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

ADDITIONS to MONMOƲTHSHIRE.

[a] MYnydh Kader (mention'd by our Au∣thor) is the name of many Moun∣tains in Wales thus denominated: as Kader Arthur, Kader Verwin, Kader Idris, Kader Dhinmael, Kader yr Ychen, &c. which the learned Dr. Davies supposes to have been so call'd, not from their resemblance to a Kàdair or Chair; but because they have been either fortified places, or were look'd upon as naturally impregnable, by such as first impos'd those names on them. For the British Kader (as well as the Irish word Kathair) signifying anciently a Fort or Bulwark; whence probably the modern word Kaer of the same signification, might be corrupted.

[b] Lhan* 1.1 properly signifies a Yard, or some small Inclosure; as may be observ'd in compound words. For we find a Vineyard call'd Gwin-lhan; an Orchard, Per-lhan; a Hay-yard, Yd-lhan; a Church-yard, Korph-lhan; a Sheep-fold, Kor-lhan; &c. However (as Gi∣raldus observes) it denotes separately, a Church or Chapel; and is of common use, in that sense, through∣out all Wales: probably because such Yards or In∣closures might be places of Worship in the time of Heathenism, or upon the first planting of Christiani∣ty, when Churches were scarce.

[c] That this Jeffrey of Monmouth (as well as most other Writers of the Monkish times) abounds with Fables, is not deny'd by such as contend for some authority to that History: but that those Fables were of his own Invention, seems too severe a censure of our Author's, and scarce a just accusation: since we find most or all of them, in that British History he translated; whereof an ancient copy may be seen in the Library of Jesus-College at Oxford, which con∣cludes to this effect: Walter Arch-Deacon of Oxford composed this Book in Latin, out of British Records; which he afterwards thus render'd into modern British. We find also many of the same Fables in Ninnius, who writ his Eulogium Britanniae about three hundred years before this Galfridus Arturius compos'd the British History. As to the regard due to that History in ge∣neral, the judicious Reader may consult Dr. Powel's Epistle De Britannica Historia rectè intelligenda; and Dr. Davies's Preface to his British Lexicon; and bal∣lance them with the arguments and authority of those that wholly reject them.

Near Monmouth stands a noble House built by his Grace Henry Duke of Beaufort call'd Troy; the resi∣dence of his eldest son Charles Marquiss of Worce∣ster, who is owner of it, and of the Castle and Ma∣nour of Monmouth, settled upon him with other large possessions in this County, by the Duke his father.

[d] As a confirmation of what our Author ob∣serves, in the year 1689. there were three checquer'd Pavements discover'd here in the Garden of one Fran∣cis Ridley; which being in frosty weather exposed to the open air, upon the thaw the cement was dissolv'd, and this valuable antiquity utterly defac'd. So that at present there remains nothing for the entertain∣ment of the Curious, but the small cubical stones whereof it was compos'd; which are of various sizes and colours, and ma•• be found confusedly scatter'd in the earth, at the depth of half a yard. Checquer'd Pavements consist of oblong cubical stones, common∣ly about half an inch in length; whereof some are natural stones, wrought into that form; and others artificial, made like brick. These are of several co∣lours; as white, black, blue, green, red, and yellow; and are close pitch'd together in a floor of fine plai∣ster, and so dispos'd by the Artist, with respect to colour, as to exhibit any figures of men, beasts, birds, trees, &c. In one of these Pavements, as the owner relates, were delineated several flowers, which he compared to Roses, Tulips, and Flowers de Luce; and at each of the four corners, a Crown, and a Pea∣cock holding a Snake in his Bill, and treading it un∣der one foot. Another had the figure of a Man in armour from the breast upward. There were also Imperial Heads, and some other variety of Figures, which had they been preserv'd, might have been in∣structive, as well as diverting to the Curious in the study of Antiquities. In their Gardens, and elsewhere in this Village, they frequently meet with brass Coyns; which an ingenious and worthy Gentleman of that neighbourhood has for some years collected. In his Collection I observ'd an adulterated Coyn of Antoni∣nus Pius, which seem'd to have been counterfeited not of late, but anciently, when that Emperour's Coyns were current money. 'Tis a brass piece, of the bigness of a denarius, cover'd with a very thin leaf of silver, which when rub'd off, the letters disappear. Also Julia Maesia of embas'd metal, not unlike our tin farthings. Others were of Valerianus, Gallienus, Probus, Dioclesianus, Constantius Chlorus, Constantinus Magnus, Julius Crispus, Constans, and both Valentini∣ans. This present year (1693.) one Charles Keinton shew'd me part of a Roman brick-pavement in his Yard: the bricks were somewhat above a foot long, nine inches broad, and an inch and a half thick; all marked thus:

[illustration]

[e] The English names of Went-set* 1.2 and Wents land have their origin from the British word Gwent; whereby almost all this Country, and part of Glo∣cestershire and Herefordshire were call'd; till Wales was divided into Counties. But it seems question∣able, whether that name Gwent be owing to the City Venta; or whether the Romans might not call this City Venta Silurum, as well as that of the Iceni, and that other of the Belgae, from the more ancient Bri∣tish names of part of their Countries. Had the Coun∣try been denominated since the Roman Conquest, from the chief City, it had been more properly call'd Gwlâd Gaer-Lheion, than Gwlâd Gwent. But of this enough, if not too much.

[f] In the year 1654. some workmen discover'd at St. Julian's near Kaer-Lheion, a Roman Altar, the Inscription whereof was soon after copy'd by the learned and ingenious John Aubrey Esq a true lover and promoter of real knowledge, and a person of equal industry and curiosity. The Altar, he says, was of Free-stone, four foot in length, and three in breadth: the Inscription he is pleas'd to communi∣cace out of his excellent Collection of British Monu∣ments, to be publish'd on this occasion.

[illustration] broken inscriptionary stone

IOVIOM DOLICHVI
〈◊〉〈◊〉 AEMILIANVS
CALPVRNIVS
RVFILIANVS 〈◊〉〈◊〉
AVGVSTORVM
MONITV

* 1.3

It seems worth the enquiry of the curious, upon what occasion Jupiter is here stiled Dolichenus; for that I take to be the meaning of this word Dolichv. To me it seems somewhat probable, that this Altar was erected to implore his Tuition of some Iron Mines, either in the Forest of Dean, or some other place of this Country. The grounds of which con∣jecture I take from this Inscription in Reinesius:* 1.4 Jovi optimo maximo Dolycheno, ubi ferrum nascitur, C Sempronius Rectus, cent. Frumentarius D.D. For unles•• C••aius Sempronius, who dedicates this Altar Jovi Dolicheno, makes his request to Jupiter that he would either direct them to find out Iron Mines, or be propitious to some they had already discover'd, I can∣not conjecture why he should add the words ubi Fer∣rum nascitur; which were not only superfluous, bu•• absurd, if they imply'd no more than barely that Iron-ore was found at Doliche, a Town of Macedonia whence Jupiter was call'd Dolichenus. Augustorum monitu is a Phrase we find parallel instances of in Rei∣nesius, p. 42. where he tells us, Ex monitu Dei, Imperio Deorum Dearúmque, ex jussu numinis, quicquid facerent, facere videri volebant Pagani.

At Tre-Dynoq-Church* 1.5 about three miles distant from Kaer-leion, is preserv'd this fair and entire Monument of a Roman Souldier of the Second Legion. The Stone is a kind of blue slate: the four oblique lines are so many Grooves or Canaliculi; and the small squares without the lines are holes bor'd through the stone; whereby it was fasten'd with Iron pins to the Ground-wall of the Church on the outside; and discover'd by the Sexton about twenty years since, at the digging of a Grave. Considering that this was the Monument of a Heathen, and must be about four∣teen or fifteen hundred years standing; it seems strange it should be reposited in this place, and thus fasten'd to the Foundation of the Church: unless we suppose it laid there by some pious Christian in ••fter ages, or rather that the Chu••ch was built on some old Roman burial-place. But however that happen'd, that it was there found is most certain, and testified by a worthy Gentleman of the neighbour∣hood yet living, who was present at the discovery of it, and took care to preserve it.

[illustration] inscription

DM IVL IVLIANVS
MIL LEG II AVG STIP
XVIII ANNOR XL
HIC SITVS EST
CVR••AGENTE
AMANDA
CONIVGE

* 1.6 * 1.7

At Kaer Leion they frequently dig up Roman Bricks with this Inscription.

LEG. II. AVG.

The Letters on these Bricks are not inscrib'd (as on stone) but stamp'd with some instrument; there be∣ing a square cavity or impression in the midst of the Brick, at the bottom whereof the Letters are rais'd, and not insculp'd. One of these Bricks may be seen (together with Mr. Camden's Inscriptions) in the Garden-wall at Moinscourt, the seat of the worshipful Thomas Lyster Esq and some others at Kaer Leion.

