An old map of Wales by John Speed

The historical text on the  verso of the map . . . Nobly hath resolved, that the whole Isle of Britaine was divided into three parts, the first and largest whereof is named England; the second, Wales, and the third, Scotland. This Country of Wales, which in the British tongue is called Cambria, the English Saxons termed it Wealas, that is, the Country of Strangers, and we Englishmen at this day do call it Wales, as it were a land of Foreigners, though in truth the ancient Britons themselves were the very natives of this Island, and we in respect of them but strangers. Wales therefore being anciently bounded, as before, is in length from the South to the North, that is, from the Point of Saint David’s Head to the farthest limit of Flintshire, about one hundred and fifty miles, and in breadth from West to East, that is, from the Isle of Anglesey to the confines of Hereford, about eighty miles. The whole Country is exceeding mountainous, and thereby the air somewhat sharp and piercing, but wholesome and very healthful, so that the inhabitants do for the most part live to great years. It is divided into twelve Shires or Counties, whereof six are in South-Wales and six in North- Wales; to wit, in South-Wales these: 1. Glamorgan. 2. Caermarthen. 3. Pembroke. 4. Cardigan. 5. Brecknock. 6. Radnor. And in North-Wales: 1. Anglesey. 2. Caernarvon. 3. Merioneth. 4. Denbigh. 5. Flint. 6. Montgomery. Each of these Counties is again parted into Hundreds, and those into Parishes, as by the ensuing Table is plainly set down. [Table of the several Counties, their Hundreds, and Parishes, set forth in columns as follows:] Anglesey: 6 Hundreds, 62 Parishes Caernarvon: 7 Hundreds, 68 Parishes Merioneth: 6 Hundreds, 50 Parishes Denbigh: 12 Hundreds, 57 Parishes Flint: 6 Hundreds, 31 Parishes Montgomery: 6 Hundreds, 47 Parishes Glamorgan: 10 Hundreds, 121 Parishes Caermarthen: 7 Hundreds, 98 Parishes Pembroke: 7 Hundreds, 80 Parishes Cardigan: 6 Hundreds, 61 Parishes Brecknock: 6 Hundreds, 61 Parishes Radnor: 6 Hundreds, 57 Parishes And so the whole Principality of Wales consisteth of Twelve Counties, Seventy-eight Hundreds, and Seven Hundred and Eighty-three Parishes in all. The notes on this old map of Wales continue . . . To the East, the Marches of England, from Chester 10 myls, a little above Elsmere. This part was in old time named Powys Fadog, Powys the lesser, and by Sr. John Price divided into two parts. Powys Vadog is the lower part, beginning from Chester, and running into the mid-land, wherein stand the Towns of Holt, and the Castle of Chirke, with others. It hath Cantreves and Commots as followeth: 1 Can. Y. Barwn. Cwm. Chirkeland, Glyn Ebroys, Idiernon. 8 2 Can. Y. Rhim. Cwm. Croesoswallt, Mechain uwchcoed, Mechain iscoed. 8 3 Can. Vwchimant. Cwm. Mochnant uwchcoed, Mochnant iscoed. 7 4 Can. Trefed. Cwm. Trefed. 13 5 Can. Rhiodor. Cwm. Caereinion, Ystradmarchel. 10 (13) The second part of Powys, or Powys Vadhan (the lesser Powys), is Powys Wenwynwyn, and it stretcheth from the South part of Shropshire as far as the river Tywy. In this are seated the towns of Welshpool and Newton, and the Abbey of Strata Marcella, with divers others. The Cantreves and Commots are these: 6 Can. Melienyd. Cwm. Lanydloes, Ceri. 19 7 Can. Elfel. Cwm. Kevenllys, Deuddwr, Llannervyl. 15 8 Can. T. Clawd. Cwm. Swaithla, Keven Clawd, Ystrad Alun. 12 9 Can. Buellt. Cwm. Buellt, Stredyevvyth, Stradewy, Hirnion. 