This Island Derived Its British Name Of Enlli From
The Fierce Current Which Rages Between It And The Main Land.
The
Saxons named it Bardsey, probably from the Bards, who retired
hither, preferring solitude to the company of invading foreigners.
{157} This ancient city has been recorded by a variety of names.
During the time of the Romans it was called Segontium, the site of
which is now called Caer Seiont, the fortress on the river Seiont,
where the Setantiorum portus, and the Seteia AEstuarium of Ptolemy
have also been placed. It is called, by Nennius, Caer Custent, or
the city of Constantius; and Matthew of Westminster says, that about
the year 1283 the body of Constantius, father of the emperor
Constantine, was found there, and honourably desposited in the
church by order of Edward I.
{158} I have searched in vain for a valley which would answer the
description here given by Geraldus, and the scene of so much
pleasantry to the travellers; for neither do the old or new road,
from Caernarvon to Bangor, in any way correspond. But I have since
been informed, that there is a valley called Nant y Garth (near the
residence of Ashton Smith, Esq. at Vaenol), which terminates at
about half a mile's distance from the Menai, and therefore not
observable from the road; it is a serpentine ravine of more than a
mile, in a direction towards the mountains, and probably that which
the crusaders crossed on their journey to Bangor.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 184 of 195
Words from 51427 to 51676
of 54608
