187 



The town or village was originally built by William de Braos. Subse- 

 quently we find a borough court was held there, and three annual fairs for the 

 sale of horses, cattle, and sheep. 



The borough of Painscastle being within the Cantref of Moelynaidd, should 

 have, apparently, shared in the right conferred on the other boroughs within that 

 Lordship, of electing a member to serve in Parliament. But it appears to have 

 lost, or never to have acquired that right, for in the year 1690, upon a contest for 

 the boroughs taking place between Sir Rowland Gwynne and Mr. Robert Harley, 

 the burgesses presented a petition to the House, claiming the right of voting. The 

 claim, however, was disallowed, and has never since been renewed. 



I have now brought down, however imperfectly, the history of Painscastle 

 to the time of the complete subjugation of the Welsh. At that time I think it 

 may be fairly assumed, with its lord high in the confidence of the King, to have 

 reached the climax of its dignity. 



Of its subsequent history and dismantling, little apparently is known. 



Relieved of the constant fear of molestation and destruction, no doubt the 

 sword was soon turned into the ploughshare. The Castle, ceasing to be necessarj' 

 for refuge and defence, became too retired for a residence, and gradually crumbled 

 to decay. 



The inhabitants around having learned after a hard lesson the blessings of 

 good Government, turned their attention to the cultivation of the soil, and soon 

 developed the peaceful happy valley which we now see around us. 



Respecting Payne Fitzjohn, the founder of the Castle, I am reminded by a 

 friend, to whom I am indebted for much of the materials for this paper, Mr. John 

 Hutchinson, Librarian of the Middle Temple, that there is a remarkable legend 

 told by Giraldus Cambrensis, in which Payne Fitzjohn is made to figure as an 

 important character. 



Giraldus makes the scene of the story the lake of Llangorse, but Mr. 

 Hutchinson thinks it might be appropriately transferred to the gloomy bog or 

 morass of " Rhosgoch," without a reference to which no notice of Painscastle 

 would be complete, forming as it does one of the most marked natural features of 

 the neighbourhood. 



Mr. Hutchinson, acting on this idea of transferring the scene, has sent me a 

 version of the legend in verse, which I \vill venture to read, and which I think will 

 form a not inappropriate conclusion to this paper. It runs thus — 



RHOSGOCH. 



In Norman times (a) take it from me 



Upon the best authority. 



For, somewhat differently worded. 



In Gerald's (b) page it stands recorded, 



((») A.D. 1136. (i) Giraldus Cambrensis; It. Gt. Bt., No. 21, vi. 



