome meafure alternately fills and empties 
 it, the diredion of it is north- weft to the extent of five miles ; and dividing 
 near the middle into two, by the names of the Lochs of Stennis and Har- 
 ray, it on the whole forms a pleafant flieet of water. Trout in vaft num- 
 bers, and of an excellent quality, are caught here, as are alfo flounders and 
 fome other kinds of fifli ; and in the part of it fartheft north, known by the 
 name of Harray, in which there are many fmall holms, feveral fpecies of 
 wild-fowl, as fwans, ducks, lapwings, gulls, terns, and mergaufers. build in 
 Taft numbers. 
 
 The celebrated ftones of Stennis, confifting of a circle and femicircle, 
 with a few placed apparently irregular, ftand on the banks of this loch, 
 where the land ftretches out at both fides, and nearly divides it in two at 
 the Bridge of Broigar. 
 
 Along its eaft fide, for a confiderable fpace, are feme beautiful fields of 
 natural grafs, among rich ones of cultivated land, near which are houfes in 
 confiderable numbers, well built, and uncommonly neat in their appearance. 
 They are occupied, at leaft fome of them, by men here called Udallers, 
 vho are little proprietors of land, that has never been held by the feudal 
 tenure, nor fubjeded to either fervice or payment to any fuperior. Had 
 thefe the induflry to avail themfelves of plenty of excellent marl in their 
 vicinity, they might foon render their farms and little eftates far more pro- 
 dudive and valuable. This excellent manure is, however, fometimes fought 
 after ; and in digging, in order to procure it, the horns and bones of ftags 
 have been found under a layer of peat-mofs, funk to a very confiderable 
 depth. 
 
 Marl of the fame frudifying nature is alfo found in the parifh of Frith, 
 where there is the fame inattention to its application. The road from Stennis 
 thither is through a narrow defile of no great length, terminated by the long 
 bay of Frith, around which, on all fides, near the bottom of the adjacent 
 hills, there is a confiderable extent of flat ground, fertile, tolerably well 
 cultivated, and populous, compofing the principal part of that parifh. To 
 the bay of Frith fwans refort, as well as to the loch of Stennis, in winter ; 
 and befides many fpecies of fifli, oyfters are taken in it, frequently of a 
 
 large 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND^. 3I 
 
 large fize, and at the fame time of fuch an excellent quality, as not only 
 to equal thofe of the Forth, but even to vie with the much admired ones of 
 Colchefter. 
 
 The name Stennis, it is moft likely, has been derived from the (landing 
 ftones, and is a contradion of Stonehoufe ; and little doubt can be enter- 
 tained, that the other name took its origin from the word F'lord^ which, in 
 both Icelandic and Norwegian, fifter dialeds of the Gothic language, is of 
 the fame import with Fretun or Frith, in allufion to that long frith-like bay 
 that lies as it were in its bofom. Peat-mofles of different kinds bound the 
 latter on the north, in which is dug turf that proves excellent fuel ; and in 
 one of them, in particular, are found, pretty deep buried in that fubftance, 
 not only the roots, but ftcms of trees, much larger than any that, for many 
 ages paft, have grown in the country. 
 
 In direding our view ftill farther north, we meet with the united pa- 
 riflies of Evie and Rendal, extending along the fliores of the mainland to 
 the diftance of ten miles in length, and from one to two in breadth, contain- 
 ing a lare quantity of fine land, equally fit for raifing corn and for paftur- 
 age. Situated on a gentle declivity toward the north, and in the neighbour- 
 hood of the Ihorcs, where there is no want of plenty of excellent materials, 
 they might be enclofed and improved at a moderate expence, and with ad- 
 vantage to the proprietors. They are, notwithftanding, in the fame ftate 
 with others whofe circumftances and fituation are lefs favourable; much af 
 the land \%runrig; the grafs is common to many of the adjoining tenants; 
 and the houfes are both poor in themfelves, and fituatcd with very little re- 
 gard to conveniency. Even the feat of one of the principal proprietors, 
 though pleafantly fituated by the fea-fide in the midft of a large extent of 
 fine ground, is in no higher degree of cultivation than the little farms ad- 
 jacent. Aikcrnefs, which is the name of this beautiful fpot, has, on the 
 one hand of it, a bay of the fame name, where fhips of two hundred tons 
 burden may find convenient anchorage ; and on the other, a pleafant lake 
 of deep water fkirted with grafs, to which the lapwing, gull, coot, and dufky 
 grobe refort in fummcr in vafl; numbers, for incubation. The hills, which 
 are moftly common, fupport three thoufand Iheep, which are at all times 
 fuffered to roam at large without a fliephcrd ; and even the fwine, which 
 
 arc 
 
32 6E0GIlAriIICAL DESCniPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 are known to be fo pernicious to fields of every fort, are under no more re- 
 ftraint, though their number exceeds four or five hundred. The cattle and 
 horfes which thefe pariflies maintain are in proportion. The arable ground 
 amounts to twelve hundred planks, each containing forty fathoms fquare j 
 what is in pafture, four times that quantity ; and the rental of the whole, 
 cxclufively of the kelp fhores, which produce twenty tons of kelp annually, 
 is very little lefs than eight hundred pounds Sterling. The people are em- 
 ployed varioufly, fome few of them being tradefmen, fome failors, none of 
 them fifhers by profeffion, though their fituation is favourable to this em- 
 ployment ; and, however unprodudive their labour may be, they are al- 
 moft all of them fome way or other employed in the cultivation of the land, 
 which, with very little aid, fupports a population of fixteen hundred. 
 
 Many excellent fifh, fuch as cod, ling, dog-fifti, haddocks, fkate, holi- 
 but, fillocks, and cooths, or the coal-fifh, of different ages, frequent thefe 
 coafis, and are fometimes caught when the weather permits, or when the 
 people find leifure, or are prompted by want or inclination. Few places, 
 when all circumftances are confidered, feem more favourable than this for a 
 fifhing ftation. 
 
 Along the ftiores of Evie there are feveral of thofe ancient monuments, 
 known by the name of Pidl's houfes, as well as in other pariflies fimilarly 
 fituat.ed. Some tumuli or barrows are likewife to be feen ; but all thefe, 
 and alfo the church of St. Nicholas, have now ceafed to exhibit the property 
 which they formerly had, of nodurnal illumination*. 
 
 A ridge of hills running weft till it terminates in Cofta-head, conftantly 
 covered with a variety of rock birds, feparates them from the extenfive, fer- 
 tile, and populous pariflies of Birfa and Harra. Thefe united pariflies, one 
 of which is fituated on the fliores of the Atlantic, of a dry rich foil, indif- 
 ferently cultivated — the other more inland, more wet, and lefs produ<Stive, 
 were anciently known by the name of the province of Bergiflierad. 
 
 For the origin of this name, which founds but harfli to a Britifli ear, in 
 vain do we fearch, as has been the fafliion for fome time paft, either the 
 Celtic language, or even any of what are ftyled the learned languages j fince 
 
 * Wallace's Defcriptlon of Orkney. 
 
 9 thofe 
 
CHAI.P 1. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 33 
 
 thofe that have made the attempt, have as yet procluced nothing fatis- 
 fatflory. 
 
 Had they, inftead of looking into thefc for information refpe£ling the 
 north, turned their attention to the diaieds of the Gothic, one of which 
 was once fpoken liere, their lahours on the fuhjedl of antiquity miglit have 
 been both more inflriidive and more fuccefsful. In thefe we are informed, 
 Birgis or Birfa fignifies hunting, and Harad, now Harra, a territory; and if 
 thefe derivations be juft, the conclufion would naturally be, that vhefe pa- 
 rifties of old compofed a diflrift deftined principally, if not folely to the 
 amufement of hunting*. This is by no means improbable; for before 
 Kirkwall was a place of any great note, the princes perhaps, and certainly 
 the counts, and even the bifliops, had their chief refidencc in Birfa; and it 
 is almoft needlefs to obferve, that in a barbarous age, when war is the bu- 
 finefs of men of rank and fortune, hunting very feldom fails to be their 
 favourite amufemcnt. Neitlier are their nature, their form, nor their di- 
 menfions ill adapted to that purpofe. Their weftern extremity is a flat, fer- 
 tile, and rather narrow tradt of land, which opens gradually towards the 
 eaft, till it fwells at length to an immenfe amphitheatre, bounded by the 
 hills of Sandwick, Orphir, and Rendal. Game was alfo perhaps found 
 there in abundance. Befides what they at prefent contain, there were for- 
 merly, it is evident, fome other kinds, fuch as hares, and feveral forts of 
 red and fallow deer, the horns of which have been often dug from the 
 earth in various parts of the country. 
 
 To this it may be added, that fcvcral beautiful lakes of different fizes are 
 difperfed through this diftrid, with fome pretty large rivulets interfeding 
 it in various diredions ; and as the former of thefe contain plenty of fwans, 
 ducks, and other waterfowl, fo both of them abound in thofe kinds of fifli 
 that generally frequent frefh water, all of which might have contributed to 
 vary, as well as to enlarge the fphere of the amufement. 
 
 Thefe parifhes difcovcr at prefent much difference of foil, foine pretty 
 deep, fome thin or fliallow, fome, efpecially in Birfa, dry and Tandy ; where- 
 as in Harra it is moRly of a deep clay, fometimes intermixed with ground 
 
 • BiiT.i, venari. Hcrad, tontoiiiiiTi. Hire, Glof Suigoth. 
 
 F that 
 
34 GEOGRAPHICAL DtaCRIPTlON OI THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 that is wet and fwampy. Though, in feveral parts of them, marl of an 
 excellent kind might be had with little expence or labour, the inhabitants 
 have hitherto made very little ufe of this as manure, but fatisfied themfelvea 
 with a fcanty portion of compoft of dung and earth, to raife alternately 
 bear and oats, wherl they might have added to them, not only fome other 
 kind of grain, and all of a fuperior quality, but alfo flax and hemp in great 
 perfedion. 
 
 For want of an accurate furvey, we cannot determine the proportion be- 
 tween the land in tillage, and what is entirely uncultivated ; but the whole 
 is believed to amount to fifty-eight fquare miles, including the lochs already 
 mentioned, fome of which it would be no great difficulty to drain, and thus 
 add much valuable land to the parifhes. 
 
 The people are employed on their little farms in fpring and harveft ; in 
 fummer they burn not more than twenty tons of kelp at an average ; and, 
 filling up the intervals with catching the ordinary kinds of fifli for their own 
 confumpiion, they fupport themfelves without aid from others, though the 
 population be fo confiderable as to amount to two thoufand. 
 
 Some monuments of antiquity may fllll be feen there, among which may 
 be reckoned the ruins of that magnificent palace, reared by the ancient Earl&, 
 fituated on a beautiful green fpot, near the church on the fea-fide, fronting 
 what is called the Burgh of Birfa. This laft is a fmall portion of pretty 
 high land, which the force of the ocean has broken off from the mainland, 
 and formed into a feparate ifland, to which there is accefs by land only at 
 low water. 
 
 From the remains of a wall yet to be feen on the land- fide, and the marks 
 of fome huts within it, there is much reafon to believe that, as the name 
 Burgh * imports, it muft have been, like fome others through the iflands, 
 vv'hat may be denominated a rock fortification. In a later period, it ferved 
 a very different purpofe, as there are in the remains of it a chapel, faid to 
 have been dedicated to St. Peter, which, like its fellow in the burgh of Deer- 
 nefs, was, till of late, a place of pilgrimage, and the receptacle of many a 
 devout oblation. Time, operating with other circumftances, has now de- 
 ttroyed the credit of their virtues. 
 
 * Ihrc ; liorc, or Burgh, Munimentum. 
 
 Pias- 
 
V 
 
 
 
 ^" 
 
 A 
 
 > 
 
 N 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
CHAP. 11. CEOGRAPIilCAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 35 
 
 rids- 1 cufcs are Ifo very frequent, fome of which confer names on 
 places, of which Cadragoe may ferve as an example. 
 
 Single ereO. monumental ftones are not unfrequent. Of thefe, one by 
 itfelf gives the name of Stanegarth to a piece of excellent land that lies 
 around it; two, known by the name of Stanerandy, (land on a tumulus 
 or barrow : and three, of a much fmaller fize, amidft a number of very 
 large tumult, concerning which even tradition ventures not to give any 
 opinion. 
 
 The names of many of the places here are evidently of Norwegian 
 •extradion. 1 his need excite no wonder, when it is confidered, that in 
 Harra, on account of its diftance from the fea, and, of confequence, little 
 intercourfe with ftrangcrs, this language was fpoken both in greater purity, 
 and to a later period, than in any of the other iflands. 
 
 Marble and alabafter are faid to have been difcovered both at Buquoy 
 and Swanay in Birfa. Turning from thefe pariflies, and advancing fouth, 
 •with the ocean on our right hand, and in fight, we next enter the united 
 pariQies of Stromnefs and Sandwick, by far the mod extenfive and popu- 
 lous of any that have yet been mentioned. Toward the weft and fouth- 
 weft, they form the boundary of the mainland ; their names are derived, 
 the former from the ftiape of the land, which ftrctches to fome length in 
 the face of a ftrong current "*, and the latter from a large fandy bay f , fur- 
 rounded with fome of the fineft and beft cultivated land in the whole pa- 
 rifh. They exhibit through their whole extent great divcrfity of furface. 
 Their weft fide is in general high, forming a part of the ridge which ftiel- 
 ters the ifland in that diredion : towards the fouth and eaft, they are morp 
 plain, more fertile, and better cultivated, and extend to the bay of Cairfton 
 and loch of Stennis, their refpedive boundaries in thefe diredions. 
 
 They contain thirty-one fquare miles, a ninth part of which only has 
 yet been cultivated : there is about the fame proportion in excellent natural 
 grafs ; and the remainder, comprehending more than two thirds of the 
 -whole, has been allotted hitherto for pafturing fheep and cattle. Their pro- 
 dudions are of the fame nature with thofe of the other parifhes ; neither is 
 
 • Strom, Ciirrens. Hire. i" Wick, Sinus. /Jem, 
 
 F 2 their 
 
76 GLOGRAPITIC.^L DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 their mode of agricul'ure materially different, the fame kind of bear and 
 oats beiii"- fovvn alternately on tl:e larae field : the increafe is much the 
 fame, but the grain is of rather a fiiperior quality ; and though there is 
 abundance of bothliraeftone and marl that could be eafily procured, the 
 fmall farmers have as yet contented themfelves with fea-wced alone, or 
 mixed with fome portion of dung and earth, as a compoft for manure. 
 
 An improvement that merits attention, however, has lately been intro'- 
 duced into the parifli of Sandwick by one of the principal proprietora. 
 This is the raifing of flax of an excellent quality, for the dreffing of which 
 he is about to ereft a mill ; to which improvement he hat; added a tannery 
 on the loch of Stennis, and a brewery at no great diflance ; all of which 
 are entire novelties in the country. 
 
 Stromnefs, which is in their immediate vicinity, will, it is likely, prove 
 the nurfing mother of thefe improvements. This village, which, at the 
 beginning of laft century, confifted of a few irregular huts, fet down, as 
 whim or conveniency direded, by the fide of the harbour, has of late rifen 
 fo rapidly into confequence, that the caufe defervesto be explained. 
 
 By means of feveral a£ls of Parliament, enaded when the principles of 
 commerce were but little attended to, and as little underftood, the Royal 
 burghs had affumed the right of taxing the hamlets and villages that were 
 in their neighbourhood in an arbitrary proportion of the burdens which 
 they themlelves were bound in law to fuftain. Stromnefs fuffered, or at 
 ieaft thought fo, from the exercife of this right claimed by the neighbour- 
 ing burgh, and therefore long murmured under a burden which was repre- 
 fented as difproportioned to her trade and her ability ; and at length, after 
 repeated remonftrances, refufed to bear it any longer. The method of 
 companion was inftantly adopted by a reference of the point in queftion to 
 
 1754. the Supreme Court, who pronounced this judgment : ' That there was no 
 ' fufficient right in the borough of Kirkwall to aflefs the village of Strom"- 
 ' Qefs ; but that the faid village fliould be quit thereof, and free therefrom, 
 * in all time coming.' This fentence, which has every appearance of being 
 founded in juftice no lefs than in law, was, in the fpirlt of litigation, ap- 
 
 1758. pealed from, Lut happily confirmed in the Houfe of Lords. 
 
 Thus 
 
^ 
 
 { 
 
 V 
 
 
 
 
 V 
 
 ^' 
 
 \ 
 
 K 
 
 N 
 
 \ 
 
 
 N 
 
 fi 
 
 \> 
 
 J 
 
 \ 
 
 'I 
 
 V 
 
 5 
 
 N 
 
 ^ 
 
 \ 
 
 a» 
 
 \ 
 
 ^ 
 
 K 
 
 
 N 
 
 % 
 
 V 
 
 %^ 
 
 \ 
 
 ^ 
 
 X 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 "-_ 
 
 
 \. 
 
 ^ 
 
 .\ 
 
 ^ 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OP THE ISLANDS. 37 
 
 Thus a paltry village in the remote regions of the north was at: that pe- 
 riod enlightened enough to know its own riglits, and had I'pirit fufficient to 
 reclaim them; while others of great confequence tamely fubmittcd to the 
 yoke, till, emancipated by this meiuorable decifion, they re.iped the fruit 
 of her fpirited exertions. From tliat time Stromnefs became a place of 
 more note, in confeqner.ce of the freedom flie had obtained ; and her 
 trade, as trade always (hould be, neither curbed by abfurd regulations, nor 
 fhackled by the corporation fpirit, will probably foon enable her in her turn 
 to acquire an afcendant over, and prefcribe laws to, her ftcmer lordly fu- 
 perior. 
 
 The inhabitants are tradefmen, fliopkeepers, failor?, (hipmai^ers, pilots, 
 and fmall proprietors of lands, who arc in general an indu;bious and en- 
 terprizing people ; and in point of comfortable living, focial fpirit, and 
 holpitality to ftrangers, are not inferior to thofe ot the fame rank, in any 
 fimilar fituation, through Scotland *. 
 
 Long has their harbour been a place of great refort for fhipping ; for,, 
 nearly three hundred years ago, fliips of different nations, and particularly. 
 French and Spanilh, in great numbers, occafionally put in there, allured 
 by the excellence of the accommodation f. 
 
 Through the whole of the north, there are few that can compare with 
 it, either in point of fafety or commodioufnefs. The entrance to it is, from 
 the fouth, by a narrow paflage of a quarter of a mile ; it expands to double 
 that dimenfion as it advances up through the land, which it does a com- 
 plete mile: it has a firm clay bottom, and a depth of water fufficient for 
 vciTcls of a thoufand tons burthen, and is Iheltered from the violence of the 
 winds in all directions. 
 
 Two Holms guard it from the eaft, beyond which there is alfo, as it 
 were, a portion of the fame harbour, in which fhips of ftill greater buitheii 
 
 * This to\vn hears every mark of having been conftrmfleJ by a fca farinnr people. The houfes 
 next the hay have each a quay pnijciTlcd into the lea, for the acconiniodation of boats, and th« 
 hmding of goods. B>it while much labour has been beflowed to render the town of eafy accefs 
 from the fe.i, they fecm not to have thought accefs from the l.:nd of any importance. In many 
 places the ftreets are fo narrow, and crcokeJ, that a wheeled carriii^'e could net find its w„y 
 thronph thcni. — E. 
 
 t Ben. Mj. Adv. Lib Edin. 
 
 8 ccmjiioniy 
 
•38 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 commonly ride, on account both of its cafier accefs anJ fupeiior depth of 
 water. Excellent, however, as it is confeffed to be, the fhips that lOQch 
 there in the fpace of a year, at prefent, do not at an average amount to above 
 three hundred and twenty; whereas i:'ormerly they certainly doubled, or 
 even .perhaps tripled that number. To account for thiy decreafe, it may be 
 obferved, that the Pentland Frith, which is the moft dired padage for the 
 trade in this quarter, has been, by a nautical furvey, the erection of a llght- 
 houfe, and the experience of mariners, diverted of aim oft all its terrors: 
 and, in cafe of contrary winds, the noble harbour of the Long Hope k 
 near, and eafy of accefs; fo that vefl'els now generally prefer the direct 
 courfe through the frith, to tlie more circuitous one by Stroraueli. 
 
 Mines of lead and of iron have been found near this town, of no un- 
 promifing appearance ; but after fome progrefs had been made in working 
 the former about fifty years ago, it was abandoned, perhaps for want of 
 Ikill, perfeveranoe or capital. 
 
 Mineral fprings, which arc in feveral places found here, would prove 
 the exiftence of metals, even though there had been no fuch difcovery j 
 and among the reft there is one that has been made ufe of; and, from the 
 nature of the complaints which it is faid to have removed, it appears to 
 contain fulphur. 
 
 Few of thofe ancient ruins, that are known by the name of PiCTS- 
 HOUSES, are met with in this diftrid, though tumuli or barrows are 
 numerous. 
 
 Among fome of the latter that an inquifitive curiofity has opened, there 
 was one that contained three ilone chefts, in one of which was a fkeleton, 
 with a bag containing bruifed bones ; the fecond had in it a fkeleton, in a 
 fitting attitude ; and the third contained a parcel of human bones, with fome 
 heads and hair, which, when firfi difcovered, had the appearance of being 
 rotten, but on their expofure to the air feemed to refume their former 
 frefhnefs. Some of the fame kind have been found to contain ftone chefts 
 a foot and a half fquare, and in thefe were fmall «r«j, the contents of which 
 were, either afhes alone, or mixed with bones j and in one of thefe chefts, 
 a jar or unij with the fame contents, of fuch capacity as would have con- 
 tained thirty Scots pints of water. 
 
 As 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL. DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 39 
 
 As a proof that deer have once been inhabitants of this diftri<^, their 
 horns have been dug up from under a ftratum of peat, on a bed of mail, 
 fimilar to thofc found in the parifli of Harra. 
 
 To fhow that thefe pariflies, like mod others in the country, have been 
 but little improved, it may be remarked, that the difference between the 
 valued and real rent is very inconfiderable ; the former is 5008I. Scots, the 
 latter is only 6500I. in money of the fame denomination. 
 
 Their population, including the village of Stromnefs, which contains 
 thirteen hundred and fifty people, appears, from an accurate lift that has 
 been taken lately, to be upwards of three thoufand. 
 
 The piQurefque fcenery on their fouth-wcft quarter arrefts the attention 
 of a ftranger, as a ftriking inftance of the blending together of the fublime 
 and beautiful. So far as the eye can reach toward the eaft, the fea waflies 
 the fhores of the mainland in the form of a ferpentine river ; the coafts 
 of Hoy and of Stromnefs gradually defccnding to the level rocks on their 
 borders, and ftretching out their arms. The little ifland of Gra^mfay, flat 
 and fertile, lies betwixt them, and difcovers a clothing of rich verdure, fimi- 
 lar to their own. All of them are finely contrafted with the lofty, black and 
 barren hills of Hoy, terminating in perpendicular precipices of immenfc 
 height, from which torrents rufh down fometimes with violent impetuofity, 
 forming the moft ftriking cafcades, and, with the Atlantic ocean, in awful 
 majefly, rolling in mountainous billows through the mouth of Hoy found, 
 fpend their force on the adjacent roeks» 
 
 II. GRiEMSAY, diftant from Stromnefs about a mile and a half, extends 
 from eafl to wefl nearly the fame diftance, and about a mile in breadth : 
 the whole of it is level, and feems to be of an excellent foil, that is either 
 cultivated for the produdion of grain, or fuffered to remain in old grafs for 
 the pafturing of cattle, as is moft convenient. The interior parts of the 
 ifland, under a thin foil, contain a bed of fchiftus or flate through almoft its 
 whole extent, which has hitherto been applied to no other ufe than to cover 
 fome country houfes. The men who refide in this pleafant fpot are diftin- 
 guifhed for their ftrcngth and their ftature, and excel much in fiihing, for 
 
 whicli 
 
40 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 whicli their fituation is admirable. By this employment, and the produc- 
 tions of the land, a hundred and eighty inhabitants fubfift comfortably ; and, 
 ];ad they peats or turf for firing, and a place of vvorfhip within the ill and 
 as formerly, their condition would be very comfortable. 
 The rental of the ifland is about 150I. Sterling. 
 
 III. Hoy is feparated from the former by a narrow found of a mile in 
 breadth, and confifts of by far the higheft land in the whole iflands. This 
 circuniHance perhaps gave birth to its name, which in fome of the Gothic 
 dialeds fignifies a hill *. 
 
 Alflioft the whole of it is occupied by three large hills, ranged in the 
 form of a triangle, of which that to the north-eaft is the largeft, arifing 
 from a plain, with a brt^ad bafe, to the height of twelve hundred feet per- 
 pendicularly. Except along the north fhores, which are bordered with a 
 loamy foil and a rich verdure, the parilh has a foil compofed of peat and 
 clay, of which the former commonly predominates, black, wet and fpungy : 
 this feems to arife from a greater quantity of rain falling here than in many 
 ctlier parts of ihe country. 
 
 Trnm this account it will readily appear, that the ground deRined for the 
 produQion of grain, and that appropriated for feeding cattle, muft bear but 
 a very fmall proportion to what is covered with heath, and allotted for 
 fheep pallure. Nearly two thoufand of thefe animals roam at large through 
 this extenfive tra£t, a prey to dogs, eagles, and other birds of the fame 
 nature ; whereas, were they tended at all feafons, and fuitably managed in 
 other refpt ds, ihey might, as in other places, be of great advantage both 
 to the tenants and proprietors. 
 
 On thefe hills are many alpine plants, and among them fome delightful 
 vallies, interfefcd with rivulets, whofe banks are decked with flowers and 
 fheltered with (hrubs, fuch as the birch, the hazel and the currant ; which 
 are foinetiir.es honoured with the name of trees, becaufe in this particular 
 fituation they have rifen ten or twelve feet above the ground that fupports 
 ihem. 
 
 * Hov, vel Hoja, Collis. Hire, Glof. ::uigoth. 
 
 In 
 
>^ 
 
 -^^ 
 
 N 
 
 ^ 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. /j I 
 
 In fome parts of thefe glens, the found of the human voice, or the re- 
 port of a muflcet, reverberates from the rocks and fides of the mountahis 
 in fiich a manner as to form a moft pleafant eclio, that will diftindly re- 
 peat many fyllables. 
 
 Long ago this ifland produced birch trees; and, what is far more ex- 
 traordinary, Alpine or white hares, that were liunted with do"-s, were com- 
 mon : and veins of both iron and lead, and grains of gold, with feveral 
 other things that were valuable, were found in it*. At prcfent mineral i8oo. 
 fprings are found in different places, and iron ore, together with lead ore, 
 of fuch quality, that when the late Dr. Black eflaycd fome of it, he found 
 that from every ton of the ore there could be extraded forty-fix ounces of 
 filver. 
 
 Few monuments of antiquity are to be found in this ifland. The Dwarfie 
 ftone, of which fo many ridiculous tales have been fo often told, has per- 
 haps no juft claim to be ranked in that number. This ftone, which lies to 
 the fouth-ea(t of the Wanhill, on the brink of a valley, is a fand or free- 
 ftone of the fame nature with thofe on the rock above it, from which it 
 feems to have been broken off, either by the hand of man or its own gra- 
 vity, and tumbled to its prefent fite, where it has been afterwards hollowed 
 out with an inftrument, into the whimfical form which it now bears. Its 
 greateft length is thirty-two feet, its breadth feventeen, its thicknefs above 
 the furface of the earth not lefs than feven feet and a half; and the infide of 
 it is divided into three apartments, in one of which is fomething like a bed, 
 five feet eight inches long by two broad ; the other is a fort of fmall room ; 
 and between them there is a fpace that feems to have been intended for a 
 fire-place, as there is a hole cut in the roof, or upper part of the ftone, for 
 the fmoke perhaps to iffue through. To give it ftill more the refemblance 
 of a dwelling, a ftone of the fame nature, and nearly of the fame fhape, 
 has been rolled down, and placed in fuch a way as to ferve the purpofe of 
 a door to the entrance of the other. 
 
 Tradition and fome authors affirm it to have been the habitation of a 
 giant and his confort f, from which they occafionally ifTued forth for de- 
 predation. In all probability it has been the cell of fome hermit. 
 
 • Ben. MS. f Ben. MS, Adv. Lib. £din. rid. Appendix, No. VII. 
 
 G This 
 
42 GEOGRAPHICAiJ DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 This parifli, in point of extent, is large; but the number of people is 
 1800. fmall : they at prefent fcarcely amount to five hundred and twenty. 
 
 IV. Waas, or Waes, though in the general divifion it has been con- 
 fidered as a dlftin£l ifland, makes in fadl a part of the former, and in all 
 probability derives its name from the word FoeSy which in the ancient lan- 
 guage of thefe iflands fignify fuch creaks or bays as penetrate far into the 
 land ; and in thefe the eaft fide of the parifli abounds ; two of them are 
 called Lyawoe and Thurvoe. 
 
 The weft and north quarter of this diftridt is fimilar in every refpedl, and 
 indeed makes a part of the former, on which, are paftured feme thoufands 
 of very fine Ibeep, together with a vaft number of horfes and black cattle, 
 all of them of an excellent quality. Towards the eaft and louth the land is 
 more low, more level, and of a much better foil, which produces grain of 
 the ordinary kinds, but of a fuperior quality to what is raifed in other 
 places in the country. 
 
 This fuperiority of the grain is by no means to be attributed entirely to 
 the excellence of the foil, but to the advantage of fituation near the high 
 hills, where the clouds are conftanily furniftiing plenty of moifture ; and 
 ftill more, perhaps, to the vicinity and intercourfe with Caithnefs, where 
 agriculture has made far more progrefs than in the beft cultivated of thefe 
 iflands. 
 
 Befides the advantage arifing from this circumftance, this parifli enjoys 
 another, from being fituated on the banks of the Pentland Frith, which 
 abounds with fifli of various kinds, and of the fineft quality ; in catching 
 which, the people, in the intervals of their labour on the land, find a 
 lucrative employment. 
 
 Befides fmall fifli of different forts, which they catch in great numbers 
 for the confumption of their own families, they engage in the lobfter 
 fifliing, that for many years paft has been carried on to confiderable extent 
 by a London Company ; in addition to which, fome feafons, feventy thou- 
 fand fine large marketable cod-fifli have been both caught and cured in this 
 parifli. 
 
 It derives alfo a great benefit from the excellence of its harbours, 
 which are the Orehop, the Kirkhope, and particularly the Long- 
 
 9 HOPE; 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 43 
 
 HOPE ;* which, for readhiefs of accefs, and extent of accommodation, yields 
 to few or none in any part of the Continent of Europe. 
 
 This feems now to be generally admitted ; for the fhips that have occa- 
 fion to touch here, inHead of reforting in crowds to Stromnefs, as they have 
 done for centuries part, are daily preferring the Longhope, as in every refpedl 
 better fuited to their advantage and conveniency. 
 
 This diftridl, however, is neither diftinguiflied for objeds of antiquity, 
 nor peculiar produdtions. 
 
 Together with many other rock-birds, the Lyar, w^hich has been men- 
 tioned under a Latin name, without a defcription, by an author of much 
 celebrity f, frequents the lofty precipitous rocks of this parilh and of Hoy, 
 but not exclufively; for it has been found in fome other places in fimilar 
 fituations. 
 
 The number of people it contains, according to the laft lift that was 
 taken, does not amount to fewer than fevcn hundred and fifty, 
 
 V. RissAY is a little ifland, fituated at a very fmall diftance from the 
 former, of which it may with propriety be confidered as a pendicle or frag- 
 ment, fimilar both in its nature and produdions. 
 
 VI. Far AY is another, nearly of the fame defcription, removed a little 
 farther from the principal ; and is noted chiefly for its excellent flieep 
 pafture. 
 
 VII. Cav AY is another fmall ifland, that lies about two miles diftant 
 from Waes, and as far from the mainland ; and is faid to have taken its 
 name from the quantity and quality of the cheefe made in it in former times. 
 As it is deficient in the produdion of neither corn nor grafs, by which 
 cows might have fubfifted plentifully at all feafons, this derivation is by no 
 means improbable. Three families, confiding of fix perfons each, inhabit it, 
 and live on butter, milk, and fifli, with much fobriety, induftry, and decency 
 
 • Suppofed to be a corruption of Longvoe, Long-harbour. Voc in the Norfe means harbour; and 
 this bay is of confidcrable length. 
 
 t Sir Robert Sibbald, Nat. Hift. Scot. 
 
 G 2 of 
 
44 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK 1. 
 
 of manners. Formerly, a falt-pan was wrought here ; and, to accoinmodate 
 the people in a place of worfhip, a chapel had been ere£ted, the ruins of 
 which are ftill to be feen in a churchyard, which, till lately, was ufed as a 
 burial ground. 
 
 This ifland at prefent makes a part of the parifh of Orphir, 
 
 VIII. Flotay is three miles long, and little more than one broad, fitu- 
 ated in the fea that divides Waes from South Ronaldfhay, from each of 
 which it is diftant about three miles. A falt-pan, which formerly contributed 
 to the advantage of the place, now in ruins, furniftied a name to a large 
 bay, which nearly divides the ifland, and, under the name of the Panhope, 
 formed a harbour, well known to every mariner accuftomed to vifit thefe 
 northern regions. The weft fide, and that long point called the Rone, as 
 well as the eaft fide, and around the Panhope, is wholly covered with long 
 heath, giving (helter to numbers of moorfowl. The reft of it is either 
 clothed with grafs, or cultivated for corn ; and fome of the latter is faid to 
 be fo fertile as to produce nearly double the quantity of grain that is pro- 
 duced by the fame extent of land in the other iflands. 
 
 Among many others, the burrough ducks ((heildrakes), and dunters 
 (eider ducks), terns, feapies, and fnipes, frequent this ifland ; in which alfo 
 are found the imperator'ia of Wallace, the oxalis acetofella (Fl. Suec), and 
 the rhodiola rofea (Lin.), plants not fo commonly met with through the 
 neighbouring iflands. 
 
 No remains of that long houfe, by fome denominated a church, in which 
 the clfergy were faid to be accuftomed to afiemble annually, can now be 
 difcovered, nor of thofe three trophies, called Crofles : all remembrance of 
 them is entirely loft, nor does there exift concerning them the flighteft 
 tradition *. 
 
 The ifland makes a part of the charge of Waes, and fupports comfortably 
 two hundred inhabitants. 
 
 . IX. South Ronalds ay is, of all the iflands to the fouth of the Main- 
 land, the moft confiderable in point of population j as, oa about eighteea 
 
 ♦ Ben. MS. Adv. Lib. Edinburgh. 
 
 fquare 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 45 
 
 fquare miles, of which the ifland confifts, there are upwards of fixteen 
 hundred inhabitants. Along the north fide of the ifland, by the ferry of 
 Water Sound, the land is very well cultivated, and feems equally fit for corn 
 and pafture ; and indeed, for both thefe purpofes, the whole ifland feems 
 rather better calculated than mofl: others. The arable and grafs grounds 
 here bear a much greater proportion to the common pafture than elfewhere; 
 and, like Waes, their mode of agriculture is better j the confequence of 
 which is, not only better grain, but fuch a quantity as will both fiipport the 
 numerous inhabitants, and furnifti fome for export, to fupply the confump- 
 tion required in Stromnefs, and Kirkwall. 
 
 Even the bowels of the earth feem to contain treafurcs. In proof of 
 this, it may be obferved, that a promifing vein of lead-ore was long fince 
 difcovered near Grimnefs Head on the north, and another, almoft as much 
 fo, on the fouth-weft, near Widewall ; but, owing to different caufes, they 
 have not as yet been very advantageous. A much more plentiful, as well 
 as certain, fource of wealth is found in the kelp-fliores, which annually 
 produce tons ; and in the fea, that abounds with fifh in vaft numbers, 
 
 and of the very beft quality. 
 
 The only, or at leaft the moft fuccefsful attempt that has been made to 
 draw from this fource, has been by a rich and enterprlfing Company in 
 England, that happily, for fome years part, has entered pretty extenfively 
 into the lobfter and cod-fifhing ; by which they have hitherto been able to 
 employ twenty fmacks for carrying live filh weekly to the London market. 
 
 For this, or any other purpofe of a fimilar nature, the ifland is excellently 
 furniftied with harbours; for, befides federal places where fhips may anchor 
 for a fhort time, it has the fafc and pleafant road of St. Margaret's Hope on 
 the north, and, on the weft, the ftill more commodious Bay of Widewall. 
 
 Neither is the ifland quite deftitute of fome interefting objeds of an- 
 tiquity. Not only are fome tumuli met with in different quarters, but alfo 
 feveral Pids-houfcs in ruins ; among which, what is called the How of Hoxa 
 is very remarkable. 
 
 In the caft fide, on the top of a hill near Stows-head, are the remains of 
 a triangular monument of ftoncs, that have been perpendicular, two of 
 which are broken down, and only one remaining ; refpedling all which, 
 
 tradition 
 
46 GEOGHAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 tradition is entirely filent. The head itfelf is, by the force of the ocean, 
 hollowed out into caves, in which there is generated much ftaladical 
 matter. 
 
 To the north, and at no great diftance, is a moft beautiful vale, with 
 the ocean on one fide, and gently declining hills on the other ; which, for 
 the produdion of every fort of beneficial crop, is far fuperior to any other 
 part of the ifland. In the middle of this pleafant fpot, on the brow of 
 a hill, is a monumental ftone, fixteen feet high, which, like many others 
 through the country, bears no marks of human art, in carving, figures, or 
 infcrlption. 
 
 The whole delightful dale is known by the name of Paplay. 
 
 There are feveral PopiQi chapels alfo, which would fcarcely deferve our 
 attention, had there not been dug up near one of them, at St. Margaret's 
 Hope, deers' horns, together with human bones, intermixed with burnt 
 ftones and afhes. 
 
 X. SwANAY, which is no more than a mile long, and half as much in 
 breadth, lies to the fouth-weft of the former, at the diftance of four miles, 
 in the very heart of the Pentland Frith. 
 
 The inhabitants, to the number of twenty-one perfons, notwithftanding, 
 live in the moft perfed fecurity, and fubfift by means of a little grain which 
 their induftry raifes, catching fifh, when the weather permits, and particu- 
 larly by their (kill in piloting (hips, feveral thoufands of which pafs by them 
 annually. 
 
 Did we credit the tales of former times, wells and fwelchies *, gulphs 
 and whirlpools, are conftantly furrounding this ifland, like fo many gaping 
 monfters, more hideoufly formidable than even Scylla or Charybdis, watch- 
 ing with an infidious avidity to devour thofe {hips that unfortunately come 
 within the fphere of their attraction. But fince not only this, but the other 
 friths and feas that environ the iflands, have been furveyed on rational 
 principles, thefe phantoms, the fruit of ignorance, have in a great meafure 
 difappeared. So little danger is there from the currents in this rapid frith 
 
 • Swelchles. Fauces. Jaws, llircj Glof. Suigoth. 
 
 (the 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 47 
 
 (the velocity of which is fometimes nine miles in the hour) carrying (hips 
 forcibly on the iflands, that even in a calm, when it might be fuppofed 
 greateft, a current conftantly ruflies off from the fhore to preferve them, as 
 may eafily be underftood from an acquaintance with the laws which fluids 
 oblerve in their motions. 
 
 To this, as well as fome other caufes, it is no doubt owing, that even 
 fmall boats crofs it often in perfect fafety. That this is really the cafe, we 
 need have no hefitation in believing, from this circumftance, that though a 
 Poft-ofEce has been eftablifhed here now for more than half a century, 174J.. 
 which has required a boat to ply four times in the week between Caithnefs 
 and Orkney, yet there is not an inftance of a Poft-boat having been loll 
 during the whole of that period. 
 
 Neither do fliips that are acquainted incur greater danger ; for, befides 
 what has been already ftatcd refpeding the currents that in general guard 
 them from the rocks and iflands, thefe iflands create eddies, in which fliips 
 may either tack, or anchor, till the tides turn in their favour ; and thus, in- 
 fl^ead of rendering more perilous, they contribute much to the fafety of na- 
 vigation. Many ftiips that were formerly intimidated by the tales of igno- 
 rance, now fliape their courfe through this frith ; and as few difafters bcfal 
 them as in almofl: any other in the kingdom. Even in the dead of night, 
 they can fometimes venture to navigate this formidable channel, elpecially 
 fince the noble commercial fpirit of the age has eredted in its mouth, tor that 
 purpofe, a lighthoufe, that had long been a defideratum to the trade in the 
 North, no lefs than to the little that is carried on in this country. 
 
 XI. Pentland Skerry is one of two of the fame name that lye in 
 the mouth of the frith, almoft equally diftant from Caithnefs and Orkney, to 
 the latter of which places they belong, and have only, till of late, been occu- 
 pied by birds, feals and otters, and a few black cattle for pafture in fummer. 
 In a confi-icuous fpot of this, which is by far the largefl:, the lighthoufe is 
 built with the neceflTary accommodations for a man to take charge of it : it 
 is inhabited only by this man and his family. 
 
 It it be confldcred that three thouland tlnee hundred fliips are calculated 
 to have palled this frith annually, previoufly to the eredion of this lighthoufe, 
 
 and 
 
48 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAKDS. BOOK I. 
 
 and certainly many more fince that period, there will be no difficulty in con- 
 ceiving what vaft advantage mull refult from it to the different branches of 
 trade in this quarter of the world. 
 
 XII. Bu RRA Y is feparated from South Ronaldfay by Water found, a ferry 
 of a mile broad ; extends nearly four miles in length, and one in breadth ; 
 and, in point of conveniency of fituation and fertility, excels mod of the 
 other iflands. The grain that is ufually raifed here, is obferved to look 
 uncommonly well, early in thefeafon ; but, owing to its rufhing rapidly up 
 in greater luxuriance than the ground can fupport or ripen, it is often found 
 in hai vefl, fo fmall and hungry, as to balk the hopes of the hufbandman. 
 Far different is the cafe v;ith refped to many of its other produdlons ; for 
 potatoes, carrots, peas, onions, and cabbage are raifed in great perfedlion ; 
 and turnip, which has been fown for many years pad, is not furpaffed even 
 in the beft cultivated parts of Scotland. The fame encomium may be with 
 juftice paffed on the natural grafs, of which it is produdive, confiftlng prin- 
 cipally of red and white clover, which, combined with fome others, have 
 of late furnKhed fuch truly excellent nourilhment, that the cattle reared on 
 it have been fo much improved as to triple the value of the fame number 
 bred in ordinary through the iflands. 
 
 This ifland, together with Swanay, Pentland Skerry, and the Holms as 
 pendicles, makes a part of the paftoral charge of South Ronaldfhay ; and 
 the valued rent of the whole is three thoufand five hundred and twelve 
 pounds Scots ; the real fifteen hundred pounds Sterling ; and the population 
 comes very little fhort of two thoufand. 
 
 XIII. Lambholm, or Lamon, as it Is more commonly called, has 
 probably been formerly uninhabited, and appropriated to the pafturing of 
 lambs ; for which, both on account of the excellence of its grafs, and con- 
 venient fituation, it was extremely well calculated. Its produdlions now are 
 not confined to that article j for it produces excellent grain, and affords a 
 very comfortable abode to one family. 
 
 XIV. Co- 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OP THE ISLANDS. 49 
 
 XIV. CopiNSAY lies diredlly eaft from the mainland, from which it is 
 diftant about three miles, and is remarkable principally for furni(hing an ex- 
 cellent landmark for {hips either approaching to or taking their (departure 
 from thefe iflands. This very circumftance, perhaps, has given birth to its 
 name, which, in fome of the dialects of the Gothic, we are told, fignifics 
 the Trade or Mercantile Island *. 
 
 High toward the eaft, it prefents a bold ( erpendicular front to the Ger- 
 man ocean ; on the other direction, more gently Hoping a- it faces the 
 mainland, it extends a mile in length, and about a halt in breadth. It 
 contains fome excellent corn and grals ground, often watered by the fea ; 
 and affords a moft convenient haunt for a vaft multitude of fea-fowl and 
 rock-birds : it fupports alfo, with eafe, two or three families. 
 
 XV. Shapinsay, fituated to the north of the mainland, from which, 
 in fome places, it is no more than a mile diftant, is the firll of the north 
 ifles that prefents itfelf, about three miles removed from Kirkwall. If its 
 greateft extent be coiifidered, the dimenfions will amount to nearly feven 
 miles by five ; but as it bears fome refemblance to a crofs, of which the 
 length may be viewed in the light of the body, and the breadth in that of 
 the arms, fuch a confideration of it will convey no very diftinifl idea of its 
 furface. To fubjcQ it to meafurement, it muft be reduced into a regular 
 form; and in that cafe, nine fquare miles would be all it contains. 
 
 Much of this extent, efpecially on the north and fouth fide is cultivated ; 
 and indeed almoft the whole is capable of cultivation, were due attention 
 paid to it. So far, however, is this from being the cafe, that to the detri- 
 ment, no lefs than to the difgrace of the proprietors, fome of the arable lands 
 are yet lying rurtrig, which is well known to throw an infuperablc bar in 
 the way of culture, befides furnifliing matter for endlefs difputes and con- 
 tentions. 
 
 The whole of this ifland formerly made a part of the temporality of the 
 bifhoprick of Orkney. 
 
 * CopiufkaU Mercatura. Ihre, Glof. Suigoth. 
 
 H la 
 
5© GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 In its fouth-vreft corner, lead ore was found of a flattering appearance ; 
 but owing to fon>e difficulties that unexpededly arofe, the work has not 
 been nrofecuted. 
 
 The foil, though various, is in general (hallow, compounded of clay, 
 peat and fand, very imperfeitly cultivated : and as there is more depend- 
 ence on fea-vveed than on either dung or compoft as a manure, and no re- 
 gard whatever paid to either lime or marl, though they exift in the ifland, 
 the crops of bear and oats are neither fo plentiful as they otherwife might 
 be, nor is the grain of fuch fuperior quality. The grain that is raifed an- 
 nually isfufficient for the inhabitants, though the rents are paid in kind, and 
 a large quantity thus neceflarily conveyed to the King's ftorehoufe in 
 
 Kirkwall. ' 
 
 On one eftate, the ordinary mode of hufbandry has been exchanged for 
 one that has been long pra£lifed in the beft cultivated countries to the South ; 
 and the experiment has exceeded the moft fanguine expectations : and as 
 there is nothing either in the foil or fituation of that place peculiarly favour- 
 able, the fame mode, adopted in other inftances, might be attended with the 
 fame happy confequences. The farming flock has kept pace with the im- 
 provement of the land in the inftance above alluded to, as it now exceeds 
 triple its former value. Through other parts of the ifland, the farming 
 {lock is of a piece with their agriculture, their horfes and cattle being as 
 puny as they are numerous. Swine are kept in great numbers, without 
 herding or confinement, to the unfpeakable deftru6tion of both grafs and 
 corn : and the (beep, that amount to between two and three thoufand, being 
 fuffered to enjoy the fame natural liberty, are fcarcely lefs hurtful in their 
 depredations. 
 
 Little more than a furlong to the fouth of the ifland, and feparated by a 
 reef of rocks that are almoft dry at low water, is fituated the beautiful ifland 
 of Elgar, or EUerholm, which bears evident marks of having been formerly 
 inhabiied. Though fome veftiges of a houfe are ftill to be feen on the 
 north fide, around which lye the lands that appear to have been cultivated, 
 it is probable that it has never furniflied a permanent abode for men fince 
 it was finally feparated from the principal ifland. 
 
 At 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OP THE ISLANDS, 51 
 
 At prefent it contains the ruins of an old chapel, and a Pids-houfe that 
 has been opened. It furnifhes pallure for a number of (heap and young 
 cattle in fummer, and gives, by its favourable lltuation, the utmoft fecurity 
 to the fine harbour of tlwick. 
 
 Among a great many harbours found in the ifl^indt;, tliis poUcfles fome 
 advantages, in as far as it is fecure in every quarter, the ground good, the 
 vi-ater deep, the beach, in fome places at leaft, fuch, that a fliip may rurj 
 afhore without damage. There is plenty of frefh water at hand ; and, as it 
 opens to the fouth, it is convenient, in this refpedl:, for Ihips bound to that 
 quarter of the country. 
 
 In common with mort of the rert, this iiland exhibits fome monuineuts 
 of antiquity. Among thcfe may be reckoned, befides fome Popilh chapels 
 of little note, many Pids houfes ranged along the fhore as fo many forts, 
 burgs, or caflles, together with tumuli or barrows in very different fituations. 
 A monumental ftone, of the fame figure and dimenfions with thcfe in 
 other places, raifes its venerable head in a plain near its eaftern extremity; 
 and, to clofe the catalogue, on the banks of the fea facing the north, is the 
 ftone of Odin. 
 
 Befides its other produftions, this iiland produces, annually, about an 
 hundred tons of kelp ; its valued rent is two thoufand one hundred and 
 thirty-fix pounds Scots; its real, fix hundred pounds Sterling; and its po- 
 pulation, which for fome years paft has been on the increafe, is feven hun- 
 dred and fifty. 
 
 XVI. Stronsay, a pretty large ifland, rather fiat, fituated to the eaft 
 of the former, from which it is divided by a rapid frith of the fame name, 
 fix miles wide, on that quarter bounds the group of the Orkney iflands. 
 From an infpedion of the map, it appears to be not only curioufly indented, 
 but almoft cut into three diftind iflands, which were formerly fo many 
 feparate pariflbes ; and this interfedion has probably given rife to the name 
 conferred on it by the ancients, of the Ifle of Strands, or Stronfay. Its di- 
 menfions are, fevcn miles long, and four broad ; through which it difcovers 
 much variety ia point of foil and elevation ; and, while it equals fcveral of 
 the reft in the produdion of the fruits of the earth, it enjoys one advantage 
 
 H 2 over 
 
52 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 over them, in its very convenient fituation for an extenfive and lucrative 
 fifliery. This advantage, however much delpifed at prefent, feems to have 
 attraded attention in former times, when the ifland was confidered as of 
 more confequence, on account of its extenfive intercourfe with the eaft, in 
 the fiourifliing ftate of the herring filhcry, a pretty extenfive one being then 
 carried on in that ifland. The exad fliare which the inhabitants had in that 
 bufinefs cannot now be afcertained ; but it was probably not very great, as 
 moft of the operations were performed by people from the county of Fife, 
 who, being called home in the commotions that then fhook the kingdom, 
 all fell in the battle of Kilfyth ; and this circumitance unfortunately put an 
 end to that promifing fpecies of induftry. 
 
 If ever it be again refumed, the two fine harbours of which the ifland 
 can boaft, may contribute much to its profperity. Linga Sound is one of 
 thefe, which lies on the weft fide ; Papay Sound, on the north-eaft, is the 
 other ; and both of them are, on the proper anchoring ground, fecure places 
 for (hipping. 
 
 Many fine fifti, fuch as cod, ling, halibut, haddocks, and, in the feafon, 
 plenty of excellent herrings, abound near the coaft ; but fuch is either the 
 want of time, enterprife, or capital, that, inftead of making an article of 
 commerce of thefe fifli, they fcarcely procure what is fufficient for their own 
 confumption. 
 
 Agriculture is in much the fame ftate as in other places. One exception 
 ought to be noticed. A female proprietor has had fpirit to bring a man from 
 England, to inclofe and improve fuch of the wafte lands on her eftate as 
 were before but of very little utility. The attempt is unqueftionably lauda- 
 ble, and merits the thanks of every friend to improvement ; but how far it 
 may fucceed, or whether it be conducted with that fkill neceflary to fecure 
 fuccefs, are points which time alone can determine. 
 
 The farming ftock is alfo much the fame here as elfewhere, both as to 
 quantity and quality. The people are the fame way employed on their little 
 farms, occafionally fiftiing for immediate confumption, and in the fummer 
 months manufa£luring kelp, of which they make, at an average, three 
 hundred tons annually. 
 
 As 
 
CHAP. II. OEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. ^3 
 
 As the valued rent is four thoufand fix hundred and feven pounds Scots, 
 and the real, fix hundred and fifty pounds S'.e. ling, the fmall difference 
 hetneen thefe rents exhibits, in a llriking point of view, the low flate of 
 t'-e improvement of the land, which, notwithftanding, in ordinary fe-ifons, 
 produces much more than is neceffary for maintaining nine hundred inha- 
 bitants. 
 
 In the north- weft corner, a vein of lead-ore was difcovered many years 
 fince, fpecimens of which were fent into England for the fake of trial ; but 
 as no fl:e[)S have been taken in the bufinefs, the report probably was un- 
 favourable. 
 
 Toward the call coaft, among the rocks, are three mineral fprings al- 
 moft elofe together, diifering in ftrength, though of the fame nature ; and 
 fuch confidence do the people place in thefe fprings, (whicli, together, go 
 under the name of the Well of Kildinguie), and at the fame time in that 
 fea-weed named Dulfe, produced in Guiydin, (perhaps the bay of Odin), 
 as to have given rife to a proverb, ' That the well of Kildinguie and the 
 • dulfe of Guiydin will cure all maladies but Black Deaths 
 
 Tornefs and Odnefs, the names of two neffes, are perhaps derived from 
 two Scandinavian deities, Thor and Odin. 
 
 The aniiquities here are, as in the other iflands, tumuli, Pids-houfes, 
 and Popifh chapels, in none of which is there any thing peculiar. 
 
 XVII. Papay-Stronsay is a pleafant little ifland that lies very near, 
 and, as it were, in the bofom of the former, on the north-eaft quarter, the 
 circumference of which does not exceed three miles ; and as it i§ of a level 
 furface, difiinguifhed alike for its beauty and fertility, it furnifhes a very 
 comfortable abode for a pretty extcnfive farmer, with his fervants and other 
 dependants, who make a part of the congregation of Stronfay. 
 
 Even in this fmall place, there were formerly two chapels for religious 
 worfliip, the one dedicated to St. Bride, and the other to St. Nicolas. In the 
 middle of the fpace between thefe, is an eminence known by the name of 
 Earls-knoll, on which are apparent fome graves and ruins. 
 
 Curiofity fome time ago prompted the opening of one of the former, 
 
 which, from the diftance of the ftones planted at the two extremities, ap- 
 
 6 peared 
 
54 GtCGRAPHlCAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK 1. 
 
 peared to be upwards of eight feet ; and fome of the human bones it was 
 found to contain, furnifhed ground for believing that the body muft have 
 been nearly of the fame dimenfions. 
 
 XVIII. Ed AY, an illand fituated near the centre of the north ifles, is five 
 miles long and nearly two broad, the eaft fide of which is green, flat, and 
 tolerably well cultivated, while its weft and north fides confift of hills mo- 
 derately high, affording excellent peat, and moftly covered with heath. 
 
 The name it bears has in fome inftances been drawn from this clothing 
 of heath, and in others from the number of rapid eddy-tides with which it 
 is furrounded. By an author of great name *, it has been fuppofed to be 
 the Ocet'is of the Egyptian geographer f. In ancient times, it is faid to 
 have been rich and populous, till plundered by fome audacious invader, who, 
 not fatisfied with ftripping them of their cattle and other property, expelled 
 all the inhabitants %. To this account, however, we can give no great credit, 
 as there are no marks of its ever having been more cultivated than at pre- 
 fent ; and in fome of the oldeft rentals of thefe iflands, the articles paid are, 
 inftead of grain as in other places, flelh and butter ; which would rather in- 
 1800. cline us to conclude it had been only deftined for pafturage. Now, when 
 the feafons are tolerably good, there is no want of grain for fupporting the 
 people ; and when prompted by need, or by inclination, to launch their 
 boats, in the management of which they are uncommonly dexterous, they 
 feldom return without filh of the very beft kind, amply fufficient to com- 
 penfate their labour. 
 
 Many boats here have been employed, for feveral years paft, In the lob- 
 fter fifhing in fummer, while the body of the people are occupied in the 
 manufadture of kelp, of which there is produced nearly eighty tons an- 
 nually. 
 
 The proportion of the land in tillage to the land in paftare, Is much lefs 
 than in moft other places ; but this difadvantage is more than overbalanced 
 by the great plenty of excellent fuel it affords, not only to thofe who refide 
 on it, but to feveral of the neighbouring iflands. 
 
 « Cambden's Britannia. f Ptolemy. % Ben, MS. Adv. Lib. Edin. 
 
 To 
 
CHAP. ir. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. ^S 
 
 To this advantage may be added another, refultlng from Its harbours. 
 To the north-eaft, and at a fmall diftance, lies a large holm, named the 
 Calf, din:inc;ui{lied for its fine turf, and (heep pafturc ; and between this and 
 the ifland, is an arm of the fea, that opens both to the north and fouth, form- 
 ing the noble harbour of Calf-Sound. Another, but not of equal excel- 
 lence, lies toward the weft, named Fierfnefs ; and in both of thefe, fliips 
 may find very fafe anchorage, efpecially in the former. 
 
 This ifland, which is now the property of two gentlemen, belonged, in 
 the laft century, to Lord Kinclaven, who built a houfc here, and erected 
 falt-pans, which were wrought with equal fpirit and fuccefs during all the 
 days of their patron. 
 
 This nobleman, who was fon of Robert, and brother of Patrick Stewart 
 Earl of Orkney, had been by Charles the Firft created Earl of Carrick, which 
 name he conferred on a village fituated near the harbour of Calf Sound,which 
 was through his influence ereded by the fame monarch into a burgh of 
 barony ; but as he died without any lawful iflue, the title became extindt, 
 the houfe crumbled down, and the village funk into obfcurity. 
 
 Trufting to the defencelefs ftate of the country at that time, the pirate 172 c. 
 Gow entered this harbour, with a view, no doubt, to extend his depreda- 
 tions from this place as a centre ; and he would have unqueftionably done 
 fo, to the great terror as well as the detriment of the inhabitants, had not 
 the refolutc fpirit of one of the proprietors, then refiding in the houfe of 
 Carrick, ftimulated and lupported by his equally intrepid neighbours, fcized 
 the pirate, his crew an.l his fliip, and thus rid the world of one who had 
 been for a long time a peft to fociety. 
 
 The Redhead, which forms one of the fides of the harbour, contains 
 an excellent freeflone quarry, from which mofl of the country is fupplied 
 with that article ; and it has been fuppofed, not without good grounds, that 
 notvvithftanding the diftance, it has even furnifhed ftones for the cathedral 
 of St. Magnus in Kirkwall. 
 
 Here there is a ftanding monumental ftone, fimilar to thofe which are 
 
 obferved in the other iflands ; feveral P'rts-houfes may alfo be obferved ; and 
 
 fuch a number of tumuli, efpecially on one fpot, as may furnifh reafonable 
 Jon , 
 
 grounds 
 
56 gteogRAphical description of the islaiwds. book I. 
 
 grounds of conjedure, that this place has been the fcene of military exploits 
 and of blood, no lefs than of depredation. 
 The population of the ifland is fix hundred. 
 
 XIX. Faray is a fmall ifland, dlftant from the former about two miles 
 to the weft ; not exceeding two miles in length and one in breadth ; rather 
 flat, and covered with verdure. Befides a very advantageous fituation for 
 fifhing, it has a foil and furface more than fuflncient to raife both corn and 
 cattle, in ordinary years, to anfwer every demand of the inhabitants. 
 
 Almoft at the fame diftance from Eday, but in the oppofite diredion, is 
 fituated the pleafant, fertile, extenfive and populous ifland of 
 
 XX. Sanday. Few, very few of the group can compare with this, 
 in any refpedl, as will appear evident from the detail of a few particulars. 
 
 From fouth-weft to north-eaft, it extends fully twelve miles ; its mean 
 breadth does not exceed a mile and a half; and the whole furface of confe- 
 quence is not lefs than nineteen fquare miles. Much of the foil it contains 
 is of a fandy nature ; and this circumftance, even without any authority to 
 fupport us, we would naturally conclude had originally given birth to its 
 name *. Except on the weft fide, for fome diftance, where it rifes into a 
 ridge of a moderate height, flatnefs is the charadteriftic of its whole fur- 
 face. 
 
 By far the greater part of it is cultivated, though, unlefs in a few in- 
 ftances, not in a fuperior manner. 
 
 It notwithftanding produces a large quantity of grain, that is not only 
 fufficient for the fupport of thofe within it, but may furnifh a thoufand bolls 
 at leaft, as an article of export, in years of ordinary plenty. Here, as elfe- 
 where, the people are employed, in the fpring feafon, on their little fields ; 
 the greateft part of them manufadure kelp in fummer ; and during ferene 
 weather, when their other bufinefs permits, they fometimes go a fifliing, for 
 which employment no fituation can be more favourable. This, however, has 
 
 • Sic diaa, quia Arenola infula. Ben. MS. Adv. Lib. Edinburgh. 
 
 not 
 
CHAP. 11. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. S7 
 
 not yet induced any of them to relinquish their very fmall farms (in which 
 there is but little fcope for induftry, though they take up much of their 
 time, and furnlfh only a fcanty and precarious fubfiftence), in order to be- 
 come fiftiers by profeffion, if we except a very few, who devote fome months 
 every year to the fifhing of lobflers. 
 
 Though the foil is excellent, neither the quality of the grain, the nature 
 and value of the farming ftock, nor their mode of agriculture, has in it any 
 thing that dcferves notice. In one refped, indeed, they have got a ftep be- 
 fore others in their rural economy ; for inftead of fuffering their iheep, their 
 f.vine, and other live ftock, to deftroy their own fields or thole of their neigh- 
 bours, or putting them up within mudwall hill-dikes, that, as fences, can 
 yield little or no fecurity, they take care that none ihall receive detriment ; 
 for they tend them, if not conftantly, at leaft in the fummer feafon. Here, as 
 in moft other places, the farming ftock, confifting of horfes, cattle, and even 
 a certain proportion of the crop, belongs to the landlord or proprietor of the 
 farm ; and all thi?, under the name oC Jicilbozv, the tenant receives at his 
 entry, and leaves on his departure from his farm, in order to its being con- 
 veyed to the next tenant. This cuftom, which was once common in Scot- 
 land, has originated in the poverty of farmers, the effeds of which it was 
 intended to obviate ; but its dired tendency, now, without doubt, is, to relax 
 induftry. 
 
 As this ifland is of an extrentely irregi-Iar fliape, the fliores are much 
 more extenfive than might be fuppofed from the extent of its furface; and 
 as they arc alfo in general fiat, thefe circumftances enable it, even at a mo- 
 derate expence, to produce a very large quantity of kelp, which has juftly 
 been confidered as its ftaple commodity. 
 
 Accordingly, nearly a fifth part of what the whole iflands manufadure is 
 the produce of this ifland, which, in years when the marine plants grow to 
 their ordinary degree of perfedion, and the wetnefs of the weather does 
 not obftrud their being converted into kelp, may amount to five hundred 
 and fifty tons, as the average quantity. 
 
 But though its low fituation, the extent of its fhores, and the number 
 of creeks and bays that indent or interfed it, contribute HiUch to its value 
 in tKe produdion of kelp, it has often, from thefe very circumftances, 
 
 I been 
 
58 GEOGHAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 been fatal to (hipping. So mucli has this unhappily been the cafe, that 
 in the (hort fpace of little more than half a century, there has been on 
 this and the little ifland to the north, totally loft by Ihipwreck, property, 
 foreign and domeftic, to the enormous value of even more than half a 
 million Sterling. To thefe caufes of fhipwreck may be added thick, rather 
 than ftormy weather ; but by no means can the want of places of fafety 
 be taken into the account, fince there are two harbours, Kettletoft on the 
 fouth, and Otterfwick on the north, that at all times of tide are equally fafe 
 and accefiible. As thefe harbours are nearly oppofite to each other, and fe- 
 parated only by an extenfive and beautiful plain, that is thought to have a 
 ftriking refemblance to the juftly celebrated plain of Runnimede, the fea 
 fometimes, in the high tides of fpring and harveft, threatens entirely to divide 
 the ifland. Several encroachments, if we may credit tradition, have already 
 been made here by the fea, one of which has formed the bay of Otterfwick, 
 or Odinfwick, now a league in length, reported to have been formerly not 
 only dry land, but a foreft ; and the many roots of trees that are in fpring- 
 tides occafionally feen in this place, on the recefs of the water, give, it muft 
 be confefled, the colour of truth to this tradition. To this inftance may be 
 added another — Runnabreck, which is now two miles diftanr, but is report- 
 1800. ed to have been formerly connected to, and to have made a part of 
 the ifland, on which the inhabitants were accuftomed to play at foot- 
 ball. 
 
 Toward the weft fide of the ifland, the {hore, to the diftance of two 
 hundred feet in one place, confifts of a (helving rock, that bears fome marks 
 of having been once in a liquid ftate, and of having undergone fome degree 
 of calcination. The place is called Heclabir ; it may be, from the refem- 
 blance it is fuppofed to have had to the famous Icelandic volcano ; but if 
 any fuch in miniature has ever exifted here, tradition is filent refpeding it, 
 and it may have been fwallowed up in the deep. Thefe rocks confift of 
 puddingftone, or breccia. 
 
 There is neither marble nor whinftone to be feen here, and freeftone 
 only in that quarter that looks to Eday, whofe foundation is moftly com- 
 poled of freeftone : and in a narrow channel that feparates the two iflands, 
 
 the 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 59 
 
 the furface of the land on both fides is not only fimilar in almoft every re- 
 fped:, but the extended point in the one correfponds in fome meafure to the 
 deep bay in the other. 
 
 Here there are ninety-three perfons to each fquare mile, five to each family ; 
 the number of males born to that of females, twenty-three to twenty- two ; 
 the number of the births to the number of the people, as one to thirty-feven; 
 and the whole inhabitants, which have been increaling in number for half a 
 century paft, now amount to one thoufand feven hundred and fcventy. 
 
 The oldeft names among them are Torfs, Tullachs, Muirs, Swaneys, 
 Feas ; and thefe, together with Torfnefs, or Thorfnefs, Odinfwick, Odin- 
 fkar, and Hillihow, names of places and of houfes, are all, without doubt, 
 derived from that dialed of the Gothic language, which was formerly fpoken 
 here, under the denomination of Norfe or Norwegian. 
 
 XXI. North Ronaldsay is fo named, to diftingulfh it from an- 
 other in the fouthf to which it certainly has no fort of refemblance, unlefs in 
 the names they bear ; both of which, it is probable, have been derived from 
 fome one or other of the Ronalds, ancient Counts of Orkney. Situated to 
 the north of Sanday, at the diltance of two miles, and divided from it by a 
 very rapid and dangerous frith, it contains about four fquare miles, on 
 which live, in great peace and comfort, about four hundred and twenty in- 
 habitants. Here the population has increafed of late, as well as in the one 
 laft mentioned ; but inftead of five, there are here fix to a family. 
 
 The whole of it is little raifed above the level of the fea, dry, and of a 
 foil compofed of fand and clay in different proportions, which is cultivated 
 in the ordinary flovenly manner, and yet produces both corn and grafs of 
 an excellent kind, and in fullicient quantity. The people are fober, honeft, 
 decent in their manners, and comparatively induflrious. During winter, 
 they fpend their time in taking care of their cattle and their crops, and in 
 colleding fea-weed for firing and manure ; and when the weather is fair, 
 fo that they can venture to fea, they catch fifh for their families. Spring is 
 employed on the land, as in other places : and when the fummer months 
 arrive, almoft all hands are adively employed in the manufadure of kelp, of 
 which they make at leaft a hundred tons annually. 
 
 I 2 The 
 
Co GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK r. 
 
 The fiirface, the foil, the fward, and even the rocks here, have a ftrik- 
 ing refemblance to the fame objedls on the north of Sanday ; and as the 
 land on both fides is equally low, the iflands have been almoft equally fatal 
 to mariners. To f ve the lives of this mofl ufeful and refpedable fet of men, 
 to preferve property, and to promote commerce, a lighthoufe feventy feet 
 high was erefled fome years ago on the north-eail point of the ifland, 
 which, together with that on the Pentland Skerry, in the other extremity 
 of the iflands, muft contribute much to the fafcty of trade in this quarter of 
 the world. 
 
 Even here, as well as in more extenfive places, a monumental ftoue 
 ftands in the middle of a plain, ten feet high, and four broad, nearly of the 
 fame form with thofe fo frequently met with elfewhere, and, like them 
 alfo, there is no tradition whatever refpeding either the time when, or the 
 purpofe for which it was eredted. Around it, on the firft day of the New 
 Year, the inhabitants fometimes aflemble for their amufement, and indulge 
 for a while in the fong and the dance. 
 
 In different parts, alfo, there are tumuli, one of which has been opened, 
 and was found to contain a building of nine feet diameter, circular on the 
 outfide, and fquare and hollow within, in the bottom of which was a well, 
 and in the upper part the (keleton of a man in nearly an upright attitude. 
 
 XXII. Westray is an ifland of much greater confequence, both in 
 extent and variety of furface, and lies at the diftance of twelve miles ; and 
 as it terminates the clufter on the north-weft quarter, it probably from this 
 circumftance derives its name. Its (hape bears fome refemblance to a crofs, 
 the body of which may be eftimated at eight, while its arms do not extend 
 above five miles, and if reduced into a form capable of meafurement, it 
 may contain about fourteen fquare miles. 
 
 Through this whole extent, which ftretches from fouth-eaft to north- 
 weft, it forms a ridge, low on the fhores, and gently elevated towards the 
 middle ; and, from fouth to north, on the weft fide, a range of pretty high 
 hills forms its boundary in that direction. The cuhivated land, and the 
 principal grafs pafture, are on the eaft end, and on the north and fouth fhores ; 
 a large portioa of it is on the fouth-wefl, where both are uncommonly fine j 
 
 and 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. Ct 
 
 and as the wafte land lies in the middle of thefe tra£ts, what is on the weft 
 and north-weft is inferior neither in quantity nor quality. Here, there 
 is foil of every fort, fand, clay, loam, gravel, yarplia, or a mixture of clay 
 and peat, as may eafily be conceived from the hill and dale, the low and 
 elevated ground, that enter into its fuperficial compofition. While the twa 
 laft defcribed iflands are entirely deftitute of peat for fuel, and fuffer much 
 on this account, this has peat-mofs in abundance, which, under proper ma- 
 nagement, might fupply the ifland with this invaluable article, for the fpace 
 of even more than a century. Much corn is raifed here, of an indifferent 
 quality ; the grafs is excellent tor producing milk and butter, and feeding 
 black cattle ; and, in the ftrong rapid tides and boifterous feas which encircle 
 it in every quarter, there is fuch plenty of fi(h of the very beft kind, that 
 when the weather is mild, and the fea fo fmooth that the boats can get off 
 to the fifliing-ground, which lies at a confiderable diftance, they fcldom re- 
 turn without an ample reward for their labour. A few hands, of late, have 
 been employed in the lobfter-filhing ; but the bulk of the people here, as 
 in ether places, fpend the winter in idlenefs, the fpring in the culture of 
 their fields, and the fummer, except during a few intervals that are employed 
 in filhing, in the manufadure of kelp, in which their labour produces, at 
 an average, three hundred tons annually. The population is about a hun- 
 dred to every fquare mile, or fourteen hundred in all ; and though fevcral 
 of the landholders and their families have removed from their eflates, whicit 
 is certainly a great detriment, it does not feem to have decreafed much, if 
 at all, from what it was formerly. Much might it be increafed, were 
 attention beftrwed on the land, the fixth part of which has not yet been 
 cultivated, though a large proportion of it is capable of improvement. 
 
 Though, on the eafl and fouth, there are two bays, where fhips may ride 
 for fome time in fummer, the only harbour that can be depended on is that 
 called Pier-o'-wall, on the north- weft ; and this is fit for fmalj veffels only. 
 Formerly, it afforded accommodation for fliips of much greater burthen • 
 and it is ftill flKllered in all diredions: but, from the blowing of the fand 
 which ot late has been very great, the water has become fo Ihallow, that 
 fliips which have occafion to put in here are compelled to anchor in a more 
 open road farther out in the harbour. The blowing of the fand has alfo 
 
 * fpread 
 
62 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 fpread defolation over fome of the mofl: beautiful and beft land, not only In 
 this ifland, but alfo in Sanday. With refped to the latter, in particular, 
 this deftrudive effedl has been evidently produced by the injudicious cuf- 
 tom of cutting, or even pulling, for various purpofes, a plant, here named 
 bent {arenofa armtdo, Lin.) which feems to take delight in a foil of this 
 nature. But, inftead of removing that plant, it fliould be cultivated vs-ith 
 care, and the feeds, when ripe, colie£ted and fown, to fix the foil, which it 
 is found to do very effe£tually. The fame efFe£t may be produced by other 
 plants of a fimilar nature, inch. &% \.ht galiian liiteum, the elymus araiarius^ 
 tritician juuccum ; and as thefe plants could be eafily procured, it would 
 certainly be an obje£t highly meriting the attention of the landholders. 
 This illand, as well as the reft, is not deftltute of fome obje£ls of antiquity. 
 Along the fhores, in many places, the eye meets with fome of thofe ruins 
 denominated Pids-houfes, which exhibit nothing extraordinary. 
 
 Tumuli or barrows, alfo, are not unfrequent ; and the remains of fome 
 Popifh chapels, for which the people, till lately, fhowed no fmall degree of 
 veneration. Little farther than half a mile from the manfe, appear two 
 graves, the one much larger than the other, the leaft enclofed within a circle 
 of ftones, and both of them formed of four ftones, placed at equal diftances 
 from one another ; and human bones are frequently found near them. In 
 two pretty extenfive plains by the fea, the one on the fouth, and the other 
 on the north fide of the ifland, the blowing of the fand has opened to view 
 a multitude of graves, all of them formed in nearly the fame manner; and, 
 though tradition ventures to give no account of them, they have very pro- 
 bably been the fcenes of conflid and carnage in fome remote period. The 
 eye of curiofity has penetrated fome of thefe to the north, and been grati- 
 fied with the fight of not only human bones and fkeletons, in a reclining 
 pofture, but of weapons of war, domeftic utenfils, and feveral other articles, J 
 
 the ufe of which could not be dilcovered with certainty. Clofe by this I 
 
 dreary wafte is the beautiful town of Waal, the name of which has perhaps 
 fome reference to the event which muft have been long perpetuated in this 
 field of flaughter *. By the fide of it, on the borders of a beautiful loch 
 
 * Waal, ^r<7f«/. IhrCj Glof. Suigoth. 
 
 of 
 

 ^ 
 
 X 
 
 Si 
 
 
 ■^N^ 
 
 
 ^c^ 
 
 
 > 
 
 ^ 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION Or THE ISLANDS. 63 
 
 of tVefh water, at the bottom of a green hill, on a verdant plain, w'th a 
 gentle declivity towards the fea, (lands the noble caftle of Noltland, which 
 is believed, though erroneoufly, to have been built for the reception of the 
 unfortunate Mary and her profligate paramour Bothwell, when their ene- 
 mies drove them to the lafl: extremity *. 
 
 TIic oldeft names of places are. Garth, Gorn, Clet, Skeal, Skealvvick ; 
 and of men, Meal, Hercus, and Ssater j which are all plainly of Gothic 
 extraction. 
 
 XXIII. Papay-Westray, a beautiful little ifland to the north of the 
 former, from which it is diftant fcarcely more than a n^ile, is four miles 
 long, and not above one broad; and in point of form, extent, dimenfions, 
 and particularly of foil, furface, and produdions, bears a very ftriking re- 
 femblance to the pleaiant and fertile ifles of North Ronaldfay and Burray, 
 already mentioned. To neither of them does it yield in the produiflion of 
 excellent corn, and as fine natural clover as is anywhere to be found, frona 
 a rich loamy bottom ; the land gently rifing toward the middle, and 
 fhelving toward the fea on both fides, till it terminates toward the north, in 
 what is well known by the name of Mull of Papay. To add to the beauty 
 of this charming ifland, a loch of fre(h water ornaments its fouth-eafl 
 corner, in which there is an enchanting ifle, little larger than is fufficient to 
 ferve for the foundation of a Pi£ls-houle, on which was afterwards reared 
 the once noble chapel of St. Tredwall. 
 
 The wonders which fuperftition formerly fabricated, and afcribed to this 
 female faint, fhe is no longer believed to perform "f". 
 
 The valued rent is feven hundred and forty-three pounds Scots ; the real, 
 two hundred pounds Sterling, befides eighty tons of kelp a year; and it 
 fupports, with eafe, above two hundred inhabitants. 
 
 XXIV. Eagleshay is another little ifland of the fame defcription, al- 
 moft fix miles fouth of Weltray, from which it is divided by an impetuous 
 frith, and is inferior to none of them in regard either to external beauty or 
 conveniency of fituation. 
 
 • Wallace. f Wallac«'s Defcription of the Orkney Iflands. 
 
 For 
 
64 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 Tor this laft reafon, no doubt, it has been chofen as a fit place of refidence 
 by feveral ilkiftrious perfons. 
 
 The Douglafles and the Monteiths, who were its proprietors, not only 
 refided on this delightful fpot, but alfo fome of the ancient counts; and 
 even the bifliops, allured by its commodioufnefs, gave it a decided prefe- 
 rence as an habitation. But an event of a very different kind confers on it 
 much more celebrity : It was the fcene of the unjuft and cruel murder of 
 the pious St. Magnus, the tutelary faint of thefe iflands. 
 
 The church dedicated to that faint, which, in its ftrufture, has fome 
 marks of antiquity, is faid to have been built on the very fpot where that 
 infamous deed was perpetrated by his ambitious relation, without provoca- 
 tion. The ifland is about two miles long and one broad, the rental of 
 which, amounting to about a hundred pounds, goes rather into the coffers 
 of the fuperior than the vaffal : it produces feventy tons of kelp in a 
 feafon, and contains nearly two hundred very civilized and hofpitable 
 inhabitants. 
 
 XXV. RousAY, which lies toward the weft, and Is feparated from 
 it by a ftrait of a mile broad, is, in point of extent, of much greater con- 
 fequence. The eaft fide of it that fronts Eaglefhay, on the declivity, or at 
 the bottom of the hills, is beautifully fituated, and abundantly fertile. The 
 fame with propriety may be faid of the fouth-weft corner, around the 
 church, to fome diftance : only a narrow ftripe near the fhores is cultivated 
 in other places : the whole middle fpace confifts of pretty high hills, co- 
 Tered plentifully with heath, which fhelters moorfowl, and intermixed with 
 grafs of various forts, for rearing and fupporting great numbers of iheep, 
 fwine, and black cattle. Thefe hills have now ceafed to blaze fpontaneoufly 
 at night, as they were faid formerly to have done *. 
 
 In full view of the parifh of Evie, and the ifland of Enhallow, and the 
 rapid river-like found that divides them at the mouth of a rivulet that 
 tumbles in beautiful cafcades from the hills, is romantically fituated the 
 houfe of Weftnefs. This was, in remote ages, the celebrated abode of 
 
 • Ben. MS. Adv. Lib. Edinburgh. 
 
 Sigurd, 
 
CHAP. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. 65 
 
 Sigurd, who (hared tlie confidence of his fuperiors, and entered fo deep 
 into the councils and tranfiiftions of his time, as to tranfmit his name to 
 poderity. A plain on the fhore, about a quarter of a mile to the wefl: of 
 this place, has on it immenfe piles of ftones, evidently the ruins of fome 
 ancient ftruifture, around which are to be fecn graves formed with ftones 
 fet on edge, as in fome other places ; and the name of Sweiidrow^ which 
 it bears, points it out with great probability as the fcene of the capture of 
 Earl Paul, by Swein the fon of Afleif, and the flaughter of his attendants, 
 when he was with the bafeft intention carried a prilbner into Scotland. 
 
 The ridge, known by the whiaifical name of the Camp of Jupiter Frlng, 
 is about two miles to the north eafi: of Weftnefs. Several ftantlinc ftones 
 are to be met with, but little more than half the height of tliofe in other 
 places; fome tumuli on the fouth fide near Frotit, and a veiy few Pids- 
 houfep. 
 
 As by far the greateft part of it is hill-ground, and only fie for pafturc, 
 the valued rent of the ifland is two thoufand two hundred and twenty- 
 eiglit pounds Scots; the real, exclufively of thirty tons of kelp, its annual 
 produce, about three hundred pounds Sterling ; and the number of people 
 feven hundred. 
 
 XXVI. Weir, about a mile diftant to the fouth, is divided from Rou- 
 fay by Weirfound, which is one of the beft harbours in this country. As 
 it is only two miles long and one broad, and lies low comparatively, it is 
 almoft concealed from view by the high lands around it. Situated in the 
 midft of a great numljer of iflands, where tides alfail it in every quarter, a 
 large quantity of fea-weed or ware muft, it is evident, be frequently left on 
 it; and that its name may have arifen from this circumftance is no very 
 improbable conjed:ure. The foil is thin, the furface bare, and the corn 
 and grafs of rather a mean quality ; but this defe<fl: is more than compen- 
 fated by the advantage which it enjoys in having turf fuflicient for fuei. In 
 direding the eye over the ifland, the firft objeil that arrefts the attention 
 is the ruins of the caftle of Cubberow on an eminence; an ancient chapel 
 afterwards attrads fome notice, efpccially as there is a church-yard around 
 it, in which moft of the graves are feven feet long, which is not to be much 
 
 K wondered 
 
66 GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. BOOK I. 
 
 wondered at, fince the prefent inhabitants, that amount to a hunJied and 
 fifty, are many of them above the ordinary ftature. 
 
 XXVII. Enhallow is ftill fmaHer, and nearer to Roufay on the 
 fouth-weft, from which it is feparated by a reef of rocks, wliich, being co- 
 vered at hi^h- water, lias unfortunately fometimes proved Eital to the un- 
 warv mariner. The found of that name is on the fouth, between it and the 
 mainland, and abundantly iafe for fuch as are acquainted with it; but as it 
 is narrow and the tide rajiiO, it fhould only be attempted with a fair wind^ 
 and in moderate we.\ther TItc whole ifland is little more than a mile in 
 circumference; lies rather low; raifes a fufficient quantity of grain and 
 other articles to pay its rent in kind, and fupports two fa.nilies, its whole 
 population. It is admirably fituated for catching plenty of excellent fifh, 
 efpecially thofe kinds that delight in currents and eddies; and has more- 
 over this peculiarity, that neither rats nor mice, nor even cats, will live in 
 it, if we choofe to credit the inhabitants. 
 
 XXVIII. Gairsay, fituated four miles eaft from the former, two 
 fouth from Weir, and one from the mainland, is two miles long and one 
 broad, the greateft part of which confilis of a conical hill of a confiderable 
 altitude. The whole weft fide of it is pretty fteep ; but toward the eaft it 
 is both more plain and fertile ; and in that quarter, as well as on the fouth, 
 the lands are tolerably well cultivated. The produdlions are of the ordinary 
 kind ; and the inhabitants confift of eight families, of fifty perfons. 
 
 Clcfe by the fouth (hore, which faces the parifti of Rendal, ftand the 
 remains of an old houfe, that, in its day, feems to have had fome degree of 
 both ftrength and elegance, and was the refidence of Sir William Craigie, 
 and others of that name and family. 
 
 The only harbour it has is on the eaft fide, known by the name of the 
 Millburn. 
 
 XXIX. Damsay is a beautiful little ifland fcarcely a mile in circuit, 
 fituated in the bofom of the bay of Frith, under the hill of Wideford, 
 about three miles diftant from Kirkwall. For fome time paft it has been 
 
 8 uncultivated, 
 
CII.\P. II. GEOGRAPHICAL DrSCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS. C7 
 
 iincultivateJ, to fuit the whim or the convenience of the proprietor ; hut, 
 from the nature of the Toil, and the thick fvvard of fine grafs which it pro- 
 diKes, it evidently is fit hoth for grain and other articles, in fuch abundance 
 as would liberally reward the hand of induflry. 
 
 From the fingular beauty of its appearance, it has fometlmes, not with- 
 out reafon, been ftyled the Tcnipe of the iflands. Formerly it contained a 
 caftle, reputed * in thofe days of great ftrength ; more recently, a church 
 faid to have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary, by whofe influence, ac- 
 cording to the credulity of ancient times, many wonders were performed "j". 
 This fabric, with all its mighty miiacles, has now almoll funk into oblivion, 
 and the ifland is applied to the paftiiring of a few hundred excellent flieep, 
 taken care of by one folitary family : and, as if it ftill retained fome of its 
 primitive innocence and virtue, is believed, as before, to refufe to breed or 
 fupport frogs, toads, or any other kind of difgulVuig or noxious animal. 
 Its moft valuable quality at prefent is the produdion of a plentiful ftore of 
 fea-plants, from which are burnt ten tons of kelp annually. 
 
 Thus, even from the curfory view that has been taken of fuch of thefc 
 iflands as arc inhabited, they will appear to form a diftrid that is by no 
 means of little confequence. But were the holms, many of which are of 
 confiderable extent, alfo confidered, were they brought under one collcdive 
 view, and at the fame time duly eflimated in conjundion with the iflands, 
 the comparllon that has been made between the whole group and Zealand, 
 one of the leven United Provinces, would not appear fuch extravagant 
 exaggeration 1. 
 
 Though they could never arrive at the fame confequence with it, in 
 point of induflry, wealth, power, or population, yet were the fame parental 
 foflering care beflowed on them that Holland in her glory conferred on her 
 provinces, thefe iflands, whatever opinion may be formed of them at pre- 
 fent, would rife, by means of its invigorating influence, to a degree of im- 
 portance, that would far exceed the moft fanguine cxpedation. 
 
 • TorfsEus, Hift. Oread. f C-^"' Danifay. \ Campbell'.-; Political Survey. 
 
 K. 2 BOOK 
 
t 68 3 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF THE EARLIEST INHABITANTS, WITH WHATEVER IS 
 MOST REMARKABLE IN THEIR MANNERS, CUSTOMS, AND INSTI- 
 TUTIONS ; OF THE TRANSACTIONS AND CHARACTER OF THOSE 
 PEOPLE THAT CONQUERED, AND MINGLED WITH, OR SUCCEEDED 
 THEM ; AND A DESCRIPTION OF SOME REMAINING MONUMENTS 
 OF BOTH THESE PEOPLE; OF THE CHANGES THE ISLANDS UNDER- 
 WENT IN SUBSEQUENT AGES UNDER DIFFERENT SOVEREIGNS AND 
 DIFFERENT RULERS ; AND THE INFLUENCE THESE SEEM EVIDENT- 
 LY TO HAVE HAD IN RETARDING THEIR IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 THE TIME THEY WERE PROBABLY FIRST DISCOVERED, THE ORIGIN OF THEIR 
 NAME, THEIR FIRST INHABITANTS, AND THE MODE OF GOVERNMENT 
 THAT, IF NOT AT FIRST, AT LEAST AT A VERY EARLY PERIOD, SEEMS TO 
 HAVE PREVAILED. 
 
 J. HE art of navigation, though both complicated and dangerous, appears 
 not only to have been invented, but to have made fome progrefs at a 
 very early age of the world. Curiofity prompted fome, ambition induced 
 others, and the love of gain, with a force equal, if not fuperior to either, 
 led many to truft themfelves in a frail bark to a boifteroUvS element, in pur- 
 fuit of their refpedive enjoyments. The people that lived on the borders 
 of the Mediterranean, and on the banks of the Red Sea, were the firft that 
 underftood the nature, and courted the advantages of commerce. Their 
 fituation invited them to this fpecies of induftry. Among thefe, hiftory 
 informs us, that the Egyptians, foon after the eftabllfliment of their govern- 
 fnent, fet the example, by opening a beneficial trade between India and the 
 
 Arabian 
 
CHAP. I. DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABITANTS, SzC. 69 
 
 Arabian Gulph ; whence the commndlties were carried hy land to the Nile, 
 conveyed down that river to the Mediterranean, and thence tranfported to 
 the European kingdoms. 
 
 But the foil of tliat country was fo fertile, and its climate fo mild, as to 
 produce in plenty, not only the neceflaries, hut the luxuries t-t hte : the 
 manners of the people, and the genius of their religion, their inRitutions, 
 and their laws, were of fuch a peculiar nature, as to render their com- 
 mercial intercourfe with flrangers only of fhort duration. The Phenicians 
 were different from them in many refpeds. Their territory was far from 
 being either extenfive or fertile ; they had no peculiarity in cither their 
 manners or inftitutions ; their fuperftition was neither of a gloomy nor 
 unfocial nature ; fo that, without fcruple or reludance, they could cordially 
 engage in bufmefs with the nations around them. Trade was confequently 
 the fource of their opulence and of their power ; and they carried it on 
 with more wifdom and more enterprife than any ftate in ancient times. In- 
 ftead of confining their views, as the Egyptians had done, to India, Africa, 
 and the Mediterranean, their fpirit led them to take a wider range ; and, 
 boldly failing through the Straits of Hercules, they vifited the weflern coafts 
 of Africa and Spain ; and, having planted colonies in feme of the places 
 to which they reforted, introduced among them fome acquaintance with 
 their improvements and their arts. 
 
 Carthage, a (hoot from that venerable flock, applied herfelf to naviga- 
 tion and commerce, with fuch a degree of fpirit, ingenuity, and fuccefs, as 
 to fhow that fhe had profited by the example, and was in noways inferior to 
 the parent ftate. But, while Tyre and Sidon directed their attention chiefly 
 towards the eaft and the fouth, from which fuch immenfe treafures have been 
 conftantly brought, Carthage, averfe to interfere with the mother country, 
 extended her navigation toward the weft; and the north, and, following the 
 courfe which the parent ftate had taken, pafled the Straits ; and, pulhing 
 their difcoveries farther than any that had gone before them, viiited not 
 only the coafts of Spain and Africa, but thofe of Gaul and of Britain. In 
 both the one and the other of thefe celebrated nations, commerce produced 
 its ordinary effeds. It expanded the minds of thofc by whom it was ccn- 
 dudcdj it extinguilhcd their prejudices; it excited their curiofity, and in- 
 flamed 
 
yo DISCOVERY, KAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK II. 
 
 flamed their defires for undertaking new enterprizes of a bold and hazardous 
 kind. Hence, voyages were undertaken, however long and perilous, the 
 objccl of which was to difcover new countries, and to explore unknown 
 feas ; no lefs with a view to add to the ftock of human knowledge, than to 
 colletfl: materials for increafing their commercial ftores. 
 
 In lome of thefe voyages cf difcovery, undertaken either by the fpirited 
 Greek colony at Marfeilles *, or the enterprifing republic of Carthage, 
 were the iflands that encircle ti;e coafts of Britain, it is probable, firll made 
 known. But though no fuch voyages had been undertaken, or no fuch 
 difcovery made, accident might have fupplied the place of defign, and the 
 iflands in queflion been difcovered in vo)2ges entered upon wiih more 
 common views. Their (hips, in trading voyages to the north, might have 
 been either chafed by pirates, then numerous, or driven by the force of 
 weather far from their deftined courfe, and, in this extremity, compelled to 
 feek refuge in creeks and bays of iflands which they had never before heard 
 of, much lefs known. That no fuch difcovery, whether by defign or ac- 
 cident, has been mentioned in the annals of that period, is no ccnclufive 
 argument againft the truth of the fuppofition ; for thai prudent people, it 
 is well known, carefully concealed their difcoveries, partly from maxims 
 of commercial policy, and partly from reafons of ftate. 
 
 Among them, however, as they were enlightened in other refpeds, there 
 would be men of more liberal fentiments, who, by converfing familiarly 
 villi then.ivigators, would become acquainted with their difcoveries; which, 
 in fpift of the narrow policy of their country, they would communicate to 
 tholV Greeks an^! Romans f who had the fame defire of knowledge with 
 themlelves. T' is is almoft the only fuppoficion on which we can account, 
 in a way that is at all fatisfadory, for the early mention that is made 
 of thefe iflands. 
 
 • Pytliias's Voyage of Difcovery In the North, in Pliny. 
 
 t Agriculture and war were the only arts praflifed by the ancient Romans. Commerce was 
 an ignoble pn feilion, and confifjred to flaves or freed-men. A ftranger and an enemy were 
 denoted by the f;inie word in th.'ir langui'ge ; and they bctraved no curiofiry to. tJ^e manners 
 and inninaions ol' foreign nations, unlefs they came into hoftilj cont ft with them, or h.td fubdued 
 them. In this event, they fold all who refifted as (laves, and compelled the remainder to adopt 
 their own l:uvs and iiiflitutions. — A bigotted attachment to their "wn cuftoais, and a fovereigii 
 coHtempt for thofe of others^ was a prominent feature in the charafter of the ancient Romans. — E. 
 
 But 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. 7I 
 
 But if fome difficulties occur in our attempting to inveftigate the time 
 when, and the people by whom they were at firft difcovered, we fliall meet 
 ftill more, in our endeavours to trace the origin of their name. 
 
 If the fource from which the name of a province has been derived, 
 could be afcertaincd with accuracy, it might tend iometimes to throw light 
 on the condition of the inhabitants, and illuflrate their cuftoms and man- 
 ners. In this point of view it becomes an objcdb of importance, though 
 involved in difficulties almoft infurmountable, and difcoverable very feldom 
 either by record or tradition. The truth of this obi'ervation will readily be 
 admitted. No wonder, therefore, if obftacles occur to render us unfuccefs- 
 ful, in accounting for the name of a remote fequeilered province, fituated in 
 the track of piratical rovers from difierent nations, long fpeaking a foreign 
 langunge, and aim iR as long fubje(f!l to a foreign dominion. 
 
 In every point ahnoft that refpeds Britain, or even her appendages, the 
 Roman authors are not only the beft, but almoft the only fource of informa- 
 tion. The Greeks that went before them, and were their mafters in every 
 art, but the art of war, dlre£led their attention to this obje£t, by furnilliing 
 fume light, though feeble and gliinmering. 
 
 In illuftration of this, it may be obferved, that, fo early as four hundred Ante 
 and fifty years before the Chriftian xra, the firft writer of that famous na- ,,^3. 
 tion, who undertook to record in profe the tranfadlions of former times, 
 has barely mentioned Britain under a name, that points at the commodities 
 with which it was then underftood moft to abound *. Long after him, 
 another celebrated writer of the fame nation is more explicit ; fo much fo, y^,,,^ 
 as to fpecify the form of the ifland, and is the very firft author, whom wc thulium 
 are acquainted with, who has mentioned by name any pare of Scotland f. 
 
 Trufting no doubt to the information of the firft Caviar, with whom he 
 was contemporary, or to what he had obtained from thofe iettlcd in the Ro- 
 man province in Gaul, who had carried on trade with the ifland, he tells us 
 that Britain refembles Sicily, in having a triangular form, with three remark- 
 able promontories, to each of which, in his own language, he has given a 
 name. The only one that is necefi'ary here to mention is Cape Onas, by 
 
 • Heroil. CaffltcriJcs. f DioJ. Siculiit. 
 
 whichi 
 
72 DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK II. 
 
 which mufl: he meant either Dungfbay or Dunnethead, in Caithnefs, both of 
 them in the extremity of the continent, and diredlly fronting the Orkney 
 Ifles. About a hundred years after the age of this author, tiiefe iflands are 
 mentioned for the very firft time by the name of Orcades, an appellation 
 which, in his language, they ever afterwards bore*. 
 
 To account for this name, feveral languages have been applied to ; fome 
 ■ words tortured ; many conjeOures hazarded, and as many opinions formed. 
 In order, no doubt, to compliment thole among whom he lived, one author 
 .endeavours to perfuade us, that it originates from the Gothic language, in 
 which the word ear imports honour, and kin an oflspring, as if the country 
 took its name from the people, who are confidercd as a generation of ho- 
 nour ■{", Another, who is far better known, and whofe merit is much more 
 confpicuous, tells us, that it ought to be confidered as coming from the old 
 B.itifli word ar or or, that fignifies over-againft or oppofite to; and cat^ that 
 implies the cape, or point of the Catti, or people of Caithnefs J A third, 
 differing from both, contends for its derivation from the Britifh word or or 
 gor^ which he takes in the fame fenfe with the former ; and cad, a pro- 
 montory or headland: And thus both of thefe laft authors concur in opinion, 
 that they owe their name to their fituation §. In this refp^^Q only we can 
 agree with them ; for, after every attention to the fubjeQ that it delerves, it 
 appears mofl probable that Cape Orcas, to which they are diredtly oppofite, 
 mufl be referred to as giving birth to their name. Their own foreign hlfto- 
 rian, a man intimately acquainted with the different branches, of the Gothic 
 language, informs us, that in the old Danifh, Orca fignifies ftrength, from 
 which the cape itfelf might have taken its name, as it confifts of a huge 
 impenetrable rock, that has had power to withftand tlie impetuous billows 
 for numberlefs ages]]. The fame word, and perhaps for the very fame 
 reafon, has been made ufe of, to diflinguifh a very large fpeoies of fifh ; 
 and hence the greateft naturalift % of ancient times has, in his admirable 
 work, beftowed the name of Orca; on fome of thele huge marine animals. 
 Tradition, to which we are fometimes compelled to have recourfe for waut 
 
 * Pomp. Me';i. f Wallace, 
 
 J Camden's Britannia. § Baxter. Glof. Ant. Brit. 
 
 Jl Torfeus, Orca, lingua Danica* robur deuotat. f Pliny. 
 
 of 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. 73 
 
 of better evidence, alTures us, and, we apprehend, on good grounds, that in 
 early times, much more than at prefent, whales of a vafl fize, and in great 
 numbers, haunted both the north coafts of Scotland and the adjacent ifles. 
 If to this it be added, that in the Norfe dialedl:, the words ays or lys corre- 
 fpond to the Englifh word iflands, the ancient name Orcad-lys or Orcades, 
 may fignify the iflands oppofite to, or ofF Cape Orcas. In fupport of this 
 derivation, it may be ftill farther obferved, that thofe who pretend to be 
 beft acquainted with the Celtic and Gotho-Cekic language, inform us, that 
 the name by which in that language they are known, is equivalent to what 
 in ours would imply the Iflands of Whales. Even their number, which 
 might be much more eafily afcertained, has given fcope to diverlity of opi- 
 nions. To (how that this is the cafe, let it be obferved, that while the firft 
 author that mentions them* reckons them thirty, the fecond j- extends 
 them to forty, the third counts thirty again [j:, and even a fourth and a 
 fifth § concur in opinion that thiity-three is their full amount |(. 
 
 Tacitus, that confummate genius, who refletfls fo much honour on the place 
 of his nativity, rifks no opinion on this point, as an objecH: either beneath 
 his notice, or unfuitable to his fituation and views. He mentions, however, 
 what was of much more importance, that they were, for the firft time, not 
 only examined, and thoroughly known, but brought under fubjcdion, in 
 that notable expedition which Agricola, his illuftrious relation, accompliflied 
 with fuch brilliant fuccefs. But, high as the reputation of this author ftands, 
 in confequence of the qualities which he has difplayed, fome objedions, plau- 
 fible at leaft, if not folid, might be made to his account. To what purpofe, 
 might it be faid, does this profound hiftorian advance fuch a paradox, as 
 that thefe iflands had not been known till that period, and how could fuch 
 
 • Pomp. Mel.i. f Pliny. J Ptolemy. § Orof. and Ifidor. 
 
 II Perfons accjuainted with the Gaelic have allured us, that Ork means a whale, or large filli of a 
 particuiir defcrlption. /nnit nic.iui i/lanJs. "Hence Ori-innh — iflands of whales. This etymology 
 is only offered as a conjedure ; and it is probable that Pliny called thcfe animals Orat, not bccaufe 
 it was their appropriated name, but becaufe he heard they abounded off Cape Orcas. Huge whales 
 are often feea in the Pentiand Frith to this day ; and they were probably more numerous in ancient 
 times. Hence they may have given rife to the name of the promontory, and of the iflands, the 
 founds of which they frequented. It is not ufual for men to name promontories from a rctrofpec- 
 live confideration of their ftrength in refilling the billows ; but from fomc obvious circumftauce, 
 that (Irikes the eye, and forces itfelf upon their attention. 
 
 I* an 
 
74 DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK II. 
 
 an aflertlon be reconciled to truth * ? Had not his countrymen among 
 them, ever fince the days of the Carthaginians, traditions refpeQing the 
 wonders of Thule f, and all its fifter ifles ? Had not recent accounts from 
 the north been circulated, which he muft have heard ? And, what he could 
 not poffibly be ignorant of, had not, at leaft, one poet and two philofophers, 
 in their writings, taken forae notice of thefe ifles ? To thefe queftions, which 
 involve difficulties lefs real than apparent, this anfwcr may be given, that 
 he was not a ftranger to the notions that had long floated among his coun- 
 trymen ; much lefs was he ignorant of what had been publifhed by their 
 admired writers. But fuch was the penetration of his genius, his accurate 
 precifion, and, above all, his regard to veracity, that he could not confider 
 any country as difcovered, in the proper fenfe of the word, till explored by 
 fuch of his countrymen as he could trufl:. That this is his meaning, will 
 admit of no doubt ; and the ordinary fenfe of the words, no lefs than the 
 fententious mode of expreffion, will fufficiently warrant the explanation. 
 
 From the tranfient manner in which, to a fuperficial view, they feem to 
 be mentioned, fome have doubted whether the Roman fleet did not pafs by, 
 without entering into or touching at thefe iflands ; and, confequently, have 
 confidered this author's account of them, if not entirely, at leaft in a great 
 meafure, falfe or fabulous. But, to fay nothing of the eftablifhed charader 
 of the author, nor of the concife method in which, on every fubje£t, he 
 exprefl!es his fentiments, this opinion will, for folid reafons, appear deftitute 
 of foundation. Had the Romans, in that expedition, cruifed along the 
 north coaft, and, through the Pentland Frith, profecuted their voyage weft- 
 ward, they could not, as the author informs us they did, have difcovered 
 Thule, which feems plainly to have been Fula, one of the neareft and 
 higheft of the Shetland iflands. They could fcarcely have entered the frith, 
 but in the time of either flood^or ebb. In the former, unable to ftem the 
 torrent, they would have been driven back with violence ; and, in the lat- 
 ter, they muft have been, in a very ftiort time, carried through with the 
 utmoft rapidity. But neither in the one cafe nor the other, could there 
 
 • Tacitus : Ac fimul incognitas ad id tempus infulas quas Orcades vocant, invenit, domuitque. 
 I Pythias. 
 
 have 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. 75 
 
 have been an opportunity for the author to make the obfervation which he 
 has done, concerning the ftrange quality of the fea in that region, which 
 could be nothing elfe than the tides, with which the Romans, accuftomed 
 only to the Mediterranean, were almoft entirely unacquainted *. Neither 
 could that obfervation have been made, had they direfted their courfe 
 north, and pafled between Orkney and Shetland, where it is well known 
 that the tides, except near the land, are fcarcely perceptible. But, had they 
 fliaped their courfe, fome to the fouth, and fome to the north, and fome 
 throughthe channels that interfe£l the iflands in various direilions, they 
 would have met with tides to oppofe their motion, fome fo ftrong, and 
 others fo gentle, as to furnifli ground for that remark. In clear weather, 
 they could have defcried, at a diflance, Thule or Fula, and withal difcovered 
 the north-eaft fo diftindly, as to have known, for certain. Great Britain to 
 be an iflandf. 
 
 To thofe who are acquainted with the moral and literary character of 
 this moft refpedlable writer, no doubt will remain, after his pofitive afler- 
 tion that they were fubdued, that the iflands were at that time inhabited. 
 In regard to this matter, his fagacity was fufficient to fecure him againft 
 being impofed on himfelf. His probity deprived him of any inclination to 
 impofe on others, and it is impoflible he could be miftaken ; for if he was 
 not in that expedition himfelf, (which is by no means certain,) he at lead 
 colle£led his information from the purefl fource, the moft intelligent officers 
 in the fleet, and the commander in chief in particular, with whom, accord- 
 ing to his own account, he lived to the very laft in terms of the moft cordial 
 familiarity. 
 
 To find therefore Solinus, an author of fome merit, and one of his own 
 countrymen, giving, in the face of fuch refpedable authority, a different 
 account as to this particular, cannot fail to excite aftoniflur.ent. Had he 
 lived, as was once believed, at an early period, there might have been fome 
 
 • Cxfar, Gal. Bel. Noftrifque id erat iocognitum. 
 
 f Mijor Moodie, of Mclfetter, Orkney, has a brazen fword, of a particular compofition, (hort, 
 calculated to cut and thruft, and every way finiilar to thofe ufed by the Romans, which was found 
 below a mofs in one of the Shetland Iflands. From this it would feem that the Romans had ex- 
 plored the Shetland as well as the Orkney Iflands ; though they do not fecm to have retained a per- 
 manent poflcffion of either. — E. 
 
 L 2 ground 
 
^6 DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK II. 
 
 ground for this difference of opinion ; but, fince his age has been afcer- 
 Domini tained by the ingenious refearches of a modern antiquary *, to be near 
 ^'*°" the middle of the third century, this difference is almofl; inexplicable. 
 
 Strange as this may appear, lie tells us gravely, that the iflands in 
 queftion were only three in number, uninhabited, deliitute of woods, partly 
 rough with rufhts, and partly covered with rocks and with fand f. 
 
 Compared, indeed, with fome of the iflands of the Archipelago, or Ionian 
 fea, that abound with whatever can gratify the fenfes or pleafe the fancy, 
 thefe may have a fterile appearance in the eye of cultivated man. But 
 flerility in the abftradl is by no means juftly applicable to them, as appears 
 evident from their foil being capable of producing not only grain of different 
 kinds, but roots of various forts, and of the heft quality, as well as graffes 
 natural and artificial : and even their want of wood mult be underflood with 
 fome limitation, fince trees, in a half putrid {late, are fometimes dug up 
 in marflies, which fliow that they have not been always ftrangers to the 
 country. 
 
 Neither can a barren fand be confidered as characteriflic of them, fmce 
 only two or three, as has been already ftated exhibit that appearance; and 
 that too on a fmall part of their furface only : neither is the ground, in ge- 
 neral, of fuch a nature as to fofter rufhes, even where the hand of induftry 
 has not as yet made any impreffion : nor are rocks any where, except a very 
 few in one or two places, to be feen fcattered over the furface of thefe iflands. 
 But if the latter part of the defcription be dilcordant with appearances, and 
 in nowife applicable,what can be advanced in favour of the former, that re- 
 prefents them only as three in number, and as affording, at that period, no 
 habitation for men ? 
 
 Though this author, for the mofl part, follows a great mafl:er :|;, to 
 whofe excellent work he has made fome additions, in this inftance he has 
 left him, and confequently wandered from the truth ; for his confining their 
 number to three, in contradidion to thofe writers who had gone before him, 
 
 * Mr. Pinkerton. 
 
 f Solinus : Numero tres, vacant homine, non habent filvas, tantum junceis herbis inhorrefcunt, 
 csetera eaium nudae arens et rupes tenenC. 
 J Pliny's Geography. 
 
 mufl 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. 77 
 
 muft invalidate his credit in afTerting that they were not inhabited, even 
 though he had not been oppofed by fuch refpedable authority. 
 
 But, fetting authority afide altogether, there are not wanting reafons to 
 induce a belief that they were inhabited at the time they are lirft mentioned 
 by any Roman author. 
 
 The number which the group is fald to contain, not only by Pomponlus 
 Mela, but by thofe that fucceeded him, is, if we confider thofe that are in- 
 habited only, wonderfully near the truth ; and the only reafon that can be 
 afligned for this number being fpecificd rather than any other, muft have 
 been, that fuch as were inhabited might be dUlinguifticd from fuch as were 
 not ; fince the whole number amounts to upwards of fixty. 
 
 Moreover, it is prefumed they muft have been inhabited before their 
 number could be eafilyor diftlndly known : for they are fo intimately con- 
 neded, fo interwoven, and, if we may fo fpeak, blended together, that 
 fcarcely any perfon could enumerate them accurately, but one who had, for 
 fome length of time, refided in the country. No freebooter, or piratical 
 rover, who had touched here ; no trading fliip, that had taken refuge in 
 fome of their harbours ; no tribe of barbarians, reforting hither from the op- 
 pofite fhores for the temporary amufement of hunting or fifhing, could ever, 
 it is probable, have furnifhed fuch an exad account of their numbers as we 
 find recorded in ancient writers. 
 
 Thus, though there feems to be fufficient evidence that they were peo- 
 pled early, (as foon, perhaps, if not fooner, than the Romans became ac- 
 quainted with Britain), there appears to be none of fuch weight as to deter- 
 mine our opinion with refped to the precife time when that event took place. 
 A very early period, indeed, is alTigned for it, by their own hiftorian, who 
 ftates, from authorities which he had colleded, and on which he feems to 
 have relied, that they were difcovered nearly four, and inhabited two hun- 
 dred and fixty years before the nativity of Jefus Chrift *. 
 
 * Torfxus, a native of Iceland, and hiftoriographer to the King of Denmark, who, from authentic 
 records in that country, and Icelandic manufcripts and Sagas, compofed, in Latin, a hiftoryof the 
 Orkney Ifles. He was noted for talents and literature, no lefs than for integrity ; wrote about 1690, 
 and died «720, aged 81 years. 
 
 9 In 
 
«8 DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK II. 
 
 In whatever light we regard this matter, we may be allowed to conjec- 
 ture, that they did not remain unoccupied, after the peopling of the coun- 
 tries around them. This is rendered the more probable from modern difco- 
 veries, in which iflands have been found inhabited, at an immenfe diftance 
 from any continent, even in the very infancy of navigation *. Situated 
 as they are, on the north borders of Scotland, at no great diftance from the 
 Scandinavian fhores, and diredly in the courfe of fhips traverfing thefe re- 
 gions, it is impoflible to fuppofe that they would long efcape the attention, 
 or elude the avarice, of man. Among the ancients, an opinion was pretty 
 o-enerally entertained, by the learned as well as the unlearned, that in the 
 {nH ages of the world men were, by feme ftrange prolific virtue in the 
 earth, produced, like plants, from the ground on which they lived. Hence 
 many of them are found affuming the appellation of Sons of the Earth. 
 Even the Athenians themfelves, who ranked high among nations, not 
 only for the originality of their genius, and the elegance of their tafte, 
 but for the progrefs they had made in fcience, and their political wif- 
 dom, had the weaknefs to glory in the name of Autochtho7tes , as if it had 
 been more honourable to fpring, like muihrooms, from the foil of Achaia, 
 than to derive their origin from the moft celebrated people around them. 
 The fame filly conceit feems to have prevailed among the Romans. In 
 proof of this, Cgefar, whofe writings refled on him much more honour than 
 all his conquefts, in mentioning the two races of people whom he met 
 with on his arrival in Britain, confiders thofe who inhabited the maritime 
 parts as having emigrated from Belgic Gaul, while he reprefents thofe 
 that occupied the interior diftrid as fo entirely different, as to have fprung 
 up like the grafs in the ifland itfelf. Tacitus, too, with all the vigour 
 of his intellect, and notwithftanding his profound knowledge, feems to 
 have entertained the fame opinion ; for, in the introduftion to his accurate 
 and beautiful defcription of the manners of the Germans, he thus forcibly 
 expreffes himfelf ; ' What man could think of leaving Africa, Afia, or Italy, 
 * and, after expofmg himfelf to the perils of a terrible and unknown fea, 
 
 * Cooke's Voyages. 
 
 * refolve 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. 79 
 
 * refolve to fettle in Germany, a region where the ground makes a difmal 
 
 * appearance, where the climate is bad, where agriculture will not reward 
 
 * induftry, and where every thing mud be difagreeable to the eye, unlefs 
 
 * it happen to be one's own country !' This is the argument with which 
 he attempts to prove, that the firft inhabitants of Germany could come from 
 no other place, but were aborigenes, indigency or, in other words, the natural 
 and fpontaneous produ6\ion of the foil of that country. Did wc adopt the 
 fame opinion with regard to the firft peopling of countries, a fimilar argument 
 might be ufed for the aborigines of Orkney, with perhaps ftill greater pro- 
 priety. But difmifling fuch an idle notion, as equally repugnant to good 
 fenfe, the principles of found phllofophy, and the didlates of genuine reli- 
 gion, to me it feems moft probable that thefe iflands were firft peopled from 
 the north of Scotland. 
 
 But before they became a permanent habitation, it is natural to fuppofe 
 that they would occafionally furnifh an afylum to pirates, for which they 
 are admirably calculated, not more on account of their fituation, and the 
 excellence of their harbours, than of the vaft numbers of birds and fifties 
 which they produce. That they were a£tually, for fome time, ufed for 
 this purpofe, hiftory gives us fome information *. The vicinity rendered 
 It probable, that their firft permanent inhabitants came from the neareft 
 fouthern coaft ; and to people in a certain ftate of fociety they could not 
 fail to afford a very alluring profpe£l indeed. If they were in the firft ftage, 
 when fubfiftence is procured by hunting and fiftiing, accident or curiofity 
 would bring them hither ; and as foon as they had made trial of their excel- 
 lence for thefe invaluable purpofes, they would henceforth difcover little in- 
 clination to leave them. 
 
 But fuppofe they had got beyond this ftage, and made fome progrefs in 
 civilization, ftill thofe purfults, which had once been their bufinefs, would 
 continue to be their amufement ; and in order to fliow their fkill and their 
 dexterity, their fortitude in bearing pain, and their courage in encountering 
 dangers, they would, in that condition, as readily feize the iflands. At firft, 
 perhaps, they would crofs the frith in fmall numbers, and take pofleflion of 
 
 * Torfxus. 
 
 the 
 
8o DISCOVEUy, NAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK II. 
 
 the lands that were next them. Every large ifland, it is probable, would 
 receive and accommodate a diftindl tribe ; this they would hunt on and hfli 
 around ; pafture, and in time cultivate and defend, and confider as their 
 own. Here, for feme time, they would live in the enjoyment of peace, 
 and in liberty as extenfive as their hearts could wifh ; till fome turbulent 
 fpirlt arofe to dillurb the general tranquillity. In no ftate are the irregular 
 pafllons of men long in repofe. Ambition would fire fome ; intereft would 
 foon excite others ; and differences, which among a rude people, are al- 
 ways violent, would arife, that could not be fettled without an appeal to 
 judicial authority. To terminate thefe difputes, therefore, to decide thefe 
 differences, they would find themfelves under the neceffity of having re- 
 courfe to the ele£tion of judges ; and for that important office, their choice 
 would naturally fall on fuch as were mofi: diftinguilhed for their age, their 
 experience, their integrity, and their wildom. To them afterwards would 
 every matter in difpute be referred ; their award, if founded in jufticc, would 
 be held facred ; and the reputation and influence which they would thus 
 acquire, would raife them to a rank in the fociety that would entitle them to 
 prefidCj^in the affemblies of the people, and always to dired, and even fome- 
 times to ditflate, their determinations. 
 
 But not only would differences and difputes arife among Individuals of 
 the fame tribe, but diffenfions would foon fpring up between tribes them- 
 felves. If the inhabitants of one ifland were in more favourable circum- 
 ftances than thofe of another ; if they were better fituated for the chace ; if 
 their filhing ground were better ; if they had more convenient houfes, or 
 more fertile fields ; thefe advantages would kindle envy in the breafls of 
 thofe to whofe lot the lefs favoured ifland had fallen. Inflamed with a de- 
 fire to poflefs thofe conveniencies which they faw others enjoy, and liftening 
 more to the voice of glory than the dictates of jufliice, which, in that ftate, 
 often meets with but too little regard, they would foon refolve, by force of 
 arms, to wreft thefe objeds of their afftdion from the hands of their more 
 fortunate neighbours. Aggreffion and defence would now make their re- 
 fpedive preparations; and war, the difgrace, as well as the fcourge of man- 
 kind, wc^uld arife; to conduct which, leaders would be chofen ; of whom, 
 the wifeft or the moft dating, the moft powerful or the moll fortunate, 
 
 would,, 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. 8l 
 
 would, in the end, obtain the vidlory. A- foon as the ardour of their paf- 
 fions had ccolcd, tlie vanqi iOied would unite with the vidorirus, in order 
 to compole a more fornuddble hand, on pur[ ofc to invade and conq'icr fome 
 other adjacent iflc, whirh, hy their combined force, they would foon ac- 
 coni)lifh ; and, gathering ftrength from the accefllon of numbers as they 
 advanced, they would fpread terror around them, an 1 in the coiirfe of a few 
 years fubjedl the whole of the iflands to their dominion. The leader of fuch 
 a viOcrious band, in whatever fphere he had formerly moved, or by what- 
 ever name he was now dillinguifhed, as he had been fo fortunate as to con- 
 du£l thofe to glory whom he had been raifed to command, would be in 
 faf^ invtfted with the powers of royalty. 
 
 Thele are i;o ideal ileps ; for they are the rcfult of principles deep-laid 
 in the human frame ; and the progrefs from families to tribes, and from 
 tribes to communities, under able and fuccefsful chieftains, to the final 
 eftabiiftiment of monarchy, may be diftindly traced in the primitive hiftory 
 of feveral nations. 
 
 Thefe progrefTive fteps in a colony, however, reft on a fuppofition, that 
 the country trom which they emigrated was in a rude ftate j ignorant, in a 
 great meafure, of the bleffings of a regular government and eftabliftied laws, 
 and ftrangers to the arts of life ; which, with refpedl to the firft inhabi- 
 tants of tbefe iflands, unlcfs they came over at a very early period, could 
 not well be the cafe. 
 
 The Piks, or Pids, who have been the fubjedl of much ingenious and 
 learned controverfy, were, as it now appears evident *, a people of aocient 
 Scandinavia ; who, long before the Nativity, iffued in numbers from their 
 forcfts, and from their lakes ; embarked all they poflefled, and committed 
 themfelves to the mercy of the waves ; and having failed weftward, took 
 pofllflion of the Haebuda; ; from which, in a few generations, they fpread 
 themfelves over a great part of Scotland. In procefs of time, the diff.-rent 
 tribes that compofed that numerous and warlike people, were happily 
 united in the bonds of civil union, under kings whom they themfelves made 
 choice of, and tafted the fweets of order and fubordination ; and they had 
 
 • Mr. Pinkerton's Introd. and Mallet's Norih. Antiq. 
 
 M probably 
 
'82 DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK II. 
 
 probably arrived at this ftage of improvement, when the iflands firft became 
 inhabited *. 
 
 As 
 
 * It muft be owned that Mr. Pinkerton, whom our authoi- implicitly follows, in accounting for 
 the firft peopling of the nonliern parts of this kingdom, has accumulated much learned quotation 
 on the fubjeft. But we apprehend a queftion of this fort may admit of a more eafy folution by a 
 reference to the names of places, and monuments of antiquity in a country, than by appealing to 
 the opinions of authors who wrote only from hearfay, and had no opportunities of acquiring au- 
 thentic information.— In the account our author here gives of the emigration of the Piks, or Pifts, 
 it appears ftrange that they ihould pals by the Shetland and Orkney Iflands, and the north of 
 Scotland, which lay direflly in their route : That they fhould land firft in the Hebudas, and from 
 thence fpread themfelves eaftward and northward, until they at lail returned and occupied the 
 Orkneys. It does not feem probable that the Scandinavians coulJ conftruft veflels capable of 
 fuch a voyage ; or could navigate them after they were conftruifled, until by the gradual progrefs 
 of the Carthagir.ian voyages toward the north, they had acquired fome knowledge of navigation, 
 and of naval architefture. 
 
 The more natural fuppofition is, that the firft inhabitants of Britain came from the oppofite 
 coaft of Gaul, where the Britllh fhore would be conflantly in their vi^w, and would naturally ex- 
 cite a defire to explore the country. It is even poClble that the firft fettlers may have advanced 
 into this country before the fea was interpofed between Dover and Calais. Living by hunting, 
 and the fpontaneous produdicns of the earth, a great extent of land could only maintain a very 
 few people. Swarm following fwarm, they would advance until they found their progrefs checked 
 by the furrounding ocean ; and they would at laft feel the neceftity of betaking themfelves to pas- 
 turage and agriculture. As the knowledge of navigation extended northward, other fettlers 
 vould pafs over from the more diftant fhorcs rf Germany, and, at laft, of Scandinavia ; and 
 would either form diftind colonies, or incorporate with the original inhabitants. 
 
 Csfar found the Bclgae in the fouth-eaftern diftrifts of Britain ; though they do not feem to have 
 been of old ftanding in the illand. It is probable that thofe whom he calls nalos In infula ipfa, were 
 Celts, or of Gallic extradion, who had firft peopled the ifland. The BeJgx feem to have expelled 
 the Celts from diftridls on the coaft, as they had expelled their countrymen from part of Gaul. 
 There is no evidence, from authentic hiftory, of any great body of Gothic extraflion, befides the 
 Belgse, whofe extraftion is doubtful, having palFed over to Britain, until the Saxons were invited 
 to defend the Britons, about A. D 450. 
 
 But the queftion recurs — Who were the Pids ? — the Caledonians ? — and the Scots ? — 
 
 The Roman writers uniformly defcribe the inhabitants of this ifland as Pi8i Brllanm. The pradlice 
 of making indelible marks on their .fkin, feems every way fimilar to tattooing, which ftill prevails 
 among many barbarous nations. Its objeft is thought to have been to render them terrible ia 
 battle. But the controul of neceftity feems firft to have fuggefted the praftice : for before they had 
 invented warm houfes and clothing, pricking, and rubbing in the aftringent juices of plants, 
 thiikened and hardened the fkin, and rendered it infenfible to the feverities of the weather. 
 
 Wherever the Romans extended their power, they difcouraged this and fimilar pradices, and 
 obliged their fubjcfts to adop' their own language, drefs, and manners. — Hence a new diftiniSion 
 would arife between the Pi^i and r>in PiSi Britiinnt. Pifti, or Pifls, would become a term of 
 reproath among the provincial Britons, equivalent to favage or barbarous : while thofe who con- 
 tinued to refift the Roman arms, would glory in the praftice as a mark of independence and ad- 
 herence to antient ufagea. As the Roman arms advanced northv.ard, it is probable many would 
 
 retreat 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. 83 
 
 As monarchy naturally implies nobility, as a link in the chain of fociety, 
 to unite the higheft with the lower ranks, fome man of rank and fortune 
 would arife, that would cafl; a wiihful eye on the North; and when his- 
 
 ambition 
 
 retreat before them, and join thofe tribes that had not yet encountered their power. H.nce we 
 do not hear of Pitls as a national name, until the Roman conquelh met with an effeiflual refill- 
 ance in the north, and :i lurmanent line was drawn between the plai and non pillt hrhanni. — 
 Though Agrlcola pulhed his advanced polls as far as Rofs-fhire, the Romans were not able to 
 keep any permanei;i: poffellion of the country beyond the Friths of Forth and Clyde : and were 
 fonietimes driven within the Friths of SoKvay and Tyne. 
 
 The qucftion refpefling tlie Caledonians is more eafily folved. — Thcfc were evidently what the 
 Highlandeis, who live among the mountainb, call themfelves, at this day, when tliey mean to 
 difcriminutc between thofe of their race who live in vallics — They were Ca'el-Dun Gauls of the 
 mountains. — G, in Gaelic, is pronounced very like K, — and the Romans, by adding their feminine 
 termination, made up the word Caledonia. 
 
 Thus the C.ilcdonians were the Gael who inhabited the mountains ; and implied that there were 
 alfo Gael who inhabited the plains. The word implied no more than the dillinction known at this 
 day, between Highlanders and Lovvlanders. 
 
 That the Pidls were tribes of the Gael, or Celts, who inhabited the eaflcrn and more level parts- 
 cf the country, appears from the numerous names of places, in every dillrijl, evidently of Gaelic 
 origin. — From favourable fiiuation, andtherefort ot ftrangers, they feem early to have miderilood 
 and to have praftifed agriculture; while their neighbours, the Gaei-Dun, depended chiefly on- 
 pallurage and hunting. — It farther appears that the word Pift was originally a term of reproach, . 
 from this circumftancc, that no fuch term was ever applied to them by the Gael-Dun. The name 
 by which the PiiSs were known among the Gael, and by which their monuments are charaAerifed 
 to this day, is tliat oi Drinnach, labourers; alluding to their agricultural operations. 
 
 Our hillorians, who attempt to trace the origin of the Scottifh and Pictilli monarchies to a re- 
 mote antiquity, feem to expatiate in the regions of coiijeflure. It feems more probable that the 
 tribes inhabiting different diftricfls, continued long independent of each other; and that the Roman 
 invafion firft fuggelled the neceffity of uniting under a common chief, to repel the common dancer, 
 and paved the way for the gradual eftablilliment of hereditary monarchy, and general govern- 
 ment. There is reafon to believe that there were feveral petty monarchies, both of the Pifts and 
 Caledonians, before either of thefe diftrids were united under one head. 
 
 That the firft inhabitants of Orkney, whom the Norwegians extirpated, had come from Cairh- 
 nefs, we agree with our author in thinking extremely probable. Now the three northern counties 
 cf Scotland were then, and, excepting a few diftrias around the coaR of Caithncfs, are at this 
 day occupied by a Celtic tribe who call themfelves Cattich, Catts, and their country Cattay 
 who then made a part of the northern kingdom of the Pifls. After the Norwegians got pofleflion 
 of the Orkneys, they called the fea which feparated them from the mainland tlie Pitiaud Frith 
 and the country on the fouth of it Cattnefs, i e. the Nofe or promontory of the Catti. When 
 they got poifeflion of Caithnefs, they called the country beyond it Siiderland ; from which the 
 county of Sutherland derives its modern name. But we have already flated that the G.iel make 
 no ufe of thefe names to this day — Sutherland they call Cat'.ay, themfelves Cattich ; and Caith. 
 nefs, a more level diftricl, they call Golin, and the people Golich. If any farther evidence were 
 nccelTary to eftablifli the identity of origin of the Pids and Caledonians, it might be ft.ited that 
 fit. Columba, who was an Irilh Celt, and the apoftle of the Highlands and Illcs, is not ftated to 
 
 M 2 have- 
 
84 DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK fl. 
 
 ambition had been biased at hoine, or his intereft hnd fuffered from the 
 fuccefs of a more fortunate rival, form in his own mind the fcheme of mi- 
 gration. Ruflled with his dil'appoiatment, on the one hand, and elated with 
 
 the 
 
 have ufeJ aa interpreter while he laboured to convert the northern Pifls, and preached the Gofpel 
 to ;;reat multitudes. 
 
 It therefore appears abundantly evident, that the Piifls and C:tledonians were tribes of the Cael, 
 or Cehs; the firft inhabiting the more level parts of the country, the fecond the mountainous 
 regions. 
 
 Wich regard to the Scots tliere is ftill more difficulty. Our early hiftorians, milled by Monkifii 
 legends, have told many ro.-iiantick Itories, of their coming from Troy, or Egypt ; of their land- 
 ing in Giillicia in Spain, or in Portugal : where having fought a great many battles, and encoun- 
 tered a fufficient number of exrraordinarv advennires ; all at once, without any apparent reafon, 
 they adopted the whim of removing to Ireland. — There, having encountered a competent number of 
 fimiiar adventures ; with equal inconftancy and greater tolly, they afterwards removed to the barren 
 fliores of Argylefliire. Our hiftorians have now only to compound a certain proportion of wifdom 
 in their leaders, with valour in the people, to enable them to eftablilh the kingdom of Scotland. 
 
 Tut if thefe m'grations of the Sects had a real exiftence, it muft appear very ftrange that no 
 veftige of a tradition, refpedling their Irifli extraftion. ever exifted among the Gael of Argylefliire, 
 or any where elfe among the Highlanders. — On the contrary, thefe G;iel, though they admit the 
 native Irifli to be of the fame race with iherafelves, allege that the IrKh derived their defcent from 
 them, not they from the Iiirti. We would expe£l that the n.ime Scot fhould be familiar in the dif- 
 tricfts where it firft acquired an eftablilhment. But, unfortunately, the Gael never heard of fuch 
 a name, and make noufeofit to this day. They call their country ^laiin, Albion, and them- 
 felves Gael Alblnich, Gauls of Albion ; to diftinguifh them from the Gael of Ireland, and other 
 places. The people of the low country they call Salfanoch, Saxons; which fhews they efteera 
 them a different race from the Drinnach, or antient Pidls. 
 
 It is true the Giie! both of .-cotland and Ireland, fpeak the fame language, and were long united 
 in alliance, and habits of intercourfe with each other. Their union was doubtlefs cemented by a 
 fenfe of common danger : for firft the Romans, then the Scandinavians, and laftly, the Engliih 
 were the enemies of both Tnoagh they afliftcd each other in their wars, it does not follow that 
 the Scotch Highlanders derive their origin from the Irilh. 
 
 The word Scot, or Scuit, n.eans a wanderer who lives by rapine, or, in modern phrafe, a iig/j- 
 •wayman. It fe. nis to have been a 'erm of reproach, thrown out by the provincial Britons, againft 
 thofe fierce tribes who, after the decline of the Roman power, harralled them by their men ilefs 
 incurfions. But as the party reproached are often difpofed to glory in what their opponents reckon 
 their ihame, the term feems to have been adopted as a title of honour, and its ufe to have gradu- 
 ally extended, until it became the name of a kingdom- — In later times we have an example fimilar 
 to this of the term Scot becoming the cognomen of a gang of border thieves — Wh.it antiquaries 
 'have ftated concerning an antient tribe of Scots in Ireland, eftablifhes no prefuniption that our 
 Scots derived either their name, or their defcent from them. That there might be robbers in 
 Ireland, known by their proper Celtic name, as well as in this country, does not feem at all im- 
 probable. 
 
 Thefe clrcumftances induce a belief that the original inhabitants of this country, as well as the 
 "Peti and Taps of the Orkneys, were different tribes of the Gael, or Fletse. Th.:t the word Pifts 
 jvas at firft a term of reproach among the Romans and provincial Britons, and did not become a 
 
 national 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. Sj 
 
 the hopes of extending his power, or augmenting his wealth, on the other, 
 he would lofe no time to communicate his intention to his friends and 
 retainers, and invite them to fhare in the projedt, which in that age of 
 adventure they were not likely long to decline. Embarkation would fooa 
 follow J the p; fllflion of the new territory would be the immediate confc- 
 quence ; and the adventurer would fix his refidence in fome convenient Ipot, 
 where, at a diftance from his own country, he might venture to call thole 
 in his train his fubjcds, to whom he might prefcribe rules of behaviour, 
 and manage them with a power, extenfive, and almoft uncontrouled. As 
 long as he underftood rightly the nature of his rtation, and made no abule 
 of his power ; while he conduced himfelf fuitably to his dignity, and, 
 by the vigour of his adminiftration, and the wifdom of his laws, in con- 
 jundion with his own exemplary condudl, promoted the intereft of his 
 little community, he would enjoy the fituation to which his good fortune 
 had raifed him, in equal honour and peace. But ab foon as he forgot the in- 
 tention for which all government was inftituted, and wantonly trampled on 
 the rights of the people, and, in the profecution of what he falfely confider- 
 ed his own intereft, indulged his avarice and ambition, he would no longer 
 be regarded with any degree of refpedl ; love would yield to refentment 
 and obedience to oppofition ; and the people, like their countrymen on the 
 continent, would degrade him ; and, in his room, eled a chief, to fill that 
 ftation which he had occupied and abufed. 
 
 For fome time at leaft, little kings, or princes, feera to have fwayed the 
 fceptre ovlt thefe iflands ; but, whether independent entirely, or tributary 
 to thofe in the mother country, is a matter that, for want of evidence, admits 
 of no certain determination. Even the very exiftence of fome of them 
 depends on authority that is doubtful. This may be faid with refped to hiin 
 that has been named Belus, though mentioned by ancient writers. His 
 name is alfo ftill to be ften, cut on a ftone in the church of Birfa j and an 
 
 national name until after the progrcrs of the Roman arms met an effeflual check. That Cale- 
 donians was the name alFumed by thofe tribes which inhabited the mountains : and as we do not 
 hear of Scots until after the decline of the Roman power, it was firfl a term of reproach, and was 
 aUerwr.rds adopted as the name of a nation. 
 
 The conclufions refulting from the monuments thefe people have left, fhall be afterwards 
 ftatcd E. 
 
 author 
 
&6 DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABITANTS, BOOK II. 
 
 author who, at leaft in one refpedl, has reflected ihe greateft honour on his 
 country, tells us, that this Orcadian monarch armed his fubjeds, (but on 
 what pretence is not faid), and, marching to the fouth, ravaged the counties 
 through which he went ; and having reached the place where the Scottifli 
 monarch was, very unfeafonably interrupted the joy of his marriage feaft *• 
 The fovereign, and thofe that were with him on the occafion, taking the 
 alarm, in a moment rufhed to arms, and, falling on thefe audacious ftran- 
 gcrs, put them all to the fword ; and their king Belus, expecting no quar- 
 ter, laid violent hands on himfelf. 
 
 Neither does the exiftence of King Gains red: on a firmer foundation. 
 
 This petty fovereign, fome authors inform us, engaged in a war with the 
 
 Romans, that proved unfuccefsful ; and, being taken prifoner, was, 
 
 A. Dom. with his wife and children, carried to Rome, to grace the triumph of the 
 
 Emperor f. 
 
 It is to the conquefl of them on this occafion that the Roman fatirifl is 
 fuppofed to allude :}:. But neither the vague flourifh of a poet, who both 
 takes, and is allowed great liberty, with regard to fadts ; nor the bare afler- 
 tion of the hiftorian, can prove the exiftence of any fuch war, in oppofi- 
 tion to the diredl authority of that moft refpe£table writer, whofe works 
 have already been fo often quoted §. 
 
 Another king, named Gunnas, is alfo mentioned ; who, with five others, 
 was fummoned at once to appear before the great King Arthur, at his court 
 in Britain [j. 
 
 If the exiftence of thefe princes were more probable in Itfelf, and fup- 
 ported on better authority, it would be fomewhat confirmed, from the 
 iflands being of old confidered in the light of an ancient kingdom. That 
 they were fo, appears in the divlfion of the Roman empire, among the 
 fons of Conftantine ; when not only Britain, Gaul, and Spain, but alfo 
 Orkney, fell to the lot of young Conftantine ; and its being claffed with 
 places of Inch note, points out at leaft the idea that was then entertained 
 of its confcquence. 
 
 • Buchan. Hift. Scot. f Eutrop^ Bede. Boeth. 
 
 t Juvenal : Littora Juverna promovltnus ei iiiodo c.iptas Orcades, &c. 
 
 § Tacilus. jl Geoffrey of Monmouth, a very fabulous author. 
 
 7 To 
 
CHAP. I. AND GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLANDS. 87 
 
 To thefe authorities, lame and feeble as they are, fome additional weiglit 
 will be given, when they are confidered in conjundion with one, which 
 difplays a degree of force that entitles it to notice. 
 
 The Picts, while they inhabited Caledonia, confifled of two grand divi- 
 fions, the one occupying the fouth, and the other the north ; in each of 
 which they had a capital, the feat of their refpedive governments. The 
 Grampian hills fecm to have been the line of partition between them, over 
 which they never palTed to one another; for though they were evidently 
 the fame people, as having the fame diftindtive features, language, cuftoms, 
 and manners, there feemed to have been no other connexion whatever be- 
 tween them. Chriftianity firfl dawned on thofe that lived in the fouth, by 
 means of the pious exertions of St. Ninian, who was a Cambro-Briton, and 
 Bifliop of Candida Cafa, or Whithem, in the province of Valencia, or (l)ire A.D412. 
 of Galloway *. 
 
 Nearly a century and a half later, St. Columba, a monk of Iri(h extrac- 
 tion, laboured in planting the feeds of the fame fyftem among thofe that in- 
 habited the north ; and what contributed much to his fuccefs, was, the good 
 fortune he had to prevail with their king, Budi the Second, to become a , 
 convert, and receive from his hands the facrament of baptif n ■]-. 
 
 During the faint's refidence at that prince's court, his biographer^:, whofe 
 veracity may be relied on, informs us, that there was, in his palace, a petty 
 king of Orkney, whofe name he does not mention ; but to whom he re- 
 commended one of his difciples, of the name of Cormac, who, fome time 
 afterwards, with a view to inftrudt the people, vifited his dominions. 
 
 This might have been a prince in alliance with that monarch, to whofe 
 court he had come to negotiate ; or he might have been a tributary, who 
 had delivered hoftages, as a fecurity for his continuing fubjed ; which his 
 own circumftances, or thofe of his country, might have rendered necedary. 
 
 The great diftance at which the iflands lay from the feat of the Pidiflx 
 government, to fay nothing of the mountains, faftnefles, and friths that in- 
 tervened, would make them fometimes prefume to Ihake off the yoke, or 
 renounce the alliance which they had formed with the country on which 
 
 • The venerable Bedc. 
 
 t Adamnan, vie. St. Col. Cede. Chron. Piifl. % Adamnan. 
 
 they 
 
88 DISCOVERY, NAME, INHABIT AKT3, BOOK II. 
 
 they wefe dependent, or from which they had come. Accordingly, we are 
 informed, that in the reign of Budi the Fourth, a violent infurredion broke 
 out ; which fo inflamed the re entment of that monarch, that he ravaged 
 the iflaiids, in order to curb their licentious Ipirit, which had exceeded all 
 bounds ; and, by this w.-ill-timed fi^verity, taught them the danger of vio- 
 lating their faith, or yielding to the imperious didates of amhitlon. In- 
 ftrufted by experience, they feem to have remained quiet, and either enjoyed 
 their Independence, or obferved the ftipulated fubmiflion, as no mention is 
 made of them, fo far as can be traced, from this period, for the fpace of 
 more than two hundred years. 
 
