charter, in common with that of Chester, and the cantred and lands of Englefield. In the formidable insurrection of Owen Glendower, that able chieftain in vain attempted to possess himself of the fortress, from which time a blank occurs in its history, till we reach the period of the Civil Wars. It was then garrisoned for the king by Sir Roger Mostyn, of whom Whitelock makes the following honourable mention:-"This Colonel Mostyn is my sister's son, a gentleman of good parts and metal; of a very ancient family, large possessions, and great interest in the country, so that in twelve hours he raised fifteen hundred men for the king.' In the siege of 1643, he made a desperate defence against the Parliamentary general, Sir W. Brereton, and it was not till every method was exhausted, and every privation suffered, that he yielded, in order to preserve the garrison. The castle appears to have been subsequently recovered by the royalists, as the garrison of Beeston had by articles of convention marched out of that fortress, in 1645, with all the honours of war, 'to join their countrymen in Flint Castle.' But it was again compelled to yield to General Mytton, in 1646, and in the year following was dismantled, with many other fortresses, by order of the Parliament. Its gallant governor was ill requited by the crown for his services; for, after having expended upwards of sixty thousand pounds, and suffered a long imprisonment in Conway Castle, he was so reduced as to leave his family seat, and live privately at an ordinary farm house. At the Restoration the Castle of Flint was resumed by, and is still vested in, the Crown; and, according to the tenor of ancient royal grants, the constable appointed appears in the twofold character of military and municipal head-being at once Governor of the fortress and Mayor of the borough." Close to Flint is Coleshill, where Owen Gwynedd defeated Henry II. in a fierce conflict.

Five miles from Flint, pursuing our route along the railway, we arrive at the station adjacent to

St. Winifrede's Well-one of the Seven Wonders of Wales-is the only object of attraction. The well gave the name of Holywell to the town, which is situated on the estuary of the Dee, and, from its altitude, commands an extensive view of the country sloping down to the river. For many years it ranked among the best manufacturing towns in North Wales, but at present its character in this respect is declining. Many of the extensive manufactories formerly worked are languishing, and others are altogether closed. Still it is a busy town, especially on the market-day (Friday), from the large amount of wages paid in the district to miners, colliers, &c. The population of the town and parish is more than 10,000. Holywell Hunt races are celebrated in sporting history, and are well attended by the gentry of North Wales and Cheshire. There are two banking establishments, and the town is lighted with gas. The church is dedicated to St. Winifrede, and will contain 3000 persons. Under the chancel are the vaults of the Mostyns of Talacre, the Pennants of Downing, and the Pantons of Bagillt. "The church stands at the foot of a steep hill, but so far from the upper town, that the bells cannot be heard above, and a ringer is accustomed to go about the town with a large bell slung across his shoulder, and a cushion on his knee, against which the bell beats as he walks, and thus summonses the people to the house of prayer: the custom is of great antiquity."

St. Winifrede's Well is situated on the steep hill contiguous to the site of the church. This miracle of a spring throws up about thirty tons of water per minute, with scarcely any variation, in rain or drought, in winter or summer. The whole of the structure, as it now stands, together with the chapel above, was built by Margaret, mother of Henry VII. The interior work is beautifully executed, and presents a fine specimen of enriched groining, with carved pendants, illustrative of its legend, and sculptures alluding to the house of Stanley, forming a canopy over the well, whence the water passes, under an arch, into a large basin. The well, basin, and building, are kept in a clean condition by a matron residing in an adjacent cottage, who, in her description to visitors of the efficacy of the waters, gives unmistakeable evidence of her deep belief in the virtues and miraculous powers of the saint of the well. The legend of the well is this:

"Winifrede, who is supposed to have lived in the early part of the