with their er porh, er perher, gate or gateways, un tour, a tower, er gambr quetan, and er eil-gambr, a first and second room, er orgarn gambr, the central irregular court, er háu, the cave or cavern with its er fetan or fetan, a well or fountain in the circuitous extremity? Does not the candid eye of classic faith detect and explain the misunderstood castalius fons of Græcia septemtrionalis in Cimmerian druidical recesses? Does it not expound the Castabala's of Asia Minor, from its elements of cast and bala, an outlet of water?

Again, we are historically informed that "about three miles distant from the stronghold of Caercennin, at the head of the Cennin, are some curious excavations, supposed to be the habitations of the ancient Britons." An observer can suppose any thing he pleases, except his own idiosyncracy and folly.

With this description let us compare an almost parallel passage in Gallia Antiquissima, as stated in France Monumentale.'

In the immediate neighborhood of Chartres, the ancient fortressed abode or gwyddon of Carnutesian druids, and "at a short distance from the mountain of Lieues, where religious rites were performed, and from the bank of the river Eure, there is a vast and profound cavern excavated on the eastern face of the mountain. It is said that in this and many other such caves, the druids used to reside during the time of the national assemblies. It was there they collected their trusted disciples in order to give them instruction, and to initiate them in the minutest details of their religious practices. Opposite to this cavern was a sacred fountain which still remains near the late Benedictine convent Josaphat."

The present cathedral site has, according to tradition of the district, replaced that of the fort and temple of the Carnutes. I was locally informed by a learned professor, that the stones of the one helped to erect the other, but such a question is now too difficult of solution. Let it then remain in legal abeyance.

These subterraneous chambers then, both here and elsewhere, were usually found contiguous to some river or stream of water and at an average distance of two or three miles from the principal stronghold or castellated mansion of the district, and served not as places of perpetual residence, according to modern whimsicalities, but as secret masonic apartments of the druids during the period of inaugurations, where the eye and ear of impertinent curiosity could not peer or listen. Do modern masons, though not a member myself, permit intrusions in their secret 'lodges'? Let us calmly and dispassionately reflect for an instant. Let all the caves of Britannia and of Gallia be numbered! let their areas be measured! let the well-known 'multitudo hominum infinita' of each be calculated! and the fallacy must, I apprehend, disappear tenues in auras, even on this assumption, and independently of other inconvertible proofs ! Such are the nooks

and corners of a Saxon dilemma when circumscribed to action and to life! by the light of reason and of truth.

Though doubtful as to any early British structure having been in existence on the foundation now occupied by Rhuddlan's noble pile,' I cannot refrain from drawing your attention to certain events that quivered our very national vitality to its core therein.

"The ruins of this justly-celebrated fortress," says Mr. Parry, "have a noble and imposing appearance, from every point of view; and, when approached, the beholder is impressed with awe, especially when he reflects upon the memorable transactions which have taken place within its precincts.

"Within these walls vibrated the voice of man, sounding hilarity and grief in their turn. Here the heroic Princes of Wales entertained their brave followers, who employed their time in defence of the land of their nativity, every inch of which they disputed with their blood. Beneath these splendid arches resounded the ancient harps of Cymru which gave to rapture all their trembling strings.' In after time, here dwelt ambition, ruling with the rod of iron. Within these walls was practised that well-known fraud by which the haughty Edward deceived our countrymen, in promising them a prince of their own blood; and here it was he held his mock parliament, and imprisoned the last of our princes, where the savage conqueror caused him to lie in chains and would not grant him a hearing! Here was one kingdom erased from the list of nations, and another triumphantone prince exalted and another deposed." Such is the nation now!

Let us now glance at caer or cader, a stronghold, a fortressed chamber, a wall or mound of defence, a chair. Caer is derived from cae xr, inclosed, congregate, an enclosure, and r, ‘inward force,' and is discovered in p, kir, and the Armorican kær-gloz, 'une ville fortifiè.' The primitive cader is preserved in, a recess, a retreat, a chamber

Under caer, or car, pl. caerau, we internationally discover analagous Umbric, Sabine, and Ligurian expressions in a variety of corrupted forms, as caere, core, cer, car, and cria, as Carsula or Casula, of Umbria, now Carsoli, from its elements of car and sull, a scene, a prospect. Io esaminai il bello prospetto.