In the year 1692. a chequer'd pavement was disco∣ver'd in the grounds of the honoured Henry Tom∣kins of Kaer Leion Esq the present High Sheriff of this County. 'Twas found by workmen a plowing, in a field close adjoyning to his house. And here we may observe, that these ancient pavements are not buried so deep in this County, as that in the Church-yard at Woodchester in Glocestershire. For whereas that lies at about 3 foot depth, this at Kaer Leion (as also some others formerly discover'd,) lay no deeper than the plow-share; and that abovemention∣ed at Kaer-went not much lower. Mr. Tomkins has taken all possible care, to preserve what the servants had not spoil'd of this valuable antiquity; by remo∣ving a considerable part of the floor in the same or∣der it was found, into his garden; and was pleas'd to communicate a draught of the whole to be* 1.8 pub∣lish'd upon this occasion. The diameter of it is about 14 foot. All the arches, and that part of the border they touch, were composed of white, red, and blue stones, varyed alternately. The bills, eyes, and feet of the birds were red, and they had also a red ring about the neck; and in their wings, one or two of the longest feathers red, and another blue. The in∣side of the cups were also red; and elsewhere, what∣ever we have not excepted of this whole area, is va∣riegated of umber or dark colour'd stones and white.

About forty years since, some Labourers digging in a Quarry betwixt Kaer Leion Bridge and Christ-church (near a place call'd Porth Sini Krân) discover'd a large coffin of free-stone; which being open'd, they found therein a leaden sheet, wrap'd about an iron frame, curiously wrought; and in that frame a skeleton. Near the coffin they found also a gilded Alabaster statue of a person in a coat of mail; hold∣ing in the right-hand a short sword, and in the left a pair of scales. In the right scale appear'd a young maiden's head and breasts; and in the left (which was out-weigh'd by the former) a globe. This ac∣count of the coffin and statue I receiv'd from the worshipful Captain Matthias Bird, who saw both himself; and for the farther satisfaction of the curi∣ous, was pleas'd lately to present the statue to the Ashmolean Repository at Oxford. The feet and right-arm have been broken some years since, as also the scales; but in all other respects, it's tolerably well preserv'd; and some of the gilding still remains in the interstices of the armour. We have given a figure of it, amongst some other curiosities relating to Antiquity, at the end of these Counties of Wales: but must leave the explication to some more expe∣rienc'd and judicious Antiquary; for though at first view it might seem to be the Goddess Astraea, yet I cannot satisfie my self as to the device of the Globe and Woman in the scales; and am unwilling to trou∣ble the Reader with too many conjectures.

Amongst other Roman Antiquities frequently dug up here, we may take notice of some curious earthen Vessels; whereof some are plain, and the same with those red Patellae or earthen Plates often discover'd in several parts of England; but others adorn'd with elegant figures; which were they preserv'd, might be made use of for the illustration of Roman Authors, as well as their Coyns, Statues, Altars, &c. That whereof I have given a figure, represents to us, first, as an emblem of Piety, the celebrated history of the woman at Rome, who being deny'd the liber∣ty of relieving her father in prison with any food, yet obtaining free access to him, fed him with the milk of her own breasts. I am sensible that in Pliny‖ 1.9 and most printed copies of such Authors as mention this history, we are inform'd she exercis'd this piety to her mother: but this figure (though it be some∣what obscure) seems to represent a bearded man: however, whether I mistake the figure, or whether we may read with Festus, Patre (not matre) carcere incluso; or rather suppose the tradition erroneous (in some provinces at least) amongst the vulgar Romans; that the same history was hereby intended, is suffici∣ently evident. In the second place we find an Auspex or Soothsayer looking upwards to observe the motion of a bird; or rather perhaps a Cupid (according to the Potter's fancy) performing the office of a Sooth∣sayer. And in the third, a woman sacrificing with Vervain and Frankincense: for I am satisfied, that the plant on the altar is no other than Vervein; and that the Woman reaching her hand towards the Altar, is casting Frankincense on the Vervein, seems very probable; for we find that Women, a little before their time of lying in, sacrificed to Lucina with Vervein and Frankincense. Thus the Harlot Phrone∣sium in Plautus, (Trucul. Act 2. Scen. 5.) pretending she was to lye in, bid•• her maids provide her Sweet-meats, Oyl of Cinnamon, Myrrhe, and Vervein.

Date mihi huc stactam atque ignem in aram ut Venerem Lucinam meam: Hic apponite atque abite ab oculis, — Ubi es, Astaphium? fer huc verbenam mihi, thus & bellaria.

We may also collect out of Virgil* 1.10, that women sacrific'd with Vervein and Frankincense upon other occasions.

Effer aquam & molli cinge haec altaria vitta: Verbenasque adole pingues & mascula thura, Conjugis ut magicis sanos avertere sacris Experiar sensus. —

As for the naked person on the other side the Altar, I shall not pretend to determine whether it be her husband, or who else is intended thereby. In regard we find the other figures repeated alternately; I sup∣pose there were no other delineations on the whole vessel, than what this piece included within the crack (which is all I have of it) represents. By the figures on this vessel we might conjecture it was a bowl used in those Feasts they call'd Matronalia, ob∣serv'd on the Kalends of March; when the married women sacrificed to Juno, for their happy delivery in childbirths, the preservation of their husbands, and the continuance of their mutual affections. And from its form, I should guess it was that sort of vessel they call'd Phiala: because in Welsh the only name we have for such vessels is Phîol; which is doubtless of the same origin with the Greek and Latin Phiala, and is very probably one of those many words left amongst us by the Romans, which we may presume to be still preserv'd in the sense they us'd them.

I shall only mention two other curiosities found here, and detain the Reader no longer in this Coun∣ty: the first is, a Ram's horn of brass, much of the bigness and form of a lesser Ram's horn; broken off at the root, as if it had been formerly united to a brass head. One of these heads and horns (though somewhat different from ours) may be seen in Lodo∣vico Moscardo's Musaeum, pag. 83. who supposes such heads of Rams and Oxen to have serv'd at once both as ornaments in their Temples, and also religious types of sacrifice.

The other is a very elegant and an entire Fibula vesti∣aria, whereof (because it would be difficult to give an intelligible description of it)‖ 1.11 I have given 2 figures, one being not sufficient to express it. It is of brass, and is curiously chequer'd on the back part, with enamel of red and blue. It should seem that when they used it, the ring at the upper end was drawn down over the acus or pin; and that a thread or small string tied through the ring, and about the notches at bottom, secured the Acus in its proper place. Such a Fibula in all respects, but that it is somewhat less, was found An▪ 1691. near King's Cotte

in Glocestershire; where they also frequently meet with Roman brass coyns, which they call Chesle-money, a name probably of the same signification with Ca∣stle or Chester-money. They that would be farther satisfied of the various forms and matter of these Roman Fibulae, and the several uses they were applied to, may consult amongst other Authors, the learned and ingenious Joannes Rhodius de Acia, and Smetius's Antiquitates Neomagenses.

In the first of Charles 1. Robert Lord Carey was created Earl of Monmouth,* 1.12 and was succeeded by Henry of the same name. An. 15 Car. 2. James Fitz-Roy, a∣mong other honours, was created Duke of Monmouth; and at present the right honourable Charles Mordant takes the title of Earl from this place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lhan.
• * 1.2

  Wentse••. &c.
• * 1.3

  JOVI Op∣timo Ma∣ximo DO∣LICHeno, JunOM Optum••. AEM••LIA∣NVS CAL∣PVRNIVS RVFILIA∣NVS fE∣Cit [an po∣tius LEGio∣nis II. AV∣GVSTO∣RVM MO∣NITV.
• * 1.4

  ••••n S••n∣•• •••• l••∣•• m •• Xv.
• * 1.5

  Inscription at Tredo∣nok.
• * 1.6

  Diis Mani∣bus. JVLius JVLIA∣NVS MI∣Les LEGI∣onis I.^dae^. AVGustae, STIPendio∣rum octo∣decim, AN∣NORum quadragin∣ta, HIC SI∣TVS EST: CVRA AGENTE AMANDA CONJV∣GE.
• * 1.7

  Rein. Inscr. p. 543.— Cura agen∣tibus, Semp. Pudente, Mil. frum. & Cutio Eu∣pla. Mini∣stro Sp c.
• * 1.8

  See at the end of Wales.
• ‖ 1.9

  Hist. Nat. l. 7. c. 36.
• * 1.10

  E•••••• l. ver. 6.
• ‖ 1.11

  See at t•• end of Wa••••••.
• * 1.12

  Earls and Duke of Monmouth.