Christian King in the World and Brittain the first Kingdom that imbraced the Gospel by publick Authority After this he sent two Persons to Eleutherius Bishop of Rome to desire the form of some Laws to Govern his People by To which the Bishop replied You desire us to send you the Roman and Imperial Laws for the Reformation of the People and Guidance of the King and Kingdom of Brittain The Roman Laws we altogether mislike but the Law of God by no means By the Divine Clemency you have of late received the Law and Faith of Christ into your Kingdom You have with you the Old and New Testament out of them in Gods name by the advice of your Counsellors take you a Law and therewith by Gods permission Govern your Kingdom for you are Gods Vicar therein c. By this we may see the vast difference between the humility and piety of the Roman Church in the Primitive times and the Pride Cruelty and Usurpation of the present Synagogue of Satan This Epistle with two Preachers Fagianus and Daniranus whom the Bishop sent to King Lucius prevailed so much upon him that being Baptized into the Christian Faith he converted the Heathenish Temples of the Arch Flamins and Flamines into so many Bishops Sees whereof London York and St. David's in Wales were made the Metropolitans A Table that remains in St. Peter's Church in Cornhill London Records that King Lucius founded that Church for a Cathedral and likewise St. Peter's Westminster now the Abbey and likewise Dover Castle He reigned 12 years and lies buried at Glocester and dying without Children left the Roman Emperors his Heirs of whom Commodus succeeded in whose Reign the Roman Legions in Brittain fell into divers mutinies because the Emperor instead of Senators and Consuls who used to Command them put inferiour Persons over them but Helvius Pertinax being sent hither quieted all dissentions with the severe punishment of the Offenders and at length by his policy he obtained the Imperial Dignity Severus Reigned after him whom Albinus Lieutenant of Brittain opposed and assisted by the Brittish Youth fought a Battel with him in France where Albinus was defeated and Severus confirmed in the Empire and then coming over into Brittain endeavoured to secure the Countrey to himself by erecting several Walls and Forts in the In-land Parts and repairing those with Stone which were formerly of Turf or Earth and finding the Northern Brittains or Scots very troublesome he built a Wall or Fortification for defending the more Civilized from the Savage and Barbarous Inhabitants this Wall crossed the whole Island from Sea to Sea beginning at the Frith of Solney in Scotland and ending at Timnouth in length 132 Miles it was built with Turfs and Timber with strong Bulwarks at a convenient distance near if not upon the Foundation of the former called Adrians Wall the ruins whereof are yet visible through the Counties of Northumberland and Cumberland for which act he Sirnamed himself Brittannicus and after 18 years Reign died at York in 212. not so much of Sickness say some Authors as of Discontent and Grief Others say of a Mortal wound given him by Fulgence Captain of the Picts Bassianus Garacalla his Son succeeded him and hastning to Rome offered very easie conditions of Peace to the yet resisting Brittains who being tyred with the long Wars accepted thereof and Hostages were given for conserving the same And now the Royal Title of Kings of Brittain being annexed to the Roman Emperors they by their continual divisions for gaining the Imperial Dignity gave a long breathing time of Peace to this harassed Island so that little of action happened here till the reigns of Dioclesian and Maximin in whose time Carausius being by the Romans made Admiral of the Brittish Seas to guard them against the Pyracies of the Saxons and Belgians he by conniving at their Robberies became rich and popular so that having notice the Emperor had ordered him to be secretly kill'd he by the aid of the Picts and Northern Brittains took upon him the Title of Emperor of Rome and valiantly defended his Dignity for seven years At length Maximin Marched to the Brittish Ocean with a powerful Army but hearing of the strength of Carausius and wanting Seamen he Encamped on the French Shoar and concluding a Peace with him returned back to Rome Carausius Governed the Brittains with Justice and Peace for seven years repairing the Roman Wall and defending them from their brutish Enemies but was at length Murdered by his treacherous friend Alectus who took upon him the Imperial Purple The Romans after the Death of Carausius resolved to attempt the recovery of this Island and Constantius with a Potent Army Landed here in a great Fog without observation or hindrance at which Alectus being surprized was slain with most of his Army the rest escaping toward London designed to Plunder and Burn it but the Romans made such speed that they prevented them killing Gallus their Leader and throwing his Body into a Brook that ran through the City which was after called Gallus his Brook now Walbrook After this these two Tyrants Dioclesian and Maximin raised a dismal Persecution in all the parts of the Roman Empire whereby 17000 Christians Men and Women were Crowned with Martyrdom within the space of one Month and in Brittain the Churches were demolished their Bibles and other Writings burnt and for 10 years together the poor People were continually tormented without intermission or any place being free from the Blood of Martyrs who were constant in the profession of the Faith Among others St. Alban was beheaded at the Town bearing his name whom Fortunatus Priscus mentions Albanum egregium faecunda Brittannia profert Brittain fruitful of all good Washt with glorious Alban's Blood His Instructor in the Christian Religion Amphiole or Brittain was afterward taken and being brought to the same place was whipped about a Stake whereto his Intrails were fastned and so wound out of his Body and was lastly stoned to death Several others suffered as Julius and Aaron at Leicester or rather Coverleon in Monmouthshire and so many at Lichfield that the place became a Golgotha or Field of Dead Corps and therefore the Seal of Arms of that City is charged with many Martyrs to this day But these two bloody Emperors enjoyed their honours a very short time for within a year after this bloody Persecution they were both of them by the hand of God saith Eusebius struck with such a mad humour that they renounced the Empire and laying aside the Imperial Robes Dioclesian retired into Dalmatia where he died raging of a terrible disease And Maximinus hanged himself at Marseilles in France Gallerius and Constantius succeeded them the last of whom was a Prince of singular Piety towards God and Clemency towards men being very kind to the Christians and rebuilding their Churches for which God so blessed him saith Eusebius that this virtuous Father left a more virtuous Son
