Camden's Britannia newly translated into English, with large additions and improvements ; publish'd by Edmund Gibson ...

RADNORSHIRE.

ON the north-west of Herefordshire lies Radnorshire, in British Sîr Vaesŷved; of a triangular form, and gradually more narrow where it is extended westward. On the south the river Wye divides it from Brecknock, and on the north-part lies Mongomeryshire. The east∣ern and southern parts are well cultivated; but else∣where 'tis so uneven with mountains, that it can hardly be manured; tho' well-stored with woods, and water'd with rivulets, and in some places stand∣ing lakes.

Towards the east, it hath (besides other Castles of the Lords Marchers, now almost all bury'd in their own ruins) Castelh pain to adorn it, which was built and so called by Pain a Norman; and Castelh Colwen,* 1.1 which (if I mistake not) was formerly call'd Maud-Castle in Colwent.* 1.2 For there was a Castle of that name much noted, whereof Robert de Todney, a ve∣ry eminent person, was Governour in the time of Edward 2. It is thought to have belong'd before to the Breoses Lords of Brecknock, and to have receiv'd that name from Maud of St. Valeric,* 1.3 a † malapert woman, wife of William Breos, who rebell'd against King John. This Castle being demolish'd by the Welsh, was rebuilt of stone by King Henry 3. in the year 1231. But of greatest note is Radnor,* 1.4 the chief town of the County, call'd in British Maesŷved, fair built, but with thatch'd houses, as is the manner of that country. Formerly 'twas well fenc'd with walls and a Castle, but being by that rebellious Owen Glyn Dòwrdwy* 1.5 laid in ashes, it decay'd daily; as well as old Radnor* 1.6 (call'd by the Britains Maesŷved hên, and from it's high situation Pencraig) which had been burnt by Rhŷs ap Gruffydh, in the reign of King John. If I should say this Maesŷved is that city Ma∣gos which Antoninus seems to call Magnos,* 1.7 where (as we read in the Notitia Provinciarum) the Comman∣der of the Pacensian regiment lay in garison under the Lieutenant of Britain, in the reign of Theodosius the younger; in my own judgment (and perhaps others may entertain the same thoughts) I should not be much mistaken. For we find that the Writers of the middle age call the inhabitants of this Country Magesetae,* 1.8 and also mention Comites Masegetenses and Magesetenses: and the distance from Gobannium or Aber-Gavenni, as also from Brangonium or Worcester, differs very little from Antonine's computation. About three miles to the east of Radnor, lies Prestean,* 1.9 in British Lhan Andras, or St. Andrews; which from a small village, in the memory of our grandfathers, is now, by the favour and encouragement of Martin Lord Bishop of St. David's, become so eminent a market town, that it does in some measure eclipse Radnor. Scarce four miles hence, lies Knighton* 1.10 (which may vye with Prestean) call'd by the Bri∣tains, as I am inform'd, Trebuclo for Trevŷklawdh, from the dike* 1.11 that lies under it, which was cast up with great labour and industry by Offa the Mercian, as a boundary between his Subjects and the Britains; f om the mouth of Dee, to that of the river Wye, for the space of about 90 miles: whence the Britains have call'd it Klawdh Offa or Offa's Dyke. Concern∣ing which, Joannes Sarisburiensis, in his Polycraticon saith, that Harald establish'd a Law, that whatever Welshman should be found arm'd on this side the limit he had set them, to wit, Offa's Dike, his right hand should be cut off by the King's officers [a].

