LLANRWST
is built upon the Denbighshire side of the river. The Three Eagles is the most commodious inn in the town; and, being rather fatigued, I threw my limbs upon a sofa, and resigned myself to the drowsy god, first taking especial care to order a substantial repast to be in readiness for me on my return from the land of Nod. My last waking recollection was the words of Mr. Lover’s favourite song,
“There’s no use at all in my going to bed,
For its dhrames and not sleep, that comes into my head.”
Dreams, however, did not picture my slumbers, and I awoke to the unrivalled delight of a weary and hungry traveller—an excellent hot dinner.
The following morning I employed in paying my respects to the different gentlemen to whom I had letters, and in gaining what information I could respecting the objects most worthy of notice in the town and surrounding neighbourhood.
The church and chapel adjoining were the first subjects to engage my attention. In the former there is nothing interesting, excepting an oaken screen, exquisitely carved, which was taken from the Abbey of Maenan, the gallery for the singers being above it. On the opposite side is the
GWYDIR CHAPEL.
This beautiful structure was erected in the year 1633, by Sir Richard Wynne, of Gwydir, from a design of Inigo Jones, and was for many years the burial place of the illustrious family of Gwydir. At the sides of the chapel, fixed in panels of wood, are several engravings on brass, illustrative of the personages who are interred below; and in the east corner is a tablet of white marble, containing the following remarkable pedigree, comprising a period of 500 years.
“This chapel was erected A.D. 1633, by Sir Richard Wynne, of Gwydir, in the county of Carnarvon, Knight and Baronet; Treasurer to the High and Mighty Princess Henrietta Maria, Queen of England, Daughter of Henry the Fourth, King of France, and wife to our Sovereign Lord King Charles; where lieth buried his father Sir John Wynne, of Gwydir, Knight and Baronet, son and heir to Morris Wynne, son and heir to John Wynne, son and heir to Meredith Wynne, which three lie buried in the church of Dolwyddelen, with tombs over them. This Meredith was son and heir to Evan, son and heir to Robert, son and heir to Meredith, son and heir to Howell, son and heir to David, son and heir to Griffith, son and heir to Cradock, son and heir to Roderick, Lord of Anglesea, son to Owen Gwynneth, Prince of Wales, and younger brother to David, Prince of Wales who married Emma Plantagenet, sister to King Henry the Second. There succeeded this David three princes; his nephew Leolinus Magnus, who married Joan, daughter to King John,—David, his son, nephew to King Henry the Third,—and Llewelyn the last Prince of Wales of that house and line, who lived in King Edward the First’s time. Sir John Wynne married Sydney, who lyeth buried here, daughter of Sir William Gerrard, Knight, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, by whom he had issue, Sir John Wynne, who died at Lucca, in Italy, Sir Richard Wynne, now living, Thomas Wynne, who lyeth here, Owen Wynne, now living, Robert Wynne, who lyeth here, Roger Wynne, who lyeth here, William Wynne, now living, Maurice Wynne, now living, Ellis Wynne, who lyeth buried at Whitford, in the County of Flint, Henry Wynne, now living, Roger Wynne, who lyeth here, and two daughters, Mary, now living, married to Sir Roger Mostyn, in the County of Flint, Knight, and Elizabeth, now living, married to Sir John Bodville, in the County of Carnarvon, Knight.”
Beneath this is a superb engraving of Dame Sarah Wynne, one of the daughters of the old Chevalier Sir Thomas Myddelton, of Chirk Castle, and wife of the above-mentioned Sir Richard Wynne; she died June 16th, 1671. This piece of engraving was executed by one William Vaughan, in a style of elegance hardly to be met with, and may be justly reckoned among the first productions of the age in which he lived.