are these that follow 1. Idwallo in the year of Christ 688. called Iror the Son of Alan 2. Roderick 3. Conan 4. Mervyn 5. Roderick Sirnamed the Great who left Wales between his three Sons allotting unto each his part the Country being divided into North-Wales South-Wales and Powys-Land which had their several Lords and Princes North-Wales fell to the share of Amarawd the eldest Son of Roderick Mawr or the Great the last King thereof with a superiority of Power over both the rest who were but Homagers to this It containeth the County of Merioneth part of Denbigh Flint Carnarvan and the Isle of Anglesey which being the more Mountainous Parts and of difficult access consequently preserved their Liberty longest and do still keep their Language from the Incursions of the English Aberfraw in the Isle of Anglesey was the Princes Palace who were thence sometimer called Kings of Aberfraw South-Wales in the division of the Country fell to Cadel the second Son comprehending the Counties of Glamorgan Pembroke Carmarthen Cardigan and part of Brecknock which though the richâ—â— and most fruitful part of Wales yet Pembrokâ— and Brecknock having their several Kings there remained only Cardigan and Carmarthen under the immediate subjection of the Princes of South-Wales whose principal Seat was at Dynefar or Dynevor Castle not far from Carmarthen who thence were called by their Subjects the Kings of Dynevor Powys-land was bestowed by Roderick upon his youngest Son Mervyn containing the Counties of Montgomery and Radnor with part of Denbigh Brecknock Merioneth and Shropshire His chief Palace was Matraval in Montgomeryshire from whence the Princes thereof were so called This Countrey continued in the Line of Mervyn a long time together but much afflicted and dismembred by the Princes of North-Wales who cast a greedy eye upon it The last that held it entire was Meredith who left it to his two Sons Madoc and Griffith of which Madock died at Winchester in 1160. and Griffith was by King Henry I. created Lord Powys the residue of powys-Powys-land which pertained to Madock depending still upon the fortune of North-Wales In these several Divisions were different Kings and Princes who long strugled with the Saxons for their Liberties But because we find very little mention of their Actions in our Chronicles I shall proceed with the History of the Saxons and Danes and afterward give an account of the actions of some of the Welsh Kings and Princes till that Principality was wholly subdued to the Crown of England The Saxons according to the common fate of Conquerours after they had subdued their Enemies disagreed among themselves and several of their Princes incroached upon the Territories of each other and so became petty Monarchs of some part of Britain These were reckoned to be â—ourteen in number till at last Egbert the eighteenth King of the West Saxons got command over all the seven Kingdoms of the Saxons and so became sole Monarch of England which none of his Predecessors before ever obtained He had War fourteen years with the Cornish and Welch and took West-chester their chief hold from them making a strict Law against any Welcoman that should pass over Offa's Dike or set one Foot within his English Dominions He slew Bernulf King of Mercis in Battel and drove the King of Kent out of his Kingdom The East Angles and East Saxons submitted to him and likewise the South Saxons whereupon he caused himself to be crowned absolute Monarch at Winchester And this Monarchy continued in the Saxons till the Danes first got and then lost it again and the Saxons Issue failing upon their next entrance it then fell to the Normans as by the Sequel will appear In the fourteenth year of Egbert the Danes with thirty three Ships landed in England to whom he gave Battle but had the worst of the day losing two of his chief Captains and two Bishops but the Danes returning two years after into Wales and joyning with the Welch Egbert overcame both Danes and Welch together Ethelwolph his Son succeeded after whom reign'd Ethelbald Ethelbert Ethelred and then Alfred in whose time the Danes under Roll a Nobleman came over with a great Army but by the Valour of Alfred were beaten This virtuous Prince divided the twenty four hours of the Day and Night into three equal parts which he observed by the burning of a Taper set in his Chapel Clocks and Watches being not then in use Eight hours he spent in Contemplation Reading and Prayer other eight for his Repose and the Necessaries of Life and the other eight in Affairs of State He divided the Kingdom into Shires Hundreds and Tythings for the better Administration of Justice and suppressing of Robbers and Felons which had so good effect that the People might Travel with all manner of security yea saith my Author if Bracelets of Gold had been hung in the