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

ADDITIONS to DENBIGHSHIRE.

[a] THat Kerrig y Drùdion was so denomina∣ted from Druids, seems highly proba∣ble, tho' not altogether unquestion∣able: for that the word Drùdion sig∣nifies Druids, is, for what I can learn, only presumed from its affinity with the Latin Druidae; and because we know not any other signification of it. In the British Lexicon we find no other word than Derwŷ∣dhon* 1.1 for Druids, which may be fitly render'd in Latin Quercetani; Dèrw signifying in Welsh, Oak∣trees; which agreeing in sound with the Greek, might occasion † Pliny's conjecture (who was better acquainted with that language than the Celtic or British) that Druides was originally a Greek name. The singular of Derwydhon is Derwydh, which the Romans could not write more truly than Deruida, whereof Druida seems only an easier variation. The word Drudion might likewise only vary in dialect from Derwydhon, and so the name of this place be rightly interpreted by our Countrymen and Mr. Cam∣den, Druid-stones; but what stones they were that have been thus call'd, is a question I could not be thoroughly satisfied in, tho' I have made some enqui∣ry. The most remarkable stone-monuments now re∣maining in this parish, are two of that kind we call Kistieu maen or Stone-chests; whereof some have been mention'd in other Counties, and several omitted as not differing materially from those I had describ'd. These I have not seen my self; but find the following account of them, in a Letter from an ingenious Gen∣tleman of this neighbourhood. As for ancient Inscri∣ptions either of the Druids or others, I believe it's in vain to glean for them in these parts after Mr. Camden. Nor can those he mentions at Voelas in our neighbourhood (as we may collect from their characters) boast of any great antiquity: for that they are so obscure and intricate, I im∣pute to the unskilfulness of the stone-cutter, supposing they were not plainly legible in those times that first saw them. Yet that grave and learned Antiquary (as is commonly in∣cident to strangers in their perambulation) hath either for∣gotten, or not observ'd, the most remarkable pieces of An∣tiquity in this parish of Kerig y Drudion: I mean those two solitary prisons which are generally supposed to have been used in the time of the Druids. They are placed about a furlong from each other, and are such huts, that each prison can well contain but a single person. One of them is distinguish'd by the name of Karchar Kynrik Rŵth, or Kenric Rŵth's Prison; but who he was, is altogether uncertain. The other is known by no particular title, but that of Kist-vâen or Stone-chest; which is common to both, and seems to be a name lately given them; because they are somewhat of the form of large chests, from which they chiefly differ in their opening or entrance. They stand north and south, and are each of them composed of seven stones. Of these, four being above six foot long, and about a yard in breadth, are so placed as to resemble the square

tunnel of a Chimney: a fifth, which is not so long, but of the same breadth, is pitch'd at the South end thereof, firmly to secure that passage. At the North-end is the entrance where the sixth stone is the lid and especial guard of this close confinement. But in regard 'twas necessary to remove it when any person was imprison'd or releas'd, it's not of that weight as to be alone a sufficient guard of the prisoner, and therefore on the top-stone or uppermost of the four first mention'd, lyes the seventh, which is a vast stone, that with much force was remov'd towards the North-end, that with its weight it might fasten, and as it were clasp the door-stone. These, and the name of our parish, are all the me∣morials we have of the residence of those ancient Philoso∣phers the Druids, at leastwise all that tradition ascribes to them, &c.

Thus far the Letter: which makes it very proba∣ble that these are some of the Stones (if not all) whence this parish receiv'd the name of Kerrig y Drudion; and adds not a little to Mr. Aubrey's con∣jecture, that those rude Stones erected in a circular order, so common in this Island, are also Druid-Mo∣numents* 1.2: seeing that in the midst of such circles we sometimes find Stone chests, not unlike those here describ'd; as particularly that of Karn Lhechart, menti∣on'd in Glamorganshire; which without all doubt was design'd for the same use with these. But that any of them were used as Prisons in the time of the Druids, does not at all appear from this account of them; there being no other argument for it, than that one of them is call'd Karchar Kynric Rŵth; whereas that Kynric Rŵth, as I find in an anonymous Welsh wri∣te••† 1.3, was only a tyrannical person in this neighbour∣hood (of no antiquity in comparison of the Druids) who shutting up some that had affronted him in one of these Cells, occasion'd it to be call'd his Prison e∣ver after. What use they were of in the time of the Druids, we must leave to further enquiry; but that they really are some of their Monuments, I scarce que∣stion. Whether they were ever encompass'd with circles of stones like Karn Lhechart above-mention'd, or with a wall as the Kist-vâen on Mynydh y Drymmeu in the same County, is altogether uncertain. For in this revolution of time, such stones might be carried off by the neighbours, and applied to some use; as we find has been lately done in other places‖ 1.4.

