Cabew Castle.]

IJIIVS-AP-TIIOMAS—PRIXCELV FESTIVAL.

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handsome suite of rooms is included in the octagon tower, which covers theright of the entrance; and along the whole course of the south-west side areseen the remains of ancient towers, of various height, diameter, and form.The whole of the north side is very majestic, ending in the return of a bastionto the east. The building is of various epochs—combining the stronghold withthe ornamented and castellated mansion. Sir Rhys-ap-Thomas, according toLeland, new-modelled the whole, and added the splendid range of state apart-ments which arc the admiration of every traveller in these parts.

In the extensive deer-park attached to the castle, SirRhys held a grand tilt and tournament on §jt. (fitlcs’S day,in honour of his receiving the royal badge of a Knight of the '

Garter . This splendid festival, we are told, lasted a week,and was attended by six hundred of the aristocracy ofWales —such were the splendid pageantries, and such thenumerous courtly throng, that once animated and embla-zoned the kingly halls of Carew. “ This festivall and time of jollitie continuedthe space of five dayes,” as the historian relates; “ and tentes and pavilionswere pitched in the parkc, neere to the castle, for the spectators of theserare solemnities, wheare they quartered all the time, every man according to hi 3qualities.”

Xtr iUjlJS-ap-Thomas, lord of this and many other castles, was descendedfrom Rhys-ap-Twdor, of the royal house of South Wales ; and had beenappointed governor of these counties by Richard III . One of his residenceswas Abcrmarles, in the county of Carmarthen—a princely mansion in its time,and called by Leland, “ a faire house of old Sir Rees’s.” Newcastle-in-Emlyn,in the same county—once belonging to the princes of Dynevwr, and celebratedin Cambro-British history—was also his property, and often honoured with hispresence.

By Sir Edward Carew the castle was mortgaged to Sir Rhys-ap-Thomas,who made it his favourite residence, and there spent the latter part of his life.The Bishop of St. David’s, then a constant resident at Lamphey, induced SirRhys to prefer Carew to his other demesnes; for they were devoted friends,and spent much time in the society of each other. In the following reign hisvast possessions and castellated mansions were forfeited by the attainder of hisgrandson, Rice Griffith, gMlcrmadeS was granted by the crown to Sir ThomasJones, Knt. ; thence by marriage it passed to Sir Francis Cornwallis, whoseson leaving issue four daughters, and the three youngest married, the estatewas divided in 1793 among their descendants. Abermarles came to Lord Vis-count Ilawarden, who disposed of the mansion, demesne, park, and manor, tothe gallant Admiral Jpoltp, who led the fleet into action at the battle of the

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