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HISTORICAL      MEMORANDA 


OF 


BRECONSHIRE. 


A    COLLECTION    OF 

PAPERS 

FROM    VARIOUS    SOURCES 


RELATING     TO     THE 


HISTORY    OF    THE    COUNTY. 


"VOX-TCTIMIIE 


BY    JOHN     LLOYD. 


BRECON : 

PRINTED  BY  ELLIS  OWEN,  "  BRECON  &  RADNOR  EXPRESS  "  OFFICES. 

1903. 


PREFACE. 


These  Memoranda  have  now  extended  to  a  couple  of  hundred  pages,  and  I  have 
resolved  to  collect  the  four  Parts  in  which  they  have  appeared  into  one  Volume. 

The  material  at  hand  of  a  similar  character  is  abundant,  and  in  the  hope  of  being 
able  to  add  other  Parts,  so  as  to  form  a  second  Volume,  I  have  ventured  to  give  this 
the  title  of  Volume  I. 

During  the  last  few  years,  some  very  important  questions  connected  with  our 
County  have  had  my  attention,  such  as  the  Right  of  Common  in  the  Penkelly  Manors, 
the  Great  Forest  Inclosure,  and  the  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal,  and  it  became 
necessary  to  search  all  available  records,  including  our  County  Histories,  for  inform- 
ation. 

In  dealing  with  such  in  Courts  of  Law,  the  most  accurate  and  full  information  is 
required,  and  not  extracts  but  the  documents  themselves  have  to  pass  through  the 
hands  of  the  inquirer. 

For  these  purposes  the  pages  of  our  County  Historian,  or  of  historians  generally, 
are  of  little  use.  Not  only  in  our  case  have  100  years  passed  since  our  able  historian, 
Theophilus  Jones,  compiled  his  history,  in  which  period  events  of  great  county 
importance  have  occurred,  but  even  in  his  time  the  field  of  history  to  explore  and 
describe  was  so  wide  that  the  historian  was  quite  unable  fully  to  deal  with  it.  Where 
we  now  wish  he  had  paused,  and  given  full  particulars  ot  some  subject  now  again  of 
present  interest,  we  find  he  had  time  and  space  only  to  give  it  a  passing  comment  or 
reference.  His  help  seems  to  fail  us  at  the  very  time  it  is  needed. 

In  such  respects  my  object  has  been  to  supplement  the  work  of  our  County 
Historian,  and  by  printing  copies  of  original  documents  in  extenso,  to  add  to  the  value 
and  practical  utility  of  his  great  work. 

For  instance,  the  chief  documents  used  in  the  Penkelly  Manor  trials  have  been 
twice  searched  for  and  copied  at  great  expense,  since  Theophilus  Jones  wrote,  in  1817 
and  again  in  1898,  and  by  printing  these  documents  now  in  full,  the  litigants,  if  any 
further  trial  takes  place  regarding  these  Manors  and  Common  rights,  will  be  able  to 
read  the  papers  for  themselves  in  their  own  arm  chair,  without  any  expense,  and 
possibly  they  may  think  twice  in  consequence  before  they  commence  a  lawsuit. 

The  Great  Forest  Case,  and  that  of  the  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal,  are 
also  those  where  the  fullest  documentary  evidence  should  be  accessible  to  the  public^ 


and  the  rights  of  all  parties  fully  stated.  There  should  be  no  mystery  as  to  what  the 
documents  of  title  are,  and  if  any  dispute  arises,  it  then  becomes  at  once  narrowed 
down  to  the  legal  interpretation  of  the  language  of  the  document,  the  document  being 
public  property  and  known  to  all  interested. 

And  it  may  be  said  that  in  the  interest  of  the  least  powerful  and  the  weak,  this  ready 
available  knowledge  is  of  the  chiefest  value,  placing  them  on  an  equality  with  the 
powerful  and  rich,  who  can  afford  to  make  costly  searches  of  their  own  whenever 
needed.  The  Lord  of  a  Manor  knows  his  title,  but  what  does  a  Commoner  know  of 
his  !  What  title  deeds  or  documents  has  he,  though  his  title  is  the  same  as  that  of  the 
Lord  to  his  common  land  ! 

Whenever  copies  of  old  documents  are  given  in  this  volume,  'every  pains  have 
been  taken  to  secure  perfect  accuracy,  and  the  services  of  one  of  the  most  competent 
copyists  who  attend  the  Record  Office  has  been  secured.  The  experience  of  a  recent 
trial  has  given  proof  that  in  that  instance  at  least  the  copies  were  thoroughly  trustworthy 
and  to  be  depended  upon.  This  character  for  accuracy  is  the  best  reward  that  a  collector 
of  papers  like  these  can  wish  for. 

Some  lighter  pieces  are  here  and  there  interspersed,  possessing  an  antiquarian 
interest,  or  illustrating  the  life  and  times  of  our  Breconshire  forefathers. 

15,  Chepstow  Place,  London,   W., 
Oct.  1,  1903. 


I. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Parliamentary  Surveys  : 

1.  Manor  of  Builth  3 

2.  Manor  of  Brecon 4 

3.  Seven  Forest  Mills 5 

4.  Llynsavathan    IO 

5.  Manor  of  Llanspythid II 

6.  Honddu  Mills   J4 

7.  Burgess  Mill lf> 

8.  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly 1 7 

9.  Manor  of  Welsh  Haye    20 

Inquisition  on  Death  of  William  Aubrey,  D.D.  .  22 
Welsh  Penkelly  Manor— Court  Leet  and  Per- 
ambulation      31 

Welsh  Penkelly  Manor— Report  by  John  Cheese  33 

Tales  of  the  Belfry 37 

Now  and  Then    38 

Great  Forest  of  Brecknock    39 

"  Rhesfa's  " 4° 

Inquisition  on  the  Death  of  Thomas  James,  Lord 
of  the  Manors  of  Talachddu,   Slwch,  and 

Saint  Aylett     41 

Lordship  of  Builth 44 

Lordship  of  Dinas— Part  of  the  March  Counties  46 

Absolution  of  Catherine  Powell    52 

Black  Cattle  Droves  53 

Lordship  of  Brecon— Grant  to  Sir  Francis  Bacon  56 

Lordship  of  Brecon— Sale  to  Collins  and  Fenn. .  57 
Great  Forest  of  Brecknock — Agistment  to  Rice 

Jones 59 

Manor  of  Haya  Wallensis  1 61 

Manor  of  Haya  Wallensis  II 63 

Glasbury  Bridge 66 

Glasbury  and  the  County  Boundary 68 

Glasbury    7O 

Glasbury  and  District 73 

Do.               75 

Do.               77 

Do.             under  the  Commonwealth. .  78 

Old  Maps 79 

Sale  of  Crown  Manors    81 

Henry  VII ' 82 

Crosses  in  Breconshire    83 

Crown  Property  in  Breconshire  in  the  reign  of 

Elizabeth 85 


PAGE. 

Wilkins'  Old  Bank 86 

Compulsory  Attendance  at  Church  in  1687    ....  89 

John  Lloid,  of  Towy 93 

Talavan  Forest    95 

Grant  to  William  Herbert,  Knight 96 

Lease  of  Talavan  Forest    97 

Grant  of  Lordship  of  Builth 99 

Gwynne  of  Garth  and  Llanelwedd  Estate  100 

Forgotten  Industries  (Breconshire) I°4 

Brecknock  Castle    lo6 

Manor  of  Tal  y  Llyn  or  Croft  y  Yarll 109 

Old  Lease  of  Land  in  Cathedine  Parish  and 

Blackmoor  Common  1 1? 

Forest  of  Buchlyd  or  Auckland     12° 

Manors  of  Crickhowell  and  Tretower 127 

Miarth  Hill  (Tretower)   J29 

Penkelly  Manors     13° 

Lands  of  Strata  Florida  Abbey  in  Breconshire. .  155 

VennyWood   '5° 

Manor  or  Lordship  of  Brecknock 157 

Halimot  Manor  of  Brecon I58 

Quarrying  Stones  on  Common  Lands  in  Brecon- 
shire    I6° 

Manor  or  District  of  Troescoed    162 

Gabriel  Powell  (of  Pennant),  1 700-35 163 

Blawd  y  Kwn  or  Dagges :  7° 

Abercynrig  Lordship  and  Estate 1 7  - 

Nonconformity  in  Breconshire,  1700  to  1800 179 

Tor  Glas  Common  Lawsuits 182 

The   Granting  of  a  Faculty  for  a  Seat  in  St. 

Mary's  Church,  Brecon,  1 727    185 

A  Letter  of  1/73 l86 

The  Fisheries  of  Breconshire  in  Olden  Times    . .  187 

Consistory  Court J88 

Terrier  of  Llywel  Parish    l89 

The  Act  of  1776  and  the  Town  of  Brecon 190 

The  Usk  and  Canal     I91 

The  Angling  Waters  of  the  Wye I96 

A  Letter  of  1794 !99 

A  Letter  of  1803 2°° 

A  Letter  of  1807 2O° 

Terms  of  Junction  of  the  Two  Canals 201 

Llansaintffread  and  Llanvillo  Inclosure 203 


ERRATUM.— Page  93,  line  18— For  "  forgotten,"  read  "  fotten."       It  is  a  north- 
country  term  for  where  a  battle  was  fought. 


Augmentation    Office,    Parliamentary    Survey, 

Brecon,    No.  1. 


MANOR    OF     BUILTH. 


BRECON    MANEKIUM    DE    BUILT    CUM    JUKIBUS    MBMBBIS   ET    APPUKTENANT. 

A  Survey  of  Certaine  Parcelles  of  Land  lyinge  within  the  Manner  of  Built  presented 
to  vs  to  bee  Crowne  Land  and  concealed  though  the  Mannor  bee  granted  to  ffee  ffarme 
made  and  taken  by  vs  whose  Names  are  herevnto  Subscribed  in  the  Moneth  of  Januarii  by 
vertue  of  a  Comission  grounded  vppon  an  Act  of  the  Comons  in  Parliament  assembled  for 
the  Sale  of  the  Honnors  Manners  and  Land  heretofore  belonginge  to  the  Late  Kinge 
Queene  and  Prince  vnder  the  Hande  and  Seales  of  ffive  or  more  of  the  Trustees  in  the 
said  Act  named  and  appoynted 

THOMAS  LEWIS  VNDEB  TENNANT 

All  that  one  parcell  of  Mountaine  Lande  lyinge  and  beeinge  within  the  Parish  of 
Mashmannys  and  Mannor  of  Built  in  the  posesseon  of  Thomas  Lewis  abbuttinge 
North  vppon  the  Mountaines  and  bounded  West  with  the  ffreehould  lande  of  the  said 
Thomas  Lewis  the  pathway  devideing  it  contein  by  estimacon — 20  Acres 

Worth  p   Acre ..         Is 

In  toto  p.  Ann xx  s  (20s ) 

HOWEL   LEWIS    UNDEB    TENNANT 

All  that  Parcell  of  Moreish  ground  lyinge  and  beeing  within  the  said  Pish  (parish ) 
of  Mashmannes  and  Mannor  of  Brecon  aforesaid  and  in  the  possession  of  Howell  Lewis 
abutting  West  vpon  the  Mountaines  and  bounded  North  with  the  ffree  Hould  lande  of 
the  said  Howell  Lewis  a  certaine  path  way  devidinge  it  conteininge  by  estimacon — x  Acres 

Worth  p  Acre  Is 

In  toto  p  Ann xs 

HOGER  PKOSSEB  UNDEB  TENNANT 

All  that  Water  Corne  Grist  Mill  lyinge  and  beeinge  within  the  Pish  (parish)  of 
Llandewy-com  and  Mannor  of  Built  comonly  knowne  by  the  name  of  the  Ould  Mill  in 
the  occupation  of  Roger  Prosser 

The  said  Prosser  payes  to  the  Auditor  yeerly — vi  s  viii  d  but  is  worth  vppon  improve- 
ment over  and  above  the  said  Rent  p  ann  \l  (£5) 

There  is  no  Lease  to  be  pduced  (produced) 

SB.  EDMONDE    TITLE 

All  that  the  Custome  called  a  Comortha  of  twenty  pounde  payable  every  second  yeere 
within  the  Mannor  of  Built  aforesaid  which  said  some  of  twenty  pounde  Sir  Edmond 
Sawyer  who  hath  the  ffee  ffarme  of  the  paid  Mannor  or  his  Steward  or  Bayliffe  for  the 
tyme  beeinge  hath  allwayes  beene  accustomed  to  Collect  and  Pay  vnto  the  Receiver  of  the 
late  Kinge. 

Exr  p  Will  Webb  Supvis  Genrll  (Supervisor  Generall)  1650 

HEN  MAKEPEACE  1650 
PETER  PRICE 
JOHN  MARRYOTT 
JOHN  LLOYD 

[Endorsed]  Built  Mannour  Concealments  Brecknock 
Received  this  27th  of  Aprill  1050 

Transmitted  to  the  Srveyor  Grail  (Surveyor  General)  the  same  day 
Returned  the  29th  of  Aprill 

MAKEPEACE. 


Augmentation    Office,    Parliamentary    Survey, 

Brecon.    No.  2. 


MANOR    OF    BRECON. 


BRECON    MANERIUM    DE    BRECON    CUM    JURIBUS    MEMBRIS    ET    APPURTENANT. 

A  Survey  of  Certaine  Pticular  Pcells  (Particular  Parcells)  of  Land  lyinge  and  beeinge 
within  the  Manner  of  Brecknock  and  County  of  Brecon  presented  to  vs  to  bee  Crowne 
Land  and  Concealed  though  the  Manner  bee  granted  in  ft'ee  farme,  made  and  taken  by  us 
whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  in  the  Month  of  January  by  vertue  of  a  Comission 
grounded  vppon  an  Act  of  the  Comons  in  Parliamt  Assembled  for  the  Sale  of  the  Honuors 
Manners  and  Land  heretofore  belonginge  to  the  late  Kinge  Queene  and  Prince  under  the 
hands  and  seales  of  ffive  or  more  of  the  Trustees  in  the  said  Act  Named  and  appointed. 

All  that  peice  or  pcell  (parcell)  of  grounde  lyinge  and  beeinge  neere  the  Towne  of 
Brecon  and  within  the  County  of  Brecon  comonly  called  and  knowne  by  the  name  of  the 
great  fforrest  consistinge  of  a  large  Comon  or  Pasture  by  estimacon  Seaven  Miles  in 
length  or  there  abouts 

Memorand  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  severall  Parishes  of  Devennocke  Llewell 
Llyntuog  Strodwelty  Pedoryn  Cantreffe  Llanvygon  and  Llandvettee  and  there 
pdecessors  have  tim  out  of  minde  had  the  benefitt  of  the  Hearbage  there  for  all 
Beast  Sheepe  and  Horse  sanse  number  for  which  there  is  yeerly  payd  by  the 
severall  inhabitants  of  the  aforesaid  Parrishes  the  some  of  twenty  pounds  six 
shillings  eight  pence  to  be  collected  (in  modo  sequent)  (vizt)  for  every  cowe  a 
penny  for  every  horse  Id  A  and  for  every  score  of  sheep  fowre  pence 

Redditus  (Bent)  xx/  vi  s  viii  d  (£20  6s  8d) 

All  that  tiie  Custom  called  a  Comortha  of  ffifty  six  pounds  sixteene  shillinges  payable 
every  second  yeere  within  the  Mannor  of  Brecon  and  Cour.ty  of  Brecon  aforesaid  which 
said  somme  of  ffifty  six  pounds  sixteen  shillinges  William  Morgan  Esq  who  hath  the  ffee 
ffarme  of  the  said  Mannor  or  his  Steward  or  Bayliffe  for  the  time  beeinge  hath  all  ways 
beene  accustomed  to  Collect  ind  Pay  vnto  the  Receiver  of  the  late  Kinge 

HEN.  MAKEPEACE  1660 
Exr  p  Will.  Webb  Supvis  Genrll  1650 

PETER  PRICE 
JOHN  MARRYOTT 
JOHN  LLOYD 

[Enclosed]  Brecknock  Concealments  Nup  Car  Regis 
Brecknock 

Received  this  vith  day  of  Aprill 

Transmitted  to  the  Srveyor  (Surveyor)  the  same  day 

Returned  the  29th  of  Aprill 

MAKEPEACE. 


NOTE  ON  PARLIAMENTARY  SURVEY.— No.  2. 

MANOR  OF  BRECON. 

We  find   the  following  in  Beport  ii,  Page  27,  of  the  Commissioners   of  Woods  and 
Forests  for  1816  : — 

"  According  to  the  intention  mentioned  in  our  first  report,  we  were  about  to  proceed 
le  authority  of  the  Act  of  the  48th  of  the  King,  Capt.  78,  to  take  measures  for 


(6) 

selling  by  Auction  the  entire  interest  of  the  Crown  over  the  Great  Forest  of  Brecknock, 
and  with  that  view  we  have  caused  the  same  to  be  divided  into  seven  Lots  which  were  set 
out  and  measured  by  Mr.  Hassell,  an  eminent  Land  Surveyor  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
But  finding  that  a  great  impediment  to  the  sale  would  arise  in  consequence  of  a  claim  set 
up  by  the  Homagers  to  depasture  an  unlimited  number  of  cattle  on  the  Forest,  we  thought 
it  expedient  to  suspend  our  proceedings,  until  the  question  involved  in  that  claim  could  be 
determined  by  an  issue  at  Law.  An  information  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer  was 
accordingly  filed,  upon  which  the  parties  soon  relinquished  their  claim  to  the  extent 
above-mentioned,  and  agreed  to  confine  it  to  the  right  to  depasture  as  many  cattle  as  they 
could  maintain  in  winter  in  their  respective  occupations." 

On  the  other  hand  it  is  clearly  stated  in  the  Parliamentary  Survey  of  1650  that  the 
commoners  were  not  limited  as  to  their  stock,  but  could  turn  out  beast,  sheep,  and  horst 
same  (without)  number.  When  the  Crown  brought  the  Homagers  into  the  Court  of 
Exchequer  in  1816  to  test  the  question,  1  wonder  if  this  old  survey  was  referred  to,  and 
used  by  the  Homagers  !  It  would  have  been  useful  to  them. — J.LL. 


Augmentation   Office,   Parliamentary    Surveys, 

Brecon.    No,  3. 


THE  SEVEN  FOREST  MILLS. 


BKECON  :  ss  :  THE  7  MILLS  CALLED  THE  FFORREST  MILLS. — A  Survey  of  the  seaven  Mills 
comonly  called  the  fforest  Mills  als  the  Custome  Mills  scituate  and  Jbeing  within 
the  Honnor  of  Brecknocke  and  within  the  several  pishes  of  Divynocke  Llewell 
Istradvelltye  Istradgynles  and  Penderrine  in  the  Countee  of  Brecon  within  the 
Dominion  of  Wales,  called  or  knowne  by  the  names  of  Divynocke  Mill  Istrodvelltye 
Glintaway  Mill  Craye  Mill  Pwllcoeh  Mill  Llewell  Mill  and  Sennye  Mill  with  the 
Eights  members  and  appurtenances  there  of  late  pcell  (parcel!)  of  the  possessions  of 
Charles  Stuart  late  King  of  England,  made  and  taken  by  vs  whose  names  are  hereonto 
subscribed,  By  virtue  of  a  commission  granted  to  vs  by  the  Honoble  the  Trustees 
appointed  by  Act  of  the  Comons  assembled  in  Parliament  for  Sale  of  the  Honnors 
Manners  and  lands  heretofor  belonging  to  the  late  King  Queene  and  Prince  vnder 
there  hand  and  seales. 

DYVINOCK  MILL. — All  that  water  grist  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  comonly  called 
Divynocke  Mill  als  the  Mother  Mill  scituate  standing  and  being  within  the  Parish  of 
Divynock  and  neere  vnto  the  Parish  Church  of  Divynocke  with  all  Tolls  Mulktures  Suits 
Services  and  Customs  therevnto  belonging  nowe  in  the  Tenure  and  occupacon  of  Wm. 
Morgan  Esqr.  or  his  assignes  wch  we  estimate  to  be  worth  p  ann  I/  (£50.) 

LLEWELL  MILL, — All  that  water  grist  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  comonly  called 
Llewell  Mill  scituate  standing  and  being  neere  vnto  Trea  Castle  in  the  Parish  of  Llewell 
afforesaid  with  all  Tolls  Mulktures  Suits  Services  and  Customes  therevnto  belonging  nowe 
in  the  tenure  and  occupacon  of  one  David  Gualter  which  we  estimate  to  be  worth  p  ann 
xiiiZ  vis  viiid  (£18  6s.  8d.) 


(6) 

SENNY  MILL.— All  that  water  grist  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  comonly  called 
Sennye  Mill  scituate  standing  and  being  within  ye  vally  of  Sennye  and  within  the  Parish 
of  Divynocke  afforesaid  with  all  Tolls  Mulktures  Suits  Services  and  Customs  tberevnto 
belonging  nowe  in  the  tenure  and  occupacion  of  Lewis  Powell  Haverd  which  wee  estimate 
to  be  worth  p  ann  xxiiii  (£23). 

OKAY  MILL. All  that  water  grist  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  comonly  called  Cray 

Mill  scituate  standing  and  being  in  the  valley  of  Glancraye  and  within  the  Parish  of 
Divynocke  aforesaid  with  all  Tolls  Mulktures  Suits  Services  and  Customes  therevnto 
belonging  now  in  the  tenure  and  occupacion  of  one  Mrs.  Williams  wch  we  value  to  be 
worth  p  ann  xii  (£12). 

GLINTAWAY  MILL, — All  that  water  grist  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  comonly  called 
Glintawaye  Mill  scituate  standing  and  being  in  the  Parish  of  Istradgunles  aforesaid  with 
all  Tolls,  Mulktures  Suits  Services  and  Customes  therevnto  belonging  nowe  in  the  tenure 
and  occupacion  of  Walter  Thomas  of  Swansey  Esq.  which  we  value  to  be  worth  p  ann  xZ 
(£10). 

ISTBODVELLTY  MILL. — All  that  water  grist  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  comonly 
called  Istrodvellty  afforesaid  with  all  Tolls  Mulktures  Suits  Services  and  Customes  there- 
vnto belonging  nowe  in  the  tenure  and  occupacion  of  one  John  Williams  and  others  which 
we  estimate  to  be  worth  p  ann  xH  (£40)- 

PWLLCOCK  MILL. — All  that  water  grist  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  comonly  called 
Pwllcock  Mill  scituate  standing  and  being  in  the  Parish  of  Pennyderrin  afforesaid  with  all 
Tolls  Mulktures  Suits  Services  and  Customs  thereunto  belonging  nowe  in  the  tenure  and 
occupacion  of  Mrs.  Games  which  we  estimate  to  be  worth  p  ann  -s.1  (£10). 

And  all  wayes  passages  Liberties  priviledges  Jurisdiccons  Immunityes  Suits  Services 
Mulkts  Mulktures  tolls  pounds  weares  Mill  pounds  Mill  dams  watercourses  floodgates 
sluces  together  with  the  ffishing  in  the  Rivers  of  Neath  and  Tawaye  and  elsewhere  with  all 
other  profits  Comodities  advantages  and  appurtenances  whatsoever  to  the  said  Mills  or  to 
any  of  them  belonging  or  in  anywise  appurteyneing  or  which  have  been  heretofore  vsed 
occupied  or  enjoyed  as  pt  pcell  (part  parcell)  and  Member  of  them  or  any  of  them. 

There  are  divers  {freeholders  and  tenants  within  the  several  pishes  (parishes)  o 
Divynocke  Llewell  Isdrodvellty  Istrodgunles  and  Penniderrin  afforefaid  whoe  doe  owe 
divers  suits  services  and  Customs  to  the  said  mills  within  theire  severall  precincts  and  are 
lyable  to  sevrall  Mulkts  ffines  and  amerciaments  ffor  and  in  default  thereof.  The  names 
of  such  Suiters  and  of  there  severall  Customs  belonging  to  the  said  Mills  we  received 
partly  by  the  Informacion  of  divers  psons  (persons)  that  owe  the  said  Suits  and  services, 
and  also  from  others.  And  more  pticularly  and  ffully  by  prsentment  exemplified  before  the 
Barrens  of  the  Exchequer  and  made  letters  Pattents  wch  Presentment  was  taken  at 
Brecon  [sic]  the  xth  day  of  April  1651  last  past  by  divers  Commissioners  Authorised  and 
required  thereunto  by  Commission  from  the  said  Barrens  of  the  Exchequer  dated  the  12th 
of  Ffebruary  1650  upon  the  prsentment  of  a  Jurye  of  Considerable  persons  within  the  said 
Honnor  of  Brecknock  [sicj  And  duced  (produced)  to  vs  by  one  Thorns  (Thomas)  Awbery 
Esq.  in  whose  Right  the  severall  psons  before  named  doe  posses  the  said  Mills.  All  which 
said  psons  (persons)  bound  to  the  suits  and  services  and  Customes  to  ye  said  Mills  and 
alsoe  ye  Services  and  Customs  which  they  owe  to  the  said  Mills  And  the  ffynes  and 
Penaltyes  they  are  Lyable  vnto  in  default  there  of  here  after  ffolloweth  (vizt). 

The  names  of  those  that  owe  Suite  &c.  to  Divynocke  Mill : — Cisley  Morgan,  John 
Morgan,  Margrett  vxr  Thomas,  Thomas  Powell  Thomas  Richard  Griffith,  Watkin  David 
Griffith,  Thomas  David  Thomas,  Walter  Watkin  Cle,  the  Relct  of  Morgan  Thomas  Watkin, 
Howell  Thomas,  Howell  David,  John  Lewis.  Havered  Gualter,  David  idem  and  Thomas 
Morgan  tenntes,  David  Willm  David  William,  Thomas  Williams,  gent,  Rosser  David, 
Phillip  William,  Gwenlian  Lewes,  Widd,  Lucy  Powell,  Phee  Williams  Evan  Prosser, 
Gladish  Watkin,  David  Howell,  David  Howell  Prees  William  Howell,  William  Gwinlian 
Lewis  Gyles,  Evans  Howell  Gyles  Evans,  Gyles  Dawid  Llewellin  Thomas  Jenkin  John 
William,  Howell  Prees,  Mauld  vxr  Thomas  Gwenlion  vxr  Watkin  Jevan  Preess  Powell 


(7) 

David  Thomas  John  Morgan  Watkin  Thomas  Thomas  Meredith  Morgan,  Watkin  Richard 
Thomas  Awbery  William  Jenkin  Andrew  Jenkin  Ellinor  vx  :  Thomas  Meredith  Andrew 
Howell  Meredith  Howell,  William,  William  Howell  Thomas  Lewes,  Phee  Morgan,  Howell 
William  Phee,  Thomas  Morgan  et  mater,  Morgan  William  Bowen,  Owen  William  Bowen, 
Lewis  Phee,  Thomas  Willm,  David  Llewellin,  Thomas  Richard  Thomas  Awberey  Alice 
vxor  Jenkin,  Richard  Thomas  Awberey  Howell  Watkin  Agnest  vxor  Watkin. 

These  tennts  owe  Suit  to  Senny  Mill  : — Griffith  Llewellin,  David  Rees  ap  John, 
William  Bowen  John  Howell  David  Howell,  Lewis  Powell,  Haverd  Howell,  Haverd 
Howell  [sic] ,  John  William,  William  David  Lewis,  William  Phee  Griffith  Llewellin 
David  Idem  Lewis  William,  William  Phee,  David  Howell  Lewis  Willinm  Lewis  idem, 
idem  William  John,  William  Howell.  John  Thomas  Inhabitaus  as  tenntes  to  Mrs.  Edward 
Games,  Gwenlian  vxor  Morgan  as  tennts  to  Mrs.  Jones  of  Cungoodye.Howell  John  Howell, 
William  Walter  as  tennts  to  Mrs.  Jones  of  Cungoody  Thomas  Morgan  Howell  as  tenns  to 
Rees  Thomas  David  Llewellin  Rees  ap  Rees  as  tennt  to  ye  sd  Rees  Thomas  Lewis 
William,  Phee  Howell,  Morgan  Howell  Lewis  Thomas  John,  John  David  John  David 
William  John  David  Jevan  Frees  Powell  David,  Llewellin  Thomas  William  Llewellin, 
William  William  David  William. 

The  names  of  those  that  owe  Suit  &c.  to  Llywell  Mill  : — John  David,  Peeter 
Powell,  Watkin  John  Beavan  Llewellin  Frees,  Howell  David,  David  Rees,  David  Frees 
Harrye  Rees,  Thomas  Rees  David  John  David  Morgan  David  Rees  David  Frees  Nicholas 
Morgan  idem  David  Walter  Jenkin  Bowen,  Watkin  William,  Jenkin  Beavan  David 
Prichard  Richard  Powell,  Thomas  Bevan  Watkin  Edward  John  William  David  Jenkin 
Thomas  William  Prosser,  Jsnkin  Llewellin,  John  Llewellin,  Thomas  Morgan  Frees,  idem 
Howell  David,  Jeram  Watkin,  William  Lloyd,  Lewis  John  John  William  Frees,  Edward 
Williams  idem  Margarett  vxr  Thomas  Nicholas  Morgan,  Thomas  William  Morgan. 

The  names  of  those  that  owe  Suite  &c,  to  Cray  Mill  : — Howell  Griffith,  William 
Llewellin  John  Watkin,  Llewellin  Wm  as  tennts  to  John  Frees  David  John  of  Camleis 
Howell  Thomas  and  Lluky  William  as  tennts  to  the  same  man,  Evan  Powell  David  John 
Morgan,  Howell  Morgan  as  tennts  to  David  William  David  Wm  of  Maescar,  John  William 
Llewellin  as  tennts  to  the  said  Watkin  David  as  tenants  to  Jevan  Frees  David  Morgan 
Frees  Richard  William  Smith  as  tennts  to  G waiter  David  Lewis  Thomas  idem  as  tennts 
to  Walter  Watkins  Clerk,  David  Thomas  and  his  tennts  Rees  Griffith  Joha  as  tenants 
to  David  Gwalter  David  David,  Thos  ap  David  as  tennts  to  the  same  Morgan,  Rytherth, 
John,  William  Bowen  Llewellin,  Morgan  John,  and  David  William  Llewell  as  tentes  to 
Mrs.  Williams  of  Blaencray  and  her  tennant  Llewis  Morgan  Mrs.  Williams  of  Blaencray 
Thomas  John  Thomas  Lewis  John  ap  Owen  Thomas  ap  Jevan  Jevan  John  Watkin  Jenken 
Price  Lewis  Phee  William  Howell  Morgan  Lands  Watkin  John  and  John  David  John 
Llewellin  the  Relict  of  Lewis  Morgan,  and  Wm  Howell  William  Gradish  vxr  Richard 
Morgan  Howell  Thomas  David  Relict  Llewellin  John  Thomas  ap  John  Wm.  Howell 
Thomas,  Thomas  Lewis  John  Morgan  Griffith  Llewellin  William  Powell  William  Jones 
Griffith  ap  Griffith  Lewis  Lewis  Powell  Hugh  Powell  David  Lewis. 

The  tennts  names  that  owe  Suite  &c.  to  Glyntaway  Mill :— Edward  Gwin  Esq. 
Howell  Thomas  William  Beavan  John  Griffith  Griffith  John  Howell  Thomas  William 
Beavan  Rees  Wm  Hoppkin  Evan  Bowen  William  Hopkin  Rees  William  Hopkin  John 
Morgan  Richard  Rees  Parrye,  David  Harrye  William  Thomas  Jenkin  Margarett  David 
Thomas  Frees  William  Frees  Rees  Pennry  Rees  John  Price  William  Howell  Jones  John 
William  Bowen.  John  Thomas  Howell  Edward  Lewis  Lewis  Bowen  John  Thomas  Phee 
Howell,  Thomas  Ffee,  Mauld  Howell  Howell  Thomas  Alice  Jenkins  Margrett  Thomas 
John  Frees  David  Morgan  William  John  p.p  John  William  John  Frees  William  Bowen 
Jenkin  John  Rees  David,  Meredith  Willia'm  Howell  John  Howell  Thomas  William, 
Margarett  John  Lewis  Watkins  Llewellin  Jones  William  Thomas  William. 

The  names  of  those  that  owe  suite  &c,  to  Ystrodvelltye  Mill  :— Llewellin  John 
Gwalter  John  Reey  Jenkin  David  Griffith  Frees  Beavant  John  Thomas  Frees  Jevan  Frees 


(8) 

Jenkin  Frees  Morgan  Frees  Beavan  William  Llewellin  Llewellin  Frees,  Howell  Rees 
David  Owen  Llewellin  Richard  William  Wm  John  Beavan  Jenkin  John  Richard  Morgan 
George  William,  Wm  John  ap  John  Katherine  Howell  Morgan  Jones  gent  :  Jenkin  Wm. 
Llewellin  Margarett  Prytherch,  Morgan  Prytherch,  Rees  Wm  Lllewellin,  Elizabeth  Waters 
Rees  William  gent  W'illiam  John  William,  Jevan  Thomas  gent,  Morgan  Frees,  William 
John,  Griffith  Llewellin  William  Beavan  Howell  Thomas  Jeaven  Powell  David  Rees 
Morgan,  Mary  Morgan  Widdow  Griffith  David  Griffith  Morgan  Frees  gent  Llewellin  David 
John  Richard  William  Beavan  Jonett  Llewellin  William  Llewellin  Juhn  Jenkin  Gent  : 
Jenkin  Thomas  Byvan  Thos  Frees  Llewellin  Jenkin  Gent  :  Richard  Frees  David  William 
Wm  John  ap  John,  William  Morgan,  John  Llewellin  Wm  John  Llewellin  Morgan  Thomas 
John  Idem  Jenkin  Williams  Gent  :  David  Howell  Llewellin  Merediih  Thomas  Frees 
Griffith  William  Byvan  Llewellin  Gwilliams  Gent  :  Watkin  Lewis  Rees  Wm.  Bevan  Gent : 
Walter  Willm  Byvan,  Agnest  Llewellin  Widdow  Jenkin  Griffith,  Llinap  Gwilliam  Gwinn 
Thomas  Morgan  Griffith  Pl.ee,  Jenett  Rees  Jevan  Thomas  Morgan  Williams  Gent  : 

The  names  of  those  that  owe  Suite  &c.  to  Pwllcough  Mill  : — The  Lands  of  William 
John  Richard  the  Lands  of  Lewis  Powell  the  Lands  of  William  Bevan  and  David  Phee, 
the  Lands  of  William  John  William  the  Lands  of  Llewellin  William  and  Evan  Thomas 
the  lands  of  John  Thomas  William,  Isabell  Vaughan.  the  lands  of  Howell  Morgan  the 
lands  of  Edward  Press  the  lands  of  Rees  Thomas  the  lands  of  Thomas  William  the  lands 
of  Evan  David  the  lands  of  Elizabeth  Morgan  atid  Griffith  Llewellin  John  the  lands  of 
Howell  Jenkin  the  lands  of  Thomas  Beavan  Jenkin  the  lands  of  Gwilliam  Morgan  the 
lands  of  Gwenlyon  vxr  Evan,  the  lands  of  Lewis  Frees  ihe  lands  of  Henry  Frees  the  lands 
of  Jonett  Lewis,  the  lands  of  Evan  Llewellin  Howell  Rees  ap  John  David  Rees  David 
Byvan  John  Byvan, Jenkin  Jevan,  Morgan  Samuell,  Poweil  John,  Frees  William  Rees 
William  David  Richard  William  Richard  John  Morgan  Frees  Jenkins  Morgan  Edmonds 
Pres  Richard  David  Roger  Symon  Morgan  John  Morgan  John  Thomas  Howell  Thomas 
Morgan  Frees  John  ap  John,  ychan  David,  William  John  Jevan  William  John  Jevan 
Howell  Morgan. 

THE  CUSTOMES  OF  YE  SAID  MILLS  (vizi) 

Every  of  the  said  tennants  are  to  appeere  at  the  severall  Mills  they  owe  suit  vnto 
upon  sumons  given  them  or  left  at  theire  respective  tenements  vpon  payne  of  tenn 
shillings. 

The  same  tennts  are  to  be  ready  vpon  sumons  to  carry  woode  timber  and  stones  for 
the  Repayrein  or  Reedefieing  of  the  said  Mills  at  tbeire  owne  cost  and  Charges  vpon  payrie 
of  tenn  shill. 

The  said  tennts  are  to  carrye  the  Mill  stones  to  ye  Respective  Mills  from  any  place 
within  the  Bounds  of  the  Lordship  of  Brecknock  at  theire  owne  charges. 

The  Lord  of  the  said  Mills  or  his  tfarmer  may  by  the  (Justome  enter  into  any  of  the 
said  tennts  Bond  lands  and  cutt  downe  and  carrye  awaye  any  Woode  and  timber  there 
groweing  for  the  Repayreing  and  Keedifing  of  the  said  Mills. 

Everye  of  the  said  tennts  are  bounde  to  come  with  his  grist  to  the  said  Mills  there 
to  be  grinded,  and  if  any  of  them  goe  to  any  other  Mill,  to  be  amerced  vpon  every  default 
three  poundes. 

And  in  case  the  Mills  be  not  able  to  grinde  or  in  Reedifieing  ye  tennts  are  to  staye 
there  three  dayes  and  three  nights  with  thpire  grist  before  hee  or  they  goe  to  any  other  of 
the  said  Mills  and  are  to  give  accompt  what  daye  they  grinde  and  to  pay  their  Custome  to 
the  Lord  or  his  Banner  vpon  the  payne  of  time  pounds  vpon  every  default. 

The  said  Tennts  are  to  pay  for  grindting  theire  Wheat  Rye  Barle*  and  Mault  the 
twentieth  part  and  of  their  Pilt-coru  the  tenth  pt  .part)  and  for  grindeing  the  said  IMt- 
corn  into  Meal  the  twentieth  part. 

The  tennts  may  not  sell  any  Corne  or  graine  that  shall  growe  vpon  their  Cuslomarye 
any  pson  (person)  dwellinge  out  of  the  Cust:>marye  lands  vntil  he  or  they   agree 


9 

with  the  Lord  or  the  ffarmer  of  the  said  Mills  for  the  tenth  part  there  of  or  that  shall 
carrye  any  the  same  to  any  ffree  lands  without  agreement,  vpon  payne  of  three  poundes 
everye  default. 

The  Lord  of  the  said  Mills  or  his  ffarmer  maye  have  ffree  Ingress  Egress  and 
Kegress  into  any  of  the  tennts  lands  where  any  watercoure  passes  to  the  said  Mills  there 
to  Cutt  Turffs  and  Woode  for  Bepayre  of  the  Dams  and  Banks  without  interruption. 

That  if  any  of  the  said  Tennts  doe  give  his  daughter  in  Marriage  he  is  to  pay  to  the 
Lord  or  his  ffarmer  ffoure  shill.  and  if  any  Mayde  doe  Committ  ffornication  to  pay  ffoure 
shillings. 

Every  tennte  dwelling  vpon  the  said  Lands  that  breedeth  or  keepeth  above  the 
number  of  two  Swyne  is  to  pave  yearly  three  shillings  foure  pennce  to  the  Lord  or  his 
{farmers  or  else  to  pay  the  third  Swyne  of  all  the  Swyne  he  keepeth. 

Memorandum  that  one  Bees  David  ap  John  of  the  pish  of  Devinocke  hath  erected  a 
Mill  about  80  years  since  upon  the  River  Canilies  to  the  prejudice  of  Devinocke  Mill  afore- 
said And  that  one  Bees  Williams  of  Istrodveltye  hath  erected  a  new  Mill  in  Istrodveltye  to 
the  prejudice  of  the  Oustome  Mill  there.  And  one  Jenken  Phillippof  the  pish  of  Pennderrin 
hath  erected  a  Mill  in  the  said  Parish  about  three  yeares  since  to  the  priudice  (prejudice) 
of  the  Customarye  Mill  there 

All  which  said  Mills  called  Devinock  Mill  Llewell  Mill  Senny  Mill  Craye  Mill 
Glintawye  Mill  Istrodvelltye  Mill  and  Pwllcock  Mill  wee  finde  in  the  tenure  and 
occupacon  of  divers  psons  (persons)  who  possess  the  same  in  the  right  of  one  Thomas 
Awbrey  Esqr  whoe  claymes  to  hold  the  same  by  Lettrs  Pattentes  for  divers  yeares  yett  to 
come  and  vnexpired.  But  the  said  Thomas  Awbrey  Esqr  could  not  pduce  the  same  10  vs 
by  reason  he  hath  left  his  habitation  in  the  towne  of  Carmarthen  since  the  Plague  grewe 
violent  there  in.  And  where  he  hath  left  the  said  Lettrs  Pattents  in  his  dwelling  house  in 
the  said  Towne.  But  doth  pmise  to  produce  a  coppie  of  the  said  Lettrs  Pattents  and  to 
cause  the  same  to  be  shewen  to  ye  Honoble  the  Trustees  and  the  Surveyor  Generall 
according  to  the  Act  of  Parliament. 

Memorandum  that  notwithstanding  all  the  said  Customes  Services  and  Priviledges 
belonging  to  the  said  Mills  that  they  are  for  the  most  pt  verye  ruinous  and  much  in  decaye 
for  want  of  Rcedifieing  and  Bepayracon  But  what  penalty  the  ffarmer  there  of  doth  incurr 
thereby  or  howe  or  by  what  means  his  Leas  is  fforfeitable,  and  what  Bents  or  other 
Covenants  and  Condicons  he  is  lyable  and  bound  vnto  wee  knowe  not  but  submitt  the 
same  to  be  considered  of  vpon  the  pduceing  of  the  Lttrs  Pattentes  or  a  coppye  thereof  as 
afforesaicl. 

This  is  ye  Dicovery  of  Mr  David  Morgan. 

j  This  Survye  was  pfectd  the  )  Totall  Irnpvd  value  p  Ann  clviii/  vi  s  viii  d 

I  29th  of  October  1851  by  us  [  £158     6     8d) 

Exr   p    Will  :  Webb   1651 

JEBEMIE  BAINES 
JOHN  FFISKE 
JOH  HADDOCKE 
SAMUELL  COTTMAN 

[Endorsed]  Seven  Mills  called  the  Forrest  Mills 
Brecknock 

Beceived  this  4th  of  November  1651 
Transmitted  to  the  Srveyor  Grail  (Surveyor  General) 
the  same  day. 


(10) 


Augmentation  Office,  Parliamentary  Surveys, 

Brecon,  No.  4. 


BRECON. 


A  Survey  of  a  certain  Poole  or  ffishing  Poole  commonly  called  Llinsavathan  als  (alias) 
Mara  Mota  als  Mara  Blaen  Llevenye  being  in  and  between  the  pishes  (parishes)  of  Llany- 
hangle  Talythin  Llangoos  Kathedyn,  Blaen  Lleuenye  and  Llangastey  Tallythm  m  ye 
Countie  of  Brecon  late  pcell  of  the  possessions  of  Charles  Stuart  late  King  of  England 
made  and  taken  by  vs  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  by  vertue  of  a  commission 
granted  to  us  by  ye  Honble  ye  Trustees  appointed  by  Act  of  ye  Commons  assembled  in 
Parliament  for  sale  of  ye  Honnrs  Mannrs  and  Lands  heretofore  belonging  to  ye  late  King 
Quene  and  Prince  vnder  their  hands  and  seales, 

All  that  standing  Poole,  ffishing  Poole  or  Poole  of  Water  with  ye  appten  (appur- 
tenances) commonly  called  Llynsavathen  als  Mary  Mota  als  Blaenlauence  standing  and 
being  in  ye  pishes  (parishes)  of  Llanghangle  Tally  Llin  Llangoose  Kathedyn  Blaen 
Lleuenye  and  Llangastey  in  the  Countie  of  Brecknock  being  by  common  esti  (estimation) 
two  miles  in  lenth  and  one  in  breadth  with  the  ffishing  thereof  being  well  stored  with  Eles 
Pykes  and  Perches  which  said  Poole  is  fedd  or  supplyed  by  a  small  river  commonly  called 
Llyvenye  als  Llyvey  which  runneth  from  Blaeu  Lleuenee  through  ye  said  Poole  and  along 
vnder  a  Certaine  Bridge  called  Pontadd  Llaueyge  (?)  or  Llanuey  bridge  below  which  said 
Bridge  are  two  weares  commonly  called  the  Kings  weares  belonging  to  ye  said  Poole  and 
ye  ffishing  thereof  At  which  said  weares  are  good  store  of  Eles  taken  in  potts  at  ye  season 
of  the  yeare  for  catching  of  the  same  which  said  weares  with  ye  ffishing  of  the  said  Poole 
with  all  the  Lyberties  Royalties  preuiledges  Jurisdiccions  ffranchises  Imunities  and 
advantages  to  ye  said  Poole  and  the  ffishing  therein  and  of  the  said  Weares  called  ye  Kings 
Weares  and  the  ffishing  thereof  wee  estimate  to  bee  worth  p  Ann  —  xx£ 


Memorandum  wee  fynd  the  ffishing  in  the  said  Pools  and  Weares  in  the  tenure  and 
occupacion  of  one  Walter  Powell  of  Llangoose  and  others  with  him  who  claimes  to  hold 
the  same  in  the  right  of  the  Lady  Williams  ye  itelict  ot  Henry  Williams  Barrt  deceased, 
vnder  certeine  yearlie  rents  and  services  which  said  Lady  Williams  claimes  (by  Mr  Edward 
Prosser  who  appeared  for  her)  to  hold  the  said  ffishing  and  Weares  for  divers  yeares  yet  to 
come  and  vnexpired  by  vertue  of  a  Lease  granted  to  the  said  Barrt  Williams  And  the  said 
Mr  Prosser  doth  affirme  yt  (that)  the  Poole  ffishing  and  Weares  aforesaid  were  passed  in 
ffee  ffarme  by  Queene  Elizabeth  vnto  Sr  Thomas  Trevor  Knt  and  others  vnder  the  yearlie 
ftee  ffarme  rente  of  thirtie  six  shillings  and  that  by  vertue  of  the  said  ffee  farme  grant  the 
said  Poole  ffishing  and  Weares  are  conveyed  vnto  Willm  Morgan  Esqr  in  Reversion  after 
the  expiracion  af  the  Lease  granted  to  ye  said  Barrt  Williams,  But  forasmuch  as  neyther 
any  Lease  or  Patten  t  from  the  Crowne  for  the  said  Poole  ffishing  and  Wears  was  pduced 
(produced)  to  vs,  though  summons  given  to  show  the  same  therefore  wee  returns  ye  same 
in  possession  valued  as  abovesaid 

Memorandum  ye  said  Willm  Morgan  Esq  claims  some  interest  or  prueledge  of 
ffishing  in  the  said  Poole  at  some  certaine  times  of  ye  yeare  as  belonging  to  the  Lopp 
(Lordship)  of  Brecknock  but  wee  knowe  not  by  what  right  neyther  doth  it  appeare  that 
that  there  hath  been  any  vsage  or  enjoyment  thereof. 

Memorandum   also   wee   are   informed    that    Mr    Arnoll   of    London    claims    some 


(11) 

Libertie  to  ffish  in  the  said  Poole  at  certaine  times  and  seasons  of  the  yeare  but  wee  doe 
not  find  yt  (that)  ever  the  same  was  vsed  or  enioyed  (enjoyed)     Vallue  p  Ann — xxi  (£20) 

This  survey  was  pfected  ye  6th  September  JEREMIE  BAINES 

1658  by  vs  vizt  SAMUEL  COTTMAN 

JOH  HADDOCKE 

This  is  ye  discoverie  of  David  Morgan  Esqr 

[Endorsed]      A  Pishing  Poole  called  Llinsavathan  in  ye  Countie  of  Brecon 

Received  the  16th  of  September  1653 

Transmitted  to  the  Srveyor  Grail  (Surveyor  General)  the  same  day. 

9  October,  Mr  Wm  Morgan  of  Therwy  Esq.  layes  Clayme  to  this. 


Augmentation  Office,  Parliamentary  Survey, 

Brecon,  No.  5. 


BRECON 


MALVEKNE  LLANSPYTHETT  CUM  JURIES  MEMBS  AND  APPTINENTIBS. 

A  Survey  of  ye  (Lopp)  of  Malverne  Llanspythett  and  of  ye  free  rents  and 
Royalties  thereof,  with  ye  Rights  membs  and  appurtenances  thereof,  Scituate  Lying  and 
being  within  ye  Parish  of  Llanspythett  in  ye  Countye  of  Brecknocke  sometimes  parcel  of 
ye  Monasterye  of  Malverne  Major  late  pcell  (parcel)  of  ye  possessions  of  Charles  Stuart  late 
King  of  England  made  and  taken  by  vs  whose  names  are  herevnto  subscrybed  by  vertue 
of  a  Commission  granted  to  vs  by  ve  Honoble  ye  Trustees  appoynted  by  Act  of  ye  Cotnons 
assembled  in  Parliament  for  sale  of  ye  Honnrs  Mannrs  and  Lands  heretofore  belonging  to 
ye  late  Kinge  Queene  and  Prince  vnder  their  hands  and  seales 

The  ffree  rents  payable  to  ye  Lord  of  Malverne  Llanspythett  by  sevall  persons 
which  hold  divers  lands  and  tenements  of  ye  Lord  thereof  payable  yearely  at  Michs  onely 
are  p  ann  —  xlii  s  i  d  ob  (JE2  2s 


The  Courts  Ban-on  and  Court  Leetes  and  Lawdayes,  fynes  and  amercamts  of  Courts, 
Issues,  ffynes,  Heryotts,  Waves,  Estrayes,  deodands,  ffellons  goods,  goods  of  ffellons  of 
them  selves,  of  ffugatives  and  Condemned  psons,  Hawkeing  Hunting  ft'owling  and  ffishing 
and  all  other  pfitts,  comodites  and  pequesits  to  ye  Royaltye  thereof  belonging  or  anywaies 
apptayneing  we  estimate  to  be  worth  Combs  annis  (Communibus  annis)  —  xiii  s  iiii  d  (J3s4d) 

Some  totall  of  ffree  rents  and  Royaltyes  are  p  ann  —  Ivs  v  d  ob  —  (£2  15s  5£) 

HOWSE  AND  LITTLE  MEADE 

All  that  dwelling  house  with  the  appurtenances  commonly  called  Lluellins  house 
scituate  and  being  in  ye  Parish  of  Llanspythett  and  pcell  (parcel)  of  the  said  Lopp  (Lord 


(12) 

ship)  with  a  cowhouse  there  unto  adjoyninge  Together  with  one  close  and  pcell  of  meddow 
ground  comonly  called  ye  Lytle  Meade  adioyning  to  ye  house  Abbutted  on  ye  East  by 
certayne  grounds  belonging  to  one  Mr  Walbye,  on  ye  South  by  certayne  houses  and 
grounds  in  ye  tenure  of  one  Harris  and  one  Pritchard,  on  the  West  by  ye  Lands  of  Mr 
Hoe  Games"  And  on  ye  North  by  ye  Hygh  way  or  road  leadinge  troru  Llanspythett  to 
Breckenock  contayneing  by  estimacon  one  acre  and  a  roode  more  or  les  which  wee  value  to 
bee  worth  p  ann — xiii  s  iiii  d  (18s  4d) 

BABAGH    CLOSE 

All  that  close  and  pcell  of  pasture  and  arable  ground  with  the  apptenances  (the 
appurtenances)  comonly  called  ye  Kabagh  Close  als  Litleclose  lying  and  being  in  ye  said 
Parish,  Abutted  on  ye  East  by  a  certayne  close  called  Teere  vord,  on  ye  South  by  a 
certayne  close  called  ye  Bandyro,  on  ye  West  by  ye  Lands  of  one  Mr  Jenkins  And  on  ye 
North  by  ye  lands  of  Mr  Walbye  afforesaid  contayneing  by  estimacon  one  acre  and  a  halfe 
more  or  less  which  wee  value  to  bee  worth  p  ann — 01  2  08  xv  s  (15s) 

TEEREVOED 

All  that  close  and  pcell  of  pasture  and  arable  ground  with  the  apptenances  comonly 
called  ye  Teerevord  lying  and  being  in  ye  said  pish  Abutted  on  ye  East  by  a  certayne  close 
called  ye  Durtye  acre  on  ye  South  by  ye  Eandyro  close  on  ye  West  by  ye  litle  close  last 
recyted  And  on  ye  North  by  certayne  grounds  in  ye  tenure  of  Mr  Walbeiffe  afforesaid 
contayning  by  estimacon  two  acre  and  a  halfe  more  or  less  which  wee  value  to  bee  worth 
p  ann— 02  2  00  xx  s  (20s) 

EANDYRO  CLOSE 

All  that  close  and  pcell  of  pasture  and  arable  ground  with  ye  apptenances  comonly 
called  ye  Eandyro  Close  lying  and  being  in  ye  said  pish  Abutted  on  East  and  on  ye  West 
by  certayne  grounds  of  Mr  Howell  Jefferyes,  on  ye  South  by  ye  lands  of  Mr  Hoe  Games 
afforesaid,  and  on  ye  North  by  ye  two  closes  last  recyted  contayneing  by  estimacon  ffoure 
acres  more  or  les  which  wee  value  to  bee  worth  p  ann — 04  0  86  xxviii  s  (J01  80) 

EUDEESSION  CLOSE 

All  that  close  and  pcell  of  Meddow  or  arable  gronnd  with  the  apptenances  comonly 
called  ye  Glebdeere  als  ye  Wettgroundes  lying  and  being  within  ye  said  Parish  Abutted  on 
ye  East  and  West  by  certayne  grounds  in  ye  tenure  and  occupacion  of  David  Griffith,  on 
ye  South  by  certayne  grounds  of  Mr  Hoe  Games,  And  on  ye  North  by  certayne  grounds 
belonging  to  Mr  Harris  containing  by  estimacion  two  acres  and  a  half  more  or  les  which 
wee  value  to  bee  worth  p  ann — 02  2  00  xv  s  (15s) 

PATTENT  CLOSE. 

All  that  close  and  pcell  of  Arable  ground  with  the  apptenances  (the  appurtenances, 
comonly  called  ye  Pattent  Close  lying  and  being  in  Parish  afforesaid  Abutted  on  ye  East 
by  a  certayne  close  called  ye  Pederero,  on  ye  South  by  a  high  way  leading  from  Brecknocke 
to  Caermarthen,  and  ye  West  by  certaine  grounds  belonging  to  Mr  Hoe  Games,  And  on 
ye  North  by  ^e  grounds  belonging  to  Mr  Walbeife  contayneing  by  estimacon  eight  acres 
more  or  les  which  wee  value  to  bee  worth  p  ann — 08  0  80  xxvi  s  viii  d  £108) 

PEDEE  ERO  CLOSE' 

All  that  close  and  pcell  of  arable  ground  with  the  apptenances  (the  appurtenances) 
commonly  called  Pederero,  lying  and  being  in  ye  said  Parish  Abutted  en  ye  East  by 
certaine  grounds  belonging  to  Mr  Hoe  Games  aflforesaid,  on  ye  South  by  ye  high  way  ffrom 
Brecknocke  to  Caermarthen  aflforesaid,  on  ye  West  by  ye  Pattent  close  last  recyted.  And 
on  ye  North  by  ye  lands  of  Mr  Walbeiffe  contayneing  by  estimaeon  eight  acres  more  or  les 
which  wee  value  to  bee  worth  p  ann— 88  0  0  xxvi  s  vii  d  (£1  G  8) 


(13) 

KERODUMTID  CLOSE. 

All  that  close  and  pcell  (parcel)  of  arable  ground  with  the  apptenancee  (the  appur- 
tenances) comonly  called  ye  Eerodumtid  als  (alias)  ye  Durty  acre  lying  and  being  in  ye 
Parish  afforesaid  Abutted  on  ye  North  and  on  ye  East  by  ye  lands  of  David  Griffith,  on  ye 
South  by  ye  Kandiro  close  affore  recyted  And  on  ye  Weso  by  ye  Teerevord  close  affore- 
said contayneing  by  Estirnacion  one  acre  and  a  half  more  or  les  which  wee  value  to  be 
worth  p  ann — 01  2  00  xiii  s  iiii  d  (18s  4d) 

And  all  wayes  passages,  Lyberties,  priviledges  ffranchyses,  Imunityes,  Jurisdiccons, 
pfitts  (profitts)  Comodityes,  advantages  and  apptenances  what  soeur  (soever)  to  ye  said 
Lopp  (Lordship)  or  tenement  and  lands  or  to  any  of  them  belonging  or  any  wayes  apper- 
taineing  or  which  have  been  hereto-fore  vsed  occupied  and  enjoyed  as  part  pcell  and 
member  of  them  or  any  of  them. 

A  rentall  of  ye  ffree  rents  of  ye  Mannr  or  Lopp  of  Malverne  Lanspythett  payable 

at  Michs  onely  vizt 

I     s     A  I     s     d 

Hoe  Games  Esq         000302  Wm  Howell    000111 

David  Griffith 000708  Jenkin  John 000008 

Edward  David 000008  Wm  Griffith 000300 

Thomas  Wm  Lewis 000404  Thomas  Lloyd       000100 

Henry  John  Prichard        ...  000008  David  Jones     000100 

John  Howell       000007  Howell  Williams 000006 

Lisly  Williams      000007  Thomas  Morgan    000006 

Wm  Thomas      000105  Roger  Watkins      000006 

Jenett  Harrye     000206  Buthrough  David 000102 

John  Watkin      000010  Eoger  Thomas 

John  Jefferyes  Gent 00  01  08  The  wife  of  John  ap  Jone 

Wm  Howell       .  000006  John  Watkin  Phillipp 

Jenkin  Griffith 00  80  03 


MEMORANDUMS 

Memorandum  that  Thomas  Herring  who  hath  sometime  collected  ye  rents  of  ye 
said  Lopp  (Lordship)  doth  informe  and  depose  that  ye  totall  some  of  ye  quitrents  payable 
every  yeare  by  ye  ffree  holdrs  are  xlii  s  i  d  (£2  2  1£)  bnt  cold  pduce  (could  produce) 
noe  rentall,  neyther  could  wee  find  out  ye  Eesidue  of  ye  said  Eents,  by  reason  of  ye 
disperst  Habitations  of  ye  said  freeholders  and  ye  discontinuation  of  ye  stewards  and 
courts  occasioned  by  contests  in  law  betwixt  Thomas  Pryce  Esqr  and  Sir  Walter  Pye  both 
ef  them  pretending  an  interest  in  ye  said  Lopp 

The  Court  Leetes  and  Court  Barron  should  bee  holden  twice  everye  yeare  at  ye 
vsuall  place  and  times  of  the  yeare  at  ye  will  of  ye  Lord 

The  freeholders  doe  owe  suit  and  service  to  ye  Lord  at  ye  said  Courts 

There  is  due  to  ye  Lord  ffor  a  heryott  certayne  vpon  any  freeholders  death  or 
alienacon  of  any  of  his  Lands  ye  some  of  seaven  shillings 

Memorandum  wee  make  noe  repryse  for  any  of  ye  officers  of  ye  said  Lopp  (Lordship) 
because  wee  ffind  none  in  being  neyther  could  wee  bee  informed  what  ffees  have  beene 
vsually  allowed  to  ye  said  officers 


(14) 

Memorandum  that  ye  bouse  and  seuall  closes  before  menconed  are  in  ye  tenure  and 
occupacon  of  one  Wm  Howell  Llewellin  who  claims  to  hold  ye  same  in  ye  Right  of  Sr 
Walter  Pye,  which  said  Sr  Walter  Pye  receives  ye  pfitts  (profits)  thereof  and  claymes  an 
Interrest  in  ye  said  Lopp  and  ffarme  but  by  what  right  and  tytle  bee  receives  and  claimes 
ye  same  wee  know  not  for  that  noe  Evidence  hath  beene  pduced  to  vs  though  Sumoned 
therevnto,  Wherefore  we  return  ye  same  in  possession  valued  as  abouvesaid  This  Claime 
to  be  made  good 

Some  totall  of  prsent  (preseut)  rents  and  futur  (  ?)  improvements  are  p  ami— 
xi  I  xiii  s  v  d  ob     (£11  13  5J) 

Totall  of  acres  82  1  00 

This  Survey  was  pfected  this  28th  of  October  1651  by  vs  vizt 

Exd  p  Will  Webb  1651 

JEREMIE  BA1NES 
JOH  HADDOCKE 
SAMUELL  COTTMAN 
JOHN  FFISHE 

[Endorsed]     The  Manour  of  Malverne  Llanspithett  Brecknock 
Reed,  this  4th  of  November  1651 

Transmitted  to  the  Srveyor  Grail  the  same  day, 

BAINES. 


Augmentation  Office,  Parliamentary  Surveys, 

Brecon,  No.  6. 


BRECKNOCKE,  S.S. 


HUNDLYE  MILLS 

A  Survey  of  Hunddy  Mills  with  the  rights  members  and  appurtenances  thereof 
scituate  standing  and  being  in  the  Parish  of  St  Johns  in  Brecknocke  in  the  Countye  of 
Brecknocke  late  parcell  of  the  possessions  of  Charles  Stuart  late  King  of  England  made  and 
taken  by  vs  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed.  By  vertue  of  a  Commission  granted  to 
vs  by  the  Honble  ye  Trustees  appointed  by  Act  of  parliament  for  sale  of  the  Honnrs 
Marmrs  and  Lands  heretofore  belonging  to  the  late  King  Queene  and  Prince  vnder  there 
hands  and  seales: 


(15) 

All  those  two  Water  Mills  with  the  appurtenances  commonly  called  the  Hunddye 
Mills  alias  the  Hunthye  Mills  scituate  standing  and  being  vpon  the  River  Hunddy  in  the 
parish  of  St.  Johns  in  the  Towne  of  Brecknocke  the  one  whereof  is  a  Water  Grist  Mill  the 
other  a  Malt  Mill  and  both  of  them  vnder  one  rooffe  together  with  a  Kilne  standing  and 
being  near  vnto  the  said  Mill  wherein  oates  and  malt  are  vsually  dryed  all  which  said  Mill 
and  Kilne  wee  Estimate  to  be  worth  per  Ann— £30. 

All  that  little  peece  and  parcell  of  ground  with  the  appurtenances  commonly  called 
the  Milne  padocke  lying  and  being  in  the  said  parish  and  neare  vnto  the  said  Kilne 
Abutted  on  the  East  South  and  West  by  the  Mill  Streams  and  on  the  North  by  the  River 
Hunthye  aforesaid  conteining  by  Estimacion  sixtye  perches  more  or  les,  now  in  the  tenure 
and  occupacion  or  one  Richard  Willm  Pritchard  who  holds  the  same  in  the  right  of 
Baronett  Willms  which  said  padocke  wee  vallue  to  be  worth  per  Ann — 00  1  20 — 10s. 

And  all  wayes  passages  Liberties  priviledges  Tolls  Mulcktures  Mill  ponds  Mill 
Streams  Mill  Dams  Water  Corses  ffloodgates  sluces  and  all  other  profitts  Commodities 
advantages  and  appurtenances  whatsoever  to  the  said  Mills,  Kilne  and  padocke  or  to  any 
of  them  belonging  or  in  any  wise  apperteiniug  or  which  have  bynn  heretofore  vsed 
occupied  or  enjoyed  as  part  parcell  and  member  of  them  or  any  of  them. 

Which  said  Mills  wee  ffynd  in  the  tenure  and  occupacion  of  one  Merridith  Powell 
who  holds  the  same  by  Indenture  of  Lease  dated  the  ffourth  of  November  24  Carr.  for  21 
years  granted  vnto  him  by  one  Baronett  Willms,  but  the  said  Baronett  Willms  hath  pro- 
duced noe  evidence  to  vs  whereby  it  might  appeare  that  hee  hath  any  right  or  title  to  the 
said  Mills  Kilne  and  padock  although  summoned  therevuto  wherefore  wee  returne  the 
same  in  possession  vallued  as  abovesaid. 

Memorandum  the  said  Baronett  Willms  or  Meredith  Powell  afforesaid  doth  paye 
yearely  the  sum  of  six  poundes  to  the  receiver  of  the  Revenue  ffor  the  said  Mills  and  ap- 
purtenances afforesaid  as  wee  are  informed. 

Memorandum  the  said  Mills  and  Kilne  are  in  verry  good  repaire  but  have  noe 
certaine  tennants  bound  to  the  said  Mills  by  reason  whereof  they  are  of  no  better  vallue. 

Total  Improved  vallue  p  Ann — £30  10  0 
This  Survey  was  perfected  this  28th  of  October  1651  by  vs  vizt 


JERMIE  DAVIES 
JOHN  FFISHE 
SAMUELL  COTTMAN 
JOH  HADDOCKE 


[Endorsed]     Hundy  Mills  in  the  parish  of  St  Johns  Brecknocke 
Received  this  4th  of  November  1651 
Transmitted  to  the  Surveyor  Generall  same  day 

BAINES. 


(16) 


Augmentation  Office,  Parliamentary  Survey, 

Brecon,  No.  7. 


BRECON  s  s. 


BUEGES  MILL. 

A  survey  of  a  ffulling  Mill  comonly  called  Burges  Mill  with  ye  rights  Members 
and  appurtenances  thereof  Scituate  and  being  in  Brecknocke,  and  in  ye  County  of 
Brecknocke  within  ye  Dominion  of  Wales  late  parcellof  ye  possessions  of  Charles  Stuart 
late  king  of  England  made  and  taken  by  vs  whose  names  are  herevnto  subscrybed  by  vertue 
of  a  Comission  granted  to  vs  by  ye  Honurable  ye  Trustees  appoynted  by  Act  of  ye  Comons 
assembled  in  Parliament  for  sale  of  ye  Honnors  Manners  aud  Lands  heretofore  belonging 
to  ye  late  King  Queene  and  Prince  vnder  their  hands  and  seales 

All  that  ffulling  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  comonly  called  Burges  Mill  scituate 
near  Hunddye  Bridge  in  ye  said  County  with  a  garden  therevnto  adjoining.  Abutted  on  ye 
East  by  ye  Honddye  River,  on  ye  South  by  ye  Honddye  Bridge  and  ye  way  leading  to  the 
Pryorye,  on  ye  East  by  Mr  Paynatts  house  and  garden,  And  on  ye  North  by  ye  Pryory 
Wood  All  which  wee  Estimate  to  be  worth  p  ann — £4  10  0 

And  All  waies  passages  Liberties  priviledges  Waters  and  Watercourses  ffloodgates 
profitts  Comodities,  advantages  and  appurtenances  whatsoever  to  ye  said  Mill  belonging  or 
in  any  waies  appertaining  or  which  hath  been  heretofore  vsed  occupied  and  enioyed  as 
part  parcell  and  member  thereof 

Memorandum  wee  find  ye  said  Mill  with  the  appurtenances  in  ye  tenure  and 
occupacion  of  one  Thomas  Watkius  who  holds  ye  same  in  ye  right  of  Mr  John  Price  But 
by  what  right  ye  said  Pryce  claimes  to  hold  ye  same  wee  know  not  though  summoned 
therevnto  and  therefore  we  retume  ye  same  in  possession  valued  as  above  said 

This  title  to  be  made  good  Totall  y  ann — £ -i  10  0 

This  Survey  was  perfected  the  COth  of  December  1652  by  vs 


JOHN  FFISKE 
JOH  HADDOCKE 
SAMUELL  COTTMAN 


Examined  by  Will  Webb 
This  is  ye  Dkcoverye  of  Mr  Wm  Phillipps 
[Endorsed]     A  Fulling  mill  called  Burges  Mill  Brecon 
Deceived  this  28  December  1662 
Transmitted  to  the  Surveyor  Generall  the  same  day. 


(17) 


Augmentation  Office,  Parliamentary  Survey, 

Brecon,  No.  8. 


BRECON    S.S. 


DOMINIUM  PENKELLY  WALLENSIS  CUM  JUKIBTJS  MEMBEIS  ET  APPURTENTIBUS. 

A  Survey  of  the  Mannr  or  Lopp  of  Penkellye  Wallenses  alias  ye  Welche  Penkelly 
with  the  rights  members  and  appurtenances  thereof  scituate  lying  and  beinge  in  the  parish 
of  Llanvigan  within  the  Gountye  of  Brecon  within  the  Dominion  of  Wales  late  parcell  of 
the  possessions  of  Charles  Stuart  late  King  of  England  made  and  taken  by  vs  whose  names 
are  hereunto  subscribed  by  vertue  of  a  Commission  granted  to  vs  by  the  Honourable  the 
Trustees  appointed  by  Act  of  ye  Commons  Assembled  in  parliament  for  sale  of  ye  Honnors 
Manners  and  Lands  hereto  belonging  to  the  late  King  Queene  and  Prince  vnder  theire 
hands  and  seales. 

The  ffree  rents  payable  to  the  Lord  of  the  Mannor  of  Penkellye  Wallenses  by 
severall  persons  which  hold  divers  lands  and  tenements  of  the  Lord  thereof  payeable 
yearely  at  Michas  onely  are  p  Ann — JB8  12  5. 

The  Comhortha  is  a  certaine  rent  due  and  payable  to  the  Lord  of  the  said  Mannor 
everye  other  yeare  by  the  flreeholders  of  the  said  Lordshipp  and  also  for  certaine 
mountaines  are  thirtye  shillings  payable  in  everye  Maye  everye  second  yeare  which  wee 
vallue  to  bee  worth  p  Ann — 14s.  6d. 

The  Courts  Baron  and  Courte  Leets  and  Lawdayes  ffynes  and  amerciameuts  of 
Courts  Issues  Herriotts  Waifes  Estrayes  Deodans  ffellons  goods  Goods  of  ffellons  of  them- 
selves of  ffugative  and  of  condemned  persons  Hawkeing  Hunting  ffowleing  ffishing  and  all 
other  profitts  and  perquesitts  to  the  Royaltie  thereto  belonging  or  in  any  waies  apperteining 
wee  estimate  to  bee  worth  Communibus  Annis — 30s 

Some  totall  of  ffree  rents  Comhorths  and  Royalties  are  p  Ann — £5  16  11. 

All  that  piece  and  parcell  of  inclosed  ground  with  the  appurtenances  nowe  in  the 
tenure  and  occupacion  of  one  Edward  Havard  being  an  Incroachment  made  by  him  vpon 
the  Common  called  Gwayny  Kyver  and  part  of  the  highwaye  leading  from  Killegrowne  to 
ye  said  Common  being  part  of  the  Lords  wast  within  the  said  Lordshipp  containing  by 
Estimacion  half  an  acre  more  or  les  which  wee  vallue  to  be  worth  p  Ann — 00-2-00 — 2s.  Od. 

A   Rentall  of  the  ffree  rents  of  the  Mannor  of  Penkelly  Walenses  payable  to  the 
Lord  thereof  at  Michas  onely  are  as  followeth  vizt 

li     s     d 

Thomas  Powell  for  Lands  called  the  Maesmar  and  Tyr  penny  nor- 
land p  Ann       ..  ..  ...  ...  ..      000804 

Willm  Jno  Howell  for  Lands  called  the  Pauntagwine  p  Ann  .     00  08  00 

Willm  Gunter  gent  for  Lands  called  the  Tyrry  Button  per  Ann       ...     00  01  02 
Willm  Prichard  p  An  ..  ..  .000005 

Evan  Willm  for  Lands  called  ye  Paunty  Liveryee  p  Ann  ...     00  02  01 

Willm  Bevan  for  Lands  palled  ye  Cornewall  p  Ann        ...  ...     00  01  02 

Jno  Morgan  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...     000108 

Jenkin  Thomas  p  Ann  ..  ..  ...  ...     000108 

Katherin  Llewellin  for  Lands  called  the  Tyreheare  p  Ann  ...     00  01  08 

Howell  Evan  for  Lands  called  ye  Panytwyny  p  Ann      ...  ...     00  00  08 


(18) 

li     s     d 
Howell  David  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ...     000005 

Mr  Games  Lands  called  ye  Blane  y  nant  in  Llanvigan  p  Ann          ...     00  02  08 

Charles  Walbeiffe  Esqr  for  Lands  called  ye  Comorgan  p  Ann  ...  00  00  10 
Meredith  Lewis  Esqr  for  Lands  call  the  Blaentave  veghan  p  Ann    ...     00  01  04 
The  Leires  of  Thomas  Edwards  p  Ann          ..                 ...                 ...     00  02  08 

Evan  Pritchard  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ...     00  00  02 

Roger  Thomas  for  Lands  called  the  Eewe  p  Ann  ...  ..     00  00  06 

The  Lady  Bewchamp  for  Lands  called  ye  Eewe  p  Ann  ...  ...     00  00  06 

Morgan  Thomas  for  Lands  called  the  Tully  Growne  p  Ann  ...  00  02  08 

John  Jefferyes  for  Lands  in  Tavevechan  p  Ann  ...  ...  00  02  09 

Jenkin  Frees  for  Lands  called  the  Pedole  p  Ann  ...  ...  00  01  04 

Evans  David  Meredith  p  Ann    ...  ...  ...  ...  000011 

Lewis  Jones  for  Lands  in  Tavevc-chan  per  Ann  ...  ...  00  00  05 

Thomas  Powell  p  Ann  ...  ..  ..  ...  00  00  10 

John  Maddox  for  Lands  in  Blaeugallen  p  Ann  ...  ...  000104 

Evan  Thomas  per  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ..  000600 

Jenkin  Thomas  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ...  00  00  10 

Howell  Thomas  p  Ann  ...  .  ...  00  00  08 

Edward  David  for  Lands  in  Blaengrawen  p  Ann  ...  ...  00  01  00 

Eichard  Jenkins  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ...  000005 

Howell  Prees  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ...  00  00  10 

John  Lewis  p  Ann  ..  ...  .  ..  ...  00  00  04 

John  Thomas  of  Penny  Baylyffe  p  Ann        ...  ...  ...  00  00  10 

John  Thomas  of  Geuan  for  Lands  called  ye  Keuen  p  Ann  ...  00  00  06 

John  Gunter  for  Lands  called  the  Gwerngafer  p  Ann    ...  ...  000102 

Richard  David  for  Lands  called  the  Gwernddy  p  Ann    ...  ...  0000  10 

John  Jenkins  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ...  00  00  04 

Willrn  John  ap  John  p  Ann      ...  ...  ...  ..  000206 

Thomas  ap  Evan  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  ...  00  00  02£ 

The  Heires  of  Edw  Games  p  Ann  ...  ...  ...  00  00  02£ 

Howell  John  Llewellin  p  Ann    ..  ...  ..  ...  00  01  02 

John  Jenkin  Morgan  p  Ann      ...  ...  . .  ...  00  00  09 

Thomas  Bowen  for  Lands  called  the  Tyre  y  groes  p  Ann  ...  00  00  08 

David  ap  Evan  for  Lands  called  the  Eeytye  p  Ann         ...  ...  00  00  08 

Jane  Watkin  p  Ann  ..  ...  ...  ...  00  00  07 

Evan  Powell  p  Ann  . .  .  .  .  .  ...  00  00  04 

The  Heires  of  David  Powell  p  Ann  ...  "'  000010 

Thomas  ap  Bowen  p  Ann  ... 


08  02  05 

A  Ren  tall  of  the  Comhorthe  rents  payable  in  Maye  every  Second  yeare  vizt 

li    s    d  li      s    d 

Thomas  Powell  000200          Morgan  Thomas  000208 

Bvan  Willwma  ...     000201         Thomas  ap  Evan     000002* 

ulmBeavan  ...     000102          The  heirs  of  Edw  Games    ...  000002* 

...     00  01  08          John  Jenkin  Morgan  00  00  09 

Jenkin  Thomas  ...     000108          Evan  Powell..  000004 

Katherine  Llewellin      ..         ..      000108          The  heires  of  David  Howell...  000010 

Evan    -  -     000008          flfor  ye  Mountaine  Comorcam  000300 

..     00  02  08          ffor     ye     Mountaine     Brime 

rcJnoapJno       00  02  C6  Glisson     000300 

ffor  ye  Mountaine  Terrybruyn  00  04  00 


01  10  01 


(19) 

MEMORANDUMS 

Memorandum  that  ye  Bayliffe  or  Reeve  of  the  said  Lordshipp  doth  vsally  in  everye 
second  yeare  in  Maye  make  distress  of  any  goods  and  Chattels  which  shall  be  depastureing 
vpon  each  of  the  said  Mountaines  for  the  said  severall  somes  of  Money  due  as  a  Comortha 
and  the  person  or  persons  whomsoever  ownes  of  such  goods  or  Chattells  are  to  paye  the 
said  somes  before  the  release  of  theire  goods  or  Chattells  soe  distrained  vpon  every  the 
said  Mountaines. 

The  Courts  Baron  and  Court  Leete  and  Lawdaye  may  bee  holden  twice  every  yeare 
at  ye  vsuall  place  and  times  of  the  yeare  at  the  will  of  the  Lord 

A  three  weeks  Court  also  hath  bynn  vsually  holden  wherin  actions  vnder  ffortye 
shillings  are  tryed  by  a  Jurye  of  six  ffree  holders 

All  the  freeholders  doe  owe  suite  and  service  to  the  Lord  of  the  said  Mannor  or 
Lordshipp  at  ye  said  Courts 

The  ^freeholders  doe  pay  for  a  Herriott  certaine  vpon  death  or  Alienacion  cenn 
shillings  to  the  Lord  of  the  said  Mannor 

There  is  a  Common  called  Alcvygan  belonging  to  the  said  Lordship. 

Memorandum  wee  make  noe  reprise  for  any  the  officers  of  the  said  Lordshipp 
because  wee  finde  none  in  being  neyther  could  wee  bee  informed  what  ffees  have  bynn 
vsvally  allowed  to  ye  said  officars. 

Memorandum  that  wee  are  informed  that  Baronett  Willms  hath  bynn  fformerly 
high  steward  and  received  the  rents  and  profitts  of  the  said  Lordshipp  but  by  what  right 
and  title  wee  know  not  for  that  hee  hath  produced  no  evidence  vnto  vs  though  summoned 
thereunto  wherefore  wee  returne  ye  same  in  possession  vallued  as  abovesaid 

Some  totall  of  present  rents  and  Royalties  are  p  Ann — £5  8  11 

This  Title  to  be  made  good  within  tyme 
This  Survey  was  perfected  this  28th  October  1651  by  vs  vizt 

SAMUELL  COTTMAN 
JEREMIE  DAVIES 
JOH  HADDOCKE 
JOHN  FFISKE 

Exr  p  Will  Webb  1651 

[Endorsed]         The  Manour  of  Penkelley  Wallensis  Brecknock 
Received  this  4th  of  November  1651 
Transmitted  to  the  Surveyor  Generall  the  same  day 

BAINES. 


(20) 

Augmentation  Office,  Parliamentary  Survey, 

Brecon,  No.  9. 

BRECKNOCK,     S.S. 


THE  MANNOR  OP  YE  WELCH  HAYE  WITH  YE  EIGHTS  MEMBERS  AND  APPURTENANCES  THEREOF. 

A  Survey  of  the  Manner  of  Welch  hey  with  the  rights  members  and  appurtenances 
thereof  in  ye  parish  of  Llanigon  in  the  Countie  of  Brecknock  late  parcell  of  the  possessions 
of  Charles  Stuarte  late  King  of  England  made  and  taken  by  vs  whose  names  are  hereunto 
subscribed.  By  vertue  of  a  Commission  granted  to  vs  by  the  Honourable  the  Trustees 
appoynted  by  Act  of  the  Commons  Assembled  in  Parliament  for  sale  of  ye  Honnours 
Manners  and  Lands  heretofore  belonging  to  ye  late  King  Queene  and  Prince  vnder  their 
hands  and  scales. 

All  those  ffree  rents  due  from  divers  persons  holding  Lands  and  tenements  of  the 
Mannor  of  Welch  heye  in  the  parish  of  Llanigon  in  the  Countio  of  Brecknocke  payable  to 
the  Lord  thereof  for  a  half  yeares  rent  at  Easter  yearlie  are  p  Ann — £ 4  15  0 

The  like  ffree  rents  due  from  the  said  persons  for  theire  Lands  and  tenements 
afforesaid  which  they  hold  of  the  said  Mannor  of  Welch  heye  payable  to  the  Lord  thereof 
for  a  half  yeares  rent  at  Michalemas  yearlie  are  p  Ann — Jt'4  15  0 

All  that  Comorth  silver  and  purse  silver  beeing  a  certain  money  due  from  divers 
persons  within  the  said  Mannor  in  relation  to  theire  keeping  of  Cowes  and  other  services 
and  Customes  according  to  the  ancient  custom  and  vsage  thereof  payeable  to  ye  Lord  of 
the  said  Mannor  euerie  second  Yeare  amounting  to  the  some  of  nyne  pounds  which  wee 
estimate  to  bee  worth  Communibus  Annis — £4  10  0 

The  Courts  Leet  and  Lawdaye  and  three  weeks  Court  fiynes  and  amerciaments 
of  Waifes  Estraies  Deodans  ffellons  goods  Goods  of  ffellons  of  themselves  of  ffugatives 
and  condemned  persons  ffynes  vpon  alienation  and  discent  herriots  Eeleifs  Hawking 
Hnnting  ffowleing  ffishing  and  all  other  .Royalties  jurisdiccions  proffitts  commodities 
advantages  and  appurtenances  of  the  said  Mannor  to  the  Eoyaltie  thereof  belonging  or  in 
any  wise  appertaining  wee  estimate  to  be  worth  Communibus  Annis — £5  5  0 

Seme  total  of  rents  and  Royalties  are  p  Ann— £19  5  0 

All  which  said  Mannor  with  the  appurtenances  we  fynd  in  ye  tenure  of  DD  Gwyn 
Esq  who  (as  we  are  informed)  claymes  to  hold  the  same  for  divers  yeares  yett  to  come, 
but  by  what  right  hee  holds  the  same  wee  knowe  not  for  that  noe  evidence  hath  been 
produced  vnto  vs  though  summoned  thereunto  therefore  wee  returne  the  same  in 
possession  vailued  as  afforesaid 

This  Clayme  to  bee  made  good  within  tyme 


MEMOEANDUMS. 

A  Court  Leet  is  holden  for  the  said  Mannor  twice  everie  yeare  about  Michas  and 
faster  according  to  ancient  Custome  and  vsage  aud  also  a  three  weeks  Court  for  Trvall  of 
actions  vnder  fiorty  shillings. 

All  flfree  holders  and  resiants  doe  owe  suit  to  the  Courts  and  are  amercable 
vpon  default. 


(21) 

There  IB  due  to  the  Lord  of  the  said  Manner  vpon  death  of  any  freeholder  a 
Herriott  of  ye  second  best  beast  any  such  ffreeholder  dyes  seased  of  according  to  Custome. 

There  is  due  also  to  tne  Lord  of  the  said  Mannor  vpon  euerie  alienation  the  some 
of  ffive  shillings  in  name  of  a  ffyne. 

A  rentall  of  the  said  Mannor  as  perfect  as  we  cold  have  vpon  the  oath  of  ye  Bayliffe 
of  ye  said  Mannor  paid  one  half  at  Easter  and  ye  other  at  Michas 


Earle  of  Hartford 
ffrederick  Vaghan  Esqr 
Willm  Watkins  Esqr  ... 
Tho  Watkins  Esqr      .. 
Hen  Willms  Esqr 
Rich  James 

James  Willms  gent     ... 
James  Watkins 
Watkin  Powell  Jenkin 
Watkin  Lewis 
Roger  Phillips 
Watkin  Powell  Jenkin 
Jeuan  Watken 
Kich  Gunter 
George  Phillips 
Willm  Perrott 
Tho  John  David 
Phillip  George 
Eustace  Lewis 

DD  Willm        

Watkin  Jno 

Willm  Lewis  Watkin  ... 
Willcock  Jno  .. 
David  Perrie    ... 
Jno  ap  John     ... 

Tho  David       

Wm  Tho  Jno  David  . . 
David  Wilcocke 
Evan  Willm  Jenken    ... 
Myles  Willms  ... 
Willim  De  la  haye 


li  s  d 


00  00  04 
00  01  00 

00  02  08 
00  14  00 
00  08  04 
00  05  00 
00  02  06 

00  08  04 
00  02  00 
00  04  08 
00  00  05 
00  08  04 
00  00  06 
00  02  06 
00  01  04 
00  03  02 
00  01  04 
00  00  08 
00  02  04 
00  05  00 
00  02  00 
00  03  08 
00  02  06 i 
00  01 
00  01 
00  02 
00  01 


00 
06 
00 
06 


Jno  Gunter 
Walter  Gunter 
Walter  Powell 
Willm  Pritchard 
Georg  Powell  .. 
James  Gunter 
Tho  Jno  Watkins 
Tho  Prosser   ... 
Jno  Willcocke 
Jno  Tho  Lewis 
Thomas  Whitwey 
Phillip  Powell 
Watkyn  Jno  Bryan    . 
Jno  Parrye     ... 

Tho  Watkin 

James  David  Byvan   . 
Jno  Powell  David  and ) 
Willm  Lewis  j 

Lewis  ap  Lewis 
Willm  Shelton 
Willm  Prees  weaver  . . . 
DD  Willm  Jenkin  weaver 

DD  Lloyd       

James  Parrye 

Tho  Jones 

Jno  Pugh 

Will  Jno  Pritchard   ... 

Willm  Delahaye 

Willm  Prees 

The  village  of  Glynvache 


li  a  d 
00  04  00 
00  08  08 
00  01  00 
00  04  00 
00  07  00 
00  06  00 
00  04  00 
00  04  00 
00  00  08J 
00  01  00 
00  02  00 
00  00  08 
00  00  08 
00  00  02 

00  00  08 
00  00  05 

00  01  08 
00  01  08 
00  00  02 
00  00  04 

00  02  02 
00  01  10 

00  01  00 


01  16  00 


Some  totall  of  rents  and  Royalties  p  Ann — £19   15    0 

Exd  by  Will  Webb  1652  JEREMIE   BAINES 

This  survey  was  perfected  ye  3rd  of  Januarie  1662  by  vs  vizt 

SAMUELL  COTTMAN 
JOHN   FFISKE 

This  is  ye  discoverie  of  Willm  Phillips 
[Endorsed]     The  Manour  of  Welch  Hey  in  the  Countie  of  Brecon 

Received  the  4th  of  Januarie  1652 

Transmitted  to  the  Surveyor  Generall  the  same  day. 


[This  concludes  the  Parliamentary  Surveys  for  Breconshire,] 


(22) 

INQUISITIONS  POST  MORTEM. 


The  King  was  entitled  to  certain  fees  upon  the  death  of  anyone  who  held  lands  of 
him  in  capite  or  chief,  therefore  Inquisitions  were  taken  to  ascertain  what  lands  a  man 
held,  of  whom  held,  by  what  rent.  etc. 

If  the  heir  was  under  age,  the  King  had  the  wardship  of  him  and  his  lands  until  he 
attained  his  full  age.  This  wardship  was  often  bought  of  the  King  for  a  large  sum  by 
some  relative.  When  the  heir  came  of  age  there  were  fees  to  pay,  Inquisitions  ceased 
practically  after  the  Commonwealth— some  few  only  were  held  in  the  reign  of 
Charles  II. 


[TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  LATIN.] 


WILLIAM    AWBREY,    DOCTOR    OF    LAWS    1595- 


CHANCERY    INQUISITION    POST     MORTEM,     88    ELIZ.,     No.     85. 

BRECON,     A.D.     1595. 

Inquisition  indented  taken  at  Brecon  21  November  in  the  38th  year  of  the  reign  of 
the  Lady  Elizabeth  by  the  Grace  of  God  Queen  of  England  France  and  Ireland,  Defender 
of  the  Faith,  &c.,  before  Jenkin  Llm  esq.,  escheator  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  in  the 
county  of  Brecon  aforesaid,  by  virtue  of  a  writ  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  de  diem  clausit 
extremum  to  the  said  escheator  directed  and  to  this  inquisition  annexed,  to  enquire  after 
the  death  of  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  one  of  the  Masters  of  the  Court  of  Requests 
of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen,  deceased,  by  the  oath  of  John  Vaughan,  Thomas  ap  John, 
John  Richard,  John  Thomas,  junior,  William  John  al  goz,  John  William  Llm,  Howell 
Edward,  Philip  Watkin,  John  William  ap  Jevan  goz.  Glim  ap  Jevan  Jenkins,  Owen  Thomas 
ap  Jenn  ap  owen,  John  Thomas  David,  William  David,  William  Howell,  John  Scull  and 
Howell  William  Powell,  which  said  jurors  aforesaid  say  upon  their  oath  that  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee 
of  and  in  the  manor  of  Aberkinvrick  with  the  appurtenances  in  the  county  aforesaid,  and 
of  and  in  one  water  grain  mill  with  the  appurtenances  called  Kinvriokes  Mile  now  in  the 
tenure  possession  and  occupaton  of  Edwardi  Awbrey,  esquire,  lying  and  situate  in  the 
several  parishes  of  Llanvrenach  St.  John  the  Evangelist  and  St.  David's,  and  that  the  said 
manor  and  mill  aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of 
the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that 
now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid  by  knights  service,  to  wit,  by  the 
eighth  part  of  one  knights  fee.  And  also  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before 
his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  one  messuage  and  the  lands  and 
tenements  thereto  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanvrenach  in  the  county 
aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation  of  Jevan  Kosser,  of  which  messuage 
and  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  one  part  is  held  and  on  the  day  of  the 
death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as 
of  her  manor  of  Penkelly  Walonica  (Welsh)  in  the  county  aforesaid  and  the  other  part  is 
held  and  on  the  clay  of  the  death  of  the  said  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  Richard  Herbert, 
Esq.,  as  of  his  manor  of  Penkelly  Anglia  (English)  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and 
common  aocage  by  fealty,  suit  at  court  and  by  the  yearly  rent  of  6d.,  to  be  paid  to  the  said 


(23) 

Lady  the  Queen  in  the  Feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin  3d.,  and 
in  the  Feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  3d.  yearly.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say 
that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of 
fee  of  and  in  one  messuage  and  the  lands  and  tenements  thereto  belonging  lying  and  situate 
in  the  parish  of  Llanvrenach  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure  possession 
and  occupation  of  Roger  ap  John,  which  said  messuage  and  the  lands  and  tenements  there- 
to belonging  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  said  William  Awbrey  were  held  of 
Eichard  Herbert,  esq.,  as  of  his  manor  of  Penkelly  Anglia  (English)  in  the  county  afore- 
said in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty  and  suit  at  court.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid 
say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as 
of  fee  of  and  in  one  messuage  and  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and 
situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanvrenach  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure 
possession  and  occupation  of  William  John  Edmond,  of  which  said  messuage  and  the  lands 
and  tenements  thereto  belonging  one  part  is  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  afore- 
said William  Awbrey  was  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of 
Penkelly  Walonica  (Welsh)  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and  common  socage 
by  fealty  and  suit  at  court ;  and  the  other  part  is  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the 
aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  Richard  Herbert,  Esq.,  as  of  his  manor  of  Penkelly 
Anglia  (English)  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty  and 
suit  of  court,  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long 
before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  one  messuage  and  the  lands 
and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanvrenach  afore- 
said in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation  of  Griffin  ap 
Howell  trahern  and  that  the  same  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  in  free  and  common 
socage  as  of  her  Manor  of  Penkelly  Walonica  I  Welsh)  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid 
by  fealty,  suit  of  court,  and  the  yearly  rent  of  2d.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say, 
that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne 
as  of  fee  of  and  in  one  parcel  of  land  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanvrenach 
aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation  of  Jevan 
Thomas,  which  said  parcel  of  land  is  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  was  held  of  John  Walbis,  esq.,  in  free  and  common  socage  as  of  his  manor 
of  Penkelly  Anglia  (English)  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  by  fealty  and  suit  at  court. 
Moreover  the  jnrors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death 
was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  two  messuages  and  the  lands  and  tenements  to 
the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  St.  Davids  in  the  county  aforesaid 
now  in  the  several  tenures  possessions  and  occupations  of  Lewis  John  Llins  and  Watkin 
David  ap  Jevan  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William 
Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in 
the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty  suit  at  court  and  the  yearly  rent 
of  8s.  Id  ,  to  be  paid  every  other  year  6s.  8d.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the 
aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  lib  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and 
in  one  messuage  and  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in 
the  parish  of  St.  Davids  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation  of  John  Jenkin 
David  Whith.  And  of  and  in  one  parcel  of  land  lying  and  situate  in  the  same  parish  late 
in  the  tenure  possession  and  and  occupation  of  Walter  Winter,  esq.,  which  are  held  and  on 
the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen 
that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid  by  fealty,  and  suit  at  court 
in  free  socage,  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long 
before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  one  messuage  and  the  lands 
and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  St,  Davids  aforesaid 
in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation  of  John  Awbrey,  Esq., 
which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of 
the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid  in 
free  and  common  socage  by  fealty,  suit  of  court  and  the  yearly  rent  of  5s.  Moreover  the 
jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized 


in 


(24) 

his  demesne  as  of  fee  and  in  one  messuage  with  the  lands  and  tenements  thereto  belong- 
ing lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Cantreff  in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure 
possession  and  occupation   of  Philip  William  Meredith,  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of 
the  death  of  the  aforesaid   William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that 
now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon   aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  in   free   and  common 
socage  by  fealty,  suit  at  court  and  by  the  yearly  rent  of  7Jd.     Moreover   the  jurors   afore- 
said say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne 
as  of  fee   of  and  in   the  yearly  rent  of  17s.  2d.  issuing  out  of  the  lands  and  tenements  of 
William  Medd  Powell,  John  William  ap  Jevan  coz  and  Phillip  David  ap  Owen,  to  wit,  out 
of  the  lands  and  tenements  of  William  Meredith  ap  Howell  lying  and  being  in  the   parish 
of  Llanthewe  yearly  6s.  6d.,  out  of  the  lands  and  tenements  of  John  William  ap  Jevan  coz 
lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanthewe  aforesaid  yearly  6s.  8d.,  out  of  the  lands  and 
tenements  of  Phillip  David  ap  Owen  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanddewe  aforesaid 
yearly  4s.     Moreover   the  jurors  aforesaid   say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long 
before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  one  messuage  with  the  lands 
and  tenements  thereto  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanddewe  aforesaid  in 
the  county  of  Brecon  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation  of  Howell 
Edward,  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were 
held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the  county  afore- 
said in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty  and  suit  at  court.     Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid 
say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demense  as 
of  fee  of  and  in  one  messuage  with  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying 
and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanthewe  aforesaid,  in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure 
possession  and  occupation  of  Dieniz  Phes  widow  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the 
death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is 
as  of  her  manor  of  Alexanderstone  in  the  county  of  Brecon  in  free  and  common  socage  by 
fealty,  suit  at  court  and  by  ihe  yearly  rent  oi  12d.     Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that 
the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demense  as  of  fee  of 
and  in  one  messuage  with  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate 
in  the  parish  of  Llanthewe  now  or  late  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation  of  Philip 
William  ap  Jevan  coz  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William 
Awbrey,  were  held  of  John  Pris,  Esq.,  as  of  the  Priory  of  Malvern  in  co.  -    -  by  fealty 
and  suit  at  court  in  free  and  common  socage.     Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the 
aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and 
in  two  messuages  with  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in 
the  parish  of  Llanthewe  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  now  or  late  in  the  tenure  posses- 
sion and  occupation  of  John  ap  Jevan  John  and  Philip  Watkin  which  are  held  and  on  the 
day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen 
that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Alexanderstone  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and  common 
socage  by  fealty,  suit  at  court  and  the  rent  of  4s.  Id.     Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say 
that  the  aforesaid  William   Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demense  as  of 
fee   of  and  in  one  messuage   with  the  lands  and   tenements  thereto  belonging  lying  and 
situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanthewe  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure 
possession  and  occupation  of  Katherine  Sollers  widow,  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of 
the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now 
is  as  of  her  manor  of  Dynas  in  the  county  of  Brecon  in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty 
and  suit  at  court,  and  that  the  manors,  mill,  messuages,  lands  and  tenements  and  rents 
aforesaid  and  all  other  the  premises  are  worth  per  annum  in  all  issues  beyond  reprises  &  10. 
Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death 
was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  the  manor  of  Battell  with  the  appurtenances 
in  the  county  of  Brecon  and  of  and  in  the  advowson  of  the  rectory  or  Church  of  Llan- 
vrenach  in  the  county  atoresaid  and  that  tlie  same  manor  and  advowson  are  held  and  on 
the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid   William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the 
Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  East  Greenwich  in  the  county  of  Kent  by  fealty  only 
in  free  and  common  socage  and  not  in  chief.     Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the 
aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and 


(25) 

in  the  advowson  of  the  rectory  or  Church  of  Cantreff  in  the  county  of  Brecon  which  is 
held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  the  said 
Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  in  chief  by  the  twentieth  part  of  a  knights  fee.  Moreover  the 
jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in 
his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  two  messuages  with  lands  and  tenements  lying  and  situate  in 
the  parish  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist  and  Devynock  in  the  several  tenures,  possessions  and 
occupations  of  John  Awbrey,  Esq.,  and  Geoffrey  DD  and  Andrew  ap  Jevan  Llm  which  are 
held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said 
Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  free  and  common  socage  by 
fealty  and  suit  at  court  and  by  the  yearly  rent  of  6s.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say 
that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of 
fee  of  and  in  six  messuages  and  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and 
situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanspithed  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation  of  John 
Thomas  Dillwyn,  Llm  David,  Henry  Phe,  Philip  Thomas,  John  ap  John  Owen  and 
Margaret  wife  of  Thomas  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  were  held  of  John  Pris  Esq.,  as  of  his  Priory  of  Malvern  in  the  county  of 
in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty,  suit  at  court  and  by  the  rent  of  5s.  6d.  More- 
over the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was 
seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  six  messuages  with  the  lands  and  tenements  to 
the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  St.  Davids  in  the  county  aforesaid 
now  in  the  several  tenures,  possessions  and  occupations  of  Agnes  wife  of  Hoell  widow  Jevan 
Llm,  Howell  William,  Gwirvell  wife  of  David,  William  Thomas  and  David  William  tanner, 
which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of 
the  Reverend  Father  in  Christ  Anthonius  Bishop  of  St.  Davids  as  of  his  manor  of  Llan- 
thewe  in  the  county  of  Brecon  aforesaid  by  fealty,  suit  at  court  and  the  yearly  rent  of 
8s.  5d.  in  free  and  common  socage,  to  be  paid  every  third  year  8s.  5d.  and  every  other 
year  4d.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before 
his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  four  messuages  with  the  lands  and 
tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanvillo  in  the  county 
aforesaid,  now  in  the  tenure,  possession  and  occupation  of  Jevan  William  Pris,  Philip 
Griff,  John  ap  Richard  and  John  William  Poell  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death 
of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of  Robert  Earl  of  Essex,  John  Walbis,  Esq., 
and  Richard  Herbert  Esq.,  as  of  their  manor  of  Penkelly  Anglia  (English)  by  fealty,  suit 
at  court  and  the  yearly  rent  of  6s.  lid.,  to  be  paid  every  other  year  10s.  3d.,  and  that  the 
said  mannor  of  Battell,  the  messuages,  lands  and  tenements  aforesaid  are  worth  per  annum 
in  all  issues  beyond  reprises  £5.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey,  so  being  seized  of  the  premisses  with  the  appurtenances  by  his  Indenture 
bearing  date  the  9th  day  of  November  in  the  86th  year  of  the  reign  of  the  said  Lady  the 
Queen  that  now  is,  made  between  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  of  the  one  part,  Daniel 
Dun  Doctor  of  Laws,  Thomas  Norton  of  Norwood  in  the  County  of  Kent,  Esquire,  and 
Hugh  George  of  London,  gentleman  of  the  other  part  gave,  granted  and  enfeofied  the 
aforesaid  manors  of  Aberkinrick  and  Battell  with  the  appurtenances,  rents,  messuages, 
lands,  tenements,  advowsons  and  all  and  singular  the  premisses  before  recited  with  their 
•appurtenances  to  the  aforesaid  Daniel  Dun,  Thomas  Norton  and  Hugh  George,  To  have 
and  to  hold  the  said  Manors  of  Aberkinrick  and  Battell  with  the  appurtenances, 
messuages,  rents,  lands,  tenements,  advowsons,  mills  and  other  the  premises  with  their 
apurtenances  to  the  aforesaid  Daniel  Dun,  Thomas  Norton  and  Hugh  George  their  heirs 
and  assigns  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  for  the  term  of  his  life 
without  impeachment  of  any  waste,  and  after  his  decease  the  manor  of  Aberkinrick  with 
the  appurtenances,  the  mill  aforesaid,  the  messuages,  lands  and  rents  aforesaid  lying  and 
situate  in  theparishes  of  Llanthewe,  Llanvrenach,  Cantreff  and  St.  Davids  (except  those  six 
messuages  aforesaid  with  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  the  parish 
of  St.  David's  aforesaid  which  are  held  of  Anthonius  Bishop  of  St.  David)  to  the 
use  and  behoof  of  Willigiffordia  wife  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  for  the  term  of  her 
life  in  the  name  of  her  dower  and  jointure  and  after  the  decease  of  the  afore- 
said William  Awbrey  and  Willigiffordia  aforesaid  and  the  longer  liver  of  them  the 
manor  of  Aberkinrick  aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances  the  mill  aforesaid  and  the 


(26) 

lands  tenements,  rents  and  all  and  singular  the  premises  last  recited  and  limited  for  the 
dower  and  jointure  of  the  aforesaid  Willgiffordia  and  the  manor  of  Battell  with  the  appur- 
tenances, the  messuages,  lands  and  tenements,  advowson  and  all  and  singular  the  premises 
before  recited  after  the  decease  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  to  the  use  and  behoof  of 
Edward  Awbrey  Esq.,  son  and  heir  apparent  of  the  same  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Law 
for  the  term  of  his  life  without  impeachment  of  any  waste,  and  after  his  decease  to  the  use 
and  behoof  of  William  Awbrey  eldest  son  of  the  said  Edward  Awbrey  and  heirs  male  of 
the  body  of  the  aforesaid  William  lawfully  begotten,  and  in  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use 
and  behoof  of  Edward  Awbrey  second  son  of  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  the  father  and 
the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  Edward  the  son  lawfully  begotten,  and  in 
default  of  such  issue,  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  Thomas  Awbrey  third  son  of  the  aforesaid 
Edward  Awbrey  the  father  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  lawfully 
begotten,  and  in  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  John  Awbrey  fourth  son  of 
the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  the  father  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid 
John  lawfully  begotten,   and  in  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  Hopkin 
Awbrey  fifth  son  of  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  the  father  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body 
of  the  aforesaid  Hopkin  lawfully  begotten.     And  in  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and 
behoof  of  every  other  son  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  the  father  (son  of 
the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws)  lawfully  begotten  from  the  eldest  son  to  the 
next  eldest  son  successively  according  to  the  priority  and  seniority  of  their  birth  and  of  the 
heirs  male  of  the  body  of  every  such  son  lawfully  begotten  successively.     And  for  default 
of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  John  Awbrey  the  third  son  of  the  aforesaid  William 
Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  for  the  term  of  his  life  without  impeachment  of  any  waste,   the 
remainder  thereof  to  the  firstborn  son  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  lawfully 
begotten  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  such  firstborn  son  lawfully  begotten.     And  for 
defanlt  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  second  son  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey 
and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten.     And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use 
and  behoof  of  the  third  son  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  lawfully  begotten  and  the  heirs 
male  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten.     And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of 
every   son  of  the  same  John  Awbrey  lawfully  begolton  from  the  eldest  son  to   the  next 
eldest  son  successively  according  to  their  priority  and  seniority  of  their  birth  and  the  heirs 
male  of  the  body  of  every  such  son  so  begotten  successively.     And  for  default  of  such 
issue  to  the  use  of  Thomas  Awbrey  second  son  of  the  said  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws 
for  the  term  of  his  life  without  impeachment  of  any  waste,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the 
firstborn  son  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Awbrey  lawfully  beyotten  and  the  heirs 
male  of  the  body  of  such  firstborn  son  lawfully  begotten.     And  for  default  o)  such  issue  to 
the  use  and  behoof  of  the  second  son  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Awbrey  lawfully  begotten 
and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  second  son  lawfully   begotten,   and  for 
default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  every  other  son   of  the   aforesaid  Thomas 
Awbrey  lawfully  begotten  from  the  eldest  to  the  next  eldest  son  successively  according  to 
the  priority  and  seniority  of  their  birth  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  every  such  son  so 
begotten  succcessively.     And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  John  Awbrey 
brother  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  for  the  term  of  his  life  without  im- 
peachment of  any  waste,  the  remainder  thereof  to  William  Awbrey  eldest  son  of  the  afore- 
said John  Awbrey  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  lawfully  begotten,  and  for  default  of  such 
iesue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  John  Awbrey  second  son  of  the  said  John   Awbrey  second 
son  of  the  said  John  Awbrey  the  father  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  lawfully  begotten, 
and  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  Thomas  Awbrey  third  son  of  John 
Awbrey  the  father  and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten.      And  for  default  of 
such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  every  son  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  the 
father  lawfully  begotten  from  the  eldest  to  the  next  eldest  son  successively  according  to 
the  priority  and  seniority   of  the  birth  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  every  such  son  so 
begotten  successively,  and  for  default  of  such  issue  to  ths  use  and  behoof  of  the  heirs  male 
of  the  body   of  Philip  Awbrey  another  [brother]  of  the  said  William  Awbrey   Doctor  of 
Laws,  and  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  right  heirs  of  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  for  ever.     By  virtue  whereof  and  by  force  of  a  certain  act 
of  Parliament  [made]  in  the  Parliament  of  the  Lord  Henry  the  8th  "late  King  of  England 


(27) 

held  at  Westminster  in  the  county  of  Middlesex  the  fourth  day  of  February  in  the  27th 
year  of  his  reign  for  turning  the  use?  of  lands  and  tenements  with  the  appurtenances  into 
possession  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  was  seized  of  the  manors  of  Aber- 
kinrick  and  Battell  with  the  appurtenances  and  of  and  in  the  mill  aforesaid  the  messuages 
lands,  tenements,  and  advowsons  aforesaid  and  all  and  singular  the  premises  in  his 
demesne  as  of  freehold  for  the  term  of  his  life,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  aforesaid 
Willgifford  for  the  term  of  her  life,  the  remainders  thereof  further  in  the  form  aforesaid. 
Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death 
was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  the  manor  of  Palleg  with  the  appurtenances 
lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Istradginlais  in  the  county  aforesaid  and  that  it  is  held 
and  at  the  time  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  said  Lady  the 
Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid  by  the  eighth  part  of 
one  knights  fee.  And  also  of  and  in  20  messuages,  with  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the 
same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  parish  of  Istradvellty  in  the  county  of  Brecon 
aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure,  possession  and  occupation  of  William  Phe  Powell,  Howell  Phe 
Powell  William  David  Griffith  David  Meredd  Watkiu  Howell  Thomas,  Richard  Win. 
Jenkin  Bice  Morgan  William  Griffin  Morgan  Griff,  William  Morgan  William,  Edward 
David  Phillip  Awbrey,  Thomas  ap  Re  William,  Howell  Meredith,  Philip  Jenkiu  Myricke, 
Jenkin  ap  Re,  Jevan  ap  Gwillm  and  Thomas  ap  Jevan  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of 
the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now 
is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty 
and  suit  at  court.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey 
long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  10  messuages  with  the 
lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  in  the  several  parishes  of  St. 
Davids,  Cantreff,  St.  John  the  Evangelist  and  Llanvrenach  in  the  several  tenures, 
possessions  and  occupations  of  Maid  wife  of  Richard,  Griffin  Powell  trahern,  Hugh  Poell 
William,  Morgan  Awbrey,  William  ap  Harry,  John  Thomas,  Lloyd  Roger  Phe,  Lewis 
Morgan  Tucker,  John  Herbert  and  John  Howell  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the 
death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as 
of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty  and 
suit  at  court.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long 
before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  two  messuages  with  the  lands 
and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  being  in  the  parish  of  Llanvrenach  in  the 
several  tenures  possessions  and  occupation  of  Joan  the  wife  of  Re,  widow,  and  Richard 
Jenkins,  and  that  the  same  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William 
Awbrey  were  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the 
county  aforesaid  by  knights  service.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  one 
messuage  with  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate  within  the 
parish  of  Llanvrenach  in  the  county  aforesaid  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and  occupation 
of  Jevan  Thomas  :  of  which  messuage  and  the  lands  and  tenements  thereunto  belonging 
part  is  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  the 
said  Lady  the  Queen  tbat  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free 
and  common  socage  by  fealty  and  suit  at  court  :  and  the  other  part  is  held  and  on  the 
day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  by  John  Morgan  David  ap  John 
as  of  his  manor  at  Penkelly  Anglia  (English)  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and  common 
socage  by  fealty  and  suit  at  court.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  one 
messuage  and  the  lands  and  tenements  to  the  same  belonging  lying  and  situate 
in  the  parish  of  Llanspithett  in  the  county  of  Brecon  now  in  the  tenure  possession  and 
occupation  of  Henry  Phe,  which  are  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  were  held  of  John  Pris  Esq.,  as  of  the  Priory  of  Malvern  in  the  county  of 

in  free  and  common  socage  by  fealty  suit  at  court  and  the  yearly  rent  of  7d.,  and  that 

the  said  manor  of  Palleg  with  the  appurtenances  messuages,  lands  and  tenements  and  all 
other  the  premisses  with  the  appurtenances  are  worth  per  ann.  in  all  issues  beyond  re- 
prises £5.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  long 
before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  the  manors  of  Harnehull 


(28) 

alias  Harnehill  and  Winston  alias  Dridens  Winston  in  the  county  of  Gloucester  and  of  and 
in  the  advowson  of  the  rectory  or  Church  of  Harnehill  with  the  appurtenances,  and   that 
the  aforesaid  manor  of  Harnehull  alias  Harnehill  with  the  appurtenances  is  held  and  on 
the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  Edward  Lord  Stafford  in 
free  and  common  socage  by  fealty  and  the  rent  of  6s.  8d,  to  be  paid  yearly  by  the  Feast  of  St. 
Michael  the  Archangel,  and  is  worth  clear  per  annum  in  all  issues  beyond  reprises  £ 5 ; 
and  that  the  aforesaid  manor  of  Winston  alias  Dridens  Winston  with  the  appurtenances  is 
held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  the  Lady 
Elizabeth  Danvers,  as  of  her  hundred  of  Brodley  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  free  and 
common  aocage  by  fealty  and  the  rent  of  6s.  8d.  to  be  paid  yearly  at  the  feast  of  St. 
Michael   the  Archangel,  and  is  worth  clear  per  annum  in  all  issues  beyond  reprises 
j£8  6s.  8d.     And  so  being  seized  of  the  manors  of  Palleg,  Harnehill  and  Winston  with  the 
appurtenances  and  of  and  in  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of  Harnehill  aforesaid  and  the 
messuages  lands  and  tenements  aforesaid  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  by  his  Indenture 
tripartite  bearing  date  the  nineteenth  day  of  December  in  the  27th  year  of  the  reign  of  Our 
Lady  Elizabeth  the  Queen  that  now  is  [1585]  made  between  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey 
and   Willgifford  his  wife  of  the  first  part,  Anthony  Mansell  and  Elizabeth  hia  wife  of  the 
second  part  and  (Dame)  Lady  Elizabeth  Wallwyn  of  the  third  part  gave  granted  and 
enfeoffed  the  aforesaid  manors  of  Palleg  Harnell  and  Winston  with  their  appurtenances 
the  advowson  of  the  Eectory  of  Church  of  Harnehill  aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances  the 
messuages,  lands  and  tenements  aforesaid  to  John  Awbrey,  and  Philip  Awbrey  :  To  have 
and  to  hold  the  aforesaid  manors  of  Palleg  Harnehill  alias  Harnehill  and  Winston  alias 
Dridens  Winston  with  the  appurtenances,  the  messuages  lands  and  tenements  aforesaid, 
the  advowson  of  the  Chumh  of  Harnehill  and  all  other  the  premises  to  the  aforesaid  John 
Awbrey  and  Philip  Awbrey  and  their  heirs  to  the  proper  uses  and  behoofs  within  written, 
to  wit,  as  to  the  manor  of  Palleg  with  the  appurtenances  lying  and  situate  within  the 
county  of  Brecon  and  the  messuages,  lands  and  tenements  aforesaid  lying  and  situate  in 
the  several  parishes  of    Istradvellty    Llanspithed    Cantreff  Llanvrenach    St    John   the 
Evangelist  and  St.  Davids  immediately  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  Thomas  Awbrey  the  second 
aon  of  the  said  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  and  Mary  his  wife  for  the  term  of  their 
lives  and  the  longest  liver  of  them.     The  manor  of  Harnehill  and  the  manor  of  Winston 
aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances  in  the  county  of  Gloucester  and  the  advowson  of  the 
Church  of  Harnehill  aforesaid  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey 
Doctor  of  Laws  for  the  term  of  his  life  and  after  his  decease  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the 
aforesaid  Thomas  Awbrey  second  son  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  and 
Mary  his  wife  for  the  the  term  of  their  lives  and  the  longest  liver  of  them.     And  after  the 
decease  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  and  Mary  and  the  longest  liver  of  them  the  manor  of 
Palleg     Harnehill    and    Winston    with   the  appurtenances   the   messuages    lands    and 
tenements  the  advowson  and  all  other  the  premises  to  remain  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the 
firstborn  son  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  and  Mary  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the 
aforesaid  firstborn  son  lawfully  begotten  and  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof 
of  the  second  son  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Awbrey  and  Mary  and  of  the  heirs  male  of  the 
body  of  such  second  son  lawfully  begotten.      And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and 
behoof  of  the  third  son  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  and  Mary  and  of  the  heirs  male  of  the 
body  of  such  third  son  lawfully  begotten.      And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the   use  and 
behoof  of  the  fourth  son  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  and  Mary  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of 
such  fourth  son  lawfully  begotten  &c.     And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of 
every  other  son  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  and  Mary  lawfully  begotten,  from  the  eldest  to  the 
next  eldest  son  according  to  the  priority  and  seniority  of  their  birth  successively  and  the 
heirs  male  of  the  body  of  such  issue  so  lawfully  begotten  successively.      And  for  default  of 
such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  all  the  daughters  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  and  Mary 
between  them  lawfully  begotten,  in  common,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  use  and  behoof 
of  the  several  heirs  of  every  of  the  said  daughters  lawfully  begotten  in  common.      And  for 
default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  aforesaid    William   Awbrey,  Doctor  of 
Laws  and  his  heirs  for  ever.     By  virtue  whereof  and  by  force  of  a  certain  Act  of  Parliament 
[made]    in  the  Parliament  of  the  Lord  Henry    the  8th  late  King  of  England  held  a 


(29) 

Westminster  in  the  county  of  Middlesex  the  4th  day  of  February  in  the  27th  year  of  his 
reign  [1536]  for  turning  the  uses  of  lands  and  tenements  with  the  appurtenances  into 
possession  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Awbrey  and  Mary  his  wife  were  and  still  are  seized  of  the 
aforesaid  manor  of  Palleg  with  the  appurtenances  and  of  the  messuages  lands  and 
tenements  aforesaid  within  the  county  of  Brecon  in  their  demesne  as  of  freehold  for  the 
term  of  their  lives  and  of  the  longest  liver  of  them,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  heirs 
male  and  daughters  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  and  Mary  in  the  form  aforesaid,  the  remainder 
thereof  to  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  and  his  heirs  for  ever.  And  by 
virtue  of  the  said  Indenture  and  by  force  of  the  Statute  aforesaid  the  said  William  Awbrey 
Doctor  of  Laws  was  seized  of  the  manors  of  Harnehill  and  Winston  with  the  appurtenances 
in  the  county  of  Gloucester  and  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of  Harnehill  aforesaid  in  hia 
demesne  as  of  freehold  for  the  term  of  his  life,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  aforesaid 
Thomas  Awbrey  and  Mary  his  wife  for  the  term  of  their  lives  and  of  the  longest  liver  of 
them,  the  remainder  thereof  in  form  aforesaid.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  a 
certain  Roger  Vaughan  Esq.  and  Gelio  Myrick  Esq.  long  before  the  death  of  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  were  seized  im  their  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  the  manors 
of  Burleton  and  Stradfford  with  the  apppurtenances  and  of  and  in  the  advowson  of  the 
rectory  or  Church  of  Stradfford  with  the  appurtenances  within  the  parish  of  BurghiUe  in 
the  county  of  Hereford. 

