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Ancient welsh bardic book
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THE
CAMBRO-BRITON.
SEPTEMBER, 1819—AUGUST, 1820.
CYMRU FL, CYMRU FYDD.
TALIESIX.
Vor. I.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY MILLS AND RHYND, SHOE-LANE, FLEET-STREET,
FOR THE EDITOR,
AND PUBLISHED BY J. LIMBIRD, 355, STRAND. , , . ,
1820.,, r':;" " :
to
Sir W. W. WYNN, Bart. M. P.
PRESIDENT
METROPOLITAN CAMBRIAN INSTITUTION.
Sir,—When about to complete the first Volume
of the Cambro-Briton, I was naturally anxious,
that it should appear under the sanction of some
name, which, from its estimation amongst our
countrymen, might confer a value even on this
humble production. And, I hope, I shall not be
suspected of the proverbial sycophancy of dedica
tors, when I declare, that the permission, you have
so kindly given me to make this use of yours, has
satisfied my utmost wishes in this respect. At any
time I should have deemed this a very flattering
distinction, reflecting, as I must have done, on your
hereditary worth, as well as upon that, which is
more emphatically your own. But at the present
moment this permission brings with it a peculiar
and a heightened gratification, since the patriotic
alacrity, with which you have acceded to the
wishes of your country, in assuming the Presidency
of her new Institution, distinguishes you, in a par
ticular manner, as the appropriate Patron of a work
dedicated to a cultivation of the Literature and
Languageof Wales.
OF THE
IT DEDICATION.
Believe me, Sir, it is with no ordinary pride (if
I may be allowed to say it without offence), that I
find myself associated with you in the same national
cause. My efforts, it is true, have necessarily been
constrained by circumstances, which I have wanted
either the ability or the good fortune to surmount.
Yet I can honestly say, that, however deficient I
may have been in the means, I have never, for a
moment, failed in the inclination, to promote the
public ends, for which the Cambro-Briton was
undertaken. The
Hie Amor, heec Patria
of the Poet has never been absent from my
thoughts, while endeavouring to fix in the following
pages the evanescent lustre of ages long departed,
ere it had vanished for ever,—while attempting to
rescue the wisdom and the genius of our ancestors,
before the waters of Oblivion had irrevocably swept
them away. The design was great: the execu
tion, I too sensibly feel, has fallen far below it.
Yet, since my enterprise has experienced your
Patronage, I will venture to hope, with the Shepherd
in Virgil, that
Honos erit huic quoque porno.
To you, Sir, however, I trust, it will essentially
belong, as President of the Institution, so auspi
ciously established in the Metropolis, to secure,
under more favouring circumstances and with
ampler means, the success of that cause, which it
was the aim of this unobtrusive work in some degree
to assist. To you, Sir, and to those distinguished
individual*! who may co-operate with you, I hope
DEDICATION. v
we shall be indebted for the consummation of a
design worthy of your highest honours, and, more
than that, peculiarly worthy of the patriotic virtues,
which have gained you the merited esteem of your
country. We shall then behold the ancient harp of
Cymku restored to her now tuneless vallies, and
shall learn to admire the venerable treasures of those
times, when the mingled strains of philosophy and
of song were heard to animate the solitudes of her
mountains. The vindication of past ages will prove
the instruction of the present; while the literature
of Wales shall no longer be excluded from its legi
timate station in the renown of the world. The
task is a noble one ; and I hope I shall not be
accused of presumption, if, in reference to your
distinguished share in it, 1 adopt the language of
the younger Pliny, and say,—Ejfinge aliquid et
excude, quod sit perpetud tuum- Nam reliqua rerum
tuarutn post te alium atquealiurn dominum sortientur:
hoc nunquam tuum desinet esse, si semel cceperit.
Sincerely wishing that this enviable distinction
may be that of the President of the Metropo
litan Cambrian Institution, I have the
honour to subscribe myself,
Sir,
With every sentiment of respect,
Your very obliged and obedient servant,
THE EDITOR.
London, July 25, 1820.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Editor cantiot suffer this First Volume of the Cambro-
Briton to go into the world without a public acknowlegement
of his obligation to those Gentlemen, who have so kindly assisted
him in his career, and to whose assistance, he feels, he is essen
tially indebted for whatever success his work may have experi
enced. To particularize all by name, even if it were practi
cable, is more perhaps than he should be justified in doing ;
yet he cannot deny himself the pleasure of mentioning a few.
In the first place he has to thank that eminent Welsh Scholar,
Mr. William Owen Pughe, for many contributions of great
interest, as well as for much other valuable information, -which
has been of material service in various parts of the volume.
He has also to acknowlege the very friendly interest, taken by
this Gentleman in the success of his work, as well as by Mr.
Parry, the writer of the pleasing " Letters on Welsh Music," who
farther demands the Editor's particular thanks for having been
the first to afford encouragement to his enterprise. To the Rev.
Walter Davies, the Rev. P. B. Williams, the Rev. W. J.
Rees, the Rev. Rowland Williams, Mr. Richard Llwyd,
of Chester, and Mr. Thomas Richards, of London, the Editor
begs also to express his grateful acknowlegement of the valuable
aid they have respectively furnished. Nor must he forget Mr.
Thomas Roberts, of Llwynrhudol, to whom he is indebted for
most of the Pennillion, which appear in this volume, and
for many others yet unpublished. To his other Correspondents
he begs generally to express his grateful sense of their co-opera
tion, and at the same time to solicit the farther support of all
in the prosecution of a design, which, whatever may be tin
events to come, it will always be amongst his most gratifying
reflections, that he has, in any degree, contributed to promote.
To such of the Public, as have favoured his humble attempt, he
takes this opportunity of sincerely expressing his obligation,
hoping, at the same time, for the enjoyment hereafter of that
more general patronage, which may justify his perseverance in
a project, that he could not abandon without feelings of the
most lively regret.
London, July 25, 1820.
THE
CAMERO^BRITON,
SEPTEMBER, 1819.
NUIXI QUIDEM MIHI SATIS ERUDITI V1DENTUR, QUIBLS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero de Lcgibut.
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS.
THREE months have been brought to a close since my Propo
sals for the establishment of the Cambro-Briton were first made
public. When I embraced this project, it was not only without
any communication with others, but with no fairer prospect of
success than what might be supposed to result from the favourable
spirit, by which our country appears uv length to be animated.
Relying upon so gratifying a change in our national character, I
presumed to hope, that even this attempt might experience the
benefit of it. For I concluded, and I trust rightly, that the general
cause could not, in such a case, be separated from individual
exertion, however humble and unobtrusive. The great ocean is
fed as well by the noiseless stream as by the deep-sounding tor
rent. Nor have my anticipations been wholly unjustified by the
event. The encouragement I have received *, if not an assurance
of complete success, has been at least sufficient to urge me on in
my. career, with Hope still as my companion.
In the Proposals, to which I have above adverted, it was not
my intention, as I there intimated, to give more than a general
outline of my projected work. Since that time a short Prospec
tus has been circulated, communicating more explicitly the main
objects of the undertaking. But, as the work itself may fall into
the hands of those, who have not seen either, it becomes now
my duty to enter into a particular disclosure of my plan, not
withstanding that the present Number may be considered, in
some respects, as a specimen of those to succeed it. Yet, as
• The liberal patronage of the Gwyneddigio!! Society, both collec
tively and individually, deserves on this occasion my most grateful ac-
knowlegemeut.
Vol. I. B
2 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
this can only be to a partial extent, it is fit that my readers
should be apprized of those fundamental principles, on which
I design that the Cambro-Briton should be conducted. For
upon the quality of the basis must mainly depend the fate of the
superstructure.
My chief aim in this undertaking,—I wish particularly to pre
mise,—is to diffuse amongst strangers a knowlege of the his
tory, the manners, the genius of Wales, and to extend beyond
her mountain-barriers the fame of those literary treasures, which
are now, as it were, covetously hoarded within them. Not in
deed, that there have hitherto been wanting patriotic individuals,
who have generously endeavoured to accomplish this end. Seve
ral valuable publications might be named, having professedly no
other object in view. But of periodical works, obviously the
most desirable channel for the occasion, I am acquainted with no
more than one,—I allude to the Cambrian Register,—in which
the same course has been adopted. The suspension, however, if
not the final relinquishment, of that useful undertaking leaves
the field ope"n to any new adventurer. And, in profiting by this
opportunity, although I shotrW myself fail, I may be the means
of exciting others to the task with higher qualifications for its
achievement. Even then I might be allowed to say, with the
poet,
Est quoddam prodire tends, si Don datur ultra.
Although the Cambrian Register is the only periodical publi
cation, within my knowledge, avowedly devoted to the purpose
already noticed, I must not omit to mention, that a few others,
written in Welsh, have, at different times, been established.
The general aim of these works has been, we may presume, to
preserve from decay our vernacular tongue, by promoting its
cultivation amongst our countrymen,—a design unquestionably
praiseworthy and patriotic. But I hope I may be permitted with
out offence to remark, that our venerable language, QUAM vetat
Musa mori, stands in no very urgent need of such aid. Consecrat
ed, as it has been, by the ennobling genius of our Bards, surviving,
as it still does, in its pristine vigour, the shock of countless ages,
and the wreck of other tongues, it may securely be left to its
own energies for its preservation hereafter. It was under this
impression, that I deemed it advisable to pursue a different
course from the works here alluded to, and to take a wider range.
As soon may our native hills be moved from their position, as
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. I
our language cease to be spoken within their limits. It only re
mains then to make its excellencies known elsewhere, and to pro
mulgate amongst strangers an acquaintance with those produc
tions, which it has assuredly consigned to immortality.
To endeavour to effect this object will be the pecunar province
of the Cambro-Briton ; and not merely this, but likewise to
diffuse a general knowlege of the history, manners, and other
prominent features of our country, from the earliest dawn of
tradition to the present day. Her historical documents, her
bardic effusions, her interesting Triads, in a word, her literary
remains of every description, will, therefore, be, in their turns,
translated, accompanied by such remarks as may be necessary
for their illustration. To these will be added occasional essays,
as well on the general topics just enumerated, as also upon the
language, poetry, and music of Wales,—antiquarian researches,—
statistical descriptions,—biographical sketches, and such miscel
laneous information, as may tend to promote the main design
before explained. It may be proper farther to observe, that
the criticism of works, antient as well as modern, connected with
Wales or its literature, will likewise have its share in the arrange
ment. And truly proud do I feel, that this department com
mences by the Review of such a work as Coll Gwynfa, at once
a new honour to its distinguished author, and a lasting ornament
to his country.
Nor shall the native Awen of Cymru be excluded from these
pages. On the contrary, they will be open not only to a selec
tion of the most celebrated strains of past times, but to such
choice effusions of the present day, a* I may have the good
fortune to obtain. And, with this view, it will be my particular
aim to collect and preserve, as opportunities may present them
selves, those national stanzas, known by the name of Pennill-
ion, which now, like the leaves of the Sybil, are scattered
abroad at the mercy of every accident, or live only in the fleet
ing voice of a few individuals. It was " in these beautiful strains
" peculiar to ourselves, in these instructive morsels " (to borrow
the expressive words of an esteemed friend), " that the moralist
" set his precepts to music, the lover sang his notes of admira-
" tion, and the heroes heard of the tombs of the warriors."
The English Muse will also be a welcome guest, whenever she
may devote her lays to the cause, which the Cambro-Briton has
undertaken to espouse. Such a tribute will be, at all . times, pe
culiarly acceptable.
4 THE CAMBRO-BRITON
Another feature, and by no means the least important, of
this publication, will be its attention to the religious and political
welfare, to the agricultural and commercial relations, and to
the other paramount interests of the Principality. Whenever
these objects may claim any particular notice, I trust the
Cambro-Briton will not be found remiss in evincing either a due
reverence for our Established Church, a loyal attachment to the
excellent Constitution, of which Wales has so long experienced
the benefit, or, above all, that love of country, which impels
the real patriot to seek its good at any price, and to maintain it
through all hazards.
It is now only necessary to intimate, that all transactions of
any moment, and all occurrences of interest, having reference
to Wales, will be punctually recorded. The Cambro-Briton
will, in this point of view, I hope, be found a faithful chronicler
of the most material events of the day, rejecting indeed all mat
ters of mere ephemeral concern, but carefully embodying in its
pages whatever may deserve to be remembered hereafter.
I have thus completed the detail of my proposed plan ; in
which, however, such improvements will, from time to time, be
made, as may be suggested by a. more experienced judgment.
But I wish here to remark, that every Number of the Cambro-
Briton will not necessarily embrace all the comprehensive heads
of which I have spoken. The limited size of the work forbids
this. And it will besides be sufficient, if, in the course of its
career, the several important topics, adverted to, should receive
the attention they merit, consistently with that due regard, which
will be observed, in its different numbers, to the interest and
variety of their contents.
This Address must not conclude without a few words on the
prospect I entertain of the proper accomplishment of my under
taking. Of my own pretensions it would ill become me to speak.
Singly and Unassisted, I have already declared, I should be ex
posed to considerable risk. It has consequently formed one of
my first objects to procure the aid of those patriotic individuals,
whose talents and labours have been so laudably employed in the
cause of Cambrian Literature. And in this, I am proud to add, I
have partially succeeded. Three gentlemen, distinguished in their
respective pursuits, have contributed their aid to the present num
ber, and have thus, no doubt, bestowed upon it a value, which I
could not otherwise have anticipated. To another I am indebted
for the Pennillion, which I rejoice that the Cambro-Briton is
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
enabled to present on its first appearance. Whilst I thus express
my obligation for favours received, I must not omit to solicit
others. On this point, then, I will briefly premise, that all com
munications, calculated to promote the objects of this undertaking,
will be accepted with pride, and acknowleged with gratitude.
Of the typographical execution of the work I may speak less
reservedly, as I may speak without incurring the imputation of
egotism. I hope, then, it will be found, that, in this respect,
the Cambro-Briton needs not shrink from a competition with
any similar publication. A new type has been cast for the occa
sion ; and all possible care will be taken to preserve, in the exterior
appearance of the several numbers, a general regularity both of
form and arrangement, so that, at the expiration of every twelve
months, (if it be not too much presumption to indulge such a
prospect) they may be united in one neat and uniform volume.
For this purpose a general index and title-page will accompany
every twelfth nunjber of the work, as long as it may continue
to merit the support of the public.
All that now remains is to take leave of my readers for the
present as far as I am personally concerned. And, if I cannot
do this with a full confidence in the success of my efforts to gra
tify them, it is not entirely without hope. I should not have
hazarded the undertaking, if I had not, to a certain extent, in
dulged this cheering anticipation. Although I cannot now pre
sume, therefore, to say, with the old Roman actors, vos valets
et plaudite, it shall be my invariable study so to conduct the
Cambro-Briton, as to be justified, to whatever degree, in
adopting this valediction hereafter.
V THE EDITOR.
THE TRIADS.—No. I.
Of all the antient documents of Wales, the Triads, so pecu
liarly national, must be admitted to be the most deserving of our
attention. And those, which are called Historical, or " Triads of
the Isle of Britain," are particularly valuable, as well from their
unquestionable antiquity, as from the interesting events, to which
they relate. The peculiarity of their construction, ignorantly
assumed by some as a ground of objection, is aniongst the most
satisfactory proofs of the venerable authenticity of their origin.
Their very defects too, such as the want of dates and connection,
bear ample testimony to the early ages, which gave them birth.
6 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
And, if to these be added the obscurity, or, it may be said, total
inexplicability of the terms, used in some of them, little doubt
can remain as to the remoteness of the era, to which they may
generally be ascribed. Nor will it weaken this conclusion to ob
serve, that in-many of them, as noticed by a learned and inge
nious writer *, are contained doctrines totally at variance with
our divine religion, and which accordingly appropriate such to a
period at least antecedent to the establishment of Christianity in
this island. .
From this general allusion to the authentic character of the
antient Triads, it may be worth our while to turn to a more par
ticular, though to a brief, examination of their acknowleged ori
gin. It is then to the Bardic or Druidical Institution, as it pri
mitively existed in this country, that we must assign their first
introduction. The encouragement of oral tradition, whether by
songs or aphorisms, formed a principal characteristic of that
celebrated order. It was in this manner, that they recorded the
most memorable events of their country; and so it was, that
they preserved for after-times their own rules and doctrines f.
Poetry had thus for ages anticipated the functions of History ;
and in the Triads were embodied whatever might not admit
of diffusion in the strains of the bard. These unwritten records
again, being regularly recited at the bardic assemblies, were
maintained for centuries in their original, or very nearly
their original, purity. The art of memory was thus reduced
to a practical system, and it can not be denied, that the form
of the triad was most happily chosen for the purpose. Its con
ciseness, its simplicity, its general uniformity at once point out
its advantages as the vehicle of traditional knowlege. And it
deserves also to be remembered, that the number Three has,
from the earliest times, been held in peculiar veneration, and, it
may have been, on this very account,—or, as has been justly
observed, because it forms " a kind of limit to the natural power
" of repeated exertion, an idea so far at least founded in nature
" as to have become a favourite with the poets of all ages."
The Sect of Pythagoreans, in particular, with whom the Druids
are presumed by some to have borne a resemblance in more
points than this, regarded the triad as the first perfect number,
* The lute Rev. Peter Roberts, in his " Sketch of the Early History
of the Cymry."
.f- Caesar bears particular testimony to this practice, and ascribes it,
with his usual sagacity, to the proper cause,—" neque eos, qui distant,
" Utleits confisos, minus memoriae studere." Bell. Gall. lib. 6. c. 14.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 7
and gave this as a reason for their triple libations, as well as for
the tripod, from- which were delivered the Oracles of Apollo.
The Triads, thus originating, continued to be in use during a
long succession of ages, until the extinction of Bardism ; vary
ing therefore in their antiquity from the most distant times down
to thpse which are commonly called historical, and even so far
as the twelfth century. And that many of these were ever re
garded of the first authority is evident from the respect, with
which they are noticed by the most antient Welsh Bards, whose
writings still survive, and especially by Taliesin, who wrote in
the sixth century. Such, as have descended to this time, are pre
served in some of our oldest MSS., and were, some of them, thus
collected, it is supposed, as early as the seventh century*.
Although, all that now remain must have borne but a small pro
portion with those once in existence, " their number is sufficient"
(to adopt the words of the estimable author already twice quoted)
" to determine some essential circumstances as to the origin and
" history of the nation, and the real doctrines of the Bards.
" And it is so far a pleasing reflection, that a discovery is made
" of authorities, that point out an origin in conformity with a
" general opinion, buiit Upon the systems and ideas of the histo-
" rians of other nations, without a knowlege of such records
" being possessed by the nation itself f."
These interesting remains may be classed under the various
heads of history,—bardism,—theology,—ethics and jurisprudence,
—exclusively of those, that relate, in a more especial manner, to
language and poetry. Of the historical some are purely so, and
others evidently blended with fable, yet, even -in this view, con
veying much curious tradition. It will be the object of this
portion of the Cambro-Briton to supply translations of the
Triads with reference to the classes above enumerated. The
space, occupied by the foregoing observations, will not allow
a selection, at present, of more than the following, which
are extracted from the historical and ethical Triads. The
originals may be found in the second and third volumes of that
valuable repository of Welsh learning, the " Archaiology of
Wales." %*
* This is stated in E. Llwyd's Archaeologia Britannica, p. 264, as the
opinion of that celebrated antiquary Mr. Vaughan, of Hengwrt. But it
should be observed that the testimony of the old copyists of the Welsh
MSS. does not go higher than the 10th century. The antient Triads how
ever were principally collected during the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries.
f " Early History of the Cymry." •
8 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN.
I, .There were three names imposed on the isle of Britain
from the beginning. Before it was inhabited its denomination
was the Sea-defended Green Spot ; after being inhabited it was
called the Honey Island, and after it was formed into a com
monwealth by Prydain, the son of Aedd Mawr, it was called the
Isle of Prydain. And none have any title therein but the nation
of the Cymry. For they first settled upon it ; and before that
time no men lived therein, but it was full of bears, wolves,
beavers, and bisons.
[In the original the names, translated beavers and bisons, are
Efeinc and Ychain bdnaicg. The description, given of the first
in the Mabinogion and the Poets, answers to the crocodile and
not to the beaver. The literal meaning of the other term is pro
minent oxen, but whether, from their having high horns or hunches,
like the buffalo, or from their great height of body, it does not
appear certain ; most probably the first. A better opportunity
will occur for speaking of these animals in connection with an
antient and extraordinary tradition of the Cymry, as recorded
in the Triads.]
iI. The three primary divisions of the isle of Britain : Cymru,
Lloegr, and Alban, or Wales, England, and Scotland ; and to
each of the three appertained the privilege of royalty. They
are governed under a monarchy and voice of country, according
to the regulation of Prydain, the son of Aedd Mawr ; and to the
nation of the Cymry belongs the establishing of the monarchy, by
the voice of country and people, according to privilege and original
right. And under the protection of such regulation ought royalty
to be in every nation in the isle of Britain, and every royalty
under the protection of the voice of country. Therefore it is saul,
as a proverb, " A country is mightier than a prince."
in. The three privileged ports of the isle of Britain : the port
of Ysgewin, in Gwent ; the port of Gwygyr, in Mon ; and the
port of Gwyddno, in Caredigion.
[The present Newport, on the Uskc^ in Monmouthshire,
was probably the first of these, and Beaumaris the second.
The sea has overflowed the other, and formed the present
Cardigan bay, where extensive remains of embankments are
discernible, which protected a fine tract of level country, the ter
ritory of Gwyddno Garanhir, called Cantrev y Gwaelod, over-.
flowed in the sixth century. A poem, ascribed to Gwyddno,
on this disastrous event is preserved in the Archaiology of Wales,
vol. i. p. 165.]
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 9
rv. The three principal rivers of the isle of Britain : Havren, in
Cymru, [the Severn, in Wales ;] Tain, in Lloegr, [the Thames, in
England ;] anil Hymyr, in Deivr and Brynaich, [the Humber, in
Deira and Bernicia, comprising the six northern English counties.]
v. The three primary islands lying off the isle of Britain : Ore,
Manaw, and Gwyth, or Orkney, Man, and Wight ; and after
wards the sea broke the land, so that Anglesey (Mon) became an
island ; and in like manner the isle of Ore was broken, so that
many islands were formed there, and other parts of Wales and
Scotland became islands.
[Nennius, in his " Historia Brittonum," written in the eighth or
ninth century, confirms the account given in this Triad. " Three
considerable islands," he says, " belong to Britain : one on the
south, opposite the Armorican shore, called Guerth ; another be
tween Ireland and Britain, called Eubbnia, or Manau ; and an- *
other directly north, beyond the Picts, named Orch. And hence
it was antiently a proverbial expression in reference to its kings
and rulers,—' He reigned over Britain and its three islands'."]
TRIADS OF WISDOM.
I. There are three branches of wisdom : wisdom towards God,
wisdom with respect to every fellow man, and wisdom with re
spect to one's self.
iI. The three recognitions which produce wisdom : the know-
lege of God, the knowlege of the heart of man, and the know-
lege of one's own heart.
ill. The three indispensibles of wisdom : genius, science, and
discrimination.
iv. The three stabilities of wisdom: what is right, beautiful,
and possible.
v. Three things will be obtained by wisdom : the good (things)
of the world, mental comfort, and the love of God.
vI. In three things wisdom is apparent : genius, science, and
demeanour.
vn. The three exertions of wisdom : to understand nature by
genius, to perceive truth by studying it, and to cultivate love and
peace.
VIII. Three things in a man that make him wise and good :
qualities, science, and power.
IX. Three things with which wisdom can not exist : inordinate
desire, debauchery, and pride.
x. Three things without which there can be no wisdom : gene
rosity, abstinence, and virtue.
vol. t. e
10 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
BARDIC PORTRAITS.
TALIESIN.
Among the modern nations of Europe few, if any, can boast
of poetical remains of equal antiquity with those claimed by the
Welsh. And of these the Works of Taliesin may be regarded
in every point of view as the most remarkable. Their many
references, both to historical events, and to the mystical doctrines
of the Druids, place them in a pre-eminent rank as memorials
of the early age, in which their author flourished,—while the
poetical excellence of most, however obscured by the lapse of
time, proves the justice of his claim to the honourable appella
tion, given him in the Triads, of " Chief of the Bards*."
♦There are seventy-eight poems preserved under his name in the
Archaiology of Wales : and besides those, above noticed, of an
historical and mystical character, they comprise others, which
may be described generally as theological, encomiastic, elegiac,
and lyrical. Many of these remains may be proved to be ge
nuine by the reference, which the bard makes in them to himself
' as the author f ; and others by their allusion to occurrences, which •
are known from other sources to have happened in his time, as well
from the concurrent suffrage of later bards as to the fact.
According to these records, and also to the testimony of some
>antient MSS., the life of Taliesin occupied about fifty years,
during the middle of the sixth century. The first incident, which
we learn of it, is similar to that recorded of the infant Moses.
For Taliesin is reported . to have been found, exposed in a
coracle, in a fishing wear, on the coast of Cardigan, belonging
to Elffin, son of Gwyddno Garanhir, king of Gwent, of whom
mention is made in a preceding page of this Number \. He was
received, from that moment, under the protection of Elffin, who
must have continued his patronage for some years, as we find,
that he introduced him afterwards to his father's court, upon
which occasion the young bard (for he is presumed to have been
* The Triad, here alluded to, describes him also as one of the three
chief bards of the Is!e of Britain with Merddin Emrys and Merddin, son
of Morfryn, who was a pupil of Taliesin.—Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 75.
f See Arch, of Wales, vol. i. p. 21, 25, 50, &c.
% It is supposed by some, that the catastrophe, noticed in p: S, ante,
was the means of reducing Gwyddno to the necessity of supporting Elffin,
his only son, by the produce of the wear here alluded to. But the circum
stance is not very material : nor, if it were, cau it be ascertained with any
precision.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 11
then a mere boy) presented to Gwyddno his mystical poem, en-*
titled Taliesin's History (Hanes Taliesin *), and to his patron
that called the Consolation of Elffin (Dyhuddiant Elffin \), both
of them still extant. The latter effusion, which is delicately
written m the character of an exposed orphan, was designed to
console Elffin on the recent failure of his fishery, a circumstance
attributed, it seems, both by himself and others, to the extrava
gance and dissipation of his past life. Taliesin endeavours, with
great ingenuity, to remove his melancholy on this occasion, and,
from the beautiful moral feeling displayed in the poem, we may
conclude, that his effort was not made in vain. A literal transla
tion of this production will be found in a subsequent part of the
present Number.
We find the bard's gratitude towards his patron evinced by
another effusion, entitled the Mead-Song (Canu y MZddi),
written during Elffin's imprisonment in the castle of Deganwy,
where he was confined by his uncle Maelgwn, sovereign of
North Wales, with whom Taliesin was afterwards in particular
favour. And we learn from his pnom on the Sons of Llyr
(Kerdd am Veib Llyr %), as well as from some old Welsh histo
rians, that he succeeded, by the magic of his song, in redeeming
Elffin from his captivity.
How soon his connection with Elffin ceased does not appear;—
but in the maturer part of his life we find him to have been tho
bard of Urien Reged, a Cumbrian chieftain, who is also cele
brated in the poems of Llywarch H£n. Urien, as we are in
formed by the Genealogy of the Saints (Bonedd y Saint,) came
to settle in South Wales, where for some time he distinguished
himself by his military services, but was, towards the close of his
life, numbered amongst the saints of Bangor Catwg, in Glamor
gan ||. Taliesin has addressed several poems to him, in one of
which 5f he describes himself as residing at that period near the
lake Ceirionydd, in Caernarvonshire :
And I also Taliesin
Of the banks of the lake Ceirionydd.
Of the education of this " chief of bards," all, known with
any certainty, is that it was completed under the celebrated
Catwg, surnamed the Wise, at Llanfeithin, in Glamorgan. He
* Arch, of Wales, vol. i. p. 19. f lb. p. 83. J !b. p. 32.
§ lb. p. 67. See also p. 34, where another allusion is made to this event.
" Doidmgf Deganh-xy," &c. || See the " Cambrian Biography."
1 Anrec Urien. Arch, of Wales, vol. i. p. 50.
12 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
was the first abbot of Llancarfan, and is distinguished by his ex
cellent collection of antient Welsh maxims, which are published
in the Archaiology *. Taliesin, as a bard, was necessarily initi
ated in the Druidical mysteries, and to which some of his writings,
as before noticed, prove him to have been strongly attached.
He had a son Afaon, who is represented as having renounced
the peaceful pursuits of bardism for the turbulent occupation of
a warrior, in which capacity he fought under Cadwallon, Prince
of North Wales. For this reason he is described, in an antient
Triad, with two others, likewise of bardic parentage, as one of
the " three chief-like bulls " of the isle of Britain. Taliesin is
supposed to have died about the year 570 f.
The variety of the verse, as well as of the topics, embraced
by Taliesin's muse, makes it difficult to ascribe to it any general
character. He not only employed most of the metres then in use,
but even enriched his poetry with others borrowed from the
Greek and Roman writers, before that time unknown to the lan
guage,—but since familiarly used by the bards as far as they
could be adapted to the genius of the Welsh tongue, and the
peculiar character of its poetry.
That Taliesin had profited by the able instruction of Catwg is
clear from several parts of his writings, where the allusions, he
makes, prove the great extent of his learning for the age in
which he lived. But what he seems to have studied with superior
avidity and success was, as already intimated, the mystical lore of
the Druids, with which many of his productions are so deeply
impregnated as to become extremely obscure, if not, for the
most part, unintelligible. The doctrine of metempsychosis, in
^particular, appears to have been a favourite theme. Two or
three of his poems are expressly devoted to it, and afford a sin
gular instance of the effect of that wild notion upon a powerful
and creative imagination. As a repository of the maxims of
Druidism, however, and also as a record of historical facts, the
productions of Taliesin must be admitted to possess an important
* Vol. iii. p. 1 to 99.
f I am not ignorant, that an attempt has been made, by the very intel
ligent author of the " Celtic Researches," and of the *' Mythology and
Rites of the Druids," to throw an air of fable over this account of Taliesin.
But, if this note should meet the eye of that gentleman, he will par
don me, 1 hope, for observing, that there appears, in the instance above
noticed at least, too laboured an effort to subject to a favourite hypothe
sis all antient facts and authorities,—too manifest an anxiety to drag his
tory captive at the triumphal car of mythology.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
value. His elegiac and lyrical poems abound in pathetic touches,
as well as in sublime fancy and fine moral thought. And we can
hardly accuse him of an unjustifiable degree of vanity, when we
hear him designate himself as being at once a poet and a man of
erudition *, or even when he claims, for the property of his muse,
the flowing speech of a prophet f.
*
WELSH MUSIC—No. I.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—As the Cambro-Briton is to be devoted to Wale*, her
History, Poetry, and Literature in general, a few observations
on her Music will, I trust, be acceptable to your readers. It •
will be necessary for me to express myself in a manner different
from what I should do, were I addressing persons acquainted with
the science, and to avoid technical pVivases. For few would un
derstand me, were I to say, that, " to modulate from the tonic
to the dominant, a sharp 4th will be required, or to modulate
from the tonic to the sub-dominant, a flat 7th will be necessary,
&c. &c." I feel it incumbent on me to say thus much, lest some
discordant brother might feel disposed to notice my (supposed)
lack of knowlege.
In the course of my professional career, I have had the good
fortune to hear specimens of almost every national music, from
the classic strains of the Italian, to the wild war-song of the rude
Indian.—And to none shall the Welsh yield in point of character !
What can be more characteristic than, Of a noble Race was
Shenkin ? The immortal Handel introduced it, in one of his
Operas ; and Mr. Cramer, the celebrated piano-forte performer,
thus mentions it in his Instruction Book—" This Air is a fine
specimen of the Welsh national music ; originality and boldness
of character are united in the melody."—The Rising of the
Lark is another beautiful air, full of energy and melody. Dr.
Haydn said, that it was one of the finest compositions he had ever
heard. This is a great favourite among the singers in Wales ;
* " Wyf llogell cerdd, wyf lle'enydd." Buarth Beirild. Arch, of
Wales, vol. i. p. 27. Many other similar instances occur in his poems,
f Mydwyf Taliesin
Areith lif Dewin.—Canu y Byd Maxr. Ib. p. 35.
14 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
and the stanzas, in praise of the fair maids of Meirionydd, are
sung to it. The celebrated song in the Beggar's Opera of
" Cease your funning" is a Welsh air, (Llwya OnnJ, varied
a little. The song, which I wrote for Mr. Braham, called
" Beauty in Tears," is to the same air. But, in order to give
your readers an idea of the various styles and characters of the
Welsh airs, it will be proper, that I should class them, making
such observations on them, as I may deem proper, and point
those out, which are mostly sung in these days. I have arranged
and published two volumes of the Welsh Music for a military
band ; also a Collection for the piano-fortej flute, and violon
cello; and a Selection of Melodies with appropriate English
words, so that I am not unacquainted with their beauties *.
Wishing every possible success to the Cambro-Briton,
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
July 15, 1819. John Parry.
ORIGINAL LETTERS.
LETTER I.
Mr- Edward Llwyd f to Mr. Humphrey Wanley % ; dated
Apleton, February 8th, 1703.
Sir,—Your first letter being at Oxford, I could return no
speedier answer to the last : nor can I indeed yet a satisfactory
one. As for the names of Foermen and Owun, if you find the
Saxons used them, there's no more to be sayd :—but, because you
ask'd me whether they were not British names, I thought you
took it for granted, or at least suspected, they were not Saxon.
* The late Mr. Owen Jones presented me with a book containing thirty
airs, which were collected, among the Harpers in Wales, by a person em
ployed by him for that purpose. Several of these have never been pub
lished.—J. P.
f The well-known author of the Archceologia Britannica, the first volume
only of a comprehensive work, which he designed to publish, on the Lan
guage and Antiquities of Wales,—but which, unfortunately for his coun
try, he 'did not live to complete. He was a native of Cardiganshire, and
studied at Oxford, where he became keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, an
office which he retained until his death, in 1709. He left behind him
many valuable MSS. of Welsh learning, which were purchased by Sir
Thomas Sebright, and continued for a long time in that family. It is to be
feared, however, that they have since been destroyed by fire.—Ed.
| He was librarian to Lord Oxford, and arranged the famous Haileian
Collection of MSS., now in the British Museum.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 15
I thank you for your transcript of the barbarous words in the
Cambridge Psalter, some of which I know to be Irish, and conclude
the rest, which I understand not, to be so, because in just the
same hand. The papers enclosed were very acceptable, and are
here returned as you desired. That the Irish received their
alphabet from the Britons is the opinion of a learned and judi
cious author of their own country, Sir James Ware, in his Dis-
qttisitiones de Hiberniu, &c., where he says, " Porro ut Hiberni
" olim utebantur lingua antiqua Britannica, ita etiam a priscis
" Britannis accipiebant alphabetam ceu literas, uti forte Saxones
" postea ab Hibernis, dum ad scholas Hibernicas discendi gratia
" confluerunt." The same we find to be the opinion also of Bol-
landus, for which Flaherty is much displeased with him, in the
third part of his Ogygia. As for letters among the Britans *, you
know (whatsoever they had before the Roman Conquest) all are
agreed, they became partly civilized upon that conquest. But, if
there be any authentique proof, that the Anglo-Saxons (who, you
know, came not in til about 400 years after) had the use of letters
at their coming, 'tis, I must confess, what I am ignorant of.
I communicated a copy of the monument of Prince Kadvan f
(which is a rude stone above the church door at Lhan Gadwaladr,
in Anglesey), to Mr. Hicks, of Trevithic, whom you formerly
mentioned, which he shewing with some others to Dr. Musgrave,
of Exeter, the Dr. beg'd copies of them, and sent them to Dr.
Sloan, who has printed them in the Philosophical Transactions. I
did not, I think, mention in my last, that the monument was dated
anno 607, but onely that Cadvan, whose monument I conclude
that to be, was one of the British commanders at the battle of
Bangor, which, according to the Chron. Sax., was that year.
It's so plain and barbarous, that it contains nothing at all but
" Catamannus Rex Sapientissimus, Opinatissimus Omnium Re-
gum." I knew not at first there was such a word as opinatissi
mus ; but 'tis a classical word, and the same with celeberrimus.
The stone is, perhaps, but a piece of what it was at first.
I thank you heartily for your information concerning the
lections out of Scripture in the MS. NE D. 2.—19; for I had
neglected your having observed (that I now remember) no British
words interlined, which were the maign notes I looked after.
When I have spare time I hope to renew my acquaintance with
* The orthography of the original, in this and other instances, is scru
pulously observed.—Ed.
f Cadfan, sou of Iago, was prince of North Wales in 603. In 613 he
succeeded to the nominal sovereignty of Britain, and died in 630.—Ed.
16 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
that valuable monument. I found several British words in
Eute% ; for so the prefacer will have us read that name. He
begins his preface in honomati sumitonantis, &c., which coun
tenances your reading of the small paper sent in your last, which
I now return, being able to adde nothing to your conjecture : nor
could I, indeed, have read so much of it myself. The book is,
no doubt of it, British ;—but, whether you can call it Canibro-
British may be scrupled. However, 'tis but leaving out the
former part of the word, and you are safe.
My Irish vocabulary of obsolete words is but a transcript of
the small one given to the Bodleian Library by Dr. Hyde : but
I have also the old MS. ones, out of which that was printed, as
I guesse. I mean not the same copies, but others antient and on
velom. I have the Irish Catechism, both the Popish and Pro
testant. But the Highland Grammar and Lexicon, which you
say the Duke of Argyle has, is what I never heard of, and shall
therefore be heartily obliged if you can procure me the use of
them, especially the latter.
If you write to Man, I should be glad of a copy of the eleventh
chapter of Leviticus in Bp. Philips's Translation of the Bible ;
which, as I take it, was never printed, but is there in MS. I
never saw any Welsh writing near so old as that you sent me
out of the Lichfield MS., excepting three verses I lately sent to
the Bp. of Hereford, who is so curious in our language and an
tiquities, that I am sure he would be very glad to see the Lich
field MS.
I know not the books you mention in the publique library
written Uteris Hibernicis, unlesse you mean those also in that
language amongst Abp. Laud's. But I am at no great losse as
to the. reading part; but have far to seek for the old language as
well as (I fear me) even all their own nation.
As to the older entries, you know they are all maim'd except
two : nor are they indeed entire. The former I read thus :—
" Ostendit ista conscriptio quod dederunt Rhesus et Hirv
" Brechfa * usque ad Hirfaen Gwydhog f, a solitudine Gelhi J
" Irlath usque ad Camdhwr §. Emolumenta ejus sunt sexa-
" ginta panes et vervex et gworthewyr || butyri. Deus omnipotens
" testis est. Sadyrnwydd, Sacerdos, testis ; Nywys, T. ; Gwrgi,
" T. ; Cwdhwlv, T.—De Laicis Cynwern, T. ; Colhwyn, T. ; Ky-
" hyrged, T. ; Ermin (ceu Ewyn), T.—Qui custodierit benedictus
* Nomen loci. + Columnam saxeam conspicuam. | Sylvx.
§ Nomen fluvii. || Memura bodic ignota.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 17
" erit, et qui franxerit maledietus a Do." The other, though
best preserved, is not intelligible to me. The beginning seems
plain, via. " Surrexit Tydvwlch, filius Tinctoris, et.> Jtmimriug
" Eremita, ut postularent terram Teliavi, qua erat in inanu
"Elevii, filiiGelhiget ."
I am, Sir, your obliged friend and servant,
E. Lhwttd.
LETTER II.
Mr. Richard Gruffydd* to Camden; dated Anglesey,
January f.
Good Mr. Clarenceux,— I have had your kind letters, and
understand from this gentleman your great inquisitive care of my
health and well-doyng, which of your only great curtesy doth
procede and no merit in me, and maketh me so far beholding
unto you, as I shall remain your dettoure.
You say, you will cast about for Amirate upon Tacitus, which,
if you find, I pray you to deliver to this gentleman with a note
of the price, which you shall receave with convenient speed.
The letter I sent you I suspect myself, and yet, as I hear it is
of recorde, I will know the trueth and certify you thereof.
As touching Gwynedd (which you miscalle Gwenith, in Welsh
wheat,) my meaning and the dryfte of my last letter was (not
determining ought myself) to ofifre and represent to your learned
censure, if our Gwynedd, Vannes in Brytain, in Latin called
Veneti, they of the same name ad mare Adriaticum et ad mare
Balticum, where Halmodius doth place the towne of Wynethum,
did participate in idemptitye of name, as I think they do, refer
ring, if they do so, to your exquisite judgment to find out the
cause and reason thereof. They ad mare Balticum, by consent
of wryters, are thought to come of Hencti, in Asia, and their
language is called lingua Henetica, being the Sclavon tongue,
and much commended as copiouse and significant. They ad
mare Adriaticum, passing over particular opinions, are gene-
* Owing to the original MS. being torn, the name of Gruffydd does not
appear in full. The first four letters are, however, legible : and I have
ventured to supply the remainder, as not knowing any other Welsh name,
to which such a beginning is applicable. Perhaps among the readers of
the Cambro-Biuton it may be possible to procure some information of the
writer.—Ed.
+ No year is mentioned.—Ed.
Vol. I. D
18 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
rally supposed to have come thither with Antenor from Troy. We
of this country think ourselves to be some remayne of the same,
althoughe I believe we came hither from Gallia. As for Genonia
in Pausanias *, confining with Brigantes, I think they belong
nothing to us. This with some may work a diversity in the name
of us of this country and them of Armorica, that we end in dd
or th, and they in *, whereas, in trueth it proceedeth of the
dialect. We say davad a sheepe, gwlad a country, and huad
a dog ; they and the Cornishe say davas, gulas, hias, or hios,
whereof, as I think, was deduced Hiesus adored in forma
canind.
They of Vannes in Armorica I cannot gesse from whence
they come, otherwise than the rest of the people and nations of
Gallia. Geoffrey used Venedotus, and not Venetus, for the sur
name of Maelgwin, which proceedeth of his ignorance, as he
was an asse, and knew no more what he said there than in the rest
of his booke, that he farsed with infinite lyes and erroures. He,
among his manifold falshodes, defaced the glory of our nacion, I
meane King Arthur, the noblest prince of his tyme comparable
with any in the world, whom learned wryters do highly commend
and lament to have wanted a true trumpet of his own fame.
Geoffrey wryteth no trueth of him, hydeth his noble actes worthy
of all memory, and attributeth to him the things, he never did,
very false and unlykely with respect of the state of the time and
the consent of wryters.
As for Maglocunus and Draco Insularis f, they be names
devized, the first by fantasticke ignorance accompanied with a
vague shew of contrefait skylle, the other by particular passion
breaking out into bitter invective against our countrey prynces.
Moreover I do frankly confesse, that I think Gwynedd to be an
antient name, and, that which is more and may be of some ac-
compted most absurd, I believe, that Lloegr, Wales, and Poys,
with many others yet extant, be antient names, and so antient as
that they were retained before rather the comyng than the de
parture of the Romans. And, as for Deheubarth, it is none
other name of Wales, than is the North and West of England.
* See Camden's Britannia, in the remarks on the Ordovices. Gibson's
Edition, p. 650.—Ed.
f See Edward Ltwyd's observations on these names in Camden's Britan
nia, in his " Additions to Caernarvonshire." Ibid, p. 670.—Ed.
X From the paleness of the ink about twelve lines are here quite ille
gible.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 19
1 have said before what I think of Gwynedd, that it is borrowed
of Veneti in Armorica. Concerning Poys, corruptly called
Powys, I think it cometh of the name of Poysi, a town in France,
where there was, near forty year past, a conference for religion.
There was a towne situate six miles west of Salop, destroyed by
Owen Glyndwr, where the castell and a village yet remain,
called Caors, which name I think to be borrowed of Caors, in
France.
I could risk more ; but this sufficeth. I ende this letter from
home, as you may see by the change of my hike and penne. I
pray you write unto me what you think of this my conceit, and
also how Armorica came to be called Britannia ; and I assure
you upon the receipt thereof I will more at large write of this
matter, and also what I think of Britayne. In the mean time I
commyt you to the care of the Almighty. Anglesey, Idib :
Januar.
Totus tuus,
RlCH\RD GRUFFYDD.
hi,. .
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
OWEN JONES.
The benefactors of mankind are not always to besought in the
high road of popular glory. The senate and the camp teem, it is
true, with renown at once splendid and dazzling. But in the shade
of private life, in the sequestered walks of retirement, we shall
often find public virtue, less ostentatious indeed in its immediate
effects, but more beneficial in its general aim : and for which,
perhaps, posterity shall weave a more unsullied wreath than any,
that has adorned the brows of a conqueror or a statesman.
Of the various methods, by which a private individual may
promote the interests of his country, the encouragement of its
literature must not be esteemed the least efficacious. If the boun
teous hand of charity may command a sublimer influence, the
benefits, that flow from the patronage of learning and science, are
of a more extensive and of a more durable character. If the
tendency of the former be to alleviate the sufferings, and to
supply the necessities, of our nature,—undoubtedly a heavenly
occupation,—it is more peculiarly the province of the latter to
spread abroad the empire of morality and of knowlege. The
protector of literature, therefore, whether by fostering living
so THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
talent, or by rescuing from oblivion the genuis of past ages, has
an indisputable claim to be enrolled amongst the benefactors of
•his fellow-men.
The position here advanced is one, which will be allowed to
apply to all countries and to all times, but with more peculiar
force to such times and countries, as may have been remarkable
for a dearth of public spirit in this respect. The merit, naturally
belonging to this species of patriotism, is thus enhanced by the con
trast, and especially, if it be the disinterested spirit of a humble
individual contrasted with the supineness of affluence and of rank.
Such is the description of worth, which it is the aim of this brief
memoir to record. And the " short and simple annals " of Mr.
Owen Jones are easily filled. He was a younger son of a respect
able family, which had been long in the enjoyment of a pretty con
siderable freehold on the spot, where its descendants are still to
be found. The parish, of which he was a native, is Llanfibangel
Glyn y Myfyr, in the county of Denbigh : in the name of which
may be discovered a sort of prophetic allusion to the character,
by which his future life was to be marked. And, in the title,
which he afterwards assumed, he did not forget, that he had come
from the " Valley of Contemplation*." Of his education no
thing certain is known to the writer of this sketch ; but it may be
presumed, that it was only such as the opportunities of the neigh
bourhood could supply. And those of the country parishes in
Wales are not very enviable. However, even this doubtful
advantage he did not continue long to enjoy : for he was sent
early in lifeJto London, where he was taken into the employment
of Messrs. Kidney and Nutt, furriers, in Thames-street, to whose
business he eventually succeeded. And he continued to carry
on the trade with credit, and a fair portion of success, until the
lime of his death.
The diligence, however, with which he pursued his particular
calling, did not prevent him from devoting a considerable share
of his time to his native country, his attachment to which was at
once ardent and inflexible t- The unmerited neglect, so long
* The literal translation of Glyn y Myfyr is the Valley of the Contem
plative Man. And " Myfyr" was the bardic designation, which, in com
pliance with the custom of his country, Mr. Jones adopted in his literary
undertakings.
•f His national zeal was once evinced in a most singular manner, when,
upon being present at the performance of Shakespear's Henry 5th, and
seeing Fluelin compel Pistol to eat his leek, he clapp'd his hands with a
rapturous exultation, exclaiming at the same time, " That is right, that is
" right !»
THE CAMBRO-BRTTON. •2!
experienced by our national literature, conld not fail to impress
itself deeply on a mind so disposed. And he accordingly resolved
to appropriate to himself the honourable distinction, which had
belonged to the Maecenases and the Leos of other countries. He
became at once the patron of the modern genius of Wales, and
the conservator of her past fame. Thus in the obscure retreat
of a private individual was nourished a spirit, which, in better
times, had been deemed an honour to the mansions of princes.
In the prosecution of this plan he omitted nothing, that might
conduce to its proper accomplishment. His time and his purse
were alike dedicated to the cause ': and the result has been seen
in a very extensive collection of MSS., and in the publication of
the most antient and valuable remains of Welsh literature. He
was likewise the founder of the Gwyneddigion Society, and,
during the remainder of his life, did not cease to contribute h»
pecuniary aid in every way, in which it could be of service, to
wards advancing the laudable objects of that institution *.
The principal works, which he published at his own expence,
were the Poems of Dafydd ab Gwilym, with a Preface from the
pen of Mr. William Owen Pughe ; and, for the use of his country
men in humble life, " Dyhewyd y Cristion," or, " the Christian's
Resolution," a translation from the English by the celebrated Dr.
John Davies. He likewise established a periodical work in Welsh
under the title of " Greal." But what will constitute the proudest
monument to his fame, as long as the Welsh language shall be
known amongst men, is the " Arehaiology of Wales," embrac
ing, in three large octavo volumes f, all the most distinguished
productions of the country from the fifth to the close of the thir
teenth century. These he is represented to have given to theS
world with a conscientious fidelity, and at an expence, in their
collection and publication, somewhat exceeding a thousand
pounds. When it is considered, that by far the greatest portion
of these literary treasures had not before appeared in print,
that many of them were thus, in all probability, saved from
impending destruction,—and when with this is remembered the
reproachful indifference, that generally prevailed with respect to
Welsh learning, making remuneration hopeless,—this act of dis
interested patriotism can not be estimated too highly. '
* See p. 34, post,
\ These were published in the respective years of 1901, and 1807. Mr*
Joues was assisted in the literary superintendance of the work by Mr. W,
O. Pughe and Mr, Edward( Williams, the venerable bard of Glamorgan.
22 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
To these public exertions the subject of this memoir added
others, which, although of a private nature, had the same patriotic
object in view, and must not, therefore, be passed without notice.
He was at the additional pains and expence of collecting manu
script copies of the Poetry of Wales from the year 1300, when
the Archaiology concludes, to the time of Elizabeth, comprised
in about fifty quarto volumes, each containing nearly five hundred
pages. This valuable collection is at present, it is believed, in
the penwasipn of his son. . j
Nor must it be forgotten, in this inadequate tribute to the
memory of Mr. Owen Jones, to record, that he united with his
merit as a patriot many amiable private qualities, extending often
to individuals that benevolence, of which his country had so
largely partaken. A single anecdote, for the authenticity of
which the writer of this memoir can vouch, will at once illustrate
the justice of the preceding remark. A few years after the esta
blishment of the Gwyneddigion Society, the author of a cele
brated Welsh Essay, to which one of its prizes was awarded, at
tracted, in consequence, the notice of its generous founder. A
correspondence between them was the necessary result, and in the
course of it our Welsh Rfecenas urged his new friend to give
his talents the benefit of an academical education, using, in his
letter on the occasion, these characteristic words :—" I will bear
" your expences :—draw upon me for any sums of money you
" may be in need of whilst in college. And the condition of the
" obligation is this, that, if, by any reverse of fortune, 1 should
" become poor, and you in a state of affluence, then you must
" maintain me." No stronger proof of his liberal spirit can be
required. It is proper to add, however, that the gentleman, here
alluded to, was only once under the necessity of trespassing on
his patron's munificence ; and he then found him true to his be
nevolent promise. Yet it takes nothing from the merit of his in
tention, that it was not more fully executed. It should also be
remembered, that by his judicious discernment in this instance,
and by his encouraging instigation, he was the means of bringing
into public notice an individual, who has since proved himself a
distinguished proficient in our national literature. He was the
Ulysses,
—— per quern magnus Danais successit Achilles.
After a life, thus signalized by private excellence and by
public zeal, Mr. Owen Jones left the world lamented by many,
respected by all. He died at his house in Thames-street, on the
■
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 23
26th of September, 1814, at the age of 73, leaving a widow and
three children to unite their sorrow with that of his country, and
to derive from its sympathy the truest consolation, that can be
experienced for the loss of departed worth *.
* •
CRITICISM.
Coit Gwynfa : or Paradise Lost translated into Wu.su 6y
W. O. Pughe. 8vo. pp. 371. 8s. E. Williams, 1819.
The fame of Milton has long ceased to be at the mercy of
time. It has, for ages, become one of the brightest possessions of
eternity, as far, at least, as that term may be applied to the re
nown of this world. In no language does there exist a nobler
specimen of the union of learning and genius,—of the pomp and
dignity of the former and the luxuriance and sublimity of the
latter,— than is afforded by Paradise Lost. Its very blemishes
result from the exuberance of its author's knowlege ; and its
beauties are such as his towering fancy could alone have created.
It was Milton too, be it remembered, that made the first successful
effort to liberate the English Muse from the bondage of rhyme.
He first taught her to exchange her monkish frippery for a more
sober and a more classical attire f. He also taught his native
language itself to soar to a higher point in the scale of poetical
excellence ; he intermixed with her homely phraseology the po
lished idioms of more cultivated tongues, and engrafted upon her
comparatively naked stock a variety of choice exotics from the
genial climes of Rome and of Athens. To the valuable stores,
* A very appropriate tribute was paid, on this melancholy event, by
the Gwyneddigion Society to the memory of one, whom they had so many
reasons for styling their " Father." All the members appeared in deep
mourning,—their silent harp was covered with black crape, and an affect
ing dirge, composed on the occasion by Mr. John Jones, then bard to the
Society, prepared all present to participate with still deeper emotion in the
mournful solemnity.
f It is not intended by this assertion to insinuate, that Milton was the
first English poet who wrote in blank verse, but only, that he was the first
to make a successful use of it. The earliest English composition of this
nature was a Translation of the second and fourth books of the .Sneis by
Lord Surry, in 1557, See Warton's History of English Poetry, vol. Hi.
r. 21,
THE CAMBR0-6RIT0N.
with which his classical learning thus supplied him, he likewise
added others, which he readily derived from a familiar acquaint
ance with the most admired productions of modern Italy. It was
hence, in all probability, that he learned to give to his verse that
melody ofconstruction, which a poetical ear cannot fail to discover.
Thus, by his adoption of many foreign words, by a new combi
nation in the mechanism of his sentences, and by a more musical
metre, the English language acquired in his hands an accession
both of strength and of ornament, to which it had been before
unaccustomed :
Miraturque novas frondes, et non sua poma.
The few preceding remarks appeared to be in some degree
necessary, to remind the reader of the difficulty, that must natu
rally accompany any attempt to translate a writer so variously
and so learnedly gifted, and of whom it may emphatically be
said, with reference to his greatest work, that, as his theme was
divine, so his song was equal with his theme.
It must not be deemed surprising, however, that, notwithstand
ing these discouraging obstacles, endeavours should have been
made to naturalize the sublime poem of Paradise Lost in most of
the modern languages of Europe. Germany, Holland, Portugal,
France and Italy have alike aimed at this honour. With respect
to the former two, it will readily be imagined, that the harshness
of the Teutonic dialects was found far from being congenial with
the dignity, and, it may even be said, the splendour of the origi
nal. Whatever advantage, therefore, the German and Dutch
translators may have acquired over the English poet in force of
expression, if, indeed, there was a chance of superiority there,
they must have lost in their efforts to emulate the studied harmony
of his metrical cadences, and the classical richness of his style.
The Portuguese language again, so little adapted as it has been
to the higher strains of poetry, may. well be pardoned for having
failed to pourtray, in any remarkable manner, the excellence of
the English epic.
On the French translators it can hardly be requisite to offer '
any remark. From a prudent regard to the infirmity of their
vernacular tongue, so unequal to the bolder flights of imagina
tion, they have not ventured, for the most part, to give their
versions a poetical dress. Conscious of the justice of Voltaire's
satirical observation, that his countrymen wanted an epic head,
they felt, at the same time, that they were also in want of an
epic language.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 25
The Italians alone seem to have succeeded in their attempt* to
seize, in any considerable degree, the spirit of their great pro
totype; and, if they have not equalled him in the diversified
energy of his metrical pauses, they have perhaps surpassed him
in the softness and mellifluence of their verse. But even for this
advantage, if indeed a monotonous sweetness deserve the name,
they must have been indebted more to the musical qualities of
their language than to any superiority of poetical art. The
Italian versions, however, are for the most part pretty accurate
copies of the original both in spirit and metre ; and it may be
noticed, that a certain affinity in the accentuation of the two
languages afforded, in the latter instance, every opportunity for
success *.
From this cursory view of the continental translations it is now
time to turn to that, which has given occasion to the foregoing re
marks ; and to a Cambro-Briton the task can not but be one of
delight and of exultation.
It is certainly a matter of surprise, that, of the numerous Eng
lish classics, and particularly the poets, no one of any eminence
should, until now, have made its appearance in a Welsh dress. It
was reserved for the celebrated author of our national dictionary
to open one path as successfully as he had closed another,—for
him, who had given us a Johnson, to make Milton our own. And
the masterly style, in which he has achieved this last performance,
merits the gratitude, as it must undoubtedly receive the praise, of
his country. For the felicity of the execution will be allowed by
all competent and unprejudiced judges to be in proportion with
the novelty of the design.
Nor does this novelty consist only in the attempt to translate
into Welsh the most sublime and, perhaps, the most difficult of
* The Latin translations of Paradise Lost are here passed without no
tice, not because they possess no merit, but because a comparison between
the living and dead languages can not, in this case, be fairly made. Be
sides, however excellent a Latin or Greek version may be in its way, there is
still such a want of originality, such a servile mimicry of the antient writers
in all modern productions of this description, as can not fail to be unsatis
factory to every person of true poetical feeling. The following is the com
mencement of Dr. Trapp's Translation of Paradise Lost :—
" Primnm hominis lapsum vetitaqne ex arbore fructus
Avulsos, quorum e gustu lethale venenum
Mortem, atque omne malum, quo plectimur, intulit orbi ;
Amissa Edena, donee nos asserat horto
Unus homo major redimens, sedique beats ;
Coelestis cane Musa, -
Vol. I. E
26 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
English poems. It embraces moreover an endeavour, most suc
cessfully accomplished, to adapt the Welsh language to the metre
of the original. • It may not be generally known out of Wales,
that the poetry of that country, as far as its metrical harmony is
concerned, is founded on principles exclusively its own. Com
prising, as it does, in its four-and-twenty metres, every variety
of verse known to antient or modern Europe, it still adapts them
to a certain law unknown to all other countries. This, in the
language of Wales, is styled Cynghanedd, which consists in a
certain correspondent alliteration of words with reference to
their rhythmical symphony. Upon a skilful observance of this
principle the beauties of Welsh verse mainly depend. It
was established as a constituent part of it as early as the ninth
century, since which time it has hitherto continued, though
greatly modified and improved, to be considered as indispensible
to its formation.
From what has been above said it will be inferred, that the
English heroic verse is not unknown to the Welsh poets : but,
divested of the peculiarity just noticed, it must be regarded as a
novelty. And, when the disadvantage of writing in a metre,
stripped of its natural aids, is duly considered, the merit of Mr.
Pughe's performance can not fail to be enhanced. Nothing but
the natural vigour and buoyancy of our noble language, and his
masterly management of it, could have raised it superior to such
an obstacle. But this is not all : he has not merely surmounted
this difficulty, but has been most happy in imitating the harmo-
jiious mechanism of the original, as will be evident by a comparison
of many of those passages, in which Milton's great skill in that
respect is most conspicuous. In a word, Mr. Pughe's country
men must feel truly grateful to him for thus proving most satis
factorily, that the Welsh, even when shorn of its own poetical
beams, is not only equal in energy and in majesty to the English,
but is far more expressive and more harmonious. And, it should
farther be observed, that our translator has, with much judg
ment, availed himself of the several dialects of the Welsh
tongue, to give to his work that copiousness and variety, for
which the English bard felt himself obliged to have recourse to
the assistance of foreign languages.
The exordium of Paradise Lost is here selected to prove, in
some degree, the justice of what has been now asserted, not
indeed because it furnishes the best instance that might be
selected, but because, being so well known to all English readers,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
it will render the transcribing of the original in a great measure
unnecessary.
" Am drosedd Dyn, ac aeron teg y pren
Yn waharddedig, idd y byd ei flas
A ddygai angeu, a phob echrys wae, . -
Gan golli Eden, nes adferer ni, ,—
Trwy un mwy Dyn, a meddu y fro gain,
0 cana Awen nefawl, hon oddiar v, '
Ben Horeb, neu o gwmwl Sinai ddu,
A roddit idd y bugel hwnw ddawty-H .
A ddysgai gyntaf y dewisawl had
1 wybod, yn y dechreu fal y daeth. ; •..
Y byd o Dryblith * dwys : Neu os i ti .'
Tirionach mynydd Sion ac wrth ffrwd ,
Siloa hon a red ger gwyddfa Duw :
Oddiyno anfon nawdd i gan mor hy,
O fryd anturiaw nid ar isel hynt 7
Uwch holl orseddau awenyddion ail f>
Tra synio am newyddion bethau gwiw.: . .
Yn benaf Ti, O Yspryd Gwir, a wyt v
O flaen pob tend yn dewis caloii Ian, . x
Addysga fi, o herwydd gwyddkd wyllj:::
Cynnrychawl odd y cyntaf oeddit Tij [;i
A chan amledu dy adenydd gwrdd, ' , , o
Mai y golomen, ar y dyfnder mawr
Eisteddit, a deorai iddo hil :
Hyn ynnof dywyll sydd yn oleu gwna, • —' - -i
Derchafa hyn sy wael; trwy hawl.mor fawr
Yr honwyf drefn Rhagluniaeth erioed a byth,
A chyfiawnau i ddynion lwybrau Duw."
No one, conversant with the Welsh language, can fail to appre
ciate the merits of this passage, and especially of the last eleven
lines, beginning, in the English, with
" But chiefly thou, O Spirit that dost prefer."
Let us compare Mr. Pughe's version with the Italian translation
by Paolo Rolli of the same lines. It is thus he renders them.
* " Tryblith,']—Chaos, neu Cymysg, ydoedd yr enw gan y Groegiaid
iddy ddaiar, pan oedd afluniaidd, cyn y ctead."
f "Neu, Uwch i orseddfa awenyddion Gryw.}—Baeotia, talaeth o dlr
Gryw, a e'.wid hefyd Aonia, neu wlad yr Awen ; ac yno safai moel Helicon
lie, meddynt, yr ymorseddai yr Aonides neu yr Awenyddion : ac o hyny yr
enwid Aonian Mount yn y ganiad hon."
28 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
" Principalmente o tu Spirito, che a tempii
Tutti anteponi un retto e puro cuore,
Istruiscimi tu, perche tu sai,
E dal principio essendo tu presente ;
Giacesti con possenti ale distese
Qual colomba, a covar su'l vasto abisso,
E pregnante il facesti : or tu rischiara
Quanto e d'oscuro in me ; tu quel, ch' £ urm'Ie,
In alto lieva e ve'l sostini, ond' Io,
Al sommo d'un cosi grande argomento,
Possa asserir la Providenza eterna,
E all' Uom le vie giustificar di Dio."
No person, even moderately acquainted with the two languages,
can hesitate where to bestow the preference. The Welsh trans
lator has not only equalled the Italian in the melody of his verse,
but has an abundant advantage in the force and variety of his
cadences. To compare the Welsh with the Italian in melody
may appear a species of arrogance to the admirers of the latter
tongue. But it is a fact beyond dispute, that our native language
is capable of as soft and as eweet a combination as the Italian.
With a far richer store of vocal sounds, it makes a less frequent
use of the dental or hard consonants, as may be fully illustrated
by a comparison of the lines here quoted. Indeed the whole
passage, extracted from Mr. Pughe's Translation, bears testi
mony to the fact. Nothing can be sweeter than the first six
lines :—and of these the fifth and sixth are particularly so. But
the work abounds in examples of this sort, some of which will
be noticed hereafter.
It would be a task of too much time to dwell now on all the
beauties of Coll Gwynfa. It shall be the business, however,
of a future number to enter into a more minute examination of
its most prominent features. All, that has been attempted on
the present occasion, is a survey of its general characteristics;
and, if the language of praise alone has been adopted, it has
been because no other could be conscientiously used. The merit
of the undertaking was of itself sufficient to call for it ; and when
to this are added the judiciousness of the design, and the skill
evinced in the execution, what alternative has a critic, with refer
ence to the general character of the work, but panegyric ?
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 29
AWEN CYMRU.
A'th rodd yw athrwydd Awen. Edm. Pry«.
PENNLLLION*
I.
Ni chin cog ddim amser gaua',
Ni chan telyn heb ddim tannau,
Ni chan calon, hawdd i'ch wybod,
Pan fo galar ar ei gwaelod.
II.. .
Cleddwch fi, pan fyddwyf farw,
Yn y coed tan ddail y derw;
Chwi gewch weled llangc pen felyn
Ar fy medd yn canu'r delyn.
ill.
Dyn a garo grwth a thelyn,
Sain cynghanedd, can, ag englyn,
A gar y pethau mwya tirion,
Sy'n y Nef y' mhlith angylion :
Yr un ni charo don a chaniad
Ni chair ynddo naws o gariad ;
Fe welir hwn, tra byddo byw,
Yn gas gan ddyn, a chas gan Dduw.
IV.
Clywais ddadwrdd, clywais ddwndrio,
Clywais ran o 'r byd yn beio ;
Erioed ni chlywais neb yn datgan
Fawr o 'i hynod feiau ei hunan.
v.
Pan fo seren yn rhagori,
Fe fydd pawb a 'i olwg arni,
Pan ddaw unwaith gwmmwl drosti,
Ni bydd mwy o son am dani.
* If any of these Pennillion should have before appeared in print (ag in
deed some have), it is hoped, that their merit will be received as a suffi
cient apology for their republication. An attempt to convey to the English
reader some idea of their peculiar excellence will be found in a subsequent
page : but it is impossible, that any translations should do adequate jus
tice to the sweet simplicity and characteristic expressiveness of the ori
ginals.—Ed.
30 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
VI.
Gwell na'r gwin yw 'r medd per hidlaid,
Diod Beridd yr hen Frutaniaid ;
Gwtn a bair ynfydrwydd cynnen,
Ond yn y medd mae dawn yr Awen.
" • *n.
D'accw lwyn o fedw gleision,
D'accw 'r llwyn sy 'n torri 'nghalon ;
Nid am y llwyn yr wy 'n ochneidio,
Ond am y ferch a welais ynddo.i: •.
TRANSLATIONS FROM THE BARDS.
CONSOLATION OF ELFFIN,
BY TAUESIN*.
Fair Elffin, cease to lament !
Let no one be dissatisfied with his own :
To despair will bring no advantage... .,;
No man sees what supports him ; .
The prayer of Cynllo f will not be in vain,
God will not violate his promise.
Never in Gwyddno's wear , .
Was there such good luck as to-night.
Fair Elffin, dry thy cheeks !
To be too sorrowful will profit thee nothing,
Although thou thinkest, thou hast no gain,
Too much grief will bring thee no good.
Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty:
Although I am but little, I am well-gifted.
From seas and from mountains,
And from the depths of rivers,
God brings wealth to the fortunate man.
Elffin, of lively qualities,
Thy resolution is unmanly ;
... - • Thou must not be too pensive :
Better to trust in God than to forebode ill.. • • ;. . . .
* See page U ante.
f A saint,—native of South Wales,—to whom there are three churches de
dicated ; one in Radnorshire, and two in Cardiganshire.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 31
Weak and small as I am '
On the foaming beach of the ocean,
In the day of trouble I shall be
Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon *.
Elffin, of notable qualities,
Be not displeased at thy misfortune ;
Although reclined, thus weak, in my bag f,
There dwells a virtue in my tongue.
While I continue- thy protector,
Thou hast not much to fear.
Through a remembrance of the names of the Trinity,
None shall be able to harm thee.
ENGLISH POETRY.
THE SOLILOQUY OF A BARD, ON THE SPOT,
After the last Conflict J in Snowdon.
FROM THE WELSH.
Lo ! the heroic heap I see,
My country's sons that once were free ;
They fell a falling land to save,
And grateful Cambria decks the grave.
Insatiate Saxons §—there they lie,
Their spirits dare you from the sky ;
Eternal rivals—fiends despair !
For Vice and Virtue meet not there.
Again I see you point the dart,
Its purpose fell—the patriot heart ;
* Alluding to the failure of his fishery. ' . ' "
f This has reference to the leathern bag, in which he is said to have been
found, when taken up in Elffin's wear.
% The politic Edward well knew, though Llewelyn was dead, that the
country was unsubdued while the recesses of Snowdon were unexplored :
here, therefore, it was, that in a morass (the Thermopylae of Cambria)
these heroes were attacked by the Earl of Warwick, who, after a most san
guinary conflict, by a superiority in numbers and tactics, prevailed over
this intrepid band struggling for the expiring independence of their country,
and who, when they failed to conquer, chose to fall.
Notes to " Beaumaris Bay."
§ The various invaders of England were, and still are, denominated Sae-
son, (Saxons), as in the Levant every European distinction is lost in the
word Frank.
82 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Yet know—this arm no Saxon fears,
Though Cambria's fields are wet with tears.
Again I hear the dire decree,
That bids fair Freedom cease to be ;
The world, that Edward wants, we give—
The good, the brave, disdain to live.
Yet England's sons, in future times,
Shall read in blood their father's crimes ;
Concealed in flowers * I see the spear,
The thorns that shall their vitals tear.
Yes, yes ! the day, that marks their doom,
Again shall see my country bloom—
To Britain—Britain's race restore,
And bid Contention cease to roar.
For me divides yon bursting cloud,
The flash f descends in summons loud ;
I rise to join yon hallow'd host, ,
Nor fall to swell a tyrant's boast. Llwyd.
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
See pp. 29, and 30, ante.
I.
In winter's cold no cuckoo sings,
Nor sounds the harp without its strings,
Dumb too the heart, as well we know,
When stifling sorrow lurks below.
iI.
In yonder wood, 'neath yon oak-tree,
Lay me, when I'm dead, I crave ;
And soon the minstrel youth you'll see
Tune his wild harp o'er my grave,
in.
The man, to whom the harp is dear,
Who loves the sound of song and ode,
Will cherish all that's cherish'd there,
Where angels hold their blest abode :
* This evidently alludes to the long and destructive war of the roses,
f In antient times, a flash of lightning was the Messenger sent for the
favourites of Heaven.
THE CAMBRO^RITON. 33
But he, who loves not tune or strain,
Nature to him no love has given ;
You'll see him, while his days remain,
Hateful at once to earth and heaven *.
IV.
What noise and scandal fill my ear,
One half the world to censure prone !
Of all the faults, that thus I hear,
None yet have told me of their own.
v.
When a star in splendour blazes,
How each eye in rapture gazes !
Let but a cloud its brilliance cover,
And this wonder is all over.
VI.
Better than wine the flowing mead,
Mead, beloved by bards of yore ;
Let wine to strife and madness lead, '
Mead unlocks the Muse's store f-
* The association of the love of music with the love of virtue is, by no
mean*, uncommon. The poets of Italy, where Terpsichore has ever put on
her most fascinating graces, make frequent allusions to it. And amongst the
English, whose musical taste bears a strong resemblance with that of the
Italians, may be found some fine poetical passages to the same effect. Of
these the well-known lines of Shakespear, beginning
" The man who hath no music in himself,"
and the beautiful exordium of Congreve's " Mourning Bride" are the most
remarkable. Yet to neither of these passages are the stanzas, above
translated, inferior. On the contrary, by viewing the subject, as they do, in
either light, they seem to have an advantage over the English lines. And
there may, moreover, be discovered in them a sort of sympathy with the
serious and plaintive character of the Welsh music. But this is a point, on
which I must not dwell. The subject is already in far abler hands ; aod, no
doubt, ample justice will be done to it by the gentleman, whose introductory
letter on Welsh Music appears in a preceding page.—Ed.
f Literally, " In mead is the gift of poetical genius."—The poets of all
countries have been fond of appropriating this virtue to their favourite be
verage. Amongst the antients Anacreon and Horace have been most profuse
in their panegyrics on the subject. The latter even goes so far as to deny
to water drinkers any claim to poetical inspiration. Thus he says,
" Nulla placere diu, nee vivere carmina possunt,
" Qua3 scribuntur aquae potoribus." EP.—Lib. i. Ep. 19.
Without undertaking to determine this important point, it may safely be
presumed, that the lovers of mead had at least as strong a title to the fai
vours of the Muses as the bibbers of wine. The produce of the honey-comb
must have been, to the full, as pregnant with the gift of song as the juice of
the grape. The Welsh poets abound in the praise of mead: and Taliesin,
as before noticed, has left us a tine eulogium on this bardic beverage,—Ed.
Vol. I. F
34 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
* **
VII.
Behold yon birchen grove just by,
It pains my bosom every minute ;
Yet 'tis not for the grove I sigh,
It is for her I saw within it.
WALES.
[Under this head will, in future, be collected all intelligence of moment re
lating to the modern state of Wales, whether of a local nature or not.
The space, unexpectedly occupied by one or two articles, has en
croached, in the present instance, upon that intended to be devoted to
this purpose. In consequence, a few topics of interest are reluctantly
reserved for another opportunity —Ed.]
GWYNEDDIGION SOCIETY.—Of the various means,
adopted to promote any patriotic objects, the establishment of
national societies has ever been found the most effectual. In a
foreign country, in particular, such associations are productive of
peculiar benefit, by concentrating in one point those individual
attachments and interests, which, from a want of this sympathetic
union, are too apt to wither away. And moreover, the scattered
rays, thus condensed, as it were, in a focus, cannot fail to acquire
additional lustre and energy.
For this reason, a brief sketch of the Gwyneddigion Society,
obviously originating in this principle, cannot but be congenial
with the design of the Cambro-Briton. This praiseworthy
institution, at first confined, as the name indicates, to the men of
North Wales, or Gwynedd, was established in London in 1771.
Its founder was the late Mr. Owen Jones, whose benefactions to
his country are shortly commemorated in a former part of this
Number. Several other patriotic individuals united in the under
taking, proposing, as their objects, the illustration of the litera
ture of Wales and the encouragement of her bards.
To promote these liberal views, they have, at different times,
patronised several works connected with the Principality, and,
amongst these, Mr. Parry's Welsh Melodies, Mr. Roberts's Welsh
Geography, and, recently, the Translation of Paradise Lost by
Mr. Pughe. But the chief aim of the Gwyneddigion Society has
been to keep alive that attachment to their national music and
poetry, by which, in days of yore, their country was so highly
distinguished. With this view, they made an attempt, several
years ago, to revive the antient Congresses of the Bards, and
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 36
distributed medals amongst the successful candidates. They have
likewise been in the practice, for some years, of rewarding, with
similar prizes, the best Welsh poems on subjects selected annually
for the occasion.
The meetings of the Society take place on the first Monday in
every month, when the sound of the antient harp of Cymru, and
its sweet Pennillion unite to perpetuate those patriotic feelings,
which first gave birth to the institution, and to chasten the hour
of conviviality with the affecting strains of that land, of which, in
the appropriate language of one of its own poets, it may justly
be said,
" Brodir, gnawd ynddi brydydd,
Heb ganu ni bu, ni bydd."
Hail, social land, to thee belong
The bard, and never-failing song. %•
CAERMARTHEN EISTEDDFOD.—It is not possible, on the
present occasion, to do more than give a brief outline of the pro
ceedings of this first general meeting of the Cambrian Society.
A detailed account of the origin and nature of this commendable
institution will appear, it is hoped, in the next number of the
Cambro-Briton, with the aim of whose pages it can not but be
congenial to preserve every important feature of an undertaking
so well calculated, in its design at least, to promote the cultiva-
tion of our national literature.
On Thursday, the 8th of July, in pursuance of a public notice,
given some months before, the first Eisteddfod, or Session, of
the Cambrian Society was holden at the Ivy-Bush Hotel, in the
town of Caermarthen. The Bishop of St. David's, in the ab
sence of Lord Dynevor, President of the Association in Dyfed,
took the chair, the duties of which he discharged with a zeal
and ability worthy of the interesting occasion, as well as of the
active part, which his Lordship had previously taken in forward
ing the success of a cause he had so warmly espoused.
The objects of the Eisteddfod having been stated by the
President in a brief and appropriate manner, and afterwards
more fully detailed in an animated speech by Mr. Edward
Williams, Bard to the Society, the business of the day was
opened with a recital of the prize compositions, which were
adjudged as follows :—
r. An Englyn on the Harp new-strung.—Rey. Walter
Davies, Rector of Manafon, Montgomeryshire.
n. A Cywydd on the Death of Sir Thomas Picton.—Tha
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
in. An Awdl on the Death of the Queen.—Mr. Griffith
Williams, of Llandegai, Caernarvonshire.
IV. An Essay on the distinct Characters and comparative
Advantages of the Bardic Institutions of Caermarthen and
Glamorgan.—Rev. Walter Davies.
V. An Essay on the Language and Learning of Britain under
the Roman Government.—Rev. John Jones, of Llanfair
Isgaer, Caernarvonshire.
In consequence of the extraordinary success of Mr. Walter
Davies on this literary arena, he was placed, by the general voice,
in the bardic chair, and invested with a blue ribbon, intended as
an imitation of the antient insignia of Bardism. The thanks of
the meeting were likewise deservedly voted to him on the occasion.
After some other business of ceremony a letter was read from the
" Royal Society of Antiquarians of France," to the President of
the Cambrian Society, soliciting a correspondence on subjects
connected with their respective associations, and promising, in
that event, to transmit to the Cambrian Society the Memoirs of
the French Institution.
On Friday, the 9th of July, an able contest on the harp took
place between Mr. Thomas Blayney and Mr. Henry Humphreys,
both . from Montgomeryshire, when, after a variety of national
airs, skilfully executed by each competitor, the former was de
clared to be the successful candidate. A silver harp was, accord
ing to antient custom, presented to him as the reward of his
triumph, together with a donation of thirty guineas ; while the
merit of his rival was at the same time acknowleged by a gratuity
of half that sum. Thus terminated all the essential proceedings of
this Eisteddfod. The next, it is said, will be holden at Wrexham,
in Denbighshire, in the course of the ensuing summer. %*
JESUS COLLEGE ASSOCIATION.—It is truly cheering to
see the sunshine of patriotism burst forth at length upon our native
country, over which the cloud of indifference had so long thrown
her -ominous shade. To this favourable revolution must be ascribed
the establishment of the Cambrian Society, and likewise the
Association of Gentlemen, educated at Jesus College, Oxford,
whose first meeting was held at Dollgelley, on the 4th of last
month. It was attended by Sir R. W. Vaughan, Col. Vaughan,
the Principal, and several of the Fellows, of the College, with
many other individuals of the first respectabilisy. Among the
laudable resolutions, adopted on the occasion, it was determined
to establish an annual subscription, by the present and late mem
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 37
bers of Jesus College, for the purpose of encouraging, with appro
priate premiums, the cultivation of the Welsh language amongst
the collegians, and especially those destined for the church. An
object, thus uniting a spirit of patriotism with the best interests
of our established religion, can not be too much applauded. It
is, in every way, worthy of the respectable source, from which
it has emanated. All that remains is to hope for a success answer
able to the spirited character of the enterprise. It is rumoured,
that the meetings of this Society are to be held only biennially.
Why not every year ? Individuals, who assemble for so praise
worthy a purpose, cannot assemble too often. %*
MENAI BRIDGE.—Some years have elapsed since the de
sign of erecting a bridge over the Menai-Strait was first contem
plated, for the obvious purpose of facilitating the intercourse be
tween this kingdom and Ireland. In 1810 and 1 81 1 (as appears
from the Parliamentary Report recently published), several plans
of cast-iron bridges were proposed to a Committee of the House
of Commons, and by them approved as adapted to the object in
question, and particularly one of a single arch of 500 feet in the
span, and 100 feet above high water, submitted in 1811 by Mr.
Telford, and the expence of which was estimated at somewhat
more than o£l27,000. The difficulty, however, of " fixing a
" proper centering, owing to the rocky bottom of the channel,
" and the depth and rapidity of the tideway," seems to have
caused this project to be abandoned almost as soon as it was
conceived. And accordingly we find Mr. Telford's plan of the
cast-iron bridge accompanied by the design of one to be con
structed on the principle of suspension. This, in the course of
a few years afterwards, upon being engaged to execute a similar
work over the Mersey at Runcorn, he was enabled to improve
very considerably.
In consequence he laid before a Committee of the House of
Commons last year his new design. According to this, the Iron
Hanging Bridge over the Menai will consist of one opening, of
560 feet, between the points of suspension ; in addition to which
there will be seven arches, four on the coast of Anglesey, and
three on that of Caernarvonshire, each 50 feet in the span, making'
the total length of the bridge 910 feet. The height above the
level of the high-water line will be 100 feet. " The road-way,"
says Mr. Telford, " will embrace two carriage-ways, each 12 feet
" in breadth, with a foot-path of four feet between them. The
" whole is to be suspended from four lines of strong iron cables,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
" by perpendicular iron rods, placed five feet apart, and these
" rods will support the road-way framing. The suspending
" power is calculated at 2016 tons, and the weight, to be sus-
" pended, exclusive of the cables, is 342 tons, leaving a dis-
" posable power of 1674 tons. The four sides of the road-ways
" will be made of framed iron work, firmly bound together for
" seven feet in height, and there will be a similar work for five
" feet in depth below the cables. The weight of the whole
" bridge, between the points of suspension, will be 489 tons."—
" The abutments will consist of the masonry work, comprising
" the extreme stone work, the two piers, and the seven arches
" before mentioned ; each of the two piers will be 60 feet by
" 40f wide, at high water mark, having a foundation of rock."—
" Upon the summit of the two main piers will be erected a frame
" of cast-iron work, of a pyramidal form, for the purpose of rais-
" ing the cables, from which the bridge is to be suspended."
The probable cost of erecting this stupendous structure Mr.
Telford has estimated at sixty, or, allowing for any unforeseen
charges, at most seventy thousand pounds, about half the cal
culated expence of a cast-iron bridge on the old plan. The spot,
chosen for its scite, is at Ynys y Moch, a little to the westward of
Bangor Ferry, which had been fixed upon for the work first pro
posed, and where the opposite shores seem to offer every advan
tage for the undertaking. The first stone of this national bridge
was laid, without any ceremony, at noon on Tuesday, the 10th
of August, by Mr. Provis, resident engineer, and Messrs. Stra-
phen and Hall, who have contracted for the masonry-work. A
little parade would not have disgraced the occasion.
It is gratifying to be able to add to this short account, in the
words of the Parliamentary Report, that " the uniformly con-
" current evidence of all the witnesses, examined before the
" Commissioners, forms a very satisfactory confirmation of Mr.
" Telford's opinion of the practicability of constructing such a
" bridge, sufficiently strong and safe for all purposes across the
" Menai, and by which the navigation cannot be, in the least
" degree, obstructed." This satisfactory intelligence must, it
is hoped, have allayed the apprehensions of those individuals,
who felt it their duty to present a memorial against the erection
of this bridge, and which was, no doubt, framed under a mis
conception of the precise nature of the design.
The following poetical morceau, with its accompanying notes,
cannot fail to be received as an interesting addition to this article,
notwithstanding its apparent reference to the original project of
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
a cast-iron bridge. The happy variety of anecdote, by which
the verse is illustrated, would at once perhaps have betrayed the
author of " Beaumaris Bay," without the aid of his name.
LINES
ON THE INTENDED BRIDGE OVER THE MENAI, AT BANGOR FERRV.
So shall the Tritons, in their floating shells,
See modern Magic, by her happier spells,
liaise the tall pier, extend the graceful bow,
And smile at dangers that may lurk below,
Pass o'er the tempest, when it rages—roars,
And bid a new Rialto bind the shores. Li.wyd.
At length the predictions of the Bards, the suggesstion of in
tellect, and the wish of ages, and of nations, are likely to bo
accomplished ; and the wonder a few years hence will be, not that
all this is done, but that it was so long undone.—For the wealth
and industry of a country, especially of a commercial one, are in
no way more rationally employed, than in the promotion of it*
intercourse, and the consequent interchange of its produce : and
it has long been the disgrace of a great empire, (whose means,
for every other purpose, have been the effect of a wish,) that the
strait of Menai has, in a stormy day, put a stop to its intercourse,
and the more so, as Nature, by way of atonement for the incon
venience created by the convulsion which tore the island from the
Continent *, has left every inducement for the erection of a bridge.
The first spot for this purpose is evidently the Caeth Wy
(narrow water), Porthaethwy, latterly, Bangor ferry, as most
centrical and best sheltered from the prevailing west winds by
the projecting banks of Tre r borth and Vaenol ; both shores pre
senting the most solid and inviting abutments, with the interme
diate auxiliary of the Islet, called Ynys y moch. In addition to
these advantages it is, as if designedly, on the very line lead
ing from the pass of Nant Franco to Holyhead.
The second is at the Cribiniau (rakes) a ridge of rocks, resem
bling the teeth of that iimplement, dry at low water, and placed
as if to induce the arches that were to " entice the infant to the
parent isle."—Beaumaris Bay.
They are situated below Lord Anglesey's Column, and on the
verge of the vortex called Pwll Cerris, which an ancient poet
roost truly describes, as—
" Y pella o 'i g6v o 'r pylla i gid."
Of all the mad pools the maddest.
* Sec the antient Welsh Triad, p. 9, ante.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
In the year 61 the Roman infanty, under Suetonius, crossed
the Fretum, on a bridge of boats, to Pant yr Ysgraffie, (the inlet
of the boats) under Porthaml ; while the cavalry forded it below
Llanidan. Even so lately as 1475, Robin Leiav says :—
" Av i dir M6n, ef dwr Menai
" Tros y traeth, ond aros trai."
I'll pass into Anglesey at low water,
Notwithstanding the Menai.
Edward the First also crossed it in the same manner at Moel y
don, but suffered severely from an unforeseen attack, on the
return of the tide ; and several of his leading warriors now lie in
the Chapel of the Friery, near Beaumaris.
Rhys Nanmor, a Pembrokeshire Bard, contemplating the
Cribiniau, in 1460, fancied he saw a timber bridge rising from
the rocks, and exclaimed—
" Ac yna
" Coed crai ar Venai vydd."
In 1480, the intelligent Sir David Trevor, Rector of Llanallgo,
in Mon, in his ode to the ferry boat of Porthaethwy, (a series of
similies) is at once amusing and instructing on this subject.
And in 1 500, Davydd Gorllech, in very sweet lines, describes
the manner and time, when the patriotic undertaking should begin.
When this national object is completed, there will then be little
doubt, that the great commercial towns in the northern parts of
England, as well as Liverpool and Chester, will be benefited by
an embankment, and a few arches over the Cynwy.
It is delightful to contemplate the ability contributed by the
different parts of the empire to its general benefit. Scotland im
proves our highways and harbours by the talents of her Telford.
The Hon. and Rev. Mr. Dawson, (uncle to Lord Portarlington),
a few years ago, made repeated tours from Ireland into Snow-
donia, pointing out the neglected pass {of Capel Curig. He was
indefatigable in his endeavours, as he beneficently hoped, for the
common good. The hint was seconded, and acted upon, by that
ornament of his country, the late Lord Penryn. And Cambria
blessed even London itself by the unremitting exertions of Sir .
Hugh Myddleton, Bart, who led into it the New River, in the reign
of James the first. Sir Hugh was one of the younger of nine
sons of David Myddleton, Esq. of Gwaenynog, near Denbigh.
THE
CAMBRO-BRITOM,
OCTOBER^ JLQ19.
NULLI QUIDEM jflHI SATIS ERUDITI VIDENTl'R, QUIBUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero (le Legibus.
WELSH LANGUAGE.
PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.
THE Origin of Language is a subject naturally of so much
obscurity, that no rational hope can be indulged of arriving at
any certain conclusion respecting it. Nor, has the variety of
learning, so ostentatiously lavished upon this question, served to
supply, in any satisfactory manner, the unavoidable deficiency
of historical evidence. On the contrary, the multitude of bold
conjectures and fanciful hypotheses, in which the subject has
been involved, have served rather to encumber it with new doubt
than to remove that, which originally belonged to it. So, it must
still be considered, as it will necessarily ever remain, one of
the most abstruse of human enquiries.
Of one thing, however, we can not reasonably entertain any
doubt, and that is the existence of one language only among
the first inhabitants of the earth. And, that this language was
not of divine origin,—as has been often asserted, more, it may
be presumed, from a pardonable excess of pious zeal than from
any philosophical deductions,—we may safely set down also as an
inference not to be overthrown *. Nor is it one at variance with
the authority of Scripture, the voice of reason, or the testimony
of experience. So far from it, that the sacred volume preserves
an entire silence on the point, reason suggests no argument in
favour of such divine inspiration, and our experience of the
rudest stages of savage society is in direct opposition to the
* This expression has reference only to the instantaneous acquisition of a
perfect language, and, by no means, to that capacity for forming one, as
occasions might gradually demand, with which it is but reasonable to sup
pose the first family to have been supernaturally endowed.
VOL. h G
43 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
theory when taken in a more general view. But if, for the
sake of the argument, it were even to be conceded, that lan
guage was, at first, the gift of Heaven, it would add still greater
weight to the position, above advanced, that " the whole earth
" was " originally " of one language and of one speech *."
\ Whether this primitive tongue was the Hebrew or not has
alsljsbeen a subject of learned and zealous controversy : and,
although, it is not absolutely necessary to pronounce any opinion
here upon that part of the question, it may cursorily be observed,
that the current of reasoning and evidence in this contest appears
to be strongly against those, who advocate the claim of the
Hebrew to this honour. A language of a still more simple, more
determinate, in a word, of a more primitive character, even than
that antient and pure tongue, was, in all probability, the first
channel of oral intercourse amongst men f. Yet, if the palm of
precedency in this respect must be denied to the Hebrew, we
are justified by the simplicity of its construction, by its high
antiquity, and by the sacredness of the purpose, to which it ha
been appropriated, in regarding it as one of the immediate dia
lects of the primeval language. If not then itself the first, it can
scarcely be doubted, that it retains the elements of the very first
speech of mankind, and may therefore be considered as an
original tongue with reference to all others, that have descended
to our times J.
* Genesis, ch. xi. v. 1 and 6:
f Dr. Priestly, in his " Lectures on the Theory of Language," has on
this subject the following observation :—"The primitive language, or that
" which was spoken by the first family of the human race, must have been
" very scanty, and insufficient for the purposes of their descendants, in
" their growing acquaintance with the world." This remark cannot apply
to the Hebrew.
J Grotiusisone of those, who are of opinion, that the first language was
entirely lost in the confusion of Babel. It is more probable, however, that it
was partially preserved in all the new dialects, and, amongst these, most per
fectly in the Hebrew. Yet it should not be disguised, that this distinction
has been claimed for the Syriac, the Arabic, the Cophthic, the jEthiopic,
the Armenian, and others, by their respective champions. And even the
Dutch (ritum teneatisf) has found a defender of its title to this high honour
in that most illustrious oracle, Goropius Becanus. Dr. Priestly, in the
Treatise already quoted, observes, that the Hebrew is " probably" (he
might have said certainly,) " one of the most antient languages in the
" world j for we can discover no trace of its derivation from any other
" whatever." But which of all the languages of the East was the mother-
tongue he thinks it " impossible, for want of sufficient historical data,
" to determine." Other writers, however, seem to have set this question
at rest.
J
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 43
The Hebrew must then be taken as a criterion of the essential
principles of a language—simplicity, uniformity, and expres
siveness. And, in proportion as other tongues approach this
venerable standard, must we judge also of the antiquity -of their
descent. There is no other rule, by which this claim can be
decided ; and it is, consequently, one, which the/most eminent
writers on the subject have concurred in adopting.
Now, if, with reference to what has been here premised, it
can be shewn, that the language, at this day spoken in Wales,
possesses many features likewise characteristic of the Hebrew ;
that it has an analogy in its radical words, in the formation
of its verbs, and even in its idiom—and all this without a rival
among the other European tongues—it will necessarily follow,
that a pre-eminence over these must be granted to the Welsh, at
least on the score of antiquity. And, accordingly, although it
may not be possible to confirm the hypothesis of those who trace
its origin at once to Babel, we may, without hazard, espouse the
opinion of the celebrated Dr. Davies, who regards it as one of
the maternal languages of Europe, derived immediately from
the East*.
But the antiquity of the Welsh language is not the only point,
for which it is meant to contend. It will likewise be the aim of
this Dissertation, of which these cursory remarks are merely to
be considered as introductory, to establish its superior claim to
copiousness, expressiveness, and poetical flexibility. In these
three qualities the language of the antient Cymry has been
proved by its admirers to shine proudly conspicuous, as also in
the perfection of its grammatical rules. A few writers, foreign
as well as native, have done justice to its enviable distinction in
these respects. And it can only have been owing to the unac
countable neglect, which the Welsh tongue has experienced at
home, and to the contempt to which it has accordingly been
consigned abroad, that this truth has not been universally
acknowleged.
It may appear extraordinary, if not incredible, to those, who
have not made this subject their study, that in a remote corner
of an insulated country should be found a language so highly dis
tinguished f. But, however limited its present dominion, it was,
* See the Preface to his Latin-Welsh Dictionary, and also that to his
Grammar.
i The Welsh is here regarded, and it is presumed with justice, as the
head of that family, of which the Armoric, Cornish, and Gaelic are also
numbers.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
at one time, the common dialect, not merely of this island, but of
the greatest portion of Europe. It was the language of its first
settlers,—of the Cimbri or Cimmerii of antient times, as it is that
of their descendants in these days. For that the Cymry and the
Cimbri were originally the same people would be evident from
the complete identity of the name *, even if there were no histo
rical testimony in support of the fact. But this testimony is not
wanting ; and, among the rest, the antient Triads, translated in
this and the former number of theCAMBRO-BRiTON, rocognise the
Cymry as the aboriginal inhabitants of this island. The modem
Welsh are their lineal progeny, and have been, for centuries,
the faithful depositories of a language, remarkable for many rea
sons, but for none more than for having survived, by its own na
tive energy, the convulsive revolutions of time, scarcely at all
impaired by an ordeal so full of peril.
The examination of this subject, it is therefore hoped, will not
prove wholly uninteresting ; and, as it is one of the leading objects
of this work, a due regard to method will be observed in the
Disquisition, of which this constitutes the preliminary essay. With
this view, an attempt will be made to establish the propositions
already advanced with respect to the general characteristics of
the Welsh tongue, by a discussion of its subordinate peculiari
ties, by an investigation of its more minute excellencies, and by
a comparison of all these with the analagous or correspondent
features of other languages, antient and modern.
* •
THE TRIADS.—No. II.
——)©»-
The following " Triads of the Isle of Britain " are selected as
containing all the notices in those antient documents respecting
the Colonization of this Island. In some instances they will
be found to ascend beyond the date of other written records ;
while, in many, they are confirmed by the concurrent testimony
* Cymry is derived from two words, Cyn and Bro, which signify, in
Welsh, a first or aboriginal people. These component parts, by a combi
nation natural to the language, form the word Cynmro, or Cymro, in its
plural Cymry-, of which the Greeks have made their K/^iKsj/m (an appel
lation as old as the time of Homer), and the Romans, with more accuracy,
their Cimbri. The name of Cambria is comparatively a modern corrup
tion, founded in the fables of Geoffrey of Monmouth.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 43
of the most authentic historians. It may, therefore, reasonably
be inferred, that equal credit is due to such memorials, as seem to
•want this confirmation. These have all the internal evidence in
their favour, that can be derived from the probability of the
several occurrences to which they relate, as well as from that
light, with which the torch of etymology, when skilfully managed,
never fails to illuminate the gloom of antiquity. In the attempts,
therefore, which will be made to illustrate the antient Triads,
recourse will always be had to this criterion, where the occasion
admits. And that this may sometimes be attended with the most
solid advantage to the cause of truth must be evident from a
reference merely to the etymology of the word Cymry, as
given in a note on the last page, which identifies them, beyond
dispute, with the Cimbri and Cimmerit of the Latin and Greek
writers. Our early history has thus been vindicated in a most
important particular: and the reveries of those authors, who
have ascribed the origin of the word to Gomer or Camber, are
effectually dissipated.
This, perhaps, would not be the most proper opportunity,
even if the space allowed of it, to discuss the manner, in which
the earth was first peopled upon the dispersion of the Noachidae,
or immediate descendants of Noah. But it may be briefly pre
mised, with reference to some of the following notices, that the
Colonization of Europe, which necessarily took its rise in the
East, made its progress always and naturally along the course
of large rivers. Thus the western coast of Europe was first
peopled by those wandering tribes, who found their way along
the banks of the Elbe, the Rhine, and the Loire.
* *
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN*.
vI. The three National Pillars of the Isle of Britain f. First,
Hu Gadarn, [Hu the Mighty], who originally conducted the
nation of the Cymry into the Isle of Britain. They came from
the Summer-Country, which is called DeflVobani, {that is, tfie
place where Constantinople now stands), and it was over the
Hazy Sea %, [the German Ocean], that they came to the Isle of
Britain, and to Llydaw, [Armorica], where they continued.
* Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 57—9. Tr. 4 to 9, inclusive,
f The name in the original is Prydain throughout.
J This epithet is particularly descriptive of the German Ocean, the
haziness of which is well known to mariners.
46 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Second, Prydain, son of Aedd the Great, who first established
government and royalty over the Isle of Britain. And before
that time there was no justice, but what was done through favour ;
nor any law, save that of might. Third, Dyfnwal Moelmud,
who reduced to a system the laws, customs, maxims, and privi
leges appertaining to a country and nation. And for these
reasons were they called the three pillars of the nation of the
Cymry.
[Hu the Mighty, or Hu Gadarn, is frequently mentioned in
the Triads : where he is celebrated not merely for having been
the planter of the first colony in this island, but for the introduc
tion of several useful arts. He is likewise commemorated for
" having made poetry the vehicle of memory and record *," which
is here noticed with reference to what was said on this point in the
last number of the Cambro-Briton. It would exceed the pre
sent limits to enter into all the particulars relating to this remark
able character, as they may be collected from the Triads and
the Bards. Another occasion will, no doubt, occur for doing
justice to the subject. The words, above included in a paren
thesis, with reference to Constantinople, do not belong to the
original Triad. They are the addition of a commentator, as
early, it is thought, as the 12th century, when, it is but reason
able to presume, that many documents, no longer extant, may
have existed in support of the interpretation. However, it must
be acknowleged, that the name of Deffrobani is now involved
in much obscurity. The Summer-Country may without risk be
conjectured to have meant Asia generally; and the late Rev.
Peter Roberts has observed, that " there is a very high degree of
" probability, that the word Deffrobani, or rather Deffrophani,
" is accurate in reference to Constantinople as the district of
" the Phani or Paeonians f." Some ingenious conjectures with
respect to this name may also be seen in Mr. Davies's " Celtic
Researches," p. 165. Taliesin, in his poem entitled " Ymarwar
Lludd Bychan \," has the following lines, which may be regarded
as a partial confirmation of the tradition recorded in this Triad,
" Llwyth lliaws, anuaws eu henwerys,
" Dy gorescynnan Prydain prif fan Ynys,
" Gwyr gwlad yr Asia a gwlad Gafis."
* Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 71. Tr. 99.
f *' Early History of the Cymry," p. 25,
% Arch, of Wales, vol. i. p. 76.'
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 47
A numerous race, fierce they were called,
First colonized thee, Britain, chief of Isles,
Men of the country of Asia, and the country of Gafis.
Commentators have been unable to fix upon the precise situation
of Gafis. The most plausible supposition is that of Mr. Peter
Roberts, in the work above cited, who considers it to have meant
the modern Kafla, antiently Panticapes, which, written in the lan
guages of the Cymry, would be Pant y Capes, the Low Coun
try or Valley of the Kapes. Kaffa, the antient capital of Crim
Tartary, is situate on the Black Sea, about 150 miles north
east of Constantinople, and corresponds with the course fol
lowed by the Cimmerii or Cymry in their emigrations from the
East into Europe. Herodotus describes them (Lib. iv.) to have
made an early settlement in Lesser Tartary.—Dyfnwal Moel-
mud, above mentioned, is supposed to have lived about 400
years before the Christian aera. According to the British Chro-
nicles he was the son of Clydno, a Prince of the Cornish Britons.
He is celebrated in three other Triads for the national service
here recorded. When Hywel Dda embodied his famous code of
laws in the 10th century, he made considerable use of the com
pilation, attributed to Dyfnwal.]
vh. The three Social Tribes of the Isle of Britain. The first
was the nation of the Cymry, that came with Hu the Mighty
into the isle of Britain, because he would not possess lands and
dominion by fighting and pursuit, but through justice and in
peace. The second was the tribe of the Lloegrwys [Loegrians],
that came from the land of Gwasgwyn {GasconyJ, being de
scended from the primitive nation of the Cymry. The third were
the Brython, who came from the land of Armorica, having their
descent from the same stock with the Cymry. These were
called the three Tribes of Peace, on account of their coming,
with mutual consent, in peace and tranquillity : and these three
tribes were descended from the original nation of the Cymry, and
were of the same language and speech.
[It appears from this Triad, that there was a distinction be
tween the Lloegrwys and Brython in their affinity to the Cymry.
The former were, indeed, of the same family; but the latter
partook of a more immediate descent with them, no doubt,
through those, who went to Armorica when Hu and his followers
came here *.—The Loegrians may have derived their name from
at one time inhabiting the banks of the Loire, antiently the
* See the former Triad, p. 45.
48 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Liger. And it is not improbable, that they were of the same
stock as the inhabitants of antient Liguria, in the West of Italy *.
The origin of these people has always been considered a matter
of obscurity, some tracing them to the Gauls or Germans, and
others to the Greeks. The name is quite in favour of the sup
position just hazarded, which would, upon the authority of this
Triad, give them a similar origin with the Cymry.—The Brython
may have been so called from their warlike habits, which the term
implies. Had the word been spelt Brithon, it might have had re
ference to the custom of painting the body, common, according
io some writers, to the early inhabitants of this country. The
name is supposed by some to have given birth to that of the
island. An opportunity will hereafter present itself for discussing
this point.—What portion of the country was occupied by these
two colonies can not now be accurately ascertained ; but it is
thought, that the Loegrians settled in the more mountainous
parts f, while the Brython proceeded in a south-eastern direction
towards the neighbourhood of the first settlers.]
vuI. The three Refuge-seeking Tribes, that came into the Isle
of Britain, and who came in peace and by the consent of the
nation of the Cymry, without weapon or violence. The first was
the people of Celyddon [Caledonia], in the North ; the second
was the Gwyddelian [Irish] tribe, who dwell in Alban [the High
lands of Scotland] ; the third were the men of Galedin [probably
Holland], who came in naked vessels to the Isle of Wight, when
their country was drowned, and where they had land assigned to
them by the nation of the Cymry. They had no privilege of
claim in the Isle of Britain ; but land and refuge were granted to
them under restrictions : and it was stipulated, that they were not
to possess the privilege of native Cymry until the end of the
ninth generation.
[Celyddon, literally Coverts or Shades, was the antient name-
of that part of the island, which the Romans, with their general
fidelity of interpretation, called Caledonia. The root of the
word is Cel, a shelter or retreat; whence too the Ceiltiad or
Ceiltwys, in English Celts, had their denomination, as inhabiting
woods and coverts ; a fact noticed both by Caesar J and Tacitus §,
with reference to the Britons and Caledonians, and descriptive
also, perhaps, of the early colonists of all countries. Gwyddel,
to this day the name for an Irishman, has likewise an analogous
* Liguria comprised that portion of the country, of which Genoa was
the capital. f See Triad 9, post.
X Bell. Gall. Lib. v. c. 15. § Vita Agric. c. 26 et 33.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 40
derivation, and implies an inhabitant of woods and wilds. The
radical word is Gwydd, trees or shrubs.]
ix. The three Invading Tribes, that came into the Isle of Bri
tain, and who never departed from it. The first were the Cora-
niaid [Coranians], who came from the country of Pwyl. Se
cond, the Gwyddyl Ffichti [Irish Picts], who came to Alban by
the sea of Llychlyn [Denmark]. Third, the Saeson [Saxons].
The Coranians are situated about the river Humber and the
shore of the German Ocean ; and the Irish Picts are in Alban,
on the shore of the sea of Denmark. The Coranians and the
Saxons united, and brought the Loegrians into confederacy with
them by violence and conquest, and afterwards took the crown
of the monarchy from the nation of the Cymry. And there re
mained none of the Loegrians, that did not become Saxons, ex
cept such as are found in Cernyw [Cornwall], and in the district *
of Carnoban, in Deira and Bernicia. Thus the primitive nation of
the Cymry, who preserved their country and language, lost the
sovereignty of the Isle of Britain, through the treachery of the tribe*
seeking refuge, and the devastation of the three invading tribes.
[The Coraniaid, above mentioned, are probably the same with
the Coritani. In another Triad f they are stated, by an antient
annotator, to have come originally from Asia. They are also
mentioned in two other Triads, in one of which they are said to
have come to Britain in the time of Lludd, son of Beli, and bro
ther of the celebrated Caswallon, or Cassivellaunus. The etymo
logy of the name (if indeed it be originally Welsh) is not very
clear, unless it can be deduced from Cawri, or Cewri, signifying
antiently chieftains or heroes, and, by implication, warriors, or men
of generous habits.—There is also an ambiguity respecting the
term Pwyl. It has been thought to mean Holland ; but, accord
ing to Mr. Edward Llwyd, it was the antient appellation of Po
land.—Llychlyn, above translated Denmark, may mean generally
the North, as the same word does in the poems of Ossian, as well
as in our own bards. Literally it is the Lake of Pools ; a pleonasm
applicable enough to the Baltic.—Alban, now the general name
for Scotland, is literally the Highland only, and was so used
formerly.—Cernyw signifies, most probably, a projecting ridge
or promontory : there is a point of land in Armorica which has
a similar name.]
* There is no English term, by which the original word cammxcd can he
translated. The French commune has a similar meaning.—Ed.
+ Arch, of Walts, vol. ii. p. 79.
TOt. I. H
50 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
X. The three Invading Tribes, that came into the Isle of Britain
and departed from it. First, the Men of Llychlyn, after Urb
LIuyddawg had taken the flower of the nation of the Cymry
from this island, in number 61,000, men of war and cavalry, and
the people of Llychlyn were driven across the sea to the coun
try of Almaen [Germany] by the Cymry, at the end of the
third age. Second, the hosts of Ganvel the Gwyddel, [Irish
man], who came to Gwynedd, and were there 29 years, until
they were driven into the sea by Caswallawn, the son of Beli,
son of Mynogan. The third, were the Ceesarians, [Romans],
who, through violence, continued in this island upwards of 400
years, until they went to the country of Rhuvain, [Rome], to
repel the hostile concourse of the Black Invasion, and never
returned to the Isle of Britain. And there remained, of those,
only women, and young children under the age of nine years,
who became a part of the Cymry.
[Urb LIuyddawg, or Urb with the Mighty Host, a Scandina
vian chieftain, is recorded in another Triad as a leader of one
of the " three emigrating hosts of Britain." The people, who
thus accompanied him, are thought to have settled on the con
fines of Greece. Fuller particulars of this occurrence may be
seen, in the account of Urb, in the Cambrian Biography. The
Scandinavians, who came hither with this chief, fixed themselves
on the eastern coast, from whence they were not dislodged till
about a century afterwards.—The Irish invasion, here recorded,
must have happened a short period before that of the Romans.
It may be observed of the latter, that the circumstance comme
morated with respect to the women and children, although not
mentioned by the Roman historians, has every appearance of
probability.]
