The History of the Worthies of England, County 10
MONTGOMERY-SHIRE
MONTGOMERY-SHIRE is bounded on the South side with Cardigan and Radnor-shire, on the East with Shrop-shire, on the North with Denbighshire, and on the West thereof with Merionith-shire. Nature cannot be accused for being a Step-Mother unto this County; For although she hath mounted many an high Hill (which may probably be presumed not over fruitful) yet hath she also sunck many a delightful Valley therein, (Humility is the common attendant of Greatness, accompanied with true worth) which plentifully yield all necessaries for mans comfortable subsistance. The Chief Town therein stands, and bestoweth its. Name upon the whole County. It never dignified any with the Title of Earl thereof, until the raign of King James, who created Philip Herbert, second Son to Henry Earl of Pembroke, Baron Herbert of Shurland, and Earl of Montgomery.
Natural Commodities.
Horses.
How good and swift are bred in this County, I may well spare my Commendation, and remit the Reader to the Character I find given of them in a good *Draiton in I…'s Poly…bion, pag. 95.Author;
—From the Gomerian fields,
Then which in all our Wales there is no Country yields
An excellenter Horse, so full of Natural fire,
As one of Phoebus Steeds had been that Stallions Sire
Which first their race begun, or of th' Asturian kind,
Which some have held to be begotten by the wind.
Now after proportionable abatement for his Poetical Hyperbole, the remainder is enough to inform us of the good Strain this Shire doth afford.
Proverbs.
Y Tair Chiwiorydd.]
In English the Three Sisters, being a common By-word to express the three Rivers of …, Severn, Rhiddiall, arising all three in this County, out of the South-west side of Plynnillimmon Hill, within few paces one of another, but falling into the Sea more miles asunder; Severn into the Severn Sea, Wye into the Severn, Rhiddiall into the Irish Sea.
The Tradition is, that these three sisters were to run a race, which should be first married to the Ocean, Severn and Wye having a great journey to go, chose their way through soft Medows, and kept on a Travellers pace; whilest Rhiddiall (presuming on her short Journey) staid before she went out, and then to recover her lost time, runs furiously in a distracted manner, with her mad stream, over all opposition.
The Proverb is applyable to Children of the same Parents, issuing out of the same Womb, but of different dispositions, and embracing several courses of lives in this World, so that their Cradles were not so near, but their Coffins are as farre asunder.
Pywys Paradwys Cymry.]
That is, Powis is the Paradise of Wales. This Proverb referreth to Teliessen the Author thereof, at what time Powis had far larger bounds than at this day, as containing all the land inter-jacent betwixt Wye and Severn; of the pleasantness whereof we have spoken *In the Proverbs in Hereford-shiré.before.
Gwan dy Bawlyn Hafren, Hafren fyàd hifcl cynt.]
That is, Fixt thy Pale [with intent to sence out his water] in Severn, Severn will be as before. Appliable to such who undertake projects above their power to perform, or grapple in vain against Nature, which soon returns to its former condition.
Writers.
GEORGE HERBERT was born at Montgomery-Castle, younger Brother to Edward Lord Herbert (of whom immediately) bred Fellow of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, and Orator of the university, where he made a speech no less learned than the occasion was welcome, of the return of Prince Charles out of Spain.
He was none of the Nobles of T…koa, who at the building of Jerusalem *Nehem. 3. 5.put not their necks to the work of the Lord; but waving worldly preferment, chose serving at Gods Altar before State-employment. So pious his life, that as he was a copy of primitive, he might be a pattern of Sanctity to posterity, to testifie his independency on all others, he never mentioned the name of Jesus Christ, but with this addition, My Master. Next God the Word, he loved the Word of God, being heard often to protest, That he would not part with one leaf thereof for the whole world.
Remarkable his conformity to Church-Discipline, whereby he drew the greater part of his Parishioners to accompany him daily in the publick celebration of Divine Service. Yet had he (because not desiring) no higher preferment than the Benefice of Bemmerton nigh Salisbury (where he built a fair house for his Successor) and the Prebend of Leighton (founded in the Cathedral of Lincoln) where he built a fair Church, with the assistance of some few Friends free Offerings. When a Friend on his death bed went about to comfort him with the remembrance thereof, as an especial good work, he returned, It is a good work if sprinkled with the Blood of Christ. But his Church (that unimitable piece of Poetry) may out-last this in structure. His death hapned Anno Dom. 163—
EDWARD HERBERT, Son of Richard Herbert, Esquire, and Susan Newport his Wife, was born at Montgomery * Castle in this County, Knighted by King James, So was I informed b… Si… …. Herbert his … …, late M…ster of the Revels.who sent him over Embassador into France. Afrerwards King Charls the first created him Baron of Castle Island in Ireland, and some years after Baron of Cheirbury in this Coun…y; he was a most excellent Artist and rare Linguist, studied both in Books and Men, and himself the Author of two Works most remarkable, viz. A Treatise of …, written in French, so highly prized beyond the Seas, that (as I am told) it is extant at this day with great Honour in the Popes Vatican.
