Rulers he brought to be his Tributaries who at Hereford entred into Covenants to pay him yearly twenty pound weight in Gold three hundred weight of Silver and two thousand five hundred Head of Cattel with a certain number of Hawks and Hounds Toward the payment of which by the Statutes of Howel Dha the King of Aberfraw was charged at sixty six pounds the Prince of Dynever and the Prince of Powys the like Sums This Ethelstane confined the Britains who hitherto had enjoyed the City of Exeter with the same right as the Saxons into the furthest Promontory of Cornwall enlarging his Dominions beyond any Saxon King before him In the time of King Edward the Confessor 1053 the Irish with 36 Ships entred the River Severne and with the assistance of Griffith King or Prince of North-Wales burnt and destroyed all they met with Against whom Alfred Bishop of Worcester marching with considerable force was defeated many of his Souldiers being slain and the rest put to flight which much elevated the Welsh so that Rice the Brother of Griffith made many Incursions into the English Territories and carried away great Booties till at length he was routed and slain at Bulenden and his Head presented to King Edward at Glocester Two years after the King having banished Algar the Son of Leofrike Earl of Chester without cause he with the assistance of the Welsh and Irish under Grissith who had Married his Daughter much indamaged the English defeating Rodulf Earl of Hereford with the slaughter of five hundred men defacing that City and burning the Minster with many other mischiefs Against whom Harold Son to Earl Godwin afterward King and slain by William the Conqueror was sent who prosecuted the War with much courage and conduct pursuing his flying Enemies and passing through North-Wales Incamped upon Snowdon Hills but the Earl and Griffith not daring to come to an Engagement fled from thence to South-Wales and again took possession of Hereford of which Harold having notice marched thither with all diligence and soon recovering the City fortified it with a deep Trench and an high Rampire and for preventing of Bloodshed and ingratitude to Algar who had freely resigned his Earldom to Harold upon his return from Exile a peace was concluded and at Harold's request King Edward pardoned both him and Griffith But Algar raising fresh disturbances and again assisted by his old friend Griffith recovered his Earldom of Chester by Arms at which the King was highly offended especially with Griffith who was always ready to appear against him and Harold was a second time made General and with a great Army entred North-Wales without sight of an Enemy whereupon he burnt down the stately Palace of Prince Griffith and so returned to the King But the Welsh were not long quiet and Griffith inflamed with revenge with the greatest strength he could raise made Inroads into ihe English Borders Upon which Harold is sent a third time against them who burst into Wales with such mighty Forces that Prince Griffith doubting the Success withdrew secretly from his Camp leaving his Souldiers to fight for themselves if they pleased who finding their Prince had deserted them the whole Army yielded themselves to Harold's mercy and having seized upon Gaiffith they cut off his Head and sent it to Harold giving him Hostages for their future obedience and for payment of the ancient Tribute which for some time had been denied After which King Edward kept a severe Eye over the Welsh making a Law that if any of that Nation should pass armed over Offa's Ditch his Right Hand should be cut off In the Reign of William the Conqueror Roger Earl of Hereford raising a Rebellion against him in that Country was assisted by the Welsh but it being soon supprest and the Earl taken and banisht into Normandy the King used great severity against the Welsh putting out the Eyes of some Hanging others upon Gibbets and they that escaped best were forever banisht their Country and afterwards entring Wales with a great Army he obliged the Princes thereof who were unable to resist to do him Homage at St. Davids and taking Hostages for their peaceable demeanour he returned as a Victorious Conqueror In 1095. William Rufus finding the Welsh often attempting mischief against the English resolved to make a full Conquest of them and redoubling his usual Forces drew into the Marshes of Wales and their Incamped calling a Council of War to consult how to prosecute his design against them who finding their own weakness to oppose they according to their usual manner secured themselves in their Woods and Mountains and other inaccessible places Upon which the King sent Hugh Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury and Hugh Lupus Earl of Chester into the Isle of Anglesey who there executed great cruelty on the People cutting off the