High-ways none durst have presumed to have taken them away He commanded all his Subjects who possessed two Hides of Land to bring up their Sons in Learning till they were at least fifteen years old asserting That he accounted a man Free born and yet Illiterate to be no better than a Beast a Sot and a Brainless Creature Neither would he admit any into Office that were not so He translated the Holy Gospel into the Saxon Tongue was devout in the Service of God and a great Protector of Widows and Orphans Edward his eldest Son succeeded him against whom his Nephew Ethelwald rebelled His Sister Elfleda had very hard Travel of her first Child whereupon she ever after forbore the Nuptial Embraces alledging it to be an over-foolish Pleasure which occasioned such bitter Pains and listing her self a Souldier under her Brother she performed many valiant exploits against the Danes against whom Edward obtained a great Victory near Wolverhampton wherein two of their Kings were slain with many of the Nobility and a multitude of Common Souldiers which procured him both Fear and Love from the People After his death Ethelstane reigned who is said to be the first Anointed King of this Island He enlarged his Dominions farther than he received them He overthrew Godfrey the Danish King of Northumberland Howell King of Wales and Constantine King of Scotland forcing them to submit to his pleasure after which he again restored them to their Dignities glorying That it was more Honour to make a King than to be a King These actions procured him much renown from his Neighbour Princes who courted his Friendship and sent him curious Presents Othy the Emperor who married his Sister sent him a curiosity richly set with Precious Stones very artificially contrived wherein were Land-skips with Vines Corn and men seeming so naturally to move as if they had been real The King of Norway sent him a sumptuous Ship richly guilt with Purple Sails The King of France sent him a Sword which was said to have been Constantine's the Great the Hilt whereof was all of Gold and therein as they
said was one of the Nails which fastned Christ to the Cross He likewise sent the Spear of Charles the Great reported to be the same wherewith our Saviour's side was pierced also a part of the Cross a piece of the Crown of Thorns and the Banner of St. Maurice It is related That this King Ethelstane or Athelstane in the third year of his Reign was so harassed by the Danes that he was forced to shut himself up in Winchester City who propounded to him either to submit and hold the Realm of them or to determine the Quarrel between two Champions of each side The King was much perplexed at these Propositions because his three valiant Knights Guy Earl of Warwick who lived in his Reign or not at all one Herand another couragious Knight and Earl Rohand Guy's Father-in-Law were gone to the Holy Land In this strait after he had prayed for Deliverance it is said he had a Vision wherein he was directed to rise early the next morning and taking two Bishops with him to get up to the top of the North Gate of that City where he should see a likely Man clothed as a Pilgrim bare-foot and on his bare Head a Chaplet of White Roses and that this should be the man that should conquer Colebrand the Danish Gaint for so was his Name and free the English from the Danish Bondage The next day the King thus attended at the Gate sees Earl Guy so habited being newly arrived from Jerusalem whereupon Athelstane addressing himself to him desires him to accept the Combat as being ordained by Heaven to acquit this Realm from Tyranny Guy replied My Lord you may easily perceive that I am not in a Condition to take upon me this Fight being harassed and weakened by daily Travel lay this task therefore upon your stout and hardy Soldiers whom you were wont very much to esteem Ah said the King such indeed I had but they are gone some to the Holy Land as one valiant Knight called Guy who was Earl of Warwick I had also a couragious Servant named Sir Herand de Ardene Would to God they were now here for then would this Duel be soon undertaken and the War quickly finished In speaking which Words the Tears trickled down his Cheeks which made such impression upon the Pilgrim that he engaged to undertake the Combate Upon the day appointed Guy putting on the King's best Armour the Sword of Constantine the Great St. Maurice his Lance and one of the King 's best Coursers he rode through Winchester appearing like a most accomplish'd Knight and went to the place appointed which was in a Valley called Chiltecumb where Colebrand soon after came so loaded with Armour that his Horse could scarce bear him and a Cart driven before him filled with Danish Axes great Clubs with knobs of Iron squared Bars of Steel and Iron Hooks to pluck his Adversary to him Thus marching