Two miles aboue Thawan is Colhow, whither a little rill resorteth from
Lau Iltuit, thence to the mouth of Alen foure miles, that is a mile to
[Sidenote: Alen.]
saint Dinothes castell, and thrée miles further. The Alen riseth by
northeast vp into the land at a place called Lhes Broimith, or Skirpton,
about foure miles aboue the plot where it commeth by it selfe into
[Sidenote: Ogur.]
Sauerne. From thence to the mouth of Ogur aliàs Gur thrée miles. Then
[Sidenote: Kensike.]
come they in processe of time vnto the Kensike or Colbrooke riuer, which
is no great thing, sith it riseth not aboue three miles from the shore.
[Sidenote: Auon.]
From Kensike to Aber Auon two miles, and herein doo ships molested with
weather oftentimes séeke harborough. It commeth of two armes, wherof
that which lieth northeast is called Auon Vaur, the other that lieth
northwest Auon Vehan. They meet togither at Lhanuoie Hengle, about two
miles aboue Aber Auon village, which is two miles also from the sea.
[Sidenote: Neth.]
From hence to the Neth is about two miles and a halfe, thereon come
shiplets almost to the towne of Neth from the Sauerne. From the mouth of
Neth vnto the mouth of Crimline becke is two miles, and being passed the
[Sidenote: Tauie.]
same we come vnto the Tauie, which descendeth from the aforesaid hilles
and falleth into the sea by east of Swanseie. Being past this we come
[Sidenote: Lochar.]
vnto the Lichwr, or Lochar mouth, and then gliding by the Wormes head,
[Sidenote: Wandres.]
we passed to the Wandresmouth, wherof I find this description following
[Sidenote: Vendraith Vaur, Vendraith Vehan.]
in Leland. Both Vendraith Vaur and Vendraith Vehan rise in a péece of
Carmardineshire, called Issekenen, that is to saie, the low quarter
about Kennen riuer, and betwixt the heads of these two hils is another
hill, wherein be stones of a gréenish colour, whereof the inhabitants
make their lime. The name of the hill that Vendraith Vaur riseth in, is
called Mennith Vaur, and therein is a poole as in a moorish ground,
named Lhintegowen, where the principall spring is, and this hill is
eight or nine miles from Kidwellie: the hill that Vendraith Vehan
springeth out of, is called Mennith Vehan, and this water commeth by
Kidwellie towne.
But about thrée or foure miles yer it come thither, it receiueth a
brooke called Tresgirth, the course whereof is little aboue a mile from
the place where it goeth into Vendraith, and yet it hath foure or fiue
tucking milles and thrée corne milles vpon it. At the head of this
brooke is an hole in the hilles side, where men often enter and walke in
a large space. And as for the brooke it selfe, it is one of the most
plentifull and commodious that is to be found in Wales. All along the
sides also of Vendraith Vaur, you shall find great plentie of sea-coles.
There is a great hole by head of Vendraith Vehan, where men vse to enter
into vaults of great compasse, and it is said, that they maie go one
waie vnder the ground to Wormes head, and another waie to Cairkemen
castell, which is three miles or more into the land. But how true these
things are, it is not in me to determine; yet this is certeine, that
there is verie good hawking at the Heron in Vendraith Vehan. There are
diuerse prints of the passage of certeine worms also in the caue, at the
head of Vendraith Vehan, as the inhabitants doo fable: but I neuer heard
of anie man that saw anie worme there, and yet it is beléeued that manie
wormes are there. Hitherto out of Leland. But now to returne to mine
owne course.
[Sidenote: Laie.]
Leauing the Laie, which some call Elaie, and passing the Pennarth baie,
that lieth betwéene the Pennarth and the Lauerocke points, we left
Scillie Ilet (which lieth on the mouth of Scillie hauen before
[Sidenote: Barrie.]
described) and came vnto the Barrie, whose head is aboue Wrinston
castell, and from whence he runneth by Deinspowis, Cadoxton, Barrie, and
so into the sea.
[Sidenote: Aberthaw.]
