{117}Ramsey Island,near St.David's,was always famous for its breed of falcons.
{118}Camros,a small village,containing nothing worthy of remark,excepting a large tumulus.It appears,by this route of the Crusaders,that the ancient road to Menevia,or St.David's,led through Camros,whereas the present turnpike road lies a mile and a half to the left of it.It then descends to Niwegal Sands,and passes near the picturesque little harbour of Solvach,situated in a deep and narrow cove,surrounded by high rocks.
{119}The remains of vast submerged forests are commonly found on many parts of the coast of Wales,especially in the north.Giraldus has elsewhere spoken of this event in the Vaticinal History,book i.chap.35.
{120}Giraldus,ever glad to pun upon words,here opposes the word NOMEN to OMEN."Plus nominis habens quem ominis."He may have perhaps borrowed this expression from Plautus.Plautus Delphini,tom.ii.p.27.-Actus iv.Scena iv.
{121}Armorica is derived from the Celtic words Ar and Mor,which signify on or near the sea,and so called to distinguish it from the more inland parts of Britany.The maritime cities of Gaul were called "Armoricae civitates -Universis civitatibus quae oceanum attingunt,quaeque Gallorum consuetudine Armoricae appellantur."-Caesar.Comment,lib.vii.
{122}The bishops of Hereford,Worcester,Llandaff,Bangor,St.Asaph,Llanbadarn,and Margam,or Glamorgan.
{123}The value of the carucate is rather uncertain,or,probably,it varied in different districts according to the character of the land;but it is considered to have been usually equivalent to a hide,that is,to about 240statute acres.
{124}This little brook does not,in modern times,deserve the title here given to it by Giraldus,for it produces trout of a most delicious flavour.
{125}See the Vaticinal History,book i.c.37.
{126}Lechlavar,so called from the words in Welsh,Llec,a stone,and Llavar,speech.
{127}Cemmeis,Cemmaes,Kemes,and Kemeys.Thus is the name of this district variously spelt.Cemmaes in Welsh signifies a circle or amphitheatre for games.
{128}[Cardigan.]
{129}There is place in Cemmaes now called Tre-liffan,i.e.Toad's town;and over a chimney-piece in the house there is a figure of a toad sculptured in marble,said to have been brought from Italy,and intended probably to confirm and commemorate this tradition of Giraldus.
{130}Preseleu,Preselaw,Prescelly,Presselw.
{131}St.Bernacus is said,by Cressy,to have been a man of admirable sanctity,who,through devotion,made a journey to Rome;and from thence returning into Britany,filled all places with the fame of his piety and miracles.He is commemorated on the 7th of April.Several churches in Wales were dedicated to him;one of which,called Llanfyrnach,or the church of St.Bernach,is situated on the eastern side of the Prescelley mountain.
{132}The "castrum apud Lanhever"was at Nevern,a small village between Newport and Cardigan,situated on the banks of a little river bearing the same name which discharges itself into the sea at Newport.On a hill immediately above the western side of the parish church,is the site of a large castle,undoubtedly the one alluded to by Giraldus.
{133}On the Cemmaes,or Pembrokeshire side of the river Teivi,and near the end of the bridge,there is a place still called Park y Cappel,or the Chapel Field,which is undoubtedly commemorative of the circumstance recorded by our author.
{134}Now known by the name of Kenarth,which may be derived from Cefn y garth -the back of the wear,a ridge of land behind the wear.
{135}The name of St.Ludoc is not found in the lives of the saints.Leland mentions a St.Clitauc,who had a church dedicated to him in South Wales,and who was killed by some of his companions whilst hunting."Clitaucus Southe-Walliae regulus inter venandum a suis sodalibus occisus est.Ecciesia S.Clitauci in Southe Wallia."-Leland,Itin.tom.viii.p.95.
{136}The Teivy is still very justly distinguished for the quantity and quality of its salmon,but the beaver no longer disturbs its streams.That this animal did exist in the days of Howel Dha (though even then a rarity),the mention made of it in his laws,and the high price set upon its skin,most clearly evince;but if the castor of Giraldus,and the avanc of Humphrey Llwyd and of the Welsh dictionaries,be really the same animal,it certainly was not peculiar to the Teivi,but was equally known in North Wales,as the names of places testify.A small lake in Montgomeryshire is called Llyn yr Afangc;a pool in the river Conwy,not far from Bettws,bears the same name,and the vale called Nant Ffrancon,upon the river Ogwen,in Caernarvonshire,is supposed by the natives to be a corruption from Nant yr Afan cwm,or the Vale of the Beavers.Mr.
Owen,in his dictionary,says,"That it has been seen in this vale within the memory of man."Giraldus has previously spoken of the beaver in his Topography of Ireland,Distinc.i.c.21.
{137}Our author having made a long digression,in order to introduce the history of the beaver,now continues his Itinerary.
From Cardigan,the archbishop proceeded towards Pont-Stephen,leaving a hill,called Cruc Mawr,on the left hand,which still retains its ancient name,and agrees exactly with the position given to it by Giraldus.On its summit is a tumulus,and some appearance of an intrenchment.
{138}In 1135.
{139}Lampeter,or Llanbedr,a small town near the river Teivi,still retains the name of Pont-Stephen.