Sanctorum ejus sequestrentur donec ad emendacionem veniant hujus autem donacionis testes sunt clerici nostri videlicet Willelmo archidiacono de Kermerdin et Elya Archidiacono de Brechon' et Liriencio clerico Regis Henrici et Bernardo de Novo Mercato1 et Ricardo filio Puncij." Valeat."

(To be continued.)

DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE.

LITTLE is known of the early history of this singularly situated building, which has evidently replaced older works, the defensive character of its situation being such as would be appreciated in early times. From the history of the Gwydir family we learn that Iorwerth or Iorwerth Drwyndwn, or Edward of the Broken Nose, being excluded from succeeding his father Owen Gwynedd, on account of that deformity, retired to this residence, where his eldest son Llywelyn was born, or is reported to have been born, according to the historian of the Gwydir family (see the latest and the best edition, by Askew Roberts of Croeswylan, Oswestry).

To Iorwerth were assigned as his patrimony, the hundreds of Ardydwy and Naut Conwy; in the latter is this stronghold, to which he is said to have retired, probably on account of its solitary and strong position, for protection from attacks of his own kindred. That his being set aside would lead to contests, was an additional inducement to select such a safe habitation. Nor was he mistaken; for it appears from Powell's

1 As Bernard Newmarch was one of the witnesses to both of the charters of William the Conqueror to Battle Abbey, and also took a leading part in the insurrection against William Rufus at the commencement of his reign, it seems probable that this charter was made soon after the consecration of Bishop Bernard in 1115, although the list of archdeacons in Browne Willis' MS. states that Elias held the office, 1135-40, and the History of St. David's gives a like date for the period when William and Elias held their respective offices; but the dates are approximate only.

2 Fitz-Pons.

4TH SER., VOL. XIV.

History of Wales, p. 194, ed. 1774, that Owen Gwynedd, when he set aside his eldest son, did not nominate any one of the younger ones as his heir. Hence, as might have been expected, a contest arose for the prize. Hywel, the eldest brother, was not only illegitimate, but his mother being an Irishwoman was still more objectionable. However, being in possession, and refusing to give it up, David claimed it; and it was agreed that the two brothers should settle the question by single combat, in which Hywel fell, and David thus became Prince of North Wales. He held possession until his nephew Llywelyn, the eldest son of Iorwerth, came of age, and claimed his lawful inheritance with success. Another brother, Madoc, during these family struggles, thought it more prudent to try his fortunes abroad, and accordingly sailed towards the west, and is still believed by some to bave discovered America. This David had married Emma, sister of Henry II; relying on which match he, according to Sir John Wynn of Gwydir, imprisoned his brother Roderick because he desired a portion of the inheritance.

According to Powell, David lost the affection of his subjects from the treatment of his brother, so that he had no support from them against the claims of his nephew Llywelyn.

According to the fragment of a Welsh chronicle, mentioned by Sir John Wynne (see Mr. Askew Roberts' ed., p. 18), Llywelyn murdered at Conwy his uncle with all his family, as the safest way of getting rid of future claimants. But this story is not noticed by any other authority, and is directly contradicted by Powell, according to whom David lived quietly and peaceably for some time, but as soon as he had the support of a considerable army of English and Welsh, he attacked Llywelyn, was defeated, and taken prisoner. He was then delivered into safe custody; but in 1203 was generously released by his nephew. He made, however, an ungrateful return, for he went off to England, and collecting a considerable force, again at

tacked his nephew, was again defeated, returned to England, and soon after died from grief and disappointment.

Even at the beginning of this century this castle was so difficult of access that it was seldom visited by strangers. Bingley, who explored Wales from 1798 to 1801, describes the ruin, from its situation in the bosom of mountains, difficult to find; and Southey, who was, no doubt, anxious to see any place connected with his hero Madoc, seems to have failed to reach it, at least as far as may be inferred from the following note: "The rudeness and barrenness of the surrounding mountains I can well testify, having been bewildered and benighted upon them."