THE HISTORY Of the Principality of WALES In Three Parts Containing I. A brief Account of the Antient Kings and Princes of Brittain and Wales till the final Extinguishing of the Royal Brittish Line II. Remarks upon the Lives of all the Princes of Wales of the Royal Families of England from K. Edward the First to this Time III. Remarkable Observations on the most Memorable Persons Places in Wales of many considerable Transactions Passages that have happen'd therein for many hundred years past Together with the Natural and Artificial Rarities and Wonders in the several Counties of that Principality By R. B. LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1695. Iohn the French King taken Prisoner by Edward the Black Prince of Wales at the Battel of Poictiers in France F.H. van Hove Sculp To the READER IN a small Tract formerly published Intituled Admirable Curiosities Rarities and Wonders in every County in England I added at the end some brief Observations upon the Counties in Wales but they being defective for want of room and finding that the Subject would afford sufficient matter for a Book of the same value I have now been more large and copious in giving an account of this Principality having omitted nothing material that I could meet with concerning it as well before the reducing and annexing thereof to the Crown of England as since I have likewise added some short Remarks upon the Princes of Wales of the Royal Families of England and several other Observables in the several Shires thereof which I doubt not will be Novelties to many Readers and diverting to all and thereby answer the design in the Collecting and Publishing of them from Historians of the best Authority which is the hearty wish of R. B. The History of the Antient Kings and Princes of Brittain and Wales PART I. IT is recorded in History that after the Universal Flood the Isles of the Gentiles were divided by the Posterity of Japhet the Son of Noah and it is probable that this Island among the rest was then peopled by his Progeny the History of whom may be easier wisht for than recovered And therefore it may seem unnecessary to relate what some Antient Authors have recorded with much uncertainty of the Successors of Japhet whom they have named Samothes Magus Sarron Druis and Bardus But rather to follow the Authority of Geoffery Arch-Deacon of Monmouth in his History written in the Brittish Tongue and translated into English about five hundred years since and begins his Chronology with Brute who after the Posterity of Japhet seems to be the first Discoverer Ruler and Namer of this Island Yet by the way we may observe That Pomponius Mela a Roman Historian writes that one Hercules killed Albion a Giant about the mouth of the River Râ—â—sâ—e in France from whence some have concluded that Albion Reigned King here the Greek Monuments likewise always calling this Isle Albion and that after his death Hercules came hither And Solinus another Roman Historian reports that by an Inscription upon an Altar found in the Northern part of Brittain about 1600 years since it plainly appeared that Vlysses in his ten years Travels after the Destruction of Troy arrived in Brittain before the coming of Brute We shall now give a brief Account of what is commonly received concerning Brute and the Race of the Kings of Brittain that proceeded from him though with my Author I shall not impose upon the belief of any in these Narrations Brute the Son of Sylvius the Son of Ascanius the Son of Aeneas after the Ruine of Troy and the Death of his Father being banisht into Greece he there by his Valour rescued and delivered the remainder of the Trojans his Countreymen from the Captivity which they had been for many years sufferers under the Grecians with whom he departed to seek some new habitation and associating to himself Corineus whom with another Band of exiled Trojans he found in the way after a long and tiresome Journey and many notable encounters and atchievements he arrived in this Island then called Albion and landed at Totnes in Devonshire in the year from the Creation of the World 2855. which was about the time that Jeptah and Samson Judged Israel and before the Birth of Christ 1116 years and being made King or Governour of the Land he called it by his own name Brittain according to the opinion of many antient Authors He also built the City of London which he named Troynovant or New Troy At his Death Brute divided the Country among his three Sons unto Locrine his Eldest he gave the middle part between Humber and Severn which from him was called Loegria To Camber his second he bequeathed all the Region beyond the River Severn which from him was called Cambria now Wales To Allanact the youngest he left all the Land beyond Humber Northward which was after called Albania now Scotland After which partition he deceased having reigned 24 years and was Buried at London Locrinus succeeded his Father and Humber King of the Hums or Scythians Invading his Brother Albanacts Countrey he and his Brother Camber assisted Albanact so successfully that they utterly defeated his Army himself and abundance of his Souldiers being Drowned in the River from thence called Humber Madan his Son reigned in his stead then Mempricus Ebrauh Brute Greensheeld Leil who is said to have built Carleil Bladud a great Necromancer who is reported to have made those hot Baths at Bath and to magnifie his skill undertook to fly in the Air but his Art failing he fall upon the Temple of Apollo in London and broke his Neck Lear his Son was King after him who was very unfortunate in two unnatural Daughters whose Husbands strove to deprive him of his Kingdom but their designs being defeated his youngest Daughter whom he had slighted was admitted Queen after him to whom succeeded her two Nephews Morgan and Cunegad between whom differences arising Morgan was slain and Cunegad reigned singly 30 years Many other Kings of Brittain are reckoned up after him as Dunwallo D. of Cornwal Belinus and Breanus who are said to have Conquered France Italy Germany and at last to have taken the City of Rome it self King Lud who much beautified Troynovant fortifying it with Walls and Gates particularly Ludgate called after his name and founded a Temple where it is thought St. Paul's now stands and changed the name of the City from Troynovant to Luds Town now London He left two Sons Androgeus and Theomantius under Age whereupen Cassibilane their Uncle was admitted Governour in whose Reign Julius Caesar first Invaded this Island in the year from the Worlds Creation 3913. and 54 years before the Birth of Christ the Land being then not under one sole Monarch or King but divided into 28 petty Kingdoms or Provinces Caesar being landed at Deal in Kent the news thereof was so welcome to the Senate of Rome that they Decreed a