And  so  being  seized  of  the  said  manors  and  advowson  they  by  Indentvre  bearing  date 
the  22nd  day  of  January  in  the  86th  year  of  the  reign  of  Our  Lady  Elizabeth  the  Queen 
that  now  is  [1594]  made  between  Gelio  Merick  of  Gladstre  in  the  county  of  Radnor  Esq., 
Roger  Vaughan  of  Kinerstlie  in  the  county  of  Hereford  Esq.,  Charles  Lister  of  Windsor  in 
the  county  of  Berkshire  Esq.,  and  Michael  Blunt  of  London  in  the  county  of  Middlesex, 
Knight,  of  the  one  part  and  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  of  the  other 
part,  gave  granted  and  enfeoffed  the  aforesaid  manors  of  Burleton  and  Stradfford  with  the 
appurtenances  and  the  advowson  of  the  rectory  or  Church  of  Stradfford  to  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  and  bis  heirs  to  the  use  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey 
for  the  term  of  his  life  without  impeachment  of  any  waste  and  after  his  decease  to  the  use 
and  behoof  of  John  Awbrey  third  son  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  for 
the  term  of  his  life  without  impeachment  of  any  waste  and  after  the  decease  of  the  afore- 
said John  Awbrey  then  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  firstborn  son 
of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  lawfully  begotten  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the  afore- 
said firstborn  son  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  tbe  use  and  behoof 
of  the  second  son  of  ihe  body  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  lawfully  begotten,  and  the  heirs 
male  of  such  second  son  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and 
behoof  of  the  third  sou  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten  and  the 
heirs  male  of  such  third  son  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use 
and  behoof  of  the  fourth  son  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  lawfully  begotten 
and  the  heirs  male  of  the  aforesaid  fourth  son  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  default  of  such 
issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  fifth  son  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  lawfully 
begotten  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  fifth  son  lawfully  begotten.  And 
for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  every  other  son  of  the  body  of  the  afore- 
said John  Awbrey  son  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  lawfully  begotten 
from  the  eldest  son  to  the  next  eldest  son  successively  according  to  the  priority  and 
seniority  of  their  birth  and  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  every  such  son  so  lawfully  begotten 
successively.  And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  Edward  Awbrey  son 
and  heir  apparent  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Eoctor  of  Laws  for  the  term  of  his  life 
without  impeachment  of  any  waste.  And  after  his  decease  then  the  remainder  to  the  use 
and  behoof  of  William  Awbrey  eldest  son  of  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  the  father  and 
the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  William  lawfully  begotten,  and  for  default  of 
such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  Edward  Awbrey  second  son  of  the  said  Edward  Awbrey 
the  father  and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten,  and  for  default  of  such  issue  to 
the  use  and  behoof  of  Thomas  Awbrey  third  son  of  the  said  Edward  Awbrey  the  father  and 
the  heirs  male  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and 
behoof  of  John  Awbrey  fourth  son  of  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  the  father  and  the 


(30) 

heirs  male  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and 
behoof  of  Hopkin  Awbrey  fifth  son  of  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  the  father  and  the 
heirs  male  of  his  body  lawfully  begotten.  And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and 
behoof  of  every  other  son  of  the  body  of  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  son  of  the  aforesaid 
William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  lawfully  begotten  from  the  eldest  to  the  next  eldest  son 
according  to  the  priority  and  seniority  of  their  birth  successively  and  the  heirs  male  of  the 
body  of  every  such  son  so  lawfully  begotten  successively.  And  for  default  of  such  issue 
then  the  remainder  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  heirs  male  of  the  body  of  Philip  Awbrey 
lately  deceased  brother  of  the  same  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  lawfully  begotten. 
And  for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  heirs  male  of  John  Awbrey 
another  brother  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  lawfully  begotten.  And 
for  default  of  such  issue  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  right  heirs  of  the  aforesaid  William 
Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  for  ever.  By  virtue  whereof  and  by  force  of  the  statute 
aforesaid  the  same  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  was  seized  of  and  in  the 
manors  of  Burleton  and  Stradfford  with  the  appurtenances  in  the  county  of  Hereford  and 
of  and  in  the  advowson  of  the  Church  at  Stradfford  aforesaid  in  his  demesne  as  of  freehold 
for  the  term  of  his  life,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  for  the  term  of 
his  life,  the  remainder  thereof  further  to  the  heirs  male  of  the  aforesaid  John  Awbrey  in  the 
form  aforesaid,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  for  the  term  of  his 
life  and  to  his  heirs  male  in  the  form  aforesaid,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  heirs  male  of 
Philip  Awbrey,  the  remainder  thereof  to  the  heirs  male  of  John  Awbrey,  with  remainder 
thereof  to  the  right  heirs  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  for  ever. 
Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  manor  of  Burleton  with  its 
appurtenances  is  held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was 
held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  Thorny  ( ?)  in  the  county 

of by  knights  service .     And  that  it  is  worth   per  annum  in  all  issues  beyond 

reprises  83s.  4d.  And  that  the  manor  of  Stradford  with  the  appurtenances  is  held  arid  on 
the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queeii 
that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  Brecon  aforesaid  in  the  county  aforesaid  by  knights  service, 
to  wit,  by  the  third  part  of  a  knights  fee,  and  is  worth  per  annum  in  all  issues  beyond 
reprises  83s.  4d.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey 
Doctor  of  Laws  long  before  his  death  was  seized  in  his  demsene  as  of  fee  of  and  in  the 
advowson  of  the  Rectory  or  Church  of  Penbeare  in  the  county  of  Carmarthen  which  is 
held  and  on  the  day  of  the  death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  was  held  of  the  said 
Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is  as  of  her  manor  of  East  Greenwich  in  co.  Kent  in  free  and 
common  socage  by  fealty  only  and  not  in  chief,  and  that  the  said  advowson  after  the  death 
of  the  aforesaid  Willam  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  descended  to  the  aforesaid  Edward 
Awbrey  and  his  next  heirs.  Moreover  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  that  the  aforesaid  William 
Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  named  in  the  said  writ  so  being  seized  of  the  manors,  lands, 
tenements,  advowsons  and  all  other  the  premises  by  virtue  of  the  aforesaid  enfeoffment 
Indenture  and  Statute  in  the  form  aforesaid  died  seized  of  such  estate,  in  London,  on  the 
25th  day  of  June  in  the  87th  year  of  the  reign  of  the  said  Lady  the  Queen  that  now  is 
[1595]  ;  and  that  the  aforesaid  Edward  Awbrey  Esq.,  is  the  son  and  next  heir  of  the 
aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws ;  and  that  the  same  Edward  at  the  time  of  the 
death  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  his  father  was  aged  37  years  and  more.  And  that 
the  aforesaid  Willgifford  wife  of  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  is  now 
surviving  and  is  in  full  life  at  London.  And  also  that  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Awbrey  and 
John  Awbrey  are  also  surviving  and  are  in  full  life  in  London.  Moreover  the  jurors 
aforesaid  say  upon  their  oaths  that  the  aforesaid  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Laws  did  not 
hold  nor  have  any  other  or  more  manors,  messuages,  lands,  tenements,  or  advowsons  of 
the  said  Lady  the  Queen  in  chief  or  otherwise,  nor  of  any  other  in  demesne  reversion  or  in 
service  on  the  aforesaid  day  on  which  he  died. 

In  witness  whereof  to  this  present  Inquisition  as  well  the  abovenamed  Escheator  as 
the  aforesaid  jurors  have  set  to  their  seals.  Dated  at  Brecon  the  day  and  year 
abovesaid. 

1595. 
By  me  Jenkin  Lleweline  Escheator  of  the  County  of  Brecon. 


(81) 

The  Tor  Glas  Common  Case. 


It  was  stated  at  the  trial  in  August,  1898,  at  Swansea,  that  a  presentment  describing 
the  boundaries  of  the  waste  or  common  lands  of  the  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly  had  been 
made  to  the  Court  Leet  by  a  jury  of  the  freehold  tenants  of  the  Manor  in  1788,  and  that 
such  would  be  found  duly  recorded  in  the  Court  Leet  books,  if  they  existed.  It  appeared 
however,  that  these  books  could  not  be  produced  for  that  year,  having  been  either  lost  or 
destroyed  by  fire.  Since  that  trial  a  copy  of  this  presentment  has  been  found  at  the  Record 
Office,  and  also  the  Presentment  itself  in  the  Office  of  Mr.  A.  Maybery,  Solicitor,  Brecon, 
and  the  latter  was  used  in  evidence  at  the  second  trial  in  August,  1899,  at  Swansea. 
Having  regard  to  its  public  importance  and  character,  we  append  the  same  in  full. 

MANOR    OF    WELSH     PENKELLY. 

"  At  Court  Leet  and  Court  of  Survey  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  held  in  and  for 
the  said  manor  at  a  Great  Oak  lately  stood  in  the  village  of  Talybont,  and  near  which  place 
a  dwelling  house  and  smith's  shop,  lying  within  the  manor  of  Wenallt,  now  is  situate,  on 
the  21st  April  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  before 
Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  Esq.,  steward,  and  Pennoyre  Watkins,  Esq..  deputy  steward, 
Howell  Isaac,  bailiff. 

JUBOBS. 

Thomas  Williams  of  Tor  Glas,  gentleman  William  Jenkins  of  Cwmbar 

William  Thomas  of  Lower  Wenallt  William  Howell  of  Brynyjack 

John  Powell  of  Gwernygafer  Meredith  Thomas  of  Penyrheol 

Thomas  Jenkins  of  Brynmellin  Lewis  Williams  of  Gwern  Lledwr 

Thomas  Williams  of  Guy  Jenkin  Thomas  of  Glaisk 

Phillip  Phillips  of  Cwmbanw  George  Thomas  of  Llwynon 

"  Adjourned  to  the  same  place  to  Friday  morning  the  sixteenth  day  of  May  next  to 
meet  at  eleven  oclock  in  the  morning. 

At  the  said  adjourned  Court  held  at  the  place  aforesaid  on  Friday  the  sixteenth  of 
May  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty  eight  before  the  same  Steward  and  Deputy 
Steward,  and  then  adjourned  to  Friday  the  thirteenth  day  of  June  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  eighty  eight  at  the  desire  of  these  Jurors,  in  order  that  they  may  peram- 
bulate the  boundaries  of  this  manor,  and  then  present  the  same. 

At  which  adjournment  the  jurors  aforesaid  severally  appeared  before  the  same  steward 
and  deputy  steward,  aud  having  as  well  upon  their  own  view  and  knowledge,  as  by  the 
information  of  Edward  Vaughan,  an  antient  man,  aged  upwards  of  eighty  years,  upon  oath 
and  had  long  been  bailiff  of  the  said  manor,  and  also  of  Morgan  Edward  Bees,  another 
aged  man,  aged  of  seventy  years,  on  oath,  fully  satisfied  themselves  with  respect  to  the 
commons  of  this  manor  do  upon  oath  present  as  follows  : — 

First,  we  present  the  several  persons,  whose  names  appear  on  the  resiant  roll  owe  suit 
and  service  to  the  Court,  and  have  made  default,  as  opposite  to  their  names  appears,  and 
we  amerce  them  in  the  sum  severally  of  two  shillings  and  sixpence  each. 

Also,  we  present  Mary  Williams,  widow,  for  turning  water  into  the  King's  Highway 
leading  from  Pen  Pedwr  Heol  to  Pont  Llydan  in  the  Parish  of  Llanthetty  in  this  manor  to 
the  great  damage  and  annoyance  thereof,  and  continuing  the  same  for  years  past,  and  we 
amerce  her  for  the  said  offence  in  the  sum  of  five  shillings. 

Also  we  present  the  Stocks  in  the  several  parishes  of  Llanvigan,  and  Llanthetty  in 
this  manor  to  be  wanting,  and  that  the  same  ought  to  be  set  up  at  the  expense  of  each 
respective  parish,  to  be  set  up  before  next  leet  on  pain  of  forty  shillings  severally. 

THE  BOUNDARY  OF  THE  COMMON  OF  TOBGLAS. 

Beginneth  at  Blaen  nant  gleisydd.  and  followeth  with  the  course  of  Nant  gleisjdd 
down  to  the  river  Taf,  then  turneth  up  with  the  river  keeping  the  same  close  on  the 
left  hand  to  a  place  called  Eudywayn,  and  so  on  by  the  river  side  to  a  place  called 
Godre  Dole  Nant  y  Bwlch,  which  brook  of  Nant  y  Bwlch  is  there  crossed,  and  so  on 


(32) 

close  by  the  side  of  the  river  Taf  to  a  place  called  "  Yr  han  Bont,"  where  the  Lordship 
of  Brecon  Castle  belonging  to  John  Morgan,  of  Tredegar,  Esquire,  joins  with  this  manor 
on  the  left  side,  from  thence  leaving  the  river  Taf  it  crosses  straight  to  a  small  heap  of 
stones  near  Nant  Dole,  then  crossing  the  brook  Dole,  and  keep  up  the  side  of  that 
brook,  having  a  place  on  the  left  hand,  called  Godre  Nant  y  Bwlch,  keeping  the  Torglaa 
side  of  the  brook  called  Nant  y  Bwleh  up  to  a  place  called  Pen  Forddy  Tor  Glas  by  the 
side  thereof,  having  such  on  the  left  hand,  from  thence  to  a  heap  of  stones  at  a  place 
on  the  side  of  the  highway  leading  from  Merthyr  Tydfil  towards  Brecon  called  Pen 
bwlch  y  fan,  leaving  the  said  highway  and  the  Brecon  Lordship  aforesaid  on  the  left 
hand.  Then  it  joins  the  Manor  of  Penkelly  Castle,  then  turneth  off  along  the  very 
summit  of  the  hill  to  a  place  called  Pen  y  Fan  big,  then  turneth  across  along  the 
summit  or  brim  to  a  place  called  Bwlch  y  Cwm  Or  Gwm  and  followeth  the  summit 
or  brim  of  Tor  y  Glas  to  a  place  called  Pen  Tor  y  Glas,  from  thence  straight  down 
with  the  brim  to  a  place  called  Pen  y  Dorian  Goch,  and  from  thence  straight  along  the 
brim  to  Nanty  Gleisidd,  where  it  begun. 

THE  BOUNDARY  OF  DBAINEN  LAS  CWM  OBGWM 

Beginneth  at  the  ruins  of  an  old  wall,  by  the  brook  called  Nant  Cwm  Orgwm,  and 
leadeth  down  along  the  brook  side,  having  it  on  the  right  hand  to  a  place  called  Pwll 
yr  Hesk,  from  thence  down  by  the  side  of  the  brook  lying  on  the  right  hand  to  a  place 
called  Pencoedcaer  Pen  yr  Heol,  thence  leaves  the  brook,  turn  up  with  a  wall  that 
incloses  Coedcae  Pen  yr  Heol,  and  across  Keven  Cyff  straight  to  Pencoedcae  Cwmcynwyn, 
and  along  the  ditch  to  the  brook  Cynwyn,  where  it  meeteth  the  Brecon  Lordship,  then 
turneth  up  with  the  brook,  leaving  the  brook  on  the  right  to  the  ruins  of  a  little  fold 
lying  within  about  fifteen  yards  of  the  brook,  there  leaving  Brecon  Lordship  crosseth 
to  another  old  fold  about  forty  yards  distant,  lying  under  a  little  dark  bank,  called 
Blaen  Cwm  Cynwyn,  from  thence  to  a  fold  about  sixty  yards  further,  and  from  thence 
straight  over  Keven  Cyff  to  the  other  head  of  the  wall  above  Draynen  Las,  and  with 
that  wall  to  the  lower  end  of  it  near  to  Nant  Cwm  Orgwm. 

THE  BOUNDARY  OF  GWAYN  GEHANEY 

Beginneth  at  Pen  Coed  Cae  y  Crofty,  and  goeth  along  the  ditch  to  a  gate  belonging 
to  Blaennant,  and  then  along  the  road  leading  to  Llanvigan  Church,  to  the  house  of 
Watkin  Williams,  then  leaving  the  road,  along  the  ditch  up  to  the  gate  leading  to  Pant  y 
Llefrydd,  and  along  the  ditch  up  to  the  lands,  part  of  Cwrnwall  tenement,  and  so  on  to 
the  ridge  Brwnare,  or  top  of  Gwaun  Gehaney,  to  Pen  Coed  y  Crofty,  where  it  begun. 

THE  BOUNDARY  OF  BRYN  Y  GLEISION. 

Beginning  at  Bwlch  Glascwm,  from  thence  to  a  place  called  Pen  y  Castell,  otherwise 
Bryn  Pied,  from  thence  to  EhydNant  Du,  from  thence  along  the  highest  brim  or  summit 
of  Gwaun  Nant  Du  to  a  place  on  the  mountain  called  Fald  William  David,  from  thence  to 
a  place  called  Croes  y  Gallan,  and  from  thence  to  a  place  called  Garreg  Fawr,  otherwise 
Garreg  Picca,  from  thence  straight  to  the  gate  leading  to  Black  Cullen  (probably  Blaen 
Callan),  where  you  leave  the  lordship  of  Wenallt  on  the  left  hand,  thence  keep  along  the 
ditch  to  a  stile  at  Pen  y  Waun  Evan,  then  leave  the  ditch  on  the  left  hand,  and  turn 
across  to  a  large  stone  standing  on  its  end  to  Pen  y  Khiw  Newydd,  then  turn  straight 
along  the  top  or  brim  to  a  place  called  Bwlch  Gwjn,  from  thence  straight  to  the  wall  of 
Darren  Vawr  to  a  clift  of  the  rock  next  Bwlch  Glascwm,  and  along  the  brink,  keven,  or 
summit  to  Bwlch  Glasgwm. 
(Signed)] 

Thomas  Williams  William  Jenkins 

William  Thomas  William  Howell 

John  Powell  Meredith  Thomas 

Thomas  Jenkins  Lewis  Williams 

Philip  Phillips  Jenkin  Thomas 

Philip  Jenkins  George  Tnomas. 

We  give  the  reference  at  the  Eecord  Office — Chancery  Proceedings,  Clifton  v. 
Gwynne.  Sortation,  1818,  No.  1696,  The  original  Presentment  (with  many  others  of  the 
same  manor)  is  in  the  custody  of  Mr  Maybery. 


(88) 


Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly. 


REPORT  to  the  Officers  of  His  Majesty's  Land  Revenue   of  the  Manor  of 

Penkelly    Wallensis    (otherwise    Welsh    Penkelly),     in    the    County  of 

Brecknock,    taken   from   a    Survey   made    in    1816,    by   John  Cheese,  of 
Lyonshall,  in  the  County  of  Hereford  (land  surveyor). 

This  Manor  has  been  so  long  held  by  the  present  occupier,  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne, 
Esq.,  of  Buckland,  in  the  county  of  Brecknock,  and  his  predecessors  and  insulated  and 
intermixed  with  other  manors  of  his,  that  it  is  impossible  by  any  information  I  can  obtain 
to  ascertain  the  boundaries  on  the  inclosed  lands.  I  have  taken  every  pains  in  my  power 
to  do  so,  but  without  effect. 

Commons.—  There  are  four  detached  parcels  of  commons  or  Wastes  within  the  said 
manor  as  described  by  an  eye  sketch  on  the  preceding  plan  annexed,  from  the  best 
shewing  I  could  obtain,  with  their  estimated  quantities  set  down  in  the  reference,  with  the 
names  of  the  manors  adjoining.  The  situation  being  very  high  and  exposed,  and  the 
greater  part  being  bogs,  rocks,  and  full  of  stones,  that  renders  it  quite  unfit  for  cultivation, 
and  not  to  be  used  for  any  other  purpose  but  depasturing  small  cattle  and  sheep  in  the 
summer  months.  The  land  being  of  little  value,  it  would  not  answer  the  expenses  of  an 
Act  to  inclose.  The  tenants  of  the  manor  as  set  down  in  the  following  schedule  of  chief 
rents  and  commorthas  have  the  right  of  pasturage. 

Mines  and  Quarries. — There  are  no  minerals,  or  quarries,  upon  either  of  the  wastes 
that  are  now  used,  or  from  the  appearance  of  the  surface  likely  to  be  productive  of  any. 

Fisheries. — I  cannot  ascertain  what  fisheries  belong,  but  it  is  supposed  a  part  of  the 
manor  joins  the  Eiver  Usk  which  abounds  with  fine  trout,  but  being  so  very  long  held  in 
common  with  Mr.  Gwynne's  manor  that  it  cannot  be  ascertained. 

Tithes.— The  lands  within  the  manor  are  subject  to  tithes. 

Taxes. — There  is  no  land  or  other  taxes  charged. 

Market  Towns,  Eoads,  and  Canals. — Brecknock  is  the  nearest  Market  Town,  about 
five  miles,  and  a  Canal  from  thence  to  Newport  in  Monmouthshire,  near,  also  a  good 
Turnpike-Eoad  from  Brecknock  to  Abergavenny  within  a  short  distance. 

There  are  grouse  upon  the  commons  No.  1  and  2  on  the  plan. 

A  RENTAL  OF  THE  CHIEF  BENTS  AND  OCMMOBTHAS   OF  THE  MANOR   OF  PENKELLY  WALLENSIS, 
OTHERWISE  WELSH  PENKELLY,  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  BRECON,  FOR  ONE  YEAH. 


PABI8HES. 

TENEMENTS. 

Amount  of 
Chief  Bents  for 
one  year. 

LLANTHETTY    

Bryn  Jack.. 

£  s.   d. 
004 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  4d,  if  annually 
Cwm  Car  ... 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  8s  4d,  if  annually... 
Blaen  Car   . 

002 
068 
018 
0    0  11 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  lid,  if  annually    ... 
Wain  of  Wernddwy 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  4d,  if  annually 
Tyr-y-waingoch 

0     0     5i 
004 
002 
005 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  5d,  if  annually 
Ty-yn-y-Coed 

0    0     2* 
008 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  Is  4d,  if  annually... 
Pentwyn    ... 

008 
009 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  Is  6d,  if  annually  . 

009 

(84) 


pARTflmtfl. 

nxnoDRii 

Amount  of 
Chief  Rents  for 
one  year. 

r- 

Torygare    ... 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  Is  4d,  if  annually... 
Blaen  Callan        

£   a.   d. 
014 
008 
008 

r 

TJjAKVTflAN 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  la  4d,  if  annually.  . 
Bryn-y-Gleision    ... 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  8s  4d,  if  annually... 

Tyr  dan-yr-Allt      

008 
084 
018 

008 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  8d,  if  annually 
Ty-yn-dee  .. 

004 
006 

LLANFEYNAOH 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  6d,  if  annually 

Tor  Glase  
Comoith  every  2nd  year  6s  8d,  if  annually.., 
Llwyn  Onn 

008 

034 
034 
028 

LLANTHETTY   ...      . 

Comorth  every  2nd  year  8s  4d,  if  annually... 

Glascwm    ... 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  4d,  if  annually 
Gellybant  . 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  8d,  if  annually 
Llwynkelin 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  6d,  if  annually 
Tir-y-keven 

018 

008 
002 
008 
004 
000 
003 
008 

LLANVIGAN       

Comorth  every  2nd  year  8d,  if  annually 
Bryn  Melin 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  lid,  if  annually    ... 
Gwern  y  Gavrn    ...         .             ..         ... 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  7d,  if  annually 
Penybaily   .. 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  lOd,  if  annually 
Penybailey  af  pantyscyndraeth 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  2d,  if  annually 
Llwynyr  Eas 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  2d,  if  annually 
PantyWenallt      
Comorth  every  2nd  year  9d,  if  annually     .  .  . 
Dany  Wenalt  9d  one  year  and  Is  6d  the  next  ... 
Penydorlan  2d  one  year  and  4d  the  next 
Tyry  Crigie  4Jd  one  year  and  6d  the  next 
Maes  Mawr,  8s  9d  one  year  and  5s  lOd  the  next 

Caer-yr-Evan        ...            
Cwmbanw... 
Comorth  every  2nd  year  6d,  if  annually 
Blaen  nant,  Is  4d  one  year  and  8d  the  next 
Gwernylleder        

004 
0     1  10 
0    0    6J 
012 
003$ 
0     0  10 
005 
002 
001 
008 
002 
007 
0     0     44 
0     1     1J 
008 
005} 
0     7     S| 

020 
010 
008 
010 
009 

LLANVILLO       
LLANFBYNACH 

Tille  Crwn  (Lower)  10s  one  year  and  5s  4dthenext 

Tor  Glas  Tenement          ...          ..          
Comorth  every  2nd  year  8d,  if  annually 

078 

014 
004 

(86) 


PARISHES. 

THNHTENT8. 

Amount  of 
Chief  Rents 
for  one  year. 

LLANFEYNACH 
LLANVIGAN         

Llwynkelin  4d.  one  year  and  2d.  the  next 

Pentwyn  8d.  one  year  and  4d.  the  next 
Lands  near  Coy  ty  Bach    . 
Pant  llevraith 
Bryny  Bair 

£  a.  d. 
008 

006 
020 
020 

0  0  9J- 

Allt           

001 

Cwmbanw 

006 

LLANFEYNACH 
LLANVIGAN         

Penyrheol  in  Cwm  Orgwm 
Garngledy 
Allt             

015 
008 
001 

LLANFEYNACH 

Cwm  Orgwm 

002 

LLANTHETTY     

Fynnon  vawr 

006 

*HEBIOTS  AND   ALIENATION 
FEES 

Eeceived  for  this  last  20  years  taken  from  the 
Steward's  Book,  £14  7s. 
Annual  amount    . 

8  17     6* 
0  14     4 

Total  Profits  of  the  Manor 
Amount   of  Commons   or    Wastes  about   1510 
acres,  taking  the  one-twentieth  part  for  the 
right  of  soil  will  be  75a.  2r.  Op. 
Annual  value  Is.  6d.  per  acre    ... 

4  11     9J 
5  18     8 

10     5     OJ 

*  Heriots  are  10s.  and  Alienation  fees  7s.  each. 


Without  an  Inclosure  taking  place  the  latter  sum  cannot  be  reckoned  upon,  and  from 
the  annual  amount  of  the  real  profits  of  the  manor  arising,  chief  rents,  comorthas,  heriots, 
and  alienation  fees,  with  the  uncertainty  and  trouble  of  collecting  the  many  small 
payments,  together  with  the  expenses  of  holding  the  courts,  the  real  value  of  this  manor 
would  be  nominally  very  little,  but  the  wastes  having  grouse  and  other  game  upon  it 
makes  it  desirable  for  many  gentlemen  to  purchase  for  the  purpose  of  sporting,  but  no  way 
to  be  calculated  upon  by  any  number  of  years  purchase,  ae  gentlemen  will  often  pay  more 
for  pleasure  and  profit,  and  being  more  a  honorary  thing  than  a  profitable  one,  I  think 
calculating  in  that  way  it  should  be  worth  £400,  but  it  all  depends  upon  the  motive  of  the 
purchase. 

From  the  report  sent  me  of  1651,  this  manor  is  called  in  the  parish  of  Llanvigan,  but 
from  chief  rents  and  other  manorial  payments,  it  is  in  Hamlets  in  different  parishes.  I 
cannot  at  all  ascertain  the  parcel  of  encroachment  set  down  in  that  report,  but  suppose 
from  the  name  of  the  common  called  Gwayn  y  Keyvor,  which  is  in  the  parish  of  Llanvillo, 
there  is  a  place  called  Tille  Cwm  pays  7s.  8d.  per  year,  which  is  upwards  of  four  miles 
distance  from  any  part  of  this  manor,  and  the  only  place  in  that  parish  that  pays  anything 
to  the  manor  therefore  I  suppose  it  is  for  this  encroachment. 

The  amount  of  charges  as  per  bill  annexed,  £40. 


(86) 

I,  John  Cheese,  do  swear  that  the  survey  or  account  hereto  annexed  was  faithfully 
and  impartially  made  by  me,  from  the  best  information  I  could  obtain,  that  the  value  of 
the  property  of  the  Crown  therein  contained  is  justly  estimated  therein  according  to  the 
best  of  my  skill  and  judgment  and  that  all  the  particulars  stated  in  the  said  survey  or 
account  are  true  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  behalf. 

So  help  my  God  (Signed), 


Sworn  before  me  this  6th  day  of  July,  1816, 
(Signed)    JAS.     CRAMMER. 


JOHN    CHEESE, 


No.        Name  of  Common. 

1.  Brinneu  Gleison 

2.  Torglase  Common 

8.  Dinaslas  Cwmorgwm 

4.  Waingyhene 


SCHEDULE. 


in  Llanthetty  Parish 
in  Llanfigan  Parish 
in  Llanfrynach  Parish 
in  Llanfrynach  Parish 

Total 


Estimated  Quantity. 
A.  B.  P. 
400  0  0 
650  0  0 
400  0  0 
60  0  0 


1510    0     0 


[An  "eye  sketch"  or  eye  view  is  the  expression  used  by  Surveyors  to  describe  a  survey  of 
land  made  without  using  measuring  instruments.  When  made  in  this  way  by 
experienced  Surveyors  it  would  probably  be  very  nearly  accurate  as  to  the  acreage.] 


(87) 

Tales  of  the  Belfry. 


In  searching  through  some  old  papers  lately,  I  came  across  surprising  stories 
of  exciting  scenes  that  have  occurred  in  past  times  in  a  church  belfry.  Perhaps  the 
most  strange  one  is  that  related  of  St.  Fagan's  Church,  near  Cardiff,  For  a  considerable 
time  the  bellringers  had  done  as  they  liked,  ringing  when  they  pleased  and  as  long  as 
they  pleased,  and  caring  not  a  jot  for  what  the  parson  and  churchwardens  said.  On  one 
occasion  they  had  an  exceptionally  grand  carousal,  and  enjoyed  themselves  vastly  well. 
They  first  laid  in  a  good  stock  of  victuals  and  drink,  and  then  closed  the  door  against  all 
comers.  The  clanging  of  the  bells  ceased  only  at  intervals,  day  and  night,  and  when 
provisions  fell  short  further  supplies  were  by  arrangement  with  their  friends  hoisted  up 
from  the  outside  through  the  belfry  window. 

A  truce  or  capitulation  came  at  last,  but  the  parson  registered  a  vow  that  there 
should  be  no  more  bellringing,  and  he  closed  the  belfry  door,  and  fastened  it  with  three 
locks.  Thenceforward  no  bell  sounded  in  that  belfry,  either  for  service,  christening, 
wedding,  or  funeral,  for  many  a  long  year.  In  the  course  of  time,  however,  the  daughter 
of  the  great  man  of  the  village  was  to  be  married,  and  earnest  entreaties  were  preferred 
to  the  rector  to  allow  the  bells  to  be  rung  just  that  once.  He  was  very  decided  and  firm 
in  his  resolve,  saying  he  had  refused  to  allow  the  bells  to  be  rung  for  a  poor  maid's 
wedding,  and  there  must  be  the  same  rule  for  the  rich  :  and  the  wedding,  I  believe, 
passed  in  dead  silence  so  far  as  the  bells  of  St.  Fagan's  took  part.  What  was  the  sequel 
I  do  not  know.  Probably  time  in  due  course  worked  its  cure,  and  the  bells  of  St.  Fagan's 
were  rung  again,  though  it  may  be  presumed  the  lesson  of  the  past  was  not  altogether 
forgotten  within  the  belfry  walls. 

This  took  placee  about  1836,  I  think  :  but  a  somewhat  older  story  has  to  be  told  for 
our  own  county. 

It  would  appear  that  on  the  night  of  January  19th,  1824,  William  Williams,  the 
elder,  William  Williams  the  younger,  and  John  Williams,  blacksmiths,  and  Howell 
Powell,  cooper,  David  Powell,  tiler,  Roger  Eogers,  farmer,  and  John  Morgan,  tiler,  and 
Thomas  Powell,  carpenter — in  all  eight  men  — "  riotously  and  routously  "  did  forcibly 
break  and  enter  into  the  parish  church  and  steeple  of  Devynnock  at  a  late  hour  of  the 
night.  They  then  and  there  commenced  ringing  the  bells  of  the  steeple  without  the 
consent  of  the  vicar  and  churchwardens.  It  would  appear  that  the  party  or  some  of 
them  stayed  ringing  the  bells  all  night,  and  David  Powell,  tiler,  and  John  Williams, 
blacksmith,  were  found  in  the  morning  to  be  still  in  the  church,  while  all  the  doors  were 
bolted  and  locked. 

The  summons,  issued  at  the  instance  of  the  churchwardens,  and  signed  by  the  Rev. 
Thos.  Watkins  as  magistrate,  <  omruanded  the  offenders  to  appear  on  Saturday,  January 
81st,  1824,  at  the  Shirehall,  Brecon,  to  be  "further  dealt  with  according  to  law."  What 
happened  then  I  do  not  know,  or  what  punishment  was  meted  out  to  the  offenders.  At 
that  time  Mary  Gittens  wab  the  keeper  of  the  county  gaol.  I  wonder  if  they  came  into 
her  hands.  Let  us  hope  they  were  let  off  with  a  caution,  The  thought  occurs  to  me 
whether  any  tradition  of  this  somewhat  startling  occurrence  still  lingers  among  the 
Devynnock  people,  for  there  surely  wouW  have  been  some  entry  made  in  the  parish  books. 
These  eight  men — the  bellringers  of  the  mother  church  of  Devynnock — must  have  been 
no  small  power  in  their  day  for  a  vicar  and  his  churchwardens  to  tackle,  if  they  were 
obstinately  inclined.  May  we  hope  that  the  storm  soon  passed  away,  and  that  peace 
reigned  once  more  within  the  belfry. 


(38) 

Now  and  Then. 


Glancing  back  over  our  County  history  for  the  past  hundred  years,  it  surprises  one 
to  find  how  great  have  been  the  changes  of  property  in  Breconshire  during  that  period. 
Very  few  of  the  estates  are  now  owned  by  the  same  families  that  possessed  these  in  the 
18th  century.  We  then  had  eight  peers  of  the  realm  holding  large  estates,  namely,  Earl 
Jersey,  with  his  Ystradfellte,  Park,  and  Llechfaen  property ;  Lord  Oxford,  holding 
Trebarried  and  other  property ;  Earl  Talbot,  with  Newton  (Llanspythid)  and  other 
extensive  lands  coming  down  from  the  Games  family  ;  Viscount  Ashbrook,  with  the 
Abercynrig,  Battle,  and  other  property,  which  came  from  one  branch  of  the  Jeffreys 
family,  and  formed  the  bulk  of  the  Estates  which  William  Awbrey,  D.C.L.,  had  got 
together.  Neither  of  these  peers  have  now  a  square  yard  of  land  in  the  county.  The 
other  four  peers — the  Duke  of  Beaufort,  the  Earl  of  Ashburnham,  Viscount  Hereford,  and 
the  Marquis  of  Camden,  still  in  their  descendants  possess  their  Breconshire  estates.  Of 
recent  years  we  know  two  more  peers  have  been  added,  both  holding  Breconshire 
properties — Lord  Tredegar,  a  moderate  sized  though  ancient  estate,  and  Lord  Glanusk, 
landed  property  of  a  portentous  extent,  all  acquired  in  the  present  century  by  his 
grandfather,  the  founder  with  his  brother  Crawshay  Bailey,  of  the  once  great  ironworks 
of  Nantyglo  and  Beaufort.  But  I  do  not  think  we  want  more  peers  made  for  our  county, 
because  there  is  a  difficulty  now  in  finding  suitable  county  gentlemen  to  fill  the  office  of 
sheriff  and  peers,  like  Members  of  Parliament,  are  excused  from  the  performance  of 
these  onerous  and  costly  public  duties.  Breconshire  was  never  rich  in  Baronets  and 
knights,  but  in  the  last  century  we  had  a  Sir  Eowland  Gwynne  of  Garth,  Sir  Edward 
Hamilton  of  Trebinshun.  a  Sir  David  and  a  Sir  Edward  Williams  of  Llangoed,  Sir  Wm. 
Keppel,  G.C.B.,  of  the  Tower,  Skethrog,  and  others.  Their  names  are  now  gone  from 
among  us,  and  their  lands  know  them  no  more,  and  I  really  cannot  call  to  mind  the  name 
of  any  baronet  or  knight  we  have  now,  and  since  the  death  of  Sir  Alexander  Wood  and 
the  promotion  of  our  only  baronets,  Sir  Charles  Morgan  and  Sir  Joseph  R.  Bailey, 
to  the  Upper  House.  Many  of  the  old  Welsh  families  of  commoners  disappeared  in  the 
18th  century,  and  a  flock  of  English  became  the  purchasers  of  their  estates.  I  will  mention 
some  of  the  purchasers  :  Clifton  and  then  Pell  of  Tymawr,  Macnamara  of  Llangoed,  Chabert 
and  Lefroy  of  Battle,  Kendall  and  Skrine  and  Harcourt  of  Llangattock,  Champion  Crespigny 
of  Llangasty  Talyllyn  and  Scourfield  of  Llanvihangel  Talyllyn,  but  these  in  their  turn  are 
gone  now,  though  they  once  filled  and  for  several  successive  generations  the  office  of  sheriff  of 
the  County.  Man  proposes,  but  God  disposes,  and  even  if  like  William  Awbrey  of  Elizabeth's 
day,  men  may  entail  their  lands  to  the  third  and  fourth  generation,  a  time  surely  comes 
when  either  by  failure  of  the  male  line  or  the  extravagance  of  heirs  those  lands  pass 
away  into  the  hands  of  aliens.  And,  alas,  too  often  a  loving  but  weak  husband  is  per- 
suaded by  his  wife,  in  the  absence  of  children,  to  leave  the  estate  to  her  absolutely  or  to 
her  for  life  and  then  to  her  kith  and  kin,  his  own  blood  relations  being  ignored,  and  the 
true  family  name  in  connection  with  the  estates  become  blotted  out  and  gone  for  ever. 
And  so-and-so,  the  old  names  and  families  in  one  way  or  another  for  the  most  part  very 
quickly  pass  from  off  the  scene. 


(39) 

The  Great  Forest  of  Brecknock. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  important  printed  paper  issued  by  the  Committee 
of  Commoners  just  the  year  previous  to  the  passing  of  the  Forest  Inclosure  Act  of  1615. 
It  is  a  matter  of  deep  regret  to  me  that  it  did  not  come  into  my  hands  at  an  earlier  period. 
It  would  surely  have  carried  conviction  to  the  minds  of  the  Committee  of  the  House  of 
Commons  of  the  merits  and  justice  of  the  case  put  before  them  in  1893  by  the  Allotment 
holders. 

COPY. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  different  persons  entitled  to  rights  of  common  upon  the  Great 
Forest  of  Brecknock,  held  at  the  Bull's  Head  Inn,  in  the  village  of  Devynnock,  in  the 
county  of  Brecon,  on  Wednesday,  the  17th  day  of  August,  1814,  Penry  Williams,  Esq., 
in  the  chair. 

Mr.  Thos.  Bold  having  submitted  to  this  meeting  certain  proposals,  made  by  the 
solicitors  for  the  Board  of  Woods,  for  inclosing  the  Great  Forest. 

Resolved,  that  this  meeting  consent  to  the  first  proposal. 

Eesolved,  also,  that  this  meeting  cannot  consent  to  the  second  proposal,  because  they 
think  that  the  Crown  must  see  the  propriety  of  there  being  a  surveyor  as  well  as  a 
commissioner,  on  behalf  of  the  commoners. 

Resolved,  also,  that  this  meeting  consent  to  the  third  proposal  upon  the  following 
conditions. 

That  previous  to  any  division  of  the  waste  land  of  the  Forest,  under  the  provisions 
of  the  intended  Act,  a  certain  portion  of  the  same,  equal  in  value  to  the  sum  required, 
be  taken  out  and  sold — In  the  first  place  to  defray  the  expenses  of  obtaining,  passing,  and 
carrying  the  Act  into  execution  to  its  termination  ;  and  in  the  next  place,  for  bearing  the 
expense  of  forming,  making,  and  fencing  out  the  roads,  bridges,  etc. 

Also,  that  an  allotment  may  be  made  in  lieu  of  tithes. 

And,  that  those  parts  of  the  common  containing  limestone  quarries,  shall,  at  the 
discretion  of  the  commissioners,  be  left  open  for  the  use  of  the  future  tenants  of  the  Crown 
and  the  commoners  as  at  present  enjoyed. 

Then  that  one  moiety  shall  be  allotted  to  His  Majesty,  freed  and  discharged  from  all 
rights  of  common,  and  other  rights  or  claims  whatsoever  of  the  occupiers  or  owners  of  any 
adjacent  messuages,  lands,  and  hereditaments. 

And,  that  the  residue  thereof  be  divided  amongst  the  persons  having  rights  of  common 
or  other  rights  on  the  Forest,  freed  and  discharged  from  all  forestal  or  other  dues,  duties, 
or  payments  whatsoever. 

Resolved,  that  a  committee,  consisting  of  Marquis  Camden,  Sir  Charles  Morgan, 
Bart.,  Penry  Williams,  Esq.,  Edward  Morgan,  Esq.,  Thomas  Harcourt  Powell,  Esq., 
Hugh  Bold,  Esq.,  the  Rev.  'Ihomas  Watkins,  clerk,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Powell,  clerk, 
William  Vaughan,  Esq.,  David  Lloyd,  Esq.,  John  Downes,  Esq.,  Philip  Morgan,  Esq., 
Watkin  Lloyd,  Esq.,  —  David,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Powell,  Morgan  Morgan,  and  Griffith 
Rees,  gentlemen,  be  appointed  to  arrange  with  the  Crown  the  terms  of  the  intended  bill ; 
and  that  such  committee  be  requested  to  attend  to  the  progress  of  such  bill  in  parliament ; 
and  that  any  three  of  them  be  competent  to  act. 

Resolved  also,  that  such  committee  do  settle  the  bill  of  the  solicitors  for  the  business 
hitherto  done,  and  order  a  rate  upon  the  subscribers  according  to  the  land-tax  assessment 
for  the  payment  of  the  same. 

Resolved  that  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  given  to  Richard  Mansell  Phillips,  Esq., 
for  his  attendance  at  this  meeting,  and  for  a  suggestion  of  a  plan  which  will  undoubtedly 
contribute  to  the  benefits  arising  from  an  inclosure  of  the  Forest,  as  well  as  promote  the 
interest  of  the  public  in  general. 

Resolved  also  that  the  chairman  be  requested  to  sign  these  resolutions  on  behalf  of 


(40) 

this  meeting ;  and  the  solicitors  do  get  the  same  printed,  and  send  copies  thereto  to 
XquTcamden,  Sir  Charles  Morgan,  Gilbert  Jones,  Esq.  the  solicitor  for  the  Board  of 
Woods,  and  also  distribute  them  among  the  persons  interested  in  this  forest. 

PENKY  WILLIAMS,  Chairman. 

The  Chairman  having  left  the  chair, 

Resolved,  lastly,  that  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  given  to  him  for  his  conduct  in 

4116  chair>  G.  North,  Printer,  Brecknock. 

This  account  reminds  me  of  the  tragic  story  in  verse  of  the  Spider  and  the  Fly.  And  how 
readily  did  the  flies  in  this  instance  walk  into  the  parlour !  But  we  must,  in 
fairness,  remember  that  it  was  the  time  of  the  great  Peninsular  War,  when  wheat 
sold  at  18s.  a  bushel,  and  an  ordinary  oak  tree  was  worth  £10.  Col.  Wood  tried 
afterwards  to  rescue  them  from  their,  fate,  but  unavailmgly,  because  by  that  time  the 
Inclosure  machinery  had  been  set  in  motion.  Mr.  Thomas  Bold  was  the  solicitor  of 
Brecon,  and  the  then  Sir  Charles  Morgan's  Breconslnre  Agent,  but  who  Richard 
Mansell  Phillips  was  I  do  not  know— probably  some  Inclosure  expert,  who  knew  well 
the  turns  of  the  winding  stairs  ! 


"  Rhesfa's." 

In  searching  recently  among  old  papers  I  happened  to  meet  with  the  records  of  a 
lawsuit  relating  to  a  mountain  sheep  walk  near  Llywel,  tried  at  the  Great  Sessions  of 
Brecon  in  1814.  In  the  brief  for  the  defendants  the  following  graphic  and  full  description 
of  a  "Rhesfa,"  as  then  used  and  employed  by  the  mountain  sheep-farmers  of  Breconshire, 
is  given : — 

"  It -is  customary  for  farmers  to  turn  out  their  stock  to  that  part  of  the  common 
immediately  adjoining  to  their  respective  mountain  fences — for  a  most  manifest  reason, 
viz. :  That  they  are  nearer  to  the  residence  of  the  owner  to  be  looked  after,  and  for  the 
convenience  of  being  brought  down  when  wanted  as  the  common  is  upon  higher  ground 
than  the  land  of  each  farm.  The  exercise  of  this  custom  gives  a  name  to  the  individual 
part  of  the  common  so  depastured  by  the  stock  of  each  farmer  as  before  mentioned.  It  is 
called  his  "  Rhesfa  "  (or  what  in  English  would  be  termed  the  usual  place  for  depasturing 
the  stock  of  any  particular  farmer),  and  again  to  distinguish  those  particular  parts  more 
completely,  the  name  of  the  particular  farm  or  that  of  the  occupier  is  added.  For 
instance,  "  Rhesfa  Pwllddu,"  "  Rhesfa  Wern,"  or  "  Rhesfa  John  Peter."  But  such 
Rhesfa  is  not  the  exclusive  property  of  the  farm,  by  the  name  of  which  it  is  distinguished, 
as  the  other  stock  of  the  common  intermix  with  the  stock  of  that  particular  Rhesfa.  At 
the  same  time  it  is  not  considered  good  neighbourhood  for  a  farmer  to  turn  his  stock  upon 
the  Rhesfa  of  another  one,  and  indeed  in  prudence  it  would  not  be  advisable  for  him  to  do 
so,  because  if  he  turned  his  stock  near  the  mountain  fence  of  his  neighbour  they  would  in 
all  probability  break  into  the  inclosed  land  of  the  latter,  and  consequently  there  would  be 
trespasses  and  lawsuits  without  end." 

In  Glamorganshire  the  term,  by  which  a  sheepwalk  of  a  similar  character  is 
denoted,  ie  "  Arosfa,"  or  "  Usfa,"  and  it  may  be  added  that  the  learned  writers  of  the 
English  text  books  on  common  lands  and  common  laws  apparently  make  no  allusion 
whatever  to  either  of  these  terms  or  that  of  Rhesfa,  though  such  have  been  well 
understood  and  generally  used  in  Wales  for  centuries. 


(41) 

Manors  of  Talachddu,  Slwch,  and  Saint  Aylett. 

The  annexed  Inquisitio  post  mortem  of  Thomas  James,  the  Lord  of  this  Manor, 
taken  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.  (1551)  is  specially  interesting  as  referring  to  the  Manor 
of  Slough  I  Slwch)  and  Saint  Aylett  close  to  the  town  of  Brecon.  There  is  a  sonnet  by 
my  father  to  the  memory  of  fair  Elined  (the  name  is  variously  given  as  Alud,  Elud, 
Elyned  and  Aluned,  and  hero  we  have  it  as  Aylett),  a,  daughter  of  Brychau  Brycheiniog, 
to  which  your  readers  may  refer,  and  also  to  the  account  in  Jones'  History  (New  Ed., 
pages  28  and  215)  of  her  life  and  death,  and  of  the  chapel  called  after  her,  that  stood  in 
Giraldus  Cambrensis'  day  not  far  from  Slwch  hill  in  the  direction  of  Slwch  farm.  In 
Jones'  time  a  heap  of  stones  near  an  aged  yew  tree,  with  a  well  at  its  root,  marked  the 
site  of  the  chapel. 

FIRST    PART    OF    THE     ESCHEATS     OF    THE     FOURTH    YEAR    OF    THE 
REIGN    OF    KING    EDWARD    THE     SIXTH— 1551. 

(TRANSLATION.) 

Edward  the  Sixth  by  the  grace  of  God  King  of  England,  France  and  Ireland, 
Defender  of  the  Faith,  and  on  earth  supreme  Head  of  the  Church  of  England  and 
Ireland,  to  his  Escheator  in  the  county  of  Brecknock,  greeting.  Because  Thomas  James, 
Gentleman  who  held  of  Us  in  chief  has  closed  his  last  day  as  we  understand.  We 
command  you  that  without  delay  you  take  into  Our  hand  all  the  lands  and  tenements 
whereof  the  said  Thomas  was  seized  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  in  your  bailiwick  on  the  day 
of  his  death,  and  cause  them  to  be  safely  kept  until  We  shall  command  you  further  in  the 
matter,  and  by  the  oaths  of  honest  and  lawful  men  of  the  same  your  bailiwick,  by  whom  the 
truth  of  the  matter  may  be  better  known  you  shall  diligently  enquire  what  lands  and 
tenements  the  aforesaid  Thomas  held  of  Us  in  chief  as  well  as  in  demesne  as  in  service  in 
the  same  your  bailiwick  on  the  said  day  in  which  he  died,  and  how  many  of  others  and  by 
what  service,  and  how  much  those  lands  and  tenements  are  worth  per  annum  in  all 
issues  beyond  reprises,  and  on  which  day  the  said  Thomas  died,  and  who  his  next  heir 
may  be  and  his  age.  And  the  inquisition  thereof  distinctly  and  openly  made  you  shall 
send  to  Us  in  Our  Chancery  without  delay  under  your  seal  and  the  seals  of  those  by  whom 
it  shall  be  made,  together  with  this  writ.  Witness  Ourself  at  Westminster  the  eighth  day 
of  July  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  King  that  now  is. 

MAETEN. 
The    execution    of    this    writ    appears 

in   a   certain   indenture   to  this   writ 

annexed          .          .          .         R.    Of 

Rice  ap  Griffith  Esquire  Escheator  of 

the  lord  the  King  within  written. 

This  is  a  true  Copy  of  the  Original 
Record  remaining  in  the  Chapel  of  the 
Rolls  having  been  examined. 

HEN.  ROOKE,  Clerk  of  the  Rolls. 

It  was  delivered  into  the  Court  of  the  16th  day  of  November  in  the  year 
underwitten  by  the  hand  of  John  Gunter. 

Inquisition  indented  taken  at  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid  on  the  18th  day  of  the 
month  of  October  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of  the  lord  Edward,  France  and  Ireland, 
Defender  of  the  Faith  and  in  earth  of  the  Church  of  England  and  Ireland  the  Supreme 
Head  before  Rice  ap  Griffith  Esquire  Escheator  of  the  lord  the  King  in  the  county  afore- 
said by  virtue  of  the  writ  the  lord  the  King  de  diem  clausit  extremum  to  the  said 


(42) 

Escheator  directed  and  to  this  Inquisition  annexed  after  the  death  of  Thomas  James, 
gentleman,  deceased,  by  the  oath  of  Walter  Havard,  gentleman,  Thomas  ap  David 
gentleman,  John  Thomas  ap  Gwatkyn,  gentleman,  David  Morgan  Thomas,  gentleman, 
Hoelle  David  Thomas,  gentleman,  David  glin  Morgan  Janckin,  Phelpott  Watkin  ap 
Morgan  Janckin,  David  Madok  Griffith,  Rice  ap  Thomas  ap  Rees,  John  G.  .  .  ,  John 
Williams  ap  Morgan  ap  glin,  Janckin  ap  Rees  Meredith,  David  glin  Vaughan,  Thomas 
Walter  Thomas,  and  William  ap  John  Ychan,  Who  say  upon  their  oath  that  long  before 
the  death  of  the  said  Thomas  Jamys  named  in  the  said  writ  Edward  ap  Glin  ap  Jevan  ap 
Morgan,  Edward  Games,  Watkin  Williams,  and  Llewellyn  ap  Thomas  ap  Jevan  ap  Morgan 
were  seized  in  their  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  the  manor  of  Talaughduy  12  messuages, 
one  cottage,  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  sixty  acres  of  meadow  two  hundred  acres  of 
pasture  one  hundred  acres  of  wood  and  one  hundred  acres  of  furze  and  heath,  and  of 
seventeen  shillings  and  seven  pence  of  rent  in  Talaughduy  in  the  county  aforesaid,  together 
with  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of  Talaughduy  aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances,  And 
being  so  thereof  seised  the  said  Edward,  Edward,  Watkin  and  Llewellyn  by  their  charter 
shown  to  the  jurors  aforsaid  in  evidence  upon  the  taking  of  this  Inquisition,  the  date  of 
which  Charter  is  the  eighteenth  day  of  the  month  of  October  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  the 
reign  of  the  lord  Henry  the  Eighth  late  King  of  England  father  of  our  lord  the  King  that 
now  is,  gave  granted  and  by  their  said  Charter  confirmed  to  a  certain  James  ap  Thomas 
ap  Janckyn,  gentleman,  father  of  the  aforesaid  Thomas  Jarnys,  inter  alia,  the  aforesaid 
manor  of  Talaughduy,  the  messuages,  lands,  meadows,  pastures,  woods,  furze,  heath  and 
rent  in  Talaughdy  aforesaid,  together  with  the  advowson  of  the  Church  of  Talaughduy 
aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances  :  To  have  and  to  hold  to  the  said  James  for  the  term  of  the 
life  of  the  said  James  with  impeachment  of  waste,  the  remainder  thereof  inter  alia  after 
the  death  of  the  said  James  to  the  said  Thomas  Jamys  by  the  name  of  Thomas  ap  Jamys 
son  of  the  said  James  in  tail,  &c.  By  virtue  of  which  gift  the  aforesaid  James  was  seised 
of  and  in  the  premises  with  the  appurtenances  in  his  demesne  as  of  freehold,  the  fee  and 
right  simple  thereof  then  being  in  the  person  of  the  said  James  by  the  form  of  the  gift 
aforesaid.  As  so  being  thereof  seized  the  said  James  died  seised  of  such  estate  thereof 
at  Sloughe  in  the  said  county,  after  whose  death  the  said  Thomas  Jamys  named  in  the 
said  writ,  being  the  son  and  heir  of  the  said  James  ap  Thomas,  by  virtue  of  the  said  gift 
entered  into  the  premises,  and  was  thereof  seised  in  his  demesne  as  of  feetail,  the  fee  and 
right  simple  thereof  being  in  the  person  of  the  said  Thomas  as  son  and  heir  of  the  said 
James  by  the  form  of  the  gift  aforesaid.  And  so  being  thereof  seised  the  said  Thomas 
Jamys  by  his  charter  shown  to  the  jurors  aforesaid  in  evidence  upon  the  taking  of  this 
inquisition,  the  date  whereof  is  the  10th  day  of  the  month  of  June  in  the  35th  year  of  the 
reign  of  lord  Henry  the  Eighth  late  King  of  England  father  of  our  lord  the  King 
that  now  is,  gave  and  granted  to  a  certain  Edward  Games  for  the  occupation  and  exercise 
of  the  office  of  Steward  of  the  Manor  aforesaid,  and  of  the  Manor  of  Slough  late  of  the  said 
Thomas  a  certain  annuity  or  yearly  rent  charge  of  18s.  4d.  issuing  out  of  his  Manor, 
land  and  tenements  in  Talaughduy  aforesaid  To  have,  raise  and  take  to  the  said  Edward 
Games  for  the  term  of  his  life  at  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  yearly,  by  virtue 
whereof  the  said  Edward  was  seised  of  the  rent  aforesaid  as  of  freehold.  And  afterwards 
the  said  Thomas  James  died  seised  of  such  estate.  And  that  the  aforesaid  Manor  of 
Talaughduy,  the  12  messuages,  and  the  said  cottages,  800  acres  of  land,  GO  acres  of  meadow, 
200  acres  of  pasture,  100  acres  of  wood,  100  acres  of  furze  and  heath,  and  the  said 
7s.  Jd.  of  rent,  together  with  the  advowson  aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances,  parcels  of 
e  Manor  aforesaid  are  worth  per  annum  in  all  issues  beyond  the  rent  charge  aforesaid 
and  other  the  premises  £G  15s.  Od.,  and  are  held  of  the  lord  the  King  as  of  his  lordship  of 
•econ  by  the  fourth  part  of  a  knights  fee.  And  further  the  said  jurors  say  that  the  said 
Jan  s  ap  Thomas,  Edward  ap  glin  ap  Jevan  ap  Morgan,  Edward  Games,  Watkin 
Williams  and  Llewellyn  ap  Thomas  ap  Jevan  ap  Morgan  long  before  the  death  of  the  said 
Iliomas  Jamys  named  in  the  said  writ  were  seised  in  their  demesne  as  of  fee  of  and  in  the 
Manor  or  capital  messuage  of  Slough  or  Slozthe  and  Saint  Aylett,  2  messuages,  150  acres 

iT:    2  «r8  °,  m(;ado,w'  8°  acres  of  Pasture'   14  acres  of  ™>a,  12  acres  of  furze  and 

th   and  8d.  rent  with  the  appurtenances  in  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid.      And  so 

therof  being  seised  the  said  James,   Edward,  Edward,   Watkins  and  Llewellyn  enfeoffed 


(48) 

thereof  the  said  Thomas  Jamys  and  Gwenlliana  his  wife  To  have  and  to  hold  to  the  said 
Thomas  and  Gwenlliana  and  to  the  heirs  of  their  bodies  between  them  lawfully  begotten 
for  ever.     By  virtue  of  which  gift  the  said  Thomas  and  Gwenlliana  were  of  the  premises 
with  the  appurtenances  jointly  seised  in  their  demesne  as  of  fee-tail,    And  so  being  thereof 
seised  tha  said  Thomas  Jamys  died  and  the  said  Gwenlliana  survived  him,  and  held  her- 
self in   the   said   Manor,   messuages,    land,    meadow,  pasture,  wood  and  rent  with  the 
appurtenances   by   right   of  accruing.       And  the  jurors   aforesaid  further  say   that  the 
said  Gwenlliana  is  still  surviving  and  is  thereof  seised  in  her  demesne  as  of  fee-tail  by  the 
form  of  the  gift  aforesaid.     And  that  the  said  Manor  of  Slough  or  Slozth  and  Saint 
Haylett,  the  two  messuages,  150  acres  of  land,  50  a.  of  meadow,  80  acres  of  pasture,   14 
acres  of  wood,  12  acres  of  furze  and  heath  and  the  said  8d.  of  rent  are  worth  per  annum 
in  all  issues  beyond  reprises  ten  pounds.     And  that  the  said  Manor,  messuage  or  capital 
messuage  aforesaid,  and  the  lands,  meadows,  pastures,  wood,  furze,  heath  and  rent  aforesaid 
with  the  appurtenances,  except  fifteen  acres  of  land  with  the  appurtenances  called  Maes  y 
pren,  parcel  of  the  same,  are  held  of  Edward  Herbert  Esquire  as  of  his  Manor  ot  Skethrok 
in  the  county  aforesaid  by  the  rent  of  11s.  8d,  for  all  services.     And  that  the  said  15  acres 
of  land  with  the  appurtenances  called  Maes  y  bren  are  held  of  the  Lord  the  King  as  of  his 
manor  of  Brecon  by  fealty  and  the  rent  of  4s.  for  all  purposes.       Also  the  jurors  aforesaid 
say  that  the  said  Thomas  Jamys  long  before  his  death  was  seised  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee 
of  and  in  11  acres  of  land  with   the   appurtenances   called   Dey  glose  y  dwr   with   the 
appurtenances  situate  in  Brecon  in  the  county  aforesaid.     And  so  being  thereof  seised  by 
his  testament  and  last  will  shown  to  the  jurors  aforesaid  in  evidence  upon  the  taking  of 
this  Inquisition  willed  and  bequeathed  to  a  certain  Jonete  his  sister  for  her  marriage  20 
marks  and  as  security  for  the  same  bequeathed  to  the  said  Jonete  all  his  lands  of  fee 
simple :  To  have  and  to  hold  to  the  said  Jonete  and  her  heir  for  ever  until  she  should  be 
satisfied  of  the  said  20  marks  by  the  heirs  or  executors  of  the  said  testator.      And  that  the 
aforesaid  Thomas  Jamys  afterwards  died  thereof  seised  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee.     And 
that  the  aforesaid  11  acres  of  land  with  the  appurtenances  are  worth  by  the  year  in  all 
issues  beyond  reprises  8s.  4d.,  and  that  they  are  held  of  the  lord  the  King  in  burgage  by 
fealty  only.     And  further  the  jurors  aforesaid  say  upon  their  oath  that  as  well  all  the 
issues   and  profits  of  the   Manor,   messuages,   lands   and   other  the  premises   with  the 
appurtenances  in  Talaughduy  aforesaid  as  all  the  issues  and  profits  of  the  11  acres  afore- 
said caled  Dey  glos  y  dwre  with  the  appurtenances  from  the  time  of  the  death  of  the 
aforesaid  Thomas  Jamys  remain  still  in  the  hands  of  Jevan  ap  David,  Thomas  ap  Jevan, 
John  Williams,  Rice  ap  Morgan,  John  Buy,  John  ap  Res,  David  ap  Thomas  ab  (sic)  Jevan, 
Howell  ap  glin,  Roger  Vaughan,  Knight,  Lin  ap  glin,  Walter  ap  glin,  David  ap  Rees, 
Philip  John  Vaughan,  Morgan  ap  [sic]  Jevan,  Clerk,  Philip  ap  Phe  and  William  Havarde 
tenants  of  the  Manor,  lands  and  other  the  premises,  still  not  raised  or  taken.       And  that 
the  aforesaid  Gwenlliana  while  she  was  sole  and  one  Meredith  Games  husband  of  the  said 
Gwenlliana  after  the  marriage  had  between  them  had  and  took  all  the  issues  and  profits 
of  the  Manor  of  Slough  or  Slozth  and  Saynt  Aylett,  and  of  the  said  2  messuages,  lands 
other  the  premises  parcels  of  the  said  Manor  with  the  appurtenances  as  in  the  right  of  the 
said  Gwenlliana  from  the  time  of  the  death  of  the  said  Thomas  Jamys.       And  the  jurors 
aforesaid   say  that  the  said  Thomas  Jamys  did  not  hold  any  other  or  more  lands  or 
tenements  of  the  said  lord  the  King  or  of  any  other  in  the  county  aforesaid  in  demesne  or 
reversion  on  the  day  that  he  died.     And  that  the  said  Thomas  Jamys  died  on  the  fifth  day 
of  July  last  past  before  the  date  of  this  Inquisition.     And  that  one  Jamys  ap  Thomas  is 
his  son  and  next  heir.     And  that  the  said  Jamys  ap  Thomas  on  the  day  of  the  taking  of 
this  Inquisition  is  of  the  age  of  nine  years,  ten  months  and  17  days.     In  witness  whereof 
as  well  the  aforesaid  Escheator  as  the  said  jurors  to  this  Inquisition  indented  alternately 
has  set  to  their  seals.     Given  the  day  year  and  place  aforesaid. 

[Endorsed]  "  Copy  of  a  Writ  to  enquire  post  mortem  Thomas  James  Gen.  8th 
July  4th  Ed.  6.  And  the  Inquisition  found  thereon  18th  of  October 
following." 


(44) 

Lordship    of  Builth. 


[FROM  AN  OLD  PAPER,  1704.] 

Between  Walter  Vaughan,  Esqre.,  and  others,  Plaintiffs,  and  Marmaduke  Gwynne,  Esqre., 

Defendant. 

Advice  taken  for  the  Plaintiffs  in  the  said  cause, 

1  —That  the  custom  that  a  Freeholder  shall  pay  but  one  ten  shillings  heriot  for  his 
lands  on  decease  of  his  ancestors,  and  but  one  five  shillings  to  the  Lord,  and  but  one  ten 
pence  to  the  Officers  for  their  fees,  being  in  all  15s  lOd  is  good,  and  the  Lord  cannot  by 
law  have  any  more,  and  cannot  have  a  several  heriot,  or  several  5s.,  or  several  lOd.  for 
each  tenement,  whereof  a  freeholder  dies  seized,  for  the  Lord  cannot  multiply  the  sum  in 
respect  of  the  said  tenements  that  the  freeholder  dies  seized  of,  for  the  defendant's  own 
verdict  and  his  father's  and  the  constant  usage  and  practice  long  before  and  ever  since 
the  said  verdict  for  payments  of  the  said  several  sums  as  aforesaid,  and  no  more,  bind 

'2.— The  lord  cannot  cause  the  tenants  to  be  summoned  to  be  jurors  at  the  Court 
Baron,  for  his  own  verdict  as  to  our  custom  therein  is  binding  upon  him  (viz)  that  such 
juries  shall  be  made  of  the  standers  by  in  the  said  court. 

8. That  the  tenants  and  inhabitants  of  the  Lordship  of  Builth  are  to  be  toll  free  in 

consideration  of  the  £'2  13s.  4d.  yearly  paid  to  the  lord,  and  in  case  there  has  been  no 
such  consideration  paid,  yet  that  there  is  no  toll  due  for  anything  sold  or  bought  out  of 
the  fairs  and  markets  throughout  the  rest  of  the  lordship,  and  there  is  not  anything  due 
for  Toll  through,  for  every  subject  has  a  right  of  using  freely  by  inheritance,  and  that  prior 
to  any  prescription,  and  if  an  unreasonable  toll  be  granted  by  patent  it  is  not  good,  and  a 
prescription  for  an  unreasonable  is  not  good,  and  it  is  a  question  whether  the  King  could 
grant  a  toll  in  any  fair  or  market,  it  being  a  tax  on  the  people  without  their  consent  in 
Parliament,  and  if  any  toll  due  at  all,  one  penny  for  an  entire  bargain  or  contract  is 
sufficiently  reasonable  for  entry  in  a  toll  book. 

4. — That  the  owners  of  the  next  adjacent  soil  to  the  river  have  a  right  to  fish  the 
stream  each  on  his  side  of  the  river  (excluding  the  lord),  and  the  lord  and  his  servants 
should  be  disturbed  by  the  owners  to  fish  opposite  to  their  said  lands,  lest  in  time  he  may 
gain  hereunto  by  custom,  viz.  (in  the  like  case)  the  causes  where  the  lord  hath  been  sued 
by  the  owners  of  the  soil  adjoining  to  the  river,  and  verdict  found  for  the  plaintiffs. 

5.  —The  freeholders  by  custom  may  make  trenches  or  watercourses  on  and  from  the 
commons  to  convey  water  to  water  their  lands. 

6. — The  lord  cannot  hinder  the  freeholders  to  dig  for  stones  and  tyles  in  the  wastes 
and  mountain  for  repairing  and  building  their  houses  or  hinder  them  of  common  of 
pasture  and  turbary  to  build  little  houses  on  the  commons  according  to  their  ancient  usage 
and  custom  in  every  the  premises. 

7. — The  petty  constables  are  to  be  chosen  by  the  jury  and  to  be  sworn  at  the  Court,  and 
the  pound-keepers  ought  to  be  elected  there  also  by  the  jury,  the  parishioners  being  at  the 
charge  of  making  and  keeping  the  several  pounds  in  their  respective  parishes  and  this  by 
our  custom  as  well  as  common  law. 

8 — It  is  evident  not  only  the  soil  to  the  gutters  running  on  either  side  the  streets  in 
the  town  of  Builth  along  the  fronts  of  the  houses  is  the  ground  or  soil  of  the  owners  of  the 
said  houses  and  that  they  have  a  right  severally  to  set  up  stalls  there  on  the  fair  and 
market  days  and  to  take  rent  for  the  same  as  the  lord  has  to  set  them  in  the  middle  of  the 
said  streets  between  the  said  gutters,  and  the  lord  ought  not  to  disturb  the  said  owners  of 
the  houses  there  in  setting  up  stalls  in  the  places  aforesaid. 


(45) 

9. — The  lord  cannot  now  set  up  a  warren  in  any  of  the  commons  and  wastes  without 
a  particular  charter  or  grant  from  the  King.  The  lord  has  not  the  power  of  taking  from 
the  tenants  their  herbage  or  making  the  common  useless  to  them,  and  if  the  rabbits  of  the 
warren  come  upon  any  of  his  tenants  grounds  any  one  may  kill  them  and  the  lord  has  no 
remedy.  It  is  not  probable  that  he  will  prescribe  to  a  warren  there,  and  if  he  should, 
yet  if  he  cannot  prove  an  ancient  warren  in  that  place  he  cannot  maintain  his  prescrip- 
tion. 

10. — As  to  the  custom  of  "  the  father  to  the  bough  and  the  son  to  the  plough," 
(being  the  custom  of  the  gavell  kind  in  Kent),  Tis  good  and  not  destroyed,  so  that  if  the 
father  be  attainted  of  felony  and  executed  yet  his  heir  shall  inherit. 

11. — The  lord  cannot  fence  in  the  common  without  the  tenant's  consent,  but  notwith- 
standing the  enclosure  they  may  go  and  depasture  and  take  their  estovers  as  customary 
and  justify  it. 

12. — That  the  Court  Baron  may  be  kept  in  any  part  of  the  Manor  where  the  lord 
pleases,  but  the  Court  Leet  is  to  be  kept  by  the  Stat.  84th  85,  Hen.  8,  26.  at  the  most 
ancient  and  usual  place  within  the  Lordship  so  as  such  place  be  meet  and  convenient  for 
that  purpose  with  respect  to  the  number  of  suitors. 

18. — As  to  the  fishpool  cross  the  highway  on  the  hill  an  indictment  or  information 
lies  for  the  nuisance. 

14. — That  the  lord  or  his  servants  ought  not  by  law  to  enter  the  estate  of  any  free- 
holder to  hunt  or  fowle  there,  against  the  will  and  consent  of  the  owners  thereof  and 
contrary  to  the  ancient  usage  and  custom  that  every  freeholder  hath  to  the  quiet  possession 
and  enjoyment  of  his  estate  grounded  on  the  common  law,  unless  it  be  in  pursuit  of  a 
vermin  of  prey  as  fox  or  the  like. 

15. — That  strangers'  or  foreigners'  cattle  grazing  on  the  mountain  or  waste  (though 
by  consent  and  leave  of  the  lord)  may  be  distrained  and  impounded  by  any  freeholder  or 
freeholders  having  right  of  common  there  or  action  or  trespass  may  be  brought  against 
one  or  more  of  such  foreigners  in  the  name  of  one  or  more  (having  right  of  common)  for 
such  trespass  on  his  or  their  common  waste. 

[This  advice  was  given  to  aggrieved  tenants  and  inhabitants  of  the  Lordship  o?  Builth  by 
Councellor  Dawbins  and  others  in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord  1704.  M.  Gwynne,  Esqre., 
being  Lord  of  the  Manor.] 


(46) 


Dynas,  with  its  Members,  Parcel  of  the  March 

Counties. 


TRANSLATION. 


MINISTERS    ACCOUNTS. 

Accounts  of  all  and  singular  the  Ministers  of  the  lord  the  King  Henry  the  Eighth 
that  now  is,  of  his  lordship  there  from  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  in  the  12th 
year  of  the  reign  of  the  said  King  Henry  8  [1520J  up  to  the  same  feast  of  St.  Michael 
then  next  following  in  the  18th  year  of  the  said  lord  the  King,  to  wit,  for  one  whole  year. 

Welsh  Eeeve  of  Dynas. — The  account  of  Jevan  ap  Thomas  ap  John  reeve  there  for 
the  time  aforesaid. 

Arrearages.— The  same  renders  account  for  £69  11  10  of  the  arrearages  of  the  last 
account  of  the  year  next  preceding  as  appears  in  the  foot  of  the  same.  £69  11  10. 

Eents  of  Assize. — And  for  £9  18  5  of  the  rents  of  assize  of  the  free  tenants  by 
progeny.  And  for  68s  2d  of  the  rents  of  the  same  beyond  progeny.  And  for  11s  8d  of  the 
rent  called  Kynghalle  this  year.  But  he  renders  nothing  of  the  £668  lately  received 
from  the  4  foresters  there  this  year.  And  nothing  from  the  farm  of  the  office  of  the 
Welsh  reeve  there  this  year,  because  nobody  wished  to  farm  the  said  office.  And 
nothing  of  the  40s.  of  the  farm  of  the  borough  there  this  year  for  the  cause  aforesaid. 
And  nothing  of  the  pannage  of  the  pigs  there  in  the  term  of  St.  Martin  this  year.  But  he 
renders  (answers)  for  8s.  received  of  the  customary  tenants  of  Fynnebroke  this  year. 
And  for  4£d  received  for  the  farm  of  4  acres  of  land  at  Brymleth,  so  demised  this  year. 
But  nothing  of  the  4d  received  from  the  toll  of  Frondell  this  year  because  no  profits  were 
forthcoming  therefrom.  And  nothing  of  the  8s  received  from  the  toll  of  the  country  there 
this  year  because  no  profits  were  forthcoming  therefrom.  But  he  renders  (answers)  for 
the  12d  for  the  rent  of  6  acres  of  land  there  so  demised  this  year.  And  for  4d  received 
from  8  acres  of  the  land  of  Llewellyn  Lloid  so  demised.  And  for  8d  received  for  the  farm 
of  14  acres  of  land  so  demised  to  the  tenants  there  this  year. 

And  for  6s  8d  received  for  the  farm  of  the  demesne  land  at  Keven  Llannelowe  so  let 
to  farm  by  the  year  to  Philip  ap  Thomas  for  the  term  of  99  years  by  the  record  of  the 
Exchequer.  Sum  £14  5  8£. 

Commorthas  with  the  Customs  of  Cows. — And  for  11s  for  a  certain  custom  called 
commortha  from  the  Welsh  by  progeny  happening  every  other  year,  charged  this  year, 
because  it  was  not  charged  in  the  year  next  preceding,  and  ought  not  to  be  charged  in  the 
year  next  coming,  and  so  only  happens  every  other  year.  And  for  6s  8d  for  a  certain 
custom  called  Horsong,  happening  every  other  year,  charged  this  year,  because  it  was  not 
charged  in  the  year  next  preceding,  and  ought  not  to  be  charged  in  the  year  next 
coming,  and  so  only  happens  every  other  year.  And  for  £8  8  for  the  price  of 
24  cows  coming  from  the  Commortha,  happening  every  other  year,  charged  this  year 
because  it  was  not  charged  in  the  year  next  preceding,  and  ought  not  to  be  charged  in  the 
year  next  coming,  and  so  only  happens  every  other  year.  Sum  £9  5  8. 

Perquisites  of  Court.— And  for  52s  8d  of  the  perquisites  of  all  the  Courts  held  there 
this  year  as  appears  by  the  roll  of  the  same  shown  and  examined  upon  this  account. 
Sum  52s  8d.  Sum  total  of  the  receipts  with  the  arrearages  £95  16  5£,  Out  of  which 
Stipend  the  same  accounts  for  the  stipend  of  the  said  accountant  by  reason  of  his  office  by 
the  year — 8s.  Sum  8s. 


(47) 

Delivery  of  money. — And  in  money  delivered  to  William  Herbert  of  Creconwell,  the 
deputy  of  Charles  Somersete  Earl  of  Worcester  receiver  there  for  the  charge  of  the  said 
accountant  of  the  issues  of  his  office  this  year  by  the  recognizance  of  the  same  receiver 

upon  this  account  before  the  auditor  of  the  lord  the  King  there £19  4  8. 

Sum,  £19  4  8d.  Sum  of  all  the  allowances  and  payments  aforesaid — £19  12  8.  And  he 
owes  £76  2  9£.  Out  of  which  are  respited  to  him  £68  8  9£  of  decayed  rents  and  divers 
lands  and  tenements  being  in  the  hands  of  the  lord  the  King  as  in  the  preceding  accounts, 
as  well  for  this  year  as  for  12  years  next  preceding,  each  year  105s.  SJd.  And  to  the  same 
£7  14  0  of  the  decayed  rent  of  a  certain  custom  of  cows  called  Commortha  happening 
every  year,  to  wit,  for  the  3rd,  5th,  7th,  9th,  llth,  and  this  13th  year  of  the  said 
King,  each  year  25s  8d,  because  it  is  charged  above  at  £9  5  8  by  the  year,  and  now  only 
£8  can  be  raised  by  the  year,  because  the  tenants  who  used  to  pay  the  said  custom  are 
dead  and  have  gone  out  of  the  country,  as  the  said  accountant  says  upon  his  oath.  There- 
fore it  is  here  respited  until,  &c. 

Mara  Manor. — The  account  of  William  ap  Thomas  David  reeve  there  for  the  said 
time. 

Arrearages. — The  same  renders  account  for  £66  4  Si  of  the  arrearages  of  the  last 
account  of  the  year  next  preceding  as  appears  in  the  foot  of  the  same.  Sum  £66  4  S£ 

Kents  of  Assize. — And  for  5s  5f  of  the  rents  of  assize  there  in  the  term  of  the 
Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin.  And  for  8s.  3d.  of  the  rents  there  in  the 
term  of  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptist.  And  for  £7  3s  6d  of  the  rents  of  the 
Malmani  and  suit  of  the  lord  in  the  term  of  St.  Michael.  And  for  8s  7£  received  of  the 
rent  of  the  borough  there  at  the  same  term.  And  for  3s.  of  the  rent  of  John  Hancockes 
for  the  lands  of  Griffen  Thee  in  the  said  terms  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary 
the  Virgin  and  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  by  the  year.  And  for  lOd.  received  for  the 
increase  of  the  rent  of  one  toft  sometime  of  .Richard  ap  Philip  in  the  said  terms  by  the  year 
besides  2d.  of  ancient  rent.  And  for  9d.  of  the  increase  of  the  rent  of  Philip  ap  David  for 
one  parcel  of  meadow  there  in  the  said  terms,  besides  the  ancient  rent.  And  for  12d.  of 
the  increase  of  the  rent  of  2  curtilages  late  of  Beatrice  Leche  so  demised  to  Eichard 
Billesdon  and  John  Kinge  ;  To  hold  to  them  and  their  heirs  according  to  the  custom  of 
the  manor,  in  the  term  of  St.  Michael,  to  wit,  of  each  of  them  6d.  per  annum,  besides  12d. 
of  ancient  rent.  And  for  2d.  of  increase  of  the  rent  of  Jevan  Legge  by  the  year  in  the 
said  2  terms  besides  lOd.  of  ancient  rent.  Sum  £8  7  11. 

Foreign  rents. — Out  of  £4  8  10  of  the  rents  of  the  free  tenants  of  Btli  and  Mara 
in  the  term  of  St.  Michael  by  the  third  part  of  the  lands  which  Eichard  de  la  Mere  lately 
held  there  for  the  term  of  his  life  of  the  grant  of  the  lord  he  renders  nothing  here  because 
the  beadle  of  Dynas  renders  for  the  same  in  his  account  there.  Sum,  nil. 

Farm  of  the  demesne  lands  with  the  issues  of  the  Mill. — And  he  does  not  render 
(answer  for)  anything  of  the  2s.  of  the  issues  of  the  water  mill  at  Mora  this  year  because 
it  lies  in  ruins.  But  he  renders  (answers)  for  10s.  of  the  farm  of  24  acres  and  3  rods  of 
the  demesne  land,  there,  so  demised  this  year.  And  for  24s.  4d.  for  the  farm  of  123a.  Ir. 
of  the  demesne  lands,  so  demised  this  year,  and  not  more,  because  4  acres  of  the  said  land 
lie  in  the  hands  of  the  lord  through  want  of  farmers,  and  no  profits  were  forthcoming  from 
the  same  by  the  oath  of  the  accountant.  But  he  does  not  render  account  for  the  farm  of 
the  manor  house  there  with  the  curtilage  sometime  of — Holleway,  and  which  ought  to  be 
leased  with  an  orchard  there  for  5s.  4d.  per  annum;  nor  for  8s.  4d.  of  the  fruit  and 
pasture  of  the  orchard  there  this  year.  But  he  renders  account  for  20s.  of  the  farm  of  the 
fishing  in  the  lake  of  Mara,  so  demised  this  year.  And  for  6s  8d  for  the  farm  of  24  acres 
of  the  demesne  lands  so  demised  this  year.  And  for  89s.  4d.  for  the  farm  of  24  acres  of 
meadow  there  so  demised  this  year.  But  he  renders  nothing  here  for  the  issues  of  2 
curtilages  sometime  of  Eichard  Millewarde,  because  they  are  in  ruins.  Sum  £4  19  4. 

Issues  of  the  manor. — But  he  renders  (answers)  nothing  for  the  tallage  of  the  natives 
in  the  term  of  St.  Martin  because  it  is  within  the  high  halmote.  And  he  renders  nothing 
for  the  pannage  of  the  pigs  of  the  natives  called  Wormetak  in  the  same  term  because  it 
appears  on  the  roll  of  the  said  halmote.  And  he  renders  nothing  this  year  for  the  hens 
forthcoming  from  the  custom  of  the  customary  tenants  there  in  the  term  of  the  nativity  of 
Our  Lord,  beyond  2d.  for  2  hens  in  the  allowance  of  the  said  accountant  by  reason  of  his 


(48) 

office  And  of  the  2d.  of  Bondemere  so  lately  demised  to  Richard  Piper  he  renders  here 
nothing  this  year  for  want  of  farmers,  by  the  oath  of  the  accountant.  But  he  renders 
(answers  for)  of  the  6d.  of  the  farm  of  the  pasture  called  tiilbesdiche  and  Crokeworth 
2d  so  demised  this  year.  Of  the  farm  of  the  pasture  of  Totteford  nothing  this  year  for 
want  of  farmers.  But  he  renders  (answers  for)  of  the  4d.  of  the  farm  of  the  demesne 
lauds  at  Greueputtes,  so  demised  this  year.  Of  the  eels  sold  there  he  does  not  render 
account  here,  because  they  are  with  the  farm  of  the  ffishmg  above.  Neither  does  he 
render  (answer)  for  wild  (wood)  honey  and  wax  found  there  this  year,  because  none  such 
happened.  Sum  lOd. 

Perquisites  of  the  Halmote. — Neither  does  he  render  account  for  any  money  forth- 
coming from  the  perquisites  of  the  halmote  held  there  this  year,  because  they  are  in  the 
account  of  the  Welsh  reeve  and  beadle.  Sum  nil. 

Received  there.— Sum  total  of  the  receipts  with  the  arrearages  £79  16  0£.  Out  of 
which  he  delivered  to  the  said  receiver  by  the  hands  of  his  said  deputy  of  the  issues  of  his 
Office  this  year  by  the  recognizance  of  the  said  deputy  receiver  upon  this  account  before 
the  auditor  of  the  lord  the  King  there,  £8  18  4.  And  he  owes  £71  17  8$. 

Respited.— To  him  of  the  decayed  rents  of  divers  land  and  tenements  being  m  the 
hands  of  the  lord  as  in  the  account  preceding,  to  wit,  for  the  term  of  St.  Michael  in  the  1st 
year  of  King  Henry  8  66s  8Jd  as  well  as  for  this  year  and  11  years  next  preceding, 
each  year  118s.  5d. 

Military  bedelry. — The  account  of  Roger  Vaughan  beadle  there  for  the  said  time. 

Arrearages.— The  same  renders  account  for  £39  12  6£  of  the  arrearages  of  the 
account  of  the  year  next  preceding  as  appears  in  the  foot.  Sum  £39  12  6J. 

Rent  of  Assize.— And  for  26s.  If  of  foreign  rents  of  assize  there  in  the  term  of  the 
Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin.  And  for  7s.  1\  received  of  the  rents  of  the 
free  tenants  in  the  bailiwick  in  the  same  term.  And  for  10s.  lOf  of  the  rent  of  Assize  of  the 
free  tenants  of  Mara  in  the  same  term.  And  for  18s.  8J  of  the  rents  of  the  same  in 
Michaelmas  term.  And  for  6s.  7d.  of  the  rents  of  the  free  tenants  of  Dynas  in  the  same 
term.  And  for  6d.  of  the  rent  of  1  Ib.  of  cuminin  sold  in  the  same  term.  And  for  64s.  8J 
of  the  rents  of  the  free  tenants  in  Mara  in  the  same  term,  with  3d.  of  increase  of  the  rent 
of  John  Foster  and  Id.  of  the  increase  of  the  rent  of  Walter  Shepherde.  And  for  3d.  of 
the  increase  of  the  rent  of  John  Jevan  of  Mara,  Trahayron  ap  Jevan  de  Betti  and  Philip 
Reese  in  the  same  term,  each  of  them  Id.  And  for  2d.  of  the  new  rent  of  Thomas 
Gounter  for  one  messuage  in  Mara  in  the  same  term.  And  for  Id.  of  the  increase  of  the 
rent  of  Walter  Hynde  for  one  therrell  in  Mara.  And  for  2d.  for  2  pairs  of  gloves  of  rent 
there  sold  in  Michaelmas  term.  And  for  2d.  for  the  rent  of  1  hawk  in  the  term  of  the 
Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptiet  so  sold  this  year.  Sum  £9  6s.  Id. 

Rent  of  the  Avowry. — And  for  4d.  of  the  rent  of  the  avowry  there  as  appears  in  a 
schedule  shewn  upon  the  account  of  divers  preceding  years.  Sum  4d. 

Tolls. — But  he  does  not  render  any  account  for  any  profit  arising  from  the  tolls  of  the 
English  in  the  lordship  there  with  the  tax  this  year,  because  no  profit  has  arisen  from  the 
same.  Sum,  nil. 

Perquisites  of  court. — Neither  does  he  return  for  any  moneys  forthcoming  from  the 
perquisites  of  the  court  held  there  this  year,  because  they  are  charged  in  the  Welsh 
account.  Sum,  nil. 

Sum  total  of  the  receipts  with  the  arrearages,  £48  18  Hi.  Afterwards  charged  with 
8d.  of  the  rent  of  one  old  dovecote  by  the  supervision  there  demised  to  Roger  Vaughan  for 
the  term  of  21  years,  this  year  being  the  first  of  his  term.  And  he  owes  the  joint  sums 
JB48  19  7|,  out  of  which  out  of  the  regard  given  to  the  said  accountant  for  the  collection 
of  the  rent  there  this  year,  as  is  allowed  in  the  preceding  accounts — 8s.  And  he  delivered 
to  the  aforesaid  receiver  general  by  the  hands  of  his  said  deputy  of  the  issves  of  his  office 
this  year  by  the  recognizance  of  the  said  receiver  upon  this  account  before  the  auditor  of 
the  lord  the  King  there,  £5  10  2d.  And  he  owes  £43  1  5£. 

Respited  to  him  for  the  decayed  rents  of  divers  lands  and  tenements  being  in  the 
hands  of  the  lord  as  in  the  preceding  accounts,  as  well  as  for  Michaelmas  term  in  the  first 
year  of  the  King  that  now  is — 34s  5|d,  as  for  this  year  and  II  years  next  preceding, 
each  year  68s  lid. 


(49) 

Mara  Betti  Borough. — Account  of  the  same  William  Thomas  ap  David  reeve  there 
during  the  said  time. 

Arrearages. — And  the  same  renders  account  of  £7  11  5  of  the  arrearages  of  the 
account  of  the  year  next  preceding  as  appears  in  the  foot  of  the  same.  Sum  £7  11  5. 

Bents  of  Assize. — And  for  £420  received  of  the  rent  of  the  borough  there  by  the 
year  at  the  feast  of  St.  Michael.  Of  the  rent  of  6  burgages  there  which  ought  to  pay  by 
the  year  6s  nothing  is  charged  here  because  they  lie  vacant  in  the  hands  of  the  lord,  by 
the  oath  of  the  accountant.  But  he  renders  for  12d  of  the  rent  of  one  curtilage  late  of 
Richard  Miller  lying  in  Mara  late  in  the  charge  of  the  reeve  of  the  manor  of  Mara  at  lOd 
by  the  year,  and  now  demised  to  —  -  by  the  name  of  a  burgage  to  him  and  his  heirs  for 
2d  of  increase  by  the  rolls  of  the  Court — of  the  year  preceding.  Sum  £4  3  0. 

Perquisites  of  the  Court. — But  he  does  not  render  account  for  any  profits  arising 
from  the  perquisites  of  the  hundred  held  there  this  year  because  they  are  in  the  account 
of  the  Welsh  reeve  and  beadle.  Sum  Nil.  Sum  total  with  arrearages — £11  14  5,  out  of 
which 

Default  of  Rents. — The  same  accounted  in  default  of  rents  of  divers  burgages  lying 
in  the  hands  of  the  lord  for  default  of  tenants  by  the  oath  of  the  accountant  as  in  the 
proceeding  account,  4s.  Sum  4s. 

Payments  of  Money  — And  in  money  paid  to  the  said  receiver  by  the  hands  of  his 
said  deputy  by  the  recognizance  of  the  said  deputy. 

Received  upon  this  account  before  the  auditor  of  the  lord  the  king  there  without  a 
bill,  65s  lOd.  Sum  65s  lOd. 

Sum  of  all  the  allowances  and  payments  aforesaid,  69s  lOd.     And  he  owes  £8  4  7. 

Respited.— To  him  of  the  decayed  rents  of  divers  lands  and  tenements  being  in  the 
hands  of  the  lord  as  in  the  preceding  accounts,  to  wit,  as  well  for  Michaelmas  term  in 
the  first  year  of  the  King  that  now  is  as  for  this  year  and  11  years  next  preceding,  each 
year  18s  2d. 

Dynas  Forest. — The  account  of  William  Herbert  forester  there  for  the  said  time. 

Issues  of  the  forest. — Of  the  mone\  forthcoming  from  divers  men  gathering  wood  in 
the  forest  there  with  as  many  horses  in  the  term  of  the  Nativity  of  Our  Lord,  to  wit,  of 
each  man  with  a  horse  3d.  he  renders  (answers)  nothing  because  in  the  farm  below. 
Neither  does  he  render  account  of  the  men  gathering  wood  without  horses,  in  the  said 
term,  of  each  man  l£d.  for  the  said  cause.  Nor  for  the  men  gathering  wood  with  so  many 
horses  in  the  said  forest  in  the  term  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin, 
to  wit,  of  each  man  with  a  horse,  for  the  said  cause.  Nor  for  the  men  gathering  wood 
without  horses  in  the  said  term,  to  wit,  of  each  man  IJd  for  the  said  cause.  Nor  for  the 
men  gathering  wood  in  the  said  forest  with  as  many  horses,  in  the  term  of  the  Nativity  of 
St.  John  the  Baptist,  to  wit,  of  each  man  with  a  horse  3d,  for  the  said  cause.  Nor  for  the 
men  gathering  wood  without  horses,  to  wit,  of  each  man  l£d,  as  above.  Nor  for  the  men 
gathering  wood  with  so  many  horses  in  the  said  forest  in  Michaelmas  term,  of  each  man 
3d  for  the  said  cause,  nor  for  the  men  gathering  wood  without  horses  in  the  said  term  to 
wit,  for  each  man  l£d  for  the  said  cause,  Nor  for  the  men  for  having  their  way  in  the 
said  forest  in  Michaelmas  term,  for  the  said  cause.  Nor  for  the  brewings  of  the  town  of 
Tallegarth  to  be  made  this  year  at  the  feast  of  the  Nativity  of  Our  Lord,  to  wit,  for  each 
brewing  for  e.ach  man  ....  of  dead  wood  (?)  2d,  for  the  said  cause.  Nor  for  12d 
from  divers  men  for  having  their  way  at  the  pease  this  year.  Neither  does  he  render  any- 
thing for  the  toll  of  divers  men  going  through  the  forest  beyond  the  way  this  year,  although 
there  ought  to  be  paid  8s.  Neither  does  he  render  anything  for  the  nuts  to  be  sold  there 
this  year.  Nor  does  he  render  anything  for  the  honey  and  wax  of  the  woods  hold  there 
this  year.  Neither  does  he  render  anything  for  the  hens  forthcoming  from  the  customary 
tenants  of  Talgarth  seeking  for  wood  in  the  said  forest  this  year,  to  wit,  of  each  of  them 
2  hens,  price  per  head  Id.  Neither  does  he  render  anything  for  the  attachment  of  strange 
beasts  in  the  said  forest  this  year,  because  it  is  let  to  farm  below.  Sum — Nothing. 

Agistment  of  the  Forest  with  the  Pannage  of  the  Pigs. — Nor  does  he  render  anything 
this  year  of  the  pannage  of  the  pigs  in  the  country  there,  to  wit,  of  those  who  have  pigs 
and  do  not  extend  to  the  number  of  3  pigs,  and  if  they  have  three  pigs  or  more,  the  lord 
shall  have  the  pig  cf  each  of  them,  because  it  is  let  to  farm  below,  Nor  does  he  render 


(50) 

anything  from  the  tenants  there  for  the  pigs  accruing  to  the  lord  as  above,  because  none 
happened.  Nor  does  he  render  anything  of  the  16s  of  the  agistment  of  the  goats  in  the 
said  forest  in  the  term  of  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord,  for  each  goat  Id,  for  the  cause  aforesaid. 
Nor  does  he  render  anything  for  the  herbage  of  the  Holyns  trodden  down  by  the  animals 
depasturing  for  the  said  cause.  Nor  does  he  render  anything  here  for  the  goats  agisted  in 
the  said  forest  in  the  term  of  the  Nativity  of  John  the  Baptist  because  it  is  let  to  farm 
below.  Nor  does  he  render  anything  for  the  fine  of  strangers  going  across  by  the  ways  in 
the  said  forest  in  Michaelmas  term  for  the  cause  aforesaid. — Sum — nil. 

Farm. — But  he  renders  account  for  40s.  of  the  farm  of  the  farm  there  so  demised  to — 
this  year  as  in  the  preceeding.  Sum  40s. 

Perquisites  of  court. — But  he  does  not  answer  here  for  any  moneys  forthcoming  from 
the  perquisites  of  the  Court  held  there  this  year  because  they  are  in  the  account  of  the 
Welsh  reeve  when  they  happen.  Sum  nil. 

Eeceived  there. — Sum  of  the  farm  aforesaid  40s.  which  he  delivered  to  the  said 
receiver  by  the  hands  of  his  deputy  by  the  recognizance  of  the  same  deputy  receiver  upon 
this  account  before  the  auditor  of  the  lord  the  King  there. — And  they  are  equal. 

Blli  Manor. — The  account  of  the  aforesaid  William  Thomas,  reeve  there  for  the  time 
aforesaid. 

Arrearages. — The  same  renders  account  for  £18  18  9J  and  half  a  farthing  of  the 
arrearages  of  the  account  there  for  the  year  next  preceding  as  appears  at  the  foot  of  the 
same.  Sum  £18  18  9J  and  half  a  farthing. 

Rents  of  Assize. — And  for  85s.  8d.  received  of  the  rents  of  the  natives  there  in  the 
term  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin.  And  for  2s.  7d.  received  of  the 
rents  of  the  same  in  the  term  of  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptist.  And  for  9d. 
received  of  the  rent  of  William  Muldenham  by  the  year  in  the  said  terms.  And  for 
48s.  9J  of  the  rents  of  the  natives  in  the  term  of  St.  Michael  with  5s.  of  the  increase  of 
the  rent  of  William  Wodemonton  in  the  said  term.  And  for  4s.  which  used  to  be  charged 
on  the  account  of  the  old  hill  at  the  same  term.  Sum  £5  8  9£. 

Farm  of  the  demesne  lands. — And  for  16s.  4d.  of  the  farm  of  49  acres  of  demesne 
lands  there  this  year.  And  for  8s.  4d.  received  for  the  farm  of  264  acres  of  the  demesne 
lands  there  so  demised  this  year.  And  for  27s.  2d.  received  for  the  herbage  of  18  acres  of 
meadow  so  demised  this  year  and  not  more  because  they  lie  in  the  hands  of  the  lord  for 
default  of  farmers.  Of  the  13  works  of  the  customary  tenants,  to  wit,  of  each  tenant  8Jd. 
by  the  year,  to  be  paid  equally  in  the  terms  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the 
Virgin,  the  Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  and  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  nothing  is 
charged  here,  because  there  are  no  customary  tenants  there.  But  he  answers  for  6d.  for 
the  farm  of  the  fishing  of  the  pond  there  called  the  pool  next  the  garden  of  the  lord  there 
so  demised  this  year.  And  for  6d.  for  the  herbage  of  one  orchard  next  to  the  Castle  there 
at  the  end  of  the  ffysshe  pool  next  the  garden  so  demised  this  year.  And  for  6d.  received 
for  the  farm  of  one  close  called  Curverhouse  Orcharde  so  demised  this  year.  Of  the  farm 
of  the  fulling  mill  on  Kyrssbroke  he  does  not  answer  here  because  the  windmill  is  there 
now.  Nor  does  he  answer  for  the  farm  of  the  water  mill  there  because  it  is  altogether  in 
ruins.  Sums  48s.  4d. 

Issues  of  the  Manor. — Nor  does  he  answer  anything  of  the  hens  of  the  rent  of  the 
customary  tenants  there  sold  in  the  term  of  the  Nativity  of  our  Lord,  because  there  are 
no  customary  tenants  there.  Nor  does  he  answer  anything  of  the  tallage  of  the  natives 
this  year.  Nor  does  he  answer  for  the  Wormetak  of  the  natives  this  year,  because  there 
are  no  natives  there.  Nor  does  he  answer  anything  for  the  sale  of  wood  there  this  year, 
because  none  happened.  Nor  does  he  answer  for  lerewhit  there  this  year.  Nor  does  he 
answer  for  the  rents  of  the  tenants  advowed  there  as  is  witnessed  by  the  locum  teneus  of 
the  steward  of  the  court  upon  this  account.  Nor  does  he  answer  anything  for  the  farm  of 
the  dovecote  there  this  year  by  the  oath  of  the  accountant.  Sum  nil. 

Perquisites  of  the  court. — Nor  does  he  answer  for  any  moneys  forthcoming  from  the 
perquisites  of  the  court  held  there  this  year  because  they  are  charged   in  the  Welsh  • 
account  and  bedelry  if  there  were  any.     Sum  nil. 

Received  there.— Sum  total  of  the  receipts  with  the  arrearages  £26  15  10£  half  a 
farthing,  out  of  which  he  delivered  to  William  Herbert  deputy  receiver  there  of  the  issues  of 


(61) 

his  office  this  year  by  the  recognizance  of  the  said  deputy  receiver  upon  this  account 
before  the  auditor  of  the  lord  the  King  there  £6  4  2.  And  he  owes  £20  11  8  half  a 
farthing. 

Eespited. — To  him  for  the  decay  of  the  rents  of  divers  lands  and  tenements 
being  in  the  hand  of  the  lord  as  in  the  accounts  preceding,  to  wit,  as  well  for 
Michaelmas  term  in  the  first  year  of  the  King  aforesaid  16s.  6£.  half  a  farthing  as  for  this 
year  and  II  years  next  preceding,  each  year  82s  lljd. 

Dynas  manor. — The  account  of  William  Herbert  farmer  there  for  the  said  time. 

Eents  and  farms. — The  same  renders  account  for  80s.  of  the  farm  there  with  the  farm 
of  the  park  so  demised  to  the  said  accountant  this  year.  For  the  honey  and  wax  of  the 
woods  or  the  "iopp  or  crop;  of  the  ash  trees  sold  there  this  year  he  does  not  answer 
because  they  are  by  themselves  above  with  the  farm  aforesaid.  Sum  80s. 

Keceipts  there. — Sum  of  the  farm  80s.  which  he  delivered  to  the  receiver  by  his 
recognizance  upon  this  account  before  the  auditor  of  the  lord  the  King  there. — And  they 
are  equal. 

[Endorsed]  Dynas  with  its  members,  parcel  of  the  county  of  the  Marches.  The  accounts 
of  all  and  singular  the  ministers  of  the  lord  the  King  Henry  the  8th  there  ending  (?) 
at  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  in  the  13th  year  of  the  said  King. 


(52) 

Absolution  of  Catherine  Powell,  1735. 


Defamation  is  the  offence  of  speaking  scandalous  words  of  another,  and  was  in  the 
last  century  punishable  by  the  ecclesiastical  laws.  For  instance,  if  a  person  was  called  a 
Heretic,  Schismatic,  or  said  to  have  broken  the  Seventh  Commandment,  the  Ecclesiastical 
judges  would  deal  with  the  offender.  No  damages  were  given,  and  the  suit  was  only  for 
punishment  of  the  fault  by  way  of  penance.  If  the  offence  was  proved,  excommunication 
followed,  and  if  the  excommunicated  person  obstinately  refused  to  seek  absolutien,  a  writ 
then  issued  for  imprisoning  him  or  her  without  bail  or  mainprize  (friendly  custody)  until 
they  conform. 

In  the  following  case  Widow  Catherine  Powell  did  not  at  first  appear  to  answer  the 
charge,  and  a  decree  of  excommunication  was  made  against  her  in  the  Archdeacon's 
Court  at  Brecon.  Then  better  counsels  prevailed,  and  absolution  from  the  decree  was 
duly  sought  for  and  obtained.  The  bond  entered  into  by  her  with  a  substantial  surety 
for  JE100  is  given  below,  and  as  the  matter  occurred  one  hundred  and  sixty  years 
ago,  there  cannot  be,  w«  trust,  the  slightest  harm  in  giving  the  names  of  all  the  parties  as 
they  appear  in  the  old  paper. 

LLANVIHANGELL  NANT  BRAN — 15™  NOVEMBER  1785. 
A  Bond  for  granting  an  Absolution  to  Catherine  Powell. 

Know  all  Men  by  these  presents  that  We  Catherine  Powell  late  of  the  Parish  of 
Llanvihangell  nant  Bran  in  the  County  of  Brecon  Widow  and  Walter  Williams  of 
Penpont  in  the  County  aforesaid  Gent  are  held  and  firmly  bound  unto  the  Eight 
Reverend  ffather  in  God  Nicolas  by  Divine  permission  Lord  Bishop  of  St.  Davids  in 
the  sum  of  One  Hundred  Pounds  of  good  and  lawfull  money  of  Great  Brittain  to  be 
paid  to  the  said  Lord  Bishop  or  to  his  Certain  Attorney  his  Executors  Administrators 
or  Assigns  To  which  payments  well  and  truly  to  be  made  we  oblidge  our  selves  and 
each  of  Us  by  himselfe  severally  for  the  whole  our  and  every  of  our  heirs  Executors 
and  Administrators  firmly  by  these  presents  Sealed  with  our  Seals  Dated  the  fifteenth 
day  of  November  in  the  Ninth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George  the 
Second  by  the  grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain  Ffrance  and  Ireland  King  Defender  of  the 
faith  and  so  forth  and  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  God  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred 
and  thirty  five. 

The  Condition  of  the  Obligation  is  Such  that  whereas  the  above  bounden 
Catherine  Powell  was  by  a  decree  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Court  held  for  the  Archdeacon 
of  Brecon  Excommunicated  for  not  appearing  to  answer  Sarah  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Price  of  the  Parish  of  Llanll  nant  Bran  in  the  County  of  Brecon  in  a  Cause  of 
Defamation  from  which  Decree  of  Excornunication  She  is  now  Absolved  Now  Therefore 
if  the  said  Catherine  Powell  shall  and  will  from  time  to  time  and  at  all  times  herein- 
after observe  stand  to  perform  and  obey  all  the  Decrees  and  mandates  of  the  said 
Court  in  all  their  Lawfull  and  Just  Commands  and  shall  also  Save  harmless  and 
keep  indemnified  the  above  named  Lord  Bishop  his  Vicar  general  and  all  other  his 
Officers  Concerning  the  premises  and  Shall  also  pay  or  Cause  to  be  paid  all  Such 
Costs  of  Suit  or  Sume  or  Sumes  of  Money  as  the  Said  Lord  Bishop  his  Vicar 
generall  or  his  Surrogates  Shall  tax  in  the  Cause  against  the  said  Catherine  Powell 
then  this  obligation  to  be  void  and  of  none  effect  or  else  the  same  to  be  remain  in  full 
force  and  Virtue. 

Sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of 

EDWARD  DA  VIES 

The  marks  of 

CATHERINE  POWELL 
WALTER   WILLIAMS 


(53) 

The  Black  Cattle  Droves. 


The  passage  of  large  droves  of  black  cattle,  from  Carmarthenshire,  Pembrokeshire, 
and  Cardiganshire,  through  Breconshire  to  the  markets  of  England,  was  in  pre-railway 
days  a  common  event ;  and  now  that  it  has  ceased,  the  cattle  being  taken  more  quickly 
and  cheaply  by  rail  instead,  it  will  be  interesting  to  place  on  record  the  facts 
that  I  remember,  or  that  have  been  told  me  by  persons  now  living,  concerning  the 
practice  of  the  olden  time. 

During  the  holding  of  the  summer  or  early  autumn  fairs,  the  chief  capitalist  drovers 
purchased  and  collected  together  their  droves  in  Cardiganshire  and  North  Carmarthen- 
shire ;  and  similarly  other  drovers,  in  Pembrokeshire  and  west  and  south  Carmarthenshire, 
arranged  for  the  assembling  of  the  cattle  they  had  purchased  at  some  given  point.  They 
were  all  black  oxen,  and  some  of  the  Castle  Martin  breed  were  large,  having  long  white 
branching  horns.  We  should  call  them  two-year-old  steers,  and  they  were 
roomy  and  well-developed  animals. 

The  Cardiganshire  droves  passed  through  Lampeter,  and  thence  along  the  main 
Llandovery  turnpike  road  to  Pentre  Davies  tollgate,  near  Pumpsaint  in  Carmarthenshire. 
They  paid  a  toll  there,  but  it  was  the  last  toll  paid  until  they  reached  Khydspence  on 
the  borders  of  Eadnorshire  and  Herefordshire,  where  they  entered  England,  the  intervening 
distance  of  40  miles  being  partly  along  by-roads,  but  mainly  over  the  open  bill. 

These  droves,  having  left  the  main  Llandovery  turnpike  road  at  Pumpsaint,  turned 
down  the  parish  highway  leading  by  Ogofau  (Angl.  Caves),  Caio  Village,  Albert  Mount, 
Pencraig,  Penlevy,  Cwmfran  fawr,  and  Cilcwm  Village  to  the  river  Towy,  at  a  point  four 
miles  above  Llandovery.  This  river  they  forded,  and  still  keeping  the  by-roads,  crossed  the 
Forest  bank  by  Pendryn  llwyn  to  Talgarth  Inn,  in  the  Bran  Valley.  Here  they  took  the 
Llwydlo  road  for  some  distance,  until  branching  off  to  the  right  by  Aberebwll  on  the 
borders  of  Breconshire  and  by  Spite  Inn  (Lat.  hospitium),  they  reached  Llandulas  Church. 
Here  we  must  let  them  rest  for  a  moment,  before  we  climb  together  the  steep  of  Epynt, 
and  I  hope  some  of  our  readers  are  following  on  the  map  the  course  we  are 
taking. 

The  droves  that  were  collected  in  Pembrokeshire,  and  south  and  west  Carmarthen- 
shire, made  for  Llandovery,  as  the  common  starting  point,  and  are  awaiting  there  the 
signal  that  all  is  ready  for  a  start.  On  leaving  that  town  and  its  rich  accommodation 
meadow  land  on  the  Bran  and  Gwydderig  sides,  having  been  of  course  first  duly  shod,  the 
droves  passed  through  the  Velindre  turnpike  gate,  paying  there  their  last  Welsh  toll,  and 
along  the  main  Brecon  road  for  4J  miles  to  Pentrebach.  Here  they  left  the  main  road, 
and  crossing  the  Gwydderig  stream,  followed  the  highway  leading  over  Cefn  Erthan  to 
Llandilo  fan,  as  far  as  Clwydd  y  Watch.  Here  they  turned  a  little  to  the  left,  and  passing 
over  Trelaeth  hill  soon  reached  Llandulas  Church,  joining  there  the  cattle  track,  as  we 
have  seen,  from  Cardiganshire. 

And  now  we  must  climb  together  the  steep  escarped  side  of  Epynt,  and  a  fine  sight 
that  must  have  bsen  along  the  sloping  roadway  (rhiw)  up  the  mountain  side,  the  deep 
black  gorge  of  Cwmydwyfnnant  beneath,  and  the  purple  heath  clad  banks  on  either  side. 
I  have  ridden  along  this  sloping  mountain-side  roadway,  but  have  never  seen  the  droves 
of  big  majestic  black  oxen  passing  up  in  single  file  in  an  almost  endless  procession.  It 
must  have  been  a  grand  sight,  the  massive  jet  black  beasts  leisurely  labouring  upwards, 
with  here  and  there  in  view  a  single  horseman,  or  group  of  horsemen  in  charge,  and  then 
would  come  the  thought  that  none  of  those  thousands  of  cattle  would  ever  return  ! 

But  they  have  passed  Cefn-iolau  and  Crossynn,  have  ascended  the  sloping  mountain 
track,  and  are  breathing  easily  the  fresh  air  of  the  plateau  of  the  Epynt  range.  With  heads 
pointing  for  the  east,  and  for  England,  they  pass  along  the  broad  deeply  indented  go-where- 
you-please  track  on  the  level  mountain  top  by  Fynnon  David  Bevan  and  Tircrugyu,  and 


(54) 

thence    across    the    Brecon    and  Maescefnyffordd    road    by    Pencenffordd,    where    the 
Drovers'  Arms  welcomed  the  thirsty  drovers. 

Thence  refreshed,  and  perhaps  having  rested  on  the  open  hill  for  the  night,  the 
drovers  crossed  the  Builth  and  Brecon  road  at  Gwm  Owen  (possibly  along  the  old  cause- 
way), and  following  the  descending  slope  of  hill  to  Twyn  y  big,  took  the  Blaen  hir  Waun 
track  down  the  mountain  side  along  the  Twympath,  leaving  Gwenddwr  on  the  right,  and 
made  for  the  passage  of  the  Wye  at  Erwood.  There,  if  the  river  was  fairly  low,  the  huge 
beasts  forded  the  stream,  and  an  exciting  scene  that  must  have  been.  If  the  river  was  in 
flood,  little  Twm  with  his  boat,  Cavan-Twm-bach,  took  care  of  them,  and  ferried  the 
cattle  across.  Like  Charon  at  the  river  Styx,  he  patiently  waited  for  his  passengers  to 
come ;  and  often  Twm,  like  the  salmon  angler  now  does,  uttered  a  silent  prayer  that  some 
good  strong  "  freshes  "  might  be  sent  by  a  beneficent  Providence  so  as  to  make  the  stream 
unfordable.  That  ferrying  over  must  have  been  a  long  and  tedious  work,  and  full  of 
excitement,  and  sometimes  very  dangerous,  as  now  and  agiin  both  men  and  cattle  were 
washed  away. 

Once  safely  across  the  Wye,  they  made  their  way  over  the  open  hill  of  Llandilo  Allt, 
or  Garth,  and  passing  Sunny  Bank  and  Penrhue  crossed  a  hill  called  Penpreselly,  and  so 
on  to  Penbryn  coch  and  Painscastle.  Here  some  of  the  droves  rested,  and  had  their  shoes 
looked  to,  after  which  their  road  lay  over  Clyro  hill  to  Ehydspence  on  the  left  bank  of  the 
Wye  near  the  border  of  Herefordshire.  Here  also  shoes  were  looked  to,  and  it  was  the 
special  business  of  the  blacksmith  there  to  attend  to  the  shoeing  before  the  cattle  travelled 
the  hard  roads  of  Herefordshire.  The  first  toll  paid  in  England  was  at  Willersley  turnpike. 

From  thence  onwards  the  droves  were  taken  to  the  English  markets  and  fairs, 
Leicester  and  Northampton,  and  even  to  Kent  and  Essex,  making  about  20  miles  a  day, 
the  by-roads  being  always  chosen,  where  practicable,  to  avoid  the  payment  of  tolls.  Probably 
the  cattle  went  to  the  same  markets  as  they  do  to-day,  because  the  chief  grazing  districts 
of  England  remained  unchanged.  I  do  not  think  they  went  as  far  east  as  Norfolk,  for 
recently  when  I  saw  on  the  broad  salt  marshes  of  the  Yare  and  Bure  rivers  thousands  of 
young  cattle  grazing  there,  which  had  been  brought  from  Ireland,  Scotland,  and  Canada, 
I  failed  to  find  a  single  black  beast  among  them.  As  it  is  now,  probably  it  was  then,  the 
nearer  markets  to  Wales  were  found  the  best. 

Many  droves,  however,  reached  London,  and  were  sold  in  the  old  Smithfield  market, 
near  St.  Bartholomew's  hospital.  One  public  house  there,  the  Lock  and  Key — still 
standing,  for  public  houses  live  long — was  specially  patronised  by  the  Welsh  drovers,  and 
was  in  fact  their  house  of  call,  and  here  I  may  be  permitted  to  give  an  amusing  story. 
Some  of  the  cattle  dealers  used  to  walk  out  in  the  town  in  the  evening,  and  stroll  here  and 
there,  little  thinking  they  might  get  lost,  but  many  of  them  were  out  all  night,  trying  but 
failing  to  find  the  Lock  and  Key.  On  one  occasion  two  men  from  the  neighbourhood  of 
Llansawel  strayed  out  from  the  Lock  and  Key,  and,  in  their  efforts  to  return,  got  hope- 
lessly lost.  At  last  it  occurred  to  one  to  ask  their  way  to  Bailey  Vicar  (the  largest  farm 
in  the  parish  of  Llansawel),  when  it  is  said  they  met  a  Welshman,  who  guided  them  back 
to  the  Lock  and  Key  !  It  is  a  curious  coincidence,  that  a  public  house  with  the  same 
sign,  is  to  be  found  at  Pencarreg,  near  Lampeter. 

In  troublous  times,  when  gold  and  silver  had  to  be  carried  largely  on  the  person,  and 
specially  by  drovers  after  completing  their  sales,  the  sign  of  the  Lock  and  Key  was  by  no 
means  a  bad  one  for  a  house  of  call  for  drovers.  Presumably  the  doors  were  securely 
barred  at  night,  even  if  the  landlord  did  not  possess  a  modem  safe,  and  the  sleep  of  the 
drovers  was  calm  and  peaceful.  Since  then  of  course  the  live  cattle  trade  has  been 
removed  from  old  Smithfield  to  the  market  in  Copenhagen  fields  at  Islington,  but  you  can 
see  the  same  public  house  to-day  on  the  east  side  of  the  Square  ;  and  when  there,  do  not 
forget  the  wondrous  old  church  of  St.  Bartholomew  hard  by. 

Readers  have  heard  of  the  Black  Ox  figuring  on  the  bank  notes  of  David  Jones  & 
Co.,  bankers,  of  Llandovery.  I  believe  David  Jones,  of  Blaenos,  the  founder  of  the  firm, 
and  of  the  Pantglas  family,  was  one  of  the  chief  cattle  drovers.  How  the  drovers  were 
financed  I  do  not  know,  but  probably  it  was  made  easy  when  the  Black  Ox  Bank  with  its 
various  branches  was  established  in  Carmarthenshire  and  Cardiganshire.  Most  of  the 


(55)' 

dealers  lived  in  the  parishes  of  Caio  and  Llancrwys,  with  the  exception  of  one  named 
Griffiths,  of  Cilgerran,  on  Teivy,  who  is  said  to  have  done  the  biggest  trade  of  them  all. 
Then  there  were  the  Evans's  of  Llawdre  ;  Davies,  the  Farmers  ;  Tom  Phillips,  of  Peny- 
bank  ;  Jones,  of  the  Tanner's  Hall,  Llandovery  ;  and  a  number  of  smaller  dealers.  They 
purchased  their  cattle  here  and  there  throughout  the  three  counties  of  Carmarthen, 
Pembroke,  and  Cardigan. 

It  was  the  custom  to  divide  each  drove  into  lots,  each  lot  being  in  charge  of  a  drover. 
The  drover  of  the  leading  lot,  generally  about  six  of  the  finest  oxen,  was  called  the 
"Guide," — a  man  who  became  usually,  as  a  rule,  in  turn  a  cattle  dealer.  Dan  Davies 
was  Tom  Phillips'  "guide  "  before  he  became  a  cattle  dealer  ;  but  Dan,  I  am  told,  was 
only  a  guide  during  the  period  when  cattle  were  driven.  His  success  in  the  business 
happened  after  the  advance  of  railways.  Old  Davies,  of  Cefn  tybych,  from  the  Cothy 
Valley,  was  on  the  road  from  early  childhood  ;  if  alive,  he  would  have  been  100  now.  He 
used  to  tell  many  good  tales  of  the  road,  but  my  informant  has  forgotten  them. 

The  shoeing  of  the  cattle  was  a  very  important  affair,  and  preparations  were  made 
long  before-hand.  On  wet  days  and  in  winter,  when  jobs  came  slow  to  hand,  the  smiths 
employed  their  time  in  making  "  Cuse,"  pronounced  Kuce,  that  is, thin  iron  ready  for  making 
the  shoes  of.  They  also  prepared  the  shoes  themselves,  which  consisted  of  two  bits 
of  this  thin  iron  for  each  foot.  The  nails  were  called  "  hoel  ion  cuse."  Shoeing  a  drove 
was  a  great  event.  The  cattle  were  caught,  cast  on  the  ground,  their  legs  tied,  and 
a  piece  of  wood,  shaped  like  a  Y,  was  placed  under  the  crossed  legs  to  keep  the  feet  firm, 
being  heel  upwards.  The  shoes  were  tacked  on  very  quickly,  and  it  was  a  busy,  lively 
scene,  and  cwrw  da  flowed,  it  is  said,  freely. 

Occasionally,  I  have  seen — and  why  they  came  that  way  except  from  stress  of 
weather  and  high  floods  in  the  Towy  or  Wye  I  do  not  know — large  droves  coming  along 
the  road  from  Llandovery  to  Brecon,  and  passing  through  Brecon  on  to  Hay.  It  was  not 
often,  but  I  distinctly  remember  meeting  the  droves  near  Llanspythid,  and  thought — 
I  was  quite  young  then — as  perhaps  I  should  now,  what  a  wondrous  noble  sight  to  see 
this  black  crowd  marching  forward  in  ordered  ranks.  And  it  was  a  novel  sight,  too, 
because  our  Breconshire  cattle  are  so  different,  and,  like  the  old  red  sandstone  soil,  of  red 
colour. 

Ichabod  !  The  droves  are  gone,  and  with  the  droves  the  employment  of  the  shoeing 
smiths,  the  profit  of  tack  to  the  owners  of  the  rich  meadow  land  near  Llandovery,  and  the 
profit  of  the  Drovers'  Arms.  Little  Tom  sat  on  his  ferry  boat  at  the  Cavan  waiting  for  his 
passengers  and  his  obolus,  but  he  waits  now  in  vain.  Painscastle  suffered  a  loss,  too,  and 
the  smith  at  Ehydspence.  and  the  owners  of  the  rich  meadows  at  Whitecross,  Hereford, 
where  I  have  seen  many  a  brave  drove  resting  on  their  way  eastward.  And  so  on  far 
down  the  road  into  England,  many  a  pocket  was  the  lighter  when  the  drovea  ceased  to  pass 
that  way. 

