Europe, British Isles, South West Wales, Carmarthenshire, Carmarthen [Map]
Carmarthen is in Carmarthenshire.
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 10. This ancient city [Carmarthen [Map]] is situated on the banks of the noble river Tywy, surrounded by woods and pastures, and was strongly inclosed with walls of brick, part of which are still standing; having Cantref Mawr, the great cantred, or hundred, on the eastern side, a safe refuge, in times of danger, to the inhabitants of South Wales, on account of its thick woods; where is also the castle of Dinevor [Map],92 built on a lofty summit above the Tywy, the royal seat of the princes of South Wales. In ancient times, there were three regal palaces in Wales: Dinevor in South Wales, Aberfrau in North Wales, situated in Anglesea, and Pengwern in Powys, now called Shrewsbury (Slopesburia); Pengwern signifies the head of a grove of alders. Recalling to mind those poetical passages:
"Dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirat?"
and
"Et si non recte possis quocunque modo rem," ["And if you cannot do it rightly, do it in any way."]
my pen shrinks with abhorrence from the relation of the enormous vengeance exercised by the court against its vassals, within the comot of Caeo, in the Cantref Mawr. Near Dinevor [Map], on the other side of the river Tywy, in the Cantref Bychan, or the little cantred, there is a spring which, like the tide, ebbs and flows twice in twenty-four hours.93 Not far to the north of Caermardyn, namely at Pencadair [Map], that is, the head of the chair, when Rhys, the son of Gruffydd, was more by stratagem than force compelled to surrender, and was carried away into England, king Henry II. despatched a knight, born in Britany, on whose wisdom and fidelity he could rely, under the conduct of Guaidanus, dean of Cantref Mawr, to explore the situation of Dinevor castle, and the strength of the country. The priest, being desired to take the knight by the easiest and best road to the castle, led him purposely aside by the most difficult and inaccessible paths, and wherever they passed through woods, the priest, to the general surprise of all present, fed upon grass, asserting that, in times of need, the inhabitants of that country were accustomed to live upon herbs and roots. The knight returning to the king, and relating what had happened, affirmed that the country was uninhabitable, vile, and inaccessible, and only affording food to a beastly nation, living like brutes. At length the king released Rhys, having first bound him to fealty by solemn oaths and the delivery of hostages.
Note 92. Dinevor [Map], the great castle, from dinas, a castle, and vawr, great, was in ancient times a royal residence of the princes of South Wales. In the year 876, Roderic the Great, having divided the principalities of North and South Wales, and Powys land, amongst his three sons, built for each of them a palace. The sovereignty of South Wales, with the castle of Dinevor, fell to the lot of Cadell. [The ruins of Dinevor Castle still crown the summit of the hill which overshadows the town of Llandilo, 12 miles from Carmarthen.]
Note 93. There is a spring very near the north side of Dinevor park wall, which bears the name of Nant-y-rhibo, or the bewitched brook, which may, perhaps, be the one here alluded to by Giraldus.
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 10. Having crossed the river Tywy in a boat, we proceeded towards Caermardyn [Map], leaving Lanstephan [Map] and Talachar [Map]90 on the sea-coast to our left. After the death of king Henry II., Rhys (age 55), the son of Gruffydd, took these two castles by assault; then, having laid waste, by fire and sword, the provinces of Penbroch and Ros, he besieged Caermardyn [Map], but failed in his attempt. Caermardyn91 signifies the city of Merlin, because, according to the British History, he was there said to have been begotten of an incubus.
Note 90. The castle of Talachar [Map] is now better known by the name of Llaugharne.
Note 91. Much has been said and written by ancient authors respecting the derivation of the name of this city, which is generally allowed to be the Muridunum, or Maridunum, mentioned in the Roman itineraries. Some derive it from Caer and Merddyn, that is, the city of the prophet Merddyn; and others from Mur and Murddyn, which in the British language signify a wall. There can, however, be little doubt that it is derived simply from the Roman name Muridunum. The county gaol occupies the site of the old castle, a few fragments of which are seen intermixed with the houses of the town.
Around 1325 Philip ab Elidir Deheubarth was born at Carmarthen [Map].
Archaeologia Volume 23 Section V. Apon Setterdaye, beinge the xxiij daye of August, we rode toward Kermarddyn [Map], And in our journey in the mornynge we communed as foloweth:
Deane. George.
A my fayth the gere ye showed us of the maryage ys lyckly. But I never hearde of the Quenes that they shuld be thus handled.
George. In good fayth nor I; nother yet I never suspected, but I promise you there was moch mutteringe of Quene Annes deeth.
Deane. There was in deade.
George. And it ys the thinge that I marked as well, as ever I marked any thinge.
Deane. Did ye so? And I can tell nothinge of it for I was at that tyme at St. Dauids.
George. Na, ye were in the diocese of St. Assaph. For my Lorde was that tyme in Scotlonde. And I was the same tyme Mr. Norice’s (age 54) servante. I wrote a Letter of comforth vnto hym, and that after he was condemned. I haue the copie of the same Letter in my howse.