disdainfully along and seeing Sir Guy in the height of Pride he commanded him to come off his Horse and throw himself with submission at his Feet But the gallant Pilgrim disregarding his Words commending himself to Heaven put Spurs to his Horse and at the first Encounter pierced the Giant 's Shield with such force that his Lance broke into Shivers which so enraged the Giant that coming up furiously he killed Guy's Horse who being dismounted dangerously wounded Colebrand The Combat having lasted for some time the Giant fainted and fell with loss of Blood and Guy immediately cut off his Head threeby freeing England at present from the insulting Dane After all which he offered his Sword in the Cathedral of Winchester which was long after kept in the Vestry and called Colebrand's Axe The other Reliques of Guy Mr. Drayton thus describes Thy Statue Guy Cliff keeps the Gazers Eyes to please Warwick thy mighty Arms thou mighty Hercules Thy strong and massy Sword that never was controll'd Which as her antient Right her Castle still doth hold Thus much for Earl Guy who lived in the Year of Christ 929. This King Ethelstane by the insinuation of his Cup-bearer became incensed against his Brother as if he had contrived Treason against him who therefore ordered him to be put into a small Vessel without Tackle or Oars and so be exposed to the mercy of the Sea wherewith the young Prince was so overwhelm'd with sorrow that he threw himself headlong into the Sea whose Ghost the King endeavoured to appease by a voluntary Penance of seven years and building two Monasteries Neither did the treacherous Cup-bearer escape Vengeance for on a Festival day as he was busie in waiting one of his Feet slipping he recovered himself by the help of the other and thereupon pleasantly said You may see now how one Brother can help another This Speech suddenly recalled to the King's Mind the Death of his Innocent Brother whereupon he caused the Cup-bearer who was the Procurer thereof to be immediately executed Edmund the fifth Son of King Edward succeeded and after him Edred his sixth Son Then Edwy or Edwin the eldest Son of Edmund was Crowned at Kingston upon Thames who was of a lascivious temper for it is related That on the very Day of his Coronation he suddenly left his Nobility and went into a private Room to debauch a great Lady his near Kinswoman whose Husband he soon after slew St. Dunstan who was present and then Abbot of Glastenbury followed the King into his Chamber and leading him out by the Hand accused him before Odo Archbishop of Canterbury by whom he was severely reproved and forbid him the Company of that woman The King was hereat enraged against Dunstan and banished him out of the Land and became so great an Enemy to the Order of Monks that he expelled many of them out of their Monasteries and put married Priests in their Places The People having a great Opinion of the Holiness of Dunstan and being offended at the King's severity toward him and other Irregularities they turned their Affections to Edgar his Brother and removing Edwin from his Princely Dignity Edgar was made King in his stead for very grief whereof he soon wasted away and died in 959. Edgar was called the Peaceable He maintained the Kingdom in great Glory and Prosperity His Navy Royal is said to consist of three thousand six hundred Ships with which he every Summer sailed round his Land to secure the Sea from Pyrates He caused Ludwal Prince of Wales to pay him three hundred Wolves yearly instead of a former Tribute in Money whereby England and Wales which were formerly very much over-run were now so freed that there was scarce a Wolf to be found alive he was very severe upon his Judges if he found them guilty of Bribery and Partiality riding the Circuit himself every Year for that purpose Yet among all these Vertues he is said to be very Voluptuous especially toward Women not sparing the very Nuns which sounded so ill that Dunstan took the boldness to
after murdered as he was easing Nature by Edrick and his Head presented to Canutus who though he loved the Treason yet commanded the Traytor to be beheaded By the Death of Edmund the Saxon Monarchy came to a Period for Canutus after his Death seised upon the other half of England none being able to withstand whereby the Danes made themselves sole Masters of this Island after it had been in possession of the Saxons about 566 Years The English Nobles owning Canutus for their lawful King and swearing Fealty to him at his Coronation at London in the year of Christ 1017. Though Canutus had never the better Opinion of them considering that most of them had sworn Allegiance to Edmund their Natural Sovereign and likewise that they were English Natives He therefore judged them treacherous Persons and used them accordingly for some he banished others he beheaded