506 On Two Welsh Prisoners, by Mr James Hardy. 



one of the weasels, the much longer and more bushy tail convinced 

 us that it was neither a ferret nor a polecat, so that we were al- 

 most certain that it was a marten, most likely it was the Beech 

 Marten, which according to Bell's " British Quadrupeds," is 

 Bometimes seen "on the sides of mountains or rocks, — from 

 whence its names of Stone Marten, Stein Marder, Martus Saxorum, 

 — where it chooses its retreat in any commodious fissures or ex- 

 cavations ;" and again, " The female makes her nest generally 

 in a hollow tree, but not unfrequently in holes in rocks, &c." 

 Dr. Fleming, in his " British Animals," says of this, " In woods 

 and rocks in the south of (Scotland and England." 



The Polecat, is, I believe, completely exterminated on the 

 Borders, and its lesser relatives — the Weasel and the Stoat — are 

 seldom seen. As they decrease, a much worse pest — the rats — 

 increase. 



On Two Welsh Prisoners confined at Bamburgh, in the 

 reign of Edward I. By. James Ha tidy. 



In a notice of Chatton, at p. 52 of the present Volume, 

 we have a translation of a deed of Edward I., relative to 

 two Welshmen, Rees ap Maylgon and Conan ap Meredith, 

 confined at Bamburgh ; which, from the explanation attach- 

 ed being liable to mislead, requires correction. The deed is 

 important in informing us of some of the uses to which the 

 regal castles — Bamburgh amongst others — were put in the 

 reign of Edward ; and it makes us acquainted with some 

 important state prisoners confined there, about whom we 

 have hitherto been ignorant. It was surmised — for the 

 Cymri excelled in the training of hawks and hounds — that 

 these two persons might be attendants on the king, when 

 engaged in hunting. This interpretation might also result 

 from rendering " robis ad opus," — "working dresses;" whereas 

 it signifies here, " robes for the use of." Instead of being 

 menials, as there suggested, they were influential personages, 

 whom it suited the polic}^ of Edward to retain in that 

 stronghold, to prevent them from creating disturbances in 

 their native country, and to punish them for their complicity 

 in the great outbreak in Wales, of 1282, under the leadership 

 of Prince Llewelyn ap Griffin, and his brother David. 



