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WALES.
THIS PRINCIPALITY hath the Severn Sea on the South, Irish-Ocean on the West and North, England on the East, antiently divided from it by the River Severn, since by a Ditch drawn with much Art and Industry, from the Mouth of Dee to the Mouth of Wie. From East to West, [Wie to Saint Davids] is an hundred, from North to South, [Car•…•…ion to Hollihead] is an hundred and twenty miles.
The Ditch or Trench lately mentioned, is called Clauhd-Offa, because made by King Offa; who cruelly enacted, that what Welch-man soever was found on the East-side of this Ditch should forfeit his Right-hand. A Law long since Cancelled, and for many ages past, the Welch have come peaceably over that Place, and good reason, bringing with them both their Right-hands and Right-hearts; no less Loyally then Va∣liantly to defend England against al•…•… enemies, being themselves under the same Sove∣raign United thereunto.
It consisteth of three parts, the partition being made by •…•…oderick the great, about the year 877. dividing it betwixt his three sons.
1. North-Wales, | Whose Princes chiefly Resided at | 1. Aberfrow, |
2. Mathravall, | ||
3. Dynefar. | ||
2. Powis, | ||
3. South-Wales. |
This division in fine proved the Confusion of Wales, whose Princes were always at War, not onely against the English, their Common Foe, but mutually with themselves to enlarge or defend their Dominions.
Of these three North-wales was the chief, as doth plainly appear, first, because Ro∣derick left it Mervin his Eldest Son. Secondly, because the Princes thereof were by way of Eminency stiled the Princes of Wales, and sometimes Kings of Aberfrow. Thirdly, because as the King of Aberfrow paid to the King of London, yearly Threescore* 1.1 and three pounds by way of Tribute, so the same summe was paid to him by the Princes of Powis and South-wales.
However South-wales was of the three the Larger, Richer, Fruitfuller, therefore cal∣led by the Welsh Deheubarth, that is, The Right-side, because nearer the Sun. But that Country being constantly infested with the Invasions of the English and Flemings, had North-wales preferred before it, as more intire and better secured from such annoy∣ances. Hence it was, that whilst the Welsh-tongue in the South is so much mingled and corrupted, in North-wales it still retaineth the purity thereof.
The Soil.
It is not so Champion and Levell, and by consequence not so fruitfull as England, mostly rising up into Hills and Mountains of a lean and hungry nature, yet so that the ill quality of the ground is recompenced by the good quantity thereof.
A right worshipfull Knight in Wales, who had a fair Estate therein, his rents resulting from much Barren-ground, heard an English Gentleman (perchance out of intended op∣position) to brag, that he had in England, so much ground worth forty shillings an Acre; you (said he) have ten yards of Velvet, and I have te•…•… score of Frize, I will not exchange with you. This is generally true of all Wales, that much ground doth make up the Rent, and yet in proportion they may lose nothing thereby, compared to Estates in other Countries.
However there are in Wales most pleasant Meadows along the sides of Rivers, and