Hands Noses and Arms of the Resisters sparing neither Age Sex nor place Sacred or Prophane from Destruction At which very time Mâ—gous King of Norway landed there in hope to Conquer the Island whom the English Earls opposed with all their might armed at all points yet Montgomery through the sight of his Beaver was shot with an Arrow into the right Eye whereof he died In 1107. those Flemings which his Brother Rufus had setled in Cumberland whose Lands the Seas had overwhelmed some years before were by King Henry I. removed into Ross in Wales both to free the Inland Country from such a burden and to keep the Welsh in obedience which project answered his expectation For saith Giraldus they were a Colony of stout men enured to the Wars and likewise Clothiers and Husbandmen as time and place required and most loyally devoted to the Crown of England whereby they kept the Country in subjection for some time Yet 1114. Griffith ap Conan Prince of North-Wales and Owen ap Cadogan Prince of South-Wales made Inroads upon the Lands of Gilbert Strangbow Hugh Earl of Chester and other English Gentlemen and so incensed the King by these Outrages that in a rage he vowed he would not leave one alive in North or South Wales and going thither in Person divided his Army into three parts to catch if possible these nimble Combatants who at his approach were got again to their old Recesses however with much difficulty he pursued and kill'd many of them in their Hills and Woods and the rest yielded to King Henry who returned home with much satisfaction In 1121. King Henry was again disquieted by the Welsh under Meredith ap Beldin Prince of Powis-Land and the three Sons of Cadogan who broke into the Marshes of Cheshire and burnt two Castles against whom the King marched with strong Forces sending the main of his Army and Carriages the Common Road but himself with a select company took a nearer way through the Streights and Mountains which the Welshmen having notice of they laid an Ambush who couragiously set upon them and rained down Showers of Arrows on them from the higher grounds
them without any stop till they came within view of the English Colours King Edward having implored the aid of the Almighty full of hopes of obtaining Victory without the least disturbance of mind divided his Army into three Bodies The Front was commanded by the young Lion of Wales our brave Prince Edward assisted with several of the most experienced Generals consisting of Eight Hundred Men at Arms Two Thousand Archers and a Thousand Welshmen The second Battalian was commanded by the Earls of Northampton and Arundel with other Lords being Eight Hundred Men at Arms and One Thousand Two Hundred Archers The third and last being about Seven Hundred men at Arms and Three Thousand Archers with the rest of the Nobility the King led himself and being mounted upon a white Hobby he Rid through the several Ranks reviving and incouraging his Souldiers with cheerful words to fight like Men for his Right and their Honour He then ordered the Rear of the Army to be Barricado'd with Trees and Carriages and likewise commanded the Troopers to dismount and leave their Horses behind them so that all means of flight being taken away they must now resolve either to Conquer or Die. In King Philip's Army were the King of Bohemia the King of Majorca the Duke of Lorrain the Duke of Savoy the Earls of Flanders Nevers Sancerre with many other Dukes Earls Barons and Gentlemen Volunteers both French Dutch and Germans and just the Night before the Battel Ann of Savoy joined him with a Thousand Men at Arms So that all things seemed to conspire to elate the French Pride and assure them of Victory They divided their Army likewise into three Battalia's The Van was led by the Duke of Alonson the King's Brother and the King of Bohemia The Reer by the Duke of Savoy And the main Battel the King Commanded himself He was so impatient of delays that He would scarce stay to call a Council of War to consider how to manage the Fight He likewise caused the Banner of Auriflamb to be erected which was of red Silk and Hallowed by the Pope of which the French had as high an opinion as if it had fallen from Heaven The King of Bohemia hearing of the posture of the English Army contrary to the proud conceit of the French said Here will the English end their Days or Conquer A little before the Fight happened a very terrible Tempest of Thunder and Rain and a bright Rain-bow appeared in the Heavens And soon after the Sun broke forth shining full in the Faces of the French and on the Back of the English and at the same time great numbers of Ravens and other Birds of Prey flew over the French Army All which accidents were judged ominous and presaging mischief to the Enemy The signal of Battel being given by King Philip it was entertained by