 During this long interval, they no doubt made improvements in the arts 
 of peace ; keeping pace, in fome meafure, with the people from whom they 
 were defcended, and from whom they received not only their language, but 
 their particular iuiVitutions, their cuftoms, and their manners. Their In- 
 habiting a clufter of iflands, very different, both in extent and fertility, 
 from one another ; their manner of life (chiefly fubfifling by fiftiing), and 
 above all, their being in the way of naval adventurers from various quar- 
 ters, muft in the lapfe of time, have given birth to feveral peculiarities. 
 Still their difl;lnd;lve features, both as to mind and body, would continue 
 the fame ; many of their native habits and cuflioms would be retained, after 
 what had originally given caufe to them had ceafed ; infomuch, that there 
 could be no difficulty in recognizing the charadler of the colony in that of 
 the parent ftate. 
 
 If, therefore, a few Important fads could be colledled from refpedable 
 authorities, they might have fome tendency to explain what has fometimes 
 been reckoned fmgular in the names of men and places, and in fome cuf- 
 toms and praftices not elfewhere generally to be found ; and alfo to account 
 for, and illuftrate fome ancient monuments, that muft be referred to thefe 
 early inhabitants of the iflands. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
C ^9 ] 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 OF THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. 
 
 The pradice of expofing children in infancy, though followed by fome Binhs. 
 celebrated nations of antiquity, and even by fome of equal celebrity in 
 modern times, is fo repugnant to the feelings of humanity, that it is truly 
 wonderful that, in any country, it fl\ouId ever have taken place. WifJom, 
 virtue, religion, and natural afiedion, join in condemning it. Though, 
 therefore, it was pra£lifed among the Caledonians, previoudy to the light of 
 Chriftianity, it feems only to have been very feldom, and in cafes of ex- 
 treme neceflity. 
 
 As foon as their children were born, they carried thena to fome lake or 
 ftream, into which they inftantly immerged them, giving them at the fame 
 time a name ; and this cuftom they regarded as a religious rite, becaufe 
 among them waters were confidered facred. 
 
 To eftablifh the connexion between the fexes, on principles that are at Marriage*. 
 once confonant to found policy, and to purity of manners, has been found 
 a very difficult tafk, in all ages ; and therefore it need not feem ftrange, if, 
 among a barbarous people, it fhould have been loofe and irregular. Ac- 
 cordingly, the Caledonians (whom we confider as Pidls), we are told, had a 
 plurality, if not a community of wives *. The fame thing is aflerted of 
 the South Britons f , and of the Agathufi, a German nation p, but it is 
 probable this cuftom prevailed only among men of high rank, who might 
 have obferved it, from the love of vanity, or, as is the cafe in the eaft, 
 from oftentation. To this opinion we are led, from the information that 
 the Germans, except fuch as were rich, had never more than one wife, 
 which is certainly mofl confonant both to nature and reafon § ; and the 
 Pids feem evidently to have adopted the fame wife and virtuous pra£lice j 
 for their kings only were permitted the privilege of chufmg whom they 
 
 • Dio. t Julius Crfar. % Herodotus. § Tacitus. 
 
 N pleafed, 
 
90 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. BOOK II. 
 
 pleafed, and difmifTing them again at pleafure*. Their marriages were 
 neither celebrated in any place of worfliip, nor attended with any religious 
 ceremony, as they were regarded only in the light of a civil cont-aQ, not 
 only then, but even fo late as the commencement of the thirteenih centu- 
 ry f. After the parties were finally agreed, the bridegroom offered a pre- 
 fent to the bride's father ; the bride did the fame to her intended hufband's 
 father ; the friends of both were invited to witnefs the agreement : when 
 they had done this, the bride was given away in a fet form of words ; and 
 the marriage feaft clofed the ceremony. 
 Burials. Their mode of interment was various. The bodies of the common 
 people, and alfo thofe of their enemies, were in general buried, as the leaft 
 troublefome and leafl; expenfive. Thofe of men of rank and eminence 
 were for the moft part burnt, either entirely or in part ; and when this 
 method, which was reckoned the moft honourable, was adopted, the afhes 
 were collected in an earthen urn, which was fet on the ground, and over it 
 was thrown a heap of earth, or tumulus, which in fize was proportioned 
 to the dignity of the deceafed. 
 
 Meat. The food of thefe people, as might naturally have been expeded, was 
 very fimple : milk and fifh were the ordinary diet of fuch as lived in the 
 weftern ifles % ; to which the flefh of fuch animals as the chafe procured, 
 was added by thofe who inhabited Piclland. 
 
 Befides all thefe kinds of food, they made ufe of a certain root, that had 
 the power of preferving them long from the fenfation of hunger; and the 
 very fame root, for the fame purpofe, was made ufe of by the ancient 
 Scythians §. But pork was the favourite meat of that people ; and 
 boars' flefh was admitted to the honour of forming a difh among thofe that 
 compofed the feaft of Odin. In. the firft accounts of Iceland, mention is 
 often made of vaft numbers of fwine and flieep || ; and horfe-flefh was 
 ufed there, and in Scandinavia, the mother country, as late as the eleventh 
 century. 
 
 jjrink. Simple as their food was, their drink was not lefs fo. Rarely did either 
 wine or mead enter into their beverage. Ale was the favourite liquor with 
 
 * Solinus. t Pope Innocent the Third, izio. Blackftone. 
 
 X Solinus. § Dio. II Iil.inds LanJ;im>in Bok. 
 
 all 
 
CHAP. 11. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. Ql 
 
 all the branches of the Gothic (lock ; and this they were accnflomed, at 
 their convivial meetings and feftivals, to quaff liberally in horns *, after the 
 manner of the ancient Germans "f. 
 
 Their drefs was fimilar, in its nature, to the means of their fubfifience. Drer<. 
 Many of the lower claflcs went almoft entirely naked ; and fuch as did not, 
 had only the {kins of wild beafts, which fiiccefs in the chafe had provided, 
 carelefsly thrown over their (houlders, to fliicld them from the violent b!afls 
 of winter q:. 
 
 As early as the fifth century, the common people §, no Icfs from a re- 
 gard to decency, than for warmth, wore a cloth around tlieir middle, while 
 their chiefs had a coat and breeches under their mantle ; and all of them 
 flained or painted their bodies, in compliance with a curtom wliich they 
 had in common with the other branches of that great family. 
 
 To imprint thefe marks, or that colour on their fkin, they made ufe cf 
 a fliarp inftrument, with which they pundured it ; and when once this was 
 done, they rubbed or prefled into it, fomc colouring fubflancc, which, in a 
 fhort time, rendered the place to which it was applied permanently confpi- 
 cuous. Vit)-um, or woad, was the fubftance ufed for this purpofe among the 
 Belgse,who are not without feveral marks of a Gothic origin ; and the ap- 
 plication of it imparted to their fkin a blue colour. Among them, the cuf- 
 tom feems to have been prevalent, till compelled to give way to Roman 
 manners ; and fome faint traces of it may be met with among the inhabitants 
 of Northumberland fo late as the eighth century. But this pradice, far 
 from being confined to the different tribes of one people, feems, in an early 
 ftage of fociety, to be of very wide extenfion ; as we find it among the 
 favages that roam through the wilds of America, and thofe that inhabit the 
 iflaniis in the Pacific Ocean, as well as among our European anccffors, in 
 a fimilar condition ||. 
 
 If we truft the accounts of fome writers, who are carried away with the Houfcs. 
 force of a lively imagination, caves by the fea-fliore, and rocks and dens 
 in the foreft, were the primitive habitations of men. In the cold regions of 
 the north, however, houfes cf fome kind or other muft have been coeval 
 
 • Adamcan, vit. St. Col, I Cncfar. t Cxfar, and Tacitus. 
 
 § Gildas. II Robertfon's America. Cook's and Forfter's Voyages. 
 
 N z with 
 
92 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. BOOK II. 
 
 with the firft inhabitants, who, without fuch accommodation, could not have 
 borne the feverity of the winter. Through all Europe, the peafants, at 
 leaft, had houfes built of wood. The Pidls had theirs of the fame perifli- 
 able materials ; and, inftead of being raifed high, they were confined to the 
 ground floor, in which there were feveral apartments intended to accommo- 
 date the two fexes refpedlively *. The middle or principal part of the 
 houfe formed the hall for entertainments, along the fides of which were 
 placed benches for the guefts to fit on 'f ; and, in the centre of each range, 
 ftood an elevated feat, or chair of honour, for the reception of fuch perl'ons 
 as were of more than ordinary rank or dignity. The floor of the hail, on 
 thefe occafions, was covered with ftraw, to ferve as a carpet ; and, in the 
 middle of it, was a large fire, near which ftood a large veffel full of ale ; 
 out of which their horns, or drinking veflels, were filled occafionally. The 
 German houfes feem to^ have been conftru£led in the fame form, and of 
 tlte fame rude materials ; of wood, without tyles, and without mortar § ; 
 but fome of them were plaftered with an earth fo pure, and at the fame time 
 fo fplendid, that they had, in fome degree, the appearance of being paint- 
 ed II . This cuftom of ornamenting their houfes continued to a late period ; 
 and the fubftance made ufe of for that purpofe, had the name given it of 
 rot/j erde, or red earth ; and EngUfche erde ; becaufe it either was, or was 
 fuppofed to have been, brought from that country ^. Thefe houfes, the 
 ruins of which are fo frequently met with in the north, cannot, as fome 
 have imagined, be the firft rude attempts to obtain more fubftantial abodes, 
 as they feem totally unfit for ordinary habitations. 
 Bufincfs. To a people, ignorant almoft of manufj£lures of every fort, who as yet 
 
 had conceived no idea of commerce, and who were fcarcely acquainted with 
 the rudiments of agriculture, there could be fcarcely any employment but 
 either thofe of hunting and fifhin^, or of rearing and pafturing fome do- 
 mefiic animals. Ti as did they procure food, and fuch fimple articles of 
 clothing as might ferve them occafionally for ufe, or for ornament ; and, 
 when to thefe they were fo fortunate as to add a temporary hut, to guard 
 
 * ChefFel, Antiq. Gjr. \ Gunlang's Saga. J Tacitus. 
 
 $ Hercdi;in. || Tacitus. «|f Cheliel, Antiq. Ger. 
 
 them 
 
CHAP. II. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PtCTS. 93 
 
 them from the inclemency of the weather, they were contented, as having 
 ahnoft every thing which they defired, in their poflefiion. 
 
 Amons: a people in a rude ftate, little recrard is commonly paid to Amufe- 
 amufements of any kind, except gaming ; which, however ftrange it may 
 appear, is univerfal *, and often profecuted with a degree of ardour that 
 proves as pernicious as in more poliihcd fociety. The game in which 
 the Goths took the greateft plealure was chefs; a game that requires 
 no lefs judgment than perfeverance ; and, what fhows their good fenfe, 
 this was the favourite amufement in moft of their colonies and poflTef- 
 fions. In Iceland, a branch from that ftem, it was pradifed with much 
 avidity ; for, in the eleventh century, we are told, that, while a celebrated 
 poet was engaged in a game at chefs with the beautiful Helga, his brother 
 poet became fo enamoured of that lady, that they quarrelled, fought, and 
 fell, by mutual wounds, in the conflid j". Neither do they feem, even in 
 that ftate, to have been infenfible to the pleafures of converfation. Their 
 minds were fomewhat opened ; and, when they met, they amuled them- 
 felves vvith difcourfing on the heroic deeds of their anceftors, and other men 
 of eminence ; with propofing and folving riddles, and with vying with one 
 another in compofmg fhort pieces of poetry. Fond of news to exccfs, they 
 eagerly fought intelligence from every quarter ; which was a luxury fo great, 
 that t!\e rich only were permitted to tafte of it in the firft inftance : and fuch 
 was the confidence which they put in the information thus received, that it 
 fometimes had much influence in direding their councils. The fame extra- 
 vagant paflion for news marked the charader of the ancient intiabitants of 
 Gaul J, fome of whom were originally defcended from the Gjths or 
 Germans §. 
 
 This people, ignorant as they were of letters, and having priefts of a The Arts 
 foreign nation dovvn to fo late a period as the twelfth century, could have 
 very few of the arts among them ; and thole muft have been of a kind that 
 was moft fimple and necelfary. The preparation of their food and clothing, 
 and the building of their houfes, whatever was their matter or form, required 
 
 • Tacitus. Robertfon's America. f Gunlang's Sngri. 
 
 i Cxlar's Comnicmarics. § Csefar, dc Beilo G.iliito. 
 
 feme 
 
94 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. BOOK 11. 
 
 fome acquaintance with fuch as were of that nature ; and, befides thefe, 
 they mull have had fome little fkill in the conftrudlion of canoes, or fmall 
 vefleh, and in managing them in fuch a manner as to tranfport themfelves 
 from one place to another. In every part of the earth, fituated favourably 
 for that purpofe, fuch a degree, at leaft, of this wonderful art has been 
 found ; and the fea, which, at firfl: fight, might feem to have been intended 
 to feparate, for ever, tribes and nations, has, by the wifdom of Provi- 
 dence, been rendered the grand medium for eftablifhing an eafy and expe- 
 ditious communication among mankind. As they were a brave and war- 
 like people, felf-prefervation, no lefs than the love of conqueft, muft have 
 led them early to form weapons of defence and attack ; and thefc, with 
 them, were, as in other early nations, made of brafs inftead of iron, which 
 fcems to have been at firft either lefs common or lefs underftood *. Their 
 chariots, too, in which they fought, at an early period had, it is likely, brafs 
 in their conftruftion ; and were made in fuch a manner, as implied fome 
 little notion of the mechanical arts. 
 
 The light of fcience never dawned among that people ; which Is juftly 
 matter of furprife ; fince their anceftors, on the Continent, had botli philo- 
 fophers and aftronomers, and had a name among nations for that genuine 
 wifdom, which is the only foundation of both fcience and art f. But par- 
 ticular circumftances, and not their want of capacity, was the caufe of their 
 ignorance ; and this might have even been perpetuated by their acknowr- 
 ledged vigour of mind, which might have difcovered to them the futility of 
 what. In thofe days, was dignified with the name of erudition. In the fine 
 arts of poetry and mufic, nations have fometimes arrived at no fmall degree 
 of excellence, even in an early, rude, or unpolifhed ftate. The cafe feemsto 
 have been very different with regard to the Pids ; among whom we have 
 o e vidence that thefe ever prevailed, if the war long be excepted, and the 
 fhouts of the foldiers, as they advanced in array to meet their toes in the 
 field |. But for this deficiency, which may feem furprifing, the parent 
 .ftate and the filler colonies made ample amends. So enthufiallically fond 
 
 • Mr. Pinkerton's' Iiltroduiflion to the Hiftory of Scotland, 
 f Herodutus. J T.icitus de Moribus German. 
 
 were 
 
CHAP. II, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. g^ 
 
 were they of poetry in particular, that to compofe verfe in all its varieties, 
 and to acquire fklll and dexterity in the ufe of arms, was, in their opinion, 
 the on!y valuable branch of education. The Scalds, who were their poets, 
 were a race of men fo highly honoured, as to have privileges conferred on 
 them fuperior to what were enjoyed by almofl; any other rank in the fociety. 
 Confiderino; the capacity requifite, and the difficulties that attended the dif- 
 charge of their duty in this office, it is no wonder that this was the cafe. 
 The kinds of their verfe were fo numerous, the ftrudure fo complicated in 
 each, and the metaphors it contained at the fame time fo remote, fo bold, 
 and fo violent, as rendered it not only difficult to compofe, but even with- 
 out being committed to memory, and frequently thought of and repeated, 
 it could not be thoroughly underftood. Fortunately, their poems were very 
 fhort, as all traditional poems neceflfarily mufl be ; and this circumftance had 
 a palpable tendency to make them more intelligible, as well as more eafily 
 compofeJ. 
 
 The kinds of them were not more numerous, nor the fklll which they 
 displayed more complicated, than the fubjeds v/cre various. They fung 
 of love ; they celebrated the pralfes of their heroes ; they recorded hillori- 
 cal events ; and mixed with mythology and genealogies many moral fen- 
 tences of advice and inftrudion. Some beautiful little fpecimens of their 
 poetry on feveral of thefe fubjedis ftlU remain. Even the Laplander, in the 
 frozen regions of the pole, difcovers warmth fufficient to compofe ballads in 
 pralfe of his mlftrefs, and of his chief; and not only the people of Iceland, 
 who were of old noted for this fort of poetry, but alfo the inhabitants of 
 the Fcrroe llles *, fung of their champions, in conformity with a cuftom 
 that appears to have been prevalent with moft of the fwarms that Iffijed 
 from the Gothic hive. The Germans had among them this cuilom in all 
 its force. Hence, among other inftances that might be colledted, Arminius, 
 who dlfllnguilhed himlelf among his countrymen for his wifdom, no lefs 
 than his bravery, had his heroic adions recorded in fong by the barbarous 
 nations f 
 
 •Torfseus de rebus gedis Ferroen. 
 
 t Tacitus : Caniturque adhuc apud barbaras gentes. 
 
 Alrf/lC 
 
gG MANNERS AND CUSTOMS Of Till! PICTJ. BOOK U. 
 
 Muftc is the younger fifter of Poetrj', and very frequently her companion ; 
 and probably was fo among this people; though of what kind it was, we are, 
 for want of information from ancient writers, at a lofs to determine. Tlie 
 inftruments which they made ufe of were, the horn, chiefly ufed in battle^ as 
 in Scotland, down to the fourteenth century ; the harp, invented in the 
 plains of Afia, and thence carried into the extremities of Europe; and even 
 the bagpipe itfelf, which has fomctimes been thought to be a Celtic inflru- 
 ment, does not appear to have been unknown to them. Thus much at leafl: 
 is certain from marbles, coins, and even from their own authors, that both 
 the Romans and the Greeks were acquainted with the ufe of this inftrument 
 at an early period ; and fo late as the fixth century, it was flill ufed as an 
 inftrument of war among the foot, as the trumpet was among the horfe, as 
 we learn from ancient authority *. From them its ufe in war has been 
 fuppofed to come, not only into Britain, but many other countries that were 
 fubjeft to the Roman power f. 
 Govern- As the government of a people naturally fprings from their genius, their 
 
 character, and the flate of their improvements, fo, after it is eftablifhed, it 
 exerts much influence on their manners. The kind of it which the Pids 
 had originally, or in their firft fettlements, cannot, from the filence of an- 
 cient writers, now be perfedlly known. That branch of them, however, 
 •which inhabited Caledonia in the time of the Roman expedition, was di- 
 vided into feveral petty ftates, fimilar to thofe that then occupied the Ger- 
 man dominions \. As they are believed, on good ground, to have fprung 
 from that nation, to which they are faid to have borne a ftriking refemblance, 
 it is reafonable to fuppofe that their governments were alfo fimilar §. 
 That of Germany was a fort of democracy, in which they eleded their 
 own chiefs, to whom they granted only a limited authority, while they re- 
 ferved to themfelves, not only the mod extenfive liberty, but the exercife 
 of the moft valuable powers. Caledonia, it would appear, had the fame 
 kind of conftitution ; for we are informed that her ftates were democrati- 
 cal II ; and Galgacus was moft probably one of thofe chiefs whom, on ac- 
 
 * Procopius. \ Mr. Pinkerton; X Tacitus. ^ Idem. \ DIo. 
 
 count 
 
 in cut. 
 
CHAP. II. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. 97 
 
 count of his uncommon merit, the fufFrages of his country haJ, on that 
 emergency, raifed to imperatorial dignity *. Among fome of the Ger- 
 mans, indeed, monarchy is faid to have been cflabliflied ; which does not 
 fcem to have been the cafe in any part of the Plifiini territory at that period, 
 except in the Weftern Ifles, where a kingdom had been eredcd that foon 
 fpread itfelf over North Britain. Neither among the one people nor the 
 other, however, were their firfl kings any more than like the Indian chiefs, 
 who, on account of their fuperior talents, bravery, or eloquence, had ac- 
 quired fuch an influence in their refpetflivc tribe", as naturally defcended 
 to their relations. In the fubfequent age, their government aflumed a 
 more regular and permanent form. They had among them f a feaate and 
 a noble race, a royal ftock from which then- kings were chofen ; and when 
 fuch an event took place, the late king's brother, if better qualified, by age 
 or capacity, to hold the reins of government, was frequently preferred to 
 the royal offspring. Strange as this may appear, it is not more fo than what 
 happened with another branch of that people, who, in the eighth century, 
 effected a fettlement in Iceland. Compelled to fly their native country, to 
 avoid the flames of w^ar which ambition had kindled, they took pclTefllon 
 of this barren ifland, where, inftead of adopting that form of government 
 to which they had been accuftomed, or eleding chiefs like their kindred 
 tribes, they formed themfelvcs into a regular republic ; in which there was 
 fuch an admirable dillribution of the powers of government, as, at the fame 
 time, fecured liberty, and promoted order and fubordination. Its conftitu- 
 ticn, however extraordinary it may appear, is, in every refpeiSt, as well au- 
 thenticated, as thofe of the moft celebrated ftates of antiquity ; and fuch a 
 form of polity, among a barbarous people, merits the attention of the curi- 
 ous, as a ftriking fingularity in the hiflory of man. 
 
 So early as the firft century, the Caledonians ufed cars in battle J, like 
 the Beli;3E in Gaul. The king of the § Crathini, in Ireland, is reprefented 
 as ufiiig one alfo ; and, for the fame purpofe, they were employed by the 
 
 • T.icitus : Inter plurcs duces, &c. 
 I \ AJ.imnan, vit. Sf Col. Rex cum fenatii valJe pertimefcens domum egrefTiis — quondam de 
 nobill Piiflorum gcnere. This fulid and intelligent author mentions alfo the Familiarts Regis, the 
 Comiitt of CsEfar and Tacitus. 
 
 ^ Taciius. § Adamnan. 
 
 O Scandinavians 
 
98 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. BOOK II. 
 
 Scandinavians fo late as the tenth or eleventh ceiu'ury. In the noted 
 battle of the Grampians they had cavalry *. Their f words were lar-^e, 
 and, having no points, were fie for cutting, but not thruiling; and t ey 
 woie a fmall kind of fliields, that bore a refemblance to thf^fe of the Ger- 
 mans f. In common ahnoft with all barbarous nations, they niiuit iruch 
 life of bows and arrows; the latter of which were pointeil with tlinis, ia- 
 ftead of metal ; and it is thefe that are fo frequently found, and known by 
 the name of elfstones. Daggers were inftruments in repute with t' em at a 
 later period \^ and alfo lances § j and a kind of hnoked fpears appears to 
 have been peculiar to the Pi£ts, and the other branches of the fame race, 
 which, in befieging towns, they employed to pull down their enemies from 
 the battlements |[. 
 Religion. High as their military fpirit was, it was inflamed almofl: to fury by the 
 peculiar genius of their religion. Among the many circumftance- that com- 
 bine to form the human chara£ter, there is none of more influence than the 
 opinion that is formed of the objedl of our worftiip. This is completely 
 verified in the hifliory of the people under confideration. Trufting un- 
 doubted authority, we muft confider them of German origin j and from 
 the mafterly pidure that has been drawn of the manners of the people of 
 that nation, we know that their religion taught the exigence of a ' Supreme 
 ' God, the Ruler of the univerfe, to whom all things were fubjedt If.' 
 The ancient mythology of Iceland taught, in itrong energetic terms, the 
 fame mofl: important truth. Iti it the objedt of their worfhip is ftyled, ' The 
 
 * Author of every thing that exifts ; the Eternal ; the living and awful 
 
 * Being, who fearches into concealed matters, and is fubjedl to no change ; 
 
 * of incorruptible juftice, infinite power, and unbounded knowledge **.' 
 From this all perfect God fprung, as emanations of his divinity, an infinite 
 number of inferior deities, who prefided over and directed the operations of 
 nature; and who, on account of the iervice which they thus performed to 
 mankind challenged a liiare in their adoration. Agreeably to this notion, 
 the Pidts, inhabiting Caledonia in the fixth century, paid a fort of divine 
 
 * Tiicitus. f Idem. % Dio. J Herodlan. || Gildas. 
 
 f T.icltus : Regnator omnium Deus, csstera fubjedla atque parentia. 
 
 * • Edda and Volulpa. 
 
 worlhip 
 
CHAP. II. MAKNETIS AKD CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. 99 
 
 worn;iip to fountains, and acknowled,irecl many of thefe inferior gods, whom 
 they reckoned fiiperior to the God of the Chriftians. The fame people had 
 alio magi, or piiefls, who they vainly fuppofed could raife ftorms, and 
 perform other miracles : with thefe the good St. Cclumba had many pious 
 conflicts in defence of his m'ffion *. 
 
 To offer up facrifices to ihcir Supreme Being ; to adJ' ^fs thanks and fup- 
 plications to him ; to do no wrong to others ; and to be hold and intrepid, 
 were the moral precepts which they drew from thtir dodlrlncs; and their 
 firm faith in a future ftnte cemented tlie venerable fabric, and f nilhed the 
 ftrudture of their religion. In that ftate, tortures of the moft excruciating 
 kind awaited thofe who dtfpifed thefe moft important precepts ; and joys 
 ■without number, and without end, were the portion of fuch as had beea 
 honeft, valiant, and religious. 
 
 This fyflem, at once fo pure and fo rational, and at the fame time fo 
 creditable for human nature to have adopted in its unenlightened ftate, was 
 of fuch antiquity, as to be derived "I" from the Scythians; and was long 
 believed and praftifed among the nations in the north, which fprung from 
 that root. But, unhappily, this beautiful ftrudure, in the courfe of ages, 
 was much corrupted. 
 
 The Supreme Being, inftead of being confidered as extending his atten- 
 tion and energy to all nature, was now confined to one province j and 
 pafled, with the bulk of the people, under the name of Odin, or the God 
 of War. No objetTt, in their opinion, could be more worthy of his atten- 
 tion than military contefts ; nor demonftrate more forcibly the extent of his 
 power. Hence, the horrible pidure of the god Odin, that is fometimes 
 given us in the Icelandic writings if. There he is ftyled, * The fevere and 
 
 * terrible deity ; the father of (laughter ; the god that caufeth dcfolatioa 
 
 * and fire; the aftive and tremendous majefty, who givcth vidory, and 
 
 * rcviveth courage in the conflid:, and markcth thofe in battle who are to 
 
 * be flain.' 
 
 The aid of this deity was implored in every war that was undertaken ; 
 th€ vows of the hoftile armies were addrcflcd to him j and he was believed 
 
 * Adamnan, vie, St. Col. t Mallet's Northern Antiquities. % Edda, Myth. 3. 
 
 O 2 to 
 
100 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. BOOK 11. 
 
 to defcend and mix with the combatants, in order to inflame their fury ; 
 to ftrike thofe that were to perlfh, and convey their valiant fpirits to his 
 celeftial abode *. There his valhall, or palace, ftood open to receive them, 
 into which they entered amidft praifes and congratulations, and were in- 
 vited to fit at his table, loaded with dainties j", which they were hence- 
 forth deftined to partake of without end, and without fatiety. 
 
 To that branch of this extraordinary people, which fo long occupied this 
 country, ought we perhaps to afcribe fome objedls of antiquity, which could 
 not be conveniently clafTed under any of the foregoing heads. The firft of 
 thefe we {hall mention, are thofe tumuli, or barrows, which fo often prefent 
 themfelves to the eye in wandering over the furface of thefe iflands ; and 
 which are plainly the rude memorials of perfons of note in early days. 
 The mcfl ancient method of difpofing of the dead was by interment. The 
 earliefl; Greeks adopted this cuftom, in which they were imitated by the Ro- 
 mans in the infancy of their ftate ; and the Celts, a very ancient people, 
 fcem alfo to have preferred this method ; and, on the graves of illuftrious 
 perfons, they gathered heaps of rtones into a pile, which they called cairns, 
 or cromlechs, to diflinguifli them from thofe of the multitude. 
 
 The remains of people of the fame eminence among the Gothic tribes 
 were treated in a different manner. Though their enemies, and the inferior 
 ranks, were interred, the bodies of men of diftindion, as has been already 
 flated, were either wholly, or in part, confumed to allies ; which were care- 
 fully coUeded either into an urn or a coffin, formed of ftones ; and a heap 
 of earth, or tumulus, was raifed over them. Hence, the number of thefe 
 tumuli, or barrows, fpread over the countries inhabited by the different 
 branches of that ancient people in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England, 
 and the eafl coaft of Scotland, as well as in fome of the Hasbudse, in Iceland, 
 and the Orkney Ifles. The numbers found here are confiderable ; feldom 
 fingle, but two, or three, or more, in the fame place ; all of a circular form, 
 and different in dimenfions; placed without any diftindion of hill or dale, 
 
 • Mallet's NortTiern AnUquitrcs. 
 
 f The principal dainty promiied to the worfliippers of Odin, was getting drunk with mead, or 
 ale, from the ituUs of their enemies ; which, in Odin's hall, were ufed in place of goblets. — E. 
 
 by 
 
CHAP. II. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS= lOI 
 
 by the Tea, or inland ; generally in dry places, and for the moft part ca 
 fandy ground. Some few of them arc encircled with ftones fet on edge 
 around their bottoms ; a remarkable one has two ftoncs fet upright on its 
 top ; and when curiofity has penetrated their interior, they are almofl: all 
 found to exhibit contents in which there is much fimilarity. As in Eng- 
 land, thofe that have been opened have difcovered, fome of them, u?-i!s 
 w\x\\ afhes; fome, flone coffins, in which the bodies have been dcpofited ; 
 and fome, naked fkiletons*; — fo here alfo, when looked into, they have 
 been found to contain the fame things. But befides thefe, wliich are the 
 principal, feveral other articles have fometimes been found along with 
 them ; fuch as the bones of fome domeflic animal ; fwords of metal, or of 
 bone; helmets, combs j with other things, the ufe. of which cannot now 
 be difcovered. 
 
 The eye can fcarcely be directed to a field, in which thefe tumuli are 
 fituatcd in any number, without the opinion being formed, that this has 
 been a field of battle, and thefe the graves of the brave that had been flain j 
 the fimilarity of form, and difference of fize, pointing out their rcfpedive 
 rank, their merit, or their eminence. That thefe were the rude monuments 
 exclufively appropriated to perpetuate the deeds of noted warriors is ren- 
 dered probable, not only from arms being found in them, but becaufe 
 among that people military virtues alone were deemed worthy of honour. 
 Before clofing this article, it is neceffary to obferve, that wc ought not to 
 confound thefe tumuli with thofe that are fimilar in almofl every refpedt, 
 but placed on the higheft or moft confpicuous part in every ifland. To 
 convey intelligence readily from one place to another, and particularly to 
 fpread the alarm in cafe of the approach of an enemy, the latter were ge- 
 nerally thrown up on the higheft hill, and had fires of wood and other com- 
 buflible matter lighted on them ; and the name oiWarts^ or Wards, which 
 they at prefent bear, has a manifeft allufion to this circumftance. 
 
 To the fame people, perhaps, and about the fame period, muft be 
 referred another clafs of objeds, that, in different places, raile tbeir lofty 
 heads to arreft the attention of the curious. Thefe are the huge ftanding 
 flones, one or more of which may be feen in moft of the iflands. They 
 
 • Mr. Pinkerton. 
 
 arc 
 
102 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF TTJE PICT3. BOOK II. 
 
 are commonly from twelve to twenty feet in height above ground, their 
 breadth five, and thicknefs one or more ; and as the moft of them feem, 
 from the places in which thty are eredled, to have been carried from a 
 confiderable diftance, it mny juftly excite wonder, how, in the ignorance 
 of mechanical powers, this could be effcded. Numbers, and perlevcrance 
 united, will achieve deeds, to conceive which would baffle the efforts of 
 imagination. 
 
 By whatever means they were brought, or in whatever manner ereded, 
 they are rude blocks of hard ftone, of the fame fliape in which they were 
 raifed from the quarry ; without any marks of an inftrument ; without 
 carving, infcriplion or hieroglyphics; tbey are plainly the monuments of 
 an early age, when the people were ignorant of arts and of letters. 
 
 For what purpofe, or with what defign, they were eredtcd, antiquity 
 furnifhes us with no account ; records are filent j and tradition, to which 
 recourfe muft be fometimes had, in the penury of other evidence, ventures 
 not, in this cafe, to hazard an opinion. 
 
 Some have fuppofcd them intended to mark the fpot that contained the 
 bones, or the alhes, of a beloved prince, a brave chieftain, or dear departed 
 friend ; or to ferve as a boundary between the territories of one great man 
 and thofe of another : while others have imagined them defigned to pre- 
 ferve the remembrance of fome noted event that concerned the fafety, the 
 honour, or the advantage of the community. 
 
 Since no tumuli, urns, or graves, have ever been found near them, they 
 cannot certainly be confidered as memorials of the dead ; nor is it more 
 probable that they were intended to mark the limits of contiguous proprie- 
 tors ; as land-marks, equally well calculated to ferve the purpofe, might 
 have been ereded with infinitely lefs labour. If, therefore, they were not 
 intended to ferve the purpofe of places of worfhip, they were moft likely 
 raifed to preferve the remembrance of fome fortunate event, or perpetuate 
 the memory of fome noble adion ; and the rough fimplicity of their ap- 
 pearance fufBciently juflifies us in referring them to an early age, and to 
 the firft inhabitants of thefe iflands. 
 
 A third kind of monuments, which ought to be confidered as relicks of 
 the fame people, are thofe ancient (trudures, or ruins, well known in many 
 places by the name of Burghs-caftles, or more commonly Pids-houfes. 
 
 Someiimes 
 
CHAP. II. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE FICTS. I03 
 
 Sometirp i they ftand in little holms in the mi 1ft of lochs, with a r-^ad 
 forme' of ftones to conn^'dl them with the Ifland ; fometimes on high 
 laiv! ! y the Tea, near the hrink of precipitous rocks ; hut much oftcner on 
 the ikirrs ot fandy hays, and in the vicinity of landing places. Encir- 
 cli g the fhores of the mninland, as well as thofe of the other iflands, they 
 Anitch in a chain from one headland to another, in full view of the har- 
 b' urs, and of the ocean ; and are evidently fo arranged, as to communicate 
 one witii ai other. Far from being confined to this place, they are found, 
 and that, too, in fimilar fituations, in the country from which the Pi£ls ori- 
 ginally came, as well as in thofe that conftituted their once extenfive do- 
 minion. In proof of this it may be obferved, that there is a rema !kal>le 
 one of that kind at Sualfbnrg, near Dronthcim ; another called the Caftle 
 of Ymfburg, in Weftrogothia *. Many of them are ftill to be fecn on the 
 Ihoresof Caithnefs, of Sutherland, and of Eaft-Rofs. The Vale of Glenelg, 
 near Bernera, contains no few er than four f J. The foundations of feveral 
 have been difcovered on a plain near Perth [| ; and that of Dornadilla, in 
 Strathnaver, is no lefs diftinguiflied for its ftrudure, than the very large one 
 at Dunrobin Caftle, which feems to have within its precin(fls feveral fmaller 
 ones, its conneftions or dependants §. But, turning from If thcfe, if we 
 direct our attention to the north, with a view to explore the Pidilh territo- 
 ries in that quarter, we fhall find thefe ancient ftruiflures perhaps in greater 
 number, but certainly more entire, of a more curious form, and of much 
 larger dimenfions. Thofe found in Shetland, and known everywhere in 
 that country by the name of burghs, are much fuperior in thefc refpeds to 
 what are here, or even perhaps to any in Scotland. In the foutli, and on 
 the eaft coaft, there are but few of them now entire, having been demo- 
 lilhed, partly from curiofity to know their ftrudure and contents, and partly 
 in order to carry oft" their materials, to enclofe lands or build farm-houfes. 
 But among the fifter iflands to the north, where there has been no want of 
 
 • Dalherg. Snecia antiqu.i ct hod. f Mr. Pinkerton. 
 
 t .Many of tlieie bullJiugs in Glencljj, and diflrifls adjacent, were demolidied for ftones to 
 build the barracks of Bernera, and to conltPLict bndgcs on the military road. -For the I.itter pur- 
 pole the ftones of thefe buildings v ere belter adajited than any that could oe found in that ccuntry ; 
 which lliews tlicy had been originally lelciiied with grea'. care, if not brought ironi a dilla.ice. — t. 
 
 II I'cuaant's Tour. § Idem. f Lowe's Tour, MS. penes me. 
 
 7 materials 
 
104 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. BOOK lU 
 
 materials for thefe purpofes, thefe curious edifices have been fufTcred to re- 
 main unhurt, in teftimony of the rerpe<ft that the inhabitants have enter- 
 tained for the works of their anceftors. 
 
 They are, ahnofi: without exception, of a circular bafe, rifing into the 
 fhnpe of a cone, with its top fomewhat bhinted ; and as they are generally 
 everywhere in ruins, their outfide is covered with a thick fward of fine 
 grafs, and, on a fuperficial view, they have very much the appearance of 
 large tumuli, or barrows. Scones of a convenient form, and of a large fize, 
 without any fort of cement, are the materials of which they have been con- 
 flruded ; and, on a more narrow infpedlion, they appear evidently to be of 
 two kinds, differing from each other both in their ftrudlure and dimenfions. 
 The fmaller, which feem to be the oldeft, confift of one thick circular wall, 
 in the infide of which there are fometimes places that might have ferved for 
 beds ; and this form, wc are told, was agreeable to a mode of building 
 among the people of Iceland, and other Scandinavian colonies "■■. In fome 
 of them at a greater, and in others at a lefs height, this wall begins to con- 
 verge gradually towards the top, till only a fmall hole remained, which 
 feems to have been either covered with flat ftones, or fuffered to be open. 
 
 The larger are far more complicated in their internal ftrudture. Befides 
 the outer wall, which they have in common with the former, they have 
 alfo an inner one, concentric with, and diftant about two feet from the other ; 
 and thefe walls are fo formed, as fometimes to meet at no great height, and 
 thus enclofe a f ace around the bottom of the building. In the form of 
 others of this kind, there is flill greater variety. Like the former, they have 
 two walls ; but thefe neither meet nor converge, but afcend parallel to each 
 other at the diftance of little more than two feet ; and this fpace, which is 
 entered by a door of two feet high from without, is occupied by a ftair of 
 a winding fpiral form, from the bottom to the top of the building. The 
 largefl kind which are here, as well as in other places, denominated Burghs^ 
 are furrounded by a broad deep ditch, and a fort of rampart f. 
 
 To one or other of thefe, it is probable, muft belong that which has 
 been lately difcovered at Quanternefs. As works of that nature have never 
 
 * Gunlang's Saga. f Ihte, Burgh or Borg, Monumentum, WaU"-Borg, Caftle. 
 
 been 
 
EXPLANX Tl ON 
 
 B 1 S M A Hi 
 
 A Sni/r// emi ffBijiiiirr 
 1$ Thirk end of V? 
 I' T/i/nff fr be ireit/h 'ef 
 D iWi/ ftT .fnjyini/ftmj f/u Iiu'tnti/u/ff /ur// 
 nnjrA'imf f/ie i/t//tTntf irf/'/;///s 
 Vi:\ tr. Slii/ft/j' r'rr Shi-viiiij //if i/ir/hnit vfii/Alf 
 frrm I'lie mitrAtv In . 
 N.U Pile imirA' is tlie Sjiiii//t.i-i u lii/A/ 
 ureiff/ied it/'r/i the HiJ^tiiir rr it ?isfioitiu1 
 Ifw i/reiitest 
 NB T/ie J'tiiifi/s /h'lii l.i,> ji.i/eii,'te .Ciiujk 
 tjiiirkf.lhi*ni t'X.ti^ 24. i/eiii'te i/iui/r/e //iii/^\i' 
 
 Pr N ID JL E K 
 
 AA. Bfirm 
 I B Slifiirj- iitid Hiitff 
 i C Ti'tujiie 
 ]) Tliiiii; to be veiijJieif 
 K. nmiwet I'f l/if /'i/ii,//er 
 tA.^X'C Xi'tc/i,v fi<r s/ieviiiff the ifi'//'err)i t veu)lit>- 
 from 3. Jetteens fbrvarif 
 
 XB i.Sff/eeiu cr halt' a tiiei? if flie Smu/lej-f veiijJu 
 weiff/i i/ ti/iim t/ie /'iimi/er. 
 
 eiiblLvlini Ifv /.v'umui/tJ/ii/:ir,Btv.t.i'e'/ vrif.JiarfTuy^viev He'tr l'<^?i tStiy 
 

 i 
 
CHAP. II. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICT3. lOf 
 
 been clearly underftood, though they have excited much curlofity in nicii 
 who take pleafure in ftudying the progrefs of the human mind, by looking 
 back to early ages, the utmoft attention has been given to examine that 
 Pids-houfe with care, to meafure its dimenfions accurately, and to delineate 
 the form of all its parts with precifion. Situated on a gentle declivity, under 
 the brow of the hill of Wideford, it looks toward the North Ifles; has a full 
 view of the bay of Frith, and the pleafant little ifland of Danfcv, from 
 which it is not far diftant, and lies little more than a mile weft from the 
 road or harbour of Kirkwall. Like the reft it bears externally the form of a 
 truncated cone, the height of which is about fourteen feet, and the circum- 
 ference at the bafe three hundred and eighty-four; hut whether, like them 
 alfo, it be furrounded by one or two circular walls, the quantity of rubbifh 
 prevented us from difcovering, though, that it is fo, is very probable. In 
 one refped it differs from molt of them, as it ftands alone, and at a diftance 
 from the ftiore ; whereas, in general, they are fituated on the fbores of the 
 fea, and feveral of them at no great diftance from, and in full view of one 
 another, as if they were fome way or other connected, or had been in- 
 tended for mutual communication. 
 
 Internally it confifts of feveral cells or apartments, the principal one of 
 which is in the centre, twenty-one feet fix inches long, fix feet fix inches 
 broad, and eleven feet fix inches high, built without any cement, with large 
 flat ftones, the one immediately above projeding over that below, fo as 
 gradually to contrail the fpacc within as the building rifes, till the oppofite 
 walls meet at the top, where they are bound together by large ftones laid 
 acrofs, to ferve as it were for key-ftones. Six other apartments of an ex- 
 actly fimilar form, conftrudlcd with the fame fort of materials, and united 
 in the fame manner, but of little more than half the dimenfions, comrauni- 
 cate with this in the centre, each by a palfage about two feet fquare, on a 
 level with the floor ; and the whole may be confidered as conneded toge- 
 ther by a paffage of nearly the fame extent from without, which leads into 
 this chief apartment. So far as can now be difcovered, there does not ap- 
 pear ever to have been, in any part of the building, either chink or hole for 
 the admifllon of air or liglit ; and this circumftance alone is fuflicient to 
 fhow that it had not been deftined for the abode of men» The contents 
 
 P - were 
 
io6 
 
 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. 
 
 BOOK 1I» 
 
 were accordingly fuch as might have been naturally expeded in fuch a 
 gloomy manfion. None of thnfe things, which have been ciifcovered ia 
 fiqpiilar places, were found here ; but the earth at the bottom of the cells, 
 as deep as it could be dug, was of a dark colour, of a greafy feel, and of a 
 fetid odour, plentifully intermingled with bones, fome of which were al- 
 moft intirely confumed, and others had, in defiance of time, reinained fa 
 entire, as to {how that they were the bones of men, of birds, and of fome 
 domeftic animals. But though many of them had nearly mouldered into 
 duft, they exhibited no marks of having been burnt ; nor were afhes of 
 any kind to be feen within any part of the building. In one of the apart- 
 ments, an entire human fke'eton, in a prone attitude, was found ; but in 
 the others, the bones were not only feparated from one another, but divided 
 into very fmall fragments. 
 
 Fig. I. 
 
 GROUND PLAN OF THE PICTS-HOUSE. 
 
 < 
 
 Largejl Apartment. 
 
 
 rN. 
 
 
 No. 4. 
 
 
 T. IN. 
 
 Length 
 
 — — 
 
 21 
 
 6 
 
 Length 
 
 — — 
 
 — 
 
 9 9 
 
 Breadth 
 
 — — ~ 
 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 Breadth 
 
 — — 
 
 — 
 
 4 4 
 
 Height 
 
 __—._- 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 
 Height 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 
 8 1 
 
 
 No. I. 
 
 
 Length 
 Breadth 
 
 _ _ — 
 
 F. 
 
 8 
 3 
 
 IN. 
 1 I 
 
 6 
 
 Length 
 Breadth 
 
 — — 
 
 — 
 
 F. IN. 
 
 10 7 
 
 4 I 
 
 Height 
 
 — — — 
 
 6 
 
 8 
 
 Height 
 
 — — 
 
 — 
 
 7 6 
 
 Length 
 Breadth 
 
 No. 2. 
 
 r. 
 
 7 
 3 
 
 IN. 
 
 2 
 
 9 
 
 Length 
 Breadth 
 
 No. 6. 
 
 — 
 
 F. IN. 
 
 9 S 
 4 S 
 
 Height 
 
 — — — 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 Height 
 
 ^_ ^_ 
 
 ~— 
 
 7 
 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 
 
 Paffag 
 
 '( into the Great Roomy 
 
 No. 7. 
 
 
 
 r. 
 
 IN. 
 
 
 F. IN. 
 
 
 
 Length 
 
 — — — 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 Length 
 
 — 22 
 
 as far as we could 
 
 Breadth 
 
 — — — 
 
 4 
 
 I 
 
 Breadth 
 
 — I 9 
 
 go for rubbifli. 
 
 Height 
 
 — — — 
 
 8 
 
 6 
 
 Height 
 
 — a 
 
 8 
 
 
 
CHAP. II. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. I07 
 
 The paiTages from the great room to the fmaller ones were in breadth and 
 height about the fame as No, 7. and their length (which was the thicknefs 
 of the wall) about 3 feet 7 Inches. 
 
 Circumference of the building is 64 fathoms. 
 
 N. B. — Above the entrance into No. 4, there was a fort of fquare 
 recefs in the wall. 
 
 Fig. II. Elevation and fedion of the great room. — The fliape of the reft 
 is fimilar to this one. 
 
 But what ufe could be made, or what purpofe was intended to be ferved, 
 by piles of fuch a form, of fuch a fize, and in fuch fituations ? 
 
 Neither the number of the whole, nor the quantity of accommodation in 
 each, will fuffer us to entertain any rational belief that they were the firft 
 rude attempts to obtain permanent places of abode, and ferved the inhabi- 
 tants at large as ordinary habitations. Little better are they calculated, in 
 appearance, to ferve the purpofe of ftorehoufes, which indeed in that age 
 would not be deemed necelTary. That they were not the refidence of the 
 rich among that celebrated people, may be furmifed from their darknefs, from 
 the want of windows from without ; their dampnefs, on account of the thick- 
 nefs of the walls, and the air having little accefs, or free circulation ; and 
 particularly, becaufe the apartments are fo fmall, that a perfon could never 
 ftand, and indeed not even fit, upright ; and if this had not been the cafe, 
 they do not contain room fufficient to accommodate fuch families, with their 
 fervants and dependants. It is true, indeed, a celebrated modern antiquary, 
 to whofe opinion, in a matter of this kind, we are difpofcd to pay the ut- 
 moft deference, has imagined, that, from their being called Duns in the 
 Highlands, and feveral of them being fometimes found together in glens 
 and (hcltered places, they have been the winter retreats of the opulent ; to 
 which, in that ieafon, they had recourfe, for mutual fecurity, friendfhip and 
 converfation *. But this could not have been the cafe, in general ; fince 
 in Shetland they commonly flood fingle, either on the high hills, or on the 
 brink of ftupendous rocks, llsirting the iflands f ; and in Sutherland, Gaith- 
 
 • Mr. Pinkerton. f Low's Tour, MS. 
 
 P 2 nefs. 
 
Io8 MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PICTS. BOOK II. 
 
 nefs, and this country, at no great diftance, and in full view of each other, 
 on the fliores, and in expofed fituations. 
 
 From a review, then, of their different fites, fingly, and in relation to 
 one another; their form, their dimenfions, and internal ftrudlure ; it is ap- 
 prehended they will appear to have been fit for, and perhaps ferved the pur- 
 pofe of, watch-towers, to guard againft furprlfe from an enemy ; of places 
 to fecure military arms, and other precious articles ; and of garrifons, to 
 prevent hoftile boats from landing. 
 
 Such are the monuments of that ancient people ; who have been cha- 
 radlcrifed as a tall, fair, comely, robuft, generous race of men* ; with 
 manners of fuch a nature and influence, as to i'erve them inflead of laws ; 
 difcovering an ignorance of many of the ufeful arts, a love of foine of them, 
 and a contempt of others ; fubje£ted to a government, in which liberty and 
 civil order were happily com.bined ; and difplaying a warlike fpirit, that had 
 feldom been equalled, and never furpalTed ; which was inflamed almoft into 
 madnefs by the peculiar genius of their religion. Though they could not 
 all be equal in thefe refpeils, but muft have differed confiderably by the 
 operation of time, place, and other circumftauces, flill thefe were prominent 
 features, this their diftindlive charader, both in the flem and in all the ra- 
 mifications. 
 
 That branch of them, therefore, that had fixed their abode here, muft 
 have exhibited the principal traits and lineaments which f"o Itrongly marked 
 the charader of their breihren ; and many opportunities would occur to 
 difulay them, during their long refidence, which commenced peraaps in the 
 firft, and terminated towards the clofe of the ninth century. 
 
 About that time a new order of things took place ; a change was effedled 
 In the manners, cuftoms, inftitutions and government of that people, and, 
 not a great many years afterwards, alio in their religion. This was occa- 
 fioned by the arrival of new tribes; fwaniis from the great northern hive; 
 which, Ibme centuries before, had poured out fuch multitudes, as Ipread 
 terror over the fouth of Europe. I'lom the borders of Norway, and the 
 
 • ForJiin, Scoticlvori'. 
 
 fliores 
 
CHAP. IT. mannehs and customs of the riCTS. 109 
 
 fhores of the Baltic, where they had long a fixed refKlence, they ifllicd in 
 numlers ; and ahnoO in the fame age took pofTciruin of the F^rrocs, Ice- 
 land, the I^ceSuda;, feveral parts of Britain, Shctbud, a-id th : O'kney Iflcs. 
 So ftrong is 0>e attachment which men feel for tlieir native fo.l. .tuI fo 
 fortunately partial are they to its manners and laws, that the, feld.) u or 
 never ahandon it, unhd's either compelled l)y tvranny, or al'ured by the 
 profpeiTk of fuddenly bettering their condition. For a people, thtr-f-rt', fuch 
 as thefe were, to have left their homes in fuch midiitudcs, wh re they liad 
 not only friends and property, but cuftoms and itiflitutions ; tr. take poffef- 
 fion of countries, iome of which, at leaft, were of an unpromili.i.; afpe.t ; 
 there mtifl: have been one or other of thefe caules, the particulars of whicli 
 require to be explained *. 
 
 * It is evident that the ceils, of which our author has furnifhcd a plan, I'ervcd the purpofe of a 
 ftorehoufe, orl.irdcr; and that the place of habitation inuft have been above, though the walls 
 which inciofid the 1 itter may have been demolilhed. The jiarrownefs of thefe cills mull be 
 afcribed to the incapacity of their archite>5ls to throw an arch : and it is polTible thefe buildings may 
 have been conllrufteil before ihe arch was invented. 
 
 The human bones found with thofe of other animals, particularly thofc, page 100, " divided into 
 very fmall fragments," excite a fufpicion that the inhabitants of this building were cannibals, and 
 devoured human flelh Perhaps fome of thefe cells might have ferved the purpofe of a black-hole, 
 or dungeon, afterwards a necelTiry appendage to every b iron's cadle, where tho lordly occupant of 
 the manfion might confine prifoners of war ; men accufed of crimes ; or fome who had, unfortu- 
 nately, given ofttnce to his fubliiiiity. But if the flefh of thefe mifcrable beings was not devoured, 
 why break their bones into fiiiall fragments? 
 
 Tiie m(.ft entire of thefe buildings the Editor has any where fcen, Is Dun Carlaway, in the parilh 
 of Lochs, ifland of Lewis. It (lands on a iolid rock, proje>fling towards the ioulh, and is cf a co- 
 nical form, like ti.e furnace of a glafs houfe ; only it widens more rapidly than tlie one towards- 
 the bafe. Nearly one half of the building, on the north lidc, has been demolilhed, o\- has fallen 
 down. The sont'iern half, from the bafe to the fummit, fccmed to be about 50 feet in height j and 
 mort probably was originally higher, and contracted to a narrow aperture .it top« A projvdion of 
 (lones, forming a circle on the infide, teems to prove that a wooden floor had relied upon them, 
 nearly on a level with the ground on the north fide; and there is fufficient depth of bmlding to 
 admit a (lory below this, though the fpacc is nenv filled with 1 > 'ie flones. It is built of llat, un- 
 drelTeil m-ilfi-s of graiiirc, or gncifs, wuhout (.eu>cnt, and confills of an interior and exterior wall, 
 parallel to each other. iJetween the walls, large horizontal flag (tones, connciling the w.ills on 
 each fide, form pafTag's in whit it a man can calily walk. Thefe paffliges run hori'?ont,il1y roand 
 the building, to a certain extent; and then rife by a rude (lair, or gently inclined plane, to other 
 horizont.il palfages, and fo on, until they conduifl to the fummit. The di.imetcr, within the wails of 
 the prrjefting circle of (lones on which the flo<5r had relied, is twenty-five feer, eiv;hc inchfs ; ih.e 
 thicknefs of the wall, at this point, nine teet one inch. There may be about eight or ten feet cf 
 liiiildiiig below tliis circle, where the wall becomes rapidly thicker, but the accomulacion of rabbiih 
 prevented its mciifurement. 
 
 The 
 
no MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OP THE PICTS. BOOK H. 
 
 The ifland of Sky is svtrrounded by fimilar buildings, all on high grounds, and in view of each 
 olher. One on a high i-oclc, in the center of Arnifii, commands a view of fimilar forts on each fide 
 of it. A circular parapet of loofe (tones inclofes a confiJer.ible area, in the center of which the 
 ruins of the conical building are fituated. The diameter of the building at the furface of the rub- 
 bifli, within walk, is 36 feet, 8 inches. The thicknefs of the walls, at this point, is 10 feet, 
 3 inches. 
 
 In one of thefc buildings in Kintail, the door, or entry, is feen, unchoaked by rubbifh. It is 
 built of ftones of large fize, and covered by an angular ftone, or lintel, of vaft magnitude. It is 
 fo low and narrow, that only one could enter at a time, (looping low, or crawling on all fours. — 
 Within the door are lateral holes in the wall, on each fide, which feem intended for receiving mafTy 
 wooden bolts. Within thefe, there are large circular receffes, on each fide of the palfage, about 
 fcven feet high, covered by large ftones thrown acrofs, which feem intended for guard-rooms, as 
 they may hold upwards of twenty people, who could (land erefl, and make ufe o£ their weapons. 
 Within the guard-rooms, the entrance again becomes low and narrow, and feems to have afcended 
 to an upper floor by winding palTages in the walls, fimilar to thofe of DuncarJaway : but rubbilli 
 prevented its being traced. 
 
 In Glenpie, contiguous to Glenelg, there are feveral ruins of tbefe buildings, and two of them 
 pretty entire. The firft that occurs has a low, narrow entry, with a recefs, or guard -room behind, 
 fimilar to the one laft defcribed. What remains of the building may be about thirty feet high, 
 though it was probably much higher formerly, and contradled to a fmall aperture. It has three 
 horizontal palFages, all round the infide of the wall, at equal heights above each other, and which 
 communicate by rude (lairs. The entry to thefe pa(rages is from the infide, by open parallelo- 
 gramic fpaces, exaftly in the four cardinal points, two of which defcend from top to bottom, and 
 two oppofite ones only halfway down. Acrofs thefe open fpaces, flat (tones are thrown at regular 
 heights, to bind the oppofite cheeks of the interior wall. They refembJe horizontal fhelves, by 
 which a man may climb to the top, or throw himfelf into any of the interior pa(rages, at pleafure. 
 A circli of ftones projefts all round above the interior rubbifh, and feems intended, like that of 
 Duncarlaway, to reft a floor upon ; and leaves room below for a ground floor, or cellar. Another 
 dTimilar circle proje<fts about twenty feet above this, and feems intended to fupport a fecond floor. 
 
 Fett. Inchet. 
 The diameter, within walls, at the lowed proje<5ling circle of ftones, is 34 6 
 
 Breadth of the wall through the door - - - - - 12 o 
 
 Ditto, 8 feet higher - - - - • - - 810 
 
 Ditto, as high as I could reach, by fcrambling on the broken wall - 6 8 
 
 The other building is every way fimilar to this ; but it has only one projeding circle of ftones for 
 fupporting a floor. 
 
 Diameter at this platform 
 
 Thicknefsof wall at ditto ... 
 Thicknefs as high as could be reached 
 Height within above platform 
 Ditto without, above rubbilh 
 
 It is only in Orkney, Caithnefs, and along the eaft coaft, that thefe buildings are afcribed to the 
 Pifls. In the Hebrides, and oppofite mainland, they are generally afcribed to the Norwegians, or 
 Danes, when they poffefTed thefe countries; andnotfeldom to fairies, witches, Fingalians, and other 
 ideal beings. In the latter fituatioiu, they are always called Duns or Dulns, which mean either hills, 
 or forts upon hills. At the junflion of Loch Luing with Loch Duich, there is a ds-tached hill, ou 
 *-hich a confiderable building of this fort feems to have ftooi though the ftones have been nioftly 
 
 removed. 
 
 Ftet. 
 
 Inchet, 
 
 29 
 
 S 
 
 II 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 6 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 21 
 
 10 
 
CHAP. II. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PI TS. Ill 
 
 removed, for olher purpofes. But on a fm.ili rocky ifland, near the lliore, at a iliort Jift ince from 
 this, very confpiciions ruins of one of thefe buildings remain. Both of ihefe are cal'ed Duin D'lar- 
 mid, and arc faid t(> have been occupied by one of the Fingalian heroes, who refidcd chicliy on tlie 
 land, hut retreated to tlie iilmd in cafes of extremity. 
 
 It would be fruitlefs to enumerate the very numerous ruins, and fragments of thefe buildino-s, 
 v.hich are fcattered through the main'and and ifles, from Orkney to Kintyre. But no one can 
 conicmplate tlieui without being (truck with allonithment at the pains which have lieen ufed to 
 briuj^ unJrclTcd Qoncs into fuch cloi'e contact ; ihc protuberances of one being fo managed as to fill 
 the vp.cuilics of the one with which it is in contart Nor is our furprife lefllned at obferving the 
 fkill that has been employed in making the ftoncs overlap, crofs, and bind each other. Not a 
 ftone is loofe, but each preflVs, and is prcfTcd upon, by the whole weight of the fuperior baiidint>-. 
 Our admiralion miift ftill be increafed, on rem irking the fciencc which muit have operated in pre- 
 ferving the curvature of the building in all pans, external and internal, without the fl'ghtefl devia- 
 tion. The meafurements prefented may (how how rapidly the wall thickens and extends towards 
 the bafe. The interior wall is always a pcrfevS cone, whofe apex is much higher than the wall that 
 remains. The evteriial contour of thefe buildings prefents a lively idea of the logarilhnrc curve, 
 whofe alTymptotes have been taken from the cone within, with the moll fcrupulous ex.iAnefs at 
 every point on the fame horizontal level. 
 
 Much difference of opinion has fubfifted with regard to the ufes of thefe buildings : but we ap- 
 prehend them to have been places of habitation and defence. 
 
 The firft rude attempt of man to (lielter himfelf from the inclemency of the weather, is the con- 
 Rruflion of a wigwam, or branches of trees (luck in the ground, in the periphery of a circle, and 
 united at top in the form of a cone. But this building would foon be found infufiicient to detcnd 
 him from the attacks of wolves, and beads of prey. He would next build up a high paraj)ct of 
 ftone, around his circular wigwam, to prevent thefe animals from difturbing his nightly (lumbers. 
 Accordingly we find very numerous fmall circular buildings of this fort, in the eaftern parts of Rofs 
 and Invernefs (hires, which are called Diinnach's [Fid's] houfes ; and feem to have been the 
 abodes of the firft cultivatoi s of the land. Of thefe the door is idways towards the eaft, which 
 ftiews the inhabitants paid a particular veneration to the rifing fun. — But human foes could break 
 in upon the (leeping inh ibitants through the roof of (uch hou(es ; and this feems to have fuggcftcd 
 the idea of raifing them to a great height. The low and narrow door gave them a great advantage 
 when attacked ; and by the pa(rages within the walls, they could afcend to the lop, from which tlicy 
 might annoy their enemies with (lones, and mifl'ilc weapons. Some think thefe palfages were ufed 
 as beds ; but, if that was the cafe, they muft have been very cold. It is not probable that thefe 
 people were very nice about their beds ; but that they Ip.y down and (lepi upon the floor where they 
 refided during the day. 
 
 There fecms little reafon to afcribe thefe buildings to Piifls, or any particular people. They, 
 more probably, originated in a rude (late of fociety, and the rccclTity of defence. — E. 
 
 CHAP.. 
 
112 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE SCANDINAVIANS, AND THEIR TRANSACTIONS IM 
 
 THESE ISLANDS. 
 
 A.D 876. Norway, a little before this event took place, feems to have been in 
 much the fame condition with Britain half a century before, and Germany 
 near a whole century after, the Chriftian rcra, as defcribed by Csefar and 
 Tacitus. Inftead of being completely united into one body, under the 
 dire£lion of one fovereign and one fyftem of laws, it was, like them, di- 
 vided into a number of petty ftates, differing in fome particulars from one 
 another. The ftate of landed property however appears to have been the 
 fame in all, and moft probably bore a refemblance to what it was fome cen- 
 turies before. Among the Germans *, the cultivated lands were not confi- 
 dered as the property of individuals, but of the whole tribe, which they 
 cultivated, and fowed and reaped in common ; and thofe that v/ere dcftined 
 for pafturage, there is reafon to fuppofe, were likewife common. The only 
 property, therefore, which they could have, befides fome articles of cloth- 
 ing and houfehold furniture, muft have confifled almoll wholly in domeftic 
 animals. 
 
 Accordingly, we are told, that men were there reckoned rich, not, as in 
 other places, from the extent of their fields, but in proportion to the num- 
 ber of their flocks and their herds, of which they had great abundance. In 
 particular, they had vaft multitudes of fheep and fwine, that were fuffered, 
 without rellraint, to roam at large on the plains and mountains ; and the 
 few horfes that they reared, together with their black cattle, wh.ch were far 
 more numerous, were carefully kept nearer home, and fliut up, during 
 night, in ftables built of turf, adjoining to, or fometlmes under the fame roof 
 with the manfion-houfe f . Many among them abounded much in this 
 ijpecies of primitive wealth j on which, however, they did not fo much 
 
 ♦ Tacitus de Moribus Ger. f Iflands Landnnma Bok. 
 
 value 
 
■CHAP. in. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. II3 
 
 value themfelve?, as to dcfjjile their inferiors, or plead an exemption from 
 obedience to the laws. The rich were independent, brave, and generous ; the 
 poor refpefled them, and pjrtook of the fame noble fpirit. Being free, and 
 having a voice in their little national councils, they difcovered a mutual re- 
 gard for the rights of each other ; and, like brethren, living with their flocks 
 on the hills in fummer, and in the glens and valleys in winter, they had 
 houfes fituatcd fo near to each other, as to form a kind of group, that were 
 known by the name of towns in that country. 
 
 They were no doubt induced to choofe fuch fituations, and to crowd to- 
 gether in that fort of hamlets, by the confulerations of friendihip and family- 
 connexions, no lefs than by tliofe of flieltcr and defence; and no fituation 
 could have been more favourable for indulging their fecial fpirit. Every 
 benevolent heart, every friend to mankind, who fuffers himfelf to confider 
 the condition of that happy people, mud ardently vvilh that they had con- 
 tinued in that ftate, which in many refpedts appeared fo favourable to the 
 increafe of their numbers, to their induftry, to their intelledlual, and even 
 their moral improvement. The ambition of Harold Harfagcr, or the fair- 
 haired, however, foon interrupted the courfe of their bleflings. In the 
 room of that harmony which had long reigned among them, and of that 
 liberty to which they were ever ready to bow the knee, he introduced 
 among them, at firft difcord, then defolation, and at laft the cruel and arbi- 
 trary Iway of a conqueror. 
 
 This prince, whofe name is famous in the annals of his country, was of 
 an enterprifnig and undaunted fpirit; and, diflatisfied with the territories 
 which he inherited or poiTefied, formed the defign of embarking in an en- 
 terprife, that would both extend his power, and crown him with laurels. 
 With a view to its execution, he confidered accurately the nature of the 
 little ftates around him ; weighed, with prudence, both their policy and 
 power, courted the alliance of fome ; threatened others, and foon involved 
 the whole of them in the horrors of war; in which they were either fuc- 
 ceflively fubjugated, or forced to abandon tlieir country, and have recourfe 
 for habitations to thole iflands that lay towards the weft. 
 
 Thither they were foon afterwards followed by numbers of their coun- 
 trymen ; who, dilgufted at the change that had taken place, by which they 
 
 Q^ had 
 
114 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK IT*. 
 
 had been ftripped of that independence which they had always held dearer 
 than life, joined their acquaintance in their newly acquired fettlements, where 
 they all cordially concurred in cherifhing the moft implacable refentment 
 againfi: their common enemy *". To gratify this paffion, (which they were 
 at no pains to conceal) as they were unable to furnifli a fquadron fit to (hake 
 his recently ereded throne, they fitted out fingle vrG~els, which, branded by 
 him with the name of pirates, intercepted any little trade that be had, and 
 harafi~ed his people, by frequently ravaging the coafts, and plundering the 
 Ikirts of his dominions. 
 
 Fired with rage at fuch treatment from thofe whom, on account of the- 
 paucity of their numbers, he flyled ignominiuullv freebooters, he refolved, 
 in the pride of his power, to check, what he called, their infolence and au- 
 dacity, by the force of arms. 
 
 In order to carry this purpofe into effed^ he colleded forces through the 
 ■whole of Norway, of which he was now the fole monarch, and equipped' 
 a fleet, at great expence, in which they embarked ; and leaving iheir native 
 ihores, with a favourable gale, they touched firft at Shetland, and foon af- 
 terwards landed in the Orkney Ifles. 
 
 Inftead of learning from thefe invaders the ft^ate of the iflands, with re- 
 fpe£t to general appearance, cultivation, number of people, induftry, infti- 
 tutions and manners, and feveral other particulars, that might have either 
 gratified curiofity or extended knowledge, the fum of the information we 
 are able to draw from them is, that on their landing they found, befides 
 their own countrymen, two diftind: people, named Peti and Papas, whona.^ 
 they feem to have regarded as different nations "f^. 
 
 Many conjectures have been formed refpedting both thefe races of peo- 
 ple ; who they were; what country they came from ; and what was the 
 origin or the etymology of their name.. 
 
 * Mallet's Introduiflion to the Hiflory of Denmark'. 
 
 f Diploma ill Wallace, edit. Lend. 1700. Tin's ancient and ' anthentic record was a folemn re- 
 turn to Eric King of Norway, in confcquence of an order from him, by the Biihop, Chancellor, 
 and others of Orkney, extrafled from the archives, and fealed with the feal of ihe iflands, in order 
 to afcert.iin the right of William Sinclair to the earldom of Orkney. It bears date at Kirkwall, 
 4th May 1406. See the Appendix for this diploma, No. I., with D. Gule's Tranflation, No. II. 
 
 8 With 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. IT^ 
 
 With regard to the firfl: of them, namelv, the Peti, there is no clifficuhy 
 wliatever ; for they are plainly no other than the Peihts, PiQs, or Piks ; 
 whom, on probable evidence, we have already confidered as the aborigines or 
 firft inhabitants of this place. And, what puts the matter beyond all doubt, 
 the Scandinavian writers generally call the Piks Peti, or Pets : one of them 
 ufcs the Term Petia, inftead of Piftland *; and, befides, the frith that di- 
 vides Orkney from Caithnefs, is ufually denominated Petland Fiord, in the 
 Icelandic Sagas or hiftories. 
 
 With regard to the Papa, it is more difficult to afcertain who they were. 
 Some have thought they were a people that had, in fonie former age, come 
 from Norway ; and, in fuppon of this opinion, mention a place of the 
 name of Papafound, in that country. 
 
 An opinion, much more probable, has been adopted by others ; at the 
 head of whom is an ingenious author, whole labours have thrown much 
 light on the ancient ftate of Europe f. He fuppofcs they were the Iridi 
 Papas, or priefts, who had long been the only clergy in the Pi£tilh domi- 
 nions ; and as they fpoke another language, and were alfo different in their 
 appearance and manners, they might have readily been taken by thefe 
 Grangers for a diftind race, inftead of a feparate profeflion. To give ftill 
 more probability to this opinion, it may be obferved, that in Iceland there 
 was a place of the name of Papay, which was perhaps the refidence of thefe 
 priefts ; for fuch priefts feem evidently to have been there, though expelled, 
 in fome commotion of the people ; as the Norwegians, on their arrival, 
 found fome of their books, and other aricles, which they had left behind 
 them X. 
 
 It may alfo be remarked, that there are many people of the name of 
 Papay or Papley ^^ri? ftill, as there were formerly, at leaft, in Iceland §; and 
 both of thefe may have fprung from the fame origin, namely, the Hiber- 
 nian priefts, whofe zeal carried them irito diftant lands, to diffufe the prin- 
 ciples of their religion. 
 
 But, what is ftill more in point, there are ?.1fo feveral places here which 
 ftill retain the name of Papay or Pap lay, which, when viewed with atten- 
 
 * Saxo-Gram. f Mr. Pinkerion's Introd. Hi(l. Scot. I Arius Trode. f Angrim Jonas. 
 
 0^2 tion, 
 
Il6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 tion, feera to have fomething ftrlkingly peculiar. They are all in a retired 
 fitmtion, diftinguifhed for the richnefs of their foil, and the variety of their 
 natural produ£lions, no lefs than for the pleafantnefs of th^ir expofure, and 
 their agreeable profpe£l ; and when all thefe circumftances are confidered, 
 along with fome venerableruins winch fome of them contain, we are almoll: 
 compelled to believe that they once were ihc. abode of men of that facred 
 character. In particular, there are two whole iflands that bear that name ; 
 both of which, befide the ruins which they exhibit, are diftinguilhed among 
 the group for tlieir commodioufnefs, their pleafant appearance, and the pro- 
 dudlive richnefs of their foil, no lefs than for their retired fituation. 
 
 Thefe might liave been the chief refidence of the Papse or priefts ; they 
 might have been their property ; or they might have been the places to 
 which they at laft retired, when their labours had become unacceptable to 
 the people, and they had been driven from other parts of the country. 
 
 But, whether we confider thefe people to have been an ancient tribe 
 from Scandinavia, or a colle£lion of priel^s from Ireland, or a race diftindt 
 from both, it is but too evident, that both they and the other inh-ibitants for 
 fome time fuffered the greateft calamities*. Thofe that fled from their 
 native land during the war with Harold, as well as thofe who, by their de- 
 predations, had wafted his territories, when they appeared in arms, rl.'ough 
 in their own defence, naturally rekindled his rcfentment ; and the innocent 
 natives being involved in the fame fate with the reft, the whole met with 
 the moft rigorous treatment. 
 
 Finding, at length, no refiftance to his arms, (the iflands having been 
 completely fubdutd,) he meditated new conquefts ; and his defigns were no 
 fooner formed than they were carried into execution. The Weftern Ifles 
 were the firft objeds to which his ambition pointed: and there victory at- 
 tended him in every battle. Having plundered the fhores of the mainland, 
 and engaged the inhabitants in feveral conflids, he next direded his courfe 
 to the Ifle of Man. On his approach, he found it defcrted by the people, 
 and took pofllfllon of it without oppofuion f . 
 
 Harold, having now acquired a degree of fuccefs in this quarter, that 
 equilkd, if not exceeded his hopes, began to think of returning home, 
 
 • Diploma. t Torf. rerum Oread, hift. 
 
 whither 
 
CHAP. in. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. llj 
 
 whither the fituation of his unftable affairs called him ; but, previoufly to 
 his departure, he confidered it expedient to fecure his conqueft, and pre- 
 ferve tranquillity, by eftablifliing fome kind of government in the iflands. 
 For this purpofe, he fixed his attention on Ronald, Count of Merca, his 920. 
 fubjecfl:, and contidential friend, whom he inverted with full power, not 
 only to rule them according to his own difcretion, but to reap from them 
 all the advantages that fuch a fituation could confer. This nobleman was 
 d'.ftingnilied by a train of illuftrious anceftors, and flill more by a feries 
 of heroic deeds, that had procured him among his countrymen the ho- 
 nourable appellations of the Wife and Potent*; fo that, in every refpe£t, 
 he was well (jujlihed to fill the important ftation to which he had been ap- 
 pointed, with honour to himfelf, and advantage to the iflands. But, as he 
 had extenfivp property in his own country, together with many depend- 
 ants and friends; as he was a favourite at the court of his Sovereign, froui 
 whom he had received many, and ftill expeded perhaps more favours ; he 
 preferred a refidence at home, to one in a diflant country, with all the 
 wealth and honour it promifed to bcRow. Averfc, however, to offend 
 this Piince, by rejeding the benefits which his bounty had conferred on 
 him, and unwilling that they fhould be loft to his family, he refigned the 
 whole into the hands of his brother Sigurd, whom he prevailed on the King 
 to create an Earl, and confirm his right to the eftate, which he had fo- 
 generoufly beftowcd. 
 
 Sigiird the Eider (fo called to diftinguilh him frotn one of his fuccef- 923. 
 fors of the fame name) was therefore the firft Earl of Orkney ;,and, by 
 his condijd, plainly evinced, that he was not only aduated by the fpirit of 
 the times, but had all the diftindive features of his own family. His bro- 
 ther's influence had raifed him to an elevated rank : hid bounty had con- 
 ferred on hlin both rower and opulence, which, iiiilead of rendering him 
 contented with his lot, only ferved tj augment his ambition ; to gratify 
 which, he refolved to extend his territories far beyond thofe iiaiits which 
 the ocean had prcfcribed. Diffident, however, of his power for this pur- 
 pofe, he formed an alliance with Thorftciu, a man of high rank, and ia— 
 
 • Torf, rcrum Oread, liift. 
 
 trepid 
 
Il8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS, BOOK IS. 
 
 tiepld valour ; and, in conjundlion wltH him, levied troops, and fitted out 
 a jquadron, vi'ith which he not only fubdueJ Caithnefs and Sutherland, but 
 overran the rich fhores of Eaft Rofs, and even the fertile plains of Murray*. 
 While he remained in this laft province f, he built a town, (the name of 
 which is not mentioned,) in order either to fecure his retreat, in cafe of 
 meeting with difafter, or to enable him to pufh ftill farther his viftorious 
 arms ; but for neither of thefe purpofes did he ever ftand in need of fuch 
 a fortrefs ; for, foon after engaging with a Scotiili chieftain in that country, 
 he received in the conflidl a mortal wound, of which he died iuftantly, not 
 '.without the imputation of having been guilty of perfidy. 
 
 Gottorm, his fon, a young man equally feeble in mind and body, fuc- 
 •ceeded him in both his eftate and honours, which he enjoyed only for the 
 Ihort fpace of a year, when he died, without iflue ; and the earldom re- 
 verting to his uncle, to whom it had been originally granted, the iflands 
 were again infefted with the incurfions of freebooters, for want of a fpirited 
 governor. In this fituation of things, Ronald, either unacquainted with the 
 real ftate of the country, or blinded by parental affedion, appointed one of 
 his fons to that ftation, who, as the event but too plainly fliowed, was alto- 
 gether unqualified for the dignity. 
 
 Hal lad was the name of this fon, who proved himfelf unworthy of 
 his father, no lefs on account of his weaknefs and timidity, than of the 
 fupine indolence of his difpofition. Though he had been fingled out from 
 his father's family, on purpofe to be exalted to the government of thefe 
 iflands, .(to which he obtained full right, together with the title of an Earl ;) 
 yet, inftead of failing from ifle to ifle to obferve the ftate of the province, 
 or fixing his refidence in fome centrical fpot, where information could have 
 been moft readily procured, he retired to the fequeftered ifland of Roufay, 
 where he fpent his time in the moft inglorious floth, as regardlefs of his 
 own chara£ler, as of his people's condition. There he was daily receiving 
 Jintelligence, from every quarter, that the iflands were plundered by pirates, 
 with impunity ; men flain ; their effeds carried off; and every kind of 
 •enormity committed; and, though the unfortunate people complained that 
 
 * Torf. terum Oread. hl&.. f Codex Flatienfis. 
 
 thefe 
 
CHAP. HI. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. II9 
 
 chefe crimes feemed to have been perpetrated by his confcnt, as he had taken 
 no meafures either to prevent or punifh them ; thefe infinuations were lo 
 far from kindling his rage, or roufing his adivity, that they (m\y convinced 
 him of his own incapacity to reRore order; and, rather than run the lilTc 
 of attempting this, he abandoned all ; and, returning to Norway, funk, in 
 a private ftation, into deferved contempt. 
 
 The father, now convinced of his error, ihough too late, faw, with re- 
 gret, the difhonour which his fon's condu£l had entailed on his family ; and, 
 anxious to wipe out the ftain as quickly as he could, called his other ions 
 before him, to inquire which of them would accept of that ftation wliioh 
 their brother had tilled fo improperly, and relinquidied with fo much dif- 
 grace. lintering into their father's fentiments, they readily obeyed his- 
 Order ; and two of theni vied with each other for a preference to that 
 ftation, which they confidered as an excelleat theatre on which to difplay' 
 tlieir powers. 
 
 The celebrated Rolf, or Rollo, one of them, was deftined, foine time^ 
 afterwards to aO. a confpicuous part on a wider and more noble ftage. 
 Baniftied his native country, for controverting the order of his Sovereign, 
 he failed for the weftern ifles, whither the flower of the Norwegian nobi- 
 lity had fled for refuge, ever fince Harold had become fole maftcr of the 
 kingdom. Thefe warriors, eager for revenge and conqueft, received him 
 with open arms, as they waited only for fuch a man to be their chief.. 
 Rollo, having put himlelf at their head, foon faw his force formidable,. 
 and dircded his courfe to England, to which his countrymen had made 
 feveral fuccefsful expeditions. But, unfortunately for him, Alfred the 
 Great had, fome years before, mounted the throne of that kingdom ; and,, 
 by his confummate abilities, had eftablifhed fuch order, that Rollo, after 
 fome fruitlefs attempts, defpaired of making a fettlement ; and therefore 
 had recourfe, for this purpofe, to a kingdom wliere there was much more 
 probability of fuccels. France was then in a ftate of confufion and imbe- 
 cility : the reins of government were relaxed, and held by Charles the 
 Simple, wuth a feelile and unfteady hand. Thefe circurnftances vi'ere not 
 imknown to Rollo, who, failing up the Seine, took Rouen, the capital of 
 the province of Neuftria. He foon afterwards laid ficge to Paris, and 
 
 never- 
 
X20 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK IT, 
 
 never defined from waging war aqa'nft that country, till King Charles was 
 cnnjielled to purchafe peace, by g'ving him his daughter Gefla in marriage, 
 together with the province of Neviftria, to be held hv him and his pofterity 
 for ever, as a feudal dutchy, dependent on the crown of France. 
 912. Having now arrived at the fummit of his hopes, his good fortune feemeJ 
 only to have increafed his virtues ; for no fooner did he find himfelf fixed 
 rn the province, which now took the name of Normandy, than he exerted 
 himfelf to the utmoft: to promote its profperity. So uniformly did he 
 purkie this obje£l:, and fo faccefsful was he in his wife and benevolent 
 fchemes, that the hiftoriaiis in the fouth, as well as thofe in the north, con- 
 ftantly defcribe him as a man of uncommon wifdom and capacity ; gene- 
 rous, eloquent, indefatigable, intrepid ; of noble hgure, and a majertic fize ; 
 fo that, next to Alfted, he was the greateft and moll: humane prince of 
 his age. 
 
 Thus did Rollo tlie Firft, fon of Ronald Count of Merca, and Earl of 
 Orkney, fecure that noble province to his defcendants, who afterwards, in 
 the perfon of William the Conqueror, augmented it, by their valour, in the 
 conqueft of England. 
 
 This extraordinary man was eager to undertake the charge of the iflands, 
 to which his father refufed to procure him the appohitment, as if from a 
 prefentlment of his future greatnefs, that he was deflined to be Duke of 
 Normandy, and the fortunate father of an illuftrious race of kings. The 
 offers of another being accepted, he was invefted in due time, furniftied 
 with a retinue fuitable to his dignity, and, in a galley of twenty oars, took 
 leave of his native fhores; and, having firft landed in Shetland, where the 
 people in numbers flocked to his ftandard, he in a fhort time arrived in 
 •Orkney. 
 
 Einar was the name by which this Earl was at firll diftinguifhed, who 
 manifefted a condu£l very different from that of Hallad his brother. Seve- 
 ral circumftances concurred in rendering him no great favourite of his 
 father. He was an illegitimate fon ; born of a woman in a mean Ration ; 
 had early loft: the fight of one of his eyes ; and had alfo, in other rerpe<fts, 
 a countenance harfli and unpleafant. But thefe bodily defe£ts, which feem 
 .to have had but too much influence on his father's affedUon, were more 
 
 than 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. 121 
 
 than compenfated by the excellence of his mind, which was as fertile as it 
 was vigorous. In every fituation in which he was placed, he (howed hiin- 
 felf prudent, fagacious, and juft ; and, in the difplay of thefe virtues, a re- 
 folute boldnefs was the leading feature in his characfter. He had an oppor- 
 tunity of difcovering his talents foon after his arrival in Orkney; engaging, 
 routing, and thereby ridding the country of thofe daring freebooters, who 
 had fo grievoufly ravaged it during the former timid and contemptible ad- 
 miniftration. As this gave him an occafion to fhow his bravery, in protect- 
 ing his people from external force, fo their condition furnifhed him with an 
 opportunity to teftify his regard to their internal profperity. Like a wife 
 and humane governor, he carefully attended to the ftate of thofe whom he 
 was appointed to rule ; and finding them reduced to great hardlhlps for want 
 of fuel, he taught them the ufe of turf, for which he is highly extolled by 
 the Scalds of the north ; and was, from this benevolent adion, ever after- 
 wards honoured with the name of TorfFeid or Torfeinar. If this can be 
 depended on as a fa£t, a queftion naturally arifes, how were the people be- 
 fore that time furnifhed with an article which was always fo necefTary ? 
 
 In former ages, wood has evidently been produced here, tliough neither 
 of a large fize nor in great quantity ; and, after having been ufed for fuel 
 for generations, it might have then been exhaufted. Inftead of it would 
 probably be fubftituted fome of thofe marine plants, which, on all the fhores, 
 grow in abundance ; or even perhaps the dung of cattle ; to which, when 
 coUefied and dried in the proper feafon, fome of the iflands are even at pre- 
 fent obliged to have rccourfe. 
 
 To a people, therefore, thus fcantily fupplied with what was fo necelTary 
 to their comfort, in a cold, damp climate, it was almort impoflible to do a 
 more fignal fervicc ; and the man who performed it was jultly entitled to 
 a much higher degree of praife than if he had conquered kingdoms. By 
 thefe, and fuch like arts, tending to ameliorate the condition of the people, 
 he eftablilhcd himfelf in their good opinion ; and having, by means of his 
 naval and military force, reftored order and adminiftered juftice, he enjoyed, 
 in that ilation to which he had been advanced, more than an ordinary de- 
 gree of tranquillity ; which, however, was not permanent. 
 
 R The 
 
122 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK If. 
 
 The news of his prefperlty having reached Norway, excited envy in 
 the breafts of the king's fons, who had now arrived at manhood ; and they 
 murmured that fuch wealth, power, and honour, as were pofTcfled by Ro- 
 nald's family, (hould have been conferred on any but themfelves. T'neir 
 murmurs were foon fucceeded by a refolution to ftrip him of all thefe bleff- 
 ings. The nature of the enterprlfe, in which It was neceflary for them to 
 engage for that purpofe, required fecrecy, and admitted of no delay. For 
 this reafon, they immediately attacked Ronald himf^lf, whom they flew, 
 and feized his property ; after which, Haltdan, one ot the number, failed 
 diredlly for Orkney, to wreft as fpeedily from the hands of his fon, that 
 princely fortune, which had been fo much the objedl of his avarice and am- 
 bition. He landed without oppofition ; and the Earl having no apprehen- 
 fion of danger from that quarter, was altogether unprepared for his defence, 
 and therefore prudently left his ordinary refidence, and retired into Caith- 
 nefs, with a view to procure fuccour, or wait an occafion of oppofmg him 
 with effe^l. Many, in the mean time, having, either through weaknefs, or 
 dread of the ufurper's cruelty and power, flocked to Halfdan's ftandard, he 
 was declared king, as being the heir apparent to the crown of Norway. So 
 far fortune, for a while, feemed to favour him. But he had no great reafon 
 to congratulate himfelf on this fuccefs ; for, when he was in a flate of per- 
 fect fecurity, he was fuddenly furprifed by the Earl, his forces cut to 
 pieces, or fcattered at the firft onfet ; he himfelf compelled to confult his 
 fafety by flight, and, in fome lurking place, hide himfelf from the fury of 
 his juftly incenfed enemy. His retreat was foon difcovered, from which he 
 was ordered to be dragged forth, and, with horrid folemnity, to be offered 
 up as a facrifice to Odin^ in return for the vidory. A fong was compofed 
 on the occafion ; and a heap of {tones, in the form of a tumulus or barrow, 
 was thrown over the body, to perpetuate the memory of the event *. 
 
 Intelligence of the ifliie of this unfortunate adventure had no fooner 
 reached Norway, than Harald refolved to punlfh the cruel ingratitude of 
 Einar, and revenge his fon's death. For this purpofe, he levied forces with 
 
 * Torfseus et Orkneyinga Saga. 
 
 • all 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. II3 
 
 all expedition, and prepared fliips to tranfport them. As foon as this arma- 
 ment was ready, he put to fea, and in a fhort time reaching Orkney, landed, 
 without any rcfiftance from the Earl ; who, apprifed of his defign, had, 
 as on the former occafion, gone over to Cailhnefs, to avoid the ftorm that 
 threatened him. His abfcnce afforded the King an opportunity to make a 
 paufe, during which he perhaps learned the particulars of his fon's conduct; 
 which was by no means fuch as he could approve ; and, at the fame time, 
 he obtained fuch information of the Earl's ftrength and refources, as made 
 him drop liis defign of vengeance, and offer terms of accommodation and 
 peace. Thefe were, that ho and the reft of the inhabitants, all of whom 
 he confidered as implicated in the fame guilt, fhould pay fixty marks of 
 gold, in compenfation for having fo barbaroufly treated the fon of their fo- 
 vereign. Though thefe were reckoned by the people extravagant, the Earl 
 accepted them, rather than riflv an engagement, the event of which might 
 be doubtful ; and he paid the whole fum himfelf, receiving the lands of the 
 proprietors in pledge for repayment; which, as they were not redeemed, 
 remained in the hands of the Earls, till reftored by Sigurd, one of them, to 
 the owners. 
 
 Having thus terminated an affair that threatened ruin to both him and 
 his people, and dreading no more danger from abroad, he directed his at- 
 tention henceforth to the arts of peace ; in the exercife of which he lived 
 many years refpeded, no lefs for his wifdom than his magnanimity ; and, 
 at an advanced old age, died a natural death, leaving three fons, ArnkJ, 
 Erlend, and Thorfen ; all of whom, in the fpace of a few years, fucceeded 
 him. 
 
 Arnkel and Erlend were the two eldcft, who jointly obtained their 93^« 
 father's eftate and honours ; and, having lived in the utmoft concord for 
 the fpace of four years, they promoted, equally by their authority and 
 example, due order among the people, and preferved tranquillity. This 
 happy ftate, however, it is likely, would not have been of very long du- 
 ration. 
 
 Both of them were men of talents and enterprife ; and, thinking the 
 theatre on which they aded too narrow, Uiey eagerly vviflicd for an oppor- 
 tunity of acquiring military glory, on a wider and more coufpicuous ftage. 
 
 R 2 It 
 
124 TRANSACTION'S OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK ff. 
 
 It was not long before they found an opportunity to accomplifli their wiflies, 
 which were fo natural to their years and their education, and which fprung 
 fpontaneoufly from the manners of the age. 
 
 After the death of Harold Harfager, a conteft had arifen among his fons, 
 about the fuccelTion to the crown of Norway ; and, as the prize was great, 
 and the combatants of a temper that was neither yielding nor pacific, the 
 point in queftion was ultimately referred to the decifion of the fword. The 
 whole kingdom was foon in the utmoft diflraftlon, from the violence of the 
 fadions that had run to arms, to fupport the pretenfions of their refpedive 
 friends ; and all the horrors of a civil war muft have been the confequence, 
 had not one of the candidates, by the lofs of his popularity and his power, 
 been compelled to abandon his country, and try if fortune would be more 
 propitious in another land. 
 
 Eric Blodox was the name of this unfortunate prince j who, in his dif- 
 trefs, had applied to England, where he at firft met with a reception fully 
 adequate to his hopes ; but, being afterwards negleded, and dreading ftill 
 worfe treatment, he contracted an alliance with the two Earls of Orkney, 
 who joined him readily with a chofen band ; and, in a war with England, 
 which he undertook foon afterwards, they all three fell in the fame battle, 
 fighting valiantly by each other's fide. 
 
 Thorfin Haufakliufurs, their brother, now fucceeded to the earldom, 
 which, during his whole life, feems to have enjoyed much profperity and 
 peace. 
 
 Nothing, it is probable, tended more to preferve the iflands in that prof- 
 perous condition, than the eminent talents which he had for command, and 
 the acknowledged excellence of his charader. He was a prince of fuch 
 generofity, as to attach his friends ; of a bravery fufficient to intimidate 
 his enemies ; and all the virtues which his condud exhibited were of fuch 
 a nature, as to conciliate the efteem of his countrymen. Like the reft of the 
 Earls, his fixed and ordinary refidence was in Orkney, where he died ; 
 and he was buried in Ronaldfay, under a tumulus; which was then known 
 by the name of Haugagerdium ; and is perhaps the fame with what we 
 now call the How of Hoogfay *. This extraordinary man had five fons, 
 
 • Ihre : Hoeg, Cumulus. 
 
 all 
 
CtlAPr III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I25 
 
 all of whom furvlved him ; and by the vicifTitudes of their fortune, and the 
 variety of their charadlers, furnilhed a much more copious fund of materials 
 for hiftnry. 
 
 Their names were Arnfin, Havard, Laudver, Liotus, and Sculius. They 
 have made fome figure in northern hiftory. 
 
 Arnfin married Raguhilda, the daughter of Eric Blodox, the Norwe- 
 gian prince already mentioned ; and, in a fhort time, by means of her in- 
 trigues, which reflefted the utmoft difgrace on her fex and her family, he 
 loft his life, and was buried at Murkle in Caithnefs. His brother Havard 
 now fucceeded him ; and managed the eftate with fuch wifdom, as to pro- 
 cure plenty of corn and other provifionsfor the people, which obtained for 
 him the furname of the Happy ; and this appellation, had it not been for 
 one a(£l of his life, he might have retained to the end of his days. This 
 was his marriage with the ambitious and profligate Raguhilda, whofe hands 
 (though perhaps he was ignorant of the circumftance) were yet reeking 
 with his brother's blood. As, in fuch a charadter as her's, one crime is only 
 the prelude to another, he had foon ample caufe to repent of the imprudent 
 raflinefs of that ftep. Her reftlefs fpirit foon became wearied of that con- 
 nexion, that had coft her fo many crimes to accomplifh ; and perhaps the 
 very virtues of her hufband contributed to that efFe€l ; the caufe, or the 
 confequence of which was, that fhe began to place her affedions on her 
 brother-in-law Liotus, whom {he confidercd as more agreeable, and more 
 deferving of her heart. In order to rid herfelf of that hufband, whom fhe 
 now regarded as a bar to her gratifications, fhe fingled out one of his owa 
 near relations, whofe hopes, in the event of fuccefs, (he flattered to fuch a 
 degree, that he foon provoked a quarrel with his uncle, in which Havard 
 was flain. The affray happened in the parifh of Stennis ; and on that fpot, 
 which afterwards bore the name of Havardztugar, from the event, or the 
 Slaughter. 
 
 But even this deed, which involved in it a crime of the deepeft dye, fhe 
 had the confummate art either to conceal, or at leaft to palliate ; fo that, 
 when fhe communicated her wifhes to Liotus, he fcrupled not to give his 
 confent : and, marrying her foon afterwards, was raifed to the earldom in 
 his brother's fttad. He did not, however, long enjoy it in peace. His 
 
 brother 
 
126 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 brother Sculiiis, burning with indignation at the bafe arts by which he had 
 rifen to that dignity, and ftruck with horror at the marriage which he had 
 made, refolved to punifli him for the foul ftain he had thrown on their fa- 
 mily ; and, at the fame time, to avail himfelf of his crimes, or his errors, 
 to advance his own intereft, or extend his power. Diftrufting, however, 
 any means that he was pofleffed of for the purpofe, and defpairing of being 
 able to obtain any that would be more efFedual while he remained at home, 
 he determined to try the expedient, of interefting in his favour fome fove- 
 reign power. 
 
 An ambitious and potent prince at that time fwayed the fceptre In Scot- 
 land ; and thefe circumftances, combined with proximity of fituation, per- 
 haps firfl: induced him to apply to him. To him he immediately repaired, 
 with a reiimie fuitable to the objedl he aimed at, and, without hefitacion, 
 difclofed to him his fituation and views ; and while he folicited his aid to 
 fecond them, he enlarged on the advantages that would refult, from his in- 
 terference, to his own kingdom ; the power of which he was endeavouring 
 fo zealoufly to extend. The King, liftening to his reprefentation, was con- 
 vinced by his arguments, and readily efpoufed his caufe ; and firll creating 
 him Earl of Orkney, he then promifed him fuch a force as would not only 
 fecure him that title, but eventually contribute to render it more than an 
 empty name. As no part of the earldom was at that time dependant on the 
 Crown of Scotland, that Monarch had no right to grant what was not his 
 own ; but the title, invalid as it was, when connedled with the alliance of a 
 powerful fovereign, and fupported, befides, by a military force, had much 
 influence in drawing to his ftandard many of the inhabitants on his return 
 to the north. In Caithnels, therefore, he foon levied an army which he 
 deemed fufficient for his purpofe ; he embarked them with all expedition, 
 and foon arrived in Orkney, perfedlly confident of fuccefs. 
 
 Liotus had long regarded his brother with a fufpicious eye; and, ap- 
 prifed of all his motions, had taken the precaution to arm as many of the 
 people, as would put the iflands in a pofture of defence ; but before he 
 would rifk an engagement, by which he had little to gain and much to lofe, 
 he liftened to the didates of prudence, in offering what he confidered rea- 
 fonable terms of acccmmodation. Thefe the haughty and indignant Ipirit 
 
 of 
 
CHAP. HI. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I27 
 
 of his brother reje(fl:ed with difdain ; a battle w.is the immediate confe- 
 quence, in which both fides exhibited prodigies of valour ; till at length 
 Liotiis, gaining the fuperiority, compelled Sculius to fly for fafety, and 
 haften back into that country from which he had laft come. Thither Lio- 
 tus purfued him, as foon as he could colle(fl his forces, and prepare them for 
 the expedition ; but, though he landed without oppofition, he fpent fo much 
 time in Caithnefs before he brought Sculius to an engagement, that he gave 
 him leifure to receive reinforcements from the Scots ; and to mix and mar- 
 flial them witli his own troops, fo as to render the whole more formidable. 
 Both armies were compofed of men of more than ordinary courage: their 
 refpeiTlive leaders were noted for undaunted bravery: and they no fooner 
 met in the dales of Caithnefs, than an a»3:ion enfued, as defperate as it was 
 decifive. Before its commencement, Liotus iflued an order, which was very 
 uncommon for that age, and ftrongly marked his chara(fler. He command- 
 ed his troops to ftand firm, and receive the attack of the enemy with cool- 
 nefs ; to parry every blow, and keep themfelves on the dcfenfive only ; till 
 their foes fhould, by the rafli impetuofity of their firft onfet, expend their 
 force ; when, by a well-timed exertion, they might obtain both a more 
 certain and a more eafy vidory. 
 
 The ftricl difcipline, under which his men had for fome time been kept, 
 rendered their obedience implicit: they received the firfl: fliock of the 
 enemy, which, like that of moft barbarians, was violent in the extrenic, with 
 unlliaken firmnefs, until they perceived their ardour beginning to cool : 
 when Liotus commanded his troops, now, in their turn, to charge with 
 violence ; which they readily did, in imitation of their brave commander, 
 who, difcharging the duty of a foldier, as well as of a general, firft threw 
 his enemies into diforder, and foon afterwards put them to flight. Sculius, 
 knowing that every thing he held dear was at ftake, performed in this crilis 
 all that could be done by valour ; now exhorting, now befeeching, or threat- 
 ening, his troops to return and renew the charge ; which he prevailed Oii 
 them to do for a little ; till, overpov^-cred with numbers, he fell fighting 
 gallantly amidft the thickefl ranks of the enemy. 
 
 The glory of the day was now left to Liotus, who obtained Caithnefs as 
 the reward of his valour, which had been fo much attached to his brotnerV 
 
 intercft,, 
 
128 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK IT, 
 
 intereft, that he was under the neceflity of holding it by force of arms. 
 But the fuccefs he thus gained was only of fhort duration. The Scots, as 
 foon as they had time to breathe, became afhamed of their defeat; and re- 
 collecting, with a mixture of forrrow and indignation, the flaughter of their 
 countrymen returned with a force far fuperior to his, under the command 
 of a noble Thane, to recover their honour, and take vengeance. But Liotus, 
 elated with his recent victory, and confident of his own bravery, and that 
 of his iflanders, received them with fuch vigour, that, in a fliort time, they 
 ■were compelled to fly, and leave the field of battle, covered with their 
 wounded and flain, in the hands of their victorious enemies. This dread- 
 ful conflict was fatal to Liotus; for, though he returned in triumph, he had 
 received in it a wound, which, in a few days, put a period to his exiftence, 
 and the calamities of his country. 
 980. Laudver, the only furviving brother of that ambitious, turbulent, and 
 unfortunate family, now entered into poflelTion of the earldom without 
 oppofition. He was a man of a bold and aCtive fpirit, and much influenced 
 by the love of glory ; as appeared from his military achievements, the fcene 
 of which lay more frequently abroad than in his own country. The iflands 
 that formed the centre of his domain, as well as the provinces in the fouth 
 that compofed its extremity, had been exhaufted by thofe bloody contefts 
 in which the difcord of his brothers had involved them. They therefore 
 required time 10 recover ftrength, after fuch difmal difafters. But, left the 
 military fpirit, which, in an age like that, was fo indifpenfable for the pro- 
 tection of the people, fhould become feeble for want of exertion, he fre- 
 quently revived and ftrengthened it, by engaging his fubjeds in fome pre- 
 datory expedition. From fuch an employment of his time, his talents, and 
 his refources, he ran no rifk of incurring difhonour ; fince the manners of 
 the age gave a fanCtion to fuch expeditions, and even rendered them fo me- 
 ritorious, that men of the moft fplendid fortune, and of the highell rank, 
 and even kings themfelves, deemed it honourable occafionally to embark 
 in them. 
 
 The theatre he made choice of, on thefe occafions, on which to exercife 
 his people, and difplay their military prowefs and naval dexterity, was the 
 wefl: coaft of Scotland, the weftern ifles, and even fometimes the north and 
 
 eafl; fhores of Ireland. 
 
 2 In 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OP THE SCANDINANIANS* I29 
 
 111 fome of his excurfions into Ireland, he became acquahiteJ with Kia- 
 wala, one of tlie petty kings of that country j and this acquaintance he not 
 long afterwards improved into an alliance, by marrying the celebrate.'. 
 Audna, one of his daughters. This woman, like many of her fex in thit 
 age, and among that people, had great fpirit and addrcfs; was renowned for 
 her extenfive acquaintance with many curious arts, and, in particular, for 
 her knowledge of what was then ridiculoufly ftyled the fcience of magic ; 
 and the reputation that Ihe had acquired by thefe means, flie had capa- 
 city enough to turn to account on fome important occafions. By this prin- 
 cefs Laudver had a ion, whofe 1 ife was replete with fo many important 
 incidents, that they require to be detailed at fome length. His father ruled 
 the earldom for the fpace of fixtcen years, during all which he preferved 
 peace, partly by his ftridl adminiflration of juflice, and partly by the fame 
 of his talents and military virtues. His remains were depofited in Caith- 
 oefs. 
 
 Sigurd was the name of this fon, who now became Earl, in the right 
 of his father. For the fake of diftindion he is generally denominated the 
 Grofs, either on account of his uncommon height or corpulence. He feems 
 to have been young at his father's death, and therefore could reap little be-, 
 nefit from either his example or inftrudlion ; but the lofs which he fuftained 
 in this refped, was more than made up, by the advantage that he received 
 from the tuition of his mother. She fixed all her hopes and attention on 
 him ; and, from the way in which fhe reared his tender mind, infpir- 
 ing it with the love of fame, (he rendered thofe qualities, for which he 
 was afterwards diftinguifhed, more early confpicuous. How completely 
 ihc had gained the afcendant over him, in conl'equence of her tender care 
 and wife inftrudions, appeared in an inftance that occurred almofl; on his 
 very entrance into public life. Soon after his father's deceafe, and be- 
 fore his adions could either develope or confirm his charader, he was chal- 
 lenged by a Scotlih count, of the name of Finllcus, to fight him on a cer* 
 tain day, and in a pl.ce that lay within the precinds of his own earldom. 
 A challenge fo unexpcdcd, and 10 peremptory, threw him into the utmofl 
 perplexity. His total inexperience in the field, in which he fome day hoped 
 to gather laurels ; the i'mall number of forces that could be railed againft 
 
 S the 
 
IJO TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOIi ll, 
 
 the time appointed, and, above all, the painful apprehenfion he was under 
 of being unfortunate, when fetting out in the career of glory, creited, for 
 a little, fome hefitation. Accuftomed long to look up to his mother, in 
 whofe capacity he had been taught to repofe the moft entire confidence, he 
 refolved to confult her in this crifis, and to adhere to her couniel, whatever 
 fliould be the confequence. 
 
 Audua, in purfuance of the plan ihe had adopted to make her fon rival 
 in bravery and fuccefs the moll renowned of his anceftors, had wrought for 
 him a curious ftandard, on which fhe had artfully reprefented a i)/ack raven 
 foaring on the winds, and direding his flight to Heaven. 
 
 This piece of workmanfhip, at once a proof of her {kill, and an errjblem 
 of her wiflies, Ihe took this opportunity to prefent to her beloved Sigurd, 
 accompanied with an addrefs conceived in the following remarkable terms : 
 
 * Accept,' fays fhe, ' this ITandard, on which I have beftowed all my pains, 
 
 * and all my art ; it will conduft you to vidory. From the time you were 
 
 * born, I have felt for you tenderly. Your life has ever been the darling 
 
 * objedt of my anxious care ; and I could have earneftly wifhed it had been 
 
 * decreed for ever to continue : but as the fates, and not dangers, have 
 
 * the power of determining the period of human life, it is better to die in 
 
 * youth honourably in the field of battle, than to live to old age, in indo- 
 
 * lence and difgrace.' 
 
 Stung to the heart with thefe words of his mother, which he confidered 
 to be intended, as they undoubtedly were, to roufe his adivity and enflame 
 his fpirit, he hefitated no longer, but made all the expedition in his power 
 to meet the proud and infulting champion in battle array. But, that he might 
 not be hurried away by youthful ardour, and take the field before he was in 
 SI condition to fecure fuccefs to his arms, and luftre to his charader, he ex- 
 erted himfelf to the utmoft to obtain an adequate force ; and, for this pur- 
 pofe, adopted an expedient as wife as it was efFedtual. 
 
 The lands of many of the mofl: confiderable proprietors in the iflands 
 had been pledged to Torfeinar, in fecurity for a fum of money which he 
 had paid for them, as has been already mentioned ; and they had continued 
 to that time in the hands of the Earls, his fucceflbrs, unredeemed. Thefe 
 he generoufly offered to reflore to the defcendauts of thofe to whom they 
 
 formerly 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. 15I 
 
 formerly belonged, on condition that they would fpeedily take arms, and, to- 
 gether with their friends and dependants, follow his ftandard on this prefTing 
 occafion. Thefe terms were too favourable to be rejeded : they were ac- 
 cepted with joy ; the lands were immediately reftored ; the levies were foon 
 completed, and ready for embarkation ; the army, in due time, reached the 
 deftined field, where the battle indantly commenced. Both fides, for a 
 while, exerted themfelves equally ; and victory hovered between them, 
 fometimes inclining to the one fide, and fometimesto the other; till at length 
 the pride of the Scotifli count was fo much humbled, that he was forced to 
 yield, and confefs the fuperior merit of his undaunted foe ; and Sigurd, 
 after having loft fome of his choiceft troops, and three feveral ftandard- 
 bearers, (fo fatal was the black raven to thofe that bore him), returned 
 borne, covered with laurels. 
 
 As this was probably the very firft military achievement that he had 
 undertaken, it muft have had great influence in augmenting his love of 
 warlike exploits, and no lefs in raifing his hopes of future fuccefs : and it 
 is remarkable, that no fubfequent adion of his life ever contributed to fullvr 
 the honour which he gained on that day. 
 
 In fome of the moft expreflive traits of his charadVer, he feems to have 
 borne a ftrong refemblance to the firft Earl of Orkney, of the fame name. 
 Like him, he had a fortitude to fupport himfelf under misfortunes with 
 manly dignity. He was as brave in the hour of danger, and as fertile ia 
 •reiburces ; and, in knowledge in the art of war, and wifdom in the manage- 
 ment of civil matters, he was not by any means his inferior. They both 
 difcovered greatnefs of foul, and performed adlions equally fplondid : for- 
 tune was equally conftant and propitious to both, in enabling them to gra- 
 tify their defire of vidory and conqueft. 
 
 This ambitious and powerful Earl obtained poflcfllon of many provinces. 
 Over the Shetland and Orkney Ifles, which lie governed without oppofition 
 or controul, he reigned in the aftcdions of the people ; and the naval chief- 
 tains, through the whole of them, were as ready to fupport, as to acknow- 
 ledge his claims : and when either the circumftances of his country, or his 
 own ambition, led hira to afpire to conqueft, they were, on the ftiorteft 
 notice, prepared to fecond his views. By means of them, combined with 
 
 S 2 his 
 
132 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 liifi own intrepid l)ands, he frequently harafTed the coifl: of Ireland ; and 
 in one of the expeditions which he undertook againft the Weftern Iflands, 
 he fubdued thern, and rendered them tributary to his power. Befides all 
 thefc, he held under his dominion Caithnefs and Sutherland, notwlthfland- 
 ing the threats of the Prince who then filed the Scotiflh throne ; and, in 
 contempt of that Monarch, extending his views ftill farther fouth, he 
 often made his power felt in Rofsfliiie, Murraylliire, and even in Ar- 
 gylefhire. 
 
 Thus widely extended were the territories and power of this Earl, when 
 an event took place in the centre of lus earldom, of fuch an important na- 
 ture, as to merit particular confideration. This was either the firft intro- 
 dudion, or at leaft the final eftablil"hment, of the ChriHian religio.i. 
 
 Religion, which, in an extepfive and abllradl point of view, implies the 
 knowledge and adoration of invifible powers, forms a leading artiJe in the 
 hiftory of a people, in fo far as it has a tendency to influence, not only 
 their future, but their prefent ftate. This it does, by moulding their fen- 
 timents, and dire£ling their pafTions, fo as to form their character, which 
 is derived, in a great meafure, from the opinions which they entertain re- 
 fpecling the objects of their worfhip ; and is either mild, humble, and mer- 
 ciful, or bold, ftern and unrelenting, as they believe the former or the latter 
 of thefe qualities to be the principal attributes of their Gods. 
 
 The genius of that fuperftition which prevailed among the firft inhabi- 
 tants, bears evident marks of belonging to the latter clafs. The grand 
 objedt of their worfhip, like the Mars of the Greeks and the Romans, 
 delighted in the field of battle. Here was the temple dedicated to his wor- 
 fhip; the din of arms was efteemed the mufic moft delightful to his 
 ears ; his eyes were feafled with human blood ; thofe that fell were fo 
 many vidims on his altars ; and the paradife that he had prepared for them, 
 contained pleafures in every refpe£t limilar to his own. 
 
 Hence thefe worfhippers of Odin were taught, from their earlieft youth, 
 to confider military fkill as the perfedion of human knowledge, and the 
 warlike virtues alone, as deferving cultivation, fince they conftituted the 
 only real and fubftantial excellence of man. Their future lives tefiified 
 plainly the influence of fuch indrudion -, for their conllant pradice was, not 
 
 to 
 
CHAP, in, TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. IjJ 
 
 to defpife, but even to court dangers, in which their prowefs or their for- 
 titude might be advantageoufly difplayed. Generofity feldom failed to adora 
 their charadler as a concomitant virtue ; the love of fame was their ruling 
 paflion; and their utter contempt of death would have been incredible, 
 had we not known, that when it came from the hand of an enemy, it was 
 deemed a paflport into the blifsfnl abode. 
 
 To men like thefe, the prominent features of whofc chara£ler were 
 formed by the influence of fuch a wild and daring fuperftition, Chrillianity 
 could be no very acceptable gucfl:. The exa£t time when that divine light 
 firft flione on this people, cannot now be perfedly afcertained. As fooa 
 as the inhabitants of the neareft fouthern county were converted, they 
 would, from the intercourfc that muft have fubfiftcd between them, natu- 
 rally diffufc the principles of the new fyftem over the oppolitc fliores ; but 
 its progrefs mull have been flow, as the meek and humble temper oi Chrif- 
 tianity, and the benevolent and merciful Ipirit which it breathes, were al- 
 mofl. in dirtd oppofition to that proud and fanguinary fuperRition which 
 already had fuch a firm hold on their hearts. 
 
 The teachers, whofe zeal brought them from the fouth to propagate the 
 new opinions, would not, it is probable, at firft, be very well received, as^ 
 their dodtrines oppofcd rooted prejudices, and their manners were by no 
 means fuch as to enfure reverence, among a people of fuch a difpofition. Aa 
 ignorant zeal, perhaps, was the only quality which they had to recommend 
 them, together with fome degree of fan£tity of manners ; and thefe quali- 
 ties muft have loft almoft all their influence, as they were accompanied with 
 neither tafte nor genius, liberality of fentiment, nor a competent degree of 
 erudition. Together with zeal and faniflity, which ouglit not to be want- 
 ing, enlargement of mind, intelledual acutenefs and vigour, affociatcd with 
 prudence and perfeverance, are cflential requifites in tholt- who would fuc- 
 cefsfully guide the paffions, and dire>ft the opinions of HiCn. 
 
 Some time before the end of the fixth century, when St. Columba was 5^0. 
 on his miftlon to the Pi£lifti King, he faw a Prince of Orkney, whofe pro- 
 te£lion and fuppnrt he implored in behalf of fome monks of his order, who 
 were then on their way to preach the gofpel in his iflands*. The rcqueft, 
 
 • Adamnan, ^"it St. Coliimbx. 
 
 8 it 
 
l.^j. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. J500K II. 
 
 it is probable, was granted; and the monks, confequently, came and ex- 
 erted themfelves in the inftrudion of the people, which they would perhaps 
 do with more effoifl:, as they aded under the aufplcious influence of fove- 
 reign authority. 
 
 A whole century, indeed, before, St. Servanus is faid to have been com- 
 mlflioned to diffufe among them the light of truth, and Sc. Colm after- 
 wards to have laboured for the fame pious and benevolent purpofe ; but, if 
 either of thefe faints was ever here with fuch views, (which is at leaflt 
 doubtful), we have reafon to believe his exertions were not extenfively fuc- 
 ccfsful. 
 
 Chriftianity, fome years before this period, had become the religion of 
 Norway, by means of Olaiis Frigueffon, who then filled the throne. This 
 celebrated .Prince, being in his youth converted in England *, feems to have 
 beftovved on it fuch attention, as enabled him to perceive its excellence 5 
 and he foon became infpired with all the zeal of a new convert, to fpread 
 its .principles through diftant lands. For this end he prepared five or fix 
 lliips, on beard of which he invited fuch wife and learned men as he deemed 
 beft qualified to diffufe the knowledge of his favourite fyflem ; and failed 
 diredtly for Ireland, with which his country had then an intimate connexion. 
 His tranfadlions there are foreign to our purpofe ; but, on his return, he 
 brought his fquadron to anchor In one of the harbours of South Ronaldfay, 
 where the Earl then was. In readinels for fome expedition. Sigurd was of 
 an open and unfufpicious temper, which arofe from confidence In the flrength 
 of his arms, and In the magnitude of his fame. He beheld, therefore, the 
 approach of the Norwegian fleet without apprehenfion ; nor did he hefitate 
 to eo on board as foon as he received the King's invitation, as he dreaded 
 no harm, and fuppofed, perhaps, that a conference only was wanted, re- 
 fpe£ting fome military enterprife, in which the Interefi of both of thenx 
 might be equally concerned. The King's conduct, however, foon con- 
 vinced him of his miftake ; for fcarcsly had they met together, when Olaus, 
 afTuuilng an air of anxious dignity, opened his defign In the following terms : 
 
 * It cannot have efcaped you, thai, as heir to Harold Harfager, I have an 
 
 * undoubted right to the foverc'gnty of ihefe iflands, over which you pre- 
 
 * Mallet's Hiftory of Denmark. 
 
 ' Cdei 
 
 I 
 
( 
 
 CHAP. ni. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I^JJ 
 
 *" fide; and you mud, moreover, be fenfible, that both you youiTelf, and 
 *" your fortune, are now in my power: but I an fo far from wifliing to 
 *■ avail myfelf of thefe circuin'hinccs to your detriment, that I am inclined 
 *■ to promote your heft intcreft, and to unite you and myfelf together in ftill 
 
 * firmer bonds. For this end, my propofal is, fhat you, and all your peo- 
 
 * pie, {hall inftantly adopt the Chriftian religion, receive the holy rite of 
 *' baptifm, and acknowledge me as your liege lord ; and, on condition that 
 ' you comply with this propofal, you fhall fecure my friendlhip ever after- 
 ' wards ; and, what is of far more confequence, the everlafting friendfhip 
 
 * of the Sovereign of Heaven. But if you and your people rcfufe com- 
 pliance, I am determined to defolate your country, and iiflidl on all of 
 
 * you the punifhment of death ; and you will have juft caufe to exped, 
 
 * hereafter, a punifhment infinitely more dreadful, from the hand of an" 
 
 * offended God*' 
 
 The Earl, though confounded at tliio unexpeded overture, and flill more' 
 at the menaces with which it was attended in cafe of refufal, yet retained 
 his recolledion, and made this firm and fpirited reply : * I cannot, O King, 
 
 * fufFer myfelf to renounce that religion which has been fandioncd by cuf- 
 
 * torn, and which I received from my anceftors, as I confider myfelf as no 
 
 * wifer than they ; and no reafons have as yet been offered to convince me, 
 
 * that the religion which you thus recommend for my adoption, is in any 
 
 * refped better than my own.' 
 
 The King had neither time nor inclination to produce any other argu- 
 ments than thofe he had ufed, on fimilar occafions, in his own country ; the 
 arguments of intolerant 2eal and defpotic power. He therefore drew his 
 fword ; and, laying hold of the Earl's fon, Hundius, whom his father had 
 carried on board with him, declared, in the moll determined manner, that 
 he would inrtantly plunge it into the youth's bofom, if his father hefitated 
 any longer; and at the fame time added, that his fate fhould only be the 
 forenmner of what ail thofe fliould fiiffcr, who refufed to adopt the princi- 
 ples of this religion, which he himfelf profeflcd. Convinced that an abfo- 
 lute refufal, or even . ny longer hcfitation or delay, would have been the 
 certain means of invo: ing himfelf, his family and country, in one common 
 ruin, Sigurd yielded to the imperious didates of 0!aus, whom he now ac- 
 knowledged as his Sovereign ; publicly profefled his C.'iriftian faith, and re- 
 ceived 
 
I ;(5 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 'J 
 
 ceived baptifm ; and the people followed the example of their Earl, with 
 one accord. The King, exulting in the fuccefs of his pious enterprize, 
 now returned home, carrying Hundius along with him as an hoftage ; and, 
 on his departure, left fome learned men to inftru(£l: the inhabitants in the 
 nature of that religion which he had thus planted with the point of the 
 fword. Hundius foon afterwards died, while he was yet an hoftage ; and 
 the Earl, confidering this event as diiTolving entirely his connexion with 
 that monarch, contraded an alliance in another quarter, by marrying, as 
 his fecond wife, a daughter of M.ilcolm King of Scotland. 
 
 It was neither the lot nor the difpofition of this Earl to be long in a ftate 
 of inadivity, or to indulge himfelf in repofe. A few years only had elapfed 
 after this new connexion, before a war broke out, arifing from fome do- 
 raeftic caufes among fome of the petty princes of Ireland ; and Sigurd was 
 too well known, too much efteemed, and had, at that time, too great influ- 
 ence in the north, to be fufiered to remain an unconcerned fpedator of their 
 contcfts. Allured by great promifes, and flufiied with the hopes of ftill 
 farther augmenting his fame, he entered into an alliance againft Brian, King 
 of Dublin, and without delay prepared to embark for that country. Before 
 his departure, he had the prudence to arrange and fettle the affairs of his 
 family, by committing the charge of the earldom to Eumarlid, Einar, and 
 Brufius, the fons of his firft marriage ; the young Thorfin, his only fon by 
 the Scotifh prlncefs, being put under the guardianiliip of his royal grand- 
 father. The fatal event of this expedition fliowed but too plainly the wif- 
 dom of thefe precautions ; for the unfortunate Earl, after he had difplayed 
 his wonted bravery in the fupport of his ally, fell in the famous battle of 
 I014. Claitarf^ to the unfpeakable lofs of his friends, and much lamented by his 
 countrymen. 
 
 He was a man of too much fame, and too fplendid talents, not to have 
 his death, in the fend credulity of that age, attended with prodigies. Of 
 thefe there were feveral that happened in places widely dlRant ; -two of 
 which we Ihal' fele£t, as defcriptive of the times. 
 
 A man of fome note, uf the name of Ilarcus, had been anxious to be 
 employed in that epterprife ; but the Earl declin-ed accepting his fervices on 
 that occafion, telling him ho wifhed rather he would remain at home ; and 
 that he iluuld be the very firft man to v/hom he would communicate the 
 
 event 
 
CHAP. in. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I37 
 
 event of the expedition. Much about the time of the battle, this man, with 
 feveral others, faw plainly, as he imagined, the Earl at no great diflance 
 riding towards him, at the head of a troop of horfe ; upon which Harcus 
 mounted his own horfe on purpofe to meet him : they were feen to ap- 
 proach each other, to meet, to embrace, and, afterwards riding up to a rifing 
 ground, they difappeared ; and no veftige of cither of them was ever feen 
 afterwards. 
 
 That in Caithnefs w^as ftill more remarkable. About the fame time, a 
 native there, of the name of Darradus, imagined that he faw what he con- 
 ceived to be a number of men riding up to, and entering a hill near his 
 dwelling ; and that he might be in no miftake, he went to the place, and 
 perceiving a chink in the fide of the bill, he looked through it, and faw 
 twelve women weaving a web in a very ftrange loom, and of as ftvange 
 materials ; and as they wrought, they fung, in the Danllh language, a 
 dreadful long — ' How haplefs had been the fate of the Earl of Orkney*.' 
 
 The Earl's fate was no fooner known, than his three eldefl: fons divided 
 equally among them the iflands of Orkney and Shetland, leaving to their 
 younger brother Thorfin, who, on account of his youth, had been put 
 under guardians, the provinces of Caithnefs and Sutherland, which were 
 confirmed to him by his grandfather the King of Scotland, who conferred 
 on him, at the fame time, the title and dignity of an Earl. Even at a very 
 early period of his life, Thorfin difcovered but too plainly the fymptoms of 
 a covetous fpirit : his genius, as he advanced in years, was bold and exten- 
 five ; and he was far more addided to war, than inclined to cultivate thofe 
 arts of peace that promote the happinefs of a country. 
 
 The characters of the three elder brothers were different from his, an J 
 alfo from one another. Einar was conftantly afpiring after vaft objeds : he 
 had a fevere and ftern countenance, and a harfli and difcordant manner of 
 fpeech ; his temper was unrelenting ; and he had a propenfity to warlike 
 cnterprife, that was inconfiftcnt with the rights of humanity. In almofl: all 
 thefe rcfpeds the charader of Brufius was different ; for he was mild and 
 
 • This fonp in the original was pu'liflicJ liy Bartholin, Ant. Dan. ; tranfl.UcJ into Latin by 
 Torfxus ; and has, in our own times, been rendered famous, by its tranflation in Mr. Gray's fiiblinic 
 Ode ot the Fatal Sifters. The women that fang ihe fong were the Valkers, in northern mytholocy, 
 whom Odin employed to choofe in battle thofe th it were to be flaiu, to couduft them to his h.all, and 
 to furuilh tlicm with every luxury. — Fid. /1pp. Na. X. 
 
 T gentle, 
 
138 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 gentle, contented and modeft; a lover of peace and equity ; and, in moft of 
 ihefe, and in feme other of his qualities, he bore a very ftrong refemblance 
 to his elder brother. 
 1014. Sun:iarlid was that brother who, during the fliort time he lived, difco- 
 vered fome very amiable qualities. Like his brother, his temper was meek; 
 he loved peace and retirement ; his fpeech was fluent, and his manners po- 
 lifhed to a degree uncommon in that age of ferocity. But thefe qualities, 
 pleafant as they were, and profitable as they might have been to his people 
 in other circumftances, did not qualify him to adt his part with advantage, 
 among ambitious, rude, and turbulent neighbours. He knew well the 
 afpiring genius, and the reftlefs and haughty fpirit of one of his brothers : 
 he was no ftranger to the extenfive talents, the grafping avarice, and the 
 powerful connexions of the other : and from thefe caufes he faw a ftorm 
 gathering, that muft, without queftion, deftroy his tranquillity. His con- 
 ftitution feems to have been always feeble ; and perhaps this view of the 
 troubles in which he was foon likely to be involved, might have operated in 
 creating, or at leaft in accelerating that diftemper which foon put an end to 
 his days. As he died without iflue, that part of the iflands which belonged 
 to him, in confequence of the agreement entered into at his father's death, 
 foon became the obje6b of conteft to the furviving brothers. 
 
 Einar, by the rules of fuccefllon that are now generally eftablifhed, had 
 an undoubted right to the eftate of his elder brother. Thorfin, however, 
 indulging his natural difpofition, laid claim 10 it as his property, and in- 
 filled on his right ; while his elder brother Brufius, whofe right was pre- 
 ferable, relinquiftied any claim he might have, in order to preferve peace. 
 Einar, who was of no fuch tame, pacific difpofition, maintained his right 
 "with refolution ; and at laft feized the lands, which he kept by force of 
 arms ; and by this acceflion of property, added much both to his wealth 
 and his power. He had now two thirds of what might be reckoned the 
 Earl's property, in both the Orkney and Shetland Ifles ; and the revenue 
 that he drew from it was very confiderable, though altogether inadequate to 
 fatisfy his defires. His conftant pradice, therefore, was to opprefs the 
 people, by new and unrcafonable cxadions; and by carrying off from their 
 peaceful labours, the choiceft of their young men, to employ them in his 
 wild, ill-concerted piratical expeditions. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. 
 
 '39 
 
 The inhabitants, as they had juft rcafon, murmured firft in fecret, for 
 the lofs of their fons and their fubftance ; they afterwards complained bit- 
 terly, and aloud, of their cruel treatment; and endeavoured, by various 
 means, to excite his juftice, or his mercy, to take into confidcration their 
 condition, and grant them redrefs. But their attempts were vain, till firft a 
 dearth and fcarcity, and then even a famine, happened in his lands ; while 
 the territory of his brother Brufius enjoyed the ineftimablc bleflings of plenty 
 and peace. 
 
 At Lopendifnefs, in the parl{h of Sandwick, there was at that time a 
 man whofe name was Amundius, diftinguiflied much for his wealth, and no 
 lefs for his wifdom and his power. He had a fon named Thorkel, who was 
 the exaft image of his father in all the virtues of his mind. To Amundius, 
 who had hitherto fome fhare of the Earl's confidence, the people looked up 
 in this extremity, earneftly foliciting his interpofition in their behalf, in 
 order to free them from thofe calamities which they were no longer able to 
 bear. Liftening to their folicitations with attention, he would have gladly 
 gratified his propenfity to compaffion, by interpofing to procure them relief; 
 but, from a knowledge of the man whom he had to deal with, he declined 
 any interference between them and their fuperior, as what would certainly 
 draw down on him the Earl's vengeance, without procuring them anv mi- 
 tigation of their diftrefs. 
 
 Dlfappointed in their hopes from that quarter, they next applied to his 
 fon Thorkel, who at firft faw many difficulties ; all of which he endeavoured 
 afterwards to furmount ; and, efpoufing their caufe with the boldncfs of 
 youth, and the generofity of a noble charader, he rcprefented their miferies 
 in fuch ftrong and glowing colours, as feemed for a little to touch the ty- 
 rant's hearr; and drew from him conceffions that promifed, if not the re- 
 moval, at leaft an alleviation of their calamity. But when opprcffions were 
 renewed with frelli leverity, and the rcmonftrances of this zealous advocate 
 were proportionally warm, it was induftrioufly rumoured abroad, in no am- 
 biguous terms, that if he perfifted longer in his importunate folicitations, 
 he might exped to pay for his audacity with the forfeiture of his life. 
 Knowing the Earl to be inexorable, and his refeniment to be without bounds, 
 Thorkel liftened to the advice of his father, to avoid the impending ftorm, 
 by leaving his own country, and going over to Caithnefs. There he con- 
 
 T 2 tinued 
 
140 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 tinued for a long time ; and, by his talents and his virtues, recommended 
 himfelf fo effedually, as to be entrufted with the education of the young 
 Earl ; and, from this circumftance, obtained the furname of Fofter, which 
 he ever afterwards retained. 
 
 As foon as Thorfin his pupil became of age, he difpatched meflengers to 
 his brother Einar, to demand from him his third part of the iflands ; and 
 when he refufed to comply with that requifirion, he came over himfelf, fur- 
 niflied with fuch a force as was neceflary to fuppnrt his claim. 
 
 Einar, on the other hand, made vigorous preparations to oppofe him, 
 and preferve what he reckoned his own rights ; and, had it not been for the 
 pacific fpirit of Brufius, who feafonably interpofed as a mediator between 
 the two brothers, they would have, in a fhort time, come to extremities, 
 and involved themfelves and their country in ruin. This confequence of 
 their difpute, that good man forefaw and dreaded ; and his regard for peace 
 and the interefts of the people, induced him to exert his utmoft efforts to 
 fettle their refpe£tive claims ; which he had the good fortune at length to 
 do, on thefe terms : — That Thorfin fhould have a third part of Orkney and 
 Shetland, in addition to the provinces of Caithnefs and Sutherland, which 
 he already pofTefled ; that Einar and Brufius Ihould have two thirds of the 
 iflands, which they were to join together as one eftate, to be put under the 
 management of Einar, who became bound for its defence : and, laftly, that 
 of thefe two laft, the furviving brother fhould, without moleftation, enjoy 
 the eftates of both. 
 
 This tranfaclion was no fooner finiflied, than Thorfin put his fhare of 
 the iflands under the diredlion of comraiflloners, and returned to Caithnefs, 
 where he refided for the mod part, as he had done before. As foon as his 
 rents became due, he commiflioned Thorkel Fofter to colle£l them ; whofe 
 life, while he was in the execution of this piece of duty, was again threat- 
 ened by Einar, under the pretence of his having advifed his pupil to claim a 
 part of his eftate, to which, he contended, he could have no juft pretenfion. 
 Thorkel, being apprifed of his defign, finifhed his bufinefs as quickly as 
 pofllble ; returned home ; informed Thorfin of the imminent rilk he had 
 run ; and added, that rather than be in conftant dread of a tryrant's re- 
 fentment, it was better to live an exile in a foreign country. .The Ldi\ 
 concurred with him in opinion, as to this point j and recommended Norway 
 
 as 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OP THE SCANDINAVIANS. I4I 
 
 as a place for this purpofe, equally convenient and honourable. Thither, 
 in compliance with his advice, Thorkel went immediately ; and, as he was 
 deficient neither in talents nor addrefs, he foon infinuated himfelf fo much 
 into the favour of Olave, the reigning monarch, that he both admitted 
 him into his councils, and entrufted him with affairs of the utmoft im- 
 portance. 
 
 During his refidence at that Court, he frequently took occafion to men* 
 tlon Earl Thorfin, and to extol his capacity and his virtues ; and fuch 
 influence had this on the King, that, as foon as the fpring feafon arrived, he 
 invited him over into his kingdom. The Earl, fenfible of the honour that 
 was done him, and thinkintr that he misrht at fome future period turn it to 
 account, accepted the invitation, was gracioufly received, nobly entertained, 
 and much refpedled in the palace ; and when the time had come for his 
 departure, he was prefented with a ftately galley to carry him back to his 
 own country. Thorkel Fofter, his friend and former tutor, determined to 
 accompany him, and received, in a prefent, Thorfm's galley for that purpofe. 
 While anticipating the pleafure which they expelled foon to enjoy with 
 their friends, their hopes were nearly blafted by the infidious conduifl of 
 Einar, who had colle£led troops, and flood ready to oppofe their landing, 
 or interrupt their return. In this emergency, the benevolent and pacific 
 Brufius again interpofed ; and when matters were likely to come to an ex- 
 tremity, had the good fortune to effedl a reconciliation. The means made 
 ufe of for this purpofe, appear to have been at the fair.e time fo judicious 
 and fo feafonable, that the Earl pretended to have forgotten his rcfentmciu 
 againfl Thorkel ; while Thorkel had, in reality, forgiven him ; and both 
 were, by the fame mediation, prevailed with to bury their enmities, and 
 feal their agreement, by mutually giving and receiving an entertainment. 
 Thorkel began with alacrity ; and was afterwards to attend the Earl home ; 
 where he cxpeded that fuitable preparations would be made to regale him 
 in return. 
 
 The feafl given by Thorkel was at his houfe in Sandwick; in which there 
 was a large hall, with a fireplace in the middle, and two doors oppofite to 
 each other. Here a magnificent entertainment was prepared ; all were 
 treated with due refped j and nothing was omitted that could do honour to 
 
 the 
 
142 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 the Earl ; who, notwithftanding the general joy, remained fad, and by the 
 fixed feverlty of his countenance, but too plainly fhevved that he was 
 forming fome dark plot in his malignant heart. This fullen humour, to- 
 gether with what was known to be his ordinary dlfpofition, naturally created 
 fears ; fo that when the feaft was over, and they were about to repair to 
 the Earl's palace, Thorkel prudently framed fome excufe for delay, till he 
 difpatched confidential fervants to examine the road ; who foon returned 
 with intelligence, that in three feveral places they found armed men in 
 ambu-ih, evidently with a defign to take away their mafter's life. Delay 
 would now have been hazardous. His determination was, of confequence, 
 foon taken ; and, in order to preferve his own life, he found himfelf 
 under the neceffity of deftroying his enemy and the tyrant of his country. 
 Brufius, now that his brother Einar was removed, claimed the two 
 thirds of the iflands, in confequence of the fi;ipulations formerly entered 
 into, — that the eftate of him who died firft fliould belong to the furviving 
 brother. To this claim Thorfin entered objedions, on the ground, that 
 they had no right to frame a contract that might deprive him of what he 
 reckoned a part of his inheritance ; and therefore demanded one half of the 
 whole; which, on the part of his opponent, was refufed; and as fome 
 circumftances occurred tofufpend the competition, Brufius got poffeffion of 
 his late brother's property, which he retained for one or two years. 
 
 To decide this conteft, which had only fufFered fome interruption, a 
 general meeting of their mutual friends was convened ; who exerted their 
 utmofl; endeavour for this purpofe, but without effed ; for, while the one 
 party infifted on having the fubjeft in queftion as his fhare of his father's 
 property, the other contended, that, in virtue of the contrad, it was his 
 undoubted right ; and, as neither difcovered the leaft inclination to make 
 any conceffions, the meeting broke up, without being able to bring to an 
 amicable iffue the matter in difpute. The difference now began to wear a 
 more ferious afped ; and would, in all probability, have foon come to the 
 declfion of the fword, had the contending parties been in fimilar circum- 
 ftances, or nearly equal in many refpeds. 
 
 Thorfin, befides being a man of great capacity, and fond of bold en- 
 fcrprife, had an extenfive property elfewhere, as well as one third of the 
 
 iflands ; 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I43 
 
 iflands; and was, moreover, on every prefTing occafion, certain of being 
 fupported by his royal grandfather. To all thefe advantages Brufius was- 
 no ftranger ; he had confidered them with attention, and allowed them their 
 due weight ; and, rather than run the rifk of coming to an open rupture 
 with one who was fo much his fuperior, he followed the bent of his incli- 
 nation in adopting an expedient that promifed him fiiccefs. He left his 
 own country for a little, and repaired to the Court of Norway, taking 
 along with him his fon Ronald, a youth of about ten years of age. 
 There he met with a reception fuitable to his exalted dignity and amiable 
 charader. 
 
 As foon as Thorfin became acquainted with his departure, he readily 
 perceived the caufe ; and being apprehenfive that his being there before him 
 might be detrimental to his intercft, he made all the hafte he poflibly could 
 to arrive in that country. As foon as he had fet his foot on fliore, he haft- 
 ened to the capital, and was introduced into the royal prefcnce in due form. 
 Both brothers had gone to that kingdom with a view to fiibmit their differ- 
 ences to the fame decifion. After fome hefitatlon and delay, they were 
 fettled in this manner: The King, who was the fole arbiter, and had power 
 fufficient to enforce his decree, adjudged two thirds of the iflands to Brufius, 
 and one third to Thorlin ; and, at the fame time, recommended fo warmly 
 Thorkel Fofter, who had, on fome occafion, incurred the difiilcafuie of the 
 Earls, that they received him again into favour ; upon which he returned 
 into his own country, and fpent the remainder of his days with Earl Thorfin 
 in Cajthnefs. 
 
 Many deftruflive wars foon afterwards broke out, which convulfed the 
 various branches of the earldom ; amid ft which Brufius henceforth remained 
 an indifferent fpedator, having retired to the north ifles, where he indulged 
 his pacific difpofition in quiet folitude ; and died while Canute the Great 
 was King of Norway, Denmark, and England. His death removed all 
 oppofition to his brother's views ; fo that he now got entire polfcffion of 
 the iflands. 
 
 Thorfin, during the life of his grandfather, by whom he had been 
 confirmed in the earldom, enjoyed it in comfort and peace. But, after his 
 death, his fucceflbr to the crown of Scotland demanded from him tribute; 
 
 9 and 
 
144- TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK 11. 
 
 and on his refufal to pay it, the King created his own fiRer's fon Moddan, 
 earl in his ftead ; and, to fupport the dignity to which he had raifed him, 
 granted him the counties of Caithnefs and Sutherland. In order to take 
 pofleflion of his new dignity, and his new eftate, Moddan in a fhort time 
 marched to the north ; and that he might fecure his obje<£l:, he levied fol- 
 diers in the provinces through which he went; fo that, by the time he 
 reached Caithnefs, he had collefted under his command no inconfiderable 
 military force. Thorfin, enraged at the treatment which he had met with, 
 was neither blind to his motions, nor dilatory in taking thofe meafures that 
 were neceflary for his own defence. He had lately collefted in Caithnefs, on 
 the fpur of the occafion, what men he could ; and when he had received 
 a flrong reinforcement from Orkney, under the command of his confidential 
 friend Thorkel, he was not only in a condition to meet the enemy in the 
 field, but even offeree fufficient to give him the profpe£t of vidory. The 
 Scots feem to have been fenfible of this ; for inftead of advancing, as they 
 intended, to the extremity of the north, on learning the nature of the re- 
 fiftance they were likely to meet with, they retreated with the utmoft 
 fpeed into the heart of the kingdom, to procure fuch aid as might enable 
 them to face a foe whom they had been taught to dread. The Earl, pur- 
 fuing them through the northern counties, haftened their flight; and hav- 
 ing taken vengeance on. fuch of the inhabitants as had revolted, or joined 
 the ftandard of the enemy, he returned to Caithnefs, and refiding at Dungf- 
 bay, he kept in readinefs a fleet of five fhips and a part of his land forces, 
 and fent the remainder of the army over into Orkney. 
 
