The History of the Worthies of England, County 3
CARDIGAN-SHIRE.
CARDIGAN-SHIRE is washed on the West with the Irish Sea, and parted from the neighbouring Shires by Rivers, and the Reader will be careful that the similitude of their sounds betray him not to a mistake herein.
1. Dovi severing it on the North from Merioneth-shire.
2. Tovy on the East from Brecknock-shire.
3. Tyvy on the South from Carmarthen and Pembroke-shlre.
My*Speed in the description of this Coun…y. Author saith the form thereof is Horn-like (wider towards the North) and I may say it hath a Corn…-Copia therein of all things for mans sustenance, especially if industry be used.
This County, though remotest from England, was soonest reduced to the English Dominion, whilest the Countries interposed maintained their liberty. The reason whereof was this; The English being far more potent in shipping than the Welsh, found it more facile to saile over the Mountains of Water (so the Surges of the Sea are termed by the*Qu…ti …mtes volv… Aquarum. Ovidius. Poet) than march over the Mountains of Earth; and by their Fleet invaded and conquered this County in the reign of Rufus; and Henry the first bestowed the same entirely upon Gilbert de Clare.
Natural Commodities.
Bevers.
Plenty of these formerly did breed in the River Tyvy, which (saith Giraldus Cambrensis) was the only place afforded them in all Britain. A cunning Creature, yet reported by some men more crafty than he is; who relate, that, being hunted, and in danger to be taken, he biteth off his Stones, as useful in Physick (for which only his life was then sought) and so escapeth. Hence some will have him called Castro, à Castrando seipsum: And others adde, that having formerly bitten off his Stones, he standeth upright, and sheweth the Hunters that he hath none, that so they may surcease their pursuit of an unprofitable Qu…re.
Hence it was, that amongst the Egyptians, the Bever passeth for an Hieroglyphick of him who hurteth himself, though by Alciate the great Emblematist, he is turned to another purpose, to teach men rather to part with their purses, than their lives, and by their wealth to redeem themselves out of danger.
The plain truth is, all those reports of …he Bever, are no better than vulgar errours, and are disproved both by sense and experience; For his Stones are so placed in his body, as those of the Boar, that it is impossible for himself with his teeth to touch them. And some maintain they cleave so fast to his back, they cannot be taken away without loss of his life.
However, grant the story true, the gelding of himself would not serve his turn, or excuse the Bever from Hunters now adays, except he could also flea off his skin, the wooll whereof is so commonly used for the making of Hats. All that I will add, is this, that what plenty soever there was of Bevers in this County, in the days of Giraldus, the breed of them now is quite destroyed, and neither fore-foot of a Bever (which is like a Dogs) nor hind-foot (which is like a Goose) to be seen therein.
Proverbs.
Being well at leisure in this little County, we will observe (what indeed is generall to all Wales) something Proverbial, and conducing to our necessary information.
Talaeth, Talaeth.]
In effect the same in English with Fin…, Fine; when Mothers and Nurses are disposed to please their little Ones in dressing them: take the original thereof: When Roderick the Great divided Wales betwixt his three Sons, into three Dominions; [North Wales, South VVales, and Powis.] He ordered, that each of them should wear upon his Bonnet or Helmet a Coronet of Gold, being a broad lace or head-band indented upwards, set and wrought with precious stones called in the British Talaeth, and they from thence*Dr P…well in his Histo…y of Wales pag. 36. Ytri twysoc Talaethioc, that is, the three crowned Princes. But now either the number of Princes is well multiplied in Wales, or, which is truer, the Honour of Talaeth is much diminished; that being so called, wherewith a Childs head is bound uppermost upon some other linnen cloaths. Thus the English have that, which they call the Crown of a Cap.
Bu Arthur ond tra fu.]
That is, Arthur was not, but whilest he was. It is sad to say, Nos fuimus Trojes, the greatest eminency when not extant is extinct. The Fryer never loved what was good.
Ne thorres Arthur Nawdd gwraig.]
That is, King Arthur did never violate the refuge of a Woman. Arthur is notoriously known for the mirrour of manhood. By the Womans Refuge, many understand her Tongue, and no valiant man will revenge her words with his blows. Nullum memorabile Nomen,—F…minii in Paena.
Caleny Sais wrah Gymro.]
That is, the heart of a Englishman (whom they call Saxons) towards a Welsh-man. It is either applied to such who are possessed with prejudice, or only carry an outward compliance without cordial affection. We must remember this Proverb was origined, whilest England and wales were at deadly Feude, there being better love betwixt them since the union of the Nations.
Ni Ch…itw Cymbro oni Gollo.]
That is, the welshman keeps nothing until he hath lost it. The historical truth thereof is plain in the British Chronicles, that when the British recovered the lost Castles from the English, they doubled their diligence and valour, keeping them more tenaciously than before,
A fo Pen, bid Bont.]
That is, he that will be a Head, let him be a Bridge. It is founded on a Fictitious tradition thus commonly told. Benigridran a Britain is said to have carried an Army over into Ireland; his men came to a River over which neither was Bridg nor Ferrey, hereupon he was fain to carry all his men over the River on his own back. To lesson men not to affect the empty title of a General, except they can supply their Souldiers with all necessaries, be their wardrobe in want of Cloaths, Kitching in want of Meat, &c. Thus Honour hath ever a great burden attending it.
We will conclude these General Proverbs of wales with a Custom which was ancient in this Nation, they had a kind of Play*Dr. Davis in his Proverbs litera Ch. wherein the stronger who prevailed, put the the weaker into a Sack; and hence we have borrowed our English By-word to express such betwixt whom there is apparent odds of strength, he is able to put him up in a bagge.
The Farewell.
It is observable what a credible*Roger Houeden, and out of him Mr. Cam…d, in this County. Author reporteth, that there was in this County a City (once an Episcopal See) called Llan-Badern-Vaure, that is, Llan-Baderne the great. Which City is now dwindled to nothing.
Reader, by the way, I observe that Cities surnamed the Great, come to Little at last, as if God were offended with so ambitious an Epithete; Sidon the*Josh. 11. 8. Great, Ninive the†Jonah 3. 2. Great, Babylon the*Revel. 18. 2. Great, it is fallen, &c. But the cause of the ruine of this City was for their cruel killing of their Bishop, which provoked Divine Justice against them.
I hope the welsh warned herewith, will for the future demean themselves with due respect to such persons, and am confirmed in my confidence from their commendable Proverb, Na difanco y Beriglawr, vilifie not thy Parish-Priest, and then much more ought the Bishop to be respected.