All the land beyond this, towards the west and north, call'd by the natives Melienydh,* 1.12 from the yel∣lowish mountains, is for the most part a barren and hungry soil. Which notwithstanding shews the ru∣ins of divers Castles,* 1.13 but especially of Kevn Lhys, and Tinbod standing ‖ on the summit of a cop'd hill, and was destroy'd by Lhewelyn Prince of Wales in the year 1260. This Country of Melienydh reaches to the river Wye [b], which crosses the western angle of the County; and having it's rapid course some∣what abated by the rocks it meets with, and it's channel discontinued, it suddenly falls headlong over a steep precipice. Whence the place is call'd Rhàiadr Gŵy,* 1.14 which implies as much as the Cata∣ract or fall of the river Wye [c]. And I know not whether the English might not from that word Rhàiadr impose the name of Radnor first on the County, and afterwards on the chief town therein. By this Cataract there was a Castle, which, as we find it recorded, was repair'd by Rhŷs Prince of South-Wales in the reign of King Richard the first. Near this place there is a vast Wilderness, dismal to behold by reason of many crooked ways and high mountains: into which, as a safe place of refuge, that bane of his native Country, King Vortigern* 1.15 (whose very memory the Britains curse) withdrew himself, when he had at last seriously repented of his abominable wickedness, in calling in the English-Saxons, and incestuously marrying his own daugh∣ter. But God's vengeance pursuing him, he was consumed by Lightning, together with his City Kaer-Gwortigern, which he had built for his refuge. Nor was it far from hence (as if the place were fatal) that not only this Vortigern the last British Monarch of the race of the Britains; but also Lhewelyn* 1.16 the last Prince of Wales of the British line, being betray'd in the year of our Lord 1282. ended his life. From this Vortigern, Ninnius calls that small region Gwor∣tiger mawr, nor is the name yet lost; but of the city there is not any memorial, but what we have from Authors. Some are of opinion that the Castle of Gwthrènion* 1.17 arose out of the ruins of it; which the Welshmen for their hatred to Roger Mortimer, laid even with the ground An. 1201. This part of the Coun∣try hath been also call'd Gwarth Ennion, as we are in∣form'd by Ninnius; who writes, that the foremen∣tion'd Vortigern, when he was publickly and sharp∣ly reproved by St. German, did not only persist in his obstinacy and wicked practices, but also cast false and malicious reproaches on that godly Saint. Wherefore (saith Ninnius) Vortimer the son of Vortigern ordain'd that the Land where the Bishop had receiv'd so great an indignity, should be his own for ever.* 1.18 Upon which, and in memory of St. German, it has been call'd Gwarth Enian, which in English signifies a slander justly requited.

The Mortimers descended from the Niece of Gonora wife of Rich. 1. Duke of Normandy;* 1.19 were the first of the Normans, who, having overcome Edric* 1.20 Sylva∣ticus a Saxon, gain'd a considerable part of this small Territory. And having continued for a long time the leading-men of the County, at length Roger Mor∣timer Lord of Wigmore was created Earl of March by Edw. 3. about 1328. who soon after was sentenced to death, having been accused of insolence to the State, of favouring the Scots to the prejudice of England, of conversing over-familiarly with the King's mo∣ther; and contriving the death of his father King Edward 2. He had by his wife Jane Jenevil,* 1.21 (who brought him large revenues as well in Ireland as England) a son call'd Edmund, who suffer'd for his father's crimes, and was depriv'd both of his inheri∣tance and the title of Earl. But his son Roger was received into favour, and had not only the title of Earl of March restored, but was also created Knight of the Garter at the first institution of that noble Order. This Roger married Philippa Mountague, by whom he had Edmund Earl of March, who marry'd Philippa the only daughter of Leonel Duke of Cla∣rence, the third son of King Edward 3. whereby he obtained the Earldom of Ulster in Ireland, and the Lordship of Clare. After his decease in Ireland, where he had govern'd with general applause, his son Roger succeeded, being both Earl of March and Ulster; whom King Richard design'd his successor to the crown, as being in right of his mother the next heir: but he dying before King Richard, left issue Edmund and Anne. King Henry 4. (who had

usurp'd the Government) suspecting Edmund's In∣terest and Title to the Crown, exposed him to ma∣ny hazards; insomuch that being taken by the Rebel Owen Glyn-Dwr, he died of grief and discontent, leaving his sister Anne to inherit. She was married to Richard Plantagenet Earl of Cambridge, whose Posterity in her right became afterwards Earls of March, and laid claim to the Crown;* 1.22 which in the end (as we shall shew elsewhere) they obtain'd: and Edward the fourth's eldest son, who was Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, &c. had also conferr'd on him as an additional honour the title of Earl of March. As for the title of Radnora 1.23, no man ever bo••e it separately, that I know of.