 In the mean time, Moddan, on his return to the fouth, reprefented, in 
 fuch flrong terms, the depredations that had been committed by the enemy 
 in fome of the provinces, that he was, with all expedition, furnilhed with 
 a formidable army, which he was commanded to march to the north by 
 land ; while a fleet of eleven fail, under the command of Karl, was in- 
 ftruded to cruize along the coaft, to be ready to co-operate with them j 
 and the commanders of both had agreed to endeavour to furprife Thorfin, 
 and to encompafs him in fuch a manner as to render his efcape almoft im- 
 pradlicable. But however well concerted their plans were, or fecretly 
 condu<5led, they did not elude the penetration and vigilance of their faga- 
 
 cious 
 
CHAP. Iir. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I45 
 
 cious enemy. No fooner did he receive certain intelligence of the (Irength 
 of the armament that was preparing to attack him, than he determined, in 
 his prefent circumftances, not to rifle an engagement, but embarked his 
 troops, and crofled the frith towards Orkney, where he had no doubt of 
 foon procuring both men and fliips, which would enable him to put an end 
 to the prefent warfare. 
 
 Karl perceived clearly his defign ; and confiding in the fuperior number 
 and fize of his fhips, no lefs than in the ftrength of liis land forces, pur- 
 fued them with fuch expedition, that with fome difficulty he reached the 
 Mull of Deernefs, where he landed late at night, and difpatched orders to 
 Thorkel to raife as many men as he could, and join him with the utmoft 
 poffible expedition. Thorfin fpent that night in painful fufpenfe and 
 anxiety ; for, though he knew that the enemy were in purfuit of him, he 
 was uncertain how near they were, or whether they were before or behind 
 him. The morning delivered him from this ftate of doubt ; for Karl, who 
 had loft fight of him in the night, difcovered his Ihips by break of day, 
 came upon him by furprife, and prepared to attack him with violence. 
 
 Few fituations could be more dangerous than that in which he now was 
 placed. He faw plainly the fuperiority of the Scots in point of numbers, 
 and he could entertain no reafonable hope of quickly procuring from the 
 iflands fuch a reinforcement as might extricate him from his prefent diffi- 
 culty. When he had weighed thefe circumftances, he was in doubt whe- 
 ther to abandon his fhips and confult the fafety of his men by flight, or 
 inftantly to engage, whatever might be the confequence. His fenfe of 
 honoilr, and his valour, determined him to engage : he made a concife 
 and impreffive fpeech, in which he exhorted his men to ftrike the firft blow 
 with fuch fury, as might throw the enemy into irretrievable diforder. 
 
 His orders were cheerfully and pundlually obeyed : the men ply their 
 oars ; lafh their (hips to thofe of the enemy ; fly to arms ; and attack them^ 
 with fuch impetuous ardour, as ftrikes them with aftoniftiment and terror. 
 Thorfin had diretfled his aim principally againft the fliip of the admiral ; oa 
 board of which, in a fhort time, there were many killed and wounded. 
 As foon as he obferved this, he fnatched the ftandard of his own fhip, with 
 which he rulhed on board that of the enemy, and compelled the admiral 
 
 U himfelf, 
 
146 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 himfelf, and the few that were alive, to leap on board the neareft veflel. 
 This being feen by the reft of the fleet, the whole fled in the utmoft con- 
 fufion, and left him the glory of the day, and a vidory eafily gained. 
 
 Thorfin, elated with fuch unexpefted fuccefs, and wifhing to gain a ftill 
 farther advantage, purfued them with the utmoft activity : but his efforts 
 in this refpe£t were unavailing ; fince they fled with fo great precipitation, 
 that he could not entertain hopes of being able fuccefsfully to follow them. 
 As foon as he found his attempts to overtake them ineffedual, he returned 
 to Orkney, where he met Thorkel Fofter, at the head of a choice army, 
 which he had raifed in the iflands, in confequence of the orders fent him 
 from Deernefs. 
 
 In the mean time, notice was brought them that Moddan was ftill In 
 Caithnefs, had his head quarters in Thurfo, and was haraffing the inhabi- 
 tants greatly, by plundering the country all around him. To check and 
 punifh fuch diforders, Thorkel was commanded to fail for Caithnefs, which 
 he did without delay ; and having marched through it with much fpeed and 
 fecrecy, he reached Thurfo before the enemy was aware of his approach ; 
 furprifed the earl in the dead of night, by fetting fire to his lodgings ; and 
 while he was endeavouring to efcape from them, his head was ftruck off; 
 and his army thrown into confternation, were either cut to pieces, furren- 
 dered themfelves prifoners of war, or fled for fafety to the inaccefllble fens 
 and mountains. The Scots, who had met with fuch a (hameful defeat at 
 Deernefs, began, after their return to the fouth, to think of the lofs of their 
 honour, and, wifhing earneftly to retrieve it, they returned in full force 
 into Caithnefs. Here they were joined by troops from Ireland, that had been 
 fent, though too late, to reinforce the army of Moddan ; and thefe, when 
 united, far exceeded in number any army that the earl could bring into the 
 field againft them. But, notwithftanding their fuperiority, he was neither 
 of a temper to permit them to ravage his country with impunity, nor was 
 it either his inclination or his pradice to decline accepting their offers of 
 an engagement. The two hoftile armies therefore prepared for adion : they 
 met in battle array on a promontory near to, and in full view of the har- 
 bour of Thurfo : the Earl of Orkney took his ftation in the front line, with 
 a gilded helmet on his head, a fword by his fide, and a large fpear in both 
 
 hands. 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. 147 
 
 hands, with which he did great execution ; and, in the very firfl: onfet, bent 
 his whole force, with fuch intrepid ardour, againfl: the Irifh, that he com- 
 pelled them to fall back, and fo entirely broke their ranks, that it was not 
 afterwards in the power of their commander to rally them. 
 
 The fame valour and mafterly condudt were difplayed by the brave ge- 
 neral of the Scotifli forces. He alfo fought in the front of his army, in the 
 hotteft of the battle, infpiring courage by his example, relieving them that 
 were overpowered, and directed his attacks principally againfl that part of 
 the line of the enemy which was diftingnifhed by the Earl's prefence. In 
 this manner did both fides fight for fome time, with almoft equal bravery 
 and equal fuccefs; till the Earl, by a defperate attack, made the Scots waver 
 between hope and dcfpair, then fenfibly retreat, and at laft flv, and leave 
 the field of battle ftrewed with the wounded and llain. 
 
 By thefe, and fuch like means, did he rife to great power and wealth : 
 he far exceeded in fplendour, not only his predeceOTors, Earls of Orkney, 
 but even many potent kings themfelvcs ; for, while they entertained their 
 nobles during Chriftmas, Thorfin feafted his friends through the whole 
 winter. 
 
 Ronald, the fon of Brufius, and grandfon of the celebrated Sigurd, had 
 been carried over at an early period to Norway, where he received an excel- 
 lent education, by which he fo much profited, that he was in a fliort time 
 diftinguiflied among the young nobility, not only for the flrength and 
 beauty of his perfon, and the gracefulnefs of his air, but for many mental 
 accompllfhments, fome of which were not then common. 
 
 As foon as he heard of his father's death, and that his uncle had taken 
 poflefTion of all the iflands, he formed the defign of vifiting his native 
 country. This he took the firft occafion to communicate to Magnus, who, 
 on the death of his father Olave, had now afcended the throne ; and as he 
 was in great favour with that monarch, he found little difficulty in obtain- 
 ing his permiflion. Previoufly to his departure, that he might .ippear in 
 his own country with more dignity, he created him an earl ; granted him 
 that third of the iflands which Olave had conferred on his father ; and 
 moreover, prefented him with three excellent galleys, fufficiently ftored 
 with provifions, and fuitably manned for the voyage. 
 
 U a After 
 
148 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 After all things were ready, and Magnus had requefted that he would ap- 
 ply to him for what he might ftand in need of in future, they embraced 
 each other tenderly, and took leave. The amiable young earl failed dL- 
 redly for Orkney, to take a view of his patrimonial eftate. Having re- 
 mained there for a fhort time, he fent meffengers to Thorfin, who was 
 then in the Weftern Ifles, fettling fome difference that had arifen among the 
 chieftains, to demand reflitution of that part of the iflands which King 
 Olave had granted his father, and his fon Magnus had now confirmed to 
 himfelf. To this requlfition, which feemed to be founded in juftice, Thor- 
 fin replied, that, as for that third of the eftate which had originally been his 
 father's property, he had no manner of objedion to his taking immediate 
 poflcffion : but, to the other third, he could claim no right whatever ; nei- 
 ther could the kings of Norway, with any colour of juftice, confer it on 
 him: but, if he would be his friend, and occafionally give him that aid 
 which a relation ought, he would think that third alfo well beftowed 
 on him. This, he added, he might inftantly occupy, as probably he would 
 foon ftand in need of his aflTiftance, which he valued more than any benefit 
 that he could reap from that part of his territory. 
 
 Ronald, whofe difpofition was naturally open and unfufpeding, was fa- 
 tisfied with his uncle's condud ; and though he demanded nothing but what 
 he confidered himfelf as having a juft right to, he promifed fidelity and 
 afTiftance ; and thus, without any farther trouble, got, for the prefent, quiet 
 pofTefhon of two thirds of the whole iflands. 
 
 Agreeably to the fpirit of the times, many fchemes of depredation were 
 planned and adopted, in which they were both concerned. In the fummer, 
 they made frequent excurfions to the weft coaft of Scotland, to the adjacent 
 ifles, to Ireland, and even fometimes to England itfelf ; and, from thefe ex- 
 peditions, they both acquired riches and naval fame. Every enterprize 
 was conduded by Thorfin ; his nephew fulfilled his engagement, by con- 
 tributing his aid ; and every exploit that was performed, teftified plainly 
 that the leaders cultivated between them that harmony, which was as ho- 
 nourable, as advatitageous, to both. 
 
 But, unfortunately, in a fhort time, evil counfellors, in order to ingra- 
 tiate themfelves with their refpedive patrons, fhamefully abufed their con- 
 fidence, and created diffenfions between the two princes. 
 
 About 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I49 
 
 About that time, Kalfus Avnin, who had held an office of the firft truft 
 in his country, and had been fufpccled of a crime, had, in order to fhun 
 invedigation, or avoid punifhm.ent, departed, as a voluntary exile, from 
 Norvi-ay. As he was a man of great wealth, he had many friends and 
 dependants, who embarked with him to fliare his fortune ; and as the 
 celebrated Ingibiorg, wife of Thorfin, was his brother's daughter, he, with 
 lus numerous train, repaired to the Earl's court, where he was courteoufly 
 entertained, for a long time, in the mofl; fplendid manner. But the ex- 
 pence occafioned by the fupport of fuch grandeur, was very great : and 
 joined to what had been laid out in fome piratical expeditions, that had 
 failed of fuccefs, had fo emptied the Earl's coiTers, that he began to be un- 
 able to live in that lumptuous ftyle to which he had been accuftomed. la 
 this exigence, influenced by the advice of fome of his retainers, he refolved 
 to recal that third of the iflands, which he had rather permitted Earl Ronald 
 to occupy, than ever rcgulaily conveyed ; and for that end difpatched mef- 
 fengers, who were inftruded to make the requifition. 
 
 Ronald, as might have been expedled, refufed to comply, and returned 
 fuch rcafons for his I'efufal, as incenfed the haughty fpirit of his uncle, and 
 determined him to profecute more vigoroufly his claim. Much fruitlefs 
 negotiation was entered into. An open rupture at length took place, when 
 both parties came to the final rclolution of deciding, by force of arms, what 
 it feemed now impoffible to decide by other means. 
 
 A large army was foon levied, and in readinefs for that purpofe. A 
 fleet, confifting of fixty (hips, was fitted out to convey them over; and, 
 in failing from Caithnefs, they met in the Pentland Frith, Earl Ronald, 
 with a ftjuadron of thirty fliips only, but of much greater fizt. The line 
 of battle was foon formed, according to the cuftom of the age. Tiiey 
 fought valiantly ; and, for fome time, it was difficult to determine to which 
 fide vidory leaned ; till at lad it declared for Ronald, on account of the 
 fuperior bulk and height of his velfels, from which his men threw their 
 weapons both with more violence, and a much furer aim. Thorfin now 
 faw that conqueft was impracticable, unlefs he was reinforced ; and, finding 
 that the killed and wounded on board his fliip were an incumbrance in the 
 adion, he put them afhore, and among them placed his fcald, or bard, 
 
 Avnor^ 
 
IJO TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II; 
 
 Avnor, that he might be in fafety to obferve the fate of the day, and tranf- 
 mit its heroic deeds to pofterity. After he had made this arrangement, he 
 looked to his friend Avnin, who, with fix fhips, in excellent condition, had 
 hitherto Iain by an indifferent fpedlator, and prevailed with him to com- 
 bine his force ; which he had no fooner done, than he returned to the 
 charge with frefa vigour. Ronald's fleet for fome time fuftained their 
 united efforts with undaunted bravery, till the iquadron of Avnin had 
 made fuch dreadful avock in feveral of the fliips, that few men were left 
 alive. Some of the iliips were then taken, fome (battered, fome fled, and 
 only a very few remained to fupport Ronald who intrepidly kept his ftation, 
 and fought defperately to the clofe of the day ; when, giving up all for loft, 
 he efcaped in the night, and fdled direflly for Norway. 
 
 King Magnus heard, with unfeigned forrow, the news of his defeat, and 
 both folaced his fpirit, and revived his hopes, by aflTuring him, that, as early 
 in the fpring as it was convenient to take the fea, he fliould be furniQaed 
 with fuch a military and naval force as could fcarcely fail to humble his 
 haughty relation, and re-eflabli(h him in his poffelTions. Such uncommon 
 generofity met with his cordial thanks ; but Ronald preferred one ftout 
 {hip, with which he might fail in winter, in order to arrive in Orkney fud- 
 denly, and take Thorfin by furprife, before he was aware of his approach. 
 This was immediately procured him, furniflied with fuitable ftores, and 
 manned with a chofen band, many of them men of the iirft rank and for- 
 tune, as well as fpirit, in the court of Magnus, who rejoiced to embark in 
 fuch a hazardous enterprize ; not fo much with a defign to difplay their 
 own valour, as to do juftice to their much efteemed and injured friend. 
 
 As foon as he arrived in Shetland, he received intelligence that Thorfin, 
 trufl;ing to his late vidory, and alfo to the feafon of the year, had difmiflTed 
 moft of his men, and was, with a few only, revelling in the mainland, pro- 
 bably at Birfa, without the fmallefl apprehenfion of danger. Pleafed with 
 this information, he haftened to the place ; landed in the night, before any 
 notice had been given of his arrival ; furrounded the houfe with his guards, 
 and then fet fire to it while all were in bed, except the attendants of the 
 Earl, who, with his wife in his arms, efcaped amidft the general confufion, 
 and fled to Caithnefs. There he lurked, for fome time, fo privately among 
 
 his 
 
CHAP. Iir. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. tjl 
 
 his friends, that doubts were entertiined whether he had not fallen amonc: 
 the flain, or been confumed in the conflagration; and RonaM, in the mean 
 time, exaded his revenues, not only through the ifles, and the ScottlHi pro- 
 vinces in the north, but from the Ha^budse, and his eflate in Ireland. The 
 young Earl, in the mean time, had made choice of Kirkwall as the place of 
 his refidence, in preference to any other, on account of its centrical fitua- 
 tion, for receiving intelligence ; and kept with him there a numerous and 
 fplendid train of attendants. Along with fome of thcfe he failed to the 
 north ifles, on purpofe to carry from Papay-Weftray a cargo of malt, to 
 make ale, their favourite beverage, to regale them during the approaching 
 fefiival of Yule, or Chriftmas. The night he was there, while fitting till 
 it was late by the fire with his companions, indulging in mirth and conver- 
 fation, he was fuddenly and unexpedledly alarmed by Thorfin and his men, 
 in arms, inverting the houfe, and fetting fire to it; and though, by means 
 of great ftrength and agility, he made his efcape for the prefent, he was 
 foon afterwards difcovered by the barking of his own dog, taken together 
 with his companions, and butchered without mercy. His remains were 
 gathered up with pious care, carried over to Weftray, and interred amidft 
 the lamentations of the inhabitants. 
 
 Ronald was by far the mofi: accomplidied of any of the Earls of Orkncv. 
 His flature was above the ordinary fize, and his limbs were well propor- 
 tioned. He had thick flaxen hair, a pleafant countenance, a majeftic and 
 graceful mien, and a very uncommon degree of ftrength and agility. To 
 thefe endowments of body, he added many that were mental ; for he was 
 fagacious and penetrating, bold, firm, and juft; and, in fhort, wanted 
 fcarcely any thing, but conftancy of fortune, to render him a very e.xalteJ 
 charadter. 
 
 Thorfin, having now a fecond time got rid of every obftacle to his peace- 
 ful enjoyment of the whole earldom, either dreaded the relentment, or co- 
 veted the alliance of Norway ; and therefore made all the difpatch he polTi- 
 bly could, to cultivate the King's favour in his own country. During the 
 time he remained there, he fecms to Iiave been employed in no adlive bufi- 
 nefs, but had leifure to refled on his pad conduct, when many inftances of 
 injuftice and cruelty prefented theinfelves, and awakened his conference. 
 
 9 In 
 
15^ TRAKSACTI0K3 OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 In order to atone for liis crimes, he refolved to undertake a journey to 
 Rome, and obtain papal' abfolution. His defign being knowu, and things 
 in readinefs, before he took his leave, he received fome valuable prefents 
 from Harold. From Sweno, King of Denmark, too, he met with a very- 
 favourable reception ; and, as he travelled through Saxony, he received, 
 among other marks of refpeifl, fome fine horfes from the Emperor Henry, 
 to carry him to Italy. Having arrived at Rome, and being introduced to 
 his Holinefs, he found no difficulty in procuring a plenary pardon of his fms. 
 He was foon, in his own eftimation, cleanfed from all guilt ; upon which 
 he returned with all fpeed to Orkney, where he entirely changed his mode 
 of life, and became as famous tor the pacific, as he had formerly been for 
 the warlike virtues. Birfa was the place where he fpent moft of the re- 
 mainder of his days, in the adminiftration of juftice. and in framing many 
 wife and falutary laws for the good of the people ; and, that he might 
 direfl their views beyond the prefent ftate, he eredled there a magnificent 
 church, which he dedicated to Chrift as the firft fruits of his piety. But, 
 while he attended to thofe obje£ls that promote internal profperity, he alfo 
 took care to prote£l his fubjedts from foreign invafion, and kept his whole 
 territories, fcattered and extenfive as they were, in due fubjedion to himfelf. 
 This he found very little difficulty in doing, as his power far exceeded that 
 of any of his predecelTors. He retained it undiminiihed to the laft, and 
 died at the advanced age of feventy-five, much lamented by thofe that lived 
 on his hereditary eftate. He was buried in Chrift's Church, in Birfa. 
 
 By his wife he left two fons, in many refpe£ts different from their father, 
 ■whofe charader was fomewhat fmgular. 
 
 His body was large, and his mind comprehenfive and vigorous. His 
 hair was black, his eye-brows fliaggy, and both his perfon and his genius 
 fuited the idea at that time entertained of a foldier. Few, or none, equal- 
 led him in either the boldnefs of his defigns, or in the prompitude with 
 which they were executed ; he was active and provident; fkllful in the art 
 of war, and extremely fortunate ; but, in the general tenor of his condu(ft, 
 fhowed himfelf too much under the influence of avarice and ambition. 
 1064. ^"^^^ ^"^'^^ ^^^*^ name of the elder of his fons, and Erlend that of the 
 younger, who now fucceeded their father in the earldom, and enjoyed his 
 
 eftate 
 
CHAP. in. TRANSACTIONS OP THE SCANDINAVIANS. I53 
 
 eflate and honours. They were men of a tall ftature, fine proportion, and 
 of great perfonal beauty, which they derived from their mother; and, in 
 refpe£l of prudence and moderation, they had few equals. That this was 
 a prominent feature in their character, appeared evident from their behavi- 
 our to one another; for, inflead of entering into contefts refpeifling their 
 (hare of their father's property, which had fo often before convulfed the 
 earldom, they mutually cultivated fuch good underftanding, and lived in 
 fuch laudable harmony, that they never even divided what had been left, 
 but were contented to receive their proportions of its revenues. Paul, as 
 being the elder brother, took the management of the whole, with the entire 
 approbation of Erlend, who paid a juft deference to fupcrior age and expe- 
 rience ; and both of them, from their love of peace, their mutual concord, 
 and fraternal afFedion, promoted through the iflands a degree of profperity, 
 to which they, for a long time part, had been in a great meafure ftrangers. 
 
 If their pacific difpofition, their moderation, and their tafte for folitudc 
 and rural improvement, rendered their condition at home profperous, their 
 powerful conneiftions abroad had an equal influence in fecuring them from 
 foreign invafion. Their mother was defcended from the royal family of 
 Norway, which conne<^ed them with the reigning moparch of that country. 
 By their father they were flill more clofely connedcd with the royal family 
 of Scotland ; and befides all this, the celebrated Malcolm Canmore, King of 
 Scotland, had married their mother ; fo that, on both the one hand and the 
 other, they were guarded by near relations, who were ready to fupport their 
 power, and to whom they might apply with confidence, in any cafe of 
 necefhtv. 
 
 During this ftate of profperity and peace, Harold the Bold, King of 
 Norway, adluated by the reftlefs fpirit of the times, had formed the refolu- 
 tion of invading England. In the profecution of this defign, he fitted out 
 a formidable fleet, on board of which he embarked troops in proportion ; 
 and, having arrived in Orkney, where he left Elizabeth his Queen, and two 
 daughters, and augmented his armament, by the addition of the two Earls 
 and their forces, he failed diredlly for the eaft coaft of that kingdom. 
 Cleveland was the place where he firft landed. He foon afterwards took 
 Scarborough by ftorm; and, marching to Holdernefs, he gained a fignal 
 
 X Tfidtory 
 
154 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK II. 
 
 vI£lory over the Engllfli forces : but, engaging them afterwards, when the 
 King commanded In perfon, Harold was defeated and flain ; which deter- 
 mined his fon Olave, and the two Earls, to embark as faft as they could, and 
 return, with their fleet to Orkney, where they fpent that winter. 
 
 The harmony that fo happily fubfifted between the two Earls was rather 
 (Irengthened in this expedition ; and fuffered no diminution, till their fons 
 had grown up ; who, but too fuccefsfully, planted between them that difcord 
 which they had harboured in their own breads. Hacon, the fon of Paul, 
 was of an afpiring turn of mind, adive, and imperious ; and regarded his 
 coufins, Magnus and Erlend, as his inferiors, becaufe they were more gentle, 
 pacific and contented, and lefs under the guidance of ambition. Between 
 men of fuch different, nayalmofl; oppofite tempers, difputes of various kinds 
 foon arofe ; and, in order to preferve general tranquillity, it was highly ex- 
 pedient to bring them to a fpeedy conclufion. For this end, fcveral indivi- 
 duals ufed their influence ; and when this was unavailing, fome meetings of 
 the leading men were held ; but as, in thefe, the fathers fhowed more in- 
 clination to enter into the views, and even adopt the prejudices of their fons, 
 than to decide their quarrels on the principles of juftice, they broke up, on 
 finding their efforts to reconcile the parties ineffedual. In one of thefe, 
 however, the friends of Hacon, by reprefenting how much it would add to 
 his renown, prevailed with him to go abroad, to learn the art of war, and 
 the laws and manners of another country. Sweden was the kingdom he 
 made choice of; to which he went, after he had fpent fome time in Nor- 
 way; and, in both thefe countries, he fupported a character for military fkill 
 and prowefs, a d was confequently entrufted with confiderable command. 
 
 His coufin Magnus, in the mean time, was following, in the bofom of 
 his own country, the moft laudable purfuits; for he was cultivating his own 
 mind, and ftoring it with the moft fublime and ufeful knowledge, and with 
 the beft fentiments of religion. Had he been fuffered to go on in this prac- 
 tice, without interruption, his example might have attraded attention, and 
 fpread fome tafte for knowledge, as well as devotion ; but he was arrefted 
 by an unexpected vifit from a diftanr and formidable enemy. 
 
 Hacon, while he was in Norway, had reprefented to Magnus Barefoot, 
 who had now, in the room of his father Olave, afcended the throne, the 
 
 8 manifold 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I55 
 
 manifold advantages that might arife from a weftern expedition. He ftated, 
 in ftrong and flattering terms, the glory which he might thus acquire, the 
 vaft treafures that he might amafs : and even infinuated, that he might 
 thereby have an opportunity of avenging the death of his grandfather, by 
 a fuccefsful invafion of England. Arguments like thefe, which appealed to 
 his refentment, avarice, and ambition, could not fail to have great influence 
 on the enterprifing fpirit of Magnus ; who foon complied with the advice 
 given him, formed his plan, and loft no time in taking thofe meafures that 
 were necefl^ary for carrying it into immediate execution. Through his 
 whole kingdom, therefore, he levied men ; he prepared a fleet ; he ordered 
 flores and provifions ; in all which, the nobles obeyed the King ; the peo- 
 ple as readily obeyed the nobles ; and the youth of every rank and dcfcrip- 
 tion flocking to his ftandard, all were ready, in a fliort time, to embark on 
 board of fixty {hips, which he publicly announced were intended for the 
 weftern expedition. The King himfelf took the command of this powerful 
 armament; and, having taken with him his fon Sigurd, a pro?nifing youth 
 of only eight years of age, he fet fail, and foon reached the coafts of Orkney. 
 No fooner had he landed there, than he inverted his fon with the dignity 
 of viceroy of the iflands ; and, as he was under age, appointed for hin\ 
 guardians, counfellors, and adminiftrators of his affairs ; feized the two 
 Earls, and fent them prifoners into his kingdom ; and compelled their fons, 
 Hacon, Magnus, and Erlend, to enter his fervice, that they might not have 
 it in their power, in his abfence, to difturb his fon's government. 
 
 After he had thus arranged matters, he failed for the weftern ifles; where 
 he committed great devaftation, harafllng the people, and carrying off" much 
 plunder; and, not faiisfied with what he had done there, he, in the fame 
 irregular and defultory manner, carried his arms into Scotland, Ireland, and 
 even England, where he performed fome remarkable achievements. 
 
 In this expedition, Hacon, fon of Paul, Earl of Orkney, by his intrepidity 
 and ftrift obedience to orders, gained at the fame time military fame and 
 the King's favour ; while his coufin Erlend loft his life , and Magnus, his 
 other coufm, incurred the difpleafure of the Sovereign, becaufe, on a certain 
 occafion, he had refufed to fight ; for which he gave this reafon, — that he 
 
 X 2 had 
 
Ij6 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK ttv 
 
 liad never received any provocation from that enemy, nor had he any juft 
 caufe of complaint againfl him. 
 
 To avoid the Kinc's refentment on that account, he took the earlieft 
 opportunity to abandon his fervice ; and lived one while with the King of 
 Scotland, and another with one of the bifhops of England, where he was 
 not only fecure from danger, and enjoyed abundance and refpedt, hut had 
 alfo an excellent opportunity for indulging in his favourite purfuits of litera- 
 ture and religion. 
 
 The fpiing following, when Magnus King of Norway returned from his^ 
 expedition into Orkney, and learned that the two Earls of Orkney had, the 
 preceding winier, died in exile in his kingdom, he gave in marriage the 
 daughter of Erlend to Kolus, the fon of one of his favourite ofRcers, who 
 had died of the wounds which he had received in the battle of Anglefey, 
 To atone for the hardfhip which he had impofed on the lady, in depriving 
 her of her father's company ; to folace the young man for the lofs of his 
 father ; to render both comfortable, and enable them to live fuitably to their 
 dignity, he granted them lands in feveral places : Ije appointed for their 
 place of abode the beautiful ifland of Papay-Weftray ; and, at their matf 
 riage, ranked Kolus in the number of the nobility. 
 
 Hacon, during almoft the whole reign of King Magnus, attended him 
 wherever he went ; he was foremoft in every expedition ; he fignalized 
 himfelf by fighting in the hotteft part of every battle; and none was ever 
 more pundual in giving obedience to his orders, in promoting his intereft, 
 or in feconding his views. After that monarch's death, and after his three 
 fons had divided among them his kingdom, and reigned jointly, he repaired 
 to that country, and obtained from them, as his jufl. right, the one half of 
 the Orkney iflands. 
 
 Magnus, in the mean time, returned from Scotland, where he had now 
 lived a long time, enjoying the refpedl, and (haring the confidence of the 
 beft families ; and, impelled by the entreaties of his countrymen, who were 
 anxious to fee him reap the fruhs of his father's property, no lefs than by 
 his own intereft, he claimed the half of the iflands as his patrimonial eftate. 
 To this claim, which was certainly juft, his coufin Hacon made oppofitionj 
 and even colleded an armed force, which, without doubt, he would have 
 
 employed, 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SC ANDIN ANI ANS. I57 
 
 employed, had not the genilcmcn of tlie country reafonably interpofed their 
 influence; to whom, after many arguments, and much delay, he promifed 
 that he would deliver up the fubjed in queftion to Magnus, provided he 
 obtained the fandicn of the King of Norway. Magnus, without fcruple, 
 accepted the condition, and failed diredly for that country, where he was 
 not only gracioufly received and courteoufly entertained, but inverted with 
 the dignity of an Earl, and readily obtained what was the objetl of his 
 voyage, the one half of the iflands. 
 
 For feme time after his return home, he lived with Hacon in terms 
 of much cordiality. Mutual comfort and profperity were the natural con-- 
 fequence of their pacific mcafures ; and, during this feafon of concord, 
 the iflands abounded in all thofe produdions that minifter to the fupport 
 of life. 
 
 But this enviable ftate of tranquillity was only of fliort continuance ; 
 for infidious flaterers abufed their confidence with falfe and malicious re- 
 ports with refpedt to one another's condudl and views, till they feemed to 
 regard each other rather as enemies than relations ; fo that matters were on 
 the eve of coming to an open rupture. 
 
 In this critical jundure, their friends again interpofed ; and, after much 
 deliberation, and many entreaties, at lafl prevailed with them to fufFer their 
 pafTions to fubfide ; to fufpend their animofities ; and, fince they would 
 not confent to an agreement, to fubmit their differences to arbitration. For 
 this purpole, it was agreed, that both Earls, with a number of feled friends, 
 fliould hold a conference, in which their refpedtive rights, and the juft 
 limits of their power and their authority, fhould be fixed, and a league of 
 friendfliip eRabli'hed on a permanent bafis ; and, to give it the greater 
 fclemnity, it was to be held during Eafter week, in the pleafant little ifland 
 oi EagL'fay. Magnus, accompanied with fuch of his friends as were moft 
 noted for wifdom and equity, failed, according to agreement, with two 
 fliips only, and was early at the appointed place, confulting with his arbi- 
 ters on the terms that were mod likely to bring their difputes to a happy 
 concluficn. 
 
 Hacon made choice of companions to carry to the meeting, of a defcrip- 
 tion very dit:e:ent from thofe of his coufin; they were men accuftomed to 
 
 arms 
 
Ij8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. BOOK 11. 
 
 arms and piracy, on whom neither juftice nor mercy had a great degree 
 of influence, and who were not much overawed by the authority of Hea- 
 ven. To them he communicated his intentions ; and embarked on board 
 of eight, inftead of two, the ftipulated number of {hips. As foon as 
 Magnus faw them approaching, he perceived plainly the treacherous defign ; 
 and, inftead of taking any farther fteps to procure an amicable treaty, began 
 to fortify his mind to meet his impending fate. The friends that he had 
 carried along with him, generoufly offered to ftand by him in this extremity, 
 and fhed their blood in his defence ; but he as generoufly declined accept- 
 ing their offer, and entreated them to lofe no time in confulting for their 
 own fafety, and leave him to whatever that God, who had fupported hinx 
 hitherto, fbould, in his wifdom, think proper to appoint. 
 
 As foon as Hacon with his men had landed, Magnus with his followers 
 went to the church ; where, in the duties of the moft fervent devotion, he 
 fpent the moft part of the night. Next day, Hacon, accompanied by his 
 foldiers, went to the f.;me place ; but found him not there, as he had 
 retired with three friends to a private place, which he left as foon as he 
 faw his enemy in fearch of him ; and boldly prefented himfelf, with thefe 
 words : ' Here I am ; and you need feek for me no farther.' Hacon, with 
 his men in arms, came up fword in hand, and found him proftrate on the 
 ground, offering up his prayers ; which he had no fooner finilbed, than he 
 rofe up, and, with a countenance compofed to a degree that manifefted the 
 utmoft fortitude, accofted his cruel and implacable relation : ' Coufin,' faid 
 he, ' you have juftly offended the great God, by violating the oath which 
 
 * you took ; to this crlu.e you ought not to add another, nor fully your 
 
 * honour, by Hiedding the blood of one who never injured you. My life 
 
 * is in your hands ; and you are in the moft imminent danger of con- 
 
 * trading the blackeft guilt, by taking it away. To prevent you, therefore, 
 ' from farther ftaining your foul, no lefs than to fave myfelf from farther 
 ' danger, I fliall fubmit to your choice any of thefe three conditions : Let 
 
 * m.e have only two fhips fuitably furnifhed, v/ith which I may fail to 
 
 * Rome to procure abfolution of our ims, and I (hall bind myfelf, by a 
 ' molt folemn oath, never more to return to Orkney ; or fend me to Scot- 
 
 * land to our friends, to be kept in fuch clofe confinement, that I can 
 
 ' never 
 
CHAP. III. TRANSACTIONS OF THE SCANDINAVIANS. I59 
 
 * never henceforth make my efcape ; or, if both thcfe conditions be re- 
 ' jeded, a third ftill remains — cut off my limbs, pluck out my eyes, and, 
 
 * in this maimed and mutilated ftate, fhut me up in prifon, to drag out the 
 
 * wretched remainder of my life.' 
 
 Thefe terms, however fevere and humiliating, were reje^led with a 
 mixture of ftern cruelty and haughty dildain, which Magnus bore with 
 an heroic compofure that deferved a better fate ; and after he had earneftly 
 prayed for the pardon of his own fms, and for forgivenefs ro all his ene- 
 mies ; after he had exhorted the executioner, whofe heart almofl: failed 
 him, to take courage, and ftrike a bold ftrokc, telling him that princes 
 ought not to die like malefadors, he, with his body bent forward, received liio, 
 the fatal blow. 
 
 His body, which, it is probable, would not have received the rites of 
 interment from his enemy, was with much difficulty yielded up to his 
 difconfolate mother, who had intreated it with tears, and who had it 
 tranfported to Birfa, and buried in. Chrift's Church, which had been built 
 by Thorfin. 
 
 The luperftitious credulity of that age believed, that the grave had no- 
 fooner received the venerable depofit than it began to perform miracles y 
 that there ifl'ued from it, in ordinary, a bright beam of light, and a fragrant 
 fmell, that feparately or united, had fuch virtue, as to heal the difeafcs of 
 thofe who flocked thither from all parts of the earldom. 
 
 If we recolle(ft the different fcehes in which he adled ; if we review the 
 fentiments and conduft which he difplayed ; if we form an opinion of his 
 charadter, as it arifes from thefe circumftances, and compare it with that 
 which is drawn by the beft informed authors ; we fliall, on the whole, find 
 reafon to conclude, that he was far more refpeQable, and much better en- 
 titled to be ranked in the number of the Saints, than many that ftand high 
 on the lift in the Roman kalendar. 
 
 As to his exterior, his ftature was tall, his complexion fair, his voice 
 clear and manly, and his fluency of fpcech was at once fo ready and fo 
 pleafant, that no perfon would have hefitated in declaring him an accom- 
 plifhed orator. Neither were the endowments of his mind inferior to thofe 
 of his body. If he engaged in war, which he feldom did but for the beft 
 
 reafons^ 
 
l6o TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II, 
 
 reafons, his underftanding and prudence contributed much to fecure him 
 fuccefs. As a judge, he entered deeply into the nature of the caufe, and 
 decided on the principles of equity without refpeft of perfons ; he fhowed 
 always much regard to honeft men ; and thofe that were addifted to theft, 
 he feldom failed to punifli with feverity. His temper was mild, his man- 
 ners affable and pleafant : he was charitable to the poor ; kind to his de- 
 pendants ; generous to thofe of a higher ftatlon ; and, what threw a bright 
 luflre over his whole charader, he was a devout worfliipper of the Mod 
 .High God. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 •or THE TR.AKSACTIONS TN THE ISLANDS, TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT T9 
 
 THE CROV/N OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 This daring procedure agalnft one of fuch high rank, fo much beloved, 
 and his own near relation, fpread fuch terror among the friends of Saint 
 •Magnus, that they held it expedient to fubmit to Hacon's fway, and were 
 prevailed upon to fwear fealty to him. He, accordingly, inftantly took 
 poircfTion of the whole earldom, as if it had been either his own conqueft, 
 or had defcended to him as an inheritance from liis anceftors. 
 
 Though he had now obtained what, for many years, he had eagerly 
 coveted, and ruled without controul ; yet he was far from enjoying that 
 happinefs, which he fondly expe£ted to derive from fuch an acceffionto his 
 wealth and power. 
 
 Amidft all the pleafures with which his fituation fo amply furniflied him, 
 he could not, in his leifure moments, recollect, without compundVion, his 
 crimes ; and particularly, the recent inftaiice of his perjured cruelty agalnft 
 a viituous perfon, fo nearly conneded by the ties of blood. In order to 
 quiet his confclence, and atone for his crimes, he refolved, in conformity 
 with the fuperftition of the age, to fet out on a pilgrimage, firft to Rome, 
 
 and 
 
CTiAV. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. l6l 
 
 and thence to Jerufalem ; and foon afterwards accompUflied his refolution. 
 Having performed his vow, by vifiting thefe celebrated places, and waQied 
 himfelf in the river Jordan, he returned home with his mind more eafy, 
 and began a new courfe of life. Inftead of following depredation and 
 piracy, in which he had delighted formerly, the profperity of his country 
 now arrefted his attention. He cultivated and promoted the arts of peace ; 
 he redified fome abufes in the government ; and enaded many wife laws, 
 by which the privileges of the people were both extended and fecured. By 
 means of thefe patriotic deeds, and others of a fimilar nature, his former 
 adions were almoft entirely forgotten ; and he became fo firmly fixed in 
 the afFedions of his people, that, when «he died, he was held in the moft 
 grateful remembrance. 
 
 Between his charader and that of his grandfather there was a ftrlking 
 fimilarity. Both of them had, in the fervour of youth, and even in the 
 calmer vigour of manhood, followed the bent of their own inclination, and 
 committed many unjufl: and cruel deeds : both of them, at laft, refleded on 
 their former ways with horror, and had recourfe to repentance and re- 
 formation. The firft part of their condud was, in a great meafure, fanc- 
 tioned by the remaining genius of the old fyftem, while the latter may be 
 confidered as the genuine fruits of the Chriftian religion. 
 
 After Chriftianity was introduced, it feems to have been for fome time 
 cuhivated by thofe men who were left by the King of Norway; in con- 
 jundion, it is probable, with fuch Irifli priefts as had arrived before them, 
 or come over afterwards, without any regular eftablifhed head. But it can- 
 not be determined, whether they were all equal in rank, and depended on 
 the people for fubfiftence ; or whether there was any regular fubordination 
 among them, and a fund appropriated to their fupport. Thus much, how- 
 ever, is certain, that the biOiops of Orkney are firft mentioned by the 
 Englifh writers. Hence, the ftrong probability of what has been aflerted, 
 that the archbifliops of York, who for fome time claimed the honour of 
 nominating prelates to the Scotifh fees, extended their views ftill farther 
 north, and nominated billiops of Orkney. Thefe, however, fcem to have 
 been nothing but titulars, without power, jurifdidion, and revenue, and 
 
 Y created 
 
iCz TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 created for the fole purpofe of giving to the fee of York a greater fhow of 
 power, and a more extended authority. To this defcription we are inclined 
 to think belong Thorolfus, Adalbcrtus, and Rodolfus Novellus, whom we 
 find denominated bidiops of Orkney, as we have no evidence of their either 
 having been in the iflands, or of their having exercifed the office, or re- 
 ceived the emoluments of the epifcopal dignity. Rodolfus, bifhop of 
 Orkney, however, is mentioned as a witnefs to a charter of King David 
 the Firft of Scotland *. 
 
 But though thefe, and feveral others, may have been dignified with the 
 title, for the fake of oftentation, William feems to have been, if not the 
 very firft bifhop, at leaft the firft who had a fixed refidence in the country f. 
 To that office he was appointed fome time previoufly to the murder of 
 Earl Magnus ; and he feems to have held it for a long period ; but it is 
 not known whether it was conferred on him by the fufFrage of the people 
 or the clergy ; or whether he was invefted with It by the fovereign 
 power. Neither Is there any account given, whether he was a native or a 
 ftranger ; but he refided in the ifland of Eglifhay, where he was very fre- 
 quently confulted In matters of the utmoft Importance ; and, from the opi- 
 nions or the advices which he gave, and Indeed from the general tenor of 
 his condu£l, he appears to have been, for that age, a man of uncommonly 
 o-ood fenfe and moderation X- 
 
 Hacon had been twice married, and left by each of his wives a fon, the 
 one of whom was named Paul the Silent, and the other Harold the Orator. 
 Harold's mother, Helga, was a daughter of Maddan, a man of great wealth 
 and influence in Caithnefs, whofe fon was Count Ottar of Thurlb. 
 
 From their earlieft days, the two brothers had fhown difpofitlons ex- 
 tremely diffimllar ; and as foon as the property and government of the 
 earldom came Into their hands, that difference was ftlU more confpicuous. 
 In fcarcely any point could they agree with one another. Their plans and 
 their interefts frequently interfered ; the animofitles of their friends tended 
 to widen the breach which their natural difpofitlons had formed ; and their 
 
 * Keith's Catalogue of Scolini Birtiops. f Torfxus. 
 
 X Torfsei Renim Orcadcnfium Hift. 
 
 con— 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 163 
 
 contentions, which had no appearance of being fmothered, were often on 
 the very brink of breaking out into open hoftility. As the right of pri- 
 mogeniture was not then, at leaft, generally received, the title of the one 
 was equally valid with that of the other to the earldom ; but with fuch 
 tempers, and fuch jarring interefls, it was impofliblc that they could either 
 enjoy or rule it together; and therefore, convinced of this, they divided it 
 between themfclvcs, each having one half of the iflands. 
 
 Harold had, befides, obtained from the King of Scotland a grant of 
 Caithnefs ; v^-hich, though a very confiderable acceflion to his fortune, 
 neither rendered liim contented, nor gave him fuch a decided fuperiority, 
 as fecured peace between the Earls ; for though their property was now 
 divided, and diltindly defineJ, their difputes were fo far from being done 
 away, that they became daily more violent. The wifeft of their friends 
 perceived the probable confequence. To avert the impending calamities, 
 they frequently confulted together ; they tried to fmd out expedients, and, 
 in flicrt, exerted themfelves to the utraort, to bring about a reconciliation. 
 For this end, they held conferences with the Earls themfelves ; in which 
 they reprefented, in ftrong terms, the pernicious confequences that muft 
 refult from their contefts : they difluaded them from violent meafures; and 
 propofed terms that to both of them would be equally advantageous and 
 honourable. The confidential friend and fpecial favourite of Earl Paul had 
 been flain by fome of Earl Harold's attendants ; on account of which, the 
 former would liften to no terms of agreement, till the Jatter baniflied the 
 perpetrators of that deed. Importuned by the gentlemen of the country, 
 Harold confented to their propofal ; upon which both Earls agreed to forget 
 all their animolities and contentions; and henceforth to cultivate a fincere 
 amity one with another ; and with a view no lefs to prove, than to con- 
 firm their mutual reconciliation, they engaged to entertain each other fplen- 
 didly at the approaching Chriftmas. 
 
 Harold, as foon as the feftival arrived, and It was his turn to entertain 
 his brother, provided whatever was moft rare, delicious, or magnificent, 
 for a fumptuous entertainment at his palace in Orphir. While the banquet 
 lafted. Earl Harold having by accident entered one of his rooms, found 
 Helga his mother, and his aunt Franquhark, employed in embroidering a 
 
 Y 2 fhirt 
 
164 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK U. 
 
 fhirt of fine linen ; and on his inquiring for whom fuch an expenfive and 
 beautiful piece of drefs was intended, they told him it was for Earl Paul 
 his brother. Enraged at the fuppofed partiality, he tore it out of their 
 hands ; and, notvvithftanding their entreaties, and even their infinuations 
 of its fatal quality, he refolved to put it on, whatever might be the con- 
 fequence. This he accordingly did ; and, as the fhirt was poifoned, it no 
 fooner came in contadl with his body, than he was feized with a ftrange 
 trembling, fucceeded by pain, infomuch that he was carried to bed, where,, 
 in a fhort time, he expired in the moft extreme agony. 
 
 Paul, who now, with the entire confent and cordial approbation of the 
 inhabitants, had entered into full pofTeffion of the iflands, began to turn 
 his thoughts to the plot that had been formed againft him ; and, being con- 
 vinced that thofe execrable wretches had intended that diabolical prefent for 
 his deftrudion, took meafures for expelling both them and their attendants 
 from Orkney. 
 
 Helga, Margaret her daughter, Franquhark, and Erlend the fon of Harold, 
 when they were driven from Orphir, went over to Caithnefs, and thence 
 travelled farther into the country, till they reached the lands of Franquhark, 
 that are fuppofed to have lain in Sutherland. There they continued for 
 feme time hatching new plots, which they were not long in having ready 
 for execution. 
 
 In the mean time, a competitor arofc from a different quarter, who put 
 in his claim for a fhare of the earldom, and interrupted the repofe of Earl 
 Paul and his fubjeds. 
 
 Kolus, who had now married the daughter of Erlend, and fifter of St. 
 Magnus, chofe rather to live on an eftate which he had inherited from his 
 father, in his native land, than refide on that given him by his fovereign 
 in this country. He had a fon named Kolius, after his grandfather, who 
 was greatly diftinguiflied, among the young men of his time, no lefs for 
 the uncommon beauty of his perfon, than for his various accomplifliments. 
 His ftature did not exceed the ordinary fize ; his limbs were finely propor- 
 tioned ; his hair was of the colour of the amethyfl: ; and fuch an excellent 
 education had he received, that from a poem, faid to be yet extant, it ap- 
 pears that he was acquainted with nine of thofe arts which were then held 
 
 in 
 
GHAP. IV. TILL TIIFY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 165 
 
 in the higheft eftimation. He could play fl^ilfuUy at chefs, and make ufe 
 of the Runic charafters ; read books, compofe poems, dexteroufly handle 
 the oar; was well ikilled in mufic; could fkate with wooden fhoes on the 
 fnow ; and, befides all thefe accomplifhments, that were highly valued, 
 he could alfo work curioufly in wood and iron. By virtue of thefe en- 
 dowments, combined with an elegant form and an amiable difpofition, he 
 foon infinuated himfelf fo much into the favour of his fovereign, that he 
 created hiin an earl ; granted him, at the fame time, as heir of St. Mag- 
 nus, one half of the iflands, and gave him the name of Ronald, after 
 Ronald the fon of Brufius, whom the queen dowager had declared to be 
 the handfomeft and fineft gentleman of all the earls of Orkney. But fo 
 long as the whole property was in the hands of another, the title was only 
 an incumbrance ;- and the grant, however well Intended, could be confi- 
 dered in no other light than an empty name. To render both a fubftantial 
 benefit, commiffioners were difpatched to make requifition of half the 
 earldom, and, in cafe of compliance, to hold out fuch proffers of friend- 
 fliip as it became one relation to fliow to another. They were received 
 by Earl Paul with haughtinefs and contempt ; and to their demands he 
 proudly replied, that he would give up no part of his cfiate to a remote 
 relation, to the exclufion of the fon of his fifter or brother, whofe right 
 was unqueftionably much better ; and that, if it was attempted to be 
 wrefted out of his hands, he would defend it by force of arms, as long as 
 he was able himfelf, or could be fupported. by his friends, and the provi^ 
 dence of God. 
 
 As foon as they received this anfwer, the commlfTioners, agreeably to 
 their inftrudions, direded their courfe acrofs the Pentland Filth, and ex- 
 peditioufly repaired to Franquhark, and her friends, with offers of friend- 
 Ihlp, and one half of the iflands, on condition that they would enter into 
 alliance with Earl Ronald, and affift him with all their force in the war. 
 againft Earl Paul, In which he was likely foon to be engaged. 
 
 Franquhark, and her fifter Helga, had by this time formed very im- 
 portant connexions in Scotland, by the marriage of Margaret, Hacon's 
 daughter, to Maddan Earl of Athole, who was a man diltinguifhed for 
 his j\-ealih and his power, and was at the head of the nobility, on ac- 
 
 count 
 
l66 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 count of his connexion with the Royal family. But all this good fortune 
 had not been able to erafe from their minds the memory of paft tranf- 
 adions, in which they had contracted much guilt : their pride had been 
 wounded, their ambition blafted, their avarice defeated, and they burned 
 with refcntment againfl Paul, whom they confidered as the caufe of all 
 their difappointments. 
 
 Befides all this, they had alfo an earned: defire to fee young Harold in 
 the enjoyment of his grandfather's dignity and eftate. For thefe, and 
 fome other reafons, the two fillers joyfully received the intelligence of 
 Ronald's defigns : they received his ambafladors with joy ; they applauded 
 his application to them, and the meafures which he meant to purfue; and 
 promifed to be ready to fupport him by the middle of next fummer, when 
 they expedled Ronald would be over, and have his forces in readinefs to 
 join them. 
 
 The commiffioners had no fooner returned to Norway with this pleafing 
 anfwer, than Ronald, confiding in fuch powerful allies, began to en- 
 tertain the mod fanguine hopes of fuccefs, and found little difficulty to 
 infpire thofe whom he meant to employ in the enterprife with the fame 
 expedtations. During that winter, aided by his father Kolus, he made 
 every preparation for the intended expedition. Some men of eminence 
 encouraged his afpiring views ; many adventurers of note joined the ar- 
 mament ; fo that in a flhort time the Earl found himfelf at the head of a 
 fleet of fix fail, well ftored and fufficiently manned. The weather foon 
 aferwards proved favourable, and he failed for Shetland, where he arrived 
 fafe, but was detained fome time by contrary winds. If he had been 
 adtive and zealous in one quarter, Franquhark had been no lefs fo in ano- 
 ther ; and {he had now eleven fail of fhips completely equipped, and ready 
 at the time agreed upon, to join thofe of her ally, in order to promote 
 their refpe£tive views. 
 
 In the mean time, Earl Paul recdved the firfl notice of the danger 
 that threatened him, when he was in the Ifland of Roufay, at an enter- 
 tainment prepared for him by Sigurd of Weftnefs, his prime counfellor 
 and confidential friend. To this place he fent for Kugius and Thorkel 
 Flettar, men of "eminence in VVeftray, on purpofe to confult them and 
 
 Sigurd 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 167 
 
 Sigurd what meafures were mod proper to be adopted ; and as they gave 
 very different opinions, he followed the plan fuggefted by his own courage 
 and honour, which was, inftantly to procure what force he could, and go 
 out boldly and attack the enemy. All his friends concurred, and cheer- 
 fully contributed their afliftance in fitting out a fmall fquadron of five ihips, 
 with which he intended to fliil diredly for Shetland ; but on weighing 
 anchor, notice was brought him that a fleet was feen off Pentland Frith, 
 fleering to the north, which made him alter his refolutiou. This was 
 Franquhark's, as he conjectured, confifting of eleven fail, commanded by 
 her grandfon Aulver Rofta, fon of Thaliot of Barkwick, which he wifely 
 determined to engage, before they could join Ronald ; and, for this pur- 
 pofe, (leering to the caft of Deernefs, he engaged them with fuch effedt, 
 that he took five of them, and put the reft to flight. After he had pur- 
 fued them along the eaft coaft of the mainland, and paft South Ronald- 
 fay, as far as the Pentland Frith, he returned and manned the fhips which 
 he had taken from the enemy : thefe, together with his own, and two 
 galleys that he had received as a reinforcement, now formed a. fquadron 
 of twelve fail. Trufting to thefe, elated with fuccefs, and availing him- 
 fclf of the high fpirits his men were in from their recent vidory, he failed 
 for Shetland, where he had reafon ftill to exped the enemy; and betore 
 any intelligence of cither his intention or his approach was received in 
 that place, came on them fuddenly, and took by furprife the whole of 
 Ronald's fleet, which he carried in triumph to his own country. Being 
 now in great force, he repofcd himfelf for a little, received the congratu- 
 lations of his friends on his wonderful and unexpected fuccefs, entertained 
 them fplendidly, and received affurances of their future fidelity, and of 
 their affiftance, to put the earldom in fuch a porture of defence, as would 
 enable it to repel that invafion which he had reafon to dread would fliortly 
 take place. To render the meafures adopted for that purpofe the more 
 effedual, it was unanimoufly agreed, that light-houfes (hould be eroded in 
 the feveral iflands, in order to warn the people of approaching danger, 
 from every quarter ; but efpecially from the coaft of Shetland. The Hrft 
 of thefe was creded on the Fair-lfle, as being neareft to that country ; 
 the fecond on North Ronaldfay ; the third on Sanday ; tlic fourth on 
 2 Weftray j 
 
l68 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II, 
 
 Weftray ; the fifth on Roufay ; and the reft were to be difpofed among the 
 other iflands, in fuch a manner, that the inhabitants could not fail to be 
 apprifed of an enemy's approach fufficiently foon. 
 
 In the mean time, Earl Ronald, as foon as he could find fhips In which 
 to embark the fcanty remains of his army, returned home with fhame and 
 forrow, and was the firft that bore the unpleafant tidings of his unfortu- 
 nate difafter to his own country. His father Kolus, who was a man of 
 great fenfe, revived his drooping fpirits, by affuring him, that his friends 
 were ready to aid him in fitting out fuch an armament as would be fuffi- 
 cient to renew the enterprife ; which, if he were of the fame fentiments 
 ■with him, they fhould render famous, either by their own fall, or by their 
 obtaining the objed at which they aimed. The King himfelf, with whom 
 he was a fpecial favourite, was the firft to prefent him with a royal galley. 
 His friends, following fuch an illuftrious example, furnifhed men and 
 fhips; and by his own exertions, united with thofe of his father, he was 
 in a fhort time commander of a fleet of fix (hips, full of intrepid warriors, 
 and other fix loaded wath provifions and miUtary ftores. After all were 
 ready, and previoufly to embarkation, Kolus, who was the foul of the 
 operations, in a full aflembly of their friends, in order to give more dig- 
 nity to the enterprife, and to enfure their confidence, had recourfe to an 
 expedient that (bowed clearly he was no ftranger to the human heart. 
 
 He ftated, that the lands in queftion had been the property of his uncle 
 St. Magnus, who had a much better right to them, and was more power- 
 ful than thofe by whom they were now held. To him therefore he ought 
 now to apply for affiftance ; from him he ought to requeft the pofleflion 
 of them, as an inheritance, to which he had an undoubted right. He 
 ' therefore exhorted his fon to make a folemn vow to St. Magnus, that if 
 he would grant him thofe lands (at which he pointed) as his patrimony, he 
 would build in Kirkwall a church, in magnificence far excelling any that 
 had ever been built in thefe iflands ; which {hould be dedicated to him, and 
 which fhould have revenues appropriated amply fufiicient for its fupport; 
 that the bones or aflies of the faints fhould be tranfported thither, and that 
 it fliould henceforth be the feat of the bifhops of Orkney. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 169 
 
 The propofal was applauded by the whole affembly as replete with wlf- 
 dom : Ronald, with filial reverence and affedlion, complied with his fa- 
 ther's advice i the vow was made ; St. Magnus was invoked to efpoufe 
 their caufe ; and the moft entire confidence was repofed in him, that he 
 would crown their labours with final fiiccefs. 
 
 Though the Earl formerly had met with difafters, no fooner had he 
 performed this pious deed, than, according to the accounts of the age, 
 heaven and earth began to fmile on the projected enterprife ; the fky be- 
 came mild and ferene ; the weather fair ; the fea fmooth ; and a gentle 
 breeze fprung up from the eafl:, to waft his fleet in fafety to the wilhed for 
 fliores. Shetland was the place where he firft landed ; and there, inftead 
 of that refiftance which he expeded, he met with congratulations from the 
 people, who flocked to him in numbers, to engage in his fervice, and 
 furnilh him with what information he ftood in need of, with regard to the 
 fituation of affairs in Orkney. The fcene was now totally changed ; for, 
 inftead of that gloom with which he had been furrounded, all things wore 
 a cheerful afpedl ; and fortune fcemed determined to perfecute his relation 
 Paul with as much feverlty as {he had done him on a recent occafion. But 
 whatever confidence he might have in the fupport of St. Magnus, or in the 
 courage and fidelity of his troops ; however much he might be elated with 
 hope, from the favourable turn of his affairs, he did not confider it prudent 
 to negleifl thofe ftiratagems that might annoy and weaken the enemy. 
 
 He therefore ordered fome of his fmaller veflels to be rowed toward the 
 Orkney ifles, and the men to lye on their oars, and raife their fails a little, 
 to give them the appearance of a fleet at a diftance. During the day, they 
 were raifed higher and higher ; and, by the time they were hoifted to the 
 maft-head, they exhibited the refemblance of a fleet near at hand, and very 
 formidable. 
 
 This ftratagem, which was intended to raife difturbance among the 
 people, by fpreading a falfe alarm, foon had the defired efled. In confe- 
 quence of what was confidered as an approaching danger, the fires were 
 kindled on the light-houfcs to give the appointed alarm ; the leading men 
 aflemblcd, and were foon joined by the inferior ranks from every quarter ; 
 but when, to their furprife, no fleet could be feen, they were at firlt in fuf- 
 
 Z pence, 
 
IJO TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK 11. 
 
 pence, and foon afterwards they became fo enraged at their fuperlors, and 
 particularly at the Earl, who, they imagined, had called them from their 
 bufmefs without any reafon, that they could fcarcelv be prevailed on to 
 return home, without raifing fome dangerous commotion. 
 
 Another expedient was adopted, that had fome influence in embarraffing 
 the one Earl, and feconding the views of the other. A man of fome faga- 
 city and refolution was prevailed on to remove with his family to the Fair- 
 ifle, and to pretend that he had been ftript of all he had by Ronald's fol- 
 diers, and that he was compelled to take refuge there to preferve his life. 
 So well did he a£t his part, and he and his fons fo ingratiated themfelves 
 with the inhabitants, by their readinefs at all times to ferve them, that no 
 fufpicion whatever was entertained, that they had come over with any finifter 
 defign. Attentive, however, to the bufmefs with which they .were entrufted, 
 they employed every dark night in drenching with water the wood intend- 
 ed for the light-houfe ; fo that, when Ronald's fleet adually appeared, no 
 art could kindle it, or make it burn, fo as to ferve the purpofe of a fignal 
 of alarm to the iflands. 
 
 By thefe and other means, the Earl feeured the confidence of his friends, 
 and diminiflied the power of the enemy ; and, availing himfeif of their 
 Ignorance of his approach, and their confequent fecurity, he landed fafely 
 in the ifland of Weftray, without the fmalleft oppofition. The fame happy 
 fuccefs attended him in other places. Many of the moft confiderable in- 
 habitants haftened to rank themfelves under his banner ; their friends and 
 followers were as forward in joining them ; fo that he foon faw himfeif at 
 the head of fuch a refpedtable force, as to be able to contend with his foe 
 on equal terms. 
 
 No fooner had Paul received information of his arrival, and the alarm- 
 ing progrefs he had made in gaining over the people to efpoufe his caufe, 
 than he began to confult thofe in whom he had the greateil confidence^ 
 what courfe he ought to fleer, to avoid the impending fl:orm. Diftradted 
 with different counfels, and uncertain, perhaps, of the fidelity of even 
 thofe who yet adhered to his intereft, he requefted the interference of 
 Bifhop William, and prevailed fo far, that, by his judicious mediation, a 
 truce for two weeks was obtained, in order that matters might be better 
 
 ar- 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. I7I 
 
 arranged for bringing the points In dlfpute to fome termination. That 
 interval, which the Earl meant to have fpent with his friend Sigurd of 
 Weftnefs, partly with a view to receive his advice, and that of his other 
 friends, and partly for the purpofe of feftlvity, proved fatal not only to 
 his caufe, but even to his liberty. The Earl had a particular favourite, 
 whofe name was Olavc of Galrfay, a man of high rank, married to a lady 
 named Aflief, deicended of an honourable family, and diftinguiflied for an 
 heroic difpofition, who, though they belonged to this place, lived at 
 Dungfbay In Caithnefs. Among other children, they had a Ton, whofe 
 name was Swein, to which he added that of Adief, from his mother. 
 This Swein, the fon of Aflief, who difcovered himfelf afterwards to be a 
 man of a daring fplrit, much fagacity, and of a refllefs difpofition, lived In 
 Caithnefs with his father, till their houfe was burnt by Aulvar Rofta at 
 the infligation of Franquhark, when he found It a matter of expediency to 
 fly that country, and take refuge under the protedion of the Earl of Ork- 
 ney, who then refided in Orphlr. 
 
 There, Paul had a magnificent palace ere£ted on an eminence, behind 
 which there was a gentle declivity, and above it a hill ; and, on the other 
 fide of the mainland, the bay of Forth, in which is the ifland of Damfev 
 with a caftle on it, of which the governor at that time was Blain, the fon 
 of Thorflein of Fiddernefs. In this palace was a large hall, calculated to 
 contain a great many gueRs. In the fouth wall, and near the eafl: corner 
 which joined the fides of the court, was a door, and, before It, an elegant 
 chapel, to which there was accefs by that door from the hall or dinlno-- 
 room. To a perfon entering the court, there was, on the left hand, a larr^e 
 vaulted cellar, in which were laid up many large cafks full of ale, and in 
 the palace, another door oppofite to him, that led to a drawino-.room. To 
 this fpacious and hofpltal abode, the Earl had invited his friends to fpend 
 the Chriftmas. This they feemed to have done, with a due mixture of 
 innocent mirth and unaffeded piety, till a quarrel, founded on an old fa- 
 mily feud, unhappily arofe. In which Swein, the fon of Aflief, flew Swein 
 Buftrop, one of the Earl's braveft fervants. As this deed feemed to have 
 been done, in a great meafure, In felf-defence, it might, of confequence, 
 have been cafily pardoned, and, in all probability, would have been fo, had 
 
 ^ a he 
 
172 TRAN-SACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 he delivered himfelf inftantly to juftlcc or mercy ; but his neglefling to do 
 this, fo much offended the Earl, that Swein thought it prudent to make all 
 the hafte he could to avoid his vengeance. In order to this, he took re- 
 fuge the firft night in the caftle of Damfey; thence he went to Eglefay, to 
 ftate his circumflanccs to Bifhop William, who, on hearing his cafe, advifed 
 him to lofe no time in removing to a friend of his in the weftern illands. 
 Thither he went without delay, and remained fome time pondering on his 
 treatment ; and, on that account, foftering in his breaft the keencfl: refent- 
 nicnt, and breathing nothing but vengeance. In this temper of mind, he 
 went over to the Earl of Athole, and his wife Margaret the daughter of 
 Earl of Hacon ; and with them fpent fome time in hatching many wicked 
 plots, among which this was one, to feize Earl Paul, and carry him a pri- 
 foner into Scotland. 
 
 To that Earl and his wife, who fo earneftly defired to have their infant 
 fon Harold raifed to the earldom of Orkney, no fcheme could have been 
 devifed that was more acceptable ; and therefore nothing was wanting, on 
 their part, to confirm him in his defign, and enable him to execute fuch a 
 defperate enterprife. Incited to adion by their flattery and promifes, no 
 lefs than by his own defire of revenge, and his natural propenfity to attempt 
 whatever was bold and perilous, he equipped a galley, on board of which 
 he put thirty men feleded for the purpofe ; and, fleering dirediy north, 
 failed by the weft coaft of the mainland, through Evie Sound, for the iOand 
 of Roufay. As he approached the fliore, he concealed many of his men, 
 to prevent their raifing an alarm by their appearance ; and, under the pre- 
 tence of being merchants, come for the purpofe of traffic, he accofted the 
 firft inhabitants he faw, from whom he learned, that the Earl was ftill 
 there, and at that time amufing himfelf with catching otters, in the caves 
 formed by the fea in a promontory on the weft end of the ifland. 
 
 The objedl he had moft at heart, feemed now to be gained ; and an op- 
 portunity fo favourable was not to be negle£ted. He landed his men, and 
 haftened to the place, where he cut to pieces the moft of his guards, with 
 the lofs only of fix of his own men ; feized the Earl, in fpite of all his re- 
 fiftance, and dragged hina on board his galley; with which he immediately 
 
 2 failed 
 
CHAP, V. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 1 73 
 
 failed the fame courfe he came, till he reached Murray, whence he travel- 
 led with his prifoner by land to Athole. 
 
 To this" day, along the fliore between Skebrohead and the houfe of 
 Weftnefs, there is a plain on which are vafl: ruins, and graves that have 
 been found to contain fwords, helmets, beads, combs, and fome other ar-. 
 tides ; and the name of Svvendro, which that place ftill bears, points it out, 
 with much probability, as the fcene of that nefiirious capture. 
 
 The unfortunate Earl was no fooner introduced into his fifier's houfe, 
 than he was kept in clofe confinement, in conftant dread of immediate 
 death; fo that the only means he could devife for his fafety, was to convey to 
 young Harold his nephew, all his right and title to the earldom of Orkney, 
 which he accordingly did. 
 
 Meantime, various were the conjedures with refped to v^hat had befallen 
 him, and his friends iuffcrcd a painful ftaie of fufpence. Amidfi: the gene- 
 ral uncertainty, many innocent perfons were fufpeded, efpecially fuch as 
 had fliown an inclination to lean to Pvonald's fide. Doubts and fears were 
 entertained by many ; for, as he had been feized fuddenly, and carried off 
 with equal fecrecy and expedition, no certain information of what had been 
 his fate, could poffibly be obtained. 
 
 Swein's arrival from the foiith foon afterwards put an end to all this 
 anxious uncertainty, and fubftituted lorrow and lamentation in the room of 
 thefe doubts and fears ; for that bold warrior declared openly, by the mouth 
 of the Bilhop, into whofe protedion he had again put himfelf, that Earl 
 Paul was now in the clofe cuftody of the Earl of Athole, and in a condition 
 that totally difqualificd him from ever returning to his native land. His 
 countrymen, among whom he was much beloved, having heard the parti- 
 culars, mourned his unhappy fate, and were inconfolablc that they had it 
 not in their power to effed his delivery. 
 
 From his life it appears, that though he was well qualified to condud 
 the bufinefs of war, he difcovered no avcrfion to pacific mealures. His 
 manners were more gentle than were common in that age ; he was gene- 
 rous to all, particularly to his friends ; both in public and private he Iboke 
 little ; and he employed others to fpeak for him, in thofe afiemblies of his 
 people which he fometimes found it convenient to hold. 
 
 Ronald, 
 
174 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, DOOK II.. 
 
 Ronald, now that his rival was removed, was ralfed, by the univerfal 
 confent of the inhabitants, to be fole Earl of Orkney. As foon as he found 
 himfelf firmly afid tranquilly fixed, he began to think of performing his 
 vow, which, on a former occafion, he had fo folemnly made. His father 
 Kolus, who had advifed the meafure, was prefent, and was ready to lend 
 his aid in its execution. He ordered the materials, and whatever elfe was 
 neceflary for the building ; he marked out the form and dimenfions, and 
 appointed the workmen their refpe£live taflcs ; and, when the foundation 
 of that magnificent ftrudlure had been laid, and the work advanced rapidly 
 for the firft year, but languidied in the two fucceeding for want of money, 
 that wife man advifed his fon to repeal that law by which the Earls fuc- 
 ceeded to the feus, on condition that the proprietors would purchafe that 
 privilege, at the rate of a mark for every ploiighgaitg^ to be applied in 
 finifliing fo religious a work. 
 
 His fon, the Earl, faw the propriety of the propofal, and cheerfully 
 complied with his advice ; and no fooner had he called an affembly of the 
 gentlemen to make the overture, than all heartily agreed ; and the money 
 raifed from that fale, was found fufficient to finirti the noble edifice of the 
 Cathedral of St. Magnus, which is, to this moment, an interefting objedt 
 to every man of tafte, and the ornament not of the town only in which it 
 is fituated, but of the whole iflands. 
 
 The flridl performance of this vow, which was juftly regarded as a pious 
 deed, together with his mild and equitable adminiflration, procured him 
 the affedtions of the people. 
 
 When he had been about two years in poffeffion of the whole earldom, 
 an embafly arrived from the Earl of Athole, at the head of which was 
 BiHiop John, demanding one half of Orkney for his fon Harold, in whofe 
 favour his uncle Paul had refigned his entire claim, and engaging, that if 
 that demand were complied with, Harold fhould be under the diredion of 
 Earl Ronald, not only in his earlier, but in his riper years ; and, in any 
 difference that might arife between them, Ronald's will fhould be the law. 
 
 To this demand, which appeared reafonable, Ronald was not of a temper 
 to make any objedion ; and, therefore, during the enfuing Lent, he went 
 over to Caithnefs ; and, on the very terms propofed, entered into, and con- 
 cluded 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. I75 
 
 eluded a treaty of frlendfhip, as the foundation of future tranquillity. la 
 order to render it more tinn and permanent, it was confidered as proper to 
 communicate that league to their refpedlive countrymen ; and this bein"- 
 done, it was ratified by a moll folemn oath of the nobles, of both Orkney 
 and Scotland. 
 
 Harold, now a partner in the Earldom, came over with his new friend 
 Earl Ronald, and, in company with them, a man of the name of Thorbiorn 
 Clark, to whofe care was entrufted the young Earl's education. This man 
 was brave, ftrong, and of great agility ; well calculated for conducting mat- 
 ters of importance, at the fame time that he was proud and arrogant, and 
 made no fcruple to violate the laws of integrity. He had married a filler 
 of Svvein, the fon of Aflief, with whom he lived on terms of pretty 
 ftri£l friendlhip, founded on a fimilarity of charader; and refided fome- 
 times in Scotland, and fometimes in Orkney. Under his tuition, however, 
 young Harold feems to have made great improvement ; and he and his 
 illuftrious relation lived together with the cordiality of brothers ; fo that all 
 the branches of the widely extended Earldom flourilhed greatly under their 
 joint dominion. 
 
 Such a favourable opinion did Earl Ronald entertain of Harold's under- 
 ftanding, and fuch was the confidence he repofed in his juftice and wifdom, 
 that, when he formed the refolution of travelling into diftant countries, he 
 committed the whole management of affairs to him, though he did not 
 exceed twenty years of age ; and the manner in which he conducted him- 
 felf in that truft, fhowed that it could fcarcely have been placed in better 
 hands. 
 
 The very year in which Ronald departed for Conftantinople and the 
 Holy Land, the King of Norway, trufting to the abfence of the one Earl, 
 and the youth and inexperience of the other, refolved to eftablifh or renew 
 his fovereignty in the iflands. For this end he arrived in South Ronaldfay, 
 with a number of troops en board a formidable fleet: and, as foon as he 
 learned that Harold, in the abfence of his relation, had gone over to Caith- 
 nefs, he made all the difpatch in his power to crofs the Frith; firft captured 
 his ftiip in the road ; and then feized him in the town of Thurfo, while he 
 was under no apprehenfion of danger. Having thus got him into his power, 
 
 it 
 
IjG TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 it was eafy to prefcnbe terms ; he therefore compelled him to pay feveii 
 marks of gold ; and publicly to acknowledge, that he held at prefent, and 
 would in future hold, the earldom from the crown of Norway. 
 
 Hard as this muft have been to a young man in his circumftances, his 
 prudence and refoliuion were foon put to a much more fevere teft. 
 
 Scarcely two years had elapfed from the departure of Ronald, when a 
 claim was made on his eftate by Erlend, the fon of Harold the Orator, 
 who, after the death of Count Ottar, had for the moft part lived at Thurfo; 
 fometimes in the Weftern Ifles ; and was, according to the cuftom of that 
 age, frequently employed in predatory expeditions. Great hopes were 
 entertained refpeding this young nobleman. 
 
 He was affable to {uch as were of an inferior rank; generous to his 
 relations and his friends ; extremely willing to liftcn to good counfel ; and 
 thefe, with many other excellent and amiable qualities, fecured him the 
 efteem of his foldiers, and the attachment of his dependants, of which the 
 number was very confiderable. 
 
 The grant of half of Caithnefs, with the title and dignity of an Earl, had 
 been conferred on him by Malcolm, King of Scotland, as they had been on 
 his father before; and when he came to take poffeffion, he availed himfelf 
 of circumftances to demand one half of the iflands. 
 
 Harold, attentive to the charge with which he was entrufted, and con- 
 fident of his own fuperior ftrength, refufed all compliance, as equally un- 
 fuitable to his intereft, his charadler and his dignity; and when the gentle- 
 men of the country interefted themfelves in favour of the claimant, and 
 urged the propriety of complying with his demand, he refifted their impor- 
 tunity, and perfifted firmly in his oppofition. A peace, however, was at 
 length agreed on, to continue for the fpace of one year ; and, in the mean 
 time, the half of the earldom was to be yielded up to Erlend, provided he 
 obtained the confent of the prince who then ruled in Norway. 
 
 Without lofs of time, he embraced the firft occafion to fail for that 
 country, and had caufe to congratulate himfelf on his fuccefs, in as far as 
 he readily obtained from that monarch every right that he could give to 
 the eftate that Earl Harold then poffefled. He now returned home, pleafed 
 and elated with his fuccefs in this refpedt, in hafte to demand the fulfil- 
 ment 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. I77 
 
 ment of the agreement ; and when the Earl refufed to fulfil the deed, he, 
 by the afliftance of the bold and fagacious Swein, the fon of Aflief, 
 aflaulted his caftle with fire and fword, which, though defended with 
 bravery, he would have foon reduced to afties; had not Harold confented, 
 in prefcnce of many gentlemen of the country, to deliver up the half of 
 the illands to him ; and, at the fiime time, fworn folemnly that he would 
 never afterwards demand reflitution. Hiving thus far accompliflied the 
 objed he aimed at, he convened an aflembly, at which all the inhabitants 
 attended, and laid before them the rights he had received, which, upoa 
 accurate examination, being found valid, they all cheerfully agreed to 
 transfer tlieir obedience to him. 
 
 Earl Ronald, returning foon afterwards from his eaftern travels, was 
 informed of all that had paded ; and, in a meeting held on purpofe to 
 fettle the new arrangement, is was, after much deliberation and many ar- 
 guments, at laft agreed, that the iflands fliould be equ:dly divided between 
 Ronald and Erlend, who ftipulated to combine their force to oppofe Ha- 
 rold, or any one elfe that fhould venture to invade them. This agreement, 
 which, on the part of Ronald, had been entered into more from neceffity 
 than choice, and in dired violation of former engagements, was not of 
 long duration. 
 
 Harold, after being conftrained to part with his eftate, and deliver it, 
 with all its rents and emoluments, irrevocably into the hands of his enemy, 
 haftened indignantly into the fouth to his friends ; and as foon as, by 
 their aid and his own influence, he had raifed an army adequate to the 
 end in view, he returned to the north with as much precipitation. By 
 the time he reached Caithnefs, Ronald, who had been in the adjacent 
 country, met him ; and foon afterwards, in a meeting held in the Caftle 
 of Thurfo, both of them, without fcruplc or hefitation, difregarded the 
 treaties which they had folemnly entered into with Erlend, and entered 
 into a new one between themfelves. Neither of them wanted ftrong 
 motives to adopt this difhonourable meafure. The intereft of at leaft one 
 party was deeply concerned ; they were intimately conneded by the ties 
 of blood, of early, long, and intimate fricndfhip, and the ties of guardian 
 and ward, which were perhaps as ftrong as any of them ; and thefe confi- 
 
 A a derations 
 
173 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 derations appearing fuperlor to all others, prevailed with them to exclude 
 totally their other relation, and make between themfelves a new partition 
 of the earldom. This partition-treaty was no fooner finiflied, than the 
 two Earls, happy in the company and fricndlhip of each other, failed for 
 their refpeflive feats with a fleet of fourteen fliips ; and having touched firft: 
 at Widewall, and then at Scapa, it was confidered as moft convenient to 
 ftation the whole of them in the harbour of Kerfton, near Stromnefs. 
 
 In the mean time, Eriend and his friend Swein being at South Ronald- 
 fay, when the firft notice was brought them, of the recent agreement into 
 which the two Earls had entered at Thurfo ; and, having neither military 
 nor naval force fufficient to oppofe theirs, wifely refolved to avoid open 
 and avowed war, and to try the efiecft of ftratagem. "With this view they 
 went over to Caithnefs, as indeed their fafety at that time didated, and 
 there caufed a rumour to be fpread, that they, regardlefs of what had hap- 
 pened, were bufy in making preparations for, and had their minds fully 
 bent on a weftern expedition. 
 
 To throw the Earls more effedlually off their guard, and thereby execute 
 their plan with iefs hazard and more certainty, they embarked their troops ; 
 and, weighing anchor, rowed with all poflible vigour along the north 
 coaft, till they could no longer be defcried from Orkney, when, putting 
 about, they failed back fpeedily with a favourable gale, and, by a fudden 
 furprife, took the whole fleet, while the Earls themfelves had a very nar- 
 row cfcape ; and foon afterwards, to avoid farther danger, fled with a few 
 attendants only into Caithnefs. 
 
 Eriend, now in poflTefllon of the whole naval ftrength, and indeed the 
 entire diredion of the whole iflands, had the precaution to confult his 
 principal officers with refped to the harbour in which his fleet fhould be 
 Rationed, in order to be moft free from danger, readieft for attack, and, 
 at the fame time, moft convenient for obfervation. Swein, with his ufual 
 penetration and fagacity, declared in favour of fome of the fine harbours 
 in Waes, while others ftrenuoufly contended for the Bay of Frith, by the 
 ifland of Damfay ; which, though certainly inferior in moft refpeds, was 
 preferred, perhap?, on account of its vicinity to Kirkwall. As the fhips, 
 therefore, lay very near the ifland, the Earl fpent his time on board his 
 
 ihip 
 
 \ 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL TIIEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. I79 
 
 fhip and in the Caftle of Damfay, indulging himfelf with his frIenJs in 
 focial intercourfe, with too little apprehenfion of furprife or dread of dan- 
 ger ; and, in this ftate of injudicious fecurity, and in the abfence of Swein, 
 who had gone to Sandwick, to fettle fome domeftic matters, he was fud- 
 denly attacked by the two Earls ; and, before his men could come to his 
 relief, flain in a ftate of fliameful intoxication. His body, as foon as it '154. 
 could be found, was taken up, and carried to Kirkwall, where, with due 
 regard to his dignity, it was depofitcd in the cathedral. 
 
 From this time, the two Earls lived in the utmoft harmony, as indeed 
 they had done, with only one interruption, ever fince Earl Paul's cap- 
 tivity ; and neither any ferious attack from without, nor commotion from 
 within, for a length of time, happened to difturb their tranquillity. Happy 
 in each other's friendfhip, and the efteem of their countrymen, they per- 
 formed with pleafure their refpedive duties, and amufed themfelves occa- 
 fionally with hunting and lifhing ; and, while Harold confined his atten- 
 tion moftly to private matters, public affairs were under the management 
 of Ronald, in virtue of the original contract. 
 
 This union, which had been fo firm, cordial, and lafting, was, how- 
 ever, foon diflblved by the hands of an aflaffin. 
 
 Thorbiorn Clark, the preceptor of Earl Harold, was a man of ftrong 
 and unruly paflions ; and had conceived the moft violent refentment 
 againft Ronald, for an ad of banifliment which he had pafled againft him, 
 on account of fome criminal adion. In his exile, he lived fometimes ia 
 the fouth, with the King of Scotland, and fometimes lurked privately ia 
 Caithnefs, with all parts of which he was well acquainted. 
 
 According to cuftom, the two Earls had crofTed the Frith, with a view 
 to fpend the fummer in hunting wild goats and roes in the mountains of 
 Gaithnefs and Sutherland. This was too favourable an opportunity for 
 Thorbiorn to negled. With three companions, of a charader in moft re- 
 fpeds fimilar to his own, he haunted the fecret places of the country 
 through which the Earl was likely to pafs ; and, as foon as he obferved 
 him feparated a little from the reft of his party, he, with his defperadoes, 
 ruftied out from a den in which they had been lurking, and ftabbed Ronald 
 with the moft barbarous cruelty. 
 
 A a 2 Thus 
 
l8o TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK 11. 
 
 Thus fell that generous, affable, humane, and, for the age he lived in, 
 accomplifhed nobleman, to the unfpeakable lofs of his friends, and the 
 unfeigned grief of his countrymen. His body was conveyed to Thurfo, 
 whence it was carried in ftate, by his friend Earl Harold and the Orkney 
 gentlemen, to their own country, and laid in the church of the Holy 
 Virgin ; and, upon the Pope's order being given to rank him in the num- 
 ber of the faints, it was removed thence, and depofited in the Cathedral of 
 St. Magnus. He left only one daughter, whofe name was Ingigerde, 
 married to Eric Stagbreller, to whom (he bore three fons and as many- 
 daughters. Though all thefe furvived their grandfather, and had an un- 
 doubted right to his real, no lefs than his perfonal eftate,. Harold, without 
 any fcruple, entered into the poffefTion of the whole earldom. The youth, 
 perhaps, of thefe grandchildren, their want of friends and power to com- 
 bat the influence of their experienced and ambitious rival, might have been 
 the caufe of his obtaining fo eafily, and enjoying for a confiderable length 
 of time, what belonged to them, without oppofition. A great deal, how- 
 ever, of both the power and fuccefs of this Earl depended on the exertions 
 of Swein, the fon of Aflief, in not only fupporting his intereft, and for- 
 warding his views, but in fpreading far and wide his military fame. 
 
 In an age when martial achievements were the moft honourable employ- 
 ment, and piracy was pradifed by men of even high rank without 
 difgrace, this man was an eminent character ; and his mode of life ex- 
 hibits a rude pidure of ancient manners. His extraction has already been 
 pointed out. He was driven from Caithnefs by the machinations of an , J 
 
 enemy ; and, taking refuge in Earl Paul's court, he was forced to fly the ■ 
 
 earldom for the murder of one of that Earl's fervants; he concerted plans " 
 
 for his ruin ; and, finally, in their execution, he feized that very EarHn 
 the midfl: of his friends, and carried him captive into a foreign country-. 
 Befides all this, in union with Erlend, he artfully contrived, and as 
 promptly executed, a flratagem, which cofl: the Earls at once the lofs of 
 their whole fleet j not to mention many other fignal adtions for which he 
 was equally renowned. 
 
 His eftate feems to have been very extenfive ; and his principal refidenc6 
 was in the ifland of Gairfay ; chofen, perhaps, on account of its vicinity to 
 
 the 
 
CHAP IV. TILL TIIEV BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. i8r 
 
 the mainland, and its centrical and plcafant fituation. His caftic, on the 
 banks of the fea, was conveniently fituated, and commanded a pleafant and 
 extenfive profpeft ; it contained a very large hall, for accommodating a 
 number of guefts, friendp, and retainers. Here he kept eighty men, qua- 
 lified for very different kinds of labour, bound by interefl: and affe^ftion to 
 promote his advantage, to receive his orders, and to avenge his caufe. In 
 fpring, he employed tliem in cultivating the ground and fowin"- the feed • in 
 which he was not only prefent to diredl and encourage them, but to nfCiil 
 with his own hands. The fummer was, for the moft part, fpent in predatory 
 expeditions, particularly to Ireland and the Weftern Ifles. Harvefl: called 
 them home to reap and gather in the crop. And the gloomy months of 
 winter were devoted to feflivity. Thus did he fpend many years • till 
 embarking in what he intended as his laft expedition, for vvliich he had 
 made great preparations, he took the city of Dublin, and impofed on the 
 inhabitants very hard terms. They, however, afterwards placed an am- 
 bu{h, in which he and many of his followers were cut in pieces before 
 they could extricate themfclves. His death was lamented by thofe who 
 had been devoted to his will and had tafted his bounty ; and alfo by Earl 
 Harold, who regretted the lofs he had fuftained, the more that he was 
 foon afterwards involved in a war, in which his afliftance would have been 
 of the utmoft impoitance. 
 
 The war to which we allude, took its origin from young Harold, the 
 grandfon of St. Ronald by his only daughter. He had now grown up, 
 and imagined himfelf in a fituation to attempt the recovery of his grand- 
 father's part of the earldom. 
 
 To the monarchs both of Scotland and of Norway, he applied for in- 
 veftiture ; and to neither of them was his application in vain. But though 
 he had acquired from both a grant of the lands, and had been di"-nified 
 with the title of an Earl ; and though, in virtue of thefe, he had made a 
 demand, in order to obtain peaceably his right, the temper of his oppo- 
 nent, no lefs than the fpirit of the times, convinced him, that arms were 
 the only means to which he could effedually have recourfe for that pur- 
 pofe. He therefore levied forces with the utmoft fpeed ; he difpatched 
 fpies to examine the ftate of the illands ; he confulted with his friends 
 
 2 what 
 
l82 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK 11. 
 
 what plan It was mod expedient to adopt in that exigence ; and, while he 
 was thus employed, the enemy's army appeared, which, on landing, fliowed 
 great fuperiority in point of numbers. This circuraftance, which might 
 have damped his hopes, did not, however, intimidate him from preparing 
 for the battle. The onfct was defperate on both fides ; and they continued 
 to fight with the greateft obflinacy, till the army of young Harold, difpi- 
 rited by the fall of many of their leaders, took to flight ; during which 
 Harold himfelf dropt down dead of the wounds that he had received in 
 the engagement *. His relationfliip to the faint produced wonders ; for 
 a bright beam of light blazed on the fpot where he fell ; the ground 
 was held in veneration ; and on it a church was eredled to perpetuate its 
 fandtity. 
 
 After this vi<Slory, which added fplendour to the arms of Harold, he 
 found no difficulty in fubduing the whole of Caithnefs ; but he had fcarcely 
 returned to Orkney in triumph, on account of that conqueft, when he was 
 apprifed of a much more formidable enemy. 
 
 The King of Scotland had no fooner heard what had been done In the 
 North, and in particular of the death of young Harold, on whom he had 
 conferred the county of Caithnefs, than he exprefled his indignation at 
 the treatment which that Prince had met with, and threatened to take fignal 
 vengeance on the Earl of Orkney. To fhow that he was In earneft, he 
 fent meffengers to Reginald, fon of Gudrod, king of the Weftern Ifles, to 
 ftate the provocation which he had received from Harold, and to take 
 the proper meafures to engage him to avenge his caufe. This man was 
 one of the moft noted warriors of the Weft, and, like many of the an- 
 cients, had not been under a roof for three fucceffive years. Fond of 
 hazardous -enterprife, he readily undertook the tafk, for which he Imme- 
 diately prepared, and foon recovered Caithnefs ; and to render his fervice 
 ftlU more complete before he returned home, he cftabliflied governors for 
 keeping the country in fubjedlion, and for the adminiftration of civil 
 affairs. 
 
 Harold, In the mean time, diflembled his knowledge of thefe tranfa£lions, 
 as well as of the King's interference and defigns, till the departure of Re- 
 
 * Torfjeus. 
 
 ginald j 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 183 
 
 ginald ; which had no fooner happened, than he difpatched trufly fervants 
 to cut cfi" thefe rulers, and foon followed with a large army himfelf, which 
 he landed at the town of Thurfo, and threw the inhabitants into the 
 greateft confternation. 
 
 John, the Bifhop, in order to allay their fears, undertook to mediate in 
 their favour, and advanced boldly to meet the Earl for that purpofe ; but 
 the bilhop was no fooner in his pcwer, than he, regardlefs of his facred 
 charader, ordered him to be mutilated in the moft barbarous manner. 
 Diflatisfied even with this adl of vengeance, he entered the town, fined 
 foine of the people ; others he punill,ed in their perfons ; and compelled 
 all of them, without diftindion, to fwear allegiance to him as their fove- 
 reign lord. 
 
 Deputies from that county foon found their way to the Scotifli throne, 
 inflruifted to make loud complaints of thefe, and many other ads of op- 
 prefTion. The Prince who then ruled was fo enraged, that he raifed a great 
 army, which he marched expedltioufly to the confines of Caithnefs, in order 
 to take vengeance on the Earl for thus daring to infult his authority. 
 
 Harold, on the other hand, was not an idle fpedator of his prepara- 
 tions ; nor was he deftitute of means for his own defence ; for he had col- 
 leded a band of brave warriors, to the number of upwards of (even thou- 
 fand, with whom he determined to difpute the vidory with the Scotifli 
 monarch, provided honourable terms of accommodation could not be ob- 
 tained. He thought it prudent, however, to found the royal inclination 
 upon that fubjed, and ambafladors were dilpatched with overtures for that 
 effed ; in confequence of which, he obtained pardon for the outrages he 
 hsd committed, and was reinftated in the poflelTion of Caithnefs, as for- 
 merly enjoyed ; on the very hard condition, however, that both he and the 
 inhabitants fhould confent to pay no lefs than a fourth part of their property 
 to the King. 
 
 His fon Torphin was, either on this or fome fubfequent occafion of the 
 fame nature, delivered to the King as an hoftage, in fecurity for his father's 
 performing the ftipulated terms j and as thefe v/ere not performed, the eyes 
 of the unhappy youth were put out. 
 
 Though 
 
184 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 Though William, the fiifl: refident prelate, was a man of much note, 
 neither tlie exaOi time, nor the circumftances of his death, are mentioned ; 
 which, however, muft have happened at a very advanced age, during the 
 greateH: part of which he feems to have difcharged the duties of his facred 
 fundtion, with honour to liimfelf, and advantage to his country. To hira 
 fucceeded another of the fame name ; but we are not informed how long 
 William the Second filled the fee, what charader he bore, or how he con- 
 duded himfelf while he held that dignity. The only circumftance on re- 
 1 188. cord concerning him is his death, which took place towards the clofe of the 
 twelfth century. ' ^ 
 
 With his fucceffor we are rather better acquainted, owing perhaps to this 
 circumftance, that he was a native of thefe iflands, and moreover of illuf- 
 trious birth. His mother, Herbiorg, was a defcendant of the Earls, and his 
 father, Kolbem Hranga, was a man of much confideration and fpirit : he 
 built the caftle of Weir, to which he gave his own name; and fortified it 
 fo ftrcngly as, in that age, to be deemed impregnable. 
 
 Biran was the name of his fon, who, in his youth, was of a promifing 
 genius, and inftruded in thofe arts that qualified him for the profefTion 
 of a northern bard or fcald, which he feems to have followed for fome 
 time ; he was afterwards raifed to the epifcopal dignity. He was much 
 celebrated for the grandeur and power of his family, which was numerous; 
 and no lefs for his own magnificence and generofity. He lived in terms 
 1223. of the moft intimate friendlhip with Harold; and died, after he had dif- 
 charged the duties of his facred fundion for upwards of thirty years. 
 
 Soon after the agreement between the Earl and the King of Scotland, a 
 o-reat commotion arofe in Norway, occafioned by a pretender to the Crown, 
 whofe intereft Harold unfortunately fupported ; and fuch refentment did 
 his condud, in this refped, kindle in the breaft of the fuccefsful monarch, 
 that he was on the point of plunging the Earl into the deepeft diftrefs. To 
 ward oft' the blow that threatened him, he repaired to the court of the 
 offended fovereign, where his caufe was powerfully pleaded, and where, on 
 fubmitting himfelf to the royal clemency, he received afturance of perfonal 
 fafety, but was puniflied, for what was confidered as his treafon, by the lofs 
 
 of 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL TH£y BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND, 185 
 
 of Shetland, which, on that account was taken from his earldom, and an- 
 nexed to the Norwegian crown. Fines were alfo impofed on fuch of his 
 friends and countrymen as had joined him in efpoufing the fame unfortu- 
 nate caufe. But no fooner had Harold heard of the King's death, and that 
 the kingdom was torn to pieces by new factions, than he confidered himfelf 
 as delivered from his engagement, took immediate podeflloa of Shetland, 
 and reftored every thing in Orkney to the fame Hate in which it had been 
 previoufly to the late rebellion. This was among the laft ailions of that 
 extraordinary Earl, whofe life had been aiitive and profperous. He died at I19S. 
 the advanced age of feventy-three years. 
 
 As he had received the Hrft rudiments of his education from his mother 
 Margaret, the moft beautiful and accompliflied, though at the fame time 
 the mod crafty and ambitious woman of her age ; and as he had been 
 afterwards entrufted to the tuition of Thorbiorn, whofe paflions often 
 ruled without controul ; fo, many of his actions fliowed but too plainly 
 the influence of the example and education which he had received in 
 early life. 
 
 His capacity was fo extenfive, that it fitted him almoft equally for ma- 
 naging military operations, and conducing civil affairs : his mind was pru- 
 dent and penetrating ; his perfon flately and robuft : but his countenance 
 was unpleafant, and his ambition reftlefs and inordinate. 
 
 David and John, his fons by a fecond marriage, fucceeded him In the 
 earldom of Orkney, as Henry, their elder brother of the half blood, had, 
 by fome means of which we have no information, obtained the earldom of 
 Rofs in Scotland. They fcem both to have been men of a mild, placid, 
 and moderate temper, as they lived in much greater concord than was 
 common for perlbns of their rtation and circumftances in thofe turbulent 
 days. Their country, under their influence, and in imitation of their ex- 
 ample, enjoyed at the fame time internal peace. But, ihoiigh they were fo 
 fortunate as to preferve peace at home, they were not able to avoid being 
 involved fometimes in the commotions and contefts of their neighbours. 
 
 In almoft all thofe convulfions that often fliook, and fometimes over- 
 turned the throne of Norway, thefe iflands were fome way or other in- 
 volved. If a pretender to the crown, the head of a fadion, or the ring- 
 
 B b . leader 
 
lS6 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK IT. 
 
 leader of a rebellion, had recourfe, as they very often had, to this country, 
 and were fufFered to lurk in fafety, or were not openly and dire£lly oppofed ; 
 both rulers and people were fiippofed to have approved of their meafures, 
 and to have been implicated in their guilt, and were therefore often coa- 
 demned to fhare in their punirtiment. 
 
 This feems to have been the cafe, during the infurre£bion of the Bagli, 
 which raged with fuch violence. The Earls, therefore, aware of the danger 
 that threatened them.^ took the precaution to fend their bifliop as ambafTador 
 to Norway, to make, if poffible, their peace with the crown. This he could 
 not efFedl thoroughly ; but prevailed fo far as to procure them pcrmifTion 
 to appear in that country to plead their own caufe. luftead of advancing 
 anything in their own vindication, they thought it more expedient to 
 proftrate themfelves at the foot of the throne. The King, as a punifhment 
 for what he confidered a defedion, exaded from them a large fum of mo- 
 ney, by way of fine, and obliged them to deliver hoftages, in fecurity of 
 their future loyalty; to which he alfo bound them by an oath: and after- 
 wards, he not only granted them a plenary pardon, but reftored to them 
 their rights, and their former pofleffions. 
 
 About two years after the death of Earl David, who did not long furvive 
 this fettlement, Sculi, who held the third part of Norway, began, from 
 ambitious views, to meditate a new revolution. He therefore wrote letters, 
 fealed with the royal fignet, to folicit Earl John's affiftance, and took many 
 other fteps in the profecution of his defign ; but his ill- concerted plans 
 were foon difcovered, and as foon fruftrated, and his premature attempts at 
 innovation efFedually crufhed. 
 
 Soon after this, an event took place, that merits fome attention ; not 
 only on account of its fingular nature, but likewife as it is delcriptive of 
 the manners of that age. Immediately after the death of John bilhop of 
 Caithnefs, Adam, a foundling, was appointed his fucceffbr. Ke created 
 much difturbance in that province, by his rigorous exaCtion of tithes ; 
 which, however, was not fo much attributed to any avarice of his, as to 
 the bad counfel which he had received from a monk of the name of Serlo, 
 his companion. The people, notwithftanding, bore it with impatience ; 
 and when they found his demands not only fevere, but increafing annually, 
 
 they 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SDBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 1S7 
 
 they began to aflemble together, in fuch a manner, as to (how plainly that 
 they were dlfpofed to proceed to violent meafures. They previoufly, how- 
 ever, found means to flate to Earl John their oppreflions, of which they 
 complained bitterly, and intreared his interference to alleviate or remove 
 them ; and, when he declined interpofing, their difappointmeut, co-ope- 
 rating with tlie remembrance of their fufierings, drove them to extremity. 
 The hill on which they had convened was at no great diflance ; they ruflied 
 down it with impctuofity, and furrounded the bifliop's palace, in an upper 
 room of which, Adam himfelf, and the chief judge were then drinking ; 
 and when Serlo the monk fallied forth, with a defign to attempt a pacifica- 
 tion, he received, as the reward of his evil counfel, a blow on the face, 
 that inftantly proved mortal. Matters now wearing a very feiious arpe(ft, 
 the prelate, proud and pofuive as he was, (looped to offer terms, which the 
 wifel\ of the people would have probably accepted ; but the multitude in 
 the mean time hurried him to a fmall houfe, to which they fet fire ; and he 
 was thus burnt to death, before his friends could get forward to cxtinguiih 
 the fire, or to refcue him. His body, which was found not very much 
 burned, was buried with great folemnity. 
 
 Alexander, who then fwayed the fceptre in Scotland, no fooner heard of 
 his unhappy fate, than he made all the hafte in his power to punilli fuch 
 atrocious offenders; and all of them fuffcred death, had their goods confif- 
 Cated, were mutilated, profcribedv or driven into banifhment. 
 
 Crelcftine the Fourth, who then filled the papal throne, took alfo a deep 
 concern in the matter ; for he is faid to have idlicd a bull, in which he 
 thanked that monarch for afleiting the honour of the church, in the fignal 
 punifhment which he had inflided on the murderers of the bifliop ; who, 
 ■with his companion Serlo, obtained the crown of martyrdom, and a diftin- 
 guiflied place in the Roman kalendar. 
 
 The* rebellion of Sculi, like almoft every other that happened in that 
 country, feems to have involved the iflands in frefli troubles ; infomuch, 
 that Earl John found himfelf under the neceflity of going over to make his 
 peace with King Haco, which he effedcd ; and, in fccurity for his future 
 behaviour, left as an hoftage his fon Harold, who was afterwards drowned 
 in that kingdom. From that time no unplcafant interference feems to have 
 
 B b 2 taken 
 
I&S TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK Ilr 
 
 taken place, no diftiirbance nor quarrels to have arifen betweeti them : 
 their refpcdive duties appear to have been performed, and they themfelves 
 to have lived on terms of reciprocal amitv. 
 
 In prcof of this, it may be obferved, that when the Earl was with the 
 ?.hViOt of Icolmkil, and the bifliop in that kingdom, he met with fo much 
 refpc£t and attention, that, on his return home, he thought himfelf bound 
 to fend prelents to the King ; in return for which, he received, befides 
 other articles of value, a beautiful fhip, completely equipped. 
 
 Happy, perhaps, it would have been for him, and undoubtedly for his 
 country, had he cultivated or preferved the fame good underftanding with 
 Hanef, the King's fervant and colledor. This man had been ftationed in 
 Orkney for the purpofe of colleding the fines impofed, and perhaps other 
 revenues belonging to the fovereign ; and, as the bufinefs was of a delicate 
 nature, it required the utmoft prudence and moderation. Thefe qualities 
 he does not feem to have poflelTed in a high degree ; and they were by no 
 means increafed by his counfellors ; among whom was a man of the name 
 of Snackoll, a defcendant of St. Ronald Earl of Orkney. Proud of his 
 high birth, and ambitious to obtain wealth and honour, he pointed out the 
 relation in which he flood to this illuftrious Earl, ftated the right he con- 
 fidered himfelf as having to his lands, and demanded them in form from 
 the Earl ; and, when he met with an abfolute refufal, an altercation enfued, 
 which fo exafperated both parties, that Snackoll either apprehended, or pre- 
 tended to apprehend, danger ; and fled to Hanef for protedion. As foon 
 as autumn arrived, both parties, with their friends, went over to Caithnefs ; 
 and having procured lodgings in different inns in the town of Thurfo, 
 notice was brought to Hanef and his companions to be on their guard, 
 becaufe Earl John had determined that very night to put a period to their 
 exiftence. Alarmed with this intelligence, they flew to arms, and aflaulted 
 the houfe in which the Earl then was, with fire and fword ; and, while the 
 unhappy vidim fled into a cellar, to conceal himfelf among the calks, he 
 was dragged forth and murdered. 
 
 Immediately after this cruel deed, Hanef, Snackoll, and their affociates, 
 dreading the refentment of the Earl's friends, fuddenly left the place, went 
 over to Orkney, and took pofleflion of the caftle in the ifland of Wier, 
 
 built 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL TilEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 189 
 
 built by Kolbem Hranga. This they immediately fortified, and carried into 
 it arms, and fuch other articles as they confidered neceffiiry for a fiege, 
 which they daily expedled. The event foon fliowed that their precautions 
 were neither unnecedary nor fruitlefs ; for the caftle was foon invefted 
 by the Earl's friends, and for a long time defended boldly; till both parties, 
 wearied with a fiege to which they faw no end, agreed to a fufpenfion of 
 arms during the winter ; and afterwards to ftate their refpedive difterences, 
 and fubmlt to the decifion of the King of Norway. The fummer had no 
 fooner arrived, than they, with a numerous train, repaired thither for that 
 purpo'e ; where they found Haco difpofcd to give a patient audience to the 
 Earl's friends, but fo enraged at the cruelty of the muiderers, that he put 
 fome of them to death. 
 
 Many of the inhabitants had been involved in this conteft, and had gone 
 over as parties, witnefles or fpedators, in order to bring it to a conclufion ; 
 but, on their returning home, a violent ftorm arofe, in which all of them 
 perilhed ; and the lofs which the country thus fuflaincd was fo great, that 
 it was long before it recovered its former condition. 
 
 In the narrative of events from the Scandinavian conqueft, we have 
 hitherto had recourfe for information to the Norwegian writers, of which 
 the principal are the Orkneyinga Saga, and the celebrated Torfa:us ; though, 
 for the fake of brevity, they have feldom been quoted. Thefe, and the 
 writers to whom they refer, we have preferred to the authors who have 
 recorded the tranfadions of our own country ; becaufe they appeared more 
 regular and confiflent ; and becaufe, on account of the intim.ite connexion 
 that fubfifted between thefe iflands and their country and its colonics, they" 
 had an opportunitv of more authentic information. 
 
 After the death of Harold and his two fons, David and John, however, 
 the information even from the Norwegian writers is lefs full and particular, • 
 though not lefs authentic. The cauie of its deficiency in thefe refpects- 
 may eafily be pointed cut. From that time thefe illands had lefs iuter- 
 courfe with Iceland, and they appeared of lefs confequence in the eyes of- 
 the mother country : the written records confequently vi'ould be much 
 fewer; and fome of thefe, amidft the convulfions and depredations of the 
 north, were mutilated, and fome entirely deftroyed. 
 
 Sail, 
 
IQO TRANSACTIOKS IN THE ISLA^Dg^ .SOOIC IT. 
 
 Still, however, we intend to follow Torfteus, as our bed guide through 
 the fubfecuent period ; calling in the aid of Scotifh writers occafionally, to 
 illuftrate his obfcurities, or to fupply his deftdts, till we fucceed in bringing 
 down the narrative to the time when the iflands were annexed to the 
 crown of Scotland. 
 
 ■,1131. Magnus the Second fucceeded John in the earldom ; but whc'herbe was 
 his fon or his brother, or a more remote relation, who, as heir at law, in- 
 herited his eftate and honours, we have no documents that can enable us 
 to determine. Some circumftances induce us to fuppofe, that he entered 
 into poflelTion foon after the murder of his kinfman : but as, in all the 
 fubfequent tranfadions refpedling that matter, no mention is made of him, 
 it is likely that, to preferve the peace of the country, he had carefully 
 avoided taking any concern. From him, Alexander, King of Scotland, 
 took the county of Sutherland, which had been confidered before as con- 
 ftituting a part of the earldom. In his time a Jewifh fhip was loft here, 
 probably of great value; but we are not informed from what country fhe 
 came, whither fhe was bound, or what were the articles of her cargo. 
 
 1239. Gibbon, or Gilbert, the Firft, we find his immediate fucceflbr in the earl- 
 dom. He held that dignity at the time that young Prince Haco was, with 
 his father's confent, and during his life, raifed to the throne ; and all ranks 
 in the kingdom, together with the inhabitants of Orkney and Shetland, 
 fwore fealty to him as their fovereign. He concurred with the King of 
 the Ifles in fending ambafladors to Haco, with information that commotions 
 were rifing in their refpedive countries. Thefe, it is probable, owed their 
 ■birth to foreign influence, and had been encouraged by Alexander the 
 Second of Scotland, in confequence of his fchemes of ambition. This 
 prince was fond of arduous enterprife, and had formed the defign of ex- 
 tending tl'.e limits of his kingdom, by recovering all the iflands on the weft 
 borders of Scotland, which fome of his anceftors had included in their do- 
 minion. To accomplifli his purpofe, he difpatched ambafladors to Haco, 
 with inftrudions to claim them as a part of his territory, and to demand that 
 they might be given up ; and if this requifition was not complied with, to 
 •offer a fum of money for their redemption. The demand met with a po- 
 Xitive denial ; the offer v;as treated virith difdain ; and after fimilar propo- 
 
 ikls 
 
GHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. I9I 
 
 fals had been made and rejeded, preparations for war foon took place, and 
 an armament was foon in readinefs, fo powerful, that the foverei,i:;n, in the 
 pride of his ftrength, boafted that he would never defift till he Ijad brought 
 the iflands around him under the yoke. Before he began his operations, 
 he fent meflcngcrs to the king of the H?jbud3e, with offers of perpetual 
 and much more extenfive territories in Scotland, than thofe he held in the 
 iflands, on condition that he would defert the intereft of Haco, and re- 
 linquifh his fealty to him, by delivering into his hands the four caftles 
 which that monarch had committed to his charge. Tliat prince, however, 
 greatly to his honour, ftedfaftly adhered to his integrity, notwithftanding 
 thefe temptations that were thrown in his way; and, to avoid the effc£l^ of 
 the king's refentmcnt, fled to the ifland of Lewis. The Scotifli nnonarch, 
 in the mean time, bent on his purpofe, took fteps to invade the iflands ; 
 and, as he lay in the harbour of Kialarfound, pondering on the nature, ex- 
 tent, and probable confequences of the undertaking in which he had em- 
 barked, he fell into a profound fleep, in which he imagined there appeared, 
 to him three men, very different in their form, ftature and afpcd ; who all, 
 however, concurred in diflfuading him from the execution of his defign, 
 and exhorted him to proceed no firther, but return home in peace. Struck 
 with the ftrangenefs of the vifion, he communicated to his friends what 
 he had heard and feen ; when, with one voice, they advifed him to lillen 
 to the admonition tiiat had been given him, and defift from the bufinefs 
 which he had begun. But, difregarding the admonition of the phantom, 
 (which, in that ignorant and fuperditious age, argued no fmall degree of 
 refolution), and paying as little attention to the arguments of his friends, he 
 obftinalely perfifted in his refolution to conquer, till a diftemner fuddenly 
 feized him, which was foon fatal. At this unexpeded and melancholy 
 event, the commanders of his fleet, and of his army, abandoned all farther 
 thoughts of the expedition, and, returning home, they placed his fon Alex- 
 ander the Third, though then a boy, on his father's throne. 
 
 The credulous iflanders alTerted, that the three perfons who appeared to 
 the King in his dream, to diifuade him from invading their country, were 
 St. Oiaus King of Norway, St. Magnus Kirl of Orkney, and St. Golumba of 
 lona, or Icolmkill. 
 
 The- 
 
192 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK M. 
 
 1246. The very fame year that Bifliop Biarn, who had aded fo confpicuous a 
 part, died, Jofuir was appointed in his room. Neither his talents nor his 
 charader are known. He held the Epifcopal dignity twenty-three years. 
 To him fiicceeded Hervey, or Haufir, after an interval of two years. He 
 
 I 269. filled the fee (but in what manner we know not) for the fpace of twenty- 
 one years. 
 
 1256. Gibbon, or Gilbert, the Second, was the fon of the former Earl of the 
 fame name. In the earldom to which he fucceeded on his father's death, 
 he held both Orkney and Caithnefs.* Some lime after his acceflion to 
 that dignity, he feems to have gone over to Norway ; for we find him, 
 though under another name, embarking with Haco, in his celebrated ex« 
 pedition againft the King of Scotland. 
 
 That monarch had received intelligence by letter, that a fon of the Earl 
 of Rofs had committed dreadfulravages in the Weftern Iflands, deftroyed 
 their towns, burnt their churches and monafteries, and butchered the inha- 
 bitants, without regard to age or condition. He was alfo informed, that 
 danger threatened them from another quarter, as the young King of Scot- 
 land, who had inherited his father's undaunted and ambitious fpirit, had 
 determined to fubjed the whole of thefe iflands to his dominion. Sympa- 
 thifing with the miferable condition of fuch a multitude of people, and 
 unwilling that fuch an extent of territory as they occupied (hould be torn 
 from his ally, or wrefttd out of his own hands, he employed the enfuing 
 fpring and fiimmer in equipping a vaft fleet, with which he failed, and ar- 
 rived firfl; at Shetland, and then at Orkney, and anchored in the harbour of 
 Elwick, in Shapinfhay, near Kirkwall. He foon failed for South Ronald- 
 fay, whence he fent meflengers to Caithnefs to demand tribute, threatening 
 to defolate their country with fire and fword if they rcfufed ; but, as his 
 demand was granted, he had no caufe to put his threats in execution. 
 During the time he lay in one of the harbours of that ifljnd, an almoft 
 total eclipfc of the fun happened. By a mind lefs firm and vigorous than 
 his, the phenomenon might have been confidered as an unlucky omen : 
 Put Haco, difregarding it, foon afterwards failed from this country with 
 
 * Wallace's Diploma. 
 
 8 unabated 
 
\ 
 
 CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. I93 
 
 unabated courage, and boldly entered the Wcftern Ifles, from fome of 
 which he received iiiccours ; fome he confirmed in their loyalty ; others 
 he intimidated or fubdued ; and fuccefs followed him wherever he went, 
 till he reached Cantire, Arran, and the Cumbraes, which were either unable, 
 or unwilling, to give him any oppofition. 
 
 In the mean time, Alexander, watching the rapidity of his progrefs, and 
 dreading, no doubt, that after the iflands had come under his yoke, Haco 
 might diredl his force againft Scotland, fent ambafladors to treat of peacfPj 
 but the terms which they propofed to each other for that purpofe were 
 fuch, as foon put an end to the negociatlon. Nothing could be more 
 againft the intereft of Haco than delay ; neither did it fuit his natural dif- 
 pofition : and therefore, when he could neither obtain peace, on what he 
 judged equitable terms, nor faw any profpedl that the Scots would come 
 to an engagement, he difpatched a party well fitted for fuch a fervice, to 
 plunder their country, in order to roufe their paffions, and provoke them 
 to a general adion. Even this infulting provocation had not the defired 
 effedt. 
 
 The well-known chara£ler of Alexander the Third, however, and the 
 bravery of his fubjeds, give us every reafon to believe, that their declining 
 to engage arofe from no daftardly fpirit, but was the effect of a wife plan 
 of procraftination, to which they were determined to adhere, founded on 
 the circumftances of the Norwegians. 
 
 Thefe people had been long from home ; the campaign had been as 
 troublefome as it had been tedious ; and the year was fo far advanced, that 
 ftorms were likely foon to arife, which, in thefe feas, amidft tides, rocks, 
 and {hallows, might in a great meafure weaken, if not totally deftroy, their 
 armament. To their fituation, in thefe refpeds, the Scots were no (Gran- 
 gers. ; nor in the difafters which they expeded, were they difappointed ; 
 for, while their fliips were at anchor in the road, a violent tempeft arofe, in 
 which fome of them run foul of each other ; fome were fliattered, fome 
 ftranded, and fome funk. The Scots faw the danger into which they were 
 thrown ; and, in that hour of calamity attacked them with vigour, in hopes 
 of obtaining an eafy and decifive vidory. In this, however, they were 
 difappointed } for thofe that were on land, few as they were in comparilbn 
 
 C c of 
 
194 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 of their foes, boldly fuftalned the fliock, and defended themfelves till their 
 friends came up to their afliftance, when the confli£l was both long and 
 defperate ; and, after many viciflltudes of fortune, they feem to have been 
 finally vid:orIous. 
 
 Haco, next day, fent men afhore to examine the field of battle, and 
 colled the bodies of the flain, which he honoured with a decent inter- 
 ment ; and having embarked his troops, and burnt fuch of his fliips as had 
 Twn aground, he fteered his courfe northward ; and, after a circuitous 
 voyage of fome length, he again arrived in Orkney, Here he retained 
 twenty fliips, having fent the reft home ; and as he had been prevented, by 
 contrary winds and ftormy weather, from failing, he refolved, with hiB 
 nobility, to fpend the winter in Kirkwall. He had for a lodging the 
 upper ftory of the BIfhop's palace, which ferved to accommodate him and 
 his principal fervanls ; while the other men of rank, his officers and their 
 dependants, were quartered through the other parts of the country. That 
 this might be done with more regularity and convenience, the iflands were 
 divided into Euflands, or Ouncelands, every one of which made the eighth 
 part of a Markland, and was deemed fufficient for the fupport of a chief 
 and his foldiers. 
 
 Debilitated with the extraordinary fatigues of the campaign, and dif- 
 treffed with forrow for the lofs of men and ftiips which he had fuftained,. 
 he no fooner reached the land, than he felt the attacks of a diftemper, 
 which, in a fliort time, confined him to bed. He foon perceived that hi3^ 
 life was in danger, when he appointed legacies for his courtiers and fer- 
 vants ; wrote to his fon Magnus inftrudtions concerning the management 
 of his affairs ; received extreme undtion from the hands of the prelates ; 
 1263. and, on the night of the feventh day after the feaft of St. Lucia, expired. 
 His body was foon afterwards conveyed to an upper apartment in the 
 epifcopal palace, drefied in a princely robe, with a garland on his head, 
 in an elegant coffin, to lye for fome time in ftate. The hall where it thus 
 lay, was fuperbly illuminated ; into which were admitted the bifliops^ 
 clergy, and fuperior orders of courtiers, to take alaft view of their beloved 
 Sovereign ; and, when thefe ceremonies were over, it was carried to the. 
 cathedral of St. Magnus, put into an outer coffin, and placed before St.. 
 
 Qi Magnus's. 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. I95 
 
 Magnus's (hrine, where, in a convention of the nobles, it was determined 
 to watch it, by turns, during the winter. 
 
 Agreeably to his commands, his debt and legacies were, during Chriftmas, 
 all paid off; and, as foon as the fpring arrived, and the weather permitted, 
 his remains were removed from the church to the Bay of Scapa, where 
 they were put on board the Admiral's galley, and conveyed to Bergen. 
 His fon Magnus, who now afcended the throne, had no fooner finiflied 
 the obfequies of his father, in a manner fuitable to his dignity, than he 
 began to turn his thoughts to the ftate of his kingdom, and the poflure of 
 public affairs. In particular, he dlreded his attention to the Wertern Ifles, 
 which formed a remote province in the vicinity of a foreign kingdom, that 
 was occupied by a warlike people, and governed by a Prince of the fame 
 brave and independent fpirit, to whom many of the ieaders in thefe iflands 
 were much attached. He confidered the expence of blood and treafure 
 that it would require to preferve in fubjedtion fuch a province, and the 
 fmall advantage, in the end, it was likely to bring to the ftate. To this 
 Prince, peace was alfo far more plcafant than the din of arms ; and 
 thefe confiderations rendered him more than ordinarily anxious to conclude 
 a peace with the Scots. 
 
 This was evidently the intereft of the one kingdom, no lefs than of the 
 other, and particularly (o of the iflands, which had been fo long unhap- 
 pily the objedl of difpute ; of which all parties at length became fo fen- 
 fible, that a negociation was entered into, and a peace eftablifhed. Tiic 
 terms on which it was concluded were, that the IQe of Man, the Hsebudic, 
 and all the reft, except Orkney and Shetland, fhould be ceded to the Scots, 
 who, on their part, agreed to pay a thoufand marks Sterling within the 
 fpace of the four fubfequent years, and a hundred marks annually ever after- 
 wards, in compenfation for the advantages which they had acquired. 
 
 With refpeift to the expedition that preceded this treaty, the writers of'^ 
 the two countries do not agree ; fince, while thofe of the one give the 
 fadls as Rated in the above narrative, thofe of the other affert, that the 
 iJlands were^orcibly taken from Haco ; who, by their account, had his 
 numerous army cut to pieces, and the few, that remained, completely fub- 
 dued. This account, however, is improbable ; becaufc, had matters been 
 
 C c 2 as 
 
196 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK 11. 
 
 as they reprefent tlie'm, his Ton could not in the treaty have obtained fuch 
 favourable terms. However this may be, the Earl of Orkney, in whole 
 time thefe tranfadlons happened (in which, perhaps, he bore a fhare), died 
 foon afterwards, and left a daughter, of the name of Matilda, and a fon, 
 who fucceeded him. 
 
 I26-. Magnus the Third was the name of this fon; who pofTelTed the fame 
 extent of territory which his father had done : And the only event that 
 deferves notice in his time, is a contract of privileges, entered into between 
 him and Magnus King of Norway. Little more is faid of him, than that 
 he left two fons, both of whom, in fucceffion, enjoyed his eftate and 
 honours. 
 
 1274. Magnus the Fourth was the eldeft of thefe ; who, after he had enjoyed 
 his father's fortune for the fpace of two years, was, on the feftival of St. 
 Olave, formally created an Earl by King Magnus of Norway. He died 
 without children, and was fucceeded by John his brother. 
 
 1284. John had both Caithnefs and Orkney in his earldom ; and was a nian. of 
 fuch confequence, as to marry a daughter of Eric King of Norway. 
 
 1 305- Magnus the Fifth was the fon of John, and moft probably the offspring 
 of that marriage. He feems to have been a Prince of a noble and inde- 
 pendent fpirit ; for, in the year 1320, he fubicribed the famous letter 
 to the Pope, along with the other earls, barons, freeholders, and community 
 of Scotland *. His eftate extended over Caithnefs as well as the Ifles; and 
 it was in his time, and perhaps in his favour, that the King of Norway 
 prohibited any within his kingdom to bear the title of an Earl, except the 
 King's fons and the Earls of Orktiey. Argifel and Eringifel, vvho are 
 mentioned by one author f only as his fucceffors, appear to have been one 
 and the lame perfon ; and if any fuch perfon ever exifted (which is at leaft 
 doubtful), it is probable that he poffeiled the title only, without the autho- 
 rity or the emoluments of the earldom. We are led to doubt his exlftence, 
 becaufe no mention is made of any fuch Earl in that refpedable and 
 authentic monument J which was extracted by authority from the archives 
 
 * Auds;rfon's Diplom. et Numifin. t Torfxus. X Diploni. App. No. i. 
 
 of 
 
 il 
 
 4 
 
I 
 
 CHAP. IV. TILL TUl'Y BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 197 
 
 of thefe iflands; and, therefore, there is reafon to conclude that the name 
 has, by fome miftake or other, crept into the annals. 
 
 The Epifcopal fee of this place we have already feen filled by Hervey or 
 Haufir, who, it would appear, was the fame perfon with Henry. He fcems 
 tO have fhared the efteem and confidence of Haco ; and was frequently 
 about him in his celebrated expeditions. He died fix years after that mo- 1270. 
 narch ; and was fucceedcd, two years afterwards, by Peter, who appears 
 to have been a man of mucli cnnfequence. Eric King of Norway appoint- 
 ed him one of the Commiffioners for negociating a marriage between 
 him and Margaret, a daut;hter of Alexander the Third King of Scot- 
 land. The treaty was finally concluded at Roxburgh, on the fellival of 
 the Apoftle St. James, in the year 1281 *; and the Bilhop died three years 
 after its conclufion f . 
 
 Two years after the death of this prelate, Dolgfennus was appointed his 1286. 
 fucceifor ; who feems to have difcharged the facred fundion for upwards 
 of twenty years. 
 
 William was next appointed to that office. He is mentioned in an in- 1310. 
 denture between Robert the Firft, King of Scotland, and Haco the Fifth, 
 King of Norway, at Invernefs. This prelate, fome years after his appoint- 
 ment, incurred the imputation of fuffering irregularities in his province, 
 and of even wanting decorum in his own charader. In order to afcertain 
 the truth or falfehood of this„ his fuperior the Archbifhop of Nidaros in 13 10. 
 Norway nominated two confidential perfons, whom he inverted whh powers 
 for that purpofe. Thefe men, in executing the trurt: repofed in them, at 
 firft found little to blame j but afterwards, on a more complete inve(tio-a- 
 tion, they had reafon to believe that the reports in circulation to the 
 Bifhop's prejudice were too well founded ; the grounds of which they had 
 no fooner related to their conflituent, than he pronounced fentence againft 
 him, in virtue of his paramount authority J. His refentment againft William 
 on this account, however, feems to have been foon appeafcd ; for, not long 
 afterv*ards, we find him mentioned among other prelates who had been 
 called to bear teftimony to fome Popifli deeds §. This apparent good 
 
 • Ryracr. f fortius. J Thoiktlin's Fragmcnti cf Eng. and Irlfli Hift. § Ucm. 
 
 undcrftanding, 
 
198 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 iinderflanding, indeed, was but of fhort duration ; as he again incurred the 
 difpleafure of the Archbifliop, firft by his undue interference, refpeding 
 the funeral of a lady of diftindion, and afterwards by not only throwing 
 into prifon, but fhipping off all the effedts of one of the canons of his own 
 country, whom the Archbifliops had thought proper to appoint to colleft 
 one of the taxes*. 
 
 This tax, which bore the name of St. Peter's Penny, may have been 
 introduced from England, where one of the fame name was raifed for 
 the benefit of the Papal fee for feveral centuries, and, as it had been found 
 inconfiftent with the condition of the people, feldom colleded ; fo that the 
 attempt to colled it now, might have appeared an ad of oppreflion ; and 
 the Bilhop's having viewed it in that light, might have been the caufe of 
 his treating the collcdorwith fuch extreme feverity. In fome way or other, 
 it is probable he had confidered it as contrary to law or juftice ; fince, in 
 other cafes, he was fo far from giving oppofition to cuftomary exadions, 
 that, on a certain occafion, he not only acknowledged the Papal tithes due, 
 but readily granted his obligation for their payment, which was afterwards 
 unqueftionably fulfilled here, as well as it was in Shetland *. 
 
 To William fucceeded another of the fame name, who was bafely mur- 
 dered in 1383 ; but the caufe of that infamous deed, the peifpetrator, and 
 the circumftances, are unknown f . 
 
 The male line of the ancient earls of Orkney had now failed in the per- 
 fon of Magnus the Fifth ; and a new race, fprung from a female branch, 
 were exalted to that dignity, who were not only natives of Scotland, but 
 internally conneded with that kingdom. 
 
 For feveral centuries paft, this earldom had made a confpicuous figure 
 in the annals of the north, not only on account of the extent of its 
 territory, but for the fpirit of its rulers and people, and its refpedable and 
 fplendid connexions. Befides Orkney, which was always confidered as 
 the centre of operation, and the feat of government, where the court and 
 little parliament were kept, the laws enaded, and juftice adminifterld, it 
 contained not only Shetland, but the counties of Rofs, and Sutherland, 
 
 • Thork. Fragments of Eng. and Irifli Hift. ' f Idem. J Torfjeus, p. 177. 
 
 and 
 
€HAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. I99 
 
 and Caithnefs, and had rendered tributary the Hxbudx, which were for 
 fome time fubjefted to its dominion. If to this be added the nature of 
 the foil and its particular fituation, lying along the Friths of Murray, Dor- 
 noch, and Pentland, and in the midft of the ocean that wafhes the (hores 
 of the Weft Highlands, and interfeds the Weftern and Northern Ifles, it 
 will appear evident that the people muft have fubfifted, in a great meafure, 
 by hiiniing and fifhing; and this mode of life would render them fo fit to 
 be failors and foldiers, as would naturally give the earldom a fignal influ- 
 ence in both the naval and military tranfadtions of thofe times. 
 
 Moreover, the ancient counts that fo long held it, were all of them 
 men of high rank, and fome of them of the moft fplendid talents. They 
 were conneded, by the ties of blood, with all the monarchs that then 
 ruled the north j and, in the retinue they kept at home, as well as in the 
 force they carried abroad, had much more the appearance of fovereigns, 
 than of fubjeds, even of the higheft denomination. But, amidft all their 
 grandeur, power, and dignity, it is pleafing to obferve, that their imitation 
 of the magnificence of Royalty did not lead them to Invade the rights of 
 the inferior orders, who feem to have been deftitute neither of the fpirit of 
 independence nor of liberty. The inferior nobility and the gentry were 
 conftantly their companions in peace, and their captains in war ; they aflift- 
 ed them with their counfel in any emergency ; and in thofe difputes that 
 took place between the contending earls, or fuch as were afpiring to that 
 dignity, they were frequently appealed to^ or called in as umpires ; and, 
 notwithftanding the ferocity of the age, in which arms too often triumph- 
 ed over juftice, their awards were fubmltted to cheerfully. In {hort, the 
 different orders feem to have refpeded the rights of each other; the lower 
 ranks looked up to their fuperiors with reverence ; the higher claffes re- 
 garded thofe beneath them with unafFeded klndnefs ; and, while all were 
 united in the bonds of mutual intereft and afFedlon, the country In which 
 they lived was profperous and happy, refpedablc in the eyes of its friends, 
 and formidable in thofe of its enemies. 
 
 Magnus the Fifth, the laft of the Norwegian Earls, left only one daugh- 
 ter, who was married to Malls Earl of Strathcrne, in Scotland, who pro- 
 bably enjoyed the earldom in right of his wife without queftion, as no 
 
 formal 
 
200 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II. 
 
 formal inveftlture feems either to have been fought for or obtained. A 
 claim, however, was made for this purpofe, by one Malis, in all proba- 
 bility a fon of that marriage, and a caveat entered to fecurc the revenues 
 in the country, till he had time to take the fteps that where neceflary for 
 obtaining what he confidered his right. 
 
 This Malis, who was alfo Earl of Scratherne, had been twice married ; 
 firfl: to a daughter of the Earl of Monteith, by whom he had a daughter 
 of the name of Matilda, afterwards married to Weyland de Ard. By his 
 fecond wife, who was a daughter of the Earl of Rofs, he had four daugh- 
 ters ; the eldeft of whom was married to William St. Clare, Baron of Rof- 
 lin ; the fecond, to Ginfel de Swetherick ; the third. to Gothred de Spere ; 
 and the youngeft died unmarried. Weyland de Ard had, by his wife Ma- 
 tilda, a fon named Alexander, who inherited the earldom of Caithnefs and 
 a certain proportion of Orkney, in right of his mother ; but he alienated 
 the former to Robert the Firft, King of Scotland ; and, after he had en- 
 1169. joyed his fl-iare, and been governor of the latter only for a fhort time, died 
 without children. 
 
 Even in his lifetime, however, and while the defcendants of the other 
 fifters were in pofTeffion of their refpedive parts of the earldom, Henry 
 Sinclair, fon of William by the eldeft daughter of the fecond marriage, 
 claimed the whole earldom, in right of his grandfather ; and Haco King 
 of Norway -granted it without hefitation. 
 
 He was perhaps induced to admit a claim (o evidently contrary to juf- 
 tice, on account of the troubles in which the country had been involved 
 for want of fome perfon inverted with fufficient power, and endued with 
 adequate talents to undertake the adminiftration. 
 
 Ever fince the death of Magnus the Fifth, no earl appears to have 
 refided in Orkney ; and indeed it was not to .have been expedted, fince 
 both his fon-in-law Malis Earl of Stratherne, and his grandfon of the 
 fame name, had not only intereft, but connexions fufficient to fix them 
 in another country. The female oiFspring of the latter, and their de- 
 fcendants (among whom the earldom feems to have been divided), could 
 rule only with a divided and feeble authority. The confequences were, 
 what might have been naturally expected ; commotions at home, where 
 
 the 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 201 
 
 the people were all nearly of the fame rank and fortune ; and deftru£llve 
 depredations from abroad, cfpeclally by multitudes of rovers from -Scot- 
 land. 
 
 In this feeble and diftracted ftate, Henry Sinclair obtained a grant of 
 them , and he feems to have embraced the firfl: favourable moment to 
 reprefent, in ftrong term?, their deplorable condition to his Sovereign. 
 The prince who then fwayed the Scotifli fceptre readily liftened to his 
 reprefentation and complaints ; and, offended at the irregularity of his own 
 people, as well as moved with compafTion for the unhappy fuffcrers, he 
 iflued a proclamation, prohibiting, under the fevereft penalties, any of his 
 fubjeds from entering Orkney, except for the fake of trade ; thefe iflands 
 having been almofl; defolated by people from his country. This peremp- 
 tory mandate feems to have had the defired effect. 
 
 To prevent any fuch calamity in future, as well as the anarchy that 1379. 
 had prevailed in the earldom. Earl Henry Sinclair wiflied to (Irengthen 
 his power, and confirm his right ; and for this purpofe repaired to Norway, 
 where the inveftiture which he had formerly obtained was renewed. As 
 he was, however, the fubjed: of another prince, a ftranger in that king- 
 dom, and a native of another, this renewal or confirmation was granted 
 on fevere and heavy conditions. Thefe were, that he fhould confider the 
 grant as an aO. of royal favour, and be bound always to fidelity : that he 
 Ihould ferve his fovereign, on three months previous notice, with one 
 hundred men completely armed, to be maintained while on adlual fervice 
 at the King's expence : that he fliould defend Orkney and Shetland, not 
 only with the native force of the iflands, but with the whole power of his 
 family connexions : that he fliould exert both thefe powers in aid of the 
 King of Norway, in cafe he was at any time attacked by a foreign ftate : 
 that he fliould build no fort or caftle within the precimfts of the earldom, 
 without the royal confent : that he fliould preferve to the inhabitants 
 the fecure pofleflTion of their laws, rights and privileges, and neither alienate 
 nor pledge the earldom, nor the right to it, on any account : that he fliould 
 be refponfible for his adminiftration, according to the laws of Norway, 
 and attend his Majefty in the national council, or on any other jufl: caufe : 
 that he fliould take no part with the Bifliop of Orkney, to his prejudice, 
 
 Dd or 
 
202 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK II, 
 
 or enter Into a contraifl with him, without the King's approbation or •son- 
 fent : that in cafe there fhould be a failure of heirs-male, the earldom 
 Ihould revert to his ^Majefty ; and, finally, that the Earl fliould pay a 
 thoufand nobles of gold, Englifti money *. 
 
 Though thefe terms were hard, feveral Scoti(h prelates, noblemen and 
 gentlemen, engaged as fureties for their performance ; and, as a farther 
 fecurity, hoftages were given and retained in that kingdom. The Earl, 
 who was now finally eftabliflied in his authority, feems, during his refi- 
 dence at court to have gained the favour of the fovereign ; and he was 
 in high efteem at home, both on account of his perfonal qualities, and his 
 being defcended from one of the firft families in Scotland. His anceftors 
 had originally come from France with William the Conqueror, and whea 
 that fuccefsful and haughty adventurer fuffered them to go unrewarded, 
 they left his court in diiguft:, and, in expe£lation of more favour, reforted 
 to that of the neighbouring ftate. There they met with a courteous recep- 
 tion ; and gaining the confidence of the prince, and the efteem of the 
 people, foon rofe to diftindion and wealth ; and by means of their loyalty, 
 talents and virtues, obtained fome of the higheft offices, which they filled 
 with advantage to the kingdom, and credit to themfelves. 
 
 Thefe confiderations, perhaps, feparately, or in conjundtion with the 
 dignity to which he had been fo recently railed, were the caufe that this 
 earl was ranked next to the archbifhops, and before all the bifhops and 
 fenators of the country, in fubfcribing a recognizance of Eric of Pomerania, 
 as juft and lawful heir to the Norwegian crown. He was alfo prefent, 
 138S. next year, in a convention of the ftates, aflembled for the purpofe of its 
 confirmation. After his elevation, to the difpleafure, if not to the detriment 
 or exclufion of his relations, whofe rights were nearly equal to his own, 
 his coufin Malis Spere for fome time refided in Shetland, where it is pro- 
 bable he was adive in ftirring up diffenfions againft the Earl, and inter- 
 fering with him in the management or in the coUedion of the revenues of 
 the earldom. For thefe, or fimilar reafons, a confiid happened between 
 him and the Earl, in which Malis Spere, with feven of his companions, 
 139 1, was flain, and the reft with difficulty efcaped, and reached Norway in a boat. 
 
 * Torfseus. 
 
 This 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY DECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 203 
 
 This illuftrious Eatl was firfl; married to a daughter of the King of Den- 
 mark, by whom he had no iflue ; and afterwards to Jean, daughter of 
 Waher Haliburton, Lord Dirleton, by whom he had, befides other children, 
 a fon, who fucceeded him. 
 
 Henry Sinclair was the name of that fon, who feems to have entered 
 Into the immediate poffefTion of the eaildom on the death of his father, 
 which, there is reafon to conclude, happened foon after the unhappy affair 
 with his coufm in Shetland. He appears to have been a perfon of no lefs 
 confequence than his father, of which the honourable appointment he about 
 this time obtained, affords fatisfadtory evidence. 
 
 Scotland was then in fuch a turbulent ftate, and the arm of government 
 fo feeble, that it was deemed unfafe for the young prince to remain for his 
 education in his own country ; and France, which had been the old friend 
 and faithful ally of the nation, was confidered as the place where he could 
 be inf\ru£led with equal fafety and honour in thofe arts that became his 
 high dignity. Henry Earl of Orkney was the principal perfon to whom 
 James the Firft was entrufled on that occafion, who had inllrudions to 
 carry him thither ; and while he was faithfully difcharging the trufl repofed 
 in him, and failing along the eaft coaf^, he landed at Flamborough, (either 
 driven in by ftrefs of weather, or with a defign to give the prince relief 
 from a violent fea-ficknefs), where both were detained, though in the 
 time of a truce, and, by order of the King of England, carried prifoners 
 to London*. 
 
 The prince was long kept in that country ; tut the Earl of Orkney was 
 foon liberated, or rather obtained leave of his Majefty to return to Scotland, 
 upon leaving his brother John as an hoftage for his returning as prifoner into 
 England by the following Chriilmasf . The very next year, he, with a fon of 
 the Duke of Albany, and others, obtained letters of fafe condudt for coming 
 into England, in order to be received as hoftages for the Earl of Douglas :{:, 
 He himfelf granted a power to his brother John, to redeem, in his name, 
 from Sir Walter de Lindfay, the lands of Johnfton and Thurmifton, in the 
 {hire of Mearns §. The fame John received from Henry V. a palTport 
 
 • Buthan. Hift. Scot. f Tad. Ang. J Ibid. § Hay's Mcmous. 
 
 Dd 2 intj 
 
204 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK If. 
 
 into England, in order to treat of the redemption of the King of Scots*; 
 and Henry himfelf another from the fame prince, for coming into England 
 with a retinue of twenty perfons of whatever degree, to remain till the 
 Auguft following f . John did homage to the king of Denmark ; but 
 whether on his own account, or in name of his brother Henry, who 
 1420. had commiffioned him fpecially for that effeft, there is no certainty. The 
 Earl died two years afterwards, leaving a fon named William, by his wife 
 Algidia, a grand-daughter of Robert the Second, King of Scotland. 
 
 William Sinclair fticceeded his father in the earldom, of which he had 
 fcarcely been in pofleffion one year, when he was propofed as one of the 
 hoRages to be given for the redemption of James the Firft ; and when that 
 redemption could not be obtained, he was foon afterwards put in the lift of 
 nobles that received a paflport for himfelf and twenty-four perfons to vifit 
 James King of Scots, then a prifoner in England J. 
 
