CWM BYCHAN. 283 



were butchered by their ferocious assailants. At length, collecting 

 a few who had recovered their presence of mind, he called on them 

 to follow him. Wherever he turned the enemy shrank before him, 

 but his valour was unavailing. One by one his followers met tbeir 

 fate ; and he now stood alone amongst his foes, who, with a fierce 

 shout, proclaimed their triumph, and quickly surrounded the chi- 

 valrous Mortimer. Thus hemmed in, he continued to defend him- 

 self with the most obstinate bravery. His sword was raised for a 

 deadly stroke, when he received a blow which felled him senseless 

 amidst his dying and dead comrades. 



The morning broke, clear and bright, on the town of Caernarvon. 

 The sun, as he glanced o'er the eastern hills forming the black 

 range of Snowdonia, shed his golden beams on the towers of the 

 majestic castle, throwing their shadows far across, the bay. 

 Eleonora, the consort of King Edward I., had been some time resi- 

 dent at Caernarvon, where she had lately given birth to a son, 

 afterwards Edward the II., as imbecile a monarch as ever swayed 

 the English sceptre. But it was not in the tapestried chamber, 

 with the carpeted saloons, and all the luxury of modern taste and 

 extravagance, that the queen brought forth the young prince ; but, 

 as tradition says, " this event took place in a small room not more 

 than ten feet square, situated in the eagle tower, which room pos- 

 sessed the unusual comforts of a window and fire-place." But to 

 return to the morning in question : at an early hour, a most unu- 

 sual bustle prevailed in the town, and in the roads leading to it. 

 All the barons and chief men in the country were assembled toge- 

 ther, and groups of peasantry continued to pour in from the sur- 

 rounding districts. Wonder and expectation were displayed in 

 every countenance. They all collected in a square in front of the 

 castle, which reared high its massive portal with its four portcullises 

 and embattled parapets. The troops, to the amount of some thou- 

 sands, were drawn out on a rising ground which commanded the 

 town, under pretence of doing more honour to the approaching 

 ceremony, but in truth to guard against any outbreaking of public 

 feeling. The King at length appeared on the battlements, and 

 every voice was hushed. His tall majestic figure and his command- 

 ing countenance at once pointed him out, and impressed upon the 

 beholders a feeling of fear and admiration. He spoke to the people 

 at some length on the evils of discontent and rebellion, and on the 

 advantages of peace and union to the two kingdoms. He then pro- 

 ceeded : I have promised to give you a prince born in your own land, 

 ti urt u red under your own .skies, one who has breathed nought but 