a shout from his Army the Drums beat the Trumpets sounded Banners flew in the Air Glittering Swords were seen threatning Death and Destruction and all the horrors of War appeared in their most dismal Colours The ruine of the French began at the Genoeses who being all Cross-Bow Men were ordered to open a way for the French Horse but it happened that their Bow-strings being Wet by the late great Shower and their Bodies weary with a long March after the English had received the first Volley of their Arrows with their Targets their Ranks were opened in many places by the fall of their slain Fellows who were kill'd by the English Bowmen and at length most outragiously scattered and trampled under foot by the Duke of Alanson by Command of the King himself who bringing up the Horse in a full Career cried out On on let us make our way upon the Bellies of these Genoeses who do but hinder us And instantly Rides through the midst of them followed by the Dukes of Lorrain and Savoy never staying till they came to that Body of the English commanded by the Gallant Prince of Wales These French Gallants half out of breath with their Post haste and terribly disordered by the perpetual Storms of our Whistling Arrows came now to handy strokes with the Princes Squadron with Battle Axes Swords and Lances The Fight was very bloody while each earnestly contended for Victory The old King of Bohemia resolving to dye honourably thrust himself into the first Ranks of his own Horsemen and furiously charging the English he was slain with Sword in hand the Troop of his faithful Followers with their slaughtered Bodies covering him even in Death and his fate was soon perceived by the fall of the Bohemian Standard King Philip in Person with a strong Party hastened to the relief of his Brother and Friends who were also much distrest by the English Valour and great numbers slain though the Prince of Wales was in danger in the encounter had not his Souldiers rusht in couragiously among their Enemies for the preservation of their worthy Prince King Edward stood all this while upon Windmill-Hill with his Helmet on which he never pull'd off till the Fight was ended judiciously surveying the whole Field of Battel to observe the success being ready to bring down his Party which lay hovering like a Black Cloud where necessity should require In the mean time the brave Prince of Wales was contending with the whole power of France whereupon some of his Generals seeing the great inequality and doubting the worst they sent to the King requesting his assistance The King asked the Messenger whether his Son were slain or hurt who replied No he was safe but like to be over powered by the multitude of his Enemies Well then said the King go back to them that sent you and tell them that so long as my Son is alive they send no more to me whatever happen for I design that the honour of this day shall be his if God permit him to survive and am resolved that he shall either win the Spurs or lose his life This resolution of the King 's though it brought no assistance yet seemed to inspire new Life and Spirits into the English so that they fought like Lions On the otherside King Philip whose Kingdom lay at Stake performed the Duty of a good General and a gallant Souldier fighting so long in his own Person till his Horse was killed under him himself twice dismounted and wounded both in the Neck and Thigh and in danger of being trodden to death had not the Earl of Beaumont rescued and remounted him and the French out of their Loyalty to save him almost against his Will conveyed him out of the Field who seemed rather desirous to end his days in such noble Company His departure was quickly known to both Armies and as suddenly put an end to this bloody Carnage wherein hitherto none had quarter but were all put to the Sword The French King himself with a small Company fled to Bray in the Night and approaching the Walls the Guard demanded who was there
Kings c. Health This Earl died at Dublin 1177. Henry Plantaginet Duke of Lancaster was born in Monmouth Castle the chief Seat of his Barony He is commonly Sirnamed The Wryneck and by others more rightfully The good Duke of Lancaster He founded Corpus Christi College in Cambridg and was buried at Leicester 1361. Henry V. the victorious Conqueror of France was likewise born in this Castle of whom I have already given an account Sir Roger VVilliams born of an antient Family at Penress was first a Souldier of Fortune in the Netherlands ander the Duke of Alvâ—â— and afterward served Queen Elizabeth He was a man extreamly forward to fight VVhen a Spanish Captain challenged Sir John Norris to fight a single combate which he could not accept as being below him who was a General this Sir Roger undertook the â—on And after they had fought for some time in the view