260 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 



" hominum fibris confulere Deos fas ha- 

 bebant."* 



Moel y Don is celebrated as being the 

 place where part of the army of Edward I. 

 experienced from the Welfli a fevere de- 

 feat, attended with great flaughter. This 

 happened in the year 1282. Edward had 

 led his men againft the Welfh, who had 



retired 



* Tacite Annales, Lib. XIV. c. 30. 



" On the fhore flood a mixed army in clofe ar- 

 " ray and well armed. Women were running 

 " about with frantic geflures, clad in black, their 

 " hair difhevelled, and brandifhing like furies their 

 " torches. All around were Druids, with their 

 " hands uplifted towards heaven, pouring out the 

 " moft direful imprecations. The novelty of the 

 " fpe&acle ftruck the aftonifhed foldier with hor- 

 " ror, and his motionlefs limbs, affixed to the 

 ft fpot, were refigned to eve^y wound. At length 

 " animated by their commander, and rouzing one 

 " another that they fliould not be intimidated by a 

 " womanly and fanatic b^nd, they brought for- 



" ward 