Thanksgiving should be kept for 20 days together Cassibilane was only King of the Trinobantes who inhabited Middlesex Essex and Hartfordshire but in this common danger the other Princes mutually agreed that he should command in Chief to withstand the Roman Invasion which he did with very great courage beating them twice off from the Brittish shoar his chief City was Verulane near St. Albans Theomantius the Son of Lud succeeded Cassibilane who paid the three thousand pound a year Tribute to the Romans which his Uncle had agreed to when notwithstanding the utmost Efforts for their Liberty the Brittains were obliged to submit to the Conquering Romans Yet did not Caesar wholly subdue Brittain for he never came towards the North which several of his Successors afterwards endeavoured to bring under but subjected only those parts of the Island lying next to France which our Countreyman Roger Bacon relates that Caesar discovered by setting up Prospective Glasses on the Coast of France from whence he saw all the Havens and Creeks in England So that he may rather seem to have discovered than reduced to the Roman Power Kymbeline or Cunobeline the Son of Theomantius reigned next whose principal seat was at Carnolodunum now Malden in Essex He is said to have refused to pay the former Tribute upon which Augustus who fucceeded Julius Caesar designed thrice to make an Expedition hither to recover his Right but was as oft diverted by Insurrections in divers parts of his mighty Empire Guiderus was King after his Father and being very valiant refused Tribute to Caligula the Roman Emperor who therefore resolved as his Predecessors Augustus and Tiberius had done to reduce Brittain as being the utmost bounds of the Roman Monarchy making great provision for this Noble Enterprize being incouraged therein by Adminius the Son of Cunoboline who being banisht by his Father fled with some few followers to Caligula for protection Guiderus expected and provided for his Arrival who bringing down his Forces into Flanders put them in Battel Array upon the Sea shore planting his Engines of War as if ready for an Engagement after which the Emperor himself in a Galley lanched into the Sea about two Bow-shots from the Land and then presently returned and getting into a Pulpit provided for him he by found of Trumpet caused his Souldiers to prepare for Battel and then charged every Man to fill his Helmet with Cockle and Muscle Shells which he called The Spoils of the Conquered Ocean and gave as great Rewards to them for these trifles as if they had performed some notable Service in War and against the place he built a Tower as a Trophey of his Victory the Ruines whereof saith my Author remain to this day and is called The Brittains House He carried many of these Shells to Rome boasting of this honourable Voyage and requiring a Triumph which the Senate seeming unwilling to allow he threatned to murther them all Claudius succeeded him in the Empire and having leisure resolved to make War upon the Brittains who had long neglected to pay their Tribute being invited thereto by certain Brittish Fugitives ordering Aulus Plautius a Roman Senator to transport the Veterane Souldiers out of France thither to which they were very unwilling complaining That they must be forced to make War out of the World for so they accounted this Island to be but at length being Embarqued they Landed unexpectedly upon the Brittains who were incamped in the Isle of Sheppey in Kent and defeating them took the City of Camolodunum in Essex and subdued the East-part of the Island Jeffery of Monmouth writes That Claudius Landed at Rochester near Portsmouth which he Besieged and Guiderus coming to relieve it fought and prevailed against the Romans till one Hanno Armed like a Brittain pressing through the midst of the Troops till he came where Guiderus was he instantly slew him which Arviragus the King's Brother perceiving to prevent the Brittains from being discouraged putting on the Royal Robes fought so couragiously that the Romans were routed Claudius flying to his Ships and Hanno to an adjoyning Forrest whom Arviragus pursued and kill'd ere he could get to the Haven from whence it is said to have the name of Hanno's Haven then Hampton now Southampton After his Death the Land was many years under Roman Governours and Lieutenants but the Silures or Inhabitants of South-Wales would not endure the Romish Yoke relying much upon the Courage of their Prince Corvactacus who incamping his Army on the top of an Hill and stopping all the passages thereto with heaps of Stones he expected the approach of his Enemies striving in the mean time to animate his Souldiers with incouraging Speeches telling them That day and that Battel would either restore them to their former Liberties or else reduce them to perpetual slavery and that they should remember the valour of their Ancestors who formerly had driven Caesar the Dictator out of their Countrey and thereby delivered themselves from Roman Taxes and Axes and freed their Wives and Daughters from being debauched by their implacable Adversaries The Souldiers were much incouraged and eccho'd out their hopes of Victory with so great a shout as much disturbed the Romans who thought the Fortifications the Brittains had raised to be impregnable but Ostorius marching forward though opposed by a shower of Arrows he at length broke down that rude ill compacted Fence and coming to handy strokes with the Brittains who had more courage than Armor having neither Head-peice nor Coat of Mail they were so fore galled with the Javelins and two-handed Swords of the Romans that they soon fled This Victory was unexpected by the Romans and more considerable by the taking the Wife Daughter and Brethren of Cataractus Prisoners he himself flying to the Brigantes or those that Inhabited Lancashire Cheshire c. for succour but was by Cartismunda the Queen treacherously delivered into the hands of the Conquerors after nine years generous resistance and his fame having reached even to Rome it self Cataractus was carried thither and led in Triumph through the Roman Legions with his Brethren Wife and Daughter whose great Courage and strange Attire filled the People with admiration and delight His Body was almost naked Painted over with Figures of divers Beasts he wore a Chain of Iron about his Neck and another about his middle his Hair hanging down in Curls covered his Back and Shoulders and the Hair of his upper Lip or Whiskers parting in the middle reacht down to his Breast he neither hung down his head as daunted with fear nor asked mercy as the rest but with an undaunted Countenance coming before the Imperial Seat he made the following Speech to the Emperor on the Throne Great Caesar If my moderation in prosperity had been answerable to the greatness of my Birth and Estate or the success of my late attempts agreeable to the resolution of my mind I might have come to this City rather as a Friend to have been entertained