of both Armies without any hurt they pledged each other a deep draught of VVine and so friendly departed Another time at midnight he assaulted the Camp of the Prince of Parma nigh Venloe slew some of the Enemies Souldiers and pierced to the very Tent of the General Byron Marshal of France once saying That he did not like the March of the English Drum because it was so slow Sir Reger hearing him sharply replied As slow as it is yet it hath gone through all France He bravely defended the Town and Fort of Sluce in Flanders whilst there was any hope of relief but as length being forced to surrender it he returned to the Court whom some of Queen Elizabeth's Ladies of Honour reproached and pointed at crying That 's the Valiant man that delivered up Sluce Ay Ladies said he and if you had been so hard put to it as I was you would have delivered up your Sluces too William Herbert Earl of Pembroke with Sir Richard his Brother were both vassant men and as fast friends to King Edward IV. as professed Foes to Richard Nevil the Great Earl of Warwick Leading the Army of the Welsh in the Battel of Banbury these two Brothers with their Pole-axes twice made way through the Battel of the Northern men which sided with King Henry VI. without any mortal wound There passeth a Tradition in the Noble Family of the Herbert's of Cherbury that this Sir Richard their Ancestor slew that day 140 men with his own hands in passing and repassing through the Army Guns not being then in fashion the Poll axe was the next mortal Weapon especially in such a dead doing hard as this Knight had He is likewise reported to be of a Giant 's Stature the Peg or Pin being yet to be seen in Montgomery Castle whereon he used to hang his Hat at Dinner which no man of an ordinary height can reach with his hand at this day It is recorded that by the courage of these two Brothers the Battel of Banbury had certainly been won had not John Clapham Esquire and Servant to the Earl of Warwick 〈◊〉 played his Lord's Colours and from an high Hill cryed out a Warwick a Warwick whereat the Welshmen were so terrified supposing VVarwick with the whole Army to be there that they turned their backs and fled knowing how unable they were to withstand VVarwick's Forces since upon a quarrel the Night before between the Earl of Pembroke and the Lord Stafford the last had withdrawn his Party from them so that the General and his Brother were left alone in the Field who valiantly fighting were incompassed and taken with the Neath of 5000 of their Men. The Earl with his Brother Sir Richard Herbert were brought to Banbury where with ten other Gentlemen they lost their Heads the Earl was buried at Tinterne and Sir Richard at Abergavenny in this County VVilliam Jones born at Monmouth was forced to fly his Country for not being able to pay ten Groats Coming to London he became first a Porter and then a Factor and going over to Hamburg had such a vent for VVelsh Cottons that he gained a very considerable Estate in a short time He founded a fair School in Monmouth allowing 50 pound yearly to the Master and 100 pound Salary to a Lecturer besides a stately Alms house for 20 poor People each of them having two Rooms and a Garden and half a Crown a week All which he left to the oversight of the Company of Haberdashers in London who discharge their trust therein to this day VVilliam Evan's of this Shire was two yards and an half in height being Porter to King Charles I. He was somewhat lame knocking his knees together and going out squalling with his seet yet he made a shift to Dance in an Antimask at Court where he drew little Jeffery the Dwarf out of his Pocket The Moor or Marish near Chepstow suffered great loss in 1606. by the River Severn overflowing its banks drowning many Cattel some People and overthrowing divers Houses Monmouthshire may be called an English VVelsh County For whereas formerly all VVelsh Counties sent but one Knight to Parliament this has the privilege of two and is not subject to the VVelsh Jurisdiction but to the governance of the Itenerant Judges who ride Oxford Circuit It was subdued by King Henry II. who passed the Nant Pen-carne a small Brook and of no danger yet held fatal by the VVelsh who were over credulous of a Prophecy of Merlin's that predicted That when a stout King with a freckled face should pass over a Ford called Ryd-pencarn in a River called Nant pen-carn the VVelsh should be conquered and therefore when King Henry who was freckle faced passed over it the Welshmen remembring this Prophecy submitted themselves and became an easie Conquest to the English and it may be the King being sensible of their credulity thinking their Hearts might fail them chose to go over this Ford to facilitate his Conquests Monmouth was made a Shire in the reign of King Henry VIII It hath six Market Towns 