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CAERNARVON-SHIRE. CHAPTER XIIII.
* 1.1CAernarvon-shire, in Welsh, Sire Ca-er-ar-von, so called because it is just over against Anglesey, (which the Britaines call Mon,) and in cōposition was termed also Snow∣den Forrest, before Wales was laid into Shires; the North-side where∣of and the West butt••th upon the Irish-Sea, the South-side is inclosed with Merioneth, and the East with Denbigh-shires, from which it is severed by the River Conwey.
* 1.2(2) The forme thereof is much like a wedge, long and narrow toward the South, and growing still wider to∣wards the North: so that from Pevenkel-point South-ward, to Or••s-head-point North-ward, are fortie Miles, from the River Conwey East-ward, to the River Llenoy West-ward, Miles twenty: and the whole circumference one hundred and ten Miles.
* 1.3(3) The Ayre is sharpe and piercing, by reason that the Countrey hath not naturall provision to ensconce her self against the extremity of winds and weather: but espe∣cially as may be thought, through the continuance of the Snow on the hills, which also exclude the Sunnes aspect and warmth.
* 1.4(4) The soile cannot be much commended for the fer∣tility, except those parts of the Sea-coasts, which lye on the West toward Ireland: but for the heart of this Shire, it is al∣together mountainous, as if Nature had a purpose here, by rearing up these craggy hills so thicke together, strongly to compact the joynts or this our Iland, aud to frame the In∣land part thereof for a ••it place of refuge to the Britaines, against those times of adversity which afterward did fall upon them; for no Armie though never so strongly, or scarce any Travellers,* 1.5 though never so lightly appointed, can find passage among those so many rough and hard Rockes, so many Vales, and Pooles here and there, cros∣sing all the wayes, as ready obstacles to repell any inroades of forraine assailants. These Mountaines may not unfitly be termed the British Alpes,* 1.6 as being the most vaste of all Britaine, and for their steepnesse and cragginesse not unlike to those of Italy, all of them to wring up into the Ayre, and round encompassing one farre higher then all the rest, pe∣culiarly called Snowdon-Hill,* 1.7 though the other likewise in the same sense, are by the Welsh termed Craig Eriry, as much as Snowy Mountaines, taking their name as doth (by Plinies testimony) Niphates in Armenia, and Imaus in Scy∣thia: For all the yeare long these lye mantelled over with Snow hard crusted together, though otherwise for their height they are open and lyable both to the Sunne to dis∣solve them, and the winds to over-sweep them.
* 1.8(5) The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Ordovices, of whom we have sufficiently spoken in the de∣scription of the former Provinces; neither need I insist ei∣ther upon the pleasures or profits that this Country yeeld∣eth, by reason of the great affinity it hath both of Climate and Commodities with Denbigh-shire and Flint-shire be∣fore mentioned: But this beyond the other in some places breeds certaine Shel-fishes,* 1.9 which being conceived by an heavenly dew bring forth Pearles, in ancient times more reckoned of then now they are.
* 1.10(6) Touching places of note, that City is very ancient which the Emperour Antonine calleth Segontium, taking name of a River running by, which at this day is called Se∣ioni:* 1.11 some reliques of the walls whereof doe yet appeare, neere unto a little Church consecrated to the honour of Saint Publicius.* 1.12 This City Ninnius calleth Caer Custenith, which some interpret the City of Constantine. Indeed Mathew Westminster saith (how true I know not) that An∣no 1283.* 1.13 here was found the body of Constantius (Father to great Constantine) which King Edward the first caused to be sumptuously bestowed in the Church of the new Ci∣ty, which he raised out of the ruines of the old, and is now called Caernarvon,* 1.14 which giveth name to this whole Shire. The Towne it selfe yeeldeth a most excellent pro∣spect towards the Sea, and is incompassed (in a manner) round with the walls of the Castle: so as we may say, it is a City within a Castle,* 1.15 which taketh up the whole West-side of it: and great pity it is, that so famous a worke should not be perpetuous, or ever become the ruin of time, which is much feared, for the mercilesse underminings of the Sea, that with her daily and forcible irruptions never ceaseth to wash away the foundations of the key. The people of this Towne are well approved for courtesie,* 1.16 and also Civill Go∣vernment, which is administred by the Constable of the Castle (who is ever Major by Patent) having the assistance of one Alderman, two Bailiffes, two Sergeants at Mace, and one Town-Clerke. The Townesmen doe not a little glory that King Edward the second was borne there,* 1.17 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 Towne according to Mathe∣maticall observation is in the degree of Longitude 15. and 50. scruples from the first West-point, and the Pole elevated in Latitude 53. and 50.
Bangor,* 1.18 the Bishops See, though it be now but a small Towne, yet was it in times past so large, that for the great∣nesse therof it was called Banchor Vaur, that is, Great Ban∣chor; which Hugh Earle of Chester fortified with a Castle: But it hath been long since utterly ruinated and laid levell with the ground, insomuch as there is not any footing to be found, or other monuments left thereof, although they have been sought with all diligent enquiry. This Bishops See hath within the Dioces ninety six Parishes. But the ancient Church which was consecrated unto Daniel, sometime Bi∣shop thereof, was defaced and set on fire by that notorious Rebell Owen Glendowerdwy,* 1.19 who had a purpose also to de∣stroy all the Cities of Wales, for that they stood for the King of England. And though the same Church was since repai∣red about the time of King Henry the seventh, yet hath it scarce recovered the resemblance of her former dignity.
The River Conwey (which limiteth this Shire on the East-side) is in Ptolemy by corruption or ignorance of Tran∣scribers called Toisovius,* 1.20 in stead of Cononius, whence Ca∣nonium (a Town mentioned by Antonine) took name: and albeit both it, and its name be now utterly extinct, yet is there a covert remembrance thereof in the new name of a poore Village, standing among the rubbish thereof, called Caer-hean,* 1.21 (that is) The ancient City: Out of the spoyle whereof K. Edward the first, built a new Towne at the Ri∣vers mouth,* 1.22 termed thereupon Aber-Conwey, (that is) the mouth of Conwey, which being formerly fortified by Hugh of Chester, and strongly situated and fenced both with wals and a faire Castle by the Rivers side, deserves rather the name of a City then a Town, if it were more populous and traffiqued with Inhabitants. Neither must I here forget Newin, though but a small Market-Towne, for that it plea∣sed the English Nobles Anno 1284. to honour it and the memory of King Arthur,* 1.23 with triumphant celebrity, after they had subdued the rebellious Ring-leaders of Wales.
(7) Other matters of memorable note this Countrey affordeth not much, unlesse perhaps this; That just over a∣gainst the River Conwey, where it issueth into the sea, there sometime stood an ancient City named Diganwey, which many yeares 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 Poole Lin-Peris,* 1.24 there is a kind of Fish called there Torcoch, ha∣ving a red belly, no where else seene. For touching these two other miracles famoused by Giraldus and Gervasius, that on those his high Hills there are two Pooles called the Meares, the one of which produceth great store of fish, but all having only one eye, and in the other there is a moveable iland, which as soone as a man treadeth on, it forthwith floateth a great way off, whereby the Welsh are said to have often scaped and deluded their enemies assailing them: these matters are out of my Creed, and yet I think the Rea∣der had rather beleeve them, then to go to see whether it be so or no.
It is traded with five Market-Towns fit for bargaining,* 1.25 buying & selling, fortified with four Castles, and hath sixty eight Parish-churches in it, where the Inhabitants concurre and meet together for the celebration of divine Service.