it who there fell in love with Rowena the Daughter or Neice of Hengist upon which Match Hengist grew more bold contriving to make the Island his Inheritance and thereupon sent for fresh Forces who at their arrival caused several Quarrels among the Natives dispossessing the people of their estates every Commander reckoning that part of the Country his own where they could over-match the Brittains where they commanded as absolutely as Princes whereby the Country was burdened with seven Kings at once each of them having Soveraign Command within his own limits though still one seemed to be Supreme over all the rest This was usually called the Saxons Heptarchy or seven Kingdoms The first and chiefest was that of Kent only governed by Hengist and his Successors for three hundred seventy two years The next was the Kingdom of the South Saxons containing the Counties of Sussex or Surrey continuing a hundred and thirteen years 3. That of the West Saxons comprehending the Counties of Cornwal Devon Dorset Somerset Wilts Berks and Hampshire it lasted three hundred years 4. The East Saxons Kingdom which was Essex Middlesex and part of Hartfordshire 5. The Kingdom of Northumberland containing the Counties of Northumberland Westmorland Cumberland Durham York and Lancaster continuing three hundred seventy nine years 6. The Kingdom of Mercia which was compos'd of the Counties of Oxford Glocester Worcester Salop Cheshire Stafford Warwick Buckingham Bedford Huntington part of Hartfordshire Northampton Rutland Lincoln Leicester Derby and Nottingham continuing two hundred and two years 7. The last Kingdom was that of the East-Angles containing the Counties of Norfolk and Suffolk which lasted three hundred and fifty three years Yet during the time of this Heptarchy many of the British Princes valiantly defended their lawful Inheritances and with great courage endeavoured to prevent the Saxon Yoke from being imposed upon their Necks Among whom was Vortimer the Son of Vortigern aforementioned for Vortigern after sixteen years Reign deposed from the Government for his kindness to the Saxons his Son Vortimer was chosen King of the Brittains and presently engaged against the Saxons gaining so much in four famous victories over them that they were almost extirpated He erected a Monument in the Isle of Thenta in the place where the Saxons were overthrown which to this day is called the Stowers wherein he commanded his Body to be buried that the Saxons might be terrified with the sight thereof He restored the Christian Religion then much decayed and rebuilt the Churches destroyed by the Pagan Saxons Rowena procured his Death by Poyson after which his Father Vorfigern was re-established in the Government But being oppressed by the Saxons and pursued by Aurelius he fled into Wales where in a Castle which he built by Merlin's Directions in the Mountains he with his Daughter whom he had taken to Wife were burnt to ashes Aurelius Ambrotius was likewise very successful against the Saxons He is said to have built Stonehenge near Salisbury in remembrance of the Massacre of three hundred of the British Nobility who were there slain by the Treachery of the Saxons Vter Pendragon who succeeded him was no less fortunate He was named Pendragon either because at his Birth there appeared a fiery Comet like a Dragons Head or from his Royal Banner wherein was the Picture of a Dragon with a Golden Head He died of Poyson put into a Well wherein he used to drink Arthur his Son and Successor won twelve Battels against the Saxons and chased Colgern their Captain from his Camp in Northumberland to York from whence he escaped into Germany The Relicks of Arthur's Round Table are to this time shewn in Winchester with the Twenty four Seats After him reigned Constantine Aurelius Conantus Vortiporus Malgo Canonus and Careticus This last King raised a Civil War among his own Subjects the Britains which made them forsake him and leave him to the Mercy of the Saxons who pursuing him he fled to Cirencester in Berkshire for safety but his Enemies taking several Sparrows fastned fire to their feet and let them fly into the City who lighting upon straw and thatcht houses burnt the City to the Ground but Careticus escaped and fled for security to the Mountains of Wales where he died After twenty four years Civil Dissention Cadwan was made King During these Troubles Austin the Monk who was sent hither by Pope Gregory to convert the Britains carrying himself very insolently at a Meeting with the British Bishops at a place thence named Austin's Oak in Worcestershire they could come to no Agreement whereupon it is thought Austin contrived this cruel Revenge Cadwallo was victorious over the Saxons slaying Edwin King of Northumberland and his Son Osfride in a bloody Battel He died in peace say the British Writers and was buried at St. Martin's Church in London his Statue on Horseback in Brass being set upon Ludgate for a terrour to the Saxons CAdwalloder the Son of Cadwallo fought manfully against the Saxons but the distractions among his Nobility much hindered his proceedings There was likewise a dreadful Famine in his Reigh so that the common People reckoned Roots and Herbs to be dainty Food This was followed by a woful Mortality which was so raging and sudden that great numbers of People were surpriz'd by Death while they were eating drinking walking and speaking These calamities lasted near eleven years so that the Country was almost depopulated the King and his British Peers being forced to leave the Land who went to his Cousin Alan King of Little Britain in France The Saxons taking advantage of these severe miseries lamentably oppressed the wretched Britains to whose Aid Cadwallader with the Assistance of his Cousin Alan did once design to return but being diverted by a Dream which he had he went on Pilgrimage to Rome and according to the Superstition of that Age he there turned Monk where he soon after died and was buried with whom died all the hopes of the Britains he being the last King of the British Blood whereby the Saxons became Soveraign Lords and Masters of this Island And thus was this unhappy Country a second time conquered by Strangers which hapned about the Year of our Lord 689. The Britains being thus outed of their Country by the Conquering Saxons retired beyond the River Severn and therein fortified themselves which Country thereupon came to be called Wales and the People Walsh or Welchmen not that the word Walsh signified in the Saxon Language a Foreigner or Alien for how could they be called Aliens in their Native Countrey but Wales and Walish from Galles or Gallish by changing G into W according to the custom of the Saxons The Britains being descended of the Gaules kept their own name still though somewhat altered in the Letter as is said before and to this day the French call the Prince of Wales by the name of Le Prince le Galles At first their Chiefs were honoured with the Titles of Kings of Wales and
