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
the Title of Baron to Henry Lord Herbert PEMBROKE-SHIRE is bounded by Carnarthen on the East and Cardigan shire on the North-East On all sides else it is surrounded by the Sea In length 26. in breadth 20. and in circumference 93 Miles It was antiently Peopled by the Dimetree as well as Cardigan and Carmarthen-shires part of this County was after inhabited by the Flemmings sent thither by King Henry I. who lost their Country by the breaking in of the Sea whereby a great part of Flanders was drowned and whose Posterity continue there to this day and speak so good English that their Division is called Little England beyond Wales The Commodities of this shire are Corn Cattel Sea-fish and Fowl and in the days of Giraldus Cambrensis they had Wines for sale the Havens being so commodious for Traffick particularly Tenby and Milford the last of which is so large a Port that sixteen Creeks five Bays and thirteen Roads distinguisht by particular names are all contained within it Pembroke is the Shire Town which appears more antient than it is it was formerly Walled and had three Gates with a large Castle and a Causey leading over to the decayed Priory of Monton The Town consists principally of one long street on a long narrow Point of a Rock and hath within the Walls thereof two Churches St. David's is a Barren old City having neither Trees to defend it nor is it pleasant with Fields or Meadows but lyes exposed to Winds and Storms It is now the seat of a Bishop but was once an Archbishoprick in the British Church At the first planting of the Gospel in the reign of King Lucius there were three Archbishops Seats appointed London York and Caerleon The last in the Reign of Arthur King of the Britains was translated from thence to St David's as being farther off from the Saxon's fury Twenty seven of them retained the Title of Archbishops the last whereof was Samson who removed the Archi-episcopal Dignity to Dâ—le in Bretaign a Province in France Yet his Suceessors though they lost the name retained the power of the Archbishop the Welsh Bishops being consecrated by him till the Reign of King Henry I. when Bernard the 47th Bishop of this See was forced to submit himself to the Church of Canterbury The Cathedral here hath been often ruined by the Danes Norwegians and other Pirates as standing near the Sea in an extream Corner of this County that which we now see was built by Bishop Peter and by him dedicated to St. David In the middle of whose Quire Edmund Earl of Richmond Father to King Henry VII lies buried whose Monument secured the Church from being defaced in the Reign of King Henry VIII The roof of this Church is higher than any in England Calphurnius a British Priest who Married Concha Sister to St Martin and had St. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland to their Son was born at St. David's Likewise Justinian a Noble Britain with his own Inheritance built a Monastery in the Island of of Ramsey in this County where many Monks dwelt happily under his Jurisdiction until three of them Murdered him out of envy and emulation for his Plous Life His Body was brought to 〈◊〉 or St. David's and there interred and his Tomb afterward much famed for many supposed Miracles Giraldus Cambrensis whose Sirname was Barry some write Fitz Girald the Welsh Historian was born at Tenby in this County being Son to William Barry an Englishman by his Wife Angareth daughter of Nesta Daughter of Rhese or Rice Prince of South-Wales He was Nephew to David the second Bishop of St David's by whom he was made Arch-Deacon of Brecknock He was wont to complain That the English did not love him because his Mother was a Welshwoman and the Welsh hated him because his Father was an Englishman Though by his excellent Writings he deserved of England well of Wales better and of Ireland best of all making an exact description of all three and acting in the last as Secrety to King John with great industry and expence Having Travelled to Jerusalem he writ a Book of the Wonders of the Holy Land He had no great success at Court and therefore attained to no considerable Dignity till at length he was offered a very mean Bishoprick in Ireland and his highest Preferment was to this of St. David's of which he gives the true reason That he was looked upon with a Jealous Eye because being a Welshman by the Mother the furer side he was thought to have a natural antipathy against the English since it was believed no good Subject could come out of Walee Being now Bishop of St. David's he went to Rome and there was very importunate for an exemption of that Diocess from the Authority of Canterbury whereby he highly offended Hubert the Archbishop thereof Whereupon being rather overborn with bribes than overcome in his Cause he returned without effecting it and dying was buried in his own Cathedral about 1215. When King Henry II. was at St. David's in this County and from thence in a clear day discovered the Coast of Ireland in an huffing bravado he said I with my Ships am able to make a Bridge thither if it be no farther Which Speach of his being related to Murchard King of Lemster in Ireland he asked whether he did not say He would do it with the help of God and being told no he chearfully answered Then I fear him the less since he trusted more to himself than to the help of God The same King Henry coming back from Ireland arrived at St. David's where being told that there is an old Prophecy of Merlin's That the