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ANGLESEY. CHAPTER XV.
* 1.1ANGLESEY was in the time of the Romanes called Mona, by the Britains Mon, and Tir-Mon (that is) the Land of Mon, of the ancient English Saxons Mo∣neg: And at last, after the Eng∣lishmen had by their sharp and severall assaults brought it un∣der their rule, and became Lords thereof, it was termed Anglesey, as one would say, The English∣mens Island.
* 1.2(2) For, an Island it is, albeit it be severed from the Continent of Britaine, but with a small and nar∣row straight of the River Menai, and on all other parts beaten upon with the surging and troublous Irish sea, in which it lieth somwhat square-wise, not much different in length and breadth; being where it reacheth out in length,* 1.3 from Beau-marish East-ward to the utmost Promontorie West-ward, which we call Holy-head, twentie miles, and in bredth from Llanbaderik North-ward,* 1.4 to the point of Menai Southward, seventeen miles; the whole circuit or circumference amounting towards se∣ventie miles.
* 1.5(3) The aire is reasonable gratefull and health∣full, and not generally subject to diseases, except∣ing certain Agues at sometimes, which are occasio∣ned by the fogs and mi••ty exhalations, which arise from the Sea, called Mare Virginium, with the which this Isle is encompassed.
* 1.6(4) The commodities that commend (or ra∣ther beautifie) this County, are in corne and cattle, wherewith it not only enricheth it self exceeding∣ly, but sendeth out great provision thereof to o∣thers to supply their defects: and although the ground may seeme dry and stony, or unpleasant and nothing sightly, wherein for the outward quality it resembleth some other parts of Wales, that are not so fruitfull, yet for the inward bounties of nature, it is farre unlike: for above all the coasts of Wales it is most plentifull of Wheat, in so much as by Giraldus Cambrensis report, they are wont to say in Welsh, by way of a Proverbe,* 1.7 Mon Mam Cambry, which is to say, Mon is the mother of Wales; for that when other Countries harvest fails round about, or their pro∣vision is exhaust and drawne dry, this alone, like a provident & full-brested mother, is able to sustain the rest. Whereunto Nature most povidently hath added another benefit serviceable and necessary to the former, in that the Countrey produceth also those kinde of stones which are called Molares, as of all other fittest to make Mill-stones or Grind-stones.* 1.8 In some places also it yeeldeth an earth of Aluminous qualitie, out of which some not long since began to make Alom and Coperose, * 1.9 who (like unflesht souldiers) gave over their enterprise with∣out further hope, because at first they saw it not answer their over-hastie expectations.
* 1.10(5) The ancient Inhabitants of this Countrey were the Ordovices, mentioned before in the pre∣cedent Provinces of Denbigh-shire, Flint-shire, and Carnarvon-shire. And this very Island was that anci∣ent, & so much enobled seat of the British Druids, who so amated the army of Romane invaders, as Tacitus reports, & as els-where we have related in the 6t Book and 7th chapter of our ensuing History.
(6) This Nation was attempted first by Paulinus Suetonius in the raigne of Nero,* 1.11 but brought under the Romane Empire by Iulius Agricola. When the Empire of the Romanes in Britaine began to decline and goe downe-ward,* 1.12 some out of Ireland entred into this Isle by stealth, and nestled themselves there, as may be gathered by certaine Mounts of earth entrenched about, and yet to be seene, which they call the Irish-mens Cottages: as also by a place named of the Irish-men, yn Hiericy Gwidil, who did there (as is recorded) put the Britains to flight un∣der the leading of Sirigus. The Norwegians also were often infestuous to this Island, but K. Ethel∣reds Fleet, having in the yeere 1000. scoured the Seas round about this Isle, farre exceeded all both Irish and Norwegian depopulations, for they wasted the Countrey in all hostile manner.
(7) After this, two Hughs, both Normans, did greatly afflict this Island. The one being Earle of Chester, and the other of Shrewesbury; at which very time Maginus the Norwegian arriving there, shot Hugh Earle of Shrewesbury thorow with arrow, and departed after he had ransacked the Island. It was afterwards grievously infested by the English∣men, who never gave over from time to time to in∣vade it, untill in the raign of King Edward the first,* 1.13 it was wholly brought under his subjection.
(8) The principall Towne in this Isle is Beau∣marish,* 1.14 which the said King Edward the first built in the East side thereof, and for the faire situation, though in a Moorish place, gave it the name which it now beareth, whereas in times past it was called Bonover, which hee also fortified with a goodly Castle.
(9) The Major is the chiefest Magistrate of the Towne,* 1.15 who is yearely chosen, and hath the assist∣ance and help of two Bayliffes, two Sergeants at Mace, and one Towne-Clerke: by whose carefull diligence the affairs of this Towne are orderly ma∣naged and commanded: whose latitude is 54. and longitude 15.45. minutes.
(10) Not far from hence is Lhaanvais, in times past a faire Religious house of the Friers Minors,* 1.16 which although it be now in a manner razed out of memory, yet antiquity maketh mention that it hath beene of great regard among the Kings of England, who have shewed themselves very boun∣tifull Patrons unto that Covent, both in respect of the sanctimonious life of such as conversed there, as also because there the bodies of very eminent per∣sons (as the daughter of K. Iohn,* 1.17 the son of a King of the Danes, as likewise of many great Lords, Knights and Squires) were interred, that were slaine in the wars against the Welsh, in the times of many illustri∣ous Kings of England.
(11) This Isle is reckoned to have had ancient∣ly many Villages in it, even to the number of three hundred threescore and three; and the same even at this day is very well peopled.
The division of this Isle for disposition of affairs that belong either to the state of the Crowne,* 1.18 or to the condition of the countrey, is into six hundreds: in which are seated two Market-towns, and seven∣tie-foure Parish-Churches for Gods divine honour and worship, as is Alphabetically gathered in the Table following.