XI. The three treacherous invasions of the isle of Britain.—
First, the Red Gwyddelians of Ireland, who came into Alban ;
second, the Men of Denmark : and third, the Saxons. For
they came into this island in peace and by the consent of the
nation of the Cymry, under the protection of God and his truth,
and under the protection of the country and nation. And they
made an attack, through treachery and outrage, on the nation
of the Cymry, taking from them what they could of the sove
reign dominion of the Isle of Britain; and they became com
bined with each other in Lloegr and Alban, where they remain
to this hour. This happened in the age of Gwrtheyrn.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 51
[With the exception of the invasion of the Red Gwyddelians,
or Irishmen, so called, probably, from the colour of their hair,
the events, noticed in this Triad, are well known from other
historical sources. The conduct of the Saxons, on the occasion
here alluded to, has given their arrival in this country a sufficient
title to be classed amongst the " treacherous invasions of Bri
tain." Gwrtheyrn, or Vortigern, is commemorated in other
Triads for a disgraceful union of treachery, intemperance, and
other dissolute qualities. Yet he was a prince of ability, to
which cause must perhaps ' be ascribed his re-election to the
throne, after having been once deposed. He died about the
close of the fifth century.]
TRIADS OF WISDOM*.
XI. The three indications of an honest man : silent lips, an
eye without leering, and a countenance void of timidity ; that is,
the three united in one person.
xn. The three indications of a thief: an inquisitive tongue,
a prying eye, and a timid avoiding countenance ; that is, the
three united in one person.
xin. The three supports of wisdom : a self-reasoning heart,
language to describe, and memory to retain.
Xiv. Three occasions for observing what a person may be : in
a thing unknown to him, at a time unknown to him, and in a
place unknown to him.
xv. Three things which ought to be first noticed in a person :
the tongue, habit, and motion ; for they proceed from his nature
and disposition.
xvI. Three things soon manifested in a person : discretion,
love, and hate.
xviI. Three things difficult for a person to conceal in himself:
joy, grief, and mischievous propensity.
xviiI. By three means shall a person be known : by his dis
course, by his behaviour, and by the judgment of his neigh
bours concerning him.
xix. Three things that causa loss of reason : the thwarting of
genius, insufferable oppression, and repulsion of conscience.
xx. The three paths of wisdom : the path of exertion, the
path of knowlege, and the path of conscience.
* Arch, of Wales, vol. Hi. p. 207.
53 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
THE WISDOM OF CATWG.
The Seven Questions proposed by Catwg the Wise to
Seven Wise Men * in his College at Llanfeithin, with
THEIR ANSWERS f.
I. What constitutes supreme goodness in a man ? Equity :
Answered by Talhaiarn the Bard.
It. What shews transcendent wisdom in a man ? To [refrain
from injuring another when he has the ability : by St. Teilo.
hI. What is the most headstrong vice in a man ? Inconti
nence : by Arawn, son of Cvnfarch.
iv. Who is the poorest man ? He who has not resolution to
take of his own : by Taliesin, Chief of Bards.
v. Who is the richest man ? He who coveteth nothing belong
ing to another: by Gildas of the Golden Grove.
vI. What is the fairest quality in a man ? Sincerity : by
Cynan, son of Clydno Eiddin.
VII. What is the greatest folly in a man ? The wish to injure
another without having the power to effect it : by Ystyffan the
Bard of Teilo.
WELSH MUSIC—No. II.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—It is much easier to describe a picture or a poem than a
musical composition. Very explicit illustrations may be given of
a painting, and extracts may be quoted from a poem ; but in
music it requires either vocal or instrumental tones to give a pro
per idea of its good or bad qualities. Consequently, my endea
vour to describe, in writing, the characteristic beauties of the
Welsh Melodies, will fall far short of the specimens given on the
harp or piano-forte.
* The persons, here called " wise men," were not merely scholars, but
i ' associates, most of whom had taken refuge in Catwg'i College after the
loss of their territory in the wars consequent on the incursions of the Saxons.
A brief account of Catwg, who lived in the sixth century, was given in the
Life of Taliesin, in the First Number. His Aphorisms occupy about a
hundred pages in the Welsh Arehaiology, and will be occasionally trans
lated under the title above adopted. The Seven Answers, here given, will,
no doubt, remind the classical reader of the apothegms of the Seven Sages
of Greece : nor will they suffer in the comparison.—Ed.
f Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. 38.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 53
" To those, who are in possession of " A Selection of Welsh
Melodies with English Words," it will be gratifying, perhaps, if
I notice the airs, as they occur in that publication.
" Of a noble Race was Shenkin " is a bold, energetic compo
sition, and is one of those characteristic tunes which even a
person, totally unacquainted with music, cannot hear without
being forcibly struck with it. The harpers in Wales generally
play it in e minor, which is too high for ordinary voices. Mr.
E. Jones, in his excellent collection of Welsh Airs, has given it
in C minor, which is certainly better.
It will not, I trust, be considered an improper digression, if I
endeavour to explain what is meant by a minor key, particularly
as I shall be under the necessity of mentioning it often, in the-
course of my correspondence. Of course I do not address those,
who are adepts in the science of music.
In minor keys, the third above the tonic, or key note, isflat ;
i. e. only three semitones higher.—In major keys, the third above
the key note is sharp, orfour semitones higher. Let us suppose
E to be the key note ; if the key be minor, the g (a third above)
will not be sharp, as it necessarily must be, if the key be major.
Some of the most beautiful of the Welsh, Scotch, and Irish airs
are in minor keys. There is something soothing and pleasing in
the minor mode. Asa proof of its effects on the human heart, I
have only to mention, that, let a person be in trouble, or labour
ing under severe distress of mind, if he seek consolation in singing
divine songs, (which is frequently the case) he will invariably
choose those in minor keys. Kent's beautiful anthem of " Hear
my prayer, O Lord," is in E minor.
To my countrymen, who are unacquainted with the science
of music, it may be necessary to say, that " Morfa Rhuddlun,"
and " Dafydd y Garreg Wen *," are in minor keys, and I
appeal to their own feelings, whether, when they hear these
plaintive melodies well performed, they do not experience a most
pleasing, soothing sensation, and whether a tearful eye will not
often bespeak a heart rapt in ecstacy f ?
* Although these airs, as well as the celebrated one previously noticed,
commence and finish in the minor mode,—the melodies modulate into the
relative major, in the second parts, which heightens the effect considerably.
—J. P.
f It may here be noticed, that Dr. Crotch, in his excellent I ectures on
Music, always eulogizes the antient British airs, and performs many of
them in a masterly manner.—J. P.
54 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
The bass of the air, under my present consideration, is very
grand and striking ; and, when performed, either in an orchestra,
or on the harp, or piano-forte, must afford great delight. It is
not so easy to execute it on the Welsh, as it is on the pedal,
harp. The Welsh harp having three rows of strings, (the middle
one being the semitones,) the performer is obliged to put his
finger between two of the outer strings, when a casual sharp or
flat occurs * ; whereas on the pedal harp the foot accomplishes it.
By pressing a pedal the note required becomes half a tone
higher, and by unfixing, it is rendered a semitone lower. This
is evidently an improvement; but still the Welsh harp, exclu
sively of its venerable and unadorned appearance, has many
advantages, particularly in passages which run in unison ; and
these occur continually in variations on the different airs.
I shall be able, I hope, to notice several of the Melodies in
my next ; also to specify to which of them the beautiful Pen-
nillion, which may appear, from time to time, in the Cambro-
Briton, are sung.
I shall conclude this article with the words of the late Rev.
G. H. Glasse.—" Whenever," said he, in a conversation I had
with him on the beauties of the Welsh airs, " I hear that mas-
" terly composition, ' Of a noble Race was Shenkin,' my soul
" takes a flight amid the rocky wilds of Cambria, where,
" With lays of romantic story
The halls of our Sires resounded ;
At the call of love or glory,
O'er their native hills they bounded.
" Released from martial duty,
They return'd to their peaceful pleasures ;
• And then, at the feet of beauty,
They woo'd in melting measures :
To the wand'ring poor,
Wide ope'd their door,
And freely dispersed their treasures."
Sept. 6, 1819. John Parry.
* The Harp has been always esteemed the principal musical instrument
among the Welsh. Antiently it was strung with hair, which continued in
use until the commencement of the fifteenth century. Until that period
also it had only a single row of strings; but the performer was able to pro
duce a flat or sharp by a peculiar management of the finger and thumb, an
artifice, it is believed, no longer known,—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRTTON. 55
ORIGINAL LETTERS.
LETTER in.
Mr. Edward Llwyd to the Rev. Dr. Mill*, Principal of
Edmund Hall, Oxford ; dated Swansey, Sept. 14, 1696.
Rev. Sir,—I have here presumed to trouble you with a copy
of an inscription f, which, amongst several others, I met with
this summer in North Wales. The monument, whence I took
it, was a stately pillar of very hard stone, of the lame kind with
our common mill-stones. 'Twas of a cylinder form, above 12
foot in height, seaven in circumference at the basis, where it was
thickest, and about six near the top, where smallest. The pe
destal is a large stone, five foot square and 1 5 inches thick ; in
the midst whereof there's a round hole, wherein the monument
was placed. Within a foot of the top 'tis encompassed with a
round band or girth, resembling a cord, from whence 'tis square
to the top, and each square adorned with a ring, reaching from
this band to the top and meeting at the corners. It was erected
on a small mount, which seems to have been cast up for that
purpose ; but in the late civil warres (or sooner) 'twas thrown
down and broke in several pieces, whence the inscription is so
imperfect
The reason I trouble you with it is, because I remember
amongst Usher's Letters one from Dr. Langbain to him, wherein
he writes to this purpose.—" I have received both the inscrip-
" tions, and shall send you my thoughts of that at Vale Crucis ;
" but for the other I give it over for desperate." Now this I
send you is the inscription at Vale Crucis ; and I doubt not, but
the vale received its name from this very stone, tho' 'twas never
intended for a crosse. The copy Dr. Langbain received was
perhaps taken before the stone was broke, and you may possibly
meet with it among his papers and letters, if you know where
* Dr. John Mill was born at Shap, in Westmoreland, in 1645, and
became Principal of Edmund Hall, in 1685. He died in 1707. He is
celebrated for an Edition of the New Testament, containing about thirty
thousand various readings, which, after a labour of thirty years, was pub
lished about a fortnight before his death.—Ed.
f This inscription, which, from its imperfect state, it would be of very
little use to transcribe here, Mr. Llwyd entitles " An Inscription at Maea
" y Grdes, in the parish of Lhandysilio, in Denbighshire, transcribed
" anno. I696."— Ed,
56 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
they are lodged ; or direct me to search for it when I come to
Oxford, which will be a month hence at farthest.
The inscription would be legible enough, were it entire. It
begins—" Concenn filius Catelli, Cattel Alius Brochmali, Broch-
" mal filius Eliseg, Eliseg filius Guoillauc. Concenn, itaque pro-
" nepos Eliseg, edificavit hunc lapidem proavo suo Eliseg, &c."
'Tis remarkable, that, adjoyning to the monument, there's a
township called Eglwysig, which name is corrupted doubtless
from this Eliseg, tho' our greatest critics interpret it 3{'erro
Ecclesiastica. Thus in Caermardhinshire we find this epitaph,
Senator fidei, patria?que semper amator,
Hie Paulinus jacet cultot pieutissimus aequi.
The place, where the stone lies, is called Pant y polion, i. e.
the Vale of Stakes, corruptly for Pant Powlin, Planities Pau-
lini. I find other places denominated from persons buryed at or
near them : whence I gather they were antiently men of great
note, who had inscriptions on tombs, be they never so rude and
homely. But I trouble you too much with trifles ; so shall adde
no more but that I am,
Worthy Sir, your most obliged and humble servant,
Edw. Lhwyd.
LETTER IV.
The Same to the Rev. John Morton, dated Oxford,
Nov. 22, 1703.
Dear Sir,—I received your kind letter, and have altogether
the same reason to make an apology for my neglecting to write.
I have nothing to plead for it, but that I have been busy about
the first tome of my Archaeologia, which is at last got into the
presse, as you'll find by the inclosed. I print about 200 above
the number, that have hitherto subscribed. So, if any friend of
yours should be curious in antiquities of this kind, it's not too
late yet to subscribe ; tho', the subject being so foreign, I am
sensible few, if any, can be expected.
As to your queries I have little to say. Tripontium might
have been as well Latin as British : and, if the latter, rather as
you say from Tre'r bont than Tair pont, except the nature of
the place favours this latter, by its having a confluence of two or
three brooks, which might render three bridges useful]. But it
seems the place is in doubt.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 57
The Romans generally took the names of places they found
in the countreys they conquered, giving them onely a Latin
termination. For in Wales they called Conwy, Kevny and
Wysc, which are mere British words, Conovium, Gobannium and
Vidum, &c. Yet sometimes they may be allowed to give names
themselves; but of this I have hitherto discovered very few in
stances. As l'or the Saxon names, many of them were also half
British with Saxon terminations, some of them translations of
the British and a greaimany their own. I should derive Triago
from Tre Iago, i. e.. Jamesbury or Jameston. Both tre and
town were antiently but single houses, or, at best, but a kind of
fort or rock of defence.
Ardberry may be partly British and partly Saxon, viz. Ard,
Brit. Altus and Berry, Sax. Tumulus. »
The 4th I can say nothing to. When you write next to Mr.
Baxter *, you may put it in. .
I was just going to tell you, I had not heard from Mr. Ray \
for some years. But, just as I was setting pen to paper, I received
a letter from him, wherein he tells me he is preparing his three
Physico-Theological Discourses for the presse. I have but just
time to beg your pardon for my scribble, which comes from,
Worthy Sir, your affectionate friend and humble servant,
Edw. Lhwyk
THE MADOGWYS.
REPLY TO DR. JONES. „
An enquiry of peculiar interest to the natives of Wales has
recently undergone much public discussion. The title, prefixed
to these remarks, will, at once, point out the object of this allu
sion, and must be considered as a more appropriate appellation
* The author of two lexicographical Treatises on Roman and British
Antiquities. He also published editions of Anacveon and Horace. Mr.
Baxter was a native of Shropshire, and died in 1721, in his 73d year.—Et.
f A celebrated English naturalist, and especially distinguished for his
knowlege of botany, on which subject he has left many valuable treatises.
He was also the author of several other works of repute, among which
the one alluded to in this letter deserves a particular notice. He was
born near Braintree, in Kssrx, in 16'2S, and died there in 1704.—Ed.
Vol. I. I
58 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
for the descendants of Madog, presumed to exist at this day in
America, than the indefinite term of Welsh Indians, generally
employed. In an investigation of so uncommon a nature it can
not be disguised, that the first impressions of every rational
mind, uninformed by any substantial evidence, must be in oppo
sition to that view of the question, which, after a long and dis
passionate consideration, it has been resolved to espouse in this
work. But, however the scepticism of ignorance may be ex
cused, as it certainly must be in all extraordinary cases, which
admit of positive testimony, no palliation can be offered for an
obstinate incredulity, when opposed to the voice of history, and
an accumulation of evidence almost without a parallel.
The remark, now made, owes its origin to a strange and
intemperate letter, which appears on this subject in the last
number of the Monthly Magazine. It bears the signature of
" John Jones," and is entitled " Dr. Jones's Refutation of
Fables about the Migration of Madog." Presuming from the
writer's name and dignity, that he may be a Welshman and a
person of education, it becomes necessary, but for no other
reason, to say a few words in reply to his very unceremonious
attack, previously to the commencement of this enquiry in any
more formal manner. The conviction, which his vague objec
tions and dogmatical affirmations would never, of themselves,
produce in any one, may possibly be conceded by his admirers
to his personal importance, and to a confidence in talents, which,
in the letter before us, he has delicately refrained from exposing
to more vulgar observation. An answer, not demanded by rea
soning and argument, may therefore be due to the weight of a
name. Or, at all events, it may be proper to discharge the
duty of a pioneer, by removing the rubbish, that might other
wise impede our progress in this interesting investigation.
It does not belong to the design of the Cambro-Briton, nor
would it perhaps be becoming the character it aims to establish,
to descend to a refutation of the calumny*, with which Dr.
Jones has thought fit to preface his remarkable composition.
The task must be left, if at all, to the parties so unjustly and so
ungenerously assailed, if indeed even they can overcome their
* The writer of these remarks feels himself justified, afterseveral minute
enquiries, in applying this term to the charge, made by Dr. Jones against
certain individuals, of obtaining " considerable sums of money" under
the " pretence" of going in quest of the Madogwys.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
contempt for the grossnesS of the aspersion. But, to come to
the more immediate concern of these observations, is the learned
writer really in earnest, when he considers the " tradition of
" Madog's emigration to a distant country " to be " unfounded,"
and credited only by the " uncultivated natives of North
" Wales," and by certain illiterate Methodist and other
" preachers ?" Has he never heard, that two individuals, per
haps the most conversant, of the present day, with the litera
ture and history of Wales, believe in the authenticity of the
fact? If he has not, the Gentleman's Magazine for 1791 will
present him with the .names of Mr. William Owen and Mr.
Edward Williams united in a defence of the presumed existence
of the Madogwys. Other individuals, neither " uncultivated "
nor " illiterate," have since espoused the same cause. The
foundation, therefore, on which Dr. Jones rested this assertion,
seems to have been of the same description with that, on which
he grounded the accusation, already the object of animadver
sion. An attack, thus commencing with misrepresentation, can
hardly be expected to terminate in conviction.
Yet, we find the writer himself was far from thinking thus
meanly of his enterprise. For, in reference to this " unfounded
" tradition," he observes, with a kind of oracular gravity, " I
" consider it to be my duty to prove from the Bardic and Histo-
" rical remains of Wales, that there is no pretence whatever
" for the alleged existence of a colony of Madogion, Mad dogs,
f or Welsh Indians." Passing over the elegant wit at the close
of this passage, it may be noticed as a singular feature of this
very singular letter, that the writer relies upon some of those
same authorities, which have hitherto been adduced in support
of the question, for proving its chimerical character. The esta
blishment of a negative, at all times a, task of some little diffi
culty, must be particularly so, when the means adopted are
those, which favour the reverse of the proposition. And such
is the absurdity of the attempt in this instance, that one would
almost imagine, the learned Doctor had borrowed his logical
principles from the musty pages of some German metaphysician.
But, without waiting to discuss this point, let us proceed to his
redoubtable proofs. And these are—passages from Cynddelw,
Llywarch ab Llewelyn, Gwalchmai and Maredudd ab Rhys
among the Bards, and one from Caradog only amongst the
Historians.
GO THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
With respect to his bardic quotations, none of them have ever
been employed to prove any thing beyond the simple fact, that
Madog left Wales by sea during- the dissensions consequent on
his father's death; and on this point three here cited are explicit,
while the fourth has no reference to the question. As for the
inference to be drawn from Cynddelw's lines, that Madog was
lost at sea, nothing could be more natural than that such an
opinion should have prevailed, after his long absence. And
what infatuation could induce Dr. Jones to admit this opinion
(for it is nothing more) as conclusive evidence on the subject ?
The Bards, it is true, make no mention of any " Western
Continent,"—it would have been truly marvellous if they had
—but Llywarch ab Llewelyn, itf a passage, which our objector
did not find it convenient to quote, expressly mentions, that
Madog had left his country " on the bosom of the great sea in
" his search of a possession easy to be defended, and separated
" from all for the sake of a dwelling-place." And it should
not be forgotten, that Llywarch was a cotemporary Bard, and
might even have heard Madog himself describe the territory,
discovered by him in his first voyage, and to which the poet
seems to allude in the lines here translated.
Our letter-writer afterwards attempts to be facetious at the
cxpence of those, who give credit to the account of Caradog,
because that author is supposed to have died about fifteen years
before Madog's departure. But, why did Dr. Jones conceal,
what he must surely have known, that the account, to which he
alludes, is given by Humphrey Lhvyd and Dr. Powell, in their
continuation of Caradog's history, on the authority of Gutyn
Owain ? It is true, that Humphrey Llwyd supposes, as asserted
in the letter under consideration, that the Madogwys might have
intermixed with the native inhabitants of America, and have be
come at length undistinguishable from them. But by what logic
will the writer shew this to be any proof of an " unfounded tra
dition ?" The historian's opinion might have been, indeed,
without a foundation ; and what has subsequently transpired
seems to have determined this point. But it is any thing rather
than a proof of an " unfounded tradition," with relation to the
departure of Madog. Nor can it even be received as " positive
" testimony against the existence of the Welsh Indians."
If our objector has been unfortunate in the authorities he has
adduced, he has certainly not been remarkably candid in those
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 61
he has omitted. Allusion has already been made to this want of
fairness with respect to the lines of Llywarch, on every account
the most important of the Bardic testimonies * ; while Gutyn
Owain and Iefan Brechfaf, two writers who make express
mention of the subject, are not once noticed. Sir Thomas Her
bert \ too, who adopted a decided opinion in favour of the
Madogwys, is passed in silence ; although, by having had access
to the famous Rhaglan Collection of MSS., burnt in the time of
Cromwell, that writer may have formed his conclusions from
documents no longer known. And it may be conjectured, without
much hazard, that he was not, in other respects, either " unculti
vated" or " illiterate." The authority of the Welsh Triad,
which reckons Madog's emigration among the " three disappear
ances by sea from the Isle of Britain," and even describes the
manner of his departure, is also treated with the same bold
contempt.
Thus much for the " Bardic and Historical remains,'' by the
aid of which Dr. Jones has so modestly expressed his " intention
to set this tradition at rest §." What he has quoted, if they de
termine any thipg, prove, that Madog had disappeared by sea :
what he has kindly left to be cited by others extend to the cir
cumstances, and even to the object, of his voluntary exile. These,
united with the facts, which have transpired during the last sixty
years, respecting the settlement of a strange nation on the higher
branches of the Missouri, differing essentially in their habits and
manners from the adjacent tribes, and even speaking the Welsh
* Another singular reference to this event, in the Poems of Llywarch, is
likewise omitted. It occurs in his Ode entitled " An Invocation to the
Ordeal of Hot Iron," in which he exculpates himself from a participa
tion in the murder of Madog, whose disappearance and long absence may
naturally have given birth to such a suspicion.—See Arch, of Wales,
vol. i. p. 289.
+ These two persons were, at once, bards and historians, and lived about
the close of the 14th century. The passages of their works, here adverted
to, must have been written some years before the discovery of America by
Columbus; a circumstance material to be considered in this enquiry.
X Sir Thomas Herbert was one of the Pembroke family, and wrote about
1635.
§ The objections in Dr. Jones's letter, with respect to the population of
North Wales and Madog's " wicker boats," will, perhaps, be abandoned,
upon a more intimate acquaintance with the history of our country. At all
events, in their present shape, as mere assertions, they do not require a re
futation. Nor can they, in any shape, be opposed to positive testimony.
62 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
language, can leave little room for scepticism, except to sach as
make scepticism a profession. Yet, all this testimony, derived
from a hundred various sources, and uniting in one focus, is
thrown by our candid objector unceremoniously into the shade.
So strong, however, is the concatenation of evidence thus
produced, as to be considered irresistible by many persons fully
capable of estimating its value. It has not only served as the
torch of truth, but likewise as the touchstone of fable and impo
sition. And it answered this useful purpose at no very distant
period, in detecting an idle fabrication, which appeared in an
evening paper under the signature of " Owen Williams." The
positive tone of that letter, and the high colouring of its narrative,
so inconsistent with all preceding accounts, excited at once a sus
picion as to its genuineness, which a subsequent investigation fully
confirmed. When Dr. Jones condescends to make another attack
on this " unfounded tradition," he will perhaps favour the world
with his opinion of Mr. Owen Williams's " unfounded " report.
And in the mean time it may be a satisfaction to him to learnt
that the forgery has been traced to its author.
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
REV. PETER ROBERTS*.
Mr. Roberts was born in the parish of Rhiwabon, in the
county of Denbigh, about the year 1760. His father, John
Roberts, was the younger son of a freeholder in that parish, and
descended from a family which had, for many generations, occu
pied their small domain, called Tai'n-y-nant, without any mate
rial change in their circumstances. He was himself by trade a
clock-maker, and established himself in that business, first, at his
native village Rhiwabon, but afterwards removed to Wrexham.
At this latter place, when a rival tradesman, with a view of de-.
predating his rustic opponent, pompously announced himself to
the public, in large characters, as a " clock-maker from JLon-
* The Editor wishes he were at liberty to publish the Dame of the gen
tleman, to whom he is indebted for this interesting Memoir, ^nt some
of the readers of the Cambro-Briton will, no doubt, recognize in it the.
production, which so deservedly obtained the applause of the Cumbriai^
Society at Caeimarthen.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 63
don," Roberts ingeniously turned him into ridicule, by exhibiting
a similar board over his own shop-door, and describing himself us
• clock-maker from Ehiwabon." He was an honest and respect
able man ; but, though he enjoyed the means, he inconsiderately
neglected the opportunity, of establishing his family in a state of
comfortable competency. His wife was nearly allied to the an-
tient family of the Middletons of Chirk Castle,
Their son and only child, Peter Roberts, was sent, at a very
early age, to the Grammar School at Wrexham, which was then
in great repute, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Davies, after
wards rector of Llanarmon-dyffryn-Ceiriog. His early profi
ciency was very conspicuous, and gave, even at that time, no
obscure indication of his subsequent celebrity. He employed
leisure hours upon various mechanical curiosities, for which he
displayed a remarkable genius. Of music he continued, at all
times, to be an enthusiastic admirer, and he was enabled, at a
very early age, to enjoy his favourite amusement, by playing
upon a dulcimer of his own construction. He also attempted tar
make a telescope. At this period his mind was in a remarkable
degree tinctured with superstition. Having remained at Wrex
ham until the age of fifteen or sixteen, he removed to the
Grammar School at St. Asaph, as is generally understood, in the
double character of pupil and assistant. The school at St.
Asaph was then in a very flourishing state, under the superintend
ence of the Rev. Peter Williams, afterwards vicar of Bettws
Abergeley, and, besides a great number of pupils from the
neighbouring counties, could boast of several scholars from the
sister kingdom of Ireland. To some of the latter Mr. Roberts
was, naturally enough from his situation in the school, engaged
as a private tutor; and a circumstance happened at this time
which gave a more permanent character to the connection be
tween him and his young pupils.
Dr. Usher, then a Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and
afterwards Professor of Astronomy in that University, came over
at this period to North Wales, and resided there for several
months. By some accident now unknown, or perhaps by direct
information from the Irish Scholars, he became acquainted with
Peter Roberts, and, as he highly appreciated his character and
talents, strongly encouraged him to transfer his studies under his
ies to the University of Dublin. With this proposal, which,
s financial difficulties, probably presented the only chance of
an University education, and obviously opened a wide field to
64 THE CAMBRO
his literary ambition, our young student readily complied, and,
entering as a Sizar in that celebrated seat of learning, very soon
attracted the notice, and secured the permanent esteem, of his
superiors in the College. A few months before his decease he
expressed most strongly to one of his friends a deep sense of
gratitude for the kindness, which he had experienced from the
Senior Fellows in his youth. It is understood, that his old pupils
from St. Asaph, as they successively entered the University,
availed themselves of his private tuition. Astronomy and the
Oriental Languages were at this time his favourite studies, and
such was his proficiency in the former, that his patron, Usher,
contemplated him as well qualified to succeed himself in the
Professorship. Mr. Roberts himself had also considered the
Astronomical Chair as the great object of his ambition; but a
different arrangement took place when the vacancy actually hap
pened, and the office was bestowed upon another person, who,
with whatever feelings we may reflect upon the disappointment
of our learned countryman, must be universally admitted to be
well deserving of this high honour. It is believed, that this dis
appointment, the first of a serious nature which he had ever
experienced, was very painful to Mr. Roberts.
About the commencement of the French Revolution he tra
velled in the south-west of France for the benefit of his health,
and remained for some time at the waters of Barreges, near the
Pyrennees. Of this tour he left among his papers a manuscript
journal, which however is not sufficiently interesting, nor indeed
does it appear to have been ever intended, for publication. Re
turning to Ireland, he was employed as private tutor in several
families. He was afterwards engaged to superintend the edu
cation of the present Lord Lanesborough and his cousin, now
Colonel Latouche, of the Militia. These he eventually
accompanied to Eton, where his character became more gene
rally known, and he had an opportunity of acquiring many
valuable friends, among whom he used particularly to enumerate
Bishop Douglas, Mr. Bryant, and Dr. Heath. By these and
other friends he was encouraged to publish his " Harmony of
the Epistles," the preparation of which had occupied many
years of his life ; and, through their interference and recom
mendation, the University of Cambridge printed the work at
their own expence. The high character of this publication, the
most laborious and valuable of all his works, fully justifies the
liberal patronage of the University, and will, unquestionably,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. f»5
transmit the author's name, as an eminent scholar and divine, to
future ages. When the education of his pupils was completed he
retired to his native country, subsisting upon two annuities, which
he received from his former pupils Lords Lanesborough and
Bolton. His time was now at his own disposal, and this was,
perhaps, the first uninterrupted possession of it, which he had
ever enjoyed. The illustration of his native language, and of ^
the antient history of the Cymry, became now his favourite
pursuits, and he certainly brought to the discussion of these
subjects such powers of mind, united with such multifarious and
general knowlege, as few Welshmen have evinced since the
time of the celebrated Edward Llwyd. His eminent character for
general literature excited an additional interest for the subjects,
of which he treated, and awakened in many instances the curio
sity of those, who would have turned with disgust from the works
of humbler authors, and had esteemed the investigation of the
Welsh history and language as useless as it was certainly then
deemed unfashionable. To the effect of his example and labours
may undoubtedly be traced much of that better taste, which now
prevails in the Principality, and which we may reasonably hope
to see far more widely disseminated under the auspices of the
Cambrian Society.
Hitherto, however, though he had written much and ably
upon professional subjects, none of the dignities or emoluments
of his profession had fallen to his share. Of Bishop Douglas's
favourable intentions towards him there can be no doubt ; but
the death of the Bishop put an end to all expectations of prefer
ment from that quarter. Bishop Horseley also, in common with
others, entertained a very high opinion of his character, and in
answer to a question hesitatingly put, whether he knew a Mr.
Peter Roberts, quickly replied, " To be sure I do, there is but
" one Peter Roberts in the world." But his first preferment
was derived from Bishop Cleaver, who presented him with the
living of Llanarmon,—a living certainly of little value, but
which he had strongly solicited, and perhaps more highly valued,
because it was the preferment of his old master and friend Mr.
Davies. The cold and retired situation of this place rendered it
very unsuitable to his numerous bodily infirmities, and to the
nervous sensibility of his mind, for which the enlivening inter
course of friendly society was now become indispensible. He
therefore spent only a few of the summer months at his living,
but continued to make his regular home in the town of Oswestry,
Vol. I. K
66 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
where he was generally respected for his literary talents and pri
vate worth. About four or five years ago Lord Crewe gave him
the living of Madeley, in Shropshire, and at a later period that
distinguished patron of learning, Bishop Burgess, ofTered him
preferment, which was respectfully declined, within the diocese
of St. David's. In December last his income received a most
important addition, and was probably rendered amply commen
surate with all his wants, by the living of Halkyn, which Bishop
Luxmore gave him in exchange for Llanarmon. He removed
to his new preferment in the following February, and, being
unable to procure a curate immediately, entered upon what was
a new employment to him, the active duties of a parish priest.
So little had he been accustomed to parochial duty, that his mini
sterial labours in the course of a few months at Halkyn, exceeded,
by his own account, those of his whole preceding life. In the
pulpit he certainly did not excel; but this will not appear sur
prising, if we reflect upon his physical infirmities at this time,
and that until this late period of his life he had never preached
anj- but a few occasional sermons. But his affability, the native
benevolence of his heart, and charitable attentions to the poor,
rendered him a great favourite with his parishioners.
His labours were now approaching fast to their termination,
and, we trust, also to their reward. He had been accustomed
for many years to complain of his low spirits, his head-achs, and
other infirmities; and his friends had in vain recommended to
him more frequent exercise in the open air, as the best medicine
for his bodily and mental ailments. The exertions, which the
personal discharge of his duties at Halkyn called forth, seemed
to have a favourable effect upon his health, and he represented
himself as more than usually exempt from infirmity in the latter
end of the spring. On Ascension-Day he read the service of
the Church without any particular inconvenience, and, having
returned home, was soon after called to the door by a pauper
who solicited his charity. He was in the act of administering
relief when he was stretched helpless by an apoplectic attack,
and, though he lingered until the following morning, he continued
speechless and apparently insensible until he expired. On his
table were found several letters, one of which, directed to his
patron the Bishop of St. Asaph, was intended to express to him
the happiness he enjoyed in his new situation. So uncertain is
the tenure of human happiness in our present state.
In private life he was in the highest degree amiable. As a
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 67
companion he was distinguished by a playful cheerfulness of
manner, an inexhaustible fund of anecdote, and a happy facility
of communicating information to others. As a neighbour he was
remarkably kind, friendly, and charitable. His whole conduct
was stamped by the most unshaken probity, which was rendered
yet more interesting by a certain guileless simplicity peculiar to
himself. His erudition was unquestionable, and, without any dis
paragement to living merit, he may be safely pronounced a more
general and profound scholar than any Welshman of the present
day. He was particularly skilled iti Hebrew and Rabbinical
learning. His " Letters to Volney" are supposed to exhibit
in the most advantageous light the vigour of his reasoning powers
as well as his philological and scientific acquirements. As an
antiquary, it must be admitted, that, in endeavouring to establish
a favourite hypothesis, he was sometimes precipitate and fanciful,
and that his judgment upon such occasions can not be implicitly
depended upon. Even his best friends must concede, that his
" History of the Ancient Britons," and his " British Kings"
display many proofs of inconclusive reasoning, and credulous
weakness. But these are only partial blemishes ; and his singu
lar learning, and the devotion of his great talents to the litera
ture and history of Cambria, will always command the esteem,
and, it may be confidently added, excite the emulation of his
countrymen. ■ i
The following will probably be found a correct List of his
Publications. He frequently spoke of his intention to publish a
Hebrew Lexicon*, and some other works; but none of these
were in a state of any forwardness. And it has been ascertained,
that, with the exception of a translation of the Law Triads, which
he perhaps designed to produce at Carmarthen, he has left be
hind him no manuscript in a state of sufficient preparation to be
committed to the press. His works are these :
Christianity Vindicated, in a Series of Letters to Mr. Volney
—Harmony of the Epistles—An Essay on the Origin of the
Constellations—Art of Universal Correspondence—A Sketch of
the Early History of the Cymry, or Antient Britons—Review of
the Policy and peculiar Doctrines of the Modern Church of Rome
—Manual of Prophecy—Collectanea Cambrica— Letter to Dr.
Milner on the supposed Miracle at St. Winifred's Well—and the
Cambrian Popular Antiquities.
* A specimen of this work, it is believed, was submitted, with a view to
publication, to the University of Oxford, where its merits v. ere highly apt
predated.,—Ed.
68 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
AWEN CYMRU.
A'th raid yv> athrwydd Awen. Edm. P*ys.
PENNILLION.
VIII.
Mwyn yw llun, a main ei llais,
Y delyn farnais newydd ;
Haeddai glod am fod yn fwyn,
Hi ydyw llwyn llawenydd :
Fe ddaw 'r adar yn y man,
I diwnio dan ei 'denydd.
IX.
Tros y mor y mae fy nghalon ;
Tros y mor y mae fy 'chneidion :
Tros y mor y mae f'anwylyd,
'n fy meddwl i bob munyd.
X.
Croeso 'r gwanwyn, tawel cynnar;
Croeso 'r gog a 'i llawen llafar :
Croeso 'r t£s i rodio 'r gweinydd,
A gair llonn, ag awr llawenydd.
XI.
Hawdd yw d'wedyd d'accw 'r Wyddfa,
Nid eir drosti ond yn ara' ;
Hawdd i 'r iach, a fo 'n ddiddolur,
Beri 'r claf gymmeryd cyssur.
XII.
D6d dy law, ond wyd yn coelio,
Dan fy mron, a gwilia 'mrifo ;
Ti gei glywed, os gwrandewi,
Swu y galon fach yn torri.
XIII.
A mi 'n rhodio 'monwent eglwys,
Lie 'r oedd amryw gyrff yn gorffwys,
Trawn fy nhroed wrth ftdd fy 'nwylyd,
Clywn fy nghalon yn dymchwelyd.
XIV.
Gwynt ar for a haul ar fynydd,
Cerrig llwydion yn lle coedydd,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. G9
A gtiylanod yn lie dynion,
Och ! Duw pa fodd na thorrai 'nghalon !
xv.
Ow! fy nghalon, torr, os torri,
Paham yr wyd yn dyfal boeni ;
Ac yn darfod b6b 'n ychydig,
Fal ia glas ar lechwedd llithrig !
XVI.
Mae llawer afal ar frig pren,
A melyn donnen iddo ;
Ni thai y mwydion dan ei groen
Mo 'r cym'ryd poen i ddringo.
Hwnw fydd, cyn diwedd ha',
Debycca a siwra o suro.
[Want of room made it impracticable, in the first Number, to give any fuller
account of the origin and nature of the Pf.nnii.lion than what might be
collected from the glance, which was made at them in the " Introductory
Address." A brief notice of the subject here may, therefore, be neces
sary, or, at least, not inappropriate. The word Pennill is interpreted
by Mr. Pughe, in his Dictionary, to mean generally " a prime division or
part," and, applied to poetry, " a stanza, strophe or epigram." Hence
Pennillion are properly Epigrammatic Stanzas, and owe tbeir birth to the
purest ages of the Bardic Institution, one of whose main objects it was, as
before observed, to encourage the exercise of memory, as well by the re
cital of historical traditions, as by the retention of moral lessons. Whilst
the Triad embodied the more important features of historical and institu
tional lore, the feats of war and the precepts of wisdom anil morality were,
principally, reserved for the Pennillion. And to these, no doubt, Caesar
alludes (Bell. Gall. Lib. vi. e. 13), in speaking of the number of verse*
learnt by those, who became pupils under the Druidical system ; and,
when he adds, that the student was, in some cases, thus occupied for
twenty years, it may supply us with a notion of the extent, to which this
practice was carried. It is not meant to insinuate, that any of these
antient effusions have come down to our day; but, if they had expe
rienced the same attention as the Triads, we might have been able to boast
now of some of the very strains recited in the days of Caesar. However,
many of those, now known to us, have been transmitted from time imme
morial, and owe their preservation mainly to the delicate beauties, in
which they abound. The Pennillion may be shortly characterised as
uniting the simple, the moral, and the pathetic, with a degree of expres
siveness, perhaps unequalled in the epigrammatic productions of other
languages. Indeed, they generally assume a loftier tone than that of an
epigram, according to the common acceptation of the word, and combine
with the terseness of that species of composition all the unassuming
charms, which belong to a spontaneous flow of the tenderest aud best
emotions of the heart and the head. To such qualities as these it is not,
f perhaps, possible for any translator to do full justice ; and the author of
the following versions is too conscious of his failure, to invite a comparison
between them and the originals. It may be interesting to add, that there,
70 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
are persons hi Wales, even now, who can recite from memory some hun
dreds of these stanzas, and can thus accompany the harp, as they fre
quently do, through all the transitions and varieties of its tunes, with a
wonderful accuracy *. It is through this practice that so many of these
exquisite effusions have outlived, for centuries, the destructive power of
Time. Some curious particulars on this subject may be seen in Mr.
E. Jones's " Relics of the Bards," p. 60 et seq.] ***
ENGLISH POETRY.T
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
VIII.
How fair in form, in sound how sweet
The harp I late was slighting ;
It seems a vocal grove, so meet
The charms 'tis thus uniting :
And soon the very birds will greet
Its boughs, with song delighting f.
IX.
O'er the seas hath flown my heart,
O'er the seas my sighs depart ;
And o'er the seas must she be sought,
Who lives yet always in my thought,
x.
Welcome spring's all genial power,
Welcome too the cuckoo's j song :
Welcome then the jocund hour,
As friends in converse stroll along,
XI.
To point to Snowdon's peak sublime
Is easy,—but not so to climb :
* The custom here noticed was at one time very general : but Sectarianism,
in its gloomy progress, has even encroached on the territory of the Muses.
And the periodical meetings, which were once held for the purpose of sing
ing with the harp, have been discontinued, as inconsistent with the pious no
tions of the Dissenters.—Ed.
+ A trivial variation from the original will be perceptible to the Welsh
reader in this translation, and especially in the last couplet. Yet it is
hoped, the sense is preserved in a manner more suitable with English ideas,
and the character of the language.—Ed.
X The Cuckoo appears to have been in great favour with the Bards, and
especially the more antient. Llywarch Hen has a pretty long poem ad
dressed to the " Cuckoo of the Vale of Cuawg."—tEd.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 71
Alike for him, who knows no pain,
To bid the sick man smile again.
XII.
Place on my breast, if still you doubt,
Your hand, but no rough pressure making,
And, if you listen, you'll find out,
How throbs a little heart when breaking.
XIII.
As late I roam'd in silent gloom,
By all the church-yard's dead surrounded,
By chance I struck my dear-one's tomb,
And, oh, my heart sunk all confounded.
XIV. 1
Fierce storms at sea, the sun far-flying,
Brown rocks o'er woodless deserts lying,
And screaming gulls where men should be,
Heaven ! what disheartening misery,
xv.
Then break, my heart, if thou must break ;
Why thus the pang so ling'ring make,
By little and by little going,
As thawing ice down mountains flowing ?
xvI.
Many an apple will you find
In hue and bloom so cheating,
That, search what grows beneath its rind,
It is not worth your eating.
Ere closes summer's sultry hour,
This fruit will be the first to sour.
WALES.
CAMBRIAN SOCIETY.—At this season of peril, when the
signal of revolution is sounded over the land, and sedition and
infidelity, treason and atheism stalk around us in all their naked
deformity,—when rebellion is proclaimed aloud as the only public
virtue, and loyalty is openly denounced as a pestilent evil,^-in
a word, when anarchy and impiety are audaciously advocated
against order and religion,—at such a crisis it can not but be
consolatory to contemplate those enlightened associations, which
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
have, for their peaceful aim, the promotion of literature and of
science. Of this patriotic nature is the Cambrian Society, an
institution evidently founded in those principles, which are, at all
times, the most stable supports of morality and of social order.
A record, therefore, of the origin and views of such an associa
tion would, on this account alone, be desirable, were it not natu
rally demanded in a work dedicated, as this is, to the cultivation
of Welsh learning'.
It was on the 28th of October, 1818, that the first meeting of
the Cambrian Society was held at Carmarthen, under the im
mediate auspices of Lord Dynevor, who presided on the occasion.
That eminent prelate, the Bishop of St. David's, to whose spi
rited exertions the institution owes so much, was likewise present,
with several other individuals of distinguished talents and respec
tability. The main business of the Society, in this meeting, was
to declare the purpose of its establishment, which was accordingly
resolved to be, " the preservation of Antient-British literature,
" poetical, historical, antiquarian, sacred and moral, and the en-
" couragement of the national music."
On the 29th of October an adjourned meeting took place at
the Episcopal Palace at Abergwilly, when a Committee, at the
head of which were the Bishop of St. David's and Lord Dyne
vor, was appointed, and several resolutions provisionally entered
into for consideration at a future meeting of the Committee. Of
these the following are all that had relation to the general design
of the institution :
That one of the first objects of the Society will we be to collect
a complete catalogue of all Welsh manuscripts, to be found
in the several libraries, in the Principality and in England, or
on the Continent, both public and private.
That a literary agent, of competent abilities, be employed by
the Society, as soon as its finances are equal to the charge, to
visit the said several libraries of Welsh manuscripts, of which
they may obtain information, in order to transcribe, with the.
permission of the owners, copies of the said manuscripts.
That a complete collection of the transcripts, so obtained for the"
Society, be deposited in the British Museum, or elsewhere—
after the publication of such of the transcripts as shall be ap
proved by the Committee for that purpose.
That it shall be a special object of the Society to collect all
printed works in the Welsh language, of which there are not
THE CAMBRCJ-BRITON. 73
copies, at, present, in the library, belonging lo the Welsh
School, in Gray's-Inri-Larie; in order to be deposited in that
library;
"That Mr. Edw ard Williams be requested to reside, for a certain
portion of the year, at Carmarthen, to superintend the printing
bf the Society's publications, arid to give instructions to young
students in Welsh poetry and literature.
That Mr. Edward Williams's acceptance of the said appointment
be entered into the minutes of the Society.
That the Prospectus of collections for a new History of Wales,
collected and translated from alicient historical documents in
the Welsh language, by Edward Williams, be printed and
published at the expence of the Society *... .
The first assembly of the Committee, above referred to, was
holdeh at Carmarthen on the 25th of November, when several
additional resolutions were adopted, the most important of which
were, that a Committee should be appointed in London, to con-
list only of Members of the Committees in the four divisions of
the Principality, Dyfed, Gwent, Gwynedd and Powys, and to
communicate with those Committees on subjects connected with
the interests of this Society. In addition, the following Queries
were also framed for circulation with reference to Welsh history
and antiquities ; and they appear to be well calculated to accom
plish the end proposed :
1. What inedited Welsh manuscripts are known to you ?
2; Where are they deposited ?
3. Are you acquainted with any portion, or any whole trans
lation, of the Holy Scriptures, in Welsh, more antient than the
Norman Conquest, or than the art of printing ?
4. Do you know any unpublished Welsh Triads, handed down
by tradition or otherwise ?
5. What Welshmen have left the Principality, since the time
of the Reformation, on account of their religion, or any other
cause, who, you think probable, have conveyed with them any
remains of Welsh poetry and literature ?
6. In what libraries, in England, or any other part of the British
dominions, do you think it likely that some of these remains are
deposited ? J ' '
* The Editor has just been favoured with a copy of the Prospectus,
here alluded to, which shall be noticed iu the nest number.
Vol. I. I-
74 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
7. In what continental libraries do you think it probable that
some of them may be found ?
8. What original Welsh books, or what books, relative to
Welsh literature, in any language, do you know to be pub
lished ?
9. Do you know any Pennillion not yet published ?
10. Do you know of any species of Welsh composition, poe
tical or musical, corresponding with that called " Glee " in Eng
lish, or which is known by the name of " Caniad tri," or,
" Caniad pedwar?"
11. Can you exhibit to the Society any old Welsh tunes,
sacred or otherwise, not yet published ?
12. What Welsh books, and books on Welsh literature,
already published, and now become scarce, do you think merit
to be republished ?
The proceedings, above enumerated, with those of the Eistedd
fod noticed in the first number of the Cambro-Briton, embrace
every thing publicly known to have been accomplished by the
Cambrian Society with respect to the paramount objects of the
institution *. But, as the regular establishment of the provincial
meetings is about to take place, a general co-operation throughout
Wales-, in this laudable aim, may now be anticipated. And the
union of rank and talent, comprehended in this Society, affords
the best ground for hoping, that this co-operation will be
effective. *#*
WELSH CHURCH IN LONDON.—As long as the present
salutary connection shall exist in this country between its civil
and ecclesiastical establishments, as long as the security of our
national church shall be deemed essential to the welfare of our
political institutions, the growth of religious schism must be ad
mitted to be an alarming evil. Even in a political light this must
be granted ; but when we view our established church with refer
ence to the unaffected piety of its doctrines, to the sublime lan
guage* in which it inculcates them, and to the generally exem
plary conduct of its professors, it assumes a far stronger claim
* At least tl>is is all, that has come to the Editor's knowlnge. He avails
himself, however, of this opportunity to observe, that any intelligence, re
lating to the Cambrian Society, whether with reference to its general prin
ciples or to itsr particular operations, will always he acceptable to the pages
of the Cambko-Briton.
' J* .
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 75
on our protection, combining, as it thus does, with its temporal
blessings the most consolatory earnest of those that shall be
eternal. For these reasons it becomes indispensibly incumbent
on the guardians of our national religion to omit no opportunity
of promoting its cause. Religious dissension has of late yean
been making gigantic strides, and perhaps in no portion of
Great Britain more formidably than in Wales. A variety of un
toward causes have conspired to produce this lamentable result ;
and, among these, the introduction of English Ministers, and
the neglect of the Welsh language by the native clergy, may
be considered the most prominent. But these abuses, of which
a more appropriate notice may be taken hereafter, are confined
to the Principality. The object of this article is to invite the
attention of the higher classes in Wales, and especially of such
as are Members of the Legislature, to a similar evil affecting
their countrymen resident in London,—the want of a Welsh
Church.
Strange indeed must it be considered, that, whilst every
foreign nation of Europe, of every various persuasion, has its
places of worship, in its own language, in this metropolis, the
Welsh alone, professing the same religion and living under the
same laws, should be excluded from such a privilege, Yet this
is literally the fact : and unaccountable is the apathy, that can
witness it and make no exertion to remove the disgrace. The
number of Welsh, resident in London, has b.een estimated, from
a probable calculation, at about fifty thousand. And of these it
is not at all unreasonable to presume, that one-fifth, considering
the fresh accession almost daily received from the country, are
acquainted with no other than their vernacular tongue, at least,
in no degree adequate to the purposes of receiving religion*
edification, What must be the unavoidable consequence, but
that they are absolutely driven either to the meeting-hoiises of
the Dissenters, or else to the deplorable alternative of abandon
ing thejr sacred duties altogether ? But the Welsh are of a pious
disposition : V)d, when they tend to extremes, it is to fanaticism
rather than to irreligion.
Such being the incontrovertible facts, it becomes imperative
upon those, who watch over the religious interests of Wales, to
use their most zealous endeavours to suppress so serious a mis
chief. An excellent opportunity presents itself in the bill re
cently introduced into Parliament for the erection of new
churches. And to no purpose could its operation be so beneli
THE;-CAMPRQ#BR{TON.
cially applied as to this. Nor cpulo) the Legislature, upon a,
proper representation, shrink from the performance of a duty
obviously embracing, in so close an union, the sacred and polii
tical interests of the country. And there can be no doubt, that
the inhabitants of Wales, if required, would contribute theij
liberal aid to the. measure. The best interests of our Established
Church would }hus be served in a most, important instance ; a
rational piety would supply, in the minds of thousands, tho.
place of fanaticism : and the cause of schism, now unopposed
amongst the Welsh inhabitants of the metropolis, would no,
longer triumph in an undisputed ascendancy.
EDUCATION IN WALES.—It would be difficult t« name
any topic more worthy of attention, than the system of education,
adopted in a country. So much of the prosperity of a people in
the aggregate depends on the moral character of its individual
members, that it must be superfluous to insist on the policy of
cultivating the latter with all possible care. And of such import
ance have early impressions ever been esteemed in this view, that
their influence on a man's future life has passed into a proverb in
all languages. Hence the momentous interest of public educa
tion : and it cannot be unbecoming the Cambro-Briton to no
tice this subject as it has relation to Wales..
Of public schools,—such, it is meant, as are dedicated to the
higher branches of education,—there are fewer, perhaps, in the
Principality than in any other equal portion of this kingdom. And
even of inferior schools, that are not under the immediate controul
of the Dissenting interest, the number is proportionably limited.
Indeed the Dissenters have, of late years, evinced a zeal, in this;
respect, which was worthy of emulation elsewhere. And, if the
friends of the Established Church have any desire to attach the
rising generation to their cause, they can not too soon counteract
the influence of the institutions here alluded to by the establish
ment of others on their own principles. Lancaster's system has,
it is believed, been pretty generally adopted ; but it is to be
feared, that in most cases the schools grounded upon it have a
tendency to perpetrate a spirit of hostility to our national
church, if not, indeed, to engender consequences still more inju
rious. For, whatever may be the merits of this system, it cer
tainly wants that of an early direction of the inexperienced
mind to those sound and pure doctrines, which form the acknow-
leged and glorious distinction of our religion. Yet, in some in
THE CAMHRO-BRITON. 7?
stances, it deserves to be noticed, the conductors of the Lancaster
schools in Wales have very laudably supplied this glaring
deficiency. . ■ • f .
Another point, to which it is the object of this article to invite
the public attention, is the defective state of education, both in
the great and inferior schools, as it regards the teaching of the
Welsh language, and the grounding of Welsh children in the
English. The former is neglected, almost without an exception,
even in those institutions, which are appropriated to the education
of such as are designed for the church. Were nothing more to be
considered than the venerable excellencies of our native tongue,
and its general use in Wales, this defect must appear unaccount
able, and especially when the want of proper books for the"pur-
pose can not be made an excuse. But there is a higher view, in
which it must be regarded, and that is its influence on the religious
condition of the country. A transient allusion was made to this
in the preceding article : and the writer has no wish to dwell
longer on the point here, than by expressing a hope that the
laudable example, at length given by Jesus College, Oxford *,
•may be instrumental in removing what must be acknowleged as
a reproach to the Welsh clergy.
With respect to the instruction of Welsh children in the Eng
lish language a most erroneous practice has hitherto prevailed.
The necessity of a knowlege of English to Welshmen of a cer
tain rank in society has been always admitted : the only point for
discussion is the manner, in which the object has been endeavoured
to be accomplished. How is this- done at present? A child,
unacquainted with any other than the Welsh language, is sent to
school. The first thing done is to place in his hand an English
grammar or spelling-book, though for what purpose it would be
difficult to conjecture :—the next is to forbid, under a severe pe
nalty, the utterance of his native tongue, or, in other words, to
conj.nmid a total silence, in classical imitation, no doubt, of a
sirnilar injunction observed, as we read, by a sect of antient phi.
losophers. Thus laudably menaced out of a use of his own lan
guage, and happily defended from the intrusion of any other, he
quits school with no other anxiety than how to regain what he had
then lost. The absurdity of this practice, sufficiently obvious in
itself, may be farther exemplified by supposing an attempt to
teach English to a French child, ignorant of the language, thrpugh
f See No. 1, p. 36.
78 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
the medium of English books only. The idea is preposterous ; yet
the instance under consideration is precisely analogous, while the
Temedy in both cases is equally obvious. The French child can
only be taught English through his own language: and why
should we expect a miracle to be wrought in favour of the Welsh
student ? In a word, then, until we have grammars of the Eng
lish tongue written in Welsh, a certain portion of our countrymen
must remain, in a great measure, precluded from the attainment
©f an object so avowedly necessary. %*
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.—The only topics, that seem to
require notice under this head, as being of more than temporary
interest, are the Assize Proceedings, and the Meetings of the
Agricultural and Bible Societies. With reference to the
first subject, it may be gratifying to notice, that the calendars on
the late Circuits do not present, as far as number is concerned, a
very alarming array of offences. Yet, what the aggregate may
have lost in bulk seems to have been counterbalanced by the
atrocity of particular cases. For in the following list, which,
with two exceptions*, embraces an accurate report of the crimi
nals tried in the several counties in Wales, there are six cases of
murder and three of arson, besides several burglaries, and one
charge of a nature too gross to be particularised.
North Wales.
Convictions, Acquittals f. Total.
Anglesey - - - 0 - 0 - None,
Caernarvon - - 3 , I - 4
Denbigh - - 4 . 4 . 8
Flint . , - - *. * - *
Merioneth - - - 1 - 0 - 1
Montgomery 4 - - 6
South Wales.
12 19
Brecon - - . - - 5 - « - 9
Cardigan - - - 1 - 1 - 2
Carmarthen • — 0 - 3 - 3
* These exceptions are the counties of Flint and Radnor, of which the
Editor has not been able to procure any report. f Under " Acquittals"
are comprised those cases also, wherein no bills were found by the Grand
Jury, no prosecutor appeared, or where the criminal was admitted evi
dence for the crown.
THE CAMBRCvBRITON.
• . ;• . Convictions. Acquittals. Total.
Glamorgan - - - 1Q - 2 . 12
Monmouth - - - 19 - 6 - 25
Pembroke - - - a - 2 . 5
Radnor - - * * #
38 18 5G
It appears from this report, that the total number of convic
tions, including those in Monmouth, was 50, to which those of
Radnor and Flint may perhaps add 5 mure. And in this amount,
it is worth noticing, South Wales bears a proportion of more
than three to one to the Northern Division of the Principality.
Anglesey, it will be seen, stands alone, honourably excepted from
this catalogue of crime.—Of Acricultural Societies there
have been the following Meetings during the last two months :—
The Caernarvonshire County Society met at Caernarvon on the
26th of August,—when a new premium was proposed " to the
" acting Surveyor of parish roads, who should make the greatest
" improvements in the same."-^-The Anglesey County Society
assembled on the 7 th of September at Llangefni, when there was
a greater exhibition of stock than on any former occasion. It was
determined, at this meeting, to establish an annual sale for supe
rior stock, amongst farmers and others within the limits of the
Society ; an example worthy of being followed by other Agri
cultural Associations.—The Society of Antient Druids had their
Anniversary Meeting at Beaumaris on the 10th of September,—
which was very respectably attended. This, it is believed, is the
oldest institution of the kind in North Wales, and has the credit
of extending its patriotic views beyond mere agricultural interests.
The philanthropic object of some of its premiums, especially of
that for saving shipwrecked sufferers on the coast of Anglesey,
is a proof of this. And on the present occasion sums of money
were voted for apprenticing poor boys,— and likewise other sums,
to be appropriated to the Caernarvon, Chester, and Liverpool
Infirmaries; to which objects 1200/. had been previously applied.
—The Wynnstay Annual Meeting took place also on the 10th of
September, and was, as usual, very numerously attended by
agriculturists from all parts of the kingdom. In the limited space,
here left, it would be impossible to do justice even to the most
interesting particulars of this meeting. It must therefore suffice
to observe, that the same liberal conduct on the part of the public
spirited host, and the same progress of agricultural improvement
»: THE CAMBFtO-BttlTOft
marked this as had distinguished all former meetings since the
establishment of the first in 1 806. It would be difficult to men
tion any individual, to whom North Wales is so truly indebted"
as to the patriotic proprietor of Wynnstay.—Meetings of the!
Bible Associations have been held, during the months of
August and September, at Caernarvon, Holyhead, Bangor,
Welshpool, Bala and Llonboidy. As the objects of these insti
tutions are well known, it would be superfluous, even if practi
cable, to particularise here the proceedings at each place. Some
interesting reports were read ; and the animated speeches of the
respectable individuals, who attended, evinced in all cases a zeal
correspondent with the importance of the occasion, *1t*
——̂ —
OBITUARY.
August 1st.—David Davies, Esq. aged 59, of Trawsmawr,
Carmarthenshire, one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace and
Deputy-Lieutenants for that county : a gentleman distinguished
for his social virtues, unblemished integrity, and active benevo
lence.—2d. Thomas Waters, Esq. of St. Clear's, Carmarthen
shire, who had conferred many important benefits on his country
by his extensive agricultural pursuits, and by the encouragement
he gave to the improvement of cultivation. 13th. Arthur
Vaughan Owen Jones, Esq. aged 39, of Wepre Hall, in the
county of Flint. He was formerly Major in the Flintshire Regi
ment of Militia, and was afterwards called to the Bar. His open
and generous disposition had attached to him a numerous circle
of friends.—14th. James Wasdell, Esq. aged 37, Resident Sur
geon at the Swansea Infirmary. He had distinguished himself
by serving his country with zeal and ability in several parts
of the globe: and the voluntary and numerous attendance
at his funeral bore ample testimony to his private and profes
sional worth.— 19th. Robert Anwyl, Esq. aged 38, of Hengae,
Merionethshire. Sir John Bulkeley, Knight, of Prts .ddf'ed,
Anglesey.—24th. Wythen Evans, Esq. aged 59, of Suckville-
place, near Llandovery : a gentleman highly esteemed as a man
and a christian. %*
ERRATA.
No. 1. Pa. 2, 1. 24. fur " Es.t quoddam". read " Est qtiodam."
— 10, 1 18, after " as well" read V, as."
— 20, I. 1, for " genuis." read " genius."
— 25, I. 5, in the note, for " such" rfad " such."
— 30, Above the second I'ennill, for " vi." read " viju" . ,
— 56, 1. 37, for " Dollgelle>" read " Di.lgelley."
No, 2. Fa. 47, 1. 8, for " languages" read " language."
48, I. 35, for " Ctiltiad" read " Celtiaid."
TttE
CAMBRO-BRITON,
NOVEMBER, 1819.
tWUA (U IDEM Mtttt SATIS ERUDITI VIDESTUR, QUIBUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero de I^gtbtu.
WELSH LANGUAGE.
ITS ELEMENTARY CHARACTER*.
It has already been premised, that the language, spoken by
the primeval race of mankind, must have been ef a more simple
and more fixed character than any now known to the world. It
is probable, that it consisted, at first, only of a few elementary
sounds, spontaneously flowing from certain natural principles, and
capable of being multiplied, by the same unerring rule, in pro
portion with the encreasing demands for their use f . For it
would be preposterous to imagine, with some theorists, that a
perfect language was formed by man before there existed a ne-
* The Writer feels it his duty here to mention, that he is indebted for the
suggestions, on which this Essay is founded, to the excellent author of the
Welsh Dictionary, of whom it may so truly be said, with reference to his
illustration of our language and literature, that " nil molitur inepte."
The new light thus thrown on the question has almost, if not entirely,
removed those doubts respecting the Origin of Language, which the Writer
expressed at the commencement of his former Essay. At least Mr. Pughe's
theory is the most rational of any he has seen : and it may be hoped,
that the world will sooner or later receive from bis own pen that ample
illustration of it, with reference to the Welsh tongue, which it so well de
serves. <
f M. De Gebelin, in his admirable Treatise on the Origin of Language
and Writing, has the following appropriate remark on this subject.
" Les mots de la langue primitive etoient necessairement tres bornes: ils
" exprimoient uniquement les sensations et les besoins journaliers, les
" objets les plus familiers, les actions les plus communes. Quelque ex-
" tension, qu'on donne au recueil de ces mots, il sera encore si peu etendu,
" que les monosyllables, en les sons etles intonations, dont est susceptible
l'instrnment vocal, suffiront pour le remplir." Monde Primitif, torn, in,
p. 270,
Vol. I. m
82 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
cessity for it,—that the variety of grammatical niceties, since in
troduced, were invented t'o express merely a few simple wants,—
or, in fine, that, in the grand march of the human intellect, the
representatives of ideas took precedence of the ideas themselves.
Such a notion, if it were not absurd on the face of it, would be
discountenanced at once by common experience, and by the
soundest conclusions of the understanding.
Language, then, in its infancy, must have been composed
merely of certain determinate natural sounds, capable, as before
observed, of being multiplied upon a regular and immutable
principle, and likewise capable of numerous simple combinations,
concurring with the progress of society and the consequent aug
mentation of human ideas and exigences. These primitive ele
ments, upon the miraculous Confusion at Babel, to whatever per
fection they had then advanced, were naturally dispersed and frit
tered, as it were, among the various dialects, to which that event
gave birth, and have since formed the basis of all other tongues.
There is no language spoken on earth, in which a certain number,
however few, of these elementary sounds may not be discovered.
AHd those languages, which retain the greatest proportion of
them, must necessarily be allowed the highest claim both to purity
and antiquity. In tracing these elements to the various sources,
where they may now be found, our imagination may paint to us
the ruins of some venerable edifice, partially appropriated to the
structure of several modern buildings, of more imposing magni
ficence perhaps than the ancient pile, but wanting both its sim
plicity and its natural grandeur. And, who shall say, that it
might not even be possible, by a re-union of these scattered
fragments, to restore to the world no very remote semblance of
the edifice, to which they originally belonged ? Let us but once
be satisfied about the identity of these relics, and there is nothing
yery extravagant in the assumption.
But our present inquiry is of a more circumscribed nature :
our immediate concern with these elementary sounds being to
consider them merely as they may substantiate the antiquity of
the Welsh tongue. For it can be proved, that our native lan
guage holds, in this respect, a singular pre-eminence over most
others, and is surpassed by none. Even the Hebrew, as it has
come down to us, is inferior in this view. But, were that ancient
tongue to be now spoken, as the Welsh is, in its pristine purity*,
* The Hebrew ceased to be a living language about 440 years before.
Christ, when the Chaklee, having nearly the same idiom and genius, but
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 88
we can hardly doubt, that it would exhibit the strongest evidence
of an elementary character. For, even in the remains, that we
now preserve of it, are contained many extraordinary coincidence*
of this sort with the Welsh language, and such, as, united with
other characteristics of the Hebrew, sufficiently justify the opinion
hazarded in the Preliminary Essay, that " it must be consi-
•' dered an original tongue with reference to all others, that have
" descended to our times."
Tor this reason it has been thought advisable, as suggested in
the preceding number, to institute a comparison between the He
brew and Welsh tongues, as one of the strongest testimonies, that
can be borne to the high antiquity of the latter. But, previously
to this investigation, which must now be reserved for a future
occasion, it may be proper to take a general view of such ele
mentary articulations, as can be distinguished in the Welsh
language, and which are amongst the most genuine marks of its
primitive character. Many of these it shares in common with
other ancient tongues, while it embraces others, that are not
elsewhere to be found, and which are, therefore, a proof of its
own intrinsic merit and independent resources *. Or, they prove
at least, that the foundation, on which this excellence rests, can
be no other than that of the original speech of the world.
To a person, acquainted only with the English language, or
with such others as are reared on a similar basis, with such, in
short, as are not formed from their own native energies, but unite
in their composition a mixture of all other tongues, it would be
scarcely possible to communicate an adequate notion of this
peculiar property of the Welsh. However, the proficients in
Hebrew, and more particularly those, who are also generally
versed in the Oriental dialects, will at once understand what is
meant by these radical sounds. Through the Hebrew, the Arabic,
differing in character, was substituted in its stead. Hence, from that period
the Old Testament is found to have been written only in the last mentioned
tongue. <
* Humphrey Prichard, in his learned Preface to Dr. John David Rhys's
celebrated Welsh Grammar, published in 1.792, does justice to this quality of
onr language in the following passage, which evinces, at the same time, the
accurate view he had taken, to a certain extent, of its elementary character.
" Habet haec lingua vocabula omrtibus mutuatis iequipollentia, quae neo
" obsoleta nec obliterata (mutuatis ademptis) rite ut olim apud majores
" usurpentur, quae nostratibus ingenerata, insistave natura, aut diviuitus
" infusa, adeo sunt propria et distincta, lit a nulla alia lingua derivata esse
" cobpertum sit, ita compta et auribus consona, ut meliora nulli agnos-
« cant."
84 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
the Persian, and all that class of languages, they generally pre
vail; and, wherever they are found, they convey the same dis
tinct and immutable signification. " It will be demonstratively
" evident," says Parkhurst in the preface to his Hebrew Lexi
con, " to any one, who will attentively examine the subject, that
" tha Hebrew language is ideal, or, that, from a certain, and that
" ho great, number of primitive and apparently arbitrary words
" or roots, and usually expressive of some idea taken from nature,
" that is, from the external objects around us, or from our own
" constitutions by our senses or feelings, all the other words of
" that tongue are derived, or grammatically formed ; and, that,
" whatever the radicals are, the same leading idea or notion runs
" through all the deflexions of the words, however numerous
" or diversified." This is precisely the case with the Welsh,
which has for its foundation nearly all the possible variety of
simple articulations, that the vocal organ is capable of express
ing. From these it derives that inexhaustible power of com
bination, which has given it all the expressive and energetic
copiousness so particularly characteristic of it, and which is ca
pable of being improved to an endless diversity upon the same
unchangeable principle. Hence too that simple dignity and sym
metrical beauty, which our ancient tongue so remarkably displays
ja its superstructure.
The number of primitive sounds, whether purely vocal or
mixed, which the human voice is capable of articulating, has
been estimated at somewhat less than three hundred. Of these
the Welsh language has retained nearly two hundred and twenty,
about eighty of which number are of absolute and defined accept
ation, about fifty more are employed in the auxiliary functions
of pronouns, articles, conjunctions, and prepositions, while the
remainder are regularly used as prefixes or affixes in composi
tion, augmenting or diminishing, upon one fixed principle, the
force of the words, in which they are thus incorporated *. Even
the very vowels possess attributes unknown to those of other
European languages. They are all pregnant with meaning-, and
have, either in an independent or accessory character, a deter-,
minate part to perform.
It is by a combination of these simple or primary elements,
the seeds, as we may justly call them, of all human languages,
* Mr. Pughe assigns IS to the first class above i described, 5 1 to the
second, and to the last all that remain of '213, which he estimates as the,
whole number of elementary sounds iu our language.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
that those words are formed, to which grammarians have given
the name of roots. M. De Gebelin, in his excellent Treatise
before quoted *, has the following judicious observations on this
point :—cf The union of these sounds," he says, f' forms the
" mass of primitive words, all of them monosyllables, all of them
f embraced in the vocal organ, all of them painting physical
" objects, all of them the source or roots of language, and from
" which they can not be separated. In examining these primitive
f words, which belong to all languages, we may always observe
f them descend in one simple manner : it is these same words,
f slightly varied, that have always been used to designate
" accessory ideas, and different branches of the same subject."
The feature, here alluded to, is strikingly characteristic of the
Welsh tongue : and, had this learned writer been versed in it,
he would, no doubt, have been able to furnish a complete illus
tration of his ingenious hypothesis. The task, he had so ably
begun, would have been satisfactorily accomplished ; and that full
justice would have been done to our native language, which it so
richly rnerits. By analysing even its most complex combinar
tions, he would have been able to discover those radical words,
from which they were formed : while a dissection of these latter
would have exposed to his observation those secret springs,
which he so justly regards as the vital principles of all human
speech f. By suph a process as this the antiquity and purity of
the Welsh tongue may be demonstrated. For " analysis," tq
borrow the words of the same author J, " rests upon two im-,
" moveable bases, upon the vocal organ, the same now as it
" was at the earliest period of time, and upon the mass of
" words, employed, in all tongues, to express ideas common to
" all men."
The next Essay on this subject is designed tp illustrate, by the
analysis here contemplated, the general remarks above offered.
By thus ascending, as it were, to thp yery egg,—however con-
* Monde. Primitif, torn. iii. p. 8.
f M De Gebelin elucidates the principle of elementary articulation,
as applied to language, by the following apposite comparisons :—.
" L'homme trouve dans la nature les eleinens de tout ce dont il s'occupe:
" la musique est fondee s ir son octave, qui ne dependoit jamais de
" I'oreille : la peinture sur des epnleurs piimitivcs, que l'art ne pent creer :
" la geometrie snr les raports et les proportions immuables des corps : la
" medicine sur les proprietes physiques.''—Ibid. torn. iii. p. 72.
{ Ibid. torn. iii. p. 271.
86 THE CAMBRO-BRITON,
trary in some cases to the Horatian rule,—we may be able to
unveil those arcana, which have not hitherto been publicly in
vestigated by any writer on 6ur language *. Not only will the
excellence, for which it is here contended, be effectually proved
by this inquiry ; but it will also appear, that the essences of all
ancient tongues are primarily the same, that their diversities are
merely accidental, and are reducible to those elements, which
nothing can alter, because they have nature itself for their
fountain.
THE TRIADS.—No. III.
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN f.
XiI. The three Combined Expeditions, that went from the Islo
of Britain.
The first was that, which went with Ur, son of Erin, the Armi-
potent, of Scandinavia. He came into this island in the time of
Cadial, son of Erin, to solicit assistance under the stipulation
that he should obtain from every principal town % no more than
the number he should be able to bring into it. And there came
only to the first town, besides himself, Mathutta Vawr, his ser-i
vant. Thus he procured two from that, and four from the
second town, and from the third town the number became eight,
and from the next sixteen, and thus in like proportion from
every other town ; so that for the last town the number could not
be procured throughout the island. And with him departed three
score and one thousand ; and with more than that number of
able men he could not be supplied in the whole island, as there
remained behind only children and old people. Thus Ur, son
of Erin, the Armipotent was the most complete levyer of a
host that ever lived ; and it was through inadvertence that the
* Mr. Pughe's Dictionary, which is arranged on this principle, should he
noticed as being, in some degree, an exception to this observation, as well as
some excellent remarks of his in the 1st volume of the Cambrian Register.
A systematic dissertation, however, is still a desideratum, and one, perhaps,
which he alone can Satisfactorily supply.
f Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 59—60. Tr. U and IS.
% The word in the oiiginal is Prifgacr, which means a fortress, or for-
tihed town of the first order, not peihaps exactly correspondent wjt.b our
modern idea of town, although tl^ut word is used \u the translation.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 87
nation of the Cymry granted him his demand under an irrevoc
able stipulation. For in consequence thereof the Coranians found
an opportunity to make an invasion of the island. Of these men
there returned none, nor of their line or progeny. They went
on an invasive expedition as far as the sea of Greece, and, there
remaining, in the land of Galas and Afena, to this day, they
have become Greeks.
The second Combined Expedition was conducted by Caswallon,
son of Beli, the son of Manogan, and Gwenwynwyn and Gwa-
nar, the sons of Lliaws, son of Nwyfre, with Ariunrod, the
daughter of Beli, their mother. Their origin was from the bor
der-declivity of Galedin and Essylhvg, [Siluria], and of the
combined tribes of the Byhvennwys ; and their number was
three-score and one thousand. They went with Caswallon, their
uncle, after the Caesarians, [Romans], over the sea to the land of
the Geli Llydaw, [Gauls of Armorica], that were descended from
the original stock of the Cymry. And none of them, or of their
progeny returned to this island, but remained among the Romans
in the country of Gwajsgwyn, [G-ascony], where they are at this
time. And it was in revenge for this expedition that the Romans
first came into this island.
The third Combined Expedition was conducted out of this
island by Elen, the Armipotent, and Cynan, her brother, lord
of Meiriadog, into Armorica, where they obtained land and
dominion and royalty, from Mncsen Wledrg, [the Emperor
Maximus,] for supporting him against the Romans. These
people were originally from the land of Meiriadog, and from the
land of Seisyllwg, and from the land of Gwyr and Gorwennydd;
and none of them returned, but settled in Armorica, and in
Ystre Gyvaelwg, by forming a commonwealth there. By rea
son of this combined expedition (he nation of the Cymry was so
weakened and deficient in armed men, that they fell under the
oppression of the Irish Picts; and therefore Gwrtheyrn Gwr-
thenau, [Vortigern], was compelled to procure the Saxons to
expel that oppression And the Saxons, observing the weakness
of the Cymry, formed an oppression of treachery, by combining
with the Irish Picts, and with traitors, and thus took from the
Cymry their land, and also their privileges and their crown.
These three Combined Expeditions are called the three Mighty
Arrogances of the nation of the Cymry ; also the three Silver
Hosts, because of their taking away out of this island the gold
and the silver, as far as they could obtain it by deceit, and
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
artifice and injustice, as well as by right and consent. And they"
are called the three Unwise Armaments, for weakening there-*
by this island so much, as to give place in consequence to the"
three Mighty Oppressions,—that is, those of the Coranians, the
Romans, and the Saxons.
[Ur, here mentioned, is the same with Urb Lluyddawg, no-•
ticed in Triad x. in the last Number. At what period he arrived
in Britain does not appear very evident ; but it must have been
some time previous to the Roman invasion. Nor is it certain to
what part of Greece or its vicinity, he and his followers emi
grated. Galas may mean Gailatia, or Gallograecia, so called
from a colony of Gauls or Celts, by whom it is supposed to have*
been peopled. When St. Jerome was there, in the fourth cen
tury, he recognized the Celtic tongue, which he had heard
spoken at Treves. That part of Galatia, called Paphlagonia,
was formerly inhabited by the Henefi, from whom originated the
Veneti in Italy, also of Celtic extraction.—With respect to the
expedition of Caswallon, Caesar himself seems, in some degree,
to confirm the account here given, although the amount of the
force, which accompanied him, seems to be over-rated. Caesar's
words are, " In Britanniam proficisci contendit, quod, omnibus
" fere Gallicis bellis, hostibus nostris inde subministrata auxilia
" intelligebat."—{Bell. Gal. Lib. 4, c. 20.) Galedin, men
tioned above and also in Triad vm, may have been a part of
the Netherlands; and Bylwennwys the Boulognese. But these
conjectures are, by no means, offered positively.—The expedi
tion of Cynan took place about the end of the fourth century.
Meiriadog, the place whence he was distinguished, comprised the
north-eastern division of what was antiently Powys. Seisyllwg
was the name of parts of the present Counties of Brecon and
Glamorgan : and Gwyr and Gorwenydd were Gower, and the
adjacent part of Glamorgan. Ystre Gyvaelwg was, most pro
bably, some portion of what is now Normandy : the name
implies a district comprehending a junction of brows or ridges of
hills.—The name of Vortigern, it may be noticed, given to
Gwrtheyrn, mentioned in this and a preceding Triad, belongs to
the Irish dialect, and was first applied to him by Bede, who might
hav,e learned it from his Irish teachers in Iona.]
xm. The three Mighty Oppressions of the Isle of Britain, that
combined together, and therefore became one oppression, which,
deprived the Cymry of their privileges, their crown, and their '
lands. The first was that of the Coranians, who confederated
I
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. S9
with the Romans, so that they became one ; the second, that of
the Romans; and the third, that of the Saxons, who confederated
with the other two against the Cymry. And this came from
God, as a punishment for the three mighty arrogances of the
nation of the Cymry, as their intentions could not have been
founded in justice.
TRIADS OF WISDOM*.
XXI. The three chief actions of wisdom : to look at every thing,
to endure, upon occasion, every tiling, and to keep one's self
free from every thing.
XXII. From three things a correct judgment may be obtained :
from knowing the truth, from discerning necessity, and from ge
nerous love.
xxnI. The three principal instructors of man : sense front
nature, in its discernment, reason from exertion, in its considera
tion, and conscience from impulse, in judging ; and without the
instruction of these three there can be nothing complete or cor
rect in the knowlege of wisdom.
xxiv. Three things, which are but one in their original deriva
tion : truth, justice, and mercy ; that is, from the same love do
these three proceed, for love is the summit of wisdom.
xxv. The three foundations of the understanding : the know
lege of tendency" and counter-tendency, the knowlege of event
and counter-event, and the knowlege of opinion and counter-
opinion. And from these comes the understanding ; for the
understanding is the comprehension of being and counter-being,
according to possibility.
xxvI. Three things, which bind the good to a man ; the doing
of it once himself, the request of it once from another, and
the commendation of it once in another, or, in the hearing of
another.
xxvu. Three ways, by which good may be instilled into a man :
the commendation of good done by him in the hearing of another
good person, the performance of a good action in his presence,
and silence as to a fault he may possess.
xxviii- From three counsels combined one good counsel may
be obtained : from the counsel of a friend, the counsel of a foe,
and the counsel of one's own conscience.
xxix. From three languages may be obtained the language of
* Arch, of Wa'e?, vol. iii. p. 203.
VOL. I. N
90 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
truth : from the language of nature, the language of reason, and
the language of conscience.
xxx. The essences of all morality: instruction, reason, and
conscience.
BARDIC TRIADS.—RELATING TO LANGUAGE*.
The three indispensibles of language: purity, copiousness,
and aptness.
The three ways, whereby a language may be rendered copious :
by diversifying synonymous words, by a variety of compounds,
and by a multiformity of expression.
The three qualities, wherein consist the purity of a language :
the intelligible, the pleasurable, and the credible.
The three supports of language : order, strength, and syno
nymy.
- The three correct qualities of a language : correct construc
tion, correct etymology, and correct pronunciation.
The three uses of a language : to relate, to excite, and to
describe.
The three things, that constitute just description : just selection
of words, just construction of language, and just comparison.
The three things appertaining to just selection : the best lan
guage, the best order, and the best object.
The three dialects of the Welsh language : the Ventesian or
Silurian, the Dimetian, and the Venedotian. And it is allowable
in poetry to use all of them indiscriminately, agreeably both with
the opinion and authority of the primitive bards.
THE WISDOM OF CATWGf.
HIS EXCEPTIVE APHORISMS.
There is no truth except that, which it is not possible to vary.
There is no equity but that, which cannot be dispensed with.
There is no good but that, which cannot be improved.
There is no evil but that, which cannot have its worse.
#. These Triads are selected from the number given by Mr. Owen Pughe
in the Preface his Edition of I.lywarch Hen's Poems. On some future
occasion tbe Editor may have it in his power to present his readers with the
whole of the Bardic Triads in in a systematic form.
f Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. 14.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 91
There is no worst save that, from which no one good is de
rivable.
There is no fitness but that, which it is not possible to distort.
There is nothing distorted but that, which cannot be fitted.
There is nothing complete but that, wherein a defect is im
possible.
There is no defect save that, from which no one benefit can
be procured.
There is no benefit but where a contrast is not possible.
There can be no contrast except to evil.
There is no contrast to evil but God.
There is no God but he, than whom there can be none better.
There is nothing which cannot have its better, save the best
of all.
There is no best of all except love.
There is no love but God ; God is love.
BARDIC PORTRAITS.
ANEURIN.
Although Aneurin was not a native of that part of the island,
which is now called Wales, still the language in which he wrote,
and the affinity of the stock, from which he was descended, with
that of the Cymry fully entitle him to be numbered amongst their
ancient bards. Accordingly he has ever been claimed by the
Welsh as forming a part of that constellation of genius, which
shed so much lustre on their literary annals during the sixth
century.
Aneurin of Flowing Muse, as he has been called, and whom
the Triads denominate also Monarch of the Bards, was one of the
sons of Caw ab Geraint, a chieftain of the Ottadini, who occupied
that part of the kingdom now called Northumberland,—a people,
as above observed, of kindred extraction and speech with the
Cymry*. Our bard was, most probably, born about the close of
* The Ottadini were perhaps descendants of the Lloegrwys, who, ac
cording to Triads vn. and ix. translated in the last number, settled in
the northern parts of the kingdom. The Welsh name was Gododini, or
f .ododiniaid, implying the inhabitants of a region bordering on the coverts,
whence tfce Romans formed their Ottadini, by rejecting the initial teUtef,
and whence too Aneurin took the name of his poem.
92 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
the fifth or the beginning of the sixth century, and was one of a
numerous issue, according to some accounts four and twenty, of
whom the celebrated Gildas was also one, if indeed Gildas and
Aneurin be not, as has been plausibly conjectured, two names
for the same individual *.
Of the early life of Aneurin we have no account ; but, when
arrived, as we may presume, at the age of manhood, we find him
honourably engaged in the defence of his native country against
the incursions ofthe Saxons. He fought, on this occasion, under
the banners of Mynyddog Eiddyn, who commanded the Britons
in the disastrous conflict of Cattraeth f, which, according to the
authority of Aneurin, three only, himself being one, of three hunT
dred and sixty-three British chieftains survived. His own safety
he ascribes, like Horace on a similar occasion, to the sacredness of
his poetical character J. The fatal result of this battle deprived
Caw of his territory, and compelled him, with the small remnant
of his children, to seek a refuge in Wales. Accordingly, he
and a part of his family settled in Anglesey, where lands wera
allotted to them by Maelgwn, at that time Prince of Gwynedd ;
while Aneurin became an inmate of Catwg's college at Llanfei
* This is very reasonably presumed from the similarity of the name?,
one appearing to be merely a translation of the other, and from the still
stronger circumstance of Gildas and Aneurin not being found together in
any of the antient MSS., which enumerate the children of paw. bee the
account of Aneurin in the Cambrian Biography.
+ The force, that accompanied Mynyddog on this occasion, is described
in the Triads as " one of the three pass- protecting clans of the Isle qf
"Britain." Some copies have " fair gosgordd addwyn," (see Arch, of
Wales, vol. ii. p. 69,) but the most probable reading is " Tair gosgordd
" adwy," (lb. p. 8.) which may afford some clue to the particular nature of
the battle of Cattraeth.
J To this he alludes in the following line :
" A minneu o'm guactvreu, guerth vy guenaut."
" And I, whs was saved from the spilling of blood, as the reward ofmy fair
" song."
Mr. Davies, in his translation of the Gododin, (Mythology and Rites of
the Druids, p. 341,) has most strangely perverted the meaning of this line,
which he renders,
" And myself through my streams of blood, the reward of my song ;"
thereby representing Aneurin as wounded, and wholly disregarding the
beautiful poetical feeling, which the bard evinces on the occasion of his
escape. But this is not the only instance, wherein this ingenious writer has
mis-translated the Gododin, apparently, indeed almost avowedly, with a
view to serve his extraordinary hypothesis: in his attachment to which he
has not only overlooked the Triad, alluded to in Hie last note, but the testi
mony of the ancient bards.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 93
thin, apparently the favoured resort of the genius and learning
of that period.
It must have been here, that he formed that intimacy with
Taliesin, to which he makes allusion in his Gododin : an instance
pf which may be seen in the following passage,—
Qf the mead and of the horn,
And of the assembly of Cattraeth,
I, Aneurin, will frame,
What Taliesin knows,
A song of participation,
Which shall be offered by Gododin
Before the dawn of the day of toil *.
Taliesin likewise appears to bear testimony to this connection,
yhen he thus speaks of his brother bard,—
I know the fame of Aneurin,
That celebrated genius,
Even I, Taliesin,
From the banks of the lake Oeirionydd.
It was, most probabjy too, in the propitious retreat of Catwg's
College, that Aneurin wrote his famous Gododin, which has been
described as the most ancient poem in Europe, alter those of
the classical writers f. And, if the genuineness of the effu
sions, ascribed to Ossian, be not satisfactorily proved, tlie Godo
din must be entitled to this distinction. This, and another poem,
called The Odes of the Months, are all that are now admitted to
be extant of the works of this distinguished Bard, and are pre
served under his name in the Archaiology. Aneurin is thought
* The original is as follows :
" O ved o vuelin,
O Gattraeth wnin,
, Mi a na, vi Aneurin,
Ys gwyr Taliesin,
Oveg cyvrenhin,
Neu chenig Ododin ,
C'yn gwawr dydd dilin."
Mr. Davies, whose translation, in this instance also, differs from that given
above, observes upon the passage, that " from it as well as from the gene-
" ral tenour of the work it is evident, that the Gododin was not UHdertaken
" as one single poem with a regular and connected design."—Mythology
and Rites of the Druids, p. 356. Nothing of this kind, however, is evident,
if the version, submitted in the text, be correct.
f Edward Llwyd, in his Arcbasologia, p. 254, gives A. D. 510 at the pro
bable date of this production : buf this appears a htlle too early.
94 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
to have spent the remainder of his days at Llanfeithin. The
period of his death has been fixed about A. D. 570, when, ac
cording to two Triads, he was killed by Eidyn, son of Einygan,
by the blow of an axe, which is therefore described as " one of
" the three accursed deeds of the Isle of Britain."
As it is intended to enter hereafter into a critical examination
of the Gododin, a reference to its general characteristics is all
that can be now required. This ancient poem, of which about
nine hundred lines are preserved, is evidently in an imperfect
state ; a circumstance, which, with the peculiarity of its dialect,
the errors of transcribers, and the obscurity occasioned by the
lapse of thirteen hundred years, has necessarily thrown a shade
over some parts of it. Yet, even through all these disadvan-
tages, it is possible to trace many sublime and pathetic features,
as well as that epic character, which, no doubt, originally belonged
to it. And passages may be selected to justify the high estima
tion, in which it was formerly held, at a lime, perhaps, when this
opinion was founded on more accurate copies, and more perfect
remains of this celebrated production.
The greatest portion of what is now preserved is occupied by
elegiac tributes to the memory of the heroes who fell at Cat-
traeth. And an old commentary describes the number of
stanzas to have been equal to that of the. chieftains they were
designed to commemorate, which must have extended the poem
considerably beyond its present length. The metre, in which
the Gododin is written, is a mixture of the lyrical and heroic,
the latter of which bears a strong resemblance with the corres
pondent measure of the Italian poets, and particularly with thai
used by Tasso in his Gicrusalemme Liberata : a circumstance,
which seems to denote a kindred origin in the poetry of the two
nations. In the epic character of the poem, to which allusion
has already been made, an imitation of the Greek and Roman
poets may clearly be traced, from which it may be inferred, that
Ancurin, as well as Taliesin, was well versed in the classical,
literature of that age. Xor will it be too much praise to say,
that, as a scholar and a poet, he formed one of its brightest
ornaments *.
* If his identity wi;h Gihlas could be proved, the propriety of this cu-
logium would be still inure appamnt.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 93
WELSH MUSIC—No. III.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—Having, in my preceding letters, made such general
observations, as I deemed necessary, I shall, without any farther
preamble, notice a portion of the Welsh Melodies.
" Rhyfelgyrch Gwyr Harlech," or The March of the Men
of Harlech, is an energetic composition, in the ityle oX
" Scots wha ha'e wi' Wallace bled," but with a much greater
variety of modulation. When the Denbighshire Militia were
for many years, during the late wars, from their native county,
their Colonel, the patriotic Sir W. W. Wynn, invariably
ordered his band at all grand reviews, to play this fine martial
air.
" Morfa Rhuddlan*," or The Marsh of Rhuddlan, has been
already mentioned. It is a sweetly plaintive air, in g minor.
Our bards have written many songs to this tune, and some of the
singers chaunt Pennillion to it. The commencement of the second
part in the relative major key, B fla^, bursts upon us, like the
last effort of the unconquered spirit of a d3'ing hero.
" Hela 'r Ysgyfarnog," or Hunting the Hare, is a very
lively air, and often introduced in dramatic pieces. One of
Matthews's best songs, in his " Trip to Paris," was to this tune;
and G. A. Stevens's celebrated song of " Songs of Shepherds"
is adapted to it.
" Ar hyd y N&s," or The livelong Xight.—OC all the Welsh
airs this perhaps is the most popular in England, partly owing
to its own beauty, and partly to the pathetic words, which were
written to it, (by Mrs. Opie I believe) commencing
"JHere beneath a willow sloepeth
Poor Mary Anne."
There is scarcely a composer who has not written variations on
this melody, particularly for the harp. And lately Liston, the
actor, has introduced a comic pferody on it, which he sings, riding
on an Ass, and wherein the simple burthen of the original is
burlesqued into " Ah ! hide your Nose."
* Morfa Rhuddlan, on the banks of the Clwyd in Flintshire, was the
scene of many battles between the Welsh and the Saxons. At the memo
rable conflict of 795 the Welsh were unsuccessful, and tl.cir monarch
Cauadog slain.
96 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
In Wales it is considered by the prize-singers as a mere baga
telle, and generally introduced as the last strain at convivial
meetings, when extempore stanzas are sung to it, alternately, by
the company. The words, adapted to this air in the selection
before me, commence thus :
" Sweet the tale of minstrels merry
Ar hyd y nos,
Sweet the rest of herdsmen weary
Ar hyd y nos;
And to hearts opprest with sorrow,
Forced the mask of joy to borrow,
Comfort is there till the morrow,
Ar hyd y nos
" Glan Meddwdod Mwyn," or Good humoured and fairly
tipsy.—It is impossible to give a faithful translation of Glan
meddicdod tmeyn. The air is a very beautiful one, and very
frequently sung in Wales ; as a two-part song it is exceedingly
effective. Many Pennillion on various subjects are chaunted to
this tune, the metre of which is long, consisting of eleven sylla
bles : e. g.
" If friendship and love be not blessings divine,
In life there's no pleasure, no music in song."
" Llwyn Onn," or The Ash Grove.—In my first letter I
stated, that the celebrated song in the Beggar's Opera of" Cease
your Funning " is to this air a little varied. So also is " Beauty
in Tears," sung by Mr. Braham, in Lodoiska. This melody is
a great favourite among the singers with the harp; but it re
quires an extensive compass of voice to do it justice. The
metre of the stanzas, which are sung to it, is long like the one
just mentioned ; yet the professed singer will introduce Pennillion
of different measures and lengths, by allowing the harper to play
a few bars alone, and will contrive to finish, with the nicest pre
cision, with the air. This is a peculiarity belonging to the Welsh-
mode of singing with the harp, which I shall more fully explain,
on another occasion.
I remain, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Oct. 5 1819 John Parry.
* Tie burthen " Ar hyd y nos," which mum literally "during the
night," is introduced with propriety here, as tl.e English reader may per
ceive.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 97
CRITICISM.
Coll Gwynfa : or Paradise Lost translated into Welsh by
W. O. Pughe,F.A.S. 8vo. pp. 371.8s. E. Williams, 1819.
In resuming the gratifying and proud task of comparing our
national version of Paradise Lost with the original little remains
to be done beyond a selection of those passages, in which the
skill of the translator appears to have been most happily exer
cised. It will not be possible indeed, within the necessary limits
of this examination, to supply an adequate notion of the full
extent, to which his command of our language has enabled him
to carry this excellence. But, as there are some parts, upon
which Mr. Pughe seems to have bestowed an extraordinary de
gree of pains, a few of these will be selected to justify the ap
probation, with which the work has already been noticed. Yet,
in offering these, it is not meant to deny, that some of those trivial
blemishes,
Quas hiimana parum cavit natura,
may occasionally be discovered in this, as in every other work of
man. But who would not wish to turn from them to a contempla
tion of those general beauties, by which they are so much over
balanced, if not rendered entirely unimportant*?
The most remarkable feature, perhaps, of Coll Gwynfa is
its literal adherence to the original, not only in the meaning, but
in the very expression and metre. Yet it must not be concluded,
that the translator, in thus following so closely the steps of his
great prototype, has therefore become one of that servile herd
of copyists, who sacrifice to a fidelity of interpretation every
other species of merit. The native faculties of the Welsh lan
guage were sufficient, in Mr. Pughe's hands, to protect him
against such a fate. They have even enabled him to be literal,
without obliging him to be tame : and have naturalized, in
his version, all the beauty and energy of the original, without
suffering either to be diminished, in any material degree, by the
* Among these venial inaccuracies maybe noticed the too frequent sepa
ration, at the end of a line, of articles, pronouns, prepositions, and other
weak auxiliary particles from the nouns, to which they belong ; instances
of which may be seen in the third, seventh, and tenth lines of the extract,
in page 100 post, beginning
'* O ti mewn gorogoniant ."
But even these blemishes may belong more to the eye than the ear.
Vol. I. O
98 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
use of a less vigorous metre or a more diffuse diction. This is a
privilege which no other European tongue can enjoy : it belongs
alone to the peculiar pliability and inexhaustible copiousness of
the Welsh.
The first extract, that follows, is a part of Satan's salutation to
his infernal abode upon rising from the fiery lake. As it would
be impracticable, without a sacrifice of more room than can be
spared, in all cases to transcribe Milton's lines, a reference to
them must in general suffice. The passage, here transcribed, is
in the first book of Paradise Lost, l. 249 to 263.
" Meusydd cain
Lie mae llawenydd byth, hanfyddent gwell :
Wi ! ddychryniadau, gethern fyd, a thi
O Uffern ddofn dy gynosb arfollaa ;
Un yw a chanddo fryd nas troa lle
Nac amser chwaith. Ei le ei hun yw bryd,
Ac ynddo ei hun gwna Nef o Uffern, ac
Yn Uffern Nef. Py waeth pa le, os yr
Un fath wyf 15, ac iawn fy mod, ac oil
Ond llai nog efe taranau a wnaent mwy ?
O leiaf yma byddwn rydd : yma er
Cenfigen, yr Hollalluawg ni wnaeth ddim,
Ymaith nis trosa ni : diogel yn
Y fangre hon teyrnaswn, ac yn hyn
O ddewis o deyrnasu tal y cais
Er mai yn Uffern : Gwell tej-rnasu yw
Yn Uffern no gweinyddu yn y Nef."—P. 10—11.
The Welsh reader cannot fail to be struck with the expressive
ness of the foregoing lines, as well as with their exact preservation
of the sense of the original. A comparison of the following lines
will particularly illustrate this :
" Ei le ei hun yw bryd
Ac ynddo ei hun gwna Nef o Uffern, ac
Yn Uffern Nef."
" The mind is its own place, and iu itself
Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven."
Yet no one can say, that the translation is the least poetical of the
two.
The following delightful simile of the bees swarming to the hive
,(B. L l. 768) is also rendered with great force and spirit, if in
deed the superior beauty of the Welsh language have not even
given it an advantage over the original.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 99
" Mai gwenyn yn y gwanwyn, pan yw haul
Yn rhed y Tarw, yn gyflu £ ddineant
Yn syw fagwyon am y cwch ; yn mhlith
Gwyry wlith a blodau gwibiant hwy, neu ar
Yr astell lefn, y rhaccaer id eu caer
O wellt, a rathid ag eu dail eu hun,
A dadiant eu gorchwylion gwlad."—P. 28—9.
The possible adaptation of the sound to the sense, in poetry, is
likely to continue, as it ever has been, a sort of vcxata queestio
in the critical world. While some contend for many examples
of this singular coincidence in Homer, Virgil, and other epic
poets, others regard them as no more than the visions of those
enthusiasts, who see a connexion in cases, where there is not
naturally any affinity. Dr. Johnson, however, who was, by no
means, a convert to this theory, has admitted Milton's description
of the creaking of hell-gates to give us a strong notion of this
presumed union of sound and sense, or rather of the manner, in
which the former may be employed to illustrate the latter. And
Mr. Pughe must be allowed the credit of having most successfully
imitated this quality of Milton's lines (B. ii. l. 879) in the follow
ing version.
" trwy serth chwim agorynt gan
Chwyrn encil a chan drydar eras y pyrth
Uffernawl, ar eu col o rygnu croch
Daranau, hyd nas crynai isaf sawdd
O Abred."—P. 60.
The words employed in this passage are, to the full, as rough and
jarring as the English ; and, perhaps, the expression of
" ar eu col o rygnu croch
Darannau "
is superior to the correspondent one of
" and on their hinges grate
Harsh thunder."
It may be remarked here, that Abred, used in the preceding lines,
is a word of Welsh origin, implying a state of evil or wretched
ness, and therefore appropriately used for Erebus, while the
similarity of the two names seems to indicate a kindred derivation.
Many instances occur in Coll Gwynfa of genuine Welsh names
being used in cases, where other languages invariably borrow
from the Latin or Greek. Tryblith and Awenyddion, by which
Chaos and Aonides are properly rendered in the extract given
100 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
in the first Number of the Cambro-Briton, may be noticed as
being, among others, instances of what is here meant. And the
very name itself of the poem * is a beautiful illustration of this
independent quality of the Welsh tongue, and does, besides, great
credit to the translator's judgment.
Another instance, similar to the one last quoted,-«f the happy
manner, in which Mr. Pughe has caught the spirit of the original,
occurs in his translation of the following lines, describing Satan's
floundering progress through the gloomy region of Chaos, which
also has been considered to exhibit the concurrence of sound and
sense already adverted to.
" So eagerly the Fiend
O'er bog, or steep, through strait, rough, dense or rare,
With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way,
And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies."
** . cymaint awch y Mailt,
Tros gors, tros allt, trwy gul, garw, dwys, neu daen,
Gan ddwylaw, edyn, traed, canlynai ar
Ei hynt, a nofia, sodda, creinia, neu
Eheda."—P. 62.
Many similar passages occur in Milton, whose language, abound
ing in monosyllables, afforded him a peculiar facility in this re
spect. His translator had no such advantages on his side, but,
on the contrary, every thing against him.
Satan's fine address to the Sun, in the fourth Book (l. 32),
is given with great spirit and fidelity. The exordium will be found
particularly worthy of being here transcribed : notwithstanding
the apparent eye-sores adverted to in a preceding note.
" O ti mewn gorogoniant ar dy rwysg
A wclir yn llywiadu megis Duw
Y newydd fyd : oddiwrth dy olwg y
Gorchuddiant yr holl ser eu penau man ;
Neud arnat ti y galwaf, ond nid yw
Lais car, a chan dy enwi di O haul,
Ac i fynegi gased imi dy
Belydron ynt, a ddygant imi gof
* The literal meaning of Coli. Gwynfa is the Loss of the Place of Hap
piness. In this sense Gwynfa has been used by the bards for Paradise.
An instance may be seen in the lines of Cynddelw, adopted by Mr.
Pughe as his motto to this translation. The Welsh term mjust be allowed
to be at least as significant as Paradise, which is retained in all other ver
sions of Miiton.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 101
Fy syrthiad, a gogoneddused uwch
Dy rod yr oeddwn, nes i falchder a
Gorymgais gwaeth fy mwrw i lawr yn Nef
Yn erbyn brenin Nef o gynneu trais."—P. 96—7.
The description of the changes of the fiend's countenance, at
the conclusion of this address, (l. 114,) is also rendered in the
fame happy manner.
ff Mai hyn tra gwedai, pylai y naill nwyd
Dair gwaith ei wedd yn welw, cenfigen, llid,
A dwfn anobaith ; ei echwynawl drem
Anafai hyn, gan ei gyhuddaw ef
Tan rithiad ffug, o sylwa arno neb.
Oddiwrth y fath anwydau bryntion ynt
Nefolion byth yn lan."—P. 99.
The approach of morning, and the waking of Adam, at the
beginning of the fifth book, described by Milton with such ex
quisite spftness, appear to no less advantage in the Welsh.
Indeed, this is one of those passages, in which Mr. Pughe ap
pears to have drawn most copiously from those stores of me
lody which our language contains. Nothing can excel the mel
lifluence of some of his lines. The very commencement may
be selected in justification of this assertion ; unless indeed even
they are surpassed in sweetness by some that follow*.
" Y bore weithion ar ei breilw rawd
O ddwyr yn eddain, heuai ddaiar las
A gleinion, pan ddeffroai Addaf, wrth
Ei arfer, can ysgafned oedd ei gwsg
O ddyli iach ac araul darddion, rnal
Y taenid gan ddain odwrdd chwyf y wawr
Ar ddail a gofer, a ffrill ednaint ar
Bob cainc mewn can o bylgaint."—P. 130.
The following is the Italian translation ef the same beautiful
passage : and it only requires a comparison of it with Mr.
Pughe's version to prove the superiority of the latter. There is
a mellowness in the Welsh lines, to which the others have no
pretension.
" Gia nel sereno clima di Levante,
Avangando il Mattino i rosei passi
Spargea di perle orientali il suolo ;
Quando alia solit', ora Adam svegliossi :
* This observation applies particularly to Adam's address to Eve, when
bt awakens her, and of this to the last four lines.
102 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Lieve com' aria e il sonno suo, cui nutre
Pura digestione e soporiferi
Temperati vapori ; e leggiermente
Disperde il susurrar di fronde e rivi
Al ventilar della novella Aurora,
£ il garruletto matutino canto
Degli augelletti in ogni verde ramo."
The celebrated Morning Hymn of Adam and Eve, in the
game book, is likewise very finely rendered; but, from its
length, cannot, unfortunately, be transplanted into these pages.
Nor can a part be given 'without injustice to the rest.
A space must, however, be allowed for the first fourteen lines
of the beautiful Invocation to Urania, in the commencement of
the seventh book. They will be found in every way worthy of
the original, and are particularly distinguished by those melo
dious sounds, in the selection of which Mr. Pughe, as before
observed, has evinced so much taste and so extraordinary a
felicity.
" Disgyna di o Nef, Nyfedon, ar
Hwn enw iawn os gelwir di, dy lais
Dwyfolaidd o areiliaw goruwch ban
Olympw y dwyreaf, ac uwch hed
Pegasw aden. Nid yr enw ond
Yr ystyr wyf yn galw am ei blaid :
Am mai tydi nid o awenolion naw
Yr wyt, na chwaith ar ben Olympw hen
Y trigi di, ond ganed ti o Nef,
Cyn bod na bryniau na ffynnonau ter,
Ti ymddyddanit a Doethineb oed
Tragwyddawl, yw Doethineb chwaer i ti,
A chyda hi chwareit yn ngwydd y Tad
Hollnerthawl, boddawl o dy nefawl gin."
P. 194—5.
Nyfedon and Pegasw, by which Urania and Pegasus are ren
dered in this passage, afford another instance of the native rich
ness of the Welsh tongue. And Mr. Pughe, in a note on the
words, suggests, that the roots of the latter may be found in
that language. The former is purely Welsh.
The extracts from Coll Gwynfa must now, with whatever
reluctance, be brought to a close. One other only can be ad
mitted, and that is the sublime passage, in which the Almighty is
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 103
described on his return to Heaven after the great work of the
Creation :
" Followed with acclamation, and the sound
Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tun'd
Angelic harmonies."—B. vii. 1. 557, et seq.
They are thus rendered by Mr. Pughe, with a remarkable
union of beauty and dignity, and may be advantageously com
pared with the Welsh translation of some of the same foe ideas
in the 24th psalm.
" I fyny echwai efe gan floedd mawlaad
A chyson sain deg mil telynau per
A leisient eilwy Engyl : daiar gron
Ac awyr a adseinient (mae ar gof
I ti, o glywed) Nefoedd ac achlan
Cyfluoedd ser a ddiaspedent, ar
Eu gorsaf y gwrandawent hwynt y mwth
Blanedau, tra esgynai y gwymp rwysg
Yn orfoleddawl. Chwi dragwyddawl byrth,
Agorwch, cenynt, Ye agorwch, chwi
Y Nefoedd, drysau bywiawl ; doed i mewn
Y Peryf mawr yn ddychweledig oc
Ei waith ardderchawg, ei chwe dydd gwaith, byd ;
Agorwch, a rhag blaen ami ; canys Duw
Teilynga ami ofwyaw yn foddaus
Drigfanau y cyfiawnion, hefyd gan
Gyweithns fynych yr anfona ei
Adeiniawg genadwri nefawl rad."—P. 215.
The passages, that have here been quoted from Coll
Gwynfa, must, it is hoped, have made it unnecessary, as it re
spects the Welsh reader, to dwell longer on the characteristic
merits of this performance. But, in order to induce strangers to
our language to cultivate an acquaintance with it, it may be right
to give a summary view of those particulars, in which its excel
lence mainly consists.
Hitherto, it cannot be denied, even the most celebrated of our
modern prose productions had failed to do full justice to the
remarkable capabilities of our native tongue. There is some
thing in most of them so harsh and inelegant, that the student, it
is feared, has often turned with aversion from those features,
which belonged to the writer rather than to the language. It
104 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
reiriained for Mr. Pughe, and perhaps it belonged to him alone,
to vindicate the innate energies of the Welsh tongue, to re-assert
its classical properties, and to unlock those springs of melody,
.which are so emphatically its own. In the prosecution of this
patriotic design, he may be considered by some, to have availed
himself too extensively of his intimate acquaintance with the
literature of past times. Some may think, that he has evinced too
great a partiality for certain words, 'and constructions of speech,
which they may be disposed to regard as antiquated and obsolete.
But such objectors should consider, that, in this view, the Welsh
differs from all modern tongues. It has not been enriching itself,
like them, from the stores of other languages; it has not been con
tinually acquiring new lustre from the polish of foreign idioms :—
but unhappily, on the contrary, it has, in the mouths of the vul
gar and illiterate, been gradually losing, as an oral language,
much of its native richness and purity. It has, in this respect,
undoubtedly been debased from its genuine value. But, it fortu
nately possesses, within itself, a magical faculty of renovation, by
which it may be restored to all the grace and majesty it possessed
a thousand years ago.
This is the great work Mr. Pughe has achieved. He has re-
embodied the expressive dialects of our venerable tongue; he
has displayed it to our view in all its pristine copiousness, and has
united, in his diction, such various combinations of beauty and
energy, as no other Welsh production of modern times has exhi
bited. He has thus rescued our language from a reproach, to
which it had been too long exposed, by expunging those bar
barisms, which had been generated by an ignorant use or a cor
rupt taste. He has borrowed a ray from the genius of past times
to dispel the gloom of the present. Wherever, therefore, he
may appear to be antiquated, he is only the more classically and
the more purely Welsh.