termed the British Alpes for steepness and cragginess not much unlike those that divide France from Italy all tow ring into the Air and some far higher than the rest called Snowdon Hills or Snowy Mountains being all the year round crusted over with Snow though liable to the Sun and Wind. This made them a secure refuge to the Britains against their Enemies no Army though never so potent nor any Traveller never so lightly clothed being able to find a passage among so many rough and hard Rocks so many Pools Vales and Sloughs as are to be encountred with in the middle of this County Yet it is sufficiently fruitful for the Mountains are so rank with Grass that it is become a Proverb among them Craig Eriry or Snowdon will yield sufficient Pasture for all the Cattel of Wales put together And it is certain that there are Ponds and Standing Waters upon the tops of them though generally covered with Snow and if a man sets his foot any where upon the top of them he shall perceive the Earth to move at a considerable distance from him Penmen-maur or the great stony head is an exceeding high and steep Rock or Hill in this County which hanging over the Sea when it is Flood affordeth a very narrow Way for Passengers huge Stones hanging over head as if ready to fall upon them and the Tempestuous Ocean lying under of a very great depth But after the passing this and Penmen-bidam the less stony head there is a great open Plain reaching as far as Aber-Conway in which River are found a sort of shell fish conceived as they say by the Heavenly Dew which are thought to bring forth Pearl formerly much valued The antient Inhabitants of this County were the Ordovices who had a City which the Emperor Antovinus calls Segontium the ruins whereof are still visible hard by a River called to this day Sevont and near a little Church Consecrated to the Memory of St. Publicius Some Authors name it Caer Custenith or the City of Constantine saying that in 1283. the body of Constantius was found here which K. Edw. I. caused to be sumptuously buried in the Church of the new City that he raised out of the ruins of the old and called Carnarvan which now gives a name to the whole Shire This Town hath a fine Prospect toward the Sea and was incompassed with the Walls of the Castle The Government was formerly administred by the Covernour of the Castle who was always Mayor by Patent assisted by one Alderman two Bayliffs two Sergeants at Mace and a Town-Clerk The Townsmen much glory that K. Edw. II. was born in a Tower of their Castle called Eagle Tower and Sirnamed Carnarvan being the first Prince of Wales of the English Race The Welsh report that the Corps of 20000 Saints are interred in a small Island called Berdsey lying within a Mile of the South Promontory of this County It is I confess more easie to find Graves there for so many Saints than Saints for so many Graves Bangor is a Bishops See of antient standing but by whom founded is not yet known the Cathedral is dedicated to the Memory of St. Daniel who was Bishop here about the year 516. It is now but a small Town yet was formerly so large that the Welsh called it Banchor Vaur or great Bangor which Hugh Earl of Chester fortified with a Castle long since so throughly demolished that the very ruins are now invisible upon the severest search This Diocess containeth in it the whole County of Carnarvan and Anglesey and part of Denbigh Merioneth and Montgomery-shires and in them 107 Parish Churches and three Arch-Deaconries The antient Cathedral was defaced and set on fire by Owen Glendour and his Associates who had a design to have destroyed all the Churches in Wales whose People submitted to the King of England but was afterward repaired by one Henry Dean Bishop thereof in the Reign of King Henry VII yet hath scarce recovered the resemblance of its pristine dignity There was formerly a Town called by the Roman's Canonium near the River Conway from whence it took its name which is now utterly extinct only there is a poor remembrance of it in the new name of a mean Village standing in the rubbish thereof called Caer-hean that is The antient City Out of the ruins thereof King Edward I. built a new Town at the River's Mouth called Aber-Conwey that is the Mouth of Conwey it was formerly fortified by Hugh E. of Chester with strong Walls and a Castle and seems rather a City than a Town were it but more populous Newin a small Market Town is famous for a great Triumph made there by the Nobility of England in 1284. in memory of the renowned K. Arthur after the subduing of Wales by K. Edward I. Over against Conwey where it runs into the Sea sometimes stood an antient City named Diganway which many years since was consumed and utterly destroyed by Lightning It is reported there is a Fish in the Pool Linperis called Torcoch with a red Belly no where else to be found And that on the High Mountains there are two Mears or Ponds in one of which are store of Fish that have only one Eye and in the other a floating Island which when trod on moveth a great way off whereby the Welsh are said to have often escaped their Enemies John William's was born at Aber-Conwey bred Fellow of St. John's College in Cambridge was prefer'd to be Dean of Worcester Bishop of Lincoln Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and at last Archbishop of York He died March 25. 1649. Richard Vaughan was born at Nuffrin bred at St. John's College in Oxford became successively Bishop of Bangor Chester and London a very corpulent man but spiritually minded an excellent Preacher and Pious Liver a pleasant man in Discourse especially at his Table using frequently this expression At Meals be glad fâ—â— sin be sad And indeed he was a very mortified man and zealous in Religion He died March 30. 1607. Henry Rowlands bred in Oxford was Consecrated Bishop of Bangor Nov. 12. 1598. he bought four new Bells for the Tower of St. Asaph whereof the biggest cost an 100 pound He also gave to Jesus College in Oxford a revenue for maintenance of two Fellows He died 1615. The County of Carnarvan hath five Market Towns Aber-conwey Bangor Carnarvan Newin and Pullhely and 68 Parish Churches It gives the Title of Earl to Charles Lord Dormer DENBIGH-SHIRE bath Carnarvan and Merioneth-shire on the West part of Flint-shire and the Sea on the North Cheshire and Shropshire on the East and Montgomery-shire on the South It is generally Mountainous Cold and Barren Yet not without some fruitful Valleys by the industry of the Husbandmen who may be said to fetch their Bread out of the Fire by cutting up Turfs which being burnt in great heaps the ashes spread on these hungry grounds cause them to bring forth a kind of Rye in
