In an ancient map of this town, Pembroke (South Wales), of which the language is Norman-French, two districts of ours are mentioned thus: Le grene, which is now called "the green;" and Monton, now called "mountain." As regards the first, not a portion of green is discoverable; it is a disagreeable street, close to a large mill and sheet of water, with none of the conditions of a country green. I have often wondered at the name, feeling persuaded that there never could have existed such a spot here as would be so called, and was puzzled till I last week saw this old map. Tracing the matter, although no French substantive seems to exist spelled grene, the v.n. grener and its relatives afford a solution—as grenier is a granary, and grenetis the mill round a coin: so that I take it for granted, as our green in fact is in the immediate neighbourhood of the corn-mill, that from said pounding or grinding (grener) it solely is derived.
The solution of "mountain" is not so easy. It is a portion of the town outside the old fortifications, at the foot of a high hill; so never could have been dignified by the term "mountain" from its height,—in fact, it rises but little from the estuary, one arm of which here terminates. The tide here ceases; up to this spot "la marée monte." Am I right in conjecturing that montant (pronounced just like monton), meaning "rising" as well as mounting, may be the origin of the designation?
All the early memorials of Pembroke are either Norman or Flemish, those foreigners having settled here. We have no token of Welsh; perhaps there are not six people in the town who can speak the language. The names of some of the inhabitants are French and Flemish, and it is to be noted that their personal appearance corresponds with the type of their ancestral country. Our parish clerk, named Freyne, is a little Frenchman to all intents and purposes; and our street-keeper, Rushaut, has all the square stolidity and heavy features of the Low Countries.
Although unconnected with the foregoing, will you allow space for another record? Only within a few years the last of a family, invariably called "Cromwell," died. It was not their true name, but they have held it to perpetuate the treason of their ancestor, who followed the great Protector after he had temporarily abandoned the siege of Pembroke Castle; and, procuring an interview on "Ridgway," an eminence between here and Tenby, this unworthy townsman told the general to return, as the garrison were reduced "to a bean a day." The advice was followed. Pembroke was taken; but the stern captor ordered the traitor to be hanged! Thenceforward the family ever went by the name of Cromwell.
B. B.
Replies to Minor Queries.
Broad Arrow (Vol. iv., p. 315.).
—P. C. S. S. has always understood that the "broad arrow" on government stores represented the Pheon, the well-known arms of the Sydney family. Henry Viscount Sydney, afterwards Earl of Romney, was Master-General of the Ordnance from July, 1693, to June, 1702.
P. C. S. S.