In conclusion, as it has been said by one of the encomiasts of
Milton, with reference to Paradise Lost, that he found in it uni
versal knowlege, so it may be observed, without an hyperbole, of
this translation, that it combines the universal excellence of the
Welsh tongue. It forms an admirable illustration of the Dic
tionary by the same writer : and, whatever may be the cavils or
the prejudices of some, these works are destined to be forgotten
only with the language, which they have so eminently contri
buted to adorn.
• ** I
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 105
THE MISCELLANIST.—No. I.
Of all the duties, imposed upon the conductor of a publication
like this, the most difficult, or, at least, the most delicate is that,
which regards a proper selection of the contributions, with which
he is favoured. The fear of sharing the fate of that ill-omened
painter, who, in his endeavours to gratify all, found at length,
' that he had pleased none, must continually haunt his waking and
sleeping hours, with reference to this part of his task. From the
days of the renowned Spectator to the present, this circumstance
has been found to be a serious deduction from the enjoyments of
those important personages, who, as Editors of periodical works,
court the suffrages of the public. Why, therefore, should the
conductor of the Cambro-Briton hope to escape the common lot
of the fraternity ? Thus early, indeed, in his literary career have
these bitters of his employment mixed themselves with its sweets.
Of the many contributions, which have already reached him, he has
felt himself obliged to reject some, choosing rather to incur the
possible enmity of a few, than to forfeit the good opinion of all.
And, as a particular notice of these might, in many cases, be
deemed invidious, he thinks it more prudent thus generally to
observe, that no communication can be admitted into the Cam
bro-Briton, which has not some reference to that main design,
which has been already so fully explained. And, where the in*
tention to promote this is evidently sincere, the Editor promises,
that he will not be fastidiously scrupulous about the means.
There is another point, that requires here a more particular
consideration. Among the contributions, so kindly offered to the
Cambro-Briton, several, however worthy of notice, cannot con
veniently be marshalled under those general heads, which it has
been thought advisable to adopt in the disposition of this work.
These communications may be considered of the same nature as
the velites or light troops, which hover on the flanks of an
army instead of forming a part of its main body. It has, there
fore, occurred to the Editor, to form these irregulars into a
separate body, under the title of the Miscellanist, the first
specimen of which is here offered. And, while this arrangement
cannot be adjudged incompatible with the general aim of the
Cambro-Briton, it may be found, at the same time, a welcome
relief to its more formal or more grave lucubrations.
VOL. I. P
106 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
The letter, which follows first in order here, is upon a topic at
once interesting and new. And, if the Editor were disposed to
dissent at all from the opinion of the ingenious writer, it would
be merely by observing, that he does not perceive that nationality
(if he may be allowed the term) in the Welsh character, which
distinguishes that of the other nations alluded to in the letter.
This remark is particularly applicable to the Scotch, whose pecu
liar manners and dialect form the grand charm of all those novels,
which the general voice has ascribed to Scott. However, there
is much merit in T. K.'s suggestion ; and it may be adopted to a
certain extent with considerable advantage. But he would do
well to be cautious in the confidence he reposes in those legends,
which are reputed to be Welsh, as they are, for the most part,
undoubtedly spurious*.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—It is with no small portion of gratification that I hail, in
the appearance of the Cambro-Briton, a work likely to afford
amusement and information to the sons of Cambria at least, if
not to every admirer of its history and antiquities.
Hitherto, no periodical publication, devoted exclusively to
subjects connected with Welsh literature, (if we except the Cam
brian Register, which, it is to be feared, will never be resumed,
and a work or two written in Welsh) has appeared to gratify the
warm and honest feelings of her people—not, indeed, because
there is a lack of talent in the Welsh, or because there is a de
ficiency of materials—but because no spirited individual has un
dertaken the task, or ventured upon a work adapted to only a
small portion of the inhabitants of the British Isles. The history,
the literature, and the poetry of Wales, both ancient and mo
dern, including, of course, the manners and peculiar customs of
the natives, afford ample scope for interesting dissertation, while
the traditions and legends of the country supply abundant matter
for amusing national tales. Each division of the kingdom has
given birth to tales solely relative to the history of such division
or province. The manners and scenery of Scotland, resembling
so closely those of Wales, have been depicted with a pencil forci
ble, impressive, and not to be excelled. Those of Ireland have
* Since the above was written, the Editor has received two interesting
communications from T. K. on Welsh manners, of which he hopes to make
' use in the next Numbtr of the Cambro-Briton ; and he has no doubt they
will be found an acceptable accession to its conteuts.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 107
been placed before us in the most glowing colours, by the pencils
of Miss Edgeworth and Miss Owenson, now Lady Morgan * ;
while those of England are to be found in our earliest romances
and poems. Why then is Cambria backward in this respect?
The gallant spirit of her mountaineers, their wild and sanguinary
border-feuds, their hospitable and noble feelings will supply the
novelist with plot ; while her rocks and mountains, woods and
torrents, glens and ravines would afford embellishments' for his
narrative. Perhaps the Cambro-Britoiv may excite to emulation
on this subject—a subject replete with interest to all the sons
of Cambria, and one, against which, I trust, its pages will never
be closed.
I have, for some time, been in the habit of noting traditions
and legends relative to my country, and I have found that she is
by no means deficient in " legendary lore" for the composition
of more tales than one. It is my intention, should you deem it
not irrelevant to the plan of your publication, to forward, at some
future period, the legends and traditions I have collected, in the
hope that they may be applied to the purposes above-men
tioned.
I am, Sir, your sincere well-wisher,
London, October 2, 1819. T. R.
The letter of Tudor, which follows next, is of a graver
cast than the preceding, notwithstanding that it comes in the fas
cinating shape of a love-tale, as its chief bearing is upon an
historical point, which it is not very easy to determine. But
Cambrian, or more properly Cimbrian, seems to have been a
general appellation in many places ; and, as the Cimbri or Cymry
crossed Tartary in their progress towards Europe f, this circum
stance may account for the name, to which Tudor refers.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—In Dr. Jeremy Belknap's Life of the intrepid Captain
John Smith, the founder of Virginia, in North America, who lived
about 1600, the following remarkable passage occurs.— Smith,
it seems, had been sold as a slave to Basha Bogal, who sent him
* By-the-bye, some of the critics attribute the appearance of the Scottish
Hovels to the writings of Lady Morgan, and say, that the author of Wavcr-
ley is an imitator of this lady. If so, how greatly has he excelled his pro
totype !
f See C'AMbRO-BniTox, No. 2. p. 47.—Ed.
108 THE CAMBRO-BR1TON.
as a present to his favourite mistress at Constantinople. The
lady could speak Italian, with which language Smith was
acquainted, and he soon won her affections.—" The connexion
proved so tender," says the writer, " that, to procure him for
herself, and prevent him from being ill used, or sold again, she
sent him to her brother, the Basha of Nalbraitz, in the country
of the Cambrian Tartars, on the borders of the sea of
Asoph."
Can you, or any of your Correspondents, throw a light on the
above interesting subject ?
Your's, respectfully,
Denbigh, October 5, 1819. Tcdor.
The Editor concludes this Number of the Miscellanist with
the latter part of a letter lately received in his official capacity,
as it expresses sentiments, in which, although not apparently
designed for the public eye, he is sure no Cambro-Briton wi^
refuse to concur.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—Though not deeply read in the literature of my country,
I know sufficient to convince me, that the genius of her sons
is of no common cast. I trust, that, through your laudable
exertions, the attention of the learned will be directed to her
literature,—that the treasures, which have long lain hid in the
ruins of her majestic halls, will be brought forth,—and, that those
individuals, who have been fostered in her luxuriant vales, or have
sprung forth
———" deep in her unprun'd forests
Mid the roar of cataracts,"
will be induced to improve their knowlege of their native lan
guage, which is at once nervous, energetic, and sublime, and,
be yet identified as the descendants of the men, who first gave
dignity to the soil of Britain !
I am, with best wishes for the prosperity of jyur interesting
Magazine,
A Cambro-Briton.
Denmark Hill, Camberwcll,
October 6, 1819.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
AWEN CYMRU.
JPtk rodd yw athrvydd Avon Ebm. P»y«.
PENNILLION.
1 XVII.
Gwyn eu byd yr adar gwylltion,
Hwy gant fyn'd i'r fan y fynon' ;
Weithiau i'r mor, a weithiau i'r mynydd,
A dawpd adref yn ddigerydd.
XVIII.
Trwm y plwm, a thrwm y cerig,
Trom yw calon pob dyn unig,
Trymaf peth tan haul a lleuad,
Canu'n iach, lle byddo carjad.
XIX.
Yn hen, ac yn ieuanc, yn gall, ac yn ffol,
Y merched sy'n gwra, a minnau ar yr ol;
Pa'm y mae'r meibion i'm gweled mor wael,
A minnau gan laned a merched sy'n cael ?
XX.
Blodau 'r flwyddyn yw f' anwylyd,
Ebrill, Mai, Myhefin hefyd ;
Llewyrch haul yn tywynu ar gysgod,
A gwenithen y genethod.
XXI.
Da gan adar man y coedydd ;
Da gan wyn feillionog ddolydd :
Da gan i brydyddu 'r hafddydd
Yn y llwyn, a bod yn llonydd.
XXII.
Hawddfyd i ddydd yr Awen,
Pan oeddwn gynt yn fachgen,
A chyda 'r g6g yn canu'n fwyn,
Yn nghyfor llwyn yn llawen.
A Translation of the Ode on the Death of Sir Thomas
Picton, which follows in page 111,
Gerddorion mwynion a mad,—o tynnwch . ,
O 'ch tannau alarnad ;
Forwynion cenwch farwnad,
Eirian glain arwr ein gw-lad. S. Price.
110 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Dowch er cof i wylofain—ar wyddfa
Yr addfwyn lyw cywrain ;
Ail ni bu i'r cu wr cain,
Er rhyfyg Groeg a Rhufain. W. Williams.
Picton, ei alon wyliodd,—rhag taerni,
Rhwyg teyrnas achubodd ;
Rhyddion holl Ewrop rhoddodd ;
Marw yw 'nawr a mawr y modd ! J. Howell.
Rhodd hyfryd gwir bryd ger bron,—a gludai
I'r gwledydd heddychlon ;
Aeth, 'n ol gorphen dibenion,
I entyrch llewyrch yn lion. S. Price.
Pell edrych, pwy eill adrodd—y nerthol
lawn wyrthiau gyflawnodd ?
Gelyn traws o'i geulan trodd,
Ei gaerau oil a gurodd. W. Williams.
Gwych udgorn clod, nod a wna—o'r gwrthiau,
A'r gwerth nis gwahana ;
Marw wnaeth, yna daeth enw da,
Yn fythol hwn ni fetha. J. Howell.
Llandovery, July 20, 1819.
An Englyn on a Rocr falling down in the Vale of Neath, by
Rhys Morgan John, of Pencraig-Nedd, written about the
beginning of the last century.
Creigydd a gelltyd gwylltion—a dolydd
Ardaloedd Nedd dirion ,
Rhwygwyd a braenwyd eu bron :
Ffwrdd ! unwaith gael ffordd union.
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATIONS 0.F THE PENNILLION.
f . XVII.
Those wild birds see, how bless'd are they !
Where'er their pleasure leads they roam,
O'er seas and mountains for away,
Nor chidings fear when they come home.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. Ill
XVIII.
Heavy is lead and so is stone,
So is his heart, that lives alone;
But heavier far it is, they tell,
To say to her one loves,—farewell.
XIX.
Both old maids and young ones, the witless and wise
Gain husbands at pleasure, while none will me prute ;
Ah ! why should the swains think so meanly of me,
And I full as comely as any they see !
xx.
My fair one is the blooming year,
April, May, and June beside:
The sun-beam smiles, as she draws near,
Pearl of maidens and the pride.
XXI.
The birds delight upon the spray,
And lambs on clover-meads to play ;
For me, at summer's noon I love
To muse in peace within the grove.
XXII.
Blessings to that hour belong,
When, erst a youth, my merry strain
Join'd the cuckoo's jocund song,
Near to the grove on yonder plain.
* **
ODE on the DEATH of Sir THOMAS PICTON,
BV THE REV. DAVID ROWLAND.
[Although it is contrary to the plan of the Cambro- Briton to admit any mo
dern productions, that have already appeared in other periodical publi
cations, the merit of these lines would alone be sufficient to justify the
exception here made in their favour, even if it had not been required for
the purpose of comparing them with the Welsh translation, inserted in
the two preceding pages,—E».]
O ware the lyre, ye minstrels hoar,
The deep-ton'd strings of sorrow sweep;
For Cambria's hero is no more,
Around his tomb her daughters weep.
Weep on, ye forms angelic,—pour
A flood of tears upon that tomb ;
A mightier warrior ye deplore
Than any son of Greece or Home.
112 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Brave Picton, son of Victory,
His life-blood shed this realm to save^
The arm, that set all Europe free,
Lies nerveless in the clay-cold grave.
He left the world a legacy,
Peace profound and prospects bright ;
His work achieved, his soul burst free,
And wing'd her way to realms of light.
Who can recount each daring deed,
The feats of valour he perform'd :
The hosts he chac'd with eagle-speed,
The battles gain'd, the forts he storm'd ?
His deeds shall swell the trump of fame,
Worth from honour who can sever ?
He died—but left a deathless name,
In glory's blaze 'twill live for ever*.
PARAPHRASE OF THE ENGLYN,
In Page 110.
The massy crag, which tower'd on high,
And seem'd to touch the azure sky,
Exacting, like a monarch proud,
A dewy tribute from each cloud,
Is undermined by swelling frost,
Its fissures wedged, its base is lost :
Detached, it moves in horrid stride,
And tumbles down the mountain-side. .
Surging o'er rocks it brooks no stay,
And crashes through the brakes its way,
Till on Neath's margin one great bound
Imbeds it in the trembling ground.
A fragment thus records a tale
Of fallen grandeur in the vale.
Bath, Sept. 20, 1819. B.
* This Ode was sung at the Carmarthen Eisteddfod, on the 9th of July,
1819, by Miss Bartlett, adapted to the air of Anhawd Ymadaf.l. The
preceding translation is the composition of the three individuals, whose
names are affixed to the several stanzas, and was undertaken by tbem with
the intention of rendering it as close to the original as the strict rules of
Welsh poetry would permit, allowing an Englyn to each English stanza.
Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 113
» »
WALES.
i
CYMMRODORION SOCIETY IN POWYS.—An account
of the Cambrian Society has already appeared in the Cambro-
Briton ; and the laudable objects of that Institution can not but
be gratifying to every native of Wales, having at heart the
prosperity or the fame of his country. The pleasing duty now
devolves on the Editor of recording the establishment of a simi
lar Society in North Wales, for the same patriotic purposes,
and designed to act in concert with the Cambrian Society.
The following is a Report of the interesting proceedings on
this occasion, which has been received from a gentleman, who
attended the meeting, and whose zeal in the cause of his native
country entitles him to her particular gratitude.
On Wednesday, the 6th of October, a Meeting was held at
Wrexham for the purpose of forming a Society in the District
or Province of Powys, comprehending the Counties of Denbigh,
Flint, and Montgomery, in connection with the Cambrian
Society already formed at Carmarthen. On this interesting
occasion Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, Bart., Sir Edward Pryce
Lloyd, Bart., Sir John Evans, Foster Cunliffe, Esq., Rev.
Mr. Eyton, Rev. George Strong, Rev. Walter Davies, Rev.
Edward Bean, Rev. John Jenkins, Rev. William Jenkins
Rees, Rev. Daniel Hughes, and the Rev. John Jones were
present, and the business commenced with the motion of Sir
E. P. Lloyd, that Sir W. W. Wynn should take the Chair.
It was then resolved, that the persons present should form them
selves into a Society, under the denomination of the Cymmrodo-
rion Society in Powys, for the preservation of the remains of
Ancient British Literature, and the encouragement of the Poetry
and Music of modern Cambria; the term Cymmrodorion being
adopted more particularly out of respect to an ancient Society
of that name, of which this was to be considered a revival. In
the appointment of officers several of the nobility resident in
the district, or connected with it, were nominated Patrons, and, on
the motion of Sir E. P. Lloyd, Sir W. W. Wynn was chosen
President by acclamation. Many distinguished characters were
also chosen Vice-Presidents and Members of a Committee, and
the Rev. John Jones, of St. Asaph, was appointed Secretary, sub
ject to his acceptance of the office. Several Resolutions for con-
VOL. I. Q
114 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ducting the proceedings of the Society were afterwards entered
into, and a meeting of the Committee for the transacting of busi
ness was appointed to take place immediately. The worthy Pre
sident having left the chair, thanks for his attention and ability in
going through the business of the Meeting were moved by F. Cun-
liffe, Esq. and unanimously agreed to.
In commencing the proceedings of the Committee, Sir John
Evans was requested to take the chair, and the several resolutions
of the Society, authorising them to proceed in conducting their
concerns, were read. The subjects for literary competition, and
the premiums for the best compositions, were then agreed upon,
and proposed, viz.
1. A premium of five guineas, or a medal of that value, for
the best Englyn (Epigrammatic stanza) on Pa beth yw Awcn.
(What is poetical Genius ?)
2. A premium of ten guineas, or a medal, for the best Cywvdd
(Poem) on Llesawl effeitliiau undeb Cymru a Lloegr. (The
beneficial effects of the Incorporation of England and Wales).
3. A premium of twenty guineas, or a medal, for the best
Awdl (Ode) on Hiraeth Cymro am ei wlad mevm bro estron-
awl. (The Longing of a Welshman for his Country in a Foreign
Land).
4. A premium of ten guineas, or a medal, was also proposed
for the best Essay in the English Language, on The several
Notices of Britain in ancient Authors, containing Extracts
from the Originals, with English Translations and a Com
mentary thereon.
5. A premium, or medal, of the same value for an English
Essay, on The History and Character of the real Arthur, King
of Britain, and the fabulous Character of that name, whether
of Romance or Mythology.
. 6. A Miniature Silver Harp of the value offive guineas,
with a gratuity for travelling expenccs at the discretion of the
Committee, was also proposed to the best Competitor on the
Triple Harp.
The Eisteddfod, for the recitation of the j>rize compositions
and the performance of the musical competitors, was appointed
to take place at Wrexham on Wednesday and Thursday, the
2d and 3d of August, 1820; and it was resolved, that gratuitief,
at the discretion of the committee, should be given to bards and
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 115
musicians of merit attending the Eisteddfod, who were not in
affluent circumstances, towards defraying their expences. It was
also resolved, that the Rev. Walter Davies, the Rev. W. J. Rees,
W. O. Pughe, Esq., J. Parry, Est!. (Author of the Welsh Melodies,)
Mr. Edward Williams, Mr. Richard Llwyd, and Mr. Edward
Jones, (Bard to the Prince Regent,) should be honorary members
of the Society, on account of their services in the cause of Welsh
literature. And the following works, connected with the object of
the Society, published or about to be published, were recommended
to the notice of the Members, viz. Collections for a new History of
Wales, by Mr. Edward Williams - a Poem called the Dilite, by
Mr. David Richards,—Dr. John David Rhys's Latin-Welsh
Grammar, Edited by the Rev. D. L. Jones,—Hugh Morris's poet
ical works in Welsh, Edited by the Rev. Walter Davies, and the
new Monthly Publication called the Cambro-Briton.
Mr. R. H. Jones, of Ruthin, acted as secretary during the
meeting, and displayed great readiness and ability in executing
the office. The Chairman of the Committee also deserved great
commendation for his patriotic zeal and judicious conduct in
managing the business. The subscription was opened by Sir
W. W. Wynn, with a donation of twenty guineas, and an annual
subscription of five guineas ; and the names of Sir C. P. Lloyd
and Sir Thomas Mostyn had each affixed to them a. donation of
ten guineas, and an annual subscription of five guineas.
The formation of this Society cannot but be hailed as an
auspicious era to Cambrian literature, and a prognostic, that the
flame, which has been kindled in the Southern part of the Princi
pality, will blaze with undiminished splendour in the North, and
ultimately throw a light on subjects hitherto involved in the
deepest obscurity. That so much excellence, as seems to be con
tained within the borders of Wales, should be so long in a man
ner buried and unknown may justly cause surprise ; but it is
now hoped that the exertions of this, and the other Societies, con
nected with it, will prove not only to England but to Europe,
that the efforts of genius, both with respect to the dead and the
living, in this interesting part of the British empire, how circum
scribed soever in its limits, and deprived of independence as a
state, are such as will justly entitle it to no small respect among
the nations. . ' R.
GWYNEDDIGION EISTEDDFOD AT DENBIGH.—On
Wednesday, Oct. 6, the annual Eisteddfod of the Gwyneddigion
Society was held at Denbigh, for the purpose of deciding on the
U6 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
merits of the several Welsh Compositions written for the premium
proposed by the Society in London for the best Awdl (Ode) on
the subject, Elusengarwch (Charity). John Wynn Griffith,
Esq. M. P. presided on the occasion. The meeting was nu
merously and respectably attended by the gentlemen, and lovers
of poetry and music ©f the town and neighbourhood, all of whom
seemed highly gratified with the proceedings of the day. Owing
to an unavoidable circumstance, which prevented the previous
necessary arrangements from being made, the expected decision
did not take place. However, no less than fifteen compositions
were received, and the Rev. David Richards, rector of Llansilin,
Aneurin Owen, Esq., and Mr. Robert Davies were appointed
judges to decide on their merits, and the 25th inst, was fixed on
to make their report.
Although the regular business of the day was not in every re*
spect accomplished, yet, in unison with the design of the meeting,
in encouraging and promoting a knowlege of Welsh poetry
and music, several vocal performers accompanied the harps, in
reciting Pennillion, after the ancient manner of the country ; and,
according to usual custom, two subjects, viz. Cariad gwladol
(Patriotism), and Dynoliaeth (Humanity), were proposed by
the Chairman, for verses to be delivered within a given time at
the meeting. On this occasion six compositions were produced,
all of which had considerable merit, and particularly so for the
short space, viz. half an hour, in which they were to be written *.
R.
CAMBRIAN SOCIETY IN DYFED —The following sub
jects have been proposed by the Committee of the Cambrian
Society, within the division of Dyfed, for the Prize Compositions
for the ensuing year; and a premium of Ten Pounds is to be
awarded to each of the successful candidates.
1 . A Glossary to the poems of the Cyvfeirdd, or most an
cient bards of Britain, who lived prior to the end of the eighth
century, preceded by an Essay on the authenticity of the said
poems, on the true orthography of their language, and on the
characteristics of their fictions.
2. An Essay on the origin, credibility, and authentic evidences
of the traditions respecting the Ctiair of Glamorgan, and the
political and religious principles of Bardism.
* The Editor is indebted fur this account of the Eisteddfod at Denbigh
to the same gentleman, that furnished the precediug Report. He regrets,
that want of room prevents him from giving a specimen cf the effusions al
luded to in the last paragraph.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 117
3. An Essay on the evidences and latest remain* of Druid*
ism and Paganism, in the poems of the ancient Welsh Bards.
CAMBRIAN SOCIETY IN GWYNEDD.—A meeting wag
holden at Caernarvon on Thursday, the 16th of September, to
establish a branch of the Cambrian Society for the counties of
Anglesey, Caernarvon, and Merioneth, when the President and
other officers for the division of Gwynedd were chosen. Lord
Viscount Bulkely presided on the occasion,
MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.—On the 5th of Oc
tober the District Committee of the Society for Promoting Chris
tian Knowlege, for that part of the diocese of Llandaff, which if
in the county of Glamorgan, had their anniversary meeting at
Cowbridge, when the Right Honourable Sir John Nicholl was in
the chair. It appeared, on this occasion, from the Committee's
Report, that the number of religious publications, including Bibles
and Prayer Books, disposed of by them since their establishment
in 1814, amounted to 12,111. Of this number 4251 had been
sold and given at Bridgend, Cardiff, and Cowbridge alone, during
the last year,
On Sunday, the 10th of October, the Bishop of St. David's
held an Ordination at the Palace at Aberywilly, when nine gen
tlemen were admitted to the order of Deacons, The premiums,
usually adjudged to the most meritorious candidates, were
awarded to Mr. John Thomas and Mr. David Davies, of the
Carmarthen school.
On the same day the Bishop of Bangor held an Ordination in
the Cathedral, when three gentlemen were ordained Priests, and
lour Deacons.
The Clerical Meeting for relieving Clerg3-men's widows and
orphans in the Diocese of St. David's, and the Carmarthen Archi-
diaconical Meeting took place at Carmarthen on the 12th of
October, when, after a sermon from the Rev. T. Lewis, vicar of
Llanstephan, a considerable collection was made for tlie humane
purposes of the first-mentioned Society.
On the 2d of October the Glamorganshire Agricultural Society
met at Cardiff, the Hon. W. B. Grey in the chair. Among other
Resolutions, adopted on the occasion, it was declared, that, " The
depressed state of agriculture demands the immediate and earnest
attention not only of the country, but of Parliament, and that
the causes of such depression originate mainly from the operation
of the Corn Laws, and partly from the pressure of Parliamentary
118 THE CAMBR0-BR1T0N.
and parochial taxes." The following remedies were then sug
gested for this evil :—
1 . The opening of the ports for the importation of grain.
2. The reduction of various taxes, pressing upon the lower
classes, and substituting a well-digested income tax in their
stead.
3. A General Inclosure Bill.
Petitions, drawn in conformity with these Resolutions, were
unanimously adopted, and ordered to be presented to both Houses
of Parliament.
A meeting of the principal land proprietors of the County of
Monmouth was holden at Abergavenny on the 19th of last month,
for the purpose of determining the best mode of introducing the
Winchester measure, when, upon the proposition of Mr. Mog-
gridge, a series of Resolutions were adopted, with the view of
establishing a Society for the Encouragement and Protection of
Agriculture in the county of Monmouth.
A similar Society has recently been instituted in the county of
Flint, and was to hold its first annual meeting at Mold on Monday,
the 25th ult.
On Wednesday, the 20th of October, there was a meeting of
the Mayor, Common Councilmen, and Burgesses of the Borough
of Carmarthen, for the purpose of proposing an Address to his
Royal Highness the Prince Regent on the present important
crisis. There was a respectable attendance of the Corporation on
this occasion, and an Address was voted declaratory of their loyal
attachment to the throne and constitution of these realms, as also
of their abhorrence of the traitorous designs, now at work to sub
vert both. Carmarthen has thus the honour of being the first
place in Wales to come forward, at this critical period, with a
public avowal of those constitutional sentiments, which, however,
it may be hoped, are not the less felt in every other quarter of the
Principality. *#*
LITERATURE.—The following works relating to Wales
have recently been published.
Coll Gwynfa, Cyfieithiad gan W. Owen Pughe, A. C. H. 8vo. 8*.
Cylchgrawn Cymru : a Quarterly Magazine, partly in Welsh
and partly in English, conducted by Members of the Esta
blished Church. 8vo. Is.
[The aim of this work, which was commenced about six years
•go, is to dilfuse religious instruction on the principles of the
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 119
Church of England. Several individuals of literary reputation
are engaged in its execution, which seems to be well adapted to
the laudable object they have in view.]
A Topographical and Historical Description of North Wales,
with 33 plates and a map, by the Rev. J. Evans. 8vo. 1/. 4*.
A similar Description of South Wales, embellished in the same
manner, by the Rev. T. Rees. 8vo. 1/. 4.«.
A similar Description of Monmouthshire, with 1 1 plates and a
map, by the Rev. J. Evans and Mr. IDritton. 8vo. fts.
Topographical and Statistical Description of the Principality
of Wales, with a map, by G. A. Cooke, Esq. l2mo. As. The
Description of each division of the Principality may likewise be
had separately.
[The execution of this little work is very creditable to the con
ductor. Publications of this sort, that issue from the English
press, are, for the most part, so inaccurate, that it becomes a
gratifying duty to notice any exception to this general reproach.]
The History of North Wales, by W. Cathrall, assisted by seve
ral Gentlemen of Literary Distinction. 4to. 3s. each part.
[This work will be embellished by numerous engravings of the
scenery and architecture of North Wales, and will be published
in parts, every six weeks ; the whole to be completed in twenty-
one parts. The First Part was published on the 29th ofOctober.
It may be proper to add, that the undertaking has already received
the sanction of a long and highly respectable list of Subscribers.]
There have recently been circulated in Wales the following
Prospectuses and Proposals, which owe their birth, we may pre
sume, to that spirit of patriotism, which, bursting forth originally
in South Wales, has at length penetrated every part of the Prin
cipality. It is delightful to contemplate the benefits it is thiss
early conferring on the cause of Welsh Literature.
Prospectus of Collections for a Aew History of Wales, in six
vols. 8vo. translated from ancient Historical Documents in the
Welsh Language, by Edward Williams.
[This Prospectus has come forth under the auspices of
the Cambrian Society : a circumstance which, with the cele
brity of the proposed Editor, is sufficient to ensure it a general
respect. Mr. Williams has entered rather copiously into the
explanation of his projected work, which, whenever published, can
not fail to prove a valuable accession to our national literature.
120 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
His present arrangement might, perhaps, be improved ; but his
countrymen will, no doubt, be too glad to hail Mr. Williams's
appearance as an author on this occasion, to quarrel with him
about a luc'idus ordo. However, he must pardon the sugges
tion, that a little more liberality of expression, when speaking of
other writers, would not be unbecoming an Historian of Wales.
This hint is justified by more than one passage of his Prospectus ;
and that, in which he alludes to the Myvyrian Archaiology (see p.
6), is objectionable on another account. For, even admitting its
correctness, it must be allowed to be rather injudicious. And,
when Mr. Williams so boldly arraigned the Editors of the Ar-
chaiology, he perhaps forgot, that his own name appears as one of
that patriotic triumvirate.]
Proposals to republish Dr. J. D. Rhys's " Linguce Cyntraecce
Institutiones Accuratae" by the Rev. D. L. Jones. 4to. 1/. 5*.
[Every friend to Welsh literature must rejoice in this projected
republication of one of its most distinguished works It is im
possible that it should fail to meet with general patronage. It is
to be published by subscription ; and no more copies will be
printed than what may be required for the Subscribers.]
Proposals for publishing, by subscription, the remaining part of
the Cambro-British Melodies, by Edward Jones, author of the-
" Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh Bards." Folio.
Subscribers 1/. Is. Non-subscribers 1/. 5*.
[This proposed volume completes Mr. Jones's work on our Na
tional Airs, and will be considered as a necessary companion
to the two former. It is intended to adorn it with an elegant
frontispiece ; and it will be published in two numbers.]
Prospectus of a General History of the County of Radnor, by
the Rev. Jonathan Williams, A. M.
[Mr. Williams appears, in his projected plan, to have embraced
every inquiry of importance relating to the ancient or modern his
tory of Radnorshire. And, in order to avoid the usual tiresome insi
pidity of county histories, he promises, that the " bulk of his work
will never be swelled by prolix and insignificant narrative, and
that none but subjects, which derive an importance from their an
tiquity, their picturesque beauty, or their connexion with histori
cal facts, will be treated in detail." The work is designed to be
printed in quarto, and the price, Mr. Williams conjectures, will be
31. 3s. to Subscribers.] *#*
THE
CAMBRO-EHITON,
DECEMBER, 1819.
NULM QUIDEM MIHI SATIS EJRUDITI VIDENTUR, QllBtS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicbro de Lfgibus-
THE TRIADS.—No. IV.
The Triads, which are selected for this Number, are of a
more miscellaneous description than those, that have preceded
them. The first, that follows, may be styled a Constitutional
Triad, while the five others seem to unite a mixture of history
and mythology. And of these the last two contain, as will be
seen, that traditionary reference to the Deluge, which is undoubt
edly the most extraordinary of all the ancient memorials, pre
served by the Cymry. An allusion to this remarkable tradition
was made in the First Number ; and its very interesting character
requires here a few preliminary observations of a more general
nature than those, which may be submitted in the sequel, to ex
plain its peculiar connection with this country.
In the whole history of the world the most momentous event is
unquestionably the Deluge. Nor is there any other, that can
bear the most distant comparison with this in the tremendous im*
pression it must have left on the memory of mankind for many
subsequent ages. Hence we find the early annals of all ancient
countries more or less impregnated with the recollections of this
dreadful calamity. In some the account preserved corresponds,
in a singular manner, with that of the sacred volume * : in
Some again fable has evidently been engrafted upon the original
history; while in others the genuine substance is scarcely discern-
* This is particularly the case with the history of this event as given
by Lucian, {De Dea Syria, vol. ii. p. 882), wherein Noah is described as
Ducalion, and the scene of the Deluge laid at Hierapolis, in Syria. Dio-
dorus Siculus likewise observes, {Lib. i. p. 10), that " in the Deluge,
which happened in the time of Deucalion, almost all flesh died," which ao-
eords exactly with the expression used, on the same occasion, in Genesis,
c. vii.
Vol. I.
122 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ible through the cloud of mythological attributes, with which it
has been invested. Yet all have retained one common and
remarkable characteristic, in appropriating this great event, as
they do, to those particular nations, in which this tradition has
been found to exist. Thus we have the inundation of Attica, in
the reign of Ogyges,—that of Samothrace, before the age of the
Argonauts*,—and that of Egypt, during the Trojan war:
while the people of Thessaly, Phocis, Syria, Epirus, and Sicily
have alike laid claim to the great flood of Deucalion, the Noah
of the Pagan world, and have, each of them, localised the
occurrence to some spot in their respective countries f. The
Hindus too have preserved, in their singular mythology, a simi
lar vestige of this general tradition, " which," to borrow the
language of the late Mr. Roberts X, " every nation, that has
** ancient records, has retained and applied to its earliest abode
" after Wie dispersion, when the memorial of that event was
" confounded with other emigrations."
ft can not therefore be considered extraordinary, that the
Cymry, a people confessedly of the most ancient origin, should
likewise have treasured some account of that grand catastrophe,
or that, following the example of other nations, they should have
confined its operation to that spot, where, after their departure
from the East, they made flieir first settled abode. Accordingly
we have the " bursting of the lake of floods " numbered as one
of the " three awful events of the Isle of Britain," and the
" ship of Nevydd NaV Neivion," which conveyed the male and
female of all animals upon that disastrous occasion, reckoned as
one of its three greatest achievements. And the very oxen of
Hu the Mighty, and the other animals, introduced into the
narrative, accord, in so curious a manner, with the fabulous cir
cumstances appropriated to the 'Deluge in other countries, that
they tend strongly to confirm the claim of the Triads, in this
* This deluge is said to have been occasioned by the overflow of the
Euxine, which the ancients considered merely as a large lake. Samo
thrace was an island in the Mgean Sea, the inhabitants of which were par
ticularly superstitious, and supposed all mysteries to take their origin
there.
•)- Xenophon enumerates five inundations in different countries, all ap
parently so many variations of the genuine account. And Strabo notices
the tradition of such an event having caused the first emigration from
Tauric Chersonese.
% Early History of the Cymry, p. 41.
TOE CAMBRO-BRITOBf. 133
instance, to the genuineness and antiquity of their memorials.
" These," Mr. Davies very justly observes with reference to
this subject *, " are evident traditions of the Deluge ; and their
" locality, as well as other peculiarities, furnishes sufficient proof,
" that they must have been ancient national traditions. Such
" memorials as these can not be supposed to have originated in a
" perversion of the sacred records during any age subsequent to
" the introduction of Christianity. The contrary appears from
" their whimsical discrepancy with historical fact." And " this
" account," he adds with the same judgment, " has no appear-
" ance of being drawn from the record of Moses : it is a mere
" mutilated tradition, such as was common to most heathen
" nations." »
In contemplating this interesting relic of the primitive lore of
the Cymry, we are naturally led to regard it as adding one more
to the numerous testimonies, previously furnished, to the truth
of the Mosaic History. But indeed, with respect to the im
portant fact of the Deluge, it must be the very infatuation of
scepticism to question the miracle, when not only the history and
mythology of the Pagans, but the very phenomena of the earth,
as they exist at this day, concur in its vindication. However,
it can not but be a gratifying proof of the authenticity of the
Welsh records, as well as of the antiquity of their origin, to
find them confirmed in this singular instance, as they are in so
jnany others, by those concurrent testimonies, which the world
has ever considered as unimpeachable. And it may be hoped,
that the time will yet arrive, when the antiquary or historian,
•of whatever country, in his search after truth through the, dark
ness of past ages, shall not consider his task complete until
he has fully explored the venerable remains of our national
literature.
* •
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN 1.
xiv. The three Pillars of the Commonwealth of the Isle of
Britain. The jury of a country, the kingly office, and the func
tion of a judge.
[A singular coincidence with some of the fundamental princi-
* Mythology and Rites of the Druids, p. 95—6.
f The originals of these Triads may be found as follows :—the first,
Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 57. Tr. 3; the next/our, lb. p. 59. Tr. 10 to
13 inclusive; the last, lb. p. 11. Tr. 97.
124 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
pies of the English Constitution is observable in this Triad,
And, it is not too much to presume, that, as Alfred, in laying
the ground-work of that great political edifice, employed,
amongst his counsellors, one or two learned Welshmen, and
particularly the celebrated Aserius Menevensis, he may have
borrowed many valuable suggestions from the ancient institutions
of the Cymry.—Rhaith Gwldd, translated above " the jury of
" the country," is explained in the laws of Hywel Dda to mean
the oath of fifty men from amongst those who hold land under
" the king."]
xv. The three Losses, by Disappearance, of the Isle of Britain.
Gavran, son of Aeddan, with his men, who went to sea in search
of the Green Islands of the Floods, and nothing more was heard
of them. Second, Merddin, the Bard of Ambrosius, with his
nine scientific Bards, who went to sea in the house of glass, and
there have been no tidings whither they went. Third, Madawg,
eon of Owain Gwynedd, who, accompanied by three hundred
men, went to sea in ten ships, and it is not known to what place
they went.
[Gavran, here mentioned, was a distinguished chieftain dur
ing the close of the fifteenth century. He is described in an
other Triad as one of the three faithful tribes of Britain. The
Green Islands of the Floods, in the original Gwerddonau Llion,
have been supposed to mean the Canaries, or the Cape Verd
Islands.—Merddin was a cotemporary of Gavran : he is farther
commemorated in the Triads as one of the three Christian Bards
of the Isle of Britain. In what this singular account of his
" disappearance " took its rise it would be difficult now to dis
cover. But similar legends are common to other countries.
Nennius, in his " Historia Brittonum," makes mention of a
Tower of Glass, which appeared, in the middle of the sea, to some
Spanish soldiers. And in a Spanish Romance of " Alexander,"
•written in the thirteenth century, is a long account of the hero's
descent into the sea in a House of Glass. The same story is also
to be found in a German Romance about the year 1 100. And in
the continuation of the " Orlando Furioso," some of the spirits,
summoned to Demagorgon's Council, are described as sailing
through the air in Ships of Glass, " gran' navi di vetro." All
these extraordinary fictions were, most probably, founded in
one common tradition, of which the reason is now lost. Both
Mr. Roberts and Mr. Davies conceive Merddin's House of
Glass to signify a sacred vessel emblematic of the Ark ; and the
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 123
bitter farther considers it to be only a symbol of initiation into
the Druidical Mysteries *.—With respect to Madawg's emigra
tion, the principal authorities, that confirm this account, were
noticed in the Second Number of the Cambro-Briton. He was
a younger son of Owain Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales, and
left his country in consequence of the contest for the succession,
which took place amongst his brothers upon Owain's death. Hi*
first emigration is said to have taken place in 1170, and his final
departure or " disappearance," as it is above called, about two
years afterwards. There are strong grounds for believing, that
the descendants of this prince and his followers are at this day
in existence in the remote wilds of the North American Conti
nent. And it may be interesting to add, that a young man, a
native of Wales, is at present endeavouring to explore the pre^
sumed settlement of this colour, with every reasonable prospect
of succeeding in the object of his spirited enterprise, so as, in
one way or other, to set this long controverted question at rest.]
xvI. The three Oppressions that foil on the Isle of Britain,
and came afterwards to an end. First, the oppression of the
Horse of Malaen, which is called the oppression of May-day;
and the oppression of the Dragon of Britain ; and the oppres
sion of the Half-apparent Man. That is, the first was trans
marine; the second from the frenzy of a country and nation
under the pressure of the violence and lawlessness of princes,
and which Dyvnwal Moelmud extinguished, by forming an equit
able system of mutual obligation between society and society,
between prince and prince, and between country and country.
The third was in the time of Beli, the son of Manogan, and
which was a treasonable conspiracy, and he extinguished it.
[The circumstances, recorded in this Triad, are so enveloped
in mystery, as scarcely to afford a chance of any rational inter
pretation. The original names are March Malaen, Draig Pry-
dain, and Gwr Lledrithiawg. With respect to the first it may
be noticed, that it is still a proverbial expression, in reference
to what has been squandered or thrown away, to say, " it has
" gone on the horse of Malaen." Yet, if this personage be the
same with Melen, or Malen, recorded in another Triad f as one
of the three recognised daemons of the Isle of Britain, it may
* See Mr. Roberts's " Cambrian Popular Antiquities," p, 7S ; and
Mr. Davies's " Mytb.ok.gy ami Kites of the Druids," pp. 211, 270, 277,
and 522.
f Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. pp. lfi, 17, and 71.
126 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
correspond with the Bellona of the ancient Mythology, with
which the name seems to bear some affinity.—Draig Prydain
may also be rendered the Prince or Generalissimo of Britain.—
Lledrithiawg, translated " Half-apparent Man," implies strictly
one, who has the power to appear or disappear at will. The
Triads commemorate three persons, as having been possessed of
this illusive faculty.]
XVII. The three Dreadful Pestilences of the Isle of Britain.
First, the pestilence from the carcases of the Gwyddelians, who
were slain in Manuba, after they had oppressed the country of
Gwynedd for twenty-nine years. Second, the pestilence of the
Yellow Plague of Rhos, and which originated from the carcases
of the slain ; and whoever went within reach of the effluvia fell
dead immediately. And the third was the pestilence of the
Bloody Sweat, in consequence of the corn having been injured
by wet weather, in the time of the oppression of the Normans,
under William the Bastard.
[The Gwyddelian or Irish Invasion, here alluded to, is re
corded in Triad x, translated in the Second Number of the
Cambro-Briton.—The Yellow Plague of Rhos, which the old
poets personify as a yellow serpent, happened during the reign
of Maelgwn Gwynedd, about the middle of the sixth century,
in the district, which occupies the sea-coast between Conwy and
the Vale of Clwyd.—The event, last recorded, requires no ex
planation.]
xvm. The three Awful Events of the Isle of Britain. First,
the rupture of the Lake of Floods, and the going of an inunda
tion over the face of all the lands, so that all the people were
drowned, except Dwyvan and Dwyvach, who escaped in a bare
ship, and from them the Isle of Britain was repeopled. The
second was the trembling of the Torrent Fire, when the earth
was rent unto the abyss, and the greatest part of all life was
destroyed. The third was the Hot Summer, when the trees and
plants took fire with the yehemency of the heat of the sun, so
that many men and animals, and species of birds, and vermin,
and plants were irretrievably lost.
[On account of the very interesting nature of this and the fol
lowing Triad, the strictest regard has been observed, in the trans
lation, to the peculiar phraseology of the originals. The tradi
tionary record, which they contain, possesses intrinsic evidence of
its high antiquity ; and a part of it furnishes, as has be?n pre
mised, an unquestionable memorial of the Deluge, and tha,t so
THE CAMBRO-BRITON, 127
■ingularly dissimilar from the scriptural history, as wholly to pre
clude all. suspicion of being founded upon it.—Llyn Llion, trans
lated the Lake of Floods, means, in its more extensive sense, an
inexhaustible aggregate of waters : and the old poets have ac
cordingly applied it to the Deluge.—Dwyvan and Dwyvuch, the
names of the two persons, who survived this catastrophe, signify
literally the divine male agent, and the divine female agent,
iepithets that must be allowed to be singularly applicable to the
renovators of the human species, to those, whose important
function it was
populos reparare paternis
Artibus, atque animas formate infundere terra *.
t>wyvaYi may also be synonymous with the Welsh names Dylan
and Dyglan, which strongly resemble Deucalion.—With respect
to the two calamities by fire here recorded, they must have hap
pened in very early ages; the former apparently owing to a
Volcanic ernption, and the other to the prteternatural heat of the
sun. The well-known fable of Phaeton had probably a meta
phorical allusion to the latter of these occurrences : and Hesiod's
sublime description of the conflagration of the earth may likewise
have owed its birth to some such catastrophe f.]
iifft. The three Primary Great Achievements of the Isle of
Britain. The ship of Nevydd Nav Neivion, which carried in it
the male and female of all living, when the Lake of Floods was
broken : the prominent oxen of Hu the Mighty drawing the cro
codile of the lake to land, and the lake broke out no more ; and
the stones of Gwyddon Ganhebon, whereon might be read all the •
arts and sciences of the world.
[The names, that occur in this Triad, are very remarkable.
Tfevydd Nav Neivioii plainly designates Noah. The words, taken
abstractedly, imply Floater Float of Floats, which is synonymous
with Neptune Lord of Lords. Sir William Jones, in his Hymn
to Nariana, has the same idea. Nav is still a common word for
Lord, in which sense it occurs in the metrical Psalms : and Nei
vion, its regular plural, is. also employed in ancient compositions
to denote the Creator, although it occasionally seems to apply to
Neptune. Thus an old poet has the following couplet :
" Y nofiad a wnaeth Neifion
" O Droia fawr draw i F6n."
* Ovid. Metam. Lib. i. 1. 563.
f See bis Theogonia, 1. 689 to 70-i.
128 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
The swimming, that Neivion performed
From great Troy yonder to Mona.
The similarity between the names of Nav and Noah, and more
particularly Naus, one of the Patriarch's appellations in the East,
deserves also to be here noticed. The Ship of Nevydd Nav
Neivion, therefore, can only mean the ark, which is accordingly-
numbered as one of the three chief works of the Isle of Britain,
upon the same principle that the Deluge is described as one of
its three awful events.—The drawing of the crocodile, or what
ever be the animal, which the Triad calls avanc *, out of the lake
has, of course, a reference to the preceding achievement. A simi
lar exploit is recorded in the Hindu Mythology, in which Vishnou
is celebrated for destroying the monster, that had occasioned the
Deluge, and recovering the earth and the veds. It is a singular
fact too, that the hippopotamus and crocodile were equally sym
bols of the Deluge amongst the Egyptians, and were both em
ployed, in common with the wolf, as emblems of Typhon, whom
they regarded as the cause of every evil, and consequently of
the general inundation f. Some of our ancient bards, among
whom are Gwynvardd Brycheiniog and Iolo Goch, make allusion
to Hu and his oxen : and the tradition is still prevalent in many
parts of Wales, the drawing of the avanc out of the water being
appropriated to different lakes. Amongst these are one in Caer
narvonshire, and another on the Hiraethog Mountain, near Den
bigh, called Llyn dait Ychaiti, or the Pool of the two Oxen. At
Han Detvi Brevi, or St. David's of the Lowing, in Cardigan
shire, they formerly shewed, as a relic, a large horn, which, they
pretended, belonged to one of Hu's oxen ; and there is still ex
tant a piece of music, imitating the lowing of oxen and the rat
tling of their chains in drawing the avanc put of the water. In
the Mabinogion, or Romantic Tales, one of the achievements of
Paredur is the slaying of the addane y llyn, or crocodile of the
lake, at the Hill of Lamentation. And a poet of the fifteenth
century, in soliciting a suit of armour from his patron, compares
the workmanship to the " wonderful scales on the fore legs " of
the avanc. Many other particulars might be enumerated, all
* According to the Welsh Laws this animal was at one time common in
Wales; and Giraldus Cambrensis speaks of it as being found in his time
in the river Teifi. It has also been called addanc and llostlydan, which
latter seems to mean the beaver, an animal, that is said to have been seen
- in Nant Ffrancon, in Caernarvonshire, at no very remote period. Addanc
is merely avanc, written according to the Dimetian dialect.
f Sae Plutarch's " Inrit and Osiris," and Diodorus Siculus, Lib. i.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 199
tending to confirm the' extraordinary tradition preserved in the
Triad, the precise reason of which, however, must still he consi
dered inexplicable. It is somewhat remarkable, that the Arkite
Divinity, Dionusus, another name for Noah, was represented by
some of his votaries in the shape of a bull : and in the Orphic
Hymns he is called raupoyevijf and r'xupop.;rwtfor. Ifis insepa
rable companions too, the Centauri, are described as horned ;
and certain ships of old were called fiHxivravpoi, whence the
Venetians took the name of their Bucentaur. The Egyptians too,
it may be added, thought the horns of a young ox or bull bore
a resemblance with a lin ette, which was, with them, an emblem
of the ark. From all this it may reasonably be inferred, that
bulls or oxen had, in most ancient countries, some share in the
fabulous circumstances ascribed to the Deluge *. The names,
given to the oxen of Hu, are Ninis and Peibio.—With respect
to Hu himself, it would be impossible here to do adequate justice
to the various particulars recorded of him. Bttt an opportunity
will soon be selected for entering into a separate and full investi
gation of this remarkable character.—The stones or tablets of
Gwyddon Ganhebon seem to correspond with the inscribed pillars
of Seth or Hermes ; or they may have a reference to the hiero-
glyphical or Runic inscriptions, which have been found in various
countries, both on artificial obelisks and natural rocks. But,
whether historical or fabulous, the tradition, here preserved, is
well worthy of a more minute examination. Gwyddon Ganhebon
is also commemorated in the Triads as having been " the first
" man in the world who composed poetry."]
THE WISDOM OP CATWG.
APHORISMSf.
The strength of an infant is his innocence :
The strength of a boy is his learning :
The strength of a girl is her beauty :
The strength of the prudent is his silence :
The strength of the wise is his reason :
The strength of a teacher is his method :
* Many interesting particulars, relating to this inquiry, may be found
in the 2d volume of Bryant's learned '* Analysis of Ancient Mythology."
f Arch. of Walts, vol, iii. p. 12—13.
Vol. I. *
ISO THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
The strength of a poet is his genius :
The strength of a leader is his sciences :
The strength of a scholar is his penetration :
The strength of an artisan is his hand :
The strength of the brave is in his heart :
The strength of the orator is confidence :
The strength of the artist is his design :
The strength of the virtuous is his patience :
The strength of the godly is his belief and faith :
The strength of faith is to be on the truth :
The strength of the lover of truth is his conscience ;
The strength of conscience is to see what is just :
The strength of the just is his God.
Catwg thk Wi»K.
CIRCLE OF THE MORAL WORLD*.
Poverty causes exertion;
Exertion causes prosperity;
Prosperity causes wealth;
Wealth causes pride;
Pride causes contention ;
Contention causes war;
War causes poverty; 1
Poverty causes peace;
The peace of poverty causes exertion.
Exertion turns round the same circle as before.
Catwg thb Wisb.
WELSH PROVERBS.
Plant gairionedd yw hen diarebionf.—DlAtl*.
Among the literary stores, so various and interesting, in which
the Welsh language abounds, it cannot be deemed surprising,
that it should contain a valuable collection of Proverbs. This is
• species of learning, which must have taken early root in most
countries ; and it may be considered as embodying the most ap
proved and current wisdom of the various nations, where it is
found to prevail. Its concise and sententious method of convey*
* Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. 40.
t " Old Proverbs are th« children of Truth."—Adaoi;
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 131
iag instruction was also peculiarly adapted to that channel of
oral tradition, by which it was anciently retained. And, as no
people, perhaps, ever carried the exercise of the memory in this
respect to an equal extent with the Cymry, under the influence
af the Bardic Institution, the claim of their moral adages to an
equal antiquity with those of other countries cannot reasonably
be questioned.
The Welsh Archaiology has preserved a large body of Apho
risms under the title of " The Wisdom of the Cymry," appro
priating most of them to particular authors. Some few of these,
ascribed to Catwg, have already appeared in the Cambro-
Briton. But the Proverbs, to which allusion has now been
made, do not form a part, properly speaking, of these apho
risms, but, without being distinctly appropriated, are classed '
under the general appellation of Diarebion, a word, that im
plies literally truths not to be disputed. It will form a part of
the plan of this work occasionally to submit translations from
these, selecting, in general, such as may be deemed to be most
purely Welsh.
By way of introducing the subject, the following extract, trans
lated from a Latin Epistle, written by the celebrated Dr. John
Davies to Sir Simokds D'Ewes, may not be considered unin
teresting. Although it does not enter into a particular history
or explanation of the Diarebion, its remarks upon proverbs in
general must have been deemed sufficiently judicious to entitle
them to insertion, even had they emanated from a character of
less note than the distinguished writer. The letter, from which
this extract is made, is dated Mallwvd, Feb. 2d, 1640.
*
" When your letter arrived I had no translation of British
Proverbs, which you desire to have. As soon as I received it, I
immediately set about an interpretation of them ; and I send
you, with this, a few sheets, and will, with the blessing of God,
transmit you the rest in a short time. I know, excellent Sir,
that you will receive them with pleasure ; and if, amongst our
adages, some should appear rather cold and inelegant, you can
not be ignorant that it proceeds from this cause,—that the writ
ings of no language, (especially proverbs, rendered, as they gene
rally are, word for word,) can be transfused into another tongue
without losing much of the grace and beauty, which they possess
ia the original. And there are in all languages many ambigu
132 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ous words, which can not always be rendered ambiguously in
another language. And many proverbs take their rise from an :
ambiguity of expression. Most proverbs, says Erasmus, have
this peculiarity, that they require to be pronounced in that
tongue, which gave them birth ; like some wines that will not •
bear exportation, but only retain their natural flavour on the
particular spot where they ore produced. And Scaliger ob
serves, in his Treatise de Subt'ditate, addressed to Carda.nus,
that there are some maxims, cherished in all languages, which,
being sustained, as it were, by certain props in their own tongue,
upon being transplanted, as one may say, to a strange colony,
no longer preserve their original reputation.
" You will pardon me, excellent Sir, if I should riot (as ought
to be done with respect to proverbs) explain the various mean
ings of each, and its customary acceptation amongst us ; its par
ticular use, and the reason of such use. Nor must you consider
all the proverbs, which come under that title, as not to be found
in the adages of other countries. For amongst them many are
sententious sayings (•yvcuju.su), aphorisms (chrice), apologues,
and similitudes ; many are apothegms; some are pious, learned,
and witty sayings ;—others again admonitions, instructions, and
counsels. All of these are of the meaning, that is embraced in
the Hebrew word mashal, whence the Proverbs of Solo
mon are called i^ftJEJ mishlci ; and the Arabic word is muthsala,
wherefore adages in that language are called amthsalo. All this
Solomon clearly shews in the title of his Proverbs, wherein he
says " The Proverbs of Solomon, to know wisdom and instruc-
" tion, to perceive the words of understanding ; to receive the
" instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment and equity."
Finally, you must not accuse our proverbs, or my attempts to
explain them, as mere verbose trifles (tpXvccpicti). An inclina
tion to comply with your request will not be wanting; but
whether with any success must be left to your judgment. It will
be your part to throw in a black or a white ball. For myself,
1 will use my best endeavours, that neither you shall repent of
the request, nor I of the performance *."
* The r1st of the Epistle, from which this passage is extracted, is not of
a very interesting nature. It relates principally to the learned Doctor's
opini n with respect to the T-rojan descent of the Britons, as it appears in
the Preface to his Dictionary. The Latin translations of the Proverbs, to
which he refers above, are preserved in the British Museum, and form a
large collection.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 133
ORIGINAL LETTERS.
LETTER V.
Dr. Percy, late Bishop of Dromore, to the Rev. Evan Evans*;
dated Easton Maudit, July 21, 1761 f.
Sir,—By my friend Mr. Williams, rector of Weston, Staf
fordshire, 1 have been informed of the great attention you have
bestowed on British Literature, and the pains you have taken to
rescue the productions of your ancient Bards from oblivion.
Though I have not the happiness to understand, yet I have a
great veneration for, the ancient language of this Island, and have
always had a great desire to see some of the most early and most
original productions in it. I could never yet obtain a proper
gratification of this desire ; for, to their shame be it spoken, most
of your countrymen, instead of vindicating their ancient and
truly venerable mother tongue from that contempt, which is only
the result of ignorance, rather encourage it by endeavouring to
forget it themselves. Besides my friend Mr. Williams, whose
constant residence in England has deprived him of the means of
cultivating his native language so much as he would have done,
I never met with one native of Wales, who could give me any
satisfactory account, of the literary productions of his own coun
try, or seemed to have bestowed any attention on its language
and antiquities. Not so the Scots :—-they are every where recom
mending the antiquity of their own country to public notice,
vindicating its history, and setting off its poetry, and, by dint
* The Rev. Evan Evans was born at Cynhawdref, in Cardiganshire,
about the year 1730. He was educated at. Jesus College, Oxford, where
he entered in 1751. He officiated as Curate at different places for many
years, but never obtained any preferment ; and died at the place of his
nativity in the year 1790. The chief work, by which Mr. Evans is known,
is the Specimens of Welsh Poetry with his Dissertalio de Bardis subjoined,
published in 1764. He is also the author of some other works in Welsh
and English. He employed much of his time in transcribing ancient
Welsh MS8. and left about a hundred volumes of various sizes, which are
now the property of Mr. Panton, of Plas Gwyn, in Anglesey.—Es.
f The sentiments, expressed in this letter, will be found to be particu
larly congenial with the principles, on which the Cambro-Briton has been
undertaken. And the distinguished Writer deserves to live in the grateful
remembrance of Wales, for having thus evinced so honourable an exception
to that apathy, with which the remains of her ancient literature are too ge
nerally regarded by Englishmen.—Ed.
1 •
18* THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ctf constant attention to their grand national concern, have pre -
Tailed so far, as to have the broken jargon they speak to be consi
dered as the most proper language for our pastoral poetry. Our
most polite ladies affect to lisp out Scottish airs ; and in the
Senate itself whatever relates to the Scottish Nation is always
mentioned with peculiar respect. Far from blaming this atten
tion in the Scotch, I think it much to their credit, and am sorry,
that a large class of our fellow-subjects, with whom we were
united in the most intimate union for many ages, before Scot
land ceased to be our most inveterate enemy, have not shewn
the same respect to the peculiarities of their own country. But,
by their supineness and neglect, have suffered a foolish and in-
yeterate prejudice to root itself in the minds of their compatriots,
the English,—a prejudice which might have been in a good mea
sure prevented, had the Welsh gentlemen occasionally given
them specimens of the treasures contained in their native lan
guage, which may even yet be in part removed by the same
means.
You have translated, I am informed, some of the Odes of
your ancient Bards. I wish you would proceed and make a select
collection of the best of them, and so give thein to the world.
You have probably heard what a favourable reception the public
has given to an English version of some Erse Fragments im
ported from the Highlands of Scotland, and, if you have never
seen them, I will send them to you. I am verily persuaded, an
elegant translation of some curious pieces of ancient British
Poetry would be as well received, if executed in the same man<-
ner. I may modestly pretend to have some credit with the book
sellers, and with Mr. Dodsley in particular, who is my intimate
friend. I shall be very happy to do you any good office with
him, and shall be glad to make such an attempt kas profitable to
you as, I am persuaded, it will be reputable both to you and your
country. ,
I have prevailed on a friend to attempt a Translation of some
ancient Runic Odes, composed among the snows of Norway,
which will make their appearance at Mr. Dodsley's shop next
winter. My very learned friend and neighbour, the Rev. Mr.
Lye, editor of Junius's Etymologicon, and of Ulphila's Gothic
Gospels, (whose skill in the northern languages has rendered him
famous all over Europe) is now rescuing some valuable remains
of Saxon Poetry from oblivion, and I can perhaps obtain leave
ef him to let you see one of these odes by way of specimen, at-'
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 1M
companied with his version. I have not been altogether idW
myself; but my attention has been chiefly bestowed on the lan
guages spoken in the southern parts of Europe. I have collected
some curious pieces of ancient Spanish Poetry, and when I have
translated a select collection of them, may perhaps, give them
to the public. Amidst the general attention of ancient and
foreign poetry it would be a pity to leave that of the Ancient
Britons forgotten and neglected, and therefore, when I heard
that a person so capable was employed in collecting and trans
lating those valuable remains, it gave me a very sensible plea
sure, and I could not help expressing, in a volunteer letter to
you, the sense I entertain of the obligation, which you will un
doubtedly confer on all real lovers of literature and the produc
tions of antiquity.
If you will favour me with a line containing a more particular
account of what has been the object of your labours, I shall be
able to form a more exact idea of the success, that may be expected
from them than I can at present. I will also communicate them
to several eminent Literati of my acquaintance, and to mention
one in particular, Mr. Johnson, the author of the Dictionary,
Rambler, &c. who will, I am sure, be glad to recommend your
work, and to give you any advice for the most advantageous dis
posal of it. If you take these voluntary offers of service in good
part, you will please to favour me with a line, and I would wish
also a specimen of your labours, together with a full direction
where to write to you. I am a Clergyman, and shall receive any
favour of this kind, that is enclosed under a cover to the Right
Honourable Henry Earl of Sussex, at Easton Maudit Castle, by
the Ashby Bag, Northamptonshire. I am, Sir, though unknown,
your very faithful obedient servant, Thomas Percv.
P. S. I am told you are acquainted with Mr. Gray, the poet.
Pray has he any foundation for what he has asserted in his Ode
on the British Bards, viz. that there is a tradition among the in
habitants of Wales, that our Edward the First destroyed all the
British Bards that fell into his hands ? The existence of such a
tradition has been doubted *.
* This sanguinary deed is, certainly, not attested by any historian of
credit. And it deserves to be also noticed, tbat none of the numerous
bardic productions since the time of Edward make the slightest allusion to
the massacre ; an omission which could not have happened, if there had
been any foundation for the report. It is not improbable, therefore, that,
wherever originating, it has been indebted principally for its currency to
Groy'i celebrated Ode above noticed.—Ed,
136 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
PARISH OF MOLD, FLINTSHIRE.
Name, Extent, and Situation.—The parish of Mold, or, as
it was formerly written, Mould, lies in the hundred of the same
name, in the county of Flint, bounded on the west by Denbigh*
shire, and approaching, in an opposite direction, to within eight
miles of the city of Chester. Anciently this parish formed the
Cwmwd or Comot of Ystrad Alyn, in the Cantrev of Rhiw,
within the territory of the Princes of Powys. Amongst the
Saxons and Normans, or more particularly the latter, k obtained
the names of Mons Altus and Monthault, both of them obviously
borrowed from the original Welsh appellation of Wyddgrug, still
in use, and which signifies a conspicuous barrow or mound *. The
modern name of Mold, or Mould, is most probably, as Mr. Ed
ward Llwyd has observed f, an abbreviation of Monthault. In
the time of Henry the Eighth this, district bore the name of
Molesdale, which we find preserved in several old writings after
that period.—The parish comprises at present the thirteen town
ships of Arddynwent, Argoed, Bistree, Broncoed, Gwernaffyllt,
Gwysaney, Hartsheath, Hendrebiffa, Leeswood, Llwynegrin, Mold,
Nerquis, and Treuddyn. In length it reaches about seven miles,
and its extreme breadth exceeds five, being thus one of the most
extensive parishes in the county.—In situation too, as well as in
size, it may vie with any other. Placed in a fertile valley, almost
co-extensive with itself, this parish possesses a pleasing diversity
of scenery, and especially in the lower part of it. The town of
Mold is seated in the centre of the valley, of which it affords,
from its sylvan fortress, the Bailey Hill, a full and agreeable pros
pect. The scene embraces, for the most part, a mixture of gentle
eminences and sloping woods, interspersed with a considerable
number of country seats, and altogether forming a landscape not
easily to be excelled within the same space. If it wants the sub
lime features, which in general distinguish North Wales, it pos
sesses other charms, which are not commonly assembled elsewhere.
* The word Givydd is not uncommon in ancient names, although it is
not now used in the same sense. The Welsh name of Snowdon, Y Wyddfa,
may furnish an example, amongst others, of what is here meant.
f See his " Additions to Flintshire," in Camden's Britannia, Gibtot't
Edith?, p. 692. . „
137
And it has been well observed by a celebrated and ingenious
writer*, that Wales appears here to assume a softened and less
majestic air, in order to render her union with England the less
violent and unnatural.
General History.—In former times, as has been already no
ticed, Mold was included within the dominions of Powys, and in
- that portion of it, which was called Powys Vadog. But, lying, as
it did, on the confines of that division of North Wales, it became
necessarily exposed to those struggles for the possession, to which
all border countries were, in that unsettled period, peculiarly liable.
On this account it must have been the scene of many fierce con
tests between the Welsh and their Saxon and Norman neigh
bours. Accordingly we find it to have been amongst the first part
of the frontier territory, which fell under their sway. And, as the
Dyke, formed by Offa, King of Mercia, in the eighth century, as
a boundary between his subjects and the Welsh, terminates in the
township of Treuddyn in this parish, it is probable, that the Saxon
power had encroached, even at that early period, upon this part
of Powys, And that it was subject also to the Normans is ap
parent from the homage, paid by Eustace Omer to William Rufus
for Mold and Hopedale about the close of the eleventh century.
In the year 1145 the Castle of Mold was, after many assaults and
a most gallant resistance, taken and destroyed by Owain Gwy-
nedd, Prince of North Wales, who is represented to have been
so elated by the achievement as to have lost in his triumph the
sorrow, with which the death of a favourite son had previously
overwhelmed him. However the English could not have been
long in repairing this disaster, as we find, from the Red Book of
Hergest in Jesus College, Oxford, that the castle was again wrested
from them by Llewelyn ab Iorwerth about the year 1201. Yet
it must have again reverted to the dominion of the Lords March
ers ; for, about one hundred and sixty years after the capture
by Llewelyn, it was taken, and entirely demolished by Gruffydd
ab Gwenwynwyn, Prince of Powys. It was, however, once more
rebuilt by its former masters, who seem to have remained in
the unmolested possession of it until the revolt of Sir Gruffydd
Llwyd in the fourteenth century, when, about the year 1322, he
seized this castle, with most of the other fortresses in the Marches,
* The writer, here alluded to, is Mr. Pennant, to whose interesting notices
respecting the Parish of Mold, in his " Tour in Wales," this imperfect
Sketch is considerably indebted.
Vol. I. T
138 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
as well as in North Wales, but over which, from the unfavourable
issue of his insurrection, he could have exercised but a transient
controul *. From this period the castle must have continued to
be peaceably possessed by the English until its final destruction,
at whatever period that happened. Not a vestige of this ancient
border fortress is now to be discovered : the site alone is distin
guishable, though the name of Bailey, evidently a corruption of
Ballium, which is still given to a small mount near the town, and
from which the latter has derived its name.—It has already been
observed, that this part of Powys must have been attached, at an
early period, to the territories of the Saxon and Norman conque
rors. Accordingly we find it, in the eleventh century,
session of the Barons of Monthault, who held it as
under the Earls of Chester, and resided, for the most part, at the
Castle of Hawarden -f. The first baron, of whom any notice re
mains, is Eustace Omer, above mentioned. And to him perhaps
succeeded, at no very distant period, Robert de Monte Alto, who
was Seneschal of Chester, about the year 1130. It seems to have
continued in his family until the year 1302, when one of his de
scendants did homage for it at Chester to Edward, Prince of
Wales. In 1827 it was conveyed to Isabella, Queen of Ed
ward II , for life, and afterwards to John, his younger brother,
upon whose death it vested in the Crown. Henry IV. made a
grant of this barony, together with Hopedale, to the Stanley
famil3r, by whom it was possessed until the attainder of James
Earl of Derby. Upon this it was sold to several persons,
and became ultimately the property of Lady Vincent |. Sir
* Sir Grnffydd Llwyd was a native of Caernarvonshire. He was knighted
by Edward I., upon having brought him the earliest intelligence of bU
queen's safe delivery at Caernarvon Castle His revolt took place in the
following reign, and was attended by a splendid but Meeting success. After
having seized all the fortresses in Gwynedd, and become master of the
country, he was overpowed by the English, taken prisoner, confined for
some time in Rhuddlan Castle, and eventually, as it is thought, executed.
Gwilym Ddu o Arfon, in a poem addressed to him during his captivity,
praises, in lavish terms, the hospitable and liberal disposition of this un
fortunate chieftain.
•f The Irish peer, Viscount Hawarden, whose second title is Baron Mont-
alt, in all probability derives his honours from this ancient barony.
J Powell, in his History of Wales, gives an account of the descent of
this district, apparently at variance with that adopted above. According to
this. Molesdale, with Hopedale and Maelor Saesneg, was, in the reign of
Edward the First, vested in Gruffydd ab Madog, Lord of Dinas Bran, to
whom
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. . 139
Thomas Mostyn, Bart., is the present Lord of the Manor, which
he acquired by purchase from T. S. Champneys, Esq., about
fifteen years ago *.
Particular Events.—What has been above related has re
ference only to the main history of this parish. With respect to
any particular incidents connected with it, the first, that presents
itself, is the celebrated victory, called the Victoria Alleluiatica,
said to have been gained, on a spot near the town, in the begin
ning of the' fifth century, by the Britons, under their two bishops
Garmon and Bleiddan, otherwise called Germanus and Lupus,
against a combined force of Saxons and Picts. On the pre
sumed field of battle, which to this day retains the name of
Maes Garmon, or Germanus's Field, stands an obelisk, which was
erected in the year 1736 by Nehemiah Griffith, Esq. of lihual,
who placed upon it a Latin inscription, of which the following is
a translation. It will be found to convey a concise account of
this remarkable event.—" In the year 420 the Saxons and Picts,
" having joined their forces, made war upon the Britons, and en-
" gaged them on this plain, which bears to this day the name of
" Maes Garmon. As the British leaders, Germanus and Lupus,
" were about to commence the battle, Christ himself fought in
" the camp. Thrice the British army exclaim ' Alleluia !'. The
" hostile troops are confounded with dismay, and the Britons
whom it had descended in a direct line from Rhodri Mawr, sovereign of all
Wales in S43. Upon GrufTydd's marriage with Emma, daughter of James
Lord Audley, he settled all the above mentioned territory on her as her
jointure, and at his death bequeathed the reversion to his eldest son Ma-
dog. After GrufTydd's decease, Edward I. is represented to have treated
his children with great cruelty, two of whom indeed are even said to have
been privately murdered. Upon this Emma, GrufTydd's widow, fearing
that her only surviving son might share the same fate if she settled her join
ture on him, conveyed it to her own family the Audleys, from whom it
cameto the house of Derby, and at length, by purchase, to Serjeant Glynne,
afterwards Sir John Glynne. See Wynnt's Edition of Powell's History,
p. ISO—1. In order to reconcile the apparent contradiction in these two
accounts, it may be presumed, that the domain of the Saxon and Norman
proprietors embraced only such part of this territory, as was under the im
mediate command of the Castles of Mold and Hawarden. The rest of what
was called Molesdale may therefore have descended in the manner men
tioned iu this note. It was the Manor of Hawarden only, which was pur
chased by Serjeant Glynne, whose family is still in possession of it.
* On the first regulation of the Welsh counties by Henry VIII. Mold
was united with Denbighshire : it was attached to Flintshire in the 33d year
of the same reign.
140
" triumph over their enemy without bloodshed. Thus it was
'.' faith, and not force, that obtained the victory. In memory of
" the Victoria Alleluiatica Nehemiah Griffith has erected this
" monument, A. D. 1736." To this it may be added, that a well
on the spot, still called Ffynnon Gwaed or the Bloody Well,
seems also to have derived its name from this battle *.—Another
feature, worthy of record in the former history of this parish, is
the extraordinary contest maintained by Reinallt ab Gruffydd, of
Tower, with the inhabitants of Chester, who were often made to
feel the sanguinary effects of his hostility. Reinallt lived during
the middle of the fifteenth century, and was one of the six chief
tains, who defended Harlech Castle for Henry VI. He after
wards inhabited a house in the parish of Mold, now called Tower,
and which was originally denominated, from him, the Tower of
Reinallt, an.appellation, which owed its birth, we may presume,
to that jealous spirit, which, in feudal times, converted every
chieftain's mansion into a fortress. And that Reinallt made this
use of his may be safely inferred from the unwearied feud, which
he kept up, as already mentioned, with the citizens of Chester.
Such was the animosity, with which he carried on this semi-bar
barous warfare, that on one occasion, said to be in 1465, when a
considerable number of the people of Chester were in attendance
at Mold fair, he assailed them, and, after a bloody conflict, took
prisoner Robert Brigne, who had been Mayor of Chester a few
years before, and, carrying him to Tower, hanged him there,
without farther ceremony. The very staple, which was instru
mental in inflicting this summary vengeance, is still shewn as a
memorial of Reinallt's barbarity. It is farther related, that two
hundred men came soon afterwards from Chester to avenge this
outrage. But the wily chief, being apprised of their design, con
fined them by a stratagem within his house, to which he then set
fire, and such, as escaped the conflagration, survived only to pe
rish by the sword of their persecutor. Yet even this act of fero
city obtained a pardon from Thomas Lord Stanley, at that time
Lord of the Council of Wales, to which Edward IV. afterwards
gave his sanction. Lewis Glyn Cothi, a poet of that period, has
celebrated the praises of this redoubtable champion.—In conclu-
* If it be objected to this account, that the Saxons, under HeDgist and
Horsa, did not arrive in this country until the year 447, it may be an
swered, that before that period, as we learn from Ammianus Marcellinus
and other writers, they ncre in the habit of making frequent inroads into the
island.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 141
«ion of this head it may be recorded, that, a short time before
the subjection of Wales by Edward I., the principal land-proprie
tors of Ystrad Alyn were amongst the foremost to claim compen
sation for the injuries they had sustained from Roger de Clifford,
at that time Justiciary of Chester, and his deputy Roger Scrochil.
Church Concerns.—The Church of Mold, of which there is
an account as early as the time of Henry VII., is dedicated to St.
Mary. Before the Reformation it belonged to the Abbey of Bus-
tlesham, or Bysham, in Berkshire. It is a vicarage, and is valued
in the King's books at 19'- The living is in the Diocese of St.
Asaph, and in the patronage of the Bishop of that See. Two
lay Rectors divide with the Vicar an average income of nearly
2400/., of which the impropriated tythes produce about 2000/.
The present incumbent is the Rev. Hope Wynne Eyton, who re
sides at Leeswood in this parish. There are also two Chapelries
in the parish, those of Nerquis and Treuddyn, which are united
in one Perpetual Curacy, of the average value of 220/., and of
which the Rev. H. W. O. Jones is now in possession.—Mold
Church, which stands on a small eminence, is a very neat building
of the Gothic architecture of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
It is ornamented, both within and without, by the carvings of
sundry animals, for some of which it would, perhaps, be rather
difficult to find prototypes in the pages of Buffon or Linnaeus.
Above the pillars in the interior, which are remarkably light, are
represented, between the arches, several curious figures, intended
for cherubim, bearing shields with arms on them, probably those
of the ancient benefactors of this church. Among these, as
well as in other parts of the building, the arms of the Stanley fa
mily hold a conspicuous place. The dimensions of the church,
which consists of three aisles, or two aisles and a nave, are in
length 124 feet, 61 in breadth, and in height 24. It contains
above 130 pews, disposed with much uniformity. The North and
middle aisles were built about the close of the fifteenth or the
commencement of the following century ; and the South aisle in
1597, if the following inscription, discovered upon the opening
of a vault under it in 1783, refers, as is supposed, to that event.
But Mr. Pennant seems to have thought, that the whole cnurch
was erected at one time.
" Fundamentum
Ecclesiee Christi,
1597 W. A. Eps."*
* This was William Hughe*, who died iu 1600.
142 THE CAMBRO-BRITON'.
Of late vears a considerable improvement has been made in
the internal arrangement by the addition of a good organ, and by
the embellishment of the western end of the building, the whole of
which may now, for elegance and commodiousness, vie with any
other in the Principality. Among the monuments, which it con
tains, the most remarkable is a statue, in Roman drapery, of
Robert Davies, Esq. of Llanerch, who died May 22d, 176s. This
stands at the eastern extremity of the South aisle, where also is a
mural monument of Robert Parfew, Bishop of St. Asaph in 1536 *.
An inscription on a tablet in the middle aisle, to the memory of
Dr. Wynne of Tower, deserves also to be noticed. It was written
by himself, and the marble erected in his life time. The follow
ing passage in it has often been cited with reference to the un
wholesome practice of burying in churches :—" In conformity to
" ancient usage, from a proper regard to decency, and a con-
" cern for the health of his fellow-creatures, he was moved to give
" particular directions for being buried in the adjoining churcb-
" yard, and not in the church "f. Not far from this monument
are two neat tablets erected to the memory of two sons of the lata
Thomas Griffith, Esq. of Rhual, who died in their country's bat
tles, one in India, and the other in the memorable conflict of Wa
terloo. They were both of the rank of Major. It may also be
interesting to mention, that Wilson, the celebrated landscape
painter, who died in the adjoining parish of Llanferres, was buried
in this church-yard. A flat stone covers his grave, the superscrip
tion of which is almost defaced.—The present steeple is a hand
some modern structure, of a corresponding architecture with the
rest of the building, but not perhaps of an adequate height. It
was erected in 1773 at an expence of nearly 2000/. In taking
down the old tower in 1768 a curious image was discovered near
the foundation, in all probability a relic of the Catholic super
stition of the former inhabitants. But the worthy Vicar, Mr.
Lewis, from an excess of piety or from some other unexplained
motive, gave orders for its immediate demolition ; and the marble
Saint was accordingly doomed to a second martyrdom.—" The
* He was removed to the See of Hertford in 1554, and died there in
1557. The monument, above noticed, was erected to his memory, as one
of the principal benefactors of Mold Church, by John ab Rhys. Bishop
Parfew was buried at Hereford.
f There is a similar inscription on the tomb of Dr. Verheyen, who was
Professor of Anatomy at Louvain, where he died in 1710. His words are,
" Philippus Verheyen, Medicinai Doctor et Professor, partem sui mate-
" rialem hie in cemeterio coniii voluit, ne templum dehonestaret aut nocivil
" balitibus inficeret. Requiescat in pace." He also wrote his owu epitaph.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 143
chapel at Nerquis," to adopt Mr. Pennant's description, " is a
neat building, with a pretty spire steeple. Within is a large
niche elegantly carved. It once held the image of the Virgin,
and is called (as all similar niches in Wales are) Cadair Vair, or
the Seat of Mary." Since Mr. Pennant's time the interior of this
chapel has undergone much improvement ; and it is now surpassed
by none perhaps in Wales in the simple elegance of its general
appearance.
%* [To be continued].
SKETCHES OP SOCIETY.
RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN SCOTTISH AND WELSH
MANNERS.
The great similarity between the manners and customs of the
Highland Scotch and those of the inhabitants of North Wales
must be obvious to every person, acquainted with these two dis
tricts of Great Britain. The same steady courage, high spirit,
and energetic animation are apparent in both. The Rev. R.
Warner, in his very amusing " Walk through Wales," remarks,
that " in the more remote regions of North Wales the manners
of the natives, and the scenery are perfectly Highlandish."
In every general point, indeed, the similitude is striking, and,
perhaps, the more minute particulars are not less evident. I
shall content myself on the present occasion with instancing
one example of this resemblance, reserving for a future oppor
tunity others that I have noticed*. The trait, I am about to
mention, will most probably recal to the reader the animated and
inimitable description of the feast of a Highland Chieftain, so
powerfully delineated by the author of Waverley,. in his descrip
tion of the reception of Waverley by the gallant but unfortu
nate Vich Ian Vohr.
Pennant, in his " History of Whiteford and Holywell," gives
a detailed account of Mostyn Hall, in Flintshire, and of the
respectable family, from which it derives its name. It appears,
that the late worthy head of this family, Sir Roger Mostyn, re
tained, during Pennant's life-time, a partiality for the peculiar
* Some affinity may unquestionably be traced between the manners of
the Scotch Highlanders and the inhabitants of the Welsh mountains. But
it may well be doubted, whether the system of clanship, by which the former
were so distinguished, ever prevailed in Wales to the same extent or even
upon a similarprinciple. Ed.
THE CAMBR0-I3RIT0N.
customs of his ancestors, among which was the one of dining in
the same apartment, and at the same time, with his servants and
tenants, the ancient vassals of a chieftain's domain. Mr. Pen
nant, in describing the house, introduces the " great gloomy-
hall," as he terms it, the scene of so much mirth and festivity.
I will give the description in our author's own words, " The
" great gloomy hall," he writes, " is furnished with a dais, or
" elevated upper end, with a long table for the lord and his
"jovial companions, and another on one side, the seat of the
" inferior partakers of the good cheer. To this day the simili-
" tude of old times is kept up, when the family is at home. The
" head servants take their dinner at the dais, and the numerous
" inferior servants fill the long side-table. The roof is lofty,
" crossed with long beams. The nenbren, or top beam, was in
" all times a frequent toast, when the master of the house's health
" was drank, and iechyd y nenbren y ty was the cordial phrase.
" The chimney-piece is magnificently plain, unless where the
" arms of the house and its alliances are cut on the stone and
" properly emblazoned." The " cordial phrase " here mentioned
means literally, " health to the upper beam of the house,"
figuratively, " to the support or head of the family." The
phrase, now generally used, is " Y gwr a biau 'r nenbren,"
which has the same signification, and is a toast still given at con
vivial meetings in North Wales. Whether the " similitude of
old times" is still kept up at Mostyn Hall I have no opportunity
of ascertaining. It is probable, that the present worthy nenbren,
Sir Thomas Mostyn, is laudably attached to a custom certainly
harmless, and perhaps useful, when practised amidst a respectful
and devoted clan*
London, Oct. 16, 1819. T. R.
[The Editor regrets, that he is under the necessity ofpostponing the re
mainder of T. R.'s interesting communication. But the length of the first
article and of that immediately preceding this has unexpectedly prevented
its insertion this month. However, what appears above is complete in it
self, and the part omitted will find a place in the next Number. ]
* T. R.'s patriotic supposition is entirely groundless. And, perhaps, in
the present refined and comparatively artificial state of society it would
hardly be possible to preserve a respect for such customs as that above no
ticed, and which, having their origin in the familiar and salutary connection,
thatonce existed between the great land-proprietor and his dependants, have
necessarily vanished with the foundation, on which they rested. And it
may be observed, that luxury, in her revolutionary career, has in no in
stance produced a more deplorable effect than in the extinction of that
lordly spirit of hospitality, which was once so remarkably the boast of our
native hills, as well as of other parts of the kingdom.—Kd.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 145
THE MISCELLANIST.—No. II.
-^0990—
There are few readers of English ballads, to whom the fol
lowing is not known : and, perhaps, there are many, who will
agree with Chwiledydd in considering it entitled to the praise,
he bestows on it, of possessing some humour. Yet no Welsh^
man can help observing, how remarkably the poet has failed
in hitting off the peculiar traits of our national character.—
But, indeed, in this respect, what English writer has ever suc
ceeded ? From the days of Shakespear himself, incomparable,
as he was, in his general delineations of human nature, down to
the present, an unaccountable misconception has prevailed on this
point. For even Smollett, however masterly his pictures from
life in every other respect, has given to his Welsh portraits a
coarse and unnatural colouring. Yet this prominent fault of
English authors would have been less inexcusable, if its manifest
aim were not to render the Welsh character an object of ridicule
rather than of interest. And, had not this tendency proceeded,
as it does, from the grossest ignorance of the manners of our
country, the contempt, to which it is so justly exposed, must have
been long ago turned into indignation. But, as the latent ener
gies of our native land are at length awakened, some one may
arise to vindicate the distinguishing simplicity and unsophisticated
morality of the Welsh character. Some one, glowing with the
ambition of a Fielding or a Scott, and animated by a kindred
genius, may yet pourtray it as it is, and as it ought to be. For
thus only can we hope, that the barbarous and unfounded preju
dices, excited by English writers, can be effectually consigned to
the oblivion they so well deserve. However, the following ballad,
even with this deduction from its merit, may be called humorous,
or, at least, ludicrous; and the translations will serve to esta
blish a comparison in no respect to the disadvantage of trie
Welsh language. ^
Chwiledydd's hint with respecx to the Pexnillion is, undoubt
edly, just, and entitled to every attention. But the conductor of
this work has no wish, for the present at least, to publish any of
those effusions, that are not purely and originally Welsh. As far,
therefore," as his own judgment may guide him, his intention is
to avoid the introduction of such as are translations from other
languages. And, if he should unconsciously commit an error in
this view, correction would always be deemed a favour. Per-
vol. 1, U
146 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
haps one or two of the Pennillion in the first Number may fall
under the suspicion of not being, strictly speaking, indigenous.
# **
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—Having never seen your Prospectus, I was somewhat
surprised the other day, when the two first Numbers of the
Cambro-Briton were put into my hands, but was very well
pleased when I had read them. The plan appears judicious, and
the execution of it sensible and neat. There is not too much,
and at the same time there is sufficient variety. I am particularly
pleased with -your admitting some choice Pennillion of our
countrymen, which are certainly superior to any epigrams we
meet with in any Greek or Latin anthology. Might not their
subjects be classed, and more methodically arranged ? And, if
any should be translations or imitations, as I know some are,
would it not be right to insert the originals ?
As the beautiful air, " Of noble Race was Shenkin," has been
twice mentioned with praise in the Cambro-Briton (p. 13 and
p. 45), you will perhaps excuse me for transcribing Dryden's
satirical, but humorous ballad, with a translation in Greek, Latin,
and Welsh; and, if it accords with your plan, I should like to
see them inserted in a future Number. They may amuse one
reader and admonish another ; and I have no doubt but your
laudable aim is to obtain success lectorem delectando pariterque
monendo. Wishing you all success,
I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant,
October 13, 1819. Chwiledydd.
SHENKIN.
Of noble race was Shenkin,
Of the line of Owen Tudor ;
But hur renown was fled and gone,
Since cruel Love pursued hur.
Fair Winny's eyes bright shining,
And lily-breasts alluring,
With fatal dart smote Shenkin's heart,
And wounded past all curing.
Hur was the prettiest fellow
At foot-ball or at cricket ;
At prison base and hunting chase,
Cotsplut how hur would nick it !
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 147
But now all joys defying,
All pale and wan hur cheeks too ;
Hur heart so aches, hur quite forsakes
Hur herrings and hur leeks too.
No more must dear Metheglin
Be toped at dear Montgomery ;
And if Love soro smart one week more,
Adieu, cream-cheese and flumry !
GREEK.
a
Tlspvx.Xv?o; \x,ev Tisyxsy,
QeoStvgtfy; ysyo;'
OS" vv Epuiro;, SeiXo; €poro;,
Ou V8V, i%st pEVO;.
KaAXiri;? Ovvup otfy;
T« xpxSirjV uiTa^eTrjv
flteiki) ctvijiurw,
r
UxXuiv psv sy aywvi
Ylayt aflXij AaS' ev Sixy
Tui, rps^ovn, ij tnWoyrt,
Af£( tOLprp 1) VlKTj.
Ntiv £ avm ev vetpetcu; ,
l$u o ui%po; tuiSs
KapJia, xai rvpov fum'
Kai xpoivj hk tvtoSrj.
ft
TfyopeXe Se gy.eri
MsSurci ev Moyfetiepi'
Et h 'f,Ao?J SsH/rj s£ r/fiepa; ftttyyj,
Ts Xdits, Xcupe, $Xstiepi !
LATIN.
Praeclarus ortu Shenkin
E stirpe Theodori ;
Sed cessit ah me ! splendor famae
Cupidinis furori.
148 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Splendentes Winifredae
Ocelli perculere
Cor, heu ! crudeli ictu teli :
Desperat ars mederi.
Tarn doctus erat nemo
Vel pila, vel bacillo :
Cursu campestri, vel pedestri,
An compar ullus illi ?
At gaudia heec fugerunt ;
Emaciuntur genae :
Pectus nae dolet ! nec, ut solet,
Jam cepe olet bene.
Sed nunc non delectandum
Metheglin de Montgomery :
Si desit quies plus sex dies,
iEternum valeat flumry !
WELSH.
[The following version is by the Rev. Wm. Morgan, re^j.or of
Llanfair yng Nghornwy, in Anglesey.]
'R oedd Siencyn o hil hynod
O ach hen Dudur eurglod ;
Ond f'aeth ei fri o isel ri',
Er pan roes Cupid ddyrnod.
O gonglau llygaid Gwenffryd,
A'i gwynion fronau hyfryd,
Y laeth y saeth i'w galon gaeth,
A'i rhoes mewn alaeth benyd.
Fe oedd yr impyn hardda'
Uwch ben y bel mewn tyrfa ;
Am chwareu cath nid oedd mo'i fath,
Am redeg, gwych y piccia.
Yn awr fe ddarfu 'n erwin,
Mae'i ruddiau 'n gulion gethin ;
A'i friw njor gas, nad oes mor bias
Ar benwaig, nac ar gennin.
Ni phrofir Medd ond hynny,
Yn anwyl Sir Montgomery ;
Os pair y clwy' ond wythnos hwy,
Ffarwel, Gaws gwyn a Llymry !
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 149
AWEN CYMRU.
A'ti rodd yzo athrwydd Avsen. Edm. Prvs.
PENNILLION.
XXIII.
Gwedwch, fawrion, o wybodaeth,
0 ba beth y gwnaethbwyd hiraeth ;
A pha ddefnydd a roed ynddo,
Nas darfyddai wrth ei wisgo.
XXIV.
Tebyg yw dy lais yn canu
1 gog mown craig yn dechreu erygii,
Dechreu can heb ddiwedd arni :
Harddach fyddai iti dewi.
XXV.
Nid oes rhyngof ag ef heno
Onid pridd, ac arch, ac amddo ;
Mi fum lawer gwaith ymhellach
Ond nid erioed a chalon drymach.
XXVI.
Hiraeth mawr, a hiraeth creulon,
Hiraeth sydd yn torri 'm calon ;
Pan fwyf dryma 'r n&s yn cysgu,
Fe ddaw hiraeth ac a 'm deffry.
XXVII.
Brith yw ser ar noswaith olau,
Brith yw meillion Mai a blodau ;
Brith yw dillad y merchedau,
A brith gywir ydynt hwythau.
XXVIII.
Rhois fy mryd ar garu glanddyn,
Fe roes hwn ei serch ar rywun,
Hono rhoes ei serch ar arall ;
Dyna dri yn cam 'n anghall.
XXIX.
Yn Hafod Elwy 'r g6g ni chan,
Ond llais y fran sydd amla' ;
Pan fo hi decaf ym mhob tir,
Mae hi yno 'n wir yn eira.
150 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
XXX.
Darfu 'r gauaf, darfu 'r oerfel,
Darfu 'r gwlaw a 'r gwyntoedd uchel ;
Daeth y gwanwyn glas eginog,
Dail i 'r llwyn a dol feillionog.
XXXI.
Nid af ddim i 'r gwely heno,
Nid yw 'r un wy 'n gam ynddo ;
Mi orweddaf ar y gareg :
Tor, os torri, 'nghalon fwyndeg.
[The following piece, by Taliesin, is copied from the Llyvyr Taliesin, in
the Hengwrt Collection, and is here inserted, because it was accidentally
omitted in the Welsh Archaiology. The orthography, punctuation, and
other particulars are preserved as in the original.—Ed.]
MARWNAD DYLAN AIL TON.
An duw uchaf dewin doethaf mwyhaf aned
pydelismaes pwy ae swynas yn llaw trahael.
neu gynt noc ef. pwy uu tagnef arredyf gefel.
Gorthrif gwastrawt gwenwyn awnaeth gweith
gwythloned. Gwanu dylan. adwythic lan.
treis ynhytyrver. Ton iwerd. . athon vanaw.
Athon ogled. Athon prydein torvoed virein
yn petweired. Gwolychafi tat duw dovydat
gwlat heb omed. Creawdyr celi an cynnwys ni
yn trugared.
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
XXIII.
Of what thing, say, is longing made,
Ye men of knowfege, pray, declare it ;
What stout materials in it laid,
That thus it wastes riot as you wear it.
XXIV.
Thy singing with the cuckoo's vies,
When, on a rock grown hoarse, he tries
Some endless ditty to commence ;
Thy silence best would shew thy sense.
THE CAMBRO-BRJTON. 151
Betwixt us nought this night is seen
Save earth, a coffin and a shroud :
Much farther from him oft I've been,
Yet ne'er before with heart so cow'd.
XXVI.
Longing's deep and cruel smart,
Longing 'tis, that breaks my heart :
When heaviest sleep at night o'ertakes me,
Longing * comes, alas, and wakes me.
xxyn.
Varied the stars, when nights are clear,
Varied are the flowers of May,
Varied th' attire, that women wear,
Truly varied too are they.
XXVIII.
A comely youth I once caress'd,
Another fair his heart possess'd,
But her's, already given, he lost :
Were ever three so sadly cross'd ?
XXIX.
No cuckoo Havod Elwy hears
But oftentimes the crow :
When all around fair weather cheers,
'Tis there quite sure to snow.
* **
xxx.
The winter's angry blast is o'er,
The roaring winds contend no more ;
The spring is come with moistening dews
And clothes the mead with verdant hues. D. B.
XXXI.
To bed to-night I'll not repair,
The one I love reclines not there :
I'll lay me on the stone apart,
If break thou wilt, then break my heart. D. E.
* The word, here translated Longing, is Kiracth, fer which there is no
corresponding term in the English langr.age. The Latin word Desiilerhim
is of a similar import.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
WALES.
CYMREIGYDDION SOCIETY.—Among the laudable insti
tutions now in existence for promoting the interests of Wales, and
especially lor preserving her ancient tongue in its native purity,
the Society of Cymreigyddion, established in the metropolis,
deserves a particular notice. It was in the year 1 792 that this
institution was founded. And the main object of its establish
ment, to which it has since adhered with a praise-worthy fidelity,
was, as above intimated, the maintenance of our excellent lan
guage in that vigour and beauty, which so eminently distinguish
it. For this purpose, controversial discussion in the Welsh
tongue has been adopted as one of the means best calculated to
promote this end. Accordingly, at each meeting a debate takes
place on a subject previously selected, and the ability, often
evinced on the occasion, affords ample proof of the utility of the
design. It deserves also to be mentioned, that, in order to en
sure that harmony so essential to the welfare of the Society, all
topics of a religious and political nature are scrupulously avoided.
In addition to the patriotic object above noticed, it must not
be forgotten, that charity also forms a prominent feature in this
institution. With a view to the furtherance of this amiable de
sign, a board, having the word Elusengarwch (charity) in
scribed on it, presents itself in a conspicuous manner to every
person entering the room, where the Society meets. The heart
of benevolence is thus perpetually kept in mind of its favourite
pursuit, and the fur.d, collected in consequence, is devoted by
the Society to the charitable purpose of relieving their country
men in certain distressed situations.
The Cymreigyddion originally consisted of inhabitants of
North Wales only : but they have since embraced the other divi
sion of the Principality. As a qualification for admission into the
Society, it is indispensibly necessary, that the candidate should
understand and speak the Welsh language, and that he be
recommended by two members as a person of irreproachable cha
racter. The election is by ballot, and, where the number of
. votes happens to be equal, the candidate is rejected. The officers
of the Society are a President, Vice President, Treasurer and
Secretary : and the business is conducted by a Committee of five
members. The meetings take place every Thursday evening, for
the purpose already mentioned : when the procoedings are al
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 153
ways characterised by that " union and brotherly love," which
form a favourite sentiment of the Society. This brief account of
the Cymreigyddion cannot conclude better than by a repetition
of that wish, which, when assembled, they never fail to express,
" Oes y byd tr Iaith Gymraeg"* *#*
• •
GWYNEDDIGION SOCIETY.—In the last Number an ac
count was given of the Eisteddfod, which this Society held on the
6th of October at Denbigh, for the purpose of deciding on the
merits of the Welsh Poems on Elusengarwch (Charity), which
had been proposed as the subject for the Society's Prize Awdl for
the present year. The decision, which, owing to some unavoid
able accident, was not then made, has since taken place, and re
ceived the confirmation ofa Committee of the Society in London.
The Rev. Edward Hughes, Rector of Bodfary, in Flintshire, is
the successful candidate; and it is not more than justice to add,
that the Awen, evinced in his composition, does him great
credit. *#*
CAMBRIAN SOCIETY IN DYFED.—The subjects, pro
posed by this Society for the Prize Compositions for the ensuing
year, were noticed last month. It was on the ICth of August,
that a Committee of the Society met for this purpose at Carmar
then, when several Resolutions were passed, of which the following
seem to merit publicity :—
That each District provide for its own Eisteddfod, and take
charge of its own expences and subscriptions, appoint its own
prize-subjects, and decide by its own local judges upon its respec
tive premiums. ,
That each District be at liberty to propose annually its own
subjects for Premiums, but that the successful compositions of
that District only, in which the Eisteddfod shall be holden, will be
publicly recited at the Eisteddfod, unless the Committee of the
acting District should request it.
That there be an Annual Meeting of the Cambrian Society held
on the second Monday in May in London.
That it be recommended to the Society, when its funds are
competent, to appropriate a special fund for the encouragement
of poetical and literary merit in persons in confined circumstances,
and that Dafy dd Ddu, of Carnarvon, have the sum of ten pounds
allowed hiin as a gratuity for the present year.
* " The age of the world to the Welsh language."
Vol. I. X
154 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
That the Committee take upon them to recommend and pro
mote subscriptions to Mr. Edward Jones's third volume of Bardic
Remains.
LOYAL MEETINGS IN WALES.—Since the publication
of the last Number there have been five Public Meetings in the
Principality for the purpose of expressing, at this critical period,
a loyal attachment to the throne and constitution of these realms.
The first was that of Cardiganshire, which was holden at Aberay-
ron on the 4th oflast month. It was numerously attended, and an
Address was voted to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent, de
claratory of the object for which the Meeting v as convoked.—
The next was that of Carmarthenshire, which took place atLlan-
dilo on the 5th ult., when a similar Address was proposed and
unanimously adopted. This Meeting was likewise very nume
rous, and most respectable. Among the distinguished individuals
present were Lord Dynevor, Lord Cawdor, Lord Robert Sey
mour, and Mr. Allen, M. P.—The third was a Meeting of the
Corporation and the Inhabitants of the Town of Cardigan, who
assembled on the 9th ult., for the same patriotic purpose.—On the
same day also there was a Meeting of the Lieutenancy and Ma
gistracy of the County of Denbigh, convened by the Lord Lieu
tenant Sir W. W. Wynn, for the purpose of encreasing the armed
force of the County. About 1,100/. were immediately subscribed
towards the advancement of this judicious object. This Meeting
was attended by most of the individuals of rank and consequence
in the County.—On the 20th ult. there was also a Meeting
of the Nobility, Gentry, and other inhabitants of the County
of Carnarvon, for the purpose of offering a loyal Address to
the Throne.—In addition to the above it should be noticed,
that a Requisition, with a long list ofhighly respectable signatures,
was presented to the High Sheriff of Flintshire, to convene a
County Meeting for the purpose of addressing the Throne on the
present state of affairs ; in consequence of which the Sheriff ap
pointed Tuesday the 30th ult. for that purpose.—It is gratifying to
contemplate in the proceedings, above noticed, a continuance of
the same loyal and constitutional spirit, by which Wales has ever
been distinguished. And it may be hoped, that the examples,
thus set, will be universally followed throughout the Principality.
It has been ignorantly demanded by some, wherefore, when the
loyalty of any particular place is not questioned, it should be re
quired publicly to proclaim it. The obvious and decisive reply to
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 155
this is, that it becomes necessary as an antidote to the avowal, to
openly and insultiugly made, of seditious and revolutionary de
signs. It is not merely to express the undoubted loyalty of one
portion of the community, that these patriotic Addresses are offered
at the foot of the Throne,— it is more particularly to thwart the
plans of the disaffected, and to overawe the traitor in his rebellious
career. When such benefits as these may be produced by an open
and fearless declaration of loyalty, neutrality becomes suspected,
and apathy criminal.
MISCELLANEOUS LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.-A Society
•of a very interesting and patriotic nature has recently been
established at Carnarvon. The first Meeting, which was very
respectably attended, took place at the Guildhall in that town on
the 12th of October, when it was declared to be " highly expe-
" dient that a Society should be constituted there for the purpose
" of imparting to the poor a religious, moral, and suitable edu-
" cation." Accordingly it was agreed, that, with such view, a
Society should be then formed under the title of " The Carnar-
" von Society for the Education of the Poor on the Principles of
the Established Church." In furtherance of this object it
was also resolved, that a daily school should be established for
girls and another for boys, to be conducted according to the
mode of education, adopted and recommended by the National
Society in London ; and that the children should be regularly
instructed in the Liturgy and Catechism of the Established
Church. Among many other laudable Resolutions, it was farther
agreed, that the Marquis of Anglesey should be requested to be
come Patron of the Society, and tbat Lord Viscount Bulkeley,
the Bishop of Bangor, Sir Robert Williams, Bart. M. P., and the
Hon. Capt. Paget, M. P., should be requested to accept the
office of Vice-Presidents. Contributions amounting nearly to
300/., besides several annual subscrptions, have since been made
towards the purposes of this very praise-worthy Institution.—Of
a similar design with the preceding Society is the National Fe
male School at Carmarthen, which is likely to prosper under the
patronage of several enlightened and benevolent individuals.
Among this number Lord Robert Seymour and the Hon. Mr.
Rice have recently been engaged, together with the Committee of
Ladies, in raising a subscription towards erecting a school-room
for the children of this Establishment ; and a very favourable
result has attended their charitable exertions.—The Annual
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Meeting of the Proclamation Society for the Diocese of St.
David's was holden at Carmarthen on the 25th of October. The
Bishop of St. David's presided ; and the premiums, usually given
by the Society, were awarded on the occasion.—On the 25th of
October there was a General Meeting of the Governors of the
Carnarvonshire and Anglesey Dispensary, under the auspices of
the Lord Bishop of Bangor. It appeared from the Report, made
on this occasion, that, since the former meeting in October 1818,
2135 patients, besides 180 on the books at the time, had received
the benefit of this excellent Institution. Of this number 516 were
cases of vaccination. The funds of this Society appear, unfortu
nately, from the same Report not to have been quite adequate
to all the demands. But there can be little doubt that this defi
ciency will soon be supplied by the benevolence of the subscribers.
—Meetings of the Bible Societies have been holden since this
subject was last noticed, at the under-mentioned places :—on the
19th of October at Cardigan— on the 3d ult. at Llanidloes, in
Montgomeryshire—and on the Sth ult. at Carmarthen. The same
zeal continues to influence the supporters of these Institutions, and
the Reports, which they publish, lose nothing of the interesting
character attached to the preceding documents of the same de
scription. According to that of the Llanidloes Society, which
embraces six adjoining parishes, it appears that, since its esta
blishment in 1813, 2019 copies of the Scriptures have been dis
tributed, of which 339 were given in the last year. These insti
tutions appear to receive a very general and active support from
the Clergy.—The first Anniversary Meeting of the Flintshire
Agricultural Society took place, as announced in the last Number,
at Mold, on the 25th of October. It would be difficult to do jus
tice to the zeal and exertion, which already distinguish this infant
establishment, and promise to raise it to a degree of importance
equal with that ofany other of a similar nature. And it is here proper
to add, that its present prosperity is, in an eminent degree,
owing to the active and well-directed services of Mr. Boydell,
Secretary to the Society. The meeting, on this occasion, was
numerously and respectably attended, and the Rev. W. Whitehall
Davies, in the absence of Sir Thomas Mostyn, Bart., presided on
the occasion. Several gentlemen of distinction in the county were
also present, and among them Sir E. P. Lloyd, Bart., who acted
as Vice-President. The limits, that must necessarily be prescribed
to this notice, make it impossible to particularise all the prizes, that
were distributed at this meeting. But it deserves to be mentioned.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 157
that two of these, including the highest prize, fell to the share of
Mr. Boydell, who has thus the additional merit of enforcing by his
example the efforts he has so laudably made for the benefit
of the Institution. — The proposition for a similar Society
in the county of Monmouth, noticed last month, meets with
a very general encouragement. Sir Charles Morgan, Bart, with
his usual liberality, has already made extensive arrangements
near the town of Newport, for an annual show of cattle.—The
Pembroke Farmer's Club have lately published a list of their Pre
miums for the year 1819, which appear to have a very beneficial
tendency, and especially in the encouragement they hold out to
small farmers, and to labourers in husbandry of every description.
One of the Resolutions of this Society is, " that no member will
" iiji future be entitled to any pecuniary premium, who possesses a
" property in freehold lands of 200/. a-year and upwards, stock
** excepted." The Club is under the immediate patronage of the
Hon. John Frederick Campbell, M. P.—Lord Cawdor, Sir John
Owen, Bart., and Sir Henry Mathias, are also members.—A re
spectable meeting of the Magistracy of the County of Pembroke
was holden at Haverfordwest on the 3d of last month, " for the
purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of diminishing
the expences of prosecuting, and defending suits in the County
Court," when it was resolved, amongst other things, that appli
cation should be made to the professional gentlemen ofthe County,
not to allow their names to be used, in applying for small debts,
by any person not legally authorised to sue for the same, and that
a table of fees should be forthwith prepared for the guidance of
practitioners and suitors in the County Court, and that the Sheriff
be requested to take care, that such fees only be received. A
meeting of the like nature took place in Carmarthenshire on the
18th ult., when similar resolutions were adopted. Lord Cawdor,
with other noblemen and gentlemen of both Counties, attended
these Meetings, the object of which cannot be too highly applauded.
* *•
LITERATURE.—It would be difficult to select any former
period in the history of Wales, wherein a spirit of literary enter
prise was so prevalent as at present. This argues well for the
re-establishment of that fame, to which her language and ancient
remains so justly entitle her. To the works noticed in the last
Number, as either published or contemplated, the following are
pow to be added :—
158 THE CAIklBRO-BRITON.
—*•
Llyfr Gweddi Gyffrcdin, &c. Llundain, 1819. 8vo. 3*. 6d.
[This Welsh Edition of the Common Prayer Book is published
by the " Prayer Book and Homily Society," and reflects much
credit on the care and ability, which have been employed in
bringing it forth. The neatness of the form, the clearness and
beauty of the typography, and, above all, the accuracy of the
text entitle it to considerable praise. Mr. Thomas Roberts, of
Llwymimdol, Carnarvonshire, a gentleman distinguished for his
critical knowlege of his native tongue, has superintended this
publication, and has evinced great judgment in correcting some
inaccuracies, that had crept into the former editions. In the last
Report of the proceedings of the Prayer Book and Homily So
ciety this edition is stated to have been undertaken upon the
recommendation of that patriotic Prelate the Bishop of St. Da
vid's. It is then added, that " to obtain the correctest copy, to
" print the book in the most eligible form, and so as to sell it on
" the very lowest terms, that circumstances will permit, have
" been, with the Society, objects of their strictest attention." The
present . impression consists of 4000 copiesi—The same So
ciety has also published Welsh translations of tJtree of the " Ho-,
milies of the Church of England," in a separate and cheap form,
calculated for general distribution*. The marginal heads are, for
the first time, translated into Welsh in this edition, which also has
had the benefit of Mr. Roberts's superintendence.]
