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THE Ile of Man is termed by Pto∣lemy, Moneda; by Pliny, Mo∣nabia;* 1.1 by Orosius, Menavia; by Beda, Menavia secunda; and by Gyldas, Eubonia, and Manaw. The Britaines name •••• Men••••; the inhabitants, Ma∣ninge; and we Englishmen, The Ile of Man. It boundeth North-ward upon Scotland, South-ward upon the Ile of Anglesey, East-ward up∣on part of Lancashire, and West-ward upon the Coast of Ireland.
* 1.2(2) The form is long and narrow; for from Cran∣sl••n to the Mull-hils, where it is longest, it onely stretcheth it selfe to twenty nine miles; but from the widest part,* 1.3 which is from Peele-Castle, to Douglas-point, are scarce nine; the whole compasse about, is four score and two miles.
(3) The air is cold and sharp, being bordering upon the Septentrionall parts,* 1.4 and for her shelter having but a wall of water. They have few Woods; onely they light sometimes upon subterranean trees bury∣ed under the ground, by digging up the earth for a clammie kinde of Turfe, which they use for fewell.
* 1.5(4) The soile is reasonable fruitfull both for Cat∣tell, Fish, and Corn; yet it rather commendeth the pains of the people then the goodnes of the ground; for by the industrie of the Inhabitants it yeeldeth sufficiencie of every thing for it self, and sendeth good store into other Countries. It hath fields (by good manuring) plenteous of Barley and Wheat, but especially of Oats; and from hence it comes that the people eat most of all Oaten bread. It beares abundance of Hemp and Flaxe,* 1.6 and is full of mighty flockes of sheepe and other Cattell: yet are they smaller in body then we have in England, and are much like to the Cattell in Ireland that are neighbouring upon it.
* 1.7(5) This commmodity makes this Iland more hap∣pie then we are here: for the people are there free from unnecessary commencements of Suites, from long & dilatory Pleas, and from frivolous feeing of Lawyers.* 1.8 No Judge or Clerks of the Court take there any penny for drawing Instruments, or making of Processes. All controversies are there determined by certain Judges, without writings or other char∣ges, and them they call Deemsters, and choose forth among themselves.* 1.9 If any complaint be made to the Magistrate for wrongs either done or suffred, he pre∣sently taketh up a stone, and fixeth his marke upon it, and so delivereth it unto the party plaintiffe, by vertue of which he both calls his adversary to ap∣pearance, and to produce his witnesses. If the case fall out to be more litigious, and of greater conse∣quence then can easily be ended, it is then referred to twelve men, whom they terme The keyes of the I∣land. Another happines enricheth this Iland, name∣lie, the securitie and government thereof, as being defended from neighbour enemies by Souldiers that are prest and ready; for on the South-side of the Ile stands Bala-Curi (the Bishops chief place of residence) and the Pyle,* 1.10 and a Blockhouse standing in a little Iland, where there is a continuall Garri∣son of Souldiers. And it is so well managed for matter of rule and civill discipline, that every man there possesseth his own in peace and safetie. No man lives in dread or danger of losing what he hath. Men are not there inclined to robbing or theeving, or licentious living.
(6) The inhabitants of this Iland are for the most part religious,* 1.11 and loving to their Pastors, to whom they do much reverence and respect, frequenting du∣ly to divine service, without division in the Church or innovation in the Cōmon-weale. The wealthier sort, and such as hold the fairest possessions, do imi∣tate the people of Lancashire, both in their honest ca∣riage & good hous-keeping. Howbeit the common sort of people both in their language and manners, come nighest unto the Irish although they somwhat relish and savour of the qualities of the Norwegians.
(7) Things not worthy to be buried in the grave of oblivion are,* 1.12 that this Iland in the midst thereof riseth up with hills, standing very thicke, amongst which the highest is called Sceafull, from which up∣on a cleare and faire day, a man may easily see three Kingdoms at once; that is, England, Scotland, & Ire∣land. This Ile prohibits the customary manner of begging from doore to doore, detesting the disor∣ders, as well Civill as Ecclesiasticall, of neighbour-Nations.* 1.13 And last, not least, that deservs to be com∣mitted to memory, is, that the womē of this Coun∣trey, wheresoever they go out of their doors, gird themselves about with the winding-sheet that they purpose to be buryed in, to shew themselves minde∣full of their mortalitie:* 1.14 and such of them as are at any time condemned to die, are sowed within a sack, and flung from a rock into the sea.
(8) The whole Ile is divided into two parts,* 1.15 South and North, whereof the one resembleth the Scotish in speech, the other the Irish. It is defended by two Castles, and hath seventeen Parishes, five Market-Townes, and many Villages.
¶ A Table of the Townes, Villages, Castles, Rivers, and Havens within the Ile of Man, Alphabetically gathered.
- Kirk Andrew.
- The point of Aire.
- Baladoul,
- Balalough.
- Kirk Balalough.
- Balicaken.
- Balisaly Abbey.
- Balisaly Town.
- Friry Bewmakan.
- Kirk Bridge.
- Kirk Brodon.
- Caltregh.
- The Calfe of Man.
- Castle Town Bay.
- Kirk Christ.
- Kirk Christ.
- Chappell.
- Clanmoy flu.
- Cobbe Borne.
- Corte.
- Cranston.
- Dauby point.
- Dauby Town.
- Douglas point.
- DOUGLAS towne.
- Douglas haven.
- Egnes.
- Fleshik.
- Glan-Brow.
- Glan-Cam.
- Kirk Jarman.
- Jeorby point.
- Saint Johns Chappell.
- Saint Katherins Chappel
- Kirk Kerbrey.
- The point Lang-nouse.
- Laxi-Bay.
- Laxi-point.
- LAXI TOWNE.
- Kirk Lennon.
- Loughe.
- Kirk Magh haul.
- Kirk Magh-hauls head.
- Malarlough.
- Kirk Mali.
- Kirk Migh-hil.
- Kirk Migh-hill flu.
- Saint Migh-hills Island.
- Min-hugh.
- Kirk Mortown.
- The Mull-hills.
- Neb flu.
- The Nunnery.
- Kirk Onkon.
- Kirk Patriark.
- Kirk Patriark of the Peel.
- PEEL-Town.
- Peel-Castle.
- Polt Bash.
- Port Earn.
- Portell Morrey.
- Portwick.
- Ramsey.
- RAMSEY Town.
- Ramsey haven.
- RUSHIN Castle.
- Scarthlat.
- Shellack point.
- Snafeld.
- Solbe mouth.
- Solbe flu.
- Spalork.
- The Stack.
- Kirk Stanton.
- Vark.
- Watch-hill.
- The white Water.
- Black Water.
- Whetston.