[390] Its Welsh name is Dynbych-y-Pyscoed,—piscium copia admodum celebre, ut Britannicé Tenby-Piscoid denominatur.—Gyrald.
[391] Of this inundation, which swamped part of Holland, and sent a new colony to Wales, Drayton sings:—
“When wrathful Heaven the clouds so liberally bestowed,
The seas—then wanting room to lay their boist’rous load—
Upon the Belgian coast their pampered stomachs cast,
That peopled cities sank into the mighty waste.
The Flemings were enforced to take them to their oars,
To try the setting main to find out firmer shores.
When, as this spacious Isle them entrance did allow,
To plant the Belgian stock upon this goodly brow;
These nations, that their tongues did naturally affect,
Both generally forsook the British dialect.”
[392] There was also a chapel, dedicated to St. Julian, on the quay; the free chapel of St. John’s, founded by the Valences, or Valentias, with a lazar-house and almshouse. The modern charities of Tenby are liberally supported.
[393] See his Memoirs of Owen Glendwr, p. 61, to which we are indebted for much information on this subject.
[394] See vol. i. of this work, Castles and Abbeys, pp. 155, 156.
[395] “The first day he read the first book to a great concourse of people, and afterwards entertained all the poor of the town; on the second day he read the second book, and entertained all the doctors and chief scholars; and on the third day he read the third book, and entertained all the young scholars, soldiers, and burgesses.”
[396] The rivulet here mentioned is that which supplied the ancient ponds, and is shown on the right of the engraved picture. On the left is seen the church with its tall embattled tower—much resembling an Italian campanile—of Norman workmanship, and a style peculiar to this county. On the foreground is the dilapidated framework of an ancient cottage, with a chimney common to the country. This relic is supposed to belong to an era not less remote than that of the castle. To the right of the engraving, the promontory of St. Gowan’s Head is seen closing the distant horizon; and directly in front, the sea view presents an unlimited expanse of waters.
[397] Capellam nostri Castelli de Nethe, cum omni decima procurationis nostræ dæmus, in annona, et cateris rebus, et cum omni decima hominum mestrorum illius provincia, viz.: Francorum et Anglorum, etc., etc.
[398] Dat. per manum H. de Well, Arch. de Well, apud Burbeche, vj Januarii, anno regni nostri ix.