The History of North Wales, by W. Cathrall, assisted by several
Gentlemen of Literary Distinction, Part I. 4to, 3*. Large
Paper, 4s. 6rf. Chester, 1819.
[This Part (the publication of which in the country was no
ticed in the third Number) has made its appearance in London
in the course of the last month. It is occupied by an examination
of the Ancient History of Britain ; and much important and cu
rious information, from sources not generally consulted, has been
collected upon the subject. Mr. Cathrall deserves much credit
for this, as well as for the arrangement of his plan, which appears
judicious. A neat and accurate engraving of Flint Castle accom
panies this Part; and the typographical execution of the work
merits a very favourable notice.]
* it should be mentioned, that these Translations are copied from the
Collection published about ten years ago by the R£v. John Robcits, uf
Tieineirchiou, in Flintshire.— Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 159
...
Horee Britannicce, or Studies of Ancient British History, contain
ing various Disquisitions on National and Religious Subjects of
Great Britain, by J. Hughes, 2 vols. 8va 18*.
[As it is intended shortly to enter into a general and critical
examination of this work, any notice of its merits here would ne
cessarily be premature.]
Proposals for publishing a new Edition of Dr. Davies's Dic-
lionarium Duplex, or Welsh-Latin and Latin-Welsh Diction-
, ary, to which will be prefixed his Linguce Cymraecce Rudi-
menta, or Rudiments of the Welsh Language.
[As the value of this work is generally acknowleged, and as the
scarcity of the old copies is become evident, the admirers of Welsh
Literature cannot fail to profit by its intended republication. This
Edition is proposed to be published in parts, every three months,
at the price of six shillings each to Subscribers ; the whole to be
completed in four parts, making one handsome volume in folio.
The work, which is to be printed at Bala, will be put to press as
soon as a subscription has been obtained for 500 copies.]
Proposals for publishing a new Metrical Version of the Psalms-,
under the title of Telyn Dafydd, sef Cyfansoddiad o Lyfr y.
Salmau ar amrwyiol a gicahanol fesurau.
[This Version is ready for publication : and, as it consists of
twenty different metres, it possesses a greater variety than most
former collections. Report speaks in high terms of the per
formance, both with respect to the fidelity of the translation*
and its poetical merit.—The author is Thomas Williams, of
Llanfihangel Gwynt, Montgomeryshire, and, as he is unable to
undertake the expence of publication, the Rev. Mr. Hamer, vicar
of that parish, has kindly offered to receive communications from
those, who may be disposed to afford him their patronage.]
The Mabinogion.—All admirers of the Literature of Wales
will hear, with delight, that Mr. W. O. Pughe is translating, with a
view to publication, these ancient tales, which form so original
and curious a feature in the interesting remains of the Cymry.
Their appearance in English, accompanied by his illustrations,
cannot fail to prove a valuable accession to the literature of this
country. Mr. Pughe would indeed be performing a national
service, by this publication.
The Gonomv.—Mr. Probert, a native of Wales, residing
at Alnwick in Northumberland, is preparing for the press a
Translation of this celebrated Poem, with copious notes. It will
also be accompanied by a biographical memoir of Aneurin. The
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
work will be published by subscription, and the Author has al
ready experienced a considerable share of patronage. ***
OBITUARY.
September.—Near Exeter, William Hughes, Esq. Capt. R.N.
youngest son of the late James Hughes, Esq. of Carmarthen. He
had proved himself on many occasions a gallant and able officer ;
and a warm heart, and engaging manners had much ingratiated
him with a large circle of friends.—12th. At Coedygawen, near
Ruthin, aged 83, Mrs. Jones, widow of the late Rev. William
Jones, rector of Penmorfa, Caernarvonshire, a lady highly
esteemed and respected.—24th. Gabriel Jeffreys, Esq. Port,
reeve of Swansea, aged 77, who had filled that office four times
with great credit. His funeral took place on the day when his offi
cial duties were to cease.—27th. Mrs. Goodman, ofPorth-hamel, in
Anglesey.—28th. At Talybont, near Narberth, Rev. John Evans,
Curate ofNewton and Llansyvran, for many years a Missionary at
St. John's Newfoundland.—October 4th. At Peckham, Surry,
Rev. Thomas Jones, aged 60, formerly ofMaes, Carmarthenshire, a
gentleman generally distinguished and esteemed for many excellent
qualities, both private and professional. He was the author of
several single Sermons, and also of some Welsh Elegies.—At
Llanbedr, Carnarvonshire, Mr. Owen Shone, aged 97, many
years tenant to Sir John Wynne, grandfather of the present Lord
Newborough. Through the whole of his long life he was remark
able for temperance in his diet.—13th. At Conway, after an illness
of 20 years, William Ellis, Esq. aged 56, Collector of the Customs
at that Port, and brother to the late David Ellis Nanney, Esq, At
torney-General on the North Wales Circuit.—17th. The Rev.
Robert Evans, of Pendre in Bangor, Rector of Llangelynin, Per
petual Curate of Nevin, and a Magistrate of the County of Car
narvon.—20th. At Marazion, in Cornwall, the Rev. Dr. John
Cole, Rector of Exeter College, Oxford, eldest brother of Sir
Christopher Cole, of Penrice Castle, Glamorganshire.—21 st. Row
land Williams, Esq. aged 73, of Hendredenny, near Cardiff, for
many years an upright and active Magistrate of the County
of Glamorgan.—At Bangor, the Rev. Richard Davies, Rector of
Llantrisaint, Anglesey. His very friendly and hospitable qualities
had endeared him to a numerous circle in private life ; and his
extensive knowlege ofthe language and literature ofWales, united
with his acquirements as a general scholar, will long cause his
death to be felt as a public loss. *#*
THE
CAMBBO-BRITON.«
JANUARY, 1820.
^ -
NUIXI QUIDEM MIHI SATIS ERUDITI VIDENTUR, QTJIBUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero de Legibus.
WELSH LANGUAGE.
ELEMENTARY ANALYSIS.
It now becomes necessary to enter upon that analytical illus*
tration of the Welsh language, to which allusion was made at
the close of the last Essay *. And, in undertaking this task,
novel as it is in its nature, it is impossible for the writer not to
be aware of the disadvantages, to which he is exposed on the one
hand, and of the danger, which may beset him upon the other.
The disadvantages, which await him, arise from the general
ignorance of the peculiar character of the Welsh tongue. Even
of those, who are most conversant with it, but a very few enter
tain any accurate notion of its elemeritary principles. And,
with respect to all those (and how vast is the number), to whom
our language is wholly unknown, it is hardly possible for them to
conceive any just idea of those characteristics, which no other
modern tongue possesses in any material degree. It is to be
feared, therefore, that prejudice will generally, with these, supply
the place of information, and thus deter them from the examina
tion of those principles, of which they cannot previously have
formed any accurate notion. While the writer has thus to con
tend against undue prepossessions from without, it must not be
disguised, that he has also some danger to apprehend from His
own predilections.
* Cambro-Briton, No. 3. p?85. To justify the importance of this in
quiry it may be allowed again to have recourse to the authority of M. De
Gebelin, who, in his work before cited, observes, that " it is the analysis
of languages, and its relation to nature, that can alone inform us of the
ties, by which they are connected, whether the first language still exists in
them or not, and nhether-they are or are not descended from it."
vol. i. y
162 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
To observations, which ourselves do make,
, We grow more partial for th' observer's sake.
Thus it is, that there is always something seductive in a favourite
theory, however rational and well founded. We are exposed
perpetually to the risk of deserting the substance for the shadow,
of forsaking the solid ground of reasoning and argument to
wander in the regions 9f hypothesis and conjecture.
The candid admission, which has just been made, will, per
haps, be received as an earnest of the writer's endeavour to
avoid the danger, to which he has here alluded. If he should be
so fortunate as to escape the Charybdis on the one side, he will
use his best exertion to evade the perilous allurements of the
Scylla upon the other. With this view, in the following attempt
to elucidate, by way of analysis, the elementary character of
the Welsh language, care will be taken not to offer too violent
a shock to the prejudices, which have been above noticed. Yet
at the same time a sufficient number of examples will be selected
to justify, it is hoped, that general view of our native tongue,
wHich was taken in the last Essay with respect to its elementary
principles *.
The very vowels, it has already been observed, possess in the
Welsh language certain appropriate significations, which they not
only evince in their individual and independent character, but
retain on various occasions, to a greater or less degree, when asso
ciated with other powers either as prefixes or affixes. Thus a
implies abstractedly action, motion, or continuity ; and whatever
functions it performs in speech, whether separately or in its most
simple combinations, have had their origin in this primary idea.
Hence it is employed to represent those various particles, either
conjunctions, prepositions, or pronouns, which denote the pre
sence or accompaniment of an object ; and it is also frequently
used as an augmentative prefix. On the same principle it sig
nifies the verb to go in one of its tenses, as e a, he is going
or will go f, and in which its abstract signification is unequivo-
* On this subject, Humphrey Prichard, in his excellent Preface to Dr. J.
D. Rhys's Grammar, has the following observation :—" Hxc nostra Cam-
brobrytannica adeo est (ut dicam) aboiiginata, vtt nulla alia lingua primi-
tiva tanquam sibi fundamento et parente uti videatur."
f It may be proper to remark here, although the subject will come under
regular discussion hereafter, that one of the points of resemblance between
the Welsh and Hebrew is the defectiveness of the present tense, except in
the case of two or three irregular verbs. The future tense is therefore used
for the present, at in the instance above given.
.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 163
cally retained. In many other instances, which cannot here
conveniently be particularized, it preserves the same idea of
motion or action. And a similar power, it may be remarked,
seems to have belonged to this letter in the Greek tongue, as in
the words a—u always, continually, a.—w to breathe forth, and
in several other words of action or continuity, wherein the predo
minant agency of the letter a may be clearly distinguished *.
A, in Welsh, it may be farther observed, is likewise the com
mon agent of interrogation, as in the following instances, q ei di,
wilt thou go? literally, going, goest thou? pwy a aeth yno? who
went there ? and a wyt ti yma ? art thou here ? A, joined to t, is
also used as a discriminating interrogative, as ai ti a wclais ? was
it thou, that I saw ?
All the other vowels, used in the Welsh language, which are
e, i, o, m, w, y, are capable of a similar illustration. For in
stance, e and o have relation to the past, and i to the future :
while the remaining three are either derivatives or inflexions of
those preceding, the two latter of o, with which they have an
analogy of meaning in denoting motion past, or distant as to
time. W, o, and y are likewise the distinguishing marks of the
three genders, masculine, feminine, and neuter. To illustrate
what has been just said with respect to the peculiar agency of
the vowel w, in representing what is past, the two examples fol
lowing may be adduced. Gwedd means order or match;
gweddw one that is past the state of being matched, or that is
widowed. Gwel is sight ; gwelw a state past vision, or pale.
There are numerous other words, wherein w, by being used as
an affix, has a similar effect on the sense. The three letters e, i,
and o are also used as pronouns, and discharge some other sepa
rate functions : i is a sign of the infinitive mood, and o repre
sents those prepositions, which denote a tendency to proceed
from or out of an object. Y is an article corresponding with the
* Mr. Davies, in his Celtic Researches, p. 546, has the following judicious
observations on the natural affinity between most ancient languages in this
particular, t* The Hebiews and Greeks, the old inhabitants of Italy, and
the Celtic nations were peculiarly careful to distinguish each of their ele
mentary sounds by a descriptive name, or to represent it by some natural
and characteristic object; and names and symbols of each individual power
evidently pointed at the same images in all these languages. From hence
1 infer, that an age, however distant from ours, once existed, in which the
ancestors of these nations had a distinct perception of the force denoted by
each of their primitive sounds, and when they regarded that import as
marked by nature itself."
164 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
in English. A few examples, which will be given in the sequel,
will illustrate more clearly the important functions performed by
the vowels in the Welsh tongue. And it may be proper here to
repeat, that their remarkable discrimination of time, action, and
position pervades all their combinations with other elementary
sounds. And, although this quality may be too subtile for com
mon perception in the more complex words, it is plainly discern-,
ible in the simple union of two or three primary articulations.
Thus, to give one example, out of many, of what is here meant,
a, as already observed, denotes, abstractedly, action or continuity,
ta, one of its most simple combinations, the faculty of expanding
or continuing, and tart, composed of ta and an, is the Welsh
word for fire, the most powerful expanding agent in nature.
Such is the principle,—and it may be extended through many
combinations,—upon which the Welsh language is generally con
structed. And it ma.y, perhaps, be safely concluded, that it was
also the manner, in which man originally adapted the elementary
sounds, with which nature had supplied him, to the progressive
increase of his ideas *.
What has just been submitted with respect to the particular,
force of the vowels in the Welsh tongue, as expressive of simple
ideas, may appear to many, for reasons already stated, fanciful
and unsatisfactory. But enough, it is hoped, has been said to
produce a general conviction, that the feature, thus claimed for
the language of Wales, is unknown, in the same degree, to all
others in Europe. In these latter, unquestionably, the vowels
have important parts to perform ; but in none do they retain so
obviously that distinct and individual character, which they pos
sess in the Welsh tongue, and which must have been singularly
observable in the original speech of mankind. Yet, as these
vowel sounds form the most natural and consequently the most
subtile elements of human articulation, we cannot wonder to find,
* In a recent Publication, entitled Obscervations introductory to a Work on
English Etymology, there are, amongst some matter of an exceptionable
character, a few very appropriate remarks on radical or elementary sounds.
The following, in particular, deserves to be here quoted :—" Radical words,
like all primitive faculties, aie few in number, and simple; but, commen-
surately with the piogress of human attainments, their combinations admit
of unlimited extension. It is thus in some degree with the modulations of
music. The gamut contains only seven fundamental notes ; and yet on
this confined scale depend the whole powers o1 melody and harmony." P. 37.
This very just remark corresponds with one of M. De Gebtliu, given in the
Third Number.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 165
that they have been more exposed than others to the innovating
corruptions of time. Accordingly we perceive this, as already
observed, to be the case even in the language of the Cymry,
although what it still preserves of their primitive functions bears
abundant testimony to the antiquity of its structure *.
From vowels the natural transition is to their most simple
combinations, either as dipthongs or when united to a consonant.
And these form the great mass of those elementary articula
tions, of which a general view was taken in the former Essay.
These sounds, undoubtedly, appertain, in a greater or less pro
portion, to all modern languages ; but in the Welsh alone, or, at
most, in those dialects, which are called Celtic, do they seem to
retain, in any considerable degree, their original properties f.
Thus such simple combinations, as aw, ew, ia, ivy, yw, en, el, yd,
bu, cm, hi, pi, ty are in most tongues wholly insignificant,
while in the Welsh they have not only a precise meaning, when
used independently, but preserve it, for the most part, in the nu
merous words, in which they are incorporated. For instance,
aw, which denotes, abstractedly, what is endued with motion or
fluidity, is accordingly the name for water, the primary repre
sentative of such a principle. And hence it enters into the com
position of many terms, that are physically or morally indicative
of the same quality. Such are, amongst others, awdl, a flowing
of the imagination, or an ode ; aicel, a gale, or current of air ;
awen, poetical genius ; awon, a flowing of waters ; awyr, the
air; alaw\, instrumental music ; anaw, vocal music; cawad, a
* The author of the work, cited in the last note, thus expresses himself
with reference to the primitive functions of vowels :—" The vowels, being
the most simple sounds, were probably first employed in speech, as expres
sive of some disposition, tendency, or procedure, wbich the consonants
served afterwards to accelerate, modify, or arrest." P. 39. —This is pre
cisely the manner, in which they still operate on the general mechanism of
, tie Welsh tongue.
f According to an interesting Comparative Scale, made by Mr. W. O.
Pughe, of the elementary sounds to be found in ancient and modern lan
guages, the English retains only 3S, the German 31, and the French 39.
The Latin he estimates at 45, the Hebrew at 65, the Persian at 122, and
the Arabic at 148 : the Welsh, as before stated, he estimates at 213. But,
with respect to the Hebrew, it should not be forgotten, that its imperfect
remains preclude a satisfactory view of its elementary character. Of the
65 elements, still preserved in it, about 30 have an identity of functions and
signification with those in Welsh. The Arabic has 63, and the Persian 61,
agreeing in the same manner.
% Alaw is also the name of sevcjal rivers in Wales.
166 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
shower ; gwlaw, rain ; and iawd, a season. It may likewise be
mentioned, that awg was the ancient, and is still the proper, ter
mination to adjectives denoting the abundance of any particular
quality. Upon the same invariable principle ia, which, in its
abstract sense, is expressive of any thing slippery or apt to
glide, is also the term for ice. lack, by the same rule, is a stem
and a pedigree ; idd, the side of the face ; iden, a sheet of ice ;
and id/, clear, open, and fair. Thus wy implies abstractedly
what is produced, and is likewise the common denomination for an
egg. Hence a variety of words, representative of this general
idea, introduce this sound into their composition, examples of
which may be seen in ivyI, a gushing out or wailing ; wyr, a
grandchild ; i, wy, a stream ; gwydd, young trees or shrubs ; and
rhwy, an excess.
It would be impossible, within the limits, to which this Essay
must be confined, to enumerate all the instances, that may be
adduced of this prominent faculty of the Welsh tongue. Such,
as have been above noticed, may serve to point out the general
rule, which, however, is capable of a very copious and satisfac
tory illustration. For the present it must suffice to remark, that
this characteristic feature forms the basis of that system, upon
which the Welsh tongue is constructed. The combination of its
elements, in so many various ways and to a boundless extent,
becomes an inexhaustible source of energy, copiousness, and
poetical flexibility. Hence too the certainty, with which etymo
logical researches are attended in this language more particularly
than in any other. An accurate knowlege of the principles of
its formation enables us at once to trace its various analogies,
and to detect its most hidden meanings. Thus awen, poetical
genius, u found to signify, literally, a flowing essence, as its
two elements indicate ; and enaid, the soul, is, by the same rule,
discovered to be the essence of life. Nor would it be easy
to find names more philosophically descriptive of their peculiar
qualities. Indeed to the prevalence of this feature, of a nature
so simple, it must be ascribed, that the language is more remark
able for its philosophical accuracy than for any boldness of me
taphorical expression.
It may now be proper to offer some illustration of the functions
performed by the elementary sounds, as was promised in the
earlier part of these observations. In the former Essay on this
subject it was stated, that nearly eighty primary articulations pos
sessed in Welsh an individual and defined sense, independently
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 167
of their abstract meaning when employed in composition. The
few examples, that follow, will exemplify that remark, as well at
those others, that have been here offered, and may also supply
no faint notion of the primitive simplicity of the language, to
which they belong.
E a o ei le. He goes out of his plnce.
A ei di i V ty ? Wilt thou go to the house ?
I ba le yr ei de ? To what place wilt thou go ?
Af i do y ty. I will go to the roof of the house.
Ai da i ti, a fo da i mi ? Is it good for thee, that may be
good for me ?
Ti a ei er dij Iw. Thou wilt go for the sake of thy oath.
Cu yw hi i mi ac i ti. Dear is she to me and to thee.
The preceding sounds, it will be acknowleged, are some of the
most simple, that the human voice is capable of pronouncing, and
are, as these instances prove, of daily use in the Welsh tongue, in
which alone perhaps the greatest proportion of them are thus ap
propriated to any distinct ideas. The following passage from
Coll GwTNFa, taken almost at random, will still farther illustrate
the frequent occurrence, in an individual capacity, of such ele
mentary symbols as the foregoing :
" Py waeth pa le, os yr
Un fath wyf fi, ac iawn fy mod, ac oil
Ond llai nag efe taranau a wnaent mwy * ?"
In this extract there are but four and twenty words, and of these
one half are mere elementary sounds, and almost all the re
mainder consist of the simplest and most natural combinations.
Numberless instances might be selected from Coll Gwynfa of
this singular property of the Welsh language.
From what has been now hazarded, however inadequate to the
interesting nature of the subject, it cannot but be apparent, that
there exists in the mechanism of the Welsh tongue much matter
for curious and learned speculation. The remarkable phenomena,
which it displays in its structure, and especially in the foundation,
on which it essentially rests, are of a character to fix the atten-
* Coll Gwynfa, p. 10, 1. 273. The corresponding passage in Eng
lish is,
" What matter where, if I be still the same,
And what I should be, all but less than he,
Whom thunder hath made greater ?"
Paradise Lost, B. i. 1. 258.
168 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
tion, and to stimulate the inquiry of the philologist. By a candid
examination of these characteristics he would be led to confess,
that they form a peculiar and prominent feature in the ancient
language of Wales, and one, which no other European tongue,
that does not form a part of the Celtic family, evinces in any
perceptible degree. And, if he should also be of opinion, with
the writer of this essay, that the simple elements, of which he has
spoken, belonged to the original speech of the world, he would
concede to that of the Cymry, as a necessary conclusion, the pu
rity and antiquity, for which its advocates have ever contended.
At least he would not, as some have done, impute its high claims
in this respect either to the reveries of a visionary, or to the illu
sions of an enthusiast.
y
THE TRIADS.—No. V.
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN*.
xx. The three Primary Tribes of the nation of the Cymry :
the Gwentians, or the men of Essyllwg ; the Gwyndydians, or
the men of Gwynedd and Powys ; and the tribe of Pendaran
Dyved, which comprehend the men of Dyved, and Gwyr, and
Caredigion. • And to each of them belongs a peculiar dialect of
the Welsh.
[Gwent, in its strict application, was the present county of
Monmouth, divided into Uwchgoed and Isgoed, or above the
wood and below the wood, having Caerwent, or Venta Silurum,
for its capital. Essyllwg or Essyllwyr was a more general ap
pellation, and was the Siluria of the Romans —Gwyndyd is ano
ther name for Gwynedd, only varied in the termination, and
used in a more extensive sense, like Venedotia. The Romans
comprehended the Gwyndydians in the more general name of
Ordovices.—Dyved, Gwyr, and Caredigion are Dimetia Proper,
or Pembrokeshire, Gower, and Cardiganshire. Pendaran was a
peculiar title of the Prince of Dyved, and is so used in the
Mabinogion.]
xxI. The three Sovereigns by vote of the Isle of Britain : first,
Caswallawn, the son of Lludd, son of Beli, son of Mynogan.
* Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 61. Tr. 16—SO.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 169
Second, Caradawg, the son of Bran, son of Llyr Llediaith.
Third, Owain, the son of Macsen Wledig : that is, sovereignty-
was assigned to them by the voice of the country and people,
when at the time they were not elders.
[We have the testimony of Caesar, that Cassivellaunus or
Caswallawn was thus elected. See Bell. G.all. l. 5, c. 9.—
Caradawg, here mentioned, was the celebrated Caractacus, who
so gallantly opposed the Roman power in the time of the
Emperor Claudius. Tacitus describes him as one, " quern multa
" ambigua, multa prospera extulerant, ut caeteros Britannorum
" imperatores praemineret."—Annal. 1. 12, c. 33. He is farther
noticed in the Triads as one of the " three good persecutors of
the Isle of Britain," on account of his long and successful annoy
ance of the Romans.—Llediaith, applied in this Triad to Llyr,
implies one of imperfect or barbarous speech, which was proba
bly some peculiarity caused by his intercourse with the Romans.
There may be some doubt, whether Macsen Wledig was Maxi-
mus or Maxentius. His son Owain had a dignified rank in the
British History, but he is not to be found in the Roman.]
xxn. The three Holy Families of the Isle of Britain : the
family of Bran the Blessed, the son of Llyr Llediaith, who was
that Bran, who brought the faith in Christ first into this island
from Rome, where he was in prison, through the treachery of
Aregwedd Voeddawg, the daughter of Avarwy, the son of
Lludd. Second, the family of Cunedda Wledig, which first
granted land and privilege to God and the saints in the Isle of
Britain. The third was Brychan Brycheiniawg, who educated
his children and grand-children in learning and generosity, so as
to enable them to show the faith in Christ to the nation of the
Cymry, where they were without faith.
[Bran was the father of Caradawg or Caractacus, mentioned
in the preceding Triad, and, upon the defeat of his son by the
Roman General Ostorius, he and his family accompanied him as
hostages to Rome. It is not improbable, therefore, that, upon
his return to Britain, he may have had the glory of first intro- >
ducing Christianity into this island. Aregwedd Voeddawg was
the Boadicia of the Romans. She has also been thought to be the
same with Caitismandua, mentioned by Tacitus, as queen of
the Brigantes; but there appears no affinity between the names.
Cunedda was a chieftain of the North Britons, probably during
the fifth century, when he is said to have retired to Wales with
his children, in consequence of the incursions of the Saxons.—
Vol. I. Z
170 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Brychan also lived during the fifth century, and was one of the
supreme sovereigns of Ireland. He came with his family to Wales,
and settled in Garth Madryn, which from him was afterwards
called Brycheiniawg, whence the name of the present Brecnock-
shire. His children are said to have been four-and-twenty in
number: he died about A. D. 450.]
xxih. The three Guests of Benign Presence of the Isle of Bri
tain : Dewi, Padarn, and Teilaw. They were so called, because
they went as guests into the houses of the noble, the yeoman, the
native and the stranger, without accepting either gift, or reward,
or victuals, or drink ; but what they did was the teaching of the
faith in Christ to every one, without pay or thanks ; besides, to
the poor and the needy they gave gifts of their gold and their
silver, their raiment and their provisions.
[Dewi, mentioned in this Triad, is the same personage with the
celebrated St. David, though many particulars are introduced into
the popular account of the Saint, which do not belong to the ge
nuine history. From this, as we find it in the Cambrian Biogra
phy, it appears, that St David, who lived in the fifth century,
was a native of Pembrokeshire, and the son of Sandde ab Cedig
ab Caredig, son of Cunedda Wledig, ofwhom some account has
just been given. St. David was originally Bishop of Caerlleon in
Gwent or Monmouthshire, at that time the metropolitan church of
Wales, a distinction, which, from his interest with Arthur, Sove
reign ofBritain, he procured to be transferred to Mynyw, since
called, from him, Ty Dewi, and, in English, St. David's, to which
place he accordingly removed. St. David is celebrated for having,
about the year 522, in a full Synod, held at Llan Dewi Brevi, in
Cardiganshire, confuted the Pelagian Heresy, at that time pre
valent in the country *, He is said to have died at a patriarchal
age about the year 542, after having exercised his spiritual func
tions for 65 years. And he is described as having united to ex
traordinary knowlege a great share ofpersonal accomplishments f.
He was the founder of several churches in South Wales; where
there ar» nineteen, that were originally dedicated to this Saint,
besides those, that have, in later times, adopted his name. St.
David is farther recorded in the Triads as Primate of the Welsh
Church during the sovereignty of Arthur, and also as one of the
* See Camden's Britannia, Gibson's Edition, p. 641—643.
f See the " History of Pembrokeshire," in the Cambrian Register,
vol. ii. p. 203.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 171
three canonized Saints of Britain.—Padarn and Teilaw were also
Bishops and cotemporaries of St. David, and, with him, have ever
been considered as among the most distinguished Saints of Wales.
There are several churches in South Wales dedicated to both of
them. Padarn, who came over from Llydaw (Armorica) with
Cadvan, first instituted the collegiate church of Llanbadarn Vawr ;
and Teilaw was the founder of the college of Llandav, afterwards
converted into a Bishoprick, and which the Welsh still call
" Esgobaeth Teilo."]
xxrv. The three Treacherous Meetings of the Isle of Britain.
The meeting of Avarwy, the son of Lludd, with the disloyal
men, who gave space for landing to the men of Rome in the
Narrow Green Point, and not more, and the consequence of which
was the gaining of the Isle of Britain by the men of Rome. Se
cond, the meeting of the principal men of the Cymry and the
Saxon claimants on the mountain of Caer Caradawg, where the
Plot of the Long Knives took place, through the treachery of
Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenau ; that is, through his counsel, in league
with the Saxons, the nobility of the Cymry were nearly all slain
there. Third, the meeting of Medrawd and Iddawg Corn Pryd-
ain with their men in Nanhwynain, where they plotted treachery
against Arthur, and consequently strength to the Saxons in the
Isle of Britain.
[The first event, recorded in this Triad, is confirmed in a sin
gular manner by Caesar, in the account he gives of his second
landing on this island. The Narrow Green Point, here mentioned,
was in the Isle of Thanet. Caesar indeed attributes the want of
opposition, which he experienced on this occasion, to the fear ex
cited by the multitude of his vessels and the formidable character
of his armament * ; but it is quite as probable, that it was owing to
such a cause, as is commemorated in this Triad. Avarwy, or
Avarddwy Bras, as he was also called, was, no doubt, thatMandti-
bratius, a chief of the Trinobantes, whom Caesar expressly notices
as having deseued the Britons and come over to him in Gaul
some time before his second invasion, a circumstance that well
accords with the narration here given of his treacherous conduct.
The cause, assigned by the Roman historian for this act of Man-
dubratius, is the murder of his father by Caswallawn or Cassivel-
launus f. Avarwy is also recorded in the Triads as one of the
three disgraceful men of Britain.—The Plot of the Long Knives,
* Pell. Ga!l. 1. 5. c. 8. f W. ibid.
172 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
or Ttcyll y Cyllyll Hirion, to which allusion is here made, is suf
ficiently known from other sources. It took place about the year
472, when Hengist, having invited the British chiefs to a confe
rence on Salisbury Plain, caused them all to be treacherously as
sassinated. This sanguinary deed is generally supposed to have
been perpetrated within or near the celebrated structure of Stone-
henge. Cuhelyn, a bard of the sixth century, is said to have writ
ten a poem expressly on Hengist's Massacre : and Taliesin has
been thought to allude to it in his Song on the Sons of Llyr *. A
custom is still retained in Wales of kindling fires ( Coelcerthi) on
November eve as a traditional memorial of this plot, though the
practice is of older date, and had reference originally to the Albert
Elved, or New Year. And it may have been at the celebration
of this festival, or of some similar one, that Hengist's treacherous
assembly was holden f.—Medrawd, who lived in the sixth cen
tury, is recorded in several Triads for this act of baseness. It
was his usurpation of the sovereign power in the time of Arthur,
and his confederacy with the Saxons, that occasioned the battle
of Camlan, in 542. Iddawg Corn Prydain, who conspired with
Medrawd in this treacherous action, afterwards embraced a reli
gious life ; and his name is to be seen in the Catalogue of thtt
Welsh Saints t.]
TRIADS OF WISDOM || .
xxxi- Three things which contribute to form a right judgment
and a just judge : study, forbearance, and comprehension of
what is under investigation.
xxxiI. The three characteristics of wisdom : prudence, equity,
and tranquillity derived from amenity.
xxxm. The three primary qualities of goodness : to speak the
truth, in spite of every thing, to love every good, and to suffer
with fortitude for all truth and all good.
xxxiv. Three things, for which there needs be no concern
that they shall not be obtained by loving what is right in every
thing and by doing it : love, fame, and wealth.
xxxv. From three things proceeds art: understanding, me
mory, and practice.
* Arch, of Wales, vol. i. p. 66.
.). In the Chronicle of Tysilio the Conference is said to have taken place
on May-Day, which was the time of the great Druidical Meeting.
J See Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 45, where he is called lddew.
|| Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. SOS. •
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 173
xxxvI. Three things which express better than the tongue
what is in a man : his hand, his eye, and his anxiety.
-xxxviI. Three things very proper to be possessed of before
the uttering of what may be false : a strong faculty of sense to
invent, good memory to guard against the contradicting of what
has been said beforehand, and a simpleton to listen to what may
be uttered.
xxxvhI. There are three awkward things, which, when seen,
render every thing else awkward in body and mind : the foot,
the hand, and the tongue.
xxxix. Three things which accompany every good, that shall
be done : worldly emolument, respect and honour from the wise,
and joy of conscience.
xl. The three branches of the duty of man : devotion towards
God, benevolence to his fellow-creature, and the improvement
of sciences.
WELSH MUSIC—No. 1Y.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—I come now to one of the most popular airs in Wales,
namely, " Codiad yr Hedydd," or The Rising of the Lark.—
This is the melody, which the great Haydn admired so much.
More stanzas have been written to this tune, perhaps, than to
any other. Some, in praise of the fair maids of Merionethshire,
are exceedingly beautiful, many of which may be found in
Jones's Relics of the Bards. The mode of singing them with the
harp is peculiar :—the minstrel plays two bars, or measures of
the airs, when the singer takes the subject up and sings two
lines ;—the first strain is repeated, and two lines more are sung,
then the whole of the second part is sung, which takes up six
lines.—The following imitation of Welsh rhythm will give the
English reader an idea of the style of these stanzas :—
" Fair Cambria mourns the happy days *,
When bardic lays inspired,
When minstrels struck the trembling strings,
And noble kings admired ;
* The laudable exertions of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Prin
cipality, iu forming Societies for the promotion of Welsh Literature, will
jaaake Cambria smile again.
174 THE CAMBRO-BRITOtf.
And heroes bold, of ancient blood,
For Cambria's good expired I"
The melody, next in rotation, is one of the most plaintive
strains, that was ever composed, " Dafydd y Gareg Wen," or
David of the White Stone House.—This air is in a minor key,
and the tradition is, that a Bard of this name, being on his death
bed, called for his harp and composed it, and he desired it might
be performed at his funeral. The words in the selection before
me commence thus :—
" Sweet solace of my dying hour,
• ' Ere yet my arm forget its pow'r,
Give to my fault'-ring hand my shell,
One strain to bid the world farewel."
A languid variation in common time follows the melody (which
is in J time,) with the most beautiful effect, and which no lover
of national simplicity can hear without being affected.
" Blodau'r Griig," The Flowers of the Heath, is a very lively
tune, with a great deal of character about it ; yet it is but rarely
sung in Wales, owing, I imagine, to the measure not being well
adapted to the Pennillion. The melody however is very pretty,
and calculated to please the general hearer.
" Rhyfelgyrch Cadpen Morgan," Captain Morgan's March. •
This is a fine bold air, and greatly admired, both in England
and Wales. The following lines, with a little alteration as to
name, &c. may be applied with great propriety to the founders
of the Cambrian Society.
" But now a Prince ascends the throne,
Who makes the Bardic cause his own ;
A thousand harps in concert rise,
And Tudor's name salutes the skies."
Fide Welsh Melodies, p. 24.
A song, to this air, written in Welsh by the author of this
article, in praise of the Welsh Charity School, was sung at the
festivals on St. David's Day, 1803 and 1804, accompanied by
the Band of the Royal Denbighshire Militia.
" Y Stwffwl," The Door Clapper. I am sorry, that such a
sweet air, as this is, should have such an unmusical name. It is
called in many parts of Wales The withered Leaf. The words
in this selection commence thus :
" Sure form of frail beauty that bloom'd for a while,
And bade for a season the green forest smile :
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 175
Ah ! well may'st thou shrink from the pitiless blast,
And pine for the days that forever are past."
I reman your humble servant,
Dec. 8, 1819. John Parry.
P. S. I take this opportunity to observe, that the original
Welsh name of the popular air, called " Of noble Race was
Shenkin," is " Y Gadlys," or The Camp Palace.
ORIGINAL LETTERS.
LETTER VI.
Bishop Percy to the Rev. Evan Evans ; dated Easton Maudit,
October 15, 1761.
Rev. Sir,—That I have so long defer'd answering your very
obliging letter has been altogether owing to the following cause.
I proposed sending you a Saxon ode, accompanied with a Latin
literal and an English free version ; the former done by my very
learned friend Mr. Lye, from out of whose curious collections I
transcribed both it and the original. But, having left it with him
to give it a revise, he has unfortunately mislaid both the original
and copy, so that, although he has for this month past occasionally
endeavour'd to recover them, he has not been able to succeed.
As soon as they emerge from the immense ocean of his papers,
you may depend upon receiving this curious specimen of Saxon
poetry. In the mean time I would not defer any longer returning
you thanks for the curious and valuable contents of your letter. I
admire your Welsh ode very much ; it contains a large portion of
the sublime. The images are very bold and animated, and poured
forth with such rapidity, as argues an uncommon warmth of ima
gination in the bard, whose mind seems to have been so filled with
his subject, and the several scenes of the war appear to have
so crowded in upon him, that he has not leisure to mark the tran
sitions with that cool accuracy, which a feebler genius would have
been careful to have done. It is one continued fiery torrent of
poetic flame, which, like the eruptions of .ffitna, bears down all
opposition *.
* This Ode is one of those addressed by Gwalchmai to Owain Gwynedd,
and is more remarkable for the character beie given it, than any other
perhaps to be found in any language. It is printed in the Arch, of Wales,
vol. i. p. 167.—Ed.
176 THE CAMBRO-BR1TON.
You must pardon me if I think your critical friend quite mis
taken in his remarks on this ode. He confounds two species of
poetry as distinct and different as black and white. Epic poetry
delights in circumstance, and it is only in proportion as it is cir
cumstantial that it has merit ; the very essence of it (as its name
implies) is narration. So a narrative, devoid of all circumstances,
must be very jejune, confused, and unsatisfactory. But here lies
the great art of the epic poet,—that he can be minute and cir
cumstantial without descending from the sublime, or exciting other,
than grand and noble ideas. Thus, when Homer describes the
stone, which Diomede threw at jEneas, had he only told us in ge
neral terms, that it was a large stone,
———— O Ss %£pfJ.OL$lOV Ast?£ Xe'Pl
i '"' TvSnSrjc, p-eya spyov,
had he stopped here, as many an inferior poet would have done,
should we have had so great an idea of the hero's strength or vi
gour, as when he adds the following particular and striking cir
cumstances ?
O ov Suoj y avSpe Qspoiev,
Oioi yvv Pporot ettr. o Ss jxiv psa rfixXXs xcct owe
Iliad E. l. 304.
On the other hand, it is the essence of ode to neglect circum
stance, being more confin'd in its plan, and having the sublime
equally for its object. In order to attain this, it is obliged to deal
in general terms, to give only such hints as will forcibly strike the
imagination, from which we may infer the particulars ourselves. It
is no demerit or disparagement in your bard to have neglected the
minute circumstances of the battle, because it would have been
impossible for him to have described them within the narrow limits
of his ode. Here lies his great merit, that the hints, he drops, and
the images, he throws out, supply the absence of a more minute
detail, and excite as grand ideas as the best description could have
done. And so fer I agree with your critical friend, that no poet
ever hit upon a grander image than that of " A Menai heb drai o
drallamc," &c., nor could take a nobler method to excite our
admiration at the prodigious cause of so amazing an effect. So
much for criticism.
Soon after I received your letter I was down at Cambridge,
where I had the good fortune to meet with Mr. Gray, the poet,
and spent an afternoon with him at his chambers. Our discourse
turned on you and the Welsh poetry : I shewed him your letter,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 177
and he desired leave to transcribe the passage relating to King
Edward's massacre of the Welsh bards. All the authority he had
before, it seems, was only a short hint in Carte's history : he
seemed very glad of this authentic extract *. We both join'd in
wishing a speedy conclusion to your historical labours, that you
might be at leisure to enter upon this far more noble field of an
cient British poetry. Excuse me if I think the recovery of par
ticular facts from oblivion, any further than as they contribute to
throw light upon compositions, not half of so much consequence to
the world, as to recover the compositions themselves.
Your nation and ours are now happily consolidated in one firm
indissoluble mass, and it is of very little importance, whether
Llewelyn or Edward had the advantage in such a particular
encounter. At least very few (even learned and inquisitive
readers) will interest themselves in such an enquiry,—whereas
the productions of genius, let them come from what quarter they
will, are sure to attract the attention of all. Every reader of
taste, of whatever country or faction, listens with pleasure, and
forms a higher or meaner opinion of any people, in proportion
as they are affected by this exertion of their intellectual powers.
To give an instance, that is parallel to your own case, the Danes
and Swedes have, for this century past, been rescuing their ancient
writings from oblivion ; they have printed off their Icelandic His
tories, and collected what they could of their ancient Runic
Poems f. The latter have attracted the attention of all Europe ;
while the former are no otherwise regarded, than as they contri
bute to throw light on the latter. A very celebrated Frenchman
has lately translated some curious specimens of them into his own
language ; and Mr. Dodsley will soon print a curious Spicilegium
of the same kind in English, of which I will procure a copy and
send you when printed off. But who will be at the pains (except
a few northern antiquaries) to give a careful perusal to the other ?
I have this moment a voluminous corpus of them (lately borrowed)
before me. Even curious and inquisitive, as you are yourself,
into historical facts, let me ask you if you would be willing to
read 800 pages folio, in a barbarous literal Latin version, con-
the exploits of King Haquin Sarli ; the mighty achieve-
'"ihoi-finne Harlecefni, and of twenty other valiant bar-
# See note on p. 135 of the list Number of the Cambro-Britox.—TCd.
•f- The Icelandic Language, i e. the language, preserved still in Iceland,
is the mother of the Swedish and Danish tongue, just as the Saxon is of
the English. The Icelandic Poems are called Runic, from the particular
metre and characters in which they were written.
Vol, I, 2 A
178 THE CAMBRO-BR1TON.
barians ? Yet, when you come to read the native undenied poetic
descriptions of the ancient Runic Bards, their forcible images,
their strong paintings, their curious display of ancient manners,
I defy the most torpid reader not to be animated and affected ;
and then we are content to make some enquiry after the history
of these savage heroes, that we may understand the songs, of
which they are the subjects. In like manner, with regard to
your own Owain Gwynedd, without intending the least disre
spect to so valiant a prince, I believe few readers will desire to
know any further of his histdry, than as it will serve for a com
ment to Gwalchmai's very sublime and animated Ode *. After all,
I would not have any historical monuments perish, or be totally
neglected. They may come into use upon a thousand occasions,
that we can not at present foresee, and therefore I am glad, that
the northern nations have been careful to secure even the above
(to us uninteresting) narratives from destruction. And I should
be very glad to have the same care taken of those of the ancient
Britons. But I think the first care is due to these noble remains
of ancient genius, which are in so much greater danger of perish
ing, because so much harder to be understood.
How strongly is our curiosity excited by the mention you make
(in your letter to Mr. Williams,) of the Epic Poem, written in
A.D. 578 f, and the other works of Aneurin Gwawdrydd. What
a noble field for literary application to rescue such a fine monu
ment of antiquity from oblivion; to which every revolving year
of delay will most certainly consign it, till it is lost for ever !
Htc Labor, hoc opus. I hope, Dear Sir, you will take in good
part the freedom, with which I have ventured to advise you on a
subject, of which you are so much a better judge than myself;
but my zeal, though it may be blind, is well meant. I would
fain excite you to direct that application, which you so laudably
bestow on your ancient language, in such a manner as may be
most profitable to yourself, and most reputable to your country.
Macpherson goes on furiously in picking up subscriptions for
his proposed Translation of the ancient Epic Poem in the Erse
Language; though hardly one reader in ten believes the speci
mens produced to be genuine. Much greater attention would be
due to an editor, who rescues the original itself from oblivion,
and fixes its meaning by an accurate version. I entirely agree
with you, that a Latin version, as literal as possible, should aceona-
i * Thi« remark cannot be supposed to apply to Welshmen, who take any
interest in the past fame of their country.—Vo.
f See Camsro-Biutom, Ko. 3, p. 93.—Ed.
i
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 179
pany such ancient pieces, but then I would also have you subjoin
at the same time a liberal 'English translation. By this means your
book will take in all readers, both the learned and the superficial.
This method of publication has been attended with great success
among the northern nations, where all their Runic Pieces have
been confronted both with a literal version in Latin, and a more
spirited one in the modern languages either of Sweden or Den
mark. Were you to endeavour to collect into a corpus all the
remains of your ancient poetry, and print it by subscription
begun among your own countrymen, and warmly recommended
by them to us,, it would certainly pay well, and be a very valu
able present to the public ; but then you ought to send forth a
few select pieces into the world, previous to such an undertaking,
to bespeak the good opinion of mankind, and this, whenever
you please to execute it, shall be attended with my warmest
services. In the mean time I hope you will continue to favour
me with specimens of your ancient poetry as often as your
leisure will permit ; and, if any thing else that is curious should
occur in the course of your studies, you will confer a great plea
sure by imparting it to,
Dear Sir, your very faithful and obedient servant,
Thomas Percy.
N. B. I shall defer sending a specimen of Runic Poetry till I
send you the whole collection printed, which you may depend
on. May I hope to see your Latin Essay on British Poetry ?
TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
—»e*—
PARISH OF MOLD, FLINTSHIRE.
[Continued from the last Number.']
Population and Parochial Concerns.—There are few
parts of North Wales more populous than the parish of Mold.
Abounding, as it does, in mineral works, and containing besides
several manufactories, it necessarily provides considerable em
ployment for the labouring classes. According to the estimate,
made under the Population Act in 1811, the number of houses
in this parish, including the chapel ries of Nerquis andTreuddyn,
amounted to 1209, and the population to G059. And since
that period, it is probable, a considerable increase has taken
place. The following is a comparative scale of the number of
births and deaths in the parish during the three under-mentioned
180 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
years, and by which it will be seen, that the former have ex
ceeded the latter by an average of more more than one hundred
in every year :—
1816. 1817. 1818. Total
Births . . . 228 215 227 670
Deaths . . . 132 92 139 363
96 123 88 307*
The superintendence of the poor in the eleven townhips, that
constitute the parish independently of Nerquis and Treuddyn, is
committed to a General Overseer, whose weekly list at this time
contains about 210 paupers, besides those occasionally relieved,
to the average of 200 more. In Nerquis, which is also under the
management of a General Overseer, the regular list is about 25,
and the occasional poor about 18 : in Treuddyn the correspond
ing numbers are 32 and 20. Thus all the paupers, regularly and
occasionally relieved within the parish, are about five hundred. To
support these the annual rates, now levied upon the respective por
tions of the parish, are as underneath: Mold about £2,600,
Nerquis ,£375, and Treuddyn '£447, making an aggregate of
more than three thousand four hundred pounds. In 1803 the
poor-rates of this parish did not amount to two thousand pounds,
which shews an increase of fifteen hundred pounds in somewhat
more than fifteen years. This augmentation may be ascribed, in
part, to the general distress of the period, to which it refers, and m
part, perhaps, to tlie decrease of employment for the poor during
the latter portion of that period, and especially in the mineral
works.—There are two endowed schools in this parish, one in the
town of Mold, and the other in Nerquis. The Rev. Evan Jones,
officiating Curate ofTreuddyn, is at present Master of the former,
the endowment of which is c£19 7*. 6d. The Bishop of St. Asaph
and the Vicar of Mold are the Trustees. The annuai salary, at
tached to the school at Nerquis, is '£25 ; and Sir W. W. Wynn
and the Rev. H. W. Eyton are Trustees.
Natural History.—The climate of this parish may be con
sidered in general salubrious, if any inference can be drawn on
the subject from the disproportion between the births and burials
* From 16 IS to 1622 inclusive, a space of five years, the average annual
excess of the births over the burials in this parish was qnly 16. From 1718
to 1727, a period of tea years, the same excess was no more than one. But,
from 17S7 to 1796, also ten years, this disproportion had increased to 57.
During this latter period the population Of this' parish was about 3650.
THE CA.UBRO-BRITON. 181
above noticed. And some farther proof of this fact may be de
duced from several instances of longevity, to be found in the Re
gisters*. However, the air is, for the most part, cold and keen,
and especially towards the north and west, which may be owing
to the more bleak and exposed situation, particularly from a defi
ciency of woodland, of those sides of the parish when compared
with the other parts of it.—In the Natural History of this parish its
mineral features occupy a prominent place. The surface is, in a
great degree, calcareous, a limestone range running through the
whole of the western part of the parish. The mineral products, in
which it chiefly abounds, are lead and coal, of which a more parti
cular account will be given in speaking of the mines now worked.
It may suffice to say here, in general terms, that the western and
northern districts appear to be strongly impregnated with lead
ore, imbedded, for the .most part, in limestone or chert. A north
vein ofgalcena, or potters' ore, as it is usually called, runs through
this parish, the nature of which is to break through every other
vein in its course, without being itself deranged by any. On this
account miners have given it the familiar and characteristic ap
pellation of gallop-hell vein. Coal is found in great abundance
in the eastern and southern parts of the parish, and in the latter
that description of it, which is called cannel. Mr. Edward Llwyd,
in his " Additions to Flintshire" in Camden's Britannia f, give*
an account of some curious fossil plants or mineral leaves, that
were discovered about a century ago, in digging a coal pit in the
township of Leeswood. They were found in the black slate or
slag, which immediately covers the coal ; and Mr. Llwyd observes,
that, " when such mock plants were found, miners were apt to
conclude the coal not far off." The same learned naturalist and
antiquary, in a letter addressed to Dr. R. Richardson, dated
Denbigh, July 3, 1699, communicates some interesting particu
lars of a bed of muscles discovered in this parish. The following
is the account in the writer's own words :—" Nothing has of late
occurred to us equal to those notable observations in yours.
At Holywell they assured me, that about twenty years since
some miners had found a living toad in a solid lump of ore ;
and a few miles further a Derbyshire man, who knew nothing
* From the 9th Jannar}' 1736 to the 15th February following ten personi
were buried, whose ages, united, amounted to 75.5, an average of seventy-
five years and a half.
f Gibson's Edition, p. 692,
182 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
of this, gave me the like relation of one found in his country.
There was a small cavity of water in that in Flintshire, and
it lived bat a very short time after it came to the air. But I
have one relation of the like nature to communicate, which
is, for aught I know, unparalleled in history. Some workmen,
on the 2?th of May last, digging the foundation of a building, at
two feet deep met with some muscles, which were not only exactly
agreeable 'to those of the sea, as to colour, &c. but being opened,
they found them full of liquor, and the animals alive and fresh in
them. The place, where they were found, was an ordinary dry
gravel near Mold in Flintshire, a small town, distant from the sea
about six miles. Having heard of it, I made what speed I could
to the place, and dug about a foot deeper, but could discover no
snch thing, so, that all, I could do, was only to get the three
workmen present to attest the relation by subscribing their marks,
&c., and they are all very willing to make their oath of it if re
quired *."—Mr. Llwyd proceeds afterwards to defend the pro
bability of this occurrence, and contends, that the muscles might
have been bred in this gravel in the same manner as at sea.—
The only considerable river in this parish is the Alyn, which
takes its rise in Llanarmon, in Denbighshire, about six miles from
the town of Mold, waters the parish on the west, north, and
east, and, after dividing the counties of Flint and Denbigh,
discharges itself into the Dee not far from Marford. A singular
phenomenon, relating to this river, is its disappearance under
ground on the confines of the parish for the distance of about a
mile and a half. In one third of its hidden course it divides the
parish from Llanferres, and, in the remainder, from Cilcen. This
subterraneous stream is supposed to have had a very injurious
effect on the working of some mines in the neighbourhood f.—
The Terrig, which runs through the lower part of this parish, is
remarkable for the rapidity, with which it overflows its banks when
swollen by any sudden accession of rain or snow water. Although
ordinarily no more than a brook, it assumes, on such occasions, the
* The original letter, from which this passage is extracted, is preserved in
the British Museum.
f There are two or three rivers in Wales, that take the name of Tvirch or
Mole probably from some such circumstance, as that above related of
the Alyn. The classical reader will also he reminded of the Arethusa,
which, disappearing in Ells, rose again, according to the mythological ac
count, in the Island of Ortygia, in the Bay of Syracuse. See (htul, 4Ue/.
L 5, fab. 10.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 183
appearance of a large river, inundating, in its course, all the mea
dows in its vicinity, and proving, in harvest time, too often ruinous
to the hopes of the farmer. From the violence of its current it
has obtained the name of Terrig.—In conclusion of this head it
may be mentioned, that within the township of Nerquis there is a
chalybeate spring, which is possessed of very strong mineral pro
perties.
Agriculture and Planting.—It would be difficult to assign
any general character to the agricultural features of this parish.
Tillage in this as in other mining districts has, perhaps, expe
rienced some neglect, although the observation is, by no means, to
be taken in an universal sense. In some parts of the parish, and
particularly in the immediate neighbourhood of the town, the more
favourable nature of the soil has occasioned several exceptions
to this general remark. Experimental farming has been adopted
to a partial extent, both with respect to tillage and breeding, and,
no doubt, with as much success as it commonly produces. Pas
turage may, perhaps, be considered as a prevailing characteristic
of this parish. There are several large farms,—and Gwysaney
may particularly be mentioned,—where cheese is made in great
quantities for the Chester and Liverpool markets. Yet it may
reasonably be doubted whether the quality of the soil and grass is,
in all cases, propitious to the practice. But, be the present state
of agriculture what it may, there can be little doubt of its
receiving a new and beneficial impulse from the Agricultural
Society recently established in the county, provided indeed that
its members do not afford that encouragement to the forcing sys
tem, both with respect to land and cattle, which has, in many
instances, made the utility of such Societies extremely proble
matical.—In the year 1792 an Act was passed for enclosing four
thousand acres of common land in this parish, the allotments of
which were sold at from five to eight pounds per acre. The
greatest part of this waste has since been brought into cultivation,
or converted to the purposes of planting. In the year 1796 the
crops were sold on some of these allotments at a price, per acre,
of from ten to eleven guineas.—When Mr. Champneys disposed
of his estate in this parish, about fifteen years ago, it was gene
rally sold in small lots, whereby a considerable number of mode
rate freeholds were created, and the convenience and prosperity of
their new owners, no doubt, very materially consulted.—Since the
inclosure of the waste lands considerable attention has been paid
here to planting by one or two spirited individuals. The exten
184 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
sive plantations of Dr. Thackeray, of Chester, deserve particular
notice. He has devoted, in this parish alone, to the planting of
forest trees 159 a. 2 r. 28 p., for which, in conjunction with si
milar patriotic exertions in the counties of Merioneth and Den
bigh, he l as received, at different times, three gold medals from
the London Society " for the encouragement of Arts, Manufac
tures, and Commerce." There is something in the liberal exam
ple, here set to the land-proprietors of Wales, that, while it invites
imitation from the usefulness of its object, acquires an additional
value from the rarity of its occurrence*.
*#* [7o be continued.]
SKETCHES OF SOCIETY.
GWYLLIAID COCHION MAWDDWY ; or THE RED
HEADED BANDITTI OF MAWDDWY.
In the neighbourhood of Dinas Mawddwy, in Merionethshire,
there existed, about the middle of the sixteenth century, a nu
merous horde of robbers, known by the names of " The Red
headed Banditti of Mawddwy," and " The Banditti of the Black
Wood." This horde consisted of a great number of rogues and
profligates from all parts of the kingdom; and so formidable
were they considered, that their depredations were scarcely re-
sistedi and the neighbourhood of their residence was deserted by
all its former inhabitants f.
It would seem, from the stories related of these desperadoes,
that they were an organized body, subordinate to a chief or
leader, and that they acted in every respect in concert with each
other. Not contented with the robbery of the passing traveller,
they levied contributions on the estates of the gentlemen around
them, and drove away whole herds of cattle at noon-day to their
haunts in the woods and mountains above Dinas Mawddwy. Like
the Italian banditti of the present day, a person once in their pos-
* Dr. Thackeray purchased last year in the neighbouring parish of Llan-
armon between 200 and 300 acres of connnou land, which he designs im
mediately to appropriate to the same laudable use.
f Such was the dread the inhabitants experienced of these marauders,
that they actually fixed scythes and other instruments in their chimneys
(some of which art still to be seen), to prevent the descent of these daring
ruffians.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. - 185
session was not liberated without an exorbitant ransom. The
circumstance, which led to their total subversion, displays their
boldness and cruelty in a strong light.
It appears, that the enormities of the Gwylliaid Cochion
Mawddwy had arrived at such a pitch, as to render necessary the
interposition of the most rigorous measures. For this purpose a
commission was granted to John Wynn ab Meredydd, of Gwydir,
and Lewis Owen, Vice-chamberlain of North Wales and one of
the Welsh Exchequer Barons. These two gentlemen raised a
company of men, and on Christmas eve, 1554, succeeded in se
curing, after considerable resistance, nearly a hundred of the rob
bers, on whom they inflicted summary vengeance, hanging them
on the spot, and, as their commission authorised, without any pre
vious trial *.
But there still remained a great body of these outlaws un
broken ; and they resolved to revenge the death of so many of
their gallant comrades. An opportunity soon occurred for the
execution of their plan. They learnt, that Baron Owen would
pass through a wood near their haunts, on his way to the Mont
gomeryshire Assizes ; and they determined to lie in wait for him.
They had previously ascertained the strength of his Lordship's
train, whieh consisted of his kinsman, John Lloyd, and six or se
ven attendants. To render their vengeance still more secure, the
robbers had cut down several trees, and placed them in the road,
so as to block up the passage f. As soon, therefore, as the Baron
came in sight of this fortification, his attendants rode forward, for
the purpose of removing it ; but they were received with a shower
of arrows t, which obliged them to desist, and they immediately
fled, " tarrying no further parlance " with an enemy so terrible.
The banditti now rushed from their hiding places, and attacked
the Baron and his relation on every side. They defended them
selves to the last, and their bodies were found in the road, pierced
with numerous wounds. An act so flagrant called loudly for re-
* There i« a tradition extant, which relates, that the mother of a young
man, who was executed on this occasion, earnestly besought the Baron to
spare his life j but her supplications were refused.—" Then," exclaimed
the enraged mother baring her bosom, " these breasts have nourished
those, who will revenge my sen and wash their hands in the blood of their
kinsman's murderers !"
f This part of the wood is still known by the name of " Llidiart y Barton,"
or the Barou's Gate.
{ The arms of these banditti seem to have been swords, bows and arrow t,
and daggers.
VOL. I. 2 B
186 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
taliation. The most rigorous justice ensued ; and the horde of des
peradoes, who had kept this part of the country so long under con
tribution, were radically extirpated. Many were taken, and suf
fered the penalty of their crimes by the hands of the executioner ;
and others fled the country, and were seen no more.
MARGARET VERCH EVAN.
Of all the females, modern Wales has produced, of a surety
Margaret Verch Evan, who flourished about eight-and-twenty
years ago, near Llanberis, in Caernarvonshire, is the most extra
ordinary. In point of accomplishments, and their practical utility,
few, if any, of the fair sex have excelled this celebrated Cambrian
damsel.
Passionately fond of the joys of the chace, in her cottage were
to be found at all times a selection of the best thorough-bred dogs
in the Principality ; and her selection was not limited to one spe
cies. Greyhounds, beagles, foxhounds, terriers, and even curs of
low degree were to be seen frisking about the cottage, which Mar
garet occupied ; and the gossips of Llanberis affirm to this day,
that she made a more desperate havoc among the hares and foxes
than all the confederate hunts did together. Nor were Megan's
qualifications confined to her dexterity and hardihood as a hunt
ress. She managed a boat with admirable facility ; she could play
on the harp and on the fiddle ; she made shoes, built and repair
ed boats, shod horses, and, at the age of seventy, was the best
wrestler in the county. What will my fair countrywomen say to
this ?
This amazon died, about eight-and-twenty years ago, at the
advanced age of ninety-two, a wonderful example of native
ingenuity, persevering industry, and contented penury.
London, Oct. 20, 1819. T. R.
WELSH TRANSLATIONS.
It has already been mentioned in this work, as a matter of re
gret, that there are but few translations of any note in the Welsh
language. The English abounds in productions, both in verse
and prose, of acknowleged celebrity, and which are not to be
excelled by the works of any other country. And yet, with the
exception of Paradise Lost, hardly one can be named, that has
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 187
been naturalised in our tongue. It may be hoped, however, that
the patriotic example, thus offered by Mr. Pughe, will not be
without its proper effect, unless indeed the despair of rivalling
his success should operate as a discouragement. But in the field
of literature, which is one of generous competition, this ought not
to be the case. In no instance is Emulation more truly the parent
of great deeds ; and she should not be deterred from her object
by any success, however brilliant and apparently matchless. And
let it besides be remembered, that
Non, si priores Maeonius tenet
Sedes Homerus, Pindaricae latent
Ceiaeque et Alcaei minacea,
Stesichorique graves Camoenoe.
These few observations have been suggested by the following
letter, which contains, it will be seen, much judicious remark on
the particular branch of Welsh literature, to which it refers.
There has been, it may be admitted, in the translations, of which
the writer speaks, too great a disregard of the elegance and
even of the idiomatic character of our language, united perhaps
with other inaccuracies of a still more exceptionable nature.
Time seems, however, in these cases, to have given a sanction
even to error; and hence, the faults of the versions, noticed
in the following letter, may have been considered, however
unadvisedly, as beyond the pale of correction. For this reason,—
it is but fair to observe,—the last Editor of the Homilies, who
probably designed no more than a republication, may not strictly
be chargeable with the original sin of the first translator.
With respect to the observation, in the latter part of this let
ter, as to the faults, that are apt to result from an acquaintance
with the literature of past times, it seems to admit of some quali
fication. For there may be a judicious, as well as an affected
imitation of ancient lore. And, while the latter degenerates into
unprofitable pedantry, the former cannot be too highly com
mended, as aiming to enrich the language of the present day from
the fruitful stores of antiquity. And this is a remark, which may
be applied with peculiar force to the Welsh tongue.
* *
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—In your last Number you mentioned the laudable exer
tions of the " Prayer Book and Homily Society," in behalf of
my countrymen. But I am net a little concerned, that they are
not supplied with a better translation of the Homilies. The last
188 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Edition, published by the Rev. J, Roberts, is only arepublication
of the first, with scarcely any improvements. The Homilies
were first translated, as it appears, in the year 1606, by a person,
of whom we know nothing now but his name. Whether he
acted under the sanction of authority or not is what, I have not
been able to ascertain ; the probability is, that , he did not. The
last Editor, to my great surprise, passes a very high eulogium on
this translation, praising it much for its elegance and correctness,
in neither of which, according to my opinion, it by any means
excels, but is in both respects excessively deficient. I have read
it with attention, and it appeared to me not only faulty with re
gard to purity of language and choice of expressions, but at times
so complicated and obscure, as to be altogether unintelligible.
I fear no contradiction when I say, that common readers can no
more understand many, great many, parts of it, than if they were
written in Arabic. And, with respect to correctness, I have
found, upon a comparison with the English, that there are hot a
few both of additions and omissions, which are, it is true, in most
instances not very material, but which still ought not to exist
in a translation of an authorised book like that of the Homilies.
A new translation of the Homilies in my view would be very
desirable. It would be well, if the Welsh Bishops were to fix on
some of the best Welsh scholars for the purpose. This would be
a work of no small benefit to the Principality. A suggestion of
the kind, I. know, would be sufficient for that great promoter of
every thing that is good, the Bishop of St. David's.
But great care should be taken to preserve in the translation an
easy, plain, and forcible style and purely Welsh, otherwise it
would never become popular and extensively useful. There are
two faults, into which few of my countrymen have not fallen in
their writings. Some, versed in the ancient records of our lan-,
guage, have revived too many of its old terms, which common
readers do not understand. Others, not much acquainted with
their mother tongue nor with its peculiar idioms, have adulterated
it with the introduction of foreign words and imitated the con
struction of the English. The last is much the case in the trans-,
lation of the Common Prayer Book : it contains many terms that
are not Welsh ; and in many instances the idiom is purely Eng- .
lish. I might produce many examples in proof of this remark ;
but I must defer doing so for the present.
I shall be obliged to you for giving publicity to the foregoing
observations, Your's,
Carwr iaith ex Fam.
AWEN CYMRU.
A'tk rodd yw athrwydd 4wen. Edm. Pryj.
PENNILLION.
XXXII.
Son y maent ar hyd y dyffi-yn,
Mai fi yw Neb, a chwi yw Rhywun ;
Os ceiff Neb chwi, gwenlliw blodau,
Bydd gwir Rhywun fy nghael innau.
xxxm.
Daccw 'r llong, a 'r hwyliau gwynion,
Ar y mor yn myn'd i 'r Iwerddon :
Duw o 'r nef rho llwydiant iddi,
Ev mwyn fy nghariad i sydd ynddi.
XXXIV.
Geiriau mwyn gan fab a gerais,
Geiriau mwyn gan fab a glywais,
Geiriau mwyn ynt dda tros amser,
On'd y fath a siommodd lawer.
xxxv.
F'anwylyd oedd dy ddau lygedyn ;
Gwn mai arian byw sydd ynddyn' ;
Yn dy ben y maent yn chwareu,
Fal y s6r ar noswaith oleu.
XXXVI.
Serchog iawn yw blodau 'r meusydd,
Serclwg hefyd can a chywydd ;
On'd y serch, sy 'n dwyn rhagoriaelh,
Yw serchogrwydd mewn cym'dogaeth.
xxxvu.
Awel iachus sy 'n mhen Berwyn,
Lie i weled lawer dyfTryn ;
Ac, oni bae y 'Rennig ddiffaith,
Gwelwn wlad fy ngenedigaeth.
xxxvilI.
Mwyn, mwyn, a mwyn yw merch,
A mwyn iawn lle rhoddo ei serch ;
Lie rho merch ei serch yn gynta',
Pyna gariad byth ni oera.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ENGLYN
On Pwll Ceris, the Vortex in the Menai *.
Pwll Ceris, pwll dyrys dryd—pwll yw hwn,
Sy 'n gofyn cyfnvyddid,
Pwll anfwyn yw'r pwll ynfyd,
Pella o'i gof o'r pylla i gyd.
Cyfarch i Gyhoeddwr y " Cambro-Briton."
Canlyned llwydd dy lafur,
A llifed llad o'th lyfyr ;
Trosglwydded addysgiadau dawn,
Syniadau llawn o synwyr.
Gafaela a gwirionedd,
A gochel ddeniad tuedd ;
Llochesed cariad yn dy fron ;
A doed o hon heb lygredd.
Amlyga i bob parthau,
Yn gywir ac yn olau,
Ragoriant ein henefiol iaith,
A doniol waith ein teidiau.
Cynhyrfa feibion Cymru,
I gadw 'r iaith a'i charu ;
Cur allan o'u calonau gyd,
Y serch at fyd a phechu +.
IfJAN O GARED1GION.
* Mr. Llwyd, author of " Beaumaris Bay," has had the kindness to trans
mit this Engljrn to the Editor, accompanied by the following observations,
*• This Englyn is most certainly worth preserving. Many have played va
riations on the word Ceris, the best of which, I think, is Is-cerig from the un-
eveness of the bottom. This has been compressed into Skerries, and applied
to this vortex, anoth.es: on the northern extremity of Anglesey, and a third
on the north-east of Scotland."—The Editor profits by this opportunity to
mention, that the Poem, addressed by Gwilym Ddu o Arfon to Sir Grufl'ydd
Llwyd, which was noticed in the last Number of the Cambro-Briton, p.
138, has been rendered into English by Mr. Llwyd, and may be found in
his " Translations from the British," published some years ago.—Eo.
f An English translation of these lines would be deemed a favour,—En,
191
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
XXXII.
Lo ! all the vale, both here and there,
Proclaims me No-one, Some-one thee ;
If No-one gains thee, blossom fair,
Then, truly, Some-one will have me.
XXXIII. . .
Yon vessel see, with sails so gay,
Steering to Erin's isle her way ;
Grant her success, ye Powers above,
For with her sails my own true love *.
XXXIV.
Fair words have often met my ear,-
Fair words from him I loved 'fore any ;
Fair words do wond'rous well appear,
But such, alas, have cheated many.
XXXV.
How dear to me thy sparkling eyes !
Quick-silver in them surely lies ;
Within thy head they play, I ween,
Like twinkling stars in nights serene.
XXXVI.
The meadow's flow'rs, how lovely they !
Lovely too the charms of song ;
But that, which bears the prize away,
Is loveliness our neighbours 'mong.
* Horace expresses a similar wish in his Ode to the Ship, which was about
to carry Virgil to Athens. His lines, for the sake of the comparison, are
here quoted :—
Sic te diva potens Cypri,
Sic fratres Helena?, lucida sirlera,
Ventorumque regat pater,
Obstrictis aliis, praeter lapyga :
, " Navis, qua? tibi creditum
Debes Virgilium, finibus Atticis
Reddas ineolumem, precor,
Et serves aniroae dimidium meae. Lib. i. Od. 3.
The idea in Horace is only more extended than in the Pennill ; and in
both cases it is sufficiently natural, to preclude all suspicion of the Welsh
lines being in any degree borrowed.—I' d,
193 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
XXXVII.
Whence Berwyn yields her healthful gale,
One may behold full many a vale ;
And, but for foul Arenig's * height,
My native plains would be in sight.
XXXVIII.
Gentle, gentle, gentle woman !
Where she loveth gentle ever !
Where her. heart first turneth to man,
There her fondness cooleth never.
AN EPITAPH
In St. John's Church Yard, Swansea, upon the Tomb of ths
Author's beloved Parents.
In contemplation o'er the bed of death
I swell each passing breeze with a deep sigh,
And, to bedew this consecrated stone,
A big tear flows and trembles in the eye.
But on a beam of pure celestial light
Angels descend, and to their kindred dust
They lend a tongue, which in parental love
Invites me to the mansions of the just.
Yes, blessed saints ! inspired by heavenly hope,
Through the rich mercies of a Saviour's grace,
My spirit prunes its wings for that great flight
Which shall restore me to your fond embrace \.
Bath.
* Arenig is a mountain of Merionethshire in the parish of Llanycil, where
there are two of the name. The word is a diminutive of Aren.—Ed.
f The Editor would feel obliged by a Welsh translation of this Epitaph,
appropriating an englynto each English stanza.—Eo.
J. B.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 193
WALES.
WELSH CHURCH IN THE METROPOLIS.—An attempt
was made, in the second Number of the Cambro-Briton, to call the
attention of its readers to the want of a Welsh Church in London.
The subject is certainly one of considerable importance, and
can not be too strongly impressed on the minds of those, who may
have it in their power to remedy the evil. For this reason the
following letter merits their attentive perusal. The writer has
treated the subject with much force and clearness, and has left
nothing, for the present at least, to be added to his judicious
remarks. %*
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,,—The consideration of a plan for the formation of a Welsh
Church in the metropolis of Great Britain can not but be matter
of much interest to those of Cambrian descent, who can properly
estimate the value of religious education. They must hail, with
exultation, the dawn of approaching deliverance, for a portion of
their fellow-countrymen, from the misguiding influence of super
stition, which the doctrines of Dissenters from our national form
of religion too often substitute for true devotion in the minds of
the ignorant. It may, however, be allowable to hope, without
incurring the imputation of undue enthusiasm, that the approba
tion, which the arguments, already advanced in favour of the pro
position, must undoubtedly obtain, will not be confined to the
natives of Wales ; but that strangers to that part of the kingdom
will also exert themselves in the behalf of the projected measure.
Its vast importance will be evident, if we reflect for an in
stant upon the description of places at present resorted to for
the purposes of divine worship by the Welsh in London and its
yicinity, who, by means of such an establishment as the one
now meditated, would be taught Christianity in their vernacular
tongue, according to the well-digested principles of our Ecclesias
tical Institution, and by men properly qualified for the sacred
office of promoting religious edification. It is not impossible that
the measure in view might operate as an example, and eventually
cause the desertion of at least several of the numerous meeting
houses now commonly crowded.
The characters and talents of our regular clergy must inspire
confidence not easily to be shaken ; and we must rejoice in the
continuance of the ascendancy of our national church, upheld by
rot. I. 2 c
194 THE CAMBRO-BRlTON.
the ablest vindicators in times past and present, in spite of all
opposition. Yet, late events seem to render it incumbent on
every well-wisher of society to use his utmost power in obstruct
ing the progress of those, who would destroy the basis of social
connection. To the machinations of such what surer means are
there of presenting resistance than the encouragement of morality
among the lower orders of the community ? This being the
case, under no circumstances is it probable, that greater benefit
will be derived from the application of such means, than when
they shall be directed to a set of people distinguished, as the
Welsh are allowed to be, for attention and zeal in the perform
ance of their religious duty. In their behaviour it is plainly
shewn, that religion is the groundwork of good order in society,
and is productive of industrious propensities and general pro
priety of conduct among the labouring classes.
Let those, who dispute the justness of this encomium, refer to
the Report of a Committee of the House of Commons, formed
not long ago, for enquiring into the state of mendicity, and they will
be informed of a fact, at which they will perhaps be astonished,
but which can not be too widely circulated, viz. that out of at least
15,000 beggars, infesting daily the streets of London, no Welsh
man was to be met with. This truth will surely justify the
opinion, that the Welsh are disposed to industry, and it can not
be unreasonable to trace the origin of this inclination to devout
habits.
In 1803 it was stated, that there had been nineteen editions of
the Welsh Bible since the year 1588, when it was first printed,
and that the number of impressions, taken of it, were estimated at
about one hundred and thirty thousand. Since the period, at
which the above calculation was made, the number of Bibles and
Prayer Books, as well as other books conducive to morality, dis
tributed throughout the Principality, tend to prove, that the zeal,
so characteristic of the Welsh, has not decayed ; nor is there any
probability of its diminution, so long as the practice of issuing
compositions for the praiseworthy purpose of propagating reli
gious instruction, and an exemplary solicitude in the business of
their profession shall continue to reflect honour upon the Welsh
Clergy.
That an habitual and reverential attention to moral and reli
gious observances will naturally create good subjects may also
be inferred : for, while the disaffected have laid their snares to
delude the credulous in several parts of the United Kingdom, the
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
flame of discontent has not been kindled in the Principality,
where loyalty still rears her standard, and where the love of
their country has ever been a prominent feature in the character
of the natives. If this amor patrice of the Welsh be worthy to be
cherished, what can better ensure its duration than the advance
ment of the Established Religion of the country in their native
language, one which it is their pride to preserve as that of their
forefathers, the Ancient Britons,—a language, which, it now seems,
is not likely to be lost to the admirers of national and Celtic
literature,
, Quam non imber edax—
Possit diruere, aut innumerabilis
Annorum series, et fuga temporum.
Upon a view therefore of this subject, as to its moral tendency,
the expectation may be indulged, that the rich and powerftj,
who have frequently assisted a good cause, will not refuse their
aid in a matter of such momentous concern as the design now in
contemplation, and that an immediate subscription will be set on
foot, in order to contribute to the means necessary for carrying
into effect this desirable object.
In conclusion it may be necessary to add, that, upon a perusal
of the article in the Second Number of the Cambro-Briton,
recommending this undertaking, the certainty, that invaluable
advantages would spring from it, was so fully impressed upon
my mind, as to persuade me, that the question, once agitated,
would not be suffered to rest, and that the following Number
would contain some notice or suggestion as to the furtherance of
the scheme. Disappointed in this respect, I have ventured to
offer the foregoing observations ; and, if this attempt to second
the proposal shall induce others, more able, to come forward in its
support, whose exertions may lead to its accomplishment, the end,
intended by these remarks, will be fully attained.
I am, Sir, your very humble servant,
London, Nov. 20, 1819. Prydeiniab.
GWYNEDDIGION SOCIETY.—The members of this pa
triotic association held their annual festival on Monday the 13th
of December at the Woolpack Tavern in Cornhill. The day
was spent with the same hilarity and national feeling, that have
always marked this truly social meeting, cheered, as it was, in so
pleasing a manner, by the ancient custom of singing Pennuxion
19G . THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
with the harp. There is something, in this " concord of sweet
sounds," that affects a native of Wales most powerfully. It not.
only, like the national air of the Swiss,
binds him to his native mountains more,
but embodies in the present hour those interesting recollections,
which spring from the history of other times. " Like the music of
" Caryl, it is at once pleasing and mournful to the soul."—On
the 20th ult. the Society met for the purpose of electing their
Officers for the ensuing year, when the following was the.
result.
President (Llywydd) Mr. W. O. Pughe.
Vice President (Rhaglazv) Mr? Thomas Edwards,
Bard (Bardd) Rev. Edward Hughes.
Treasurer (Trysorydd) Mr. Thomas Edwards.
Secretary (Cofiadur) Mr. Thomas Roberts. *#*
PUBLIC MEETINGS.—On the 10th of November the New
castle Branch Society, in connection with the Cardigan Auxiliary
Bible Society, held a Meeting at Newcastle. The Report, which
was read on the occasion, was of a very gratifying nature, and
several able speeches were delivered with respect to the objects of
the Society On the 30fh of the same month the Machynlleth
Bible Society held their Anniversary Meeting. The Report,
here read, was also of a very favourable nature, and spoke in
high terms of the increased liberality, evinced in the conduct of
the institution. Among the speeches, delivered on the occasion,
that of the Rev. David Hughes, Rector of Llanfyllin, Montgo
meryshire, deserves to be noticed, as describing in forcible lan
guage the beneficial principles and tendency of the Association.
—On the same day the proposed Loyal Meeting of the County
of Flint, noticed in the last Number, took place at Mold. The
attendance was numerous and highly respectable. Upon the
motion "of the Rev. W. W. Davies several Resolutions were
passed conformable with the purpose of the Meeting, and a De
claration, founded upon them, was agreed to be forwarded to the
Secretary of State for the Home Department. Amotion for an
• Address to H. R. H. the Prince Regent was negatived, it being
considered unnecessary.—On the 2d of December there was a
Meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of Crlccieth, Carnar
vonshire, for the pnrpose of establishing a School for the religious
education of the poor on the principles of the Church of Engr
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 197
land. The proceedings on this truly praiseworthy occasion were
under the direction of the Rev. Owen Jones, Rector of Criccieth.
.—On the 3d ult. the West Monmouth Bible Society met at New
port, and received a very flattering statement of the affairs of
the Society, and of its increasing utility.—On the Gth an Angle
sey County Meeting was held at Beaumaris, for the purpose of
addressing the throne on the present critical posture of our af
fairs. An Address, framed agreeably with this object, was moved
by Paul Panton, Esq. and unanimously adopted.—On the 10th
the Radnorshire Agricultural Society met for the purpose of
considering of the propriety of adopting the Winchester Bushel,
when a Resolution to that effect was carried without opposition.
—A Meeting of the Glamorganshire General Agricultural Society
took place at Cowbridge on the 14th ult. " to take into consider
ation the expediency of availing themselves of the encourage
ment, held out by the Board of Agriculture, in the offer of a gold
medal or a piece of plate for the best cultivated farm, and a pre
mium for the best bull in counties where there are Agricultural
Societies established." It was resolved on this occasion, that Can
didates for the best "farm do give in their applications to the Se
cretary of the Society on or before the 1st of March 1820; and
that a Meeting be held at Cowbridge on the 7th of March
for the purpose of appointing inspectors to view the farms
of the claimants. And it was also resolved, that the Pre
mium for the best bulls (which is fixed by the Board at ten
Guineas) should be claimed by the Society for the next show of
cattle in 1820. The Hon. W. B. Grey presided on this occasion.
—A numerous Meeting of the Agriculturists of the County of
Monmouth took place at Abergavenny on the 21st ult., on
which occasion the Agricultural Society, recently proposed in
this County, was completely and satisfactorily established. Above
100 Guineas were subscribed in the room for the promotion of
that object.—On the same day that truly patriotic individual
Sir Charles Morgan had a cattle show at Tredegar, which was
very numerously attended. %*
MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.—The British and
Foreign Bible Society, on a representation being made to them
of the great want of Bibles among the poor in the northern divi
sion of the County of Radnor, have lately entrusted to the Rev.
W. J. Rees, Rector of Cascob an additional allowance of 200
copies, to be distributed gratuitously in S2 parishes and chapel
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ries by their respective Ministers.—A rich vein of copper ore has
recently been discovered in a rocky part of the sea coast at
Garth Point near Bangor, Carnarvonshire, and collateral veins,
in breadth about five feet, have been traced in various direc
tions.—In the early part of last month a considerable sensation
was excited by the report of disturbances amongst the collier*
in the vicinity of Holywell, Flintshire, Application was made,
on the occasion, by the Magistrates for military assistance, in
consequence of which a Company of the 7i$t Regiment of Foot,
stationed at Chester, and the Mold and Hawarden Yeomanry
Cavalry marched into Holywell. It appears, however, from an
authentic account, published by Mr. Sankey of that town, that
the commotion was merely pf a local nature, and was excited
amongst the colliers, employed at the Dee Bank Colliery near
Bagillt, on account of the introduction amongst them of a party
of men from the Brymbo Works near Wrexham. At all events
there was nothing political in the affair. Yet the employment of
the military gave it a momentary importance, to which it was,
in no way, entitled. And it deserves to be here mentioned, in
order to remove any erroneous impression, which this trivial
alarm may have created, that there is no body of men, that
has endured the privations and hardships, necessarily resulting
from the distress of the times, with more firmness and less apr
pearance of discontent than the miners and colliers of the County
of Flint.—There is new lying for signature in the County of
Glamorgan a Petition to the Legislature " to take into const!
deration the mistaken policy of sending annually out of the
kingdom such large sums to purchase foreign corn and wool."
The Petition has already been sanctioned by the names of nearly
$00 respectable individuals. At Caerphilly, in Glamorganshire,
are now living Mary Lewis and her four daughters, whose united
ages amount to 340 years. Of the same family there are alsq
ine xistence 15 grand-children, 10 great grand-children, and one
in a degree still farther removed, thus constituting thirty lineal
descendants, all in sound health. This fact is here recorded as
one proof, amongst many others, of the salubrity of our native
air.—A recent Number of " the St. Louis Gazette," a paper
published at St. Louis on the Mississippi in the United States of
America, makes mention of an Expedition that is now on foot
for exploring the presumed settlement of the Madogwys (de7
scendants of Madog and his followers) on the higher branches of
the Missouri. The names of the individuals, engaged in the
The cambro-briton. 199
undertaking, are Parry and Roberts, natives respectively of each
division «f the Principality. They are described as men of per
severance, and as being resolved not to abandon their enter
prise as long as there exists any chance of success. A paper,
published lately in British America, has the following paragraph.
" A very handsome subscription, amounting to nearly 2591.
currency, has been raised at Fredericton, New Brunswick,
for the purpose of assisting a number of Welsh Families in form
ing a settlement between the Madame Keswick and the Nash-
wack, to be called the Cardigan Settlement. A person ac
quainted with the construction of the log-houses has been em
ployed to assist them : a quantity of bark has been procured,
and other preparations made to commence building imme
diately." ^
OBITUARY.
October 23d. Mrs. Pugh, relict of the late David Pugh, Esq.
of Llanerchydol in the county of Montgomery.—26th. Mrs.
Mytton, wife of John Mytton, Esq. of Pen-y-lan in the same
county.—At Bangor, Carnarvonshire, Mrs. Hughes, relict of the
late Rev. David Hughes, Rector ofLlangynhaval Dyffryn Clwyd,
in the county ofDenbigh.—November 4th. Thomas Whittingham)
Esq. of Llandaff, aged 61.—5th. Thomas Lewis, Esq. aged 79,
of Glascombe in the county of Radnor, a gentleman much re
spected and esteemed by his neighbours and tenantry.—7th. Mrs.
Parry, widow of the late David Parry, Esq. of Terracoed in the
county of Carmarthen.—12th. At Holywell, Samuel Mostyn,Esq.
aged 64, of Calcot, Flintshire, many years an active Magistrate
in that county.—George Green, Esq. of Knighton in the county
of Radnor.—15th. Robert Roberts, Esq. aged 76, of Pentre
Mawr, near Llanrwst, Denbighshire.—18th. Mrs. Magdalene Jen
kins, widow, of Aberystwith.—lb. Mr. John Arthur, aged 96, of
Llandissil, Montgomeryshire, leaving behind above 40 grand
children.—20th. Miss Mary Rees, aged 38, daughter of Mr. Rice
Rees, of Llandovery, Carmarthenshire ; whose uniform conduct
through life, and active zeal in the cause of religion had secured
to her the respect of a numerous circle of relatives and friends, to
whom her loss is a subject of deep regret *.—lb. Miss M. A.
* The following Englyn was composed extempore, on the occasion of this
lady's death, by a person who attended herfuneral, Nov. 22, 1819.
Aeth merch, fu lonferch, o flinfyd—a chadd
Ei chuddio tan weryd ;
Yr unwedd i'r bedd o'r byd
Yr a innau, ryw enuyd. John Howbli."
200 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
1
Jenkins, aged 48, daughter of the late EHas Jenkins, Esq.
of Newcastle House, in the county of Glamorgan. 21st.
At Paris, aged 75, John Hanbury Williams, Esq. of Cole-
brook Park, near Abergavenny, in the county of Monmouth.—
At Cwmdwyfran, near Carmarthen, Mr. David Morgan, at the
age of 93, universally respected.—25th. Thomas Parry, Esq. aged
75, of Llidiarde, near Aberystwith.—28th. Mr. Robert Phillips,
Surgeon, of Ruthin, Denbighshire ; a young man much esteemed
and respected.—December 7th. At Cowbridge Frances, wife of
William Nichol, Esq.—10th. Colonel Williams, aged 67, of
Henllys, Carmarthenshire, for many years an upright and useful
Magistrate of that county ; he died lamented by a numerous circle
of friends, as well as by his immediate dependents and the general
poor of the neighbourhood, to whom his loss is irreparable.—lb.
Mrs. Williams, relict of the late Thomas Williams, Esq. of Llan-
ybre, in the county of Carmarthen.—10th. At Bath J.Richards,
Esq. late of Llandaff Castle, Glamorganshire. — 11th. Pryce
Jones, Esq. of the Rock, near Newtown, Montgomeryshire.—12th.
Mrs. Price, widow of the late J. Price, Esq. of Llandough Castle,
Glamorganshire.—13th. Mrs. Prytherch, relict of the late Daniel
Prytherch, Esq. ofAbergoley, in the county of Glamorgan, a lady
of engaging manners, and of an amiable and charitable disposi
tion.— 16th. At Llanerchydol Cottage, near Welshpool, Captain
G. D. Harrison, of the Royal Marines, a gentleman greatly and
deservedly respected for his private and professional character.—
I9th. At Llangennech Park, Carmarthenshire, aged 71, Mrs.
Elizabeth Morris.—lb. Mrs. Anne Pearce, aged 94, of Rallt, near
Bangor.—2lst. At Carmarthen the lady of Captain Henry
Vaughan, of the Royal Navy, greatly lamented.
ERRORS CORRECTED.
No. 4, P. 124, 1. 21, for " fifteenth century" read '• fifth century."
— 128, 1. 32. for " addane y llyn" read " addanc y llyx."— 129, I. 15,' for " Ninis" read '• Ninio."
— 142, Note 1, 1. 3, for " dy" read " by."
The following inaccuracies were expunged from one half of the impression.
No. 4. P. 149, Pennill 23, 1. 4, for " wysgo," read " wis';o."
25, 1. 3, for " hid" read " nid."
—— 26, 1. 1, for " Mawr" read " mawr."
28, I. 3, for " roes" read " rhoes."
—— ib. I. 4, for " garu" read " cam."
THE
CAMBRO-BRITON.
FEBRUARY, 1820.
NU1LI QUIDEM MIHI SATIS ERUDITI VIDENTUR, QUIBUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero de LegUut.
THE TRIADS.—No. VI.
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN ♦.
xxv.
THE three Arrant Traitors of the Isle of Britain: Avarwy,
the son of Lludd, the son of Beli the Great, who invited Iwl Cai-
sar and the men of Rome into this island, and caused the oppres
sion of the Romans ; that is, he and his men gave themselves as
conductors to the men of Rome, receiving treasure of gold and
silver from them every year. And in consequence it became a
compulsion on the men of this island to pay three thousand of
silver yearly as a tribute to the men of Rome, until the time of
Owain, the son of Macsen Wledig, when he refused that tribute;
and, under pretence of being contented therewith, the men of
Rome drew the best men of the Isle of Britain, capable of being
made men of war, to the country of Aravia, and other far coun
tries, and they returned not back. And the men of Rome, that
were in the Isle of Britain, went into Italy ,'so that there were of
them only women and little children left behind ; and in that way
the Britons were weakened, so that they were unable to resist
oppression and conquest, for want of men and strength. The se
cond was Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenau, who, after killing Constantine
the Blessed, and seizing the crown of the island, through treason
and lawlessness, first invited the Saxens into this island, as his
defenders, and married Alis Ronwen, the daughter of Hengist,
and gave the crown of the island to the son he had by her, whose
name was Gotta, and on that account it is that the kings of Lon
don are called children of Alis. Thus by the conduct of Gwrtheyrn
* Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 62, Tr. 21—28."
vot. I. 2d
202 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
the Cymry lost their lands and their privilege and their crown in
Lloegr. The third was Medrawd, the son of Llew, the son of-
Cynvarch ; for, when Arthur left the crown of the Isle of Britain
in his custody, whilst he went against the Emperor in Rome, then
Medrawd took the crown from Arthur through treason and seduc
tion ; and, so that he might preserve it, he confederated with the
Saxons, and by reason thereof the Cymry lost the crown of
Lloegr, and the sovereignty of the Isle of Britain.
[The events, of which this Triad treats, are so fully detailed,
as to require but little illustration. And this becomes the less ne
cessary as the same occurrences were noticed, though not with the
same minuteness, in the last Number of the Cambro-Briton *.
An additional opportunity, however, presents itself here to refer
to the confirmation, which these memorials receive from the an
cient Classical and other writers. The tribute, above mentioned to
have been paid by the Britons, is expressly noticed by Caesar,
who, in speaking of his departure from the island after his second
invasion, has the following passage :—" Obsides imperat, et quid
" in annos singulos vectigalis populo Romano Britannia pende-
" ret constituit ; interdicit atque imperat Cassivellauno, he Man-
" dubratio neu Trinobantibus bellum faciat t" This extract
furnishes also another proof of the treacherous conduct of Avar-
wy, or Mandubratius, as imputed to him in the Triads.—A short
notice respecting Gwrtheyrn, or Vortigern, was given in a former
Number J ; and, with respect to the action here related of him,
although passed in silence by some ancient authors §, it is parti
cularly detailed by Nennius, who describes Hengist as having
inveigled Vortigern into this marrifige while under the influence of
intoxication, and as having obtained from him in consideration of
it the Province of Kent.—Constantine the Blessed, in Welsh
Cystennyn, appears in the British Chronicle as the 80th King of
* Seep. 171, Triad xxiv. and the Annotations,
f Bell. Gall. lib. v. c22.
t No. 2, p. 51.
| Among those, who ascribe the conquest of the Britons to force and not
artifice, are Gildas, Bede, and the writer of the Saxon Chronicle, who make
no mention whatever of Alis Ronwen, called by the Saxons Rowena. On
the other hand, the account, as transmitted by the Triad and Nennius, is
also detailed by William of Malmesbury and Caradog of Llancarfan. And
they have been followed by Humphrey Llwyd, Camden, and Verstegao.
Thus, the balance of authorities seems to be in favour of the tradition above
recorded.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 203
Britain about the year 390, when the Roman dominion in this
country was fast approaching to its close. There is a church in
Arvon, dedicated to Cystennyn.—It may be proper to mention
here; that two other copies of this Triad are preserved in the
Archaiology *, one much more diffuse than this, and differing from
it in some particulars, and the other considerably shorter than
either.]
xxvI. The three Secret Treasons of the Isle of Britain : first,
the betraying of Caradawg, the son of Bran, by Aregwedd
Voedawg, the daughter of Avarwy, the son of Lludd, and deli
vering him a captive to the Romans ; the betraying of Arthur by
Iddawg Corn Prydain, who divulged his plan ; and the betray
ing of the Prince Gruffydd, the son of Llewelyn, by Madawg
Min. And from these three treasons there followed complete
subjection of the nation of the Cymry : and nothing but treachery
could have subdued them.
[An allusion was made in Triad xxn. in the last Number to the
" Secret Treason," here ascribed to Aregwedd Voeddawg :
and we find the same account given by Tacitus, if indeed
Aregwedd and Cartismandua be the same person f. The
historian, in describing the conduct of Caradawg or Carac-
tacus after his defeat by Ostorius, says, " Cum fidem Car-
" tismandua?, reginae Brigantum, petivisset vinctus ac vic-
" toribus traditus est nono post anno qu;im bcllum in Bri-
" tannia cceptum \ ."—The treachery of Iddawg Corn Pry
dain was noticed in the last Number.—Madawg Min, here men
tioned, was Bishop of Bangor in the beginning of the eleventh
century. The treasonable action, recorded of him in this Triad,
is not the only one, with which his memor}' has been charged : he
is also accused of having, by his treacherous artifices, occasioned
the death of Llewelyn ab Sitsyllt, father of Gruffydd.]
xxvu. The three Brave Sovereigns of the Isle of Britain :
Cynvelyn Wledig ; Caradawg, the son of Bran ; and Arthur.
That is, they vanquished their enemies, so that, except through
treachery and plotting, they could not be overcome.
* Vol. ii. p. 4, and J 9.
f It has been before remarked (No. 5, p. 169), that there is no resem
blance between the names of Aregwedd Voeddawg and Cartismandua,
while there is a strong affinity between the former and Boadicea. How
ever, the cireumstanepi, related of Cartismandua by Tacitus, leem to ac
cord exactly with those ascribed by the Triads to Aregwedd.
\ Annal, Lib. xii. c. 36,
[Cynvelyn Wledig, mentioned in the British Chronicle as the
68ih King of Britain, is the Cunobelinus of the. Roman writers.
He most probably succeeded Mundtibratius as Chief of the
Trinobantes, and he also governed the Novantes and Cassii. Tha
conquests, made by this Prince, rendered him the most powerful
in the southern part of Britain, and well entitle him to the epithet
bestowed upon him by this Triad. He died about A. D. 40,
leaving, according to Suetonius, three sons, but, according to the
British History, two only, Gwydyr and Gweirydd. It was the re
fusal by the former of these to pay the customary tribute to the
Romans, that is said to have occasioned the invasion of this island
by Claudius. It had been punctually discharged by Cynvelyn.—
There are few, to whom the name of Arthur is not familiar. But
the Arthur, commemorated above, is a very different character
from the hero of Romance of the same name, and who performs
so important a part in the Mabinogion, although they are gene
rally confounded together in the popular account. The Arthur
of history, who perhaps took his appellation from the other, was
the son ofMeirig, a Prince of Glamorgan, in the beginning of the
sixth century. About the year 517 he was called by the States
of Britain to the supreme command, for the purpose of opposing
the Saxons, whom, according to Nennius, he defeated in twelve
battles. His successful career, however, was at length brought
to a close by the treachery of Medrawd, already recorded, which
produced, in 542, the battle of Camlan, so fatal to the Britons,
and which terminated at once the life and the glory of Arthur.
This chieftain is celebrated by Talicsin, Meiddin, and Llywarch,
who were his cotemporaries.]
xxvin. The three primary Battle Princes of the Isle of Britain :
Casswallawn, the son of Beli; Gweirydd, the son of Cynvelyn
Wledig ; and Caradawg, the son of Bran, the son of Llyr of
Barbarous Speech.
[An account has already been given, in the course of these il
lustrations, of the chieftains, who form the subject of this Triad.]
xxix. The three Fair Princes of the Isle of Britain: Rhun,
the son of Maelgwn, Owain, the son of Urien, and Rhuvon
Bevr, the son of Dewrarth Wledig.
[Riiun succeeded his father Maelgwn as nominal Sovereign of
the Britons, and reigned over Gwynedd from 560 to 586 : he
will be fcund described in another Triad as one of the Golden-
banded Sovereigns of Britain.—Owain was cotemporary with
Rhun, and is commemorated elsewhere as owner of one of
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.' 205
the three steeds of desperation.—Rhuvon Bevr was likewise of
the same period. In another Triad* he is called Rhuawn Bevr, the
son of Dorarth Wledig. He fell in battle, and his body is said
to have been purchased by its weight in gold, for which reason
he is also recorded as one of the three golden corpses. Hywel,
son of Owain Gwynedd, has the following lines on this Prince :—
Ton wen orowyn a orwlych bedd ;
Gwyddva Rhuvon Bevr, ben teyrnedd f.]
xxx. The three Plebeian Princes of the Isle of Britain :
Gwriad, the son of Gwrien, in the North ; Cadavael, the son of
Cynvedw, in Gwynedd; and Hyvaidd Hir, the son of Saint
Bleiddan, in Morganwg. That is, sovereignty was given them
for their renowned exploits and virtuous qualities.
[These three Princes lived also during the sixth century, a
period which appears to have been pregnant with men of renown,
whether as Princes or Poets. Gwriad bore a part in the famous
battle of Cattraeth, which forms the subject of the Gododin.—
Cadavael, who had the surname of Wyllt or Wild, is consigned
to disgrace by another Triad, as having inflicted one of the
. ** three heinous hatchet blows," whereby he caused the death
of Iago ab Beli, Sovereign of Gwynedd. In other copies of
this triad Gwriad and Hyvaidd are described somewhat dif
ferently f . But this is a circumstance in no way affecting the
general authenticity of these ancient documents. On the
contrary, the trivial variations, which they occasionally ex
hibit, remove all suspicion as to any forgery or contrivance in
their compilation. There arc three copies of the Historical Triads
preserved in the Archaiology.]
THE WISDOM OP CATWG.
—«Q«—
APHORISMS§.
Nothing is godliness, but compassion towards all life and being :
Nothing is wisdom, but a refraining from worldliness :
..Nothing is a blessing, but reason and health :
Nothing is love, but equity ;
* Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 6.
f " A white wave, mantled with foam, sprays over a grave,
The tomb of Rhuvon the Fair, chief of princes."
J Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 17 and £2,
. § Id. vol. iii. p. 17.
206 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Nothing is equity, but what may be willed to be had by
another :
Nothing is a truth, but what is known without hearing it from
another :
Nothing is a falsehood, but what one's self knows it cannot be
true:
Nothing is a folly, but the believing and disbelieving implicitly
of what another may say :
Nothing is a delight, but a conscience void of guilt:
No one is prudent, but he who knows how to support himself
from himself:
Nothing is generosity, but the enduring ©f every hardship for
the good of another :
Nothing is happiness, but rationality :
Nothing is rationality, but godliness :
Nothing is godliness, but compassion towards all life and being,
INTERDICTIONS f.
Seek not Heaven through thy perjury.
Seek nothing where thou oughtest not.
Seek not confidence from pride.
Seek not to become highly exalted lest thou come lower,
Seek not to attain above self-attainment.
Seek not to repeat a request to the obdurate.
Seek no secresy about what many know.
Seek no benefit from vain boasting.
Seek not to throw credit on thy falsehood.
Seek not warmth under ice.
Seek not to contravene thy equal.
Seek not to contend with thy better.
Seek not to confide in him, that shall threaten thee.
Seek not welcome under a frown.
Seek not gladness without a smile.
Seek not to play with the infirm and old.
Seek no benefit from idleness.
Seek not wealth from inattention.
Seek not to jest with thy foe.
Abuse no one, of whom thou art in fear.
Cast blame on no one for the fault, that may belong to thyself,
Fight not with the silly.
Spend not the penny until thou gettest it.
+ Arcb. of Wales, vol. iii. p. 52.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 207
Sell not heaven for earth.
Stand not on cruelty.
Seek not to consult but with the wise.
Sojourn but with the fortunate.
METAPHYSICS*,
fn every person there is a soul :
In every soul there is intelligence :
In every intelligence there is thought :
In every thought there is either good or evil :
In every evil there is death :
In every good there is life :
In every life there is God.
WELSH PROVERBS.
Plant gaiirlonedd yu> hen diareiion.—DlArilt.
To pawn a piece of flesh with a cat.
To be silent is to confess.
Death is the ripeness of age.
The propensity of the stag is towards the water.
The outlaw's wish is a long night.
Let him, that bears the bag, support himself out of it.
That man marches boldly to battle, who has God for his pro
tector.
He, that goes to the games, should leave his skin at home.
A hearth will invite.
Polluted are the lips of the perjured.
He, that has bread in abundance, will go merrily to beg milk.
What is pleasing to God is certain.
He that is the head, let him become the bridge f.
* Arch, of Wales, -vol. iii. p. 48.
•f- This proverb must appear obscure without some explanation. It owes
its birth to the following event, related in the Mabinogion. Bran, a cele
brated chief of the Britons, commanding an army of his countrymen in
Ireland, arrived upon one occasion at a river, which they were unable to ford.
And, as they had no means at hand of forming a bridge, the generous leader
threw himself across the stream, thus enabling his army to male a bridge of
his body.
208 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
To reject (a proffered gift) is waste.
What has been at the top of the sack w ill go to the bottom *.
He, that was once a man, has become no man f<
Who covets honour should be powerful.
He, that desires praise, let him die.
He, that desires a pressing offer, let him appear sick.
Who covets health should be cheerful.
What has been got on the horse of Malen will be spent under
his belly t.
He, that hoards, shall have when he wants.
What the old crow croaks the young one will echo.
The man, that complains too much, does not complain at all.
Even the morsel of a stag is charity §.
Patience is the limit of knowlege.
Before we act, we should propose.
The solicitude of a dog for a bag of salt.
Crows are more numerous than hawks.
Where there is no love, there will be abundance of censure.
* *
BARDIC NOTICES.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—.One of our desiderata in Welsh Literature is a short
Biographical History of our Bards, for want of which many parts
of their works are scarcely intelligible. Mr. William Owen
Pughe has done something in this way in his Cambrian Bio-
* The Arabic proverb on the contrary says, " What was a hip has become
an arm.'*
f This is the literal translation of adyn, which, however, implies also a
miserable being, a wretch.
X The liberal signification of this proverb is, that what has been acquired
by violence or rapine soon perishes. Hence perhaps the English adage,
«' What is got on the Devil's back," &c. ;—and to the same effect is the
maxim of Plautus, " Male partum male disperit." Some account of Malen,
probably synonymous with Bellona, was given in the 4th Number of the
Cambro-Britom, p. 125.
§ This has reference to the following ancient custom. When a stag was
killed it was divided, according to the laws of hunting, amongst all persons
present. And every one, that might accidentally arrive before the deer was
skinned, was entitled to a share. For stag-hunting was one of the three
common games.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 209
graphy ; but I was greatly disappointed, on consulting his work,
in not finding the name of our celebrated bard Tudur Aled *. As
a commencement of such an undertaking, and in order to induce
some others of your correspondents to contribute any information
on this subject, of which they may be possessed, I have trans
cribed the following short notices out of my own collection. I
am yours, &c. P. B. W.
Rhys Goch o Eryri was a man of good family, and lived at
Hafodgaregog, near Pont Aberglaslyn, in the county of Merio
neth. He flourished about 1400. There is a quillet on Grosor
Farm, in Nanmor, called Llys Dafydd Rhys ; this Dafydd was
father of Rhys Goch o Eryri, as it is generally supposed.
Iolo Goch flourished in the times of Edward III. Richard II.
and Henry IV. He was a great favourite with Owain Glyndwr,
and wrote many panegyrics on him when in power. Iolo was
Bachelor of both Laws, and was Lord of Llechryd, and lived at
Coed Pantwn, in the county of Denbigh. He was ancestor of
Paul Panton, Esq. of Plas Gwyn, in the county of Anglesey.
Guto 'r Glyn was an excellent heroic poet, and flourishfed about
the year 1450. He was a native of the beautiful vale of Llan
gollen, in Denbighshire, and was domestic bard to the Abbot of
VaJIe Crucis or Glyn Egwestl (or Eglwyseg) Abbey, 'near that
town f. He celebrates the munificence and hospitality of the
Abbot in several of his poetical compositions, and laments, that
he was so unwell one Christmas, that he could not partake of the
festivities in the hall or of the dainties on the Abbot's table. He
was well known to the Herberts of Rhaglan in Glamorganshire,
as it was the practice of the Bards in the days of Popery to make a
poetical tour or circuit through all Wales every third year, in or
der to contend with each other in extemporaneous poetical effu
sions, and partake of the good cheer at the gentlemen's seats
during the Christmas holidays J.
* It maybe proper to mention, that the Cambrian Biocraphy, here al
luded to, is not dedicated exclusively lo an account of the Bards, but em
braces short biographical notices of all, or almost all, Welshmen of any
celebrity. And the author is entitled to the merit of having been the first, and
as yet the only one, to attempt any work of this nature in relation to Wales.
The interesting Notices, here furnished by P. B. W., are, for the most part,
in addition to those published of the same individuals in Mr. Pughe's
work.—Ed.
f See Cambro-Briton, No. 2. p. 55.—"Rr.
| This custom was, at one lime, common in Wales. It was called Clera
or Cylch Ciera, and signified a circuit, which was made by pints and inu.si-
Vol. I. 2 E
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Meredydd ab Rhys was a clergyman, and lived atRhiwabon in
Denbighshire, and flourished about 1 440. He was Dafydd ab Ed
mund's tutor.
Lewis Glyn Cothi was most probably a native of the banks of the
river Cothi in Carmarthenshire. He was an eminent bard, and an
officer under Jasper Earl of Pembroke, in whose praise he com
posed many poems. He flourished about the year 1450.
Llawdden resided at Machynlleth, and is supposed to have been
curate of that place. He flourished about the year 1450. It is
conjectured, that he was a native of Llychwr or Cas Lwchwr near
Swansea in Glamorganshire, and there is reason to suppose,
from some of his poems, that he resided occasionally in Rad
norshire.
Dafydd ab Edmund was the proprietor of Hanmor or Han-
mere, and lived at Pwll Gwepre, in the county of Flint, but his
son sold the estate. At an Eisteddfod, or Congress ofBards, held
at Carmarthen, where Griffith ab Nicholas (the valiant Sir Rhys
ab Thomas's grandfather) was umpire, he won the poetical prize.
The Eisteddfod lasted fifteen days. To the prolific brain and fer
tile imagination of this renowned son of genius we are indebted
for the invention of several Welsh metres now in use. He flou
rished A.D. 1450.
leuan Deulwyn lived at Pen Deulwyn, near Kidwelly, in Car
marthenshire, about 1460.
Gutyn Owain was a learned bard and herald, and lived near
Oswestry ; he wrote the best copy of the British History, and left
behind him several books of Pedigrees, &c. He flourished about
the year 1480.
Dafydd Llwyd ab Llewelyn ab GrufTydd, Esq. lived at Ma-
thafarn, near Machynlleth, in the county of Montgomery. He
was a partisan and a great favourite of Jasper, Earl of Pembroke,
and did all in his power to promote the views of that party against
Richard III., A. D. 1480. He afterwards exercised his poetical
clans once in three years, upon which occasion they not only experienced the
hospitality of the persons, to whose houses they resorted, but likewise re
ceived a certain fee, which, in the case of the Disciples in Music, was fixed
by the Laws of Gruffydd ab Cynau, in the twelfth century, at twelve pence.
That this practice was of very ancient date appears from some of the Triads,
ascribed to Dyvuwal Moelmud, printed in the Archaiology under the title
of " Triodd y Cludao," or Convention-Triads, and wherein one of the three
" Conventions of Aid" was that administered to Bards " yn eu cykh clera," in
their circuits of instruction. As to the time, in vhich Pyvnwal Moelmud is
supposed to have flourished, see the Cambbo-BriTon, No. 2, p. 47.—Ed.'
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 211
talents in favour of Henry VII. All his pretended prophecies
and prognostications tended to that end.