 His father, almoft during his whole life, had been employed in bufinefs 
 of the utmoft importance, and, for this reafon, found little leifure to culti- 
 vate the acquaintance of that Sovereign, of whom he held the earldom, or 
 to renew the obligations, to which his father, on receiving the inveftiture, 
 had become bound. His fon William had begun the fame active and ho- 
 nourable courfe, and was likely to be guilty of the fame negledl ; and per- 
 haps the Danilh Monarch was not much difpleafed to fee fuch powerful 
 fubjedts of another prince fail to perform the conditions ftipulated on ob- 
 taining the grant, that he might have a plaufible pretext for depriving them 
 of the pofTeflion. 
 
 The two Bifhops of Orkney, who lived before this Earl, feem to have 
 made no great figure in public affairs, as they perhaps confined themfelves 
 to their facred fundlion. The name of the firft was William, who was 
 appointed in thirteen hundred and ninety, and is mentioned in the time of 
 1 294. Robert the Third, King of Scotland §. His fucceflbr, whofe name was 
 Henry, appears to have lived as privately ; for the only time he is men- 
 tioned, is in an aflembly of the prelates of Denmark and Norway, held for 
 a fpecial purpofe at Helfingburg 1|. 
 
 * Feed. Ang. f Ibid. % Ibid. § Spottifwoode. 1) TorfseiK. 
 
 Thomas 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 20^ 
 
 Thomas de Tulloch, or Thnlack, who fucceeded him in the fee, and iA.22, 
 ■was contemporary with Earl William, was a man of far more celebrity. 
 Letters ot fafe-condiKH: were granted to him and eight perfons in his retinue, 
 for a whole year, by Henry the Sixth, King of England *. He feems to 
 have been in much efteem with his own Sovereign ; for, when neither Earl 
 William nor his fatner had acknowledged his fupremacy, Eric committed 
 the Earldom to him, not as a pledge, or in fecurity for debt, but as a folemn 
 truft, to be executed with fidelity, and recalled at the pleafure of the King, 
 or that of any of his lawful fucceflbrs. This appears evident from the 
 tenor of his letters, on receipt of the commiffion, which exprelsly declare, 
 that he will govern the people with equity, and according to law ; maintain 
 peace among them, to the utmoft of his ability; and whenever it fhould 
 pleafe his Majefly, from whom he received the truft, or any of his fuccef- 
 fors to demand reftitution, he would readily deliver into their hands, not 
 only the calUe of Kirkwall, but the whole earldom f. 
 
 Though this prelate feems to have been well qualified for the truft, in 
 as far as he had the confidence of the prince, as well as the afFedlion of the 
 people, yet, to whatever caufe it was owing, his management, at this time, 
 Was only of one year's duration. 
 
 A Scotifli gentleman, whofe name was David Meyner, of Weims, fuc- » ^21 
 cecded him in the government; and the Biftiop himfelf, and Walter Frafer, 
 fubfcribed his obligation as fureties. This precaution, however, was of no 
 effe£t, as it could not fupply the defed of principle, nor reftrain within 
 due bounds, a man who feems to have been naturally addi(f!l:cd to arbitrary 
 fway and rapine. Within four years, his depravity difplayed itfelf in fuch 
 various ads of wickcdnefs, that the people who groaned under his power, 
 brought againft him no fewer than thirty-five articles of accufatlon, which, 
 on inquiry, proved to be fo well founded, that the tyrant was compelled to 
 abandon his fituation, or was driven from it with difgrace |. To redify 
 the diforders which fuch an adminiftration muft have produced, and reftore 
 
 IA2'7. 
 
 among the people contentment and tranquillity, Bifhop Thomas, whofe 
 charader was firmly eftablifhed, was, on the fame conditions as before, re- 
 
 •Ryracr, fTorfajus, f Ibid. 
 
 inflated 
 
2o6 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK 11. 
 
 Inftated In the government of the earldom, which, for feven years, he held 
 with honour. 
 
 If we had not known the extenfive property that Earl William poflefled 
 in his own country, the high dignity to which he had been raifed, and the 
 important duties which he had been called to perform, we Ihould have been 
 at a lofs to aflign reafons for the time he had fufFered to elapfe, previoufly 
 to his application for the inveftiture of his eftate. An opportunity, how- 
 ever, now occurred, which he embraced for that purpofe, and his attempts 
 were crowned with final fuccefs. But, even before this period, his intereft 
 does not feem to have been altogether negleded, fmce one of the articles of 
 charge againft Meyner was, that he had appropriated to himfelf rents which 
 belonged to the Earl, and had refufed to fet the public feal to the evidence 
 which he had brought to prove his rights. 
 
 Between his father's death and his preferring his claim, doubts had arifen 
 refpeding his right ; and other claimants had, it is probable, appeared, to 
 avail themfelves of that doubt. To clear up this matter, and to free him- 
 felf from applications from other quarters, as well as to do juftlce to this 
 celebrated charadler, Eric, King of Norway iffued an order to Thomas 
 Bifliop of Orkney and others, to fearch the archives, records, and all other 
 evidences, in order to afertain the point in difpute. That refpedtable pre- 
 late joined thofe that were named with him, to form a venerable jury for 
 executing the bufmefs ; and after having, in the moft folemn manner, 
 traced his pedigree from the very firft of the Earls, afcertained William's 
 IA14. right beyond the poffibility of contradidion*. As foon as this was re- 
 ported, he obtained inveftiture, and on the very fame terms on which it 
 had been formerly obtained by Henry Sinclair his grandfather. 
 
 This laft nobleman, it would appear, built the caftle of Kirkwall, with- 
 • out the authority or confent of his Sovereign, and contrary to the obliga- 
 tion into which he had himfelf entered ; and William, to atone for that 
 tranfgreflion, engaged to deliver it up, on receiving his Majefty's mandate 
 for that purpofe ; and many of his countrymen of rank and fortune be- 
 came his fureties for fulfilling his engagements in this and other refpeds. 
 
 * Diploma or Dedudion. FiJt Appendix No. I. & II. 
 
 Ever 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL TH£Y BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 20/ 
 
 Ever fince the Weftern Ifles were ceded to the crown of Scotland, the 
 money ftipulaied to be given on that account had been negledted to be 
 paid ; and, in a long courfe of years, the principal and intereft had arifen 
 to a confiderable amount. A threatening demand was made for it about 
 this time by Chriftian the Firft, who, Ibme years before, had afcended 
 the Danifh throne. He was the hrfl; of the houfe of Oldenburg, and had 
 at laft obtained the fceptre of the three northern kingdoms, Denmark, 
 Sweden, and Norway. He concluded an alliance with France, in order 
 to fix himfelf more firmly in the government. In the treaty, that formed 
 and fecured that alliance, the atimial of Norway (as this fum is ufually 
 denominated) was not forgotten ; for a fpecial article was inferted, that 
 in cafe any difpute Ihould arife with the Scotifti Monarch on that head, 
 recourfe (hoiild be had for afliftance to their new ally, the King of 
 France. 
 
 The objetft was worthy of attention, as the fum demanded was large. 
 Though only a hundred marks had been the fum ftipulated to be paid an- 
 nually, the penalty of ten thoufand for each failure was alfo charged ; and 
 the aggregate fum that was due, in the fpace of forty years negletft of 
 payment, had arifen to nearly ten millions fterling of our prefent money *. 
 Several fruitlefs negociations were therefore entered into refpedling the pay^ 
 ment ; and when both fides faw evidently that a rupture was likely to 
 happen, they agreed to fubmit the matter to the arbitration of France. 
 
 Commiflioners accordingly appeared for that purpofe before Charles 
 the reigning Monarch, who, averfe to offend cither of the parties, availed 
 himfelf of fome circumftances that occurred, as a pretext for delay ; and, 
 in the mean time, recommended, as a meafure of prudence, a marriage 
 between the young prince of Scotland and the princefs of Denmark, as an 
 eafy and honourable method of terminating their differences. After fome 
 deliberation, the Scotifti commiffioners, who feem to have been inverted 
 with powers for that purpofe, confented to the meafure, on condition that 
 the arrears of the annual were paid, and the payment for ever remitted ; 
 Orkney and Shetland given up to Scotland ; and that a hundred thou- 
 
 • Mr. rinkcrtou's Hiftory of Scotland. 
 
 fand 
 
208 TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, BOOK 11. 
 
 fand crowns fliould be given by Chriftian, for the purpofe of decorating 
 the royal bride his daughter, in a manner fuitable to the dignity of both 
 kingdoms. 
 
 The Danifh commiffioners, as they feem to have had no powers for con- 
 fenting to fuch a meafure, demurred, and craved time to confult their court ; 
 ?.nd while ihey were thus employed, the burfting of a gun at the fiege of 
 Roxburgh put an end to King James the Second's life. This event threw 
 the nation into the greateft confufion, as the prince was a minor. The 
 cabinet of Paris, therefore, flopped their proceedings, and recommended 
 deliberation. 
 
 Some years after James the Third had afcended the throne, Chriftian re- 
 newed his demand of payment of the atuiual, accompanied, however, with 
 the fincereft profeffions of regard, and ardent wifhes of amity with the King 
 of Scotland. 
 
 James, in return, was no lefs liberal in exprefTions of friend(hip for the 
 Danilh Monarch, whofc country had not only proximity of fituation, but 
 commercial connexions with his own, and promifed to fend ambaffadors, 
 properly empowered and entrufted, to fettle every point in difpute between 
 the two crowns. 
 
 Ample powers were of confequence Immediately conferred on commlf- 
 fioners, the chief of whom were Lord Evandale, Chancellor of Scotland, 
 Boyd Earl of Arran, and the Bifliops of Orkney and Glafgow, to vifit feve- 
 ral of the courts of Europe, in order to make choice of a wife for their 
 young Sovereign, and even to conclude a marriage, if they found that they 
 could do it on advantageous terms. 
 
 Notwithftanding the comprehenfive nature of" their commiflion, which 
 feems to have been intended either to flatter Denmark, by the preference 
 that fliould be given, or to provide againft a failure in that country, the 
 ambafladors went diredly to Copenhagen, where they waited the return of 
 the Monarch from his newly acquired Swedifli dominions. 
 
 Chriftian was one of the mofl potent princes that ever fat on the Danifti 
 throne. Befides the three northern kingdoms, of which he was in poflef- 
 fion, he had acquired the fovereignty of Slefwick and Holftein, all of which, 
 .united, formed an empire very confiderable In extent and population. He 
 
 g was 
 
CHAP. IV. TILL THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO SCOTLAND. 209 
 
 was pious, prudent, generous, and pacific ; and fuch was the opinion en- 
 tertained of his power, talents, and virtues, that he was frequently chofea 
 as an arbiter to decide the dift'erences among contending powers. But the 
 frequent commotions that had arifcn in Sweden, and the immenfe expence 
 of Tome of his new acquifitions, had drained his treafury to fuch an un- 
 common degree, that he was often at a lofs for money. No prince, how- 
 ever, who had fvvayed the fceptre of that country, had ever made his in- 
 fluence fo confpicuous in Europe ; and the alliance which he had formed 
 with France againft England, rendered Scotland a kingdom whofe friend- 
 fhip was of the utmoft confequence to promote his intereft and fecond his 
 views. 
 
 If thefe circumftances be duly weighed, in connexion with others that 
 might be ftated, we fhall ceafe to wonder at the conduit of Chriftian in 
 parting with thofe iflands, which conftituted a confiderable, though remote 
 province, that had now, in the courfe of fucceflion, come into the hands 
 of a powerful Scotifti family, whofe lidcllty muft have been eveatually un- 
 certain and precarious. 
 
 To Scotland they prefented widely different, and much greater advan- 
 tages. They lay in the vicinity of that kingdom, a fubjedl of which pof- 
 fefled them ; they were generally believed to have made formerly a pro- 
 vince of that country, from which they had been torn by maritime 
 power ; and to unite them again to that kingdom, from which they had 
 thus been taken, was confidered as an objedt, not only of intereft, but of 
 honour. 
 
 To thefe confiderations the commifTioners were neither blind nor inat- 
 tentive ; and they difcharged the truft repofed in them with a zeal and a 
 prudence that did equal credit to the government by which they were ap- 
 pointed, and to themfelves. 
 
 In the courfe of the negociation, they exerted their utmoft endeavours 
 to prevail with the Danifli Sovereign to relinquifh his right to thefe iflands. 
 He refufed to do this ; but, compelled by the low ftate of his finances, and 
 induced by the ftrong defire that he had for the Scotilh alliance, he pledged 
 them for the greater part of his daughter's portion. 
 
 E e After 
 
2IO TRANSACTIONS IN THE ISLANDS, &C. BOOK II, 
 
 After all the preliminary points had been adjufted, and both parties were 
 agreed, this memorable treaty (under the name of a contradl: of marriage) 
 was concluded, confiding of many articles, of which the foUewing are the 
 mod important. 
 
 I. That the arrears of the minual of Norway fhould be remitted, with all 
 its penalties, and no future payment {hould ever be exadted from the King, 
 Queen, their heirs or their children. 
 
 II. That the princefs's portion fliould amount to fixty thoufand florins, 
 of which ten thoufand were to be paid previoufly to her leaving Denmark 
 with the ambafTadors ; and for the remaining fifty, her royal father, with 
 the advice and confent of the prelates, peers, and chiefs of his kingdom, 
 afligned the iflands of Orkney, as a pledge, to be retained till their redemp- 
 tion by himfelf or his fucceflbrs. 
 
 III. That King James fhould, in cafe of his own death, fecure to his 
 Queen, Margaret, the polfefhon of the palace of Linlithgow, and caftle of 
 Down in Monteith, with all their territories, and a revenue, befides, amount- 
 ing to one third of the royal income. 
 
 IV. That if the Queen, in her widowhood, fliould choofe to leave Scot- 
 land, fhe fliould, inflead of this portion, accept of one hundred and twenty 
 thoufand florins, of which fifty thoufand fhould be confidered as paid OQ 
 the reftoration of Orkney to the Danifh crown *. 
 
 Matters were now fettled ; but, as the commotions which had formerly 
 exifted flill continued to exhaufl his refources, and Chriflian had no ex- 
 pedtation of an immediate fupply, he offered to pledge Shetland, as he had 
 done Orkney, but for eight thoufand florins only, while he paid the re- 
 maining two thoufand, a fum equal to about twenty thoufand pounds Ster- 
 ling of our prefent money -j^ The terms were deemed reafonable ; the 
 1468. offer was accepted ; and, from that period, the iflands of Orkney and Shet- 
 land formed a valuable gem in the Scotifh crown. 
 
 ' Vide Appendix, No. VI. f Mr. Pinkcrton's Hiftory of Scotland. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
II 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 OF SOME MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY THAT ARE ASCRIBED TO THE SCANDI- 
 NAVIANS, OR, AT LEAST, REFERRED TO THE PERIOD WHEN THEY POSSESS- 
 ED THESE ISLANDS. 
 
 To the people that preceded the Norwegians, we have already afcrlbed 
 the Pidts-houfes, fingle ftanding ftones, and tumuli, which (o often prefent 
 themfelves to view. Some of the latter kind were then purpofely omitted, 
 not fo much on account of any peculiarity in their nature, as becaufe they 
 appear to be of a later date. We fhall now confider them. The circum- 
 ftance which diftinguifhes them from the former, is their being met with, 
 not fingle, nor even feveral of them together, but in large groups. They 
 are found in feveral places. 
 
 The ifland of Weftray, in particular, contains, on the north and fouth- i. 
 v-cft fides of it, a great number of graves, fcattered over two extenfive ^'/'^" 
 plains, of that nature which are called /i;ih* in Scotland. They have at Weftray, 
 firft, perhaps, been covered by tumuli, or barrows, though of this there is 
 no abfolute certainty, as the ground on which they are, is compofed entirely 
 of fand, by the blowing of which the graves have been only of late dif- 
 covcrcd. They are formed either of ftones of a moderate fizc, or of four 
 larger ones on end, arranged in the form of a cheft, to contain the body, 
 and fuch other articles as the cuftom of the time interred with it. Few or 
 no marks of burning are obfcrvable in thefe manfions of the dead, which 
 arc occupied moftly by bones, not of men only, but of feveral other ani- 
 mals. Warlike inflruments, of the kind then in ufe, alfo make a part of 
 their contents, among which may be reckoned battle-axes, two-handed 
 fwords, broad fwords, helmets, fwords made of the bone of a large fifli, 
 and alfo daggers. They have, befides, been found to contain inftruments 
 
 * Sandy, flat ground, generally near the fea. 
 
 E e 2 employed 
 
212 MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. BOOK 11. 
 
 employed in the common purpofes of life, as knives and combs ; and 
 others that have been ufed as ornaments, fiich as beads, broaches, and 
 chain? ; together with feme other articles, the ufe of which is now un- 
 known. Oi this lad kind may be mentioned, a flat piece of marble, of a 
 circular form, about two inches and a half in diameter ; fevcral rtones, in 
 fhape and appearance like whetftones, that had never been ufed ; and an 
 iron veflel, refembling a helmet, only four inches and a half in the cavity, 
 much damaged, as if with the ftroke of a fharp weapon, fuch- as an axe or 
 a fword. In one of them was found a metal fpoon, and a glafs cup that 
 contained two gills Scotch meafure ; and in another, a number of flones, 
 formed into the fhape and fize of whorles *, like thofe that were forn:ierly 
 ufed for fpinning in Scotland. 
 
 That thefe are not ordinary places of interment, appears evident from 
 the multitude of graves fo widely fcattered over the plains ; which cir- 
 cumftance rather points them out as the fcenes of fo many hoftile en- 
 gagements. No record, however, that has reach.£d us, nor even any 
 tradition, points out when, or on what occafion, fuch fatal adtions hap- 
 pened. 
 
 Many incurfions, both from the Highlands and the Hasbudoe, were in 
 ancient times made into thefe iflands ; and the mofl: defperate valour 
 fhown in defending their property, as well as in feizing and carrying off 
 the plunder. In fome of thefe, perhaps, the inhabitants of the ifland might 
 have aflembled on thefe plains, to prevent the landing of their enemies ; 
 and, in confequence of a battle, fuch of the natives as had been killed, might 
 have been buried on the fields, together with their favourite beafts or birds, 
 their ornaments, and fuch other things as in life had fhared their affedtion. 
 This is rather a more probable fuppofition, than that thefe are the graves, 
 of fuch men as had intended an invafion of the ifland, and as foon as 
 .they landed, had been attacked by the people, and flaughtered on the 
 fpot, where they were immediately buried with their effedts, as a me- 
 morial of their injuftice and audacity. To this opinion there is a folid 
 objedlion, arifing from the manners of the age, and the cuftom of ene- 
 
 • A round perforated piece of wood, put upon a fpindle. 
 
 mies, 
 
CHAP. V. JIONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. 213 
 
 O 
 
 mie?, who feldom or never beftow fuch attention on the interment of one 
 another. 
 
 We have already mentioned the fingle ftanding ftones as belonging to 
 another period, and another people; their nature, form, fize, and rude fim- 
 plieity were pointed out, and a probable conjedure hazarded with regard to 
 the purpofe for which they were defigned. 
 
 Strange as they may appear, they are not peculiar to this place ; they 
 are found in Scandinavia, from which perhaps the firft inhabitants of this 
 country originally came ; and they arc alfo fometimes found in Great 
 Britain. 
 
 But thofe that are formed into figures of various forts, efpecially circles 
 and femicircles, are the mofl: curious and remarkable ; and it is truly afto- 
 nifliing that though they occur in different places, they have not, fo far as 
 we have learned, been taken notice of by any of the ancient writers. The 
 rcafon perhaps is, that, as they bear evident marks of being Gothic monu- 
 ments, they muft be referred to a later age, when that people had fpread 
 themfelves, in nations, tribes, and colonies, through moft of the countries 
 of the weft of Europe *. They have, indeed, been confulered as Druidical 
 
 temples. 
 
 • Wc arc forry to be under a neccflity of JifTering in opinion from our auilior, refpei5>ing the 
 ftanding ftones of Stcnnis, and other fimilar monuments. Had he recolle>fted what he dated about 
 the liift iuhabilanls of Orkney Iiaving come over from Caithnefs, he mull have been fenfible that 
 they were colonics of the Catti, or Calts, who ftiil inhabit part of Caithnefs, and all Sutherland, 
 and have done fo from time immemorial. Now, thefc were, unqueftionably, a Celtic tribe; and 
 would bring with them, into Orkney, their Druidical inftitutions. 
 
 Similar circles, though varying in their dimenfions, and particular circumftances, arc found in 
 all parts of the Highlands and Iflcs, irom Arran to Caithnefs. M.my have been dcniolillicd from 
 mere wantonncfs, and the extcnfion of agriculture has occafioned the dcniolliion of many more. 
 Sometimes there are only four ftanding ftoncs, and thefe arc ahvays ex.iiflly in the four cardinal 
 points, viewed from the center. Sometimes the fiibdivifions of direflion are marked in the fame 
 circle. When the dimenfions of the interior circle do not admit of this, fometimes there ai-e a 
 number of concentric circles, on whicli the minutell fubdivifions are marked by ftoncs, witli gicat 
 cxaftnefs. The central circle is fometimes occupied by a large tumulus of loofe ftonej, on the top 
 of which, a large (lone feems to have fcrveJ the purpofe of an altar for facrificcs. Of this we have 
 d ftriking example at Corrymony, in Inverncfs-lhirc, and other places. Bur, frequently, the altar 
 of facrifice is a ftonc of immenfe magnitude, and ahvays due fouth fi-om the center of the circles. 
 Of this we have an example in the Clalfemis, or ftanding ftones on the banks of Loch Roag, in the 
 Hland of Lewes. This monument has an avenue of about 100 paces in Icnpth, bounded on each 
 fide by tall ftones, running from fouth to north, and a fliorter avenue from eaft to weft. A ■ cry 
 l.orgc ftonc occupies die center, and the interior cipclc, which fecms to have been a fort of /"'iVufW 
 
314 MONUMENTS OP ANTIQUITY. BOOK II. 
 
 temples, according to a fafhion which, for half a century pad, has prevail- 
 ed, to afcribe almoft every monument of antiquity to that extraordinary 
 
 order 
 
 fan^orum, is fiirrounded by very large ftones. Several concentric circles extend to a confiderable 
 diftance beyond this. A ilone of moft enormous magnitude is propped by other ftones, on the 
 northern declivity of a hill, and is feen from the center through the avenue of ftones, to be exadlly^ 
 fouth. This feems to have been an altar, where they pi'obably offered facrifices when the fun was 
 in the meridian. 
 
 In genenil, thefe ftones were intended to reprefcnt the equatorial circle. But fome of them 
 have a fmalier circle contiguous, which was intended to reprefent the eccliptic, or apparent path of 
 the fun among the fixed ftars. 
 
 Wc are pcrlediy fatlsfied that thefe circles were Intended to ferve the purpofe of rude aftrono- 
 mical obfervatories, by which the priefts could mark out the rifing of the fun, moon, and ftars ; the 
 feafons of the year ; and even the hours, or divifions of the day. Where they are tolerably entire, 
 they might ferve thefe purpofes at this day, to one who has bcftowed a little attention on the pofi- 
 tions of the ftones. 
 
 The fun was the great objedl of Driildical veneration, as an emblem of the Deity ; and to obferve 
 his apparent motions would be an objeft not merely of curiofity, but of piety. 
 
 The circle of Stennis is of very large dimenfions, affording room to mark all the neceffliry fub- 
 divifions of direction, by ftones in its periphery, without having recourfe to concentric circles. Our 
 author mentions mounds of earth on the eaft and weft of this circle ; but, he has forgotten to ftate, 
 that it is entered by a gateway on the fouth, and on the north ; and that the ftones where he fup- 
 pofes facrifices were offered, are feen through the galewa./ due fouth from the center of the circle. 
 A fort of bridge, of loofe ftones, acrofs the lake, forms a communication between the great circle, 
 and the ftones of facrifice. On examining this great circle, we were ftrongly ImprefTed with a belief 
 that a facred grove had once occupied its center. 
 
 Thefe ftones muft evidently have been eredled by a people who entertained the fame religious 
 ideas with thofe who conftructed other fimilar circles, in various parts of the Highlands and Ifles. 
 That they preceded the arrival of the Scandinavians, appears very probable from our author's own 
 account ; for the ftones where thefe people offered human viifllms to Odin, and worfhipped their 
 peculiar deities, were all in the North Ifles : as if they thought their brutifli divinities could not 
 hear their prayers unlefs they were addreffed from the neareft points to their native country. 
 
 It does not appear that the Scandinavians paid any particular veneration to the fun ; though 
 this was certainly the cafe among the ancient Gael, who were under the influence of the Druids> 
 Pcrfons learned in that language have affured us, that the Gaelic word for hell, or the place of 
 puniflinient, originally meant a place of Intenfe cold, from whence the fun's rays were excluded by- 
 thick mift and hoar froft : that the word for heaven, or place of happinefs, means a green hill, 
 enamelled with flowers, which enjoys uninterrupted funfhine. When the Higblanders pafs a 
 chiu-ch, or other place efteemcd holy, they ahvays keep it on the right hand, and go round it in the 
 courfe of the fun. A deviation from this praflice would, In their apprehenfion, bring after it fom-e 
 dreadful difafter; fuch as the lofs of cattle or fheep ; or the culprit, or fome of his friends, falling 
 over a rock, and breaking their necks. When they launch their boats to proceed on a voyage, they 
 firft make a circular revolution, In the courfe of the fun, during which, they commonly ejaculate 
 fliort prayers ; and at the fame lime, they frequently caft their eyes towards the fun, or quarter 
 where he may be, if obfcured by clouds. Without this ceremony they do not expeft a profperous 
 voyage, or a favourable fiflilng. In places frequented by ftrangers, thefe fuperftitlons are laughed 
 at, as much as the fccond fight. But in the numerous remote reccfliis of the Highlands and ifles, 
 
 they 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS OP ANTIQUITY. 215 
 
 order of men. But had thefe been the authors of fuch monuments, hlftory 
 would not have been filent on the fubjcil ; which conftantly mentions 
 
 they continue to be cbfcrvcd, though the people have left all recolloftlon that they were part of the 
 ritual of the Druidical religion; in which the fun, if not regarded as God, was eileenied a mod 
 ftriking emblem of his power ,?n J beneficence. There fome old women polfefs a traditionary ac- 
 qii.iintance with the medicinal virtues of certain plants, with which, in certain cafes, they work fur- 
 prifing cures. Thefe they gather at fun-rife, when no perfon is within view of them, with a great 
 many ceremonies, the principal of which confilt in defcribing circles in the courfc of the fan, with 
 their faces direifled to that luminary ; to whom, at the fame time, tliey mako frequent !)o\vs and 
 genuflexions, and wave their hands, while they utter numerous ejaculations. They afterwards 
 prepare the plants for ufe in an apartment from which every one is excluded, and ufc a great many 
 fimilar ceremonies. The profane eye of obtrufive curiofity is fuppofcd to mar the whole procefs ; 
 and they never afcribe the effcifls to the phyfical properties of the plants themfelvcs : but to the ex- 
 acTnefs with which the ceremonies have been conducted. In vulgar Gaelic the name for a church 
 is Clachan, ftones ; and going to church is expreffed by a phrafe whjch implies going to the Jlones : a 
 clear proof that the firll ideas of religious worlhip, among thefe people, were derived from the 
 Druidical circles in queftion. 
 
 The Druids were judges and magiftrates, as well as the priefts and philofophcrs of the people : 
 and their places of worfliip were, doubtlcfs, alfo ufed as courts of juftice, where their decifions might: 
 acquire double efficacy, while backed by the terrors of religion. There feems to be a ftriking re- 
 fcmblance between their tenets and inllitutions, and thofe of the Magi, the priells of Alfyria, and 
 other callcrn nations. They cultivated aftronomy, and other ufcful fcienccs, in their rude way. 
 Bui, any knowledge they polfefled, was carefully monopolized by their own fraternity. Upon the 
 people they only inculcated ceremonies, and things they were to do, without daring to inquire 
 why. or wherefore ? — Even what remains of then- medicinal ceremonies, arc carefully concealeil 
 from public view. They are a fort of mafon word, which one old woman tranfmits to another, 
 after a tedious noviciate, and folemn fandions of concealment. 
 
 The Druidical worlhip was always pradifed in the open air ; as they deemed no temple fit for the 
 Deity, but th(. univcrfc he had formed. Their places of worfliip are always embofomed either 
 amidll rugged rocks, where the fccuery infpires religious horror : or, they arc iituated, as at 
 Stennis, where the fubliine of Nature is gradually melted down, and combined with the beau- 
 tiful. This is the moft frequent pofition of their places of worfliip; and the furrounding fcenery*" 
 forcibly imprcfles the mind with an idea of a being at once powerful and beneficent. When the 
 Druids had any villainy in view, fuch as reclaiming, or taking off, unfortunate individuals, who had 
 incurred their difplcafure ; or whom they had accufed of impiety ; the bufincfs was managed in the 
 impenetrable receifcs of a foreft, where circles within circles of trees were ftained with blood ; and 
 armed men were ready to kill every perfon, whofe impertinent curiofity led liim to tranfgrefs the 
 boundary. — The Roman writers are moll grofsly erroneous, when they niillake thcie groves for 
 places of worfhip. They could not be places of worfliip, becaufe none but the Druids, and their 
 fatcllites, were admitted into them. They were objeifls of terror and difmay to all the people 
 within their reach. Here the grim chief of the Druids might calculate on the jircfits arifing from 
 a ralh cxpreffion, or fome defefl of ritual obfervance of a man, which put his lil'c and property in 
 the tyrant's power. 
 
 But if human viftims were immolated at their places of worfliip, this mufl have been d'^ne with 
 the confent and approbation of the whole people : and they mull have fallen rather as vidims to 
 public jufliee, than as martyrs to what was deemed impiety. — E. 
 
 2 theit 
 
2l6 MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. DOOK It. 
 
 their having no temples whatever, and worfhipping the Deity in groves 
 only. Befides, had they been places of wcrlliip peculiar to that celebrated 
 people, they would have naturally fhared the fame fate with themfelves, 
 and been razed to the foundation, as foon as the priefts that had officiated 
 in them were den.royed. That this had not been the cafe, is evident ; for, 
 in the fouth, as well as in the north, they remain ftill entire ; and had they 
 then exifted, and had any connexion with that people, Tacitus, when he 
 mentions the deflrudion of their groves, would not have failed to have 
 taken fome notice of them alfo *. The very date of fome of them in 
 Scandinavia is moreover well known f ; and the ufe of them pointed out 
 by the writers of that country, who inform us, that they are denominated, 
 in popular language, tings, or courts ; and that they are places appropriated 
 for the adminiftration of juftice, and the oblation of facrifices. ' A judicial 
 c circle ftands there, where men were doomed to facrifice.' — * There Thor- 
 « der Galler erected a court for one quarter, by the confent of all the men 
 * of that quarter %• Thefe cli-cles and femicircle-s, therefore, or the ftones 
 ere£ted into thefe forms, are to be confidered as intended to ferve the double 
 purpofe of temples and courts of juftice, or places for affembling large 
 bodies of people for various end^ ; and they are plainly to be afcribed to 
 thofe nations that were of Gothic origin. Though their form is fimilar, 
 they are very different in their dimenfions, according to the purpofe for 
 v/hich they were defigned. In the largeft clafs we may certainly rank Stone- 
 henge in England, which is unqueftionably the moft fuperb and magnifi- 
 cent obje£t of the kind ; and which, if it be not the buri 1 place of the 
 celebrated Saxon, as the name feems to import, might have been the place 
 for the meeting of their national aflembly, as they met in the open air §. 
 To the fame clafs may be referred that noble circle of Claflemis in the 
 Lewes II, which may have been a court-houfe, in which affairs of import- 
 ance might have been tranfadted, relative to the intereft of the community. 
 Their kings and chiefs were alfo fometimes eledted in thefe large circles ; 
 ivhile the lelfer ones were ufed as temples of the inferior gods, and not un- 
 
 * Tacitus. t So Mr. Thorkelin told Mr. Plnkerton; 
 
 X Iflands Landnama Bok. § Tacitus. 1| Martin, Weftern Ides. 
 
 frequently 
 
i 
 
 Y 
 
N 
 
 
 
 N 
 
 "\ 
 
 N 
 
 I 
 
i 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUIUY. ny 
 
 frequently as family burying places *. It might have been naturally ex- 
 peded, that fome fuch objcds would have exifled here, as the country had 
 been fo long occupied by the fame people, who had erecfled and iifed them 
 in other places. And, accordingly, in many places are fecn fm-dl circles, 
 but without flones around them now, whatever might have been formerly ; 
 and the iflands pofTefs alfo their Claflemis, and even their Sronehcnj.'e, 
 which, though often vilited, and fomelimes dcfcribed, is ftill but little 
 known. 
 
 The Mainland, toward the weft, is interfeded from fouth to north, to 
 the diftance of nearly five miles, by the loch of Stennis, which, near the 
 middle. Is almoft divided into two, by the plains on each fide ftretching 
 out, and nearly meeting with each other. Thefe plains are pleafantly fitu- 
 ated in the bofoni of the loch, and in the centre of an immenfe amphi- 
 theatre, in the area of which are the pariflies of Stennis, Harra, and Birfa. 
 Its limits are the hills of Orphir, Rendal, and Sandwick, and the majcftic 
 hills of Hoy, which, toward the fouth, lye at a much greater diftance, and u 
 bound the profped. That on the weft fide of the loch contains a circle Atones of 
 fixty fathoms in diameter, formed by a ditch on the outfide, twenty feet 
 broad and twelve deep ; and on the infide, by a range of ftanding ftones 
 twelve or fourteen feet high, and four broad ; feveral of them are fallen 
 down, of others fragments remain, and of fome only the holes in which 
 they ftood. The earth that has been taken from the ditch has been carried 
 away, and very probably been made ufe of to form four tumuli, or bar- 
 rows, of confiderable magnitude, which are ranked in pairs on the eaft and 
 weft fide of this remarkable monument of antiquity. 
 
 The plain on the eaft border of the loch exhibits a femicircle, fixteen 
 fathoms in diameter, formed not, like the circle, with a ditch, but by a 
 mound of earth, and with ftones in the infide, like the former In fliape, 
 though of much larger dimenfions. Near the circle, there are ftanding 
 ftones that feem to be placed in no regular order that we can now difcern • 
 and as near the femicircle are others of the fame defcription. In one of the 
 latter is a round hole, not in the middle, but towards one of the edges, 
 
 • Wormos, OTaus Magnus, and Dulberg Suecia^nt. & hoJ. 
 
 F f much 
 
2l8 MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. BOOK II. 
 
 much worn, as If by the fridlion of a rope or chain, by which feme animal 
 had been bound. Toward the centre of the femicirle, too, is a very large 
 broad ftone now lying on the ground ; but whether it flood formerly like 
 thofe around Ir, or has been ralfed and fupported on pillars to ferve a par- 
 ticular purpofe, we fliall not take upon us to determine. 
 
 Theie extraordinary monuments have, like almort; all others of the fame 
 nature, been fuppofed Druidlcal ; but with very little reaf m, fince there is 
 not the leafl: fhadow of evidence that that order of men was ever within 
 thefe iflands. Even the Celts, of whom they were the priefts, and of 
 whom they had the entire and abfolute dire£tion, never feem to have had 
 any footing here, as is demonftrable from the names of men and places, 
 and the ancient language, as well as from the manners and cuftoms of the 
 people, being all of them Piftilh, Gothic, or Danifh. 
 
 To the fame people, therefore, from whom are derived all things elfe 
 refpedting this country, thefe monuments muft alfo belong. 
 
 The purpofes to which obje£ts of that nature were applied In the coun- 
 tries from which Orkney received its inhabitants, will lead us to the ufe of 
 thofe which we have now defcribed. Like monuments of the fame kind, 
 they, it is highly probable, have been defigned for a head court of law, 
 or the convention of a popular affembly, for enadling falutary regulations ; 
 and, upon great and folemn occafions, for a temple to Odin, the Scandi- 
 navian god. For the combined and important ends of law and religion, 
 no fpot could have been devifed more convenient in its fituatlon. Not far 
 diftant from the middle of the Mainland, which is itfelf in the centre of 
 the iflands, at nearly an equal dillance from Birfa, where the princes and 
 earls ufed to refide, and Kirkwall, which had long been confidered as the 
 capital ; Stennis Is within a mile of the bay of Frith, to which boats from 
 the North Ifles have ready accefs ; and ftill nearer to the bay of Kairflon, 
 in which boats land from the South Ifles with equal facility. Before any- 
 civil bufinefs commenced in thefe conventions, facrifices would be per- 
 formed ; and the perforated fl:one that ftands near the femicircle, might 
 have ferved for faftenlng the vidim, while that near its centre was pro- 
 bably made ufe of as an alrar for the Immolation. 
 
 At 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. 219 
 
 At Applecrofs, in the weft of RofsHiire, are ftanding ftones fimilar to 
 thefe : fome of which are formed into a circle, and others into a triancle 
 witli one in the midft of ihem, perforated in the fame manner. Very near 
 them, too, are tumuli, or mounds of earth, fuch as thofe mentioned near 
 the (tones of ftennis. Another of thefe circles, compofed of ftones of the 
 fame nature, and in the fame circumftaaces, ftands in a moor, near Beauly, 
 in Invernefs-ftiire. 
 
 The weights of this country, as they arc very ancient, and of a foreign lir. 
 origin, entirely different from thofe ufed in any other part of the kingdom, "'S-^"- 
 claim our attention in this chapter. Bcfides the laws, magiftrates, and 
 language, which the inhabitants retained at the cefllon of thefe iilands to 
 the crown of Scotland, they had alfo the misfortune to retain their weights, 
 which are in their nature imperfedl, and ftill more fo from the ftrange 
 manner in which they are commonly ufed. 
 
 Thefe, together, with the weighing inftruments, were imported from 
 Norway, where they are mentioned at a very early period, and are ftill in 
 general ufe *. 
 
 The fmalleft of thefe weights, or the one of the loweft denomination, 
 is the mark. Twenty-four marks make a fetteen or lifpund, or pund byf- 
 mer, or fpan f ; all of which are equivalent and convertible terms ; and 
 though the three latter are now obfolete, they were commonly ufed in 
 the laft age ; fix fetteens, or lifpunds, make a meil, and twenty-four meils 
 alaft. 
 
 The weighing Inftruments, which are of the fame extra ftion, are the 
 byfmer and pundlcr ; on the former of which are reckoaed marks and fet- 
 teens, or lifpunds ; and, on the latter, fetteens and meils. 
 
 T\\Q byfmer 1% a lever or beam made of wood, about three feet long; 
 and from one end to near the middle, it is a cylinder of about three inches 
 diameter, thence it gently tapers to the other end, which is not above one 
 inch in diameter. From the middle, all along this fmalleft end, it is marked 
 with fmall iron pins at unequal diftances, which ferve to point out the 
 weight, from one mark to tw-enty-four, or a lifpund. The body to be 
 
 * Torf. Hitt. Norwelg. t Uem. 
 
 F f 2 weighed 
 
220 MONUMENTS OP ANTIQUITY. BOOK II. 
 
 -weighed Is hung by a hook in the fmall end of the inflrument, which is 
 then fufpendcd horizontally by a cord around it, held in the hand of the 
 weigher, wlio fhifts it towards the one end or the other, till the article he 
 is weighing equiponderates with the large end, which ferves it as a coun- 
 terpoife ; and <\'hen they are in eqtiilibrio^ the pin neareft the cord points 
 out in marks the weight of the fubjecfl weighed. 
 
 The ptaidkr Is a beam about feven feet long, and between three and 
 four inches diameter, fomewhat of a cylindrical form, or rather approach- 
 ing to that of a fquare, with the corners taken off; and is fo exactly fimi- 
 lar to \h.tjlatera Romatia^ or fleelyard, as to fuperfede the neceffity of any 
 farther defcription. 
 
 There are two of thefe inflruments In ufe ; the one for weighing bear 
 or bigg, and the other malt ; and hence they are denominated the bear 
 and malt pundlers. The former, though conftruded on the fame prin- 
 ciple, and in the fame form with the latter, is one third lefs in its weight ; 
 €very meil and fetteen being but two thirds of the fame denomination on 
 the malt pundler j which is therefore confidered as the ftandard of the bear 
 pundler, and on this account the latter is feldom ufed. 
 
 The pundler is the inflrument employed for weighing malt, meal, bear, 
 oats, and other grofs and weighty commodities ; while the byfmer is made 
 life of for afcertainlng the weight of butter, oil, fait, wool ; cheefe, and 
 other articles, which are divided into fmaller parts, to ferve the various 
 purpofes of retail in the country. 
 
 So intricate are thefe weights, and fuch is the uncertainty that attends 
 them, that even the natives, who ufe them daily, are far from being agreed 
 what (hould be the exaifl weight of each denomination. Some contend 
 that the mark, which is the radical weight of which all the reft are 
 multiples, and (hould weigh eighteen ounces ; while others afTert, that it 
 fnould weigh twoand-twenty. But the moft juft, as well as the moft 
 common opinion Is, that it ought to be equivalent to twenty-two ounces ; 
 and of confequence, the fetteen, or lifpund, {hould contain thirty pounds, 
 and ihe meil eleven ftones four pounds, Amfterdam weight. 
 
 No weights can long remain juft, unlefs there h.- fome fixed and ac- 
 knowledged ftandards, to which occafional application may be made, in 
 
 7 cafe 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. 221 
 
 cafe of any real or fuppofed deviation. The original ftandards of thofe in 
 qiieflion have been long fince loft or deftroyed ; and thofe that have been 
 introduced in their rooin are faid to be very different ; and, inftead of 
 being fixed by any certain rule, they are fiucluating, and in a great mea- 
 fure arbitrary. 
 
 But, what is more extraordinary, a fetteen, or lifpund, on the hyfiner, 
 is different from a fetteen on the pundler; and all the marks on the for- 
 mer, and the fetteens on the latter, are entirely different from one another. 
 This occafions fome particular weights on each of thefe inftruments to be 
 moft advantageous to the feller, as others are to the buyer j and this being 
 known only to thofe who are much in the praflice of weighing, not only 
 ftrangers, but alfo the bulk of the people are unable to guard themfelves 
 again ft impofition. 
 
 Even thofe who are moft intimately acquainted with the nature of thefe 
 inftruments find inconveniences arifmg from the ufe of them ; for, on the 
 byfmer, the leaft deviation from a mark cannot be lefs than ten ounces; 
 nor can the fame deviation from any one fetteen on the pundler be lefs 
 than eight pounds ; and, what is worfe, a certain dexterity in thofe who 
 are accuftomed to weigh much, will create the fame, if not a greater dif- 
 ference, without any poffible remedy *. 
 
 Such imperfect inftruments, and fuch a mode of ufing them, fandioned 
 in a great meafure by cuftom, muft, it is evident, have a pernicious influ- 
 ence on the condition of the peonle ; not only as occafionally hurting their 
 intereft, but, what is of more deplorable confequencc, fapping the founda- 
 
 * On examining thefe inftruments, it is obvious to remark, dial being fufpendcd on a cord, 
 which is their pivot, or centre of motion, the centre of gravity is confiderably above this when the 
 lever is in a horizontal pofition. The centre of gravity may be confiuered as the point where ihe 
 whole weight ot the lever is accumulated; and when the kver is inclined from a Iiorizontal pofi- 
 tion, this V. eight adls at the end of a lever, to counterpoife the fubjedt weighed ; and it will re- 
 quire a great addition of weight, beyond what is juft, to bring back the inftrument to a horizontal 
 pofition. This fource ot error muft be multiplied by the difference of t.'ie diftance between the 
 ■weight, and the fubjcift weighed, from the pivot or cenire of motion. Hence a man who has 
 acquired dexterity in the ufe ot thefe levers, may cheat to an incalculable amount, without the 
 poffiliility of ucte<flion. After the fair amount of the fubjeifl weighed, is fufpeude 1 to the flioit 
 end oi' the lever, he has only to give it a flight inclination to the oppofite fidi. ; and it will require 
 a very great addition to bring back the lever to a horizontal ;• iiion. 
 
 If any abufe ever called for legillative interference, furtly this is one.— — E. 
 
 tioa 
 
222 MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. BOOK 11. 
 
 tion of tl>eir moral principles. Thofe who have occafion to ufe them moft, 
 are in general tenants at will, with little ftock, whofe poverty and depend- 
 ance ftamp a low cunning on their character, which difcovers itfelf on 
 many occafions ; and, from men of that defcription, refiftance can fcarcely 
 be expeded to the temptation of procuring an immediate advantage from 
 the iniquity of their weights, efpecially as the detedion is difficult ; and if 
 it fliould take place, the difference in the weight may be attributed to fupe- 
 rior fkill, or greater exadnefs. 
 
 But thefe weights are not only imperfed in themfelvcs, and open a 
 wide door to fraud in the ufe of them ; they are alfo faid to have departed 
 from what they were originally, and, in the lapfe of ages, increafed to a 
 much greater magnitude. The people of every rank murmur againft them 
 as unjuft, and ill calculated to ferve the purpofe for which they were in- 
 tended ; and vet a few, who either derived or expeded to derive an ad- 
 vantage from them, have not been afliamed to profefs themfelves their ad- 
 vocates, and have even gone fo far as to oppofe fome attempts that have 
 been made to afcertain their amount, or have them converted into the or- 
 dinary weights of the kingdom. Had the whole of the inhabitants been 
 unanimous in their endeavours to get rid of them, they would long before 
 this time have been fct afide. 
 
 Little more than half a century ago, the Earl of Galloway, at the head 
 of a number of gentlemen here, who were in no very friendly terms with 
 the Earl of Morton, then grantee of the Crown rents in Orkney, entered 
 into a refolution, from a convidion of the increafe of thefe weights, to ap- 
 ply for redrefs to the law of their country. For this purpofe, they induf- 
 trioufly colleded information from every quarter j and, firft, by withhold- 
 ing the payment of their feu-duties, and afterwards bringing an adion, 
 before the competent court, they involved his Lordfliip in a lawfuit. 
 During the courfe of the adion, they pleaded in exx:ufe for their retaining 
 the feu-duties, the unjuft and extravagant increafe of the weights made ufe 
 of to afcertain their quantity ; and declared their willingnefs to pay what 
 they were bound to do, provided no more was exaded than would have 
 been, had the weights been of the fame ftandard they were when the 
 iHands were ceded to the Crown of Scotland. They contended, and with 
 
 truth. 
 
CHAP. V, MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. 223 
 
 truth, that the laws, language, manners, cuftoms, and particularly the 
 weights, were derived from Norway ; and that, if a ftandard of them were 
 any where to be found, it was mofi: likely to be in that country. To 
 afcertain the truth as to this point, application was made, through the 
 Britifh Conful, to the BurgomaRer at Bergen, Superintendant in chief of 
 the Police, and Confervator of the ftandards of the weights and mcafures. 
 of tliat kingdom, who tranfmitted a certificate, containing the moft ample 
 and fatisfadlory information. In this paper he aflures them, that, from the 
 earlieft times, the mark, which had always been confidered as the radical 
 weight, contained exadly eight ounces, or half a pound ; the fetteeo, con- 
 fiding of twenty-four marks, twelve pounds ; and the mcil, of confe- 
 quence, feventy-two pounds. Having gained this intelligence, which they 
 confidered juftly as of importance, they imagined thcinfclves intitled to 
 infer, that the weights in Orkney were the fame as in Norway at the time 
 the iflands ceafed to be dependent on that country. 
 
 They had evidence, or fuppofed they had, that the origin of the in- 
 creafe could be traced to the avaricious and oppreflive fpirit of Robert 
 Stewart, Earl of Orkney ; that thefe weights had received a farther aug- 
 mentation during the defpotic reign of his fon Patrick ; that the farmers 
 of the Crovirn rents, fubfequent to the time of thefe Earls, had difcovered 
 little inclination to relinquidi their intereft, fo far as to reftore matters to 
 their ancient flate ; and that they had increafed conliderably even fmce the 
 Morton family had come into polfeflion. To the extravagant height to 
 which they had arrived, they afcribed the ftate of the illands at that period, 
 which they reprcfented a.- poor ia comparifon of what they had been in 
 former times ; that for want of the means of induftry, trade was in a lan- 
 guilhing ftate, filheries were almoft entirely neglected, and aoricultiire was 
 nearly in the fame condition. Many eftates, on which large familicvS had 
 lived with comfort, were now fallen into the hands of the fuperior • the 
 proprietors were not above one third of the number they were ei^htv or 
 ninety years before ; and even the general population was greatly dimi- 
 nifhcd. 
 
 In oppofition to thefe arguments, the Earl and his friends infifted, that 
 thefe iflands, when let in farm, which they had been for a number of 
 
 years, 
 
224 MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. BOOK H. 
 
 years, yielded a greater rent to the Crown than at that time arofe out of 
 them to the Earl ; and that, In particular, the rental of 1600 exceeded 
 what was then the prefcnt one by eleven thoufand merks, converting both 
 into money at the fame price ; which certainly could not have been the 
 cafe on the fuppofition of augmented weights. To this they added, that, 
 when the iflands were ceded to Scotland, they had become the patrimony 
 of the Crown, and had been feued out at the full rental ; and, therefore, 
 the prefent proprietors had no juft caufe to complain, fmce their feu-duties 
 were the eft'cds of nothing elfe but thofe tenures which they had derived 
 from their anceftors. They urged ftill farther, that ftandards or models of 
 the weights had been kept, beyond the memory of man, by the Magiftrates 
 of Kirkwall ; that no complaint had been made of their increafe fmce the 
 Union, when the grant was made in the Earl's favour ; that the weights 
 ufed by the Earl's fervants were the fame with thofe made ufe of over all 
 the iflands, and no heavier than thofe by which the landlords themfelves 
 received their rents in kind from their tenants ; and that, though it were 
 admitted that they had increafed formerly, prefcription could now be plead- 
 ed in their favour. 
 
 Thefe, and fuch like arguments were advanced, at great length, by the 
 contending parties with much laborious ingenuity ; after which, the Court, 
 having confidered the caufe, decreed in favour of the Earl of Morton, to 
 the great difappointment and regret of the proprietors of Orkney. 
 ^V. Before the iflands came under the fovereignty of Scotland, the Inhabl- 
 
 The ancient jants ufed not Only the weights of Norway, but fpoke the language, were 
 &c. governed by the laws, and adhered to the cuftoms of that kmgdom, in the 
 
 fame manner as the people of Iceland and Ferroe do at this time. Even 
 after they had changed their mafl;ers, they did not, in this refpecSt, change 
 their condition ; for the monarch who had mortgaged them with reluc- 
 tance, and intended foon to redeem them, fenfible of the confufion that 
 would refult from the adoption of a new political fyftem, had taken care to 
 have it inferted as an article in the treaty, that they (hould retain their own 
 fenate, laws, magiftrates, and all their cufl:oms, as formerly, when under 
 his dominion*. The fame book of the law which they had anciently, 
 
 * Buchan. Hlft. Scot. 
 
 and 
 
<:II.^P. V. MONUMENTS OF AN'TIQJJITV. t2^ 
 
 and which was the fame with that of the mother countrr, and in many 
 refpeds different from that of Scotland*, was accordingly for many years 
 retained, as alfo that celebrated Supreme Court, in wliich buUnefs of the 
 iitmoft importance was tranfatfted, and which was "j" denominated Laivt'm^ 
 in the language of the country. In that noted Court was the inveftigation 
 made that iflued in the produdlion of the diploma wliich has been prelerved 
 by Lord Sinclair and Dr. Reid, and already often quoted as an unqueftion- 
 able authority |. 
 
 That it continued long after the transference, is evident from a grant of 1587. 
 thefe ifles by James the Si.Kth, with the confent of his Council, to the 
 Lord Chancellor of Scotland and the Lord Juftice-CIerk, with power of 
 holding and adjourning courts called Laiotiiigs. To Robert Stewart, the 
 firft Earl of Orkney of that name, the fame powers were granted, two 
 years afterwards, to hold and adjourn affemblies of the fame kind. But, 
 in the turbulent times that fucceeded, during the oppreflive adminiftratiori 
 ■of his fon, the book of the law fcems to have been deftroycd or loft, and 
 few or no Lawtings were convoked for public bufmefs. The farmers of 
 the Crown rents who fucceeded thefe Earls, and who fcem to have had 
 fimilar powers, found themfclves in want of a fyftem of rules for the ad- 
 miniftration of juftice; and therefore revived the Lawting, in which they 
 began to frame laws for themfelves. This Court, and the pradice of 
 making by-laws in it, adapted to the circumftances and fituation of the 
 country, continued till the time of the Commonwealth, when they were 
 entirely abolifhed. 
 
 The Prefidenr, or principal perfon in the Lawting, was named the Great 
 Foud or Logman^ and fubordinate to him were feveral little fouds or under 
 iheriffs or bailiffs j and, as the chief Judge had a council confifting of 
 feveral members called Raddmen or Counfellors, fo the inferior ones had 
 their council alfo, compofed of members denominated Lagraelmen or Law- 
 ivrightmeTty who were a kind of conftables for the execution of juftice in 
 their refpedive iflands. To thefe members feem to have been added, at 
 
 • Torfxi Orcailes. f Torfsi Orcadeit 
 
 % Wallace, viJt Appendix, No. I. 
 
 G g Jeaft 
 
226 MONUMENTS OF ANTIQIHTY. ' BOOK If. 
 
 kaft latterly, the governors for the tune, the gentlemen of the county, 
 and even perhaps fometimes the peafants, who among a free- people, had a 
 vote in framing the laws that were to govern them. 
 
 The ads they pafled, which are known under the name of County Adls-, 
 difcover much regard to the profperity of the place, inafnuch as they tend 
 to preferve peace, and promote loyalty and religion. Many of the regu- 
 lations which they contain are of the greaiefl: importance to the police j 
 fuch as the hiring of fervants, and their engagements with their mafters j 
 the tending of cattle ; the keeping in due repair their garden walls, and 
 other fences. 
 
 But while thefe legiflators enaded penalties againrt: Inftances of fraud, 
 injuftice, and idlenefs, and rewards for the oppofite virtues, they difcovered 
 millaken notions of trade, in as far as they attempted to confine the fale 
 of the produdions of the place to particular times and particular places. 
 They erred alio in their endeavours to fix the price of the articles, which 
 nothing but the demand can ever regulate juftly ; nor did they difcover 
 more wifdom in their attem.pts to fix the rate of wages, which can only be 
 regulated by the fame caufe. 
 
 As thefe a£ts throw fome light on the internal ftate of the country, with 
 refpe£t to indufiry, knowledge, cuftoms, and mainners, they are brought to 
 public view as an obje£t at leaft of curiofity *. For a long tinie they pro- 
 duced many beneficial efFeds ; and their becoming obfoiete, for want of 
 execution and other caufes, has been of much detriment to the iflands, 
 which have fince been defedive in many articles of policy, as the former 
 cuftoms and regulations have loft their efficacy, and thofe of the kingdom 
 to which they are fubjed are neither fo much rehfhed nor fa well un- 
 derftood. 
 V. Tenures, in general, are a feudal inftltution, and were known only in 
 
 Koidiiigs. the countries into which the feudal fyftem was introduced. They are faid, 
 however ftrange it may appear, not to have been known in Norway ; and 
 only began to make their ap^ earance in this place about the time of the 
 Reformation. Previoufly to that aera, the lands here, like thofe in the 
 
 * ViJe Appendix, No. IX-. 
 
 eaftem 
 
CHAP. V. MOiCUMENTS OF AKTIQUIIY. 2^7 
 
 eaftern countries, feem to have acknowledged no fupenor, nor to have been 
 held by any tenure, but were called odal or ndal lands ; the charadteriftic 
 of which is, that they arc fubjefl to no feudal fcrvicc, nor he'd of any 
 fuperlor. This term odal or udal^ which is well known in France, Ger- 
 many, and England, as well as in Norway, is faid to be coi-npounded of 
 two Gothic words, the one of which fi^nilies property, and the other an*- 
 cient * ; fo that, in this acceptation, odal or tidal lands are of the fame im* 
 port with an ancient inheritance, patrimony, or pofiefFion. The holders of 
 thefe lands, or, what is the fame thing, the proprietors of them were of all 
 men reckoned the moft honourable. Hence, the frequent mention that is 
 made, not only in the celebrated Danilli hiftorian j", and in the noted de- 
 du<ftion fo often quoted :|;, but even in the elegant Latin hiftorian of Scot- 
 land, of the Proceres Orcadlum §, or the nobles of Orkney. This appelU* 
 tioii, however, could not have been beftowcd on all the proprietors of 
 this defcription, who feem to have been very ntimerous, but was probablv 
 confined principally to the Earls, their relations and connexions, who held 
 thx;ir lands in this manner. 
 
 From a comparifon between the laws by which this udal property was 
 inherited, fold, redeemed, or tranfmitted from one perfon to another, and 
 feme of the Mofaical inftitutlons mentioned in Scripture, fome have 
 imagined that the former were derived from the latter ; and indeed it 
 muft be contefled that there are between them many ftriking points of 
 refemblance. 
 
 Thefe udal or allodial lands are diredly oppofed to fees or feus, which 
 are always fubjedt to a rental or feu-duty to a fuperior, to which the other 
 never were, but only paid tithe, which appears to have been exadled from 
 almoft all lands whatever ; andyiVj/, which in the language of the mother 
 country, is faid to fignlfy tribute, land-tax, or ground-fublidy. That this 
 tax, either by itfelf, or in conjundion with others, might be more equi- 
 tably laid on, and more eafily coUeded, a plan was probably adopted, 
 ftmilar to that which was fullowed in order to reduce the lands to keidage^ 
 
 • Enardus ad leges Salicas, In voce j^uihmica. f Torfsi Orcades, et Hift. Nor. 
 
 X \V;illace's Diplonui. J Bucliiiiiaii. 
 
 G g 2 in 
 
328 MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. BOOK IT. 
 
 in Doomfday-Boolc, In England. In that ancient record, the entries of 
 land are firft by counties, then by towns or manors, and laftly, by hides^ 
 half hides, and virgates of land. In like manner, here, the entries are firft 
 by iflands and parilhes, then by towns and villages, and laftly by marklands, 
 crlflands or ouncelands, pennylands, and farthinglands : and thefe divifions- 
 ■were obferved, in order to fix and limit this tax, which is fuppofed to have 
 been paid to the Crown for protedion. In almoft every farm or piece 
 of land within the precinds of thefe iflands, this ancient duty is ftill paid,, 
 and for the moft part, in money j while the other duties are paid in kind;, 
 fuch as meal, malt, butter, oil, and feveral other articles which are pro- 
 dudions of the country. Even the udal lands were not exempted from the- 
 payment oi fcat^ any more than they were from the payment of tithes^ 
 though they were evidently exempted from all others. 
 
 The fame caufes, however, that in other places have contributed to coa- 
 vert allodial lands into fuch as are held by tenure, have operated here as 
 forcibly, and have even been combined with others which are peculiar j 
 and, by thefe, the great number of udallers that feem to have been here for- 
 merly, are much reduced at prefent, They are ftill diminiftiing, and their 
 eftates are fmall in proportion ; fo that, in the courfe of a few generationSj^ 
 jf the fame caufes continue to operate, there is reafon to conclude, that this 
 kind of tenure will nowhere be found. 
 
 As the men who now occupy fuch lands difcover little fkill in agricul- 
 ture, and as little induftry, which their rude little farms but too plainly 
 demonftrate, there will be no great caiife to regret the probability of their 
 little properties being incorporated with the larger eftates around them- 
 Neither are there any perfons of note, any more than of extenfive pro- 
 perty, to be found at prefent among that clafs of proprietors ; as all of that 
 defcription have long fiuce relinquiihed their ancient feudal rights, and 
 hold their lands by the fame tenures as thofe of the fame rank, in other 
 parts of the kingdom. 
 
 Moft of the lands here are now held in feu ; which, as appears from the 
 date of the charters, they began to be, fome time after the Reformation ; 
 and thefe feus were granted, fome of them by the Crown, fome by the 
 carls, and others by the biftiops of Orkney, The feu-duties, in many of 
 
 them^ 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS OF ANTIQITITY, 2-29 
 
 them, are extremely high ; perhaps the fame with the old rental ; and 
 this is not to be wondered at, in the cafe of churchmen, who could not 
 feu on lower terms, without a manifeft detriment to their fucceflbrs. 
 
 The ancient lancuaee of a country, from whatever fource derived, forms VI. 
 an important article in its hiftory ; and that of this place, as it has long 
 fmce ceafed to be Ipoken, claims our notice, under this Iiead, as an objedt 
 of antiquity. 
 
 The moft ancient Inhahltants of Europe, were the Celts ; the Iberi, who 
 were Mauri or Moors that had come from Africa, and poffeficd themfelves 
 of Aquitanla and Spain ; the Sarmatse, who feem to have inhabited the 
 fouth-wed of Tartary ; and the Goths, who, in procefs of time, fpread 
 themielves over the greatvift part oi Europe. 
 
 Thefe races of men are pointed out as diftin(ft by ancient writers; and 
 the languages which are dill fpoken in various countries can eafily be addu- 
 ced to fujjport their authority. In confirmation of this, it maybe obferved, 
 that the Ceiiic, or at leaft dialeds of it, is ftill fpoken in a great part of Ire- 
 land, in the Highlands of Scotland, Wale?, and Britanny in France. Tl>e 
 Iberian ftili furvives in the Mauritanic : the Sarmatian is the fame with the 
 Sclavo .ic, which prevails over an immenfe traifl of country towards the 
 eaft ; and the Gothic exifts in Germany, Scandinavia, and in the nume- 
 rous branches that fprung from them, and are fcattered over the northern 
 regions *. 
 
 From the Gothic this country received its language ; and this is equally 
 true, whether we confider that fpnken by the original inhabitants, or that 
 of the people who mingled with them, and by whom the iflands were fo 
 king pofTefled f. Though it was called Norfe, it ieems to have been a dif- 
 ferent dialedt from that fpoken in either Denmark, Sweden, Norway, or even 
 in Iceland. To the laft of thefe it has plainly a nearer affinity than to the 
 others; though it differs in fome degree even from it ; but whether this 
 difference be the effed of chance and time, to which every tongue is liable, 
 or whether it ^^ay be owing to a mixture of the old Pidtifh language, 
 
 • Mr. Pinkerton's Introduiflion. f Sir R. SibbaJd's Hift. of Fife. 
 
 5 preferved 
 
230 MONUMENTS OP ANTIQUITY. BOOK II, 
 
 preferved in this remote corner, are queftions that admit of no eafy de- 
 termination. 
 
 Such as it was, it feems to have continued a length of time in great 
 purity even after the iflunds ceafed to be connected with Norway, as we 
 find it mentioned as the language generally fpoken in the fixteenth cen- 
 1529. tury *. So late as the middle, or even towards the end of the fevcnteenth 
 century, though it had loft much groufld, it ftill continued to be fpoken in 
 four pariflies in the Mainland, particularly at home in their own houfes, 
 by the people who, when th€y came abroad, feemed to have joined in con- 
 verfation with others that fpoke the language of the country to which they 
 had been joined f. 
 
 For many years paft it has been almoft entirely forgotten, except in one 
 parifli in the heart of the Mainland, where the people are faid, till of late, 
 to have retained fome acquaintance with it X- ^^ Shetland it continued 
 much longer ; for within thefe thirty years, there were fome people in 
 Fula, and even perhaps in other places, who not only recollected words, 
 fuch as the names of things, but could repeat many ftanzas, if not whole 
 poems, in that language §• Here it now exifts only in a few vulgar and 
 obfelete words, and in the names of men and places. The Englifh names 
 of perfons, which are common, are evidently derived from the defcendants 
 of Cromwell's foldiers, many of whom were left here. 
 
 Many of the inhabitants that now exift are defcended from the earls, 
 biftiops, and inferior clergy, who, in general, were natives of Scotland; and 
 ftill more from thofe that attended them hither, in the capacity of fervants 
 or companions ; and this numerous progeny bear the names which their 
 anceftors imported from the place of their nativity. Hence the Sinclairs, 
 the Stewarts, the Balfours, the Grahams, the Honymans, and the Traills; 
 moft of whom either have been, or are at prefent, men of extenfive landed 
 
 * Ben. MSS. f ^''- Mackaile. 
 
 t So late .IS 1756 or 1757, ;is a refpeftable native of this country was travelling from Kirkwall 
 to Birf;!, lie had occafion to lodge all night in a lioufe in Harra ; where, to his furprile, he heard 
 two iild men, for an hour or more, converfe together in an unknown tongue j which, on inquiry, 
 Jie fnund was the Nnrfe language. 
 
 § Low's Tour. Fide Appendix, No. X. 
 
 property j 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY* SJt 
 
 property ; and the Rents, Kings, Folfetters, the Hepburns, and the MafonSy 
 who are now, in general, men of much lower rank, and of inferior con- 
 dition. 
 
 But a great many names here feem to be old, and, fo far as can be 
 difcovered, appear diftind and peculiar, and were, without doubt, figni- 
 ficant in the ancient language of the country. Some of thefe are local j 
 fome are evidently derived from particular trades or profcflions ; while 
 others appear to have been taken from the particular fpot* where thofe that 
 bore them had their firft abode, or acquired their firft permanent property^ 
 Of the firft kind are the Mainlands, the Waes's, the Roufays, the Swaneys^ 
 the Rendab, the Deernefles, and the Holms ; whofe names are plainly 
 adopted from the iflands and parifhes in which they had their habitation. 
 The fecond kind, namely thofe that are derived from different protefhonSy 
 (to fay nothing of fuch as Smith, Taylor, Wright, Mafon, and fo on, 
 which are common to this with moft other places), are the Keldies, de- 
 fcended perhaps from the primitive pricfts or monks, and the Papleys, that 
 have fprung from the fame order of men, under different circumftances. 
 The furnames of Hourflane, Cor(\ane, and Birftane, are very common 
 here ; as alfo that of Scater ; which are all faid to be derived from the 
 Gothic language ;. in whi€h the former implies the fuperlative degree of 
 comparifon, and the latter, not an idol worfliipped in Germany, as has beea 
 afferted *, but a meadow fitted for, and applied to pafturage i"« 
 
 The name of Baikie has the fame origin, and implies a imall running 
 water ;}: ; which might perhaps have been taken from fome rivulet, on the 
 banks of which they that firft bore it had fixed their abode, or acquired 
 theii property. Many names, bcfides thefe, are the offt^pring, perhaps, of 
 fimilar circumftances, which we are now unable to trace. 
 
 The oldeft furnames here are the Fcas, the Scollays, the Baikies, the 
 Loutits, the Tullochs, the Torts the Harcus's the Hacros, the Garriochs, 
 the Harolds, the Holmes, the Keldies, and the Papleys ; which, together 
 with thofe local names already mentioned, may all be confidered as derived 
 from the ancient language. To the fame fource may be traced many of 
 
 f Wallace. f Pontoppidan's N.it. Ilift, of Norway. J Ihre ; Vivus. 
 
 the 
 
231- MONUMENTS OF ANTIQUITY. BOOK II, 
 
 the names of places, a few of which onl)' we (hall mention, for the fake of 
 example. 
 
 Skael Is the name of a place that occurs very frequently, and implies a 
 fituation on the feafide, expofed much to tlie noife of the billows*; Sandwick, 
 fituated in a fandy bay ; Rackwick, near a place where fea wrack, or weed, 
 is thrown in with impetuofity t- There are few names more frequently 
 met with than that of Burgh, which fignifies a fortification J ; and Burgar, 
 the enclofure within which fuch a fort is fituated ; or, more properly, both 
 united tof^ether. Gorn is a very common name, and fignifies that a 
 place is fituated in the midft of a field tolerably well cultivated, and of con- 
 fiderable extent and fertility ; Gaith §, a fmall patch of enclofed cultivated 
 ground, with wafte land around it ; Cleat, a houl'e in a c;>nfpicuous point 
 of view ; Holland, an abode on high land ; How, an habitation on elevated 
 ground, or on a hill with a gentle declivity ||. 
 VII. In a valley, formed by the hill of Wideford on the one fide, and thofe 
 
 Co'ius!"^ of Orphir on the other, there is a deep mar(h, of confiderable extent, which 
 has frequently fupplied the inhabitants of Kirkwall with fuel. The name 
 of the little eftate of which it forms a part, together with th« proprietor's 
 houfe, fituated in its vicinity, is Caldale ; which lies at nearly an equal 
 diftance from the bay of Frith, the bay of Scapa, and the burgh of Kirk- 
 wall. 
 
 As a man was digging peat here, he difcovered two horriT, much the 
 fame both in form and fize with thofe of our cattle at prefent, in an inclined 
 pofition, nearly two feet under the furface, with a firm, hard, dry kind of 
 black earth, both above and around them. The wideft parts of thefe horns 
 were uppermoll; on and near which were found feveral pieces of fine filver, 
 in the form of crefcents, oxfbulce^ differing from one another a good deal both 
 in figure and dimenfions. Some of them were flat, others angled ; fomc 
 round, forae nearly met at the ends ; others were wider at the extremities ; 
 one refembled in Ihape the ftaple of a door, and another a hook for hanging 
 clothes upon. 
 
 • Ihre ; Skal, Sonus. + Idem ; Wick, Sinus. % Idem. § Ihre. II Idem. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP, V. MONUMENTS OF ANTIQJJITY. 23J 
 
 The horns themfclves, from their own nature and that of the eanh in 
 which they have been buried, had refifled putrefadion fo much, that tliey 
 were almofl: entire, and contained coins to tlie number of three hundred. 
 In the bottom, or fmalleft end of one of thefe horns, were difcovered Ibme 
 bits of apparently coarfer fiiver, which, though they exhibited marks of 
 being cut with an inftrumcnt, were manifeflly the parts of crefcents, or 
 fibula^ of the fame kind with ihofe already defcribed. 
 
 The whole of this valuable ancient trea fare was carefully concealed, and 
 was partly given away, before the proprietor of tlic land was made ac- 
 quainted with the difcovery. Had he received it at firft, and in the entire 
 ftate in which it was found, he judicioufly intended to have fubinitted it to 
 the infpedlion of antiquarians and men of fcience, by fending fome of the 
 coins and other articles, with the circumftanccs of the difcovery, to the 
 Britifh mufeum, and tranfmitting the reft to the different univerfities 
 throughout the kingdom. Thus might fome light have been thrown on 
 the ftate of the arts at that period, and even fome points in th*? hiftory of 
 the iflands might have received illuftration. 
 
 An account of it, however, that was publiftied in the Edinburgh newf- 
 papers foon after its difcovery, attradled the attention of a celebrated Englifh '^ll^• 
 antiquary, who anxioufly colledted as many of the coins as he could, which, 
 having accurately examined them at his leifure, he found to be coins of 
 Canute the Great, confifting of forty-two varieties as to their place of coin- 1025. 
 age in England. That gentleman, fenfible of the importance of fuch an ac- 
 quifition, foon after publiftied a catalogue of them, together with fuch coins 
 of the fame prince as had been formerly known, and engraved a plate con- 
 taining the Caldale coins, with one of the horns that contained them, and 
 two of ihejibula^ or crefcents. 
 
 There ftill remain fome monuments of antiquity, which, thou'^h of lefs «^^^^' 
 
 , 1 y ' ' o Ancient 
 
 importance, cannot be paflcd over in filence, as they are fometimes the fub- Buildings. 
 je£t of converfation, in confcquence of their being mentioned by former 
 writers. Of this fort are fome of thofe venerable buildings, which formerly 
 were very lofty and magnificent, but are now levelled to the ground. So 
 completely are fcvcral of them now in ruins, that we in vain fearch for the 
 place on which they ftcod. The bifhop's palace in Egliftiay, the houfe of 
 
 H h Sigurd 
 
234 .AIONUMENTS OF AIs'TIQJTIT Y. BOOK 11. 
 
 Sigurd of Weftnefs, that of Swein in Galrfay, the caftle of Damfev, the 
 abode of Thorkel in Sandvvick, the noted palaces of the princes and bifliops 
 in Rirfa; and the palace of the earls in Orphir, arc utterly deftroyed. Moft, 
 if not the whole of thefe, however, were perhaps built of wood. To thofe, 
 whofe cxiflence was once certain, though fcarcely any veflige of them is 
 now to be fecn, may be added one, that is perhaps ideal, and never would 
 have been heard of, had it not been for the flrangenefs of the name. 
 Ca-rpof Scarcely two miles to the north-eaft of Weftnefs, in the ifland of Roufay, 
 juUue. .^ ^_^ angle formed bv two hills facing the nortli-weft, rifes a ridge or 
 mound, of confiderable height and length, with a 'very large moat or ditch 
 on each fide of ir, formed by the motion of the water rufliing impetuoufly 
 down the declivity. The whole is evidently a produdion of nature, as 
 no marks of art, on the mofi: accurate infpettion, can be difcovered on 
 it ; and the name of the Camp of Jupiter Fring, which it bears, is the only 
 circumftance that has brought it into notice, or made it remarkable. It has 
 borne this extraordinary appellation for a long time ; but it is not known 
 by whom, or on what occafion, it was beftowed on it. It has for many 
 years paft been the favourite haunt of a pair of large eagles, which are 
 known to have frequented the fame fpot for ages ; and the circumftance of 
 its being chofen for that purpofe by the bird facred to the king of the gods, 
 might have furniihed fome whimfical perfon with the firft hint for calling 
 this eminence the Camp of Jupiter Fring, Ferletis, or the Striker. 
 Caftle of In the fmall ifland of Wier, and near its centre, on a fine green hillock, 
 Coppirow. ^^jiich has a commanding view of the adjacent iflands, is fituated the caftle 
 of Coppirow, or Cubbirow, which, in the ancient language, we are told, 
 fignifies a tower of defence againft external violence *. The building is a 
 fquare, fifteen feet on the fide, the walls feven feet thick, conftrufted of 
 large ftones ftrongly conneded with lime ; and this uncommon ftrength, 
 together with the ditches and ramparts around it, fhows plainly that it was 
 intended as a fortification. An Orkney gentleman, about the middle of 
 the twelfth century, ereded it in that form ; and it afterwards flood a fiege 
 of feme months, and after all was not taken f- His name was Kolbem 
 
 » Wallace. t Toifsi Orcades. 
 
 n Hranga 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS AND ANTIQUITIES. 235 
 
 Hranga, a man of great note, and of a family much connctfled with the 
 iflands; and the name which the caftle bears is fo fimilar in point of found 
 to that of the founder, that we need trace it to no other derivation. The 
 fort was reckoned a place of much fecurity, and, on the whole, may 
 fervc to convince us how vaO: the difference , is between what was, in that 
 age, confidered as a place of ftrength, and what is viewed in the fame liglit 
 at prefent. 
 
 ChriftVChurch, in Birfa, was once very famous, and is of very great 
 antiquity ; but whether it was the prefent place of worfliip that was dif- 
 tinguifhed by that name, or tlic chapel in the burgh, the BergUhered of 
 early times, we are in want of evidence fuflicient to determine. That tlie 
 lafl: is that facred edifice, is moft probable, from its being, till of late, an 
 obje£t of fuch veneration to the people, tliat they often made vows, and 
 offered oblations in it, as they alfo did in another chapel in Deernefs, the 
 two extremities of the Mainland. Though the feat of the biHiops was 
 firft here, there is no remaining veftige of their palace, unlefs it flood on the 
 ilte, and was incorporated with that reared by the binclairs, which is now 
 in ruins. 
 
 Even the town of Kirkwall itfelf bears ftrong marks of confiderable an- 
 tiquity. In confirmation of this, it may be obferved, that the Hreets are 
 very narrow, and by no means either ftraight, or of the fame breadth 
 throughout. The houfes, inftcad of fronting the ftreets, are built with 
 their ends to them ; the roofs are very high and fteep ; the doors and win- 
 dows are fmall In proportion to the fize of the building ; and the rooms 
 in fome of them are ill lighted, fmall and irregular. This, however, is 
 the cafe only with thofc that have flood very long, or are very old ; efpe- 
 cially thofe on the fhore, or its vicinity ; for fuch as have been rebuilt, 
 and particularly the new ones, are in every refpe£l difTerent from thefe, 
 and are as beautiful and commodious as thofe of the towns in other parts 
 of the kingdom. 
 
 But whatever antiquity this town Itfelf may plead, it certainly contains 
 fome old buildings, two of them nearly in ruins, and one pretty entire, 
 which, under this head, merit fome confideration. 
 
 H h 2 The 
 
236 MONUMENTS AND ANTIQUITIES. BOOK II. 
 
 C iftie of The firft c>£ thefe we (hall mention, is that ruin, well known by the name 
 
 If' I- '■ 1 1 
 
 * of the King's Caftle ; which appellation it probably received, from Its hav- 
 ing been the ordinary refidence of the royal governors, chamberlains, or 
 farmers of the Iflands, fubfequently to their annexation to the crown of 
 Scotland. This fortrefs, fituated on the weft fide of the principal ftreet, 
 and nearly fronting the cathedral of St. Magnus, feems to have been a 
 place of great ftrength, if we may judge from its extent, the thicknefs of 
 its walls, and the almoft impenetrable nature of its cement. The arras and 
 mitre, engraved on a Rone on its front, have led to the fuppofitlon of its 
 having been eredled by fome of the prelates of this fee*; but. If ever they 
 had a palace on its fite, it muft have been early, and prevloufly to its 
 eredion, which took place in the fourteenth century, by Henry Sinclair, 
 the firft of that name that was Earl of Orkney f. This ancient fortrefs, 
 Patrick Earl of Orkney, after he had been three years in confinement, 
 commanded his natural fon to regain pofleffion of, which, at the head of 
 a confiderable force, he accordingly did, and defended it for fome time 
 with determined valour. But he was at length overpowered by the King's 
 troops, fupported by artillery advantageoufly placed, when the caftle was 
 reduced and almoft demollftied, and he hlmfelf furrendered, on the condi- 
 tion that no torture fliould be employed to extort from him a confeffion of 
 his father's guilt %. 
 
 Bifhop's Towards the eaft fide of the town, and almoft on a line with the cathe- 
 dral, from which it is not far diftant, ftands that ancient ruin, known by 
 the name of the Bifhop's Palace. As early as the middle of the thirteenth 
 
 1263. century, it feems to have been a place of confequence, as it then accom- 
 modated, in one of its upper ftorles, the celebrated Haco King of Nor- 
 way, with his courtiers and fervants, after his return from his laft ex- 
 pedition. 
 
 As this palace was evidently built at different times, it now exhibits a 
 modey mixture of various forts of architedure, and is extenfive rather than 
 regular. 
 
 • Wallace. f Torfei Orcades. % Mr. Laing's Hiftory of Scotland. 
 
 Towards 
 

 k 
 
 >. 
 
 "v 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 X 
 
 N 
 
 N 
 \ 
 
 I : 
 
 N 
 
 \ 
 \ 
 
 N 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
hi 
 
t 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS AND ANIQUITIES. 237 
 
 Towards the north-eafl: corner of the building, and near the church, 
 flood a fquare tower, called the Mafs, or Menfe Tower, which, from the 
 ftyle of the ftrudure, as well as from its very decayed ftate, appears to 
 have been of the greateft antiquity. Almoft clofc to it, there was another, 
 nearly of the fame form, but of fmaller dimenfions, which feems to have 
 been rebuilt, if not entirely ereded, by Bilhop Reid, as there were, on 
 feveral parts of it, the initials of his name cut, on ftone, above his mitre 
 and arms. 
 
 The large round tower, which, with thefe, forms a triangle, was en- 
 tirely a work of his, as a rude ftatue of him, ilill ftanding in a nitch in 
 the fouth wall, demonftrates ; and thefe three towers bounded the northern 
 extremity of the ftrudure, which ftretched fouthwards, with a breadth ot" 
 little more than twenty feet, while its length in that diredion was not 
 lefs than a hundred. The walls were high, and formerly may have been 
 much higher, ftrongly built of grey ftone, and the doors and windows of - 
 red free-ftone ; the latter of which are fome of them fmall, fome large, 
 fome high, fome low, and are very different in their forms as well as in 
 their dimenfions. In fhort, this fpacious fabric, reared perhaps in early 
 times, and fince often repaired and altered, has great appearance of irre- 
 gularity, and is fo faft haftening into decay, that, in the courfe of not 
 many years, there will be fcarcely fo much of it left, as to mark the place ; 
 of its foundation. 
 
 Amidft not only thefe, but all the other buildings of this place, the Ca- Cuhedral of 
 thedral of St. Magnus raifes its majeftic head, to ftrike the eye, and excite " ^2i"s. 
 the admiration of every ftranger. It was raifed by the fuperftition of the 
 dark ages, on the fame model with thofe that are fo often met with in 
 other parts of the kingdom. Compared, indeed, with the magnificent 
 ruins of the Abbey of Mehofe, with the Cathedral of Durham, or the un- 
 paralleled Yorkminfter, its grandeur and beauty fufFer much. But if the 
 time in which it was built be confidered, the people Ly whom, and the 
 place where it was fituated, together with feveral other circumdances, it 
 v/ill ftrike us with wonder, as a performance t lat fhows equal bolJnefs in 
 the defign, and pious induftry in the e.'itcutioj. * 
 
 ^ Ronald, 
 
238 MONUMENTS AND ANTIQUITIES. BOOK II. 
 
 1 1 38. Ronald, Count of Orkney, feme time before the naiddle of the twelfth cen- 
 tury, founded it in honour of his uncle St. Magnus, to whom it was dedi- 
 cated. Dr. Stewart, a reverend prelate in the time of James the Fourth, added 
 three pillars to the eaft end of it, with a fine Gothic window, which, for 
 beauty, is far fuperior to any other in the building ; and Dr. Reid, another 
 prelate, in the reign of the unfortunate Mary, added as many to the weft 
 end, which, on account of his death, perhaps, were never finiflied, and 
 are therefore, in point of elegance, not only inferior to the former, but to 
 thofe in the reft of the ftrudure. 
 
 As to its dimenfions, the body of the building ftretches, in a line from 
 eaft to weft, two hundred and thirty-fix feet ; its breadth through that ex- 
 tent amounts to fifty-fix ; the arms of the crofs are thirty feet long and 
 thirty-three broad; the height of the main roof is feventy-one feet; and, 
 . from the level of the floor to the fummit of the fteeple, is nearly a hundred 
 . and forty. The roof, which is vaulted with a number of Gothic arches, 
 is fupported by twenty-eight pillars, fourteen on each fide, befides four 
 of uncommon ftrength and beauty, that ferve to fupport the fpire ; and 
 ( while the reft of the pillars are only fifteen feet, thefe are twenty-four, in 
 circumference. 
 
 The prefent fpire, however, is low and paltry, being built in the room 
 of one that was burnt or ftruck down with lightning, which, in all pro- 
 bability, was of fuch a large fize, as to require pillars of that folidity to 
 fiapport it. It contains an excellent chime of bells, which are faid to have 
 been a donation from Biftiop Maxwell. 
 
 The eaft window, which, in point of fizc and fymmetry, excels all the 
 reft, is twelve feet broad and thirty-fix in height, including one at the 
 top, which was called a rofe windo-w^ twelve feet in diameter. In the 
 fouth arm of the crofs there is another rofe window, of the flime dimen- 
 fions ; and, in the weft end of the church, there is a third window, con- 
 ftruded on the model of that on the eaft end, but far inferior to it, both 
 in fize and proportion. 
 
 In fliorr, though built at different times, and by dlfi:erent perfons, this 
 cathedral muft be admitted to be an edifice not only grand and fimple, but 
 
 alfo wonderfully regular. 
 
 Fortunate 
 
CHAP. V. MONUMENTS AND ANTIQUITIES. 239 
 
 Fortunate in its remote fituatlon, and in the difpofition of the people, it 
 efcaped the intemperate rage of the reformers, who rafed to the foundation 
 many a noble ftrudture of the fame kind, and remains entire to this day, a 
 monument of the exalted ideas of the illuftrious founder, and the fuperb 
 ornament of thefe iflands. 
 
 IMuch care and expence have been beftowed for preferving it in that 
 ftate ; and without the mofl: judicious and faithful management of the 
 fcanty fund allotted for that purpofe, it muft, long ere now, have fallen 
 into ruins. To fupport it, neither the Town^ Council, nor the heritors of 
 the country parifh, have ever, in thefe capacities, contributed any thing, 
 though it is the only eftablithed place of wordiip which they are bound to 
 maintain ; but the burthen has, from time immemorial, been laid on the 
 Kirk-feiTion, who, in this refpedt, have difcharged the truft repofcd in 
 them, in fuch a manner as to refleift the higheft honour on their integrity. 
 Since the abolition of Epifcopacy, the money arifing from the Crown rents 
 here, has been fometimes confiderable ; and as it has been annually paid 
 into the Exchequer, applications have frequently been made, but in vain, 
 to procure fomcthing from that fund, to fupport that venerable fabric. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
[ 340 ] 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 OF THE ISLANDS AFTER THEY BECAME SUBJECT TO ANOTHER SOVEREIGN; 
 
 THE MANY CHANGES THAT THEY UNDERWENT ; AND THE INFLUENSE 
 
 ■WHICH THESE SEEM MANIFESTLY TO HAVE HAD, IN RETARDING THEIR 
 IMPROVEMENT, 
 
 The iflands ought never to have been feparated from the kingdom of 
 Scotland 3 and the only title that Denmark could produce to them, was 
 founded originally in matitime ufurpation. This, however, did not pre- 
 vent that court from frequently claiming them, in virtue of the right of 
 redemption ; but that claim, which, on its firft revival, would have ad- 
 mitted of difpute, has now lain dormant for upwards of a hundred and 
 thirty years. 
 
 From the treaty, by which they were united to the country to which 
 nature intended they fhould belong, many advantages refulted to Scotland, 
 which, by that means, acquired both a confiderable extent of territory, 
 and the beft fifhing ground in her dominions, and, what was preferable to 
 both, a multitude of fober loyal fubjeds, among whom could be raifed, 
 at pleafure, a number of the beft failors in the world. But whether the 
 iflands were improved by this change, or whether the advantages were 
 equal and reciprocal, is a.queflion that admits not of fuch an eafy and ob- 
 vious folution. The refpedable nobleman who was then Earl of Orkney, 
 feems to have regarded it in the light of a benefit ; for he appears to have 
 been adtive and zealous, and to have left no method untried to accomplirti 
 this new connexion. Befides any public motives he might have had for his 
 condudl, hi« own intereft plainly led him to forward the meafure, which 
 inufl: have been defirable to him, who, confined at home in the difcharge 
 of the duties of his high office, as well as in the management of his own 
 eflate, had no doubt experienced the inconvenience of holding an extenfive 
 property in a diftant province, fubjeit to a foreign prince. Moreover, in 
 
 the 
 
f HAP. VI. IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY, &C. 24I 
 
 the event of a war breaking out between the two kingdoms, he muft have 
 forcfeen the difficulty of ading in fuch a manner as to preferve his fidelitv 
 to both Sovereigns, and the rifk he ran, if he leaned more to the one fide 
 than the other, of lofing his property and honours. But, whatever w-ere 
 his motives in forwarding the tranfadlion, or whatever benefits he expelled 
 to reap from it, he, foon after its accomplifiimcnt, refigned the earldom. 
 
 The homage and fovereignty only had been claimed by the Kings of 
 Norway ; and thefe could be conveyed to the Scotifh Monarch only in the 
 recent deed of impignoration. The Earl, therefore, after the ceffion, 
 enjoyed, as in juftice he ought, every right, privilege, emolument, and 
 property, which he had done under the former government. Diflatisfied, 
 however, with fome circumftances in thefe iflands, and expe»5ling to ob- 
 tain lands in place of them, in a more convenient fituation, and wiihlng, 
 at the fame time, to raife to the earldom of Caithnefs his fon by his fecond 
 wife, grand-daughter to the Earl of Sutherland, in preference to his fou 
 by his firfl; wife, a daughter of James Earl of Douglas, he refigned his 
 eflate into the hands of his Sovereign, who foon afterwards granted him 
 lands in compenfation. Thefe were the caftle of Ravenfcraig, and lands 
 adjacent, in recompenfe, according to our author, for his caftle of Kirk- 
 wall, ' and bis ha'tll richC of the earldom of Orkney *. ^470* 
 
 Several other lucrative grants were made at the fame time, accompanied 
 with an engagement, that no revocation as to them fliould take place, even 
 though the King fhould happen to be a minor. To thefe were added, 
 ample difcharges from the Kings both of Denmark and Scotland, and all 
 claims whatever that any or both of them might have againfl. him, in con- 
 fequence of his having poirefled the earldom. He was, moreover, per- 
 mitted to receive his rents in the way which he confidered moft proper, 
 without any fort of moleftation ; and full liberty was granted him to refide 
 in whatever country he pleafed, with the fole exception of England. 
 
 King James, in virtue of this tranfadion v^-ith the Earl, and that with 
 the King of Denmark, which he had formerly concluded, had now ac- 
 quired a complete right to the earldom, which he difcovcred a manifeft 
 
 • Scotft.arvei. 
 
 I i Inclination 
 
242 " IMPROVEMENT RETARDED HY COOK 11. 
 
 » 
 
 inclination to convert to tlie benefit of the iflands, by annexing them to 
 tlie down by A€t of Parliament, not to be given away in time coming to 
 1471. any, except one of the King's fons, born in lawful wedlock*. 
 
 Though this fliows pretty plainly their importance in the eyes of the 
 ScotiOi nation, there is another circumftance that {tts this matter in a ftill 
 flronger point of light. This was the precaution which James, with the 
 advice of his Council, took to folicit the Church to fan£tion, by her au- 
 thority, his right to the lands, which, in fecurity of his Queen's portion, 
 he had lately obtained. 
 
 For this end, the Archbifliop of St. Andrews, and Primate of all Scot- 
 land, was difpatched with inftrudions to Rome, ' to impetrate and defirc 
 ' of our Holy Fader the Pope a confirmation of the conventions, confe- 
 ' derations and bands, maid betwixt our Sovereign Lord and the King of 
 ' Denmark that laft deceffit, of the donation and impignoration of the lands 
 * of Orkney and Shetland f.' 
 
 That all this care, and thefe precautions, in regard to his new acquifition, 
 might not be in vain, he had no fooner perfedled his title by all the means 
 in his power, than he turned his attention to the internal ftate of the coun- 
 try ; ereded Kirkwall into a royal burgh ; promoted the advantage of the 
 inhabitants, and both fecured and extended the rights of the udallers and 
 freeholders. For the remainder of his reign, the unhappy differences that 
 arofe between him and his nobles, and the turbulent ftate of the kingdom, 
 diverted his attention from the Iflands, which were comm.itted to lieute- 
 nants or viceroys, who a£ted under his commifTion in the adminiftration 
 of juftice, and in colleding the rents for his benefit. 
 
 During this period, the church was ruled by prelates of great character. 
 To Thomas de TuUoch, who has already appeared, in feveral inftances, in 
 a very confpicuous point of view, fucceeded William, who was witnefs to 
 a deed, dated the 15th day of April 1448 ; and if there be not a vacancy 
 in the fee about this time %, which feems rather probable, muft have dif- 
 1468. charged the duties of that facred office for at leaft twenty years. His fuc- 
 ceffor in that dignity was William Tulloch, coufin to Bifhop Thomas of 
 
 * Aa of Parliament. liaJdington's Col!. f Regifter of Parliament. 
 
 J Keith's Catalogue. 
 
 the 
 
CHAP. VI. THE MANY CHANGES OF GOVERNMENT. 243 
 
 the fame name. So high did he ftand in his Sovereign's efleem, that he 
 granted him a commiflion, along with other illuftrious perfons, to nego- 
 ciate a marriage between him and the Princefs Margaret, daughter of the 
 King of Norway. In this office, which was certainly of great trufl: and 
 importance, he feems to have conduced himfelf fo much to the fatisfadion 
 of his Prince, that, in the fpace of three years afterwards, he was appointed 
 one of the Adminiftrators of Exchequer, and foon afterwards made Lord 
 Privy Seal, and employed in an embaffy to England *. From this fee he 
 was tranflatcd to Murray f. The name of Tulloch, which he and his re- 
 lation bore, is very ancient, and is faid to have been derived from an Earl 
 of Orkney, denominated Harold the Holy, of which it is fuppofed a cor- 
 ruption. His talents were refpedable, not only as a divine, but alfo as a 
 man of bufinefs and an author, as appears from a manufcript which he is 
 faid to have left, in which is traced, with much accuracy, the genealogy of 
 the royal families of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Scotland, England, and 
 Normandy '\.. 
 
 Previoufly to this period, the church here had been under the jurifdidion 
 ■of the Archbifliop of Drontheim, who had the nomination of the Bifliops, 
 who were his fuffragans. It now changed mafters, was ranked in the pro- 
 vince, and became fubjedt to the fway of the Archbifliop of St. Andrews 
 in Scotland. 
 
 The Chapter then confifted of canons, a dean, a chanter, a provoll, and 
 a treafurer, with fome affifiant priefts. 
 
 Immediately after Bifliop Tulloch's tranflation, Andrew was appointed 1478, 
 to the fee, and he feems to have occupied the fame place in the royal 
 favour. In proof of this, it may be obferved, that in his time, and very 
 probably by his means, Kirkwall had its firfl: charter, ere£ling it into a 148G. 
 royal burgh, with all fuch rights, privileges and immunities, as were grant- 
 ed to other towns in the kingdom. He was a perfon of fuch confequence, 
 as to obtain from Henry the Seventh of England, letters of fafe-condudl lor 
 himfelf and twelve perfons in his retinue, for the purpofc of travelling 
 through that country. 
 
 • Rymcr's Fa-d. f Spottifwoode. J Richard Aug. Hay. 
 
 I i 2 To 
 
244 IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK II, 
 
 151 1. To him fucceeded Edward Stewart, a man of an illuftrious birth, and, 
 what was of more confequence, of an excellent charadter. His tafte and 
 Ills generofity are evinced by his enlarging the cathedral of St. Magnus 
 with the addition of fome beautiful pillars and arches towards the eaft 
 end ; in which there is an elegant window, in the fame ftyle, form, and 
 proportions, though inferior in point of fize, with that which has been fo 
 much and fo juftly admired, in Yorkminfter in England. He had for a 
 fuccefTor, in the Epifcopal dignity, Thomas Bifhop of Orkney, whofe only 
 aftion of note was the donation which he made for maintaining the qui- 
 ' rifters in his cathedral. 
 
 Though the Sinclair family had voluntarily refigned the earldom, and 
 had received full value in fubftantial landed property, they feem to have 
 ftlU looked with a wifhful eye toward their former poflefTions. Accord- 
 1480. i"g'y> '^^ t^^ fubfequent reign. Lord Sinclair found means to be appointed 
 one of the commiflioner's for colleding the King's rents in Orkney and 
 icoi. Shetland*. Some years afterwards, they advanced a ftep farther towards 
 the objed at which they aimed, by obtaining a leafe of the earldom for a 
 period of nineteen years ; and for the very infignificant rent of fix hun- 
 dred and fifty pounds Scots money. Diffatisfied with this advantage, 
 which even to them, opulent as they were, muft have been an objedt of 
 fome moment, they feem to have loft fight, for a little, of both juftice and 
 gratitude ; as they made a bold, though unfaccefsful attempt to regain the 
 entire poffeffion. 
 
 To underftand this, It muft be remembered, that William Sinclair, fon of 
 the laft Earl of Orkney by his fecond marriage, had been, as appears from 
 the charter, created, according to his father's wifti. Earl of Caithnefs ; and 
 Henry Sinclair, fon of William, his eldeft fon by a firft marriage, had been 
 declared the head of his family, and, moreover, created Lord Sinclair ; yet 
 the fon of this nobleman concurred with George Earl of Caithnefs, grand- 
 fon of William, in whofe favour the earldom had been refigned, in attempt- 
 ing to invade and forcibly feize the Orkney Iflands. 
 
 * Unprinted Adls of Parliament. 
 
 Availing 
 
\ 
 
 CHAP. VI. THE MANY CHANGES OF GOVERNMENT. 245 
 
 Availing themfelves of the relaxed ftate of the reins of govcrnmenr, 
 during the minority of James the Fifth, to execute their ambitious defigns, 
 they colleded a very confideraSIe military force, which they embarked for 
 tliis place, vi'ith the moft fanguine hopes of vidory. Here, however, they 
 met with a more warm reception than they expedled ; for the brave ifland- 
 ers, under the command of Sir James Sinclair, a natural fon of the fame 
 family, then governor of the caftle of Kirkwall, attacked them on the con- 
 fines of the parifli of Stennis ; routed them completely at a place called 
 Bigfwell, in the vale of Summerdale ; flew the Earl, with five hundred of 
 his followers ; and took Lord Sinclair and all the reft of them prifoners *. 1527. 
 
 To this day the field of battle, though there is nothing in its appearance 
 relative to this event, is well known ; and, in the adjacent marfh, through 
 which, it is alleged, the Earl's troops were purfued, previoufly to the adion, 
 dead bodies have very lately been found, with their clothes in a wonderful 
 ftate of prefervation, occafioned, no doubt, by the antifeptic nature of the 
 earth in which they had Iain. 
 
 In vindication of their condud as to this matter, which was certainly In- 
 confiftent with their general charader, however much in unifon with the 
 turbulent ftate of the kingdom, and the ftill barbarous manners of the age, 
 it may be obferved, that there is fome ground for fuppofing that Lord Sin- 
 clair came over with a commiffion to fuperfede Sir James in the govern- 
 ment ; and that the difafter that befel him and his noble relation, who had 
 come to fupport him, was owing to the oppofition that he met with from 
 this powerful and popular leader. This appears from a paper lately found 
 in the family, which contains a complaint againft Sir Jaines, that was 
 either made, or Intended to have been made, to his Majefty on that fubjed. 
 But this, perhaps, ought not to be credited, were it not corroborated by a 
 refpite for the term of nineteen years, granted to Sinclair of Stroma, and 
 thirty others, for the murder of the Earl of Caithnefs ; and to this docu- 
 ment there can be no ohjedion f, as it contains every mark of authenticity. 
 But, whatever was the caufe of this melancholy adventure, about two 
 years after it happened, the young King, or, more properly, thofe that then 
 
 • HoIIIiifhcJ's Hift. of Scotland. Ben. MSS. Wallace. -f /77.- AppeiuUx No JI. 
 
 2 were 
 
2^G IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK II. 
 
 were at the helm of government, faw the abfolute neceflity of reducing the 
 iilandsio order; and were, of confequence, more eafily induced to dilfolve 
 1530. the annexation, though conceived in very ftridl terms, and grant the iflands 
 in- feu to James Earl of Murray, the King's natural brother, and his lieirs- 
 male ; with a claufe of reverfioa to the Crown, in cafe of their failure *. 
 Great as his power and influence were, however, he did not long enjoy this 
 benefadion ; for the grant, which had been made without due confider- 
 ation, was, in the fpace of a few years, revoked, as detrimental to the 
 public interefl: ; and Orkney and Shetland were again annexed to the 
 Crown, by a firm and formal aft, framed for the purpofe j". 
 
 In the mean time, Sir James Sinclair, elated with the fuccefs that he 
 had obtained in the rencounter with the Earl of Caithnefs and his friends, 
 trufting to his own popularity, and depending on the influence of his con- 
 nexions at Court, folicited from his fovereign the iflands of Sanday and 
 Eday ; and obtained them on a falfe reprefentation that they were of little 
 value, being only holms fit for pafturing domefl;ic animals. 
 
 As foon as the King was apprifed of the truth, juftly oiFended at the 
 grofs manner in which he had been impofed on, he threatened the Baronet 
 with vengeance ; who, afraid to meet his Sovereign, from whom he ex- 
 peded not only punifliment, but difgrace, is faid to have thrown himfelf 
 into a deep pit, communicating with the fea, that forms the entrance to the 
 noble harbour of Deerfound. So much had he conciliated the affedions 
 of the people, by his humane attention to their interefts, and fo ftrange 
 were the circumftances of his death believed to be, that it has been perpe- 
 tuated by tradition as a recent event ; and the place where it is thought 
 to have happened, is flill pointed out under the name of the Gloup of 
 Linkfnefs. 
 
 The unhappy fate of this. In many refpeds, deferving man, combined 
 with the influence of his friends, foftened the refentment of the King fo 
 much, that he granted to his widow a right to his whole eftate, moveable 
 and immoveable, that, on account of his fuicide, had been confifcated ijl. 
 
 The 
 
 * Great Seal Regifter. f Ibit-^- 
 
 X A letter made to Barbara Stewart, reli£l of umquliile James Sinclair of Sanday, Knight, hep 
 airis and affignees, of the gift of all guides, moveable and immoveable, &c. which pertained to tlie 
 
 faiJ 
 
CHAP. VI. THE MAKY CIIANGTS OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 ^47 
 
 The diflurbances that arofe here before and about this period, induced 
 King James the Fifth to vifit thefe remote idands. This young monarch 
 had now, with the vigour of youth, and the wifdom of years, amidft many 
 difficuhies, and even imminent hazard to his perfon, cftablifhed internal 
 tranquillity in his kingdom ; and, in purliiance of his patrioiic views, had 
 conceived the laudable dcllgn of vifiiing the remotcft parts of his dominions. 
 His intention was to adminider juRice, to check commotion, and to make 
 the incdimable benefits of order, law, and civilization be not only known, 
 but rclillied, among thofe who v.-ere the fartlieft removed from the feat of 
 government. 
 
 In entering upon the execution of this benevolent plan, obdacles of a 
 domeftic and delicate nature occurred, that created delay, which were no 
 fooner removed, than the fquadron, that had been for fome time in readinefs, 
 failed down the Forth. The fleet foon doubled the bold and rocky heights 
 of Caithnefs ; and, crofl'ing the Frith, difplayed the royal ftandard to the 
 natives of the Orkney Iflcs. Here, by only a fmall exertion of his autho- 
 rity, he foon compofed all the difturbances, and took fome of the moft 
 fadious into cuftody ; and, after having had the friths and bays furveyed, 
 and charts of them taken by his pilot, the Prince took his departure, and 
 bent his courfe to the weft, in the farther profecution of his voyage. While 
 he was in Kirkwall, he lodged in the Epifcopal palace, and was royally 
 entertained by the Bifhop ; and fo well pleafed was he with the inhabitants 
 in general, who feem to have vied with each other in paying him every 
 mark of fubmiflion, refped, and honour, that, as foon as he arrived at the 1536. 
 capital, he confirmed the town's charter, and, not long afterwards, granted 
 a rcfpite of nineteen years to Edward Sinclair of Stroma, with thirty of his 
 accomplices, for the flaughter of the Earl of Caithnefs *. 
 
 Having died a few years afterwards of a broken heart, the government 1542. 
 of the kingdom devolved on the Earl of Arran, as regent, who conferred 
 the iflands on the Earl of Huntly, by whom they were enjoyed for the 
 
 r.ilJ umqnhile J^nties, and row pertain to our Sovereign Lord te reafon of cfcheat, becault the 
 laid uniquhilc James wilfully (lew himfcif at Stirling, the eighteenth day of April A. D. fifteen 
 hnndicd and thirty-nine yaxn.—Frivy-Seal Jifi'Ur. 
 f /'fVr Appendix No. II. 
 
 fpace 
 
2,j.S IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK II. 
 
 fpace of thirteen years, till Mary, the young Queen, became of age to 
 choofe her guardians, when they, together with other exorbitant grants of 
 that period, were refumed *. Neverthelefs, this imprudent, though amiable 
 Princefs was prevailed on, before fl^e was of age, to make a new grant of 
 them to her natural brother, Lord Robert Stewart, and his heirs-male, 
 
 I J (5 J, with reverfion to the Crown in cafe they failed f. 
 
 Two years afterwards, when this grant was revoked, the Queen con- 
 ferred them on James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, with the title of Duke 
 of Orkney, in confequence of her refolution to marry him :}:. His com- 
 plicated crimes foon afterwards caufed them to be forfeited ; when they 
 a2;ain reverted to the Crown ; and, for fome years, the rents were colleded 
 by order of the State, and paid annually into the treafury. The intereft in 
 them, however, that he had acquired, in virtue of the beneficence of his 
 royal miftrcfs, was perhaps the reafon for his attempting to land here in 
 the depth of his misfortunes ; and he would have efFedted his purpofe, had 
 his force not been repelled by Gilbert Balfour, then governor of the caftle 
 of Kirkwall. §. 
 
 In the mean time, the church was ruled by feveral eminent prelates. 
 To Edward Stewart (whofe excellent character and beneficent adions we 
 
 1525. have already mentioned), fucceeded Robert Maxwell, fon of Sir John 
 Maxwell of Pollock, who had been at firft redor of Torbolton, afterwards 
 provoft of the collegiate church in the town of Dunbarton, and was at lad 
 promoted to the fee of Orkney. As his predecefTor had enlarged the 
 dimenfions, and added to the external beauty of the cathedral, fo he orna- 
 mented it internally, by building in it ftalls, which had curioufly carved on 
 them the arms of the former bifhops, and many other devices. To this 
 mark of refped for the church in which he performed divine fervice, he 
 added another, in furnifhing, at his own expeuce, an excellent chime of 
 bells for the fpire, of which it feems formerly to have been in a great mea- 
 fure deftitute. 
 
 * Bhick Afls. Leflle, Hlft. Scot. f Great Seal Regifter. 
 
 J Ibid. Buchan. Spottifwoode, Hift. Scot. 
 
 & Anderfon's Hill, of Scotland MS. Adv. Lib. Edin. 
 
 His 
 
CHAP. VI. THE MANY CHANGES OF GOVERNMENT. 249 
 
 His courtly manners, his elegant addrefs, and the fumptuous entertain- 
 ments which he furniflied, feem to have been gratifying to his royal patron, 
 when he graced his palace with his prefence ; for, on his return home, he 
 embraced the earlieft occafion to beftow federal benefactions on the country. 
 
 Refpedable, however, as this prelate was, and celebrated as he appears 
 to have been, on account of his fplendid munificence, his fuccefTor excelled 
 him in every refpedV, and arrived at a much higher degree of celebrity. 
 
 This was Robert Rcid, fon to John Reid of Aikenhead, who, with many 1540. 
 others, fell in the fatal field of Flouden. His mother was Elizabeth Shan- 
 well, fifter to John, abbot of Goupar, and Robert, vicar of Kirkaldy, who 
 was appointed one of the firft judges of the College of Juftice after its in- 
 ftitution. 
 
 He was born at Aikenhead ; educated at St. Salvator's college in St. 
 Andrews ; was firft fubdean, then official, or commifl'ary, of Murray ; 
 afterwards nominated abbot of Kinlofs : he obtained the priory of Beauly 
 in commcndam^ and was at laft raifed to the fee of Orkney. Befides thefe 
 offices, which he bore with equal credit to himfelf, and advantage to the 
 church, of which he was a member, he a(£led for fome time as vicar- general 
 in the management of the diocefe of Aberdeen, under the commiffion of 
 the bifliop of that fee, who v/as then in a foreign country. 
 
 Five years after his preferment, he was appointed one of the ordinary 
 Judges ; and when he had faithfully difcharged the duties of that office 
 for the fpace of nine years, he was nominated prefidcnt of the Couit of 
 Sefllon. Thefe honours, civil and ecclefiaftical, which were heaped on him 
 with a liberal hand, he appears to have juflly merited, by his talents and 
 his virtues. 
 
 His generoficy was difplayed, not only in ere£tlng the round and fquare 
 towers, that terminated the north end of the bilhop's palace, but in extend- 
 ing and decorating the cathedral of St. Magnus. To the weft end of it he 
 made a confiderable addition, by the eretftion of three pillars, and built the 
 magnificent porch which ferves it for an entry. 
 
 He conceived the defign of building a college in the immediate vicinity 
 of it, for the inftruiSlion of youth in grammar and philofophy ; and both 
 granted ground and built fome part of a fquare, which he intended Ihould ferve 
 
 Kk for 
 
250 IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK II. 
 
 for that purpofe. Bcfides thefe beneficent deeds, he made a new foun- 
 dation of the chapter, by increafing the number of the canons, prebenda- 
 ries, and other officers, and furnifliing them with more ample provifion 
 for their maintenance. His knowledge extended to every branch of fcience 
 and literature common in that age ; and he was particularly acquainted 
 with fuch branches as were conneded with the facred oflice, and with the 
 laws, conQitution, and political ftate of his own country. For that reafon 
 he pofTcffed the confidence and favour of his Sovereign, who frequently 
 employed him in bufinefs of the utmofl: importance. During feveral 
 years, he was accordingly one of the auditors of Exchequer; he was ap- 
 pointed a commiflioner on the part of Scotland for treating of a peace with 
 the Englilli ; and, when it was thought expedient, in order to ftrengthen 
 the connexion between the two countries, that the beautiful young Qjeen 
 of Scots (hould be married to the Dauphin of France, this eminent prelate 
 was made choice of as one of the commiffioners to condu£t her abroad^ 
 and witnefs her nuptials in that country. 
 
 In the execution of this important and honourable truft he was unfor- 
 tunate ; for the fhip in which he failed, and which had on board of her all 
 the moft valuable prefents, was wrecked near Boulogne ; and the Earl of 
 Rothes, with the bifhop, efcaped in the boat, with much difficulty. While 
 he was on his return home, after having executed the objed; of his miffion, 
 he was feized with a diforder, that ended his days, at Dieppe, to the lofs 
 as. well as the regret of his countrymen. 
 
 By his will he left eight thoufand merks, for the purpofe of founding a 
 college in Edinburgh, confiding of three fchools ; one for grammar, one 
 for poetry and oratory, and one for civil and common law ; and there is 
 extant a decree that was obtained for that fum, againfl Walter, commenda^ 
 tor of Kinlofs, at the inftance of his Majefty's advocate*. 
 
 The only writings which this prelate left, were, a geographical defcrip- 
 tion of the Ifles of Orkney, and a geneological and hiftorical account of the 
 family of Sinclair ; both of which were written at the defire of the King 
 of Denmark, and were extant in manufcript in the laft century j". 
 
 * Haddington's Colle<aions. f Mackenzie's Lives-. 
 
 5 His 
 
CHAP. VI. THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT. 251 
 
 His fucceflbr In the fee was Adam Bothwell, the firft reformed bifliop of ^5^^' 
 thofe Iflcs, fon to Francis Bothwell, one of the fenators of the College of 
 Juftice ; whom Qiieen Mary prefented to the oflice, after he had been duly 
 eleded by the chapter. He performed the marriage ceremony between her 
 and Bothwell, and afterwards took part with her enemies. Two years 
 after his prefentation to the bifhopric, he was appointed one of the Lords 
 of Sefhon, and for many years difchargcd the duties of that important 
 office with much dignity. As his refidence in his fee, however, was thereby 
 prevented, he exchanged the temporalities of his bifhopric with Robert 
 Stewart, Earl of Orkney, for his abbacy of Holyroodhoufe ; and he is 
 frequently ftyled abbot of that place, as well as bifliop of Orkney. Not- 
 withftanding his having joined the enemies of the queen, Mary fcems ftill 
 to have retained for him fome degree of her former favour ; for when 
 her unfortunate circumftances compelled her to refign the crown, flie 
 granted a procuration to him, to inaugurate her fon the young Trince, 
 which was accordingly done at Stirling. 
 
 Previoufly to that, fhe had given him a proof of her cfteem, in appoint- 1567. 
 ing him one of the commiffioners for colleding the Scots laws into a body ; 
 and, partly to his faithful induftry in the difcharge of his truft, do we owe 
 the firfl; impreffion of our laws at Edinburgh, well known by the name (f 
 the Black Ads, from the circumftance of their being printed in the Saxon 
 character. The fame refpecO: was, on another occafion, fliown him by the 
 nation ; for when the unhappy differences took place between the voun^*- 
 King and his mother, who was then a piifoner in England, he was chofen 
 by the Eftates to aid the Regent in bringing them to fome termination. 
 
 After all, he feems to have been little more than a nominal bifliop of 
 Orkney, as the revenues were colleded by the Earl, and, in confequence 
 of the exchange, applied to his own ufe ; and the fpiritual fundion was 
 difcharged by a fuperintendant, who had fo much of the epifcopal power 
 as to dire£t church cenfures, and ordain miniflers, as in other places. The 
 man that bore this office, which, in that age of zeal, was adopted as a me- 
 dium between prcfbytery and prelacy, was Mr. James Annan, minifler of 
 the churches of Sanday and Wcftray. This mode of church government 
 expired with him. 
 
 K k 2 The 
 
252 IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY ROOK II. 
 
 The Iflands had now, fince their union with Scotland, and their an- 
 nexation to tliat crown, been twice granted to needy or avaricious favour- 
 ites, and as often, from motives of public expediency, refumed : they had 
 continued, however, for fome time paft, in the hands of government, as 
 royal domains, and the revenues that arofe from them were converted to 
 its benefit and ufe. An objedt of fuch importance, therefore, as they were 
 at that time confidered, was not likely to be long overlooked. 
 
 Lord Robert Stewart accordingly revived his claim ; and, by means of 
 that addrefs for which he was diftinguiflied, prevailed on his nephew, the 
 young King of Scots, not only to confer on him the revenues, and renew 
 1 c8o. the grant, but, by letters patent, to create him Earl of Orkney *. By his 
 condufl, however, he foon fhowed that he was undeferving the royal 
 favour, and merited neither fuch profit nor fuch honours. Naturally 
 proud, as well as ambitious, and far from being exempted from avarice, he 
 availed hlmfelf of the remote fituation of thefe parts, to commit many adts 
 of violence and oppreffion, of which the people made many loud and bitter 
 complaints ; and when, to all this cruel treatment, he added the defign of 
 delivering the earldom into the hands of foreigners, he was immediately 
 i^gq. on the dlfcovery, (Iript of the pofleflion. The King, juftly offended at 
 the ino-ratitude and difloyal condu£t of his relation, next granted them to 
 Sir John Maltland of Thlrlftaln, the Chancellor of Scotland, and to Sir 
 Ludovick Ballantine, the Juftice-Clerk, jointly ; with the cuftoms, tolls of 
 fhips, and other revenues; who, for reafons not mentioned, foon f after- 
 wards reftored the whole privileges and property to the Crown. 
 
 In the mean time, Robert Stewart, fenfible of the many advantages 
 that refulted from the valuable pofieflions which he had fo recently loft, 
 and no doubt regretlng his own imprudent and criminal conduft, which 
 had contributed to this e^c€t, renewed his application to his young Sove- 
 reign, over whom addrefs and exterior accompllfliments had always but 
 too much influence ; and prevailed on him, notwlthftanding all that had 
 happened, to reftore to him and his heirs-male thofe lands of which he had 
 been deprived. 
 
 * Great Seal Regifter. f Ibid. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. VI. THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMliNT. 253 
 
 The fame grant was renewed to him and his fon Patrick ; and, in the 159 £. 
 event of their dying without Iflue, to the Duke of Lenox ; and an a£l of 
 dilToIution was obtained, wliich lafted only for the fliort fpace of one year; 
 after which the iflands of Orkney and Shetland were again annexed to the 
 Crown *. 
 
 Patrick Stewart, his fon, however, liad influence fiifliclent to procure a 1600. 
 new grant in his own fiivour, and that of his male iflue, and alfo of his 
 three brothers; and in failure of them, to the Duke of Lenox j" ; and he 
 was no fooner inverted with the poflefllon, than he gave fuch fpecimens 
 of his conduft, as plainly difcovered that he inherited his father's vices ; 
 and was, at leaft in fo far as concerned his behaviour to the people, de- 
 termined to tread in his fteps. His only objedl feemed to be, to ac juire 
 wealth, to fpend it in diffipation, to extend his power, and gratify his un- 
 bounded ambition. For accompliflning thefe ends, he made no fcruple to 
 ad contrary to juftice ; and when the people murmured, they were treated 
 with ftill greater feverity, till they were at length fo fortunate as to find 
 means of making their complaints reach the royal ear ; when he was thrown 
 into prifon, and, being afterwards convided of high treafon, fuffered the 
 punifliment fo jufl.ly due to his complicated crimes. 
 
 A contemporary author, who is generally efteemed, draws his charader 
 in juft and ftriking terms : 
 
 ' This nobleman (fays he) having undone his eftate by riot and prodi- 
 
 * gality, did feek by unlawful fliifts to repair the fame ; making ads in his 
 ' courts, and exading penalties for the breach thereof. If any man was 
 ' tried, to have concealed any thing that might infer a pecuniary muld, 
 
 * and bring profit to the Earl, his lands and goods were declared confif- 
 ' cated. Or if any went forth of the Ifles without his licenfe, or his de- 
 ' putie?, upon whatever occafion, they fhould forfeit their moveables. And 
 ' (which of all his ads was the moil inhumane) he ordained, that if any 
 
 * man was triedy to fupply or give relief to fliips, or any veflels diflrefled 
 
 * by tempcft, the fame iliall be puniflied in his perfon, and fined at the 
 ' Earl's plcafurc J.' 
 
 • Aa, Ja. Vf. pari. 14. f Grcu Seal Rcgiftcr. 
 
 t SpottiTwoode's Hillory of ScotlauJ, 
 
 The 
 
254 IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK II. 
 
 The condition of many thoufand people, of which the inhabitants then 
 confifted, under the government of a man of that defcription, muft have 
 been truly deplorable. Even after the annexation that took place on his 
 condemnation and forfeiture, their minds were extremely troubled in recol- 
 ledlin^ the fufferings they had endured, and dreading thofe they might 
 flill meet with, if a man of a fimilar charadler fhould in future be inverted 
 with the fame dangerous powers. To quiet their minds from any appre- 
 henfions they were under on this account, the King, with the advice of • 
 his Council, iffued an order, ' charging officers at arms to pafs to the 
 ' market-crofs of Kirkwall, and other places needful, within Orkney and 
 
 * Shetland ; and there, by open proclamation, to give fignification to all 
 ' his Majefty's lieges and fubjeds, that the lands and earldom of Orkney 
 
 * and Shetland were annexed to the Crown, to remain in time coming *.' 
 The bifhop, in the mean time, was appointed their governor, whom they 
 were ftridtly enjoined to obey; and, at the fame time, they were exhorted 
 to give no ear to t'he idle reports which they ' had heard, of alterations and 
 ' changes of the prefent eftate of the faid bounds, to the former condition 
 
 * of mifrule, trouble, and oppreffion f .' 
 
 Such univerfal alarm and painful apprehenfions, which required fuch 
 attention on the part of government to allay, muft have proceeded from an 
 adequate caufe, and will not permit us, however much inclined, to confider 
 the accounts that have been given of the condud of the Stewarts here, as 
 exaggerated. Even the very caftles which they were at fuch pains to ereft, 
 to ftiow the extent of their power and wealth, are monuments of their 
 pride and oppreffion. 
 
 To the ancient palace in Birfa, that had been built, or at leaft occupied 
 by the Earls of Sinclair, Earl Robert Stewart, pleafed with its flte, added 
 a magnificent front and colonnades, in the ftyle of the palace of Falkland j 
 and, on a ftone over the principal gate, caufed a Latin infcription to be 
 put, in which he arrogated to himfelf the title of royalty. But though 
 this might have arifen from a grammatical miftake, the fame excufe cannot 
 be pleaded for the arrogant motto that he affiimed, which implied, that as 
 
 * Privy Seal Regifter. f Ibid. 
 
 his 
 
N 
 N 
 \ • 
 
 N 
 
 \ 
 
 
 
 N 
 
I 
 
CHAP. VI. THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT. 255 
 
 his family had been, fo it was at prefent, and would remain in time 
 coming *. His conducfl in building the caftle of Birfa teftlfied the fame 
 prefumptuous dirpofition. In order to carry on the work with little ex- 
 pence to himfelf, and with expedition, he afTefl'ed the whole country in 
 money, vidluals, and perfonal fervices; and thefe, and other exadlions 
 which he made, preflcd fo hard on the poor inhabitants, that, as a jufl: 
 punifhment of fuch unrighteous deeds, his memory is, even at this day,, 
 held in execration. 
 
 His fon Patrick, whofe difpofition was fimilar, feems to have adopted the 
 fame tyrannical plan in building the caftle of Scalloway in Shetland, where 
 he compelled the inhabitants to work like flaves, and impofed a tax upon 
 every (heep and ox through that country, which continues ftill to be paid 
 under the name of the iheep and ox penny. 
 
 The fame method was probably purfued in building the far more elegant 
 ftrudlure of the Earl's palace in Kirkwall. It is an edifice reared by the 
 fame man in the pride of his power, as appears, not only from the date, 
 but from there ftill being feen, on different parts of it, the letters P. E. O., 
 the initials of his name and dignity. The lower or ground floor is divided 
 into a great many vaults or cells, with fmall, narrow openings, to ferve 
 them in place of windows ; and as they bear a ftriking refemblance to the 
 dark and difmal abodes for felons in fome prifons, there is fome reafon to 
 believe that they have fometimes been employed as places of confinement, 
 though their original deftination might have been to hold ftores and provi- 
 fions. A well, neatly built with hewn ftone, and fupplied with water 
 from the high ground to the eaftward, ftill remains near the bottom of a 
 fine ftair, which, by three flights of fteps, leads to the hall, which is equally 
 fpacious and magnificent. There are two chimnies in this hall, one in the 
 fide and another in the end of it. Its dimenfions are fifty-eight feet long, 
 twenty broad, and fourteen high ; and it is lighted from the eaft and from 
 the fouth, by three large Gothic windows. The walls are for the moft 
 part built of grey ftone ; and on fome parts of them, efpecially on the 
 corners, ther€ are projedions of cut free-ftonc, raifcd to a confiderable 
 
 • Sic fuit, eft,-et erit. 
 
 height 
 
2c6 IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK II. 
 
 height in the form of turrets or baflions, the lower parts of which are 
 divided into windows. Tlie whole building, like others in that age, forms 
 three fides of an oblong. It is only two ftories high ; and through every 
 part, but more efpecially in the turrets and windows, more regard has beea 
 paid to variety than uniformity. 
 
 The ca{\le of Noltland, in the ifland of Weftray, is a ftrndlure that 
 deferves feme notice, though we have no certain information of either the 
 time when, or the perfon by whom it was ereded. This noble building, 
 fituatcd in a beautiful plain, covered with flowers and grafs, at the bottom 
 of a hill, and near the banks of a fine lake, commands an extenfive pro- 
 fped of the northern ocean, and the neighbouring ifles ; and though only 
 a part of it remains ftanding, the whole fabric is very large ; and as it is 
 nearly in the fame flyle with the former, it fhould, at leaft in its prefent 
 form, perhaps be referred to the fame age. The ground on which it ftands 
 was granted to Gilbert Balfour, who was matter of the houfehold to Queen 
 Mary and her hufband Lord Darnley, who had appointed him (heriff of 
 Orkney and governor of the caftle of Kirkwall ; and thefe circumftances 
 have given rife to the opinion, that this gentleman built the caftle of Nolt- 
 land in a hurry, and only finilhed a part of it, to ferve as a fecure place of 
 retreat to the Queen, and her unhappy hufband Bothwell, in their ad- 
 verfity. This opinion, however, is unfounded, as appears evident from 
 the condud of that gentleinan in refufing Bothwell, in his diftrefs, ad- 
 miffion into the caftle of Kirkwall, and ftill more fo, from the caftle being 
 long before that time defcribed, as it might be at prefent, a large unfinilhed 
 building *. 
 
 The refolution of the Scotifti government to keep the iflands hence- 
 forth infeparably united to the Crown, though replete with wifdom and 
 humanity, was unhappily but of ftiort continuance ; for the King, impor- 
 tuned by his friends, whom he was unwilling to difoblige, fuperfcded the 
 1614. Biftiop by a new grant of the country to Sir James Stewart of Kilfyth, 
 afterwards Lord Ochiltree, not as it had been conferred on the Earls, but 
 
 * Ben. MSS. Adv. Lib. Edin. Et efl excellentiffima arx five caftellum, fed nondum tamen 
 adhiu: completa. 
 
 in 
 
CHAP VI. THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT. 257 
 
 in the capacity of a farmer-general *. Like mod men who have a£led in 
 that quality, he foon difcovered the ohjetfl that he had in view, and was as 
 folicitous in the acquifition of wealth, as he was carelefs of the rights of 
 humanity. Following the example of the Stewarts in feveral refpeds, and 
 continuing the exorbitant exadtions which they had begun, his govern- 
 ment became fo intolerable, that the inhabitants, not fatistied with unavail- 
 ing murmurs and complaints, boldly profecutcd the exador ; and, having 
 fubftantiated the charges agaiiift him to the convidlion of his judges, he 1622 
 was deprived of his leafe, on account of his oppreflion f . 
 
 In the fpace of only two years, they were again conveyed to Sir George 
 Hay of Kinfauns, who was then Lord Chancellor, for a rent of forty 
 thoufand merks Scots ; but after he had poffeffed them on thefe terms for 
 three years, he refigned them into the hands of government. 
 
 Inftead of difpofuig of them any longer in this mode, one fomewhat 
 difiercnt was adopted ; and they were now let in leafe for only the fliort 
 period of two or three years, for a ftipulated rent, to farmers. The con- 
 dition of the people, however, feems to have been no better under thefe 
 men, who, for their own emolument, violated their rights without mercy ; 
 and the heavy burthens which they already bore, and their dread of ilill 
 greater, confplred to induce them to combine in petitioning the Legifla- 
 ture. The landholders accordingly united, and framed a petition, ' pray- 
 
 * ing, that no man be interponed between his Majefty and them to moled 
 
 • them, but that they may remain his own immediate vaUals.' Their re- 
 prefentation and requeft were liftened to with humane attention ; when 
 examined, were found rcafonable ; and finally attended with fuch fuccefs, 
 that, in that very Parliament, an ad: was pafled, ratifying and confirming 16 
 all former annexations J. 
 
 They continued in this flate, however, but a fliort time, as the rents 
 were foon afterwards let in leafe, on fuch terms as the Adminiftiation for 
 the time deemed expedient, and which were higher or lower, accordino- 
 to the intereft or loyalty of thofe that obtained them : but how far thefe 
 needy or rapacious farmers regarded the rights of the people, will bell ap- 
 pear from the popular difcontents that were then fo prevalent. 
 
 • Privy Council Regiaer. f IJem. | Aa 10. Pari. i. Clx. I, 
 
 LI But 
 
 1 •* 
 
258 IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK II, 
 
 But while they were thus paffing frequently from hand to hand, and no 
 perfon of confequence had any permanent intereft to promote their im- 
 provement, the influence and importunity of a favourite courtier pre- 
 vailed on the necefhties of the Prince to deliver them into the hands of a 
 new mafter. 
 
 Before we enter on the confideration of this tranfadion, we muft look 
 back to the affairs of the Church, which were intimately connected with 
 thofe of the earldom. 
 
 While Bifhop Bothwell lived, and the eplfcopal duty was performed by 
 the Superintendant, no difputes whatever feem to have arifen refpeding 
 the revenues, which had been granted to the Earls in exchange for the 
 1606. abbacy. After his death, however, when Mr. James Law, minifter of 
 Kirklifton, was appointed to the fee, the cafe was widely different. On 
 his arrival in the north, with a view to commence the duties of his flation, 
 and reap the fruits of his benefice, the temporalities of his bifhopric were 
 withheld from him by Earl Patrick, under the pretence of the exchange 
 that had been made between his father and the Bifliop's ofBcial predecef- 
 for. No fuch plea, however, could in juftice be admitted ; for whatever 
 tranfadion of thai kind might have taken place, it could only exift during 
 the lives of the contrading parties. But the Earl was a man of an impe- 
 tuous fpirit, overawed by no power, and reflrained by no principle ; and, 
 treading in the f\eps of his father, had in the bilhopric, as well as in the 
 earldom, committed, without controul, many ads of injuftice and unpro- 
 voked cruelty. Roufed into indignation at the injuries which he faw his 
 people daily endure, not lefs than at thofe which he himfelf had fuftained, 
 the Bifhop marked down the complaints that had been brought him, en- 
 couraged the people to perfift in their attempts to obtain juflice, and di- 
 rcded their refentment with fuch wifdom and effed, as to bring him at lafl 
 to condign punifhment. 
 
 From the earlieft ages, the lands of the bifhopric and earldom of Ork- 
 ney were fo intermixed, that not only in every ifland and parilh, but al- 
 moft in every farm, a fmall portion belonged to each of them. In fuch 
 times, and with fuch people, it may eafily be conceived what diforder 
 would arife from this Itate of property. Frequent differences and quarrels 
 took place between the tenants, in ploughing, fowing, and reaping their 
 
 a fields i 
 
CHAP. Vr. THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT. 259 
 
 fields ; and thefe were fometlmes fo enflamed by the friends of the re- 
 fpedive parties, that the confequences of them were, not only lawfuits, in 
 a high degree vexatious, but much reproachful language, terminating in 
 blows and bloodfhed, and even aflaflination and murder. To remedy thefe 
 evils, this fagacious and pacific prelate refigned the whole of the epifcopal 
 lands that were thus intermixed, into the hands of his Sovereign ; and 
 received for himfelf and his fiicceffors in office, an equivalent in lands, 
 feparate and diftindt, commodioufly fituated on the Mainland, and the 
 iflands more immediately around it. Though, by this exchange, the value 
 of the bilhopric might have been fomewhat diminifhcd, as the lands 
 received were fuppofed to be both of fmaller extent, and of inferior qua- 
 lity ; yet, as continued and endlefs contentions were thereby prevented, 
 and concord among neighbours preferved, the tranfadllon reflects honour 
 on the projeftor, and was a general benefit to the country. 
 
 To prevent, in future, all interference between the bifhops and thofc 
 that polTefled the earldom, the two jurifdiutions were feparatcd, and ren- 
 dered diftindl ; and the Bifhop was inverted with the fole right of admi- 
 niftering juftice within the limits of his own properly. 
 
 Soon after this exchange took place, and fome time fubfequent to the 
 Earl's condemnation and forfeiture, when tranquillity had been reftored 
 to the iflands by means of his judicious exertions, he was in fuch favour 
 with his Sovereign James the Sixth, that he tranflated him to the South, 
 and appointed him Archbilhop of Glafgow. 
 
 George Graham, of the family of Inchbraky, who fucceeded him, was 1615, 
 firft a minifter at Scone, then Bifhop of Dumblane, whence he was tranf- 
 lated to the fee of Orkney, where he difcharged, with much credit to him- 
 felf, the duties of the epifcopal fun£lion for twenty-three years. 
 
 About this time, the General AlTembly at Glafgow met, and with rigour 
 unfuitable to their office as minifters of a meek and benevolent Mafter, not 
 only fet afide, but excommunicated the Epifcopal order without mercy. This 
 prelate, afraid of fharing the fame fate, and dreading the penal confe- 
 quences, refigned his office, which he declared to be unlawful, and that he 
 ■was unfcigncdiy grieved at having held fuch an office fo long in the 
 Church. On account of this fubmiffion, whether proceeding from con- 
 
 L 1 2 vidlioj}^ 
 
a6o IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK 11. 
 
 vidllon, or from motives of prudence, he was only depofed by the Alleni- 
 bly, and thereby faved his eftate and money on bond, which would have 
 been all forfeited, had he, like many of the reft of his order, undergone 
 excommunication *. 
 
 After his refignation, the revenues of his fee were let in leafe to Sir 
 William Dick of Braid, who colledled them, by his fadors, for eight 
 years f. 
 
 As foon as the Epifcopal mode of Church government was revived, 
 Robert Baron, ProfefTor of Divinity in the Marifhall College of Aberdeen, 
 was eleded his fucceflbr in the fee of Orkney, to which he would un- 
 queftionably been an ornament, as may appear from the excellence of his 
 character and writings, had he not been compelled, by the turbulence of 
 the times, to flee from the country. He died at Berwick before con- 
 fecration. 
 
 We are not informed in what manner, or by whom, the clerical office 
 was held, or the parochial duties were performed, during the interval of 
 Prefbytery that fucceeded. 
 
 Thofe at the helm of affairs being then bufied in planting the churches 
 in the central and more populous parts of the kingdom, negleded, per- 
 haps, to extend their views, for fome time, to this remote fequeftered 
 province ; and, in that cafe, the inferior orders of the clergy would pro- 
 bably continue to difcharge the duties of their office, encouraged and main- 
 tained by the people. 
 
 The rents of the bifhopric were granted by Parliament to the city of 
 Edinburgh ; and by the Provoft and Magiftrates farmed to two gentlemen 
 in Orkney, Mr. James Baikie of Tankernefs, and Mr. George Buchanaa 
 of Sound, who, either jointly or feparately, held them to the time of the 
 Reftoration :{:. 
 
 King Charles the Firft, in the midft of his troubles, granted thefe iflands, 
 with the whole jurifdidions and royalties that belonged to them, to 
 William Earl of Morton, under the name or in the form of a mortgage, 
 
 • Keith's Catalogue of Scots Biihops. i Difcharges />«« Sir J. Stewart. 
 
 '^ Idem. 
 
 redeemable 
 
 I 
 
CHAP. VI, THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT. 261 
 
 redeemable by the Crown, on payment of thirty thoufancl pounds Ster- 1643. 
 ling *. This nobleman, fnon after he had obtained the grant, retired hi- 
 ther; and, while diforders invaded the heart of the kingdom, he fpent the 
 remainder of his days in filence and fecurity. 
 
 His family fufFered a fad reverfe of fortune under the ufurpation of 
 Cromwell. He ftript them of thefe polTcnions, on account of their attach- 
 ment to the Royal caufe ; and built a temporary fort, ftill known by the 
 name of the. Mount, in which he placed a garrifon, to overawe and plun- 
 der, as well as prote£t the illands. During the power of Cromwell, liis fol- 
 diers were guilty of feveral irregularities and oppreffions; but they alfo were 
 ©f confiderable advantage to the iflands. They introduced a fupcrior mode 
 of cultivating the ground, and the planting of cabbages, which were before 
 that time in a great meafure unknown. They alfo taught the inhabitants 
 the ufe of marl as a manure, the improvement of the country houfes, and 
 the art of making locks and keys to fecure them. 
 
 During the time of the Commonwealth, the people in general difcovercd 
 no affedlon for the new principles, but feem to have been attached to the 
 line of their ancient Sovereigns ; fince the Marquis of Montrofe, that great 
 champion of Royalty, had no focner landed on thefe fhores, than he eafily 
 perfuaded many of them to join his ftandard, and march to the fouth ; 
 whence fcarcely any of them ever returned. 
 
 As foon as the Reftoration took place, an Earl of Morton of the fame 
 family, refumed the poflefTion of the earldom, of which his anceftors had 
 been fo unjuftly defpoiied, and was in due time reinftated in all its privi- 
 leges. Apprehenfive, however, that thefe iflands might devolve on the 
 Crown by the general adl of revocation, he exerted all his iutereft to ob- 
 tain a new grant ; and was fo fortunate as to fucceed in procuring one, in 
 the form of a mortgage ; not in his own name indeed, as his affairs were 
 in diforder, but in the name of the Lord Vifcount Grandifon in truft, on 
 purpofe to fupport the Morton family. But both this and the former 1662 » 
 grant were contefted by his Majefty's Advocate ; and, in an adion brouglit 
 at his inftance, were, in the legal ftyle, reduced^ or declared null and void, 
 
 * Great Sc.il Rcglftcr. 
 
 by 
 
2t)2 IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY" BOOK II. 
 
 by a decree of the Supreme Court, on grounds foreign to our purpofe to 
 mention ; when the iflands were once more, by a£t of parHament, annexed 
 
 1669. to the Crown, and, at the fame time, eredted into a ftewartry*. 
 
 From this time, for the fpace of more than thirty years, they were under 
 the management of Adminiftration, and were granted on leafe to farmers, 
 generally for a term of five years. 
 
 Among thefe, as might be fuppofed, there were men of very different 
 chara£lers ; and this circumftance would certainly influence the condition 
 of the people ; who, in the different claffes of which they were compofed, 
 feem, for the mod part, ftill to have fuffered thraldom, and improvements 
 of every kind were negleded. Blind, in a great meafure, to the intereft 
 of thofe committed to their charge, and attentive only to their own emolu- 
 ment, the farmers exerted their utmoft efforts to acquire gain, and often 
 by means the moft unwarrantable. The inhabitants, confequently, were 
 unhappy ; and the produce of the iflands fuffered a very confiderable di- 
 minution. 
 
 1(572. Thomas Sydferf, who had been bifliop of Galloway, previoufly to the 
 commencement of the Commonwealth, was the only prelate alive at the 
 Refl;oration ; and was, foon after that event, promoted to the fee of 
 Orkney. The fhort fpace of one year put an end to his life and his dig- 
 nity. To him fucceeded Andrew Honyman, who was a native of St. An- 
 drews, where he alfo received his education. This refpedtable man firft 
 entered into the clerical office as minifter of Partencraigs, near Dundee ; 
 was afterwards appointed one of the minifters of his native city ; from 
 which he was tranflated to the bifliopric of Orkney. The books which he 
 compofed fhow evidently that he was deftitute of neither talents nor 
 erudition; and, while he refided in this diocefe, his conduit as clearly 
 evinced that he was no ftranger to piety and beneficence. With Dr. 
 Sharp, Archbifhop of St. Andrews, he feems to have been in habits of 
 intimacy ; which, inflead of turning out to his advantage, proved the 
 means of impairing his health and fhortening his days; for, as he was 
 flepping into that dignitary's coach, he received a fliot ia his arm with a 
 
 * Ail 13. Pud. 2. Ch. II. 
 
 poifoned 
 
CHAP, vr, THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT, S63 
 
 polfoned bullet, wliich had been Intended for the Archblrtiop ; and, though 
 he furvived the difafter, he never recovered, but declined gradually from 
 that time. To the no ftnall regret of his people, he died a few years after- 
 wards, and was buried in the cathedral of St. Magnus, in Kirkwall. 
 
