Between Penrice and the neat village of
CHERITON,
we observed to our right, on a hill, a large flat cromlech, several tons weight, resting on about six smaller ones, placed perpendicularly, and standing about five feet high: this is vulgarly called King Arthur’s stone. The lifting of this stone in its present place is mentioned in the Welsh Historical Triads as one of the three arduous undertakings accomplished in the Island of Britain. On a hill, opposite our inn, we discovered evident vestiges of a Roman encampment. From this elevation the eye caught a fine view of Caermarthen Bay, and the bold promontory of Worm’s Head, to the south-west: this rock is only accessible at low water.
The country through which we traversed for the four or five last miles is inhabited by a colony of Flemings, who settled here in the reign of King Henry I. In the reign of this king’s father, a great number of Flemings having been driven out of their habitations by a very extraordinary inundation of the sea, sought protection in England, where they were cordially received. But so many of these people being dispersed in different parts of the kingdom, began, by the increase of their numbers, to create some uneasiness; which King Henry I. removed, by settling them as a colony in South Wales, and gave them the country adjoining to Tenby and Haverfordwest. By this wise policy the king rid his own dominions of an incumbrance, and curbed the insolence of the then rebellious Cambrians. [58] The little territory they inhabit is called Gwyr; and by the English, Little England beyond Wales: because their manners and language are still distinguishable from the Welsh, and in point of speech assimilate the English. These Flemings, to this day, seldom or never intermarry with the Welsh: they speak good English, and are very much averse to the manners and language of the country they inhabit; both sexes generally distinguish themselves by wearing a short cloak, called gowyr wittle.
In preference to a long walk, of near thirty miles, we crossed the river Bury, at Loughton, in the church-yard of which village we found the following epitaph:
The village maidens to her grave shall bring
Selected garlands, each returning spring:
Selected sweets! in emblem of the maid,
Who underneath this hallowed turf is laid:
Like her, they flourish, beauteous to the eye;
Like her, too soon, they languish, fade and die.
From Loughor we proceeded to
LLANELLY,
a miserable dirty place, filled with miners and sailors. From hence to