1.4. The ſituation of Renfrew, Cliddiſdall, Lennox, Lowmund, Argile, Louchquhaber, Lorne, and Kentyre, with all the notable things contay|ned in the ſame. Chap. 4.

The ſituation of Renfrew, Cliddiſdall, Lennox, Lowmund, Argile, Louchquhaber, Lorne, and Kentyre, with all the notable things contay|ned in the ſame. Chap. 4.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 THe water of Clide, deuideth Lennox on the Northſide from the Barrony of Renfrew, & it riſeth out of the ſame hill in Calidon wood, from whence the Annand falleth, and goeth with a long courſe into the Iriſh ſea: ſome cal this riuer Gluda, & Cluda, but Tacitus nameth it Glota. Not far alſo from the fountaines of Clide, ariſeth the water of Forth, that runneth on the contrary ſide into the Germaine Ocean. In like ſorte after the water of Clude hath run for a ſeaſon towarde the North, it gathereth ſomwhat inward til it come to the moũ|taine of Granzeben, & from thence holdeth on with a ſwift courſe, til it fall as I ſayd into y^e Iriſh ſeas. The coũtrey where it rũneth is named Clideſdale. Betwixt Clide & Lennox lieth y^e Barony of Ren|frew, wherin are two pooles named Quhinſouth & Leboth, of which the firſt is xij. miles in compaſſe, the other xx. and both very riche & plentifull of fiſh. But in Lennox that lieth next aboue Renfrew to|ward the Ocean (called by Ptolomy Lelgouia is a great mere or lake that hight Lochmond, of [...]. miles in length, & [...]ight in breadth, and within the Lhin or poole, are [...]0. Ilandes wel repleniſhed with Churches & dwelling houſes, & in the ſame alſo [...]re three things worthy conſideration, whereof the firſt is, that the pleaſant & very delicate fiſhe there bredde doth want finnes. The ſecõd is, that the water will often ſwell with huge waues though no winde be ſturring, and that in ſuch wiſe that the beſt Mari|ners in the countrey dare not aduenture to ſayle thereon. There is alſo a very fruiteful and commo|dious Ile therein, very neceſſary for the paſturage of cattel, whiche fleet [...]th hither and thither as the winde bloweth. This lake is ſituate at the foote of the hill called Granzeben, whiche were ſometime the marches or limites betwixt the Scots & Pictes, & are extended frõ Lochlowmund to the mouth of Dee. Certes the Pictes had no parte of the country beyond the Granzeben, nor toward the Iriſh ſeas, for this region was inhabited by the Scots. Eight miles frõ Lochlowmund is the caſtel of Dumbrit|taine named ſometime Alcluid, and here the water of Leuen falleth into the Clide.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 Beyond Lochlowmũd is Argile, an hilly coũtry and full of [...]ragges and mountaines, therin alſo are two lakes Lochfine and Lochquho, that diuide the region into three partes, that in the middeſt beyng called Knapdale. In Lochfine likewiſe is more plenty of herring than in any parte of the coaſt that compaſſeth the Iland, but in Lochquho are ſuche kindes of fiſhe to be vſually had as are commonly bredde in freſh waters. There are moreouer in Ar|gile two caſtels Glenunquhart and Encouell, and in it are 12. Iles, whoſe chiefe commoditie reſteth rather in paſturage for cattell, than aboundance of grayne. In Argile furthermore are many ritche mynes full of mettall, but the people there haue no ſkill to find and trie out the ſame. The conſtant re|port alſo goeth there, how there is a ſtone of ſuche nature, that if it be hiddẽ in ſtraw for a certaine ſea|ſon, it will kindle of it ſelfe & conſume the ſtraw to aſhes. There are ſeuen other lakes in Argile, wher|of ſome are thirty miles in length and breadth, and other leſſe. It was told me once by Doncan Camp|bell a noble Knight, that out of Garloll one of the pooles of Argile, there came a terrible beaſt in the yeare of grace, 1510. which was of the bigneſſe of a Greyhound, and footed like a gander, and iſſuing out of the water early in the mornyng about Mid|ſomer time, did very eaſily and without any viſible force or ſtreyning of himſelfe ouerthrow huge okes with his tayle, and therevnto killed three men out right that hunted him with three ſtrokes of his ſayd tayle, the reſte of them ſauing themſelues in trees there aboutes, whyleſt the aforeſayde Monſter re|turned to the water. Thoſe that are giuen to the obſeruations of rare and vncouth ſightes, beleeue EEBO page image 5 that this beaſt is neuer ſeene but agaynſt [...] great trouble & miſchief to come vpõ the realme of