A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 89 



held in this country, the Welfh having now 

 entirely driven him out.* 



Towards the latter end of the reign of 

 Richard I. Ranulph Blundeville -J- Earl of 

 Chefter, being unexpectedly attacked by 

 the Welfh in this caftle, fent to Roger 

 Lacy (for his fiercenefs furnamed Hell) his 

 Conftable of Chefter, to haften to his relief 

 with fuch forces as he could on the fudden 

 collect. It happened to be on Midfummer 

 Day when there was a fair at Chefter, and 

 Roger immediately got together a mob of 

 fidlers, players, coblers, and other idle fel- 

 lows, and marched towards Rhyddlan. 

 Llewelyn, who was at the head of the 

 Welfh, obferving at a diftance aji immenfe 

 crowd of people, and fuppofing that it was 



* Powel, 270. Wynne's Hiftory of Wales, 237. 



t Or Blondeville. This addition was taken to 

 his name of Ranulph from his having been born at 

 Ofweftry, in Shropfhire, which was antiently called 

 Album Monajlerium, 



the 



