Note 17 — EXCURSION I.

“Heylstoun, alias Hellas” says Leland, “standeth on a hill, a good Market towne, having a Mayor and privileges, wythin the which there is a Court for the Coinage of Tynne, kept twys in the Year. Yn the towne is both a Chapel and a paroch (Church) and vestegia castelli, and a ryver runnyng under the same vestegia of the Castel issueth towards The South Sea, stopped them yn the west part, with S. E. wyndes, casting up sandes maketh a poole, called Loo, of an arrow shot in breadth, and two myles yn compus yn the Somer. In the wynter, by reason of fluddes, men be constrayned to cut the sandy banke, between the Mouth of the Poole and the Sea, by the which gut the Sea floweth and ebbeth ynto the Poole.—Loo Poole is two mile in length, and betwixt it and the mayne Sea is but a barre of sand, and once in three or four year what by the wait of the fresh watier and rage of the Sea, it bubleth out, and then the fresh and Salt Water meeting maketh a Wonderful Noise. If this barre be always kept open it would be a good haven up to Hailston.”