being appointed to the command of the Cornwall Man of War, of 74
Guns, in the year 1777, and having, in the course of a twelve-month,
distinguished himself in four successive engagements, in the West
Indies, against the French Fleet, was unfortunately, on his return
home, carried off by a bilious fever, on the 12th of July, 1780, aged
49, before he had received those honors from his King and Country,
which were destined to be the reward of his gallant and faithful
services.—His disconsolate widow, penetrated with the deepest regret,
for her irreparable loss, caused this Monument to be erected.
“_In cœlo quies_.”
Llyn, or Lleyn, is a very extensive Hundred, in general flat, but
interspersed with most characteristic hills or rocks, rising insulated in
several parts; none makes so conspicuous a figure as Carn Madryn, Carn
Boduan, and Mynydd Mynytho, (Mann-noeth-wy); the country, of late years,
is greatly improved, owing to the laudable example of the resident
gentlemen. The chief produce is oats, barley, pigs, and black cattle; it
is supposed that above three thousand of the latter are annually sold out
of these parts; much oats, barley, butter and cheese, are exported.—The
land is good, particularly for grazing, being watered by a thousand
rills; it is in general destitute of trees, except near gentlemen’s
seats,—the example of planting, set by men of property, is however
rapidly spreading; and by an Act, passed some years ago, many of the
commons and waste lands have been enclosed, and brought into a state of
cultivation. Giraldus Cambrensis, in his Itinerarium Cambriæ, says, that
the Cantreds of Lleyn and Eifionydd were the possessions of Owen
Gwynedd’s children, when he passed through Wales, and that they had two
Castles, one at Carn Madryn, and the other at Penrhyn Deudraeth.
Castellmarch, in this neighbourhood, is an old family seat, now the
property of Thomas Asheton Smith, Esq. of Vaenol. Margaret Griffith,
heiress of Plas mawr, in Carnarvon, and Trefarthen, in Anglesey, married
Griffith Jones, of Castellmarch, in Llyn, Esq. and her daughter Margaret
Jones, heiress of Castellmarch, married Sir William Williams, of Vaenol,
Baronet. Not far from the road is Wern fawr, now in ruins, the property
of Parry Jones Parry, Esq. of Madryn. Near Llanbedrog is the Cottage,
the residence of Lloyd Caldecot, Esq. and before we enter Pwllheli, is
Bodegroes, the hospitable seat of Glynn Griffith, Esq. and not far
distant is Bodvel, {179} an old house, which had the honor of giving
birth to the celebrated Mrs. Piotzi.
PWLLHELI is the principal Town in this part of the County, and the
Magazine of Goods which supplies all this tract; it lies near the sea
shore, and has a tolerable harbour for vessels of about 60 tons: Leland
styles it “statio optima Carinis.” The entrance is by a high rock,
called Carreg y Wimbill, (the Gimlet,) which is near a mile from land, to
which it is joined by a range of sand hills. This place, as well as
Nevin, was made a free Borough, by the Black Prince, by Charter, dated
the 12th year of his Principality, at Carnarvon, in compliment to _Nigel
_{180}_ de Loryng_, or _Lohareyn_, one of the gentlemen of his
bedchamber, on whom he had bestowed, Nevin and Pwllhely, in consideration
of his great service in _Gascony_, and particularly at the Battle of
_Poitiers_. He entitles him to “servitiis quorumcunque tenentium tam
liberorum quam nativorum,” by which it may be presumed, that he did not
include the Welsh in the privileges; what those were we do not learn, but
they were the same which the Burgesses of Rosfair, in Anglesey enjoyed,
and for them Pwllheli was to pay to Nigel fourteen pounds a year, and
Nevin thirty-two. This Borough and Nevin, he freely bestowed on him,
with all its appurtenances, together with four _librates_ of Land,
towards the repairs of his Manors, and for all these he was only to pay
an acknowledgment of a rose, in lieu of all services; if he died without
issue the whole was to revert to the crown. Edward III. afterwards
confirmed these grants to _Sandwich_. Denio, the Parish Church, (or
rather a Chapel to the Vicarage of Llannor) stands on a hill about half a
mile out of the Town; it is dedicated to St. Beuno. The Markets are on
Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the Fairs on the 5th of March, 13th of May,
28th of June, 19th of August, 24th of September, and 11th of November.
Pwllheli is a safe and good harbour, as we before observed, and well
sheltered from all winds, but a Perch is much wanted at the extreme end
of the _Gimlet Rock_. This is one of the Contributory Boroughs with
Carnarvon, in returning one Member to Parliament; it is a Corporate Town,
and is governed by a Mayor, two Bailiffs, and a Recorder. The Petty
Sessions for the District are held here. An Embankment has been made
within these few years, on both sides of the Town, by which several
hundred acres have been recovered, the greatest part of which used to be
overflowed by the high tides. Pwllheli has as excellent beach for Sea
bathing, and is likely to become a place of resort in the Summer season,
for that purpose. The number of inhabitants in 1811, was nearly thirteen
hundred. The Prince (says Leland) had a place here, as yet appeareth.
The distance from Pwllheli to Tremadoc is about 15 miles; the first
village on the road is Abererch, situated on the river Erch, and partly
in the Cwmwd (Commot) of Dinlleyn, Cantref of Lleyn, and partly in the
Cwmwd of Eifionydd, Cantref of Dunodig. The Church is dedicated to Saint
Cawrdaf; it is a discharged Vicarage, valued in the King’s Books at £6.
Patron, the Bishop of Bangor. The number of inhabitants, in 1811, was
about 1100. In this Church was buried Sir Thomas Pulesten, a
distinguished favorite of Edward 1st. who was killed in 1282.—The next
Parish is Llanarmon, the Church is dedicated to St. Garmon. At Plas Du
in this Parish, was born that celebrated Epigrammatist, John Owen; this
place gave birth also to the Rev. John Evans, S. Th. P. Bishop of Bangor,
in 1715, and afterwards of Meath, in Ireland.—On the road to Carnarvon is
Trallwyn, the seat of J. E. Lloyd, Esq. and not far distant, Glasfryn,
Rev. Thomas Ellis; as we proceed, pass, on the left, Hendre, Rev. Thomas
Roberts, and pretty near it Werglodd fawr, R. Jones, Esq. After passing
the junction of the Pwllheli and Nevin Roads, soon reach Llanystumdwy, a
Church and Village, situated near a river, in a well-sheltered little
Vale, beautifully wooded; the Church is dedicated to St. John the
Baptist.—Near this place are a great number of gentlemen’s seats: Plas
Hen, now the property of Sir Thomas Mostyn, Bart. once the seat of Evan
Lloyd Vaughan, Esq. by marriage with an heiress of the name of Vaughan, a
descendant of _Collwyn ap Tangno_; she afterwards married William Lloyd,
a younger son of Bod-Idris: this William Lloyd was Sheriff in 1648, and
was killed in a skirmish near Bangor, by Sir John Owen. Near it is
Gwynfryn, late the property of David Ellis Nanney, Esq. Attorney-General
on this Circuit, now the residence of his nephew, O. J. E. Nanney, Esq.;
a little nearer Crickaeth, to the left of the road, is Trefan, late the
property of Rev. Z. Hughes, now the seat of Mrs. Priestley.—To these may
be added Sgubor Hen, Aberkin, Ty Newydd, Rev. J. Kyffin; Mynydd Ednyfed,
Rev. Mr. Jones, Rector of Crickaeth; and Brynhir, now unoccupied. In
this neighbourhood are the ruins of a small Chanel, called Bettws; and
not far distant is Chwilog, an old House, which formerly belonged to the
ancestors of Sir Howell y Fwyall, our celebrated Countryman, who attended
the Black Prince to the Battle of _Poitiers_, and, according to our Welsh
Bards, was the person who took the French King prisoner, though that
honor is generally bestowed on _Denis de Morebeque_, a Knight of
_Artois_.—Our brave countryman, however, undoubtedly behaved on the
occasion with distinguished valour, for the Black Prince not only
bestowed on him the Constableship of Crickaeth Castle, which he
afterwards made his residence, but Knighted him, and in perpetual
memorial of his good services, ordered, that from thenceforth, a mess of
meat should be served up before the pole-axe, with which he performed
such great feats; for that reason he bore it in his Coat of Arms, and was
styled (as before-mentioned) Syr Howel y Fwyall, or of the _Axe_. After
the Mess had appeared before the Knight, it was carried down and bestowed
on the poor; Eight Yeomen attendants were constituted to guard the Mess,
and had eight-pence a day, constant wages, at the King’s charge; and
these, under the name of Yeomen of the Crown, were continued on the
establishment till the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and it is supposed by
many that the Yeomen of the Crown are indebted to these for their origin.
After the death of Sir Howel, the Mess was carried as before, and
bestowed on the poor, for the _sake of his soul_, in the time of Popery,
and probably as low as the period above-mentioned.—Sir John Wynne, in his
History of the Gwydir family; informs us that this Sir Howel was also
Constable of Chester Castle, and had also Dwyfor, and others, the King’s
Mills, to farm, and a grant of the Weirs and Fisheries on this Coast,
besides many other offices of great trust and profit.
Crickaeth Cattle is situated on conical rock, jutting far into the sea,
and the Isthmus crossed, by way of defence, by two deep ditches; on each
side of the entrance is a great round Tower; the Court is of an irregular
form, and has the remains of a square Tower, beyond is another Court, and
in it, on the verge of the rock, are two others, also square. It is
probable that all the Towers were originally square, for the insides of
the two round Towers are of that form; they have so much the appearance
of the Architecture of Dolyddelen Castle, that it is probable this Castle
was founded by a Welsh Prince, and that Edward the First did no more than
case the Towers, which at present are the two rounders; after the
conquest, Edward appointed William de Leybourne to be Constable, with a
Salary of One Hundred Pounds a year, for which he was to maintain a
garrison of 30 men, one Chaplain, one Surgeon, one Carpenter, and one
Mason.
On our way to Penmorva and Tremadoc, pass by Stumllyn, formerly the seat
of the Wynnes, now the property of — Jones, Esq. of Machynlleth. Several
Antiquities are scattered over this part of the County; near Dolbenmaen,
is a large Mount, on which might have been, as Mr. Rowlands conjectures,
a Watch Tower. Near Ystum Cegid are three _Cromlechs_, joining to each
other, possibly memorials of three Chieftains slain on the spot. And
near _Clenenney_, on _Bwlch_ Craig Wenn, is a fine Druidical Circle,
consisting, at present, of thirty-eight stones; at a mile’s distance and
within sight of this, above _Penmorva_, is another. On Llysdin Farm,
were lately discovered, some small Urns, containing human bones and
ashes. Not far distant from hence, in the Parish of Llanfihangel y
Pennant, is BRYNKIR, once the seat of a family of that name, now the
property of J. Huddart, Esq. at present Sheriff for this County; Lord
Lyttleton, whose Letters from Wales are well known, and were published at
the end of Bingley’s first Tour, remained here for several days, on a
visit to one of the Brynkirs, and during his stay ascended Moel Hedog,
which divides this Country from the Vale of Bethgelert. The present
proprietor has built a new house here, and made other great improvements.
In remote days, this part of Eifionydd was possessed by two Clans, one
descended from _Owen Gwywedd_, Prince of North Wales, and consisted of
the houses of _Cessail Gyfarch_, _Ystum Cegid Clenenney_, _Brynker_ and
_Glasfryn_, or _Cwmystrallyn_; the other was derived from _Collwyn ap
Tangno_, and consisted of the houses of _Chwilog_, _Bron y Foel_,
_Berkin_, _Gwynfryn_, _Tal Hen bont_, (now Plas Hen) and _Pennardd_.—The
feuds of these two parties filled the land with blood. The history of
our Country, during that period, is the History of revenge, perfidy, and
slaughter. This consideration induced _Meredith ap Jevan_, ancestor of
the Wynne’s of Gwydir, to quit this his paternal country—“I had rather,”
says he, “fight with out-laws and thieves, than with my own blood and
kindred;—If I live in my own house, in Efionydd, I must either kill my
own kindred, or be killed by them.” There was not a house in the
hundred, as Mr. Pennant observes, that had not its dreadful tale,—they
would quarrel, says Sir John Wynne, if it was but for the mastery of the
country, and the first good morrow; John Owen ap John ap Meredydd, and
Howel ap Madoc Vychan fell out for no other reason: Howel and his people
fought valiantly,—when he fell, his mother placed her hand on his head,
to prevent the fatal blow, and had half her hand and three of her fingers
cut off by some of her nearest kindred. An attempt was made to kill
Howel ap Rhys, in his own house, by the sons of John ap Meredith, for no
other reason but that their servants had quarrelled about a Fishery; they
first set fire to the Mansion, with great bundles of straw,—the besieged,
terrified with the flames, sheltered themselves under forms and benches,
while RHYS, the old Hero, stood, sword in hand, reproaching his men with
cowardice, and telling them he had often seen a greater smoke in that
Hall on Christmas-even. These flagitious deeds seldom met with any other
punishment than what resulted from private revenge, and too often
composition was made for the most horrible murders. There was a
_gwerth_, or price of blood, from the slaughter of a King, to the cutting
off one of his subject’s little fingers.
The Village of Penmorva is situated in a nook, between some high rocks,
at the end of a tract of meadows, formerly subject to the over-flowing of
the higher tides, till an embankment was made by W. A. Madocks, Esq. a
gentleman to whom this part of the County is greatly indebted for
numerous and great improvements, particularly for the erection of an
embankment, about a mile in length, in order to reclaim some thousand
acres of land, and which now forms a safe and convenient road between the
Counties of Carnarvon and Merionneth, across the Estuary of Traethmawr,
whereas formerly many lives were lost in going over these dangerous
sands. In the Church of Penmorva, which is dedicated to St. Beuno, was
interred that valiant Knight, Sir John Owen, besides the monument to his
memory, there is another to Sir William Morris, of Clenenney, who died
August 11, 1622. Tremadoc, a new Town, which bears the name of its
Founder, is about a mile distant from Penmorva, and contains from Eighty
to a Hundred Houses.—Here is a handsome new Church, a Market-Place, a
comfortable Inn, and a great number of good Shops: near the Town are also
several good Houses built by the same Gentleman, particularly Tan yr
Allt, Morva Lodge, &c.; all of which, as well as every thing in and about
this small Town, evidently prove the individual who planned and conducted
the whole, to be a person of cultivated mind, improved taste, and
superior judgment and ability.—A Market has been established here, and
the Fairs which used to be at Penmorva on the following days, March 6,
May 14, August 20, September 25, and November 12, have mostly deserted
that place, and are held at Tremadoc.—Here is an excellent Salmon
Fishery—a good shore for Bathing—and a safe Harbour for Vessels under 120
Tons burthen. It is greatly to be lamented, that the beneficial
improvements projected by the before-mentioned public spirited Gentleman
W. A. Madocks, Esq. and carried by him to such a state of forwardness;
should not be completed. In the Year 1625, Sir John Wynne, of Gwydir,
conceived the great design of gaining this immense track, (Traeth mawr)
as well as the lesser one, (Traeth bach) from the Sea, by means of an
Embankment; and for that purpose he implored the assistance of his
illustrious Countryman Sir Hugh Middleton, in a Letter which has been
preserved, and together with that Gentleman’s reply, printed in Mr.
Pennant’s Tour. A Bridge over Traeth bach, and a new line of Road along
the Sea Coast to Barmouth, and a Stage Coach, or some other more regular
mode of conveyance between North and South Wales, particularly during the
Summer Months, are still left among the _desiderata_ of this portion of
the Principality.
* * * * *
_Ancient Divisions of the County_.
_Cantref_, _or _Commots_. (_Cwmmwd_.)
Hundred_.
NANT GONWY, Uwch Conwy,
Is Conwy,
Trefrew.
ABER, Llechwedd Ucha,
Llechwedd Issa.
ARVON, Uwch Gwyrfai,
Is Gwyrfai.
LLEYN, Cymmytmaen,
Cyfflogion, or Canologion,
Dinlleyn.
EIFIONYDD, was one of the Commots of the Cantref of Dunodig, and
Arduwy was the other.
CREUDDIN, is a Commot in the Cantref, or Hundred, of Rhôs.
APPENDIX.
A
_CATALOGUE_
OF THE
RECTORIES, VICARAGES, AND CHAPELS,
IN THE
County of Caernarvon;
WITH THEIR
_DEDICATIONS_, _SAINT DAYS_, _AND PATRONS_.