Car-seol-i among the Sabini, is still called Car-sol-i.

.

Carrea (car-rea), the royal fortress,' from car and rea or rhea, the feminine noun of rhi, or ri, a prince or king, as 'a'r deheu Ri,'' and the Prince of the South.' Its Italian name of Chieri still retains the sound of Caerau.' It was situated on the BODincus fluvius, which, as it expanded itself in its course to the Adriatic, bore the name of Padoas, from bod, a residence, and ing, narrow, confined,-i. e., the river near its source was narrower, and its banks studded with houses, as Bod-edeyrn, Bod-organ, Bodfa, Bodfel, Bodotria, and Body-gallen. Thus, also, Bodin

X

comagus, or Bod-yn-cum-agos, in Liguria, i. e., a mount-residence near a dingle.'

So, also, Car-eia, Care, Caresi, in Gallia, and Ceretanus, in Etruria, &c., &c. Caere is, to the present hour, a common Cimmerian appellation for what its letters represent.

But what does history relate of our own Britannic Caerau ? Let a few extra examples be given, to put to shame, if it be possible, the calumny of a wigwam or a cave-a black hole of Calcutta; but, in the mean time, let us examine the abodes.'

The Britanni Antiquissimi had also their tre or tref, plural trefi or trevydd, originally a single homestead, then a hamlet or a town, as Tredegar, Tregarnedd, Tregaron, Tregaran, &c., at home. This prehistoric root is discoverable in its cognate Umbric form of Trevia in Umbria, Treva in the Sabine territory, and Tre-bula or Balinea, in Campania; also in Treva on the shores of Mormawisa, of Pliny, and Trebia, Tremithus, Trebigne, Trebisonde, and Tre-llo, in all parts of the world.

On this term Archdeacon Williams soundly argues that "these names compared with Vesbula, will show that tre is a separable prefix, and if Lanzi (p. 508, vol. ii.) is right in affirming, on the faith of inscriptions, that the citizens of this town were called Trebalaces, as the Brutti were called, by Ennius, Brutaces, it will necessarily follow that the name of the city was originally Trebala (i. e., tre, as above, and bala, 'an outlet of water'). The epithet 'Balinea' is confirmative of this explanation Is there an amateur of the rod-and-line en voyage ignorant of our own Tre-yBala, its Llyn Tegid, of salmon, trout, and pike notoriety, and the piscatorial hospitality of a Sir Watkin? a 'king in, but not of, Wales,' according to the complimentary version of George IV.

And, finally, let us briefly sketch, from the relics at our feet, the royal residences and palaces of our long-imputed line of Imperatores Gentium, from Brut or Prydain down to Cynfelin, the Cunobelin of the Romans, the last of our fifty-three anti-Cæsarean monarchs, whose names will be found inserted elsewhere.

The palaces were of two kinds, viz., plâs or palas, Cimbricè, and ur Palas, Armoricè and Llys. Hence waλarov, from pa (pxa), 'what has a tendency to remain,' and Llys (11x yxs), what extends out conspicuously.' The latter term is akin to avλŋ or aula. Hence, the poet

The former appeared to have been the residences of the fifteen royal tribes, whether as a caer or a castell. The latter, the abode of the reigning sovereign, or princes of the blood in direct contiguity to, or in close alliance with the Crown; also, a court of regal justice.

"Mae Llys yn Rhosvair, mae llyn

"Mae eur-gloch, mae Arglwydd Llywelyn

or,

"A gwyr tal yn ei ganlyn

"Mil Myrdd, mewn gwyrdd a gwyn.'

"Rhosvair can boast of its palace and its lake,

"Its gold calling-bell, and my Lord the Prince Llywelyn,

"And followers in his suite, mighty men and tall of stature,

"And an army of tens of thousands, robed in green and white garments.” Llywarch Hen, also, the Noble-warrior-bard of Cumbria, chaunts the regal pomp of the Llys of Pengwern, the palatial seat of the Prince of Powis, centuries before the creation of Norman Barons, "Sefwch allan forwynion, a syllwch werydre 'Gynddylan, Llys Pengwern, neud tandde? &c.

or,

66

"Stand forth ye fair maids and look upon the dwelling of Cynddylan, the princely palace of Pengwern. Is there not a blazing fire?" &c., &c.

