A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 83 



the ruins of its caftle.* In 1283 it was 

 made a free borough by Edward I. who 

 endowed it with many privileges in order 

 to encourage an intercourfe betwixt the 

 Welfh and the Englim.~j- From a port, 

 about two miles from this place, where the 

 river difcharges itfelf into the fea, much 

 corn and timber are annually exported. 



Below the town is a large marm, called 

 Morfa Rhyddlan, the Marft of Rhyddlan, 

 where, in 795, was fought a dreadful bat- 

 tle betwixt the Welfh, under their leader 

 Caradoc, and the Saxon forces under Offa 

 King of Mercia. The Welih were de- 

 feated, and their commander (lain ; in ad- 

 dition to this fevere lofs the Saxon prince 

 cruelly ordered all the men and children, 



* " Non procul a mari Rudlanain Tegenia olim 

 " inagnus urbs, nunc exiguus vicus fituatur." 



Lhuyd Comment. Brit. 56. 

 t Carte, II, 196 



G 2 who 



