Part 5 (2/2)
The otter is found in this river, and, owing to the many fastnesses, can seldom be destroyed. There are also numerous and various aquatic birds.
The rock-ousel, the kingfisher, the sand-piper, the crane, and a duck-like bird, with black and white plumeage, which the inhabitants term a cormorant, are very common.
About a mile above the bridge is a deep chasm in the rocky bed, through which the whole river, when not swollen, rushes. It is six yards across, and bears the name of Llam y Lleidr, i.e. Thief's Leap, from the circ.u.mstance of a robber, who was pursued closely, having possessed sufficient agility to clear this s.p.a.ce, while his unfortunate pursuer fell short, and was engulphed in the roaring torrent, narrowly escaping the loss of life, as well as of property. There is another chasm nearer the bridge, still deeper and narrower, called the Cow's Leap.
The river runs over a bed of dark-coloured silicious rock, which is sometimes got by the inhabitants for the use of building. The bed of the river is consequently very uneven, which causes it to foam and rush very impetuously along.
THE BRIDGE
Is a plain gothic structure at the west end of Llangollen, and consists of four irregularly formed pointed arches, with projecting angular b.u.t.tresses. The bridge was built across the Dee by John Trevor, Bishop of St. Asaph, and Chancellor of Chester, A.D. 1346, and was accounted one of the wonders of Wales. The arches are of various dimensions; but the only wonder I can discover seems to be the foundation, which is laid upon the rock that forms the bed of the river, and is fastened thereto with iron clamps. The bridge is built of hewn stone, and is like most other old bridges, very narrow and ill-paved.
Many wonderful tales are related of the sudden rise of this river, and it certainly is a very inconstant stream; but I cannot conceive it possible that the water should ever have risen, as reported, so high as the base of the parapet. There is another little bridge called the Chain Bridge, about two miles up the river.
I will now cross the bridge to the south side of the river.
GLYN DYFRDWY.
”They look'd a manly, generous generation, Beards, shoulders, eyebrows, broad and square and thick; Their accents firm, and loud in conversation; Their eyes and gestures eager, sharp, and quick.”
About five miles west of Llangollen, upon the road to Corwen, and on the south side of the Dee, the way being enriched by such varied and enchanting scenery as will amply repay the traveller of taste for the fatigue of the excursion, is Glyn Dyfrdwy, once the property and residence of that famous chieftain Owen Glyndwr, whose birth Shakspeare says marked him extraordinary. I will, however, here give a short account of his life, which I trust will prove entertaining to many of my readers, and plainly show that ”he was not in the roll of common men.”
Owen Ap Gruffydd Fychan, better known by the name of Owen Glyndwr, {77a} was descended from a younger son of Gruffydd Ap Madog, Lord of Powis Bromfield, and of Dinas Bran. He received his education in one of the inns of court, and became a barrister-at-law.
It seems that about the year of our Lord 1395, he came into great favour with King Richard II. who made him his scutifer, or s.h.i.+eld-bearer; {77b} and Owen was with the King when he was surrendered to Henry, Duke of Lancaster, together with the Castle of Flint. {77c}
Betwixt Owen and Reginald, Lord Grey, of Ruthin there arose a fierce dispute, about a common lying between the Lords.h.i.+p of Ruthin and Glyndyfrdwy, and belonging to Owen, who now a.s.sumed the name of
Glyndwr; and who was held in great respect by his countrymen, having artfully induced them to believe that he could ”call spirits from the vasty deep.” Reginald was at first conquered, and Owen possessed the disputed land; but after the deposal and murder of King Richard in Pomfrest Castle, and Henry had mounted the throne, {77d} the scene was changed; as Henry aided Lord Grey, who with his own va.s.sals, and a.s.sisted by some of the King's forces, again dispossessed Owen of the land.
Several severe encounters took place between the rival chieftains; and although Reginald's adherents were more numerous, the wily lawyer was more fertile in expedients.
Owen, being apprised of an attack intended to be made upon him by Lord Grey, here practised a successful ruse de guerre. He erected a number of stakes in a bottom still called Dol Benig, {78a} and having clad them in jackets and Welch Caps, so alarmed Reginald by their appearance, that he gave up the expedition.
At length Owen's good fortune and perseverance brought his enemy into his power. {78b} Having artfully drawn Reginald from his strong hold of Ruthin, he caused his horses to be shod backwards, which induced Reginald to advance, supposing he was pursuing a flying enemy, when he fell into an ambuscade, and was suddenly surrounded by Owen's forces, and made prisoner. Owen then marched to Ruthin, burnt the castle, destroyed the town, and despoiled the country. {78c}
Prior to this success, Owen had laid his complaints before the King's Parliament, and John Trevor, Bishop of St. Asaph, and Chancellor of Chester, seeing that no attention was paid to his pet.i.tion, after a long delay, ventured to expostulate with the Lords, and to caution them that they did not, by slighting or neglecting Owen's complaint, provoke the Welch to insurrection. The reply of the Lords was full of contempt, saying, ”They did not fear those rascally bare-footed people.” {79a} It was subsequent to this time that Glyndwr, finding his suit neglected, resolved to endeavour to redress his own wrongs, which terminated in the capture of Reginald, as before related.
This signal success drew to Owen many of his countrymen from all parts of the princ.i.p.ality, who urged him on, a.s.serting that the period was now arrived in which the prophecies of Merlin would be fulfilled; and that he was the man through whose valour the lost honour and liberties of their native country were to be recovered.
Owen Glyndwr, smarting with resentment, and impelled by his ambition, suffered himself to be persuaded to undertake the emanc.i.p.ation of the princ.i.p.ality; and in the mean time kept Reginald Lord Grey a close prisoner; demanding ten thousand marks for his ransom; six thousand to be paid on the feast of St. Martin, in the fourth year of the King's reign, and Reginald to deliver up his eldest son, with other persons of quality, as hostages for the due performance. {79b}
The King, at the humble suit of Lord Grey (he finding no other means for his enlargement,) appointed a council to treat with Glyndwr, who stoutly refusing to recede from his terms, they agreed to give him the sum demanded. It is also said that Owen obliged Reginald to marry one of his daughters. {80a}
Owen, being thus amply provided with money, and joined by numbers of his countrymen, now flew at higher game, and boldly attacked the Earl of March, who met him with a numerous body of Herefords.h.i.+re men. They came to close action, when the Welchmen under Owen proved victorious, and the Earl of March was taken prisoner, some accounts say by Owen himself in single combat. {80b} With his freedom he lost above 1,000 men, who were most savagely abused after they were dead.
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