127 Parish Churches is divided into six Hundreds and had formerly 14 Castle It gives the Title of Earl to Charles Lord Mordant MONTGOMERY-SHIRE hath Denbigh-shire on the North Radnor and Cardigan on the South Merioneth on the West and Shrop-shire on the East In this County are many high Hills and divers Vales Springs and Rivers of which the Soverne is the Chief being the second River in the Kingdom whose head rising from the vast high Mountain Plymlimon and being joined with other smaller streams runs through the East part of this Shire It is said to have taken its name from Abren the beautiful natural Daughter of King Loerinus begotten out of VVedlock upon Estrildis the Daughter of Humber the Seythian King who invaded this Land both of them being drowned by Gwendolena the surviving VVidow of Locrinus the Daughter in this River and the Father in the other bearing his name Of this Jeffery of Monmouth writes Fair Abren headlong thrown into this stream As a Memorial left to them
reprove him for it and coming into his presence the King in Courtesie rose from his Royal Throne to take him by the Hand and seat him by him But Dunstan refusing the King's Hand with a stern Countenance and contracted Brow spake thus to him You that have not been afraid to corrupt a Virgin dedicated to Christ how can you presume to touch the Consecrated Hands of a Bishop You have defiled the Spouse of your Maker and do you now think by your flattering service to pacifie the Friend of the Bridegroom No Sir do not mistake your self for I will be no friend to him who hath Christ for his Enemy The King thunder-struck with these dreadful Words and touch'd with remorse of Conscience fell down at the Feet of Dunstan who raising him up began to aggravate his Crime and finding the King pliable to his Instruction he enjoyned him the following Penance for satisfaction That he should wear no Crown for the space of feven years That he should fast twice a week That he should distribute his Treasure left him by his Ancestors liberally to the poor That he should build a Monastery for Nuns at Shaftsbury that since he had robbed God of one Virgin by his Transgression so he should restore to him many again for the time to come Likewise That he should expel Clerks or Priests of evil life meaning those who were married out of the Churches and place Monks in their room All this Edgar performed and the seven years being past Dunstan saith the Historian calling the Nobility with the Bishops Abbots and Clergy together he before all the People set the Crown upon the King's Head at Bath in the thirteenth year of his Reign Dunstan who it seems rul'd all having hitherto hindred it The Nun here mentioned was Wilfrid a Duke's Daâ—ghter by whom he had a Daughter called Editha He had a Son likewise by Elfrida the Earl of Devonshire's Daughter which Dunstan being now grown goood natured Christned The words of the Historian are these The Child also which was gotten of the Harlot he Baptized in the Holy Fountain of Regeneration and giving him the name of Edward adopted him to be the King's Son There are abundance of ridiculous miracles related of this Dunstan One among many others was That a Vision appearing to him required him to take up the Body of Editha the Bastard and Canonize her for a Saint her Tomb being accordingly opened in the Church of Wilâ—on where she was buried her whole Body saith the Monkish Historian was consumed to Dust save only her Thumb her Belly c. whereof she her self shewed the meaning declaring That her Thumb remained entire because she so often used to cross her self therewith and the other Parts did signifie the extraordinary Abstinence and Chastity With such stuff were the People then abused and persuaded to worship for Saints the dead Carcases of those that were many times of very profligate Lives while on Earth In King Edgar's Reign there was a great Famine wherein Ethel wald Bishop of Winchester sold away all the Church-Plate and Vessels of Gold and Silver to relieve the Poor saying There was no reason that the senseless Temples of God should abound in Riches and the lively Temples of the Holy Ghost to be in want of them After the Death of Edgar there was great Diviston many of the Nobility being for Etheldred the true and only legitimate Heir of Edgar but the other Nobles and the Clergy especially Dunstan fearing the Married Clergy should again prevail he with several other Bishops meeting together and carrying the Cross before Edward brought him to the Lords and by many Persuasions prevailed with them to accept him for their King He was accounted a just meek Prince and very charitable to the Poor Yet enjoyed he the Crown but a short space for in the fourth Year of his Reign as he was Hunting near Corf-Castle where his Brother Etheldred and Queen Elfrida his Mother resided