I  am  told  that  occasionally  at  the  present  day,  large  flocks  of  sheep  are  taken  to 
England  along  the  old  track,  and  that  on  Clyro  hill — though  the  hill  has  been  enclosed — 
a  broad  open  roadway  had  been  left  unenclosed,  and  which  is  known  as  the  cattle  track.  This 
is,  as  it  should  be,  though  I  doubt  if  ever  large  droves  of  cattle  will  pass  that  way  again. 
And  on  the  Epynt  range,  the  old  track  is  quite  open  and  ready  for  use  at  the  present 
moment. 

Of  course  the  main  object  probably  of  taking  the  cattle  over  the  hills  and  by  the  bye- 
roads,  was  to  avoid  the  toll-gates,  which  were  at  one  time  thickly  studded  over  Brecon- 
shire,  and,  down  to  their  total  removal  in  1889,  as  close  as  seven  miles  to  each  other  on  the 
game  road.  What  happened  previously  to  1767,  when  the  first  toll  gate  was 
established  in  Breconshire,  it  is  impossible  to  say,  and  what  route  the  cattle  droves  then 
took.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  Cardiganshire  droves  continued  along  the  straight 
and  dry  Roman  road  over  Llwydlo  to  Builth,  instead  of  taking  the  hill  at  Llandulas,  and 
that  almost  certainly  some  of  the  Carmarthenshire  and  Pembrokeshire  droves  ascended 
the  Trecastle  mountain  at  the  Black  Cock,  and  so  over  that  mountain  to  Llywel.  Thence 
they  would  make  for  the  Wye  over  Llandilo  Fan  hills  and  Epynt,  much  the  same  route  as 
described,  or  possibly  they  took  the  main  county  roads  to  Brecon  and  Hay,  and  so  on 


(56) 


to  Hereford.  The  signs  of  great  traffic  over  the  Trecastle  mountain  are  so  apparent 
as  to  warrant  this  suggestion  ;  and  it  is  quite  certain  that  the  low-lying  bottom  road  in 
the  Cwmdwr  Valley  had  not  then  been  formed. 

I  have  made  a  rough  calculation  of  the  number  of  the  cattle  passing,  along  the  routes 
described,  in  a  year.  It  works  out  at  30,000  total,  of  which  I  credit  13,000  to  Carmarthen- 
shire 10  000  to  Pembrokeshire,  and  7,000  to  Cardiganshire.  In  conclusion  I  have  to 
thank  several .  valued  correspondents  in  the  Cothy,  Towy,  and  Wye  Valleys  for  the 
information  they  have  kindly  given  me  on  this  interesting  subject. 


Grant  of  Brecon  Lordship  to  Sir  Francis 
Bacon,  in  Trust. 


PATENT     ROLL.     14     JAMES     I.     P.20     M.I.     (1G17). 


Indenture  made  10  January  14  James  I.  [1617]  between  the  King  of  the  one  part  and 
Sir  Francis  Bacon,  Sir  John  Baccombe,  Knight,  and  others  of  the  other  part. 

The  King  grants  to  the  said  Sir  Francis  Bacon  and  others  all  those  lordships  and 
lands  of  North  Wales,  South  Wales,  and  West  Wales,  in  any  way  belonging  to  the 
Principality  of  Wales  :  to  the  only  use  of  Prince  Charles,  Prince  of  Wales,  &c. 

First,  of  the  Lordships,  castles,  &c.,  in  the  county  of  Carnarvon  in  North  Wales. 

And  all  and  every  those  his  Majesty's  lordships  Manners  Townships  lands  and 
tenements  of  Buelth  or  soe  called  or  there  lying  or  renewing  and  Comortha  there  with 
their  rights  members  and  appurtenances  in  the  Kings  Majesties  Countie  of  Brecon,  parcell 
of  the  lands  exchanged  by  William  late  Earl  of  Pembroke.  And  his  Majestys  Rents  and 
farms  of  the  lordships  manors  Townships  lands  and  tenements  of  Buelth  or  so  called  or 
there  lying  or  coming  with  the  rents  of  tenants  there  paid  for  Comortha  in  the  same 
county  of  Brecon  (excepting  a  mill  there  and  lands  and  other  things  to  the  same  mill 
belonging  and  the  rents  and  farms  of  the  same  mill  and  lands  excepted)  And  all  and  every 
those  his  Majesty's  lordships,  manors,  townships  lands  and  tenements  of  Brecon  or  so 
called  or  there  lying  or  coming  with  their  rights,  members  and  appurtenances  in  the  said 
county  of  Brecon  late  parcel  of  the  lands  and  possessions  of  Edward  late  Duke  of 
Buckingham.  And  his  Majestys  rents  and  farms  of  the  lordships,  manors,  townships 
lands  and  tenements  of  Brecon  or  so  called  or  there  lying  or  coming  with  the  appurten- 
ances in  the  same  county  of  Brecon.  And  all  and  every  those  his  Majesty's  manors  town- 
ships, lands  tenements  comortha  and  hereditaments  in  the  charge  of  the  forraigne  Bailift'e 
of  the  possessions  of  the  said  late  Duke  of  Buckingham  or  his  Majestys  possessions  of 
Brecon  or  so  called  or  there  lying  or  renewing  with  the  appurtenances  in  the  aforesaid 
county  of  Brecon.  And  his  Majesty's  rents  and  farms,  lands  and  tenements  in  the  charge 
of  the  foreign  bailiff  of  the  possessions  of  the  aforesaid  Duke  of  Buckingham  in  the  said 
county  of  Brecon,  with  £28.  8.  0.  yearly  paid  for  Comortha  there,  (excepting  a  mill  there 
with  lands  and  other  things  to  the  said  mill  belonging,  and  the  rents  and  farms  of  the 
same  mill  and  lands  excepted).  And  all  and  every  those  his  Majesty's  lordships,  manors, 
townships  lands  and  tenements  of  Welshe  Haya  or  so  called  or  there  lying  or  coming  With 
Comortha  there  with  their  rights  members  and  appurtenances  in  the  said  county  of 
Brecon  And  his  Majesty's  rents  and  farms  of  the  lordships,  manors  townships  lands  and 


(57) 

tenements  of  Welsh  Haya  or  so  called  or  there  lying  or  accruing  in  Welsh  Haya  with  the 
rents  and  sums  of  money  for  Comortha  there  with  the  appurtenances  in  the  said  county  of 
Brecon.  And  all  and  every  those  his  Majesty's  lordships  manors,  townships  lands  and 
tenements  of  Welshe  Penkelly  or  so  called  or  there  lying  or  being  with  Comortha  there 
with  their  rights,  members,  and  appurtenances  in  the  said  county  of  Brecon,  and  his 
Majesty's  rents  and  farms  of  the  lordships  manors  townships  lands  and  tenements  of 
Welsh  Penkelley  or  so  called  or  there  lying  or  accruing  With  the  appurtenances  with  the 
rents  for  Comortha  there  in  the  same  county  of  Brecon.  And  all  and  every  those  his 
Majesty's  lordships  manors  townships  lands  and  tenements  of  Alexanderston  or  so  called 
or  there  lying  or  renewing  with  their  rights  members  and  appurtenances  in  the  said 
county  of  Brecon.  And  his  Majesty's  rents  and  farms  of  the  lordships  manors,  townships 
lands  and  tenements  of  Alexanderston  or  soe  called  or  there  lying  or  accruing  with  the 
appurtenances  in  the  same  county  of  Brecon.  And  all  and  every  those  his  Majestys 
forests  soils  grounds  lands  tenements  and  hereditaments  called  or  known  by  the  name  of 
Brecon  or  Forest  of  Brecon  or  of  the  little  Forest  of  Brecon  with  the  appurtenances  in  the 
said  county  of  Brecon,  late  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  Thomas  late  Lord  Seymour.  And 
his  Majesty's  rents  and  farmes  forest  herbage  lands  and  tenements  of  Brecon  or  of  little 
Brecon  or  so  called  or  there  lying  or  coming  with  the  appurtenances  in  the  same  county  of 
Brecon.  And  all  and  every  those  his  Majesty's  lands  tenements  rents  farms  and 
hereditaments  in  Buelth  and  Llanavan  with  the  appurtenances  or  called  or  known  by  the 
name  or  names  of  Buelth  and  Llanavan  or  either  of  these  names  or  there  lying  or  coming 
with  the  appurtenances  in  the  said  county  of  Brecon.  And  all  those  his  Majestys  rents 
and  farms  and  rents  of  Assize  and  hereditaments  in  the  townships  and  places  following  in 
the  said  county  of  Brecon,  that  is  to  say,  in  Haya  seven  shillings  and fivepence,  in  Buelth 
forty  five  shillings,  and  eleven  pence,  in  Dyvynock  eight  pence. 

[Then  follows  Radnor.] 

To  hold  all  the  said  premises  to  the  said  Sir  Francis  Bacon  and  others  for  the  full 
term  of  99  years  fully  to  be  completed  and  ended,  to  the  only  use  of  the  said  Prince 
Charles,  who  shall  take  all  the  rents  and  profits  thereof. 

Given  the  day  and  year  abovenamed. 

[This  grant  is  of  great  length,  covering  80  membranes.] 


Sale  of  Brecon  Lordship  to  Collins 
and  Fenn. 


PATENT    EOLL    7    CHAS.     1.    PART     16     (1632). 

LICENCE     TO     WILLIAM     COLLINS    AND    EDWARD    FENN,    GENTLEMEN 

AND    THEIR     HEIRS. 


The  King  to  all,  &c.,  Whereas  We  by  Our  contra'ct  indented,  sealed  with  the  Great 
Seal  of  England,  dated  7  May,  in  the  6th  year  of  our  reign  [1630]  made  between  Us  and 
several  of  the  Lords  of  Privy  Council  of  the  one  part  and  Thomas  Heydon,  Knight, 
William  Russell,  Knight,  Ralph  Freeman,  Esq.,  of  the  City  of  London,  and  Charles 
Havard  of  London,  Esq.,  of  the  other  part,  in  consideration  of  £20,000,  paid  by  the  said 
Ralph  Freeman  into  Our  Exchequer  at  Westminister  to  Our  use,  to  be  expended  about 
Our  Maritime  business  for  our  special  service — have  agreed  to  grant  and  confirm  to  the 


(58) 

said  Ealph  Freeman  and  his  heirs  in  fee  farm  for  ever,  Our  honors,  castles,  lordships, 
manors,  lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments  whatsoever,  by  the  said  Ealph  Freeman 
to  be  chosen,  of  the  clear  yearly  value  of  £1000  according  to  such  rates  and  reprises,  and 
with  such  reservations,  clauses  and  agreements  as  in  the  said  contract  are  contained  and 
declared. 

And  whereas  We  by  Our  Letters  patent  dated  28  May  last,  in  consideration  of  the 
sum  of  £5,555.  9.  2,  parcel  of  the  said  sum  of  £20,000  to  be  paid  by  the  said  Ealph 
Freeman,  and  at  his  humble  petition  We  have  declared  that  all  such  honours,  castles, 
lordships,  &c.,  to  be  chosen  by  the  said  Ealph,  not  exceeding  the  clear  yearly  value 
of  £277.  15.  5£,  parcel  of  the  said  £1000,  shall  be  granted  to  the  said  Ealph  Freeman  and 
his  heirs  in  fee  farm  for  ever.  And  that  the  said  Ealph  may  grant  the  residue  of  the  said 
£1000  to  the  said  William  Eussell,  Knight. 

And  by  the  same  Our  Letters  Patent  we  will  that  all  the  honors,  lordships,  castles,  &c., 
to  be  chosen  by  the  said  William  Eussell  may  be  granted  to  the  said  William  and  his 
heirs  in  fee  farm  : 

And  whereas  the  said  Ealph  Freeman  by  indenture  dated  22nd  September  last  past 
granted  the  residue  of  the  said  sum  of  £1000,  being  £722.  4.  6£  to  the  said  William 
Bussell : 

Know  ye  that  We  in  part  fulfilment  of  the  premises  and  for  the  sum  of  £13,545.  15. 10 
to  us  paid  by  the  said  William  Eussell,  and  at  his  humble  petition  have  granted  to 
William  Collins  and  Edward  Fenn  of  London,  gentlemen,  and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns 
for  ever  all  that  Our  tenement  within  Our  own  town  of  Carmarthen. 

Also  all  that  Our  lordship  and  manor  of  Brecon  alias  Brecknock,  with  all  and 
singular  their  rights,  members  and  appurtenances  whatsoever  in  Our  county  of  Brecon,  and 
all  and  singular  the  rents  of  assize,  lands,  tenements,  burgages,  wheat  and  oats,  demesne 
lands  and  woods,  services,  customs,  works  of  tenants  and  hereditaments  whatsoever 
in  Brecon,  Walton,  Benny,  Llanvayes  and  Bifield  and  elsewhere,  parcels  or  reputed  to  be 
parcels  of  the  said  lordship  and  manor  of  Brecon,  or  to  the  same  in  any  way  belonging  or 
appertaining;  and  all  that  foreign  bailiwick  (forinsec  Ballivat)  to  the  aforesaid  lordship 
and  manor  of  Brecon  ;  and  all  those  rents  of  assize  escheated  lands  and  burgages  and 
other  parcels  in  the  tenure  of  divers  persons,  lands  and  tenements  forfeited,  heriots, 
perquisites  and  profits  of  Courts  there,  fishing  in  the  water  of  Lane  and  Mere  and  all 
small  farms,  lands  tenements  and  hereditaments  whatsoever,  parcels  or  reputed  to  be 
parcels  of  the  said  foreign  bailiwick  and  to  the  same  belonging  :  Except  nevertheless  and 
always  reserved  all  that  forest  called  the  great  forest  of  Brecon  and  the  soil  and  agistment 
of  the  same ;  and  also  except  and  always  reserved  the  town  of  Brecon  and  £20  per  ann. 
therefrom,  the  mill  called  Eedcrewe  Mill  and  the  rent  of  20s  therefrom,  the  manor  of  Mara 
and  Mota  and  the  fee  farm  therefrom  of  £3  per  ann.,  the  manor  of  Welsh  Penkelley  and 
the  rent  therefrom  of  £22. 16.  8  per  ann.,  the  manor  of  Welsh  Haya  and  the  yearly  rent  of 
£7.  1.  G£  therefrom,  the  manor  of  Alexanderston  and  the  j  early  rent  of  100s  therefrom, 
and  divers  mills  in  Divynock,  Crassenny  Llewell,  Astradvelty  and  Pulchaughe  with  the 
fishings  of  Nethe  and  Towy  parcels  or  reputed  parcels  of  the  said  lordship  and  manor  of 
Brecon,  of  the  ancient  yearly  rent  of  £43.  6.  8  ;  also  except  and  out  of  this,  present  grant 
altogether  reserved,  all  those  demesne  lands,  late  parcel  of  the  said  manor  and  bailiwick 
of  Brecon  lately  granted  in  fee  farm  to  the  use  of  the  Mayor,  Commonalty  and  citizens  of 
the  City  of  London  and  the  rent  therefrom  attaining  to  £20.  0.  10  per  ann.  :  Which  said 
lordship  and  manor  of  Brecon  with  the  foreign  bailiwick  by  the  particulars  thereof  are 
mentioned  to  be  parcel  of  the  lands  late  of  Edward  Duke  of  Buckingham  and  to  be  of  the 
yearly  rent  or  value  of  £83.  0.  11J. 

Also  all  those  Our  lands  and  tenements  in  Co.  Merioneth. 

To  have  and  to  hold  to  the  said  William  Collins  and  Edward  Fenn  and  their  heirs 
in  fee  farm  for  ever,  as  fully,  freely,  and  wholly  as  We  or  any  of  Our  ancestors  held  the 
same,  except  all  knights  fees,  wards  and  marriages,  advowsons,  free  gifts  and  right  of 
patronage  of  rectories,  Churches,  vicarages,  Chapels,  &c.  &c.  and  mines  of  gold  and  silver, 
they  paying  yearly  to  Us  and  Our  heirs  for  the  said  lordship  and  manor  of 
Brecon  with  the  foreign  bailiwick  of  the  same  £44.  0,  1 J 


(59) 

And  the  said  William  Collins  and  Edward  Peiiu  shall  pay  to  Us  and  Our  heirs  all 
their  money  for  the  materials  of  the  Castle  of  Brecknock  within  the  lordship  of  Brecon  in. 
Our  said  county  of  Brecon. 

Witness  Ourself  at  Westminster  the  8th  day  of  December  [1631] 

by  writ  of  Privy  Seal. 

[This  grant  covers  34  membranes] . 


Great  Forest  of  Brecknock. 


GRANT     OF    THE     GEEAT     FOREST    OF    BRECKNOCK     AGISTMENT 
TO     MR.     RICE     JONES     [1661.] 


[TRANSLATION.] 

Charles  the  Second  by  the  grace  of  God  King  of  England,  Scotland,  France,  and 
Ireland,  Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c.  To  all  to  whom  these  present  Letters  shall  come. 
Know  ye  that  We  as  well  in  consideration  of  the  yearly  rent  below  by  these  presents 
reserved  as  for  certain  other  good  causes  and  considerations  Us  at  this  present  time 
moving  by  the  advice  of  Our  beloved  and  faithful  counsellor  Anthony  Lord  Ashley 
Chancellor  and  Sub-Treasurer  of  Our  Court  of  Exchequer,  and  also  of  Our  beloved  and 
faithful  Counsellors  Thomas  Clifford,  Knight,  Treasurer  of  Our  Household  and  John 
Buncombe,  Commissioner  of  Our  Treasury  have  given,  granted  and  to  farm  demised,  and 
by  these  presents  for  us  our  heirs  and  successors  do  give  grant  and  to  farm  demise  to  Our 
beloved  Rice  Jones,  gentleman,  all  those  reliefs  yearly  from  time  to  time  happening, 
growing  and  forthcoming  in  certain  vills,  wells,  gabells  and  places  in  the  counties  of 
Carnarvon,  Anglesey  and  Merioneth  or  in  any  of  them  with  all  their  appurtenances : 
which  said  premises  are  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  the  Principality  of  North  Wales  and 
were  leased  to  Richard  Protherch,  Esquire,  and  Godfrey  Protherch,  gentlemen,  by 
indenture  dated  the  1st  day  of  July  A.D.  1637,  for  the  term  of  31  years,  beginning  from 
the  feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin  next  before  the  date  of  the 
said  indenture  under  the  yearly  rent  of  £6.  13.  4. 

And  also  the  agistment  of  the  Great  Forest  of  Brecon  in  the  county  of  Brecon,  parcel 
of  the  lordship  of  Brecon  in  the  same  county  late  parcel  of  the  lands  and  possessions  of 
Edward,  late  Duke  of  Buckingham  attainted  of  high  treason,  and  all  and  singular  the 
profits  commodities,  emoluments,  advantages  and  hereditaments  whatsoever  to  the  said 
agistment  belonging  and  with  the  said  Forest  before  demised  and  so  demised  to  William 
Jones,  gentleman,  his  executors  and  assigns  by  Letters  Patent  of  the  late  Queen  Elizabeth 
dated  at  Westminster  the  17th  day  of  March  in  the  23rd  year  of  her  reign  for  a  term  of 
21  years  from  the  feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin  then  next 
following  under  the  yearly  rent  of  £20.  6.  8. 

And  also  all  those  escheated  lands  within  the  granges  of  Gwyderigg  alias  Goithgarreg 
in  the  county  of  Carmarthen  called  Tyr  Evan  Blaen  Tyrydall  Tyr  Baiddaw'r  Coed  and 
Kainer  bwnysklawd  dd  ardwr,  parcels  of  the  possessions  late  of  the  manor  of  Tally  in  the 
county  of  Carmarthen  now  or  late  in  the  tenure  or  occupation  of  William  Gwynne, 
Esquire,  or  his  under  tenants  under  the  yearly  rent  of  10s. 


(GO) 

Except  nevertheless  and  out  of  these  Our  presents  and  grant  altogether  reserved  all 
reliefs  due  and  to  be  due  and  payable  for  and  in  respect  of  all  feoffees  of  rents  reserved 
under  certain  Letters  Patent  for  all  lands,  tenements  and  hereditaments  within  the  afore- 
said vills  wells,  gabells,  and  places  in  the  said  county  of  Carnarvon, Anglesey.and  Merioneth, 
and  also  except  all  wild  animals  and  fallow  deer  (feris  et  cervis*)  being  within  the  said 
Forest  of  Brecon,  from  time  to  time  yearly  accruing,  and  the  herbage  and  feeding  for  the 
said  wild  animals  and  fallow  deer,  as  at  any  time  was  used  and  accustomed,  also  except 
all  the  great  trees,  woods,  underwoods,  mines  ard  quarries  on  the  premises. 

To  have  and  to  hold  all  and  singular  the  premises  above  by  these  presents  demised 
or  mentioned  to  be  demised  with  all  their  appurtenances  (except  as  before  excepted)  to  the 
said  Bice  Jones  his  executors  and  assigns  from  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  next 
following  the  date  of  these  Our  Letters  Patent  up  to  the  end  of  the  term  and  for  the  term 
of  81  years  then  next  following  and  fully  to  be  completed,  paying  therefore  yearly  to  Us 
Our  heirs  and  successors  these  several  yearly  rents  following,  to  wit,  of  and  for  the  said 
reliefs  happening  and  forthcoming  in  the  said  vills,  wells,  gabells  and  places  in  the  said 
counties  of  Carnarvon,  Anglesey  and  Merioneth  £6. 13.  4.  And  also  for  the  said  agistment 
of  the  said  Forest  of  Brecon,  £20.  6.  8.  Also  for  the  said  escheated  lands  in  the  said 
granges  of  Gwyderigg  10s  of  lawful  money  of  England  to  be  paid  at  the  feasts  of  the 
Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin  and  St.  Michael  the  Archangel  into  the 
Eeceipt  of  the  Exchequer  of  Us  Our  heirs  and  successors  at  Westminster  or  into  the  hands 
of  the  bailiffs  or  receivers  of  the  premises  for  the  time  being,  by  equal  portions  during  the 
said  term. 

And  the  said  Bice  Jones  for  himself  his  heirs,  executors  and  assigns  agrees  and  grants 
with  and  to  Us  Our  heirs  and  successors  by  these  presents  that  he  the  said  Rice  Jones  his 
executors  and  assigns  will  well  and  faithfully  demand,  take  and  collect  all  and  singular  the 
reliefs  aforesaid  within  the  said  vills,  wells,  gabells  and  places  aforesaid  in  the  several 
counties  aforesaid  from  time  to  time  growing  and  forthcoming,  except  as  before  excepted, 
and  will  present  the  same  and  give  notice  thereof  at  the  next  court  to  be  held  in  or  for  the 
said  vills,  wells,  gabells  and  places  where  such  shall  happen  and  come  and  will  enter  them 
and  cause  them  to  be  entered  in  the  Court  Bolls  there.  Also  that  yearly  and  every  year 
during  the  term  aforesaid  they  will  make  and  deliver  or  cause  to  be  delivered  by  the  auditor 
of  the  said  premises  for  the  time  being  a  true  and  perfect  extract  and  particular  of  all  and 
singular  the  reliefs  aforesaid  so  had,  taken  or  collected,  or  henceforth  to  be  had,  collected 
and  taken  and  particularly  in  which  lands,  closes,  grounds,  estates,  vills,  hamlets,  wells, 
gabells,  places  and  counties,  the  same  severally  shall  grow,  happen  or  come.  And  also 
within  8  years  next  following  after  the  date  of  these  Our  Letter  Patent,  and  so  henceforth 
every  three  years  during  the  term  aforesaid  they  shall  make  and  deliver  and  cause  to  be 
delivered  to  Us  Our  heirs  and  successors  into  the  Exchequer  of  Us  Our  heirs  and  successors 
a  perfect  terrier  and  particular  of  the  aforesaid  Forest  of  Brecon  and  of  the  said  escheated 
lands,  plainly  distinctly  and  particularly  showing  and  proving  the  true  quantity  and 
number  of  the  fields  of  the  same  and  also  the  metes  and  bounds  of  the  same,  anglice,  the 
Buttalls  and  Boundaries,  for  the  better  service  of  Us  Our  heirs  and  successors. 

And  that  the  said  Bice  Jones  his  executors  and  assigns  shall  permit  the  tenants, 
residents  and  inhabitants  of  the  lordship  of  Brecon  aforesaid  and  such  other  persons 
whomsoever  who  from  ancient  time  have  usually  been  accustomed  to  have  pascage, 
herbage  and  agistment  in  the  Forest  aforesaid  to  have  and  enjoy  and  take  the  same 
liberties  in  the  future  in  such  and  like  manner  as  hitherto  and  from  ancient  time 
it  was  accustomed.  And  shall  not  permit  or  cause  any  other  person  or  persons  whomso- 
ever to  be  permitted  to  have  and  enjoy  the  same  liberties  and  privileges  in  the  herbage 
and  agistment  of  the  said  Forest  or  of  any  parcel  thereof. 

Provided  always  that  if  it  shall  happen  that  the  said  several  rents  above  by  these 
presents  reserved  or  any  of  them  shall  be  in  arrear  and  unpaid  in  part  or  in  the  whole  by 
the  space  of  forty  days  after  any  feast  of  the  feasts  aforesaid  whereupon  they  ought  to  be 
fully  paid.  Or  if  the  said  Bice  Jones  his  executors  or  assigns  shall  not  enrol  or  cause  to 
be  enrolled  these  Our  Letters  Patent  before  the  Auditor  of  the  premises  for  the  time  being 
or  his  sufficient  deputy  within  the  space  of  six  months  next  following  after  the  date  of  the 


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(61) 

same  That  then  and  from  thenceforth  this  Our  present  demise  and  grant  shall  be  vacant 
and  of  no  benefit,  anything  in  these  presents  to  the  contrary  thereof  notwithstanding  :  any 
statute,  act,  ordinance,  proviso,  proclamation  or  restriction  to  the  contrary  thereof 
hitherto  had,  made,  edited,  ordained,  or  provided  or  any  other  thing  cause  or  matter  in 
anything  notwithstanding. 

In  witness  whereof  We  have  caused  these  Our  Letters  to  be  made  Patent.  Witness 
the  said  Commissioners  of  Our  Treasury  at  Westminster  the  26th  day  of  September  in  the 
22nd  year  of  Our  reign. 

Croke. 

By  the  warrant  of  the  said  Commissioners. 

Enrolled  in  the  Office  of  the  Auditor  of  Wales  the  80th  day  of  November  in 
the  22nd  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Charles  the  Second 

By  me 

Thomas  Taylor,  Deputy  Auditor. 
[Endorsed]  Dated  6  (?26th)  Sept  22nd  Chas.  2nd 

Copy 
Grant  of  the  Agistment  of  the  Great  Forest  to  Mr  Bice  Jones. — 1661. 

*  "Feris  et  cervis  "  are  by  some  translators  called  "  Wild  animals  and  fallow  deer,"  by 
others,  "  Wild  beasts  and  stags." 


NOTE.  —The  above  grant  of  the  Agistment  of  the  Great  Forest  of  Brecknock  to  Mr  Itice 
Jones  is  dated  1661.  We  propose  to  follow  this  up  with  a  similar  grant  to  Thomas 
Morgan,  Esquire  (of  Dderw  probably)  in  1770.  This,  with  documents  already  published 
and  accessible,  will  bring  the  history  of  the  Forest,  including  its  Inclosure  and 
Allotment  in  1816-19,  down  to  the  present  day. 


The  Manor  of  Haya  Wallensis-I. 


The  lordship  or  manor  of  Haya  Wallensis,  otherwise  Welch  Hay,  is  situate  in  the  parish 
of  Llanigon  in  the  Hundred  of  Talgarth  in  the  County  of  Brecon,  and  extends  from  the 
Wye  at  Fforddfawr  over  the  Black  Mountains  to  the  county  boundary  at  Capel-y-ffin.  It 
is  also  called  the  Manor  of  Llanigon — practically  it  is  co-extensive  with  that  parish,  and 
it  is  further  called  the  Manor  of  Glynbwch  from  the  brook  and  village  of  that  name,  the 
Bwch  stream  joining  that  of  the  Honddu  at  the  Capel.  Of  the  early  history  of  the  Manor 
I  know  little  for  certain,  but  this  much  may  be  relied  upon,  that  it  was  like  other  manors 
of  the  neighbourhood,  parcel  of  the  possessions  of  Eobert,  Earl  of  Essex,  when  his 
estates  became  forfeited  to  the  Crown. 

The  present  owner  is  Viscount  Hereford,  of  Tregoyd,  and  Parliamentary  papers  show 
that  his  grandfather  (Henry  Viscount  Hereford)  purchased  the  Manor,  together  with 
various  small  tenements  and  lands,  being  encroachments  on  the  waste,  but  paying  small 
rents  to  the  Crown,  and  containing  altogether  71  acres,  2  roods,  from  the  Crown  in  1827 
for  £2100.  The  purchase  was  actually  completed  and  the  money  paid  on  March  4th, 
1828. 

The  Commissioners  of  Woods  and  Forests,  whose  courtesy  I  wish  here  to  acknow- 
ledge, have  been  good  enough  to  show  me  a  copy  of  the  conveyance  referred  to,  and  what 
is  far  more  explanatory,  the  sworn  Survey  of  the  Manor  made  in  1807  by  Mr  Charles 
Hassall,  of  Eastwood,  Pembrokeshire  (the  Crown  Surveyor)  to  John  Fordyce,  then  His 
Majesty's  (and  I  believe  the  last  ever  appointed)  Surveyor  General. 


(62) 

Those  who  know  a  little  of  the  history  of  the  Crown  Manors  in  Breconshire  are  aware 
that  it  was  the  custom  of  the  Crown  to  farm  out  their  manors  to  rent  to  the  chief  men  of 
the  county — generally  to  the  Parliamentary  representatives,  being  presumably  men  of 
high  position.  In  this  instance  we  find  that  John  Morgan,  of  Machen,  became  the  tenant 
in  1787  for  20  years,  at  an  annual  rent  of  £18  10s,  and  again  subsequently  in  1821,  Sir 
Charles  Gould — who  married  the  heiress  of  John  Morgan,  and  had  assumed  the  name  of 
Morgan — was  tenant  at  will  under  the  Crown.  I  think  also  he  was  lessee  at  the  same  time 
of  the  Great  Forest  of  Brecknock,  held  under  the  Crown.  It  would  seem  by  the  Crown 
Surveyor's  report,  that  in  1807  Mr  Thomas  Bold,  solicitor,  of  Brecon,  was  the  steward  of 
the  Manor,  and  that  he  held  the  Court  leets  yearly,  and  duly  kept  up  the  rights  of  the 
Manor :  also  that  the  sporting  rights — chiefly  famous  for  grouse  and  hares  —  over  the  lands 
were  carefully  preserved  by  Lord  Hereford,  under  a  deputation,  as  it  is  termed,  from  Sir 
Charles  Morgan. 

My  readers  should  now  take  in  their  hands  a  copy  of  the  old  one-inch  Ordnance  Tithe 
Map  Survey,  having  the  parish  boundaries  marked  upon  it,  and  follow  me  as  I  proceed  in 
the  perambulation  of  the  Manor. 

Beginning  at  the  river  Wye  on  the  South  bank  (though  a  small  part,  it  is  said, 
extends  to  the  North  side  of  that  river)  a  breadth  of  about  300  yards  runs  up  from  the 
river  to  the  turnpike  road  near  Great  Fforddfawr:  thence  proceeding  on  its  Western 
boundary,  we  pass  up  the  Nantyscallen  (thistlebrook)  bronk  to  Cocket  and  Heol  Cadwgan. 
Thence  to  Twyn-croes- Walter  and  Pen-y-twmpa  (Lord  Hereford's  knob),  thence  along  the 
mountain  ridge  to  Twyntaland  Capel-y-ffin,  till  we  meet  theBwch  river  very  near  the  Chapel. 
Thence  the  boundary  turns  short  back  at  an  acute  angle,  and  proceeds  up  the  river 
Bwch  to  Blaen-afon-Bwch,  at  which  point  it  turns  abruptly  due  South- Westwards  to  a 
large  stone  on  the  mountain  (Twyn-tal-y-cefn)  which  separates  this  Manor  from  those  of 
Mark  (?  Thomas)  Wood  and  John  Macnamara,  Esquires. 

From  this  stone  the  boundary  runs  along  the  high  ground  South-Eastwardly  to  the 
great  Van — which  I  take  to  be  the  point  known  and  marked  on  the  Ordnance  Map  as  the 
Blacksmith's  anvil,  where  there  is  a  large  stone  of  that  shape,  I  am  informed.  Thence  it 
turns  due  East  across  Cwm-bwch,  following  the  county  boundary  "to  about  400  yards 
below  Capel-y-ffin.  Thence  ascending  to  the  top  of  Mynydd  Hatrel,  it  proceeds  along  the 
ridge  of  that  mountain  to  Llech-y-lladron  (the  robber's  altar)— a  big  hollow  stone,  Lord 
Hereford  informs  me,  at  the  top  of  Hatterell  and  Kotten  Hill,  and  is  marked  "  C.M,"  for 
Sir  Charles  Gould  Morgan,  the  tenant  of  the  Crown  when  the  Manor  was  sold.  The 
Latin  word  latro,  a  robber,  is  derived  from  this  Welsh  word,  lladron  (or  vice  versa.} 

The  boundary  now  descends  on  the  North  side  of  the  Black  Mountains,  by  Ehydy- 
wernen,  by  Quarre,  Ffynnon-velen  to  Twyn-y-beddau  (tump  of  the  graves),  and  on  to 
Pen-yr-hen-Allt.  Here  it  assumes  an  irregular  line,  following  the  Llanigon  parish 
boundary,  by  Ponty-fithel,  thence  to  Canon  Melyn,  and  on  to  Tyle  well.  Thence  it  runs 
across  the  Kevens  to  the  Hay  and  Brecon  turnpike  road,  then  Westwards  for  400  yards  up 
to  Llanthomas  House,  and  by  Llwyn-llwyd  and  Little  Fforddfawr  to  Great  Ffordfawr, 
where  we  started  from.  And  this  is  the  ambit  of  the  Manor,  as  given  by  Mr  Hassall,  the 
Crown  Surveyor,  in  his  sworn  survey  of  1807. 

I  must  reserve  for  another  paper  tome  remarks  as  to  the  customs  of  the  Manor, 
names  of  places,  its  value  as  commanding  one  of  the  chief  passes  over  the  Black 
Mountains,  and  one  of  the  main  fords  across  the  Wye,  and  other  particulars  of  some 
interest. 


(68) 

The  Manor  of  Haya  Wallensis--II. 


Besuming  the  description  of  the  Manor,  a  word  or  two  may  be  interesting  as  to  the 
71a.  2r.  Op.  of  land  comprised  in  the  sale.  It  is  stated  in  the  survey  that  these  consisted 
entirely  of  small  encroachments  on  the  waste  land  made  from  time  to  time,  having  small 
cottages  built  upon  them,  and  for  which  probably  first  an  acknowledgment,  and  subse- 
quently a  rent  of  a  few  pounds  was  paid  to  the  Lord.  The  names  of  these  encroachments 
are  given  as  Glynbwch,  Wernllwyd,  Waungoch,  Caeceiliog,  Bwlch,  Fforth  y  Glanne,  and 
Nantyscallen,  and  range  from  19  acres  to  14  perches  in  extent.  The  72  acres  yielded  to 
the  Lord  a  rental  of  £84  18s.  I  do  not  quite  know  where  these  bits  of  land  are  situated, 
but  I  think  they  are  mainly  in  the  Honddu  and  Bwch  valleys  on  the  Southern  slope  of  the 
Black  Mountains. 

One  and  the  chief  object  of  the  Crown  Surveyor's  survey  in  1807  was  to  ascertain  the 
extent  and  value  of  the  wastelands.  The  Surveyor  reports  these  to  be  6,500  acres  in 
extent,  of  which  6,000  acres  are  high  and  poor  and  not  fit  for  cultivation  or  planting,  but 
that  about  500  acres  on  the  North  side  of  the  mountains,  and  surrounded  by  old  inclosures, 
are  suited  for  improvement,  and  worth  seven  shillings  an  acre  yearly.  The  names  of  these 
small  commons  he  gives  as  VVaen  Croes  Howel  and  Waun  y  Capel,  and  a  smaller  parcel, 
called  Maesgoch. 

I  must  digress  a  little  here  for  the  purpose  of  describing  the  inclosures  of  ancient  date 
— which  you  find  in  this  Manor,  and  very  extensively  in  the  Manor  of  the  Grange,  near 
Khayader,  recently  purchased  by  the  Birmingham  Corporation.  Usually  the  Coedcaes  in 
Breconshire  are  pieces  of  the  mountain  added  to  and  joining  the  farm,  and  without  any 
house  upon  them.  In  this  Manor,  as  in  that  of  the  Grange,  you  find  up  on  the  slopes  of 
the  hill  inclosures  by  themselves  of  an  acre  or  perhaps  four  or  five,  surrounded  entirely  by 
the  open  hill  land.  It  would  seem  to  be  an  evidence  of  the  earliest  form  of  sheep  farming, 
when  shepherds  watched  their  flocks  by  night,  being  practised  in  those  districts.  Probably 
in  winter  the  sheep  were  taken  away  to  the  large  homesteads  in  the  low  valleys,  and  when 
spring  came,  the  shepherds,  and  possibly  herdsmen  too,  brought  up  their  flocks  and  herds 
to  the  mountain  pastures,  making  use  of  the  enclosure  as  their  resting  place,  and  for 
numbering,  marking,  shearing,  and  generally  attending  to  their  stock.  Probably  the  cows 
were  brought  up  as  well,  and  the  processes  of  a  dairy  with  the  making  of  butter  and  cheese 
carried  on  there.  At  any  rate,  the  shepherd  was  there  on  the  spot  to  see  to  the  wants  of 
the  stock,  and  to  protect  them  from  the  dangers  of  robbers,  and  from  beast  and  birds  of 
prey. 

You  will  find  on  the  one-inch  ordnance  sheet  near  Croes  Howel  in  Llanigon  parish 
one  of  such  detached  pieces  of  ground,  named  on  the  map  as  "  The  Island."  I  understand 
there  are  really  two,  the  Upper  and  Lower  Island,  Waun  Henry  ucha  and  isha,  and  both 
ancient  freehold  properties.  Properly,  the  name  should  be  Ynys,  the  Welsh  for  island,  and 
you  find  one  of  these  pieces  on  the  Great  Forest  of  Brecon,  called  Ynys  gron,  or  Ffynnon 
Ynys  gron,  the  well  of  the  round  island.  No  doubt  these  isolated  hill  enclosures  were  used 
in  olden  times  for  the  flocks  of  the  large  homesteads  lower  in  the  valley.  The  point  is,  I 
think,  worthy  of  notice  here,  as  such  isolated  enclosures  are  the  exception,  not  the  rule  in 
the  system  of  hill  sheep  farming  in  Breconshire,  as  it  has  been  handed  down  to  us  from 
past  centuries. 

The  customs  of  the  Manor  are  said  to  be  the  payment  of  fines  of  5s  on  descent,  and  of 
fees  of  5s  on  alienation,  and  also  a  heriot  of  the  best  beast  on  death  of  a  tenant  of  the 
Manor.  The  last  heriot  actually  taken  was,  it  is  said,  many  years  previously,  from  the 
widow  of  Bullock  Lloyd,  at  his  decease  ;  afterwards  the  payment  was  reckoned  at  40s.  It 
was  then  considered  a  hard  thing  to  take  a  heriot  in  kind.  The  heriots  were  larger  on  the 
valley  lands  than  on  the  hill  farms. 

The  Ceisiad  (to  ask)  Medy  (to  reap)  had  long  been  discontinued,  except  from  the  lord- 
ship of  Kilonw,  owned  by  Lord  Ashburnham,  to  which  I  shall  refer  presently.  You  find 


(64) 

these  payments  made  in  Patrishow  parish,  according  to  Theophilus  Jones,  but  I  have  not 
met  with  them  elsewhere. 

Chief  rents  in  small  fixed  sums  were  regularly  paid  by  the  tenants  of  the  Manor,  and 
a  list  is  found  in  the  survey,  and  I  give  a  few  of  the  names  of  the  tenements,  some  of 
which  do  not  appear  on  the  map — Tal-y-sarn,  owned  by  George  Watkins ;  Cockett,  by 
Bullock  Lloyd  ;  Caermarchog,  Tirllwyn  Magan,  Tir  Henry  Simon,  Tir  George  Simon,  and 
also  Talsarn.  I  think  sarn  means  a  causeway. 

The  full  rent  roll  of  the  Manor  is  given  as  follows: — Chief  rents  of  lordship  of 
Llanigon  or  Glynbwch,  £10  0.  1. ;  Cymmorth,  every  two  years,  £3.  2s.  6J  (being  half  of 
£6.  Os.  5Jd)  ;  yearly  rents,  £34.  5s. ;  Ceisiad  and  Medy  of  Kilonw,  15s  9d ;  Cymmorth  of 
Kilonw,  £1.  8s.  9£d  ;  total  rental  of  Manor,  £49.  12s  Id.  The  survey  is  not  very  clear  on 
the  following  points,  namely,  as  to  the  Manor  of  Kilonw  within  this  lordship,  which  owns 
the  Earl  of  Ashburnham  as  Lord,  and  pays  chief  rents  to  him,  while  paying  some  dues,  as 
stated,  to  the  Crown  ;  nor  as  to  the  small  manor  of  Parkbach,  said  to  be  surrounded  by 
the  Crown  Manor,  and  belonging  to  Davies  Esqre  ;  nor  as  to  Llangwerthan,  which  is  said 
to  be  a  detached  parcel  of  the  Crown  Manor  lying  within  Mrs  Harley's  Manor  of  Hay. 
I  simply  note  what  is  stated  in  the  survey,  and  must  pass  on,  but  both  places  will  be 
found  on  the  ordnance  map. 

No  map  of  the  Manor  generally  is  appended  to  the  survey,  but  of  the  various 
parcels  of  encroachment  lands,  comprising  the  72  acres,  very  carefully  made 
maps  are  given  in  a  special  map  book,  and  are  as  fresh  and  clear  to-day  as  when  they  were 
made.  Some  of  the  old  map  makers,  especially  David  Davies,  of  Llangattock  Court,  did 
some  excellent  work,  and  his  maps  of  the  Court  estate  there,  now  in  the  possession  of  our 
family,  are  quite  a  work  of  art. 

It  appears  from  the  survey,  there  were  no  fisheries  belonging  to  the  Manor,  nor 
mines,  colleries,  or  any  sign  of  minerals,  but  there  was  an  immense  stretch  of  stone  fit  for 
building  and  flagstone,  but  of  no  value,  because  the  landowners  got  sufficient  supplies  on 
their  own  private  land.  There  was,  however,  on  Waun  Croes  Howell,  a  quarry  of  inferior 
tilestone,  worked  by  John  George,  who  paid  Sir  Charles  Morgan,  the  Crown  lessee,  £1  Is. 
a  year.  The  shooting  rights  for  grouse  and  hares  were  said  to  be  valuable.  It  was  also 
stated  that  there  was  no  timber  on  the  waste  lands  of  the  Manor. 

The  Surveyor,  lastly,  considers  the  property  an  unimprovable  one,  and  that  it  would 
not  be  worth  while  to  obtain  an  Act  of  Parliament  to  enclose  the  waste  lands,  of  which 
only  500  acres  were  capable  of  improvement,  and  finally  recommends  the  Crown  to  put  it 
up  to  sale  by  auction.  As  we  have  seen,  this  advice  was  subsequently  acted  upon,  and 
Henry  Viscount  Hereford  became  the  purchaser  in  1827-8. 

And  here  I  must  make  a  slight  digression,  and  it  is  for  the  purpose  of  asking 
how  the  name  of  Glyn  Vach  ever  came  into  existence.  It  figures  now  as  the  name  of  a 
hamlet,  and  is  so  described  and  mapped  on  the  recent  Ordnance  Survey.  We  have  Taf- 
fechan  and  Taf-fawr,  but  I  do  not  remember  the  title  of  Vach  applied  to  a  valley  by  itself 
by  the  old  place-namers.  Like  Tybach,  it  does  not  sound  to  me  as  good  Welsh,  but  an 
English  half  satirical  name.  Where  is  the  Glynfawr,  if  there  is  a  Glyn  Vach  ?  True, 
there  is  Velinfach  and  Vennivach  !  But  what  do  you  say  to  this  ?  One  of  the  names  of 
this  Manor  is  Glyn-bwch,  or  the  valley  of  the  buck,  and  the  stream  joining  the  Honddu  at 
the  Capel  is  called  the  Bwch  to  this  day.  Obviously  to  my  mind  the  name  of  Glyn-fach 
has  been  allowed  erroneously  to  supersede  the  true  and  olden  name  of  Glyn-bwch,  denoting 
the  haunt  of  the  antlered  stag,  and  the  cool  deep  pool,  where  the  panting  hart  cooled  his 
flanks  in  the  noontide  heat.  There  is  some  romance  in  this  ;  in  Glyn-vach  absolutely 
none  ! 

And  now  what  about  the  ancient  history  of  the  Manor  !  The  muniment  room  of  the 
office  of  Woods  and  Forests  has  nothing,  I  am  informed,  to  help  us,  except  so  far  as  to 
show  that  the  Manor  came  to  the  Crown  by  the  forfeiture  of  the  estates  of  the  Earl  of 
-ssex.  I  do  not  think  our  early  county  historian  (Jones)  tells  us  anything,  but  I  am 
informed  by  the  present  Viscount  Hereford,  that  he  has  a  survey  of  tlie  Manor  (temp  : 
James  I),  but  which  I  have  not  seen.  The  mountains,  too,  are  silent,  and  the  rivers, 
roadc,  vallies,  and  rocks  can  tell  us  nothing,  except  what  in  conjunction  with  Llanthony 


(65) 

Abbey,  and  the  important  ford  over  the  Wye  near  Glasbury,  their  position  and  formation 
and  ancient  place-names  reveal. 

Poets  are  said  to  invoke  the  aid  of  the  muses  when  they  write.  We  must  ask  the  aid 
of  the  genius  of  the  past,  when  the  mind  tries  to  picture  scenes  of  ages  long  ago,  and  of 
which  not  the  trace  of  a  record  now  exists. 

Apparently  there  was  no  stronghold  or  castle  within  the  Manor,  and  its  narrow 
area  lay  between  the  Castle  of  Hay  on  the  east,  and  Dinas  Castle  on  the  west,  stretching 
right  from  B^forddfawr  on  the  Wye  practically  to  the  great  Abbey  of  Llanthony  on  the 
farther  side  of  the  Black  Mountains.  The  road  from  Llanthony  led  up  to  the  Honddu 
Valley  to  the  pass  at  Bwlch-y-fingel  (or  efongyl) — the  gospel  pass,  thence  down  by  the  two 
roadside  crosses,  known  as  Croes  Howel,  and  then  down  to  Fforddfawr  (Great  Way) 
where  a  famous  ford  across  the  Wye  was  available.  The  perambulation  of  the  Manor, 
which  has  already  been  given,  shows  that  the  Manor  just  touched  the  river's  bank  here 
for  a  few  hundreds  of  yards  only,  just  sufficient  for  fording  purposes.  On  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river  we  find  the  corresponding  name  of  Penrhudd,  or  the  head  of  a  ford,  and  thence 
over  the  common  lands  a  broad  open  way  led  to  Painscastle  in  Radnorshire,  a  place  of 
great  renown,  and  away  to  Leominster,  Wigmore,  Abbey  Cwmhir,  Buildwas  (in  Shrop- 
shire), and  all  the  great  Abbeys  in  the  North.  I  believe  this  Manor  was  originally,  or  at 
some  date,  an  Ecclesiastical  one,  and  its  chief  value  was  in  protecting  the  great  highway 
from  the  North  of  England  for  monks  and  pilgrims  to  Llanthony,  and  other  Abbeys  in  the 
South. 

At  the  same  time  I  must  not  forget  the  claims  to  be  advanced  on  behalf  of 
Glasbury  manor  to  the  possession  of  a  sacra  via  by  Rhiw  Wen  over  the  Black  Mountains. 
Possibly  both  may  have  served  the  same  purpose,  and  the  monks  and  pilgrims  had  the 
choice  of  two  roads,  according  as  one  was  deemed  safer  than  the  other,  or  more  easy  of 
ascent.  Let  Glasbury  and  Haya  Wallensis  share  the  fame. 

***  I  think  this  Park-bach  must  be  Parc-y-meirch  across  the  county  boundary,  not  far 
from  Crasswall  Chapel.  I  remember  Mr  Thomas  Davies,  of  Llangattock  Court  (Twm 
Davies  as  he  was  known)  having  property  himself,  or  being  agent  for  property  close  to 
Crasswall  Chapel. 

A  detailed  account  of  some  of  the  antiquities  of  this  very  interesting  parish  of  Llanigon  I 
may  be  able  to  give  some  other  day.  Twyn-y-beddau  deserves  some  notice,  also  the 
large  flat  stone  on  the  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Hay  to  Llanthony,  said  to  mark 
the  burial  place  of  a  murdered  Scotch  pedlar,  or,  according  to  another  account,  of  a 
British  prince.  And  again  another  large  stone  of  peculiar  form,  standing  upright  in 
a  ditch  near  Penlan,  has  probably  some  interesting  history.  When  we  have  a 
parochial  glossary  of  Welsh  place-names  in  Breconshire,  many  ancient  secrets  may  be 
revealed.  In  these  papers  I  have  confined  my  remarks  chiefly  to  the  Manor. 

[See  Parliamentary  Survey  No.  91  of  Welsh  Haya  Manor— page  20  ante.] 


(66) 

Glasbury  Bridge. 


Formerly  the  boundary  of  Radnorshire  crossed  the  Wye  about  half  a  mile  above 
Glasbucy,  and  enclosing  about  470  acres  on  the  right  bank,  on  which  the  Rai  way  btation, 
Church/and  School  now  stand,  returned  again  to  the  river  about  half  a  mile  below.  It 
took  a  kind  of  square  bite  out  of  the  Breconshire  side  of  the  river. 

In  1832,  when  the  Parliamentary  Reform  Act  was  passed,  an  Act  was  also  passed 
for  the  purpose  of  rectifying  County  Boundaries,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  polling  of  the 
electors  and  this  "isolated  or  detached"  piece  of  Radnorshire  was  then  added  to 
Breconshire  for  electoral  purposes  only.  At  least,  the  provisions  of  the  Act  were  so 
understood,  though  as  will  be  seen  later,  the  description  of  the  area  was  inaccurately 
given  in  the  Schedule  to  the  Act. 

In  1844 that  is  about  twelve  years  later— another  Act  was  passed  declaring  all  sucti 

outlying  areas,  if  transferred  for  electoral  purposes,  to  belong  absolutely  to  the  County 
to  which  they  had  been  transferred. 

Upon  this  disputes  began  between  the  counties,  Breconshire  contending  that  the 
Schedule  of  the  1832  Act  did  not  refer  to  this  particular  portion  of  land,  Radnorshire 
contending  that  it  did.  And  so  the  controversy  went  on  for  several  years,  neither  County 
claiming  the  area,  and  neither  levying  any  County  Rate  upon  it.  No  doubt  she  ground 
of  objection  on  the  part  of  Breconshire  to  the  transfer,  was  that  the  liability  to  repair 
one  half  of  Glasbury  Bridge  would  be  thrown  upon  that  County,  if  they  took  over  the 
area  named. 

Glasbury  Bridge,  on  the  Breconshire  side,  had  now  become  impassable  through  want 
of  repairs,  and  the  Rev.  R.  Lister  Venables,  a  magistrate  for  both  Counties,  made  a 
presentment  at  the  Breconshire  October  Quarter  Sessions,  1847,  calling  upon  that  County 
to  repair  one  half  of  the  bridge.  The  Justices  were  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  being  so 
advised,  held  that  a  presentment  could  not  be  lawfully  made  by  one  Justice  only.  The 
matter  was  carried  by  writ  of  certiorari  to  the  London  Courts,  when  on  a  rule  nisi  being 
obtained  by  Breconshire,  it  was  decided  that  the  power  of  one  Justice  to  make  a 
presentment  in  such  cases  had  not  been  repealed  by  5  and  0  Wm.  IV.,  cap.  50,  as 
Breconshire  had  contended.  This  was  the  first  victory  for  Radnorshire  over  her  sister 
County. 

Then  followed  the  indictment,  Regina  v.  Breconshire,  for  the  non-repair  of  their  half 
of  the  Bridge  at  the  Summer  Assizes  of  1849  at  Hereford,  before  Baron  Rolfe,  and  a 
verdict  was  given  against  Breconshire. 

However,  an  appeal  was  lodged,  and  came  on  for  hearing  before  Justices  Patteson, 
Erie,  and  Coleridge,  in  the  London  Courts.  Mr.  Phipson  contended  for  Breconshire  that 
the  Schedule  to  the  Boundary  Act  of  1832  did  not  refer  to  this  particular  area  at  all,  as  it 
was  described  as  being  in  Breconshire,  whereas  it  had  always  been  in  Radnorshire.  The 
Court,  however,  held  that  though  the  Schedule  was  "  incomprehensible,"  yet  as  the 
legislature  must  have  meant  something,  and  that  the  only  thing  it  could  have  meant  was 
to  deal  with  this  outlying  portion,  it  must  be  so  considered. 

Mr.  Phipson,  for  Breconshire,  then  advanced  a  second  contention.  It  was,  that  only 
the  bank  of  the  river  and  the  470  acres  were  transferred,  and  not  the  bed  of  the  river 
itself;  and  that,  therefore,  if  Breconshire  built  an  abutment  on  their  bank  to  receive  the 
end  of  the  Radnorshire  Bridge,  it  would  be  all  that  they  were  required  to  do.  However, 
the  Court  overruled  this  ingenious  argument,  and  held  that  half  the  river,  according  to 
the  maxim,  usque  ad  melium  Jilum  aqua,  passed  with  the  transferred  land,  and  with  it  the 
liability  of  Breconshire  to  repair  one  half  the  Bridge.  During  the  case,  several  arguments 
were  raised  as  to  the  meaning  of  the  terms  "  isolated  "  and  "  detached,"  as  applied  to  a 
case  like  this,  where  really  the  river  was  the  only  isolating  or  detaching  element. 

However,  Breconshire  was  defeated  on  all  points,  and  this  portion  of  the  Bridge  being 
now  ruinous,  that  County  accepting  their  defeat,  proceeded  to  put  up  stone  piers  instead 


(67) 

of  wooden  piles,  and  the  river  being  deep  at  that  point,  with  a  gravel  bottom,  a  couple  of 
thousand  pounds  had  to  be  spent  on  the  work. 

Perhaps  some  blame  rests  on  Breconshire  for  resisting  the  transfer,  and  pursuing 
what  proved  a  profitless  litigation  ;  but  the  chief  blame  undoubtedly  rested  with  the 
legislature,  which  first  of  all  carelessly  inserted  a  Schedule  in  the  1832  Act,  which  was 
"incomprehensible,"  if  strictly  interpreted — in  fact  ic  was  sheer  nonsense;  and  secondly, 
by  another  Act  passed  twelve  years  later,  transferred  these  470  acres  for  all  purposes 
whatever,  without  taking  into  consideration  in  any  way  the  responsibilities  thrown  on 
fresh  shoulders  in  consequence.  In  this  case  Breconshire  had  to  face  an  immediate 
outlay  of  £2,000,  and  gained  only  an  increase  of  rateable  value  of,  say,  £470  a  year. 
When  the  transfer  was  made  in  1844  finally  by  Parliament,  the  Act  should  have  contained 
a  clause  providing  for  the  adjustment  of  liabilities  between  the  counties  affected,  but  this 
was  not  done. 

I  would  add  an  observation  of  my  own,  after  studying  this  case,  the  Great  Forest  of 
Brecon  Inclosure  Acts,  and  the  Tithe  and  Poor  Law  Acts,  that  from  some  cause  or 
another — probably  ignorance  of  the  County  and  its  distance  from  the  seat  of  Government 
— the  interests  of  Breconshire  have  been  carelessly  treated  in  the  past — in  a  kind  of 
slip-shod  fashion — by  the  Legislature,  and  that  in  consequence,  difficulties,  heart  burnings, 
and  positive  injury  have  been  occasioned,  lasting  to  this  day,  when  really  with  proper 
care  and  due  inquiry,  anything  of  the  kind  could  have  been  avoided,  or  certainly  much 
lessened.  In  the  matter  of  Chancery  and  the  administration  of  estates  under 
it,  Wales  has  been  dragged  cruelly  at  the  heels  of  England,  and  that  scandalous  case  of 
Price  v.  North,  by  which  numbers  of  Breconshire  men  were  given  years  of  trouble  and 
uneasiness,  -and  caused  much  loss,  and  by  which  several  were  completely  ruined,  very 
much  owing  to  the  law's  procrastination,  is  a  living  instance  of  it  to-day. 

I  cannot  part  company  with  the  history  of  the  Bridge  without  noting  what  Jones  in 
his  history  of  Breconshire,  and  Ireland  in  his  "  Eiver  Wye,"  state  as  to  the  disastrous 
fate  of  three  bridges  built  successively  by  Kadnorshire  at  this  spot  in  the  last  century. 
No  wonder  but  that  the  county  was  greatly  pleased  to  get  rid  of  part  of  the  responsibility 
by  making  Breconshire  a  partner,  and  that  the  latter  was  reluctant  to  enter  into  a 
partnership  in  a  property  which  had  proved  a  damnosa  hereditis  to  its  former  sole  owner. 

Jones  (Vol.  II.,  p.  888 — published  1809)  writes  : — "  Unfortunately  for  the  County 
of  Eadnor,  the  present  bridge  (as  well  as  three  which  have  preceded  it,  and  have  been 
destroyed  almost  within  memory  of  man)  is  within  that  part  of  the  County  which  intrudes 
into  Breconshire.  The  first  bridge  was  just  before  Mr.  Hughes'  house,  called  the  Dolphin, 
and  fell  in  1738 ;  the  next  was  nearly  in  the  same  situation,  and  continued  about  forty 
years,  both  these  were  of  wood.  The  third  was  a  beautiful  bridge  of  stone,  built  by 
Edwards  in  1777,  who  assisted  his  father  to  build  the  great  one-arched  bridge  upon  the 
Taf.  It  fell  down  in  the  great  flood  in  February,  1795,  for  want  of  proper  attention  to 
its  foundation,  which  was  undermined.  It  stood  nearly  where  the  present  bridge  of 
wood,  erected  in  1800,  is  situated." 

Ireland  in  his  "  River  Wye,"  p.  28  (published  in  1797)  writes  : — "In  the  midst  of 
this  rich  and  beautiful  valley,  an  elegant  stone  bridge  of  seven  arches  is  thrown  across 
the  river.  It  was  built  about  14  years  ago  by  the  family  of  Edwards,  under  the  direction 
of  their  father,  the  celebrated  architect  of  Pontypridd.  The  adjoining  view  (see  sketch  in 
book)  was  made  in  August,  1794  ;  in  the  ensuing  winter  the  bridge  was  totally  destroyed, 
which  will  in  some  degree  give  value  to  this  sketch,  as  a  memorial  of  that  which  is  at 
present  little  more  than  a  wreck,  every  arch  of  it  having  been  blown  up  by  the  torrent  of 
ice,  which  passed  down  on  the  very  sudden  thaw  after  the  long  frost  in  the  beginning 
of  1795." 

The  sketch  given  by  Ireland  shows  it  to  have  been  a  very  graceful  bridge,  quite  an 
ornament  to  the  valley. 

The  flood  of  1795  was  one  of  the  highest  and  most  disastrous  ever  known  on  the 
Wye.  It  attained  its  greatest  height  at  Hereford  on  Wednesday  evening  at  six  o'clock  on 
February  llth,  at  which  time  it  was  said  to  be  two  feet  five  inches  higher  than  any  flood 
ever  known  by  the  oldest  resident.  A  brass  plate  still  records  the  height  and  date  in  Mr. 


(68; 

W.  Stephens'  yard,  near  Wye  Bridge.  At  the  village  of  Hampton  Bishop  the  water  rose 
six  feet  in  half  an  hour.  All  but  the  very  strongest  bridges  were  washed  away,  including 
those  of  Glasbury,  Hay,  and  Whitney.  A  farmer  of  Clyro,  named  Lloyd,  was  crossing 
Hay  bridge  at  the  time  it  fell,  and  was  drowned.  Boss  (Wilton)  and  Monmouth  bridges 
were  said  to  have  been  much  damaged.  A  similarly  disastrous  flood  occurred  in  the  Usk 
at  the  same  time,  though  I  think  the  brass  plate  formerly  on  the  front  of  the  Forge  Mill, 
near  the  town  of  Usk,  recorded  the  date  as  February  10th.  The  middle  pier  of  Usk 
bridge  was  then  carried  down,  but  the  arches  were  left  standing.  January  of  that  year  was 
the  coldest  known  for  the  previous  hundred  years,  having  an  average  temperature  of  24 
degrees.  The  ice  on  the  Wye  at  Boss  measured  one  foot  thick. 

So  far  the  stone  piers  placed  by  Breconshire  on  their  half  of  the  bridge  in  1851-4, 
have  safely  stood,  and  the  late  County  Surveyor,  Mr.  William  Williams,  and  his  late 
father,  are  entitled  to  great  praise  for  the  good  work  done.  A  day,  however,  of  crucial  trial, 
like  that  in  1795,  may  yet  be  in  store,  and  it  certainly  behoves  the  County  Surveyors  of 
both  counties  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  on  Glasbury  bridge. 


Glasbury  and  the  County  Boundary. 


Those  who  have  not  looked  closely  into  the  subject,  but  yet  possess  the  knowledge 
that  some  change  was  made  by  law  in  the  boundary  line  between  Breconshire  and 
Badnorshire  during  the  present  century  are  under  the  impression,  I  find,  that  some 
modern  shifting  of  the  course  of  the  Wye  was  the  original  cause  ;  in  other  words,  that 
the  Wye  had  always  in  ancient  times  been  the  boundary  line  uninterruptedly  between  the 
the  two  counties,  but  subsequently  changing  its  course  had  left  a  piece  of  Badnorshire 
high  and  dry  on  the  Breconshire  side,  isolated  from  the  rest  of  the  county;  and  that 
modern  legislation  was  simply  for  the  purpose  of  again  rectifying  the  boundary  line,  so  as 
to  make  it  march  with  the  river's  banks. 

Of  course  this  is  an  error,  and  an  inspection  of  the  ordnance  map  or  a  visit  to  the 
locality  would  immediately  dispel  it.  As  far  as  it  is  possible  to  judge,  there  has  not  been 
for  thousands  of  years  any  considerable  change  in  the  river's  course  at  Glasbury  bridge. 
Where  stand  Glasbury  Church,  the  Railway  Station,  and  the  School,  there  is  a  firm  high 
bank  or  knoll  of  ground  extending  half  a  Hriile  back  ("intruding"  into  Breconshire  as 
Jones  has  put  it),  which  w*s  Badnorshire  land,  and  to  tlie  south  of  which,  communicating 
as  it  did  continuously  with  high  ground  right  up  to  the  Black  Mountains,  the  Biver  Wye 
could  not  possibly  have  ever  flowed.  And  now  comes  what  I  believe  to  be  the  true 
and  certainly  interesting  explanation  of  the  case. 

Your  readers  will  bear  in  mind  that  the  five  border  counties  of  Wales — Monmouth, 
Brecon,  Radnor,  Montgomery,  and  Denbigh — were  divided  into  various  Marches,  and 
governed  according  to  Welsh  laws  and  customs  by  Lord  Marchers  up  to  the  time  of  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.  By  27,  Henry  VIII.,  cap.  26,  extensive  changes  and  rearrangements 
were  made,  and  the  Marches  were  formed  into  Shires  for  the  first  time.  The  most 
considerable  change  was  the  lopping  off  of  large  portions  of  the  Marches  and  adding  them 
to  the  English  Shires  of  Salop,  Hereford,  and  Gloucester,  and  in  every  case,  as  throughout 
Wales,  the  English  tenure  was  to  take  the  place  of  Welsh  tenure,  customs  and  laws.  We 
find,  by  section  5,  various  named  lordships,  townships,  parishes,  commotes,  and  cantreds, 
and  all  the  castles,  manors,  and  lands  within  their  compass  were  to  be  reputed,  and  to 
stand  as  part  of  the  Shire  of  Breconshire.  And  by  section  6,  of  the  same  Act,  other 
lordships,  townships,  and  parishes,  &c.,  were  to  be  reputed  and  to  stand  as  part  of  the 


(69) 

County  or  Shire  of  Radnor,  and  from  that  date  the  Manor  and  Parish  of  Glasbury,  no 
matter  on  which  side  of  the  Wye  they  were,  became  part  of  Kadnor.  A  rough  and  ready 
method  was  adopted,  and  lordships,  manors,  and  parishes  were  allocated  in  their  integrity 
to  this  or  that  county. 

So  far,  all  is  clear,  and  the  land  belonging  to  the  Manor  and  Parish  of  Glasbury, 
wherever  it  might  have  been  (and  some  was  on  the  Breconshire  side  of  the  river)  passed, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  under  the  statute  to  Eadnorshire. 

Now  comes  for  consideration  the  more  interesting  and  difficult  question — how  was  it 
that  the  Manor  and  Parish  of  Glasbury  extended  to  both  sides  of  a  great  river  like  the 
Wye,  which  for  weeks  together  must  have  been  in  the  tarly  days,  in  the  absence  of  a 
bridge,  impassable  except  by  ferry  boats  ?  For  the  present  at  least,  we  can  leave  out  the 
parish,  as  that  presumably  followed  the  manor,  and  deal  only  with  the  Manor  of  Glasbury. 

The  first  clue  is  in  its  name — Ghw-bury — which  I  take  to  mean,  "  The  green  ditches  of 
a  fortified  place  on  a  hill."  This  answers  the  description  of  the  natural  bank  of  ground 
on  the  Breconshire  side,  behind  the  Railway  Station.  Remains  of  ditches  and 
fortifications  are  to  be  seen  there  to-day,  and  one  roadway  is  now  known  as  Heol-y-gaer, 
or  the  Road  of  the  Camp.  Obviously,  the  ground  was  selected  to  command  the  first 
practicable  fords  of  the  Wye,  after  leaving  the  narrow  gorge,  in  which  it  had  flowed  from 
Builth  down  to  that  point.  Here  were  inviting  and  practicable  fords  for  crossing  the 
great  river,  and  naturally  it  was  the  duty  of  a  General,  whether  Roman,  Saxon,  or  only  a 
Lord  Marcher,  to  seize  this  advantageous  point,  and  so  command  the  passage  of  the 
stream. 

The  course  of  all  great  rivers  is  studded  with  castleg  and  camps  at  such  points,  and 
on  the  Wye  itself  it  is  easy  to  mention  several,  especially  Clifford,  Hereford,  Wilton,  and 
Goodrich  Castles,  commanding  the  convenient  fords  adjacent  thereto.  Fords  and  bridges 
have  ever  played  important  parts  in  warfare,  from  the  time  of  Horatius,  Xerxes,  and 
Ceesar  in  Gaul  and  Britain,  and  Henry  V.,  at  Agincourt,  where  Fluellen  tells  King 
Henry  "  The  Duke  of  Exeter  was  a  prave  man,  and  gallantly  maintained  the  pridge." 
Our  modern  fighting  men  would  describe  a  post  of  this  kind  as  a  tile  du  pont,  and  mounted 
volunteers  would  be  sent  forward  in  advance  to  seize  it.  Are  there  any  local  names 
denoting  "  bloodful  engagements  "  at  this  spot  ?  as  Edward  Morgan  describes  them,  in 
his  song.  What  do  you  think  of  Treble  Hill  ?  It  sounds  like  Trouble  Hill.  But  that 
will  not  do.  What  do  you  say  to  the  derivation  "  tre,"  a  town,  and  "  bel,"  war  or 
tumult  ?  That  would  suit  the  place  accurately. 

It  seems  to  me  that  this  was  a  fortified  place  in  the  Roman  and  Saxon  days,  long 
before  the  Norman  conquest,  and  wherever  you  find  common  lands  of  the  Lammas 
character,  that  is  lands  closed  for  hay  for  the  summer  months,  and  open  to  all  commoners 
during  the  winter  months,  as  is  the  case  here  on  the  Gro  Common,  that  circumstance 
probably  denotes  a  Saxon  division  and  arrangement  of  the  common  land. 

We  learn  from  Jones,  in  his  "  History  of  Breconshire,"  p.  359,  New  Ed.,  that  Bernard 
Newmarch,  in  1088,  or  a  few  years  before  his  conquest  of  Brecon,  gave  the  advowson  of 
Qlasbury  to  the  monks  of  Gloucester  in  the  time  of  Abbot  Serlo,  and  also  that  the  rnesne 
manor  of  Glasbury  was  held  by  the  same  monks— probably  a  gift  also  from  the  same  Lord 
— in  1144,  when  it  passed  by  exchange  to  the  Cliffords,  subsequently  to  the  Giffards. 
Ultimately  it  came  to  the  Crown,  by  whom  it  was  granted  to  Sir  David  Williams,  the 
ancestor  of  the  present  holder,  Colonel  Thomas  Wood,  of  Gwernyfed. 

Various  names  of  places  in  the  immediate  vicinity  point  to  a  great  thoroughfare  across 
the  river  at  this  point.  Ffordd  fawr — or  the  great  highway — and  Croeshowell — the  cross  of 
Howell — occur  on  the  line  of  road  leading  to  the  river.  Besides,  and  apart 
from  commanding  the  ford,  this  point  of  vantage  at  Glasbury  may  have  enabled  the  monks 
of  Gloucester  to  levy  a  goodly  sum  in  toll  from  passengers  crossing  the  river  at  this  point. 

I  have  been  much  struck  by  the  circumstance,  that  a  long  strip  of  Glasbury  parish — 
when  first  part  of  the  parish  I  do  not  know — stretches  across  the  Black  Mountains  to 
Capel-y-ffin  (the  chapel  of  the  boundary)  within  a  very  few  miles  of  Llanthony  Abbey,  and 
it  has  occurred  to  me  as  possible  that  by  the  way  of  the  ford  at  Glasbury  over  the  river, 
and  subsequently  along  this  part  of  Glasbury  parish,  a  kind  of  sacred  way  was  reserved  for 


(70) 

pilgrims  from  the  Abbeys  of  North  Wales  and  even  Shropshire  to  Llanthony.  This  is  pure 
conjecture,  though  we  have  reason  to  believe  such  a  sacred  way  was  kept  outside  Brecon 
Forest  for  an  interchange  of  visits  between  the  monks  of  Brecon  Priory  and  those  of  Neath 
Abbey. 

The  whole  district  of  Glasbury  on  the  Breconshire  side  is  most  interesting  historically, 
and  also  the  neighbouring  parish  of  Llanigon,  where  such  suggestive  names  as  Cae  Cadifor, 
Hen  gastell,  Twyn-y-beddau,  Castell-fferwydd,  Maesgoch,  Cadwgan,  are  to  be  found,  and 
Poole  in  his  history  of  Breconshire  (page  21C)  writes  that  the  tumultis  below  Llanthomas 
is  said  to  direct  to  the  ford  on  the  Wye. 

On  the  mountains  near  Capel-y-ffin,  is  a  fine  range  of  rocks,  called  Taren  yr  Esgob, 
where  some  worthy  bishop,  escaping  from  his  enemies,  is  said  to  have  fallen  over,  and  been 
killed.  Also  Dr.  Bull,  in  the  Woolhope  Club  Papers,  tells  us  that  there  is  to  be  seen  in 
that  district  a  large  mass  of  Travertine,  which  is  called  Twlch-y-foel-las,  or  the  cave  of  the 
grey  stone.  It  is  about  24  feet  wide,  SOU.  high,  and  210  feet  in  circumference,  and  has 
within  it  a  hollow  capable  of  holding  several  people.  Apparently  it  had  fallen  from  the 
rocks  above.  There  is  a  tradition  that  St.  Paul  visited  this  district,  and  a  pass  in  one  of 
the  valleys  is  called  Bwlch  Efenygl,  or  the  Gospel  Pass,  to  this  day.  The  whole  range  of 
the  Black  Mountains,  Dr.  Bull  adds,  is  full  of  history  and  legends  yet  to  be  written. 

There  was  also  once  a  Glasbury  cross,  and  in  Richard  Symons'  "  Diary  of  the 
Marches  of  the  Royal  Army  during  the  Great  Civil  War,"  several  references  are  made 
to  the  numerous  and  perfect  crosses  found  in  Breconshire.  I  hope  to  make  a  list  of  places 
in  our  county  having  trues  as  some  part  of  their  names,  and  it  will  be  found  there  are 
several,  but  probably  more  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Glasbury  than  in  any  other  part,  that 
being  essentially  a  strong  ecclesiastical  (Roman  Catholic)  district  in  olden  time. 

Other  places  in  the  vicinity  have  curious  names :  Pipton,  or  Pepperton,  the  manor 
being  so  called  and  held  formerly  by  the  payment  of  a  pound  of  pepper  annually  to  the  Crown 
by  the  lord  ;  and  the  "  Stonces,  '  those  ninety  acres  of  rich  meadow  land  by  the  riverside  in 
Breconshire,  so  called  from  large  stones  being  used  as  mere  or  meare  stones,  or  possibly  as 
stepping  stones  across  the  Llynfi  to  the  site  of  the  old  church.*  Our  little  town  of  Staines 
on  the  Thames  has  its  name  thus  derived.  How  rich  this  land  must  be  can  be  imagined 
when  we  know  that  the  90  acres  bear  JE30  tithe  annually,  or  a  lawyer's  (is.  8d.  for  every  acre, 
probably  the  highest  tithed  land  in  Breconshire.  The  parish  of  Aberllynfi  is  a  curiosity. 
It  has  no  church,  and  is  the  only  parish  in  the  county  that  pays  no  tithe. 

In  conclusion,  this  piece  of  Glasbury  manor,  470  acres  in  extent,  intruding  into 
Breconshire  at  this  point,  was  made  part  of  Radnorshire  by  the  Act  of  Henry  VIII., 
following  the  rest  of  the  manor.  And  the  manor  itself  comprised  this  high  bit  of  naturally 
fortified  ground,  because  it  gave  the  owner  command  of  the  ford  for  offence  and  defence, 
and  in  times  of  peace  for  levying  tolls  on  travellers,  merchandise,  and  possibly  on  Welsh 
drovers  taking  their  droves  of  iilack  Castlemartiu  cattle  across  the  river  into  England. 

•See  note,  page  78. 


Glasbury  (continued). 


Before  I  quite  leave  Glasbury,  I  must  mention  an  interesting  fact  that  has  come  to 
my  knowledge  since  I  wrote  the  preceding  papers. 

Your  readers  will  remember  the  situation  of  the  old  church  near  the  lower  end  of  the 
delta  of  land  known  as  the  Stonces,  between  the  Wye  and  its  tributary,  the  Llynfi. 
Well,  standing  on  the  platform  of  Glasbury  station  and  looking  across  the  Wye— and  a 
charming  view  it  is— you  will  see  by  the  sharp  corner  of  the  high  river  wall  on  the 
Radnorshire  side  of  the  Wye  an  old-fushioned  house  of  two  stories,  one  large  gable 
forming  almost  the  entire  south  front  riverward?.  It  is  evidently  a  house  of  three,  four  or 


(71) 

even  five  hundred  years  old,  and  resembles  very  much  the  old  Church  Cottage  near  the 
entrance  to  the  churchyard  of  Llangattock.  Crickhowell.  This  was  the  vicarage  attached 
to  the  old  church,  but  long  since  separated  from  the  site  by  the  full  volume  of  the  majestic 
Wye.  And  in  this  vicarage  ihere  is  still,  I  am  told,  a  peculiar  little  closet  with  just  room 
for  one  person,  and  to  which  there  was  a  narrow  little  window  looking  out,  all  to  itself,  as 
we  say.  The  vicarage  and  old  church  were,  of  course,  built  by  our  pious  ancestors  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  faith,  whose  zeal  in  religion  and  in  building  places  of  worship  is  only 
equalled  by  that  of  Welsh  Nonconformists ;  and  whether  this  little  single  chamber  was 
built  and  used  for  the  self-infliction  of  punishment,  fasting,  private  prayer,  by  the  priest  in 
charge,  or  possibly  as  a  cool  larder  for  Wye  salmon  and  Lenten  fish,  or  as  a  look-out 
across  the  river,  I  can  at  present  offer  no  opinion.  Places  of  concealment  in  such  old 
houses  are  not  uncommon,  but  if  this  had  been  intended  as  such,  there  would  scarcely  have 
been  provided  a  lancet  window  looking  outwards.  The  old  house,  still  in  good  repair,  is 
remarkable  in  other  respects,  having  very  thick  walls,  old  oak  staircase  and  landing,  on 
which  there  is  a  kind  of  arch,  having  as  its  tympanum  a  trace  of  a  figure  carved,  which 
some  think  is  that  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  My  informant  also  tells  me  that  the  north  front 
of  this  Elizabethan  style  vicarage  is  much  more  picturesque  than  even  that  of  the  south. 

And  now  I  must  ask  my  readers  to  look  still  more  searchingly  across  the  river  from 
this  point  of  vantage  at  (he  railway  platform,  and  they  will  see  the  long  row  roof  of  the 
tithe-barn  to  the  east  of  the  vic-trage.  What  pictures  in  the  mind  does  the  sight  of  one  of 
these  old  barns  conjure  np !  You  see  them  everywhere  near  the  rectory  and  vicarage 
houses,  and  all  will  remember  those  at  the  Priory  and  St.  David's  churches  in  Brecon, 
especially  that  roomy  one  near  the  old  Llanfaes  turnpike  gate.  It  was  essential  that  they 
should  be  roomy,  as  the  ecclesiastics  looked  sharply  after  their  "  tenths,"  and  thither  was 
brought  a  tithe  of  all  the  wheat,  barley  and  oats  grown  in  the  parish,  and  of  course  there 
must  be  room  besides  for  the  holly  stick  flail  to  thresh  the  corn  on  the  wooden  floor. 
Those  were  primitive  good  old  times,  when  tithes  were  paid  in  kind, — now  we  pay  them  by 
cheque ! 

1  have  an  object  in  enlarging  on  all  this,  and  it  is  to  show — and  I  think  the  conclusion 
is  irresistible — that  the  old  vicarage,  and  the  tithe  barn,  and  the  old  church  were  never 
separate  when  built,  but  stood  on  the  same  mainland  together  and  in  close  proximity.  In 
saying  this  I  have  to  make  no  correction  of  what  I  have  previously  written.  My  contention 
that  the  high  ground  by  and  above  the  railway  station  had  been  made  part  of  Glasbury 
manor  and  parish  in  order  to  secure  the  ford  for  crossing  the  river  still  remains  good.  It 
is  quite  consistent  with  the  position  as  it  now  is  and  as  I  conceived  it  once  to  have  been, 
and  the  point  now  for  consideration  is,  how  and  in  what  manner  the  site  of  the  old  church 
became  separated  from  that  of  the  vicarage,  and  what  vagaries  fair  Vaga  made  in  her  course 
through  the  valley  some  250  years  and  more  ago. 

To  this  point  I  have  the  attention  of  two  friends  of  mine  directed,  who  are  resident  in 
the  district,  and  experts  in  the  study  of  rivers,  and  we  may  shortly  have  some  light  thrown 
upon  it.  Old  river  beds  and  courses  are  not  easily  obliterated,  though  hundreds  of  years 
may  have  passed  since  the  stream  Sowed  by  that  way. 

My  theory  is  the  Island  one — and  islands  are  commonly  found  in  large  rivers  where 
civilised  man  has  not  iuterfered — and  in  this  way.  Near  the  Spread  Eagle,  the  Wye  was 
divided  into  two  arms  or  branches,  one  and  practically  the  main  stream  flowing  to  the 
right  near  the  present  course  of  the  Llynfi,  and  the  other  flowing  to  the  left  in  a  great 
sweep  under  Lower  Scynlas,  and  north  of  Glasbury  village  at  the  foot  of  Maesllwch  Park, 
both  streams  uniting  again  near  Glanhenwye  or  thereabouts. 

Then  came  man  on  the  scene.  The  inhabitants  found  it  inconvenient  to  be  living 
practically  on  an  island,  and  proceeded  to  throw  a  dam  across  the  left  branch  near  Wood- 
lands. On  some  high  flood  or  other,  this  obstruction  caused  the  river  to  strike  a  new 
channel  between  the  old  church  and  the  vicarage,  subsequently  uniting  with  the  right  branch 
just  at  the  present  confluence  of  the  Llynfi.  Those  on  the  spot  will  notice  the  high  stone  wall 
round  the  vicarage  grounds  as  a  protection  from  the  river.  It  is  a  work  of  no  small 
magnitude,  and  was  not  paid  for  by  the  occupier  of  the  vicarage,  but  probably  out  of  the 
funds  of  Gloucester  Abbey.  The  vicarage  and  the  village  were  saved,  though  the  church 
was  unavoidably  severed. 


(72) 

Then  came  the  third  and  last  scene.  The  monks  saw  their  rich  lands  on  the  Stonces 
to  be  an  island  and  of  less  value  to  them,  and  the  two  branches  of  the  stream  on  either 
side  of  the  valley  devastating  good  ground.  So  being  thus  advised  they  resolved  to  cut  a 
straight  new  course  through  the  Sconces,  and  carry  both  branches  in  one  channel  down, 
much  as  we  see  it  to-day.  In  those  times  the  level  of  the  Stonces  meadows  was  much 
lower  than  it  is  now,  and  a  small  channel  could  have  been  easily  formed.  In  fact  the 
river  itself  makes  the  new  channel  when  you  stop  the  entrances  to  the  branches  at  their 
top.  The  cut  through  the  Island  on  the  Usk  just  below  Brecon  was  formed  thus  about 
1830,  and  I  saw  the  water  let  into  a  similar  cut  made  in  the  Cynrig  on  Abercynrig  Farm. 
It  was  a  pretty  sight  to  see  the  stream  pour  through,  and  a  cut  of  10  feet  wide  became  one 
of  20  feet  wide  in  a  night.  And  very  recently  Colonel  Wood  turned  the  Wye  through  the 
horseshoe  below  Glasbury  Bridge,  and  the  monks  of  old — witness  the  Bishop's  Stank  at 
Hampton  Bishop,  Hereford — knew  a  good  deal  about  engineering,  as  well  as  about  the 
true  lines  of  a  Norman  arch.  However,  I  may  have  more  to  say  as  to  this  later. 

I  am  a  great  believer  in  Welsh  place-names,  and  my  ambition  would  be  to  put 
together  a  glossary  of  our  Breconshire  names,  parish  by  parish,  with  a  cross  index  for  the 
whole  county.  Who  will  help  ?  But  I  have  learnt  to  place  little  faith  in  English  names, 
whether  in  England  or  Wales.  I  remember  finding  the  name  of  an  inn  in  a  village  on  the 
banks  of  the  little  river  Gade,  right  up  among  the  chalk  hills  of  the  Chiltern  Hundreds. 
I  jumped  to  the  conclusion  that,  just  as  at  Llangynider,  Crickhowell,  Abergavenny,  and 
Usk,  the  sign  of  the  "  Three  Salmons  "  truly  denotes  the  presence  of  the  monarch  of  the 
stream  in  the  bright  waters  of  the  Usk,  so  the  "  Salmon  Inn  "  near  the  waters  of  the  Gade 
spoke  of  that  lordly  fish  visiting  its  stream  in  days  of  old,  having  passed  the  Nore  and 
London  Bridge  on  his  way  up  the  Thames.  But  a  F.E.S.— how  wise  these  Fellows  are, 
and  how  affectionately  they  co-opt  their  friends  as  Fellows  ;  they  would  not  make  dear 
old  Frank  Buckland  one,  he  was  forsooth  too  superficial ! — dispelled  my  fond  illusion. 
He  said,  "Nothing  of  the  kind;  a  truck  of  Scotch  salmon  was  upset  on  the  North 
Western,  and  the  contents  scattered  about,  and  so  to  commemorate  the  salmon  feast  the 
people  gave  the  inn,  where  they  swilled  the  tasty  morsels  down,  the  immortal  title  of  the 
"  Salmon  Inn."  I  still  believe  my  theory  to  be  right,  but  of  course  I  am  wrong,  as  a 
F.B.S.  must  know  ! 

This  is  apropos  of  the  Spread  Eagle  sign  of  a  public  house  near  Pipton  (Pepperton). 
Your  readers  are  familiar  with  it  as  the  crest  of  imperialism  abroad,  and  the  American 
Eagle  much  resembles  it.  Would  it  have  any  relation  to  the  division  and  bifurcation  of 
the  Wye  at  this  point  in  some  small  degree,  if  not  to  the  great  extent  I  have  sketched  out  ? 
and  we  all  know  the  figure  of  spread  eagle  in  skating.  After  all  it  is  only  a  modern 
English  name,  and  perhaps  has  no  meaning  at  all  of  any  value. 

And  there  is  another  place  with  a  queer  English  name  near  Glasbury  bridge — the 
Dolphin.  How  comes  that  ?  I  could  write  a  page  about  the  dolphin  fish  with  his 
changing  colours  when  dying,  his  love  for  music  when  alive,  and  how  he  carried  Arion,  the 
poet  and  minstrel,  on  his  back  safely  away  from  his  would-be  murderers.  But  why  this 
house  was  called  the  Dolphin,  that  I  cannot  tell ! 


(78) 

Glasbury    and   District. 


A    FEW     MOKE     NOTES. 

Llanthony  Abbey  is,  as  we  all  know,  in  the  Vale  of  Honddu,  or  Ewias  Harold,  in 
Monmouthshire,  but  I  forgot  to  mention  that  Father  Ignatius'  modern  monastery,  or 
religious  building,  is  in  the  parish  of  Llanigon  in  Breconshire,  and  the  land  on  which  it 
stands  is  subject  to  tithe  to  the  Vicar  of  that  parish. 

There  are  two  names  of  places  mentioned  on  Theophilus  Jones'  map  of  the  county,  of 
which  I  can  find  no  record  elsewhere.  Both  are  near  the  extreme  eastern  point  of 
Breconshire,  overlooking  the  valley  of  the  Dulas  (Hay).  The  one  he  gives  as  Sykes'  cot  or 
cottage,  and  the  other  marked  by  the  drawing  of  a  large  upright  stone  on  the  map,  is  Maen 
Ehywr  Darren,  the  stone  itself  being  cal'ed  Carreg  Llwyd,  and  marking  the  boundary 
between  Llanigon  and  Hay  parishes.  Is  this  the  same  stone  as  llech-y-lladron  (robbers' 
altar),  and  does  Sykes'  Cot  still  exist  ?  And  I  observe  Jones  mentions  at  page  6,  New.  Ed., 
that  Llangwaithan,  or  Llanywerthan  Mill  and  two  meadows  are  situated  within  Hay 
parish  on  the  Dulas  brook,  but  which  are  part  of  Llanigon.  They  are  also,  as  I  have 
previously  pointed  out,  part  of  the  Manor  of  Llanigon  (Haya  Wallensis),  and  no  doubt 
had  been  so  appropriated,  as  a  mill  for  grinding  the  corn  of  the  Lord's  tenants. 
In  the  case  of  the  Great  Forest  of  Brecon  7  mills  of  this  character  were  held  with  the 
Forest,  down  to  the  commencement  of  the  present  century. 

I  wonder  who  helped  our  first  county  historian  to  prepare  his  county  map,  which 
appears  at  the  commencement  of  his  Work.  It  is  skilfully  and  accurately  made,  and  I 
expect  David  Davies,  the  famous  surveyor  of  Llangattock,  Crickhowell,  was  the  real  author. 
The  scale  of  the  map  of  8-8ths  of  one  inch  to  the  mile,  is  less  by  more  than  one  half  than 
that  of  the  one  inch  ordnance  sheet.  The  size  of  the  map  is  about  16  in.  by  16  in.  At 
the  foot  is  a  very  striking  and  bold  engraving,  representing  the  summit  of  our  Beacon 
range.  I  think  I  have  seen  somewhere  that  this  sketch  was  made  by  Sir  Kichard  C. 
Hoare,  who  drew  several  for  the  historian,  but  the  copy  from  the  original  was  made  for 
him  by  Mr.  David  Davies,  the  surveyor,  in  1804.  But  it  is  as  an  engraving  that  this 
must  stand  as  a  work  of  great  skill,  whoever  the  craftsman  may  have  been.  Those  who 
have  seen  our  majestic  Beacons  in  a  thunderstorm  at  night,  every  peak  momentarily 
lighted  up  by  the  lightning's  lurid  flash,  will  then  have  seen  the  view  which  this  engraving 
presents.  All  darkness  in  the  valleys  below,  but  the  summit  outlines  in  their  grandeur 
all  visible  for  the  moment ! 

Our  historian  must  have  had  considerable  trouble  with  his  map  in  any  case.  Map 
makers  generally  copy  the  one  from  the  other,  everlastingly  perpetuating  mistakes.  I 
remember  seeing  the  device  on  the  frontispiece  of  one  old  map  of  a  strong  man  beating  a 
snake  on  a  dog's  back,  and  the  motto  is  "indefessw  agenda" — I  am  never  wearied  in 
doing  it — that  means,  unceasingly  correcting  mistakes.  In  a  corner  was  a  vignette  of 
Father  Time — with  his  scythe,  as  much  as  to  say,  do  what  you  like,  yeur  map  will  be  full 
of  errors  and  out  of  date  in  a  very  few  years  !  Of  course,  when  Jones  made  his  map,  the 
first  ordnance  survey  was  not  completed.  He  must  have  copied  a  good  deal,  probably 
from  some  older  map  or  other. 

There  are  three  very  old  English  maps  of  renown,  all  published  in  the  16th  and  17th 
century.  It  was  in  1578  that  Christopher  Saxton  brought  out  his  celebrated 
map  of  England  and  Wales  ;  in  1606  Speed  followed  with  his  great  map,  and  later  in  the 
17th  century  a  German  named  Jean  Blaeu,  or  Blavius,  brought  out  an  elaborate  map  of  the 
English  and  Welsh  counties.  It  was  dedicated  to  Princess  Henrietta  Marie,  Queen  of 
Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland,  and  daughter  of  Henry  le  Grand,  King  of  France  and 
Navarre.  This  lady,  daughter  of  Henry  of  Navarre,  King  of  France,  was  the  wife  of 
our  Charles  I.,  and  after  her  husband's  execution  lived  in  exile  on  the 


(74) 

Continent  up  to  the  time  of  her  death  in  1660.  The  Blaeu  family  were 
celebrated  publishers  at  Amsterdam,  and,  no  doubt,  produced  this  great  work  at  the 
request,  and  possibly  at  the  cost  of  the  Ex-Queen  of  England.  The  German  profusely 
illustrated  his  maps  with  coloured  sketches  of  industries,  and  with  fanciful  devices,  and  the 
picture  of  two  German  peasants — with  the  build  and  dress  of  such — reaping  the  golden 
grain  in  an  English  corn  field  is  strangely  incongruous.  Of  course,  presumably,  the 
German  artist  had  never  seen  an  English  peasant ! 

I  looked  at  these  three  old  maps  very  carefully  to  see  where  they  had  placed  Glasbury 
Church,  which  we  know  was  pulled  down  and  rebuilt  on  another  site  in  1661.  All  of  them 
place  the  church  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  not  on  the  right  bank  as  it  really  was. 
They  also  mark  the  junction  of  the  Llynfi  quite  as  high  up  as  Aberllynfi.  They  seem  to 
have  copied  from  still  older  maps,  and  their  handiwork  is  of  little  value  to  us 
in  attempting  to  trace  out  the  ancient  changes  that  have  evidently  taken  place  at 
that  point  in  the  course  of  the  Wye.  Jones,  however,  killed  this  particular  snake,  and  by 
his  local  knowledge  was  able  to  map  the  church  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river. 

This  leads  me  to  make  the  remark,  that  this  country,  as  I  have  long  known,  has  been 
greatly  deficient  in  good  maps,  whether  of  geography  or  of  geology,  and  there  is  a  field 
open  here  for  any  clever  Welsh  draughtsman  to  find  employment,  and  to  go,  if  really 
skilful  in  his  work,  to  the  very  forefront.  The  routine  of  private  map  establishments  is 
not  conducive  to  the  display  of  talent  and  original  work,  and  the  proprietors  are  content 
to  follow  and  wait  upon  instead  of  anticipating  the  public  demand,  and  then  only  in  a 
hurried  and  the  least  expensive  manner.  The  first  question  to  map  sellers  is  whether  it 
will  pay  to  produce  a  map,  not  whether  it  is  wanted,  and  will  be  of  public  service 

I  must  hark  back  from  maps  and  map-making  to  Glasbury  Manor,  with  reference  to 
which  I  have  still  a  few  interesting  particulars  to  give,  thanks  to  the  kindness  and  with 
the  permission  of  Colonel  Thomas  Wood. 

Close  to  Twyn-tal-y-cefn,  the  well  marked  tump  on  the  mountain,  where  the  Manors 
of  Dinas,  Velindre,  and  Haya  Wallensis  meet,  a  stone  still  stands,  marked  on  the  South 
side  "  Sir  Edward  Williams  Bart's  Lordship  of  Dynas,  1759,"  and  on  the  north  side 
"  and  of  Velindre."  In  1848  there  was  a  dispute  between  Lord  Hereford  and  Col.  Wood, 
of  Littleton,  our  then  county  member,  as  to  boundaries,  and  according  to  an  award  in  an 
arbitration  made  December  5th,  1848,  a  new  stone  was  added  by  the  side  of  the  above  old 
one,  with  a  "  V  "  on  the  one  side  for  Velindre.  and  "  L  "  for  Llanigon  on  the  other. 

Referring  back  a  little,  we  find,  that  on  Sir  E.  Williams'  death  in  1803,  the  Colonel 
Wood  named  inherited  all  his  Breconshire  property  through  his  mother,  but  it  appeared 
that  Mr.  Macnamara,  a  London  solicitor,  had  lent  large  sums  of  money  on  mortgage  to 
Sir  Edward  Williams,  and  after  a  long  lawsuit  it  was  decided  that  the  Wood  family 
retained  only  the  settled  property,  losing  the  manors  of  Dynas,  Cantref-selyff,  and  others. 
These  manors,  with  the  other  unsettled  property  of  Sir  Edward  Williams,  were  subsequently 
bought,  sometime  between  1840-50,  by  the  first  Sir  Joseph  Bailey,  of  Glanusk,  from 
Arthur  Macnamara,  son  of  John  Macnamara.  And  here  1  may  correct  a  slight  error  in 
the  Crown  Surveyor's  report  on  Haya  Wallensis  manor.  For  "Mark  Wood"  read 
"Colonel  Thomas  Wood." 


(75) 

Glasbury. 


A     FEW     MORE     NOTES. 

It  would  seem  that  in  1561  the  Lordship  and  Castle  (with  various  demesne  lands)  of 
Glasbury  were  possessed  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in  right  of  the  Crown,  and  Her  Majesty  then 
appointed  certain  commissioners — William  Wightman.  Robert  Moulton,  John  Gwyn, 
James  Lewis,  and  Robert  Davies  by  name — -to  enquire  and  report  concerning  this  lordship. 
A  jury  was  accordingly  impanelled  by  them,  and  a  sworn  presentment  and  verdict  made 
by  the  jurors  as  to  the  extent  of  the  lands  and  their  description,  and  the  rights  and  customs 
of  the  manor.  The  presentment  was  made  at  Radnor  on  the  14th  November,  1561,  and 
a  copy  of  it  Col.  Wood  has  been  good  enough  to  let  me  see. 

In  the  first  place,  how  the  Lordship  came  to  the  Queen  at  all,  that  I  do  not  know. 
Probably  it  descended  to  her  from  her  father,  Henry  VIII.,  but  it  is  quite  possible  that  she 
herself  acquired  it  from  the  Church,  because  I  find  by  1st  Elizabeth  c.  9,  power  was  given 
to  take  Church  lands,  if  impropriate  livings,  and  tenths  in  the  hands  of  the  Crown  were 
assigned  to  the  Church  in  lieu  of  and  as  an  equivalent  to  the  lands. 

We  have  seen  in  previous  papers  that  the  Earl  of  Essex  held  property  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood, and  it  occurred  to  me  at  first  that  this  manor  came  to  the  Crown  through  his 
attainder  for  high  treason,  but  this  could  hardly  be,  as  this  great  favourite  of  the 
Queen  was  not  beheaded  in  the  Tower  until  1601.  I  am  inclined  to  think  on  the  whole 
that  this  was  the  hereditary  property  of  the  Crown  at  the  time  of  the  accession  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  in  ]553,  and  that  the  survey  at  the  commencement  of  her  reign  naturally 
followed. 

According  to  this  presentment,  a  large  extent  of  land  belonged  in  fee  to  the  lordship, 
the  greater  part  of  which  was  at  the  time  held  from  the  Crown  by  John  Gunter  on  lease. 
Particulars  and  names  are  given,  but  it  is  very  difficult  to  identify  the  fields  now  from 
the  description.  And  the  same  applies  to  the  boundary  of  the  lordship,  which,  however,  I 
here  give,  as  some  greater  experts  than  myself  may  be  able  to  make  out  the  boundary. 

"  And,  further,  the  said  jury  upon  their  oaths  do  say,  that  the  mears  and  bounds  of 
the  Lordship  of  Glasbury  are  these,  viz.,  from  a  place  called  Garrig  by  Wye  side  eastward 
followirg  the  ditch  between  Melinoge  and  Glasbury  to  a  place  called  Kefn  Trewgoed,  from 
thence  to  Hether-goz,  from  thence  to  the  house  of  Henry  Phema,  from  thence  to  a  place 
called  Chad,  and  then  to  the  Lord's  wood  called  Parke  Coyde  bollen,  from  thence  to 
Gurglodd  Thomas  Williams,  and  from  thence  to  pass  over  the  rivers  Leveney  and  Wye  to 
the  Castle  banks  of  Caleybury,  from  thence  hard  by  the  river  side  to  Tyr-trappe,  from 
thence  to  Llore-plonkhat,  and  so  passing  by  Cayecron  joining  to  the  Lordship  of  Bough- 
rood  to  Foxcholles.  and  thence  by  the  meare  to  Footman-y-gog  and  Llydiat  Mayne,  from 
thence  by  the  highway  side  to  Caringkaye,  Fynnonynor,  and  from  thence  to  the  brook 
side  to  Postey.  From  thence  to  the  Three  Crosses,  and  following  the  brook  side  of  Combe 
Llundeg  to  Aber  to  a  part  of  Melisnag  called  Gay-gennog,  and  to  the  middle  of  Hayne-sye 
to  the  Lord's  meadows  Pule  Grattloge,  from  thence  to  Kyde  Hocking  Geruge." 

We  have  here  the  following  names  that  we  still  know  :  Wye,  Leveny  or  Llynfi, 
Melynog,  and  Park  Coed-y-bollen  ;  but  that  is  about  all,  so  that  it  is  apparently  the  Glas- 
bury Lordship,  though  so  corruptly  and  strangely  described. 

The  usual  rights  of  a  manor  belonged  to  this,  and  are  mentioned  in  the  presentment, 
such  as  payment  of  chief  rents,  heriots,  and  alienation,  and  admission  fees  and  fines,  for- 
feitures, &e.  The  demesne  lands  of  the  Castle  held  by  John  Gunter  on  lease  were 
considerable,  amounting  to  280  acres  of  arable  and  40  acres  of  meadow,  including  the 
Queen's  great  Broadfilde  of  97  acres,  and  the  Queen's  meade. 

It  was  the  custom  of  this  lordship  for  courts  to  be  held  at  fixed  periods,  when  on  the 
decease  of  a  tenant  of  the  lord  the  successor  came  to  do  fealty  to  the  lord,  and  a  rod  was 


(76) 

given  to  the  new  tenant,  showing  possession,  by  the  Mayor  of  the  Court,  when  the  ceremony 
of  braynte  and  estimation  was  concluded.  The  same  custom  of  using  and  delivering  the 
rod  took  place  on  lands  being  sold.  It  was  called  the  livery  of  the  rod. 

It  was  also  the  custom  that  the  eldest  son  should  inherit  his  father's  lands  ;  if  there 
were  no  sons,  then  the  daughters  equally,  and  failing  sons  or  daughters,  the  next  heir.  The 
Widow  of  a  tenant  was  to  have  one  third  of  any  lands  her  husband  possessed  during  the 

spousals. 

Among  the  various  recommendations  which  the  Jury  in  their  presentment  made,  is  one 
that  every  tenant  within  the  lordship,  holding  any  of  the  demesne  lands,  or  any  of  his 
own  customary  lands  adjoining  the  river  Wye,  should  this  side  of  next  Spring  plant  three 
rows  of  osiers — that  is  of  willow  trees,  alders,  or  poplars,  on  the  bank  of  the  river  for  its 
protection,  whichever  kind  seems  best,  the  osy-yards  to  be  three  inches  compass,  one  yard 
Jind  a  half  in  length,  and  to  be  set  f  yard  one  from  the  other. 

The  following  particulars  in  the  presentment  are  at  present  unintelligible  to  me  : — 

"  Within  the  Tower  of is  one  scyte  of  a  house  decayed  in  the  street,  one  other  by 

the  water,  one  other  in  the  same  lane,  and  one  near  to  the  chappell."  Also  the  whole  of 
the  following  presentment :— "Item  they  say  that  James  John  Plie  hath  incroached  the 
eighth-part  of  au  acre  by  the  old  Mylne  pound,  and  there  builded  a  cottage  to  be  seined 
and  set  for  the  lord,  and  that  the  Castle  and  Castle  Green  from  the  west  style  of  the 
churchyard  to  the  bridge  end  is  the  lord's  demesne." 

Further  memorandum  of  Jury  : — "  The  Bayliff  is  charged  by  the  Steward  to  enclose 
from  the  west  style  of  the  churchyard  of  Glasbury  to  the  corner  of  the  great  broad  field, 
and  to  keep  all  the  scite  of  the  lord's  mansion  with  the  ground  on  the  back  side  of  tha 
church  between  the  church  and  the  river  to  the  west  end  of  the  bridge  several  to  the 
lord's  use,  and  to  set  a  gate  for  passage  in  the  highway  near  to  the  said  church  style." 

Item,  the  Jurors  say  that  the  custom  is  and  tyme  out  of  mind,  that  the  Tenants  after 
every  change  of  the  Lord  wise  should  pay  a  Myse  of  100s.  at  three  payments  three  years 
next  after  the  entry  of  the  new  Lord.  This  Myse  they  ought  to  have  white  bookes, 
viz.,  release  of  all  things  due  to  the  Lord  at  and  before  entry. 

The  following  curious  entry  relating  to  bondwomen,  in  the  Presentment  of  the  Jury 
of  1561,  runs  as  follows  : — 

"  To  the  third  Article,  the  said  Jurators  say  that  they  know  nor  ever  heard  there  are 

or  ever  were  any  bond  or  bondwomen  belonging  to  the  said  Lordship." 
Bondage  was  a  form  of  slavery,  and  bondmen  in  Domesday  Book  are  called  servi. 
Some  of  these  were  bound  to  the  person  of  the  Lord  and  his  heirs,  while  in  other  cases 
they  were  belonging  to  and  annexed  to  the  manor,  and  when  a  manor  was  sold,  the  bond 
servants  passed  with  the  land  to  the  new  owner.  Those  who  remember  their  French 
school  book  story  "  Le  Serf,"  will  find  there  related  the  hardship  caused  to  the  serfs  or 
bondmen  by  the  transfers  of  large  French  estates. 

The  same  rules  applied  to  bondwomen,  who  were  also  called  "  Neifs  "  (French — 
naif,  naturalis,  nativa)  and  She  Villeins.  If  a  bondwoman  married  a  free  man,  she 
became  free.  Anciently  lords  of  manors  sold,  gave,  or  assigned  their  bondmen,  bond- 
women or  neifs  freely.  You  will  find  reference  in  various  statutes  of  Edward  III., 
Richard  II.,  and  Henry  VIII.,  to  bond  servants, — and  villeinage,  or  holding  bondmen  and 
bondwomen,  was  not  finally  abolished  until  1660  by  12  Charles  II,,  cap.  24,  "  an  Act  for 
taking  away  the  court  of  wards  and  liveries,  and  tenures  in  capite,  and  by  knights'  ser- 
vice and  purveyance  " — in  fact,  abolishing  feudal  tenure.  Thank  heaven  we  are  not 
going  back  to  those  times ;  and  it  would  seem  that  even  for  a  hundred  years  previously 
to  1561,  bond  service  was  stated  then  to  have  never  been  known  in  this  lordship. 


(77) 

Glasbury. 


FURTHER    NOTES. 

Since  I  wrote  last  as  to  Glaabury  Manor,  and  the  old  Presentment  of  1561,  I  have 
made  a  few  discoveries  of  some  interest.  I  think  we  can  make  out  the  boundaries  of  the 
Manor  pretty  nearly,  also  the  site  of  the  Castle  and  of  the  old  Mill  referred  to. 

The  Castle  apparently  strod  in  a  field  near  the  Wye  behind  the  old  Vicarage,  called 
Sally  Vawr,  and  between  the  Maesllwch  Arms  and  Parkgwynne,  and  at  the  Parkgwynne 
side  of  the  road  there  are  some  irregularities  in  the  surface  of  the  meadow,  and  the 
ground  underneath  is  said  to  be  full  of  stones,  and  at  one  spot  there  is  a  circular  low 
mound,  as  if  it  were  the  remains  of  a  circular  tower. 

The  field,  called  Sally  Vawr,  appears  to  give  the  name  to  a  small  manor,  presumably 
a  small  manor  within  that  of  Glasbury,  and  Miss  Bevan,  of  Brynrhydd,  is  the 
lady  of  the  manor.  The  manor  is  styled  the  manor  of  Sally  Vawr,  and  is  said  to  hare 
comprised  Cwmbach  and  Ciltwrch.* 

If  this  was  the  site  of  the  old  Castle,  it  would  bring  Castle,  Vicarage,  and  the  old 
Church  close  together,  as  the  1561  paper  describes. 

Again,  with  regard  to  the  old  Mill,  there  are  traces  of  it  at  Cwmbach,  where  the  old 
brook  must  once  have  flowed,  and  local  people  seem  to  be  aware  of  it.  It  was  called 
Melin  Cwm  bach,  and  is  said  to  have  fallen  into  ruin  long  before  the  time  the  presentment 
of  1561  was  made. 

If  any  old  branch  of  the  Wye  flowed  by  Pwllpatty,  and  close  to  the  north  slope  of 
the  valley,  it  is  probable  that  the  Cwmbach  brook  then  entered  the  Wye  within  150 
yards  or  so  of  the  old  Mill  at  Cwmbach. 

The  name  of  Parkgwynne  would  seem  also  to  identify  the  place  named  as  Glaibury 
Park  in  the  old  paper. 

Strange,  is  it  not,  how  quickly  things  are  forgotten,  and  all  traces  of  such  lost.  I 
had  a  marvellous  instance  of  this,  wken  through  some  old  papers  in  our  family — not  very 
old,  1695 — I  was  able  to  bring  to  the  knowledge  of  Mr.  Johnson,  the  town  clerk  and  his- 
torian of  Hereford,  facts  as  to  the  wear  and  mills  once  on  the  Wye  by  the  Castle  Green, 
which  were  otherwise  forgotten,  and  of  which  he  had  never  heard  ! 

I  will  conclude  with  a  few  further  remarks  with  regard  to  the  possible  changes  in  the 
course  of  the  Wye  at  Glasbury. 

In  very  ewly  times  I  conjecture  that  the  Wye  flowed  under  the  southern  slope  from 
Pipton  downwards,  receiving  at  Aberllynfi,  as  the  name  implies,  the  waters  of  the  Llynfi. 
In  course  of  time  sudden  fearful  waterspouts,  falling  either  in  the  Llynfi  Valley  or  in  the 
Felindre  Brook,  caused  a  huge  mass  of  debris  to  be  lodged  in  the  Wye. 
This  mass,  trees  growing  upon  it,  and  resisting  the  force  of  the  Wye,  turned  that  river, 
or  a  branch  of  it,  right  away  to  the  north  side.  Naturally  the  stream  would  then  hug 
that  bank,  and  cut  deeply  into  the  alluvial  soil,  forming  finally  a  large  sweep  by  Pwll- 
patty and  by  the  Woodlands  again  to  join  the  old  course  of  the  river  south  of  the  old 
church  site. 

And  now  follows  the  scene  which  you  may  witness  taking  place  below  Glasbury 
bridge  to-day.  The  deeper  the  river  cut  out  the  horseshoe  at  the  Woodlands,  the  greater 
the  pressure  of  water  became  at  the  lower  corner  by  the  old  church.  The  local  people 
did  what  they  could  by  the  massive  river  wall  at  the  Vicarage  to  prevent  it  breaking 
through,  but  at  last  it  broke  through,  the  forces  of  nature  being  too  strong,  and  the  river 
found  its  way  between  the  old  church  site  and  the  Vicarage,  as  we  see  it  to-day. 

Now  came  another  natural  process.  The  river  relieved,  no  longer  cut  deeply  into  the 
horseshoe  at  the  Woodlands  ;  it  began  to  silt  up  there,  and  that  silting  up  of  the  beiid 


(78) 

was  gradually  increased,  until   after  the  lapse  of  200  years  the  old  course  has  become 
scarcely  traceable. 

Clearly  in  1561  the  river  flowed  to  the  south  of  the  old  church  site,  and  I  think  a 
branch  of  it  at  least  by  Pwllpatty  and  the  Woodlands.  In  1667,  when  the  new  church 
was  built,  the  old  church  was  isolated  from  the  Vicarage,  and  therefore  the  river  broke 
through  in  the  hundred  years  subsequent  to  1561.  As  to  the  very  old  course  of  the 
river  by  Aberllynfi,  and  following  the  Breconshire  bank,  there  is  nothing  to  give  us 
any  clue  as  to  the  date,  though,  as  I  have  stated,  the  old  maps  (1560 — 1660)  of  Speed, 
Saxton,  and  Blaeu  apparently — it  may  be  wholly  in  error,  and  only  as  a  copy  of  other 
older  maps — mark  the  course  of  the  Wye  by  Aberllynfi,  and  hugging  the  Breconshire 
bank. 

I  am  told  that  even  now,  if  not  prevented  by  weiring,  the  Wye  seems  half  inclined  to 
try  the  Pwllpatty  and  Woodlands  course  again,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  in  the 
course  of  ages,  historic  and  prehistoric,  the  Wye  has  shaped  its  course  here,  there,  and 
everywhere  in  the  soft  alluvial  deposit,  constituting  the  flat  plain  between  the  Breconshire 
and  Radnorshire  slopes.  It  would  be  very  interesting  to  know,  who  built  the  river  wall 
at  Parkgwynne  !  Other  conjectures,  as  to  the  possible  changes  in  the  course  of  the  Wye, 
will  be  found  at  pages  71-2  ante.  There  is  an  interesting  field  open  here  for  the  ingenuity 
of  the  reader. 

Further  enquiry  leads  me  to  think  that  the  term  "stonces"  may  be  derived  from 
the  Norman  word  "  estance,"  a  fish  pool,  from  which  comes  "  stance,"  any  barrier  against 
water,  and  our  modern  "stank."  "Estance"  is  given  in  the  Latin  equivalent  "agger 
aquis  oppositus,"  a  mound  opposed  to  the  flow  of  water. 

In  a  situation  like  that  which  the  "  stonces  "  hold,  forming  a  delta  between  the  Wye 
and  the  Llynfi,  one  or  other  of  those  rivers  was  constantly  in  the  habit  of  making  inroads, 
and  warping,  weiring,  and  stanking  were  often  needed  to  preserve  the  land.  The  wood 
near,  known  as  Coed-y-bolen,  or  the  wood  of  poles,  was  probably  made  use  of  to  furnish 
the  necessary  stakes  for  weiring.  On  further  examination  of  the  Presentment  of  1561,  1 
find  a  field  described  as  being  in  length  "  from  a  place  called  Istance,  being  the  Queen's 
meade." 

*  This  Manor  is  also  called  Brinseviok,  or  Soler  Vawr.     See  Radnorshire  Hist.  Mem.  p.  62. 


Glasbury  under  the  Commonwealth. 

1650—60. 

The  Eev.  Alexander  Griffith  had  been  the  Vicar  of  the  Parish  from  1889  to  1850,  in 
which  latter  year  the  Commissioners  under  the  Commonwealth,  for  the  Propagation  of 
the  Gospel — called  Propagators— ejected  Mr.  Griffith  from  the  living  either  for  being  a 
Royalist  or  for  his  religious  views. 

The  tithes  were  then  sequestered,  and  first  one  Richard  Powell,  of  Penywern, 
and  then  Owen  Griffith  entered  into  possession  of  the  Vicarage,  probably  at  a  salary  of 
£100  a  year.  Mr.  William  Jones,  of  Bucklyn  (Buckland)  was  the  sequestrator,  and  Owen 
Griffith  is  said  to  have  received  his  presentation  from  Oliver  Cromwell,  the  Protector,  in 
1658. 

On  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  1660,  the  old  vicar,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Griffith, 
came  by  his  own  again,  and  one  of  the  first  acts  he  did,  as  a  token  of  thanksgiving,  was 
to  change  the  site  of  the  parish  church  from  the  low  flooded  ground  on  the  Stonces,  and 
rebuild  it  as  we  see  to-day  on  the  high  ground  near  the  railway  station  on  the  right 
bank  of  both  the  Llynfi  and  the  Wye.  The  following  old  paper,  which  I  found  in 
Lambeth  Palace  with  others  of  the  same  date  relating  to  other  sequestered  livings  in 
Breconshire,  fits  in  with  and  explains  some  of  the  previous  papers  relating  to  Glasbury, 
and  the  rebuilding  of  the  Church. 


(79) 

Sequestered  Livings  in  Breconshire,  1650-1652, 
No.  22,  in  Lambeth  Library. 


The  Return   of    the   Pettie  Constables    of    Glasbury    within    the   County   of   Brecon, 

20  Aug.  1662. 

1.  The  Vicaridg  of  Glaabury  was  accounted  to  be  of  ye  yearlie  value  of — 100. 

2.  Alexander  Griffith  clerk  was  vicar  of  the  said  parish  from  the  yere  1639  untill  the 
seventh  day  of  June  1650  att  which  day  he  was  eicted. 

8.  The  Commissioners  for  eicting  him  were  the  propagators,  viz.,  John  Williams,  of 
Eadnorshire  ;  Eichard  King,  John  Dauntesey,  Th.  Watkyns,  Wm.  Watkyns  of  Shephouse 
and  others. 

4.  The   Sequestrator   for   the  yeares   1650,    1651,    1652,   was  as  we  are  crediblie 
informed  Wm  Jones  of  Bucklyn,  or  John  Morgan,  taylor  within  the  Countie  of  Braccon. 

5.  Their  ffarmor  or  vndertenant  for  those  yeares  was  Evan  Thomas  of  Glasebury 
carpenter  throwout  the  whole  Parish. 

6.  In   the  yeare  1653   being  Easter  Munday  after  the  expiration  of  the  Act  for 
propagation  One  Kichard  Powell  of  Pen  y  wern  within  the  County  of  Radnor  and  parish  of 
Glasbury   entred  upon   the  Vicaridge  by  power  of  the  said  Commissioners  wherein  he 
continued  sometimes  preaching  and  was  accounted  among  us  as  vicar  untill  the  yeare 
1658  and  during  those  yeares  his  ffarmors  and  Agents  did  sett  out  the  Tiethes  belonging 
to  the  said  Vicaridg. 

The  said  Richard  Powell  is  now  dead,  his  widow  is  marryed  to  one  William  Phillips. 
And  Richard  Powell's  son  and  heir  is  called  Richard  Powell,  aged  about  20  yeares. 

7.  Owen  Griffith  clerk   was   by  the  Commissioners  for  approbation  12  Jun  1658 
intituled  into  the  said  Vicaridg  of  Glasebury  by  virtue  of  a  presentation  from  Oliver,  then 
Protector,   being  then   accounted   vacant  by   the   decease  of  Richard  Powell,  where  he 
continued  as  Vicar  until  his  Majesties  most  happy  Restauration,  and  then  our  former 
Vicar  Mr.  Alex.  Griffith  re-enjoyed  the  same. 


Old   Maps. 


Of  all  the  old  maps  of  Breconshire,  the  best  certainly  is  that  of  John  Speed,  pub- 
lished in  1608,  and  made,  it  is  said,  from  actual  survey  on  the  fair  scale  of  2J  miles  to 
1  inch.  It  gives  the  hills  shaded  in,  villages,  churches,  and  rivers.  I  think  the  map  is 
worth  re-producing,  because  it  has  a  special  side  plan  of  the  town  of  Brecon  on  the  scale 
of  100  passes  to  1  inch.  And  there  is  shown  the  Castle  with  its  towers  and  ramparts, 
and  the  wall  encircling  the  town  by  Watton  Mount,  and  the  Captains'  Walk,  also  with  its 
towers  and  gateways,  standing  complete.  But  who  is  there  in  the  town  or  country  able 
and  public  spirited  enough  to  pay  the  cost  ?  The  British  Museum  authorities  will  permit 
the  tracing  to  be  made,  and  probably  one  of  the  map  makers  would  produce  500  copies 
for  JE10  or  £15.  Will  someone  volunteer  ? 

But  Christopher  Saxlon's  is  even  an  older  map,  made  from  actual  survey  in  1578, 
and  dedicated  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  The  scale  is  smaller  than  that  of  Speed,  being  5 
miles  to  1£  inches.  On  this  map  the  mountains  are  very  conspicuous — and  Breconshire 
has  a  good  few — drawn  like  conical  apple  dumplings  on  the  sheet.  This  was  the  way  the 


(80) 

old  mappers  had  of  showing  height,  and  you  will  find  Jones  in  his  county  map  draws  the 
hills  much  in  the  same  way. 

