Peeps at many lands: WalesWilmot-Buxton, E. M. (Ethel Mary)
History
Peeps at many lands: Wales
Wilmot-Buxton, E. M. (Ethel Mary)
Wales -- Description and travel
It is tempting to take a glimpse at the stately ruins of Carew Castle,
another great stronghold of old times; but we must hasten on to
the head of the estuary, and thence by land to the ancient town of
Haverfordwest, now a flourishing market-town, the most important in
the county. Again the most striking feature is the great square-walled
castle, concerning which the old Welsh historian tells an exciting
adventure.
It so happened that a certain robber-chief was imprisoned in the
dungeon of the castle at the time that the three young sons of the Earl
of Pembroke and two children of the Governor were playing together
within the walls. The game was shooting with bow and arrows, but the
latter were so badly made that the youngsters began to lament that no
one could make them well enough. Either through a chink in the wall,
or by means of his gaoler, the prisoner conveyed the information that
he was noted for the work of arrow-making, and the boys were soon his
devoted admirers. One day the too confiding gaoler went off to his
dinner, leaving the dungeon door with the key in the lock, that the
boys might visit the interesting maker of arrows. No sooner were some
of them inside, however, than the brigand locked them in with him, and
threatened those who tried to break down the door that he would kill
the children and himself unless the Governor swore to let him go free.
This was done at length, in sheer despair, and the robber was allowed
to depart to his lair in safety.
[Illustration: ST. CATHERINE’S ROCK, TENBY.]
Haverfordwest is the nearest station to St. David’s, the most famous
cathedral in Wales, once the aim of many a pilgrimage, since “two
journeys to St. David’s shrine counted as one to Rome.” And well it
might, since even now there are “sixteen miles and seventeen hills” to
traverse before we reach the sacred spot.
St. David’s Cathedral stands remote in a somewhat desolate country,
upon a strip of craggy seaboard, “the loneliest of British fanes.”
“We descend a narrow street paved with rough stones, we look through
a little gateway on the right, and stand astonished and delighted. A
wonderful prospect bursts upon us: we behold the whole cathedral rising
before us in its stern majesty, with the ruins of St. Mary’s College to
the right, and the magnificent remains of the Bishop’s palace to the
left, while the dark rocks of Carn Llidi form the background to the
striking picture.”[2]
[Footnote 2: D. T. Evans, “Welsh Pictures.”]
The loveliness of the building itself, its massive pillars and delicate
tracery, with the grey, purple, and red colours of the sandstone
from which they are formed, make it one of the most beautiful of
cathedrals; but the most thrilling memory in connection with it is
that, when most of England was still plunged in heathen darkness, a
cathedral stood in this place as the Church of West Britain and the
seat of an Archbishop of the Celtic Church.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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