Conqueror of Ireland returning that way should dye upon a stone called Lechlaver near the Church-yard He thereupon before a multitude of People passed over it unhurt and reproving the Welshmen said Now who will hereafter credit that Lyar Merlin The County of Pembroke hath been fortified with sixteen Castles besides two Block-houses or Forts Commanding the Mouth of Milford Haven and hath five Market Towns is divided into seven Hundreds wherein are forty five Parish 〈◊〉 It gives the Title of Earl to Thomas Lord Herbert who is also Earl of Montgomery RADNOR-SHIRE hath Monmouth on the North Hereford and Shropshire on the East Brecknock on the South and Cardiganshire on the West In length twenty four in breadth twenty two and in circuit ninety miles The Air is sharp and cold as generally it is through all Wales whereby the Snow lies long unmelted under those vast Mountains Hills and Rocks that overshadow the Valleys yet the East and South parts are somewhat fruitful indifferently stored with Woods and watered with Rivers and Mears The riches of the North and West consist chiefly in the Cattel which they produce The antient Inhabitants were the Silures who by their own courage and the assistance of their inaccessible Mountains preserved their freedom very long against all the attempts of the Romans These Rocks
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
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-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
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
Grandfather Griffith whom he intimated was murdered in the Tower of London and not kill'd by accident yet he sent a message to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York That if the King pleased to appoint Commissioners to receive his Oath and Homage he was very ready to give it or if he would name some indifferent place and give Prince Edward the Earl of Glocester and the Lord Chancellor as Hostages for his safe return he would wait upon him in Person The King dissembled his anger at these arrogant demands but a while after coming to the Castle of Chester on the Border of Wales he again sent for him and Leoline again denied to come At which the King resolved for preventing all future disturbances on that side to make an absolute Conquest of the Countrey And on the contrary the Welsh having always a custom at every change of Princes in England to try conclusions expecting one time or other to change their Yoke of Bondage into Liberty were in great hopes of doing it at this time having now a valiant Prince to command them But an accident happened which somewhat took off their edge for the Lady Eleanor Daughter of Simon Earl of Montfort whom Prince Leoline extreamly loved Sailing out of France into Wales was by the way taken by some English Ships and brought to King Edward and for the Love of her Prince Leoline was willing to submit to any conditions so that besides his Promise of submission to the Government he agreed to pay down Fifty thousand pounds Sterling and a thousand pound a year during life Upon these Terms he Married his beloved Lady and the Wedding was solemniz'd in England the King and Queen being present thereat Three years Leoline continued faithful and obedient in which time David one of his Brothers staying in England and being found by the King to be of a stirring Spirit was much honoured by him Knighted and Match to a Rich Widow Daughter of the Earl of Derby to which the King added the gift of the Castle of Denbigh with a thousand pound a year though it was at length discovered that he lived here only as a Spy For Prince Leoline's Lady dying soon after and he contrary to his engagements taking up Arms his Brother David notwithstanding these favours from the King went and joined with him and they together enter into England seizing the Castles of Flint and Ruthland with the Person of the Lord Chief Justice Clifford who was sent thither as a Judge and in a great Battel the Welsh overthrew the Earls of Northumberland and Surrey with the Slaughter of many English King Edward was at the Vizes in Wiltshire when news coming of this revolt and overthrow he raises an Army to revenge it In his way he goes to visit his Mother Queen Eleanor who lay at the Nunnery of Almesbury with whom while he was discoursing a Person was brought into the Chamber who pretended that being formerly blind he had received his Sight at the Tomb of King Henry III. When the King saw him he knew him and that he was a most notorious lying Villain and intreated his Mother not to give the least credit to him but the Queen who was glad to hear of this Miracle for the glory of her Husband finding her Son unwilling that his Father should be a Saint fell suddenly into such a rage that she commanded him out of her sight which the King obeys and going forth meets with a Clergyman to whom he tells the story of this Impostor adding merrily That he knew the Justice of his Father to be such that he would rather pluck out the Eyes being whole of such a wicked wretch than restore him to his sight In the mean time the Archbishop of Canterbury went of himself to Prince Leoline and his Brother David endeavouring to persuade them to submission but in vain for Leoline was so animated with an old British Prophecy of Merlin's That he should shortly be Crowned with the Diadem of Brute that he had no Ear for Peace and shortly after no head for the Earl of Pembroke first took Bere Castle which was his usual residence from him he then