On arriving at the castle, it was found that the troops from Ruthyn had
duly come in. They were received by the seneschal of William Beauchamp,
Lord of Abergavenny. Chirk Castle had passed through many hands, having
been several times granted to royal favourites; being a fine building,
standing on a lofty eminence, which afforded a view of no less than
seventeen counties. It was square and massive, with five flanking
towers, and its vast strength was calculated to defy the utmost efforts
of the Welsh to capture it. It was but a short distance thence to the
valley of the Dee, in which was the estate of Glendower, extending for
some eight miles north, into what is now the neighbourhood of
Llangollen.
As one of the detachments had arrived before daybreak, and the other
two hours after dark, it was improbable that their advent had been
noticed; and, at the request of the knight who commanded the troop from
Ruthyn, the gates of the castle had been kept closed all day, no one
being allowed to enter or leave.
At daybreak the next morning, the whole force sallied out.
Three-quarters of an hour later, they dashed down into the valley at a
point about half a mile distant from Glendower's dwelling.
Pages:
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250