Note 60 — HISTORY OF CARNARVONSHIRE.

The shore near Porthamel, (Perth Amelius, according to Rowlands; Porth ym moel, as others conjecture,) is famed for being the place where Suetonius landed; his infantry were conveyed over in boats, probably near a spot still called Pont yr Ysgraffiau, and his horse crossed, partly by swimming and partly fording.—Ready to receive them, appeared on the shore, a motley army, (as Tacitus informs us) and women, running wildly about, in black attire, with dishevelled hair, and like furies, brandishing their torches; and the Druids surrounding them, and lifting up their hands to Heaven, and pouring forth the most dreadful imprecations. The Roman soldiers stood astonished with the sight—at length, animated by their leader, and encouraging each other, being ashamed to be intimidated by a womanly, and fanatic band, they advanced with their ensigns, and overthrew all who opposed them, destroying them in their own fires. After the battle, they placed garrisons in the towns, and cut down the groves consecrated to their horrid superstitions; for these people, considered it lawful to offer in sacrifice, the captives taken in war, and, to consult human entrails.—How thankful ought we to be for the benign influence of the Gospel of peace, by which we were delivered from the yoke of superstition, and the abominations of Heathenism!