Being past the Barrie water, we come to a fall called Aberthaw, which
riseth two or thrée miles aboue Lansanor, and going by Welch Newton, it
commeth at length to Cowbridge, and from thence goeth to Lanblethian,
Landoch, Beanpéere, Flimston, Gilston, and betweene the east and the
west Aberthaw, & into the Sauerne sea. But yer it come all there it
receiueth a brooke called Kensan, or Karnsan, or Kensech, on the east
side, whose head is east of Bolston, & comming by Charnelhoid,
Lhancaruan, & Lancadle, it falleth into the former aboue either of the
[Sidenote: Kensan.]
Thawans. Leland saith, that Kensan hath two heads, whereof the more
northerlie called Brane, lieth in Luenlithan, and runneth seauen miles
before it méet with the other. Leauing this water we sailed on, casting
about the Nash point, omitting two or thrée small waters (whereof Leland
hath alreadie as ye see made mention) because I haue nothing more to add
vnto their descriptions, except it be, that the Colhow taketh in a rill
from Lan Iltruit, of whose course (to saie the truth) I haue no manner
of knowledge.
[Sidenote: Ogur.]
The Ogur or Gur, which some call the Ogmur, is a well faire streame (as
we were woont to saie in our old English) whose head is in the same
hilles, where the Rodeneies are to be found, but much more westerlie,
and running a long course yer it come to anie village, it goeth at the
length beneath Languineuere or Langouodoch, to S. Brides vpon Ogur, then
[Sidenote: Wennie.]
to Newcastell, and Marthermaure, beneath which it méeteth the Wennie,
halfe a mile from Ogur or Ogmur castell on the east side of the banke.
It riseth fiue or six miles from this place, among the hilles, and
comming downe at last by Lanharne, it crosseth a rill yer long from
northeast, and the confluence passeth foorth by Coitchurch, Ogur
castell, & so into the Ogur. Leland writing of the waters that fall into
[Sidenote: Garrow.]
this Ogur saith thus. Into the Ogur also resorteth the Garrow two miles
aboue Lansanfride bridge, descending from Blaingarow. It taketh
[Sidenote: Leuennie.]
furthermore (saith he) another called Leuennie rising in the parish of
[Sidenote: Corug.]
Glin Corug, at northwest, and then running two miles lower, vniteth it
selfe with the Corug brooke, a little short thing, and worthie no longer
speach. From this confluence the Leuennie goeth seauen miles further yer
it meete with the Ogur on the west side, at Lansanfride, two miles aboue
Penbowt. And so far Leland. But I wot not what he meaneth by it.
[Sidenote: Kensig.]
Next vnto the Ogur is the Kensig water, that commeth downe by the Pile
[Sidenote: Margan.]
and Kensig castell, and being past the same we crosse the Margan rill,
[Sidenote: Auon.]
where sir Edward Manxell dwelt, and so vnto Auon, which hauing two heads
(as is said) the more easterlie of them commeth downe by Hauodaport
chappell, the other by Glin Corug, Michaell church, Aber Auon, and so
into the sea, yéelding also in time of néed a good harbour for ships to
lodge and ride in. From hence we went along by the Cole pits to the
[Sidenote: Neth.]
[Sidenote: Nethuehan.]
mouth of the Neth. The Neth is a faire water, rising of diuerse heads,
whereof the more easterlie named Nethuehan riseth not farre from the
head of the Kennon, and comming downe by Penedorin to Aberpirgwin it
[Sidenote: Nethuaur.]
receiueth Nethuaur, a little aboue the towne, which rising not farre
southeast of the head of Tauie in Brecknoch shire (as all the rest doo)
[Sidenote: Trangarth.]
[Sidenote: Meltaie.]