 His fucccflbr was Murdoch Mackenzie, a defcendant of the Mackenzies ^^11* 
 of Gairloch, an ancient branch of the Seaforth family. The early days of 
 this refpedable man were fpent in the wars of Guftavus Adolphus, King of 
 Sweden ; in which his talents and his condud acquired him much celebrity. 
 As foon as he returned home, he was firft appointed miniftcr of Contin ia 
 Rofsfhire ; from thence he was tranflated to Invernefs, and afterwards to 
 Elgin ; and Epifcopacy had no fooner been reftored than he was exalted to 
 the fee of Moray ; from which he was, fome time afterwards, tranflated to 
 that of Orkney. His exemplary piety, meeknefs of fpirit, gentlenefs of 
 manners, prudence, moderation, benevolence, and charity, procured him 
 the efteem and the affedions of the people within his charge. After he had 
 lived to the very advanced age of nearly a hundred years, in the entire pof- 
 feflion of his faculties and of his virtues, he died, generally lamented, in the 
 very year of the Revolution. Many of his defcendants lived here till of late 
 and inherited a large fhare of his refpedability. He was fucceeded in the 168S. 
 Epifcopal office by Andrew Bruce, who had been Archdeacon of St, 
 Andrews, and Biftiop of Dunkeld ; of which laft office he had been de- 
 prived by the Court, for having difcovered an averfion to the defign which 
 they had conceived of repealing the laws againft Popery. After the death 
 of the Bifhop of Orkney, however, the arbitrary monarch that then fat on 
 the throne feems, in this inftance, to have repented of his rafhnefs ; and 
 made fome atonement for the injuflice that he had done him, by raifino- 
 him again to the prelatical dignity. The change that foon afterwards took 
 place, prevented his coming hither to take pofl~effion of his office, for which 
 lie had the King's coiigc d'elire and recommendation ; deprived him and 
 the reft of his order of that elevated rank and fpiritual fundion which had 
 long been confidered as difcordant, with the genius of the nation, and efta- 
 bliflied the Prefbyterian form of church government on the ruins of that of 
 prelacy. 
 
 The 
 
264 IMPROVEMENT RETARDED BY BOOK II. 
 
 The great and important event that in time operated thefe changes, and 
 formed the bafis of Britlfli liberty, had, for a confiderable fpace, no effect 
 here in regard to religion. In the central and interior parts of the kingdom, 
 the churches required tirft to be planted ; and the paflors were then fo few, 
 i6o6' ^^ account of the fudden change that had taken place, and the tumultuous 
 ftate of things arifmg from the violence of parties, that eight years elapfed 
 before Prefbytery was eftablilhed in the place of Epifcopacy. 
 
 As long as the old form continued, eighteen ordinary officiating clergy- 
 men were ftationed in the different pariflies and iflands ; and when the 
 new one was fubflituted in its place, the fame number was employed, mod 
 of whom had, as they ftill have, two, and fome of them three, churches to 
 occupy, often divided by the fea, and widely diftant from one another ; ia 
 which, notwiihftanding divine fervice is performed with becoming regu- 
 larity. For fome time after the change took place, they were all united 
 into one Prefbytery ; but they were afterwards divided into two ; and, for 
 many years paft, they have formed three Prefbyteries, confifting of fix 
 minifters each ; the whole compofing a provincial Synod ; and, while each 
 Prefbytery meets occafionally, the Synod is held annually, or oftener, in 
 Kirkwall. In this town, which is the capital, civil as well as ecclefiaftical 
 affairs are taken cognizance of, in the Commiffary, Juftiee of Peace, and 
 Sheriff Courts, and in that of the Admiral. The three Prefbyteries choofe 
 each three members, and the burgh one, to reprefent them in the General 
 Affembly of the Church ; the county which they compofe eleds one knight 
 of the fliire; and the burgh, in conjunilion with four others, makes choice 
 of a burgefs; and thefe two Commiffioners reprefent the inhabitants at large 
 in the Britilh Parliament. 
 
 About the time of the Union of the kingdoms, James Earl of Morton 
 '* repeatedly ftated to Parliament the hardlhips which his family had fuffered 
 in confequence of the redudtion of the grant to his predeceffor ; and, while 
 he complained loudly of the manner in which the decree of nullity had 
 been obtained, he made exprefs application to have the grant renewed. To 
 carry a point which he had fo much at heart, and in which his intereft was 
 fo much concerned, he reprefented the iflands as in an uncultivated ftate, 
 
 though 
 
CAP.VI. THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT. 265' 
 
 though in many refpeds highly improveable; and declared his intention, 
 provided his requeft was granted, to apply hiinfelt" inftantly to their im- 
 provement, by draining lakes and marfhes, cultivating wafte lands, dividing 
 commons, and promoting different kinds of fifheries. 
 
 By this reprefentation, he obtained a new grant of the iflands from. 
 Parliament (fubjea to an annual feu-duty of five hundred pounds) to him- 
 felf and his heirs, in the old form of a mortgage, redeemable to the Crown 
 on the payment of thirty thoufand pounds Sterling. 
 
 This mode of holding them, however, did not continue long ; for, in the 
 fpace of little more than thirty years, the grant was not only confirmed by 
 an a£l of the Legiflature, but rendered abfolute and irredeemable; on which 
 a charter under the Great Seal was iffued, in his favour, of the whole earl- 1742. 
 dom of Orkney and iordfliip of Shetland. 
 
 The Earl of Morton having thus got entire pofllffion of what his family 
 had long aimed at, advanced ftill farther ; and was fo fortunate as to obtain, 
 in addition, a temporary leafe of the rents of the bifliopric, and a donation 
 of the rights of Admiralty, which, in thefe ifles, had always been confidered 
 as diftind from thofe of the Admiralty of Scotland. The revenue refult- 
 ing from all thefe fourccs was very confiderable, being upwards of three 
 thoufand pounds Sterling, independently of all the advantages that arofe 
 from the heritable jurifdidion. To give fome ground for eftimating thefe 
 advantages, it may be obferved, that v^-hen the ad in the reign of his 
 Majefty George the Second aboliflied thefe jurifdidions in the north, the 
 Earl received feven thoufand two hundred pounds Sterling, as a remunera- 
 tion for the benefits of which that ad had deprived him *. 
 
 The proprietors of land, trufting to the promifes that had been made in 
 his applications to Parliament, now fondly expeded that they would be ful- 
 filled ; the people rejoiced in the profped of em.ployment ; and the whole 
 inhabitants were elated with the thoughts of having fuch a nobleman at their 
 head, who had a permanent Intereft in the place, that would probably iii- 
 
 • Statute, 20t]» George II. 
 
 ISI m tliicc 
 
ZC)6 IMPROVEMEKT RETARDLD BY BOOK 11. 
 
 duce lii-.n to make fuch improvements as would both meliorate their condi- 
 tion, and enhance the value of the Iflands. Their expetf^ations, however, 
 were difappoiated ; for, inflead of the alterations, which they had good 
 reafon to expeft, the old fyltem was re'iained, and the rents, feu-duties, &c, 
 were exaded in the fame way, and with ths fame rigour as formerly. 
 Much indignation was roufed againfthim on that account : and complaints 
 were made againft the conduQ: of their new mafter ; who, they alleged, 
 had not only difappointed their hopes, but incrcafed their burdens, and 
 had taken care to fix high fiars * for the arrears of their fervices and rent 
 in kind. Though fome of thefe complaints might h-.ve been well found- 
 ed, the ground of others is not fo obvious; and, certainly, feveral accufa- 
 tions were, from time to time, brought againft him, for things of which he 
 appears to have been perfectly innocent. 
 
 The Earl, notwithftanding the excellence of his eftate, found much in- 
 convenience in holding it ; as every man muft do, whofe revenue arifes 
 from feu-duties. The vafTals of a fubjedt-fuperior ever have been, and 
 ever will be, the prey .of difcontent. Blind to their own circumftances, 
 they feem to forget that they inherited or purchafed their lands under that 
 tenure, and that the defcendant or fucceflbr of thofc that feued them has 
 the fame right to his feu-duties in kind, or the value of them, that they can 
 produce to their property. Hence, the conflant murmurs that prevail on 
 account of the reftri£tion they are under, in difpofing of the produce of 
 their land ; their reluctance in complying with almofl every fervice, and 
 even the attempts that are fometimes made, on frivolous pretences, to with- 
 hold altogether the juft rights of the fuperior. Here the vaflals are nume- 
 rous, and from, the extent of their feus, their talents, and their education, 
 very powerful j and, from the natural influence which thefe men of pro- 
 perty had acquired among the people, ever ready to adopt their paflions and 
 imbibe their prejudices, the complaints againft the Earl and his agents at 
 
 * In Scotland, the Sheriff of each county, after having received from the farmers an account of 
 tlie quantity and price of thi; grain which they have fold during the year, fixes the average price 
 (which is called the_fiars) according to which all reut in grain is paid. 
 
 laft 
 
CHAP. VI. THE MANY CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT. t6y 
 
 laft became general. Molefted with thefe, without end ; oppofed in every 
 meafure, and embroiled in quarrels and lawfuits that were troublefome and 
 expenfive, the Earl grew weary of an eftate from which he reaped little 
 perfonal or political advantage ; and therefore difpofed, for a valuable con- 
 fideration, of every right that he had in thefe Iflands, to the father of the 176S. 
 Right Honourable Lord Dundas, who is now in pofleflion. 
 
 M m 2 book: 
 
[ 268 ] 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 THE PRESENT STATE OP THESE ISLANDS, THEIR FAVOURABLE 
 SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THE ADVANTAGES 
 THAT MIGHT BE DERIVED FROM THEM. 
 
 CHAP I. 
 
 Their natural history. 
 
 X-/ID the plan which we have adopted, or the limits prefcribed to this 
 Work, permit, there would be no great difficulty in giving a full and com- 
 plete account of the various produdions that are here to be found in the 
 animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms. This, however, would be in a 
 great nieafure an unneceffary talk ; as it could neither augment the ftock 
 of natural knowledge, nor amufe the ordinary reader. 
 
 If thofe that are beft acquainted with this fubjedt, as treated in the works 
 of the moft celebrated modern writers *, were to examine the natural 
 hiftory of thefe iflands, they would foon have reafon to conclude, that 
 little new was to be expedled from this country. A moment's refiedion 
 may convince us, that this is no more than what might have been naturally 
 expeded from the fituation of thefe iflands, which are, on the one hand, 
 at no great diflance from Scandinavia, and, on the other, almoft contigu- 
 ous to Great Britain. A fev/ non-defcripts, indeed, might, after a labori- 
 ous refearch, perhaps be difcovered; but the benefits that would refult from 
 
 * Pennant, Linnosus, L'ghtfoot, Kirwan. 
 
 7 fuch 
 
CHAP. I. . NATURAL HISTORY. 269 
 
 fuch a difcovery, would not, it Is prefumed, by any means compenfate for 
 the time and the labour. Leaving, therefore, fuch difcoverles to thofe who 
 have more time and inclination for thefe refearches, we fhall confine our 
 attention to the moft common and moft valuable productions of nature. 
 
 I 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 MINERALOGY. 
 
 The moft obvious ftrata, and the metallic veins that, in fome Inftances . 
 have been found to interfcd or traverfe thefe Iflands, will claim our notice' 
 in this Sedion. 
 
 With regard to both thefe particulars, but cfpccially the former, the 
 Iflands, in general, difcover no fmall degree of fimilailty ; and, as far as 
 obfervation has hitherto reached, feem to contain nothing that, in a mine- 
 ralogical point of view, is very interefting. 
 
 Such of them as are fituated to the north of the Mainland, and, from 
 that circumftance, are denominated the North Ifles, have their flrata for 
 the moft part, confifting of fandftone, fandftone flag, fchlftofe clay, and 
 limeftone ; in fome inftances, of bafalt, and in fome, of breccia. 
 
 The fandftone, which, through the whole of them, is very plentiful, is 
 in fome places red, in others grey, or of a dirty white ; and, accordino- to • 
 the proportion of the original earths that it contains, it fometimes ap- 
 proaches the argillaceous and fometimes the filecious genus *. Their lime- 
 ftone 
 
 • There is rcnfon to fufpcift that the cnlcareons fandftone, and H.ig, formerly defcribed as confti- 
 luting a confiJcrable extent of the ftrata of thefe iflands, has been confounded with filecious or 
 fiinly findftone ; of which the editor did not happen to fee any in the iflands. 
 
 The calcareous fandftone, is of a blue, orgrcyifh bluecolourj owing to bitumen in its compofition. 
 By expofjre to air, the bitumen undergoes flow inflammation, and the ftone becomes gr^", or 
 whitilh grey. 
 
 Hardnefs 
 
l-]0 
 
 ^fATURAL BISTORT. »' BOOK III. 
 
 {lone and bafalt are general!/ covered with fandftonc ; and fo little metallic 
 ore does this part of the group feem to contain, that the only veins which 
 have yet been difcovered, are two of lead, the one on the north-eaft, and 
 the other on the fouth-weft fide of the ifland of Shapinfliay. 
 
 Thofe illands that lye on the oppofite quarter of the Mainland, and are 
 lience called the South Ifles, though very difierent in their external ap- 
 pearance, contain almoft the fame ftrata. They abound in fandftone of 
 different forts ; and, with fandftone flags, they contain much fchiftofe clay, 
 but have little or no bafalt, and nearly as little limeftone, unlefs in the fhape 
 of calcareous fpar, in a few inftances : it is found forming irregular veins, 
 and in detached maffes, in a rock of brccia porphery, weft from Melfetter. 
 This fpar alfo frequently occupies fmall veins in the calcareous fandftone, 
 as already defcribed *. In Hoy, which, with Waas, makes only one ifland, 
 
 and 
 
 Hardiiefs various ; but frequently confiJerahle. 
 
 The beds are of" various, and rarely of confiderable thicknefs. They decompofe at the edges, fq 
 as to exhibit a number of fubnrdiniite lamince, or plates, of which the bed is compofed. TWej 
 fplit horizontally in the diredlion of thefe plates. The crofs frailure is rough, or tranfverfely irre- 
 gular, owing to the plates not all breaking in the fame line. 
 
 The (lone yields from lo to 3; parts in a 100 ot carbonate of lime ; which forms the cement be- 
 tween its particles. When the lime is in greater propnriion, it palFes into the clafs of limeftones. 
 
 The veins which interfecfl thefe ftrata are fometimes filled with fpar of lime ; fometimes with 
 martial pyrites ; rarely with thofe of copper, or copper and iron mixed ; and nodules of fuch pyrites 
 are often found uifTeminated in the body of the (tone. In other cafes the veins are filled with foft 
 clay, or with angular fragments of the ((rata ; which are generally conneifted by fpar of lime, 
 cryftalized in the interftices. No veins of whinftonc, or bafalt, were feen to interfeifl thefe ftratai 
 either here or in Caithnefs. — E. 
 
 * Stratified limeftone abounds on the weft fide of the bay of Aith hope neir Melfetter; in the 
 Iflands of Pharr.iy, and Ryfalittle, belonging to the fame property : and it would probably be found 
 in many other places, were the people at pains to fcarth for it. 
 
 The colour of the beds is dark blue, approaching to black, owing to coal-culm and tar in the 
 compofition of the Roue. Chips, and particles of black gloffy coal, are frequently included in the 
 body of the ftrata. By cxpofurc to the air, it becomes whitilh grey, and (hews a tendency to fub- 
 divide into horij^ontal lamina:, or plates ; like the laft defcribed. Its crofs fracture is fimilar to the 
 former ; but the edges of the laminfe more fmcoth. Hardnefs confiderable ; and rings when ftruck 
 with a hammer. 
 
 The ftrata not being laid open, the Editor had no opportunity of afcertalnlng their comparartive 
 vajue. Eut in the Aith-hope limeftone, the average of three dift'crent beds, were found to cnniai;> 
 Carbonate of lime - - • • 79 
 
 Clay, coal-tar, and culm • • 21 
 
 Major 
 
ViAV. I. X.VTURAL HISTORY. 27I 
 
 and wliio'a is by far the moft elevated land in the country, fotne attempts 
 have been made to difcovcr iron f^re under the fandflone, which is thcre» 
 as in many ether phiccs the upper ftratuin ; ;ind thofe who made them had 
 no reafon to repent their exertions, fince they found hoematitical iron ore 
 that vv-as tolerably rich, nnd alio in confiderable quantity. Similar attempts 
 have been made in two or three different places in South Ronaldfliay, to 
 fmd galena, or lead ore, under the fame fort of fandftone ftratum, but with 
 a fuccefs that was much lefs flattering. Burray, which is feparated from 
 the ifland lad mentioned by a found of only a mile broad, contains, in 
 general, alfo the fame kind of fandftone as its upper ftratum ; and the fand- 
 ffone, in fome inftances, is found to alternate with fchiftofe clay of a dark 
 or black colour, frequently iiiterfperfcd with bitumen, and veins of calcare- 
 ous fpar, Thefe ftrata, and alternations and mixtures, have been thought to 
 be fuch evident indications of pit-coal, as to warrant an attempt to difcover 
 it. If it were found at a moderate expence, and in confiderable quantity, 
 it would be a fignal benefit, not only to this, but to the other northern 
 counties. 
 
 The Mainland, notwithftanding its extent, and great variety of furface, 
 is fcarcely more interefting than the other iflands in point of mineral pro- 
 Major Moodie has lately burnt quantities of this ftone into lime, with peats ; which being applied 
 to land has produced fuch extraordinary efFei^s. as clearly to demonllrate the incalculable advan- 
 tage thefe iflands would derive from the application of calcareous manures, which, under various 
 forms, abound almoft every where. — But this has never entered into the confideration of the people. 
 The Ibata on the north fide of Pharray, are almoft wliollylimeftone, of various degrees of purity. 
 One Stratum, near an old church, contains 
 
 Carbonate of lime - - • - 72 
 Clay and quartz, coal-tar and culm 28 
 
 100 
 
 A ftratum at the broad point of Pharray contains 
 
 Carbonate of lime - - - . 86' 
 
 Clay, coal -tar, and culm - - - 14 
 
 100 . 
 
 The limeftone of Ryfa-little contains 86J parts of carbonate of lime, in a looof ftone, with the 
 fame ingredients as the hift. 
 
 This limeftone, and the calcareous fandftone, with which it is connefted, often exhibits bitumen, 
 or coal tar, in its fiffures. Several fprings, which ifllie from thefe rocks, exhibit naphtha, or the 
 light oil of coal-tar, on their furfaccs. — E. 
 
 dudioflio 
 
272 NATURAL mSTOnt. BOOK III. 
 
 dudlons. Along both its north and fouth fides, as well as In its internal 
 parts, to its eaftern boundary, and indeed through its vvhole extent, except 
 towards its weftern extremity, the ftrata that are obferved are, fandftone, 
 fandftone flag, fchiflore cUy, and, in fome places, bafalt and limeftone. 
 The ftrata are, in general, either horiiontal, or form a very acute angle with 
 the horizon. They are of various thicknefs, in different places, and, for 
 the moft part, the fandftone and fchiftofe clay are found to alternate with 
 each other. In many places, the fandftone has a red colour, probably from 
 the quantity of iron it contains ; in others it is grey, or wliitifti, and has 
 commonly an argillaceous cement, but often in fmall quantity ; and the 
 moft common form in which it is found, is fandftone flag, that is very fre- 
 quently quarried for building and roofing houfes. Towards the weft fliore, 
 near the houfe of Skaill, in the parifliof Sandvvick, the filecious genus 
 occurs fo hard, that it is cut into millftones, with which moft of the grain 
 in the country is ground. 
 
 Silecious fandftone, of the fame kind, or at leaft of a nature very fimilar, 
 is to be found among the foft fandftone ftrata, near the bay of Scapa, which 
 there is every reafon to believe might, with equal fuccefs, be applied to the 
 fame benefical purpofe. 
 
 Several maffes of iron pyrites, fometimes globular, and fometimes amor- 
 phous, are, in fome inftances, difperfed through it, as may be feen in thofe 
 rocks that bound the coaft, and ftretch from that bay, in a weftern direc- 
 tion, along the fouth fide of the ifland. In this fame trail on this fhore, 
 indications of galena have been obferved, and thefe too of iuch a flattering 
 nature, as to induce fome to fearch for lead ; but their labours have not 
 hitherto been very fuccefsful. 
 
 At a place named Yafnaby, on the weft border of the ifland, veins of 
 fulphate of barytes are Ceen traverfing the fandftone, and in feveral places, 
 calcareous fpar, iron pyrites, and galena, are interfperfed with it. The ichif- 
 tofe clay is, in fome inftances, entirely decompofed ; and, in many others, 
 it retains its charader fo completely, as to be quarried to a very confiderable 
 extent, for the purpofe of covering houfes. The black craig at Stromnefs, 
 and an eminence at the head of the bay of Frith, furnifti flates formed of it 
 in great numbers, which, however well they may ferve the purpofe of roof- 
 ing 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORT. 373 
 
 ing in ordinary cafes, are much inferior, in point of beauty and duration, 
 to thofe of Ardefia, that are ralfed in fuch quantities, for the fame purpofe, 
 at Eafdale, in the Weftern Iflands ; and at Balahulion, and other places on 
 the Mainland. 
 
 Near the Manfe of Stromnefs, which is about a mile to the weftward of 
 the town, there may be feen, embedded in a rock confifting of fchiftofe 
 clay, Lydian ftone, which it contains in its cavities filled with bitumen ; 
 and, on the adjacent fhore, in a rock intermediate between fclulloie and 
 indurated clay, many pieces of galena. 
 
 Struck with the flattering appearance of thefe, men of fkill in minera- 
 logy were induced to infpeft the place with accuracy ; and as they judged 
 it probable that lead might be found there in abundance, a company of 
 miners were employed, who wrought for fonie time, but were at length 
 compelled to defift, being convinced that all the metal which they could 
 procure, would not be adequate to the expence of the labour. 
 
 A few miles to the north, and near the above-mentioned Yafnaby, a 
 large flratum of black coloured limeftone is found, which alternates with a 
 rock, intermediate between fchiftofe flag and fchiftofe clay, and contains in 
 it large cryftals of hornblende, and, in fome inftances, fmall cavities filled 
 with bitumen. 
 
 Still farther northwards, in the fame diredion, and in the parifli of Birfay, 
 at Buckquoy and Swanay, marble and alabafter have been found ; and the 
 water of the loch of Swanay has frequently on its furface fuch a thick 
 fcum of a copper colour, that fome have thought, not without reafon, that 
 copper, on a diligent fearch, might be found, either within it, or in its 
 vicinity* f. 
 
 Such are the ftrata that compofe the furface of the Mainland ; fuch are 
 the veins and rocks, and minerals that it contains through its whole range, 
 except in an extent of a few miles that environs the town of Stromnefs. 
 This trad, on the moft fuperficial infpedion, exhibits fofllls of a very dif- 
 ferent nature ; for, Inftead of fandftone, fandftone flag, fchiftofe clay, lime- 
 
 * There is rc.ifon toTufpc>5t, that the copper in queftion is ncitlier more nor Icfs than ochre oF 
 iron, \\ hich often gives a yellowilh brown colour to the water emitted from chalybeat fprings, of 
 which there arc not fe^v in the Orkneys. — E. 
 
 ■\ Wallace's Dcfcrlpiion of the Orkney Iflands, I.ondon EJiiign. 
 
 N n ftone, 
 
2/4 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 ftone, bafalt, and breccia, which we meet with fo often in otlier places, here 
 we find granite, that appears to occupy the central part ; and this granite is 
 covered with gneifs, micaceous fchillus, and hornblende rock ; all of which 
 are confidered as primary ftrata * ; and is traverfed by very large veins of 
 compa£l fulphate of barytes. 
 
 Whether any fuch exift in the reft of the iilands, even in a fmall degree, 
 or in the order they are found in that diftridt, is a matter of uncertainty ; 
 but, fo far as obfervation has yet extended, they feem to be confined to it 
 exclufively. 
 
 It is unnecefTary to defcribe the different foils which cover thefe ftrata, 
 as we have already enlarged on their nature and qualities, and offered fome 
 hints for their improvement f. 
 
 * In compofing this Sedion, I acknowledge myfelf much indebted to the ingenious author of the 
 Mineralogy of the Shetland and Orkney Iflands, whofe fadls and obfervations, in regard to this 
 fubjj^ft, I have taken the liberty to adopt on feveral occafions. 
 
 f There is a remarkable rock, not noticed by our author, at the weft entrance of the Pentland 
 Frith, near Melfctter. Some have pronounced it to be lava, others wacken ; and the late Dr. 
 Walker, to whom fpecimens were fhewn, called it baroptenus, or fruitftone. We have given it the 
 name of breccia porphyry. 
 
 The ground is of various colours, brown, red, grey, white, yellow, and greenifh. Small rounded 
 pebbles, gener.'illy quartz, of a white, or greenilh colour, are difleminated through it: and large 
 angular fragments of granite, and other (tones, are alfo found immerfed in various places. Veins> 
 and detached nodules of white fpar of lime, are frequent. In fome places it is rudely ftratified ; 
 but in general, is a fhapelefs mafs, or blotch. Towards the eaft, it graduates into the common 
 ferruginous breccia, or pudding-done, of great hardnefs. 
 
 Parts of this rock are fufceptible of a fine polilh, and have been formed into cups, vafes, and 
 ornamental trinkets. It feems to have been placed at the fauces of the Frith, to prevent the fea 
 from cuttiniT a palTage in the foft fandftone, flraight down through the bay of Longhopc, and con- 
 vertino into a rapid channel, what is now one of the mod commodious harbours in the world. 
 
 With reo-ard to the doubt exprcfled by our author, whether the primary ftrata exift, even in a 
 fmall degree, in other parts of the iftands ? it can be anfwered, that they have nowhere been difco- 
 vered to exift, m fitu, in any degree, except at the ridge behind Stromnefs. But, in a meadow 
 near the parifh church of Sanday, there is a large ifolated mafs of gneifs, calculated at 12 or 14 
 tons weioht, which, if it had not been brought there for fome religious purpofe, muft have travelled 
 from the ridge of Stromnefs. The ftrata of Sunday are fandftone flag, and limeftone ; and no 
 rocks are vifible, which could have furnifhed this mafs, nearer than thofe at Stromnefs, diftant more 
 than thirty miles, if the mafs has travelled from Stromnefs, by the inipulfe of water rolling it 
 down a declivity, it proves two things.— I. That the primary ridge of Stromnefs, though now over- 
 looked by thefecondary hills of Hoy, and other eminences in the Orkneys, was originally of great 
 elevation ; and that the land Hoped from it in all dircflions, having its moft rapid declivity towards 
 the north eaft — 2. It verifies the conjecture of our author — that thefe iftands were originally a very 
 e.xtenfive, and ccr.ncfled body of land, uninterrupted by founds, and channels of the fea — E. 
 
 2 SECTION 
 
CHAP. I. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 '■15 
 
 SECTION IT. 
 
 BOTANY. 
 
 For the fake of brevity, It is propofed not to trace every plant to the 
 clafs and order to which It belongs, but to content ourfclves with ftatlng 
 the place of its abode, its Englifh name, and the generic and fpecific appel- 
 lation which it bears in the S^Jiema Vegitabilium of Linnseus. 
 
 Generic NiWies^ ^c. 
 
 Engli/J} Names. 
 
 Habitations. 
 
 HiPPURIS. 
 
 Mareftail. 
 
 A pool by Claiftron. 
 
 Callitriche. 
 
 Starwort, chickweed. 
 
 In frefh waters. 
 
 Sp. I. Verna. 
 
 
 
 2. Autumnalis, 
 
 
 
 Veronica. 
 
 Speedwell. 
 
 A! moll everywhere. 
 
 Sp. I. Sp'icata. 
 
 
 
 1. Officinalis. 
 
 
 
 3. Bccabunga. 
 
 
 
 4. Scute Hat a. 
 
 
 
 5. Arvenfts. 
 
 
 
 6. Agrejlis. 
 
 
 
 7. Hederifolia, 
 
 
 
 PiNGUICULA. 
 
 Butterwort, whiterot. 
 
 Hillsof Waas and Hoy. 
 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris. 
 
 
 Wet, flimy places. 
 
 2. Alpina. 
 
 
 
 Anthoxanthum. 
 
 Vernal or fprlng grafs. 
 
 In meadows. 
 
 Sp. I. Odcratum. 
 
 
 
 Valeriana. 
 
 Wild valerian. 
 
 Hoy, Rofsmire, &c. 
 
 Sp. I. Officinalis. 
 
 
 
 Iris. 
 
 Yellow water-flag. 
 
 Marfhes and wet ground. 
 
 SCIRPUS. 
 
 Clubrufli. 
 
 Moift or wet places. 
 
 Sp. I. Palujlris, 
 
 
 
 
 N n 2 
 
 2. Cef. 
 
276 
 
 Gener'ic T^ames^ 'bfc. 
 
 2. Cefp'ttofus. 
 
 3. Acicular'is. 
 
 4. Set ace us. 
 Eriophorum. 
 
 Sp. I. PoljJIachlon. 
 2. Vaginatum. 
 Nardus. 
 
 Sp. I. StrlBa. 
 Panicum. 
 
 Sp. I. Cms- gain. 
 Phleum. 
 
 Sp. I. Pratetifc. 
 Alopecurus. 
 
 Sp. I. Prateiifis. 
 Dactylis. 
 
 Sp. I. Glomeratus. 
 Agrostis. 
 
 Sp. I. Spica-venti. 
 2. Capillar is, 
 AlRA. 
 
 Sp. 1. Aquatica. 
 
 2. Cefp'itojit. 
 
 3. Flexuofa- 
 
 4. Caryophylla, 
 Briza. 
 
 Sp. I. Media. 
 PoA. 
 Sp. I. Pratenjis. 
 
 2. Annua. 
 
 3. Loliacea. 
 Festuca. 
 
 Sp. I. Ovina. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 Etigll/Ji Names. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Habitations. 
 
 Cotton grafs. 
 
 Mat grafs. 
 
 In meadows, wet ground. 
 
 Barren ground, wet, or 
 dry. 
 Loofe panic grafs. Cultivated fields. 
 
 INIeadow cats-tail. 
 
 Meadows, paftures. 
 
 Meadow foxtail-grafs. Meadows, /'^?«. 
 Rough cocks- foot grafs. Meadows. 
 
 Silky bent grafs. 
 
 Hair-grafs. 
 
 Everywhere. 
 
 Corn fields. 
 
 Quaking grafs. Ladles 
 
 hair. Paftures. 
 
 Great meadow grafs. Meadows, pajjim. 
 
 Sheeps fefcue grafs. Pafture ground. 
 
 2. Vtvi- 
 
CHAP. I. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 277 
 
 Generic NamcSy Effr. 
 
 2. Vivipai'a. 
 
 3. Rubra. 
 
 4. Fluitans, 
 
 AVENA. 
 
 Sp. I. Fatua. 
 
 1. F lav of cats. 
 
 LOLIUM. 
 
 Sp. I. Perenne. 
 Elymus. 
 Triticum. 
 
 Sp. I. Repens. 
 Cynosorus. 
 
 Sp. I. Crljiatus, 
 MONTIA. 
 
 Sp. I. Fontana^ 
 scabiosa. 
 Plantago. 
 
 Sp. I. Major. 
 
 2. Media. 
 
 3. Lanceolata. 
 
 4. Loejiingii. 
 
 5. Maritima, 
 
 6. Cor on opus. 
 
 7. M 071 tana, 
 
 8. Untflora. 
 Gallium. 
 
 Sp. I. Vcrum. 
 
 2. Montanuiti, 
 
 3. Uliginofunu 
 
 4. Palujlre, 
 
 5. Boreale. 
 
 6. Aparine. 
 
 Englifi Names. 
 
 Habitations. 
 
 Bearded or wild goats. Among corn. 
 
 Darnel. 
 
 Among corn. 
 
 Lyme-grafs. In fandy links. 
 Wheat, dogs, quick, 
 
 couch grafs. In cultivated fields. 
 
 Crefted dogs-tail grafs. In dry pafture ground. 
 
 Water chickweed. 
 
 Devil's bit. 
 Plantain. 
 
 Fountains or fprings. 
 
 Meadows, paftures. 
 Roads or highways. 
 
 Ladiesbed-ftraw, goofe- 
 
 grafs. Meadows. 
 
 Alche- 
 
278 
 
 Generic Names, Efff. 
 
 Alchemilla. 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris. 
 
 POTAMOGETON. 
 
 Sp. 1 . Natans-, 
 
 2. PerfoUatum. 
 
 3. Lticens. 
 
 4. Comprcjfum. 
 
 5. Gramincum, 
 
 6. PeSlinatum, 
 
 7. Piifillum, 
 Sagina. 
 
 Sp. I. Procumbeits. 
 Cynoglossum. 
 
 Sp. I. Officinale, 
 Lycopsis. 
 
 Sp. I, Arve7ifis. 
 Primula. 
 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris. 
 
 2. Farinofa. 
 
 Menyanthes. 
 
 Sp. I. Trijoliata, 
 LONICERA. 
 
 Sp. I. Periclymenum. 
 
 RiBES. 
 
 Sp. I. Rubrian. 
 Hedera. 
 
 Sp. I. Helix. 
 Glaux. 
 
 Sp. I. Maritima, 
 
 Gentiana. 
 Sp. I. Campejlris, 
 
 natural history. 
 
 Englijlj Names. 
 Ladies mantle. 
 
 Pond weed. 
 
 BOOK in. 
 Habitations. 
 Banks of rivulets. 
 
 Lakes, pools, wet ground. 
 
 Pearlwort, breakftone- 
 
 chickweed. Houfes, walls. 
 
 Hounds tongue. Almoft everywhere. 
 
 Small wild buglofs. Among corn. 
 
 Common primrofe. Banks of rivulets. 
 
 Marfh trefoil, buckbean. Watery ground. 
 
 Honey fuckle,woodbine. Banks of rivulets in Hoy, 
 
 Currants. 
 
 Ivy. 
 
 7- 
 
 Berrydale in Hoy. 
 Banks of rivulets in Hoy. 
 
 Sea milkwort, black fait- Meeting of fait and frefh 
 wort. water, as at the bridge 
 
 of Weath. 
 Dwarf gentian. Dry hilly pafture ground. 
 
 Beta. 
 
CHAP. I. 
 
 Generic Niimcs, l^c. 
 
 Beta. 
 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris. 
 Hydrocotyle. 
 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris. 
 Angelica. 
 
 Sp. I. Sylvejlris. 
 ClCUTA. 
 
 SCANDIX. 
 
 Sp. I . Pc&cn, 
 Alsine. 
 
 Sp. I. Media. 
 Statice. 
 
 Sp. I. Anneria. 
 
 LiNUM. 
 
 Sp. I. Catharticum. 
 Drosera. 
 
 Sp. 1. Rotuttdifolia, 
 2. LongifoUa, 
 Narthecium. 
 
 Sp. I. OJfifrogiim, 
 
 JUNCUS. 
 
 Sp. I. Conglomcratus, 
 
 2. Fffufus. 
 
 3. Filiformit. 
 
 4. Squarrofiis. 
 
 5. Articulatus. 
 
 6. Triformis. 
 
 7. Camp(jlris% 
 
 8. Sylvc/lris, 
 Rum EX. 
 
 Sp. I. Acutus, 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 Englijlj Navies. 
 Sea beet. 
 
 279 
 
 Habitations, 
 
 Commonly on the fea 
 fhores. 
 Marfh pennywort. Marfhy places. 
 
 Wild angelica. 
 
 The banks of rivulets. 
 
 Long-leaved water hem- 
 lock. PaJJim. 
 Shepherds needle, rams- 
 
 comb. 
 
 Among corn. 
 
 Common chickweed. Almoft everywhere. 
 Thrift, fea gilliflower. On the fea-fliores. 
 
 Purging flax. 
 Sundew, Rofafolls. 
 
 Baftard afphodel. 
 Rufh. 
 
 In dry grounds. 
 In the fens of Hoy. 
 
 In peat mofTes. 
 
 Fenny ground,wet places, 
 on the banks, and in 
 the rivulets of Hoy, 
 and fuch like places. 
 
 Docks and forrels. 
 
 Moftly on wet ground 
 
 in the filfures of rocks, 
 
 ,2. Crif- 
 
s8o 
 
 Ge}!cric Names, ^i\ 
 
 2. CrifpHS. 
 
 3. Obtiifif alius, 
 
 4. Maritimus. 
 
 5. Dlgynus. 
 
 6. Acetofa. 
 
 7. Acetojdla. 
 Epilobium. 
 
 Sp. I. Hirfutum. 
 
 2. Ramofnm. 
 
 3 . Montanum. 
 
 4. Palujlre. 
 Vaccinium. 
 
 Sp. I. Myrtillus. 
 Erica. 
 Sp. I. Fidgaris. 
 
 2. Cinerea. 
 
 3. Tetrallx, 
 Polygonum. 
 
 Sp. I. Amphih'tum. 
 
 2. Aviculare. 
 
 3. Convolvoliis. 
 
 4. Hydropiper. 
 Pyrola. 
 
 Sp. I. Rotundifol'ta, 
 Arbutus. 
 
 Sp. I. ZZ-y^ «^. 
 2. Alp'ina. 
 Chrysoplenium. 
 
 Sp. I. OppofitifoUum. 
 Saxifraga. 
 
 Sp. I. Aiz-oides. 
 
 2. Autumnalis. 
 
 3. Cefpitofa. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 TLngUJlo Names. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Hah'ttations. 
 
 and alfo in dry fandy 
 fields fometimes. 
 
 Willow-herb. 
 
 Meadows and wet places, 
 and fometimes on the 
 banks of rivulets. 
 
 Wortle,bilberrles, blea- 
 
 berries. Hills among heath. 
 
 Heath. Hills and uncultivated 
 
 places. 
 
 Arfemart, knot-grafs. 
 
 Loch of Skeal, among 
 corn, and on the banks 
 jof rills. 
 
 Common winter green. Among the flirubs at 
 
 Berrydale in Hoy. 
 Mountain ftrawberry- 
 
 tree. On the fides and tops of 
 
 the hills of Hoy. 
 Golden Saxifrage. In a rivulet in Hoy, and 
 
 in fome wet places. 
 Yellow mountain fone- 
 
 green. Wet places, among the 
 
 rocks and hills of Hoy. 
 
 7 Cucu- 
 
CHAP. 1. 
 
 Getier'ic Kcinies^ <ffc. 
 
 CUCUBALUS. 
 Sp. I. Behcn. 
 
 SlLENE, 
 
 Sp. I. Nutans. 
 Stellaria. 
 Arenaria. 
 
 Sp, I. Peploidcs. 
 
 2. SerpyU'i folia, 
 
 3. Saxatilis. 
 Lychnis. 
 
 Sp. I. Flos-cuculi. 
 
 2. Dioica. 
 Cerastium. 
 
 Sp. I. Viilgatjtm. 
 
 1. jlrveufc, 
 
 3. Tomentofurn, 
 
 4. Aquatlcum. 
 Spercula. 
 
 Sp. I. jlrvenfts. 
 
 2. Nodofa. 
 
 SORHUS. 
 
 Sp. I. Doviejlica. 
 2. Aucupar'ia. 
 Spirea. 
 
 Sp. I. Uhnaria. 
 Euphorbia. 
 
 Sp. I. Segc talis. 
 2. Hol'tofcopia. 
 Rosa. 
 
 Sp. I. Spinojijfima . 
 
 2. Arvcnfts, 
 
 3. Catiiiia. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 Eagli/J} Names. 
 
 281 
 
 Habitations. 
 
 Berry-bearing chick- In tlie clefts of many 
 
 weed. rocks. 
 
 Nottingham catch-fly. In a meadow of Bina- 
 
 fkart. 
 Sandwort, ftich-wort. Shady wet places. 
 Sea chickweed. Sea fliorc, onfandy place?. 
 
 Meadow pink cuckoo- 
 flower. Meadows and wetground. 
 
 Moufe-eared chick- On meadows, walls, and 
 
 weed. on the hills of Hoy. 
 
 Corn and knotted fpur- 
 
 rey. In a marfh between Ya{k- 
 
 nabie and Kubufler. 
 Service-tree, mountain 
 
 afht In Hoy, and in fome 
 
 other places. 
 Meadow fweet. By the fides of rills, and 
 
 in wet places. 
 Wartwort, fun or corn- 
 
 fpurge. In cultivated fields. 
 
 Tiie rofe. 
 
 In moift places. 
 
 Oo 
 
 RUBUS. 
 
282 
 
 Generic Names, i^c. 
 
 RUBUS. 
 
 Sp. 1. Saxafi/is. 
 Fragakia. 
 
 Sp. I. Vefca. 
 POTENTILLA. 
 
 Sp. I. Anfer'tna. 
 
 2. Aj-gcntea. 
 
 3. Reptatis. 
 
 TORMENTILLA. 
 
 Sp. 1. Eve&a. 
 Geum. 
 Sp. 1 Rlvale. 
 
 COxMARUM. 
 
 Sp. I. Paliijlre. 
 Papaver. 
 
 Sp. I. Rhoeas, 
 2. Duhlunu 
 Ranunculus. 
 
 Sp. I. Lingua. 
 
 2. Fhimiila. 
 
 3. Repcns. 
 
 4. Bulbujiis, 
 
 5. Acris. 
 
 6. Arvenjis. 
 
 7. Aquatilis, 
 
 8. Fie aria. 
 Var. Verna. 
 
 Caltha. 
 
 Sp. I. Paltijiriu 
 Thalictrum. 
 
 Sp. I. Minus. 
 2. Alpimnn. 
 
 natural history. 
 EngliJJj Names. 
 Stone braml^le. 
 
 Strawberry. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Habitations. 
 
 Berrydalc in Hoy. 
 
 Hills, and on the rills in 
 the parifh of Frith. 
 Silver weed, wild tanfy. Roads and meadows. 
 
 Tormcntil, fept-foil. Uncultivated ground. 
 
 I 
 1 
 
 Water avens. 
 
 Marfli cinquefoil 
 
 Poppy. 
 
 On the banks of fome of 
 the rivulets in Hoy. 
 
 Meadows, pajfim. 
 
 Among corn-fields. 
 
 I 
 
 Spearwort, crowfoot. Wet meadows, ditches', 
 
 and paftures and corn^ 
 fields. 
 
 Lefler celandine. 
 Marfh mary^old. 
 Meadow rue. 
 
 Shady wefpafture ground. 
 
 In water, or very wet 
 
 places. 
 Hilly ground, and on 
 
 fandy places. 
 
 MENTHA. 
 
CUJiP. I. 
 
 Generic Names, Uc. 
 
 Mentha. 
 
 Sp. I. Arveufis. 
 2. Aquat'ica. 
 Lamium. 
 
 Sp. i. Album. 
 
 2. Ruhr urn. 
 
 3. Atnplcxicaule. 
 Galeopsis. 
 
 Sp. I. Ladanum, 
 2. Tetrahlt. 
 Stachys. 
 
 Sp. I. Sylvatica. 
 2. Palujlris, 
 Thymus. 
 
 Sp. I, Serpyllum, 
 Prunella. 
 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris. 
 Rhinanthus. 
 
 Sp 1. Crijla gain. 
 EUPI^RASIA. 
 
 Sp. I. Offc'malis, 
 Pedicularis. 
 
 Sp. I. Sylvatica. 
 
 2. Palujlris. 
 
 SCROPHULARIA. 
 
 Sp. '. Aqua tic a. 
 Digitalis. 
 
 Sp. I. Purpurea. 
 Thlaspi. 
 
 Sp. I. Bur/a pajl oris. 
 Cochlearia. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 Engli/Jj Names. 
 Mint. 
 
 283 
 
 Hahifatictis, 
 
 Corn-fields, and in wet 
 meadows. 
 
 Dead-nettle, archangel. Cultivated fields, gardens. 
 
 All-heal, nettle hemp. Among corn, in fields, 
 
 and in gardens. 
 
 Hedge nettle. 
 
 Cultivated places. 
 
 Mother of thyme. Hills and high grounds. 
 
 Self-heal. 
 
 Yellow - rattle, 
 
 comb. 
 Eye-bright. 
 
 Loufewort. 
 
 cocks- 
 
 Uncultivated places. 
 
 Dry pafture grounds. 
 In dry ground. 
 
 Common in wet meadows. 
 
 Water figwort, betony. In Hoy, on banks of rills. 
 
 Fox-glove. 
 
 Shepherds purfe. 
 
 Scurvy grafs. 
 Oo 2 
 
 In barren fields, and un- 
 cultivated places. 
 In many places. 
 
 On houfes, walls, fea- 
 Sp. 1. 
 
284 
 
 Generic Nmnes^ Iffc. 
 
 Sp. I. OJiciiuil'rs. 
 
 1. Daiiica. 
 
 3, Armor acta. 
 Erysimum 
 
 Sp. 1. Offuhiak. 
 Rapuanus. 
 
 Sp. I. Raphan'ijlnan. 
 Cardamine. 
 
 Sp. I. Pratefifts. 
 Sisymbrium. 
 
 Sp. I. Aquatlcum. 
 Arabis. 
 
 Sp. I. 1' hall an a. 
 
 2. Alpina, 
 SiNAPIS. 
 
 Sp. I. Arvetijis. 
 Geranium. 
 f')^. I. Cicutar'ium, 
 
 2. Lucidum. 
 
 3. Molle. 
 
 4. Sylvaticum. 
 
 FUMARIA. 
 Sp. I. Officinalis. 
 2. Capreolata. 
 
 POLYGALA. 
 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris, 
 
 Ulex. 
 Sp. I. Europceus, 
 
 Anthyllis. 
 
 Sp. I. Vulneraria, 
 
 PlSUM. 
 
 Sp. 1. Marlmim. 
 
 NATL'RAL HTSTORY. 
 Engli/Jj Names. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Triahitatlons . 
 
 fliores, and uncultiva- 
 ted fields. 
 
 Hedge mufiard. In confiderable quantity 
 
 near church of Hoy. 
 
 Yellow flowered char- 
 lock. Among corn. 
 
 Ladies fmock, cuckow- 
 
 flower. In corn. 
 
 Water crefles. In fountains and rills. 
 
 Codded moufe-ear. On walls and dry places. 
 
 \ 
 I 
 
 Wild mullard. 
 
 Cranefbill. 
 
 Cultivated places. 
 
 Hills of Hoy, and of 
 Orphir. 
 
 Fumitory. 
 
 Milkwort. 
 
 Cultivated fields. 
 
 Dry pafture ground. 
 
 Furze, whins, gorfe. By the road to Scapa, and 
 
 fome other places. 
 
 Kidney vetch, ladies- 
 finger. Pafture ground. 
 Sea peas. On the fea fliores. 
 
 Orobus. 
 
t^HAP. I. 
 
 Generic Names, ^c. 
 
 Orobus. 
 
 Sp. I. I'uberofus. 
 2. Niger. 
 Lathyrus. 
 
 Sp. I. Pratcnfis. 
 Vic I A. 
 
 Sp. I. Grace a. 
 
 2. Saliva. 
 Ervum. 
 
 Sp. I. Hirfutiim. 
 
 1. Tetrafpermiiwi. 
 Trifolium. 
 Sp. I. Rcpens. 
 
 1. Pratenfe, 
 
 3. Medium. 
 
 4. Montanum. 
 Lotus. 
 
 Sp. I. Goniiciilatus. 
 Hypericum. 
 Sp. I. Perforatum. 
 
 SONCHUS. 
 
 Sp. I. Oleracctis. 
 
 2. Arvenfis. 
 Leontodon. 
 
 Sp. I. Taraxacum. 
 q. Hifpidum. 
 
 3. Autumnale. 
 HiERACIUM. 
 
 Sp. I. Murorum. 
 Crepis. 
 Sp. I. TeBorum. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY, 
 Eufflifl) Names. 
 
 285 
 
 Habitations. 
 
 Wood-peas, heath-peaf. Dry places uncultivated. 
 
 Yellow vetchellng. 
 
 Vetch, tare. 
 
 Meadows and fea-fliores 
 
 in many places. 
 Cultivated places. 
 
 Hairy and fmooth tare. Cultivated fields. 
 
 Comnaon and Dutch 
 
 clover. Meadows and paftures. 
 
 Birdsfoot, trefoil. 
 St. John's wort. 
 Sowthiflle. 
 
 Dandelion. 
 
 Ill meadows, paftures, 
 
 and wet places. 
 In heathy ground. 
 
 C ultivated ground. 
 
 Meadows, paftures. 
 
 Golden lungwort. On dry fea-fliores. 
 
 Smooth fuccory, hawk- 
 weed. Dry places. 
 
 Arctium. 
 
286 
 
 Generic Names, ^c. 
 
 Arctium. 
 
 Sp. I. Lappa, 
 Seruatula. 
 Carduus. 
 
 Sp. I. Lanccolatus. 
 
 2. Nutans. 
 
 3. Acanthoides, 
 
 4. Crifpus. 
 Tanacetum. 
 
 Sp. I. Vulgare. 
 Artemisia. 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris, 
 Gnaphalium. 
 Sp. 1. Dioicum. 
 '2. A/pin urn. 
 3. UUginofum, 
 
 TUSSILAGO. 
 
 Sp. I. Farfara. 
 2, Petajites. 
 Senecio. 
 Sp. I. Vulgaris. 
 
 2. jfacobica. 
 
 3. Aquaticus. 
 Bellis. 
 
 Sp. I. Perennis. 
 Chrysanthemum. 
 
 Sp. I. Segetum.' 
 
 2 Ltucanthemum. 
 Anthemis. 
 
 Sp. 1. Cotula. 
 Achillea. 
 
 NATURAL history. 
 
 E?!gli/Jj Names. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 Habitations. 
 
 Burdock, clotbur. Near roads, and on cul- 
 
 tivated fields. 
 
 Saw-wort, way-thiftle. Among corn. 
 
 Corn-thirtle. On cultivated and uncul- 
 
 tivated ground. 
 
 Common tanfy. Dry and uncultivated 
 
 places. 
 Mugwort. In corn fields. 
 
 Cudweed, cat's-foot. Hills of Hoy, and in dry 
 
 and wet places. 
 
 Colts-foot, butter-bur. In a cultivated clay foil. 
 
 Groundfell, ragwort. In many places. 
 
 Common daify. 
 
 Almofl: every where. 
 
 Corn-marygold, ox-eye. Among corn, and in pat 
 
 tures. 
 
 Stinking May-weed. Cultivated fields. 
 
 Mill-foil, fneeze-wort, 
 
 Sp. I. 
 
CHAP. I. 
 
 Generic Names, ^c. 
 
 Sp. I. MUU folium. 
 
 1. Ptarmica. 
 Centaurea. 
 
 Sp. I. Cyanus. 
 Viola. 
 
 Sp. 1. Odor at a. 
 Imperatoria. 
 Equisetum. 
 
 Sp. I. Arvetife. 
 
 2. Fhiviatilc. 
 POLYPODIUM. 
 
 Sp. 1. Vulgare. 
 Carex. 
 Sp. t. Acuta. 
 
 HOLCUS. 
 
 Sp. I. Lanatus. 
 
 HORDEUM. 
 
 Sp. I. Murinum. 
 juniperus. 
 Lactuca. 
 
 OSiMUNDA. 
 
 Sp. I. Lunaria. 
 Melampyrum. 
 
 Sp. I. Sylvaticum* 
 Teucrium. 
 
 Sp. I. Scorodonia. 
 Lapsana. 
 
 Sp. I. Communis. 
 Sedum. 
 
 Sp. I. Tekphiumt 
 Urtica. _ 
 
 Sp. I. Dioica, 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 EngUJh Names. 
 
 287 
 
 Habitations. 
 
 goofe-tongue. 
 
 Blue-bottle. 
 
 Violet. 
 
 Martin- wort, 
 Horfc-tail. 
 
 Dry places. 
 
 Cultivated fields. 
 
 • On wet banks and uncul- 
 
 tivated fields. 
 Waes and Hoy. 
 In wet fhady places. 
 
 Polypodie, malefern. Dry uncultivated ground. 
 
 Narrow-leaved, Cyprus- 
 
 grafs. Wet ground. 
 
 Soft meadow grafs. Dry places. 
 
 Rye-grafs. 
 
 Juniper. 
 Wild lettuce. 
 Moon-wort. 
 
 Cow-wheat. 
 
 Wood-fage. 
 
 Bur-reed. 
 
 Orpine livelong. 
 
 Nettle. 
 
 On both wet and dry 
 
 places. 
 Dry uncultivated ground.. 
 Dry uncultivated places. 
 On the higheft hills. 
 
 Pafture-ground. 
 
 Hard dry ground. 
 
 In wet-ground.. 
 
 Common fields. 
 
 In neglei^ed fpots*. 
 
 Salix,. 
 
288 
 
 Gaucric Navies, Iffc. 
 
 Salix. 
 Sp. I. Rcpcns. 
 
 2. AuguP'ifoUa, 
 
 3. Latifolla. 
 Betula. 
 
 Sambucus. 
 Lychen. 
 Sp. I. Pyxidatus. 
 
 2. Saxatilis. 
 Ophioglossum. 
 
 Sp. I. Viilgatum. 
 
 ACROSTICHUM. 
 
 Sp. I. Septe?itriotiale. 
 Sph/^gnum. 
 
 Sp. I. Paliijlre. 
 Fucus. 
 
 Sp. I. Natans. 
 
 1. Ticrbinattis. 
 
 3. Serratus. 
 
 4. Veftculofus, 
 
 5. Nodqfus. 
 
 6. Digit at us, 
 
 7. Efculentus, 
 
 8. Dentatus. 
 Ulva. 
 
 Sp. I. Umbilicalis. 
 
 2. Jntejlinalis, 
 
 3. Papilofa, 
 Conferva. 
 
 Sp. 1. Fontinalis. 
 
 2. Amphibia. 
 
 3. Li tor alii. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 EiigliJiJ Names. 
 Willow. 
 
 BOOK in. 
 Habitations. 
 
 In fome wet places. 
 
 Birch. 
 
 Elder, bountree. 
 Liverwort. 
 
 Adder's tongue. 
 
 Bog-mofs. 
 Wrack, fea-weed. 
 
 Laver. 
 
 River- weed. 
 
 In Hoy, on the banks of 
 
 rivulets. 
 On rills in Hoy. 
 On rocks on the fca- 
 
 fhore. 
 
 Wet meadows. 
 
 Wall-rue, fork fern. Clefts of rocks. 
 
 Wet places. 
 
 On the fea-fhore, and un- 
 der water, and above it 
 alternately. 
 
 In watery places. 
 
 In flow running water. 
 
 Agaricus. 
 
 I 
 
CHAP. I. 
 
 Generic Names, ^c. 
 
 Agaricus. 
 Sp. I. Cantarellus. 
 
 2. Integer. 
 
 3. Dent at us, 
 Lycoperdon. 
 
 Sp. I. Bov'ifta. 
 
 2. Stillatum, 
 MucoR. 
 
 Sp. I. Mucido, 
 1. Glaucus. 
 
 3. Cefpitofus. 
 Orchis. 
 
 Sp. I. Mafcula, 
 1. Mono. 
 
 3. Lat'tfolia. 
 
 4. Maculata, 
 
 5. Conopfea. 
 Satyrium. 
 
 Sp. I. Alb'idum. 
 Ophrys. 
 Sp. I. Cordata. 
 
 ZOSTERA. 
 
 Sp. I. Marina, 
 
 SCHOENUS. 
 LiGUSTICUM. 
 
 Sp. I. Sc otic urn, 
 Heracleum. 
 
 Sp. I. Sphondyllimn. 
 CXALIS. 
 
 Sp. I. Acetofella. 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 Englijh Names, 
 
 289 
 
 Mufliroom. 
 
 PufF-ball. 
 
 Mould. 
 
 Foolftoncs. 
 
 Lizard flower. 
 
 Ivy-blade. 
 
 Grafs-wrack. 
 
 Marfh bog-rufli, 
 Lovagc. 
 
 Cow-parfnip. 
 
 Wood forrel. 
 
 Habitations, 
 
 In parks, or fields, that 
 have been long uncul- 
 tivated. 
 
 Dry uncultivated ground. 
 
 On rotten wood, and on 
 decayed vegetables. 
 
 In vret meadow^s. 
 
 Meadows in the hills of 
 
 Hoy. 
 In a valley of Hoy. 
 
 Thrown on the fea-lhore. 
 
 In marfhy ground. 
 On the fea-flioree. 
 
 Meadows and fields. 
 
 CalfoftheiflandofFlota. 
 
 PP 
 
 Thefe 
 
4gf6 NATURAt HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 Thefe are the plants that have hitherto heen obferved to be indigenous ; 
 and when It is confidered that there may be ftill many that have eluded 
 refearch, and that many, not yet mentioned, are raifed for utility or orna- 
 ment, their variety will appear very confiderable. 
 
 Leaving the former to the vigilance of future inquiry, we fhall take a 
 view of the latter, which will be found not very different from thofe met 
 with in fimilar fituations in other parts of the kingdom. Bear or bigg, 
 and oats, are the kinds of grain moft commonly raifed, to v.-hich are fome- 
 limes added peas, beans, wheat, rye, and flax, by fome of our moft 
 fpirited and enterprifing gentlemen farmers. The fame defcription of far- 
 mers alfo raife, with effeft, tares, faintfoln, lucern, as fummer food for 
 the cattle ; and cabbage and turnip for winter food. They have alfo fre- 
 quently rich crops of the different forts of clover and rye-grafs for hay or 
 for pafture. 
 
 The produdions of the gardens are not materially different from thofe 
 in the fouth of Scotland. In the flower-garden, the rofe, the tulip, the 
 carnation, the pink, the primrofe, with a multitude of other flowers, are 
 cultivated with fuccefs ; while the kitchen-garden produces cabbage, bro- 
 coli, cauliflower, peas, beans, fpinage, onions, leeks, parfley, creffes, beets, 
 lettuces, turnips, carrots, parfnips, cellery, and artichokes ; all of which are 
 good of their kind, but particularly the laft is of unrivalled excellence. 
 
 The fruit garden, though it produces, in abundance, excellent black, 
 •white, and red currants, is very inferior in the apples, pears, plumbs, cher- 
 ries, goofeberries, and ftrawberries that it produces, with refpedl both to 
 fize and flavour. 
 
 There are no trees in the ifl^ands at-prefenr, except a few in Hoy j 
 •which, on account of their ftunted growth and diminutive fize, fcarcely 
 merit the name ; and fome of larger dimenfions that are met with in the 
 gardens in Kirkwall. This would by no means appear fo furprifing, were 
 k not evident that they exifted formerly, not in one or two fpots onJy, but 
 in many different places through this country. There is a general and 
 ftrong tradition, that the harbour of Otterfwick in Sanday was once a 
 foreft, which was deftroyed by an inundation* In fupport of which tra- 
 dition. 
 
CIIAPo I. 2«JATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 £91 
 
 dition, it may be obferved, that roots, or at lead parts of trees, much putrl- 
 fied, half buried ia the fand, and covered with fea-weed, prefent themfelves 
 to view at the low-water of fpring-tides. Deernefs is alfo reported to have 
 been anciently a confiderablc foreft, which a deluge overwhelmed, after it 
 had long been the haunt of deers and other wild animals. To confirm 
 this tradition, we have the decided teftimony of an author who himfelf 1529. 
 lived, for feme time, at lead, in this country *. 
 
 Another author f , who was alfo refident here, and lived a hundred and 1683. 
 fifty years later than the former, has given his teftimony that many of the 
 peat mofles through the iflands in his time, contained the falix humilis 
 lotifoUa^ and that near Campftone, on the fouth of Deerfound, ' there was 
 * then a little wood, about two butts in length, and one in breadth,' confid- 
 ing of trees or fhrubs, of the height of a man, and of the kind that are 
 known by the name of the yblix viminea or angujlifd'ia. 
 
 But though no fuch tradition had ever exifted, or been fupported by 
 fuch authority, the number of trees that have, in many places, been occa- 
 fionally dug up in the peat mofles, from the thicknefs of a man's leg to 
 that of his body, furnifh fufficient evidence of their having been once 
 pretty general in thefe Iflands. 
 
 Since, then, it muft be admitted that wood in confiderable quantity 
 grew here in a former period, and that the Iflands are now entirely ftript 
 of that beneficial ornament, an inquiry into the caufe becomes, if not a 
 inatter of confequence, at lead of fome curiofity. Among the earlied in- 
 habitants of mod countries, wood fcems to have been the only original 
 fuel; turf or peat fucceeded ; and coal, which, comparatively fpeaking, is 
 only a late difcovery, was long fubfequent to both in its application to do- 
 medic ufe. In whatever places, therefore, woods are on the decline, or 
 wherever they have difappeared totally, it may have been owing to their 
 having been cut down and made ufe of for this purpofe. 
 
 • Ben. MSS. Adv. Lib. Edin. Deernefs, qup.fi, the nefs of decrs : hxc parochia olim eiMt 
 nemorofa, et multx ferx hie fucre, tandem diluviis vehementibus, arbores, vulfis radicibus, fub- 
 nicrfi funt. 
 
 f Mathew Mackaile apothecuy at Aberd«en's She rt Relation of the moft coufiierable things !ji 
 Orkney. MS. Adv. Lib. Edin. 
 
 P p 2 I^O 
 
29i NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK Iir» 
 
 To this caufe may be added others, in their nature, perhaps, not lefs 
 powerful. V/ocds may have been expended in the building of boats and 
 other fmall craft, or in furniQiing implements of huihandry ; ftorms, in 
 their fury, may have thrown them down ; and inundations (as of old in 
 the ifland of Sanday) may have buried them far beyond the reach of hu- 
 man infpe£lion ; and, befides all thefe, there may, perhaps, be fomewhat 
 in the air of a country under cultivation inimical to trees. 
 
 But, v/hatever may have been the caufes that contributed to this efFe£t, 
 wood now becomes an object of fuch importance, from the increafed de- 
 mand for it, its high price, and fcarcity, that every attempt to raife it anew 
 muft be confidered as laudable. Several attempts have already been made ;. 
 but, as they have been, in fome cafes, and in fome meafure, unfuccefsful, 
 an opinion has become prevalent that no kind of wood will ever thrive in 
 the Orkney Iflands. This conclufion, however. It is apprehended, is un- 
 founded ; as the experiments, that in general have hitherto been made, 
 have neither been conduded with care, nor undertaken with, a proper 
 regard to circumftances. In proof of this, we may obferve, that, in place 
 of choofmg a fituation in which trees could be fheltered from the violence 
 of the blaft, or fenced againfl: the deftrudlve inroads of fheep, fwine, and 
 black cattle, and without fufEcient attention to k\e€t fuch fpecies as were 
 beft adapted to the nature of the climate, a few plants have been imported 
 from the fouth, and put into the earth, and little or no farther care be- 
 flovved on them. The confequence has often been fuch as was naturally 
 to be expeded. They have, for the moft part, ftruck root, put forth 
 leaves, and, for a little, made a promifing appearance ; till they were either 
 cropt by cattle, choked with weeds, blalled by the fea, or withered by the 
 violence of the weather. 
 
 In order to decide the point, whether trees will grow in Orkney, as 
 they have, without doubt, done formerly, the feeds of fuch as are fit for 
 the climate fhould be chofen ; thefe feeds fhould be fown and the plants 
 raifed in a nurfery in the Ill'ands, taken up when they are of ftrength fuf- 
 ficient to fland the weather, tranfplanted into a foil, not only fit for them,, 
 but properly prepared, in a flieltered fituation, and under a good fence, 
 in fuch numbers as to fcreea thera from the cold, and their roots cleared 
 
 occalionally 
 
 I 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 293 
 
 occafionally of the weeds that may Tprlng up to Impede their vegetation. 
 If a plan of this kind were adopted, and fuch precautions ufed, there is 
 a high degree of probabiUty that trees, both ufeful and ornamental, might 
 be raifed fuccefsfully in this country. But if, even in thefe favourable 
 circumftances, the attempt did not fucceed, the relult would at leaft ferve 
 to convince us, that future endeavours to plant here would be unavailing, 
 and that to perfift in them would be to incur certain expence and final 
 difappointment. The proprietors have fuch an Intereft in the matter, as 
 fliould Induce them fpeedily to make the experiment ; and, if they have 
 any predlledlon for their native foil, it fhould ftimulate their exertions; as 
 there are few countries in the north that would furnifli more enchanting 
 profpeds than this, were the barren parts clothed with wood, and the iru- 
 proveable fpots converted into corn and grafs fields. 
 
 SECTION HI. 
 
 ZOOLOGY. 
 
 The Lobster, {cancer gammarus^ Lin. Syft. Nat.) on account of its 
 fuperlor excellence, is juftly entitled t-o the firft place in the loweft order. 
 Around almoft all our rocky fhores, thefe fifhes are caught in the fummer 
 months, in a depth of water from two to fix fathoms, during the night 
 commonly, or, if in the day, only in dark weather. The nets made ufe 
 of for this purpofe are in the form of bags, fixed to iron hoops of about 
 two feet and a half diamtter, with pieces of lead to fink them, baited wiih 
 fifli, flcHi, or garbage of any kind, which the lobrters devour with the 
 utmoft avidity. As foon as they are caught, their claws are bound with 
 twine, to prevent their maiming or killing each other; and they are put 
 into large chefts, which are anchored in the water in bays or harbours, 
 
 where 
 
294 NATUTvAE HISTORY* iDOOK III. 
 
 ■where they lye unmolefted, till put on board the fmacks that carry them, 
 in their wells, alive, weekly, in thoufands, to the I.ondon market. 
 
 The Crab, \cancer pagurus, Lin. Syft. Nat.) is a fpecies of fi(h which is 
 found in great plenty In alinoft all the rocky fliores in this country. They 
 are caught with the hand, or with a hook, with which they are drawn 
 from their lurking places, and only in fine weather. Tlm^e that are found 
 here are of an excellent quality. They are carried to no regular market ; 
 but are either confumed by the people in the Iflands, or difpofed of to 
 gentlemens' families. 
 
 The Cockle, {card'mm^ Lin. Syft.) is a fifli In much greater repute 
 here than in moft other places. The fpecies abound in almoft all our 
 fandy bays and (hores, where they are caught with rakes, in the fand, at 
 low-water ; and, in the fpring and fummer feafon, in fuch numbers, as to 
 make an article of food, which is confidered pleafantly delicate, as well as ■ 
 
 nourifhing. I 
 
 The Razor, [folen, Lin. Syft.) or, as we name it, \\\t fpout-Jlfi , is alfo \ 
 
 found in fandy places ; but the fpecies is far from being fo numerous as the 
 former. The fliell, which is a bivalve, has fome faint refemblance to mo- 
 ther of pearl in its ftrudlure ; and in its form, to the inftrument from which 
 it derives its name ; and the fifh it contains is by fome reckoned excellent, 
 while others confider it as food of very inferior quality. 
 
 The Oyster, [ojlrea^ Lin. Syft.) is found in feveral places, but efpecially 
 in the bays of Frith and of Deerfound, and is inferior to none even in Bri- 
 tain, which, for many centuries paft, has been juftly famed for the excel- 
 lence of this produdion. If our oyfters, or their fpat or fpawn, were raifed 
 from their native beds, and, in places fil for the purpofe, treated as they 
 are at the mouth of the Thames, or at Colchefler, there is little doubt of 
 their both increafing in number, and improving in quality, fo much, that 
 they would not only furniOi a delicious repaft to the epicure, but prove a 
 lucrative article of commerce. 
 
 The Saurey, (Pennant's Tour Scot. 1769) though not a native of 
 
 this place, claims fome attention ; as vaft numbers of the fpecies were 
 
 driven, fome years ago, into the harbour of Stromnefs, where the feamen 
 
 faw them, and gave them the name of Garfjloy fuch as they had feen on 
 
 c the 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 395 
 
 the coaft of America. Their body was of a flender make, of between 
 nine and twelve inches in length ; their bill was horny, and fomewhat 
 refembled that of a bird, divided into two mandibles ; their backs were of a 
 dark green, and their bellies of a filver colour. They were caught in myriads. 
 
 The Grhy Gurnard {trigla gurnanfus, Lin. Syft.) is caught by feamca 
 on our coafts, by hanging a line and baited hook over the ftern of their 
 veflels, at which this fifh bites very readily, efpecially if the wind blow 
 flrong ; and it is no fooner hauled on board, than it begins to utter a croak- 
 ing, plaintive nolle, fomething like that of an angry perfoa. 
 
 The Dragon ET [callionyinus lyra, Lin. Syft.) has alio been found here 
 (though fcldom) entangled among the fea-weed. The body of one fpecimen 
 was only fix inches long, and of a conical form ; the head was large j the 
 pedloral and belly fins large alfo ; and what clearly diftinguifhed it from' 
 the whole tribe of our filhes, is the length of the firfl: ray of the dorfal fin, 
 which reaches to the tail of the animal. 
 
 Herring, [chipca heringus^ Lin. Syfl.) in the monihs of July and Au- 
 guft, not only pay an annual vifit to our coaRs, as might have been expected 
 from our fituacion in the track of the great northern flioal, but enter into 
 and continue for fome time in our bays, creeks, and friths j and depart un- 
 molefted ; as we are either defti'.ute of time, capital, or induRry, to avail 
 ourfelves of this inexhauftible treafure. 
 
 The Argentine, {^aigtut'ma fphyrana^ Lin. Syft.) that beautiful little 
 fifti, has been feen here, though rarely ; and the fpecimen obtained was. 
 caught among the fea-weed, on the reflux of the tide. The whole length 
 of the body was not above an inch, the back was of a grcenifh hue, 
 the belly of a filver colour, the fins foft, and the tail fomewhat mem- 
 braneous. 
 
 The Grayling [falmo thymallus^ Lin. Syft.) which is from about twelve 
 to eighteen inches long, in our fcas, is caught very frequently with the fly, 
 to which it rifes very readily. It fwims quickly, leaps much '^ and to draw 
 it when it has taken the bait, requires much dexterity. 
 
 The Char {falmo olpiuus, Lin. Syft.) has been very feldom met with 
 here, except in a few inftances in the Loch of Stennis, where it is cafily 
 
 diilln- 
 
296 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 diftinguiflied from all the other trout by the beautiful red colour that orna- 
 ments its belly. 
 
 The Par [fjiiilct, Brit. Zool.) is frequently feen in clear brooks and in 
 lochs that are limpid and ihallow, though not in fuch numbers as are often 
 met with in other countries. It feldom exceeds fix inches in length. It is 
 difiinguilhed by a row of bluifli fpots on each fide. 
 
 The Trout [ falmo farioy Lin. Syft.) frequents all our rivulets in great 
 plenty, but feldom grows to a great fize, unlefs fometimes in the lochs and 
 larger ftrcams, where it is ("aid to have been found fo large as to weigh be-, 
 tween twenty or thirty pounds, and even upwards. 
 
 Tiie Bull Trout ifalmo trutia^ Lin. Syft.) is a fpecies that is found in' 
 great numbers in the Loch of Stennis ; but as the flefh is white and dry, 
 and of confequence unpleafant, it is feldom fought after. 
 
 The Salmon [falmo falax, Lin. Syfl.) is by no means plentiful in 
 Orkney. This, no doubt, is in feme meafure owing to our want of rivers, 
 but ftill more to the want of exertion in our people, who might cer- 
 tainly catch many of them, were they vigilant at the feafon during which 
 this fpecies is well known to frequent the bays, the mouths of brooks, 
 and the entrance of lochs, in fearch of frefh water for the purpofe of 
 fpawning. 
 
 The Mackrel [/comber feomber, Lin. Syft.) is a fpecies that, in large 
 flioals, vifits our coafts and our bays in the end of July or lirft of Auguft. 
 Our indolent fifiiermen, however, feldom catch any of them, unlefs they 
 come in their way by mere accident. 
 
 The FiFTjiEN-SPiNED STICKLEBACK ' gajleroftciis fphiachia, Lin. Syft.) 
 which is here denominated the bifvier^ from the refemblance it is fuppofed 
 to bear to the weighing inftrument of that name, is frequently found in- all 
 our fcas, in confiderable numbers; bur, on account of the little eftimation 
 in whicli it is held, it is feldom fouglit after. 
 
 The Three- sPiNED Stickleback {gajlcrojleus aculeatus^ Lin. Syft.) 
 
 which we dillinguifti by the name of hanjllcle^ is found in every fmall 
 
 running brook or loch that has any coramuuication with another piece of 
 
 frefti \\ater. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. r. NATURAL HISTORY. 297 
 
 The Wrasse [lahrus tinea, Lin. Syft.) that has here got the name of 
 hergky frequents fuch of oui- fhores as have high rocks and deep water, 
 where it is very often found in company with what we call the rcd-ivare 
 cod. The ivraffe is not confidered as a fifh of great value. They are caught 
 in fmall numhers, and roafted frefh, for the life of the table. 
 
 The TuREOT [pIciiroiieBes inaxlmus, Lin. Syft.) is undoubtedly fome- 
 times caught on our coafts, though but rarely ; as only a few fpecimens 
 have been procured ; and holibut, a very different kind of fifli, generally 
 paffes under that name. 
 
 The Sole [phirofieSlesfolea, Lin. Syft.) is a fpecies caught in the bay of 
 Skail, and in many other fimilar fituations j where it is cafily diftingulfhcd 
 from the reft of the genus, by the narrownefs of its body, in proportion to 
 its length, and by the fuperiority of its tafte and flavour. 
 
 The Flounder {pleuronenes Jicfus^ Lin. Syft.) is a very common fpecies 
 and frequent in all our bays, creeks, and inlets, efpecialiy where the ground 
 is flat and fandy. They are caught fometimes with a fork or fuch like 
 Iharp inftrumcnt, and fometimes in the net, partly in the lower parts of 
 the Loch of Stennis ; and they weigh generally from half a pound to two 
 or three pounds. 
 
 The Plaisje, [pleurotieBes platejfa, Lin. Syft.) which with us Is not very 
 large, for the moft part frequents fandy banks, and ground with a muddy 
 bottom, fuch as the banks and the head of the bay of Kerfton, or harbour 
 of Stromnefs, the bay of Skail, and other fimilar places. 
 
 The Holibut, [^pleuroneElcs hippoglojfus, Lin. Syft.) which is generally 
 known by the name of turhot, abounds in all our feas; but is moft com- 
 inonly found in eddies, or places where two or more tides meet ; which, 
 perhaps, that large flat-bodied fift» haunts, in order to fecure itfelf from the 
 force of the current. It is hard and dry, and by no means excellent, nor 
 indeed is any part of it pleafant eating, except the head and the bones, which 
 by many are efteemed both nourifliing and palatable. 
 
 The Opah or King's Fish (Pennant's Brit. Zool.) feems to be fo rare 
 in other parts of the kingdom, that only five inftances of it had occurred 
 to the Britilh Pliny about twenty years ago. Here, however, it is much 
 more common j for as many, and perhaps more of the fpecies have been 
 
 Q^ q found 
 
298 NATURAL HISTORr, DOOK III. 
 
 found in the bays or on the fhores of the Ifland of Sanday, even fo early 
 as before the end of the feventeenth century. From feme one or more of 
 thefe that defcription was taken which we meet with in the works of Sir 
 Robert Sibbald, and in Dr, Wallace's Account of the Ifles of Orkney. To 
 tiiefe may be added fevcral that have been either caught or driven afliore 
 lately, fome of them in the ifland above mentioned, and others in the Main- 
 land, and particularly in the bays of Scapa and Kirkwall. Though they all 
 differed a little in fhape, and fomewhat more in colour and dimenfions, they 
 were evidently of the fame fpecies, and agreed in fo many particulars as is 
 fufficient to afford ground fer a general defcription. 
 
 The body, which was nearly three feet long, and two broad, and from 
 fide to fide about five or fix inches in thicknefs, fwelled toward the middle, 
 and tapered to the extremities, fo as to exhibit the form of two fegments of 
 a circle united together. The head is fmall, with large eyes ; and the tail 
 is flender and forked. Toward the back were a number of oval fpots, of 
 a filvery brightnefs, on a ground of vivid green, which, on approaching the 
 belly, changed imperceptibly into a golden yellow ; and thefe hues were 
 much increafed in brilliancy, by the luftre of the fins and tail, which were 
 of a deep fcarlet colour. 
 
 The Fatherlasher [cottus fcorpius y Lin. Syfl.) or, as it is here named, 
 the compery is found in every pool into which the fea regularly flows, 
 lurking under ftones and the points of rocks, to devour the fmall fifhes. 
 By fome, this fifli is reckoned delicate eating ; and fuch as can be reconciled 
 to its horrid appearance fometimes prefer it to many others that are more 
 beautiful. 
 
 The Black Goby, [gobius nigery Lin. Syft.) which is fometimes men- 
 tioned under the name of the black- rock Jijhicky is often feen in the deep 
 holes about the point of the Nefs of Stromnefs, of a fize that feldom ex- 
 ceeds three or four inches, and of a black or brownifti colour. 
 
 The Spotted Goby {gobias aphya, Lin. Syfl.) is met with In the fame 
 or fimilar places with the former. 
 
 The Vivaparous Blenny, [blennius v'tviparuSy Lin. Syfl.) which, from 
 the colour of the back-bone, has here got the name oi greenbotiCy is found 
 
 9 under 
 
CHAP. I. KATURAL HISTORY. 2p5 
 
 under ftones and among the fea-weed at low-water mark, in vad numbers, 
 from fix to ten inches in length, hut not proportionally thick. 
 
 The Spotted Blenny, [blcnnlus gunncllus^ Lin. Syft.) which, from the 
 form of its body, has here got the name oifwordick^ is found under ftones, 
 amone: the fea-weed both at low-water mark and above it. Tlie fnecics 
 
 11 liic icd-vvcciJ ijuiii at njv^-vvaiti iiiaiiv aiiu auuvc ii. i iic lu 
 
 IS 
 
 numerous, and might be caught in great plenty ; but they are a coarfe fi(h, 
 and feldom eaten, or even ufed for bait, unlei's when the lilhermen can ob- 
 tain no better. 
 
 The Purple Blenny is alio an inhabitant of our feas ; and, in its 
 fliape, its manner of life, and its haunts, bears fuch a ftriking refemblance 
 to the former, that it may perhaps be confidered as a variety. 
 
 The ToRSK, or, as it is here named, the tujk or catfJJj^ is an inhabitant 
 of the north feas, and hitherto undifcovered lower than this country; and, 
 even here, it is very feldom met with, in comparifon of what it is around 
 the coafl ot Shetland. It is caught, however, fomeiimes here, ofi' the burgh 
 of Birfay, Weftray, and Sanday ; and perhaps in fcveral other places. It is 
 fuperior to all our fifli in its greater litnefs for curing. Its length is about two 
 feet, its greateft depth four and a half, or live inches ; the head is fmall ia 
 proportion to the body ; the upper jaw a little longer than the lower ; both 
 jaws furnilhed with a number of fmall teeth ; and on the chin there is a 
 fmall fmgle beard. From the head to the dorfal fin is a deep furrow ; the 
 dorfal fin begins within fix inches of the tip of the nofe, and extends almoft 
 to the tail ; the perioral fins are fmall and rounded j and the ventral Ihort, 
 thick, and fltfhy, terminating in four points. 
 
 The Whistle Fish [gadus tuujlela, Lin. Syft.) or, as it is here named, 
 the red-'warefjliick^ is a I'pecies very often found under the ftones among 
 the fea-weed, feldom exceeding nine or ten inches in length, and, for the 
 moft part, in company with the blennies. Though fmall, it is an excellent 
 fi(h for the table, were it caught in any confidcrable number; which it is. 
 not, as the hook is not made ufe of for that purpofe, but only the hand, by 
 turning over the ftones at low-water. 
 
 The Ling [gadus molva^ Lin. Syft.) is, next to the coal, cod-fifti, and 
 haddock, the moft common in all our coafts, and, like them too, it is very 
 
 Q^q 2 much 
 
300 rfATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 much ncglcded, equally to our loCs and difgrace. If the fi(hlng of thaJ 
 excellent and ufeful Ipecies were profecuted with the fame fkill and afliJuhv' 
 as it is by cur enterprifing and intelligent neighbours in Shetland, it might 
 be the means of both exciting and employing induftry, and, hefides, prove 
 the fource of great wealth. The few that are caught at preient are taken 
 ■with what are called the long-lines, or lines with feveral hundred hooks on 
 each. Thefe the fifliermen bait and fet in the evening, draw next day, and 
 fct again in the evening as before. 
 
 The Whiting, [gadus rncrlangus, Lin. Syft.) though rare, muft be 
 allovi'ed a place among our fifhes ; as it is caught fometimes, and even in 
 confiderable numbers, efpecially when the haddocks are on the coafts in 
 plenty. 
 
 The Pollack, [gadus poUuchus, Lin. Syft.) with us named the lyth, or 
 lyfjh, is frequently caught clofe by the fliore, almoft among the wrack or 
 ware, in deep holes among the rocks, gamboling about in a frolickfome 
 manner, and furnilhes an excellent difh for the table. 
 
 The CoALFisn, [gadus carbonariiis, Lin. Syft.) which is fo well known 
 here by the name of the fcllock, ctith^ ox fcth^ according as the age of it 
 is either one or two or more years, is much more abundant than any 
 other, and, indeed, exceeds in number almoft all the reft of our fifli taken 
 together. The fry of this fpecies appear firft in May, when they are fmall 
 in fize, and few in number. In Auguft, they increafe confiderably in 
 both refpeds ; but towards winter when the feas begin to be ftormy, they 
 rufh into, and often occupy, moft of our bays in which they are caught 
 in myriads, for their livers, which furnifn oil for the lamps, and their 
 fifh, that conftitutes an extenfive and valuable article of food, to the poor 
 people. 
 
 The Kaddock, [gadus ieglefinus^ Lin. Syft.) is a fpecies which is far 
 from being in fuch plenty as the former, nor does it feein to make this 
 place its conftant abode. In their migrations, they vifit us only occafionally, 
 at all feafons, and are caught on both the eall and weft coaft in great excels 
 lence. Many more of thefe valuable fifh might be procured, were the 
 people pofleffcd of vigilant induftry, in which, though they be very defi- 
 cient,, 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 301 
 
 cient, this very fummer fifteen thoufand, of a very fine, large kind, were 1800. 
 taken daily, for the fpace of ten days, ofi* the fouth-eaft headland of the 
 ifland of Shapinfhav. 
 
 The Codfish [gadus morhua, Lin. Syft.) is found In multitudes on all 
 the banks around our coafts, which are pretty numerous ; and it pvefents 
 an immenfe treafure to the indolence of the people, by whom, at prefent 
 at leaO, it feems to be regarded with indifference. This, it is hoped, 
 will not be the cafe long, nor has it been fo formerly, as boars were once 
 ftationed at Waes, Gra^mfay, Birlay, and fome other places, the fole em- 
 ployment of which was, to fi(h cod, which were cured here, and thence 
 carried to the market, to the no fmall emolument of thofe engaged in the 
 bufinefs. 
 
 The Launch, [ammodytes toh'iamis^ Lin. Syft.) that from its mode of 
 life, or place of refideuce, has here the name of xhefarid-ecl, is a beautiful 
 little fi(h, and may be found in the heaps of fand coUeiSled by the tides 
 where that fpecies, in great numbers, commonly bury thcmfelves. There 
 they are fometimes caught, but not often, as they are not much valued 
 which is the more furprifuig, as they are ufeful for bait, and excellent for 
 the table. 
 
 The Wolf-Fish, {atiarh'tchas lupus ^ Lin. Syfl:.) here the yzc/'w//Z', an 
 ugly animal, is often found in our fcas, and fometimes thrown afhore by 
 the violence of the furge in ftormy weather. The mouth of this filh is 
 furnillied with the mofl dreadful weapons. Its jaws have broad and flron"- 
 grinders ; its fore teeth are long,, (harp and conical j and even the roof of 
 the mouth is not dcflitute of teeth. 
 
 The Conger, [munsna conger^ Lin. Syfl.) which is about fix feet Ion"-, 
 and one in circumference, frequents the feas around thefe ifles, where it is 
 often caught by lines fet for other fifhes, but much oftencr by the otter 
 which drags it afhore, devours a part, and leaves the remainder to bepicked 
 up by carrion birds, or carried off by the country people. 
 
 The Common Eel {mumna anguUla^ Lin. Syfl.) is to be met with 
 in all our brooks, lochs, and in the feas, and, at certain feafons, in o-reat 
 plenty in the harbour of Stromnefs. The fize is never large, flldoni ex- 
 ceeding 
 
302 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 ceeding two feet and a half in length, and Its th'icknefs Is In proportion. 
 The fkin, which is of a tenacious nature, is ftrlpped off, and worn to pre- 
 vent the cramp; but the fifli itfelf, though excellent food, is feklom 
 brought to the table, on account of fome averfion which the people have 
 to it. 
 
 The Little Pipe fish, {fyngnathiis ophidioii, Lin. Syft.) though fre- 
 quently found under ftones, between high and low-water mark, is in no 
 cfteem with us, as it is never ufed as an article of food ; and the coat 
 of mail with which it is covered, prevents its being ufed as bait to ad- 
 vantage. 
 
 The Shorter Pipe-Fish {fyngnathiis acus^ Lin. Syft.) is alfo in great 
 plenty, and of very different dimenfions, from fix to fifteen and a half 
 inches. 
 
 The Longer Pipe-Fish { fvngnathtis barbarus^ Lin. Syft.) is alfo a 
 native of this place, and very frequent in our feas : it has a body about the 
 fize of a quill, and the medium length of it is not above twelve inches. 
 
 The Sea Snail [cycloptertis liparis, Lin. Syft.) is found lying under 
 ftones around the Ihores in many places, and may be picked up in great 
 numbers, of about four inches long, and many of them fmaller. 
 
 The Lump Fish, {cycloptcrus luinpus, Lin. Syft.), here denominated the 
 Paddle, frequents the harbours and fand-banks, where, if it could ferve 
 any ufeful purpofe, it might be caught with the utrnoft eafe and readinefs. 
 This fifh has a hollow under its pectoral fins, by which it adheres fo firmly 
 to the ftones or other fubftances to which it fixes itfelf, that even a very 
 confiderable force applied, removes it with difficulty. 
 
 The Sturgeon {^acipvifer Jlurlo, Lin. Syft.) is admitted into the cata- 
 logue of our fifties, not becaufe it has been recently feen or dcfcribed, but 
 on the authority of fome authors, who aftert that fome of the fpecies have 
 been repeatedly driven aftiore ; from which circuraftance, they conclude 
 them to be natives of this region. 
 
 The Lesser Dog-Fish {fqualus catulus, Lin. Syft.), which is here named 
 the daw-jijlj, is caught in fmall quantities on our coafts ; but, like others of 
 the fame genus, feems to be migratory, though they remain fo long as to 
 
 be 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 303 
 
 be cauglit In fingle fifli through ahnoft the whole fummer. They are nei- 
 ther much valued for food nor oil. 
 
 The White Shark {fqualus carcbarias, Lin. Syft.), has fometimes been 
 feen, and has alfo been driven afhore in fome places. This fifh fometimes 
 makes great deftrudion among the nets. 
 
 The Basking Shark, [fqualus maximui, Lin. Syft.), which has here got 
 the name of the hoe-mother^ or homct\ that is the mother of the dog-fifh, 
 is the moft common of the larger (hark kind that is obferved around thefe 
 iflands. He is often feen rufhing violently through the deep, and even 
 fometimes entering our creeks and bays. One of twenty-two feet long, and 
 fixteen in circumference, was about thirty years ago killed in the harbour 
 of Stromnefs. 
 
 The Piked Dog-Fish {fqualus acatithias, Lin. Syft.), here known by 
 the name of the hoe, frequently vifits our coafts ; and, during the fhort 
 time it continues, generally drives off every other kind of fifhes. The name 
 which it bears is derived from two iharp fpines that are placed before the 
 dorfal fins, which are a fort of weapons of defence that it can ufe with much 
 dexterity. The fifti is dried or cured for food to the poor. The liver yields 
 a large quantity of oil for their lamps, and bait in plenty is obtained from 
 the garbage. 
 
 The Thorns AC K {rata clavata, Lin- Syft.) is a fpecies in fuch plenty, 
 that it is among the moft common captures every where, but particularly 
 in the eddies, or places where two or more currents meet. It takes its 
 name from the thorn-like prickles with which its back is planted. 
 
 The Sharp-nosed '9^\Y'{raia oxyrhicbusy Lin. Syft.) is alfo an inha- 
 bitant of our bays and fhores ; and, in common with rays of every Oiape 
 and dimenfion, is here called ^ Jkate, oz thornback, the young of which, 
 while fmall, are ftyled maidens. 
 
 The Skate, {rata batis, Lin. Syft.) in great variety of fizes, from one 
 to four, or even five feet in diameter, is caught in confidcrable numbers 
 in almoft all the feas around us. A few are ufed frelb ; moft of them are 
 dried ; and fuch as are not too large, are efteemcd fitteft for the table. 
 
 The Grampus {dclph'tnus orca, Lin. Syft.) is feen in great numbers on 
 moft of our coafts, and very often in ftrong and impetuous currents, fri(k- 
 ing and tumbling about in a ftrange and amufing manner. Their fize is 
 
 from. 
 
3°4 
 
 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III, 
 
 from fifteen to twenty, or even twenty-five feet in length, and they are very 
 thick in proportion. Their appetite is fo voracious, and their nature fo 
 fierce, that they do not hefitate to attack the largeft fiflies, which is probably 
 the reafon that fo many whales are embayed, driven aOiore, and deftroyed 
 in thefe Iflands. 
 
 The Propesse [delphhms phoccenay Lin. Syft.) is a fpecics that, during 
 the months of May, June, July, and part of Auguft, is often feen in our 
 feas, in herds of a hundred or upwards ; fometimes in fearch of their prey, 
 and, in the love feafon, as often in purfuit of their females. Thefe fifla are 
 migratory, as they vifit us regularly when the cold feafon is over, but are 
 never feen in winter ; and, as they have been obferved to refemble fwine 
 in their internal ftrudure, fo they are here faid to refemble them, in being 
 fo much guided by example, that if one of their number be, by any means, 
 forced aChore, the reft will readily follow him. 
 
 The HiGH-FiNNED Cachalot {^phyfeter tiirjlo, Lin. Syft.) appears, 
 fometimes at leaft, to frequent our feas, as one of that kind was, according 
 to Sir Robert Sibbald, driven afliore in the year 1687. This fifti was a 
 large female, the fpout-hole in the front, the head eight or nine feet high, 
 ■with teeth only in the lower jaw. It had two peroral fins, and one in the 
 middle of the back, like the mizen-maft of a fhip, and the head was full of 
 the beft fort of fpermaceti. 
 
 The Round Headed Cachalot {pbyfeter catodon, Lin. Syft.) is 
 another fpecies, a hundred and two of which, the fame author informs us, 
 were thrown afhore in the harbour of Kairfton, now Stromnefs, the largeft 
 twenty-four feet long, fome eighteen, fome fifteen, and the fmalleft twelve. 
 He does not feem to know whether they had fpout-holes, or if their 
 heads contained fpermaceti j but it is probable that they had both, as all 
 the known whales of that genus, that frequent the Britifti feas, are pofteffed 
 of them. 
 
 The Great-headed Cachalot, [phyfeier microps, Lin. Syft.) which 
 is here called the Spermaceti ivhak, is pretty frequently thrown afliore, and 
 even fometimes killed, on the coaft ; as happened, fome years ago, with 
 one of about fifty feet long, in Hoy found. The oil is obtained by melt- 
 ipg and refining a thick layer of fpick, or fat, that lies immediately under 
 l^e {kin, and the fpermaceti by opening its skull. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. r. NATURAL HISTORY. 305 
 
 The Beaked Whale, [iiebhe-haal^ Pontop. Norway.) which is here 
 known by the name of the Bottloioc, is a fpecies that is often thrown 
 afliore in confiderable numbers, of dillerent fizes, from eighteen to ten feet 
 in length, and feems to be migratory, as it appears fometimes plenty, and 
 again leaves us for a number of years ; making us no regular vifits, like the 
 porpefle, and feme other fiflies. 
 
 The Round-lipped Whale [balcena vuifadus^ Lin. Sy(l.) is much 
 more frequently fcen here than the others, efpecially in the months of fuly 
 and Auguft, when the feas and founds are full of herring, on which it 
 feems to depend in a great meafure for fubfiftence. Two of that fpecies 
 were thrown afliore fome years ago, the one in Hoy, and the other in 
 Flotay, the Jength of whieh was not lefs than fifty feet ; their lips were 
 very thick ; their mouth was large, and contained a quantity of excellent 
 whalebone. 
 
 The Common Whale {luilcvna myjllcetiis^ Lin. Syft.) is an animal of 
 vafl. fize ; which, though formerly often feen in this place, feems now in a 
 great meafure to have taken its leave of us ; being perhaps forced, by the 
 greater refort of ihipping, to the northern latitudes, where vaft numbers of 
 them are killed annually. Some of them, however, have occafionally been 
 put afliore ; but they were generally fo lean and fickly, as to prove only of 
 very inconfiderable value. 
 
 Of reptUes, the Frog is the only genus that can be confidered as an in- Reptiles 
 habitant of this place. 
 
 The Common Frog [^rana temporaria^ Lin. Syft:.) may be i&ew very 
 frequently in lochs, and pools of dirty water, where it depofits its fpawn, 
 •which foon afterwards aflumes the form of animalcules, making their way 
 through the water, by means of the undulatory motion of their tails, 
 which are membranous. Their fliape, while tadpoles, is a flatted hemif- 
 pheie, or rather an ellipfe, in one end of which is the tail, and in the other 
 the eyes and mouth. In this ftate they continue for fome time, till the 
 fore feet begin to appear, and the tail being no longer ufeful, drops off", 
 and the new formed animal becomes amphibious. The fmall number of 
 frogs, that appear in comparifon of the number of tadpoles, may be partly 
 
 R r owing 
 
206 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK Ilf. 
 
 owing to the very cold weather that we have in fpring, and partly to the 
 great number of tame ducks and geefe about almoft every houfe, which 
 may perhaps devour the tadpoles. 
 
 The Toad [ra/ia bufo, Lin. Syft.) is fometimes feen in the evenings in 
 gardens, and in fuch like places, crawling, but never leaping, as the frog 
 does ; and is of an appearance, which, to mofl: people, is not only ugly 
 in the extreme, but even frightful and difgufting. Hence perhaps the 
 opinion that has very generally prevailed, that this reptile is pernicious, and 
 has either by its bite, its faliva, or fome other means, fometimes transfufed 
 its poifon into men, as well as other animals. But this opinion is neither 
 fupported by the ftruiture of the animal, as it appears on diffe£tion, nor 
 yet by the inftances that are adduced, as they have never been confirmed 
 by refpeftable teftimony ; fo that we are warranted to conclude that the 
 toad is perfedly harmlefs ; to which we may, confiftently with truth, add, 
 that there is no venemous creature, above the fize of an infe(5t, to be found 
 through the whole of thefe Illands. 
 
 EwDs. As this country lies in a high northern latitude, in the trad between 
 the old and the new continent, in the immediate vicinity of Britain, at 
 no great diftance from Ireland and Iceland, and much nearer the Ferroes, 
 Shetland, and the Weftern Ifles ; and as we have fome marflies, and 
 plenty of locks, partially covered with grafs, and many high and precipi- 
 tous rocks and folitary holms, as well as fome hills and valleys ; the variety, 
 no Icfs than the number of our birds, muft, it is evident, be very confi- 
 derable. To each fpecies, therefore, only a very little room can be afforded, 
 as it is our intention to omit none, whether permanent or migratory, that 
 have been fufficiently afcertained to inhabit thefe Iflands. 
 
 Our domeflic birds are the cock and hen, ducks and geefe in great num- 
 bers, turkies, and even fometimes peacocks, which are reared for pleafure 
 about gentlemens' houfes. 
 
 The TuMSTONE or Sea Dotterel Uharadrlus morlnellus^ Lin. Syft.) 
 is found, in fmall flocks on our fhores, but only in winter ; and, as foon as 
 fpring arrives, it takes its departure to the northward, like mod other birds 
 
 that lea.ve us in fummer. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 
 
 307 
 
 The Coot, {fulica atra, Lin. Syft,), which we call the S/iyi/j, remains 
 with us the whole year, and is found in feveral places, but particularly at 
 Burwick, in South Ronaldfhay, and Aikernefs in Evle, where it builds in 
 graffy lochs, in which it delights to conceal itfelf. 
 
 The Gannet, ^pelccauus bajfaiius^ Lin. Syft.), which has here got the 
 name of the Solan, or Soland-goofe, frequents our bays, and fllhes in a very 
 peruliar manner. The birds of this fpecies do not breed here ; but many 
 of them dn on the Stark of Sulillverry, a holm or uninhabited I/land, a little 
 to the fouth-weft of this country. 
 
 The Shag, {pdecanus graculus, Lin. Syft.), fo well known by the name 
 of Scarfs is very frequently {^t\\ with us In both frc(h and fait water, 
 catching fifti, which It devours in great numbers. 
 
 The Cormorant, or Corvorant, [pekcamis carlo, Lin. Syft.% 
 our great Scarf, is a fpecies not fo numerous as the former, but like it 
 in moft refpeds except in fize, which is much greater. Both of them 
 are of a black colour, build on rocks, live on filh, and remain with us 
 conftantly. 
 
 The Golden Eye {anas clangula, Lin. Syft.) is feen here only in win- 
 ter, and In flocks of about a dozen : It is eafily diftlnguilhed from all the 
 duck kind by its bill, which has a white fpot at each of its corners. 
 
 The Teal [anas crecca, Lin. Syft.) continues In this place the whole 
 year ; builds in marftiy or wet ground, often in ruflii bufties ; and is a very 
 beautiful bird, of which o\xx Attsal\% perhaps only a variety. 
 
 TheGARGANNY [anas qjierquedula, Lin. Syft.) is frequently feen in 
 our locks when the weather Is mild, and in the fea when it is ftormy : it is 
 migratory. 
 
 The VViGEON [anas penelope, Lin. Syft.) Is pretty often feen here ; but 
 whether relident or migratory is as yet a matter of uncertainty. The fpecies 
 choofe for their favourite haunt the loch of Skall, In company with many 
 of the duck kind, which refort thither to live on eels, the larva of the 
 ephemera, and pond-weed, which grows there in great plenty. 
 
 The SwALLOvv-T AILED Shieldrake [anas glacialis, Lin. Syft.) is the 
 coi.ftant inhabitant of our frefti water lochs, from its arrival in Odobci, 
 till the month of April, when it departs for the fummer. 
 
 Rr 3- The 
 
3oS NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK HI. 
 
 The Pintail Duck, [anas acuta, Lin. Syft.), which has here got the 
 name of the caloo, or coal and candle light, from the found it utters, is often 
 feen in different places through the winter ; but on the return of fpring it 
 departs for fome other country. 
 
 The Mallard, [anas bofchas, Lin. Syft.), o\xx Jlockduck, is a pretty 
 numerous fpecies, which builds in marfhes, meadows, and holms, through 
 all the Iflands. 
 
 The Shieldrake, [anas tadorna, Lin. Syft.), which is here, on 
 account of its habits, named ihejly-goofe, is the moft beautiful of the genus 
 found in this country. In fpring it arrives and builds in the holes of the 
 earth, very often in fuch as had been dug up and occupied by rabbits, and 
 when the breeding feafon is over, it retires, perhaps to a warmer climate. 
 
 The Tutted Duck, [anas ftdigula, Lin. Syft.), is not an inhabitant of 
 this place, nor does it even make us a tranfient vifit, unlefs when compelled 
 by the violence of a ftorm ; in that cafe, it leaves us again with the very 
 firft favourable weather. 
 
 The Ejder Duck, {anas moUiJfnna, Lin. Syft.), which is our dunter 
 ^■&c/^, . frequents all our founds and bays in winter, and leaves us in the 
 fpring, with the exception of a few, that breed in the holm of Papay- 
 Weftray, where they form their nefts of fea-vv^eed, and pluck the rich foft 
 down from their own breafts to line them. 
 
 The Brent Goose, [anas bernicla, Lin. Syft.) known with us by the 
 name of hora-goofe, is fometimes feen in Hoy and Deerfound in winter, 
 the only feafon of its appearance ; and as it has not been particularly exa- 
 mined, we can only mention it as a large grey bird, with a black head and 
 
 a hoarfe cry. 
 
 The Bernacle [anas erythropus, Lin. Syft.), makes its appearance here 
 fometimes in the fpring ; probably in its paflage northwards, as it does not 
 feem to breed in this country. This bird was formerly believed to be fprung 
 from a fifti [lepas anatifera, Lin.) the fhell of which is frequently driven afhore 
 in this place, adhering to wood, tangles, and fuch like fubftances. 
 
 The Goose [anas anfer, Lin. Syft.) in its wild ftate is not very oftea 
 met with ; but the tame are bred in fuch numbers, that every little farmer 
 rears a flock on which he partly fubfifts, and with which he pays fome 
 
 9 • part 
 
CHAP. I NATURAL HISTORY. 309 
 
 part of his rent annually. Thej'- are of an excellent kind ; much valued 
 for the table when frefh ; and, when faked and fmoked, which they often 
 are, they make an article in our exports, as is the cafe alfo with their quills 
 and feathers, that are ftill more valuable. 
 
 The Wild Swan [anas cjgnr/s, Lin. Syft.) is found here in all feafons, 
 as feme of them certainly build with us ; but thefe are few, in conparlfoii 
 of the great number that vifit us in 0£lober from the north, and remain 
 with us through the whole winter. 
 
 The Goosander {j?rerg/es mergaTifcr^ Lin. Syft.), the hark of this 
 country, remains with us conftantly, and may be feen every day in the 
 loch?, and in the fea : it builds in the fmall holms in the loch of Stennis, in 
 autumn ; in winter, it flies in large flocks, but pairs in the breeding feafon. 
 
 The Stormfinch [proccllaria pchigica, Lin. Syft.), our alamonll, is 
 very frequently (ttw in the friths and founds ; but it never approaches the 
 fliores, unlefs to build, which it does on the rocks; and, as foon as the 
 breeding feafon is over, it departs till next feafon. 
 
 The Shearwater {proccllaria puffiniis, Lin. Syft.), onx lyre, is a mi- 
 gratory bird, which generally comes to the rocks in February or March, 
 and, fome time after its arrival, builds in the crevices of them ; it lavs a 
 fingle white egg, much like that of a hen, but more obtufe at the ends. 
 In Auguft, the young of the fpecies are caught, when they are very fat ; 
 and by fome they are reckoned excellent eating. From the form of its bill, 
 no lefs than from the contents that have been found in its ftomach, it is 
 highly probable that this bird lives by its induftry as a fiftier. 
 
 The Greater Tern [Jlerna hirundo, Lin. Syft.), which is here known 
 by the name of the Rittochy appears only in fummer, and breeds in the 
 little holms, or iflets, in the fea and freOi water lochs, where it meets with 
 no difturbance. 
 
 The Pewit Gull [larus ridihindus, Lin. Syft.), here called the hooded- 
 crow, is frequently feen in fpring, and fometimcs in fummer; and builds 
 in the grafly lochs and little holms which the Iflands contain, cfpecially in 
 thofe of Evie and Stennis. 
 
 The Tarrock {larus trida&yltiSy Lin. Syft.), which feems to be our 
 liittywakCf is by far the moft common of the kind in this place ; and indeed 
 
 to 
 
310 NATURAL HISTORY.' BOOK III. 
 
 tx) fuch a degree does this fpecies cover the rocks with its numbers, that 
 they appear white at a diHance. 
 
 Tlie Common Gull [larus canus, Lin. Syft.), oxyr fca-maw, or whiter 
 maw, is fo numerous on a 1 cur fhores, rucks, bays, and harbours, that 
 their noife is fometimes difagreeable. 
 
 The Brown and White Gull {/an/s tiav'ius, Lin. Syft.), which the 
 people here call the fcorcy, is much more rarely met with than moft: 
 others; but in fpring it may frequently be feen in the fields, affiduoufly* 
 attending the fwine, and fharing what thefe animals procure from the 
 ground. 
 
 The Herring Gull [lams fi.fcus, Lin. Syft.) may be feen In great 
 numbers on all our rocks, which are the haunts of this fpecies, where, 
 without interruption, it builds and rears its young. 
 
 The Arctic Gull [lams parafitkus, Lin. Syft.), which, from its mode 
 of life, or manner of fubfiftence, has gc t the name of the Scoiit'iaiilin, is a 
 migratory bird, that comes in the month of May, and takes its leave of us, 
 with the great tern or fea fwallow; it builds in marfhy ground, and fome- 
 times among heath, in company with the fnipe and the lapwing. 
 
 The Great Black and White Gull [lams marlnus^ Lin. Syft.), 
 our black-backed maw, or as it is fometimes c:\\tdi fwartback, is the largeft 
 of the gull kind in our feas. It continues tlie whole year; builds on the 
 fhelves of infulated rocks around the fhores ; and is fo voracious a bird, 
 that, like the eagle, it will devour fifli, flefti, carrion of any fort, and even 
 garbage. 
 
 The Red-throated Diver [colymbus feptentrioiialis , Lin. Syft.), the 
 ratngoofe of this place, is a conftant inhabitant, and builds on the bank 
 of a lake in Hoy and in other places, fo that it can Aide into the water at 
 pleafure, throu-h which it makes its way with great rapidity, though it 
 can neither ftand nor walk on land on account of its particular formation. 
 In flying, which it does fometimes very high, it utters a howling or croak- 
 ing noife, which the country people confider as an indication of rain ; 
 ai d, from this circumftance, it has got the name which it bears, with the 
 addition o'i goofc, an appellation beftowed on almoft every fwimming bird 
 
 in this country. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 3II 
 
 The Grey Speckled Diver {loon ivlll, Ornlth.), which Is here named 
 the loon, appears only in winter on our fliores, and in fpring removes pro- 
 bably to the north, in fearch of a place for more quiet incubation. 
 
 The Immer {colymbiis immer, Lin. Syft.), which is the ember, or hnmer 
 goofe of this' country, is a fpecies that may be feen in fingle birds, or at 
 moft two or three together, in many of our bays and founds at all feafons. 
 As this bird feems neither able to fly, nor is ever feen on land ; and, as 
 both the place and manner of its breeding are as yet unknown, credulity 
 has led fome to think, that its egg is hatched under its wing in a hole, 
 which nature has prepared for that purpofe *, or that this function is per- 
 formed under'the water "f . 
 
 The Great Northern Diver [colymhus glacialis, Lin. Syft.), though 
 a very different bird from the former, is here called the ember goofe alio,, 
 and is frequently met with in all our feas; but particularly in our bays and 
 harbours, which it enters in purfuit of fmall fifh, its only fubfiftence. The 
 fimilarity that has been obferved in the nature and pofition of the feet and 
 wings of this bird and the former, and our ignorance of the place of breed- 
 ing of the one as well as the other, have given rife to the fame ridiculous 
 opinion refpeiting its mode of hatching. This is the largeft diver we have, 
 as the length is three feet and a half, the breadth four feet eight inches, 
 and its weight not lefs than fixteen pounds. 
 
 The Black Guillemote [colymbus grylle, Lin. Syft.), or, as we call 
 It, the ty/le, remains with us all the year, and may be feen fifhing ia our 
 founds and friths, even in the very worft weather in winter. 
 
 The Guillemote {colymbus troile, Lin. Syft.), here \\\& Jlout, remains 
 with us all the winter, frequents the rocks around the fliores in large flocks, 
 in company with thofe of its kind, and, like them too, lays only one ^zv.^ 
 which is large and beautiful 
 
 The Little Auk [alca ake^ Lin. Syft.) may be feen on our rocks pretty* 
 frequently. 
 
 • Wallace's Defcription of Orkney. 
 
 f Sir Rcbert Sibbald's Hillory of Scotland. Aiifer qui nidiilari fub aqu.^, et fub aqua cci.tuv 
 «vis incubarc traditur. 
 
 The 
 
-^la NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 The Puffin [alcaarnica, Lin. Syft.)» ^^^ coultenwb, or tommy noddle of 
 this place, Is feen very often on our rocks; it builds in holes under ground, 
 and lays but one egg. 
 
 The Auk {alca corda, Lin. Syft.), the fame with our bauk'ie, comes hi- 
 ther in March, and without delay takes pofleffion of almoft all the high 
 rocks on the headlands, where it lays only one large egg in the (helve of 
 a bare reck, expofed to the heaj: of the fun, which probably affifts in 
 hatching it. 
 
 The White and Dusky Grebf. (ro/)'ra^«j- miuor, Briflbn ) is the only 
 fpecies of grebe known as an inhabitant of this place. They are found in 
 the bays, lochs, and even in the dirty pools of frefli water in all feafons, 
 and build among the grafs in the loch of Aikernefs, and other fimllar 
 places. 
 
 The Red Scolop-toed Sandpiper [tringa hyperborcuy Lin. Syft.) is 
 a bird that has been feen fometimes in this country. 
 
 The Water Hfn [fulica chloropus^ Lin. Syft.) is a fpecies found in 
 plenty in the loch of Evie, where among the weeds it builds its neft, and 
 breeds feveral times in the year ; it lays feven eggs of a dirty white, fpotted 
 with a rufty colour j and, in order to make way for a new brood, it 
 drives off its young as foon as they are able to procure fubfiftence for 
 themfelves. 
 
 The Land Rail, (rallus crex^ Lin. Syft), which is fo well known by 
 the name of the corncrake, comes about the month of May, and remains 
 till the breeding feafon be over; it builds in the richeft fields of corn and 
 grafs, among which it is accuftomed to hide itfelf, and lays fixteen eggs ; 
 while it is hatching them, it fometimes perifties by the feverity of the 
 weather. 
 
 The Water Rail {rallus aquaticus^ Lin. Syft.) has been feen fometimes, 
 though very rarely, in this country. 
 
 The Sea Pie, [Jjcematopus ojlralegus, Lin. Syft.) which in fome places 
 here gets the name of the /colder, may be feen frequently on our rocky 
 coafts, where it lives on limpets and other ihell-fifh, and builds and remains 
 with us conftantly. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. I, NATURAL HISTORY. 3 I ■^ 
 
 The Sfa Lark {charadrius hiatlcuhy Lin. Syft.), the fame with our 
 
 fafid larky is feen in vaft flocks around all our fandy bays and fliores, efpe- 
 
 ciaiiy in winter ; but as Toon as fummer arrives, they retire to the bare and 
 
 barren brakes, where they build a fmall neft on the ground, and lay four 
 
 eggs of a whitifh colour. 
 
 The Grey Plover [charadrius pluvialisy Lin. Syft.), or with us fimply 
 the plover y may be found at all times of the year; but, in the month of 
 Auguft, the flocks confift of many thoufands, in which they remain till 
 the winter florms drive them down to the fea-fhores, where tliey live on 
 infeds and fea-worms, like the other waders. 
 
 The Dunlin [trhi^a a l/)h/ a, L\n. Syft.), in fmall flocks, frequents our low 
 fandy ftiores during the winter; but in fpring, withdraws to the marfliY 
 parts of the hills, for the purpofe of hatching and rearing its offspring. 
 The Purr [tringa cinclusy Lin. Syft.) is alfo to be found in fmall flocks 
 in winter ; but in fpring it retires to the hills to breed, in company with the 
 fea or fand larks. 
 
 The Turnstone [trhiga interprcs, Lin. Syft.) comes to us in fevere 
 fnowy winters, when it may be feen in fmall flocks of fix or feven each, 
 by the fea-fide ; but it never remains through the fummer, retiring, like 
 nioft of the birds that vifit us in winter, to the more northern countries to 
 build with the other grallcr. 
 
 The Redshank {Jcolopax calidris, Lin. Syft.) continues with us the 
 whole year; builds in the marfliy hills in fummer; and, when winter ap- 
 proaches, retires to the fea-fide, where it finds fuitable fuftenance. 
 
 The Lapwing [tringa vanellus^ Lin. Syft.) which, from the found it 
 utters, has the name of the teewhoap here, comes early in the fpring ; builds 
 In bogs or marftiy grounds, lays four eggs, and difcovers the moft intrepid 
 bravery in defending its neft and young in the breeding feafon. 
 
 The GoDWiT [Jcolopax cegocephala^ Lin. Syft.) is very rarely met with 
 in this place, and is perhaps only a vifitor ; as are alfo X\\t grcenjhank and 
 ivoodcock, which have been feen fometimes, though very fcldom. 
 
 The Jack Snipe [fcohpax galUmday Lin. Syft.) is feen here, though 
 not very often : it frequents marftiy moors, fits clofe, and is difficult to 
 fpring, and builds here, as it has been met with in fummer. 
 
 The Snipe, [Jcolopax gallinagOy Lin. Syft.) which is here named the 
 
 S s hoarj- 
 
314 KATUUAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 hoarfgouk, continues with us the whole year ; builds In the wet ground on 
 the hills ; lays from four to fix eggs ; and in w^inter has recourfe to the 
 fea, or the fprings of frefh water. 
 
 The Curlew [fcolopax arquata, Lin. Syft.), our ivhaap, is one of the 
 waders that is moft commonly met with about our fhores, and very often 
 in flocks. It builds on all our moft retired hills, among which may be 
 reckoned thofe of Hoy, Waes, Haray, Rendal, and Roufay. 
 
 The Heron [ardea cinerca, Lin. Syft.) has a fmall body and a large 
 flight, to procure its food from a diftance ; long legs, for wading to fome 
 depth in the water j and a very long neck and fharp edged bill, to enable 
 it to detain its prey. If the o-iwe and the bittern arc to be ranked among 
 our birds, they muft certainly be clafled with the ftrangers, which are driven 
 in by ftorms, or fome unknown accidents, and that perhaps only twice or 
 thrice in a century. 
 
 The Crested Heron [ardca major, Lin. Syft.) is very frequently 
 feen with us in winter, and often in flocks of fifty : but whether this 
 fpccies continues with us the whole year or not, is a matter of uncertainty. 
 The Sand Martin [Jjirundo ripana^ Lin. Syft.) is here the moft com- 
 mon of the fwallow tribe ; it may often be feen on the lochs of Stennis 
 and Skail, on the banks of which, among the fand, it builds its neft, which 
 is compofed of ftraw, hay, feathers, and other loft materials. 
 
 The Martin {hirundo urb'ica^ Lin. Syft.) befides feveral other places 
 where it may be feen, haunts the cathedral of St. Magnus, in Kirkwall, in 
 the windows of which, during fummer, it builds its neft of clay, and in 
 winter leaves us for fome other country. 
 
 The House Swallow {Jolrundo mjlka^ Lin. Syft.) is found here, 
 though not in great numbers ; it builds in the chimnies of the houfes in 
 Kirkwall, and like the reil of the race, leaves us in winter., 
 
 The White Ear [inotacilla anafithe, Lin. Syft.\ here denominated the 
 chack\ is a migratory bird, remaining with us through the fummer and 
 harveft, in the end of which it departs ; but not till it has built its neft and 
 reared its young, which it does in old walls and under ftones.. 
 
 The Goldencrested Wren [inotacilla rcguliis^ Lin. Syft.) is a very 
 beautiful little bird, and pretty frequently feen in this place, where it breeds 
 and has its conftant refidence. 
 
 9 The 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 315 
 
 The Wren [motacUla troglodytes^ Lin. Syft.) in winter builds in tlic walls 
 of the houfes, making- a large ncft of mofs,- lined with fome fofter mate- 
 rials, in which it lays eggs, to the number of fifteen or upwards. 
 
 The Redbreast {inotacilla rubcada, Lin. Syft.) never migrates, but re- 
 mains with us the whole year, and builds about the farm-houfes and barns, 
 in holes of the walls or in rocks. 
 
 The White Wagtail [motacilla alba, Lin. Syft.) is one of our migra- 
 tory fmall birds, and continues only a fhort time with us; coming early in 
 fpring, and building in holes of walls, and, as foon as incubation is over, 
 retiring immediately. Its ordinary haunts, while it ftays, are in the vicinity 
 of watery places, where it feeds on infeds ; and it may often be obferved at- 
 tending the plough, in order to pick up worms. 
 
 The Tit-Lark [alauda arvaijis, Lin. Syft.) is a fpecles of bird very 
 commonly met with here, and continues with us conftantly ; in fummer 
 withdrawing to build on the hills and in t.he fields, and in winter betaking 
 itfelf to the fea-fide, where it lives on various forts of infeds ; and whea 
 the weather in that fcafon is extremely fevere, even approaching houfes. 
 
 The Sky-Lark [alauda arvetifis^ Lin. Syft.) remains Xvith us conftantly; 
 it begins to fing about the firft of February, and continues its pleafant 
 notes for the moft part of fummer. 
 
 The Mountain Linnet, or Twite, {fnngilla montana, Lin. Syft.) 
 is eafily diftingulftied from the reft of the genus by the beautiful purple fpot 
 on its rump; it continues with us all the year, and builds in heathy places. 
 
 The Lesser Redheaded Linnet { fringilla I'maria, Lin. Syft.) 
 may be very often feen in winter about farm-yards, and in the breeding 
 feafon building among the fmall flirubs and heath in the hills and valleys 
 of Hoy. 
 
 The Linnet {Jal'mote, Briffbn. av.) is a bird that may be very frequently 
 met with in this place, where it builds among the fhrubs that grow on the 
 banks of rivulets, but never among heath. It remains in the iflands during 
 the whole year. 
 
 The Chaffinch [fringUla cielebs, Lin. Syft.) may be {ztw frequently in 
 fpring, and probably continues through the year, at leaft fome few of the 
 fpecies do, which build in Hoy, and in gardens. 
 
 S s 2 The 
 
2l6 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 The Greater Brambling, {emberlza nivalis, Lin. Syfl.) our fnow' 
 
 Jlake, is a migratory bird, and in fome years appears in vaft numbers from 
 
 the north ; it continues with us the niofl: part of the winter, departs in 
 
 fpving, and is feen no more, till forced back by the ieverlty of the weather 
 
 next feafon. 
 
 The Bunting [emberlza inUiaria, Lin. Syft.) is a bird that continues 
 with us the whole year, builds in fields of corn, and is (hot in great num- 
 bers, in the farm-yards, as it is much valued for the table. 
 
 The Sparrow [fringilla domejlica, Lin. Syft.) is a fpecies that fre- 
 quents this place in myriads, commits great devaftion in fuch corn-fields 
 as are firft ripe in the feafon, builds wherever it finds the leaft conve- 
 niency, and often drives the Jlare from its neft, in order that it may take 
 pofleffion. 
 
 The Blackbird [turdus mcrula, Lin. Syft.) is in Hoy found in pairs 
 in fummer, and in fingle birds in winter. 
 
 The Redwing, {turdus iliacus, Lin. Syft.) for the moft part of fummer, 
 and always in harveft, may be feen in Hoy, where it probably builds among 
 the fhrubs in the valleys. 
 
 The Song Thrush, or Th-rostle,'' {furdus mi//icus, Lin. Syft.) which 
 we call the 7?iavis, may be feen frequently among the buflies in the glens of 
 Hoy, and fometimes in the gardens of Kirkwall, where it builds its finely 
 plaftered neft on the fhrubs or ftunted fruit trees. 
 
 The Fieldfare [turdus pilaris, Lin. Syft.) makes us pretty regular 
 vifits in autumn, but neither builds with us nor remains through the win- 
 ter, and only perhaps touches here in its way from the north to a more 
 genial climate. 
 
 The Stare [Jlurnus vulgaris, Lin. Syft.), which is an innocent, prat- 
 tling, mimicking bird, is very often feen in this country, where it builds in 
 old houfes, churches, and fea-rocks ; and, as fome think, breeds twice in 
 the fame feafon. They live on worms and infedts as their ordinarymeans 
 of fubfiftence ; but in winter they commonly retire to the fea-fide, and feed 
 on what are called the fea-lice, or cancer pidex of Linnaeus. 
 
 The Grous [lagopus altera, Plinii, Raii Syft.) frequents the hills of Hoy, 
 Waes, Roufay, Rendal, Holm, and fome other parts through the lilands ; 
 
 f and 
 
CHAP, I. NATURAL HISTORY. J ly 
 
 and though In fome of thefe they are pretty numerous, they are not fo 
 much fo as on many of the mountains in Scotland. Partridges we have 
 none, nor does the place feem calculated for them, as fome pairs were 
 fome years ago brought to Waes by way of experiment, which all foon 
 periflicd, owing perhaps to their not finding convenient food, or more 
 probably to want of fhelter. 
 
 The Common Pigeon [columba anas, Lin. Syft.) is found very fre- 
 quently on almoft all our rocks, where it builds in caves, much farther in 
 than either the auks or gulls, or mod other fea-fowl, except fome of the 
 petrels. 
 
 The Cuckoo, [a/culus canorus, Lin. Syft.) or gouk of this place, is 
 found, though but rarely, in the retired and romantic hills of Hoy and 
 Waes. 
 
 The Jackdaw [corvus monedula, Lin. Syft.) which is here named the 
 kae, as in feveral other places, has been found during the breeding feafon ia 
 South Ronaldftiay and Waes, where it builds in the holes of the rocks with 
 thtjiares, and wild or rock pigeons. The magpie, fo common in the fouth, 
 is never feen here ; and the rook, if it ever appears, is fuppofed to portend 
 a famine ; and as for the woodpeckers, we do not feem to have one of the 
 genus. 
 
 The RoYSTON Crow {corvus comix, Lin. Syft.) remains with us the 
 whole year, and in the breeding feafon deftroys many of the chickens, but 
 at other times contents itfelf with infedls and garbage. They are very 
 numerous, build in the rocks, form their nefts of fticks, and line them with 
 fome fofcer materials ; and, through the winter, familiarly hover around 
 the houfes. 
 
 The Raven, (^corvus corax,'Lm. Syft.) which is onx corby, is feen almoft 
 every where in winter and fpring, but is very ftiy or wild ; it remains the 
 whole year; and in breeding time, while its young are in the neft, is ex- 
 tremely deftrudive to lambs, pigs, and hens. 
 
 The Brown Owl {Jirix ultda, Lin. Syft.) is a fpecies found in the 
 hilly parts in fummer ; but as it is never feen in winter, it is probably 
 migratory. 
 
 The 
 
o 
 
 l8 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 The White Owl, {Jlrixfammea, Lin. Syft.) the howlei of this place, 
 is found in the more retired places of Hoy in fummer, where it builds ; 
 but at other times it is more domcftic, and ventures into old houfes, ruins, 
 and churches. 
 
 The Short-eared Owl (Brit. ZooL No. 66.) may be found frequently 
 in the hills of Hoy, where it builds among the heath, and during the breed- 
 ing feafon it fometimes purfues pigeons in day-light, and picks up chickens 
 from the very doors of the houfes. 
 
 The Eagle Owl, {/Irix buboy Lin. Syft.^ our katogle ox flock-owl ^ is 
 but rarely met with, and only on the hilly and retired parts of the 
 country. 
 
 The Merlin {Temcrlllon, BiifTon.) is often feen fkimming along the 
 fields in fearch of its prey, which, as it flies low, it kills with the ftroke of 
 its wing : though it be fmall, it is inferior to none of the tribe in either 
 fpirit or agility. 
 
 The Sparrow Hawk, [falco nifus, Lin. Syft.) which is a very mif- 
 chievous fpecies, is very often feen on our rocks, and on the fteep fides of 
 the hills, where it builds, and defends its neft, if attacked, with the utmofl 
 violence and intrepidity. 
 
 The Kestril, [folco tbinuncidus, Lin. Syft.) which, from its motion in 
 the air, we name the whfdciiff'er, may frequently be obferved, as if ftationed 
 with its eyes fixed on the ground, to difcover its prey, fmall birds, mice, 
 and chickens, on which it darts down with fuch unerring fpeed, that they 
 very feldom efcape its talons. • 
 
 The Hen Harrier, {falco cya?ieus, Lin. Syft:.) here the hatalella^ is a 
 fpecies very often met with. It remains with us the whole year ; approaches 
 nearer the country houfes than any of the tribe, and very frequently makes 
 great havock among the young poultry. In winter it is almoft white ; in 
 fummer more afti-coloured. 
 
 The Goshawk {falco p dumb arius^ Lin. Syft.) is pretty frequently feen, 
 and breeds here. 
 
 The Kite or Gled {falco mlhus^ Lin. Syft.) was feen in this place 
 formerly, and fometimes is fo at prefent, though very rarely. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 319 
 
 The Gyrfalcon {gyrfalco^ Rail, fynopf. aviar.) has certainly beea 
 fecn here ; but whether it be a native or a ftranger, is as yet un- 
 certain. 
 
 The Peregrine Falcon, (^fdlco percgf'uitn niger, Aldv. aviar.) or, as 
 we ftyle it by way of eminence, the falcon^ is a fpecies found on our head- 
 lands and inacceflible rocks, fuch as the burgh of Birfay, Marvvickhead, 
 the ftupendous rocks of Hoy and Wacs and Copinfay, the Fairifle and 
 Roufav. Never more than one pair of this fpecies inhabit the fame rock ; 
 and as foon as the young have acquired fufficient flrength to procure fub- 
 fiftence, they are driven out by their parents to feek new habitations for 
 themfelves. 
 
 This noble kind of hawk was in fuch refped: in ancient times, when fal- 
 conry was the fafliion of the day, that it was commonly carried from our 
 moft remote rocks to anuife the Kings of Scotland. The following claufe 
 in the aiSt of Parliament for dilToIving and difannexing the earldom of 
 Orkney from the crown, points out the eftimation in which they were held : 
 ' That all hawks be referved to his Majefty, with the falconer's falaries, ac- 
 • cording to ancient cuftom.' To this day a hen from every houfe, or at 
 leafl: a certain number from each parilh, are exatled, and paid annually to 
 the royal falconer ; and thefe are fuld to have been originally intended for 
 food to the hawks of his Majefty. 
 
 The Erne {falco albidlla^ Lin. Syft.) is not only frequently fcen, but 
 builds and rears its young in this country. 
 
 The Sea Eagle {falco ojfefragus^ Lin. Syft.) is often fecn, and fome- 
 times furprifed, on our low Ihores, voracioufly devouring fifti, which it 
 has itfelf caught, or which has been, when half eaten, forfaken by the 
 otter. 
 
 The Ringtail Eagle, { falco fulvus, Lin. Syft.) which, together with 
 the other eagles, is here named the erne, is very frequently feen on the 
 hills, builds on the rocks, is of a large fize, diftinguiflied fi^om the reft by 
 a band of white cncompafling the root of the tail, and the legs being 
 covered with feathers down to the very feet ; and is of fuch prodigious 
 ftrength, that it is faid to have fomctimes carried froni a confiderable diftance 
 to its eyry, not only fowls, but lambs, pigs, and even, in fome inftances, 
 
 young 
 
ttBS 
 
 JCO NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK III. 
 
 voung children, If we truft the authority of a refpadable author*, whofe 
 account is alfo fupported by tradition. 
 
 Such devaflation did this race of birds formerly commit among the 
 poultry, pigs, rabbits, lainbs and fheep of this place, that a law was framed, 
 in which a reward was granted to any perfon that fliould deftroy either 
 one of their nefts, or one of themfelves f . 
 
 Ql'adru- The Shrew Mouse {forex amnms, Lin. Syft.') is found here, though 
 but rarely. It labours under the fame bad charader here, that it does in 
 other places, as it is believed to hurt cattle by its bite or its breath ; but 
 though this allegation may be unfounded, the odour that arifes from its 
 body is fo offenfive, as to make it avoided by almoft every other animal. 
 
 The Mouse (wwj miifculns^ Lin. Syft ) is very common, except in one or 
 two of the iflands, where it is pretended that neither mice, rats, nor even cats 
 will live ; but as this has not as yet been afcertained as a fad, it may perhaps 
 be one of thofe vulgar prejudices which are not unfrequent in e very- 
 country. 
 
 The Short-tailed Field Mouse, {mus agrejiis, Lin. Syft.) which 
 with us has the name of the vole moufe, is very often found in marfliy 
 grounds that are covered with mofs and fliort heath, in which it makes 
 roads or tracks of about three inches in breadth, and fometimes miles in 
 length, much worn by continual treading, and warped into a thouland 
 different dircdions. 
 
 The Field Mouse {musfylvatkus.lAn. Syft.) may be pretty frequently 
 found in our fields, where it burrows, and forms apartments, i-n which it 
 lays up {lores of grain for its winter provifion. Thefe apartments, how- 
 ever, which it provides with fo much care, it is fometimes deprived of, by 
 the field bee. 
 
 The Brown or Norwegian Rat, Qe furmulot de BufFon) a very 
 large and mifchievous fpecies, not originally a native, but introduced into 
 this place by fhipping, fwarms' almoft every whtre, and fufFers none of the 
 
 • Sir Robert Sibbald's Hiftory of Scotland. 
 
 t See the County Afls in the AppencUx, No. IX. * Anent flaying of the Earne.' 
 
 genus 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 321 
 
 genus to remain where it comes. It infefts houfes, barns, fl:ore-lioafes, 
 hen-roofts, rabbit-warrens, and, in fome inftances, even churchyards. 
 Through ahnoft the whole Iflands it has extended itfelf ; and wherever it 
 has fixed its abode, it has almoft extirpated the black kind, and has thus 
 done us more hurt than fervice ; fince it has all the difpofition to be de- 
 ftrudtive which the other has, and, at the fame time, much greater power 
 and capacity. The length, from the tip of the nofe to the point of the 
 tail, is eighteen inches ; the thicknefs of the body is in proportion. The 
 ftrength of the animal is very great ; its legs are firm, and its claws (harp ; 
 and its fore teeth and mufcles can hardly be refilled by the moft folid ma- 
 terials. To its other powers, it adds that of fwimming, which it performs 
 with great eafc and rapidity. It dives readily, and remains a confidcrable 
 time under the water. If it be attacked even by man, it difcovers no great 
 alarm; but, after running a little diftance, it fometimes flops (hort, {lands 
 with an intrepid air, and even threatens refiftance. 
 
 The Common Black Rat {inus rattusy Lin. Syft.) is dill an inhabi- 
 tant of this place, but whether originally a native or a ftranger, is uncertain. 
 The fpecles was formerly numerous, and as deftrudive as the reft of the 
 genus; but it has of late been confined to one or two of the iflands, owing 
 to the former fpecles, which has almoft entirely extirpated them through 
 the reft of this country. In fize and ftrength it is inferior to its adverfary, 
 but not in its difpofition to plunder ; and when once it has eftablllhed it- 
 felf in a place, there are no means known of expelling it. 
 
 The Rabbit {lepus ciiniculus^ Lin. Syft.) is a fpecles of animals that 
 abounds here to fuch a degree, that their flcins make a very confiderable 
 branch of our commerce. They are preyed on by hawks, eagles, dogs, 
 cats, and otters ; and yet they increafe prodlgloufly, in fpite of all this de- 
 predation. They feed on corn and grafs, and even fometimes, when thefe 
 cannot be obtained, and the weather is fevere, on fea-weed and the roots 
 of vegetables ; and their refort is dry links-ground, which, If firm, they 
 dig into without much detriment ; but if of a loofe, fandy texture, they 
 break it lo much by their burrowing, that fand-blov;ing, which in fome 
 places has been fo deftrudive, is often the confequence. The colour of 
 moft of them is brown, with the belly a fliade or two lighter. An en- 
 
 T t tirely 
 
^22 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK Iir. 
 
 tirely white one Is very rare ; and thofe that frequent the hills are hoary 
 In winter. 
 
 As we have rabbits in fuch plenty, it might be expeded that we fhould 
 have hares alfo, efpecially as there is reafon to believe that they exifted in 
 this country formerly, as hare hunting is faid to have been an amufement 
 of the ancient Earls, which it never could have been, unlefs the fpecies had 
 been widely diffufed, and of confequcnce pretty numerous *. Moreover, 
 hares of a white colour f were found in Hoy, and hunted with dogs, about 
 the beginning of the fixteenth century. Soon after the middle of the 
 feventcenth they had difappeared, but were then reported to have been 
 found either black or white, about eighty years before, in the fame ifland, 
 on the two great mountains 1^.. 
 
 The multitude of birds of prey, fuch as hawks and eagles, may have 
 deftroyed both the old and the young ; to which may be added, the great 
 number of dogs accuflomed to be kept about all the houfes, and the want 
 of woods, broom, whins, &c. which are well known to be the haunts of 
 thefe animals at all feafons, but more efpecially in winter. 
 
 That thefe are the caufes which have deftroyed the breed of hares in 
 Orkney will appear the more probable, when it is confidered, that after 
 they had difappeared in the other iflands, they ftill continued for fome 
 time longer in Hoy, which is diftinguiQied among the group for its fe- 
 queftered fituation, its high hills, and deep glens and valleys, interfered 
 by rapid flreams, the banks of which are dry, and covered with flowers 
 and fhrubs. 
 
 The Seal (pboca vituUna^ Lin. Syft.) which is here generally known by 
 the name oi felchy\ is very common on moft of our low fhores, but par- 
 ticularly on thofe of the fmall holms and remote fkerries, where it is fre- 
 quently feen repofmg and bafking in the fun, in fine calm weather, and 
 where it brings forth its young. The fpecies in this place is very numerous ; 
 and fome of them are fo large as to meafure eight or nine feet from the 
 point of the nofe to the claws on the hind legs ; and, at the flioulders, 
 
 • Torfaus, p. 136. f Ben. MSS. See Append!;:, No. VII. 
 
 X Sae M.ickaile, Appendix No. VIII. Monteiih, Wallace. 
 
 they 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 323 
 
 they are nearly as much In circumference. If boats be pafling near their 
 haunts, they feem to difcover fomc curlofity in looking ftedfaftly, and lift- 
 cning to the ftroke of the oars, the converfation of the people, or to any 
 noife that is unufual. 
 
 They are valuable for their flvins, (of which fliocs, flippers, and covers 
 for trunks and faddles are made), and for the oil which they furnifh. In 
 order to obtain thefe very ufeful articles, the animals are knocked down 
 with clubs, caught in nets, and fhot with mufkets, in their ordinary reforts, 
 which are the fkerries of Hoy and Waes, the flccrries of North Ronaldfay, 
 the fkerries of Eday, of Weftray, of Wier, and the Pentland fkerries. In 
 fome few places, the flefh of the young feals is ufed frefh j and, both in 
 that ftate and in that of hams, is faid to be tolerable. 
 
 The Otter (mujlela lutra^ Lin. Syfl.) is very frequently found burrow- 
 ing on the fhores of the fea, and on the banks of frefh-water lochs, where it 
 lives on cod fifh, conger-eels, and all kinds of trout. It is fo nice in its 
 tafle, as only to confume the finer parts, while it leaves the remainder. The 
 fur, which is excellent, is the only thing valuable, and, if the animal be 
 killed in winter, fells for about ten fhillings flerling. 
 
 The Cat {^fdis catus^ Lin. Syfl.) like mofl of our domeftic animals, is 
 rather of a diminutive fize. If the houfes to which they belong be fitu- 
 ated on the borders of links-ground, or in the vicinity of rabbit warrens, 
 cats are apt to become wild, and make dreadful havock among the rabbits. 
 Such of them as become wild, foon acquire an uncommon degree of bulk 
 and fatnefs ; and to thefe qualities they generally add fo much increafed 
 ferocity, as renders them almofl as formidable as any other rapacious 
 animal. 
 
 The Dog {cants familiaris, Lin. Syfl.) here is not remarkable; for the 
 only ones we have, are the greyhound, kept for catching rabbits ; the land 
 and water fpaniel and the pointer, ufed for the purpofe of carrying and 
 fowling ; the mafliff, for guarding fhips, and proteding houfes ; the ter- 
 rier, ufed formerly for fearching out rabbits ; fome varieties of the lapdog ; 
 and the fhepherd's dog, with its mongrels. This faithful animal is the 
 conflant guardian of the corn and the grafs in the fields, as well as of the 
 
 T t 2 pro- 
 
224 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOK HI. 
 
 produdlons of the gardens, agalnft the whole tribe of domeftic granivorous 
 animals. To a little farmer, in a mean condition, his dog is of more value 
 than even a horfe or a cow ; fince it is by his means alone that he can pre- 
 ferve the produce of his pofleffion. 
 
 Neither wolves nor foxes are natives of thefe Iflands, or ever appear to 
 have been fo. 
 