Scotland. For it hath ben diſcried alſo bef [...] that time, although not very often. Lorne ab [...]t|teth vpon Argile, which was once a part of Ar|gile, and reacheth out into the Iriſhe ſea, in ma|ner of a cape or toũg, full 60. miles. This poynt alſo was called Nouantia, but now it is named Kyntyre, that is to ſay, the head of Lorne, whoſe vttermoſt part is not full 26. miles frõ Ireland. Some Authors affirme, that both Argile and Cantyre, were called Nouantia in old time, ſith Ptolomy maketh no mention of Argile in his Coſmography. In this Lorne is great abun|dance of Barley whiche the Scottes call Beir. Beyond Lorne is Lochquhaber, heretofore a portion of Murrayland, very riche in mines of Iron & Lead, & no leſſe beneficial to the country in all kindes of cattel. There are likewiſe many woodes, many lakes, & many riuers, but two of them are moſle notable for the plenty of Sal|mons, & other delicate fiſhe, aſwell of the ſalt as freſh water, which is there taken & almoſt with|out any trauaile: neyther is there any where els in all the Ile ſuch ſtore. The one of theſe is na|med Lochty, and the other Spanȝe, but vpon what occaſiõ theſe names were giuen vnto thẽ I finde as yet no certainty. The Lochty riſeth not aboue eight miles from Lochnes, & falleth beneath the ſame into the Germaine Ocean, & beſide it, there is a rocky cragge, running out at length into the ſea, named Hardnomorth. In y^e mouth of Lochty likewiſe was ſomtime a riche towne named Inuerlochty, whether the mar|chaunts of Fraunce and Spaine did make their dayly reſort, till at the laſt it was ſo defaced by the warres of the Danes, that it neuer was able ſithence the ſayde time to recouer hir priſtinate renowne. But whether the negligẽce of the due repayre of this towne, procedeth of the ſlouth of our people, or hatred that ſome enuious perſons do beare to cities & walled townes in our coun|trey, as yet it is vncertayne. Beyond Lochty is the caſtell of Dunſta [...]age, in time paſt named Euonium: beyõd Dunſtafage alſo is the mouth of the water of Spanȝe, where it falleth as I heare into the Germaine Ocean.

1.4. The situation of Renfrew, Clides|dale, Lennox, Lowmund, Argile, Louchquhaber, Lorne, and Ken|tire, with all the notable things conteined in the same. The fourth Chapter.

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The situation of Renfrew, Clides|dale, Lennox, Lowmund, Argile, Louchquhaber, Lorne, and Ken|tire, with all the notable things conteined in the same. The fourth Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _THe water of Clide diui|deth Lennox on the north side from the baronie of Renfrew, and it ariseth out of the same hill in Calidon|wood, from whence the An|nand falleth, and goeth with a long course into the Irish sea; some call this riuer Gluda, and Cluda: but Tacitus nameth it Glota. Not far also from the foun|teines of Clide, ariseth the water of Forth, that runneth on the contrarie side into the Germane ocean. In like sort after the water of Clude hath run for a season toward the north, it gathereth some|what inward, till it come to the mounteine of Gran|zeben, & from thence holdeth on with a swift course, till it fall (as I said) into the Irish seas. The coun|trie where it runneth is named Clidesdale. Betwixt Clide and Lennox lieth the baronie of Renfrew, wherein are two pooles named Quhinsouth and Le|both, of which the first is 12 miles in compasse, the other 20, and both verie rich and plentifull of fish. But in Lennox, that lieth next aboue Renfrew to|ward the ocean (called by Ptolomie Lelgouia) is a great mere or lake that hight Lochmond, of 24 miles in length, and eight in breadth, and within this lhin or poole are 30 Ilands, well replenished with churches and dwelling houses.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 And in the same also are three things woorthie con|sideration, whereof the first is, that the pleasant and verie delicat fishes there bred doo want fins. The second is, that the water will often swell with huge waues though no wind be stirring, and that in such wise that the best mariners in the countrie dare not aduenture to saile thereon. There is also a ve|rie fruitfull and commodious Ile therein, verie ne|cessarie for the pasturage of cattell, which fléeteth hi|ther and thither as the wind bloweth. This lake is situat at the foot of the hill called Granzeben, which were sometime the marches or limits betwixt the Scots and Picts, and are extended from Lochlow|mund to the mouth of Dée. Certes the Picts had no part of the countrie beyond the Granzeben, nor toward the Irish seas, for this region was inhabi|ted by the Scots. Eight miles from Lochlowmond is the castell of Dumbritteme named sometime Al|cluid, and here the water of Leuen falleth into the Clide.