In the surrounding grounds, enriched with plantations, appears a noble obelisk, raised to the memory of the present Sir Watkin's father. The height is one hundred and one feet, at the base sixteen, the summit nine, and it is built with freestone and fluted. A gallery runs round the top, with a bronze urn, elegantly designed, in the centre. Round the base are wreaths of oak in the beaks of four eagles, also cast in bronze. The famous Offa's Dyke runs through the park, and near it, midst the fine romantic dingle of Nant y Bele, winds the river Dee.

Chirk Castle, on the line of Offa's Dyke, about three miles from Wynnstay, is of ancient date. It is supposed to have been erected in the time of Edward I., on the site of a fortress called Castell Crogen, by Mortimer, Lord of Chirk and Nanfendwy. Leland has described the place as it appeared in his time—there is on a small hille a mighty large and strong castell with dyvers towers, of late well repeyred by Syr Wylliam Standeley, the yerle of Darby's brother."*

The castle is square and massy; the dimensions are spacious; the old gateway opens into a vast area, and the eastern side appears decorated with a handsome colonnaded piazza. Its once noble owner, Sir Thomas Myddleton, a brave champion of the Parliament, is drawn clad in complete armour, standing conspicuous among several portraits which adorn the walls.

The situation possessed all the advantages of strength and elevation requisite for a military fortress, and it consequently has a heavy, gloomy air, but commands a view over several counties and the surrounding beauties of the vale. It was famed in the desperate struggles of the Welsh to recover their independence, and, in 1164, one of the most sanguinary battles on record was fought here. Henry and his best generals were worsted, and the English slain were interred in Offa's Dyke. The King had

Executed, for his trimming policy, by Henry VII. whose successor granted it, together with Holt, to his illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset.

N

recourse to the dastardly vengeance of putting out the eyes and in other ways torturing the noblest of his unhappy hostages.

Not a few amusing anecdotes are found connected with the neighbouring families of the Wynns and the Trevors, both of which are descended from Gryffydd ap Cynan, Prince of North Wales. By him it was first enacted that no one should follow the profession of a bard but who was admitted by the Eisteddfodd, or congress, held once in three years. He also prohibited them from invading each others province; nor were they permitted to degrade themselves by following any less dignified occupation.

Gryffydd was succeeded by his son Owen, whose exploits were the theme of rival bards;

'Fairest flower of Roderic's stem,

Gwyneth's shield, and Britain's gem.'

When

This great leader died 1169, and was interred at Bangor. Archbishop Baldwyn, on coming to preach the crusade against the Saracens, saw his tomb, he commanded the bishop to remove the body out of the cathedral, because the holy Becket had excommunicated him for intermarrying with his cousin. The bishop, in obedience to the charge, made a passage from the vault through the south wall under ground, and boring like a mole, conveniently shoved the body through it into the churchyard.*

*

Sir John Wynn, already mentioned, was succeeded by his son Richard, who attended Prince Charles and Buckingham in their ridiculous matrimonial excursion into Spain, and who left an amusing account of his journey.† In one of his letters he says,

We may think ourselves happy that have every thing in Wales; for both the kingdoms of Castile and Arragon are not worth one of our worst counties.' He built the fine chapel at Llanrwst, from a design of Inigo Jones; but the roof was taken from the neighbouring abbey at Maenan.

* Yorke's Royal Tribes.-Hengwrt MSS.

Yorke's Royal Tribes.