gave him Battel and his Party being defeated his Head was cut off by a Common Souldier and sent to King Edward who caused it to be Crowned with Ivy thereby in some part unluckily fulfilling his Welsh Prediction And this was the end of Leoline the last of the Welsh Princes betrayed as some write by the men of Buelth Soon after his Brother David flying into Wales and being destitute of help or relief he was at length taken with two of his Sons and seven Daughters as some Authors write all which were brought before the King David was committed to Chester Castle and afterward in a Parliament at Shrewsbury was convicted of Treason and sentenced to an ignominious death namely to be first drawn at a Horse Tail about the City of Shrewsbury then to be beheaded and quartered his Heart and Bowels burnt His Head to accompany his Brothers was put upon the Tower of London and his four Quarters were set up in four Cities Bristol Northampton York and Winchester A manifold Execution and the first shewed in this kind in this Kingdom in the Person of the Son of a Prince or any other Nobleman that we read of in our History Some have observed that upon King Edward's thus totally subjecting Wales he lost his Eldest Son Alphonsus a Prince of great hopes about twelve years of Age and had only left to succeed him his Son Edward lately born at Carnarvan and the first of the English Royal Families that was Intituled Prince of Wales but no Prince worthy either of Wales or England After this the rest of the Welshmen as well Nobles as others submitted themselves to King Edward and all the Countrey and Castles therein were surrendred to him who then annexed that Country to the Crown of England and built two strong Castles at Aberconway and Carnarvan to secure their obedience He also gave several Lands and Castels to Englishmen as the Lordship of Denhigh to Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln Of Ruthen to Reginald Lord Grey and divided Wales into Counties and Hundreds establishing the Government thereof agreeable to the Laws of England This happened in the twelfth year of his Reign 1284. Remarks upon the Lives of the Princes of Wales of the Royal Families of England PART II. THough King Edward I. had subjected the Principality of Wales and afterward annexed it to the Crown of England yet he could never induce that People freely to own him as their King but upon condition that he would come and reside among them or at least appoint them a Prince of their own Nation to Govern them for the Welchmen having experienced the rigorous and severe Treatment of the English Governours and being sensible that the King would rule them by an English Deputy they could not with patience bear the thoughts of it so that
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
very great plenty The antient Inhabitants were the Ordovices as the Romans named them who being armed with want and cold were made bold against the force of their Enemies and continued longest free both from the Roman and English Dominion This Shire is 31 Miles long and 17 broad and in circuit 114. The Mountains abound with Oxen Sheep and Goats The middle of it hath a Valley 17 miles long and five broad lying open to the Sea incompassed on all other sides by Hills among which the hiâ—hest is Moilleally Hill on the top whereof is a Fort â—â—d Warlike Trench and a spring of clear Water From these Mountains the River Cluyd riseth runs into the Valley in the Parish of Llan-sanan in the side of a stony Hill there are 24 seats cut out of the main Rock some bigger than others where youth come to tend their Cattel make their sports which to this day is called Arthur's round Table After the beheading of David brother to Luellin the last P. of Wales for High Treason K. Ed. I. bestowed the Town of Denbigh upon Hugh Lacy E. of Lincoln who fortified it with a strong Wall a fair Castle and several high Towers but had not fully finished the Work before his only Son was drowned in a Well therein which caused the sorrowful Father to leave it off and proceed no farther This Town is reckoned the most beautiful in all North-Wales and this is remarkable that in 1575. a great Earthquake which much terrified the People and damaged the Cities of York Worcester Glocester Bristol Hereford and the parts adjacent and caused the Bell in the Shire Hall of Denbigh to Toll twice with shaking of the Earth yet no farther mischief happened This Town is Governed by two Aldermen two Bayliffs 25 Burgesses a Recorder a Town-Clerk and two Sergeants at Mace Wrexham in this County is much admired for the Church which is a fair and spacious structure having a stately Tower or Steeple without and a fine Organ within it being built according to the most exact Rules of Architecture Holt Castle in this County was formerly in the possession of William Lord Stanley whose ready Money and Plate therein besides Jewels and Rich Housholdstuff amounted to four thousand Marks got by the plunder of Bosworth Field where King Richard III. was slain but this Lord upon discontent afterward conspiring against King Henry VII was beheaded for High Treason and it was all confiscated to the King's Exchequer Leoline ap Lleuellin was born in this Shire and made Bishop of St. Asaph by King Edward I. At his death he left a great Estate besides Plate rich Vests and Books to the Canons of that Church and his Chaplains dying in 1313. Godfrey Goodman was born of wealthy Parents in this County and afterward Bishop of Glocester yet was no friend to