Grey-hounds as was usual when-ever the King got on Horseback which Grey-hound used to leap upon the King's shoulder and fawn very much upon him but at this time he leaped upon the Duke of Lancaster and fawned upon him as on his Master the Duke asked the King what the Dog meant or intended It is an ill and unhappy Omen to me said the King but a fortunate one to you for he acknowledges you to be King and that you shall Reign in my stead This he said with a presaging mind upon a slight occasion which yet in short time came to pass for K. Richard was deposed and after murdered at Pomfret Castle and the D. of Lancaster advanvanced to the Throne by the name of Henry the 4th This County hath not any River of note within it but near Rudland-Castle is a famous Spring called Holy Well or St. Winifreds Well of which Antiquity gives this Account That St. Winifred a virtuoun Christian Virgin having by her exceeding Beauty inflamed the mind of Carodocus a lustful Prince of this Countrey he attempted to allure her to his pleasure both by large promises and rich gifts but finding he could by no means prevail upon her Chastity at length he resolved to obtain his desires by force and having surprized her in a place of advantage he ravished her weak body notwithstanding the utmost resistance she could make and afterward to prevent her complaints and exclamations he kill'd her and then cut off her head And in that very place saith my Author there suddenly arose a pleasant Spring which continueth to this day running with so strong a Current that the like is not to be found in Christendom Over the head of the Spring there is built a Chapel of Free-stone supported with curious wrought Pillars on the Chancel and Glass-window whereof is painted the Picture of this Virgin and the Story of her suffering and death To this Well Romish Pilgrims resort to this day and others Bathe therein supposing that there is much Virtue in the Water In the bottom of it are many Red Stones which the superstitious People believe are spots of this Lady's blood which all the Water in the Spring can never wash away and that the green Moss which grows on the sides of the Well is her Hair which though every Stranger almost carries away a part of yet they say it never wasts and the truth is the Moss smells exceeding sweet which confirms these weak Believers in their fond Opinion St. Beno the Instructor of St. Winifred in the Christian Faith is of special account is this Countrey who it seems was a Surgeon to a Miracle for after Winifred was beheaded by the lustful Carodocus he set her head on again she living 15 years after In the South part of this County divided from the rest is a place formerly called Bovium now Banchor or Bangor first a City and afterward a famous Monastery antiently very renowned for the pious Monks that resided there they being called by some Authors The College of Divine Philosophers and Bangor the Mother or first of all the Monasteries in the World the Foundation thereof being ascribed to King Luctus it was situated in the fruitful Valley now called The English Mailor upon the Bank of the River Dee being incompassed with a great Wall containing a Mile and a half of ground two of whose Gates Port Hogen to the North and Port Clais South are yet discernable the River Dee which hath since changed its course now running through the midst betwixt both Gates which stand 500 paces asunder This Monastery in memory of the 7 Churches of Asia was divided into 7 Classes or Wards every one consisting of about 300 Souls and all maintaining themselves by the labour of their hands They are said to have received their Christianity from the Eastern Church dissenting in their Rites and Doctrines from that in the West neither would they acknowledg that the Bishop of Rome had any authority over them in matters of Religion or the service of God They continued 438 years before Austin the Monk came to pervert them by introducing Roman Ceremonies Superstition and Servitude Many of these Monks assembled at Caer Legion now West-Chester to pray for the good success of their Friends the Britains against the Heathen Saxons and continuing three days in Fasting and Prayer Ethilfrid the Saxon King seeing them so fervent in their Devotions askt what kind of People they were and being told that they prayed against him and his Army Then said he though they carry no weapons yet they fight against us and with their Prayers and Preaching prosecute us and presently fell upon Brockmall a man at arms that was their Guard who to save his own life left their's to the Sword and the Souldiers assaulting the unarmed Monks murthered 2000 of them and likewise defeated the Army of the Britains only 50 escaping But God left not their deaths long unrevenged for this cruel King was soon after kill'd in the Field by the Christian King Edwyn who succeeded him in the Kingdom of Northumberland Many of these Monks were buried in their own Monastery whose bodies saith Leyland the Historian have been found in the memory of man among the rotten Weeds wherein they were slain This famous place hath been long since utterly ruinated so that scarce the remains of a City or Monastery are now to be discerned Another Monastery called Llan Elwy formerly stood in the Vale below Varis a little City built by the Romans between this and Denbigh-shire upon the Banks of Elwy and Cluyd The English named it Asaph of the Founder a Person of honourable birth who was educated by Kentigern Bishop of Glasco This Bishop in the year 560. flying from the Persecution in Scotland to this place erected it into a Bishop's See and built a Monastery near it wherein he placed 663 Monks whereof 300 that were more unlearned than the rest were imploy'd in Husbandry and other business about the Convent the rest devoted themselves to Prayer and Divine Meditation Among the rest who attended Divine Service Asaph was conspicuous for Piety and Learning insomuch that Kentigern being recalled to his own Country resigned both his Convent and Cathedral to him Here he demeaned himself with so much sanctity that Llan Elwy was after his death called from him St. Asaph He was an assiduous Preacher having oft this saying That such as are against the Preaching of God's Word envy man's Salvation He is thought to have died about 569. After which his See was vacant above 500 years until Jeffery of Monmouth was placed therein It is still a Bishoprick and contains in it no one whole County but part of Denbigh Flint Montgomery Merioneth and some Towns in Shropshire wherein are 121 Parishes It was not at first very rich but made much poorer in the Reign of King Edward VI. for whereas the Bishop had before five Episcopal Houses he hath now but one the rest with the
