( 140 ) 



CHAP. XV. 



Excursion from Wrexham to Holt. 



Fi//age of Holt. — Cqjlk.'^HiJlQry of the Cajik. 



r ROM Wrexham I made an excurfion to Holt^ an 

 obfcure village on the weft bank of the Dee, about 

 fix miles diftant. This was once a market town, 

 and a place of fome confequence ; and it ftill con- 

 tinues to be governed by a mayor and aldermen. 

 The former is ufually fome gentleman of refpetla- 

 bility who refides in the neighbourhood. — ^The town 

 U'as incorporated in the year 14I0, by a charter of 

 Thomas earl of Arundel, v.'hich, however, reflrids 

 the burgeffes from being Welflimen : — the charter 

 runs in this fingular form : " To the burgeffes of 

 our tov/n, and to their heirs and fucceflbrs, being 

 EngliJJomen.^^ This arofe, no doubt, from the ha- 

 tred which the lords marchers entertained towards 

 the Welfh people, on account of the infurreftion 

 of their hero Glyndwr, at that time fcarcely fup- 

 preiTed *. 



This place has alfo the name of Lyo72s. The 

 caille was anciently called Caftrum Leonis, which 



• Pennant, i. 7.10. 



appel- 