[Sidenote: Hepsaie.]
receiueth the Trangarth, the Meltaie and the Hepsaie, all which are
accounted as members of his head in one chanell, about a mile or more
before it ioine with Nethuehan. For as Trangarth riseth east of
Nethuaur, so the Melta riseth by east of Trangarth, and ioineth with the
same aboue Istrad wealthie, and a little beneath the same towne taketh
in the Hepsaie. So that albeit their seuerall risings be half or a whole
mile in sunder, yet haue they (in a maner) like distance from
Aberpirgwin, and their finall confluence in the edge of Glamorganshire,
which they directlie doo crosse. After these confluences, the maine
streame runneth in and out by sundrie miles, and through the wooddie
soiles, till it meet with Cledaugh, which ioineth with the same beneath
the Resonlaie, and goeth withall to Lanisted, where it taketh in the
[Sidenote: Dulesse.]
Dulesse, whose head is aboue Chappell Krenaunt, in the marches of
Brecknoch. Thence it goeth to Cador towne, or betwéene it and
Lannistide, then to Neth towne, whither small vessels often come: and
[Sidenote: Cledoch.]
beneath the same receiuing the Cledoch that runneth by Kelebebilch (and
also Neth abbeie where maister Crumwell dwelleth) it goeth on by
Coitfranke forrest, Nethwood, Briton ferrie, and so into the sea.
[Sidenote: Tauie.]
The Tauie riseth in the thickest of the blacke mounteines in
Brecknochshire west of Nethnaur, and comming downe west of Calwen
[Sidenote: Coilus.]
chappell, it receiueth on the east banke a rill named Coiell that
runneth thither by Coielburne chappell: and being thus vnited, the
[Sidenote: Torch.]
chanell passeth foorth by Istradgunles, and then méeting with the Turch
or Torch water that c[=o]meth from the foot of the blacke mounteines,
and is march to parcell of Caermardinshire, it runneth to Langoge,
Lansamled, saint Iohns, Swanseie, and so into the Baie. Being past this,
we come by another little fall, whose water runneth thrée or foure miles
yer it come into Swanseie baie, but without name. Thence we go to the
Crimline becke, whose description I neither haue, nor find anie great
want therof. Wherfore going about by Oistermont castell, and Mumbles
point, we passe foorth toward the southwest, by Penmarch point, til we
[Sidenote: Ilston.]
come to Ilston water, whose head is not farre within the land; and yet
as it commeth thorough the woodland, and downe by Penmarch castell, a
rill or two dooth fall into the same. Then casting about by Oxwich
point, we go onward there by, and sailing flat north by the Holme
(hauing passed the Wormeshead and S. Kennets chappell) and then
[Sidenote: Lochar.]
northeast by Whitford point, we went at length to the Lochar or Loghor,
or as Lhoyd nameth it, the Lichwr, whose indraught for a certene space
is march betwéene Caermardine and Glamorgan shires. It riseth aboue
Gwenwie chappell, from whence it goeth Landbea, to and aboue Bettus
[Sidenote: Amond.]
receiueth a rill named Amond that entreth thereinto from northeast.
Being past Bettus, it passeth by Laneddie, Arthelas bridge and ouer
[Sidenote: Combwilie.]
against Landilo Talabout, it crosseth from by west, the Combwilie by
[Sidenote: Morlais.]
west of Parkreame, and afterward the Morlais aboue Langnarch on the same
side. Then comming to Loghor castell, it taketh in on the east side, the
[Sidenote: Lhu.]
Lhu, whose course is not aboue fiue miles, and thence loosing the name
[Sidenote: Burraie.]
of Lochar, it is called Burraie, as some gesse, vntill it come to the
sea, where it parteth it selfe going on each side (of Bachannie Iland, a
small thing) and not worthie for anie thing I read thereof, as yet to be
particularlie described. From this water we passed (I saie) by
Bachannies Ile, to the Aberlheddie water, whose head being in the hilles
aboue Prenacrois, it passeth by Lhaneltheie, and thence into the sea.
[Sidenote: Dulesse.]