V. BANGOR, St. Daniel Dec. 1 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Pentir, _a._ St. Cedol Nov. 1 Bishop of
Capel Bangor
R. Llanddiniolen St. Diniolen Nov. 23 Lord Chancellor
C. Llanfair Isgaer St. Mary Sept. 8 Lord Newborough
C. Bettws Garmon St. Garmon July 31 Lord Newborough
V. Llanberis St. Peris June 26 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llanrug St. Michael Sept. 29 Bishop of
Bangor
V. Llanwnda St. Beuno April 21 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Llanfaglan St. Baglan Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llandwrog St. Twrog June 26 Bishop of
Bangor
V. Llanbeblic St. Peblic July 4 Bishop of
Chester
C. Carnarvon St. Mary Feb. 2 Bishop of
Chester
R. Llanllyfni St. Credyw Nov. 11 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llanaelhaiarn St. Elhaiarn Nov. 1 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Clynnog St. Beuno April 21 Impropriation
Jes. Col. Ox.
C. Llandegai St. Tygai June 16 Tithes
appropriated to
the Archdeacon
of Bangor
C. Capel Curig St. Curig June 16 Tithes
appropriated to
the Archdeacon
of Bangor
R. Llanllechid St. Llechid Dec. 2 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Aber St. Bodvan Jan. 2 Lord Newborough
R. Llanfair Vechan St. Mary Sept. 8 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Dwygyfylche St. Gwnning Jan. 31 Bishop of
Bangor
V. Conway Lord Viscount
Bulkeley
R. Gyffin St. Benedict March 22 Ap. to Deanery
of Bangor
R. Llangelynin St. Celynin Nov. 2 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llanbedr St. Peter June 29 Bishop of
Bangor
V. Caerhun St. Mary Sept. 8 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Trefryw St. Mary Sept. 8 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Llanrhychwyn St. Rhychwyn June 10 Appropriated to
the
Archdeaconry of
Bangor
C. Bettws y Coed St. Michael Sept. 29 Appropriated to
the
Archdeaconry of
Bangor
C. Dolwyddelen St. Gwyddeien Aug. 22 Appropriated to
the
Archdeaconry of
Bangor
V. Llandudno St. Tudno June 5 Appropriated to
the
Archdeaconry of
Bangor
V. Penmachno St. Tudclyd May 30 Sir R. W.
Vaughan, Bart.
R. Aberdaron St. Howyn Jan. 6 St. John’s
College,
V. Aberdaron Cambridge
C. Llanvaelrhys St. Maelrhys Jan. 1 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Rhyw St. Elrhyw Sept. 9 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Llandudwen St. Tudwen Oct. 27 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Mellteyrn St. Peter Aug. 1 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Bottwnog St. Beuno April 29 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llan Engan St. Engan Feb. 9 Bishop of
Bangor
V. Llangwynodl St. Gwynodl Jan. 1 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Tydweiliog St. Gwyfan June 3 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llanbedrog St. Pedroc June 4 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Llangian St. Peris Dec. 11 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Llanfihangel St. Michael Sept. 29 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Bodean St. Buan Aug. 9 Bishop of
Bangor
V. Nevin St. Mary Aug. 15 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Edern St. Edern Dec. 2 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Pistill St. Beuno April 21 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Carnguwch St. Beuno April 21 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llannor St. Beuno Sept. 14 Appropriated to
the
Archdeaconry of
Bangor
C. Pwllhely St. Beuno April 21 Appropriated to
the
Archdeaconry of
Bangor
V. Abererch St. Courda Dec. 5 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Penrhos St. Cynfil Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llanjestin St. Jestin Oct. 10 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Penllech St. Mary Aug. 5 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Bodveryn St. Meryn Jan. 6 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Llandegwnning St. Gwnning Dec. 31 Bishop of
Bangor
C. Ceidio St. Ceidiaw Nov. 2 W. Bodvil, Esq.
R. Penmorfa St. Beano April 21 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Crickieth St. Catherine Nov. 25 Bishop of
Bangor
R. Llangybi St. Cybi Nov. 5 Appropriated to
the
Archdeaconry of
Merionethsh.
C. Llanarmon St. Garmon July 1 Appropriated to
the
Archdeaconry of
Merionethsh.
