David Powell

, a learned searcher into the bowels of venerable antiquity, and the most skilful Person in British histories that his time produced, was born in Denbighshire, entred a Member of this University in 1566 or thereabouts, but in what Coll. or Hall resident, I know not. Sure ’tis that as soon as Jesus Coll. was founded (1571) he translated himself thereunto, took the Degrees in Arts as a Member thereof, holy Orders, and at length was made Vicar of Ruabon in his own Country. About that time he had confer’d on him a Dignity in one of the Cathed. in Wales (St. Asaph I think) grew famous for his learning, and soon after took the Degrees in Divinity. His works are,

Annotationes in itinerarium Cambriae, scriptum per Silv. Giraldum Cambrensem. Lond. 1585. oct. Franc. 1603.

Annot. in Cambr. descriptionem, script. per Silv. Giraldum.

De Britannica historia rectè intelligenda, Epistola ad Gul, Fleetwoodum civit. Lond. Recordatorem. Which two last books are printed with his Annotationes in Itin. Cambr. He also took a great deal of pains in making a Welsh Dictionary, but died before he could perfect it; corrected also and published Historia Britannica, written by Ponticus Virunnius, in 6 books,—Lond. 1585. oct. And amended and augmented The History of Combria now called Wales; which was translated into English by Humph. Lhoyd Gent.—Lond. 1584. qu. This History of Cambria was originally written in Latin by Caradoc a Monk of Lancarvan, and by him continued till the Year 1156. Afterwards being yearly augmented by several hands, was, as I have told you, translated into English by H. Lhoyd as you may see under the Year 1570, but he dying before he could come near to the end of it, ’twas finished by our Author D. Powell, and by him published. What else he hath transmitted to posterity, I find not, nor any thing more of him, only that he was buried in his Church of Ruabon (as the Antients there say, tho the register not, because ’tis imperfect) about Fifteen hundred and ninety, 1590 and that his Son Sam. Powell succeeded him in the Vicaridge of that Village. They add also that he had left behind him several things sit to be printed, but what became of them after his death they could not tell. The next that [〈…〉] is one, who was accounted an eminent Scholar of his time, as by the generality of writers is confess’d.