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CARDIGANS-SHIRE. CHAPTER. IX.
CARDIGAN-SHIRE, (in the Welsh called Sire Aber-Tivi) is parted on the North from Meri∣oneth-shire with the River Doui;* 1.1 by the Plinillimon hils from Montgomery-shire in part of her East;* 1.2 and the rest from Breknock-shire, with the water Towy; and with Tyvy altogether on the South from Caermarden-shire: the West is wholly washed with the Irish Sea.
* 1.3(2) The forme thereof is horne-like, bowing com∣passe, long and narrow, and growing wider still to∣wards the North: so that from Cardigan, the Shire-Towne and uttermost point in the South, unto the River Doui,* 1.4 her farthest North bounder, are thirtie two miles: and from the head of Clarwen in the East, to Aberysthwyth on her West, the broadest part in the Shire, are onely fifteene: the whole in circumference is one hundred and three miles.
* 1.5(3) The Aire is open and somewhat piercing; the soile is hilly, and (Wales-like) uneven: yet more plaine and champion toward the Sea, then in the East or North of the Land. For besides that great and high hill called Plinillimon, a continuall range of lesser doth shoote along, yeelding in their vallies both goodly rich Pastures,* 1.6 and very large Pooles, which being assisted with Springs from the Rocks, doe branch themselves, as veines in the body, and make fruitfull their passages unto the Sea. In Tyvy one of these,* 1.7 as Giraldus hath written, the Beaver hath been found, a creature living both by land and water, whose stones the Physitians hold in great price. His fore-feet are like unto a dog, but the hinder whole skinned, as is the goose: the dog-like serve him on shore for tto runne; and the goose-like as Oares give him swift motion in swimming: his taile broad and gristly, he useth as a sterne, wherewith on the sudden he can divert his swift floating course. But this crea∣ture in these parts a long time hath not beene seene, whose roome we may well say the Salmon hath pos∣sest,* 1.8 who still coveting into fresh water Rivers, at their down-right fals useth this policie: He bend∣eth himselfe backward, and taketh his taile in his mouth, and with all his strength unloosing his circle on the sudden (as a lath let goe) mounteth up be∣fore the fall of the streame; where upon such water∣fals are called the Salmons Leape:* 1.9 and in these Ri∣vers many such Salmons are caught.
* 1.10(4) The commodities of this Shire chiefly con∣sist in Cattle, Sea-folwe, and Fish; Corne sufficient, but of Woods some scarcitie: and at the head of Ist∣wydh are certain veines of Lead, a merchandize of no meane regard or wealth.
* 1.11(5) The ancient people that possessed this Pro∣vince, were the Dimetae, by Ptolomie branched tho∣row the Tracts of Caermarden, Penbroke, and this Shire; who in their struglings against the Romanes, did not a little relie upon Caractacus their most war-like King, (from whose name, though unlikely, some will have the Shire called Cardigan) yet lastly felt the fortune of subjection with the rest,* 1.12 when Iulius Fron∣tinus warred with these Mountaines. Scarce had the Normans setled their Kingdome in Britaine, but that they assailed this County, as well to enjoy so faire a Possession, as to secure those Seas from any invasion against them:* 1.13 so that Rufus first wrested from the Welsh-men the maritime Coasts,* 1.14 and Henry the first gave the whole County to Gilbert de Clare.
(6) This Gilbert fortified Cardigan,* 1.15 the Shire-Towne, with a Wall and strong Castle, whose aged lineaments doe to this day shew the industrie both of Nature and Art: for the Towne is seated upon a steepe banke, her South-side guarded with the deep River Tyvy, and passable no way but by a bridge un∣der the Castle.* 1.16 The walles take the advantage of the rising Rockes, and circulate the Towne even round about.* 1.17 The Castle is higher built upon a Rock, both spacious and faire, had not stormes impaired her beauty, and time left her carkasse a very Anatomie. The walles range as thou seest, and are indifferent for repaire, having three wayes for entrance, and containe in compasse sixe hundred and fourescore pases:* 1.18 whose Position for Latitude is set in the de∣gree 52.33. minutes from the North-pole, and for Longitude from the first West-point by Mercator, in the degree 15. and 10. minutes.
(7) This Shire, as it is little in circuit, so accor∣dingly is besprinkled with Towne-ships,* 1.19 whereof foure onely have the trade of Markets: neither finde I other remembrance of religious foundations, but at Cardigan,* 1.20 Istradfleet, and at Llan-Badern-Vaur, where sometimes was seated an Episcopall See, which (as Hoveden writeth) was decayed many yeers since,* 1.21 when the people had wickedly slaine their Pastour. And yet Llan-Deui-breui,* 1.22 built, and so called in memory of the most famous David Bishop of Menevia, was in great esteeme, where in a frequent Synod there hol∣den, he refuted the Pelagian Heresie,* 1.23 sprung up againe in Britaine, both by the authoritie of holy Scripture, and also by miracle, as is reported, while the earth whereon he stood and preached, rose up unto a cer∣taine height under his feet.
(8) The Shires division,* 1.24 for businesses belonging either to the Crowne or Common-wealth, is into five Hundreds, wherein are seated foure Market-Towns, and sixty-foure Parish-Cburches for Gods divine and daily service, whose names are further inserted in the Table following.