18 THE ADVENTURES 



fishery in a part of the river near the town ; and 

 for want of a seal of their own they affixed to 

 their grant that of the founder. The monks 

 soon after erected new works on the river for 

 the purpose of taking the fish, which caused a 

 dispute between them and the freemen; the 

 latter agreed to refer the matter, for decision," (oh 

 simple hearted freemen of Llangollen !) "to the 

 ahbot and five monks of their own choice, who 

 were to determine it on oath. Madog and his 

 secretary John Parvus (Little John?) appointed 

 a day for the purpose. The meeting was held, 

 the oath administered, and the abbot and monks 

 decided in their own favour ! They alleged that 

 they had bought the right of erecting what 

 works they pleased, and of repairing them, from 

 the heirs of Llangollen. The Prince confirmed 

 the decree and the donation of the fishery, by an 

 instrument dated A.D. 1234."* 



Our next authority occurs in 1219, (Edward 

 I.,) and is so interesting that we venture to give a 

 translation of part of it .in full. 



It consists of the order for, and the result of, a 

 commission from the King to inquire into certain 

 losses, said to have been sustained by one of his 

 officers, to whom he had assigned " his mills of 



* Arcliceologia Cambrensis 1st series, 1 vol. p. 23, 

 quoting Pennant, Edition 1810, vol. 2, p. 5. 



