Transcribed from the 1810? E. Edwards edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org [Picture: Book cover] THE HISTORY OF _WHITTINGTON_, [Picture: Decorative graphic] * * * * * “Oh, Whittington, among thy tow’rs Pleas’d did my early Childhood stray, Bask’d on thy walls in sunny hours And pull’d thy moss, and pluck’d thy flow’rs, Full many a truant day.” Poem of “FITZ-GWARINE.” * * * * * BY WILLIAM DAVIES, L.M.W.S. And Head-master of Carnarvon School. * * * * * _OSWESTRY_: PRINTED AND SOLD BY E. EDWARDS, and all Booksellers in the United Kingdom. * * * * * ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TO _R. POOLE_, _Master of Malden School_, _Essex_, THIS HISTORY IS INSCRIBED, _By his sincere_, _faithful_, _and affectionate Friend_, _THE AUTHOR_. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE _History of Whittington_, _&c._ THOUGH local descriptions and circumstances are seldom productive of any high degree of interest, yet when they become connected with the adventurous, active, and surprising career of any remarkable individual, even the most trivial assumes a degree of importance, excites a lively curiosity, and seldom tails to gratify the expectation it has awakened. As the ruins of the castle at this place are in an eminent degree picturesque and beautiful, and its being the birthplace and residence of one of the Barons to whom we owe the blessing of the MAGNA CHARTA, as well as the scene of many of his surprising adventures; even the short account I propose to offer, cannot be wholly devoid of entertainment and instruction. It is the opinion of learned antiquarians, that this was the place so famed by the name of Drev-Wen, or the White Town, by the illustrious Welsh poet Lowarch Hen, who lived in the year 590. He says that a prince of his country named Cynddylan was defeated and fell here, in opposing the progress of the Irish who had invaded the country. This ancient bard expresses the rage of the battle in such an energetic manner, that if I attempt to describe it, I shall fall far short of the original; therefore I content myself with quoting his own words.