Holinshed Chronicles: England, Scotland, and Ireland. Volume 1, CompleteHolinshed, Raphael
History
Holinshed Chronicles: England, Scotland, and Ireland. Volume 1, Complete
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
There are in Anglesei many townes and villages, whose names as yet I
cannot orderlie atteine vnto: wherefore I will content my selfe with
the rehearsall of so many as we viewed in sailing about the coasts,
and otherwise heard report of by such as I haue talked withall.
Beginning therefore at the mouth of the Gefni (which riseth at
northeast aboue Gefni or Geuenni, 20. miles at the least into the
land) we passed first by Hundwyn, then by Newborow, Port-Hayton,
Beaumarrais, Penmon, Elian, Almwoch, Burric (whereby runneth a rill
into a creeke) Cornew, Holihed (standing in the promontorie) Gwifen,
Aberfraw, and Cair Cadwalader, of all which, the two latter stand as
it were in a nuke betweene the Geuenni water, and the Fraw, wherevpon
Aberfraw is situate. Within the Iland we heard onelie of Gefni afore
mentioned, of Gristial standing vpon the same water, of Tefri, of
Lanerchimedh, Lachtenfarwy and Bodedrin, but of all these the cheefe
is now Beaumarais, which was builded sometime by king Edward the
first, and therewithall a strong castell about the yeare 1295. to
kéepe that land in quiet. There are also as Leland saith 31.
parish-churches beside 69. chappels, that is, a hundreth in all. But
héerof I can saie little, for lacke of iust instruction. In time past,
the people of this Ile vsed not to seuerall their grounds, but now
they dig stonie hillocks, and with the stones thereof they make rude
walles, much like to those of Deuonshire, sith they want hedge bote,
fire bote, and house bote, or (to saie at one word) timber, bushes and
trees. As for wine, it is so plentifull and good cheape there most
commonlie as in London, through the great recourse of merchants from
France, Spaine, and Italie vnto the aforesaid Iland. The flesh
likewise of such cattell as is bred there, wherof we haue store
yearelie brought vnto Cole faire in Essex is most delicate, by reason
of their excellent pasture, and so much was it esteemed by the Romans
in time past, that Columella did not onelie commend and preferre them
before those of Liguria, but the emperours themselues being neere hand
also caused their prouision to be made for nete out of Anglesei, to
feed vpon at their owne tables as the most excellent beefe. It taketh
now the name of Angles and Ei, which is to meane the Ile of Englismen,
bicause they wan it in the Conquerors time, vnder the leading of Hugh
earle of Chester, and Hugh of Shrewesburie. Howbeit they recouered it
againe in the time of William Rufus, when they spoiled the citie of
Glocester, ransacked Shrewesburie, and returned home with great bootie
and pillage, in which voiage also they were holpen greatlie by the
Irishmen, who after thrée yeares ioined with them againe, and slue the
earle of Shrewesburie (which then liued) with great crueltie. The
Welshmen call it Tiremone and Mon, and herein likewise is a
[Sidenote: Holie head, or Cair kiby.]
promontorie or Byland, called Holie head (which hath in time past
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