184 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 



four Aldermen, and forty eight afliftants, 

 called the Common Council. They have 

 alfo a Recorder, two Chamberlains, a 

 Steward, Sword-bearer, and three Ser- 

 jeants at Mace. The town fends two 

 members to parliament. 



The caftle, of which not much of the 

 ancient parts are left, Hood on the neck 

 of the peninfula, formed by the Severn, 

 and has been lately repaired and moder- 

 nized. The Keep was on a large artifi- 

 cial mount, which fhews it to have been 

 of Saxon or Britifh origin, notwithftand- 

 ing it's foundation has been afcribed to 

 Roger de Montgomery, the great Earl of 

 Shrewfbury. 



It continued in the pofleflion of the 

 two fons of the founder, till the reign 

 of Henry I. when he took it into his own 

 hands. After it was difmantled in the 

 civil wars, it was granted by Charles IL 

 to Francis, Lord Vifcount Newport, af- 

 terwards 



