Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of BritaineHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of Britaine
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
[Sidenote: Wiske.]
Next vnto this is the Aberwish, or Wiske, in Latine Osca, whereon
Caerleon standeth, sometime called Chester and Ciuitas legionum, bicause
the Romans soiourned there, as did afterward Arthur the great, who also
held a noble parlement in the same, whereof Galfride maketh mention Lib.
7. cap. 4. affirming thereto, that in those daies the maiestie thereof
was such, as that all the forefronts of their houses were in maner laid
ouer with gold, according to the Romane vsage. There was in the same in
like sort a famous vniuersitie, wherein were 200 philosophers; also two
goodlie churches erected in the remembrance of Iulius and Aaron, two
Brittish martyrs, whereby it might well be reputed for the third
metropoliticall sée in Britaine. But to our water, whereof I read that
it is furthermore one of the greatest in Southwales, and huge ships
might well come to the towne of Caerleon, as they did in the time of the
Romans, if Newport bridge were not a let vnto them; neuerthelesse, big
botes come thereto. It is eight Welsh or twelue English miles from
Chepstow or Strigull, and of some thought to be in base Wenceland,
though other be of the contrarie opinion. But howsoeuer the matter
standeth, this riuer is taken to be the bounds of Brechnockshire, as
Renni is middle to Wenceland & Glamorganshire. But to leaue these
by-matters, and come to the description of the water.
[Sidenote: Vske.]
You shall vnderstand that the Vske or Wiske, in Latin Osca riseth in the
blacke mounteins ten miles aboue Brechnocke toward Carmardine, the hill
being properlie called Yminidh Duy out of which it falleth, and situate
in the verie confines betwéene Brechnocke and Carmardine shires, from
whence winding into the northeast, it commeth to Trecastle, and in the
[Sidenote: Craie.]
waie betwéene it and Capell Ridburne, it taketh in the Craie brooke, on
the right hand before it come to Ridburne chappell. Going also from
[Sidenote: Sennie.]
thence toward Deuinocke, it crosseth the Senneie on the same side (which
[Sidenote: Camblas.]
[Sidenote: Brane.]
riseth aboue Capell Senneie) next of all the Camblas, & at Aberbraine,
the Brane, or the Bremich, whose head is thrée miles from Brechnocke,
and running by Lanihangle, it méeteth I saie with the Vske, about master
[Sidenote: Yster.]
Awbries manor. Beneath Aber Yster, it receiueth the Yster, which riseth
northwest aboue Martyr Kinoch, and commeth by Battell chappell, and
going from thence by Lanspithed and Newton, it runneth in the end to
[Sidenote: Hodneie.]
Brechnocke, where it taketh in the Hodneie or Honthie on the one side,
whose head is in Blaine Hodneie, and comming downe from thence by
Defrune chappell, Lanihangle and Landiuilog, it méeteth with the Vske or
Brechnocke townes end, which of the fall of this water was sometime
called Aberhodni, as I haue beene informed: on the other halfe likewise
[Sidenote: Tertarith.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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