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* 1.1DENBIGH-SHIRE, called in Welsh, Si••e Denbigh, retiring more from the Sea within the Countrey, on this side of the River Conwey shooteth East∣ward in one place as farre as to the River Dee: on the North, first the Sea (for a small space) and then Flint-shire encompasseth it: on the West, Caernarvon and Merioneth-shire; on the East, Che∣shire and S••ropshire; and on the South, Mountgome∣ry-shire.
* 1.2(2) The forme thereof is long, growing wider still towards the North-west, & narrower towards the East. It is in length from East to West, one and thirty miles, and in breadth from North to South, seventeen miles: in the whole circuit and circum∣ference, one hundred and foureteen miles.
* 1.3(3) The ayre is very wholesome and pleasant, yet bleake enough, as exposed to the winds on all sides, and the high hils, wherewith it is in many places environed; long retaining the congealed snow. The tops whereof, in the Summer time, are the harvest mens Almanacks,* 1.4 by the rising of certain vapours thereon in the mornings, and foreshew a faire day ensuing.
* 1.5(4) The Soyle is but barren towards the West part: yet the middle, where it lieth flat in a valley, is most fertile. The East side, when it is once past the valley, findeth Nature to be a very sparing niggard of her favours: but next unto Dee it feeleth a more liberall extent of her blessings. The west part is but here and there inhabited, and mounteth up more then the other with bare and hungry hils: yet the leannesse of the soil (where the hils settle anything flattish) hath been now a good while begun to be overcome by the diligent pains and carefull indu∣strie of the husbandmen;* 1.6 for they paring away the upper coat of the earth into certaine Turfes, with a broad kind of spade, pile them up artificially on heaps, and fire them, so as being turned into ashes, and thrown upon the ground so pared, they fructi∣fie the hungry barrennesse and sterilitie of soile, and make the fields bring forth a kind of Rye or Amell∣corne, in such plenty, as is hardly to be beleeved.
* 1.7(5) The ancient Inhabitants of this Countrey were the Ordovices, who be also named Ordovices, or Ordovicae: a puissant and courageous people, by rea∣son they kept wholly in a mountainous place, and took heart even of the soyle it selfe: for they conti∣nued longest free from the yoke both of Roman, and also of English dominion. They were not subdued by the Romans before the dayes of the Emperor Do∣mitian (for then Iulius Agricola cōquered almost the whole Nation) nor brought under the command of the English,* 1.8 before the Raigne of King Edward the first; but lived a long time in a lawlesse kind of li∣bertie, as bearing themselves bold upon their owne magnanimitie, and the strength of the Countrey.
* 1.9(6) The Mountains of this Countrey yeeld suffi∣ciencie of Neat, Sheep, and Goats. The Vallies in most places are very plenteous of Corn, especially Eastward on this side, betwixt the rivers of Alen and Dee; but the more Westerly part is healthy, and al∣together barren. The heart of the Shire shews it self beneath the hils, in a beautifull and pleasant Vale, reaching seventeen miles in length from South to North, & five miles, or ther-abouts, in breadth, and lieth open onely toward the Sea. It is environed on every side with high hils, amongst which, the high∣est is Moillenlly,* 1.10 on the top whereof is a warlike Fense with Trench and Rampire, and a little Foun∣tain of clear water. From these hils the River Cluyd resorts unto this Vale, and from the very Spring∣head (increased with becks and brooks) doth part it in twain, running through the midst of it; where∣of in ancient time it was named Strat Cluyd: for Ma∣rianus maketh mention of a King of the Strat Cluyd of the Welsh: And at this day it is commonly called Diffryn Cluyd, that is, The Vale of Cluyd.
This thing is worthy observation, as a matter memorable, both for admiration and antiquitie, that in the Parish of Llan-sanan within this Coun∣trey, there is a place compasse cut out of the main Rocke by mans hand, in the side of a stony hill, wherein there be foure and twenty seats to sit in, some lesse, some bigger, where children and young men coming to seek their cattell, use to sit, and to have their sports. And at this day they commonly call it Arthurs round Table.* 1.11
(7) Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne, obtaining Den∣bigh by the grant of King Edward the first,* 1.12 after the conviction and beheading of David brother of Lle∣wellin for high treason, was the first that fortified it wth a wal about, not large in circuit, but very strōg, and on the south-side with a fair castle, strengthned with many high towers. But he gave it over, & left the work unfinished, conceiving griefe (as a sorrow∣full father) that his onely sonne came to untimely death, and was drowned in the Well thereof. The same of this Town spreads it selfe farre for repute, as being reckoned the most beautifull place in all North-Wales:* 1.13 & it is of no lesse report, for the castle adjunct unto it is impregnable for fortificatiō. And this strange accident hapning there in the yeer 1575 deserves not to be omitted, being left as a continual remembrance of Gods mercifull providence and preservation at that time: that where by reason of great Earth-quakes,* 1.14 many people were put into great fear, and had much harme done unto them both within and without their houses, in the Cities of York, Worcester, Glocester, Bristow, Herefored, and in other Countries adjacent, yet in the Shire-hall of Denbigh the bel was caused to toll twice, by the sha∣king of the earth, and no hurt or hindrance at all ei∣ther done or received.* 1.15 The governmēt of this town is managed by two Aldermen, & two Bailiffes, who are yeerly elected out of twenty five Burgesses, that are their assistants. It hath one Recorder, one town-Clerk, and two Sergeants at Mace: and by obser∣vation of the Mathematicks,* 1.16 the Pole is elevated in the degree of Latitude 53. & 49. scruples, and from the first West point in Longitude 16. and 45.
(8) This County,* 1.17 with them of Flint and Carnar∣von-shires, are not divided by pricks into their seve∣ral hundreds in their Cards, according to the rest of this work, the want of their particulars in the Par∣liament Rowls so causing it, which for the good of these 3. Shires, I earnestly sought to have supplied from the Nomina Villarum, in their Sheriffes books, & had promise of them that might easily have pro∣cured the same. But whether a fearlesse jealousie possessed their spirits, lest the riches of these Shires, by revealing such particulars, should be further sought into, I cannot say: yet this I have observed in all my Survey, that wher least is to be had, the grea∣test fears are possessed. Take these Shires therefore to be done as I could, and not as I would, that wish both the wealth of them all, and their esteem to be of better regard by those that may do them good.
(9) This Shire then is divided into twelve Hun∣dreds,* 1.18 for the readier ordering of businesses neces∣sary to the State of the Countrey; wherein are placed 3. Market Towns fit for buying and selling,* 1.19 and other negotiations.* 1.20 It hath 5. Castles to defend her selfe,* 1.21 and to offend her enemies, and 57. Pa∣rishes for Gods divine service and worship; as this Table more particularly expresseth.