Then went we to the Dulesse a little rill, whose head is not farre from
Trinsaren: thence by the Pembraie and Calicoit points, till we came
[Sidenote: Wandres.]
about to the Wandres or Vendraith mouth, whose description is partlie
touched alreadie; but bicause it is not such as I would wish it to be, I
will here after my owne maner deale somewhat further withall. Gwendrath
or Vendraith vaur riseth in the lower ground, or not far from the hill
Renneth Vaur, whereon castell Careg standeth, and descending by a pretie
long course vnder sundrie bridges, commeth at the last to Glin, then to
Capull Lanberie, and so vnto the sea, being little augmented with
influences by the waie. Vendraith Vehan riseth a mile higher towards the
north than Vendraith Vaur, but out of the same soile, & thence directing
his course toward the southwest, it goeth by Lancharog, Langendarne,
Capull Langell, Bithon, Leighdenie, Kidwillie, and so into the sea,
about one mile from the fall of Vendraith Vaur.
[Sidenote: Towie.]
The Towie riseth in the mounteines of Elennith foure miles by southeast
from Lintiue, and two from Lingonon, in a moorish ground foure & twentie
miles from Caermardine, and in a forrest called Bishops forrest, midwaie
betwixt Landwibreuie & Landanuerie castell. For fish, in my opinion,
this is much better than the Taw or Taffe, whose head breedeth no fish,
but if it be cast into it, they turne vp their bellies flote aloft and
die out of hand. It parteth Brecknoch from Cardigonshire also for a
[Sidenote: Trausnant.]
certeine season, till it come by the water of Trausnant, that falleth
thereinto from by east out of the confins of Brecknoch, vnto Pilin
[Sidenote: Tothée.]
capell, and so to Istrodefine, where it méeteth with the Tothee that
commeth thither from Lhinuerwin where it riseth, and so through Rescoth
[Sidenote: Pescotter.]
forrest, vniting it selfe by the waie with the Pescotter, which mounting
out of the ground in the edge of Cardigonshire, runneth along as a limit
and march vnto the same, till it ioine with the Tothée, and both come
togither beneath Istrodefine into Towie, which we haue now in hand.
After this confluence it commeth to Lhanuair Awbreie, Lanihowell, and
Lanimphfrie, and here it receiueth two waters in one chanell, whereof
[Sidenote: Brane.]
[Sidenote: Gutherijc.]
the first is called Brane, the other Gutherijc (which lieth more
southerlie of the two) and fall (as I said) into Towie beneath
[Sidenote: Dulesse.]
[Sidenote: Morlais.]
Landonuereie, which runneth on till it méet with the first Dulesse that
goeth by Lenurdie, then with the Morlais, and these on the northwest.
Certes the Brane is a pretie brooke rising two or thrée miles aboue
Capell Newith, and descending by Lanbrane and Vstradwalter, it méeteth
(I saie) with the Gutherijc, whose head is west of Tridcastell in
Brecknochshire, and thereby it is not a little increased. But to proceed
with the Towie, which being past Lanimphfrie and a rill that méeteth
with the same, descending from northwest of Lanurdan, it taketh in the
influences of diuerse waters in one chanell, of which the greatest is
called Modewie, and thereof I find this description.
[Sidenote: Modewie.]
The Modewie, or (as some pronounce it) Motheuie, riseth of two heads,
which ioining aboue Lanihangle, the streame runneth on till it méet with
[Sidenote: Cledoch.]
the Cledoch on the left hand, procéeding also further toward Langadocke,
[Sidenote: Sawtheie.]
it receiueth not far from thence the Sawtheie, whose two heads descend
from the blacke mounteines or east edge of Carmardineshire (as mine
[Sidenote: Dulesse. 2.]
information leadeth me.) After this confluence the second Dulesse dooth
méet with the Towie, whose head is in the hilles aboue Talthogaie
abbeie, northwest from Langadocke full fiue miles: then comming downe by
Landilovaur, Newton, Dinefar castell, and Golden groue, it receiueth the
[Sidenote: Dulesse. 3.]
third Dulesse from by north that commeth in by Lanihangle and Drislan
[Sidenote: Cothie.]
castell, and after that the Cothie, whose race is somewhat long, and
therefore his description not vtterlie to be passed ouer.
Not farre from the head (which is three miles from Landanbreuie, vnder
the hulke of Blame Icorne, a narrow passage, and therein manie heaps of
stones) and somewhat beneath Lana Pinsent chappell, it taketh in the
[Sidenote: Turche.]
