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* 1.1FLINT-SHIRE, stretching out in length, broad at one end, and narrow at ano∣ther, is not much unlike in fashion to a wedge, a peece of which is cut off by the meeting of Cheshire and Denbigh-shire, South-East in distance some foure miles. It borders East-ward with part of Cheshire, from whence it is garded in length with the River Dee unto the North, which parteth Worral and Flint-shire, till you come to a little Iland called Hell-bree. North∣ward it is bounded with the Virginian Sea: on the West, a little River, called Cluyd, parteth her and Denbigh-shire a∣sunder: and on the South altogether by Shrop-shire.
* 1.2(2) This Countrey is nothing Mountainous, as o∣ther parts of Wales are, but rising gently all along the Ri∣ver of Dee, makes a faire shew and prospect of her selfe to every eye that beholds her, as well upon the River, being in most places there-abouts foure or five miles broad, as upon the other side thereof, being a part of Cheshire.
* 1.3(3) The Ayre is healthfull and temperate, without any foggy clouds or fenny vapours, saving that sometimes there ariseth from the Sea, and the River Dee, certaine thick and smoky-seeming mists, which neverthelesse are not found hurtfull to the Inhabitants, who in this part live long and healthfully.
* 1.4(4) The Clime is somewhat colder there then in Che∣shire, by reason of the Sea, and the River that engirts the better part of her; by which, the Northerne winds being long carried upon the waters, blow the more cold; and that side of the Countrey upward, that lyeth shoaring unto the top, having neither shelter nor defence, receiveth them in their full power, and is naturally a Bulwarke from their violence unto her bordering neighbours, that maketh the snow to lye much longer there, then on the other side of the River.
* 1.5(5) The Soile bringeth forth plenty both of Corne and grasse, as also great store of Cattle, but they be little. To supply which defect, they have more by much in their numbers then in other places where they be bigger. Great store of Fish they take in the River of De••,* 1.6 but little from the Sea, by reason they have no Havens or Creekes for boates. No great store of Woods either there or in any other part of Wales are found, it having beene a generall plague unto all the Countrey ever since the head-strong re∣bellions of their Princes and great men against the Kings of England, that (in time) tooke away the principall helpes of their Innovations, by cutting downe their woods, whereof in this Shire there hath heretofore beene great plenty.* 1.7 Fruits are scarce, but Milke, Butter, and Cheese plenty, as also store of Honey, of the which they make a pleasant Wine, in colour like (in taste not much unlike) unto Muskadine, which they call Matheglin. Yea, and in the dayes of Giraldus Cambrensis, neere the place now called Holy-Well, was a rich Mine of Silver, in seeking af∣ter which, men pierced and pryed into the very bowels of the earth.
* 1.8(6) The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Ordovices, a sturdy people against the Romans, but now most kind and gentle towards the English, and indeed make much of all strangers, except they be crossed, and then they are the contrary.
* 1.9(7) Places of defence are the Castles of Flint, Hawar∣den, vulgarly Harden, Treer, Rudland, Mold, Yowley, and Hope:* 1.10 of which Flnt and Harden are the two principall. The Castle of Flint, famous for the benefit it received from two Kings, and for the refuge and reliefe it gave unto the third. It was founded by Henry the second,* 1.11 finished by Ed∣ward the first,* 1.12 and long after gave harbour and entertainment to that Noble, but unfortunate Prince, Richard the second,* 1.13 comming out of Ireland, being within her walles a free and absolute King, but no sooner without, but taken pri∣soner by Henry Bullinbroke, Duke of Lancaster, losing at that time his liberty, and not long after his life. This stand∣eth in the graduation of Latitude 53 55. minutes, in Lon∣gitude 17.
* 1.14For the Castle of Hawarden, no record remaines of the first Founder, but that it was held a long time by the Ste∣wards of the Earles of Chester: Howbeit, their resistances did not so generally consist in the strength of their Castles and Fortifications, as in their Mountaines and Hills, which in times of danger served as naturall Bulwarkes and Defen∣ces unto them against the force of enemies. As was that which standeth in a certaine strait set about with Woods, neere unto the River Alen, called Coles-hull, that is, Coles-hill,* 1.15 where the English, by reason of their disordered multi∣tude, not ranged close in good array, lost the field, and were defeated, when King Henry the second had made as great preparation as might be to give battell unto the Welsh, and the very Kings Standard was forsaken by Henry of Essex, who was Standard bearer to the King of England in right of inheritance.
