Page:Oliver Mathews – Towne of Sallop (1877).djvu/39

 Locrinus, and that he was buried at London, Gwendolin repayred to Cambria with her Cornishe Souldiers, and came to Caersouse, where shee found Sousewen, and her daughter Haverwen or Havfren, where shee slewe both the mother and daughter, and caused theire bodies to be cast into a famous river, runninge by the said Cittie, begininge or yssuinge out of the famous Hill Plymnon or Plymnonia, with her twoe Sisters Wye and Rhydall, in the County of Mountgomery; which pleasaunte and fruitfvll ryver, wherein they were drowned, tooke her name from the bastard maybe, which was so drowned, called Haverwen. And so is the River called at this time of the Brutaines Haverne. After that the Romaines came to beare rule in this land, they called the said Souswen by the name of faier Elstride, and her daughter Sabrina or Severne. And althoughe Gwendoline defaced and destroied the said famous Cittie Caersouse, and rased the same to the ground, yet are the Maior and other Officers yerelie made, accordinge to theire Customes and Lawes, Liberties and Graunts, which Locrinus had graunted them, which Lawes were grounded upon the Trojanes Lawes, as aforesaid. And nowe of late divers Tradesmen doe inhabite there, and builde them Houses, to the Encreasement of the Cittie, and doe keepe theire most auncient Customes and Liberties. Also there are many worshipfull and good Gentlemen, that are Burgesses of that auncient Cittie, and so have remained from the begininge of the same Cittie by discent of blood, who dwell within the same Cittie, or withlnwithin [sic] the Liberties thereof. And when anie Officer is chosen, theire Care is allwaies in keepinge and defendinge theire Liberties, Lawes and Customes, with theire pleasaunte Comons and Woodes, althoughe muche of the Woodes be wasted, and the Commons somewhat encroached by the Lordes Owners thereof, and the Parkes given awaie from the Burgesses longe since, to keepe the King’s breedinge Mares, untill that nowe of late it is otherwise used as please the Owners thereof. And nowe to shewe the Certeintie of the Brutaines Cronicles, and the Uncertentie of the Romaines, Saxons and Normanes Cronicles, you shall understand, that I finde such greate difference betweene the auncient Brutaines Records, and the