Tudur Aled, a most excellent Bard, was so called on account
of his residence being on the banks of the river Aled, in the county
of Denbigh. He lived at Garth Geri Chwibryn, in the parish of
Llansannan, and flourished about the year 1490. He was a friar
of the Order of St. Francis, and wrote a poetical account of the
miracles reported to have been performed at St. Winifred's Well,
in the town of Holywell, as well as the fabulous history of that
supposed holy virgin. He was also one of the followers of Sir
Rhys ab Thomas* ofDinevor in Carmarthenshire, and greatly at
tached to him ; and wrote several poems in praise of his great
achievements. Tudur Aled was a nephew and a pupil of Davydd
ab Edmund.
Gruffydd Hiraethog was a pupil of Tudur Aled, and lived
near the mountain of Hiraethog in Denbighshire. He was buried
in the chancel of Llangollen Church. William Lleyn, Simwnt
Fychan, William Cynwal, and Sion Tudur, all poets, were his
pupils, or rather were instructed by him in the rules of Welsh
prosody. He flourished about the year 1540.
William Lleyn was a very celebrated Welsh bard, and flou
rished in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was a native of Llan
Gian in Lleyn in Carnarvonshire ; and tradition says he was an
illegitimate son of one of the Griffiths of Cefn Amwlch, by whom
he was brought up to the Church. He excelled all the other bards
of his time in sublimity of thought and poetic fire, and was much
admired for the sprightliness of his wit. His compositions are also
remarkable for grave sentences and maxims of policy and wis
dom. He had a poetical contest with Owain Gwynedd, a co-
temporary bard, which is still extant, and in my possession, be
sides 30 or 40 other poetical pieces, which have never been pub
lished. He was patronised by the families of Cefn Amwlch and
Bodwrda in Lleyn, and also by that of Caer Gai in Merioneth
shire. He was instructed in the rules of prosody by Griffith Hir
raethog; and the learned Archdeacon of Merioneth (Edmund
Prys) received some assistance and advice from him in his Welsh
poetical compositions. He died at Oswestry, where it is supposed
* A long and very interesting Memoir of Sir Rhys ab Thomas is printed
in the first volume of the Cambrian Register. It was written in the reign of
J»m«s L by a person, who claims, relationship with Sir Rhys. This chieftain
was born i» 1451, and died. in \b'll i he was principally instrumental in
placing Heury Vll. on the ICngish throne,—-Ed.
212 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
he was curate, and was buried there. Rhys Cain wrote a poetical
elegy on his death, which is still extant.
Sion Brwynog, alias Sion ab Hywel ab Hugh, of Brwynog in
Anglesey, was a good Welsh bard. He was proprietor of Brwy
nog, and flourished about the year 1550.
Edmund Prys, D. D., Archdeacon of Merioneth, was born at
Gerddi Bluog, in the parish of Maentwrog, in that county. He
was a student of St. John's college, Cambridge. He lived at
Tyddyn Du, in the above parish of Maentwrog, of which he was
Rector, and was buried in that Church. Dr. John Davies, the
author of the Latin and Welsh Dictionary, dedicated his Latin-.
Welsh Grammar to him, in the preface to which he pays him
many high compliments on his learning and knowlege of his
native language. He had several poetical contests with William
Cynwal and Hugh Machno, one of whom is said to have fretted
and died of a broken heart, on account of the severity and poig-.
nancy of the Archdeacon's satire. As to the uncouthness of his
version of the Psalms into Welsh metres, it must be attributed to
the novelty of that kind of verse in our language, he being the
first, as it is generally supposed, who introduced these new rnea-'
sures or versions, and for which he gave his reasons in a short
preface. The same msfy be said of his cotemporary Rhys Prich-
ard, Vicar of Llanymddyfri in Carmarthenshire, in his attempts at
writing carols. All the old compositions of that kind are very
lame both in North and South Wales, though since they are be
come very smooth and harmonious. The same remark will hold
good, respecting the old English metres, compared with those of
the present day.
Foulk Prys, Vicar of Clynnog, in the county ofCarnarvon, was,
as it is conjectured, the son of the Archdeacon, and flourished
about the year 1680. ,
Huw Machno, alias Hugh or Huw Owen, lived at Penmachno
about the year 1590, and had the temerity to contend in a poetical
controversy with the Archdeacon. He was buried in Penmachno
Church-yard, as appears by his tomb-stone, on which is still le
gible : "H. M. obiit 1637."
Twm Sion Cati, alias Thomas Jones, Esq., was a native of
Tregaron in Cardiganshire. In his youth he was'a notorious free-
booteK and highwayman, but soon reformed, married a rich heiress,
became a Justice of the Peace for the county of Brecknock, and
resided in the town ofBrecknock, otherwise Aber Hodni, or Aber
Hoenddu. He lived about the year 1620
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 213 n
,
MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS.
On an ancient Tablet over the Pew of the Dvffrin Family in
Cadoxton Church.
Hie, in cancellis sancti Cadoci, et prope ipsum imaginem
Sane : Codoci, prout ille testamento ultimo decreverat, et anno
Xti 1507, jacet corpus Leolini filii Johannis, fil : Leolini, fil :
Gwillim, als William, fil : Ievani, fi : Morgani, fi : Morgani,
fi: Audoeni, fi: Rheci, fi: Iestini, ultimi principis etdomini Gla-
morgani, Gwent et Morganwg, originis Trojani ceu sanguinis
Britannici ; qui fraude et dolo Normanorum, quos mercede et
stipendio retinuit ad bellum gerendum contra vicinos, occisus
fuit posterique ejus fortunis omnibus, scilicet castro de Cardiff
principale ejus palatio cum omnibus dependentibus et aliis paternis
dominionibus terris et ditionibus, ejiciebantur, regnante Gulielmo
Rufo tunc temporis Angliae Rege.
Arms*— Gules, three Chevrons argent. (Those of Iestyn ab»
Gwgant* borne by Williams of DyiFrin.)
Motto.— Vincil qui patitur.
* Iestyn ab Gwrgant was, as stated in this Epitaph, a Prince of Glamor
gan. He succeeded to this title on the death of his uncle Hywe), in 1043.
It was in his contest with Rhys ab Tewdwr, Prince of Deheubarth, about the
year 1088, that he procured the assistance of the Normans, to which allu
sion is above made. On this occasion, according to Caradog's History,
Robert Fitzhamon and twelve other knights landed in Glamorganshire,
with a strong force, and proceeded, at the instigation of Iestyn, to lay waste
the territories of Rhys, and unmercifully to destroy all who fell in their
way. Prince Rhys, at that time nearly a hundred years of age, gave them
battle near Brecknoc, when, after great carnage on both sides, the Welsh
Chieftain was unhappily slain, and his dominions divided amongst the con
querors. Soon afterwards Iestyn's treacherous conduct towards Einion ab
Collwyn, who had joined him in this enterprize, brought upon him the ven
geance of these same Normans, who, being mere soldiers of fortune, made
no scruple to turn their ai ms against their former ally, whom, as he was
unprepared for the attack, they soon despoiled of his territory. The con
sequence of this double success rm the part of the Normans was the distribu
tion of the conquered lands amongst Robert Fitzhamon and his compa
nions, reserving a small portion for Einion, and the sons of Iestyn. Rhys ab
Iestyn, mentioned in this Epitaph, had, for his share, the loidsbip of Sov-
len between Nedd and Tawy.—Ed.
214 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ANOTHER MONUMENT OVER THE SAME PEW.
Mrs. Rose Williams*, died 24th March, 1680.
R oses the most gay, that Flora's wreath beset,
0 ft, while they bud, are nipp'd by frost, but yet
S he proved a lasting rose full blown, yet she
E xceeded most in good longevity.
W ither for want of sap she did, when past
J oys of an earthly bliss, the fatal blast
L evell'd the rest, the rose yet stood
L ong unblasted for her neighbour's good.
1 nstead of winter she enjoys by fate
A lasting spring of an eternal date
M ost strange, yet she at her Redeemer's day
S hould sap recover and appear more gay.
Arms.—(Those of Iestyn ab Gwrgant as before.)
Motto.—Lie Cymerofft.
Lee, Kent, Dec. 4, 1819. W.
WELSH POETRY.
ITS GENERAL CHARACTER.
It necessarily forms one of the principal objects of this work
to make its readers in some degree acquainted with such remains,
as still survive to us, of the bardic productions of past times. Per
haps there was no people of antiquity, not excepting the Greeks
themselves, who cultivated poetical genius to an equal extent
with the Cymry. It may not, therefore, be uninteresting to
offer some general remarks on their character in this point of
view.
Poetry, it has been well observed, formed in the primitive his
tory of all nations the common vehicle, whereby they expressed
all those sentiments and recorded those actions, that did not come
* This Rose was the widow of Philip Williams of Dyffrin, great grandson
of Llewelyn, and daughter of Morgan Cradoc, of Cheriton.—W.
f I should feel obliged to any of your Correspondents, who would furnish
me with an apt translation of thn, molto.—W.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Within the sphere of ordinary conversation. Hence the passionate
transports of the lover and the warrior's heroic achievements
never failed to become, in the first rude state of society, the na
tural themes of the Muse. And long it was before the grave dis
sertations of the philosopher, and the studied reflections of the
historian's pen succeeded to the wild, yet expressive, strains of the
savage.
The feature, just alluded to, was common to all nations on
their first establishment. And it was not until communities had
made considerable advances in civilization that poetry, assuming
a more chastened form, came to be regarded as an art capable of
cultivation and ornament. And then it was, as the development
of the human intellect occasioned the improvement of language,
that the unadorned song of the minstrel of nature yielded to the
studied sounds and harmonious cadences of the poet of education.
Polished periods succeeded to the irregular ebullitions of raptur
ous feeling : and the gradual march of refinement served, al
though slowly, to extinguish those wild sparks, which had so
luxuriantly glowed in the imagination of the untutored bard.
Hence poetry became more and more subservient to the joint em
pire of taste and learning, until it finally settled in that artificial
perfection, which is commonly allowed to have distinguished the
best ages of Athens and Rome.
Such has been, in general, the progress of poesy amongst
those nations, which are admitted to have reached the highest
point in the scale of civilization. But the poetical Tharacter of
the Cymry must be judged by a standard essentially different.
Their first rude and spontaneous effusions, indeed, in a primaeval
state, of society, must have been of a corresponding nature wi'fi
those of other countries, alike simple in their themes and equally
unconstrained in their flight. But there is the strongest ground
for believing, from several testimonies, foreign as well as native*,
that the Institution of Bardism had, in very early times, an im
portant influence on the poetry of this people. Governed by the
rules of that singular system, and impregnated with its mystical
doctrines, the ancient strains of the Cymry, as may be proved by
* Among the Classical authorities on this point we find the names of Dio-
dorus, Ammianus, Athcnaens, Strabo, Csesar, Pliny, and I.ucan: and of
the native testimonies, which are numerous, the most important are thr In
stitutional and Poetical Triads. Mr. Edward Williams has translated a few
of these in the second volume of his Lyrical Poems: and some others may
be.seen in the Preface to Mr. W. O. Pughc's Edition of Llyvareb Heu's
Poems.
216 THE CAMBRO-BRITOX.
some still extant, must have exhibited an extraordinary variance
from those of most other nations*. Historical, institutional, or
aphoristical lore became the general themes of the bard : and in
his treatment of these he was bound to remember, that he be
longed to an order, to whose regulations the effusions of his
muse, as well as the actions of his life, were accountable. But
what gave to the bardic lays their most prominent, as well as
their most honourable, distinction was that adherence to truth, by
which, as a vital principle of the bardic institution, they were in
variably guidedf. Hence it is, that in matters of history the
Welsh bards have ever been consulted as the faithful chroniclers
of their times : while, by a singular contrast, the oldest prose-
compositions of the country are, for the most part, the mere
vehicles of romance and of fiction. This inversion of the general
order of writing is perhaps peculiar to Wales.
But, if the ancient poetry of the Welsh was remarkable for
the peculiarity of its principles, it was not less distinguished- by
the singular features of its construction. And the primary cause
of this was necessarily the independent and original character of
the Welsh language itself. This subject has already been par
tially noticed in the course of this work : and it will hereafter un
dergo a more particular illustration. For the present purpose, it
may be sufficient to observe generally, that the Oriental descent
of the Welsh tongue has given to its poetry the first and most re
markable distinction from that of other European languages. The
copious significance of its simple terms, and the facilities, presented
in the combination of these, have still enhanced that distinction by
the various and novel sources of rhythmical harmony, which they
have opened. And the bards, considering poetry, as they did,
to form a part of their privileged system, are known to have ex
erted all the faculties of their genius in the cultivation of these
means. Hence it has happened, that their poetry possesses a
* Of the ancient Bardic Poems of Wales those of Taliesin are undoubt
edly the most genuine. Many even of our early poets were not bards in the
strict sense of the word. This may be said of Aneurin and Llywarcb Hen,
whose warlike employments were directly at variance with one of the funda
mental maxims of Bardism. It would be a nice inquiry to distinguish be
tween our old bards and such as were merely poets. The terms bard aud
bardic, used in this Essay, it may he proper to add, are not in every case
to be taken in their original acceptation.
f " Y Gwir yn erbyn y Byd," or The Truth against the World, was the
motto of the old Bardic or Druidical Order. And " pure truth " is reckon
ed in the Poetical Triads as one of the " three indispensible purities of
poetry."
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 217
richer store of metres than was, perhaps,ever known to any other,
ancient or modem : and> depending as these all do on the prin
ciple of cynghanedd, or literal consonancy, confined to Welsh
prosody, they naturally give a strange and singular air to the strains
which they regulate. Add to all this, that the grammatical struc
ture of the language admits of a brevity and terseness of ex
pression, which can hardly be conceived from any examples to bo
drawn from other sources, at least in the present day. From this
union of causes it has resulted, that the poetry of Wales, and more
especially that of ancient times, conveys to the ear of j, person, not
thoroughly informed of its characteristics, something unintelli
gible and obscure. And all attempts to explain it through the
vehicle of a literal translation must necessarily prove unsatis
factory, as wanting those aids, which give to the original the
greatest portion of its beauty and energy. Nor is it possible,
even in a poetical version, to preserve all the sententious bre
vity, with the sudden transitions, and occasional boldness of
figurative expression, peculiar to the muse of the Cymry.
This originality in the foundation and superstructure of Welsh
poetry, while it ought to animate the curiosity of the learned,
naturally augments the difficulty of its gratification. Several
translations, both in prose and verse, have, at different times, been
presented to the World ; but it may well be^doubted, whether any,
even those of Gray himself, have given a faithful delineation of
the originals*. It is not meant to insinuate, however, that, in
order to do this, the metrical characteristics of Welsh poetry
should be engrafted upon the English version. Such an idea is
too preposterous to be for a moment indulged. Nor could it be
expected, that the conciseness and abruptness of the originals
should, in all cases, be retained in the translations. This again
would be impracticable. It would be sufficient for all purposes,
that the peculiarities of the Welsh muse should be represented by
such correspondent characteristics of English poetry, as might
seem of a most congenial nature, all the essential attributes, whe-
* This observation has reference principally to the versions of our more
ancient poems, particularly those of the sixth and twelfth centuries, when
the Genius of Wales burst forth, perhaps, in her greatest splendour. Some
productions of later times have appeared to no small advantage in English:
and amongst these may be mentioned tfce " Translations from the British,"
published by Mr. K. Llwyd, in 1804. The poetical versions of Gray, alluded
to in the text, are founded upon the translations given in Mr. Evans's
" Specimens of Ancient Welsh Poetry," and which, it may be remarked,
are not t»o much distinguished by their fidelity to the originals.
VOL. 1. 2 F
218 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ther of passion or sentiment, being of course retained in the
version. But, after all, there are two requisites, without which
no successful translation of Welsh poetry, no more than of any
other, can be expected : one is, that the translator should per
fectly understand the original, and the other, that he should him
self be a poet.
It may appear, after what has been now said, something like
arrogance to offer here any of our old bardic productions in an
English dress. But it forms a particular object of this publica
tion, as expressed at the commencement of the present Essay, to
enable English readers to form an accurate estimate of the value of
Our bardic remains. Consequently, the author of the translation,
which will be found in a subsequent page, is willing to incur the
imputation alluded to, if he should thereby be the means of stimu
lating others to achieve with greater success what he has at
tempted. Yet the attempt here made, however inferior in poetical
merit to Gray's version of the same ode, will, it is hoped, be
found to represent, with more fidelity, the sense and spirit of the
original.
NOTICES OF OLD BOOKS.
The History of the Gwedir * Family, by Sir John Wynne f,
o/Gwedir, Knt. and Bart.
This little work having now become exceedingly rarej, it is
presumed that a brief notice of it will prove no unacceptable
present to the readers of the Cambro Briton.
* The true oithography is Gwydir. But the mode of spelling, used in
the work, is retained in this and in some other instances —Ed.
+ Sir John Wynne was born of a noble and very ancient family in Caer
narvonshire, in the year 1553 : be was married to Sidney, daughter of
Sir Win. Gerrard, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, by whom he had nine sons
and two daughters, a tolerably numerous progeny; but happy, says the
Psalmist, is the man that hath his quiver full of them ! He was created a Ba
ronet in 1611, and died in 1626, in the 73d year of his age. The Baronetcy is
now extinct, his male posterity havim; failed in the person of his grandson,
Sir John Wynne ; but some of the first families in the Principality claim alli
ance with, or descent from, him through female branches ; as the Burrelt*)
Lords Gwydir, (who are also representatives of the extinct Dukedom of An-
caster), the House of Wynstay, the Mostyns of Mostyn.—Yorke's " Royal
Tribes of Wales," contains much carious information on this subject.
% " The History of the Gwedir Family" was first published in a small
8vu. volume, of somewhat less than 100 pages, by the Hon. Daiues Barring -
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 219
The intention of our author, in the compilation of this " His
tory" of his Family, was to deduce his pedigree from Owain
Gwynedd, who succeded his father Gruffydd ab Cynan, to the
throne of North Wales, about the middle of the 12th century,
and in the prosecution of his design he seems to have spared
neither labour, nor expence. So long, therefore, as his ancestors
continued Rcguli of that country* (and " they were mighty men in
their generations)," this tract, imperfect as it is, throws much
valuable light upon its history ; and that the information itself is
authentic has, I believe, never been disputed. He had access
to authorities consulted by no former historian of Wales f. In
addition to Dr. Powell, he refers the reader, in his second page,
to " the Welsh Chronicle" (which we are told in another place,
was in the possession of Sir Thomas Williams of Trefriw), vari
ous Welsh Pedigrees, the records preserved in Caernarvon Castle,
those contained in the tower (which latter, it seems, were copied
for him by " Richard Broughton, Esq. Justice of North Wales,
the chiefs antiquary of England," p. 365), beside the Latine
book quoted in p. 368, and the traditions of the country.
But it is not as a document of public history only that this
work is to be consulted ; its most interesting feature, and that
which constitutes its chief excellence, is the lively picture, which
it furnishes of the manners of our ancestors during the period im
mediately following the subjugation of their country by the English
Edward J. Sir John Wynne wrote his history about the latter
ton (London, 1773) : bat this edition was speedily bought up, and, the work
continuing to be in considerable request, it was reprinted in Mr. Barring-
ton's "Miscellanies," (4to. London, 17B1). The writer of this article some
time since endeavoured to procure a copy of this work; and, after some
month's unwearied search, at length found one, consisting merely of the
" proof sheets" of the original edition, with all the errata, corrections of the
press, &c. &c. The price of this book, or rather (such was its condition) of
these leaves was fifteen shillings, and, the purchase having been deferred
but one day, it found a purchaser at this exorbitant price ! The references,
therefore, of this article are made to the last Edition in Mr. Harrington's
Miscellanies.
* " God hath shewed such mercy to our kind," says Sir John, (p. 396,)
" that ever since the time of Roderirke, the somie of Owen Gwynedd, Lord
of Anglesey, there lived in the Commonwealth, in eminent sorte, one or
other of our name, and many together at times." .
f Mr. Warrington wrote his excellent History of Wales long after the
publicaticn of this work, which he (as do Hume and Carte) frequently
quotes. He is, I believe, still living.
X " Divina Providentia," says Edward, " terram Wallie cum incolis suis,
prius nobis jure feodali subjectam, jam, sui gratia, in proprietatis nostre
dominium totaliter & cum integritate convertit, & corone regni (Angliae)
predicti, tanquam pars corporis ejusdem, annexutt et univit."^(Stat. Wall,
xij Ed. !.) Had the Kings of England any feudal superiority over Wales ;
220 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
end of the sixteenth century, at a period when his countrymen
were already beginning to experience the benefits of their union
with England *, and when they had already in some degree lost
that antipathy to the customs of their more polished neighbours,
which had thrown them so far back in the scale of refinement.
Llewelyn ab Gruffydd, havingtaken part with Simon de Montford
and the disaffected nobility of England against Henry III. though
included in the general accommodation made with the vanquished
after the battle of Evesham, was naturally anxious for his future
safety; and, when required to do homage to the new King,
scrupled to put himself into the hands of his enemy, and de
manded a safe conduct from the King and other terms : all of
which, except the safe conduct, Edward thought proper to refuse,
but, having obtained a fifteenth from the Parliament, marched
against Llewelyn, who had taken refuge amongst the lofty hills of
Snowdon, and there, blockading all the mountain passes, com
pelled the Prince to surrender at discretion. The tertns imposed
appear to have been religiously observed by the Welsh, until un
able longer to support the insolent oppression of the English, they
flew to arms, and thus gave Edward, what he so much desired, a
plausible excuse for their entire subjection. Assembling, there
fore, his military tenants, he marched into Wales, where
Llewelyn being surprised and defeated by Mortimer, was slain
with two thousand of his subjects : and Prince David, his Brother,
after wandering about in various disguises for nearby two years,
was at last betrayed into the hands of the English, sent in chains
tQ Shrewsbury, and, having been tried by all the Peers of Eng
land, suffered death as a traitor, for defending by arms, the liber
ties of his country, together with his own hereditary authorityf.
The union, however, of the two kingdoms was yet incomplete ;
and, to say the truth (observes Sir Edw. Coke \), this nation was
never in quiet until King Henry VII., their own countryman, ob
tained the Crown. But it was reserved for his successor,
Henry VIII. thoroughly to incorporate this brave people with the
English by the statutes of the xxviith. xxxivth, and xxxvth years
of his Reign, whereby considerable alterations are made in their
internal polity, and the inhabitants put upon the same footing, and
made fellow-citizens, with their conquerors : a generous mode of
triumph (says Sir W.§ Blackstone), which the Republic of Rome
or was the feudal system ever known in that country f Mr. Barrington, (in
his observations\on Stat. Walliae,) thinks not.
* This was effected by Stat. 27 Henry VIII.
f Hume. - i Inn. 4. 239. § Vol. 1, p. 94. . .
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 221
practised with great success, till she reduced all Italy to her
obedience by admitting the vanquished states to partake of the
Roman privileges.
The interval, which elapsed between these important events,
was a period of gloom and anarchy, and a period, which our re
gard for the memory of our ancestors would willingly consign to
oblivion, but which our respect for historical truth compels us to
pronounce most barbarous and disgraceful. " Soe bloody and
ireful were quarrels in those days and the revenge of the sword
at such libertie, that almost nothing was punished by law what
ever happened*." Of this the fate of the llawrudds, mentioned
in a subsequent extract, is one of the many examples ; and even
our author's own uncle (such was then the state of the country)
" durst not go to church on a Sunday from his house of Penanmen,
but he must leave the same guarded with men, and leave the
doors sure barred and boultcd, and a watchman to stand at the
Garreg during divine service, being a rock whence he might see
the church and the house and raise the crie if the house was as
saulted. He durst net, although he were guarded with twenty
tall archers, make known when he went to church or elsewhere,
or goe or come the same way through the woodes and narrowe
places, lest he should be layed for ; this was in the beginning of
his time f."
In the course of his narrative the author relates more than
one of those unhappy feuds, which so frequently agitated the
country. I regret, that the limits of the Cambro-Brjton will al
low room for but -one, but that a very remarkable instance.
" The beginning of the quarrel and unkindness between Ievan
ap Robert and Howell ap Rys ap Howell Vaughan," says Sir
John, p. 403 et seq. " grew in this sort. Ievan ap Robert, after
his sister's death, upon some mislike, left the company of Howel
ap Rys, and accompanied John ap Meredith, his nephew, and
his children, who were at continual hate with Howel ap Rys.
Howel ap Rys ap Howel sent a brother of his to lodge over night
at Keselgyfarch, to understand which way Ievan ap Robert ap
Meredith meant to go the next day, who was determined to shoot
a match with John ap Meredith's children at Llanviangel y Pen
nant (near Beddcelert), not far from John ap Meredith's house.
This being understood, the spie, Howel ap Rys his brother,
slips away in the night, and lets his brother know where he should
* P. 395. f Probab'y in the reign of Henry VIII— P. 427.
222 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
lay (wait) for him. Now had Howel ap Rys provided a butcher
for the purpose that should have murthered him ; for he had di
rection by Howel to keepe himselfe free, not to undertake any
of the company until he saw them to a medley, and every man
fighting. Then was his charge to come behind the tallest man ia
the company (for otherwise he knew him not, being a stranger),
and to knocke him down. For Howel ap Rys said ; ' thou shalfc
* soon discerne him from the rest by his stature ; and he will
* make way before him. There is a foster brother of his, one Ro-
* bin ap Inco, a little fellow, that useth to match him behind,
* take heed of him ; for be the encountre never soe hot, his eye is
' ever on his foster brother.' Ievan ap Robert, according as be
was appointed, went that morning with his ordinary company to-,
wards Llanvihangel to meet John ap Meredith. You are to un
derstand, that in those dayes and in that wide worlde every man
stood upon his guard, and went not abroad but in sort, and soe
armed as if he was in the field to encountre with his enemies ....
Howel ap Rys and company, within a while, overtooke Ievan ap
Robert and his followers, who turned head upon them, though
greatlie overmatched. The bickering grew very hott, and many
were knocked downe of either side. In the end, when that should
be performed, which they came for, the murthering butcher have-
ing not strucke one stroake all day, but watching of opportunity,
and, finding the company more scattered than at first from Ievan
ap Robert, thrust himself among Ievan ap Robert's people be-
hinde, and, making a blow at him, was prevented by Robin ap
Inco, his foster brother, and knocked down, God bringing upon
his own head the destruction that he meant for another; which
Howel ap Rys perceiving, cried to his people, ' Let us away and
begone, for I had given chardge that Robin ap Inko should have
been better looked to."
" It fortuned anon after, that the Parson of Llanvrothen took a
child of Ievan ap Robert's to foster, which sore grieved Howel
Vaughan's wife, her husband haveing then more land in that pa-s
rish than Ievan ap Robert had ; in revenge whereof she plotted
the death of the said Parson in this manner. She sent a woman
to aske lodgeing of the Parson, who used not to deny any. The
woman being in bed after midnight began to strike and to rave ;
whereupon the Parson, thinking that she had been distracted,
awakeing out of his sleepe, and, wondering at so suddaine a crie
in the night, made towards her, and his household also; then
•he said, that he would have ravished her, and threatned
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 223
revenge to the Parson. This woman had her brethren, three
notable rogues of the crew, fit for any mischiefe, being followers
of Howel ap Rys. In a morning these brethren watched the Par
son, as he went to look to his cattle in a place in that parish called
Gogo yr Llechwin, and there murthered him ; and two of them
fled into Chirckeland in Denbighshire to some of the Trevors, who
were friends or of a kinne to Howel ap Rys or his wyfe. It was
the manner in those days, that the murtherer onely and he that gave
the deathe's wound should flie, which was called in Welsh llaw-
rudd, which is a red hand, because he had blooded his hand. The
accessaries and abetters of the murtherers were never hearkened
after. . . ." " Ievan ap Robert, going to his friends the Kyffins of
Chirckeland, caught the two llawrudds, but the latter advisod
him not to convey them out of the country, as he wished, by rea
son that the faction of the Trevors would lay the way and narrow
passages of the country ; and, if they were brought to Chirke
castle gate, to receive the tryall of the country lawes, it was law
ful for the offender's friends, whosoever they were, to bring 5l. for
every man for a line to the Lord to acquit him *, so it were not in
cases of treason. Thereupon Ievan ap Robert ap Meredith com
manded one of his men to strike off their heads, which the fellow
doing faintly, the offender told him, that, if he laid his neck under
his sworde, he would make his sword take a better edge than he
did ; whereupon Ievan ap Robert, in a rage, stepping to them,
struck off their heads." P. 408.
To conclude : the quaint style of our author, his religious ve
neration for every circumstance connected with his ancestors, and
his excessive patriotism render this curious work highly enter
taining. And I think I may safely venture to recommend it to.
the attention, not only of the professed antiquary, but of every
Welshman, who takes any interest in the manners of his fore
fathers f.
London, Jan. \, 1820. OTTIX.
* According to the Laws of Hywel Dda, the compensations for murder
varied, with the degrees of relationship, from one pound to seven pence
halfpenny, that is from the first to the sixth degree. And their compensa
tions were to be paid within a fortnight from the time of the murder, if the
murderer remained jn the country.—Ed.
f The learned Dr. Percy (afterwards Bp. of Dromore), perused this work
with great attention, and added, (besides several valuable notes), four gene
alogical tables illustrative of this history, all of which, together with several
notes by Mr. Barrington, and Mr. Evan Evans, are published in the Edition
printed in Mr. Barrington's Miscellanies.
'2U THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
THE MISCELLANIST.—No. III.
To those natives of Wales, who feel a proper regard for the
literary remains of their country, it must always be a source of
gratification to find their genuineness vindicated by such cor
respondent features in the literature of other nations, as seem to
owe their birth to the same common origin. For this reason the
following letter cannot fail to be read with considerable interest,
proving, as it does in so clear a manner, that our celebrated
Triads are founded in principles characteristic of other ancient
productions, and which are, in a word, the principles of nature
herself. This was partially noticed in the first Number, of the
Cambro-Briton ; and the writer of this letter has very satis
factorily supplied what was then omitted with reference to the
general subject.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—When reflecting, the other day, upon the Triads of the
Cymry, I was led to consider the prevalence of the triad, not
merely as a vehicle of information and as a help to the memory,
but as in a strange manner pervading nature as well as art. In
the productions of poetry, as is suggested in the first Number
of the Cambro-Briton, it is continually to be met with. But
it is by no means confined to works of fiction. Some of the gravest
philosophical treatises abotind in triads. I was particularly
struck with this, on calling to my mind a celebrated work of one
of the first, if not the first, of heathen moralists. I allude to
Aristotle's treatise on morals, generally known under the title of
'* The Nicomachaean Ethics." I have selected a few of the
Stagirite's Triads (perhaps all of any consequence to be met with
in his Ethics), and, as they seem so forcibly to point out the foun
dation which the favourite form of the British apopthegms has in
the nature of things, you may possibly think them not undeserv
ing of admission into the Cambro-Briton. I shall introduce
them with the title usual among the Cymry.
TRIADS OF WISDOM*.
I. The three pre-eminent kinds of life, in which mankind de-
* See the Ethic, ad Nieom. lib. i. capp. 5, 3, (for the 2d and 3d Triads,)
and 13—lib. 2. capp. b and 8—lib. 6. cap. 2—lib. 7. cap. 1—lib. 8.
capp. 3 and 10.
The cambro-briton. 225
light ; the life of sensual enjoyment, the life of public business,
and the life of contemplation.
ii. The three divisions of good : external, bodily, and mental.
in. The three excellencies of happiness : it is the most ad
vantageous, the noblest, and most pleasurable of all objects.
iv. The three parts of the soul : that which is totally destitute
of reason, that, which being under the sway of reason, has thence
a derived rationality, and that which is intrinsically rational ; ot
the animal, the moral, and the intellectual.
v. The three things observable in the soul : its capacities, its
affections, and its habits.
vI. The .three modes of moral disposition : the defect in any
affection, the mean, and the excess.
viI. The three things in the soul which have the management of
action and truth : perfection, intelligence, and aim.
vm. The three things to be shunned in the moral character :
infirmity, vice, and brutality. Their three opposites, self-
mastery, virtue, and heroism.
IX. The three kinds of friendship : the first proceeding upon a
principle of virtue, the second of pleasure, the third of interest.
x. The three forms of government : regal rule, aristocracy,
and timocracy (or a republic) ; with their three deteriorated forms,
despotism, oligarchy, and democracy.
Independently of the chief end, intended to be answered by the
above selections from Aristotle, in illustrating how strangely the
form of the triad coincides so often with philosophical truth, they
may also serve to shew, that, if sometimes such brief apopthegms
are either in themselves obscure, or cannot be done justice to
in a translation, they are not therefore to be rejected as untrue
or devoid of point. The above quotations from the Stagirite are
indeed most of them such as will be readily admitted to be true :
but some are of a diffenent character. They become however
quite clear and forcible upon a reference to the original context.
On the same principle I argue, that many of the Triads, which
appear at first sight not to be " Triads of Wisdom," would be
found such with a little explanation.
It cannot be necessary to remind any of your readers th»t
Aristotle does not write in triads ; nor was he, that I am aware,
one who aimed at producing them. Those, which I have selected,
occur in the natural course of his work, and as such are more va
luable evidence in favour of the Druidical method of teaching. I
vol. I. . ' 2 G
226 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
am, Sir, a cordial well-wisher to the cause of Welsh literature,
and your obedient humble servant.
Oxford, Jan. 18, 1820. S. Y.
The two following communications will, no doubt, share the
interest, that has already been attached to the former contribu
tions of the same writers. And it will not be forgotten, with re
ference to their particular subjects, that a union of the utile duki
will ever form a principal object of this publication.
* *
CEUBREN YR ELLYLL*.
In the park of Nannau, in Merionethshire, the seat of Sir
Robert W. Vaughan, Bart., there stood, till within these few
years, a hollow, large, and blasted oak, whose blanched and
withered branches presented in spring and summer a striking
contrast to the verdure of the surrounding woods. It was a noted
tree, and the peasant, as he passed it in the gloom of evening,
would quicken his pace, and, perhaps, murmur a prayer for the
preservation of his person from the crafts and assaults of the evil
one.
" E'en to this day, the peasant still
With cautious fear treads o'er the ground ;
In each wild bush a spectre sees,
And trembles at each rising sound."
A long succession of ages has rolled on since the event trans
pired, which conferred on this tree an influence so appalling.
During the wars of Glyndwr, in the former part of the fifteenth
century, a cousin of that hero resided at Nannau; his name
Howel Sele. It appears, that Howel had refused to espouse hi*
kinsman's and his country's cause, thereby rendering himself par
ticularly obnoxious to the choleric Glyndwr ; and an enmity was
thus engendered between the two chieftains, which was fostered
on both sides with savage and revengeful malignity. During a
cessation of arms Owen, so intimates tradition, sought amuse
ment and exercise in the pleasures of the chase, and he deter
mined, like Earl Percy of old, to " force the red deer from the
forest brake " in the domains of his unbending kinsman. Thi
ther he repaired, therefore, with a bosom friend, named Madog,
and a small hunting train. As was to be expected, he encoun
tered Howel alone, but armed, who demanded with what right
* In Eugiish, " The Hobgoblin's hollow Tree."—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITQN. 227
he, a rebel to his king, thus intruded upon his solitude ? Reply
succeeded reply, till they resolved to decide the question by force
of arms. They consequently fought, and Howel fell a victim to
the superior prowess of his kinsman. Near the place, •where they
contended, was a large oak, the trunk of which was hollow : into
this cavity the body of the brave but headstrong lord of Nannau
was cast, and Owen and his train hastened home to Glyndwr-
dwy. The disappearance of their lord caused the greatest alarm
and consternation at the castle ; all possible search was made, but
without effect, and his sorrowing lady secluded herself from the
world in the solitude of her lonely and now gloomy residence.
Year succeeded year, and still no tidings were received of the
absent Howel. At length, one tempestuous evening in Novem
ber, an armed horseman was descried urging his flagging steed
up the hill, which leads to Nannau from the neighbouring town of
Dolgellau. He passed quickly on his way, and arriving at the
castle, demanded an audience of its sad and solitary mistress. It
was Madog, who, his friend Glyndwr being dead, had hastened to
clear up the mystery, in which the disappearance of Howel Sele
was involved, He told his tale, and led the astonished and trem
bling domestics to the sepulchre, which enclosed the bones of their
Lord. It was opened, and the skeleton of Howel was discovered
grasping with his right hand the sword he was .accustomed usually
to wear. His remains were interred in the neighbouring monas
tery of Cymmer with all the pomp and ceremony of Catholic su
perstition, and masses were performed for the repose of his incensed
and troubled spirit *,
The oak, in which Howel's body was deposited, is the same, to
which I have alluded in the opening of this sketch ; and it was
standing about seven or eight years ego. A violent storm, how
ever, cast to the earth this venerable !' monarch of the forest
and the worthy Baronet, in whose domains it was situated, caused
its wood to be manufactured into a variety of utensils, the same to
be distributed among his friends. A short time before it was
blown down an eminent amateur artist made a sketch of it,
from which engravings have since been taken, and there is scarcely
a house in Dolgelley, but what contains one at least of these en
gravings, framed in the very wood (which is of a beautifully
dark colour approaching to ebony) of the Ceubren yr Ellyll. At
* Pennant has differently related this event. See his Sketch of th*
Life of Glyndwr in the Appendix to his '* Tours in Wale*."
226 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Nannau there are several relics of this majestic tree. Amongst
others, I must not omit to mention, is a frame, containing an en
graved full-length portrait of the memorable Pilt. The frame is
unadorned by the gilder, but it presents an appearance, to use the
phrase of a celebrated Welsh writer, of magnificent simplicity.
Under the portrait is the following motto, particularly happy in
its allusion to the " pilot who weathered the storm."
YGwr,
fal y dderwen,
a wynebodd
y dymestl, *
T. R.
« OF NOBLE RACE WAS SHENKIN."
J. Parry presents his compliments to the Editor of the Cam-
bro-Briton, and begs to observe, that there is a peculiarity at
tached to the mode of singing the song, to the tune " Of noble
Race was Shenkin," inserted in No. 4, page 146, which, he flat
ters himself, it would not be uninteresting to have explained.
The first line, " Of noble Race was Shenkin," is sung to the
two first bars (or measure) of the air ; the 3d and 4th bars are
played on the harp or pianoforte in the bass as a symphony. —
The second line, " Of the line of Owen Tudor," goes to the 5th
and 6th bars ; then follow the 7th and 8th bars, played as before.
The third line, " But hur renown was fled and gone," takes the
two first bars of the second part of the air, the Sd and 4th being
played as symphony ; then the third line is repeated, and the
fourth follows without an intervening symphony, and completes
the air.
When this song is performed without an accompaniment, the
singer imitates the symphony, and fills the measure by a bur
lesque " thrum, thrum, thrum, thrum," &c. &c. e. g.
" Of noble race was Shenkin,
Thrum, thrum, thrum, thrum, &c.
Of the line of Owen Tudor,
Thrum, &c.
But hur renown was fled and gone,
Thrum, &c.
But hur renown was fled and gone,
Since cruel Love pursued hur."
* " The man, like the oak, faced the tempest."—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 229
AWEN CYMRU.
A'th rodd yw athrwydd Awcn. Edm. Phys.
-*>cg>e>*>-
GWALCHMAI A'l CANT I OWAIN GWYNEDD*.
Arddwyreaf hael o hil Rodri,
Ardwyad gorwlad gwerlin teithi,
Teithiawg Prydain,
Twyth afyrdwyth Owain,
Teyrnain ni grain,
Ni grawn rei.
Tair lleng y daethant, liant lestri,
Tair praff priff llynges, wy bres brofi ;
Un o Iwerddon,
Arall arfogion
O'r Llychlynigion,
Llwrw hirion lli.
A'r drydedd dros for o Norddmandi,
Ar drafferth anferth anfad iddi.
A draig Mon, mor drud ei eissilludd yn aer,
Y bu terfysg taer i haer holi,
A ragddaw rhewys dwys dyfysgi,
A rhewin, a thrin, a thranc cymri ;
Ar gad gad greudde,
Ar gryd gryd graiendde,
Ac am dal Moelfre
Mil fanieri.
* This Ode of Gwalchmai, which is copied from the Archaiology, the
orthography merely being adapted to the present day, is the same,
of which Dr. Percy speaks in such high and merited terms of praise in the
letter inserted in the last Number of the CambeO-BritoN. And yet he
could only have formed his opinion of its merit through the disadvantage
ous medium of a literal English version, and that not strictly true to the
original, if it was the same as that afterwards published by Mr. Evans in
his " Specimens of Ancient Welsh Poetry." On the same version also Gray
founded his Ode called the " Triumphs of Owen." The most remarkable cha
racteristics of the original are the rapid succession of circumstances, which it
details,—the impetuous fire, infused by the poet into his verse,—and, above
all, that condensed and nervous expression, peculiar to ancient Welsh
poetry, of which no English translation can furnish any adequate no
tion. All these features unite in rendering this production one of the
most remarkable of an age distinguished by the cultivation of poetical ta
lent. Gwalchmai lived in the twelfth century.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Ar ladd ladd llaihar, ar bar beri,
Ar ffwyr ffwyr ffyrsgawd, ar fawdd foddi ;
A Menai heb drai o drallanw gwaedryar,
A lliw gwyar gwyr yn heli,
A llurygawr glas a gloes trychni,
A thrycbion yn dudd rhag rheiddrudd ri.
O ddygyfor Lloegr, a dygyfrang a hi,
Ac eu dygyfwrw yn astrusi,
Y dygyfod clod cleddyf difri ;
Yn saith ugain iaith wy faith foli.
PENNILLION.
XXXIX.
Da ydyw*r gwaith, rhaid d'we'yd y gwir,
Ar fryniau Sir Meirionydd ;
Golwg oer o'r gwaela gawn,
Mae hi etta yn llawn llawenydd :
Pwy ddysgwyliai canai'r gog
Mewn mawnog yn y mynydd ?
> xl,.
Y sawl, a feio arnaf, bered,
Heb fai arno nac arbeded :
Y sawl ynt dan eu beiau beunydd,
Fe eill y rheini fod yn llonydd.
XLI.
Tro dy wyneb attai 'n union,
Gyd a 'r wyneb trody galon,
Gyd a 'r galon tro d'ewyllys,
Ystyria beth wrth garwr clwyfus.
XLII.
Lawer gwaith a bu fy mwriad
Gael telynor immi'n gariad,
Gan felysed swn y tannau
Gyd a 'r hwyr a chyd a 'r borau.
ENGLYNION.
I GaerGai a losgid gan wyr Cromwell.
Caer Gai nid difai fu gwaith tan arnad,
Oernych wyd yr awrhon ;
Caer aethost i' m car weithian ; '
Caer Gai lle bu cywir gan.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 231
I Gaer Gai
Wedi ei hail adeiliadu.
Llawer Caer, yn daer, i'w dydd a losgwyd,
"Lesg-waith wyr di-grefydd ;
Y gaer hon i gywir hydd
Caer gain yw Caer Gai newydd.
P. B. W. Rowland Fvchan * a' i cant.
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATION OF GWALCHMAI'S ODE TO OWAIN
GWYNEDD f.
The generous chief I sing of Rhodri's line,
With princely gifts endowed, whose hand
Hath often curbed the border-land,
Owain, great heir of Britain's (krone,
Whom fair Ambition marks her own,
Who ne'er to yield to man was known ;
Nor heaps he stores at Avarice's shrine.
* Rowland Fychan lived during the latter part of the 17th century, and
distinguished himself as a Welsh writer, and particularly by the translation
of one or two English works. He lived at Caer Gai in Merionethshire, the
place here mentioned to have been burnt in the time of Cromwell. So much
of the merit of these Englynion depends upon the turn of expression in the
original, that they could not be advantageously rendered into English.— Eo.
.f- It is not very easy to trace in the Welsh Histories the event, to which
this Poem relates. But, as Gwalchmai lived at the period of its occurrence,
it is not too much to conclude, that the particular action, here detailed,
may have escaped the more general researches of later historians. Hum
phrey Llwyd, in his " Historie of Cambria," notices two battles fought near
the Menai, during the reign of Owain Gwynedd: one in 1142, " when a
great number of Irishmen and Scots landed at Abennenay," upon whieh oc
casion Owain fell upon them with such slaughter, that but few escaped alive.
The other happened in 1157, in which year Henry 2d sent a fleet to Angle
sey uaVler the command of Madog ab Meredydd, Prince of Powys, part of
whose force made a descent on the island, and, after ravaging the country
and plundering two churches, were all cut off by the inhabitants in their
attempt to regain their vessels. Moses Williams was of opinion, that Gwalch-
mai's Ode had reference to this action ; but neither this nor the former
seems of sufficient importance to justify the high strains of the poet. We
must therefore infer, either that no memorial of this particular battle has
been preserved by the ordinary historians, or else that Gwalchmai alludes
to a series of victories obtained by Owain over Henry 2d, in 1157, com
mencing with the successful ambuscade of Owain's two sous at Ceed Eulo,
233 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Three mighty legions o'er the sea-flood came,
Three fleets intent on sudden 'fray,
One from Erin's verdant coast,
One with Lochlin's armed host,
Long burthens of the billowy way :
The third, from far, bore them of Norman name,
To fruitless labour doom'd and barren fame.
'Gainst Mona's gallant Lord*, where lo! he stands,
His warlike sons rang'd at his side f,
Rushes the dark tumultuous tide,
Th' insulting tempest of the hostile bands.
Bojdly he turns the furious storm, •
Before him wild Confusion flies,
While Havoc rears her hideous form,
And prostrate Rank expiring lies :
Conflict upon conflict growing,
Gore on gore in torrents flowing,
Shrieks answering shrieks, and Slaughter raving,
And high o'er Moelfre's front a thousand banners waving {•
Now thickens still the frantic war,
The flashing death-strokes gleam afar,
Spear rings on spear, flight urges flight,
And drowning victims plunge to night ;
in Flintshire, and terminating with the defeat of Madog ab Meredydd in
Anglesey, as above mentioned. The intermediate Successes were obtained
near Flint and Rhnddlan : and on the former occasion several Englishmen of
distinction were slain. It may add to the authenticity of the account given
in this Ode to mention, that Gwalchmai was himself a warrior.—Ed.
* The original words, here translated " Mona's gallant Lord" are " draig
Mon," literally the dragon or chief of Mona; for draig has both significa
tions. Gwalchmai elswhere uses " draig Prydain," for " Sovereign of Bri
tain."—Gray was wrong in supposing the word had any reference to Owain's
cresti—Owain is here called Chief of Mona, in all probability, because the
general residence of the Princes of Gwynedd was at Abertfraw in that island.
—Ed.
f According to Humphrey Llwyd's History, Owain Gwynedd had as many
as seventeen sons, and most of them remarkable for their valorous con
duct.—Ed.
, % The-bill, here called Moel/re, is perhaps in that part of Anglesey, near
the Menai, now called TalyVocl. The original name, however, is now
lost.—It may be proper to apprise the English reader, that the word is pro
nounced Meelvray.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Till Menai's overburthened tide,
Wide-blushing with the streaming gore,
And choked with carnage, ebbs no more ;
While mail-clad warriors, on her side,
In anguish drag their deep-gash'd wounds along,
And 'fore the red-stained Chiefare heaped themangledthrong.
Thus Loegria's onset, Loegria's flight,
The struggle, doom'd her power to tame,
Shall, with her routed sons, unite
To raise great Owain's sword to fame :
While seven score tongues of his exploits shall tell,
And all their high renown through future ages swell.
* *
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
XXXIX.
On Meirion's hills (the truth to speak)
Delight is often found ;
For though the scene be bare and bleak,
Yet mirth and joy abound :
Who would expect the cuckoo's song
To hear the mountain bogs among ?
XL.
Who is himself quite free from blame,
Let him alone my faults proclaim ;
But those, whose faults we daily see,
May spare their pains to censure me.
XLI.
Turn, quickly turn thy face, I pray,
And with thy face turn here thy heart,
Oh, let thy will too turn this way ;
Think something of thy lover's smart.
XLII.
Oft has it been my wish to gain
A lover in a minstrel-swain,
Who, with his harp's melodious pow'r,
Might soothe the morn and evening hour.
* *#
TOL. I. 2 H
334 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
WALES.
OLD CYMMRODORION SOCIETY.—The recent forma
tion of so many praiseworthy associations in Wales for advancing
a knowlege of the language and literature of the country may
render it interesting to have some account of the first Institution of
this nature ever established. By this is meant the original Cym-
mrodorion Society, founded in London in the month of September,
1751, under the patronage of his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales. From an Introductory Address prefixed to the " Consti
tutions of this Honourable Society," printed in 1778, it appears,
that the main object of the Institution was the cultivation of the
Welsh language, on the excellence and utility of which are given
some very judicious remarks. " To this end," the Introduction
proceeds, " a considerable number of persons, natives of the
Principality of Wales, residing in and about London, inspired
with the love of their common country, and excited by their reve
rence for the name of Britons, established a Society in the year
1751, distinguished by the stile and title of Cymmrodorion *.
And, although the cultivation of the British language, and a search
into antiquities were the principal end of their meeting together,
it was not however by any means intended to make those enqui
ries and speculations the sole objects of their attention. They like
wise proposed to render this Society as useful in general as the
nature of it would admit ; to facilitate which laudable design, and,
to make its influences as extensive as they appeared beneficial, it
was agreed, not only to establish a general acquaintance amongst
the natives of the Principality ofWales, but also a friendly inter
course and correspondence with all candid enquirers into truth.
"And, as we glory in being the offspring ofthe ancient Britons,
it will be our endeavour to prove ourselves worthy of that ho
nourable appellation, by imitating those social and generous vir
tues, for which our ancestors are sojustly renowned : more parti
cularly, we shall be attentive to the true interest of our native
country, and seek to procure its welfare and prosperity; and,
that we may not be wanting in the noblest and most Christian vir
tue, we shall contribute our endeavours towards the instruction of
. the ignorant, and the relief of the distressed part of our coun
trymen.
" With regard to ourselves, as members of this Society, it will
* Or, Aborigines.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 235
be our constant care strictly to observe a just order and decorum
at our several meetings ; to conduct ourselves unblameably and
inoffensively ; to discourage all vice and immorality ; to promote
every private and public virtue ; to testify our firm attachment to
his Majesty King George, and his mild and auspicious govern
ment ; to cultivate a good understanding amongst ourselves, and
to extend our charity and benevolence towards all mankind."
The " Constitutions," that follow, eighteen in number, toge
ther with the "General Heads of subjects to be occasionally consi
dered and treated of in the correspondence of the Society of
Cymmrodorion," are too long to be inserted in the present
Number. But their interesting character, as well as their close
alliance with the principles, on which other Societies, of the same
description, have tsince been established, will, no doubt, be acr
cepted as a sufficient reason for introducing them hereafter into the
Cambro-Briton. On the present occasion it only remains to
add, that the publication, from which the preceding extracts are
made, contains the names of more than 350 members, including
those that were only " corresponding members." And in this list
are to be found the names of most natives of the Principality,
eminent, at the time, for their talents or station. ***
CHURCH UNION SOCIETY IN THE DIOCESE OF
ST. DAVID'S.—The following are the premiums proposed by
this laudable institution for the present year. The decision will
take place in July :—
A premium of Fifty Pounds (by benefaction) for the best Essay
on the necessity of a Church Establishment in a Christian Country,
for the preservation of Christianity among the people of all
ranks and denominations; and on the means of exciting and
maintaining amongst its own members a spirit of devotion, toge
ther with zeal for the honour, stability, and influence of the esta
blished Church.
A Premium of Five and Twenty Pounds for the best Essay in
Latin,—De Britanniae meritis erga religionem propagatam, sta-
bilitam, reformatam, ope Pauli Apostoli praedicantis, Constan-
tini * stabilientis, Henrici restituentis, prteeuntibus Edwardorum
Regum legibus, et Wickliffi. aliorumque vindiciis Christianas veri-
tatis.
* Constantinnm magnum non tantum in Britannia Caesarem, primura
dictum esse, sed e Britannia orinndum fuisse, adeo certum jndicat Ba-
ro«ius, et non nisi extrema? dementis homines illi sentential repugnare
dicat. (Strauchii Breviarium Chronolog, p. 849.)
236 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
EDUCATION.—This very important subject was noticed in
the Second Number of the Cambro-Briton : and its intimate con
nection with the welfare of the country cannot be too frequently
urged upon the public attention. When the deficiency of public
schools was mentioned on the former occasion as an evil, pecu
liarly affecting the Principality, an exception ought to have been
made in favour of South Wales, where a spirit of liberality seems
to prevail in this respect truly worthy of general imitation. This
observation is applicable, in a particular manner, to the Carmarthen
Grammar School, whose public recitations on the 22d and 23d of
December last seem to have indicated a degree of general im
provement, as well as of individual talent, highly creditable both
to the conductors and pupils of that respectable Seminary. And
it deserves to be mentioned, that the cultivation of the Welsh
tongue forms a prominent feature in the system of education pur
sued at this school ; a characteristic, that, while it confers so much
honour on this particular establishment, reflects a proportionate
disgrace on most others in Wales. Several Welsh productions
were very ably recited on the occasion above-mentioned, as well
as many in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English.—On the 23d of
December the dramatic performances of the students of the Car
digan Grammar School, which had been suspended in conse
quence of an accident in the Town-hall on the 17th of that month,
were resumed with great success. The ability, with which the
characters were supported, drew forth the applause ofa numerous
and respectable audience. The performance on this occasion was
Mrs. Hasnah Moore's Sacred Drama of David and Goliah.—On
the 4th of January the public examination of the children of the
British School, at Newport in Monmouthshire, took place in the
presence of Sir C. Morgan, the Patron, and other distinguished
individuals. Sir C. Morgan's liberal patronage of this very
laudable institution is only one amongst many of the public
spirited acts, which ought to seeure the gratitude of his country.
*
CHARITABLE DONATIONS —The inclemency of the late
season, unequalled for many years, has not failed to have its na
tural effect on the characteristic benevolence of this country. The
misery, necessarily occasioned by the severity of the weather, has
in consequence experienced very general relief throughout the
kingdom. .And the inhabitants of Wales have had their
share in this beneficent work. The following instances de
serve to be here recorded.—On the 23d of December the Rev.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 237
Mr. Picton, of Iscoed, gave his annual donation of mutton
to the poor of St. Bride's Major and Wick, Glamorganshire.—
In the same month D. H. Fugh, Esq., High Sheriff of Carmarthen
shire, distributed five guineas amongst the prisoners in the gaol of
that county : and on Christmas day W. H. Scourfield, Esq. M. P.
for Haverfordwest, gave a bountiful donation of beef, potatoes,
&c. to the prisoners in the gaol of the county ofPembroke.—About
the same period Panton Corbett, Esq. of Leighton-hall, near
Welshpool, distributed 90 tons of coal amongst the poor cot
tagers in his neighbourhood, being his third annual donation of
the same sort.—A waggon load of coals was also supplied, in the
beginning of the year, by Lord Cawdor to the prisoners in the
borough gaol of Carmarthen : and a similar donation by Mr.
Timmins to the inhabitants of the county prison.—On the 8th of
January Lord Clive's annual donation of beef and bread was dis
tributed amongst upwards of 500 poor families in the vicinity of
Powys Castle : and on the same day a donation of the same
description was dispensed by his Lordship amongst the poor of
the town and neighbourhood of Montgomery.—In the first week
in January Pryse Pryse, Esq., M, P. for Cardigan, distributed
15 guineas worth of culm amongst the poor of that town.—The
Bishop of St, David's also supplied eight and twenty poor fami
lies with coal in the neighbourhood of Abergwilly.—The Hon.
J. F. Campbell, M. P. presented a donation of ten guineas to the
poor debtors confined in the borough gaol of Carmarthen*—Early
in January John Owen, Esq. of Penrhos, Montgomeryshire,
ordered, the sum of 30l. to be distributed amongst the poor in his
neighbourhood.—Mrs. Myddleton Biddulph transmitted to the
Warden of Ruthin the sum of 201. for the relief of the poor of
that town, together with a donation for the poor prisoners in
the county gaol.—On the 18th of last month a public meeting
of the inhabitants of Carmarthen was holden for the pur
pose of adopting means for the relief of the distressed and indus
trious poor of that town ; and soon afterwards a considerable sub
scription was raised for the promotion of this benevolent object.
—A liberal donation was distributed by Lord Robert Seymour
amongst the poor of the town and neighbourhood of Llandilo.—
Lord Dynevor has given a plentiful supply of soup to the poor
in the neighbourhood of Dynevor Castle ; his Lordship has also
made a donation of 5/. to the debtors in the county gaol of Car
marthen.—And Lord Cawdor, Sir Wm. Paxton, George Meares,
238 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Esq. and Thomas Taylor, Esq. have likewise made liberal dona
tions in money, provisions, and coals to the general inmates of
the same prison. *»*
MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.—The shipwrecks,that
took place during the month of December on the coasts of Wales,
form a melancholy feature under this head. Five vessels appear
to have been lost during that month, four on the coast of South
Wales, and the other between Barnsley Island and Pencilian,
Carnarvonshire. And in the latter instance six out of seven per
sons, the whole number of the crew, unhappily perished in their
attempt to gain shore in the boat after the vessel had been driven
amongst some rocks in the neighbourhood.—On the 19th of De
cember the Bishop of Bangor held a public Ordination, when Da
vid Williams, A.B., John Jones, A.B., and Thomas Jones,
clerk, were ordained priests, and Edward Williams, A. B., John
Prichard, A. B., and Thomas Stacey were ordained deacons—
The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry Cavalry, commanded by C.W.
W. Wynn, Esq., M. P. has recently received an accession of two
new troops, whereby the whole force of this respectable corps
now consists of six troops.—The Royal Maelor Regiment of Flint
shire Yeomanry has also been augmented by the addition of two
troops, which have chiefly been raised by the active exertions of
Lord Kenyon, whose loyal zeal in the cause of his "country, upon
all occasions that call for it, cannot be' too highly applauded.—
Lord Milford has made an offer to his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent to add a third troop of Yeomanry Cavalry to those al
ready under his Lordship's command in the county of Pembroke.
—The Denbighshire Subscription, for encreasing the yeomanry
force of the county, established in consequence of a meeting no
ticed in the last Number of the Cambro-Briton, amounts to about
1300/.—On the 9th of January the Bishop of St. Asaph held a
public Ordination, when Thomas Lewis Hughes, A. M., George
CunluTe, A.B., and George Redavay Matthews were admitted
into the holy order of Priests.—A Cymerigyddion Society has
lately been instituted at Liverpool, to co-operate with the other
Societies so laudably established for the preservation and promo
tion of the Welsh language and literature. The Society had their
anniversary dinner on the 3d ult., when James Butler Clough,
Esq. as Honorary President, was in. the chair. *tt*
LITERATURE.—The following works, in addition to those
THE CA1NTBR0-BRIT0N. 239
noticed in the preceding Numbers, are now in the course of pub
lication or contemplated.
The Rev. Walter Davies, of Manafon, Montgomeryshire, has
recently prspared for the press the first complete edition of the
Poems of Hi/w Morus, which will speedily be published at
Wrexham.
[The merited estimation, in which the productions of this poet
have ever been holden, together with the Editor's acknowleged
ability for the undertaking, cannot fail to ensure to this work an
ample share of patronage among the lovers ofWelsh poetry. Ai
a song-writer Huw Morus has generally been considered un
rivalled.]
A Welsh Translation of the Works of Josephus, which has
been published in Numbers at Dolgellau, will soon be completed.
A new Quarto Edition of the Bible, in WELSH,with the Annota
tions of the late Rev. Peter Williams, is in the course of publica
tion at Carmarthen.
Proposals are now in circulation for publishing by subscription
Y Diliw, being a Welsh Epic Poem on the Deluge, by Mr.
David Richards (Dafydd Ionaxur), the price of each copy to
be,4s. and the work to be put to press as soon as subscriptions
have been secured for 200 copies.
[As the merits of this author have, for a long time, been well
known to the public, it is confidently hoped, that he will meet
with such patronage, as will not only enable him to defray the
expences of publication, but also be a just remuneration for de
voting a long life and eminent talents to the cause of Welsh
literature.]
Can any of the readers of the Cambro-Briton inform the
Editor, whether a Welsh MS. Translation of Aristotle's Meta
physics, by the celebrated Dr. John David Rhys, is any where in
existence ? The learned Doctor certainly contemplated such a
work with a view to establish the capacity of the Welsh tongue
for expressing the most subtile operations of the mind : and
Wood, in his Athena: Oxonienscs, mentions, that the translation
was; actually deposited amongst the MSS. in Jesus College Library
at Oxford. V
OBITUARY.
December 23.—John Martin, Esq. of Withybush, Pembroke
shire, much respected and regretted.—After a long illness, John
Philips Langhorne, Esq. of Orlandon, Pembrokeshire, deeply
240 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
and deservedly lamented by a numerous circle of friends.—
25th. At Bodynlliw, Merionethshire, Thomas Davies, Esq. aged
63, of Bryn Cynfrig.—At Moser House, Suffolk, aged 64, the
Right Hon. Emily, wife of Lord Henniker, the only surviving
daughter of Robert Jones, Esq. formerly of Dyffryn, in the
county of Glamorgan.—31st. Mrs. Jones, aged 72, wife of Mr.
O. Jones of Llysfaen, near Abergele.— January 2d. Charlotte
Maria, third daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Myddleton, of Gwayn-
ynog, Denbighshire.—At Brinsop Court, Herefordshire, aged 79,
Mrs. Davies, of Burver, Radnorshire ; a lady whose habits of be
nevolence and Christian piety had rendered her an example wor
thy of general emulation.—8th. After a short but severe illness, in
the spring of life, Mr. George Jones, surgeon, of Ruthin, Den
bighshire, whose private worth has rendered his death a source of
the most lively regret to his friends and connections.—9th. Mr.
Evan Price, watchmaker, of Llanfyllin, Montgomeryshire, aged
104 years and ten months. Until two years previous to his death
he was able to attend to his trade ; and to the last his sight was
sufficiently strong to enable him to read a newspaper without the
aid of glasses. He died generally respected.—12th: Mrs. Parry,
widow of the late Mr. Robt. Parry, surgeon, of Mold, in the
county of Flint : a lady deeply lamented by those relatives and
friends, to whom her private qualities had endeared her, and de
servedly regretted by all her acquaintance.—16th.. Rev. R. Ro
berts, Rector ofGwaenyscor, in the county of Flint, a gentleman
distinguished as a worthy man and a good Christian.—17th. At the
Parsonage-house, Llansaintffraid, Montgomeryshire, the Rev. Mor
gan Pryse, aged 60, a Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Mont
gomery, and a Justice of the Peace for the county of Denbigh.
Esteemed and respected, as he was through life, for his social
worth, he will long be an object of the most sincere grief to his
numerous friends.—lb. Col. Lloyd, of Dole Castle, near Milford,
a Gentleman, whose valuable services as an active, intelligent,
and humane magistrate will cause his death to be felt as a serious
public loss.—lb. Miss Bowen, sister of the late Jas. Bowen, Esq.
of Pantyderry.—18th. At Northop, Flintshire, Henry Parry, Esq.
lateofMontego Bay, Jamaica.—19th. George Roch, Esq. ofCIer-
eston, Pembrokeshire.—23d. Lawton Parry, Esq. of Glanrafon,
in the county of Denbigh,
ERRORS CORRECTED.
No. 5. Pa. 187, L IS, for " Camenae" rtad " Camoenae."
Pa. 190, 1. 10, of the " Cyfarch," for « yu,' read - ya,
COELBREN Y BEIRDD, or BARDIC ALPHABET*.
Rad. Der. JJarf. Der. Accented Letters.
A A A k
si E u 6
1I
0 0 6 w w y
1/B f m u
r P b ph mh***
it Ff
U M f *l
<CK K C g ch ngh c66
cC $ ft G — ng
l
>> 14
D dd n
t-> 11"ft T d th nh
MN
IM K
LI 1
r r Rh r i
rS
uH
* The first column in this Cut represents the Old Bardic Letters, both
Radical and Derivative, the second gives their corresponding Letters, as far
as they can be adapted to them, in the Roman Alphabet, and the last column
contains the accented Roman Letters, employed in the Archaiology of Wales
to represent the Mutations of the Welsh Consonants, as noticed in the
Essay on Initial Mutations in the Eleventh Number of this Work.—Ed.
[«f To face Page 241.]
THE
MARCH, 1820.
NUIXI QUIDEM MIHI SATIS ERUDITI VIDENTTJR, QUIBUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero de Legibus.
WELSH LANGUAGE.
THE BARDIC LETTERS.
From the elementary analysis of the Welsh Language, to
which the last Essay under this head was devoted, a transition to
those symbols, which are employed to represent its articulations
to the eye, seems easy and natural. " Words," says Aristotle,
" are the marks of thoughts, and letters of words:" and St. Au-
gustin, pursuing the same idea, observes, " verba sunt signa au-
" dibilia, signa verba visibilia." And nothing can be more certain
than that this was the natural progress of language : the oral or
audible first, and then that, which was written or visible. The
elementary sounds, of which some account has already been given,
were supplied by Nature herself as the representatives of ideas in
a primitive state of society ; but, had human intercourse pro
ceeded no farther than this, it must of necessity have remained
extremely rude and imperfect. The same impulse, • therefore,
that taught man to convey his thoughts to the ear, instructed him
also to embody the representations of those thoughts to the eye *.
And this he did by resolving his oral language into its original
principles, and by assigning to those principles such distinctive
characters, whether imitative or symbolical, as natural attributes
or arbitrary accidents presented for his adoption f. " The ana
lysis of language into its elementary sounds," says Mr. Astle in
* M. De Gebelin has upon this subject the following very accurate re
mark : " L'iovention de l'ecriture, ainsi que cclle de tous les arts, fut de la
" plus grande simplicite. On vouloit peindre une idee; mais cette idee
" peignoit un objet. Un n'eut done qu'a peindre cetobjet, qy•a en tracer
" la figure, et l'idee fut peinte : air.si on ecrivoit par la mfime moyen qu'on
" parloit. La nature en fit tons lea frais."—Monde Primitif; torn, iii;
p. 3p.
f See Harris's Hermes, p. 331.
VOL. U 2 I
242 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
his " Origin and Progress of Writing*,"—" seems first to have
led to the invention of symbols, or marks for mental conceptions.
This invention must have taken place much about the time that
men began to reform the barbarous jargon they first spoke and
form a language, for which purpose the knowlege of elemental
sounds and their powers was absolutely necessary."
The first mode of writing, therefore, must have been of a very
simple character, the letters as well as the thoughts of the primi
tive race of mankind being purely elementary. Indeed, k is
hardly to be doubted, that the first attempt, made by man in this
way, was a representation by natural signs of the ideas, which he
wished to convey. And it is a remarkabfe corroboration of this
opinion, that the practice of emblematical writing has been found
to prevail amongst nations, between whom there never was known
to have been any intercourse. The Mexicans, the Chinese, the
Scythians and the Egyptians, occupying the most remote extremi
ties of the four quarters of the globe, adopted, and still in a great
measure retain, this method of communica'ting their sentiments
to the eye f. But this figurative language, called hieroglyphic
and picture-writing, and which may properly be styled imitative,
however expressive of those ideas, which had their prototypes in
visible objects, must have proved wholly inadequate, in its infant
state, to the designation of the abstract conceptions of the mind.
The next stage of writing, therefore, was the conversion of these
imitative figures into arbitrary symbols by an extension of their
representative powers to those distinguishing properties, which be
longed to their natural prototypes. Hence a tree may have been
employed to denote vegetation or fecundity,—a horse swiftness
or strength,—and the sun light, glory, and pre-eminence. And it
forms a singular illustration of this hypothesis, that the Hebrew
letters have been regarded by many learned writers not merely as
arbitrary characters, but as representatives of natural or artificial
images. For instance M aleph has been considered to signify an
ox, a beth a house, i gimel a camel, and 1 daletk a leaf +, of
t * P. 18.
f The learned author of the " Divine Legation of Moses," p. 91, ob-
seives, with reference to this extraordinary coincidence, that " all barba-
" rous nations, before the invention of letters, made use of hieroglyphics or
" signs to record their meaning," and, in addition to the instances recorded
above, he mentions the Indians, Phoenicians, Etruscans, and Ethiopians.
% It deserves to be here noticed, that dalen is in Welsh the word for a leaf.
The Hebrew duleth signifies also a doer or table, or, abstractedly, a flat
surface.
i
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 243
T i
which objects, as well as of others, the Hebrew letters are thought
to have been, originally actual delineations *. Another remark
able elucidation of this theory may be found in the old names of
the Irish letters, which, in number eighteen, are, with the excep
tion of two or three only, also the appellations of different trees
distinguished by various properties. And it is certain, that most
ancient languages present an extraordinary connection between
trees and letters, and such, as could never have been the result of
mere accident f. ,
From the imitative and symbolical styles of writing the next
transition was to arbitrary characters of the most simple description.
Or, to speak more accurately, the symbols, which had been bor
rowed from the images of nature or art, were gradually simplified
until they preserved at last nothing more than the mere outlines of
their original forms. This, as already observed, is presumed to
have been the case with the Hebrew letters ; and if, as some have
imagined, the delineations of trees were ever used to constitute
an alphabet, their transformation into characters of the simplest
nature would, upon the same principle, have been a work of no
difficulty.
But, whatever was the origin of the arbitrary signs, now used in
writing, it is to be ascertained from a variety of evidence, that
the first alphabets, known to Europeans, presented, for fhe most
part, an apparently inartificial series of lines and angles. Such
* See some ingenious observations on this subject in Mr. DavLes's " Celtic
Researches," p. 332 et sej.
f Mr. Davies in his work, cited in the last note, enumerates many exam
ples of this strange coincidence. Among these are the words Gwydd and
Feadha in Welsh and Irish, and several words in Hebrew and other lan
guages, indicating? the correspondence alluded to between letters and trees.
Yet some of Mr. Davies's remarks on the ancient Bruidical Tokens, and
particularly on the old Bardic poems with reference to this subject must be
acknowleged to be too hypothetical.—In addition to what he has advanced
on this curious point it may be noted generally, that preternatural qualities
were ascribed to several trees from the earliest times. Thus we have the
Tree of Knowlege in Scriptural History, and the celebrated Grove of Do -
dona in the Heathen world, the trees of which were presumed to be endowed
with prophetic powers, and thence called rtpocrrf/opon yixi [UaLyriKOil Spvs;-
The celebrated laurel of Apollo is also styled (AavTixov furov, and by
Claudian venturiprccscia laurus. And ^Eschylus in his Agamemnon makes
Cassandra describe her laurel garland as one of her " prognosticating sym
bols." All these instances and many others, that might be selected, unite
in proving the remarkable agency of trees, in one way or other, in the first
diffusion of knowlege amongst mankind..
4
244 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
were, generally speaking, tire Runic characters and the Pelasgic
or Etruscan, which latter are considered by many writers tfD have
been the primitive letters of Europe*. At least they are known
to have been in use among the Greeks in very early ages. And,
if any may dispute the palm of antiquity with them, it must be
those, of which it now becomes the business of this Essay to give
some account.
It has often been made a subject of controversy, whether the
ancient inhabitants of this island were acquainted with letters be
fore their intercourse with the Romans. And, if the question
have reference to the people generally, it ought perhaps to be de
cided in the negative. But we have the authority of Caesar him
self for saying, that letters were known in his time to the Druids
and other members of their Institution. His words on this sub
ject are, " Magnum ibi numerum versuum ediscere dicuntur. Ita-
" que annos nonnulli vicenos in disciplina permanent ; neque fas
" esse existimant ea Uteris mandare, quum in reliquis fere rebus,
" publicis privatisque rationibus, Graecis utantur Uteris f." From
this passage it is evident, that a knowlege of letters was common
to the members, even the pupils, of the Bardic Institution : other
wise, the prohibition, implied in the expression of nequefas esse
existimant ea Uteris mandare, would be wholly without a mean
ing \. But so far is this from being the case, that Caesar expressly
informs us, that the Druids, on ordinary occasions, actually made
use of a character, which he calls Greek. And the restraint, im
posed on the Bardic pupils or awenyddion in this respect, he as
cribes, with his usual sagacity, to the proper cause, a desire, in the
first place, to prevent the regulations of the order from being di
vulged, and, in the next, to promote that exercise of the memory,
inseparable, as before observed in the course of this work, from
the principles of the Druidical system.
Caesar's testimony, then, is decisive as to the use of letters
amongst the Druids even before his acquaintance with them. And,
* See Mr. Astle's " Treatise on the Radical Letters of the Pelasgians."
These be computes at 12, and the whole alphabet at 16.
f Bell. GalL lib. vi. c. 14. Although Caesar is here speaking of the
Druids of Gaul, his observations apply with still greater furce to this coun
try, where, he says on another occasion, the Druidical system had its origin.
X Mr. Davies has well observed on this passage, that " Caesar's probable
" reasons foramarked prohibition of letters in a certain case forcibly argae,
" that our Druid was a^master of their import : and this prohibition, being
" an institute or fundamental part of his law, evinces that such knowlege
«' was npt recent." Celt. Res. p. 239.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 245
when he called those letters Greek, there are reasons for believ
ing, that he did so merely from having observed a certain resem
blance between the two alphabets. For the researches of some
Welsh antiquaries of the present day have succeeded in restoring
to light the characters originally used by the Bards. And it is
singular, that they comprise, with four or five exceptions, all the
old Etruscan or Pelasgic letters, which were, probably, but little
different from the Greek characters used in the time of Caesar, a
fact, which may serve at once to confirm his account and to vindi
cate the genuineness of these Bardic remains.
This curious Alphabet is called, in the language of Wales, Coel-
brcn y lieivdd, words, which imply literally the Token-Stick of the
Bards, a term derived from the ancient practice of cutting these let
ters across the surface of small pieces of wood, prepared for the
purpose. A similar custom was common, in early times, to other
countries ; and an allusion appears to be made to it on one occa
sion by the Prophet Ezekiel*. The letters constituting this Al
phabet, according to the delineation given of them in the Grammar
prefixed to Mr. Owen Pughe's Dictionary, were in number forty-
three. Of these sixteen were radical letters, and the remainder
derivations from them, capable altogether of describing aH the
simple articulate sounds in the language. And for six of these
letters there are no equivalent representatives in the modern or
thography of the Welsh tongue f.
The most prominent feature of this original alphabet (for such
it may justly be termed) is its simplicity, consisting, as it does, of
mere lineal and angular characters. And this was, no doubt, ow
ing to the custom of the Bards, already alluded to, of inscribing
the letters upon their sticks or coelbreni, which made it difficult to
represent curves or any other than the most simple marks. But,
in their use of these they appear to have arrived at an extraordi
nary perfection. For, not only had they distinct symbols for
* See Ch. 27, v. 16 and 17. The sticks, used on this occasion by the
Bards, were either square or trilateral : the former being adapted to general
subjects and poetical stanzas of four lines, and the other to triads or triplets.
These sticks were afterwards joined in a frame, which was called Peithynen
or the Elucidator, an engraved specimen of which may be seen in Fry's
Pantographia, p. 306., accompanied by explanatory remarks from the pen
of Mr. W. O. Pughe.
f Besides the representation of the Bardic Tokens, given in Mr. Owen
Fughe's Grammar, copies of them are also preserved in Fry's Pantographia
and in the Celtic Researches. In the latter work may likewise be seen a
curious comparative table of the Bardic, Etruscan, and other old letters.
24G THE CAMBR0-BR1T0N.
those sounds, which are now conveyed to us by double and even
treble letters, but their characters for the same letter varied ac-.
cording as it was used to denote a radical word or a mutation *.
And from this it has proceeded, that our present orthography is
inadequate, as above mentioned, to the representation, in some
instances, of these ancient signs.
It would be impossible perhaps to determine at what precise
period the Bardic letters grew into disuse. But it may rationally
be conjectured, that an intercourse of more than four centuries
with the Romans must have occasioned a considerable innovation
in their general system. And therefore it is probable, that gra
dual changes were introduced into the original alphabet, until it
finally settled in that form, which was in use on the arrival of the
Saxons, and from which the old Saxon characters are considered
by many authors of repute to have been bdrrowed f. The Welsh
letters, as now established, were adopted for the most part on the
invention of printing; but since that period variations have been
made in the representation of two or three of them, which will be
explained hereafter. It only remains on the present occasion to
remark generally, that the modern Roman alphabet is totally ina
dequate to the delineation of all the letter-sounds in the Welsh
language. In order to supply this defect two or three sounds are,
in several cases, appropriated to the same character ; and the as
pirated and guttural enunciations, with some others, for which the
Coelbren y Beirdd had independent signs, are now described by
two and even three letters, and, in some instances, very imper
fectly. This may be partially conceived even by those, who are
unacquainted with the subject, when it is known, that no more than
twenty of the Roman characters are now employed to distinguish
the three and forty symbols used by the Bards, and of which the
original articulations are still retained in the language. It is im
possible that the old alphabet, so nice in its individual discrimi
nations and so complete in its general arrangement, should meet
with adequate justice in such a representation \.
# '•
* The Mutations of the Initial Letters, which form so singular and so
systematic a characteristic of the Welsh tongue, will be the subject of a fu
ture Essay.
f See Cambro-BmtoN, No. I, p. 15, and the 1st volume of the Cambrian
Register, p. 365.
J The Editor has it in contemplation to furnish a fac simile of the Bardic
Alphabet with one of the future Numbers, in time to be bound up with the
present Volume.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 247
THE TRIADS—No. VII.
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN*.
xxxI. The three Banded Tribes of the Isle of Britain : the tribe
of Caswallon Law Hir; the tribe of Rliiwallon, the son of Urien;
and the tribe of Belyn of Lleyn. That is, they were so named,
because there was neither head nor sovereign over them, bo far
as the privilege of their families and territory extended, if they
were questioned within such limits, but the voice of country and
people prevailed.
[Caswallawn Law Hir, or Caswallawn with the Long Hand,
was Sovereign of North Wales from 443 to 517, when he died
after a reign of 74 years.—Rhiwallon lived also in the early part
of the sixth century ; and Belyn about a century later.—Other
copies of this Triad f relate the circumstances thus. " The three
Banded Tribes of the Isle of Britain : the tribe of Caswallon Law
Hir, who put the fetters of their horses on their feet by two and
two in fighting with Serigi Wyddel (Serigi the Irishman) at Ce-
rig y Gwyddyl (the Stones of the Irishmen) in Mon ; and the tribe
of Rhiwallon, the son of Urien, in fighting with the Saxons ; and
the tribe of Belyn of Lleyn in fighting with Edwin at Bryn
Ceneu (Bryn Edwin) in Rhos."—The privilege, thus acquired by
the three chiefs here named, secured their exemption from all su
perior jurisdiction save that of the jury of the country or national
inquisition J.]
xxxn. The three Golden-banded Ones of the Isle of Britain :
Rhiwallon Wallt Banadlen; Rhun, the son of Maelgwn; and
Cadwaladr the Blessed. That is, it was given them to wear bands
of gold about their arms, and about their necks, and about their
knees ; and thereto was attached the privilege of royalty in
every country and territory of the Isle of Britain.
[Rhiwallon Wallt Banadlen, or Rhiwallon with the Broom Hair,
lived about the middle of the sixth century, and is celebrated in
another Triad as one of the " three men most distinguished for
their knowlege of natural history."—Rhun succeeded his father
Maelgwn in the Sovereignty ofNorth Wales about 560 and reign
ed till 586 : he is also called one of the " three immaculate
* Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 62—3. Tr. 27—33.
f Id. ib. p. 12 and 16.
X The words iu the oiigiual are " rhaitli gwlad," which were explained
m No. i, p. 124.
24S THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Princes of Britain."—Cadwaladr was the lest nominal King of the
Britons. He abdicated the throne in 686 and retired to Brittany,
from whence he went ultimately to Rome, where he died in 703.
It was, in all probability, his dedication to a religious life at the
latter place, that gave him the epithet of " blessed," appropriated
to him in this Triad. There are two churches consecrated to
Cadwaladr, one in Denbighshire and the other in Anglesey.—The
following explanation of the names, here applied to these chief
tains, occurs in the two other copies of this Triad *. " Those men
were so called gold-banded ones, for that no horses could be ob
tained suitable for them on account of their size, so that golden
bands were put round their ankles over the haunches oftheir horses
behind them with two pans of gold under their knees ; and hence
the knee-pan was so named."—From this explanation it does not
appear, that the " golden bands," mentioned in this Triad, were
of the same nature with the torch or torques, so generally worn
by the ancient Britons as a mark of distinction. Indeed the ex
pression in the original is hualogion, which means strictly " golden
fettered ;" whereas aurdorehogion would have been used to de
signate the wearers of golden chains. This, therefore, is not the
proper opportunity for offering any remarks on that ancient
custom.]
xxxiiI. The three Cavaliers of Battle of the Isle of Britain:
Caradawg with the Brawny Arm, and Llyr the Armipotent, and
Mael ab Menwed of Arllechwedd. And Arthur sang to them the
following englyn :—
Sef ynt fy nhri Chadfarchawg,
Mael Hir a Llyr Lluyddawg,
A cholofn Cymry Caradawg +.
That is to say, they were the best of all battle-horsemen : and
therefore dominion and power were given them as they chose.
And it was their disposition to do nothing but what was discreet
and just, to whatever country or power they came.
[Caradawg, here mentioned, was a Prince of the Cornish Bri
tons during the sixth century, of which period were alsoLlyi and
Mael. They were all three likewise contemporaries of Arthur,
and fought in his battles, as may be inferred from the englyn here
• Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 5 and 17.
f These are my three Cavaliers of Battle,
Mael the Tall and Llyr the Armipotent,
And that Pillar of the Cymry Caradawg,
The cambro-briton. 249
quoted, and which, in all probability, was added by some ancient
annotator.]
xxxiv. The three Generous Princes of the Isle of Britain:
Rhydderch the Generous, the son of Tudwal Tudelud ; and Mor-
dav the Generous, the son of Servan ; and Nudd the Generous,
the son of Senyllt. Their principles were, that they failed not
as to any thing in the world whatsoever to such as besought it,
whilst they possessed it, or could obtain it by gift or loan, or pre
sent ; whether sought by friend or foe, relative or stranger^ -
[Rhydderch, who is frequently celebrated by the old poets for
the quality here ascribed to him, was a Prince of the Stradclyde
Britons during the early part of the sixth century. He signalised
himself as a warrior on several occasions. —Mordav and Nudd
were contemporary with Rhydderch ; the latter was descended in
a direct line from Maxen Wledig, the Emperor Maximus or Max-
entius, according to the Chronicle the 79th King of Britain at the
close of the fourth century.]
xxxv. The three Crimson Spotted Ones of the Isle of Britain i
Arthur, Morgan the Courteous, and Rhun the son of Beli. When
they went to war, no one would remam at home, so greatly were
they beloved ; and there was neither war nor conflict, but they
were victorious in it, where there was neither treachery nor am
bush, and therefore came the proverb, " The three men, who made
men wherever they « ent, were Arthur, Morgan the Courteous,
and Rhun the son of Beli : the three people, who made men
wherever they came, were the men of Arthur, the men of Mor*
gan the Courteous, and the men of Rhun the son of Beli/'
[According to Caradog's History Morgan, here mentioned, was
a Prince of Glamorgan during the ninth century. And he is
stated to have died in 1001 at the advanced age of 129 years, hav
ing lived to see the dominions, which he had abdicated, enjoyed
both by his children and grandchildren.—Some account of Arthur
was given in the last Number *.—The chieftain, here called Rhun,
if he be not the same that is mentioned in the last Triad bnt
one, was the great-grandson of Maelgwn, Prince of Gwynedd,
and mu9t have lived in the beginning of the seventh century.—In
the other copies of this Triad Llew Llawgyfes, who lived in the
fifth century, supplies the place of Arthur, who is, however, made
supreme over the other three for the distinction conferred on the
chieftains here mentioned.—The epithet " crimson-spotted," here
* P. 204.
Vol. I. 2 K
250 THE CAMBRO-BR1TON.
used, if, we may suppose, synonymous with " blood-stained." The
word in the original is rhuddfanogion."]
xxxvI. The three Hostile Ovates of the Isle of Britain : Greid-
iawl the Hostile Ovate, and Envael the son of Adran, and Trystan
the son of Tallwch. And they had the priv ilege that none could
oppose them, wheresoever they wished to go in the Isle of Bri
tain, so that they did not go unlawfully.
[It is difficult to say precisely what is meant by the term, her»
rendered " hostile ovate." The Welsh word is galofydd, which
wijl also bear the interpretation of " regulator of hostility."—Gal
means literally a stranger or enemy (for the terms w ere anciently
synonymous) ; and o/ydd was the appellation given to one of the
orders of Bardism *. Galofydd may, therefore, imply one of
those privileged heralds, belonging to a strange tribe or nation,
who, as we find from the Convention-Triads of Dyvnwal Moel-
jnud, alluded to in the last Number f, had, under the civil consti
tutions of the Cymry, a right of unobstructed progression through
the cotmtry, exactly as stated in this Triad.—The three persons,
here named, all lived about the sixth century.—Trystan, who is
commemorated in several other Triads, is the same personage with
Sir Tristram, hero of the Romance of that name written by Tho.
ofErcildum J.—In the two other copies of this Triad Gwgon Gwron<
also a chief of the sixth century, b substituted for Envael and with
the greater appearance of being correct.]
xxxvu. The three Obstructors of Slaughter of the Isle of Bri
tain : Grudncu, Henben, and Aedenawg ; and their qualities
were, that they went not out of battle and war but on their biers,
when they were not able to move either finger or tongue.
[It appears, from all that can now be learnt of these warriors,
that they were sons of Gloisiar, a chieftain of the Northern Britons
about the close of the fifth century, a period, which called forth
the martial energies of that people in a peculiar manner, from the
* The O/ydd or Ovale was emphatically the Poet of the Bardic System.
The Institutional Triads describe his peculiar function to he the exercise af
poetical genius. Strabo and Ammianus Mareellinus make particular men
tion of the Ovate as one of the three Druidtcal orders : and hence, most
probably, was derived the Vales of the Romans. The olliee of herald was
expressly assigned to the Ofyddion during their three years' probation pre
vious to their admission into the higher orders of Bardism.
f P. 210, in the Note.
X Mr. Walter Scott has recently published a new Edition of this old
Romance. •
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 251
frequent contests, to which they were exposed with the Saxons and
Picts.—The other copies of this Triad give them the designation
of the " three brave ones," an expression perfectly consistent with
the more remarkable one here adopted.]
TRIADS OF WISDOM*
xlI. The three objects of intellect : the right, the beautiful, and
the beneficial.
xliI. Three things, which are to be found in every country :
.agriculture, law, and religion, that is, worship.
xijii- Three things which demoralize a man : fear, cupidity,
and ignorance.
xliv. Three things difficult to be overcome: courage, love,
and conscience,
xlv. Three things not much thought of until it becomes too
late ; the counsel of a friend., the warning of age, and the dictate
of conscience.
xLVi. Three things which, though they receive daily without
intermission, yejt seek for more: the sea, the thought, and the
miser.
xLvii. Tiiree things, which ought ever (to he kept open: the
ear, the eye, and the understanding.
xlvhI. Three things best to be kept closed, unless there shall
foe just cause : the hand, the lips, and the thought.
XLix, Three things which make a man worse than a beast : the
loving of his belly, the loving of riches, and the loving of the praise
of men more than the favour of God.
L. Three things, which make a man equal with an angel : the
love of every good, the love of charity, and tlte love of pleasing
God.
THE WISDOM OF CATWG.
MORAL APHORISMS*,
Thy word by keeping thon wilt keep thy face ,
Keep good thy memory wisdom will thee grace :
By checking of thy hand thy good is sure ;
Keep fame by peace, which doth thy fame procure :
* Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. 209.
f- Ibid. vol. iii. pp. 6, 13 apd 14,
252 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Thy learning kept will bring thy grace to light ;
Thy conscience'being kept, thou keepest all aright.
The strength of the sensible is his patience :
The strength of the contemplative is quietness of body and
mind : \
The strength of a country are its sciences :
The strength of sciences is peace :
The strength of a nation is its law :
The strength of law is in its dispensation ;
The strength of a judge is his equity :
The strength of a king is his mercy :
The strength of man is his understanding :
The strength of the understanding is exertion :
The strength of exertion is the being on the right in all things.
Nothing is so near as that which cannot be reached, that is, self.
Nothing is abundant but that which is seen in no place, that is,
truth.
Nothing is so great as what cannot be seen in the world, frohJ
its being so little, that is, justice.
Nothing is so clamorous, as that, whose voice no one hears,
that is, conscience.
Nothing is so right as what is found on the wrong with every
one, that is, knowlege.
Nothing is within the attainment of every one, but that after
which there is no one enquiring, that is, wisdom.
Nothing is so light as what is seen to be dark in every one, that
is, understanding.
Nothing is in every place, but that which only a few see any
where, that is, God.
WELSH MUSIC—No. V.
To the Editor of tht Cambro-Briton.
Sir—" Nos Galan,'* or New Year's Eve, is an air very well
known in most parts of Wales, and is also very popular in Eng
land, having been introduced in several dramatic pieces, under
the title of " Fal lal !a." The celebrated March in Blue Beard
was borrowed from this tune. The stanzas/generally sung to " Nos
Galan," are of a lively turn, and are performed after the manner
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 953
of those to " Ar hyd y nos,"—the words being sdng by one per
son, and the burden by another, e. g.
" Toil and trouble lie behind us,
(Borden) Fal lal la, &c.
Think no more of chances dreary,
Fal lal la, &c.
While the well-known strains remind us,
Fal lal la.
'Tis the Eve of New Year merry *,
Fal lal la, &c.
" Codiad yr Haul," or the Risi?ig Sun, is a very majestic,
sublime composition. Handel introduced it in one of his Operas.
It was also performed as a grand chorus at Drury-lane Theatre,
about five years ago, in a Piece called " Pitcairn Island." It is
particularly effective on the Welsh harp, and possesses much of
the characteristic beauties of " the Noble Race of Shenkin."
" Merch Megen," or Margaret's Dattghter, is a truly elegant
melody, and a very pleasing effect is produced, when the voice
sings the air, and the harp performs variations on it,
" Hob y Deri Dando," Away my herd to the oaken grove, is
a remarkably cheerful tune* with much nationality and quaint-
ness (if I may use the expression) about it. Braham (undoubt
edly the first male singer of the age) was particularly struck with
it, and wished it might be introduced at one of the Winter Thea
tres',—as it is arranged in this selection, viz.
duett f.
She.—" Men are false, and oft ungrateful,
Deny derry dando.
He. — Maids are coy, and oft deceitful,
Derry derry dando.
She. — Few there are who love sincerely,
Down a derry derry down.
He, — Say not so—I love thee dearly,
Derry derry down, \ ." &c,
" Maldod Arglwyddes Owen," Lady Owen's delight, is a
very pathetic graceful melody, not surpassed by any Italian air,
that was ever composed. This, some may think, is an extrava
gant praise, but it is no more than the truth.
* See " Welsh Melodies," page 31,
f See " Welsh Melodies," p. 40.
X Had not the universally known English ditty of " Derry down " its ori
gin from this air ?
254 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
" Dowch i'r Frwydr," Come to Battle, consists of a few mar
tial notes, rendered most effective when sung in chorus.
" Twll yn ei boch," The Dimpled Cheek, is a simple melody in
the style of Lady Owea's delight. Peter Pindai- wrote some beau
tiful words to this air. Those in the selection before me com
mence thus:—
" Thy dimpled cheek and sweet lorely mien
Fill with delight each youth on the green ;
Roses and lilies have lent their soft shade,
To make thee more fair than any fair maid."
" Cynghan Sail Cymru," The Welsh Ground. This charac
teristic jaaelody has been erroneously attributed to Purcell, and is
well known to most pianoforte players, as " Purcell's Ground
.with Variations." The notes are few, and in fact compose the
descending scale, but the harmony produced, when sung as a
Round by three voices, is very good : one voice sings the melody
as a solo, another takes it up, whilst the first takes a third higher,
&c. &c—(See Welsh Melodies, p. 50.)
I shall here step out of my way, in the hope of serving the
widow and fatherless, by introducing a beautiful Welsh air (not
published in the selection before me) performed with variations at
the Eisteddfod at Carmarthen by H. Humphreys, jun. It is call
ed " Holl Ieuengctyd Cymru," or All ye Cambrian Youth, and
is very much like a celebrated Spanish air, called " Folia d'Es-
pagna." The late H, Humphreys, whose performance on the
Trumpet gave such delight, having died, leaving a widow aDd
eight children in indigent circumstances, the worthy Rector of
Kerry in Montgomeryshire (the Rev, J. Jenkins) has transmitted
this air with the variations, performed by H. H- at Carmarthen,
to London for publication; and to render it more valuable, the
Rev. Walter Davies has written a Monody on the Death of Sir
Thomas Picton, which will be also printed, adapted to the same
melody. It will be published (free of expence) by subscription,
for the benefit of Mrs. Humphreys and her helpless family j and
I doubt not, but every lover of national nielody will be highly
pleased with it, as it is arranged either for the harp or pianoforte,
And the variations, while they retain the air, are at the same
time very brilliant.
" Gan felysed swn y tannau,
Gyd a'r hwyr, a chyd a'r borau."
Feb. i, 1820. " John Parry,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ORIGINAL LETTERS.
LETTER VII.
Mr. Thomas Salusburye to Sir John Wynne of Gwydir,
Knight; dated London, June 22*.
Right Worshipful, my humble duty remembered, &c.—I am
glad to hear of your late recovery and present health, which I
beseech the Lord still to continue to his glory and the good of our
country. It rejoiced me not a little when I understood, that your
Worship was inquisitive whether the Psalms are translated into
our vulgar tongue or not. I sent you by your man a copy of
them that are printed. He had finished some fifty of them before
he died this time seven years. In the time of the great sickness
he departed this world. In his custody, when I came into the
country, I left your proverbs, the psalms and many good trea
tises of Mr. Perkynne's, with other good things in the British
tongue, which were all gone and lost by his untimely death. I
could never hear nor learn where any of them were bestowed ; I
<}ften enquired, but could not learn of any how and by whose
means they were convey'd away. I hear not of any that are
about the PSulms, save only Archdeacon Price, who promised
them long ago, but as yet has not accomplish'd his promise, nor
the expectation of many. Having not any new books worthy
your reading, I presumed to present your Worship with a small
Treatise written by a great statesman, some time secretary to the
late Philip of Spain. Mr. Camden's Britannia (the last Edition),
wfth the Maps of all the Shires, is lately printed and bound in
folio~ Thus humbly taking leave, desiring the Lord to guide and
protect your Worship, your virtuous lady, and all your religious
and well-nurtured issue with all blessings external in this present
life, and in the other to come with all blessings spiritual.
From my house in Cloth Fair in London, June the 22d.
Your Worship's in all service ready,
Thos. SaI.usbtjrye.
Pray my lady to bestow reading of my little book.
To the Right Worshipful Sir John Wynne, Knight,
at his house in Gwydir, these deliver.
*i No year is mentioned ; but, as the letter is stated to be written seven
yeaFS after that of the great sickness, which happened in 1004, it fixes the
fiate at 1611. Mr. Thomas Salusburye was Editor of Capt. William Middle-
ton's Metrical Version' of the Psalms, 'printed in 1603, and alluded to ia
256 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
LETTER VIII.
Bishop Percy to the Rev. Evan Evans ; dated Easton Maudit,
November 22, 1761.
Dear Sir,—I know not whether the favour, you have done
me in having wrote to me once or twice, entitles me to address
you with the familiarity of a near acquaintance ; but I have ven
tured to trouble you with a voluntary letter. I presume you
have received a very long one from me through the medium of
Mr. Williams. -In that I requested to know if you had any
good old popular ballads in the Welsh language on historical
and romantic subjects. This was not a random question. I
have in my possession a very ancient MS. collection of such
pieces in our own language, some of which will throw great
light on our old poets. I have selected two for your inspection,
which, when perused, do me the favour to return and inform
me whether you can remember any on the same subjects in the
Cambrian tongue. I have reason to believe both the inclosed
pieces are of great antiquity. The fragment is certainly more,
ancient than the time of Chaucer, who took his Old Wife of
Bath's tale from it, as any one upon perusal will be convinced,
and consequently that the song was not taken from Chaucer. I
can not help thinking many of these pieces, about King Arthur,
translations from the ancient British tongue ; and it is in order to
receive information on this subject, that I now apply to you.
I am going to print a select collection of these old pieces, not
only on account of the merit of the poetry which they contain,
(and even these display proofs of great invention), but also as
conducing to illustrate our best old poets, who frequently allude
to these compositions. As the press waits, I would intreat the
favour of a speedy answer. I shall soon be able to send you a
specimen of some Runic poetry; which, you will find, bears a
surprizing similitude to your own Welsh songs, more specimens
of which at your leisure will oblige,
Dear Sir, your most faithful servant,
Thos. Percy.
this letter. This work, it deserves to be mentioned, was written at sea, in the
West Indies, where, as appears from a Note by the Author, it was finished
on the auh of January, 1595.—Sir John Wynne was the same personage^
whose History of his Family is noticed in the last Number. He died in 1626^
aged 78.—Ed,.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 357
TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
PARISH OF MOLD, FLINTSHIRE.
[ Continued from No. 5 ]
Mines and Manufactures.—The lead and coal mines form a
remarkable feature in any account of this parish : but at present
they are far from being of the importance, that belonged to them
some years ago, when they furnished employment to several hun
dreds of the labouring poor. At the period alluded to the lead
mines of Llynypandy and Penyfron, on the northern part of the
Parish, were worked upon a very extensive scale ; and for some
time those at the latter place were not exceeded in their pro
ductiveness by any in the kingdom. The former were the pro
perty of that celebrated iron-master John Wilkinson, Esq. of
Brymbo, who, after having erected six steam engines, was unable
to overcome the immense torrent of water, which broke in upon
the mines, and which, as already mentioned, is supposed to have
been the subterraneous stream of the Alyn*. In consequence of
this untoward circumstance neither Mr. Wilkinson nor those, who
succeeded him in the proprietorship of this work, were ever able
to derive much profit from their exertions, notwithstanding the
abundance of ore, that was said to exist there. In 1801 the ton
nage of ore raised was about 300.—Mr. Ingleby, the owner of
the adjacent mines at Penyfron, was, for some time, more success
ful in his enterprise. About the year 1 797 he was in the habit
of raising, without having recourse to steam engines, from 30 to
50, and sometimes as many as 100 tons weekly: and the whole
expence ofraising, washing, and preparing the latter quantity for
the furnace was no more than 50/. And, as the average price of
ore was at that time 9/., the profit to the proprietor must have
been very considerable. However, the subterraneous water found
its way afterwards into this mine also, and reduced the produce to
one fourth of its former quantity, and finally put an entire stop
to the work. Hence, neither the mines at this place nor at Llyn
ypandy have, owing to the same obstruction, been worked for the
last four years, although it has been ascertained that they contain
a great body of ore.—There are a few other mines now worked in
the parish, of which that alone at Cefn-bychan yields any consi-
VOX.. I.
* See No. 5, p. 182.
3l
258 THE CAMBRO-BR1TON.
derable profit*. A few discoveries, however, have of late year*
been made by some labouring miners, which have been produc
tive ofno small advantage to the parties concerned. In one in
stance about 20 tons of ore per week are still raised near the sur
face at an expence comparatively trilling, and which is the only
case, that continues to be at all profitable.—There are not more
than eight collieries at present at work in the parish, in two of
which they raise cannel coal. The seams of coal found here, as
in other parts of the county, are in general remarkable for their
thickness. The produce, independent of what is appropriated
to the consumption of the neighbourhood, finds a ready sale in
the Chester market and in the bordering parts of Denbighshire.—
There are three lime-works in the parish, which employ altoge
ther about fifty men f.—The principal manufactories of this pa
rish are those of fire-brick, tiles, and earthen ware on Buckley
Mountain, the works for smelting lead ore are at the same place,
and the manufactory of cotton-twist near the town.—The fire
brick and tiles, here made, are composed of chinch, a bluish clay,
accompanying strata of coal, which, since the discovery of its
utility in this way, has proved extremely profitable in many part*
of the kingdom The Cotton Twist Company (Messrs. Knight
of Manchester) employ about 300 hands. Their manufactory,
which was erected about twenty-eight years ago, is a handsome
building of the sort, and forms a conspicuous object in the vale,
although the admirers of rural scenery may not be disposed to
consider it as any accession to its beauty.—Such are the most pro
minent features of the mines and manufactures of this parish. In
other respects, the ready intercourse with Chester and Liverpool
prevents it from becoming a place of general trade to any con
siderable extent. The prosperity of this parish, therefore, must
always rest in a main degree upon the flourishing state of its mines,
which, of late years, have been much on the decline.
The Town.— We have no certain information respecting the
Town of Mold before the time of Leland, who wrote his Itinerary
* According to an account, given by Mr. Edward Llwyd, the celebrated
antiquary, ore was raised both at Cefu-mawr and Cefn-bychau in the 17tll
century.
f The Writer regrets, that he is not able to give a fuller account of the
present state of the mineral works in this parish. But two applications,
which have been publicly made for information on this subject, have not had
the desired result, and he has accordingly been confined to his own means,
which, however imperfect, are, he believes, as far as they extend, sufficiently
accurate.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
in the reign of Henry VIII. But it must have been of a much
earlier date, since it was at a fair holden at this town in 1465 that
Reinallt ab Gruffydd committed the outrage upon the citizens of
Chester noticed in a preceding part of this account *. However,
it could not have been in that age a place of any great impor
tance ; for Leland gives the following account of this town in hii
time f. " In Molesdale is but one great paroche caullid Ploughe
" (paroche) Wriothegrig, of sum communely Molesdale. There
" longe three chapelles onto it. Sum say, that Molesdale was ons
" a market toune. It hath yet the name of a maire %, and a greate
" numbre of houses be without token almost destroyed, and there
" hath been two streates, as Streate Byle [BaileyJ and Streate
" Dadlede [Dadlen] in Walsch, in English the Court House
" Streate, besyde other little lanes. Now in al be scant 40 houses.
" At the north end of Byle Streate appere diches and hills yn
" tokyn of an ancient castel or buildinge there. It is now caulled
" Mont Brenebyly, and on the side of it is a fayre springe.
" Alun River commith within a bou shot of Molesdale Chirche."
—In 1699, we find from Edward Llwyd's Itinerary, the number
of houses had increased to 120.—According to the Parliamentary
estimate made in 181 1, the population of the town was 2150, which,
at the rate of five to a house, would make the number of houses at
that time 430 : and the last nine years have made no great addi
tion.—Besides the church, ofwhich a description has already been
given § , the town possesses no public buildings worthy of notice.
The Court House, which is also the County Hall, is a mean pile,
wholly unworthy of the purposes, to which it is dedicated. And it
reflects no small reproach on the inhabitants' of Flintshire, that
Justice has not yet found amongst them an abode more suitable to
her dignity. The spirited example of a neighbouring county in
this respect might he followed both with advantage and honour.
—Of the general appearance of the town it may be sufficient to
say, that it consists principally of one spacious street, nearly a
quarter of a mile in length, well paved, and presenting altogether
» No. 4, p. 40.
f Itinerary, Heame's Edition, vol. v. p. SO.
J This name is still retained amongst the common people : and a bur
lesque elestion of the Mayor and otner officers was customary a few years
ago, if it be not still, daring the wake week in the month of September. The
office of a Recorder is also nominally preserved. From all this it may be
concluded, that Mold was anciently a corporate town.
| No. 4, p. 141.
360 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
a handsome appearance. But the houses are generally low, and
their arrangement deficient in that regularity, which distinguishes
the towns in England as well as some in other parts of the Princi
pality.—At the upper or north end of the town, as mentioned by
Leland, stands the Bailey Hill, previously noticed, of which Mr.
Pennant gives the following account*. " At the north end of the
" town stands the Mount, to which it owes the British and Latin
" names Yr Wyddgrug and Mons Altvs, the lofty and conspi-
" cuous Mount. This is partly natural, partly artificial. Our
" British ancestors, and afterwards the Saxons and Normans,
" taking advantage of so defensible an eminence, cut it into form,
" 'and placed on it a castle. It is possible, that the Romans might
" also have had some concern in it ; for a beautiful gold coin of
" Vespasian was found there. But, this being the only proof of
" its having been possessed by them, I shall not insist on it any
" farther than to urge the probability, Mold being in the neigh-
" bourhood of many of their mines, and of places where much of
" their money has been found. The Mount is now called the
" Bailey Hill, from the word ballium, or castle-yard. It ap-
" pears to have been strongly fortified by great ditches, not-
" withstanding its arduous ascent. It is divided into three parts,
" the lower ballium or yard, the upper, and the keep or donjon.
" The tops of the two first are levelled by art ; and all are sepa-
" rated by deep fosses. The keep was on a part greatly and ar-
" tificially elevated : and round its edges are a few stones, the
" only relics of the fortress f. On one side of the upper yard are
" found vast quantities of bones, some human, others of animals,
" mostly domestic, such as oxen, sheep, horses, and hogs, and
" a few remnants of horns of stags and roebucks." This Mount
and the Church, which stands, as before mentioned, on a gentle
eminence, form conspicuous objects on the approach to the town,
of which they are, in every respect, the most striking ornaments.
—There are five fairs here annually, and two weekly markets, on
Wednesday and Saturday.—Mold, it may also be mentioned,
has been, for many years, from its central situation, the town,
where the Assizes are holden, and all other county business, ex
cept the election of Knights ofthe Shire, regularly transacted.
Family Seats.—The ancient houses in this parish are ex
tremely numerous, and to enter into a minute detail of their
♦^Tour in Wales, vol. i. p. 423.
f Tbere is now but one of these stcnes remaining.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 2GI
history would far exceed the bounds, that must be prescribed to
this article. A few brief notices, therefore, of the most remark
able must suffice.—Leland, in his Itinerary *, has left a memorial
of three only of the principal houses in his day. The following
are his words. " Robert Edwards, a gentylman, dwelleth at
" [Rhual] on the side of Alen yn Molesdale, having
" plenty of wood and goodly medow by Alenside."—" Ithel
" Griffith dwelleth on the north-side scant a quarter of a mile
" from Molesdale Toune, at a place caullid Lloen Egrine. John
" Wynne ap Robert dwellid at a stone tower, caullid Broncoit,
" alias Regnaulte's Towre, three-quarters of a mile from Moles-
" dale Toune."—Neither of the mansions, here enumerated, is
now occupied by the descendants of the former possessors : and
Tower alone retains any vestige of the building that existed in
Leland's time. The origin of the name of Tower, which was
originally called Broncoed, as well as some curious particulars,
connected with its ancient history, when in the occupation of
Reinallt ab Gruffydd, have already been noticed. Subsequently
to the age of that chieftain this house was the seat of the
Wynnes, descended from one of the royal tribes of Wales,
through Cynrig Efell, son of Meredydd, Prince of Powys.
