resides close behind the abbey church, which may be said to be in her special custody, and she shows it to visitors. Nowhere, perhaps, is the influence of the severi religio loci felt more powerfully, or more sweetly, than within these hallowed walls. To use the language of Cowper, "Meditation here may think down hours to moments;" and no one who has visited Valle Crucis can cease to remember it with admiration and regret. JOHN WILLIAMS, (Ab Ithel.) INSCRIPTION ON THE PILLAR OF ELISEG. Concenn filius Catteli, Catteli cautem per vissi . ep. o. t. estate anglo in gladio suo parta in igne imque recituerit manesc. p mdet benedictionem supe Elisegipse est Concenn tus. c. emeiunge . manu regnum suum povos bani quod AN ACCOUNT OF THE CIVIL WAR IN NORTH WALES, TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MS. NOTE BOOK OF WILLIAM MAURICE, ESQ., WILLIAM MAURICE, a gentleman of landed property and good family, was a learned Antiquary, and an industrious collector and transcriber of Welsh MSS. He resided at Cevnybraich, in the parish of Llansilin, Denbighshire, where he built a library, three stories high, adjoining to his house, in which he spent most of his time in the study of Welsh literature. He died between 1680 and 1690, and his valuable collection of Welsh MSS. is now preserved at Wynnstay. ROBERT WILLIAMS, M.A., Oct. 20th, 1845. Llangadwaladr, Denbighshire. ANNO 1638. Towards the later end of this yeare it was A.D. 1638. reported that the Scotts intended to invade England. 1639. In the beginning of this yeare there was great pre- A.D. 1639. parations for resistinge of the Scotts, both in England and Wales. The trayned bands were weekly mustered, beakons watched, all the able men in every county vywed and kownted, and a general press for Scotland. The trayned bands commanded to bee ready under 24 houres warning to the greate trouble of the Commonwealth. 1642. The county of Denbighe presented his Matie a petition A.D. 1642. for protection against the orders and ordinances of Parlia ment, and gave the King a compleate Regiment of Volunteers and 10007. This petition was presented to his Mtie at Yorke, ye 4th of August, and the Commission of Array put in execution through the whole county. The King came to Salop the 20th day of September, from thence hee went to Chester, and in his return he came to Wrexam, and vywed the trayn bands of Bromffield and Chirke. 27: 7bris. 1 The King came againe from Salop to Wrexam ye 3d of October, and vywed the traine bands of the hole county, who weare to marche the morrowe after to Shrewsbury for a gard to the Prince. 1642. CHARLES REX. RIGHT trusty and welbeloved, wee greete you well. — Whereas a rebellion being raysed against us, and are march 1 Bromfield and Chirk are two hundreds in the county of Denbigh. ARCHÆOL. CAMB. VOL. I.] D A.D. 1642. inge towards us, wee are necessitated for the defence of our person and crowne, and the Religion and lawe established, to call upon all our good subjects to assist us. And whereas we are fully persuaded of the affection and loyalty of that our County, and their readiness to assist us, theire Kinge and liege lord in this owre and theire necessary defence, according to their duty and allegiance ;-These are to will and require you, for that [end] and with all possible speede, to bring into Chester to our royall standard, there to attend our farther directions, the traine bands of that County, as well horse as foote, with such other Volunteers as your interest in them and their owne affection shall perswade to come with them. And if the necessary occasions of any of our trayned bands shall withhold them, then either their sonn or servant or there volunteeres bee admitted to serve in there places, with there harness compleate; which trayned bands and volunteers, with those from other of our counties in our dominions of Wales, wee intend to forme into Regiments for a gard for our dearest sonn the Prince, and receave into our pay upon their arrival at Chester. Whether we desier that our County in this so greate exigence do furnish them with sufficient ammunition for the journey, and money to beare their charges, which we shall look upon as a great expression of affection and fidelity, and shall at all times remember to their advantage. And wee do require all justices of peace in yt our county, to give assistance to you herein, and all our lovinge subjects of that same, to be obedient to y' directions in pursuance of these our commands. And for so doing this shall bee to you and them a sufficient warrant. Given at our Court at Darby, this 15th of September, 1642. A.D. 1643. This was to the Commissioners of Array for the county of Denbighe. The 23d of October was the Battell betweene Keinton and Edghill fought. 1643. 