23 (14) The third part belonging to South-Wales, is Radnor (Radnor- shire), a wide barren room from Malvern hils to the river Wye, a spacious Country full of Woods, Hills, and Rivers. In this part is Radnor, with the Towns of Prestayn, New Radnor, Machinleth, and others. The Cantreves and Commots are these: 10 Can. T. Ffwym. Cwm. Maelienydd, Elvel. 17 11 Can. Swydd y. Cwm. Gwrtheyrnion, Ceri. 8 12 Can. Llyswen. Cwm. Swydd y Glyn, Swydd y Llyn. 14 13 Can. Cydwen. Cwm. Keven Clawd, Hirnion. 9 This may suffice for the description of that which in old time was called Powys land. (15) Now we come next to describe the last Kingdom of South-Wales, named Demetia, or Dyved, which in old time was reckoned the greatest part, yea one of the best, because it was more plentiful in corn and pasture, in cattle, and likewise in fish of the sea and rivers, as in our times it is no less fruitful. This was subdivided into six parts, which contained Cantreves and Commots, as followeth: 1 Can. Penwedic. Cwm. Geneu’r glyn, Creuddyn, Anhuniog. 3 2 Can. Caunall. Cwm. Caunall, Maeslough, Llyswen. 8 3 Can. Cedid. Cwm. Troedy’r Rhiw, Castell, Gwinionydd. 10 4 Can. Ced. Cwm. Lleyn, Evionydd. 11 5 Can. Penro. Cwm. Pebidiog, Dewisland. 8 6 Can. Rhos. Cwm. Penrhyn, Dyffryn. 19 7 Can. Pebiidawc.Cwm. Pebidiog, Dewisland. 8 8 Can. Cemaes. Cwm. Cemaes, Croyddin. 8 9 Can. Einior. Cwm. Einior, Penfro. 18 (16) The third part is Cardigan, which is a Country accounted the strongest part of all South-Wales, as that which is defended with great Woods, and fair Rivers, divided into three parts, as followeth: 10 Can. Phiniec. Cwm. Hirwin, Swydd y ystrad. 12 11 Can. Eginoc. Cwm. Gwinionydd, Creuddyn. 14 12 Can. Bychan. Cwm. Iscoed, Uwchcoed. 18 13 Can. Maery. Cwm. Maery, Hirwern, Llandyssil. 43 (19) The fourth called Morganwg, or Glamorgan, both along the Severn, and stretched thence Westward, from the river Uske upon the West and North-West, even as far as the South Sea, plentiful of Corn, Woods, and Rivers. In it are Cantreves and Commots, as followeth: Morganwg. 14 Can. S. Faes. Cwm. Rhoug, Lanharran. 48 15 Can. Pen ychen.Cwm. Ebboth, Glyn Rhondda. 23 16 Can. Brechnini. Cwm. Brechnini, Cantref Bychan, Hirwain. 35 17 Can. Gwenthlwg.Cwm. Gwent Iscoed, Gwent Uwchcoed. 21 18 Can. Gwent Iscoed.Cwm. Ewyas, Stradwen. 23 19 Can. Ifeod. Cwm. Glynn, Byssog, Uwchcoed, Iffrem. 26 (21) The last is Brecknockshire, for the most part full of Moun- tains, Woods, and Rivers. This Country is both strong and plentiful, having plain Fields, Woods, and Rivers passing good, for fish and cattle, though the higher grounds be less rich. Which serves this Shire best, although the other Shires of South-Wales are also strong. Brechenioc. 20 Can. Sesc. Cwm. Sesc, Talgarth. 23 21 Can. Canwal. Cwm. Canwal, Cathedin. 9 22 Can. Mawr. Cwm. Mawr, Ystrad Velly. 19 (22) Thus far concerning the ancient division by Lhuyd, more compounded by more Commotes above Sixscore, each Commote containing two or three Cantreves, as described before. And so Wales is in all Twelve Shires, whereof six in North-Wales, and six in South-Wales, which are also divided into Cantreves and Commotes, and as it were ac- counted Six Shires. North-Wales. South-Wales. Anglesey. Pembrokeshire. Caernarvon. Cardiganshire. Merioneth. Carmarthen. Denbigh. Glamorgan. Flint. Radnorshire. Montgomery. Brecknockshire.