while he was discoursing and drinking on Horseback as the Cup was at his Mouth a Servant of the Queens by her contrivance struck him into the Back with a Knife or Dagger at which setting Spurs to his Horse to get away and fainting with loss of Blood he fell from his Horse with one Foot in the Stirrop and was dragged up and down the Woods till at last his Body was left dead at the Gate of Corf-Castle When this Fact was committed the Queen was so struck with remorse that to expiate her Guilt she built two Monasteries Almsbury and Wormwell For as Mr. Fox observes most of these Religious Houses were founded either upon the account of some Publick or Private Murther Edward the Martyr as he was called being thus slain Etheldred his younger Brother the Son of Edgar and Queen Elfrida succeeded He reigned thirty eight years but was very unfortunate and full of Troubles all his time It is related That when Archbishop Dunston Christened Etheldred as he held him over the Font the Child was not very cleanly whereupon the Bishop swore By the Mother of God this Boy will prove an unhappy and slothful Prince which happened accordingly At his Coronation a Cloud appeared half like Blood and the other half like Fire In his third Year the Danes Invaded the Kingdom in several places and the King paid them forty thousand pound yearly for his Quiet which much disobliged his Subjects yea the English were so low that the Danes commanded their Houses Wives Daughters and all they had Whereupon Etheldred contrived that all the Danes were massacred in one day But this did more enrage them so that first Swain and then Canutus came with two hundred Sail of Ships and landed in Cornwal burning and destroying all before him and killing Nine hundred Monks and Nuns at one time the King's Counsels being all betrayed by the Traytor Edrick Whereupon he fled with his Queen Emma and her two Sons into Normandy to Richard Duke thereof who was her Brother But Swain being soon after killed by his own men they made his Son Canutus King After which Etheldred returns again to England and perceiving the several Treasons against him and being unable to withstand their Fury he soon after died Edmund the eldest Son alive of Etheldred succeeded sirnamed Ironside from his great Strength and Courage He was Crowned at Kingston But the Danes were then so powerful in England that Canutus was accepted King at Southampton many of the Clergy and Laity swearing Allegiance to him but the City of London stood firm for Edmund who fought several Battles against the Danes and routed Canutus four times in the plain Field and would in likelihood have freed the Nation from the Danes had not the ever-false Edrick and other perfidious persons of the Clergy and Laity prevented it At length to avoid further Bloodshed they made an Agreement to divide the Kingdom betwixt them but Edmund enjoyed the benefit of this Accord a very short time being soon
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
her name From whence at length the name of Severn came The antient Inhabitants were the Ordovices who also peopled the Counties of Merioneth Carnarvan Denhigh and Flint whose Hearts and Hills kept them free a long time both from the Roman and English Yoke opposing themselves against the first till the reign of Domitian and the other till their total Conquest by King Edward I. They are a generous and affable People comely and fair of body courteous to strangers and very Loyal to the English Crown Montgomery is the chief Town and is one of the new Shires taken out of the Marches of Wales and made a County of King Henry VIII so called from Roger de Montgomery a Noble Nâ—rman Earl of Shrewsbury who gaining much Land hereabout from the Welsh first built it to secure his Conquests as likewise a very fine Castle standing not far from the banks of the River Severn upon the rising of a Rock from whence it hath a very pleasant prospect into a curious Plain that lyeth beneath it There is a Proveb in this County Y Tair Chiwiorydd in English The three Sisters whereby was meant the three Rivers of Wye Severn and Rhiddial arising all three in this County The Tradition is That these three Sisters were to run a Race which should be first Married to the Ocean Severn and Wye having a great Journey to go chose their way through soft Meadows and kept on a Travellers pace whilst Rhiddial presuming on her short journey staid before she went out and then to recover her lost time runs furiously in a distracted manner with her mad stream over all opposition It is applicaple to Chidren of the same Parents but of different dispositions and courses of life so that their Cradles were not so near but their Coffins are as far asunder There is another Proverb Pywys Paradwys Cymri that is Powis is the Paradice of Wales This Proverb referreth to