descent, however, much further back, to Cilmin
Droed Dhu (Cilmin of the Black Foot), who came into Wales from the North
of Britain with his uncle Mervyn, King of the Isle of Man, who married
Esyllt, heiress of Conan, King of North Wales, about A.D. 830. The
territory allotted to him extended from Carnarvon to beyond Clynnog.
Edward Llwyd was the first to assume the name of Glynne, which his
descendants continued till the male succession ended in John Glynne,
whose daughter and heiress, Frances, married Thomas Wynne of Bodnau,
created a baronet in 1742. His son, Sir John, is said to have pulled
down the old strong mansion of Cilmin, and erected the present one. His
son again, Sir Thomas, was created a Peer of Ireland for his services in
the American war, whose descendant is the present Lord Newborough. The
father of the Serjeant was Sir William Glynne, Knight, 21st in descent
from Cilmin Droed Dhu. The Serjeant early espoused the cause of the
popular party, perhaps rather from ambition than from principle. His
abilities were soon recognized, and while still young he became High
Steward of Westminster and Recorder of London. In 1640 he was elected
Member for Westminster as a strong Presbyterian. He was actively
concerned in conducting the charge against Lord Strafford. In 1646 he
opposed in Parliament Cromwell's Self-denying Ordinance, and was thrown
into prison. He found means, however, to get reconciled to Cromwell in
1648, and became one of his Council and Serjeant-at-law. In 1654 he
became Chamberlain of Chester, and in the following year succeeded Rolle
as Lord Chief Justice--which office he discharged with credit. {10} In
1656 he was returned for Carnarvonshire, and in the Rump Parliament he
sat again for Westminster. Meanwhile he contrived to ingratiate himself
with the opposite side, and in 1660 we find him assisting on horseback at
the coronation of Charles II. He now resigned the Chief Justiceship,
made himself very useful in settling legal difficulties consequent upon
the usurpation, and became as loyal as any cavalier: the King, as a mark
of his favour, {11a} bestowing a baronetcy upon his son in 1661. He
possessed Henley Park, {11b} in Surrey, and an estate at Bicester, in
Oxfordshire, (of which church, as well as Ambrosden, he was patron) where
the family resided. He died at his house in Westminster in 1666, and was
buried in a vault beneath the altar of S. Margaret's Church.

His son, Sir Wi