These Druid-stones put me in mind of a certain relique of their Doctrine, I have lately observ'd to be yet retain'd amongst the vulgar. For how diffi∣cult it is to get rid of such erroneous opinions as have been once generally receiv'd (be they never so ab∣sur'd and ridiculous) may be seen at large in the ex∣cellent Treatise written upon that subject by Sir Tho∣mas Brown. In most parts of Wales we find it a common opinion of the vulgar, that about Midsum∣mer-Eve (tho' in the time they do not all agree) 'tis usual for snakes to meet in companies, and that by joyning heads together and hissing, a kind of Bubble is form'd like a ring about the head of one of them, which the rest by continual hissing blow on till it comes off at the tail, and then it immediately har∣dens, and resembles a glass ring; which whoever finds (as some old women and children are perswa∣ded) shall prosper in all his undertakings. The rings they suppose to be thus generated, are call'd* 1.5 Gleineu Nadroedh, i.e. Gemmae Anguinae, whereof I have seen at several places about twenty or thirty. They are small glass Annulets, commonly about half as wide as our finger-rings, but much thicker; of a green colour usually, tho' some of them are blue, and others curiously wav'd with blue, red, and white. I have also seen two or three earthen rings of this kind, but glaz'd with blue, and adorn'd with transverse streaks or surrows on the out-side. The smallest of them might be supposed to have been glass-beads worn for ornament by the Romans; because some quantity of them, together with several Amber-beads, have been lately discover'd at a Stone-pit near Garvord in Berk∣shire, where they also find some pieces of Roman Coyn; and sometimes dig up skeletons of men, and pieces of Arms and Armour. But it ••ay be ob∣jected, that a battel being fought there betwixt the Romans and Britains, as appears by the Bones and Arms they discover, these glass-beads might as pro∣bably pertain to the latter. And indeed it seems to me very likely that these Snake-stones (as we call them) were used as charms or amulets amongst our Druids of Britain, on the same occasions as the Snake-eggs amongst the Gaulish Druids. For Pliny, who liv'd when those Priests were in request, and saw one of their Snake-eggs, gives us the like account of the origin of them, as our common people do of their Glain Neidr, which being but short, may be added, that the Reader may with less trouble compare them —Praeterea est ovorum genus in magna Galliarum fa∣ma, omissum Graecis.* 1.6 Angues innumeri aestate convoluti, salivis faucium corporumque spumis artifici complexu glo∣merantur; anguinum appellatur. Druidae sibilis id di∣cunt in sublime jactari, sagóque oportere intercipi, ne tellu∣rem attingat. Profugere raptorem equo: Serpentes enim insequi, donec arceantur amnis alicujus interventu. Expe∣rimentum ejus esse si contra aquas fluitet vel auro vinctum. Atque ut est Magorum solertia occultandis fraudibus sagax, certâ Lunâ capiendum censent, tanquam congrueré operatio∣nem eam serpentium, humani sit arbitrii. Vidi equidem id Ovum mali orbiculati modici magnitudine, crusta cartila∣ginis, velut acetabulis brachiorum Polypi crebris, insigne Druidis. Ad victorias litium ac regum aditus mire lauda∣tur: tantae vanitatis ut habentem id in lite in sinu equi∣tem Romanum è Vocontiis, à Divo Claudio principe inter∣emptum non ob aliud sciam, &c.

