<g>Uske</g> enjoys the hereditary distinction of having been the “residence of Richard, Duke of York, and the birth-place of his two sons, Edward the Fourth, and Richard the Third;” names which have furnished many stirring incidents, many sparkling and many disastrous achievements to the British annals. The town of Uske is disposed in the form of an oblong square, the principal street forming the public road to Abergavenny. The corporation consists of a mayor or bailiff, a community, and burgesses;[365] and in the town-house are held the petty sessions for the upper division of the hundred of Uske. The only native manufacture is that of japan ware. The river is famous for trout, particularly salmon trout-- “So fresh, so sweete, so red, so crimpe withal,”[366] which, in conventual times, afforded an ample supply to the numerous religious communities on its banks, to whom a carneous diet was only permitted as an occasional indulgence. Epicures confirm the ancient reputation of the river in this respect; and during the season, the disciples of Isaak Walton, and the readers of Sir Humphrey Davy’s “Salmonia,” are constant visitors to the banks of the Uske, which, by way of climax, is said to produce better sport for the angler than any other river in Wales--or even the Severn--a quality which has become proverbial. “Though bright the waters of the Towy, The Wye, the Severn, and the Tivy; Yet, well I wot, they cannot shew ye Such _salmon_ as the Uske can give ye! It was--(we choose not to go farther)-- The favoured dish of bold King <g>Arthur</g>; Who, when he chose like king to dine, Went down to Uske with rod and line, And there drew slily to the bank Such trout as best became his rank; Sometimes by twains, at others singly, But always with a twitch so kingly, The salmon seemed as much delighted, As if they really had been ‘knighted!’ No wonder, for they quickly found An _entrée_ at the <g>Table Round</g>, Where, seated with his gallant knights, Those heroes of a hundred fights;-- ‘Leave,’ quoth he, ‘acorns in the husk, Here’s glorious salmon from the Uske!’” &c. [Illustration: _Pembroke Castle_] PEMBROKE CASTLE, <g>Pembrokeshire</g>. “Hic exarmatum terris cingentibus æquor, Clauditur, et placidam descit servare quietem.” “In agro totius Walliæ amœnissimo, principale provinciæ municipium Demetiæq. caput, in Saxosa quadam et oblonga rupis in capite bifurco complectitur. Unde Britannis <g>Pembro</g> dicitur, quod caput marinum sonat, et nobis Penbroke.”--_Gyrald._