PAGE Frontispiece Genealogical Tables xii Introduction:— I. The Author’s Life xv II. The Text xx III. The Summary xxiv Facsimile of Ellis Wynne’s Handwriting Vision of the World 3 Vision of Death 43 Vision of Hell 67 Notes 123 GENEALOGICAL TABLES. {0} ELLIS WYNNE’S PEDIGREE. *** (_I am indebted to E. H. Owen_, _Esqr._, _F.S.A._, _Tycoch_, _Carnarvon_, _for most of the information compiled in the following tables_.) [Picture: Ellis Wynne’s Pedigree] THE RELATION BETWEEN ELLIS WYNNE & BISHOP HUMPHREYS. [Picture: The Relation between Ellis Wynne & Bishop Humphreys] INTRODUCTION. I.—THE AUTHOR’S LIFE. ELLIS WYNNE was born in 1671 at Glasynys, near Harlech; his father, Edward Wynne, came of the family of Glyn Cywarch (mentioned in the second Vision), his mother, whose name is not known, was heiress of Glasynys. It will be seen from the accompanying table that he was descended from some of the best families in his native county, and through _Osborn Wyddel_, from the Desmonds of Ireland. His birth-place, which still stands, and is shown in the frontispiece hereto, is situate about a mile and a half from the town of Harlech, in the beautiful Vale of Ardudwy. The natural scenery amidst which he was brought up, cannot have failed to leave a deep impression upon his mind; and in the Visions we come across unmistakeable descriptions of scenes and places around his home. Mountain and sea furnished him with many a graphic picture; the precipitous heights and dark ravines of Hell, its caverns and its cliffs, are all evidently drawn from nature. The neighbourhood is also rich in romantic lore and historic associations; Harlech Castle, some twenty-five years before his birth, had been the scene of many a fray between Roundheads and Cavaliers, and of the last stand made by the Welsh for King Charles. These events were fresh in the memory of his elders, whom he had, no doubt, often heard speaking of those stirring times; members of his own family had, perhaps, fought in the ranks of the rival parties; his father’s grand-uncle, Col. John Jones, was one of those “who erstwhile drank of royal blood.” It is not known where he received his early education, and it has been generally stated by his biographers that he was not known to have entered either of the Universities; but, as the following notice proves, he at least matriculated at Oxford:— WYNNE, ELLIS, s. Edw. of Lasypeys, co. Merioneth, pleb. Jesus Coll. matric. 1st March 1691–2, aged 21; rector of Llandanwg, 1705, & of Llanfair-juxta-Harlech (both) co. Merioneth, 1711. (_Vide_ Foster’s _Index Eccles_.)