After the death of Dr. Wynne, a part of whose singular epitaph
was inserted in a former Number, it went to his brother Roger,
who, dying without issue, left the estate to his niece, the lady of
the Rev H. W. Eyton, the present respected proprietor. The
house at this time is tenanted by a farmer.—Rhual, as it stood
when Leland wrote, has long disappeared. The present house
was built in the year 1634, by Evan Edwards, Esq.f, a de
scendant of the Robert Edwards mentioned above. Upon the
marriage of his grand-daughter Mary with Walter Gruffydd,
Esq. of Llanfyllin, in Montgomeryshire J, the estate passed
into that family. The last gentleman of the name, who had
undivided possession of the property, was the late Thomas
Griffith, Esq. whose urbanity of disposition and polished ac
quirements will long cause his memory to be cherished with
unfeigned respect. He died in 1811, on the 18th of June, a
day, that afterwards, by a singular and fatal coincidence, took
* Hearne's Edition, vol. v. p. 30.
f He was Secretary, says Pennant, to Richard, Earl of Dorset, and was
Member for Camelford in the Parliament of 1628.
X There is still a family at Llanfyllin of tbis name, or rather of the
name of Griffithes, a corruption of the old Welsh appellation.
262 THE CAMBR0-BR1T0N.
away two other members of the family, after a lapse of two
years successively. Mrs. Griffith, his widow, died on the 18th
of June, 1813; and his only surviving son, Major Griffith, fell
on the field of Waterloo, on the memorable 18th of June, 1815.
This estate was sold about five years ago to one of the gentle
men of the Mold Cotton-Twist Company, and is now the pro
perty of his son, James Knight, Esq. by whom the house has
been greatly improved. The situation of Rhual is one of the
most agreeable in the whole vale.—At no great distance from
Rhual, to the north of the town, is Gwysaney, or, as it has been
written, Gwasanau, a house of equal note, perhaps, in ancient
times, with any other in the parish. The name has been thought
to be a corruption of Hosannah, in allusion to the Victoria
Allcluiatica fought in the neighbourhood * ; but this etymology
must be considered as rather fanciful. This old mansion was
garrisoned in the civil wars by the royalists, from whom it was
taken by Sir William Brereton, the Parliamentary General.
The family of Davies, of Llanerch, was originally in possession
of this property. It now belongs to Bryan Cooke, Esq. of
Yorkshire,—On the opposite, or southern, side of the vale, below
the town, and not far from Tower, stand the two Leeswoods,
now the property of the Rev. H. W. Eyton, Vicar of this Parish,
he having some years ago purchased that, which formerly be
longed to Sir George Wynne, the great mine-proprietor. Mr.
Pennant calls this a palace-like mansion, and in his time it had
much of that appearance ; but, in the alterations it has of late years
undergone, under the direction of its present occupier J. W.
Eyton, Esq., much of its pristine stateliness has been exchanged
* See Cambro-Britom, No. i, p. 139.—But, in addition to the parti
culars there inserted, it should have been mentioned, that the Alleluian
Victory is also recorded by Nennius, and by Constantius in his Life of
Germanus or Garmon. The last-mentioned author relates, that it hap
pened at the festival of Easter as the Britons were assembled to receive
baptism from Germanus in the river Alyn, when one of those predatory
bands of Saxons, who had long infested the coasts of this island, suddenly
landed, and prepared, in league with the Picts, to attack the defenceless
multitude. The enthusiastic exclamation of Alleluia, however, which was
raised by the followers of Germanus, bad the immediate, though unpreme
ditated, effect of confounding the designs of the assailants, who, with awe
struck precipitation, abandoned then- enterprise. And Nennius adds in his
account, that they were pursued by the Kiitons and diiven into the sea.
With respect to the cry of Alleluia, it seems to have been a spiritual exul
tation, usual amongst religious assemblies in the early ages oi Christianity.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 263
for the more tasteful characteristics of modern embellishment.
The splendid gates, in front of the house, have frequently been
objects of admiration.—Mr. Yorke in his " Royal Tribes of
Wales" gives the following account of the respectable family, to
whom these two estates now belong. " The Eytons of Coed Llai
" or Leeswood have their source from Cynrig. They are repre-
" sented in the Rev. H. W. Eyton, Vicar ofMold. His ancestor,
" Grunydd ab Nicholas ab Decius, married Margaret, the daugh-
" ter of the old Bosworth soldier John ab Ellis Eyton, who lie*
" buried at Rhiwabon ; and, although her husband was descended
" from Bleddyn ab Cynfyn, and the father from Tudur Trevor,
" she called all her children after the name of Eyton and all her
" sons John in affection to him also."—Nerquis Hall, seated a little
farther down the vale, the property and residence of Miss Gif-
fard, was built in 1638 by John Wynne, Esq., of the line of Ed
win, Lord of Tegengl. The property was, for a short time, in
the family of Sir Paul Pindar by the marriage of the heiress of
this house with that gentleman's father. Upon Sir Paul's death
without issue, it reverted to the original line in the person of Paul
Williams, Esq. of Pont y Gwyddel. It afterwards settled in Ro
bert Hyde, Esq. in right of his wife, whose daughter, the heiress
of the property, was married to the father of the lady now in pos
session. Miss Giffard has recently done a great deal to improve
this truly respectable mansion.—Hartsheath, or Hersedd, lying on
the confines of the vale of Mold towards Hope, is favoured in a
high degree both in its own immediate situation and in the beauty
of the surrounding scenery. The present building is quite mo
dern, and the writer of these notices is not aware, that it was ever
inhabited, or indeed that it was ever in a habitable condition.
The estate belongs toG. LI. Wardle, Esq. a gentleman, who dis
tinguished himself some years ago, in a remarkable manner, as a
candidate for popular fame. This family also claims descent,
through the female line, from the stock of Edwin, whose race
appears to have been pretty numerous in this part of the coun
try.—The only other house, of which any extended notice can
here be taken, is Fron, situate to the west of the town and com
manding a fine prospect not only of the adjacent country, but
of the plains of Cheshire as far as the Mersey. When last occu
pied, this house was the seat of the Rev. Richard Williams, who
was the representative of an ancient family, descended, with the
Wynnes of Tower, and the Eytons of Coed Llai, from Cynrig
Efell, already mentioned. But this gentleman deserves to b«
S64 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
remembered for something more than his mere genus et proavos.
He was also a poet : and, if he was not destined to astonish bj
his sublimity, he seldom failed to please by his vivacity. He
wrote much and often ; and scarcely a topic of the day passed
unsung by his muse. Several translations of his from the Welsh
may be seen in Mr. Pennant's Works, and in Mr. Jones's Relics
of the Bards. But his master-piece in this way seems to have
been his translation of the Medea of Seneca. He also turned
into Latin verse some of Gray's Odes, and the first two books
of the Iliad ; but these versions never appeared in print, although
highly creditable to the writer's ability *. And, perhaps, he ex
celled more in his Latin than in his English productions. Mr.
Williams was Rector successively of Machynlleth and Llanferres,
and died suddenly on the 4th of June 1811, upon which event
the Fron estate passed into Mrs. Williams's family, who reside in
Cheshire.—Among other old houses in the parish, formerly, it is
probable, of considerable note, though for some time past te
nanted by farmers, are Argoed, Plas Major, Plas ym Mhywys,
Rhyd y Cleifion, Tre 'r Beirdd, and Tyddyn.— Plas-issa, at pre
sent the residence of Miss Greene, and Pentrehobin, an ancient
mansion built in 1540, in the occupation of Thomas Trevor Ma
ther, Esq. may also be enumerated among the family seats, which
abound in the Vale of Mold.
[7b be concluded in the next Number.]
SKETCHES OF SOCIETY.
THE LLEDWIGAN THRESHER,
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—The following remarkable inscription is copied from a
Tomb-stone in the Church of Cerigceinwen, in the Island of An
glesey. It is the humble record of a man, whose heroic bravery
excited very considerable admiration in a former age, and will
probably be deemed not uninteresting at the present period. He
was contemporary with the unhappy dissensions between Charles I.
and the Parliament, and resided at Lledwigan, a well-known
* It would be desirable to know whether the original MSS. are st.il I in
existence. The writer of this Note saw them in Mr. Williams's possession
a short time before his death. They were certainly worthy of preservation.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 2G3
farm near Llangefni. He is hence known to posterity under the
designation of the Lledwigan Thresher. It is understood, that
upon the decline of the royal cause great disorder and misrule
occurred in this part of the kingdom. Many of the parliamen
tary soldiers, who had been exclaiming against the oppression of
the Throne, became themselves the worst of tyrants, and tra
versed the country in powerful bands, levying contributions upon
the property, and exercising great cruelties upon the persons, of
the more opulent, and particularly their loyal and defenceless
neighbours. A party of this description, traditionally reported to
have been about thirty in number, arrived at Lledwigan, and re
quired the occupier, Morys Lloyd, who was then threshing in his
barn, to surrender to them a large sum of money, or his life. He
instantly replied, that he would not yield the one without the
other, and, having partially closed the door of his barn, attacked
them with his flail, as they successively attempted to enter.
Eight or ten of them fell in this contest, which would have been
probably maintained for a much longer time, if the thongs, which
connected together the two parts of the flail, had not been broken
by accident or cut asunder by the swords of the assailants. Then
indeed the superiority of numbers and of offensive arms quickly
acquired their natural ascendant, and it is unnecessary to relate
the sequel.
The tombstone, with its simple and affecting inscription, be
longs, we may fairly conclude, to an era posterior to the Resto
ration. Its subsequent history affords a striking instance of a
sacrilegious disregard for the monuments of our forefathers,—a
disgraceful proof of that cold-hearted insensibility, which can not
appreciate what is venerable for antiquity, edifying in example,
or pious in design. The memory of Morys Lloyd seems in that
neighbourhood to have been held in great regard for many gene
rations ; but in our times a new generation succeeded with very
different feelings and ideas. Some repairs had become necessary
in the church, and, a flag-stone being wanted in some part of it,
the tombstone, which covered the remains of the Lledwigan
Thresher and his wife, was,with due economy, appropriated for the
purpose. The lower part of the stone was moreover turned upper
most, apparently with the prudent view of burying the ancient
history of Morys Lloyd and the modern parsimony of the war
dens in the same oblivion. From this disgraceful situation it has
been lately rescued by, I believe, Mr. John Williams, the pre
sent respectable tenant of Lledwigan, and placed erect in some
vol. i. 2 m
366 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
part of the church. But, as its present situation is, I understand,
not attended with security, I trust there still exists, among the
modern inhabitants of Cerigceinwen, sufficient public spirit to
save this venerable relic from the wanton assaults of unthinking
levity, as well as the barbarous parsimony of their future church
wardens. The following is the inscription, which was copied lite
ratim from the tombstone many years ago ; but it is now hardly
legible. I should have sent you a translation, if I had not found
the elegance of our word " cywely" absolutely untranslate-
able *. X. Y. Z.
" Dyma yr lie y dayarwyd Morys Lloyd ytrydydd dydd o Hy-
dref 1647. Hwn a ymdrechodd ymdrech d&g dros y Frenhin a'i
wlad. Wrth i ystlys i claddwyd i assen, Jane Rees Owen, yn
gywely iddo y 4 o Daehwedd 1653."
GWYLLIAID COCHION MAWDDWY.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—In your account of the Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy
(No. 5.) you have omitted one remarkable part of their history,
which, as a trait of the ferocious spirit of the people and of the
age, deserves to be mentioned. When the bloody deed had
been perpetrated, the murderers went about a quarter of a mile
from the spot, and then it occurred to one of them, that they had
not complied with the wishes or executed the threats of their mo
ther, and they accordingly, with due filial affection, return
ed, and, plunging their swords into the body, literally washed their
hands in the heart's blood of the baron.
There were scythes fixed in the chimnies at Dugoed Mawr,
the scene of the murder, about thirty years ago, but they are now
removed. The common tradition of the neighbourhood does not
state the murder of Lloyd the Baron's kinsman ; but on the con
trary it states, that, when the Baron was killed, they said to th«
other (John Lloyd of Ceiswyn in the parish of Tal-y-llyn) " Cerdd
di i ffordd, Llwyd fain."
* The following is a literal translation of this Epitaph. There may be
some nicety in the exact meaning of " cywely," as mentioned by X. Y. Z. j
but the English word "bedfellow," which it implies, will make it sufficiently
intelligible for the present purpose.—Ed.
" This is the spot, in which Morys Lloyd was interred on the third day
of October 1647, after having fought a good fight for his king and his
country. By his side was buried his rib Jaue Rees Owen, as a bedfellow
for him, the fourth of November 1653."
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 267
It was said, that one of these Gwylliaid was of extraordinary
swiftness, and that this Lloyd had previously taken him under his
protection through various parts of .he country, and exhibited him
as a champion in running. This explains their mercy towards
him. The first Gwylliaid, or their Captains, are said to have been
persons of property, masters, it is said, of" eighty hearths," and
rendered desperate by some act of oppression. The site of their
chief mansion is still shewn on the upper part of the farm of Du-
goed Mawr. These, having become outlaws, rallied about them
all the turbulent spirits of the neighbourhood. The whole pro
perty, belonging to the several branches of the family, was for
feited, excepting one farm, Dugoed Issa, the owner of which,
though a relation, was endowed with more prudence or honesty.
This farm was sold to the late Sir W. W. Wynn about sixty
years ago. I am a native ofthe same parish, and was accustomed
formely to take much delight in collecting information about these
ancient banditti.
X. Y. Z.
THE MISCELLANIST.—No. IV.
WELSH LANGUAGE.—TRANSLATIONS.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—In regarding the literature of this country, our atten
tion is naturally drawn to the language spoken by the Aborigines
of the Island ; and we cannot withhold our admiration of the
laudable and hitherto successful exertions, which have been
disseminated throughout the Principality of Wales, for reviv
ing the ancient Eisteddfodau, or, as they have been deno
minated, the British Olympics, in order to rouse the genius of
Cambria, and elicit those treasures, which have not been suffi
ciently valued beyond the mountainous regions where they have
originated.—Those efforts, as well as others which have been
lately made, for the purpose of dispelling the cloud of obscurity,
which had begun to overshadow the relics of ancient British
literature, call for every encouragement.—No history can be
more interesting to us, than that which treats of the primitive
state of our own nation ; and in this point of view the Welsh
language affords to the British antiquary an ample field for
research. The cause of this language has been too often and
268 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
too ably advocated, to require any panegyric now to substan
tiate its excellence. Its power, like that of the German tongue,
which is considered by some as being harsh, is imperceptible to
those only, who do not understand it.
The observations, which appeared in a late Number of the
Quarterly Review*, touching Welsh literature, and the apathy,
which for a time prevailed concerning it, are worthy of notice, and
are here quoted :
" The Welsh have their Mabinogion, or Juvenile Amuse
ments, of undoubted authenticity and antiquity ; some of them
are extant in manuscript, others live only in the tradition of the
common people. A translation of the former was prepared for
the press by Mr. Wm. Owen, to whom Cymric literature is so
greatly indebted; but the manuscript was unfortunately lost
before publication f. These tales possess extraordinary singularity
and interest, and a complete collection of them in the original
language is, as Mr. Southey remarks, a desideratum in British
literature. The Cymry, however, seem to have little feeling for
the productions of their ancestors; and the praiseworthy and
patriotic exertions of individuals may cause the Welsh nation at
large to blush. When a foreigner asks us the names of the
Nobility and Gentry of the Principality, who published the My-
fyrian Archaiology at their own expence, we must answer, that it
was none of them, but Owen Jones, the Thames-street Furrier."
The compositions of our ancient bards are deserving of pre
servation ; and the spirit of emulation, which has recently been
re-kindled in the Principality, offers every prospect that its inha
bitants will obtain their share of literary honours. To those,
who are unacquainted with Welsh learning, it may be necessary
to observe, that the books, still extant in the ancient British lan
guage, are more numerous than they are generally supposed to
be ; and, as a proof that classical knowlege bears no mean cha
racter in Wales, it is reported, as a remark of the late Dean of
Christchurch (Dr. Jackson), that of the Students of Oxford
none were found to surpass those, who had been educated at the
schools among the Welsh mountains, as Greek scholars J.
* No. 40. p. 94.—Ed.
f This is fortunately a mistake. See Cambro-BritoN, No. 4. p. 159.—Ed.
X This observation applies with particularlar force to the pronunciation
of the G reck letters. To adduce one instance, English scholars invari
ably confound the sounds of % and x, which they pronounce alike, whereas
the Welsh retain the primitive sound of the former letter in their own lan
guage, as we learn from the manner, in which it is still pronounced by the
modern Greeks.— Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
The following translation, by the celebrated Goronwy Owain,
of the Second Ode of Anacreon is here offered with a view of
shewing the close connexion between the two languages, although
not new probably to most ofthe Literati of Wales. It may serve
as one instance, out of many which might be produced, of the
easy capability of the Welsh tongue for liberal and effective
translation from the Greek.
Natur a wnaeth iawn y tyw,
Ei rhan i 'r bob anian byw ;
I'r cadfarch, dihafarchwych,
Carnau a roes ; cyrn i 'r ych ;
Mythder i 'r ceinych mwythdew ;
Daint hirion llymion i 'r llew ;
Rhoes i bysg nawf yn mysg myr ;
I ddrywod dreiddio 'r awyr ;
I 'r gwyr rhoes bwyll rhagorol.
Ond plaid benywiaid bu 'n ol ;
Pa radau gant ? Pryd a gwedd,
Digon i fenyw degwedd,
Rhag cledd llachar, a tharian,
Dor yw na thyrr dwr na than ;
Nid yw tan a 'i wyllt waneg,
Fwy na dim wrth fenyw d6g.
The Welsh translation of the Lord's Prayer is a beautiful
composition, simple in its style, and remarkable for a strict ad
herence to the Greek original, particularly with regard to
the expression " erti rrj( yijj," literally translated " ar y
ddaear," on the earth : we might with more propriety say,
on earth than in earth. Indeed, the study of the Welsh lan
guage seems to deserve more encouragement than it has usually
met with from Englishmen, who should be desirous of preserv
ing the ancient literature of their nation ; and there remains not
a doubt, that the gratification, which they would derive from
devoting a small portion of time to this purpose, would amply
repay them for their trouble. The languages of foreign nations are
studied with assiduity, not always for utility, but often for
fashion's sake ; while that of our ancestors, still preserved in its
ancient purity, and abounding in classical embellishments, has
been too much neglected by the learned. I am, Sir,
Your very humble servant,
London, January 10, 1820. Prydeimad.
270 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
PWLL CERIS—SION TUDUR—THOMAS PRYS.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—In your Cambro-Briton, No. 5. p. 190, is an Englyn
on Pwll Cerys, the Vortex in the Menai. In the note beneath
Mr. Llwyd says, the Englyn is certainly worth preserving ; but
scarcely so, I presume, in the state in which it is printed. It
appears, that it never was correct. In the Greal, No. VII.,
p. 30, you will find five Englynion upon the same subject by
Sir Huw Robert,—three by Gruffydd Hiraethog,—three by
Sion Tudur,—and two by Wiliam ab Hywel. In the first En
glyn, however, which is Proest *, the 5th and 6th lines are
supernumerary, and do not belong either to the metre or the
rhythm. The bards, above-named, vary in the orthography of
the name of the Vortex. The 1st has it Cerys ; the 2d, Cerys
and Ceris ; the 3d and 4th, Ceris. I shall copy one out of the
thirteen : it is by Gruffydd Hiraethog.
Cerys bwll megys am eigion—y trai
Troad chwrli-gwgon ;
Crwydrad dwr, yn cor-droi ton,
Ceulwnc i ofni calon.
None of the bards of that age, or perhaps of any other, wrote
in such a style of exquisite humour as Sion Tudur. Here are
four Englynion of his, as specimens of his talent in ludicrous
satire : the subject—a gentleman, who had built a stately man
sion,with nine chimnies, and only one of them smoking.
Di bleser yw dy balasau—corniawg,
Carnedd fo dy furiau ;
Ai un tan coeg bentan cau,
Sy' am naw o simneiau ?
Cyrn hirion, gwynion, di gynnes—gegin,
Cyrn gwagedd a rhodres ;
Cyrn bost—heb rost—ac heb wres,
Carwn dori cyrn diwres !
Ffei o gyrn cedyrn, cauadwaith—heb ras,
Ac heb wres na' i obaith ;
Ffagla wellt—was lfugiawl waith,
Gnaf gwan ! a gwna fwg unwaith !
• A term io Welsh Prosody, signifying a sequel in contradistinction to a
flrstpart, also a counterebange or contrast of vowels.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 271
Gwnaeth grin-was Bias, a bulu—i'w edrych
Ai wydraw o'i ddeutu
Ni rydd geiniog, daiog du,
A gwenwyn ganddo ganu.
Thomas Prys, of Plas Iolyn, in Yspytty Ieuan, was a poet of
talent, and like Sion Tudur excelled in satire and humour. He
had a happy knack at what may be termed in versification laconic
alternation such as in the Cywydd i oganu eiddig, ac i ganmol
ei wraig—" Siwgr yw Gwen, a soeg yw'r gwr"—&c. The fol
lowing lines were writtten by him to the memory of Richard
Middleton, Esq. Governor of Denbigh Castle, under tlye Earl of
Leicester, and Jane his wife, the daughter of Hugh Dryhurst, of
Denbigh ; in which lines the laconic alternation is exemplified.
" Hir, alar gwasgar a gaf,
Hwn oedd wr—hon oedd araf ;
Hwn oedd lew—hon oedd lawen,
Hwn oedd wych—hon oedd wen ;
Hynod fu'r ammod yma,
Hwn oedd ddoeth, a hon oedd dda ;
Hwn oedd hael—hon oedd helaeth,
Hwn i nef—hon yno aeth."
A biographical sketch of the author would be interesting to
your readers. It is said, that a whim took him to fix his resi
dence in Bardsey, and that he fitted out a privateer at his own
charge, to cruize against the Spaniards. He was a descendant
of Rhys ab Meredydd, called Rhys Vawr o'r Yspytty, who dis
tinguished himself in Bosworth field. -
Curig.
TRAETH Y LAFAN.
A Correspondent at Welsh Pool, who writes under the signa
ture of Ymofynydd, wishes to know, whether any correct ac
count can now be given of this place, which he calls Traeth
Llefain, previous to its overflow, and at what period that event
is supposed to have taken place. If any of the readers of the
Cambro-Briton should be able to satisfy Ymofynydd on this
point, their communications would be gladly inserted. A col
lection of the popular traditions in the neighbourhood would,
perhaps, be the most satisfactory answer to the inquiry, which
has reference not merely to Traeth y Lafan, but to the whole
line of coast from Arfon to Cardigan Bay.—Ed.
273 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
AWEN CYMRU.
A'th rodd ya> atkrwydd Avcen. Edh. Pars.
—
PENNILLION.
zun.
Hardd ar ferch yw llygad du,
Hardd ar fab yw bod yn hy ;
Hardd ar farch yw pedrain lydan,
Hardd ar filgi yw myn'd yn fuan.
XLIV.
Derfydd aur, a derfydd arian,
Derfydd melfed, derfydd sidan ;
Derfydd pob dilledyn helaeth :
Etto er hyn ni dderfydd hiraeth.
XLV.
Llun y delyn, llun y tannau,
Llun cyweirgon aur yn droiau :
Tan ei fysedd O ! na fuasai
Llun fy nghalon union innau.
XLVI.
Car y cybydd gwd ac arian :
A phwy sydd na char ei hunan f
Myfi sy'n cam merch yn anghall,
Ac yn bychanu pob peth arall.
A STANZA
From the Pastorals of Edward Richards, on a Bachelor's
Prospect of Dissolution.
Fy nydd sydd yn nyddu yn fanol i fyny,
Ar nos sydd yn nesu roi'n isel fy mhen ;
Ac un nid oes genny', er wylo ar oer wely,
Pan bo i mi glafychu, glyw fochain.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 373
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
XLIii.
Black eyes become the maiden fair,
And courage is the young man's share,
Strength is the glory of the steed,
The greyhound's pride is in his speed.
XLIV.
Gold and silver pass away,
Richest garments perish fast,
Silks and satins, all decay ;
Yet is longing found to last.
XLV.
Fair is yon harp and sweet the song,
That strays its tuneful strings along ;
And would not such a minstrel too
This heart to sweetest music woo ?
XLVI.
The miser loves his hoarded treasure,
And who loves not himself, decide.
'For me, I love, beyond all measure,
One fair, and scorn the world beside.
TRANSLATION OF THE STANZA IN P. 272.
My day of life, so Heaven decreed,
Is winding up with ceaseless speed,
The night approaches when my head
Shall lie, full low, among the dead ; v
Disease will find its prey alone,
No one will listen to my moan,
I must, on the cold couch of death,
Unheeded yield my parting breath *. D. R.
ANOTHER TRANSLATION IN A DIFFERENT METRE.
My day is declining with diligent speed,
The night fast approaches, when low I shall lie ;
And, ah, I have no one my sick bed to heed,
*** To weep for my suffering, or catch my last sigh.
* It is s»id, that, when he died, there was no person in the bouse,
vet. I. 2 «
274 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
WALES.
tyte late ;#ta)estp.
Although in strictness it may not belong to the design of the
Cambro-Briton to dwell upon those public events, that only
affect Wales in union with the rest of the kingdom, yet there are
few, who will not regard the death of our late excellent monarch
as an exception to the general principle. Nor can it militate
against the more immediate aim of this Work to unite in the com
mon feeling on this interesting occasion. Wales, never last in
evincing a loyal attachment to the thrones of her kings, cannot
be deficient in a pious reverence for their tombs.
The death of a sovereign must, in all countries and under any
circumstances, be deemed an occurrence of no trivial importance.
It forms an epoch in the history of a nation, pregnant often with
consequences of the deepest interest to her peace and prosperity.
Even, where the character of the prince may be one of indifferenoe
in itself, the dignified responsibility of his station cannot fail, in
most cases, to render the close of his mortal career a matter of
eventful concern. And how greatly is this feeling enhanced,
where the private virtues of the monarch have communicated an
additional value to his public character.
In his late most gracions Majesty George III. we have this re
mark most clearly exemplified. The general and unaffected sor
row, occasioned by his decease, except where it might be overcome
by the remembrance of his long affliction, has borne the surest
testimony to his private worth. And the pen of the historian
will not fail to record it as. the proudest monument of his kingly
renown. To supply a "satisfactory delineation of the character
of our departed Sovereign would require far greater advantages
than the present opportunity offers. But, although the finishing
of the picture must be left to other hands, it may still be per
mitted to sketch the outline".
The most prominent feature in the character of our late King
was, perhaps, his remarkable union of the most admired qualities
of private life with the necessary dignity of his high rank. Whilst
on the throne, no one could fill it with more becoming majesty :
when he mingled, as he often delighted to do, in the ranks of his
subjects, the austerity and reserve of his exalted station were ex
changed for the graceful demeanour and open simplicity of an
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 275
English gentleman. Thus, when he laid aside the regal trap
pings, with which fortune had invested him, it was only to dis
play the more captivating, because less ostentatious, graces, which
he had acquired from nature and education. . By birth a king,
he proved himself worthy of his sceptre ; but he likewise shewed,
that he was not less gifted with all the appropriate accomplishments
of a humbler station.
Nor was it only in the exterior graces of private life, that
George III. shone conspicuous. Its more essential duties ever
found in his example their most powerful advocate. Frugal and
abstinent with respect to his own enjoyments, he evinced a
princely munificence in administering to the wants of others.
Exemplary in all his social relations, as husband—father—friend,
the throne became in his reign the brightest instance of domestic
virtue and private morality. And, above all, it should be re
membered, that he was, in a peculiar manner, entitled to the
epithet of a Christian King. He was a Christian from choice,
principle, and conviction : and all the habits of his virtuous life
tendad to confirm this glorious distinction.
If his late Majesty may have wanted those splendid talents,
which are capable of augmenting the lustre even of a diadem, he
possessed,—what was more honourable to himselfand is of far more
real importance in the ruler of a free country, —an elevated inte
grity and an unbending conscientiousness in the administration of
his kingly office. In this respect he was, emphatically, jnstus et
tenax propositi : and, where his conduct on some occasions has
been rashly imputed to obstinacy, it is well known to have been
the laudable result of a determination to maintain inviolate the
prerogatives of his Crown and the privileges of the people.
Even, if his high oath, which he so scrupulously observed, had
not enforced his attention to these great objects, they would yet
have found their security in his voluntary attachment to the purest
principles of the Constitution.
During the revolution of sixty years it is impossible, that many
important events should not happen. But the reign ofour late King
was marked by more than the ordinary vicissitudes ofsuch a period.
Assailed at various times by foreign wars and domestic rebellion,
he lived to triumph over their united machinations. He saw the
most daring conspiracies formed and crushed : and the proudest
fabric, that ever despotism had raised, humbled with the dust.
And, while he thus survived the most furious attacks of open hos
tility, he was not less favoured in his contest with more secret and
276 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
more dangerous enemies. He beheld the slander of the disaffected
follow his slanderers to the tomb : and the arm of the traitor,
though repeatedly raised against him, was ever foiled in its mur
derous aim. Thus happily protected from the violence and strata
gems of his foes, it was reserved for Heaven alone to chasten him
in the mystery of her dispensations, and to render him, we may
hope, by the affliction of his latter years, still more worthy of his
reward hereafter. *^*
JESUS COLLEGE ASSOCIATION.—The establishment of
this patriotic Society was announced in the first Number of this
Work ; and it cannot but be highly gratifying to the lovers of
Welsh Literature to find, that the Members have already re
deemed the pledge then given by offering the following premiums
for the present year, with a view to the accomplishment of their
truly laudable object. The competition will be confined to
Members of the College. * t*
1. For the best Welsh Essay on these words of Taliesin,
" Eu hiaith a gadwant," Twenty Pounds.
2. For the best Translation of Blair's Sermon " On the
Improvement of Time,"—Genesis ch. 47, v. 8,. ..Ten Pounds.
3. To the best Welsh Reader in Jesus College Chapel,.. .Six
Pounds.
4. To the second best,...Four Pounds.
5. For the best six Englynion, on the] following subject,
" Llwyddiant i goleg yr Iesu,"...Two Pounds.
The Essay and the Englynion, to which the prizes shall have
been adjudged, will be recited at the Annual Meeting of the
Members of Jesus College, to be held at Aberystwith in July
next.
CYMREIGYDDION SOCIETY IN LIVERPOOL.—Some
allusion was made in the last Number to the Annual Meeting of
this Society. It deserves, however, a most extended notice. On
the 3d of January, as before-mentioned, the Members had their
Anniversary Dinner at the Castle Inn, Liverpool, James Butler
Clough, Esq. Honorary President, being in the chair. To enu
merate all the traits of national feeling, that were evinced on'this
occasion, would exceed the limits of this article. It may be suf
ficient, therefore, to state generally, that the day was devoted, in
an especial manner, to the promotion of the patriotic object of
the Association, and particularly to the encouragement of our
native awen.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 277
In addition to the popular custom of singing pennillion to
the harp, several extemporaneous effusions, very creditable to
their respective authors, were produced, and called forth, as
they merited, the applause of the Meeting. This may be ob
served in a peculiar manner of the verses recited by Mr. Thomas
Jones, Bard to the Society, upon the subject of the President's
re-election. The other Officers were then chosen for the present
year : and the Rev. John Richards, of Anglesey, was proposed
by the President as an honorary member and as Critic to the
Society, on which occasion an address from that Gentleman was
read and deservedly applauded for the critical ability which it
disclosed. *#*
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.—The events, which occupy the
most important place under this head, are the Addresses and
Proclamations consequent on the death of his late Majesty. It
would consume too much space, and answer no useful purpose,
to enter into all the details, that might be given of these pro
ceedings, or even to particularise the places, which deserve no
tice on this interesting occasion. It" must suffice to state gene
rally, that the feeling of reverence for the memory of the late
King, and of loyal respect for his successor, has been almost
universal throughout Wales. Scarcely a county or borough has
omitted to join in the mingled expression of condol ence and con
gratulation natural to the occasion. It deserves aljso to be men
tioned, that the 16th of last month, the day appointed for the
funeral of his late Majesty, was observed generally in the Prin
cipality with all due solemnity and decorum. And in most of the
corporate towns, especially in South Wales, the public bodies at
tended divine worship, and appropriate sermons were preached
on the occasion.—Another consequence of the decease of our
" good old King" is the Dissolution of Parliament, which will,
no doubt, take place immediately. The only places likely to be
contested in Wales are the County of Glamorgan and the Bo
roughs of Carmarthen and Denbigh. It wan intended to con
tinue in the present Number the account of Charitable Dona
tions distributed in Wales during the late inclement season : but
so great is their number, that it becomes absolutely impossible,
without excluding other matter, that might be deemed of more
permanent interest. This is a circumstance, however, that can
not fail to be in the highest degree honeuratjle to a country, that
278 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
has never failed, at the cry of distress, to be among the foremost
in the ranks of humanity.—The following is a list of the Sheriffs
appointed for the different counties in Wales for the present
year :
Anglesey—Robert Lloyd, Esq. Tregaian.
Brecon—Thomas Price, Esq. Builth.
Cardigan—Henry Rogers, Esq. Gelly.
Carmarthen—R. Stephen Pemberton, Esq. Llanelly.
Carnarvon—W. Ormsby Gore, Esq. Clenneney.
Denbigh—J. LI. Salusbury, Esq. Galltvaynan.
Flint—James Knight, Esq. Rhual.
Glamorgan—Richard Blakemore, Esq. Velindra.
Merioneth Thomas Fitzhugh, Esq. Cwmheision.
Monmouth—Sir R. T. Allard Kemeys, Knt. Malpas.
Montgomery—J. B. Williames, Esq. Glanhafren.
Pembroke*—Nathaniel Philipps, Esq. Slebech.
Radnor—James Crummer, Esq. Howey.
The Right Rev. Bishop of St. David's has recently made the
following Presentations in his Diocese :—The Rev. Maurice Evans,
Vicar of Peubryn, to the Vicarage of Llangeler, in the county
ofCarmarthen, vacant by the death of the Rev. David Morgan.—
The Rev. David Rowland to the Vicarage of Tregaron, in the
county of Cardigan, vacant by the cession of the Rev. Maurice
Evans.—The Rev. Thomas Dalton, jun. Curate of Rosecrowther,
in the county of Pembroke, to the Vicarage of Warren, in the
same county, vacant by the death of the Rev, John Jones.—The
Rev. George Devonald, Curate of Manorbier, in the county of
of Pembroke, to the Vicarage of Llanllwyney Rhosycorn, in
Carmarthenshire, vacant by the cession of the Rev. Thomas
Dalton.——H. 1 1. H. the Duke of Clarence has been pleased to ap
point the Rev. Clriffitb.- Thomas, Curate of Hangoedmor, in the
county of Cardigan, to be one of his Royal Highness's Chap
lains. The fol lowing patriotic instance of extensive planting de
serves to be here recorded, and is worthy of general emulation —
The Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures,
and Commerce has voted the Gold Medal to Sir W. W. Wynn,
Bart, for planting 845,500 forest trees; the greater part on
mountainous land, in the vicinity of Llangollen, Denbighshire.
The trees thrive in a surprising manner, considering their elevated
situation, being fror.o 1200 to 1400 feet above the level of the sea.
They consist of oak, 80,000 ; Spanish chesnuts, 63,000 ; spruce
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 279
fir, 102,000; Scotch ditto, 110,000 larch ditto, 90,000; wych
elms, 30,000; mountain ditto, 35,000; ash, 80,000; sycamore,
40,000 ; total, 630,000.—The spirit of emigration does not ap
pear to be yet extinct in Wales, as the following instance will
testify :—" On the 12th of February sailed the Stentor, from Li
verpool, for the Cape of Good Hope, with the family of the late
Captain Griffith, of the Royal Marines, and formerly of Pen-
po'mpren, in Cardiganshire, on board, consisting of three enter
prising, intelligent young men, with their sisters, three fine
young woman. They left their native country in good health
and spirits, and with the anxious solicitude of their friends for
their happiness and prosperity. They have taken with them
several artificers and agriculturists from the neighbourhood of
Newtown, Montgomeryshire, as settlers."
LITERATURE.—The spirit of literary enterprise continnes
to animate the natives of Wales : and it may be hoped, that a
fresh energy will still be communicated to its exertions. Much
yet remains to be done.
Mr. Parry, the Editor of "Welsh Melodies," designs
speedily to publish a Second Volume of that Work, with cha
racteristic English words. Towards the accomplishment of this
undertaking he has been assisted by many valuable communica
tions from Gentlemen of literary celebrity in the Principality.
It may, therefore, be presumed, that the patronage, which was
extended to the former Volume, will not be refused to the one now
in contemplation.
A Publication is about to appear under the title of " Cam
brian Sretches," which will contain anecdotes and other matter
illustrative of the history, manners, and antiquities of Wales.
The Work will form one small Volume, and from the resources,
which the author is known to possess, it may be expected to abound
.in interest and entertainment.
Proposals for publishing another Volume of the Cambro*
British Melodies by Mr. Edward Jones, which were noticed
a few months ago in this work, appear on the wrapper of the
present Number ; and it is proper to add here, that report speaks
highly of the treat the admirers of our national airs are likely to
experience in this publication.
Part II. of the History of North Wales, by Mr.
Cathrall, will be published very shortly. %*
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
OBITUARY.
January 20.—At Lampeter, Cardiganshire, aged 67, deeply
lamented by a large circle of friends, and a disconsolate family,
the Rev. Eliezer Williams, M. A. Prebendary of ft. David's,
Vicar of Lampeter, and Master of the Grammar School, Vicar
of Caio and Llansawel in (he county of Carmarthen, and former
ly of Jesus College, Oxford. Possessing rare endowments and
eminent virtues, he lived respected as an historian, a scholar, a
poet and a divine. Unassuming and modest in his demeanour, he
was dignified without pride, and charitable without ostentation.
His time and thoughts were devoted to the general benefit of
mankind, and the advantages, which his pupils derived from him
in the capacity of teacher, will excite in them the most grateful
and lasting remembrance. His remains were consigned to the
earth in the presence of no less than nineteen clergymen, and
about forty of his pupils, and twenty of the gentlemen of the
neighbourhood* lb. John Jones, Esq. of Penybont, in the
county of Cardigan Miss Charlotte Denman, of Holywell, in
the county of Flint, greatly respected.—30th. Rev. David Mor
gan, aged 69, Vicar of Llangeler, and a Magistrate for the
county of Carmarthen. Exemplary as he was in all the social
relations of life, his death has been a source of general regret.
He possessed the vicarage of Llangeler for 35 years.—lb. Rev.
David Price, aged 75, of Bettws-y-coed, Carnarvonshire Rer.
John Jones, Vicar of Warren, Pembrokeshire, Prebebendary
of Llangan, and one of the Rural Deans of the Archdeaconry
of Llandaff._31st. Edward Jones, Esq. aged 64, of Plas yn
Bonwm, Merionethshire.
ERRORS CORRECTED.
[The Editor regrets most sincerely, that the errors in the last Number,
although not very important, were rather numerous. Yet, with the excep
tion of two or three, they were discovered in time to be removed from one
half the impression ]
No. 6. Pa. 201, in the Note, for " 28" read 26.
— 212, 1. 31, for " 1630" read 1630.
— Ib. 1. 42, for " Hoenddu ", read Honddu.
— 223, Insert an * before the first Note.
2d Note, 1. 4, after " Mr. Harrington " insert and.
— 230, 1. 2, for «' fawd fodi" read fawdd foddi.
— 234, Insert an * before the Note.
— 136, 1. 27, for " Goliah " read Goliath.
— 337, I. 5, to be altered thus—" that county: and on Christ
mas Day" &c.
— 23$, 1. 34, for " Cymerigyddion " read Cymreigyddion.'
— lb. I. 38, for " Henry " read James.
— 239, 1. 16, for " John" read Peter.
* The Editor is indebted to a friend for this notice of the late Mr. WU-
Jmudj. A more extended memoir would be acceptable.
THE
CAMBIO^BRITON.
APRIL, 1820.
NULLI QUIDEM MIHI SATIS ERUDITI VIDENTUR, QUIBUS
NOSTRA IONOTA SUNT. Cicero de Legibus.
THE TRIADS—No. VIII.
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN*.
xxxviiI.
The three Conventional Monarchs of the Isle of Britain: first,
Prydain, the son of Aedd Mawr, when a systematical regality
was established over the Isle of Britain and the adjacent islands ;
second, Caradawg, the son of Bran, when there was conferred
upon him the war-supremacy over the whole of the Isle of Bri
tain, to resist the incursion of the Romans ; and Owain, the son
of Macsen Wledig, when the Cymry resumed the sovereignty,
agreeably to their natural rights, from the Roman Emperor. That
is, they were called the three Conventional Monarchs, from these
rights being conferred upon them by the convention of country
and border-country, within the whole limits of the nation of the
Cymry, by holding a convention in every territory, commote, and
cantrev in the Isle of Britain and its adjacent islands.
[According both to Caesar and Tacitus, and particularly the
latter, the inhabitants of this island, upon their discovery by tlie
Romans, consisted, like the Gauls and Germans, of several inde
pendent tribes governed by their own chiefs. Yet, when influenced
by the prospect of a general advantage or a common danger, these
separate states became united in one body. Upon these occa
sions a chieftain or monarch was chosen from amongst a conven
tion of the whole country as stated in this Triad \. It was thus,
* Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 63. Tr. 34—36.
•f One of the Institutional Triads of Dyvnwal Moelrnud (Arch, of Wales,
vol. iii. p. 290. Tr. 59) describes particularly how this convention was
holden, and in his Tr'toidtj Cludau, before noticed, it is reckoned as one of
the "three conventions by sound of tn;mpet." See Arch, of Wales,
vol. iii. p. 283.
2S2 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
that Caswallawn was elected to the supreme command against
C«sar, Caradawg against the Romans in the time of Claudius *,
and Arthur against the Saxons. And we have here Prydain and
Owain recorded as two other conventional Monarchs of the Isle
of Britain.—The former of these is a very remarkable personage
in the annals of the Cymry : yet writers are not perfectly agreed,
whether to assign to him a real or a fabulous character. According
to the Triads, however, he was the son of Aedd Mawr or Aedd
the Great, one of the first colonists of this island : and he is re
corded in several of these ancient documents, one of which ha»
been already translated +, as among the chief of the ancient bene
factors and lawgivers of his country. From the same authority
we also learn, that the Isle of Britain derived its name from him.
Mr. Davies seems to consider Prydain to mean the Regulator of
the Seasons, and consequently as synonymous with Apollo, or,
at least, with the Sun +. But the Triads make no allusion to any
mythological attributes, but speak of him in every instance as
having had a real existence.—The dignity, here said to have been
conferred on Caradawg and Owain, has been before noticed |].
Owain lived at the close of the fourth century and is to be found
amongst the saints of the British Church.]
xxxix. The three Hallowed Princes of the Isle of Britain : Bran
the Blessed, the son of Llyr Llediaith, who first brought the faith
in Christ to the nation of the Cymry from Rome, where he hat!
been for seven years, as hostage for his son Caradawg, whom the
men of Rome carried into captiv ity, after being betrayed, through
the enticement, deception, and plotting of Aregwedd Voeddawg ;
second, Lleirwg, the son of Coel son of Cyllin the Saint, called
Lleuver Mawr [Great Splendour], who founded the first church in
Llandav, and which was the first in the Isle of Britain, and he be
stowed the privilege of country and nation, with civil and eccle
siastical jurisdiction, upon those who might be of the faith in
Christ; third, Cadwaladr the Blessed, who gave sanctuary within
all his lands and possessions to those who fled from the infidel and
lawless Saxons, who sought to destroy them.
[The circumstances, here related of Bran, have been already
detailed in a Triad previously translated §, in which his family is
styled one of the " three holy families of the Isle ofBritain." The
* See Cambro-Britor, No. 5, p. 11GS. fr. xxi.
f No. 2, p. 45. + Celt. Re». pp. 169 and 190.
|| No. 5, p. 16". i No. 5, p. 169.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 383
Bonedd y Saint, or Genealogy of the Saints, also mentions Bran
as one of the first of the nation of the Cymry, that embraced the
Christian faith, and enumerates three persons, Hid, Cynvan, and
Arwystli Hen, as having accompanied him from Rome on his re
turn to this country : and there is still a church in Gwent dedicated
to the former of these three. The probability, therefore, of this
account is very great : and it is remarkable, that Bishop Stilling-
fleet, in his Origines Britannicce, conjectures, .without being
aware of the testimony of our ancient records, that some of the
British captives, carried to Rome with Caradawg, may have been
instrumental in planting Christianity in this island. The present
Bishop of St. David's too, in one of the many works, by which he
has promoted the cause of useful and religious learning *, is even
disposed to conclude, that St. Paul himself accompanied or imme
diately followed the family of Caradawg on their return to Bri
tain.. This event took place about the year 5S : and, with refe
rence to this date, it deserves to be mentioned, thatGildas fixes
the introduction of Christianity into Britain at a short period
before the defeat of Boadicea', which happened A. D. 61.—
Lleirwg, the son of Coel, -and, according to 'the Genealogy of
the Saints, the great grandson of the celebrated Caradawg, ap
pears in the Brut y Brenhinoedd or Chronicle of the Kings, under
the name of Lies, as the 73d King of Britain. Bede and other
"writers give him the appellation of Lucius, which is but a Latin
version of the epithet Lleuver, applied to him in this Triad. Be
fore he founded the Church of Llandaff, as here mentioned, he
is said to have made application to Rome for teachers to diffuse
the light of Christianity in his dominions, when two persons, called
in the Welsh records Dwyvan and Fagan, were dispatched to
Britain for the purpose, Nennius ascribes this event to the year
of Christ 167, when, he says, " King Lucius with all the chiefs of
the British people received baptism in consequence of a legation
sent by the Roman Emperors and Pope Euaristus f." Bede fixes
the date at A.D. 156, which, however, according to the Brut y
Benhinoedd, was the year of Lleirwg's death in the city of Glou
cester. There is a Church in Glamorgan dedicated to Lleirwg,
who, like others of his countrymen in ancient times, united the
<5haracters of a prince and a saint.—An opportunity occurred in
* ' ' Christ and not St. Peter the Rock of the Christian Church," p. 1 4» •
•f According to other accounts, the Pope, or rather Bishop of Rome, at
this time, was Eleutberius.
284 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
the last number * for giving a general, though brief, account of
Cadwaladr : and the particulars, here recorded of him, require no
farther explanation.]
XL. The three System-formers of Royalty of the Isle of Bri
tain: Prydain, the son of Aedd Mawr, Dyvnwal Moelmud, and
Bran, the son of Llyr Llediaith. That is, their systems were the
best systems of Royalty of the Isle of Britain, so that they were
judged superior over all other systems, that were made in the Isle
of Britain.
[This Triad requires but little elucidation. Enough has just
been said of Prydain and Bran : and a short notice of Dyvnwal
Moelmud appeared in a former Number f. The latter is to be
found in the Chronicle as the 21st King of Britain, more than
three centuries before the Christian aera. Of an age so remote
it cannot be expected that much certain intelligence should now
remain. However, it is pretty generally admitted, that this prince
was amongst the first to make any great improvement in legisla
tion, and that he made the first regular division of the kingdom
into hundreds and commotes, for which reason he is here styled one
of the " three system-formers" of Britain. His laws were extant
in the time of Gildas, who translated them into Latin. Hywel
Dda, as mentioned on the former occasion, availed himself largely
of them in the compilation of his famous code ; and they are also
presumed to have been of great service to Alfred the Great, to
whom they were communicated by Aser Menevensis. Some
Triads, including the Institutes, ascribed to Dyvnwal, are pre
served in the Archaiology of Wales, and contain much curious
matter with respect to the principles of government in an incipient
state of society.]
THE TRIADS OF WISDOM J.
LI. Three things, that make a man equal to an angel : the
love of every good, the love of exercising charity, and the love
of pleasing God.
HI. Three things, though obtaining the whole, that will never
see their satiety : the burying-place, and a lord.
Lin. Three things, that, from being despised, bring punish
ment : the counsel of a spectator, the judgment of the discreet,
and the complaint of the poor.
* P. 243. ,+ No. 2, p. 47.
J Arch, of Wales, vol. p. 209.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
uv. Three counsels, that ought chiefly to be listened to, since
they never have been otherwise than good: the counsel of the
season, the counsel of age, and the counsel of conscience.
lv. Three counsels, that are not often in the wrong : the
counsel of circumstance, the counsel of the virtuously wise, and
the counsel of a man who never listened to any counsel.
lvI. Three things, the removal whereof is a curse : the boun
dary of land, the course of water, and the direction of a road and
path.
LVii. The three primary ornaments of wisdom : love, truth,
and courage.
lviiI. Three things, that can never be seen in the full extent
of their magnitude : that is, good principles, bad principles, and
the principles of genius.
lix. By three things will all actions be, that a man shall per
form: by liberty, by punishment, and by reward; and there
cannot be otherwise of what shall be done by man.
lx. In three things will be seen the primary qualities of the
soul of man : in what he may fear, what he would conceal, and
what he would shew.
THE WISDOM OF CATWG.
HIS EIGHTEEN VIRTUOUS EXCELLENCIES*.
1 . The best deportment, humility.
2. The'best practice, industry.
3. The best principle, truth.
4. The best genius, reason.
5. The best affection, compassion.
6. The best study, self-knowlege.
7. The best employment, peace-making.
8. The best care, to be just.
9. The best pursuit, knowlege.
10. The best disposition, generosity.
11. The best covetousness, to covet peace.
12. The best choice, the doing of good.
13. The best means of living, trade.
14. The best instruction, literature.
* Arch, of Wales, vol. Hi. p. W.
286 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
15. The best sorrow, the sorrow for sin.
16. The best comfort, gladness of conscience.
17. The best contention, who should lead the best life.
18. The best contemplation, concerning God.
THE EIGHTEEN VIRTUOUS EXCELLENCIES
OF YSTUDVACH THE BARD OF GWRTHEVYR. (vORTIMER) THK
BLESSED*.
1 . Fortitude in danger and affliction :
2. Patience in suffering :
3. That a man be strong in his resolution :
4. Wise in his disputation :
5. Void of arrogance in his fame and his prosperity :
6. Humble in his deportment :
7. His actions dignified :
8. Persevering in his employment and pursuit :
9. Having an avidity for knowlege :
10. Liberal in his word, deed, and thought:
1 1 . Conciliatory in disputes :
12. Courteous in his behaviour :
13. Hospitable in his house :
14. Peaceable in his neighbourhood :
15. Chaste of body and mind :
16. Correct in his word and deed :
17. Righteous in his life :
18. Compassionate to the poor and afflicted.
" Be thou satisfied," said Catwg ; M thou hast gained the supe
riority over me." * No," replied Ystudvach; " not so: I
sought for pre-eminence over thee, and thou hast shown humility ;
and therefore art thou the wisest, and to thee belongs the supe
riority." And thus went the judgment, that Catwg was the wisest
of the wise ; and Catwg desired to apply that saying to Yst
udvach
* Ystudvach was contemporary with Catwg, and is said to have been in
duced by the perusal of his Excellencies to compose those, that follow. He
is also called the Bard of Cystennyn, or Constantine, the son of Cynvdr,
and may have filled the same situation, at here mentioned, with Vortimer.
f A bard of the 14th century brings these eighteen Excellencies into the
following satirical lines:— .
" Deunau o gampau dawnus
A roed ar Wgawn ab Rhys ;
Ac un gamp ddrwg ar Wgawn
Yn diwynaw'r deunaw daw»."
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 287
BARDIC PORTRAITS.
LLYWARCH HEN.
The fifth and sixth centuries, it has before been intimated in
the progress of this work, were remarkably signalized by the
long and arduous struggle, which our ancestors maintained in the
defence of their liberties. The hostility of the Saxons, originat-
'ing in treachery, and continued in violence, was peculiarly qua
lified to call into action those powerful energies of the mind,
which were displayed during the period under consideration, and
which communicated their influence as well to the strains of the
poet as to the sword of the warrior. Even the names, that have
descended to our times, bear ample testimony to this fact. But
the remoteness of the age, and the desolating events, that must
since have occurred, fully justify the conclusion, that the chief
tains and bards of that aera, of whom we now retain any record,
must have borne but a small proportion to those whose history i*
entirely lost to us.
In no part of this island were the conflicts, consequent on the
incursion of the Saxons, more frequent or more severe than in
that portion of North Britain, which was anciently called Cum
bria*. And it has been observed on former occasions, that the
natives of this district shared a community of language, as well
as of descent, with the inhabitants of Wales f. They were alike
Cymry, and preserved in the name of their country the evidence
ef this identity. Exposed to the Saxons on one side, and to the
Picts on the other, the Cumbrians supported a long and unequal
" With eighteen virtuous excellencies was Gwgawn ab Rhys endowed -r
and there was one bad quality in Gwgawn disgracing the eighteen gifts.
This Gwgawn, there is reason to suppose, was the son of a Captain Rhys ,
Gwgawn, who fought in the battle of Cressy, whom Dafydd ab Gwilym con
signs to death there, far having married Morvudd, who was to the bard
what Laura was to Petrarch, being the subject of 147 of his poems.
* The district, called Cumbria, embraced a larger extent of territory than
the modern Cumberland : it comprised all the northern country anciently
occupied by the Cymry, reaching perhaps to the borders of Scotland. The
Cymry, upon the arrival of the Saxons, settled here, in Cornwall, and in
Wales, in which latter place alone their descendants are now to be found,
f What is stated in the preceding note would sufficiently justify our ap
propriation of Aneurin, Llywarch, and others of their countrymen, even
if it were not true, that the asylum, they found in Wales, proved at once
the nurse of their genius and the guardian of theii fame.
288 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
struggle with varying success, before they were compelled to
give way to the united and overwhelming force of their enemies.
It was the close of these eventful times, that produced those
celebrated characters, which still give a lustre to the literary
remains of Wales. Nor must it be forgotten, that we are in
debted to these sources alone for having preserved any authentic
memorials of an age so remote and so interesting. Without
them we might never have known, that Arthur fought, or that
Aneurin sang.
Among the Cumbrians of distinction, whether as warriors or
poets, who lived during this period, Llywarch Hen, or Llywarch
the Aged, fills an eminent place: eminent for his rank and
genius, and still more eminent for his'years and his misfortunes.
He was the son of Elidyr Lydanwyn, a prince of the Northern
Britons, who was fourth in descent from Coel, according to
the British Chronicle, the 75th King of Britain. His mother was
Gwawr, daughter of Brychan, an Irish chieftain, who settled
afterwards in South Wales *. The paternal dominion of Lly
warch was called Argoed, which has been reasonably conjec
tured to be a part of the present Cumberland, bordering on the
great forest of Celyddon or Caledonia f : and that he exercised
a sovereign power over this territory appears from the Triads,
in which he is denominated one of the " three disinterested
princes of Britain." From the same authority we learn, that
Llywarch spent a part of his early life with Arthur, at that time
raised by a general vote to the sovereignty of the States of
Britain In these ancient records he is distinguished as one of
the " three intelligent bards," one of the " three counselling
knights," and one of the " three free and discontented guests"
of the court of Arthur. In addition to this, it appears from oHe
of Llywarch's poems, entitled, An Elegy on Geraint ab Erbin,
that he fought with Arthur in one of his battles i ; and, as this
* For an account of Brychan, see No. 5, p. 170.
f This is the opinion of Mr. Owen Pughe in his *' Heroic Elegies and
other Poems of Llywarch Hen," a book, to which the writer of this me
moir is greatly indebted. And the bard himself, in his Elegy on Old Age,
seems to allude to his patrimonial territory, when he says, " the men of
Argoed have ever supported me." The Rev. Walter Davies, however, in
a " Statistical Account of Llanymynech," published in the Cambrian Re
gister, (vol. i. p. 276.) expresses an opinion, that the Argoed, here men
tioned, is situate near Overton, in Flintshire. The name is not uncommon
in Wales, and signifies a place " above a wood."
J This battle, Llywarch tells us, was fought at Llongborth, a sea-port
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 2S9
poem contains an eulogium of Arthur's prowess, it has been
presumed, that it was written during his residence with that
chieftain. And the bard farther informs us in his Ode to Maen-
wyn, that his youth was spent in warlike pursuits, for which he
must have found abundant opportunity, whether with Arthur or
in his native country. The passage, last alluded to, is in English
as follows.
Maenwyn, whilst I was fresh in youth,
In the pursuit of savage slaughter,
I performed the part of a man, though yet a boy *.
How long Llywarch contiriued at the Court of Arthur it cannot
be possible to determine ; but, since he is recorded as one of iU
*e three discontented guests," it may be inferred, that his stay
there was of no great duration. Probably the troubles of hi*
own country summoned him early away to join the ranks of her
'defenders. For in his Elegy on Urien Reged, a Cumbrian Prince,
he expressly alludes to his connection with that chieftain, whom
he calls his cousin, his lord, and his protector. Upon the death
of Urien, who became the victim of assassination f, the defence
of his dominions against the growing power ofthe Saxons devolv
ed on his sons. Llywarch with his numerous issue united their
force on this occasion ; but, after having witnessed the loss of his
patrimony and the fall of most of his sons in the unequal contest,
he was compelled, like ,the father of Aneurin, to fly from hi*
country with those that survived. And a kindred fate induced
him also to seek an asylum in Wales, where he found one with
in the west of England. The name implies a " haven of ships;" and Mr,
Pughe supposes it to mean Portsmouth. In the twelve battles of Arthur,
enumerated by Nennius, there is no such place mentioned, unless Caer
LI ion, which implies literally a Fortress on the Floods, may be thought to
bare an identity of signification with Llongborth : and commentators are
not agreed as to the situation of Caer Llion.—Geraint, who was slaiu in
this combat, was a chieftain of Dyvnaint, now Devonshire ; he is cele
brated in the Triads as a great naval commander.
* " Maenwyn, tra vum i evras,
O ddylin dywa] galauas ;
Gwnawn weithred gwr cyd byddwn gwas."
Canu Maenwyn.
f The perpetrator of this bloody deed was Llovan ; and Llywarch alludes
to it in his Elegy on Urien fn the following passage :—
There is a commotion throughout the country
In search of Llovan with the destroying hand.
And this is confirmed by the Triads, in which Llovan is styled one of the
" three detested assassins" of Britain.
VOL I. P
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Cynddylan, at that time Prince of a part of Powys. To this he
alludes in his Elegy on the Death of that chieftain in a passage, of
which the following is a translation.
Cynddylan, the purple of Powys was thine ;
The life of my lord was a refuge to strangers :
O son of Cyndrwyn, for thee is my moaning *.
And it appears from the following lines, with which the same
poem commences, that Cynddylan resided at that time at Peng-
wern, or Shrewsbury, the ancient seat of the Princes of Powyi
before the inroad of the Saxons had driven them to Mathraval.
Stand forth, ye virgins, and behold the habitation of Cynddylan,
The Palace of Pengwern, is it not in flames ? f
When Llywarch was received by Cynddylan, he found him
and his brother Elvan engaged in a severe contest with a people,
whom, in his Elegy last quoted, he calls Loegrians J. The exile
chief immediately took an active part with his protector in this
quarrel : and the battles, which ensued, proved fatal to the rest
of his sons, whose death Llywarch laments, with parental fond
ness, in his Elegy on his Old Age. And we find from his Poem
on Cynddylan, that the issue of this war proved not less disas
trous to that Prince and his brother, whose fate the bard deplores
in the following lines amongst many others.
The hall of Cynddylan is silent to-night,
After having lost its lord :—
Great God of Mercy, what shall I do ?
The hall of Cynddylan, how gloomy seems its roof !
' Since the Loegrians have destroyed
Cynddylan and Elvan of Powys §.
* " Cynddylan, Pywys borfor wych yt,
Cell esbyb bywyd ior:
Cenaut Cyndrwyn cwynitor."
Marwnab Cynddylan ab Cyndhwyn.
f " Sevwch allan vorwynion, a syllwch werydre Gynddylan;
Llys Pengwern neud tandde ?" Id.
% For an account of the first settlement of the Lloegrwys or Loegrians in
this country, see Triads vn. and ix. translated in the 2d Number. Origi
nally the'name was confined in its application ; but it afterwards became ge
neral in reference to such of the inhabitants of Britain, as were not Cymry,
and in which sense it appears to be here used by Llywarch.
§ " Ystavell Cynddylan ys arav heno,
Gwedy colli ei hynav——
Y mawr drugarawg Duw, pa wnav !
Ystavell Cynddylan, ys tywyll ei ncn,
Gwedy diva o Loegrwys,
Cynddylan, ac Elvan Pywys."
Ii>.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
It may farther be collected from this Poem, that Cynddylan
was buried at Bassa, probably the place now called Basschurch
near Oswestry. The following is the passage, which justifies this
conclusion.
The churches of Bassa are near to-night
To the heir of Cyndrwyn ;
The grave-house of fair Cynddylan *.
No clue is left us, whereby we can ascertain with precision the
abode of Llywarch after the death of his friend and protector. But
k appears probable, from some passages in his poems, that his
latter years, which formed a period of unmixed affliction, were
spent in Powys. One of his poems is addressed to the Cuckoo of
the Vale of Cuawg ; and, as strong allusions are made in it to
his distress, it is likely, that it was written during the latter period
of his life, when, therefore, he may have resided in this vale, which
has been conjectured to be in Montgomeryshire f. And from
his Elegy on his Old Age it may be inferred, that he afterwards
lived at Llanvor in the county of Merioneth. But, wherever the
evening of his 'days was consumed, it is certain, that it was preg
nant with sorrows, which he has bewailed in the most affecting
strains in his Elegy last mentioned, written after his connection
with Cynddylan had terminated, as is evident from the following
passage, and which also bears testimony to the infirmity, under
which he then laboured.
Before I went on crutches I was bold,
I was admitted into the Congress-House
Of Powys, the Paradise of the Cymry J.
According to this poem, he farther appears to have been borne
down at once by the accumulated infirmities of age, sickness, and
grief; while the recollection of his ruined prosperity, his blighted
happiness, his ungrateful friends, and, above all, the agonizing
* " Eglwysau Bassa ynt wng heno
1 etivedd Cyndrwyn :
Mablan Cynddylan wyn."
Marwsad Cynddylan.
f The Vale of Cuawg; is so called, most probably, from a river of that
name : and what strengthens the conjecture is, that Llywarch in the same
poem mentions Aber Cuawg, the Mouth or Confluence of the Cuawg, which
may have been the very spot, where he resided. There is still a place near
Machynlleth, in Montgomeryshire, called Dol Giog. May not this hav«
taken its name from a river or brook in that neighbourhood ?
% " Cyn bum cain vaglawg, bum hy,
A'm cynnwysid yn nghyvyrdy
Pywys, paradwys Cymry."
Cash i'w Henaint a'i Viibion.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
remembrance of all his sons fallen a prey to the fury of battle seem
to have completed a picture of misery almost without a parallel.
And it may be collected from the poem, which contains this record
of his complicated calamities, that the number of his sons was four,
and twenty, and that they were all chieftains.
Foui-and-twenty sons I have had
Wearing the golden chain, leaders of armies *.
Of these the greatest number fell, as already noticed, in the de
fence of their native land under Urien Reged and his sons ; but
Llywarch enumerates four, who were buried in North Wales, and
who, consequently^ must have found their fate in the wars of
Cynddylan f.
Of Llywarch himself it is related, that he ended his days at
Llanvor near Bala ; and the name of Pabell Llywarch Hen, or
the Cot of Old Llywarch, given to a retired spot, in this parish,
seems to confirm the tradition. And at the. close of his Elegy on
his Old Age the bard himself appears to allude, as before observed,
to his residence at this place, where he must, in all probability,
have lingered out a wretched existence. Dr. Davies affirms, that
in his lime an inscription was visible in the parish church of
Llanvor on a wall, under which Ll>warch was presumed to be.
buried ; but all traces of this have li ng disappeared. The bard is
supposed to have died about the miaille of the seventh century,
and, according to tradition, at the patriarchal age of one hundred
•nd fifty years, after having long outlived his children, his friends,
and his prosperity.
* " Pedwar meib ar ugaint a'm bu,
Eurdorcuawg, tywysawg Uu."
CANU l'w He>'A!NT.
The privilege of wearing the golden torch or tcrques, here alluded to,
proves, that the sons of Llywarch must have been distinguished by their
rank or their valour. The old bards make frequent allusion to this custom,
which was, no doubt, very ancient. Aneurin, in particular, describes in his
Gododin the march of three hundred and sixty-three warriors, thus deco
rated, to the battle ofCattraeth : am! we learn from Dio. Cassius, that such
an ornament was worn by Boadicea four centuries earlier. Nor was the prac
tice confined to the ancient inhabitants of this country : Propertius tells us,
that Britomartus, a chieftain of the Gauls, was thus distinguished. The cus
tom was also common to other nations : and we find from the Prophet Da
niel (Ch. v. ver. 7 and 29), that a chain of gold was :-i his time a mark of
hi-'h rank in Babylon. It is likewise alluded to in \iie Song of Solomon
(Ch. i. v. 10), though apparently not as a martial distinction. Oneof these
ancient insignia was found in 1692 at Harlech, in Merionethshire, and two
others have been discovered of late years, one at Dolau Cotbi, in Carmar
thenshire, and the other near Ca«rwys,in the county of Flint-
f These were Gwell, Sawyl, Llavyr and Llyngedwy, whose graves, the
poet tells us, were at Khiw Velen, Llangollen, Llorien and Ammarch.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
A few observations may now be necessary on the poems, still
extant, that are ascribed to this ancient chieftain. The number
of these, as they are preserved in the Archaiology, is twelve, of
which five bear the name of Elegies. Of the remaining seven,
two are lyrical, and the other five form the vehicles of proverbial
lore, to which Llywarch seems to have been particularly attached.
It is true, that some of these ancient remains have been denied to
be genuine; but, as the same characteris tics pervade all, a de
gree of internal evidence is thus produced in their favour, which
must make it extremely difficult, when the genuineness of any is
admitted, to prove the reverse of the position with respect to the
rest *. And that some are undoubtedly genuine appears from
the bard having introduced into them his own name and the cir
cumstances of his life, as well as from other concurrent testimony,
which can not reasonably be disputed, ft is not too great an as
sumption then to set down all the poems, now preserved under
the name of Llywarch, as his, distinguished, as they all are, by'
the same traits of simplicity, pathos, and sententious wisdom. An
other feature, likewise common to all, is the metre, in which they
are written. This is the Triban Milwr or Warrior's Triplet,
the most ancient perhaps of all the Welsh metres : and its artlesg.
character must be sufficiently obvious from the few examples alr
ready quoted f. .
Besides the characteristics, thus assigned to the poems of Llyw
arch, they may be farther described as being historical and mo
ral, and therefore abounding in valuable information with respect
to the age, in which they were written. Some of the historical no
tices have already been cited, and it may be sufficient to observe
generally here, that many of them are confirmed by the Triads and
other ancient memorials. The moral poems are remarkable for
the sound and elegant axioms, which they convey, though deli
vered in a form extremely inartificial, yet quite characteristic of
those early times. The following lines, selected from different
poems, afford examples of these proverbial triplets.
* Among those, who have somewhat rashly declared their scepticism on
this occasion, is Mr. Turner in his very able " Vindication of the Genuine
ness of the Ancient British Poems;" a work, which confers on a stranger
the honour of being the most successful advocate, that has yet appeared, of
our national poetry.
f It is not improbable, that the lines, which Cfesar mentions to have been
committed to memory by the Awenyddion, were written in this ancient
metre, which, being in the nature of a Triad, seems particularly well adapt
ed to that purpose.
294 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Qn Ali Saint's Eve, a season of pleasant gossipping,
The e.ile and the storm go t»gether ;
It is the work of falsehood to keep a secret *.
Wealth will not he bestowed on the mischievous,
But sorrow and anxious care :
What God hath done he will not undof.
The leaf, that is scattered by the wind,
Alas, how perishable is it!
Already it is old,—this year it was born +.
Among the most interesting portions of Llywarch's productions
are his complaint of the miseries of his lot in his Elegy on his Old
Age §, his lamentation of the fate of his sons in the same poein,
and his pathetic description of the desolation, that reigned in the
mansions of Urien and Cynddylan, upon their death, in the re
spective Elegies on those chieftains. The Elegy on Geraint con
tains too some fine and animated passages descriptive of the hor
rors of a battle : and the stanza or triplet, with which the poem
commences, deserves to be quoted.
When Geraint was born, the portals of Heaven were open,
Christ then vouchsafed what was supplicated,
A countenance beaming with beauty, the glory of Britain ||.
Although Llywarch is here styled a bard, the word must not be
taken in its strict sense ; for, as before observed a warlike em
ployment was totally inconsistent with the first principles of the
* " Calangauav eain gyvrin,
Cyvred awel a drychin ;
Gwaith celwydd yw celu rhin."
f " Da i ddiriad ni ater,
Namyn tristyd a phryder;
Ni adwna Duw ar k wnel."
1'r Gog ys Asm Ciawg.
* " Y ddeilen a drevyd gwynt,
Gwae hi a'i thynged !
Hen hi,—eleni y ganed."
- TlilbANAV.
§ Consult the six triplets beginning
" Vy mhedwar priv-gas erymoed,
and terminating with
Hir gnif heb esgor lludded."
There is a remarkable affinity between this affecting complaint and many
passages in the Book of Job. Indeed the circumstances, under which the
two lamentations were made, are not very dissimilar. The loss of dominion,
fortune, and children is common to both.
|| Pan aned Geraint oedd agored pyrth nev,
Rhoddai Grist a arched,
Pryd mirain Piydain ogoned.
Marwmd Geraint as Ehbin.
% No. 6, p. 516, in the note.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Bardic Institution, founded, as it was, in universal peace and
good will. And that the life of this venerable chieftain was de
voted fo martial pursuits is evident from most of his poems : and
on two occasions he laments the infirmity of his latter years, which
prevented him from participating in the battles of his country.
If, however, Llywarch was not a legitimate bard, he was unde
niably a poet, and, whether as a poet or a warrior, one of the
most remarkable characters of a remarkable age.
# *
WELSH PROVERBS*.
Plant gatrionedd yw ken diareblon,—Diarfb.
He, that hath found the handle, hath found also the blade.
Every nurse f is merry.
He, that is intent upon going, will do no good before he
departs.
The young will laugh at the mischances of the old.
An angel on the road and a devil by his fire-side J.
Set on thy dog, but do not accompany him. •
He, that has patience, will conquer §.
He mows the meadow with shears.
Who will not endure a servant must be his own slave ||.
The sorrow, that continues, becomes itself a calamity.
The fence of a bad farmer is full of gaps.
He, that ascends slowly, will descend quickly.
Every one has his neighbour for a mirror «J.
* It ought to have been mentioned in the introductory account of th»
Welsh Proverbs in the 4th Number, that the collection, now extant, and
published in the Archaioloiry, was originally formed by old Cyris o lit
about the beginning of the twelfth century, and afterwards copied succ«s-
wvely by Gruffydd Hiraethog, the poet, about the year 1500, by the Rev.
Dr. J. Davies, in 1580, by Mr. W. Maurice, of Llansilin, in 1675, aud ulti
mately in 1775, by the Rev. Evan Evans. See Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. in
the Preface.
f The original word is mammaeth, which means prop«rly a foster-mothtr,
or, what the English call wet-nurse.
J For a similar sentiment, see Ecclus. ch. vi. v. 4. 30.
§ So the Arabic Proverb :—" I promise you victory after patience."
|| So in Arabic:—" He is a slave, who has na slave."
% Similar to this are the following Latin maxims :—
" Ex vitio alterius saepius emendat suum."
Mhnus Publutnnt.
" Optimum est aliena frui insanii."
FUnitH.
296 THE CAMBR0-I3RIT0N.
There is an omen-in a hundred birds.
Were the tongue to relate what the bosom knows, none would
be neighbours.
A man has a hundred friends and a hundred enemies..
Long will the horse live, that feeds on the grass of May *.
Necessity will make an old woman run.
Every inhuman map is obstinate.
Calumny comes from envy.
There is a time for meat and a time for prayer.
Who has done a benefit will deserve one f«
The water is shallowest where it bubbles.
A falsehood is the best traveller i.
The life of a man is not at the disposal of an enemy.
The best master is he, who has been a servant.
Every covetous man is illiberal.
Trouble springs from a small cause §.
Every bird loves its own voice.
Fame outlives riches.
Woe to the man that has brought sorrow on a hundred (.
A friend at court is better than gold on the finger.
He, that is unlucky at sea, will be unlucky on land f .
* *
MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS.
PARISH CHURCH OF LLANBEBLIG, CAERNARVON
SHIRE.
In Llanbeblig Church, near Caernarvon, is the following In
scription on a very curiously and elegantly sculptured altar-
tomb or monument in the north chancel, with a male and female
recumbent figure, and on one side the husband is represented
kneeling with his sons behind him, and on the other the wife in a
similar attitude with her daughters.
* An Arabic proverb resembles this:—"The ass shall live while his food
" flourishes."
f So in Arabic :—" Do good, and good shall be done to thee,"
J " Fama, malum quo non aliud velocius ullum." Virc.
§ " Hae nugae seria ducunt in mala." Hon.
|] A hundred is of course here used for any great number. Hesiod ob
serves to the same effect^
IltXAajcj Km %u[j.Trov<ra. tfoXi; xolxou avtipo; eycuipti.
•1 " Caelum non animum mutant qui trans mare currunt." Hon.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 297
" Here lyeth the body of William Griffith, Esq., the son of
Sir Wm. Griffith, Knight, who died Nov. 28th, 1587, and Mar
garet his wife, daughter of John Wynne ap Meredith, Esq., who
built this tomb 1593."
And in the late Rev. Mr. Foxwist's pew, on the left side of the
chancel, are the following Monkish Latin lines, engraved on a
brass plate in what is called black or double letter.
In quo prae multis scribendi gloria fulsit
Ricardus Foxwist, hie pede tritus adest :
Annus, Christe, tuus fuit M: D: luce patrici,
Dum tenet, expirans, vulnera quinque tua,
Corporis atque tui tandem pars additur altra,
Dum conjux uno clauditur in tumulo;
Haecque Johanna fuit, ac Spicer nata Johanne ;
Pauperibus larga, justa, pudica fuit.
The above seems to have been a scrivener, as there are an hour-
glass and a pen and ink represented on the plate. And Sir John
Wynne informs us, in his History of the Gwydir Family, that in his
time and previous to that period they were called the Lawyers of
Caernarvon, the Merchants of Beaumaris, and the Gentlemen
of Conway.
P. B. W.
INSCRIPTION IN MOLD CHURCH, FLINTSHIRE.
Here lyeth the body of Thomas Edwards sonne and heire of
Evan Edwards of Rhual, Esq.* who died the 3d of April 1664 at
the age of 39 yeares.
Non soli mihi natus eram, me Ecclesia luget,
Me patria ereptum, me genus omne gemit :
Caesar et officium, cives, comitesque piobarunt
Me fidum : hinc caelos involo, Terra vale !
Inveni tandem portum : cur fletis amici ?
Coelo demissus, redditus astra peto.
* Evan Edwards, Esq. is mentioned in the last Number, p. 161, in the
Account of the Parish of Mold. This Epitaph is printed from a trans
cript, preserved among the Harleian MSS. , made by the second Randle
Holme, who appears to have delighted much in these sepulchral gleanings.
Yet this is the only Inscription copied from Mold Church.—Ed.
VOL. I. 2 Q
298 THE CAMBRO-BR1TON.
TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
—»egie—
PARISH OF MOLD, FLINTSHIRE.
' [GwtcJuArrf.]
Supplemental Notices.—It has happened, that a few notices,
of no great importance however, have been either accidentally
omitted in their proper places, or purposely reserved for the
present occasion, as noWstrictly belonging to any of the heads
already adopted. Such additional information, therefore, will
now be communicated in this supplementary article.—In the ac
count given of the destruction of Mold Castle by Llywelyn ab
Iorwerth in 1201 * it should have been noticed, that the event is
recorded by Llywarch Prydydd y Moch, a contemporary poet,
in an Ode addressed by him to that Prince. In this poem he makes
express mention, on three occasions, of the capture and destruc
tion of Wyddrugg. The following is a translation of one of the
passages, which also shews, that Mold was at that time held as a
feudatory appendage to Chester.
Caer Lleonf, the Ruler of Mona, the possession of PaboJ will capture
thee,
He will drive thee to an extremity :
Llywelyn! even he, hath already burnt thy country,
He hath slain thy men beyond the tide and beyond the strand,
He hath entirely captured YVyddgrng ; no feigned flight
Had the Loegrians with perturbed mind to contemplate.
A prince's splendid territory § hath been wofully devastated.
His cloisters have been destroyed, and his holy houses, are they not
ashes || ?
* No. 4, p. 137.
f Chester.
* Pabo was a Cumbrian chief of the fifth century. 'TJpon his country being
overrun by the Saxons and Picts he took refuge in-Wales, where he led a holy
life, and founded a church in Anglesey, still called Llan Babo. Hence, per
haps, his connection with Mona above alluded to.
§ This must have reference to the dominions of the Barons of Monthault
or Wyddrug, who held this place as a fief under the Earls of Chester, as be
fore stated. See No. 4, p. 1S8.
H The following is the original passage :
Caer Lleou, llyw Mon, mwyn Pabo, a'th dug
Ef a'th dwg ynghodo :
Llywelyn, ef llosges dy fro,
Lias dy wyr tra llyr, tra llwyfo,
IJwyr dug y Wyddrug, nid ffug flo
Lloegrwys i llugfryd i synnio ;
Lleudir teyrn lluddiwyd yn agro,
Lias ei glas, ei glwyulai, neud glo ?
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 299
In addition also to the three places, in which the destruction of
the Castle of Wyddrugg is expressly mentioned, the poet in two
other Instances alludes to a sanguinary battle fought between
Uywelyn and the English, or Normans, as they are called, on
the banks of the Alyn, and therefore, most probably, in the same
neighbourhood. On one occasion he speaks of " myriads " being
slain in the conflict, and in the other compares it with the cele
brated battle of Camlan, in which Arthur fell.—It should also be
noticed, that there is a place in the township of Treuddyn called
Tre Llywelyn, which may have derived its name from the same
chieftain. An old Welsh MS., however, written in 1534, entitled
the " Chronicle of Gwynedd," relates, that this place was so call
ed on account of a battle fought there between Llywelyn, the son
of David, Prince of Wales*, and some English, who occupied
a place called Ffrith in that neighbourhood. The stations, pos
sessed by the respective forces, are particularly described, and it
is added, that a great slaughter ensued, and that David, son of
Llywelyn, was among the number slain. A remarkable stone in
the' neighbourhood, supposed to have been anciently used for
sepulchral purposes, is also thought to have had some reference
to this battle. This stone, which is in length about two yards
nine inches, one yard and thirty-two inches in height, and in
breadth seventeen inches, is called Careg y Llech, and gives name
to the eminence, on which .it stands. There are likewise in the
names and other circumstances belonging to this part of the coun
try strong grounds for believing, that an important conflict took
place here at some distant period.—To the account, already given
by Mr. Edward Llwyd -f, of a bed of muscles discovered in the
year 1699 in this parish, the following certificate, to which the
learned writer refers in his letter, may now be added, and will
serve to confirm his statement.—" July 1st, 1699, We the persons
undernamed do certify, that on the 27th of May 1699, in sink
ing to lay the foundation of a building near the town of Mold
about three quarters of a yard deep in hard gravel, where no
* There does not appearto have been any Uywelyn, the son of David, pn
the throne of Norlh Wales: but Lly welyn ab lorwerth, who may be the
prince here meant, succeeded his uncle Davydd ab Owain Gwynedd in the
sovereign power. Yet, although he had a son named David, he could not
have been slain, at mentioned in the MS. above quoted, since he survived
his father, and reigned in Gwynedd from 1240 to 1246. The account, then-
fore, here given of the battle at Tre Uywelyn, is not without some ambi
guity.
+ No. «, p. 1SJ.
300 THE CAMBRO-BR1TON.
water came, were found four muscles, nothing differing (that we
could perceive) from those of the sea. having their fish in them
alive and fresh and full of liquor. Witness our hands the day and
year above written : Edward ab Rondle, David Howell, Peter
Williams."—Athough there are no hills in this parish remarkable
for their height, the following eminences should have been pre
viously noticed. The names, retained by most of them, seem to
indicate, that they were formerly connected with some interesting
events, of which the particulars are no longer known.—1. Bryn y
Bal. 2. Gwaun yr Wyddfid. 3. Moel y Windeg. 4. Rhos
Treuddyn. 5. Yr Orsedd Vawr *. 6. Rhos Ithel. 7. Caregy
Llech, before noticed,—It should likewise have been mentioned
under the head of Natural History, that there are three wells or
springs of ancient note in the parish, viz. Ffynnon Maes Garmon,
already alluded to, Ffynnon St. Catrin, and Ffynnon y Bedi.'—
It only remains to take a short notice of the Dissenting Chapels
in this parish, which are seven in number. Of these three belong
to the Calvinistic Methodists, two to those of the Wesleyan con
nection, and two to the seceders, known by the name of Inde
pendents. Three of these places of worship are in the town.
There is also a Roman Catholic Chapel, situate in Nerquis, for
the accommodation of a few persons in that part of the parish,
belonging, for the most part, to Miss Giffard's family, the remnant
of a small colony of papists introduced by the late Mr. Giffard,
who was of the same persuasion. And the present proprietor of
Nerquis Hall, although a protestant, continues, from motives at
once disinterested and laudable, to support the establishment.
PARISH OF LLAN-SILIN, IN THE COUNTY OF
DENBIGH.
INDEX OF SECTIONS.
§ 1. Name of the Parish— Patron Saint— Church— List of
Vicars.
2. Situation—Extent—Divisions.
3. Soil—Substrata—Minerals— Fossils.
4. Roads—Romans Roads—Mediolanum.
* This hill probably tcok its name from having been formerly a place,
where the bards held their meetings or gtrseddau. And the name of Gortedd
Vawr, or the Great Congress, seems to indicate, that it was a place of note
in this respect.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 301
§ 5. Water—Rivers—Lake, &c.
6. Mountains—Altitudes—Views.
7. Ancient Monuments—Camps—Circles—Carneddau.
8. Ancient Houses—Men of Note—Native Authors—Itinerant
Bards—Pedigrees.
9. Sycharth, the seat of Owain Glyndwr—His Descent, and
Claim to the Principality—Desuiption of Sycharth from
a Poem by Iolo Goch.
10. Appendix.—Memoranda of the Civil War in North Wales
—Occupation of Llan-Silin Church by the Parliamentary
Forces. •
§ 1. Name.—A compound of Llan, a Church, a Church
Village, &c.—and Silin, the Saint to whom the Church ii «ip-
posed to have been dedicated at its foundation. It may now be
difficult, and not very useful, to account how this St. Silin, aliar
Sulien, came to occupy four several festivals in our old calen
dars.
1. May 13th is denominated the festival of Mael and Sulien,
two missionaries, who, in company with about a dozen more,
came into this island from Armorica, under the superintendence
of Cadvan, who became abbot of the monastery of Bardsey,
and is recorded to have been buried at Tywyn Meirionydd, in
the sixth century. The churches of Corwen in Edeyrnion, and
Cwm in Tegengl, were dedicated to the tutelary saints, Mael
and Sulien ; and the annual commemoration, or wake, in those
parishes, was customarily held on the Sunday next after the
13th of May, O. S.
2. September 1st is- noted as the festival of St. Silin. Dr.
Thomas Williams, in his copy of Bonedd y Saint, informs us,
that there was a Capel Silin at Wrexham ; and the editor of
Brown Willis's St. Asaph says, that Wrexham Church is dedi
cated to St. Giles, and the wake observed on the Sunday follow
ing the 1st of September. The correct Ecton, in his Thesaurus,
has " Llan-Silin—St. Giles, JWallice Silin." If Silin, or
Sulien, must be foreignized, it is more agreeable to the Welsh
idiom to have it converted into Julian than Giles. This latter
name, whatever is meant by it, has been applied in a Latin
dress to this parish of Llan-Silin, in a comment on an article in
Pope Nicholas's Taxation, (Brown Willis, by Edwards, vol. ii.
59.) " Ecclesia de Lanselyn, Decanat. de Kynleith (dicta
Ecclesia Sti Egidii, anno 1296.)" Thus we find Silin meta-
morphosed into Giles, and Giles into Egidius !
302 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
3. September 2d.—St. Sulien. These two festivals on two
successive day*, and with a trifling variation in the name of the
•airtt, may have originated in error.
4. October 1st.—Silin and Gannon. It was natural to unite
Sulien with Mael, on the 1 3th of May, as they were cotempo-
riry saints, fellow travellers from the continent, and* probably,
fellow labourers in preaching the Gospel to our ancestors ; but
here (Oct. 1st.) Silin is joined, in our calendar, to Garmon
(Germanus), who had ceased from his labours about a century
before. But they were of the same zealous family ; Silin, a
grandson to Emyr Llydaw, (Emyr, the Armorican,) and Gar
mon, a maternal uncle to the same personage.
The latter festival is that, which has generally obtained in the
parish. The benefice is a vicarage, in the patronage of the
Bishop of St. Asaph ; to whom and the Dean and Chapter of
that Cathedral the rectorial tithes belong.
The church is of superior appearance to country churches in
general ; consisting of a nave, and an aisle on the north side,
•et off with a lofty conical spire, furnished with three bells.
Only two mural monuments present themselves ; the first, that
of Sir William Williams, Bart. Speaker of the House of Com
mons, and Solicitor-General ; the second, that of David Mau
rice, Esq. and his son Edward Maurice, Esq. of Glan Cyn-
llaith ; both to be more particularly noticed in the sequel, when
I come to treat of their respective houses.
According to a MS. memorandum left by Mr. John Davies,
of Rhiwlas, the author of " Heraldry Displayed," published in
1716,—" the great window in the chancel of our Lady's Church
in Llan-Silin, was begun by Ieuan Vychan," (Davies's ances
tor in seven degrees,) " and finished by his widow, Gwenwyvar,
(daughter of Ieuan Vychan, of Moeliwrch *.) Their names were
artificially wrought in the painted glass, and seen in the memory
of this age; until the window was destroyed in the time of the
late unhappy wars between King Charles the First and his un
natural subjects."—J. D.
We are informed by a MS. left by Mr. William Maurice of
Llan-Silin, that the Church was converted into a barrack by a
detachment of the Parliamentarian army stationed at Montgo
mery f. This accounts for the destruction of the chancel window,
* Ieuan Vychan lived about the conclusion of the 14th century.
f A more detailed account of the occupation of Llan-Silin Cfcurch by the
Parhamentary forces wit! be gUcn in ihe Appendix A.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 303
as well as for the disappearance of a statue of St. Silin, men
tioned in section 8 of this survey, as in being in the year 1534,
opposite to a seat or pew belonging to Thomas ab Llewelyn of
Cevn y Braich.
Vicars of Llan-Silin from the year 1537.
1. Thomas Kyffin, ab Meredydd—collated by Bishop
Warton ..... 1537
2. Davydd Moms, Schoolmaster of Oswestry, by R.
Davies - - . . . 158-1
3. Risiart ab Ieuan, by T. Davies - - 1562
4- Thomas Llwyd, by Hughes ... 1592
5. Simon Llwyd—Vicar Choral, by Parry - 1615
6. Richard Mucklestone, by the same - - 1615
7. J. Kyffin, by Hanmer - .. . 1625
8. Richard Jervase, by the King . - 1627
9. Edward Tanat, ejected by the Parliament from his
Vicarage of St. Michael in Blodvoel, collated to
Llan-Silin by Bishop Griffith - . 1661
10. J. Jones, by Glenham ... iqq-j
11. J. Wynn, by Beveridge ... 1706
12. J. Skye, by Drummond - - . 1755
13. T. Hughes, L.L.B. Schoolmaster at Ruthin, and
afterwards Rector of Llan Vwrog, by Newcome 1763
14. Richard Maurice, by Shipley - - 1776
15. Turner Edwards, by Bagot ... igQ2
16. Jones, Curate of Rhuddlan, by Horsley 1803
17. John Mason, Curate of Denbigh, by Cleaver 1809
18. John Jones, Curate of Wrexham, by the same 1811
19. David Richards, Curate, by Luxmoore - 1819
Besides this Llan of Silin, and the former Capel of Silin at
Wrexham, there are a Church and a Vicarage called Silin or
Sulien, in Cardiganshire, near Llan Bedr, on the Teivy, a man
sion in Caernarvonshire called Bod-Silin, and a place in Cornwall
called Tre' Silian, the supposed residence of the Sulien of our
Brut *, the Fulgenius of its Latin copies, who opposed the Roman
power under Severus, and, according to Dr. Stukely (Palceo-
logr.), Silvanus, the father of Carawn (Carausius) the Nelson of
the British seas, about the year 300. .
§ 2. Situation and Extent.—Llan-Silin lieth in the south,
eastern corner of Denbighshire, abutted by Shropshire on the east.
* Bruty Brenhinofxki—or History of the Kings of Britain.
304 THE CAMBRO-BRITAIN.
and by Montgomeryshire on the south. Its outline toucheth upon
ten parishes; three in Shropshire, six in Denbighshire, and one
in Montgomeryshire. The body of the parish constitutes a con
siderable plain, of a somewhat undulated surface, and tending to
an oval form, with two wings,—the southern consisting of the
township of Sycharth, extending to the river Tanat on the bor
der of Montgomeryshire,—and the northern, containing the town
ship of Rhiwlas, stretching beyond the Ceiriog, in the valley of
that name. Its dimension, in this north and south direction, may
be from seven to eight miles ; and in a transverse line, from west
to east, from four to five miles. Its townships (taking Rhiwlas
is-foel, and uwch-foel, as one) are ten in number, enumerated in
the, following alphabetical order. 1 . Bodlith, 2. Llan, 3. Lled-
rod, 4. Lloran, 5. Llys Dynwallawn, 6. Moelfre, 7. Pri'bwll,
8. Rhiwlas, 9. Sycharth, 10. Sychdin : the nine former in Den
bighshire, and the tenth in Shropshire. In Pope Nicholas's Tax
ation (1291) this parish, with its neighbour Llan Armon, consti
tuted the Deanry of Kynleith ; but both now form but a small
portion of the Deanry of Marchia, in the Diocese of St. Asaph.
According to the political divisions of those days, Llan Silin was
in the Cwmmwd of Cynllaith, a part of Cantrev y Rhaiadr, now
called the Hundred of Chirk. Nine of the townships are included
in the manor or lordship of C3rnllaith, once the entire patrimony
of its paramount lord, but in after times divided into two unequal
portions, as shall be shewn in a future section. The smaller por
tion, called Cynllaith Owain, now belongs to the Llan Gedwn
estate, the property of Sir W. W. Wynn ; and the larger, called
Cynllaith yr Iarll, is a part of the Chirk Castle estate. The
tenth township, Sychdin, is in the manor of Du-parts, which be
longs to the representative of the house of Powys. On the hill,
above Pyllau y Meirch, is a large cubic stone, about three feet to
a side, called Bwrddy tri Arglwydd, owing to the three lordships
meeting thereabout in a point ; and withal creating a supposition,
that the three lords once met, and dined upon the monument.
§ 3. Soil—Substrata—Minerals.—The soil is chiefly a
hazle mould, or ferny soil, on dry substrata; and clay, or peat,
in hollows, and elevated situations. The substrata of the west
ern, by far the greater, portion of the parish, are of the shale, or
brittle slate kind ; with occasional veins, or riders, of the more
indurated grey mountain rock, for building and other purposes.
That portion of Sycharth, lying east of the rivulet Cynllaith, hath
its roeks of a silicious quality—amorphous whin, some of a por
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 305
phyritic, and some of a chertzose appearance. These silicious
rocks lie between the shale of the western part and the limestone
of Sychdin, and, running northward, form very abrupt and pic
turesque precipices about Melin Deirw, in the valley of Ceiriog.
To the east of Nant Mawr the lime rocks appear regularly strati
fied, dipping eastwardly, under the sand-stone and local strata
of Tref-y-clawdd ; and forming generally an angle of about 30
degrees of the horizon. Many of the strata are of the species
called fiummery stone. One bed of this kind, of several feet
depth, was observed to contain nodules, of several feet dimen
sions, of a spherical form, of the common species of limestone,
imbedded in it. This latter stone exhibits occasionally marks of
marine exuviae, which are never found in the other.
The ore called sulphat of zinc, or black jack, has been found, in
small quantities, in the common', or splintery limestone of Sych
din ; and calamine, the carbonate of zinc, in large quantities, has
been procured for several years together, from the fiummery
limestone of the Moelydd rocks in the township ofTrev-y-clawdd,
in the adjoining parish of Oswestry,
Idris.
ITo bo continued."}
THE MISCELLANIST.—No. V.
There is something very lively in the following sketch of an
excursion to the celebrated Abbey of Cymmer near Dolgellau :
and the writer has contrived to give it some picturesque touches
well adapted to the occasion. But, if any should be of opinion,
that he has availed himself too largely of the privilege of a painter
in this respect, they should at the same time consider, that the
contemplation of ancient ruins', of a certain description, seldom
fails to produce, in a mind of sensibility, a peculiar cast of im
pressions, which communicate their tints to every surrounding
object. Upon the same principle it is, that many circumstances,
which ordinary minds regard with indifference, derive in others a
degree of importance from the particular medium, through which
they are viewed. It is this species of colouring, although in an
extreme degree, that has acquired the name of the romantic :
and, whatever may be its popular character, it is far more true
to nature than is generally imagined.
The Editor feels it a duty to add, that he is indebted to the
vol. I. 2 R
306 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Writer of the " Cambrian Sketches," announced in the last
Number, for this interesting " Visit," and which, he under
stands, is destined to form a part of his projected work.
* * i*
A VISIT TO VANNER.
On the banks of the Mawddach, in Merionethshire, about a
mile before that river has its junction with the Wnion and be
comes navigable, are situated the monastic ruins of Cymmer, or,
as it is more usually called, Vanner Abbey. The spot is secluded
and beautiful ; bounded on all sides by high and chiefly well-
wooded hills, and concealed from the eye of man, until close to
it, by venerable and majestic forest trees—
" whose sober shade
Lets fall a serious gloom upon the mind,
Which checks, but not appals. Such are the haunts
Religion seeks—a meek and humble maid,
Whose tender eye bears not the blaze of day."
The ruins consist of what I should conceive to be the aisle of
the church, the walls of which, the only part now remaining, are
plenteously covered with ivy and other creeping plants. * The
refectory, I should however mention, is still standing, and is con
verted into a farm house ; but, as it is detached from the main
building, and has nothing very peculiar in its appearance, it can
scarcely be accounted part of the ruins.
Cymmer Abbey was founded at the close of the twelfth or be
ginning of the thirteenth century, by Meredudd and Gruffydd,
sons of Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales, and
dedicated to the Mother of Jesus. Soon after its foundation it
became, by the powerful patronage of its royal founders, very
flourishing, and the monks obtained a charter, in 1209, from
Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, which invested them with great power in
those parts. Pennant and other writers on Welsh historical
subjects give a detailed account of this abbey, and to his " Tour
in North Wales'' I must refer the reader for such information as
he desires respecting it, merely observing, that, at the dissolu
tion of monasteries by Henry VIII. it was valued at between 50
and 60 pounds ; but the only charge on it, in 1553, was 6/. 13*. 4d.
paid to Lewis ab Thomas, supposed to have been the last abbot.
Elizabeth, however, five-and-twenty years afterwards, granted it
to her greedy and overbearing favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl o<"
Leicester. It is now the property of the Vaughans of Hengwrt.
The last time I was in Wales I had a great desire to visit these
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 30T
ruins, not from any particular beauty attached to them, as spe
cimens of architecture, but from a sensation of delight I always
experience in viewing any of the ruins of our ancient buildings,
to which historical record or tradition has imparted any interest.
The mind is always pleasingly, and perhaps usefully, employed
in contemplating fallen or decaying grandeur, and I must ac
knowledge, for my own part, that my visit to Vanner afforded
me a pleasure I have not yet forgotten, and never shall forget.
It was in autumn last that I spent a short time on a visit in the
neighbourhood of Dolgellau—" the modern capital of the wild
county of Merioneth;" and one Sunday evening it was proposed
to me by a very worthy young friend of mine, Mr. * * *, to
visit Vanner—I cheerfully acquiesced in the proposal, and after
tea we repaired thither—my friend, another young gentleman,
and myself. The day had been rather stormy, and the heavens
still looked grim and cloudy, although the rain had ceased. How
ever, as Vanner is but a short two miles from Dolgelley, we did
not heed the weather, and off we went. We took the nearer
path, to the right of the regular road, passing through the
woods of Hengwrt, the seat of Griffith Howel Vaughan, Esq.,
where, by the way, there is a valuable library of Welsh litera
ture, both in print and manuscript *. We stopped to look at
the house, which is an old square building, situated on rising
ground, a little above the Barmouth road, on the right, and sur
rounded by some very valuable timber. It is at present unin
habited, its worthy and wealthy proprietor, Sir Robert Vaughan's
brother, residing on his estate of Rug, near Corwen ; but it is in
admirable order; and I was informed, that the old walls of Hen
gwrt have echoed ere now to many a gleeful shout and merry
revel. By thi time we reached the abbey the summits of the
surrounding hills were wrapped in the gloom of twilight, and the
evening smoke of the neighbouring little hamlet of Llanelltyd
arose in spiry volumes to the clouds, the wind, which had been
high during the day, having totally subsided. We entered the
precincts of the once far-famed Vanner, and the gloomy silence
and solitude of the scene cast an awe over my mind, which I did
not attempt either to .repress or conceal. It was the Sabbath
evening, and the busy noise of labour, and indeed of nature
itself was hushed into tranquillity. At first not a sound was
# This library is now at Rug, another family estate, belonging to Mr.
Vaughan, in the same county,—E»-
308 % THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
audible to disturb the solemn stillness, which surrounded us, save
the gentle rippling of the river, as it made its way over its rocky
and uneven bed ; but ere long the wind began to rise, and mur
mured plaintively among the foliage of the trees : anon a bat
would whir by us and nestle in the ivy, which covers the ruins.
It was momentarily getting darker, and the ivied walls of the
abbey cast a deeper shade on the area between them. The wind,
too, increased, and at length howled mournfully around us ; a
drop or two of rain fell, and we had the comfortable prospect of
being caught in a tempest. We prepared, therefore, to bend our
course homewards, and' were just about to leave thfe abbey, when
the melancholy hooting of that most lugubrious of all birds, the
owl, apparently just above us, startled us all, and reminded m«
of a passage in Blair's " Grave," which, with a trifling altera
tion, will be found somewhat applicable to our situation at Vanner.
The wind is up ; hark ! how it howls ! Methinks,
Till now, I never heard a sound so dreary :—
night's foul bird,
Rook'd in the ruin, screams loud ; the gloomy aisles,
Black-plaster'd and hung round with wreaths of ivy,
——— send back the sounds,
Laden with heavier airs, from the low vaults—
The mansions of the dead.
Again the screech-owl shrieks ! ungracious sound !
I'll hear no more !—It makes one's blood run chill !
I may probably incur an imputation of cowardice from many
by the declaration I am about to make, but positively the " un
gracious sound" of " night's foul bird" caused my nerves to
thrill most fearfully, and inspired me with a hearty wish to be
gone. It seemed to me the scream of a demon, breaking loudly
and dissonantly on the sacred stillness which invested us, and
exulting in the departure of the intruders on its solitude. My
companions, however, thought otherwise, and seemed to hail the
sound as the greeting of old acquaintance, and one of them re
plied in a tone so similar to its own, that I absolutely started
back some paces, supposing the bird at my elbow. The owl
again hooted forth its to-whit-to-whoo, and a kind of conversa-,
tion (unintelligible, however, to both parties) was carried on
between it and my companions, which lasted till we gained the
extremity of Hengwrt wood, the bird following us the whole way,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 809
and sometimes flying round our head, almost within reach of our
arms. If any of the simple natives heard the sounds we made,
they would undoubtedly have drawn some melancholy presage
from them. Soon after we left the woods the rain fell heavily,
and we ran for shelter into a hut on the road-side, the inmates of
which were engaged in the devotional exercises of the evening,
and listening attentively to an elderly man, who was reading
the Bible—
" The huge clasp'd Bible, which had been his father's."
There was a numerous congregation for so small a place, some
twelve or fourteen, men, women, and children. This was a
soothing and happy sight, and we remained till their vespers were
concluded, when, the rain having ceased, we resumed our walk.
As we entered the town, my friend offered to conduct me to the
Town Hall, where the children of the Sunday School* were
assembled to sing hymns, the usual, indeed the constant, mode of
closing the Sabbath at Dolgellau. I accepted the offer with great
pleasure, and we soon arrived at the Hall, where we found many
of the respectable inhabitants gathered together. The singing
had already commenced, and the singers were performing, with
much sweetness and simplicity, the evening hymn. They finished
this and several others, some in Welsh and some in English, and
then, with their auditors, departed to their rest. It is needless for
me to expatiate on this admirable and rational mode of termi
nating the duties of the Sabbath-day. Nothing, I should conceive,
can be more purely and completely gratifying than to contem
plate youthful piety in the act of lifting up its voice in adoration
and gratitude to its Creator. What a contrast this, to the sicken
ing depravity of the metropolis, and what a testimony of the
assiduity and careful love of the Pastor of Dolgellau ! Can any
thing speak more forcibly in praise of his attention towards his
flock—of his duty towards his God ? I never spent an evening
so happily and so worthily.
Mervinius.
In the sixth Number (p. 210) there appeared a short biogra
phical notice, by P. B. W., of Davydd Lhvyd ab Llewelyn. The
# The Sunday School was instituted some years ago by, I believe, the
present worthy and highly esteemed Rector, Mr. Hughes. At all events, I
am informed that he was chiefly instrumental in effecting its establishment;
The young ladies, his daughters, now employ much of their time in in
structing the poor children of the lower orders in the rutliments Of useful
knowlege. Is not this beucvoleDce—pure unadulterated benevolence ?—M.
310 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
following anecdote, illustrative of what was there stated, has been
communicated by a gentleman, to whom the readers of the
Cambro-Briton are already indebted for two or three interest
ing contributions.
DAVYDD LLWYD AB LLEWELYN.
The Earl of Richmond, in his March from Milford, is said to
have lodged one night with his friend Davydd Llwyd at Matha-
farn. In his anxiety for the issue of his hazardous enterprise he
privately requested the opinion of his host, who was esteemed by
his contemporaries a most distinguished prophet. The seer cau
tiously replied, that a question of such importance could not be
immediately answered, and that he would give his reply in the
morning. He was greatly perplexed by the question, and his
wife observed an unusual and inexplicable gravity in his manner
during the remainder of the evening. She enquired into the
cause, of which, when she was informed, she exclaimed with much
astonishment, " How can you possibly have any difficulty about
your answer? Tell him, that the issue of his enterprise will be
most successful and glorious. If your prediction is verified, you
will receive honours and rewards ; but, if it fails, depend upon
it, he will never come here to reproach you." Hence we have
the Welsh proverb,—Cynghor gwraig heb ei o/yn *.
X. Y. Z.
AN OLD PROPHECY.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—If you thiqk. proper, I would thank you to insert the
following lines, as some of your correspondents may be able to
unravel their meaning.
Pan fo Rhuddlan heb Gonwyaid,
Pan fo Llan Saint Sior heb Holandiaid,
Pan fo Abergele heb fiyn hirion,
Y bydd rhywbeth yn Rhiwabon
Now, the Conways of Bodryddan in Rhuddlan have been some
years extinct, so have the Hollands of Cinmel in Llan Saint Sior :
and the long poles, formerly in use in Abergele f, are no longer
necessary. I conclude, then, that the predicted event, whatever
it was, alluded to in the last of the foregoing lines, has already
come to pass. Perhaps some of your readers can furnish a clue
to the mystery. Ll.
* A wife's advice without asking it.
f Before a part of that parish was overflowed by the sea.— !5d.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 311
AWEN CYMRU.
. A'th rodd yw athrwydd Awcn. Edm. Prys.
Y DEWIS:
Hywel ab Owain a'i cant.
Fy newisi riain firain faindeg,
Hirwen yn ei 'len, 'liw ehoeg;
Am dewis synwyr syniaw arwreigiaidd,
Ban dywed o frstidd weddaidd wofeg ;
Am dewis gydran gyhydreg 'L bun,
A bod yn gyfrin am rin, am reg.
Dewis yw genyfi hardd-liw gwaneg,
Y doeth i'th gyfoeth, dy goeth Gymraeg.
Dewis genyfi di :
Beth yw genyti fi ?
Pa beth ! a dewi di ?
D&g ei gosteg !
Dewiseisi fun, fal nad attreg genyf :
lawn yw dewisaw : dewis, dyn deg !
[The following Lines were addressed by the Rev. Walter Daties to that
patriotic prelate, the Bishop of St. David's, when he presided at the
Carmarthen Eisteddfod, in Jily—Ed.] ,
FR LLYWYDD.
Burgess, geir a lies gwir,a Had—i-'n hiaith
Ein hethol ddymuniad ;
Y mae'r gwr a mawr gariad,
A barn glyw, yn bur i'n gwlad.
Bor gwiwlwys o Abergwili—Esgob
A wisgwyd 4 daioni,
Gwr o fraint, goreu ei fri,
Bugail Duw a bagl Dewi.
Agwedd ei ysgolheigion—a gwnnai
I gynnol iaith Seion;
Odiaethol yw'r bendithion
O'i olud hael i'r wlad hon.
Hygar haeddiant y gwr addien—a gofir
Tra gwiwfeirdd Ogyrfen ;
Tra Thywi bydd traith Awen
I gyfarch o'm parch a'n pen.
312 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATION OF THE CHOICE.
BY HYWEL AB OWAIN GWYJiEDD*.
[Seepage 311.]
Yon lovely maid of form divine,
So slim, so fair, may she be mine,
Whose long white shape and graceful mien
Beneath her light blue veil are seen !
On woman, when her charms unite,
Supreme in female excellence,
To muse hath been my first delight ;
But most I prize her diffidence,
When on her lips, in concert sweet,
Her decent mind and language meet.
Hence would I choose with thee, my fair,
Our thoughts, our lives, our all to share.
Bright art thou as the hues that shine
Upon the sparkling summer tide,
While Cymru's purest speech is thine ;
Discreetest maid, be this thy pride.
Hence thou art mine, and shall I be
To thee as dear as thou to me ?
What, no reply ! ah, silent still !
Yet even thy silence raptures fill.
But I, who choose so rich a prize,
What pause should mar a choice like this ?
In choosing well the merit lies,
Then choose, my fair, and seal our bliss.
* **
*• Hywel ab Owain was one of the sons of Owain Gwynedd, Prince of
North Wales, who succeeded to the sovereignty in 1 1 37. Upon his death
in 1169 Hywel aspired to the throne, but, after a severe struggle, was de
feated by his brother Davydd, and two years afterwards died of his wounds
in Ireland. There are but eight of Hywel's productions preserved, which
are printed in the Archaiology ; but it sufficiently appears from these, that
he was a young man of talent as well as an elegant poet. The effusions of
his Muse appear, like this specimen, to have been dedicated to the fair sex;
at least such is the general character of those, that remain. But it may be
proper to add, that the translation, here offered, does not in every instance
retain the siuipljcity of the original. Perhaps, indeed, this would have bten
hardly practicable.— Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 313
TRANSLATION of SOME LINES
Written by a young Man to his Mistress, who was offended with
him for leaving Ids Country *.