Thus we find it very evident, that the opinion of the vulgar concerning the generation of these Adder-beads or Snake-stones, is no other than a relique of the Superstition, or perhaps Impostor of the Druids. But whether these we call Snake-stones, be the very same Amulets the British Druids made use of; or whether this fabulous origin was ascribed formerly to some∣thing else, and in after times applied to these glass-beads, I shall not undertake to determine; tho' I think the former much more probable. As for Pli∣ny's Ovum anguinum, it can be no other than a ••••ell (either marine or fossil) of that kind we call E hi∣nus marinus, whereof one sort (tho' not the same he describes) is call'd at this day in most parts of Wales where they are found, Wyeu'r môr, i.e. Sea-eggs. I had almost forgotten to add, that sometimes these glass Annulets were struck through a larger ring of Iron, and that again through another much larger of Copper, as appears by one of them found in the ri∣ver Cherwell near Hampton Gag in Oxfordshire, and figur'd and describ'd by Dr. Plot in his Natural Hi∣story of that County† 1.7. To these Amulets (but whe∣ther British or Roman I know not) that small brass Head† 1.8, figur'd numb. 18. must be referr'd; which was found in a Well somewhere in this Country, to∣gether with certain brass Snakes, and some other fi∣gures now lost, all hung about a wire.

[b] I doubt not but our Author has excited the Curiosity of most lovers of Antiquity, in mentioning small pillars inscrib'd with strange characters, supposed to be those used by the Druids. But if the following In∣scription be one of those he meant, 'twill scarce be allow'd to be half so old as their time. The pillar whence 'twas copied is a hard, rough stone, some∣what of a square form, about ten foot in length; and is now to be seen at Voelas, the place where he informs us those pillars were erected. The Copy here inserted was sent me by my worthy friend Mr. Griffith Jones, School-master of Lhan Rwst, who I doubt not hath transcrib'd it from the Monument, with great accuracy.

[illustration] inscription

This Inscription is so very obscure and different from all I have seen elsewhere, that it seems scarce intelligible. However, I shall take the liberty of of∣fering my thoughts, which the' they should prove erroneous, may yet give some hint to others to disco∣ver the true reading. I have added under each Cha∣racter the Letters I suppose to be intended; which if I rightly conjecture make these words:

Ego Joh de Tin i Dyleu Kuheli leuav Fford cudve Braech i Koed Emris Leweli op priceps hic hu—

Which I suppose, according to our modern Ortho∣graphy, might be written thus:

Ego Joh••nnes de Tŷ'n y Dylau Gwydhelén leuaf, [ar] ffordd gyddfau braich y coed Emris— Levelinus optimus princeps hic hu—

The meaning whereof is, That one John, of the house of Dyleu Gwydhelen, &c. on the Road of Ambrose-wood Hill, erected this Monument to the memory of the excellent Prince, Lhewelin. But who this Lhewelyn was, I must leave to be determin'd by others. If any of the three Princes of that name recorded in the Annals of Wales, it must be the first, or Lhewelyn ap Sitsylht, who was slain, but where is not mention'd, by Howel and M'redydh the sons of Edwyn, in the year 1021. For we find that Lhewelyn ap Jorwerth was honourably buried in the Abbey of Conwy, Anno 1240* 1.9. and his Stone-coffin remov'd up∣on the dissolution, to the Church of Lhan R^ŵst, where 'tis yet to be seen. And that Lhewelyn ap Grufydh the last Prince of Wales of the British Race,* 1.10 was slain near Bualht in Brecknockshire; so that his body was in all likelyhood interr'd somewhere in that Country, tho' his head was fixt on the Tower of London.

[c] The other Inscription, our Author mentions at Clocainog, is doubtless an Epitaph of some Souldier of note, who can be but very little, if at all later than the Romans. This stone being yet preserv'd in the same place, I have procur'd a Copy of the In∣scription from my singular Friend the Reverend Mr. John Lloyd, School-master at Ruthyn, which is here added because somewhat different from that of Mr. Camden.

AIMILINI
TOVISAG.

The name Aimilinus, we are to understand, as the same with Aemilinus, and that no other than Aemi∣lianus. Thus amongst Rein••s••us's Ins••riptions, p. 228. we find M. AIMILIVS for M. Aemilius. And in the same Author, pag 560. we have two or three examples of the letter A. in the same form with the first character of this Inscription. As for the second word, I am in some doubt whether we ought to read it Tovisag or Tovisaci: if the former, 'tis British, and signifies a Leader or General† 1.11: and if the latter, it seems only the same word latiniz'd. Mr. Lloyd adds, that the place where this stone lyes is call'd Bryn y Bedheu, which signifies the Hill of Graves, and that there is near it an artificial Mount or Tumulus, call'd y Krig-Vryn, which may be english'd Barrow-hill‖ 1.12. Also that on the Hills adjoyning there are several Cir∣cles of Stones; and in the same neighbourhood a place call'd Rhôs y Gadva, or Battel field.