 Several fpecies of animals, it is well known, that formerly frequented the 
 plains both of Europe and America have now entirely difappeared ; and 
 we fliould never have known that they exifted, had not their bones been 
 occafionally dug up. There is unqueftionably one fpecies that has been 
 refident here formerly, which is not found at prefent, viz. the Deer ; the 
 horns of which have been dug up in various places. An entire fkeleton 
 was alfo dug up, fome years ago, in the heart of an old ruin, in the middle 
 of a loch, in a parifh contiguous to one that is faid to have derived its 
 name from its being the abode of thefe animals. The parifh to which we 
 allude is Deernefs, a peninfula on the eaftern extremity of the Mainland, 
 which is believed to have been named the Cape of Deers, becaufe it 
 abounded in thefe quadrupeds, that found fhelter in the foreft with which 
 it was then covered, and which was afterwards deftroyed by a ftorm and 
 inundation. In fome of the ground in that parifh, which is of a marlliy 
 nature, deers' horns have feveral times been found ; as alfo hazel nuts, in 
 confiderable numbers. Thefe had no kernels, but the ihells were entirely 
 preferved. 
 
 The Hog [fin fcrofa, Lin. Syft.) which we have in thefe Iflands, is 
 very different from the ordinary fort, and, both from its nature and the 
 mode in which it is managed, extremely pernicious. The fpecies is fmall ; 
 the colour variable, black, brown, dirty white, and tawny ; the back 
 highly arched, and covered with a great quantity of long, ftifF briflles ; 
 the ears ere<a: and fliarp pointed ; the nofe amazingly ftrong : its awkward 
 fliape and ugly appearance (how it to be different from what are met with 
 in almofl: every other part of the kingdom. They are in general as lean 
 as they are ugly, having only a very poor paflure ; but when put up to be 
 fed, and furniflied with fuitable provender, they in a ftiort time, and at 
 
 little 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 325 
 
 little expence, acquire flcfh, which, for delicacy and flavour, is much 
 efleemed. They are fufFcrcd to roam at large, through the whole winter 
 and ipring, and even fometimes in harvefl: and fummer: and tear up the 
 arable land, in winter, and form in it large holes, in which water ftands, 
 greatly to its detriment. Tliey alfo deftroy the roots of the grafs, and, 
 wherever they come, greatly hurt the growing corn, and almofl. extirpate 
 the fown grafs, turnips, and potatoes. The inhabitants prefer the flefh of 
 the fwine, however lean, to that of almoft any other animal. In the 
 fpring feafon, when other meat is fcarce, pork, frefh or falted, is very 
 much ufed by every clafs of people; and, made into ham, it is in great 
 requcft at all feafons, on account of its truly excellent quality. Even the 
 hair of thefe animals is an article of confiderable value, in as far as it ferves 
 as a fubftitute for hemp in making ropes to anchor fifliing-boats ; for con- 
 fining in the field, horfes and cattle ; and for binding about the middle of 
 the rock-men in order to let them down in fafety to rob the nefts and catch 
 the young of fuch birds as build in the flielves of the rocks. 
 
 The Sheep [ovis aries, Lin. Syft.) here is a peculiar breed, and, from 
 fome features in its character, fcems to have fprung from the fame ftock 
 with thofe of Iceland, the Ferroes, and Shetland *. Though of a tole- 
 rably good kind, and every where very numerous, they are of little benefit 
 to the owners, owing to the abfurd cuftom of fuftering them to run wild 
 on the extenfive commons, expofed to the violence of the fca, the feverity 
 of the weather, the depredation of various diftempers, and to the dogs and 
 eagles. In thefe circumftances, however, which are certainly very un- 
 favourable, they not only continue to exift, but (how more fecundity than 
 in moll other places ; as many of them have two, and fome of them three 
 Iambs at a birth, all of which the mother fometimes nurfes, efpecially if 
 the feafon be mild and the pafture tolerable. They are of a fmall fize, 
 the whole carcafe weighing only about thirty-fix pounds ; moft of them 
 want horns ; their faces are white or grey ; their bodies and legs fhort ; 
 their tails are in length not above three or four inches ; and their fleeces, 
 fome of which are very fine, do not weigh above a pound and a half, or 
 
 • Doiflor Von Troil's Letters oa Iceland. X)ebes on the Ferroe Iflands. 
 
 two 
 
326 NATURAL HISTORY^ BOOK III. 
 
 two pounds each, at an average. Their flefli, in general, is not the mod 
 pleafant ; but this is evidently owing to the want of care in their manage- 
 ment as well as to the nature of their pafture ; fmce, in fome few of the 
 Iflands, where the people have overcome their prejudices fo far as to 
 beftow fome attention on them, both the lamb and the mutton are pre- 
 ferable to what are found in other parts of the country. In fome places, 
 the (heep wander to the fhore at low- water, and make a plentiful meal on 
 the different kinds of fea-weed ; and when they have been accuftomed to 
 live much on that food, their flefti is of a dark colour, dry, and of a coarfc 
 texture ; and, when prepared for the table, has been thought to bear fome 
 refemblance to venifon. 
 
 Had Buffon been acquainted with our breed, he would not have afferted 
 that the fpecies, on account of their natural defeds, cannot fubfift with- 
 out the protedion of man; fmce, here they not only live, but multiply, 
 unproteded, nearly as well as mofi; animals do in a natural ftate. Nei- 
 ther, in that cafe, would he have negleded to mention a fad, that is fuffi- 
 ciently well attefted, and merits fome notice in the natural hiilory of the 
 fpecies. 
 
 In thofe little uninhabited iflands that are called holms, pregnant ewes 
 are frequently put to pafture, in order that they may enjoy the quiet of 
 the place, and bring forth their young in greater fafety. If, about the 
 time of yeaning, a perfon with a dog enters the. place, the ewes, unac- 
 cuftomed to this animal, take the alarm, fuddenly ftart up and run a little, 
 when, in a moment, they drop down dead, probably by the joint influence 
 of furprife, fear, and weaknefs. Such as have died in this manner, and 
 have been opened, have been found to contain two, and fometimes three 
 lambs within them. The fame want of attention to our llieep, that mani- 
 feftly hurts the nature of the carcafe, has, without doubt, foine mfluence 
 on the quality of the wool alfo ; which is notwithftanding very excellent. 
 Inftead of wafliing the animals carefully, as in other places, before they be 
 fhorn, in order to clear the wool of what may be hurtful, it is taken oflf 
 from them in its foul fl;ate ; and, without regard to forting, in general all 
 kinds of it are mixed together, for the purpofe of being manufadured 
 
 into 
 
 I 
 
CHAP. I, NATURAL HISTORY. 327 
 
 into a coarfe cloth and ftocklngs, for the ufe of the Inhabitants, and for 
 exportation. 
 
 Much more attention was paid to the fheep of this place formerly, than 
 is beftowed on them at prefent. This appears evidently from the County 
 A£ls *, In which are many wife regulations with regard to marking them, 
 fo as to afcertaln and fecure the property, the time and circumftances of 
 (hearing, or, as it is here called, roivhig then;, and even the transferring 
 them by fale or barter from one perfon to another. In virtue of thefe laws 
 or regulations, thefe operations were all to be performed, not in private, 
 nor yet at the will of the owners, but in the prefence of the Baillie and the 
 Lawrightmen, who were the public officers of the parifh, in order to give 
 them fuch notriety, as to prevent frauds, in a matter that deeply concerned 
 the community. 
 
 To underfland this, it mufl be obferved, that the fheep of a whole ifland 
 or parifli made only one flock ; to which no perfon, however great his 
 intercft, could have accefs, unlefs in the manner that the law dlreifted, 
 which was by timely notice and proper application. The authority of 
 the Baillle, who was fupreme in thefe matters, was to be recognifed, and 
 his confent obtained, before they could either mark, or buy and fell, or 
 kill or row any of thefe animals. This laft operation, namely rowing, 
 in place of fhearing, was performed about Mldfummer, and previoufly 
 announced by a public officer, that the time might be known to all who 
 had an intereft in the flock. When the day appointed came, fuch men 
 in the parifli as had a right to keep fliecp-dogs f, met, and, travelling 
 through the hills, by means of thefe, colledled the flieep, and drove them 
 into narrow pens, in order to be ftript of their covering. For this pur- 
 pofe, the owners attended, and laid hold of their own fheep, according to 
 their marks, which were all kept in a regiftcr ; and, inftead of cutting, 
 pulled tlie wool forcibly from their bodies. 
 
 The other regulations are moftly difufed ; this laft, in fome meafure, is 
 ftill in force ; and the fame inconvenient, not to fay cruel, mode of ob- 
 taining the wool is pradifed at prefent in Iceland if. 
 
 • For the County Afts. See Appendix, No. VIII. . f Idem. J Dr. Troll. 
 
 From 
 
328 NATURAL HISTORY. BOOk'iII, 
 
 From viewing the face of thefe Iflands, confifting of hills and vales, 
 and furiOunded in many places with bold rocks, and ftupendous precipices, 
 and clothed with plants congenial to fuch fituations, it would naturally have 
 been expecSted that goats, elfewhere common in fuch fituations, would 
 have been among the number of our animals. As feveral other fpecies 
 that formerly inhabited this region have been loft, the fpecies of goats may 
 have {hared the fame fate, though we have no account of their former ex- 
 iftence, nor have ever their horns or their bones been dug up. If they 
 were introduced, however, they could fcarcely fail to thrive on fuch paf- 
 ture as we have in abundance ; and as they are faid to feed on fuch grafs 
 as is pernicious to flieep, they might promote the health of that much ne- 
 glecfted, though very ufeful fpecies, and, in this refpeft, as well as in feveral 
 others, contribute to the advantage of the proprietors and their tenants. 
 
 The Ox {bos taurus, Lin, Syft.) which is common here, is of a fingular 
 breed, altogether diftindl from what is feen in the counties neareft us in 
 the fouth, and probably, like feveral other of cur domeftic animals, came 
 originally from the Scandinavian fhores. But, from whatever country, or 
 whatever ftock they fprung, the cattle of this place, at prefent, are of a 
 very diminutive fize, owing principally to their being reared in too great 
 number, and, of confequence, half ftarved in their youth. 
 
 Their colour is black, brown, white, and, in many inftances, party- 
 coloured, m.ottled, or brindled ; and their {hape inelegant, as their heads 
 are low, their backs high, their buttocks thin, their bones prominent ; 
 and inftead of having large, wide-fpreading horns, they have only fmall 
 ones, that are fliort and contradted, with their tops bending toward the 
 forehead. 
 
 Notwithftanding thefe difadvantages in point of fhape and appearance, 
 the oxen are ftrong, hardy, and make excellent workers, provided they be 
 early well-trained to the yoke, and fo plentifully fed as to enable them to 
 fupport their labour. Even on a very moderate quantity of provender, 
 they vv'ill perform a furprifing quantity of work, in the cart or in the 
 plough; and not for a few feafons only, but for the fpace of no lefs than 
 fix or feven years. To their capacity for work, they add another excel- 
 lence, in not being fubjed to difeafe ; and they are, at the fame time, fuch 
 
 9 rapid 
 
CHAP. I. NATURAL HISTORY. 329 
 
 rapid feeders, that if put up in the ftall, or on good pafture, but for a few 
 months, their beef becomes excellent. 
 
 The cows are alfo fmall and lean, being kept in too great numbers, 
 though they can fupport themfelves pretty well in fields where the grafs 
 Is by no means abundant. A very moderate degree of food alfo foon ren- 
 ders them fat. They produce a calf, for the mod part, annually, and give 
 a quantity of excellent milk ; which, confidering their fize, their habit 
 of body, and their paflurc, is really aftonifhing. An ox of an ordinary 
 bulk, and of the conimon country breed, weighs about fixty pounds the 
 quarter; while a cow of the fame defcription does not exceed forty-five 
 pounds; and both of them have increafed fo much in value of late, as 
 now to coft treble the price for which they would have fold fifteen years 1800. 
 ago. This increafed value has not arifen from any improvement in the 
 breed, in confequence of an intermixture with that of other places; for 
 that has only taken place in a few inftances ; but from a much greater 
 demand for the labour of oxen and the butter of cows, and for the beef 
 of both, to anfwer an augmented confumption here, and to fupply the 
 markets in other counties. As an inftance to what extent tlie demand from 
 thele markets fometimes reaches, no longer ago than lart year, nearly two 
 thoufand live cattle were fold to dealers from the fouth, who carried them 
 acrofs the Pentland Frith, and drove them, for feeding, into the different 
 diftridts of the kingdom. Such a vaft dedudion, in one feafon, from the 
 breed of a fmall difl;ri£t, might be fuppofed to have nearly exhaufted the 
 flock ; but this was by no means the cafe, as there was a fufficient number 
 left for every ufeful purpofe ; and this will excite no furprife, when it is 
 confidered that our ordinary flock of black cattle is calculated to amount to 
 upwards of fifty thoufand. 
 
 The original breed of the Horse here, which, like moft of the other 
 tame animals, came at firft, it is likely, from the northern parts of the 
 Old Continent, was, in point of not only fize and fliape, but other quali- 
 ties, not much diflerent from thofe at prcfent in Shetland. Hence, they 
 have been claffcd together, and the very fame defcription applied to both 
 of them *. 
 
 • Buchan. Hid. Scot. 
 
 U u The 
 
330 NATURAL HISTORY, BOOK III. 
 
 The cafe, however, Is widely difFerent at prefent ; fince our breed of 
 horfes appears to be defccnded from that in the northern counties of Scot- 
 land. This change, which may fee:n a little extraordinary, has been 
 efFeded by an abfurd cufton>, which the people have long had, of pur- 
 chafing horfes of an year old from their neighbours in Sutherland and 
 Caithnefs, and felling them again, when old, at a very reduced price, to 
 the fame people ; and this without the lead {hadow of neceffity ; as the 
 money thus laid out might all have been faved, and equally good, if not 
 better horfes reared in their own country. To fuch a degree, however, did 
 this cuftom prevail, about half a century ago, that nearly two thoufand 
 young horfes were annually purchafed ; whereas, now, the number bought 
 does not exceed as many hundreds, fmce the people have conquered their 
 prejudices, and begun to underftand their own intereft fo far as to breed 
 horfes themfelves. 
 
 But in this very important branch of rural oeconomy, they have, as 
 yet, very much to learn; as they pay little or no regard to the health, 
 ftrength, fpirit, or beauty of the horfes which they keep for breeding. 
 Neither do they fhow greater fkill, or beftovv more care in their manage- 
 ment ; fmce the males are much neglected, and the females treated impro- 
 perly when they are with foal, as the young are when they are brought 
 forth. Even when grown up, and fit for labour, thefe animals are not in 
 a more favourable condition ; as a number of them are then crowded inta 
 a fmall houfe, which is never warm, and feldom dry. No attention what- 
 ever is paid to cleaning them from time to time, fo as to promote their 
 health. Their food is a fcanty portion of dry ftraw : and, while they are 
 kept almoft entirely idle and half-ftarved the one half of the year, they are 
 pretty hard wrought, and but indifferently fed, during the other. In thefe 
 circumftances, it is evident that they muft be fubje£l to many diforders, 
 which frequently occur; and as foon as this happens, they are almoft in- 
 flantly confidered as loll:, and no perfon pays any attention to them. 
 
 But, notwithftanding thefe and other difadvantages under which they 
 labour, our horfes have a pretty good appearance ; they are firm, docile, 
 and, confidering their diminutive fize, difcover an uncommon degree of 
 ftrength ; and, if early trained to the draught or the faddle, they are found 
 
 very 
 
CUAP. II. INHABITANTS. 
 
 33^ 
 
 very ufeful In both thefe refpeds. For any labour tbat this place requires, 
 particularly in its prefent circumftances, they are perhaps as proper as much 
 larger and finer horfes ; and the number kept, which is believed to amount 
 to twenty-five thoufand, is certainly much more than fufficient for every 
 ufeful purpofe. 
 
 \ 
 
 CHAP. ir. 
 
 THE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLANDS. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 THE POPULATION. 
 
 The number of people which this province fupportcd formerly, has fre- 
 quently been ftated to have been far greater than what it at prefent contains. 
 What the extent of the population was at a very early period, we have no 
 documents that can enable us pofitively to determine ; though we may 
 fafely conclude it to have been confiderable, from the earnell manner in 
 which tlie alliance of the ancient Earls was courted, as well as from the 
 decifive fuperiority which they gave to that fide which they undertook to 
 fupport. The reprefentations more recently given of it are extravagant. 
 In a general mufter of the people by order of P. Stewart Earl of Orkney, 
 the number is faid to have been fuch, that ten thoufand men, capable of 
 bearing arms, could have been railed on any emergency, and as many left as 
 were fufficient for the agriculture and filherics ''■. If we fuppofe the pro- 
 
 * Blcau's Atlas. 
 
 U u 2 portion 
 
33^ 
 
 INHABITANTS. BOOK Iir.. 
 
 portion of the former to the latter was as one to ten, which is certainly no 
 unreafonable fuppofition, the inhabitants would be five hundred thoufand. 
 Though this number far exceeds the bounds of probability, it has been 
 ftated, in fupport of it, that ten thoufand effo£tive men from this country- 
 bore arms, at once, in thofe unfortunate civil wars that, in the feventeenlh 
 century, threatened to defolate the kingdom *.. 
 
 1686. Subfequently to that period, the inland excife upon ale and fpirlts in 
 Orkney and Shetland was farmed at two thoufand nine hundred and twen- 
 ty-five pounds Scots ; and, fixty years afterwards, not only the excife upon 
 thefe articles, but upon malt, foap, candle, leather, &c. was let in leafe to- 
 farmers for lefs than half that fum ; and the diaiinifhed duties have been 
 confidered as a proof of diminifhed confumption, as that has been of a de- 
 creafed population. In proof of this decreafe, it has alfo been afTerted, that 
 many fields, which bear evident marks of former induftry, are now,, 
 through negled, returned to the ftate of nature. Houfes have been fuffered 
 to tumble down ; churches in different places are in ruins ; and many 
 caftles, that were the feats of Gothic nobility, with their numerous attend- 
 ants, are deferted, if not levelled with the ground. Still farther to confirm 
 
 1748. this point, it has been obferved, that, about half a century ago, when a lift 
 of the inhabitants was made up, at the requeft of a refpedlable clergyman -j-, 
 the number had fuffered a confiderable diminution. 
 
 1750. Much about the fame time, they were again numbered by an accurate 
 and juicious native if, with a view to afcertaln the population, to be inferted 
 in his nautical furvey ; a work that is equally creditable to himfelf, and ad- 
 vantageous to his country. No fewer than three feveral enumerations 
 
 17S5. have been made of them within thefe feventeen years; the firft of wMch 
 was made on the recommendation of the fynod to its members ; the fecond 
 in order to furnifh materials for drawing up the ftatiftical accounts ; and 
 the third in confequence of the atl of parliament, framed v/ith the defign 
 of afcertaining this point over the whole kingdom. Thefe may be depend- 
 ed on as accurate, as they were made under the eye, and by the diredioa 
 of the clergy, in their refpedive parifhes ; and, moreover, correfpond ex- 
 
 * Guthrie's Hlft. Scot. f Dr. Webfter, Edinburgh. J Mr. Murdoch Mackenzie. 
 
 adly 
 
CHAP. n. INHABITANTS. J33 
 
 a£\ly with one another, as well as with that Immediately preceding ; and 
 the whole concur in making the population not more than twenty-four 
 thoufcMid. 
 
 If, then, the former accounts, In regard to this particular, were juft, as 
 the latter cannot reafonably be doubted, the decreafe would be aftonifliing ; 
 and to have produced fucli an cftoit, extraordinary caufes muft have con- 
 tributed. Neither the incieafe of the weights, nor the failure of the crops 
 in bad leafons, nor the heavy burden of the feu-duties, nor even the illicit 
 trade which in former times was fo extenfively pernicious, nor even all 
 of thefe caufes united, though they have fometimes been affigned, will ao- 
 count for it in a fatisfa<ftory manner. 
 
 From any thing that can now be difcovered, there is no great reafon to 
 conclude, that ever this country was very populous. Even in the earlieft 
 times, the fplendid military exfloits which they performed, were, in all 
 probability, achieved rather by the intrepid fpirit of the people, than by the 
 influence of their numbers. The refult of the general multer, as well as 
 the number reprefented to have ferved at once in the inteitine wars, fcem 
 evidently to have been the mofl extravagant exaggeration. Neither can 
 the high rent given for the excife be juftly confidered as any proof of a 
 more extenfive confumption, arifing from greater numbers of people, as this 
 might have been occafioned, eith.^r from its being let by public auction,, 
 when there were many competitors, or from their being then lefs illicit 
 trade, or more integrity among the dealers. 
 
 Bur, fliould we admit that the numbers were fuch as they have been re- 
 prefented, and that, inftead of twenty-four, there were formerly a hundred 
 thoufand, a queftion would naturally arife, hew did they then employ 
 themfelves ? from what fource did they draw their fubfiftencc ? and where 
 did they find houfes for their accommodation ? The caftles and large houfes 
 that have been deferted, and are in ruins, are only thofe of Noltland, Car- 
 rickand, Newark in the North Ifles, and thofe of Birfay and Kirkwall in 
 the Mainland. For every little private houfe that has been demolithed, 
 there have been feveral ereded in its ftead through the whole iflands ; and 
 while the burgh of Kirkwall has added at leaft one fourth to the number of 
 
 S its 
 
334 IN'HABITANTS^ BOOK III. 
 
 its inhabitants within thefe fifty years, Stromnefs, the other principal town, 
 has, during that period, increafed in nearly a double proportion. 
 
 Froni the churches that are in ruins, no argu'nent can be drawn, as they 
 feem either to have been private chapels, built in the vicinity of j^cutlemen's 
 houfes, or places of worflilp deftlned for the cnnven'ence of old and infirm 
 people ; and, were there number and dimenlions accurately computed, they 
 would, taken together, it is prefumed, be found incapable of containing 
 more people, than the parifh churches do at prefent. 
 
 The means of fiipporting fuch numbers, could not have been derived 
 from fifhing, as ihat never feems to have been a favourite employment with 
 the people ; fince, when formerly it was profecuted, in fome inftances, to a 
 confidcrable extent, ftrangers, more frequently than natives carried it on. 
 Neither could they, at that time, have had recourfe for fubfiftence to agri- 
 culture, which could not be fuppofed to have been in a high ftate of periec- 
 tion here, when it was fo low in other parts of the kingdom, efpecially 
 when Its prefent ftate is confidered ; and, for every acre of land now laid 
 • wafte that was formerly cultivated, there are at leaft three that have been 
 gained from a ftate of nature. 
 
 That country, which has neither fiflieries nor agriculture to fupport its 
 inhablran'is, can have but little commerce ; and all the manufadnres, of 
 which thefe iflands could boaft of in former ages, will nor, if taken rogcther, 
 bear a comparifon with a fingle one of kelp, which employs the people on- 
 ly two months in the fummer annually. 
 
 If thefe, and other confiderations that might be mentioned, are carefully 
 attended to, and impartially weighed, they will at leaft render it probable, 
 that the number of people which occupied this province formerly, did not 
 j6co. much exceed what are in It at the prtfent time. But (uppofing this tohave 
 been the cafe, what reafons can be adduced for its not having increafed in 
 popul.aion, in the fame proportion v.-ith other provinces In the kingdom? 
 The caufes that have been already ftated, as having an influence to diminlOi 
 the numbers, may at leaft have contributed to render them ftationary: and 
 to th.cfe may be added une of great weight, namely, the want of a lulFi- 
 clent -capital, llbeially and judicionfly applied. Had we a capital of this 
 nature, together with a rational and manly fpirit of liberty diftlifed among 
 
 tlie 
 
I 
 
 CHAP. IT. 1KHAB1TAKT5. 335 
 
 the people, no doubt can be entertained, that the population, inftead of 
 being retrograde, or even ftationary, might increafe to forty or fifty thoufand 
 in the courfe of a few generations. To fuch as are inclined to be fceptical 
 on this point, we would hold up the many advantages of our fituation, for 
 embarking in all thofe branches of induftry, in which the profperity of a 
 country confifts. 
 
 For want of thcfe branches of induflry, many of our young people, dif- 
 fatisfied with their fituation, remove into other countries. Befides the fons 
 of gentlemen, who can find no employment here, and who go abroad to 
 engage in manufadures and commerce, to purfue liberal proftffions, and to 
 ferve their country in her fleets and armies, many of our young men of in- 
 ferior ftation betake themfelves to the merchant fcrvice, in the trade to the 
 Baltic, to tlie Eaft or Well Indies, and to America, and particularly to the 
 Greenland, Davis's Straits, and the Iceland fithcries. Some of thefe no 
 doubt remit money home, from which their friends reap benefit ; and 
 fometimes they return themfelves with the fruits of their induftry : but, 
 in general, when once they have been for any length of time abroad, botli 
 their money and their labours are henceforth loll to the place of their 
 nativity. 
 
 Moreover, from the low ftate of agriculture^ the fmallnefs of the farms, 
 and the little relpert in which thofe conneded with the cultivation of the 
 foil are lield, it has become the cuftom for too great a proportion of our 
 young men to enter into the profeffion of tradef r.en. Difgufted with the 
 bufinefs which their fathers purfue, in which they have no profped of ob- 
 taining cither honour or emolument, they become mafons, carpenters, 
 tailors, flioemakers, and weavers ; and, not finding the encouragement 
 which they expeded in their refpedive employments, when their appren- 
 ticcft^ips are over, they very frequently leave this place, in the hopes of 
 better in another country. 
 
 Befidts thefe, many young women very often remove to Leith, Edin- 
 burgh, Newcaftle, or London, where they foon get into good fervice, or are 
 married, and never more return to refide in their own country. 
 
 We cannot calculate thefe diflercnt defcriptions of people, who annually 
 cmjgi'atc, and are either partially or totally loll to this place, below four 
 
 J hundred. 
 
33^ 
 
 INHABITANTS. BOOK III. 
 
 hundred. The whole of thefe, as it may well be fuppofed, are our mofl; 
 vigorous, fpiiited, and induftrious young people, of both fexes ; and this 
 confideration alone is fufficient to ftiow, what an incalculable lofs fuch an 
 yearly emigration mud be to a remote province but thinly inhabited *. 
 
 * That the population now is much inferior to wliat it was in ancient lirnes, appears, to the 
 Editor, deducible from phyfical caufes. Thefe turliulent Earls expended all the produce of the 
 land and fea, on the ipot, in feeding a numerous hod of vaiTals and partizims. They took an aftive 
 iutereil in the cultivation of the land, as its produce was th^ pedellil of their greataefs, by enabling 
 them to fupport a inore numerous band of followers. Btc,z they alfo extortedfood, or what could be 
 exchanged for food, from many potentates, cither by predatory incurfions, or in the fliape of bribes 
 to conciliate their forbearance. Th:re is no doubt but their naval fuperiority gave them an ad> 
 vantage far fuperior to that which could be acquired by their numbers, as it enabled them to choofe 
 their point of attack, where they could acquire much booty, and commit much havoc, Viithout great 
 expenditure of their blood. Their predatory excurfions were generally performed during the in- 
 terval between fowing and reaping : and it is evident that while the chief and his vaffiils laboured 
 to increafe the produce of the lanJ, and extorted plunder, or tribute trom diftant lands, all of 
 ,which was expended in thefe iflands, the population muft have been proportioned to thefe enlarged 
 means of fubfillence. 
 
 In later times thefe circumftances have been reverfed. The rents, and great part of the produce 
 •in the fliape of rents, have been removed to other countries ; while there were neither capitals, nor 
 induftry, at work to reftore an equivalent. H u-d!y any improvements have been made in agricul- 
 ture, or any extenfion of the cultivated furface, beyond v/h.it exifted more than 500 years ago. 
 The patches in cultivation, being perpetually dofed with the fame crops, without eithei fliilful rota- 
 tion, or reft, have become ajiurfery of weeds; and, without cleaning, it is not roffible for putref- 
 cent, or any manures, to reftore them to the prod'.ftivenefs they muft have formerly poflelTed. 
 The conftant and uninterrupted deterioration of the culiivated land, during fo many centuries, 
 .muft therefore be ftated as a prominent caufe of the decreafe of population. 
 
 Our author has (hewn, th.it the wafte, or pafture lands, are not now under fuch good regulations 
 as they were formerly. This muft be ftated as another caufe of decreafing popul.ition, becaule, 
 ..■where animals are fent, not to feed, but to ftarve, and die of want, tlieir owr.ers cannot e>.pe(5l to 
 reap much profit from them ; and their want of profit diminiftes the means of fubfiftence, and o£ 
 population. — £. 
 
 :S£qjl.ON 
 
CHAP. II. INHABITANTS. 337 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 INIANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 
 
 The whole body of the inhabitants may be divided Into three claflcs ; 
 the firft of which is the gentry or proprietors of land, with fuch as have 
 gained a competent fortune by means of induftry ; the fecond is compofcd 
 of thofe who are denominated tradefmen add fhopkeepers ; and the third 
 comprehends all fuch, as are for the moft part employed in the cultivation 
 of the foil, and are either farmers with their fervants, or what are called 
 cottars, or cottagers. 
 
 With regard to ihcjiijl clafs^ as many of them have had a liberal educa- 
 tion, and fome of them been bred to a correfpondent profeffion, and befides 
 have had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the v/orld, their 
 manners cannot be fuppofed to be materially different from thofe of the 
 fame rank in other parts of the kingdom. Some peculiarities, however, 
 there are in thefe Iflands, as in every other place, that have an influence 
 In forming the charader. To fuch as arc acquainted with its fituation and 
 circumftanccs, it will readily occur, that fhipwrecks muft fometimes hap- 
 pen, and that in feafons of fevcrity the crops mufl: fail, and difeafe cut off 
 in numbers the cattle and horfes ; when feu-duties, however mercifully 
 exacted, are felt as a heavy burden, as well as thofe taxes neceflarily im- 
 pofed for the fupport of Government. The loffes fuftained, and the ex- 
 adlions that are made on thefe occafions, have been alleged to have fome 
 cffedl in fouring the temper of the inhabitants, and making them difcon- 
 tcnted with their condition. 
 
 Though attentive to their own interefl, the proprietors are not fo anxious 
 as they ought to be, to excite or cherifli a Ipirlt of induftry in their de- 
 
 X X pendants, 
 
^-.g INHABITANTS. BOOK I If. 
 
 pendants, nor do they always (how a laudable zeal in fetttng them an ex- 
 ample of what might ultimately redound to their own emolument. The 
 illicit trade, that prevailed much till of late, has been thought to ftamp a 
 ferioufnefs on the afpedt of thofe even that had no immediate connexion 
 with that pernicious bufinefs, to a degree that had too much the femblance 
 of either diflidence, or fufpicion and jealoufy. To ftrangers, however, who 
 occafionally vifit them, and mean only to remain a fhort time, they appear 
 open, affable, and cheerful ; and, while they are polite without ceremony, 
 they are extremely hofpitable, and only ftiow a little more referve, and 
 more jealoufy of ftrangers that fettle among them on account of bufinefs, 
 than they difcover of one another. 
 
 Perfonal and family differences muft fometimes take place, wherever 
 paffions and interefts interfere ; and when thofe happen here (wliich they 
 but too often do, they are rather augmented than dimini(hed by time ;. 
 and, as they cannot be extinguifhed by a free intercourfe with mankind, 
 they often prevent their cordially uniting together in fupport of any mea- 
 fure, however well calculated it may be, to promote the benefit of their 
 
 country. 
 
 If at any time they engage in trade, and form connexions with other 
 places, the fuccefs which many of them have had, fliows plainly that they 
 underftood the method of tranfa£ting bufinefs ; and with the perfons, to 
 whom they have aded as partners or agents, they have feldom or never 
 failed to fupport the character of men of integrity. 
 
 But. though they are faithful and affedionate in domeftic life, honeft in 
 their public tranfadions, hofpitable to ftrangers, charitable to the needy, and 
 not only juft but humane to their tenants and dependants, there appears, in 
 the character of fomc of them, a deep and fignal blemilh j and that is, a 
 fupine indifference about religion. This is the more furprifing, as they are 
 diftingulflied for their good fenfe and literature, no lefs than for their de^ 
 cency and regularity of manners. 
 
 To fay nothing of thofe that are ftill alive, any more than of thofe who 
 have recently departed this life, we (hall only name two natives. Sir Robert 
 Strange and Mr. Mackenzie, whofe works prove, that tafte and genius may 
 
 fpring 
 
CHAP. II. INHABITANTS. 
 
 J39 
 
 fprlng up in the nortli, and contribute to the amufement, the fafety, and 
 the advantage of mankind *. 
 
 But whatever may be thought of the charafters of the men of the firft 
 clafs, there is one refpeft in which they are peculiarly fortunate ; and that 
 is, in the excellence of their female companions. While women of that 
 rank in fome places fpend their time in attending to their drefs, reading 
 plays and novels, playing at cards and dice, and frequenting public places 
 in parties of pleafure, ours reckon it their glory and happinefs to devote 
 their days to the faithful difcharge of the relative and domeftic duties. 
 While they are young, they look up to the condufl of their mothers, 
 which, in moft inftances, is a model of innocence, induftry, and economy; 
 and when they arrive at a more mature age, and have been educated, as they 
 generally are, in thofe branches that become their ftation, they are proud 
 to follow pundlually the example that has been fet them. They are on all 
 occafions refpedful and obedient to their parents, cheerful in their temper, 
 and contented with their condition ; and they are in every refpe(£t as affa- 
 ble, as they are innocent and modefl: in their manners. And when mar- 
 riage connedls them with another family, which, on account of the final! 
 number of men, but too feldom happens, they are no lefs diftinguiOied 
 for their attachment to their hufbands, than they are for the prudent 
 management of their houfe, and motherly affedlion for their children. 
 Though their education, as in other places, is inferior to that of the men, 
 their undcrftandings are in general fuperior. They are alive to all the 
 tender fenfibilities, that mark and adorn their fex ; and while the other fex, 
 at leaft fome of them, difcover a culpable indifference, they fhow by their 
 conduft, that they feel, in all their vigour, the warm, though rational 
 fentiments of devotion. 
 
 Such are the manners of thofe that are of the firfl confideration of both 
 faxes, taken in a general point of view, without entering into thofe little 
 peculiarities, thofe nice and almofl imperceptible fhades which diflinguifli 
 or mark the charader of individuals. 
 
 • Sir Robert Strange, the engraver ; and Mr. Murdoch Mackenzie, author of the Nautical Sur- 
 veys, fo well known, and fo much approved by mariners. 
 
 X X 2 The 
 
340 INHABITANTS. BOOK Ilf. 
 
 The /econd c/i//s conCids o[ xhoCe that are denominated tradefmen and 
 fliopkeepers, who are here pretty numerous. If we examine this clafs 
 with attention, and compare it with the preceding, the obfervation that 
 has been fometimes made will be confirmed, that there is more virtue to 
 be found among the middle rank of gentry, than in any other clafs in 
 fociety. 
 
 Such as are engaged in traffic, or follow mechanical employments, re- 
 fide, for the mofl part, in the two principal towns, only a few of them 
 being fcattered through the Iflands. The traders, that live in the country, 
 are decent, peaceable, indurtrious, honeft people, who commonly unite 
 the bufinefs of the farmer with that of the trader, and are of confiderable 
 benefit to their neighbours. The fhopkeepers in Stromnefs, who have 
 fcarcely any opportunity of farming, are people of nearly the fame defcrip- 
 tion. Some, that carry on the retail trade in Kirkwall, are defcended 
 from refpedable families, and are, befides, men of fenfe and education : 
 they know how to purchafe goods of the beft quality, and at the beft mar- 
 ket ; they have wifdom to preferve their credit, and integrity to induce them 
 faithfully to ferve their cuftomers. Many, indeed, of late have commenced 
 that bufinefs, who are as mean in point of birth as they are deficient in 
 principle and education : their ftock is fmall ; their credit ill fupported ; 
 their expences exceed their profit ; their bufinefs is negleded ; and, in this 
 ftate of things, as it is eafy to forefee, bankruptcy has frequently been 
 the confequence. 
 
 The whole of the {hopkeepers, almoft without exception, are accufed of 
 taking exorbitant profits on all the articles in which they deal ; and it muft 
 be confeffed, that grocery goods of all forts, calicoes, hardware, and, in 
 fhort, whatever is difpofed of in fhops, is fold at a much higher price 
 here than in moft other places. But when it is confidered that they muft 
 purchafe all their commodities at a very diftant market, and pay high 
 freight, infurance, and other charges for their importation ; and that, in 
 order to anfwer the demand of a multitude of people, they are under the 
 neceflity of laying in a large ftock at once, confifting of a variety of articles, 
 which are often fo long on hand as to be damaged or almoft loft altogether, 
 
 the 
 
CHAP. II. INHABITANTS. J4I 
 
 the charge will appear In a great meafure unfounded, and their profits bv 
 no means fo exoibitant and unreafonable. 
 
 The tradefmen that live in the country, as well as the little traders, 
 have generally little farms, which are nearly an equal detriment to them 
 and their employers, in fo far as their attention is divided to fuch a degree 
 between the two fpecies of employment, that both are managed with little 
 fkill, and even frequently negleded. Altliough the mechanics in the burgh, 
 whofe attention is reRrided to one line of bufmefs, have more dexterity ia 
 their refpedlive profeflions, yet ihofe in the country are often employed in 
 preference, becaufe they are more induftrioiis and attentive. 
 
 The inhabitants of towns, but more efpecially tliofe of r.oyal bur"-h$, 
 from the many opportunities they have of alTembling together, are in the 
 moft imminent danger of corrupting one another ; and when this happens, 
 the vices that are prevalent among them are idlenefs, gaming, drunkennefs, 
 combined fometimes, of late, with fuch a contempt of authority, as borders 
 on fedition. From thefe vices, the incorporated trades here cannot be fup- 
 pofed to be altogether exempted ; efpecially as they were, fome years a"-o, 
 accidentally brought into very peculiar circumftances. Three fcveral times 
 during one parliament, Kirkwall happened to be not only the returnin"- 
 but the deciding burgh, and the election in a great meafure depended on 
 the fuffrages of the deacons ; and as there were feveral rich and ambitious 
 candidates, the confequcnces may eafily be conjedured. The incorporated 
 trades, vain with the attention and flattery which they had met with and 
 affuming confequence on account of the money they had lately received, 
 began to form fchemes, and adopt meafures, which materially injured the 
 poor's funds, and which, if allowed, might have ruined them. 
 
 The kirk-fefhon, who are well known to be the legal adminiftrators of 
 thefe funds, alarmed at this, warmly remonftrated, as they were bound in 
 duty, and made many fair offers of accommodation, for the fake of peace, 
 though without effeiX; and, every attempt to fettle matters amicably prov- 
 ing unfuccefsful, through their obRinacy, an appeal was made to the law, 
 as the laft rcfource. The Supreme Court, after a very full difcuflion of the 
 points in queftion, found the incorporation liable in the whole expences 
 incurred, and ordained them to give up the fubjed in difpute, as detri- 
 
 ^ mental 
 
342 INHABITANTS. BOOK III. 
 
 niental to the poor of the place. Enraged at the kirk-fenion for entering 
 into this proccrs, to wliich the Infolence of the incorporations, as well as 
 their own duty, compelled them, they ahandoncd the eftabliflied church, oa 
 pretence of not finding feats to their mind, and formed themfclves into a 
 feparate religious fociety, — a new phenomenon in this country. 
 
 Before this event took place, they had been fometimes accafed of want 
 of {kill in their refpe£tive trades ; they had been reprefented as inattentive 
 to their words and their engagements, and very exti-avagant in their de- 
 mands of wages ; but though thefe charges fhould be admitted to have 
 fome foundation, they are counterbalanced by feveral valuable qualities. 
 Formerly, at leaft, they were fecial among themfelves, cheerful in their 
 tempers, obliging, and moderately induftrious. No people of their rank 
 could excel them in the decency of their appearance and drefs, (how more 
 refpeft to their fuperiors, or contentment with their condition. Their coun- 
 try, both in its civil and religious inflitutions, had a large fhare of their 
 regard ; and they were never wanting in a becoming attention to the public 
 duties of religion. 
 
 The third clafs of inhabitants contains all thofe that are in any refpecft 
 conne(3:ed with the cultivation of the land, fuch as farmers, with their fer- 
 vants and cottagers ; and all thefe taken together, may be confidered as 
 making about eight-tenths of the whole population. From this number 
 muft be dedu(Sed fuch gentlemen as farm a confiderable part of their own 
 eftates, as well as thofe farmers that occupy a large proportion of the lands 
 of others. The remainder, comprehending the great body of that order, 
 confifts of men who are in general poor, having very little ftock, and de- 
 pending for the moft part on Jieelbow^ which is a certain number of 
 horfes and cattle, with a quantity of corn and provender, which the tenant 
 receives on his entry to the farm, and delivers at his removal, and which 
 belongs to the proprietor. Their farms are fmall in comparilbn of thofe 
 in Scotland, as they feldom exceed forty acres of arable land, with a fuit- 
 able proportion of wafte ground for pafture ; and, at an average, they 
 are not above twenty acres, with a fimilar appendage. The rents are 
 almoft always paid in kind ; and, what is ftill worfe, arbitrary fervices are 
 Aili exadted in feveral inftances. Few of them, comparatively fpeaking, 
 
 - have 
 
CHAP. II. INHABITANTS. 
 
 343 
 
 have leafes, and the few leafes are only of very (hort duration, fo that 
 they can attempt no fort of improvement ; but although moft of them 
 are tenants at will, they are not in a worfe condition than others, as they 
 are very feldom removed from their little pofiefTions. So much, indeed, 
 is this the cafe, that there are many, who at this moment occupy the very 
 fame farms that were held by their fathers, grandfathers, and great-grand- 
 fathers. 
 
 Mean as this condition of farmers may appear in the eyes of thofe that 
 have been accuftomcd to behold a fubftantial and independent tenantrv 
 that clafs of people denominated cottars are in a ftill much worfe condition. 
 To underftand this it muft be obferved, that, connected with almoft every 
 large farm, there are fome cottage*, to every one of which a garden is an- 
 nexed, with as much };rai's and corn land as will pafture a cow or two in 
 fummer, and furnilh for them provender in winter. Poor families refide 
 in thcfe cottages, who are undeiftood to hold them of the perfon who oc- 
 cupies the principal farm, to whom they are entirely fubjeded. He may 
 remove them at pleafure ; and, as a rent for their little farm, may call therti 
 to labour for him at any time of the year, and at any fort of employment. 
 Moreover, their children, as foon as they become fit for labour, muft work 
 for him in the capacity of fervants, for what he reckons reafonable wages ; 
 and if at any time they refufe, the parents, at the next term, may be ex- 
 pelled from their habitations. 
 
 This, though an unfavourable, is a juft view of the condition of that 
 clafs of people ; and, in the contemplation of it, we cannot help wifhing 
 that their fituation might be rendered lefs dependent. But while we lament 
 the unhappy circumllances in which a large portion of our fellow-creatures 
 is ftill fituated, it is proper to obferve that their condition is no worfe than 
 that of many poor cottagers about thirty or forty years ago, through various 
 parts of Scotland. 
 
 The circumftances of both farmers and cottars will c'early point out 
 their refpedive leading and general charader. They are in a high degree 
 indolent; wedded to old cuftoms ; averfe to every improvement •, dmk, 
 artful, interefted ; refpedful to their fuperiors, as much from fear as from 
 love and fufpicion j fometimes endeavouring to undermine and flaudcr one 
 
 another. 
 
344 INHABITANTS. BOOK III. 
 
 another. Thefe foibles, clcfe£ls, and vices, are blended, however, -ivith 
 fome good qualities and amiable virtues. In point of fagacity and un- 
 derftanding they are equal to thofe of the fame ftation in ahiioft any other 
 place. They arc faitliful in the obfervance of the marriage vow, and 
 kind to their children ; honefl: in their tranfadions with one another, 
 though negligent in the payment of their rents. Their tempers are mild 
 and peaceable ; and though, in profperity, their hearts are not apt to over- 
 flow with gratitude, in trouble they fuffer with patience, and devout re- 
 fignation to the will of Heaven. Their religion is taught them in the 
 utmoft purity and fimplicity ; and though it leans a little to the fide of 
 fuperftition, yet it reftrains them from criminal indulgence, and iafpircs 
 them with the love of virtue. 
 
 Notwithftanding the many hardfhips to which they are fubject, the 
 farmers are far from being fo unhappy as might be imagined, for they in 
 "•eneral receive much kind treatment from their landlords. Inftead of beine 
 turned out from caprice or refentment, as fometimes happens elfewhere, 
 fo long as they incline to continue, they are feldom removed. Their rents 
 have not be^^n raifed for thefe hundred years ; and when they fink Into 
 poverty from want of health, the death of horfes or cattle, or the failure 
 of crops, the proprietors of their farms humanely furnifli them with the 
 neceffary articles, till the return of more profperous days. 
 
 Their fervants, however, are, in almoft every refped, in a more eligible 
 condition. A remarkable change has taken place in their fituation, in the 
 courfe of a few years. Formerly, their food was coarfe and fcanty, and 
 their wages fo fmall, that only a very little could be afforded for purchafing 
 clothing ; and, if they had families very little for their fupport, and no- 
 thing for their education. They have now plenty of fubftantial and whole- 
 fome food ; and as their wages have at the fame time increafed upwards of 
 fourfold, both they and their families are not only better fed, but better 
 lodged, and better clothed. And as their induftry has not increafed in pro- 
 portion, the price of labour, though nominally low, is believed to be now 
 nearly as high in this place, as in moft others through the kingdom. To 
 this melioration of their ftate, various caufes have contributed, of which the 
 ,(Jemand for men to ferve in the fleets and armies during the late wars, and 
 
 the 
 
<:ii--\r. n. inhabitants. ^^i; 
 
 the great encouragement given for engaging in tlie fiflierles and the mer- 
 chant fervice, may be ftated as the principal. 
 
 This happy change in the lot of fuch a large portion of our fpecles, would 
 give pleafure to every benevolent heart, did they themfclves feem fenhblc 
 of the benefit, and, under its influence, condu£l themfclves with any degree 
 of gratitude and moderation. So far, however, is this from being the cale, 
 that it is generally agreed that they fhovv, in almoll every inftance, lefs 
 regard to the intereft of their mafters, and the performance of their duty; 
 are more idle, more diffipated, and neither fo fubmifnve nor refpedful in. 
 their behaviour. 
 
 Like the reft of the lower clafs, they are awkward in mod of their ope- 
 rations, and fo fettered by old cufloms, that they fliow the moft marked 
 averfion to every fort of improvement ; and as they are feldom or never 
 required, on entering into new fervice, to produce certificates of their fide- 
 lity to their lafl: mafters, they are by no means fo anxious as they ought 
 to be, to preferve a fair and induftrious charader. 
 
 In fliort, the fervants, male as well as female, are fomewhat ignorant and 
 carelefs, giddy, felf-conceited, and even petulant, fo long as they remain at 
 home ; but as foon as they remove into another country, and mingle with 
 thofe of their own rank, and are under proper regulations, they often 
 diftinguifli themfclves as faithful, adive, and fkilful in their refpedlive em- 
 ployments. 
 
 If fuitable regulations with regard to fervants were framed, and the gen- 
 tlemen united to enforce them, they would foon be much better ferved. 
 Their tenants would find far lefs difficulty in cultivating the ground ; and 
 even the fervants themfelves would foon improve (o much, in many re- 
 fpeds, under their influence, as to be far more happy in their condition. 
 
 The charader drawn of the whole inhabitants at an early period, is ftill 
 in fome meafure applicable. They are tall, robuft, and well proportioned 
 in their perfons ; their countenances fair and florid ; and, from the fimpli- 
 city of their food and of their manners, they commonly live to a great age, 
 little impaired either ia their minds or bodies *. In one refped, they differ 
 
 * Polyd. VirgU. HeA. Boeth. ' 
 
 y y from 
 
346 INHABITANTS, BOOK III. 
 
 from what they were formerly, fince fobriety now ftands ahnofl: firft in the 
 lift of their virtues *. About half a century ago, an intelligent native thus 
 juftly drew their charader. 
 
 ' Moft of the gentry, or better fort, finifliing their education at Edin- 
 burgh, affe£t the manners and cuftoms of that place. A charader given 
 of them by hiftorians many years ago, that they were great drinkers, 
 but not drunkards, is in fome meafure true ftill, though the pradice of 
 exceffive drinking has been much laid afide within thefe few years. 
 They are generally kind without carefling, civil without ceremony, and 
 refpedful without compliment ; their refentments of obligations and in- 
 juries are more quick than perceptible ; they are obliging and hofpitable 
 to ftrangers, and, where no party differences intervene, focial and friendly 
 among themfelves. But artful endeavours to undermine the meafures 
 and interefts of each other, from flight caufes, have, for feveral years 
 bygone, deftroyed the harmony and mutual intercourfe of beneficence, 
 which would have otherwife taken place ; diverted their attention from, 
 improving the ground by better methods of hufbandry, and obftruded 
 the introdudion of fome ufeful arts and branches of commerce, which 
 might be advantageoufly carried on from thence. It is remarkable, how- 
 ever, that their animofities feldom or never break out into perfonal infults 
 or abufive language, either openly or in private. On public occafions, or 
 when bufinefs requires it, they meet together freely, join in converfation^ 
 and always behave civilly to each other. 
 
 ' The commonalty are healthy, hardy, well-fhaped, fubjed to few 
 difeafes, and capable of an abftemious and laborious life at the fame 
 time ; but, for want of profitable employment, flow at work, and many 
 of them inclined to idlenefs. In fagacity and natural underftanding, 
 they are inferior to few of the commons in Britain : fparing of their 
 words, referved in their fentiments, efpecially of what feems to have a 
 connexion with their intereft ; apt to magnify or aggravate their loflTes,, 
 and ftudious to conceal or diminifh their gains : tenacious of old cuftoms, 
 though never fo inconvenient ; averfe to new, till recommended by iome 
 
 * Buchanan, Hiftt Scot. 
 
 * fuccefsful 
 
CHAP. II. 
 
 INHABITANTS. 
 
 34; 
 
 I 
 
 * fuccefsfiil examples, among their own rank and acquaintance, and then 
 
 * univerfally keen to imitate : honefl: in their dealings with one another, 
 
 * bnt not fo fcrupulous with refpedt to the mafter of the ground, often 
 
 * running deeply in arrears to him, while they punctually clear credit with 
 ' every one elfe. Thefe, and fome other fingularltles, may be afcribed to 
 
 * the abfurd and impolitic cuflom of Ihort leafes, racked-rents, and high 
 
 * entries, which prevail in other parts as well as here. Theft and other 
 
 * crimes are concealed, even by thofe who have fuftalned the injury, from 
 
 * an opinion, that it is a degree of guilt in a private perfcwi to become the 
 
 * voluntary inftrument of another's fufferings ; and that the imprecations 
 ' of the afflidled, though fuffering by the hand of juftice, are followed 
 
 * with vifible judgments. They are dexterous at the oar and manage- 
 
 * ment of boats ; and when they betake themfelves to the fea, make fober, 
 
 * honeft, and expert failors. Though in the neighbourhood of the High- 
 
 * lands of Scotland, yet they have none of thofe manners and cuftoms 
 ' for which the Highlanders are remarkable ; but fuch as refemble thofe 
 
 * of the fouthern, rather than of the northern part of the kingdom. 
 
 * Their religion is Prelbyterian, without bigotry, enthufiafm, or zeal ; and 
 
 * without diffenters, excepting a very few of the eplfcopal perfuafion. The 
 
 * mirth, diverfions, and mutual entertainments of the Chrlftmas and 
 
 * other holidays are ftill continued, though the devotion of them be quite 
 
 * forgot.' 
 
 Many of the cuftoms of this place have been already mentioned, and 
 others will naturally fall under our confideratlon in a fubfequent part of this 
 work. The few, therefore, that fhall be mentioned at prefent, are fuch 
 only as appear to be illuftrative of charader and manners. 
 
 From the long refidence of the bifliops among them, both before and 
 fmce the Reformation, no lefs than from the fplendid external fliow in 
 the Eplfcopal worflilp, fuch a deep impreffion has been made by Epifco- 
 pacy on the minds of the people, that more than a century has not been 
 able to efface it. To many of the old places of worfhip, therefore, efpe- 
 cially fuch as have been dedicated to particular favourite faints, they ftill 
 pay much veneration, vlfiting them frequently, when they are feriou's, 
 
 Y y 2 melancholy, 
 
24? INHABITANTS. BOOK III* 
 
 melancholy, or in a devout mood, repeating within their ruinous walls, 
 prayers, paternofters, and forms of words, of which they have little know- 
 ledge. When they confider themfelves in any imminent danger, they 
 invoke the aid of thefe faints, and vow to perform fervices, or prcfenl ob- 
 lations to them, on condition that they interpofe fuccefsfully in their be- 
 half; and they are generally very pundtual in performing thefe vows. 
 
 Some days of the week are fortunate to begin any bulmefs oF import- 
 ance ; others would fpoil it completely ; and, in this refped, even fome 
 months are much preferable to others Thurfdays and Fridays are the 
 days in which they incline to marry ; and they anxioufly and fcrupuloufly 
 avoid doing it at any other time than when the moon is waxing. If they 
 kill cattle, they muft alio do it during the growing of that luminary ; from 
 an idea, that if delayed till the waning, the meat will be of an inferior 
 quality. In preparing for a voyage, when leaving the fhore, they always 
 turn their boats in the diredion of the fun's motion j and in fome places 
 they never fail to utter a fhort prayer on fuch occafions. 
 
 The feftivals in the Romifh kalendar are obierved with the mod ftudious 
 care, not indeed as times of religious worfhip, but as days exempted from 
 labour, and devoted to feafting and conviviality. On fome of thefe days 
 they njuft be allowed to be entirely idle ; on others they will engage a. 
 little in fome kinds of work. One while they muft go a-fi!i.ing, another 
 they carefully abftain from that fort of employment : now they muft eat 
 fifh, now flefh ; now eggs, milk, and lo on, as the particular day or fea- 
 fon dire£ts them. 
 
 Like the common people in moft other places, they are extremely cre- 
 dulous, and put entire confidence in men of high pretenfions, which leads 
 them, as often as they have occafion to take advice with refpedt to the ftate 
 of their mind, their body, or their affairs, to truft quacks in every line, 
 rather than n en that have been regularly bred, and are diftinguifhed for 
 their good fenfe and education. The fame credulous fpirit leads them to 
 put faith in all the abfurd and ridiculous tales, which are fo often circulated, 
 concerning witches, fairies, &c. ; and confequently fubjedls them to be im- 
 pofed upon by all fuch as pretend to deal with tamiliar fpirits. 
 
 Hence, 
 
eilAP. III. INDUSTRr. 
 
 349 
 
 Hence, the multitude of charms that are ftill In pradllce, for killing 
 fparrovvs that deftroy the early corn ; expelling mice and rats that infeft 
 houfes ; for fecuring the fuccefsful brewing of ale, and churning of milk ; 
 as well as thofe that refpe£t women in labour and marriage ; and thofe that 
 are made ufe of for procuring good luck, curing the difeafes of fheep, 
 horfes, and black-cattle, and driving away toothach, hcemorrhagy, coia»- 
 fumption, and other diftempers. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 INDUSTRY. 
 
 It is matter of much regret, that the inhabitants of this country arr 
 very deficient in induftry, not fo much from any want of capacity, advan- 
 tages of fituation, or of materials, as from the want of capital, employed 
 in fuch a manner, as would excite that fpirit of enterprife, which alone can 
 give induftry birth. 
 
 The rents of the largeft eftates are drawn by men who do not refide in 
 the Iflands, and are in a great meafure fpent in another country, to the no 
 fmall detriment of that in which they are produced ; or, if they are not 
 carried out of the iflands, they have hitherto been fpent in luxury, or 
 diverted to fuch purpofes, as have produced no beneficial effedl to the com- 
 munity. In like manner, the money that has been gained by commerce 
 has either lain dormant, or taken a wrong diredion : and the fame may 
 with juftice he laid of what has arifen from manufadures, of which at 
 leaft one branch has been produdive far beyond the moft fanguine ex- 
 pedation. The fmall proprietors, however much difpofed, can contribute 
 nothing to promote this defirable objed, on account of the expenfive 
 mode of living which has of late been introduced, as well as of the heavy 
 burthen of feu-duties, under which they have from time immemorial 
 groaued. 
 
 4- Hence, 
 
350 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 Hence, though other provinces in our extenfive empire are advancing 
 rapidly in different branches of induftry, we are, notwithftanding the 
 advantages of our fituation, more than a century behind many around us, 
 in whatever can advance our profperity. This will appear but too evident, 
 if we confider our total want of fifheries, though our coafts abound with 
 fifh in vaft numbers, and of the beft quality ; if we take a view of the 
 fcanty portion of commerce that has yet been carried on, of the mean con- 
 dition of our raanufadures, one only excepted, and particularly of the low 
 ftate of agriculture in comparifon of what it is in moft other parts. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 AGRICULTURE. 
 
 Notwithstanding the excellence of agriculture Is very generally 
 admitted, it has in many countries rather followed as theeffedl, than pre- 
 ceded as the caufe of other branches of induftry, the reafons of which have 
 been fatisfadtorily explained by Smith, in his Wealth of Nations. Befides 
 thofc which are common to this with other provinces, there are others of a 
 peculiar nature, that have had influence in obftruding the progrefs of this 
 ufeful art ; and thefe have operated either in ancient times, or more re- 
 cently, according as circumftances have occurred. 
 
 While this country was fubje£t to the Crown of Norway, and the con- 
 tefts that fo often arofe among the different candidates for the earldom 
 remained, landed property could not be fecure or fixed, and its fludluat- 
 ing ftate at that period muft have had an effeO. in preventing the cultiva- 
 tion of the ground. Neither does property feem to have been more per- 
 manent, for fome time at leaft, after it came under the Scotilh monarchs : 
 and though, by this change, it acquired more ftability, aj^riculture would 
 reap little advantage, as the farmers, ftewards, and chamberlains, who 
 reprefented or ferved his Majefty, would naturally be looked up to as 
 
 patterns ; 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 351 
 
 patterns ; and they had no fuch interefl: in the land, as to induce them to 
 engage in its improvement. 
 
 The Earls of Morton, availing themfelves of the influence which they 
 had with their refpedive Sovereigns, obtained a grant of it for the fup- 
 port of their families ; and fecm, whatever might have been their preten- 
 fions, to have had no other views, than to collefl the rents as ufual ia . 
 kind, and apply them in the beft manner that they could to their own ufe. 
 Involved in contefts of a troublefome and vexatious nature with the inha- 
 bitants, which an eftate, confifting of feu-duties, feldom fails to produce, 
 they difpofed of their irredeemable right to a refpedable commoner, who 
 made the purchafe, unqueftionably not fo much with the defign of pro- 
 moting agriculture, as to aggrandize his family, by increafing his political 
 influence in the ftate. 
 
 Befides (what has perhaps had more influence than all the other caufes 
 united, in retarding this fpecies of induftry) any little flock or capital' 
 which had been the fruit of labour, or the favings of care, was generally 
 applied to that deftrudive illicit trade which has never failed to prove the 
 ruin of every country where It has been extenfively followed. Inftead of 
 laying out any little money that could have been fpared, in improving the 
 foil, the people, in the profped of more immediate, as well as of greater 
 gain, with little or no labour, fent it to foreign markets, to purchafe wine, 
 brandy, gin, &c. ; which were imported fometimes in foreign bottoms, 
 and fometimes in veflels of their own ; and retailed at fuch a low price, 
 and in fuch quantities, as was equally fubverfive of induftry and of morals. 
 This was the more remarkable, as it was carried on to the greateft extent, 
 at the very time when the cultivation of the land became an objed of 
 attention to all ranks in Scotland, who united their endeavours, cordially 
 and vigoroufly, in the profecution of an improvement that was juftly con-- 
 fidered as equally conducive to the intereft of individuals and to the bene- 
 fit of the State. 
 
 From the earlieft ages, the people have been In the cuftom of ufing turf 
 or peat for hring; which, as the peat mofles, in many places, are almoft 
 exhaufted, is every year becoming more difficult to be procured. Several 
 of the iflands, too, are entirely deftitute of peat mofles, to furnifl\ the 
 
 neceflary 
 
.ss^ 
 
 INDUSTRY. COOK IIT. 
 
 necefTary fuel ; which maft, in that cafe, be procured from thofe around 
 them ; and, as the friths are in feme places broad, and the tides rapid, this 
 is done at great trouble and expence. Tbe time fpent in procuring peat, 
 if coal were ufed as a fabftitute, (as it might be perhaps at lefo expence), 
 could be employed in preparing manure, cleaning the ground by a fallow, 
 or in railing green crops ; and this way of fpendiiig tlie latter part of 
 fummer would be more advantageous than that in which it has hitherto 
 been employed. 
 
 The other part of the fummer has, for thefe eighty years paft, been, for 
 the moll part, employed in a manufadure of kelp, highly advantageous 
 indeed, not only to the proprietors, but to their tenants, and even, in fome 
 meafure, to the people at large ; but as it occupies, for the fpace of more 
 than two months, thofe hands which the ground ftands fo much in need of, 
 and might have otherwife occupied, it may be confidered as among the 
 caufes that have retarded this mofl: excellent and ufeful art. 
 
 But, whatever may have been the caufes that diverted the attention of 
 the people to other objeds, the effedts on the agriculture are but too cer- 
 tainly bad, as will appear from a view of its prefent ftate. 
 
 In counties that are regular in their boundaries, it is ealy to afcertain the 
 extent of their furface, in miles, acres, or any other determinate meafure; 
 but here that is not the cafe, for the limits are extremely irregular ; and, 
 befides, an exadt furvey of the whole Iflands has never yet been made. A 
 conjedure, however, not perhaps very wide of the truth, has been'formed, 
 that they contain a hundred and fifty thoufand acres, which may be divided 
 in the following proportions. 
 
 Between the hill-dikes, which are a fort of very imperfeft turf fences, 
 ereded for the purpofe of keeping cattle, is a quantity of heathy, marftiy, 
 or green ground, poffefled as a common, amounting to about - 90,000 
 In field pafture and meadow _-_--- 30,000 
 Land in tillage ___----- 24,000 
 
 Occupied by houfes and gardens ----- 2,000 
 
 Frefh water --------- 4,000 
 
 150,000 
 Through 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 3^3 
 
 Through thai extent, almofl: every variety of foils occurs ; and the foils 
 are frequently fo hitermlxed, that feveral of them may be met with at no 
 great diftance from one another. The moft common are fand, brick clay, 
 loam, and a mixture of peat-mofs, which are in general of no great depth ; 
 as rock or //'//* often lye only a foot or two beneath the furfacc, and fome- 
 times ftill nearer ; fo that the latter is in danger of being turned up, and 
 the former of impeding or breaking the plough. 
 
 The inftruments made ufe of in agriculture are, In many refpeds, but 
 111 calculated for the purpofe. The plough, that was formerly univerfal, 
 and is ftill in common ufe, has only one ftilt, with neither wreft nor 
 mould-board ; and its other parts are joined in fuch a form, thiit it has not 
 a fingle quality to recommend it, but its fimpliclty and the low price 
 at which it can be purchafed. From Its conftiudion, it is only fitted to 
 fcratch the furface two or three Inches deep, and fcatter the clods around 
 It, without touching the beft part of the eartli, or turning it up to the 
 falutary influence of the fun and air. This awkward -tool is commonly 
 drawn by three or four horfes abreaft, with the driver moving backward 
 before them ; which not only poaches the wet land, and beats down the 
 dry, but juflles and fatigues the poor animals that go in the middle, and 
 renders their labour in a great meafure ufelefs. 
 
 The defeds of the plough are but ill fupplied by their harrow, which 
 confifts of only two or three bulls, In which are Inferted only fliort 
 ■wooden teeth, and which is drawn by one ox or horfe, by means of 
 ropes fixed to the corners. If the foil be of a fandy nature, or fomewhat 
 loofe and crumbling, fuch a harrow may anfwer the purpofe intended ; but 
 in one that confifts moftly of clay, is wet, and of a firm texture, it can 
 have but very little influence in pulverizing the ground, and will alfo cover 
 the feed but very imperfedly. 
 
 In many places, the land would reap much advantage from the ufe of 
 the roller, judicioufly applied, in fome feafons ; though it Is fcarcely yet 
 ranked among our implements of huftjandry. 
 
 Moft of the arable lands that are to be cultivated by thefe utenfils are 
 uninclofed, and lye expofed. In their wet ftate, to be poached by cattle, 
 
 • Schiftofc clay. 
 
 Z z and 
 
354 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 and torn up by fwine Into holes and ditches ; and as draining Is unknown, 
 and no other mode of forming ridges has yet been adopted than cleaving 
 and gathering alternately, the fields are often drenched and foaked with 
 fta<Tnant water during the whole winter. 
 
 Harvcft and winter ploughing they difapprove of, on account, as they 
 pretend, of the water's carrying off the foil when ploughed at thefe feafons. 
 But this objedion can have no weight, as moft of the lands are fituated on 
 gentle declivities. The true reafon feems to be, that indolence, which has 
 not yet fuffered it to become the cufiom, to which, in raoft things, the or- 
 dinary flirmers are in the moft abje£l flavery *. 
 
 They ufually begin to plough about Candlemas, O. S., when they 
 plough their oat-land, into which they throw the feed two or three weeks 
 afterwards ; and when this finished, the bear-land begins to be ftirred 
 and harrowed, and commonly receives the feed near the end of May, 
 immediately after it has been manured and got the feed-furrow. Bear or 
 bigg, and black and grey oats, are the only grains that are commonly 
 raifed ; and thefe fucceed each other invariably, and without any inter- 
 miifion ; and this feems to have been the pradlice for centuries. Rotation 
 of crops has never yet entered into their thoughts, any more than change of 
 feed of the fame fpecies ; and (what is much worfe) in many places, they 
 are fo far from thinking it proper to feled the bcft part of their grain to 
 preferve for [eed, that they entertain the abfurd opinion that the very word 
 kind of it will do equally well for that purpofe. 
 
 Though there is plenty of limeftone in many parts, and, in fome fitu- 
 ations, plenty of excellent peat to burn it, fo that it could be procured at 
 no great expence, it is not yet ufed as a manure. The fame indifference 
 prevails with regard to marl f, which is found in many places ; in fome, 
 
 * There being no ditches^ or drains, to take off fuperfiei;il moifture, the land is commonly fo 
 much foaked during winter, that it cannot be ploughed. Tliis operation they are obliged to defer 
 until the moifture is evaporated by the heat of fpring, or fummcr. — E. 
 
 f Shell marl is produced by fmall fhsll-filbes, which live in iVclh v\'atcr. It abounds in various 
 parts of the Orkneys ; but is not ufed by the people, except for whitening the walls of their houfes. 
 Cijy marl is alfo very frequent ^Great quantities of flicll-fand alfo occur, and would prove 
 An excellent calcareous manure j but the people are prejudiced againft its ufe, becaufe, in many 
 cafes, it is blown by the wind, and deftroys land by its excefs. — -A quantity of thefe fmall frag, 
 ments of fea-lliells, fele^ed at random, from the links weftward of Melfetter, was found to con- 
 tain of carbonate of lime, 857 in 100. Its other ingredients were fund and animal albumen. — E. 
 
 9. °^ 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. ^SS 
 
 on the furface of the ground, and in others at only a finall depth, abun- 
 dant in quantity, and excellent in quality. Even the dung of animals, 
 which is generally confidered as the very heft manure, they regard as of 
 an inferior kind, and of little importance, in comparifon of feaweed, on 
 which they beftow mod of their attention. 
 
 This fubftance confifts of a variety of marine plants, torn off from the 
 rocks by the force of the fea and the weather, and driven afliore, in winter 
 and fpring, in great quantities. In fome places, it is carried up from the 
 ftrand immediately, and laid, while it is yet frefli, on the land intended to 
 produce bear that feafon; and in other places, it is laid up in a heap, to 
 ferment and putrefy till the fpring ; when it is fpread on the bear-land, 
 cither immediately before or after it is ftirred, or receives the firft plough- 
 ing. The efied which it produces is nearly immediate, and almoft cer- 
 tain, whenever it is applied in a proper ftate and in fuflicient quantity ; 
 and, in whatever way it ads, it fecms to continue only for one year ; and 
 the bear raifed by it is generally believed to be fmall, thick in the hufk, 
 and in every refpe£l of a bad quality *. 
 
 From the account we have given, it is eafy to conceive that the crops 
 cannot be very luxuriant. Accordingly, three times the quantity of feed 
 fown, or, in other words, three feeds for oats, and five for bear, may be 
 ftated as the average produce; nor will this appear ftrange, as not only both 
 kinds of grain are fown uncommonly thick, but horfes, cattle, fheep, fwine, 
 geefe, are in many places never kept from the corn fields till the month of 
 June, and are even fuffered to pay them many occafional and expcnfive 
 vifits ihrough the fnmmer and harveft. To account for this, it mufl: be 
 obferved, that, in moft of the Illands, the lands on the fea-fliorc only are 
 property, and thofe in the middle or the internal parts arc occupied as com- 
 mon-lands by the whole ifland. To divide thefe lands from one another, 
 
 * It would be a great improvement to mis their fea-wecds into compoQs with mof?, which 
 would fuit every foil except what is mofTy. Or they might compoft them with clay-marl, or rich 
 earth, adding flicll-marl, or the fand of fei-fliclis.— But the barbarous praflicc of paring off the 
 bed turf, in order to mix with their dung, which has dcflroyed much good land in Orkney, ought 
 to be prohibited under the fevercll penalties.— Thii is fubjeding the foil to the martyrdom of Same 
 Bartholoiiicw, in being flead alive. — E. 
 
 2 z 2 and 
 
OJ 
 
 6 HCDUSTHy. BOOK nil. 
 
 and around this common *, a very imperfe£l turf fence was ereded, at a 
 very early period, and kept in repair from year to year by thofe who 
 have farms adjacent. A little before the middle of fummer, all the horfes 
 are driven into this common, moft of the geefe, and fwine, and fheep, 
 and alfo the young cattle, with an intention of being grazed, without the 
 expence of employing people to keep them ; and as every perfon claims 
 the privilege of fending as many of thefe animals as he finds convenient-, 
 the pafture foon becomes fo exhaufted, that hunger forces them over the 
 feeble mud wall, into the middle of the fields of corn,, which they fre- 
 quently deflroy. 
 
 As foon as the harveft commences, which is commonly about the be- 
 ginning or middle of September, they begin to cut down their crop, and 
 almoft always before it be ripe, from fear of its being hurt by bad wea- 
 ther, or confumed by the cattle of their neighbours. 
 
 The inftruments made ufe of for this purpofe, are not the oi^inary 
 kind of fickles, but a fort of broad, blunt hooks, that take much time in 
 Sharping ; and when the corn is Ihort, which often happens, inftead of 
 cutting, pluck it up by the roots, and by that means mix with it a quan- 
 tity of earth or fand, from which it is afterwards feparated with much dif- 
 ficulty. Their method of binding the flieaves, which has probably been 
 adopted on account of the wetnefs of the clrmate in harveft, is the fame 
 that is called gating^ in the fouth of Scotland ; and were they bound again 
 after they are fufficiently dry, as they are in that country, it would be de- 
 ferving of much approbation. In place of this, however, the corn, in 
 its loofe ftate, is piled up in what are called fcrews^ on the land firft, and 
 then carried home into the farm-yard, where it is built in fmall ftacks-, 
 from which it is carried by degrees into the barn ; thrafhed in the ordinary 
 way ; winnowed between the doors without fanners, which are unknown ; 
 dried on kilns, always built adjoining to the barns, and in mills, to which 
 almoft all the lands are thirled or aftrided ; and converted into meal, the 
 oats for the twelfth, and the bear for the fixteenth part, as multure. 
 
 * Unlefs thefe commons be divided,, and runrig pofTeflions aboliflied, agricultuml improvements 
 ■are impraiSicable.— E. 
 
 f The (lieaf is tied loofely near the top, apd fet on the bottom fpread out, to dry. 
 
 The 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 357- 
 
 The farms are in general fmall, feldom much exceeding forty, and 
 fometimes only eight or ten acres, which is thought fufficient to employ one 
 plough, exclufively ofacorrcfpondent quantity of grafs-ground intended for 
 pafture. 
 
 Steelbow is ftill very common, which is well known to be a certain 
 number, quantity, or value of horfes, cattle and corn, delivered to the 
 tenant on his entering to the farm, and which he is bound to repay when 
 he leaves it. This cuftom, however proper it might have been at firft^ 
 as founded on the ftate of the country, experience daily fhows is attended 
 with feveral very palpable inconveniences. Among thcfe may be reckoned, 
 the opportunity it gives to men, who have little or no ftock, and who 
 might be more ufefully employed in other branches, to become firmers ; 
 the temptation it holds out to induce them to violate honefty, and to be 
 indolent, which with us is but too often the cafe. 
 
 Every cuftom and praftice here feems to be prejudicial to farming* 
 Many of the lands that belong to the fame proprietor, as well as thofe that 
 are the property of different proprietors, are blended together in what is 
 called rut/rig ; and this moft abfurd intermixture, it is well known, is not 
 only the fource of perpetual conteftation, but an infuperable bar to every 
 kind of improvement. Few of the ordinary clafs of tenants have leafeSj 
 but are tenants at will, who pay their rents in corn for their arable ground, 
 and in butter for their paflure, together with a few fervlces, which arc far 
 from being rigoroufly exadted. 
 
 A% moft of their farms lye on the fea-fhore, they have commonly a 
 certain portion of the adjacent rocks allotted them, from which they cut the 
 tang ox fea-wced, and manufadure it into kelp, and for their trouble, re- 
 ceive thirty, forty, or fifty ihillings the ton. If they had not this method 
 of paying part of the rents of their farms, they would foon become in^ 
 folvent, not becaufe the rents have been raifed, but becaufe fervants wages 
 have rifen rapidly ; and the advance on the price of ropes, wood, and iron, ' 
 which a farm neceffarily requires, is not lefs confiderable. 
 
 In fomc places, efpecially fuch as are on creeks and bays, or at fome 
 diftance from the fhore, their method of procuring manure is a little dif- 
 ferent from that already ftated. Inflead of laying ware and dung fepa- 
 
 rately 
 
358 IKDUSTRY. BOOK III, 
 
 rately on the land, as is the pra£lice in general, they mix them in certain 
 proportions, together with earth, foil, or vegetable mould, dug from the 
 grafs-ground for that purpofe. Their plan of forming this compofl is by 
 no means injudicious. A ftratum of earth is laid in the bottom, on which 
 is placed dung, and then earth, on which is thrown ware or fea-weed, and 
 fo on till the dunghill be completed. The only faults in this mode feem to 
 be, that thefe dunghills are too fmall ; the materials do not remain long 
 enough in this ftate of combination ; and they are neither trenched nor 
 turned over, fo as to admit the influence of the air, the more effectually to 
 promote fermentation *. 
 
 But fuppofmg no objedion could, in any refped, be made to the pre- 
 paring of this manure, a very ftrong one lies againft the way of procuring 
 one of its materials. It is almoft impoflible to conceive any cuftom more 
 deftrudive, than that of tearing off the furface of a quantity of grafs 
 ground, in order to lay it on arable land, which isfometimes not fo valuable 
 as the earth which they thus ufe as an ingredient in the manure ; and yet 
 this cuftom is ftill prevalent over the moft of the country. Extenfive fields 
 may be feen of thefe berried (or robbed) lands, as they are here very pro- 
 perly denominated, where the foil has been taken off, and nothing left but 
 the rock, the fand, or the gravel, on which neither corn nor grafs will 
 ever grow without an extravagant expence of time and labour ; whereas, 
 had they been fuffered to remain in their firft ftate, they could eafily have 
 been rendered fit to have produced both in abundance. In feme eftates, 
 the proprietors have wifely, of late, prohibited this moft abfurd and per- 
 nicious pradice ; in others, they are ftill fo blind to their own intereft, 
 or fo fupinely negligent about the land, as entirely to overlook it, and 
 allow their tenants to go on ftripping the face of the earth. Some 
 errors are of fuch a nature as to affed the intereft of individuals only, and 
 thefe may be taken notice of and correded by themfelves ; but this is of 
 fuch a complexion, that, while it hurts the intereft of the proprietors, it 
 alfo materially injures the public ; and is therefore an objed of fuch mo- 
 ment as to merit legal prohibition. 
 
 • Where mofs is ufed for compoft, turning, and throwing water upon it, powerfully promotes its 
 putref-idioa. Foul water, and what oozes from (tables and dunghills, anfwers belt. — E. 
 
 la 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 
 
 359 
 
 In fome pariHics, the InRruments of agriculture are much more pcrfedt 
 than thofe which we have ah'eady mentioned. A plough with two ftilts, 
 and nearly in the fame form with that ufed in the fouth of Scotland, and 
 harrows with four bulls and iron teeth, drawn by one corner, have fuc- 
 ceeded the imperfect inftruments ; and where this has been the cafe, as in 
 Waes and South Ronaldfhay for example, the crops are more luxuriant 
 and the grain of a fuperior quality. Some few of the tenants, too, have 
 leafes of feven, fourteen, or even nineteen or twenty-one years ; but thofe 
 that have them of fuch duration, commonly farm whole eflates, or large 
 tradls of land, with a great number of fmali tenants or cottars under them, 
 and keep in their own hands only one pretty large farm, on which they have, 
 in fome few inftances, made attempts at improvement. Tliefe attempts, 
 though meriting praife, are trifling, however, in comparifon of fuch as 
 have been made by gentlemen, who have found it convenient to refide on 
 their own eftates, and farm a part of their own property. Their improve- 
 ments (fome of them at leaft) are as fubftantial as they are judicious, and 
 afford a proof, that the fame mode of hufbandry will fuccecd here, that 
 has been adopted and followed in better cultivated countries. As fome of 
 them, indeed, have been made on an extenfive fcale, and at an expence 
 far beyond the reach of ordinary tenants, they may have attraded atten- 
 tion, and excited furprife, but they have not as yet produced much imi- 
 tation. If ever the ordinary kind of tenants be induced to adopt any 
 rational plan of improvement, which is an event devoutly to be wiflied for 
 it muft be in confcquence of imitating neither proprietors, nor even exten- 
 five and opulent tenants, but men in their own line, and very little raifed 
 above them in point of circumftances. 
 
 If the proprietors were to confider it as their interefl: (as it feems evi- 
 dently to be) to improve the face of their country, they would perhaps 
 {c\e€t from their own tenants fome of the moft fubftantial, judicious, and 
 faithful ; grant them leafes of confiderable length, and require only money 
 rent, of lands conne£led together, properly defined and favourably fituated 
 to be enclofed and improved under covenant ; and if fuccefs crowned the 
 endeavours of thefc experimental farmers, and they were treated with dif- 
 tinaion, or held in refpea, there could be little doubt, that in a few years 
 
 their 
 
^ 
 
 60 INDUSTRY. COOK IH, 
 
 their fteps would be followed by their moft intelligent and fplnted neigh- 
 bours. In cafe any difficulty occurred in finding men among their tenants 
 qualified to undertake the charge of fuch a bufinefs, the meafure would 
 perhaps fucceed ftlll better, if a few farmers were brought for that purpofe 
 from a better cultivated country. 
 
 It is in vain to urge, as has been done frequently by Ignorance devoted 
 to old and abfurd cuftom, that the foil and climate of this place will not 
 admit of the fame mode of agriculture that has been followed with fuch 
 beneficial effeds elfewhere. To fhow the fallacy of this opinion, many 
 ftriking inflances could be brought, from which we fhall only fele£l the 
 following. A gentleman who was an advocate for Improvement, cnclofed, 
 with a good fence, a quantity of land which was poor and barren, and 
 which (except a fmall patch in the middle) had never before been cultivated. 
 The people around gazed with furprize at his condu£l, which they confi- 
 dered as bordering on madnefs. The land was however broken up, and 
 treated In all refpeds the fame way as lands of that kind are commonly in 
 farming counties ; when It produced, at no great expence of labour, three 
 feveral excellent crops of oats. After being cleared of weeds, it had a 
 pretty plentiful coat of manure, and was laid to grafs with bear and grafs 
 feeds, when it produced fifteen bolls for every one of feed, of the former ; 
 and of the latter, two hundred and fifty ftone of excellent hay per acre the 
 year following. 
 
 The experience of feveral gentlemen, who have deferted the old track, 
 and difcovered fpirit In improving their farms In the new method, could 
 without doubt furnifh many fimilar inftances. 
 
 From what has been ftated, It is eafy to conceive, that weeds mufl: 
 long ago have quite overrun the lands ; and, indeed, fo much Is this the 
 cafe, that were a ftranger to infped them in the month of June, he would 
 conclude that no other crop was intended to be produced on them. Some 
 of them are perennial, and others only of one or two years duration ; 
 and they are never, in the ufual mode of farming, prevented from Injuring 
 the grain by robbing it of its food, and impeding the free circulation of 
 the air. 
 
 Summer- 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 361 
 
 Summer-fallowing, which has been pradlfcd of late on fomc gentlemen's 
 farms, though not in the very beft method, has had much effedt in rooting 
 out the annuals ; but no attempts whatever have yet been made to extirpate 
 the perennials. 
 
 The gentlemen have generally their farms enclofed, and divided with 
 fubftantial ftone fences. Ditches have alfo been introduced of late ; and, 
 in a wet climate, they cannot fail to be an ufeful improvement. Hedges 
 have fcarcely yet been tried, though they would be of much ufe in the 
 ■way of fhelter ; but could never fucceed, even on the fuppofition that the 
 climate was favourable, unlefs (heep, fwine, and cattle were carefully kept 
 from them *. 
 
 The gentlemen farmers have thrown afide the one-ftilted plough, as well 
 as the wooden-teethed harrows, as inftruments of no utility ; and condantly 
 ufe fuch as are employed in the low countries in the fouth of Scotland, 
 viz. the plough drawn by two horfes or two oxen, without a driver, and 
 the harrows loofely joined together in pairs, drawn alfo by two horfes. 
 Difregarding the common opinion that winter-ploughing is detrimental, 
 they do not fcruple to cultivate the ground at all feafons ; and mod of 
 them are fo far from thinking their intereft is thereby hurt, that they ima- 
 gine they have reaped from it a fignal benefit. Inftead of confining them- 
 felves to raife only the ordinary crops of black oats and bear, together with 
 a few potatoes, they have, after the land has been duly prepared for the re- 
 fpedive crops, not only white and red oats, but peas, barley, and evea 
 fometimes a little wheat and rye ; and tares, lucerne, turnips, clover and 
 rye-grafs in the greateft abundance, and of the very beft quality. Thefe 
 indeed have not all fucceeded equally well ; nor could it be expedled ; as 
 they are neither equally congenial to our foil and oJimate, nor could our 
 people be fuppofcd, on their firft introduiHion, to be fo well acquainted with 
 their management. 
 
 • At Melfetter it lias been arcertuined that furze fences thrive very veil, even when cxpofed to 
 the bl.ills from the fc.i. They JhoulJ he Town on a inouuJ of earth, thrown up from a ditch, which 
 is faced with ftone, and furniounted by a Galloway coping. Such fences would ferve the double 
 purpofc of dr.iining and (heller. — E. 
 
 3 A Several 
 
362 JNDUSTRy. BOOK III. 
 
 Several kinds of white oats have been tried repeatedly, and particularly 
 thofe from Blainflec, which have been fuppofed to accommodate them- 
 fclves to every fitiiation ; and all of them have degenerated in a few years, 
 if we except what are called the red oats, which, of all the forts, feem beft 
 adapted to this climate. Tiiey neither dwindle down to a fmall fize, nor 
 are tliey apt to fnake ; nor are they late in ripening like the other kinds, but 
 have produced large crops for feveral years fucceflively. 
 
 The different kinds of peas have alfo been fown, but not with the like 
 fuccefs ; for while the grey have feldom or never ripened, and only pro- 
 duced ftraw (which they often do in abundance), the -white have for the 
 niofl: part yielded an excellent crop. 
 
 Few attempts have yet been made to ralfe either rye or wheat ; nor will 
 ever the latter be produced in any confiderabe quantity, till proper mills 
 are built for making flour. The winters are by no means fevere, either 
 in refpedt of hard frofts, or of fnows that are deep and lafting ; and the 
 foil, in many places, has every appearance of being calculated to produce 
 this grain in fome perfedlon. Much money, as well as many of the com- 
 modities of this place, are annually fent fouthwards, for purchafing flour 
 and bifcuit ; and all thefe miglit be faved, and even money gained, by 
 furnifliing thefe articles to the fliipping that frequents our coafts, were the 
 attention of the people once turned to the produdion of this moft valuable 
 commodity. An objedlion perhaps m.ight be ftarted to this fpecies of pro- 
 dudlon, from the frequent rains that prevail during the winter; but thefe 
 are, it is probable, not more abundant here than in fome of the counties on 
 the caft coaft, that are diftinguithed for the excellence of this produdion. 
 And were even the quantity proved to be greater, fo as to be pernicious, 
 the objedtion might in fome meafure be removed by a proper attentioQ- 
 
 being paid to foil and fituation*.. 
 
 I£ 
 
 * It is not long fince Sweden was fupplied with wheaten flour from Pomerania, and Poland. . 
 The celebrated Luthkus fifft urged and excited the culture of vvhe it in that country, which is now 
 Iioth extenfive and fuccefsful. The climate, and much of the foil in the Orkneys, feem well adapt- 
 ed for this grain ; ani luefe ifiands arefarther fouth than dillrifls where wheat is raifed in Swe- 
 den. But where it has been tried in Caithnefs, in fimilar circumflances, it has always been fown 
 after potatoes, which were not thoroughly cisaned, and it was fown too late. Yet, where not 
 
 choakcd 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. ^^;i 
 
 If ever rye comes to be confidered as an objed of Importance (and cer- 
 tainly it ought to be), no rcafonahle doubt can be entertained of its being 
 raifed with fuccefs. 
 
 Barley has often been raifed, and of no contemptible quality ; and had 
 the fame precautions been ufed that are employed elfe where, there is no 
 reafon to think it would have degenerated. 
 
 Bat though all thefe will grow, and fome of them flouriHi, fo as amply 
 to compenfate for the labour beftowed on them, black, grey, and red oats, 
 bear or bigg, potatoes, turnip, and what are called the artificial grafleSj 
 feem, from the repeated, or rather uniform experience of many individuals, 
 to be beft fuited to the foil and climate of this country. 
 
 About fifty years ago, potatoes were firft transferred from the gardens 
 to the fields ; and fince that time a few of them have been raifed on almoft 
 every little farm, partly for the confumption of the family, and partly for 
 fale to the people of Kirkwall and Stromnefs. They have fucceeded very 
 well in moft fituations, and been of much advantage to the poor people j 
 and might have been ftill more produdive, and alfo of a much fuperior 
 quality, had due attention been beftowed in procuring the beft: feed, in 
 changing it from time to time, and in choofing and preparing the ground 
 properly for its reception. This pleafant and wholefome root is now ge- 
 nerally planted with the plough, and cleaned either by it or hand-hocing j 
 and when the feed has been found, and of a prolific nature, it has, on a 
 good foil, produced thirty, forty, or even fometimes fifty fold of excellent 
 potatoes, which, in ordinary years, are fold for threepence the ftone at an 
 average. In fome places, wafte nr barren ground has been, by the plant- 
 ing of this root, brought into tillage ; and, in the prefent circumftances 
 of this place, where fo little attention is given to the lands, this has proved 
 an excellent improvement. 
 
 Turnips, wherever they have been introduced, have been ftill more 
 produdive. They are commonly fown in drills, and repeatedly horfe- 
 
 cho:iked with wccJs, the crops have been abundantly flattering. Were the land thoroughly clean- 
 ed liy a naked {.illov, and well dofcd with calcareous and putrefccnt manures, there is no doubt: 
 but this crop would fucceed. After fallow it can be fown earlier than after potatoes ; but the land 
 mud be completely fecured from all intrufions of cattle. — E. 
 
 3 A 2 hoed 
 
364 INDUSTRY. BOOK Ml. 
 
 heed through the fummer, whh the view of furnlfhing fpr'ing or winter 
 provender for t!ie cattle. And fo well calculated does this place appear 
 for the production of this root, that our turnip crops have in feveral in- 
 Itances fucceeded, when they have failed in many other parts of the king- 
 dom. The winter froft is feldom fo intcnfe as to hurt them, though they 
 Hand on the field on which they grow through the whole of that feafon ; 
 fo that the cattle devour them with as much relifh in fpring as they do in 
 harvcfi:. Seldom or never do they fail, unlefs when fown on wet ground, 
 or too thick; or when the weeds, inftcad of being feafonably rooted out, 
 are allowed to remain and choke them. They grow often to the llze of 
 twelve or fourteen pounds ; and thirty-fix tons have fomctimes been pro- 
 duced on an acre. 
 
 In a country like this, confiding of fo many iflands, fo remarkably well 
 fituated for trade, and abounding with a multitude of the bcfl; harbou-s, to 
 which fliips occafionally refort from all nations, it is ahnoft impoffible to 
 fay what advantage might refult from raifing a very large quantity of fo 
 certain, and at the fame time fo valuable a produ(flion. A much larger 
 breed of cattle might be introduced, reared in greater numbers, and, when 
 fed at the proper age on this nutritive root, fold at a high price for naval 
 provifions. So little attention, however, has yet been beftowed on this 
 obje£t, that beef, though till of late cheap, is feldom in plenty ; and were 
 a ftranger to apply for any confiderable quantity, he would be dilappointed, 
 if he did not take care to make the purchafe by the end of autumn or be- 
 ginning of winter. Neither the black fly, nor any other deftrudtive infedi:, 
 ever infeft the turnips here; the aiibery is unknown, and they do not fcem 
 liable to other diftempers ; and yet fo little is this beneficial crop cultivated, 
 that not more than fix or eight gentlemen have hitherto employed their 
 land in that vi^ay ; and the whole yearly quantity at prefent does not exceed 
 thirty or forty acres. 
 
 To turnips, which might be raifed with fuch benefit to farmers and to 
 the country at large, fown grafs, which fucceeds equally well, might be 
 added as an excellent auxiliary. From every trial that has been made (and 
 fome of them are of more than twenty years (landing), the refult has been 
 fuch as to warrant the conclufion, that few countries are better calculated 
 
 9 for 
 
CHAP. in. INDUSTRY. 365 
 
 for the produdion of the grades. Red, white, and yellow clover, tares, 
 rib and rye-grafs, with feveral other forts, have been cultivated for green 
 food, and alfo for hay, and have yielded a furpiifing quantity of excellent 
 fodder. In fliort, fuch plentiful and excellent crops of both turnip and 
 fown grafs have been produced in different places, and by different perfons, 
 that fome have imagined that the iflands Ihould, inftead of being cultivated 
 for grain, as they have been from time immemorial, be converted into 
 pafture, and henceforth applied to the breeding, rearing, and fattening 
 of black cattle. Lands, however, that will produce luxuriant crops of fucll 
 articles as will ferve for provender to thefe animals, will, it is prcfumed^ 
 under a proper mode of management, yield fome forts of grain at leaft. 
 
 But, without deciding this queftion, we may be allowed to fay, that too 
 little care has been hithci'to beftowed on thefe important articles; and 
 though it is plcalant to oblerve that we are making fome fmall progrefs, we 
 are rtill very far behind moft other places. The fame may be fuid with regard 
 to flax, which has alfo, in a fmall degree, engaged the attention of iome 
 few of our farmers. Many years ago, it is mentioned as making one of 
 the articles produced by our agriculture ; and, it fcems, from other circum- 
 ftances, to have been more attended to then, and raifed in greater quantity 
 than at prefent. Till very lately it was confined almofl to one parilh, 
 which produced moie of it than all the reft conjointly. This was chiefly 
 owing to the principal proprietor, who thought his time well fpent on his 
 eftate, in the cultivation of his farm, and in infpecfling the conduct of his 
 tenants. To encourage them to bend their attention to this fort of pro- 
 duce, for which he thought their farms well calculated, he prefented theni 
 with linfeed gratis ; taught them the beft manner of raifmg it, and of wa- 
 tering and drelllng it ; and when the term of payment arrived, he received 
 his rents, not in kind or in money, but in the cloth into which the flax had 
 been manufadured. 
 
 The confequence was, that the inhabitants of that pariQi foon became 
 diftinguifhed among their neighbours for fuperior wealth and fuperior 
 induftry, and afforded a proof of what ineflimable value the refidencc 
 ot a proprietor of confiderable fortune and virtue is to the profpcrity of a 
 people. 
 
 Though 
 
2,66 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 Though the prodiKTtlon of flax has been in a great meafure confined 
 to that parifh, many others feem equally well fitted for it ; and feveral 
 circumftances point out the propriety of attending particularly to the pro- 
 duction of this article. For many years part; the women have been much 
 employed in the fpinning of linen-yarn, in which they have now acquired 
 fome dexterity. They are fond of the employment ; it is increafing ra- 
 pidly ; and its produce is either fold in the ftate of yarn, or converted into 
 cloth ; and, in either fliape, finds a ready and profitable fale in the fouthern 
 markets. The raw materials of this manufadlure, which are at prefent 
 imported from abroad, at the expence of a large fum of money put into 
 the pockets of foreign merchants, might eafily be raifed at home ; and thus 
 all that capital might be laid out in the extenfion of that manufadlure, or 
 in other branches of induftry. 
 
 Senfible of this, a man, who has made fo much money by trade (and 
 partly in this very article) as enabled him to purchafe an eftate, turned his 
 attention lately to the raifing of flax ; and the fuccefs he has met with has 
 rewarded his labour, and exceeded his expectation. He has not confined 
 it to his own farm ; he has extended it to his tenants, whom he has en- 
 couraged to make the experiment. They are vying with one another in 
 copying the example of their induftrious landlord ; and a flax mill has been 
 created. 
 
 Hemp might alfo be produced, to the no fmall emolument of thofe that 
 would vigoroufly and fkilfully embark in that bufinefs, and to the benefit 
 £)f the country. The foil in many places appears well fuited for raifing 
 this article, and it would employ ufefully any fpare hands, not only to 
 prepare it, but to manufacture it into ropes, fails, and nets, which would 
 be very acceptable to many Ihips that enter our harbours. 
 
 Notwithftanding the laudable attempts that fome gentlemen of late have 
 made to introduce agricultural improvement, too little attention has yet 
 been paid to the rotation of crops, which in other places has been attended 
 with fuch advantage ; nor has any at all been given to the change of feed, 
 fiven from one farm or from one ifland to another. 
 
 As rotation has not been entirely negleCled, among the few inftances 
 in which it has been obferved, this is the moft common : — Oats after land 
 
 has 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. ^Cj 
 
 has been taken up from grafs ; to which has fucceeJed ttirn'ip or potatoes; 
 and thcie again have been followed by bear and grafs. And this rotation, 
 imperfecft as it is, has been attended with feveral beneficial confequences. 
 
 In fliort, if we review what has been faid with regard to the old, and 
 indeed the general mode of agriculture, as practifed by the ordinary clafs 
 of farmers, and, at the fame time, look back to what has been delivered 
 with regard to the new, as followed by fome of the gentlemen ; if we ftate 
 a comparifon between them in refpei^l of both the quantity and quality of 
 the produdions raifed, we fliall be compelled to conclude, that the fame 
 plans of culture, which experience has found to fucceed befl: in the fertile 
 provinces in the fouth, will alfo fucceed here; and that, if thefe were car- 
 ried into general pracftlce, they would be a fignal benefit to thefe Iflands. 
 But if an opinion contrary to this conclufion has lometimes been given, (and 
 there can be no doubt of its having been done frecjuently), it has proceeded 
 cither from thofe who are entirely ignorant of the nature of agriculture, 
 and the efieds of which it might be produdive, or from fuch as have had 
 fome inveterate prejudice to gratify, or private and felfilh end to fcrve in 
 difcouraging this kind of improvement. 
 
 But, even though we had no means of dete«D;ing the fallacy of that 
 opinion, and had no opportunity of obferving the beneficial effeds which 
 the new mode of farming adopted by the gentlemen has produced, we 
 fhonid naturally conclude, that it would, in this place, produce the lame 
 happy confequences which it has done in fome of the immediate fouthern 
 counties. Murray, which lias long been cultivated in this manner, is 
 little more than fixty miles farther to the fouth than wc are. Eafl; Rofs 
 is twenty miles nearer us, and in point of improvement, not difierent from 
 the former. And Caithnefs, the foil and climate of which are not fuperior 
 to our own, is only twelve miles diftant, and, with refpe£t to farming in 
 the moft approved method, has of late been rivalling her more fouthern 
 neighbours. Confidering then, the fituation of thefe counties in regard to 
 us, the fmall diftance at which they lye, and the few advantages which 
 they of confequence enjoy in point of climate, it cannot be fuppofed that 
 the improvements which have fo much enriched thefe places, would not, 
 in this, produce a fimilar effed. 
 
 Admitting, 
 
36S INDUSTRY. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 Admitting, however, that fuch a plan of cultivation were advantageous, 
 (and that it would be fo, no reafonable man, it is prefumed, will venture 
 to deny), fome weighty obftacles lye in the way, which muft be prcvioufly 
 removed. To render it univerfal, fubftantial and judicious farmers fhould 
 be invited to take leafes, which fhould be granted them, of a reafonable 
 length, at rents moderately low, and paid only in money ; and fteelbow, 
 except in provender for cattle, fhould be henceforth difcontinued, and all 
 unlimited fervices totally abolifhed. For the fame purpofe, fuch lands as 
 are ruiu-'ig muft be divided, and the boundaries fo diftindly marked out, 
 as in future to cut oft' all difpute ; and, that the careful keeping of fheep, 
 fwine, cattle, &c. might not be negleded, the hill-dikes fhould be razed to 
 the foundation, and the commons, which they now enclofe fo imperfedllv, 
 fhould be divided among the proprietors of the adjacent lands. 
 
 Thefe changes, which we cannot help thinking would be highly bene- 
 ficial towards the introduclion of a better fyflem, would no doubt require 
 both time, and an union among the heritors or landed proprietors, which 
 unfortunately has feldom taken place, even in cafes, where their common 
 intereft has been deeply concerned. 
 
 Moreover, the feu duties fhould be converted into money, which we 
 apprehend could be attended with no difadvantage to any party ; and if 
 the undefined and fallacious weights, which have fo long and fo juflly been 
 the fubje£l of complaint, were alfo changed for thofe of the kingdom, it 
 would ferve greatly to pave the way for fo defirable an event. Some re- 
 gulations, alfo, in regard to fervants, fhould accompany thefe alterations, 
 as contributing much to the fame end. There are at prefent no proper 
 markets for hiring them ; nor has a fufficient regard to their charader been 
 paid ; and their wages, inftead of being given them in money, as in other 
 places, confift fometimes of bear, malt, meal, cloth, and even of a piece 
 of land, which they are allowed time to cultivate, to fow and to reap, on 
 their own account. In fome places they are permitted to keep geefe, fwine, 
 flieep, and cattle, on their mafter's grafs and provender, Iq lieu of wages ; 
 and it is eafy to fee the inconveniences to which this mode of payment is 
 fubjed, and the many evils which it is calculated to produce. 
 
 Servants, 
 
CHAP. in. INDUSTRY. 369 
 
 Servants, in order to be good, ouglit to be engaged for a definite time, 
 and for a particular purpoie ; plenty of fiich fubftantial food, and fuch 
 competent wages flioukl be given them in money, as to compenfate for the 
 labour they fuftain : no temptation of any kind Ihould ever be held out to 
 divert them from their mafter's intereft ; and when they are about to leave 
 his fervice, a certificate of their having faithfully performed their duty to 
 him, fhould be indifpenfable to their finding a new mafter. If fome fuch 
 regulations as thefe were rendered general, and duly obferved, fervants 
 would foon become better acquainted with their duty, more honeft, more 
 fubmiffive, and more adive ; and thofe that employed them would treat 
 them more kindly, as they would find their interefl; promoted in being 
 better ferved ; and thus more concord would be ertabliflied between thofe 
 two orders of fociety, in which the comfort of individuals and the profpe- 
 rity of the country equally confift. 
 
 Public markets, for the fale of the produce of land, which are unhappily 
 wanting at prefent, would alfo operate as an encouragement to this mode 
 of induftry, as well as remove many inconveniences which the people 
 now fuftain. The illicit trade, which till of late prevailed- much in this 
 country, has had no fmall influence on the people, and is perhaps the real 
 caufe that almoft all of them have fliown fome averfion to public markets, 
 notwithfianding the benefits which they might have produced. Every 
 perfon conceals what he means to fell, as well as what he intends to buy ; 
 and almoft all the intercourfe of bufinefs is carried on in a dark, private, 
 and fmuggling manner. A few, and only a few, buyers are fcattered 
 through the Iflands, and the great body of the people may be confidered 
 as fellers, or at leaft, as having as much of the country produce as would 
 fupport them lei ves. The principal, and indeed almoft the only buyers, 
 are confined to Stromnels and Kirkwall, the former of which contains fif- 
 teen hundred, and the latter two thoufand inhabitants. If regular markets 
 were once cftablilhcd in thefe two places, into which the people around 
 might bring the different articles which they raifed on their little farms, 
 without the rifk ot felling them at an undervalue, or of difpofing of them 
 on truft, fo as to lofe them altogether, they would foon learn to value them 
 as they ought, and rcfort to them chearfully, as beneficial inftitutions. 
 
 3 B The 
 
370 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 The prefent mode of trania£ling their hufiiiefs will ferve at the fame time 
 to illuflrate and confirm this propofitlon. As foon as a country man is Ccei\ 
 in the town, who is known to have any thing to dlfpofe of, he is invited 
 into a houfe, and made to drink freely, when a bargain is concluded with 
 him, in the prefence of the family, for what they ftand in need of, and 
 the price which he receives is fometimes little more than the half, or two 
 thirds of the value. But if, taught by experience, he refufes to go into the 
 houfe, they tell him that there is no need ot fuch articles as he has ; that 
 they are of an inferior quality ; that they have had the offer of much better 
 at a lower price ; and that, if he does not choofe to fell them on thefe 
 terms, he may carry them h&me, as they are certain none will give higher. 
 Combination in every little town is eafily and generally pra£tifed ; he muft 
 therefore carry back his produce, at much trouble and expence, or dlf- 
 pofe of it, however much beneath the value, at the price which they had 
 offered. 
 
 Befides, the poor farmers, when they carry in any thing for fale, are 
 often compelled to difpofe of it on trufl ; and in that cafe, are fometimes 
 long in receiving payment, and fometimes difappointed of it altogether. 
 If they can bear this lofs without murmuring, and continue to fell in this 
 mode, if they difpofe of every thing in private, and at a very low priccj 
 they are extolled as the very beft of charadlers ; whereas, if they regret 
 their misfortune, and refufe to trufl in future, and inlift on full value and 
 ready money, they are reproached as the mofl; oppreffive of mankind. If 
 fuch treatment fometimes confine the farmers at home, the inhabitants of 
 Kirkwall come out among their acquaintance in fearch of the articles that 
 they need ; and, in concert, induftrioufly fpread reports of the low price 
 of thefe articles, and of the great plenty of them every day offered for fale 
 in the town, and rejected ; and, by this combined artifice and faUehood, 
 they impofe on the credulity of thofe who have little intelligence, with a 
 view to obtain from them advantageous bargains. 
 
 To nearly the fame objedion, is another method of dilpofing of the 
 produce of land liable. This is by barter with the fhopkeepers ; who, be- 
 ing equally well acquainted with the value of their own goods, and of what 
 is offered in exchange for them, have, in this refpeit, the advantage of 
 
 thofe 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. ^Jl 
 
 thofe whom they deal with ; and who, if they be not retrained by 
 principle, (which in all of them cannot be expedcd), may avail themfelves 
 of their fupcrior knowledge to reap the fruits of their impofition. Thus, 
 are bear, meal, malt, potatoes, fifh, beef, mutton, pork, poultry, butter, 
 cheefe, and eggs, generally dif])ofed of; and whoever confiders the mode 
 in which this is done, will find no difficulty in conceiving what a bar this 
 muft be to every fort of agricultural improvement. 
 
 But were regular markets once eftablifhed for the fale of thefe articles, 
 the evils that attend the prefent mode would vanifli ; competition would 
 regulate the price, (which has fometimcs been very unwarrantably fixed 
 by the Magiftraies), and the farmers would be ftimulated to induftry ; 
 recolledling, that whatever their exertions could raife, would meet with 
 a ready demand, and an adequate price, at ftated times, and at a dated 
 place. 
 
 Notwithftanding, liowever, the want of markets, the ignorance and in- 
 attention of the fervants, (which is as much owing to the negledt of their 
 matters as to any fault of their own), the imperfe<ft ftate of agriculture 
 with regard to the implements of hufbandry, the preparing and cleaning of 
 the land, the choice and the change of the feed, and the fliameful ne^Ie£t 
 of keeping the cattle at every feafoa, fo as to prevent them from hurting 
 the ground and the produce ; fuch is the bounty of the foil in this diftrid 
 that it is fufficient to fupport the prefent population. 
 
 Some years, indeed, grain has been imported in confiderable quantities, 
 owing to the failure of crops in bad feafons ; but the import of this article 
 in an average of years, has never been equal to its exportation. From 
 the year 1780 to the year iSoo, both inclufive, as appears from the 
 Cuftom-houfe books, which are reckoned an authentic record, the export 
 exceeded the import more than fifty-one thoufand bolls; and, if wc had 
 looked farther back, fo as to have comprehended a more early period 
 when the people lived lefs upon bread, and more on filh and other 
 articles, the former would have borne to the latter a ftill greater propor- 
 tion. The exportation in thefe years was not forced ; as the price, in 
 proportion to the value of the grain, was fully as low as in other places • * &' 
 and during the two laft years, when the people depended almofl: entirely iSoo. 
 
 3^2 on 
 
 I 
 
 799 
 
372 
 
 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 on bread for fubfiftence, as there was no fifhing, and the exportation 
 exceeded fourteen thoufand bolls, the ordinary price of barley meal was 
 one fliilling and fixpence/^r ftone, and of oat-meal two ftiillings ; while, 
 in Caithnefs, each of them fold at more than double that price ; and 
 three times the fum would not have bought them in the Edinburgh 
 market. 
 
 But if the country can fupport the prefent number of the people (and we 
 have feen that it can do even more) under the complicated defeds of the 
 old fyftem, and the inconveniences to which it is fubjed ; were a better 
 plan adopted, inftead of twenty-four, it might perhaps maintain nearly 
 forty thoufand inhabitants ; and were the fixty thoufand acres that are 
 flill in a ftate of nature, and improveable, brought into culture, and added 
 to the twenty-four thoufand acres already in tillage, and all of them im- 
 proved to the degree of which they are fufceptible, it might fupport a 
 population of more than ninety thoufand. To raife the population of a 
 country, and augment it nearly fourfold, by means of internal induftry, 
 is an objed of the greateft moment, and muft gratify every well difpofed 
 mind, as it both adds to the happinefs of that particular people, and pro- 
 motes the vigour of the nation to which they belong. 
 
 The ftrength and glory of our nation confift in our navy, by means 
 of which we have already, and may ftill, bid defiance to all the powers on 
 earth ; and fuch a population would furnifh for it feven or eight thoufand 
 feamen, who, in point of fobriety, order and obedience, and even, per- 
 haps, flvill, are inferior to none in the world. 
 
 Animated with the profpedt of fo much advantage, the Government 
 Ihould lend its afliftance (efpecially as the Crown* has a deep intercft in 
 
 the 
 
 • Such Crown Lands as the Editor had an opportunity of feeing in Orkney, and elfewhere, are 
 what reverted to the Crown on the abolition of epifcopacy. They operate as an efFe(ffual bar, 
 not only to their own improvement, but to the improvement of other lands, to which they are 
 contiguous, with which they are common, or are intermixed. The arable is generally of very rich 
 foil ; but inftead of taking the water off the land, they have laboured to raife the land above the 
 water, by piling up high, bread, and fcrpentine ridges, between which boats may fail in wet 
 weather. Much wet land, of a better foil than that aftually cultivated, has never been touched. 
 
 But. 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 273 
 
 the churcK-lands, which are all capable of improvement) ; the nobleman 
 who draws the feu duties fhould join, for the fake of meliorating his- 
 private eftate ; and the proprietors fhould open their eyes to their own 
 intereft ; abandon their politics, whicli have only ferved to fpread rancour, 
 and foftcr indolence; and all of them fhould unite in the improvement of 
 this hitherto unknown and much negleded country* 
 
 But the evil does not (lop here. The arable Crown Lands are either ran- ripf, or intermixed, in 
 patches, among lands belonging lo other proprietors; while the waQe is common, to all the pro- 
 perties around. Even where the leflee of the Crown Lands is proprietor of the ridges and p.itches 
 intermi.xed with them, he has no power to lot the land into ieparate farms, to raife the rents of 
 the Crown Lands, or of his own, which happen mod unfortunately to be intermixed with them j. 
 or, in any iliape to alter the mode of occupancy, however beneficial the alteration may appear for 
 himfelf, for the tenants, or for the public. 
 
 The confequenccs are fuch as may be cxpciflcd to refuk from the premifes. The Crown L:mds 
 are examples of the moil barbarous and flovenly hufbandry, that any where difgraces our Ifland : 
 and the remark may be extended to thofe lands which are curfed with their contiguity, or inter- 
 mixture. 
 
 The true remedy of the evil would be a dlvifion of thefe lands between the Crown, and inter- 
 mixed, or common proprietors. Or, as the Crown Rents are never raifed, to grant a right of pro-- 
 perty, under refervation of the rent, to thofe leflees who had lands common, or intermixed ; which 
 would empower them to drain, enclofc, and lot the land into commodious f;u-ms. If his Majclly 
 have not power, by the terms on which thefe lands reverted to him, to make thefe alterations from 
 his fovereign authority ; an afl of parliament is loudly called for ; bccaufe it is a fcandal that the 
 Crown Lands of this country lliould not only continue to be the dilgrace of our hufbandry, but 
 the banc of the improvement of all lands with which ihcy are connci^cd — E 
 
 SECTIOM 
 
374 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 SECTION 11. 
 
 Mx\NUFACTURES. 
 
 Much has been fald of the manufadliure of woollen cloth, for which this 
 place was formerly diftinguilhied ; and the decline which it has fuffered of 
 late, has been the caufe of much and ferious regret. But what has been 
 faid with regard to this branch, has been moftly by old people, who have 
 generally a propenfity to extol the cuftoras of early times, and to depreciate 
 as much the times that fucceed them. 
 
 As there is nothing to convince us that there was any wool ever import- 
 ed for this purpofe, the extent of that manufadture could not be great ; and 
 feems to have been confined to ftockings, and fome coarfe cloth, made of 
 their own wool, which was partly worn by the inhabitants, and partly dif- 
 pofcd of in the markets in the fouth. This exportation has now ceafed ; 
 and the wool, which is at prefent, perhaps, as plentiful as formerly, is 
 manufadured into (lockings and blankets, and particularly into a kind of 
 coarfe cloth, for the ufe of children, and fuch people of both fexes as live 
 in the country ; for thofe that refide in the towns wear almoft all of them 
 Englifh cloth. Except in this refped, the woollen manufadure has, for 
 fome time paft, met with little attention, however important it may have 
 formerly been, and has now given way to that of linen yarn and linen 
 cloth. 
 1747. Somewhat more than fifty years ago, this manufadure was introduced, 
 and, like every innovation that promii'es to employ the leifure of an indo- 
 lent people, met with a reception that was very unfavourable. As it was 
 pretty well fuited, however, to the circumftances of the place, and to the 
 condition of the people, it foon tiiumphed over every oppofition ; difi'ufed 
 itfelf wide in all quarters ; and not only improved the ftate of thofe that 
 direded it, but is faid to have faved the lives of many, who would have 
 
 otherwife 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 375 
 
 otherwife perifned for want in fome years of extreme dearth and fcarclty. 
 For about the fpace of fifteen or twenty years, while it was under the di- 
 redlion of one or only a very few perfons, it continued in a progrcflive and 
 flouri(hing flate, furnifliing every year twenty-five thoufand fpindles of ex- 
 cellent linen yarn, to employ the induftry of the nianufadlures in the 
 fouth. 
 
 After that time it fuffered a temporary decline. This was owing to fome 
 men, who, jealous of thofe by whom the manufacture was introduced, and 
 by whom it had hitherto been conducSle'l, and envying their profits, refolv- 
 ed to have a {hare of them ; and for that end they imported flax, employed 
 people to drefs it, and gave it out to fpin among the women that had for 
 fome time been thus employed. The Jpinncrs, by this time tafting the 
 fvvcets of indurtry, and opening their eyes to their own advantage, foon 
 perceived the competition among their employers, and availed themfclves of 
 it to raife their wages ; and, in proportion as they fucceeded in this parti- 
 cular, they became lefs attentive to their duty. The yarn was accordingly 
 worfe fpun, woife meafured, worfe counted, than ever it had been former- 
 ly ; and, of confequence, lort in the market a part of that character which 
 before it had fo juflly gained. 
 
 Still a confiderable quantity of it was fpun, and readily found purchafers 
 in Newcaftle, Edinburgh, Glafgow, and among the travelling merchants, 
 who came over annually from the coafl: of Moray and Invernefs to attend 
 the great Lammas market, and who receive it in barter for their goods in 
 confiderable quantity. Though much of it was difpofed of in this man- 
 ner (to which there lies a ftill flronger objedlion than that which has been 
 ftated againft bartering the country produce with their own fhopkeepers), 
 a large quantity ftill remained, which was commonly wrought into a coarfe 
 kind of linen cloth, that, about ten years ago, amounted annually to thirty 1790. 
 thoufand yards, as appears from the books of the ftamp mailer. 
 
 Since that time, the yarn has both retrieved its charadler, and increafed 
 in quantity ; and the fpinning of it is at prefent in a pretty flouruhing con- 1800. 
 dition, owing to different caufes. The chief of thele is the coniifxinn 
 which a merchant here lately formed with a Company of thread manufac- 
 turers in Montrofe, from whom he introduced the two-handed fpinning 
 
 wheel, 
 
376 INDUSTRY, BOOK III. 
 
 wheel, inftead of that which had formerly been commonly ufed. In order 
 to reap from it all the benefit which its nature pronifed, he brought a wo- 
 man to teach the young women the dexterous ufe of the inftrumcnt for a 
 limited time ; and, when they conduct themfelves to her fatisfadlion till 
 that is expired, they receive a reel and wheel gratis ; and if any of them 
 excel, feveral other premiums are given. The plan has fucceedcd beyond 
 what was expedted ; the girls entered with fuch alacrity, that upwards of 
 two hundred of them have already been taught, each of vi'hom can earn 
 about fixpence a day. The employment is fo fuited to their difpolitions, 
 that they prefer it to all others; and it is with difficulty that any of them 
 can be prevailed on to engage as fervants in the families of either gentlemen 
 or farmers. Complaints have therefore been made, and obje£tions ftated 
 to this new bufinefs, as detrimental to agriculture, and other branches of 
 induftry, in fo far as it deprived them of the accuftomed number of hands ; 
 and the projedor, inflead of meeting with that credit which his enterprife 
 merited, is branded with reproach as an enemy of his country. 
 
 This evil, however, (if it deferves that name), like every other, has its 
 remedy ; a redudion of the number of fervants, which are at prefent kept 
 by all ranks, and efpecially by farmers in the cultivation of their lands, 
 would moft probably prove beneficial, efpecially were the machinery of la- 
 bour improved, fo as to enable fewer hands to do more work. Were this 
 retrenching fcheme adopted, both domeftic and rural affairs would be con- 
 duced, not only with more economy, but w^irh more effed ; and there 
 would be a fufficient number of hands, ready to engage in this or any other 
 branch of bufinefs, that might in future be introduced. 
 
 But whatever opinion be formed of either this evil or its remedy, the 
 manufafture in queftion has borne down all oppofition ; infomuch that, 
 lypf) laft year, about fifty thoufand yards of linen were flamped ; and, befides 
 the yarn that was bartered in the manner above ftated, no fewer than fifty 
 thoufand fpindles were fold, and as much fent to the thread manufac- 
 tory. 
 
 In confidering the progreffive ftate of this bufinefs, one cannot help re- 
 gretting that the raw material is brought from a foreign country ; fince the 
 couniry in which it is either partially or wholly manufactured, feems fitted 
 
 9 to 
 
CHAP. III. Industry. 377 
 
 to raife it In fufficlent quantity. From Ruflia and Holland principally (not 
 to mention what comes from different parts of Great Britain), there are im- 
 ported annually forty tons of flax into this country, which, at an average, 
 may amount to three thoufand pounds Sterling prime coft ; all of which 
 might be faved for valuable purpofes, were the fame attention beftowcd on 
 the raifing of flax over the whole Iflands, that has been fuccefsfully paid 
 lately in one or two places. 
 
 The fame gentleman, who lately ereded a flax-mill, has alfo eftabliflied a 
 tannery and brewery, which we hope will be fuccefsful, and meet with 
 fuitable encouragement ; but, however this may be, neither thefe nor the 
 linen manufadure can ever arrive at fuch a degree of pcrfedion, as to rival 
 that of kelp, which may juftly be conlidered as the ftaple commodity. 
 
 Kelp is a fubftance compofed of different materials, of which the foffd or 
 mineral alkali, or, as it is commonly called, foda*, is the chief. This in- 
 gredient renders it ufeful in the compolitlon of foap ; in the manufadure of 
 allum, and in the formation of crown and bottle-glafs ; and in thefe manu- 
 fadures, kelp anfwers all the purpofes of the very befl: potafli, which can- 
 not be procured but at great expence from abroad, while the former can be 
 obtained by the induftry of our own people on our own fhores. It is 
 formed of the afhes of marine plants, which are cut from the rocks with a 
 hook, or collected on the fliore for that purpole, and dried on the beach to 
 a certain extent : they are afterwards burnt in a kiln in confiderable quanti- 
 ty, in which they are ftrongly ftirred with an iron rake into a fluid flate ; 
 and when they cool, the afhes condenfe into a dark blue or whitifh colour- 
 ed mafs, nearly of the hardnefs and folidity of a fragment of rock. The 
 kilns employed in this operation are rudely conftruded of ftones, in the 
 form of a circle, four or five feet in diameter, and about one in depth ; and 
 in each of them at a time are commonly burnt from two to fix hundred 
 
 * In the fn-fh growing plants, no other falts I)ut muriate of foJa, and fuch as arc found diffolved 
 Ul the fea-watcr, could lie traced. The alkaline falts fcem to be produced by tiie burning of the 
 plants. The foda fcems to be derived from the dccompoficion of part of the muriate of foda, or 
 common f.ilt, originilly in the compo!ition of the plant : owing no fomc unknown ingredient in the 
 plant, which either diflipates, or decompofes, the muriatic acid. But, in kelp, the greateft propor- 
 tion of ulkaline fait is potaOi ; and this fcems to be formed by fome unknown aimofphcric combina- 
 tion with the mucilage of the plant. — £. 
 
 3 G weight 
 
378 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 weiglit of kelp, which would perhaps be improved in quality as well as 
 quantity, were they of flill larger dimeniions. 
 
 The three numerous genera of Fiiais, Uiva^ and Conferva, all contain 
 qualities that render them capable of being converted into this fubftance ; 
 but the two latter, and indeed many of the former, are of fuch a loofe tex- 
 ture, and are met with fo feldom, as to contribute but little to its formation ; 
 fo that the whole quantity of kelp, produced here at Icaft, may be confidered 
 as furnifhed by fubmarlne plants of the four following kinds : 
 
 I. The [fucus tiodofus, Lin.) knotted fea-wrack, or bell-wrack, which is 
 here known by the name of yelloiv tang, and generally occupies that part of 
 the (hore that is next the high-water mark. 
 
 II. The [fucusferratus, Lin.) jagged or ferrated fea-wrack, which is al- 
 fo denominated yellow tatig, and which is common on that part of the 
 fhore that lies immediately below the former, or between it and the loweft 
 ebb. 
 
 III. The [fucus •veficulofus, Lin.) fea-wrack that is both the moft com- 
 mon and of the bed quality, and is called xhtfea-oak^ on account of the re- 
 femblance which its leaves bear to thofe of the oak tree. Here, from its 
 colour, it is called black tang ; it is found almoft conftantly on that part of 
 the fliore next the loweft ebb. 
 
 IV. The {fucus digitatus, Lin.) tangle, which is here univerfally known 
 by the name of ware, or redware, is in point of fituation below all the reft, 
 infomuch that thougli its tops be occafionally uncovered, its roots are very 
 feldom left dry, even at the loweft fpring tides, 
 
 Thtfe plants fix their roots in the immoveable rocks, in the loofe ftones, 
 and even in fuch pieces of wood as happen to be thrown in by the weather, 
 from none of which, however, they feem to draw any part of their fubfift- 
 ence, but depend for it probably on the air and water. Nor do they grow 
 in the deep, but only on the fhores, where they are either entirely, or in 
 part, uncovered at complete low water. Hence, where the fhores are bold 
 and fteep, and the water near them very deep, as on the weft fide of this 
 country, thefe plants do not grow ; and if they did, they would be inaccef- 
 fible on account of the conftant agitation of the billows. Frequently, how- 
 lever, it has been obferved, that they thrive much better on (hores expofed to 
 
 a current, 
 
CHAP. in. INDUSTRY. 
 
 379 
 
 a current, than they do In a more qulefcent fituation ; that they produce, in 
 proportion to their quantity, much more kelp ; and, when the place of their 
 growth is near the mouth of rivulets, or in any way expofed to much frefli 
 water, that both their quantity and quality are inferior to what they are in 
 perfedly fait water. Their growth is not only more rapid, but more vigo- 
 rous, the nearer they are to the lowefl: ebb ; and they gradually produce a 
 kfs luxuriant crop as they approach the flood-mark. The nature of the 
 rocks, too, on which they grow, feems to influence the bulk of the crop, and 
 perhaps its quality, as it has fometimes been obferved, that fandftone,or even 
 argillaceous fchiftus, is fcldom covered with fuch a thick coat of weeds, as 
 either whin or limeflone. In a fituation fuited to their nature, they feem to 
 arrive at the greateft perfe£lion for the purpofe intended, in the fpace of two, 
 or at moft three years ; before that age, in many places, they are too fhort 
 to admit of cutting ; and when allowed to ftand for four or five years, the 
 fame weight, or the fame quantity of weeds, will not produce fo much kelp, 
 as if they had been cut and manufa£lured fooner. 
 
 The months of April and May are fuppofed to be the moft produdive 
 feafon, though the people here feldom or never begin fo early, as they are 
 in general connected with farms, which occupy their attention till the be- 
 ginning of June. From that time to the firft or middle of Auguft, nearly 
 three thoufand people of both fexes, moft of them young, are employed in 
 this manufacture ; each of them, during that period, makes a ton, confifting 
 of twenty-four hundred weight of kelp, for which they receive, in fome 
 cafes, thirty or forty ftiillings, and in others fifty Ihillings, or even fometimes 
 three pounds Sterling. 
 
 Manufadluring farmers feldom acquire ikill In either profeflion, as their 
 attention is divided between them ; and as they truft to both for fubfiftence, 
 fometimes the one may fail, and fometimes the other ; their fpirits fink with 
 the lofs which they fuftain, and then both their farms and manufacture are 
 neglcded. This obfervation is but too juft with regard to thole who, at 
 the fame time, burn kelp and cultivate the land ; fo that a fignal benefit 
 would refult from feparaiing thefe two employments, as they have undoubt- 
 edly, for many years paft, incumbered and impeded the progrefs of each 
 Other. If fuch a meafure were deemed expedient, a number of people 
 
 3 C 2 could. 
 
380 INDUSTRY. BOOK III 
 
 could, without any detrlinent, be taken by degrees from agriculture, and 
 employed entirely in the kelp manufacture. This, however, could not be 
 done, unlefs kilns were introduced, of a proper conftruQion, for burning the 
 weeds as they are cut from the rocks, or driven afhore by the billows, not 
 only in fummer, as at prefent, but during the whole year*. 
 
 At particular places, fuch as creeks and bays in feveral of the iflands, vaft 
 quantities of ware or fea-weeds are often thrown afliore in fpring, harveft, 
 or winter ; and as no method has yet been tried of converting thefe into 
 kelp, fo long as they are in a frefh ftatc, and as the land cannot exhauft thefe 
 quantities in manure, excellent materials for feveral hundred tons of kelp are 
 thus loft every year to the proprietors and the country. Not only all of 
 this might be gained, but a very confiderable addition made to it, if the 
 weeds, both ware and tang, driven or cut, were taken frefh, and in that ftate 
 converted into kelp, by means of kilns properly conftrufted for the purpofe, 
 and wrought through the whole year by people whofe fole employment it 
 Ihould be to attend to that bufinefs. The kelpers then, as they might in that 
 cafe be properly called, would acquire dexterity from the divifion of labour, 
 and be ever ready, not only to treat the weeds in a proper manner, and bura 
 them in the beft ftate, but to cut and manufadure them in many places not 
 hitherto frequented ; and they would find leifure to apply themfelves to the 
 burning of tangle or redware, which in moft places is fo abundant, and 
 which can only be obtained at the fpring-tides. This laft branch of the 
 kelp manufadure has become an objed of attention of late only. It is, how- 
 ever, capable of vaft improvement. 
 
 Befides, if enlarging the foil for the produdion of fea-weeds be a 
 pradicable improvement, (and it is apprehended to be fo, as in this 
 
 * Colonel Fullarton's kilns have been lately tried in Orkney, with much fuccefs. Alfo a more 
 Ample form of kiln, compofed of fire-bricks, fimilar in conftru<5lion to thofe commonly ufed ; only 
 it has refervoirs, or moulds, into which the liquid kelp is allowed to flow, and confolidate, and is not: 
 allowed to cool while there are weeds within its reach. It can then be removed and rcconftni(fted 
 contiguous to another range of weeds. Were fuch kilns conftrufted on flat bottomed boats, they 
 might be moved from bay to bay, and confume all the fuci in fucceffion. Thus the burning of kelp 
 might become afeparate trade. But there are other produ(5ls, perhaps more valuable than the al- 
 kaline fait, which might be obtained from fea-weeds ; and, were the extrailion of thefe combined 
 with the othsr procefs, thefe plants might become more valuable than any our iflands produce. — £. 
 
 14 country 
 
CHAP. Jir. INDUSTRY. oSi 
 
 u^ 
 
 country it has in feveral inftances been tried with effedt), the kclpers might 
 employ their time, between tides, in digging or colIe(n:ing fuch hard, 
 large, compaifl: ftones, as were heft for the purpofe, and placing them on 
 the fhores in fuch fandy or clayey bottoms as contain few or no weeds, 
 and in fuch a manner as would expofe them to the leaft danger of being 
 removed by the furge. 
 
 The kelp, after being made in the manner above flated, is fuffered to 
 remain fome time in the kiln, in order to cool, (if the mafs be large, it 
 will require two or three days), when it is raifed in large pieces, and im- 
 mediately placed in fome flieltered fituation. This precaution is ufed, 
 from an idea, that, if expofed to the atmofphere, from which it evidently 
 draws moifture, it crumbles down into fmall pieces, and thus lofes much 
 of its value. Storehoufes have therefore been built every where for its 
 reception. Not only in this, but in other refpefts, and indeed in all the 
 Heps of the procefs, fuch as colleding, drying, and burning the weeds, 
 and raking the aflies into fluidity, much care is taken to prefcrvc it from 
 impurities of every fort. 
 
 The beft kind of kelp has an acrid or cauftic tafte, and a fulphurous 
 fmell ; the colour is a dark blue, bordering on green ; the pieces are large 
 and compa(fl in their texture, with few or no pores containing charry 
 matter, as this is a proof that the fea plants have not undergone a thorough 
 combuftion, or that the mafs has not been fufficiently fufed. Thcfe are 
 marks of its goodnefs, which are obvious to the fenfes, and may in ge- 
 neral be depended on, though they are very far from being infallible, as 
 any one muft know who has ever made experiments on this fubftance. 
 To fatisfy us completely in regard to this matter, we muft know accurately 
 the quantity of foda that the kelp contains, which, in the beft kind, has, 
 by repeated experiments, been found to be, the one twentieth part of its 
 weight. 
 
 Though the manufadures, into which kelp now enters copioufly as a 
 valuable ingredient, have cxifted long, the pre[)aration of this fubftance does 
 not appear to have been of a very long ftanding any where, and certainly 
 has not been known here above eighty yeare. It was about the commence- j ^20. 
 ment of that period, that fome gentlemen, who had either feen the ma- 
 
 nufadure 
 
282 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 nufadure In other parts, or had heard it dcfcrihed, entered into a refolu- 
 tion to attempt the introduction of it into their own country. The fhores» 
 extenfive in every dire<Sion, and thickly clad with thefe marine plants, to 
 which the hand of man had hitherto given no difturbance, prefented them- 
 felves to view in all their luxuriance, and excited hopes, that there might 
 one day refult from them fuch fignal benefits, as to extend, not to the 
 people of Orkney alone, but to the whole nation. 
 
 Beneficial, however, as the attempt might appear, it was not very 
 much relifhed ; and the lower clafs of people, who would have rejoiced 
 at the profped, had they not been funk in the moft torpid indolence, dif- 
 covered fuch an averfion to the meafure, that they made no fcruple to 
 give it the moft determined oppofitlon. Regarding every kind of em- 
 ployment which they had not been accuftomed to fee, or to engage in, as 
 not only ufelefs, but detrimental, they reprefented boldly to their fupe- 
 riors the bad confequences which they apprehended from this new and 
 ftrange bufinefs. * They were certain,' they faid, * that the fuffocating 
 ' fmoke that iflued from the kelp kilns would ficken or kill every fpecies of 
 
 * fifli on the coaft, or drive them into the ocean far beyond the reach of 
 ' the fifhermen ; blaft the corn and the grafs on their farms ; introduce 
 ' difeafes of various kinds ; and fmiie with barrennefs their Iheep, horfes, 
 
 * and cattle, and even their own families.' Deaf to thefe, and fuch like 
 remonftrances, which were the didates of ignorance, and the moft fu- 
 pine indolence of difpofition, the gentlemen perfifted in their refolution, 
 and carried their point. The manufadure was introduced ; overleaped 
 everv obftacle that had fo fooliflily been thrown in its way, and has fmce 
 fiouriftied in a wonderful manner. 
 
 As the price, however, for the firft twenty years after its introduc- 
 tion was but low, the quantity made in that time was inconfiderable. 
 During the fubfequent twenty years, the price rofe to two pounds five 
 Ihillings the ton ; and the value of all that was made amounted to two 
 thoufand pounds Sterling annually. For the following ten years, the 
 price advanced to four guineas at an average, and the yearly value was 
 fix thoufand pounds Sterling. The price at the market, from feventeen 
 hundred and feventy, for the fpace of eight years, was not lefs than five 
 
 pounds 
 
CHAP. IJI. INDUSTRY. 3S3 
 
 pounds the ton, nor the value of the annual quantity below ten thoufand 
 pounds ; and from that time to feventeeti hundred and ninety-one iiiclu- 
 five, which is a period of thirteen years, the price was dill higher, being 
 fix pounds per ton ; and the whole yearly value amounted to feventeen 
 thoufand pounds Sterling. From that time to the prefent, including a iSoo. 
 fpace of ten years, the quantity of kelp has increafcd confiderably ; and 
 the price has rifen in a dill greater proportion, efpecially fmce the com- 
 mencement of the prefent war, which has, for obvious reafons, raifed to 
 an enormous height the price of Spanifli barilla. 
 
 In fome few years during that period, the quantity made has been 
 three thoufand tons ; and as the price has been nine pounds, nine guineas, 
 and even ten pounds, the manufacture has brought into the place nearly 
 thirty thoufand pounds Sterling, fometimes, in one feafon. The average 
 in that time, indeed, has not been fo great, nor has the price always beea 
 fo high ; fo that we cannot rate the former above two thoufand five 
 hundred tons, nor the latter at more than nine pounds Sterling per ton. 
 Even at this medium, however, the fum arifing from the quantity in that 
 period amounts to two hundred and twenty-five thoufand pounds ; and 
 if this be added to the whole fum that had beea gained in the feventy 
 years preceding, the total, fince the commencement of the manufa(flure, 
 will rife to five hundred and ninety-five thoufand pounds Sterling. Thus, 
 in the fpace of eighty years, the proprietors of thefe Ifiands, whofe land- 
 rent does not exceed eight thoufand pounds a year, have, together with 
 their tenants and their fervants, received, in addition to their incomes, 
 the enormous fum of more than half a million Sterling. This vaft fum, 
 indeed, has been divided not only in the name of profits, rent, and 
 wages, but of freights, commiflion, infurance, &c. ; and a confiderable part 
 of it has been drawn and fpent by gentlemen who were non-refident • 
 but as the kelp was not only manufadured by natives, but fold by them, 
 and for the mod part carried to market in velTels the preperty of men in 
 the place, the advantages of which it has been produd;ive have been 
 reaped almoft entirely by this country. 
 
 Such a large fum, even with the dedudions already noticed. Introduced 
 into a place where money was fcarce ; where no other manufacture, except 
 
 that 
 
3S4 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 that of a little lliien and linen yarn was known ; where fiflieries, that 
 might have conftituted wealth, were regarded as an objcdt of inferior mo- 
 ment ; and where commerce languifhed, partly for want of fpirit, and 
 partly for want of capital, mud have produced fome remarkable effeds. 
 To afcertain the nature, as well as the extent of thefe, an accurate view 
 muft be taken of the prefent ftate of the country, and a comparifon drawn 
 between it, and that which exifted previoufly to the introdudion of this 
 manufadure, or even before the fums annually received for its produce 
 amounted to any confiderable height. 
 1800. More than three thoufand people are at prefent employed In this bene- 
 ficial manufadure, each of whom will, during the two laft months of 
 fummer, earn, in addition to their ordinary income, two pounds, two 
 pounds ten (hillings, or even three pounds Sterling, which is more than 
 they would have gained in a whole year formerly. But, befides the be- 
 nefits it confers on thofe who are immediately engaged in the employment, 
 it has often been of great advantage to the inhabitants in general. From 
 the fituation and circumftances of this place, it is evident, that it muft be 
 fubjed to fudden and violent gufts of wind, which frequently blaft the 
 produdlons of the earth to fuch a degree, that the crops, from having the 
 moft flattering appearance in the fummer, or early in the autumn, fome- 
 times in the end prove of little value. For feveral years fucceffively, at 
 no very remote period, this was unfortunately the cafe, when thefe Iflands 
 were vifited with fcarcity ; and, had it not been for this excellent manu- 
 fadure, which enabled the people to buy meal from the merchants, and 
 the proprietors to import it for their tenants and dependants, many of the 
 former would have been reduced to great difficulties, or even perhaps pe- 
 rifhed for want ; and fome of the latter would have been ftript of their 
 eftates, or reduced to bankruptcy. Important as thefe effeds may appear, 
 there are others, little, if at all inferior, that remain to be mentioned. 
 
 Perhaps in no country was ever induftry in a lower ftate than it feems 
 to have been in this, before, and even for fome time aftei, the introduc- 
 tion of this manufadure ; but, by its means, induftry is now happily in 
 fome meafure increafed, though not in the degree it might have been, had 
 only a part of the large capital, of which it has been produdive, been 
 
 laid 
 
<CHAP. rn. INDUSTRY. ^85 
 
 laid out in the improvement of wafte lands, or in extending the labour of 
 the people in other refpedts. But though no part of this capital has hi- 
 therto been laid out in this manner, it is hoped that it will be fo applied in 
 fome future period, when it will prove a tenfold bleffing, and ferve greatly 
 to ameliorate the people's condition. 
 
 Formerly, they were poor, indolent, dejeded creatures, In want often 
 of the neceffaries, and moft always of the conveniencies or the comforts 
 of life. At prefent, the cafe is otherwife; for they are now much better 
 fed, cleaner in their perfons, and far better clothed ; their houfes are neat- 
 er, warmer, and more commodious : and in proportion as they find 
 themfelves more comfortable, they are rifing to know their own worth, 
 to fhake off that fervility that never fails to debafe the charader, and to 
 difcover more independence of fpirit. Neither is this fpirit confined to 
 thofe who are immediately connected with this bufinefs : for it is pleafant 
 to obferve, that it has diffnfed itfelf, in fome degree, among the whole 
 body of the people, who know their rights much better than they were 
 accuftomed to-do, and confider themfelves as of more importance. Some 
 new branch of induftry, therefore, ought to be introduced immediately 
 among them, before that fpirit evaporates, or, what is far more dangerous, 
 before it degenerates into that unbridled licentioufnefs, which is but too 
 much the charadteriftic of the prefent age. 
 
 But while we trace with pleafure the manifold advantages that refult 
 from this branch of bufinefs, and anticipate feveral others, which future 
 times may give rife to, candour compels us at the fame time to ftate fome 
 of the difadvantagcs, which it would appear to have produced. 
 