He married the Daughter and sole Heir of Sir VVilliam Herbert of Saint Julians in Monmouth-shire, with whom he had a large Inheritance both in England and Ireland. He died in August, Anno Domini 1648. and was buried in Saint Giles in the fields, London, having designed a fair Monument of his own Invention to be set up for him in the Church of Montgomery, according to the*Courteously c…mmunicated unto me by Mr. Stone the Stone-… at his House in Long Acre. Model following;
upon the ground a Hath pace of fourteen foot square, on the midst of which is placed a Dorrick Columne, with its rights of Pedestal Basis, and Capital fifteen foot in height; on the Capital of the Columne is mounted an urn with an Heart Flamboul supported by two Angels. The foot of this Columne is attended with four Angels placed on Pedestals at each corner of the said Hath pace, two having Torches reverst, extinguishing the Motto of Mortality; the other two holding up Palmes, the Emblems of Victory.
This Monument hath not hitherto, (by what obstruction I list not to enquire) and I fear will not be finished, which hath invited me the rather to this Description, that it might be erected in Paper when it was intended in Marble.
Memorable Persons.
HAWIS GADARN. She was a Lady of remark, sole Daughter and Heir to Owen ap Graffyth, Prince of that part of Powis called Powis Wenwinwin, which taketh up this whole County. She was justly (as will appear) surnamed Gadarn, that is, the Hardy. I confess Hardy sounds better when applyed to men (as Philip the Hardy, a Prince in France) meek and mild, being a more proper Epethite for a woman. Yet some competent hardiness (to comport with troubles) mis-becometh not the weaker Sex; and indeed if she had not been Hawis the Hardy, she had been Hawis the Beggerly. She had four Uncles, her Fathers Brethren, Lhewelyn, Iohn, Griffith Vachan, and David, which uncles became her Cosens, detaining all her inheritance from her. Give (said they) a Girle a little Gold and marry her, God and nature made Land for men to manage.
Hereupon Hawis comes to Court, complains to King Edward the second. The mention of her minds me of the Daughter of Zelophehad, who pleaded so pathetically for her patrimony before Moses and Joshua. The King commiserating her case, consigned his Servant John Charleton (born at Apple in Shropshire) a vigorous Knight to marry her, creating him in her right B…ron of Powis.
Thus was he possessed of his Lady, but get her Land as he can, it was bootless to implead her uncles in a Civil Court, Action was the only Action he could have against them, and he so bestirred himself with the assistance of the Kings Forces, that in short time he possessed himself of three of her uncles prisoners, and forced the fourth to a composition. Yea, he not only recovered every foot of his Wives Land, but also got all the L…nds of her uncles, in default of their issue male to be settled upon her. I wish that all Ladies injured by their potent Relations, may have such Husbands to marry them, and match their adversaries. These things hapned about the yeare of our Lord, 1320.
Know Reader, there were four John Charletons successively Lords of Powis, which I observe rather, because their Homonymy may not occasion confusion.
JULINES HERRING was born at Flambere-Mayre in this County 1582. His Father returned hence to Coventry, to which he was highly related. Coventry, whose Ancestors (for the space of almost two hundred years) had been in their course chiefe Officers of that City. Perceiving a pregnancy in their Son, his parents bred him in Sidney Colledge in Cambridge, he becamê afterwards a profitable and painful Preacher at Calk in Derby-shire, in the Town of Shrewsbury▪ and at Rendbury in Cheshire, being one of a pious life, but in his judgement disaffected to the English Church-Discipline.
I could do no less than place him amongst the memorable Persons, otherwise coming under no Topick of mine (as writing no Books to my knowledge) … hi… Life written at large by Mr. Samuel Clark.
I say Mr. Clark whose Books of our modern Divines I have perused, as Travellers by the Levitical Law were permitted to pass thorow other mens Vinyards. For they must eat their fill on conditions they put no Grapes up in their*Deut. 23. 24. Vessels. I have been satisfied with reading his works, and informed my self in Places and Dates of some mens births and deaths. But never did nor will (whatever hath been said of me, or done by others) incorporate any considerable quantity of his Works in my own, detesting such Felony, God having given me (be it spoken with thanks to him, and humility to man) plenty of my own, without being plagiary to any Author whatsoever.
To return to Julines Herring, whose Christian name is very usual in the Country amongst people of quality, in memory of Julius Palmer (in the Marian Days martyred, and) a Native of that City; he being prohibited his preaching here, for his non-Conformity, was called over to Amsterdam, where he continued Preacher to the English Congregation, some years well respected in his place, and died in the year of our Lord, 1644.
The Farewell.
And now being to take our leave of this County, the worst I wish the Inhabi…ants thereof, is, that their Horses (excellent in their kind, whereof before) may (to use …he Coun…-mans expression) Stand well, being secured from all Infectious and pe…lential Dise…ses. …he rather because when God is pleased to strike this Creature (not unfitly termed mans wings, whereby he so swi…tly flyeth from one place to another, for dispatch of his occasions) it is a sad presage, that he is angry with the Riders, and will (without their seasonable Repentance) punish their sins with some exemplary judgment.