Another  old  map,  as  I  have  told  my  readers  before,  is  that  of  John  Blaeu,  the 
Dutchman  of  Amsterdam,  published  in  1662,  and  dedicated  to  Henrietta  Maria,  widowed 
and  exiled  Queen  of  Charles  I.  This  firm  of  Blaeu  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  map 
makers  that  ever  existed.  The  scale  is  the  same  as  that  of  Speed,  and  possibly  it  was 
in  the  main  a  copy. 

All  these  three  old  maps,  as  you  will  remember,  place  Glasbury  Church  on  the  left 
bank  of  the  Wye,  and  also  place  the  junction  of  the  Llynfi  with  the  Wye  as  high  up  as 
Aberllynfi.  Blaeu's  map  of  1662  was  certainly  wrong,  but  whether  those  of  Saxton  and 
Speed  were  or  were  not,  it  is  impossible  to  say,  as  we  do  not  know  the  year  when  the 
river  altered  its  course  and  broke  through  between  the  Vicarage  and  the  Church. 

However,  these  veteran  maps  show  things  of  interest,  and  give  some  old  names  now 
entirely  lost.  In  the  parish  of  Llanwrthwl,  there  is  the  well-known  rhos  saith  maen, 
"  Wet  Place  of  the  Seven  Stones,"  and  all  the  maps  give  the  name,  Jones  further  draw- 
ing little  figures  of  conical  stones  to  represent  the  Seven.  But  it  is  only  the  old  maps 
that  show  the  important  road  that  led  in  olden  time  from  Ehayader  by  the  Seven  Stones 
past  Llanafan  Fawr  Church  and  Aberanell  to  the  well  known  large  upright  stone  land- 
mark on  Maesy-gwaelog  Farm  near  Llanwrtyd.  The  Seven  Stones  and  this  one  stone 
seem  to  have  served  as  finger  posts.  On  the  same  important  main  road  the  old  maps 
give  a  place  with  the  curious  name  of  Tulwr  Milog,  near  the  Seven  Stones,  but  no  such 
name  appears  in  Jones  (who  gives  very  few  place  names)  or  on  the  modern  ordnance 
sheet. 

Another  road  these  old  maps  make  a  good  deal  of,  is  that  of  the  road  from  Builth  to 
Brecon  by  the  Upper  Chapel.  Jones  gives  one  place  on  the  mountain  as  Cwm  Awen, 
while  the  old  maps  give  it  as  Cwm  Owen,  and  so  does  the  ordnance  map.  This  is  of 
little  moment,  perhaps,  but  the  old  maps  say  that  near  Cwm  Owen  bridge  there  was  "  a 
causeway  called  Foes  Torr  Cengyl."  I  presume  it  led  up  to  the  bridge  of  Cwm  Owen,  but 
this  is  the  first  I  have  ever  heard  of  this  causeway.  The  meaning  of  the  name  would 
probably  be  "the  ditch  of  the  broken  girth."  No  wonder  the  old  folk  made  a  causeway. 

And  now  I  wish  to  ask  my  readers,  which  do  they  consider  to  have  been  the  most 
ancient  fenced-in  park  in  the  county  ?  Glanusk  Park,  Llangattock  Park,  Danypark, 
Cefnparc  ?  Oh  no ;  all  these  are  modern,  and  some  of  them  never  were  really 
parks  at  all.  Well,  you  say,  Porthamel  and  Gwernyfed.  That  is  nearer,  and  both  these 
parks  are  marked  on  Bowen's  map  of  1768.  But  the  oldest  park  of  all  is  one  now  quite 
forgotten  except  its  name,  and  long  disused,  that  of  Pare,  Trallong.  It  is  named  on 
these  old  maps  "  Hennid  Pare,"  and  a  pretty  little  coloured  sketch  of  its  encircling 
palisading  is  given.  Evidently  Hennid  Pare  was  then  in  full  and  vigorous  use,  and  no 
such  other  appears  in  equal  splendour  in  the  whole  county.  To  whom  this  park  then 
belonged  I  do  not  know.  Will  someone  help  us  to  paint  again  its  pristine  glory  ?  Jones 
in  his  county  map  does  not  even  mention  the  place  at  all,  giving  only  the  name  of  Trallong 
for  the  whole  district  between  the  Bran  and  Cilieni  streams.  The  spot  was  well  chosen 
for  its  purpose,  sunny  with  ferny  banks  and  undulating  ground,  and  water  from  the 
Cilieni  stream,  if  needed.  Was  it  the  park  of  Einon  Sais  or  of  Bernard  Newmarch,  a 
kind  of  appanage  to  the  Great  Forest  ?  If  I  were  the  owner  of  the  Pare  farm,  I  should 
certainly  have  a  sketch  made  of  the  Pare  palisading,  as  it  appears  in  its  livery  of  green  in 
these  old  maps. 

The  next  reliable  map  is  that  published  by  Bowen  in  1768.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
made  from  an  actual  survey  by  Thomas  Kitchin,  and  is  dedicated  not  to  a  Queen  or  ex- 
Queen,  but  to  one  whom  my  friend  Bees  Williams  would  hold  in  nearly  equal  esteem,  as 
an  untitled  Prince,  Thomas  Morgan,  Her  Majesty's  Lieutenant  and  Custos  Kotulorum  for 
the  county  of  Brecon.  As  a  prince  should,  he  patronised  map  making,  and  I  hope  gave 
Mr.  Kitchin,  a  liberal  order.  The  scale  of  this  map  is  smaller,  than  the  older  ones,  being 
8J  miles  to  1  inch. 


(81) 

It  may  be  stated,  that  this  map  for  the  first  time  places  Glasbury  church  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Wye,  and  also  gives  the  names  of  the  owners  of  some  of  the  county  seats, 
like  Jeffreys,  for  Pencelly  Castle  (not  Abercynrig,  as  I  wrote  previously).  It  also  plainly 
marks  one  very  important  roadway  of  that  day,  the  one  leading  from  Trecastle  to  Llan- 
dovery  over  the  Trecastle  mountain.  The  map  also  shows  drawn  upon  it  a  mountain-gate 
at  that  point,  and  what  now  bears  the  name  of  the  Black  Cock  on  the  brow  of  the  pictur- 
esque Myddfai  ridge  of  the  Llandeilo  flags,  is  given  as  the  Heath  Cock. 
The  broad  tracks  on  Trecastle  mountain,  and  the  deep  cut  sweep  of  the  ascent 
by  the  Heath  Cock,  clearly  show  the  road  must  have  been  once  a  very  important 
one,  and  the  main  thoroughfare  from  Breconshire  to  Carmarthenshire.  The  Cwmydwr 
road  down  the  valley  of  the  Gwydderig  was  not  made  until  the  last  century  was  well 
advanced.  But  why  is  this  mountain  gate  so  markedly  given  on  this  map  ?  Was  drift 
toll,  do  you  think,  taken  here  on  passing  droves  of  cattle,  by  some  manorial  lord  or  un- 
titled  prince  ? 

There  are  some  side  notes  to  this  map  worth  mentioning  for  the  old  map  makers 
always  throw  a  little  in  extra  to  their  maps  to  embellish,  or  make  them  more  inter- 
esting. They  utilized  the  vacant  spaces  on  the  side,  or  wherever  they  could  find  room  for 
a  note. 

Bowen  tells  us  :  "  It  is  said  of  the  Usk  that  it  was  famous  for  producing  an  abund- 
ance of  the  largest  trout,  and  of  the  Wye,  that  it  contained  plenty  of  salmon  and  other 
fish  " — the  old  story,  in  fact,  of  Giraldus  Cambrensis  over  again,  "  Usk  famous  for 
trout,  Wye  for  salmon."  Marginal  notes  to  the  map  also  record  that  in  1690  half  of  the 
town  of  Builth  was  consumed  by  fire  ;  also  that  a  large  wooden  bridge  crossed  the  Wye 
there. 

Another  note  states  that  the  First  Earl  of  Brecknock  was  James  Butler,  Duke  of 
Ormond,  who  died  in  1088.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  grandson,  James,  who  died  in  exile 
in  Spain  in  1746,  attainted,  and  stripped  of  all  his  titles.  I  notice  also  on  this  map 
"  Pont  Gwenllian  "  mentioned.  The  name  is  not  known  now,  but  possibly  it  is  the  same 
as  our  Pontgwillym  ! 


Sale  of  Crown  Manors,  &c.,  in  Breconshire. 


1799,  Feb.  12. —Seven  mills  within  the  Lordship  of  Brecon,  called  the  Forest  Mills, 
the  place  of  the  feeding  of  swine  in  the  Forest  of  Devynnock,  and  a  fishery,  with 
Oa.  3r.  28p.  of  land  (being  then  in  lease  to  Penry  Williams,  Esq.,  at  the  yearly  rent  of 
£88  10s.  9d.),  was  sold  by  private  contract  to  John  Powell,  gent.,  for  £1,003  5s.  6d.  See 
Par.  Eeturn  1831,  No.  128,  p.  416. 

1817,  May  23. — A  fee  farm  rent  for  Uske  Mill  (at  Newton  Weir,  Brecon,)  of  £6  was 
sold  to  William  Gwyn,  gent.,  for  £124  16s.  Od.  See  Appendix  to  Eeport  III.  of 
Commissioners  of  Woods  and  Forests,  p.  54. 

1817,  June  12. — The  Manor  of  Penkelly  Wallensis,  with  the  chief  rents  and  all 
rights  and  royalties  thereto  belonging,  amounting  to  £3  19s.  5£d.  per  annum,  was  sold  by 
tender  10  Charles  C.  Clifton,  Esq.,  for  £425.     See  Par.  Eeturn,  as  above. 

1818,  May  23. — Henry  Fleming  Lee,  Viscount  Hereford,  premier  Viscount  of  Eng- 
land, for  part  of  Llanigon  Eectory,  valued  at  £4  13s.  4d.  a  year  gave  the  sum  of  £118. 
See  Appendix  to  Report  III,,  p.  54. 

1820,  Feb.  7. — An  allotment,  containing  13,760  acres,  in  lieu  of  the  agistment  of  the 
forest  of  Brecon,  part  of  the  lordship  of  Brecon,  and  other  rights  therein,  was  sold  by 
tender  to  John  Stewart,  merchant,  for  £15,000.  See  Par.  Eeturn,  1831,  No.  128,  p.  416. 

1820,  Feb.  19. — The  right  to  the  coal  and  minerals  within  an  allotment,  containing 
l,766a.  2r.  8p.  was  sold  by  tender  to  Archibald  Christie,  Esq.,  for  £200.  See  Par. 
Eeturn,  as  above. 


(82) 

1820,  Feb.  19. — The  right  to  tithes  over  the  allotment,  purchased  by  him,  wa8  sold 
by  tender  to  John  Stewart,  for  £1,830.  See  Par.  Return,  as  above. 

1824,  Marjh  81.— The  fee  farm  rent  of  £7  for  the  Little  Forest  of  Brecon,  was  sold 
to  John  Christie,  Esq.,  for  £168.  See  Appendix  to  Eeport  V.  of  Commissioners  of 
Woods  and  Forests,  p.  99. 

1827,  April  14. — The  fee  farm  rent  of  £6  10s.  Od.  for  the  Manor  of  Pepperton,  was 
sold  to  Thomas  Wood,  Esq.,  for  £145  12s.  Od.     See  Appendix  to  Eeport  VI.  of  Com- 
missioners, p.  182. 

1828,  March  4. — The  Lordship  or  Manor  of  Hay  and  Wallensis,  with  the  quit  rents 
and  manorial  rights  thereto  belonging,  with  71a.  2r.  Op.  of  land,  was  sold  by  public 
auction  for  £2,1CO,  to  Henry,  Viscount  Hereford.     See  Par.  Eeturn,   1881,  No.   128, 
p-  416. 

The  Sales  and  Grants  made  in  the  previous  century  and  previously,  I  have  not  yet  been 
able  to  obtain  a  list  of,  except  the  one  of  the  Forest  Mills  in  1799. 


Henry  YIL 


I  have  always  understood  that  King  Henry  VII.  (then  Earl  of  Eichmond)  on  his 
•way  from  Milford  Haven  to  Bosworth,  in  Leicestershire,  where  he  fought  and  won  the 
great  battle  of  that  name  against  Eichard  III.  in  1485,  stayed  one  night  at  Court  Henry, 
near  Cilcwm,  in  Carmarthenshire.  As  I  remember  the  house,  it  was  a  pretty  old  thatched 
farmhouse  near  the  corner  of  the  road  between  the  village  of  Cilcwm  and  Neuadd  Fawr, 
and  it  belonged  for  generations  to  the  Jones-Loyd  or  Lord  Overstone's  family,  I  believo 
the  house  is  now  pulled  down. 

A  few  days  ago  I  was  shown  by  the  Adjutant  of  the  Yeomen  of  the  Body  Guard  at 
St.  James's  Palace  some  of  the  very  halberds,  or  battle-axe  headed  javelins  used  by  Henry's 
troops  at  Bosworth,  They  resemble  in  shape  the  javelins  of  our  Sheriff's  men  at  assize 
time,  but  are  much  larger,  being  fully  twelve  inches  across  the  double  blade,  and  broad  in 
proportion.  The  shafts  were  eight  or  nine  feet  long,  and  one  of  their  chief  purposes  was, 
when  planted  against  the  right  foot  and  resting  on  the  left  knee,  to  resist  the  charge  of 
cavalry.  The  head  also  acted  as  a  hook  to  pull  a  horseman  off  his  horse. 

Colonel  Henwell,  the  adjutant,  is  possessed  of  a  great  deal  of  information  about  the 
King's  Yeomen  of  the  Guard,  and  is  now  quietly  placing  it  together.  Among  other  things 
he  told  me  that  the  list  he  has  gives  four  Lloyds  that  fought  for  King  Henry  at  Bosworth. 
Their  names  were  Pierg  Lloid,  to  whom  the  King  gave  as  his  reward  the  custody  of  St. 
Augustine's  of  Canterbury  ;  Owen  Lloid,  who  had  a  grant  of  the  Castle  at  Cardigan ; 
Morris  Lloid,  to  whom  was  given  the  lands  of  Walker  of  Wydegdda  (the  list  is  imperfect 
here,  a  part  being  missing) ;  and,  lastly,  David  Lloyd,  who  was  not  so  fortunate.  For 
some  offence  he  was  imprisoned  in  the  Tower  of  London  for  eight  weeks.  All  these  men 
were  present,  so  the  paper  says,  "  at  our  triumph." 

I  was  hoping  to  find  the  name  of  Thomas  Lloid,  the  first  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Brecon- 
shire,  on  the  list,  buti  t  is  apparently  not  there.  Perhaps  he  stayed  at  home,  while  some 
of  his  brothers  went  with  Henry  when  he  marched  through  South  Wales.  I  did  not 
expect  to  find  John  Lloid  of  Towy  and  Porthycrwys,  his  son  (whose  effigy  is  in  Builth 
Church),  as  he  could  not  have  been  born  then — i.e.,  in  1485 — as  he  died  in  1585,  or  a 
hundred  years  later.  And  this  John,  so  the  brass  plate  there  tells  us,  flourished  much 
later  in  the  succeeding  reigns  of  Henry  VIII.  and  Elizabeth. 

I  think  it  is  generally  known  that  Henry  VII.,  Henry  VIII.,  and  Queen  Elizabeth 
were  very  partial  to  the  Welsh,  and  placed  them  in  posts  of  trust  and  honour. 

Some  of  these  notes  may  set  some  of  my  younger  readers  thinking  and  studying 
history  for  themselves.     I  believe  Breconshire  to  be  one  of  the  most  interesting  counties  in 
England  and  Wales,  and  though  much  of  its  history  can  be  learnt  from  Theophilus  Jones 
great  work,  theie  is  still  a  very  wide  field  open  for  profitable  research. 


(83) 

Grosses  in  Breconshire. 


A  careful  examination  of  the  ordnance  map  of  the  county  gives  the  following  place 
names  in  which  groes,  croes,  or  crwys  (Welsh  for  cross)  form  a  part : — 

1.  Maes  y  groes — or  the  field  of  the  cross — in  the  parish  of  Llanavanfawr.     It  is 
near  Ehos  y  capel,  where  there  are  several  cross  roads,  and  also  a  large  stone.     We  know 
that  in  Koman  Catholic  days  the  church  at  Llanavan  was  a  kind  of  head  centre  for  that 
district.     I  think  this  would  be  a  wayside  cross  for  public  worship. 

2.  Porth  y  crwys — the  gateway  of  the  cross — in  the  parish  of  Llanynis,  and  very 
near  the  right  bank  of  the  Irvon.     This  is  the  place  where  the  John  Lloid  lived,  whose 
full  length  effigy  is  still  to  be  found  in  Builth  church.     We  here  find  crwys  instead  of 
croes,  a  pretty  variation  of  the  name.     Apparently,  on  the  entrance  gateway  to  the  mansion 
a  cross  was  fixed. 

This  John  Lloid,  said  to  be  of  Towy,  was  squire  to  the  body  and  servant  to  Queen 
Elizabeth,  and  had  also  fought  for  Henry  VIII.,  her  father,  at  Montreuil  and  Boulogne 
in  France. 

8.  Cross  ynn — the  inn  at  the  cross — in  the  parish  of  Llangammarch  (division  of 
Penbuallt)  just  at  the  foct  of  the  steep  road  (Troed  rhiw)  leading  up  from  Llandulas 
Church  to  the  top  of  Epynt,  the  old  Black  Cattle  track.  Near  Cross  ynn  was  once  a  farm 
called  Llan  y  crwys,  or  the  enclosure  (possibly  church)  of  the  cross,  but  which  now  is 
fallen  down.  This  would  seem  to  point  to  a  cross  for  worship  being  placed  there. 

4.  Mynydd  bwlch  y  groes,  or  the  cross  of  the  pass  of  the  mountains,  in  the  parish  of 
Llandilo  fan. 

5.  Clydd  bwlch  y  groes,  or  the  sheltered  place  by  the  cross  of  the  pass.     This  is 
part  of  the  mountain  named  in  No.  4,  and  very  near,  and  probably  gives  its  name  to  the 
mountain.     Whether  there  was  a  cross  for  worship  placed  up  here  on  the  mountain  range, 
or  the  name  simply  means  crossing  or  cross  roads,  it  is  impossible  to  say.     I  am  doubtful 
whether  "  clydd  "  should  be  the  prefix  to  this  name,  and  rather  think  it  should  be  clawdd 
— ditches,  after  the  British  camp  close  by,   or  possibly  clwydd,  a  gate,  as  clwydd-watch, 
the  gate  of  the  watch,  a  mixed  Welsh  and  English  name,  is  also  near.     It  is  certainly  very 
strange  that  this  mountain  bears  the  distinctive  name  of  croes.     Of  course  we  know  that 
the  marked  division  line  between  the  old  red  sandstone  and  the  upper  Silurian  runs  right 
through  the  Epynt  range,  and  croes  may  have  some  geological  meaning  in  this  instance. 
Or  it  may  simply  denote  an  important  road  across  the  mountains. 

G.  Croes  Howell,  or  the  cross  of  Howell,  in  the  parish  of  Llanigon,  and  which  is  an 
old  friend  of  ours.  It  was  placed  on  the  side  of  the  main  road  leading  from  Fforddfawr  on 
the  Wye,  over  the  passes  of  the  Black  Mountains  to  Llanthony  Abbey.  There  appear  to 
have  been  two  places  thus  named,  and  they  were  almost  certainly  crosses  for  worship. 
Who  Howel  was  I  am  in  doubt,  but  possibly  the  same  that  gave  the  name  to  Craig-Hywel, 
our  Crickhowel,  which  across  the  mountains  is  quite  near. 

7.  Glasbury   cross.     There  was   once   a  cross   in   the   churchyard  laere,  probably 
removed  from  the  old  church  on  the  stonces.     Lord  Hereford  tells  me  that  he  remembers 
seeing  some  fragments  of  it.     Eichard  Symons,  in  his  diary  of  the  marches  of  the  royal 
army  during  the  great  civil  war,  refers  to  the  numerous  and  perfect  crosses  in  Breconshire. 

8.  Croes  y  goegir,  or  Garter  cross,  near  Tregoyd,  is  now  called  Arbor  Oak,  Lord 
Hereford  informs  me. 

9.  Croes  llechau,  or  the  cross  of  the  flat  stones,  in  the  parish  of  Brynllys,  not  far 
from  Porthamal.     Jones,  in  the  Volume  II.  of  his  History,  gives,  as  a  very  pretty  vigciette, 
these  large  stones  with  a  fine  blossoming  thorn   tree  overhanging  them.     I  have  made 
inquiries,  and  I  am  informed  the  place  knoweth  them  no  more — stones,  cross,  and  thorn 
tree  have  been  improved  away. 


(84) 

10.  Bryn-y-groes,  or  the  bank  of  the  cross,  the  name  of  a  farm  once  very  near 
Croes-llechau,  and  probably  hence  deriving  its  name.     It  is  situate  near  that  banky  wood 
with  the  puzzling  name,  Baradwys. 

11.  Brecon  Cross.     I  believe  a  cross  once  stood  on  the  centre  of  the  Bulwark,  just 
where  the  Wellington  monument  is  placed. 

12.  Groes-ffordd,  or  the  cross  of  the  road,  in  the  parish  of  Llanhamlach,  near  Llech-fan 
(the  large  flat  stone  on  the  top  of  the  hill).     It  may  mean  here  either  a  crossing  or  cross 
roads,  or  a  cross  for  worship  placed  there.     No  doubt  a  very  important  road  ran  that  way 
once,  being  the  .Roman  road  from  Gaer  (Aberyskir)  to  Gaer  (Cwmdu),  keeping  the  high 
ground  along  the  Llechfaen,  Manest,  and  Allt-yr-ys-grin  banks  very  much  in  the  line  Sir 
A.  Binnie  wished  to  convey  the  Usk  water  to  Llangorse  Lake.     In  fact  it  was  one  of  the 
mainroads  up  the  Usk  Valley,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  the  name  denotes  a  cross  for 
worship. 

18.  Derwen-y-groes,  or  the  oak  tree  of  the  cross,  is  situate  in  the  parish  of  Llanvigan, 
where  the  road  divides,  one  part  leading  to  Talybont,  and  the  other  to  the  Aber. 
Probably  there  was  a  cross  for  worship  fixed  here.  This  road  is  also  a  very  ancient  one, 
up  the  vale  of  Usk  from  Crickhowell  to  Brecon.  Near  the  Dyfnant  we  have  "Spiteful 
Inn  "  (Latin,  hospitium,  same  derivation  as  Llanspythid),  the  ruins  of  which  I  have  often 
seen,  and  where  an  ancient  roadway  led  down  to  the  island  in  the  Usk,  and  so  across  to 
the  Penmiarth  side.  You  find  the  road  continuing  all  up  the  valley  past  Llanthetty, 
Talybont,  Derwen-y-groes,  Llanfrynach,  where  it  followed  the  present  footpath  through  the 
fields,  and  then  the  short  lane  nearly  to  Velindre  Mill.  Subsequently  it  passed  through  the 
Dinas  woods  by  the  limestone  quarries,  with  a  branch  down  to  the  ford  at  Khydymaen, 
right  on  to  the  Little  Green,  entering  Llanfaes  just  as  the  present  Dinas  drive  does.  This 
road,  with  its  deeply  worn  bed,  has  every  appearance  of  being  a  very  ancient  highway, 
perhaps  2000  years  old,  if  not  more.  I  am  inclined  to  think  that,  having  regard  to  the 
antiquity  of  this  road,  a  cross  for  worship  was  placed  some  time  or  other  at  the  parting  of 
the  ways  at  Derwen-y-Groes,  and  if  made  of  wood,  may  have  been  simply  nailed  to 
the  oak  tree  standing  there. 

14.  Croes,  or  Groes — The  Croes,  is  the  name  of  a  farm  in  the  parish  of  Cantref, 
belonging  to  the  Marquis  of  Camden.  It  is  also  called  Tir-y-croes,  the  land  of  the  cross. 
Please,  readers,  take  the  C  as  the  first  letter  in  pronouncing  the  name.  Croes  sounds 
softly  and  mellifluously,  but  Groes  sounds  hard  and  coarse.  This  farm  is  on  the  side  of 
a  very  old  road  leading  from  Brecon  to  Cantref  Church,  and  I  feel  sure  a  cross  for  worship 
once  stood  there.  I  have  had  some  fun  over  this  name.  One  person  said  it  was 
given  because  of  a  cross  road,  and  another  said  it  was  because  some  of  the  fields  of  the 
farm  were  separated  from  the  farmhouse  by  the  road,  and  were  across  the  road  !  What 
next,  I  thought.  I  hope  the  Agent  of  the  Marquis  of  Camden  will  in  future  enter  the 
name  of  this  farm  on  the  rent-book  as  Croes— or  the  Cross.  I  have  little  doubt  that  a 
cross,  it  may  have  been  either  of  wood  or  stone,  once  stood  and  was  worshipped  there,  and 
on  each  successive  May  day  its  steps  were  strewn  with  garlands  of  butter-cups,  blue  bells, 
and  daisies. 


(85) 


Crown  Property  in   Breconshire   in  the  Reign 

of  Elizabeth. 


CASTLES,     MANGES,     LANDS,     FORESTS,     MILLS,     AND    RECTORIES. 


Few  persons  realize  how  great  were  the  Crown's  interests  in  Breconshire  at  the  close 
of  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  and  through  the  reigns  of  Edward  VI.,  Philip,  and  Mary  and 
Elizabeth.  The  forfeiture  of  the  large  possesions  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  of  the 
Earl  of  March,  and  the  seizure  of  the  property  of  Brecon  Priory,  and  of  the  Priories  of 
Clifford,  Dore,  and  Much  Malvern  made  the  Crown  the  owner  of  most  of  the  manors,  and 
of  much  of  th«  land  in  the  county.  It  may  be  said,  speaking  roughly,  that  Lords  Camden, 
Glanusk,  and  Tredegar,  with  Mr.  Gwynne  Holford,  are  the  possessors  now  through  grant 
or  purchase  of  the  bulk  of  this  quondam  Crown  property,  if  we  except  the  Great  Forest  of 
Brecon,  which  has  been  specially  dealt  with  by  Inclosure  Acts.  Another  remark  has  to  be 
made.  The  Manors  of  the  Crickhowell  Hundred,  Crickhowell  and  Tretower,  in  no  way 
appear  in  the  list,  they  have  a  history  of  their  own. 

The  forfeited  Estates  of  Edward  Duke  of  Buckingham  were  as  follows  : — Brecon 
Castle  and  LorJship,  Demesne  lands  of  Brecon  Lordship,  Waste  lands  in  Burgh  of  Brecon, 
Cantercelly  Manor,  Cantercelly  Forest,  The  Great  Forest  of  Brecon,  The  Seven  Mills  in 
the  Great  Forest,  viz.,  Devynnock,  Llywell,  Cray,  Ystradfelte,  Senny,  Glyntawe,  Pwll 
Coch ;  The  Fisheries  in  the  Neath  and  Tawe  rivers,  Y  Troesgoed  in  Ystradfelte,  The 
Manor  of  Llywel,  Demesne  lands  in  Llywel,  Tir  y  Bedlwyne  demesne  lands  in  Devynnock, 
Brecon  Little  Forest,  Ibebillwa,  a  parcel  of  land  in  Brecon  lordship  formerly  belonging 
to  the  Abbey  of  Strata  Florida,  Penkelly  Castle.  English  Penkelly  Manor,  Welsh  Penkelly 
Manor,  Welsh  Hay,  or  Haya  Wallensis  Manor  and  Glynbwch,  Brentles  Castle  and  Manor, 
Poole  Manor,  service  of  the  tenants  of  Battel. 

The  Manor  of  Alexanderstone,  Bogheled  or  Buchlyd  (Buckland)  Forest,  Bennye  Wood, 
Kaye  Newydd  (?),  Piperton,  Llangoyd,  Brynich — demesne  lands  in. 

Forfeited  Estates  of  the  Earl  of  March  :  Dynas  Lordship,  Dynas  Forest,  Lands  in 
Talgarth  and  Llangorse,  Mere  or  Mara,  Blaenllevenny,  Builth  Castle,  Builth  Lordship  and 
Burgh,  Tallawayn  Forest,  Llanddewircwm  Mill,  Llanvair  Mill,  Llangwenwell  Mill, 
Demesne  lands  in  Builth  Manor,  Poole  Manor  in  Merthyr  Cynog  (?) 

Forfeited  Estates  of  Brecon  Priory  :  Demesne  lands  in  the  lordship  of  Brecon,  Usk 
Mill,  Divers  Messuages  and  lands  in  Brecon,  Hodney  Mill,  Llanvaies  Mill,  Held  Mill  and 
Battell  Chapel,  Battell  Manor  and  Grange,  Sub  Prior's  lands  in  the  Manor  of  Monkton, 
Tir  y  Prior's  land  in  Devynnock,  Tithes  of  Ystradfelte,  Brecon  Rectory,  Devynnock 
Rectory,  Builth  Rectory,  Talgarth  Mara  Rectories  and  Chapel,  Chapel  of  Llanvihangel 
Carreg,  Tithes  in  Hay. 

Forfeited  Estates  of  Clifford  Priory  :  Rectory  of  Brentles,  Rectory  of  Llandevalle, 
Messuages  in  Brentles  Vill. 

Forfeited  Estates  of  Malvern  Much  Monastery :  Possessions  in  Brecknock  Lordship 
and  Town  and  elsewhere. 

Forfeited  Estates  of  Dore  Monastery  :  Gwenddwr,  Tretower  (?)  Llanegwit  (?)  Chapel 
and  Tithes,  also  Gwenddwr  Lordship. 

Other  Escheated  Lands,  &c. :  Burgess  Mill  (Brecon),  Land  in  Llandevaelog,  Tredustan 
Mill,  Tredustan  lands,  Glasbury  Manor,  Part  of  Strata  Florida  Abbey  land,  Tir  y  Mew, 
Lloydartha  in  Llangammarch,  Haya-Parish — possessions  of  Free  Chapel  of  St.  John's, 
Chauntry  lands  in  Brentles  and  Llanigon,  Chauntry  lands  in  Devynnock,  4  messuages  and 
lands  in  Entradvelte  and  Cantref. 

Those  must  have  been  curious  times  to  live  in  when  the  Crown  was  almost  the 
sole  great  owner  in  Breconshire.  It  must  have  been  a  great  point  to  keep  in  well  with 


(86) 

Eoyalty,  when  so  much  depended  on  Koyal  favour.  The  Auditor  of  the  Crown,  who  came 
down  periodically  to  receive  the  rents,  was  of  course  the  great  man,  and  previously  to  his 
coming  a  printed  Proclamation  of  portentous  size  was  posted  in  all  Market  Towns, 
requiring  attendance  of  Mayors,  Sheriffs,  Stewards  of  Manors,  Woodwards,  Bailiffs, 
Farmers  and  other  his  Majesty's  officers  and  subjects  to  tender  their  duties  to  His  Majesty. 
One  of  these  Proclamations — a  comparatively  modern  one — it  is  dated  1786,  and  signed 
Thomas  Johnes,  Auditor — is  now  before  me.  It  measures  1ft.  9in.  by  1ft.  Sin.,  and  is 
adorned  at  the  head  with  a  large  engraving  of  the  Eoyal  Arms,  with  Crown  at  the  top, 
and  the  mottos,  "  Dieu  et  mon  droit  "  and  "  Honi  soit  qui  mal  y  pense,"  and  flags,  cannon, 
tridents,  and  spears  projecting  at  either  end.  It  is  dated  June  26,  and  the  day  of 
Audit  was  stated  to  be  October  30th  and  at  the  Golden  Lion  Hotel.  So  that  everyone 
had  at  least  ample  time  to  prepare  for  so  important  an  event.  I  do  not  know  whether 
the  Auditor  gave  receipts  generally  in  Latin  to  the  tenants  in  Wales,  but  1  have  one 
printed  receipt,  dated  1763,  in  Latin,  signed  Thomas  Wynne,  Auditor,  giving  Jacobus 
Williams.  Vicecomes,  his  "  quietus  "  for  the  payment  of  £42  due  to  the  Crown.  And  the 
Escheator  was  a  well  known  officer,  of  whom  everyone  went  in  dread,  especially  those 
who  omitted  to  go  to  Church  regularly.  However  the  James'  and  the  Charles'  let  slip 
most  of  the  property  during  their  reigns,  and  Geo.  III.  completed  its  dispersion,  so  that 
when  our  late  Uueen  came  to  the  throne,  the  Crown  had  not  a  Castle,  Forest  or  Manor, 
or  even  a  square  yard  of  ground  in  the  county  to  call  its  own,  except  that  possibly  the 
Crown  retained,  as  it  is  thought  by  some  to  retain  still  the  Fee,  but  only  as  a  bare  Trustee, 
of  the  17-000  acres  comprising  the  Commoners'  Allotment  of  the  Great  Forest  of 
Brecknock. 


Wilkins'   Old   Bank,   Brecon. 


SKETCH    OF    ITS    HISTORY. 


This  long-established  Bank  having  been  amalgamated  with  Lloyds  Bank,  Limited,  and 
having  practically  ceased  to  exist  after  a  flourishing  career  of  about  120  years,  it  may  be  of 
interest  to  give  some  particulars  concerning  its  formation  and  management,  especially  as 
the  partners  were  throughout  local  gentlemen  known  and  respected  in  our  county. 

The  Bank  was  established  in  1778,  and  the  first  partners  were — Walter  Wilkins, 
Maesllwch;  Walter  Jeffreys,  Priory  Hill;  Jeffreys  Wilkins,  The  Priory;  William 
Williams,  Brecon  (known  as  "Merchant  Williams.")  Walter  Wilkins  and  Jeffreys 
Wilkins  were  brothers  and  the  sons  of  John  Wilkins,  deputy  Prothonotary  of  the  Court  of 
Great  Sessions  of  Brecon,  by  Sybil,  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  Walter  or  Watkin  Jeflreys  of 
the  Priory.  The  Walter  Jeffreys,  the  member  of  the  firm,  was  the  son  of  another  member 
of  the  Jeffreys  family  and  nephew  to  Sybil.  Except  therefore  "  Merchant  Williams,"  it 
was  a  family  party. 

It  appears  by  an  entry  in  the  New  Testament  of  Frances  Wilkins,  daughter  of  William 
Wilkins  (the  Prothonotary  1800-12),  that  "  W alter  Wilkins  went  for  India  20  Jan.  1759," 
and  there,  according  to  common  report,  he  quickly  amassed  a  considerable  fortune.  With 
some  of  this,  no  doubt,  he  helped  to  found  the  Bank,  and  his  proved  enterprise  and  ability 
contributed  greatly  to  its  success.  This  Walter  Wilkins  purchased  about  that  time  the 
Maesllwch  estate  from  Sir  Humphrey  Howorth,  and  became  subsequently  Member  of 
Parliament  for  Kadnorshire.  He  married  Catherine  Augusta  Hay  ward,  and  died  at  a  good 


(87) 

old  age  in  1828.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  known  as  Walter  Wilkins,  the  younger, 
who  had  married  the  Honourable  Catherine  Devereux,  daughter  of  Viscount  Hereford. 
He  died  in  1831,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  Walter  Devereux  Wilkins,  who  married 
Miss  Julia  Collinsou.  The  last  named  Walter  Wilkins  died  in  1840,  and  then  for  the 
first  time  since  its  formation  in  1778,  the  interest  of  the  Maesllwch  branch  of  the 
Wilkins  family  in  the  Bank  ceased,  the  capital  invested  was  withdrawn,  and  the  connexion 
severed.  The  Wilkins  families  of  Maesllwch,  Maesderwen,  and  elsewhere  changed  their 
name  to  De  Winton  in  1839. 

But  we  must  turn  back  to  1808,  when  John  Parry  Wilkins,  the  eldest  son  of  Jeffreys 
Wilkins,  of  the  Priory,  and  afterwards  of  Maesderwen  (one  of  the  four  original  partners) 
joined  the  Firm.  Changes  soon  came  in  the  Bank,  Walter  Jeffreys,  the  possessor  of  a 
large  landed  estate  in  Breconshire,  died  intestate  in  1811,  Jeffreys  Wilkins,  then  of 
Maeederwen,  died  in  1817,  and  "  Merchant  "  Williams  about  the  same  period.  And  thus 
it  came  about  that  in  1820  the  only  remaining  partners  in  the  Bank  were  the  old  Walter 
Wilkins,  of  Maesllwch,  and  his  son,  Walter,  and  John  Parry  Wilkins,  of  Maesderwen. 
The  latter  after  his  father's  death  became  the  acting  manager,  having  as  early  as  1820 
the  late  Mr  John  Evans,  of  Wheat  Street,  as  the  trusted  cashier.  I  have  a  letter  from 
Mr.  J.  Parry  Wilkins  from  the  old  Hummums  Hotel,  London,  where  he  was  detained  on 
business,  and  dated  1820,  asking  a  friend  at  Brecon  to  "  tell  Evans  to  let  me  know 
frequently  how  things  go  on  at  the  Bank."  and  I  have  also  a  deposit  receipt  to  a  customer 
of  10th  February,  1821,  signed  "  For  Wilkins  &  Company  Jno.  Evans."  This  proves  the 
connexion  of  the  late  Mr.  John  Evans  with  the  firm  to  have  commenced  early  in  the  last 
century. 

I  think  about  that  time,  or  it  may  have  been  a  little  later,  a  fresh  deed  of  partnership 
was  entered  into,  and  apparently  the  capital,  apart  from  "  rest  account,"  was  not  then 
more  than  £30,000.  And  on  the  important  event  happening  in  182(5  of  Mr.  J.  Parry 
Wilkins  being  asked  by  the  Bank  of  England  to  go  to  Swansea  to  establish  a  Branch  of 
their  Bank,  and  which  he  consented  to  do,  it  was  arranged  between  the  partners  that  Mr. 
John  Evans  should  be  general  manager  of  the  Bank  at  Brecon  under  Mr.  Parry 
Wilkins'  superintendence.  This  arrangement  did  not  last  long,  as  owing  to  the  death 
of  his  two  partners,  old  Mr.  Wilkins  in  1828  and  his  son  in  1831,  the  return  of  Mr.  Parry 
Wilkins  to  assume  immediate  personal  control  of  the  Brecon  Bank  became  necessary. 
It  had  been  a  great  compliment  to  his  Banking  knowledge  to  have  been  asked  to  under- 
take so  responsible  a  duty  by  the  Bank  of  England,  and  no  doubt  Mr  Parry  Wilkins  was 
enabled  thereby  to  become  familiar  with  the  rules  of  management  of  the  greatest  Bank  in 
the  world.  In  1835,  I  think,  John  Jeffreys,  the  eldest  son  of  John  Parry  Wilkins, 
became  a  partner  in  the  Bank  for  a  few  years,  and  then  retired.  Otherwise  the  Bank 
continued  its  even  course  with  Mr.  John  Parry  Wilkins  as  managing  partner,  and  Mr  John 
Evans  as  cashier  and  confidential  adviser  up  to  1840. 

In  that  year,  on  the  death  of  Walter  Devereux  De  Winton.  the  grandson  of  Walter 
Wilkins,  of  Maesllwch,  one  of  the  original  partners,  and  the  withdrawal  of  the  capital  of 
the  family  of  Maesllwch  from  the  concern,  it  became  necessary  to  reconstruct  the  Bank, 
if  it  were  to  be  continued. 

It  was  a  time  of  some  anxiety,  no  doubt,  and  the  sole  remaining  partner,  Mr.  Parry 
DeWinton,  who  had  long  ranked  as  an  able  banker  and  held  a  high  position  in  the  connty, 
proved  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  was  able  to  add  to  the  firm  the  names  of  John  Jones,  of 
Glanhonddu  ;  Samuel  Church,  of  Ffrwdgrech ;  David  Evans,  of  Merthyr ;  and  John 
Evans,  of  Brecon,  the  latter  being  the  trusted  official  of  the  Bank,  each  bringing  a 
considerable  local  influence,  as  well  as  fresh  capital.  Mr.  Church  appears  to  have 
died  the  very  same  year,  and  then  Mr.  Parry  DeWinton's  third  son,  William,  was 
taken  in  as  partner  in  his  place. 

Mr.  J.  Parry  De  Winton  died  in  1861,  and  of  the  recent  history  of  the  firm  most  of 
us  know  a  little.  Apparently  the  great  bankers  who  have  successively  ruled  and  led  that 
firm  were  the  first  Walter  Wilkins  of  Maesllwch,  and  his  brother  Jeffreys,  then  John  Parry 
DeWinton,  and  lastly  Mr.  John  Evans.  This  is  purely  surmise  on  our  part,  as  of  the  history 


(88) 

of  the  branches  of  the  Bank  at  Merthyr,  Cardiff  and  Carmarthen  we  have  no  knowledge.  Be 
this  as  it  may,  as  far  as  we  do  know-  and  our  knowledge  extends  back  for  50  years,  and 
much  longer,  as  derived  from  others — the  conduct  of  the  firm  has  throughout  been  of  a 
high  and  honorable  character.  While  large  landed  estates  and  great  fortunes  have  been 
acquired  by  the  successive  partners  in  the  Bank  previously  to  1840  and  since  behind 
the  bank  counter,  these  have  not  been  obtained  by  usurious  interest  charged  or  harsh 
treatment  of  their  customers,  but  by  the  exercise  of  unflagging  industry,  ability,  and 
unchallenged  integrity.  Whenever  times  of  difficulty  came,  as  they  must  have  come  now 
and  again  in  a  Bank's  life  of  nearly  120  years,  those  were  met  with  sound  judgment 
and  unflinching  courage,  and  the  danger  of  the  passing  financial  storm  successfully  sur- 
mounted. High  credit  and  high  character  ever  stood  the  firm  in  good  stead  in  the 
country  side,  as  well  as  in  the  great  financial  world. 

A  few  additional  notes  will  be  interesting.  The  money-making  career  of  this  Bank 
seems  to  have  been  one  of  unbroken  success,  and  you  have  only  to  look  through  the  County 
to  see  proof  of  it  in  the  mansions  built  or  purchased,  and  the  large  estates  acquired 
through  its  power.  And  even  then  we  have  to  except  the  important  landed  property  of 
Walter  Jeffreys,  which  is  no  longer  recognizable,  having  been  dispersed  on  his  intestacy 
happening  in  1811.  Though  they  financed  the  Plymouth  Iron  Works,  which  owed  them 
for  many  years  a  standing  debt  of  £30,000,  and  were  obliged  to  foreclose  on  the  Clydach 
Iron  Works  and  also  on  those  at  Hirwain,  the  Bank  came  to  no  harm.  In  those  early  days 
there  were  no  rival  e:tablishments  at  Brecon,  because  we  can  hardly  account  George 
North's  note  issue  as  more  than  that  of  the  Whiteley  of  the  day,  and  not  as  of  a  regular 
Bank,  and  the  modern  system  of  paying  interest  on  current  balances  was  unheard  of.  I 
rather  think  there  was  more  money  then  about  Breconshire  than  now  among  the  gentry 
and  farmers.  The  price  of  wool  was  then  high,  rents  were  high,  and  the  price  of 
agricultural  produce  generally  ranked  higher,  with  the  exception  of  meat,  which  was  about 
the  same  price  per  pound  as  it  is  to-day.  And  in  those  days  a  fine  oak  tree — and  there 
were  many  of  them  in  the  County  then — sold  for  as  high  a  price  as  £9. 

The  original  partners  in  the  Bank  were  evidently  go-ahead  people,  and  supported 
every  new  County  project.  You  find  their  names  as  subscribing  £11,000  to  the  Brecon 
and  Abergavenny  Canal  Company  in  1793,  and  Walter  Jeffreys  was  the  Chairman  through 
the  very  trying  time  that  preceded  the  opening  of  the  Canal  to  Brecon  in  1801.  Sub- 
sequently you  find  the  names  of  one  or  more  of  the  Firm,  as  subscribing  largely  to  the  Hay 
Tramway,  the  Brecon  Boat  Company,  and  later  to  the  Brecon  Gas  Company.  Doubtless 
the  accounts  of  those  concerns  were  kept  at  their  Bank,  and  so  it  all  helped  business. 
And  of  course  they  were  Bankers  to  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions,  to  the  Turnpike  Eoad 
Trustees — great  men  in  those  days,  to  the  Commissioners  of  the  Great  Forest,  and 
probably  to  many  other  smaller  County  authorities.  Their  original  capital  was,  I  believe, 
small,  and  from  some  figures  in  my  possession  I  have  put  it  at  only  £30,000.  This  was 
in  1825  or  thereabouts,  but  probably  it  was  the  amount  of  "  free  capital  "  only,  and  that 
the  veteran  banker,  the  old  Walter  Wilkins,  had  then  taken  to  himself  personally  some  of 
the  chief  overdrawn,  though  secured,  accounts,  for  the  express  purpose  of  lessening  the 
liabilities  of  the  Bank.  The  authorised  issue  of  the  Bank  in  Notes  was  £68,271. 

In  1840,  however,  the  great  development  of  the  Bank  took  place,  and  several  new 
branches  were  opened  and  more  business  taken,  the  capital  having  been  much  increased  by 
the  contributions  of  the  new  partners.  And  I  am  informed  that  when  the  transference  to 
Lloyds'  took  place  the  other  day,  the  Banking  Capital  had  grown  to  £165,000,  with  a 
large  "  rest "  in  addition.  There  was  one  serious  crisiswhich  the  Bank  passed  safely  through, 
that  of  the  failure  of  Overend,  Gurney  &  Co.,  who  had  been  the  Bank's  discount  house  for 
a  long  series  of  years.  To  expect  a  house  of  such  standing  to  fail  was  to  suppose  something 
as  likely  to  happen  as  the  failure  of  the  Bank  of  England  itself ! 

I  have  a  distinct  recollection  of  the  two  veterans  of  the  Bank  in  modern  times,  now 
deceased.  Mr  John  Parry  De  Winton  was  a  short  agile  man,  full  of  sparkling  life  and 
boundless  energy,  and  his  hospitality,  kindness,  and  geniality  were  known  throughout  the 
country  side.  The  annual  celebration  of  his  birthday  by  a  picnic  to  the  top  of  the  Beacons 


(89) 

was  a  happy  time  long  to  be  remembered.  He  was  especially  quick  on  his  feet,  and 
constantly  walked  from  Maesderwen  to  the  Bank  by  my  old  home  at  Dinas,  and  when 
quite  an  old  man  he  offered  to  run  my  father,  who  was  15  years  younger,  a  race,  and  I 
believe  he  would  have  won.  Quickness  of  movement  is  no  slight  advantage  in  the  race  of 
life  !  His  favourite  outdoor  wrap  was  a  long  plaid  shawl,  becomingly  arranged  round  the 
waist,  and  crossed  over  the  shoulders. 

The  other  veteran  was  Mr.  John  Evans.  He  was  a  short  man,  very  quick  and  firm 
on  his  feet,  with  good  fresh  colour,  shaggy  eyebrows,  and  strong  grey  eye  that  went 
through  you  at  a  glance.  You  hardly  passed  the  old  door  of  the  Bank  looking  towards 
Ship  Street  without  seeing  him  on  the  steps  earnestly  talking  to  some  farmer  about  some- 
thing that  concerned  them, — the  price  of  oats  it  may  have  been.  All  the  farmers  for  ten 
miles  round  knew  him,  and  he  knew  them  by  name,  and  all  about  them.  Such  a  man  was 
a  fortune  to  any  Bank,  and  his  connexion  with  it  in  one  way  or  another  had  lasted  for  GO 
years  !  Do  you  think  the  old  man  ever  took  holidays !  Never  probably  ! 

I  am  rather  sorry  the  days  of  the  old  private  Banks  have  gone,  and  among  them  at 
last,  that  of  Wilkins  and  Company. 

Perhaps  we  may  some  day  see  established  Co-operative  Banks  by  the  people  and  for 
the  people  ;  if  such  had  been  established  in  1778  and  had  been  managed  as  well  as  the 
Brecon  Old  Bank,  the  accumulated  wealth  of  the  County  would  have  reached  a  marvellous 
sum,  and  the  pauperism  of  the  aged  at  least  would  never  have  existed. 


Compulsory  Attendance  at  Church  in 
Breconshire  in  1687--Jas.  II. 


[Page  10  of  the  County  Quarter  Sessions  book  of  Orders,  Vol.  1.  From  1686  to 
5th  October,  1713.] 

Com.  Brecon,  1687. — Ad  generalem  sessionem  pacis  Domini  Eegis  tenendum  apud 
Brecon,  in  et  pro  Comitatu  eodem  duodecimo  die  Januarii  Anno  Jacobi  Scotia  nunc 
Angliaa  primo  coram  Thomas  Walker,  Marmaduke  Gwynne,  Edward  Jones,  John 
Steadman,  Bichard  Jeffreys  et  alii  justiciarii  ad  pacem  in  eodem  comitatu  conservandum. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

At  the  General  Session  of  the  Peace  of  our  Lord  the  King,  held  at  Brecon,  in  and  for 
the  same  county,  on  the  12th  day  of  January,  in  the  1st  year  of  James  of  Scotland,  now  of 
England.  Before  etc.,  and  other  justices  for  preserving  the  peace  in  the  same  county. 


Various  entries  are  made  of  offences  against  the  law  and  of  complaints  respecting  the 
inequality  of  rates,  the  parishes  being  set  out  by  name.  Also  orders  were  made  with 
regard  to  bridges  and  sundry  county  payments.  One  item  under  the  head  of  Llangamarth 
(Llangammarch)  is  noticeable  "  whereas  it  appeared  unto  this  Court  that  Daniel  William 
doth  keep  a  disorderly  ale  house,  ordered  that  the  ale  house  of  the  said  Daniel  William  be 


(90) 

suppressed."  In  the  parish  of  Gwenddwr,  John  Meredith  and  John  Bevan  were  presented 
for  being  badgers  without  a  license.  Thomas  Prosser  was  presented  for  selling  ale  with- 
out a  license,  and  for  keeping  of  a  gun  to  destroy  the  game.  Also  a  number  of  men  were 
presented  for  encroaching  several  acres  of  land,  and  erecting  cottages  on  the  common  land 
of  the  Forest  of  Dynas,  in  the  Parish  of  Talgarth. 

Then  follows  this  most  singular  Presentment : 

"  THE    FOLLOWING   WERE    PRESENTED   FOR     NOT   COMING     TO     CHURCH    FOR    THREE    SUNDAYS 
LAST    PAST,  NAMELY  : 

Penderyn.— John  Thomas,  Elinor  Thomss,  John  Lewis,  David  Thomas, )     For  the  above 
Thomas  Lewis J  offence. 

)    Pro   consimili 
Lly well.— Thomas  Pugh  and  Elinor  uxor  ej  us  (Ins  wife)  j  /For  ^  y 

Llangynidr. — Thomas  Prosser  Howell,  de  Llangynidr ;  Thomas  John 
William,  de  eadem  ;  Evanus  Powell,  et  Maria  uxor  ejus  ;  Ludovicus 
Prytherch,  Thomas  David,  et  Maria  uxor  ejus ;  John  David, 
Thomas  Williams,  Anna  Watkins,  Thomas  Prosser,  et  Margaretta, 
uxor  ejus  ;  William  John  et  Jana,  uxor  ejus,  Anna  Price,  Thomas  ' 
Prosser,  et  Jana,  uxor  ejus  ;  Thomas  John  Walter,  et  Jana  uxor 
ejus,  Thomas  William  et  uxor,  William  Watkin  de  eadem,  Matilda 
Edmund,  Matilda  James,  Maria,  uxor  Jenkm  Lewis,  Evanus  John . . . 

Garthbrengy. — Ho wellus  Thomas  et  Anna,  uxor  ejus pro.  consi. 

Llandefaelog. — William  Pritchard pro.  consi. 

Llanywern. — John  Havard pro.  eonsi. 

Merthyr. — John  David,  Ellinora  uxor  Morgan  David pro.  consi. 

Duffryn  Honddu. — John  David,  John  Morgan,  Gladissa  Morgan pro.  consi. 

Yscirfawr. — Ludovicus  Powell    pro.  consi. 

Talachddu. — Jane   uxor   Thomas,   David   Williams,  Eichard   Thomas 

Pugh,  Evan  Phillip  David,  Margaretta  David,  Eliz.  Thomas    pro.  consi. 

Llanfigan. — William  Howell,  Abrahamus  Morgan  et  uxor,  Margaretta 
Anthony,  Ludovicus  David,  John  ap  John  Morgan,  Evanus  John, 
ex  uxor,  Richardus  Bevan,  et  uxor,  John  Jones,  Hugo  Bevan,  John  }•       pro.  consi. 
Bevan,  et  uxor,  Watkinus  Thomas,  et  uxor,   John  David  John, 
Thomas  Lewis 

Vaynor. — Thomas  John  Watkin,  et  Gwenlliana,  uxor  ejus,  llichardus\ 
Robert   et   Gwenlliana,    uxor   ejus,     Meredithus    Wm.    Eichard, 
Richardus  Morgan,  Eichardus  ap  John  et  Matilda,  uxor  ejus,  David  I 
Richard   et  Gwenlliana,  uxor  ejus,  Margaretta  Eees,  Margaretta 
Meredith  j 

Llandetty.— David  Richard,  Ludovicus  William,  William  Thomas,  John 
Howell,  Stephanus  Howell,  Maria  Howell,  Gwalt  ap  John,  John 
ap  John,  Agnes  William,  Johanna  Gunter,  Susannah  uxor  Thomas 
John,  Richardus  Howell 

Llanfrynach. — John  Morgan,  et  uxor    pro.  consi. 

Llangammarch.— David  John,  Ellinor  Pugh,  Margaretta  Prytherch pro.  consi. 

Llandewi-cwm.— Anna  William vidua.Eogerus Proper,  et  Sarah  uxorejus         pro.  consi. 

Llanganten  Parish.— Ho  wellus  David,  Ludovicus  David    pro.  consi. 

Llysdinam.— Thomas  Evans,  et  uxor    pro.  consi. 


pro.  conii. 


pro.  consi. 


(91) 


Llangynidr. — Thomas  Powell,  Watkin  John  William,  et  uxor,  Maria 
Jones,  Johanna  Jones,  Alicia  Llewellin,  John  Wm.  Lewis,  Matilda 
Jones,  Thomas  Prosser,  jun,,  et  uxor,  John  Watkins,  et  uxor, 
Catherina  Williams,  Anna  uxor  Thomas  Watkins,  Phillipus  Powell 
David  Watkins 

Cwmdu. — Thomas  Lawrence,  Maria  Lawrence,  Sussannah  Edward,  \ 
Phillipus  William,  Arthur  Prosser,  Janetta,  uxor  ejus,  Jacobus! 
David  et  Catherina,  uxor  ejus,  Watkinus  William  et  Elliuora,  uxorf 
ejus  ..' 

Llangattock  juxta  Orickhowell. — -Thomas  John,  Elizabeth  John,  Jana  \ 
uxor  Rogeri  Meredith,  Thomas  John,  Janetta  uxor  Rogeri  > 
Meredith  ) 

Llanbedr. — William  Gwillym  et  Maria  uxor  ejus,  Anna  James 

Llangenny. — Sarah  Herbert,  Jana  Thomas,  Jannetta  Thomas 

Llanelly. — David  Price,  et  Anna  uxor  ejus,  Bogerus  Morgan,  John) 
Spencer,  Catherina  Edwards j 


pro.  consi. 

pro.  consi. 

pro.  consi. 

pro.  consi. 
pro.  consi. 

pro.  consi. 


Devynock. — Ludovicus  Powell, Ludovicus  Powell,  junr.,  Elizabeth  David,  \ 
Gwenllian  Powell,  Jannetta  Powell,  Ellinora  Havard,  Gwenlliana 
David,   Alicia  David,   Margaretta  John,  William  Powell,  Matilda 
Lewis,  Eleanor,  David,  Agnes  Llewellyn  de  Glyn,                 Thomas,  I 
William    Thomas,   Thomas   Ap   Thomas,    Agnes    uxor    Watkin,  ^      pro.  consi. 
Priscilla  Watkin,   Maria   Watkin,  Gwenllian  Watkyn  de  Mascarr, 
Sarah  Watkin,  Priscilla  Richard,  Isabella  Richard,  Maria  Richard, 
Isabella   Howell,    Anna   Penry,    Williamus    Powell,    Gwenlliana 
Powell 

Llanspyddid. — Priscilla  Lewis pro.  consi. 

Battle. — Rogerus  Powell  et  Ellinora  uxor  ejus,  Anna  uxor  William  de] 
eadam,  Richardus  William  et  Janetta  uxor  ejus,  Johanna  uxor! 
Thomas  William,  Richardus  Thomas,  Williamus  Thomas,  Thomas  f       Pro>  conei- 
David,  Margaretta  uxor  William,  Matilda  uxor  Thomas    J 

Talgarth. — Williamus  Watkin,  meyrishe,  Margaretta  William,  Richardus^ 
et  uxor,  Thomas  Watkin,  et  uxor,   David   Williams,  et  j 

uxor,  Elizabeth  Pn>ser,  Phillipus  Thomas  et  uxor,  Wm.  Prosser,  I  consi 

et  uxor,  Thomas  Watkins,  et  uxor,  William  Pritchard,  Ludovicus  | 
John  Phillips,  et  uxor,  Joanna  Thomas,  Catherine  Williams  vidua  J 
(widow),  Willielmus  David,  Richardus  de  Thomas  Prese  j 

Borough  of  Hay. — Jacobus  Hughes  et  Maria  uxor  ejus,   Priscilla  uxor^l 

Mathei  Parry  de  eadem,  Abya  Watkins,  Elizabeth  Gorson,  Janetta  }-     pro.  consi. 
Lewis J 

Hay  Parish. — John  Price,  Catherine  Price,  Jacob  Parry    pro.  consi. 

Llanfihangel. — Willielmus   John,    Matilda   Howell,    Matilda   Thomas,} 

Janetta  Thomas .|       Pro'  C0n81' 

Llandifalle. — Margaretta  Herbert,  Maria  uxor  Jacobi  Price,  Gwenlliana"] 

uxor  Davidi  Lewis,  Elizabetha  Thomas,  Watkinus  William,  Eliza-  [-     pro.  consi. 
betha  uxor  John  Havard J 

Glasbury. — David  Preece  et  Maria  uxor  ejus,  William  Jenkin,  Margaretta] 
uxor  John  Woodford,  Thomas  Vaughan  et  Elizabeth  uxor  ejus,  I 
Carolus  Lloyd  et  Fortuna  uxor  ejus,  Ellinora  Watkins,  Maria  John,  j 
Anna  Lewis.. I 


(92) 


Llangorse.— Walterus  Price  et  Margaretta  uxor  ejus,  Williamus  John  j 
et  Catherina  uxor  ej us,  William  John  Taylor  r 

Llanigon.— Watkinus  Lewis,  Willielmus  Miles,  Thomas  Parry,  David  "| 
William   Prosser,   John  George,   Anna  Gunter,   Joanna   Gunter,  i- 
Thomas  David... J 

Bronlljs. — John  Powell     

Criekadarn. — William  Jenkin,  Maria  Dunn 

Llandhue. — Elizabeth    uxor    Williami    Awbrey,    Bichardus    Awbrey, ) 

Wm.  Awbrey,  jun j       Pro'  con31 

Gwenddwr. — Thomas  Powell,  Catherina  Powell pro.  consi, 

Llanigon. — Maudlena   uxor  Ricardl  James,  Margaretta  uxor  Thomas") 

Parry,  Alicia  uxor  William  Watkin,  Elizabeth  Awbrey,   Thomas  \-     pro.  consi 
David    J 


pro.  consi. 

pro.  consi. 

pro.  consi. 
pro.  consi. 


It  will  be  found  that  in  these  presentments  about  265  names  are  given,  and  39 
parishes  mentioned.  Apparently  the  persons  presented  were  well  known  in  their  respect- 
tive  parishes,  as  no  other  address  is  given.  Probably  at  some  ensuing  sessions  the  church 
defaulters  in  the  remaining  parishes  were  presented  to  be  dealt  with  by  the  court.  It  was 
rather  too  strong  an  order  to  bring  up  all  the  offenders  in  the  county  in  one  batch. 

What  was  the  history  of  all  this,  which  sounds  very  much  like  persecution  ?  Yes, 
and  so  it  was,  but  mainly  for  the  purpose  of  putting  down  Popery.  Compulsion  came  in 
at  the  Reformation  on  purpose  to  uphold  the  Protestant  faith  and  keep  people  in  the  right 
way.  In  Henry  VIII's  reign  refusing  to  receive  the  sacrament  was  first  made  subject  to 
fine  or  imprisonment,  and  a  second  oifence  was  felony  and  death,  and  involved  forfeiture 
of  lands  and  goods. 

Those  who  having  no  lawful  excuse  absented  themselves  from  the  parish  Church, 
were  in  the  time  of  Elizabeth  fined  twelve  pence — not  a  small  sum  in  those  days.  After- 
wards this  penalty  was  changed  to  £20  per  month,  but  exemptions  were  allowed  in  cases 
where  there  was  no  persistent  obstinacy.  However,  the  punishment  of  all  persons  above 
the  age  of  16  who  neglected  to  go  to  Church  for  one  whole  month  was  very  severe.  They 
were  abjured  of  the  realm,  and  to  return  to  the  realm  was  felony.  And  two-thirds  of  the 
rent  of  the  offender's  land  might  also  be  seized,  till  he  conformed. 

These  laws  were  in  force  through  the  reigns  of  Henry  VIII.,  Mary,  James  I,,  Charles 
I.  (the  Commonwealth  period,  1649  to  1660  excepted),  Charles  II.,  James,  and  up  to  I. 
William  and  Mary,  when  what  is  known  as  the  Toleration  Act  was  passed.  It  was  then 
provided  that  all  Protestant  Dissenters  should  be  exempt  from  all  such  penalties,  and 
permitted  to  attend  their  own  places  of  worship,  such  having  being  duly  certified  to  the 
bishop,  or  archdeacon,  or  to  the  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace  for  the  county.  And  of 
such  places  the  Clerk  of  the  Peace  was  to  keep  a  register,  and  to  give  a  certificate  to  any 
person  demanding  the  same  on  payment  of  6d.  It  \vould  be  very  interesting  to  see  this 
register  to-day. 

This  Act  was  passed  in  1688  (just  the  year  after  the  holding  of  the  Breconshire 
Sessions  alluded  to  above),  and  therefore  these  penal  laws  had  from  the  time  of  Henry's 
reign  downwards  been  in  force  for  188  years.  Papists  were  even  then  excepted  from  the 
benefit  of  the  Act,  which  applied  only  to  Protestant  dissenters. 

It  is  commonly  believed  that  immediately  on  the  passing  of  the  Toleration  Act,  the 
chapels  of  the  Plough  in  Lion  street,  Brecon,  and  of  Golynos  (light  in  the  darkness)  at 
Llanwrtyd,  were  built. 

Of  course  these  old  compulsory  enactments  were  to  a  certain  extent  impotent,  as  the 
people  here  and  there  met  secretly  to  worship  in  their  farmhouses,  often  with  doors  locked 
and  barred  ;  but  they  gave  an  immensity  of  trouble  to  our  forefathers  in  Breconshire  for 
many  a  long  year,  and  I  sometimes  think  their  harmful  influence  is  to  be  seen  and  felt 
to-day. 


(93) 

It  was  the  same,  too,  in  England  as  in  Wales,  and  we  owe  the  writing  of  the  immortal 
allegory  of  the  Pilgrim's  Progress  to  the  enforcement  of  these  penal  laws.  John  Bunyan 
composed  it  in  Bedford  gaol,  when  imprisoned  by  the  justices  of  the  day  for,  as  a  Baptist 
minister,  preaching  in  a  conventicle  contrary  to  the  statutes  therein  made  and  provided. 


John  Lloid  of  Towy. 


The  readers  of  our  County  History  are  familiar  with  the  Inscription  in  Builth 
Church,  and  the  monument  there  of  this  somewhat  famous  man,  and  also  with  the 
references  to  him  under  the  heading  of  Llanwrtyd,  and  of  Llanynis  in  the  same  work.  I 
have,  however,  thought  it  well  to  give  here  a  copy  of  the  Inscription,  because  it  serves  as 
an  introduction  to  the  subjoined  letter  from  W.  Hereford  to  this  John  Lloid,  which  I  have 
recently  found.  As  far  as  I  can  ascertain  this  "  W.  Hereford  "  was  Walter,  Earl  of 
Hereford,  grantee  or  lessee  of  various  Crown  properties  from  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  it 
seems  probable  this  John  Lloid  was  then  Steward  or  Receiver  of  the  Manor  of  Builth 
under  the  Crown. 

INSCRIPTION    IN    BUILTH    CHURCH. 

"  Here  lieth  John  Lloid  of  Towy  Squer  to  the  body  and  Servante  to  our  Sofvereigna 
Queene  Elizabethe,  who  served  herr  Mat's  father  both  at  Mutreil  and  at  Great  Bullen, 
where  hit  was  forgotten,  and  also  in  Scotland.  This  man  was  Steward  of  this  Manr 
under  the  Right  Honorable  the  Erie  of  Essex,  transported  out  of  Ireland  into  Carmarthen. 
Also  the  first  Sherif  and  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  that  ever  dwelte  in  this  Lordship  after 
the  division  of  Wales  into  Shere  ground.  Whose  father,  Thomas  Lloid,  had  been  Id. 
liftenant  of  this  County  XL  yeares  together  next  after  the  arivall  of  that  most  famous 
Prince  Henry  the  Seventh  and  Jasp  his  Uncle  at  Milfurde.  This  man  departed  this  lief 
the  First  day  of  March  Anno  dmi  1585. 

»%  "Mutreil"    is   a  town   in    France,  and   still  I   believe  strongly  fortified.     "  Great  Bullen "  is 
the  modern  Boulogne. 


LETTER    FROM     W.     HEREFORD    TO    JOHN     LLOID     OF    TOWY. 
[LAND  REVENUE  OFFICE,  SOUTH  WALES  INROLMENTS,  VOL.  V.  P.  66.] 

I  understand  you  have  gathered  all  the  heriotts  wtin  buelth  sithence  michalms  last 
wch  are  myne  by  my  Lease  ;  I  appointed  Rothergh  Gwyn  to  receave  them  before  this  but 
I  pceave  he  hath  not  Also  you  wrot  to  me  touching  the  Fellones  goode  there  that  the 
Shireff  had  ceased  Them.  I  understand  by  the  Shireff  and  other  that  tbe  came  are  come 
to  your  hande.  The  Shireff  would  not  meddle  wh  any  thing  that  touched  me.  I  require 
you  to  send  me  a  pfect  reconning  wtin  theise  xv  daies  hither  both  of  the  heriotte  and  the 
Felons  goode.  The  Aceorapt  to  the  receavoor  for  them  both  I  will  take  uppon  me., 
Therefor  let  me  understand  the  cteintie  of  all  things  to  thered  I  rnaie  conferre  the  same  wt 
such  note  as  are  sent  me  thereof  and  hereof  faile  yo  not  as  yo  tendre  my  Favour  And 
so  fare  you  well.  This  iiijth  of  September,  1569. 

Yor  ffrend 

W.  HEREFORD. 
To  my  ffrend  John  lloid  of  Towy. 


WILL     OF    JOHN     LLOYD     OF     TOWY,     1585. 
[EXTRACTED    FROM    THE    DISTRICT    PROBATE    REGISTRY    AT    HEREFORD.] 

In  the  Consistory  Court  of  the  Archdeaconry  of  Brecon. 

In  the  Name  of  God  Amen.     The  daye  of  January  in  the  yere  of  or  Lord  God  a 
thousand  fyve  hundred   eightye  with  fyve  in  the  xxviii  th  yere  of  the  Reigne  of  our 


(94) 

Sovereigne  Lady  Elizabeth  by  tbe  grace  of  God  queue  of  England  France  and  Ireland 
Defedr  of  the  fathe,  I  John  Lloyd  of  Towy  in  the  Countye  of  Brecknock  Esquier  sicke  and 
feble  in  body  but  whole  in  mynde  and  of  pfect  memorye  laude  and  prayse  be  unto 
Allmightye  God  make  my  last  Will  and  Testament  in  maner  and  forme  followinge. 

First  I  doe  geve  and  bequeathe  my  Soule  unto  Allmightye  God  my  Savior  and 
Eedemr.  by  whome  I  trust  to  bs  saved,  and  my  bodye  to  be  buryed  in  the  Church  of 
Llanynis. 

Item  I  doe  geve  and  bequeath  towoords  the  reparation  of  Cathedral!  church  of  St. 
David's  12d. 

Item  I  do  geve  and  bequeth  to  the  poore  mens  boxe  of  Llanynis  ijs  (2s.) 

Item  I  do  geve  and  grant  unto  John  Lloyd  my  second  sonne  all  my  messuages  or 
tenements  of  lands  with  all  houses  barns  buildings  lands  medowes  leasowee  pastures  woods 
underwoods  gardens  orchards  liberts  with  all  their  apprtencs.  comonly  called  ond  known 
by  the  names  of  Tyr  Jevan  apglluy  ap  Jevan  Dewey  yn  y  Velyndre  y  bryth  werny  Tir 
Jevan  Weithhene  Kae  Jevan  Lloyd  garll  madok  ap  Morgan  garll  hughe  ap  Es  in  the 
Castle  Streett  ty  vadok  dd  Morgan  at  Bridge  ende  yt  yn  somvent  (?)  at  ty  Eobt  Dio  ap 
hoell  ty  hoell  vadok  ty  wallt  vy  Isk  and  ty  John  Banner  sett  lynge  and  being  within  the 
towne  and  parish  of  Llanvair  in  Buellt  in  the  Contye  of  Brecknock.  To  have  and  to  ferine 
hold  to  the  sayd  John  Lloyd  and  his  assignes  for  and  duringe  the  terme  of  xxj  (21)  years 
next  ensuinge  in  manner  and  forme  followinge,  vid  :  soe  that  my  sayd  Bonn  Jon.  Lloyd 
will  be  content  to  take  the  same  by  lease  at  the  hands  of  my  eldest  sonne  and  heyr  David 
Lloyd  ap  John  and  enter  into  covenants  wth  sufficient  land  to  the  use  of  David  Lloyd  ap 
John  his  heires  and  assignes  not  onlye  to  surrender  up  the  premisses  wth  their  apptenncs. 
unto  the  said  David  Lloyd  ap  John  his  heirs  and  assignes  at  the  end  of  xxj  (21)  yeares  but 
allsoe  keepe  reperacon  of  eny  of  the  said  houses  and  pseles  (parcels)  &  soe  leve  and  yeald 
up  the  same  well  and  sufficiently  as  they  are  at  this  present  time  and  allsoe  to  paye  to  the 
said  David  Lloyd  ap  John  hie  heires  and  assignes  the  some  of  fortie  shillings  of  good  and 
lawful  money  of  England  yerely  at  evy.  feast  of  Saint  Michaell  the  Archangell  for  and 
duringe  the  said  term  of  xxi  yeres. 

Item  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  my  said  Sonne  John  Lloyd  all  my  dyrie  oattells 
and  cattells  beinge  upon  my  lands  called  y  kae  Dye  wth.  all  manner  of  cattell  what  soevr 
they  be  wch  are  wth  my  keeper  there. 

Item  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  Gwenllian  vz  (daughter)  Willim  my  woyre 
(grandson)  twllve  heyffers, 

Item  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  Jivan  ap  Madocke  one  cowe. 

Item  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  Syble  vz  (daughter)  Willim  my  woyre  (grandson) 
one  heyffer. 

Item  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  David  ap  Jevan  ap  Morgan  one  heyffer. 

Item  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  William  John  ap  Morgan  one  beaste. 

Item  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  Gole  vz  (daughter)  David  Lloyd  one  beaste. 

Item  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  Eobert  John  my  woyre  (grandson)  two  yerelinge 
beasts. 

The  residuie  of  all  my  goods  cattels  movable  and  unmovable  lands  tenements  rents 
reversions  leases  covenna>  ts  grants  contracts  recoveries  capiasses  executions  debts  demands 
and  judgments  as  well  by  specialities  as  without  specialities  as  well  in  matters  and  causes 
spirituall  and  temporall  whereof  I  the  said  John  Lloyd  am  of  them  or  any  parte  of  them 
entetuled  at  the  writtinge  hereof  I  doe  give  and  bequethe  unto  my  said  eldest  Sonne  Dd 
Lloyd  ap  John  his  assignes  for  ever  for  ever  whome  I  doe  constitute  ordaine  and  appoint 
to  be  my  only  true  &  sole  executor  these  being  wittnes — William  Merodocke — John  ap 
John  Lloyd — Willm  David  Lin  ap  Morgan — William  Thomas  &  Madocke  Griffithe  with 
others. 

DEBTS  DUE  TO  THE  TESTATOR. 

Imprimis  upon  Eobeit  Toy  of  Carndthin  (Carmarthen)  Merchant  ffortie  markes 
which  I  lent  him  and  given  and  delivered  unto  Kobert  Kerver  his  man  to  be  delivered  over 
unto  the  said  Eobert  Toy  at  a  daie  long  past. 


(95) 

Item  upon  David  Lloyd  ap  Meredd  esquire  recovered  in  the  last  assisses  in  the 
Countey  of  Eadnor  nynetene  pounds  six  shillings  where  upon  I  have  two  capiasses  one 
upon  his  bodie  &  the  other  upon  his  goods. 

Item  upon  David  Powell  of  Llanellwedd  recovered  in  the  said  assisses  the  lick  (like) 
some  of  nynetene  pounds  six  shilings  wth  lick  (like)  capiasses 

Item  upon  William  Lloyd  ap  David  of  Llanava  (Llanavan  ?)  vechan  the  some  of  iiij  1 
xiij  s  iiij  d  (£4  18s.  4d.) 

Item  upon  David  Lloyd  ap  Jevan  ap  Rees  xx  s  (20s  ) 

Item  upon  Willim  ap  Jevan  ap  Richard  twentie  shillings  wch.  I  lent;  him  by  the  hands 
of  my  sone  John  Lloyd  to  be  delivered  over  unto  him  paiable  at  daie  longe  past. 

Imprimis  xxiiij  lie  (24)  Great  Kyne  pric  (price)  xxiiij  1  (£24). 

Item  six  great  oxen  pric  (price)  vj  1  (JB6). 

Item  Ix  (60)  yewes  pric  (price)  x  1  (£10). 

Item  one  geldinge  pric  (price)  vj  1  (£6). 

Proved  14th  March  1585  by  the  Executor. 


The  copy  of  the  will  received  by  me  from  the  Hereford  Registry  is  evidently  an 
imperfect  one,  the  copyist  being  unable  to  read  some  portions  of  it.  However,  it  ia  I 
think,  fairly  intelligible.  The  word  "  woyre,"  which  occurs  three  times,  denotes  a 
grandson,  and  vz,  ferch,  or  merch,  a  daughter  as  Ap  does  the  Son. 

The  names  of  places  and  tenements  at  Builth  (Bridge  End)  are  not  intelligible,  nor 
the  tenants'  names. 

It  appears  that  David  Lloyd  ap  John  was  the  eldest  son  and  heir  of  the  testator,  and 
John  the  second  son. 


Talavan    Forest. 

Hundred    of    Builth,    County    of    Brecon. 


The  first  paper  I  have  containing  any  references  to  this  Forest  is  the  Grant  by 
Edward  VI.  (1550)  of  the  Lordship  of  Builth  to  William  Herbert,  "  Knight  of  the  Garter 
and  Master  of  Our  Horse."  The  lands  of  "  Tallawyn  "  are  therein  mentioned.  This 
Grant  was  made  in  the  4th  year  of  the  King's  reign,  and  it  would  seem  that  immediately 
after  an  Exchange  took  place  between  the  King  and  Sir  William  Herbert,  by  which  the 
Lordship  of  Builth,  including  the  Forest  of  Talavan,  became  again  part  of  the  possessions 
of  the  Crown. 

This  is  shown  by  the  Grant  to  farm  in  24  Eliz.  (1582)  by  Letters  Patent  of  the 
herbage  and  pannage  of  the  Forest  of  Tallavan  (formerly  held  by  Richard  Lloid)  with  all 
its  rights,  &c.,  to  David  Lloid  ap  John  Lloid.  The  lease  was  for  21  years  at  the  annual 
rent  of  6s.  8d.  It  is  evident  that  the  Forest  was  very  well  known,  as  it  was  thought 
unnecessary  to  give  any  description  of  its  boundaries.  Apparently  at  that  period  parishes 
were  not  recognized  as  defined  districts  in  legal  documents  as  they  now  are. 

The  next  paper  gives  the  lease  of  the  same  Forest  in  84  Eliz.,  1592,  to  John  Wells, 
Scrivener,  of  London,  at  the  same  rent  of  63.  8d.  for  the  term  of  60  years  to  commence 
from  1608,  when  the  lease  previously  granted  to  David  Lloid  ap  John  Lloid  expired. 

The  said  Wells  appears  to  have  immediately  assigned  his  interest  to  Richard  Budd, 
who  again  in  85  Eliz.  assigned  his  interest  to  one  David  Lloid  ap  John  Lloid,  who  was  of 
course  the  old  tenant.  This  carries  on  the  interest  of  David  Lloid  and  his  descendants 
down  to  1668. 

The  last  document  I  have  relating  to  the  Forest  is  dated  1st  James  II.  (1686).  It  is 
a  grant  by  the  King  of  the  Lordship  of  Builth,  including  the  Forest  of  Talavan,  to 


(96) 

Christopher  Favell  and  Thomas  Young  in  confirmation  of  a  previous  grant  by  the  King's 
father  in  the  7th  of  his  reign. 

Sir  Edmund  Sawyer's  name  is  also  mentioned  as  a  grantee.  These  men  were 
London  financiers,  or  money  lenders,  who  had  advanced  money  to  Charles  II.  and  James 
II  on  security  of  the  private  resources  of  the  Crewn.  The  facility  with  which  this  could 
be  done,  and  had  been  by  Charles  I.,  in  a  measure  contributed  probably  to  the  outbreak  of 
the  Great  Kebellion,  or  the  Civil  War. 


Grant    to    William    Herbert,    Knight    of    the 
Lordship   of  Builth,  &c.,  1550. 


SOUTH      WALES      ENROLMENTS. 


[TRANSLATION.] 
VOL.     1.,     Fo.     152d. 

LETTEKS  PATENT  OF  WILLIAM  HERBERT,  KNT.,  FOK  LANDS  IN  Cos.  GLAMORGAN  AND  MONMOUTH, 
RADNOR  AND  BRECON,  GRANTED  TO  HIM  FOR  EVER. 

Edward  the  6th  &c.  To  all  to  whom  these  present  letters  shall  come.  Know  ye 
that  We  in  consideration  of  the  good,  true,  faithful  and  acceptable  service  which  Our 
beloved  and  faithful  Councillor  William  Herbert,  Knight  of  the  Garter,  Master  of  Our 
Horse,  rendered  to  Us  at  his  great  charges,  against  the  rebels  in  the  west  parts  of 
England,  of  Our  special  grace,  certain  knowledge  and  mere  motion  and  with  the  advice 
of  Our  Council  have  granted  to  him  and  by  these  presents  do  grant  to  him  all  those  our 
lordships  and  manors  of  Ruthin,  Llanblethian,  Boviarton,  &c.  &c.  &c.  in  co.  Glamorgan. 

Also  all  Our  lordship  and  manor  of  Buelth  and  Our  borough  of  Buelth  and  also  all 
Our  castle  of  Buelth  and  Our  forest  of  Tallawyn,  and  all  Our  lands,  tanements,  rents  and 
hereditaments  called  Tyre  tale  diesten  with  all  their  rights,  members  and  appurtenances, 
jurisdiction  and  liberties  in  Our  County  of  Brecon  formerly  parcel  of  the  lands  and  posses- 
sions of  the  late  Earl  of  March.  Also  all  Our  lordships  and  manors  of  Ebvell  villa  Castri 
Istemoneth  &c.  &c.  in  co.  Eadnor. 

Also  all  the  messuages,  granges,  mills,  tofts,  cottages,  houses,  buildings,  barns, 
ponds,  orchards,  gardens,  lands,  waters,  fishings,  moors,  warrens,  chaces,  woods,  advow- 
son,  free  disposition  and  right  of  patronage  of  Churches  and  other  ecclesiastical  benefices, 
courts  leet,  view  of  frank  pledge,  fairs,  markets,  tolls,  customs,  <fec.,  &c.,  &c.,  in  Ruthin. 

Buelth,  Tallawyn,  Ivan,  Treffles,  Penne  buelth  and  Southirvin  in  Co.  Brecon  .  . 
.  .  .  to  the  said  lordships,  manors,  boroughs,  vills.  castles  and  granges  and  other  the 
premises  in  any  way  belonging  or  appertaining.  We  also  give  to  the  said  William 
Herbert,  all  woods,  underwoods  and  trees  growing  upon  the  premises  ;  also  all  rents  and 
yearly  profits  whatsoever  reserved  upon  any  dcmites  made  of  the  said  premises. 

And  we  give  to  him  all  the  said  premises  as  fully  and  wholly  as  Jasper,  late  Duke  of 
Bedford  or  the  Lady  Katherine  late  Queen  of  England  or  the  said  late  Earl  of  March 
held  and  enjoyed  the  same  and  in  as  ample  manner  and  forme  as  the  same  came  to  Our 
hands  or  to  the  hands  of  Our  most  dear  Father  King  Henry  8. 

And  We  also  grant  to  the  said  William  Herbert  that  he  may  hold  and  enjoy  within 
the  said  lordships,  manors,  &c.,  all,  such,  and  the  like  courts  leet,  views  of  frank  pledge 
and  assize  of  bread,  wine  and  ale,  alvo  chattels  waived,  estrays,  free  warrens,  fairs, 
markets,  &c.,  such  and  as  fully  as  the  taid  Jasper,  Queen  Katherine  and  the  Earl  of 
March  held  the  same.  [Then  follow  grants  of  land  in  London  and  Middlesex,  &c.,  &c.] 


(97) 

Which  said  premises  extend  to  the  clear  yearly  value  of  £447  10s.  IJd  and  half  a 
farthing. 

To  hold  to  the  said  William  Herbert  and  his  heirs  for  ever,  to  the  proper  uses  of  him- 
self and  his  heirs  for  ever. 

And  We  also  grant  to  the  said  William  Herbert  all  the  issues,  rents  and  profits  of  all 
the  said  premises  forthcoming  from  the  feast  of  the  Annunciation  last  past  up  to  the 
present  time  without  rendering  any  account  for  the  same. 

In  witness  whereof  We  have  caused  these  Our  Letters  to  be  made  patent. 

Witness  Ourself  at  Westminster  7  May  in  the  4th  year  of  Our  reign  f!550.] 


Talavan    Forest. 

Lease    of— 1582. 


[TRANSLATION.] 
LAND     REVENUE     RECORD     OFFICE. 

COUNTY     OF     BRECON. 
LETTERS     PATENT     TO     DAVID     LLOID     AP     JOHN     LLOID. 

Elizabeth  by  the  grace  of  God  Queen  of  England  France  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,  &c.  To  all  to  whom  these  present  Letters  shall  come  greeting.  Know  ye  that  we 
for  the  fine  of  twenty  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  of  lawful  money  of  England  paid  at  the 
Receipt  of  our  Exchequer  to  our  use  by  our  beloved  subject  David  Lloid  ap  John  Lloid 
have  given  granted  and  to  farm  demised  and  by  these  presents  do  give  grant  and  to  farm 
demise  to  the  aioresaid  David  Lloid  ap  John  Lloid  all  that  our  herbage  and  pannage  of 
our  forest  of  Tallavan  with  all  their  rights  members  and  appurtenances  in  our  County  of 
Brecknock  now  or  late  in  the  tennre  or  occupation  of  Richard  Lloid  or  his  assigns,  and  all 
and  singular  our  profits  commodities  advantages  emoluments  and  hereditaments  whatso- 
ever to  the  said  herbage  and  pannage  and  other  the  premises  in  any  way  belonging  or 
appertaining  or  with  the  same  or  any  of  them  by  the  rent  below  in  these  presents  reserved 
demised,  placed  used  or  occupied,  being  parcel  of  the  possessions  exchanged  by  William 
late  Earl  of  Pembroke  with  our  mcst  dear  brother  Edward  VI.  late  King  of  England,  and 
formerly  being  parcel  of  the  possessions  late  of  the  Earl  of  March  :  To  have  and  to  hold 
all  and  singular  the  premises  with  all  their  appurtenancss  to  the  said  David  Lloid  ap  John 
Lloid  his  executors  and  assigns  from  the  feast  of  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary 
the  Virgin  last  past  up  to  the  end  of  the  term  and  by  the  term  of  21  years  then  next 
following  and  fully  to  be  completed,  paying  therefore  yearly  to  us  our  heirs  and  successors 
six  shillings  and  eight  pence  of  lawful  money  of  England  at  the  feasts  of  St.  Michael  the 
Archangel,  and  the  Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin  at  the  hands  of  the 
bailiff  or  receiver  of  the  premises  for  the  time  being  by  equal  portions,  to  be  paid  during 
the  term  aforesaid.  And  the  said  David  Lloid  ap  John  Lloid  his  executors  and  assigns 
shall  support  do  and  make  all  charges,  suits,  services  and  repairs  due  for  the  premises  or 
by  right  from  old  times  accustomed  to  be  supported  done  or  made  from  time  to  time,  and 
shall  exonerate  us  our  heirs  and  successors  and  shall  keep  us  quit  and  indeinpnified 
against  all  persons  in  all  things  during  the  term  granted  in  these  presents.  Provided 
always  that  if  the  said  rent  shall  happen  to  be  in  arrear  or  unpaid  in  part  or  in  the  whole 
by  the  space  of  forty  day  after  any  feast  of  the  feasts  aforesaid  when  it  ought  to  be  paid 
as  is  aforesaid  :  That  then  and  from  thenceforth  this  present  demise  and  grant  shall  be 
null  and  void  anything  in  these  presents  to  the  contrary  thereof  notwithstanding  and  not- 
withstanding any  statute  act  ordinance  provision  proclamation  or  restriction  to  the 


(98) 

contrary  thereof  heretofore  had,  made,  published  ordained  or  promised  or  any  other  thing, 
matter  or  cause  whatsoever.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  caused  these  our  Letters  to  be 
made  Patent.  Witness  our  beloved  and  faithful  Councillor  William  Baron  of  Burghley 
our  Treasurer  of  England,  at  Westminster  the  9th  day  of  July  in  the  twenty  fourth  year 

of  our  reign. 

Smyth. 

By  warrant  of  the  Lord  Treasurer  of  England  and  the  Chancellor  of  the 
Court  of  the  Exchequer. 


Talavan    Forest— Lease    for    60    Years— 1592. 


LAND    REVENUE     OFFICE. 

South   Wales  Inrolments,  Vol.  6,  F.  49,  is  the  following  :— 

To  all  true  xxian  people  to  whome  thes  p'sence  shall  come  Eichard  Budd  of  London 
gent  sendeth  greeting.  Whereas  or  soveraygne  Ladie  Elizabeth  the  Queues  Maty  that 
nowe  is  by  her  highnes  Lres  Patente  under  the  great  seale  of  England  beareing  date  at 
Westmr  the  iiijth  daie  of  maye  in  the  xxxiiijth  yere  of  her  hignes  reigne  for  the  consider- 
acon  in  the  sayde  Lres  Patente  menconed  and  expressed  And  at  the  humble  peticon  of  Sr 
Owen  Hopton  knight  hath  amongst  other  thinges  therein  couteyned  dimised  graunted  and 
to  fearme  letten  unto  John  Wells  of  London  scrivener  All  that  her  highnes  herbage  and 
pannage  of  the  fforest  of  Tallavan  with  their  righte  members  and  apprtennce  whatsoevr. 
in  the  Countie  of  Brecknock  sometime  p. cell  of  the  landes  exchanged  by  Willm.  late 
Earle  of  Pembrook  with  Edwarde  the  sixte  late  Kings  of  Englande  sometymes  p. cell  of 
the  possessions  of  the  late  Earle  of  March.  And  to  one  dd  Lloyd  ap  John  lloid  by  her 
highnes  Lres  Patente  bering  date  the  ixth  daie  of  Julie  in  the  xxiijth  yere  of  her  Maty 
reygne  for  the  tercue  of  xxjtie  yeres  begyning  from  the  feast  of  the  Anunciacon  of  or 
blessed  ladie  St.  Marie  the  Virgin  then  last  past  and  for  the  yerelie  rent  of  six  shillings 
&  eight  pence  demised  and  grannted.  To  have  and  to  hold  the  saide  herbage  and  pannage 
of  the  fforest  of  Tallavan  aforesaid  wth  thsire  righte  members  and  appurtennce  whatsoev. 
to  the  said  John  Wells  his  executors  and  assignes  from  the  feaste  of  the  Annuc.  of  or 
blessed  ladie  St.  Marie  the  Virgin  wch  shall  be  in  the  yere  of  or  lord  God  1603  unto  the 
end  of  the  terme  and  for  the  term  of  Lx  yeres  from  thence  next  ensewing  and  fully  to  be 
compleat  and  ended  Yielding  from  thenceforth  yerelie  unto  or  said  Sovereigne  Lady  the 
queene  her  heires  and  Successors  of  and  for  the  said  herbage  and  pannage  of  the  fforest  of 
Tallavan  aforesaid  wth  the  appurtennce  six  shillings  eight  pence  of  lawefull  money  of 
England  at  the  feaste  of  St.  Michaell  th  archangell  and  the  Annuc.  of  our  blessed  ladie 
St.  Marie  the  Virgin  at  the  receipte  of  the  excheqr  of  our  sayde  sovereigne  lady  the  Queene 
her  heires  and  Successors  or  to  the  handes  of  the  bailiffe  or  Receavors  of  the  same 
prmisses  for  the  tyme  being  by  equall  porcons  to  be  paid  during  the  terme  aforesaid  thereof 
by  the  said  first  recited  Lres  Patente  graunted  as  in  and  by  the  sayde  Lres  Patente  to  the 
said  John  Wells  graunted  as  aforesayde  (amongst  other  thinges)  more  at  large  it  doth  and 
maie  appere 

The  said  Wells  assigned  his  interest  to  Richard  Budd  by  his  deed  dated  the  fifte  daie 
of  maie  in  the  xxxiiijth  yere  of  her  Maty  reigne. 

The  said  Rich.  Budd  assigned  his  interest  to  one  dd  Lloid  ap  John  Lloyd  by  his  deed 
dated  the  xth  daie  of  No  :  in  the  xxxvth  yere  of  her  Maty  reigne. 


(99) 

Lordship    of    Builth,    &c. 

Grant    of— 1686. 

SOUTH     WALES     INROLMENTS,    VOL.    12,    Fo.    198. 

James  the  Second,  &  all  to  whom,  &c.  greeting.  We  have  inspected  the  enrolment 
of  certain  Letters  Patent  dated  9th  Jany  in  the  7th  year  of  the  reigo  of  Our  most  dear 
Father  made  to  Christopher  Favell  and  Thomas  Young  gent,  the  tenor  whereof  as  to  the 
lordship  of  Buelt  in  Our  County  of  Brecon  follows  in  these  words  :  The  King  to  all,  &c. 
greeting.  Whereas  We  by  Letters  Patent  dated  at  Canbury  4  Oct.,  in  the  6th  year  of  our 
reign  in  part  compliment  and  performance  of  the  promise  on  Our  part  specified  in  an 
indenture  dated  7  May  in  the  6th  year  of  Our  reign,  made  between  Ourselves  and  several 
of  the  lords  of  Our  Privy  Council  of  the  one  part,  and  John  Haydon.  Knt.,  William 
Russell,  Knt.,  Ralph  Freeman,  Esq.,  and  Charles  Harbord,  Esq.,  of  the  other  part,  and  in 
consideration  of  £2350  paid  to  Us  by  the  said  Charles  Harbord,  and  by  Us  then  owing  to 
him,  and  for  the  further  sum  of  £2205  17  4£  by  the  said  Charles  paid  into  Our  Exchequer, 
being  part  of  the  sum  of  £4250  to  be  paid  by  the  said  Charles  Harbord,  have  given  to  the 
said  Charles  Harbord,  Christopher  Fa  well  and  Thomas  Young,  gent.,  their  heirs  and 
assigns  for  ever  All  that  manor  of  Burneham  in  Co.  Bucks,  and  divers  other  manors, 
castles,  lordships  messuages,  lands,  tenements  and  hereditaments  specified  in  the  said 
Letters  Patent :  Which  said  Letters  We  hereby  ratify  and  confirm. 

Now  know  ye  that  We  in  further  complement  of  the  promises  made  in  Our  said 
indenture,  and  for  the  further  sum  of  £2044  2  7J  paid  by  the  said  Charles  Harbord,  and 
at  his  request,  have  granted  to  the  said  Christopher  Fawell  and  Thomas  Young,  gent., 
and  their  heirs  for  ever  all  that  Our  lordship  and  manor  of  Buelt  with  all  its  rights, 
members  and  appurts  in  Co.  Brecon  ;  also  all  that  Our  borough  and  vill  of  Buelt  and  all 
the  hamlets,  parishes,  villages,  rents  and  customs,  rent  of  assize,  rent  of  burgage,  demesne 
land  and  forest  land  called  Tallavon,  and  all  the  toll  of  the  vill  of  Buelt,  and  all  profits 
and  commodities  whatsoevtr  as  well  within  the  liberties  as  without  and  all  the  shops  and 
warehouses  in  the  said  vill  and  lordship,  together  with  the  toll  of  the  Bridg  End  and  all 
other  places  there,  and  all  other  lands,  tenements  and  hereditaments  whatsoever  called  by 
the  name  of  the  lordship,  manor,  borough  and  vill  of  Buelt  :  Except  always  all  that  mill 
in  Southervon,  parcel  of  or  reputed  to  be  parcel  of  the  said  lordship  or  manor,  and  before 
granted  in  fee  farm  :  which  said  lordship  and  manor  of  Buelt  by  the  particular  thereof  is 
mentioned  to  be  parcel  of  the  land  exchanged  by  William  late  Earl  of  Pembroke  with 
Edward  VI.  late  King  of  England,  and  to  be  of  the  clear  yearly  rent  or  value  of 
£68  14  llf ,  together  with  £20  for  a  certain  Comortha  there  every  second  year  :  Which 
premises  above  by  these  presents  granted  by  indenture  dated  8  Feb.  in  the  6th  year  of 
Our  reign,  are  by  Our  warrant  granted  to  the  said  Charles  Harbord  for  the  whole  residue 
of  99  years  and  for  all  the  term  granted  to  him,  Thos.  Trevor  and  others  now  deceased 
by  the  indenture  of  Our  late  Father  King  James  to  Our  use  before  We  came  to  the  throne : 
which  said  indenture  We  have  examined  and  hereby  ratify  and  confirm  the  same. 

We  have  also  given  to  the  said  Christopher  Fawell  and  Thomas  Young  all  the 
messuages,  lands,  mills,  barns,  orchards,  lands,  trees,  tithes,  waters,  mines,  quarries,  &c., 
&c.,  &c.  within  the  said  commote  and  lordship,  and  in  any  of  the  said  castles,  lordships, 
manors,  &c.  ;  also  all  yearly  rents  and  profits  on  the  said  premises  ;  and  that  they  may 
hold  the  same  as  freely  as  We  have  done  :  Except  nevertheless  all  knights  fees,  wards  and 
marriages,  and  all  advowsons,  free  gifts  and  right  of  patronage  of  all  rectories,  churches, 
vicarages,  chapels,  and  all  other  eccltsiastical  benefices  whatsoever  :  Also  except  all 
royalties  of  mines  of  gold  and  silver  being  upon  the  premises  :  To  hold  the  said  premises 
to  the  said  Christopher  and  Thomas  and  their  heirs  in  fee  farm  for  ever,  of  Us  and  Our 
heirs  as  of  Our  manor  of  East  Greenwich  in  Co.  Kent  by  fealty  only  in  free  and  common 
socage,  and  not  in  chief  or  by  knights  service,  paying  to  Us  yearly  for  the  said  lordship 


(100) 

and  manor  of  Buelt  £45  1  5  ;  and  also  paying  to  Us  for  the  lordship  and  manor  aforesaid 
for  a  rent  called  Magna  Comortha  of  custom  there  £20  every  second  year.  And  further 
We  grant  that  We  for  ever  hereafter  will  pay  to  Robert  Earl  of  Essex  and  Theophilus 
Earl  of  Suffolk  a  yearly  fee  of  £18  13  4  to  them  before  granted  for  their  fees  as  stewards 
of  the  said  lordship  or  manor  of  Buelt  for  their  lives  ;  and  We  also  absolve  them  from 
paying  any  other  fees,  annuities  and  pensions. 

Witness  the  King  at  Westminster  29  Jany.  7  Charles. 

We  have  also  inspected  another  indenture  made  2  March,  1G31,  between  Charles 
Harbord  of  London,  Esq.,  and  Christopher  Fawell  and  Thos.  Young  of  London,  gent.,  of 
the  one  part  and  Edmund  Sawyer  of  Hey  wood  in  Co.  Berks,  Knt.,  and  John  Philipps  of 
London,  gent.,  of  the  other  part  for  a  sum  of  money  and  the  said  Christopher  &  Thomas 
at  the  appointment  of  the  said  Charles  Harbord  have  granted  to  the  said  Edmund 
Sawyer,  Knt.,  and  John  Phelips  an3  their  heirs  all  the  lordship  and  manor  of  Buelt,  in 
co.  Brecon,  all  the  borough  and  vill  of  Buelt,  &c.  &c.  [as  above]  :  except  [also  as  above] . 
Also  land  in  Llanire  in  co.  Radnor  ;  also  all  the  houses,  lands,  &c.  to  the  said  lordship 
belonging  :  To  hold  all  the  same  as  fully  as  the  sa  d  King  Charles  by  Letters  Pati-nt  dated 
29  Jany  in  the  7th  year  of  his  reign,  granted  the  said  lordship  of  Buelt  to  the  said 
Christopher  Fawell  and  Thomas  Young  and  their  heirs  in  fee  farm.  Except  knights  fees, 
&c.  [as  above]  :  To  hold  all  the  said  premises  to  the  said  Edmund  and  John  and  their 
heirs  for  ever,  of  Us  as  of  Our  said  manor  of  East  Greenwich  by  fealty  only  in  free  and 
common  socage  and  not  in  chief  or  by  knights  service,  paying  for  the  said  lordship  of 
Buelt  £45  1  5. 

In  witness  whereof  We  have  caused  these  Our  Letters  to  be  made  Patent.  Witness 
Ourself  at  Westminster  12  January,  in  the  1st  year  of  Our  reign  [1686.] 


The    Gwynne    of    Garth    and    Llanelwedd 

Estate. 

LORDSHIP    OF    BUILTH,     &c.,     1823. 


ACCOUNT  OF  RECEIVER  IN  CHANCERY. 

It  happens  that  a  Suit  was  begun  in  the  Court  of  Chancery  relating  to  this 
large  estate  between  Thomas  Price  and  Thomas  Thomas,  plaintiffs,  and  Rice  Price,  Clerk, 
and  Eliza  Ann,  his  wife,  and  others,  Defendants,  about,  1820,  and  we  find  that  the  whole 
estate  was  for  the  time  being  thrown  into  Chancery.  The  Court  appointed  Mr.  Thomas 
Maybery,  of  Brecon,  Solicitor  and  Prothonotary  of  the  Great  Sessions,  their  Receiver,  and 
we  have  been  enabled  to  find  among  the  Master's  Documents  (Master  Rose)  in  the  Suit  at 
the  Record  Office  the  third  annual  account  of  the  Receiver  of  the  Estate.  We  think  it  an 
interesting  document,  as  giving  the  names  of  the  farms  on  the  large  Gwynne  Estate  in 
1823,  before  its  dispersal  by  Public  Auction  had  taken  place,  knd  also  particulars  of  the 
Chief  Rents  payable  by  the  Parishes  within  the  Lordship. 


l'A(JK  100. 1 


THE  DOLDYMMER  FOOTBRIDGE  ON  THE  YRFON. 


(101) 

IN  CHANCERY. 

THOMAS  PRICE  and  THOMAS  THOMAS,  Plaintiffs, 

versus 
RICE  PRICE,  Clerk,  and  ELIZA  ANN,  bis  Wife,  and  others,  Defendants. 


[MASTER'S  DOCUMENTS  (MASTER  ROSE)  CHANCERY.     BUNDLE  296.     PUBLIC  RECORD  OFFICE.] 
The  Third  Account  of  Thomas  Maybery,  Esq.,  Receiver  of  the  Estates  in  this  Cause,  for 
the  year  ending  Lady  Day — 1823 — and  of  his  Disbursement. 


Tenants 
Names. 

Estates. 

Arrears  at 
Lady  Day, 
1822. 

Yearly 
Rent. 

Cash 
received. 

Arrears  at 
Lady  Day, 
1823. 

25     0     0 

150     0     0 

175    0 

0 

*Hugh  Morgan  .... 

Kingshead,  &c  

52  10     0 

52  10    0 

Richard  Butts 

23     0     0 

23    0 

II 

tCharles  Lawrence  .  . 

Park  and  Wells  

128     0     0 

128     0     0 

50    0 

0 

206     0     0 

Thos.  Jones  

Pencaer  helen    

58     0     0 

58    0 

0 

Wm.  Thomas     

31  10     0 

60     0     0 

54  10 

0 

37     0    0 

60     0     0 

60     0 

II 

Kilgawidd  

30     9     0 

32     0     6 

30    0 

0 

32     9     0 

Lewis  Williams    .  . 

Penfynon    

25  10     0 

16     0     0 

14     0 

0 

27  10    0 

Charlotte  Lewis    .  . 

Bryngoch    

117  18     6 

38     0     0 

24     0 

0 

131  18     6 

Wain  Odin  

500 

800 

13     0     0 

Do  

Brynyoye    \      ,==10     n 
Brynheol  &  Penwhylod  J 

188     0     0 

189  10 

0 

154     9     0 

Benjamin  Griffiths 

Ystrad     

17     0     0 

50     0     0 

46     0 

0 

21     0     0 

Roger  Davis      .... 

Llanaf  an     

111     4     0 

65     0     0 

27     1 

0 

149     3     0 

John  Price  

Kef  n  lippa  

16     0     0 

16     0     0 

32     0     0 

John  Evans    

123     0     0 

60     0     0 

70     0 

0 

113     0     0 

JJohn  Jones     

Gentre  

60     6     0 

60     0     0 

John  Thomas     .... 

Kefn  Coed  

34     0     0 

42     0     0 

40    0 

0 

36     0     0 

Rees  Davies   

Penrhiewmoch   

77     0    0 

35     0     0 

8     0 

0 

104     0     0 

Wm.  Price  

Llanerch  Llwyd    

35    3     0 

45  10     0 

47    0 

0 

33  13     0 

Kildu      

31   10     0 

31  10 

II 

John  Thomas    .... 

Maes  y  cefen  y  Eordd  .  . 

42     0     0 

10  10 

0 

31  10    0 

David  Evans  

Tyn  y  foes  &  Trwderwen 

224     5     6 

112  10     0 

30     0 

0 

306  15     6 

jDavid  Jones   

Rhose  Gilwen    

40     0     0 

39    2 

0 

0  18     0 

David  Davies     .... 

Kenigia  

300 

600 

6     0 

0 

300 

Evan  Powell  

Llethlr  bach  

0  10     6 

1     1     0 

0  10 

6 

1     1     0 

David  Davies     .... 

Newhouse  &  tolls  of  Builth 

0  18     0 

21  10     0 

21   10 

0 

0  18     0 

Thos  Pritchard     .  . 

400 

4     0 

0 

Pant  y  wrach  

2  10     0 

508 

2     9 

6 

506 

Catherine  Jones    .  . 

Llwyn  Piod    

82    2    0 

130     0     0 

105     0 

0 

106  13     0 

David  Price    

Macs  lleoh  

82     0     0 

120     0     0 

44     3 

0 

157  17     0 

Catherine  Jones    .  . 

Ynis  Codwor  

30     0     0 

55     0     0 

50     0 

0 

35     0     0 

If  John  Williams  .... 

Garth,  &o  

189     5     0 

320     o     0 

509     5     0 

2  12     6 

2  12 

fi 

Crawnant  mawr    

25     0     0 

25     0     0 

50     0     0 

||  James  Meredith     .  . 

Llanelwedd    

200     0     0 

400     0     0 

231  10 

0 

348  10     0 

Peter  Holl  

Groe  House    

54     0     0 

25     2     0 

18     0 

0 

61     4     0 

John  Jones  

Cottage   on  Llanelwedd 

7     7    0 

220 

990 

Rocks 

322     6     6 

147  11 

9 

sJohn  Davies  

Gelly  Cadwgan  

136  10     0 

136  10     0 

Samuel  Jones     .... 

Cwm  Shepherd  

49  18     0 

25     0     0 

74  18     0 

Hugh  Morgan   .... 

Groe     

27     0     0 

20     0     0 

10     0 

0 

37    0    0 

Isaac  Price  

Meeting  house  at  Pent- 
rhydir 

600 

300 

900 

Joha  Jones  

Waste  lands  in  Builth  .  . 

050 

0     5 

0 

David  Evans  

Cottage  on  Garth  Common          626 

1   10     0 

7  12     6 

William  Thomas  .  . 

Llyohnant      

0  10     0 

050 

0  15     0 

John  Jarmaa  

Bwlch  y  derwent  

1     1     0 

1     1     0 

220 

(102) 


Tenants 
Names. 

Estates. 

Arrears  at 
Lady    Day, 

1822. 

Yearly 
Rent. 

Cash 
received. 

Arrears  at 
Lady  Day, 
1823. 

oBees  Jones 

Bees  Jonas 

William  Jones  .... 
Bees  Williams  .... 
late  William  Jones 
Bev.  M.  Williams 
Samuel  Handley  . . 
Thomas  Pritchard 

Evan  Powell 

Evan  Evans  

Biehard  Butts    . 


Common  Tyr  Bailey    .  . 

7    7 
2  10 

0 

0 

Tytwdd  

0  10 

0 

1     1 

0 

4     0 

0 

Cottage  at  Pontyded  .... 
Gilbert's  Mill     

1  10 
0  17 

0 

?, 

Pen  llan  

Newll  

2    2 

0 

Tyle  quarry  on  Alt  Dinas 
Chapel  iu  Built  

1     0 

0 

1     1     0 

150 

050 

1     1 

200 

1   10     0 

1  14     4 

1     1 

220 

200 

050 


0 


0 


1     0     0 


1  14  4 
1  1  0 
220 

'6"5"b 


880 
3  15     0 

0  15     0 

1  2     0 
600 
300 
0  17     2 

Vif'o 

300 


1945     4     2       2732     0  10     1696  17     0     3127  10     2 


*  This  is  a  new  taking  and  the  Tenant  has  expended  a  considerable  sum  in  Bepairs  of  the  Inn,  &c.,  which 
were  before  scarcely  Tenantable. 

t  There  was  a  Mistake  of  £28  in  the  last  Account,  the  Bent  ought  to  have  £128  instead  of  £100,  and  the 
Tenant  has  expended  a  large  sum  in  building  a  new  House,  the  accounts  for  which  have  not  yet 
been  settled. 

J  This  tenant  has  laid  out  money  in  repairs;  which  have  not  as  yet  been  ascertained. 

§  This  Tenant  has  purchased  his  Farm  and  will  pay  the  arrears  on  the  completion  of  his  Purchase. 

If  This  tenant  is  considered  responsible,  but  owing  to  the  pressure  of  the  times  has  not  been  able  at  present 
to  pay  his  Bent. 

||  It  is  intended  to  Petition  for  an  Abatement  of  Bent. 

A  This  is  the  residue  of  the  money  produced  by  sale  of  Tenants  Goods  sold  under  Distress. 

B  This  is  a  new  taking  from  Lady  Day,  1822,  and  the  Tenant  claims  a  considerable  sum  for  Bepairs. 

o  This  Piece  of  Land  is  »pen  to  the  Hill  or  Common,  has  no  fence  whatever,  and  a  Distress  on  the  Hill 
Sheep  could  not  be  justified  on  that  Account. 


CHIEF    EENTS 


RECEIVED    TO 


Hamlet  of  Llanlleonvel 

Do.      Treflis ','„ 

Llanafan  Vaur,  1st  Division 

Do.      3rd  Division 
Hamlet  of  Llysdinam 
Llanfihangel  Abergwessin .. 
Llanganten  . . . 
Llandewy  Abergwessin 
Hamlet  of  Gwaravog 
Llanynis 

Llanvihangel  Bryn  pabean ...  012 

Llanvechan  ........  15 

Llanwrthwl  Upper  Division  ...  o  15 

Do.       Lower  Division  ...         ...         ...         ...         o  15 

Maesmynis   ...         ...         ...         ...  28 

Llangammarch        ...         ...         ...  2  11 


£  s. 
1  5 
1  13 
0  16 

0  10  10 
098 

1  0 
1     5 

0  10 

1  0 
1  18 


d. 
Of 
4f 
8 


7 

Of 

8 

4 

7 

4 

Of 

64 

6* 

8 

6 


(108) 

£  a.  a. 

Llandewy  Cwm        ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         •••  205 

AlltMawr 0  10    7 

Llantwid  Llechweddol        0  17     8 

Do.     ClawthMaddog 018    2* 

Llanvihangel  Bryn  pabean...         ...         ...         ...         ...  1     1  10 

Maesmynis   ...          ..         ..  ..         ...         ...  ••  1     7     2| 

Llandewir  Cwm       ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  194 

AltMawr      071 

Llanganten  .  .         ...         ...         ...         ..          ...  0  18     2£ 

Llanvechan  ...          ..         ...         ...         ...          ..         ...  0  18     2-J 

Llisdinam 0  16     3 

Gwaravog     ..          ...         ...         ...         ...         ...         ...  0  15     5 

Llangunnog  ... 

Llanavon  Vawr — 3rd  Division       ...         ...         ...  01 

Llangammarch  Penbwyallt  ..          ..         ...         ...  1  10     8 

Treflis  186 

Llanwrthwl  Upper  Division  ...         . .          ...         ...  7     5 J- 

Do.         Lower  Division          ...         .  .         ...         ...  1     7     5£ 

Llanynis        ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...          ...  1     1     9£ 

Llanlleonvel 0  18     2J 

Llanvihangel  Abergwessin ...         ...         ...          ..          ...  1  16     8 

JE41     7     9 

THE     RECEIVER'S    DISCHARGE. 

FEE  FARM  RENTS.  £    s.    d. 

Paid  Miss  Isabella  Hughes  Fee  farm  Rents  due  Michas.,  1823 5514     8 

REPAIRS,  &c. 

To  an  allowance  to  John  Davies,  Bryn  y  oye  Money  by  him  paid  to  Mr.  John  )  250 
Price  for  a  Water  course  thro'  his  lands     ...         ...         ...                        i 

To  Do.  to  Roger  Davies  Llanafan  for  repairs  as  Pr.  Bill  and  Receipt  7  6 

To  Do.  to  Wm.  Thomas  Noyadd  for  glazing  window      ...         .  .          ••         •••  0  15  5 

To  Do.  to  for  repairing  Beast  house  &c.    ... 

Paid  David  Jones,  carpenter,  on  further  Account  of  Repairs 20    0  0 

Allowed  David  Gwillim  for  repairs  and  half  a  year's  allowance  for  lime          ...  26     5  0 
Receipt  Stamps  &o.  for  two  years... 

Receiver's  Salary  on  Receiving  £1788  4  0           8618  0 

Do. 's  Costa  of  passing  this  Account          ...         ...         ...         •••         •••         •••  16  15  4 

The  Plaintiffs— Do.  of  Do 5  17  6 

The  Defendants— Do.  of  Do ...  41210 

The  Receivers  Do.  punuant  to  Order  29  July  1822        69    2  0 

The  Plaintiffs— Do.     Do.    Do 18    7  2 

The  Defendants— Do.     Do.     Do...                     •••  18    7  2 


JB336  11     1 
£1129  2  0  Balance  of  last  Account  paid. 

T.M. 

SUMMARY. 

Balance  due  from  the  Receiver  on  passing  his  last  Account      ..  ...   1129     2     0 

Amount  of  Rents  received  ...          .          ...         ...          -.  1696  17     0 

Chief  Rents  41     7     0 

1738    4     0 


Total  Charge  on  Receiver       2867    6    0 


(104) 

Balance  due  from  the  Eeceiver  on  passing  his  last  Account  paid 

into  the  Bank ...   H29     2     0 

Amount  of  payments  as  per  this  Account          ...  ...     336  11     1 

Total  Receiver's  Discharge  . .      1465  13     1 


Balance  due  from  the  Receiver  on  passing  this  Account        £1401  12  11 

This  large  Estate,  said  to  comprise  the  Manor  of  Builth  and  about  110,000  acres  of 
Waste  land  and  hills,  and  Freehold  Farms  containing  4,400  acres  of  meadow  and  pasture 
land,  and  the  Park  Wells  were  put  up  to  auction  at  the  Castle  Hotel,  Brecon,  on  April 
3rd  and  4th,  1823,  by  order  of  the  Court  of  Chancery,  by  Master  Courtenay. 

A  further  auction  of  the  1700  acres  unsold  was  held  at  the  same  place  on  August  15th, 
1823  (the  same  year). 

The  Printed"  Particulars  of  these  Sales  (there  are  however  no  Plans  attached)  I  have 
had  placed  in  the  large  Folio  Book  of  such  County  Property  Sales,  page  57,  now  in  Mr  A. 
Maybsry's  possession  at  Brecon. 


Forgotten    Industries. 

(BRECONSHIRE.) 

An  account  of  the  vast  Black  Cattle  droves  that  were  brought  along  the  cattle  track 
on  Epynt  mountain  from  Carmarthenshire  and  other  West  Wales  counties  to  England  has 
previously  been  given  (Page  53.) 

And  a  friend,  I  am  glad  to  say,  has  written  at  my  request  an  account  of  the  old  Mail 
Coach  days,  and  I  hope  in  due  time  to  be  permitted  to  include  it  among  these  papers  for 
publication.  There  is  no  one  so  competent  to  write  it  as  my  friend,  who  has  a  facile  pen, 
a  wonderfully  good  memory,  and  a  long  experience  himself  of  the  mail  coach  days.  The 
persons  of  the  famous  coachmen  and  guards  of  that  time  are  pictured  in  his  memory,  as 
if  he  saw  them  yesterday. 

But  there  are  other  forgotten  industries  of  our  County,  which  deserve  description. 

CABDY   CARTS. 

The  large  trade  by  means  of  the  Cardy  Carts  in  dressed  pigs,  and  in  casks  of  butter 
from  Cardiganshire  and  West  Carmarthenshire  through  our  County  to  the  iron  werks  on 
the  hills,  is  well  described  in  the  poem  by  my  father  entitled  : 

THE  WEEK'S  JOUBNEY. 

"  It  was  in  early  winter,  at  the  time 
When  to  the  Southern  range  of  Cambrian  hills, 
Whose  mineral  wealth  is  as  a  boundless  sea 
Widespread,  and  to  its  centre  deepening  still, 
Light  carts  from  all  our  inland  vallies  wend, 
Giving  each  road  an  air  of  cheerfulness: 
Some  with  their  tempting  tiers  of  slaughtered  swine 
Outstretched,  as  if  the  Goddess  Plenty  held 
A  pageant,  and  her  portly  emblems  these. 
Others  again  with  dairy  casks  replete, 
That  through  the  summer  season  day  by  day 
Filled  up,  as  hives  with  honey,  by  the  bees, 
Must  now  rejoice  the  good  wife's  eyes  no  more, 
But  through  that  mountain  tract  be  scattered  wide 
To  help  the  industrious  miner's  hard-won  meal." 

These  verses  tell  practically  ihe  whole  story  to  those  who  have  once  seen  a  procession  of 
the  Cardy  Carts  passing  along  our  roads,  but  to  those  who  have  not,  a  short  description 


(105) 

in  prose  is  necessary  to  enable  them  to  understand  the  trade,  and  to  form  a  true  idea  of 
the  mode  of  transit. 

In  the  days  we  are  writing  of,  there  were  no  railways  to  the  Hill  districts,  while  those 
districts  themselves  were  the  scene  of  far  larger  iron  mining  operations  than  any  the  present 
generation  have  seen,  or  that  ever  will  be  seen  again.  From  Hirwain  onwards  to  the  east 
at  Nantyglo  and  Blaenavon,  the  borders  of  Breconshire  and  Glamorganshire,  including 
Cyfartha,  Plymouth,  Khymney,  Tredegar,  Sirhowy,  Ebbw  Vale,  and  Beaufort,  had  vast 
iron-works  in  full  swing,  with  a  large  and  increasing  population  that  had  to  be  fed.  And 
so,  in  the  vales  of  Teivy  and  Towy,  and  even  farther  west,  it  became  the  habit  of  the 
farmers  to  breed  pigs,  and  prepare  casks  of  slightly  salted  butter  to  be  sent  to  the  Hills  in 
the  early  autumn  and  winter  seasons. 

The  pigs  were  fresh-killed,  and  dressed,  just  as  you  see  sheep  in  our  ordinary 
butcher's  shop.  But  a  weighty  pig  dressed,  and  stretched  out  at  full  length,  was  rather  a 
gruesome  sight,  and  when  reposing  on  their  journey  in  the  Cardy  Cart  were  practically 
hidden  by  folds  of  clean  white  sheets.  However,  the  points  of  the  oui  stretched  legs  and 
the  head  were  always  visible.  I  think  the  pigs  had  the  cart  to  themselves  generally,  while 
the  rows  of  butter  casks  filled  another. 