Pughe, the author of Cambria Depicta, published in 1816, was unfortunately prevented by want of time or some other cause from reaching this castle. If he had been able to do so, he would probably have added to the illustrations which give its value to his work. He makes, however, a singular statement; namely, that he was not aware that the castle had ever been a subject for the pencil. He might indeed not have been aware that a view of it is given by Buck, and may not have known a book not found in many libraries, but that he should have been ignorant that Pennant, in the second volume of his Tour in Wales, p. 135, has given a view of it from the pencil of Moses Griffiths, is somewhat singular. The only information he contributes to the little that is known about the castle, is that shortly before his visiting the district "one of its towers, deemed in tolerable condition, in the dead of the night came tumbling down with a crash, which roused every creature in the neighbourhood". This may have happened about 1810.

Pennant's description, repeated as it has been by many writers, is well known, but may be as well given here. "I left the bridge (Pontypair), and after a steep ascent arrived at Dolwyddelan Castle, seated in a rocky valley, sprinkled over with stunted trees and watered by the Lledyr. The boundaries are rude and barren

mountains, and among others the great bending mountain Siabod, often conspicuous from most distant places. The castle is placed on a high rock, precipitous on one side and insulated. It consists of two square towers, one forty feet by twenty-five; the other, thirty-one by twenty. Each had formerly three floors. The materials of this fortress are the shattery stone of the country, well squared, the masonry good, and the mortar hard. The castle yard lay between the towers."

Pennant goes on to state that the castle had been founded by some of our princes, but nothing is known of its origin. "There were very few castles in North Wales before its conquest by the English. They were needless, for nature created in our rocks and mountains fortifications (until our fatal division) quite impregnable. Had there been occasions for artificial retreats, the wealth of our country could readily have supplied the means of erecting them."

The above passage is another instance of the inaccuracy of this popular writer. He merely says, vol. ii, p. 136, “This [castle] has been founded by one of our princes, but we are ignorant of its origin"; and further on, "Iorwerth Drwyndwn made this place his residence". He seems to think that this is the identical building to which Iorwerth retreated. He adds that the ancient inhabitants of North Wales did not build such castles, for their rocks and mountains were sufficient protection. As regards hostile attacks, this assertion may be true; but the rudest natives, especially in such a climate, must have had some pro

1 The inaccuracies of this author have been already mentioned in the Arch. Cambrensis. The following one, although not connected with Wales, may be mentioned. In the second volume of his Journey from Dover to the Land's End he mentions the fact that Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of the blood, was born in Folkstone, and buried at Hempstead in Herts. There are Hempsteads in Norfolk, Gloucester, and Essex. Hemel Hempstead, much better known, is in Herts, and seems to have been the only Hempstead that Pennant had heard of; so he buried Harvey there, who was at that time lying in the church at Essex, where his leaden coffin may be seen to this day in the crypt.

tection against wind and weather, and if huts were sufficient for the pupose, these grouped together would require further defences, and thus we find at Treceiri walls still sixteen feet high, inclosing the summit of the mountain.

It is very remarkable, considering the lengthened occupation of the Romans, that the native population does not appear to have taken any building notions from their masters, but continued to work in the rude style of what is called "British masonry". It has been stated that no single instance is to be found throughout Wales of anything like the masonry of Roman or even Norman character. There are, indeed, examples still remaining of regular facings of walls, and even in some few instances indications of regular courses; but the entire absence of mortar indicates the ignorance of its use, although lime was within reach of the builders.

In the case of Dolwyddelan Castle it is probable that in the time of Iorwerth the buildings were not unlike the stone fortress of Penmaen Mawr, which protected his son Llywelyn against the forces of Edward I. But the Welsh forces are said to have been 20,000 in number-a large number of whom would have been required for protecting the works. Dolwyddelan Castle must have been more a chieftain's stronghold for his retinue, than a fortified city like that on Penmaen Mawr, called Braich y Dinas, the latest and fullest account of which, by the Rev. Hugh Prichard of Dinas, will be found in the Arch. Camb. of 1877. It is well worth attention.

The great mound at Aber is called Llewelyn's Castle. It was certainly occupied by him, but commanding as it does the Roman road or roads leading into Anglesey and Carnarvon, it must have been an important position long before his time. In this respect it resembles Dolwyddelan, which commands the road continued from Caerhun, near Conwy, to Tomen-y-mur. Aber has lost its outer defences, although small remains of them were seen by Pennant.