considered a digression to enumerate the twenty-four Welsh or British Games, of which there were ten Gwrolgampau, or manly games, viz. 1.  To lift up great weights; 2.  Running; 3.  Leaping; 4.  Swimming; 5.  Wrestling; 6.  Riding.  These six were stiled Tadogion, viz. pertaining to fathers, or grown up persons, and required only bodily strength and activity; this last, Marchogaeth, is supposed to have included Charioteering, or the skilful driving and management of different kinds of carriages.  The other four were, 1.  Archery; 2.  Playing with the Sword and Buckler; 3.  Playing with the Cleddau deuddwrn, or two-handed Sword; 4.  Chwarau ffonn ddwybig, or playing with the two-end Staff or Spear.  Next to these were the ten Mabolgampau, or those more peculiarly adapted to young men, viz. 1.  Coursing; 2.  Fishing; 3.  Fowling; the remaining seven were of the domestic kind: 1.  Barddoniaeth, or Poetical Composition; 2.  Chwareu’r Delyn, or paying upon the Harp; 3.  Reading Welsh; 4.  Singing with the Harp; 5.  Singing between three or four, most probably in alternate Stanzas, or Pennillion; 6.  Drawing or Painting, particularly Coats of Arms; 7.  Heraldry.  After these were four Gogampiau, or Minor Games, viz. 1.  Chwarau Gwydd-bwyll, a game similar to that of Draughts; 2.  Chwarau Tawl-Bwrdd, probably Back-gammon, as this word is supposed to be derived from the Welsh Language, viz. Bach, little, and Cammawn, or Gammon, Battle, and Tewl-Bwrdd, means the toss on the table; 3.  Chwarau Ffristeal, or the Game of the Dice Box, in what manner it was played is not known at present; 4.  Cyweiriaw Telyn, or the Tuning of the Harp.

After visiting these Circles, the traveller may either proceed to the top of Pen-maen-mawr, or descend to the high road, near Dwygyfylchi Church, not far from which, just at the foot of Pen-maen-bach, is Pendyffryn, the seat of T. Smith, Esq.—In the clefts of the rock, above the Turnpike-gate, near Pen-maen-mawr, grows the Cratægus aria, or White Beam Tree; Mr. Pennant observes that the Swiss procure a good kind of Ardent Spirit from the berries.  The summit of this mountain seems to have been fortified by two or three walls, one within the other; and there are still visible the remains of a great number of Huts, or small buildings, most probably at one time the habitations of Soldiers; it was no doubt a strong military Post, and is supposed to have been made use of by the Britons and Romans.  The Roman Road, from Segontium to Conovium, must have passed near it, probably on the South side; and this high mountain, so conspicuous and so easily distinguished at a distance, formed a kind of link, no doubt, in the military chain of communication between this County and Denbighshire, as it is very visible from Dinorwick, (now called Pen Dinas) a Roman Encampment in the Parish of Llanddeiniolen, near Carnarvon, on the West, and from many fortified eminences in the other County, on the East.  The usual signals in ancient times were fires by night, and a particular kind of flag by day.  Having examined Braich y Dinas, which is the name by which the fortified part of the mountain is distinguished, we now proceed along the high road through the Parish of Llanfair fechan, and leaving that small Church on an eminence, a little to the left of the road, and on the right Brynn y Neuadd, an old neglected family seat, at one time the property of Humphrey Roberts, Esq. and afterwards conveyed to the Wynne’s of Plas Newydd, near Denbigh, by the marriage of his daughter to a son of that family, we soon pass Gorddinog, (Mrs. Crawley’s) also on the left, and soon reach the beautiful little Village of Aber, situated near a small river, and at the entrance of a narrow Glenn.  Near the Bridge is a Circular Mount, seemingly artificial, which was the foundation of a small Castle, probably constructed of timber, as many of our Welsh Fortresses are stated to have been consumed by fire.  Several of the Welsh Princes resided occasionally at this place, and David ap Llywelyn died here, about the year 1246, and was buried in the Abbey of Conway.

Traces of Buildings have been discovered near this spot, which were probably the remains of the Prince’s Palace, as the inhabitants still pretend to shew strangers the foundation of the old kitchen.  Several Memorials, &c. appear in our Welsh Histories, dated Aber Garth Celyn, which is the ancient name by which this place was distinguished.  William de Breos, (son of Reginald, a potent Baron in the Reign of Henry III.) who had been taken prisoner by the Welsh Prince Llewelyn ap Jorwerth, was detected in an intrigue with Joan his wife, (daughter to the King of England).  The enraged Prince, upon the discovery of her infidelity, caused her paramour to be hung on the side of the opposite hill; and there is a tradition, that the Princess going out the next morning, and accidentally meeting the Bard of the Palace, the latter (knowing that she was ignorant of the fate of her lover) accosted her in the following poetical rhyme:

Diccyn, doccyn, gwraig Llywelyn,
Beth a roit ti am welad Gwilym?

that is, “Tell me wife of Llywelyn, what you would give for a sight of your William?” to which she answered:—

Cymru, Lloegr a Llywelyn,
Y rown i gyd am weled Gwilym!

i.e. Wales and England, and Llywelyn,
I would give them all to see my William!

The Bard, on receiving this answer, shewed him to her, hanging on a tree, on the side of a hill, at a place now called Wern Grogedig.  It is added in Camden, “Tradition buries De Breos in a Cave, in a field called Cae Gwilym Ddu.” [30]  Nearly at the extremity of this romantic Glenn, about a mile from the Village, the River forms a noble Cataract, precipitating itself down the front of a bold lofty rock, and making a double fall, the lowest of which is of very considerable height.  This Village is much frequented in the summer season, and the accommodations at the Inn are very good.  The beach, at high water, is very convenient for sea-bathing, and many strangers remain here some time for that purpose.  There is a road from hence, over the mountain, by Bwlch y Ddau Faen, to Tal y Cafn ferry, Llanbedr and Llanrwst; and another over the sands to Beaumaris, but this latter is not to be attempted by a stranger without a guide.  It is remarked by Mr. Pennant that all the Passes between the mountains were guarded by Forts and Castles, for besides this at Aber, Craig y Gaer and Maes y Gaer were fortified; and there was a Fort at Nant Ffranco; (or Nant Afangcwn) near Pont y Twr, another at Dolbadarn, Nant Pevis; Castell Cidwm, Nant y Bettws; Craig y Dinas, near Llanllyfni; a Fort near Dolbenmaen, and an old Cattle at Dolydd Elen, and Dinas Emrys, in Nant Gwynant, near Bethgelert.  Lord Bulkeley is the proprietor of the greatest part of the Parish of Aber, and he has been a great benefactor to this Church, as well as to all the others in his Lordship’s Patronage, having built a tower (or Steeple) to each, at his own expence, and furnished them with Bells.  The distance from hence to Bangor is about five miles, and as the stranger proceeds he cannot help admiring the ever-varying Scene, and the beauty of the prospects which present themselves to his view: