Note 12 — HISTORY OF CARNARVONSHIRE.

It is in this manner, (observes Mr. Pennant, speaking of Tommen y Rhodwydd in Yale) that we must account for the total disappearance of many Welsh Castles, whose names are preserved in History, and whose vestiges we have sought for in vain.—They were made of wood, as was very customary with several ancient nations, and with others of later date. The Persians, on the approach of the Spartans, secured themselves within their wooden walls, and Cæsar found great resistance from a Tower, in the Alpine Castle of Larignum, made of the timber of the Larix, or the Larch, which was found to be incombustible. In later times, the Castle of Bamborough was built originally by Ida, with wood; the Burg of Murray was fortified by the Danes, with the same material.—The people of the same country, in 1228, had Castles of wood; and a century after these, more recent instances: William de Melton, Archbishop of York, in 1317, fortified the Mount in that City, called the Old Bale, with planks, eighteen inches thick.