The History of the Worthies of England, County 7
FLINT-SHIRE.
FLINT-SHIRE. It taketh the name from Flint, formerly an eminent place therein. But why Flint was so named will deservedly bear an enquiry, the rather because I am informed there is scarce a Flint stone to be found in the whole shire.
An eminent*Mr. John Jones. Antiquary well known in these parts (Reader I must carry my Author at my back, when I write that which otherwise will not be believed) hath informed me, it was first called Flit-Town, because the people Flitted or removed their habitations from a smal Village hard by, to and under a Castle built there by King Edward the first. Afterwards it was called Flint Town, or Flint to make it more sollid in the prononciation. Now although sometimes Liquids are melted out of a word to supple it to turn the better on the tongues end; It will hardly be presidented that ever the sturdy Letter N. was on that or any account interjected into the middle of an original word. But it is infidelity not to believe what is thus traditioned unto us.
It hath the Sea on the North, Shropshire on the South, Cheshire on the East, and Denbigh-shire on the west thereof, the smallest County in Wales, whereof the Natives render this reason, That it was not handsomly in the power of King Edward the first (who made it a Shire) to enlarge the Limits thereof; For the English Shires, Shropshire and Cheshire he would not discompose, and on the Welsh side he could not well extend it without prejudice to the Lord Marchers, who had Potestatem vitae & necis in the adjacent Territories, the King being unwilling to resume, and they more unwilling to resign, their respective Territories.
If any ask why so small a parcel of ground was made a Shire, let them know that every foot therein in Content was ten in Concernment, because it was the passage into North Wales. Indeed it may seem strange that Flint, the Shire Town, is no Market Town, no nor Saint Asaph (a City, qua sedes Episcopi) till made so very late. But this is the reason, partly the vicinity of Chester, the Market genera… of these parts; partly that every village hath a Market in it self, as affording all necessary Commodities.
Nor must we forget that this County was parcel of the Pallatinate of Chester, paying two thousand Marks (called a Mize) at the change of every Earl of Chester, until the year of our Lord, 1568. For then upon the occasion of one Thomas Radford committed to prison by the Chamberlain of Chester, Flint-shire (saith my*W. Smith in his Vale Royal of Englant, pag. 15. Author, revolted, I dare say) disjoyned it self from that County Pallatine, and united it self to the Principalities of Wales, as conceiving the same the more advantagious.
Proverbs.
Mwy nag …n bwa yro Ynghaer.]
That is, more then one Yugh-Bow in Chester. Modern use applieth this Proverb to such, who seize on other folks goods (not with intent to steal but) mistaken with the similitude thereof to their own goods. But give me leave to conjecture the original hereof, seeing Cheshire-men have been so famous for Archery.
Princes.
ELIZABETH the seventh Daughter of King Edward the first, and Queen Elenor, was born at Ruthland Castle in this County; a place which some unwarily confound with Rythin Town in Denbigh shire. This Castle was anciently of such receipt, that the King and his Court were lodged therein; yea, a Parliament, or something equivalent, was kept here, or hereabouts; seeing we have the Statutes of Ruthland (on the same token the year erroneously printed in the Statutes of Ruthland) made in the—year of King Edward the first. This Lady Elizabeth at fourteen years of age was married to John, the first of that name, Earl of Holland, Zealand, &c. And after his death, remarried to Humfre… Bohune Earle of Hereford and Essex, High Constable of England, by whom he had a numerous issue. She died Anno Dom. *Speeds Chron. pag. 564.1316. and was buried in the Abby-Church of Saffron Walden in Essex.
Saints.
CONGELLUS or COMGALLUS. I perceive a storm a coming, and must provide a shelter against it. The omitting this Writer will make Wales angry, and the inserting him will make Ireland offended with me, whom a *… de scrip. …. Cent. 3. … 5….good Antiquary makes the first Abb…t of Banchor in this County, and a *Arch-…shop … de …. …. Primor.better (though living later) first Abbot of Bangor nigh Nockfergus in Ireland. What is to be done herein? When the Controversie was started, whether the Isle of Man belonged to England or Ireland, it was adjudged to the later, because no venomous Creature will live therein. But this controverted nativity is not capable of that discrimination. Indeed if the difference was betwixt Wales and England my Native Country, concerning Congellus, we would (according to our premised principles) freely resign him, not daring to be so bold with an outlandish Interest: let him stand here so long till better evidence be brought to remove him. For if those be beheld as the worst of Felons, who steal stragling Children in London streets from their Parents, and spirit them over unto forraign Plantations; high also is their robbery, who deprive Countries of their true Natives (as to their Memories after their deaths) and dispose them elsewhere at their pleasures. As for Congellus, it is agreed on all hands, that he was one of a pious life, who wrote learned Epistles, and being aged eighty five years, died Anno Dom. 600.