In this County are 52 Parishes.

ADDITIONS to RADNORSHIRE.

[a] THE first place of considerable Antiqui∣ty we meet with in this Country is Clawdh Offa,* 1.24 the tracing whereof gives us the exact bounds of the Britains and Saxons. It may be seen on Brachy-hill, and near Rŷhd ar Helig, and Lanterden in Herefordshire: and is continued Northwards from Knighton, over a part of Shropshire into Mongomeryshire; and may be traced over the long Mountain call'd in Welsh Kevn Digolh, to Harden castle, cross the Se∣vern and Lhan Drinio-Common. From whence it passes the Vyrnwy again into Shropshire, not far from Oswaldstry, where there is also a small village call'd Trevyrclawdh. In Denbighshire 'tis visible along the road between Rhywabon and Wrexham; f••om whence being continued through Flintshire, it ends a little below Holywell, where that water falls into Dee, at a place formerly the site of the castle of Basing∣werk. This limit seems not afterwards well main∣tain'd by the English: for although we find that the British tongue decreases daily on the borders of Wales; yet not only that language, but also the an∣cient British customs and names of men and places remain still for some space on the English side, al∣most the whole length of it.

[b] The word Gwy or Wy,* 1.25 though it be here the name of a river, seems to have been anciently an ap∣pellative word either for river or water. For although it be not used at present in that sense, nor yet pre∣serv'd in any Glossary, or other Books; yet I find it in the termination of the names of many of our rivers: ex. gr. Lhugwy, Dowrdwy, y Vyrnwy, Ed∣wy, Conwy, Elwy, Hondhwy, Mynwy, Mowdh∣wy, Tawy, Towy, &c. Now that this final sylla∣ble [wy] in these names of rivers, is the same with gwy, seems more than probable; in that we find the river Towy call'd in the Book of Landaffe Tiugui—ab hostio Taratir super ripam Gui, usque ad ripam Tiugui, &c. and also the river Elwy call'd Elgui. And that gwy or wy signified water, seems also con∣firm'd from the names of some aquatick animals, as Gwyach, Gîach, eog aliàs oiog, &c. This being grant∣ed, we may be able to interpret the names of several rivers which have hitherto remain'd unintelligible: as Lhugwy, clear water; from lhug, which signifies light or brightness: Dowrdwy, Loud water, from Dwradh, noise: Edwy, a swift or rapid stream; from Ehed, to fly, &c.

[c] As for Rhàiadr Gŵy, several places in Wales are thus denominated; all which have cataracts near them: and the word is still used appellatively among the mountains of Snowdon in Caernarvonshire, where such falls of water are very frequent. Rhaiadar-castle (whereof not the least ruins are now remaining) was very advantageously situated in a nook of the river, close by this Cataract. But what seems very re∣markable, is a deep trench on one side of the Castle-ya••d, cut out of an exceeding hard and solid rock. About two furlongs below this place where the castle stood, I observ'd a large Tumulus or Barrow, call'd from a Chapel adjoyning, Tommen lhan St. Frêd: and on the other side, at a farther distance, there are two more,* 1.26 much less than the former, call'd Krigeu Kevn Keido, viz. the Barrows of Kevn Keido, a place so call'd; where 'tis suppos'd there stood heretofore a Church; for that a piece of ground adjoyning is call'd Klyttieu'r Eglwys.

