At the attack upon Chepstow Castle, which was defended by Sir Nicholas Kemishj the king's general, Lewis Morris was the second in command. After an obstinate resistance, the garrison was reduced by cutting off the supply of water which ran through the estate of Pearcefield, then owned by Col. Morris' son-in-law, John Walters, and setting fire to the castle. From this circumstance, the family assumed as their crest a castle in flames, with the following motto, "tandem vincitur" -- at length lie is conquered.

» This name, originally spelt Mawr-rwyce or Mawr-rhys, was changed into Maurice, Morrice and Morris. " Mars, IMavors, WalUce, ' Mawr-rwyce,' and AuuUc.e ; ' warlike, powerful," is a title applied to sucli of the ancient chieftains as were preeminent for valor, whose numerous descendants account for the presejit frequency of the name in Wales. To this one of the mottoes borne by the family of Morris seems to have reference, ' Marte el marl fuvenlihus."' -- Burke's flistory of the Landed Gentry.

i) Burke's History of the Landed Gentry, vol. iv. 4S8.

286 HISTOR\^ OF THE

In 1654, he was despatched by Cromwell to the Spanish West Indies, with orders to mf\ke himself master of those seas. In this undertaking he was aided by his nephew, Captain John Morris, who had been long settled on the Island of Barbadoes. While on this service, Captain Lewis Morris purchased a large estate in that island. When the Protector sent forces to attack Hispaniola, under Admirals Penn and Venables, he forwarded a vacant regiment and a colonel's commission to him, with instructions that the forces were to land as directed by Colonel Morris. The failure of the expedition is said to have been owing, in a great measure, to a non-compliance with his directions.^ In the attack upon the Island of Jamaica, Lewis was second in command.