St. BENO was instructer to Saint Wenefride, committed by her Father to his careful Education; now it happened when the head of the said Wenefride was cut off by Cradocus Son to Alane King of North Wales (for not yielding to his unlawful lust) This Beno miraculously set it on *Acta S. … apud Sur. Tom. 6. 3. Novemb. & Breviar. sec. … Sarum in l…ct. S. …. & R.B. in her Manuscript life in the English Colledg in St. Omers.again, she living fifteen years after. But if the tip of his tongue who first told, and the top of his fingers who first wrote this damnable lye, had been cut off, and had they both been sent to attend their cure at the Shrine of Saint Beno, certainly they would have been more wary afterwards, how they reported or recorded such improbable untruths.
ASAPH was born in these parts, of right honourable parentage, and bred at LlanElvy in this County, under Kentigernus (or Mongo) the Scotch Bishop in that place. Here the said Kentiger…us had a Convent consisting of 663. Monks, whereof *Camb. Brit. … Flint-shire.300. being unlearned (in the nature of Lay-Brethren) were employed abroad in Husbandry, as many busied about work at home, the rest attended Divine service in the Convent, so divided, that some were always officiating therein. Amongst these Asaph was eminently conspicuous, for piety and learning, in so much, that Kentigernus (being called into his own Country) resigned both his Convent and Cathedral unto him. Here this Bishop demeaned himself with such Sanctity, that Llan-Elvy lost its name, and after his death was called from him, St. Asaph. He was an assiduous Preacher, having this Speech in his mouth, Such who are against the preaching of Gods Word, envy mans salvation. Bishop Godwin confesseth himself ignorant of the certain time of his death, though *Hierom. Porter … sanctorum, May 1.another (not more knowing, but more confident) assigneth the first of May (but with this abatement) about 569. I say not out possibly, a randome date may hap to hit the mark.
Here I would be thankful to them, who should expound unto me, that passage in J. Bale, concluding the life of this Saint, with these words,
*Bale de scrip. Brit. Cent. 1. Num. 68.Primus hic erat, qui d Romano Pontifice Unctionem accepit.
He was the first, who received Unction from the Pope of Rome.
This neither Pits owneth (ready enough to steal out of Bale, especially to improve what might sound to Papal advantage) nor any other Romanist writing his Life, whom I have seen, so that it seems to me a Note … scattered. After the death of Saint Asaph, his See stood void above 500. years, until Jeffery of Monmouth was placed therein.
Prelates since the Reformation.
RICHARD PARRY D. D. was born at Ruthin in this County; bred in Christ Church in Oxford▪ whence he was preferred Dean of Bangor, and at last Bishop of Saint Asaph, consecrated Decemb. 30. 1604. Bishop Godwin passeth on him this Complement (take it in the best derivation of the word from Completio mentis) that he desireth being so near unto him in time and his Studies, to be his equal in other Episcopal Qualities. I crave the Readers leave to forbear any further Character of him. Pictures present buildings, presumed at great distance, very small, whilest such things which are▪ supposed near the eye, are made in a greater proportion. Clean contrary I may sasely write largely on mens lives at far distance, whilest (as I may say) I must make Landskips of those near hand, and touch little on them, who lived in later times. Bishop Parry died Anno Dom. 16. . . .
Souldiers.
OWEN GLENDOWER-WYE was born in his ancient Patrimony of Glendower-Wye in this County, then bred in London a Student in the Common Law, till he became a Courtier, and servant to King Richard the second. After whose death, this Owen being then on the wrong side of preferment, retired to this his Native County, where there arose a difference betwixt him and his neighbour the Lord Gre of Ruthen about a piece of Common, which Owen by force recovered, and killed the Lord Gre.