Deane. He had not your Letter.
George. Yes I delyvered it vnsealed vnto Mr. Lieutenant, And he delyvered it Mr. Noryce.
Deane. I pray the what canst thow tell of the matter? Let us heare.
George. The first that was taken was Markys (age 24), And he was at Stepneth in examinacyon on Maye even. I can not tell how he was examined, but apon Maye daye in the mornynge he was in the towre, the trewth ys he confessed it, but yet the sayeing was that he was fyrst grevously racked, which I cowlde never know of a trewth. Apon May daye Mr. Noryce justed. And after justinge the Kynge rode sodenly to Westminster, and all the waye as I heard saye, had Mr. Noryce in examinacyon and promised hym his pardon in case he wolde utter the trewth. But what so ever cowld be sayed or done, Mr. Norice wold confess no thinge to the Kynge, where vpon he was committed to the towre in the mornynge. And by the waye as his chapleyn tolde me he confessed, but he sayed at his arrayning, when his owne confession was layed afore hym, that he was deceaved to do the same by the Erie of Hampton that now ys1. But what so ever he sayed, he was cast.
Note 1. Sir William Fitzwilliam (age 46), Treasurer of the Household, who was created Earl of Southampton in 1537, the year after Anne’s execution. In the absence of all documentary evidence relating to the examinations, the Letters of Sir William Kyngston and Edward Baynton (all of them unfortunately mutilated), will not fail to be interesting. See Ellis’s Original Letters, first series, vol. ii. p. 52, et seq.
In 1588 Henry Townshend (age 51) was appointed Recorder of Carmarthen [Map].
Europe, British Isles, South West Wales, Carmarthenshire, Camarthen Priory Carmarthen
In 1525 Rhys ap Thomas Deheubarth (age 76) died at Camarthen Priory Carmarthen.
Carmarthen Castle
The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 1 Chapter 10. Having crossed the river Tywy in a boat, we proceeded towards Caermardyn [Map], leaving Lanstephan [Map] and Talachar [Map]90 on the sea-coast to our left. After the death of king Henry II., Rhys (age 55), the son of Gruffydd, took these two castles by assault; then, having laid waste, by fire and sword, the provinces of Penbroch and Ros, he besieged Caermardyn [Map], but failed in his attempt. Caermardyn91 signifies the city of Merlin, because, according to the British History, he was there said to have been begotten of an incubus.
Note 90. The castle of Talachar [Map] is now better known by the name of Llaugharne.
Note 91. Much has been said and written by ancient authors respecting the derivation of the name of this city, which is generally allowed to be the Muridunum, or Maridunum, mentioned in the Roman itineraries. Some derive it from Caer and Merddyn, that is, the city of the prophet Merddyn; and others from Mur and Murddyn, which in the British language signify a wall. There can, however, be little doubt that it is derived simply from the Roman name Muridunum. The county gaol occupies the site of the old castle, a few fragments of which are seen intermixed with the houses of the town.
In 1213 Rhys Gryg ap Rhys Dinefwr (age 48) was released at Carmarthen Castle [Map].
In 1213 Rhys Gryg ap Rhys Dinefwr (age 48) was imprisoned at Carmarthen Castle [Map].
On 03 Nov 1456 Edmund Tudor 1st Earl Richmond (age 26) died of plague at Carmarthen Castle [Map] leaving his twelve year old wife Margaret Beaufort Countess Richmond (age 13) pregnant with their child Henry Tudor, the future King Henry VII. His son Henry Tudor succeeded 2nd Earl Richmond.
In Jun 1529 Rhys ap Gruffydd Deheubarth (age 21) was imprisoned at Carmarthen Castle [Map].
In Jun 1529 Catherine Howard Countess Bridgewater (age 30) attacked to release her husband at Carmarthen Castle [Map].
Europe, British Isles, South West Wales, Carmarthenshire, Market Square Carmarthen
Foxe's Book of Martyrs. 30 Mar 1554. Thus this godly bishop, being condemned and degraded, was committed to the secular power, who not long after was brought to the place of execution in the town of Caermarthen, where he, in the market place in the south side of the market-cross, the thirtieth day of March, being Saturday next before Passion Sunday, most constantly sustained the torments and passion of the fire.
Touching the which constancy of this blessed martyr, this is moreover to be added and noted, that one named Richard Jones, a knight's son, coming to Master Ferrar a little before his death, seemed to lament the painfulness of the death he had to suffer: unto whom the bishop answered again to this effect, saying, that if he saw him once to stir in the pains of his burning, he should then give no credit to his doctrine. And as he said, so he right. well performed the same; for so patiently he stood that he never moved, but even as he stood, (holding up his stumps,) so still he continued, till one Richard Gravell with a staff dashed him upon the head, and so struck him down.
On 30 Mar 1555 Bishop Robert Ferrar was burned at the stake at the Market Square Carmarthen.
