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Grecian prince, resident in the court of the King of Glamorgan, for her fafe delivery; and that she bore a son accordingly, who was baptized in the church of Llanildut, by the name of Samson: educated here, he afterwards became a bishop, and died abbot of this place. In examining the top of this monument, we. discovered a groove or mortise, pointing out that some other part had been let into the present upright stone. Upon search, we found the counterpart on the southern side of the church yard, lying sunk in the ground in the foot-path, leading to the porch. The lower part with a tenon of the same dimensions as the mortise; the engrailed work exactly corresponding and a circular head, not very dissimilar to the cross at Margam. That this was the ancient mode of constructing crosses, it would be superfluous to attempt to prove. It were to be wished, that the clergyman of the place would have it restored to its pristine station as it is certainly a very curious piece of antiquity. An elegant cross ornamented in a similar manner, called Maen y Chyfan, stands in the parish church of Tre Mostyn, Flintshire, and is recorded by Pennant: who though he does not guess at the age, observes, "that it must have been previous to the reign of gross superstition among the Welsh otherwise the sculptor would have employed his chissel in striking out legendary stories, instead of the elegant knets and interlaced work that cover the stone."

A stone of this kind is seen also in Llandeveilog church, near Brecknock: containing a figure in basso relievo, arrayed in a tunic with a sword in his hand: supposed again to be Danish, by the Runic circles, as they are called, forming a border to the

same. The inscription though partly legible, is unintelligible; but in the porch of the church is a stone, evidently broken from this, with the word CATVC, referring to Cadoc a king and martyr, who died A. D. 492.

Indeed the numerous monumental stones through Wales, with similar ornaments and characters, abundantly corroborate the opinion, that they neither belong to the Saxons nor the Danes; and that they belong rather to the civilized Britons than such a barbarous people: the former having been early initiated in the arts, by their long connexion with the polished Romans. Had these monuments borne the smallest mark of the northern character, or language, then with some probability the sculpture might have been ascribed to the Danes. But not one, that I have ever seen or heard of, was distinguished by such a mark; and the Roman language was unknown to that people. I more than suspect, that British antiquities frequently suffer by such misnomers; and that many are misled by the high sounding names of Runic knots and Scandinavian superstition. I hope I have rescued one from these puisne antiquarians; and shall probably have opportunities of rescuing others, in the course of my route.

Leaning against the wall of the porch, is another stone, about eight feet above the ground, 3 feet wide at bottom, and 2 at the top; with an engrailed border, and an inscription in Latin in the same character; which as it is not noticed by Camden, and will serve to elucidate and confirm the above opinion, I will give you as it stands.

This stone, from the inscription, is dedicated to the memory of Ithiel or Ithail, Abbot of Llanilted, son of Morgan Mynyfawr, King of Gwent in the 6th century. He was called Ithiel ddû from his remarkable black hair and eyes: his son Gwrgant was King (by the word Rex), and succeeded his father; afterwards resigning the crown to his brother Eynydd, on his becoming abbot.

This place after declining, again obtained some consequence under the Normans. It formed part of the demesnes allotted to Sir William de Stradling. There is a large building, called the Town Hall, where justice used to be administred, still standing in the centre; with numerous ruined streets and lanes, bearing their original names; and one, called the gallows way, pourtrays in strong language the privilegia et jura regalia, with which these plunderers were invested by the policy of William. I am Yours J. E.

LETTER V.

DEAR SIR,

DESCENDING to the shore, we found the noble shell of St. Donat's Castle, with its extensive hanging gardens, dropping in fine gradation to the

sea; but in complete desolation. This large irregular pile, which was defended by a ditch, and in places by triple walls, stands on the verge of a deep ravine, and exhibits still traces of considerable magnificence. On entering the principal court, a number of niches with busts of Roman emperors and empresses strike the eye, which from their anachronism with the building, cannot fail to disgust the antiquarian. The state apartments are in a very decayed condition. The hall and what is called the banqueting-room are large, and in the latter is a chimney piece of modern date, shewn as a curiosity. It is large, surrounded with carved work, supported by double columns; and the figures of Wisdom and Justice. Some part of the castle is still inhabited by two or three families, who let lodgings during the summer months, for the accommodation of seabathing. On the opposite side of the ravine, is a small square watch tower, said to be erected for the purpose of observing shipwrecks as a prey. This stands in what was in Leland's time a park of fallow deer; but it has long since been disparked. In the beautiful glen beneath, is situated the small neat church. In the church yard is a light elegant cross of very curious workmanship, of an octangular shape, standing on a pedestal of three steps; and on the top, which is square, the figure of our Blessed Saviour and two of his disciples, embossed in open work. The history of crosses would be an interesting work. The origin of them has been attributed to those erected by the command of Edward, on his return from the Holy Land; in memory of Eleanor, who fell a martyr to her affection. But this is too futile to disprove. This may account perhaps for

some, which are called market crosses; but for those in church yards, and near religious houses, they were evidently erected as symbols, that those places were dedicated to the worship of a crucified Saviour.* The church is small, and far from exhibiting that neatness within, which we admired in similar edifices in North Wales. In a chapel adjoining are several monuments, to the memory of the Stradling family, in marble figures, reclining on sarcophagi, and placed against the wall. But what struck us as singular, were three representations of the family, painted on wood; with the age, character, &c. in gold letters. The dates 1480, 1535, 1590. One of the epitaphs is worthy of being recorded, as a clue to the history of the times.

EPITAPH.

"The under-named Harry Stradlinge, Knight, went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and received the Order of the Sepulchre there, as his father, Edward Stradlinge, Knight, 3d of the name, and grandfather of William Stradlinge, Knight, the 2d of that name, did; and died in the isle of Cyprus, in his cumminge the last of August, in the 16th yere of King Edward the 4th; and is buried there in the citye of Famagusta. This Sir Harry, sailing from his house in Somersetshire to his house in Wales, was taken prisoner by a Boylaine pirate named Colyn Dolphyn, whose redemption and charges stood him in 2200 markes, for the purpose whereat he was driven to sell the castell and manour of Bassalek and Sutton

*The first cross set up in England, according to Bede, was erected by Oswald, King of Northumberland, A. D. 635.