[d] There are divers old Forts or Entrenchments in this County, that seem no less remarkable, than that our Author observ'd at Moel Enlhi; some of which are mention'd in Mr. Lloyd's Letter. As first, Pen y Gaer vawr on Kader Dhimmael, distant about a mile from Kerrig y Drudion; which is a circular Ditch and Rampire of at least 100 paces diameter. But what seems most remarkable, is, that 'tis presum'd to have had once some kind of wall; and that the stones have been long since carried away by the neighbours, and applied to some private uses. Secondly, Kaer Dhynod, or as others, Kaer y Dhynod, which lyes (as also Pen y Gaer) in the Parish of Lhan Vihangel. This is situate close by the river Alwen, and is ra∣ther of an oval form than circular. The Dike or Rampire consists of a vast quantity of stones, at pre∣sent rudely heap'd together, but whether formerly in any better order, is uncertain. On the river side it's about 300 foot high perpendicularly, but not half that height elsewhere. On the other side the river we have a steep Hill, about twice the height of this Kaer Dhynod; on which lyes Kaer-Vorwyn, i.e. Maiden-Fort, a large circular Entrenchment, and much more artificial than the former. This Kaer Dhynod (as Mr. Lloyd supposes) was in all likelyhood a British Camp, seeing it agrees exactly with Tacitus's description of the Camp of King Caratacus, when he engaged O∣storius Scapula somewhere in this Country of the Or∣dovices—Sumpto ad praelium loco, ut aditus, abscessus, cuncta nobis importuna, & suis in melius esset: tunc mon∣tibus arduis, & si qua clementer accedi poterant, in mo∣dum valli saxa praestruit: & praefluebat amnis vado in∣certo, &c ‖. Thirdly, Dinas Melin y Wŷg, which he supposes to have been a British Oppidum, it being much such a place as Caesar informs us they call'd so, in these words: Oppidum Britanni vocant cum Sylvas impeditas vallo atque fossâ munierunt, quo incursionis hostium vitan∣dae causa, convenire consueverunt* 1.13. This place, as the word Gwŷg implies, is full of Woods, Dingles, &c. The Fortification rises about fifteen or twenty yards where lowest; and is faced for the most part with a craggy Rock, and encompass'd with a deep Trench, having two Entries calld'd y Porth ùcha and Porth isa, or the upper and lower Gates.

In the year 1622. William Vicount Fielding, Lord St. Lis, and Baron of Newnham Padox, was created Earl of Denbigh;* 1.14 and was succeeded by Basil his son. To whom succeeded William Fielding Earl of Desmond, his Nephew; and at present it gives the same title to the Right Honourable Basil Fielding.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••ied by ••y••••••b ••ar••c 〈…〉〈…〉 c. ••o wit 1240. •• ••yr∣•••• Bry∣•••• ••awr 〈…〉〈…〉 Nat. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 c. 44.
• * 1.2

  See Pen∣brokshire.
• † 1.3

  A MS in the hands of Tho. Price of Lhan Vylhin Esq
• ‖ 1.4

  V. Ty Ilhtud at Lh••n Ham∣mwlch, Br••ck••••ck∣shire.
• * 1.5

  Gl••••ne, in the Irish signifies Glass. In Gl••mor∣ga••shire and Mon∣mouthshire these Rings are call'd Ma••n Magl.
• * 1.6

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• † 1.7

  Pag 〈◊〉〈◊〉. N••••.
• † 1.8

  Anc•• mer•••••• and has sa••••∣gere•••••• •• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ca••••••
• * 1.9

  •• P••wel, 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.10

  〈…〉〈…〉.
• † 1.11

  Tywysog. Dux, Prin∣ceps; from the Verb Tywyso to lead; as the Latin Dux from Duco.
• ‖ 1.12

  See Rad∣norshire. Annot. [c].
• * 1.13

  Tacit. Annal. 12. c. 33.
• * 1.14

  Earls of Denbigh.