154 



says :— "I have explored it nearly all, except the portion from Abbeydore to Alter- 

 ynys. From Alterynys southwards, it seems to have run nearly in a straight line 

 to the north-east corner of the park of Llanifihangel Crncorney, where some paving 

 stones remain. From this point it is distinct to Llanrlilo Pertholey Church, which 

 stands, contrary to the commoner rule, to the west of it. The road then goes on 

 to Abergavenny, passing Saunder's Nursery Garden, where at least two Roman 

 intermt^nts have been found. It would appear from the names Upper and Lower 

 Staunton at the foot of the Cwm Yny valley, and Taly-y-sarn at the head, that a 

 branch Roman road run past Llanthony to Hay." 



"There are many circular pits which mark British dwellings to be seen within 

 the camp on the hill south of Pandy camp, which separates the Llanthony and 

 Grwyny valleys." 



The last camp, named Twyn-y-Gaer, and another at Walterstone, about two 

 miles north of this camp, are undoubtedly British. Mr. Berringtnn has shown 

 conclusively that a part at least of this camp is British, if not the whole. Is it not 

 reasonable to suppose that a British camp so directly commanding the Roman 

 high road, should be taken by them, enlarged and used as a protection, and per- 

 haps a signal station ? 



History is nearly silent for another six hundred years, until the Norman con- 

 quest, when the whole country was soon parcelled out in small estates under 

 numerous barons. In Herefordshire, Roger de Lacy, whose castle was at Ewyaa 

 and Longtown, had the largest share. After this time most of the castles already 

 named, with many others on the Welsh borders, were quickly built. Abbeys, 

 churches, and priories soon followed, and the full tide of history sets in anent the 

 Marches of Wales. On the present occasion only the first faint ray of this historic 

 light will be alluded to, since it comes incidentally and supplies a record of the 

 locality not written elsewhere. The Romance of the Fitz Warines is one of the 

 very earliest narrative metrical poems. It was written in Anglo-Norman, pro- 

 bably by a minstrel attached to the family of the Fitz Warines, and before the 

 middle of the 13th century. Those who heard the very interesting paper of Mr. 

 Charles Fortey, at Caynham Camp, will remember that the history of the taking of 

 Ludlow Castle and the siege of Caynham was derived from the Romance of the Fits 

 Warines. This poetical narrative of the adventures of the Fitz Warines was very 

 popular for some centuries afterwards, as sung by the minstrels in the baronial 

 halls. When Caynham Castle was taken by Jorwerth Drwyndwn (that is, Jor- 

 werth of the broken nose), Fulke Fitz Warine cut his way through the' besieging 

 forces and fled to the Court. He was received by the King with great considera- 

 tion, as a kinsman, and his wife, Hawyse, made a lady of the Queen's chamber. 

 Fulke rose rapidly into favour. The King made him a grant of Ludlow Castle and 

 the dependent honour of Corvedale, about the year 1176, and soon aftewards made 

 him Lieutenant of the Marches, in which capacity he was very active in resisting 

 the a.:gressic>ns of the Welsh. Jorwerth had become very powerful, and during 

 the latter part of Henry II. 's reign, ravaged the counties of Sin-opshire an 1 Here- 

 fordshire. Fulke "defeated the Welsh princes in several combats, and particularly 

 in a great battle at Wormislowe, near Hereford " (p. 32). After these active hos- 