and many by the Just Judgment of Heaven died sudden Deaths Canutus to establish his Government called a Parlaiment of Bishops Lords and Barons in London wherein many laws were ordained and among others this following We admonish diligently all Christian Men that they do always love God with an inward heart and be diligently obedient to Divine Teachers and do subtilly search God's Learning and Laws often and daily to the profit of themselves And we warn that all Christian men do learn to know at least-wise the right Belief and a right to understand the Lord's Prayer and the Creed for that with the one every Christian man should pray unto God and with the other shew forth right Belief He also ordained in another Parliament at Oxford That both English and Danes should observe the laws made by King Edgar as judging them to be above all others most just and reasonable He married Emma the Widow of King Etheldred and Sister to Richard Duke of Normandy with this Condition That the Issue of her Body by him should inherit the Kingdom of England He went to Rome to complain of the excessive Extortions of the Pope from the English Archbishops upon receiving their Palls And having reigned twenty Years over England he died Notwithstanding the former Agreement yet Harold the Son of Canutus by Elgina his first Wife in the absence of Hardiknute the Son of Queen Emma succeeded his Father and the better to secure himself he by the assistance of the treacherous Earl Goodwin who had married Canutus's Daughter endeavours to get into his Power Edward and Alfred the two Sons of Queen Emma by King Etheldred whom he knew had more Right than himself and to that purpose they counterfeit a Letter in Emma's name whom Harold had abused and robbed of her Jewels the Contents whereof were to this purpose EMMA in Name only Queen to Edward and Alfred her Sons sends Motherly Greetings Whilst we severally bewail the death of our Sovereign my Lord and your Father and your selves Dear Sons are still more and more dispossessed from the Kingdoms of your lawful Inheritance I much wonder what you intend to do since you know that delays in Attempts give the Usurper more leisure to lay his Foundation and more safely to fix thereon his intended Building never ceasing to post from Town to City to make the Lords and Rulers thereof his Friends by Threats Prayers or Rewards But notwithstanding his Policy yet they privately signifie that they had rather have one of you their Native Countrey-men to reign over them than this Danish Usurper Therefore my advice is That either of you do with all speed repair to me that we may advise together what is to be done in this so great an Enterprise Fail not therefore but send me word by this Messenger what you intend to do herein And so fare ye well Your Affectionate Mother Emma Messengers being sent to Normandy with this Letter they met only with Alfred Edward being gone into Hungaria to whom delivering their Message he was very joyful and made all possible hast to England accompanied with divers Norman Gentlemen and arriving at Southampton was received by the villanous Earl Goodwin with much pretended Kindness and Friendship who made as if he would bring him to London but being come to Gilford in Surrey Goodwin commanded his men to kill all Alfred's Company and then carrying him to the Isle of Ely ordered his Eyes to be put out Then opening his Body they took out his Bowels and fastning one end of his Guts to a Stake they drove him round it with Iron Darts and Needles till all his Bowels came clear away Thus died innocent Alured or Alfred the true Heir to the Crown by the Treachery of Godwin to the great disgust of the English Nobility who vowed Revenge This Harold called Harefoot for his great swiftness did not long enjoy his usurped Dominion for after four years he died After which Hardiknute the Son of Canutus and Queen Emma who was by his Father made King or Denmark is now by the States of the Land both Danes and English invited over hither to take upon him the Government He was a great Oppressor of the English by heavy Taxes which so enraged them that two of his Collectors were slain at Worcester for which their City was burnt and their Bishop Alfred expelled his Office till with Money he had purchased his peace Though this King was very vicious yet it is said he was more kind to Edward his Half-brother and made Earl Godwin purge himself for the death of Prince Alfred though it is thought his bountiful Gifts to the King prevailed much more for clearing him than his Innocence One present especially is very remarkable that is A Ship whose Stern was of Gold and fourscore Soldiers all richly habited within her on their Heads they all wore guilt Burgonets and on their Bodies a triple gilt Harbergeon about their Wasts Swords girt richly guilt a Danish