{170b} This last custom is not in use in Anglesey.
{173a} Such is the received opinion; but the place noted for this event
is only a thoroughfare to the grand apartments of the tower, the middle
one of which appears more probably to have been the room. They shew,
also, a cradle in which the Prince is said to have been rocked.
{173b} “On the outside of the town walls is a broad and pleasant terrace
along the side of the Menai, extending from the Quay to the north end of
the town walls, and in the evening is a fashionable promenade for persons
of all descriptions. From the top of a rock behind the hotel is a fine
view of the town and castle: and on a clear day the Isle of Anglesea,
Holyhead, and Paris Mountains, may be distinctly seen, like a good map
before the eyes.” EVANS.
{174} The parish-church is dedicated to Publicius, a brother of the
far-famed and illustrious Helen, whose splendid acts in favour of
Christianity are at this day attested in Palestine. Near the church are
the remains of Segontium, built about the year A.D. 365, by Maximus; or,
as he is styled by the British historians, Maxen Wledig. It was from
hence, it is supposed, that Maximus marched in his ill-fated expedition
to gain the imperial purple at Rome, taking with him all the youth whom
Helen invited to join his standard. The line of march which he pursued
is, even at this time, traditionally recorded amongst the common people
in the neighbourhood.
{178} The hire of a boat is from seven shillings and sixpence to
half-a-guinea.
{179} “The eastern seems originally to have consisted of seven stones,
six uprights supporting an immense superincumbent one (with its flat face
lying upon them), thirteen feet long, nearly as much broad, and four feet
thick.”—Warner’s Second Walk through Wales.
{181} Before the author of this itinerary proposed publishing this tour
through the Cambrian territories, he was induced to send an account of
this extraordinary sect to the Gentleman’s Magazine, July, 1799, p. 579.
This is, therefore, only to be considered as a repetition: with the
addition of a brief extract from two subsequent letters, September, 1799,
p. 741; and November, p. 938; given to the public by different hands
through the medium of the Gentleman’s Magazine.
{183} September, 1799, p. 741.
{185} “Bishops Glynn, 1550; Robinson, 1584; Vaughan, 1597; Rowlands,
1616; Morgan, 1673; and one with a cross fleuri in the south transept,
ascribed to Owen Glendwr; but as he was buried at Monington, in
Herefordshire, where he died, I should rather ascribe it to some of the
earlier bishops. Mr. Pennant gives it to Owen Gwynned.”
{189} A Trip to the Suspension Bridge over the Menai Straits. P. 11.
{191} Id est, the _Englishman’s Island_; having become subject to the
English in the time of Egbert. See Rowland’s Mon. Ant. p. 172, 3.
{208} See an elegant poem written by Owain Cyveiliog, a bard who
flourished in the twelfth century, intitled, “Hirlas Owain.” The
original may be found in Evan Evans’s Collections, published with an
English dress in Pennant’s Tours, Vol. iii. page 93. This spirited
translation, by a gentleman, under the signature of R. W. must convince
the reader of genuine taste, that a true poetical genius pervaded at
times the bosom of the Welsh; and that some of Owain Cyveiliog’s works
scarcely need shrink from a comparison with the first classical
productions of Lyric poetry.
{217} Princess Joan, daughter of John, king of England.
{226} A Trip to the Suspension Bridge over the Menai Straits. P. 27.
{231} Elphin was particularly unfortunate, as the Editor has frequently
seen from fifty to a hundred fine salmon taken from this weir at a tide;
and herrings drawn from it by cart loads.
{237} Evans.
{238} Vol. iv. p. 67. 2nd Ed.
{247} The daughter of this gentleman was married to Captain Franklin,
well known for his Expedition to North America, &c. She was an amiable
and accomplished woman, and author of two Poems, highly honourable to her
memory: “The Veils,” and “Richard Cœur de Leon.”
{259} Since our visit to this spot, Mr. Yorke has published a most
excellent and valuable book, entitled, An History of the Royal Tribes of
Wales.
{261} Enquire the way to this aqueduct at the turnpike, about four miles
from Llangollen.
{265a} Lady Eleanor Butler.
{265b} Miss Ponsonby.
{265c} Willis’s St. Asaph, p. 52. 285.
{266} From a second survey of my note-book, I perceive, when speaking of
the house, I omitted mentioning that there are several family pieces,
both of the Wynne and Williams, worthy the inspection of the connoisseur.
The house has been built at various times.
{277} This estimation is taken from the Ludlow guide; from which I have
taken such extracts, as, I flatter myself, will not be unacceptable to
the tourist. We dedicated two or three days to the investigation of this
interesting town; and, consequently, in those parts where the guide is
defective, we have made considerable additions.
{288} “This view,” says Mr. Gilpin, “is one of the grandest on the
river, which I should not scruple to call _correctly picturesque_; which
is seldom the character of a purely natural scene.”
{289} “The view at _Rure-dean Church_,” says Mr. Gilpin, “is a scene of
great grandeur. There both sides of the river are steep and both woody;
but in one the woods are intermixed with rocks. The deep umbrage of the
forest of Dean occupies the front; and the spire of the Church rises
among the trees. The reach of the river, which exhibits this scene is
long: and, of course, the view, which is a noble piece of natural
perspective, continues some time before the eye: but when the spire comes
directly in front, the grandeur of the landscape is gone.”
{290} “The river is wider at this part,” says Mr. Gilpin, “and takes a
sweep round a towering promontory of rock; which forms the side-screen on
the left, and is the grand feature of the view. It is not a broad
fractured face of rock; but rather a woody hill, from which large rocky
projections, in two or three places, burst out; rudely hung with twisting
branches and shaggy furniture, which, like mane round the lion’s head,
give a more savage air to these wild exhibitions of nature. Near the top
a pointed fragment of solitary rock, rising above the rest, has rather a
fantastic appearance; but it is not without its effect in marking the
scene. A great master in landscape has adorned an imaginary view with a
circumstance exactly similar:
Stabat acuta silex, præcisis undique saxis,
—dorso insurgens, altissima visu,
Dirarum nidis domus opportuna volucrum,
—prona jugo, lævum incumbebat ad amnem.”
Æn, VIII. 233.
{295} Tanner’s Notitia Monastica.
{298} Warner’s first Walk through Wales.
{309} The isles of Anglesea and Man are discovered from Snowdon.