The first of this ancient family was
called Ponce; he had issue three sons, Walter, Drogo or Dru, and
Richard.
The Conqueror's survey takes notice of the two former, but
from Richard the genealogical line is preserved, who, being called
Richard de Pwns, obtained, as a gift from king Henry I., the cantref
Bychan, or little hundred, and the castle of Llandovery, in Wales;
he left three sons, Simon, Walter, and Richard. The Walter de
Clifford here mentioned was father to the celebrated Fair Rosamond,
the favourite of king Henry II.; and was succeeded by his eldest
son, Walter, who married Margaret, daughter to Llewelyn, prince of
Wales, and widow of John de Braose.
{48} Brendlais, or Brynllys, is a small village on the road between
Brecknock and Hay, where a stately round tower marks the site of the
ancient castle of the Cliffords, in which the tyrant Mahel lost his
life.
{49} St. Almedha, though not included in the ordinary lists, is
said to have been a daughter of Brychan, and sister to St. Canoc,
and to have borne the name of Elevetha, Aled, or Elyned, latinised
into Almedha. The Welsh genealogists say, that she suffered
martyrdom on a hill near Brecknock, where a chapel was erected to
her memory; and William of Worcester says she was buried at Usk.
Mr. Hugh Thomas (who wrote an essay towards the history of
Brecknockshire in the year 1698) speaks of the chapel as standing,
though unroofed and useless, in his time; the people thereabouts
call it St. Tayled. It was situated on an eminence, about a mile to
the eastward of Brecknock, and about half a mile from a farm-house,
formerly the mansion and residence of the Aubreys, lords of the
manor of Slwch, which lordship was bestowed upon Sir Reginald Awbrey
by Bernard Newmarche, in the reign of William Rufus. Some small
vestiges of this building may still be traced, and an aged yew tree,
with a well at its foot, marks the site near which the chapel
formerly stood.
{50} This same habit is still (in Sir Richard Colt Hoare's time)
used by the Welsh ploughboys; they have a sort of chaunt, consisting
of half or even quarter notes, which is sung to the oxen at plough:
the countrymen vulgarly supposing that the beasts are consoled to
work more regularly and patiently by such a lullaby.
{51} The umber, or grayling, is still a plentiful and favourite
fish in the rivers on the Welsh border.
{52} About the year 1113, "there was a talke through South Wales,
of Gruffyth, the sonne of Rees ap Theodor, who, for feare of the
king, had beene of a child brought up in Ireland, and had come over
two yeares passed, which time he had spent privilie with his
freends, kinsfolks, and affines; as with Gerald, steward of
Penbrooke, his brother-in-law, and others. But at the last he was
accused to the king, that he intended the kingdome of South Wales as
his father had enjoied it, which was now in the king's hands; and
that all the countrie hoped of libertie through him; therefore the
king sent to take him.
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