the Reformation constantly complaining of the first Reformers amongst whom he noted Bishop Ridley as a very odd man One present My Lord says he Ridley was a very odd manindeed for all the Popish Party in England could not match him with his equal in Learning and Religion He died a Roman Catholick and left most of his Estate to pious uses His Uncle Gabriel Goodman was Dean of Westminster for 40 years and the Bible was translated into Welsh at his cost He founded a School and an Almshouse for 12 poor People at Ruthen with a competent Salary He purchased a fair house at Cheswick in Middlesex wherewith his own hands he planted a fair row of Elmes for a retiring place to the Masters and Scholars of Westminster School He imployed Mr. Camden to make an actual Survey of all England at his expence He died 1601. and was buried in Westminster Abbey Sir Hugh Middleton was born at Denbigh and bred in London This is that worthy Knight who fetcht into London the New River Water at his own cost more than 24 Miles encountring all the way with an Army of oppositions grapling with Hills strugling with Rocks and fighting with Forests till in defiance of difficulties he had brought his Project to perfection Robert Earl of Leicester in the reign of Q. Elizabeth by his bounty advanced the building of a new Church in Denbigh Denbigh In 1660. a very great Well in Chick-Town was dried up Richard Clough born at Denbigh was a Chorister at Chester whence he removed to London where he was Apprentice to and after Partner with Sir Tho. Gresham Having lived some time at Antwerp he travelled to Jerusalem where he was made Knight of the Holy Sepulchre Some affirm that he disbursed several thousands of pounds in building the Royal Exchange and that it was agreed betwixt them the Survivor should be Heir to the other on which account they say Sir Tho. Gresham carried away the main of the Estate He gave 100 pound a year to the Free-School in Denbigh besides his Benefaction to the New Church there This County is divided into twelve Hundreds had formerly 5 Castles hath 3 Market-Towns Denbigh Ruthen and Wrexham and 57 Parish-Churches It gives the Title of Earl to L. Feilding FLINTSHIRE hath Cheshire on the East the Sea on the North Shropshire on the South and Denbighshire on the West It is the least Country of Wales not so mountainous as other parts but lies pleasantly along by the River Dee The Air is healthful and the Soil plentiful of Corn and Cattel the Rivers abound with Fish There are not many Woods or Trees in this as well as other parts of Wales the frequent Rebellions of the Inhabitants having occafioned the English to make great devastations of them to prevent their being the retreats of these unquiet people Fruits are not very common but of Milk Butter Cheese and Honey there is plenty Of the last of which they make great quantities of a Drink like Muscadine called Metheglin There were formerly several strong Castles in this Shire as Flint Hawarden or Harden Treer Rudland Mold Yowley and Hope the first was the most famous being founded by K. Henry 2. and finished by K. Edward the first Afterward K. Richard 2. going over to Ireland to suppress the Rebels there his Uncle Henry Duke of Lancaster returning from his Banishment into England at the same time and being joyned by several of the Barons who were much displeased at K. Richard's Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government raised an Army of 60000 Men against him The King returned in hope to suppress this Insurrection and coming to Flint-Castle the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Earl of Northumberland were sent to him from the D. of Lancaster to whom K. Richard made a Proposition That if himself and eight more whom he would name might have an honourable allowance with the assurance of enjoying peaceably a quiet life he would resign his Crown This the Earl of Northumberland assured him should be performed whereupon the King surrendred himself into the Duke's hands When K. Richard came first to this Castle they let loose one of his
Lands belonging to them being alienated from the Church for ever Another Monastery of great account was at Basing-wark in this County near the famous Ditch made by Offa K. of the Mercians which begun in this place running through North-Wales nigh the mouth of the River Dee and from thence along the Mountains in the South and ended near Bristow at the fall of the Wye The Tract whereof is yet to be seen and called to this Day Clawd Offa or Offa's Ditch Congellus or Comgallus is challenged by the Welsh for their Countryman as being first Abbot of Banchor though Archbishop Vsher makes him the first Abbot of Bangor in the North of Ireland He was of a pious life wrote Learned Epistles and Died in 600. Elizabeth the seventh Daughter of King Edward I. and Queen Eleanor was born at Ruthland Castle where antiently a Parliament was kept This Princess at 14 years of age was Married to John Earl of Holland Zealand c. and after his death to Humfrey Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex High Constable of England by whom he had a numerous Issue she died 1316. and was buried in the Abbey Church of Saffron Walden in Essex Owen Glendour Esquire was born in his antient Patrimony of Glendour Wye in this County was bred in London a Student of the Common Law till he became a Courtier and Servant to King Richard II. after whose death being on the wrong side of preferment he retired into Wales where there arose a difference between him