The  Cardy  Cart  was  peculiar,  and  is  foreign  to  Breconshire.  We  have  nothing  like 
it,  and  I  wonder  if  the  learned  King's  Counsel,  who  said  and  maintained  in  spite  of  the 
laughter  of  the  Court,  that  a  Breconshire  "  gambo  "  had  no  wheels,  would  be  able  to 
describe  a  "  Cardy  Cart !  "  The  peculiarity  is  the  lightness  of  the  wheels  and  sides,  the 
latter  being  open  with  low  upright  turned  rails.  I  expect  it  was  designed  for  this 
particular  trade,  though  useful  for  harvest  work  at  home.  The  cart  was  always  painted  a 
light  red  ochre  colour  and  kept  spotlessly  clean. 

The  one  horse  in  tho  shaft  was  a  "Cardy"  horse — a  breed  of  itself,  of  a  medium 
brown  colour,  but  light  and  slingy,  14  hands  or  a  little  more  in  height,  a  good 
free  walker,  and  capable  of  going  long  distances  without  tiring. 

The  driver — for  he  sat  on  the  cart  with  the  o.o.-like  reins  in  his  hand — was  either 
the  farmer  or  the  hired  carrier,  and  he  was  of  that  spare  lathy  breed  of  men  you  find  to- 
day on  the  borders  of  Carmarthenshire  and  Cardiganshire.  And  we  know  that  district 
has  produced  many  a  shrewd  man  of  business,  who  has  made  his  mark  in  trade  in 
England. 

The  party  of  carts,  usually  10  or  12  together  in  a  string,  all  came  from 
Llandovery  to  Brecon  by  way  of  Trecastle.  Some  turned  up  the  road  for  Merthyr 
either  at  Pont  Senny  or  at  the  Tarrall  bridge,  but  the  bulk  came 
on  and  always  made  the  Bridge  End  Inn,  kept  then  by  Prosser,  as  their 
resting  place  for  the  night.  It  was  rare  to  see  the  road  by  the  side  of  the  College  wall 
unoccupied  by  a  string  of  un -horsed  carts,  those  laden  or  those  returning  empty. 

Of  course  they  had  their  regular  stopping  places.  Their  object  was,  leaving  Teivy 
side  on  a  Monday,  to  get  to  the  Hills,  transact  their  business  there,  and  then  be  back 
home  in  good  time  for  Friday,  or  Saturday,  and  so  have  the  Sunday  quietly  at  home. 

After  leaving  Brecon  bv  the  Watton  road,  the  carts  usually  turned  over  the  Lock 
bridge,  and  made  for  Llangynider,  and  then  up  the  Trefil  hill  to  the  Works,  where  their 
best  customers  dwelt,  probably  in  those  days  the  Companys  shops,  like  Bychan's  at 
Ehymney,  and  Jayne's  at  Natityglo. 

These  journeys  were  not  unattended  with  risk,  and  the  sad  story  so  well  told  in  the 
"  Week's  Journey  "  is  an  illustration  of  the  dangers.  And  of  course  they  had  to  keep  a 
good  look  out  for  Howel  Eees,  coming  down  the  8  miles  from  Trecastle  to  Sennybridge  in 
7J  minutes.  They  knew  his  time  and  prudently  drove  on  one  side  when  they  heard 
old  Compton,  the  guard,  blowing  his  horn.  What  a  lot  of  money  they  must  have  paid 
in  Tolls  to  the  Breconshire  Trust !  I  think  I  have  heard  the  freight  of  two  full  Cardy 
Carts  was  worth  £70 — but  I  have  no  means  of  verifying  it  now. 

The  distance  to  be  travelled  in  the  week,  to  and  fro,  would  be  about  180  miles,  and  a 
good  deal  of  the  travelling  was  done  at  night,  or  in  the  very  early  morning. 


(106) 

OAK-PLANKING    FOR    NEW     QUAY    AND     ABERAYRON. 

Another  lost  industry  is  that  of  the  conveyance  of  oak  timber,  converted  into  planks 
at  Brecon,  from  our  County  westward  into  Cardiganshire  to  New  Quay,  Cardigan,  and 
Aberayron.  I  think  most  of  it  went  to  New  Quay,  and  was  used  for  the  purpose  of 
building  and  repairing  coasting  vessels  there.  It  was  not  uncommon  for  Breconshire 
small  capitalists  to  have  a  share  in  these  vessels,  and  I  remember  some  cousins  of  mine 
having  this  investment.  Messrs.  John  Griffiths  &  Son  mainly  provided  the  oak  timber, 
and  converted  it  into  planks  of  the  required  dimensions  at  their  Brecon  yard.  The  timber 
carriages  used  were  a  Cardiganshire  speciality,  having  the  lightest  of  narrow  wheels  and 
framework.  And  the  horses  used  were  two  in  number  only,  one  before  the  other,  and  of 
the  stronger  class  of  Cardy  breed,  but  smart  walkers  Of  course  this  was  but  a  small 
industry,  and  you  only  occasionally  met  these  timber  carriages  on  the  road.  However, 
this  traffic,  with  that  of  the  frequent  strings  of  Cardy  carts,  and  the  rush  by  of  the  mail 
coaches,  added  to  the  passing  of  postchaises,  imparted  a  life  and  cheerfulness  to  our  roads 
that  we  can  hardly  realise  now.  Bicycles  and  motor  cars  are  but  a  poor  substitute,  and 
only  to  be  met  with  on  the  roads  when  they  are  dry. 

This  demand  for  a  small  class  of  lengthy  oak  timber  for  Cardiganshire  helped  to  keep 
the  price  up,  and  Breconshire  landowners  were  in  those  days  able  to  obtain  £9  for  a  full- 
sized  oak  tree,  containing  about  60  to  70  feet  cube  of  timber.  I  have  by  me  the  prices 
realised  at  a  timber  sale  on  the  Tregunter  estate,  when  90  trees  were  sold  for  £900. 

Mr.  Davies,  of  Ffrwdvale,  in  Carmarthenshire,  who  gave  me  many  valnable  notes, 
when  preparing  the  paper  on  Black  Cattle  dreves,  writes  me  thus  : 

"  I  remember  a  great  number  of  carts  passing  through  Llansawell  from  South 
Cardigan  and  North  Pembrokeshire,  and  another  string  from  the  Lampeter  and  Tregaron 
district — in  fact,  Mid-Cardiganshire—passing  through  Pumpsaint  on  their  way  to  the  iron- 
works, carrying  '  Pigs  in  carcase.'  It  was  winter,  I  should  think,  from  November  to  the 
end  of  March.  The  pigs  were  freshly  killed,  but  not  salted,  and  would  not,  I  suppose, 
stand  carrying  in  warm  weather." 

And  he  adds — 

"  There  was  another  great  industry  in  those  days,  the  carrying  of  oak  timber  from 
Radnorshire  and  Breeonshire  to  Aberayron  for  ship-building." 


Brecknock    Castle. 

A  COMYSSION  FOR  REPACONS  OF  BRECKNOCKE  CASTLE. 


LAND     REVENUE     RECOHD     OFFICE     COPY. 

Among  the  Inrolments  in  the  custody  of  the  Keeper  of  His  Majesty's  Land  Revenue 
Records  and  Inrolments  in  book  intituled  "  South  Wales  Inrolments  Vol.  1 "  and  at  Folio 
171  is  the  following  : — 

Edwarde  the  Sixthe  by  the  grace  of  God  King  of  Englande  FFraunce  and  Irelond 
Defendo'r  of  the  faith*  and  of  the  churehe  of  Englande  and  also  of  Irelond,  in  earthe  the 
Supreame  headde,  To  our  trustie  and  welbelovyd  Sr  Roger  Vaughan  knight  John  Bassett 
and  Edwarde  Games  esquiers  Greating. 

Wheare  wee  ar  enformed  that  our  Castell  of  Brecknocke  in  dyvers  places  thereof  are 
mochie  in  decaye  for  default  of  repacons  thereof  an  estymat  of  the  charge  of  which  repacons 
appearith  in  a  Cedule  herunto  annexed,  Knowe  ye*  that  wee  willing  to  have  the  same 
repacons  to  be  made  and  donne  trusting  in  yo'r  fidelities  and  approved  wisdoms  doe  give 
vnto  you  or  two  of  you  of  whom  you  the  said  John  Bassett  to  be  one  full  power  and 
authoritie  to  repayre  to  o'r  said  Castell  and  diligently  to  sorvey  viewe  serche  and  examyn 


(107) 

by  all  wayes  and  means  that  ye  can  whether  the  repacons  mencioned  in  the  said  Cedule  ar 
necessary  to  be  don  or  not  and  what  somes  of  money  the  same  repacons  will  amount  unto. 

And  theruppon  you  the  said  Sr  Roger  Vaughan  John  Bassett  Edwarde  Games  or  ij  of 
you  of  whom  you  the  said  John  Baasett  to  be  one  to  direct  yo'r  warraunt  to  Mathew 
Herbert  esquier  for  the  payment  and  delywie  of  so  mochie  money  of  o'r  Revenues  remain- 
ing in  his  hands  to  be  bestowed  and  employed  upon  the  repacons  aforesaid  as  is  mencioned 
in  the  said  Cedule  or  as  mochie  thereof  as  by  you  shall  be  thought  necessary  and  con- 
venient for  the  same  which  warraunt  and  warraunts  shall  be  to  the  same  Mathew  Harbert 
a  sufficient  discharge  for  the  payment  and  delywye  of  the  same  money.  And  what  you 
shall  doe  in  the  premyssies  to  certifie  into  our  Court  of  Thaugmentacons  and  Revenus  of 
o'r  Crowne  at  Westm'  ymediately  uppon  the  sight  hereof  tagether  with  this  Comyssion 

In  Wittness  whereof  wee  have  caused  theia  o'r  Lres  of  Comyssion  to  be  made  Patente 
and  sealed  with  the  great  scale  of  o'r  said  Court  of  thaugmentacong,  Wittness  Richard 
Sackville  Knight  at  West'  the  xxiiijth  day  of  ffebruarye  in  the  vth  yere  of  o'r  Reygne 

Duke. 


COM'  BRECKNOCKE. 

AN    ESTIMAT    OF    THE      NEOESSABIR      REPACONS    TO    BE    MADE    AND    DONE     UPPON    THE    KlNOE    MA 

CASTE LL  OF  BRECKNOCKE  IN  THE  SAID  COUNTIE. 

Ffirst  next  win  the  gate  of  the  said  Castell  in  the  schequier  chamber  and  the  chamber  ov' 
the  same  being  xl  fote  in  length  and  xviij  fote  in  bredeth,  lacking  a  gutter  of  leade  betwene 
the  Castell  wall  and  the  said  lodging  of  xl  fote  in  lenght  and  fortye  vij  in  fote,  Justs 
conteyning  xvij  fotn  in  lenght  and  other  necessaries  o vijli 

Itm  in  the  Inn'chamber  w'in  the  same  lacking  v  lodes  of  v  fote  longe  and  one  pticon 
of  xvj  fote  in  length,  tenne  ffote  ffoure  dores  amounting  to  the  sume  of — xxxs 

Itm  the  porters  chamber  lacking  one  gutter  to  be  leaded  of  xxvti  fote  longe,  one  walle 
plate  of  lenght  x  fote,  fyve  borders  fote  bread  xiij  fote  longe,  one  dore  and  one  pticon  w't 
w'ich  toguether  w't  the  tyle  stones  lyme  nayles  the  biers  of  Carpenters  and  tylers  amount- 
ing to  the  sum  of xl  g 

The  kitchen  lackith  one  wall  plate  throughe  out  of  xlti  fote  longe,  one  gutter,  xl 
rafters  of  x  fote  in  lenght  ev'ry  rafter,  w'ich  toguether  w't  lyme  nayles  latte  tyles  stone 
and  hiers  of  carpenters  and  workemen  amountenthe  to  the  some  of xxxvj's  viij'd 

The  harnes  Tow'r  lackith  iiij  beames  of  xvtene  fote  longe  the  pece,  liiijti  bourds  fote 
brode  xviij  fote  longe  one  wall  plate  of  xvj  fote  longe,  amounting  in  all  repayres  to Ixx's 

Itm  the  well  of  the  same  decaied  being  xxxti  fote  in  depthe x.s. 

The  stable  also  this  p'nte  yere  decaied  and  fallen  down  te  the  grounde  which  was  in 
length  xxx  fotes  and  in  bralth  xviij  fote,  also  a  pece  of  the  Castell  wall  this  yere  was 
decayed  and  fallen  downe  to  the  ground  w'ich  was  iij  fote  thicke  and  xxti  fote  highe,  the 
new  building  whereof  in  all  things  requisite  to  the  same  by  estimacon  amountithe  to  the 
sume  of xxxli. 

The  bisshops  Tower  lackith  borders  to  make  newe  the  loft  of  the  same,  being  xxxj 
fote  one  way  and  xxxti  fote  thother  way,  w'th  a  new  beam  in  the  same  and  taking  downe 
thereof  and  new  making  of  the  same  and  the  new  casting  of  the  leads,  in  all  things  requisite 
by  estimacon  amount  to  the  some  of — xli. 

Exr.  Irr'u  vijmo  die  Septembrie  Anno  Rx  Evjth  Qinto. 


EXPLANATOBT    NOTES. 

Let  us  imagine  we  are  crossing  the  Castle  Bridge  from  Castle  street,  and  then  passing 
through  the  archway  ot  the  Postern  gate,  which  stood  on  the  hill  connecting  the  eastern 
wall  of  the  Castle  with  the  bishop's  (Ely)  Tower. 

Once  within  the  gate,  we  find  on  our  left  the  porter's  chamber.  This,  it  will  be  seen, 
lacks  a  lead  gutter  and  other  repairs. 


(108) 

And  passing  on  still  to  the  left,  we  enter  the  Schequier  Chamber  (the  Exchequer 
Chamber,  where  rents  were  received  and  accounts  paid,  and  also  where  probably  the 
Courts  Baron  and  Courts  Leet  were  held — the  Court  »f  Justice  of  the  time)  and  ascend  tke 
stairs  to  the  chamber  over  it.  Some  considerable  repairs  are  needed  here,  including  a  lead 
gutter  between  the  exterior  Castle  wall  and  this  lodging  or  chamber. 

There  was  also  an  Inner  Chamber  within  this,  which  also  needed  repairs. 

Next  comes  the  kitchen,  which  requires  a  40  feet  long  gutter,  a  wall  plate  of  the  same 
length,  and  40  rafters  of  10  feet  long  each. 

Still  keeping  to  the  left,  we  enter  the  harness  tower,  which  I  take  to  be  the  present 
flagstaff  tower.  The  repairs  there  required  were  the  fixing  of  four  beams,  15  feet  long 
each,  of  wallplates  and  boarding  for  the  various  floors.  This  tower  was  probably  the  one 
in  which  bows  and  arrows  and  weapons  of  all  kinds  were  kept,  as  well  as  the  saddlery  and 
trapping  of  the  horses  that  occupied  the  stable.  It  was  a  kind  of  armoury,  being  we  can 
conceive  the  most  secure  place  within  the  Castle  walls. 

Then  we  meet  with  the  Castle  well,  which  is  said  to  be  30  feet  deep,  but  in  a  decayed 
state.  Theo.  Jones  wrote  "  there  doubtless  was  a  well  in  the  Castle."  We  know  more 
than  that  now.  We  have  evidence  that  there  actually  was  one,  and  that  it-i  depth  was  30 
feet.  The  well,  moreover,  is  said  to  have  been  in  a  decayed  state—  but  the  exact  spot 
where  the  well  stood  is,  I  believe,  not  known. 

At  one  point  the  Castle  wall  itself,  being  20  feet  high  and  3  feet  thick,  had  fallen  to 
the  ground. 

Near  thereto  was  the  stable,  which  had  also  fallen  down,  being  in  length  30  feet,  and 
in  breadth  18  feet.  The  rebuilding  of  this  and  the  Castle  wall  required  a  large  outlay. 

But  the  heaviest  cost  was  that  of  repairing  the  bishop's,  or,  as  we  know  it,  Ely 
Tower.  This  was  in  fact  the  Keep,  standing  on  the  summit  of  the  highest  mound  of 
earth  within  the  Castle  and  to  the  right  of  the  Postern  gate  as  we  entered. 

This  tower  then  stood  31  feet  the  one  way  and  30  feet  the  other — nearly  square,  but 
how  high  we  are  not  told.  It  was  the  same  here  as  in  other  portions  of  the  Castle,  the 
walls  were  mostly  sound,  but  through  the  decay  of  the  lead  roof,  the  whole  of  the  floor  in 
the  tower  had  become  decayed.  It  is  interesting  tj  learn  some  of  the  dimensions  of  this 
tower,  as  it  was  there  Morton,  the  Bishop  of  Ely.  was  confined  for  months  as  a  prisoner, 
and  that  the  famous  and  successful  project  for  securing  the  accession  of  Henry  VII. 
to  the  throne  was  conceived  and  matured,  This  tower  alone  affords  sufficient  matter  for 
an  interesting  historical  novel. 

Assuming  that  all  the  specified  repairs  were  carried  out  by  the  Commissioners,  the 
cost  to  the  King  may  be  thus  summarised  : — 

£    s.    d. 

Eepairs  to  "Schequier"  Chamber,  &c 700 

,,          Inner  do.  1  10    0 

,,          Porter's  do.  200 

,,  Kitchen  do.  ..       1  16     8 

,,  "Harness"  Tower         ...          ..          ..         ...       3  10     0 

Castle  Well 0  10    0 

Stable  and  Castle  Wall...          30     0    0 

„  "bisshop's"  Tower        ...     40     0     0 


Total       .  £86     6     8 


^  Taking  the  value  of  money  to-day  to  be  equal  to  twelve  times  the  value  in  the  reign 
of  Edward  VI.,  the  repairs,  if  executed,  may  be  said  to  have  cost  of  our  money,  £1036. 

Theo.  Jones,  in  his  History  of  the  County,  alludes  to  the  description  of  the  Castle  by 
Hugh  Thomas,  the  Herald,  in  1700.  Your  readers  must  refer  to  Jones  (New  Ed.  page  221 
and  Old  Ed.  Vol.  II.  page  106),  and  note  what  is  said  as  to  there  being  two  watch  towers 
at  each  of  the  four  corners  of  the  Castle  walls,  as  to  the  situation  of  "  the  goodly  hall 
with  its  costly  pendants,"  and  the  Chapel  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  also  as  to  the  figure  of  the 
Cow  in  wood  that  stood  in  front  of  the  present  modern  house.  I  can  tell  them  about  none 


(109) 

of  these  things  at  present,  as  I  have  not  had  the  opportunity  to  study  the  M.S.  Works  of 
the  famous  Welsh  Herald  in  the  Bodleian  and  British  Museum  Libraries. 

Passing  on  to  Elizabeth's  reign  and  that  of  James  I.,  it  would  seem  that  the  Castle 
then  was  falling  to  ruins,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  allowed  to  take  the 
stone  from  the  walls  and  use  them  for  building  purposes  on  cheir  own  lands,  just  as  though 
it  were  a  quarry.  This  was  permitted  by  the  Crown  commonly  in  the  case  of  dismantled 
castles,  like  Wigmore,  &c.,  on  payment  of  so  much  per  load  for  the  stones,  and  we  find  in 
the  well  known  grant,  7  Chas.  I.  to  Collins  and  Fenn,  they  were  to  pay  to  the  King  and 
his  heirs  "  all  the  money  for  the  materials  of  the  Castle  of  Brecknock."  And,  unless 
rescinded,  of  which  I  am  not  aware  that  it  has  been,  that  provision  of  the  grant  is  still  in 
force.  The  Lordship  and  Castle  belong  to  the  Grantees  and  their  successors,  but  if  the 
stones  of  the  Castle  are  sold,  they  are  to  be  accounted  for  to  the  Crown. 


The  Manor   of  Tal  y  Llyn   or   Croft   y  Yarll. 

(CO.     OF    BRECON.) 


AUTHORITIES. 

(Exhibits  shown  to  Sheldon  Powell,  witness  in  the  suit  of  1682  (see  infra)  viz., 
Presentments  of  the  Court  of  the  Manor  of  Tallyn  in  1586  (28  Eliz.)  Roger  Howell, 
Steward,  and  Hugh  Powell  of  his  (?)  Manor.  Also  Presentments  of  the  View  of  Frank 
Pledge  with  the  Court  Baron  of  the  Manor  of  Tallyllyn,  alias  Croft  y  Yarll.  Thomas 
Williams,  Lord,  and  David  Powell,  Steward  in  1623  (20  James  I).  Proceedings  in  the 
Chancery  suit,  Edward  Williams  v  Charles  Jones  1682-4.  Records  of  Court  Barons  and 
Court  Leets  with  Presentments,  1670  (31  Car.  II.)  to  1714  (1  Geo.  I)  Edward  Williams 
and  Joshua  Parry,  Lords  of  the  Manor  successively.  Chief  Rent  Account  Book,  Henry 
Williams,  Seneschal  (steward)  1749-55.  Particulars  of  sale  of  Manor,  &c.,  1794.  Court 
Leet  Presentments  1807,  Claude  Champion  Crespigny,  Lord  of  the  Manor.  Inclosure 
Commission  of  Llansaintfread  and  Llanvillo  Commons,  1814.  Evidence  of  Witnesses, 
thereat,  and  claims  made  by  Sir  E.  Hamilton,  of  Trebinshwn  and  another.  Award  of 
Commissioners  with  Plan  showing  the  boundaries  of  the  Allotments  made,  Parish  Tithe 
map,  1841.  Jones  Hist,  of  Breconshire,  Old.  Ed.  111.,  p.  548;  New  Ed.,  p.  438.') 


The  following  history  of  this  Manor  has  been  prepared  with  some  care  from  the 
preceding  Authorities.  It  would  seem  that  at  all  times  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  and  the 
Tenants  were  equally  anxious  to  preserve  and  protect  the  Common  lands  and  the  public 
rights  of  the  Manor  from  encroachment  or  infringement  by  individuals,  and 
that  in  only  quite  recent  days  has  there  been  any  attempt  made  to  claim  and  appropriate 
as  private  property  the  common  land  on  the  summit  of  the  Allt  yr  Esgir  Hill.  It  is  to 
be  hoped  that  the  tenants  and  resiants  (inhabitants)  of  the  Manor  will  continue  to  assert 
and  vindicate  their  claim  to  the  common  lands,  and  to  protect  rights,  which  are  in  the 
nature  of  public,  and  in  the  interests  of  the  whole  community,  and  I  trust  now,  and  long 
after  my  lime  this  Paper  may  be  of  service  to  them  to  that  end. 

The  Manor  itself  is  of  small  extent,  comprising  the  Parish  of  Llangasty  Tal  y  Llyn, 
and  though  held  at  present  by  the  same  owner,  is  distinct  from  the  adjacent  manors  of 
Blaenllynfi,  Scethrog,  and  English  and  Welsh  Penkelly. 

Without  going  back  to  very  early  history,  and  which  I  have  not  the  means  at  hand 
of  tracing  out,  the  papers  in  my  possession  show,  that  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth  ( 1586) 


(110) 

Roger  Howell  was  the  Steward,  and  Hugh  Powell,  either  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  or  holding 
it  as  tenant  under  the  Queen  (the  Latin  expression  used  is  »ui  manerii,  and  I  am  told  it 
may  mean  "his  "  or  "her.") 

THE   EXHIBITS. 

Paper  A. 

(Papers  shown  to  Sheldon  Powell,  witness,  on  the  25th  Jan.  1682,  in 
the  suit  in  the  Court  of  Exchequer  between  Edward  Williams, 
gent.  pit.  and  Charles  Jones,  Esq.,  deft. 

John  Price. 
Henry   Prichards.) 

No.  1   Manor  of  Tallyn.     5  Oct.  28  Eliz.  (1586)  Names  of  tenants.     Sir  John  Watkins 
and  others. 

(Imperfect.) 

No.  2.     Court  held  there  8  Aug.  28  Eliz.  (1586)  before  Roger  Howell,  gent.,  steward  of 

Hugh  Powell  of  his  manor  (?) 
No.  8.     Court  held  there  24  Aug.  in  said  year  before  the  same. 

Pleas  of  trespass,  &c. 

Pigs  trespassing  upon  the  oats  (avenas). 
No.  4.     Court  held  there  5  Oct.  in  said  year  before  same. 

Pound  and  stocks  out  of  repair,  therefore  all  the  tenants  to  be  amerced. 

Assault  by  Thomas  D.  D.  Morgan  upon   VVatkin  Thomas  and  drew  blood  (cum 

traccione  sanguinis). 
No.  5.     Court  held  there  26th  Oct.  in  said  year  before  same. 

Pleas  of  trespass  and  breaking  hedges. 
No.  6.     Court  held  16  Nov.  in  said  year  before  the  same  steward. 

Thomas  Llewellyn  v.  Thomas  Waites,  plea  of  trespass  to  the  damage  of  25s. 

for  killing  a  horse  of  that  value  with  a  dog  called  a  "  mastiffe." 
No.  7.     Court  held  there  7  December  29  Eliz    (1587)  before  said  steward. 

Pleas  of  trespass,  &c.  recovery  of  debt. 
No.  8.     Court  held  there  21  December,  29  Eliz.  (1587). 

Pleas  of  trespass. 
No.  9.     Court  held  there  18th  Jan.  29  Eliz.  (1587)  before  the  same  steward. 

Pleas  of  trespass  and  assault. 
No.  10.   Court  held  there  8  Feb.  29  Eliz.  (1587 1  before  the  same  steward. 

Pleas  of  trespass. 
No.  11.   Court  held  there  8th  March  29  Eliz.  (1587)  before  the  said  steward. 

Trespass. 
No.  12.   Court  held  14  June  29  Eliz.  (1587),  before  the  said  steward. 

Plea  of  debt. 
No.  18.     Court  held  there  4  July,  29  Eliz.  (1587)  before  the  said  steward. 

Pleas  of  trespass. 
No.  14.   Court  held  there  2  Aug.  29th  Eliz.  (1587)  before  the  said  steward. 

Bobert   Olborn  pit.,  versus  Eichard  David,  plea  of  taking   and  carrying   away 

apples  out  of  his  orchard  (pomas  ex  pomario)  to  the  damage  of  10s. 
The  jurors  find  him  guilty  and  assess  the  damage  (dam)  at  Id.  besides  costs 

(unum  denarium  ultra  mis). 
No.  15.   Court  held  there  20  September,  29  Eliz.  (1587)  before  the  said  steward. 

Trespasses. 
No.  16.   Court  held  there  11  Oct.  29  Eliz.  (1587)  before  the  same  steward. 

The  pound  of  the  said  manor  not  kept  in  repair,  therefore  all  the  tenants  are 
amerced. 

William  Hoell,  William  and  John  Hoell  presented  for  keeping  goats  contrary  to 
the  custom  of  said  manor,  therefore  all  of  them  are  amerced. 


We  now  come  to  a  second  batch  of  exhibits,  in  21  Jas.  reign  (1628)  when  David 


(Ill) 

Powell  was  Steward,  and  Thomas  Williams  (clearly  stated  to  have  been)  Lord  of  the 
Manor.  There  may  have  been  a  grant  of  the  Manor  made  in  the  intervening  period, 
assuming  it  was  held  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in  1586. 

Paper  B. 

View  of  frankpledge  with  the  Court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams, 
gentleman,  the  lord,  held  there  on  the  1st  day  of  May  21  James  I. 
(1623)  before  David  Powell,  gentleman,  steward. 

No.    1.     Names  of  the  free  tenants  and  resiants  of  said  manor. 

Pleas  of  trespass,  &c. 
No.    2.     Court  Baron  of  Thomas  Williams,  gent.,  held  there  20  March,  20  Jas.  I.,  before 

the  same  steward. 
Pleas  of  debt. 
No.    8.     Court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams,  gent.,  held  there  10th  April,  21  Jas.  I.  before 

the  same  steward. 
Pleas  of  debt. 
No.    4.     Court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams,  gent.,  held  there  22   May,  20  Jas.  I.  before 

Thomas  Forster,  clerk. 
Pleas  of  debt. 
No.    5.     Court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams,  gent.,  held  there  12  June,  20  Jas.  I.,  before 

Thomas  Forster,  clerk. 
Pleas  of  debt. 
No.    6.     View  of  frank  pledge  with  court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams  held  there  24  Oct. 

20  Jas.  I.  before  David  Powell,  gent.,  steward. 
Freemen  of  said  manor. 

Entry  regarding  repairs  of  highway  leading  from  Bulch  to  Brecon. 

No.    7.     View  of  frank  pledge  with  court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams,  held  there  1580  22 
Jas.  1,  before  David  Powell,  steward. 

List  of  free  tenants  and  resiants. 
No.    8.     View  of  frank  pledge  with  court  Baron  of  Thomas  Williams,  held  there  30  Oct. 

21  Jas.  I.  before  the  said  stewards. 

Presentment  of  parish  for  not  mending  the  highway  leading  from  the  Bulch 

towards  Brecon 
No.    9.     View  of  frank  pledge  with  court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams  held  there  28  Oct. 

22  Jas.  I.  before  the  same  steward. 
Inquisitio  Magna,  i.e.  Grand  jury. 

List  of  free  tenants  and  resiants  of  the  manor. 
No.  10.     View  of  frank  pledge  with  court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams  held  there  12  May 

1  Chas.  I.  1625,  before  the  same  stewards. 

List  of  names  including  Hugh  Morgans,  clerk,  (see  Jones,  Vol.  3,  553). 
No.  11.     View  of  frank  pledge  with  court  baron  of  Thomas  Williams,  held  there  14  Oct., 

1  Chas.  I.,  before  the  same  steward. 
List  of  Names.         Presentments. 

Here  follows  a  series  of  Court  Leets   and  Presentments  made  thereat  from  1669  to  1714, 
a  period  of  44  years. 

In  1669  (80  Car.  II.)  Court  Leets  were  held,  William  Williams  being  Lord  of  the 
Manor,  and  Edward  Williams  his  son,  who  succeeded  him.  William  Walters  was  the 
Steward,  Mathew  de  la  Lagrange  being  the  deputy  steward. 

In  1670  (81  Car.  II.)  the  Court  Leet  of  Edward  Williams,  Lord  of  the  Manor  was 
held,  William  Phillips  being  Seneschal. 

In  1671  (32  Car.  II.)  a  Court  Leet  of  the  same  Lord  was  held,  over  which  an 
important  person,  judging  from  his  large  bold  signature,  by  name  "  Sheldon  Powell " 
(the  witness  to  whom  the  Exhibits  were  shown)  presided  as  Steward.  A  number  of 
tenants  were  summoned  to  the  Court,  including  Sir  William  Lewis,  described  as  knight 
and  Baronet. 


(112) 

In  1678  a  court  leet  was  held  with  the  same  Lord  and  Steward,  and  among  the 
presentments  are  the  following  : — 

Item  we  doe  present  Theophilus  John  for  incroaching  about  three  foot  of  land  in 

breadth  bounding  the  highway  within  the  said  Lordship. 

Item  we  doe  present  Watkin  John  for  encroaching  about  six  yards  of  the  Common 
called  Allt  within  the  said  Lordship. 

1680.  There  appears  also  to  have  been  a  court  leet  held  on  Oct.  20,  1680,  when 
similar  presentments  to  the  above  were  again  made,  but  the  names  of  the  lord  of  the 
manor  and  of  the  steward  are  not  entered. 

1682.  Disputes  appear  now  to  have  arisen  as  to  what  services  were  properly  due  by 
the  tenants  to  the  Lord,  and  we  find  that  in  1682,  a  man  of  substance  within  the 
Manor,  Charles  Jones,  of  Trebinshwn,  Gent.,  and  who  had  been  High  Sheriff  of  the 
County  in  1681,  refused  to  perform  the  services  required. 

These  disputes  led  to  the  Chancery  Suit  of  1682  between  Edward  Williams,  Lord 
of  the  said  Manor,  and  the  said  Charles  Jones,  as  a  tenant  of  the  Manor.  The  points  at 
issue  were  many,  but  chiefly  related  to  services  to  be  performed  annually  in  helping  to 
plough  the  Lord's  land  and  to  harvest  his  corn. 

By  a  copy  of  the  Decree  in  the  case,  dated  4th  Sept.  1684.  it  will  be  seen  that  Edward 
Williams  did  exhibit  his  English  Bill  against  Charles  Jones,  setting  forth  that  the  com- 
plainant and  his  father  William  Williams  before  him,  had  for  40  years  pasc  been  seized  of 
the  Manor  of  Llangasty  Tal  y  Llyn,  otherwise  Croft  y  Yarll,  and  that  about  800  aeres  of 
waste  land,  and  40  tenements,  including  that  of  Charles  Jones  the  defendant  were  com- 
prised within  the  manor.  And  then  the  Bill  proceeded  to  set  forth  the  matters 
complained  of. 

There  appears  to  have  been  the  usual  Commission  de  bene  esse  to  take  the  evidence  of 
aged  and  infirm  witnesses,  followed  by  a  trial  at  Hereford,  and  other  legal  proceedings, 
before  which  were  concluded  Charles  Jones,  the  defendant,  died.  The  suit  wag  then 
revived  against  his  brother,  Edmund  Jones,  and  in  1684  the  decree  referred  to  was 
issued,  by  which  it  was  ordered  that  the  defendant  and  all  other  tenants  of  the  manor  were 
required  to  pay  heriots  and  alienation  fees,  to  give  one  day's  ploughing  to  the  Lord  in  the 
autumn,  and  another  in  the  spring,  and  to  give  one  day  to  harvest  the  Lord's  corn  if  called 
upon  to  do  so. 

1684.  This  ended  the  litigation,  and  on  April  26  1684,  an  important  court  leet  was 
held  before  William  Williams,  gent,  steward. 

At  this  Court  a  full  list  or  Eent  roll  of  the  Chief  Bents  and  Comorth  due  to  the  Lord 
were  set  forth  "  to  the  best  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Jury."  The  chief  rents  are  stated  to 
be  payable,  some  at  Michaelmas,  some  at  the  Feast  of  the  Nativity  (Christmas  Day),  and 
others  at  the  Feast  of  the  Annunciation  (25th  March  or  Lady  Day)  Comorth  was  pay- 
able every  second  year  in  the  month  of  May.  The  Jury  then  proceed  to  present  heriots  of 
the  best  beast  due  on  the  death  of  various  tenants,  including  one  on  the  death  of  the 
Charles  Jones  previously  referred  to.  They  also  present  the  alienation  fine  of  7/-  due  on 
the  change  of  a  tenancy,  and  then  proceed  thus  : — 

Item  we  present  plowing  in  two  days,  viz.,  one  in  the  spring  time  of  the  year  or  Lent 
crops  sown,  and  the  other  in  the  autumn  or  fall  of  the  year  about  Michaelmas,  and  one 
day  reaping  in  corn  harvest  upon  due  notice. 

Item  we  present  the  defect  of  a  pound,  and  *cucking  stool  in  the  Manor. 

It  would  appear  that  Rachel,  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  William  Williams,  and 
sister  of  Edward  Williams,  the  previous  Lords  successively,  married  Joshua  Parry,  a  son 
of  the  well  known  family  of  Parry  of  Llandevaelog  Tre'graig,  and  brought  to  him  the  Lord- 
ship of  the  Manor,  and  we  now  find  his  r.ame  as  Lord  of  the  Manor  for  several  years. 
Joshua  Parry  was  High  Sheriff  for  the  county  in  1724. 

1695.  The  first  Court  Leet  of  the  new  Lord,  Joshua  Parry,  of  which  we  have  a 
record,  was  held  in  1695  (9  Wm.  &  Mary)  before  Phillip  Williams,  Seneschal  or  Steward 
of  the  Manor. 

*  Clicking  stool  _   _ 
in   ancient  times 


Interpreter. 


i»  an  engine    invented   for  the    punishment    of    Scolds    and  unquiet  women,   called 
;imes  a  Tumbrell.     It  was   usually    kept    in    charge    of    the    Court    Leet.— Cowett'a 


(118) 

The  tenants  attended  and  the  Jury  sworn  and  a  presentment  of  the  admission  of  a 
new  tenant  to  the  manor  made. 

1700.  The  next  Court  Leet  of  Joshua  Parry,   Lord  of  the  Manor,  appears  to  have 
been  held  in  May,  1700  (11  Wm.  and  Mary;  before  Henry  Williams,  Seneschal. 

The  Jurors  names  are  entered,  and  a  number  of  the  usual  presentments  were  made, 
including  the  wa*  t  of  a  stocks  and  whipping  post  within  the  Lordship. 

1701.  On  Oct.  23,  1701  (12  Wm.  &  Mary)  the  court  leet  of  Joshua  Parry  was  held 
before  Henry  Williams,  Gent.,  Seneschal. 

A  full  list  of  Jurors  is  entered  on  the  Minutes,  and  various  presentments  were  mader 
and  inter  alia  : 

Item  we  present  Gwenllian  John  for  keeping  goats  upon  the  Common  called  Allt  yr 
Yskir  within  this  Lordship. 

Item  we  present  Mary  the  wife  of  Thomas  Price,  and  Gwenllian.  the  wife  of  John 
Eichard  for  being  common  hedgebreakers. 

Item  we  present  the  want  of  a  stocks  and  whipping  post  within  this  Lordship. 
Item  we  present  Thomas  Bevan,  of  Blaenllonwy,  Isaac  Williams  oi  the  same  place, 
and  William  Thomas  for  breaking  the  pound  and  taking  there  hence  cattel. 

(Thomas  Madocke,  Gent.,  and  Thomas  Perrott  are  among  the  jurors  who  attended.) 

1679.     On  the  back  of  this  paper  there  are  some  entries  made  at  a  court  leet  held  on 
May  14,  1679,  but  before  what  steward  is  not  stated. 

The  names  of  the  Jury  are,  however,  given,  and  there  are  a  number  of  presentments. 
As  to  the  encroachment  on  the  common  land. 
,,  Want  of  stocks  and  whipping  post 
,,  The  moiety  of  the  common  land  adjoining  Llanvihangel  Parish  being  within 

this  Lordship  of  Taly  llyn. 

,,  John  Prosser  encroaching  land  adjoining  to  his  own  land. 
,,  John  Davids  encroaching  land  adjoining  his  own  garden. 

,,  Watkin  John  encroaching  land  J  acre  or  less  adjoining  the  Common  called,  The 
Allt. 

1702.  A  court  leet  of  the  same  Lord,  Joshua  Parry,  was  held  in  October,  1702  (18 
Wm.  &  Mary)  before  Henry  Williams,  Seneschal. 

Adjourned  to  December  7  of  the  same  year. 

At  the  adjourned  Court  various  presentments  were  made,  including  the  defect  of  a 
Stocks  and  of  Whipping  post,  Henry  Williams  being  Seneschal. 

1704.  At  a  Court  Leet  held  in  1704  (2  Anne)  the  presentment  as  to  Stocks  and 
Whipping  post  was  again  made.     (No  Steward's  name. ) 

1705.  Court  Leet  of  Joshua  Parry,  Lord  of  the  Manor  held  in  1705  (8  Anne)  before 
Henry  Williams-Seneschal. 

Only  name  of  Jury  given,  apparently  no  presentments  made. 

1706.  Court  Leet  held  in  1706  (4  Anne).     Same  Lord  and  Steward. 
Presentments  made  as  to  defect  of  pound,  Stocks  and  Whipping  post. 

1707.  Court  Leet  held  in  1707  (5  Anne)  same  Lord  and  Steward.     Jurors  attended 
and  present  alienations  of  lands,  and  default  in  attendance  of  the  Tenants  of  the  Manor. 

1708.  Court  Leet  held  in   1708  (6  Anne)  same  Lord  and  Steward.     One  Tenant 
was  admitted  to  the  Manor. 

1710.     Court  Leet  of  Joshua  Parry,  Lord  of  the  Manor,  held  in  1710  (8  Anne)  before 

John  Howell,  Sub- Seneschal,  or  Sub- Steward. 

Various  presentments  were  made  by  the  Jury  as  to  heriots  on  death,  alienations,  and 

the  usual  one  as  to  defect  of  pound,  Stocks  and  Whipping  post  within  the  Lordship. 

Item  we  doe  present  the  want  of  a  nett  for  taking  and  destroying  of  Crows  within 

the  Manor,  and  that  the  same  ought  to  be  made  at  the  expense  of  the  Parish  of  Llanffasty 

Taly  Llyn. 

[By  24  Henry  VIII.  cap.  10,  an  Act  passed  "  For  the  destruction  of  Crows  and  Rooks." 
It  was  enacted  that  having  regard  to  the  serious  destruction  of  corn  and  grain  of  all 
kinds,  and  over  that,  of  the  covertures  of  thatched  houses,  barns,  etc.  by  the 
innumerable  number  of  rooks,  crows,  and  choughs  then  existing  in  the  land,  every 


(114) 

person  possessed  of  a  Manor  or  estate  of  inheritance  is  required  to  do  everything  in  his 
power  to  destroy  the  said  birds,  especially  in  the  breeding  season,  and  every  parish,  town, 
hamlet,  etc.  is  required  to  provide  crow  nets  during  the  next  ten  years.  And  the  taker 
of  crows  was  to  be  paid  at  the  rate  of  2d.  for  every  twelve  old  crows,  Id.  for  every  six, 
and  Jd.  for  every  three,  the  same  to  be  paid  by  the  farmer  or  owner  of  land. 

This  Statute  was  repealed  by  14  El  z.  Cap.  II.,  except  so  far  as  concerneth  the 
provision,  use  and  maintenance  of  nets  and  "  Shrops  "  for  the  destruction  of  crows,  etc. 
I  do  not  think  I  have  seen  more  than  one  such  entry  before.  It  was  in  the  present- 
ment of  the  adjacent  manor  of  Scethrog  in  29  Eliz.  1586,  as  to  the  wants  of  "  crow 
nets  "  (rttia  conum)  and  also  of  "  les  buttes  "  (for  bowmen),  and  I  do  not  recollect  that 
I  have  met  with  the  entry  of  a  "cucking  stool  "  previously.] 

1718.  A  Court  Leet  was  held  on  Saturday,  being  the  25th  October,  1713  (10  Anne) 
the  same  Lord  of  the  Manor  and  Stewards. 

The  Tenants  attended,  and  were  sworn  as  Jurors.     Various  presentments  were  made. 
1714.     Court  Leet  held  on  the  22nd  October.  1714  (12    Anne),  the  same  Lord  of  the 
Manor  and  Steward. 

The  names  of  the  Jurors  sworn  are  entered  and  a  list  of  the  presentments. 
Imprimis  we  present  that  a  footway  leading  from  the  Mansion  house  to  the  Parsonage 
within  the  said  Ma>  or  through  a  field  called  Close  dd  Myrick  is  no  common  highway,  but 
a  byway  at  the  will  and  permission  of  the  Lord  of  the  said  Manor. 

Item  we  present  Eobert  Perott  for  setting  and  erecting  rayles  or  barriers  upon  a  way 
leading  from  the  highway,  as  well  as  to  the  lands  of  Wm.  Thomas  and  other  inhabitants 
within  the  said  lordship,  by  reason  whereof  the  tenants  of  the  said  Manor  are  much 
hindered  in  the  use  of  the  said  way  to  serve  (?)  and  manure  their  lands. 

Amerced  for  the  time  past  and  to  remove  the  nuisance  within  a  month  on  pain  of 
fine. 

1714.     Court  Leet  held  in  1714  (1  Geo.  I.)  the  same  Lord  and  Steward. 
The  Tenants  attended  and  were  sworn  as  Jurors,   various  presentments  were  made, 
and  inter  alia. 

Item  we  present  Eobert  Perott  for  encroaching  about  a  quarter  of  an  acre  of  land 
upon  the  Common  within  the  said  Lordship,  and  thereby  stopping  a  way,  which  leads  to 
the  lands  of  Wm  Thomas  within  the  said  Lordship. 

Item  we  present  Thomas  Vaughan  for  diverting  an  ancient  watercourse  running  from 
Maes  y  ffynon  to  the  highway  within  the  said  Lordship. 

Robert  Perott  was  amerced  20/-   for  the  encroachment  for  the  past  two  years 

and  to  remove  the  same  before  January  1  next  on  pain  of  40/-. 
Thomas   Vaughan  was  amerced   18/4  for  diverting  the  water,  and  ordered  to 
restore   the   same   to  its   ancient   course  before  December   1st  next  on  20/- 
penalty. 

[Here  our  records  of  the  Court  Leets  of  this  Manor,  for  the  present,  cease.] 


It  is  stated  by  the  County  Historian,  that  there  was  a  tablet  affixed  to  the  eastern 
end  of  the  Parish  Church,  stating  that  Joshua  Parry  of  Taly  Llyn  died  on  May  8,  1729, 
which  would  be  the  year  after  he  had  served  the  office  of  High  Sheriff,  and  Jones  adds 
that  Mary,  the  daughter  of  his  grandson.  James  Parry,  brought  the  Manor  and  the 
Talyllyn  property  (on  her  marriage)  to  Richard  Lewis  of  Courty  gollen.  The  only 
daughter  and  heiress,  Mary,  of  this  marriage,  married  Richard  Davies,  who  thus  became 
owner  of  both  the  Courty  gollen  estate  and  of  that  of  the  Manor  and  estate  of  Llangasty 
Talyllyn  ;  and  we  find  that  from  1762  to  1773  a  Richard  Davies,  probably  the  same,  was 
owner  of  the  adjacent  manor  of  Blaenllynfi,  Pennoyre  VVatkins,  the  well-known  Solicitor 
of  Brecon  being  the  Steward,  and  holding  Court  Barons  regularly. 

There  are  no  records  extant  of  any  Courts  Leets  held  for  the  Llangasty  Taly  llyn 
manor  from  1714  to  1795,  during  the  greater  portion  of  which  time  the  family  of  Davies 
were  the  Lords.  But  we  have  a  Manorial  receipt  account  book  kept  by  Henry  Williams, 
Steward  from  1749  to  1755,  which  shows  that  whether  or  not  Court  Leets  were  held,  the 


(115) 

chief  rents  and  comorth  due  to  tha  Lord  of  the  Manor,  weie  regularly  paid  and  accounted 
for  to  the  Lord.  This  book  is  now  before  me,  and  was  evidently  thought  something  of  by 
the  new  owner  of  the  manor,  by  purchase,  in  1795,  as  it  bears  the  book  plate  of  Philip 
Champion  Crespigny,  with  coat  of  arms  and  motto  "  Mens  conscia  recti." 

It  appears  by  the  "particulars  of  sale"  published  by  Mr.  Christie  that  there 
would  be  sold  by  auction  at  his  Great  Boom  in  Pall  Mall  on  Wednesday,  June  18th,  1794, 
at  one  o'clock,  a  large  Breconshire  estate  comprising  the  manors  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn  and 
Blaenllynfi,  forming  a  circuit  of  at  least  20  miles,  and  including  the  three  neighbouring 
parishes.  The  waste  lands  were  stated  to  be  upwards  of  1500  acres  in  extent,  and  the 
enclosed  freehold  lands  upwards  of  2000  acres,  yielding  a  rental  of  £1,600  a  year. 

The  owner's  name  is  not  given  in  the  Particulars  (as  by  some  stupid  custom  was 
then,  as  it  is  now,  the  rule)  but  we  know  that  this  estate  belonged  to  the  Eichard  Pavies 
we  have  spoken  of  as  the  owner  of  Courtygollen,  and  Lord  of  the  Llangasty  Talyllyn 
Manor.  There  is  no  plan  attached,  and  the  tenant's  name  with  the  acreage  and  the  rent 
of  their  holding  is  given  but  not  the  names  of  the  Farms. 

Of  this  large  property  (or  the  greater  part  of  it)  Mr  Philip  Champion  Crespigny 
became  the  purchaser  in  1795.  And  with  the  readiness  with  which  new  comers  into  the 
county,  as  the  saying  is,  "  new  men  and  old  acres,"  are  usually  nominated,  either  at  their 
own  suggestion  or  otherwise,  he  was  nominated  High  Sheriff  in  the  following  year,  1796. 
The  possession  of  broad  acres  is  the  ready  passport  to  that  high  office. 

Apparently  in  1807,  the  estate  was  in  the  hands  of  Trustees,  namely,  the  son,  Claude 
Champion  Crespigny,  liichard  Scott,  and  Stafford  Squire  Baxter,  and  on  their  behalf,  as 
joint  Lords  of  the  Manor,  a  Court  Leet  was  held  at  Talyllyn  House  on  26  May,  1807. 

There  were  then  various  presentments  made,  and  among  others  : 

Item  we  present  an  encroachment  made  by  Theophilus  Williams  of  a  piece  of  waste 
ground  on  the  side  of  the  road  leading  from  Talyllyn  House  to  Breccn. 

In  1812  the  above  Claude  Champion  Crespigny  was  appointed  High  Sheriff  for  the 
County. 

We  now  come  to  an  important  event,  the  Inelosure,  under  the  provisions  of  a  Special 
Act  of  Parliament,  of  that  part  of  the  open  Common  of  Allt  yr  Eskir  Hill  which  lay  in  the 
parish  of  Llansaintfread,  of  about,  roughly  speaking,  100  acres  in  extent,  Thynne  Howe 
Gwynne,  of  Buckland,  and  the  Crown  claiming  to  be  joint  lords  of  the  Manor. 

The  position  of  the  grazing  rights  as  regards  these  two  parishes  seems  previously  to 
have  been  as  follows.  The  whole  of  the  common  lands  on  the  Allt  yr  Eskir  hill — 30 
acres  in  Llangasty,  and  100  acres  in  Llansaintfread,  about  130  acres  in  extent — was  open 
and  unenclosed  and  undivided,  and  there  is  little  d.,mbt  that  the  sheep  of  the  two  parishes 
intermingled  on  the  top.  And  probably  when  a  gale  was  blowing  from  the  south  west, 
the  Llansaintfread  sheep  passed  over  the  brow  to  the  sheltered  side,  and  in  fine  weather, 
and  when  the  sun  shone,  the  Llangasty  sheep  came  in  turn  over  the  border  to  their 
neighbours'  common.  This,  it  will  be  seen,  is  the  tenor  and  effect  of  the  evidence  given 
by  witnesses  from  Llangasty  before  the  Inelosure  Commissioners. 

At  this  inquiry,  it  may  be  here  remarked,  the  Commissioners  found  that  Mr.  Thynne 
Howe  Gwynne  was  the  sole  Lord  of  the  Manor,  the  Crown  having  no  interest,  and 
further  that  the  claim  of  the  Llangasty  Talyllyn  Commoners  to  a  share  in  the  division  of 
the  common  land  of  Llansaintfread  on  the  Allt  Hill  could  not  be  held  good.  On  the  other 
hand  there  was  of  course  no  interference  with  their  own  80  acres  of  common  land  within 
their  parish,  and  that  remained  intact,  though  divided  off,  for  their  common  use,  as  before. 

The  following  is  the  evidence  taken  before  the  Commissioners  to  which  I  have 
referred. 


LLANSAINTFEEAD    AND     LLANVILLO    INCLOSUEE     AWAED,    1814. 

EVIDENCE   TAKEN. 

Thomas  Davies  lived  at  Ty  Gwyn  and  Cynyhordy  Farms  in  the  Parish  of  Llangasty 
Talyllyn.  He  remembers  his  father  turning  sheep  up  to  the  Allt  yr  Eskir  without  any 
interruption.  He  did  so  every  year.  Latterly  he  had  about  60  head  there.  Never  heard 


(116) 

of  any  interruption.  His  father  held  another  farm,  called  the  North,  but  the  sheep  were 
from  Tygwyn  and  Cjnyhordy. 

William  Jones  was  servant  to  the  father  of  previous  witness.  During  the  whole  time, 
Mr.  Davies  turned  his  sheep  on  Alltyr  Eskir,  and  Mr.  William  Brewer  who  succetded  Mr. 
Davies  also  turned  his  sheep  there.  Mr.  Brewer  held  no  other  farm  but  Tygwyn.  Never 
heard  of  any  interruption. 

John  Parry  was  with  his  father  in  1795.  His  father  rented  the  two  Trebinshwn 
Farms  from  Sir  Edward  Hamilton,  and  his  brother  rented  them  afterwards.  Every  year 
they  were  accustomed  to  turn  a  small  number  of  sheep  to  the  Allt  yr  Eskir  Common. 
Both  his  father  and  brother  exercised  the  right.  Never  knew  of  any  interruption.  They 
used  to  turn  the  rest  of  the  sheep  to  Cefn  Mole  Common  in  the  Parish  of  Cathedine. 
When  they  turned  the  sheep  on  the  Allt  they  sometimes  turned  them  to  the  part  of  it, 
which  is  in  Llangasty  Talyllyn,  and  continues  to  the  part  in  the  Parish  of  Llansaintfread. 

Henry  Moseley  rented  Scybor  Newydd  farm  in  1809.  Some  of  his  sheep  used  to  get 
upon  the  Allt.  He  considered  that  they  had  a  right  there. 


EXTBACTS  FROM  AWAED  AS  TO  ABUTTALS  OF  THE  ALLOTMENTS. 

To  JOHN  JONES. 
Allotments  Nos.  40,  41,  42,  48,  44  AND  45. 

Bounded  by  the  carriage  roads,  Nos.  11  and  12  on  the  west,  and  on  all  other  parts  and 
sides  thereof  by  waste  lands  in  the  Parish  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn,  and  by  an  allotment 
herein  awarded  to  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  the  elder. 

To    LANCELOT    MORGAN. 
Allotment  No.  47. 

Bounded  in  part  by  the  said  waste  lands  in  the  said  parish  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn. 

To    THYNNE    HOWE    GWYNNE   AS   LORD   OF   THE   MANOR. 
Allotment  No.  81. 

Bounded  in  part  by  the  waste  lands  in  the  said  parish  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn. 

To        Do.        AS   LORD   OF  THE   MANOR. 
Allotment  No.  82. 

Bounded  in  part  by  the  waste  lands  situate  in  the  said  parish  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn. 

Sir  Edward  Hamilton  submitted  his  claim  to  allotments  on  the  Llansaintfread  Common 
in  the  parishes  of  Llangasty  and  Llantaintfread,  in  respect  of  his  estate  of  763  acres,  con- 
sisting of  Trebinshon  and  Treberfed,  &c.  mainly  in  the  parish  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn. 
Miss  Hughes,  through  her  tenant,  Mr.  Brewer,  claimed  in  right  of  Ty  Gwyn  in  the  Parish 
of  Llangasty  Talyllyn. 

It  would  seem  that  the  Commissioners  disallowed  these  claims,  so  far  as  concerned 
the  Alltyr  Eskir  Common  within  the  Parish  of  Llansaintfread. 

The  rights  of  common  on  the  waste  lands  of  Alltyr  Eskir  within  the  limits  of  the 
Parish  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn  then  remained  as  they  had  been,  and  were  unaffected  by  the 
proceedings  of  the  Commissioners,  and  the  award  made  by  them. 

Mr.  Charles  Fox  Champion  Crespigny,  being  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Llangasty 
Talyllyn,  and  owner  of  the  Tymawr  estate,  made  no  claim  in  respect  of  his  Talyllyn 
property,  but  only  in  respect  of  his  lands  at  Pennorth  within  the  parish  of  Llansaintfread. 

And  you  find  to-day  on  the  Parish  Tithe  Map  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn,  the  lands 


(117) 

mentioned  and  described  above,  as  the  Waste  Lands  of  the  Parish,  mapped  and  described 
tfcereon  in  the  same  manner,  i.e.,  as  the  waste  or  common  lands  of  the  Parish 

In  1836  Mr.  Crespigny  advertised  his  Talyllyn  property,  including  the  Manor,  and 
also  the  Blaenllynfi  Manor  and  Cathedine  estate  for  sale,  and  after  considerable  negotiation, 
Colonel  James  Price  Gwynne  Holford,  of  Buckland  and  Kilgwyn  became  the  purchaser  in 
1837.  On  his  death,  in  1846.  the  Manors  and  Estates  descended  to  his  eldest  son, 
James  Price  Gwynne  Holford,  the  present  owner. 

And  it  is  a  matter  of  common  knowledge  that  Mr.  Gwynne  Holford  a  few  years  ago 
claimed  the  80  acres  of  land  on  the  Allt  yr  Eskir  Hill  as  his  absolute  private  freehold 
property,  and  enclosed  it  with  a  barbed  wire  fence,  so  far  as  to  prevent  any  access  thereto 
from  the  Pennorth  end. 

Assuming  the  evidence  of  the  Presentments  at  the  Court  Leets  previously  quoted  as 
to  encroachments  made  on  the  Allt  yr  Eskir  hill,  and  the  evidence  of  the  witnesses  before 
the  Inclosure  Commissioners  to  be  faithfully  reported,  it  would  seem  to  be  conclusively 
proved  that,  down  to  1814  at  least,  the  land  had  been  treated  and  considered  as  common 
land  by  the  successive  Lords  of  the  Manor  and  their  tenants.  And  though  perhaps  not 
strictly  evidence,  the  Parish  Map  of  1841  conveys  with  it  to  all  reasonable  persons  the 
moral  proof  that  the  land  was  still  so  regarded  at  the  date  when  the  Parish  Map  was 
made. 

And  that,  therefore,  as  there  has  been  no  Inclosure  Act  passed  relating  to  this  common 
land,  any  change  in  the  character  of  it  from  common  or  waste  land  to  private  freehold 
must  have  taken  place  during  the  lifetime  and  ownership  of  the  present  Mr.  Gwynne 
Holford,  of  Buckland. 

The  value  of  the  land,  which  ia  exposed  and  stony,  cannot  for  grazing  purposes  be 
more  than  2/6  an  acre  as  yearly  rent,  or  say  a  capital  sum  of  £120.  But  to  the  lovers  of 
beautiful  views  and  scenery,  and  to  many  of  the  inhabitants  around  for  an  occasional 
healthful  and  pleasant  walk  to  the  summit,  the  preservation  of  this  summit  ridge  of  the 
Allt  Hill  as  an  open  space  is  of  great  value.  It  has  always  been  so  open  until  recently, 
and  let  no  expense  or  trouble  be  spared  to  preserve  it  as  such  for  ever. 


Old  Lease  of  Land  in  Cathedine  Parish-1617. 


(BLACKMOOR     COMMON.) 

This  Indenture  made  the  ninth  day  of  Aprill  1617  in  the  yeres  of  the  raigne  of  our 
soveraigne  lord  James  by  the  grace  of  God  of  England  Scotland  ffraunce  and  Ireland, 
Kinge  Defender  of  the  faith  &c.  that  is  to  say  of  England  ffraunce  and  Ireland  the  fifteenth 
and  of  Scotland  the  fiftieth  Between  Sir  Henrie  Williams  of  Gwernevett  in  the  Countie  of 
Brecon  Knight  of  the  one  parte,  And  William  Vaughan  and  Roger  Prosser  gentlemen, 
Phillipp  John  Howell,  Watkin  Prosser  John,  Watkin  Thomas  Watkin,  William  John 
Howell,  David  Prosser  Jevan,  Jevan  Thomas,  John  Lewes  Watkin,  David  ap  Jevan,  Jevan 
David  Willim.  Lewes  Watkin,  John  ap  John  Jevan,  John  Thomas  Lloyd,  John  Thomas 
Lewes,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Roger  Prosser  Lewes,  Edward  John  Rosser,  Lewes  Edmond 
Lewes,  John  Lewes  Howell,  John  Howell  ap  Jevan,  Thomas  Jevan  William  David,  Lewes 
Edmond  Rosser,  John  Jevan  Wm.  David,  Jenkin  John  Howell,  and  Thomas  ap  Prees  Lewes, 
yeomen  all  of  the  parish  of  Kathedine  in  the  said  Countie  of  Brecon  of  the  other  parte  ; 
Witnesseth  that  the  said  Sir  Henrie  Williams  for  diverse  good  causes  and  considerations 
him  thereunto  specialise  moveinge,  hath  demised  giaunted  and  to  f&rme  letten  and  by  these 


(118) 

presents  doth  demise  graunt  lett  and  to  farme  sett  unto  the  said  William  Vaughan,  Roger 
Prosser,  Phillipp  John  Howell,  Watkin  Prosser  John,  Watkin  Thomas  Watkin,  William  John 
Howell,  David  Prosser  Jevan,  Jevan  Thomas,  John  Lewes  Watkin,  David  ap  Jevan,  Jevan 
David  Willtn,  Lewes  Watkin,  John  ap  John  Jevan,  John  Thomas  Lloyd,  John  Thomas 
Lewes,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Roger  Prosser  Lewis,  Edward  John  Rosser,  Lewes  Edmond  Lewes. 
John  Lewas  Howell,  John  Howell  Jevan,  Thomas  Jevan  Wm.  David,  Lewes  Edmond 
Rosser,  John  Jevan  Wm.  David,  Jenkin  John  Howell,  and  Thomas  Prees  Lewes,  and  to 
theire  heires  and  assigns  All  that  part  and  parcell  of  land  and  pasture  with  the  appur- 
tenances conteyninge  by  estimacion  ffortie  a^res  be  it  more  or  lesse  which  nowe  is  or 
heretofore  was  parcell  of  the  demesne  lands  of  the  Lordshippe  of  Dynas  and  Blaen- 
lloveney  in  the  said  Countie  and  was  sometime  demised  to  Thomas  Vaughan  Esq.  beinge 
parcell  and  latelie  enclosed  and  drawne  into  severalltie  out  of  a  certeine  pasture  ground 
comonly  called  or  knowne  by  the  name  of  Blackmore  within  the  parish  of  Kathedin  and  in 
the  lordshippe  of  Dynas  and  Blaenlloveney  aforesaid  for  ye  depasturing  of  theire  beasts 
catties  there  hereafter  specified  and  expressed  from  time  to  time  dureinge  the  tearme 
hereby  graunted  and  demised  vidz  the  said  William  Vaughan  to  have  the  depasturinge  of 
flower  beasts,  Roger  Prosser  six  beasts,  Phillipp  John  Howell  three  beasts,  Watkin  Prosser 
John  three  beasts,  Watkin  Thomas  Watkin  tlnee  beasts,  William  John  Howell  three  beasts, 
David  Prosser  Jevan  three  beasts,  Jevan  Thomas  three  beasts,  John  Lewes  Watkin  three 
beasts,  David  ap  Jevan  three  beasts,  Jevan  David  Willim  two  beasts,  Lewes  Watkin  two 
beasts,  John  ap  John  Jevan  two  beasts,  John  Thomas  Lloyd  two  beasts, 
John  Thomas  Lewes  two  beasts,  Thomas  Lawrence  two  beasts,  Rosser  Prosser 
Lewes  two  beasts,  Edward  John  Rosser  two  beasts,  Lewes  Edmond  Lewes  two 
beasts,  John  Lewes  Howell  two  beasts,  John  Howell  ap  Jevan  two  beasts,  Thomas  Jevan 
Wm.  David  one  beast,  Lewes  Edmond  Rosser  one  beast,  John  Jevan  Wm.  David  one  beast, 
Jenkin  John  Howell  one  beast,  and  Thomas  Prees  Lewes  one  beast,  To  have  and  to  farme 
hould  the  said  parcell  of  land  and  pasture  with  the  appurtenances  unto  the  said  William 
Vaughan,  Roger  Prosser,  Phillipp  John  Howell,  Watkin  Prosser  John,  Watkin  Thomas 
Watkin,  William  John  Howell,  David  Prosser  Jevan,  Jevan  Thomas,  John  Lewes,  Watkin, 
David  ap  Jevan,  Jevan  David  Wm.  Lewes  Watkin,  John  ap  John  Jevan,  John  Thomas 
Lloyd,  John  Thomas  Lewes,  Thomas  Lawrence,  Roger  Prosser  Lewes,  Edward  John 
Rosser  Lewes  Edmond  Lewes,  John  Lewes  Howell,  John  Howell  Jevan,  Thomas  ap 
Jevan  William  David,  Lewes  Edmond  Rosser,  John  Jevan  William  David,  Jenkin  John 
Howell,  and  Thomas  Prees  Lewes,  theire  heires  and  assigns  from  the  feast  day  of  the 
Purification  of  St.  Marie  the  Virgine  last  past  before  the  date  of  these  presentes  for  and 
dureinge  the  tearme  of  one  thousand  yeares  from  thence  forth  next  immediatlie  ensueinge 
and  fullie  to  be  compleate  and  ended.  Yealdinge  and  paying  therefore  yearelie  dureinge 
the  said  tearme  unto  the  said  Sir  Henrie  Williams  his  heires  and  assigns  the  summe  of 
ffower  pounds  of  lawfull  money  of  England  on  the  first  day  cf  August  yearelie,  And  alsoe 
yealdeinge  and  paying  unto  the  said  Sir  Henrie  Williams  his  heires  and  assigns  the  summe 
of  ffower  pounds  fine  of  like  lawfull  money  for  and  att  the  end  of  evcrie  Threescore  yearea 
dureinge  the  said  tearme  to  be  payd  uppon  the  afforesaid  first  day  of  August  next  before 
the  end  ofeverieof  the  said  threescore  yeares  if  the  same  shall  be  lawfullie  demaunded. 
And  if  it  shall  happen  the  said  yerelie  rent  of  ffower  pounds  payable  yearelie  as  aforesaid 
or  the  said  ffower  pounds  fine  payeable  at  the  end  of  everie  threescore  yeares  dureinge  the 
said  tearme  as  aforesaid  or  anie  parte  thereof  to  be  behinde  and  unpayd  after  anie 
feast  day  att  and  uppon  which  it  ought  to  be  payd  as  aforesaid  being  lawfullie  demaunded, 
That  then  and  at  all  times  then  after  such  default  of  payment  it  shall  and  may  be  lawfull 
unto  and  for  the  said  Sir  Henrie  Williams  his  heires  and  assigns  unto  the  aforesaid  demised 
premises  to  re-enter  and  there  to  distraine  for  the  same  and  for  all  the  arrerages  thereof 
which  shall  happen  to  be,  and  the  distresse  and  distresses  there  found  to  take  leade  drive 
and  carrie  away,  and  the  same  to  detain*  and  keepe  with  him  and  them  untill  such  time 
as  he  or  they  shall  or  may  be  fullie  satisfied  and  payd  of  the  said  rent  and  fine  soe  [in] 
arreare  and  of  all  arrerages  thereof,  And  that  if  noe  sufficient  distresse  or  distresses  can  or 
may  be  then  found  for  the  same  in  or  uppon  the  said  demised  premisses  or  anie  parte 
thereof  That  then  and  from  thenceforth  this  present  Lease  shall  be  voyd,  and  that  it  shall 


(119) 

and  may  be  lawfull  unto  and  for  the  said  Sir  Henrio  Williams  his  heires  and  assignee 
unto  the  said  demised  premisses  with  the  appurtenances  to  re-enter  and  the  same  to  have 
againe  repossesse  and  enjoy  as  in  his  or  theire  former  estate  this  present  Indenture  or  anie 
thinge  herein  conteyned  to  the  contrarie  notwithstandinge  ;  provided  alwayes  and  it  is 
neverthelesse  Covenanted  graunted  condiscended  and  agreed  by  and  between  the  said 
parties  and  theire  true  intent  and  meaninge  is,  And  soe  the  said  Sir  iienrie  Williams  doth 
for  the  consideracions  aforesaid  for  him  his  heires  and  assignes  Covenant  promise  and 
graunte  to  and  with  the  said  William  Vaughan,  Eoger  Prosser,  Philipp  John  Howell, 
Watkin  Prosser  John,  Watkin  Thomas  Watkin,  William  John  Howell,  David  Prosser 
Jevan,  Jevan  Thomas,  John  Lewes  Watkin,  David  ap  Jevan,  Jevan  David  William,  Lewes 
Watkin,  John  ap  John  Jevan,  John  Thomas  Lloyd,  John  Thomas  Lewes,  Thomas 
Lawrence,  Eoger  Prosser  Lewes,  Edward  John  Eosser,  Lewes  Edmond  Lewes,  John  Lewes 
Howell,  John  Howell  ap  Jevan,  Thomas  Jevan  William  David,  Lewes  Edmond  Eosser, 
John  Jevan  Wm.  David,  Jenkin  John  Howell,  and  Thomas  ap  Frees  Lewes,  and  theire 
severall  and  respective  heires  and  assigns  and  everie  of  them  by  these  presents  That  they 
and  everie  of  them  theire  and  everie  of  theire  severall  and  respective  heires  and  assigns 
shall  from  time  to  time  and  att  all  times  hereafter  dureinge  the  tearme  (notwithstandinge 
this  demise  and  Lease  made  of  the  said  lands  and  pasture  enclosed)  have  and  enjoy  all 
such  and  the  like  libertie  and  benefit!  of  Common  of  herbadge  pasture  and  pawnadge  in  all 
the  rest  and  residue  of  the  said  Common  called  Blackmoore  not  enclosed  nor  hereby 
demised  as  they  the  said  Lessees  have  heretofore  soverallie  had  and  enjoyed  or  which  they 
or  theire  severall  heires  or  assigns  hereafter  of  right  ought  to  have  had  and  enjoyed  if  this 
present  demise  had  not  bin  had  or  made,  And  further  that  the  said  respective  parties 
Lessees  and  theire  heires  and  assigns  shall  have  and  enjoy  the  benefitt  of  this  present 
Lease,  and  demissed  premisses  with  the  appurtenances  and  the  said  herbadge  pasture  and 
Common  of  pasture  hereby  demised  or  graunted,  And  that  noe  executor  or  administrator 
of  anie  of  the  said  Lessees  before  named  shall  have  anie  interest  therein  dealeinge  there- 
with or  benefitt  thereby  but  the  heire  and  heires  or  assignes  of  them  the  said  respective 
Lessees  successivelie  shall  have  and  enjoy  the  same  as  appendant  and  belonginge  to  the 
respective  messuadge  lands  or  tenememes  which  they  the  said  Lessees  doe  nowe  severallie 
hould  and  enjoy  under  the  said  Sir  Henrie  Williams  within  the  parish  of  Kathedine  afore- 
said And  lastlie  that  he  the  said  Sir  Henrie  Williams  and  his  heires  all  and  singular  the 
premisses  with  theire  appurtenances  hereby  demised  and  graunted  as  aforesaid  unto  the 
said  severall  and  respective  lessee*  and  theire  severall  and  respective  heires  and  assignes 
under  the  rent  fine  and  covenants  aforesaid  against  him  and  his  heires  and  assignes  shall 
and  will  warrant  acquite  and  defend  dureinge  all  the  said  tearme,  In  witnes  whereof  the 
parties  above  said  to  these  present  Indentures  interchangeable  have  put  theire  hands  and 
seales  the  day  and  yeare  above  written  1617. 

HENRY  WILLIAMS. 
Sealed  aud  delivered  in  the  Presence  of 

Thomas  Vaughan  of  Llanvigan 
Howell  Thomas  de  Brecon 
William  Powell  de  Llanvigan 
Eoger  Lloyd  de  Llangomarch 
John  Thomas  de  Brecon 
Eoger  Phillipp  de  Llanigon. 

Copia  vera 

David   Morgan.  Wm.  Jones.  Jo.  Perott. 

[Endorsed.]  A  lease  of  1000  years  from  Sir  Henry  Wm.  of  Gwernevett  Knight  to 
ye  several  tenants  of  Cathedine  of  ye  common  Enclosed  and  Cald  ye  Black- 
moore in  ye  Lordship  of  Dinas  and  Blaenlloveney  att  ye  Eent  of  4li  (£4)  per 
annum  and  41i  (£4)  fine  every  GO  years.  Dated  ye  9th  April,  1617. 


(120) 

Within  recent  times  a  Common,  situate  at  the  upper  end  of  Llangorse  Lake,  and 
of  about  twelve  acres  in  extent,  known  as  Blackmoore  Common,  was  enclosed  and 
divided  under  the  provisions  of  the  Cathedine  Inclosure  Act  of  1859.  The  Common  lay 
in  a  marshy  bottom  by  the  Llynfi  stream,  and  the  use  of  it  for  grazing  purposes  had 
long  been  much  valued  by  the  poorer  inhabitants  of  the  neighbourhood.  It  is  a  pity, 
I  think,  to  find  all  such  open  spaces  enclosed  one  after  the  other,  but  so  it  is  nowadays, 
and  this  one  at  Blaokmoore  had  to  go  the  way  of  the  rest. 

But  the  deed,  given  above,  refers  to  a  long  antecedent  private  arrangement,  that  of 
the  appropriation  or  inclosure  of  some  forty  acres  of  the  demesne  lands  of  the  Lordship 
of  Dynas  and  Blaenllynfi,  which  lay  near  to  Blackmoore  Common,  in  the  year  1617. 

It  appears  that  the  twenty  six  tenants  of  the  Manor  named  in  the  foregoing 
Indenture  had,  by  consent  of  the  Lord  or  otherwise,  enclosed  these  forty  acres  of 
pasturage,  and  were  then  given  a  lease  of  the  land  for  1000  years  by  Sir  Henry  Williams, 
Knight,  of  Gwernyfed,  the  then  Lord  of  the  Manors  of  Dinas  and  Blaenllynfi. 

The  conditions  of  this  very  long  lease  were  the  payment  of  an  annual  rent  of  £4, 
and  of  a  fine  of  JB4  at  the  end  of  every  sixty  years,  and  that  the  right  to  this  Common 
of  pasture  was  to  be  appendant  to  the  holdings  of  the  persons  named  therein  and  their, 
heirs.  The  right  could  only  be  enjoyed  in  connexion  with  tenements  held  of  the  Manor. 
In  case  of  failure  in  payment  of  rent  or  fine,  a  power  of  re-entry  was  reserved  to  Sir 
Henry  Williams  and  his  successors,  as  Lords  of  the  Manor. 

Can  any  one  throw  some  light  on  this  strange  old  Indenture,  the  like  of  which  I 
have  never  heard  of  in  Breconshire  !  The  conditions  of  such  were  almost  certain  to 
entail  a  forfeiture  in  two  or  three  generations,  but  it  is  just  possible  that  some  lands  near 
to  the  modern  Blackmoore  Common,  are  still  held  under  this  1000  years  lease,  and  that 
some  reference  was  made  thereto  when  the  Inclosure  of  the  remaining  twelve  acres  was 
recently  effected.  Who  can  peer  into  the  dark  chamber  of  the  history  of  Blaokmoore 
Common  lands  ? 


The   Forest  of  Bucklyd   or   Buckland. 


And  here  is  another  dark  chamber  in  the  past  history  of  our  County  ! 

It  is  stated  in  an  old  paper,  used  in  the  trial  at  Hereford  in  1816,  Thynne  Howe 
Gwynne  of  Buckland,  v.  C.  C.  Clifton  of  Tymawr — a  trial  which  was  the  precursor  of  a 
ten  years  litigation  between  the  parties,  ending  at  last  in  a  compromise  and  a  drawn 
battle — that  though  diligent  search  had  been  made,  "  no  antient  documents  can  be  found 
to  throw  »ny  light  upon  the  origin  of  the  Penkelly  Manors  "  or  other  adjacent  ones  held 
by  the  Qwynne  of  Buckland  family.  This  old  document  is  now  before  me,  as  I  write, 
and  though  silent  as  to  the  origin  of  the  Manors,  has  proved  a  very  treasure  house  of 
valuable  knowledge  in  other  respects. 

Again,  when  the  Inclosure  Act  of  1814  was  being  passed  for  enclosing  the  waste 
lands  of  Buckland  Hill,  Allt-yr-Eskir  and  Alltvillo,  it  appears  that  the  Crown  and  Mr. 
Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  claimed  to  be  joint  lords  of  the  Manor  of  those  waste  lands. 
Subsequently,  however,  when  the  Commissioners  came  down,  they,  after  holding  an 
Inquiry,  declared  in  their  Award,  that  the  claim  of  the  Crown  could  not  be  maintained, 
and  that  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  was  the  sole  Lord  of  the  Manor.  This  of  itself  is  a 
proof  what  great  doubt  existed  then  as  to  the  origin  and  boundaries  of  the  Penkelly 
Manors,  so  far  at  least  as  regards  the  north  side  of  the  Usk.  And  I  feel  sure  the 
promoters  of  the  Inclosure  Act  of  1814  did  not  know  much  about  the  question,  nor  did 
they  take  the  trouble  to  make  any  special  inquiries — and  the  Act  was  obtained  as  we 
have  seen,  on  the  erroneous  assumption  that  there  were  two  joint  Lords  of  the  Manor. 

The  accidental  discovery  the  other  day  of  the  old  papers  relating  to  Bogheled  or 
Bucklyd  Forest  (or  Buokland)  ie  quite  a  revelation,  and  opens  up  a  new  and  wide  field 
for  Inquiry  ! 


(121) 

Where  was  Bogheled  Forest  ?  We  know  that  it  was  in  the  vicinity  of 
Llansaintfread  Parish,  if  not  a  part  of  it,  because  the  inhabitants  were  granted  for  ever 
the  right  of  turning  their  cattle  there  for  pasture  free  of  charge,  and  we  know  also  that 
it  was  part  of  the  Lordship  of  Brecknock,  possessed  by  Harry,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  in 
1482,  and  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in  1595.  Where  located  then  was  this  Forest,  and  what 
has  been  its  history  from  1595  downwards  ?  We  have  it  on  record  that  in  that  year 
David  Phillip  and  Evan  Madocke,  of  Llansaintfread,  fought  at  l»w  against  the  Crown  for 
the  preservation  of  their  right  of  free  pasturage,  and  won  the  day — but  what  since  ! 

There  I  must  leave  the  question  for  the  present.  I  am  not  able  to  say  what  were 
the  boundaries  of  this  Forest,  and  which  lands  they  included,  and  without  that  knowledge 
it  would  not  be  fair  to  hazard  conjectures.  This  may,  however,  be  said,  that  when  in 
1595,  the  release  of  the  payment  of  7s.  yearly  was  confirmed  by  the  Crown  as  the  result 
of  the  decision  in  favour  of  the  Commoners,  there  was  no  object  to  be  gained 
afterwards,  even  in  keeping  the  name  of  the  Forest  on  the  books  of  the  Crown.  It  may 
have  then  in  this  way  dropped  out  of  the  Crown's  list  of  properties  once  and  for  ever, 
and  subsequently  it  fell  into  the  possession  of  the  first  person  that  set  up  a  claim  to 
this  no  man's  land  ! 

The  following  Documents  will  be  given  in  order  of  date  : — Grant  of  the  Free 
Pasturage  of  the  Forest  to  the  inhabitants  of  Llansaintfread  by  Harry  Duke  of 
Buckingham  in  1482.  Subsequent  grant  to  Thomas  ap  Hoell  Bynon  by  Letters  Patent 
of  Eliz.  1585.  Pleadings  in  the  Suit,  Madocke  v.  Gwynne.  The  Decree  of  the  Court  of 
Exchequer  in  1595,  establishing  the  legality  of  the  Grant  made  in  1482. 


FOREST  OF  BOGHELED  OB  BUCKLAND,  BRECONSHIRE. 

THE    DUKB    or    BUCKINGHAM'S    WARRANT    FOR    DISCHARGE    OF    7s.    or    RENT. 

[South  Wales  Inrolments,  Vol.  5.  fo.  38.] 

Harry  Dnke  of  Buckingham,  Earl  of  Hereford,  Stafford  and  Northampton  to  John 
Counter  or  Auditor  of  our  lordship  of  Brecknock,  greeting. 

Whereas  we  have  heretofore  been  answered  in  the  accounts  of  our  receiver  of  our 
said  lordship  of  7s.  yearly  for  the  farm  of  our  forest  of  Bogheled  within  our  said  lordship, 
and  that  we  for  divers  considerations  have  released  the  said  yearly  farm  to  the  behoof  of 
our  tenant*  and  resiants  of  our  said  lordship  for  evermore. 

We  charge  you  that  in  the  account  of  the  said  receiver  you  allow  the  sum  of  la.  of 
the  farm  of  the  said  forest  for  the  year  ending  at  Michaelmas  last,  and  that  yearly  from 
henceforth  you  discharge  the  said  receiver  of  the  said  farm  for  ever. 

And  this  our  writing  shall  be  to  you  sufficient  warrant  and  discharge  in  that  behalf. 

The  10th  day  of  January,  21  Edw.  IV.  (1482). 

H.  BUKINGHM  (HARBT  BUCKINGHAM). 


LAND  REVENUE     OFFICE. 

VOL.     4.  Fo.     161.       [No  DATE.] 

"   OCCUPATORBS      7FOXEST      DH      BoUGHLED." 

Meredd  Nicholas  Roger  William 

Thomas  Nicholas  DD  ap  Richsrde  ap  llanke 

Thomas  Powell  dd  DD  William  th  elder 

Watkin  dd  Lloyde  DD  William  the  yonger 

Thomas  ap  Jevan  Hoell  Harry  John 

Thomas  Powell  Jenkin  Jevan  Maddocke  ap  Jevan  Watkin 

Watkin  Probarte  William  Pricharde 

Jenkin  John  John  Hoell  Goz 

Jevan  Jenkin  Phillpott  Edmunde  Hoell  Goz 

Roger  Hoell 


(122) 

LAND     REVENUE     OFFICE. 
VOL.     4.     Fo.     36. 

[TRANSLATION.] 
LETTERS    PATENT    FOB    THOMAS   AP    HOELL    BYNON. 

Elizabeth  by  the  grace  of  God,  &c.  Know  ye  that  We  for  divers  causes  and 
considerations  Us  now  moving  by  the  advice  of  Our  beloved  and  faithful  Counsellors 
William  Baron  de  Burghley  Our  Treasurer  of  England  and  Walter  Mildmay,  Knight, 
Chancellor  of  Our  Exchequer  have  granted  to  Thomas  ap  Hoell  Bynon  all  that  Our 
herbage  and  pasture  growing  in  the  park  called  Parke  Llinde  in  the  vill  of  Castle  called 
Painscastell  in  the  co.  Eadnor. 

And  all  that  Our  forest  of  Boughled  alias  Boughbed  in  Our  county  of  Brecon  now  or 
late  in  the  tenure  or  occupation  of  John  ap  Owin  Gunter  or  his  assigns,  parcel  of  the 
possessions  of  Edward  late  Duke  of  Buckingham,  attainted  of  high  treason. 

Also  all  the  lands,  meadows,  feedings,  pastures,  Ac.,  Ac.,  to  the  said  premises 
belonging  for  the  rents  herein  below  reserved  always  excepting  nevertheless  and  reserving 
to  Us,  Our  heirs  and  successors  all  large  trees,  woods,  underwoods,  mines  and  quarries  : 
To  have  and  to  hold  all  the  said  premises  to  the  said  Thomas  ap  Hoell  Bynon  for  21 
years,  paying  therefore  yearly  to  Us  and  Our  heirs  for  the  said  herbage  18s.,  and  for  the 
said  forest  of  Bughled  7s. 

And  We  also  grant  to  the  said  Thomas  that  he  may  fr  >m  time  to  time  take  sufficient 
hedgeboote,  ploughboote  and  carteboote  growing  on  the  premises  to  be  used  there  and  not 
elsewhere. 

Witness,  &c.,  at  Westminster  16  July,  27  Eliz.  [1585.] 


BUGLYD     (OR    BUCKLAND)     FOREST     CASE,     1595. 

PHILLIP    AND    OTHERS    v.    GWYNNE. 
PLEADINGS    IN    THIS    EXCHEQUER    SUIT. 

The  Bill  of  complaint  was  signed  by  "David  Phe  (Phillip),  Evan  Madocke,  Richard 
Howell,  Wyllyam  Pritchard,  John  Wyllyam  John,  and  Wyllyam  John  Howell,  every  of 
them  beinge  Tenante  or  occupyor  of  certen  parcelles  of  ground  lyings  within  Her 
Majesty's  Lordeship  of  Brecknocke,  called  the  Forest  of  Bughlyd,  as  well  as  for  and  on 
the  behalf  of  themselves,  as  of  the  residue  of  the  Tenant  es  and  occupyors  of  the  same 
Foreste,  amounting  to  the  number  of  60  persons  or  more,  and  all  of  them  beinge  Her 
Majesty's  Tenantes,  as  of  her  highness  Honor  or  Lordship  of  Brecknocke." 

The  Bill  then  sets  out,  that  up  to  the  time  of  21  Edward  IV.,  their  predecessors  had 
held  of  the  Lordship  of  Brecknock  the  profit  and  herbage  of  the  said  Forest  in  fee  farm 
of  7s.  a  year  from  Henry,  Duke  of  Buckingham,  and  in  that  year  (1482)  the  said  Duke 
(afterwards  in  the  time  of  King  Richard  III.  attainted  of  High  Treason)  by  sufficent  deed 
in  law  did  exonerate  his  tenants  and  resiants  of  the  said  Lordship  and  their  heirs  for 
evermore  from  the  payment  of  the  7s.  paid  for  the  Forest ;  and  also  further  that  by  his 
special  warrant  in  writing,  under  the  signet  and  sign  manual,  ready  to  be  shewed  forth 
to  the  Court,  dated  January  10th,  21  Edward  IV.,  he  charged  his  auditor  to  give 
allowance  of  that  discharge  in  future.  The  Bill  then  proceeds  to  state  that  for  nearly 
120  years  since  that  date,  the  tenants  and  resiants  have  peaceably  enjoyed  ihe  said  forest 
as  an  estate  of  inheritance  without  paying  any  manner  of  rent  for  the  same  until  now, 
when  by  some  "casual  means"  the  said  release  arid  other  evidences  touching  the 
(suppliants)  title  to  the  inheritance  of  the  soil  of  the  said  Forest  were  lost  out  of  the 
possession  of  some  of  the  aforesaid  tenants  who  had  the  custody  of  them. 

On  which  happening  one  Thomas  Howell  ap  Eignon  and  Richard  Gwynne,  gent., 
procured  a  lease  for  a  term  of  years  of  the  said  Forest  from  Her  Majesty,  and  not  only 


(123) 

threatened  to  molest  the  suppliants  in  their  enjoyment  of  the  Forest,  but  had  levied 
£8.  8s.  of  arrearages  supposed  to  be  due,  The  deed  of  release  being  lost  (though,  as  above 
stated,  the  warrant  to  the  Duke  of  Buckingham's  auditor  was  in  their  possession)  the 
suppliants  pleaded  the  Statue  of  83  Henry  VIII.,  and  claimed  under  that  Statute  to  have 
their  case  heard  in  equity,  inasmuch  as  while  they  had  only  a  doubtful  remedy  at  common 
law,  they  had  ''  reason  and  good  conscience"  on  their  side. 

Upon  this  Bill  of  complaint  being  filed  a  writ  de  subpena  was  issued  calling   on 
Richard  Gwynne  to  make  his  answer  thereto. 

The  Bill  is  indorsed  : — 

"  Fiat   breve  de   subpena  secundum  formam  istui  peticionis,"  i.e.,   that  a  writ, 

"  de  subpena  "  issue,  according  to  the  form  or  prayer  of  the  Petition. 


BRECON. — TEK.MINO  PASCHE  ANNO  82   UECHNE   BLIZ. 

THE   ANSWER  OF  RICHARD   GWYNNE  TO  THE  BILL  OF  COMPLAINT  OF 
DAVID  PHE  AND  OTHERS  COMPLT. 

The  saide  defendant  the  advantage  and  exception  to  the  incerteintie  and  insufficiencie 
of  the  said  Bill  of  Complaint  to  the  def.  at  all  tymes  hereafter  saved  then  and  not  before 
for  answere  saith  That  trewe  it  is  that  it  appereth  by  soundry  ministers  Accomptes  that 
the  saide  fforest  called  Bighled  was  sometimes  parcell  of  the  possessions  of  Edward  late 
Duke  of  Buckingham  atteinted  of  treason  And  this  def.  taketh  it  there  was  in  the  tyme  of 
the  said  Duke  of  Buckingham  or  of  some  of  his  anncestors  an  yerely  rent  of  seven  shillings 
answered  in  the  name  of  a  farme  rente  And  under  the  title  of  Minut  firm,  and  he  further 
saith  that  it  appereth  by  diverse  Accomptes  sithence  the  atteinder  of  the  said  Edward 
Duke  of  Buckingham  and  after  that  the  said  forest  amongest  other  thinges  came  to  the 
handes  of  the  late  Kinge  of  famous  memorie  Henrie  the  Eight  by  the  atteinder  of  the  said 
Edward  late  Duke  of  Buckingham  that  the  said  forest  was  in  charge  for  the  rent  of  seaven 
shillinges  And  that  alsoe  the  said  forest  was  demised  sometymes  to  one  John  ap  Hoell 
Gunter  for  the  said  rente  as  by  the  Ministers  Accomptes  with  her  Majesty's  Auditor  of 
the  Revenewes  of  that  Countie  of  Record  remayneth  And  this  def.  confesseth  that  the  said 
forest  was  demised  by  her  Majestie  to  Thomas  ap  Hoell  ap  Eignon  and  by  him  the  said 
Thomas  conveyed  over  to  this  def.  in  manner  and  forme  as  is  partely  surmised  by  the 
Compl  and  that  he  this  def.  is  lawfullie  as  he  taketh  it  thereof  possessed  and  that  her 
Majestie  mighte  lawfullie  demise  the  premises.  And  this  def.  is  further  informed  by  his 
Counsaile  that  the  significacion  supposed  to  be  made  by  Henry  late  Duke  of  Buckingham 
to  his  then  Auditor  that  he  had  pardoned  and  released  the  said  ffarmer  of  seaven  shillinges 
to  the  behoofe  of  the  then  Tenantes  and  Resiantes  in  the  Bill  mencioned  is  no  sufficient 
discharge  or  extinguishment  of  the  Rent  And  if  the  deed  itself  were  shewed  yet  it  is  but  a 
discharge  for  the  rent  during  the  lives  of  the  then  Tenautes  and  no  more.  And  that  alsoe 
there  is  noe  graunt  or  conveyaunce  of  the  fforest  itself  or  of  the  soile,  but  it  still  rested 
and  remayned  in  possession,  to  the  said  Henry  Duke  of  Buckingham  and  from  him 
discended  by  course  of  Ir.heritaunce  or  by  meane  conveyaunce  to  the  said  Edward  Duke  of 
Buckingham  of  highe  treason  atteinted  And  by  reason  thereof  act uallye  vested  in  the  said 
Kinge  Henry  the  Eighte  and  by  course  of  Inheritance  discended  into  her  majestie  whoe  is 
thereof  seased  in  her  demeane  as  of  fee  in  the  righte  of  her  Crowne  of  England  as 
this  def.  taketh  it.  And  he  this  def.  further  saithe  that  he  is  credibly  informed  that 
the  moste  parte  of  the  said  forest  is  encroached  severed  and  Inned  by  the  Compls. 
and  others  of  the  neighbors  borderinge  and  adjoyninge  to  the  said  forest,  and  if  the 
freholdes  were  surveyed  and  the  boundaries  of  the  said  fforest  of  auncient  tyme  vewed  or 
any  perambulacion  thereof  made  it  wolde  fall  oute  that  the  moste  parte  thereof  is 
encroched  And  that  their  scverall  freeholdes  are  augmented  and  enlarged  by  taking  in  a 
greate  parte  of  the  said  foreste  into  theire  freeboldes  Without  that  [that]  the  said  fforeste 
is  parcell  of  the  said  Lordshipp  or  Mannor  of  Brecknock  as  this  def.  thinketh  or  that  they 
[sic.]  Compls.  are  her  Majestes  Tenantes  of  the  Lordshipp  of  Brecknocke  as  this  def. 
beleaveth  or  that  the  said  Henry  Duke  of  Buckingham  to  the  knowlege  of  this  def.  did  by 


(124) 

his  sufficient  deed  in  Lawe  exonerat  and  release  his  said  then  Tenantes  and  resiants  of 
the  said  Lordshipp  of  Brecknock  for  ever  of  and  from  the  said  yerelie  rente  of  seaven 
ahillinges  or  that  the  nowe  Compl.  as  this  def.  tliinketh  be  Tenantes  of  her  majestes 
lordshipp  of  Brecknock  as  is  ontrulie  surmised  by  the  Compl.  and  withoute  that  everye 
the  Tenantes  resiantes  and  their  heires  and  those  which  had  their  several  estates 
in  and  to  the  said  forest  oughte  to  have  and  peaceably  to  enjoy  the  said  forest 
to  theim  and  to  their  heires  to  this  def.  knowledge,  or  that  the  said  deed  of 
release  or  any  other  evidences  touching  the  title  of  the  Compls.  came  into 
the  hands  of  the  Deft,  or  that  by  color  of  havinge  thereof  the  said  lease  was 
obteyned  in  manner  and  forme  as  is  untruly  surmised  by  the  said  Compl.  and  without 
that  there  was  any  processe  awarded  to  levye  the  said  rente  as  a  fee  farme  but  rather  as  a 
farme  rente  due  unto  her  Majestie  as  may  appere  by  diverse  and  soundry  Accomptes  for 
the  def.  saith  that  the  payment  of  the  said  rente  for  many  yeres  was  excused  by  reason  the 
Keve  or  farmer  cold  make  noe  profitt  thereof  by  Agistment  as  this  defendant  supposeth  all 
which  matters  the  defs.  is  ready  to  averr  and  prove  as  this  honorable  Courte  shall  award, 
and  prayeth  to  be  dismissed  with  his  costes  and  charge  and  chardges  wrougfully 
susteyned. 

Prestitit  sacramentum  six  die  Maii  Ann>  xxxi  Begine  E.  in  Curia. 

The  above  answer  of  Richard  Gwynne  was  to  the  effect  that  even  if  the  deed  could 
be  found  and  if  it  did  release  the  tenants  and  others  from  the  payment,  such  was  only 
good  for  their  lives  and  not  for  ever. 

The  Court  of  Exchequer  however  decided  against  this  contention,  and  held  that  the 
pasturage  of  the  Forest  was  free  of  payment  for  ever. 


FOREST    OF    BOGHELED    OR    BUCKLAND. 

In  the  Book  of  Ordinances  remaining  in  the  custody  of  the  Remembrancer  of  the 
Queen  there,  there  is  contained  as  follows  : — viz.,  among  the  Ordinances  of  Michaelmas 
Term,  86  &  87  Eliz.  (1598-4). 

DECREE. 

Friday  29,  November. 
[South  Wales  Inrolments,  Vol.  6.  fo.  6lb.] 

Whereas  DAVID  PHILLIP,  EVAN  MADOCKE,  and  divers  others,  the  tenants  and 
inhabitants  of  Llansanffred  within  the  lordship  of  Brekon  in  the  county  of  Brekon 
exhibited  their  Engliih  Bill  into  the  Exchequer  Chamber,  against  Richard  Gwynne, 
gent.,  showing  thereby  that  by  usage  and  custom  time  out  of  mind  of  man  the  tenants 
and  inhabitants  of  that  parish  have  had  and  accustomed  to  have  common  of  pasture  for 
all  manner  of  beasts  at  all  seasons  of  the  year  upon  a  parcel  of  her  Majesty's  waste 
ground  called  the  Forest  of  Buychlyd,  parcel  of  the  said  lordship  of  Brekon  which  cama 
to  the  Crown  by  the  forfeiture  of  Edward  late  Duke  of  Buckingham  of  high  treason 
attainted,  and  showing  moreover  that  in  ancient  times  Harry  late  Duke  of  Buckingham 
had  been  answered  of  7s.  by  year  for  the  farm  of  the  said  forest  at  the  hands  of  his 
tenants  and  resiants  there,  and  that  the  said  Harry  by  deed  dated  10  January,  21. 
Edw.  4  (1482)  discharged  and  remitted  the  said  annual  rent  of  7s.  to  the  said  tenants 
and  inhabitants  for  evermore,  according  to  which  deed  they  ever  since  enjoyed  the  said 
commons  freely  without  paying  anything  for  the  same  : 

Howbeit  the  now  Auditor  found  and  conveyed  the  same  7s.  in  charge  as  to  thia  day 
ever  from  the  attainder  of  the  said  Edward  Duke  of  Buckingham,  whereby  the  said 
tenants  complained  themselves  to  be  grieved  both  by  distress  and  otherwise  for  the 
answering  of  that  charge  which  was  not  paid,  and  showing  also  that  the  said  Gwyne 
the  defendant  had  procured  to  be  taken  in  lease  her  Majesty's  forest  under  the  seal  of  this 


(125) 

Court  for  the  term  of  21  years  at  la.  rent,  by  color  of  which  it  is  to  be  intended  that  he 
proposed  to  evict  the  poor  plaintiffs  of  and  from  their  lawful  use  of  common  therein  to 
their  great  prejudice  : 

To  which  bill  defendant  answered  and  confessed  the  taking  of  the  said  lease  and  an 
assignment  thereof  to  him  made  and  that  the  said  charge  was  set  upon  the  pit.  in  form 
as  in  the  bill  is  alleged  :  upon  which  bill  and  answer  the  cause  coming  to  be  heard  this 
present  day  and  being  opened  before  the  Lord  Treasurer  of  England,  Sir  John  Fortescue, 
Knt,  Chancellor  ot  the  Exchequer  Sir  William  Peryam,  Knt.,  Lord  Chief  Baron,  by  the 
Counsel  of  pits.,  in  the  presence  of  deft,  and  of  Thomas  Hanbury,  Esq.,  her  Majesty'* 
Auditor  of  Wales,  who  showed  in  court  such  records  as  he  had  to  maintain  the  said 
charge  and  her  Majesty's  title  to  the  said  forest :  upon  due  considerations  had  of  which 
records  and  of  the  said  ancient  deed  of  discharge  made  by  the  said  Harry  Duke  of 
Buckingham  : 

It  is  ordered  and  decreed  that  the  plaintiffs  and  the  tenants  and  inhabitants  of  the 
said  parish  of  Llansanffred  shall  from  henceforth  quietly  have  use  and  enjoy  their  said 
common  of  pasture  freely  without  paying  anything  for  the  same  to  her  Majesty  ;  and  that 
there  shall  be  by  the  said  Auditor  an  exoneration  made  of  the  said  charges,  and  that  plti. 
nor  any  of  the  tenants  and  resiants  of  the  said  lordship  shall  be  hereafter  at  any  time 
molested  distrained  or  troubled  by  reason  of  the  said  charge,  or  of  any  supposed  arrearages 
which  have  past  of  the  same. 

And  it  is  also  ordered  that  defts.  said  lease  or  his  assignment  made  of  the  same  shall 
be  brought  into  court  by  deft,  before  the  end  of  the  next  term  to  be  cancelled  and  no 
new  lease  or  assignment  thereof  to  be  made  hereafter  which  may  impeach  the  interest  of 
the  said  parish  of  Llansanffreyd  and  that  deft,  shall  not  be  charged  hereafter  with  the 
said  rent  of  7s.  reserved  upon  the  said  demise  or  lease  toward  her  Majesty  her  heirs  or 
•uccessors. 

Exr  per  me  THO  :  FANSHAW. 


The  following  verses  give  the  story,  and  I  trust  I  may  be  pardoned  for  reproducing 
them  here  : 

A    TALE     OF    THE     FOREST. 

SCENE    I.— A.D.     1482. 


Four  hundred  years  ago,  and  more, 
There  lived  in  Brecknock  Town, 

Within  his  castle's  ancient  walls, 
A  Lord  of  great  renown. 

ii. 

'Twas  Harry,  Duke  of  Buckingham, 
He  ruled  the  county  round, 

His  castles,  lordships,  forest  lands 
On  every  side  were  found. 


To  England  on  the  Bychlyd  Hill 
Some  mountain  passes  lead, 

These  had  been  safely  guarded  by 
The  men  of  Llansaintfread. 

v. 

And  so,  this  mighty  nobleman, 
By  deed,  signed  by  his  hand, 

G-aTe  them  for  ever  pasturage  free 
Upon  this  forest  hind. 


And  to  his  tenants,  great  and  small, 
If  they  to  him  were  true, 

He  gave  them  many  a  privilege, 
As  often  great  men  do. 


And  when  the  happy  news  was  told, 
The  "  resiants     all  around 

Together  met,  to  thank  the  Duke 
For  granting  them  the  ground. 


The  bells  rang  loud,  and  all  was  joy  ! 

The  priest  ne  bade  them  pray, 
And  thank  the  Gracious  Lord  of  all 

For  what  was  done  that  day. 


(126) 


SCENE    II.— A.D.    1595. 


Glides  by  a  century  of  time  ! 

The  Virgin  Queen,  alone, 
Had  reigned  for  more  than  thirty  years 

On  her  late  father's  throne. 


To  men  of  Llansaintfread  that  day 

It  was  a  trying  hour. 
They  quailed  not,  though  they  knew  full  well 

The  Crown  of  England's  power. 


Gone  was  the  House  of  Buckingham, 
And  Brecknock  Castle  lay 

In  ruins.     And  the  Duke's  estates 
Had  all  been  swept  away. 


Then  up  there  spake  two  aged  men, 

Phillip  and  Maddocke  brave. 
And  told  their  neighbours  they  had  heard, 

From  those  now  in  the  grave, 


Gone,  too,  the  rich  lands  of  the  Church  ! 

Changed  was  the  nation's  creed  ! 
What,  wonder,  if  a  trouble  came 

To  men  of  Llansaintfread. 


' '  The  Forest  land  was  free  of  rent 
For  men  of  Llansaintfread  "  ; 

And  begged  them  search  the  Parish  Chest, 
Perchance  they'd  find  the  deed. 


It  chancrd,  a  careful  auditor, 
Who  acted  for  the  Queen, 

Among  the  Duke's  old  documents, 
This  item  he  had  seen. 


And  there — good  luck — the  deed  was  found 

Then  cheers  loud  rent  the  air, 
And  joy  again  was  in  tbeir  hearts, 

Instead  of  deep  despair. 


— Seven  shillings  for  the  Forest  land 
Once  on  a  time  was  paid  — 

"  Why  not  again  !  And  all  arrears  ! 
The  faithful  Steward  said. 


But  yet  the  Crown  held  to  the  claim  ! 

And  those  brave  men,  by  law 
In  civil  suit,  were  forced  to  prove 

The  deed  was  free  from  flaw. 


He  sends  for  "  fermor  "  Richard  Gwynne, 

To  rent  this  Forest  land, 
And,  never  doubting,  grants  a  lease, 

Under  the  Queen's  own  hand. 


And  England's  Lord  High  Treasurer, 
The  Lord  Chief  Baron,  too, 

And  Chancellor  of  Exchequer 

Looked  o'er  it  through  and  through. 


Ill  tidings  travel  fast,  we  know, 
And  soou  the  word  came  down — 

"  Pay  up  '  arrearages,'  and  rent, 
Long  due  unto  the  Crown. 


Then  summoning  the  Auditor, 
And  Gwynne,  the  Crown  lessee, 

Before  the  High  Exchequer  Court, 
They  issued  this  decree — 


"  Cancel  that  lease.    The  Ducal  grant 

Of  the  Free  Forest  land, 
To  men  of  Llansaintfread  is  good, 

And  shall  for  ever  stand ' '  ! 

The  story,  as  told  in  verse,  is  authentic,  except  on  two  points,  that  of  the 
"considerations"  for  the  grant  of  free  pasturage  (guarding  the  mountain  pass  or  ford 
over  the  river  seems  probable),  and  of  the  finding  of  the  deed  in  the  Parish  chest. 
A  little  licence  is  taken  in  the  verses  in  these  two  respects. 

The  Grant  of  1482  and  the  Decree  1595  are  both  extant. 

The  full  names  of  the  Llansaintfread  worthies  are  David  Phillip  and  Evan  Madocke. 
It  appears  by  the  will  of  a  Meredith  Phillip  in  1578  (probably  the  father  of  David),  that 
he  owned  a  house  and  lands  in  Byohlyd ;  and  further  by  the  will  of  Evan  Madocke  in 
1626,  that  he  possessed  a  house  called  Bucldand.  Both  were  probably  yeomen 
(freeholders)  in  the  parish,  and  the  name  of  Madocke  is  still  to  be  seen  on  a  stone  in  the 
parish  churchyard. 

This  case  has  more  than  a  local  interest,  in  that  it  confirms  the  decision  of  the 
Arbitrator  (Lord  Hobhouse),  in  the  great  Epping  Forest  Settlement.  It  was  to  the 
effect  (Loughton  "  Lopping  Wood"  case,  as  it  is  known)  that  the  inhabitants  of  a  parish 
or  township  generally,  as  well  as  the  tenants  of  the  lordship  or  manor,  can  be  granted, 
and  if  so,  can  exercise  special  rights  over  Forest  and  common  lands. 

The  historian  of  Breconshire,  Theophilus  Jones,  writing  in  1809,  said  he  thought  the 
Bychlyd  Forest  extended  from  the  River  Usk  at  Llansaintfread  to  Dinas  Castle — several 
miles  apart — but  at  this  date  not  only  the  boundaries  of  the  Forest,  but  even  the  situation, 
are  in  doubt. 


(127) 

Manors   of  Crickhowell   and   Tretower. 


These  manors,  unlike  those  of  Breconshire  generally,  have  not  been  in  the  hands  of 
the  Crown  for  a  number  of  years.  It  is  stated  that  Edward  IV.,  soon  after  his  accession, 
1488,  granted  these  manors  with  their  castles  to  Sir  William  Herbert,  Knight,  of  Raglan 
Castle,  afterwards  Earl  of  Pembroke.  His  grand-daughter,  heiress  of  these  estates, 
married  Sir  Charles  Somerset,  afterwards  Earl  of  Worcester.  There  appears  also  to  have 
been  a  grant  in  the  reign  of  James  I.,  of  these  Manor*  and  Castles  with  Raglan,  and 
many  others  in  Monmouthshire  and  Glamorganshire  to  Edward,  Earl  of  Worcester. 
This  grant  is  not  noticed  either  by  Theo.  Jones  or  Poole,  and  as  yet  I  have  only  seen  the 
title  of  it  in  the  Crown  Record  books. 

Crickhowell  Manor  comprised  the  parishes  of  Crickhowell,  Llangenny,  Llanbeder, 
Patrishow,  Llangattock,  and  Llanelly,  while  Tretower  contained  those  of  Cwmddu  and 
Llangynider. 

The  old  papers  which  I  have  show  that  in  1714  Lord  Arthur  Somerset  was  the 
owner,  and  at  the  foot  of  a  long  list  of  chief  rents  and  comorth  made  out  parish  by  pariah 
is  written  : 

"  This  writing  was  shown  to  John  Somerset  on  his  examination  in  Chancery, 
on  the  part  of  Arthur  Somerset,  Esq.,  commonly  called  Lord  Arthur 
Somerset,  complainant  against  Richard  Lewis,  Esq.,  and  others, 
Defendants. 

"  (Signed!     A.    TKEVOR." 

The   name   of  the   first   person   on   the   paper   owing   chief  rent   and   comorth   in 
Crickhowell,    Llanelly    and    Cwmddu    Parishes,    is    that  of  Lord    Mansell,    and    then 
follow  a  number  of  names  with  their  respective  payments. 

We  pass  on  to  1728,  when  a  full  list  of  the  Cott  Rents   (cottage  rents   and  for 
encroachments),   and   of  the   chief  rents,   comorth,   Knight's   fee,   payments   by   Welsh 
tenants,  English  rents,  and  Da  Powell  Reer  is  made  by  the  steward,  Gabriel  Powell. 

In  the  Crickhowell  Manor,  chief  rents  and  comorth  are  payable,  but  in   Cwmddu 
Parish  within  Tretower,  we  find  the  payments  divided  into  Knight's  Fee,   Welsh  tenants, 
English  rents,  and  in  Llangynider  in  the  same  manor,  we  meet  with  the  term,  Da  Powell 
Reer.     Chief  rents  and  comorth  we  find  paid  in  most  Breconshire  manors,   and  Welsh 
tenants  and  English  rent  denote  English  and  Welsh  tenure,  as  in  the  manor  of  Penkelly 
and  Hay,  where  even  the  manors  were  divided  into  English  and   Welsh.     But  I  have 
never  previously  met  with  the  terms  Knight's  Fee  and  Da  Powell  Reer. 
Jacob  in  his  Law  Dictionary  thus  describes  Knight's  Fee  : 

"  It  was  so  much  inheritance  in  land,   as  was  sufficient  to  maintain  a  knight.     This 
was  £20  a  year  by  the  Statute  I  Edward  II.  C.I.     Sir  Thomas  Smith  puts  it  at  £40. 
Sir  Edward  Coke  says  a  Knight's  Fee  contained  680  acres.     When  the  estate  of  a  knight 
was  esteemed  £20  by  the  year,  then  that  of  a  baron  was  400  marks,  that  of  an  earl  £400, 
of  a  marquess  800  marks,  and  £800  for  a  duke.     In  England  at  the  time  of  William  the 
Conqueror  there  were  62-015  Knight's  Fees,  whereof  23-015  were  in  the  possession  of 
religious  houses." 

The  following  paid  Knight's  Fees  in  Cwmddu  Parish  : 

£     8.    d. 
Lord  Ashburnham  for  Porthamell        ..  ..  ...       080 

Edward  Herbert,  gent.,  per  Thomas  Walter  Powell  ...       020 

The  heirs  of  Vaughan  Morgan,  gent.,  now  Mrs.  Butcher, 

for  the  Keyney  Denies,  the  charge  ...  ..        1  10    0 

William  Phillip       ...020 

John  Prosser  de  Nantyfeen      .  ..  ...  ...       022 

As  regards  Prosser  of  Nantyfeen,  which  place  is  juit  where  the  two  parishes  of 
Cwmddu  and  Crickhowell  meet  on  the  main  road.  I  am  under  the  belief  that  the  mill  on 
the  Rhiangoll  stream  is  now  called  Knight's  Mill,  and  that  I  have  seen  Particulars  of 


(128) 

Sale  of  the  property  near  by  the  Prosser  family  some  time  this  century.     If  so,  we  have 
the  explanation. 

I  do  not  find  "  ced  "  or  "  ceisiad,"  an  assistance,  among  the  payments  in  these 
manors,  though  Jones  says  it  existed  in  Patrishow  parish. — We  found  it  existing,  it  will 
be  remembered,  in  the  Manor  of  the  Welsh  Hay. 

The  following  is  the  account  of  his  stewardship  by  Mr.  Gabriel  Powell  for  1831. 

Gabriel  Powell,  Debtor  to  the  Eight  Honourable  Lord  Arthur   Somerset,   for 
the  year  ended  att  May,  1781. 

£    a.    A. 
Arrears  returned  on  last  account       ...  ...  ...       094     6  10 

Farme  Bents  and  Dutyes    ...  ...  ...  ...       710  14  11 

Casual  Keceipts,  etc.  ..  ...  ...  ...       16812     0 

Chief  Rents  and  Incroachments  received  ...       100     8     6 


£1,082  2  3 

E.    CONTRA,    Creditor. 

£  s.  d. 

By  Casual  Payments,  etc.  ...             ..              ...             ...       189  6  2-i 

By  other  Payments  to  my  ledger       ...             ...              ..       888  19  8 

By  ballance  of  rent  account,  salary,  interest  money,   etc.       096  1  7 

By  arrears,  remaining  due  att  May,  1781          ..             ...       156  8  9£ 


£1,224  16  3 

£  s.  d. 

Debtor...             ...             ...             ...             ...             ...     1,082  2  3 

Creditor               ...             ...             ...              ..             ...     1,224  16  3 


Balance  due  to  Accountant  ...  £0142  16     3 


25th  of  January,  1731. 

Passed  and  allowed  then  of  this  account,  and  there  is  due   to  the  Accountant 
the  above  ballance,  as  witnesse  our  hands. 

(Signed)     A.    SOMEBSETT, 

GA.    POWELL. 
JAS.  ROGERS. 

There  are  several  items  of  small  rents  received  from  lime-kilns,  in  Llangynider 
parish,  but  I  do  not  find  any  relating  to  coal. 

One  item  is  of  interest  to  me,  chief  rent  paid  in  Llangattock,  by  Edward  Williams 
(formerly  Henry  Williams.)  The  amount  is  15s.  and  clearly  is  the  chief  rent  my  nephew 
pays  to-day  to  the  superior  Lord  for  the  little  manor  of  Penallt  and  Aberonney  at 
Llangattock.  There  are  some  curious  chief  rents  in  connexion  with  this  small  manor, 
such  as  a  Bed  .Rose. 

Croxhall  and  Harcourt  are  names  mentioned  in  the  list  of  tenants  of  Crickhowell 
»no  Tretower  manors. 

What  Da  Powell  Beer  means  I  do  not  know— Eheydir  is  a  knight,  and  Da,  goods  or 
property,  or  cattle,  and  possibly  it  means  the  "  lands  or  goods  of  Powell,  Knight." 

Among  the  Farm  Rents  in  Crickhowell  Parish  are  the  following  :— 

£    s.    d. 
Mr.  Joseph  Ash,  for  ffarm...  ...  ...  ...         40  10*    0 

Do.  for  mills  .....  .  900 

Duties  ;  080 

The  Bailiff  of  Crickhowell  for  Burrough  Rent..  ...  975 


(129) 

£    a.   d. 

Mr.  Jno.  Herbert  for  late  Wm.  Hughes  ...  0  12    0 

The  Stranger's  grounds 

Jno.  Herbert  and  Lewis  James  for  part  of  Ye  Toll  5  10 

Duties,  2  hens  or...  ...  ...  ...  010 

Jno.  Walbeoffe  for  the  other  part  of  the  Toll  ... 

Mr.  Wm.  Hughes,  a  portionery  ^?)   ...  ...  ...         14     0    0 

Duties  ... 

Jno.  Wm.  Jno.,  for  late  Thomas  Jenkins 

Anne  Jasper 

Mr.  Rumsey  Watkins 

Mr.  Jones  for  {fishery 

Morgan  Jenkins  for  stables  ...  ...  0120 

and  from  the  lettings  of  the  park  in  Llangattock  Parish  to  Herbert  Job, 
and  others,  various  sums. 
In  Llangynider  13  lime-kilns  are  stated  to  be  rented  out  at  15s.  a  kiln. 


The   Miarth  Hill  (Tretower). 


In  the  paper  on  the  Crickhowell  and  Tretower  manors  I  omitted  any  notice  of  this 
part  of  Cwmdu  parish.  I  find  in  the  year  1850  the  late  Sir  Joseph  Bailey  was  lord  of  the 
manor  of  Penmiarth — presumably  a  mesne  manor  of  Tretower, — but  how  it  came  to  him, 
and  by  what  purchase,  I  do  not  know.  He  then  almost  immediately  applied  for  an 
Inclosure  Act,  and  in  1856  the  Miarth  Hill  was  enclosed  and  all  common  rights 
extinguished.  Much  of  the  land  around  was  already  his  property,  and  by  buying  out 
the  interest  of  a  Mr.  Williams,  of  Crickhowell,  who  held  some  small  tenements,  Sir 
Joseph  Bailey  had  all  the  common  lands  allotted  or  transferred  to  him,  except  40  acres 
allotted  to  the  Gliffaes  estate  of  Mr.  West.  At  the  time  I  remember  hearing  of  some 
cases  of  hardship  of  cottagers  being  dispossessed,  and  this  was  likely  to  be  the  case  if  an 
inclosure  took  place  in  any  of  the  Crickhowell  manors,  where  cot  rents  and  small  hillside 
holdings  under  the  Duke  of  Beaufort  are  so  common. 

Miarth  is  said  to  have  the  same  meaning  and  derivation  as  Garth,  Penarth,  &c., 
generally  a  hill  by  itself  standing  up  a  good  height,  and  hogbacked — a  ridge  when  inland, 
and  a  promontory  or  "  head  "  when  near  the  sea. 

There  is  a  very  interesting  old  driftway  across  the  Usk  between  Gliffaes  and 
Penmiarth  at  the  Island,  which  deserves  notice,  and  there  are  also  large  maen-hirs  in 
the  glade  leading  to  the  driftway,  arid  higher  up  at  Pantyfedwen,  near  Llangynider.  This 
driftway,  to  which  common  land  led  down  from  the  hill  all  the  way  to  the  water's 
edge,  before  the  inclosure  was  made,  enabled  the  Cwmdu-side  people  to  cross  the  river, 
because  in  those  early  times  there  were  no  permanent  stone  bridges,  to  bring  their  lime 
and  coal  from  the  Llangattock  mountain  ;  and  having  crossed  the  Usk,  they  then  found 
the  Roman  road  to  take  them,  either  up  or  down  the  valley,  and  "  Spiteful  Inn,"  as 
the  hospitium  or  hostelry  of  ancient  days,  ready  to  receive  them  and  to  entertain  both 
man  and  beast.  When  the  inclosure  took  place,  no  new  roads  were  set  out  on  Miarth 
hill,  neither  were  any  old  roads  ordered  to  be  closed  ;  but  whether  you  or  I,  if  a 
parishioner  or  simply  a  tourist,  have  the  right  still  to  go  to  the  top  of  the  Miarth  hill,  and 
gaze  on  the  lovely  scenery  of  the  Usk  valley  and  on  Llangorse  Lake  and  Mynydd  Troed 
from  its  summit,  I  cannot  tell.  Yon  must  example  the  inclosure  map. 


(180) 

The  Penkelly  Manors. 


These  Manors  have  been  known  by  the  names  of  Penkelly  Castle,  English  Penkelly, 
Welsh  Penkelly,  Penkelly  Cwmorgwm,  Wenallt,  and  we  may  add  Penkelly  Glyncollwm 
and  Cwmbanw.  In  the  early  times  of  Bernard  Newmarch,  and  in  those  of  his  successors 
in  the  Lordship  of  Brecknock,  they  were  included  in  and  held  by  the  one  general  name 
of  the  Manor  of  Penkelly.  Some  time  previous  to  or  subsequent  to  the  attainder  of 
Edward  Duke  of  Buckingham,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  the  Manor  was  divided,  but 
it  has  been  found  impossible,  though  the  attempt  has  been  made  by  many  successive 
inquirers,  experts,  and  amateur  antiquarians,  satisfactorily  and  clearly  to  trace  out  how 
the  division  occurred. 

