APPENDIX—NOTES TO PEMBROKE CASTI.E.

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author, as well as the first martyr among our nobility: a man whose virtuesmade him a reformer; whose valour, a martyr; whose martyrdom, an enthusiast.He was suspended by a chain fastened round his waist, over a slow fire. Thebringing him to the stake was considered a meritorious affair in those times ofgross superstition. The lordship of Broniarth was granted to the family ofTanad, the fifth of Ilenry V.; .and other gentlemen enjoyed several privilegesfrom Edward Charleton, Lord Powys, for the assistance they gave in the appre-hension of Oldcastle, whose son-in-law, Sir John Gray, brought him a prisonerto London ; and for this service, Lord Powys received the thanks of Parliament .Oldcastle, the residence of Lord Cobliam, is situated on the slope of the BlackMountains, near the road to Longtown, and about four miles from Llanfihangel.The old castle was demolished, and a farm-house constructed from the materials.

— [Owen Gfendoirrr , p. 122.]

Pembroke (Castle, p. 300. — Welsh bards are thus apostrophized byDrayton:—

“ Oh, memorable Bards! of unmix’d blood, which stillPosterity shall praise for your so wondrous skill;

That in your noble songs the long descents have kept

Of your great heroes, else in Lethg that had slept

With theirs, whose ignorant pride your labours have disdain d,

IIow much from time and them, how bravely you have gamed.

‘ Musician,’ 1 herald,’ 1 bard,’ thrice mayest thou be renowned 1And with three several wreaths immortally bo crowned 1Who, when to ijDftnbroitf called, before the English king,

And to thy powerful harp commanded there to sing,

Of famous Sl'tfjUV told’st, and where he was interred,

In which those 1 retchless ’ times had long and blindly erred.

And ignorance had brought the world to such a pass,

As now, which scarce believed that Siftfiltf ever was !

But when King JDC M t"sent the reported place to view,

He found that man of men, and what thou said’st was true.

Here, then, I cannot choose but bitterly exclaimAgainst those fools that all Antiquity defame;

Because they have found out some credulous ages laidSlight fictions with the truth, whilst truth on rumour staid.

And that our forward times (perceiving the former neglectA former of her had), to purchase her respect,

With toys then trimmed her up, the drowsy world to allure,

And lent her what it thought might appetite procure.

To man, whoso mind doth still variety pursue,” &c., 217.

So did Mars reverence the Muses , that, if a Welsh bard struck his harp at themoment of encounter, the hostile spirit pervading both armies was suddenly sub-dued ; their swords were returned bloodless to the scabbards ; and they who hadcome forth to mutual slaughter, united in the song of peace and goodwill to men.

Pembroke, p. 301, —“ The castel,” says Leland, “ standith hard by thewaull on a hard rocke, and is verie large and strong, being doble warded. In theutter warde I saw the chambre where Kinge Henri VII. -was borne, in knowledge

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