and the Lord Grey of Ruthen about a Common upon which many spur'd on his posting ambition by telling him he was the true Heir of all North-Wales and he was likewise incouraged therein by those who pretended to interpret some Propheâ—s of the famous Merlin in his favour persuading him the time was come wherein he should recover the Welsh Principality All these allurements meeting with an aspiring mind and the English being at variance among themselves He in 1402. and the third year of K. Henry IV. endeavoured to draw the Welshmen to a general defection assuring them they had now a fair opportunity to shake off the English Yoke and to resume their own antient Laws and Customs To whose persuasions the Welshmen hearkning they constituted him their Prince and Captain General Having got some Forces together he falls first upon his old Adversary Reynold Lord Grey and takes him Prisoner yet with promise of releasment if this Lord would Marry his Daughter which offer though the Lord Grey at first not only refused but scorned yet was at last obliged to accept thereof though his treacherous Father in Law delayed his inlargement till he died The Welsh much animated with this first success break furiously into the Borders of Herefordshire plundring and destroying all before them being opposed only by the Lord Edmund Mortimer who had formerly withdrawn himself to the Castle of Wigmore He having assembled what Forces he was able gave them Battel and was taken Prisoner and then fettered cast into a deep and filthy Dungeon It was thought that if Glendour had as well known how to use his Victory as to get it he might at this time have much endangered the English Dominion over the Welsh But having killed 1000 English he thought he had done enough for that time and so giving over the pursuit retired The inhumanity of the Welsh Women was here memorable who stript the dead Carcasses of the English and then cut off their Privy Parts and Noses whereof the one they thrust into their Mouths the other they pressed between their Buttocks King Henry was compell'd to suffer these affronts at this time from the Welsh being ingaged in a dangerous War with Scotland that K. having Invaded England with a great Army but with very ill success his Forces being first defeated by the Earl of Northumberland And afterward by Henry Piercy his Kinsman called Hot-spur and George Earl of March who at a place called Hamilton kill'd 10000 Scots and took 500 Prisoners In the mean time Glendour had solicited the French King for aid who sent him 1200 men of quality but the Winds were so contrary that they lost 12 of their Ships and the rest returned home The English deriding this ill success of the French so exasperated the French K. that presently after he sent 12000 more who landed safely and joined with the Welsh but when they heard of the approach of the English Army whether mistrusting their own strength or suspecting the Welshmens faithfulness they ran to their Ships disgracefully went home Although King Henry IV. was advanced to the Crown by the Parliament of England who Deposed King Richard II. for his misgovernment yet many of those who were instrumental therein grew in a short time discontented upon one account or another as is usual in such cases insomuch that several Conspiracies were made against him Among others the Peircies Earls of Northumberland and Worcester with Henry Hot-spur began about this time to fall off from him one reason whereof was because the King at their request as well as of several other Noblemen refused to redeem their Kinsman Mortimer from Glendour's slavery for Henry was deaf of that Ear and could rather have wished both him and his two Sisters in Heaven for then he should be free from concealed Competitors And another cause was his denying them the benefit of such Prisoners as they had taken of the Scots whereupon they went of themselves and procured Mortimer's Delivery and then entred into a League Offensive and Defensive with Glendour and by their Proxies in the House of the Arch-Deacon of Bangor they agreed upon a Tripartite Indenture under their Hands and Seals to divide the Kingdom into three parts whereby all England from Severn and Trent South and Eastward was to be given to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March All Wales and the Land beyond the Severn West were assigned to Owen Glendour and all the remaining Land from Trent to the North to be the Partition of the Lord Piercy Wherein Glendour persuaded them they should accomplish an old Welsh Prophecy against the Mole or Mouldwarp of England That K. Henry was this Mouldwarp cursed of God's own Mouth and they were the Lion the Dragon and the Wolf which should divide the Land among them At this time King Henry utterly unacquainted with this Conspiracy published a Proclamation intimating that the Earl of March had voluntarily caused himself to be taken Prisoner to the end that the Welsh Rebels having him in their custody might have some pretence for their Insurrection and therefore he had little reason to be concerned for his Redemption Upon this the Piercy's assisted with some Scots and drawing to their Party the E. of Stafford Rich. Scroop Archbishop of York and many others they drew up certain Articles against King Henry and sent them to him in writing namely That he had falsified his Oath given at his landing That he came but only to recover his
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
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