There wanted not many to spur his posting Ambition, by telling him, that he was the true Heir to all North Wales, and now or never the time to regain it. That the injuries he had already offered the English were above pardon, and no way left to secure himself, but by committing greater. There needeth no Torch to light Tinder, where a Spark will do the deed, and hereupon Owen brake out into open rebellion.
The worst was, being angry with the King, his revenge fell upon God, burning down the fair Cathedrals of Bangor and Saint Asaph. His destructive nature delighted in doing mischief to others, though no good to himself. King Henry the fourth found it more facile by far, to depose King Richard, than subdue this Owen, who had taken Roger Mortimer Earl of March (and next Heir to the Crown) prisoner.
Writers.
ELVODUGUS, surnamed Probus (and no doubt it was true of him, what was said of Probus the Emperor, he was Vir sui nominis) was a Cambrian by birth, and this Countryman by habitation; for he lived most of his days at Bangor *Bale & Pits de scrip. ….Monachorum, in that age the Cambridge and Oxford of all Britain. He wrote many Books (and particularly a Chronicle of his Nation) which the envy of time hath denied to posterity. He had many eminent men for his Scholars, amongst whom was learned Nenniu…, commonly called Nennius Elvodugi, assuming his Masters name for his surname, on which account some mistake him for his Father. This Elvoduge flourished Anno 590.
Since the Reformation.
MERIDITH HANMER, D. D. was born in this County, where a respective Family of his name and alliance flourish at Han-meer at this day; was Treasurer of Trinity Church in Dublin. He translated the Ecclesiasticall Histories of Eusebius, Socrates Euagrius, &c. into English, wrote an Ephemeris of the Irish Saints, and a Chronicle of that Country. He died at *J. … de scrip. Hib. pag. 137.Dublin of the Plague, Anno 1604.
Benefactors to the Publick since the Reformation.
RICHARD CLOUGH was born at Denbigh in this County, whence he went to be a Chorister in the City of Chester. Some were so affected with his singing therein, that they were loath he should lose himself in empty air (Church-Musick beginning then to be discountenanced) and perswaded, yea, procured his removal to London, where he became an Apprentice to, and afterwards Partner with Sir Thomas Gresham. He lived some years at Antwerp, and afterwards travelled as far as Jerusalem, where he was made a Knight of the Sepulchre, though not owning it after his return under Queen Elizabeth (who disdained her Subjects should accept of such foraign Honour) he afterwards by Gods blessing grew very rich; and there want not those, who will avouch that some thousands of pounds were disbursed by him for the building of the Burse or Royal Exchange. Such maintain that it was agreed betwixt him and Sir Thomas Gresham, that the survivor should be chief Heir to both; on which account they say that the Knight carried away the main of the Estate. How much the new Church in Denbigh was beholding to his bounty, I am not as yet certainly in…ormed. This is true, that he gave the Impropriation of Killken in Flint-shire, worth an hundred pounds per annum to the Free Schoole in Denbigh; and if the same at this day be aliened, I question whether Repentance without Restitution will secure such who are the Causers thereof. He died Anno Dom, 15—
Memorable Persons.
THOMAS ap William, ap Thomas, ap Richard, ap Howel, ap Evan Va…ghan, &c. Esquire, was born of ancient and worshipful Parentage at Moston in this County. This Gentleman being called at the Pannel of a Jury by the aforesaid names, and many more, was advised by the *…. R…m. pag 145.Judge in the reign of King Henry the eight, for brevity sake to contract his name, who thereupon denominated himself Moston, from the place of his Nativity and ancient Inheritance. This leading Case was precedential to the practice of other Gentry in Wales, who (leaving their Pedigrees at home) carry one sirname only abroad with them, whereby much time (especially in Winter when the days are short) is gained for other employment.
The Farewell.
I understand that superstitious pilgrimages do still continue of fond people in this County to the Well of St. Winifred, and will only presume to mind them of a savoury Proverb of their own Nation, Goreu Pererindod Cyrchu offeren Sull, that is, It is the best Pilgrimage to frequent the Divine Duties of the Sabboth. A Pilgrimage it may well be called in Wales, where some Parishes are so large, people go ten miles to Church, and whose pains are employed more acceptable to God, than in longer peregrinations to less porpose.