ABERCONWY. 07 



pels; to liold the same, himself, his heirs and as- 

 signs for ever. " 



In 1665, the earl of Conway, under pretence o^ 

 its being done for his majesty's service, stript the 

 castle of all the timber, iron, and lead, and ship- 

 ped it off to Ireland ; his vandal orders were so 

 rigorously carried into effect by his servants, that 

 the smallest particle of iron cannot be found re- 

 maining in any part of the castle. Thomas Bul- 

 keley Esq. Colonel Wynn, and several of the lead- 

 ing men of the country attempted to oppose the 

 design, but without success ; the following letter 

 was written in answer to their remonstrances,® 



" Hono"'" friends, 

 " I HAUE had the honour to receive yo' letter of 

 the 20*" Sept. in which you are pleas 'd to enquire 

 of me, whether my servant Milward doth act by 

 my order for the taking down of the lead, timber, 

 and iron of Conway castle; in answer to which 

 question, I do by this acknowledg it to be my act 

 and deed ; and that the said Milward is employed 

 by me to dispose of the timber and iron, according 



7 Editor's unpublished MS. 

 « Pennant's Tour in Wales, App. xxi. 



E 2 



