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The Society is aware that in the majority of instances no faculty is granted for the restoration of a church, so that this legal check upon the destruction of ancient remains has been practically released. It is much to be regretted that this should have been the case, as the application for a faculty would at all events give an opportunity for the authorities to insist upon no destruction of ancient work taking place without due inquiry, nor without the written consent of the bishop. If it be urged that faculties are too costly, some means may probably be devised for lessening their expense and at the same time increasing the observance of the law under which they are necessary.

Under any circumstances, the Society hopes that all possible moral influence will be brought to bear upon the preservation of all objects and features of historical or archæological interest in our sacred edifices.

The Society, in conclusion, would venture to suggest the propriety of impressing upon incumbents and churchwardens that the sale of communion plate without a faculty is illegal. The issue of such faculties would of course be carefully guarded, and in some cases it might be desirable to allow of the sale of ancient plate no longer available for use to public museums or depositories where it would be carefully and reverently preserved.

CONTEMPLATED RESTORATION OF LLANELIDAN CHURCH, NEAR RUTHIN. —The Rev. T. Prichard, Rector of the parish, has taken preliminary steps towards restoring this church, and it is greatly to be hoped that the restoration will not be a destruction of all its present features. Several portions of the old screen are still in the church, and these could be worked up in a new screen. It would be well to preserve copies of all monumental slabs on the floors, and also to take a plan of the present internal arrangement of the church, with a copy of all inscriptions on the doors of the seats. A plan of this kind would not be without value in years to come, as it would show what now exists, and it would also tell us something about the families in the neighbourhood.

Efenechtyd.

ELIAS OWEN,

Local Secretary for Denbighshire.

THE RESTORATION OF THE CARDIFF North Gate.-"Quietly, and without ostentation, the work of preparing for the re-erection of the old North Gate of Cardiff (plans for which were laid before the Cardiff Town Council some months ago) has been going on, and already gangs of men have begun to lay the foundations. An immense trench, some 60 feet long by 20 ft. wide, and 30 feet deep, has been dug, an engine, centrifugal pump, and steam crane having been employed. This trench has been filled to within some 15 feet of the surface of the roadway with strong concreting, as a foundation for one side of the arched gateway which is to span the road.

In the course of excavation a most interesting discovery was made, nothing less than a large and well preserved portion of what undoubtedly is the old Castle wall, with one of the bastions of the old gateway. About 40 yards of this, with the bastion, has been laid bare, and seems to be in splendid preservation. Viewed as it now stands, it is a most interesting sight. Above it is the wall of the present Castle, which, it will be remembered, crowned a high bank upon which trees, certainly the growth of some hundred years, stood up to the commencement of the work. Then come some 6 or 7 feet of solid earth resting right upon the old wall. Several competent architectural authorities who have seen it say that it is part of the old Norman Castle wall of about the twelfth century; but Mr. G. Clark of Dowlais, than whom, perhaps, no better authority on Glamorganshire castles exists, is of opinion that it is of date anterior to that, and of Roman construction. We understand that Mr. Frame, Lord Bute's architect, has left for Italy to see his Lordship upon the subject, and there is no doubt that the plans will be so altered as to allow of this interesting relic of the past being incorporated with the new work."-Western Mail, May 25, 1888.

NOTE. The so-called bastion of the North Gate is a polygonal tower, buttress to the curtain-wall of the original enclosure, similar in outline, section, and building to those of Caerwent. I think most of the members of the Cambrian Archæological Association are aware of my views, long since made public, of the Roman origin of the enclosure of Cardiff Castle. The walling now laid bare is some confirmation of these views. When the walling was first exposed, some three months back, I promised Mr. Corbett, Lord Bute's agent, I would in no way forestall anything he or Lord Bute might have to say upon the subject. So far there is very little to say. In fact, such evidence as there is goes to establish the fact that the walling discovered is prior to, and wholly unconnected with, the Town Walls or North Gate.

GEO. E. ROBINSON.

CORRECTION IN REPRINT OF MR. ARTHUR J. EVANS'S PAPER "ON A COIN OF A SECOND CARAUSIUS".- We regret that a note sent to us by Professor J. Rhys, and intended to have been added to Mr. Arthur J. Evans's paper in the April number of the Journal, has been printed as if it formed portion of the paper itself. Mr. Evans's foot-note, on p. 143, should terminate with the words, pool in the Menai Straits", the remainder being a separate paragraph contributed by Professor Rhys.

THE EDITORS.

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Archaeologia Cambrensis.

FIFTH SERIES-VOL. V, NO. XX.

OCTOBER 1888.

EMRAL AND ITS OCCUPANTS.

BY THE REV. CANON M. H. LEE.

EMRAL was, according to John Erthig of Erthig, the dower-house of Emma, wife of Gruffydd ap Madoc, who had been obliged for some time before his death, in 1270, to confine himself within the limits of his impregnable castle of Dinas Bran.' The date of his marriage with Emma Audley is not known; but all their four sons would seem to have been of age in 1270, when they confirmed and added to their mother's

1 See Caradoc of Llancarvan, p. 180, also on p. 273, under date 1257, "But Gruffydh ap Madoc Maelor, lord of Dinas Brân, a person of notorious reputation for injustice and oppression, basely forsook the Welsh, his countrymen, and with all his forces went over to the Earl of Chester." The next year (1258) "Llewelyn must needs be avenged upon that ungrateful fugitive, Gruffydh ap Madoc Maelor; and thereupon passing through Bromfeld, he miserably laid waste the whole country. Upon this the Kings of England and Scotland sent to Llewelyn requiring him to cease from hostility and after that unmerciful manner to devour and to take away other men's estates. The Prince was not over sollicitous to hearken to their request," etc. "After that, sending for all the forces in South Wales, he came to the Marches, where Gruffydh, lord of Bromfeld, finding that the King of England was not able to defend his estate, yielded himself up.' "Within that space (1268-72) died Grono ap Ednyfed Fychan, one of the chief lords of the Prince's Council, and shortly after him (in 1270), Gruffydh, lord of Bromfeld, who lies buried at Valle Crucis."

5TH SER., VOL. V.

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