A similar rubbing was sent to J. O. Westwood, Esq., (author of Palæographia Sacra,) who, with his usual friendly feeling, gave an opinion upon this curious inscription. He ob

serves:

I am very glad to see the Catamanus inscription, as somebody or other thought it (and published it) to be a hoax. I am convinced of its genuineness, and should refer it to the early period, that is, before the ninth century. I see no reason why it should not be of the seventh.

As a further illustration of this subject, the following passages are quoted from Professor Rees's learned Essay on the Welsh saints. In mentioning Cadfan, he observes:

Between the commencement of this century and the synod of Brefi, may be dated the arrival of Cadfan at the head of a large company of saints from Armorica. He appears to have been a person of distinction, being the son of Eneas Lydewig, by Gwenteirbron, a daughter of Emyr Llydaw, one of the princes of that country. Among his companions are mentioned, Cynon, Padarn, Tydecho, Trinio, Gwyndaf, Dochdwy, Mael, Sulien, Tanwg, Eithras, Sadwrn, Lleuddad, Tecwyn, Maelrys, and several others. As most of these were men of princely family and relatives of Cadfan, the analogy of other cases suggests that the reason, which induced them to leave their country and devote themselves to religion, was the loss of their territories for the Armoricans struggled hard to maintain their independence against the Franks, who under Clovis, were at this time establishing their dominion in Gaul. Cadfan, after his arrival in Wales, became the founder of the churches of Tywyn, Merionethshire, and Llangadfan, Montgomeryshire; but he is known more especially as the first abbot of a monastery, founded by him in conjunction with Einion Frenhin, in the Isle of Bardsey, off the western promontory of Carnarvonshire.

There were some years ago, in the church-yard of Tywyn, two rude pillars, one of which, of the form of a wedge, about seven feet high, and having a cross and inscription upon it, went by the name of St. Cadfan's stone, and was thought to have been a part of his tomb. Engravings of the inscription, as copied at two several periods in the last century, are given in Gough's Camden, from which it appears that the letters resembled those used by the Anglo Saxons, but the only word legible was the name of Cadfan. As there is a tradition that the saint was buried in Bardsey, which an obscure passage from the poem just quoted, would seem to confirm, it may be judged that the stone was merely a rude cross of which similar specimens, bearing the names of sainted persons, may be found in other parts of the Principality. He has been considered to be the patron of warriors, which countenances the supposition that he led a military life in Armorica; and his festival has been celebrated on the first of November. pp. 213, 214.

The Professor afterwards adverts to the history of Cadwaladr, who lived between A.D. 634 and A.D. 664 and says:

Cadwaladr, whose reign is commensurate with this interval, was the son of Cadwallon, and was the last of the Welsh nation who assumed the title of chief sovereign of Britain. His power, however, was narrowly circumscribed, and in the early part of his reign he must have held the situation of a dependent prince; for Oswald the Bernician, upon the conquest and death of Cadwallon, is said to have extended his government over all the Britons as well as the Saxons. After a few years Penda the Mercian revolted, and Oswald was slain in battle; upon which occasion it would appear the Welsh recovered their independence, as it is not recorded that Oswy, who succeeded Oswald as Bretwalda or chief sovereign of the Saxons, exercised the same authority over the Britons. It is generally agreed that Cadwaladr was of a peaceful disposition; his life passed without any remarkable events; and the venerable historian of the Anglo Saxons, who lived in the next generation, does not mention his name. the year 664 a plague broke out, which spread desolation over Britain and Ireland, and in the latter country, where it lasted three years, it swept away two thirds of the inhabitants. In Britain its continuance was much shorter, but great numbers perished, and Cadwaladr was one of its victims. P. 299.

In

A notion prevailed in the beginning of the twelfth century, and is embodied in certain fictitious prophecies of Myrddin, that Cadwaladr should re-appear, and expel the Saxons from the island, restoring the Cymry to their ancient possessions; but nothing is said of his visit to Rome or even to Armorica, and if the words of Nennius, the oldest authority by whom he is noticed, be rightly interpreted, he must have died of the plague in his own country. He has had the credit of sanctity, an honour apparently of modern growth, and the epithet of "Bendigaid" or "Blessed" is frequently attached to his name. In the Triads he is called one of the three canonized kings of Britain. According to tradition he rebuilt the church of Eglwys Ael in Anglesey, where his grandfather, Cadfan, had been buried, and which after its restoration obtained the name of Llangadwaladr, He is deemed the patron saint of Llangadwaladr alias Bishopston, Monmouthshire, and of Llangadwaladr under Llanrhaiadr in Mochnant, Denbighshire, and his festival occurs on the ninth of October. P. 301.

It will be seen, from these remarks of Professor Rees, that the church was originally called Eglwys Ael; and, no doubt, the building, which contained the stone commemorative of Cadfan, was that erected by Cadwaladr. Cadfan kept his court at Caernarvon. The present feast day of the village is April 22, which does not correspond with the decease of either Cadfan or Cadwaladr. Meirion, by whose name the subordinate chapel was called, was a brother of Einion

Frenhin mentioned above. "This wake," says Professor Rees, "has been held on the third of February." The Orientation of Llangadwaladr Church is N.E. by Ě.

Near the village is the house of Bodorgan, with its farfamed gardens, and the old house of Bodowen, both belonging to the Meyrick family.