* * * * *
About the year 525, Daniel ap Dunawd, Abbot of Bangor Is Coed, in
Flintshire, built a College in Caernarvonshire, for the instruction of
youth and support of the Clergy of this part of North Wales; and probably
designed it as a Cell, or member of the other Bangor, and continued so
till Prince Maelgwn, or Maelgwyn Gwynedd, a wicked Prince in his youth,
but reformed in his advanced age, among other works of Piety, created
this College into a Bishoprick, and Archbishop Dubricius, or Dyfrig,
consecrated the said Daniel Bishop thereof, about the year 550; and about
four years after, he died, December 10, and was buried at Bardsey, or
Enlli. There is but a very slender account of Daniel’s successors till
after the Conquest; from which time there seems to be a regular
succession of Prelates in this See, though by reason of the wars, they
had not all of them a quiet enjoyment. The Revenues of this Bishoprick
were valued 25th Henry VIII. at £151 3_s._ 8_d._; the clear value £134
16_s._ 4_d._ The next account is, that according to Bede, there was a
Bishop here, St. Awstin the Monk, who is called Ellodu, Anno Dom. 601.
However, Elbodius was certainly Bishop of North Wales, and died, as some
say, A.D. 806, others 811. There is no account who succeeded him.
Gildas Cambrensis dedicated his Book to a Bishop of Venetia; he
flourished A.D. 860. Mordaf is mentioned by Wynne to have gone to Rome
about the year 940; about the confirmation of Howel Dda’s Laws.
Hervey, surnamed Cruste, was consecrated Bishop of Bangor, between the
years 1089 and 1093, by Thomas, Archbishop of York; and so continued for
15 or 16 years; but using too great severity, he was very ill liked by
the Welsh, who at last murdered his Brother, and threatened to do the
same with him, whereupon he retired into England, to Henry I. for
protection, who assigned him the Abbey of Ely, which he got converted
into a Bishoprick, and quitted Bangor A.D. 1109, and died at Ely 1131,
where he was buried.
Urban, bishop of Landaff, governed this see, and took the care thereof
upon him, probably till 1119, when he began to be fully occupied in
looking after his charge in Landaff, and rebuilding his church.
David, a Scot, was consecrated April 4, 1120, in which year he consented
to the translation of the reliques of St. Dubricius to Landaff, out of
his own Diocese, at the request of Bishop Urban; he is mentioned 1127,
and his successor was
Meuruc, or Maurice, consecrated A.D. 1139: he was presented to the
Archdeaconry by Bishop David, and at first refused taking the oath to the
King of England, though afterwards he was with some difficulty persuaded
to it; he died A.D. 1161, and was succeeded by
William Priors, of St. Austin’s, Bristol, A.D. 1162, a very religious and
pious man; who was succeeded by
Guy Rufus, Monk of Walham, in the County of Essex, who was consecrated at
Ambrosebury, in July 1177; in the year 1188, he accompanied Baldwyn,
Archbishop of Canterbury, in his progress through Wales, and died about
two years after, 1190: he was succeeded by
Giraldus Cambrensis, who was elected to the See in 1190, but he refused
to accept of it then; so it continued vacant till the election of
Alban, or Albanus, Prior of St. John’s, Jerusalem, consecrated April 16,
1195: he died the year following, and was succeeded by
Robert, of Shrewsbury, who was consecrated the 18th of March. He died in
1213, and was buried by his own appointment in the Market-place at
Shrewsbury; after his death the See became vacant for two years, when
Martin, Abbot of Albaland, was consecrated June 16, 1215; he sat but a
little time, for in the same year we find
Cadwgan, who, as Brown Willis says, is the same with Martin, the one
being the name he was known by in England, and the other his original
Welsh name; Godwin, says he was Abbot of Llandefid, and being released
from his Episcopal charge A.D. 1236, he retired to the Abbey of Dover, in
the County of Hereford, and became a Monk, giving the Convent all his
goods: he died in 1241, on the 11th of April, and was buried there.
Howel’s Cong’ d‘Elire, is dated June 7, 1236: he dedicated a Monastry
built by Llywelyn Prince of Wales, at Llanfaes, in Anglesey; over the
grave of Joan his wife, daughter of John, King of England, whose pleasure
it was to be buried there.