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Beyond Lochlowmund is Argile, an hillie coun|trie and full of crags and mounteins, therein also are two lakes, Lochfine & Lochquho, that diuide the region into three parts, that in the middest being cal|led Knapdale. In Lochfine is more plentie of hering than in anie part of the coast that compasseth the I|land, but in Lochquho are such kinds of fish to be vsu|allie had, as are commonlie bred in fresh waters. There are moreouer in Argile two castels, Glenun|quhart and Enconell, & in it are 12 Iles, whose chiefe commoditie resteth rather in pasturage for cattell, than abundance of graine. In Argile furthermore are manie rich mines full of mettall, but the people there haue no skill to find and trie out the same. The constant report also goeth there, how there is a stone of such nature, that if it be hidden in straw for a cer|teine season, it will kindle of it selfe, and consume the straw to ashes. There are seuen other lakes in Argile, whereof some are thirtie miles in length and bredth, and other lesse.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 It was told me once by Doncan Campbell a no|ble knight, that out of Ga [...]loll, one of the pooles of Argile, there came a terrible beast, in the yeare of Grace 1510, which was of the bignesse of a grei|hound, and footed like a gander, and issuing out of the water earlie in the morning about midsummer time, did verie easilie and without anie visible force or streining of himselfe ouerthrow huge okes with his taile, & therevnto killed thrée men out-right that hunted him with thrée stroks of his said taile, the rest of them sauing themselues in trées thereabouts, whilest the foresaid monster returned to the water. Those that are giuen to the obseruations of rare and vncouth sights, beléeue that this beast is neuer séene but against some great trouble & mischiefe to come vpon the realme of Scotland. For it hath béene de|scribed also before that time, although not verie of|ten. Lorne abutteth vpon Argile, which was once a part of Argile, and reacheth out into the Irish sea, in maner of a cape or toong, full sixtie miles. This point also was called Nouantia, but now it is na|med Kintire (that is to saie) the head of Lorne, whose vttermost part is not full 16 miles from Ireland. Some authors affirme, that both Argile and Can|tire, were called Nouantia in old time, sith Ptolo|mie maketh no mention of Argile in his cosmogra|phie. In this Lorne is great abundance of barleie, which the Scots call beir. Beyond Lorne is Loch|quhaber, heretofore a portion of Murrey land, verie rich in mines of iron and lead, and no lesse benefici|all to the countrie in all kinds of cattell.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 There are likewise manie woods, manie lakes, and manie riuers, but two of them are most notable for the plentie of samons, and other delicate fish, as|well of the salt as fresh water, which be there taken, and almost without anie trauell; neither is there anie where else in all the Ile such store. The one of these is named Lochtie, & the other Spanze, but vpon what occasion these names were giuen to them I find as yet no certeintie. The Lochtie riseth not a|boue eight miles from Lochnes, and falleth beneath the same into the Germane ocean, and beside it, there is a rockie crag, running out at length into the sea, named Hardnomorth. In the mouth of Lochtie likewise was sometime a rich towne name Inuer|lochtie, whither the merchants of France & Spaine did make their dailie resort, till at the last it was so defaced by the warres of the Danes, that it neuer was able since the said time to recouer hir pristinate renowme. But whether the negligence of the due repare of this towne, procéedeth of the slouth of our people, or hatred that some enuious persons doo beare to cities and walled townes in our countrie, as yet it is vncerteine. Beyond Lochtie is the castell of Dunstafage, in time past named Euonium: beyond Dunstafage also is the mouth of the water of Spanze, where it falleth (as I heare) into the Ger|mane ocean.