and upon the Shoar as upon all the Sea coasts in this Country abundance of Herrings are caught and are therefore much frequented at the season of the year by People of several Nations St. Thelian educated by Dubritius Bishop of Landaff aforementioned was born in this Shire He was much envied for his Holy Life by one of the Pictish Princes who harassed this Country This Captain sent two lewd Strumpets to him supposing that by their Tempting Tricks this Devout man might have been inticed to folly These VVomen counterfeited madness that they might take the more liberty to themselves of filthy discourse but returned Distracted indeed not having sense nor understanding enough to relate the cause of their sad misfortune which had such effect on this Commander that he received the Christian Faith saith my Author and was Baptized retaining ever after a great veneration for this our Saint who asterward accompanied St. David Bishop of Menerin to Jerusalem and returning into his own Countrey by his fervent Prayers freed Scotland from the Plague wherewith it was then much infested He died about 563. Mr. Camden takes special notice of the beauty and comelinesâ— of the Inhabitants of this Shire During the differences betwixâ— the Houses of York and Lancaster David ap Jenkig ap Enion stout Gentleman on the Lancastrian side resolutely defended the Castle of Harlech against King Edward IV. until Sir William Herbert afterward Earl of Pembroke so furiously stormed it that he was obliged to surrender This County is divided into six Hundreds wherein are 37 Parish Churches MONMOVTH-SHIRE hath Hereford-shire on the North Glamorgan on the VVest Glocester-shire on the East and the Sovern Sea on the South It is 24 Miles in length 19 in bredth and 77 in compass The Air is temperate clear and healthful the Soil hilly woody and fruitful of Cattel Corn and all other accommodations of Life It was antiently inhabited by the Silures whose chief City is called by the Emperor Antoninus Venta Silurum by the Welsh Caerwent and now Caerleon and was by Tathai the British Saint made an Academy and a place of Divine VVorship where the second Roman Legion called Augusta resided as appears by their Coins Altars Tables and Inscriptions sound there daily in digging up old Foundations Giraldus saith That King Arthur kept his Court in this City whither the Roman Ambassadors resorted to him and that there was a School or Academy of 200 Philosophers skilful in Astronomy and other Sciences erected therein St. Aaron a wealthy Citizen of Caerleon was Martyred under Dioclesian the Roman Tyrant in 3031 Note that the three first British Martyrs namely Alban Amphibalus and Aaron have the first a Latin the second a Greek and the third an Hebrew name St. Julius of Caerleon suffered with Aaron aforesaid St. Amphilalus the Instructor of St. Alban in the Christian Faith was also a Citizen of Caerleon This Town though now but small was once a great City reaching a Mile in length and comprehending St. Julian's a house of late Sir William Herbert's now a Mile distant from the Town But as all humane Glory hath its period so this City formerly renowned for beauty circuit and magnificence is now deplorably decayed Monmouth is a Market Town in this County and had antiently a very strong Castle with many lofty Towers as the ruins do still demonstrate The Town is pleasantly situated between the Rivers Monnow and Wye and hath an handsome Church with three Isles And at the East end of the Town is another decayed one called the Monks Church Monmouth is in good repair and well frequented governed by a Mayor two Bayliffs 19 Common-Council men a Town-Clerk and two Sergeants Several Monasteries were erected and suppressed in this County the most memorable being at Caerleon Chepstow God-cliff Monmouth and Llantony which last stood so solitary among the high Hill that the Sun did shine upon it not above two or three hours in a day As for Manufactures the best Caps were formerly made at Monmouth where the Cappers Chapel doth still remain In Q. Blizabeth's Reign an Act of Parliament was made enacting that all Persons should wear Monmouth Caps but about twenty five years after it was repealed Geffery of Monmouth the Welsh Historian was born in this County and in the Monks Church aforenamed is said to have written his History of Britain having translated compiled and collected the various British Authors into one Volume He had many things from the British Bards or Poets which though improhable may not be untrue His Book was prohibited by the Pope whilst the lying Legend of Romish Saints is permitted to be read without controll If Geffery be guilty of mistakes they are such as make not for the Pope's advantage and therefore it seems a great mistake in those who avouch that the Pope made him a Cardinal He flourished 1160 under King Henry II. Walter Cantilupe Son to William Lord Cantilupe whose chief Residence was at Abergavenie in this County was made Bishop of Worcester by King Henry III. He would not yield to the Pope's Legate who complained of many Clergymen keeping their Livings against the Canons intending to make room for the Pope's Favourites or force such irregular Incumbents to a composition He was of a keen temper whose two edged Spirit did cut on both sides against the King and Pope Against the former he fided with the Barons to whom he promised Heaven for the reward of their Rebellion against their Prince though it cost him an Excommunication from the Pope who was the more forward in denouncing that fatal sentence against him because the Bishop had told Rusland his Legate That he would prefer him to be hanged on the Gallows rather than ever consent to such expilation of the Church as aforesaid He died in 1267. Thomas of Monmouth wrote an History