Britain, or A chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdomes, England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the ilands adjoyning, out of the depth of antiquitie beautified vvith mappes of the severall shires of England: vvritten first in Latine by William Camden Clarenceux K. of A. Translated newly into English by Philémon Holland Doctour in Physick: finally, revised, amended, and enlarged with sundry additions by the said author.

[ A]

THE ISLE MONA, or of ANGLESEY.

THe County of Caer-Nar-von, which I last ranne through, tooke name as I said erewhile, of the chiefe Towne therein: [ B] and the said Towne, of the Isle Mona which lieth over a∣gainst it: and requireth, as it were of right, that I should treat of it in his due place, which unwillingly heeretofore (I confesse) I referred to the out Islands: whereas by right, it is to be placed among the Shires. This Isle called of the Romans MONA,* 1.1 of the Britans Mon, and Tir-Mon, that is, the land of Mon and Ynis Dowil, that is, A shadowy or darke Island, of the ancient Anglo-Saxons 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and at last, after that the English men became Lords of it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉-ea, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as one would say, The English mens Island, being severed from the Continent of Britaine with the small narrow streight of Menai, and on all parts [ C] besides beaten upon with that surging and troublous Irish Sea, lieth in forme une∣quall; in length from East to West reaching out twenty miles, in breadth scarce se∣venteene. And albeit, as Giraldus saith, the ground may seeme dry and stonie, nothing sightly and unpleasant, and for the outward qualitie resembleth wholy the land Pebidia••c, that lieth hard unto Saint Davids: yet for the inward gift of nature, it is farre unlike. For, above all the Coasts of Wales it is without comparison most plentifull of Wheat, in so much as by way of a Proverbe they are wont to say of it in the Welsh language, Mon Mam Cymbry, which is as much in English, As Mon is the mother of Wales: because when all other Coun∣tries round about doe faile, this alone with the exceeding fat soile, and plentifull encrease of Corne was wont to sustaine all Wales. In Cattaile also it is passing rich, and sendeth out [ D] great multitudes. It yeeldeth also Grind stones, and in some place an earth standing upon Alum; out of which some not long since beganne to make Alum and Cope∣rose. But when they saw it not answerable to their expectation at first, without any farther hope they gave over their enterprise.

This is that most notable Isle MONA,* 1.2 the ancient seat of the Druides, attempted first by Paulinus Suetonius, and brought under the Romane Empire by Iulius Agri∣cola. This Suetonius Paulinus under the reigne of Nero, as Tacitus writeth, made all preparation to invade the Isle Mona inhabited by a strong and stout Nation, and then the re∣ceptacle of Fugitives. He built Flat-bothom vessels, because the Sea is shalow, the landing-shore uncertaine. Thus their footmen passed over, and after them the Horsemen following by [ E] the shallow fourd, or swimming where the waters were deepe with their Horses. Against them stood the Enemies armies on the shore thicke set in aray, well appoynted with Men and weapons, and Women also running in, to and fro among them, like furies of Hell, in mourning attyre, their hayre about their eares, and with firebrands in their hands. Round about them also were the Druida, who lifting up their hands to Heaven, and powring out deadly curses, with the strangenesse of the sight, so daunted the Souldiers, as they stood stock-still, and not able to stirre their joynts presented their bodies unto wounds. At length, what with the exhortation of their Captaine, and what with encouraging and animating one another not to feare a flocke of Franticke Women, and fanaticall persons, they displaied and advaunced forward their En∣signes: Downe they goe with all in their way, and thrust them within their owne fires. Which [ F] done, Garisons were placed in their Townes, and the Groves consecrated to their cruell Supersti∣tions cut downe: For they accounted it lawfull to Sacrifice with the bloud of Captives, and by inspection of Mens fibres and bowels to know the will of their gods. But as Paulinus was busie in these exploits, newes came unto him of a sudden revolt through the whole Province, which

stayed his enterprise. Afterwards, as the same Tacitus writeth, Iulius Agricola, purpo∣sed [ A] with himselfe to subdue the Island Mona, from the possession whereof, as I said before Pauli∣nus was revoked by a generall rebellion of all Britaine: But (as in a purpose not prepensed before) vessels being wanting, the policie and resolutenesse of the Captaine devised a passage over, causing the most choise of the Auxiliaries, to whom all the shallowes were knowne, and who after the use of their Country were able in Swimming to governe themselves with their Armour and Horses; laying aside their carriage, to put over at once and suddenly to in∣vade them. Which thing so amazed the Enemies who supposed they would passe over by Ship∣ping and therefore attended for a Fleet, and the tide, that they beleeved verily nothing could be hard or invincible to men that came so resolute to Warre. Whereupon they humbly intreated for Peace and yeelded the Island. Thus by this service Agricola became famous indeed, and of [ B] great reputation.

