SAINTS-PRELATES-SOLDIERS.

539

Here I would be thankful to them who should expound unto me that passage in J. Bale, concluding the life of this Saint with these words:

Primus hic erat qui à Romano Pontifice unctionem accepit.*

"He was the first who received unction from the Pope of Rome."

This neither Pits owneth (ready enough to steal out of Bale, especially to improve what might sound to papal advantage) nor any other Romanist writing his life, whom I have seen, so that it seems to me a note needlessly scattered. After the death of Saint Asaph, his see stood void above 500 years, until Jeffery of Monmouth was placed therein.

PRELATES SINCE THE REFORMATION.

RICHARD PARRY, D.D. was born at Ruthin in this county; bred in Christ Church in Oxford: whence he was preferred dean of Bangor, and at last bishop of St. Asaph; consecrated December 30, 1604. Bishop Godwin passeth on him this compliment (take it in the best derivation of the word from completio mentis) that "he desireth, being so near unto him in time and his studies, to be his equal in other episcopal qualities." I crave the reader's leave to forbear any further character of him. Pictures present buildings, presumed at great distance, very small, whilst such things which are supposed near the eye are made in a greater proportion. Clean contrary, I may safely write largely on men's lives at far distance, whilst (as I may say) I must make landscapes of those near hand, and touch little on them, who lived in later time. Bishop Parry died anno Domini 1622.

SOLDIERS.

OWEN GLENDOWER-WYE was born in his ancient patrimony of Glendower Wye in this county; then bred in London a student in the common law, till he became a courtier, and servant to king Richard the Second; after whose death, this Owen being then on the wrong side of preferment, retired to this his native county, where there arose a difference betwixt him and his neighbour the lord Grey of Ruthin about a piece of common, which Owen by force recovered, and killed the lord Grey. There wanted not many to spur his posting ambition, by telling him, that he was the true heir to all North Wales, and now or never the time to regain it; that the injuries he had already offered the English were above pardon, and no way left to secure himself, but by committing greater. There needeth no torch to light tinder, where a spark will do the deed; and hereupon Owen brake out into open rebellion.

The worst was, being angry with the king, his revenge fell upon God, burning down the fair cathedrals of Bangor and Saint Asaph. His destructive nature delighted in doing mis

Bale, de Scriptoribus Britannicis, Cent. i. num. 68.

chief to others, though no good to himself. King Henry the Fourth found it more facile by far to depose king Richard than subdue this Owen, who had taken Roger Mortimer earl of March (and next heir to the crown) prisoner.

WRITERS.

ELVODUGUS, surnamed Probus (and no doubt it was true of him, what was said of Probus the emperor, he was vir sui nominis) was a Cambrian by birth, and this countryman by habitation; for he lived most of his days at Bangor Monachorum,* in that age the Cambridge and Oxford of all Britain. He wrote many books (and particularly a chronicle of his nation), which the envy of time hath denied to posterity. He had many eminent men for his scholars, amongst whom was learned Nennius, commonly called Nennius Elvodugi, assuming his master's name for his surname, on which account some mistake him for his father. This Elvoduge flourished anno 590.

SINCE THE REFORMATION.

MEREDITH HANMER, D.D. was born in this county, where a respective family of his name and alliance flourish at Hanmeer at this day; was treasurer of Trinity church in Dublin. He translated the Ecclesiastical Histories of Eusebius, Socrates, Euagrius, &c. into English; wrote an Ephemeris of the Irish Saints, and a chronicle of that country. He died at Dublin of the plague, anno 1604.

BENEFACTORS TO THE PUBLIC SINCE THE REFORMATION.

RICHARD CLOUGH was born at Denbigh in this county, whence he went to be a chorister in the city of Chester. Some were so affected with his singing therein, that they were loath he should lose himself in empty air (church music beginning then to be discountenanced); and persuaded, yea procured, his removal to London, where he became an apprentice to, and afterwards partner with, Sir Thomas Gresham. He lived some years at Antwerp; and afterwards travelled as far as Jerusalem, where he was made a knight of the sepulchre, though not owning it after his return under queen Elizabeth (who disdained her subjects should accept of such foreign honour). He afterwards, by God's blessing, grew very rich; and there want not those who will avouch that some thousands of pounds were disbursed by him for the building of the Burse, or Royal Exchange. Such maintain that it was agreed betwixt him and Sir Thomas Gresham, that the survivor should be chief heir to both; on which account they say that the knight carried away the main of the estate. How much the new church in Denbigh was beholden to his bounty, I am not as yet certainly informed. *Bale and Pits, de Scriptoribus Britannicis.

† J. Wareus, de Scriptoribus Hiberniæ, p. 137.

MEMORABLE PERSONS-THE FAREWELL.

541

This is true, that he gave the impropriation of Kilken in Flintshire, worth a hundred pounds per annum, to the free school in Denbigh; and if the same at this day be aliened, I question whether repentance without restitution will secure such who are the causers thereof. He died anno Domini 15 ..

MEMORABLE PERSONS.

