In the Anglesey List of Sheriffs, some few names, not obtainable from public sources, have been taken from Rowland's "Mona Antiqua." I do not guarantee the perfect accuracy of these names—especially as I find many errors in Rowland's lists when I compare them with those which I have derived from original sources. Browne Willis' "Not. Parl." has been referred to simply for purposes of comparison, and where the names therein were found to differ from mine, I have retained my own, as being derived from the fountain-head the Writs, and Returns, and the Journals of the House of Commons. In compiling the lists of Members it was considered expedient to make full extracts from those Journals. They will accordingly be found in the foot-notes, and will furnish some curious information respecting many of the contests for the several seats, and the Petitions presented against some of the Returns. The Lists of Lords-Presidents, and Constables of Castles, have, like the others, been constructed from original sources.
Since the work has gone to press it has occurred to me that misapprehension may arise with regard to some of my observations on the original constitution of the North Wales Counties. I may not have made it appear as clearly as I intended, that although Flintshire was constituted a County by the Statute of Rhuddlan, the greater portion of it was not formerly comprehended within the boundaries of ancient Gwynedd, which consisted of the "three old Counties of North Wales" (as Anglesey, Caernarvon, and Merioneth were always formerly referred to) and the Berveddwlad. This latter District consisted of five Cantreds, of which one only—Tegengl—became part of Flintshire. I have therefore adhered to the old method, and have confined my observations and lists to the three old Counties.
I would also desire to point out in more explicit terms that the division of County, sub co nomine, did not exist in Wales previously to the Statute of Rhuddlan. But that the three old Counties of North Wales had prievously existed as separate Provinces or Districts there is abundant evidence. In Sir John Price's description of Wales, augmented by Humfrey Lhoyd, it is stated that "This land (Gwyneth) was of old time divided to foure parts," which he proceeds to describe as the three Counties and the Berveddwlad. The "Parthau Cymry," in the Llyfyr Coch, has a similar arrangement of the names and districts. Other authorities might also be cited.
It is almost certain that amongst upwards of two thousand names, spread over