Thou beauteous nymph, source of my pain,
Hear, O hear, thy love-sick swain ;
Caught by thy charms, I can't deny,
I toil in Cupid's chains—I die !
Pierc'd is my bosom with thy dart,
I feel, I feel it at my heart.
Alas ! I mourn the hour I knew
My angel of the brightest hue :
Thy heavenly form, thy lovely gait,
Thy temper sweet, have fixed my fate.
Weak wretch, I dreamt of bliss secure,
Of pleasure ever blooming, pure,
While timidly thy steps I sought ;
My heart with love's soft frenzy fraught.
What joy ! to tell the tender tale
To th' envied lily of the vale,
And sit the day in green alcove,
Thy taper form beside, my love ;
And press thy snowy hand in mine,
And round thy waist my arms entwine ;
And place my lips, rapture too much,
On thine, and sip the witching touch !
Than honey sweeter was the kiss,
Heaven, heaven alone surpass'd the bliss.
Oh ! what a wretched world of woe
Is this I find ; how fickle too !
Amid this exquisite delight
What sudden change ! Ah ! luckless wight !
CompelPd to say the word, farewell !
And go 'mid Saxons strange to dwell—
Far from my native home depart,
Far from the girl, that stole my heart.
* The Lines, of which these are a translation, were composed in London
by Mr. John Owen, a native of Cardiganshire, in 1158. The original may
be fuund in the Diddanwch Teuluaidd beginning
" Y cywrain ferch a gerais
Claf oil wyf, o clyw fy ilais."
Vol I. 2 a
314 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Is it not cruel, sinful too,
To part us twain, that loved so true ?
Cruel, to send me from thy plains,
Sweet Teivy, and thy jocund swains ;
But crueller by far, I ween,
A frown on her I love is seen.
Hard is my fate ; there now remains,
Far from my Gem and pleasant plains,
To me, of all my paradise,
But briny tears and fruitless sighs.
My locks are gone—those curls of gold,
Whose beauty thousands oft have told :
My face is shrivelled, haggard, lean,
Where manly graces erst were seen :
Those brilliant eyes, you knew so bright,
Are leaden orbs, a ghastly sight :
Those cheeks, that vied the ruddy rose,
Death's horrid paleness now disclose :
My form's, heaven knows, so strange, my fair,
Your tender heart 'twould shock and scare ;
Your faded Swain none now would know,
Where Teivy's silver currents flow.
O pure, O lovely, lonely maid,
Let not thy frowns thy Swain upbraid
For ever; think, O think, I pray,
Of many a past and pleasant day ;
Of many a secret vow sincere
We pledg'd, when none beside was near.
Though from my native land I've stray'd
Frantic, and left my Cambrian maid,
Nor wife nor nymph of noble race,
Nor sickly hag with golden lace,
Nor Cyprian gay, tempting to view,
Nor riches, t'other evil too,
Shall e'er beguile my heart to slight
My first, my ever fond delight ;
Nor turn my mind—their arts are vain—
From seeking thee, fair maid, again.
Mem'ry's true compass ne'er will move
One moment from the girl I love.
Young is thy swain, and void of art,
He tells the language of his heart :
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 315
If you, fair maid, will still deny
The pledge of peace and amity ;
If you'll withhold those accents sweet,
And guard your thoughts in close retreat ;
If I'm refus'd my heart's delight,
Thyself, thou luminary bright !
Then to the world, fair maid, and you,
My parting breath will sigh adieu.
Huy, Feb. 26, 1820. G.G.
WALES.
OLD CYMMRODORION SOCIETY.—To the summary
view, already taken * of this primitive Institution, it may not be
uninteresting to add here some of the " general heads of sub
jects," which were proposed " to be occasionally considered and
treated in the Correspondence of the Cymmrodorion,"—as they
are to be found in the publication referred to on the former occa
sion. These " heads" are there arranged under the following
general titles : Antiquities—Welsh Poetry and Language—
Welsh Manners and Customs—Natural Philosophy—Manufac
tures—and Queries of the Invisible World. There is only room
now for those relating to Antiquities ; but the others are designed
to be inserted hereafter. And it can not be doubted, that some
useful hints may be derived from them towards promoting that
national cause, in which the inhabitants of Wales have at last
evinced so patriotic an unanimity.f %*
ANTIQUITIES.
1 . Of the Ancient Names of the Isle ofBritain.
2. Of the British Book of Triads and its authority.
3. Of the Book of Ancient British Proverbs and their autho
rity in history.
4. If the Ancient British Genealogies and their authority from
written and oral tradition, and of the use of that science.
* See No. 6, p. 234.
f The Editor takes the opportunity of observing also, that the pages of the
G'ambro-Bhiton would always be open to any information, that might be
suggested by these " heads," some of which embrace inquiries of a very
interesting nature, and tending, in a particular degree^ to the illustration
of our national literature.
316 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
5. Of old Inscriptions in Wales, British and Roman and An
cient Coins.
6. Of the Historical and Poetical British MSS. mentioned in
Mr. Llwyd's Archceologia Britannica, and several not seen by-
Mr. Llwyd, with an account in whose hands they are.
7. Of the British Character or Letter, and of the Saxon.
8. Of M. Pezron's Book (the Antiquity of Nations), its ex
cellencies and defects.
9. Of the uncertainty of Ancient History, Greek and Roman,
when treating of the affairs of Britain.
10. Of Gildas, Nennius, Asserius Menevensis, Giraldus Cam.
brensis, Galfridus Monemuthensis, Poriticus Virunnius, and other
ancient writers among the Britons, who wrote our history in the
Latin tongue.
11. Of Tysilia, the true author of the British History, trans
lated into Latin, by Galfrid, Bishop of St. Asaph, commonly
called Geoffrey of Monmouth, and of the Translation and the
several Editions of it : also of the original manuscript copies and
in whose hands they are.
12. Of Camden, Milton, and Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph,
and their opposition to Tysilio's British History.
13. Of their great Character given to Bede, the Saxon histo
rian, and a comparison between Bede and Tysilio.
14. Some Extracts out of Hywel Dda's Laws (or the Ancient
Laws of the Britons), particularly their method of exposing vice.
15. Of the Ancient Tenure of Lands in Wales.
16. Of the true Orthography of Ancient Names of Men and
Places, the best proof of them from the Poets, and of mistaken
translations of names, as Merlin for Merddin, &c. which have
occasioned the wild guesses of Etymologists.
17. Of the Names of Mountains, Lakes, Rivers, Promonto
ries, Towns, and Counties in Britain, being the most ancient
names, especially amongst unconquered nations. These will help
to explain Antoninus's Itinerary, i. c. the ancient Roman stations
in Britain.
18. Of Churches, Bridges, and other noted Buildings, and by
whom built or erected.
19. Of the Cam, Cromlech, Meini Gwyr, Bedd y Wrach,
Coeten Arthur, Rocking Stones, Barrows, Barclodiad y Wid-
don, Maen Tartv, Maen Arthur, Cadtr Arthur, Gorsedd,
Eistcddfa, Din, Dittos, Castcll, Caer, and other ancient fabrics
or erections of stones in Wales.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 317
CYMMRODORION SOCIETY IN POWYS —A particular
account of the First Meeting of this Institution, which constitutes
a branch of the Cambrian Society, was given in a former Num
ber*, together with a detail of the subjects proposed for literary
competition at the Eisteddfod. A meeting of the Committee has
recently taken place, at which some alterations were made in this
respect, which it may be necessary to notice. The subjects and
premiums, originally designed for the Awdl and Cywydd, are
thus altered.
1 . A Premium of Twenty Guineas, or a Medal of the value
for the best AwDt., or Ode, on Marwolaeih ein diweddar Frenin
Sior III.
2. A Premium of Ten Guineas, or a Medal of the value for the
best Cvwvdd, or Poem, on Hiraeth Cymro am ei wlad mewn Bro
Estronawl.
The Rev. David Richards, of Llansilin, is appointed Secretary
te the Society : and the competitors for the prizes are to transmit
their compositions to him before the 15th day of July. The
Eisteddfod will be holden at Wresham on the 2d and 3d days of
August next; and it may be hoped, that it will be animated by
the same laudable spirit, that distinguished the one last year at
Carmarthen. The successful candidates in poetical composition
on that occasion, it may be proper to add, will not be entitled to
become competitors for the prizes in Powys. • *#*
WELSH CHARITY SCHOOL.—On the 1st of March,
which, from some uncertain cause, has acquired the name of St.
David's Day, the Governors and other supporters of this praise
worthy Institution, generally styled the " Society of Ancient
Britons," held their 106th Anniversary. After having heard
Divine Service, performed in Welsh, at the Church of St. Martin's
in the Fields, the Members of the Society proceeded to the
Freemasons' Tavern, where, according to custom, they dined
together and celebrated the day with the usual demonstrations of
patriotism and conviviality. The chair was filled by Lord Charles
Stuart, in the absence of the Marquis of Bute, the President for
the day. The only novelty on the present occasion was the
following letter, read by the Noble Chairman, communicating a
continuance by his Majesty of that patronage and support, which
he has so long extended to the Society, both as Prince of Wales
and Prince Regent.
* No. 3, p. 113.
318 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
" Sir Benjamin Bloomfield has it in command to signify to the
Honourable and Loyal Society of Ancient Britons, that the King,
maintaining the same protecting disposition towards that national
institution, which his Majesty entertained as Prince of Wales, is
graciously pleased to authorize, that the Society do continue to
preserve and bear the same insignia upon their banners and other
emblems, as have heretofore been borne. And his Majesty is
pleased to express his cordial wishes for the prosperity of so bene
ficent an institution, and has honoured Sir Benjamin with his
commands to transmit One Hundred Guineas in aid of the funds of
the establishment."
" Palace of Carlton House, Feb. 14, 1820."
The subscriptions at Church and after dinner, including the
royal donation, amounted to 1341/. 13*.; but this sum appears
to have been still farther encreased before the close of the day.
The number of children, now supported by this Charity, are 12T
of both sexes, all born, in or near London, ofWelsh parents having
no parochial settlement in the metropolis *.
THE GENERAL ELECTION.—The following is the result
of the General Election in the Principality. The names in Italics
are new Members, the * denotes that the place was contested,
and the names of the unsuccessful candidates will be found in the
last column. *#*
COUNTIES.
• Anglesey—Earl of Uxbridge .
Brecon—Thomas Wood, Esq.
Cardigan—W. E. Powell, Esq.
Carmarthen—Hon. George Rice.
Carnarvon—Sir Robt. Williams, Bart.
Denbigh—Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart.
Flint—Sir Tho. Mostyn, Bart.
•Glamorgan—Sir Christ. Cole, Bart. John Edwards. Esq.
Merioneth—Sir R. W. Vaughan, Bart.
f Lord Granville Somerset,Monmouth— <„,._,, , n
I Sir Charles Morgan, Bart.
Montgomery—C. W. W. Wynn, Esq. %
Pembroke—Sir John Owen, Bart.
Radnor—Walter Wilkins, Esq.
* As the Editor has not been favoured with any official report of the pro
ceedings on this occasion , he hopes to be excused for any inaccuracies, that
may appear in this brief account.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 319
. fiOROUGHS.
Beaumaris—Tho. Frankland Lewis, Esq.
Brecon—Geo. G. Morgan, Esq.
*Cardiff—Wyndham Lewis, Esq. Eben. Ludlow, Esq.
Cardigan—Pryse Pryse, Esq.
Carmarthen—Hon. J. F. Campbell.
Carnarvon—Hon. C. Paget.
♦Denbigh—J. W. Griffith, Esq. F. R. West, Esq.
Flint—Sir E. P. Lloyd, Bart.
Haverfordwest—W. H. Scourfield, Esq.
Monmouth—Marquis of Worcester.
Montgomery—Hon. Henry Clive.
*New Radnor—Rich. Price, Esq. Percival Lewis, Esq.
Pembroke—J. H Allan, Esq.
LITERATURE.—Under this head the following Notices are-
all that occur.
The Gododin and Odes of the Months, translated from the
Welsh. London, 12mo. 4s.
[This Translation of Aneurin, which was announced in a former
Number as about to appear, is from the pen of Mr. Probert of
Alnwick. As it is in contemplation to offer some critical remarks
on it next month, any farther notice here would be premature.—
It may be mentioned, however, that a very respectable list of
subscribers accompanies the work.]
History of North Wales, by WVCathrall. Part II. 4to. 3s.
Large Paper 4s.
[This Part appears equally creditable to Mr. Cathrall's judg
ment as the one, that preceded it. Like that, it is devoted to the
Ancient History of Britain, with reference to which it has em
bodied many interesting particulars. The Plate, representing the
Town of Denbigh, which accompanies this Part, is executed with
great neatness and fidelity.]
Elusengarwch : sef, Awdl ar destyn Cymdeithas y Gwyri-
eddigion yn 1819; yr hon, a ennillodd yr Ariandlwys. Gan
y Parch: E. Hughes, A.M. 6d.
[This is the Gwyneddigion Prize Poem for the last year, which
was noticed in a former number. A few extracts will be selected
on a future occasion to justify the commendation, with which it
was then noticed.]
British Melodies, by J. F. M. Dovaston, Esq. A. M.—The
second Number of this collection is about to appear, arranged, as
in the former case, with symphonies and accompaniments by Mr.
320
Clifton. Some of the " Melodies'" were harmonized with great
effect at the Carmarthen Eisteddfod last year, and more recently
at the Bath Harmonic Society. The price will be 15s. ***
OBITUARY.
Feb. 15. J. Madocks, Esq. brother to W. A. Madocks, Esq.
M. P.—23. At Greenhill, nearLlandilo, David Heron Pugh, Esq.
one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, and also High Sheriff-,
of the county of Carmarthen. He was an intelligent, upright,
and honourable man, and his loss is deeply and deservedly re
gretted.—24. At Llandovery, aged 72, deeply lamented by his
relatives and numerous friends and acquaintance, Edward Jones,
Esq. for many years a very eminent Attorney in that place, and,
latterly, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the county
of Carmarthen. In the various situations of life, which it was his
lot to fill, he executed his duties with exemplsiry propriety : to his
more immediate relatives he was invariably kind and affectionate
—to his friends warm and sincere—and to all, with whom he had
intercourse, affable and courteous. The poor and distressed al
ways found him ready to attend to their complaints; and their
wants were generally relieved by his liberality. Loyal and con
scientious, he was a firm friend of his Sovereign, and warmly at
tached to our excellent Constitution in Church and State. As a
Magistrate, his legal knowlege and anxiety to do good dispensed
blessings to all around : the froward and vicious were repressed
bjr his frowns and reproofs ; while the innocent and unassuming
met with encouragement from his patronage and'eommendation. His
administration of justice was sweetly tempered with discretion, and
by his death a loss has been sustained,which will belong and severely
felt by the district,which had the happiness ofbeing favoured with his
useful exertions.—29. At the Vicarage House, Carmarthen, after
a long illness, borne with pious resignation, the Rev. Daniel Row
land, Vicar of Tregaron, Cardiganshire, and Secretary of the
Cambrian Society in Dyfed, late Curate of Carmarthen, and pre
viously a Missionary of St. John's, Newfoundland. He was a
man of the strictest probity, and of very respectable talents ; con
scientious and diligent in attending to his sacred profession, and
extremely anxious to perform all the duties connected with his
station in life *.
* Tlie Editor has to thank a friend for this and the preceding notice.
And ho has reason to hope, that he shall receive from the same source a
more detailed Memoir of the late Mr. Rowland, a gentleman, on every ac
count, generally and justly lamented.
THE
MAY, 1820.
NULLI QUIDKM MIHI SATIS ERUDITI VIDENTUR, QUIBUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero de Legibut.
WELSH LANGUAGE.
MODERN LETTERS AND THEIR MUTATIONS.
The last Essay under this head was devoted to some account
of the old Bardic Alphabet, which was considered necessary in
order to prepare the way for that examination of the modern
Welsh Letters, without which no satisfactory view can be taken
of the more general characteristics of the language. Indeed it
has been the principal aim of the writer to proceed, with a proper
regard to method, in this interesting investigation, analysing, as
it were, in his progress, the ingredients, of which our venerable
tongue is composed. And, if, in so doing, he may have incurred
the imputation of tediousness or insipidity, he hopes some atone
ment may be found in his anxious desire to impart a full and ac
curate knowlege of the basis, as well as the superstructure, of
the Welsh language. And this can only be done by commenc
ing, as has been attempted in these Essays, with an elementary
examination of its first principles ; for there is no royal road to
language any more than to mathematics. Yet it may be satis
factory to those, who are impatient to become acquainted with the
more interesting features of this subject, to be informed, that the
inquiry, begun in this Essay, will be the last of those, which may
be termed rudimental.
It can not now be accurately ascertained how soon the Roman
letters, in their modern form, were first adapted to the Welsh lan
guage ; but it appears indisputable, that they did not imme
diately succeed to the old Bardic symbols. For we find from
some of the most ancient MSS. now extant *, that the language
* Among: these is the Llandav Gospel, commonly calleJ St. Chad's
Gospel, preserved in the Cathedral at Litchfield, which contains some
TOl. I. 2 T
322 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
was at that time generally written in a character resembling the
Saxon, from which it has been very plausibly inferred, that the
Saxons, who confessedly brougiht no letters with them here,
adopted those, which they found in use on their arrival *. Apd
it is by no means improbable, that an intercourse of more than
four centuries with the Romans had served, if not to occasion a
total discontinuance of the Bardic Alphabet, at least to introduce
such innovations into it, as to render the letters used by the Bri
tons, at the close of their connection with that people, not very
dissimilar from those which we find in the early Saxon MSS.
From that period to the invention of printing various fluctuations
may be supposed to have taken place : and, indeed, it appears,
from some Welsh writings of the twelfth and thirteenth centu
ries f, that the character, erroneously called Saxon, was not at
that time in use in Wales. Yet, as before observed, we have not
now any means of discovering at what precise period this revolu
tion began ; although it may be presumed, that the invention of
printing mainly contributed to its establishment. And from that
marginal memorials of donations to the Church of Llandav, written
partly in Latin, and partly in Welsh, and in the Saxon character. Mr.
E. Llwyd, in his Archaeologia Britaunica (pp. 5 and 226), has given an
extract or two from these : and at the time he wrote (1707) he computed
the age of the MS. at eleven hundred years. He likewise enumerates
three or four other MSS, in which the Welsh language is written in the
same character, particularly the " Poem of Juveneus" at Cambridge,
which he considered to be a Pictish or Cumbrian MS- of the ninth cen
tury. Arch. Brit. p. 226.
* Most writers on this subject admit, that the Saxons hid no know-
lege of letters on their first invasion of this country ; but the question
at issue seems to be, whether they borrowed their alphabet from the na
tives at that time, or afterwards from the Continent. The former seem*
by much the most probable, allowing, as we must, that the use of letters
was, at the time, generally known to the Britons. Among other proofs
of thiB fact is the existence of some monumental inscriptions iu Wales,
written not very long after the Saxon conquest, in a mixed Roman and
British character.—One of the oldest MSS. written in the Saxon lan
guage and character, of which we have any account, is perhaps that, of
which Dr. Smith takes notice in his Edition of Bede, and which he sup
poses to have been as old as that writer, and consequently written about
three centuries after the settlement of the Saxons in Britain.
f The Llyvr Du o Gaervyrddin, or Black Book of Caermarthen, in
the Hengwrt Library, is one of the oldest Welsh MSS. extant in the mo
dern character. This Mr. Llwyd (Arch. Brit. p. 225) supposes to have
been written in the time of Cynddelw the Poet, who flourished about
1150. See also the Cambrian Register, Vol. 3, p. 288.
THE CAMBRO-nRITON. 32 :j
epoch to the present time some changes have .taken place in par
ticular letters, which will be noticed in the sequel. It now be
comes necessary to proceed to the particular objects of the present
inquiry, which are to examine in the first place the nature of the
modern letters with reference to their capacity for expressing
their assumed powers, and afterwards to endeavour to explain
those mutations of the initial consonants, which form so remark
able a feature of the Welsh tongue.
It has already been stated, that the Bardic Alphabet comprised
three and forty characters, each representing a distinct sound.
And, although all these sounds are still retained in the language,
the modern letters, employed to designate them, are but twenty-
eight ; a circumstance of itself sufficient to denote their inade
quacy to the proposed end. But even of this number a few have
no analogy with the articulations they were designed to convey,
the powers, which custom has appropriated to them, being en
tirely arbitrary. And it cannot be denied,' that a blind con
tinuance in this abuse has presented one of the main obstacles to
strangers in their study of the Welsh tongue, whilst it has also
been productive of another disadvantage, which will be parti
cularised hereafter *. To prove what has been now affirmed, a
list of the Welsh letters is here subjoined, together with an expla
nation of their respective sounds, both independently, and when
combined in the formation of words.
Letters. Independent Sound. Sound in Combination.
A — aa — as in man, or, when circumflexed, much broader.
B — eb — as in English.
C — ek — always as K in English.
Ch— ekh — an aspirated C, as the Greek X properly pro
nounced.
D — ed — as in English.
*Dd— edh — as Th in the and whether.
E — ay — as in bed, or, when circumflexed, as a in bade.
*F — ev — always as V in English.
* Mr. Owen Pughe, in his excellent Dictionary of the Welsh language,
made a laudable effort to remove a part of the inconvenience here alluded
to, but, unfortunately, without success. The alterations, proposed by
Mr. Pughe, and adopted throughout his work, are 9 for ch, z for dd, v
for /, and / for ff. Yet, although he has found no followers in print,
many, in writing, adopt the first of these emendations, and substitute
the Greek $ for the dd, whereby much trouble is saved without the risk
of creating any obscurity. _ v.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON".
Letters. Independent Sound. Sound in Combinat ion.
, -fFf— ef —- always as F in English.
G — eg — as in Go.
Ng— eng — as in long.
H — aitch— as in English.
I — ee — as in kid, or, when circumfiexed, as ee in heed.
L — el — as in English.
*LI — elh — an aspirated L, to which letter it bears the
same relation in sound, as Th to T.
M — em — as in English.
N — en — as in English.
O — o — as in don, or, when eircum flexed, as in tone.
P — ep — as in English.
•JPh— eph — an aspirated P, always as F or Ph in English.
R — ar — as in English.
Rh— arh — an aspirated R, as in Rheum.
S — ess — as in English.
T — et — as in English.
Th—r eth — an aspirated T, as in Thought.
U — iu — as i in withy, or, when circumfiexed, as ee in
ween, or more like the French U.
W— oo — as oo in good, or, when circumfiexed, as in boon.
Y — u — as in myrrh, also as in Scythia, or, when cir
cumfiexed, as the circumfiexed U.
The (*), prefixed to three of the preceding letters, is employed
to, mark their incompetency to express the sounds, for which
they are used, and the (f), which distinguishes two others, is
meant to denote that they are objectionable on another account.
With respect to the former, it must be obvious, that neither Dd,
F, nor LI, are properly indicative, even according to the genius
of the Roman letters, of the powers assumed. A duplication of
D or L can never naturally denote the aspiration of those letters,
but can only have the effect of doubling the original sound as in
the English words madder and mallard. Nor is this inconsistency
retained because the Roman letters present no alternative : on the
contrary the substitution of Dh and Lh, formerly used *, would
tend in a great measure to remove the difficulty. It must be ad-
* In the oldest Welsh MSS. no distinction is observed between these
letters and the common D and L; but it is left to the reader, from his
acquaintance with the language, to make the distinction in sound, where
necessary. About the year 1400, or earlier, the practice of doubling: the
letters, as now in use, was first adopted. But Dr. Grufifydd Roberts, in
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 325
luitted, however, that the pronunciation of the last of these let
ters can not be exactly described by any analogy in the English
or other languages *, and that it is only to be perfectly attained
by the ear ; but in the other instance the English tongue already
possesses the sound as above exemplified.
If in the two cases just mentioned there be an evident impro
priety in the manner, in which the Roman letters have been
adapted to Welsh pronunciation, the liberty, taken with the let
ter F, must appear still more unwarrantable. For in this instance
the Roman V, representative of the sound in all other languages,
becomes wholly useless : and we are, in consequence, driven to
the additional absurdity of employing the double F, while the
single letter is, in every respect, adequate to the purpose. And,
with reference to the Ph, as it certainly belonged to the old Bardic
Alphabet, it ought perhaps to be retained amongst the modern
letters, notwithstanding, that it has the same sound precisely as
the Ff, for which letter it is, therefore, on many occasions, impro
perly substituted. The only instances, indeed, in which Ph seems
admissible in Welsh orthography, are the mutations of the letter
P and such words, as are avowedly borrowed from the Greek, al
though this latter use of it may appear somewhat questionable f.
his Welsh Grammar (the first ever printed) published at Milan in 1567j
substituted for these double letters D and L with points underneath, in
which he was followed by Humphrey Llwyd, William Salesbury, and
Roger Smith. Dr. J. D. Rhys, however, in his celebrated Welsh Gram
mar, printed in 1592, rejected the points, and used Dh and Lh in their
stead, as Dr. Powel had also done in his " Historie of Cambria," pub
lished eight years before. Dr. Davies, in his Grammar printed in 1621,
and afterwards in his Dictionary, which appeared in 1632, made the next
alteration by abolishing the Dh and Lh, and restoring the old corruption
of the double letters, which, accordingly, continued in use until the
publication of the Arehaeologia Britannica by Mr. E. Llwyd in 1707,
when an effort was made to reinstate the letters adopted by Drs. Powcl
and J. D. Rhys. But, although Mr. Llwyd's example was partially fol
lowed, neither that nor the later exertions of Mr. Owen Pughe, alluded
to in the preceding note, have had the desired effect. The double
letters continue to maintain their ground : and the evil has, perhaps,
taken too deep a root to be now extirpated.
* The Spanish language has the double L in form, but not in sound.
The Spanish pronunciation, as nearly as can be described by any ana
logy in the English language, resembles that in the word billiard, al
though softer even than that. The sound of the Italian Gl approaches
much nearer.
f At least, it would be desirable to introduce as much uniformity as
possible in this respect. And, therefore, such words as corph, sarph,
326 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
In addition to the ambiguity, thus occasioned by the misapplica
tion of certain letters in the Welsh Alphabet and the consequent
impediment opposed to foreigners in their researches into the lan
guage, another disadvantage, previously adverted to, remains to
be noticed. For it is, unquestionably, to this abuse that we
must ascribe the popular error respecting the ruggedness of our
ancient tongue. Strangers, totally unacquainted with its princi
ples and characteristics, and deterred perhaps from investigating
them by the very cause here noticed, assume from this uncouth
appearance a conclusion quite unwarranted by the premises. But
the refutation of this idle notion, engendered in ignorance and fos
tered in obstinacy, must be reserved for a future occasion. At
present it must suffice to remark, that the Welsh tongue, which
yields not in copiousness to the Greek nor in energy to the Roman,
needs not fear a competition with the Italian in the melodious
variety of its sounds *.
In the alteration above suggested in two of the letters, by sub
stituting an h for the duplication now used, regard was had more
to the analogy of modern tongues than to the highest improve
ment, of which the case is susceptible. For, although A be in
effect no more than an aspiration of the letter, with which it is
joined, it helps, in general cases, to create those disadvantageous
conclusions, which, as recently mentioned, have been so unjus
tifiably drawh from the modern orthography of the Welsh lan
guage. It would, therefore, no doubt, be advisable that, as in
other European tongues, all the letter-sounds should be marked
by single and distinct symbols. But, from the incapacity of the
characters, commonly received in Europe, fully to represent the
old Bardic Alphabet, this desideratum could only be accom
plished by an arbitrary system of accentuation, or by a mode
of pointing similar to the Hebrew dagesh, both of them practices
too much at variance with modern notions to be proposed with
any chance of success. The only alternative, then, seems to be
the adoption of the letter h in the manner suggested, and which,
if it possesses no other merit, has at least that of consistency ; for
we may with as much propriety use Cc and Tt for Ch and Th as
&c. that do not come strictly within the exceptions above mentioned,
might be spelt with the ff.
* This feature of the language will, of course, be examined hereafter;
and anyone desirous in the mean time of seeing proofs of it, may con-
- suit an interesting Essay on the subject in the third Volume of the Cam
brian Register.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 327
the duplication of D and L, now so preposterously employed.
The explanations, above offered, of the independent sounds of the
Welsh letters, (as far as they can be made intelligible loan Eng
lish reader) will sufficiently exemplify this.
The following alphabetical scheme is drawn in conformity with
the foregoing remarks, and contains not only the alterations, al
ready suggested, but also three letters, which, although not in
corporated in the modern alphabet, are on every account as much
entitled to a place there as some others, comprised in it, which are
only, like these three, aspirations of radical or elementary sounds.
These neic letters (if indeed their frequent occurrence in the lan
guage and their adoption in the Bardic Alphabet warrant that
term) are printed in Italics by way of distinction. And the writer
would add, that he is not conscious of having admitted any fan
ciful innovations in this scheme, the main object of which, on the
contrary, is to present to the English reader as accurate a notion
of all the letter sounds in the language as the nature of the Eng
lish tongue will supply without offering any violence to the pecu
liar characteristics of the Welsh.
A. B. K. Kh *. D. Dh. E. V. F. G. Ng. Ngh. H. I. L. Lh. M.
Mh. N. Nh. O. P. Ph. R. Rh. S. T. Th. U. W. Y.
Independently of the advantages, already proposed by this
scheme, it is hoped, that it may be also of service towards illus
trating those changes of the initial consonants, which it is intended
next to examine. This singular feature of the Welsh tongue is
one among the many proofs of its high antiquity : and, although
it has been treated grammatically in two or three instances f, it is
somewhat extraordinary, that it has not yet undergone a more
liberal investigation with reference to the analogies of other an-
* The propriety of this representation may, perhaps, be questioned ;
but, as the sound of the K is uniform in all languages, it has been se
lected as preferable to C, and especially in conveying an idea of the
pronunciation to an English reader, in whose language the last-mentioned
letter has two distinct sounds, whereas the Welsh C has always the
force of K. However Kh, although preferable to Ch,is far from expres
sing the full power of the Welsh letter, which it is meant to represent,
and which is the same with the X oi the Greeks, as still pronounced by
their descendants.
.f Among the few grammatical treatises on this subject, the only one,
that has done justice to it, is that in Mr. Owen Pughe's Grammar, pre
fixed to his Dictionary, in which the principle of these mutations is
clearly and methodically stated. But it did not enter into Mr. Pug-he's
plan to offer more than a grammatical illustration of the subject, which
is, thcrefore, still open to a more general discussion.
328 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
. cient languages and the interesting conclusions, which are to be
deduced from such an inquiry. To attempt, with whatever suc
cess, to supply this deficiency will be the particular purpose of the
next Essay.
* **
THE WISDOM OF CATWG*.
The Counsel given by Catwg the Wise to Taliesin,
Chief of Bards, when he was his Scholar.
Think before thou speakest :
First, what thou shalt speak ;
Second, why thou shouldest speak ;
Third, to whom thou mayest have to speak ;
Fourth, about whom thou art to speak ;
Fifth, what will come from what thou mayest speak ;
Sixth, what may be the benefit from what thou shalt speak ;
Seventh, who may be listening to what thou shalt speak :
Put thy word on thy fingers' ends before thou speakest it, and
turn it these seven ways before thou speakest it, and there will
never come any harm from what thou shalt say.
Catwg the Wise delivered this to Taliesin Chief of Bards, in
giving him his blessing.
There are four original vices : first, anger ; second, lust ; third,
laziness; fourth, fear.
Where one or the other of these may be, there will be found
every other evil to spring ; for out of them forcibly grow all
other evils in mind and action. Catwg the Wise.
THE NULLITIES OF CATWG.
Without a teacher, without instruction ;
Without instruction, without knowlege f ;
Without knowlege, without wisdom ;
Without wisdom, without piety ;
Without piety, without God ;
Without God, without every thing.
* Arch, of Walas, vol. iii. p. 49.
f The original word is, literally, " knowlegesj" but the idiom of the
EfnglUh language does not admit of such a translation.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 323
APHORISMS OF GERAINT.
The Seven Primary Materials of the World*.
1. Earth; and whence every body and density and every
substance and strength.
2. Water; and whence every liquid and moisture.
3. Air ; and whence every breath and motion.
4. Sun ; and whence all heat and light.
5. Empyreum ; and whence every sensation, appetite, and
affection.
6. Pure Spirit ; and whence every perception.
7. God ; and whence all life and power, and support unto
world of worlds.
And from these seven primary essences are all being and life :
and on the order of God may the whole rest. Amen saith the
Blue Bard of the Chair f.
ORIGINAL LETTERS.
LETTER IX.
Bishop Percy to the Rev. Evan Evans; (no date).
Dear Sir,—I received the favour of your obliging letter and
the valuable present of the two British Odes translated into Eng
lish. They have afforded me great pleasure, and they display a
rich vein of poetry. I think a select collection of such pieces,
thrown into a shilling pamphlet, would not fail to prove as accept
able to the public as the Erse Fragments, and would be far more
satisfactory, because you could remove all suspicions of their
genuineness, which, I am afraid, Mr. Macpherson is not able to
do. I observe with you a remarkable similarity between our Runic
and your British pieces. As our Runic Poetry will be fit for
* Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. 109. 4
f This was the common designation of the celebrated Aserins Meneven-
sis, whose proper cognomen was Geraint, or Geraint Vardd Glas, Geraint
the Blue Bard. He was a Monk of the Benedictine Order at St. David's,
and was afterwards, on account of his superior talents, made Bishop of
Sherbourne by Alfred, by whom he continued to be held in great repute.
Caradog records his death in the following words:—" Aserthe Wise, Arch
bishop of the Britons, died A. D. 906."
Vol. I. 2 u
330 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
publication towards Michaelmas, I wish you could get ready such
another Collection of British Poetry to follow it in due time, while
the curiosity of the public is fixed on these subjects. And, when
all these pamphlets have had their day, then throw them into a
volume under some such title as this, " Specimens of the Ancient
Poetry of different Nations." I have for some time had a project
of this kind, and, with a view to it, I am exciting several of my
friends to contribute their share. Such a work might fill up two
neat pocket volumes. Besides the Erse Poetry, the Runic
Poetry, and some Chinese Poetry, that was published last win
ter, at the end of a book called " Han Kirn Choaan," or the
Pleasing History, 4 vols.,—besides these, I have procured a MS.
translation of the " Tagrai Carmen,'' from the Arabic ;^and have
set a friend to translate Solomon's Song afresh from the He
brew, with a view to the Poetry. This also is printing off, and
will soon be published in a shilling pamphlet. Then I have my
self gleaned up specimens of East Indian Poetry, Peruvian
Poetry, Lapland Poetry, Greenland Poetry ; and inclosed I send
you one specimen of Saxon Poetry. The subject is a victory
gained by the Anglo-Saxon, Athelstan, over the Dane Anlafe
and his confederate Constantinus King of Scotland. If you com
pare it with the Runic Ode of Regner Lodbrog, you will see a
remarkable affinity between them, some of the phrases and
imagery being common to both, as the play ofarms, &c. &c. The
Latin version falls from the pen of my very learned friend Mr.
Lye, who has made many important emendations in the original.
The English was a slight attempt of my own, to see if one could
not throw a little spirit into a literal interlineary version, but I
have no reason to boast of my success. I believe, the best way
would be to publish the English by itself, like the Runic Odes,
and throw the two columns of Latin and Saxon to the end. Give
me your opinion of my proposal, with regard to the various spe
cimens mentioned above, and the share I would recommend to
yourself in particular. Be pleased also to return my Saxon Ode,
when perused, for I have kept no copy.
I suppose you have no British Poetry extant, that was written
before the conversion to Christianity, as we have of the Runic,
and as they affect to have of the Erse ; if not, then the most an
cient you have is to be chosen. Could not you give some of the
Poetry of Taliesin and Merddin? I must observe one. thing, that
your Odes will require a few explanatory Notes, chiefly with re
gard to the proper names ; and, if you would not think it too great
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 331
an innovation, I could wish you would accommodate some of
your ancient British names somewhat more to our English pro
nunciation. This is what the Erse translator has done, and, I
think, with great judgment. The word might be a little smoothed
and liquidated in the text, and the original spelling retained in
the margin. Thus Macpherson has converted Lambhdearg into
Lamderg, Geolchopack (a woman's name) into the soft word
Gealcossa, &c. This is a liberty assumed in all languages ; and
indeed, without it, it would not be possible for the inhabitants of
one nation to pronounce the proper names of another *.
You tell me you have read Bartholinus's book of Danish Anti
quities; it is a most excellent performance. There is a celebrated
Frenchman, the Chevalier Mallet, historiographer to the present »
King ofDenmark, who has lately published a work in French on
the same subject, at" the end of which he has given a French trans
lation of the famous Edda or Alcoran f (if you suffer me to use
the word) of the ancient Teutonic nations. If I have health and
leisure, I intend to translate this book into English, though it is a
formidable undertaking, being a quarto ofno small size. I have
got the book, which is a capital performance.
I should have one advantage over most others for such an at
tempt, which is, that my learned neighbour, Mr. Lye, has got
the Islandic original of the Edda, and would compare my version
with it. I have one. thing still to mention, and then I have done.
I have lately been employed in a small literary controversy with
a learned friend, about the original and antiquity of the popular
notion concerning Fairies and Goblins. My friend is for fetching
that whimsical opinion from the East, so late as the time of the
Crusades, and derives the words Elf and Goblin from the
Guelfe and Gibbeline factions in Italy. But I think it would be
impossible for notions so arbitrary to have obtained so universally,
so uniformly, and so early (see Chaucer's Wife of Bath's Tale),
if they had not got possession of the minds of men many ages be
fore. Nay, I make no doubt but Fairies are derived from the
Daergar or Dwarfs, whose existence was so generally believed
among all the northern nations. Can you, from any of your an
cient British writers, enable me to ascertain any of these disputed
* However proper it may be to take this liberty with some languages,
it is neither necessary nor justifiable with respect to old Welsh names, which
are very tar from being harsh or unmusical.— Ed.
f The learned writer should have said Koran. A! is the article, and there
fore " the Alcoran" is a tautology.— En.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
points, or any resemblance to the name of Fairy, Elf, Goblin, in
your language ? I should think, that these popular superstitions
are aboriginal in the island, and are remains of the ancient Pagan
creed *. Favour me with your opinion on this subject when you
write next, which, as your letters are so extremely curious and
fraught with entertainment, I beg may be soon. I remain, Sir,
your very faithful servant,
Thomas Percy.
WELSH MUSIC—No. VI.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—" Breuddwyd y Frenhines," or The Queen's Dream,
is not so well known as it ought to be ; the melody is very
smooth and elegant, with a mixture of ancient and modern com
position. The modulation at the 17th, and three following bars,
(or measures), is peculiar to the Welsh airs : the bass of these
four bars would answer for the commencement of At hyd y nos.
The words run thus :—
" I fondly in my bosom cherish'd
Thy vows, and thought they were sincere ;
But ah ! my dearest hopes have perish'd,
For thou art false, as thou art fair I"
" Suo Gin," or The Lullaby Song.—There are but four bars
in this air ;—but those are very plaintive and characteristic.
This appears to be the universal Hushaby of the Welsh nurses,
when they lull their infants to sleep ; and certainly nothing can
be more appropriate. It is very probable, that Storace took his
Lullaby, in the " Pirates,"' from this tune.
" Pen Rhaw," or (literally translated) The Spade Head,
is a beautiful air—and one of the tunes most adapted to the
Pennillion. The harper of the Gwyneddigion Society performs
variations on " Pen Rhaw" in a very masterly manner,- some
of which are peculiar to the Welsh harp, and consequently lose
their effect when attempted on the piano-forte or pedal harp.—
* The allusions to these imaginary beings are numerous both in the works
of ihe early bards and in other old writings, especially in the Mabinogion :
but the names have no resemblancs to fairies, or goblins. It is designed
to anter hereafter into the investigation of this curious subject ; in the mean
time a few particulars will be found in a subsequent page of the present
number.—Ed,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 333
The subject is alternately played in the treble and bass } and the
unisons and responses are truly beautiful. The modulation of
the four first bars of the second part is the same as before noticed
in the Queen's Dream.—Nothing can be more pleasing than to
hear a good singer chaunt this melody, whilst the minstrel per
forms variations on it.
" Give me my harp, I ask no other boon,
Which I, in turn, to love and war attune ;
Oh ! may I never lose its soothing pow'r,
And be it near me in my dying hour*."
" Eryri Wen," or White Snowdon.—This air is in a minor
key, and not unlike The noble Race of She?ikin. It is to be
regretted, that this tune is not more generally known ; for the
Pennillion, that are sung to " Pen Rhaw," would answer to it,
and the singer would have an opportunity of displaying his in
genuity, by resting a few bars, and, at the change of modula
tion, bursting upon the hearer with energy and spirit, that could
not fail in producing considerable effect.
" Toriad y Dydd," The Dawn of Day, is one of the most
pathetic, yet energetic, of the Welsh airs. It commences in b
minor, and the second strain is in d, the relative major, for eight
bars ; then it returns, in a very scientific manner, to b minor.
No composer, that ever wrote, could have surpassed this tune,
which is an evident proof that our forefathers were well versed
in the rules of harmony. The initiation song of the Gwynedd-
igion is to this tune, which is always sung, verse and chorus,
Vhen new members are admitted. The metre is very long :—
the following is a specimen, written in 1809—
" Altho' the noise of battle is heard around our isle,
Yet do we, happy people, in peace and plenty smile ;
No ruffian bands assail us, no tyrants here bear sway,
But all, with pleasure, joy, and bliss, await the dawn of day."
In my next I shall notice the ancient notation, and give a
specimen of what was used in the eleventh century, with such
observations as may be deemed necessary.
March 13, 1820. John Parry.
* See Welsh Melodies, p. 56.—These lines bear some resemblance to the
following passage in Horace.—Kd.
i " Frui paratis et valido mihi
Latde dones, et precor integri
Cum mente, nee turpem senectam
Degere, nee cithari carentenj."—Lib. i. Od. 31.
334 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
THE LATE REV. DAVID ROWLAND,
SECRETARY TO THE CAMBRIAN SOCIETY IN DYFED*.
Mr. Rowland was the youngest of four children, his parents
having two sons and a daughter besides himself, and drew his
natal breath at Ffoesyffin, in the parish of Llenddewibrefi, Car
diganshire, in August, 1783. His father followed the trade of
a glover, which being an occupation of a humble kind in that
district, he was not in affluent circumstances ; his parents were
however highly respectable, and much esteemed by their neiglr-
bours for their virtues and superior information.
The subject of this memoir was, at the age of five years, sent
to a little school in the neighbourhood, where, in the space of
three months, he proceeded as far as the Latin Grammar, a pro
gress unusual at that place, and deemed very surprising. This
flattering circumstance gave his parents room to indulge the fond
hope of one day seeing their son become eminent as a scholar,
and the strong partiality, which he continued to manifest for his
books, served to increase this hope every day.
So ardent was his attachment to learning during his tender
years, that, when the young people of the neighbourhood were
in the habit of spending their long winter nights with his parents,
in their workshop, on account of their interesting conversation,
and agreeable society, with respect to himself, his books were
constantly in his hands ; and, so intense was his application, and
so abstracted bis mind, that, however amusing the tales related,
or interesting the subjects of conversation, they did not divert
his mind from his favourite pursuits. If asked, as he frequently
was, what matter had been discussed by the company, or what
incidents had occurred during the time they were together, he
could not give an answer, being as insensible of every thing said
or done, as if he had been in another apartment.
He continued thus to proceed with increasing ardour and dili
gence, until he arrived at the age of fourteen years, when, re-
* Such of the readers of the Cambro-Briton, as were acquainted with this
lamented individual, must necessarily feel indebted to the gentleman, by
vhom the Editor has been favoured with these interesting notices of bis life.,
and which, it maybe proper to mention, will be completed in three nun j-
bers. The Editor begs also thus publicly to express his oivn thanks for „ ihe
very acceptable contribution.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 335
fleeting on his father's pecuniary inability to afford him the edu
cation which he wished for, and to which he aspired, he deter
mined to lose no time in making some exertion himself towards
attaining it. And, as no employment appeared so likely to
afford him the double advantage of easing his parents of a por
tion of their burden, and also of gratifying his natural propen
sity for books as keeping a school, he resolved on undertaking
the office. In pursuance, therefore, of this laudable resolution,
he taught young persons, first at Tregaron, and afterwards at
Llangeitho, in his native county ; from whence he removed to
Llanliawddog, and lastly to Pencadair, in the county of Car
marthen, at each of which places he discharged the humble
function of a country schoolmaster with no small benefit to his
scholars, and with satisfaction to their parents.
Having at the last mentioned place become acquainted with
some families professing the religious tenets of the Independents,
they induced him to join their congregation in public worship,
and, admiring his talents and pious demeanour, advised him to
become a Minister of the Gospel among persons of their princi
ples, and recommended him to go to the Academy at Carmarthen
to obtain the necessary qualifications. When at this place, he
' gladly availed himself of the opportunities for improvement
which it afforded, and proceeded in his studies with great ardour
and diligence. One of the young students, however, having in
his hearing maintained doctrines contrary to those, which he pro
fessed to believe, and to what he deemed essential to Christi
anity, the circumstance in the first instance much shocked his
feelings, and ultimately caused him to leave the seminary.
Being returned home, and still desirous of becoming a minis
ter on the principles, which he professed, it was his intention to
wait until an opportunity should offer for his introduction to some
other, academy for completing his studies. His thirst for know-
lege however would not permit him to remain idle, witlwjut
availing himself of such means as Providence placed within his
reach ; and, accordingly, he went for improvement in classical
literature to Ystradmeiric Grammar School, which was but a
few miles distant from where he resided. At this period he was
about eighteen years of age, and such were his application and
the progress ht) made in his studies, that he became the delight
of his. master, and gained the esteem and regard of his school
fellows. During his first year at this seminary his religious sen
timents underwent a considerable change, and he became as
336 THE CAMBR0-BR1T0N.
firmly attached to the doctrine and discipline of the Church of
England, as he had been heretofore to those of the Independent
persuasion. Accordingly he became desirous of being a minis
ter of our national church, and entered into a course of study
in order to be prepared for his examination previous to his ad
mission to the sacred office. In this preparation five years were
taken up, and at length, in the year 1806, he received Holy"
Orders, and succeeded to the curacy of Llanfihangel y Croyddin,
in Cardiganshire.
It should, however, be observed, that he had, during this ,
period, to encounter the same pecuniary difficulties as he had
heretofore. His relatives being unable to supply him with the
means necessary for his support, he was obliged to undertake
the education of young persons one part of the year, that he
might with the profits be enabled to attend school himself during
the remainder. But he not only attended to his classical and
theological studies at this time, but likewise paid such attention
to the Welsh language, as enabled him both to understand the
ancient poets and compose poetical pieces himself. Accordingly,
in the year 1807, when he was curate of Llanfihangel, above
mentioned, his late master, the Rev. Mr. Williams, of Ystrad-
meiric, having occasion to translate an ancient and obscure
Welsh poem into English, availed himself of Mr. Rowland's
assistance, for which he returned a public acknowlegement and
thanks *.
In the early part of the year 1808 Mr. Rowland removed from
Llanfihangel y Croyddin, and became curate of Carno and
Llanwnog in the county of Montgomery. An acquaintance of
his, in a letter of introduction to a friend residing in the neigh
bourhood of those places, recommends him to his notice as a
young man of sense, of professional talent, and true piety.
While officiating in these parishes, he evinced the same zeal for
the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants, and attention to his pro
fessional duties, as at the former, so as to gain the esteem and
respect of all around him.
A communication having been made to the Lord Bishop of St.
David's (Dr. Burgess) by " the Society for propagating the
Gospel in Foreign Parts," that a Missionary was wanted at St.
John's, Newfoundland, in the room of the Rev. Mr. Harries, de
ceased, and, an inquiry being in consequence made, Mr. Row-
* See Williams's Dissertation on the Pelagian Heresy, p. "5.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 337
land was introduced to the Bishop's notice by the Rev. J. Jen
kins, Vicar of Kerry, as a proper person for the important situa
tion ; and he was so pleased with him on the first interview, and so
satisfied with the acconnt transmitte-d to him of his regular con
duct and professional ability, that he recommended him to the
confidence of the Society, and an appointment to the mission was
the consequence. On his attendance in London on the occasion,
so handsomely was he thought of, that the Lord Archbishop of
Canterbury (Dr. Sutton) graciously received him; and, in
order that he might procure proper comforts while at sea, and be
received with greater respect by the inhabitants of St. John's
from his arriving in the Governor's company, the Lord Bishop of
Exeter (Dr. Pelham) waited on Admiral Sir John Duckworth,
to request of him to, convey Mr. Rowland in his ship, the Ante
lope, which was about to sail, and gave so favourable an account
of him, that the Admiral was pleased not only to consent to take
him, but also to promise that he should act as his chaplain during
the passage.
The idea, however, of leaving his parishioners, his friends, ac
quaintance, and native country affected his spirits not a little
when the time of his departure arrived, and made a much deeper
impression on his mind than he had anticipated, so much so, that
he had even thoughts at one time of declining the acceptance of
the appointment, to which he had been recommended ; but, sum
moning additional resolution, and making a great eflbrt, he at
length set out, and, having performed* a journey of 400 miles, and
got on board the ship which was to convey him, he had the happi
ness of finding his health and spirits ^as good as ever, and of pos
sessing confident hopes, that his stresgth was proportioned to the
difficulties which he had to encounter.
On the 24th of June, 1810, the Antelope set sail, and reached
St. John's in the evening of the 20th of July, when Mr. Rowland,
in order to lose no time in undertaking the duties of his mission,
obtained leave from the Admiral to land on the following day.
His credentials having been perused by the churchwarden, and
principal inhabitants, a copy of his appointment was entered in
die church books, and he commenced his missionary labours by
performing divine service on the Sunday following, when a nu
merous and respectable congregation attended. During his pas
sage, the judicious manner, in which he conducted himself, and
the mental ability displayed by him were such, that he gained
the friendship of the Admiral, who behaved invariably kind to
vol. I. 2 x
33S THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
him, retained him as his chaplain after he got on shore, and of
fered him a magistrate's commission.
Having undertaken his duties at the place of his destination
with zeal and resolution, and attended to them with diligence and
perseverance, he had the heartfelt satisfaction of finding, that his
endeavours met with success, and," in a short time, of witnessing
the church becoming too small for the congregation. In the au
tumn of 1811 the edifice was considerably enlarged, in order to
make room for the poor, which, soon after his arrival, he had
pointed out to the Governor as necessary; and of its utility Go
vernment were, on a representation, so convinced, that they sup
plied 250/. for the purpose. When the improvements were com
pleted, which was in December 1812, the church had become a
spacious building, 90 feet long by 48 wide, with four rows of seats
below, and galleries all round, and in the body was a pew, with
rising seats, sufficiently largp to contain 60 persons, appropriated
to the use of the poor, who availed themselves of it the first Sun
day after it was opened, and it continued without being ever
empty afterwards during divine service. As a proof that the
church was not unnecessarily enlarged, nor Mr. Rowland unsuc
cessful in his labours, 23 new pews were sold in one day for up
wards of 38/. each pew, and the whole of them might have been
disposed of at the same rate, had not the remainder been reserv
ed, at his request, to be let for an annual rent to such families as
found it inconvenient to purchase, or were not likely to remain
any length of time at the place.
[To be continued.'] R.
S/f?
TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
PARISH OF LLAN-SILIN, IN THE COUNTY OF
DENBIGH.
[Confirmed from the last Number.] ,
% 4. Roads.—The by-roads of this parish, of many miles ex
tent, as thoseof other parishes alike circumstanced, are extremely
inconvenient. Two turnpike roads, leading from Oswestry to the
village, are in moderate repair ; and from thence they unite, and
proceed to join, at Llan Gedwyn, the main road from Shrews
bury, through Knodkin and Llan Gynog, to Bala, Dolgellau, &c.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 389
Thus far about Welsh roads : The Roman WatRng street,
leading from Rutunium* to Mons Eririf and Segontium J, ac
cording to modern writers, passed through the skirt of this pa
rish ; and the long-lost Mediolanum has been fixed within the
township of Sycharth. Sir Richard C. Hoare, Bart, in preparing
his splendid edition of Giraldus Cambrensis's Topography of
Wales—not satisfied with the conclusions and surmises of Leland,
Camden, Gale, Stukely, Horsley, &c. who had placed Medio
lanum according to their respective fancies, some at Meivod,
some at Llan Fyllin, some at Drayton, and others in a point
between the two former places, where, according to a mathema
tical hypothesis, the southern Watling street above mentioned,
and the Via Devana from Nidum § to Deva ||, necessarily crossed
each other, — became persuaded, upon well grounded reasons,
that the lost Roman station lay considerably more northward than
either Meivod or Llan Fyllin 5[ . Directed by this opinion, he
made throe successive journies from Stour-Head into the Vale of
the Tanat, which he explored attentively and anxiously, but with
out success. This brought Sir Richard to the dernier resort of
concluding, that the rapid Tana™ad, in the course of ages, de
stroyed every vestige of the station. The Editors of the " Beau
ties of England and Wales " could not be satisfied with such a
disappointment ; they therefore cut the Gordian knpt, which Sir
Richard had so anxiously, though unsuccessfully, endeavoured to
untie. They cry " Ecce Mediolanum .'" at Pen y Bont, the
extremity of the southern wing of this parish, upon the junction
of the Cynllaith with the Tanat. This is the spot fixed upon in
the body of the work, but in the map of the stations, &c. prefixed,
Mediolanum is not put down at Pen y Bont, but at Clawdd Coch,
several miles to the south-east, and in the Denbighshire part of
the parish ofLtenymyneish. The late learned Mr. Peter Roberts
had viewed this spot, and"would fain insist, in conversation, that
it was the identical spot where Mediolanum once quartered the
legions of ambitious Rome. I am not aware, that he ever com
mitted his opinion to paper ; however, the Editors of the Beauties
caught the flying repdTT I had myself, some years before, been
rather sanguine on the subject; and, in consequence of pre
conceived ideas, hastened to Clawdd Coeh full of expectations.
When I arrived, I found, fortunately, a team in the field plough-
* Rowtonnear Shrewsbury. f Tommen y Mur, near Tan y Bvrleh.
% Near Caernarvon. § Neath in Glamorganshire.-
y Chester, on the Dee. ^ See Cambrian Reg. vol. i. u. 126.—Ed.
340 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ing; and the farmer declared, that he had seen the piece plough
ed and harrowed occasionally for upwards of forty years past, but
had never seen nor heard of any Roman relics, coins, brick, or
utensils, the indispensable accompaniments of Roman stations.
The site, it must be confessed, is very promising, when viewed
at a distance from some adjacent eminence ; - being such as might
be imagined to have caught the attention of a Roman engipeer,
as it is on the most eligible line of road from Rutunium to Mill-
dir-Geryg, Tram y Sarn, Bala, &c.—on a table land elevation,
and near the angle ofjunction of the Tanat and Vyrnwy. Some
Welsh chieftain had built a mansion on the spot, called Careg-
HwvaCastle, which was demolished about the beginning of the 13th
century ; and, being apparently built ofwood, though in the coun
try of stone and marble, not the least vestige of the building, not
a cinder, now remains ; a foss, to guard the rnosj accessible ap
proach on the east, being the only index left. From these data I
am led to conclude, that Mediolanum is still among the terras
incognitcE.
§. 5. Water.—The river Tanat bounds the southern, and
the mountain torrent, Ceiriog,' nishes through the northern wing
of the parish. The native streams are the Gwenlas *,Gwenffrwd,
Ogwy, and Nant-gwy; these, uniting, form the rivulet Cyn-
llaith, whic^ formerly gave name to the commote, the lordship,
and the deanry. This stream, taking its course southward, sbon
mingles its water with that of the Tanat, near tlie ancient man
sion of Glan Cyullaith (Pen y Bont) on the borders of the coun
ties of Montgomery and Salop. Llyn Moelfre is a lake of about
one mile in circumference, situate at the foot of the western es-
carpement of Gwrn Moelfre, a prominent feature of the parish,
to be noticed in the following section. The lake seems to have
been originally formed by an avalanche from the adjoining es-
carpement, which by its fall dammed the rivulet, and caused the
body of stagnant water now under consideration. It is stocked
with carp and pike, and is the property of the lord of the manor
of Cynllaith Owain.
§. 6. Mountains.—Gwrn Moelfre stands on the northern side
of the oval basin of Silin, on the verge of the parish of Llan
Gadwaladr. It is perfectly isolated, having no connection with
any other eminence ; which makes its pyramidal head conspicuous
* " Gwenlas, near Fhyd Lios,"—called Cennin in tbe £harter of Chirk.
Gwenlas also is the name of the Rhaiadr before it rushesdown the cataract
called Pistyll Rhaiadr.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 341
to most places in Montgomeryshire. Its elevation, at its western
extremity, vwhere it seems to hang nearly in a precipice over
Moelfre lake, is 1714 feet. From this apex its outline forms a
regular inclined plane of about 7000 feet, in an eastern direction,
until it loses itself in the plain. The body of the mountain con
sists of a schistose shale, having some sand in its composition ;
with some masses of more indurated and amorphous grey moun
tain rock. The summit is covered with heath (erica) growing
upon an useless peat soil. The sides and lower parts afford ex
cellent summer pasture for sheep and store cattle. From its peak
may be enjoyed a most varied and extensive view. Among the
nearer objects, to the south-east, and south, appear the limestone
hills of Sychdin and Pentre' Gaer, and the silicious rocks of
Sycharth, exhibiting the peculiar boldness, which forms their
characteristic feature : to the south and west the uniformly
tame and grassy hills covering the shady strata : to the north the
dreary range of the Berwyn group. At some little distance appears
Cader Verwyn, its loftiest summit within the slate tract, which
by Furnival's map is of the height of . 2563 feet.
To the S. W. Pumlumon, .* . 2463
To the S. Cevn Digoll, . . . 1330
To the S. Rodney's Pillar *, . . 1199
To the S. E. the Shropshire. Wrekin . 1320
The Broxton Hills and Beeston Castle, in Cheshire, close the
scene to the east.
The vale of Silin is not to be viewed to advantage from the
summit ; but in descending, about half-way, it exhibits a scene
not frequently equalled. The accompaniments wanting, to ren
der it truly picturesque, are more wood and water : the lake of
Moelvre being behind the curtain.
§ 7. Of Ancient Monuments we have but few. On ascend
ing from Sycharth, the celebrated mansion of Owain Glyndwr,
to Mynydd y Bryn, we come to a part of it called Craig y Caws.
According to Camden, Michael's Mount in Cornwall was anciently
called by the inhabitants Careg Cowse ; which he interpreted
" hoary rock," but how justly, we must leave the critics in the
Cornish tongue to decide. Under Craig y Caws, to the south
east, are seven or eight carneddau, or heaps of loose stones ;
and at a little distance are as many more : and in the centre, be
tween them, is a perfect circle of loose stonei, about 40 paces in
* On the Br*-dJin.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
diameter ; the area perfectly level, without any traces of addi
tional stones within. On inquiry, we found, by one peasant, that
the name of the circle was Buarth y Geini ; and by another,
Buarth y Geivr; either of which may afford a precious " morsel
of criticism " for the ingenious mythologist. • These monuments
are in the siliceous tract ; and on an eminence above Pentre' y
Gaer we found Caer Rhuddwyn, an ancient camp, surrounded
with a rampart of loose limestone, inclosing several acres. Within
its area is a mound of earth, &c. called Bedd y Cawr (the Giant's
Grave). Its dimensions may be learned from the following odd
advertisement by Mr. " William Maurice Llansilinensis," in the
year 1678 :—" An unheard of morrice dance is to be celebrated
on the grave mount of Rhuddwyn Gawr Mawr, a Ify-merian giant,
of sixty feet in length, and nine in height above the ground, by
Marsli Hen, aged 140." Lryn Rhuddwyn is a lake of consider
able dimensions, close under the encampment. Still eastward
lieth Caer Myvyr, a similar rampart of loose sand-stone, inclosing
about three acres. There is nothing Druidic in the appearance
of these two monuments ; they are simply camps, and relics of
the rude mode of warfare used by the aborigines of the island.
Among the answers to Mr. Ed. Lluyd's parochial queries, in the
year 1699, there is a Welsh letter from the parish of Oswestry,
enumerating three of these camps-:—" Clawdd ceryg ym mhen
Caer Myvyr, un arall ym mhen Tre y Gaer, a'r trydydd yn y
Pant caregog yng Nghraig Vordav." In the fairy tales of yore
there is a triad of giants, who were brothers : 1. Cawr Myvyr—
2. Cawr Rhuddwyn—3. Cawr Be»\vyn. We have described the
camps of the two former personages, but, where the third pitched
his tent, we do not know.
In the township of Rhiwlas, there is a stone of considerable
magnitude, which was formerly stiled Maen Tysilio. It was used
to be the rallying point of the strong and the active from several
parts, in order to strive for superiority in their rural Olympics of
the Saith GwtoI Gamp. The times are changed ; and the name
of the spot has been converted into Pant Tysilio. In 1699 there
was a well in the parish of Oswestry, called Ffynnon Maen Ty
silio, where the inhabitants resorted, to celebrate their annual
wake.
§. 8. Ancient Houses—Men of Note, &c.—I now come to
the historical account of the mansion houses of thi3 parish, which
some centuries ago were the residences either of warlike chieftains,
or of the liberal patrons of the tuneful Bards. In an alphabetical
♦
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 343
order they may be arranged thus :— I. Glasgoed—2. Lloran—3.
Moelvre—4. Moel-iwrch—5. Plas-newydd, or Bodlith—and,
6. Sycharth. All these, excepting the latter, are still standing,
though not in their original state. In order to render this subject
more intelligible, jt may be proper to take, cursorily, a retro
spective view of former times, commencing with the occurrence*
o{ the eleventh century,—when
" Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, bob cwys,
Ei hun bioedd hen Bowys."
This Prince was slain in the year 11)73; and his son Meredydd
eventually took possession of the whole principality of Powys,
which he divided before his death, in 1132, into two moieties:—
Powys Vaelawr, or the eastern, north of the river Tanat, to his
son Madog ; and Powys Gyveiliog, or the western, south of the
Tanat, to his grandson Owain Cyveiliog According to the cus
tomary usage of gavel-kind, Madog again divided his moiety into
six parts, amongst as many sons. The lot of his son Einion, sur-
named Evell, or the twin, fell in Cynllaith, a lordship, of which
this parish of Silin formed the greater part. The residence of
Einion is said to have been at Llwyn-y-Maen in the adjoining pa
rish of Oswestry. He died in 1196, and was succeeded by his
son Rhun ; and he by his son Cuhelyn. We are informed by two
Terses, still extant, that in the year 1230 this Cuhelyn rebuilt the
mansion-house of Lloran Ucha in this parish. These verses are
attributed * to Einion ab Gwalehmai, a celebrated Bard of the isle
of Anglesey ; but he seems to be too early for the period in ques
tion, and especially for the construction of this species of verse f.
leva, the son of Cuhelyn, is represented as still residing at Llwyn
y Maen ; and before his death he gavelled his inheritance between
his two sons : Madog Goch had Lloran Ucha and its appendages;
and leva Vychan, the younger son, according to prescriptive
right, had the paternal mansion of Llwyn y Maen. The son of
Madog Goch of Lloran was another Madog, surnamed Kyffin,
by way of distinction, from a place of that name where he had
* Davics's Heraldry Displayed, 12mo. 1716, p. 36.
f Deuddeg rant rhuglant rhagflaen—a thri deg
Oedd oed y mab cywrain ;
Seiliodd Cuhelyn sylfaen,
%'cbel mawr, o galch a maen.
Cododd arlwyodd ar Ian—dwr Baroj
Dy a bery 'r byd allnn ;
Eurer glud ir eryr glan
Nu-'d lhvyr yn neuadd I.loran.
344 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
been nursed *. From him, in after times, numerous families of
his descendants assumed the name.f This first of the Kyffins
was succeeded by his son Ieuan, surnamed Gethin (terrible).—
Gethin had four sons, Ieuan Vychan, Morus, Iolyn, and Gruf-
jydd. Of these, and their descendants, I shall treat in the above
order of succession.
1. Ieuan Vychan, the eldest, took his residence at Moeliwrch,
a house loftily situated on the southern brow of Gwrn Moelvre,
within about a mile of the village of Silin ; where his descendants
continued for several generations, the dispensers of (unbounded
hospitality, and the liberal patrons of their cotemporary bards.
Hywel, the son of Ieuan Vychan, is the first that I find cele
brated in song. His principal bards were Guto y Glyn, and
Ieuan Gru. Llywelyn, who flourished from 1400 to 1460. The
former has a poem on the re-building of Moeliwrch house, of
which he says—
" Cymry a'i gwel fry, gwal fraith,
Caer ganllofft y carw o Gynllaith ;
Nef im' yw o Naf a main,
Neuadd fel seren Owain."
This must have been composed subsequently to the year 1402,
when the comet alluded to in this couplet appeared, which the
bards would have the people believe was a fore-runner of some
propitious revolution in the nation under the auspices of their
illustrious hero. In another poem the bard says, that he had
published the banns of friendship between himself and his hos
pitable patron at Moeliwrch in thirteen poems, composed, it
may be presumed, at thirteen different festivals ;—and that though
the Abbot David of Llan Egwest (Valle Crusis) had urgently
pressed the bard to spend the Christmas with him, yet neither
abbot, nor priest, nor bishop, nor pope, should be able to hasten
his departure from the hall of Moeliwrch :
" Duw Tad, wedi dau oed hydd,
A'th briodes a'th brydydd,
Riioi 'n dystion, rhan dwy osteg,
Ydd wyf dri chywydd arddeg ;
** Y mae deupen carennydd
Y rh'om, nad awn byth yn rhydd ;
* Kyffin, a township in the parish of Llan Gadvau, Montgomeryshire.
+ Richard Vaughan, son of Sir Richard Vaughan, of Gojden Grove, created
Earl of Carbery by Charles I., was liaeally descended from Mado„' Kyffin in
the eighth degree.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 345
Er bod rh'of ar abad draw,
Ammodau i ymadaw ; .
Nid micar a'n hysgar ni,
Na brawd a wnae briodi ;
Nid esgob, enw dewisgair,
Nid Pab, onid Mab Mair."
Hywel's successor was his son Ieuan, whose bard, Hywe Kilan,
flourished from 1460 to 1490.
Ieuan's son was Llywelyn o Foeliwrch, more popular among
the Bards than any of his predecessors. Deio ab Ieuan Bwl ad
dresses a poem to him in behalf of a friend for a brace of grey
hounds, in which he is stiled,
" Llew o fewn maes, a'r llafn main,
A theyrn Cynllaith Owain."
Another of Llywelyn's domestic Bards was Ieuan ab Gruffydd
Leiav, who wrote from 1500 to 1530.
Llywelyn died about 1534; and, the act for the union of
England and Wales (26th Hen. 8th) passing about the same
time, a dispute arose between his sons as to the disposition of
their father's estate,—the eldest claiming, by the new law, the
right of primogeniture; and the youngest insisting upon the
gavel-kind division, as directed by the laws of Hywel Dda, and
sanctioned by immemorial usage. After much litigation, the case
was referred. I have a copy of the bond of arbitration, and the
sward thereupon, now before me. By the award, Moras Wynn,
the elder son, succeeded to maintain hospitality at the Plas ym
Moeliwrch : Tomas ab Llywelyn, his brother, was to have two
tenements in Llys Dynwallon, and at his own cost and charge
to divide all the rest of the possessions of their said father, in
Cynllaith Owain, Cynllaith yr Iarll, and Careg Hwva, in the
lordships of Chirk and Oswestry, or elsewhere, into two equal
parts ; and Morus Wynn to have his choice of the moieties.—
" Morus to have a seat in our Lady's chancel within the church of
." Llan-Silin, and Tomas to have a seat in the same church anynce
" St. Silin."
Among the bards, who wrote elegies to the memory ofLlywelyn,
were Morus ab Hywel ab Tudur, and Wiliam Alaw. The latter
*ays—
" Milwr a ehawr Moelyrch aeth—
* * * *
Llan a'i dug altan o'i dai,
Llywelyn—llu a wylai ;—***
Vol. I. 2 X
34« THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Mil a wyl am Lywelyn,
Mae ei ras i'w aer—Morus Wynn.
Yn ei ol ef, ni wyl iaith
Path ganllaw fylh i Gynllaith ;
* * # *
Caf sy' waeth—cefais ei win,
Cerais alarch cor Silin."
The bard mentions four sons, though the award notices only
two:—
" Pum mroder—pwy ym Mhrydain
Ym mraich rhiw, mor wych a rhain ?"
He then advises them to agree amicably for their father's posses
sions, and to abide by a reference to their friends and relations,
rather than having recourse to the " glorious uncertainty of the
law." Excellent advice !
" Rhoed y broder ar geraint,
At wyr eu bro, eu tir a'u braint."
Morus Wynn, having gained the paternal mansion, supported
the wonted hospitality without abatement. His bards were Huw
Ceiriog—Wiliam Cynwal—Huw Arwystl, and Gruflfydd Hirae-
thog,—who flourished from 1520 to 1580. The latter bard, in
going his rounds to Moeliwrch, said—
" Tynnu 'r wyf, tan araf-hynt,
Treiglo lle hu 'r Guto gynt. **•
Pawb yno—pob awenydd,
| Yno can bawb, canu bydd !
Yno gwau cerdd, nid gwiw eel,
Tewach na'r Guto i Hywel. (*) ***
Llew iawn yn cadw llawenydd
Llan Silyn, Morus Wynn sydd."
Of the hospitable mansion, and the multiplicity of its visitors,
Huw Ceiriog says—
" Ty mawl a gwin—ty ami gyrch,
Tair mil at dyrrau Moelyrch."
Great was the lamentation when this last of the patrons of the
Cambrian muse, at Moeliwrch, went to the " bourne from whence
no traveller returns."
" Duodd a rhewodd yr hin—ar Foeliwrch,
Marfolaeth brenhinllin ; v
Liu a, gwaedd lle y bu gwin,
Am Forus hael o fro Silin !
M. ab J. ab Dafydd.
(*) Guto y Glyn, about a century before, was the favourite bard of
Hywel, who'was great-giandfather to Morus Wynn.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 847
Hiraeth trwm alaeth tramawr—y sydd
I'n synn hyd Faelawr,
Fyn'd Duw ei hun mewn unawr,
Ar llewyrch o Foelyrch fawr !"
Gr. ab Gr.
Moms Wynn, for his second wife, married his kinswoman and
neighbour, the heiress of the house of Bodlith. Richard, their
son, preferring the more sheltered situation of Bodlith, built a
new house there, and made it his residence ; which he called Plas
Newydd. His daughter and heiress Gwenwyvar, a favourite
family name, maried Foulk Middleton, the seventh son of Richard,
governor of Denbigh Castle.
Idris.
[To ^ continued. ]
SKETCHES OF SOCIETY.
There cannot be a doubt, that a minute investigation of the
ancient superstitions of Wales would" not only be productive of
considerable interest in itself, but would also tend to elucidate
many particulars respecting the early state of society in this
country. Something, indeed, has already been done in this way ;
but there still remains much to be effected towards a proper ' ac
complishment of the object. This notice of the subject has been
suggested by a perusal of the first of the articles, that follow
under this head, in which an allusion is made to the several ima
ginary beings, who formerly occupied a place m tlie popular
creed of our native hills. And, indeed, some remnant of this
belief may even now be found in those places, which have been
least accessible to the innovating approaches of civilization. Yet,
wherever this superstition now exists, it may be presumed to have
lest many of the interesting peculiarities characteristic of its
primitive state. Above all, the romantic simplicity, which dis
tinguished it when generally acknowleged, can no longer belong
to its partial and isolated dominion.
Of all the popular superstitions, formerly prevalent in Wales,
the belief in Fairies was perhaps the most singular: and some
few particulars, relating to this subject, may form no uninteresting
introduction to the following communication.
The modem name of Fairies in Wales is Tylwyth TSg or the
Fair Family, but who, it should be mentioned, are not generally
considered, according to the English notion, as beings of a dimi
348 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
y " " 5
nutive stature. Pembrokeshire, however, where this imaginary
tribe are called Dynon Bach Teg or the Fair Small People,
seems an exception to this remark. But the original names were
Gieyllion and Ellyllon,* plurals of Gwyll and Ellyll : the latter
of which appears to correspond with the English L.Ives, and is
still more closely allied with the Hebrew Elilim, with which it,
no doubt, had an identity of origin as well as of signification.—
Both Taliesin and Merddin make allusion to the Gieyllion : the
former fixing their abode in glades, the latter on mountains.—
And Davydd ab Gwilym, in a humourous description, which he
gives of his envelopement in a mountain mist, makes mention cf
the Ellyllon, where he says
" Yr ydoedd ym mhub gobsnt
Ellyllon mingeiniion gant."
There were in every hollow
A hundred wry-mouthed elves.
And it seems, that there was some reason to be apprehensive of
encountering these " fair people" in a mist ; for, although allowed .
not to be maliciously disposed, they had a very inconvenient prac
tice of seizing an unwary pilgrim and hurrying him through the
air, first giving him the choice, however, of travelling above-wind,
mid-wind, or below-wind. If he chose the former, he was borne
to an altitude somewhat equal with that of a balloon; if the
latter, he had the full benefit of all the brakes and briars in his
way, his contact with which seldom failed to terminate in his dis
comfiture. Experienced travellers, therefore, always kept in
mind the advice of Apollo to Phaeton, and selected the middle
course,f which ensured them a pleasant voyage at a moderate
elevation, equally removed from the brambles and the clouds.—
Such were some of the feats, performed by these preternatural
agents, who, although not addicted to any very vicious propensi
ties, were still fond of a little mischievous sport. Space will not
permit to dwell any longer on the subject on the present oc
casion. {
* Hence we have Boyd Ellyllun, Elves' Meat, »nd RTtnig Elhllcn,
Fox Glove.
+ In medio tutissimus ibis.—Ovid.
X Mr. Owen Pughe, to whom the writer is mainly indebted for the mate
rials of the preceding account, is of opinion, that this imaginary race were
anciently supposed to be the manes of those Druids, who were neither of
sufficient purity for u celestial abode, nor of sufficient depravity for the
society of infernals, on which account they remained on earth until the day
of final retribution, when they were, to he transferred to a superior state of
existence.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 349
With respect to the Canicyllau Cyrph, or Corpse Candles,
noticed in the subsequent communication, it may be proper to
premise, that the superstitious notion is at present almost confined
to the Diocese of St. David's, where it is a popular belief, that,
a short time before the decease of a person, a light is seen issuing
from the sick bed, and taking its course to the church- yard along
the very track, which the funeral is afterwards to pursue.
* *
POPULAR SUPERSTITIONS OF THE WELSH.
The inhabitants of rude and mountainous countries are more
generally affected with superstition than those, who dwell in plains
and well-cultivated regions. That the scenery of a country has
a considerable degree of influence on the habits of the natives, is
indisputable. Hence the manners of mountaineers are more
hardy, robust, and impetuous, than those of lowlanders, and
their imaginations,
" Darken'd by their native scenes,
Create wild images and phantoms dire,
Strange as their hills, and gloomy as their storms."
This is exemplified in the mountain-inhabitants of Britain—the
Scottish highlander, and the Welsh mountaineer,—to both of
whom certain superstitious customs and opinions are peculiar,
although resembling each other considerably in their general
outline. It is to those of the latter that I wish now to fix my at
tention, and I leave the comparison to your readers. In a curious
little work, entitled " A Relation of Apparitions and Spirits, in
the County of Monmouth, and the Principality of Wales," by
t he Rev. Edmund Jones, we find all that can be said upon the
subject; and, although the ardent zeal of the author to maintain
the actual existence of ghosts, goblins, fairies, &c. &c. is absurd
and ridiculous, yet his book contains a tolerably distinct account
of the leading features of Welsh superstitions. By our author
all unbelievers in the appearance of spectres and spirits are
termed Sadducees, and their incredulity on this point is equiva
lent, with him, to a disbelief in a future state. Hearken how our
divine argueth in favour of his doctrine :—" They are chiefly
" women, and men of weak and womanish understandings, who
** speak against the accounts of spirits and apparitions. In some-
" women this comes from a certain proud fineness, excessive de-
" licacy, and a superfine disposition, which cannot bear to be
" disturbed with what is strange and disagreeable to a vain spirit.
350 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
" But why should the daughters of mother Eve be so averse to
" hear of their great adversary Satan, with whom she first con-
" versed, and whom she first believed, and was deceived by
'• him?" Why, indeed! This is a question I will not under
take to answer ; and I give the Reverend Mr. Edmund Jones
all the credit due to him for reasoning so subtle and unanswerable.
The superstitious creed of the Welsh comprises a staunch be
lief in the existence of witches, ghosts, goblins, and fairies, with
a due proportion of good and bad spirits. To these may be
added the creation of certain wild fantasies, peculiar, perhaps,
to themselves. These consist of—
1st,—Dogs of the Sky ( Cwn Wybir), or, as they are some
times denominated, Dogs of Hell ( Cwn Annwn). These terrific
animals are supposed to be devils under the semblance of hunting;
dogs (of what particular breed or species, deponent saith not),
and they are usually accompanied by fire, in some form or other.
Their appearance is supposed to indicate the death of some
friend or relative of the person, to whom they show themselves.
N. B. They have never been known to commit any mischief on
the persons of either man or woman, goat, sheep, or cow, &c.
2ndly,—Corpse Candle (Carney// Corpli). This apparition
(for apparition it is, and of a lighted tallow candle too, laugh
.who may!) is also the forerunner of death. Sometimes it ap
pears in the form of a stately flambeau, flaming bluely, and
' stalking about uninvited from place to place ; and sometimes it
appears in the hand of the spectre of the person, whose fate it
foretells.
3rdly,—Cyhiraeth—a doleful, foreboding noise before death,
heard by the nearest of kin to the person about to depart.
4thly,—The Knockers—a very good-natured, fortunate sort
of beings, whose business it is to point out, by a peculiar kind
of bumping, a rich vein of metal ore, or any other subterraneous
treasure. They are highly respected, and are deemed nearly
allied to the Fairies.
I have now enumerated the several kinds of superstitious
objects held in awe by our countrymen. At a future opportu
nity I propose making such extracts from Mr. Edmund Jones's
work, as will illustrate the actions of the several species of spirits.
For the present I must conclude, merely oberving that Mr.
Jones has treated of several minor spirits, of whom he has related
some very interesting and important facts. T. R.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 351
The custom, of which some account is given in the following
article, is still retained in some parts of Wales, where the return
of All Saints' Eve continues to be marked by many rustic festi
vities. But much of the pristine humour of this ancient festival
is undoubtedly lost : and in many places all vestiges of the cere
monial have vanished. Some account of the custom of lighting
fires (coelcerthi) on November eve has already appeared in the
Cambro-Briton *.
*** ALL-SAINTS' EVE..
There is a custom peculiar to Wales,—and peculiar, I believe,
to Wales alone,—the origin of which I should imagine to be of
some antiquity. I allude to the observance of the eve of All-
Saints as a festival and holiday. The institution of the custom it
readily accounted for. In the earlier and darker, and more bar
barous ages, certain days were set apart for the performance of
. particular mythological ceremonies, and on " All-Saints' Eve1'
thanksgivings were offered up to the Deity for the fruits of
harvest. The predilection, the Welsh have ever retained for
many of the rude habits of their forefathers, has preserved,
amongst other customs, the festivities of All-Saints' Eve, and
the evening of this day is spent in mirth and gladness. Bonfires
are kindled, labour is suspended, the villagers assemble, and the
young and active dance to the music of the harp, or pass their
time in the exercise of athletic and rustic games. I well remember
with what eager joy I was wont, during my boyish days, to hail
the approach of this festival : I always spent it at " the Rector's ;"
and, although some yeara have elapsed since that joyous period,
the recollection of it is yet vivid in my memory, and will never
be forgotten. There is a pleasure in permitting the imagination
to dwell thus on the scenes of early life ; particularly if we have,
by the chances of fate, been separated from them, and from all
whom time and memory have endeared to us. ItAis an impulse,
with which Nature inspires us, and in an obedience to which the
mind is agreeably and not unworthily employed. My absence
from Wales has not afforded me an opportunity of witnessing
whether the ceremonies of All-Saints' Eve are observed with all
their pristine celebrity ; but, as far as report goes, I &m given to
understand that they are. And we can almost hope that luxury
and refinement will never penetrate into the mountain wilds of
Cambria, to deprive the honest inhabitants of their innocent and
favourite enjoyments. T. R.
* No. 5. p. 172. Sec sjso Cambrian Register^ vol. i. p. 321.
352 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
i
AWEN CYMRU.
A'lh roid yrv athrwydd Awen. Edm. Peys.
-capo*—
PENNILLION.
XLVII.
Rhaid i gybydd gadw ei gaban,
Rhaid i ieuenctid dori allan,'
Hyd fy modd mae'n rhaid i minnau
Ganlyn mwynion dynion dannau.
xLviir.
Robin_goch daeth at yr hiniog,
A'i ddwy aden yn anwydog ;
A dywedai mor ysmala,
" Mae hi'n oer, fe ddaw yn eira."
XLIX.
Lie bo cariad y canmolir
Y rhyw ddyn yn fwy na ddylir ;
On'd, lle byddo digder creulon,
Fe fydd beiau mwy na digon.
L.
Tros y mor mae'r adar duon,
Tros y mor mae'r dynion mwymon
Tros y mor mae pob rhinweddaii,
Tros y mor mae'm cariad innan
LI.
Melys iawn yw llais aderyn
Forau haf ar ben y brigyn ;
On'd melysach cael gan Gwenno
Eiriau hcddwcb wedi digio.
LII.
Gwedd holl anian a gyfnewid
Cyn y gwelwyf fy anwylyd,
Bydd y meillion ar y meusydd,
Can yr adar yn y coedydd ;
On'd un peth nid all gyfnewid,
Sef fy nghalon i, f anwylyd.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 353
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
XLVII.
The miser must protect his home,
While youth abroad must ever roam :
For me, I must—such is my way—
Still follow where the minstrels play.
XLVIII.
Poor Robin to my threshold hies,
His wings all chill'd and drooping low,
In gentle careless note he cries,
" 'Tis very cold, it soon will snow."
XLIX.
Where there is love, praise will be found
Beyond all measure to abound;
But 'tis as true, where hatred dwells,
That censure more than meetly swells.
L.
Rare birds are found beyond the sea,
And there too people courteous, kind :
Beyond the seas all virtues be,
And there my own true love you'll find.'
* **
LI.
Sweet is the bird's melodious lay,
In summer morn, upon the spray ;
But from Amelia sweeter far
The notes of friendship after war.
D. E.
LII.
Another dress will nature wear
Before again I see my fair,
The smiling fields will daisies bring,
And on the trees the birds will sing ;
But one thing changed will never be,
That is, my heart, sweet girl, from thee,
D. E.
354 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
THE SONG OF THE SONS OF MADOG :
A CAMBRIAN MELODY*.
Think ye, because we are led captive, that our spirit is broken ?
The cloud, that hangs upon our name
Thus dark and heavily,
But shades a race, as free from shame
As thine, proud Lord, can be.
We never sold the land, that gave
Our fathers birth, but kept -
Their faith, and o'er their children's grave
The valiant eye hath wept.
Then tell us not of lowly state,
To which our race is driven :
What, though the tree be desolate,
Its stately branches riven,
Some stems remain, and they may grow
To give their land a shade,
When thou and thine, vain man, are low.
And those, who smite us, fade.
Not all the bearings on thy shield,
Like ours, are justly borne ;
The flower, thy pride to-day doth wield,
To-morrow may be shorn.
The gentle heart slight wrong may bear,
But goad it not too far ;
Remember what our fathers were,
And what their children are.
S. R. J.
* It does not clearly appear to what period of the Welsh history this
melody has reference ; unless it be to the time of Madog, son of the last
Llywelyn, who revolted against Edward I. and was taken prisoner in 1295,
when he was confined in London, where he remained for life. However, the
lines, independent of all historical allusion, will be found to possess no in
considerable portion of merit.—£d.
THE CAMRRO-BRITON. 355
WALES.
OLD CYMMRODORION SOCIETY.—The following form
a continuation of the " general heads of subjects" selected for
examination and discussion by the original Society of Cymmrodo-
rion : and to the investigation of which recent circumstances may
be supposed to have communicated, in the present 'day, an addi
tional interest. Many useful hints, as before mentioned, may
also be taken from them by the patriotic societies now established
in Wales. ***
POETRY AND THE WELSH LANGUAGE.
1 . Of the most ancient British poetical writers,—proof of the
genuineness of their works,—and of the antiquity of Poetry
among the Britons.
2. Of the Druids and Bards in Gaul and Britain.
3. Of the most ancient kind of heroic verse used by the Bri
tons, now called Englyn Mihcr, and of the lyric verse Triban,
being of the same original.
4. Of the present twenty-four measures in the Welsh poetry
and about what time they were instituted : and of the affinity be
tween them and the twenty-four measures in the ancient Welsh
music. -
5. Of the Congresses of the Bards.
6. Of the Secret \CyfrinacK\ of the Bards.
7. Of the Decline of Welsh Poetry on the death of Queen Eli
zabeth, not one poem having been well written since till the pre
sent age *,—with a guess at the reason of it.
8. Of a comparison between Dr. Davies and Mr. Edward
Llwyd as Dictionary and Grammar writers, and how each of them
excelled in his way,—with their characters.
9. Of the character of Humphrey Llwyd the Antiquary.
10. Of Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt the Antiquary, and of his
valuable Collection of Welsh MSS. in Poetry, History, Genea
logy, &c.
11. Of the valuable Welsh MSS. in Llanvorda, Llanerch, and
Mostyn Libraries ; also of those in the possession of the Duke of
Ancaster, Earl of' Macclesfield, Sir Thomas Sebright, Bart., or in
whatever other hands they may be.
* 1751.
356 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
12. Some old Welsh Pennillion set to the ancient Music, with
a prose translation in English, or a verse translation, if it can be
procured.
13. Of the similitude between the Welsh tongue and the
Eastern languages.
14. Of the softness of the Welsh tongue as well as its rough
ness, and of verses in this language composed of vowels only*.
15. Of Dean Swift's complaint, that the English is too full of
monosyllables, and of Erasmus's observation on the same head.
16. Of the excellent song-writer Huw Monist.
17. An enumeration of some of the most noted Welsh Poets,
Davydd ab Gwilym, Lewis Glyn Cothi, lolo Goch, &c. with
their characters, and some of their works occasionally printed
with notes and translations %•
18. Some Welsh Poems of the present age to be published
with notes.
19. Of the great affinity between the Welsh and Irish Lan
guages and between the customs of the two nations : and of some
strange language mixed with the Irish, and what it is §.
2d That the Irish are a colony from the first inhabitants of
Britain, proved from the names of mountains, lakes, and cytiau
Gwyddelod in Wales.
21. Of the Welsh words, Porthmon, Hicsmon, Allmon, &c.
had from the Teutons.
22. Of the Translation and different Impressions of the Welsh
Bible.
* These two "heads" will necessarily come under discussion in the In
quiry into the Welsh Language, which has been commenced in this Work.
Singular as the fact, alluded to at the close of the latter " head," may ap
pear, it is capable of being fully established. Indeed some instances of it
may be seen in tbc Essay on the Welsh Language, in the 3d volume of the
Cambrian Register, quoted in a preceding page ; and Mr. Jones in his
** Relics of the Bards" has inserted an Epigram on a Spider of four lines,
in which there is not one consonant. Ed.
f The Rev. Walter Davies is about to do ample justice to this subject.
See Cambbo-Britov, No. 6, p. 239. Ed.
% A complete Edition of the Poems of Davydd ab Gwilym has since been
published by the late Mr. Owen Jones, with an interesting English Preface
by Mr. W. O. Pughe. Ed.
% Col. Vallancey, in his " Essay on the Antiquity of the Irish Language,"
KOnceives this to be the Phoenician, and this again he affirms to be the same
with the ancient Punic, of which we have now scarcely a vestige. And the
Irish historians assert, that their language was anciently called Bearla Feni,
ur the Phanician Dialed.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON; 357
23. Of Welsh Grammars and Dictionaries.
24. Of Welsh printed books in general.
WELSH CUSTOMS AND MANNERS.
1. Of the similitude between the Welsh customs and the Gre
cian, and of the British Chariots of War mentioned by Caesar.
2. Of surnames in Wales, and of what standing; and of the
ancient method of Pedigrees like the Eastern nations.
3. Of the Fifteen Tribes of North Wales; and why the
Writers of Genealogies in later times thought it sufficient to de
rive any family from those Tribes*.
4. Of the particular method and custom of singing with the
harp, and of the Crwth, a Welsh musical instrument. -
5. Of the ferocity of the English formerly to strangers, and of
Mr. Lambard's observation, that seems to point out the cause
why the Welsh and English were not sooner incorporated.
6. Of the hot passions of the Welsh ; and whether there be
any foundation in nature for that common expression, " His
Welsh blood is up."
7. Of some remains of Druidical Customs, &c. among the
Welsh.
8. Of the Awen, and the fondness of the Welsh for Poetry
and Antiquities.
9. Of the long lives and most common diseases of the Welsh.
10. Of the present State of Religion in Wales, and of the cir
culating Welsh Charity Schoolsf.
GWYNEDDIGION SOCIETY.—This Society has, by pub
lic advertisement, appointed its Eisteddfod for the present year
to take place at St. Asaph, on Thursday the 21st of September
next. The subject, proposed for poetical competition on this
occasion, is the " Reign of George the Third" ( Teyrnasiad
Sior III.), and the writer of the best Awdl will be entitled to the
customary premium of a Silver Medal. The most successful
singer with the Welsh Harp will also receive a Silver Cup, as an
acknowlegement of his merit.—The following extract, for which
alone there is room, from the Gwyneddigion Prize-Poem for the
last year is here transcribed agreeably with the intention ex
pressed in the last Number, although it may not be the most fa-
* For an account of these Tribes see the Cambrian Register, vol. i.
p. 145.—E». .
f This seems to have reference to some custom no longer in existence. T.d.
368 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
vourable specimen of the production. The subject of the Ode
(Awdl), it may be proper to repeat, is Charity. The stanzas, here
selected, are those with which the poem commences. %*
Duw cariad ! y Tad wyt ti—ar Anian
A'r enwau sydd ynddi :
Dy rodd, yn deilliaw drwyddi,
Yw'n byd hwn oil, a'n bod ni.
Cynnal dy ddoeth amcanion—mawr Allu !
Mae'r holl Weledigion :
A lluoedd Nefoedd, ein Ion !
Gwn ydynt dy genadon.
Mai haul byw araul a beri—'r ddaiar
Roi'n ddios ei firwythi,
Goreu tes dy gariad ti
Ar fydoedd heb rifedi.
Dy gariad di agorodd—byrth y Nef,
Aberth gwnaed a wirfodd :
Gwynfyd i'r byd arbedodd,
Oen Duw Tad, yw dy rad rodd !
ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.—The Mowing is a Report of
the number of Criminals tried in the several Counties in Wales
during the recent Great Sessions. Under the head of Acquittals
are comprised all those cases, in which the prisoner by any means
procured his liberation.
Convictions. Acquittals. Total.
Anglesey .... 2 1 - 3
Brecon ----- 11 - 3 - 14
Cardigan - - - • * * *
Carmarthen County
and Town - - - 8 - 5 - 13
Carnarvon - - - - « #
Denbigh - - - - 9 •- 2 - 11
Flint 4 - 2 - 6
Glamorgan - - - - 9 - 3 - 12
Merioneth - - - - 0 - 0 - None
Monmouth - - - - 7 - 4 - 11
Montgomery - - - 7 - 0 - 7
Pembroke - - - - * * *
Radnor* * *
57 20 77
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 359
The Editor has not been able to procure any report of those
eounties, to which stars are affixed. Of the crimes, comprised in '
the foregoing list, two only are of a very atrocious dye—a case of
murder in Denbighshire, and one of rape in the county of Mon
mouth. In both instances the convicts have suffered the awful
penalties, assigned by the law to their offences. %*
MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.—The local occur-
rences of the last month do not present any matter of particular
importance. In addition to the public meetings, which have taken
place for the purpose of offering the united tribute of condolence
and congratulation to the throne, others have been holden with a
view to objects of a less general nature, but affecting the interests
of some parts of the Principality in a material degree. The
Counties of Carnarvon and Pembroke and the Town of Haver
fordwest have had meetings for the purpose of " taking into con
sideration proper measures for obtaining a farther exemption from
the duty on culm and coal carried coastwise, which by the present
Act will expire in August next." And, where the general
policy so obviously unites with the interest of individuals, there
can be little doubt that their exertions will be effectual.—
Meetings have likewise been holden in the counties ofMonmouth
and Pembroke for the purpose of " petitioning Parliament to
make such alterations in the Corn Laws, as shall appear best cal
culated to afford relief to the Agriculturists of the United King
dom."—On the 3d of April the " Corwen and Edeirnion Branch
Bible Society" held at Corwen their anniversary meeting, which
was very respectably attended. Several speeches were made on
the particular object of the Society both by Clergymen of the
Church of England and by Ministers of other persuasions.—A cu
rious discovery has recently taken place in forming the new line
of the Holyhead road between Lima and Cernioge. In cutting
through the corner of a field called Dol Trebeddw the workmen
discovered above forty graves, about two yards in length, most of
them cased with rough stones, and all lying in the compass of
twenty yards by ten. Bones were found in many of them, but
not the least vestige of any coffins. On the lower side of the stone,
which covered one of the most perfect of the graves, was the fol
lowing inscription in rude Roman capitals, the letters in several
places joined together :—
BRo Ho NASLI
IAT HIC JACET
ET UXOREM CAVNE.
360 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
This stone is preserved for the inspection of the curious, and may
be seen, together with some of the bones, at Pentrefoelas. It is
hardly necessary to add, that the oldest inhabitants have no re
collection of these graves, which must, therefore, have reference
to a remote period, when this place may have been the scene of
some of those contests, which preceded the subjugation of Wales.
And Dol Trebeddw, in all probability, derived its name from this
very circumstance *.—The sum, to be given by the Commissioners
of the Menai Bridge for the purchase of the Bangor Ferry,
was awarded by a Special Jury before the Under Sheriff of An
glesey at the late .Assizes. As the bridge is to be situated within
the limits of this Ferry, and, when opened to the public, will
entirely supersede the same, the Legislature had directed, that the
Commissioners should purchase it. Miss Williams of Conway,
however, to whom it belonged, being a minor, her trustees de
clined entering into any contract, and the matter was, accor
dingly, referred to a jury. It was proved, that the net receipts of
the Ferry, for the last eleven years, were from 850/. to 950/. per
annum, and were greatly increasing. The Jury, after hearing
Counsel, retired about half an hour, and awarded Miss Williams,
for the loss of the Ferry, the sum of 26,394/. 7s. 6d.—The last
Spring Ploughing Match of the Anglesey Agriculcural Society
was much more successful than any former one—it being the
unanimous opinion, that the worst ploughing on the late occasion
was superior to the best at some of the previous meetings, a proof,
that the institution of these matches has been productive of con
siderable benefit to the cause of practical agriculture. *„*
LITERATURE —W. S. Wickenden, author of a Novel, en
titled " Count Glarus of Switzerland," which was favourably re^
viewed in the Gentleman's Magazine for September 1819, is pre
paring for publication " Conan Blethyn," the first of a series
of Tales, designed to illustrate Cambrian peculiarities.
ERRORS CORRECTED.
No. 6. p. 225. L 1.5. for " perfection" tend perception.
No. 7. p. 259. First Note, for" 40" rend 140.
276. 1. 23. /or" Aberystwth " read Aberystwith.
No. 8. p. 311. 1 23. for '• haith" read hiaith.
319. 1, 4. for " — Ludlow, Esq." read Eben. Ludlow, Esq.
1. 27. for " Cuthrall" rend Catbrall.
* The Editor would feel obliged by a more particular detail of this inte
resting discovery, and especially of such of the inscriptions, as can bemade
out, if there be more than one. The account, he now .publishes, is the best
he could procure ; but he does not vouch for its accuracy.—Ed.
tltE
CAMBRO-BM1TON.
JtNE, 1820.
NUIXI QUtDEM MIHI SATIS ERUDITI VIDENTUR, QUIBUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero de Ltgibus.
THE TRIADS —No. IX.
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN*.
XLi.
The three Arrant Drunkards of the Isle of Britain : Ceraint
the Drunkard, King of Essyllwg, who in his drunkenness burnt
all the corn far and near over the face of the country, so that
therefrom a famine came ; second, Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenau, who
gave the Isle of Daned [Thanet], in his drink, to Hors [Horsa],
for permission to commit adultery with Rhonwen his daughter,
when he gave claim also to the son, that thereby might be born,
upon the crown of Lloegr, and added to that treason and plot
ting against the nation of the Cymry ; third, Seithenyn the Drun
kard, the son of Seithyn Saidi, King of Dyved, who, in his
drink, let the sea over the Cantrev y Gwaelawd, so that there
were lost of houses and earth the whole that were there, where
formerly were found sixteen fortified towns, superior to all the
towns and cities of Wales, leaving as an exception Caer Llion
upon Wysg : and Cantrev y Gwaelawd was the dominion of
Gwyddnaw Garanhir, King of Ceredigion ; and that event was
in the time of Emrys Wledig ; and the men who escaped from
that inundation landed in Ardudwy, and the country of Arvon,
and the mountains of Eryri, and other places not before in
habited.
[We have no other memorials of this Ceraint. Essyllwg was,
as before mentioned, another name for Siluria.—The treach
erous conduct of Gwrtheyrn or Vortigern, above detailed, has
been already alluded to f.—In the Archaiology of Wales, vol. i.
* Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 6i. Tr. 37—44.
f See No, 6, p. 202.
rot., I. ,3a
362 THE CA.MBRO-BRITON.
p. 165, there are some verses on the inundation of Cantrev y
Gwaelawd, or the Lowland Hundred, composed by Gwyddnaw
above mentioned, who had a palace in this district. The remains
of three ancient stone embankments are still traceable, severally
called Sarn Cyuvehfn, Sam y Bweh, and Sam Padrig. The
latter is particularly conspicuous, being left dry at low water to
the extent of about nine miles; and the sailors of the neighbour
ing ports describe its whole length to be twenty-one miles, be
ginning near Harlech, and running out in a S.W. direction*.]
XLU. The three Humble Princes of the Tale of Britain : Man-
awydan, the son of Llyr Llediaiih,. after the carrying into capti
vity of the family of Bran ab Llyr, his brother; and Llywarch
Hen, the son of Elidir Llydanwyn ; and Gwgon Gm-on, the son
of Eleuver Gosgorddvawr. These three were bards ; and they
sought not for dominion and royalty, after they had attached
themselves to song, while they could not be debarred therefrom :
so it was on that account they are called the Three Hunibk-
Princes of the Isle of Britain.
[The wandering of Manawydan, who was a Prince of Siluria,
is the subject of one of the tales of the Mabinogion. He is de
scribed in another Triad as one of the " three chiefs, who had
golden cars,'' and as having gone in his car to settle the bounda
ries between his territory and Dyved.—Llywarch Hen has been
introduced to the reader's notice in the eighth Number.—Gwgon
Gwron is said to be the son of Peredur, the son of Eleuver
Gosgorddvawr, in the other two series ofTriads. Arch, of Wales,
vol. ii. p. 4 and 15.]
XUII. The three Monarchs of Deivr and Brynnich: Gall, the
• Mr. Davies, in Ins " Mythology and Rites of the Druids," (p. 240 et
seq.) discusses at some length the history of this event, as recorded in the
Triad ; and, with his usual happy talent of turning history into fable^ he
throws a veil of mythological obscurity over the whole account. In a word
he supposes it to be no more than a perverted memorial of the Deluge, and
says, that the " landing upon the mountains of Snowdon is like the landing
of Deucalion upon Mount Parnassus." But the Triad merely says, that
those, " who escaped the inundation, landed iu Ardudwy in the country of
Anon and the mountains of Snowdon," which, surely, can only mean the
ticmity of the mountains, and not on their summits. Allowing, therefore, all
due weight to the ingenuity of Mr. Davics's hypothesis, it is clearly at va
riance with the written documents on this subject, and, what is perhaps of
greater importance, with the tradition of the country. Some observations
on this occurrence may be seen in Mr. Edward Williams's " l.yric Foetns,"
vol. i. p. 78., and also in the Cambrian Register, vol. ii. p. 490.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON..•56:1
son of Dysgyvedawg ; and Difedel, the son of Dysgyvedawg;
and Ysgavnell, the son of Dysgyvedawg. These three were
bards; and, after they had attached themselves to song, they
had conferred upon them the monarchy of Deivr and Brynaich.
[In the first scries of Triads, p. 4, of the second volume of the
Archaiology, the father of these three Princes is called Dyssyrn-
dod; and in the second series, p. 13, he is named Disgyvndawd.
In another Triad the three brothers are recorded as having
achieved the " three praiseworthy slaughters of the Isle of
Britain."'—Deivr and Brynaich areDeira and Bernicia.]
XXIV. The three Rmldy-speared Bards of the Isle of Britain:
Tristvardd, the bard of Ui ion Rhegcd ; Dygynnelw, the bard of
Owain ab Urie:i ; and A van Verddig, the bard of Cadwallon ab
Cadvau. They were throe bards ; and they could not be sepa
rated.
[The second series of Triads, Arch, of Wales, vol. ii. p. 18,
has Arovan, the bard of Seleu ab Cynan, instead of Tristvardd,
the bard of Ui ien. The reason of these bards being thus distin
guished was, that, according to the bardic system, the members
were not allowed to bear arms.]
XLV. The three Supreme Servants of the Isle of Britain : Car-
adawg, the son ofBran ab Llyr Lediaith ; and Cawrdav, the son
of Caradawg Vreichvras ; and Owain, the son of Macsen Wle-
dig. That is, they were so called, for that of their free will all
the men of the Isle of Britain, from the prince to the slave, be->
came their followers, at the need of the country, against the pro
gress of the foe and devastation : and whenever these three men
went to war, there was not any one of the men of the Isle of
Britain but would go in their retinue, there being no desire of re
maining at home ; and these were three bards.
[The names only are given in the two other series of Triads,
without any explanation of the distinction here conferred on
them ; and in the second series, p. 12, the Triad runs thus—" The
three Supreme Servants of the Isle of Britain : Gwydar, the son
of Rhun ab Beli; and Owain ab Maxen Wledig; and Cawrdav,
the son of Caradawg."—Enough has already been said of Car
adawg son of Bran and of Owain in former Numbers. Cawrdav
was a warrior of distinction during the sixth century ; but the par
ticulars of his exploits are no longer known. There are two
churches dedicated to him, one in Arvon, and the other in
Gwent.]
xlvI. The three Fetter-wearing Kings of the Isle of Britain:
364 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Morgan Mwynvawr, of Morganwg ; Elystan Glodrydd, between
Gwy and Havren ; and Gwaithvoed, King of Ceredigion. That
is, they were so called, because they wore fetters in the exercise
of all the functions of sovereignty of the Isle of Britain, and not
bandlets, or crowns.
[Morganwg is Glamorgan ; Gwy and Havren, the Wye and
Severn; and Ceredigion is Cardiganshire.—The custom of wear
ing golden fetters or bands was common to the ancient chieftains
of Britain, as we learn from another Triad before translated *.]
xlvh. The three Bandlet-wearing Kings of the Isle of Britain :
Cadell, King of Dinevwr; Anarawd, King of Aberfraw; and
Merwyn, King of Mathraval. They were also called the three
Bandlet-wearing Princes.
[Cadell, Anarawd, and Mervyn were sons of Rhodri Mawr,
or Roderic the Great, who succeeded to the sovereignty of Wales
in 843. On his death, in 877, he divided the Principality be
tween the three sons here named, giving to the first Deheubarth,
to the second Gwynedd, and to the last Powys. Dynevwr,
Aberfraw, and Mathraval were the royal palaces of these divi
sions respectively : but the first of these, the seat of Lord Dyn-
evor, is the only one that retains any vestige of its ancient
celebrity.]
xlviiI. The three Foreign Kings of the Isle of Britain : Gwrdd-
yled Gawr; and Morien Varvawg ; and Constantine the Blessed.
[We have no memorials as to the first two names, unless they
be the same as are mentioned in the Gododin. An account of
Constantine has already been given f.]
TRIADS OF WISDOM *.
lxI. Three things that discover the power of man : what he
cannot do without, what he cannot conceal, and what he can nei
ther love nor hate.
LXII. The three criterions for trying every man : his God, his
devil, and his indifference.
Lxm. The three concomitants ofknowlcge : genius, discretion,
and energy.
lxiv. Three things that shall be obtained together without ex
ception : exertion, affection, and fruition.
lxv. Three things that there will be no failure of obtaining :
some wealth through much industry ; some honour where it shall
, . * See Cambro-Briton, No. 1, p. 247, Triad xxxu.
T No. 6. p. 202. + Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. CIO.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 36.1
be merited ; and some knowlege where it shall be much sought
for.LxvI. The three acquisitions that strengthen exertion : the fa
vour of man, the favour of the conscience, and the favour of God.
lxviI. Three things that shall not lack their praise : generosity,
equity, and science.
LxvlII. Three things commendable in the young : taciturnity,
assiduity, and politeness.
lxix. Three things commendable in the old : the counselling
with urbanity, religious liberality, and disinterested wisdom.
lxx. Three things before which nothing will stand in opposi
tion : discretion, patience, and truth.
WELSH PROVERBS.
Plant gwiriotiedd yto hen diareb'ion.—DlAHI.
Frequent is the change to a lover's thought.
A bad disposition is the limit of wickedness.
Ale is more abundant while it distils.
A clear breast makes its possessor secure *,
A fair promise makes a fool merry.
Conspicuous is he that is hated, and he that is loved.
Contract destroys custom.
Inability is always unprepared f.
Every breach of custom is a violation of right.
Necessity buys and sells.
Without God, without every tiling, God and enough J.
The indiscreet, like the blind, may be deceived.
Every fool is unpolished.
He, that loves the young, must love also their sports.
It is hard for fair words to beguile more than once.
Unwise is he with a slippery tongue.
What God protects will be completely protected.
* So Horace:——" Hie mnrusaheneus esto,
Nil conscire sibi, nulla pallescere culpa."
And Shakespear :" Thrice is he arm'd, who hath his quarrel just."
f The Arabic Proverb is somewhat similar :
" Vain is the etfoi t of him wanting power."
% So in Arabic—" Trust in God, and he will suffice."
366 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Vehement desire breaks its own neck *.
It is hard to marry and prosper in the same year.
Let him, that loves not his mother, love his stepmother.
A word is not returnable f.
Prudence is widowed without patience. '
What you have taught your son on Sunday he will remember
on Monday J .
The judgment ofevery rash man is unsteady.
An art is destitute without its gift §.
Augmented is the disgrace of a boaster.
There will be no judgment without its contradiction \\.
Every ill-mannered person has some blemish.
It is difficult to blow the fire with flour in one's mouth.
To drive a dog into an open chamber 51 •
A dead man is not heeded.
Spare the hand, but spare not the foot.
The laughing of water under snow **.