Turche becke that runneth thither from aboue Lanacroies: thence it goeth
to Lansawell, Abergorlech, Breghuangothie, Lannigood, and so into Towie,
[Sidenote: Rauelthie.]
which hasting forward by chappell Dewie, receiueth the Rauelthie from by
[Sidenote: Gwilie.]
north, then the Gwilie from northwest, whose head is aboue Lanie
Pinsent, and race by Canwell, Eluert, Comewilie, and Merling hill as I
haue often heard. After this confluence with the Gwilie, the Towie goeth
to Caermardine, then to Lanigang, then to Lanstephan, S. Ismaels, and so
into the sea.
[Sidenote: Taue.]
Next vnto the Towie is the Taue, whose head is in the blacke mounteines,
as at the roots of Wrenni vaur hill in Pembrookeshire, from whence it
[Sidenote: Dudderie.]
runneth by Lanuurnach, Langludien, Lanualteg, and taking in the Dudderie
from southwest, out of the same countie by Lanbederuelfraie, and Lindwie,
[Sidenote: Marlais.]
it goeth to Eglesware chappell, beneath which it crosseth the Marlais by
north that runneth by Lanbedie and Whitland. Thence meeting with one
[Sidenote: Vennie.]
rill called Venni, as I take it, that commeth through Cardith forrest on
[Sidenote: Caire.]
the one side, and the Caire on the other that runneth into it west of
[Sidenote: Carthkinnie.]
Landowror, it hasteth to S. Clares, where it taketh in the Carthkinnie,
[Sidenote: Gow.]
or Barthkinnie (as Leland calleth it) and the Gow or Tow both in one
chanell, of which the first riseth aboue Capell Bettus, from whence it
runneth by Talacouthe, Kilsant, and Langinnin, the other issueth out of
the ground aboue Trologh Bettus, by Midrun, & ioining with the former a
little aboue S. Clares, they run into the Taue, and from thence to
[Sidenote: Gowen.]
Lanihangle, and betwéene it and Abercowen, admitteth finallie the Gowen
or Gow streame, which comming likewise from the blacke mounteines, goeth
by Ebbernant, & so into the Taue, who directeth his course by Lancharne
castell, and then into the sea.
[Sidenote: Gwair.]
The next water that we come to is the Gwair, which is but a small thing
rising aboue Lambeder Velfraie, and going from thence by east of castell
Merhie hill, Crumuier and Argwaire, it is not long yer it fall into the
sea, and so we leaue Cairdinshire, and go ouer into Penbrooke. Then
passed we by an other comming out of Rathe forrest called Coit Rathe,
the water it selfe rising about Templeton. Thence leauing the Monkeston
rocke, we came to Tenbie or Dinbechie Piscood, and passing into the port
[Sidenote: Brechnocke.]
betwéene the castell and S. Katharines rocke, we found it serued with
two little backe waters, of so small countenance, that they are not
worthie of anie further talke to be spent in their descriptions: yet the
one séemeth to be called Florence brooke, the other Fresto, Gunfreston
standing betwéene them both, when by their sight cannot perish. After
[Sidenote: From Londie to Caldie thirtie miles.]
this we passed betwéene Londie and an other Ilet or rocke lieng by
northwest of the same, to Ludsop point, & so to Abertrewent, where I
[Sidenote: Trewent.]
found a sillie fresh water named Trewend that riseth a mile or
thereabout within the land. From thence we went southwards by Brode
hauen, till we came to S. Gowans point. Then gathering west and by north
before we came at Shepe Iland, we found another fresh water, that riseth
short of Kiriog Maharen, and running south of Vggarston, Windmill hill,
or betwéene it and Castell Norton and Gupton, it holdeth on flat west
all the waie till it come to the Ocean.
[Sidenote: Pennar.]
