178 



MEMORIALS OF RAY 



do believe that it constantly does so. The water soaks 

 through the sand (as I suppose) which lies in great plenty 

 between the sea and the well. A story passes concerning 

 salmons in the river Aberavon, that come up on Christ- 

 mas-day, and may be handled, and then taken out at 

 pleasure, and this is attested by all the country. Credat 

 qui cupit. The church of Landaffe is indifferently fair, 

 but wants the cross-building. You descend into it by 

 steps ; in it are divers monuments of the Matthews, and 

 some bishops ; on the bishop's seat is the picture of the 

 Virgin Mary, supported by virgins, and a bishop praying, 

 Vir^o scandens sis marsliallus coelum pendens. 



Saturday, June the 14th, we rode to Caerwent, an 

 antient town, called of old Venta Silurum ; a great part 

 of the old walls are still standing, and the track of the 

 rest perfectly discoverable. It hath been four-square. 

 Here are digged up medals and Roman pavements. Here 

 we met with an old gentleman (by name More) who hath 

 a fair house at Creek. He told us of the salmons [Salmo 

 salar,'] in Uske and Wye, that are in season all the year 

 round ; for when they are out of season in one river, 

 they are in season in another. Coals are dug up on both 

 sides of the two rivers just mentioned, but not between 

 them. We were told of an old man at Hereford, that 

 eats neither fish, flesh (excepting the skin of a roasted 

 pig), butter, cheese, or milk, nor ever did ; his name Rod. 

 Near Creek, in a bushet or wood on an hill, not far from 

 the way-side, westward, grows Vicia maxima sylvatica 

 \ficia Sylvatica, Linn.] forte et erythrodanmn, [Btibia 

 peregrina. Linn.,] besides many other common plants. 

 The Bishop of Landaffe's palace is at Matherne. There 

 are many castles in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. 

 One at Cowbridge, which is a pretty walled town ; one at 

 Cardiffe, a large handsome town ; one near Caerwent, 

 called Calecut Castle, belonging to the king ; another at 

 Caerlion. We went from Creek to Chepstow, and from 

 thence to Tintern Abbey, were we saw the wire-mills, and 

 rode that night to Gloucester. By the way, near Tin- 



