FAIR (Isle), a small island lying between Orkney and Shetland, 12 or 10 leagues E. N. E. from the former; and seven, eight, or 10 leagues, S. W. from the latter. It is three miles long, and scarce half a mile broad, very craggy, with three high rocks which are visible both from Orkney and Shetland. There is in this island a small quantity of arable land, which is very fruitful and well manured; and there might be considerably more, but the inhabitants are obliged to reserve it for peat and pasturage. They have for the size of the island a great many sheep, and those very good and fat: but they have no kind of moor-fowl or other game; but there is great plenty of sea and water fowl, and all kinds of fish upon their coasts. There is in effect no port, though they have two that are nominally so: one at the south end, which is full of rocks, where only small boats can lie, and that but indifferently; the other at the north-east end, larger and safer in summer, so that it serves commodiously enough for
their fishery. The duke of Medina Sidonia, when commander of the famous Spanish armada in 1588, was wrecked on the east coast of this island. The ship broke to pieces, but the duke and 200 men made their escape. They lived here so long, that both they and the inhabitants were almost famished. At length the duke and the poor remains of his people were carried over to the main land of Shetland, and then to Dunkirk, by one Andrew Humphry, for which service Andrew was rewarded with 3000 marks. This island produced to its former proprietor between 501. and 601. Sterling. It was sold at Edinburgh, on the 20th of June 1766, for about 8501. to James Stewart of Burgh, Esq.