“Concenn, the son of Cateli; Cateli the son of Brochmail;
Brochmail, the son of Eliseg; Eliseg, the son of Cnoillaine;
Concenn, therefore the great-grandson of Eliseg, erected
This stone to his great-grandfather Eliseg.”
The characters resemble one of the alphabets in use about the sixth
century, at which time this sepulchral pillar was erected. Concenn and
Eliseg probably resided at Castell Dinas Bran; and a township adjacent
bears the name of Eglwyseg, as well as the stupendous and picturesque
mass of rocks that range along the vale, called the Eglwyseg Rocks, from
Eliseg. Brochmail, another of the persons mentioned, deserted the
protection of the Monks of Bangor at the battle of West Chester, when
twelve hundred of those unfortunate unarmed religious were cut to pieces
by the forces of Athelfrid or Edilfred, King of Northumberland, A.D. 607.
{70a}
Brochmail, whom I suppose to be the same the Latins called Brochmailus,
was a great prince in that part of Britain called Powisland, which was
then very extensive, stretching from the Severn to the Dee in a right
line, from the end of Broxon Hills to Salop, and comprehending all the
country between the Wye and Severn. He resided at Pengwern Powis, now
Shrewsbury, {70b} in a house situated where the College of St. Chad now
stands. He was a great friend and favourer of the Monks of Bangor, and
took part with them against the Saxons, instigated by Augustine the Monk
to prosecute them with fire and sword, because they would not agree to
the forms and ceremonies of the Church of Rome, and forsake their own
established customs. {70c}
I was so fortunate as to meet with two persons who assisted in opening
the tumulus before the pillar was re-erected; and they gave me the
following accounts:—On digging below the flat pedestal in which the base
of the Pillar had been inserted, they came to a layer of pebble stones;
and after having removed them, to a large flat slab, on which it seems
the body had been laid, as they now found the remains of it, guarded
round with large flat blue stones, and covered at the top with the same;
the whole forming a sort of stone box or coffin. The bones were entire,
and of very large dimensions. The skull and teeth, which were very white
and perfect, were particularly sound. My informants said they believed
the skull was sent to Trevor Hall, but it was returned, and again
deposited, with the rest of the bones, in its former sepulchre. By this
it should seem that Eliseg was not an old man when he was buried here,
and it is wonderful that greater decomposition had not taken place in
twelve hundred years.
One of the persons who assisted at the exhumation is now a very old man,
and was huntsman to Mr. Lloyd when the tumulus was opened. He says there
was a large piece of silver coin found in the coffin, which was kept; but
that the skull was gilded to preserve it, and was then again deposited
with its kindred bones. I asked if the bones were sound; and he answered
(I give his own words,) “O, no, sir; they broke like gingerbread.”
I have now reached the limits I prescribed for myself on the north side
of the Dee, and trust I have noticed every thing most worthy of
attention. I purpose next to give a short account of the river, and
passing Llangollen Bridge, continue my route to Glyndyfrdwy and Sycharth,
once the residence of Owen Glyndwr.