different places, which may be owing to its remains being more or less
perfect. In those parts where it is pretty entire, the fosse is twenty
seven, twenty six, and twenty five feet broad. But in those places where the
rampart has been most demolished the fosse only measures twenty two and a
half feet, twenty and eighteen, and in one place only sixteen feet wide. As
the ramparts sloped on the inside, it is obvious that in proportion as they
were demolished, the width of the fosse within would be diminished. In some
of the most entire parts the ramparts are from six to seven, and even nine or
ten feet high, and from eight to ten and twelve feet thick. They are, no
doubt, less now than they were originally, owing to the effects of time and
tillage. {5a}

Such is the Catrail, and were it identical with Cattraeth, we should
naturally expect to meet with some allusions to a work of that description in
the body of the Poem. Nor are we herein disappointed, for the expressions
"ffosawd," {5b} "clawdd," {5c} "ffin," {5d} "cladd clodvawr," {5e}
"goglawdd," {5f} "clawdd gwernin," {5g} and "gorffin Gododin," {5h} are
undoubtedly such allusions, though we readily admit that some of them may,
and probably do, refer to the ordinary circular forts of the Britons, of whom
there are several along the line. It may be added here that Taliesin in his
description of the battle of Gwenystrad, where the men of Cattraeth fought
under Urien, speaks of a "govwr" or an intrenchment, that was "assailed by
the laborious toil of warriors."

Having thus satisfied ourselves as to the nature and locality of Cattraeth;
the general subject of the Poem becomes apparent. It was a battle fought at
the barrier in question between the Cymry and the Saxons, the most extended
in its design and operations on the part of the former, as it proved to them
the most disastrous in its results, of all that had hitherto taken place
between the two people in that part of the island.