of St. VVilliam the Child that was Crucified by the Jews at Norwich in hatred of our Saviour He flourished 1160 in the Reign of King Henry II. Richard de Clare alias Strongbow born probably at Stringule Castle was Earl of Stringule and Pembroke It happened that Maâ— Murrugh in 1167. being expelled his Territories for several Tyrannies by the Lords of Meath and Connaught repaired to King Henry II. and invited him into Ireland That politick King sent over this Rich. Strongbow with 1200 men who soon possest himself of the Ports of Leinster and Munster with large Lands thereunto belonging insomuch that the King growing jealous of his greatness recalled him home commanding him to surrender his Acquisitions into his hands which done he received them back by a Grant from the King who only reserved the City of Dublin for himself He was commonly called Domitor Hibernia The Tamer of Ireland Yet some of the Great Lords there did still retain the Power and Title of King Witness the Preface to the Commission whereby King Henry II. made William Fitz. Adelme his Lieutenant of Ireland which was directed To al Archbishops Bishops
Passions of Mankind displayed 〈◊〉 near 400 notable Instances and Examples discovering the transcendent Effects 1. Of Love Friendship and Gratitude 2. Of Magnanimity Courage and Fidelity 3. Of Chastity Temperance and Humility And on the contrary the Tremendous consequences 4. Of Hatred Revenge and Ingratitude 5. Of Cowardice Barbarity and Treachery 6. Of Unchastity Intemperance and Ambition Imbellished with Proper Figures Price 1 s. 18. THE Kingdom of darkness Or The History of Demons Specters Witches Apparitions Possessions Disturbances and other wonderful and supernatural Delusions Mischievous Feats and Malicious Impostures of the Devil Containing near 80 memorable Relations Foreign and Domestick both ancient and modern Collected from Authentick Records Real Attestations Credible Evidences and asserted by Authors of undoubted Verity Together with a Preface obviating the Common Objections and Allegations of the Sadducees and Atheists of the Age who deny the Being of Spirits Witches c. 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THE General History of Earthquakes or An Account of the most Remarkable and Tremendous Earthquakes that have happened in divers parts of the World from the Creation to this time and particularly those lately in Naples Smyrn◠〈◊〉 maica England and Sicily With a Description of 〈…〉 Burning Mount Aetna and the seveâ—â—â— dreadful Conflagrations thereof for many Ages To which is added an Appendix containing several other late strange Accidents and Occurences As I. A Surprizing Account of Angels Singing Psalms in the Air over the Ruins of the Protestant Church at Orthez a City in the Province of Bearne and other places in France in the year 1686. with the Words they Sang in the hearing of many hundred Auditors at once Papists as well as Protestants II. The Life of a Great Person of near an Hundred years old who is now an Hermit in a Forest in France with the Devotions Cloathing Diet and Subsistance of him and his Companions c. III. The wonderful Army of Locusis or Grashoppers that were seen near Breslaw in Silesia Septemb. 7. 1693. and in other parts of Germany which in their March took up 16. Miles devouring every Green thing IV. Three Miraculous Cures wrought by Faith in Christ in 1693. As 1. Of Mary Maillard the French Girl suddenly healed of an extream Lameness 2. The Wife of Mr. Savage Cured of a Lame Hand 3. A Shepperd near Hitchin in Hartfordshire instantly healed of the King 's Evil under which he had languished Twenty Years Price one shilling 21. MEmorable Accidents and Unnheard of Transactions containing an account of several strange Events As the Deposing of Tyrants Lamentable Shipwracks Dismal Misfortunes Strategems of War Perilous Adventures Happy Deliverances with other remarkable Occurrences and select Historical passages which have happened in several Countries in this last Age. Printed at Brussels in 1691. and Dedicated to His present Majesty William King of England c. Published in English by R.B. Pr. 1 s. 22. MArtyrs in Flames or Popery in its true Colours being a Brief Relation of the horrid Cruelties and Persecutions of the Pope and Church of Rome for many hundreds of years past to this present time in Piedmont Bohemia Germany Poland Lithuania France Italy Spain Portugal Scotland Ireland and England with an abstract of the cruel Persecutions lately exercised upon the Protestants in France and Savoy in the year 1686 and 1687. Together with a short account of God's Judgments upon Popish Persecutors Price 15. Miscellanies 23. 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VVInter Evenings Entertaintment in two parts Containing 1. Ten Pleasant Relations of many Rare and Notable Accidents and Occurrences 2. Fifty Ingenious Riddles with their Explanations and useful Observations and Morals upon each Enlivened with above 60 Pictures for illustrating every Story and Riddle Excellently accommodated to the Fancies of Old or Young and useful to chearful Society and Conversation Price 1 s. 26. DElightful Fables in Prose and Verse none of them to be found in Aesop but collected from divers Ancient and Modern Authors with Pictures and proper Morals to every Fable Several of them very applicable to the Present times by R. B. Price bound one shilling Divinity 27. THE Divine Banquet or Sacramental Devotions consisting of Morning and Evening Prayers Contemplations and Hymns for every day in the Week in order to a more Solemn Preparation for the worthy Receiving of the Holy Communion representing the several steps and degrees of the Sorrows and Sufferings of our blessed Saviour till he gave up the Ghost As 1. His Agony in the Garden 2. His being betrayed by Judas 3. His being falsly accused smitten buffetted and spit upon before Caiaphas the High Priest 4. His condemnation scourging crowning with Thorns and being delivered to be crucified by Pontius Pilate 5. His bearing his Cross 6. His crucifixion 7. Our Saviour's Institution of the Blessed Sacrament Together with brief Resolutions to all those scruples and objections usually alledged for the omission of this important duty With eight curious Sculptures proper to the several parts with Graces Imprimatur Z. Isham R. P. D. Hen. Episc Lond. a Sacris Price 1 s. 28. A Guide to Eternal Glory Or brief Directions to all Christians how to attain Everlasting Salvation To which are added several other small Tracts As 1. Saving Faith discovered in three heavenly conferences between our Blessed Saviour and 1. A Publican 2. A Pharisee 3. A doubting Christian 2. The threefold state of a Christian 1. By