{0} The largest stone arch before known is Vielle Briode, which crosses
the river Allien, in France, whose span is 183 feet, being 17 feet less
than the Chester bridge. It was erected in 1454, by Grenier.
{8} From _Aber_, rivulet—_Gele_, woody, secluded; a name very
characteristic of the place, as the rivulet running through it issues out
of deep wood ravines above the town.
{10} The silurian rocks to the west of Abergele, have recently been
brought under the notice of the Geological Society by Mr. J. E. Bowmall.
That gentleman, in an able paper presented to the society, states that
his attention was first directed to these strata by the Rev. J. Price, of
Llysfaen. They occur immediately south of the narrow belt of
carboniferous limestone which skirts the coast from the Great Ormeshead
to the point of Ayr, and the estuary of the Dee. The section described
by Mr. Bowmall presents the following series of beds in descending order,
many of the fossils discovered in them being identified with those found
in the Ludlow formation of Shropshire:—1. Carboniferous limestone. 2.
Light coloured loam enclosing rounded pebbles of greenish, slightly
micaceous sandstone with shells. 3. Bed of the same sandstone. 4. Red
marl of considerable thickness, with imbedded angular and waterworn
pebbles, and numerous fossils. 5. Arenaceous conglomerate, consisting
partly of the pebbles of the underlying limestone. 6. Thin beds of
compact reddish limestone, sometimes very arenaceous, and containing a
few fossils. 7. Blue clay. 8. Blue clay slate, occasionally enclosing
layers of organic remains, and forming the geological base of the
country.
{12} There is a tradition current in this neighbourhood, that Oliver
Cromwell was concealed at Kinmel, when Carter (his general) lived there;
and there is a spur of extraordinary dimensions still hung in the above
church, which is called Oliver Cromwell’s spur.
{73} Called by the Welsh, ESTYN.
{76} So called from the circumstance of Eleanor (daughter of Ferdinand
the Third) the consort of Edward, who was brought, through the inclemency
of a hard winter, to bear a prince for the Welsh,—having first entered
the castle through this gate. At this time the castle was entirely
insulated, on one side by artificial means: the moat was destroyed by
being filled up two or three centuries ago, which somewhat detracts from
our estimate of its former impregnable character.
‘Edward had annexed Wales to the kingdom of England, but the Welsh were
displeased with this usurpation, and determined to yield no obedience to
any prince but of their own nation and language. Edward thought of an
expedient for cozening them. He ordered Eleanor, in the depth of winter,
out of England to Caernarvon Castle, there to lie in. Edward then
summoned all the barons and chief persons throughout Wales to meet him at
Rhuddlan, to consult about the welfare of their country. He told the
Welsh nobility that they had often wished for a prince of their own
country, who might rule over them. They promised to allow of such an
appointment, and to obey such a personage. Edward then mentioned _his
own son Edward_, recently born, maintaining the terms of the engagement
to have been strictly complied with, for his son was born in Wales, could
speak no English, and his character irreproachable. Though born in 1284,
it was not before he had reached his 16th year that Prince Edward
received the reluctant fealty of his deluded subjects. The eldest sons
of the English monarchs have subsequently been styled Prince of Wales,
and, independently of birth, been created so by letters
patent.’—_Nicholson_.
{87} Dunawt was the son of Nefydd Hardd, one of the fifteen tribes of
North Wales: to him Prince Owen Gwynedd had intrusted his son to be
fostered, according to the usual custom.
{102a} The common Welsh name is Eglwys-wen, and the translation is a
vulgarism.
{102b} Richard Myddelton was the father of Sir Hugh Myddelton, who
brought the new river to London.
{130} Sych, i.e. _dry_, and nant, a _hollow_, a _brook_.
{140} The term _Cromlech_, used to signify a Druidical altar, cannot be
property attached to this stone: it being quite improbable that it ever
was used to such purpose; but the continued action of the elements has
placed it as it is.
{146} There being several parishes of this name in the Principality,
this is distinguished by the adjunction of Mathavarneithav.