This allusion to a blazing fire may, possibly, be deemed to represent the owner of the palace, as alive with a mens sana in corpore sano, distributing the rights of hospitality; but, when dead, the fires were put out in the Hall of Assembly, thus symbolising, as it were, the departure of the vital spark of heavenly flame' to its eternal rest.

Let us, then, enumerate a few of the earliest Llysau, as recorded by bards, triads, mabinogion, and so forth. This category must necessarily embrace, hereafter, a few of Roman forts or palaces, seized or rebuilt on British sites, or slightly or elaborately adapted to the prevailing taste and military influx of their now repelling occupiers.

Now, as neither of us can claim the whole-(I am, at present, speaking of certain disputed edifices prior to the arrival of the piratical Cauci and Frisiabones),

Denique Saxonum infido sub nomine noti,

Ob similem linquæ formam, et sermonis, et umbram

a partition must be made. But how can this be effected, after the capture and occupation of the original models? Were not additions made in certain cases? Are not petty or important alterations taken advantage of by quibbling imbecility, to unhistorically deny a prior Lesbosian or Miletusian reality?

In this dilemma, let the llun pedryfal-let the well-known foundations of a Prætorium within a given area or corner of a building, point them out infallibly as the works of Roman art and skill. But these prætoria-these lluniau pedryfal of the antiquary, are not universal in other structures throughout Prydain. Who were the architects of these and others on the plains? Leaving these again, for argument's sake, as doubtful, as well to Briton as to Roman, let extraordinary abodes be resorted

to. Can it be proved that the Romans excavated the solid rock, formed spacious chambers, windows, and 'subscopulosian' passages, as at Caercennin castle and elsewhere?

In one or other of the above-mentioned category (not to arrogate a totality of claims on either side) will be found the palaces of Caer Seiont, Aberffraw, Caerlleon, Caer Hên or Caer Rhun, Caerwrangon, Caercennin, Caerlliwelydd, Caerwent, Llundain, Trinofantwm, Caer Weir, Caer Einion, Coeleion, Ceredigion, Arwystli, Llys Bradwen, and so forth. Taliesin chants the praises of certain antique fortresses. Would his patriotism have eulogised those of bardic oppressors? Again, were not the oppida of Prydain, alluded to by Cæsar, generally in the vicinity of some stronghold or other? Did the Romans erect such edifices

by Britannic proxy or Cimmerian subsidy? Such is the absurdity when it comes to be analysed by the light of day and

cominon sense.

66

Ergrynaw Cuneddaf creiserydd
"Yn Ngaer Weir a Chaer Liwelydd.”

If it be asked, Where were the Saxons at this time? I could only surmise that they were buccaneering the Gallic shores, and plundering the cargoes of Prydainig and Venetian bottoms, and hoarding them in the oceanic caves of Friezland, like the Riffites of our day, and thus had a foretaste of what was in store for them in the Isles of the West.

Of Llys Bradwen, Dr. Owen Pughe thus writes,-" About two miles below Dolgellau, near Penman, are some remains of Llys Bradwen or the Court of Bradwen, which principally claims notice because Ednywain ab Bradwen, chieftain or prince of Meirion, and one of the fifteen tribes of North Wales, is the stock from which most of the families of Meirion derive their descent." Upon this an editor further remarks, which is more to our purpose, that "the ground-plot of the ruins presents the vestige of an oblong building, in one of a circular form, and around the principal structure are traces of others of various shapes and dimensions. These remains altogether measure ninety feet square. The walls are rude and uncemented."

Again, at Caer-Elwan "stands an obelisk of which there are about six feet above the surface of the ground."

Caergwrle Castle was "originally a British fort, which, in conjunction with the neighboring fortress of Caer Estyn, defended this vicinity. It was afterwards seized by the Romans, and probably became an outpost to Deva.'

With regard to Caerleb, the editor of the Cambrian Mirror says that, "in the various townships and hamlets in this vicinity, are numerous monuments, indicative of Druidical worship. At Bodowyn is a remarkable cromlech, the table-stone of which, resting upon three strong supporters, is seven feet long, six feet