Being passed this water, we cast about toward the northwest, by the
Poptons and Pennar, till we came to the Pennar mouth, out of which the
salt water issueth that in manor inuironneth Penbroke. From this
(omitting sundrie salt créekes on both sides of the hauen, not
appertinent to our purpose) we came to the fall of two waters in one
chanell, aboue whose confluence Williamston parke standeth, and whereof
one (a méere salt course) incloseth thrée parts of Carew castell. The
other rising néere to Coit Rath forrest is a fresh, & going by
Geffraiston, Creswell & Lawrenie, it leaueth the parke on the south
side, & goeth into the hauen after confluence with the former.
Now come I to the two swords, or hauen of Milford, whereinto two riuers
[Sidenote: Dugledu.]
direct their course from the northeast called Dugledu or the two swords,
[Sidenote: Cultlell.]
and betwéene them both is a rill which they call also Cultlell (that is
to saie) the knife. Hereof riseth a merrie tale of a Welshman, that
lieng in this place abroad all night in the cold weather, and
peraduenture not verie well occupied, was demanded of his hostesse
(where he did breake his fast the next morrow) at what inne he laie in
the night precedent, bicause he came so soone to hir house yer anie of
hir maids were vp? Oh good hostesse (quoth he) be contented, I laie to
night in a dangerous estate, for I slept betweene two swords with a long
knife at my heart; meaning indéed that he laie betwéene these two
riuers, and his brest towards the south neere to the head of Cultlell.
But to passe ouer these iests. Here Leland speaketh of a riuer called
[Sidenote: Gwilie.]
Gwilie, but where it riseth or falleth, he maketh no certeine report:
wherefore it is requisit that I proceed according to my purpose.
The one of these swords is called Clotheie or Clothie, of which I find
[Sidenote: Clotheie.]
this short and breefe description. The Clothie riseth at the foot of
Wrennie vaure hill and comming downe to Monachlodge, Langelman,
Lannakeuen, and Egremond, it receiueth a rill from by northwest before
it come at Lanhaddon castell, which commeth from aboue the moore by
Clarbaston and Bletherston, his head arising in the hill west of
Mancloghaie, as Leland dooth informe me. Yer long also and beneath
Lanhaddon it taketh in another on the east side from Narbarth castell,
comming by Robeston, then going by Cunaston, Slebach, Picton castell,
Sister houses, Minware & Martheltwie, at Rise castell point west of Coit
[Sidenote: Dugledie.]
Kenles (as I haue béene informed) it taketh in the other sword, named
Dugledie, wherof I read as followeth. The head of the Dugledie is
somwhere at northwest, betwixt S. Laurences & S. Dugwels, from whence it
runneth to Trauegarne, Redbaxton, & taking in a rill by the waie from
Camrose at the west, it goeth to Hauerford or Hereford west, and there
vniteth it selfe with a water, which peraduenture is the same that
[Sidenote: Gwilie.]
Leland called Gwilie. Certes it riseth short of Walton, and comming by
S. Leonards chappell and Pendergest, it falleth I saie into the
Dugledie, ouer against the towne of Hauerford or Herford west, but in
Welsh Hufford; as Lhoid dooth set it downe. Beneath Herford it taketh in
another water from south west, whose head is short of S. Margarets
chappell, and enterance betweene Harraldston and Herford, which
Harraldstone receiueth the name of Harrald the successour of Edward the
confessour as some call him, who was a gréeuous mall vnto the Britons
that remained in the time of the said Edward; as I haue noted elsewhere.
Then the Dugledie still descending taketh in the Frese fr[=o]
Fresethorpe, a rill of no great accompt, and therefore I go from it
making hast vnto Culthell, & omitting two rils betwéene it and the
Clotheie on the southside, of no great weight and moment. The Cultlhell
commeth into the Dugledie beneath Bolston, with a streight course from
by north, of three or foure miles, rising by west of Slebach, and
comming by Bowlston, after whose vnition with the aforesaid water they
run on as one till they méet with the Clothie, casting out by the waie
sundrie salt créekes, as the maine chanell dooth from thence foorth
vntill it passe the Sandie hauen, the Dale rode (whither a sillie fresh
rill commeth of small value) & be come about againe to the large Ocean.