¶ On the top of a hill, call'd Gwastèdin near Rhaiadr Gŵy, there are three large heaps of stones, of that kind which are common upon mountains, in most (if not all) Counties of Wales, and are call'd in South-wales Karneu,* 1.27 and in North-wales Karned∣heu. They consist of any such lesser stones from a pound weight to a hund••ed &c. as the neighbouring places afford; and are confusedly piled up without any farther trouble than the bringing them thither, and the throwing of them in heaps. On Plin Lhim∣mon mountain, and some other places, there are of these Karnedheu so considerably big, that they may be supposed to consist of no less than a hundred Cart∣loads of stones; but generally consider'd, they are much less. They are also found in the North, and probably other parts of England; and are frequent in Scotland and Ireland, being call'd there by the same British name of Kairn: whereof I can give no other account to the curious Reader, than that it is a primitive word, and appropriated to signifie such heaps of stones. That most of these Karnedheu (not to say all) were intended as memorials of the dead, I am induced to believe, for that I have my self ob∣served near the summit of one of them, a rude stone monument (which I shall have occasion to prove Se∣pulchral hereafter) somewhat of the form of a large Coffer or Chest; and have receiv'd unquestionable information of two more such monuments, found of late years in the like places. But what removes all scruple, and puts this question beyond farther de∣bate, is that 'tis still the custom in several places, to cast heaps of stones on the Graves of Malefactors and Self-murderers. And hence perhaps it is, since we can assign no other reason, that the worst of Tray∣tors are call'd Karn-Vradwyr, the most notorious Thieves Karn-Lhadron, &c. That this was also the custom amongst the Romans, appears from that Epitaph ascrib'd to Virgil, on the infamous Robber Balista:

Monte sub hoc lapidum tegitur Balista sepultus, Nocte, die, tutum carpe, viator, iter.

But that it was nevertheless usual among the Britains, before they were known to the Romans, seems evi∣dent, for that they are common also in the High∣lands of Scotland, and in Ireland, where their Con∣quests never reach'd.

Now if it be demanded whether Malefactors only, were thus serv'd in ancient times; or whether other persons indifferently had not such heaps of stones erected to them, as Sepulchral monuments: I an∣swer, that before Christianity was introduced, men of the best quality seem to have had such Funeral Piles: and such I take to have been the largest of them, those especially that have the monuments above mentioned within them. But since the planting of Christianity, they became so detestable and appro∣priated to Malefactors, that sometimes the most pas∣sionate wishes a man can express to his enemy is, that a Karn be his monument:* 1.28 and (as we have already observ'd) the most notorious and profligate Crimi∣nals are distinguish'd by that word.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••••••telh ••••lwen
• * 1.2

  ••••ud-••••stle. v. ••••stelh ••••wn.
• * 1.3

  P••••ta••••s∣••••a ••••tth. Par.
• * 1.4

  ••••dnor.
• * 1.5

  ••••en ••••yndwr.
• * 1.6

  ••••d Radnor
• * 1.7

  ••••gi.
• * 1.8

  ••••ges••tae.
• * 1.9

  ••••estean.
• * 1.10

  ••••ighton.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dike.
• * 1.12

  ••••••ie••ydh.
• * 1.13

  ••••n y ••••s ••••••min••∣••••••.
• * 1.14

  Rhaiadr Gwy.
• * 1.15

  Vortigern.
• * 1.16

  Lhewelyn.
• * 1.17

  Gwerthry∣nion.
• * 1.18

  Guarth in British Ca∣lumny; and Eniawn Just.
• * 1.19

  Earls of March. G. Gemet. l. ult. c. 10.
• * 1.20

  Weald or Wild.
• * 1.21

  L••b. Monast. Lanthony. 29 Ed. 3.
• * 1.22

  See in Y••••••∣shire, to∣wards ••••e end of ••••e Co••nty.
• a 1.23

  It was conferr'd upon John Roberts, Lord Roberts of Truro, 23 Jul. 1679.
• * 1.24

  Extent of Clawdh Offa.
• * 1.25

  Gwy or Wy, what it sig∣nifieth.
• * 1.26

  B••rrows or L••ws call'd in Welsh Krigeu.
• * 1.27

  Kar•• wi•••• it sign••••••••s
• * 1.28

  Karn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Wyn••••.