Chapter IV (7)

{168} “The Cambrian fair would blush as much at the term _courting in bed_ as any other modest female would, that has never heard of this custom before. It is not expressed, _Caru-yn-y-Gwely_, which means _courting in bed_; but _Caru-ar-y-Gwely_, courting on the bed. Should the lover offer any indecency, his mistress would not only fly from him with the velocity of lightning, but he would be fortunate if she would so leave him without giving him a bloody nose at parting. In a few days also, the tidings of his impudence would reach the ears of every lass in the neighbourhood; his company would be shunned with the greatest caution: and were he so successful as to prevail upon a young woman to accept of his visits, her continency would be considered as doubtful.”

{170a} “Assembled there, from pious toil they rest, And sadly share the last sepulchral feast.”

POPE’S HOMER.

{170b} This last custom is not in use in Anglesey.

{173a} Such is the received opinion; but the place noted for this event is only a thoroughfare to the grand apartments of the tower, the middle one of which appears more probably to have been the room. They shew, also, a cradle in which the Prince is said to have been rocked.

{173b} “On the outside of the town walls is a broad and pleasant terrace along the side of the Menai, extending from the Quay to the north end of the town walls, and in the evening is a fashionable promenade for persons of all descriptions. From the top of a rock behind the hotel is a fine view of the town and castle: and on a clear day the Isle of Anglesea, Holyhead, and Paris Mountains, may be distinctly seen, like a good map before the eyes.” EVANS.

{174} The parish-church is dedicated to Publicius, a brother of the far-famed and illustrious Helen, whose splendid acts in favour of Christianity are at this day attested in Palestine. Near the church are the remains of Segontium, built about the year A.D. 365, by Maximus; or, as he is styled by the British historians, Maxen Wledig. It was from hence, it is supposed, that Maximus marched in his ill-fated expedition to gain the imperial purple at Rome, taking with him all the youth whom Helen invited to join his standard. The line of march which he pursued is, even at this time, traditionally recorded amongst the common people in the neighbourhood.

{178} The hire of a boat is from seven shillings and sixpence to half-a-guinea.

{179} “The eastern seems originally to have consisted of seven stones, six uprights supporting an immense superincumbent one (with its flat face lying upon them), thirteen feet long, nearly as much broad, and four feet thick.”—Warner’s Second Walk through Wales.

{181} Before the author of this itinerary proposed publishing this tour through the Cambrian territories, he was induced to send an account of this extraordinary sect to the Gentleman’s Magazine, July, 1799, p. 579. This is, therefore, only to be considered as a repetition: with the addition of a brief extract from two subsequent letters, September, 1799, p. 741; and November, p. 938; given to the public by different hands through the medium of the Gentleman’s Magazine.

{183} September, 1799, p. 741.

{185} “Bishops Glynn, 1550; Robinson, 1584; Vaughan, 1597; Rowlands, 1616; Morgan, 1673; and one with a cross fleuri in the south transept, ascribed to Owen Glendwr; but as he was buried at Monington, in Herefordshire, where he died, I should rather ascribe it to some of the earlier bishops. Mr. Pennant gives it to Owen Gwynned.”

{189} A Trip to the Suspension Bridge over the Menai Straits. P. 11.

{191} Id est, the _Englishman’s Island_; having become subject to the English in the time of Egbert. See Rowland’s Mon. Ant. p. 172, 3.

{208} See an elegant poem written by Owain Cyveiliog, a bard who flourished in the twelfth century, intitled, “Hirlas Owain.” The original may be found in Evan Evans’s Collections, published with an English dress in Pennant’s Tours, Vol. iii. page 93. This spirited translation, by a gentleman, under the signature of R. W. must convince the reader of genuine taste, that a true poetical genius pervaded at times the bosom of the Welsh; and that some of Owain Cyveiliog’s works scarcely need shrink from a comparison with the first classical productions of Lyric poetry.

{217} Princess Joan, daughter of John, king of England.

{226} A Trip to the Suspension Bridge over the Menai Straits. P. 27.

{231} Elphin was particularly unfortunate, as the Editor has frequently seen from fifty to a hundred fine salmon taken from this weir at a tide; and herrings drawn from it by cart loads.

{237} Evans.

{238} Vol. iv. p. 67. 2nd Ed.

{247} The daughter of this gentleman was married to Captain Franklin, well known for his Expedition to North America, &c. She was an amiable and accomplished woman, and author of two Poems, highly honourable to her memory: “The Veils,” and “Richard Cœur de Leon.”

{259} Since our visit to this spot, Mr. Yorke has published a most excellent and valuable book, entitled, An History of the Royal Tribes of Wales.

{261} Enquire the way to this aqueduct at the turnpike, about four miles from Llangollen.

{265a} Lady Eleanor Butler.

{265b} Miss Ponsonby.

{265c} Willis’s St. Asaph, p. 52. 285.

{266} From a second survey of my note-book, I perceive, when speaking of the house, I omitted mentioning that there are several family pieces, both of the Wynne and Williams, worthy the inspection of the connoisseur. The house has been built at various times.

{277} This estimation is taken from the Ludlow guide; from which I have taken such extracts, as, I flatter myself, will not be unacceptable to the tourist. We dedicated two or three days to the investigation of this interesting town; and, consequently, in those parts where the guide is defective, we have made considerable additions.

{288} “This view,” says Mr. Gilpin, “is one of the grandest on the river, which I should not scruple to call _correctly picturesque_; which is seldom the character of a purely natural scene.”

{289} “The view at _Rure-dean Church_,” says Mr. Gilpin, “is a scene of great grandeur. There both sides of the river are steep and both woody; but in one the woods are intermixed with rocks. The deep umbrage of the forest of Dean occupies the front; and the spire of the Church rises among the trees. The reach of the river, which exhibits this scene is long: and, of course, the view, which is a noble piece of natural perspective, continues some time before the eye: but when the spire comes directly in front, the grandeur of the landscape is gone.”

{290} “The river is wider at this part,” says Mr. Gilpin, “and takes a sweep round a towering promontory of rock; which forms the side-screen on the left, and is the grand feature of the view. It is not a broad fractured face of rock; but rather a woody hill, from which large rocky projections, in two or three places, burst out; rudely hung with twisting branches and shaggy furniture, which, like mane round the lion’s head, give a more savage air to these wild exhibitions of nature. Near the top a pointed fragment of solitary rock, rising above the rest, has rather a fantastic appearance; but it is not without its effect in marking the scene. A great master in landscape has adorned an imaginary view with a circumstance exactly similar:

Stabat acuta silex, præcisis undique saxis,
—dorso insurgens, altissima visu,
Dirarum nidis domus opportuna volucrum,
—prona jugo, lævum incumbebat ad amnem.”

Æn, VIII. 233.

{295} Tanner’s Notitia Monastica.

{298} Warner’s first Walk through Wales.

{309} The isles of Anglesea and Man are discovered from Snowdon.