SCotland is the Northern part of Great Brittain, and separated from England by the River Tweede, and Solway, and the Hills extending from the one to the other. It is in length 480 miles, but of small breadth, no place being distant from the Sea above 60 miles.
*This Countrey is divided into 25 Shires; the Cities and Towns where∣of are neither fair nor many: the chief of those that are, are 1. Eden∣burgh, once the Seat of the Kings of Scotland, and the place wherein the Seat and Courts of Justice were held. It is seated in a fruitfull Soyl, and wholesome Air, having many No∣blemens Houses lying about it, and abounds with many Springs, and sweet Waters. The Buildings are of unpolished Stone, but the Galleries of Timber, built upon the fronts of Page 307 the Houses, do rather obscure than adorn them. The City consists es∣pecially of one broad and f•ir Street, which is in length from East to West about a mile, and is the sole orna∣ment thereof; the rest of the Streets and Allies being of very poor Build∣ing, and inhabited with very poor People. At the end towards the East is the Kings Palace, joyning to the Monastery of the Holy Cross; and at the other end towards the West is a Castle, which the Scots hold to be inexpugnable.
2. Leith is about a mile distant, and is a most commodious Haven, upon the narrow Scottish Gulf, vul∣garly called Edenburgh-Frith.
3. S. Andrews, seated in Fife, and well known as an University and Seat of an Archbishop, and Metro∣politan of all Scotland.
4. Glascow, the Seat of an Arch∣bishop, and a little University.
5. Striveling also is a little City, where the King hath a strong Castle, upon the brow of a steep Rock.
In general, their Towns and Ci∣ties Page 308 for number, building, or pleasant∣ness, are not comparable to those in England; neither are their Gentle∣mens or Noblemens Houses so fre∣quent, or so stately built, as the better sort of the English. For their Villages, they are of Clay, covered with Straw, being much more fre∣quent than in England, yet not so commodious within. Among the Kings Palaces, that of Edenburgh and Sterling for building, and Fawlkland for pleasure of hunting, are chief.
*On the West-side of this Coun∣trey are many Woods, Mountains, and Lakes; on the East-side toward the Sea it is fruitfull in Corn, especi∣ally in Barley and Oats. It abounds in Fish, and hath plenty of Cattel, yet not so big as ours; their Horses are little, but full of spirit, and pa∣tient of labour.
*The People in general are much given to Venery: those that inhabit the South, are the best, and civillest, and speak the English Language; but those in the Northern part are Page 309 savage and uncivil, termed Sil∣vesters.
About Scotland in the Irish Ocean are above 40 Islands, termed Me∣rania and Hebrides: the biggest of these in length exceeds not 30 miles, and in breadth not above 12; the chief whereof is Pomonia, well known by the Episcopal Seat, and yielding both Tin and Lead.