And  it  has  never  been  found  possible  to  ascertain  the  distinctive  boundaries  of  these 
Manors  respectively  on  the  enclosed  lands,  and  only  in  the  case  of  Welsh  Penkt  lly  on  the 
waste  or  common  lands.  Speaking,  however,  of  all  these  Manors  taken  together,  they 
may  be  said  to  include  the  entire  parishes  of  Llanfrynach,  Llanfigan,  Llanddetty,  and 
Vaynor  on  the  south  side  of  the  Usk,  and  parts  of  the  parishes  of  Llansaintfraed  and 
Llanvillo  on  the  north  side  of  that  river,  a  very  large  extent  of  country,  measuring  many 
square  miles  and  including  a  great  tract  of  waste  or  common  land.  'A  part  of  Llanvillo 
parish  may,  I  think,  be  safely  included,  but  I  am  in  doubt  as  to  Llansaintfraed,  because 
we  have  no  accurate  knowledge  where  to  place  the  Forest  of  Buchlyd,  or  Buckland. 
Forests  were  generally  held  to  be  extra-parochial,  and  in  olden  time  it  may  have 
been  that  Llansaintfraed  Parish  did  not  include  all  the  land  comprised  within  its 
modern  boundaries.  The  Manor  or  Manors  of  Penkelly  may  be  said  to  be  wholly  within 
the  Hundred  of  Penkelly,  and  to  include  all  except  a  small  portion  of  it. 

In  1816  it  became  necessary  for  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  of  Buckland,  to  prove 
his  title  to  some  of  the  Penkelly  Manors  then  held  by  him,  and  with  this  object  an 
elaborate  statement  was  prepared  at  great  cost  on  his  behalf.  That  document  is  still 
extant,  and  from  it  the  following  information  is  obtained.  It  would  seem  that  there  were 
no  ancient  documents  in  his  possession  which  could  throw  any  light  upon  the  origin  of 
his  Manors,  so  Mr.  Gwynne  caused  search  to  be  made  into  ancient  records  in  all  the 
Public  Offices  in  London  in  order  to  ascertain  the  extent  and  antiquity  of  those  Manors. 
Every  possible  search  was  then  made  by  Mr.  Illingworth,  the  antiquarian,  but  very  little 
information  could  be  obtained.  All  that  could  be  learnt  was  that  antiently  there  was  one 
great  Lordship  or  Manor,  and  a  Barony,  called  Penkelly,  and  parcel  of  the  Castle  or 
greater  Lordship  of  Brecknock  of  which  Humphrey  de  Bohun  died  seized  in  46  Edw.  III., 
and  that  in  the  reign  of  Richard  III.,  this  Manor  and  the  third  part  of  the  Barony  were 
the  property  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  upon  whose  attainder  it  was  escheated  to  the 
Crown. 

The  writer  of  this  old  paper  then  proceeds  to  quote  from  and  comment  on  Jones' 
History  of  Brecknockshire,  Vol.  III.,  p.  592  : — 

"  Mr.  Jones  says  the  Manor  of  Penkelly  was  divided  into  five  Lordships,  viz.  : 
Penkelly  Castle,  English  Penkelly,  Penkelly  Cwmorgwm,  Wenallt,  and  Welsh  Penkelly ; 
that  the  three  first  were  granted  to  one  of  the  Herberts,  and  that  Richard  Herbert  or 
descendants  sold  it  to  Edward  Games,  Esquire,  of  Buckland,  from  whom  it  came  to  Mr. 
Roger  Jones'  ancestors  ;  that  Charles  Herbert  in  his  will  proved  at  Brecon  in  1645  states 
the  Manor  of  Penkelly,  his  Castle  and  Demesne  to  be  held  of  the  King  in  Knights 
service."  Mr.  Jones  further  states  "  that  the  Manor  of  Wenallt  was  a  Mesne  Manor  of 
his  Lordship  of  Penkelly,  and  belonged  to  a  family  of  the  name  of  Morgan,  and  afterwards 
became  part  of  the  Buckland  estate."  How  Mr.  Jones  got  possession  of  this  informa'ion 
it  is  now  impossible  to  ascertain,  as  he  is  lately  dead,  but  Mr.  Illingworth  in  the  Public 
Record  Office  could  gain  no  other  information  than  what  is  stated,  and  none  at  all  as  to 
the  extent  of  the  boundaries  of  the  Manors  or  of  the  commons  and  wastes  thereon. 

As  to  Welsh  Penkelly,  it  appears  it  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Crown  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  VIII.,  and  has  continued  so  ever  since ;  and  it  appears  by  the  Parliamentary 


(181 

Survey  made  in  1650  (see  page  ante  17)  there  is  a  common  called  Abergatn  belonging  to 
it,  but  neither  the  situation  of  this  common  or  the  boundaries  and  extent  of  it  or  of  the 
Manor  itself  are  stated. 

It  appears,  therefore,  that  there  is  no  ancient  documentary  evidence  relating  to  the 
Manors  upon  which  Mr.  Gwynne  could  depend,  and  that  he  must  look  solely  to  deeds  of 
comparatively  modern  date  and  to  parol  evidence  of  acts  of  ownership  to  establish  his 
rights. 

The  Manors  of  Penkelly  Castle,  Wenallt,  English  Peukelly,  Skethrog,  Penkelly 
Cwmorgwm,  and  the  King's  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly  lie  together,  and  are  so  inter- 
mixed that  no  person  living  can  trace  their  respective  boundaries,  nor  are  there  any 
written  documents  in  existence  which  describe  them,  particularly  in  the  lowlands,  but 
upon  the  common  the  boundaries  of  Welsh  Penkelly  are  known  and  well  ascertained,  and 
the  external  boundaries  of  the  whole  between  the  Manors  of  other  Lords  are  well 
known." 

In  the  same  old  paper  follows  the  statement  of  Mr.  Illingworth  as  to  his  researches. 
He  first  produced  a  document  relating  to  Penkelly  Castle,  Inquisitio  post  mortem 
88  and  39  Henry  VI.,  on  the  death  of  Sir  Hugh  Mortimer,  1460,  and  remarks  that  the 
40  marks  mentioned  in  the  Inquisition  were  a  very  large  sum  in  those  days. 

Next  follows.  14  Eliz.,  a  Triall  of  the  Hundred  Court  and  of  a  Court  of  Survey  of 
the  Manors  of  Penkelly,  situate  and  lying  in  divers  parishes,  Vaynor,  Llanddetty, 
Llanfigan,  Llanfrynach,  and  Llansaintfraed,  in  which  mention  is  made  of  Wm.  Games, 
Esqr.,  and  Wm.  Aubrey,  Esqr.,  and  John  Walbye,  Esqr.,  holding  suit  of  the  same  Court. 

As  touching  English  Penkelly,  Mr.  Illingworth  produced  the  letters  patent,  20 
Henry  VIII.,  1528,  being  a  grant  to  Lord  Ferrers  in  tail  male ;  also  the  Inquisition  post 
mortem,  20  Jany  3  Eliz.,  in  which  the  words  "  beyond  fees  "  are  important,  denoting 
that  these  were  subinfeudations  holden  of  that  Manor  ;  they  show  also  that  the  Manor 
was  a  paramount  Manor. 

Mr.  Illingworth  also  produced  the  Inquisitio  post  mortem,  7  Sep.  19  Eliz.,  taken 
1577  on  the  death  of  Walter  Earl  of  Essex,  grandson  of  the  Walter  Viscount  Hereford 
mentioned  in  the  last  Inquisition.  He  also  produced  Letters  Patent  43  Eliz.,  and  the 
Parliamentary  Survey  in  the  time  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  which  relates  to  Welsh  Penkelly. 

It  will  be  observed  that  no  allusion  is  made  in  this  old  paper  to  the  Manor  of 
Penkelly  Glyn  Collwm,  or  Cwmbanw,  which  was  then  about  to  give  Mr.  Gwynne  such 
great  and  prolonged  trouble. 


It  will  be  convenient  to  give  a  list  of  antient  documents  relating  to  the  Penkelly 
Manors,  which  I  have  been  able  to  find,  and  many  of  which  were  used  either  at  the 
Hereford  trial  of  1817  or  in  the  recent  Torglas  Common  land  Case  of  1898.  The 
documents  will  be  printed  in  extenso  at  the  end  of  this  account,  as  possibly  on  some 
future  day  reference  to  them  may  have  again  to  be  made. 

1. — 1460.     Castle  &  Manor  of  Penkethle. — Inquisition  on  the  death  of  Sir   Hugh 

Mortimer,  Knight.     38  and  39  Henry  VI. 

2. — 1509.     Grant   of  the   Manor   or   Lordship   of   Penkelly  and   one-third   of  the 
Barony  of  Penkelly  to  our  kinsman,  Edward,  Duke  of  Buckingham. 
37  Henry  VII. 
3. — 1522.     Grant  of  the  office  of  Steward  of  the  Lordship  of  Penkelly  (inter  alia) 

to  Walter  Devereux,  Knight,  Lord  Ferrers.     18  Henry  VIII. 

4. — 1528.     Grant  of  the  Manor  of  English  Penkelly  to  John  Kageland,  and  subse- 
quently to  Walter  Devereux,  Knight  of  the  Garter,  Lord  Ferrers,  on 
the  attainder  of  Edward,  Duke  of  Buckingham.     20  Henry  VIII. 
5.— 1553-4.  Exchequer  Ministers  account  of  Welsh  Penkelly.      1  &  2  to  2  &  8  Phil : 

and  Mary. 

6. — 1558.     Proceedings  against  Thomas  Gunter  of  Gileston  by  the  Attorney  General 
as  to  Welsh  Penkelly  accounts.     1  Eliz. 


(182) 

7. 1562.     Further  proceedings  against  Thomas  Gunter.     4  Eliz. 

8.— 1561.     Inquisition  on  the  death  of  Walter,  Viscount  Hereford,  Lord  Ferrers,  of 

the  Manor  of  English  Penkelly  (inter  alia).     8  Eliz. 

9.— 1560.     Court  of  Law  of  the  Manor  of  Penkelly  on  behalf  of  Walter  Vaughan, 

Esqre.,  held  at  the  Castle,  of  Welsh  and  English  Tenants.    14  Eliz.  (?). 

10.— 1577.     Inquisition  on  the  death  of  Walter,  Earl  of  Essex,  of  the  Manor   o~f 

Penkelly  (inter  alia).     19  Eliz. 
11.— (No  date).     Survey  of  the  Manor  of  Penkelly  Castle  of  John  Powell,  gentleman. 

(No  date.) 
12. — 1G01.     Grant  of  English  Penkelly  Manor  to  Michael  and  Edward    Stanhope. 

48  Eliz. 

13.— 1650.     Parliamentary  Survey  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor.     See  ante  page— 17. 
14.— 1762.     Appointment'  by  the  Crown  of  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  as  Steward  of 

Welsh  Penkelly  Manor.     See  infra. 

15. — 1786.     Presentments  at  Court  Leet  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor,  and  Perambula- 
tion of  the  Waste  lands.     See  p.  81. 
16. — 1787.     Sworn  Report  of  Thynne   Howe  Gwynne,  Steward  of  Welsh  Penkelly 

Manor,  made  to  the  Crown. 
17. — 1816.     Sworn   Survey   of  John   Cheese    with   Valuation,    of  Welsh    Penkelly 

Manor,  made  by  Order  of  the  Crown.     See  p.  88. 
1817.     Sale  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor  by  the  Crown  to  Charles  Claude  Clifton. 

See  Land  Eevenue  Eecords. 

1824.  Sale  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor  by  Clifton  to  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne. 
See  Order  of  Court  at  Record  Office.  Chancery.  July  8,  1824. 
1823  .  A  .  2015.  Clifton  v.  Gwynne, 

1826.  Death  of  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  and  devise  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor 
to  his  second  son,  with  option  of  purchase  by  granddaughter,  the 
other  Penkelly  Manors  having  passed  to  her  by  settlement.  This 
option  was  exercised. 

We  now  pass  from  the  antient  documents,  and  dealing  solely  with  records  of  modern 
date,  trace  as  far  as  we  can  the  transfer  of  all  the  Penkelly  Manors  into  the  hands  of  the 
Gwynne  of  Buckland  family. 

In  1709,  by  Indenture  dated  9  &  10  October,  Edward  Games,  Esquire,  of  Tregare, 
conveyed  the  Mansion  of  Penkelly  Castle,  and  the  Manor  of  English  Penkelly,  together 
•with  lands  iu  the  parish  of  Llanfigan,  and  other  lands  which  he  had  purchased  from  Hugh 
Powell  in  the  same  parish,  also  in  Llandetty,  Vaynor,  and  elsewhere,  to  Roger  Jones, 
Esquire,  of  Buckland,  for  the  sum  of  £1200. 

This  Roger  Jones,  into  whose  hand  the  Manor  of  Wenallt,  and  also  of  Skethrog  (or 
some  portion  of  the  latter)  had  previously  passed,  died  in  1741,  and  devised  all  his  Manors 
and  landed  estates  to  his  wife,  Elinor,  and  in  default  of  children  (and  there  were  none),  to 
her  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever.  In  1741  the  widow  married  Sir  John  Pryce,  of  Newton  Hall, 
in  the  County  of  Montgomery,  and  by  her  will  dated  1743  devised  all  her  Manors  and 
estates  to  her  husband  for  his  life,  and  subject  to  his  life  interest,  these  descended,  as  she 
made  no  further  appointment,  to  her  brother,  David  Evors,  as  heir-at-law. 

In  1756  Roger  Gwynne,  of  Glanbrane,  in  the  County  of  Carmarthen,  Esquire, 
purchased  the  Buckland  Estate  with  its  Manors  and  lands  from  Sir  John  Pryse  and  Mr 
David  Evors  for  £13,026. 

The  Conveyance  specified,  inter  alia,  the  several  lordships  and  Manors  of  Penkelly, 
Penkelly  Castle,  Wenallt  and  Skethrog,  together  with  the  Fishery  or  Fisheries  in  the 
River  Usk  thereto,  or  to  either  of  them  belonging,  used,  occupied,  and  enjoyed,  and 
commonly  known  and  distinguished  by  the  name  of  "The  Buckland  Fishery."  Great 
stress  was  laid  on  these  latter  words  in  the  celebrated  trial  as  to  the  right  of  fishing  on  the 
Maesmawr  land,  Holford  v.  Bailey,  at  Gloucester  in  1846,  a  several  fishery  having,  in  the 
absence  of  any  Grant,  been  presumed  thereby  to  have  once  existed  in  the  Usk  in  connexion 
with  one  or  other  of  the  Manors  named. 


(188) 

In  1774  Mr.  Eoderick  Gwynne  died,  but  in  the  year  previous  he  had  concurred, 
subject  to  his  life  interest,  in  a  settlement  of  the  Buckland  estate,  with  the  Manors,  &c.,  on 
his  second  son,  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  on  his  marriage  with  Miss  Maria  Elionora 
Mathews,  a  Glamorganshire  co-heiress. 

A  few  years  before  this  happening,  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  had  been  appointed 
by  the  Crown  to  be  Steward  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor  by  the  following  instrument  :— 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  I,  William  Viscount  Barrington, 
Chancellor  and  Under  Treasurer  of  his  Majesty's  Exchequer,  send  greeting  : 

Know  ye  that  I  the  said  William  Viscount  Barrington,  reposing  especial  trust 
and  confidence  in  the  care  and  probity  of  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  of  Buckland,  in  the 
County  of  Brecon,  Esquire,  have  constituted,  and  appointed,  and  do  by  these  presents 
constitute,  nominate,  and  appoint  the  said  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  to  be  Steward  of 
His  Majesty's  Manor  of  Penkelly  (sic)  in  the  County  of  Brecon,  which  said  office  of 
Steward  of  the  Manor  aforesaid  was  granted  to  Howel  Gwynne  of  Garth,  in  the 
said  County  of  Brecon,  Esquire,  by  appointment  bearing  date  the  31st  day  of  October 
1781,  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  the  Eight  Honble.  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  then 
Chancellor  of  His  Majesty's  Exchequer,  but  determined  by  the  demise  of  His  late 
Majesty,  George  the  second,  To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  office  unto  the  said  Thynne 
Howe  Gwynne  during  His  Majesty's  pleasure,  together  with  all  lawful  powers  and 
authority  to  hold  Courts,  and  to  do  all  other  acts  and  things  which  to  the  said  office  of 
Steward  of  the  said  Manor  belong,  or  in  any  wise  appertain,  and  all  perquisites  and 
advantages  belonging  to  the  same  in  as  full  and  ample  a  manner  as  any  former 
Steward  heretofore  lawfully  executing  the  said  office  have  held  and  enjoyed  the  same. 
In  witness  thereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  of  Office  the  eleventh 
day  of  March,  1762. 

BARRINGTON  L.  S. 

Sealed  and  delivered  in  Inrolled  in  the  Auditor  of  Wales  Office  in 

the  presence  of  Jas.  Best.  New  Palace  Yard,  Westminster,  29th 

day  of  March  1762. 

THOMAS  WYNN,  Auditor. 


In  1786  a  very  important  Court  Leet  was  held,  and  a  Perambulation  made  of  the 
wast«  lands  of  the  Crown  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly  by  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  as  the 
Steward,  and  Pennoyre  Watkins,  the  well-known  Solicitor  cf  Brecon,  as  Deputy  Steward. 
They  took  evidence  from  all  the  aged  witnesses  then  living,  and  the  Court  Leet  was  three 
times  adjourned  in  order  to  complete  the  evidence,  and  make  the  perambulation  of  the 
waste  lands  of  the  manor.  The  original  minutes  of  that  Court,  and  also  sworn  copies  at 
the  Becord  Office  are  fortunately  extant.  (See  page  81.) 

In  1787  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  as  Steward,  was  called  upon  to  make  a  Sworn 
Report  to  the  Crown  as  to  the  Rental,  &c.,  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor.  This  Report  is 
extant.  See  infra. 

In  1792  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  being  anxious,  as  it  is  said,  to  consolidate  his 
manors,  and  finding  a  small  manor,  belonging  to  a  different  owner,  in  the  centre  of  his, 
called  Penkelly  Cwmorgwm,  in  the  parish  of  Llanfrynach — it  adjoined  the  Crown  Manor  on 
Cefn  Cyft  Hill,  and  was  very  near  his  own  Manor — took  steps  to  purchase  it.  The 
owner  was  Thomas  Harcourt  Powell  of  Peterstone  Court,  who  had  inherited  it  from  his 
father,  John  Powell  formerly  of  Swansea,  and  Mr.  Harcourt  Powell,  with  the  consent  of 
his  mother,  Amy  Powell  (one  of  the  daughters  and  co-heiresses  of  Godfrey  Harcourt  of 
Wirewood  Green,  Tidenham,  in  the  County  of  Gloucester,  a  branch  of  the  Harcourts  of 
Danypark)  agreed  to  sell  the  Manor  for  £200.  The  conveyance  is  dated  1  &  2  March, 
1792,  and  contains  a  provision  that  the  sale  should  be  without  prejudice  to  the  right  of 
fishery  in  the  river  Usk  to  the  extent  of  the  parish  and  Lordship  of  Llanhamlach. 

About  the  same  time  Mr.  Gwyune  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Greenly  in  the 
Manor  of  Scethrog,  or  in  some  portion  of  it  beyond  what  Mr.  Gwynne  already  possessed. 
The  particulars  of  the  purchase  are  not  clearly  stated  in  the  paper  before  us. 


(184) 

However,  in  one  way  or  another  Mr.  Gwynne  had  become  the  possessor  of  all  the 
Penkelly  Manors,  as  he  thought,  by  the  year  1800,  except  of  course  the  Crown  Manor  of 
Welsh  Penkelly,  and  of  that  he  had  been  the  Steward  since  1762 — and  now  came  a  very 
unpleasant  surprise. 

The  farm  of  Tymawr  in  the  parish  of  Llanfrynach  had  been  the  property  of  Thomas 
Vaughan  and  Edward  Vaughan,  his  brother,  and  their  ancestors  for  several  generations. 
Their  grandson,  Mr.  Edward  Clark,  sold  the  estate  to  a  Mr.  Jones,  from  whom  Mr. 
Charles  Claude  Clifton,  an  English  gentleman  of  position,  purchased  it.  With  the 
property  there  was  conveyed  the  Manor,  or  the  reputed  Manor,  of  Penkelly  Glyncollwm 
or  Cwmbanw,  which  it  was  said  had  been  held  and  enjoyed  in  connexion  with  the 
Tymawr  estate,  and  though  no  Court  Leets  had  been  held  of  recent  years,  such  had  been 
admittedly  held  in  the  time  of  the  Vaughan  family  from  1750  to  1770. 

Mr.  Clifton,  the  new  owner,  proceeded  to  assert  his  right  to  the  Manor,  claiming 
that  the  rights  and  privileges  of  it  extended  over  the  whole  of  the  wastes  of  the  Penkelly 
Manor,  including  the  parish  of  Vaynor,  equally  with  those  of  Mr.  Gwynne — that  he  had 
equal  and  concurrent  rights  over  the  wastes.  Sir.  Clifton  proceeded  to  shoot  over  all  the 
waste  lands,  and  employed  a  bailiff  to  collect  the  estrays. 

Of  course  Mr.  Gwynne  resisted  this  claim,  and  both  being  determined  and  wealthy 
men,  a  right  royal  battle  ensued  of  a  virulence  and  length  in  excess  of  that  of  any 
lawsuit  in  modern  times  in  our  County. 

The  first  blow  was  struck  by  a  letter  from  Mr.  Gwynne's  solicitor,  Edward  Jones, 
junr.,  of  Llandovery  (the  late  Mr.  Thomas  Jones'  father),  to  Mr.  Clifton,  and  legal 
proceedings  very  soon  followed.  In  1816  de  bene  e.\se  Commissions  sat  to  take  evidence  on 
both  sides,  and  the  venue  having  been  changed  from  the  Great  Sessions  at  Brecon — a 
very  usual  proceeding  in  important  civil  cases  in  those  days — to  Hereford,  as  the  nearest 
English  county,  the  cause  was  tried  there  in  August,  1817.  It  occupied  four  days  before 
Baron  Parke,  three  counsel  were  engaged  on  each  side,  and  a  large  number  of  witnesses 
were  in  attendance,  as  many  as  60,  it  is  said,  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Gwynne.  The  verdict 
was  for  the  plaintiff,  and  Mr.  Clifton  paid  £1858  10s.  costs  into  Court,  pending  the 
result  of  the  appeal  which  he  at  once  lodged. 

On  the  eve  of  the  trial,  it  should  be  stated,  Mr.  Clifton  strengthened  his  position  by 
having  been  able  to  purchase  from  the  Crown  their  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly  for  the  sum 
of  JB425.  Though  this  purchase  did  not  actually  help  him  at  the  Hereford  trial,  it  proved 
a  tower  of  strength  in  the  subsequent  legal  proceedings  of  great  length  that  ensued.  The 
cause  now  became  known,  not  as  heretofore,  Gwynne  v  Clifton,  but  Clifton  v.  Gwynne, 
and  as  such  the  numerous  entries  in  the  index  books  at  the  Kecord  Office  will  be  found. 
And  the  proceedings  were  as  follows  : — 

There  was  first  a  long  bill  of  complaint  by  the  Orator,  Charles  Claude  Clifton  in 
1818,  then  came  the  answer  and  supplementary  answer  of  Mr  Gwynne  in  1819,  a 
Commission  having  been  appointed  to  take  his  evidence  at  Buckland,  which,  it  was 
alleged,  was  more  than  20  miles  from  London.  Then  came  a  shower  of  interrogatories 
to  witnesses  in  1821,  of  Commissions  to  take  evidence  to  discredit  witnesses  at  the  trial, 
and  that  of  the  evidence  of  witnesses  examined  since,  of  Orders  to  produce  documents, 
Reports,  Decrees  of  Court,  &c.  Apparently  Mr.  Clifton  was  getting  the  better  of  the 
proceedings,  for  when  the  Court,  impressed  with  the  gravity  of  the  charges  made  by  Mr. 
Clifton,  and  the  complications  of  the  case,  had  on  December  22nd,  1822,  appointed  a 
Commission  to  examine  into  and  report  on  the  whole  case,  and  when  such  Commission, 
having  concluded  its  inquiries,  was  about  to  report,  a  settlement  between  the  parties  was 
suddenly  effected,  and  on  these  terms  : 

The  sum  of  JE1858  10s.  paid  as  the  costs  of  the  Hereford  trial  was  to  be  paid  out  of 
Court  to  Mr.  Gwynne,  and  he,  Mr.  Gwynne,  was  to  purchase  Mr.  Clifton's  Manor  of 
Welsh  Penkelly,  and  all  his  interest  in  the  disputed  Manor  of  Penkelly  Glyncollwm  or 
Cwmbanw  for  £2,000,  each  party  bearing  their  own  costs  since  the  date  of  the  trial  at 
Hereford. 

The  final  decree  of  the  Court,  defining  the  agreement  between  the  litigants,  and 
confirming  it,  is  dated  July  8,  1824.  And  so  ended  this  remarkable  cause  in  a 


(185) 

compromise  after  lasting  nearly  ten  years,  and  which  of  the  parties  was  in  the  right  will 
probably  ever  remain  unknown. 

In  1826  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  died,  his  eldest  son  Koderick,  on  whom  the 
Buckland  estate  and  the  other  Fenkelly  Manors  were  settled  on  his  marriage  in  1804  to 
Miss  Hughes  of  Tregunter,  having  predeceased  him  in  1808.  By  his  will  he  left  the 
Welsh  Penkelly  Manor,  being  an  after  acquired  property,  to  his  second  son,  Thynne 
Howe  Gwynne,  but  with  an  option  to  his  granddaughter,  the  only  child  of  his  son 
Roderick,  to  purchase.  This  option  she  exercised  a  few  years  later,  becoming  thereby 
possessed  of  all  the  Penkelly  Manors. 

These  Penkelly  Manors  have  from  time  to  time  been  fertile  in  other  disputes.  There 
was  a  disputed  boundary  question  with  the  Marquis  of  Bute,  a  water  right  question  with 
the  Crawshays  as  to  the  feeder  to  the  Cyfarthfa  pond  from  the  Taff  Fechan  river,  and 
many  minor  disputes  with  building  leaseholders  on  the  Cefn  Gil  Sanws  Common  land  at 
Cefncoed  Cymmer.  Uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a  crown,  it  is  said,  and  the  same 
often  holds  true  of  the  Lord  of  an  extensive  Manor  like  the  one  we  are  describing. 

In  1846  the  manorial  right  to  a  several  fishery  in  the  Eiver  Usk  opposite  Maesmawr 
Farm  was  challenged  by  the  riparian  owner,  the  late  Sir  Joseph  Bailey,  Bart.  Major 
Gwynne  Holford,  the  then  possessor  of  the  Penkelly  Manors,  in  virtue  of  his  wife, 
immediately  commenced  proceedings,  and  the  trial  took  place  at  Gloucester,  resulting 
in  the  establishment  of  the  right  of  a  several  fishery.  Further  proceedings  in  the  form 
of  appeal  were  taken  by  Sir  Joseph  Bailey,  but  these  were  unsuccessful.  This  case  is 
known  in  the  Law  Reports  as  Holford  v.  Bailey,  and  the  final  stages  of  it  were  only 
completed,  after  Maj  r  Gwynne  Holford's  death  in  1847,  by  his  widow. 

Still  more  recently  has  occurred  the  Tor  Glas  Common  case,  where  the  Lord  of  the 
Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly,  Mr.  J.  P.  Gwynne  Holford  of  Buckland,  claimed  certain 
mountain  land  about  to  be  compulsorily  taken  by  the  Merthyr  Urban  District  Council, 
for  the  site  of  a  reservoir,  as  his  absolute  private  freehold  property,  and  consequently 
that  the  proceeds  of  the  sale,  amounting  to  £2,000,  should  be  paid  over  to  him.  The 
Tor  Glas  Common,  of  which  the  land  then  taken  was  a  part,  contained  an  area  of  650 
acres,  and  the  title  to  the  whole  was  necessarily  the  same.  And  it  may  be  said  the  title 
to  this  650  acres  involved  that  to  the  whole  waste  lands  of  the  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor, 
amounting  to  1650  acres. 

The  Commoners,  however,  of  Llanfrynach  parish  contested  Mr.  Gwynne  Holford's 
claim,  alleging  that  the  whole  of  the  650  acres  was  a  common,  known  as  Tor  Glas 
and  part  of  the  waste  lands  of  what  had  formerly  been  the  Crown  Manor  of  Welsh 
Penkelly. 

The  first  trial,  held  at  Swansea  in  1898  before  Justice  Phillimore,  resulted  in 
favour  of  the  Commoners.  Then  followed  an  appeal  to  the  High  Court,  and  on  the 
ground  of  evidence  of  reputation  having  been  rejected  by  the  Judge,  a  new  trial  was 
ordered.  This  took  place  before  Justice  Kennedy  at  Swansea,  and  again  resulted  in 
favour  of  the  Commoners. 

One  of  the  main  pieces  of  evidence  in  behalf  of  the  Commoners  was  the  Presentment 
of  the  Court  Leet  held  in  1786  by  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  as  Steward  of  the  Crown 
Manor,  in  which  the  boundaries  of  the  waste  lands  were  clearly  stated  (see  page  ante  81). 
Equally  strong  evidence  was  the  Report  of  the  Crown  Surveyor,  Mr.  John  Cheese,  prior 
to  the  sale  by  the  Crown  to  Mr.  Clifton  of  the  Manor  in  1816  (see  page  ante  83).  Small 
plans  of  the  Common  Lands  accompanied  his  report,  and  the  boundaries  shown  precisely 
agreed  with  those  named  in  the  Perambulation  of  1786.  The  Commoners  were  also  able 
to  prove  by  various  documents  of  old  date,  and  by  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Thynne  Howe 
Gwynne,  as  the  Steward  in  1762,  a  continuous  title  in  the  Crown  to  the  Manor  and  to 
this  land  as  forming  part  of  the  waste  lands  from  the  time  of  Henry  VIII.  to  the  sale  of 
the  Manor  to  Mr.  Clifton  in  1816. 

A  few  more  notes  must  be  added. 

On  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne's  death  in  1826.  it  was  found  that  he  had  left  by  will 
the  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly  (not  being  in  settlement  on  his  deceased  eldest  son  Roderick 
like  the  [bulk  of  the  estate,  and  the  other  Penkelly  Manors)  together  with  some  after 


(186) 

acquired  property  to  bis  second  son  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  but  with  the  option  to  his 
granddaughter  to  purchase  the  Manor  and  other  farms  and  lands  near  Buckland  for  the 
sum  of  £7,000.  This  option  Miss  Gwynne  exercised  shortly  after  coming  of  age  about 
1828.  Subsequently  that  lady  married  Major  J.  P.  Holford,  and  was  the  mother  of  the 
present  owner. 

When  Mr.  Clifton  was  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly — 1816-1824 — a 
Court  Leet  was  held  on  June  21,  1821,  at  the  house  of  Evan  Williams,  where  "  the  Great 
Oak"  stood  in  the  village  of  Talybont,  Samuel  Church  being  Steward,  Thomas  Evang, 
bailiff.  At  that  Court  the  following  Presentments  were  made  : 

We  present  that  Jeffreys  Wilkins,  Esq.,  one  of  the  tenants  of  this  Manor,  died  since 
the  last  Court  seized  of  two  freehold  tenements,  called  Blaentaff  and  Tirhir,  lying  in  the 
several  parishes  of  Llanfrynach  and  Llanfigan  within  this  Manor,  for  each  of  which 
tenements  a  Heriot  of  Ten  Shillings  is  due  to  the  Lord  of  this  Manor.  And  we  present 
John  Parry  Wilkins,  Esq.,  tenant  in  his  stead. 

We  present  that  John  Lloyd,  Esq.,  one  of  the  tenants  of  this  Manor,  died  seized 
since  the  last  Court  of  four  freehold  tenements,  called  Abercundrig,  Tir  Llwyn  Celyn,  Tir 
Glas,  and  Khiwe,  lying  in  the  parish  of  Llanfrynach  within  this  Manor,  for  each  of  which 
Tenements  a  Heriot  of  Ten  Shillings  is  due  to  the  Lord  of  this  Manor-  And  we  present 
his  only  son,  John  Lloyd,  Esq.,  Tenant  in  his  stead. 

There  is  an  interesting  episode  as  regards  this  Torglas  Common.  At  one  time,  in 
1846,  Mr.  J.  Parry  Wilkins — then  De  Winton — claimed  the  whole  of  the  Common  as  part 
of  his  freehold  farm  of  Blaentaff,  and  sold  it  as  a  sheepwalk  to  Mr.  Richards,  the 
ancestor  of  the  present  owner  of  that  farm.  In  1868  Mr.  Bichards  asserted  a  similar  claim, 
but  in  both  cases  on  the  intervention  of  the  Lord  of  the  Manor,  the  claims  set  up  were 
abandoned.  The  carelessness  with  which  the  Tithe  Apportionment  Map  of  the  Parish 
was  made  and  in  which  open  hill  land  was  mapped  out  as  aheepwalk  and  as  part  of  the 
farm,  paying  a  tithe  rent-charge,  had  much  to  do  with  this  strange  misconception. 

The  documents,  large  plans,  Court  Leet  Presentments,  and  papers,  are  all  extant 
relating  to  tbis  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly,  and  it  has  been  a  constant  source  of  wonder  to 
me  how  Mr.  Gwynne  Holford's  advisers  could  have  recommended  him  to  advance  a  claim 
to  the  Torglas  Common  as  his  private  freehold.  Every  paper  in  their  possession 
must  have  told  them  differently,  and  the  statement  alone  of  Mr.  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne, 
who  had  been  Steward  of  the  Manor  for  54  years,  tbat  it  was  common  land,  should  have 
set  at  rest  any  possible  doubt  that  might  have  existed  in  their  minds. 

Thus,  not  without  a  feeling  of  relief,  I  bring  to  a  close  this  sketch  of  the  History  of 
the  Penkelly  Manors. 


1.— CASTLE     AND    MANOR    OF    PENKETHLE. 

38—39  HEN.  VI.,  No.  38. 
CHANCERY  INQN.  P.M. 

Inquisition  taken  at  Webbeley  in  co.  Hereford  28  June,  38  Hen.  6  [1460],  before 
Simon  Mylborne,  Esq.,  Escheator,  after  the  death  of  Hugh  Mortymer,  Knight,  by  the 
oath  of  John  Baker,  &c.,  &c.,  jurors,  who  say  that 

The  said  Sir  Hugh  Mortymer,  Knight,  held  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  on  the  day  that 
he  died  the  manor  of  Sapy  in  co.  Hereford,  jointly  with  Alianore  his  wife  who  still 
survives. 

Also  the  Castle  and  Manor  of  Penkethle  with  the  appurtenances  in  the  Marches  of  Wales 
adjoining  the  said  county  of  Hereford,  which  said  castle  and  manor  are  held  of  Humphrey 
Duke  of  Buckingham  as  of  his  castle  and  manor  of  Brecknok,  by  what  services  the  jurors 
do  not  know,  and  they  are  worth  per  ann.,  clear,  40  marks. 

The  said  Hugh  died  on  Wednesday  next  after  the  feast  of  the  Invention  of  Holy 
Cross,  38  Hen  6  [1460]  ;  John  Mortymer  is  his  son  and  next  heir  and  is  aged  3  years, 
8  months  and  more. 


(137) 

2.— GRANT  OF  THE  MANOR  OR  LORDSHIP  OF  PENKELLY  AND  ONE 

THIRD  OF  THE  BARONY  OF  PENKELLY  TO  THE 

DUKE  OF  BUCKINGHAM. 

PATENT  ROLL,  24  HEN.  VII.  PART  3  MEMB.  20  (1509). 
FOB  THE  DUKE  OF  BUCKINGHAM. 

The  King  to  all  to  whom,  &c.,  greeting.  Know  ye  that  we  of  Our  special  grace  and 
for  the  affection  We  bear  towards  Our  kinsman  Edward  Duke  of  Buckingham  and  for  the 
faithful  service  which  he  has  heretofore  rendered  to  Us  have  granted  to  him  and  his  heirs 
the  Castle  and  town  of  Bredles,  the  manors  and  lordships  of  Cantrecelly  alias  Cantrecellyf 
Brendleys  Penkelly  alias  Penkellyf  Langoite  and  Alexaunders  town  and  the  third  part  of 
the  barony  of  Penkelly  in  South  Wales,  also  the  advowsons  of  the  Churches,  Chapels, 
and  Chantries  within  the  said  lordships,  manors,  and  other  the  premises  ;  also  all  knights 
fees,  liberties  and  franchises  and  hereditaments  whatsoever  to  the  said  premises  belonging, 
Ac.,  &.,  &.  To  have  and  to  hold  all  the  said  lordships,  manors,  &c.,  to  Our  said  kinsman 
and  his  heirs  of  Us  and  Our  heirs  in  chief  for  ever,  without  rendering  or  paying  anything 
to  Us  or  Our  heirs  for  the  same. 

Witness  Ourself  at  Westminster,  25  January,  by  the  King. 


3.— STEWARD     OF    THE     LORDSHIP    OF    PENKELLY. 

PATENT  ROLL,  13  HEN.  VIII..  PART  3,  MEMB.  12  (13). 

FOB  WALTER  DEVEBEUX,  KNIGHT,  LORD  FERRERS. 

The  King  to  all  to  whom,  &c.  Know  ye  that  We  of  Our  special  grace  and  in 
consideration  oi  the  good  and  acceptable  service  which  Our  beloved  and  faithful  Walter 
Devereux,  Knight,  Lord  Ferrers,  has  hitherto  rendered  to  Us  and  during  his  life  intends 
to  render  to  Us  have  given  and  granted  and  by  these  presents  do  give  and  grant  to  the 
said  Walter  the  office  of  steward  of  all  Our  lordships  or  manorg  of  Cantrecelleff,  Penkelly, 
Brendeles,  Langoite,  and  Alexandretowne  ;  also  the  office  of  steward  of  Our  lordships  or 
manors  of  Haje  and  Glynbough  in  the  Marches  of  Wales,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.,  and  We  make 
and  ordain  the  said  Walter  steward  of  Our  said  lordships,  and  give  to  him  for  exercising 
the  said  office  of  steward  of  the  said  lordships  of  Cantrecelleff,  Penkelly,  Brendeles, 
Langoite  and  Alexaundrestone  66s.  8d.  per  annum  :  all  which  said  lordships,  manors, 
lands,  &c.,  came  to  Our  hands  by  reason  of  the  forfeiture  and  attainder  of  Edward  late 
Duke  of  Buckingham  :  To  have,  hold,  occupy,  and  enjoy  the  said  offices  to  the  said 
Walter  by  himself  or  his  sufficient  deputy  for  the  term  of  the  life  of  the  said  Walter  of  Us 
and  Our  heirs,  taking  and  receiving  all  the  profits,  advantages,  revenues  and  emoluments 
to  the  said  offices  belonging. 

Witness  the  King  at  Hampton  Court  the  29th  day  of  March  [13  Hen.  8,  A.D.  1522.] 


4.— MANOR      OF      ENGLISH      PENCKELLY. 

20  HEN.  VIII.  PATENT  ROLL,  PART  2,  15  (18). 
FOR.  WALTER  DEVEREUX  OF  THE  MANOR  OF  PENCKELLY. 

The  King  to  all  to  whom,  &c.,  greeting.  Know  ye  that  whereas  We  by  Our  Letters 
Patent  dated  at  Westminster  24  November,  in  the  16th  year  of  Our  reign  [1524]  have  given 
and  granted  to  John  Rageland,  Knight,  the  manor  of  English  Penckelly  in  Southwall, 
together  with  all  the  rents,  woods,  waters,  vivaries,  ponds,  villeins  with  their  families, 
warrens  and  parks  with  the  liberties  of  the  parks  to  the  said  manor  belonging  :  which 
said  manor  and  premises  were  late  of  Edward  late  Duke  of  Buckingham  who  was 


(188) 

attainted  of  high  treason  and  which  came  to  Our  hands  by  reason  of  the  forfeiture  and 
attainder  of  the  said  Duke  :  To  have  and  to  hold  the  said  manor  and  premises  to  the  said 
John  for  the  term  of  his  life,  paying  therefore  to  Us  such  rents  and  yearly  services  as  the 
said  manor  before  the  attainder  of  the  said  late  Duke  was  held  by,  without  making  any 
account  for  the  said  manor  rent  and  service  :  And  now  the  said  John  Eageland  wishes  to 
restore  the  said  Letters  Patent  into  Our  Chancery,  There  to  be  cancelled,  to  the  intent 
that  We  may  see  fit  to  grant  other  Letters  Patent  of  the  said  manor  and  premises  to  Our 
beloved  and  faithful  servant,  Walter  Deveroux,  Knight  of  the  Garter,  Lord  of  Ferrers  and 
Cherteley  and  steward  of  the  household  of  Our  dear  first  firstborn  Mary  Princess  of 
Wales  :  which  said  Letters  remain  cancelled  in  Our  Chancery  for  that  cause  :  Know  ye 
that  We  of  Our  special  grace  and  in  consideration  of  the  true  and  faithful  service  of  the 
said  Walter  Deverous,  rendered  as  well  to  Us  as  to  the  said  Princess,  have  given  and 
granted  and  by  these  presents  do  give  and  grant  to  the  said  Walter  Deverous  the  said 
manor  of  English  Penckelly  together  with  all  the  rents,  woods,  waters,  &c.,  thereto 
belonging  :  to  hold  to  him  and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body,  paying  to  Us  such  rents  and 
services  as  the  said  manor  was  held  by,  without  making  any  account  to  us  for  the  same. 
Witness  the  King  at  Westminster  5  May  [20  Hen.  8  A.D.  1528] . 


5.— WELSH    PENKELLY    MANOR. 

EXCHEQUER  MINISTERS  ACCOUNT  1  &  2  TO  2  &  8  PHILIP  <fc  MABY,  ROLL  52  K.  16 

(1553-4). 

PENKBLLY  WELSH. — The  account  of  Jankin  ap  Rice  deputy  of  Thomas  Gunter,  bailiff 
there  for  that  time  (i.e.,  from  Michaelmas  1  &  2  Philip  &  Mary  up  to  Michaelmas  2  &  3 
Philip  &  Mary  [1554-5] ). 

ARREARS.— None. 

RENTS  OF  Assize. — He  renders  account  of  9s.  2d.  of  the  rent  of  the  tenements 
sometime  of  John  Deveroux  at  Penkellie  in  the  term  of  the  Annunciation  of  our  Lady, 
and  7s.  5d.  of  the  rent  of  the  7th  part  of  the  Welsh  tenants  sometime  of  the  said  John  at 
Penkellie  in  Michaelmas  term  ;  and  37s.  6fd.  of  the  rent  of  the  tenants  at  Penkellie  and 
Saint  Barnall  with  the  dower  of  Gwervill,  wife  of  the  said  John,  in  the  same  term  ;  and 
16d.  of  the  rent  of  Kethn  in  the  same  term  ;  and  83s.  4fd.  of  the  rent  ot  the  tenants  in 
Tralf  in  the  part  of  Roger  de  Mortuo  Mari  in  the  same  term  ;  and  18d.  of  the  rent  of 
William  Werren  at  Tulecrom  in  the  same  term  ;  and  2s.  of  the  rent  of  Philip  ap  John 
and  John  Browne  sometime  tenants  of  the  said  Roger  at  Tulecrom  in  the  said  term  ; 
and  16d.  of  the  rent  of  Llewellin  Jevan  tenant  of  the  said  Roger  in  the  said  term  ;  and 
6s.  Id.  of  the  rent  of  the  tenants  of  John  Sutton  at  Lathnam  in  the  said  term.  Sum 
total,  £ 4  19s.  9£d. 

NEW  RENTS  WITH  INCREASE. — And  renders  account  for  6s.  8d.  of  increase  of  the  rent 
of  the  wife  of  Philip  ap  Sethfeld  Lloid  Vaughan  ap  Llm  ap  Mad  Saith  Jevan  ap  Llm  ap 
Merike  ap  Sayfeld  and  Mad  Llm  ap  Mad  ap  Phip  for  lands  in  Diffrincarr,  which  came 
into  the  hands  of  the  lord  as  escheats  and  forfeitures  of  the  said  tenants  in  Michaelmas 
term  :  and  18d.  of  increase  of  the  rent  of  Thomas  Pull  for  the  tenement  and  3a.  of  land 
sometime  of  Michael  Lingen,  besides  22d.  of  ancient  rent.  Of  the  advowson  there  this 
year  nothing.  Sum,  8s.  2d. 

SALE  OF  WORKS. — And  renders  account  for  19£d.  of  the  ploughing  of  the  Welshmen  of 
Tircarthel  on  the  part  of  Roger  de  Mortuo  Mari  in  the  term  of  the  Annunciation  of  Our 
Lady  ;  and  14Jd  for  the  works  of  mowing  (reaping)  on  the  same  part  in  Michaelmas 
term.  Sum  total,  2s.  9Jd. 

COMORTHA.— And  for  80s.  9d.  forthcoming  from  a  certain  custom  called  Comortha 
happening  every  second  year  in  the  month  of  May,  to  wit,  to  be  charged  this  year  as  the 
second  year,  because  it  was  not  charged  in  the  preceding  year,  and  ought  not  to  be 
charged  in  the  ypar  next  coming.  Sum  total,  80s.  9d. 


(189) 

PER&UISITES  OF  COURT. — He  does  not  account  for  perquisites  of  Court  this  year, 
because  none  happened  during  the  time  of  this  account. 

Sum  of  the  charge  £7  18s.,  whereof  he  is  allowed  8s.  4d.  for  the  stipend  of  the  said 
accountant  by  reason  of  his  office,  and  2s.  for  the  stipend  of  the  clerk  of  the  auditor  for 
writing  this  account.  And  he  is  discharged  here  of  43s.  4Jd.  respited  to  the  said  bailiff 
and  charged  in  the  account  of  William  Wightman,  Esq.,  receiver,  there. 

And  he  owes  £4  12s.  9fd.  wLich  he  delivered  to  the  said  receiver.  And  so  it  is 
equal. 


6.— WELSH     PENKELLY     MANOR. 

BRECON.     OF   THOMAS  GUNTER  CALLED  TO  ACCOUNT  FOR  TAKING  HERIOTS  WITHIN 

THE  QUEEN'S  MANOR  OF  PENKELLY  TO  HIS  OWN  PROPER  USE  TO  THE 

DAMAGE  OF  THB   QUEEN. 

Q.E.  MEMORANDA  ROLL,  EASTER  I.  ELIZ.  MEMB.  42. 

Memorandum  that  Gilbert  Gerrard,  Esq.,  Attorney  General,  on  the  22nd  day  of 
April  in  this  term  appeared  personally  and  informed  the  Court  That  whereas  the  Castle 
and  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly  with  the  appurtenances  in  Co.  Brecon,  parcel  of  the 
possessions  9f  the  Queen's  Principality  of  Wales,  came  into  the  hands  of  the  Queen  from 
the  first  day  of  her  reign,  and  still  are  and  ought  to  be  in  her  possession,  as  appears  by 
many  rolls,  records,  and  memoranda  of  this  Court  of  Exchequer,  yet  nevertheless 
Thomas  Gunter  of  Gileston,  co.  Brecon,  Esq.,  intending  to  defraud  the  Queen  of  the 
revenues,  heriots,  fines,  and  other  profits  arising  within  the  said  manor,  on  the  3rd  day 
of  December  last  past  and  on  divers  other  days  between  that  day  and  this,  with  force  and 
arms,  to  wit,  with  swords,  &3.,  entered  upon  the  said  premises,  held  a  view  of  frank 
plsdge  with  a  court  of  the  manor  there  in  the  name  of  the  Queen,  and  took  and  converted 
to  his  own  proper  use  £22  10s.  in  money  due  to  her  Majesty  for  the  value  of  divers 
animals  called  heriots  after  the  deaths  of  divers  free  tenants  within  that  manor,  whose 
names  follow  below,  and  concealed  and  withheld  the  same  from  the  Queen,  to  wit,  after 
the  death  of  Roger  David  ap  Holl  for  one  tenement  called  Tirwan  Gethin,  10s. ;  after 
the  death  of  Thomas  Phillip  Jevan  for  one  tenement  called  Boryn  Roddyn,  10s.  ;  after 
the  death  of  Watkin  Jevan  Meredith  for  one  tenement  called  Tyrycoytty,  10s. ;  after  the 
death  of  Lin  ap  Holl  for  one  tenement  called  Tyrblayn  Carri,  10s. ;  after  the  death  of 
Holl  ap  Lin  for  one  [tenement]  called  Tyrdifferm  Cavecham,  10s. ;  after  the  death  of 
Jenkin  ap  Holl  Gunter  for  one  tenement  called  Dyfterm  Canawr,  10s. ;  after  the  death  of 
John  Traharne  ap  Glm  for  one  tenement  called  Kelifanws,  10s.  ;  after  the  death  of  John 
Roff  for  one  tenement  called  Tirblayn  Yglais,  10s. ;  after  the  death  of  David  ap  Morgan 
for  one  tenement  called  Giramdd,  10s.  ;  after  the  death  of  John  ap  Jevan  for  one 
tenement  called  Tiralt  Veygan,  10s. ;  after  the  death  of  David  ap  Gwalter  for  one 
tenement  called  Tir  Gwalter  David  ap  Griffith,  10s. ;  after  the  death  of  Edmund  Lin  for 
one  tenement  called  Tirybirgrath.  10s. ;  after  the  death  of  Edmund  ap  John  for  one 
tenement  called  Tirgwealt,  10s. ;  after  the  death  of  Griffith  ap  Jenkin  for  one  tenement 
called  Tirpenkelly,  10s. ;  for  the  land  of  John  Thomas  ap  Glln  for  one  tenement  called 
Tirblaynt  Kawy,  10s.  ;  and  of  Holl  ap  Jevan  ap  John  for  one  tenement  called 
Tirbryntadrig,  10s.  ;  of  Jenkin  ap  John  for  one  tenement  called  Tirllethwain,  10s. ;  of 
John  Jenkin  for  one  tenement  called  Telle,  10s.  ;  of  David  ap  Madock  for  one  tenement 
called  Tyrllem  Sanffred,  10s. ;  from  Lin  Goth  ap  Morgan  for  one  tenement  called 
Llethvain,  10s.  ;  of  John  Jenkin  John  for  one  tenement  called  Blaynchlydach,  10s.  ;  of 
Thomas  ap  Jevan  for  one  tenement  called  Tirsigm,  10s.  ;  of  Bees  ap  Holle,  for  one 
tenement  called  Blaynynant,  10s.  ;  of  Gwallian  vz  Gwln  for  one  tenement  called 
Ternmorgan,  10s.  ;  of  Thomas  ap  John  for  one  tenement  called  Tirblayn  Kuyn,  10s. ;  of 
John  ap  Morgan  for  one  tenement  called  Tir  Llanvernach  of  David  Morgan  Thomas 
for  one  tenement  called  BlayN  Tavechan,  10s.  ;  of  Llyn  John  ap  Morgan  for 
one  tenement  called  Llanvernach,  10s. ;  of  John  ap  Glim  for  one  tenement  called 
Troftri  (or  Trostri),  10s. ;  of  Philip  Thomas  ap  Meredith  for  one  tenement  called  Trivith, 


(140) 

10s. ;  of  William  John  ap  Glim  for  one  tenement  called  Troftri  lor  Trostri),  10s.  ;  of 
Tliomas  ap  Richard  for  one  tenement  called  Ybringlas,  10s. ;  of  Richard  ap  Andrews  for 
one  tenement  called  Blaynynant,  10s.  ;  of  Sicelly  vz  Re  for  one  tenement  called 
Llanvernache,  10s.  ;  of  Gllni  Jevan  ap  Glim  for  one  tenement  called  Tredulk,  10s.  ;  of 
Holl  ap  Gwalter  for  one  tenement  called  Maes  Mawr,  10s.  ;  of  Thomas  ap  Meredith  for 
one  tenement  called  Tirhery,  10s.  ;  of  Llus  Walter  for  one  tenement  called  Tir  Jenkin 
Jevan  Las,  10s. ;  of  Richard  Burgehill  for  one  tenement  called  Tirywygarth,  10s.  ;  of 
Holl  ap  Jenkin  for  one  tenement  called  Abercrawnun,  10s. ;  of  Watkin  ap  Glim  for  one 
tenement  called  Blani  Calln,  10s. ;  of  Roger  ap  Meredith  for  one  tenement  called 
Tirpodole,  10s. ;  of  Thomas  Edmond  for  one  tenement  called  Llethwain,  10s.  ;  and  of 
Wallt  vz  Meredith  for  one  tenement  called  Comorgan,  10s. ;  whereupon  the  said  Attorney 
prays  for  the  help  of  the  court,  and  that  the  said  Tliomas  Gunter  may  come  here  as  well 
to  answer  for  the  said  contempt  as  for  the  said  £22  10s.  Whereupon  it  is  agreed  that  the 
said  Thomas  Gunter  shall  be  attached  by  his  body,  and  the  Sheriff  is  commanded  to 
attach  him,  so  that,  &c.,  in  the  Octaves  of  Holy  Trinity.  On  which  day  the  Sheriff  did 
not  return  the  writ,  and  the  said  Thomas  did  not  come.  Then  it  was  commanded  to  the 
Sheriff  so  that  in  the  Octaves  of  St.  Michael,  &e.  At  which  day  the  Sheriff  did  not 
return  the  writ,  and  the  said  Thomas  did  not  come  (and  so  on  for  six  terms).  Then  the 
said  Thomas  Gunter  came  by  John  Marwood  his  Attorney,  admitted  by  the  special  grace  of 
the  court,  and  prayed  to  hear  the  information,  which  was  read  over  to  him.  Having 
heard  it  he  complains  that  he  has  been  grievously  vexed  and  troubled  in  the  premises  and 
this  unjustly,  because  he  protests  that  the  said  information  is  insufficient  in  the  law,  and 
that  by  the  law  of  the  land  he  is  not  bound  to  answer  it ;  nevertheless  for  plea  he  says 
that  as  to  the  coming  with  force  and  arms,  defrauding  the  Queen  of  the  heriots,  tines,  &c., 
within  the  said  manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly,  or  holding  view  of  frank  pledge,  or  taking  the 
said  £22  10s.,  or  any  heriots  after  the  deaths  of  any  tenants  there,  or  any  further  trespass 
or  contempt — he  is  not  guilty  of  any  of  them.  Whereupon  he  puts  himself  upon  the 
country.  And  the  said  Attorney  General  being  also  present  prays  for  the  said  Queen 
likewise. 

Therefore  let  an  Inquestion  be  made. 

[The  case  came  011  again  and  it  is  to  be  found  on  the  Q.R.  Memoranda  Roll,  Easter 
4  Eliz.  Memb.  182.] 


7. — Q.R.  MEMORANDA  ROLL,  EASTER,  4  ELIZ.  MEMB.  182. 
ATTORNEY  GENERAL  v.  THOMAS  GUNTER. 

The  said  Thomas  Gunter  was  accused  of  taking  naoney  (amount  not  given)  for  the 
value  of  heriots  by  and  after  the  death  and  surrender  of  divers  free  tenants  within  the 
Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly,  and  keeping  the  same  to  his  own  use,  to  wit,  after  the  death 
of  Watkin  Elin  Prosser  for  une  tenement  called  Blain  Thalia  10s.,  after  the  death  of  John 
Elin  for  one  tenement  within  the  said  manor  10s.,  after  the  death  of  Watkin  Gunter  10s., 
of  John  Thomas  ap  John  10s.,  of  Hoelli  Lin  10s.,  of  Thomas  Griffith  10s.,  John  ap  Ross 
de  Vanior  10s.,  Lin  ap  Hoell  10s.,  Jenkyn  Richard  10s.,  Phe  Jevan  ap  Jevan  10s., 
Jevan  Thomas  ap  Jevan  ap  John  10s.,  John  ap  Morgan,  Esq.,  10s.,  Hoelli  Walter  10s., 
Lodovici  Walter  10s.,  William  Havarde  10s.,  Lin  John  ap  Morgan  10s.,  Elun  John  ap 
Elin  10s.,  John  Philpotte  10s.,  Phu  Elin  John  ap  Meredith  10s.,  of  Lin  at  Morgan  10s., 
John  Phu  Madok  10s.,  David  Madok  10s.,  Thomas  John  Thomas  Poell  10s.,  John  Walter 
lln  ap  Morgan  10s.,  Richard  ap  Morgan  10s.,  David  ap  Gwalter  10s.,  Watkyn  ap  Jevan 
Meredith  10a.,  Thomas  Jevan  ap  Hoell  ap  Dd  IOs.,  John  Jenkyn  ap  John  10s.,  Griffin  ap 
Jenkin  10s.,  Matilda  de  Meredith  10s.,  Thomas  ap  Jevan  10s.,  William  goz  Thomas  10s., 
Richard  Andrewe  10s.,  Hoell  Willin  ap  Jevan  ap  Elin  10s.,  Edward  Havard  10s.,  Roger 
ap  Meredith  10s.,  and  by  and  after  the  surrender  of  Roger  Vaughan,  Knight,  of  one 
tenement  parcel  of  the  said  manor  late  in  the  tenure  of  the  said  Roger  10s.,  by  the 


(141) 

surrenders  of  Elin  ap  Jevan  Elin  10s.,  Joan  vz  Bichard  Burchill  10s.,  Owen  Jenkyn, 
Sicillia  vz  Kes  10s.,  William  ap  Jevan  10s.,  Hoelli  Edmond  Meredd  10s..  Thomas  ap 
Eichard  10s.,  Res  ap  Hoell  Goz  10s.,  John  Thomas  ap  Elin  10s.,  Thomas  ap  John  10s., 
Watkin  Berber.  Esq.,  of  one  tenement  parcel  of  the  said  manor  late  in  the  tenure  of  the 
said  Watkin  10s.,  Hoelli  Lin  ap  Hoell  10s.,  Watkyn  ap  Hoell  ap  Lin  10s.,  Jenkyn  ap 
John  10s.,  Lodovici  ap  John  10s.,  Richard  John  Lin  of  tne  town  of  Brecon  10s.,  Edmund 
ap  John  10s.,  Roger  David  Hoell  10s.,  John  Trune  ap  Elin  10s.,  Jenkyn  ap  John  Don 
10s..  all  which  several  tenements  are  parcels  of  the  said  Manor  of  Welsh  Penkelly. 

It  was  agreed  by  the  court  that  the  said  Thomas  Gunter  should  be  attached  by  his 
body  to  answer  to  the  Queen  in  the  premises,  and  the  Sheriff  of  the  county  of  Brecon 
was  commanded  to  attach  him  on  the  23rd  day  of  April  in  this  term,  but  he  did  not 
return  the  writ. 

The  said  Thomas  Gunter  was  committed  to  the  Fleet  Prison  there  to  remain,  etc., 
but  the  same  day  he  was  brought  by  the  warders  of  the  said  prison  to  the  bar  and  by  the 
grace  of  the  court  was  bailed  out  by  John  Ellyot  of  the  City  of  Hereford,  gent.,  and 
Henry  Vaughan  of  Crekehowell  in  co.  Brecon,  gent.,  to  wit,  each  of  them  body  for  body 
until  the  morrow,  and  so  on  from  day  to  day  and  from  term  to  term  until,  &c.,  by  virtue 
of  which  bail  the  said  Thomas  was  released  from  the  said  prison. 

He  then  complained  that  he  had  been  very  badly  and  unjustly  treated  in  the  matter 
and  declared  that  he  had  not  defrauded  the  Queen  of  the  heriots  as  aforesaid. 

He  then  put  himself  on  the  country. 

[Here  the  case  ends.] 


8.— ENGLISH    PENKELLY. 
CHAN.    INQ.    P.M.,    VOL.    129,    No.    4,    8    ELIZ. 

Inquisition  taken  at  Brecknock  in  co.  Brecon  20  January,  8  Eliz.  [1561] ,  before 
Thomas  Solers,  Esq.,  Escheator,  by  the  oath  of  Thomas  Gunter,  Ac.,  &c.,  Jurors,  who 
say  that 

Walter  Viscount,  Hereford,  Lord  Ferrers  and  Charteley,  was  seized  in  his  demesne 
as  of  fee  on  the  day  that  he  died  of  the  manor  of  Piperton  alias  Pipton  in  co.  Brecon, 
which  is  held  of  the  Queen  as  of  her  castle  of  Broyntles  in  the  said  county  by  knights 
service,  and  is  worth  per  ann.  clear,  £G  0.  8. 

The  said  Walter  Viscount  Hereford  was  likewise  seized  to  him  and  his  heirs  male  for 
ever  on  the  day  that  he  died  of  the  lordship  or  manor  of  English  Penkelly  in  the  said 
county,  with  all  the  lands  and  tenements,  meadows,  feedings,  pastures,  woods,  rents, 
reversions,  waters,  fishing  [piscar]  *,  &c.,  thereto  belonging,  and  with  divers  lands  and 
tenements  in  Llandetty  als  Llanthetty  and  elsewhere,  parcel  of  the  aaid  lordship,  and  it 
is  worth  per  ann.,  clear,  besides  the  fees  and  fee  farms  issuing  out  of  the  said  manor  £7. 

The  jurors  further  say  that  Thomas  ap  Glm  who  is  attainted  and  couvicted  of  felony 
held  in  his  demesne  as  of  fee  on  the  day  that  he  was  condemned  one  tenement  at 
Llanthetty  within  the  lordship  of  Penkelly  called  Tire  Richard  ap  Geffrey,  and  that  the 
said  tenement  is  held  of  Walter  Viscount  Hereford  as  of  his  manor  of  Penkelly  aforesaid 
in  socage  by  the  yearly  rent  of  5d.,  and  suit  at  court  and  is  worth  per  aim.  clear,  26s.  8d. 

The  said  Walter  was  also  seized  for  the  term  of  his  life  of  the  manor  of  Llanthomas 
in  the  parish  of  Haya  in  co.  Brecon :  which  said  manor  by  his  death  came  to  Dorothy 
Devereux,  widow,  late  the  wife  of  Richard  Devereux,  knight,  for  her  life,  as  parcel  of  her 
jointure,  the  remainder  after  her  death  to  the  right  heirs  of  the  said  Viscaunt  for  ever  : 
which  said  manor  is  held  of  the  Queen  by  knights  service  as  of  her  castle  of  Haia,  and  by 
a  certain  rent,  and  is  worth  per  ann.,  clear.  £6  10  0. 

Walter  Viscount  Hereford  died  17  September,  5  &  6,  Philip  and  Mary  [1558]  ; 
Walter  Devereux,  Knight,  now  Viscount  Hereford,  Lord  Ferrers  and  Chartley,  son  of 
the  said  Walter  late  Viscount  Hereford  is  his  kinsman  and  next  heir  and  was  aged  19 
years  on  the  16th  day  of  September  in  the  said  5th  and  6th  years. 

*  The  term  "  fishing  "  here  occurs  (piscar). 


(142) 

9.— MANOR    OF    PENKELLYE. 
TRANSLATION  AND  COPY. 

ON    THE    BEHALF    OF    WALTEK    VAUGHAN,    ESQ.,    TO    WIT. 

Court  of  Law  also  of  the  supervisor,  auditor,  and  governor.  Held  at  the  Castle 
there  on  the  first  day  of  December  in  the  fourteenth  year  (?)  of  the  reign  of  the  Lady 
Elizabeth,  by  the  grace  of  God  Queen  of  England,  France,  and  Ireland,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,  &c.  [1560] .  Before  John  Harris  and  Lewis  Meredith  by  virtue  of  a  Commission 
thereof  made  to  them  by  Walter  Vaughan,  Esq.,  the  lord  on  behalf  of  the  said  manor,  as 
by  the  said  Commission  it  may  Ihe  more  appear  and  Beem,  the  date  whereof  is,  &c., 
to  wit. 

ESSOINS. 
JURORS — 

Jenkins  Morgan  Meredith  Phe 

Henricus  Vaughan  Willimus  Edmonde 

Johannes  Morgan  Lodovicus  Kicharde 

Jenkyns  John  Jenkyns  Philippus  Jenkyns 

Watkins  Jenkyns  Riscus  Thorn  ap  Jevan  ap  John 

Gwalterus  Hoell  Johannes  Thome  Jevan  ap  John 

AMERCIAMENTS,  TO  WIT. 

xiid.  xiid.  xiid. 

Who  say  upon  their  oaths  that  Hoel  Llewellyn,  Jenkin  goz,  Robert  Morgan,  Roger 

xiid.  xiid.  xiid.  xiid.  xiid. 

ap  Jevan  DD  ap  Hoell,  Edmond,  Meredith  Games,  Elizabeth  Gounter,  John  Llewellyn, 

xiid.  xiid.  xiid.  xiid. 

William  Watkyn  Gonter,  Jevan  ap  Andrewe,  Thomas  ap  Glln,  Walter  David,  Thomas 

xii,  xiid.  xiid.  xiid. 

ap  John  ap  Jevan  ap  DD,  David  ap  Roger  DD  Hoell,  Lykey  Robard,  Morgan  Griffith, 

xiid.  xiid.  xiid.  xiid. 

Roger  ap  DD  Hoel,  Roger  Thomas,  John  ap  Jevan  John  Richard,  John  Thorn  ap  DD 

xiid.  xiid.  xiid.  xiid. 

Roger  Gough,  Meredyth  ap  Richard,   Watkin  Hoell  Lin,  William  Games,  Esq.,  David 

xiid.  xiid.  xiid. 

Thomas  glim  ap  Jevan  ap  John,  William  Awbrey  Doctor  of  Law,  and  John  Thoma 
John  Thorn  ap  Hoell,  who  owe  suit  at  the  court  of  the  manor  aforesaid  and  made  default, 
therefore  each  of  them  in  mercy  as  appears  over  the  heads  of  them,  to  wit.  And  order 
is  given  by  the  court  to  the  bailiff  to  raise  the  said  amerciaments  out  of  their  goods  and 
chatties  before  She  next  court  to  the  use  of  the  lord  28s. 

FINES,  TO  WIT. 

Also  they  present  "  that  there  Customs  ys,  That  everye  tenant  wythin  the 
Lordeshippe  ought  of  rygthe  to  comence  there  Accons  one  agenst  the  other  in  the  lordes 
Corte  and  not  elsewhere  ether  for  matters  af  Trespas  or  for  anye  other  matters 
determynable  there,  upon  pain  of  Amercyamentes.  Yt  ys  therefore  ordered  by  the 
Courte  that  hereafter  none  of  the  saide  Tenantes  comence  anye  Accone  oute  of  the  sayde 
Courte  ether  for  Trespas  or  other  wyse  uppon  the  payne  of  viis.,  to  be  raised  out  of  their 
goods  and  chatties  to  the  use  of  the  lord.  Except  there  be  lycence  gyvyne  by  the  Lorde 
or  his  offy cers  to  the  Contrarye 7s. 

Morover  they  say  "  that  the  sayde  Lordshippe  syttuatyth  and  lyethe  in  dyvers 
parishes.  That  ys  to  saye,  in  the  parysshe  of  Vaynor,  Landettye,  Llan  Vygan,  Llan 
Vronye,  and  Llan  Saynt  Frege." 

And  they  say  "  that  the  freholders  to  there  knowlige  have  bothe  presented  there 
Tenures  of  freholde  wythe  the  number  of  acres  as  also  the  anuall  Rentes,  and  that  the 
same  Rentes  ys  due  by  there  Custome  to  be  payed  at  the  feast  of  St.  Mychaell 
Tharcbangell  yerlye.  And  there  Commortbe  ys  due  everye  secende  yere  to  be  payid." 

Also  they  present  that  Philip  Jenkynge  holds  his  lands  lying  and  being  at  Llan 
Detty  upon  the  way  there  tenur  Walic  called  Welshe  Tenure. 


(143) 

PAINS,  TO  WIT. 

Also  the  jurors  aforesaid  have  a  day  by  the  court  to  enquire  "  Whether  the  land  and 
inherytance  of  Wakyng  Jenkynge  Morgan,  be  holding  of  this  lordshippe  ether  by  Knyghtes 
service  or  otherwyse,  which  landes  and  tenymentes  lye  and  be  at  Gylston,  and  that  they 
brynge  in  at  the  next  courte  by  verdytt  not  onlye  the  true  tenure  and  quantitye  whether 
by  a  hole  Knyghtes  fee  or  otherwyse,  but  also  whate  marryages  warde  and  Reliffes  hathe 
byne  and  is  conselid  from  the  lorde  "  on  the  side  of  the  next  court  under  pains  to  be 
levied 12s. 

THE  FREE  TENANTS  FOLLOW  AS  WELL  OF  TENURE  AS  OF  YEARLY  BENTS  &  OTHER  SERVICES. 

HERIETES  AFTER  THE  CUSTOME  OF  THE  MANOR,  TO  WIT. 

Yearly  Kent. 
English. — Rees  Thomas  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  in  the  parish  of  Combano 

containing  by  estimation  —  acres  of  land  by  rent  and  service  2s.  4d. 

English. — John   Thomas  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  in  Combano  aforesaid 

containing  by  estimation  —  acres  of  land  by  rent  and  service,  &c Id. 

English. — Jenkin  John  Jenkyng  claims  to  hold  one  water  course  at  Combano 

aforesaid  called  Cledagh  by  rent  and  service,  &c ..        2s. 

Welsh. — Meredyth  Phe  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  at  Llan  Dettye  as  of  free 

tenement  Welsh  containing  by  estimation  9  acres  of  land  by  rent  and 

service,  &c.  8d. 

Welsh. — William  ap  Kees  claims  to  hold  1  tenement  with  the  appurtenances  at 

Llan  Dettye  as  of  free  tenement  Welsh  containing  8  acres  of  land  by 

rent  and  service,  & 4d. 

Welsh. — The  same  William  ap  Rees  holds  one  other  tenement  at  Llandettye 

aforesaid    containing    by   estimation   30   acres   Welsh    by    rent    and 

service,  &o lOd. 

Welsh. — Gwalter  Hoell  claims  to  hold  half  an  acre  of  land  at  Llandettye  as  of 

his  free  tenement  Welsh  by  rent  and  service 2d. 

Welsh. — William  Edmond  claims  to  hold  1  acre  of  land  Welsh  at  Llandettye  as 

of  free  tenement  by  rent,  &c 2d. 

Welsh. — Thomas  ap  John  Baran  claims  to  hold  half  an  acre  Welsh  at  Llandettye 

as  of  free  tenement  by  rent,  &c. ..      4d. 

Welsh. — John  Morgan  ap  John  claims  to  hold  at  Llandettye  4  acres  of  land 

Welsh  in  a  place  called  Earthimadderinge  by  rent,  &c 4d. 

Welsh. — The  same  John  claims  1  tenement  on  the  way  in  the  which  he  lives 

Llandettye,    containing    24    acres    of    land    Welsh,     by    estimation, 

by  rent,  &c 8d. 

Wetsh. — David  Jenkyng  ap  Kees  claims  to  hold  4  acres  of  land  Welsh  at  Llan 

Vygan  by  rent Id. 

Welsh, — Welthian  vz  Hoell  claims  to  hold  5  acres  of  land  Welsh  at  Llan  Vygon 

by  estimation  by  rent  and  servico 4d. 

Welsh. — Roger  ap  Jevan  DD  Hoell  claims  to  hold  4  acres  of  land  at  Llan 

Vigon  Welsh,  as  of  free  tenement  by  rent  and  service,  &c 2d. 

English. — Jevan  John  Jenkyng  claims  to  hold  1  tenement  with  the  appurten- 
ances at  Llan,  containing  by  estimation  10  acres  English  by  rent,  &c....      4s. 
English. — Neast,  wife  of  John  Thomas  DD,  claims  to  hold  1  tenement  with  the 

appurtenances  in  Vaynor  at  of  free  tenement  containing  —  acres  by 

rent,  «fec.    16s  8d. 

English. — Rogerus    Goz    claims    to    hold   certain   lands   there   containing   by 

estimation  —  acres  by  rent  and  service,  &c,    2d. 

English. — The  same  Koger  claims  to  hold  another  tenure  there  by  rent,  &c Id. 

English. — Jenkyng  Goz  claims  to  hold  there  certain  lands  by  rent,  &c 8s.  4d. 

Welsh. — Robert  Morgan  Richard  Morgan  Lin  Morgan  John  Morgan  Mawde 

vz  Hoell  Morgan  for  their  Welsh  lands  there  by  rent     2s. 


(144) 

Welsh.— John  Lin  claims  to  hold  8  parcels  of  land  at  Llandettye,  one  parcel 

whereof  is  called  Teyer  Jeny  Proser,  the  second  is  called  Teyer  Ykaye 

in  Wenalte,  and  the  third  is  called  Teyer  Nest  .Richard,  containing  by 

estimation  18  acres  Welsh  by  the  rent,  &c ...      12d. 

Welsh. — Meredyth  ap  Eees  claims  to  hold  1  tenement  with  the  appurtenances  in 

a  places  called  Tavehan  by  rent  and  service,  &c.,  Welsh 2s.  8d. 

Welsh. — Watkin   Hoell  Llin  claims  to  hold  1  tenement  with  the  appurtenances 

by  Welsh  tenure,  by  rent  and  and  service,  &c  — 12d. 

Welsh. — Thomas  Lin  claims  to  hold  certain  lands  as  of  his  free  tenement  in  the 

place  called  Cranant  as  of  Welsh  tenure,  by  rent,  & ...     lOd. 

Welsh. — Jevan   Meredyth  claims  to  hold  1  tenement  with  the  appurtenances  in 

the  place  called  Llanvigan  by  Welsh  tenure,  by  rent,  &c. 12d. 

Welsh. — Philip  Jenkyng  4  acres  of  Welsh  land  and  as  the  jurors  present  to  this 

court  he  holds  them  as  of  free  tenement  at  Llandettye  by  rent,  &c lOd. 

Welsh. — Meredyth   Games  claims  to  hold  as  of  free  tenement  certain  parcels  of 

land  in  Llan  St.  Fryde  by  rent  and  service  as  Welsh  lands    2d. 

English. — Lewys  Eychard  Gunter,  Esq.,  claims  to  hold  certain  lands  at  Llan 

Vygan  as  of  free  tenement  by  English  tenure  by  rent,  &c 5s.  4d. 

English. — Koger  Thomas  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances 

at  Llan  St.  Bryde  as  of  English  tenure  by  rent  and  service,  &c 16d. 

Welsh  — Jenkin  Morgan  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  at  Llan  Vronye  as  of  free 

tenement  by   Welsh  tenure  containing   12  acres  of  land,  but  in  the 

Court  Rolls  it  appears  to  be  held  by  indenture  and  not  of  free  tenement 

Welsh.     Therefore  query,  by  rent 20d. 

Welsh. — John  Edmond  claims  to  hold  one  acre  of  land  as  by  Welsh  tenure  by 

the  rent  and  tervice  thereof  first  due  and  of  right  accustomed 2d. 

Welsh. — William   Watkynge   Gunter  claims   to   hold   one   tenement   with  the 

appurtenances  at  Llan  Vygan  as  of  free  tenement  Welsh,  by  rent,  &c.  2s.  3d. 
Query. — Watkin   Jenkynge   Morgan  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  at  Gylston 

containing  by  estimation  60  acres  of  land,  but  by  what  service  and 

tenure  the  jurors  aforesaid  upon  their  oaths  ought  to  present  at  the 

next  court,  by  the  re-'t  4d. 

Welsh. — The  same  Watkin   claims  to   hold  one  other  tenement   at    Talybant 

[containing  by]  estimation  10  acres  Welsh  by  rent  and  service,  &c.    ...       4d. 
English. — Jevan  ^p  Androwe  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances 

as  of  his  free  tenement  English  by  rent  and  service,  &c.     ..  lOd. 

Welsh. —  ihomas  glim  goz  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances 

of  his  free  tenement  Welsh  by  rent  and  service,  &c 2d. 

Welsh. — Walter  David  claims  to  hold  certain  lands  at  Llan  Vygan  as  of  his  free 

tenement  Welsh  by  rent  and  service,  &c 8d. 

English. — Thomas  ap  Thomas  claims  to  hold  certain  lands  at  Llanvygan  as  of 

his  free  tenement  English  by  rent  and  service      lid. 

Welsh. — David  ap  Roger  DD  ap  Hoell  claims  to  hold  certain  lands  at  Llan 

Vygan  as  of  his  free  tenement  Welsh  by  rent  and  service   Hd. 

English. — Llykye  Rycbard  claims  to  hold  certain  lands  at  Llan  Vygo  as  of  his 

free  Unement  English  by  rent  and  service,  &c lid. 

Welsh. — Jenkin  DD  Thomas  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances 

at  Llan   Vygan  containing  by  estimation  5  acres  Welsh  by  rent  and 

service    .  .  ,  ..      5d. 


Sum   £1  17s.  7d. 


TENANTS  WHO  HOLD  BY  INDENTURE  OF  CERTAIN  DEMISES. 
Jevan  John  ap  Jevan  Madock  holds  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances 
and  a  parcel  of  land  called  Teyr  Todogan  for  the  term  of  his  life  of  the  demise 
(lease)  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  dated  the  20th  day  of  September  in  the  4th  and 
5th  year  of  Phillip  and  Mary,  by  service  and  rent,  &c 5s. 


(145) 

Walter  William  with  others  holds  by  Indenture  divers  parcels  of  land  for 
the  term  of  his  life,  lying  between  the  water  there  called  gunles  of  the  demise 
(lease)  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  dated  the  20th  day  of  December  in  the  I0th 
year  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  rent  18s.  4d. 

The  same  Walter  Glim  and  others  hold  by  indenture  for  term  of  life  2 
messuages  of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Vaghan  his  son, 
dated  the  last  day  of  May  in  the  first  year  of  the  reign  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by 
the  rent 5s.  4d. 

The  same  Walter  Glim  holds  by  indenture  one  close  of  land  called  Guys 
Goules  by  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  his  son,  dated  the 
last  day  of  May  in  the  1st  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  rent  5s.  lOd. 

The  same  Walter  Glim  holds  by  indenture  one  tenement  with  the  appur- 
tenances called  Teyer  Courte  of  the  demise  of  Richard  Vaghan,  Knight,  for  the 
term  of  99  years,  dated  the  14th  day  of  January,  20  Hen.  VIII.,  by  the  rent  18s.  4d. 

Jenkin  ap  Rosser  holds  by  indenture  one  barn  with  4  acres  of  land,  Welsh, 
of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  for  the  term  of  20  years,  dated  the  10th 
day  of  January  in  the  9th  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  rent,  &c Ss.  4d. 

Thomas  ap  Jevaa  Hyggine  holds  by  indenture  one  tenement  with  the 
appurtenances  of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  for  the  term  of  21  years, 
the  patrimony  of  Jevan  ap  Higgin  by  the  last  will  of  his  father  which  is  Hated 
the  22nd  day  of  September  in  the  5ih  and  6th  year  of  Philip  and  Mary.  &c.  8s.  4d. 

Henry  Vaghan  holds  by  indenture  one  tenement  with  the  water  course  with 
the  appurtenances  of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  for  the  term  of  21 
years,  the  date  whereof  is  the  6th  day  of  May  in  the  13th  year  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  by  rent,  &c ..  10s. 

Jevan  Hoell  holds  by  indenture  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances  of  the 
demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  his  son,  not  shown 2s. 

Morgan  ap  Eichard  ap  Hoell  holds  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances  of 
the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Vaghan  his  son,  for  the  term 
of  his  life,  dated  the  last  day  of  May  in  the  1st  year  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  by  the 
rent  6s.  8d. 

Morgan  ap  DD  of  Llan  St.  Frede  holds  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances 
of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Vaghan  his  son,  for  the 
term  of  21  years,  dated  the  4th  day  of  October,  11  Eliz.,  by  rent 6s.  8d. 

William  Thomas  ap  Jevan  ap  Phe  and  others  hold  equally  one  tenement 
with  the  appurtenances  of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  for  term  of  life, 
dated  the  last  day  of  January,  4  Edw.  6,  by  the  rent.. 16s.  8d. 

Margaret  ap  Hoell  holds  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances  of  the 
demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  for  the  term  of  21  years,  as  it  is  said,  but  not 
shown  8s. 

Johan  DD  ap  Wakyng,  widow,  claims  to  hold  one  tenement  with  the 
appurtenances  at  the  will  of  the  Lord  during  her  life,  by  rent 4d. 

David  ap  Morgan  ap  Jevan  and  others  hold  one  tenement  with  the  appur- 
tenances of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Vaghan  his  son, 
for  the  term  of  his  life,  dated  the  20th  day  of  October,  8  Eliz.,  by  the  rent  ..  .  23s.  4d. 

Morgan  ap  Jevan  ap  Morgan  holds  one  tenement  with  the  appurtenances 
of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  for  the  term  of  his  life,  dated  29  August, 
8  Eliz.,  by  the  rent 8s.  4d. 

John  ap  Jevan  ap  John  Yghan  with  others  holds  one  tenement  of  the 
demise  of  Walter  Vaghan,  Esq.,  for  term  of  life,  dated  2  October,  5  Eliz.,  by  rent  10s. 

Andrew  Watkyng  holds  by  indenture  one  way  leading  to  the  common  there 
called  Combano,  not  shown,  by  the  rent 12d. 

Morgan  Gryffyth  of  Penkellye  claims  by  indenture  here  one  orchard  in 
Penkellye  aforesaid,  but  it  is  not  shown,  by  the  rent 2d. 

Madock  ap  DD  and  Phe  Madock  ap  DD  hold  one  tenement  at  St.  Brydes 
by  indenture  of  the  demise  of  Richard  Vaghan,  Knight,  for  a  term  of  years,  as  it 
is  said,  but  not  shown,  by  the  rent 5s. 


(146) 

William  ap  Bees  holds  by  indenture  of  the  demise  of  Walter  Vaghan  the 
moiety  of  one  close  of  land  called  Guys  goules  Issa  for  the  term  of  21  years, 
dated  the  7th  day  of  May,  6  Eliz.,  by  rent 5s.  lOd. 

The  same  William  holds  by  indenture  of  the  demise  of  Richard  Vaghan, 
Knight,  one  close  of  land  called  Kay  Eynon  for  the  term  of  99  years,  dated  the 
6th  day  of  July,  29  Hen.  8,  by  the  rent  20d. 

The  same  William  holds  at  the  will  of  the  lord  one  close  of  land  called  Kay 
Juer  by  the  rent  and  service  thereof,  &c 3s.  4d. 

Sum  .  .  £7  18s.  lOd. 


Sum  total  of  the  yearly  rent  by  the  year  there,  except  Comortha 
and  the  perquisites  of  the  court,  as  it  shall  happen,  to  wit    £10  11s.  5d. 


COMORTHA  TO  BE  PAID  EVERY  SECOND  YEAR. 

Meredith  John  Meredyth  2d. 

Walter  Hoell  2s. 

DD  ap  Bosser  DD  Hoell    lOd. 

Lykye  Eichard,  widow lOd. 

Thomas  ap  Thomas    ...  8d. 

Walter  David 4d. 

William  ap  Bees     lOd. 

The  same  William 3d. 

John  Morgan 3d. 

Meredyth  Games Id. 


Sum  6s.  3d. 


FREE  TENANTS  WHO  OWE  SUIT  AT  COURT  PAY  NOTHING  BUT  HERIOTS. 

The  jurors  say  upon  their  oaths  that  William  Games,  Esq.,  for  his  lands  at  Llan 
Vronye,  James  Apparrye,  Esq.,  for  his  lands  at  Llan  Vronye,  William  Awbrey,  Doctor 
of  Laws,  at  Llan  Vronye,  John  Walbye,  gentleman,  for  lands  in  the  parish  of  Brenocke, 
John  Thomas  ap  John  for  lands  at  Llan  Vruges  (?),  William  Thomas  ap  Jenkjng  for 
lands  at  Llan  Vygos,  Meredyth  John  Meredyth  for  lands  at  Llan,  and  Thomas  ap  Jevan 
for  lands  at  Llan  Vronye,  owe  suit  at  every  court  held  within  the  manor  of  Penkelly 
aforesaid  by  reasonable  summons,  and  to  do  all  other  charges  thereof  first  due  and  of 
right  accustomed,  &c. 

***  Several  tenants  of  the  Manor  are  said  to  be  "  free."  They  owed  suit  at 
Court,  but  paid  nothing  beyond  Heriots  at  death.  The  names  of 
William  Games,  James  Apparry.  William  Awbrey,  and  John  Walbye 
occur  among  these  free  tenants. 


\ 


10.— MANOB    OF    PENKELLY. 

19    ELIZ.,    VOL.    177,    No.    53. 

CHAN.  INQN.  P.M. 

Inquisition  taken  at  Stratford  Llangthorne  in  co.  Essex  7  February,  19  Eliz.  [1577] 
before  Thomas  Harrington,  Knt.,  and  others,  after  the  death  of  Walter  Earl  of  Essex,  by 
the  oath  of  William  Dunce,  &c.,  &c.,  jurors,  who  say  that 

The  said  Earl  was  seized  of  the  Manor  of  Hallingburye  Parva  alias  Hallingburie 
Bourghcher  in  co.  Essex,  &c.,  &c. 

So  seized,  the  said  Earl  made  his  will  13  June,  1576,  as  follows  : 

And  furthermore  I  leave  to  descend  to  my  heir  in  course  of  inheritance  the  manors 
of  Newington,  &c.,  &c.  .  .  .  and  all  that  my  manor  of  Penkelly  with  the 


(147) 

appurtenances  in  co.  Brecknock,  with  all  and  singular  my  lands,  tenements,  rents, 
revenues  and  hereditaments  in  Newingtou  and  Penkelley,  &c.,  &c.,  which  said  premises 
are  a  full  third  part  of  all  ray  manors,  lands,  &c. 

The  said  Earl  of  Essex  died  22  September  last  past ;    Eobert  now  Earl  of  Essex  is 
bis  son  and  heir,  and  was  aged  11  years  on  the  10th  day  of  November  last  past. 


11.— MANOR     OF    PENKELLY     CASTLE. 

A  true  and  perfect  Survey  and  Eent  Roll  of  the  names  of  all  the  tennantes  of  the 
said  Mannor  and  Lordshippe  of  John  Powell,  Gentleman,  together  with  the 
severall  summes  due  uppon  each  of  the  said  t<-nantes  uppon  theire  severall  and 
respective  Lands  as  at  theire  names  appeareth  and  payable  unto  the  said  John 
Powell,  Gentleman,  at  every  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  archangell  yearly. 

VAYNOR  PARISHE. 

William  Morgan,  Esq.,  for  two  paro.ells  of  Landes  in  Vaynor. 

Richard  David  for  his  house  and  landes  called  Pen-y-Gelly. 

Lewis  William  Thomas  for  his  house  and  lands  in  Pen-y-Gelly  wherein  Johan 
Thomas  now  liveth. 

William  Meredith  for  his  house  and  lands  called  Pen-yr-adwy-Meane. 

Roger  William  for  his  house  and  landes  wherein  he  now  liveth  by  Pont-y-Stickell. 

Richard  David,  junior,  for  his  house  and  landes  called  Llwyn-y-Braine. 

Lewis  William  for  his  house  and  landes  where  William  Edward  John  Traharne 
liveth  called  Pant-y- Vaynor. 

The  said  Lewis  for  ye  severall  houses  and  landes  called  Tyr  Bryn  Rees. 

Lewis  Watkin  Richard  for  the  landes  lyeinge  betweene  Bryn  Rees  and  Pant-y- Vaynor. 

Richard  William  and  William  John  for  ye  house  and  lands  called  Pen  Rhyw  yr 
Glaish. 

Morgan  Frees  William  for  his  house  and  landes  att  Pen  Rhwy  yr  Glaish. 

John  Robert  for  the  severall  houses  and  landes  wherein  his  mother  and  he  now  live. 

Henry  William  for  his  house  and  landes  lyeinge  bettweene  the  landes  of  John 
Robert  and  Koed-y-Rymor. 

Thomas  Jenkin,  senior,  for  his  house  and  landes. 

Thoma*  Jenkin  Phillipp  for  his  house  and  landes  in  Taue  Vaure. 

The  said  Thomas  Jenkin  Phillipp  for  his  house  and  landes  where  in  Rees  William 
and  Miriah  Powell  now  live. 

John  Thomas  for  his  house  and  lands  called  Abercarr. 

Walter  Jones,  gentleman,  for  the  severall  houses  and  landes  called  Tyr-y-fedye. 

The  said  Walter  Jones  for  the  house  and  landes  where  Jenkin  John  Rees  now  liveth. 

William  Morgan  for  Tir-y-Grauten  and  his  house  and  landes  where  he  now  liveth. 

William  Meredith  for  his  house  and  landes  called  Dan-y-Graig  in  Taue  Vaure. 

Edward  David  for  his  house  and  landes  in  Taue  Vaure. 

The  lands  where  Evan  John  Bevan  now  liveth. 

Jonnett  Watkin  Meredith  for  the  lands  wherein  Morgan  Robert  now  liveth. 

William  Howell  for  his  house  and  landes  called  Tyr-y-Cwne. 

LLANFIGNACH   PARISHE. 

The  Lady  Beachampe  for  the  landes  in  the  handes  of  Phillip  Maddocke  and 
Watkyn  Gwynn. 

Richard  Jones  for  his  house  and  landes  now  in  the  occupation  of  William  Howell. 

Phillip  Madockes  for  the  house  and  lands  where  he  now  liveth. 

The  Lady  Beachampe  for  the  house  and  landes  where  Thomas  David  Prees  now 
liveth. 

Henry  Thomas  for  the  house  and  landes  where  Howell  Thomas  David  Meredith 
now  liveth. 

Richard  John  Meredith  for  his  house  and  landes  called  Cumcynwyn. 


(148) 

Gwenllian,  the  wife  of  Howell  Meredith,  for  her  houre  and  lands. 

Thomas  Gunter  for  the  landes  called  Tille  Lloyd. 

LLANVAN    ( ?)    PARISH. 

John  Jeffreys,   Esq>iire,   for  the  house  and  the  pi.  above  the  house  in  Edstroogew- 
wynne. 

Eichard   Jeffreys,    Esq.,   for   the   lands   late   of   William   Powell   and   now   in   the 
possession  of  John  Bevan. 

John  Jeffreys  for  the  lands  called  Aperpedole. 

Edward  Powell,  Esq.,  for  his  landes  in  Penkelly,  late  of  William  Vaughan. 

Edward  Powell,  Esq.,  for  the  house  of  Harry  the  smyth. 

Edward  Powell.  Esq.,  for  the  house  of  Poolsurpill  and  Kadbach. 

William  Jones,  Esq.,  for  the  lands  called  Y  Pank  (?)  Gwynn  ne  Gwrlod  Howell  Bach. 

William  Jones,  Esq.,  for  Tyr  Blaen  Cuy. 

Edward  Games  for  Tyr  Kilvach  Collan. 

John  Games  for  Tyr  Llwyn  y  Buttur. 

Gladis  Gunter,  widdow,  for  Tir  Errow  yr  Ffynon. 

Gladis  Gunter,  widow,  for  the  old  house  and  the  close  by  the  house  where  Jenkin 
John  lives. 

Walter  Phillips  for  the  house  and  the  meadow  by  the  house  of  Bwyn-y-Bair. 

Thomas  Bowens,  Esq.,  for  Tyr  Pant  y  Goytre. 

Thomas  Bowens,  Esq.,  for  Ehandyr  Ychlow  yr  Ffordd,  being  the  lands  of  Watkin 
Bevan. 

William  Pritchard  for  his  land  called  Tyr-y-Apediodd. 

David  ap  Evan  for  Tyr  Kaye-yr-Allt  called  Errw-yr-Spydwydd. 

Lewis  Gunter,  gent.,  for  Barnartand  Wytkerne  (?). 

Lewis  Gunter,  gent.,  for  his  landes  Y  Bir  erne. 

Thomas  Bowens,  Esq.,  for  his  landes  called  Tir  Lewis  William  Kae  Ycha,  Kae  Yssa 
and  Kae  Kennoll. 

Jeukin  John  for  the  house  and  garden. 

Howell  Powell  (?)  for  the  old  soyle  and  orchyard  called  Ty  Pen-y-Twyn. 

Henry  Games  for  his  landes  called  Rhandir  y  Porth. 

Mary  Powell  for  her  landes  called  Kae  Scogin,  late  in  ye  occupacion  of  John  Morgan. 

Mary  Powell  for  ye  landes  called  Kas  Janewaka,  late  in  the  occupation  of  John 
Morgan. 

Meredith  John  for  the  house  and  garden  where  he  liveth. 

For  Tyr  Close  y  Porth. 

David  ap  Evan  for  Tyr  David  ap  Howell. 

LLANVRYNACH. 

Bartholomew  Games  for  ye  landes  of  Tregare. 

John  Maddocks  for  Katermele  Keven  yr  Hendynwyn  y  Pwll,  y  Kefan. 

Gladis  Gunter  for  her  landes  called  Kaesykollogy. 

Evan  Powell  for  his  [house]  aod  landes  in  Cum-Morgum. 

John  Madocks  for  his  landes  called  Y  Kayre. 

William  Meredith  for  his  landes  called  Kae  William  Brick. 

LLANVILLO   PARISHE. 

Edmond  Jones,  Esq.,  for  his  house  and  landes  in  Trevithe  (?)  called  Y  Wurd  (?). 
John  Williams,  Esq.,  for  his  landes  called  Terllenovalle. 

John   Williams,  Esq.,  for  the  lands  wherein  William  Howell  lives  called  Tyr  (?) 
Dar  yr  Allt. 

John  Williams,  Esq.,  for  part  of  the  house  and  landes  called  (?)   

[MEMBRANE   2.] 

Morgan  Thomas  Bowen  for  ye  house  and  lands  where  he  now  dwelleth  in  Tyllecrwnn. 
Thomas  ap  Thomas  of  Tallachdy  for  his  landes  in  Llanvillo. 


(149) 

Owen  Christopher. 

Roger  Havard  for  the  house  and  landes  called  Keven  y  Ffordd. 

William  John  Frees  for  his  house  and  garden  in  Tredomen. 

Jonnet  Havard. 

James  Parry  of  Trostrey,  gent. 

Hugh  Lewis  of  Trevithe. 

William  Awbrey  of  Brecon  for  his  garden. 

Watkin  Frees  for  his  house  and  garden. 

Thomas  David  for  a  house,  barne,  and  one  close  in  Trevithe. 

Thomas  Havard  for  three  acres  of  land  by  Allt  yr  Honow. 

LLANDDETTY   PABISHE. 

John  Morgan  for  ye  house  and  lauds  of  Glawcod. 
John  Morgan  for  ye  meadow  by  Wenallt  House. 
Richard  Jenkin  for  his  house  and  Coadkae  yr  Mort. 
David  Richard  Jenkin  for  ye  Gelly  Bant. 
Howell  Frees  for  part  of  the  lands  of  Gelly  Bant. 
Thomas  Gunter  for  the  landes  called  Kae  Katherin  Gunter. 
John  Howell  Gunter  for  his  lands  called  Tyr  y  Barren. 
For  the  lands  of  Abercriban. 

William  Phillip  Lewis  for  the  house  and  landes  where  he  dwelleth. 
David  Richard  Jenkin  for  his  landes  called  Tyr  Bryn  y  Gwynydd. 
William  Lewis  for  Tyr  yr  Yskir. 
William  Thomas  and  Richard  Watkin  for  the  house  and  landes  where  they  dwell. 
Lewis  Richard  Jenkin  for  the  laudes  called  Yr  Wrlode  hiz  ar  Ian  ta  fe  vechan. 
Edward  Powell,  esquier,  for  Tir  y  Dole  Bach. 

Thomas  Powell  for  his  landes,  late  in  the  occupacion  of  John  Tho.    Wm.  in  ye 
Wenallt. 

Barsillay  Jones  for  Tir  y  ke  fen  called  Y  Kae  Gwynn. 

LLANSANFHEAD. 
William  Bowen,  Esq. 
Henry  Vaughau,  Doctor  of  Physick. 

Cottagers  in  Vaynor  Parishe. 

[ENDORSED]    MANOR   or   PENKELLY   CASTLE. 

An  ancient  Survey  and  Rent  Roll  without  date  (in  a  later  handwriting)   in   the 
time  of  Hugh  Powell,  gent. 


12.— GRANT    OF    ENGLISH    PENKELLY    MANOR    TO    RICHARD    AND 

EDWARD    STANHOPE. 

PATENT  ROLL,  43  ELIZ.,  PAKT  8,  MEMB.  37-89  (1601). 

OF  A  GRANT  TO  HIMSELF  AND  His  HEIRS  FOR  MICHAEL  STANHOPE,  ESQ.,  AND  OTHERS. 

The  Queen  to  all  to  whom,  &c.,  greeting.  Know  ye  that  We  in  consideration  of  the 
sum  of  £779  19s.  6d.  in  hand  paid  to  the  Receipt  of  Our  Exchequer  into  the  hands  of 
Our  beloved  servant  Edward  Carie,  Knight,  to  Our  use,  by  Our  beloved  subject  Michael 
Stanhope,  Esq.,  one  of  the  grooms  of  Our  Privy  Chamber  of  Our  special  grace,  certain 
knowledge  and  mere  motion  have  given  and  granted  and  by  these  presents  for  Us  Our 
heirs  and  successors  do  give  and  grant  to  the  said  Michael  Stanhope  and  to  Our  beloved 
subject  Edward  Stanhope,  Doctor  of  Laws  and  one  of  the  Masters  of  Our  Court  of 
Chancery,  and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns  all  that  Our  manor  of  English  Penkelly  alias 
English  Pinkelley  alias  English  Pynkelly,  in  our  County  of  Brecon,  with  all  its  rights, 
members  and  appurtenances  by  the  particular  thereof  of  the  yearly  rent  or  value  of 


(150) 

£18  11s.  5d.  per  annum,  late  parcel  of  the  lands  and  possessions  of  Robert  late  Earl  of 
Essex,  lately  attainted  of  high  treason  ;  also  all  and  singular  the  messuage?,  mills, 
houses,  buildings,  structures,  barns,  stables,  dove  cotes,  orchards,  appleyards,  gardens, 
shops,  cellars,  sollars,  lands,  tenements,  meadows,  feedings,  pastures,  commons,  demesne, 
lands,  wastes,  furze,  heath,  moors,  marshes,  woods,  underwoods,  tithes  of  sheaves,  corn, 
grain!  hay,  wool,  linen,  hemp  and  lambs  and  all  other  tithes  whatsoever  as  well  great  as 
small ;  also  oblations,  obventions,  fruits,  profits,  waters,  fishings,  fisheries,  suits,  sock, 
mulcture,  warrens,  mines,  quarries,  rents,  reversions  and  services,  rent  charges,  rents 
dry  and  rt-nts  and  services  as  well  of  free  as  of  customary  tenants,  works  of  tenants. 
farms,  fee  farms,  annuities,  knights  fees,  wards,  marriages,  escheats,  reliefs,  heriots, 
fines,  amerciaments,  courts  leet,  views  of  frank  pledge,  perquisites  and  profits  of  courts 
and  leets,  and  all  things  belonging  to  courts  le  t  and  views  of  frank  pledge,  cattle  waived, 
estrays,  bondmen,  bondwomen  and  villeins  with  their  belongings,  estovers  and  commons 
of  estover,  fairs,  markets,  tolls,  customs,  rights,  jurisdictions,  franchises,  privileges, 
profits,  commodities,  emoluments  and  hereditaments  whatsoever,  with  all  their 
appurtenances  of  whatsoever  kind,  nature  or  sort,  or  by  whatsoever  names  they  may  be 
known  or  called,  lying,  being,  forthcoming,  growing  or  emerging  within  the  said  County 
of  Brecon  to  the  said  manor  and  other  the  premises  above  by  these  presents  granted,  or 
any  of  them  in  any  way  belonging,  appertaining,  incident  or  appendent  or  reputed  to  be 
member,  part  or  parcel  of  the  said  manor  and  other  the  premises  or  any  of  them ;  also 
the  reversion  and  reversions  whatsoever  of  all  the  said  manors,  messuages,  lands, 
tenements  and  hereditaments  whatsoever,  and  of  every  part  thereof. 

We  also  give  to  the  said  Michael  arid  Edward  Stanhope  their  heirs  and  assigns  all 
and  all  manner  of  Our  woods,  underwoods  and  trees  whatsoever  growing  in  and  upon 
all  and  singular  the  premises  or  any  part  thereof ;  and  all  the  land,  ground  and  soil  of 
the  same  woods,  underwoods  and  trees  ;  also  the  reversion  and  reversions  of  all  the  said 
premises  ;  also  the  rents  and  yearly  profits  whatsoever  reserved  upon  whatsoever  demises 
or  grants  made  of  the  said  premises  or  any  part  thereof;  also  the  rents  and  yearly  profits 
of  all  and  singular  the  said  premises. 

Also  We  have  given  and  granted  by  these  presents  to  the  said  Michael  and  Edward 
Stanhope  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever  that  they  may  have  hold  and  enjoy  within 
the  said  premises  all,  so  much,  such  and  the  like  courts  leet,  views  of  frank  pledge, 
law  dai«s,  assize  and  assize  of  bread,  wine  and  ale,  cattle  waived,  estrays,  chattels  of 
felons  and  fugitives,  felons  of  themselves  and  put  in  exigend,  deodands,  knights  fees, 
wards,  marriages,  escheats,  reliefs,  herriots,  free  warrens  and  all  other  rights,  jurisdictions, 
franchises,  liberties,  customs,  profi's,  commodities,  emoluments  and  hereditaments 
whatsoever  as,  which  and  suchlike,  and  as  fully,  freely,  and  wholly,  and  in  such  ample 
manner  and  furm  as  the  aforesaid  Robert  late  Earl  of  Essex,  or  any  other  at  any  time 
heretofore  held  the  said  manor,  messuages,  lands,  tenements,  and  other  ihe  premises  or 
any  part  thereof,  by  reason  of  any  charter,  gift,  grant  or  confirmation  heretofore  made 
or  granted  by  Us  or  by  any  of  Our  progenitors,  and  as  fully  and  freely  and  in  such  ample 
manner  and  form  as  We  or  any  of  Our  progenitors  had  or  enjoyed  the  said  premises. 

We  also  by  these  presents  give  and  giant  to  the  said  Michael  and  Edward  and  their 
heirs  and  assigns  all  the  said  premises  with  all  their  appurtenances  as  fully,  freeh ,  and 
wholly  and  in  such  amp'e  manner  and  form  as  the  said  premises  came  into  Our  hands 
or  into  the  hands  of  Our  most  dear  father  and  brother  Henry  the  8th  and  Edward  the 
6th,  late  Kings  of  England,  or  into  the  hands  of  Our  most  dear  sister  Mary,  late  Queen 
of  England,  by  reason  of  the  dissolution  or  surrender  of  any  of  the  late  monasteries  or 
Priories,  or  by  pretext  of  any  exchange  or  purchase,  or  of  any  gift  or  grant,  or  of  any 
attainder  or  forfeiture,  or  by  leason  of  any  Act  of  Parliament,  or  by  reason  of  escheats 
or  any  other  lawful  manner,  right,  or  title  :  Which  said  Manor  of  English  Penkelley  by 
the  particular  thereof  extends  to  the  yearly  rent  or  value  of  £18  lls.  5d.  per  annum  : 
Except  nevertheless  and  always  reserving  to  Us  and  Our  heirs  all  advowsons,  free  gifts, 
and  right  of  patronage  of  all  and  singular  Churches,  vicarages,  chapels,  and  ecclesiastical 
benefices  whatsoever  to  the  said  premises  belonging  and  appertaining  :  To  have,  hold, 
and  enjoy  the  said  manor,  messuages,  lands,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.,  and  all  and  singular  the 


(151) 

premises  above  expressed  and  specified,  and  the  reversion  of  all  the  said  premises,  except 
as  above  excepted,  to  the  said  Michael  and  Edward  Stanhope,  their  heirs  and  assigns, 
to  the  sole  use  of  them,  their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever  :  To  hold  all  the  said  premises  of 
Us(  Our  heirs  and  successors  as  of  Our  manor  of  East  Greenwich,  in  co.  Kent,  by  fealty 
only  in  free  and  common  socage  and  not  in  chief  or  by  knights  service  for  all  other  rents, 
services,  exactions,  and  demands  whatsoever  thereof  to  Us.  Our  heirs  and  successors  in 
any  way  to  be  paid,  rendered,  or  made. 

And  further  We  give  to  the  said  Michael  and  Edward  all  the  issues,  rents,  revenues, 
and  profits  of  all  the  said  premises  and  of  every  part  thereof  from  the  Feast  of  the 
Annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin  last  past  forthcoming  or  growing  up  to  the 
present  time  :  To  have  to  them  of  Our  gift,  without  any  account  of  the  same  to  be  made 
to  Us  or  Our  heirs. 

[Then  follow  clauses  as  to  corrodies,  fees,  annuities,  &c.,  with  various  exceptions  ; 
also  commands  as  to  the  enrolment  of  the  said  Letters  Patent,  notwithstanding,  &c.,  &c.] 

Witness  the  Queen  at  Westminster  the  4th  day  of  September. 

By  writ  of  Privy  Seal,  &c. 

16.— [INDORSED].— WALES.— RENTAL    OF    PENKELLY    WALLENSIS. 

COM.    BRECON. 

RECEITED   DEC.    IST,    1787. 

Among  the  Records  in  the  custody  of  the  Keeper  of  Her  Majesty's  Land  Revenue 
Records  and  Enrolments  in  Box  No.  43,  is  the  following  : — 

LAND  REVENUE  OFFICE, 

SCOTLAND  YARD. 

The  Commissioners  appointed  by  an  Act  of  Parliament,  intituled,  "  An  Act  for 
appointing  Commissioners  to  enquire  into  the  State  and  Condition  of  the  Woods,  Forests, 
and  Land  Revenues  belonging  to  the  Crown,  and  to  sell  or  alienate  Fee  Farm  and  other 
unimprovable  Rents,"  do,  in  Pursuance  of  the  said  Act,  hereby  require  you  to  make  out 
and  transmit  to  them  a  Rental,  of  all  the  Rents  due  to  the  Crown  in  your  Collection 
within  the  Manor  or  Lordship  of  Penkelley  Wallensis  otherwise  Welsh  Penkelly  (according 
to  the  Form  herewith  sent  you)  specifying  the  Amount  of  each  Rent,  for  what  Messuages, 
Lands,  or  Tenements  the  same  is  payable  ;  and  whether  such  Messuages,  Lands,  or 
Terements  are  Freehold,  Copyhold,  or  Leasehold  under  the  Crown  ;  the  Land  Tax  (if 
any)  allowed  out  of  each  Rents  (sic) ;  the  Names  and  Residence  of  the  persons  from 
whom  the  same  are  due  ;  and  to  what  time  each  Rent  is  paid  ;  and  where  any  Rent  is 
more  than  one  year  in  arrear,  to  state  the  reason  why  such  Rents  have  not  been  collected  ; 
with  any  other  Observations  which  you  may  think  fit  to  make  relative  thereto,  such 
Rental  to  be  verified  on  Oath  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  transmitted  to  this 
Board  on  or  before  the  last  day  of  November  next. 

Given  under  our  Hands  and  Seals  this  Eighteenth  Day  of  September,  1787. 

(Sd.)  CHAS.  MIDDLE-TON. 
(Sd.)  JNO.  CALL. 
To 

The  Bailiff  of  Penkelley  Wallensis,  otherwise 
Welsh  Penkelley,  in  the  County  of  Brecon. 

FORM  OF  THE  ACCOUNT. 

MANOR  OR  LORDSHIP  OF  PENKELLEY  WALLENSIS,  OTHERWISE  WELSH  PENKELLEY, 

IN  COM.  BRECON. 

A  Rental  of  all  the  Rents  due  and  payable  to  his  Majesty  within  the  Manor  or 
Lordship  aforesaid  in  the  Collection  of  the  Bailiff  there  made  out  in  pursuance  of  a 
Precept  from  the  Commissioners  of  the  Land  Revenue  dated  the  Eighteenth  day  of 
September,  1787. 


(152) 


Names  of  the  Tenants 
from  what  the  Rents  are 
received. 

Name  and  Description 
of  Estate. 

Names  ot  Proprietors. 

1  Annual  Rent 
received  from 
each  Person 
by  the  Bailifl. 

Land  Tax  J 
allowed  out  ofl 
each  Bent.  1 

To  what 
Time  Paid. 

s.   d. 

Wm.  Howell 

Bryn  Jack 

David  Davies 

0     4 

1784 

William  Jenkin 

Cwm  Car 

Alice  Phillip  Morgan 

6     8 

B 

Do. 

Jahn  Jenkiu 

Blaen  Car 

John  Jenkin 

0   11 

P 

a 

Do. 

David  Nicholas 

Wain  alias  Wern  Dee 

Morgan  \Dd.  Prichard 

0     4 

§ 

Do. 

Thomas  Llewellin 

Tir  Wain  Goch 

0     5 

s 

Mic.  1780 

Thomas  Llewellin 

Tuy  yn  y  Coed 

William  Morgau 

0     8 

p. 

1768 

Eees  Wi'liams 

Pentwyn 

Rees  Williams 

0     9 

33 

1784 

Howel  Thomas 

Tor  y  Gare 

1     4 

o 

1781 

Phillip  Thomas 

Blaen  Callan 

Mary  Watkins 

•0     S 

IB 

C^ 

1784 

William  Powell 

Boinna  Gleision 

William  Powell 

3     4 

—  ' 

1784 

John  Jenkin 

Tir  Coan  yr  Alt 

Mrs  Thomas 

0     8 

o 

5S 

1184 

Thos.  Williams 

Tuy  Dee 

Howell  Prichard 

0     6 

K 

1781 

William  Thomas 

Tor  y  Glase 

William  Thomas 

3     4 

n 

H 

1784 

George  Thomas 

Llwyn  Onn 

2     3 

1784 

George  Lewis 

Glas  Cwm 

George  Lewis 

0     S 

a 

CO 

1784 

Thos.  Prosser 

Gelly  Bant 

0     8 

HJ 

1784 

Llewellin  Morgan 

Llwyn  Thelin 

Catherine  Morgan 

0     6 

1784 

Tir  y  Thevin 

Thomas  Prosser 

0     8 

60  a, 

1784 

Thos.  Jenkin 

Brin  Mellin 

Jane  James 

"  1  10 

a-*  fr.ii 

"      C-l      f-i      gj 

1784 

John  Powell 

Gwern  y  Gavar 

M.  Hanbury 

1     2 

(5  i;  <D  o> 
£"S  £  ^ 

1784 

Evan  Morgan 

Peny  Baily 

R   Ramsey 

0  10 

«   a 

O    P  rr*    ^ 

1784 

Griffith  Griffiths 

Peny  Baily 

Griffith  Griffiths 

0     2 

«*H    fl  .S    i 

v  §  <"•£ 

1784 

Richd.  Jenkin 

Llwyn  y  Rhios 

M.  Hanbury 

0     S 

£d  ^o 

1782 

William  Thomas 

Panty  Wennalt 

John  Williams 

0     7 

1768 

John  David  Abraham 

Dan  y  Wennalt 

Thos.  Wm.  Watkins 

0     9 

0     9 

1784 

John  Gunter 

Pen  y  Dorian 

George  Lewis 

0     2 

1784 

Robert  Haines 

Tir  y  Origgie 

Thynne  Howe  Gwynne 

0     41 

0     2 

1784 

—  Morgan 

Mais  Mawr 

George  Lewis 

5  10 

0     4J 

1765 

Howell  Thomas 

Car  ver  Evor 

Thos.  &  Jane  Meredith 

2     0 

2  ll" 

1771 

—  Morgan 

Cwmbanu 

Richard  Lewis 

1     0 

1784 

David  Thomas 

Blaen  Nant 

Thbmas  Phillips 

0     8 

1,777 

David  Prosser 

Gwem  Lledder 

—  Wilkins 

0     9 

0     8 

1781 

—  Vaughan 

Tily  Crwn 

Mr.  Moody 

5     4 

1779 

William  Thomas 

Tor  Glase 

Thomas  Williams 

1     4 

4     8 

1784 

Thomas  Evans 

Llwn  Mallin 

Meredith  Evan 

0     2 

1784 

John  Howell  Evan 

Pentwyn 

John  Howell  Evan 

0     4 

0     2 

1784 

Winifred  Thomas 

Lands  near  Coity 

John  Williams 

0     1 

0     4 

*  These  Rents  are  Chief  or  Fee  Farm  Rents  issuing  out  of  Freehold  Tenements,   very  many  of 

which  cannot  possibly  be  identified. 


NAMES  OF  TENANTS. 


NAMES  or  TENEMENTS.. 


RENTS. 
s.   d. 

David  Price    Pant  y  Lleverith    2 

Late  Gladis  Games  For  Caig  not  I  nowri 2 

Wm.  John  Mason 0 

Margt.  Thomas,  Widow 0 

Elizabeth  Thomas,  Widow ' .'''.'.'.'.'.'. .'!'.'.'.'.."'.'..'!!!!  0 

Bryn  y  Brair o 

Late  Edw.  Williams    Cwm  Wain 

Late  Mrs  Philips Tir  y  Ton      ...  2 

Late  Ed.  Williams    Poor's  Land  in  Llanvigan  "  0     3£ 

Late  Elizabeth  Madox 0     1 

Late  Thomas  Gunter   0     j 

Late  Mrs  Jones Coity    g     Q 

Late  Thomas  Phillips Blan  Nant '..'......  0     8 

Late  Mrs  Phillips Cwm  Crgwm. .........  3     g 

Late  Mrs  Powell Cwm  Orgwm o  10 

Mrs  Phillips For    Lands    said    to    be    in    the 

possession  of  Thos.  John     0     4 

Late  Phillip  Lewis Late  Morgan  Powell o    6 


(153) 

For  all  the  above,  the  Receiver  has  never  been  able  to  get  one 
payment.  The  Boundaries  of  this  with  other  Manors  being  so  inter- 
mixed and  unknown. 

Late  Mrs  Harry Lands  in  Cwm  Orgwm 0    4    pd.  1777 

Meredith  Thomas    Cwm  Orgwm  1     5    Commoth  every 

other  year  3s. 

The  Rents  due  1787,  I  have  paid  the  Auditor.  The  Tenants  will  pay  the  money  I  have  advanced 
between  this  and  May. 

There  is  a  Heriot  of  ten  shillings  on  the  death  of  every  freehold  Tenant  and  an  Alienation  of  ten 
shillings  on  the  sale  of  every  freehold  tenement  within  the  Manor,  but  the  difficulty  of  ascertaining  the 
Boundaries  of  the  Manor,  the  expense  of  holding  Courts  for  that  purpose,  and  the  Bailiffs  fees  for 
Distraining  makes  it  communibus  annis  not  adequate  to  the  expense. 

BBECONSHIBE. — Thynne  H.  Gwynne,  Esq.,  came  voluntarily  before  me,  one  of  his 
Matyes  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  and  for  the  said  County,  and  made  Oath  that  the  return 
hereon  is  true  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge  and  belief. 

Sworn  at  Brecon, 

THYNNE  HOWE  GWYNNE. 
Nov.  29,  1787, 

before  me 

PENN  WATKINS. 


I  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  a  true  copy  from  the  said  Records  pursuant  to  the  Act, 
15  &  16  Viet.,  cap.  82,  Section  8. 

MAURICE  HEWLETT, 

July  22nd,  1898.  Keeper  of  the  Records. 


The  Penkelly  Manors. 

(ADDITIONAL). 

Since  the  above  was  printed  off,  I  have  found  the  following  interesting  account  of 
these  Manors,  which  appears  in  a  letter  from  a  Mr.  George  Jones,  apparently  written  at 
Carmarthen,  to  some  one  at  Brecon.  The  only  date  is  "  Sunday  morning,"  but  from  the 
contents  it  seems  to  have  been  written  about  seven  years  after  the  purchase  of  the  Buckland 
estate  and  Penkelly  Manors  by  Mr.  Roderick  Gwynne  of  Glanbran  Park,  which  took  place 
in  1750.  That  would  bring  the  date  of  the  letter  to  1763,  or  just  the  year  after  his  son 
Thynne  Howe  Gwynne  became  Steward  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor  under  the  Crown. 

The  writer  of  the  letter  was  evidently  very  familiar  with  the  Penkelly  Manors  and 
their  customs  and  management,  and  gives  the  most  intelligible  and  reasonable  account  of 
them  that  I  have  yet  met  with.  I  make  therefore  no  excuse  for  adding  the  letter  here. 

DEAR  SIR, — I  take  the  liberty  of  mentioning  to  you  that  I  purpose 
being  at  Brecknock  on  Wednesday,  and  to  do  myself  the  pleasure  of 
waiting  upon  you. 

In  ye  meantime  I  am  with  respect, 

Dear  Sir, 
Your  most  obedt.  hble.  servant, 

(Sgd.)  GEO.  JONES. 
Carmn.,  Sunday  morning. 