H. L. J.

ON THE BRITISH FORTS UPON THE COAST OF CAERNARVONSHIRE.

ALTHOUGH the somewhat extensive subject of British forts and towns has not been studied on a systematic plan throughout the Principality, yet enough may be discovered with regard to them, from their mere geographical position, to show that they constitute an important branch of national antiquities. It is much to be desired that a careful examination should be made of the several counties, or rather of the ancient districts, of Wales with this view; and that the position and extent of all British settlements, whether civil or military, should be accurately ascertained. Whoever has had much personal knowledge of the unenclosed portions of the country, not so much the rugged sides of the higher mountains, as the heath and turfy slopes of the less elevated hills, must have been struck with the number of earthen works, trenches, carns, and other remains, that have occurred to his notice. To examine into all the antiquities of this kind, even in a district of limited extent, would require considerable time; but there is one portion of a county where such remains are abundant, the coast-line of Caernarvonshire, that lies open to the inspection of almost any one; and upon which the details afforded by the Ordnance maps are numerous and satisfactory. Improvements and amplifications may be made even upon the information given by these maps; for antiquarian knowledge has received such an impulse since the time when the survey was carried on, that several objects are now known to be British works, which were then considered as only natural inequalities of the ground. Nevertheless, until a more complete body of ARCHÆOL. CAMB. VOL. I.]

R

information is collected, the maps in question may be taken as very safe guides.

Beginning then at the south eastern corner, at the great inlet of the Traeth Mawr, we observe a castell, or small fort, on the point of land dividing this inlet from that of the Traeth Bach, as a kind of out-post for defending the entrance into the mountain passes. It is probable that some of the lesser eminences near Tremadoc were fortified by the Britons; but we do not find any notice of them in the map. On pursuing, however, the coast-line to the westward, we arrive at the strong post of Criccieth, where a British Dinas, or station of importance, existed previously to Edward the First, and which must have been one of the chief maritime holds of the early inhabitants. A small work, Tomen fawr, lies three miles to the west of this, and it would seem probable that the point of Pen y chain near Abererch, and also the hills at Pwllheli were used as military posts; but we have no notice of them. Near Llanbedrog there are one or two places that have the name of "castell" mixed up with their local appellations, and the lofty point of the hill above that village, though not marked as such, is one of the most likely spots in the country for a British work to be found. Two forts are to be met with near the mouth of the Soch, close to Llangian; and two more, one on either side of Mynydd Cilan, which forms the eastern point of the formidable Porth Nigel, or Hell's mouth. It may, however, be reasonably expected that several other works would be found hereabouts if due search were made. A little castell lies above Llanfaelrhys, and on the hill of Mynydd Ystum, two miles inland, is the large and strong encampment called Castell Odo, one of the most important posts in the district of Llŷn. The extreme point of Aberdaron bears few or no recorded marks of defence: perhaps it was too dangerous a shore for even maritime enemies to land at, and the Irish or the Danish foes would seek for an easier spot; nevertheless this corner of the county requires farther searching. Upon running up the rocky and bleak coast as far north as Porth Dinlleyn and Nevin, we find no traces of British fortresses recorded in the Ordnance map; nevertheless, it is almost impossible that some of the small creeks and landing places which occur, should have been left without defence throughout an extent of nearly fifteen

miles; though it is true that a portion of this district is looked over by Castell Odo, and another portion by Carn Fadryn. These latter stations, however, could only have served as central points of defence, and it may, therefore, be expected that out-posts will be found along the line of coast. The western horn of Porth Dinlleyn is strongly fortified; the end of the rocky peninsula being cut off, by rows of trenches, from all approach on the land side; and, with the harbour, they must have formed a main point in the ancient defence of the country. A small castell is found at the seafoot of the Eifl mountain, at the entrance of Nant Gwrtheyrn (Vortigern's valley), but all the coast from Nevin to Clynnog was effectually commanded by the large camp or town on the eastern summit of the Eifl, decidedly the most remarkable British station in Caernarvonshire. A strong camp lies on Y Foel, behind Clynnog; and about half way between Clynnog and Caernarvon, where an extensive and somewhat marshy flat is left without any other means of defence, rises a large hill-post at the very water's edge, much eaten into by the force of the waves. This is strongly fortified with a double range of encampments made by the hand of man, and contains traces of watch places or habitations, within. Its name is Dinas Dinlle, (see plate,) and it has been supposed by some to have been made by the Romans; this, however, is more than doubtful. The Romans may have used it as an outpost, but the form of the works is decidedly British, being suited to the natural shape of the hill.

Pennant in mentioning Dinas Dinlle, says:

About three miles, turn to the left, to visit Dinas Dinlle, a vast mount of gravel and sand, on the verge of a great marsh, upon the shore. On the top is a large area, surrounded by an amazing agger, seemingly formed by the earth scooped out of the summit. Within are remains of foundations of buildings, of an oblong form, constructed with earth and round stones; and in one part is a tumulus of the same materials. On the outside of the agger, on one part, is a very deep ditch, with another high rampart; aud the ground towards the base seems every where to have been smoothed by art. There is a regular entrance at one end; on the other, the ground slopes to the sea, and is quite open, a defence being there needless. The waves have made great depredations, and worn on one side into a cliff. I must attribute this fortress to the Romans; and am the more confirmed in my notion, as I am informed that coins have been found here, among which was one of Alectus. The Romans might