608 
W E L 
WEN 
gomeryshire. It is pleasantly siuated on the eastern bound¬ 
ary of the county, in the picturesque and fertile vale of the 
Severn, through which that river runs at the distance of 
nearly a mile from the town, on the south-east, being here 
about 35 miles from its source on Plinlimmon. The town 
consists principally of one long, wide, and spacious street, 
has a gentle declivity, and has a clean and imposing appear¬ 
ance to those who visit it, after having passed through the 
principality. It is governed by two bailiffs elected annually, 
a high steward, recorder, &c. The present charter was 
granted by Charles II. The church has been erected since 
the time of the civil wars, and contains no monuments of 
any interest. It is only remarkable for not being built in 
conformity with the points of the compass, which may be 
accounted for from the situation of the ground on which it 
stands, which rises immediately above it on the north-west, 
and is so steep, that the upper part of the church-yard is on a 
level with the roof. 
The scenery of the surrounding country is very fine, and 
abounds in delightful views, many of which are extensive, 
and are generally terminated by a back ground of moun¬ 
tains, some of which are highly picturesque. There are few 
finer situations than Powis castle, which stands on a partial 
eminence, about a mile to the south-west of the town, encom¬ 
passed by noble timber, and commands the surrounding 
country. It is a very perfect specimen of the fortified castles 
erected along the Welsh marches, during the conflicts of the 
English and Welsh. It was built during the 12th century, 
by the princes of Powisland; and was frequently the scene 
of those hot and sanguinary battles which distinguish the 
border history of those times. It still retains its original di¬ 
mensions, though the interior has undergone some modern 
improvements; but its massy towers and rude magnificence 
impress the beholder with a lively idea of feudal grandeur. 
Ofta’s dyke, the ancient boundary between England and 
Wales, runs along the opposite bank of the Severn, at a short 
distance. Several spots in this neighbourhood are dis¬ 
tinguished as the sites of ancient battles. There are also 
some tumuli and other Celtic remains. The market day is 
on Monday. Fairs, 2d Monday in March, 3d Thursday in 
April, June 5th, 1st Monday after 10th July, 12th Septem¬ 
ber, 1st Monday after September 20th, for butter and cheese, 
and 16th November; 18 miles west-south-west from Shrews¬ 
bury, and 169 from London. Population of the parish, 
3460. 
WELT, s. [we/, Sueth. pannus vel linteum convolutum. 
Serenius. j A border; a guard; an edging. Little low 
hedges made round like welts , with some pretty pyramids^ I 
like well. Bacon. 
To WELT, ». a. To sew any thing with a border.— 
The bodies and sleeves of green velvet, welted with white 
satin. Shelton. 
To WE'LTER, v. v. [welteren, Teut. weltra, Sw. 
veaultrer, Fr. volutare, Lat. paelcan, Sax. waltjan, M. 
Goth. It is observable that waiter is the old Engl. word. 
“ Walteringe and walowinge, volutatio.” Fr. Parv. See 
also Barret’s Alv. 1580. And the second definition of the 
word before us.] To roll in water or mire. 
He must not float upon his wat’ry bier 
Unwept, nor welter to the parching winds. Milton. 
The companions of his fall o’erwhelm’d 
He soon discerns; and welt'ring by his side 
The next himself. Milton. 
To roll voluntarily; to wallow.—Such hopes and such 
principles of earth, as these wherein she welters from a 
young one, are the immediate generation both of a slavish 
and tyrannous life to follow. Milton. 
WELTON, a parish of England, in Lincolnshire; 6 miles 
north-by-east of Lincoln. Population 368.—2. Another 
parish in the same county; 4 miles from Louth.—3. A pa¬ 
rish in Northamptonshire; 3 miles north-north-east of Da- 
ventry. Population 509.—4. A township in Staffordshire, 
near Leek. Population 593.—5. A parish in the East 
Riding of Yorkshire, near Howden.—6. A township in 
Northumberland ; 9 miles east-north-east of Hexham. 
WELTON IN THE MARSH, a parish of England, in 
Lincolnshire; 5 miles east-north-east of Spilsby. 
WELWYN, a parish of England, in Hertfordshire, situ¬ 
ated on the small river Moran. Dr. Young was rector of 
this place ; and here was the scene of his melancholy effu¬ 
sions, called “ The Night Thoughts;” 8 miles west-north¬ 
west of Hertford. Population 1130. 
WELZHEIM, a small town of Germany, in Wirtemburg ; 
23 miles east of Stutgard. Population 1300. 
To WEM, ». a. [pemman, Sax.] To corrupt ; to 
vitiate ; to spot —The verie crounes and sceptres of best 
monarks and princes had bene rustie, wernbde , and warpde 
with oblivion. Brant . 
WEM, s. [pem, Sax.] A spot; a scar. It hadde no 
won, ne ryveling, or ony such thing. Wiclijfe. 
WEM, a market town of England, in the county of Salop. 
It is pleasantly situated near the source of the river Roden. 
It consists of one large open street, with a few smaller ones. 
The church is a handsome structure, with a lofty tower stee¬ 
ple, and a chancel. Market on Thursday, and three annual 
fairs; 9 miles north of Shrewsbury, and 164 north-west of 
London. Population 1395. 
WEMBDON, a parish of England, in Somersetshire, near 
Bridgewater. 
WEMBURY, a parish of England, in Devonshire, north¬ 
east of Plymouth, near the mouth of the river Yalm. Popu¬ 
lation 450. 
WEMBWORTHY, a parish of England, in Devonshire; 
3^ miles south-south-west of Chumleigh. 
WEMDAL, a village of Sweden, in the government of 
Gefleborg; 120 miles west-north-west of Sundswal. 
WEMDING, a town of Bavaria; 10 miles north of Don- 
auworth. Population 2100. 
WEMYSS, a parish of Scotland, in Fifeshire, on the coast 
of the frith of Forth. Its greatest length is about 6 miles, and 
its greatest breadth is 1J. Population 3761. 
WEMYSS, Easter, a village in the above parish; 1 
mile east of Wester Wemyss, and 1 west of Buckhaven. Po¬ 
pulation 640. 
WEMYSS, Wester, a burgh of barony in the above pa¬ 
rish ; 1 j mile east of Dysart, and 1 west of East Wemyss. 
It is governed by two bailies, a treasurer, and council. 
WEMYSS POINT, a cape of Scotland, on the coast of 
the county of Renfrew, in the Clyde. Lat. 55. 51. N. long. 
5. W. 
WEN, s. [pen, Sax.] A fleshy or callous excrescence, 
or protuberance. 
A promontory wen with griesly grace. 
Stood high upon the handle of his face. Braden. 
WENCH, s. [The Sax. epen, Goth, quens, a girl, a 
wench, a woman; whence our quean.'] A young woman. 
Now—how dost thou look now ? Oh ill-starr’d wench ! 
Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt, 
This look of thine will hurl my soul from heav’n. 
And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl, 
Ev’n like thy chastity. Shakspcarc. 
A young woman in contempt; a strumpet. 
Do not pray in wcnchAlke words with that 
Which is so serious. Shakspearc. 
A strumpet.—It is not a digression to talk of bawds in a 
discourse upon wenches. Spectator. 
To WENCH, v. n. To frequent loose women.—They 
asked the knight whether he was not ashamed to go wenching 
at his years. Addison. 
WE'NCHER, s. A fornicator.—He must be no great 
eater, drinker, or sleeper; no gamester, wcncher, or fop. 
Grew. 
WE'NCHLIKE, adj. After the manner of wenches. 
Hu/oet. 
To WEND, v. n. [penban, Sax.] To go; to pass to 
or 
