recourse to famine. This is always a powerful mediator; and Sir Richard having promised both life and liberty to the besieged, on these terms the place was surrendered. On the news being conveyed to King Edward, he angrily refused to fulfil the conditions, having promised himself the pleasure of putting the obstinate old commander to some cruel death. "Then, Sire,' replied the gallant Sir Richard, you may wreak your vengeance upon me; here is my life in place of the Welsh captain's; and if you do not comply, I will instantly put David again in possession of his castle, and your Highness may send whom you please to take him out.'

During the Civil Wars, the contest for its possession was frequent and sanguinary. It was resolutely defended by Sir Hugh Pennant for the King, and, after often changing hands, was the last in Wales which surrendered to the Parliament. The present constable, I am informed, is Sir Robert Vaughan, whose high character, and the objects to which he devotes his wealth, seem to render him deserving of the popular influence and the honours which he enjoys.

Pennant gives a long account of a golden torques found in a garden near this place in 1692; but whether it is a Roman, Gallic, or British relic, appears somewhat doubtful. Its use appears to have been that of a baldrick, to suspend the quiver of the chieftains or men of rank, so as to hang in a graceful manner by means of the hook, while the golden wreath, passing over one shoulder, crossed diagonally the breast.* According to Pliny, it was bestowed among the Romans as a military reward for great exploits; and the etiquette, I believe, was to award to citizens torques formed of silver, and to the auxiliaries the same composed of gold.

*In the beautiful description by Virgil, when speaking of the exercises of the Trojan youths, there is an allusion to this mode of wearing their quivers :

'Cornea bina ferunt præfixa hastilia ferro,

Pars leves humero pharetras: it pectore summo

Flexilis abtorti per collum circulus auri.'