In  ye  Hundred  of  Penkelly  and  County  of  Brecon  are  five  Lordships  called  Welsh 
Penkelly,  belonging  to  the  King  :  2d,  English  Penkelly  belonging  to  Roderick  Gwynne, 


(154) 

Esq. ;  3d,  Penkelly,  otherwise  Penkelly  Cwmorgau,  belonging  to  John  Powell,  Esq. ;  4th 
Wenallt,  belonging  to  ye  same  Eoderick  Gwynne,  Esq. ;  and  5th,  Llanvrenach,  belonging 
to  Edward  Vaughan,  Esq.  These  five  Lordships  lie  within  ye  four  Parishes  of 
Llanvrenach,  Llanvigan,  Lanthe,  and  Veynor,  and  ye  Bounds  of  the  Parishes  are  ye 
Bounds  of  the  Lordships,  but  ye  Lordships  themselves  have  no  particular  separate 
Boundaries  but  lie  intermixed  through  ye  whole  four  Parishes  (except  a  part  of  English 
Penkelly,  and  Penkelly,  otherwise  Penkelly  C/Tmorgan,  which  lies  in  ye  Parish  of 
Llanvilloc  (?),  and  which  were  always  enjoyed  by  Mr.  Gwynne  and  Mr.  Powell  only). 

For  these  several  Lordships  there  are  as  many  different  Leet  and  Baron  Courts  held, 
and  Suitors  being  dispersed  in  ye  several  Parishes  attend  one  or  other  of  these  Courts  and 
some  of  them  attend  two  or  more  of  them,  if  not  held  on  ye  same  day. 

Each  of  ye  Lords  have  also  Chief  Bents  from  Persons  residing  in  each  of  ye  several 
Parishes  ;  they  have  also  Heriots  upon  Deaths  and  fines  upon  Alienations,  as  well  as  each 
of  them  his  Bailiff  who  is  ....  ye  Commons  and  Wastes  and  takes  up  Estrays 
and  he  who  takes  ye  Estray  has  it  and  sometimes  two  have  collected  jointly  and  tLen 
divided  them.  But  neither  can  appoint  a  Constable  in  his  Leet.  In  this  manner  they 
have  been  held  and  enjoyed  time  out  of  mind,  but  ye  Country  has  a  notion  that  these 
Lordships  were  once  in  ....  and  was  but  one  Lordship  ;  that  it  afterwards  came 
to  five  daughters,  one  of  whom  by  some  Act  forfeited  her  share  to  the  Crown.  Or  it 
might  have  descended  in  Gavelkind  (the  common  Tenure  in  Wales)  between  as  many 
sons,  and  one  of  them  might  have  forfeited.  But  this  is  purely  imaginary,  without  any 
proof  more  than  common  rumour. 

Thus  each  Lord  enjoyed  his  respective  right ;  ye  Tenants  enjoyed  ye  Commons  over 
ye  four  Parishes  and  dug  stones  upon  ye  wastes  for  repairing  their  Walls  adjoining  to  ye 
Mountains  without  any  the  least  interruption  till  very  lately  :  when  Mr.  Gwynne,  who 
purchased  Penalt  and  English  Penkelly  about  7  years  agoe,  put  up  a  separate  Eight  and 
wants  to  exclude  ye  other  Lords  ;  and  accordingly  about  two  years  agoe  gave  a  Licence  to 
some  persons  to  erect  Lime  Kilns,  and  dig  and  burn  the  stones  upon  a  Common  in  ye 
Parish  of  Veynor.  Whereupon  Mr.  Powell  and  Mr.  Vaughan  gave  Licence  to  another 
person  to  do  the  same  in  ye  same  place,  which  he  did,  and  for  this  Mr.  Gwynne  has 
brought  an  action  of  Trover  against  him. 

N.B. — Neither  of  ye  Lords  ever  dug  stones  on  this  Common  before  ;  because  as 
supposed  ye  Common  being  but  small  they  would  not  injure  ye  Tenants  by  destroying  ye 
Herbage. 

N.B. — Also  the  Person  of  whom  Mr.  Gwynne  purchased  always  paid  a  Chief  Eent  for 
his  Lands  in  English  Penkelly,  and  Heriots  have  been  paid  upon  ye  death  of  the  former 
Lords  to  Mr.  Powell  and  those  under  whom  he  claims  and  Mr.  Gwynne  had  Notice  of  it 
at  the  time  of  his  Purchase. 

N.B.— Mr.  Powell  also  pays  a  Chief  Bent  to  ye  King,  and  10s.  in  lieu  of  a  Heriot 
upon  a  death  is  also  due  to  his  Majesty. 

(Endorsed)  PENKELLY  LORDSHIP. 


I  have  also  to  add,  that  it  would  appear  from  the  Perambulation  made  in  1870  by 
the  Steward  of  the  Brecon  Lordship  on  behalf  of  Lord  Tredegar,  that  a  small  portion  of 
that  Lordship  extends  into  the  Penkelly  Manors,  and  includes  a  part  of  Llanddetty  Parish 
near  Ashford.  If  so,  it  is  a  curious  circumstance,  and  I  shall  hope  to  find  the  explanation 
later.  The  Penkelly  Manor  papers,  that  I  have  seen,  make  no  reference  to  the  existence 
of  any  such  right. 


(155) 

Lands  of  Strata  Florida  Abbey  in 
Breconshire. 


This  important  Abbey,  known  by  the  Welsh  name  of  Manachlog  Fawr,  stood  in  the 
Valley  of  the  Teivy,  in  Cardiganshire,  not  far  from  Tregaron.  It  is  a  wild  district,  but 
famous  for  its  sheep,  and  you  will  find  to-day  on  inquiring  from  some  of  the  drovers 
bringing  thtir  flocks  on  a  Thursday  along  the  old  Builth  road  to  Brecon,  that  they  have 
brought  them  from  Tregaron.  When  this  Abbey  flourished,  prior  of  course  to  the 
Reformation  and  the  seizure  of  its  estates  by  Henry  VIII.,  it  held  large  tracts  of  wild  land 
in  Cardiganshire  and  a  manor  in  Eadnorshire,  in  the  Elan  and  Claerwen  valleys,  called 
the  Grange,  and  I  had  an  idea  in  my  mind  that  it  also  possessed  lands  in  Breconshire, 
and  there  is  a  tradition  handed  down  that  all  the  country  between  the  Irvon  and  Towy 
(or  Teify^  rivers  was  once  the  property  of  this  Abbey. 

It  has  been  of  interest  to  me,  therefore,  to  find  the  following  old  paper,  being  a  lease 
by  the  Abbot  of  Strata  Florida,  dated  1517,  of  a  parcel  of  land  called  Ibebillwa,  in  the 
Lordship  of  Brecon,  to  one  Eoger  ap  Thomas  ap  Gwillym  for  99  years.  The  name  of  the 
land  puzzles  me,  and  I  shall  be  glad  of  assistance  in  locating  it.  My  own  impression  is 
that  it  is  the  land  near  Llanwrtyd,  now  called  Cefn  Trebedd  Willim,  the  name  being 
possibly  a  corruption  of  Tre  or  Tir  Abad  Willim,  the  land  of  the  Abbot  held  by  William. 
And  of  course  there  is  the  further  difficulty  that  it  is  not  in  the  Lordship  of  Brecon,  but 
this  may  be  explained  if  we  assume  that  the  Abbot  in  his  lease  considered  the  whole 
County  of  Brecon  as  Brecon  lordship.  Cilypebyll  in  Glamorganshire,  is  more  like 
Ibebillwa,  and  our  Bailyhelig  near  Brecon,  but  it  is  not  likely  the  Abbey  held  lands  so 
far  away.  This  lease  is  extant  for  the  reason  (like  that  of  Usk  Mill  by  the  Prior  of 
Brecon)  that  the  current  leases  were  respected  by  the  Crown,  and  became  a  continuing 
holding  under  it  after  the  dissolution. 

INDENTURE  OF  ROGER  AP  THOMAS  AP  GLLM  FOR  THE  FARM  OF  ONE  PARCEL  OF  LAND 

CALLED  IBEBILLWA. 

[Land  Revenue  Office,  South  Wales  Enrolments,  Vol.  I.  fo.  14.1 

[Translation.] 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we  Richard  Abbot  of  the  Monastery  of  the 
Blessed  Mary  the  Virgin  of  Strata  Florida  with  the  consent  and  assent  of  the  Convent  of 
the  same  place  have  given,  granted,  and  let  to  farm  to  Roger  ap  Thomas  ap  William  and 
his  heirs,  one  parcel  of  land  commonly  called  Ibebillwa,  lying  in  the  Lordship  of  Brecon, 
To  hold  from  the  Feast  of  the  Apostles  Philip  and  James  last  past  for  the  term  of  99  years, 
paying  yearly  to  us  and  our  successors  for  the  profit  and  tithe  to  us  belonging  20d.  at  the 
Feast  of  St.  Michael  and  a  heriot  when  it  shall  happen,  viz.,  2s.  And  it  shall  not  be 
lawful  for  the  said  Roger  and  his  heirs  to  alienate  the  said  land  without  the  licence  of  the 
said  Abbot,  and  if  the  said  Roger  shall  be  in  arrears  with  the  said  rent  then  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  the  said  Abbot  to  re-enter  the  said  parcel  of  land,  this  deed  notwithstanding. 

Given  in  our  Chapter  House  the  18th  day  of  May,  1517. 

The  said  Abbot  and  Convent  and  Roger  ap  Thomas  grant  to  Meredithe  ap  Thomas 
ap  William  the  *sphewryght  part  of  tht  said  parcel  of  land  paying  after  the  rate  as  Roger 
ap  Thomas  does  during  the  said  term. 

Enrolled  19th  October,  1  Edw.  6  [1547J . 

*   Sphewryght  may  denote  his  calling,  as  a  spear-wright,  the  maker  of  spears,  or  as  a 
wheelright,  the  maker  of  wheels  (spheres). 


(156) 

Yenny    Wood. 


Everyone  knows  Venny  Wood,  and  in  this  instance  there  is  no  doubt  as  to  the  part 
of  our  county  where  it  can  be  seen. 

"  Where  Yscir  winds,  by  Gaer's  deserted  mound, 
And  Venni's  brow  with  silver  honours  crowned." 

And  another  describes  it  in  prose  as  the  "  circling  knoll  of  Venni's  Wood,  sloping 
downwards  to  the  river's  edge,  with  its  many-tinted  foliage." 

I  have  found  an  old  paper  about  this  wood.  Of  course,  as  nearly  all  land  near 
Brecon  once  was,  it  had  been  the  property  of  the  unfortunate  Edward,  Duke  of 
Buckingham,  and  had  passed  to  the  Crown  on  his  attainder  for  High  Treason. 

And  the  following  lease  shows  how  the  wood  was  managed  in  Elizabeth's  reign. 
Apparently  the  undergrowth  was  cut  periodically  by  the  tenants,  while  the  large  trees 
were  reserved  to  the  Crown.  These  were  called  "  Stadells  "  or  "  Staddles,"  or  as  we 
should  call  them  "  Standards,"  and  the  wood  was  apparently  managed  on  the  same  plan 
as  the  Herefordshire  coppice  woods — Ladylift,  &c. — are  to-day.  Eichard  Price,  Gent., 
was  probablv  the  Richard  Price,  of  the  Priory,  who  managed  to  get  hold  of  nearly 
everything  good  that  was  going  at  Brecon  in  those  days. 

BENNY  WOOD. 

LETTERS  PATENT  TO  EICHAKD  PRICE,  GENT. 

[Land  Revenue  Office,  South  Wales  Enrolments.     Vol.  III.,  fo.  146,  Co.  Brecon.] 

[Translation.] 

Elizabeth,  &c.,  greeting.  Whereas  We,  by  Letters  Patent,  dated  at  Westminster, 
10th  July,  in  the  18th  year  of  Our  reign  [1576] ,  granted  to  Jevan  ap  Morgan,  William 
Meredd,  Watkin  Howell,  John  David,  Llewen  Howell,  Thomas  DD,  William  Dd,  and 
David  ap  Jevan,  all  that  Our  wood  and  underwood  called  Benny  Wood  alias  the  wood  of 
Benny  with  all  the  appurtenances  in  co.  Brecon,  containing  about  100  acres,  and  all  the 
woods,  underwoods  and  woodlands  of  the  said  Benny  Wood  yearly  and  from  time  to  time 
in  any  way  belonging,  parcel  of  the  lands  and  possessions  of  the  late  Duke  of  Buckingham 
attainted  of  high  treason,  except,  nevertheless,  and  always  reserving  to  Us  and  Our  heirs 
all  great  trees  being  timber,  and  all  sapling  oaks  fit  for  timber,  also  sufficient  les  Stadells 
in  each  acre  of  the  premises  according  to  the  Statute  in  such  case  lately  published  for 
such  kind  of  wood ;  to  hold  for  21  years,  paying  therefore  yearly  to  Us  and  Our  heirs 
88s.  4d.  :  Which  said  Letters  Patent  the  said  William  Meredd  and  others  abovenamed 
surrendered  into  Our  Exchequer  as  by  deed  dated  25th  May  in  the  26th  year  of  Our 
reign  [1584]  appears,  with  this  condition  that  We  should  think  fit  to  grant  other 
Letters  Patent  of  the  premises  to  Eichard  Price,  gent.,  for  21  years,  which  said 
surrender  We  hereby  accept. 

Know  ye,  therefore,  that  We,  in  consideration  thereof,  by  the  advice  of  William 
Baron,  of  Burghley,  Our  Treasurer,  and  Walter  Mildmay,  Knt.,  Chancellor  of  Our 
Exchequer,  have  granted,  and  to  farm  demised  to  the  said  Eichard  Price,  the  said  Benny 
Wood,  except  as  before  excepted,  to  hold  for  21  years,  paying  therefore  yearly  to  Us  and 
Our  heirs  88s.  4d.  And  the  said  Eichard  Price  shall  only  cut  the  said  wood  twice,  and 
then  only  at  fit  and  suitable  times  ;  and  shall  enclose  the  said  wood  well  and  sufficiently 
with  hedges  and  ditches  ;  and  shall  keep  the  said  wood  free  from  damage  by  not  putting 
any  horses  or  animals  in  the  same  ;  and  shall  deliver  up  yearly  sufficient  les  Staddles  in 
each  acre  of  the  premises. 

Provided  always  that  if  the  said  rent  should  at  any  time  be  in  arrear  for  40  days,  that 
then  this  demise  and  grant  to  be  void. 

Given  at  Westminster,  16th  October,  26  Eliz.  [1584.] 


(157) 

Manor  or  Lordship  of  Brecknock. 


SALE  OF  FEE  FARM  RENTS  BY  THE  CROWN  TO  JOHN  MORGAN  OF  TREDEGAR,  ESQUIRE,  1787. 

Land  Kevenue  Record  Office  Copy. 

Among  the  Inrolments  in  the  custody  of  the  Keeper  of  His  Majesty's  Land  Revenue 
Records  and  Enrolments  in  book  intituled  "  Purchase  Deeds  and  Fee  Farm  Rents  sold, 
1786  to  1831,  Vol.  IV.,"  is  the  following  :— 

No.  440  G.  R.  By  the  Cornmisgioners  of  the  Land  Revenue. 

BRECON. 

Tuese  are  to  certify  that  the  said  Commissioners  have  contracted  and  agreed  with  John 
Morgan,  of  Tredegar,  in  the  County  of  Monmouth,  Esquire,  for  the  sale  to  him  of  All  those 
six  several  rents  or  payments  due  and  payable  to  His  Majesty  by  the  said  John  Morgan 
and  lately  payable  by  Charles  Morgan,  Esq.,  deceased,  that  is  to  say,  One  yearly  rent  of 
Forty-four  pounds  and  one  penny  half  penny  for  or  in  respect  of  the  Manor  or  Lordship 
of  Brecknock  with  the  foreign  Bailiwick  there  with  the  rights,  members,  and  appurten- 
ances thereof  in  the  County  of  Brecknock  ;  One  other  rent  or  payment  of  Fifty-six  pounds 
sixteen  shillings  commonly  called  a  Comortha  payable  every  second  year  for  or  in  respect 
of  the  Manor  or  Lordship  of  Brecknock  aforesaid  ;  One  other  yearly  rent  of  Twenty  pounds 
nine  shillings  and  tenpence  for  or  in  respect  of  certain  demesne  lands  lying  and  being  in 
Llanvaes  and  elsewhere,  parcel  of  the  Lordship  of  Brecknock  aforesaid  ;  One  other  yearly 
rent  of  Eleven  pounds  sixteen  shillings  and  eight  pence  for  or  in  respect  of  the  Rectory  of 
Brecknock  with  the  appurtenances  thereof  in  the  County  aforesaid  ;  One  other  yearly  rent 
of  Six  pounds  for  or  in  respect  of  a  certain  Mill  called  Honddy  Mill  in  the  County 
aforesaid  ;  And  one  other  yearly  rent  of  Two  pounds  six  shillings  and  eight  pence  for  or  in 
respect  of  certain  fines  due  or  payable  for  exemption  from  performing  suit  at  the  Court 
of  Bail  y  Glaes  within  the  Manor  or  Lordship  of  Brecknock  aforesaid  with  the  appurten- 
ances thereof  at  or  for  the  price  or  sum  of  Two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-one 
Siunds  and  nine  shillings  of  lawful  money  of  Great  Britain  to  be  paid  by  the  said  John 
organ  into  the  Bank  of  England  in  the  name  of  the  said  Commissioners  Which  said  rent 
from  and  immediately  after  the  payment  of  the  said  sum  in  manner  aforesaid  and  the 
Inrollment  of  this  Certificate  with  the  receipt  for  the  said  purchase  money  in  the  Office 
of  the  Auditor  of  the  Land  Revenue  for  the  County  aforesaid  shall  be  adjudged,  deemed, 
and  taken  to  be  absolutely  vested  in  the  said  Purchaser,  his  heirs,  and  assigns  for  ever  by 
virtue  of  an  Act  passed  in  the  twenty-sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  His  present  Majesty  King 
George  the  Third,  intituled  "  An  Act  for  appointing  Commissioners  to  enquire  into  the 
state  and  condition  of  the  Woods,  Forests,  and  Land  Revenues  belonging  to  the  Crown 
and  to  sell  .or  alienate  Fee  Farm  and  other  unimprovable  rents." 

Given  under  the  hands  of  the  said  Commissioners  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  June, 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-seven. 

Witness  to  the  signing  by    )  CHARLES  MIDDLETOK 

the  said  Commissioners.  )    J.  FORDYCE,  Sec.  JOHN  CALL 

ARTHUR  HOLDSWOHTH. 

Received  the  8  day  of  July,  one  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  of  and  from  the  above  named  John  Morgan 
the  sum  of  Two  thousand  seven  hundred  and  twenty-one 
pounds  nine  shillings  lawful  money  of  Great  Britain  being 
the  consideration  money  expressed  in  the  above  Certificate. 


(158) 

Witness  my  hand,  For  the  Governor  and  Company  of  the 
Bank  of  England. 

JE2721  9s.  T.  OEMES,  Cashier. 


A  Threlkeld 
Inr.  £2  5s.  Inrolled  the  8  day  of  July,  1707. 

JOHN  FENWICK, 

Deputy  Auditor. 
Examined  by  me, 

W.  J.  GREEN. 

I  certify  the  forgoing  to  be  a  true  Copy  from  the  said 
Inrolments  pursuant  to  the  Act  15  and  16  Victoria,  Cap.  62, 
Sec.  8,  having  been  examined  as  above. 

10th  May,  1902. 

W.  J.  GREEN, 
Assistant  to  the  Keeper  of  the  Records. 


Halimot    Manor    of   Brecon. 


The  Court  of  this  Manor  is  still  regularly  held  by  the  Steward,  Mr.  H.  Edgar 
Thomas,  on  behalf  of  Lord  Tredegar,  at  the  Castle  Hotel. 

The  form  of  opening  the  Court  is  as  follows  : 

"  All  manner  of  persons  that  do  owe  suit  and  service  to  this  Court  Leet  and  Court 
Baron  of  the  Right  Honourable  Godfrey  Charles  Lord  Tredegar,  Baron  Tredegar,  now  to 
be  holden  in  and  for  the  Manor  of  Brecon  draw  near  and  give  your  attendance. 

The  form  of  adjourning  the  Court  is  as  follows  : 

"  All  manner  of  persons  that  have  made  their  appearance  here  this  day  may 
from  hence  depart,  and  keep  their  day  and  hour  again  on  a  new  summons. 

God  Save  the  King.1' 

The  following  form  of  surrender  of  land  in  Llanfaes  by  the  Revd.  Rich.  Davies, 
Archdeacon  of  Brecon,  into  the  hands  of  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  on  the  sale  to  Mr. 
Llewelyn  Jones  in  1814  before  Hugh  Bold,  Esq.,  Steward,  is  here  given.  It  will  be 
seen  by  the  same  deed  Mr.  Llewellyn  Jones  was  admitted  as  tenant  of  the  Manor,  and 
thus  the  transfer  of  the  land  was  legally  completed  and  enrolled. 

At  the  Court  Baron  of  Sir  Chas.  Morgan,   Baronet  Lord  of  the  Halimot  Manor  of 
Brecon   aforesaid,   holden   at   the   Castle   of   Brecon    within    the    said    Manor   on    the 
day  of  in  the  fifty-fifth   Year   of  the   reign   of  Our 

Sovereign  Lord  George  the  3rd  by  the  grace  of  God  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  King  Defender  of  the  faith,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1814. 
Before  Hugh  Bold,  Esq.,  Steward  of  the  said  Manor,  and  in  the  presence  of 

two  customary  tenants  of  the  said  Manor. 

At  this  Court  came  the  Revd.  Richd.  Davies,  of  the  Town  of  Brecon  in  the  County 
of  Brecon,  A.M.,  Archdeacon  of  Brecon  and  Canon  of  St.  David's,  only  son  and  Heir  at 
law  of  the  Rev.  Rich.  Davies  devisee  named  in  the  last  Will  and  Testament,  and  also  late 
of  the  sd.  Town  of  Brecon,  clerk  deed,  customary  tenant  in  his  own  proper  person  and 
for  and  consideration  of  the  Sum  of  £  of  good  and  lawful  money  of  Great 

Britain  in  hand  well  and  truly  paid  by  Llewellyn  Jones  of  the  parish  of  St.  David's  in  the 
said  County  of  Brecon  Victualler,  the  receipt  whereof  the  said  Richard  Davies  (party 


(159) 

hereto)  doth  hereby  acknowledge,  and  of  and  from  the  same,  every  part  thereof  doth 
acquit,  release  and  hereby  discharge  the  said  Llewellyn  Jones,  his  heirs,  exors, 
administrators,  and  assigns,  by  these  Presents,  and  surrendered  into  the  hands  of  the 
Lord  of  the  said  Manor  by  the  hands  of  his  Steward  aforesaid  by  the  verge  according  to 
the  custom  of  the  said  Manor.  All  that  close  or  parcel  of  land  with  the  appurts.  called 
Wainwach  lying  near  Clawdd  Mawr  contg.  by  estimon  one  acre  (more  or  less)  with 
ye  appurts.,  and  which  said  close  or  parcel  of  land  is  situate  and  lying  within  the  parish 
of  St.  David's  aforesaid,  and  within  the  said  Manor  heretofore  in  the  possession  of 
Elizabeth  Jones,  Widow,  her  undertnt  or  aforesaid,  and  now  or  late  in  the  occupation  of 
Davd.  Williams,  Gent.  To  the  use  and  behoof  of  such  person  and  persons  and  to  and 
for  such  estate  and  Estates  use  and  uses  Trusts,  interests  and  purposes,  and  in  such 
manner  as  the  said  Llewellyn  Jones  in  and  by  his  last  Will  and  Testament  in  writing,  or 
any  writing  in  the  nature  of  and  purporting  to  be  his  last  Will  and  Testament  or  any 
codicil  or  codicils  thereto  shall  from  time  to  time  give,  devise,  direct,  limit,  or  appoint  the 
said  close  or  parcel  of  land  and  for  want  of  such  Gift  Devise  Diron,  Limiton  or 
Appointmt.  and  so  far  as  no  sucii  Gift,  Devise  Diron,  Limiton  or  appointment  shall 
extend  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  the  said  Llewellyn  Jones  and  his  customary  heirs  and 
aforesaid  for  ever  at  the  Will  of  the  Lord  according  to  the  custom  of  the  said  Manor. 
And  the  said  Llewellyn  Jones  present  here  in  Court  desires  to  be  "admitted  Tenant  of  the 
premises  aforesaid  with  the  appurtenances  according  to  the  manner  and  effect  of  the  said 
Surrender  to  whom  the  said  Lord  by  the  hands  of  his  Steward  aforesaid  hath  granted 
and  delivered  seizin  of  the  aforesaid  premises  with  their  appurts.  by  the  verge  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  said  Manor.  To  have  and  to  hold  all  and  singular  the  said  close 
piece  or  parcel  of  land  with  the  appurts.  to  the  use  and  behoof  of  such  person  and  persons 
and  to  and  for  such  estate  and  estates  use  and  uses,  trusts,  interests  and  purposes,  and  in 
such  manner  as  the  said  Llewellyn  Jones  in  and  by  his  last  Will  and  Testament  in 
writing  or  any  writing  in  the  nature  and  purporting  t,o  be  his  last  Will  and  Testament  or 
any  codicil  or  codicils  thereto  shall  from  time  to  time  give,  devise,  direct,  limit  or  appoint 
the  said  premises,  and  for  want  of  such  gift,  devise  Diron,  Limiton  or  appointmt.  and  so 
far  as  no  such  Gift,  devise,  Diron,  Limiton  or  appointmt.  shall  extend  to  the  use  and 
behoof  of  the  said  Llewellyn  Jones  his  customary  heirs  and  aforesaid  for  ever  at  the  will 
of  the  Lord  according  to  the  custom  of  the  said  Manor.  Yielding  and  performing  the 
Eents  and  Services  thereupon  due  and  of  right  accustomed,  And  the  said  Llewellyn 
Jones  paid  to  the  Lord  of  the  said  Manor  One  Shilling  for  his  admission  and  performed 
his  fealty  by  the  verge  according  to  the  custom  of  the  said  Manor  and  thereupon  he  is 
admitted  Tenant  of  the  said  premises. 

NOTE. — Hallmote  or  Halimote  (Sax.  Heall  i.e.  Aula  and  Gemote,  Conventus)  was  that 
Court  among  the  Saxons  which  we  call  a  Court  Baron  ;  and  the  etymology  is  from 
the  Meetings  of  one  Hall  or  Manor.  Tho  name  is  still  kept  up  in  several  places  in 
Herefordshire,  and  in  the  Records  of  Hereford  this  Court  is  entered  as  follows,  viz.  : 
Hereford  Palatium,  ad  Halimot  ibidem  tent :  11  die  Octob,  Anno  regni  regis  Henry  6 
&c.  It  hath  sometimes  been  taken  for  a  Convention  of  Citizens  in  their  Public  Hall, 
where  they  held  their  Courts,  which  was  also  called  Folkmote  and  Halmote.  But 
the  word  Halimote  is  rather  the  Lord's  Court  held  within  the  Manor,  in  which  the 
differences  between  the  tenants  were  determined,  Omnis  causa  termineter  vel  Hundredo, 
vel  comitatu,  vel  Halmote  socam  habentium,  vel  dominorum  curia.  Leg.  Henry  I. 
cap.  10  Jacob's  Law  Diet.  1756. 

Halymote,  alias  Haelyemot,  is  a  Court  Baron.  Manwood  parte  prima  of  his 
Forest  Law  p.  Ill,  and  the  etymologie  is  the  meeting  of  the  Tenants  of  one  Hall  or 
Mannor.  M.  Gwyn's  Preface  to  his  Reading.  Cowell's  Interpreter — 1687. 


(1GO) 

Quarrying  Stones  on  Common  Lands  in 

Breconshire. 


It  may  reasonably  be  assumed,  that  in  the  olden  time,  when  the  tenants  of  a  manor 
first  built  their  homesteads,  they  quarried  the  stone  on  the  waste  land  for  the  purpose, 
wherever  it  was  convenient  to  do  so,  without  asking  leave  from  the  Lord  of  the  Manor. 
Similarly  in  forming  the  high  and  massive  hill  fences,  where  a  certain  thickness  of  quarried 
stone  was  placed  as  the  base  of  the  bank,  the  tenants  availed  themselves  of  the  nearest 
quarry.  In  some  instances  dry  stone  walls  were  built  along  the  hill  sides  of  their  coedcaes. 
And  of  course  in  succeeding  years,  when  repairs  were  necessary  to  either  buildings  and  their 
roofs,  or  to  the  hill  fences,  the  same  free  use  of  the  available  stone  on  the  adjacent  waste 
lands  continued.  Thus  a  general  prescriptive  right  to  the  use  of  such  stone  by  the  tenants 
of  a  manor  grew  up,  and  which  was  beneficial  alike  to  lord  and  tenant. 

Certain  quarries,  however,  of  tilestones  and  paving  stones  in  more  modern  times  came 
into  special  favour  round  the  country  side,  and  to  these  many  persons  outside  the  parish 
and  manor  began  to  send  for  a  supply.  Hence  it  was  necessary  to  place  the  quarries 
under  some  controul  ;  and  usually  a  professional  quarryman  became  the  tenant  under  the 
Lord  of  the  Manor,  charging  the  public  so  much  for  the  stone,  and  paying  a  small  royalty 
on  the  stone  raised,  or  a  small  annual  rent  to  the  lord  for  the  privilege.  Skilled  quarry- 
men  were  in  esteem  in  those  times,  and  up  to  a  hundred  years  ago  tilestones  were  the  only 
available  roofing  material  in  our  county. 

Hence  the  old  custom  of  tenants  of  a  manor  opening  quarries  for  themselves  gradually 
fell  into  disuse,  and  it  is  I  believe  the  rule  now  on  most  manors  to  obtain  the  consent  of 
the  agent  to  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  when  quarrying  stone  for  building  purposes  on  the 
common  lands.  I  think  so  far  as  repairing  the  hill  fences  and  walls  the  old  custom  would 
still  stand  good,  and  any  stones  near,  either  in  a  quarry  or  lying  loose,  can  be  used  for 
such  a  purpose  without  asking  any  leave.  It  is  undoubtedly  a  very  old  custom,  it  is  a 
necessary  one.  and  has  also  in  many  cases  modern  user.  Where  such  a  custom  does 
exist,  it  should  be,  like  those  of  cutting  fern,  rushes,  gorse,  peat,  hedgebote,  etc.,  exercised 
from  time  to  time,  so  as  to  keep  the  right  good  against  the  Lord  of  the  Manor.  Other- 
wise, as  experience  has  amply  proved,  a  Lord  of  the  Manor  comes  on  the  scene  some  day, 
and  squeezes  one  by  one  these  ancient  customs  out  of  existence. 

When  the  Great  Forest  of  Brecknock  was  enclosed  in  1815-19,  two  quarries  of  build- 
ing stone — in  addition  to  the  limestone  quarries,  were  set  apart  for  the  use  of  the  allotment 
holders,  and  as  far  as  can  be  ascertained  from  old  records,  the  commoners  had  previously 
the  free  use  of  both  building  stone  and  limestone  on  the  Forest ;  and  neither  the  Crown 
or  their  agisters  claimed  building  stone  and  limestone  as  minerals,  or  that  any  payment  or 
royalty  was  due  in  respect  of  the  use  of  the  same. 

Other  old  records  of  Dinas  Forest,  of  the  Crickbowell  and  Tretower  Manors,  and  of 
Welsh  Penkelly  Manor  do  not  show,  I  believe,  any  payments  for  quarrying  the  native 
stone  of  the  county. 

The  following  is  an  interesting  case  of  a  serious  dispute  between  the  Lord  of  the 
Manor  of  Brecon  and  the  people  of  the  district  as  to  the  quarrying  of  stone  in  the  parish 
of  Llanspyddid.  It  occurred  in  1735.  Some  persons,  being  as  they  said  tenants  of  the 
Brecon  Manor,  claimed  the  free  right  to  quarry  tilestone  on  Penygast  (Pen  y  Gaer) 
hill  in  that  parish,  and  assembled  themselves  in  force  to  exercise  the  right,  and  to  resist 
any  interference  that  might  possibly  be  contemplated  by  the  Lord  of  the  Manor  and  his 
steward  and  agents.  Their  claim  was  that  of  a  general  Prescriptive  right  in  respect  of 
their  lands  being  within  the  manor  to  quarry  stones  on  any  part  of  the  waste  lands  of  the 
manor,  and  some  of  those  present  came  from  the  parishes  of  Trallong  and  Devynnock.  as 
well  as  from  Llanspyddid.  They  succeeded  in  quarrying  and  carrying  away  500  tilestones 
of  the  value  of  five  shillings,  but  on  the  morrow  were  proceeded  against  by  William 


(161) 

Morgan,  Esquire,  the  Lord  of  the  Manor.  Such  proceeding,  however,  did  not  take  the 
form  of  a  civil  suit  to  test  the  right  set  up,  but  the  illegality  of  the  act  was  assumed,  and 
the  very  strong  measure  taken  of  indicting  the  whole  party  straight  off  at  the  Great 
Sessions  of  the  County  for  a  Eiot. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Commoners  took  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Denison  on  the  case, 
which  was  to  the  effect  that  the  question  of  the  act  being  a  Biot  or  not,  depended  upon 
the  lawfulness  or  otherwise  of  the  act  done. 

What  was  the  final  issue  of  the  case,  I  have  at  present  no  information,  but  from  the 
nature  of  it,  the  position  of  the  prosecutor  and  defendants  respectively,  and  even  of  the 
witnesses,  the  proceedings  must  have  excited  the  greatest  interest  throughout  the  County. 
I  hope  in  some  way  the  question  of  prescriptive  right  claimed  was  fairly  tried  out, 
whether  the  tenants  of  the  Manor  won  or  lost,— otherwise  they  may  have  been  convicted 
of  a  Eiot,  when  in  fact  what  they  had  done  might  have  been  a  lawful  act,  no  Eiot  in 
a  legal  sense  having  ever  occurred  ! 


BRECON,  TO  WITT. 

The  Jurors  for  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King  upon  their  Oaths  Present  that  Eees 
Morgan,  late  of  the  Parish  of  Llywell,  in  the  said  County  of  Brecon,  labourer,  Wm.  Price, 
late  of  the  Parish  of  Llanspithitt,  in  the  same  County,  labourer,  John  Hugh,  late  of  the 
Parish  of  Devynock,   in  the  said  County,  tyler,  Thomas  Griffiths,  late  of  the  Parish  of 
Llanspithitt,  in  the  said  County,   labourer,  David  Lewis,   late   of  the   said   Parish   of 
Llanspithitt,  in  the  said  County,  labourer,  Eoger  Wm.  Eees,  late  of  the  said  Parish  of 
Llanspithitt,  in  the  said  County,  labourer,  Thomas  William,  of  the  Parish  of  Trallong,  in 
the  said   County,   tyler,   and  William  Evan,  late  of  the  said  Parish  of  Devynock,  in  the 
said  County,  tyler,   the  fourteenth  day  of  July,  in   the  Ninth  year  of  the  Eeign  of  our 
Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Second  now  King  of  Great  Brittain  and  so  forth  with  force 
and  Arms  (to  witt)  with  Pickaxes,  Shovels,  Iron  Barrs,  and  other  weapons  and  Arms  as 
Eioters,   Eouters,  and  Disturbers  of  the  Peace  of  the  said  Lord  the  King  to  disturb  the 
Peace  of  our  said  Lord  the  King  Eiotously,  Eoutously,   and  unlawfully  did  Assemble 
themselves  together  att  the  said  Parish  of  Llanspithitt,   in  the  said  County,  upon  the 
Waste  Ground  and  Common  of  Pasture  of  William  Morgan,  Esq.,  Lord  of  the  Manor  of 
Brecon  at  a  Certain  Place  there  called  Pen  y  Gart,  within  the  said  Manor  and  Parish,  and 
then  and  there  being  so  assembled  together  among  themselves  the  Soyl  and  Ground  of 
the   said    William    Morgan    did   then   and   there   with   the   force   and   Arms    aforesaid 
did  Eiotously  and  tumultuously  break  open  and  dig  up  and  Five  Hundred  Tylestones  of 
the  said  William  Morgan  of  the  Value  of  five  shillings  then  and  there  did  dig  up,  raise, 
and  carry  away  and  other  wrongs  and  injuries  to  the  said  William  Morgan  then  and 
there  did  to  the  Great  Damage  of  the  said  William  Morgan  and  against  the  Peace  of  our 
said  Lord  the  King,  his  Crown,  and  Dignity. 
Prosecutor,  WILLIAM  MORGAN,  Esq. 

Witnesses,  JOHN  BULLOCK,  Gentl. 

BICHARD  WILLIAMS,  Clerk. 

ihe  above  is  an  Indictment  found  att  the  last  Great  Sessions  held  for  the  County  of 
Brecon  against  the  several  Persons  above  for  Digging  Tylestones  on  Part  of  the  Waste 
of  the  Manor  of  Brecon.  The  Tenants  within  the  said  Manor  claim  a  Prescriptive  Eight 
for  the  raising  of  all  sorts  of  stones  there  for  use  of  their  lands  within  the  said  Manor,  and 
the  Persons  above  were  employed  by  some  of  them  to  Eaise  the  said  Tylestones  for  their 
use.  This  Eight,  therefore,  would  be  more  Properly  Tryed  by  an  Action. 

Your  are  Desired  to  Give  your  opinion,  whether  it  can  be  Quashed,  and  if  it  can, 
that  yon  would  Write  Down  your  Exceptions. 

"  The  Court  of  Kings  Bench  never  will  quash  an  Indictmen  for  a  Eiot  Nusance  or  such 
like  offence,  but  if  there  is  a  material  fault  iu  such  Indictment  the  party  will  be  put  to 
Demurr.  As  to  this  Indictment,  I  do  not  observe  any  error  in  it.  It  is  a  matter  of 


(162) 

Bight  and  properly  triable  in  action.     The  Act  must  be  unlawful  to  make  a  Riot,  but 
whether  unlawful  'or  not  in  this  case  ought  not  I  think  to  be  toyed  on  an  Indictment  for 

a  Biot. 

THO.  DENISON, 
Lincoln's  Inn,  28rd  December,  1735." 

[Endorsed.]— Mr.  Denison's  Opinion  upon  Indictment  for  Digging  Stones  on  the 
Forrest  of  Brecon. 


Manor   or   District    of   Troescoed. 


Nearly  at  the  very  southern  end  of  the  Parish  of  Ystradfellte  is  a  little  peninsula  of 
land  between  the  junction  of  the  Nedd  and  the  Melte  rivers.  It  is  known  as  Troescoed, 
and  has  been  for  hundreds  of  years  considered  to  be  outside  the  ambit  of  the  Great 
Forest  of  Brecknock.  Why  it  was  made  a  little  kingdom  of  itself,  a  second  Monaco, 
is  lost  in  obscurity  ! 

The  following  grant  of  the  land  by  Queen  Elizabeth  in  1578  to  John  Ffarnham, 
Esquire,  one  of  her  Majesty's  gentlemen  pensioners,  and  Hugh  George,  of  London,  gent., 
and  the  regrant  by  them  to  David  Williams,  of  the  Middle  Temple,  Esquire,  and 
Llewellin  ap  Glim,  and  Eichard  Price,  then  of  Ystradfellte,  in  1538,  are  interesting,  and 
may  throw  some  light  on  the  history  of  this  outlying  corner  of  our  County. 

It  was  part  of  the  possessions  of  Edward  Duke  of  Buckingham  before  his  attainder, 
and  I  am  under  the  impression  formed  a  Manor  of  itself.  At  present  I  am,  however, 
unable  to  give  any  further  particulars. 

TROESCOED. — COM.    BRECKNOCK. 

DEMISE  TO  JOHN  FARNEHAM. 
(South  Wales  Enrolments,  Vol.  III.,  p.  154.) 

This  indenture  made  the  27th  day  of  November  in  the  23rd  yere  of  the  reigne  of  our 
Sovereigne  Ladie  Eliz.  &c.  Betwene  John  ffarnham,  esquier,  one  of  the  gentlemen 
Pensioners  of  our  said  Sovereign  Ladie  the  Quenes  Majesty,  and  Hugh  George  of  London, 
gent.,  one  the  one  partie,  and  David  Williams  of  the  Middle  Temple  of  London,  esquier, 
Llewllin  ap  Glim,  and  Richard  Price  of  Estradvelltey,  in  the  Countie  of  Brecknock,  gent., 
one  the  other  partie.  Whereas  the  Quenes  Majestie  by  her  highness  letters  pattentes 
under  the  greate  seale  of  England  beringe  date  at  Ipswich  the  seconde  daie  of  September 
in  the  20th  yere  of  Her  Majesties  raigne  for  divers  good  and  resonable  consideracions 
Her  Majestie  moving  and  of  her  speciall  grace  certaine  knowledge  and  mere  motion, 
Hath  given  and  graunted  unto  the  said  John  Farneham  all  that  parcell  of  lande  called  y 
Troesgoed  with  the  appurtenances  lienge  and  beinge  in  the  Parishe  of  Ystradvelltey,  in 
the  said  Countie  of  Brecknock,  containinge  in  lenght  from  a  certain  tree  called 
Rywypienkm  to  a  bridge  called  Arneth,  And  in  breadth  from  a  river  called 
Melte  unto  an  other  river  called  Nethe,  containing  by  estimacion  10  acres  of 
lande,  tenne  acres  of  meadowe  and  30  acres  of  heath  and  moore,  be  it  more  or 
lesse,  with  the  appurtenances,  sometime  parcell  of  the  possessions  of  Edward 
late  Duke  of  Buck.,  of  highe  treason  attainted,  and  occupied  and  used  by  Jenkin  Thomas 
and  others  "nknowed  by  30  years  now  last  past.  And  all  manner  of  woodes,  underwoods, 
and  trees  whatsoever  groinge  and  beinge  of,  in,  and  upon  the  premisses  or  anie  parcell 
thereof,  and  the  ground  or  soile  of  the  same  woodes,  underwoodes,  and  trees,  and  the 
revercion  and  revercions  of  all  and  singuler  the  premisses  and  everie  parcell  thereof  and 
the  rents,  averrages  of  rents,  services,  revenues,  condicions,  forfaietures,  comodities, 
emolumentes,  and  yerelie  profittes  whatsoever  reserved  upon  anie  demises  or  grauntes 
made  of  the  premisses  or  anie  parcell  thereof.  To  b«  had,  holden,  and  enjoyed  unto  the 


(163) 

said  John  Farneham,  his  heires,  and  assigns  to  the  onlie  use  and  behalfe  of  the  said  John 
Farneham,  his  heires,  and  assigns  for  ever,  and  to  be  holden  of  our  said  Sovereigne  Ladie 
the  Queene,  her  heires  and  successors,  as  of  her  manner  of  Estgrenwich,  in  the  Countie 
of  Kent,  by  fealtie  only  in  free  and  common  socage  and  not  in  Cheif  nor  in  Knightes 
service.  And  gelding  and  paieng  yerelie  to  our  said  Soveraigne  Ladie  her  heires  and 
successors  for  the  said  parcell  of  lande  the  somme  of  18s.  4d.  of  good  and  lawfull  money 
of  England  at  the  times  and  feastes  in  the  said  letters  patentes  contained  with  divers 
other  covenantes,  grauntes,  articles,  and  agrementes  in  the  said  letters  patentes  expressed 
as  more  at  large  by  the  said  letters  patentes  doth  and  maie  appeare. 

The  interest  of  which  indenture  David  Williams  Llm  ap  glim,  and  Richard  Price 
now  have  and  enjoy  by  the  grant  of  the  said  John  Farneham. 

Note  that  upon  the  "  Ingosement  "  there  be  written  Provided  always  that  if  the  said 
land  be  not  concealed  (concellat)  that  then  this  grant  shall  be  void. 


Gabriel  Powel  (of  Pennant),  1700-35. 


"  On  a  marble  monument  attached  to  the  same  wall  (north,  in  the  Priory  Church)  the 
inscription,  nearly  obliterated,  and  not  legible  without  close  inspection  and  considerable 
trouble  : — 

"  Here  lieth  the  body  of  Gabriel  Powel  of  Pennant,  in  this  borough,  gent.,  several 
years  Steward  under  two  successive  Dukes  of  Beaufort,  of  the  lordship  royal  of 
Gower,  in  the  County  of  Glamorgan,  some  time  bailiff  of  this  Corporation,  and 
a  strenuous  asserter  of  the  rights  of  inhabiting  burgesses  against  foreigners, 
who  died  5th  November,  1785  ;  aged  60." — Jones's  History  of  Breconshire, 
Vol.  II.,  p.  61. 

This  Gabriel  Powel,  the  first  of  the  family  bearing  that  Christian  name,  was  the 
son  of  William  Powel  of  Brecon,  tucker,  and  his  wife  Jennet  daughter  of  John  Thomas 
Lewis.  I  cannot  trace  the  line  clearly  down,  but  John  Powel,  Rector  of  Cantref  in  1601, 
and  Hugh  Powel,  who  held  considerable  property  in  that  parish  in  1635,  appear  to  have 
been  his  ancestors.  Gabriel  was  brought  up  as  a  solicitor,  and  settling  in  Swansea, 
became  Steward  of  the  manor  and  estates  of  the  Duke  of  Beaufort.  He  was  also  Steward 
of  the  manor  and  estate  of  Lord  Arthur  Somerset,  who  then  held  the  Beaufort  Brecon- 
shire  property,  in  the  Hundred  of  Crickhowell  (page  ante  127).  In  these  appointments 
be  succeeded  the  Harcourt  family,  members  of  which  for  several  generations  had  been 
stewards  of  the  Beaufort  estates. 

Existing  records  show  that  this  Gabriel  Powel  was  a  man  of  considerable  ability,  and 
had  great  influence  both  at  Swansea  and  in  Breconshire.  He  amassed  a  good  deal  of 
property,  chiefly  at  Swansea,  and  married  as  his  first  wife  Joan,  daughter  of  Owen  Rogers, 
and  secondly  Mary,  daughter  of  Lodosick  Lewis,  of  Pennant,  near  Brecon.  This  latter 
marriage  no  doubt  gave  him  an  immediate  interest  in  the  Borough  of  Brecon,  and  he  soon 
became  a  Member  of  the  Council,  and  subsequently  the  bailiff.  From  what  motive  he 
acted  we  do  not  know — it  may  hare  been  that  he  wished  to  increase  the  Beaufort  interest 
in  the  County  as  against  that  of  the  other  leading  house,  the  Morgan  family,  or  simply 
that  he  considered  the  Council  had  lapsed  into  a  bad  habit  in  filling  up  vacancies,  and  as 
a  reformer,  thought  it  should  be  put  a  stop  to.  It  is  stated  on  the  inscription  quoted 
that  he  strenuously  asserted  the  rights  of  inhabiting  burgesses  against  foreigners.  And 
as  foreigners  he  classed  all  those  outside  the  limits  of  the  Borough,  or  at  least  at  any 
considerable  distance  from  it.  Apparently  he  instituted  several  suits  in  the  Courts  of  law 
for  this  purpose,  including  the  Castle  Madoc  and  Buckland  cases.  See  Jones'  Hist., 
Vol.  II.  p.  24. 


(164) 

The  following  paper  gives  some  interesting  particulars  of  the  doings  of  the  Brecon 
Council  when  the  reform  agitation  was  in  its  first  stage. 

OLD     MINUTES    OF    BRECON    CORPORATION. 
[Copy  and  Translation.] 

THE  BOROUGH  OF  BRECON. — At  the  Guildhall  of  the  said  borough  on  Thursday,  to 
wit,  the  7th  day  of  May  Anno  Domini  1696  before  William  Herbert,  Esq.,  bailiff  of  the 
said  borough,  John  Price  and  John  Jeffrey,  gentlemen,  and  others  of  the  Common 
Council  in  camera. 

Ordered  that  Gabriel  Powell,  son  of  \Villiam  Powell,  Tinker  (tucker),  be  sworn 
and  admitted  Burgesse  of  this  Corporation.  BY  CAMAR,  JAMES. 

BOROUGH  OF  BRECON. — At  the  Guildhall  of  the  said  borough  on  the  llth  day  of  May 
A.D.  1696,  before  William  Herbert,  Esq.,  bailiff,  John  Price  and  John  Jeffreys, 
gentlemen,  Aldermen  of  the  said  borough  by  the  order  of  the  Common  Council,  &c. 

THE  STAMP  PAPER  is  FILED. — Gabriel  Powell  son  of  William  Powell  of  the  town  of 
Brecon,  tucker,  came  in  his  proper  person  and  humbly  prayed  to  be  admitted  burgess  of 
the  said  borough  and  is  admitted  and  did  fealty  therefore  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
said  borough,  &c. 

The  same  day  before  the  same. 

KING'S  DUTY  PAYD  AS  ABOVE.— The  same  Gabriel  Powell  was  admitted  and  sworn 
one  of  the  Attorneys  of  the  court  of  the  said  borough. 

JAMES,  COMMON  CLERK. 

BOROUGH  OF  BSECON.— At  the  Guildhall  of  the  said  borough  on  Monday  next  before 
the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  to  wit,  the  28th  day  of  September  in  the  8th  year 
of  the  reign  of  our  Lord  William  the  3rd  now  King  of  England,  A.D.,  1696,  before 
William  Herbert,  Esq.,  bailiff  of  the  said  borough,  John  Price  and  John  Jeffreys, 
gentlemen,  Aldermen  of  the  said  borough  and  others  of  the  Common  Council  of  the  said 
borough,  &c. 

William  Watkin,  glover,  and 

Gabriel  Powell,  gent.  were  elected  to  the  office  of  the 

said  borough  by 

Lod  Lewis  Wm.  Herbert 

Wm.  Phillips        Tho.  Walker 
Wm.  Wynter        Jo.  Price,  Alderman 
Wm.  Awbrey         Dan.  Williams 
Sam  Saunders       Jo.  Walters 
Rob.  Lucy. 

BOROUGH  OF  BRECON. — At  the  Guildhall  of  the  said  borough  on  Monday  the  25th 
day  of  September  A.D.  1704,  before  Lewis  Lewis,  Esq.,  bailiff  of  the  said  borough, 
Thomas  Walker,  Esq.,  Recorder,  John  Walters,  Esq.,  and  John  Jeffreys,  gent., 
Alderman  of  the  said  borough  and  others  of  the  Common  Council  whose  names  are 
underwritten  in  camera,  &c. 

Whereas  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God  to  take  out  of  this  Mortal  Life  William 
Awbrey,  Gent.,  late  one  of  ye  Common  Counsell  of  this  Burrough  whereby  there  is  a 
vacancy  of  a  Common  Counsell  man's  place  within  ye  said  Burrough  We  therefore  ye 
persoui  whose  names  are  hereunder  written  being  Common  Counsell  men  of  ye  same 
Burrough  Judgeing  it  necessary  to  have  ye  said  vacancy  supplyed  by  a  fitt  and  able 
person  to  serve  ye  said  office.  I  [sic]  have  Nominated  and  Elected  and  Do  hereby 
Nominate  and  Elect  Jenkin  Price,  Gent.,  only  Son  of  Jno.  Price,  of  this  Town,  Gent.,  to 
be  one  of  ye  Common  Counsell  men  or  Capital  Burgesses  of  this  Burrough  in  ye  Room 
and  Stead  of  ye  said  Mr.  Awbrey,  he  the  said  Jenkin  Price  taking  ye  Oath  now  appointed 


(165) 

by  Law  in  such  Case.     And  we  Do  also  hereby  order  that  ye  said  Mr.  Jenkin  Price  be 
admitted  and  Sworn  a  Burgesse  of  this  Corporation. 

Lod.  Lewis,  Bal. 

Jno.  Morgan  Thos.  Walker,  Rec. 

Dan.  Williams  Jno.  Walters,  Aid. 

Wm.  Philips  Jo,  Jeffreys,  Aid. 

Bob.  Lucy  How.  Jones 

Will.  Wynter  Jo.  Price 

Rich.  Hughes  Dan.  Wynter. 

BOKOUGH  OF  BRECON. — At  the  Guildhall  of  the  said  borough  the  28th  day  of 
September  in  the  6th  year  of  the  reign  of  the  King  that  now  is  before  the  said  bailiff, 
Recorder,  Alderman  and  others  of  the  said  Common  Council  whose  names  are  under- 
written in  Camera,  &c. 

Fforasmuch  as  it  hath  pleased  Almighty  God  to  take  out  of  this  troublesome  World 
Jno.  Price,  Esq.,  Late  one  of  ye  Common  Counsell  or  Capital  Burgesses  of  this 
Burrough  by  whose  Death  there  is  a  vacancy  in  the  said  Common  Counsell,  We  therefore, 
the  persons  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  members  of  ye  said  Common 
Counsell,  Judgeing  it  necessary  that  ye  said  Vacancy  be  filled  up  and  Supplyed  by  a  fitt 
and  able  Person  to  Serve  therein,  I  have  Nominated  and  Elected  and  Do  hereby 
Nominate  and  Elect  Thomas  Jones  of  this  Burrough  In  ye  place,  Room,  and  Stead  of  ye 
said  Jno.  Price,  he  ye  said  Mr.  Jones  Qualifying  himselfe  thereto  According  to 
Law,  whereupon  ye  said  Mr.  Jones  being  Called  Into  ye  Chamber  Did  take  ye  Oaths  now 
appointed  for  Qualifying  him  for  ye  said  Office  and  was  Accordingly  Sworn  one  of  ye 
Common  Counsell  of  this  Corporation. 

Mered.  James,  Bal. 
Wm.  Philips,  Record. 
Henry  Thomas  J.  Price,  Aid. 

Hen.  Williams  Roger  Jones 

Dan.  Wynter.  Jan.        Rich.  Hughes 
Hugh  Powell 
Lod.  Lewis 
Dan.  Wynter. 

BOROUGH  OF  BRECON. — At  the  Guildhall  of  the  same  borough  on  Monday  the  27th 
day  of  May,  A.D.  1723,  before  Charles  Hughes,  Esq.,  bailiff  of  the  said  borough,  Jenkin 
Price,  Esq.,  Recorder  of  the  said  borough,  Meredith  James,  Gent.,  and  Thomas  Jones, 
Gent.,  Alderman  of  the  said  borough,  and  others  of  the  Common  Council  of  the  said 
borough,  whose  names  are  underwritten  in  Camera,  <fec. 

Ordered  that  Thos.,  Morgan,  of  ye  Therw,  in  the  County  of  Brecon,  be  admitted  and 
sworn  a  Burgess  of  this  Corporation. 

Chas.  Hughes,  Bal. 

Hugh  Powell  J.  Price,  Record 

Rich.  Hughes  Wm.  Morgan 

Mered.  James,  Aid.       Roger  Jones 

Thos.  Jones,  Aid. 

The  same  day  and  year  before  the  said  Councillors  in  Camera,  &c. 

Whereas  Thos.  Morgan,  Esq.,  was  During  his  Minority  elected  one  of  ye  Capital 
Burgesses  or  Common  Counsell  of  the  said  Burrough  but  hath  since  Disclaimed  any 
right  or  title  to  ye  said  place  or  office  by  reason  that  such  Election  was  made  during  his 
Minority  by  meanes  whereof  there  is  a  vacancy  in  ye  said  Common  Counsell,  And 
whereas  also  ye  said  Mr.  Thomas  Morgan  is  now  attained  to  his  full  Age  of  21  yeares, 
We  therefore  ye  persons  whose  narcss  are  hereunto  Subscribed  being  Capital  Burgesses 
or  Common  Counsell  men  of  ye  said  Burrough,  Judgeing  it  necessary  that  ye  said 
Vacancy  should  be  forthwith  Supplyed  by  a  fit  and  able  person  to  serve  therein  have 
Nominated  and  Elected,  And  do  hereby  Nominate  and  Elect  the  said  Thos.  Morgan  to 


(166) 

be  a  Common  Counsell  man  of  ye  said  Burrough  to  fill  up  and  Supply  the  said  Vacancy 
therein,  he  ye  said  Mr.  Morgan  Qualifying  himselfe  thereto  According  to  Law. 

Chas.  Hughes,  Bal. 

Hugh  Powell  J.  Price,  Eecord 

Kichd.  Hughes  VVm.  Morgan 

Mered.  James,  Aid.       Eog.  Jones 

Thos.  Jones,  Aid. 

BOROUGH  OF  BRECON. — At  the  Guildhall  of  the  said  borough  on  Monday,  to  wit,  the 
17th  day  of  June,  A.D.  1723,  before  Charles  Hughes,  Esq.,  bailiff  of  the  said  borough, 
Jenkin  Price,  Esq.,  Kecorder,  Meredith  James,  Gent.,  and  Thomas  Jones,  Gent., 
Aldermen  of  the  said  Borough  in  open  Court. 

By  Order  of  the  Common  Council  in  Camera,  &c. 

At  which  time  and  place  ye  within  named  Thomas  Morgan,  Esq.,  being  personally 
present  was  first  sworn  a  Burgesse  of  ye  said  Burrough  and  having  taken  ye  Oaths  by 
Law  appointed  for  qualifying  himself  to  Serve  ye  said  Office  of  Common  Counsell  man  of 
ye  said  Burrough  was  afterwards  Sworn  a  Common  Counsell  man  of  ye  said  Burrough. 

Per  Camara  James. 

BOROUGH  OF  BRECON. — At  the  Guildhall  of  the  said  borough  on  Monday,  to  wit,  the 
23rd  day  of  September,  A.D.  1723,  before  Charles  Hughes,  Esq.,  bailiff,  Jenkin  Price, 
Esq.,  Becorder,  and  Meredith  James,  Gent.,  one  of  the  Aldermen  of  the  said  borough, 
and  others  of  the  Common  Council,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  in  Camera,  &c. 

Whereas  by  an  order  bearing  Date  ye  27th  Day  of  May,  A.D.  1723,  Thomas  Morgan, 
Esq.,  was  Nominated  and  Elected  one  of  ye  Common  Council  men  or  Capital  Burgesses 
of  this  Burrough,  and  it  since  appearing  unto  this  Chamber  that  ye  said  Election  was 
Irregular,  Wee  therefore,  ye  persons  whose  names  are  hereunto  Subscribed,  being  ye 
Major  parte  of  ye  Capital  Burgesses  of  ye  said  Burrough  for  ye  Eeason  aforesaid,  Have 
removed  and  put  out,  and  We  Do  hereby  Eemove  and  put  out  ye  said  Mr.  Morgan  from 
ye  said  place  or  office  of  Common  Counsell  man  of  ye  said  Burrough. 

Chas.  Hughes,  Bal. 

Wm.  Morgan  J.  Price,  Eecord 

Mered.  James  Wm.  Morgan 

Eich.  Hughes  E.  Jones 

Hugh  Powell 
The  day  and  year  within  written  before  the  same  Councillors. 

Whereas  by  ye  order  lastly  mencioned  it  appeareth  unto  this  Chamber  that  Thomas 
Morgan,  Esq.,  was  Irregularly  Elected  and  Nominated  into  ye  Place  or  Office  of  Common 
Counsell  man  of  this  Burrough  by  reason  whereof  he  hath  been  removed  and  put  out  of 
ye  said  place  of  Common  Counsell  of  this  Burrough,  Whereby  there  becomes  a  Vacancy 
in  ye  said  Common  Counsell  of  ye  said  Burrough,  Wee  therefore,  ye  persons  whose  names 
are  subscribed,  being  ye  major  part  of  ye  Common  Counsell,  Judgeing  it  necessary  to 
make  a  speedy  Election  of  a  fitt  and  able  person  to  supply  ye  said  Vacancy,  And  we  being 
satisfied  of  ye  Loyalty,  Integrity,  and  ability  of  ye  said  Mr.  Morgan  to  Discharge  ye  said 
Place,  Have  re-elected,  Nominated,  and  appointed,  and  we  do  hereby  Re-elect,  Nominate, 
and  appoint  ye  said  Mr.  Thos.  Morgan  to  be  one  of  ye  Common  Counsell  of  ye  said 
Burrough,  he  ye  said  Mr.  Morgan  takeing  ye  Oaths  by  Law  appointed  for  Qualifying  to 
serve  in  ye  said  office,  and  thereupon  ye  said  Mr.  Morgan  being  personally  present  in  ye 
Chamber  took  ye  said  Oaths  and  was  accordingly  sworn  one  of  ye  Common  Counaell  or 
Capital  Burgesses  of  ye  said  Burrough. 

Hugh  Powell  Chas.  Hughes,  Bal. 

Wm.  Morgan  J.  Price,  Eecord 

Mered.  James  William  Morgan 

Eichard  Hughes  E.  Jones. 

THE  BOROUGH  OF  BRECON. — At  the  Guildhall  of  the  said  borough  on  Monday  next 
before  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel,  to  wit,  the  27th  day  of  September,  A.D 


(167) 

1725,  before  Richard  Hughes,  Esq.,  Bailiff  of  the  said  borough,  Jenkin  Price,  Esq., 
Kecorder,  and  Meredith  James,  gent.,  one  of  the  Aldermen  of  the  said  borough,  and  others 
of  the  said  Common  Council,  whose  names  are  underwritten  in  Camera,  &c. 

Whereas  by  an  order  made  ye  16th  Day  of  Aprill,  1722,  Charles  Hughes,  Gent.,  was 
Nominated  and  Elected  one  of  ye  Common  Counsell  or  Capital  Burgesses  of  this 
Burrough  in  ye  Room  and  Stead  of  Henry  Thomas,  Gent.,  Deceased,  And  whereas  since 
his  said  Election  some  Doubts  have  arisen  touching  ye  Validity  thereof  and  he  haveing 
Surrendered  his  said  office  as  appears  by  ye  next  preceding  order  of  his  Surrender,  Wee 
therefore,  ye  persons  whose  names  are  hereunto  Subscribed,  being  ye  major  part  of  ye 
Common  Counsell  of  ye  said  Burrough,  willing  to  remove  such  Doubts,  Have  Nominated 
and  Elected,  And  we  do  hereby  Nominate  and  Elect  the  said  Mr.  Charles  Hughes  into 
ye  said  place  or  office  of  Common  Counsell  or  Capital  Burgesse,  he  taking  ye  Oaths 
appointed  by  Law  for  qualifying  him  to  serve  in  ye  said  place  or  office. 

Eichd.  Hughes,  Bal. 
Hen.  Williams  J.  Price,  Eecord. 

Mered.  James  Thos.  Morgan 

Jno.  Morgan  Deriry  (?)  Williams 

Hugh  Powell  Charles  Penry 

Edw.  Williams  Eice  Edwards. 

Whereupon  ye  said  Mr.  Hughes  being  personally  present  in  ye  Chamber  took  ye 
Oaths  by  Law  appointed  for  qualifying  him  to  serve  iu  ye  said  Office  and  was  afterwards 
Sworn  a  Common  Counsell  man  of  ye  said  Burrough. 

Per  Gamer  James. 

[Small  Document.] 

BRECON — GABRIEL  POWELL,  GENT.,  v.  THE  BAILIFFS  AND  ALDERMEN  OF  THE 

BOROUGH  OF  BRECON. 

MICHAELMAS,  8  Geo.  II.,  BOLL. 

£    a.   d. 

Fee  to  Mr.  Eeeves  for  a  motion  for  a  writ  of  Mandamus ..     110 

Paid  for  filing  the  affidavit  on  which  it  was  granted     0     8     4 

Paid  for  the  fee  of  the  Master  for  the  Writ  of  Mandamus    0     6     8 

Paid  for  stamp  and  Seal  for  the  same 0     2     3 

HILARY,  8  GEO.  II. 

Fee  to  Mr.  Reeves  for  the  motion  to  return  the  writ  of  Mandamus    1     1     0 

Paid  for  the  registering  of  the  Court  thereupon     080 

Fee  to  Mr.  Reeves  for  motion  for  filing  the  writ  of  Mandamus  and  return- 
ing the  same  110 

Paid  for  the  registering  of  the  Court  thereupon     080 

Paid  to  the  Master  for  entering  the  writ  of  Mandamus  and  returning  it    ...  0  18     4 

EASTER,  8  GEO.  II. 

Fee  to  Mr.  Eeeves  for  a  motion  for  the  Registrar  of  the  Court  for  a  book...  110 

Paid  for  the  Registering  of  the  Court  thereupon   040 

Paid  to  the  Master  for  entering  the  Traverse  to  the  writ  of  mandamus  and 

returning  it 0  18     4 

Postage  with  "  breats  "  for  Council's  perusall 086 

Fee  to  Mr.  Reeves  for  reporting  (?)  thereon  110 

Ditto  to  Mr.  Fazakerly 110 

Paid  to  their  Clerks  050 


1168) 

Paid  for  stamp  and  seal  and  to  the  Master  for  2  subpen  as 084 

TRINITY,  3  &  4. 

Fee  to  Mr.  Beeves  for  his  opinion  concerning  Mr.  Powell's  having  received 
the  Sacrament   •__ 

£10  12     9 


[Endorsed]  Brecon, 

MB.  HEN.  WILLIAMS  AND  MB.  GAB.  POWELL  v.  THE 
BAILIFFS,  ETC.,  OF  BRECON. 

The  will  of  this  Gabriel  Powel  is  dated  1783.  He  left  a  eon  named  Gabriel,  of 
Swansea,  who  died  1788,  and  his  grandson  became  Sir  Gabriel  Middleton  Powel,  also  of 
Swansea.  He  died  in  1818. 

I  may  add  that  if  pedigrees  of  this  and  other  Breconshire  families  were  brought  down 
to  date,  it  would  much  facilitate  the  study  of  our  County  history. 


The  annexed  letter  throws  further  light  on  the  local  affairs  of  this  period  :— 

A  Copy  of  the  Letter  sent  to  Mr.  Morgan  except  that  it  was  a  little  mended  upon 
the  second  transcribing  of  it  both  in  form,  matter  and  substance. 

Sir, 

I  doubt  not  but  you  have  ere  this  heard  of  the  Death  of  poor  Mr.  Cha.  Hughes,  by 
whose  death  we  have  lost  not  only  a  good  Friend,  but  a  Com.  Councell  man,  whereby  your 
interest  in  our  Town  may  seem  to  be  in  danger  of  suffering  more  or  lesse  which  however 
by  good  management  may  not  only  be  prevented,  but  be  improved  and  bettered  ;  and  in 
order  to  explain  how,  I  am  to  acquaint  you  that  since  the  Death  of  Mr.  Chs.  Hughes,  Mr. 
Pen  Williams,  Mr.  Gab.  Powell  and  myself  have  mett  togeather  more  than  once  to  consider 
of  the  present  situation  of  affaires  in  our  Town,  the  result  whereof  is  that  they  have  given 
me  full  power  and  Leave,  or  rather  Orders,  to  acquaint  you  that  they  are  under  no  Obli- 
gations by  Mr.  Jefferyes  but  are  at  perfect  Liberty  to  chuse  and  espouse  which  side  and 
party  they  please,  and  to  assure  you  that  in  case  you  putt  up  Mr.  Sollicitor  Generall  or 
his  son  to  stand  for  our  Town  at  the  next  Election  they  will  be  for  him  with  all  their 
interest  might  and  main,  which  being  joyned  to  and  with  your  own  will  undoubtedly  carry 
it  with  a  high  Hand,  and  they  are  ready  and  willing  [to  enter]  into  any  measures  in 
concert  with  you  for  that  purpose  and  as  to  the  Ceremoniale  for  a  meeting  to  be  had  on 
this  occasion  they  desire  nothing  but  just  and  proper  applications  to  be  made  unto  them 
either  to  be  written  or  spoken  and  their  friendship  and  interest  desired,  and  Mr.  Gab. 
Powell  being  now  in  Town  is  ready  to  give  you  and  Mr.  Talbot  the  Meeting  at  any  time 
and  place  that  you  shall  appoint  to  give  you  a  full  assurance  and  satisfaccion  by  word  of 
mouth  of  the  reality  and  sincerity  of  their  intentions  herein.  If  you  please  you  may  have 
Tydings  of  Mr.  Gab,  Powell  at  Daniels  Coffee  House  by  Temple  Bar  who  stays  in  Town 
till  the  Middle  of  next  .  .  . 

The  Gentlemen  are  both  ready  and  willing  to  joyn  with  your  interest  [in  Town]  in 
opposition  to  the  Jeffreyss  in  all  other  matters  particularly  in  filling  the  present  vacancy 
in  the  Com.  Councell,  and  you  may  be  assured  that  when  you  meet  togeather  on  that 
account  the  dispute  will  soon  be  ended  to  your  satisfaction  ;  And  upon  this  Head  I  am 
sorry  to  have  occasion  of  giving  you  the  account  that  Mr.  Recorder  has  deserted  us  and  is 
gone  off  to  the  other  side  so  far  as  that  he  has  promised  his  and  his  Nephew  Dr.  Morgans 
Vote  for  young  Ned  Williams  (Mr.  Harry  Wms.  his  son)  who  is  married  to  Mr.  Ni.  Jeffreys 
first  cousin  to  come  into  the  Councell  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Cha.  Hughes,  but  if  the  Proposal 
and  Project  herein  before  mentioned  be  complyed  with  and  will  take  place,  we  shall  never 
want  Mr.  Recorder's  Vote  nor  Friendship  for  us,  as  will  appere  by  the  scheme  under- 
written. 

You  may  also  take  notice  that  Mr.  Richd.  Hughes  and  myself  are  grown  very  old  and 


(169) 

cannot  live  long,  and  when  we  dye,  who  will  you  have  to  support  your  interest  in  Town, 
no  man  I  am  sure  of  any  great  weight  and  interest  whereas  if  we  agree  upon  the  project 
aforesaid  Mr.  Pen.  Wms.  and  Mr.  Gab.  Powell  (if  of  your  side  which  you  now  have  the 
offer  of)  will  be  able  to  do  it  effectually,  they  are  materiall  men  and  staunch  Friendes 
there  they  take.  They  may  also  one  time  or  other  do  you  and  your  Family  great  service 
as  to  your  interest  in  the  County,  so  that  it  is  highly  advisable  to  close  with  them.  I  had 
almost  forgott  to  tell  you  that  I  believe  Mr,  Gab.  Powell  is  to  be  our  next  Bayleffe,  and 
in  that  case  he  will  be  able  to  doe  materiall  services  for  which  Candidate  he  pleases  at  the 
Election.  I  am  also  to  acquaint  you  that  you  can  put  up  no  other  person  as  I  beleive 
except  Mr.  Talbott  to  stand  for  our  Towne  with  any  sure  hopes  of  successe. 

I  have  nothing  more  to  add  but  my  request  that  this  Affair  be  kept  a  great  secrett, 
there  is  nobody  at  present  knowes  anything  of  it  but  Mr.  Pen.  Williams,  Mr.  Gab.  Powell 
and  myself,  and  the  dincovery  of  it  will  certainly  be  a  great  prejudice  to  the  Affair  in 
hand ;  and  particularly  to  the  private  affaires  of 

Sir 

Your  most  faithfull 
Friend  and  humble 
servant 

MEKED.  JAMES. 

The  present  state  of  affairs  as  to  the  vacancy  in  the  Com.  Councell  stands  thus  viz., 

Votes. 

For  Mr.  Morgan.  For  Mr.  Jeffreijt. 

Tho.  Morgan,  Esqr.  *  Pen.  Williams,  Esqr. 

Eoger  Jones,  Esqr.  Wa.  Jefferys,  Esqr. 

Ei.  Hughes,  Esqr.  Mr.  Hatton  (?)  Jones. 

Mr.  Mered.  James.  *  Mr.  Gab.  Powell. 

Mr.  John  Bullock.  Mr.  Edwd.  Williams. 

Mr.  Jo.  Phillips.  Mr.  Kecorder. 

Mr.  Cha.  Sandyrs.  Dr.  Morgan. 

7  7 

But  there  must  be  8  Com.  Councell  men  to  make  any  Act. 

Take  off  Mr.  Pen.  Williams  and  Mr.  Gab.  Powell  from  the  Jeffreys'  side  and  add 
them  to  Mr.  Morgan's  side  then  we  shall  be  9  and  they  but  5.  and  our  9  electing  another 
Friend  to  supply  the  present  vacancy  will  make  10 — and  what  cannot  10  do  ? 

Brecon,  22nd  January,  1732. 


For  the  Honble. 

Thomas  Morgan,  Esqr.,  a 
Member  of  Parliament 
To  be  left  at  the  Lobby  of  the 
H.  of  Commons, 

London 

There 


The  following  is  a  letter  from   Mr.  Meredith  James  to  Mr.  Gabriel  Powell,  in 
London : — 

Dear  Sir, 

This  comes  to  give  you  the  meeting  at  Daniel's  Coffee  House  and  to  welcome  you  to 
Town,  &c. 

Since  you  went  hence  young  Ned  Williams  came  to  me  for  my  vote  to  bring  him  into 
the  Councell  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Ch.  Hughes  and  my  answer  was  that  I  would  make  no 


(170) 

promises,  but  would  consider  of  it  ;  next  day  afterwards  my  son  went  to  the  Eecorder  to 
sound  him  out  and  to  recommend  him  to  make  no  promises  and  he  presently  answered 

that  he  had  promised  both  his  own  and   his vote   for   Ned   Williams, 

whereupon  my  son  took  the  liberty  tc  .  .  .  .  him  for  it  and  so  went  off.  I  knew 
his  inclination  was  to  ....  Mr.  Haton  (?)  Williams  before  some  others,  which 
you  may  remember  I  hinted  to  you  before  now  ;  and  there  is  no  more  now  to  be  said  to  it, 
but  that  he  is  a  weak  Brother,  and  if  our  Project  takes  (as  I  hope  it  will)  we  shall  never 
want  nor  desire  his  vote  nor  friendship.  He  leaves  the  Judgeship  and  perhaps  the 
Eecordership  too  for  your  son ;  many  a  true  word  is  spoken  in  jest. 

Mr.  Morgan  of  Ruperra  (?)  is  now  in  Town  very  busy,  prosecuting  his  Grand  Assize 
of  the  Auditorship  wherein  I  hear  he  has  Hopes  of  Success  which  I  heartily  wish. 

I  have  by  the  post  ....  a  long  Letter  a  Copy  whereof  is  hereinclosed  that 
.  .  .  .  and  be  fully  apprised  of  the  whole  ....  the  better  enabled  for  your 
parte  now  ....  may  very  probably  happen  that  you  may  not  hear  anything  from 
Mr.  Morgan  on  this  occasion  whilst  you  are  upp  in  Town  by  reason  of  your  short  stay 
there  or  rather  of  the  urgency  of  Mr.  Morgan's  or  Mr.  Talbotts'  affaires  or  other  reasons, 
but  lett  not  that  discourage  us.  The  thing  may  be  as  well  transacted  and  done  after  you 
return  home,  and  it  will  not  then  be  too  late,  for  persuaded  I  am  the  project  will  take  in 
the  end  though  we  will  give  Mr.  M.  leave  to  be  a  little  shy  at  first. 

I  am  Sir 
Yours  most  assuredly 

MERED.  JAMES. 

Brecon  23rd  January  1732. 

[Addressed.] 

For  Mr.  Gabriel  Powell 

Attorney  at  Law 
To  be  left  for  him  at 
Daniel's  Coffee  House 
by  Temple  Bar. 

London 

There 


Blawd  y  Kwn  or  Dagges. 


AN     OLD     PAYMENT. 

All  trace  of  payment  of  any  such  charge  has  long  since  been  lost.  Probably  in  very 
early  times  the  lands  were  charged  with  the  provision  of  meal  for  the  hunting 
dogs  used  by  the  Lord  of  Brecon  Castle. 

[SouiH  WALES  INKOLMENTS,  VOL.  III.  Fo.  170.] 

COUNTY   OF   BRECKNOCK. 

DEMISE  TO  JOHN  LEWELL. 

Elizabeth  by  the  grace  of  God,  &c.  Know  ye  that  We  as  well  in  consideration  of  the 
charges  and  expenses  which  John  Lewell  has  sustained  in  recovering  certain  measures*  of 
wheat  levied  yearly  upon  divers  lands,  tenements  and  mills  lying  at  a  certain  place  called 
Eskervaior  for  a  certain  custom  called  Blawde  y  Kwm  which  measures  of  wheat  the 

*  modius,   a  measure  generally,  as  bushel. 


(171) 

tenants  of  the  said  lands  claim  to  have  for  a  certain  yearly  rent  lo  be  paid  for  the  same  ; 
and  also  the  said  John  Lewell  offers  to  build  a  grain  mill  at  his  own  charges  within  four 
years  nest  following  the  date  of  these  Letters  Patent  on  the  site  of  the  decayed  mill  of 
Llanvaies,  and  also  the  decay  of  a  certain  tenement  in  Brentles  as  well  as  because  the 
Vicar  of  Brentles  claims  the  messuage  and  land  in  Brentles  below  in  these  presents 
demised,  for  his  glebe  :  which  claim  was  defended  at  the  charge  of  the  said  John  Lewell, 
have  granted  to  him  all  that  Our  custom  of  divers  measures  of  wheat  within  the  Lordship 
of  Brecknock  called  Blawd  y  Kwn  or  Dagges  meate  levied  yearly  Upon  divers  lands, 
tenements,  mills  and  hereditaments  lying  at  a  certain  place  called  Eskervayor  within  the 
parish  of  Mertherkynock  in  Our  said  County  of  Brecon  in  the  tenures  of  divers  persons 
parcel  of  the  possession  of  Edward  late  Duke  of  Buckingham ;  also  all  the  site  and 
precinct  of  the  late  Mill  of  Llanvays  called  Llanvays  Mill  lying  within  the  suburbs  of  the 
vill  of  Brecknocke  at  the  place  called  Llanvays  formerly  in  the  tenure  of  Hoell  ap  Watkin 
and  Lewis  (Lodovici)  ap  John,  formerly  belonging  to  tlie  said  Priory  of  Brecnok  and  being 
parcel  of  the  possessions  there  ;  and  all  that  Our  tenement  lying  within  the  vill  of  Brentles 
in  the  said  county,  now  or  late  in  the  tenure  of  Charles  Williams,  formerly  belonging  to 
the  late  Priory  of  Clifford  in  co.  Hereford  ;  and  all  that  Our  messuage,  1  garden  and  la.  of 
meadow  situate  in  the  parish  of  Brentles  in  the  said  County  now  or  late  in  the  tenure  of 
William  Huyd,  Vicar  of  Brentles,  lately  given  or  granted  for  celebrating  masses  in  the 
parish  of  Brentles  ;  and  all  that  Our  rent  of  2d.  issuing  out  of  certain  lands  and  tenements 
in  Llanvigan  in  the  said  County,  now  or  late  in  the  tenure  of  John  Jenkins  ;  and  one 
other  rent  of  2d.  issuing  out  of  certain  lands  and  tents,  in  Llanvigan,  now  or  late  in  the 
tenure  of  William  ap  Jevan  William,  lately  given  and  granted  to  pray  in  the  pulpit  in 
the  Church  of  Llanvigan  for  the  souls  of  the  deceased  ;  and  all  the  houses,  buildings, 
barns,  stables,  dovecotes,  orchards,  gardens,  lands,  meadows,  commons,  waters,  pools, 
tolls,  &c.,  &c.,  to  the  premises,  in  Llanvays  and  Brentles  belonging.  Except  nevertheless 
and  always  reserving  to  Us  Our  heirs  and  successors  all  great  trees,  woods,  underwoods, 
mines  and  quarries  on  the  premises  :  To  have  and  to  hold  all  the  said  premises,  except  as 
above  excepted,  to  the  said  John  Lewell  for  the  term  of  21  years,  paying  to  Us  yearly 
for  the  said  custom  20s.,  for  the  said  site  of  the  late  mill  of  Llanvais  7s.  6d.,  for  the  said 
tenement  in  Brentles  late  in  the  tenure  of  Charles  Williams  20d.,  for  the  premises  in 
Brentles  late  in  the  tenure  of  William  Huyd,  the  Vicar  there,  7d.,  and  for  the  said  rents 
issuing  out  of  the  premises  in  Llanvigan  4d. 

And  we  exonerate  the  said  John  Lewell  from  paying  the  rent  resolute  of  8s.  4d.  to 
the  lord  of  the  lordship  of  Cantracelli  out  of  certain  lands  in  Brentles  during  the  said 
period. 

And  the  said  John  within  4  years  after  the  date  of  these  Letters  Patent  shall  at  his 
own  costs  build  a  water  grain  mill  on  the  site  of  the  late  mill  of  Llanvais  ;  and  shall  also 
keep  all  the  mills,  houses,  hedges,  ditches,  &c.,  &c.,  in  good  repair. 

And  the  said  John  may  from  time  to  time  take  sufficient  housebote,  hedgebote, 
firebote,  ploughbote  and  cartbete,  to  be  used  there  and  not  elsewhere,  during  the  said 
term,  towards  the  repairs  of  the  mills  and  houses. 

Witness  :  William  Baron  de  Burghley  Our  Treasurer  of  England  at  Westminster 
the  16th  day  of  January  in  the  15th  year  of  Our  reign  [1578]. 


(172) 

Abercynrig  Lordship  and  Estate. 


This  Lordship,  Demesne  Lands  and  Farms  are  stated  by  Theophilus  Jones,  under 
the  head  of  Llanfrynach  parish,  to  have  been  granted  by  Bernard  Newmarch  to  his 
follower,  Sir  Reginald  Aubrey,  whose  descendants  held  the  property  for  many  years.  At 
page  22,  ante,  we  have  seen  a  copy  of  the  Inquisitio  post  mortem  of  the  then  owner,  Sir 
William  Aubrey,  D.C.L.,  in  1595  (38  Eliz.),  and  who  appears  to  have  possessed  other 
important  estates  in  the  County.  The  Mansion  House,  said  to  have  been  built  by  the 
then  Sir  William  Aubrey,  forms  the  shape  of  a  capital  E  (after  the  name  of  Queen 
Elizabeth),  and  being  in  a  well-preserved  condition  to-day,  with  its  moated  pleasure 
ground,  is  most  interesting. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century  (or  shortly  after  this  Sir  William 
Aubrey's  death),  the  estate  was  sold  to  John  Jeffreys,  of  the  Priory  of  Brecon,  whose 
daughter  and  heiress,  Dorothy,  married  Thomas  Flower,  the  ancestor  of  the  Viscount 
Ashbrook,  of  1800,  and  brought  the  estate  into  that  family. 

In  1801,  the  estate  was  offered  for  sale,  and  Abercynrig  Mansion  itself  and  the  chief 
lands  near  were  purchased  by  John  Lloyd,  of  Brecon,  the  East  Indian  captain,  and  in 
•whose  family  (Lloyd's  of  Dinas)  it  is  now  vested.  The  other  portions  of  the  estate 
were  sold  to  various  persons,  and  I  have  thought  it  interesting  to  print  here  the  full 
particulars  of  sale  of  the  first  portion  of  this  large  estate. 

BRECKNOCKSHIRE  . 
PARTICULARS  OF  A  FREEHOLD  ESTATE   SITUATE   NEAR  THE  TOWN  OF  BRECON  CONSISTING  OF 

The  Manors  or  reputed  Manors,  of  Abercundrigg  and  Battle,  with  the  Eoyalties  and 
Appurtenances  thereto  belonging  ;  the  capital  Mansion  and  Estate  of  Abercundrigg 
Demesne,  with  the  Farms  of  Velindre,  Trevidew,  Upper  and  Lower  Penylans 
and  Davoden  Meadow  thereto  adjoining,  with  divers  other  Farms,  Messuages,  and 
Tenements,  being  let  to  Tenants  at  Will  on  easy  Terms,  and  amounting  in  the 
whole  to  the  Yearly  Rent  of  Eight  Hundred  Pounds  ;  together  with  the  Perpetual 
Advowson  of  the  Living  of  Aberysker,  Which  will  be  sold  in  the  following  Lots,  by 
Private  Contract : — 

Lot  I.  —  Consisting  of  Abercundrigg  Demesne,  with  the  Farms  adjoining  called 
Velindre,  Trevidew,  Lpper  and  Lower  Penylan,  in  the  Parish  of  St.  David's,  and 
Penylan,  in  the  Parish  of  Cantreff,  together  with  Davoden's  Meadow ;  being  situate 
likewise  in  the  several  other  parishes  of  Llanvrenach,  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  and 
LI  ;u  i  ham  Inch,  viz., 

Abercundrigg  Demesne,  in  the  Occupation  of  Mrs.  Mary  Morgan,  consists  of 
a  large  good  Mansion  House,  with  convenient  Buildings,  Stables,  Two  large  Barns, 
Beast  Houses,  and  Cart  House  ;  a  large  Farm  Yard,  a  Garden  walled  in,  Orchards, 
and  about  Three  Hundred  and  Thirty-nine  Acres  of  Arable,  Meadow,  Pasture  and 
Woodland. 

Rhyd  y  Maen  is  included  in  the  same  Bargain  with  Abercundrigg,  and  Mrs. 
Morgan's  Bailiff  lives  in  the  House,  being  a  neat  little  cottage.  The  land  attached 
to  it  is  Twenty  Acres  and  Nine  Perches. 

Velindre  Farm,  also  in  the  Occupation  of  Mrs.  Mary  Morgan,  situate  in  the 
Parish  of  Llanvrenach,  consists  of  a  Farm  House,  Beast  Houses,  &c.,  and  a  Mill, 
which  has  been  letely  rebuilt  on  a  large  Scale  at  a  very  considerable  Expence,  and  is 
capable  of  doing  a  great  deal  of  Business  ;  together  with  Two  Cottages  near  the 
Mill  occupied  by  Labourers.  The  Land  belonging  to  this  Farm  is  Thirty- five  Acres, 
One  Rood,  Fifteen  Perches, 

Trevidew  Farm,  also  in  the  Oecupation  of  Mrs.  Mary  Mergan,  consists  of  a 
small  Farm  House,  a  Beast  House  and  Barn,  and  Fifty-one  Acres,  One  Rood,  and 
Ten  Perches  of  Arable,  Meadow,  and  Pasture  Land. 


PAGE    172.1 


AHKRCYNRIG     MANSION     HOUSE. 

THK     ^KAT     OK      THE     Al'BREY     FAMILY.  BUILT      1560 — 1595. 

EAST     FRONT. 


(178) 

Penylan,  in  the  Parish  of  Cantreff,  in  the  Occupation  of  Mr.  John  Morgan, 
consisting  of  a  small  Farm  House,  Beast  House  and  Barn,  and  Ninety-three  Acres, 
Three  Roods,  and  Thirty-seven  Perches  of  Land. 

Upper  Penylan,  in  the  Parish  of  St.  David's,  in  the  Occupation  of  Mrs,  Mary 
Morgan ;  consisting  of  a  small  Farmhouse  and  Barn,  and  Sixty-eight  Acres,  One 
Eood,  and  Four  Perches  of  Land. 

Two  farms,  called  Penylan  and  the  Green,  in  the  Parish  of  St.  Davids,  in  the 
Occupation  of  Mr.  John  Morgan  ;  consisting  of  a  tidy  Tenement  and  good  Beast 
Houses,  and  One  Hundred  and  Thirteen  Acres  and  Nine  Perches  of  Land.  There  is 
a  considerable  quantity  of  Oaks  in  the  Woods  of  this  Farm. 

Davoden  Meadow,  in  the  Parish  of  St.  David's,  in  the  Occupation  of  Mr.  John 
Morgan  ;  consisting  of  a  rich  piece  of  Meadow  Laud  adjoining  the  River  Usk, 
containing  Twenty-four  Acres  and  Two  Roods. 

N.B. — The  annual  value  of  the  several  Farms  in  Lot  1  is  Four  Hundred  and 
Thirty  Pounds. 

Lot  II. — Ccmprising  a  Farm,  called  Nant  y  Cegyrn,  in  the  Parish  of  Llanspythitt,  in  the 
Occupation  of  Philip  Phillips,  being  a  compact  Estate,  situate  about  Two  Miles  from 
Brecon :  consisting  of  a  small  Farm  House,  Beast  House  and  Barn,  and  Thirty-one 
Acres  and  Three  Roods  of  Land. 

N.B. — The  annual  Value  of  this  Lot  is  Thirteen  Pounds  Ten  Shillings. 

Lot  III. — Comprising  the  Manor  and  divers  Farms  and  Tenements  within  the  Parish  of 
Battle,  called  Cae  Crwn,  Penrhrw,  and  divers  other  Bargains,  including  the  Quit 
Rents  of  the  Manor,  amounting  to  Four  Pounds,  Nine  Shillings,  and  Nine  Pence, 
Yearly. 

Cae  Crwn  Farm,  and  other  Lands  in  the  Occupation  of  Eleanor  Powell! 
consisting  of  a  good  Farm  House,  Wain  House,  Beast  Houses,  Barns,  aad  Two 
Cottages,  let  to  Labourers.  The  Land  belonging  to  this  Farm  is  One  Hundred 
Acres,  One  Rood,  and  Thirty-three  Perches. 

Farm  at  Battle,  in  the  Occupation  of  John  Price  ;  consisting  of  the  Manor 
House,  being  a  small  Farm  House,  with  a  Beast  House,  and  another  Building 
standing  on  the  Waste ;  and  Eleven  Acres,  One  Rood,  and  Eight  Perches  of  Land. 

Lands  in  Battle,  in  the  Occupation  of  David  Hughes,  containing  Twelve  Acres, 
Two  Roods,  and  Twenty-one  Perches.  There  are  no  Buildings  on  this  Farm. 

A  Bargain,  called  Part  of  the  Old  House  and  Cae  Glass,  in  Battle,  in  the 
Occupation  of  John  Price  ;  containing  Thirty-three  Acres,  Three  Roods,  and  Five 
Perches.  There  are  no  Buildings  on  this  Bargain. 

A  Croft,  in  Battle,  let  to  John  James  ;  containing  One  Rood  and  Five  Perches 
of  Meadow  Land. 

A  Cot  and  Lands,  in  Battle,  in  the  Occupation  of  William  Watkin.  The  Land, 
Three  Acres,  One  Rood,  Ten  Perches,  and  a  small  Garden. 

A  Cot  and  Croft,  in  Battle,  in  the  Occupation  of  Daniel  Jones.  The  Land 
about  Half  an  Acre. 

Penrhw  Tenement,  in  the  Occupation  of  Widow  Frees ;  consisting  of  a  Cottage, 
and  Ten  Acres,  Three  Roode,  and  Three  Perches  of  Land. 

The  annual  Value  of  this  Lot  is  Eighty-five  Pounds. 

Lot  IV. — Comprising  a  Farm,  called  Ynis  Mock,  in  the  Parish  of  Aberysker,  in  the 
Occupation  of  Howell  Powell ;    consisting  of  a  good  Farm   House,    Stable,  Beast 
House  and  Barn,  and  Eighty-four  Acres  and  Three  Perches  of  Land. 
The  annual  Value  of  Lot  IV.  is  Twenty-six  Pounds  Ten  Shillings. 

Lot  V. — Consisting  of  a  Farm,  called  The  Noyadd,  with  a  Mill  thereto  belonging ;  a 
Tenement  called  Corof  Gawci ;  one  other  Tenement  called  Llaner  Chlas  ;  one  other 
called  Pontvane  ;  a  Cot  and  Smith's  Shop  ;  and  a  Wood  called  Alt  y  Pont  Vane  ;  all 
situate  in  the  Parish  of  Merthyr  Cynnog,  viz., 

The  Noyadd,  or  Hall,  in  the  Occupation  of  John  Powell ;  comprising  a  large 
Farm  House,  Beast  Houses,  Out  Houses,  and  a  Barn.  The  Mill  is  situate  at 


(174) 

Pontvane,  and  there  is  a  small  Cottage  near  to  it  usually  occupied  by  the  Miller. 
The  Land  attached  to  this  Farm  is  One  Hundred  and  Seventy-seven  Acres,  One 
Rood,  and  Thirty-four  Perches. 

Corof  Gawci,  in  the  Occupation  of  David  Stephens  ;  consisting  of  a  Cottage  and 
and  Beast  House,  and  Five  Acres,  Two  Roods,  and  Thirteen  Perches  of  Land. 

Llanerchlas,  near  Pontvane,  in  the  Occupation  of  Thomas  Bevan  ;  consisting  of 
a  Cottage  and  Croft,  containing  Two  Roods  and  Ten  Perches. 

Pontvane,  a  Cottage,  and  Four  Acres,  Two  Roods,  and  Ten  Perches  of  Land  ; 
in  the  Occupation  of  Alice  Moises. 

A  Cottage  and  Blacksmith's  Shop  at  Pontvane,  and  a  Garden  containing 
Thirty-two  Perches,  in  the  Occupation  of  William  Williams. 

Alt  y  Pontvane  Wood,  in  Hand,  containing  Thirty-five  Acres,  Two  Roods,  and 
Thirty  Perches. 

N.B.— A  good  Stock  of  Underwood  and  much  Oak  Timber.  The  Annual  Value 
of  this  Lot  is  Sixty-seven  Pounds. 

Lot  VI.— Comprising  Lower,  Middle  and  Upper  Vale  Farms;  Penylan,  Ponty  Maes, 
and  Havodvoririg,  or  Pantyr  Eirin,  Farms  ;  all  being  situate  in  the  Parish  of 
Llandevaylog,  viz., 

Lower  and  Middle  Vale  Farms,  in  the  Occupation  of  Thomas  Watkins ; 
consisting  of  Two  Homestalls,  with  Beast  Houses,  Barns,  and  other  Buildings ; 
and  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-four  Acres,  Three  Roods,  and  Thirty-two  Perches  of 
Land,  part  of  which  is  Wood. 

Upper  Vale  Farm,  in  the  Occupation  of  Richard  Pritchard,  consisting  of  a 
Farm  House,  Beast  House  and  Barn,  and  Sixty-six  Acres,  Two  Roods,  and 
Thirty-six  Perches  of  Land. 

Penylan,  in  the  Parish  of  Llandevaylog,  occupied  by  Jenkin  David;  consisting 
of  a  Tenement  or  Farm  House,  Beast  House  and  Barn,  and  Eighty-eight  Acres  and 
Thirty-seven  Perches  of  Land. 

Ponty  Maes,  in  the  Occupation  of  John  Jones  ;  consisting  of  a  Farm  House, 
Beast  House  and  Barn,  and  One  Hundred  Acres  of  Land. 

Havodvoririg,  or  Pantyr  Eirin,  in  the  Occupation  of  Joan  Probart,  Widow ; 
consisting  of  a  Tenement,  Beast  Houses  and  Barn,  and  Sixty  Acres,  One  Rood,  Four 
Perches  of  Land. 

The  Annual  Value  of  Lot  VI.  is  One  hundred  and  thirty-five  pounds  ten  shillings. 

Lot  VII. — Comprising  an  Estate  situate  on  each  side  of  the  River  Trevechan,  in  the 
Parishes  of  Llanveiglan  and  Llanvrenach,  in  the  Occupation  of  Michael  Thomas  and 
his  Undertenants  ;  consisting  of  Three  different  Tenements,  viz., 

Ustadd  Gunwynn,  or  Lloyn  Llyen,  inhabited  by  the  said  Michael  Thomas  ; 
consisting  of  a  good  comfortable  Farm  House,  with  Beast  Houses,  Barns,  &c.,  and 
Seventy-five  Acres,  Two  Roods,  and  Seventeen  Perches  of  Land  in  Tillage  ;  and  Two 
Hundred  and  Twenty-two  Acres,  Three  Roods,  Nineteen  Perches  Sheepwalk. 

Lloyn  y  Dderllyan,  or  Owls  Bush,  occupied  by  William  John  David  as  Under- 
tenant ;  consisting  of  a  Cottage  and  Beast  House,  and  One  Hundred  and  Nine  Acres 
and  Thirty-eight  Perches  of  Land. 

Lloynon,  occupied  by  George  Thomas  as  Undertenant ;  consisting  of  a  Cottage 
and  Range  of  Beast  Houses,  and  Four  Hundred  and  One  Acres  and  Eight  Perches  of 
Land  ;  of  which  Three  Hundred  and  Seventy-Three  Acres  and  Thirty-four  Perches  is 
Sheepwalk. 

The  Annual  Value  of  this  Lot  is  Sixty  Pounds. 

Lot  VIII. — The  next  Presentation  and  Perpetual  Advowson  of  the  Rectory  of  Aberysker, 
of  the  Annual  Value  of  nearly  One  Hundred  Pounds  ;  subject  to  Life  of  the  present 
Incumbent,  aged  about  Sixty. 

A  Plan  of  the  Estate  may  be  seen  at  Mr.  Charles  Deare's,  No.  12,  Harcourt  Buildings, 
Temple,  London,  where  further  Particulars,  Admeasurement,  &c.,  of  the  several 


(175) 

Closes,  may  be  known  ;  also  of  Mr.  Davis,  Lewknor,  Oxfordshire  ;  and  of  Mr.  John 
Morgan,  Brecon,  who  will  give  Directions  to  the  several  Tenants  to  shew  their 
repective  Premises. 


The  second  portion  of  the  Estate  was  sold  in  1802,  and  I  give  also  the  Particulars 
of  that.  Mr.  Jeffreys  Wilkins,  of  the  Priory,  bought  several  of  the  farms.  It  will  be 
observed  in  these  particulars,  which  are  in  the  shape  of  a  handbill,  that  all  "the  above 
farms  have  an  unlimited  right  of  Common  for  all  manner  of  cattle  on  the  adjacent 
Commons."  This  handbill  was  put  in  and  accepted  as  evidence  of  the  enjoyment  of  right 
of  Common  at  the  date  named  therein,  viz.,  1802,  by  Mr.  Wood,  at  the  recent  Torglas 
arbitration  in  1902.  Such  papers,  it  is  needless  to  say,  are  always  worth  preserving 
among  estate  papers. 

BEECONSHIKE. 
To  BE  SOLD  BY  AUCTION,  AT  THE  BUSH  INN,  IN  THE  TOWN  OF  BRECON, 

On  Saturday,  the  24th  day  of  July  next,  between  the  Hours  of  Four  and  Six  in  the 
Afternoon,  in  One  Lot,  the  Several  Freehold  Messuages  Farms,  Lands, 
and  Premises,  hereinafter  mentioned,  subject  to  such  conditions  as  shall  then 
be  produced.  And  in  case  the  said  several  Messuages  and  Premises  should  not  be 
sold  in  One  Lot,  then  the  same  will  be  immediately  put  up  to  Auction,  subject  also 
to  such  Conditions  to  be  then  produced,  at  the  Time  and  Place  abovementioned,  in 
the  following  Lots  : — 

Lot  I. — All  that  capital  Mansion  House,  Messuage,  Farm  and  Lands,  with  the  Appurte- 
nances, called  Tregare,  situate  in  the  Parishes  of  Llanvrynach  and  Llanvigan,  and 
a  House,  Garden  and  Orchard,  in  the  Village  of  Llanvrynach,  containing  together  by 
Estimation  367a.  2r,  21p.,  statute  measure  (be  the  same  more  or  less),  in  the 
Occupation  of  the  Representatives  of  Edward  Morgan,  deceased,  and  David  Jones, 
under  a  Lease  for  21  Years  commencing  from  Michaelmas,  1796,  at  the  clear  Yearly 
Rent  of  £100. 

Also,  All  that  Messuage,  Farm  and  Lands,  with  the  Appurtenances,  called  Tir 
Hir,  situate  in  the  Parishes  of  Llanvrynach  and  Llanvigan,  containing  by  estimation 
64a.  2r.  16p.  (be  the  same  more  or  less),  in  the  Occupation  ef  the  Representatives  of 
the  said  Edward  Morgan,  deceased,  and  David  Jones,  and  included  in  the  above 
Lease,  at  the  clear  yearly  Kent  of  £42  10s.  Od. 

Lot  II. — Also,  All  that  Messuage,  Farm  and  Lands,  with  the  Appurtenances,  called  Cwm 
Orgwm,  otherwise  Coed  y  Bedw,  situate  in  the  Parish  of  Llanvrynach  aforesaid, 
containing  by  Estimation  Ilia.  8r.  2p.  (be  the  same  more  or  less),  in  the  Occupation 
of  the  Representatives  of  the  said  Edward  Morgan  and  David  Jones,  also  included 
in  the  aforesaid  Lease,  at  the  clear  Yearly  rontal  of  £27  10s.  Od. 

N.B. — There  is  a  Rent  Charge  of  £8  Os.  Od.  annually  issuing  out  of  this  Farm, 
and  payable  to  the  Poor  of  the  Parish  of  Llanhamlach,  which  the  Tenant  pays,  and 
and  the  Farm  will  be  sold  subject  to  such  Rent  charge. 

Lot  III. — Also,  All  those  Wo  Messuages,  Farms  and  Lands,  with  their  Appurtenances, 
called  Panney  and  Pen  y  wain,  containing  together  by  Estimation  204a.  Ir.  lip.  (be 
the  same  more  or  less),  in  the  Occupation  of  John  Parry,  under  a  Lease  for  21  Years, 
which  will  expire  at  Michaelmas,  1809,  at  the  clear  yearly  Rental  of  £63. 

Also,  All  that  Messuage  and  Lands  called  Cae  Cradog,  situate  in  tha  Parish  of 
Llanvrynach  aforesaid,  containing  by  Estimation  9a.  Or.  81p.  statute  Measure  (more 
or  less)  in  the  Occupation  of  Thomas  Aubrey,  as  Tenant  at  Will,  at  the  yearly 
Rental  of  £5  5s.  Od. 

Lot  IV. — Also,  All  that  Messuage,  Farm  and  Lands,  called  Tynllwyn,  adjoining  Panney 
Farm,  situate  in  the  Parish  of  Llanvrynach  aforesaid,  containing  115a.  3r.  22p, 


(176) 

statute  Measure  ^e  the  same  more  or  less)  in  the  Occupation  of  Thomas  Watkins 
and  William  James,  under  a  Lease  for  14  Years,  commencing  from  Michaelmas, 
1796,  at  the  clear  yearly  Rental  of  £52  10s.  Od. 

Lot  V. All  that  rough  Piece  or  Parcel  of  pasture  Ground,    called   Coed    Cae   Jonet, 

situate  in  the  Parish  of  Llanvrynach  aforesaid,  containing  23  Acres,  statute 
Measure  (be  the  same  more  or  less)  now  held  by  William  Mosely,  at  the  clear 
yearly  Bent  of  £2  2s.  Od. 

The  above  Farms  have  an  unlimited  Right  of  Common,  for  all  Manner  of 
Cattle  on  the  adjacent  Commons,  and  the  several  Houses  and  Out-houses  have 
been  lately  put  in  complete  Repair,  at  a  very  considerable  Expence. 

NOTE. — There  is  a  considerable  Quantity  of  Timber  and  young  Trees 
growing  upon  this  Estate,  which  will  be  sold  with  the  same. 

CS"     The  several  Tenants  will  shew  the  different  Farms,  and 

Particulars  apply  to  MB.  THOMAS  BOLD,  Attorney,  Brecon,  at  whose  Office 

date  may  be  seen. 
June  14th,  1802. 

BRECKNOCK. 

Appended  are  further  handbills  as  to  the  sale  of  Rime  Farm  in  1802,  and  the 
letting  of  the  Abercynrig  and  Rhiwe  farms  in  1814,  both  described  as  possessing  extensive 
rights  of  Common  : — 

BRECONSHIRE. 
To  BE  SOLD  BT  AUCTION,  AT  THE  SUN  INN,  IN  THE  Town  OF  BRECON, 

On  Saturday,  the  27th  Day  of  November  instant,  at  Three  o'clock  in  the  Afternoon, 
under  Certain  Conditions  then  to  be  Produced,  or  in  the  mean  Time  by  Private 
Contract :  All  that  Messuage,  Tenement  and  Lands,  with  the  Appurtenances, 
called  the  Rhue,  containing  by  Estimation  Seventy-Three  Acres,  Be  the  same, 
more  or  less ;  now  in  the  Occupation  of  Morris  Smith,  as  yearly  Tenant,  at  the 
Rent  of  £33  per  Annum,  clear  of  Taxes.  And  also  a  Cottage  and  Garden, 
thereto  Adjoining  and  Belonging,  in  the  Occupation  of  Lewis  Price,  at  the 
yearly  Rent  of  £1  8s.  With  Another  decayed  Cottage,  late  in  the  occupation  of 
Priscilla  Lewis.  All  situata  in  the  Parish  of  Llanvrynach  in  the  said  County. 
There  is  a  fine  Growth  of  Oak  and  Ash  on  the  Premises,  and  the  same  have  a 
valuable  Right  of  Common  on  the  healthy  and  extengive  Hills  adjoining. 

VS"     For   Particulars,    apply  to   Mr.    John   Parry,    at    Panney ;    or   Messrs. 
Walter  and  John  Powell,  Attornies,   Brecon. 
November  1st,   1802. 

BRECONSHIRE. 

A  MOST  ELIGIBLE  ESTATE  TO  BE  LBT. 

'To  be  Let  for  a  Term  of  Years,  and  entered  upon  at  Michaelmas  next,  All  that 
Capital  Messuage,  Farm  and  Lands,  called  Abercyndrig,  with  the  Water  Corn 
Grist  Mill,  thereunto  belonging ;  containing  by  Admeasurement  about  535  Acres, 
now  in  the  occupation  of  Mr.  Roger  Prosser.  Also,  All  that  Stock  Farm  (held 
with  Abercyndrig)  called  Rhiwe  containing  by  Estimation  about  Fifty  Acres. 
The  Mansion-house  of  Abercyndrig  is  calculated  for  the  Residence  of  a  genteel 
Family ;  and  the  Offices,  Feeding-houses,  and  other  Farm  Buildings  are  very 
commodious.  A  great  Part  of  the  Land  lies  on  the  Banks  of  the  River  Usk, 
and  the  whole  of  it  is  within  the  Distance  of  about  Two  Miles  of  the  Town  of 
Brecon,  and  about  a  Quarter  of  a  Mile  of  the  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal. — 
Limestone  in  great  Abundance  upon  the  Farm,  with  a  convenient  Kiln ;  also  an 
excellent  Threshing  Machine,  worked  by  a  full  Supply  of  Water,  which  may 
Afterwards  irrigate  a  considerable  Part  of  the  Land ;  to  which  there  is  the  Advantage 


(177) 

of  an  extensive  Right  of  Common.  Ehiwe  Farm  is  situate  in  the  Parish  of 
Llanvrynach,  within  the  Distance  of  about  Two  Miles  of  Abercyndrig,  and  has 
also  a  valuable  Eight  of  Common  attached  to  it.  N.B.— The  Statute  Labour  is 
very  trifling. 

For  a  View  of  the  Premises,  and  for  further  Particulars,  apply  to  the 
Proprietor,  John  Lloyd,  Esq.  ;  or  to  Messrs.  Powell  and  Jones,  Solicitors, 
Brecon.— (If  by  Letter,  the  Postage  paid). 

June  20,   1814. 


The  following  is  a  valuation  of  the  Abercynrig  desmesne  made  for  John  Lloyd, 
my  father,  in  1819,  shortly  after  he  came  into  possession  of  the  estate  on  his  father's 
death.  It  was  made  by  David  Davies,  the  eminent  land  Surveyor,  of  Llangattock, 
Crickhowell.  Mr.  Archibald  was  then  thfl  tenant,  and  it  was  at  his  suggestion  the 
attempt  at  great  expense  to  convert  the  meadows  into  a  kind  of  water  meadows,  by 
irrigation  from  the  Cynrig  brook  was  made.  Though  the  system  of  irrigation  was 
long  maintained,  and  as  late  as  1860,  it  proved  to  be  of  little  value,  the  quality  of 
the  water  being  deficient  in  the  properties  possessed  by  the  streams  flowing  from  the 
Chalk  formation  in  England.  My  father  covenanted  to  give  Mr.  Archibald  £200 
towards  the  expense  of  laying  out — •"  floating  "  it  was  called — the  meadows,  but  the 
work,  which  was  thoroughly  well  done,  must  have  cost  Mr.  Archibald  a  far  larger  sum. 
Previously  the  Brecon  races  were  held  on  these  beautiful  meadows,  the  Grand  Stand 
being  fixed  on  the  rising  bank  in  Ynyspenybont,  but  the  formation  of  the  numerous 
gutters  and  deep  trenches,  and  finally  the  making  of  the  Dinas  Gardens  caused  the 
Baces  to  be  removed  to  the  Island  fields  near  the  Town,  and  on  the  Town  side  of  the 
river  Usk. 

REFERENCES  TO  THE  PLAN  AND   SURVEY  OP  THE   ABERCUNDKIO    DEMESNE    NEAR  THE   TOWN 
OF  BRECON,  THE  PROPERTY  OF  JOHN  LLOYD,   ESQ. — ARCHIBALD,   GENT.,   TENANT. 


No. 
on 
PlanJ 

Clear 
Names  of  Pieces,  &c.                State.            Land. 

A.     K.     P. 

Wood. 

A.     B      P. 

1. 

Erin  mawr  Ara.             21     0  30 

2. 

Brinbach  Ara.             10     230 

3. 

CaeLlwch   Ara.            11     118 

4. 

Cae  Crumlin    Ara.              2     1  30 

5. 

Waunllwch  P.                   8     1  25 

6. 

7. 

Park  gwin  bach  Ara.              7    3  23 

k 

8. 

Ynis  Gwilim    Ara.               5313 

1     3  32           | 

9. 

Perllan  fawr    P.         .  .       2     0     5 

M 

10. 
11. 

Part  of  Parkgwyu  bach    P.         .  .       300 
Cae  Shone  Richard        A.         .  .       9     2  26 

V-s 

12. 

Cae  glase   A.         .  .       6     2  30 

3 

13. 

Cae  barbwr  A.         ..       1     212 

14. 

14a. 

Cae  bach  Velindre  P.         .  .        1     3     0 

•$ 

15. 

Pwll  bach     P.         .  .       0     1  20 

16. 

Island..  P.&W.         1     017 

006 

17. 

18. 

P.         ..       0     2  15 
Cottage  and  garden   0     012 

1 

19. 

0     1  30 

0    0  12          Cantreffe  Parish. 

20. 

P.         .  .       0     0  35 

Lanvrynach  . 

21. 

P.         ..       0    2  27 

22 

Cottage  Ruin    &c                        .    .              0     0  25 

) 

23. 

?    St.  Davids 

24. 

Perllan,  Velindre    P.         ..       0    217 

25. 

Garden                                         0     0  35 

) 

26. 

Mill  pond  Yard   &c                    .  .             0     1  35 

27 

Two  Cottages  and  gardens  0    0  28 

Lanvrynach. 

28. 

Cae  Shone  Walter  A.         .  .     15     1  21 

St.  Davids. 

28a. 

Part  of  do.  .                                             A.                   5     t  31 

Cantreffe 

(178) 


No. 
on 
Plan. 

Names  of  Pieces  &c.                 Sti 

Clear 
ite.             Land 
A.    B.    P. 

A.    B.    F. 

Wood. 

29. 

1     o  31 

30. 

Close  y  Gy  fer  A. 

3     2  18 

Garden  in  do  

0    0  14 

St.  Davids. 

Wood  in  do  W 

0     1  18 

31. 
32. 

Gwynydd  bach  Trevedw  M 
Cae  Bruce    P. 

..     14     1  21 
..      14     1     0 

0     3  34 

... 

0     1   15 

>    Lanvrynach. 

32a. 

Part  of  Cae  Bruce  P. 

*  W. 

0     1   10 

St.  Davids 

32b. 

Do.         do.            P. 

&  W. 

010 

)   _ 

33. 

4     0   20 

>  Lanvrynacb  . 

34. 

Perllan  fach    P.C 

).      ..       2     0  20 

1       T                                     t 

35. 

&  W. 

1     1  25 

}  Lanvrynach. 

36. 

Do.  Gravel,  &o  P 

&  W. 

1     0  15 

St.  Davids 

37. 

Close  y  Berth  M. 

..     21     2  18 

i    T 

Wood  and  pond  in  do  W. 

1     0  17 

>  Lanvrynach. 

38. 

Vnia  Hiiiirlrijj                     ,  ,                             M 

9     1  28 

St.  Davids 

38a. 

Part  of  do  M. 

3     1  20 

St    Johns 

39. 

Tnispenybout  A. 

..     18     0  10 

40. 

Ynig  Shone  Sanders  M. 

..      17     0     2 

\  St.  Davids. 

40a.  • 

Part  of  do  M. 

5     0  20 

41. 

Ynis  fallen  A. 

..     15     1  24 

42. 

Wood  adjoining     W. 

2     3  30 

St  Davids 

43. 

Upper  Meadow  M. 

13     3  32 

43a. 

Part  of  do  M. 

521 

44. 
45. 

Wayn  fach  Rhydymaen    M. 
Caebach  Rhydymaen     A. 

1     3  20 

4     3   15 

2    3  30 

i    St.  Davids 

46. 

Waynfach    P. 

0     1  35 

297     3  11 
14     0  19 

14     0  19 

Total   

311     3  30 

DEAR  SIR, — 

I  beg  to  send  you  the  annexed  copy  of  the   Reference  to  the  Plan  and  Survey 
of  the  Abercundrig  desmesne.  " 

I  remain,  Dear  Sir, 

Yours  very  faithfully, 

DD.    DAVIES, 

Llangattock,    Crickhowell. 
December  8th,   1819. 


(179) 

Nonconformity  in  Breconshire,  1700  to  1800. 


A  previous  paper — page  89,  of  the  "  Historical  Memoranda  " — gave  the  list,  extracted 
from  the  Minutes  of  the  Quarter  Sessions  of  our  county,  of  persons  presented  to  the  Court 
for  not  coming  to  Church  for  three  successive  Sundays  in  the  year  1687.  This  was  the 
last  of  such  lists  ever  made.  In  the  year  following,  1688-9,  the  Toleration  Act  was 
passed,  which  provided  that  Protestant  Dissenters  should  be  exempt  from  the  penalties 
previously  in  force,  and  be  permitted  to  attend  their  own  places  of  worship,  if  such  had 
been  duly  certified  to  the  Bishop,  or  Archdeacon,  or  to  the  General  Sessions  of  the  county, 
and  by  the  same  statute  the  Clerk  of  the  Peace  was  required  to  keep  a  registpr  of  such 
places  of  worship,  and  to  give  a  certificate  to  any  person  demanding  the  same  on  payment 
of  a  fee  of  sixpence- 

Probably  it  was  found  extremely  difficult  for  the  Protestant  Dissenters  to  find  sites 
for,  and  to  build  their  places  of  worship,  or  even  to  rent  any  suitable  building,  and  it  ia 
even  the  case  at  the  present  day.  Some  landowners  might  be  willing  to  grant  or  lease 
such  sites  or  buildings,  while  others  would  not  be,  and  beyond  even  this  difficulty  was  the 
further  one  of  being  able  almost  at  a  moment's  notice  to  extemporise  funds  for  building 
the  chapels.  The  work  of  covering  a  wide  and  sparsely  inhabited  district  like  Breconshire 
could  only  be  done  gradually,  even  under  the  most  favourable  circumstances. 

Hence  it  may  fairly  be  assumed  that  during  the  eighteenth  century — 1700  to  1800 — 
the  practice  of  holding  prayer  meetings,  coupled  with  preaching  in  farm-houses  and  other 
uncertified  buildings,  was  general,  and  the  somewhat  serious  step  of  building  a  chapel 
would  only  be  taken  after  a  nucleus  of  worshippers  in  a  certain  district  had  been  found  to 
exist,  and  that  could  only  be  ascertained  by  the  previous  holding  of  many  such  private  or 
clandestine  prayer  meetings. 

Theo.  Jones,  our  county  historian,  is  strangely  silent  on  the  subject  of  Nonconformity 
in  Breconshire.  and  it  was  left  to  Mr.  Poole  in  his  more  modern  work — and  much  credit 
is  due  to  him — to  describe,  for  the  first  time,  the  rise  and  progress  of  Nonconformity  in 
our  county.  He  writes  at  page  858  : 

"  The  Toleration  Act,  1689,  was  a  great  advance  on  previous  ordinances.  It  did  not, 
however,  bring  with  it  complete  justice  to  the  Nonconformists  in  Wales.  The  history  of 
the  Eighteenth  Century  in  this  county  is  one  of  cruel  persecution  on  the  one  hand,  and 
patient  suffering  and  courageous  adherence  to  principle  on  the  other." 

And  then  Mr.  Poole  proceeds  thus  : 

"  The  last  legal  persecution  occurred  at  Brecknock  in  the  year  1791,  of  which  Dr. 
Been  gives  the  following  account : — '  The  Eevd.  Thomas  Bowen,  of  Maesyrouen.  Radnor- 
shire,  who  was  a  very  popular  and  active  preacher,  used  frequently  to  preach  at  dwelling 
houses  in  various  districts  of  the  counties  of  Radnor  and  Brecon.  Among  other  places, 
he  often  preached  at,  a  farmhouse  in  Llansaintffraid,  near  Brecon  His  repeated  visits  to 
this  parish  so  irritated  Parson  Frew,  that  he  determined  to  punish  him  as  far  as  possible. 
Finding  that  the  house  in  which  Mr  Bowen  preached  had  not  been  recorded  for  preaching 
according  to  the  provisions  of  the  Toleration  Act,  and  that  consequently  the  preacher  was 
liable  to  a  penalty  of  twenty  pounds,  and  that  he  as  informer  would  be  entitled  to  one- 
third  of  that  sum,  on  his  information,  and  at  his  request  Mr  Bowen  was  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  magistrates  at  Brecon.  On  the  appointed  day  he  appeared  there.  The 
presiding  magistrate  asked  him,  "  Is  it  true  that  you  preached  in  Mr.  Frew's  parish  at  the 
house  named  in  the  summons  ?  "  "  It  is,"  was  the  reply.  Then  said  his  worship,  "You  are 
liable  to  a  fine  of  twenty  pounds  and  the  costs."  Without  cringing,  pleading  his  poverty, 
or  begging  their  favour,  he  paid  the  money,  and  gracefully  bowing  to  their  worships,  he 
walked  out  of  the  room.  A  messenger  was  sent  to  the  door,  asking  him  to  return,  that 
the  magistrates  had  something  to  say  to  him  !  When  he  returned,  the  Chairman  said  to 
him,  "  Mr  Bowen,  we  have  the  power  to  fine  you  to  this  amount,  but  we  have  the  power 
to  reduce  it  to  a  nominal  sum."  He  replied,  "  Never  mind,  gentlemen,  the  money  is  now 
paid,  and  the  portion  of  it  which  will  go  to  the  pocket  of  my  accuser,  may  injure  him  more 
than  the  loss  will  injure  me  !  "  Six  weeks  after,  Mr  Frew,  on  his  way  home  from  Brecon, 
fell  from  his  horse  on  a  heap  of  stones,  and  his  skull  was  so  fractured  that  his  brains 


(180) 

were  scattered  over  the  stones.     The  tragical  end  of  this  persecution  so  terrified   his 
clerical  brethren,  that  none  of  them   afterwards  ventured  to  annoy  a  Nonfortnist  preacher 

as  he  did." 