THOMAS ap William, ap Thomas, ap Richard, ap Howel, ap Evan Vaughan, &c. Esquire, was born of ancient and worshipful parentage at Moston in this county. This gentleman being called at the panel of a jury by the aforesaid names, and many more, was advised by the judge, in the reign of king Henry the Eighth, for brevity sake, to contract his name, who thereupon denominated himself Moston, from the place of his nativity and ancient inheritance."* This leading case was precedential to the practice of other gentry in Wales, who (leaving their pedigrees at home) carry one surname only abroad with them, whereby much time (especially in winter, when the days are short) is gained for other employment.

THE FAREWELL.

I understand that superstitious pilgrimages do still continue of fond people in this county to the well of St. Wenefride; and will only presume to mind them of a savoury proverb of their own nation, "Goreu Pererindod Cyrchu offeren Sull," that is, (it is the best pilgrimage to frequent the divine duties of the sabbath.) A pilgrimage it may well be called in Wales, where some parishes are so large, people go ten miles to church, and whose pains are employed more acceptable to God, than in longer peregrinations to less purpose.

* Camden's Remains, p. 145.

GLAMORGANSHIRE.

GLAMORGANSHIRE hath the Severn sea on the south, Carmarthen on the west, Brecknock on the north, Monmouthshire (severed by the river Remney falling from the mountains, which in the British tongue signifieth to drive) on the east thereof. The north of this county is so full of mountains, that almost nothing is to be had; the south is so fruitful a valley, nothing at all is wanting therein. Indeed it is the garden of Wales; and I am informed, that at Saint Donat's in this shire (an ancient house of the right worshipful family of the Stradlings) groweth as good fruit, and as soon ripe, as in any part of England.

Mr. Camden will have it so called (though others affirm one Morgan a prince thereof gave his name thereunto) from mor, the British word for the sea, as agreeing to its situation.

THE WONDERS.

Giraldus Cambrensis reports that in the Island Barrey (termed so from Baruch, an holy man that was there buried,) three miles from the mouth of Taff, there appeareth a chink in a rock, or cliff, to which if you lay your ear, you may easily discover a noise, not altogether unlike to smiths at work, one while blowing of the bellows, another while striking of the hammer, the grinding of iron tools, the hissing of steel gads, yea the puffing noise of fire in a furnace. I must confess myself at a loss for the reason thereof; for it cannot proceed from the close stealing in of the sea water, as some have supposed; seeing the same noise continueth even at a low ebb, when the sea is departed.

There is also at Newton, on the bank of Ogmore westward, a well, the water whereof is so low at the flowing of the sea in summer, you can scarce get up a dish full of the same; whereas at the ebb thereof you may easily recover a pail or bucket full. Mr. Camden, doubting of the truth, made his own eyes witnesses herein, finding it true according to the common relation, adding withal that it is the same though not so discernible by reason of the accession of much rain-water in winter.*

CIVILIANS.

Sir EDWARD CARNE is here placed with confidence, because

* In his Britannia, in this county.

CIVILIANS-THE FAREWELL.

543

assured to be a Welchman ;* and I find his family flourishing at Wenny in this county. He was bred (I believe in Oxford) doctor of the civil law; and was knighted by Charles the Fifth, emperor.‡

The first public service he eminently appeared in was, when king Henry the Eighth, having intelligence of the Pope's intention shortly to cite him to appear at Rome either in person or proxy, despatched him thither for his excusator, to remonstrate that his grace was not bound by law so to appear.§

This he effectually performed; pleading, that the emperor was so powerful at Rome, that he could not expect justice: declaring that, unless they desisted, he must appeal thence to the able men in some indifferent universities; and if this were refused, he protested a nullity in all that they did; a behaviour which spake him of no less valour than ability.

Queen Mary highly prized him, and no whit the less for his cordial appearing for king Henry in the matter of her mother's divorce; imputing it to the discharge of his credit and calling, in him who otherwise was a thorough-paced Romanist, and whom she employed her ambassador to the Pope.

After her death, he still resided at Rome; and, by command from queen Elizabeth, repaired to Pope Paul the Fourth, to give him an account that his mistress was called to the crown of England; to whom the Pope returned, "that England was a fee of the church of Rome; and that she could not succeed, as illegitimate." A strange reply to a civil message, and fitting his mouth, with whom it was a usual saying, "that he would have no prince in his companion, but all subject under his foot."

Besides, he commanded Sir Edward Carne to lay down the office of an ambassador; and, under the pain of the greater excommunication,** and confiscation of all his goods, not to go out of the city, but to take on him the regiment of the English hospital therein. So that I see not how queen Elizabeth can be taxed by the Papists for a Schismatic, and wilful breach from the church of Rome, being thrust away thence by the Pope himself, so barbarously treating her ambassador (whilst as yet she had made no alteration in religion) against the law of nations; though, I confess, some conceive that the crafty old knight was (such his addiction to Popery) well contented with his restraint, wherein he died, 1561.

THE FAREWELL.

I heartily congratulate the return of the name (and with it