Teliesten the Author thereof that Powis contained all that pleasant Land lying betwixt Wye and Severn A third Proverb is Gwan di Brwlin Hafren Plafren fydd hifel cynt that is Fix thy Pale in Severn with intent to fence out his Water Severn will be as before that is run its course applied to those who undertake projects above their power to perform Hawis Gadarn a Lady of remark sole Daughter and Heir to Owen ap Griffith Prince of Powis-land was justly Sirnamed Gadarn that is The Hardy Her four Uncles Leoline Griffith Vaughan and David detained her inheritance from her Give said they A Girl a little Gold and Marry her God and Nature made Land for men to manage Hereupon Hawis complained to King Edward II. who commiseraring her condition consigned his Servant John Charlton born at Apple in Shrepshire a vigorous Knight to Marry her creating him in her right Baron of Powis Being assisted with the King's Forces he took three of her Uncles Prisoners and brought the fourth to composition And finally recovered all his Wives Estate procuring also the Lands of her Uncles in default of their Issue Male to be setled on her George Herbert born at Montgomery-Castle was bred Fellow of Trinity-College in Cambridge and Orator of the University where he made a Speech of the return of Prince Charles out of Spain Waving Wotldly Preferment he served at God's Altar Of so Pious a Life that as he was a Copy of Primitive Christianity so he might be a Pattern of Sanctity to Posterity He never mentioned the name of Jesus but with this addition My Master Next God the Word he loved the Word of God being heard often to protest That he would not part with one leaf thereof for the whole World By his good example he gained much to the Church He was Preacher at Bemmerton nigh Salisbury where he built a fair House for his Successor and Prebendary at Leighton in the Diocess of Lincoln where he built a fair Church with the assistance of some Friends free Offerings When a tfriend of his went about to comfort him with the remembrance hereof as a good work he returned It is a good work if sprinkled with the Blood of Christ Edward Herbert his Brother was Knighted by King James I. who sent him over Ambassador to France King Charles I. created him Baron of Castle-Island in Ireland and after Baron of Cherbury in this County He was a most excellent Artist and a rare Linguist Studied both in Books and Men. He wrote a Treatise of the Truth in French extant with great honour in the Vatican Library at Rome He Married the Daughter of Sir William Herbert of St. Julian's in Monmouthshire with whom he had a large Inheritance both in England and Ireland He died in 1648. and was buried in St. Giles's in the Fields London A fair Monument of his own Invention was begun and almost sinisht in the Church of Montgomery In the Year 1661. Dec. 20. about Sunsetting the Inhabitants of Weston in Montgomeryshire discovered a great number of Horsemen about 400 paces from them marching two a breast in Military order upon the Common and were half an hour before the Reer came up seeming to be about 500 in all the spectators were amazed thinking them to be an Army of Roundheads going to release the Prisoners at Montgomery there being at that time several Ministers and Gentlemen in Prison and therefere several of them went to the top of the next Hill where they had another full view of them and could distinguish their Horses to be of several Colours as white grey black c. and that they marched in three Companies and betwixt every Division they had two Horse colours flying but as they drew toward them they still marched from them so that they could not come nearer than 100 Yards they asked a man who was thatching a House all that day which they judged the Horsemen went by whether he saw all those Souldiers which marched by who said that he saw none neither was there any Tract of the Horses to be seen that night nor the next morning so that they concluded it to be a wonderful Apparition and deposed the Truth of these particulars before the Lord Herbert and several other Justices of the Peace of this County at the same time a Women coming from Bishops Castle over the same Common fell off her Horse being much terrified with the sight of a blazing Star which she and six men with her saw sometimes white and sometimes red with a Tail like an Arrow which seemed to hang just over their heads from Bishops Mount to this Common being three Miles and the People of the house where the VVoman fell when they came out saw the Star also This County is very plentiful of Cattle especially Horses which for their shape and swiftness are much valued It is divided into seven Hundreds wherein are six Market Towns and forty seven Parish Churches and gives the Title of Earl to Thomas Lord Herbert who is likewise Earl of Pombroke Cherbury