(8) This Country hath many shallow Rivers in it, but none of fame and note, but Dee and Cluyde. Howbeit, there is a Spring not farre from Rudland Castle, of great report and antiquity, which is termed Fons Sacer,* 1.16 in English, Ho∣ly-Well, and is also commonly called Saint Winefrids Well; of whom antiquity thus reporteth: That Winefrid a Chri∣stian Virgin, very faire and vertuous, was doated upon by a young lustfull Prince or Lord of the Countrey, who not being able to rule his head-strong affections, having many times in vaine attempted and tryed her chastitie, both by rich gifts and large promises, could not by any meanes ob∣taine his desires; he therefore (in a place of advantage) sud∣denly surprized and ravished her weake (yet resisting) bo∣dy. After the deed done, the cruell Tyrant, to stop her cryes and acclamations, slew her, and cut off her head: out of which place did suddenly arise a Spring that continueth to this day,* 1.17 carrying from the Fountaine such a forcible streame and current, as the like is not found in Christen∣dome. Over the head of the Spring there is built a Chappell of free-stone,* 1.18 with Pillars curiously wrought and ingraved, in the Chancell whereof, and Glasse-window, the picture of the Virgin is drawne; together with the memoriall of her life and death. To this Fountaine Pilgrims are accusto∣med to repaire in their zealous, but blind devotion; and di∣vers others resort to bathe in, holding firmely that the water is of much vertue.
There be many red stones in the bottome of this Well,* 1.19 and much greene mosse growing upon the sides: the super∣stition of the people holding that those red spots in the stones were drops of the Ladies blood, which all the water in the Spring can never wash away; and that the mosse a∣bout the wall was her haire, which though some of it be gi∣ven to every stranger that comes, yet it never wasteth. But howsoever this be carried for truth by the tradition of time, the mosse it selfe smells exceeding sweet.
There is also hard by Kilken (a small village) within this County,* 1.20 a little Well of no great note, that at certain times riseth and falleth, after the manner of Sea-tides.
(9) In the South part of this Country, divided from the rest, is a place (in some written Copies of Antonine, called Bovium) which we now terme Banchor,* 1.21 first a City, and afterwards a Monastery of famous memory, and the first that is read of in the world:* 1.22 wherein (as Beda saith) were a great number of Monkes, and them divided into seven Companies, every one having his severall Ruler assigned. None of these Companies had lesse then three hundred persons devoted to prayer, and to get living by their owne labour, for themselves and the poore: although it hath long since been utterly ruinate, so as now there is scarce seene the face and outward shew of a dead Citie or Monastery. It hath only the names of two Gates remaining,* 1.23 one stand∣ing a mile distant from another, and betwixt which the River Dee now runneth, where are oftentimes found ma∣ny peec••s of Roman Coine, and other tokens of antiquity. But of these shall be more mention made in the following History.
Another like Monastery, but of lesser accompt, stood in the Vale beneath Varis (a little Citie placed by the Romans in the confines of this Shire and Denbigh-shire) and upon the Banke of Elwy and Cluyd:* 1.24 This the Britaines call Llan-Elwy,* 1.25 of the River; the Englishmen, Asaph, of the Founder; and the Historiographers, Asaphensis. It is more famoused for antiquity, then for building or bravery: for about the yeare 560. Kentigern Bishop of Glasco,* 1.26 being sled hither out of Scotland, placed here a Bishops See, and erected a Monastery gathering together 663. in a religious brother∣hood, whereof three hundred that were unlearned,* 1.27 gave themselves to husbandry, and to worke within the Monaste∣ry; the rest to prayer and meditations. When he returned into Scotland,* 1.28 he ordained Asaph, a godly and upright man, to be Governour over this Monastery, of whom it took the name, and is called Saint Asaphs.
Another Monastery of great account was at Basing∣warke in this County,* 1.29 neere unto which began that admi∣rable Ditch drawne thence unto the mouth of Severne by King Offa,* 1.30 the Tract whereof I have expressed thorow this Shire, and will further speake thereof in the following Hi∣story.
(10) This Shire is divided into five Hundreds,* 1.31 fortified with seven Castles, hath only one Market-Town, and twen∣ty eight Parishes, in which there is continuall celebration of divine Service.