 As the value of money is always in proportion to its plenty or fcarce- 
 jiefs, the infiiix which this branch occafioned, fo far diminifhed its value 
 that -not only the conveniences and luxuries of life, but alfo the necef- 
 faries, have rifen to an extraordinary price, which bears very hard on 
 fuch as have their incomes in money only ; and agriculture, which fhould 
 every where be confidered as the firft, as well as the moft ufeful of the 
 arts, inftead of being improved from the acquifition of capital, has been 
 negleded as a lefs lucrative branch. Befides, the money that has flowed 
 
 3D in 
 
386 INDUSTRY. BOOK IH. 
 
 in fo plentifully from that fource, has introduced among all ranks a ftyle 
 of living, in point of houfes, furniture, drcfs and table, which their eftates, 
 farms and incomes, independently of this manufafture, will by no means 
 fupport; and confequently, if ever this manufacture fail, (and we can 
 have no abfolute dependence on its permanency), unavoidable ruin will be 
 brought on the proprietors, their tenants and their families. 
 
 To fuch as are unacquainted with the temper and circuraftances of 
 the people, it may feem a little furprifing that none of the manufadures, 
 in which kelp is ufed, has ever yet been attempted to be introduced. Soap 
 could certainly be manufadured here with advantage, as we have In a- 
 bundance not only this ingredient, but alfo oil, butter, and tallow, which 
 are purchafed for that very purpofe in other places ; and provifions and la- 
 bour are flill cheaper with us, than where this manufacture is carried on 
 with efTeCl:. Glafs might alfo perhaps be made, and even alum, fince we 
 have one material in perfedlion, and, though we want coal, that defe(fl: 
 could eafily be fupplied by the importation of a fufficient quantity, at a 
 moderate expence, in the (hips that carry the kelp to the Newcaftle mar- 
 ket. Befides, were materials wanting for thefe, or any other manufac- 
 ture fuited to our circumftances, no place can be more conveniently fituat- 
 ed than this is, from bringing them from another country. 
 
 Objections have been Rated to manufactures in general, on account of 
 the influence which they naturally have in raifing the price of grain and 
 other articles; and, confequently, that of the deficient or unpaid feu-du- 
 ties. But it may be remarked, that kelp has had more effeCt in this way, 
 than all the manufactures that could have been introduced, taken together. 
 In order to obtain a low fiar, or, in other words, to pay a fmall price for 
 the undelivered feu-duties, it has long been the policy of this place to keep 
 provifions cheap ; and, though all feem to concur in this, their plans for 
 this purpofe have either been fo ill contrived, or their execution fo injudi- 
 cioufly directed, that every attempt that has been made, has had a direCtly 
 contrary effeCt. This is juft what might have been expeCted, and what 
 in general happens, when any interference takes place in fuch things as 
 ought to be left at liberty. 
 
 4. ' The 
 
CHAP. III. 
 
 INDUSTRY. 387 
 
 The provifions here mull in their price bear a proportion to what they 
 are in other places, on account of the extenfive and regular intercourfe ; 
 and nothing can prevent that proportion, but a check given to the inter- 
 courfe which, though fometimes fpoken of and even threatened, would be 
 equally repugnant to every principle of juftice, and to every rule of found 
 policy. 
 
 The beft, or perhaps the only way of keeping provifions cheap, is to 
 adopt fuch meafures as would raife them in greater quantity ; for this pur- 
 pofe, here, it would be necefl'ary to drain lochs, to cultivate wafte lands, 
 to improve fuch as are already cultivated, and to encourage fifliing. To 
 the adoption of thefe meafures the feu-duties can form no infuperable bar, 
 fmce they cannot be confidered in the light of a tithe or a thirlage, but 
 only as a definite portion of grain, payable yearly by weight, and not by 
 meafure, partaking of the nature of a perpetual tack-duty or rent. 
 
 A converfion of them, however, on reafonable terms, while it could 
 not hurt the intereft of the nobleman to whom they belong, might ferve 
 greatly to advance the intereft of the country, provided the proprietors 
 would alfo convert the rents of their tenants into money, on the fame 
 terms ; grant them leafes of a convenient length ; abolilh unlimited fer- 
 vices ; and take fuch other fteps as may promote the general improve- 
 ment. 
 
 3 1^ 2 SECTION 
 
388 
 
 FNDUSTRY'. 
 
 BOCK lis. 
 
 SECTION iir» 
 
 COMMERCE. 
 
 To any perfon who will take the trouble to cad his eyes on a map of ~ 
 the empire, nothing can be more obvious than the advantages which thefe 
 Iflands poffefs for engaging in fome branches of commercial induftry. Si- 
 tuated near the extremity of the empire to the north, they have equally 
 eafy accefs to the manufaduring and trading towns on the eaft and weft 
 coafts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Baltic, and Holland, are at no great 
 diftance ; and fhips might fail with as much fafety and expedition, from 
 our excellent harbours, to America or the Weft Indies, as from almoft any 
 port in the kingdom. Such a fituation naturally fuggefts a commercial 
 connexion with thefe places ; than which, nothing could be more favour- 
 able, were the circumftances of the place, in other refpeds, fuch as to 
 enable the inhabitants to form or fupport fuch a connexion. But in vain 
 might they attempt to eftablilh a Baltic, Dutch, Irifh, or an American 
 trade, in the prefent imperfedl ftate of their agriculture and manufadures ; 
 which, in every country where there is foil or furface to produce fubfiftence 
 for man, ought to be improved to fuch a degree as to ferve for the found- 
 ation of the commercial arts. 
 
 At prefent, they are in want of capital, people, and induftry, fufficient 
 to render it expedient for them to embark in foreign trade ; and, till they 
 obtain thefe advantages, they muft content themfelves with trafficking in 
 thofe few articles that are raifed in their own country, or are neceflary for 
 its confumption. 
 
 The little trade which they have, though by no means flourifliing, is 
 rather in an improving ftate, as will appear from an account of the com- 
 modities exported and imported. The principal exports are beef, pork. 
 
 butter. 
 
CHAP. HI, INDUSTRY. jSg 
 
 butter, tallow, hides, calf-flclns, rabbit-fkins, falt-fifh, oil, feathers, linea- 
 yarn, and coarfe linen cloth, kelp, and, in years of fertility, corn, meal, 
 and malt, in no fmall quantity. 
 
 The imports are, wood, iron, flax, coal, fugar, fpirits, wines, fnufF 
 and tobacco, flour and bifcuit, foap, leather, hardware, broad-cloth and 
 printed linens and cottons. 
 
 In the annexed ftate of the articles imported, their value is dated at 
 the prime coft, in the markets of London, Manchefter, Whitby, Newcaftle, 
 Glafgow, Edhiburgh, and Aberdeen, the places from which they are 
 generally brought. That of the exports, on the other hand, is rated at the 
 price which they ordinarily bring at the fame markets, and at Briftol, 
 Liverpool, Leith, and Dumbarton; markets, to which kelp has of late 
 been carried in confiderable quanties. The information has been drawn 
 from the Cuftom-houfe books, which feem very accurate ; and, in order 
 to afcertain their value, recourfe was had to thofe of the mofl judicious 
 and intelligent fhopkeepers. 
 
 Four different periods have been fixed on, ten years diftant from each 
 other, in order to give a more diftindt idea of the progrefTive ftate of the 
 little trade of thefe remote Ifland^. 
 
 J^H 
 
39° 
 
 INDUSTRY. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 y^« Accurate Statement of the Valve of the Goods carried from 
 a7id to Orkney; together -with ^« Account of the Tonnage, the 
 Number o/' Ships, and of the Sailors o?i board of theniy that belonged 
 to it, in the Tears following, viz. 
 
 An. Dom. 
 
 r Exports L. 1 2,0 1 8 4 o Sterling. 
 1 Imports 10,406 6 o 
 
 L. 1,611 18 o 
 
 1780. ■[^^P°''^^ L. 23,247 10 o 
 ' * 1 Imports 14,011 6 o 
 
 L. 9,236 4 o 
 
 r Exports L. 26,cq8 12 o 
 
 1790- It o 
 
 i Imports 20,803 o o 
 
 1 
 I 
 I 
 
 1800. I^^PO'^^s L. 39,677 9 
 \ Imports 
 
 35,789 17 4 
 L. 3,887 12 o 
 
 \ 
 
 1770. Shipping, 825 tons. Ships, 17. 
 
 1780. Shipping, 940 tons. Ships, 20. 
 
 1790. Shipping, 2000 tons. Ships, 2)i' 
 
 1800. Shipping, 1375 tons. Ships, 21. 
 
 Sailors, 76. 
 
 Sailors, 90. 
 
 Sailors, 170. 
 
 Sailors, 119. 
 
 Thus, the trade has been gradually increafing, for at leaft the fpace of 
 thirty years. And, that the tonnage and number of the {hipping, as well 
 as the number of the failors, have not increafed in proportion, has been 
 owing to captures by the enemy and to Ihipwrecks. 
 
 SECTION 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 
 
 391 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 FISHERIES. 
 
 Nothing conulbutes more to the profperlty of any country, than to 
 have its nature, fituation, and circumftances accurately inveftigated and 
 thoroughly known ; and to have that kind of induftry not only intro- 
 duced, but fupported and encouraged, v^^hich is beft adapted to it in thefe 
 refpeds. To this wife policy, in a great meafure, vsras it owing that the 
 Dutch, with a territory that is neither extenfive nor of the beft quality, 
 raifed themfelves to a degree of confequcnce that rendered them, formerly, 
 the obje£l of wonder and envy to the nations around them. If an ifland, 
 within their limits, contained many creeks and bays, it was deftined for 
 the building of boats, floops, and other fmall craft. Another, that had 
 not thefe advantages, but a foil fitted for the purpofe, was appropriated to 
 the produdlion of flax and hemp, to be made into twine, nets, cordage, 
 and failcloth for the different veffels. A third, that was diftinguilhed for 
 the luxuriance of its grafs or the excellence of its pafture, was fct apart to 
 furnifli milk, butter, and beef for the inhabitants. While a fourth, on 
 account of its fuperior richnefs of foil, produced oats, barley, peas, beans, 
 and wheat. 
 
 Unfortunately, no fuch method has ever yet been adopted in regard to 
 the Iflands in queftion ; for they are deprived not only of the advantages 
 that refult from a feleiSlion of places, and the cftablifhment of ftaples fuited 
 to their circumftances, but even of thofe which might arife from that 
 kind of induftry which feems beft calculated for them, confidered as a 
 ■whole. In proof of this, it may be obferved, that though their fituation 
 is favourable to almoft every kind of fifhery, and the multitude and variety 
 of excellent fifli on the coafts promifc to reward amply the labour of the 
 people who might be thus engaged, very little attention has hitherto been 
 
 beftowed 
 
39* 
 
 INDUSTRY, ^ BOOK III, 
 
 beftowed on this objed ; and, in the few Inftances where it has, ftrangers 
 have performed the work, and reaped the benefit. 
 
 Since the people to the north, fouth, and weft of this country, who 
 are in fome refpeds in a fimilar condition, have embarked keenly in this 
 fpecies of induftry, it may feem ftrange that here it fhould have met with 
 luch general negledt. The moft probable reafon th atan be given is, that 
 they who live in the country have almoft all of them little farms to occupy 
 their attention, and are, for the moft part, employed in the feafon that is 
 beft calculated for fifhing, in the manufadure of kelp, which, if not al- 
 ways a more lucrative, is at leaft a more certain and a lefs hazardous em- 
 ployment. But were once the furplus number of hands taken from agri- 
 culture, which, as has been ftated, that bufinefs could eafily fpare, and 
 were kelp manufadured by people whofe fole bufinefs it was at all fea- 
 •fons, men might be found to engage in fifhing as their only profefllon, 
 without which it is in vain to exped that excellence in this line can ever 
 
 be gained. 
 
 In the intervals of their labour on the land and on the rocks, the people 
 at prefent launch their boats, and catch, near the fhore, a few fifh for their 
 immediate fupport, without difcovering the fmalleft inclination to advance 
 farther into the fea, where they would feldom fail to find fifh of a fuperior 
 kind and quality. 
 
 An exception in regard to lobfters deferves to be mentioned. For fome 
 years paft, the lobfter fifhing has been carried on to a confiderable extent. 
 It feems to be increafing, and has already been a profitable concern to the 
 Company, and of much benefit to many of the people in feveral of the 
 Iflands. Thefe fifh, vvhich are excellent and numerous, are caught in 
 nets and confined in chefts till fuch time as the fhips arrive that are to 
 carry them away. An opulent Englifh Company has undertaken and con- 
 duds this bufinefs, who employ a number of fmacks that have large wells 
 in their holds, for the purpofe of containing the fifh, and carrying them 
 aUve weekly to the London market. About a hundred boats are em- 
 ployed, with ten men in each ; and though the lobfters are fold for two 
 j)ence Sterling a piece, a good filhermau will gain, even at this low rate, 
 
 ten 
 
CHAP. Ill, INDUSTRY. 393 
 
 ten pounds in the fummer. The whole fum that this branch of bufinefs 
 is calculated to produce to the inhabitants at prefent, amounts annually to 
 a thoufand pounds Sterling. And, as there are many places where this 
 fpecies of fifh abound, that have not yet been vifited by the fifliermen, it 
 is believed, on good grounds, that t^A-ice that fum might eafily be drawn 
 from that fifliery. 
 
 A far greater fum than this, it is imagined, might be acquired, if due 
 attention were paid to the herring fifliery. That fjfli, it is well known, 
 comes every year in immenfe fhoals from the north, cm of which feems to 
 divide itfelf into two branches ; and, in its progrefs fouthwards, the one 
 branch hovers for fome time about the Northern Ifles and the Eaft coaft, 
 while the other branch vifits thofc iflands that are fituated on the Weft coafl; 
 of Great Britain. In the month of June, herrings are caught in vaft 
 numbers, and in the very beft condition, on the coaft of Shetland. About 
 the end of July, or beginning of Auguft, they commonly reach the coafts 
 of Caithnefs and Sutherland, and much about the fame time make their 
 firft appearance in the lochs and bays of the Weftern Ifles. In thus pafliing 
 on both fides of us when the weather is favourable, they are often feen in 
 great multitudes in the founds, creeks and bays, and might then be caught 
 in myriads with the utmoft facility. Such, however, is either the want 
 of hands, or the want of capital, fklll, or enterprife, for engaging in this 
 fpecies of induftry, that though it promifes not only profits to thofe 
 who would undertake it, but much advantage to the people at large, 
 no attempt has hitherto been made to eftablifh, or even begin fo beneficial 
 a bufinefs. 
 
 The fame negled has been {hown to the cod and ling fifliery, which, 
 if undertaken with fpirit, and purfued with perfeverance and judgment, 
 could not, it is believed, fail to add much to the induftry and riches of 
 this country. Along almoft all the coafts, and at no great diftancc from 
 land, there are banks to which thele fifli refort, and where they are caught 
 In plenty, as often as the fea and weather permit the boats (which are 
 not very well calculated for the purpole) to reach thcfe places in fafety. 
 As a proof of their abundance, it may be obferved, that in the ifland of 
 Waes, the little farmers on the fhores of the Pentland Frith have fome- 
 ^ . 3 E times 
 
394 INDUSTRY. BOOK III. 
 
 times directed their attention, in their leifure hours, to fifhing; and, with 
 a few boats only, and in the time which they could fpare from their other 
 labour, they have been known to catch forty thoufand excellent cod fifh 
 in one feafon. Had the attention of thefe people been direded folely to 
 that objed, and had their boats been properly conftruded for the purpofe, 
 they might certainly have caught with eafe ten times that number. The 
 fuccefs that follows their exertions in thefe unfavourable circumftances, 
 points out that place as an eligible fifhing ftation ; to which might be added, 
 with a profpedl of fimilar fuccefs, Stromnefs, Blrfay or Evie, Weftray and 
 Sanday, which might be the places for catching and curing cod and ling ; 
 while Stronfay, Deernefs, and South Ronaldfhay might be proper ftations 
 for both the lobfter and herring fifheries. 
 
 But whatever advantage might refuk from this bufinefs either to indi- 
 viduals or fociety, it is in vain to think of its commencementj till either 
 the inhabitants acquire more enterprife and more fkill ; or proper flfher- 
 men be brought from another place to animate and inftrudl them ; till boats 
 better adapted to the employment be procured ; and till decked floops be 
 furnifhed, that may efiedlually cover thefe boats from the violence of the 
 fea, or the inclemency of the weather. 
 
 The number of hands which this branch of induftry employs in the 
 fifter Iflands to the north, the multitude of people it fupports, no lefs 
 than the large fums that are drawn from it to augment the revenue of 
 the proprietors, fhould certainly induce men of capital to engage in that 
 promifing bufinefs. The fame inen might alfo perhaps promote their own 
 intereft, as well as that of the public, by laying out a part of their capital, 
 for the purpofe of fliaring the profits of the feal and whale fifhery. Seve- 
 ral towns on the eaft coaft of Britain have for many years been concerned 
 in that bufinefs ; and their profits have no doubt been fuch as to encourage 
 them to continue their exertions. Still greater profits, it is believed, might 
 be obtained by thofe who would embark in it here, as this place pofTeffes 
 feveral fignal advantages. In point of diftance, for example, it is much 
 nearer the fifliing ground ; feamens' wages as well as all forts of provifions, 
 are cheaper ; and plenty of men fit for the employment could be found, as 
 many of them have been long accuftomed to ferve on board of fliips from 
 
 other 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 395 
 
 Other places engaged in that bufinefs. The low price, too, of fome forts of 
 labour here, would, when once they had begun the trade, fuggeft the pro- 
 priety of landing the fpick or blubber, in order to undergo the procefs for 
 converting it into oil in this place, which would be another fource of em* 
 ployment and emolument to thefe iflands. Markets in abundance for this 
 commodity could be every where found ; and it could be carried out at 
 little expence in the fhips that carry off the produce of the Iflands. 
 
 But, what would add much to promote, not only this, but every kind of 
 fifhing, both here and in fome places in the vicinity, would be the eftablini- 
 ment of an extenfive magazine, containing all things neceflary for the pur- 
 pofe. The central fituation of thefe Iflands points them out as a fit ftatioa 
 for fuch a magazine ; and from it both the Weftern Ifles and Shetland 
 might be fupplied with all forts of ftores, whenever their fifliing had been 
 fo unexpededly great, as to drain them of the neceflary articles before the 
 conclufion of the fifliing feafon. To furnifti this magazine as it ought, 
 would alfo encourage and fupport other kinds of induflry. Staves might 
 be imported, and made into caflcs by coopers belonging to the place, 
 hemp might be raifed on our foil, and made into twine, lines, nets, fails, 
 and cordage : meal, malt, ale, and fpirits might be furniflied from our own 
 grain, for vi'hich in fome years it is diflicult to find a proper market. If 
 fait made here would anfvver the purpofe, it could be furniflied alfo, as fait 
 works have been eftabliflied formerly ; and if occafionally the requifite 
 articles could not be furniflied here, they could be brought eafily from 
 another country. 
 
 In fliort, were thefe different modes of amelioration adopted ; did all 
 ranks, that are any way connedled with this country, concur in the im- 
 provement of its agriculture, fo as not only to produce fubfift:ence for a 
 growing population, but materials for an increafed manufadturc, in the 
 extenfion of the kelp in particular ; did they avail themfelves of the ad- 
 vantages of its fituation for entering into feveral kinds of fiflieries, and car- 
 rying on fome branches of foreign as well as domeftic trade ; and did they 
 at the fame time colledl into a magazine materials of various kinds, to 
 enable them to carry on thefe branches of induftry with more eReil ; this 
 place, which is inconfiderablc neither in extent nor fertility, would rife 
 
 3 E 2 from 
 
39<5 INDUSTRY. BOOK iir. 
 
 from obfcurlty into confequence, and affume that rank which it is entitled 
 to hold among the provinces of the kingdom. 
 
 Several thoufand excellent failors would, in that cafe, be always ready on 
 any emergency to be furnilhed to the navy of Great Britain, and it would 
 have a claim to expe£t a fuitable protedion in return. For this purpofe, 
 in times of hoftility, a fmall fquadron of fhips of war might be conveniently 
 ftationed here ; which would ferve the end, not only of guarding the coun- 
 try, but alfo of protecting our own trade in the North Seas, and cramping 
 that of our enemies ; and, were privateers to join them, there is fcarcely 
 any fituation where they would be more fuccefsful, as a great number of 
 veflels are continually paffing. 
 
 To conclude with a fummary view of the whole — Thefe Iflands, of 
 which twenty-nine are inhabited, and thirtv-eight have no inhabitants, 
 were early difcovered, and feem evidently to have been firft peopled by the 
 Pidls, who, from their language, manners, and cuftoms, appear to have 
 been a tribe of the ancient Goths. 
 
 That branch of them which fettled here, were, like the reft, a free people, 
 though governed by fupreme magiftrates, under the name of Kings, who 
 were, it is probable, one while independent, and at another tributary to the 
 Pidifh monarchs in the north of Scotland, for a period of feveral hundred 
 years. Towards the end of the ninth, or the beginning of the tenth cen- 
 tury, they were invaded, and yielded to the fuperior force of a warlike 
 people, from the lakes and fhores of Norway, by whom they were either 
 extirpated or fubdued, as we hear no more of them in the military tran- 
 fadions of that period, though thefe tranfactions arc recorded at confider- 
 able length by the hiftorians of the fubfequent age. From that time, the 
 Iflands were under the dominion of the fovereigns of that country, who, 
 by means of noblem.en of very high rank, governed them as fubjeds, but 
 not as flaves ; infomuch that, during the continuance of their fovereignty, 
 which lafted till after the middle of the fifteenth century, the people feem 
 to have enjoyed a degree of liberty, which, in many parts of Europe, was 
 
 7 at 
 
CHAP. III. INDUSTRY. 
 
 397 
 
 at that time unknown. Still ihey laboured under the inconveniences, in- 
 herent in the condition of a remote province, far from the feat of power, 
 and beyond the reach of riches and commerce. With few incentives to 
 induftry, they lanj^uiflied in indolence an 1 obfcurity, unlefs when they 
 rufhed into the field, to fignalize their courage againft their foes, who 
 never attacked their perfons or invaded their territory with impunity, Bat 
 though this temporary exertion might fecure them from dangerous enemies, 
 by keeping alive their martial fpirit, it could have little or no influence in 
 creating or chtrifhing an ufeful and permanent adivity. After they be- 
 came fubjeit, and were annexed to the Crown of Scotland, it might have 
 been fuppofed that they would have improved in this refped. This, how- 
 ever, vpas not the cafe ; for as they were fometimes farmed on fhort leafes, 
 or managed by faBors or ftewards for the Crown ;^who were frequently 
 changed), and at other times given to needy court favourites for a fliort 
 period, thefe men were all of them fo deftitute of any fixed or lading interell 
 in their welfare, as to prevent their engaging in any plans for their im- 
 provement. 
 
 If thofe who held the firft rank difcovered no inclination to improve the 
 place, of which they had the management, neither the lefler proprietors of 
 land, nor the little traders, who were all of them burdened with a heavy 
 load of taxes, could be fuppofed to have the difpofuion, or the ability, to 
 undertake fuch an arduous tafk. Hence, notwithftanding the excellence of 
 the loil of this country, and the very favourable fituation for feveral kinds 
 of induftry in which it is placed, the lands are many of them yet lying in 
 a ftate of nature, and almoft; ail of them are but very imperfetflly cultivated. 
 Manufaiflures, with only one exception, have fcarcely, at this moment, been 
 entered upon ; the filheries are almoll entirely negleded ; and any little 
 commerce that has hitherto been an object of attention, can hardly be con- 
 fidered as deferring the name. 
 
 But, would his Majefty, who is in pofTcffion of the church-lands, and 
 who has an intereft; in their improvement, take the lead in their ameliora- 
 tion ; were the Royal example followed by the noble perfon, who has a 
 right to the feu-duties of the earldom, and has joined to that privilege an 
 extenfive private cftate j and were the gentlemen and merchants toco ope- 
 rate 
 
398 
 
 INDUSTRY. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 rate in fuch a bufmefs, we fliould very foon behold with pleafure a new and 
 more interefting order of things take place. 
 
 By fuch means as thefe, the lakes and marfhes would In a fhort time be 
 drained ; the common lands and runrig lands would be divided ; and all of 
 them would be fo improved, as to produce fubfiftence for the people, and 
 materials for manufadures of different kinds. Manufadures and com- 
 merce and fifheries would fpringup and rival one another; the inhabitants 
 would become four times as numerous, more induftrious, and confequently 
 more happy ; and the Orkney Iflands, inftead of being a negledted and 
 comparatively ufelefs province, would foon be made a valuable part of the 
 Britifti Empire, 
 
 APPEN- 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
s 
 
APPENDIX, No. I. 
 
 DIPLOMA, or DEDUCTION, concerning the Genealogies of the 
 Ancient Counts of Orkney, from their Firjl Creation to the 
 Fifteenth Century : Drawn up from the mofi authentic Records^ by 
 Thomas, Bishop of Orkney, ivitb the AJfflance of his Clergy, 
 and others^ in confequence of an Order from Eric King of Denmark, 
 to invefligale the Right o/'WiLLiAM Sinclair to the Earldom, 
 
 \/U0NiAM inter ceteras hujus flii£tuantis feculi curas et folicitudines, 
 penfata temporum, morum, ac hominum in hac lacrimarum valle, labili- 
 tate et brevitate, teftante vencrabili illo cronographo Martino, Domini 
 noftri Pape penetentiario, et capellano, necefle videtur de congerie extra- 
 here progenitorum, regum, principura et aliorum preclarorum genealogias 
 per quas mundus ifte tranfitorius rcgitur, Reges regnant, et principes 
 gubernant fignantque ; in dedudionem, et agnicionem veritatis, quo ad 
 eorundem fuccefllonem verifimiliter evenire fperatur. Illuftri ergo et ex- 
 cellentlflimo Domino noftro, principi fupremo, Norwegio regi, fuifque 
 fucceffbribus, fatrapis, patriciis, confulibus et proceribus didi regni, Tho- 
 mas Dei et Apoftolice Sedis gracia Epifcopus Orcadie, et Zetlandie, canonici 
 ecclefie cathedralis Sandi Magni Martyris glorlofiflimi, legifer, ccterique 
 proceres, nobiles, populus ac communitas ejufdem, gracia, pax, caritas, 
 gaudium, longanimitas, mifcricordia a Deo Patre omnipotente ct a Jefu 
 Chriflo in fpiriiu fando. In omnibus vobis per quem regcs regnant et in 
 
 3 F cujus 
 
402 APPENDIX, NO. I. 
 
 cujus manu corda funt regum cum omni fubjedlione, humlHtate, et obe- 
 diencia prompti et parati veftram in Jefu Chrifti vifceribus zelantes et fa- 
 cientes falutem in caritate non fi£ta. Requirentes ut in dicendis in noflra 
 fnr.plicitate veftra fuppleat regia fublimitas et quia fclmus firmiter et longi 
 temporis fpacio, efEcax rerum magiftra, nos experientia docuit, quod in du- 
 bium non revocamus qualiter erga Comites Orcadie regalis ipfa fublimitas, 
 zelum Temper exuberantem exercuit, quamobrem firmam fpem gerimus, 
 plenamque fiduciam obtineraus quod ilia regia majcftas verba noflra be- 
 nigne recipiat, diligenter intelligat et efFedive profequatur, ut infra pedo- 
 ris clauftrum folicite confiderare convenit ipfa regia finceritas et diligenter 
 attendere, quod adulatorium veftre ferenltatis aliquid non fcribimus, quod 
 fecundum Petrum Bleflenfem in fuo prologo canentera, Olei venditores 
 effe non intendimus, fed patefadiores veritatis. 
 
 Ergo arbitramur pium efle et meritorium, teftimonlum perhibere vere- 
 tati ne Veritas occultetur, prefertim ilia per quam innocenti poffit perjudi- 
 ciam generari, et cum uterque reus eft qui veritatem occultat et menda- 
 "cium dicit, quia ille prodeffe non ifte nocere defiderat quod a nobis Deus 
 avertat, potiffime cum in dicendis per quondam recolende memoriam Erici 
 veftri predecefforis regis noftri admoniti patentes literas fuiflemus teftlmo- 
 nium perhibere veritati, prout lacius in fequentibus patebit. Hinc eft 
 quod nos Thomas Epifcopus, capitulum, canonici, legifer, ceterique pro- 
 ceres, nobiles, populus, communitas five plebei antedidti, coram Deo ia 
 fide, ac fidelitate quibus veftre regie majeftati tenemur aftridifidellter at- 
 teftamur et ad perpetuam rei memoriam deducimus fidemque facimus vobis 
 et omnibus prefentibus et futuris. 
 
 Jefu Chrifti fidelibus fande matris ccclefie filiis in forma et efFedu 
 fubfequentibus. Coram nobis congregatis comparens, magnificus, et praz- 
 potens Dominus, Dominus Willielmus de Sando Clare Comes Orcadie, 
 Dominus de Sinclar in ecclefia Sandi Magni Martyris in Orcadia pro- 
 pofuit in hunc modumj fuppofuit enim quod nobis bene et ad plenum 
 cognita res fuiflet, quomodo magnis retroadis temporibus anteceflbres 
 fui et progenitores ac ipfi Orcadie comites jufte ac juridice, inconcufle, 
 linealiter et gradatim jure hereditario comitatui Orcadie fuperdido fuccef- 
 fcrant ac illam per tempora magna et longeva nulla aliena generatione in- 
 
 terveniente, 
 8 
 
APPENDIX, NO. I. 403 
 
 terveniente, qiiietifllme pofTederanr. Et quallter diverfe carte, evidentie, 
 inftrumenta, libri cenfuales et alia dlverfa probaclonum genera fuerant 
 igne confuinpta, deperdita, et alienata, hoftilitatis tempore et guerrarum, 
 emulorum inlmicorumque nonnullorum, defedtu et carencla firmiflime 
 domus feu municionis inexpugnabilis ubi hujufmodi collocarentur ; fub- 
 junxit idem Dominus Comes quod habuit Uteras quondam fupremi Do- 
 mini noftri Regis Erici illuftris, patentes quas nobis oftendit et perlegi 
 fecit, precepta continentes fubfequencia, fcilicet quod fiquis noftrum ha- 
 buerit, vel qui habuerint aliquas cartas, evidencias, cirographa, inftrumen- 
 ta, monimenta, codicillas, ada vel privilegiorum literas, ad progenltores, 
 anteceffores vel ad fe fpe£lantes, didumque fuum comltatum concernen- 
 tes, quod indilate et fine mora aut contradidlione feu obftaculo qulbuf- 
 cunque, eidem Dominus Comiti deliberaret vel deliberarent, fecundum 
 quod ipfius Domini noftri regis evitare velimus indignacionem. Virtute 
 quarum literarum ficut eadem comiiis continebit propofitio nos requifivit 
 ut fi de luijufmodi antedidis monumentis, allqua habuiflemus in noftris 
 fcriniis apotbecariis, thecis, ciftis, archivis, feu cartophilaciis, quod ipfam 
 fibi deliberaremus, et in cafu quo non habuerimus, fed fciremus ab aliis ea 
 haberi quod fibi intimaremus ct revalaremus. 
 
 Et fi nee unum nee reliquum fciremus, tunc nos requifivit earundem 
 literarum autoritate, quatenus nos Deum, jufticiam et equitatem pre occu- 
 lis habentes in declaraclonem vcritatis velimus fagaciter et ftudiofe mature 
 digeftis iterim iterim ac tertio perfcrutari fcripturas, cronicas, autenticas eC 
 approbatas que faciunt fidem ilias perlegere, diligentur infpicere, fane con- 
 cipere, et intelligere, ac naturas infeodacionis et ecclefiarum fundaciones 
 perfpicue intendere, quibus fie mature rimatis et ad plenum difcuflis veli- 
 mus fuprcmo Domino noftro manifeftare per genealogias ac cronicas au- 
 tenticas, per quos et a quibus linealiter et gradatim idem Willielmus Co- 
 mes proceflit et per quanta tempora, legitime, jufte, bene et inconcufle 
 predcceflores fui et ipfe gavlfi funt dido comitatu cum univerfis et fingu- 
 lis fuis infulis, commoditatibus et juftis fuis pertincnciis, nc hujufmodi 
 fucceffio ultra dcbitam procclaretur horainum niemoriam. His omnibus 
 fie propofitis, avifatis, difcuflis, digeftis mature, et ad plenum confeptis et 
 intcllcdis, habitis prius diverfis et fingulis hinc inde tradatibus, ad hono- 
 
 3 F 2 rem 
 
404 APPENDIX, NO. I. 
 
 rem Del omnipotentls, manlfeflatlonem verltatis et obedienciam et rere- 
 renc'iam fuprcmi Domini noRri regis, tanquam filii obediencie preceptarii 
 mandararii prout decet in his qnse audivimus a fenioribus noftris, deinde 
 que legibus intelleximus ct concepimns et ad plenum fano effedtu deg.flj- 
 mus per libros, fcrlptur^s, cronicas regnorum utrorumque Scocie et Nor- 
 wegie et progenitorum eo!undem; fie quod fingulariter finguli et univer- 
 faliter univerfi, uno animo, una fide, unico confenfu, et aflenfu, refponde- 
 jnus fidem ut prefertur et teftimonium veritatis facientis univerfis fuper- 
 fcriptis. 
 
 Quod univerfa genera munlmentorum, cartarum, evidenciarum et ali- 
 arum probacionum fpecies que apud nos erant ob reverentiam fiapreml 
 domini noftri dido Domino Comiti deliberavimus et exhibuimus ante dic- 
 tum comitatum concernentia. Sed verum eft et in veritate atteftamur ex 
 relatione fide dignorum anteceffbrum et progenitorum noftrorum quod 
 principalus et precipuus manfus five manerium Dominorum Comitum 
 Orcadie fuit diverfis temporibus igne combuftis et ad nihilum redadus et 
 funditus deftrudus et patria tota depredata, et vaftata per emulos noftros 
 et inimicos per quas depredaciones, confiampciones, et deftrucclones fir- 
 miter creditas quod principales evidencie, carte et alie patentes, diverfe 
 litere, fuerunt et fiint alienate et confi.impte fpedantes et concernantes ad 
 anteceffbres et progenitores didi domini Comitis defedu unius caftri ia 
 quo tuitifTime ipfe evidencie et carte et alia patrie jocalia firmiflime pote- 
 rant collocari. 
 
 Aft quantam ad linealem progreflum et gradum fucceflionis didi Do- 
 mini Comitis et fi.iorum anteceflbrum, feu progenitorum Comitum Orca- 
 die, nos prenominati Aiperius expreftatis juxta noftrum ingenium, fen- 
 fum et intelledum perfcrutari fiamus et mature avifati lucidiffime per 
 diverfa linguarum genera, fcripturas autenticas et approbatas cronicas, 
 fcilicet in lingua Latina et Norwegica per quas reperimus infeodaciones 
 ecclefiarum noftrarum, genealogias noftras et antecefibrum noftrorum, 
 cartis et evidenclis ipforum et noftrorum manifeftantibus et claro ftilo 
 eloquio teftimoniam perhibentibus ac fidem facientibus ; in quibufdam 
 cronicis, llbris, cartis ac alliis autenticis fcripturis reperimus nomina diver- 
 forum comitum Orcadie tempora infeodacionuni ipforum juxta modum 
 
 et 
 
AP?EK0IX, NO. I. 405 
 
 et forraam feqiientem, fed de eoruni ftrenuis et notalibus operacloni- 
 bus, geftis, nomuiibus (iliorum filLirumque fuarum ; de modo mi'-^randi 
 ab hac luce, de divifinne feu unione hereditatis ipforum, de incremento 
 vel decrcmento poflcflionum fuarum pro prefenti brevltatis caufa prctcr- 
 mittimus ; ct nos ad antlquas chronlcas et genealogias autenticas et ap- 
 probatas referimus. 
 
 Reperimus itaque, imprimis,quod tempore Haraldi Comatl primi regis 
 Norwegie, qui gavifus eft per totum regnum fuum hac terra five infularum 
 patria Orcadie fuit inhabitata et culra duabus nacionibus fcilicet Pcii et 
 Pape que due genera naclones fuerant deftrude radicitus, ac penitus per 
 Norwegiences de ftirpe five de tribu ftrenuiffimi principis Rognaldi qui 
 fic funt ipfas naclones agrcffi quod pofteritas ipfarum nacionum Peti et 
 Pape non remanfit. Sed verum eft quod tunc non denominabatur Orcadia 
 fed terra Petorum ficut clare verificatur, hodie adhuc cronica atteftante 
 per mare dividens Scociam et Orcadiam quod ufque ad hodiernum dietn 
 mare Petlandicum appellatur, et ficut pulchrc fubjungitur in iifdem cronicis 
 Rex ifte Haraldus Comatus primo applicuit in Zctlandiam cum clafTe fua 
 et confequentcr in Orcadia et contulit illam Orcadiam ct Zetlandianx. 
 antedido principi Rognaldo robufto ex cujus ftirpe ut prefertur prefate 
 due naciones, fuerant everfe et deftrude ficut cronice noftre clare de- 
 monftrant a quo quidem Rognaldo precefferunt linealitcr ct gradatina 
 omnes Comites Orcadie et poftcderunt temporibus fuis didum comitatuin 
 libere, fine quacunque exaccione, quocunque canone feu fenfu, exceptO' 
 obfequio preftando regibus Norwegie tributi racionc, ficut in claufuia 
 fequenti lacius patebit que in cronica de verbo in verbum continetur, 
 Revera enim ufque hodie illormu pofteritatis dominio fubjacent excepto 
 quod jure tributario Norwegie regibus deferviunt, quiquidem princeps- 
 Rognaldus ftrenuiffunus hujufmodi comitatum libere et jure donavit cuidam 
 fratri fuo Swardo nomine, qui comes Swardus procreavit quendam filium 
 Gothornum nomine, qui comes Gothornus pofledebat didum comitatum. 
 per unum annum et dcceffit fine herede legittimo et fic reverfus eft didus 
 comitatus dido principi Rognaldo, qui pure et libere ilium contulit cuidam 
 filio fuo Ey ward nomine, qui poftea cognominabatur Turffcid, quiquidem. 
 
 per; 
 
4o6 APPENDIX, NO. 1. 
 
 per longa tempora pofledebat dldum comitatutn et habundavit op'ibus et 
 plenus fuit divicils. 
 
 Cui fiicceffit filius ejus Thorwider Gedclever, cui fucceffit filius ejus 
 Itlanderver, cui fucceffit filius ejus Comes Swardus robuftus ac corpu- 
 lentus, magnus et ftrenuiffimus bellifer, adhuc tamen non fuit regeaeratus 
 facri baptifmatis lavacro neque alii Comites prenominati. In cujufqui- 
 dem Comitis Swardi diebus fupervenit Olaus Thurgonus rex illuftriffimus 
 de occidentalium partium guerris, cujus' induccione comes ille Swardus 
 una cum gente Orcadie devenerunt, Chriftiani gentilitatie relinquentes 
 errorem. Cui Comiti Swardo fucceffit filius ejus comes Thurfinus pro- 
 creatus ex filia quondam excellentiffimi Principis Malcomi Regis Scotorum 
 illuftris. 
 
 Quiquidem rex contulit difto Thurfino terras de Cathnefs et Sutherland 
 fub unica denominatione comitatus in Scocia et illis gavifus eft, una cum 
 comitatu Orcadie Zetlandie et pluribus aliis dominiis in Scocie regno ja- 
 centibus et vixerat diu et ftrenuiffimus erat in Campis poft cujufquidem 
 Comitis Thurfini obitum fucceffit fibi ejus filius Comes Er inus primus, et 
 ifte Erlinus primus, genuit Comitem Paulum et Erlinum fecundum, qui 
 Paulus Comes genuit Comitem Hacoin, Comes Erlinus fecundus procreavit 
 Comitem Magnum gloriofiffimum martyrem patronuin Orcadie, qui fanc- 
 tiffime abiit ab hac luce virgo & martyr. 
 
 Poft cujufquidem Magni martyris deceffum, et poft obitum Comitis 
 Hacoin fucceffit Comes Rolandus qui primo fundavit ecclefiam Sandi 
 Magni Martyris, illamque magnis pofteffionibus, diviciis, et redditibus do- 
 tavit, predidus virque fapiencia et virtute poUebat per plura bona pietatis 
 opera famabatur, venerabaturque et rcputabatur pro fando viro. 
 
 Poft cujufquidem obitum fucceffit ejus frater Erlcus comitatul. Cui 
 fucceffit Comes Haraldus, Cui fucceffit Comes Johannes fili'JS ejus, Cui 
 Johanni fucceffit Comes Magnus fecundus a quo Alexander Scotorum rex 
 cepit comitatum de Sutherland, Cui Magno Comiti fecundo fucceffit Comes 
 Gilbertus primus, cui fucceffit Comes Gilburtus fecundus ejus filius, qui 
 gavifus eft comitatibus Orcadie et Cathnefs in Scocia. 
 
 Qui quidem Gilbertus Secundus procreavit Magnum tertium et quan- 
 dam filiam Matildam nomine ifte Comes Magnus filius Gilbert! fecund! 
 
 genuit 
 
APPENDIX, KO. I. 407 
 
 genult Comitem Magnum quartum et quondam Joannem et llle Magnus 
 comes quartus ab hac luce-abiit fine prole, cui fucceflit Joannes ejus frater 
 in antedidis comitatibus Orcadie et Cathnefs Joannes ifte genult quendam 
 magnum Comitem quintum. Cui Magno quinto jure fucceflionis linea- 
 liter fucceflit Dominus Mallfuis comes de Stratherne in Scocia tanquam 
 heres legitimus jure hcreditario ad utrofque comitatus Orcadie et 
 Cathnefs ficut clariinme manifeftant monumenta, evldencie et carte utro- 
 rumque rcgnorum Scocie et Norwegie. Qui quidem Comes Malifius 
 revera prime delp-^mfavit filiam comitis dc Monteith in Scocia, et ex ea 
 genuil filiam Matildam nomine pod cujus quidem prime uxoris obitum 
 defponfavit filiam quandum quondam Ilugonis Comitis de Rofle et ex ea 
 procreavit quatuor filias et deceflit fine mafculis ficque ejus dominia terrse 
 et poflefliones fuerant divlfe inter illas filiam vero antiquioiem ex prima 
 uxore procreatam ]\[atildam fcilicet duxit in uxorem Welandus de Ard, 
 qui ex ea procreavit quendam filium Alexandrum de Ard, qui Alexander 
 jure regni Scocie et confuetudine hereditaria fucceflit Comiti Malifio de- 
 Stratherne in prlncipali manerio five manfo ratione fue matris comitatus dc 
 Cathania, et poiTedebat jure et appellacione Comitis, et eadem ratione et: 
 codem jure gavifus eft certa perticata five quantitate terrarum Orcadie et 
 gerebat fe pro balivo et capitaneo gentis Orcadie' Norwegie regis ex parte 
 idemque Alexander de Ard tempore fuo vendidit et alienavit quondam' 
 recolende memorie Domino Roberto Stewart primo Scotoruni regi didlumi 
 comitatum de Cathnefs manfum five manerium principale et omnia alia jura 
 fpedtancia feu concernancia ad fe ratione matris ejus tanquam ad anti- 
 quiorem foroiem jure et confuetudine regni Scotie cum denominacione 
 comitatus five Comitis ifte vero Alexander finaliter decefiilt fine herede de 
 fuo cornore quocunque legittiaio procreato. 
 
 Nunc vero certamus ftylum ad quatuor filias ex fecunda uxore pro- 
 creatas, quarum una defponfata erat cum Domino Willielmo de Sanfto 
 Claro Domino le Sinclar qui Dominus Willielmus ex ea genuit Dominum 
 Henricum de Sando Claro qui Dominus Henricus defponfavit Jonnetam 
 filiam Walter! de Haliburton Domini de Dirletoun, et ex ca procreavit 
 Dominum Henricum de Sando Claro fecundum qui ultimo deceflit Comes 
 Orcadie indubitatus qui in uxorem habuit venerabilem dominam Egldiam 
 
 filiaai 
 
4oS 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. I. 
 
 filiaTi filli antcdi£li quondam Domini Robert! Scotonim regis lUuftrls 
 f liamqae quandam ftrenuifliml doraini Willielmi de Douglas domini dc 
 Nydyfdale, et ex ea procreavit prefentem dominum Willielmum de Sando 
 Claro comiteni Orcadie, Dominum le Sinclare. 
 
 Ouedam alia filia fecunde uxoris defponfata fuit cum quodam milite 
 denominate Here Ginfil de Swethrick partlbus oriundo, qui vero miles in 
 Orcadie partibus vcnit et jure ac ratione fue uxoris gavifus eft quadam parte 
 terrarum Orcadie que quidem uxor ab hac luce fine herede migravit legit- 
 timo ex fuo corpore procreate. 
 
 Tenia vero filia fecunde uxoris fuit nupta cum quodam Gothredo 
 nomine Gothurno le Spere qui ex ea procreavit quendam fillum Dominum 
 Malifium le Spere milltem qui tandem deceffit fine herede legittimo de 
 fuo corpore geuito fimiliter et quarta filia deceffit fine herede ex fuo 
 corpore Icgittime procreato. Verum Ifte Dominus Henricus primus do- 
 minus le Sinclare, ejus mater, Alexandre de Ard et domino Malifio Spere 
 adhuc viventibus ad dominum noftrum fupremum regem Norwegie adivit 
 Hacoin nomine cum quo rege certas fecit padiones, condiciones et ap- 
 punduamenta per quas reverfus eft ad Orcadie partes illifque gavifus eft 
 ufque ad extremum vite fue comefque Orcadie oblit et pro defencione 
 palrie mihi crudeliter ab inimiciciis peremptus eft. Et poft decefl'um iftius 
 Henrlci comitis primi in orcadie partibus fupervenit didi Comitis Henrici 
 priml mater filia Domini Malifii Comitis prenomlnati et ibi fixe remanfit 
 ufque poft obtium filii ejus Henrici Comitis primi et fupervixerat poft 
 obtitum omnium fororum fuarum, fillorum filiarumque fuorum fie quod 
 ipfius antcdidi quondam Comitis Henrici primi mater fucceffit omnibus 
 fororibus ejus eorundemque, filiis et filiabus tanquam unica et legittima heres 
 comitatus Orcadie et terrarum de Cathnes fibi tanquam uni forori debltarum 
 parte duntaxat et porcione exceptis fororis fue antiquioris de terrls de Cath- 
 nefs fub denominacione et appellacione comitatus five comitis quam partlm 
 ut fui^erlus didum eft alienavit et vendidit ipfe quondam Alexander de Ard 
 regi Scocie prenominato, hujufque rei teftes funt adhuc viventes fide digni 
 qui ipfum matrem Henrici priml oculis viderunt labiifque funt locuti cum 
 eacommunicantes ad plenum, cui fucceffit ejus nepos Henricus Secundus 
 filius primi Henrici, cui Henrico Secundo fucceffit prefens et fuperftes 
 Domiaus WiUielmus comes modernus Dominus le Siaclar. 
 
 Excellentiffime 
 
APPENDIX, NO. I. 409. 
 
 Excellentlflime prlnceps ut premiffimus in princlpio Ita fine proteftamur 
 quod veftra fereniflima regia fublimitas ac ipfius benignifllma majeftas 
 jufta ingen'u noftri ir.odulum et fenfuum capacitatem nos linguaraque 
 naturam incultam ncbulis ignorancia multipliclter obfufcatam 
 velit rudes indoftos a rhetorica fclencia alienos infecunda facundia ignaros 
 habere excufatos quamvis barbarlco more non poetice locutionls, modo 
 groflb loquamur, quia infulares fumus a literarum fcientia penitus alieni, 
 imo quod condecenti rhetorice locucionis ftilo five fcriptura non referimus 
 veftre regie majeftatis ea et nos fiabmittimus corre<Ctione. 
 
 Sed verura eft ut atteftamur quod more noftro barbaric© omnia que 
 fuperius veftre majeftati fcriblmus vera funt, quia ex antiquis libris, 
 fcripturis autenticis, cronicis approbatis et relationibus fide dignorum 
 anteceflbrum noftrorum, ac infeodacionibus noftris ecclefiarum noftrarutn 
 ifta extruximus et compilavimus. Et ft opus eflet plura quam in pre- 
 fenti cpiftola veftre celfitudine lacius manifeftare fciremus ipfamque in 
 premiflls informare, fed quia longa fialent fperni, base pauca fiifficiunt 
 pro prefcenti et ut hec noftra cpiftola taliter qualiter corapilata veftre 
 regie majeftati ac dominis veftri confiftorii et palacii circa latera 
 veftra exiftentibus majorem fidem ac roboris firmitatem facial animos 
 veftros ad plenum informet ac inter arcbana peiStorum veftrorum radlcera 
 emittat veritatis firmam et ceteros Chrifti fideles fanfta matvis Ecclefie filios 
 inftruat ad Deum et facro-fanda Dei evangelia per nos corporallter ta£ta 
 juramus quod premifla modo quo fuper relata deponimus ad Dei honorem 
 veftreque celfitudinis, predeccftbrls mandatum & non alias nee prece nee 
 precio, odio, amore, vel fiivore vel fub fpe cujufcunque muncris prefentis 
 vel futuri, fed pro veritate duntaxat dicenda. In quorum omnium et 
 fingulorum fidem ct teftlmonium premiflbrum figilla Thome Epifcopi, 
 Canonicorum et Capituli antedidlorum, totiufque populi et communitatis 
 patrie noftre Orcadie qucd dicitur figillum commune et mei Henrici 
 Randalc legiferi in noilra publica et generali fefflone non fiae magna ma- 
 turitate ct plena digeftionc prefentibus funt appenfa apud Kirkwaw menfis 
 Maii die quarto anno Domini millefimo quadringentefimo tertio. 
 
 3 G APPENDIX, 
 
flO APPENDIX, NO. II, 
 
 APPENDIX, No. II. 
 
 Dean Gule'j TRANSLATION of the foregoing Deduction of 
 the Orkney Counts, tranfcr'ihed from the Original Copy bound 
 in with Dr. Bennet'j Book of Battles^ a MS. originally belonging 
 to the Family of Roslin, the Second Page being fiibfcrihed by 
 William SiNCLARE of Roslin, at whofe Befire the Dean fays 
 this Tranfation was made. It afterwards fell into the Hands of Dr. 
 George Mackenzie, who, in the Beginning of the "Third Volume 
 of his Livesy mentions it at large^ ^/"y/V/^- us alfo an ExtraEl from 
 the firjl Part of the following Trati/lation. The late Mr. James 
 Mackenzie had the MS. from Hildin, Dr. George'j- Nephew; 
 which he again gave to the Lord Sinclare, who promifed to lodge 
 it in the Advocate s Library^ Edinburgh. 
 
 For whereas wltnefllt that venerable and malfl: he cronographor 
 Martin, penetentiar and capalane of our Lord the Pape, amongs others 
 caris and folicituds of this flowand warld, the labilite and brevite of 
 tymes, manners, and of men, in this vale of tairs, beand confidered, it 
 apperith neidfiU to fet furthe be rycht the genealogiis of progenitors, 
 kings, princifs, and of others preclare nobles, be the quilks this warld 
 tranfitore is rewlit, kings regnnis, and princes are gydlt fpeciale, quhilks 
 arbeleivitto proceed maift liklie be dedudion and knawladge of the weriiie 
 of the fucceffion of them forfaid. Heirfor, to the illuftrie and maift excel- 
 lent Lord our Prince Supreme, King of Norvvege, and to his fucceflbrs, prin- 
 cefs, patritiis, confuls, and to all hie parfonis of the faid real me, Thomas, be 
 the graice of God and of the Seitt-apoftolike, Bifhop of Orcadie and Zet- 
 landie, the Channorrie of the Cathedrale Kirk of the maift glorioufs martyre 
 Seindt Mawnis, the law-leder, and others fteltlie parfonis, nobles, pepill,and 
 commonitie of the famying, grace, pace, and charity, joye enduring mercie 
 fra the Fader Omnipotent and fra Chrill in the Haly Sprite be with you 
 II all, 
 
APPENDIX, NO. II. 411 
 
 all, be quhom kings regnis, and in quhols power ar the harts of kings, We 
 prompt and reddie, with all fubjedlion, humilitie, and obedience, cometand 
 and defyrand zoure weilfaire in the entrals of Jefu Chrift, with lufe oufcn- 
 zied, requirand to that zour kingly henefs not mak fupple in things to be 
 fchawin be oure fimplicite, and for that we knaw furlie and be the fpace of 
 laing tyme, experience beand maiftrefs efFecient of fuire things has techit us 
 that thing quhilk we receveit not as dowtfome how that your regalie henes 
 exercant his all tymes abundant lufe toward the Earlis of Orcadie, for 
 quhilk thing we bair fuire howp and obtenis full beliefe that zour kinglie 
 niajeftic fell beniglie refave, diligentlie onderftand, and efFeduiflie profequite 
 oure wordis ; alfwa, that your kinglie finceritie, as it feems to confider vc- 
 filis within clofour of breift, and diligentlie to tak heid that we wryt na ma- 
 ter of flattrie to zour ferenitie, for quhy, as Peter Blefenfs fails in his pro- 
 Jagc, we intend not to be fellers of ule, but forthfhawers of the veritie. 
 
 Heirfore we belief it to be worthie, godlie, and meritable to mak juft 
 witnefling to the weritie ; that the weritle be not hide nor fmurit down, 
 that veritie eifFeft throw laik of the quhilk prejudice ma be ganerit contrair 
 ane innocent, and quhaire bayth ar giltic, he quhilk hydes the waritie, and 
 he quhilk fails ane lee ; for quhy, that parfon will not prefeit, and this par- 
 fon defyris to noye, the quhilk bayth God mot tourne fra us for famekle 
 we haue been moneft afor tyme be patent writings of wmquhill Ericus, 
 zour prediceflbr, our King, of wirfchipfuU memorie, as to beir witnefTin'i- 
 to the varitie in fewe things to be knawin and fchawin, lik as fall be maid 
 patent at mair length in thir writings following. 
 
 Now, fra ym it is that we Thomas, bifchop, chanons of the chapter, law- 
 leddcr, and others ftaitlie men, nobillis, pepill and commontie forfaids, be- 
 fore God, with faith and fidelity, be the quilk we ar aftridit to zour King- 
 ly Maieftie, faythfullie atteflifis, and to perpetuale memorie deduces and 
 maks faitht to zou and to all others, prefent and for to cum, faythfuls in 
 Jefu Chrift, fonnis of the Haly Modir Kirk, in form and effed as fol- 
 lows. 
 
 In our prefence, togidder aOemblit, compearand ane magnifat and prepo- 
 tent Lord Wilzem of San£t Clare, Erile of Orcadie and Lord of Sinclare, in 
 the Cathedrall Kirk of Saint Mawnis martyrc in Orchadie, has proponit in 
 
 3 G 2 this 
 
412 APPENDIX, NO. II. 
 
 this manner, the quhlllc Lord hes prefupponlt that wele and fowlie that 
 thing was knawin till ws, that lang tymis afore bypaft, his anteccflbrs and 
 progenitors and thai Eirlifs of Orcadie, iufllie, lawfuHie and inforfably, lini- 
 alie and gre be gre, be jure hereditare, hed fuccedit to the forfaid eirledom 
 of Orchadie, and wlthoute any ftrange geneolige enterand betwtx, had be 
 lang tyme bruikit the fame quietly, and how that divers charters, evidents, 
 inftruinents, compt buks, and others diverfs kinds of probations, war con- 
 fumit be fyre, tint and alienat, in the tyme of hoftilite, and of wers of un- 
 friendfuU ininiiis, throw laik and wanting of ane fuir howfs or manfion in- 
 expugnable, quhare fiklike forfuds my'* bene furlie in dew place kepit. 
 [Heirfor the faid Lord and Erile fupponit that it was well knawin till us 
 how oure fupreme Lord Mawnis, maift illuftre King of Norwege, hed de- 
 redtit till wmquhill our predeceflbrs his patent letters for his progenitors 
 Earle Malifius, exhortand thame and chargand them to deliver to the faid 
 Malifius Erile, all charters, evidens, and letters of previledge pertinent to 
 hyme concernent the Erildome of Orchadie.] {a) 
 
 The faid Lord and Erile alfwa allegit that he had letters patent of oure 
 umquhill fupreme Lord illuftrie King Ericus, the quhilks he fchew till ws, 
 and caufit to be red perfeitly weile, continand precepts onder followand ; 
 that is to fay, gif one of us, ane or ma, had ony charters, evidents, or let- 
 ters of priveleges extinent till progenitors, anteceflbrs, or till hymfelf, con- 
 cernand his erildome, that without delaye, and but tarie or contradi£tioun 
 or obftacle quhatfumewer, we faid deliwer the fameing to the faid Lord 
 Erile aftir as we would fchaw the King's indignation. 
 
 Be the virtue of the quhilks letters, as the fame propofition of the Erile 
 contained, he requirit ws, that gif we had of ficklike forfaids kaftles 
 
 ony things in oure fchrinis, cophirs, theks, kifts, armoreifs, or 
 chartor wards, we fuld deliver the faming till hyme ; and be caifs we had 
 not the faming, hot fuld knaw ficlike hed be others, than that we fuld mak 
 hyme knowledge of fic things, and not hald quiet in fecrete ; and gif we 
 knew not be ane or others of the forfaids, than he requirit ws, be the au- 
 thority of the faming letters, that we, hawand God, juftice and equite, afor 
 cure eis, toward declaratioun of verite, wald wyflie, ftudillie, riplie, with di- 
 
 (a) All withia this crotchet is wanting in the Latin copy. . 
 
 gea 
 
APPEKDIX, NO. II. 413 
 
 gefl: mynd's, agayne and agayne, and thridlle furthfelk fcrlptours, autentike 
 cronicks, and approhat qiihilk makes fayth as to perfeitlie rede, the faming 
 ditigeiitlie behold, hailfullic confatve and onderftand, and alfwa cure infeo- 
 dacions and fundations of kirks to confiJer cleirlie ; the quhilks things be- 
 and fwa riplie furthfocht and fowlie difcuflit, he requirit we wald mak ma- 
 nifeft till oure fupreme Lord, be genealogiis and aiitentlck croniks, be the, 
 quhilks the faid Lord Wilzem, Erile, procedit linialie, gre be gre, and how 
 lang tyme his predicefTors and he had jofit the faid erildome, julllie, well, 
 and onfchoritlie, with their unlverfale and fingular this, commodities, afya- 
 ments, and juft pertinents, that the fam fucceffion fuld not be prolongat or 
 the detful memorie of men. 
 
 Their forfaids allfwo proponit, awlfit, difcuflit, digeftit riplie, and fowlie 
 confwavit and underftand, yet when firft diverfs and fmgall tra£tats beand 
 had fra thin to thin to the honour of God Omnipotent, manifeftatioun of 
 veritie to obedience, and to the reverence of oure fupreme Lord the King, 
 as fonnis of obedience, we preceptors mandators, as fit feims in fie things, 
 quhilk we have beared be oure elderfs, than quhilks we have red, onderftand 
 and confavit, and with haile effect: fowlie hes digeftit be buks, fcriptures, be 
 cronicks of bayth the kingdomis of Norwege and Scotland, and of the pro- 
 genitors of thame, fwa for thi finguU fingularlie, and univerfs univerflie, 
 with ane mynd, ane fayth, ane confent and aflent, we anfwer fayth as foir- 
 faid is, and witnefling of veritie makand till all above written, that all kinds 
 of ftrength of chartors, of evidents, of hand-writts, of inftiutnents of codi- 
 cills, and of all others quhllkfumever probations quhilks war toward us for 
 the reverence of oure fupreme Lord the King, we have deliverit and giffen 
 to the faid Lord Erile concerning the forefaid erildome. 
 
 But true it is and in veritie, we hair witnefling be the relatione of oure 
 faythfull anteceflbrs and progenitors, that the principall manfe or manerie 
 of thame Lords Erils of Orchadie hes been fyndrie tymls brint and redudit 
 till nocht, and all uterlie diftroiit, and the hail countrie fpulzeit and waftit 
 be oure on friends and enemiis ; throw the quhilks depredations, confump- 
 tions and deftruQions, we bcleive that the principall evidence, chartors, and 
 others diverfs patent letters, hes beene and ar alienat, confumit, pertenand 
 or concernand to the anticelfors and progenitors of the faid Lord Erile, and 
 
 C that 
 
414 APPENDIX, NO. II. 
 
 that throw defalt of ane caRell-houfe, In the quhilk the faid evidents, char- 
 tors, and others towels of the cuntre, my', hcen fowerlie kepit. 
 
 And as to the liniaUe progrefs and fucceffioun of greis of the fald Lord 
 Erile, and of his anteceflbrs or progenitors Ei ils of Orchadle, we prcnomi- 
 nate above exprefTit, after ingine, knawlege and onderftanding, riplie avifir, 
 and cleirlie hes focht furth, be diverfs kinds of tongues, fcriptours, autentick 
 and approbat cronicks in Latine and Norwege tongue, be the quhilks we 
 have fund the infeodations of our kirks, or genealogiis and of cure anticcf- 
 fors, chartors and evidents of ws and of thame furthlhawand, and with ane 
 fair manner of ftile inakand witnefling and fayth ; In the whilks croniks, 
 buks, chartors, and others autenuks fcriptors, we have fund the namis of 
 diverfs Eriles of Orchadie, the tymis of the infeodations of thame, after the 
 manner and forme followand. 
 
 Bot of thair ftowt and notable operations, gefts, namis of thair fonnis and 
 douchters, of the manner of deing of the divifion or union of thair heritage, 
 of the encreafing or detriment of thair poffeffions, becaufs of fchorting at 
 this time, we lat pafs, and refcrrs ws till auld croniks and geneologiis auten- 
 tik and approbat. 
 
 Swa we find, with the firft, that in the tyme of Harold Comate, firft 
 King of Norwege, quhilk jofit the haill kingdome, this land, or cuntre 
 infulare of Orchadie, was inhabitat and manurit be twa nations, callit Peti 
 and Pape, quhilk twa nations, Indeid, war all wterlie and clenlie deftroyit 
 be the Norwegenfs, of the clan or tribe of the maift ftowt Prince Rognald ; 
 quhilks Norwegenfs fwa paffit on the faid nations' of Peti and Pape, that 
 the pofteritie of thame after remained nocht : But true it is that the land 
 was not callit Orchadie, but the land of the Pets, as it is at this time, ane 
 cronik makand witneffrng, cleirlie verifiit, be ane fee divldand Scotland and 
 Orchadie, the quhilk fee till this day is callit Petland Firthe, and as it fol- 
 lows clearlie in the fam croniks. 
 
 This King Harold Comate firft arrlvit in Schetland with his navie of 
 fchippis, and efterward in Orchadie, and gaif the fame and Schetland to 
 the forfaid Prince Rognald the Stout, be quhois clan, as our croniks cleir- 
 lie fchawis, the forfaid nations (as forfaids) was wterlie downtlyawn and 
 diftroyit j fra the quhilks Rognald procedit linealie, gre be gre, all Kriils 
 
 of 
 
 _. JL-..< 
 
APPENDIX, NO. II. 415 
 
 of Orchadie, and has brukit for their tymis the fald erlldome frelie, with- 
 out onie exadion, without challance or paiment, except homage to be 
 made to the Kings of Norwege, be reffoun of tribut, as fall be fchawin at 
 mair length in the claufs followand, quhilk is contiuit word be word in the 
 cronik. 
 
 [Trew it is, that the lands onderllis the dominion of the pofterily of 
 thame till this day, except that be law of tribut tha deferve to the Kings of 
 Norwege.] 
 
 The quhilks Prince Rognald the Stout gaif the fame eiildome frelie and 
 purlie till his brodir callit Sward, quhilk Earle Sward begot ane fone callit 
 Gothorm ; quhilk Erlle Gothorm brukit the earldome for ane zeir, and 
 decefTit butt lawfull aire, and fwa the faid eriidome reterit agaync to the 
 faid Prince Rognald, quliilk purlie and frelie gaif the fame to his lone, to 
 name callit Enar, quhilk afterward wes callit be for-name Turff-Einar, the 
 quhilk be lang tyme brukit the faid eriidome, habundand in my', and riches 
 to the quhilk fuccedet his fone Thurwydermus Clevar, capitale callit in 
 wlgar langage Thurwydcr Hufla-Clever ; to the whilk fuccedic his fone 
 Erile Holoadver ; to the quhilk fuccedit his fone Erile Sward the Wicht 
 and Corpolent, ane grctt and maift ftowt batteller, zit when as zit he was 
 not regenerate be the lawer of halie baptifm, nor zet tha Erils forfaid : In 
 the quhilks Erile Sward's daiis, be chanfs there came Olave of Thurgon, 
 King maift illuftre fia the wars of the weft parts, be quhois Indudlion the 
 faid Erile, togiddir with the peplll of Orchadie, refuland the error of 
 gentilitie, became Chriftianis ; to the quhilk Erile Sward fuccedit his fone 
 Erile Thurfine, procreate of t!ie dochter of umquhill the maift excellent 
 Prince Malcome, illuftric King of Scotts ; the quhilks King gaif to the faid 
 Thurtine the lands of Cathanie and of Sutherlandie in Scotland, under ane 
 denomination of eriidome, and he jofit the lands, togiddir with the erii- 
 dome of Orchadie and Schcthind, and funJrie other dominionis lyand in 
 the kingdom of Scotland. He had lang life, and was ane man ot he waftage 
 in fields. 
 
 After the whilk Erile Thurliucs's decefs, fuccedit till hyme his fone 
 Erile Erline the Firft, and this Eriie Eriine the Firft begat Erile Paule and 
 Erline the Second j the qubilk Erile Paule begat Erile Halcone ; Eiiine 
 
 the 
 
4l6 APPENDIX, NO. If. 
 
 the Second Erile of Orchadie, procreat Erile Mawnis, ma'ifl: glorloufa mar- 
 tyre, patroun of Orchadie, the quhillc of maift halie lyfe paffit fra this licht 
 till overleftand, virgine, and Martyre ; efter the quhillc halie Mawnis Mar- 
 tyres decefs, and efter the obite of Erile Hacon, fuccedit Erile Rolland, 
 quhilk firft fundit the Kirk of Sand Mawnis Martyre, and dotat the fame 
 with great pofleffiouns, riches, and rents. 
 
 The forfaid man was wyfe and of gret virtue, and, thraw many dedis 
 of pietie, was diwlgat, and wlrchiplt, and honorat for ane halie man : Efter 
 quhois obite fucceedit his hrothir Ericus to the erildome ; to the whllk fuc- 
 ceedit Eril Harald ; to the quhilk Eril JoanCj his fone ; to the quhilk Earle 
 Joane fucceedit Eril Mawnis the Secund, fra the quhilk Alexander King of 
 Scotts tuk the erildome of Sutherlandie ; to the quhilk Eirle Mawnis the 
 Secund fucceedit Eril Gilbert the Firft ; to the quhilk fucceedit Eirle Gilbert 
 the Secund, his fone, quhilk jofit the erildomis of Orchadie and Cathanie 
 in Scotland ; the quhilk Gilbert the Secund procreate Eril Mawnis the 
 Third, and ane dochter, callit to name Matilda. 
 
 This Erile Mawnis, fonne of Gilbert the Second, begat Erile Mawnis 
 the Ferd, and ane Jonne 5 and that Eril Mawnis the ferd deit without 
 ane barne ; to the quhilk fucceedet Jonne his brodir in the forfaid eril- 
 domes of Orchadie and Cathanie. This Joanne begat ane Mawnis the 
 fyft Erile; to the quhilk Mawnis the Fyft be juft fucceiFion linealie fuc- 
 ceedit Lord Malifius, Eirle of Stratherne (Stratherin) in Scotland, as law- 
 full aire be law of heritage, till bayth the eirldomis of Orchadie and Ca- 
 thanie, lyk as the ftrenthis, evidents, and charters of the confirmations 
 thairupon maid of bayth the kingdomis of Scotland and Norwege cleirlie 
 maks manifeft. The quhilk Erile Malifius firfl; defpowfit the dochter of 
 the Erile of Meiateith in Scotland, and begat on hir ane dochter callit 
 Matilda be name; efter the quh'ks firfl wywifs deeds he defpowfit ane 
 dochter of wmquhill Hewe Erilc of P.olfc, luid procreat of hire fower 
 dochters, and deceiht without men-children, fvva that his lordlchipis of 
 lands and poflelTionie war dividit amangs them. 
 
 Weland of Ard defpowfit the eldeft dowchter procreate of his firft 
 wyfe, the quhilk dowchtter was callit Matilda; the quhilk Weland Ard 
 procreate of hir ane fonne, callit Alexander of Arde j the quhilk Alex- 
 ander 
 
APPENDIX, NO. II. ^17 
 
 ander of Ard, be the law of Scotland and confwelude herkagibie, fuc- 
 ceedit till Eril jMalifius of Stratheren, in the prlncipall manering, or manfe 
 of tlie eiildome of Cathanie, be icflbun of his mothir and biukit the 
 fame be law and appellatiouh of ane Erile ; and he the fame law and 
 reflbun he chofit ane Ions part or quantite of the lands of Orchadie, as 
 partinand and belongand, efter the law of Norwege, to the cldeft filler be 
 jure of heritage : And the fame Alexander of Ardc in his tyme fald and 
 alienate till umq"* of wirfchipfull memorie Lord Robart Stewart, firft 
 King of Scotts, the faid erildome of Cathanie, the manfs or manerie, and 
 all others richts belangand or concernand, till hymc be relioun of his mo- 
 dir, as till eldeft fifter by law and conl'wetudc of the kingdome of Scot- 
 land belangand, with denominatioun of erildome, or of erile : Trewlie this 
 Alexander finalie deceffit without any quhilkfumever lawfull aire procreate 
 of his bodie. 
 
 Now, truily we muft turn cure ftill to the foure fifte:s procreate of the 
 fecund wyfe, or fpowfs, of the quhilk ane was fpowllit to Lord Wilzem 
 of San£t- Clare, Lord Sinclair ; the quhilk Lord Wilzem begat on hire Lord 
 Henrie Sandt-Clare ; quhilk Lord Henrie Sinclarc defpowiit Janet the 
 dowchtter of Walter Haliburtoun, Lord of Dirletoun, and begat Lord 
 Henrie Sanclair the Secund ; quhilk at the la(l deceflit ondouted Eirle pf 
 Orchadie and Schetland ; the quhilk he deflpowfit ane wirchipfill ladie 
 callit Gelis Dowglafs, the dowchter of the dowchtter of the fortfaid Lord 
 Robart Stewart, illuftrle King of Scotts, and the dowchtter wmquhill of 
 the maift llowt Lord Wilzem of Douglafs, Lord of NIthifdale, and of hire 
 procreat be this prefent Lord Wilzem of Sandclare, Erile of Orchadie, 
 Shetland, Erile of Cathnefs, Lord Sinclare, and Lord of Nithildale and 
 vailey of Necht. 
 
 Than trwlie ane other dowchtter of the fecund wyfe was defpowfUt with 
 ane knycht callit Hergifill, borne in the parts of Swecie; the quhilk kny* 
 cam in the parts of Orchadie ; and be law and reflbun of his wyfe, jofit ane 
 part of the lands of Orchadie, the quhilk wyfe deit without airs lawfull be- 
 gottin of hlr bodie. The third dowchtter of the fecund wyfe was mariit with 
 ane callit to name Gothorme Spere ; the quhilk procreate of hir ane fon Sr. 
 Malifuis Spere, Kny'. ; the quhilk deceffit without lawfull aire of his bodie ; 
 and fwa the ferd filler dcceint without lawfull aire procreate of hire bodie. 
 
 Z H Than 
 
4l8 APPENDIX, NO. n. 
 
 Xlian of trewcht this Lord Henrie, firfl Lord Sinclair (his modir Alex- 
 ander Ard, and Sir Malifius Speir beand on lyfe), paft till oure fupreme 
 Lord, King of Norwege [here a word or two are left blank, which the Latin 
 copy fupplies thus, Haco'ine nom'me\ with the quhilk king he made certa.ne 
 refonis, conditions, and appundlaments, be the quhilks he retirit to the 
 parts of Orchadie, and jofit them to the latter tymc of his lyfe, and deit 
 Erile of Orchadie, and for the defence of the country was (lain thare crii- 
 ellie by his enemiis ; and efter the decefs of this Henrie, firfl Erile of 
 Orchadie, in the parts of Orchadie, cam be chanfs the modir of the faid 
 Erilc Henrie the Firft, the dowchtter, as is faid of Lord Malifius, eirle pre- 
 nominate, and bald continuallie thalr aftir the decefs of hir fon Henrie, the 
 flrft erile, and brukit lyfe after the decefs of all hir fillers fonnis and dowcht- 
 ters, fwa that fche, modir of the forefaid Erlie Henrie the Firft, fucceedit 
 till all her fillers, and till all the fonnis and dowchtters of tham^ 
 as onlie ane and lawfull aire of the erildome of Orchadie, and of 
 the lands of Cathanie, belangand till hire as till ane anelie filler, ane part 
 and portion anlie, except of hire elder filler, of the lands of Cathanie, 
 onder the denomination and appellatioun of the Eirldome or Eirle j the 
 qnhilk part, as faid is, Alexander of Ard alienat and faid to the prenominate 
 King of Scotland, of this thing thare beine fay thfuU witnefs as zit lewand 
 on lyfe, quhilk faw the modir of Henrie the Firft, and fpake withe hire at 
 length ; to the quhilk fucceeded hir newo Henrie the Secund, fonne of 
 Henrie the Fiift ; to the quhilk Henrie the Secund ; fucceedit, zit prefent 
 and on lyfe. Lord Wilzem, erile modern, and Lord Sinclare. 
 
 Maift excellent Prince, as we promitted at oure entre, fwa now at the- 
 «nd we protefl, that zour maift ferene kinglie Henefs, and maift bening; 
 Majeftie will hav.e us efter the manner of our ingenie and capacity of 
 oure fenfis rude and onlernit, but fcicnce rethoricall, but plentifull elo- 
 quence and oure tong, als allwiis ohfufcate mornat, throw the dirkneis o£ 
 ignorance excufit ; and that fwabeit we fpeik groflie, why in barbar man- 
 ner (not as poets) to be excufit fur yi ? Ve ar infulars dwelland in IfliS' 
 fiviiit al uterlie fra fcience of letters ; and for that we have not fet furth. 
 tlie forefaids with ane flemand ftile, or with fcriptours of rethoricall elo~ 
 quence, we fubmit ourfelf and the daitment of the faid forlaids ioyfuUie 
 to the corredion of zour kinglie Majeftie. But trew'* it is as we male 
 
 wit- 
 
APPENDIX, NO. ri. 419 
 
 •wltneffing, that all the forfaids, quhilk v»e have written be cure barbar 
 manner to zour Majeftie are true, for fameikle that out of auld buks, au- 
 tentik fcrlptours, approbat croniks, and be reportings faythfull of oure aid 
 anteceflbrs, and be infeodaclons of our kirks, we have cutdrawin and 
 compilit the faming, and gif need had been till have fliawin forder, or 
 informat than in the premilTes conteinit in this prefent epiflill till zour Cel- 
 fitude, we culd have drefht the fame bot for why large procefs be tedioufs 
 to heir, lat thir forfaids for this tyme prefent be fufficient. And that this 
 cure epirtill this, and fwa compilit to zour kinglie Majeftie, and to the 
 collaterale lords of zour confirtorie or palace, ma mak the mair faytht an 
 fikkernefs of ftrength, informe zojur mynds fowlie and amangs zour fe- 
 cret breifts furthfet the four rote of vcrite, and ma inftru(^ others Chri- 
 flianis fonis of the halie modir kirk, we fvvair be God, and be the halie 
 Evangills of God coiporallie tuhechit be ws, that we depone the pre- 
 milTes in the manner abuff fliawin, to the honour of Go J, and at the 
 command of the predeceflbrs of zour Henefs, and na othirwaiis nothtr 
 for praior, nor for price, hatrent, luf, or for favour, nor for houp of 
 quhatfumever reward prefent or to cum after, but for the veritie anlie to 
 be faid. 
 
 To the faytht and wltnefling of all and fingulare thir premilTis ourg 
 falls, that is to menc the faill of Bifchop Thomas, and of the chanonis 
 of the chaptre forefaids, and of all the pepill and commonite of the cuntrie 
 ofOrchadie, quhilk is callit the commune faill, the faill of myn, Henrie 
 Rcndalc lav^'-man of Nicholie Tullach myn, of Joane Cragy my armio;, of 
 Richard Fodringame Lawrik-men myn, of Alexander Sinclarc myn, of 
 Joane Tod myn, of James Lafk myn, of Alexander Broun myn, and 
 of Agnus Mangfon myn, with certane fawlis of others faythfull par- 
 fonis of the cuntrie, till thair prefents ar to. Hangit at Kirkwaw in Or- 
 chadic, the firft day of the monetht of Junii, the zer of oure Lord arte 
 thoufand 4 hundrecht and 40 (ex. 
 
 Traiiflatit out of Latin into Scotts, by me Dei/ie Thomas Gwf'c 
 munk of Newbothill, at the requeft of ane honorable man, JVU- 
 •zcm Smicliiir^ barroun of Rojlin^ Pecbtland^ and Harberfcbirc. An. 
 Dom. 1554. 
 
 3 H 2 APPENDIX. 
 
420 APPENDIX, NO. 111. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. III. 
 
 From Sir Jamjzs BalfourV CATALOGUE of the SCOTTISH 
 NOBILITY, MS. hi the Advocate's Library^ Edinburgh. He was 
 Lord Lyon King at Arms in the Beginning o/'King Charles 
 
 THE First'j- Reign, 
 
 ORKNAY. 
 
 1. SiUARD the Second, brothir to Rinald the Stout furnamed, ves, by 
 Comatus King of Norway, created Earle by, of Orkney and Catnefs, in 
 anno [blank]. C^hom this Earl! Sluard marriit, as zit I am not veill en- 
 formed, bot he left isfheu a fone to fucceed him named Guthred. 
 
 2. Guthred, fone and aire to Siuard, ves, aftir his father's death, Earll 
 of Orkney and Catnefs. He died ifsheulefs, never being maried, in anno 
 [blank], and left Ewar (the fone of Rinald the Stout) his brodir, quhome 
 he had adopted to fucceed him. 
 
 3. Ewar, the fone of Rinalde the Stoute, fucceidit to his uncle [Rinald], 
 and ves third Earle of Orknay and Catnefs. Quhome he maried as zet I 
 am not fuirlie informed ; bot he hed ifheu a fonne that fucceedit him, 
 named Thurwyder-Hufi-clewar. 
 
 4. Thurwyder-Hufi-clewar fucceedit to hes father Ewar, and ves 
 fourth Earll of Orkney and Catnefs. Qiihome he maried as zet I am not 
 veil informed ; but he hed ifshew a fon that fucceeded him, named Hal- 
 landye. 
 
 5. Hallandye fuccidit to his father Earll Threwlder-hufi-clevar, and wes 
 fifth Earll of Orchadie and Catnefs. Quhome he maried as zit I am not 
 veill informed ; bot he left ifshew a fonne named Siuard that fucceedet 
 him. 
 
 6. Siuard, furnamed the Rich, in refpe£l he conquered the quholl 
 lylles, and made hymfelfe Lord of them, fuccidit to hes father Hollandye, 
 and ves fixth Earll of Orkney, and Lord of the Ifles ; at the periwafion 
 of ane halle man, named Alans, he renuncit hes paganiffime, and ves bab- 
 
 5 "^ed. 
 
 i 
 
APPENDIX, NO. III. 421 
 
 tized, receaving the Chriftlan faith. He marled Plantula, the fifter of 
 Malcomc the Third (farnamed Keanmore), King of Scotland, and hed 
 ifsheu a fone named Thurfone that fiiccit him. 
 
 7. Turfone fuccidit to hes fether Siuard, and ves 7th Earll of Ork- 
 ney, Catner<;, and the lyllis. This Earle Thurfone qiiyt-clamed all right 
 and tytill he had to the earldome of Catnefs, and refigned in the King 
 hes unckel's hands, for a new infeftment to be given to himfelfe, of the 
 earlldomis of Orkney and lylles, vich he tooke haldin of him. (Viliome 
 he marled as zit I am not weill informed ; hot he hed ifsheu a fone named 
 Erlvne that fucceedit him. He departed this mortal lyffe at BrelHiy Gaftell 
 in Orkney, in anno (blank^. 
 
 8. Erlyne fuccdit his father Thurfone, and wes 8th Erile of Ork- 
 ney and the Ifles. Quhome he maried as zit I am not certaine ; hot he 
 left 2 fones, bet- ixt quhome he devidi" the earledor-ne, giffing the eldeft 
 Paule, the earldome of Orknay, and the fecond, Erlyne, the lylles of 
 Schftland. 
 
 9. Paule fucceedit to his father Erlyne, and wes 9th Earll of Orkner. 
 He killed his brothir Erlyne, and took from him the Ifles of Shetland, 
 Faray, and Fule. I have not as zit learnit quhome he maried ; but he hed 
 ifsheu a fone that did fuccid him, named Hacone. 
 
 10. Hacone, fone, aire to Earle Paul, fuccidit hes father, and ves loth 
 Earll of Orkney and the lylles. This cruell tyrant killed Mawrius, or 
 Magnus, the virgin patronefs of Orknay, thereafter canonized by Pape 
 Innocent the Firft, in anno [blank]. Qithome this Earll maried as zit 
 1 am not certain ; bot he had ifshew twa fons, one named Rouland, that 
 did fuccid him (the eldeft), and Erick the 2d, that fuccidit his brother. 
 
 11. Rouland fucceedit to hes father Hacone, and ves the 1 ith Earle 
 of Orkney and the lyllis. He was a very devout and religeoua man. 
 He built the church of St. M:ignus in Kirkwall ; and, never being maried, 
 diet without ifsheu about the age of 26 zeirs, leving his brother Erick to 
 fucceed him. 
 
 12. Ericus, or Erick, 2d fone to Hacone, fuccidit hes brother Rou- 
 land (quho died without airs of hes own body), and wes iqth Earll of 
 Orkney. 
 
 I do 
 
422 APPENDIX, NO. Ill- 
 
 I do not as zlt underftand quhome he marled ; bet h? lied ifshcu a fonc 
 named Herauld, that fuccit him. 
 
 13. liauraukl fucceedit his fatlier Erick, and ves 13th Earll of Orknay 
 and Catncfs. He killed John, Bifhop of Catnefs, very treacheroufly under 
 •colour of friendlliip- This Earll Harould,for his oppreflions and villanies, 
 wes forfaultcd by K. Villiame, and fhortlie thereaftir, in houpe and pro- 
 mife of his loyaltie and amendment, by the faid King wes againe reftorit. 
 
 Quhome this Earll marled as zet I am uncertain ; bot he hed a fone 
 named Johne that iucceedlt him. 
 
 14. Jhone fucceedit to hes father Harauld, and wes 14th Earll of 
 Orkney. [In a different hand, and with different ink^, " and marlit Blanc 
 Bafie, daughter to King Villiame, and hed ifsheu a fone, Magnus Earll 
 of Orkney, and Lord of Zetland ; " [immediately before what had been 
 written In the, fame hand with the MS., (which, by comparifon with Sir 
 James's handwriting in other books, I confider , as his own), this is fcored 
 out, viz. " I have not as zlt learnlt quhome he mariit, bot he had ifsheu a 
 foun, Magnus that fuccldit him."j 
 
 15. Magnus fuccidit to hes father, and wes 15th Earll of Orkney. 
 Quhome he did marie, as zlt I am not velll informed ; bot he hed ifshue a 
 fone, named Gilbert, that deyed before him, and a daughter, marled to Ma- 
 lifuis Speir Earle of Scratherne, named Matilda. 
 
 This Magnus Earlc of Orkney is vitnefs In a tretty of pece betwlx K. 
 Rob. the Firft and Haco King of Norway, of the dait [what follows, viz. 
 ' At Birren, in anno 1312,' though juft enough, is yet with different ink 
 fcored out.] He is alfo witnefs in a defpofition of the Eyllands, thus dalhed 
 out [the jEbudae he means], made by the faid King Haco to Rob. ift, con- 
 firming a former defpofitioun made by his predeceffor, then King of Nor- 
 way, to Alexander the 3d of that name. King of Scotland. 
 
 16. Malifius Speir, Earll of Stratherne, in right of his vyfe Matilda, fole 
 air of Magnus Earll of Orkney, ves the i6th Earll of Orkney. Qiiliome this 
 Earll Malifius marled I am not certain ; but he hed ifshue two daughters. 
 Ifabell, the eldeft, vv^es maried to Williame Earle of Rofs, with quhome he 
 did get the earldom of Catnefs ; Lucia, the fecond daughtter, wes maried to 
 Sir Villiame St Clare. [What next follows is fcored out with different ink, 
 
 " viz. 
 
 I 
 
APPENDIX, NO. nr. 42 J. 
 
 "■ viz. the dlfpofitioun wich this Earll made of the earledome of Catnefs to 
 his eldeft daughtter is of the date in anno 1344) vich difpofitione wes con- 
 firmed by King David the 2d in anno 1 362." J This Earll Malifius wes for- 
 faulted by King David 2d in anno ij?^, for alienating the earldome of 
 Stfatherne to the Earle of Varren, ane EngUrhraan, the King enemie, and 
 all his poflefTions annexit to the Crown. 
 
 17. Sir Henrie St Clare, the fone and air of Sir Villiame St Clare, by 
 Lucia, 2d daughtter to Malife Earll of Stratherne, Orkney and Catnefs, wes, 
 after the forfaultre of his grandfather by King David the 2d, created Earll 
 of Orkney and Lord of Zetland. He married Jeane Halcburtone, eldeft 
 daughtter to Valter Lord Dirletoune, and hed ifsheu a fone named Henrie, 
 that fucceedit him. 
 
 18. Henry Sinclare, fone and air to Henrie, ift Earll of Orkney of that 
 name, fucceedit hes father. He was created Duck of Oldenburgh by Chrif- 
 ticrnus, or Chriftianus, ilVuis nominis primus Danorum Rex. He married 
 Geills Douglafs, fole air of Villiame Douglafs Lord of Nidfdale, quho was 
 ftain by the Lord Clifford on the bridge of Dantfick^l ; by quhome he hed 
 ifsheu a fone named Villiame, that fuccidit him. This Earll was one of the 
 Knights of St Michael. 
 
 This Earle [in a different hand, and with different ink] was taken prifon- 
 er by the Engliche, in convoying King James the Firft to France, 30 Martis 
 in anno I404. Boethius, Lib. 13. 
 
 19. William Sinclare, fone and air to Henrie Earll of Orkney, fuccidit 
 his father. Tnis Earll ftyls himfelve, in ane chartour of the lands of Rol- 
 line, given be him to Oliver St Clare his fone, Villielmus de Sancla Clara 
 Comes Orcadix, Duck de Oldenburghe, Dominus Sinclare, Dyfart, CiuOand, 
 Roflync, Herbertfhire, Pyntland, NiJfdale, and Noviburgi, limitum orien- 
 talium et occidentalium prefedus, Baro de Ecford et Cavertone, Magnus 
 Scotise Admirallus et Camerarius, et aurii velleris eques^. He maried Mar- 
 garet Douglafs, eldeft dauchtter to Archibald, furnamed Tyneman, Earll of 
 Douglaf?, and Duck of Turyne in France, and hed ifsheu a fone, named 
 Williamc the Wafter, that maried Elifabeth Leflic, daughter to George 
 Earll of Rotlufc, & heel ilheu a fone named Henrie, that ift Lord St Clare 
 o.f Ravcnfburgh. Villiame the Wafter dyed before his father, arfiJ was in- 
 
 tciT.ed 
 
424 
 
 JiPPENDIX, NO. IV. 
 
 terred at Dumferling. This Earl Villiame, after the death of Eltfabech, his 
 I ft vyfe, maried, adlie, Marjorie Sutherland, and hed ifsheu two fon^. Oli- 
 ver the eldeft ves Laird of Roflyne ; and Villiame the 2d ibne is by King 
 James the Third created Earll of Catnefs. 
 
 This Earll Villiam was forfaulted by King James the 'i hird in anno 
 [blank], the earldome of Orkney and lordfchipe of Zetland being annexit 
 to the Crowne. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. IV. 
 
 EARLS OP THE ORKNEYS. 
 
 T^je F'lrJI Number on the Right Hand is the Page o/*ToRF^US, and the Se- 
 coud that o/'/^^OrkneyingaSaga, in which the Hi/iory of each may 
 he found. 
 
 From TorfjEUs and the 
 
 
 rrom the D 
 
 iploma In 
 
 Orkneyinga Saga. 
 
 
 Wallace's < 
 
 Drkneys. 
 
 Ab. 920 Roguwald. 
 
 
 Roguald. 
 
 
 7- 3. 
 
 920. Sigurd I. 
 
 
 Sivard. 
 
 
 12. 3. 
 
 Guttorm. 
 
 
 Gothurn. 
 
 
 12. 3. 
 
 Hallad. 
 
 
 Egvard TurfFeld. 
 
 
 17. - 
 
 Einar Torf. 
 
 
 
 
 1 8. 3. 
 
 936. Arukell. 7 
 Erlend. j 
 
 
 
 
 22. 3. 
 
 
 
 
 22. 3. 
 
 940. Thorfin Haufaklinfur 
 
 ThurwJder Gedclevar. 
 
 24. 3. 
 
 970. Arnfin. 
 Havard. 
 
 
 
 
 24. 5. 
 
 
 
 
 24- 5- 
 
 Liot. j>Sor 
 Skuli. 
 
 IS of Thorfin, 
 
 
 
 24. 5. 
 
 
 
 
 24. 5. 
 
 980. Laudver. J 
 
 
 Hlanderver. 
 
 
 24. 5. 
 996, 
 
APPENDIX, NO. IV. 
 
 4*5 
 
 From Torfreus and ihe 
 
 From the 
 
 Diploma In 
 
 Orkneyinga Saga. 
 
 Wallace' 
 
 s Orkneys. 
 
 Ab. 996. Sigurd II. Slain 1014. 
 
 Slvard. 
 
 27. 5- 
 
 1014. Sumarlid. T 
 
 
 45- 5- 
 
 Einar. > Sons of Sigurd. 
 
 45- 5- 
 
 Brufi. J 
 
 
 45- 5- 
 
 Thorfin made Earl, 
 
 Thurfin, fon of S 
 
 igurd 51. 5. 
 
 about 1028. 
 
 11. by a daugh! 
 
 ter of 
 
 
 Malcolm Kii 
 
 ig of 
 
 
 Scotland. 
 
 
 Roguvald. 
 
 
 55' 45- 
 
 1064. Paul. 
 Erlend. 
 
 Erlin. 
 Paul. 
 
 6j. 91. 
 
 67. 91. 
 
 1099. Erling. 
 
 Erlin. II. 
 
 — 116. 
 
 H03. Hacon. 
 
 Magnus I. . 
 
 Hacoin. 
 Magnus I. . 
 
 90. 141. 
 
 86. 132. 
 
 (Sandlus) 
 
 
 
 Slain by Hacon, mo. 
 
 
 
 1 1 15. Harold I. 
 Paul. 
 
 
 91. 141. 
 
 
 91. 141. 
 
 KoH, or Roguvald, "; 
 
 Roland. 
 
 98. 169. 
 
 1130-1159. 
 
 
 • 
 
 Erlend to 1 158. 
 
 Eric. 
 Harild.* 
 
 129. 327. 
 
 Harald II. fon of Ma- 
 
 113. 231. 
 
 dad Earl of Athole, 
 
 
 
 1 1 50- 1 198. 
 
 
 
 Harald III. Ungi 
 1 190-1 191. 
 
 
 
 
 145. 407. 
 
 ^ 
 
 * Here is a deficiency in the Diploma, evidently owing to the compiler niiflaking Harald I. and 
 II. for the fame perfon ; a common caufc of error in old chronicles. The Orkneyinga Saga being 
 written fo near the time, is full and corrcifl concerning thefe omitted Earls. It ends with John : 
 and the account of Torfaeus, afterwards, is very lame; fo that the Diploma deferves much credit. 
 To Magnus V. he adds an Argifel, 1343, who witnefTes a charter that year ; but had furely only the 
 title; and an Eringift, 1357, apparently the fame perfon. Sec Orcades^ p. 173. Mr Pinkerton's 
 IntroduiJlion to the Hillory of Scotland. 
 
 3 I Ab. 119S. 
 
4-6 APPENDIX, NO. V. 
 
 From Torfanis and the From the Diploma m 
 
 Orkneyinga Saga. Wallace^s Orkneys. 
 
 Ab. 1 198. David to 1215. 7 
 
 Jon to 1231. j" John. 154.419. 
 
 1 23 1. Magnus II. From whom Alex, took Sutherland. 16^. 
 
 1239. Gibbon. Gilbert I. 165. 
 
 1256. Gilbert II. 
 
 1267. Magnus III. Magnus III. 172. — 
 
 1274. Magnus IV. Magnus IV. 172. — 
 
 1284. Jon. John. 172. -^ 
 
 1305. Magnus V. Magnus V. 
 
 Mails Comes de 
 Stratherne. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. V. 
 
 TABLE of the Ancietit Counts ^Orkney, according to the Genealogicat 
 Series above Jiated, alfo of the Line ofthefe Counts down to this Day. A 
 SucceJJion fo long continued^ and fo -well vouched^ that no Family in any Na- 
 tion can hoajl of the like ; Having for its Foi/ndation thcfe conciining Authori- 
 ties; ftf^ thofe followed by the Little Parlia?7ient of this Country, in their 
 Genealogical Series before mentioned ; fecondly, thofe follotved in the Or cades 
 of ToRFiEUS, and Orkneyi?iga Saga ; andlajlly, the Authority of that great 
 Antiquary, Sir James Balfour, King at Arms^ in his Catalogue of tin 
 Scots Nobility. 
 
 1. Prince Rognald the Stout, father of Rollo Duke of Normandy. 
 
 2. Sigurdus, or Swardus, brother of Rognald. 
 
 3. Gothormus, fon of Swardus. 
 
 4. Einar, brother of Rollo D. of Normand j, 
 
 5. Tliurvider, 
 
APPENDIX, NO. V, 427 
 
 5. Thurvlder, fon of EInar. 
 
 6. Laudver, fon of Thurvidcr. 
 
 7. Sigurdus II., furnamed the Grofs, fon of Laudvcr. 
 
 8. Thurfin, fon of Sigurdus. 
 
 9. Erlin, fon of Thurfin, 
 
 Paul and ErUn II., fons of Erlln I. 
 
 Haco, fon of Paul, and Magnus I., afterwards St. 
 
 Magnus, fon of Erlin II. 
 
 Rognald II., or St Rognald, nephew of St Magnus. 
 
 Eric, brother of St Rognald. * 
 
 Harald, Earl of Athole, grandfon of Paul, 
 
 John, fon of Harald. 
 
 Magnus II., heir at law to John. 
 
 Gilbert I., heir at law to Magnus 11. 
 
 Gilbert II., fon of Gilbert I. 
 
 Magnus III., fon of Gilbert II. 
 
 Magnus IV., fone of Magnus III. 
 
 John II., brother of Magnus IV. 
 
 Magnus v., fon of John. 
 
 Malifius Earl of Stratherne, grandfon of Gilbert II, 
 
 William Lord Sinclare, fon-in-law of Malifius. 
 
 Henrey I., fon of William. 
 
 Henry II. (fon of Henry I.) died - • 1420. 
 
 William II. (fon of Henry II.) under whom thefe Iflands firft paff- 
 
 cd to the Scots _ - » H79* 
 
 The line of thefe ancient counts continued. 
 William III. Lord Sinclair, commonly William the Waller, firft 
 
 fon of William II. ^ - - H^?- 
 
 Henry III. L. Sinclare, fon of W. the Wafter m ^5^3' 
 
 William IV. L. Sinclair, fon of Henry III. - 1570. 
 
 Lord Henry IV., fon of William IV, - • 1603. 
 
 James, Mafter of Sinclair, fon of Henry IV. » J593« 
 
 Patrick Lord Sinclair, fon of James -• .. JG19 
 
 John Lord Sinclair, fon of Patrick - - 1667. 
 
 3 I 2 John 
 
428 APPENDIX, NO. VI. 
 
 John II. of Kerminfton,,fon- in-law of John I. 
 
 Henry V. Lord Sinclair, fonof John II. - - ^J^S* 
 
 John III, the prelent Lord Sinclair, fon of Henry the 5th. — The late 
 Mr James Mackenzie's MS. notes on Wallace, />^;/a me. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. VI. 
 
 EXEMPLUM CONTRACTUS MATRIMONIALIS inter Seremfmum 
 Scotia Regan Jacobum 'Tertium et SercriiJJimam Principem Margare- 
 THAM Potcntijfiini Principis Christiani Primi Dania Norvegite et 
 Svecia^ Regis FiUa?tj, E ToRFiEi Hiji. extraElum, 
 
 Christiernus Dei gratia Daciae, Suecise, Norwegise Slavorum Gotho- 
 rumque Rex, Dux Slefvicenfis, et Comes Holfati^e, Stormarise, Oldenburgh, 
 Delmenhurft, univerfis Chrifti fidelibus prsefentes literas infpeduris, Salutem, 
 ac votivae profperitatis augmentum. Notum fieri volumus per prcefentes, 
 quod reverendi in Chrifto Patres et Domini, Domini Andreas et Wilhelmus 
 Glafguen. et Orcaden. Ecclefiarum Epifcopi, Nobiles ac Magnifici Domini, 
 Andreas Dominus a Vandale Regni Scotice Cancellarius, Thomas Comes de 
 Arane, Magiftri Martinus Wan, Magnus Eleemofinarius et Regis Scotise 
 Confeflbr. Gilberius de Rerich Archidiaconus Glafguen. David Crechton 
 de Cranfton, et Johannes Schau de Haly. 
 
 Inclyti Oratores, Nuncii et Ambaxiatores Excellentiffimi Principis Jacob! 
 Dei gratia Scotorum Regis Illiiftriffimi, fi^atris conf^ederati et Confangvinei 
 noftri Ghariffimi, fe cum Uteris credentiarum Regalibus, nobis apud oppidum 
 noftrum Hafnen. Rofchilden. Dioce, nuperprsefentarunt, in vim credentiae 
 carundem oretenus exponentes. Quod Sereniflimus Scotorum Rex prsefa- 
 tus, graviffima prseliorum difcrimina, hominum ftrages, et exitia, rabie guer- 
 rarum feviffima, inter Norvegis et Scotia; Reges ac regna olim commiiTa 
 penitus extinguere, ac regnum prjefatorum hssredum, fucceflbrum, et utri- 
 
 l ufque 
 
APPENDIX, NO. YI. 429' 
 
 ufque regnl procerum animos in perpetual pads, confocderationis etamicltia: 
 unione xternaliter copulate peroptavlt, prout et nos enam ferventi animo 
 afFe£lamus. Id tamen aptius fieri non profpexit quam ut nova faboles, ex 
 utriufque principis fanguine matrimonialitcr fufcitata contrahatur. 
 
 Videntefque prcefati oratores apud nos inclytiiTimain virginem Margarc- 
 tham, filiam noftram unigenitam et legitiraam nutate nubilem, pnEclarisque 
 fpeciofitatis forma decoratam, prxfato ExcellentifTimo Principi Jacobo Sco- 
 torum Regi Sereniffimo aptam, habilem, et, ut afleruerunt, congruentem, 
 eamque in futuram conjugem et inclytifrimam eorum principis confortem 
 petierunt ac nos operofx folicitudinis ftudio defuper folicitarunt. 
 
 Nos vero ac dilcdi Confules noftri ex una cum prrefiitis oratoribus fuper 
 hac re partibus, ex altera tradtatus varios, communlcationes ac prarlocutiones 
 plurimas habentes, tandem gratis anlmis modo formaque fequentibus, con- 
 cordatim extitit et conclufam. Et primo difti Oratores Nuncii ct Ambaxia- 
 tores ExcellentifTimi Principis Jacobi Scotorum Regis memorati vifionem ac 
 infpedionem inclytiffimzE virginis Margaretha; filix noftrce unigenita: ha- 
 bentes, eamque nomine, vice et ex parte prxfati Principis in futuram con- 
 jugem et rcginam eftedluofe ut pr.-cfcrtur adoptantes. Quorum nos votis 
 defideriifque gratanter annuentes didtam Margaretham liliam noftram ac 
 unigenitam pra^fato Principi Jacobo Scotorum Regi Sereniffimo in futuram 
 conjugem conccflimus donavimus ac tradidimus. Quam prxfati Oratores 
 Zelanti animo virtute commiflionis ab eorum Principe Jacobo Scotorum 
 Rege ipfis in hac parte fpecialiter commiflae acceptarunt bcnigne, cujus com- 
 miflionis tenor fequitur in hsec verba. 
 
 Jacobus Dei gratia Rex Scotorum, univerfis ct fingulis, ad quorum noti- 
 tias prsefentes litcrse pervenerint, falutem. Cum Dcus xternus, qui machi- 
 nam mundi creavit, omniaque ac cundla ipfius ambitu contenta, potenter 
 regit etgubernat, in mundi nafcentis exordio fuae oftendens DivinsE Majefta- 
 tls clementlam, matrimonii facramentum inter noftros primos progenitores 
 ad humani generis propagationem et perpetuam ipfius durabilitatem, ut nova 
 fobole mortuam renovaret, inftltuir, per quod etlam almum matrimonii fa- 
 cramentum divina peragente gratia regnant Reges fclici fucceflloni, ct in- 
 clyta principes virtute domlnantur. Ex quo etlam matrlmonio et ejus foe- 
 dere facro, hoftilitates et inimicitia:, ac alia enormia quajn plurima unitatis 
 
 et 
 
430 APPENDIX, NO. VI. 
 
 et animorutn conjuncllone pelluniur, amor, dllcd'io, et amlcitla, pax tran- 
 quillitas et carkas radicantur, multxque et Innuincrabiles alix felicitates et 
 bona fequuntur. 
 
 Nos igltur prshablta deliberacione matura noflrl confilu magni, hominum. 
 more, conjugal! vinculo vivere volentes confifi de prudentia, clrcumfpeaione, 
 fide, et legalltate Reverendorum in Chrifto Patrum Andreas et Wilhelmi 
 Glafguen. et Orchaden. Epifcoporum, Nobilium, Dominorum, Andrese, 
 Domini a Vandale, Cancellarii noftri, Thomse, Comitis de Aran, Confan- 
 guineorum et Confulum noftrorum ; nee non difcretorum Clericorum, Ma- 
 giftrorum, Martini Wau, Magni Elemofmarii et ConfelToris nodri. 
 
 Gilberti de Rerich, Archidiaconi Glafguen. David Crechton de Cranfton, 
 et Johannis Schau de Haly noftrorum armigerorum, ipfos noftros Ambaxia-« 
 tores GornmilTarios et Oratores fpeciales facimus, conftituimus, et ordinamus, 
 per prscfe-ntes, dantes et concedentes eifdem et eoruni, feptem, fex, quinque, 
 quatuor et tribus eoruadem, dummodo di£tus Reverendus Pater Epifcopus 
 Glafguen. Andreas dominus a Vandale Cancellarlus nofter, et Thomas 
 Comes de Aran, aut eorum duo de tribus exiftant, noftram plenam potefta- 
 tem et mandatum fpeciale, imperlum, regna, Franci^e, Anglise, Hifpanise, 
 Dacla:, Ducatus et Dominia BurgundljE, Britannia:, Sabandise et adjacentes 
 alias provincias, ubi opportunum eis vifum fuerit vifitandi, perluft:randi et 
 peragra,ndi, atque imperio, regnis et ducatibus fupradldis et adjacentibus 
 provinciis laborandi et inquirendi, ubi nobis poflet de futura conjuge, per- 
 fona nobili, de didis domibus nobis apta et congrua, provideri et avifari cum 
 eadem et fuis inclytiffimis parentibus modls qulbus validius fieri poteritfuper 
 matrimonio inter nos et eandem contrahendo, communicando, appundlu- 
 andi, tradandi, concludendi, fuper dote et donatione propter nuptias con- 
 veniendi, tradatqs defuper et quafcunque conventiones et padliones agendi, 
 gerendi, pacifcendi, dotem pro ipfa conjuge noftra conftituendi, poftulandi, 
 et noftro nomine conftitutionem recipiendi, et acccptandi, ac dotalitium, feu 
 propter nuptias donationera, ut noiUx fereniffimse conforti five conjugi 
 convenit, conftituendi, aftignandi, et promittandi, ipfofque contradlus et 
 conventiones quibufcunque Ileitis fecuritatibus, ne coniraventionis detur oc- 
 cafio, vallandi, firmandi, et roborandi, ac etiam luper perpetuis amlcitiarum. 
 ^t au:vi!iorum vinculis, fceJeribus. et confcederatiouibus inter nos, hxredes et 
 
 fuccefforcs. 
 
 I 
 
APPENDIX, NO. VI, 431 
 
 JTucceflbres noftros, ex una, et illuftrifrimam domum illam, ex qua noftram 
 fereniffimam confortem five conjiigem eligi contigerit, hxredes et fuccefTores 
 domus ejufdem partibus ex altera pacifcendi, traftandi, appun£luandi, con- 
 cordandi, et conludendi, patSta, traQatus, appuncftuamenta, concordantias et 
 conclufioncs firmandi et roborandi. 
 
 Et generaliter omnia alia et fingula faclendl, generandi, communicandi, 
 tradlandl, concludendi, et flabiliendi, quae in praemiffis neceffaria, feu etiain 
 oppurtuna fuerint, etiam fi mandatum exigatur magis fpeciale, quam prx- 
 ientibus Uteris eft exprelTum. 
 
 Piomittenies prxterea pro nobis, haeredibus et fuccefToribus noftris in ver- 
 bo regio, nos ratum, gratum, finnum, validum et ftabile pro peii)etuo habi- 
 turos, totum et quicquid per didlos noftros ambaxiatores, oratorcs, et com- 
 miffarios feptem, fex, q'linque, quatuor, aut tres eorundem, dummodo dicftiis 
 reverendus Pater Epifcopus Glaiguen. Andreas Dominus a Wandale Can- 
 cellarius nofter, et Thomas Comes de Aran, aut eorum duo de tribus exii- 
 tant, a£tum, fadlum, communicatum, traditum, conventum, paiflum, eon- 
 cluiumque fuerit, feu quomodollbet geftum aut ftabilitum In prsemiflis, aut 
 aliquo pfxmill'orum. Datum fub noftro magno figillo apud caftrum noftrum 
 de Edinburgh, vicefimo odavo die menfis lulii, anno Domini millcfimo 
 quadringentefimo fexagefimo odavo, et regni noftri oetavo. 
 
 SuccefTive vero illuftres, nobilefque Domini Andreas Dominus a Wandale, 
 regni Scociae Cancellarius et Thomas Comes de Aran, procuratores memorati 
 SerenifTimi Principis Jacobi Scotorum Regis Illuftriflimi ad ha:c fpecialiter 
 per eur.dem conftituti, fponfalia, primo per verba de futura vice, nomine et 
 ex parte prxfati Principis Jacobi Scotoruni Regis lUuftridimi, cum INlarga- 
 retha filia noftra inclytiflima, juxta rltum et ecclefi^ confuetudinem con- 
 traxerunt. Deinde vero fpecialis procuratorii virtute didam Margaretham, 
 per verba de prefenti., juxta Patrum fandliones, matrimoniallter copulaiunr, 
 in animamque prsefati Principis conftituentes, folemnitcrque jurantes quod 
 pracfatus Sereniflimus Princeps Jacobus Scotorum Rex irapedimentum feu 
 impedimenta nunquam prxftitit quo minus fponfalia et matrimonium, cum 
 pra:fata noftra unigcnita contrada, dcbitum non fortiatur efiedum, cuJlis 
 fraetadae fpecialis cominiflionis tenor fequitur in hunc modura. 
 
 Jacobus 
 
432 APPENDIX, NO. VI. 
 
 Jacobus Del gratia Rex Scotorum, unlverfis et fingulls, ad quorum notltlas 
 prefentes liters pervenerint. 
 
 Salutem, Sciatis nos ex noftra mera et fpontanea voluntate feclfle, conftl- 
 tiiifle et ordinafTe, ac per pr^efentes facere, conftituere et ordinare illuftres et 
 nobiles noftri magni confilii, Dominos, Andream, Dominum a Wandale 
 Cancellarium noftrum, et Thomam Comitem de Aran, confanguineos uof- 
 tros dlIe£los, et eorum quemlibet, in folidum, noflros veros legitimos et 
 indubitatos ac irrevocabiles procuratores, adtores, fadbores, et negociorum 
 noftrorum geftores et nuncios ad hoc generales et fpeciales, ita quod gener- 
 alitas fpecialitate non deroget, nee e contra, et quod non fit melior conditio 
 occupantis nee deterior fubfequentis, quoad infra fcripta fpecialiter et eorum 
 merita. 
 
 Dantes et concedentes didis noftris procuratoribus ad hoc fpecialiter con- 
 ftitutis et eorum cuilibet in folidum, noftram plenariam poteftatem, et man- 
 datum fpeciale ad vifitandum excellentiflimum et potentiffimum principem 
 Chriftiernum Dei gratia Dacias, Svecise, Norwegiae, Slavorum, Gothorum- 
 que, Regem, &c. 
 
 Confanguineum noftrum chariffimum, et ad contrahendum nomine nof- 
 tro fponfalia per verba de futuro, et matrimonium per verba de praefentl 
 cum illuftri et potenti Domina, Domina Margaretha filia unica didi Illuf- 
 triflimi Principis in setate habili et viro matura, ad matrimonium contra- 
 hendum conftituta. 
 
 Cui matrimonio per eofdem aut eorum alteram noftro nomine, ut pras- 
 mittitur, contrado firmlter ftabimus et non contra veniemus, durante vita 
 noftra, et didiE futuras conjugis noftrse, ac etiam in animam noftram jurandi 
 et firmiter promittendi, quod priori tempore nihil egimus, fecimus, aut 
 diximus, quod futurum matrimonium inter nos, quovis padlo, de jure aut 
 de fa£to poterit impedire aut contradum de jure diffolvere, nee in futurum 
 faciemus, donee nobis de eorum fadis circa prxmiffiim matrimonium con- 
 trahendum conftiterit luculenter aut ifpfos noftros procuratores in folidum 
 irrevocabiliter conftitutos revocabimus, aut eifdem feu eorum alteri, alium 
 feu alios adjungemus feu annedemus nee non omnia alia et fmgula fa- 
 ciendi, gerendi, et exercendi quae in prsemiffis et circa ea neceflaria fue- 
 rint, feu quomodolibet opportuna, etiam fi talia fint, quse mandatum exi- 
 
 gunt 
 
Appendix, no. vi. 433 
 
 gunt magis fpec'iale, et qua nos faceremus, fi in pramlflis perfonaliter in- 
 tereflemus. 
 
 Promittentes infuper in verbo regis nos ratum, gratum, firmum et flabllc, 
 habituros totum et quicquid per ditStos noftros procuratores in foHJutn, 
 aQum, fadum, geftumque fuerit, circa prajmiflum matrimoniu-m feu quo- 
 modolibet procuratum, et nunquam contravenire in futurum. 
 
 Datum fub magno figillo noftro, apud Edlnburg, vicefinio odavo die 
 menfis Julii, anno Domini millcfimo quadringentcfuno rexagefnno odlavo, 
 et regni noftri o6tavo. 
 
 Nos Chriftiernus Dacisc, Sueclas, Norvegiae, &g. rex pro facio matri- 
 monii foedere, ac prrefata: Margaretbce filiae noftra; unigenitce, dote, et ut 
 amor, dile£lio, pax, et amicitia animis regum firmius adbsreant, uberiufque 
 et eflicacius inter reges et regna radicentur, confenfu paviter et aflenln pra;- 
 latorum, procerum ac regni noftri Norvegite nobilium prius habitis, com- 
 modo infuper ac utriufque regni utilitate diligenter infpedlis, in partem dotls 
 cum Margaretha filia noftra unigenita, memorato principi Jacobo Scotorum 
 Regi excellentiffimo ac Margaretha: filisc noftrs ipfius regis fponfx, eorum- 
 que ha^redibus, ac liberis duntaxat annuam penfionem centum marcarum 
 Stirlingorum nobis et hxredibus noftris Norvegicc regibus, pro tempore 
 exiftentibus, ratione infuiarum Sodorenfium et Manix, annis fingulis debi- 
 tam concedimus, tradimus et tenore prxfentium donamus. 
 
 Omnes infuper et fingulis pertinentiarum fummas, damna, deproidationes, 
 et injurias ratione penfionis prccfata: et occafione contra£tum inter prxde- 
 ceflTores noftros, olim Norvegix et Scotise reges initorum debitas, pcnitus 
 remittentes, ac univerfis et fingulis contra(5tibus, evidentiis, Uteris, et muni- 
 mentis defuper fadis, folemniter renunciamus, ac fi de verbo in verbum de 
 ipfis contradibus, obligationibus, evidentiis Uteris, et munimentis fpcciaUs 
 et expreffa pra:fenti3 mentio fada fuiflet. 
 
 Promittimus ctiam ac poUicemur pro nobis h.'credibus ac fuccefloiibus 
 noftris Norvegicc Regibus, contra donationem, concelfionem, traditionem 
 aut renuncionem, prazdidas, non venire, nee veniri facere, feu fieri permit- 
 tere direde vel indirede, quovis quccfito ingenio vel colore, renunciando 
 prfcterea omni, quo ad hoc adioni, exception!, relevamini, feu rcmedio juris 
 canonici aut civilis. 
 
 3K Itl 
 
434- APPENDIX, NO. vr. 
 
 In complimentum Infuper totius dotis promittlmus pollicemur, et obll- 
 jjamu? no?, hxredes et fuccelTores noftros, prtefato excellentiffimo principi 
 Jacobo Scotorum regi ferenlffimo, fuifve procuratoribus in fiimmam fexa- 
 ginta mlllium florenorum Rhenenliiim fideliter perfolvendam, de qua qui- 
 <!cm fumma prsefatls procuratoribus decern millia florenorum prsdiftorum 
 ante eorum ad recnuin Scotias de regno noftro Dacire receffam integraliter 
 fideliterque perfolvemus et de eadem pecunia numerata fatisfaciemus expe- 
 dite cum effedu. 
 
 Pro fumma vero quinquaglnta millium florenorum reftante, de fumma 
 integrali prxdida, nos Chriftiernus Norvegix Rex de confenfu et aflienfu 
 praslatorum, procerum ac majorum regni Norvegise prxdidx nobilium, 
 damus, concedimus, impignoramus, ac fub firma hypotheca et pignore im- 
 ponimus atque hypothecamus omnes et fingulas terras noftras infularum 
 Orcadenfium, cum omnibus et fingulis juribus, ferviciis, ac juftis fuis per- 
 tinentiis, nobis regali jure, et prcedeceflx)ribus noftris Norvegi^e Regibus, 
 fpe£lantibus, feu quovifmodo fpedare valentibus, tenendas et habendas totas 
 et integras terras noftras infularum Orcadenfium pr^edidarum, una cum 
 omnibus et fingulis cuftomis, proficuis, libertatibus, commoditatibus ac aliis 
 juflis fuls pertinentiis, quibufcunque, tam nominatis quam innominatis, ad 
 prsedidlas terras Orchadias fpedantibus, feu jufte fpedlare valentibus, quo- 
 modollbet in futurum fxpe di£lo excellentifllmo principi Jacobo Scotorum 
 regi filio et confasderato noftro chariffimo in partem dotis cum filia noftra 
 IVIargaretha praedida donee et quoufque, per nos, haeredes noftros vel fuc- 
 ceflbres Norvegiae reges, przefato Jacobo Scotorum regi, hasredibus feu fuc- 
 ceflx)ribus fuis de fumma quinquaginta millium florenorum Rhenenfium 
 reftantium de parte dotis, dido Jacobo Scotorum regi cum Margaretha filia 
 noftra antedida, donatse, conceflse, et afllgnatse, fuerit integraliter et plenarie 
 fatisfadlum ac perfolutum cum effedu. Et nos hseredes noftri, ac fuccef- 
 fores regni Norvegise Reges, praefatas terras Orcaden. fie, ut prxmittitur, 
 hypothecatas, et memorato Jacobo Scotorum regi fuifque fucceflbribus Sco- 
 tiae regibus impignoratas, contra omnes mortales warantizabimus, et in per- 
 petuum defendimus. 
 
 Prseterea Oratores, Nuncii et Ambaxiatores prasfati, nomine, vice et ex 
 parte eorundem principis ac commiflionis prccdidae vigore ipfis ab eodem 
 
 J 2 rege 
 
APPENDIX, KO. VK 
 
 hj.> 
 
 rege commlfTa:, pro dotalicio feu donatlone propter nuptias ipvxUix Mar- 
 garethcc i'lWx noftrx unigenitrc Jacob! Scotorum regis fponfe et reglnrc, a(- 
 fignaverunt, dederunt et concefferunt palatium de Linlilb.us, el caClrmn de 
 Dova in Mentech, cum omnibus fuis pertiiientiis et adjacenlibu.^, ac cvun 
 illis tertiam partem proprietatis Regni Scocize et omnium proventuum, rcd- 
 dituum ac obventuum ejufdcm proprietatis prsefato ferenifllmo principi 
 Jacobo Scotorum Regi, feu ad proprietatem regni fui pertinentium. Et li 
 contingat infuper, prxfatum Dominum Jacobum Scotorum regeni ante 
 mortem dida: Margaretha: fuaj conjugis, diem, (quod abfit) claudere extre- 
 mum, prsefata Domina Margaretha, infra tres annos obitum ipfius immedi- 
 ate fequentes, liberam facultatem regnum Scocias exeundi, feu infra idem 
 ccmmorandi, habebit prout pr.x'fatse Margarethx- melius aut complaccntius 
 expedire videbitur. 
 
 Et fi regnum Scocix exire prsceligerit, nos oratorcs prxfati, promlttimus, 
 poHicemur ac obligamus exccllentiffimum principem noftrum Jacobum 
 Scotorum Regem, fuofque hcCredes et fucceffbres in fummam centum et 
 viginti millium florenorum Rhenenfium, didx Doming Margaretbi fide- 
 liter folvcndorum, pro tertia parte proprietatis regni Scocis fibi in dotalitio, 
 feu donatione, ut pracmittitur, affignata, de qua vero fumma, centum ct 
 viginti millium florenorum, defalcabitur fumma: dotis Jacobo Scotorum 
 regi affignata; et nondum foluta;, fcilicet, fumma qulnquaginta millium flo- 
 renorum, et terra: infularum Orchaden. Regi noftro Jacobo impignorata:, 
 ad Korvegix Reges revertentur, contradidione, fraude, dolo et machina- 
 lione, mails exclufis penitus et femotis. 
 
 Dum tamen prsefata Domina Margaretha, cum Rege Anglia: feu qua- 
 cunque altera perfona, gentis five regni ejufdem matrimonialiter non copu- 
 letur aut quovis modo conjugatur. 
 
 Cacterum ad ubcriorem animorum Norvegia: et Scocia: Regum unionem, 
 amorum diledionis et amicitia: conjundionem. pacis, tranqulllitatis ac cha- 
 ritatis continuationem. 
 
 Nos Chrifticrnus Norvegia: Rex, et nos oratores ac procuratores cxcel- 
 lentifllmi principis Jacobi Scotorum Regis ad hoc poteftatem habentes, in 
 efiicnciorls, confitdcrationis vinculo approximarc cupicntes, pro nobis, ha;- 
 redibus ac fucceflbribus noflris ac regnorum noflrorum proceribus, mutuam 
 
 3 ^^ 2 amicitiam 
 
436 APPENDIX, NO. VI, 
 
 amicitiam ac nova foedera inviolablHter obfervanda et alternatis v'lclbus ad 
 aherius principis requifitionem, opem, fubventionem et auxilium, contra 
 quemcunque, feu quofcunque prlncipem feu principes gentemve, populum, 
 confxratis noftris, ante datam pra;fentiuin duutaxat exceptis fideliter prae- 
 ftare, ac prsefentium tenore firmiter obfervare, nos ad hoc hseredes noftros 
 et fucceflbres aftringentes in verbo regio inviolabiliter obligamus. 
 
 Si vero partium aliquam praefatarum excellentifliinum Jacobum Scoto- 
 rum prlncipem fereniffimum aut Margaretham filiam noftram inclytiflimam 
 ante nuptias, inter eos celebratas, feu carnalem copulam fubfequutam mori 
 contigerit, univerfa et fingula prxmifla, tradata, appundluata, conclufa pro 
 dotibus et donationibus propter nuptias ex utraque parte penitus et omnino 
 fint extinda. 
 
 Qux praemina omnia et fingula nos Chriftiernus Dacis et Norvegiae Rex; 
 Quatenus nos concernunt, bona fide, verboque regio, pro nobis haeredibus 
 et fucceflToribus noftris adlmplere promittimus. Et ad hoc nos hxredefque 
 noftros et fucceflbres Dacise ac Norvegiae Reges obligamus et hypothecamus, 
 ac per prasfentes obligamus et hypothecamus. 
 
 Et nos oratores prsefati, vice ac procuratorio nomine principis noftri Ja- 
 cobi Scotorum regis illuftriffimi prsemifla omnia et fingula prout nos con- 
 cernunt, nomine procuratorio et vigore commiflionum fuperius infertarum 
 bona fide adimplere promittimus, el adimpleri procurare, nee contra ea qua- 
 ■vis occafione in futurum devenire excellentiftimum prlncipem noftrum Ja- 
 cobum Scotorum Regem, hasredes et fucceflfores fuos ad hoc firmiter obli- 
 gantes et exprefle hypothecantes. 
 
 In quorum omnium et fingulorum fidem, et teftimonium pramiffbrum 
 nos Chriftiernus Daciae ac Norvegix rex prasfatus figillum noftrum et nos 
 oratores antedidi figilla noftra, duplici fub forma prxfentibus apponi feci- 
 mus, apud oppidum Hafnen, infra regnum Daciae, odavo die menfis Sep- 
 tembris, anno Domini millefimo quadringentefimo fexagefimo odavo, in- 
 didione prima pontlficatufque fandiflimi in Chrifto patris et Domini noftri^ 
 Domini PauU divina proviUentia Papx fecundi anno quarto. 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
APPENDIX, NO. VU. 43,7 
 
 APPENDIX, No. VII. 
 
 DESCRIPTIO INSULARUM ORCHADIARUM, 
 per me Jo. Ben, Ibidem Colentem^ in Anno 1529. 
 
 North Ronaldsay 1. 
 
 Prima infula eft North Ronaldfay, ab aqullone, et eft terra equata mari, 
 et naufragium Anglis et aliis navlgantibus faepiffime prxbet : dlftat enim a 
 Kirkwallia 60 niilliaribus, in clrcuitu 4. Pcipuli fiunt admodum ignari di- 
 vini eloquli, quia raro aut nunquam docentur. Fertilitas magna illic fru- 
 menti, nerape hordei atque avenaruni homines hyeme vefcuntur pane hor- 
 deaceo, aeftate vero pifciculis parvis atque lade, in ea parte infulae nempe 
 aquilone bellux maxima: vernaculas (fclchis) rctis fadis ex cannabe capiun- 
 tur ; et diftat a terra fcopnius magnus dimidium milliare nomine (6elch- 
 Ikerry) ubi marinae aves illic colunt et nidificant. 
 
 In illo fcopulo bellux prsedida: fluduante mari ad cacumen afcendunr, 
 abeunte vero in puteum decidunt ubi vi nulla egredi poftunt, exitus nullus 
 eft : mutuo inter fefe murraurantes agricokc m.oris venicntibus ad fcopulum 
 accedunt corylis magnis ; bcliux vero intucntes atque frcndcntes ira cum 
 magna apertura oris fledi viam tendunt, tunc agrediuntur viribus, et volun- 
 tarie pugnam vexerint. Bclluce, etfi prima fine Uxfione evaferit omnes aliaj 
 dentibus in homines incidunt ; quod autem fi prima csefa et mortua fuerit 
 omnes aliae in fugam eunt atque facile capiuntur, et captas vidi femel 60. 
 
 Carent igne, nifi algis inarinis ficcis, ceC ites vero aranaceos habent mini- 
 me in igne lucentes, luce vero qua hy^^me fruuntur ex inteftinis pifciumeil,. 
 vel ex abdomine: et ex fteicoribus pecorum in muro fparfis et fole arefac- 
 tis optimus focus eft : nee ranse, glires, nee bufones hie colunt j et fi navis 
 hie adduxerii glires cito pereunt quafi veneno, 
 
 Sanday 
 
438 APPENDIX, NO. VII. 
 
 Sanday 2. 
 
 Sunday (fic dida quafi infula arenofa, the Sanday Ifle, quia eft arenarum 
 plena) diftat a prcedida infula duo miiliaria maxima: infula ilia eft in lon- 
 gltudine duodecim miiliaria, latitudlne vero duo. Angli et Germani fse- 
 pifTime hie pereunt in una parte verfus orientem, nomine the Star of Lope- 
 nefs. 
 
 Ipfe ego tranfiens per infulam, atque fatigatus, me apud unam recepi 
 nomine Sandli Crucis, et in cemeterio iftnumerabilia capita hominum circi- 
 ter mille vidi majora trlbus capitibus nunc viventibus ; et dentes aliquos ex 
 gingivis extraxi fimilitudine unius glandis avellanse, Mirabar quidem atque 
 cupidus rerum novarum me homini feni contuli inveftiganfque qasenam 
 hsec erant et unde cfla femifepulta, refpondit ille, Fili, ha:c infula olim erat 
 fubje£la Stronfarils atque etiam annuatim redditum dedimus ut libere effice- 
 rcmur, quatenus imbelles fuimus ; cum itaque redditu admodum fatigati 
 adolevimus confilium cepimus quomodo exonerari potuimus. 
 
 Tunc unus prudentior aliis dixit : Dies ecce folutionis adeft ; apud eccle- 
 fiam nofmet ipfos abfcondemus, in cuniculis trucidabimus omnes ad unum 
 ita ut nullus eorum evadet : omnes illi annuerunt. Veniente vero die, 
 Stronfarii cum uxoribus, filiis, filiabus, famulis, familiaribus casterifque mul- 
 tis foiventes anchora, velis extenfis, atque aura fecunda, fine armis elati 
 gaudio, ad littus noftrum appulerunt ubi faltantes et ducentes choreas majo- 
 rem partem diei confumpferunt. Interea Sandefii et nos hie colcntes com- 
 moti atque armis aptlffimis fuccindi fubito clamore et fono terribili orto eos 
 invafimus et, omnes ad mortem trucidavimus et quidem nullus hie unquam 
 poftea tributum folvimus et fic liberati fuimus. Hse dux infulse atque om- 
 nes luridiflimi funt. 
 
 Tam fenes quam juvencs in his duobus-infulis ita pediculofi funt, ut nul- 
 la arte mederi poflunt. Cuniculi hie seftate abundanter funt, hyeme vero 
 adeo funt domabiles ut in domibus capiuntur fingulorum. Homines hie 
 Laici habent Calceos ex belluorum pellibus ligulo contraltos vernacule 
 "Rlffl'tngs vocatos. 
 
 Stronsay 
 
^ 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. VII. 435 
 
 Stronsay 3. 
 
 Stronfay, vel Sdronfay, fie dida quafi the Streams Ifle. Ifta infula in 
 longitudine eft fex milliarla, quatuor vero in latltudine ; gla^bse hie abun- 
 dantes funt ac dimidia pars hie inciilta eft. Zuidam hie deuin pure colunt 
 alii non. IVIaxime etiam fidunt napeis (the ferries), et dieunt homines fu- 
 bito morlentes vitam poftea cum illis degere, quanquam ego non credo. 
 
 Monftri maximi nomine Troicis fazpiflime coeunt cum mulieribus illic 
 colentibus, quod cum ego illic colui, mulier illic erat formofa maritata colo- 
 no forti ; ipfa vexabatur fpiritu maximo, invito marito, concubantibus in 
 uno thoro, et naturaliter concubuir cum muliere, et videbatur. Mulier tan- 
 dem macera fada eft prx dolore : Hortatus fum ut vacaret preeatione elee- 
 mofyna et jejunio quod et fecit ; durante anno ficclne turbata eft. Defcrip- 
 tio iftius monftri h^ec eft. 
 
 [ndutuseft algls marinis, toto corpore, fimilis eft pullo equino convoluto 
 pilis, membrum habet fimile equino et tefticuios magnos. 
 
 Papa Stronsay 4. 
 
 Et diftat ab ifta infulia alia, qucc vocatur Papa Stronfay, qux parva om- 
 nino eft, et agricola eft unus ille colens, et in medio lacus eft incolumis valde. 
 Etymologia (the Little Stronfay.) Altera jadu lapidis. 
 
 AUSKERRIE 5. 
 Eft alia infula inculta, nomine Aufkcrrle, ubi equi feroclflimi funt. 
 
 Shapinshay 
 
44-0 APPENDIX, NO. VH. 
 
 Shapinshay 6. 
 
 Schaplnfhaw dkia (the Shipping lile) popull colentes hanc infulain 
 raaxime funt ignari, colunt napeis et alia nefaria : In longitudinc eft fcx -m 
 
 miUlaria, in latitudine duo ; illic currunt ccetera maria ubi patet ingrelTas ad ^ 
 
 Kirkwalliam. ' 
 
 Eloerholme 7. 
 
 Eloerholme Infula nunc inculta, fed bafes domorum et Striga illic appa- 
 rent, atque etiam facellum : caufa: vaftationis atque defolationis h3cc lunt. 
 Duo fratres hie eolebant, unus cultor veritatis, alter minime divinus ; orta 
 contentlone inter fratres, hie impius Epifcopo enunciavit fratrem fuuni 
 fponte cum affini concubuiffe : audita querula, Epifcopus felle commotus, 
 utrumque expulit deeedentibus uxoribus, flexis genibus infulani devovebant 
 quamobrem nullus adhunc diem coluit. 
 
 Westray 8. 
 
 Weftray quafi dicas oceidentalis infula (the Weft Ifle) omnium infula- 
 rum Orchadienfium fertihflima eft, atque illic genera nobilium colunt, et eft 
 excellentiffima arx five caftellum, fed nondum tamen adhue completa. 
 
 Olim agricolae hie habitantes pugnam ineuntes cum hybernibus, vernacule 
 (the Lewifmen), verfique in fugam omnes fimul perire : Unus tamen diu 
 pugnabat preftantior atque robuftior aliis interfedtis, cxCis tamen poplitibus, 
 ad genua eoadus eft dum in eertamine fuerit. 
 
 In hac infula unus eft fublimis mons. 
 
 Papa 
 
APPENDIX, NO. Vfl. 441 
 
 Papa Westray 9. 
 
 Papa Weftray, quafi dicas (the Little "Wefl: Ifle) fubjeda eft priori infula:, 
 fertllis ut alix infulse, lacus eft in hujus infula meditulHo et in lacu infula in 
 qua capella parvula eft. 
 
 Faray io. 
 
 Faray, quafi dicas pulchra Infula (the Pleafant Ifle). H^ec Infula ert: 
 maxime commoda beftiis precipue vaccis, quat illic magna melodia tondant 
 dumeta : Et puerl hie cantant brutis. Tota infula eft frumenti et pifcium 
 plena. 
 
 Eday II. 
 
 Eday Infula ollm erat omnium infularum aquilonarlum ditiflima, et clrci- 
 ter triginta colon! illic habitabant, fed expulfi adveniente vaftatore ut vix 
 unus illic nunc eft. Abundantia illic magna omnium precipue pecorum. 
 Viri fsepifllmx pugnant cum monftris maximis, atque hora perada diflibU 
 vuDt In fece et coquunt in oleo. In ambitu hxc infula continet decern 
 milliaria. 
 
 Egilschay 12. 
 
 Egilfchay, quafi dicas ecclefise infularum (the Kirk-Ifle). In longltudine 
 eft unum milliare, latitudine autem dimidium ; ecclefia hie eft Sandlo Mag- 
 no dicata. Quamplurimi infulam banc j>retereuntes vitalia lumina perdunt. 
 Gallinse hie quamplurlma ova deponunt ita ut doliantur foro. Sanflus 
 Magnus in hac infula natus eft, et educatus eft ab infantia, et dedit donium 
 nutrici fuse, nempe mefliiagium unum terrae, ubi iUa facellum aedificavit, in 
 
 3 L quo 
 
442 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. VII. 
 
 quo cameram in folo fecit, atque cunabulum, menfam, ledum, et alia dotnui 
 neceflaria ex lapldibus, poftea vero dirutum, ubi fegetes nunc funt nihilomi- 
 nus fupelleCVilia adhuc manent. 
 
 RouSAY 13. 
 
 Rowfay, quafi dlcas Raulandi Infula, magna infula eft, et maxima ejus 
 pars inculta. In ambitu hxc infula continet odto milliaria, montes habet 
 excelfos, et faepiflime igne incenfos videntur, fme hominibus, node, quod 
 quidem mirabile eft. 
 
 Weir 14. 
 
 Weir infula eft parva Petro Apoftolo dicata. Cseteris Infulis obumbrata, 
 ut vix videri poteft, habitata colonis. Hie olim gigas habitabat procerus, 
 ubi effigies domus adhuc manet. Alii dicunt quod hsec infula fadta eft e» 
 cymba Sana! Magni dum fugeret ad infulam de AgliQiay. 
 
 Enh ALLOW 15. 
 
 Enhaltow, quafi dicas Sandta Infula, et minima ; fabulantur hie antiqui 
 quod, fi metantur fegetes, poft folis occafum, fubito manat cruor de calamis 
 frumentorum ; alii dicunt fi equus ligatus fuerit fole decidente facile vaga- 
 tur undique per nodem fine alicujus fi vero non 
 
 cemere hie poffes eorum fiditias et fabulofas> 
 traditiones.. 
 
 Gairsay i^ 
 
 Gairfay infula habet tres holmas, et In monticulum; in medio furgit : 
 Agricolae haoc infulam coluat ad marinum lUtus,.fed minorem partem. 
 
 Damsay. 
 
Appendix, no. vn. 443 
 
 Damsay 17. 
 
 Damfay Infula, nullus tumulus hie eft, fed placidinima eft omnium atque 
 Tempe vocatur: Ecclefia eft in hac infula dedicata Marias Virgini ad quam 
 plerumque mulieres progrediuntur grandes. Nunquam ranje, bufones, nee 
 alia terreftria mala hie funt ; mulieres hie fteriles funt, et fi gi'avidae evene- 
 rint, nunquam cum vita parlunt. Fabulantur quod aliquando fupercilia au- 
 feruntur inter fpatium unius horx, deinde vero reftituuntur. Diftat hac in- 
 fula a Kirkwallia duo milliaria. 
 
 POMONIA. 
 
 Pomonia Infula, allter (the Mainland), fie dida quafi (the Middle of the 
 Apple, becaufe it lies betwixt the North and South Ifles) : Hxc infula con- 
 tinet multas parochias, quarum hsec eft prima. 
 
 DiERNESS. 
 
 DIernefs quafi (the Nefs of Diets) hsec parochia olim erat n^cmorofa ; et 
 multae ferse hie fuere ; tandem diluviis venientibus, arbores, vulfis radicibus, 
 fubmerfi funt. 
 
 In aquilonari parte iftlus parochis: in marl eft nativum Saxum ubi homi- 
 nes manibus et genubus quam difficillime afcendunt ad cacunien ; illlc eft 
 facellum quod nominatur (the Bairns of Burgh.) 
 
 Confluunt hue ex diverfis infulis, homines, juvenes, pueri, fenes, fervi 
 innumerabiles, venti vero, nudis pedibus, ut prius dixi, orantes afcendunt 
 ubi nullus preterquam unus ad facellum uno tempore venire poteft : Illic eft 
 fons purus et nitidiflimus ; quod quidem mirabile eft : Tunc homines, genu- 
 bus flexis, manibufque conjundis, diffidentes Deum efle, orant (the bairns 
 of Brugh) multis incantationibus, projicientes lapides et aquam poft tergora, 
 et circa facellum bis terve gradientes, finita oratione domum redcunt affir- 
 mantes fe vota habuifle. Non pure hie colunt Deum. 
 
 3L 2 In 
 
^44 APPENDIX, NO. vir. 
 
 In anno 1506, Joannes Stewart Donnenfis et Tartenfis In aquilone appu- 
 lit ad Orchadiam, invenitque aurifodinam in hac parochia; tandem cum im- 
 pleviflet duas naves et faburram aliis paraflet, et cum operariis in aurifodio 
 efTct, cornix alta voce exclamata eft ter ; Egreffi vero magifter cum quibuf- 
 dam aliis, fed ibi quinque relidis corruit faxum, et fufFocati hi quinque» fal- 
 vis cjeteris omnibus. 
 
 Sancti Andrje. 
 
