CAERNARVON-SHIRE.

CHAPTER. XIV.

CAERNARVON-SHIRE, in Welsh, Sire Caer-ar-v•n, so called because it is just over against Anglesey, (which the Britains call Mon) and in composition was termed also Snowden-Forrest, before Wales was laid into Shires; the North-side whereof and the West butteth upon the Irish-Sea, the South-side is inclosed with Merioneth, and the East with Den∣bigh shires, from which it is severed by the River Conwey.

(2) The form thereof is much like a wedge, long and narrow towards the South and growing still wider towards the North: so that from Pev•nkel-point Southward, to Orms-head-point Northward, are forty miles, from the River Conwey Eastward, to the River Ll•noy Westward, miles twenty: and the whole circumference one hundred and ten miles.

(3) The Air is sharp and piercing, by reason that the Country hath not natural Provision to en∣sconce her self against the extremity of Winds and Weather: but especially, as may be thought, through the continuance of the Snow on the Hills, which also exclude the Suns aspect and warmth.

(4) The Soil cannot be much commended for the fertility, except those parts of the Sea-coasts, which lie on the West towards Ireland: but for the heart of this Shire, it is altogether mountainous, as if nature had a purpose here, by rearing up these craggy Hills so thick together, strongly to com∣pact the joynts of this our Island, and to frame the Inland part thereof for a fit place of refuge to the Britains, against those times of adversity which afterward did fall upon them; for no Army, though never so strongly, or scarce any Travellers, though never so lightly appointed, can find passage a∣mong those so many rough and hard Rocks, so many Vales and Pools here and there, crossing Page  [unnumbered] all the ways, as ready obstacles to repel any Inroads of forrain assailants. These Mountains may not unfitly be termed the British Alps, as being the most vast of all Britain, and for their steepness and crag∣giness not unlike to those of Italy, all of them towring up into the Air, and round encompassing one far higher than all the rest, peculiarly called Snowdon Hills, though the other likewise in the sa••e sense, are by the Welsh termed Craig Eriry, as much as Snowy Mountains, taking their name as doth (by Plinies testimony) Niphates in Armenia, and Imaus in Scythia: For all the year long these lie man∣telled over with Snow hard crusted together, though otherwise for their height they are open and liable both to the Sun to dissolve them, and the Winds to over-sweep them.

(5) The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the O••ovices, of whom we have sufficiently spoken in the description of the former Provinces; neither need I insist either upon the pleasures or profits that this Country yieldeth, by reason of the great affinity it hath both of Climate and Commo∣dities with Denbigh-shire and Flint-shire before mentioned: But this beyond the other in some places breeds certain Shel-fishes, which being conceived by an heavenly dew, bring forth Pearls, in ancient times more reckoned of than now they are.

(6) Touching places of note, that City is very ancient which the Emperour Antonine call••h Segontium, taking name of a River running by, which at this day is called S••ent: some Reliques of the Walls whereof do yet appear, neer unto a little Church consecrated to the honour of Saint Publicius. This City Ninius calleth Caer Custenith, which some interpret the City of Constantine. Indeed Matthew Westminster saith (how true I know not) that Anno 1283. here was found the body of Constantius (Father to Great Constantine) which King Edward th• first caused to be sumptuously bestowed in the Church of the new City, which he raised out of the ruins of the old, and is now called Caernarvon, which giveth name to this whole Shire. The Town it self yieldeth a most Page  [unnumbered] excellent prospect towards the Sea, and is incompassed (in a manner) round with the Walls of the Ca∣stle: so as we may say, it is a City within a Castle, which taketh up the whole West-side of it: and great pity it is, that so famous a work should not be perpetuous, or ever become the ruin of time, which is much feared, for the merciless underminings of the Sea, that with her daily and forcible irruptions ne∣ver ceaseth to wash away the Foundations of the Key. The People of this Town are well approved for courtesie, and also Civil Government, which is administred by the Constable of the Castle (who is ever Mayor by Patent) having the assistance of one Alderman, two Bailiffs, two Sergeants at Mace, and one Town-Cle•k. The Townsmen do not a little glory that King Edward the Second was born there, in a Tower of the Castle called Eagle-Tower, and surnamed of Caer-nar-von, he being the first Prince of Wales of the English Line. The site of this Town according to Mathematical observation is in the degree of Longitude 15 and 50 scruples from the first West point, and the Pole elevated in La∣titude 53 and 50.

Bangor the Bishops See, though it be now but a small Town, yet it was in time past so large, that for the greatness thereof it was called Banchor-Vaur, that is, Great-Banchor; which Hugh Earl of Che∣ster fortified with a Castle: But it hath been long since utterly ruinated and laid level with the ground, insomuch as there is not any footing to be found or o•her monuments left thereof, although they have been sought with all diligent enquiry. This Bishops See hath been the Diocess of ninety six Parishes. But the ancient Church which was consecrated unto Daniel, sometime Bishop thereof, was defaced and set on fire by that notorious Rebel Owen Glendowerdwy, who had a purpose also to destroy all the Cities of Wales, for that they stood for the King of England. And though the same Church was since repaired about the time of King Henry the seventh, yet hath it scarce recovered the resemblance of her former dignity.

Page  [unnumbered]The River Conwey (which limiteth this Shire on the East-side) is in Ptolomy by corruption or igno∣rance of Transcribers called Toissonius, instead of Cononius, whence Canonium (a Town mentioned by Antonine) took name: and albeit both it and its name be now utterly extinct, yet is there a covert re∣membrance thereof in the new name of a poor Village, standing among the rubbish thereof, called Caer-hean, (that is) the ancient City: Out of the Spoil whereof King Edward the first, built a new Town at the Rivers mouth, termed thereupon Aber-Conwey: (that is) the mouth of Conwey, which being formerly fortified by Hugh of Chester, and strongly situate and senced both with Walls and a fair Castle by the Rivers side, deserves rather the name of a City than a Town, if it were more populous and traffiqued with Inhabitants. Neither must I here forget Nowin, though but a small Market-Town, for that it pleased the English Nobles, Anno 1284, to honour it and the memory of King Ar∣thur, with triumphant celebrity, after they had subdued the rebellious Ringleaders of Wales.

(7) Other matters of memorable note this Country affordeth not much, unless perhaps this: That just over-against the River Conwey, where it issueth into the Sea, there sometimes stood an ancient City named Diganwey, which many years ago was consumed by Lightning, and so made utterly desolate, as many other Monuments have been, of ancient and worthy memory. As likewise that in the Pool Lin-Peris, there is a kind of Fish called there T•rcoth, having a red Belly, no where else seen. For touching these two other miracles famoused by Gira•dus and Gervasius, that on those his high Hills there are two Pools called the Mears, the one of which produceth great store of Fish, but all having only one Eye, and the other there is a moveable Island, which as soon as a man treadeth thereon, it forth∣with floateth a great way off, whereby the Welsh are said to have often scaped and deluded their Ene∣mies assailing them: these matters are out of my Creed, and yet I think the Reader had rather be∣lieve them, than to go to see whether it be so or no.

Page  [unnumbered]It is traded with five Market-Towns fit for bargaining, buying and selling, fortified with four Ca∣stles, and hath sixty eight Parish-Churches in it, where the Inhabitants concur and meet together for the celebration of Divine-Service.