Battle-ax on their left Shoulders a Target with gilt Bosses on their left Hand a Dart in their right and upon their Arms Bracelets of Gold of great Value After two years Reign Hardiknute died in the midst of his drunken Debaucheries and in him ended the Danish Race in England three Kings only of that Nation Reigning here This third Conquest was but of a short continuance yet were the Danes very insolent toward the English during that time for if an Englishman and a Dane met at a Bridge or at a Door the Englishman must stand still till the Dane past by and if he did not then bow down very low to the Dane he was certainly beaten and abused Yea it is related That while the English were drinking the Danes would stab them or cut their Throats to prevent which when the Englishman drank he desired his next Companion to be his Surety or Pledge from whence it is said the Custom of Pledging one another did first arise For these and abundant greater Insolencies after the Death of Hardiknute the Danes were utterly driven out of England and never again returned
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
Britains was therein betrayed and slain Brecknock still retains some beauty in its Building it had formerly three Gates for entrance and ten Towers for defence with a very since Castle The Town is seated on two Rivers and is governed by two Bayliffs fifteen Aldermen two Chamberlains two Constables a Town Clerk and two Sergeants This County boasts of Canock and Cadock Sons and Keyne Daughter to King Brechanius aforementioned who were all three Saints though he had twenty four Daughters and all Saints also who all died young so that Keyne only survived who flourished about 492. of whom St. Cadock is said to be a Martyr and his name highly venerated by the People of South-Wales St. Cliâ—tank was King of Brecknock it happened that a Noble Virgin declared That she would never Marry any Man but him who was a zealous Christian whereupon a Pagan Souldier resolving to disappoint her killed this King who left behind him the reputation of a Saint Giles de Bruse Bishop of Hereford was born in this County and in the Barons Wars sided with the Nobility against King John upon which he was banished but after restored to the King's Favour He was also Lord of Brecknock which honour with his paternal Inheritance he left to his Brother Reginald who Married the Daughter of Leoline Prince of Wases His Effigies on his Tomb in Hereford Church holdeth a Steeple in his hand whence it is judged that he built the Belfree of that Cathedral He died 1215. Nesta Daughter to Griffin Prince of Wales and Wife to Bernard of New-march a Noble Norman and Lord by Conquest of this County was debauched by a young Gentleman Mahel her Son having got this Gallant into his hands used him very severely at which Nesta being inraged came into open Court and on her Oath before King Henry II. publickly deposed that Mahel was none of the Lord New-marches Son but begotten on her in Adultery This if true declared her dishonesty if false her perjury but whether true or false her matchless impudence Hereby she disinherited Mahel and setled a vast Estate on Sybyl her only Daughter Married afterward to Milo Earl of Hereford The Welsh are reproached by the English with the By-word of Croggen Croggen the original whereof was in the Reign of King Henry II. the Welsh then obtaining a memorable advantage at Croggen-Castle under the Conduct of their Valiant Prince Owen in defence of North-Wales and their Countreys Liberty with extream danger to King Henry's own Person his Standard Royal being Cowardly abandonded and the King reported to be slain The Standard Bearer Henry de Essex for this ignominious action was afterward challenged by Robert Monford his near Kinsman to a combate and In single Battle within Lists at Reading was vanquished by him whereupon Essex was shorn a Monk and put into a Monastery according to the custom of those times where he ended his days The English afterward used this word Groggen as a Provocative to revenge when they had the Welsh at an advantage and it is still without cause uttered in disgrace of the Welsh though originally it was expressive of their honour The County of Brecknock was formerly fortified with nine Castles It is divided into six Hundreds hath three Market Towns Brecknock Bealt and Hay and fifty two Parish Churches And gives the Title of Earl to James Lord Butler who is also Duke of Ormond in Ireland CARDIGAN-SHIRE is parted on the North from Merioneth-shire by the River Dovi from Brecknock-shire by the River Tory on the South from Carmarthen and Pembroke-shire by the River Tiry from Montgomery-shire East by the Plinillimon Hills and on the West is wholly washt by the Irish Sea The antient Inhabitats were the Dinietae who likewise possest Carmarthen and Pembroke-shire