THE GENERALL DESCRIPTION, AND SEVERALL DIVISIONS OF THE PRINCIPALITIE OF WALES.
ANtiquitie hath avouched, that the whole Isle of Britaine was divided into three parts. The first and fairest lay contained within the French Seas, the Rivers of Se∣verne, Dee, and Humber, called then Lhoy∣ger, which name it ••••t retaineth in We••sh; in English called England. The second part occupied all the Land North-ward from Humber to the Orkney Sea, called by the Latines, Mare Cale••nium, or Deucalido∣nium, now famously known by the name of Scotland The third part was this, lying betwixt the Irish Seas, the Rivers Severne and Dee, and was called Cambria, which name doth yet continue with them, though we, the English, call it Wales, as the people Welshmen, which is, strange and strangers; for so at this day the dwellers of Tyroll in the higher Germany, whence our Saxons are said to have come, doe name the Ita∣lian (their next neighbour) a Welsh-man, and his language Welsh.
* 1.1(2) This opinion Verstegan doth altogether contradict, rather judging by the ancient Teutonicke tongue, which the Germans spake and wherein the G is pronounced for W that these Saxons called them Gal∣lish from the Gaules, whence their originall proceeded, rather then Wal∣lish from strangers: which he thinketh could not be, considering their habitations so neere unto them; and that the like was in use, he pro∣veth by the words of French, Gardian for Wardian, Cornugalles for Corn∣walles, yea, and Galles for Wales, calling our most famous Edward, Prince of Galles, not Prince of Wales; in so much that the Countie of Lombardy, bordering along upon the Germans, was of them called Gall••a Cis al••ina, and at this day Welsh-land. So likewise do the Netherlanders call the Inhabitants of Hen••li and Artois, Wallen or Wallons, and s••me part of Brabant and Flanders, We••sh-Brabant, and Welsh Flanders, and all because of the language or lineage of the Gaules. Neither doe the meere Natives of Wales know any other name of their Countrey then Cambria of themselves, then Cambri or Cumri, or of their language then Cambraoc. But leaving this opinion free to his affection, we will proceed.
* 1.2(3) Wales therefore being anciently bounded as before, the Saxons did afterwards win by force from the Britaines, all the plain and cham∣pion Countrey over the River Dee; and especially Offa King of Mercia, made their limits straiter, by making a ditch of great breadth and depth, to be a Meare betwixth his Kingdome and Wales. This ditch is in many places to be seene at this day, and beares the name of Clawdh Offa, that is, Offaes Ditch. The Countrey between it and England is commonly called the Marches, and is for the most part inhabited by Welshmen, especially in North-Wales, even to the River Dee. This ad∣mirable trench began at Bassingwerke in Flintshire, between Chester and Ruthlan, and ran along the hils to the South Sea, a little from Bristow, reaching above hundred miles in length.
* 1.3(4) Silvester Giraldus makes the River Wye to be the Meare be∣tween England and Wales, on the South part, called South-Wales: whence he ascribeth the breadth of Wales unto Saint Davids in Mene∣via, to be an hundred miles; and the length from Caerlcon upon Vske in Gwentland, to Holly-head in Anglesey, an hundred miles, he might have said thirtie more.
* 1.4(5) About the yeare of Christ 870. our Alfred raigning in Eng∣land, Rodericus Magnus King of Wales did divide it into three Talaiths, Regions, or Territories, which were called Kingdomes, whose names both British and English, with their severall chiefe seats, follow.
- 1 Gwyneth, ENG. Northwa. chiefe seats, Abersraw in Mon. or Anglesey.
- 2 Powys, ENG. Powys Land. chiefe seats, * 1.5 Pengw••rn, removed to Mathraval.
- 3 Dehenbarth, EN. South-w. chiefe seats, Caermar••yn, removed to Dinevowr.
This Rodericus Magnus gave Venedotia, Gwineth or North-wales, to * 1.6 Anarawd his eldes sonne; to Ca••e••h his second, Demetia, Deheubarth or South-wales; and to Mervin his third sonne, Powys.
* 1.7(6) North-wales had upon the North-side, the Irish Sea, from the River Dee at Bassingwerke to Aberdyvi upon the West and South-west, the River Dyvi, which divideth it from South-wales, and in some places from Powysland And on the South and East, it is divided from Powys, sometimes with high hils, and sometimes with Rivers, till it come a∣gain to the River Dee. It is generally full of high mountaines, craggy Rocks, great woods, and deepe vallies, many straight dangerous places, deepe and swift Rivers.
(7) This Land was of old time divided into foure parts, * 1.8 Mon, * 1.9 Arvon, Meryonyth, and y Beruedhwlan, or the middle Countrey, and each of these were againe divided into severall Cantreves, and they subdivided into their Cymeden or Commo••, wherein we follow that division which was in the time of Llewylyn ap Gruffin, last Prince of Wales, according to a Copy imparted to me by a worshipfull friend * 1.10 and learned Antiquerie, as seeming farre more exact then that of * 1.11 Doctor Powels.
(8) Anglesey the chiefest, is separated from the maine Land with the River,* 1.12 Moenay, wherein at Aberfraw was the Princes Court, now a meane village. In this Iland is a faire Towne called Beau-marish, and a common passage to Ireland at Caer••ybi, in English, Holly head. This Anglesey hath ••antreves and Commots as followeth.