Many ages after, it was Conquered by the English men, and tooke their name, as being called in old time in the Saxons language 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, now commonly Anglesey, as one would say, The English mens Island. But seeing that Humfrey Lhuid in a very learned Epistle to that learned Ortelius, hath restored this Island to the due name and dignitie, there is no reason that any man heere should require my diligence. Yet thus much will I adde unto the rest. When the Empire of the Romanes in Britaine now was in declining and going downward, some out of Ireland, entred in by stealth into this Isle also and nestled there. For, besides certaine Mounts of earth entren∣ched about, which they call The Irish mens cotages, there is a place also, named Yn He∣ricy [ C] Gwidil of the Irish men, who as we finde it recorded in the booke of Triades, un∣der the leading of Sirigus, put the Britans to flight in that place.

Neither was it grievously infested onely by the English men, but also by the Nor∣vegians. Likewise in the yeere of our redemption 1000. King Aethelreds fleete ha∣ving skoured the Seas round about the said Isle, wasted it in all hostile maner. After this, the two Norman Hughes, the one Earle of Chester, and the other Earle of Shrewsburie greatly afflicted it, and built Castle Aber-Llienioc for to restraine and keepe under the Inhabitants. But Magnus the Norwegian arriving heere at the very same time, shot the said Hugh Earle of Shrewsbury through with an Arrow, and after he had ransacked the Island, departed. The English men moreover after∣ward [ D] from time to time invaded it, untill that King Edward the First brought it wholly under his subjection. There were in ancient time reckoned in it 363. Villa∣ges, and even at this day it is well peopled. The principall Towne therein at this time is Beaumarish, which King Edward the First built in the East-side of the Isle vpon a marish ground, and for the situation thereof gave it this goodly faire name, where∣as before time it was called Bonover, who also fortified it with a Castle, which not∣withstanding may seeme never to have been finished: the Governour whereof is the right Worshipfull Sir Richard Bulkley Knight, whose courtesie toward me when I came to visite these places, I cannot chuse but evermore acknowledge with most hearty thankfulnesse. [ E]

* 1.3Hard unto Beau-Marish, lieth Lhan-vays, a famous religious house in times past of the Friers Minors, unto whom the Kings of England shewed themselves very bountifull Patrons, as well in regard of the Friers holinesse, who there conversed, as also because there (that I may speake out of the publike records of the Kingdome) were buried a daughter of King Iohn,* 1.4 a sonne of the King of the Danes, the bodies also of the Lord Clifford, and of other Lords, Knights, and Squires, who in the time of the noble and renowned Kings of England, were slaine in the Warres against the Welsh.

* 1.5The next Towne in name to Beau-Marish, is Newburg called in British Rossur standing ten miles off Westward, which having been a long time greatly annoyed with heaps [ F] of sand driven in by the Sea, complaineth that it hath lost much of the former state that it had.* 1.6 Aber-fraw is not farre from hence, which is now but an obscure and meane Towne, yet in times past it excelled all the rest farre in worth and dignity, as having

[ A] been the Royall seat of the Kings of Guineth, or North-Wales. And in the utmost Promontorie Westward,* 1.7 which wee call Holy-head, there standeth a little poore Towne,* 1.8 in British Caer-Guby so named of Kibie a right holy man, and a disciple of Saint Hilarie of Poitiers, who therein devoted himselfe to the service of God, and from whence there is an usuall passage over into Ireland. All the rest of this Island is well bespred with Villages, which because they have in them nothing materially memorable, I will crosse over into the Continent, and view Denbigh-shire.

[ B]

In this County there are reckoned Parishes 74.

[illustration]

[illustration]

DENBIGH Comitatus pars Olim ORDOVICVM

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mona. Anglesey.
• * 1.2

  Druid••.
• * 1.3

  Lhan-vays.
• * 1.4

  2. Pars Pat. anno 2. H. 5.
• * 1.5

  Newburg.
• * 1.6

  Aber-fraw.
• * 1.7

  Holy head.
• * 1.8

  Saint Kibie. As touching the Islands a••••joyning to A••••glesey, See a∣mong the Bri∣tish Isles.