[ 6o ] 
mark and Norway , whofe Daughter Margaret was 
given in Marriage to King "Jaynes the Third of Scot- 
land, in the Year 1468, agreed, That the Iflands of 
Orkney and Zetland fhouid remain in the Poffefilon 
of the faid King James , until he had paid to him 
50,000 Rhenifh Florins for his Daughter’s Dower -/ 
and Chriflian afterwards, upon the Birth cf a young 
Prince his Grandfon, call’d 'fames , renounced his* 
Title to the faid Ifland, in Favour of King James 5 
which has ever fince belonged to Scotland. 
The Longitude of Zetland differs but little from 
the Eaftern Part of Scotland ; and its Latitude is from, 
do to 61 Degrees North : The longed Day is near 
twenty Hours. I have read a very fmall Print in my 
Chamber at Midnight with the Windows fhut. The 
Air is temperate, conlidering the Country lies fo far 
North ; and agrees tolerably well with thole that can 
endure Cold and a thick Fog. I muft own, I have 
not found the Winters fo cold as in fome other Parts 
of Great Britain h nor are the Summers near fo warm ; 
for which, indeed, the Length of the Days makes 
fome amends. I have heard, that fome Fifhermen 
have affirmed, that at Sea they have feen the Sun's 
Body at Midnight : But that is impoflible 5 fince the 
Sun in the fhorteft Day in ^December is four Hours 
above the Horifon ; and it muft certainly be deprefled 
as long under it in June. The Winters are more fub~ 
jeeft: to Rain than Snow ; nor do the Froft and Snow 
continue fo long on the Ground, as upon the main 
Land of Britain ,• yet I faw it wholly cover’d with 
Snow the 20th of May the laft Year. The Winds, 
during the long Winter feafon, continue to blow 
moft boifteroufly generally between the South and 
the 
