Welsh Journals

THE TJSK GLEAISTER &HB MOKMO0THSHIRB E3SC0R0, A Local [Register of Events and Magazine of Information. No. 10. Published by J. H. CLARK, at " The County Observer" Office, Use. PRICE 3d THE BEAUFORT "PROGRESS.' [From " Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales," by the Eev. Dr. T. Nicholas, an exceedingly interesting book, in two volumes, published by LONGMAN & Co., 1872.] His Grace Henry, first Duke of Beaufort, ended his lordly progress through Wales in 1684 at Monmouth, and his own residence of Troy. Some interesting notes are found in the Progress, bearing upon the Monmouth of that day. Even then " the castle of Monmouth had nothing to show but the ruine of its ruines." " The bells of the church are said to have been brought out of France by order of Henry of Monmouth in his conquest, and say'd to be letter'd about thus: Black letter characters— Missa de ccdis campana sum Gabrielis," Respecting the tomb of John of Monmouth it is noted, "On the right hand entering the great south door is seen the monument of marble, anciently gilt and painted, and small figures on the sides and ends, obscured by the injury of the usurper's soldiers, and now preserved by church pews and seats erected near it. The townsmen say it represents John of Monmouth. They show you also, in an old coffer near the chancell, his coate of maile and gauntlett, there being neither inscription nor arms on the shield, discernible to give other light." The Duke with his cavalcade, having lodged the night before at Ruperra Castle, arrived at Monmouth on the 19th August, 1684, when the iegiment of foot of this county were then drawn into lines, making a guard from that town even to the walls of Troy, another magnificent place belonging to the Earle of Worcester (son of the Duke, himself afterwards second Duke of Beaufort), commander of this regiment, and were not onely all that accom¬ panied his Grace through the Progress, the deputy- lieutenants of the militia here, but a numerous traine of militia officers and gentry out of other neighbouring English counties were splendidly entertained by the say'd _ noble Earle. The next day, company increasing, to wait upon the Duke of Beaufort [Lord President of Wales and the Marchers, we must remember, and representing the authority of Charles II.], ample entertainments were repeated by the Right Hon. Charles, Eaile of Worcester, upon the same place, 10 such as anticipate all enconium, &c. His Grace, accompanied with the Earl of Worcester, Sir John Talbot, —. Aubrey, Esq., and several of the deputy lieutenants of the adjoining counties, took a view of the Militia Regiment of the county of Monmouth, when the Earle of Worcester at the head of it on foot, as Colonell, with his leading staff, saluted his Grace, severall of the principal gentry, as Sir John Talbot, &c, placing themselves in front of the stand of pikes, doublings, countermarches, wheelings, variety of exercises, and good and close firings, were made : whence the Mayor and ye rest of the Magis¬ tracy of Monmouth Town, invited his Grace to accept of the freedom of the place, &c." " That done, his Grace with all the gentlemen that accompanied him to Monmouth Town Hall were collationed there with a cold treat, during which the Militia Horse, then led by Sir Charles Kemis, gave several vollies, and the troopers were treated as they were mounted with syder and ye noted Monmouth ale, drums beating, trumpets sounding, and bells ringing, so that each horse ' Motus clangore turbarum, Saxa quatit pulsa, rigidos vexantia frenos Ora tenens, spargitque jubas et surrigit aures, &c. and from thence he was re-conducted by the Mayor, his brether'n of Monmouth, and county troop, to Troy." So ended the memorable Progress of the 1st Duke of Beaufort through Wales and the Marches, begun on the 12th of July. He had started from Chelsea, through Chipping Norton and Worcester city, and thence through the counties of Salop, Montgomery, Denbigh, Flint, Carnarvon, Anglesey, Merioneth, Brecon, Carmarthen, Pembroke, Glamorgan, and Monmouth. He rode in a chariot of state, and was followed by a retinue on horseback. The progress was rapid, although, through the badness of the roads, laborious, and the company were royally entertained at chief mansions in the respective counties—such as Powis Castle; Chirk Castle; Mostyn; Baron Hill (then called Beaumaris); Gwydir; Rhiwlas; Llwydiarth; The Priory, Brecon ; Golden Grove ; Margam; Keren Mabley ; Ruperra Castle. The object of the progress was doubtless to inspect the military forces of the counties, which in every case were brought out and paraded before the Lord President. His Grace was accompanied by a