15th of January, Chirk Castle taken and plundred by Colonell Ellis.1 1 In the year 1642 Charles I. by an order from Oxford, directed Colonel Robert Ellyce, commanding a regiment of foot, to possess himself of Chirk Castle, and to apply any money or plate found there to the payment of his regiment, and then to deliver it to Sir Thomas Hanmer, whom his majesty had appointed governor. This gentleman was of Gwesnewydd, near Wrexham, but descended from the Lloyds of Bodidris, in Yale. He had served under Gustavus Adolphus, and was highly trusted by Charles. 28th Januarii was Nantwich taken by S William Brereton. A.D. 1643. About Easter this same yeare the Lord Capell came to bee generall over Wostershire, Shropshire, Cheshire, and the six northern shires of Wales. 13° Martii. Colonell Ellis and all his men were taken at Mydlewych, where he remayned prisoner till September next followinge. A skirmish at Hanmer, where many of the parlamenteers were slayne and taken. A voyage to Nantwych, and a skirmish upon the Ran moore. Whitchurch taken by the parlt the 30th of May. 1643, 3° die Augusti. A voyage to the Wych. Wem fortified by the Parl: 28° Septembris was Lapiden church burned in a voyage intended for Wemm. In October againe the L. Capell gathered all his forces, and made greate preparations for the taking of Wem. And, as they assaulted the towne, Colonell Wynn was slaine upon their workes, 18° Octobris. 1643. Upon the death of Collonel Wyn, the whole buisiness was overthrowne, and as the L. Cappell retreated towards Sherowsbury, Sr Will. Brerton and his forces overtooke them at Lee bridge, where was fought a hott skirmish on both sides, until the night parted them. The 9th day of November followinge, Holt-brige was taken by S Tho: Midleton and S Wm Brerton, who presently entred Wrexam; and shortly after Hawarden Castel was delivered to them. After the taking of Holt-bridge, Wm Salusbury, of Rug, fortified the Castel of Denbigh. In the mean time ther landed 2000 Welsh and English from Irland at Moston, at whose cominge the ParlTMt 1 fledd away, after they had for a fortnight possessed themselves of all Mailor and a greate part of Flintshire, without any resistance at all. He had first, a regiment of six hundred men, which being much weakened he had a new commission, dated November, 1643, for the raising of twelve hundred men. Lord Capel also did him the honor of appointing him Commander-in-Chief (under him) of the counties of Denbigh and Flint. Pennant's Tour in Wales. The author was eminently loyal, and he originally wrote "Rebels," which he subsequently altered into the safer word Parĺmt.” A.D. 1648. A.D. 1644. Shortly after Hawerden Castell was yealded. The same time, (about the 6th of December,) the Lord Biron came to Wales with great forces, and so passed thorough the contrie and went to Cheshire, and laid straight siege to Nantwych in the middle of winter. A: Domini 1644. Elsmer's Royallists surprised by Col. Mitton. 12° Januarii. S Rich. Wyllus and ST Nic: Biron to the number of 200 were taken at Elsmeare at night in their Quarters, as they marched from Welshpoole to Nantwych. 25° Januarii. After that the L. Biron had for a longe while beesiged Nantwych, Sr Wm Brereton gathered greate forces from divers partes and cam to releeve it, whereof the L. Biron hearinge, rose the siege and went to meet them, and was with his hole army utterly routed, 25 Januarii. 15° Februarii. Bangor bridge was betrayed to Collonel Mitton, who coming over Dee tooke prisoners St Gerard Eaton, S Robert Eaton, with others. About the same time Coll. Mitton plundered and took prisoners in the Hundred of Oswestry, even to the walles of the towne, and brought greate provisions [booties] to Wem: from all parts aboute. The same time Bangor in Flintshire beegan to be fortified for the King. 18° februarii. Prince Robert cam to Shrewsbury. 20° Martis, Prince Ro: cam to Chirk Castle, and so went to Chester, and retourned to Salop: 13 Martii. 12o Martii, forty of the parl: taken at Farn by Holt bridge, by Capt. Robinson, Governor of Holt Castel. Whilst the prince was at Newarke, ye L. Biron gathered his forces from Chester and Denbighshire, and took four of the parl. Garrisons, viz. Emral: Hanmer: Fens' and Beatchfield. 28 Martii 1644. March 24. Coll. Ellis tooke Appley house and therein 20 commanders, 73 prisoners, 25 horses, with much amunition. Into this Appley house (the prince being at Newarke) the parl: hastyly thrust in a garrison of both horse and foote from Wemm, intending to enlarge it as soone as they were able to send in more men. Hopton Castel taken. 1 Fens was the residence of William Hanmer Esq., a mansion house not far distant from Hanmer and Bettisfield, in which latter place the present head of the family now resides. |