8 BEDDGELERT TO HARLECH. 



On the evening that I arrived at Harlech, the 

 atmofphere was fo perfectly clear, that I could very 

 plainly diftinguifli the peaked fummit of Snowdon, 

 elevated high above ail the other mountains. The 

 promontory of Llyn was vifible in almoft every 

 part ; Criccieth caf'cle feemed fcarcely a mile diftant; 

 and the fine, though dangerous bay of Cardigan, lay 

 entirely befoi'e me. 



History of Harlech Castle. 



The ancient name of this fortrefs was Twr Bron- 

 wen, Broniven^s Tower ; fo called from Bronwen, 

 the white necked^ filler to Bren ap Liyr, duke of 

 Cornwall, and afterwards king of Britain. She lived 

 in the third centur)^, and was the wife of Matholwch, 

 an Iriiliman. Her hufband one day, unfortunately^ 

 ftruck her a violent blow in the face, and fhe re- 

 fented the outrage by inciting an infurreftion among 

 the people, and caufmg a civil war. This blow is 

 called, in the ancient Triads, one of the three evil 

 blows of Britain ; two others, of a nature nearly 

 fimilar, being there faid to have produced fmiilar 

 commotions. Bronwen is fuppofed by fome to have 

 rcfided here ; . and the higheft turret of the prefent 

 caftle, though for what reafon I know not, fince 

 this building was altogether founded many centuries 

 after her time, goes yet by the name of Bronwen's 

 tower. 



In the eleventh century this place took the name 

 of Caer Coxlwyn, CollwyiiLs Fort, from CoUwyn ap 



Tangno, 



