United States or Spain ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Even more important than its results in breaking the back of Madog's insurrection, this battle of Maes Madog or Madog's field, as the Welsh called the place of their defeat is of the highest importance in the development of infantry tactics. The order of the victorious force strikingly anticipates the great battles in Scotland and France of a later generation.
A Tradition supported by such corroborating Circumstances must have had some foundation of Truth, and as the Language was evidently Welsh, it appears to me, beyond all reasonable Doubt, that these Tribes are descended from Prince Madog's Colony. That the Language was Welsh cannot be denied; for one Lewis a Welsh-man conversed with Indians in their own Language. Jones could read and understand.
It is very certain that this account of Madog's Emigration was not written by Caradoc, for his History comes no lower than the year 1157; and he seems to have died about the time when this Event took place.
What he hath, in general, advanced, is much the same with what had been said by Lord Lyttelton and others; and therefore, what I have already said, will serve as a general Answer: but I must examine some particulars. It is granted that Humphry Llwyd, and Dr. Powel, lived some Centuries after Madog's Emigration; but Dr.
In answer to this Objection, it may be observed that previously to Madog's Voyage we read of several others, which appear to me full as improbable.
Lloyd supposes that he was among the Indians. The other Date is either, 1675, or 1673-4. See the Gentleman's Magazine. The Date of Mr. Lloyd's Letter is Dolobran. 8m 14 D. 3/4. There is also in Mr. Owen's British Remains an Extract from Dr. Robert Plott's Writings, in which the Doctor declares his Belief in Prince Madog's Emigration, and Mr. Jones's Narrative.
The Scotch writers, especially of late years, have strained every nerve to establish the reputation of their ancient Authors. Oman and Fingal are ostentatiously held out, as instances of superior merit and excellence; but the poor Britons are treated with disdain, as having no merit for imagination, or original Composition. Some of whom have plainly alluded to Madog's Adventures.
Though contrary to History, let us suppose that the Britons were void of all Understanding and Judgment, of all literary Merit; that doth not, in the least, affect the Truth of Prince Madog's Emigration; for by all that appears, it was not owing to Knowledge or Judgment, but was the consequence of Necessity and Prudence.
The next Account of Prince Madog's Adventures, I have met with is in Hornius De Originibus Americanis. Hagæ Comitis, 1652. What he hath advanced is much the same, and contains little more, as he himself says, than Extracts from Llwyd, Hakluyt, and Powel. His Observations on the Subject are the following.
I agree with his Lordship, that is was an extraordinary atchievement, superior to that of Columbus, who had many advantages which the other had not: but as I have already observed, it does not appear that Prince Madog's first Voyage was the result of Sagacity and Judgment, but of meer Necessity and Prudence. In this paragraph his Lordship, happens, unfortunately, to be mistaken.
Word Of The Day