* Properly speaking, Gloddaeth and Penrhyn are chapels in the parish

Abergavenny, V.-1 Chapel, St. Tregaer, chapel to Dynstow.

Newton Wallica, C. Monmouth- New Radnor, V. Radnorshire.

shire.

St. Mary's, Monmouth, V.

Kenarton, alias Keynarth,-chapel to Old Radnor (St. Stephen.)

The list, notwithstanding its apparently large amount, bears but a small proportion to the churches dedicated to this Saint over the same extent of territory in England; and it must not be forgotten that the great majority is to be found in such parts of Wales as became first subject to the English

*If it were allowable to amend the list given from Ecton, it might be shown, from the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, that Llanbrynmair was once a chapel under Darowain, though it now forms a separate benefice; Builth was formerly subject to Llanddewi'r Cwm; Strata Florida is in the parish of Caron, and therefore subordinate to the church of Tregaron. Other corrections might be adduced; and if decayed chapels and oratories not mentioned by Ecton were included, the number of chapels dedicated to the Virgin would be considerably augmented.

or Flemings. Forty five out of the number are chapels, and therefore of later date than the churches to which they belong. The remainder are, nearly all of them, churches of the last foundation; and in those parts of Wales which preserved their independence longest, the proportion is very small. This would almost induce a suspicion that the homage paid to the Virgin was not of native growth, but was forced upon the inhabitants of the Principality by their English neighbours. But with the aid of a map, and some knowledge of the history of the country, the subject may be examined more narrowly.

The number in Pembrokeshire alone is twenty three, but many of these parishes do not even possess a Welsh name, and in the greatest part of the county the system of Welsh endowments is entirely subverted. This tract was colonized about A. D. 1100 by English and Flemings, whose descendants still remain; and the churches enumerated probably date their origin from that period. In the adjoining counties of Carmarthen and Cardigan, the numbers are only five and six, being the smallest proportions of any, and four of the former are chapels; but these counties preserved their independence down to the time of Edw. I. In Glamorganshire, the number is eighteen, but the same reasons apply to this county as to Pembrokeshire, it being conquered by Norman adventurers from England, who divided the county between them about A. D. 1090. The proportions in Brecknockshire and Monmouthshire must be referred to the conquest of both of them by Bernard Newmarch and others. Out of eight, the number in Radnorshire, five are chapels. In Carnarvonshire also, the number is eight, two of which are chapels; and if these churches were not founded after the death of the last Llewelyn, they at least present a fair specimen of the number to be looked for under the supremacy

*

* Including that portion of the county which forms a part of the Diocese of Hereford.

E

of the Welsh Princes. In Montgomery, Merioneth, and Denbigh the proportion is small. Out of ten, the number for Anglesey, there are nine chapels; while in Flint, being a border county, and at one time an appendage of the Earldom of Chester, the proportion is large,*

Most of the towns in Wales are of late origin, being built to suit the convenience of castles in their vicinity, which are known to have been erected by Norman and other adventurers. It might, therefore, be expected that the churches of these would present the features of a late foundation. Upon referring to the list, churches are found at Fishguard,† Newport, Haverford West, Tenby, Pembroke, Brecon, Hay, Builth, Kidwelly, Swansea, Cardigan, Rhuddlan, Flint, Mold, Llanfair Caereinion, Welsh Pool, Newtown, Carnarvon, Conway, Dolgelleu, Beaumaris, Cardiff, Bridgend, Cowbridge, Abergavenny, Chepstow, Usk, Monmouth, and New Radnor, dedicated to St. Mary, comprising nearly half the towns in the Principality. Several others, as Roch, Brwynllys, and Coetty, are in the neighbourhood of Norman castles, where no towns have been built; and a few more, as Abbey Cwm Hir, Strata Florida, Margam, Beddgelert, and Creswell, owe. their dedications to the Monasteries which formerly existed on their sites.

The late introduction of the homage of St. Mary may be proved by another mode of computation. Forty five of her places of worship are chapels, while only sixteen of her churches are of sufficient antiquity or importance to have chapels under them. Again, twenty four chapels, dedicated

Three churches in the list are in the county of Salop, and four more, including one chapelry, are in the Diocese of Hereford.

+ In Carlisle's Topographical Dictionary of Wales, reasons are given for the supposition that the parish of Fishguard was formed upon the dissolution of two others more ancient.

By an amendment of the list, without the introduction of any new names, this number may be increased to thirty three. The five ex