and in their struglings much depended on the Valour of their Warlike Prince Cataractus beforementioned from whose name some will have this County called Cardigan but was after subdued and the Prince being taken and carried to Rome after he had throughly viewed the magnificence of that City I cannot but wonder said he that you Romans having such stately buildings of your own should covet our poor Cottages After the Norman Invasion William Rufus assailed this Country as well to gain so fair a Possession as to secure those Seas from any Invasion against him and therefore though it was the most remote from England yet being nearer to the Sea which afforded the English a more convenient passage who were potent in Shipping it was soonest reduced to the English Dominion Henry I. bestowed the whole County entirely upon William de Clareâ— The Air is open and sharp for besides the great and high Mountain of Plinillimon it hath a continued range of lesser Hills The Vallies are rich in Pasture and Corn and well Watered with Pools and Springs In the River Tivy Beavers were formerly found a Creature living both by Land and Water having the two fore feet like a Dog wherewith he runs on the Land and the two hinder like a Goose with which he Swims his broad Tail ferving for a Rudder but now none are found the Salmon seeming to succeed who coming out of the Sea into fresh Waters and meeting with some downright Water-falls in this River he bends himself backward and putting his Tail in his Mouth gives a Spring up those alcents which are called the Salmons leap many of which are caught in this River Cardigan is the Shire Town and was Fortified by Gilbert de Clare with a Wall and a strong Castle the ruins of which remain to this day Land Badern the Great was formerly an Episcopal Seat till the Citizens cruelly flew their Bishop after which both City and Bishoprick dwindled to nothing from whence rose that Welsh Proverb Ni difanco y Beriglaver that is Vilifie not thy Parish Priest Llandevibrevi was also famous being built by David Bishop of Mereria where in a Synod holden by him he resuted the Pelagian Heresie then sprung up in Britain both by the Holy Scriptures and by Miracle for it is reported that while he was Preaching the Earth suddenly rose up a great height under his Feet that the People might the more conveniently hear his Doctrine The Welsh use a word Talaeth Talaeth that is Fine Fine which was thus occasioned when Roderick divided Wales betwixt his three Sons he ordered that each of them should wear upon his Bonnet or Helmet a Coronet of Gold set with Jewels called in British Talaeth and they from thence were named Ytritrwysoc Talaelteioc The three Crowned Princes It is now applied to the uppermost part of the head attire in Children Yea the English call the top of she Cap or Hat the Crown They have a Proverb Bu Arthur ond tra fu that is Arthur was not but whilst he was It is honourable for old men if they can say we have been brave Fellows They have another Proverb Ne Thorres Arthur Nawd gwraig that is King Arthur did never violate the
Carmarthenshire About the same time I my self saith Mr. Davis coming home from Cardigan where I had been enjoined to Preach the Sessions Sermon about Evening though it was as light as noon and I had nine long miles to ride there seemed twice or thrice from behind me on my right side and between my shoulders and hat to fly a little whitish thing about the bigness of a Walnut which appeared once in seventy or eighty paces At first I took no notice of it thinking it to be only the glimpsing of the little Ruff which I then wore but by degrees it grew redder even like fire both for light and colour At length I turned my Horse twice to see from whence it came but could see nothing yet as I went on it flashed again as before till I came to a Village called Laureslid and coming to the Door where I designed to Lodge the fire did flash again upon or very near the threshold of the house and there I think it staid At that very Sessions one John William Lloyd a Gentleman who dwelt and whose Son now dwells within a mile of Glasterigg fell fick and coming home was able to ride no farther than this House where I left my Fire to entertain him and there he lighted lodged and died within four days after Some Candles have been seen come to my Church within these three weeks and the Corps not long after Thus far of Candles Another kind of Apparition we have which we usually call Tanwee or Tanwed because it seems to be fiery We judge it to be in the lower Region of the Air streight and long and shoots directly and level but far more slowly than a falling star as we call it for it often passeth over three or four miles of ground or more it may be for no man sees the rise or beginning of it When it falls to ground it sparkleth and lightens all