 Secunda parochia dicltur Sandi Andras. Haze parochia eft magna, et 
 frumenti ferax. Aliquid memorabile non hie eft nifi quod occidlt uno viro 
 nobillfTimo nomine Jacobo Sinclero, qui hie habitabat, et quondam bellum 
 cum Cathanenfibus (de quo fuo loco dicetur) iniit, ifte nobilis dux captus 
 eft, demens evafit ; et feipfum in mare precipitavit ubi vitam finiit, quod 
 quidem lamentabile eft. 
 
 Holm et Paplay. 
 
 Holm et Paplay dux parochia; funt conjundim ubi de duabus una eecle- 
 iia eft. Transfretantur hie homines profedturi ad auftrales partes. 
 
 Sancti Ojlai. 
 
 Sanfti Olal parochia eft floridiffima et amoeniflima ; in medio ftat civltas 
 excellentiiiima nomine Kirkwallia, ubi ecclefia eft dicata San£lo Magno qua 
 
 habet et retinet in tantum ut laberintho fimi- 
 lari poteft fedes Epifcopalis in civitate hie eft, (No the Yards.) Caftellum 
 quondam fabrlcatum a Sincleris hie eft : Eft etiam hie alia ecclefia, in cine- 
 res redada ab Anglis, uomiae St Olais Kirk, ubi nunc fepeliumur malefac- 
 tores. 
 
 t% Deditae 
 
APPHNDix, NO. vrr, 4^}.^ 
 
 Dedlta: fuiit htc mulleres luxurise, fic puto propter plfclura abundantlam. 
 Hie undique in duabus partibus civitas eft fuppofita aquls marinis. Hie 
 mens eft ingentifTimus ubi tota Fomonia et omnes infula: afpiciuntur nomine 
 AVhisford, ei eft judicium belli Orchadibus, cum fens in cacumine videtur 
 Ictiturire. 
 
 Orchades bellum gerebant cum Anglis apud civitatem Lotus quidam vocant 
 Paipdelise in anno ijoa'", 13"° Augufti, in quo bello Angli funt proftrati et 
 csefi multique fubmerfi, cum eorum duce, D". Joanne Elder milite j Edwardo 
 Sinclero tunc Orchadicnfium duce. 
 
 Firth. 
 Firth alia eft parochia, ubi oftrea abunde capluntur. 
 
 Stenhouse. 
 
 Stenhoufe alia parochia eft, ubi laciis magnus in circuitu 24 milliaria : 
 Illic in monticulo prope lacum in fepulchro inventa funt oifa unius viri, qu^e 
 quideni conjunda fuere, et in longitudine erant 14 pedibus, ut author 
 aiebat, et moneta iliac inventa fuit fub capite illius mortui ; et ego quidem 
 fepulchrum vldi : Illic apud lacum lapides alti latique in altitudinis unius 
 haftxjin pari circuitu dimldli milliaris. 
 
 In anno 1527, bellum ortum eft inter Cathenenfes et Orchades: Cathe- 
 nenfcs omni vi nitebantur invadere Orchades haftis, telis, fagittis et fonitibus 
 tubarum. Pomonienfes vero, dum haec gerebantur, obviarunt illis atque in 
 monte iftius parochia: apud Bexwell acies fimul junxere. Cathenenfe& 
 omnes obverfi fuerunt et interfedi, adeo ut ne quidem unus fuperfuit. Se- 
 pulchrum comitis in eo loco adhuc manet; is avus erat iftius comitis nunc 
 viventis. Orcadesletitia commoti ob vidoriam ad civitatem redierunt Jacobo 
 Sinclero (de quo prius dictum) duce. Campus ubi hoc bellum pugnatum eft 
 vocatur Symmerdale. 
 
 Orpher. 
 
 Orpher alia parochia eft, bonum portum pifcatoribus prjebens. 
 
 Stromness. 
 
446 appendix, ko. vu. 
 
 Stromness. 
 
 Stromnefs alia parochia eft, et portum habet falutiferum ; clafli hic exitus 
 'Optimus: Galli Hifpanique hic tempeftates fepiffime evitant : Hic nulli 
 venti naves laedere pofTunt. 
 
 Vocatur portus hic Cairftane, quia Saxls munita eft. Salubres venti hic 
 fiant, qui vocantur Etefix. Periculofinimus hic eft pons viatoribus nomi- 
 natus (the bridge of Vaith), ubi plurimi pereunt. 
 
 Sandwick. 
 
 Sandwick eft alia parochia, fertilis valde et abundans cuniculis, maxima 
 ■omnium parochiarum eft, et tota culta. 
 
 BiRSA. 
 
 Birfa baronia dicitur, ubi palatium eft excellens, ubi olim regnabat Rex 
 
 Orchadiaj; fed Julio Csefare regnante totum orbem, vi quadam Romse de- 
 
 ferebatur, et fubjedta eft Orchadia Romania poftea, ut infcriptio unius lapidis 
 
 ■teftatur. 
 
 Nomen Regis fuit Gavus. 
 
 Hara. 
 
 Hara alia parochia, ubi Ignavifllmi fuci funt, Ideoque dicuntur (the Sheeps 
 of Harray). Hic eft magna Ecclefia dedicata Sanftje Mariae, vulgus vocat 
 (the Lady of Grace) de qua homines multa fabulantur : Hic multi confluunt 
 ■ex diverfis infulis. 
 
 EviE. 
 
 Evie alia parochia ubi caete immunes ingrediuntur. Hic magna eft fru- 
 mentorum abundantia^ 
 
 Rendal. 
 
APPENDIX, NO. VII. 447 
 
 Rendal. 
 
 Rendal alia parochia : Ida parochia fubjeda erat Domino Tulllallan et 
 ipfe erat Dominus ubi doinus teftatur adhuc. 
 
 Longitudo Pomonise (from the Bairns of Brugh to the Brugh of Birfay) 
 continet fedecem miUiaribus longiflimis. Hie viri bellicofi funt circiter 
 quinque millia in Pomonia, et totidem in infulis. Abundantiam hordei et 
 avenarum habet, omnes bibaciffuni funt hominum et luxuriofi, mutuo inter 
 fe prasliantur : Exempli gratia, fi vicinus vicinum invitaverit, fi invitatus 
 antequam decefTerit, non vomuerit, litibus magnis heruin invadit, donee 
 potus domum conceHerit : Hie mos infularum etiam: Vafri funt et fub- 
 tiliffimi : Utuntur idiomate proprio, veluti cum dicimus Guid day Guidman, 
 illi dicunt goand da boundx, &c. 
 
 CopiNSHAW 19, 
 
 Copinfliaw parva Infula eft, atque prima vifa eft navigantibus Orchadisei 
 Unus hie colonus eft. Saxum habet al'tiffimum verfus orientem ; ferse 
 volucres hie capiunturin fcopulodimittendopuerumfune,riccineinrideantur.. 
 
 South Ronaldsay 20. 
 
 South Ronaldfay alia Tnfula^ ubi robuftiflimi homines habitant, habet 
 templum juxta littus marinum, ubi lapis eft duriffimus, vulgus vocat (a gray 
 whin), longitudine fex pedum, latitudine quatuor, in quo preflura duorum 
 pedum nudorum infigitur, quam faber nullus quidem fabricari poteft: fabu- 
 lantur fenes, quod Gallus quidam patria expulfus, locoque afyli, ingreffus eft 
 navem quandam, ubi fubita procella orta, periclitati, paflique funt naufra- 
 giam, ipfe tandem tranfiliens fupcr tergum belluGe conftitit fuppliciter deum^ 
 orans, quod (i falvus portaretur ad terram, in memoriam &c. Maricc Virginis- 
 ecclefiam conftrueret : Orations audita, falvus ad littus appulit, adhiiniculo 
 
 bellucc' 
 
44-^ APPENDIX, NO. VII. 
 
 belluse. Bellua tandem mutata in lapldem ejufdem coloris Ipfe la ecclefiam 
 illam collocavit, ubi adhuc manet, ut fupra dixi. 
 
 Lambholme 21. 
 
 Lambholme parvlflima Infula eft fterills, et inculta, ubi muUi cuniculi ab 
 hominibus aliarum infularum occiduntur. 
 
 Flotay 22. 
 
 Flotay h^c Infula eft sequata mari et amoenifllma. Vetus domus hic eft 
 diriita fola quam quidam ecclefiam, alii Prefbyterium vocant, longitudine 
 magna, ubi fingulis annis comitia agebantur facerdotum : Ternae Trophae 
 hic eredtse funt, qu^e nos CrofTes vocamus ; averfa funt fabro murario, fom- 
 niante vero fantafmata ea, node deinde vexabatur mirabilibus, vigilante 
 vero minus afFe£tus eft et decumbebat ledo per fpatium o£lo hebdomadum, 
 ut author ipfe fuit ; fodiens vero poftea tentorium invenit in tumulo, can- 
 delabra, zonas, et alia mirabilia quae hoc loco recenferi non expedit. 
 
 Cavay 23. 
 
 Cavay quafi (the Cheefe Ifland) cptimus cafcus hic eft : parvula eft fed 
 commodiflima beftiis, abfque arboribus, propter ventorum impetum hic 
 flantium : Una domus hic eft cum duobus tuguriis. 
 
 Faray 24. 
 
 Faray, quafi clara infula (the Fare Ifle) hujus nominis duse funt infute, 
 alia eft adjacens et vicina Zetlandix : Hsec infula fterilis eft et inculta, fed 
 pilcatus nobilis. 
 
 SOWNAY 
 
.APPENDIX, KO. VIU 449 
 
 r'l»,t F 
 SOWNAY 25. 
 
 Sownay eft infula fidam pra;bens ftationem navibus peregrlnis et plfca- 
 toribus. Avena: et hordcum hie nafcuntur. Sed terra eft admodum arenofa. 
 Non procul a Kirknefs hie eft Braga, a nautis bene nota. 
 
 Ryssay 26. 
 
 Ryflay eft Infula arenofa, fterilis et Inculta, HIc olira eranl optima: gls- 
 ba; in tota Orcadia. 
 
 BuRRAY 27. 
 Burray, vulgo Burge Infula, eft parva, fed hordel frudlfera. 
 
 Wais 28. 
 
 "Wals, Pomonlenfes vocant Incolas (the Lyars of Wals) infula eft non 
 magna. Nulla dlftindllo eft inter Hoy et Wais, fed una infula eft, recidente 
 freto. 
 
 Hoy 29. 
 
 Hoy, ingentiflimus monshic eft, diftat enim a terra in pari altltudlne tribus 
 milliaribus, ubi afcenfus non eft ; alter eft mons non admodum adeo altus, 
 inter quos lapis eft admiracione dignus, magnus eft et excelfus fabricatus a 
 gigante fuaque uxore : Unus lapis eft cameratus, in quo ledtus eft perquam 
 artificiofe fa£lus in lapide viro et uxore ; tempore camerationis fccmina gra- 
 vida fuit, ut Icdus teftatur ; nam ea pars le£li in qua uxor cubuit cffigiem 
 habet ventri gravidi. In lapide pulvinar fadum eft duobus fcuvialibus ex 
 tumore lapidis, non tamen materia tenaci aliqua conjunguntur, fed unus eft. 
 Ofteum habet obtrufum lapide : qui hoc fit, nefcio. Fahulantur quod alter 
 gigas in odiiim ilium habebat quapropter lapidem fabricavit 4ongitudine et 
 
 3 M latitudlne 
 
450 APPENDIX, NO. VII, 
 
 latltudine ofte'i ut eos Includeret, et ita fame perirent, tandemque ipfo do- 
 mlnante infulam, ad fuum ufum lapidem haberet et retineret. Detulk tan- 
 dem lapidem fabiicatam in iummUatetn montis atque jaculo impofito fumma 
 vl brachlorum (atque dolore alterlus profperitatis) in oftium injunxit, gigante 
 Inclufoevigilante auribuslupum tenebat exire nequlens fuis maleisimpluvium 
 fecit per quod egreffus eft. Si credere dignum, in hac infula, betulae cref- 
 cunt, et non in aliis ; nam aliae infulse abfque arboribus funt ; Albi lepores 
 hie funt, et capiuntur canibus. Abundantiam avium habet vernacule Lyris, 
 pifcium aliarumque volucrum. 
 
 Similiter hie funt aurifodia, plumbifodia, ferrifodia, et quamplurima alia 
 bona. 
 
 Gramsay 30. 
 Gramfay eft parva infula, fed culta ; detrimentum magnum navibus. 
 
 SOUTHAY 31. 
 
 Southay quafi (the South Ifle) vel auftralis infula, nunc Inculta eft, fed 
 dim fuit fertiliffima armentorum. Omnes hie pariter vitam uno die fini- 
 erunt, fabula non eft, fed relatio veriflima et Chriftianis viris notatu digniflima. 
 Veniente fefto noftri Salvatoris Jefu Chrifti, cum ifti habuerunt, quoniam 
 ecclefia illis deficiebat, ad vicinam infulam proficifci, ingrefli vero in cymba 
 tarn invenes quam fenes, fubita procella orta, aquis infanientibus ultra modum 
 fubmerfi funt. In qua vero beftise, boves, oves, vituli, fues, canes, cani- 
 culi, et omnia alia illic viventia, mira, ferocitate fe in mare precipitabant, 
 cbrutique funt, quod quidem verum fuit j nuUus ad hunc ufque diem coluit. 
 
 Of the HUSBANDRY ufed by the OrchaDIANS. In the End of the above 
 MS.y hit plainly of a later Date ^ and by another Hand. 
 
 They till not till the fpring of the year; and as they till fo they fow their 
 oats. Their plough is drawn by four beafts going fide for fide. The caller 
 
 (driver) 
 
APPENDIX, NO. VIII. 451 
 
 (driver) goes before the beafts backward with a whip. The holder of the 
 plough lyes on with his fide on the plough : The culter and the fock be not 
 two pound in weight : the oxen be yoaked with cheatts and haims and brea- 
 chanis, which they call weaflis, albeit they have horns. They fow in a creel 
 made of ftraw, called ane caffie, and of ane handful! they make four calls. 
 
 Their horfes live on bear-chaff, and grow exceeding fat on the fame. 
 They are very little, but quick and fiery. The men here keep the obferva- 
 tions of the moon in fo far that they ftall their marts at the waxing of the 
 moon, affirming they grow in the barrell. 
 
 Their calves never fuck their mothers. Their corns are very good, to 
 witt, bear and oats. They are handled only by the men; the women nei- 
 ther (hake the ftraw, nor yet winnow the corn. They good their land with 
 fea-ware and lightly midden muck. 
 
 MS. Adv. Lib. Edinburgh, 
 
 APPENDIX, No. VIII. 
 
 [From the CoUeftionof Paperi rcfpe^ing Orkney, in pofleflion of the Antiquarian Society of 
 
 Scotland.] 
 
 The General Aflembly, At Edinburgh 1639, Sefs. 8, Augujl 17, 1639. 
 Mr. George Grahame, bis renouncing and abjuring of Epifcopacie. 
 The which day was given into the AJfe/nbly, direH from Mafter George 
 GxiL[\imt,fomctimes pretended Bifhop o/'Orknay, <2« abjuration of Epifcopacie y 
 fubfcribed with his hand, which ivas publickly read in audience of the Affcm- 
 hly ; and thereafter they ordained the fame to be regijlrate in the AJfembly 
 Books y ad perpetuam rei memoriam, w^hereof the tenor follows. 
 
 To all and fundry whom it effeirs, to whofe knowledge thefe prefents 
 {hall come, fpecially to the Reverend and honourable Members of the fu- 
 
 3 M 2 tur€ 
 
 t 
 
4J2 APPENDIX, NO. Vlir. 
 
 ture Aflemhly to be holden at Edinburgh, the twelfth day of Augujl 1639 
 years : Te Mafter Gorge Graham, fometime pretended BiQiop of Orknajy 
 being ferry and grieved at my heart that I fhould ever for any worldly re- 
 fpe£t have embraced the order of Epifcopacie, the fame having no vparrant 
 from the word of God, and being fuch an order, as hath had fenfibly many 
 fearful and evill confequences in many parts of Chriftendome, and particu- 
 larly within the Kirk of Scotland, as by doleful and deplorable experience 
 this day is manifeft, to have difclaimed, like as I by the tenor hereof doe 
 altogether difclaime and abjure all Epifcopal power and jurifdidion, with 
 the whole corruptions thereof, condemned by lawful Affemblies within the 
 faid Kirk of Scotland, in regard the fame is fuch an order as is alio abjured 
 within the faid Kirk, by virtue of that national oath which was made in the 
 years 1580 and 158 i, promifing and fwearing by the great name of the 
 Lord our God, that I fhall never, whiles I live, dire£tly or indlredlly, 
 exerce any fuch power within the Kirk, neyther yet fliall I ever approve or 
 allow the fame, not fo much as in my private or public difcourfe : But on 
 the contrary, fhall ftand and adhere to all the Ad:s and Conftitutions of the 
 late Aflembly holden at Glafgoiv. the 21ft of November 1638 laft by-paft, 
 and (hall concurre to the uttermoft of my power, fmcerely and faithfully, as 
 occafion fliall offer, in execution of the faid A£ts, and in advancing the 
 work of Reformation within this land, to the glory of God, the peace of 
 the countrey, and the comfort and contentment of all good Chriftians, as 
 God fhall be my help. In teftimony of which premifes, I have fubfcribed 
 this prefent with my hand at Brecknes in Stromnes, the eleventh day of 
 February^ the year of God 1639 years, before this witnefTes Mafter Walter 
 Stuart, Minifter at Shoulronnaldfay, Mafter James Heynd, Minifter at K'lrk- 
 ivall, Mafler Robert Peirfon, Minifter at Firth ^ and Mafter Patrick Grahame^ 
 Minifter at Holme, my fon. 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
APPENDIX, NO. IX. 453 
 
 APPENDIX, No. IX. 
 
 A SHORT RELATION of the mojl CONSIDERABLE THINGS /;/ Ork- 
 7iay, by Mr. Matiiew Mackaile, Apothecary at Aberdeen. — MS. Adv. 
 Lib. Edin. 
 
 It is very probable that the inhabitants of the Orcades of old did only 
 fpeak Noords, or rude Danifh ; but now there are only three or four pa- 
 rifhes (efpecially upon the Mainland or Pomona) wherein that language is 
 fpoken, and that chiefly when they are at their own houfes ; but all fpeak 
 the Scots language, as the reft of the commons do. 
 
 The common people, though rude and ignorant, are very fubtile and fa- 
 gacious, and capable to learn. They do excell all people for navigation, 
 fmall boats with 4 or 6" oars, and one or two fails ; which is evident from 
 the little prejudice they fuftain in going from one ifland to another, when 
 the tide runneth moft impetuoufly. 
 
 The prefent E. of Morton informed me, that about 1643 he had a regi- 
 ment of Orkneymen, which was inferior to none in the army. They are 
 neceflitate to none ufe little boats, which the failors muft conftantly draw 
 without flood-mark, becaufe they have no harbours or keys, though every 
 ifland hath at leaft one good rode. 
 
 Untill the year 16 14, the Earles and Blfliops lands were runriged through 
 Orkney and Zetland, the former having two, and the latter one ; but then 
 Bilhop Law and the Chapter did refign all to the Kirk, who did appoint the 
 Bifliop his rent to be payed out of 4 or 5 parilhes in the Mainland, and 
 two or three iflands. 
 
 In every ifland almoft where there is a valley by the fea-fide, there is alfo 
 a frefti-water lake, as was at the town of Kirkwall ; where, at the end of the 
 wall, dividcing the frefli from the fait water, (like an artificial bulwark, as 
 it is in all other frefli places), they did cut, that the frclh water might run 
 
 into 
 
454 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. IX. 
 
 into the fea, which ever fince doth flow into and ebb out of it, where the 
 fhips ly very fecurely. In this town is a very ftately Cathedral, having 
 thre very good bells, which fell to the ground, the wooden cover of the 
 fteple being fet on fire by thunder in the year 1666 or 1667. 
 
 The produds of thefe iflands are only oats, common barley, coney-fkins, 
 fifh, oil and butter ; which laft, the tenants, being obliged to pay by weight, 
 without refpe£l to its goodnefs when they make it, they put a hot ftone in- 
 to the churn, that they may get much of the butter, and in a fliort time, 
 which maketh it foon become rancid. They afterwards put it up in barrells, 
 and becaufe fome do put in a confiderable quantity of dry fait to make it 
 weigh well, they pierce it in feveral places with a wimble for difcovering the 
 cheat. 
 
 They carry their vi£lual ordinarly to Zetland (in which iflands there 
 groweth not fo much every year as would maintain the inhabitants three 
 months) or Norway, and fometimes to Leith. 
 
 It is ail fold by weight, and that which is equivalent to a boll they call a 
 meil, viz. pounds, which is half as much again in quantity as a boll, 
 
 but of the fame rate ; and a meil of their malt will afford no more good ale 
 than a boll of malt growing in the fouth. 
 
 Becaufe all the land (excepting the parifh of Harra, in the weft end and 
 broadeft part of the Mainland, and far from the fea) is dunged with fea-ware, 
 the ale is fliarp ; and all ftrangers for the firft month or fix weeks are 
 troubled with a little diarrhea, wherein there is no hazard. 
 
 They gather the fea-ware (which is frequently and efpecially caft out by 
 the fea) into heaps, which, being putrified, affbrdeth a very bad fmell, and 
 many infedls, which the fl:erlings do feed upon, and therefore it is ordinary 
 to fee hundreds of thefe birds upon each heap. 
 
 All the Iflands are high and rocky, excepting Sanda and Burra. The in- 
 habitants at the weft end of the Mainland, and at the e^ft, but efpecially 
 thofe in Copinftiay, purchafe a great many feathers, by taking the fea 
 fowles from off* the high rocks, letting down a man with a ftrong rope 
 about his middle, and he throweth the birds into the boat attending bc- 
 low» 
 
 13 The 
 
APPENDIX, NO. IX. 4J5 
 
 The height and fteepnefs of thefe rocks are incredible, but by thofe that 
 have feen them. 
 
 Sometimes very big whales will be put on flioar. The Laird of Mains, 
 then heritour of Burra, got a great ball of fpermaceti cad out of the fea 
 upon one of his iflands, which he feat to London, and got confiderably 
 for it. 
 
 In the year 1664, a merchant in Kirkwall having fold by retail feveral 
 barrels of whale oil, when the lafl: of them was half fpent, a woman regret- 
 ted to him that (he had got from this man very bad and thick oil, where- 
 with (he could not get her wool greafed. He having told me of this, and 
 letting me fee fome of it, I lent him my prefs, whereby, putting it in a lin- 
 nen bag, he did feparate the oil from that which is called fpermaceti, where- 
 of he got two three pounds. It having been long amongfl the oil, had 
 contraded a very rancid fmell, and brownifh colour, neither of which 
 qualities I knew how to remove, and therefore he fold it at Edinburgh at 
 twelvepence or a (hilling the ounce. From hence it is evident that conerit 
 hath got a wrong name ; moreover, it is not every fort of whales which 
 afFordeth that fubftance, which is altogether fulphureous and inflamable. 
 
 Thefe Iflands abound with wild fowls, plovers ; doves which make their 
 nefts in the rocks ; fwans, ducks, &c. ; geife of feveral forts, and particu- 
 larly clock geife, which come thither in the end of harveft, and go away im- 
 mediately before the fpring ; yet Monteith of Egillhay informed me, that 
 one year they did hatch their eggs in his Holme, which confirmed me in 
 my unbelieving that thefe geife are generate out of trees. 
 
 For I have not only (een an old tree full of thofe (hells, like to mufcles, 
 wherein they are faid to be found, but alfo frefh (lera polls of (liips, which 
 no man would believe to be fix months wrought. 
 
 But they have no partridges at all, nor ordinary black crows (only, in the 
 four years of my abode there, I faw once three of them three miles weft of 
 the town), but abundance of thofe which have black heads and wings, with 
 grey bodies : they have alfo many ravens, which firft pick out the eyes of 
 the lambs, and then kill them. 
 
 There are no foxes nor hares, only I was informed, that about eighty 
 years ago there were feveral, either white or black hares, on the two great 
 
 mountains 
 
456 APPENDIX, NO. IX. 
 
 mountains of Choye, betwixt which, amongft the heather, much juniper, 
 affording few, if any ripe berries. Some bourtrees, birks, rauntrees, do 
 grow, but when they become fo big as to be ufeful for boats, the inhabi- 
 tants make pins of them. '» 
 
 Many of the maridies trees have the fal'ix humilis lat'ifolia ; and at the 
 eaft end of the Main, and head of Deerfound, at Camftoun, there is a little 
 wood, (about two pair of buts in length, and one broad, and as tall as a 
 man), of the ordinary yT/Z/x angtijlifol'ta^ or viminia. 
 
 Near to the town of Kirkwall are a few whins, which the Earl of Orkney 
 caufed plant when I was there, 1664. Arthur Buchanan of Sound inclofed 
 a little ground, but the broom feed did never appear above ground. In the 
 Blfliop's garden, which is in the town, are fome apple and cherry trees, 
 which, In an extraordinary hot year, will produce cherries a little red about 
 Lammas. Several gentlemen have planted alhes and plains In their gardens ; 
 but whatfoever groweth higher than the dikes, fadeth the next winter, fo 
 that you can never fee them taller than the dikes, fave in the fummer. It 
 were worth the difquifitlon, how this commeth to pafs ; feeing trees do 
 grow in Norway, which for the moft part is more northerly. 
 
 All the iflands are well fired, by reafon of the abundance of mofs ground, 
 Sanda, N. Ronaldfhay excepted, wherein are no peats at all ; but the inha- 
 bitants bring them from Etha (betwix which iflands runneth a mofl impe- 
 tuous current^ or the little ifland befide it, called the Calf of Etha, whereia 
 the Earl of Carrie, fon to the E. of Orkney, built five fait pans, becaufe the 
 peats there are little inferiour to coals, in weight, hardnefs, and burning 
 v?ell. 
 
 In January 1665, the froft and fnow continued fourteen days, the like 
 thereof none then alive had feen there. 
 
 The horfes are little, and go all barefoot, unlefs the gentlemen put Ihoes 
 upon the horfes upon which they ride themfelves. 
 
 The fwine and fheep are alfo little, but very good, two or three places 
 excepted, where they and the cows do eat together fea-ware, which maketh 
 their tallow a little brownilh, and alfo altereth their tafte. 
 
 There are many eagles, efpeclally at the weft end of the Main, and in 
 Choye. I was very well informed, that an eagle did take up a fwaddled 
 
 child 
 
APPENDIX, NO. IX. /^S"! 
 
 cliild a month old, which the mother had laid down until! fliC went to the 
 back of the peat-ftack at Hoaton-head, and carried it to Choye, viz. 4 miles, 
 which being dilcovered by a traveller, who heard the lamentations of the 
 mother, four men went prefently thither in a boat, and, knowing the eagle's 
 neft, found the child, without any prejudice done to it. 
 
 There are alfo many hawks, but the beft is that of the Fair Ifle, lying 30 
 miles from Orkney, and as far from Zetland ; fo that his flight is that long. 
 From the top of the eaflmofl; mountain in Choye, about one afternoon for 
 10 or 12 days, and an hour's time in the middle of June and July, the fun 
 fliinlng tlierc appeareth a great light, like to that of the fun refledled from a 
 large mirror, to any (landing at the Bow or chief houfe in Choye, which is 
 upon the north-weft corner of the ifle, and 2 miles diftant from the top of 
 the mcuntain, to which the Lalrde of Hiilcs, then heretour of Choye, had 
 lent feveral times men to fearoh t!ie place refledting the light, but they 
 could find nothing extraordinary ; which Hales told myfelf. At the foot 
 of this mountain I did fee a very large four corner'd free flone, lying alto- 
 gether above ground, and under it runneth a little ftripe of water not a foot 
 broad. 
 
 There are no extraordinary big flones near to It, neither the appearance 
 of any quarry out of which it was digged. Yet it was fo big, that having a 
 round hole in the upper fiJe, I went down thereby, and found two beds 
 liewed cut with irons, and a little trance betwixt them, the one being for a 
 man, alike wide from end to end, and the other for a woman, being much 
 wider in the middle, that it might hold her belly when with child. It doth 
 mofl refemble the cabin of a fniall fliip. 
 
 At Deernefs and in Gremfie were two lecd mines of old j but now Grein- 
 fie affordeth only flates for thatching of houfes. I did never fee bigger ar- 
 tichocks than there, where alfo carrots, parfnlpps, &c, do grow to great bi<»- 
 nefs ; and I was informed by the owner, that at Birfa he had once a cab- 
 bage (lock which weighed 32 pounds. 
 
 In EgilQiay and Thievcfliolme, fo called becaufe of old the gibbet ftood 
 here, is found a groff fort of fand, whitifli, and like corall in fhape. 
 
 In Thief's-hoime, I found of it not only whitifli, but alfo another fort 
 very reddilh, and about an inch long. The inhabitants take of this fand 
 
 -3 N whicl; 
 
458 APPENDIX, NO. IX. 
 
 which is in Egilfhay, and do mix it with lime brought from Forth ; then 
 make an heap of it till tlie next year, after which they plaifter with it their 
 houfes without, which preferveth them, much and long from the injuries of 
 rain. 
 
 In Deerfound, and about the Ifland Damfay, are oyfters, which are 
 taken at low water, by piercing them with fpits of iron as they ly amongft 
 the rocks. 
 
 Bees are fo rare there, that a young man, in the end of April, ftopt 
 the fkep (which a lady had taken thither from Angus) with a piece of 
 a peat. About S days thereafter, the Laird going to look after them, 
 found them all dead. His family being conveened, he inquired who had 
 done it. Thea£tor didconiidently anfwer, that upon fuch a day he did it, 
 becaufe they were all flying away. 
 
 About Lammas, the inhabitants do fometimes fend a boat or two 40 miles 
 weft, to an ifland called Stack, (which is moft like to the Bafs, and lyeth 40 
 miles north from Stranaver), where they get abundance of folan geefe ; and 
 this is the place to which thofe which build in the Bafs do all go after Au- 
 guft or September, from which they return again in the fpring. 
 
 Near to this is another ifle, called Selch-kerry, to which they go alfo in 
 the winter, when there is a ftrong froft and calm. There they kill many 
 feals, which they find lying on the ifle, and bring away their fkins and 
 fat. 
 
 The ewes in Orknay have ordinarly 2 lambs, frequently 3, and fometimes 
 4; and I was informed by a gentleman there, that one of his ewes did at 
 one time bring forth 4 lambs, 3 whereof were lame in their fore-legs, and 
 went on their knees. 
 
 ACCOUNT 
 
APPENDIX, NO. IX. 
 
 459 
 
 ACCOUNT of the CURRENT of the TIDES about the Orcades, hy Mr 
 JMa"^- Mackaile, coinmuiikatcd by bhn to Sir Ko'&v.'s.i: Murray, Pr<r- 
 fident of the Royal Society, and publi/Jjed by him in No, 
 
 In Faray Sound, betw'iKt the Ifles of Fairy and Etha in Orkney, the fea 
 runneth N. E. for the fpace of three hours in flowing, and 9 hours S. W. in 
 ebbing. 
 
 This is the courfe of the tide only in the middle of the Sound, which is 
 but one mile broad. 
 
 The next ifle to Faray, towards the S. W., is Weftray, which is an ifle 
 about 5 miles in length, and 3 or 4 miles in breadth. Upon the S. E. fide 
 of this ifland, within a mile of the flioar, lyeth another little ifle, which is 
 not half a mile in circumference. S. and S. W. from thefe two iflands is 
 Weftray Firth, 8 miles in breadth, running betwixt theni and the ifland 
 called RauCi. 
 
 Through this firth the Engllfli fliips do ordinarily pafs in their courfe to 
 Iceland. 
 
 While the fea runneth from W. to E. in flowing through this Weftra 
 Frith, there are no greater furges than in any other place of the fea ; and in 
 a calm day, it is as fmooth as any lake, though there is conftantly a "-reat 
 current in the flux and reflux of the fea ; yet at the S. E. end of the fore- 
 mentioned little ifland, the fea no fooner begins to run weftward in ebbing 
 but there beginneth a furge to appear, which continually encrefleth untill 
 the ebb be half fpent ; and afterwards it decreafl*cth untill it be low water at 
 which time there appcareth no fuch thing. Eafl: and weft from this great 
 furge, there are fome few lefl!er furges feen, which are gradually Icfs towards 
 the eaft and weft, after this manner ; 
 
 3Na 
 
 I having 
 
460 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 I having occafion to pafs that way in a Irttle boat, when we had pafTed 
 over the eaftmofl: furges, and were beginning to afcend the biggeft, upon 
 the loth of April, at one of the clock in the afternoon, the furge before us 
 was fo high, that it intercepted the light of the fun, and fomc degrees of the 
 firmament above it. 
 
 This furge is about a quarter of a mile in length. When there is any 
 wind, which occafioneth a braking of the tops of the furges, there is no pafl^ 
 ing that way. The current of the tide is fo ftrong there, that there is no 
 need of fails or of oars, fave only to dired the boat as doth the helm. 
 
 MS. Jdv. Lib. Edinburgh, 
 
 APPENDIX, No. X. 
 
 The ACTS o/" BATLIARYyor executing of JuJIice through the County 
 
 of Orkney. 
 
 Curia capltalis vice comitatus de Orkney et Zetland, tenta apud Kirk- 
 wara, in domo nova prope Palatium de Yeardis ibidem, per honou- 
 rabiles viros, viz. Henricum Stewartum de Carlingre, et Magiftrum 
 Gulielmum Livingftonem, vice comites deputatos didi vice comi- 
 tatus, feptimo die menfis Novembris, anno Domini millefimo fex- 
 centefimo et decimo quinto. 
 
 The PREAMBLE and CAUSE of the ACTS following. 
 
 The which day, forafmuch as fin and iniquity is and has been the caufe 
 of God's heavie pleagues and judgements, and the caufe of great defolation 
 n. the kirk and policy within the country, for laike of dlfcipline and put- 
 ting 
 
APPENDIX, NO. X. 461 
 
 ting of the a£Vs of the church into execution, which has been meikle com- 
 plained upon in times part, and ficklike tliat there has been great ignorance 
 of his facrad Maitits royal fupreame authority, in pradlifing of forreign and 
 uncoth laws, contrairy to the ads of Parliament and Secret Council made 
 thereanent, and likewife that there has been great defolations, no common 
 well, diforder, trouble, injuries, and wrongs, amongft the inhabitants of 
 the land, for Like of government, admlniftratione, and putting the famen 
 to due execution : Therefore, it is ftatute and ordained by the fherife-depute, 
 with advice and confent of the gentlemen fuitors of court, and commons, all 
 with ane advice, confent and aflent, as after follows, viz. 
 
 Act 2. ylnent the putli^ig of the A6ls of the Kirk in execution. 
 
 In the firfl: place, it is ftatute and ordained, for punifhing of fin and vice, 
 that the a£ls of the Church made and to be made by the miniftcrs and their 
 Seflion of Church, againit tranfgrcflours and finners, be put in due execu- 
 tion with all rigour, in example for others to doe the like ; and to this ef- 
 fed, the Baillies of each parilh, and his ofEcer, incurr and affill your mini- 
 fters, elders and officers, in putting of all fuch ads and ftatutes made and 
 to be made in their Scffions of Church, to due execution as faid is, for 
 maintenance of God's wc'rlhip, kieping of the Sabbath, fuppreffing all 
 idolatry, clpecially of walks and pilgrimages, and all other vices, and 
 punifliing the refradive and difcbedient to their difcipline, under the paia 
 of deprivatione and payment of 10 pounds, to be employed in pious ufes. 
 
 Act 3. Anent the Obedience to his Majefies Laws^ and Provifionfor 
 
 Armour. 
 
 Item, It is flatute and ordained, that all manner of perfons, of whatfum- 
 cver rank, quality, or pedigree, fhall honour their dread Sovereign the 
 King's Majeity, and fubmite themfelves with all reverence to his authority, 
 in obeying his laws, ads, ftatutes, and confticutions, and renouncing al] 
 
 10 fbrreiga 
 
^fij APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 forreign law?, afis, flatutes, and coiiftitutions, quhatfaraever, obferved liere- 
 tofore, under the pains contained in the adls of Parliament and moft Hon- 
 ourable Privie Council made thereanent ; and that all men, according to 
 their aid and degree, provide themfelves in fufficient armour, according to 
 their eftate, and be in rcadinefs to ferve his Majeftie, or his deputs prefer>t, 
 or that {hall be for the time, for fupprcfling and withftanding the incurfions 
 of perrils, and other tumultuous perfones, as they will be anfwerable upoa 
 the higheft perrill. 
 
 Act 4. Anent the Careful D'lre&lng of the Corfs. 
 
 Item^ It is ftatute and ordained, to the efFe£t that ilk houfe and family 
 ftiall carefully and diligently dire£t the corfs, according to the order and 
 cuftomis, to his next neighbours, with ane fufficient bearer, for admonilh- 
 ing the people either to conveen to church, for preaching or prayers, or for 
 his Majefties fervice, and fuch other neceflary caufes, as ftiall be thought 
 expedient by the minifter, fherrifFs, inftitutioners, or their baillies, and fliall 
 not ftay or lay down the fame, but direct it with all diligence, upon the 
 receipt thereof, under the pain of 7 pounds Scots toties quoties^ 
 
 Act 5. Anent the Marking of Pundlars and Bfmars* 
 
 Item^ It is ftatute and ordained, that all pundlars and bifmars be marked 
 ■with his Majefties mark, betwixt and the day of 
 
 next to come, under the pain of 10 pounds Scots for the firft fault, and 
 doubling of the faid pain fo oft as ftiall hapen to trangrefs thereafter ; and 
 that by and attour the adl of Parliament made thereanent, and pains 
 contained thereintill, and punifliment be infli(fted upon the contemners 
 hereof. ; , •' 
 
 Act 
 
APPENDIX, NO. X. 463 
 
 Act 6. Anent the Weight of CaJJies. 
 
 Item^ It is ftatute and ordained, that no caflie be heavier than a half fet- 
 ting weight, conform to the old ftatutes made thercanent, under the pain 
 of 40 fhill. Scots for the firft fault, and doubling thereof for the fecond 
 fault, and confifcatione of the vi£luall contained therein for the third fault ; 
 and that by and attour the punifl^ment of their perfons at the will of the 
 judge. 
 
 Act 7. Anent Herding of Goods ^ and putting them •without Dykes; the 
 
 Sujjlcieney of Dykes. 
 
 Itcm^ It is ftatute and ordained, that good neighbourhood be keeped 
 amongft neighbours in ilk parochine in all time comming, in bigging of 
 their dikes yearly, and putting of their fwine to the hill before the fifteenth 
 day of March, keeping and herding of their fheep before the faid day of 
 Aprile, and keeping of their horfe, nolt, and other beftiall before the firft 
 day of May, under the pain of 40 fhill. Scots, to be payd to the flierrif or 
 his deputes ; and in cafe of contraveening and breaking hereof, fo that 
 neighbours be damnified and hurt, by others not timeous dyking and herd- 
 ing, as is above written, in that cafe the contraveener to pay to the party 
 interefted and fl^aithed as follows, viz. before Lammas fliall pay for ilk 
 Iheep 3 fhill., and for ilk fwine 10 fhill., for each horfe, nolt, and mairt 4 
 fhill. toties quoties ; and after Lammas fhall pay the double of ilk paine toties 
 quoties, as they, or any of them, fhall be found within the dykes, and law- 
 fully tryed before the baillie of the paroch to have been in their neighbours 
 Ikaith. The dykes being made lawfuU and fufficient of the gage of 5 
 quarters hight the utter dike, and their corn and keill yard dikes to be of 
 the height of 7 quarters hight, according to the ftandard of the country : 
 Likeas, immediately after the tryall of the faid baillies, it fliall be lawfum to 
 him to poind and uplift the faid pains, and that by and attour the compryf- 
 
 ing 
 
464 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 ing of the flcaith and payment of the fum, conform to the dally praflice 
 obfcrved in fuch cafes. 
 
 Act S. Jnent Grinds and the C!oJing thereof. 
 
 Item, It is ftatute and ordained, that all grinds and flops on all highways 
 ■fhall be clofed by all ftrangers that enter thereby, in fuch fort as they open 
 the faid grinds and gets, they fliall be holden incontinently to clofe the 
 famen again under the pain of 40 {hill. Scots toties quoties, and no common 
 grinds or gets to be ftoped or clofed up that has not been of old and not 
 iieceflar or needful), to be under the pain of 10 pounds Scots. 
 
 Act 9. Anent Feeing cf other Mens Servants. 
 
 Item, It is ftatute and ordained, that it Ihall not be lawfam to any per- 
 -fone or perfones, to fie, hyre, or conduce any other man's fervants, except 
 they be difcharged by their mafters, or they difcharge their maflers law- 
 fullie, 40 days before any lawful term; and that gentlemen, boundfmen, 
 nor no others receive any fuch perfons, nor give them hofpitality, nor en- 
 tertaiament, nor yet to fet to them houfes, nor receive fupport, nor fupply 
 any vagabounds, idle men, nor unlawful women, under the pain of 10 
 pound Scots toties quoties. 
 
 Act 10. Anent Rancelling of Theft. 
 
 Item, It is ftatute and ordained, for efl"ewing of theft in time comming, 
 that it be lawfum to the party interefted with the baillie or officer of their 
 paroch, or two or three honeft men to be chofen by him, to raife, fearch, 
 and feek all houfes, and fufped places within the famen, and if neid beis, 
 in cafe of fufpicion, to pafs to the next paroch, or beyond the famen ; and 
 to this effedl ordains the baillie of each paroch, or the officer, to concurr 
 
 with 
 
APPENpJ?i, NO. ^. 465 
 
 '<^'uh the party Intereft in manner forfald, for apprehending thereof as they 
 will eilew to be repute and holdeu as partakers of the faids crimes. 
 
 Act 1 1. Anent Riding of other Mens Horfes. 
 
 Item, It is Ratiite and ordained, that whatfumever perfone or perfones 
 fliall be trycd, or apprehended to have ridden another man's horfe, with- 
 out licience of the owner, within the parochine where tlie owner of the 
 liorfe dwells, fliall pay to the flierreif, or his deputes, the fum of 6 pounds 
 of Scots money ; and if he be found without the parochine where the 
 owner dwells, fliall pay the double of the faid painc ; and farder, accord- 
 ding to tlic dlftance of the paroch out of which the laid horfe fliould be 
 taken, fliall triple and quadruple the faid paine, effeirand to the fevearell 
 paroches wherethrough it fliall Iiappen them to ride the faid horfe : Like- 
 wife, it fliall not be lawfum to any perfone or perfones, to cut or fteall 
 another man's horfe taill, under the pain of ten pounds Scots ; and if the 
 ryders, ftcallers, or cutters forfiid, fliall have no money to fatisfie there- 
 fore proportionally as above written, then they are to be puniflied ia 
 their perfons, efleirand to the deed and offence, at the difcretion of the 
 judge. 
 
 Act 12. Alien t Buying and Selling with other Mens Servants. 
 
 Item^ It is flatute and ordained, that no man feduce any bargain, nor 
 fell with any man's fervant by the knowledge of his matter, as they will 
 eflew to be punched as receiptors of theft ; and it being tryed, the gear to 
 be reftored to the right owner, butt payment of the price thereof, or thing 
 receaved for the famea. 
 
 3 O Act 
 
I 
 
 466 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 Act 13. Anent Slciy'uig and Selling of FleJIj. 
 
 Ifem^ It is ftatute and ordained, that no flefliers, or other buyers and 
 flayers of flelh, lliall fell to any inhabitant within the town, nor without 
 the fanien, as flefliiars, imtill the time they come to the baillie of the quar- 
 ter, and fliew him the beaft, the mark, and the man's name from whom 
 he bought the fame, who fliall be holden to commit the buyer's name in 
 write, together with the beaft, and the mark thereof, and frae whom and 
 what time the faimen was bought, as the flayers and fellers of the faid beaft 
 will eflew to be holden and repute as fteallers thereof. 
 
 Act 14. Anent Sluggijlo and Idle Perfons. 
 
 Item, Forafmuch as there are many unconftant, fluggifh, and idle per- 
 fons, who, leaving fervice, gives themfelves to trafFedt, and play the mer- 
 chant, and attend the reparation of fliips and ftrangers, to riet and ufual 
 places, and refort and go on fliipboard under cloud of night, or privately, 
 under colour of buying and felling of merchandice, and goods under the 
 pretext thereof, they picke and fteali both from the commonty people to 
 fell to them, and from them to the country people ; For remeid whereof. 
 It is ftatute and ordained, that no fuch perfons fliall haunt, nor traffedt, 
 nor frequent on fliipboard of any ftranger, dogger, buying or felling mer- 
 chandice or goods under whatfumever pretext or colour, but fuch as Ihall 
 be allowed or approven by the baillie of the paroch where they dwell, and 
 for whom the faid baillie, or one or two honeft men of the paroch, flaall 
 be anfwerable, under the pain of 40 fliill., and warding of their perfones, 
 for the firft fault, and doubling of the faid paine for the fecond fault, and 
 fo furth, tripling and quadrupling the faid paine and punifliment, fo oft as 
 they fliall happen to come in the contrairy thereof. 
 
 Act 
 
APPENDIX, NO. X. 467 
 
 Act 15. yinent the Tranf porting of Vagabonds to Zetland. 
 
 Itetn, Forafniuch as ,it is heavily complained upon by the inhabitants of 
 Zetland, of the great refort and repair, partly of fturdy beggars, and partly 
 of vagabonds, from Orknay, Caithnefs, and other foreign places, who 
 ftarves and beggs, and overlys the country, by begging, ftealling, pycking, 
 and opprefling the inhabitants thereof; Therefore it is ftatute and ordain- 
 ed, that no mafter of flilp, barque, boat, nor crear, tranfport any fuch 
 manner of perfones, nor no others, who, under collour and pretext to play 
 the merchant, intends to refort to the faid country to buy the commodities 
 thereof, in prejudice of the payment of his Majeflies duties, butt ane fufH- 
 cient tcftimonial, or warrand of the flieirreif or his deputs, granted and had 
 to that effed under the pain of 20 pounds Scots. 
 
 Act 16. AnentthcSaleofViBuall. 
 
 Item^ Forafmuch as his Majeftie and his chamberlains are meikle pre- 
 judized yearly by the tennants, tackfmen, and others, adebted in the yearly 
 paym"' of the fruits, rents, and duties due to be payd by them, by felling 
 their beftiall, butter, oyle, and vidual, before the faids chamberlains be 
 fatisfyed and payed. 
 
 Therefore, it is ftatute and ordained, that no fuch perfons fhall fell, 
 analzie, difpone, nor put away any beflial, butter, nor oyle before St An- 
 drews day yearly, nor any vidual, bear, malt, or meall, till the firft of 
 Lammas yearly, that his Majeftics rent be fatisfyed and payed, under the 
 pain of fourty pounds Scots, and that by and attour the deareft pryces, and 
 higheft fiars that can be exaded of them by law, except to the town of 
 Kirkwall, or then a licience be granted upon the reafonable caufc. 
 
 3 O 2 Act 
 
4^8 APPENDIX, NO.X. 
 
 Act 17. urine tit the Entertaining of Beggars. 
 
 Jtem^ Forafmuch as there is a great repair of poor beggars, ftrangers, 
 idle, and vagabond perfcns that overlays the country, who have not been 
 born nor brought up in the country, contrary to the laudable laws made 
 thereanent, Therefore it is ftatute and ordained, that no man fupport, fup- 
 ply, nor intertain the faids perfons, nor grant hofpitality to them, under the 
 pain of 40 (hillings Scots ; and fikelike that no man tranfport nor bring 
 within the country, any fuch perfons in time comming, under the pain of 
 40 (hill. ; and conform to the faids ads, the faid perfons, and every one of 
 them, may repaire to their own country and paroch ; and that ilk paroch 
 intertain, fupply, and fuftain their own poor, according to the will and 
 ordinanee thereof in all points : And in cafe any fuch perfons (hall be 
 found going hereafter without their faid paroches, then it (hall be lawfum 
 to the finder and apprehender to put them to the baillie of the paroch, to 
 be puniflied as idle vagabonds in the joggs or flocks ; and if the baillie ab- 
 fent himfelf, or refufe to caufe punifli them conform to the premifTes, or 
 to put them to the fherreif or his deputs prefent, or that fhall happen to be 
 for the time, he fhall be holden to pay to the fherrief or his deputs the fum 
 of 20 L, Scots mony. 
 
 Act 1 8. Anent the ConcealUng of Theft ^ and Sin of Witchcraft itnd 
 
 Waith. 
 
 IteMy It is ftatute and ordained, that no perfone or perfones of any rank, 
 quality, or degree, fhall hide or conceal any kind of theft, forcerie, nor 
 •witchcraft, blood v/rong nor injuries, robery, oppreffion, wrack or waith, 
 but (hall impairt, fhew and dired the fame to their baillres, or to their 
 (heirreif deputs, as they will efl'ew to be holden and repute as partakers 
 thereof, and punifhed therefore, conform to the laws and prailique of this 
 realme. 6 
 
 Act 
 
APPENDIX, NO, X. 469 
 
 Act 19. Anent the Putting of the forcfaid ABs in Kxecution. 
 
 And finally, It is ftatufe and ordained by the fald fherreif-depute?, that 
 the baillie of ilk paroch fhall make publication thereof at their paroch church 
 door, wherby none pretend ignorance of the premiffes ; and that the faids 
 afls, and every one of them, they fhall putt to due execution, in the iiiiU 
 heads, articles, and claufles thereof, for maintenance of God's worfliip, tiie 
 reverend obedience of his Majcfties mod royall and fupreom authority and 
 laws, and for the good and peace of the inhabitants of the hnd ; and, in 
 cafe it fliall happen, the faids balllies, or any of them, to be tryed and 
 found to have oppreffed and wronged any perfone or perfones within their 
 bailliary, by taking of unlawfull fervice, or by taking of bodes or brybes 
 for perverting of juRice, or in any fort of opprefling the poor, or doing of 
 any other deed of the like nature and quality, contrairy to equity and rca- 
 fone, in that cafe they fliall be holden to repaire the wrongs at the fight of 
 the fherreif-depute, and fhall be efteemed as unv^-orthy to bear office or 
 order in any time comming ; and that by and attour the due punifliment 
 to be infli(Stcd upon them according to the demerit of their fault. 
 
 Curia capitalls vice comitatus de Orknay et Zetland, tenta apud Kirk- 
 wam in infula vocata de Wallhoufe, in Templo St Magni ibidem, 
 per Honorabilem virum Dominum Johannem Buchannannum de 
 Scots Craig, militcm, vice comiteni principakm didi vice comitatus, 
 feptinio et undecimo diebus Novembris, anno Domini millcfimo 
 fcxcentefimo et virrefimo tcrtio. 
 
 Act 
 
470 APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 Act 20. Anent the Selling of ViBual, Butter^ Beare^ Mcale^ and Heav'ie 
 
 Cajfies. 
 
 Curia legitliina a^rmata. 
 
 The which day, the faid flierrif principal], with advice and confent of 
 the gentlemen fuitors of court, and baillies of parochines, after long deli- 
 beration and good confideratione had by them, for redrefs of certain enor- 
 mities and wrongs cruppen in the country by iniquity of time, to the 
 great prejudice of the fame and commonwell thereof, ratifies and approves 
 the general a£ls made of before, and wills and ordains the famen to be 
 put to due execution in all time comming ; and, in fpeciall, ratifies tha;t 
 a£l made of before, that no man fell butter, malt, nor meall before Lam- 
 mas day yearly, except to the town of Kirkwall, under the pains contained 
 thereintill : Ittem, The ads made anent caffies, that no cafhe be heavier 
 than half of fetting weight, under the paines contained in the ads made 
 thereanent. 
 
 Act 21. Anent Selling of Wine. 
 
 Item, It Is ftatute and ordained by the fherrelf, with advice and confent 
 forfaid, that In time comming no fort of wine fhall be fold at ane higher 
 rate than they fell the fame in the burgh of Edinburg, under the pain of 
 40 fliill. toties quoties. 
 
 Act 22. Anent the Selling of Ale. 
 
 Item, It Is ftatute and ordained, with the advice and confent forefaid, 
 that no ale be fold at ane higher price than 6d. per pint of 40 (hilling 
 malt ; yd. the pint of 3 L. malt ; and lod. the pint of 4L. malt ; I2d. the 
 pint of 5 L. malt ; I4d. the pint of 6 L. malt, and fwa furth accordingly, 
 under the paine of 40 fhill. Scots toties quoties. 
 
 Act 
 
APPENDIX, NO. X. 471 
 
 Act 23. Anent Shutting in other Mens Links and Holmes. 
 
 Item^ Forafmuch as there is a great abufe in hounting, fhutting, and 
 delving in other mens links and holmes, contrairy to the ads of Parliament 
 and (liverfe laudable laws made of before, Therefore, it is ftatute and or- 
 dained by the Sherreif, with advice and coafent forfaid, That no man hunt 
 with dogs nor nets, nor {hut in other mens links nor holmes, in time 
 comming, under the pains of 4oL.'s Scots; nor delve in the faids links or 
 holmes, nor rcpaire to the faid holms without leave of the owner, under 
 tlie paine of 40 fliill. iotics quotics. 
 
 Act 24. Anent Selling ofFiJloes, 
 
 Item, It Is flatutc and ordained by the faid Sherreif, with advice and 
 confent forefaiJ, That no man (hall fell fifhes to ftrangers, or packers or 
 peilers of fillies within the country, or without the famen, to be fold 
 again, from the firft of February to the laft day of May yearly, under 
 the paine of loL.'s Scots; and frae that time furth they prefer their neigh- 
 bours, and fell their faids fillies to the country people, for their neceffity 
 and entertainment, before ftrangers, if they require the, fame, under the: 
 like paine. 
 
 Act 25. Anent Selling cj^ Butter and others^ by ivay of Regretting. 
 
 lit. It is ftatute and ordained, by the faid Sherrife, with advice and' 
 confent forfaid, for reftraining of regrating, That none fell mairts, filhes, , 
 oyle, butter, viduall, nor no fort of vivars, at the Town-road nor Town- 
 head of Kirkwall, nor upon the Shoar thereof, nor within the town to 
 fell again for their privie gain, inbrought by any man, to be fold agaia- 
 within the town, but bring the fame to the Mercate Crofs, as they will 
 
 eflew 
 
472 APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 eOew to be challenged to be regraters, and punifbed therefore confonrj 
 to the falds laws and daylie praclique and ads of Parliament made ther- 
 anent. 
 
 Act 26. Anent Cutting of Bent and Flofs. 
 
 Itcm^ It is ftatute and ordained by the faid Sherrelf, with advice and 
 confent forfaid, That no perfone fhall cut bent nor pull flofs, in time 
 comming, before the firft of Lammas yearly, under the paine of ioL.*s 
 Scots. 
 
 Ac T 2 7. Anent the Selling of Land. 
 
 Iteniy It is ftatute and ordained by the faid Sherreif, with advice and 
 confent forfaid. That no landed man nor bounds man fhall fell land, 
 from this time, to any perfon or perfons, unlefs they be able with their 
 own goods and gear to labour in the Mainland and South Ifles ane farding 
 land, ia the North Ifles ane penny land, under the pain of 20 libs. Scots. 
 
 Act 28. Anent Sheep Dogs. 
 
 Item^ It is fl:atute and ordained, That it fhall not be lawfum to keep 
 fheep-dogs, but fuch perfons as are chofen by the Baillies and parochiners, 
 whofe names are taken up in ilk parochine already, and for which they 
 fhall be holden to anfwer, under the pain of loL.'s Scots. 
 
 Act 29. Anent going to the Hill. 
 
 Iteniy It 18 ftatute and ordained, That it fhall not be lawfum to any man, 
 at any time of day, but efpecially after fun-fetting and after fua-rifmg, to 
 
 go 
 
APPENDIX, NO. X. 4-^ 
 
 go thro' his neighbouji's cloggand or commcnty with ane (hecp-dog, ex- 
 cept to be accompanied with two neighbours, famous wltneflcs ; and if he 
 be found contralry to the tenor hereof, he fhall be holden to pay for his 
 firfl: fault 6 lib., and if the fecond time 7 lib., and if the third time, or un- 
 der cloud of night, being any way fufpeded, he fhall be repute, holden, 
 and puniflied as a common thief. 
 
 Act 30. Ancnt Rowhig of Sheep. 
 
 Jteniy It is ftatute and ordained, That it fliall not be lawfum to any man- 
 ner of perfons to row (heep untill the time they be lawfullie certifyed by 
 the Baillie to ane competent day, as they will eflue to be holden and repute 
 as thiefs, and punifhed conform thereto. 
 
 Apud Kirkwam^ primo die mcfijis JuUi 1623. 
 
 The which day, in prefence of Robert Sinclair of Campfton, and 
 Edward Sinclair of Tiiftonquoy, Sherreif-deputs in Orkney, with con- 
 fent of the Provoft and Baillies of this burgh, having confideration of the 
 poverty and neceflity of the poor people, their fcarcity and want of vivars 
 for their entertainment, and for the great abufe of foreftalling and regrait- 
 ing of fifties, have ftatute and ordained, That no inhabitants in burgh and 
 land fliall repair to Dearncfs, St Andrews paroch, Holme, or Paplay, for 
 buying of fiflies this prefent year, under the paine of 10 libs, toties 
 quoties. 
 
 And that the faid parochoners of Dearnefs and St Andrews that take, 
 flay, and fell fifties, ftiall, with convenient diligence after they come to the 
 faid, repair to the town and fell the faids fiflies at the mercate, under the 
 paine of 10 libs. Scots, toties quoties it fliall hapen them to fell, contraveeii 
 the premifTes, or any point above written. 
 
 Apud Kirwarny IC"" die io*''"» 1 625. 
 
 The which day, the Biftiop, Sherrelf, Baillies, and fundrle others gentle- 
 men, being conveened for fetting down order how the enimy fhould be re- 
 
 3 P fifted 
 
474 APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 fifted in cafe of Invafion, it was concluded and agreed upon, That all man- 
 ner of men fliall conveen, with all poflible dilllgence, at Kirkwall, in their 
 beft attire and aray, immediately after they (hall fee the wart of VVhiteford 
 Hill on fire, and therefrae to follow dircctioun from that part of that any 
 invafion fliall be. For the better efFeduating thereof, it is ordained, that 
 all manner of men that have boats fhall have the fame fufficiently provided 
 and water-tight, for tranfporting of men, arms, and other neceffaries ; and 
 that ilk Baillie fhall fee the fame done within his own bounds ; and that 
 the faids Balllies fhall appoint ane place within ilk one of their bailliaries 
 where the people fhall conveen, that therefrae they may refort to Kirkwall 
 as faid is. That it may be the better perceived by the haill country whea 
 the wart of Whiteford Hill fhall be on fire, it is ordained, that ilk Baillie, 
 •within his own bounds, fhall appoint ane convenient watch to attend there- 
 upon, and immediately upon light of the fire of Whiteford Hill, to put 
 their watch on fire, that the reft of the country may be warned. And alfo 
 it is concluded, that all Baillles be advertifed that they inroU all manner of 
 perfones what weapons they have ; and, by the advice of fome of the mofl 
 difcreet men of his bailliary, make a note of what every man is able to ufe 
 and cany, and what he is able to buy. 
 
 Act 31. Anent Slaying of the Earn. 
 
 Apud Kirkwam^ 8^° die 9^''"» 1626. 
 
 The which day, It is flatute and ordained by Thomas Buchannan» 
 Sherreif-deput of Orknay, with confent of the gentlemen and fuitors of 
 Court prefent for the time, That whatever perfone fhall flay the earn or 
 eagle fhall have of the Baillie of the parochine where it fhall happen him 
 to flay the aigle 8d. from every reik within the parochine, except from 
 cottars that have no fheep, and 20 fhill. from ilk perfone for ilk cam's nefl 
 it fhall happen them to herrie ; and they fhall prefent them to the Baillie, 
 and the Baillie fhall be holden to prefent the head of the faid earn at ilk 
 Head Court. 
 
 Curia 
 
APPENDIX, NO X. 475 
 
 Curia capitalis vice comitatus de Orkney, tenta apud Klrkwam in in- 
 fula vocata de Wall houfe, in templo St Magni ibidem, per honora- 
 biles viros Maglftrum Johannem Dick et Robertum Monteith de 
 Eglifliay vice comites deputatos didi vice comitatus, fexto die men- 
 fis Februarii, anno Domini 1628. 
 
 Act 32. ^fierit the Ratijicat'ion of the former Acls, and efpecially aneut 
 keepivg of Sheep Dogs, with anc addition cf Running Dogs. 
 
 The which day, the faid Sherreif-deputs, with confent of the haill gen- 
 tlemen fuitors of Court, and commonty, prefent for the time, Ratifies the 
 haill ads made of before be Harry Stewart and Mr. John Livingftone, 
 Sherreif-deputes of Orkney prefent for the time, and Sir John Buchannan, 
 of Scots Craig, Knight, Sherreif-principall of Orknay; and, in fpeciall, tliat 
 ad made anent keeping of fheep-dogs, that no man fhall keep fheep-dogs, 
 except thofe that are, or fhould be, nominate by the Sherreif or by the 
 feaverall Baillies of parochines of the country; and that no man (hall 
 keep running dogs, that run frae houfe to houfe, or thro' the country, 
 flaying their neighbours fheep, under the paine of contained in the faids ads. 
 
 Act ;i)T,. Anent Rowing of Sheep en Sunday, 
 
 Iteniy It is ftatute and ordained, by the faid Sherreif-deputes, with confent 
 forfaid. That no maner of perfons fhall row or take fliecp on Sunday, under 
 whatfumever colour or pretext, under the paine of 10 libs. Scots. ' 
 
 Act 34. Anent Fugatlve Servants and Toung Men going to Zetland. 
 
 Item, Forafmuch as many lands are laid lay and weaft by the frequent 
 death of the labourers of the ground thefe years bygone, thro* the great 
 
 3 P 2 fcarcity, 
 
47^ APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 fcarcity, famene, and death of the land, and by the repalre of Englifh fhips 
 to the countrle, who fie, hyre, and conduce young men and fervants to 
 leave their parents and mafters, and follow them to the fi(hing to Iceland, 
 the Lewis, and other parts thereabout, to the great prejudice of the labour- 
 ing of the ground and winning of the lay lands within the famen, There- 
 fore, it is ftatute and ordained, That no young men nor fervents fhall fie, 
 hyre, nor be conduced with any fuch ftrangers furth of the country, with- 
 out ane teftimoniall from the minifter, Baillie, or two or three of the elders 
 of ilk Ifle or paroch, under the paine of twenty pound Scots, to be payed 
 of the readieft goods they have or leave behind them ; and in cafe of no 
 goods poindable, to be poinded immediately after their return ; and failzing 
 of their goods poindable, to be punifhed in their bodies as the Sherreif and 
 his deputs fhall think expedient. 
 
 Act ^^. Ane Statute Petitioning our Council. 
 
 Item, It is ftatute and ordained. That ane fuppllcation be made and 
 dire£t to the Lords of his moft Secret Council, for procuring warrand and 
 decreets difcharging all fuch fhips, barques, or crears to intake all fuch 
 perfons as young men and fervants, under the paine their Lordfhips fhall 
 think fit. 
 
 Act 36. Anent Cor diners and Sellers of Leather, 
 
 Apud Kirkwam^ 4'° 9^''"» 1 640. 
 
 The which day, Mr Hary Aitkin and Thomas Buchannan, Sherreif-- 
 deputs of Orknay, being judicially conveened, with the gentlemen and 
 fuitors of Court, prefent for the time, and having confideration of the 
 exorbitant prices of cordiners, and daily complaints and outcries made 
 thereanent, have, for the good and profile of the commonwell, flatute and 
 ordained, in time comming, That the falds cordiaers fhall make good and 
 
 fufRcient 
 
APPENDIX, NO. X. 477 
 
 fufficlent work for 2od. the inch of double foled leather; and for bairns 
 double foled flioes, having but one feam, they fliall exa(5t no more but I4d. 
 for the inch; and I2d. the inch of fufficient fingle foled fhoes thereof, un- 
 der the paine of 40 (hillings, totics quoties, to be paid to the Sherreif by the 
 contraveener. And if the falds cordineis (hall happen to be negligent in 
 their callings, and become negligent and idle, fwa oft as they fliall be 
 tryed, they fliall pay L. 4; and for working ilk hide in the owner's own 
 houfe, they are by thlr prefents difcharged to exadl any more than 20 
 fhill., with their entertainment. I/ikewife, all perfones are inhibite to fell 
 any leather out of the country, under the paine of i o L. Scots, toties quoties^ 
 by the feller, and confifcation of the leather bought by the buyer, to the 
 Sherreif; and that ordained to be intimate at all church doors within this 
 fherreifdome. 
 
 Act 37. Aiient Tranfporthig ofTatined Leather. 
 
 Item, Forafmijch as it is dailie complained upon, that the hydes, barked 
 leather, and tallow are tranfported furth of the country, whereby they can- 
 not have fliews to ferve them, their bairns and fervants necefTities, nor tal- 
 low for giving them light, it is ftatute and ordained, by the faid Sherreif- 
 deputs, with confent forfaid, but any oppofition in the contrair. That no 
 manner of perfons, in time comming, fliall tranfport any barqued or tanned 
 leather or tallow furth of the country, untill the time it be offered to the 
 flioemakers of the town, or, if within the parochine, to the Baillie, where- 
 by the country may be ferved, under the paine of 10 L. Scots, and confif- 
 catione of the tranfported goods. 
 
 Act 38. Ancnt that none Mark Sheep on the Mark called the Kings 
 
 Mark. 
 
 Item, It Is ftatute and ordained by the faid Sherreif-deputes, with con- 
 fent forfaid, butl any oppofition in the contrair, except by Mr. Robert 
 10 Henry fone 
 
4/8 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 Henry Tone of Holland, and Thomas Traill in name of his father, who 
 alledge a warrand from the Councill for the mark under written ; and pro- 
 tefted in the contralr, that no man fhall ufe the mark called of old the 
 King's Mark, which is both the lugg?, except thofe in the Ifles, who had 
 the fame in umquhili Robert and Patrick Earls of Orknay their time ; and 
 that none prefume to mark their flieep with the faid mark in time to come, 
 within the Mainland, as they will effew to be repute and holden as markers 
 of other mens fhcep, and punifhed therefore as accords of the law j and 
 that thofe who have fheep marked with the faid mark fhall caufe put ane 
 burn upon their fheep, and fhall mark none hereafter upon that mark, un- 
 der the paine of confifcatione of the fheep fwa marked. 
 
 Act 39. Anent Pundlars and Blfmars, 
 
 Sept'imo Februar'ii 162Z, 
 
 Item, The faid Sherreif- deputes, with confent forfaid, ratifie the a£l made- 
 of before, that all pundlars and bifmars be marked with the mark called the 
 King's Mark, under the pains contained thereintill, with the addition, that 
 every pundlar bejufted and made equal with the King's pundlar ; and that 
 none have poundlars or bifmars of greater weight, under the pain of 40 L. 
 Scots, nor have two ftones to ane pundlar, under the like paine. 
 
 Act 40. Anent Gripping of Lands. 
 
 Sexto hfovemhris 1632. 
 
 Item^ It is flatute and ordained by Edward Sinclair of Eftenquoy, and Mr 
 Harry Aitkine, Sherreif-depites of Orkney, with confent of the haill gen- 
 tlemen fuitors of court, and commonty of Orkney, prefent for the time, 
 that no man gripp his neighbours lands under the paine of lol. Scots; and 
 fikelike that none gripp his neighbours goods at his own hand, under the 
 
 paine 
 
APPENDIX, NO. X. 479 
 
 paine of i o libs. Scots, by and attour the reftitulion of the goods, and the 
 profits thereof. 
 
 Act 41. Anent DemoUJhing of Houfes, 
 
 Item, It is ftatute and ordained by the Sherreif-depute, with confent for- 
 faid, that no removers from houfles fhall demolifh the famen, in haill or in 
 pairt, nor take timber doors nor windows furth thereof, although bigged by 
 themfelves, under the pain of 20 pounds Scots, the one half to the SherreifT, 
 and the other to the pairty intereft, and that by and attour the reedifying of 
 the houfes, under the like paine. 
 
 Act 42. Anent Corn Yards. 
 
 Item, It is ftatute and ordained, that all men make their corn yeards dykes 
 fufficient, being 7 quarters hight ; and no corn menes be made for corns 
 eaten within yeard, except to his neighbours for unmark tuelling. 
 
 Item, Ratifies the a£l made anent feeing of fervants, and that none re- 
 ceive nor keep another man's fervant, and others contained thereintill, un- 
 der the pains contained in the faid iCt ; with this addition, that no man re- 
 ceive ane fervant out of another paroch but ane teftimonial of the minifter 
 or Baillie, under the like paine ; and in cafe fervants be found fugative frae 
 their matters, in that cafe the Baillie of the paroch whereout of he has fled, 
 Ihall caufe him be jogged at the church, upon Sunday, from 8 in the morn- 
 ing till 12 hours at noon ; and in cafe it fliall happen fuch vagabond fer- 
 vants to fie themfelves with two mafters, and in cafe it fhall happen any fer- 
 vant to fie themfelves with a new mafter, and not to enter home to his fer- 
 vice J in that cafe, the detainer Ihall pay the fie to them that fied them. 
 
 Act 
 
480 APPENDIX, KO. X. 
 
 Act 43. Anent going on Ship -heard, 
 
 Apud Kirkwam^undechno die Novanbris 1636. 
 
 The which day, in ane head court holden by Mr Hary Aitklne and Tho- 
 mas Buchannan, Sherreif-deputes of Orknay, with confent of the gentlemea 
 and fuitors of court, having great confideratione of the great repaire of fhips 
 to the country from England, where the plague daylie increalTeth ; It was 
 ftatute and ordained, that no manner of perfone or perfones (hall goe on 
 board of whatfumever (hips, barques, or crears, frequenting the coaft, or com- 
 ming within harbours or roads, till tryall be had of their eftate, under the 
 paine of 20 L.'s Scots, and clofing up of their houfTes for the fpace of twen- 
 ty days ; and ordains the fame to be pubUftied to the Baillies of ilk ifle and 
 parochine, that none pretend ignorance. 
 
 Act 44. A fie tit Ferric Fr aught s. 
 
 Jtem^ It is ftatute and ordained by the faid Sherreif-deputes, with advice 
 and confent forfaid, that the ferrie fraughts over Hightland Firth in time 
 coming, fhall be no more than 48 fhill. in ane great boar, and 30 fhill. in 
 ane fmall boat ; over Water Sound I2d. ; over Holme Sound 4 fhill. ; over 
 Roufay Sound 2 fhill. ; frae Roufay to Weftray 12 fhill. ; frae that to Egil- 
 ihay 1 1 fhill. ; frae Weftray to Ethay 6 fhill. ; frae that to Sanday 6 fhill. ; 
 frae Halknels to Huip 4 fhill. ; frae Hall oyce to Strynzie 6 fhill. ; from 
 Roufine to Shappinfliay 12 fliill. ; from Shappinfhay to Work 3 fhill. ; 
 from Kirkwall to Elwick 6 fhill. ; to Gairfay 6 fhill. ; to Rendall 6 fhill. ; 
 to Evie 10 fhill. ; to Rowfay 12 fhill. ; to Egilfliay 12 fhill. ; to Rapnefs40 
 (hill. ; to Toukquoy, in ane great boat, 50 fhill. ; to Spurnefs in Sanday, in 
 a great boat, 50 fhill. ; in a fmall, 36 fhill. ; to Stronfay, in a great boat, 
 40 fhill. ; to Ethay 24 fhill. ; frae Scapay to Walls 24 fhill. ; to St Marga- 
 ret's Hope 16 fhill. ; frae that to Holme, and fwa furth thro' the haill fer- 
 ries ; 
 
APPENDIX, NO. X. 481 
 
 rles } and the exadter of any more flull pay the triple worth of the fraughts 
 
 toties qiioties. 
 
 Curia vice comitatus Orcaden. tenta apud Kirkwam de Yeardis ibidem, 
 per honorabilem virum Magiflruin Andrcam Dick, vice comitern 
 principalem didi vice comitatus, fexto die menfis Augufll 1C44. 
 Et legittime affirmata. 
 
 Act 45. Confervatione for all the preceding A£li. 
 
 The vrhich day the faid Sherreif principall remembring tliat the certain 
 time of the three yearly head courts not defigned by ane a£l heretofore, all- 
 biet it be ordinary cuftome yearly obferved, and confidering the well of his 
 Majefties vaflalls, who are tyed to give fuit and prefence at the head courts 
 at the faid meetings, be particularly enaded, without alteration or change, 
 upon occafion, or at pleafure of fucceeding Sherreifs. 
 
 Therfore, it is ftatute and ordained by the faid Sherreif, with confent of 
 the -gentlemen and other fuitors of court, that the three yearly head courts 
 fliall be conftantly upon the third Tuefday of January, the fecond Tuefday 
 of June, and the fecond Tuefday of November, and that their meetings be 
 butt advertifement In time cumming. 
 
 Ittem^ Forafmuch as this prefent court, confidering the virtue and power 
 of the generall bygone ads and ftatutes of this country to be moft neceflarie 
 and able in themfelves to remeid all difcords, injuries and wrongs that may 
 arife within the country, and difturb the peaceable government thereof; yet, 
 confidering that the feldom publication there of the famen at the head courts 
 and balllie courts, in the feverall Iflcs and p.irochines, hath occafioned ex- 
 cufes of pretended ignorance by the tranlgrelTors hereof, and that the negled 
 and floaih in the execution of the falds ads may make them unprofitable to 
 the country, as if the famen had never been made, therefore It is ftatute and 
 ordained by the Cad Sherreif, with confent of the gentlemen and fuitors of 
 court prefent for the time, that the faids haill geaerall ads fliall be publlfhed 
 and red in a folemn way by the Sherreif- clerk, at every head and current 
 court, yearly, and immediately after the fenfing, and that every bailly in ilk 
 
 3 Q^ paroch 
 
482 APPENDIX, NO. X. 
 
 paroch caufe quarterly read the fame by his clerk, immediately after the 
 fenfing of his baillie court, and to this effect : It is ordained, that herewith 
 there be received by every bailly ane authentick double of the faid general 
 arts, fubfcribed by the Sherreif-clerk, and which are hereby ratified in the 
 haill heads, courts, articles and claufes of the famen. 
 
 Act 46. Anent the Examination of RanceUors. 
 
 Item^ That the feaverall rancellors in every paroch, folemnly fworn upon 
 their great oath, and putting their hand upon a Bible, and ftrickly examined 
 by the Sherrelf and hisdeputsin their current court, next and immediately 
 after the fencing thereof, and of publicatione of the faids ads, anent their 
 declalratloun of all thlfts, bloods, royets, witchcrafts, and other tranfgreffions 
 of the faids ads, that fhall happen co be committed and known to them frae 
 the court immediately preceding. 
 
 Act 47. Anent the Try all of BailUes. 
 
 Jtem^ That the paroch, being conveened In the current court, before the 
 Sherreif and his deputes, be tryed and examined without the prefence of 
 their baillies, and in prefence of their minifter, if neid beis, anent the beha- 
 viour and caurage of the baillie in his office, and uplifting of his fervices and 
 daylie works, that accordingly his juft commendatioun in adminiftratione of 
 juftice may be known, without detradione or calumny : In the contrairy, 
 and in cafe of malverfatioun in his place, by injuftice, or of oppreffione of 
 the poor, by exadlione of unlawful fervices, fuch order may be taken 
 therewith, according to the tenor of the feaverall of the faids ads made 
 thereanent. 
 
 Act 
 
APPENDIX, NO. Xt. 48.^ 
 
 Act 48. Anent the common Gage of Ptats, 
 
 Ttcm^ It is ftatute ard ordalneJ, that all peats bought or fold within the 
 town of Kirkwall fhall be manured by ane common gauge of ten foots, al- 
 ways ilk foot containing twelve inches ; and this becaufe of fevearall flrifes 
 and debates that fall out into the faid town betwix the buyers and fellers 
 thereof. — Extraded de Libris ASloram Curia diSli vicecom. per me. 
 
 Thir ads, duely tryed and examined, to be authentick be the Sherreif- 
 clerk, and therefore are judicially recommended to the baillies of ilk Ifle and 
 parochine to fee the famcn to due and lawful! execution, conform to the fea- 
 verall tennors thereof as effeirs, as they will be anfwerable upon their offices ; 
 and that the fame be read four times in the year, each quarter court ; as al- 
 fo, that they take exad tryall of the lawrightmen quarterly, of all bloods, 
 royets, thefts, witchcrafts, wrack and walth, goods, &;c. with the clrcum- 
 ftance of time, and witnefs fubfcribing, as faid is. 
 
 Sicfubfcribitur^ 
 
 Ja. Georgeson. 
 
 APPENDIX, No. XI. 
 
 From the Orcades o/'Thormodus Torf^us. 
 
 VItt er orpit Late d'tffunditttr 
 
 fyrir valfalli ante Stragem futtiram 
 
 rifs reidi Sky fagittarum nubes j 
 
 rignir blode depluit/anguis^ 
 
 nu er fyrer geirum, jam hajlis ampUcatur 
 
 3 0^2 grarr 
 
484 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. XI. 
 
 grarr upkominn 
 
 .vefr verthiodar 
 
 thser (redius than) er vlnor fylla 
 
 randum vepti 
 
 Randves bana. 
 
 cineracea 
 tela virorum^ 
 quam arnica texunt 
 rubro fubtegmine 
 RaJidveri mortis. 
 
 Sia er orpiun vefr 
 yta thaurrnum 
 oc hardkliadr 
 hofthum manna 
 ero dreyrrekln 
 daurr at fkoptum, 
 iarnvardr ijllir 
 en aurum hrseladr 
 fkolum fla fverdum 
 figrvef thenna. 
 
 Gengr Hilldr vefa 
 or Hiorthrimul 
 Sangridr Svipul 
 fverdum rognum 
 Skapt num guefta 
 SkioUdr num brefta 
 num hialmgagarr 
 ihlif koma. 
 
 Vindum vindum 
 vef Darradar 
 fa er ungr Konungr 
 atti fyri 
 
 fram fkollum gangae 
 oc i folk vada 
 tliar er vinir varir 
 vapnum fkipta. 
 
 1'exitur hcec tela 
 
 intejlinis humanis 
 Jiaminique JlriSle alligantur 
 
 capita humana ; 
 funt fangutne rorata 
 
 hajla pro miJJlUbus 
 
 textoria itijlriwienta ferrea 
 
 ac fagittcs pro radiis ; 
 
 denfabimus gladiis 
 
 banc viSloria telam. 
 
 Prodeunt ad texendtm Hilda 
 et Hiorthrimitla 
 Sangrida et Svipula 
 cumjlri6lis gladiis ; 
 hajlilc fratigettir 
 fcutum diffeiidetur 
 enjifque 
 clypeo ilUdetur. 
 
 Texamus, texamus 
 
 telam Darradi ; 
 
 hunc (gladium) rex juvenis 
 
 prius pojjidebat 
 
 Prodeamus 
 
 et Cohortes intremiis 
 
 Ubi nojlri atnici 
 
 armis dimicant. 
 
 Vindum 
 
APPENDIX, m5. xr. 
 
 4S5 
 
 Vindum vindum 
 vef Darradar 
 oc fiklingi 
 fidan fylglom 
 that fa bara 
 blodgar randir 
 Guar oc Gundul 
 er gramr hlifdu. 
 
 Vindum vindum 
 vef Darradar 
 thar er ve vadae 
 vigra manna 
 latum eigi 
 lif hans faraz 
 eign valkyrior 
 vigs um kofti. 
 
 Their muno lyder 
 londum rada 
 er utfkaga 
 adr um bygdn 
 qued ec ricum gram 
 radiun danda 
 nu er fyrir oddum 
 jarlmadr huigiun. 
 
 Oc rauno Irar 
 augr um bitha 
 that er alldri mua 
 ytum fyrnaz 
 nu er vefr ofiun 
 enn vollr rothiun 
 
 Texamus texMnus 
 telatn Darradi 
 et regi delude 
 delude adhareainus ; 
 Ibl vldebant 
 fanguine roratafcuta 
 Gumia et Guiidula 
 qua regem tutabantur, 
 
 Texamus texamus 
 telam Darradi 
 uhl arma concrepant 
 bellacium, vlrorum ; 
 nonfmamus eum 
 vita prlvari 
 habent Valkyrlct 
 cadis potejlatem, 
 
 nil populi 
 terras regent ^ 
 qui deferta promonloria 
 antea incolebant ; 
 dlco potent I regi 
 mortern Immlnere ; 
 jam faglttis 
 eccubult comes. 
 
 Et Hlbernh 
 dolor accldet 
 qui nunquam 
 apud vlros delebitur ; 
 jam tela texta eft ; 
 campus vero (fanguine) roratus 
 
 numu 
 
4S6 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. XI. 
 
 numu um londfara 
 IsfpioH gota. 
 
 Nu er ogorllgt 
 um at litaz 
 at dreyrngt fky 
 aregr med himne 
 mun lopt lltad 
 lyda blode 
 athr fparvarar 
 fpringa allar. 
 
 Vel quedu ver 
 um Konung ungan 
 figrhlioda fiold 
 fyngium heilar 
 enn hiun nemi 
 er heyrer a 
 geirliotha fiold 
 oc gumum fegi. 
 
 Ridum heftum 
 allz ut herum 
 brugduum fverdum 
 a brott hedan. 
 
 terras pcrcnrret 
 conjliclus mUlttim. 
 
 Nunc horrenduvi ejl 
 circumfpicere 
 cum fangu'inea nuhes 
 per (sra volitct ; 
 t'tngettir aer 
 Sanguine vlrorum 
 antequam vatlcima nojlra 
 omnia corruant. 
 
 Bene canimus 
 de rege juvene ; 
 viSloricE Carniina inulta 
 bene ft7it nobis canentibus ; 
 Difcat autem die 
 qui aufcidtat 
 bellica carmina multa 
 et viris referat. 
 
 Equitemus in equis 
 quonium efferimus 
 Jlri£los gladios 
 ex hoc loco. 
 
 The above is tranflated by Grey, ia his Ode, entitled, ' The Fata! 
 * Sifters.* 
 
 The 
 
APPENDIX, NO. XI. 487 
 
 The LORDV PRAYER, in Norn or Norse, as Spoken formerly by 
 the Natives of Orkney, from Dr Percy'j Preface to Mallet'j 
 Northern Antiquities. 
 
 Favor i Ir i Chlmrle. i. Helleur (Helleut) ir i Nam thite. 2. Gilla 
 cofdum thite cumma. 3. Veya thine mota var gort o Yum finna gort i 
 Chimrie. 4. Gav vus da on da dalight Brow vera. 5. Firgive vus finna 
 vora fin vee firgive findara mutha vus. 6. Lyv vus ye i Tumtation. 
 7. Min deHvera vus fro Ok ilt. Amen. 
 
 The LORDV PRAYER, in Norse, as Spoken by fome People in FuLA, 
 one of the Shetland IJles^from Mr LowV 7o«r, MS. 1774. 
 
 Fy vor o er i Chlmeri. Halagt vara nam det. La konungdum din 
 cumma. La vill din vera guerde i vrildin findacrl Chimeri. Gav vus 
 dagh u dagloght brau. Forgive findorwafa fin vi forgiva gem ao finda 
 gainft wus. Lia wus {ki o vera tempa, but delivra wus fro adlu idlu, for 
 do i ir konungdum, u pari, u glori. Amen. 
 
 6. Some 
 
488 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. X!. 
 
 Some "WORDS of the fame Language Tr at fated into English 
 
 from the fame MS. 
 
 Foula, 
 
 An ifland, 
 
 Bread, 
 
 Oat bread, 
 
 Barley bread, 
 
 The fea, 
 
 Afifh, 
 
 A haddock, 
 
 A cod, 
 
 A ling, 
 
 A herring, 
 
 A rock, 
 
 A boat, 
 
 A fail, 
 
 A maft, 
 
 A coat, 
 
 A fhoe, 
 
 A ftocking, 
 
 A cap. 
 
 Sea mall or mew. 
 
 The eagle, 
 
 A trencher or plate, 
 
 A fpoon, 
 
 A ladle, 
 
 A horfe. 
 
 Fugla or Uttrie. 
 
 Hion^ 
 
 Couf. 
 
 Corka couft 
 
 Boga couf. 
 
 Sheng. 
 
 Fifk. 
 
 Hofsan. 
 
 Grongi^ grodningar, 
 
 Longo. 
 
 Sildin. 
 
 Bergy berrie. 
 
 Bodiuy knorin, 
 
 Seigle. 
 
 Mofin. 
 
 ^ot. 
 
 Scugin. 
 
 Sock'tn. 
 
 Ugan. 
 
 Whitfuglin. 
 
 Ednin. 
 
 Bergejken, 
 
 Sponin. 
 
 Heofa. 
 
 Hejfm. 
 
APPENDIX, NO. XI. 489 
 
 A mare, ^^'Jf^* 
 
 A cow, Kuiin, 
 
 A ilicep, Fi'c^fedvite, 
 
 A ewe, Oion. 
 
 A pot, Pofiicy. 
 
 A BALLAD, in the fame Lo.n^ttagc^ tahen f-om the Mouth of an Old 
 Man in the fame Ifrjid, during the fame Tour, the fibjeB of whicj is 
 a contefi bctivccn a King of Norway and an Ear/ of Ov^k^ey , who 
 had married the King's Daughter, in her Fathsrs a/fence, and with- 
 out his co/fent. — I.iS. penes me. 
 
 Da vara Jarlin d'Oikneyar 
 For frlnda fin fpir de ro 
 Whirdi an fkilde menn 
 Our glas buryon burtaga. 
 
 2. 
 Or vanna ro eidnar fuo 
 Tega du menu cur glas buryon 
 Kere friende min yamna men 
 Efo vrildan ftiendi gede min vara to din. 
 
 Yom keimir cullingin 
 
 Fro fiene burt 
 
 Ada Vaar Hon fruen Heldina 
 
 Hemi ftu mer ftien. 
 
 3R 
 
490 
 
 APPENDIX, NO. XI. 
 
 Whar an yaar elouden 
 
 Ita kan oadnafl wo 
 
 Au Seal vara Keinde 
 
 Wo ofta thre fin reithin ridna dar fro 
 
 Keml to Oikneyar Jarlin 
 Vilda mien fante Maunis 
 I Orknian u biaa fian 
 I lian far diar. 
 
 6. 
 
 An give Drotnign kedn pufter 
 On de kin firfane furie 
 Tworere wo eder 
 Whitrane kidn. 
 
 In kimirin Jarlin 
 
 U klapaffe Hildina 
 
 On de kidn quirto 
 
 Vult doch, fiegan vara moch or fly din. 
 
 8. 
 
 Elde vilda fiegan vara 
 
 Fy min u alt fin 
 
 Ans namnu wo 
 
 So minyach u ere min heru Orkneyar linge ro. 
 
 Nu di fkall taga dor yochwo 
 And u ria dor to flrandane nir 
 
 U 
 
APPENDIX, NO. XI. 49t 
 
 U yllfa fy minu avon 
 
 Blit an ear ni cumi e dora band. 
 
 lO. 
 
 Nu Swaran Konlgn 
 So mege gak honon i muthi 
 Whath ear di ho gane mier 
 I dantc buthe. 
 
 II. 
 
 Trette mirke vath ru godle 
 Da Skall yaek ger yo 
 U all de vara fonna lifs 
 So lingc fiu yach liva mo. 
 
 12. 
 
 Nu linge ftug an konlgn 
 U linge wo an Swo 
 Wordig vaar dogh mug'i foni 
 Yacha fkier fare moga fo minde yach angan it 
 friend rod wath comman mier to landa *, 
 
 Nu Sw.ira Hikige 
 Hera geve honon fcani 
 Taga di gild firre Hidina 
 Sin yach fkall lega dor frara, 
 
 14. 
 
 Eftin whaar u feur fetign 
 Agonga kadu i fluge 
 
 • This ver(c fecms to be part of an intermediate Ranza^ perhaps t© be placed between thefe 
 marked 12 and 13. 
 
 3 R 2 Feur 
 
AQ2 APPENDIX, NO. XI. 
 
 Feur fetign fin gonga 
 Kadu i pluge. 
 
 Nu ftlenderln Jarlin 
 U linge wo and wo 
 Defe mo eke Orknear 
 So Linge fan yacli lava mo. 
 
 1 6. 
 
 Nu eke tegaran fan 
 Sot Koningn fyrin din 
 U alt yach an Hilhugin 
 Widu ugare din arar. 
 
 17- 
 Nu fwarar an franna Hildlna 
 U dem fan idne i fro 
 
 Di flo dor a bardagana ■ 
 
 Dar comme ov fen mo * 
 
 i8. 
 
 Nu Jarlin an genger 
 I vadlin fram 
 U kadnar fina mien 
 Geven ikeger i Orkneyan 
 
 19. 
 
 Han u cummin 
 la u vcd lerdin 
 Frlnde fans lever 
 Vel burne mun 
 
 20. 
 
APPENDIX, NO. XI, 493 
 
 20. 
 
 Nu fruna Hlldina 
 On genger i vadlin frani 
 Fy di yera da ov man dum 
 Dora di fpidlaiki mire man. 
 
 21. 
 
 Nu fware an Hllluge 
 Crego gevan a fcam 
 Gayer an Jarlin frlnde 
 Din an u fadlin in. 
 
 22. 
 
 Nu fac an Jarlin dahuge 
 
 Dar min de an engin gro 
 
 An eafl ans huge vi 
 
 Fong ednar u vaxhedne mere nio, 
 
 23- 
 
 Di lava onir gugna 
 Yift bal yagh fur o land! 
 Gipt mir nu fruan Hildina 
 Vath godle u fafta bande 
 
 24. 
 
 Nu bill on lieve da yalt 
 
 Guadni bori u da kadu 
 
 Sina kloyn a bera do fkall 
 
 Fon fruna Hildina verka wo fine chelfina yillya. 
 
 25- 
 Hildina liger wo chaldona 
 U dukrar u grothe 
 
 Onin 
 
494 APPENDIX, NO. XU 
 
 Onln du luga till bridlevfia 
 Bonlother u duka dogha. 
 
 26. 
 
 Nu Hildina on afkar feyrin 
 Sien di gava mier livi 
 Ow fkinka vin, 
 Ou guida vln. 
 
 27. 
 Dufka flvlnka vin, u guida via 
 Tinka dogh eke wo 
 Jarlin an gongha here din. 
 
 28. 
 Watha fkilde tinka 
 Wo Jarlin gonga here min. 
 Hien minde yagh inga forlokona 
 Bera fare kera fyrin min. 
 
 29. 
 
 Da gerde on fruna Hildina 
 On bar vo mien et 
 On Soverin fent, fyfin 
 Fyfm u quarfui fat. 
 
 3°- 
 Da girde un fruna Hildina 
 On bard im ur 
 Hadlin hurt fein on laghdi 
 Glong i oifta jatha port. 
 
 31- 
 
APPENDIX, NO. xr. 495 
 
 3^ 
 
 Nu !ki vlfti an Hiluge 
 Itne ov tin do 
 Eldia var commln i lut 
 Uftor u fllki fark ans omo. 
 
 32. 
 
 Nu leveren fram 
 Hiluge du kereda 
 Fraun Hildlna du 
 Givemir live u gre, 
 
 33- 
 
 So mege u ganga grc 
 Skall dogh fwo 
 Skall lathi min heran 
 I bardagana fwo. 
 
 34- 
 Du tuckftada lide undoclit yacli 
 Swo et fa ans bugin blio 
 Dogh cafla ans huge 
 I mit fung u vexcmir mire meo. 
 
 35- 
 Nu tachtl on heve fvvelfko 
 Ans bo vad mild u ftien 
 Dogh fkall aide mire Koningufons 
 Vadue vilda mien." 
 
 APPENDIX, 
 
49^ APPENDIX, NO. XII, 
 
 APPENDIX, No. XII. 
 
 RESPITE /// favour of Edward Sinclare and others^ for the Slaughter 
 of the Earl of Cathness. From the Original Parchment. 
 
 James, he the gra:e of God King of Scottis. To all & Sundry our juf- 
 tices, wardanis, lieutenants, juftlce clerks, flireffs, ftewartis, crounaris, yare 
 deputis, proveftis, auldermane, and baillies of burrowis, and all oyeris our 
 officiaris py' and to cum, and yare deputis, liegis, fubditls, quham it efferis, 
 quhaire knawlege yir our letteris fall cum, greting. 
 
 Wit ze we, of oure fpeciale grace, to have refpitt, fiiperfedeit, and delaylt, 
 and be yir o' le"eris in ye law fpealie refpittis, fuperfedes, and delayis, Ed- 
 ward Sinclare of Strome, Magnus Sinclare of Werfettir, Johnne Sinclare of 
 Follap, William Sinclare of Houfe, Olive Sinclare of Hilwra, Magnus Sin- 
 clare, Lawrence Sinclare, James Sinclare, James Cragy of Brogh, Johnne 
 Rendale, Adam Sclatter, Johnne Burnefs, Johnne Cromarte, Magnus Cro- 
 marte, Robert Hercas, Johnne Hercas, George Hercas, William Perifone, 
 Johnne Jamezon, William Kardy, Gilbert Cragy, Williame Zorftone, Wal- 
 ter Forefter, Chrifte Jane, Magnus Midhoufe, Johnne Loutit, Johnne Pap- 
 laye, Magnus Gariacht, Williame Cragv, John Cragy of Banks, & Edward 
 BirRane, and generally all and fundry uyeris perfones, kynifmen, fryndis, 
 alfiftaris, adherentis, partakoures & complices w' ye faid Edward & perfones 
 above written, dwelland w'in ye ylis of Orknay & Zetland, being with 
 them in company at the committing of any cryms and arts, & part w' thame 
 yrintill in ony tyme bygane before ye day of ye date of yir py'" ffor art & 
 part of the convocation & gadering of our lieges in arrayit battel agains 
 umq" Johnne Erie of Cathnefs, & for art & part of ye flaughter of the faid 
 
 umqu 
 
APPENDIX, NO. XII. 49 7 
 
 umq" Erie and hla frlendis and partakours being with yame In company at 
 that tyme, and for all uyeris flaughteris, mutilations, opprelTiouns, reilfis, 
 fortho' fellonies, trefTonis, crymes, tranrgrefliouns & ofFenfis qiihatfumever 
 committit 5c done by yame, or any of yame, or in any uyir part or place 
 w'in o' realm, in ony tymes bygane, before ye day of ye dait hereof, trea- 
 foun in o' owne proper perfone allenarlie exceptit, for ye fpace of 19 zeres 
 next to cum eftir ye date of yir py'is, to indure but any revocatioun, ob- 
 ftakle, impediment, or againcalling quhatfumever. Attour we will, grantis, 
 and ordains, yat yis oure fpeale rcfpitt, fuperfedere, and delay, fall be of als 
 grate ftrenth, avale, force &c efFedt to ye perfones yatt are not namyt and 
 comprehendit in the famen, being w' ye faid Edward and his complices at 
 ye committing of ye faidis cryms, & art & part w' yame yrintill, as and 
 yare names and furnames were fpealie and particularly in inyt thereintill, 
 Quharefore we charge you ftraitlie, and commandis zou all and fundry our 
 juftices, wardanis, lieutenants, juftice clerks, fhreffis, ftewartis, crounaris, 
 proveftis, auldermene and baillies of burrowis, and all uyris o.ur officiars pyn' 
 and to cum, and z°' deputis, licgis and fubditis forfaidis, yat nane of zou talc 
 upon hand to call jornay, attacke, arreft, accufe, moleft, truble, follow &c 
 perfew ye faidis perfones, yare kyninfmen, freyndis, affiftaris, adhc- 
 
 rentis, partakaris & complices, or any of yame win ye faidis boundis, for 
 ye faidis crymes bygane, or to do or attempt ony thing incontrar violation 
 or breking of yis our fpeale refpitt, fuperfedere and delay, in ony wife, dur- 
 ing all ye tyme and fpace above written, under all the hieall pane and charge 
 yat aftir may follow. Difcharging you, and ilk ane of you of z" oflices in 
 yat part, in ye meyntyme, be yir oure leeris, given under cure Privie Sele, 
 at Striveling, ye nineteen day of September, and of oure reigne ye 
 zeres 
 
 Per fignaturam manu S. D. N, 
 Regis Subfcriptam. 
 
 Upon 
 
498 APPENDIX, NO. XII. 
 
 Upon the label to which the feal (which Is broken off) had been affixed, 
 thus infcribed : * Refpe<Suatio Edwardi Sinclere de Strome et triguita alio- 
 
 rum.' 
 
 Marked thus on the back : 
 
 * Ane nynteen zeris refpitt to Edward Sincler and his complices, for ye 
 * flaughter of the Erie of Cathnefs, &c.' 
 
 i 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Adam, Bishop of Caithness, burnt to death, and why, 187. 
 
 Agriculture, fuperior mode of it introduced, and by whom, 261. — too little attention 
 beftowed upon this ufeful art, 350. — caufes thereof, ib. — its operations performed 
 with improper inftruments, and in a slovenly manner, 353, 356. — obftacles to its 
 improvement, 367. — means of removing them pointed out, 368. 
 
 Agricultural improvements, inftance of their beneficial efFe£ls, 359. 
 
 Alexander, King of Scotland, punilhcs the murderers of Bifliop Adam, 187. — thanked 
 bv the Pope, ib. — takes the county of Sutherland from the earldom, 190. 
 
 Alexander, the Second, King of Scotland, attempts an invafion of the iflands, ly i.— 
 account of his vifion, ib. — his death, ib. 
 
 Alexander, the Third, attempts to negociate with Ilaco, 193. — his reafons for declin- 
 ing battle, ib. 
 
 Andreiv {Si." ^nA Deernefs, account of the united pariflies of,26. — their population, 27. 
 
 Andrew, Bifliop, charader of, 243.— in favour with his Sovereign and the King of 
 England, ib. 
 
 Annual of Norway, meaning of the phrafe, 207. — negociations refpefling it, ib. — how 
 broken off, 210. 
 
 Antiquity, monuments of, afcribed to the Scandinavians, 211. 
 
 Appendix, No. I. Diploma concerning the genealogies of the ancient Counts, Sec. 401. 
 No. II. Tranflation of the diploma, &c. 410.— No. III. Extract from Sir J. Bal- 
 four's catalogue of the Scottilh nobility, 420.— No. IV. Lift of the Earls, 424. — 
 No. V. Table of the ancient Counts, &c. 426. — No. VI. Copy of the contraQ of 
 marriage betwixt the King of Scotland and the Princefs of Denmark, 428.— No. VII. 
 Defcriptio infularum Orchadiarum, 4^7. — No. VIII. Grahame, Bifliop of Ork- 
 neys, his abjuration ot the Epifcopacy, 451.. — No. IX. A fiiort relation of the mod 
 confiderabh things in Orkney, 453. — No. X. A£ls of Bailliary, &c. 460. — No. XI. 
 Extrafl from tljC Orcades of Torfaus, 483. — The Lord's Prayer in Norfe, 487. — 
 A ballad in Norfe, 489. — XII. Refpite in favour of Edward Sinclare and others, 496. 
 
 3 S 2 Arnjin 
 
500 INDEX. 
 
 Ai-i'fin (Earl) account of, 125. 
 
 Jriihlf Earl, chara£ler of, 1^3. — (lain in battle with tlic Englifli, 124. 
 Athenians, their foolifli theory as to the produ£lions of the human kind, 78. 
 Audna, (wife to Earl Laudver), character of, 129. — her fpeech to her fon, 133, 
 Aurora borealis, account of its appearances in the Orcadcs, 17. 
 
 6 
 
 Bailliary, a£ts of, 460. 
 Ballad, Norfe language, 489. 
 
 Barrows, contents of thofe opened near Stromnefs, 38. 
 Biran, liifhop, character of, 1 84. 
 Birds, account of thofe in Orkney, 306. ct feq. 
 
 Birfa and Hara, account of the united parilhes of, 32.— conjeflures as to the etymo- 
 logy of the words, ib.— marble and alabafterfaid to have been difcovered in Birf^ 
 
 35- 
 
 Black Acls, why fo called, 2ji. 
 
 Bones, (human), account of thofe dug up at EarlfknoU, 54. 
 
 ^»//^ii;?//, Adam, the firfl reformed Bifliop in Orkney, 251. — performs the marriage 
 
 ceremony between Queen Mary and Bothwell, ib.— inaugurates the young Prince 
 
 ib. — afliftsin colledling the Scots laws into a body, ib. 
 Budi, the Fourth, King of the Northern divifion of Caledonia, quells an infurredlion 
 
 in the Orcadcs, 88. 
 Brufius, fon of Earl Sigurd, charafter of, 137. — ^his difference with Thorfin, 142.—. 
 
 amicably fettled, and by whom, ib. 
 Bufm, his miftake with regard to fheep, 326. 
 Burgh of Birfa, defcription of the fmall ifland fo called, 34. 
 ^r/rrfl)', defcription of the ifland of, 48.— its vegetable produdions, ib.— its real and 
 
 valued rents, ib. — population, ib. 
 Byfmcr, the name of a weighing inflrument, 219. — defcription thereof, ib, 
 
 C 
 
 Callages, planting of them introduced, and by whom, 261; 
 
 Calfsound, the name of the harbour where the pirate Gow was captured, 5^. 
 
 Cathedral oi^t. Magnus defcribed, 237. — by whom founded and enlarged, 238, and 
 
 244. — efcaped the rage of the reformers, ib. — by whom upheld, 239. 
 Cavay, account of the id.ind of, 43. 
 
 Ccelejl'me, Pope, thanks the King of Scotland, and why, 187. 
 Chriftian, the Firfl;, King of Denmark, his claims upon Scotland, 207.— forms an al, 
 
 Ijance with France, ib. — his chara£ler, 208.— marries his daughter to the young 
 
 IJ.ing of Scotland, 210 — articles of the marriage contradt; ib. 
 
 Chrift 
 
INDEX. ^0, 
 
 ChrijVs Church, account of, 235. 
 
 Ok;vA government, Prefbyterian form of it established, 264.— reafons of its flow pro. 
 
 grefs, ib. 
 Codfjhery, little progrefs made therein, and why, 393. 
 Columba (St.) plants Chriftianity in the northern parts of Caledonia, 87. 
 Commerce, hiftory of its origin, 68 its btneficial coiif-qucnces, 69. — not great 
 
 Orkney, and why, 388. — thought to be in an increafing Itate, 389. 
 ■Commons, how paflured, 356. 
 Compojl dunghills, method of making, 358. 
 Copiiifay, defcription of the ifland of, 49. 
 Ce/ipiroiu, defcription of the caftle of, 2^4. 
 
 Cormac, one of St. Columbus's difciplcs, vifits Orkney, and why, 87. 
 Corn crops, feldom luxuriant, and why, 355. — rotation obfervcd, 366. 
 County acts, their beneficial efFeds, 226. 
 Cows, defcription of the breed in Orkney, 329.— caufe of their lately increafed 
 
 value, ib. 
 Cromivell, Oliver, veftiges of a fort call up by him, 25. 
 
 D 
 
 Damftiy, defcription of the ifland fo called, 66. 
 
 David, Earl, character of, 185. 
 
 Dealers, arts ufed by them to impofe on the farmers, 370. 
 
 Deernefs, account of the parilh of, 26.— why fo called, ib. 
 
 Dolgfennus, Bifliop, account of, 197. 
 
 Diuarfie ftone, defcription of it, 4 1. 449. 457. 
 
 E 
 
 Eaglefiay, defcription of the beautiful ifland of, 63. — formerly the refidence of the 
 
 Douglafles and Monteiths, 64. — St. Magnus murdered here, ib. 
 Eday, account of the ifland of, 54. — fuppofed to be the Ocetis of Ptolemy, ib. 
 £//;.7/-, Earl, charafter of, 120. — teaches his fubje£ts the ufe of peat, 121.— his con- 
 
 teft for the government, 122. — how fettled, 123. 
 £/';Mr, fon of Earl Sigurd (the Grofs) charatlcrof, 137. — opprefTes his fubjefls, 138.— 
 
 quarrels with Thorfin, 140. — the difpute fettled by Brufius, ib. — his pcrfidi'ous 
 
 behaviour afterwards, 14a. — his death, ib. 
 Elivick harbour, its natural advantages pointed out, 51. 
 Emigration, a great caufe of tlie decreafe of population in Orkney, 335. 
 Enhalloiv, (hort account of the ifland fo called, 66. 
 ErUnd, fonof Einar, his chara(^er, 123. — flain in battle with the Englifti, 124. 
 
 Erlend^ 
 
5oa 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Erlend, fon of Earl Tliorfin, cliarafter of, 153.— engages in an expedition againft 
 England, ib. — differs with his brother, 154. — taken prifoner by the King of Nor- 
 way, 155. 
 
 Erlend, fon of Earl Erlend, charafter of, 154. 
 
 Erlend, fon of Harold the Orator, charadler of, 176.— his fuccefs againft young 
 Harold, 177. — his death, 179. 
 
 Europe, account of the moft ancient inhabitants of, 229.— the different languages ufed 
 by them, ib. 
 
 JSwV and iJtWa/, account of the united pariflies of, 31. — their extern tnd foil, 33 — 
 their population, 34. 
 
 Excommunication, the feverc confequences thereof to the Epifcopalian clergymen, 259. 
 
 F 
 
 Faray, account of the fmall ifland fo called, 43. — another'of the fame name, 56. 
 
 Farmers, chzxzSttx and fituation of them \n Orkney, 342. 
 
 ivjrm-fervants, their condition much better now than formerly, 344. — caufes thereof, 
 ib. — their characler, 345. 
 
 FiJJo, account of thofe on the coafls of Orkney, 293 & feq. 
 
 Fi/Ijeries, not attended to fo much as they defcrve, 391. 
 
 Flax, to what extent raifed and manufadturcd in the parifli of Holm, 28.— not much 
 attended to in the other iflands, 365.-3 more extended cultivation of it recom- 
 mended, 366. — quantity imported yearly, 377. 
 
 Flstay, account of the ifland of, 44. — its fertility and population, ib. 
 
 Frith and Stemis, defcription of the united pariflies of, 29. 
 
 Gair/ay, account of the ifland of, 66. 
 
 Gallo-way, Earl of, caufe of his law-procefs with the Earl of Morton, 222. 
 
 Gaming, an univerfal amufement among people in a rude (late, 93. 
 
 General Affcmbly, their cruelty to the clergymen of the Epifcopal order, 259. 
 
 Gibbon, the Firft, fwears fealty to the King of Norway, 190. — his embaffy to him, ib. 
 
 Gibbon, t\\e Second, accompanies King Haco in his expedition againfl Scotland, 192. 
 
 Gow, the pirate, captured, 55. 
 
 Gotiorm, Earl, charafter of, 118. 
 
 Government^ origin of, 96. — influences the manners of a people, ib. 
 
 Graham, Mr. George, Bifliop of Dumblane, tranflated to the fee of Orkney, 259. — 
 
 refigns his office, and why, ib. 
 Grcemjay, account of the ifland of, 39.— its inhabitants remarkable for ftrength and 
 
 ftature, ib. 
 
 Grainy 
 
INDEX JC3 
 
 Grain, the kinds of it cultivated in Orkney, 361. 
 
 Grnffes, varieties of them fuccefsfuUy cultivated, 364. 
 
 Graveiy defcription of thofe in Weftray, 211. — conje£tures refpe£ling them 212. 
 
 H 
 
 Haco, King of Norway, invades Scotland, 192. — grants the earldom of Orkney to 
 
 Henry Sinclair, and whV) 200. 
 Hacon, fon of Earl Paul, characler of, 154. — accompanies the King of Norway in an 
 
 expedition, 155.— -murders his coufin, 159.— feizes the whole of the ifles i6o — 
 
 his pilgrimage and manner of life afterwards, ib. 
 Hallard, Earl, chara£ler of, 118. — refigns his government, and why, no. 
 /r<j;v-hunting, amufement of the ancient Earls, 322. 
 
 Hares, none now found in the iflands, 322. — caufes of their difappearance ib, 
 Harold Hzrhger, charaifler of, 113. — ufurps the government of Norway ib In- 
 vades the ifland^, and why, 114. — account of his conquefts, 116. 
 Harold, the Bold, King of Norway, attempts an invafion of England, iro [^ j»_ 
 
 feated and flain, 154. 
 Harold (Earl), fon of Hacon, charafterof, 162. — caufe of his death, 164. 
 Harold, nephew to Earl Paul, obtains half of Orkney, 174. — entrufted with the m 
 
 nagementof the whole, and why, 175. — account of his capture and ranfom ib 
 
 his cruel behaviour at Thurfo, 183. — caufe of his loGng Shetland, 184. his death 
 
 and charafler, 185. 
 Harold, grandfon of St. Ronald, account of his unfuccefsful attempt to recover his 
 
 grandfather's eftate, j 81. —his death, and the miracle that attended it, 182. 
 i/j/-t'/y?-work, how performed in the iflands, 356. 
 Hcebud.t, honourable condudl of the King of them, 191. 
 Hecablir, account of the place fo called, 58. 
 Hecla, Mount, account of an erruption of, 14. 
 Helga, mother to Earl Harold, account of her and her filler's plot againft Earl Paul 
 
 J 63. — they favour Earl Ronald's claim, 166. — their fleet defeated, 167. 
 //f» r/'/^.fifliery, fliamefully neglecled in the iflands, 393. 
 //(•;•/■;></ lands, why fo called, 358. 
 
 Hogs, defcription of the breed reared in the iflands, 324. 
 Holm, account of theparifli of, 27. — its extent, foil, &c. ib. 
 Holms and Skerries, names given to the uninhabited iflands, 20. — the.'r ufe ib the 
 
 haunts of amphibious animals, ib. 
 Ho/iyman, Mr. Andrew, tranflated from St. Andrews to the bifliopric of Orkney 25-" 
 
 his chara£ler, ib. — liis death, and the caufe thereof, ib. 
 Horfes, the original breed of them defcribed, 329. — much improved of late, and bv 
 
 what means, 330 — the rearing of them not properly attended to, ib, 
 
 '3 Hoj,, 
 
504 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 JJ-:y, account of the pirlfli pf, 40.— its animal, vegetable, ami mineral prsduftions, 
 ib. — dtfcriptioa of a remarkable Hone therein, 41. 449. 457. 
 
 Jama, the Thir.l, King of Scotland, acquires right to the iflands, and by what means, 
 
 241.— erefts Kirkwall into a burgh, 242.— his zeal to promote the happinefs of the 
 
 inhabitants, ib. 
 James, the Fifth, vifits Orkney, and why, 247.— confirms the charter of Kirkwall* 
 
 ib. — his death, ib. 
 James, Earl of ISIorton, obtains an irredeemable grant of Orkney, 265.— finds great 
 
 inconvenience in holding it, and why, 266.— difpofes of it, and to whom, 267. 
 Iceland, account of the ancient government of, 97. 
 Improvemints, account of thofe introduced into the parifti of Sandwick, 36.— not 
 
 general in Orkney, 39, 53. 
 Indigines.—Vide Sons of the Earth. 
 
 Indujlry, a defideratum in the charafter of the inhabitants of Orkney, 349. 
 Ingarnefs, dsfcrlption of the bay of, 26. 
 %/,<;>, Bifliop, ftiort account of, 192. 
 John, Blfiiopof Caithnefs, how treated by Harold, 186. 
 John, Earl, charafter of, 185.— cultivates a good underftanding with the King of 
 
 Norway, 187. — murdered at Thurfo, 188. 
 John, Eail of Caithnefs and Orkney— ftiort account of his life, ig6. 
 Iron-ore, found in the ifland of Hoy, 271. 
 IJlands, conjeflures as to the caufes that have produced them, 8. 
 Jvpiter-Ym^, account of the camp of, 234. 
 
 K 
 
 Kelp, how manufaaured, 377._defcription of the plants of which it is made, 378.— 
 the manufaaurers thereof ftiould confine their attention to it only, and why, 379.— 
 behaviour of the common people at the introduftion of the manufaaure, 382.— 
 Its price per ton at various periods, 382.— number of people therein employed, 
 384.— advantages arifing from the manufaaure, ib. 
 
 Kirk-wall, latitude and longitude of, 5— account of its fituation, 23— tl'C town de- 
 fcribed, ib.— its civil privileges, police and population, 24— public buildings, ib.— 
 the cathedral built, and by whom, i74.-the caftle built, and by whom, 206 — 
 defcription thereof, 236— the Bilhop's palace, ib.-the Menfeand Round Towers, 
 :j37._cathedral of St. Magnus, 237.— the Earl's palace, 2S4.-when ereaed into 
 a Royal burgh, and by whom, 242.— the feat of civil courts, and of the fynod, 264. 
 
 Lawman, 
 
INDEX. 505 
 
 L 
 
 Layman, dcfignation of the principal man in the Lawtltig, 225. 
 
 Lambhsim, account of the ifland fo called, 48. 
 
 £o«</f</ Proprietor?, charafter of them, 337. — of their wives, 339. 
 
 Lq/l, the name of a weight ufed in Orkney, 219. 
 
 Laiidver, Earl, charafterof 128. — means ufed by him to keep up the military fpirit 
 
 of the people, ib. — his marriage, 129. 
 iflw (Mr. James), Bifliop of Orkney, undertakes the caufe of the people againft Earl 
 Patrick, and why, 258 — his fuccefs, ib. — prudent means ufed by him to feparatc 
 
 the jurifdidlons of the bifliopric and earldom, 259 appointed Archbifliop of 
 
 Glafgow, ib. 
 Laiv, dccifion, by the Supreme Court, of a queftion between the Kirk Seflion of 
 
 Kirkwall and the Incorporated Trades, 341. 
 Laws, account of thofe anciently ufed in Orkney, 224.— when abloliflied, 225. 
 Lanutifig, name of the ancient Supreme Court, 225.— when aboli (lied, ib. 
 Leafes, feldom granted, 343. — their duration when given, 359. 
 Lime, not ufed as a manure, 354. 
 Lineti'Yarn, the manufa£lure of imroduced, and when, 374. — quantity fpun yearlX 
 
 in former times, 375. — annual quantity now manufaflured, 3715. 
 iww-cloth, account of the manufadure of, 374.— quantity annually made, 376. 
 Liatus, Earl, account of his difgraccful marriage, and wars with his brother, 125.—. 
 
 overcomes the Scots, 127. — his death, 128. 
 is^ff-fifhing, account of, 392. — thought to be in an Increafmg (late, 393. 
 Lech iLwAheys, the art of making them introduced, 261. 
 ierf/'j P/-o)rr,' fpecimens of it in the Norfe language, 487. 
 
 M 
 
 Mackenzie, Murdoch, Bifliop of Moray, tranflated to the Le of Orkney, 263. — his 
 
 good charafter, ib. 
 Magnus, fon of Earl Erlend, chara£ler of, 154, 159. — incurs the difpleafure of the 
 
 King of Norway, and why, 155. — obtains half of the iflands, 156 his fpeech 
 
 to his coufin, 158. — murdered by him, 159. — behaviour at his death, ib. — miracles 
 
 faid to be wrought by his grave, ib. 
 Magnus, the Second, fucceeds Earl John, 190. — the county of Sutherland taken from 
 
 them, and by wheal, ib. 
 Magnus, King of Norway, concludes peace with the Scots, and upon what terms, 
 
 I9S- 
 Magnus, the Third, his contract with the King of Norway, iy6. 
 
 Magnus, the Fourth, created Earl by the king of Norway, ib. 
 
 3 r Magnus, 
 
5o6 INDEX. 
 
 Magnus, the Fifth, (hort account of his life, 1915. 
 
 Mainland, or Pomona, principal of the Orkney ifles, account of, 22. — etymology of 
 
 the names uncertain, ib. — Account of the mineral ftrata in it, 269. 
 Ma/is, Earl of Straherne, enjoys the earldom of Orkney in right of his wife, 199. 
 Ma/is, the Second, claims the earldom, 200. — means ufed by him to fecure the reve- 
 nues in the country, ib. — names of his daughters, ib. — to whom married, ib. 
 Mamtfanures, of what kinds, and to what extent carried on, 374. 
 Manure (compoft) preferred to fea-weed in the parifli of Orphir, 28. 
 Marble, faid to have been difcovered in the pari{li of Birfa, 35. 
 Marl, plentiful and good near Loch Stennis, 30. — alfo in the parifli of Firth, ib. — 
 
 not regarded as a manure, 354. 
 Mark, the name of a weight ufed in Orkney, 219. 
 Marriage, treaty of, betwixt the 5ing of Norway and the daughter of the King of 
 
 Scotland, 197. 
 Marriage, contract of, betwixt James the Third, King of Scotland, and the Princefs 
 
 of Denmark, 2 1 o. — copy thereof, 428. 
 Max'iuell{^o\>tn) Bifliop of Orkney, account of, 248. 
 Meal, prices of it in Orkney in 1799 and 1800, 372- 
 Meil, the name of a weight ufed in Orkney, 2 1 9. 
 Meyner, David, entrufted with the earldom, 205. — his furetles, ib. — driven from his 
 
 Ctuation, and why, ib. 
 Minerals, account of thofe in Orkney, 269 ct feq. 
 Moddan, created Earl of Caithnefs and Sutherland by his uncle the King of Scotland, 
 
 144. — endeavours to take pofleflion of his earldom, ib. — defeat at fea, 146. — flain 
 
 atThurfo, 146. 
 Morten (Earl of) account of his law-plea with the Earl of Galloway, 222.— decifionin 
 
 his favour, 224. 
 
 N 
 
 Navigation, by whom invented, 68. — caufes which led to its invention, ib. 
 
 Ninian (St.) Chriftianity planted by him in the fourthern divifion of Caledonia, 87. 
 
 Nobility, a link in the chain of fociety for uniting monarchy and the lower ranks, 81. 
 
 Neltland, a noble caftle in the ifland of Weftray, 63. — defcription thereof, 256. 
 
 North ijles, account of the mineral ftrata obferved in them, 269. 
 
 Nerfe, the ancient language of Orkney, 229. — fome traces thereof ftill found in Po- 
 
 mona, 230.— fpeclmens of it, 487. 
 Nor-way, ftate of the kingdom of, anno 876, 112. — character of the inhabitants, ib.— 
 
 diftrafted by the conteft among Harold's Jons about the fuccelTion, 1 24. 
 
 Odin 
 
INDEX. J07 
 
 o 
 
 Odin (god of war) how ftykJ in the Icelandic writings, 99. 
 
 Ola (St.) account of the population of the parifli of, 23. — the foil, 25. — a great part 
 of it uncultivated, and why, ib. 
 
 Olaus (King of Norway) plants the Chriftian religion in Norway, and by what means 
 134. — his fpeech to Sigurd the Grofs, ib. — Sigurd's reply, 135. 
 
 Oicades, or Orkney ifles, general view of them, 5. -their diftancc from Caithnefs and 
 Shetland, ib. — reafons for thinking them formerly united with Great Britain and 
 with one another, 7. — how feperated, 8. — abound in peat-mofs, 10. — their foils 
 defcribed, 11. — conjectures as to the caufe of their fertility, 12. — account of the 
 
 climate and its cfFeQs upon the animal and vegetable worlds, ib annual quantify 
 
 of rain therein, 13. — fome peculiarities of the climate pointed out, 14 their 
 
 coafts defcribed, 16. 
 
 Oreades, geographical defcription of them, 19.— number of the whole, ib of thofe 
 
 inhabited, 20. — their divifion, 21. — how difcovered, 70 — various opinions as to the 
 origin of the word, 7 1 . — Tacitus's account of thefe iflands moft to be depended upon, 
 and why, 73.— Solinus's account not fatisfadtory, and why, 75. — Pomponius Mela's 
 account of their number pretty near truth, 77 — when difcovered and peopled ac- 
 cording to Tovfneus, 77. — an occafional afylum to pirates before they were inhabited, 
 -jg. — whence probably firft peopled, ib. — caufes of diflenffion among the fettlers. So. 
 — how regal power would firft obtain in them, 8 1.— fuppofed to be peopled by a dif- 
 
 appointed Pidifli nobleman and his adherents, 83.— how governed at firft, 85 the 
 
 inhabitants inftrufted in the Chriftian religion, and by whom, 87.— infurreflion 
 among them quelled by Budi the fourth, 88. — their peace often interrupted by con 
 
 vulGons in Norway, 187.— proclamation of theScotifli King refpefling them, 201. 
 
 pledged to Scotland by the King of Denmark, and why, 210.— names of the ancient 
 weights and weighing inftruments therein, 219. — laws, courts, &c. 224. — county 
 adls, 226. — holdings of tenures, ib. — language, 229. — lift of naines now prevalent 
 
 there, 230. — their origin, ib.— lift of ancient names and their origin, 231 of the 
 
 oldeft furnames, ib. — ancient coins, 232 — buildings 233. 
 
 Oreades granted in feu to the Earl of Murray, 246. — again anne-ced to Scotland, ib 
 
 vifited by King James the Fifth, and for what reafon, 247. — conferred on the Earl 
 of Bothwell, and why, 24S. — forfeited by him, they revert to the Crown, ib. — grant- 
 ed to Lord Robert Stewart, 152.— taken from him, and why, ib. — bcftowed'upon 
 Patrick Stewart, 253. — taken from him, and why, ib.— granted to Sir James Stewart 
 in the capacity of a farmer-general, 256.— return to the Crown, and are farmed out 
 
 upon fliort leases, 257. — granted to William Earl of Morton, and by whom, 260 
 
 grant renewed to one of his fucccffors, 261. — grant reduced, ib. — eretlcd into a 
 
 3^2 ftewartry. 
 
5o8 INDEX. 
 
 ftewartry, 262. — given to James Earl of Morton by an irredeemable grant, and why 
 264. — difpofed of by him, and to whom, 266, 
 
 Orcadesy on the prefent ftate of the iflands, 268. — their mineralogy, ^69 etfeq. — bota- 
 ny, 275 etfeq. — zoology, 293 et feq. — population, 331. — manners and cuftoms of the 
 
 inhabitants, 337 their agriculture, 350. — manufa£lures, 374. — commerce, 38B — 
 
 exports and imports, 390. — fiflieries, 391. — various improvements fuggefted, 395. — 
 (hort account of the moft confiderable things in them, 453. — charadler of the inha- 
 bitants about half a century ago, 345. 
 
 Orcadesy diploma concerning the genealogies of the ancient Counts of, &c. 401. — tranC- 
 lation thereof, 410. — lift of the Earls, 424. 
 
 Orchadiarum'miw\?i\\im defcriptio, &c. 437. 
 
 Orchadlans, on hufbandry ufed by them, &c. 450. 
 
 Orphlr, account of the parlfh of, 28. — its inhabitants and their employments, lb. — 
 harbour and chalybeate fpring, 29. 
 
 Oxm, defcrltion of the breed of them in Orkneyj 326.— their wieght, 329. — lately 
 increafed in value, and why, ib. 
 
 Pflp/ij-Stronfay, defcrlption of the ifland of, 53. 
 
 Papay-W eHrny, defcriptlon of the ifland of, 63. 
 
 Papay, or Paplay, names of the places where the papse or priefts refided, 1 15. 
 
 Paptt, various opinions refpe£ting them, 115. 
 
 Paul, fon of Earl Thorfin, charader of, 152. — account of his expedition againft Eng- 
 land, ib. — is taken prifoner by the King of Norway, 155. 
 
 Paul, fon of EarlHacon, charader of, i62.^caufe of his difFerence with his bro- 
 ther, ib. — efcapes the plot of Harold's mother and aunt, 164. — baniflies them from 
 Orkney, ib. — defeats them atfea, 167.— takes Harold's fleet, ib. — ereds light, houfcs 
 through the iflands, ib. — obtains a]truce from Earl Ronald, 170 — captured by Swien 
 Aflief, 172. 
 
 P^^mofs, abundant in Orkney, 10. — of diiFerent quahties, ib. — caufes of the dif- 
 ference, II. 
 
 Pentlarid-Frkh, number of (hips fuppofed to pafs it annually, 47. 
 
 Peter, Blfhop of Orkney, account of the life of, 197. 
 
 Peter' s-penny, a tax fo called, 198. — when introduced into Orkney, ib. 
 
 P;77j- thought to be the firft fettlers in Orkney, Bi.— their manners and cuftoms de- 
 fcribed, 89. — reafons why the arts made little progrefs, and fcience dawned not 
 among them, 94. — their government, 96.— military weapons, 97. — religion, 98. — 
 objeds of antiquity, 100. 
 
 Pirn. 
 
INDEX. 509 
 
 P//7/-houfcs frequent in the parifties of Birfa and Hara, 35. — defcription of one at 
 Quinternef':, 104. — conjeftures as to the purpofes for which they were built, 107. 
 
 P;V-coal, indications of it in the fouth ifles, 270. 
 
 Plants, names of thofe in Orkney, and their places of growth, 275 etfeq. 
 
 Plough, defcription of the eld one, ftill uoft ufed in Orkney, 353. — of the one lately 
 introduced, 359. — this Inft one ufed of ^ by the gentlemen farmers, 361. 
 
 Pomponius Mela, his account of"th6 ivumber of the ifles thought pretty juft, 77. 
 
 Potatoes, when firft planted in the open fields, 363. — advantages of them, ib. — their 
 produce and price, ib. 
 
 Public markets, the want of them a great obftacle to improvements, 359. 
 
 Ptindlei; the name of a weighing inftrument, 220 defcription thereof, ib. 
 
 ^adrupeds, account of thofe in Orkney, ■^'^0 et feq. 
 
 R 
 
 Raddinen, counfcllors to the Chief Judge In the Latvtlng, 22J. 
 
 Reguhilda, her infamous charaifter delineated, 125. 
 
 Rain, annual quantity of, in Orkney, 13. 
 
 Reginald, fon of Gudrod. charader of, 182, wrefts Caithnefs from Harold, ib. 
 
 Retd, Robert, Bifhop of Orkney, character of, 249. — account of the honorable of- 
 fices which he held, ib. — his death, &c. 250. 
 
 Religion, that of the Pids rational and creditable for mankind in an unenlightened 
 flate, 91;. — its influence in forming the chara£ler of a people, 123. 
 
 Religion, Chriftian, when eftablifhed in Orkney, 132. — its progrefs flow, and why,i33. 
 — planted by the King of Norway, and by what means, 134. — by whom cultivated, 
 
 i6r. 
 Reptiles, account of thofe in Orkney, 305. 
 Rijfay, account of thefmall iflands fo called, 43. 
 Rolk, fon of the Count of Merca, hiftory of, 1 19.— his fuccefsful expedition againft 
 
 France, ib.— his characfler, 120. 
 Ronald, Count of Mcrca, charadler of, 117. 
 Ronald, fonofBrufius, claims his father's (hare of the iflands, 147. — his contrad with 
 
 his uncle, 148.— his death and chara£ler, 151. 
 Ronald, fitter's fon to St. Magnus, claims half of the iflands, 165. — meafures adopted 
 
 by him to render his claim eflf"e<aual, ib.— his fleet captured, 167. — his vow to Sf 
 
 Magnus, and confcquences thereof, 169. — ftratagems ufed to weaken Earl Paul's 
 
 party, 
 
5IO INDEX. 
 
 party, ib. — becomes fole mafter of Orkney, 174. — gives one half of It i^nay, i..d to 
 whom, ib. 
 
 Ronald, Earl, hiftory of 175. — murdered by Thorbiorn Cla''''","'^nd why, 179.— canon- 
 ized by the Pope, 180. 
 
 Ronalilfay, South, account of the population^'^'^ the ifland of, 44. — its foil and agri- 
 culture, 45. — its kelp manufaiflure, fl{l:^j^* J harbours, ib. — number of fmacks 
 employed, and how, ib. — monuments of antiq'.'if" '^ 
 
 Rtnaldfay, North, defcription of the ifland of, 59. — ebarader of tiic '^habitants, ib, 
 
 Roiifay, defcription of the ifland of, 64. a ,, 
 
 Runrigglafid a bar to improvement, 357. 
 
 S 
 
 Satiday, account of the ifland of, 56. — Its rural eeconomy, 57. — kelp manufa£lure, ib. 
 
 why dangerous for fliipping, 58. — population, 59. 
 Scandinavians, monuments of antiquity afcribed to them, 211. 
 
 Scat, the ancient land-tax in Orkney, 227. — mode of its affeffment and colle£tion, 228. 
 Scotland, tTin(7iQ.ions betwixt the King of, and Harold, 182. — advantages derived to 
 
 this kingdom from the addition of Orkney, 240. 
 Scotijh nobility, extraifl from Sir James Balfour's catalogue of, 420. 
 Sw-weed preferred, as a manure, to cattle-dung, 355. 
 Seed-corn, an abfurd notion with refpeQ; to it, 354. 
 Shapenjhay,, defcription of the ifland of, 49. 
 
 Sheep, defcription of the breed reared in Orkney, 325. — their fecundity and weight, ib. 
 — where paftured during the lambing feafon, 326. — quality of their wool, ib. — 
 laws refpefling them in former times, 327. 
 Shopkeepers, charafter of thofe in Orkney, 340. 
 Sigurd the Elder created Earl of Orkney, and by whom, 1 1 7. — fubdues Caithnefs, 1 1 8. 
 
 flain by a Scotifli chieftain, Ib. 
 Sigurd the Grofs challenged by a Scotifh Count, 129.— account of his warlike expedi- 
 tions, 131.— acknowledges the King of Norway as his Sovereign, 135. — coirpelled 
 to profefs the Chriftian faith, 136. — prodigies faid to have attended his death, ib. 
 divifion of the Iflands among his fons, 137. — their charadlers, ib. 
 Sintlair, Henry, obtains the earldom, and in virtue of what right, 201. — his reprefen- 
 tation to the Scotifli king, and good efFefts thereof, ib.— his invefliturc renewed, 
 and upon what terms, ib. — his extraclion, 202. — his conflidt with Malis Spere, ib, 
 — builds the caflle of Kirkwall, 206. 
 Sinclair, Henry, the Second, charaQer of, 203.— entrufted with the charge of the 
 young Scotifli King, ib.— he and his charge made prifoners, and by whom, ib. — 
 hi* tranfaftions after liberationj ib. 
 
 Sinclair, 
 
INDEX. ^-ij 
 
 Sinclair, John, account of, 203. — does homage to the King of Denmark, and why, 
 
 204. 
 Si/;cAj/>, William, fucccv ■• his father in the earldom, 204. — his right thereto afcer- 
 
 tained, and inveftiture obtamed, 206. — refigns the earldom, and why, 241. 
 Sinclair, Lord, his appointment in Orkney, 244 — attempts to feize the earldom, 24c. 
 Sine/air, Sir James, hldory of, 245. 
 S/ww, neither frequent nor in great quantities in Orkney, 14. — prevails generally for 
 
 two wtcl s in June, ib. caufe thereof, ib. 
 Soliiiti: ".is account of Orkney not fatisfadlory, and why, 76. 
 
 Sons of the Eirtli, an appellation aflumcd by the Athenians, and why, 78.— this foolidi 
 idea adopted by Cxfar and Tacitus, ib — repugnant to good fenfe and found phi- 
 lofcphy, 79. 
 South ifles, account of the mineral ftrata found in them, 270. 
 Standing ftones, account of thofe in Wcftray, 21 1.— conjedurc* as to their antiquity, 
 
 ib. 
 Sieelboiv,'w\\it is meant thereby, 342.— its inconveniences, 357, 
 Stennis, defcriptioti ofth; loch of, 29. — derivation of the word, 31. 
 SleiL'arf, Edwar(*, BiO'Op, cliarafler of, 244. 
 Sieivart (Lord) Robert, charafter 01", 252 — inftances of his arrogance and prefump- 
 
 tion, 254. 
 S^Mror/, Patrick, account of, 2,53. 
 Stewart, Sir James, account of, 256. 
 Stones of Stennis, defcription of, 2 1 7. 
 
 Stromnefs andSandwick, defcription of the united pariflies of, 3^;. 
 Stromnefs, account of improvements introduced into the neighbourhood of this village 
 36. — decifion of the Court of SefTion in its favour, ib. — confirmed by the Houfe of 
 Lords, ib.— confequenccs thereof, 37. — why its harbour is Icfs frequented than for- 
 merly, 58. 
 
 Stronfay ifland, account of its Ctuation, extent and foil, 51. — agriculture, 52 mineral 
 
 fpringj, &c. 53. 
 Sumarlid, Ion of Sigurd the Grofs, charader of, 138. 
 S//w/«fr-fallowing not much pradifed in Orkney, 361 — its advantages pointed out 
 
 ib. 
 S///>ny?/V/c«, inflances of ils prevalence in Orkney, 348. 
 Siuanay, account of the ifland of, 46. 
 
 Sjrt/o/, Thomas, Bifliop of Galloway, promoted to the fee of Orkney, 262. 
 Swein Aflief, account of him and his adherents, 180.— his expedition to Ireland, j8i. 
 
 Tacitus, 
 
512 INDEX. 
 
 Tacitus, his account of the Orkney iflands moft to be depended upon, and why, 73 
 
 his foolifli idea as to the origin of the human race, 78. 
 Thorbiorn. Clark, charader of, 175. — murders Earl Ronald, and why, 179. 
 Thorfn Haufakliufurs, Earl, charaQerof, 124. — names of his fens, 123'. 
 Thorfin, Earl, youngeft fon of Sigurd, (the Grofs), charader of, 137. — quarrels with 
 
 Einar, and why, 140. 
 Thcrfai, Earl of Caithnefs, account of his vidory over the Scots, 145 his journey to 
 
 Rome, 152. — his behaviour after his return, ib. — his charaiSler, ib. 
 KorW, Fofter, his good charader delineated, 139 — his benevolence to Einar's fub- 
 
 jeds, ib. — kills Einar, and why, 143. 
 Thunder and lightning, when moft prevalent in Orkney, 15. 
 Tides, account of their current about the Orcades, 459. 
 Tithes, inftance of the bad effeds of their rigorous exadion, i26. 
 Torfaus, extrads from the Orcades of, 483. 
 Torphin, fon to Earl Harold, account of his unhappy fate, 183. 
 Trade, miftaken notions of the ancient legiflators of Orkney with refped to it, 226. 
 Tradefmen, charader of thofe in Orkney, 340. 
 Tulloch (Thomas) Bifhop, account of, 205.— the earldom committed to him, and upoa 
 
 what terms, ib. 
 Tulloch (William) Bifliop, fucceeds his coufin, 242. — account of the dignified office* 
 
 which beheld, ib. 
 Tw/K/z/z, two kinds of them noticed, 100. — thofe in Weftray defcribed, 211. 
 Turnips, experiments made in raifing them, 363 — ^the advantages that would attepd 
 
 a more extended cultivation of this root, 364. 
 
 V 
 LT^fl/Z^rj-, proprietors of lands near Lock Stennis fo called, and why, 30. — reckoned 
 
 more honourable than proprietors of other lands, ib. — their number gradually de- 
 
 creafing, and why, 228. 
 l/(/fl/-lands, the lands of the udallers, 227.— the laws relative to this kind of property 
 
 whence derived, ib. — fubjed to the payment oi feat and tithe, 228. 
 
 W 
 Waal, the name of a beautiful town in the ifland of Weftray, 62. 
 Waas, account of the parifli of, 42. — its cultivation fuperior to that of the other iflands, 
 
 and why, ib. — its particular advantages, ib. — its population, 43. 
 Weights and weighing inftruments, defcription of thofe ufed in Orkney, 219. — bad ef- 
 feds of their intricacy and uncertainty, 220.— complained of by people of every 
 
 4 rank> 
 
INDEX. 
 
 rank, and why, 222. — account of the procefs betwixt the Earls of Galloway and 
 Morton about them, ib. 
 
 U^eir ifland, defcription of, 65. 
 
 We/Iray, account of the ifland of, 60. — the graves therein defciibed, 21 1. — con- 
 jeftures as to the caufe of them, 2 1 2. 
 
 l^illiam Bifliop of Orkney, chara£ler of, i(52. — mediates betwixt Earls Paul and Ro- 
 nald, 170. — the time and circumftances of his death not recorded, 184. 
 
 William, the fecond liifhop of Orkney, character of, 197. — incurs the difpleafure of 
 the Archbifhop, and why, ib. 
 
 William, the third bifhop of Orkney, murdered, 198 — caufe unknown, ib. 
 
 William, the fourth Biftiop of Orkney, fliort account of, 204. 
 
 William, (Earl of Morton) obtains a grant of the earldom of Orkney, and from whom, 
 261. — his family deprived thereof, and by whom, ib. 
 
 Wood, great fcarcity thereof in Orkney, 290. — reafons for thinking it was more plen- 
 tiful in ancient times, ib. — the opinion that no kind of it will thrive there thought 
 unfounded, and why, 292. — plan for deciding the point, ib. 
 
 Y 
 Tarpha, defcription of the foil fo called, 11. — prevails moft in high Ctuations, ib. 
 
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