This  story,  as  told  by  Dr.  Rees,  is  in  any  case  a  very  painful  one.  It  is  possible  that 
Mr  Frew  laid  the  information  because  no  one  else  could  be  found  to  do  so,  and  not  for  the 
sake  of  getting  a  share  of  the  fine  himself.  As  to  the  date  of  the  alleged  fatal  accident 
that  befel  Mr.  Frew,  it  seems  doubtful  whether  it  happened  so  very  soon  after  the  hearing 
before  the  magistrates  because  I  find  that  in  the  list  of  Incumbents  at  Llansaintffraed,  it 
was  not  until  1794,  or  three  years  later  that  the  Rev.  Morgan  Eowlands  succeeded  the  Eev. 
John  Frew. 

I  had  written  thus  far,  and  was  about  to  copy  a  letter  of  Mr.  Frew  himself,  dated 
January  1st,  1792,  relating  to  this  very  prosecution,  and  which  then  lay  on  the  table 
before  me,  when  there  occurred  a  marvellous  coincidence,  amounting  almost  to  a 
miracle.  I  was  musing  over  the  difference  in  date,  and  trying  to  find  a  solution,  when  to 
relieve  the  strain  of  mind,  I  began  carelessly  to  turn  over  the  pages  of  a  quaint  diary  book 
published  in  Kent,  which  lay  by  my  left  elbow  as  a  curio  to  be  looked  at  when  I  had 
leisure. — Glancing  over  the  leaves,  I  was  first  struck  by  the  handwriting,  which  seemed 
familar  to  me.  Then  various  entries  excited  my  attention,  such  as  payment  for  powder 
and  shot,  won  at  cards  £1  16s,  lost  at  cards  5s,  receipt  of  tithe  from  Talybryn,  and  of  £20 
tithe  from  Gwynne.  Then  on  a  flyleaf  at  the  end,  a  copy  of  the  inscription  on  the  well- 
known  stone  of  Victoriuus.  This  seemed  to  point  indubitably  to  Llansaintffraed  parish  ! 
and  lastly,  not  altogether  now  to  my  surprise,  I  found  the  owner's  name,  "  J.  Frew," 
recorded  on  one  of  the  commencing  leaves  ! 

It  was  a  1798  diary,  being  used  for  the  year  1794,  and  the  very  last  entry  was  on  the 
30ih  April,  1794,  "  Quarter  Sessions,  James'  Appeal.  James'  Eecognisance."  It  is  clear, 
therefore,  that  Mr.  Frew  did  not  meet  with  the  alleged  fatal  accident  until  after  the  date 
of  that  entry,  and  I  find  that  Theo.  Jones  gives  the  date  of  his  death,  recorded  on  his 
monument  in  Llansaintffraed  Church,  as  July  9,  1794.  Therefore,  if  vtngeance  came  at 
all  in  this  instance,  it  was  not  so  speedy  as  Dr.  Kees  imagined  ! 

How  passing  strange  by  the  merest  accident  in  the  world  thus  to  find  the  diary  of  the 
very  man,  of  whom  1  had  been  writing,  and  whose  original  letter  I  was  about  to  copy  ! 
The  chances  were  enormous  against  my  finding  the  diary  at  all,  still  more  so  against 
happening  to  open  the  book  at  that  particular  moment,  and  still  further  to  notice  the 

name  !     Such  instances  must  be  very  rare. 

*  * 

# 

This  brings  me  to  the  real  object  of  this  paper.  I  am  now  about  to  give  the  account 
of  the  prosecution  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Bowen,  with  the  circumstances  leading  up  to  it,  by 
the  Rev.  John  Frew  himself,  as  narrated  in  his  own  letter  to  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's. 
I  must  first  give  the  Bishop's  letter  to  Mr.  Frew,  asking  him  to  send  a  full  account  of  the 
prosecution,  a  report  of  which  had  reached  him  indirectly.  Both  the  letter  of  the  Bishop, 
and  that  of  Mr.  Fiew  are  original  autograph  letters,  and  with  the  diary  referred  to,  are 
before  me  now,  as  I  am  writing. 

Revd.  Sir,— My  late  worthy  correspondent,  the  Welsh  Freeholder,  has  just  published 
a  pamphlet  upon  the  Riots  at  Birmingham.  It  is  one  of  the  most  virulent  declamations 
against  the  Constitution  and  the  Established  Church  that  the  meek  spirit  of  Noncon- 
formity ever  yet  produced.  You  will  perhaps  be  surprsed  to  hear  that  you  are  brought  in 
question.  Your  proceedings  against  the  Conventicles  in  your  parish  are  mentioned  in 
these  terms  : — 

"  A  clergyman  holding  considerable  preferments,  and  who  is  also  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  has  lately  compelled  a  most  inoffensive  and  worthy  dissenting  Minister  of  the 
Calvinistic  persuasion,  to  pay  twenty  pound  for  the  crime  of  preaching  in  an  unlicensed 
house." 

As  the  mention  of  this  affair  is  introduced  in  such  a  manner,  as  clearly  to  lay  the 
scene  of  it  in  my  diocese,  it  is  possible  that  I  may  be  often  asked  about  it.  I  wish 
therefore  to  be  po&sessed  of  the  real  story,  which  to  say  the  truth,  I  know  at  present,  and 
had  very  imperfectly.  Were  uot  more  than  one  fined  ?  Were  they  who  suffered  the  fine, 


(181) 

or  any  of  them,  Dissenting  preachers  of  the  Presbyterian,  Independent,  or  Anabaptist,  or 
of  what  denomination  ?  Were  they  not  Methodists  ?  If  Methodists,  were  they  not  of 
that  description  which  use  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England  ?  If  in  any  circumstance 
this  worthy  author  has  deviated  from  the  strict  line  of  Truth  in  his  representation  of  the 
fact  (which  I  much  suspect)  I  shall  take  pleasure  in  giving  him  the  lie  in  all  companies 
where  his  name,  or  his  infamous  work  are  mentioned.  Fail  not  to  tell  me  particularly 
what  were  the  immediate  provocations  that  put  you  upon  the  prosecution. 

I  am  Eevd.  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  brother,  and  faithf  servant, 

(Sgd.)  SAMUEL,  St.  David's. 
Upper  Seymour  Street, 

December  20th,  1791. 

P.S.- — Lay  it  not  to  heart  that  you  have  fallen  under  the  censure  of  this  writer.     He 
is  one  of  those  whose  pen,   to  use  a  happy  expression  of  his  own,  "  eulogizes  when  it 
censures,"  and  you  are  a  sharer  in  a  sma'l  proportion  only  in  his  abuse,  with  Mr  Pitt,  Mr 
Burke,  Lord  Hawkesbury  and  myself. 
Rev.  Mr.  Frew. 

To  this  letter  Mr.  Frew  replied  as  follows  : — 

(Copy.) 

Llansaintfraed,  January  1st,  1792. 

My  Lord, — The  following  is  the  real  state  of  the  Business  between  me  and  the 
Methodist  Preacher  whom  I  convicted.  In  the  month  of  last  May  complaints  were  made 
to  me  by  some  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Llangorse,  of  which  Parish  I  am  Vicar,  that  numerous 
disorderly  Meetings  of  Methodist  Preachers  and  their  Followers  from  various  parts,  had 
been  held  in  a  Barn  in  the  said  Parish,  and  that  they  continued  to  a  very  late  hour  of  the 
night  with  violent  jumpings  and  great  noise,  to  the  annoyance  of  the  neighbourhood.  I 
was  at  the  same  time  informed,  that  another  meeting  was  to  take  place  in  a  few  days.  In 
consequence,  I  issued  my  Precent  to  the  Constables  of  the  Parish  to  attend  at  the  Place, 
and  to  read  it  aloud  to  the  People,  and  particularly  to  the  Preachers.  This  Warrant  or 
Precept  recited  the  penalties  to  which  they  would  be  liable  if  they  would  obstinately  persist 
in  their  intentions.  This  caution  was  fruitless.  The  Preachers  mounted  the  Rostrum 
and  harangued  the  multitude  in  their  usual  frantic  manner  with  a  description  of  their  own 
Zeal  and  Persecution  and  with  their  own  customary  abuse  of  the  established  Clergy. 
Information  of  this  being  regularly  made  to  me,  I  was  obliged  by  law  to  summon  the 
Orators  to  appear  before  me  on  a  certain  Day.  In  the  meantime  I  had  solicitations  to 
drop  further  Prosecution,  and  I  prevailed  on  the  Informer  to  consent.  For  this  Act  of 
Lenity  I  naturally  expected  a  decent  return  of  thanks,  but  instead  of  that  Act  of 
Propriety,  I  was  the  Subject  of  their  invective.  They  held  frequent  cabals,  and  this 
inoffensive  and  worthy  Dissenting  Minister  of  the  Calvinistic  Persuasion  undertook  the 
Task  of  preaching  in  an  avowed  defiance  of  me  as  a  Clergyman  and  a  Magistrate  close  to 
my  Parsonage  House.  On  Whitsun  Monday  returning  from  the  performance  of  my  Duty  at 
my  Church  of  Llansaintfread  I  was  informed  that  one  Thomas  Bowen  had  signified  his 
intention  of  Preaching  the  Word  to  poor  Souls  at  the  Barn  of  a  Farmer  within  less  than 
two  hundred  yards  of  my  dwelling.  I  immediately  sent  a  message  to  my  neighbour,  and 
desired  to  speak  with  him.  The  Churchwarden,  who  came  with  me  from  Church,  was 
present  at  the  farmer's  arrival.  He  confessed  that  Bowen  had  applied  to  him  for 
permission  to  preach  at  his  House,  and  that  he  was  to  be  there  that  Day  for  the  purpose. 
To  this  honest  and  deluded  man  I  read  the  Acts  of  Parliament  on  the  Subject  of 
Conventicles,  and  the  consequence  to  himself,  the  Attendants,  and  Preacher.  These 
cautionary  steps  were  of  no  avail.  Bowen  arrived  with  a  gang  of  low  people  from  my 
parish  of  Llangorse,  where  he  performed  in  the  morning,  and  had  exultingly  told  them 
that  he  would  prove  to  them,  that  he  had  a  right  to  preach  at  Llansaintfraed  also,  in  spite 
of  Mr  Frew.  He  was  informed  of  the  irregularity  of  his  design,  but  he  bid  Defiance  to  the 
Law,  the  Justice  and  the  Rector.  A  very  respectable  family  in  my  Parish  were 
spectators  of  this  disorderly  and  indecent  meeting,  and  called  on  me  at  a  Farmer's  House, 


(182) 

where  I  dined,  and  laid  an  information  against  the  Preacher  and  the  Owner  of  the 
Conventicle.  However,  the  gentleman,  who  is  an  officer  in  the  Army,  not  wishing  to 
appear  as  an  informer,  I  took  the  information  of  that  person,  and  regularly  proceeded  to 
summon  and  convict  Bowen  by  his  own  confession,  and  the  Oath  of  two  Witnesses.  I 
overlooked  the  Error  of  the  poor  Farmer  and  the  ignorant  jumping  crew.  To  your 
Lorship's  queries  concerning  the  different  classes  of  Dissenters,  and  of  what  species  the 
offenders  were,  as  one  only  was  fined,  a  description  of  him  will  be  sufficient.  He  calls 
himself  a  Presbyterian,  has  two  licensed  places  of  worship,  where  he  officiates,  and  is  also 
a  vagabond  Methodist  preacher.  If  his  Piety  is  equal  to  his  Impudence,  Calvin  himself 
must  give  way  on  the  same  comparison.  As  the  bold  step  taken  by  Bowen  was  much 
admired,  and  applauded  by  the  Sectaries,  on  the  following  Sunday  another  Orator,  by 
trade  a  Skinner,  appeared  at  Llangorse  and  solicited  subscriptions  for  purchasing  a  place 
there,  and  it  was  to  be  licensed  and  appropriated  to  the  purpose  of  what  he  termed  godly 
instruction.  The  following  Day  an  Information  was  made  against  him  before  me  as  a 
Magistrate.  I  did  indeed  summon  him  to  appear,  and  finding  that  he  was  of  that 
description  which  attend  the  Established  Church,  I  did  not  proceed  to  convict,  tho'  it  was 
in  my  Power.  From  this  Instance,  and  my  conduct  towards  the  first  offenders  at 
Llangorse,  your  Lordship  may  perceive  that  Persecution  was  not  my  object,  tho'  it  might 
Lave  been  easy  for  me  as  a  Magistrate  to  have  proceeded  with  severity. 

Indulgence  to  tender  and  honest  consciences  is  a  proper  claim  ;  but  persons  of  that 
character  never  seek  it  by  Insolence  and  Turbulence.  If  ever,  unfortunately  for  the 
established  Church  and  its  ministers,  the  modern  Nonconformists  should  ever  have  Power, 
it  is  not  to  be  doubted,  but  the  antient  cut-throat  and  plundering  system  would  be 
adopted,  and  pursued  with  vigour. 

May  your  Lordship  long  live  in  Health,  and  with  full  possession  of  those  abilities 
which  you  have  hitherto  exerted  in  Defence  of  our  Religion,  and  the  Church  of  England, 
is  the  sincere  wish  of,  etc., 

(Sgd.)  J.  F. 

[This  is  probably  the  copy  (in  Mr.  Frew's  own  handwriting)  of  the    actual  letter  sent  by 
him  to  the  Bishop. — J.  LL.] 


Tor  Glas  Common  Lawsuits. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  Mr.  Wood  the  Arbitrator's  Award  in  these  protracted  legal 
proceedings  : — 

Mr.  James  George  Wood,  of  Lincoln's  Inn,  barrister-at-law,  the  arbitrator  appointed 
to  determine  the  action  brought  by  Howell  William  Richards  claiming  commonable  rights 
over  the  pieces  of  common  land  taken  by  the  Merthyr  Urban  District  Council,  has  made 
his  award,  which  is  in  the  several  terms  following  : — 

1. — All  the  lands  taken  by  the  District  Council  as  in  the  said  Agreement  of  reference 
mentioned  are  situate  in  the  said  Parish  of  Llanfrynach  in  the  County  of  Brecknock  and 
no  part  thereof  is  situate  in  the  said  Parish  of  Cantref. 

2.— All  owners  of  freehold  farms  within  the  said  Parish  of  Llanfrynach  are  and  were 
at  the  time  of  the  taking  aforesaid  entitled  by  themselves  or  their  tenants  occupiers  of 
such  farms  to  common  of  pasture  on  all  common  or  waste  lands  within  the  Parish  of 
Llanfrynach  for  all  their  sheep  cattle  and  ponies  as  appurtenant  to  their  said  several 
freehold  farms. 

8. — No  owner  or  occupier  of  lauds  outside  the  Parish  of  Llanfrynach  is  or  was  at  the 
time  of  the  taking  aforesaid  entitled  in  respect  thereof  to  commonable  rights  on  the 
common  or  waste  lands  in  the  Parish  of  Llanfrynach. 

4. — Such  commonable  rights  as  aforesaid  are  and  have  from  time  immemorial  been 
exercised  without  regard  to  the  particular  Lordship  Manor  or  Submanor  of  which  the 
particular  farm  to  which  such  commonable  rights  are  or  were  appurtenant  is  holden  or  of 


(188) 

which  the  common  lands  over  which  the  same  are  or  were  exercised  is  waste.  And  owners 
of  farms  within  or  holden  of  one  Manor  or  Submanor  exercise  and  have  as  aforeaaid 
exercised  such  rights  of  common  on  waste  lands  parcel  of  another  manor  or  other  Manors 
within  the  Parish. 

5.—  Such  rights  as  to  sheep  are  and  have  from  time  immemorial  been  exereised  under 
the  "  arosfa  "  system  or  usage,  that  is  to  say,  that  for  the  mutual  convenience  of  the 
farmers  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  said  rights  of  common  of  pasture  the  sheep  of  each  farm 
are  as  far  as  is  possible  kept  on  a  particular  part  of  the  waste  called  the  "  arosfa  "  of  that 
farm  and  known  to  the  shepherds  but  not  defined  by  artificial  boundaries  or  artificial 
marks  and  the  sheep  of  other  farms  within  the  Parish  are  as  far  as  is  possible  kept  off 
that  particular  part  of  the  waste. 

6.— The  "  arosfa  "  system  or  usage  does  not  apply  and  has  not  been  applied  and  is 
in  fact  inapplicable  to  cattle  and  ponies. 

7. — The  particular  parts  of  the  waste  forming  the  several  "  arosfas  "  may  be  and  are 
from  time  to  time  changed  in  shape  extent  and  position  as  the  convenience  of  the  farmers 
may  require. 

8. — The  sheep  of  2  or  more  farms  whether  of  the  same  or  different  owners  or 
occupiers  may  be  and  are  sometimes  kept  on  one  "arosfa." 

9. — The  "arosfa"  system  or  usage  existing  for  rautnal  convenience  only  does  not 
permanently  qualify  in  law  the  actual  commonable  rights  of  the  owners  of  the  freehold 
farms  as  first  hereinbefore  set  forth. 

10. — At  the  time  of  the  taking  in  or  about  the  year  1895  by  the  District  Council  of 
portions  of  Torglas  Common  and  Neuadd  fach  Common  as  in  the  said  agreement  of 
reference  mentioned  the  lands  so  taken  were  respectively  parts  of  the  Common  or  waste 
lancis  aforesaid  within  the  parish  of  Llanfrynech  and  as  such  subject  to  the  commonable 
rights  hereinbefore  set  forth. 

11. — The  portion  of  Torglas  Common  so  taken  as  aforesaid  was  at  the  time  when  the 
same  was  so  taken  part  of  a  larger  area  of  the  said  Common  or  waste  lands  which  had 
from  time  immemorial  been  and  was  then  used  and  enjoyed  under  the  system  or  usage 
aforesaid  as  the  "  arosfa  "  of  Blaen  Taf  farm  within  the  said  parish  of  Llanfrynach  which 
farm  at  the  time  of  the  taking  aforesaid  belonged  to  the  said  Howell  William  Richards  in 
fee  simple  and  was  in  the  occupation  of  John  Williams  as  tenant  thereof  from  year  to 
year. 

12. — The  portion  of  Neuaddfach  Common  so  taken  as  aforesaid  was  at  the  time  when 
the  same  was  so  taken  part  of  a  larger  area  of  the  said  Common  or  waste  lands  which  was 
then  and  had  from  the  year  1881  or  thereabouts  been  used  and  enjoyed  under  the  system 
or  usage  aforesaid  as  the  "  arosfa  "  of  Llwynon  farm  within  the  said  parish  of  Llanfrynach 
which  farm  at  the  time  of  the  taking-aforesaid  belonged  to  the  said  Howell  William 
Richards  in  fee  simple  and  was  in  his  own  occupation  until  the  time  when  such  larger 
area  as  last  aforesaid  became  the  "  arosfa  "  of  Llwynon  farm  as  aforesaid  the  same  had 
been  from  time  immemorial  used  and  enjoyed  under  the  system  or  usage  aforesaid  as  the 
"arosfa"  of  Neuadd  fach  farm  within  the  Parish  of  Llanfryna^h  which  last  mentioned 
farm  was  in  or  about  the  year  1881  sold  and  conveyed  by  the  predecessors  in  title  of  the 
said  Howell  William  Richards  to  the  then  Local  Board  of  Health  of  Merthyr  Tydfil  for  the 
purposes  of  their  water  undertaking. 

18. — Save  as  aforesaid  there  was  not  at  the  time  of  the  taking  aforesaid  by  the 
District  Council  of  the  said  portions  of  Torglas  Common  and  Neuadd  fach  Common  any 
commonable  rights  affecting  or  exerciseable  over  those  portions  of  the  same  Commons. 

14. — The  names  of  the  persons  who  as  owners  of  freehold  farms  in  the  Parish  of 
Llanfrynach  were  at  the  time  of  the  taking  as  aforesaid  by  the  District  Council  of  the  said 
portions  of  Torglas  Common  and  Neuaddfach  Common  entitled  to  such  commonable  rights 
as  aforesaid  (subject  to  the  said  "  arosfa"  system  or  usage)  in  or  over  the  lands  so  taken 
are  set  forth  in  the  1st  column  of  the  Schedule  hereinafter  written  And  the  names  of 
the  persons  who  as  occupiers  of  such  freehold  farms  respectively  were  at  the  same  time 
entitled  to  such  commonable  rights  as  aforesaid  (subject  to  the  said  "  arosfa  "  system  or 
usage)  in  or  over  the  lands  so  taken  are  set  forth  in  the  2nd  Column  in  the  same  Schedule 


(184) 

and  the  names  or  description  of  the  farms  and  lands  to  winch  such  commonable  rights 
were  appurtenant  are  set  forth  in  the  3rd  Column  of  the  same  Schedule  and  the  rateable 
values  for  the  purpose  of  assessment  to  the  rates  for  the  relief  of  the  Poor  of  the  said  farms 
and  lands  respectively  at  the  time  of  the  taking  aforesaid  are  set  forth  in  the  4th  Column 
of  the  same  Schedule  that  is  to  say  : — 

THE  SCHEDULE  ABOVE  REFERRED  TO. 


Names  of  Owners. 


Charles  Henry  de  Winton 

The  Executors  of  the  late  Colonel  Lloyd 

Howell  William  Richards   

Charles  Henry  de  Winton  

J.  P.  Gwynne  Holford     

William  de  Winton 

Edward  Davies 

Executors  of  late  Colonel  Lloyd 

Executors  of  late  Colonel  Lloyd 

William  de  Wintou 

David  Morgan    

The  Marquess  Camden 

Howell  William  Richards  

The  Rev  J.  J.  Evans 

William  Evans     

Charles  Henry  de  Winton     

William  de  Winton  

Charles  Henry  de  Winton   

Howell  Davies  

The  Marquess  Camden     

William  Smith 

W.  Ricketts   

The  Rev.  D.  Saunders  Jones 

Charles  Henry  de  Winton   

Charles  Henry  de  Winton   

W.  de  Winton  

Sir  Joseph  Russell  Bailey    

The  Rev.  H.  Williams 

Executors  of  T.  Williams   

Executors  of  Col.  Lloyd 

Executors  of  Col.  Lloyd 

Charles  Henry  de  Winton 


Names  of  Occupiers. 


Names  or  descriptions 
of  farms  or  lands 


David  Davies   

Executors  of  late  Col.  Lloyd . 

John  Williams 

Thomas  Evans 

David  Jones 

John  Evans 

John  Smith 

Daniel  Rees 

Thomas  Davies    

Thomas  Jones 

William  Morgan 

David  Jones 

Howell  William  Richards . . . 
John  Prosser    


John  Prosser 

William  de  Winton    

Howel  Davies 

John  Powell   

Howel  Davies 

John  Powell 

William  Smith     

David  Rees  

The  Rev.  D.  Saunders  Jones. 

John  Morgan   

Thomas  Jones 

John  Evans 

William  Hall   

John  Powell     

William  Powell   

Thomas  Davies    

Mrs  Price 

William  Morgan 


Tynllwyn 

Abercynrig 

BlaenTaff    

Caerau 

Cefn  Cyff 

Cwm  Cynwyn 

Cwm  Orgwm   

Velindre  Lands    . . . 

Wernmar^hog 

Glanusk     

Llanbryneau     

Llwyncelyn 

Llwyn-on 

Llwynfron    .  . . 

Rhiware  fach    

Maesderwen 

Tymawr    

Pannau  

Pannau  

Pentwyn   

Ty  Evan  Shon 

Triffynon  las    

Glebe  land    

Tregaer 

Tyf  ry 

Tylellwyd 

Tynewydd     

Penyrheol 

Coedcae  Penyrheol. 

Rhiwau 

Wern 

Brickhouse  Fields   . 


Rateable 
Values. 


£   8. 

108  0 

175  14 

72  0 

31  10 

0  9 

31  10 

78  13 

2  13 

30  12 

270  0 

81  0 

40  10 

20  14 

8  2 
1 

10 
135 

18 
100  16 

27  0 
10  0 

28  10 
2  17 

126  0 
180  0 

36  0 
55  10 

37  16 
4  15 

40  10 
18  0 

9  10 


15 
0 
0 
0 


And  1  do  hereby  further  determine  and  award  that  if  and  so  far  as  the  costs  of  this 
reference  have  been  increased  by  the  Cantref  Committee  as  such  being  parties  thereto 
such  extra  costs  of  all  parties  shall  be  borne  by  the  Cantref  Committee  And  that  the  said 
Howell  William  Richards  shall  bear  and  pay  his  own  costs  of  the  reference  except  such 
extra  costs  (if  any)  as  aforesaid  and  shall  also  pay  to  the  Llanfrynach  Committee  one 
moiety  of  their  costs  of  the  reference  except  such  extra  costs  (if  any)  as  aforesaid  and  that 
the  Llanfrynach  Committee  shall  bear  the  other  moiety  of  their  costs  of  the  reference 
except  as  aforesaid  And  shall  also  pay  the  costs  of  the  Award  And  that  if  the  costs  of  this 
award  shall  in  the  first  instance  be  paid  by  the  said  Howell  William  Richards  then  the 
same  shall  be  repaid  to  him  by  the  Llanfrynach  Committee  or  set  off  against  the  costs 
payable  by  him  to  them  as  aforesaid. 


(185) 


The  Granting  of  a  Faculty  for  a  Seat  in  St. 
Mary's  Church,  Brecon,  1727. 


Bichardus  permissions  Divina  Meneven  Episeopus  Dilecto  Nobis  in  Christo  Richards 
Davies  Clerico  Vicario  Ste  Marias  Virginis  Brecan  In  Comitatu  Brecon  Et  Diocess  Meneven 
Salutem  Tibi  Precipimus  quatinus  in  Gapella  Beate  Marias  Virginis  predict  Die  Dominico 
sive  Festivo  proximo  et  immediate  sequen  receptionem  presentium  Dumque  Major  ibidem 
ad  Divina  audiend  adfuererit  Populi  Multitudino  hoec  Verba  Anglicana  sequen  palam  et 
publice  Denunties  et  declares  (vizt.) 

Whereas  couiplaint  hath  been  made  and  information  given  into  the  Consistory  Court 
for  the  Archdeaconry  of  Brecon  in  the  Diocese  of  St.  David  by  and  on  the  part  and  behalf 
of  Margarett  Lewis  of  the  Town  of  Brecon  in  the  County  of  Brecon  widdow  that  she  is 
destitute  of  a  Seat  or  Pew  within  this  Church  to  sit  stand  or  kneel  in  to  hear  Divine  Service 
and  sermon  read  and  preached  And  whereas  there  is  a  certain  vacant  seat  situate  in  the 
north  Isle  in  this  Church  or  Chappell  between  the  seat  where  Elizabeth  Fisher  spinster 
sits  in  on  the  west  side  thereof  and  the  seat  wherein  the  servants  of  Elizabeth  Price  widdow 
doe  commonly  sit  in  on  the  east  side  thereof  fit  for  the  said  Margarett  Lewis  and  her 
family  to  sit  stand  and  kneel  in  to  hear  Divine  Service  and  sermon  read  and  preached  in 
this  Church  or  Chappell  and  whereas  the  said  Margaret  Lewis  has  desired  that  the  said 
vacant  seat  might  be  allotted  and  confirmed  unto  her  for  her  the  said  Margaret  Lewis  and 
her  family  to  sit  stand  and  kneel  in  as  aforesaid  I  do  therefore  peremptorily  cite  all  and 
every  person  and  persons  that  have  or  pretend  to  have  any  right  title  or  interest  in  the 
said  vacant  seat  or  pretend  to  shew  any  cause  or  reason  why  the  said  seat  should  not  be 
granted  or  confirmed  to  the  said  Margaret  Lewis  for  the  use  aforesaid  that  they  and  every 
of  them  be  and  personally  appear  before  the  Right  Reverend  father  in  God  Richard  Lord 
Bishop  of  St.  David  his  Chancellor  his  Surrogates  or  other  competent  judge  in  this  behalf 
in  this  Church  or  Chappell  of  St.  Mary  and  in  the  usual  Consistory  place  here  upon 
Thursday  the  two  and  twentyth  day  of  this  instant  February  att  ten  of  the  clock  in  the 
morning  of  the  same  day  then  and  there  to  shew  propound  and  alledge  their  severall 
claimes  and  interests  and  reasons  why  the  said  vacant  seat  should  not  in  due  form  of  law 
be  granted  and  confirmed  unto  the  said  Margarett  Lewis  And  I  do  further  intimate  unto 
them  that  if  they  do  not  appear  att  the  day  time  and  place  aforesaid  or  appearing  do  not 
shew  any  lawfull  cause  to  the  contrary  the  said  Chancellor  or  his  Surrogates  do  intend  to 
proceed  or  will  proceed  to  the  granting  or  confirming  of  the  aforesaid  seat  to  the  said 
Margarett  Lewis  for  her  self  and  her  family  to  sit  stand  and  kneel  in  to  hear  Divine 
Service  and  sermon  their  and  every  of  their  absence  or  rather  contumacy  notwithstanding. 

Et  Quid  in  Premiss  feceritis  Vicarium  Nostrum  in  Spiritualibus  Generalem  Ejusve 
Surrogatum  sive  Surrogates  aut  ...  in  hac  parte  Competeu  quemcunque  Debite 
Certetis  una  Cum  presen  Dat  sub  Sigillo  quo  in  hac  parte  utimur  Secundo  Die  Februarii 
Anno  dni  1727. 

CAROLUS  LEWIS  NOTARIUS  PUBLICUS, 
Reg.  Deputatus. 

[Endorsed]  PROCLAMATION  FOR  A  SEAT. 

This  is  to  certify  that  ye  within  written  proclamation  has  been  read  in  ye  Chappell  of 
St.  Marys  according  to  ye  directions  therein  given 

by  me 

D.  MORGAN. 


(186) 

A   Letter   of   1773. 


DAVID    POWELL    OF    ABERSENNY    TO    HIS    CHILD. 

DEAR  CHILD, — In  compliance  to  your  request  of  ye  5th  Inst.,  I  have  given  Miss  Molly 
Williams  eight  guineas  for  which  you  have  the  inclosed  draft  upon  her  Brother,  which  I 
hope  you  will  receive  in  due  time.  Billy  Williams  would  not  draw  under  30  days  which 
I  thought  might  be  too  long  for  you  as  you  intend  setting  out  so  soon.  The  3  guineas 
over  and  above  your  Bequest  is  to  buy  some  things  for  your  sisters  which  your  Mother 
desires  you  will  get  as  cheap  and  as  good  as  you  can  (viz.)  a  hat  and  cloak  for  your  Sister 
Nelly,  s'uch  as  you  bought  for  your  Coz.  of  Goytre  and  a  silk  capucheen  apiece  for  Molly 
and  Peggy,  if  you  can  get  tolerable  good  ones  at  second  hand  they  may  serve  frr  the  two 
last. 

I  was  at  Monmouth  to  see  the  Race  (owing  to  a  letter  I  received  2  days  before  from 
ye  old  Exciseman  at  Usk  that  he  was  very  ill)  and  stood  my  ground  with  the  Welshman, 
and  got  about  two  guineas  and  a  half,  tho  my  friends  and  neighbours  turned  tail  and  took 
to  ye  Englishman,  and  were  drawn  in  most  handsomly  (viz.,  Treweren,  Landilo  and  the 
Turk))  if  the  English  had  been  prudent  they  would  have  had  odds  but  they  overpowered 
ye  Welsh  and  freightened  them  to  that  degree  that  they  did  not  know  what  to  do.  Mr. 
Davy  Watkins  is  a  widower  this  fortnight  ago — Morgan  Powell's  settlement  was  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Robt.  Williams.  I  suppose  that  couple  will  he  married  before  you  arrive.  Since 
I  have  been  with  Miss  Molly  Williams  and  this  minute  indeed.  Your  Mother  and  Brother 
Ricy  informed  me  that  he  intended  to  send  2  Guineas  to  buy  him  a  watch  (at  your 
proposal  I  find)  if  the  Parson  comes  up  before  you  set  out  (as  he  says  he  will)  it  shall  be 
sent  by  him,  otherwise  you  shall  be  refunded  by  your  Brother  when  you  are  come,  if  you 
can  conveniently  spare  it. 

The  Parson's  lawsuit  I  apprehend  will  soon  be  settled,  without  my  being  obliged  to 
put  in  my  answer,  both  parties  rnett  last  Wednesday  in  Mr.  Williams'  office,  who  seemed 
to  be  satisfied  that  the  Parson's  title  was  good,  as  it  appeared  that  David  Walter  in  his 
life  time  had  been  in  the  possession  of  it  for  upwards  of  22  years,  and  Howell 
Thomas's  holding  it  under  David  Walter's  will  for  50  years  afterward,  but  it  was  from 
thence  adjourned  to  Mr.  Williams  of  Penpont  for  his  opinion  accordingly  I  was  obliged 
to  waite  on  him  on  Friday  last  (where  Coz.  Powell  also  attended)  with  the  Deeds,  who 
waved  it  off  by  advising  to  have  the  Case  stated  and  to  have  Counsel's  opinion  theron,  and 
yesterday  I  was  with  Mr.  Robt.  Williams,  talked  some  part  of  the  matter  over,  who 
desired  me  to  acquaint  Coz.  Powell  that  he  would  be  glad  to  see  him,  and  that  he  thought 
ye  affair  might  be  settled  without  any  further  expense,  so  Coz.  is  to  call  upon  him 
to-morrow  in  his  way  to  London  ;  the  old  people  of  Ystradvelltey  are  in  a  manner  satisfied, 
but  Tom  keeps  such  a  route,  that  he  will  never  submit  for  want  of  a  fine,  which  I  imagine 
is  not  to  be  found,  but  I  believe  Mr.  Williams  will  not  be  concerned  for  him.  If  the  affair 
should  go  on  Coz.  tells  me,  I  shan't  be  obliged  to  put  in  my  answer,  till  I  shall  see  theirs 
by  which  time  you  will  be  in  the  country. 

Mr.  Jones,  of  Treweren,  who  dines  with  me  now  sends  his  compliments  to  you,  as  does 
Coz.  Powell,  who  is  also  here.  I  can  think  of  nothing  worth  sending  you  at  present,  but 
that  we  have  escaped  the  small-pox  as  yett  here,  and  at  Llwyn  y  vron,  tho  it  has  been  very 
mortal  in  the  neighbourhood,  where  twos  and  threes  have  been  buried  from  ye  same  house. 
We  are  all  well  and  join  in  wishing  to  see  you  safe  and  well  at  Abersenny,  which  is  the 
sincere  wish  also  of  your  ever  loving 

FATHEH  DAVID  POWELL. 
Abersenny,  June  13th,  1773. 

P-S. — You  mentioned  nothing  whether  you  had  engaged  yourself  an  office  in  town  or 
not.  I  spoke  with  Mr.  Powell,  the  Ironmonger,  about  the  room  where  Coz.  Nancy  lived 
in  under  his  roofe,  he  promised  not  to  lett  it  to  any  body  till  I  should  hear  from  you, 
something  concerning  that  in  your  next. 


(187) 

The  Fisheries  of  Breconshire  in    Olden  Times. 


Very  few  references  are  to  be  found  in  old  books  and  papers  to  this  subject,  though 
the  Usk  and  Wye  and  the  numerous  smaller  streams  flowing  through  the  county  must  have 
supplied  our  ancestors  with  an  abundance  of  fish.  Giraldus  Cambrensis  described  the 
Wye  as  famous  for  its  salmon,  and  the  Usk  for  its  trout.  In  some  old  Penkelly  Manor 
papers  I  find  the  term  Piscar,  or  Piscaria — fishing  pools — used  once,  but  once  only.  In 
the  lease  from  the  Prior  of  Brecon  of  the  Usk  Mill  at  Brecon  not  a  word  is  to  be  found  as 
to  any  fishing  rights.  In  an  old  paper  of  1714,  a  rent  is  stated  to  have  been  received  by 
Gabriel  Powell,  steward,  on  behalf  of  Lord  Somerset,  of  a  fishery  in  the  Usk  at 
Crickhowell,  doubtless  that  of  the  old  mill  and  weir  just  above  Crickhowell  bridge,  rented 
subsequently  in  1821,  by  Mr.  John  Hotchkis,  who  was  a  great  fisherman.  The  records 
of  our  Quarter  Sessions  will  show  that  he  was  the  first  to  move  the  appointment  of  Fence 
months  for  salmon  in  Breconshire.  Later,  in  1754,  on  the  sale  of  the  Buckland  and 
Penkelly  estate  by  Roger  Jones'  devisees  to  the  Gwynne  family,  mention  is  made  of 
"  all  the  Buckland  fishery,"  and  in  1797,  when  Mr.  Harcourt  Powell  sold  the  manor  of 
Penkelly  Cwmorgwm,  a  special  reservation  is  made  of  the  fishery  in  the  Usk  adjacent  to 
the  Llanhamlach  estate  and  parish.  In  1784  John  William  Powell  was  presented  at  the 
Court  Leet  of  Welsh  Penkelly  Manor  (then  belonging  to  the  Crown)  "  for  fishing  in  the 
Taffechan  river  with  nets  without  consent." 

Unimportant  fisheries,  as  we  should  now  consider  them  to  be,  were  in  olden  times 
mentioned  in  old  writings.  In  every  lease  or  agistment  of  the  Great  Forest  of  Brecknock, 
fisheries  of  the  Crown  in  the  Nedd  and  Tawe  rivers  were  specially  dealt  with,  as  being 
included  in  the  taking,  or  reserved.  And  it  is  to  Llangorse  Lake,  or  the  "  fishing  pool  of 
Llinsavathan,"  that  the  palm  of  notice  is  to  be  given.  It  had  great  repute  in  the  pre- 
reformation  days  and  kept  up  its  name  in  1650,  when  a  special  Parliamentary  Survey  (see 
Hist.  Mem.  Breconshire,  page  10)  was  devoted  to  it.  Below  Pont-ar-Llynfi  there  were,  it 
is  said,  "  two  wears  belonging  to  the  king,  called  '  the  King's  wears,'  at  which  a  good  store 
of  eles  were  taken  in  potts  at  ye  season  of  the  year  for  catching  of  the  same."  A  fishery 
in  the  Wye,  since  sold,  is  stated  to  have  belonged  to  a  manor  held  by  Rice  Powel's  charity. 

Theophilus  Jones  though  not  alluding  to  any  particular  fisheries,  has  some  valuable 
and  interesting  remarks  in  his  county  history  on  the  fish  found  in  Breconshire  riyers,  and 
strongly  urges  that  pains  should  be  taken  to  protect  and  cultivate  the  river  fisheries.  I  am 
almost  tempted  to  reprint  what  he  has  written  on  the  subject  at  pages  16,  17,  18  and  19  of 
Vol.  I.  His  remarks  are  very  accurate  and  intelligent,  and  his  recommendations  far 
sighted.  In  his  observations  on  the  habitat  of  the  sewin,  east  and  west  are  apparently 
•wrongly  printed  for  west  and  east,  and  I  may  add  that  the  estuary  of  the  Usk  and  the 
small  tributaries  flowing  into  it,  where  pure,  abounded  with  sewin,  when  I  was  lessee  of 
the  fisheries  there  in  1856.  But  that  delicate  fish  seldom  ascended  the  Usk  far,  and  in 
Breconshire  we  rarely  meet  with  one.  The  white  trout  we  occasionally  catch  in  the  spring 
I  regard  as  a  sewin.  At  page  856,  Vol.  II.  he  has  an  interesting  account  of  the  Lake  of 
Llynsavaddan,  and  the  fish  found  there,  and  how  they  were  caught  with  a  draft  net  pitched 
here  and  there  in  the  middle  of  the  pool,  and  then  hauled  into  a  boat.  I  have  seen  the 
net  that  was  used,  and  the  old  fishermen  who  used  it — they  lived  in  a  cottage  in  a  small 
dingle  near  Cathedine,  but  I  have  never  seen  the  net  actually  used.  I  do  not  think  the 
old  pitched  draft  net  has  been  used  in  the  Lake  since  1850,  and  the  old  race  of  fishermen 
has  long  since  died  out. 

Further  at  page  432,  vol,  III.,  under  the  head  of  Llaaelly  parish,  Theo.  Jones  sounds 
the  alarm  as  to  the  injury  the  then  recently  opened  canal  was  doing  to  the  fisheries  of  the 
Usk,  and  adds  that  "  unless  a  smaller  gra'ing  is  placed  at  the  mouth  of  the  feeder  from 
Newton  Pool,  I  apprehend  a  lamentable  difficiency  in  our  stock  in  the  Usk."  Truthfully 
prophetic,  that !  It  was  not  until  1866  a  really  effective  grating  was  placed.  Theo.  Jones 
did  not,  however,  foresee  that  the  water  of  the  Usk  one  day  would  be  drained  away  by  that 
canal  as  to  leave  the  bed  dry  below  the  weir.  That  was  an  evil  that  came  long  after  his 
time,  and  mainly  in  our  careless  degenerate  days  ! 


(188) 

Hugh  Thomas,  the  Herald,  writing  at  Brecon  in  1G78,  describes  the  county  as  "  well 
stocked  with  wood,  water,  and  fish,  especially  Trout.  The  best  and  the  most  are  taken  in 
the  Usk  river,  no  better  in  all  Wales,  having  abundance  of  fine  springs  and  purling 
streams,  besides  the  Usk  and  Honddu,  etc.,  which  make  the  country  most  pleasant  and 
healthy."— [Essay,  Brecknockshire,  Bodleian  Library.") 

Henry  Vaughan,  the  Silurist,  was  a  fisherman,  and  appears  to  have  had  a  great  love 
for  our  famous  river,  the  Usk.  He  apostrophises  her  in  verse  in  the  Olor  Iscanus,  and 
prays  for  her  safe  journey  to  the  sea,  with  unsullied  purity,  and  with  an  abundant  stream  ! 
A  salmon  and  a  Latin  poem  were  his  welcome  gift  to  his  friend  Dr.  Powell,  of  Cantref. 

This  is  all  I  can  recollect  to  have  seen  about  our  fisheries  in  old  papers.  There  are 
no  records  extant  of  great  takes  of  fish  in  either  the  Usk  and  Wye,  or  the  Nedd  and  Tawe, 
and  Llangorse  Lake  seems  to  have  received  the  greater  notice,  and  to  have  been  held  in 
chief  esteem. 


Consistory  Court. 


CITATION  FOR  NON-PAYMENT  OF  TITHE,  WHEN  DEFAULTER  IN  ONE 
DIOCESE  MOVED  TO  ANOTHER,  1746. 

Edward  Wynn  Doctor  of  Laws  Vicar  General  and  Official  Principal  of  the  Right 
Reverend  Father  in  God  James  by  divine  permission  Lord  Bishop  of  Hereford  lawfully 
constituted  To  the  Right  Reverend  Father  in  God  Richard  by  divine  permission  Lord 
Bishop  of  Saint  Davids  his  Vicar  General  in  Spirituals  or  any  other  competent  judge  in 
that  behalf  greeting  Whereas  the  Reverend  George  Phelps  Clerk  Master  of  Arts  and 
lawful  Surrogate  rightly  and  duly  in  proceeding  in  a  certain  Cause  of  Subtraction  of 
Tythes  or  other  Ecclesiastical  Dues  lately  depending  before  us  in  judgment  between 
Susannah  White  widow  the  and  Executrix  of  the  last  Will  and  Testament  of 

John  White  Clerk  late  Vicar  of  the  Vicarage  and  Parish  Church  of  Kington  with  the 
Chapels  annexed  in  the  County  and  Diocese  of  Hereford  deceased  the  party  agent  of  the 
one  part  and  Thomas  Welson  of  the  Parish  of  Brilley  in  the  County  and  Diocese  aforesaid 
the  defendant  on  the  other  part  And  whereas  the  said  Susannah  White  now  lives  in  the 
Parish  of  Glazebury  in  the  County  of  Radnor  and  within  your  Diocese  so  that  without 
your  aid  the  said  Susannah  White  cannot  be  compelled  to  appear  before  us  to  the  effect  and 
for  the  purposes  hereafter  written  And  whereas  our  Holy  Mother  the  Church  wheresoever 
acknowledged  throughout  the  Universe  is  one  and  the  same  and  the  Ordinances  of  different 
Courts  with  regard  to  things  that  concern  the  Administration  of  Justice  looked  upon  as 
the  Sons  of  one  common  Mother  and  are  therefore  obliged  mutually  to  aid  and  assist  one 
another  in  the  execution  thereof  We  therefore  humbly  intreat  that  you  in  supply  of 
justice  would  by  your  authority  cite  or  cause  to  be  cited  peremptorily  the  said  Susannah 
White  that  she  appear  before  us,  our  lawful  Surrogate  or  other  competent  judge  in  this 
behalf  in  the  Cathedral  Church  at  Hereford  and  in  the  Bishop's  Consistory  Place  there  on 
Thursday,  the  sixteenth  day  of  March  next  ensuing  between  the  hours  of  nine  and  twelve 
in  the  foienoon  of  the  same  day  then  and  there  to  shew  good  and  lawful  cause  (if  any  she 
can)  why  the  sentence  passed  in  the  said  cause  against  her  should  not  be  put  in  execution 
and  the  costs  of  suit  taxed  and  to  see  and  hear  the  said  sentence  put  in  execution  and  the 
costs  of  suit  taxed  under  pain  of  the  law  and  contempt  thereof  And  further  to  see  and 
receive  as  unto  law  and  justice  shall  appertain  And  we  for  our  parts  shall  be  ready  on  the 
like  occasion  to  give  our  assistance  towards  the  fulfilling  of  justice  and  the  better  execution 
of  the  laws  ;  and  do  further  request  of  you  to  certify  your  proceedings  to  us  our  lawful 
Surrogate  or  competent  Judge  in  this  behalf  on  the  aforesaid  day  and  at  the  time  and  place 
together  with  your  proceedings  therein. 

Given  under  our  seal  of  office  the  sixth  day  of  February  in  the  year  of  our. Lord  1748. 

THO.  CROFT,  Dep.  Regr. 


(189) 

Terrier  of  Llywell  Parish. 


The  following  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  old  Breconshire  Terriers.  There 
appears  to  have  been  a  modus  of  one  penny  on  each  farm  in  lieu  of  hay,  but  there  was  no 
modus  or  charge  whatever  on  corn.  The  heaviest  and  most  productive  charge  was  that  on 
lambs,  if  we  rightly  understand  it  to  have  been  one  lamb  in  seven,  however  many  there 
were — if  there  were  seventy  lambs,  then  ten  went  to  the  tithe-owners — and  sheep  rearing 
was  then,  as  now,  the  chief  industry  of  the  parish.  The  impropriators,  who  were  the 
Dean  and  Chapter  of  St.  David's,  monopolised  the  glebe  land,  and  the  Vicar  had  to  be 
content  with  the  churchyard.  And  it  will  be  seen  that  there  was  no  Vicarage.  The  list 
of  mortuaries  payable  to  the  parish  clerk  is  very  interesting,  describing  as  it  does  the  dress 
of  men  and  women  of  that  day.  The  woman's  hood  would  be  the  capucheen  mentioned  in 
David  Powell  of  Abersenny's  letter.  Jones,  in  note  Vol.  III.  p.  674,  alludes  to  this 
mortuary  custom. 

A  TERRIER  of  the  glebe  lands,  tythes,  moduses,  dues,  rights  and  profits  belonging  to- 
the  rectory  and  vicarage  of  Llywell,  in  the  County  of  Brecon,  and  Diocese  of  Saint  David's, 
made  the  day  of  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1800. 

Glebe  land,  the  closes  known  by  the  names  of  Cae  Mawr,  Cae  Bach,  and  Ynis  Llywell, 
contain  twelve  acres  or  thereabouts,  now  in  the  occupation  of  Mary  William,  widow, 
belonging  to  ye  impropriators. 

The  churchyard,  containing  three  roods  or  thereabouts,  belongs  to  the  Vicar,  and  the 
walls  and  gates  around  the  same  are  made  and  repaired  by  the  parish. 

There  is  no  glebe  or  house  belonging  to  the  vicarage.  Two-thirds  of  all  tithes  and 
other  dues,  except  surplice  ffees,  belong  to  the  rector  or  impropriators,  and  the  other  third, 
and  the  surplice  ffees  to  the  vicar. 

In  lieu  of  the  tithe  of  hay,  there  is  a  modus  of  one  penny  for  every  farm  or  ancient 
holding  throughout  the  parish,  payable  at  Easter. 

In  lieu  of  tithe  calves,  there  is  a  modus  of  one  penny  for  every  yearling  beast  reared 
throughout  the  parish,  payable  yearly  at  Easter. 

In  lieu  of  tithe  colts  there  is  a  modus  of  one  penny  for  every  yearling  filly,  and  two 
pence  for  every  yearling  horse  colt  drop'd  in  the  parish,  payable  at  Easter. 

In  lieu  of  the  tithe  of  milk  there  is  a  modus  of  12  cheeses  made  of  12  days's  milk 
yearly,  and  delivered  on  two  different  days,  viz.,  the  first  six  cheeses  at  Midsummer  and 
the  others  at  Michaelmas,  and  made  six  days  preceding  the  respive  times  of  delivery,  by 
every  person  keeping  one  or  more  cow  or  cows,  within  the  said  parish. 

Tythes  of  lambs  in  kind  if  seven  or  above,  to  pay  a  lamb,  under  seven  a  halfpenny 
each  lamb,  and  three  odd  lambs  to  pay  nothing. 

Pigs,  one  from  every  litter  if  they  exceed  two  in  number. 

Geese,  if  three  or  more  in  number  to  pay  one  from  every  pair. 

All  other  tithes  are  due  in  kind,  but  no  tithes  have  ever  been  demanded  of  cottagers, 
except  from  taxes. 

For  every  married  couple,  threepence ;  every  single  housekeeper,  three  half-pence ; 
for  overy  male  and  female  servant  above  twelve  years  of  age,  one  penny  ;  and  for  every 
child  above  that  age,  three  farthings,  due  yearly  at  Easter. 

To  the  Vicar  for  every  wedding  by  bands,  three  shillings  and  sixpence,  and  one 
shilling  for  publishing  the  same,  by  licence,  seven  shillings. 

At  every  churching  of  women,  one  shilling  and  sixpence  ;  and  for  every  funeral,  one 
shilling  ;  also  payable  by  the  churchwardens  for  copying  the  register,  and  making  the 
presentment  yearly,  at  Easter,  7s. ;  and  for  answering  the  Bishop's  queries  at  every 
Visitation,  6s. 

There  is  a  due  to  the  parish  clerk  for  every  family  paying  taxes,  and  keeping  a  separate 
fire,  fourpence  yearly  at  Easter,  and  from  every  cottager  twopence,  payable  at  Easter. 

For  every  wedding  by  banns,  sixpence  ;    by  licence,  one  shilling  ;  for  every  funeral 


(190) 

and  for  tolling  ye  bell  and  digging  the  grave,  one  shilling  and  fourpence ;  for  every 
churching  of  women,  twopence  ;  for  every  proclamation  in  the  churchyard,  fourpence, 
except  for  parish  affairs,  for  which  there  is  nothing. 

Mortuaries  are  also  due  to  the  parish  cferk  as  follows,  viz.  :  From  every  housekeeper 
the  best  hat,  wig,  handkerchief  or  cravat,  gloves,  girdle,  breeches,  shoes  and  stockings. 

From  wives  and  widows  the  best  hood,  cap,  ribbands,  handkerchiefs,  gloves,  shoes  and 
stockings,  except  the  inhabitants  of  Trecastle,  who  pay  fourpence  in  lieu  of  the  said  mor- 
tuaries, or  a  composition  according  to  the  Act  of  Parliament,  at  the  option  of  the  relations 
of  the  deceased,  but  on  the  decease  of  persons  receiving  parish  relief  thera  is  nothing  due 
for  mortuaries, 
g  ,,.j.  The  church  and  chancel  are  kept  in  repair  by  the  parish. 

There  are  also  due  to  the  parish  clerk  from  the  vicar  and  impropriators  two  of  the 
best  tithe  cheeses,  viz.,  one  at  Midsummer  and  the  other  at  Michaelmas  ;  also  the  best 
lamb  and  sixteen  pounds  of  wool  at  the  times  these  tithes  are  payable. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  the  vicar,  churchwardens,  impropriators,  and  inhabitants  of 
the  said  parish,  assembled  at  a  vestry  meeting,  pursuant  to  publick  notice  given  thereof, 
have  hereunto  as  also  to  a  duplicate  hereof,  set  our  hands  this  day  of  in  the 

jear  of  our  Lord  1800. 


The  Act  of  1776  and  the  Town  of  Brecon. 


The  object  of  this  Act  passed  in  16  George  III.  (1776)  was  to  supply  the  Borough 
•with  water,  to  provide  for  cleansing,  paving,  and  lighting  the  streets  and  lanes,  and  the 
making  of  some  of  the  streets  more  commodious  by  widening  the  same.  In  fact  it  was  a 
General  Improvement  Act  on  a  big  scale,  and  such  as  the  Borough  has  never  known  since. 

The  Authority  to  carry  out  the  Act  was  a  composite  body,  called  Commissioners,  and 
which  consisted  of  the  Bailiff,  Recorder,  Aldermen  and  Council  of  the  Borough,  with  the 
addition  of  some  hundred  or  more  named  persons  duly  qualified  residing  in  the  Town,  or 
elsewhere — ownership  or  occupation  of  property  in  the  Borough  to  a  certain  amount, 
being  the  necessary  qualification. 

1.  WATER  SUPPLY — Power  was  given  to  the  Commissioners,  by  agreement  with  the 
persons  interested  therein,  to  enter  upon  and  take  any  stream  within  the  Borough  for  the 
purpose  of  such  supply,  and  to  lay  mains  in  the  streets,  &c.,  but  there  was  a  proviso,  that 
if  the  water  was  taken  from  the  Honddu  Kiver,  there  should  be  only  one  pipe  laid  in,  and 
the  diameter  of  the  same  should  not  exceed  four  inches. 

Your  readers  will  find  in  "  Poole's  History  "  some  interesting  details  as  to  the 
carrying  out  of  the  works. 

2.  PAVING. — The  tootways  were  to  be  laid  with  flat  stones  or  a  smooth  pavement. 
The  horse  ways  to  be  laid  with  good  pebbles,   "  or  such  other  materials  "  as  the  Com- 
missioners may  think  best. 

8.  LIGHTING. — Glass  lamps  were  to  be  fixed  in  the  streets,  lanes,  and  public  passages 
in  such  number  as  the  Commissioners  may  direct,  and  provision  made  for  lighting  the 
same. 

4.  CLEANSING. — There  is  a  general  provision   as   to  cleansing   the  streets,  and  in 
addition  thereto  this  special  clause  :    "  Every  person  after  the  passing  of  this  Act  shall  on 
Wednesday  and  Saturday  in  every  week,  sweep  and  cleanse,  or  cause  the  same  to  be  done, 
the  Footpaths  and  Streets  extending  to  the  Kennels  (the  ancient  term  for  the  gutters  or 
side  channels  of  the  street)  before  their  respective  houses,  buildings,  and  walls,  between 
the  Hours  of  two  and  six  in  the  afternoon  on  pain  of  forfeiting  two  shillings  and  sixpence 
for  every  neglect  of  the  same." 

5.  ROAD  MATERIAL. — The  Commissioners  were  empowered  to  dig  and  carry  away  for 


(191) 

the  repairs  of  the  streets,  &c. :  Gravel  stone  and  other  material  from  the  rivers  Usk, 
Honddu,  and  Tarrall,  and  from  any  waste  land  within  the  Borough  or  Liberties  thereof. 

This  may  be  a  useful  provision  to  bear  in  mind,  as  I  presume  the  present  Council  has 
inherited  in  this  respect  all  the  powers  that  the  Commissioners  were  possessed  of. 

6.  STREET  IMPROVEMENTS. — The  following  is  the  Schedule  of  Buildings  necessary  to- 
be  taken  down  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  Street  Improvements  resolved  upon  : 

(1)  Ship  Street  Improvement. — To   make  the   street    or    passage   leading   from    Ship 

Street  to  Usk  Bridge  Thirty  Feet  wide.  Three  Houses  situate  on  the  North  side 
of  the  said  street  or  passage,  now  or  late  in  the  occupation  of  Andrew  Morgan, 
skinner,  John  Rees  and  David  Walters,  shoemakers ;  the  old  building,  called 
Porthbach,  and  Gateway  adjoining. 

(2)  Watton  Gate  Improvement. —To  widen  the  Entrance  into  the  said  Town  from 

Abergavenny,  the  Gateway,  called  the  Watton  Gate,  and  the  Buildings  thereto 
belonging,  now  or  late  in  the  occupation  of  John  Pye,  hatter.  Two  old  Cottages 
near  the  Watton  Gate,  one  of  them  now  vacant,  the  other  in  the  possession  of 
Elizabeth  Batty,  widow ;  also  a  small  House,  Stable,  or  Building  at  the  West  End 
of  the  Bulwark,  near  St.  Mary's  Church,  now  or  late  in  the  occupation  of  the 
Reverend  Charles  Lloyd. 

(8)  The  Struet  Improvement. — To  widen  the  Entrance  into  the  said  Town  from  Hay,. 
The  Gate,  Gateway,  and  Buildings  thereon,  commonly  called  the  Struet  Gate  ;  and 
part  of  the  Town  Gaol,  and  three  Houses  adjoining,  now  or  late  in  the  occupation 
of  William  Frew,  Thomas  Willet,  staymaker,  and  James  Lewis,  the  younger, 
butcher.  A  House  now  in  the  occupation  of  Thomas  Williams,  tailor.  A  House 
now  or  late  in  the  occupation  of  James  Jones,  watchmaker  ;  and  John  King, 
shopkeeper ;  and  a  House  now  or  late  in  the  occupation  of  John  Smith,  peruke- 
maker. 

The  year  1776  just  preceded  the  formation  of  Wilkins'  Brecon  Old  Bank,  which  took 
place  in  1778.  There  were  giants  about  in  those  days  in  Brecon — men  of  much  enterprise. 

The  Gateway  at  Porthbach,  the  Watton  Gateway,  and  the  Struet  Gateway  with 
buildings  thereon,  were  all  standing  at  that  date.  And  where  are  the  "  Local  Industries  " 
to  be  found  now  of  the  Hatter,  the  Stay-maker,  and  the  Peruke  (Wig)  maker  ? 

There  is  a  bit  of  very  interesting  Local  History  to  be  gleaned  from  this  long  forgotten 
Act  of  Parliament. 


The  Usk  and  the  Canal. 


It  may  be  of  public  service  to  state  here  some  particulars  with  reference  to  this 
important  case. 

1.  The  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Co.  (1793)  had  and  still  has  statutory 
powers  to  take  water  for  the  true  purposes  of  navigation  from  all  streams  within  2000 
yards  of  the  line  of  the  canal. 

2.  The  Monmouthshire  Railway  and  Canal  Co.  (1792)  had  and  still  has  entirely  dis- 
tinct statutory  powers  to  take  water  for  the  true  purposes  of  its  canals  from  certain  streams 
and  reservoirs  adjacent  to  the  course  thereof  in  Monmouthshire. 

3.  The  Brecknock  Canal  was  commenced  to  be  made  at  Clydach,  Llanelly,  and  the 
length  to  Brecon  (opened  in  1801)  was  first  completed.      Subsequently  the  lower  length 
from  Clydach  to  Pontymoile  was  commenced,  and  then  in  due  time  completed.      It  was 
not  until  1813  the  junction  with  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  was  effected,  and  a  through 
passage  for  boats  from  Brecon  to  Newport  secured. 

4.  As  the  canal  to  Brecon  was  in  progress  of  construction,  the  various  streams  near 
were  utilised  for  filling  the  completed  length.      Signs  of  this  are  evident  to-day.      At  a 


(192) 

later  stage  each  of  these  streams  in  turn  was  abandoned  as  feeders,   except  the  Crawnon 
brook  at  Llangynider,  which  is  still  used  for  such  purpose. 

6.  Mr.  Dadford  was  the  engineer  of  fhe  canal,  and  Benjamin  Outratn  was  called  in  as 
consulting  engineer  in  1799.  His  report  is  a  valuable  document,  and  still  extant,  and  is 
of  great  importance,  as  he  gave  much  attention  to  the  supply  of  water 

6.  From  time  to  time  (1800  to  1830)  various  tramways  were  formed  to  communicate 
-with  the  Brecon  Canal,  viz.  : 

Llanelly  (Clydach)  tramroad. 
Llangattock 
Brynoer 
Hay 

Bailey's  (Nantyglo) 
Blaenavon  Co. 
Nearly  all  these  tramroads  have  ceased  to  exist,  and  the  tramplates  pulled  up. 

7.  The  trade  on  the  Brecon  Canal  was  large  in  the  period  from  1815  to  1840,   and 
possibly  amounted  to  12  boats,  of  21  tons  burthen,  passing  each  way  throughout  its  entire 
length  of  32  miles  in  a  day.      The  tolls  amounted  to  £10,000  and  upwards  a  year,  and 
dividends  were  paid  of  5  per  cent,  on  the  shares,  and  at  the  same  time  the  debenture  stock 
was  partly  extinguished. 

8.  The  trade  of  the  Brecon  Canal  fell  off  after  1850  (the  Nantyglo  iron  being  no 
longer  sent  that  way)  and  in  1865,  soon  after  the  opening   of  the  Brecon  and  Merthyr 
Railway,  fell  to  a  very  low  point,  the  important  Brecon  Boat  Company  ceasing  then  to 
trade  from  Llanelly  to  Brecon,  and  the  Brynoer  and  Hay  tramroads  being  closed. 

9.  The  present  trade  of  the  Brecon  Canal  cannot  be  said  at  the  outside  to  be  more 
than  three  boats  (only  partly  laden)  each  way  per  week  for  the  upper  half  the  length  of  the 
canal,  and  only  one  boat  per  week  each  way  for  the  whole  length  of  the  canal. 

10.  The  present  condition  of  the  Brecon  Canal  itself  as  regards  navigation  is  bad, 
the  bed  of  it  being  mudded  up  and  shallow  and  also  full  of  leaks,  and  the  lock  gates  at 
Llangynidr  (5  locks)  nearly  all  out  of  repair. 

11.  The  power  to  take  water  from  the  Usk  at  Brecon  was  obtained  in  the  Act  of 
1793,  and  the  power  to  purchase  Usk  Mill  at  Brecon  was  obtained  in  the  Amendment  Act 
of  1801.     This  latter  power  of  purchase  was  not  exercised  until  1827. 

12.  In  addition  to  the  report  of  Benjamin  Outram  on  the  water  supply  in  1799,  the 
correspondence  with  Mr.  William  Gwyn,  the  owner  of  the  Usk  Mill  at  that  time,  which  is 
still  extant,  should  be  read.      The  feeder  to  the  canal  and  the  race  to  the  mill  were  both 
supplied,  there  being  a  main  sluice  for  each.      It  would  seem  that  the  Canal  Company 
had  not  then  the  remotest  idea  of  it  ever  being  necessary  to  take  the  whole  flow  of  the 
river  there. 

18.  In  1833  or  thereabouts  (the  period  of  the  largest  trade  on  the  Brecon  Canal)  the 
Company  greatly  enlarged  the  conduit  from  the  entrance  of  the  feeder  at  Usk  Mill,  and 
placed  syphon  pipes  of  great  size  under  the  Honddu  stream  at  Brecon. 

14.  The  first  fish-pass  in  Newton  Weir  was  placed  there  in  1863.      It  was  a  straight 
cut  through  the  weir,  2ft.  6in.  wide  by  1ft.  Gin.  deep.      This  was  taken  up  in  1901,  and  a 
diagonal  pass  substituted,  with  less  capacity  for  passing  down  water  than  the  old  one. 

15.  Newton  Weir  has  been  considerably  raised  at  various  times  since  1870,  and 
made  more  watertight. 

16.  In  September,  1899 — a  time  of  excessive  drought — nearly  18  millions  of  gallons 
of  water  were  taken  into  the  canal  at  Brecon  in  24  hours,  all  through  the  week. 

17.  In  ordinary  times  20  millions  of  gallons  of  water  are  taken  into  the  canal  there, 
apart  from  the  supply  of  one  million  to  two  million  gallons  of  water  taken  in  from  the 
•Crawnon  at  Llangynider. 

18.  This  supply  of  20  million  gallons  is  sufficient  to  maintain  an  incessant  passage 
of  boats  through  the  locks  for  the  whole  24  kours  (a  4  minute  service,   the  very  quickest 
possible),  and  with  a  margin  to  spare  of  4  million  gallons  per  day. 

19.  The  Brecon  Canal  was  purchased  by  the  Monmouthshire  Railway  and  Canal 
•Co.  in  1865  for  JE29.000  share  capital,  and  a  sum  for  debentures  besides. 


(198) 

20.  The  whole  property  of  the  Monmouthshire  Railway  and  Canal  Co.  was  acquired 
by  the  Great  Western  Railway  in  1880. 

21.  The  conveyances  of  land  to  the  Brecon  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Co.,   1798  and 
later,  are  all  extant,  and  should  be  seen,  especially  those  of  the  Crawnon  Mill,  Llangynider, 
and  Usk  Mill  at  Brecon. 

22.  The  first  large  pipe  into  the  Brecon  Canal,  for  other  purposes  than  navigation, 
was  granted,  to  be  at  will,  to  Sir  Joseph  Bailey,  Bart.,  M.P.,  of  Glanusk  Park,  in  1854. 
It  was  Gin.  diameter,  and  £10  rent  was  paid. 

28.  In  1847-9  the  Monmouthshire  Canals  were  supplemented  by  railways,  and  a 
portion  of  the  canal  was  abandoned,  and  also  some  of  the  previous  supplies  of  water,  but 
fresh  powers  of  taking  other  supplies  from  streams  and  reservoirs  were  given. 

24.  These  fresh  powers  of  taking  supplies  were  never  exercised,  and  since  1849  the 
length  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  from  Pontymoile  to  the  junction  of  the  Crumlin  Canal 
has  mainly  depended  for  its  supply  of  water  upon  the  good  will  of  the  Brecon  Canal 
Company. 

25.  In  1847-9  the  M.  R.  &  Co.  Co.  made  a  strong  effort  to  close  the  whole  of  this 
canal  from  Pontymoile  downwards  and  through  Newport.     They  did  not  succeed,  being 
opposed,  it  is  believed,  by  the  Brecon  Canal  Co.      See  Mr.  Harrison's  (manager)  letter, 
still  extant. 

26.  The  Brecon  Canal  Co.  never  made  any  reservoirs,  though  possessed  of  powers  to 
do  so,  trusting  entirely  to  a  supply  from  the  open  river. 

On  the  Crawnon  brook  such  reservoirs  could  be  conveniently  formed  to-day,  and  at  a 
very  moderate  cost. 

If  the  present  large  abstraction  of  water  from  the  river  at  Brecon  is  continued,  that 
coupled  with  increased  pollution,  justifies  the  description  given  in  my  letter  in  the  Times 
of  Nov.  26th,  1901,  of  the  river  Usk  as  "a  dying  river."  Remedies  must  be  quickly 
applied  in  order  to  save  its  very  life,  and  the  first  question  that  demands  attention  is  that 
of  the  canal  and  the  flagrant  abuse  of  its  powers. 


The  following  copies  of  interesting  papers  are  annexed  : — 

Extracts  from  Benjamin  Outram's  Report  on  the  Canal,  dated  July  1st,  1799.  He 
•was  the  eminent  engineer  called  in  by  the  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Company  to 
advise  during  the  construction  of  the  canal  : — 

"  I  have  particularly  examined  the  other  parts  of  the  Line  proposed  for  the  Canal 
between  Tal-y-bont  and  Brecon,  and  adyise  a  small  deviation  at  the  crossing  of  the  Usk. 
I  recommend  the  aqueduct  to  be  erected  upon  a  rock  about  two  hundred  yards  below  the 
New  Bridge,  instead  of  the  situation  above  the  bridge  before  proposed.  And  instead  of  the 
two  proposed  Locks  of  small  rise,  I  recommend  one  Lock  of  rise  equal  to  both  be  erected 
by  the  road  east  of  the  New  Bridge,  and  so  that  the  Bridge  for  that  road  may  be  over  the 
Lock  Tail.  By  these  alterations  considerable  expense  and  risque  will  be  avoided,  and  the 
summit  pond  will  be  more  than  double  the  length  before  proposed,  and  if  made  one  foot 
deeper  than  the  other  ponds  of  the  Canal,  it  will  be  found  very  commodious,  and  by  cutting 
the  northwardly  end  or  bason  of  the  Canal,  so  that  the  east  side  of  it  may  lay  open  all 
the  small  pieces  of  freehold  land  between  the  line  and  the  turnpike  road,  the  best  possible 
advantages  for  wharfage  and  promotion  of  trade  will  be  secured. 

"  I  have  examined  the  different  feeders,  and  gauged  such  as  appear  likely  to  be  of 
consequence,  and  have  calculated  the  number  of  locks  full,  each  would  produce  in  twenty- 
four  hours,  taking  for  these  calculations  the  quantity  of  water  used  by  passing  a  vessel 
through  a  lock  of  ten  feet  fall,  at  one  hundred  and  eighty  tons. 

"  On  the  lower  level,  the  principal  feeders  are  the  Clydach,  which  I  found  to  produce 
sixty-two  locks  in  the  twenty-four  hours  and  the  Nant  Organ ,  which  gave  twenty-eight 
locks  in  the  twenty-four  hours.  The  Nant  Rhyd  y  Mirch,  and  the  brooks  at  Govilon  and 
Llangynider,  would  form  feeders  of  less  consequence  ;  but  there  are  several  mills  on  each, 
and  there  can  be  no  occasion  to  use  them  for  the  purposes  of  the  canal.  The  Cwm 
Crawnon  brook,  which  is  taken  in  above  the  second  lock,  yields  twenty-two  locks  full  of 


(194) 

water  in  twenty-four  hours.  The  several  feeders  between  Llanvigan  and  Llanfrynach,  on 
the  tunnel  level,  collectively  yielded  thirteen  locks  in  the  twenty-four  hours.  On  the 
summit  level,  the  Brynich  brook  yielded  four  locks,  and  the  Honddu  sixty  locks  in  the 
twenty-four  hours.  I  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  guage  the  abundant  stream  of  the 
river  Usk.  If  it  should  be  found  necessary  to  make  a  feeding  sluice  from  that  river,  water 
sufficient  for  the  supply  of  many  canals  might  at  any  time  be  taken  from  it. 

"  The  waters  were  very  low  at  the  time  the  above  gauges  were  taken,  the  season  being 
considered  a  very  dry  one. 

"  Upon  the  Honddu  are  several  mills  that  occasion  great  variations  in  the  stream. 
To  get  it  accurately,  a  gauge  should  be  placed  in  the  bed  of  the  brook,  which  should  be 
frequently  examined  in  the  twenty-four  hours,  in  the  driest  season." 


THE  FEEDER  FROM  CRAWNON  BROOK. 

Sale  of  Cwmcrawnon  Mill  by  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  of  Buckland,  Esq.,  to  the 
Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Navigation  Company. 

80th  April,  1802.— By  Deed  Poll  of  this  date  Thynne  Howe  Gwynne,  of  Buckland, 
in  the  County  of  Brecon,  Esq.,  and  Roderick  Gwynne,  of  the  same  place,  Esq.,  eldest  son 
and  heir  apparent  of  the  said  Thynne  Howe  Gwynue,  in  consideration  of  £682. 10s.  Od.  to 
them  paid  by  the  Co.  of  Proprs.  of  the  B.  &  A.  Canal  Navigation,  did  grant,  sell,  release, 
and  convey  unto  the  said  Co.  of  Proprs., 

All  that  Messuage  and  Water  Corn  Grist  Mill  called  Cwmcrawnon  Mill,  and  all 
singular  outhouses,  &c.,  situate  in  the  Parish  of  Llanthetty,  in  the  said  County  of 
Brecknock, 
And  all  the  right,  title,  and  properties  of  the  said  T.  H,  Gwynne  and  Rodk.  Gwynne 

or  either  of  them  of  in  and  to  the  water  of  the  River  Crawnon. 

And  also  all  those  Dwelling  Houses  or  Cottages  and  Gardens  with  all  rights  members 
and  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging,  situate  near  Usk  Mill,  in  the  Parish  of 
St.  John  the  Evangelist,  in  the  County  of  Brecknock,  then  or  then  late  -in  the 
occupation  of  Peter  Williams  or  his  undertenants. 
And  all  their  Estate,  &c. 

To  hold  to  the  Co.  for  ever  by  virtue  and  according  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of 
the  Act  of  Parliament  passed  for  making  and  maintaining  the  said  Canal  with 
General  Warranty. 
Executed  by  both  and  attested. 
17th  October,  1845.— Memorandum  of  Enrollment  with  Clerk  of  the  Peace. 


RESALE  OF  HONDDU  MILL  TO  SIR  CHARLES  MORGAN. 
Copy  of  Minute. 

"  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Navigation, 

Angel  Inn,  Abergavenny, 

Oct.  18,  1809. 

Mr.  Thomas  Bold  having  applied  on  the  part  of  Sir  Charles  Morgan  for  the  purchase 
of  Honddu  Mill  and  premises  at  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  twenty  pounds,  reserving  to 
this  Company  the  right  and  use  of  the  Mill  stream  and  water,  with  liberty  to  divert  the 
same  on  the  premises,  whenever  it  may  be  wanting  for  the  purposes  of  this  navigation  : — 
Resolved  that  the  said  Proposal  be  agreed  to,  and  that  Mr.  Walter  Powell,  the 
Solicitor,  be  requested  to  prepare  the  necessary  conveyance,  and  submit  the  same  to  the 
perusal  of  Mr.  Bold,  to  be  handed  over  to  this  Committee  at  the  next  meeting. 

By  the  Committee, 

(Sd.)  B.  A.  GRIFFITHS, 

Clerk  to  the  Company. 


I1  AGE    195.1  NKWTifX      U'KIK,      1 893- 

RIYER     USK     HE  LOW     AM)     A  HOVE     THE     CANAL     WEIR     (NEWTOX     POOL     AHOVE\ 


NKW  Ti>N      WKIK,      1893. 

WATER  ENTERING  THE  CANAL  FEEDER  FROM  THE  USK. 


PAGE    195, 


]  NEWTUN      WEIR,    1899. 

RIVER    USK.    H-HLfW    AND     AKOVK     THE    CANAL    \VKIR      NEWTON    POOL    AHOVK). 


I'ACE    195.1 


NKWTON      \VJ-.IK, 

WATER     ENTER  INC     THE     CANAL     EEEDER      ['ROM     THE     USK. 


(195) 

LETTER  FROM  MR.  WILLIAM  GWYN  AS  TO  THE  SALE  OF  USK  MILL. 

Neatb,  9th  October,  1819. 
Dear  Sir, 

Observing  by  the  Cambrian  that  there  is  to  be  a  General  Assembly  of  the  Brecon  and 
Abergavenny  Canal  Company  on  the  21st  inst.,  I  have  to  request  you  will  be  so  good  as  to 
inform  the  General  Assembly  that  1  beg  to  decline  selling  the  Usk  Mill,  and  shall  prefer 
renting  the  same  at  a  fair  rent.  I  will  either  name  a  rent  which  I  expect  from  it,  and 
which  I  think,  under  all  circumstances,  will  be  deemed  a  moderate  rent,  or  I  will  leave  the 
amount  to  be  ascertained  by  any  two  competent  judges. 

The  Canal  Company  can  have  no  right  to  the  water  above  the  wear  to  the  prejudice  of 
my  mill. 

I  am,  dear  Sir, 

Yours  very  truly, 

(Sd.)  WM.  GWYN. 

I  intend  being  at  Brecon  in  the  course  of  about  a  fortnight,  and  shall  then  call  on  you. 


FEEDER  FROM  THE  RIVER  USK. 

Conveyance  of  Usk  Mill  to  the  B.  &  A.  Canal  Co. 

4th  September,  1827.— By  Deed  Poll  of  this  date  William  Gwyn,  of  the  Town  of 
Neath,  in  the  County  of  Glamorgan.  Esq.,  in  consideration  of  £1,500  to  him  paid  by  the 
Co.  of  Proprietors  of  the  B.  &  A.  Canal  Navigation,  did  grant,  sell,  release,  and  convey 
unto  the  Company  of  Proprietors 

All  that  Water  Corn  Grist  Mill  called  Usk  Mill,  together  with  the  Dwelling  House, 
Kiln,  Garden,  and  land,  and  all  singular  ways,  waste  grounds,  outlets,  waters, 
water  courses,  weirs,  ponds,  dams,  stanks,  sluices,  fishings  profits,  commodities, 
easements,  rights,  privileges,  and  advantages  whatsoever  to  the  said  Mill  be- 
longing or  in  any  wise  appertaining,  situate  lying  and  being  in  the  Parish 
of  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  within  the  liberties  of  the  Town  of  Brecon,  in  the  said 
County  of  Brecon,  and  then  in  the  occupation  of  the  said  Co.  of  Proprietors,  And 
all  the  Estate  etc. 
To  hold  to  the  said  Co.  for  ever  by  virtue  of  and  according  to  the  intent  and  meaning 

of  the  Act  of  Parliament  passed  for  making  and  maintaining  this  Canal. 
General  Warranty,  etc. 

Release   from   all   claims   for   rent   or  arrears   of  rent  in   respect  of  said  premises 
which  had  accrued  since  the  decease  of  Maria  Teresa  Gwynne  widow,  then  late 
tenant  for  life  and  owner  of  same. 
Executed  and  attested. 
Receipt  £1,500  signed  and  witnessed. 

The  following  important  Resolution  was  passed  by  the  Committee  of  the  Brecknock 
and  Abergavenny  Canal  Co.  on  the  claim  by  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  and  Railway  Co. 
and  others,  to  be  supplied  with  water  from  the  Brecon  Canal  : — 

"  Shirehall,  Brecon. — Special  Meeting  of  the  Committee,  1st  March,  1869, 
Jno.  Parry  de  Winton  in  the  chair. 

Petitions  having  been  presented  by  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  and  Railway  Co.,  the 
Newport  Dock  Co..  and  Thos.  Brown  of  Newport  Mill,  asserting  rights  to  a  supply  of 
water  for  their  respective  works  from  the  river  Usk  by  means  of  the  Canal. 

Resolved,  that  this  Committee  on  the  part  of  this  Canal  expressly  deny  any  such  rights 
beyond  that  of  the  first  mentioned  Company  to  such  supply  of  water  for  the  purpose  of  the 
traffic  of  their  Canal  from  the  Canal  of  this  Company. 

Resolved  also  that  the  Clerk  of  the  Company  notify  to  the  above-named  Petitioners 
that  the  Company  deny  their  claims  to  such  supply  of  water." 


(196) 

The  Angling  Waters  of  the  Wye. 

(WRITTEN  IN  1871.) 


That  brook  is  e'en  Plinlimmon's  fairest  child, 
The  peerless  Wye. 

The  Eiver  Wye,  or  Welsh  Gwy  (pronounced  Gooe),  Anglice  "  the  water,"  rises  in 
the  vast  range  of  mountains  that  divides  Cardiganshire  from  Montgomeryshire,  and,  as 
well  as  the  Severn,  springs  from  the  eastern  slope  of  Plinlimmon,  2,463  ft.  high  and  one 
of  the  loftiest  mountains  in  Wales.  The  sources  of  the  Wye  and  Severn  are  but  one  mile 
and  a  half  distant.  On  the  western  slope  of  the  same  range  rise  the  Bheidol  and  the  two 
smaller  streams,  the  Llyfnant  and  the  Dulas ;  and  hence  the  pretty  legend  of  the  race  run 
by  these  five  sister  streams  from  their  common  starting  point  to  the  sea. 

From  its  source  to  Rhayader  a  mere  mountain  stream,  though  joined  first  by  the 
Tarenig  and  then  by  the  Bidno,  the  Wye  offers  few  attractions  to  the  trout  fisher,  as  its 
stream,  naturally  strongly  impregnated  with  mineral  water,  has  been  for  several  years 
past  poisoned  by  the  washings  of  numerous  lead  mines.  It  is  an  ill  wind  that  blows  no 
good,  and  while  it  is  a  thousand  pities  to  find  this  stream  poisoned  from  her  birth,  that 
fact  will  probably  deter  engineers  from  attempting  to  take  a  water  supply  for  the  metropolis 
or  other  large  towns  from  so  polluted  a  source. 

Except  after  long  continued  floods,  and  late  in  the  season,  this  upper  portion  of  the 
river  is  disregarded  by  the  salmon  fisherman.  In  the  winter  months  the  salmon,  obeying 
that  wonderful  instinct  of  nature,  push  their  way  high  up  among  the  mountains,  and 
deposit  their  spawn  in  the  shallow  streams,  and  still  shallower  tributaries,  where  the 
water  is  hardly  deep  enough  to  cover  their  backs. 

At  Rhayader,  or  Rhayader  Gwy,  which  means  "  the  fall  of  water,"  the  Wye  flows 
through  a  narrow  but  deep  channel,  worn  out  of  the  solid  Silurian  rock  by  the  continued 
action  of  the  stream,  and  at  the  bridge  rushes  over  a  fall,  partly  natural  and  partly  arti- 
ficial, of  considerable  height.  At  Llangurig  the  first  weir  and  mill  are  met  with,  and  on 
the  side  of  this  fall  is  the  second  mill,  or  rather  a  little  cluster  of  mills.  Below  this  fall 
salmon  have  been  caught  in  all  ages  up  to  1861,  and  in  great  numbers,  in  a  very  primitive 
and  not  very  sportsmanlike  manner.  The  fisherman,  or  poacher,  used  to  stand  on  the 
rock  with  a  long  pole  and  gaff  or  triangle  at  the  end,  and,  by  continuously  dragging  it 
backwards  and  forwards  in  the  boiling  water,  hooked  salmon  after  salmon  without  seeing 
them.  The  only  approach  to  this  rock  was  through  a  blacksmith's  garden,  and  that 
worthy  made  a  charge  to  each  fisherman  for  the  right  of  way.  The  good  old  times  are 
gone,  says  the  blacksmith,  and  many  too  of  the  Rhayader  fishermen,  who  in  this  matter, 
and  that  of  the  enclosure  of  their  free  water,  are  not  loud  in  their  praise  of  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment. 

Two  miles  below  Rhayader  the  river  Elan— a  tributary  of  which,  the  Claerwen,  forms 
the  boundary  between  Breoonshire  and  Radnorshire  to  its  source — joins  the  Wye  on  the 
right  bank  at  8  place  called  Aber-dau-ddwr,  or,  "the  junction  of  the  two  waters."  The 
vale  of  Elan  is  very  beautiful.  From  Aber-dau-ddwr  to  Aberithon,  at  which  place  the 
Ithon  joins  the  Wye  on  the  left,  there  are  many  good  salmon  catches,  and  in  high  water 
with  a  little  stain  there  is  no  better  part  for  catching  salmon,  as  they  rise  more  eagerly 
than  lower  down.  At  Newbridge,  half  way  between  Rhayader  and  Builth,  just  above  the 
bridge,  there  are  two  very  good  catches,  Fish-pool  and  Pwlcam,  which  are  easily  fished, 
and  always  hold  salmon.  From  Newbridge  the  river  flows  through  the  Llysdinam  estate, 
belonging  to  Mr.  Venables,  all  good  water,  and  then  to  Aberithon,  the  best  catch  on  this 
portion  of  the  river.  When  the  water  is  in  order,  the  salmon  fishermen  are  almost  cer- 
tain of  a  rise  in  this  catch,  and  that  where  the  two  waters  meet,  though  fish  do  rise  both 
above  and  below  according  to  height  of  water. 


(197) 

The  Ithon  is  a  constant  annoyance  to  fishermen  lower  down,  in  consequence  of  the 
Tery  dirty  colour  of  its  water  when  flooded — a  sort  of  cream  colour,  which  is  owing  to  the 
white  clay  soil  of  the  parishes  of  Disserth  and  Llanbadarn  Fawr,  through  which  it  flows. 
From  Aberithon  to  Builth  we  have  many  good  catches,  the  chief  of  which,  until  we  come 
to  Builth  rocks,  is  the  "  Goitre  pool ;"  the  tail  of  this  in  high  water  is  one  of  the  best  on 
the  river.  In  low  water  formerly  poachers  could  kill  every  fish  in  the  pool  with  the  spear. 
As  there  are  no  rocks,  they  used  a  faggot  or  a  few  branches,  which  were  sunk  with  a  large 
stone.  The  water  was  then  pelted  with  stones,  and  the  salmon,  seeking  shelter  under  the 
faggot,  soon  became  an  easy  prey  to  the  spear.  Below  the  "  Goitre  "  are  Gwernyfed  pool 
and  the  "Rocks,"  which  are  celebrated  for  the  great  number  and  excellence  of  the  catches. 
The  river  here  flows  through  bold  and  upright  masses  of  igneous  rock,  and  for  more  than 
a  mile,  though  distinguished  by  different  names,  forms  almost  one  continuous  catch.  The 
best  are  the  Cavan,  Hell  hole,  and  the  Stone  pool.  Below  the  rocks  on  the  right  bank  is 
the  fine  tributary  the  Irvon,  which  rises  more  than  thirty  miles  off,  amidst  the  wild  and 
vast  extent  of  mountains  of  which  Drygarn  is  the  chief.  After  a  succession  of  floods,  and 
also  late  in  autumn,  a  good  many  salmon  are  killed  as  far  up  as  Garth.  The  Irvon  is  a 
fine  river,  and  from  its  natural  qualifications  ought  to  be,  and  probably  is,  the  most 
productive  of  the  tributaries.  At  its  junction,  there  used  to  be  a  good  catch,  but 
of  late  years  it  is  filled  up  and  is  worthless.  From  this  point  the  Wye  is  a  grand 
and  large  river,  no  tributaries  of  any  importance,  except  the  Llynfi  in  Breconshire, 
and  the  Lugg  and  Monnow  in  the  lower  course,  flowing  in  till  it  reaches  the  sea.  From 
Aber-Irfon,  which  is  close  to  the  town  of  Builth,  to  Glasbury,  is  par  excellence  the  cream 
of  the  salmon  fishing  of  this  river. 

Commencing  at  Builth  bridge,  we  have  first  the  Mill-stream,  then  the  Stone  Catch, 
then  "  Pompren  Cam,"  and  the  top  and  tail  of  Aberdihonw  pool,  both  very  good  catches. 
The  tail  is  especially  so,  and  although  rather  difficult  to  fish  from  the  left  side,  if  the  water 
is  a  little  stained,  or  with  some  wind,  it  is  almost  a  certainty  to  raise  a  fish,  and  if  hooked 
to  kill  him.  The  river  here  is  confined  by  a  long  shelving  ledge  of  rock,  and  a  very  strong 
draw  of  water  is  consequently  produced.  The  next  catch  of  importance  is  the  Church- 
house  Cabin,  or  Cavan,  which  means  a  gutter  or  channel.  This  catch  is  rather  difficult  to 
get  to  when  the  water  is  high,  but  it  is  well  worth  the  trouble  of  trying. 

We  now  come  to  Sir  J.  E.  Bailey's  water,  which  extends  on  one  side  of  the  river  for 
two  miles.  For  the  first  half-mile  the  river  rushes  through  a  narrow  rocky  channel,  in 
some  places  so  narrow  that  in  low  water  you  could  .jump  across.  The  first  catch  is  the 
"  Ash  Pool,"  close  to  the  keeper's  lodge,  then  the  "  Wash  Pool,"  and  in  succession  below 
"  Hell  Hole,"  "  Cavan  Hir,"  or  long  channel,  "  Craig  Pdu,"  so  called  from  a  black  pro- 
jecting rock.  The  water  rushes  past  this  rock  impetuously,  and  confined  in  a  narrow 
compass  roars  along,  so  that  a  steady  head  is  required  to  stand  on  the  jutting  rock,  and  so 
keep  the  fly  on  the  farther  side  of  the  stream.  Just  as  the  fly  comes  away  from  the  slack 
into  the  stream  you  may  see  a  sudden  gleam  of  silver  dart  through  the  boiling  water,  and 
springing  into  the  air,  away  goes  a  16-pounder  firmly  hooked. 

The  river  now,  as  if  tired  of  rushing  and  leaping  through  the  rocky  pass,  opens  out 
into  a  magnificent  pool,  called  "  Llyn-em,"  on  which  are  two  catches.  The  top  is  very 
good  and  easily  fished,  and  the  tail  better,  but  rathsr  difficult  to  get  at  from  the  right  side. 
Next  comes  the  "  Boat  Cavan,"  just  under  the  Skiog  farm,  the  best  catch  on  this  water, 
but  very  difficult  to  fish.  On  high  water  you  have  to  make  three  different  journeys  to  it, 
to  avoid  the  rough  shelving  rocks,  which  must  be  traversed  on  your  way  down  the  catch. 
For  the  next  mile  there  is  no  catch  until  we  come  to  "  Llyn  Cummer,"  a  fine  noble  pool 
always  holding  fish,  and  in  high  water  a  very  likely  place.  We  now  leave  Sir  J.  K. 
Bailey's  water,  and  enter  upon  Mr.  Powell's,  of  Chapel  House,  where  there  are  three  good 
catches,  nearly  opposite  the  junction  of  the  Edw.  Below,  on  the  right  bank,  is  the 
fishery  rented  by  the  late  Mr.  Greenwood,  and  on  the  left  that  of  Mr.  De  Winton,  which 
extend  for  about  two  miles,  nearly  down  to  Cavan-twm-bach,  or  "Little  Tom's  Boat." 
This  fishery  is  decidely  the  best  on  the  Wye,  and  when  regularly  fished  always  sends 
better  returns  than  any  other.  On  the  upper  part  are  two  catches,  which,  although  not 
often  fished,  are  very  good,  and  generally  hold  fish  ;  they  are  called  the  "  Turn  Pool,"  and 


(198) 

"  Hoiwell  Fach."  The  favourite  catch  on  these  fisheries,  and  the  next  we  come  to,  is 
"  Cavan  Shwn  Lewis,"  More  fish  have  been  caught  in  this  stream  than  any  other  on 
the  Wye.  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Charles  Stretton  once  caught  twelve  clean  salmon  on  this 
stream  without  leaving  the  spot.  It  is  the  tail  of  a  long  pool,  and,  unless  flooded,  is 
always  in  order.  On  high  water  fish  rise  on  the  upper  part  of  it,  and  near  a  large  stone 
which  is  a  sort  of  high  water  mark  for  all  the  catches.  From  this  catch  for  nearly  a  mile 
there  is  a  succession  of  good  catches,  which  are  formed  by  the  rocky  channel  through 
which  the  river  rushes.  Next  to  Cavan  Shwn  Lewis  is  "  Hell  Hole,"  and  "  Never-say- 
die,"  which  name  arose  from  the  fact  that  within  the  memory  of  man,  although  often 
hooked,  there  was  no  authentic  account  of  a  fish  being  killed.  In  late  years  the  spell  has 
been  broken,  and  fish  are  killed  every  season.  Next  is  the  "  Agin,"  top  and  tail,  "  Jack 
Dunn,"  the  "Dablin,"  and  "  Furnant,"  all  very  good,  "Cavan  Llwyfen,"  a  long  narrow 
channel  full  of  fish,  "Ffrwdwen,"  "  Pwllyfaddau,"  almost  equal  to  Cavan  Shwn  Lewis 
and  of  a  similar  character,  "  Isaacson's,"  and  the  "  Boat  Cabin."  This  is  the  last  catch 
on  this  fishery,  and  is  a  very  good  one  both  on  high  and  low  water,  as  there  is  rough  and 
smooth  water,  and  generally  very  heavy  fish  are  to  be  met  with  there. 

Next  is  the  Skreen  Fishery,  belonging  to  Mr.  Vaughan,  of  Velinnewydd.  Though 
small  it  contains  three  or  four  good  catches,  the  best  of  which  is  the  "  Gravel  stream.' 
Below  the  Skreen  Sir  J.  E.  Bailey's  Llangoed  estate  commences  on  the  right,  and  Mr.  De 
Winton's  Llanstephan  property  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.  There  are  some  very  good 
catches  on  the  right  bank,  and  easily  fished.  The  Eirw,  or  "  Eirw-ci-cynddeiriog" — Anglice, 
"  the  foam  of  the  mad  dog" — is  a  most  remarkable  and  picturesque  catch,  which  the  name 
illustrates  better  than  any  description.  There  are  two  places  on  this  catch  where  the  fish 
will  rise,  the  chief  that  below  the  fall,  where  the  water  begins  to  clear  of  foam.  The 
other,  which  is  not  so  well  known,  is  about  ten  yards  above  the  fall.  Any  fisherman 
might  pass  this  catch  unless  shown,  as  it  is  not  at  all  a  likely  looking  spot.  Nevertheless 
when  your  fly  is  put  over  it,  look  out,  as  you  are  almost  sure  to  raise  a  fish,  and  if  hooked 
he  will  invariably  take  you  down  the  fall.  Llangoed  Pool  also  is  a  very  fine  catch,  and  at 
the  tail —which  is  very  similar  to  Aberdihomv,  before  described — the  river  has  a  strong 
draw,  which  in  high  water  renders  this  catch  very  good.  This  catch  is  unhappily  cele- 
brated as  the  place  where  poor  Holmes,  a  very  promising  salmon  fisherman,  and  a  good 
sportsman,  was  drowned  while  fishing  for  salmon.  It  seems  he  had  just  killed  a  fish,  and, 
having  seen  another  rise,  was  endeavouring  to  reach  it,  when  one  step  too  far  took  him 
over  the  ledge  of  rocks  into  the  deep  water.  Encumbered  with  fishing  boots,  he  soon  sank, 
and  was  never  seen  again  alive  by  his  newly-married  wife,  the  single  witness  of  the 
catastrophe. 

Leaving  Llangoed,  we  come  to  Llyswen  fishery,  belonging  to  Lord  Tredegar,  on  the 
right,  and  Mr.  W.  De  Winton  on  the  left  bank.  Immediately  above  the  bridge  is  the 
"  Stone  "  pool,  which,  though  awkward  to  get  to  in  strong  water,  is  very  good.  Below 
is  the  third  and  last  mill  on  the  Wye,  and  its  low,  unobtrusive  weir  hardly  merits  the 
title  of  such,  and  is  no  obstruction  to  the  passage  of  fish.  Would  that  could  be  said  of  all 
weirs  !  Between  the  weir  and  the  railway  bridge  is  the  Mill-stream,  and  below  the  bridge 
Llan-pwll-llyn,  a  very  good  catch,  never  too  low,  most  picturesquely  situated,  and  alas  ! 
the  ultimate  of  the  famous  rocky  catches  of  the  Wye. 

From  hence  to  Glasbury  the  river  runs  slow,  witu  broad  long  pools  and  occasional 
gravelly  streams.  Llangwy  pool  is  good,  and  holds  a  great  many  fish — and  otters ! 
Adam's  or  Spread  Eagle  catch  is  the  best  on  this  section  of  the  river  ;  it  is  a  high-water 
catch,  and  very  good  for  an  early  fish.  The  water  belongs  to  Gen.  Wood,  but  Mr.  Perry, 
of  the  Three  Cocks,  is  able  occasionally  to  give  leave  to  gentlemen  staying  there. 

Below  Glasbury  the  fisheries  belong  to  Mr.  de  Winton,  Gen.  Wood,  and  Sir  J.  R. 
Bailey.  Angling  in  this  part  of  the  river,  though  good,  is  very  uncertain,  as  fish  rise  far 
from  eagerly.  There  are  a  great  many  fair  catches,  the  best  of  which  are  Glanhenwye 
Pool,  Pwll  Dwrgu,  or  the  Otter's  Pool,  and  the  Watlins.  Next  come  Mr.  Baskerville's 
water,  immediately  above  Hay,  which  is  of  a  similar  character,  but  not  so  good.  At  this 
point,  I  think,  we  leave  the  fly  fisher's  part  of  the  Wye  ;  although  there  are  many  good 
catches  lower  down,  and  perhaps  holding  more  fish,  they  do  not  show  the  sport  which  is 
to  be  found  in  the  higher  and  rocky  portion  of  the  river. 


(199) 

The  flies  used  in  the  Wye  are  as  numerous  in  pattern  and  different  in  colour  as  can 
be  found.  A  fisherman  of  many  years'  experience,  and  using  flies  of  all  descriptions, 
prefers  the  Welsh  fly,  made  with  brown  turkey  or  bittern  wing,  as  the  best  general  fly  that 
can  be  used.  Sometimes  the  body  and  hackle  are  varied  from  the  real  blue  cock's  hackle 
and  tawny  body  to  bright  yellow  or  red  with  claret  body ;  but  the  yellow-brown  wing 
remains  the  same,  and  has  ever  proved  a  tempting  morsel  to  the  salmon  of  this  river. 
Of  late  years  the  Welsh  fly  has  not  been  thought  so  much  of,  and  flies  of  the  Irish  pattern — 
Butcher,  Priest,  and  Blue  Doctor — are  now  more  commonly  used. 

In  this  paper  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  describe  the  upper  angling  waters  of  the 
Wye.  On  no  other  river  in  England  or  Wales  are  there  such  a  twenty  miles  of  almost 
continuous  rocky  catches,  and  in  the  midst  of  grand  scenery,  as  between  Newbridge  and 
Glasbury ;  and  all  that  is  wanted  to  make  the  angling  perfect  are  spring  and  summer 
freshes  and  a  fair  run  of  fish. 


A  Letter  of  1794. 


BRECONSHIRE     WOODCOCKS,     TURKEY,     AND     HARE. 
LOTTERIES,    AND    THE     WAR. 

Mr.  E.  Marshall,  of  Woolwich,  to  Rev.  John  Frew,  Skethrog,  near  Brecon,  South 

Wales. 

Woolwich,  10th  April,  1794. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

I  ought  to  make  a  thousand  apologies  for  having  so  long  neglected  writing  to  you, 
particularly  as  we  have  an  acknowledgment  due  to  you  (of  some  considerable  time 
standing)  for  a  very  tine  Turkey  and  a  Hare,  which  came  safe  in  due  time,  and  for  which 
we  return  you  many  thanks.  Indeed  for  some  time  past  I  have  purposely  deferred 
writing  till  I  could  give  an  account  of  your  success  in  the  wheel  of  Fortune,  which  my 
journey  to  London  yesterday  enables  me  to  do,  and  I  have  to  congratulate  you 
on  two  (though  small)  prizes  ;  your  Tickets,  Nos.  26,599  and  81,050  are  both  Prizes  of 
£20.  If  you  have  not  received  your  share  of  £20  for  one  of  your  last  year's  tickets,  I 
think  you  had  best  inclose  the  three  to  me,  and  let  me  receive  the  amount  for  you,  and 
dispose  of  it  in  any  manner  you  shall  direct ;  unless  (which  we  most  sincerly  wish)  you 
mean  to  favour  us  this  summer  with  a  visit. 

Mrs.  M and  the  family  are  well ;  Frances  is  on  a  visit  to  Mrs.  Firmin  in  Town 

(late  Miss  Brown),  the  Boys  in  their  several  stations  as  before  ;  and  the  young  one  at 
home  grows  a  fine  entertaining  little  girl.  Our  Friends  in  the  Island  are  all  well.  Poor 
Tassell,  we  hear,  continues  much  the  same  as  when  he  left  Woolwich ;  he  is  able  to  walk 
about  and  takes  his  meat  and  glass  of  wine  tolerably  well,  but  his  speech  and  recollection 
are  not  a  bit  better.  Mrs.  Grant  came  up  some  time  ago  to  clear  the  house,  and  pack  up 
the  furniture,  all  of  which  is  sent  to  Portsmouth.  We  are  exceedingly  busy  at  the 
Warren  preparing  very  large  Orders  for  Flanders,  besides  having  40  or  50  Gunboats  to 
arm,  composed  of  River  sailing  Barges  and  Dutch  Hoys;  His  Grace,  the  Master  Genl., 
is  so  ill  that  he  has  been  obliged  to  give  up  all  business  and  was  to  have  gone  into  the 
Country,  but  at  present  cannot  be  moved  ;  Report  says,  that  amongst  other  complaints, 
he  is  inclining  towards  Dropsy.  I  am  sorry  to  see  by  the  Papers  that  your  friend,  Ld. 
Wood  has  been  obliged  to  give  up  the  conquest  of  Corsica,  as  besides  the  great  expense,  I 
shudder  for  the  fate  of  the  poor  wretches  who  must  be  left  behind.  God  send  a  speedy 
conclusion  to  this  destructive  War. 

With  every  good  wish  for  your  health  and  happiness,  I  remain, 

My  dear  Sir,  yours  truly, 

(Sd.)     E.  MARSHALL. 

P.S.— I   do   not  know   whether   I   ever    acknowledged   the   receipt   of  a   brace   of 
Woodcocks. 


(200) 

A  Letter  of  1803. 


FASHIONABLE  LIFE,  THREATENED   INVASION   OF   ENGLAND,    AND    THE 

INCOME  TAX. 

Mrs.  Bullock  Lloyd  (returned  from  London),  25,  Gay  Street,  Bath,  to  John  Powell,  Esq., 

Attorney,  Brecon. 
Sir, 

I  suppose  you  will  not  be  surpris'd  to  receive  a  letter  from  me.  I  left  London  ten 
days  since,  stayed  one  week  at  Windsor  to  shew  my  Daughter  that  gay  place,  and  you 
may  be  sure  well  attended  the  Royal  Family  on  the  Terrace  every  evening.  We  had 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  Mr.  Edward  Morgan  in  Town,  and  I  was  very  glad  to  hear  you  was 
perfectly  recover'd,  and  Mrs.  Powell  and  family  quite  well.  I  believe  I  must  now  trouble 
you  for  my  Money,  as  the  London  journey  have  pretty  well  emptyed  my  purse,  and  shall 
likewise  wish  to  settle  my  account.  I  hope  Mr.  T.  Lloyd,  of  Aberanault,  and  you  have 
settled  everything— he  must  not  get  on  any  longer.  What  dreadful  times  !  I  was  very 
glad  to  leave  Town,  the  preparation  for  an  invasion  is  melancholly  tho'  necessary.  They 
began  last  week  to  Brick  up  the  arches  leading  to  Somerset  House.  A  gentleman  of  our 
acquaintance  who  hag  appartments  there  informed  us  of  it,  and  said  they  had  all  arms 
sent  them.  I  am  at  present  in  very  comfortable  lodgs  which  I  fully  intended  taking  for  a 
twelvemonth,  but  as  we  are  to  pay  the  incombe  tax  I  must  humble  myself  and  take  one 
not  quite  so  high.  We  all  beg  to  join  best  compliments  to  you  and  Mrs.  Powell,  and 
am  Sir, 

Your  much  obliged 

Humble  Servant, 

(Sd.)     S.  B.  LLOYD. 
Bath,  July  9th,  1803. 

No.  25,  Gay  Street. 


A  Letter  of  1807. 


From  Capt.  John  Lloyd  i1),  commonly  called  Capt.  Lloyd,  of  the  East  India  Co.'s  Mauship, 
to  Walter  Powell,  Attorney,  Brecon. 

Newport,  Tuesday,  11  o'clock. 
Dear  Walter, 

We  arrived  here  last  night  after  10.  This  morning  I  called  on  the  Old  Lady— no 
will  to  be  found — therefore  request  you  or  your  partner  will  take  a  chaise  and  come  to 
Newport  by  dinner  time  to-morrow  ('tis  at  the  request  of  Mrs  Jones  — ). 

Pray  call  on  Mr.  Bold  and  ask  if  he  knows  anything  of  a  Will,  am  afraid  he  will  not 
be  at  home. 

Yours  sincerely, 

(Sd.)    J.  LLOYD.  In  haste. 

Our  love  and  respects  to  Mrs.  Powell  and  Mary  Ann — give  a  look  to  John  («) — Mr. 
Jones  will  be  buried  to-morrow.  We  were  five  hours  coming  from  Abergavenny,  therefore 
look  to  your  horses. 

(i)  My  Grandfather  and  (2)  my  Father. 


(201) 

Terms  of  Junction  of  the  Two  Canals. 

(PAGE  191  ante). 


To  complete  the  series  of  Canal  papers,  it  is  important  to  give  a  copy  of  the  original 
Agreement  between  the  two  Companies  as  to  the  terms  on  which  the  Junction  at  Ponty- 
moile  was  made,  and  also  a  brief  description  of  the  preceding  negotiations  leading  up  to 
that  Agreement. 

It  would  seem  to  have  been  the  original  intention  of  the  promoters  of  the  Brecon  and 
Abergavenny  Canal  to  have  carried  their  line  from  Clydach  downwards  at  a  low  level  near 
the  Usk,  and  along  the  Valley  by  Abergavenny  and  the  town  of  Usk  to  the  tideway  at 
Newbridge.  The  effecting  of  a  Junction  with  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  does  not  appear 
to  have  been  part  of  their  original  plan,  and  the  extreme  difficulty  and  danger  of  carrying 
the  Canal  along  the  steep  and  treacherous  hillside  at  Llanfoist  probably  induced  the 
Engineers  to  prefer  the  Lower  Level. 

However,  during  the  autumn  of  1792,  the  Monmouthshire  Company  approached  the 
Promoters  of  the  Brecon  Canal,  and  offering  favourable  terms,  induced  the  latter  to 
abandon  the  Usk  Valley  line,  and  adopt  the  Summit  Level  line,  as  it  was  called,  to  join 
their  Canal  at  Pontymoile. 

One  of  the  objections  which  had  been  raised  by  the  Promoters  was  the  difficulty  to 
supply  the  Summit  level  line  with  water,  and  this  was  overcome  by  the  Monmouthshire 
Company  covenanting  to  supply  that  portion  of  the  Brecon  Canal  with  sufficient  water. 
Agreements  to  that  effect  were  duly  entered  into  between  the  parties,  dated  November  6th 
and  November  8th,  1792,  and  a  copy  of  the  letter,  which  has  a  considerable  value,  if  I 
mistake  not,  to-day,  is  subjoined.  The  notion  has  been  prevalent  in  the  minds  of  some 
persons,  that  the  Brecon  Canal  Company  undertook  to  supply  the  Monmouthshire  Com- 
pany, whereas  the  reverse  was  the  case,  and  this  formal  agreement  made  it  incumbent  upon 
the  Monmouthshire  Company  to  give  such  sufficient  supply  to  that  part  of  the  Brecon 
Canal  "unequivocally,"  which  may  be  taken  to  mean,  "  under  all  circumstances." 


WHEREAS  David  Tanner,  Edward  Kendall,  and  John  Partridge,  Esqrs.,  for  and  on  the 
part  and  behalf  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal,  by  an  Agreement  in 
writing,  bearing  date  the  6th  day  of  November  instant  (amongst  other  things  therein  con- 
tained) Did  agree  to  and  with  Thomas  Hooper  and  Eichard  Lewis,  Esqrs.,  for  and  on  the 
part  and  liehalf  of  the  Subscribers  to  the  Abergavenny  and  Brecon  Canal. 

That  the  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  shall  supply  the  intended  Aber- 
gavenny and  Brecon  Canal  with  water  for  their  Pontypool  Summit  (if  practicable).  Now 
I,  the  said  Edward  Kendall,  as  Chairman  of  the  Monmouthshire  Committee,  do  hereby 
for  and  on  the  part  and  behalf  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  undertake 
promise  and  agree  to  and  with  the  Subscribers  to  the  Abergavenny  and  Brecon  Canal  that 
the  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  shall  unequivocally  supply  the  Abergavenny 
and  Brecon  Canal  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water  for  their  Pontypool  summit.  As 
witness  my  hand  this  8th  day  of  November,  1792. 

EDWARD  KENDALL. 
Witness,  WILLIAM  POWELL. 


EESOLUTION  OF  MONMOUTHSHIRE   CANAL  NAVIGATION  PROPRIETORS. 

January  15th,  17»8. 
[Copy  of  Original  on  Parchment  with  Seal  of  Company.] 

Later  in  the  same  Session  of  Parliament,  a  more  formal  and  full  arrangement  was 
come  to,  and  proved  by  a  Special  Assembly  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  Navigation 
convened  for  the  purpose. 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED 

That  at  a  Special  General  Assembly  of  the  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouth- 


(202) 

shire  Canal  Navigation,  held  at  the  Westgate  Hotel,  in  the  Town  of  Newport,  in  the 
County  of  Monmouth,  on  Tuesday,  the  Fifteenth  day  of  January,  One  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  ninety-three,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  report  of  the  Committee 
deputed  by  the  General  Assembly  to  treat  with  the  subscribers  to  the  intended  Brecknock 
and  Abergavenny  Canal,  for  a  Junction  of  their  Canal  with  the  said  Monmouthshire  Canal 
Navigation,  of  which  due  notice  has  been  given  in  the  Gloucester  paper.  It  was  Resolved 
and  agreed  as  follows  : 

That  the  said  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  Navigation  shall 
give  every  aid  and  assistance  in  their  power,  particularly  by  the  attendance  of  their  Sur- 
veyor and  such  other  persons  belonging  to  them,  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  the 
subscribers  to  the  said  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  intended  Caual  for  obtaining  an  Act 
at  the  next  or  any  other  subsequent  Sessions  of  Parliament  for  making  and  maintaining 
the  said  intended  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  from  a  junction  with  the  said  Mon- 
mouthshire Canal  at  or  near  a  place  called  Pontymoile,  in  the  Parish  of  Panteague,  in  the 
said  County  of  Monmouth,  on  the  line  taken  by  Mr.  Thomas  Dadford,  called  the  Summit 
Line,  and  in  all  respects  whatsoever  for  carrying  into  effect  the  said  intended  Brecknock 
and  Abergavenny  Canal  and  Junction,  and  that  an  application  be  immediately  made  to 
Parliament  by  and  at  the  expense  of  the  said  Monmouthshire  Canal  Proprietors  for  an 
Act  or  Clause  empowering  the  said  Proprietors  of  the  said  Monmouthshire  Canal 
Navigation  to  make  tne  necessary  deviation  in  the  line  of  Canal  from  Pontnewynydd  to 
Newport,  so  as  to  form  such  intended  junction  at  or  near  Pontymoile  aforesaid. 

That  in  consideration  of  the  advantages  to  be  derived  in  consequence  of  such  junction 
by  the  said  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  Navigation,  they  shall 
pay  to  the  Proprietors  of  the  intended  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Navigation 
towards  the  extra  expense  which  they  will  be  put  into  by  such  Junction,  the  sum  of  three 
thousand  pounds  at  the  end  of  twelve  calendar  months  from  the  passing  of  the  Act  for 
making  the  said  last  mentioned  Canal. 

And  in  further  consideration  of  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  such  Junction,  the 
said  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  Navigation  shall  not  make  or 
demand  for  any  coals,  goods,  merchandize  or  other  things,  which  shall  pass  or  be  navigated 
in  boats  or  other  vessels  upon  the  said  Monmouthshire  Canal  to  or  from  the  said  intended 
Brecknock  and  Abergavenuy  Canal  any  higher  or  greater  tonnage  than  shall  for  the  time 
being  be  taken  by  the  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  Brecknock  and  Abergaveuny  Canal 
for  coals,  goods,  merchandizes,  or  other  things  to  be  navigated  or  passing  on  such  last 
mentioned  Canal.  But  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  all  boats  and  other  vessels  passing 
to  and  from  the  said  intended  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  and  navigating  thereon 
two  miles  or  more  to  pass  and  navigate  into  and  upon  the  said  Monmouthshire  Canal  at  the 
same  rate  of  tonnage,  as  shall  from  the  time  being  be  taken  by  the  Company  of  Proprietors 
of  the  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Navigation,  but  never  exceeding  the  rate  of 
tonnage  taken  for  the  time  being  by  the  said  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  said  Monmouth- 
shire Canal  Navigation. 

That  the  above  Resolutions  or  such  of  them  as  shall  be  thought  proper  shall  be  in- 
troduced into  the  Act  for  making  and  maintaining  the  said  intended  Brecknock  and  Aber- 
gavenny Canal  Navigation,  and  that  Edmund  Estcourt,  Edward  Kendall,  George  Smith, 
and  Alexander  Raby,  be  a  Committee  on  the  part  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  Proprietors 
armed  with  full  powers  to  carry  these  resolutions  into  effect. 

Given  under  the  Common  Seal  of  the  Proprietors  of 

the   Monmouthshire  Canal  Navigation   at   the  Seal 

time  and  places  first  above  mentioned.  Monmouthshire  Canal  Co. 

(Sd.)  ROBERT  SALISBUBY,  Chairman. 


Appended  also  is  a  copy  of  the  CVIII.  Clause  in  the  Brecon  Canal  Act  of  1793,  in 
which  the  main  heads  of  the  Agreement  between  the  Companies  were  embodied.  It  will 
be  seen  that  the  Agreement  is  fuller  than  the  Clause,  and  that  the  £3000  was  to  be  paid 


(208) 

specially  to  cover  the  extra  expense  that  the  Brecon  Canal  Company  were  put  to  in  the 
works  attending  the  Junction  as  to  Levels,  &c. 


1798. 
CLAUSE   IN   1798   ACT   BASED   ON   ABOVE    EESOLUTIONS. 

33  Geo.  III.  Cap.  96— CVIII. 
Brecon  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Navigation  Act. 

CVIII. — And  whereas  in  consideration  of  the  advantages  to  be  derived  by  the  Com- 
pany of  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  Navigation  from  the  Junction  of  the 
said  Canals,  they  have  agreed  to  make  the  payment  hereinafter  mentioned  to  the  Company 
of  Proprietors  of  the  said  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal,  and  also  to  certain  Eegu- 
lations  respecting  the  rates  payable  to  them  : 

Be  it  therefore  further  enacted  that  the  said  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  Mon- 
mouthshire Canal  Navigation  shall  pay  to  the  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  said 
Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  Navigation,  the  sum  of  three  thousand  pounds  upon 
the  twenty-fifth  day  of  March,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-four,  and  in 
default  of  payment  the  same  may  be  sued  for  and  recovered  by  action  of  debt,  or  on  the 
case,  in  any  Court  of  Law, 

And  the  said  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  Monmouthshire  Canal  Navigation  shall 
not  take  or  demand,  for  any  coals,  goods,  merchandize,  or  other  things,  which  shall  pass 
or  be  navigated  in  boats  or  other  vessels  upon  the  said  Monmouthshire  Canal  to  or  from 
the  said  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal,  and  passing  for  two  miles  or  upwards  upon  the 
said  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal  any  higher  or  greater  rate  of  tonnage  than  shall,  for 
the  time  being,  be  taken  by  the  said  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the  Brecknock  and  Aber- 
gavenny Canal  Navigation  for  any  coals,  goods,  merchandize,  or  other  things  passing  or 
to  be  navigated  on  the  said  Brecknock  and  Abergavenny  Canal,  but  never  exceeding  the 
rate  of  tonnage  taken,  for  the  time  being,  by  the  said  Company  of  Proprietors  of  the 
Monmouthshire  Canal  Navigation. 


NOTE. — See  Page  115  ante. 

Llansaintffread  and  Llanvillo  Inclosure. 


Description  of  the  Boundary  set  out  by  the  Inclosure  Commissionera  over  Allt  yr  Yscryn 

Common. 

From  Heol  yr  Allt  (on  the  south  end  of  Alltyryscryn  Common)  upwards  along  a 
roadway  leaving  a  small  tenement  in  the  Parish  of  Llansaintffraed  on  the  left,  and  a 
cottage  and  land  in  the  Parish  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn,  belonging  to  Sir  Edward  Hamilton, 
on  the  right ;  from  thence  upwards  along  the  said  road  over  a  ridge  of  the  hill  to  a  stone 
nearly  opposite  a  cottage  and  land  called  the  Allt,  held  by  Richard  Williams,  leaving  the 
Common  of  Llangasty- Talyllyn  on  the  right  hand  ;  and  from  thence  across  old  quarries 
on  the  Allt,  in  nearly  a  straight  direction  to  the  side  of  a  ledge  of  rocks  at  the  summit  of 
the  hill  called  Llecher  Court ;  and  from  thence  downwards  along  the  said  Common, 
leaving  a  very  narrow  part  of  the  Common  of  Llangasty  Talyllyn  on  the  right  hand  to  a 
Boundary  Stone  ;  and  from  thence  to  an  antient  lane  called  Heol  yr  Allt,  at  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  Common. — Aug.  13,  1815. 

Copies  of  the  above  were  served  on  Mr.  Gwynne  and  on  the  Churchwardens  of  Llan- 
sainti'read  and  Llangasty  Talyllyn  Parishes. 


Lloyd,  (Sir)  John  Edward 

Historical  memoranda  of 
Breconshire 


PLEASE  DO  NOT  REMOVE 
CARDS  OR  SLIPS  FROM  THIS  POCKET 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO  LIBRARY 


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