- 1 Cantrerhi Aberffraw or Aberffro, Cwmwd.
- Llivon al. llion.
- 1
- Mall traeth.
- 2
- 2 Can. Cemais. Cwmwd.
- Talibolton.
- 3
- Twr celyn.
- 4
- 3 Can. Rossir. Cwmwd.
- Tendaethwy.
- 5
- Moenay.
- 6
(9) Arvon,* 1.13 the second part of North-wales, is now called Canarvon∣shire, the strongest Countrey within that Principalitie, giving place to none for fertilitie of the ground, or for plentie of wood, cattell fish, and fowle, &c. Here are the Townes of Caernarvon, in old time called Caer-Segont, and Bangor the Bishops See, with divers other ancient Castles, and places of memory. This portion hath on the North, the Sea and Moenai; upon the East and South-east, the River Conwey, which divi∣deth it from Denbigh-shire: and on the South-west is separated from Merioneth, by Rivers, Mountaines and Meares; whose Cantreves and Commots are these.
- 4 Can. Aber. Cwm.
- Llechred achaf.
- 7
- Nant conwy.
- 8
- Llechweddisaf.
- 9
- 5 Can. Arvon. Cwm.
- Vwch gwyrfai.
- 10
- Is gwyrfai.
- 11
- 6 Can. Dinodyn. al Danodic. Cwm.
- Ardudwy.
- 12
- Esionydd.
- 13
- 7 Can. Llyn. Cwm.
- Cymymaen, alias Cwm••inam.
- 14
- Tinllaen.
- 15
- Canologion.
- 16
(10) Merioneth was the third of Gwyneth,* 1.14 and keepeth the name till this day: is full of hils, and much noted for the resort of peo∣ple that repaire thither to take Herrings. Upon the North it hath Ar∣von and Denbigh-shire; upon the South, Caerdigan shire; and upon the Last, Montgomery-shire, heretofore part of Powys. In this Countie stand∣eth the Towne of Harlech, and a great Lake called Llyn Tegyd. This Countrey is likewise full of Cattle, Fowle, and Fish; and hath in it great store of red Deere and Ro••s, but there is much scarcitie of Corn: whose Cantreves and Commots are as followeth.
- 8 Can. Merionyd, al Meirton. Cwm.
- Talybont.
- 17
- Pennal.
- 18
- Yshm••ner, alias eshomaneyr.
- 19
- 9 Can. Arwystly. Cwm.
- Vwch coed.
- 20
- Is coed.
- 21
- Gwarthrynion.
- 22
- 10 Can. Penllyn. Cwm.
- Vwch Meloch.
- 23
- Is Meloch.
- 24
- Micnynt, a Micnaint.
- 25
(11) Y Bervedhwlad was the fourth part of Gwyneth,* 1.15 and may be called in English, The middle Countrey: is enclosed with hils, on the East, West, and South-parts, and with the Sea North-ward. It is plen∣tifull of Cattle, Fish and Fowle, as also of Corne: and is divided in the middest with the River Clayd▪ to which run a number of other Rivers from the hils. In this part is Dyffryn Clwyd, the fairest Valley within Wales, containing * 1.16 eighteene miles in length, and seven in breadth. In which is the Towne and Castle of Ricthlan, neere unto the Sea; and not farre thence, S. Assaph, an Episcopall Seat, betweene the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy. Herein stands the faire Towne and goodly Castle of Denbigh, situated upon a Rocke, the greatest Market-towne of North wales: and from thence is seene the Towne and Castle of Rutbyn, faire for prospect, and fruitfull for site. This part of North-wales, hath the Sea upon the North; Dee toward the East; Arvon, the River Conwey, and Merionyth upon the West; and the Countrey then called Powys, upon ths South. It hath Cantreves and Cummots, as ensuing
- 11 Can. Rhysonioc al Rhywyniawc. Cwm.
- Vwch aled, al. alech.
- 26
- is aled, al. alech.
- 27
- 12 Cant. Ystrat. Cwm.
- Hiraethoc.
- 28
- Cynmeircb.
- 29
- 13 Can. Rhos. Cwm.
- Vwch••ulas.
- 30
- Is dulas.
- 31
- Ycrcuddyn.
- 32
- 14 Can. dyffrynn. Clwyd. Cwm.
- Oleon, al. Cwmwt colian v••l Colegion.
- 33
- Lian arth, al. Cwmwt ••annerch.
- 34
- Ruthun.
- 35
- Dogscilyn additur Cwm. Ystrat.
- 36
- 15 Can Tegaingl. Cwm. Inglefeild in Flint,
- Cwnallt, al. Cwmwt cwmseled, or cownsyllt.
- 37
- Prestatum, al. cwmwt prestan.
- 38
- Rhudhlan.
- 39
And these were the Meares and bounds of the foure parts of Vene∣dotia, Gwineth, or North-wales.
(12) The second Talaith or Kingdome,* 1.17 was Mathraval or Powys. To this belonged the Country of Powys, and the Land betweene Wye and Severne. It had South-wales upon the South and West, with the Ri∣vers Wye and Tywy, and other Meares: upon the North Gwyneth; and