about The Free-holders or Landlords upon whose ground it falls will certainly dye in a short time after and we scarce bury any such here with us be he but the Owner of an House or Garden but some of the Neighbourhood have seen this fire fall upon some part of his House or Lands Two of these I have seen my self but the interposition of the grounds hindred that I could not observe where they fell but where I guest they fell there died in one place an aged Gentleman and in the other a Freeholder To come nearer home saith Mr. Davis my Mother's first Husband walking about his grounds saw one of the Darts or Piles aloft which fell down hard by him shone far and sparkled round about his body he took it for a warning peice made his Will and having lived in good health some four or five months after died A little before the decease of my own Father aged 96. a Son in Law of his who dwelt two Miles off but upon higher ground saw such another fall in a Close behind the Old Man's House which gave such a light that by it he did clearly see the house the Hedges and the Oaks in the Wood adjoining As to the causes of these strange Omens whether they proceed from Good or Evil Angels or Spirits it must be left to the disquisitions of the Learned who it may be after all will be puzled to give a satisfactory account thereof In this County also in the Silver and Leaden Mines nothing is more ordinary than that some Subterranean Spirits called Knockers where a good Vein is are often heard and seen in the shape of men little Statured about half a yard long And living mens Ghosts are commonly seen in these parts unawares to the Party We hear that a Man's Daughter fetching Water at a Well had a blow given her and a Boy coming towards her she charged him with the blow who denied he was so near but bid her look upon her Father that stood not far off and with that she could see her Father fling a Stone at her which passed with a mighty violence by her Face and the Stone was found with prints of Fingers in it but no such thing as the Father was there neither was he at home the night before The County of Cardigan is divided into five Hundreds wherein are four Market Towns Aberstwyth Cardigan Llanbeder and Treâ—aron With sixty four Parish Churches and gives the Title of Earl to Robert L. Brudenel CARMARTHEN-SHIRE so called from the chief Town therein hath Brecknock and Glamorgan-shires on the East Cardigan on the North Pembroke on the West and on the South the Severn Sea In length thirty five breadth twenty and circumference an hundred and two Miles It is not so Hilly as others in Wales and therefore affords plenty of Corn Cattel Grass Wood Pit-coal Fowl and Fish especially Salmon which is very great and plentiful It was antiently possest by the Silures and subdued to the Roman yoke by Julius Frontinus who long strugled to gain it being reckoned the strongest part of South-Wales At Kilmanloid sometime since there was found an Earthen Pot filled with Roman Coins of course Silver which stamped with the Image of several Emperors and Emperesses makes it probable that some of their Legions were quartered in these Parts Carmarthen the Principal Town is pleasantly seated near the River Tovy which runs through the midst of the Shire and falls South into the Sea where was formerly a good Haven for Ships but now so choaked up with sands that only small Vessels can come up to the Bridge which is built of Free Stone and over it on an hanging Rock a large Castle from whose Stone-Wall another mingled with Brick incompassed the whole Town being in circuit 1400 paces Upon the entrance of the Normans this Town was reduced to their obedience and suffered much damage but was after the Chancery or Exchequer of the English Princes for all South-Wales It is governed by a Mayor two Sheriffs sixteen Burgesses all in Scarlet a Sword-bearer a Town-clark and two Sergeants with Maces East from this Town on an high Hill are the ruins of Carreg-Castle under which are many deep spacious Vaults and Caves wherein it is thought the poor Natives unable to resist secured themselves from the fury of the Wars Giraldus reporteth that there is a Well or Fountain in this place which conformable to the Sea Ebbs and Flows twâ—â—e in twenty four hours The People of this County do much glory in their Ambrosius Merlin who they say was born in Carmarthen the Son of a bad Angel or Incubus the Britains great Apollo whom Geffery ap Arthur compares with the Southsaying Seers yea with the true Prophets themselves yet it is thought he was a meer Seducer and Fantastical Wizard and though Alanus hath by his Comments endeavoured to disclose the dark and hidden Prophecies wherewith his Book is filled yet the reading thereof was by the Council of Trent and afterward by Queen Elizabeth deservedly prohibited as vain and not worth minding