Good ale is the key of the heart f t-
* **
* The Arabic Proverb says, " The man, who- e conrupis'.cnie conquer*
his reason, is lost."
f So in Latin—" Nescit vox cmissa reverti."
J Horace has a similar sentiment—
" Quo ieincl est imhuta reeens servabit utlorem
Testa diu."
§ To the same effect Pope soys, that
" The worst avarice is that of sense."
And still nearer is the Arabic maxim—" The worst of all men is the learned
man, that profits not by bis learning." ,
|| The meaning of this Proverb appears to be, that no judicial opinion can
be pronounced without meeting somewhere with a contrary opinion ; and
every day's experience proves the truth of the maxim.
«[ This Proverb seems to apply to the performance of an unnecessary
action.
** Applicable to cold and insincere laughter.
ff Thus says the Latin maxim, " In vino Veritas."
And Horace observes to the same purpose,
" Faecundi calices quern non fecere disertum ?"
He also seems to attribute a similar influence to the libations of the elder
Cato, where he says of him ;
" Narratui et prisci Catonis
S:rpe mero caluisse virtus."
It may farther be observed from this I'rovcrb, that ale or rtrrra was an-
ciently, as still, a favourite liquor among the Cymry, and from it the Latin
term ccrvisia was most probably taken. Ancurin alludes to bragaxd, a
drink composed of ale and mead, as a common beverage in the sixth
century.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 367
ETYMOLOGY.
" T.'art etymologiqneest I'art de debrcmiHer ce que degmse les'mots, de !es
depouiller de ee, qui, pour ainsi dire, lour est ('tiangrr, ft', par cc tnoyen,
tie les rammer a la simplicite, qu'ils ont tous dans leur oiigine." Mem,
tie PAcrid, iles Inzer. &c.
Among the various pursuits of the human mind none, perhaps,
has grown more into disrepute than Etymology ; and this as well
from the temerity of some of its advocates as from the ignorance
and inexperience of others. While on the one hand it has been
employed to promote the idle sallies of an untutored imagination,
it has, on the other, been converted into the means of supporting
the wildest and most unreasonable hypotheses. From this it has
resulted, that the crude and visionary speculations of many pre
tenders to this art have been assumed as an incontrovertible proof
of the fallacy of the art itself; and the inutility of etymological
researches has, in consequence,' almost passed into a proverb.
But, there is something extremely unfair, as well ss illogical, in
this mode of reasoning ; for, how much soever this art may have
been abused, it by no means follows, that the principles, on which
it is founded, are therefore to be impugned, or its legitimate ob
jects to be set down as of no real value. Etymology, in the lan
guage of the preceding motto, is the art of disengaging words from'
the adscititious incumbrances, which time or custom may have
produced, and of restoring them to that simplicity, which belong
ed to their original character. And, as long as a proper know-
lege of words shall be essential to our acquaintance with things,
this pursuit can not be regarded as unimportant.
It is somewhat singular, that the word Etymology itself fur
nishes an extraordinary instance of the advantages to be occa
sionally derived from a proper use of this science. The definition
of the term is thus given by a celebrated French writer. " In the
most ancient Oriental tongues," observes M. de Gebelin in his
Monde Primitif*, " there exists a word, written in Hebrew
CD1D, which we write and pronounce indiscriminately Tom,
Turn, Tym. It is a radical word signifying perfection in a proper
or physical sense, and, in a figurative or moral one, accomplish
ment, truth, justice. Amongst the Hebrews and Arabians it has
formed adjectives and verbs. This word, united by the Grreks
with the article E and adopting their termination o;, became the
* Torn. iii. p. 19.
THE CAMBftO-BRITON.
adjective irufiyo;, which signifies true or just, while they suffered'
it to lose all its other acceptations. The Greeks, again, uniting
with this word the term Xoyia., which implied with them discourse
cr knowlege, made of it the word Emp.oXoy<a, which we pro
nounce Etymology, and which, consequently, signifies a perfect
science, and they designed thereby the knowlege of the origin
and import of words." If this definition be correct, and there
seems no reason for questioning its propriety, it will appear, that
some acquaintance with the earliest languages of antiquity must,
on many occasions, be necessary to a successful cultivation of
etymological inquiries. And, indeed, the prevailing error of
etymologists, as well as the general cause of their failure, is the
imperfect notion they have formed, in this respect, of the princi
ples of their science. While some are satisfied with the first defi
nition, that presents itself even in a modern language, of a word,
that may be avowedly of ancient extraction, others consider their
work complete, if they can trace the object of their research to
the Latin or, Greek tongues, as though they contained the ele
ments of all human speech *. Some writers of great repute have
fallen into this last mentioned fault, which has occasioned the
adoption of many absurd conclusions. And, indeed, with refe
rence to the errors here noticed, it may justly be observed, in the
words of the French author already eked, that " etymologists
have in their hands a two-edged weapon, which has wounded
mo3t of those, who have endeavoured to use it."
Obvious as the truth of this observation must be, there is ne'
instance, in which it is more evident than in the attempts made by
some writers to define those words, ofwhich the true etymons are
only to be found in the Welsh language, or at least in that, of
which the Welsh retains the most perfect remains. Some in
stances of the blunders, committed in this respect, will be noticed
hereafter : and, in the mean time, a few preliminary remarks
on the aid to be derived in etymological researches from a know
lege of the Welsh tongue may not be deemed unnecessary or
uninteresting.
It will perhaps be admitted—for the subject has been very
ably investigated—that Europe was originally peopled by two
principal colonies, the earliest of whom arrived most probably at
* For some judicious observations respecting this common error the
reader is referred to the Archteologia Britannica, p. 36, where the learned au
thor has made a brief examination of the subject. A few instincts, illus-
tiative of it, may also be seen in the same work, p. 267.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 369
no distant period after the great Dispersion at Babel. These,
according to Herodotus and other historians of credit, were called
Cimmerians or Cimbrians and Scythians, the first of the two hav
ing preceded the latter some ages, and having previously pene
trated to the more remote or Western parts of the country they
had possessed. Later writers indeed have confounded the Cim
brians with the Gauls, Celts, and other tribes, who were, how
ever, properly speaking, so many distinct branches of the ori
ginal stock, and derived their appellations from the several cha
racteristics, local or personal, by which they were distinguished*.
The original language of this Western portion of Europe was,
therefore, the Cimbric, and not, as it has generally been called,
the Celtic, which was no more than a dialect of that primitive
tongue. Notwithstanding that some authors of acknowleged cele
brity have adopted the error here noticed f, the fact of the Cim-
merii or Cimbri having first inhabited this part of the world jus
tifies the natural inference, that they communicated their name to
their language. Indeed we have the testimony of sohie ancient
writers that this was the case J.
Now, the Cimbric being acknowleged as the mother tongue of
a great portion of Europe, it will also be admitted, that it must
have been, to the same extent, directly or indirectly, the basis of
the various languages now spoken, as it was of those no longer in
use. Yet, from the many casualties, to which most of these dia-
* This irode of discrimination was very common among the parly in
habitants of this country, and particularly in the names, adopted after
wards by the Romans in their divisions of the island, and which are
clearly of Welsh extraction. It would far exceed the limits of a note to
particularise these here ; but a very full explanation of theirt may be
seen in the second volume of the Cambrian Register. The appellations,
by which the inhabitants of Ireland and Scotland were also known
to the ancient Britons [Gwyddelod and Ysgodogion], were of the same
description. The English terms Highlanders and Lowlanders, as well
as that of Backwoodsmen, used in America, are formed on the same
principle.
f Among- these must be mentioned Mr. Edw. Llwyd in his " Arch-
asologia," and Mr. Pavis in his "Celtic Researches," notwithstanding
the frequent allusions that appear in the latter work to the Cymry or
Cimbri as the original inhabitants of Europe.
J The elder Pliny, in particular, gives it this name, and quotes, out
of Philemon, a Cimbric word, which he calls SfOrimarusa, and considers
to be the: only word extant of that ancient tongue. Making due allow
ance for the Roman termination, Morimarusa is a Welsh word signifying
the Dead Sea, to which, indeed, Pliny applies it.
VOL. i, 3 k
370 THE CAMBUO-BRITON.
lects have, in the lapse of time, been exposed, the original ele
ments have, in some of them, been but faintfy preserved, while in
others they are almost entirely lost. It belongs, however, to a
more extended dissertation to examine the interesting particulars
connected with this inquiry,—the origin and progress ofthe several
languages under consideration, with the different revolutions they
have hitherto undergone. It will suffice for the present purpose
to know, that among the Western tongues of Europe the Welsh
is the only one, which can not be proved to have experienced
numerous innovations in its original structure *. If the reason of
this distinction in favour of the Welsh language be sought, it
may be found partly in the isolated situation, to which it has
been so long confined +, partly in the extraordinary cultivation
which it received under the Bardic institution, but, above all, in
that peculiar and innate energy of the language itself, which, by
confining it to its own resources, has secured it both from embel
lishment and corruption by any extraneous means J.
What has just been stated is capable of theoretical proof; but
it may also be ascertained, in a very material degree, from the
* This characteristic of the Welsh tongue will necessarily come under
discussion hereafter. With respect 1o the other languages of Europe,
they are all to he traced to their sources, as the members of particular
families. The Welsh stands alone ; and its fountain is bidden in the
venerable shade of antiquity. *"
f Mr. Edw. I.lwyd has on this point the following just observation.
" It must bo allowed, that the Celtic [Cimbric] has been best pre-
" served by such of its colonies, as, from the situation of their country,
" have been the least subject to foreign invasions, whence it proceeds,
" that we always find the ancient languages are best retained in moun-
' " tains and islands." Arch. Brit. p. 35. This remark is peculiarly ap
plicable to the language of Wales, which has not only been confined,
for numberless ages, to an island, but, for more than a thousand
years, to the most mountainous part of it.
X This remark must be taken to apply to the general character of the
language, and not to those verbal innovations, which were unavoidably
adopted, in the first place, from the Romans, to express the arts and
sciences, originally brought by them into this island, and, in the neit
place, upon the introduction of Christianity, when several terms of Di
vinity, before unknown, were necessarily incorporated in the language.
But all these are easily distinguishable as wanting the primitive charac
teristics of the genuine words. Several of these borrowed terms- are
enumerated in the Arch. Brit. p. 32. With respect to some other words,
that have an affinity with the Roman, they were undoubtedly, as Mr.
Llwyd property observes, brought here by the first inhabitants long be
fore the Romans became a separate people.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 371
literary remains of past ages. From these it is abundantly evi
dent, that the Welsh language is precisely the same in this day
as it was in the twelfth century : and, if an intercourse of six
hundred years with the English has produced no change, it
may safely be concluded, that the preceding period, before such
intercourse happened, was still less likely to have such an effect.
And, indeed, from all the testimony, that remains to us, there is
no reason to doubt, that the modern Welsh tongue is in every
essential point the same as that in use in this country on its first
invasion by Caesar. The arguments, that may be employed in
support of this assumption are, in the highest degree, satisfac
tory ; but a better opportunity must be selected for their examin
ation *. In the mean time it will sufficiently answer the purposes
of this inquiry, if it should appear, from what is here adduced,
that of all the languages, derived from the Cimbric, the Welsh
retains, most purely, the character of its original. Its primitive
and independent qualities,—its elementary peculiarities,—its uni
form structure, and, particularly, the close affinity of the name,
by which it is known, with the Cimbric f, bear ample testimony
to the fact. And, indeed, so strong is the presumption in favour
of the language in this particular, that it would be hardly too
much to assert its actual identity with the ancient Cimbric in all
its important characteristics.
Enough, it is hoped, has now been said to point out the advan
tages to be derived in etymological inquiries from a competent
knowlege of the Welsh tongue. This, it is true, has already been
done by some authors of eminence, and particularly by Mr.
Llwyd in his celebrated Archceologiq Britannica ; but no writer
on the subject has fully investigated that remarkable faculty,
which pervades this language, of resolving all its words into their
elementary parts %. The phenomena, resulting from this prin-
* This will necessarily occur in the coarse of the Dissertation on the
Welsh Language already commenced in the Cambho-Briton.
.l- This name is Cymraeg, or the speech of the Cymry, the definition of
which latter word will be found in the sequel,
J An exception ought, perhaps, to be made in favour of Mr. Owen
Pughe's Dictionary, so often mentioned with approbation in the course
of this work, and in which the etymons of all the Welsh words are sup
plied with the usual accuracy of its author. But, as this is not, in
strictness, an etymological w ork, a liberal investigation of the subject is
still a desideratum. Had M. De Gebelin been versed in the Welsh
tongne, he would, most probably, have done what is now wanted in his.
admirable treatise on the " Origin and Progress of Language."
8T2 . THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ciple, are truly extraordinary, since there is not a genuine Welsh
term, which may not thereby be defined with the nicest precision.
And, if it should be shewn, that many foreign words, inexplicable
in their own languages, may likewise be elucidated by a reference
to the component elements of the Welsh, it would go far to
establish the primitive character, which has already been claimed
for it. Now this is a fact, which may be satisfactorily illustrat
ed, and, no doubt, with some pains, to a very considerable ex
tent. A few examples will here be given, which will serve at the
same time to expose the fallacy, already noticed, of terminating
our etymological researches in the Latin or Greek, when even the
elements of those languages may be traced to one of still higher
antiquity.
Of all words the most ancient were, no doubt, the names of
countries, mountains, rivers, the sun, moon, sky, and all those
external objects of nature, the ideas of which must necessarily
have taken precedenoe, in the human mind, of its more ab
stract conceptions. Now it is certain, that there are many such
names, which are without a meaning in the languages, in which
they are used, and must therefore be considered either as wholly
insignificant or as having reference to some more ancient tongue
in which they originated. Yet it cannot be rationally presumed,
that names were at first adopted merely at random. Even the
most arbitrary were selected from some accidental circumstance
connected with the object they were employed to denote *. The
natural inference, therefore, is, that, where a word is indefinable
in the language, in which it is used, we must conclude it to have
been originally borrowed from some other. Numerous instances
will readily occur of terms thus employed in English, which are
to be traced to the French, German, and other continental
tongues, and in which alone their roots are to be found. If this
be true of words comparatively of modern origin, how much
stronger must be the position when it relates to the ancient names
of countries and of such natural objects, as must have received
their distinctive appellations in a primitive state of society. And
many of these, it may be proved, as we find them in the Latin
and Greek tongues, and which are without any rational meaning
in those languages, are still to be explained in Welsh on the prin
ciple already adverted to. A few instances will now be selected ;
* It would be easy to enumerate many words in English of this de
scription : such arc the popular terms Whig aud Tory, with many
modern denominations appropriated to recent discoveries.
THE CAMBRO-BRITQN. 373
but a satisfactory elucidation of the subject must be reserved for
another occasion.
Cimbri :—from Cj/n, first or primitive, and Bro a people,
adopted either on account of their priority of descent from the
Noachidae, or of their being the first race, that colonized Europe.
The Greek name Kii/^ujioj, as well as the Welsh one Cymry, or
Cymmry, have evidently the same derivation : the bro, in both in
stances, being converted into mro upon a principle of mutation, no
doubt, anciently common, and still retained in the Welsh language.
The Cimbri are also called by different authors Gomari, Gomeraei,
and Gomarit«, by the same rule, that Cymry is occasionally writ
ten Gymry according to the influence of the preceding word :
and hence some writers have erroneously imagined the Cimbri
or Cymry to be so called from Gomer *.
Celt* :—from Cel, a shelter or place of concealment, origi
nating in the circumstance of the Celts living in woods and eo-
verts, and of which both Caesar and Tacitus speak in allusion to
some of the ancient inhabitants of this island -\. Hence Ceiltwys
and Ceiltiaid imply in Welsh the people of the coverts. This
explanation is at once simple and rational : and it is somewhat
surprising, that it escaped the notice of the learned and inge
nious author ofthe " Celtic Researches," who, after attempting a
Hebrew etymology, conceives the word to be derived from Cilet,
signifying, he says, " extreme corners or retreats, and also north
ern regions," whence he concludes Celtae to mean " men of the
extremity j."
* Among others, that have fallen into this error, is Mr. Davies, in his
" Celtic Researches," p. 124, where he considers the " Cymry or Cim-
merii to be nothing more than Gomerii." But, although C becomes G by a
natural mutation, the last mentioned letter is never changed into the former.
Mr. Rdward Williams, in his " Lyric Poems," vol. it, p. 7, very properly
calls this " a wild conjecture and groundless etymology," as is that also,
which derives the word from Camber, one of the fabulous heroes of Geoffrey
of Monmouth. But English etymologists are still wider from the mark. One
lellsus, that the Cimbri were so called from theirwarlike habits, and another
th tthe word is derived from " kym, one of the most ancient Celtic words,
signifying a mountain." See " Lemon's English Etymology," under the
word " Kymbrq-Britons." The etymology, above offered, has already been
partially noticed in the Cambro-Bkiton, No. 2, p. 44, in the Note.
f See Cambho-Briton, No. 2, p. 48.
J See Celt. Res. p. 124. Any one, desirous of seeing to what extrava
gance conjectures may be carried on such an occasion, may consult " Le
mon's English Etymology," under the word " Celt," where a varisty of
wild etymologies are collected, which a proper knowlege of the Welsh
tongue would, most probably, have excluded.
374 THE CAMBRO.BRITOX.
Scythe :—from Cythu, to expel or disperse, with the prefix
Ys, so common in the Welsh language. The elision of the Y,
usual in numerous instances, would form the words Sgythi, Sgy-
thiuid, or Sgythwys, all implying the " expelled or dispersed
people," a designation particularly applicable to the Scythians,
who, as we learn from ancient writers, were actually dispersed
over various countries in the earliest ages *. Tribes of this name
existed in Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, and the northern extremi
ties of Europe : and in some places they were also called Cuthites,
a word approaching still nearer to the presumed etymon.
Ecypt.—The name of this celebrated country, called by the
Greeks Aiyvvh;, and by the Romans .rEgyptus, has been adopt
ed from them with little variation in all modern languages. The
Welsh, however, have always given it an appellation of their
own, which is remarkably expressive of the natural characteristics
of Egypt. This name is Aiff't, and appears to be formed from
aiv the aggregate plural ofat) a flow or stream, which must be al
lowed to be particularly appropriate. And it tends to confirm the
primitiveness of this term, that Ait, as we learn from Bryant t>
was an ancient name of Egypt. The Greek word, from which the
Latin is evidently borrowed, may therefore be derived from the
Welsh roots Aig and Aiff't, which imply, conjunctively, a region
of prolific floods J.
Cjelum.—The etymology of this word has hitherto been sup
posed to be KoiAov, the Greek term for hollow. But may it not
have had its origin in the Welsh Celu, to conceal, of which Cel,
already noticed, is the root? This would apply very aptly to
Caelum or Heaven : and it is somewhat singular, that one of the
old Welsh terms for the Deity is CM or the Mysterious One,
which has the same derivation. The original meaning of Caelum
would, according to this explanation, be the place of mysterious
concealment : and what could be more appropriate ? §
* **
* Several interesting observations on this subject, by Mr. Owen Pughe,
may be seen in the first volume of the Cambrian Register, p. 12 el stq.
f " Analysis of Ancient Mythology," vol. i. p. 426.
X The common etymology, given of this name in the Dictionaries, is the
Greek word a<9u> to burn, " because," as we are told, " the natives are ge
nerally sun-burnt."
§ It may be here remarked, that a great deal might be done in etymology
by giving the letter C its proper and original sound, and which it retains in
Welsh. Thus Cerium would be Ktrlum, and not&e/um, as now pronounced,
and would be brought still nearer to the Welsh etymon, which would, on the
same priuciplt, be yet more conspicuous in the French del ani the Italian
Cielo,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 375
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
THE LATE REV. DAVID ROWLAND.
[ Continued from the last Number. ]
In performing the duties of his mission, the labours of Mr.
Rowland seem to have been incessant, frequently preaching four
times, and occasionally six times a week : he also read prayers
at the Hospital twice a week, and some part of his time was oc
cupied weekly in superintending the Regimental School. The
success, which he met with, was accordingly not a little gratifying,
and encouraged him to proceed ; at one time he preached a cha
rity sermon for the benefit of the School of Industry, and 47/.
were collected in the church ; and at another, he preached with
such effect that a deputation from the inhabitants requested him
to deliver the same sermon on the following Sunday. Nor was
his popularity confined to the higher order of his parishioners ;
for, agreeably with the custom of the Roman Catholics in the
island to haul fire-wood, on a day appointed, for the use of their
priests, sufficient to last for the year, an example never before
imitated by the Protestants, a day was fixed on to haul fuel for
him in the year of his departure, when his rations were disconti
nued, and the emulation to serve him exceeded every thing of the
kind known at St. John's. ,
Anxious to promote the objects of his mission in every respect,
he took an active part in establishing a District Committee in
connection with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowlege
in London, to co-operate therewith in the attainment of its im
portant objects; which Committee was formed Oct. 16, 1814,
when Sir Richard Goodwin Keats, who had succeeded Sir John
Duckworth in being Governor of the island, was requested to
become Patron, and Mr. Rowland, on account of his zeal and
exertions on the occasion, was requested to accept the office of
President.
But, although assiduous in promoting the spiritual welfare and
improvement of all around him, so admirable was the dispo
sition of his time, that he contrived to add considerably to his
own mental acquirements, which his interrupted education pre
vented him from attaining at an earlier period. Writing to a
friend, he says, " With respect to my studies, besides my weekly
preparations, which take up much of my time, every Sunday
37« THE CAMBRO-BRfTOX.
evening I read Ecclesiastical History ; every Monday is devoted
to the study of a chapter of Van der Hooght's Hebrew Bible,
which I endeavour to analyse grammatically with the help of
Robertson's Clavis Pcnlateuchi and two Lexicons ; that chapter
I read once every day in the week till it becomes perfectly fami
liar to me. This, you will say, is slow work, but I presume it
is sure ; it is next to impossible not to learn something by such a
course of study. I have also read a great many books, some on
chemistry, and other sciences. In composing Sermons, of which
I have written a great many of all descriptions, I have of late
turned my attention mostly to the best models of composition, in
order to acquire, if possible, a tolerable style ; Porteus, Atter-
bury, Hunter, Blair, Logan, Gisborne, Robinson, and Scott,
are my favourite authors ; Usher, Tillotson, Barrow, &c. supply
an ample store of matter. I have attained so much of the French
language as to read an easy French author, and pronounce it
intelligibly, and anticipate the pleasure of reading the works of
Bourdaloue, Massillon, and Bossuet." In addition to these attain
ments, he also acquired some knowlege of the Italian language,
and continued likewise to pay attention to classical literature.
In the year 1813 he undertook to educate a young gentleman, a
native of St. John's, and prepare him for his entrance at college,
who, having been four years under his care, when he was matri
culated, and obtained a scholarship at King's College, Windsor,
Nova Scotia, was examined in the Greek Testament, and in the
works of Virgil, Horace, and Homer, and passed what was stated
to be " an excellent examination."
During the time Mr. Rowland was at St. John's, his health ex
perienced several interruptions. In December, 1812, he writes,
" I am just recovered from a short illness, which confined me for
twelve days ; the climate must be trying to an European constitu
tion, yet I have no reason to complain, but, on the contrary, to
be very thankful." The rigour of the- climate, and his very
great exertions, were, however, at length too much for him, and
considerably affected his health, and to such a degree, that he was•
occasionally so severely afflicted with rheumatism as to be de
prived of the use of his hands. Finding, that his continuance at
the place was likely to be attended with serious consequences, if
not with a total inability to perform the duties of his station, he
was induced, in January 1816, to offer his resignation to the So
ciety from whom he had received the appointment ; who not only
iu the most handsome manner acceded to his wishes in permitting.
THE tIAMBRO-BRITON. 377
him to revisit his native land, but expressed their approbation of
his services in the most flattering terms ; and, after his return,
presented him with a gratuity of 50/. Sir R. G. Keats, the Go
vernor, also testified his approbation of his conduct in the most
handsome manner.
Having purposed to travel over some part of the Continent in
his way to England, he took advantage of the opportunity of
reaching Europe by a ship bound to Oporto. When nearly ar
rived at this place, he had the misfortune of having a very bad
fall on ship-board, which dislocated his shoulder, and caused him
to feel very acute pain ; from the effects of which accident he con
sidered himself never to have thoroughly recovered. Having
travelled so much of Portugal, Spain, and France, as he thought
proper, he arrived in England in the latter end of 1817.
In the commencement of the following year, he waited on the
Bishop of. St. David's, who, as before mentioned, had recom
mended him to the notice of the Society, and lately, previously
to his recrossing the Atlantic, had been so kind as to promise
him his patronage after his arrival in this country. And, the cu
racy of the populous and respectable town of Carmarthen being
vacant, the Bishop gladly availed himself of one so competent
being disengaged, and immediately placed him in the situation.
Previously to his undertaking the care of the parish, he spent
some days at Kerry Vicarage, Montgomeryshire, with the worthy
incumbent the Rev. J. Jenkins, who had invited the Rev. Walter
Daries, Rector of Manafon, and other friends, to meet him. When
assembled, the company employed a portion of their time in writ
ing Welsh verses on the subject of their meeting, and Mr. Row
land contributed his share on the occasion. Being however after
wards doubtful of the correctness of his composition, he intimates -
his wishes in a letter from Carmarthen to his friend Mr. Jenkins,
dated April 18, 1818, that a plan would be formed to induce
some Bard to settle in South Wales to instruct young men in
Welsh Prosody; " Bardism," he says, " might be revived in
South Wales by thai means, and a new era formed ;" and in a
postscript of the same letter, he writes—" As you are the Ifor
Hael of the present day, will you revolve in your mind my pro
posal for the revival of Bardism, and your name shall be immor
talized." On a subsequent intimation of the matter to the Bishop
by Mr. Rowland, his Lordship, ever alive to the interests of the
Principality, paid great attention to what he Said on the subject,
and, afterwards deliberating thereon in his capacious and discern-
voi. t. 3 c
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ing mind, improved very much on the original idea, and suggested
the revival ofthe ancient Welsh Eisteddfods, and the forming of
a Society, whose objects should not only embrace Mr. Rowland"*
wishes, but also other subjects connected with Welsh Literature
and Antiquities. Some communications took place in conse
quence between Mr. Rowland, Mr. Jenkins, and the Rev. Walter
Davies, and a meeting of friends to the project was held at
Kerry in the month of August following, when the Bishop was
present; and it was finally determined, that a public meeting
should be convened at Carmarthen on the ensuing 20th of Octo
ber, for forming a society for obtaining the objects in view, and
measures were immediately taken to arrange the subjects to be sub
mitted to its consideration. This meeting was accordingly held , and
most respectably attended, the proposed society funned, and Mr.
Rowland elected Secretary, as is already known to the public.
These particulars are the more minutely stated, as they contain
the primary ideas suggested, and the first steps taken, towards
forming the Cambrian Society.
R.
[To be concluded in ike next Numher."]
TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
PARISH OF LLAN-S1LIN, IN THE COUNTY OF
DENBIGH.
[Continued from the lad Xumber."]
§ 8. Ancient Hoi-ses—Men of Note, &c.—" In the porch
of the Church of Whitchurch, near Denbigh (says Mr. Pennant),
is a brass plate, on which are engraven, kneeling, Richard Mid?
dleton, Governor of Denbigh Castle, and Jane his wife, daugh
ter of Hugh Dryburst of Denbigh. She died Dec. 3, 1565,
aged 40; he, Feb. 8, 1575, aged 67. Behind him are nine sons,
behind her seven daughters, all kneeling." Rhys Cain, in an
Elegy on the Governor and his Lady, mentions the number of
their offspring :—
Mac cedyrn am eu codi,
Ac o ryw hon, a'i gwr hi ;
Naw mab rhoed,ym mhob rhediad,
A saith loer—urddas wyth wlad.
T7TE OAMBRO-BRITON. 379
The third son in this numerous progeny was the celebrated
Captain William Middleton, the Gwilym Ganoldrev of Welsh
literature and prosody.
The fourth son was Sir Thomas Middleton, Lord Mayor of
London, and the purchaser of the Chirk Castle estate from a Lord
St. John of Bletso.'
The sixth in my M.S. (the fifth according to Mr. Pennant and
Mr. Yorke) was Sir Hugh, the great miner and engineer; whoj
though dying poor himself, enriched thousands, by bringing the
New River to London.
Foulk Middleton of Plas Newydd was succeeded by his son
Richard, who was followed by two more in succession of the same!
name. Hugh Morus, the bard of Ceiriog, whom Mr. Lewis
Morris stiles the " Comet of the 17th century," was a welcome
and frequent visitor with the Middletons of Plas Newydd. An
Ode to Richard Middleton, an Elegy on the death of his wife,
Barbara Wynn of Melai, and a beautiful New Year's Calenda-
rium, to Miss Ann Middleton, are among his manifold and ex
cellent productions. This branch of the Middletons ended in an
heiress, the sister of the last Richard, who married Thomas Me-
redi, Esq. of Pentre' Bychan, near Wrexham ; from whom this
ancient property was transferred to the Myddeltons of Chirk
Castle, where it continued until the late unfortunate division in
the family, when Moeliwrch and Plas Newydd came into the
possession of the present hospitable inhabitants.
Two of the Middletons of Plas Newydd were Sheriffs for the
county of Denbigh—Foulk Middleton in 1619, and Richard
Middleton in 1650. Huw Morus, in one of his poems, says, that
the latter had suffered much in the service of his Sovereign * ;—•
therefore his sheriffalty must be considered as an acknowlegement
of his services from the then ruling power—the Parliament.
Thomas ab Llywelyn, the younger son of Moeliwrch, on the
division of the estate, as before related, settled upon the portion
awarded to him in Llys Dynwallawn. The third in lineal descent
from him was William Maurice of Cefn y Braich, an able anti-i
quary, and the industrious collector of the library of manuscripts
now at Wynnstay. He was descended, maternally, from Lowri,
* " t chwi Risiart wych rasntfl,
Miltwn, daw miliwn a mawl ;
F.naid y Miityniaid da,
A'u cu flaenor cyflawna;
Da oedd ffydd, er diodde' ffin.
Gwaed eich brou gyda 'ch brenin."
380 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
sister of Owain Glyndwr ; and, what is singularly coincident, he
married Laetitia, a descendant of Glyndwr's successful opponent,
Henry Bolinbroke. She was a Kynaston of Morton, descended
from the Greys of Powys, and the Greys from Antigony, daugh
ter of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, fourth son of Henry IV.
" Mae 'r achau gorau 'n grych—drwy 'gilydd
Iw gweled yn fynych ;
O adrodd a hir edrych,
Y gwael sydd deiryd i'r gwych."
Mr. William Maurice was so devoted to Welsh literature that
he erected, close to his house at Cefn y Braich, a lofty pile of
three stories high, for his library ; where he immured himself the
greater part of his time. It was called the " Study," but is now
in ruins.- From what I recollect of it, and of a print in an old
Oxford Almanack of" Friar Bacon's Study" in that University,
I judge the one to have been a fac simile of the other.
This assiduous antiquary died from about 1680 to 1690. His
daughter and heiress, Leetitia, married David Williams of Glan
Alaw, in the isle of Anglesey, Esq. Their grand-daughter mar
ried one of the Meyricks of Bodorgan, who sold both estates. That
inLlan-Silin is now the joint property of Mrs. Edwards and Mr.
Poole.
I am aware, that I have been rather tedious, and perhaps tire
some to my readers, in giving this historical sketch of the family
of Ieuan Vychan of Moeliwrcb, a family so little known in the an
nals of war and turbulent politics ; but, like the heroes of the
Iliad, their deeds are perpetuated only in verse: and I cannot
deny myself the pleasure of wishing, that I could have been pre
sent when Hywel or Llywelyn presided at a Bardic Congress in
the hall of Moeliwrch. One of the Bards *, in his poem, com
pares Hywel and his gifted associates with the far-famed Arthur
and his Knights, encircling the festive round table on the banks
of the river Usk. As the present worthy Vicar of Silin f has
access to most of the Moeliwrch poems, written in the 15th and
16th centuries, he would discharge a debt, due to the memory of
the worthies who were the subjects of them, were he to publish
the collection, illustrated with his notes, critical and historical.
I now proceed to other descendants of Ieuan Vychan, of Moel
iwrch. His son Gruffydd married the heiress of Aber Tanat.
* leu. Gruff. Llywelyn.
f The Rev. David Richards.—Ed,
THE CAMBRO^BRITON.
For three generations his descendants assumed the surname of
Llwyd *. The son of tire last Llwyd, Thomas, took the name of
Tanat, from the river flowing close below his house. From the
' Tanats the estate passed, by marriage, to the Godolphins, a
Cornish family ; and from them, by the will of Lord Godolphin,
to the noble family of Osborne.
A collateral branch of the Tonats settled at Blodvoel ; an
heiress married a Mathews of Court ; and the heiress of the Ma
thews a Bridgeman, ancestor of Lord Bradford, the present
owner. The Tanats of Trewylan and Broxton were of the same
stock. The family of Llan Gedwyn, whose last heiress, Cathe
rine, married Owain Vychan of Llwydiarth, the Powells of
Whittington, and the Mauriees of Trev Edryd were of the same
branch.
Other scions of the Moeliwrch stock took root at Llwyth Ter in
Llan Armon, and at Pant Glas Isav in the adjoining parish of
Llan Gadwaladr. Elizabeth, the daughter and heiress of Morus
Lewis of Pant Glas Isav, married Morus Jones of D61 in Edeyr-
nion, and were the ancestors of the Joneses afterwards of Rhagat
• and Cevn Coch irr the vale of Clwyd. The family of
Jones, Esq. of Bryn Eisteddvodd, near Conway, by his first mar
riage, are descendants of this branch. From a brother of Morns
Lewis, of Pant Glas, descended the Hugheses of Cevn Llyvnog,
now represented by Mrs. Pryse of Llan St. Ffraid, in Montgo
meryshire. Mary, daughter of another brother of Morus Lewis,
married E. Richards of Pentre' Heilyn Ucha'.
2. Morus, son of Ieuan Gethin :—His son Hywel married the
heiress of Glas-Goed, the fourth in descent from Einion Gethin o
Gynllaith, and he the fifth from Rhiwallon, brother of Bleddyn
ab Cynvyn, who fell in the battle of Mechain, in the year 1060.
John, the great grandson of Hywel, took the surname of Kyffin,
from his ancestor Madog Kyffin. His grandson, John Kyffln,
sold Glas-Goed to his father's brother, Gruffydd Kyffin, the father
of Watkin Kyffin, Esq., whose daughter Margaret married Sir
William Williams, Speaker of the House of Commons in the two
last Parliaments of Charles II., father of Sir William Williams,
( Bart, of Glan Vordav, the great grandfather of the present Ba-
* Af ddyw Svk, foddus aelwyi],
Af ddydd Llan at Ddafydd Llwyd ;
Af ddyw-Mawrth, fi odd'yma,
Af beunyd at Ddafydd dda.
GutO v Glyn.
3S2 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ronet. Sir W. \V. Wynn of Wynnstay. The first Sir William
served in Parliament for the City of Chester, and the Borough of
Beaumaris, successively *. He died in London on the 10th of
July 1700, aged 66, and was buried in the chancel of Llan-Silin,
where a noble monument has been erected to his memory, with a
Latin inscription, copied at length in the Appendix to Mr. Yorke's
Royal Tribes, No. XX. p. 175.
The bardic monuments, more durable than those either of
marble or bronze t, erected to the memory of individuals of this
family, are Verses addressed to Sir William, the Speaker, on
his abilities and success in his several legal avocaions, by Huw
Morns, and an Elegy on the death of his lady, the heiress of
Glas-Goed,in the year 1705, by Elis Roland.
*****
Duw cu !—ni flodeua coed
Na glwysgerdd yn y Glasgoed 1
Och ry gaeth ! yn iach roi gwln,
Llun na Sul yn Llan-Silin.
*****
Some MSS. inform us, that the stock of this branch, Morus ab
leuan Gethin, resided " in a stately mansion at Garth Eryr, in
Mochnant. His son William succeeded him at Garth Eryr; and,
owing to some act or intrigue of his in the cause of his country, it
is said that the Arglwi/ddi Gleision were sent by the King, with a
commission to arrest hiiu upon a plea of treason ; and, when they
failed of laying hands upon him, they set fire to his mansion,
which was never rebuilt."—Old MS.
Other descendants from Morus ab leuan Gethin are the Kyffins
of Maenan, and St. Martins ; and the Lloyds of Aston and
Maesbre.
The Lloyds of Bodlith have been already noticed as united to
the Wynns of Moeliwrch.
The Lloyds of Moelvre are still in possession of their ancient
inheritance.
The Lloyds of Lloran isa', in this parish, were also descended
from Morus. From the Lloyds the estate passed to the Griffiths.
The last heiress of that name married Powell, Esq. of Gun-
grog, near Welshpool, who left two daughters, co-heiresses; the
* Mr. Yorke (Royal Tri'jes, p. 114) adds, that he also represented the
County of Caernarvon ; but I have it from good authority that the Member
for Caernarvonshire at that time was another of the same name.
.f ——— monumenium aere perennius.—Hon.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 383
youngest married Robert Lloyd, Esq. of Oswestry, and left no
issue ; and the latter married Jenkin Parry, Esq. of Main, near
Meivod, whose daughter, Mrs. Margaret Parry of Glan yr Avon,
near Oswestry, is, out of a numerous family, the only surviving
representative of the house of Lloran isa'.
The Lloyds of Talwrn, in Llan-Silin, were descendants of Mo-
rus. Talwrn is now the property of T. Longueville Jones, Esq.
of Oswestry.
Lloran Ganol estate, in this parish, was the property of John,
son of Morus Goch o Gynllaith. Ieuan his son, upon some of
fence given by him to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to whom
Queen Elizabeth had granted the Lordships of Denbigh, Chirk,
*nd Cynllaith*, had his estate taken from him, and granted
*' by charter" to John Chaliner, senior. Thomas Chaliner wa*
in possession thereof in the reign of Charles II. as there is one
of Huw Morus's poems addressed to him.
Sir Robert Cotton, in his speech before the Lords of the Trea
sury, in the year 1695, when the Lordships of Denbigh, Brom-
field, and Yale, were about to be made over by a grant from
King William to the Earl of Rutland, said, that " when the Earl
of Leicester had a grant of the Lordship of Denbigh, &c. he was
so oppressive to the gentry of the country, that he occasioned
them to take up arms, and to oppose him ; for which three or four
of Lady Cotton's relations, the Salisburys, were hanged." If so,
Ieuan of Lloran Ganol might have considered himself fortunate in
escaping with only the confiscation of his landed property. The
estate now belongs to Mrs. Davies, relict of the late Thomas Da-
vies, Esq. of Oswestry.
3. From Iolyn, son of Ieuan Gethin, are desended the Kyffins
of Bodvach. Davydd, the third in descent from Iolyn, married
the heiress of Bodvach, the seventh in descent from Celynin of
Llwydiarth, and he the sixth from Aleth vrenin Dyfed. The
heiress of the Kyffins married Adam Pryce, Esq. of Glan Miheli,
a branch of the Pryces of New Town, and of the Royal Tribe cf
Elystan Glodrydd. The heiress of the Pryces of Bodvach and
Glan Miheli was the mother of the present Sir Edward Pryce
Lloyd, Bart, of Pengwern.
The Williamses of Maes Mochnant are also descended from
Iolyn.
4. The youngest son of Ieuan Gethin was Gruffydd, who inhe-
* Dr. Powell's History of Wales, 1st Edit. p. 214.
384 - THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
rited the paternal mansion, and was the ancestor of the Mau
rices of Lloran Ucha' and Glan Gynllaith, both in this parish. By
a monument in the northern aisle of the church, to the memory of
David Maurice, Esq. of the latter house, we are informed that
Glan Cynllaith or Pen y Bont was the seat or share of the third
branch of the ancient house of Lloran Ucha, upon a division of
that estate amongst eight sons, about the vear 1560; being the
sixth division of the Lloran Ucha estate amongst sons from the
year 1200 to the year 1560. David Maurice died in 1719. The
Lloran Ucha estate fell by heirship to his son Edward, who died
without issue in 1732. His mother, Elizabeth, second daughter
of Robert Villiers, Lord Viscount Purbeck, and Baron of Stoke
in the county of Bucks, erected the monument to the grateful
memory of her husband and son. The united estates of Lloran
and Pen y Bont, or Glan Cyhlaith, then became the property of
the heir at law to both, Price Maurice, Esq. the father of the
present proprietor, Edward Corbet of Ynys-y-maen-gwyn, Esq.
We have here an instance, or case in point, that the effects of
the custom of gavel-kind are not, in all cases, so destructive to
the entirety of estates as we may be led to imagine by a slight
reflection. To the effects, to be apprehended, from such fre
quent divisions among brothers, Providence seems to have prin
ciples ofcounteraction in store, in failure of issue in some branches,
and in the re-union of estates by marriages of heiresses of the
same gn-ehelyth, or stock. The Lloran estate, when united to
that of Glan Cynllaith, in the beginning of the last century, after
such frequent divisions from the 13th century downwards, was
very ample in the counties of Denbigh and Montgomery ; which
tends to militate against the supposition, that any thing like the
Spencean system of minute division of landed property can ever
become permanent.
In closing the account of the KyflBns of Glasgoed in this pa
rish, I ought to have particularly noticed an ornament to his
family and his country. Morus Kyffin was the second son of
Richard Kyffin, Esq.: John, his elder1>rother, sold Glasgoed, as
before related, to his uncle Gruffydd, father of Watkin Kyffin,
Esq. Thomas Kyflin, A. M. younger brother of Morus, was Vicar
of Welshpool in 1000, and of Abor-Rhiw (Berriw), the neigh
bouring parish, in 1608. He built the vicarage-house at the
latter place, as appears by the initials of his name, T. K., and the
year ( 1616) over the hall-door. He died in 1622. Morus Kyf-
fin, the patriot, and linguist, in his younger years, translated Te
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 385
rence's Andria into English, and, afterwards, Bishop Jewell's
Apologia Ecclesice Anglicance into Welsh. He dedicated the
work to his friend and kinsman, William Meredydd, and dated
the Preface London, Oct. 1595. Two approved Welsh critics
have lately given their opinion of his performance. In the Cam
brian Biography Mr. O. W. Pughe stiles Morus Kyffin " The
elegant Translator," &c. ; and I am informed, that Mr. Edward
Williams (lolo Morganwg), on being asked, at the Eisteddvod
held at Caermarthen in July 1819, " What Welsh publication he
considered as the standard of the language ?" answered without
hesitation, " Morus Kyffin's translation of Bishop Jewell's Apo
logy." This excellent man, as we learn from his excellent Pre
face, intended a translation of the Psalms into Welsh verse, for
the use of Churches. He has left us samples of his proficiency
in versification, in Epigrams upon the Castle of Crug-caeth in
Caernarvonshire, and Nant yr Yygolion, an Avernian chasm in
Cyveiliog. The following englyn, to welcome the cuckoo in
spring, may serve for a specimen :—
Croesaw Gog odidog dy adail—coed,
Croesaw ceidwad glasddail,
Croesaw pencerdd bron werdd-ddail,
Croesaw Duw—cares y dail.
Kyffin's " Apology" underwent a new edition, in Oxford, in
1671, under the care, and at the expense, of another zealous
friend t© the Principality, and another native of this parish, viz.
Charles Edwards, of the family of Rhyd y Croesau, related to
the Edwardses of Great Ness, and Garth Eryr, He wag a theo
logical writer of respectability. His principal work was Hanes
y Ffydd, or a History of Christianity, which passed through se
veral editions. In an Appendix to one of them he has collected
extracts from the works of the ancient Welsh Bards, to shew that
their tenets were orthodox ; and that the primitive British Church
was independent of that of Rome. In his comparisons between
Hebrew and Welsh phrases it does not appear that he has been
more successful than others, who, upon such occasions, have given
too loose reins to their fancy.
Huw Morus, the poet, as he is emphatically called, because he
excelled all others in the smooth and flowing awen of song writ
ing, was also a native of this parish. He was born at Pont y
Meibion, in the valley of Ceiriog, in the year 1622. He died in
1709, as appears from his tomb-stone in the church-yard ; having
TOX. I. 3D
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
lived in six reigns, exclusive of the period of the Commonwealth.
His songs, carols, and other pieces, some hundreds in number,
and many of them adapted to the times, have been recently col
lected; and, as I am informed, will be speedily published *. To
these I add Roger Kyffin (o Lwydd y Waun) : Tomas Prys of
Plas Iolyn, the Lucretius of his day, and himself a gentleman,
enumerates this Kyffin as one out forty-four1 in a catalogue of
bards of respectability, in the reign of Elizabeth, who wrote for
the sake of the pleasures of the awen, and not for hire, like the
itinerant rhymers f.
John Davies, author of a small tract, published in the year
1716, called " Heraldry Displayed," was a native of Rhiwlas
in this parish. His sister married Jacob Reynolds of Chirk; whose
son, John Reynolds, of Oswestry, having possession of his uncle
John Davies's collection of MSS. published a 4to. Book of Pedi
grees in 1739.
These two works, with Mr. Yorke's Royal Tribes of Wales,
and the " Genealogy of King James the 1st,"' are the only pub
lications we have of the kind.
To the foregoing authors, natives of this parish, who have long
age rested from their labours, I am informed by a friend that I
may add a late writer of celebrity, descended from Gruffydd, son
ofleuan Gethin, of Lloran Ucha, in this parish—the Rev. Thomas
Maurice, formerly ofUniversity College, Oxford, the indefatigable
learned author of " Indian Antiquities," in seven volumes, 8vo.,
the " Ancient and Modern History of India," in several volumes,
4to., with other other productions in verse and prose.
Of the same house and name was the very Rev. Andrew Mau
rice, Dean of St. Asaph. Anthony a Wood and Brown Willis
say, that he was " a gentleman's son of Denbighshire, of Oriel
College, afterwards Chaplain of All Soul's College, Oxford,
instituted Dean oi'St. Asaph, Aug. 28, 1634,—on the nomination
of Sir Maurice Abbott, Knt. executor of Archbishop Abbott,
who took this deanry as his option,—by Bishop John Owen; He
had several other church preferments, but was ejected out of all in
the great rebellion, and, dying in 1653, was buried privately in
the Cathedral Church of St. Asaph, as Bishop Owen had been
in 1651."—To this account I may add, that Dean Maurice was
* See Cam3ro- Briton, No. 6, p. 230. Ed.
f See this Catalogue of authors within the four counties of Anglesey,
Caernarvon, Denbigh and Meiiiony dd in ibzGreal, No. 3, p. 105.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 387
the third son of Morus ab Meredydd, of Lloran Ucha, in this jia-
rish, the eighth in lineal descent from leuan Gethin. The Dean
and his brothers were the first of the house that assumed Maurice
as a permanent family surname.
Idris.
- [To be continued.]
CRITICISM.
TheGoDODiN and the Odes of the Months, translated from the
Welsh, 12mo. pp. 113. 4s. 1820.
It has happened, very unfortunately for the literary fame of
Wales, that no popular translations, to any extent, have yet ap
peared of her ancient bardic remains. The Muse of Gray has,
indeed, communicated her wonted lustre to one or two specimens;
but what poetical merit these may have gained by this metamor
phosis has evidently been purchased at the expence offidelity. Yet,
as Gray's versions are known to have been founded in translations,
that were far from being perfectly accurate, his failure in this re
spect ought to be viewed with the most indulgent consideration.
Indeed his attempts are even entitled to our gratitude, as seeming
to prove what he would have achieved, had an acquaintance with
the original language enabled him to prosecute his enterprise with
a fairer chance of success. His genius was, in every way, adapt
ed to the interesting design, marked, as it was, by that energy of
thought and by those flashes of fancy, which are also characteristic
of the ancient strains of the Cymry. But Gray is no more : and,
indeed, were he now living, there is little probability, that he
would have survived the narrow prejudice of his countrymen with
respect to the Welsh language. And, without having done this,
however brilliant his genius, he must have wanted an essential
qualification as a translator of our ancient poetry.
This prejudice, entertained by the English with respect to our
national literature, has, no doubt, proved extremely unfavour
able to its interests : and it forms, at the same time, an unac
countable anomaly in the character of a people, by whom the
intellectual stores of other countries have, in general, been so
justly appreciated. With the exception of Wales, there is per
haps no nation, whose standard productions have not received
an English dress in most cases commensurate with their merit.
Even the ancient remains of the Erse, Icelandic, and Runic poe
388 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
try have been thus naturalized by writers of acknowleged cele
brity : and, whatever may be the fidelity of these translations,
they have avowedly served to augment the reputation of the ori
ginal works. Who will not admit, that Macpherson's Ossian,
with all its aberrations from its professed prototype, with all its
spurious embellishments, has conferred upon the Highland Muse
a fame, which she must have sought in vain, while secluded to
her native mountains and glens ? Europe would never have list
ened with rapture, as she does, to the strains of the Bard of
Cona, if his harp had not been restrung by the hands of an Eng
lish minstrel *.
But, while we condemn the prejudices of the English, we must
not forget the culpable apathy, that has distinguished our coun
trymen in the same respect. The plea of ignorance, which may
have some weight in the former instance, ought to be of no avail
in the latter. For, while encomiums of the works of Taliesin,
Aneurin, and Merddin have been bandied about for the last two
centuries from one writer to another, no one has yet possessed a
sufficient union of patriotism and talent to extend their fame, by
adequate metrical versions, beyond the mountains of Wales. A
few attempts in prose f have, indeed, been made to convince the
world, that all this boast was something more than a mere rho-
domontade : yet these have proved, hitherto, insufficient to dispel
the doubts of strangers, which have, in many instances, termi
nated in actual disbelief. And, had it not been for the able
advocation of an English writer, the very existence of our
ancient bards might, ere this, have been generally disputed J.
* No subject has excited more conflicting opinions than the poems
ascribed to Ossian ; one party resolutely contending for their unqualified
genuineness, and the other as boldly denouncing them as mere forgeries.
The truth, as in most cases, may be found between these two extremes, as
it is probable that the popular work of Macpherson bad iU origin in some
genuine effusions of no great importance, to which he has contrived to give
the appearance of regular poems ; and the ingenuity with which he has
done this will be generally admitted.
.f Among our prose Translations the Poems of Llywarcb Hen by Mr.
Owen Pughe must claim the first place. In their fidelity to the originals
they have no rivals;
% Mr. Sharon Turner is the writer here alluded to ; and whose " Vin
dication" of our ancient bards was noticed in a former Number. Mr.
Turner forms a truly honourable exception to the general indifference of his
countrymen in this particular, and merits the gratitude of the nation, whes*
uncient literature be has so successfully defended.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 389
Of all the ancient Welsh poems, that have thus been extolled,
none has received a greater share of praise than the Gododin of
Aneurin. Yet, with all this, the real merits of this celebrated
production seem to have been greatly misunderstood : and many,
who have echoed the encomiums of others, have evidently taken
no pains to be convinced of their justice. In a word, of all the
poetical remains of the sixth century none has been more lauded
and less studied than this.
The Gododin must not be appreciated by the same standard,
that has established the fame of the classical effusions of Greece
and Rome : it must not be placed by the side of the celebrated
master-pieces of the Maeonian and Mantuan Bards. It was the
offspring of an age, which, in comparison with those that gave
birth to the Iliad and iEneid, can not but be deemed barbarous ;
and we must therefore expect to find it marked by the wildness
and irregularity characteristic of such a period. Whatever then
the Gododin may have been originally—for it has clearly de
scended to us in a mutilated state—it presents now merely a
series of elegiac and encomiastic strains on the warriors, who fell
in a certain battle, in which the poet was also engaged, and
these distinguished more by the strength of their feeling, and by
the glowing energy .of their expression, than by any studied
arrangement or artificial embellishment *. The Gododin is, in
short, the poetical record of a train of calamities, which the bard
may be presumed to have witnessed, and under the influence of
which he may even be said to have written. The vivid freshness
of his colouring, and the unaffected pathos, with which he has
lamented the fall of his friends, confirm this opinion, at the
same time that they communicate to the poem those purest of
all charms, the charms of truth and of nature.
The subject of the Gododin is the battle of Cattraeth, fought
between the Cumbrian Britons, on the one side, and the Saxons
and Picts on the other, and which, it appears, terminated in the
complete defeat of the Britons, owing to the disgraceful state of
inebriety in which they entered the field. To this circumstance,
as Mr. Turner very justly observes, the poet recurs through the
whole poem as the grand cause of their disasters. Upon this
* It was somewhat rashly observed in the account of Aneurin in the third
Number, that an " epic character" might be traced in the (Sadodin.
According to the critical meaning of the word *' epic" this was certainly
wrong : the poem is lather lyric than epic. It is never too late to retract
an erroneous opinion.
MO THE CAMBRO-BRITOtf.
simple basis, too, he has reared his whole superstructure : and it
can not fail to be remarked, that a subject, so reproachful, on
every account, to the Britons, is the very last that would have
been selected for the purposes of imposture. The genuineness
of the Gododin, as a work of the sixth century, may, accord
ingly, be left with security to rest on this ground alone.
Evan, therefore, as the production of an age so remote, and
of one, which, in the general history of Europe, forms a period
of darkness and anarchy, the Gododin possesses many claims on
our attention : and when to this is added the consideration of its
poetical merits, which are, in many respects, of the highest
order, it becomes a matter of surprise, that no popular metrical
version has yet appeared. However, the world is now in pos
session of two English translations in prose, that, of which the
title is prefixed to this article, and one by Mr. Davies, published
some years ago in his " Mythology and Rites of the Druids*."
And, certainly, if strangers are to form their judgment of Aneu-
rin's poem from a comparison of these two productions, it will
be no easy matter for them to arrive at any rational conclusion.
The translators, although professing to run over the same
ground, part company even at the starting post ; bat it is due to
the gentleman, who has just taken the field, to mention, that he
pursues the track, along which popular opinion has travelled be
fore him. Mr. Davies has struck into a new course, and in which
he will at least have the advantage of being without any fol
lowers to molest his career.
As the version by the last-mentioned writer may not be gene
rally known, and as the present translator seems to have been
even ignorant of its existence, a few observations respecting it
can not be out of place here. Mr. Davies, in his very learned,
and in many respects valuable, treatise on the " Mythology
and Rites of the Druids," necessarily institutes an inquiry con
cerning their temples : and, consequently, the celebrated re
mains, known by the name of Stonehenge, occupy a consider
able portion of his attention. This ancient structure he fixes
upon, and perhaps properly, as the scene of that disgraceful
massacre of the Britons by Hengist, which the Triads record
under the name of the " Plot of the Long Knives f." Now, this
* Page 330 el teq. Mr. Turner has also, in his '< Vindication," trans
lated a few detached passages, and in general with considerable success,
f Soe this Triad translated in No. 5 of the Cambro-Briton, p. 171.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. , 391
very massacre Mr. Davies pronounces to be the subject of the
Gododin; and it may be admitted, that he urges many specious
arguments in defence of his hypothesis, of which he candidly
observes, that he " must either establish it or expect some severe
chastisement from the modern critics of his country*." How
ever, specious as Mr. Davies's arguments are, their fallacy is
to be proved, not only by historical evidence, but by that of the
poem itself. One fact only needs to be mentioned as apparently
decisive of the question : and this is, that the Plot of the Long
Knives took place about the year 472, and Aneurin is generally
allowed to have died at the close of the sixth century, which
renders it almost impossible, that he should have been present at
the massacre, as he expressly states that he was at the battle,
which is commonly presumed to be the subject of the Gododin.
Were it not for the want of reom some of the perversions of
the original, to which Mr. Davies has been obliged to resort in
support of his position, would here be particularized. But there
may be occasion hereafter to recur to the subject. At present it
will satisfy the readers of the Gododin to know, that Mr. Davies
explains the name of the poem to imply an uncovered temple, and
Cattfaeth he considers to be a corruption of Cadeiriaith, which he
translates the " Language of the Chair of Presidency f," thus
making both etymologies subservient to his hypothesis, as it
relates to Stonehenge. And, so remarkable are the departures
from the original throughout the translation, and particularly in
overlooking all the numerous allusions to the battle, that Aneu-
rin's poem is not to be recognized in this novel attire. It may
be the Gododin ; but it is the Gododin of Mr. Davies.
The length, to which this article has already been extended,
makes it necessary to postpone to another Number the remarks
intended to be offered on the new translation recently published.
In the mean time it may be recommended to the perusal of those,
who wish to cultivate an acquaintance with the Gododin, as the
most faithful version, that has yet appeared, notwithstanding its
evident failure in many particular passages, and the inadequacy
of the whole to express that force and lire of the original, to
which a poetical version can alone do competent justice.
*#* [To be continued..\
* " Mythology and Rites," &c. p. 318.
f lb. p. 320—3. Mr. Davies's etymology of Gododin is Godo, a par
tial covering, and Din, a fence * outwork. With respect to Cadtiriaith,
above mentioned, it is rathei extraordinary, that this word oceers in the
Triads as the name of a chieftain contemporary with Arthur. See also tfce
" Cambrian Biegraphy."
392 THE CAMBRO-BRlTOX.
AWEN CYMRU.
A'th rodd ya athrxydd A-xen. Edm. Pryi.
PENNILLION.
LIii.
MaE gan amled yn y farchnad
Groen yr oen a chroen y ddafad,
A chan amled yn y llan
Gladdu 'r ferch a chladdu 'r fam.
LIV.
Rhaid i bawb newidio byd,
Fe <vyr pob ehud anghall ;
Pa waeth marw o gariad pur,
Na marw o ddolur arall.
LV.
Bum edifar, ftl o wcithiau,
O waith siarad gormod eiriau ;
Ni bu erioed mor fath beryglon,
O waith siarad llai na digon.
LVI.
Yma a thraw y maent yn son,
A minnau 'n cyson wrando,
Nas gwyr undyn yn y wlad,
Pwy ydyw 'm cariad eto ;
Ac nis gwn yn dda fy hun,
A'i imi un a'i peidio.
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
LIii.
At market full as oft is seen
The lamb's skin as the sheep's, I ween,
And in the churchyard (maidens, hear !)
The daughter's as the mother's bier.
^:From this world all in time must move, -
'Tis known to every simple swain ;
And 'twere as well to die of love
As any other mortal pain.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.' 393
tv.
A thousand times I have repented
Of having more than needful vented ;
But ne'er of danger knew a tittle
To come from having said too little.
LVI*
'Tis noised abroad, where'er one goes,
And I am fain to hear,
That no one in the country knows
The girl to me most dear ;
And, 'tis so true, that scarce I wot,
If I love one at all or not.
DAVID GAM*.
My countryman of olden days,
Bold David Gam, demands my lays :
He, who on the Gallic plain
Rests among the valiant slain,—
He, who fills a Hero's grave,
Oh he—the bravest of the brave !
When Monmouth's Harry o'er the main
To battle France led forth his train,
Of bearing bright and gallant mien
The 'Squire bold David Gam was seen,
Proud Chivalry's undaunted son
As e'er the heart of Beauty won !
'Twas near the tow'rs of Agincourt,
Where mad Bellona rul'd the sport,
The Monarch sent his Herald out,
The foe to number, weak and stout ;
And he a tale of terror told,
It's breathing chill'd both faint and bold.
* Davydd Gam was a native of South Wales, and contemporary with the
celebrated Owain Glyndwr, to whom he proved a formidable opponent dur
ing the reign of the foorth Henry. The gallant part he acted under his
son in the famous battle of Agincourt is faithfully related in this well written
ballad, with ihe exception that he died in the defence of his Sovereign, while
his person was in great danger, and for which he received in his last moments,
as here noticed, the honour of knighthood.—Ed.
Vol. I. 3 E
39-1 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
" The foes are like the stars of night !
" Their number such, their arms as bright.
" The foes are like the northern wind—
" Ofstrength too vast to be delin'd !
" Our doom is, if their rage we face,
" Despair, discomfiture, disgrace !"
Bold Gam, he told another tale :—
" I've mark'd the foe on hill and dale ;
" There is enough—and that is all ;
" Enough to fight, enough to fall,
" Enough to grace our triumph g&f,
" And full enough to run away !"
The Cambrian warrior's story brave
To cooling bosoms ardour gave—
On they rush'd and charg'd : how well
The fame of Agincourt can tell ;
Where bleeding on the field of fight
The dying Gam was dubb'd a Knight.
My countryman of olden days,
Bold David Gam, demands my lays;
He, who on the Gallic plain
Rests among the valiant slain ;
He, who fills a warrior's grave,
Oh he—the bravest of the brave !
Jeffrey Llewklyx.
IMPROMPTU
On the Birth of an Heir to the House of Wynnstay,
May 22, 1820.
Welcome, stranger, to our land,
Welcome to each hill and vale,
Where the sons of Cymru stand,
Eager thy approach to hail.
Joy and gladness for thee wait,
Honour too and love attend :
In return, be this thy fate,
Ever live old Cymru's friend.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 3!)5
WALES.
OLDCYMMRODORION SOCIETY.—The following "ge
neral heads," with those inserted in the two preceding Numbers, <
complete the series selected for discussion by the Cymmrodorion
Society, *w*
NATURAL PHILOSOPHY.
1. Of Plants found in some parts of Wales not hitherto de
scribed by any botanists, who travelled those parts, or of those,
that are rare.
2. Of Fossils found in Wales, either not hitherto known or not
described by any writer or very scarce.
3. Of Fish on the coasts of Wales or in lakes or rivers.
4. Of Birds, Beasts, and Insects in Wales.
5. Of Medicinal Waters.
MANUFACTURES, &C.
1. Of burning Tang for kelp, and the present practice.
2. Of burning Lime, and the present practice in different parts
of Wales, and of the different kinds pfLimestone, some for white
washing, some for manure, some for common mortar, some for
bridges or works under water.
3. Of burning Fern for the use of refiners, soap-makers, &c.
and the present methods in Wales.
4. Of Millstone and Slate Quarries.
5. Of the Lapis Asbestos and Salamander's Wool.
6. Of Marble.
7. Of Manuring of Ground with Marl, Sand, and Lime, asd,
method of Manuring.
8. Of the Lead, Copper, and Silver Mines,
9. Of the Collieries.
10. Of the Woollen Manufactures,
1 1. Of the Fishery dh the coast of Wales.
12. Of Improvements in Husbandry, Trade, and Navigation.
13. Of Charking Wood and Turf.
QUERIES OF THE INVISIBLE WORLD.
1. Apparitions and Dreams.
2. Haunted Houses, and Treasures discovered by that means.
3. Knockers in Mines, said to be a kind of beneficent Spirits.
4. Appearances in the day-time of Funerals, followed soon
S96 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
after by real Funerals : the same, with psalm singing, heard in
the night.
5. Corpse Candles *.
WELSH JUDICATURE.—A very respectable meeting of
the inhabitants of the County of Carmarthen took place on the
10th of last month, to deliberate on the propriety of petitioning
Parliament for some amendment of the present system of Judi
cature in VVales, when the following alterations, submitted by
Mr. Jones of Ystrad, were unanimously adopted for suggestion
i with reference to this important object :
1. A process to compel the attendance of witnesses living
without the Jurisdiction of the Courts of Great Session.
2. A limitation of Writs of Certiorari obtained for purposes
of delay.
3. A process, by which Fines and Recoveries may be levied
and suffered four times in each year, and the King's Silver, pay
able thereon, reduced to the sums pyiid in the Court of Common
Pleas. •
4. A security for monies paid into Court.
5. An increase of the sum, for which actions between parties
residing in Wales may be sued in the English Courts, and in
which the judgment will ensure costs.
. 6. Pensions to the Welsh Judges, who retire according to his
Majesty's pleasure, in like manner as to English Judges.
It was then resolved, that Petitions, in conformity with these
proposed alterations, should be presented to both Houses of Par
liament, and that a report of the proceedings of the meeting
should be generally circulated throughout the Principality.—A
similar meeting was holden on the 26th ult. in the County of
Pembroke.
It is to be hoped, that the laudable example, set by these two
counties, will be generally followed, and that the inquiry, com
menced on this subject in the last Parliament, will, by this means,
be brought to a speedy and favourable termination. Some im
provements are undoubtedly demanded in the Judicature of
Wales, as well with reference to its principles as its administra
tion ; but some of the innovations, that were proposed to the
* Some account of the superstitious notions, alluded to in the third and
last of these " Queries of the Invisible World," was given in the last Num
ber, p. 350.—Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 397
Committee of the House of Commons, if adopted, could not fail
to prove injurious to the interests of the country. On the other
hand, the amendments, suggested by the Carmarthenshire Meet
ing, do not appear to go to the desired extent. There is, unques
tionably, much difficulty in adopting the right course, which, how
ever, we may hope, will be discovered by the wisdom of the
Legislature. There are two main objects, to which all alterations
ought obviously to tend, the acceleration ofjustice, and the dimi
nution of its expence. *#*
WELSH DISPENSARY IN LONDON.—A meeting of
this patriotic and benevolent Institution took place at the Free
masons' Tavern on Saturday the 20th ult. for the purpose of re
ceiving the Report of the Committee. Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart.,
was in the chair, and was attended by several respectable friends
of the Charity.—It appeared from the Report, produced on the
occasion, that " from the period of the last meeting in March
1819, to the 25th of March last, medical relief had been admi
nistered to 560 poor objects, natives of the Principality, suffering
under various painful and afflictive disorders, and many of them
under circumstances of peculiar distress and misery." And it de
serves to be mentioned, that out of this great number one case
only of death has occurred : a circumstance which can not fail to
be in the highest degree gratifying. Nor should the zealous and
indefatigable exertions of Mr. Morgan, Surgeon fo the Institu
tion, and to whose activity its foundation must principally be as
cribed, pass unnoticed on this occasion ; since it appears from
the Report, that he has undergone considerable personal sacrifices
in his laudable endeavours to promote the interests of the Charity.
At the present meeting a letter was read from Sir Benjamin
Bloomfield, signifying his Majesty's most gracious pleasure to
continue to the Institution that patronage, under which it had been
established. And it may be hoped, that this high example, united
with the recommendation of the worthy Chairman, who strongly
urged the necessity of procuring fresh subscribers, will be pro
ductive of the desired effect, in securing the interests of an Insti
tution, on every account so worthy of general support. The
amount of the subscriptions for the year, ending on the 25th of
last March, was but 119/.; "a sum," in the words of the Report,
" barely sufficient to cover the expence of drugs, printing, sta
tionery, advertisements,7' and other incidental charges. Surely
the wealthy natives of Wales, nevej inattentive to the call of
398 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
humanity, will not hear this, without coming forward to lend their
aid on so interesting an occasion, and especially when they reflect
on the good achieved, in alleviating the sufferings of so many of
their distressed countrymen—a good, as we are informed by the
Report, that might be considerably extended by an extension of
the contributions. In a cause, therefore, where our national
interests are so happily blended with those of humanity, success
can not be doubtful. %*
LITERATURE.—The celebrated author of Coll Gwynfa
has recently printed, for private distribution, a new version of the
19th chapter of the Revelations, for the purpose, more particu
larly, of shewing the capability of the Welsh tongue far express
ing lite various inflections of the Greek verbs, which are far from
being observed in the common translation. But it will also be
seen, that the present specimen is, in other respects, more faithful
to the original, as it certainly is more elegant. A few verses
are here transcribed, together with the correspondent part of the
old translation; and a comparison of these with the Greek will
convince the critical reader of the superiority above claimed for
the new version.
Old Translation.
1 Ac ar ol y pethau hyn mi
a glywais megis lief uchel gan
dyrfa fawr yn y nef, yn dyw-
edyd, Aleluia : Iachawdwriaeth,
a gogoniant, ac anrhydedd, a
gallu.i'r Arglwydd ein Duw ni :
2 O blegid cywir a chyfiawn
yw ei farnau ef : o blegid efe a
farnodd y buttain fawr, yr hon
a lygrodd y ddaer a'i phuttein-
drs. ac a ddialod waed ei wei-
sion ar ei llaw hi.
3 Ac eilwaith y dywedasant,
Aleluia. A'i rmvg hi a gododd
yn oes oesoedd.
4 A syrthiodd y pedwarhenu-
riad ar hugain, a'r pedwar ani-
lail i lawr, ac a ;iddulasant
* **
Mr. Plghe's Version.
1 A g\vedi y pethau hyn
clywwn fal lief mawr lluoedd
ami yn y naf, yn gwedyd, All-
elwia* : Iechineb, a gogoniant,
ac enrhydedd, a nerth idd yr
Arglwydd ein Duw ni.
2 Canys cywir a chyfiawn ei
farnau ef : canys barnai efe y
buten fawr, hon a lygrai y
ddaiar ag ei phuteindra, a dialai
efe waed ei weision ar ei llaw
hi.
3 Ac eilwaith hebynt, Allel-
wia. Ac ei mwg hi a godai yn
pes oesoedd.
4 A dygwyddynt y pedwar-
ar-ugain henuriaid ac y pedwar
unifel, ac addolynt Dduw a ei-
* Perhaps if this won! had been spelt Aleluia, it would have eame nearer
tc tilt sound of tht. original.— Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 399
Dduw, yr hwn oedd yn eistodd steddai ar yr orsedd, gan ddy-
ar yr orsedd-faingc ; gan ddy- wedyd, Amen ; Allclwia.
weflyd, Amen; Alcluia.
5 A lief a ddaeth allan o'r 5 A lief o yr or,*dd elai
orsedd-faingc, yn dywedyd, allan, yn dywedyd, Molwch ein
Molienriwch ein Duw ni, ei holl Duw ni, ei holl weision ef, acy
weision ef, a'r rhai ydych yn ei sawl ag ei hofnant ef, ai bychain
ofni ef, bychain a mawrlon be- ai mawrion.
fyd.
6 Ac mi a glywais megis lief 6 A chlywwn fal lief lluoedd
tyrfa fawr, ac megis lief dy- ami, ac fal lief dyfroedd ami,
froedd lawer, ac megis lief ta- ac fal lief taranau cryfion, yn
ranau cryfion, yn dywedyd, dywedyd, Allelwia : canys y
Alcluia : o blegid teyrnasodd teyrnasft yr Arglwydd Dduw
yr Arglwydd Dduw Holl-alluog. Ilollalluawg.
7 Llawenychwn, a gorfol- 7 Llawenychwn, ac ymor-
eddwn, a rhoddwn ogoniant iddo foleddom, a rhoddwn ogoniant
ef : o blegid daeth priodas yr iddo ef : canys daeth priodai
Oon a'i wraig ef a'i parottodd yr Oen, ac ei wraig ef a bard-
ei hun. toes ei bun.
8 A chaniattawyd iddi gael 8 A rhoddid iddi hi yna yr
ei gwisgo a lliain main glan a amduddid & lliain main, glan a
disglair : canys y Hiain main chanaid : am mai y Hiain main
ydwy cyfiawnder y saint. ydyw cyfiawnder y saint.
9 Ac efe a ddywedodd wrthyf, 9 A gweda-i wrthyf, Ysgri-
Ysgrifena, Bendigedig yw y fena, Gwynfydigion y rhai i
nhai a elwir i swpper neithior yr hwyrbryd priodas yr Oen &
Oen. Ac efe a ddywedodd alwer. A dywedai wrthyf,
wrthyf, Gwir eiriau Duw yw y Hwynthwy geiriau gwir Duw
rhai hyn. a ydynt.
10 Ac mi a syrthias wrth ei 10 A dygwyddwn with ei
draed ef, i'w addeli ef. Ac efe draed ef i addoli iddo. A dy-
a ddywedodd wrthyf, Gwel Ha wedaid wrthyf, Gwela na : cyd-
tvnelych hyn : cyd-was ydwyf, was wyf i ti, ac i dy frodyr a
i'ti, ac i'th frodyr y rhai sy gan- sy ganddynt dystiolaeth Iesu.
ddynt dystiolaeth Iesu. Addola Addola Dduw : am mai tystiol-
Dduw : canys tystiolaeth Iesu aeth Iesu ydyw ysbryd y broph-
ydyw yspryd y brophywydol- wydoliaeth.
iaeth. —
OBITUARY.
February.—Hugh Humphreys, Esq. of Pen-y-Pwlle, near
Holywell.—At Carmarthen, aged 26, Rees Price, Esq. Assistant
400 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Surgeon, R. N., whoso amiable character rendered his prematura
death a source of severe affliction to his relations and friends.—
March 4. At Bridgend, the Lady of the Rev. Thomas Han-
corne, Rector of that parish, whose life was distinguished by a
long continuance of active benevolence and many Christian vir
tues.—At Hampton Court, aged 86, Mrs. Phillips, and, at the
same place, aged 83, Mrs. Joyce Phillips, the only surviving
sisters of Lord Milford.—The Rev. Anderson, Master of the
Free Grammar School, Swansea.—29th. Thomas Foulkes, Esq-
of Trelydan, Montgomeryshire.—April 4. At Carmarthen, aged
40, Thomas Jones, Esq. of Cwmgigfrane, Carmarthenshire.—6.
Mrs. Jackson, of Royden's Hall, near Wrexham, aged 81, a lady
generally esteemed and respected.—At Dolgellau, aged 93,
Howel Parry, Esq. Solicitor, of Caeceirth, Merionethshire, uncle
to the present Chief Baron. This gentleman was father of the
Profession on the North Wales Circuit, and was, through life,
highty respected for his unblemished integrity.—II. At Bangor
Rectory House, Cardiganshire, Mrs. Walters, Lady of the Rev.
Walters, Rector of that parish.—16. Mrs. Anne Davies, of
Aberystwith, aged 79.—23. In Portland-place, Bath, aged 77,
Thomas Mathews, Esq. a gentleman of an ancient family in the
county of Glamorgan, for nearly fifty years a resident at Bath,
where his society was cultivated and esteemed, during that long
period, by an extensive circle of friends.—26. Griffith Jones, Esq
of Wern, in the county of Carnarvon.—May 1. Thomas Morhall
Griffith, Esq. of Holt-street House, in the county of Denbigh,
much and generally respected.—2. The Lady of the Rev. Richard
Davies, Archdeacon of Brecon.—3. At Emral Lodge, Flintshire,
aged 22, Richard, eldest son of Mr. Crane, ofthat place, a young
man of a mild and amiable disposition.—7. At the Rectory House,
Oxwich, near Swansea, aged 46, the Rev. David Evans, A. M.
Rector of Llanfigan, and Prebendary of the Collegiate Church of
Brecon : he held, besides, two other clerical appointments, and
was a Justice of the Peace for the county of Brecon. His exem
plary conduct in all his social relations, united with the frankness
and affability of his manners, rendered his death a subject of
deep regret to the numerous friends, to whom he had been en
deared through life. — 12. At WVexham, the Rev. William
Browne, who, during a period of nearly forty years, had been an
active and pious Minister of the Presbyterian Congregation in
that town.—19. Aged 20, John, second son of John Lewis, Esq.
of Nantwilt, in the county of Radnor.
THE
CAMBRO-BRITON.
JULY, 1820.
NULLI QUtDEM MlMl SATIS . ERUDITI VIDENTUR, QUIBUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicebo de Legibus.
WELSH LANGUAGE.
MUTATIONS OF INITIAL CONSONANTS.
T HE more minutely the Welsh language is examined, the
more remarkable the phenomena, which it will present to the cri
tical observer,.and the more convincing the proofs, which will be
discovered of its originality and its antiquity. Its elementary
properties,—the source of all its beauty, its energy and its har
mony,—have already undergone a partial discussion : and the
subject is one, which would well repay the candid inquirer for all
the pains of the most ample investigation. This principle, how
ever, belongs peculiarly to the vital character of the language : it
is the basis on which it rests,—it is the spirit, by which it breathes.
But it is now our business to examine another feature, which is
more particularly allied to the external attributes of the Welsh
tongue, and by which its grammatical construction is materially
affected. This is the mutation of its initial consonants, a charac
teristic, which possesses equal evidence, with any other, of a pri
mitive origin.
That certain articulations of the human voice have a natural
tendency to coalesce with others, coming in collision with them,
is a principle, of which the effect may be traced more or less in all
languages. Even in those of a more recent date this peculiarity
is, in "some degree, perceptible, as in those particular cases, where,
for the sake of euphony, elisions or prefixes are adopted. And
a variety even of literal mutations might be pointed out in the
English, Italian, and French languages, apparently the remains
of the same principle, which pervades the Welsh tongue, and m
which and its sister-dialects alone its systematic operation is new.
VOL. I. 3 F
402 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
to be found *. The ancient languages, indeed, have preserved
stronger vestiges of it than the modern ; but even in these it is
not to be distinguished as possessing the attributes common to
the Welsh system. In the Hebrew, for instance, there are six
letters, whose sound is attenuated or aspirated, according as they
are marked or not by the point called Dageih; and in the Greek
there are certain consonants, called Mutes, which vary their
sounds from hard to soft, and to aspirate, as might be illustrated
by many instances to be drawn from the Greek verbs f. Yet in
both these ancient tongues this quality is found to affect the com
position of words rather than their grammatical construction, and
has never been considered by grammarians to form any essential
part of their structure. And, least of all is it to be identified
with that, which pervades the Welsh language, however it may
retain, in its irregular operation, the evidence of a common origin.
The mutation of initial consonants in Welsh must, therefore,
be considered as a regular system, governed by fixed laws con
nected with the grammatical principles of the language %. Mr.
* It is, wc may presume, on this principle, that the C and G have in
English two sounds, and that the former letter becomes in some in
stances Ch, as Church from Kirk, and Chester from Ceaster. But other
iutances of this mutable quality will occur in the sequel ; and, in the
mean time, it is sufficient to observe, that, although these changes do
not preserve the character of a system in these modern tongues, they
bear strong testimony to the existence of such a system in those, from
which they are derived.
+ Such initial mutations, however, as are observable in the Greek a* a
system, depend rather on the variation of mood, tense, and dialect, thaa
on the influence of the preceding word. For, asto those words, that assnme,
by a crash, a distinct form, as Sxrepov for TO srepiv and 5oi/AaT»ov for T»
l/ASmov, they belong- to another principle. In a word the Greek mutations,
of the nature contemplated in this Essay, are referable more to words in
composition than otherwise, and are, even in this instance, often terminal
rather than initial, as efrTtoSiO-v for sv KoSlw,—cruXX«p,faval for <rv>
Aajtifayw.—Similar changes are also very common in Latin, as corripio for
con rapio, and illabor for in labor, all of them affecting only the terminal let
ters. Yet, both these languages retain some inipoilaut evidence of the an
tiquity of the system under consideration.
J It is somewhat extraordinary, that, with the exception of Mr. Owen
Pughe, none ot our grammar-writers have taken this view of the initial
mutations. Mr. Walters, in his " Dissertation," afterwards quoted, and
Mr. Gambold, in his " Grammar," consider them to be adopted merely
for the sake of euphony, and the latter has even the boldness to assert,
that " they are for no reason or view essential to grammar," notwith
standing that is toe course of his work he proves then to be founded im
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 403
Owen Pughe, in his Dictionary, so often quoted *, has on this
subject the following judicious remarks :—" The principle of
literal mutation, as a regular system, is peculiar to the Welsh,
though the effect of such an aptitude in some of the letters to
change their sounds is seen to pervade all languages. But it re
gulates some of the primary forms of construction in this tongue
as well with respect to syntax as to the composition of words.—
These modificications or changes have always appeared as great
obstacles to strangers. Such an appearance has been partly, if
not wholly, owing to two causes, neither of which is radical in the
system. One of them is, that the analogies of the modifications
has not been properly set forth and exemplified : the other is on
account of the language having been disguised in an orthography
foreign to its genius and inadequate to represent all its simple
articulations, without recourse to irrelevant characters, and, in
some instances, the double and treble letters for those of simple
forms in the original alphabet f."—The peculiarity under consi
deration is very clearly defined in the preceding passage and the
main cause of the difficulty, it presents to a stranger in his inves
tigation of the Welsh tongue, stated with great accuracy. And
Mr. Walters, in his " Dissertation on the Welsh language J," al
though he has not, in general, discussed the question in a satis
factory manner, very properly observes on this point, that " the
difficulty is only apparent and not real, arising from a distant
and superficial survey of the matter, and consequently will vanish
on a closer inspection."—The difficulty, although arising, for the
most part, from the particular causes noticed by Mr. Pughe, may
also be traced to a general ignorance or misapprehension of those
analogies of certain letters, in which this system of mutation ap
pears to have been founded. Hence it has been surmised by an
eminent and learned writer, that the practice was at one time
common to all languages, and that its discontinuance was a prin-
strict grammatical ruks. Our great Archaeologist, however, Mr. Edward
Llwyd, properly observes on this point, 1 bait " these mutations are not
more difficult or ungramviatical than the numerous declensions in Latin
and Greek." Arch. Brit. p. 19.
* Preface, p. 13. It may be proper here to observe, that this Dic
tionary is more generally known by the title of " Owen's Dictionary,"
the writer having taken the name of Pughe since its publication.
f This subject has been particularly illustrated in the Ninth Number
of the Cambro-Eiuton.
% Page 42 •
404 THE CAMBR0-BR1T0N.
cipal cause of the variety of dialects, which, by farther alterations
and corruptions, became in time distinct languages*.
That the system was anciently general would appear very pro
bable, if it be not actually demonstrable, from many instances,
which might be adduced from various languages, and a few of
which will be noticed in the progress of this Essay. It may first,
however, be advisable to enumerate the particular consonants,
which are thus mutable in Welsh, as well as briefly to explain
the nature and principle of their changes, without descending to
all the niceties of a grammatical dissertation.
The mutable consonants in Welshj and most of which are
also mutable, though not to the same extent, in the Breton,
Cornish, and Irish languages f, are these nine :—B. C. D. G. L!.
M. P. Rh. T. The changes, they undergo, are of three kinds,—
the soft, the aspirate, and the light,—and mny be? more clearly
elucidated by the following scheme copied from Mr. Pughe'*
Dictionary, and by which it will appear, that three of the letters
partake of all the mutations, three others of two only, and that
the remaining three have no more than one %.
Mutable Letters. ! c PT I
B D G LI M Rh
Soft Mutations... b *!
V (Id — 1 V r
iLight J
ngh mh nh m n ng
ch f
* Edward Llwyd in his Archaologla TSrilanmcn, p. 10.
f The expression in the text ought to be somewhat qualified or ex
plained. Of the three kindred dialects, there mentioned, the Breton and
Cornish have the greatest affinity -with the Welsh, with which, indeed,,
they bear almost a complete identity in their grammatical structure.
The resemblance, borne by the Irish in this respect, is, comparatively,
distant,—a circumstance, which evinces a longer state of separation be
tween the people speaking it and the Welsh or Cymry than has taken
place between the' latter and the people of Cornwall anil Britanny, al
though the effect is also to be traced to other causes.—Ofthe mutable con
sonants, above mentioned, seven, viz. B. C D. G. M. P. and T. are mu
table in the three other dialects, but only in the Breton upon the same
principles as in Welsh. The Cornish and Irish adopt a mutation of F,
and the latter likewise of S ; but in the Welsh a'one are LI and Rh mu
table. The former leiter, indeed, is entirely lost in <he other three
dialects, neither of which, it may also be remarked, has preserved any
of the aspirate mutations contained in the subsequent scheme.
% It may be a matter of doubt with some, whether Soft, Aspirate, and
Light are rightly appropriated in this scheme. Other writers call the
mutations, in the order here placed, Soft, Liquid, and Aspirate. Bnt
Mr. Pughe's emendation appears the most natural. The terms soft and
light, however, are accidentally misplaced iu his Dictionary.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 405
It will be observable from this scheme, that the changes are
always made between letters of the same organ of pronuncia
tion, a labial consonant never being converted into a dental,
nor a dental into a labial ;—a circumstance, which seems to in-
dicate the attention originally paid in this system, as already
surmised, to the natural correspondence of certain articulations.
The v and f, above used, are substituted for the f and IT, so ab
surdly retained in the Welsh language as noticed in a former
Number *. The soft mutation of the G, it may be proper to
mention, consists in the suppression of the letter, whereby the
sound of the one next in succession predominates in its stead.
The grammatical principle, on which these mutations take place,
can not, as above intimated, be fully illustrated here ; nor, indeed,
does such a discussion enter into the plan of this inquiry. It may
be observed generally, however, that, with two or three excep
tions, the initial consonant is affected only by certain small parti
cles preceding it, such as pronouns, conjunctions and prepositions.
The following Table will exemplify this, at the same time that it
will more fully explain the foregoing scheme of mutations, to
.which it is expressly adapted.
LETTERS MUTATIONS.
Used absolutely. Soft. Aspirate. Light.
C ci, a dog dy gi, thy dog vy nghi, my dog ei chi, her dog.
P pen, ahead. ..Ay ben, thy head vy mhen, my head...e\ phen, her head.
T tad, a father...dy dad, thy father. ..vy nh&tl,myfather. .ei thad, herfather.
B.. ,.bro,a country,dy vro, thy country..vy mro, my country.
T> ....dwrn, afist. ...Ay ddwrn, thyjist...vy nwm, myfUt.
G ....gall, might,.. .-.Ay all, thy might.. ...vy ngall, my might,
J.l....llam, a hap ..dy lam, thy leap.
M ...mab, a son dy rab, thy son.
Rh..rhan, a share..Ay ran, thy share.
Independently of the object, already proposed by this Table, it
will farther serve to illustrate the affinity in this particular be
tween the Welsh and the Breton or .Armoriean languages, for
which purpose such words have been selected, as are common to
both, as are most of them also to the Cornish and Irish f- But,
* Number 9, p. 325.
.)• The term Irish is adopted in this Essay to denote the language
spoken in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland, which is one and the
same. Yet the Highlanders call theirs the Gaelic, and derive the name
from Gallic, whereas it is, in fact, but a corruption of Gwyddcleg, or the
Irish Language. It is strange, what confusion has been introduced into
40t> THE CASIBRO-BRITON.
here, what was stated in a preceding pa','e should be recollected,
that the aspirated mutation is not used in the Breton, which, how
ever, employs the other two upon the same principle as the
Welsh, and which is nearly the case also with the two other dia
lects above mentioned.
This agreement between the languages of Wales and Britanny
5s, of itself, a remarkable demonstration of the great antiquit3" of
this system, and, consequently, of the tongues, in which it is
found to prevail. For, more than fourteen centuries have elapsed
since the separation of the Bretons and Welsh *. The system,
under consideration, may, therefore, be traced with certainty to
the fourth century : and there are no grounds for presuming, that
it did not exist many ages antecedent to that time. On the con
trary, when the Welsh colonized Britanny, the system must have
been as perfect as it is now : and examples may be adduced, as
already remarked, to prove the probability of its origin in a pri
mitive state of society. The affinity, thus observable between the
languages of the Bretons and Welsh, is not to be traced, in the
same degree, in that of the Irish, which implies a more remote
period of separation with respect to that people. However, the
foregoing Table has reference, as to its principles, to the same
consonants in the Irish as in the other tongues.
It would go far beyond the limits of this inquiry to notice,
even in a cursory way, the various instances in which mutations
of letters have taken place in ancient languages in the body or
at the end of words. Terminal changes of this nature are, in
deed, so well known to form a principal feature in the gramma
tical construction of modern as well as ancient tongues, that it
must be needless to insist on the fact here. And with respect to
those mutations, that take place in the middle, they too are, for
the most part, really terminal, as belonging to the first member
of a compound word. Some instances of this, derived from the
Latin and Greek, have been adduced in a note on a preceding
page, and the subject has been satisfactorily exemplified in that
part of the Archceologia Brilannica, which has been already
Hub subject by a misapprehension and misuse of names. We often find
the Irish and Gaelic, and sometimes even the Irish, Gaelic and Erse em
ployed to represent different languages.
* This separation took place at the close of the fourth century, when
Cynau Meirladoj led to Armorica one of the " three combined expedi
tions of the Isle of Britain," according to the Triad Irausiaied hi the
Third Number, p. 87. See also page 88.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 40T
twice cited. But such changes are certainly of a more artificial
character than those, which form the subject of this Essay, and
owe their origin, perhaps, to the particular cultivation of the
languages, in which they are found most to prevail. The agent
in this case, as Mr. Walters has justly observed *, acts at some
distance, While in the Welsh language a word has an immediate
influence on the initial letter of that, which succeeds it. It is
not too much to assert, therefore, that this system bears stronger
marks of antiquity than the other. The one is the system of
nature, and the other of art.
Although the mutation of the initial consonant operates as a
regular grammatical principle only in the Welsh tongue and its
kindred dialects, traces of its more general existence are, as
already hinted, to be discovered elsewhere. Scarcely a lan
guage, indeed, can be named, which does not furnish -some
evidence of this remarkable fact. It will not be uninteresting,
nor unimportant to the subject, to collect a few of these scattered
remains ; and, that the present Essay may not be unreasonably
lengthened, the examples will be confined to such letters, as are
still mutable both in the Welsh and Breton, and which will be
arranged in alphabetical order.
B changed into V.
hovXrj<ri; (Greek), Will Voluntas (Latin).
Biou (Greek), To live Vivo (Latin) f.
Bombere (Sclavonic), A plough Vomer (Latin).
Bolar (Spanish), To fly Volo (Latin)—Voler (French).
B into M.
Badsar and Madsar (Arabic), To scatter.
Batr and Matr (Arabic)-, To cut.
Blith (Welsh), Milk Mlico (Bohemian and Danish).
Ball (Irish), A limb Mc'Aoj (Greek).
C or K into G +.
Kziir^o; (Greek), A camel Gamal (Hebrew).
Caer (Welsh), A city Gadher (Hebrew).
Cleddyf (Welsh), A sword Gladius (Latin).
» « Dissertation, &c." p. 44.
f The Greek word alone is here taken-, but the Welsh byw wonH
have equally exemplified the mutation. The Spanish is birir, and the
French virrc.I Instances of this mutation are so numerous, and tho mutation itsplf
so natural, that it is scarcely necessary to illustrate it. In the old Latin
Inscriptions G is frequently UBed where we now f„ud C : ond Plutarch
408 THE CA.UBRO-BRITON.
C or K into Ngh or Ng.
Kaju.ir7£iv {Greek), To grow crooked—Ngacam (Chaldee).
Cangen {Welsh), A branch Nganaph [Hebrew).
C into Ca.
Calut {Hebrew), Lame XcoAoj {Greek).
Cariad {Welsh), Love Xtcpi; (Gieek), Benevolence.
Calor {Latin), Heat Chaleur {French).
Ci {Welsh), A dog Chion (Frnic/i).
Claiar {Welsh), Warm - XXiapoy (G'reeA).
Claf {Welsh), Sick Chalah {Hebrew) To grow sick.
D into N *.
Divalo {Armoric), A rascal Nebulo {Latin).
G into a Vowel or the next Letter +.
Grtg {Wcbh), Heath Erica {Latin).
Gwlan {Welsh)t Wool Lana {Latin).
Geong (Sa.ro«) Young {Etiglish).
Vtrvo; (Greefe)j A mule Hinnus (La/in).
Gnatus and Natuss( Latin), A son.
Gwr {Welsh), A man Vir {Latin).
Gwag (Welsh), Empty Vacuus ( Latin.)
. G into Ng.
Gwasgu {Welsh), To press Ngasa {Hebrew), He pressed.
Geran {Welsh), To cry out Ngarag {Hebrew), He cried out.
tells us, that the ancient Komans did uot use G at all until it was intro
duced by Spurius Castius. But the following passage in Quintilian is
more to our present purpose. " Cum C et simpliciter T uou valuerunt,
in G ac D molliuntur." Lib. 1, c. Xt. And so Ausonius,—" prsvaluit
postquam gamma vice functa prius C."
* This mutation is not so obvious as some others ; and even the in
stance here given may appear questionable. But, although the change
does not present itself often in initials, it may be found in other parts of
a word, as, where the Latin perdice becomes in Italian peruice, and
tennitur is used for tenditur, as it is by Terence.—The mutation of D
into Dd or Dh, beiug so easy, must have been very common, although,
for want of a letter to distinguish the latter sound in almost all lan
guages, it is hardly possible now to trace it, unless it is to be identified,
in some instances, with Th, of which there are many inter-mutationswith
V, as ©£0f, Deus--GajXvOj', Dumus.
f This mutation, or suppression, of the G may be traced through all
languages. M. Pezrou, in his " Antiquite de la langue des Celtes," ad
duces several examples, and, among others, the Latin Venus, which he
derives from the Welsh. Gwener, of which Gucn, implying white or fair,
is the root. This is extremely probable. •
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 409
M into V.
Mx\\o; {Greek), A fleece Vellus (Latin).
Mimbre (Spanish), A rod Vimen (Latin).
Marchuia (Irish), To ride Varicare (Latin).
Mach ( Welsh), A surety Vas (Latin) *.
P into B.
rioXeoof (Greek), War Bellum (Latin).
Fruina (Latin), A frost Brina (//o/ian)—Brmae(French).
Pater ( Latin), A father Bader (Islamlic).
Pesgi (Welsh), To feed Bomu/ (Greek).
P into M or Maf.
Pastwn ( Welsh), A club Mazza (Italian).
Plumbus (Latin), Lead MoAufJo; (Greek).
P into Ph or F.
Piscis (Latin), A fish Fisch (German),
Pes (Latin), A foot Fus (German),
TLtn; (Greek), Faith Fides {Latin).
Peidio (Welsh), To desist *«(Jou,ai (Greek),
Pater (Latin), A father Fader( Germ.)-F&theT(English.)
T into D.
Tad (Welsh), A father Dod (Hebrew).
Tan (Chaldee), Good Da(WeM).
Tunah (Hebrew), To give, Aayoy (GreeA)—Dawn ( WefrA)
A gift..
T into Th.
Taenad ( Welsh), Dispersion Qava.ro; (Greek), Death,
Tasuuar (Chaldee), A treasure Qyectvpo; (Greek.)
Trwn (Welsh), A thrpne Thronus (Latin).
The foregoing list, which might be carried to an extent
scarcely credible, will, perhaps, prove sufficiently illustrative of
the general principle, which it was designed to support. It is
impossible, that the coincidence, discoverable in these examples
* It would not be difficult to multiply instances of this mutation, and
especially in the composition of words. Thus, the Romans used dimalgo
and divut(/o, promulgo and provulgo, amita and avita, in all which cases
the mutatiou takes place in. the initial of the second syllable.
f This change is very common in the Greek dialects, by one ofwhich,
for instance, lta.ru} becomes jaartu aud, by another, f3artu, which may
exemplify the preceding: mutation, us some others might be illustrated
from the same source.
vol. i. 3 a
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
with the faculty still retained in the Welsh language, can have
been the birth of mere accident. It can -only have resulted
from the natural tendency of certain letters to vary their sounds
into others of an analogous character; and, therefore, the in
stances, here collected, are no more than the scattered ruins of
that system, which once appertained to all ancient languages,
and still exists in its pristine vigour in the Welsh *. There are,
indeed, irregular mutations in all modern tongues, which are
purely accidental, or have originated in a vulgar or ignorant
use ; but those, now under consideration, are at once natural,"uni
form, and idiomatic. And, when their advantages are also con
sidered as they are to be demonstrated in the effusions of tie
Welsh Muse, it is not unreasonable to conclude, that the practice
was anciently general. And, if so, its exclusive retention by tlie
Welsh and its sister dialects, is among the strongest testimonies
to the antiquity of their descent.
It only remains to observe, that the present mode of desig
nating the initial mutations in Welsh, by a substitution of differ
ent characters, is far from being satisfactory, and tends to the
creation of some ambiguity. When the bardic letters were in
use, the various sounds, as stated on a former occasion, were
distinctly and clearly expressed by appropriate symbols. And,
perhaps, the only method, by which this desirable object could
now be attained, with respect to the case before us, would be an
adoption of the accents, that are used with vowels, namely, the
the ', and the to denote, respectively, the soft, lighf, and aspi
rate mutations. This plan has, indeed, been already pursued in
the third volume of the Welsh Archaeiology, where the Law* of
Hywel are printed with such accented characters ; but the want
of the necessary types precludes a specimen from being here
given. However, it must always be kept in mind, that the in
adequacy of the Roman letters to represent all the sounds in the
Welsh language occasions it to labour under several great dis
advantages.
• *#
* Mr. E. Llwyd in his Archaologia Britannica has some very jndi-
ciotu observations on the probable autiquity of this practice, and ex
presses an opinion, that a" diligent regard" to what he calls " idomatal
permutation" of consonants would be of great service in tracing the
origin of languages. With this view, he suggests a good collection of
examples on the subject, as a work that would prove " very acceptable
to the curious in languages and antiquity."
THE CAMBRO-BRITQN. 41 j.
THE WISDOM OF CATWG*.
THE ORIGIN OF WISDOM.
There is no wisdom but from genius f :
There is no genius but from practice :
There is no practice but from impulse :
There is no impulse but from love :
There is no love but from choice :
There is no choice but from discretion :
There is no discretion but from consideration :
There is no consideration but from goodness :
There is no goodness but from God.
Therefore there is no wisdom but from God.
THE ORIGIN OF GENIUS.
There is no genius but from wisdom :
There is no wisdom but from experience :
There is no experience but from exertion :
There is no exertion but from discretion :•
There is no discretion but from sense :
There is no sense but from thought :
There is no thought but from impulse :
There is no impulse but from affection :
There is no affection but from goodness :
There is no goodness but from God.
Therefore there is no genius but from God.
ORIGINAL LETTERS-
LETTER IX.
Meredith Lloyd, of Welsh Pool, to Robert VaughanJ, Esq
ofHengwrt; dated Welsh Pool, July 13, 1655.
Honoured Sir,—I have received the firkins ; the one safe and
whole, but the other had had a leake sprung in it, by reason
. » Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. 27.
f To follow the idiom ofthe original, these phrases must be rendered thus
—Mo wisdom but genius, &c,
\ Mr. Robert Vaughan was an eminent antiquary and genealogist, an1
the founder of the valuable collection of Welsh MSS. formerly at He gwu,
412 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
whereof much of the dissolved matter was lost. I opened this,
and found all that was left turned into water, save the central
part of one of the spermes, which nevertheless retained the ssmtj
* * * * though not the like proportion as it had on the * * *
f being adequately resolved from the circumference towards the
center, without any alteration of its original complexion or exter
nal colour. I give you and Mr. Howell Vaughan many thank*
for your care and pains taken in .sending me the same. I did
expect it would be dissolved ; however, I am fully satisfied, for
the matter is the very same I enquired for. You may confidently
believe, that an individual creature will not upon an instant, as it
were, dissolve into water. I sent the other firkin to my friend ;
though, I believe, it will not serve, when brought to London, for
any philosophical or physical use ; for, being out of a proper
matrix, it will suffer too much alteration, by unnatural putrefac
tion, in the long carriage. And, in my judgment, it cannot bo
carried above 60 miles without loss ; and such carriage ought to
be performed with all dispatch ; but of this, at our next meeting,
we may have a further discourse. My friend may furnish himself
out of Kent, if he please.
Your book " Prawf Ynad \ " I have ready for you, when
you please to command it. I had of late in my custody four books
and now at Rug, in Merionethshire, the seat of his descendant, Col.Vanghan.
While engaged in this patriotic enterprise, his exertions are described to
have been most active arid indefatigable : and which some letters of his, re
lating to this circumstance, published in the third volume of the Cambrian
Register, abundantly prove. He was also a man of considerable erudition,
and especially in the ancient hist ry of his native country, and was in cor
respondence with some of the mr>st celebrated literary characters of the day.
The only woik, which tie published, was a small tract, entitled " British
Antiquities Revived." In the fitst volume of the Cambrian Register, how
ever, may be seen a abort History of Merionethshire by him ; and in the
second volume are two letters to Archbishop Usher, besides those already
noticed in the third volume, and one of which is addressed to Mr. Meredith
Lloyd. This last mentioned volume also contains a catalogue of his fa
mous MSS.—Mr. Vaughan was descended, by his mother's side, from Ba
ron Owen, whose tragical end has been already noticed in the Cahi»o-
BaiTOK (No. 5, p. 135); arid from whose son Edward Heogwit came into
Mr. Vaughan's family. .Paternally he was of the stock of Bleddyn ab
Cynfyn, Prince of Powys. This distinguished antiquary died in the year
1667. Mr. Meredith l.loyd, the writer of this letter, appears to have been
nearly related to Mr. Vaughan.—Ed.
f This and the preceding blank are owing to a coiner of the original letter
being torn —Kb.
t This is the title of the Third Book of the Laws of Hywcl Dda.—E».
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 41.3
more, and every one of those books contained Tair Colqfn
.Cyfraith, and three of them mention the authors expressed in
your book, and give it the title of Pruwf Yneit, the other being
'my own, and the largest that I have seen, is silent in that parti
cular. I find three ways only to recover lands by the Laws of
Howell Dda (as will appear by the inclosed, which I took out of
my great book), which are these :—
1. Cyfreith Dadanudd.
2. Cyfreith Carriwrescyn.
3. Cyfreith Ach ac Edryd.
1. By Danadudd the children only recovered what their pa
rents died seised of.
2. By Camwrescyn a man might recover all such lands and he
reditaments * as were taken from him or his tenant's possession
• by force or disseisin, or any other oppression, against his will,
. without the judgment of law, &c.
3. By Ach ac Edryd all lands, taken 'from the -ancestors by
.disseisin, force, violence, or oppression whatsoever, were reco
vered, the son's land from his father, or any heirs from his coheirs.
And, as touching the Cross you mention, I conceive, when any
.of the three former actions were brought on the plaintiff's petition
<o the Lord, the Lord commanded to fix the same upon the land,
which Cross was to serve as a warrant to the plaintiff to enjoy the
aarne, and an injunction to the defendant to forbid him to occupy
the lands in question, till triall and judgment or licence obtained;
.from whence did arise two manner of actions, the one called
Cwyn torr Croes, i. e. torri nawdd yr Arglwydd, the other
called Cwyn Cam Groes, both which are but collateral to the real
actions. • •
Cwyn Torr Croes was brought by the plaintiff in the real ac
tion, when the defendant, contrary to the Cross, did occupy the
land, and thereby recovered damage, and the defendant was
fined for his contempt.
Cwyn Cam Groes was brought by the tenant against the plain
tiff in the real action, by which the tenant received his damage,
and the said plaintiff was fined for the Cam Groes. I believe,
these actions were seldom or never brought, till after the triall for
the lands. This Cross was used in personal actions also. I pray
you peruse the Declarations I sent you, and those you choose out
of Guttyn Owen ; and, for the person mentioned in your letter,
* The word in the original is obliterated j and" hcreiiilacueuu" supplied
u the in'.st proDable.—H.D.
414 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
whose ancestor was disseised with force and violence, there was
00 way for him to recover but by Ach ac Edryd, as I conceive.
This is only my opinion ; I dare not avow all I write for truth.
Wherefore, I pray you, conclude of nothing without serious con
sideration ; for I seldom look after these things but when you put
me in mind of them. There is no man in our country, that values
them, or those that look after them. .
As for that verse in Taliesin,
Cigleu gydarfod am gerddolion -
A Gwyddyl diefyl diferogion,
1 am no competent judge, because I am ignorant in the history :
but, to give you my sense, I think that am and gerddolion
should be in one word and written thus amgerddolion. The m
might easily be mistaken for n ; and, in my judgment, angerdd-
olion hath relation to his countrymen, who, in all probability, are
mentioned before in the Song. For diefyl, I do think it to be
from diafol. Observe, how in archoll the a and o turn to e and
y, viz. erchyll (in the plural), &c. I Ddiawl ac i Ddiefyl is too
common a phrase in our country. As to diferogion, I am of opi
nion that it is compounded of di or dy and berawg, the cumula
tive adjective from ber. You well know the signification of her *,
and that this word di or dy in composition is seldom or never a
privative, or privation ofthe sense of the word, compounded with
it, among the ancients, but rather a ratification or enhancing of
the former sense, as hidlo, dihidlo; gwadu, diwadu, &c. It
seems, the Irish, in those days, used some odd kind of spears,
differing from the fashion of our country, and that Griffith ap
Cynan learnt the use thereof in Ireland. Observe, that that epi
thet is not given to any of the rest of the Princes ; Gtcyddyl
gaflachaicg, Gwyddyl diferiawc, the one with his darts, the
other with his spears. I have translated the verses in the best
manner I could. I desire to know, whether I did understand them
aright.
In Ireland Bran Fab Llyr I serv'd in field,
Where Morddwyd Tyllon died, I saw him kill'd ;
The clashing strokes of war I heard between
Our fiery champions and the Irish keen.
As devils arm'd with spears, our Cambrians tall
From Wleth's Cape to Reon's Lough got all
*#***»),.*
* tier is a *pe«r.—Ep.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 415
This is all I have to observe- at present, which I humbly
submit to your judgment and opinion ; and I do desire to hear
from you as often as you can on this or any other accompt, that
relates to you ; and, if I can do you noe furtherance in it, I shall
etpress my mind to the full. With tender of my best respects
to your'good Mrs. Vaughan and all yours, I rest,
Sir, your poor kinsman and servant to serve you,
Meredith Lloyd.
I never saw any precedent ofa Declaration upon a Dadanudd.
If you have seen any, I pray you let me know ; I do not well
understand the proceedings upon it ; I pray you inquire. I be
seech you, at your first leisure, send me copies of the pleadings,
which you had out of the Red Book (of Hergest, as I take it),
and send me the lone of " Hemes Griffith tip Cynan" in Welsh,
and " Mab seith (iudyn.'" if you have it, and the story of
•' Adar Lltech Gwin." There are many of the trades in the
law, &c. *
For the worthy Robert Vaughan, Esq. at Hengwrt.
WELSH MUSIC—No. VII.
To the Edito*' of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—" Erddigan Caer Waen," or The Minstrelsy of Chirk
Castle, is a remarkably simple melody, commencing in common
time, then changing to 6— 8, and concluding with the second
strain in common lime. The Dadgeiniaid, or singers with the
harp, are very fond of this tune, because it affords them an op
portunity of displaying their ingenuity, in adapting Pennillion,
of the same metre, to music of two measures.
" Mwynen Gwynedd,"' or The Melody ofNorth Wales. This
air appears to me to have been composed in imitation of our
national Melodies by some recent author; and, though it is ad
mired by strangers, yet it is never sung, except indeed as a song,
* A part of this letter, above supplied by asterisks, has been omitted,
as referring to some previous inquiries of Mr. Vaughan, without which the
passage omitted is hardly intelligible. Some other parts of the letter alio
require illustration, at least to an English reader: and it was intended to
add some notes for this purpose. But, after commencing the task, it was
found, that they would occupy too much space, at least asmere notes. Be
sides, as an account of the famous Laws of Hywel Dda necessarily comes
within the plan of the Cambro-Briton, the subject of such illustration, will
more properly come under discussion hereafter.—E».
*
THE CAMBRO-BRfTO^.
for it is by no means calculated for Penniltion, the rhythm being
remarkably unequal.
" Trichant o Bunnau," or Three Hundred Pounds. Your
readers must allow, that the name of this tune is a very pleasing
one, and those, who are acquainted with the melody, will ac-
knowlege, that it has many claims on their favour. It is very
lively, and truly Welsh in its. construction. The Dadgeiniaid
greatly admire it ; for, like the " Minstrelsy of Chirk Castle,"
it admits of much variety in singing, and the Harper may indulge
in fanciful flights, while the Vocalist adheres to the melody, both,
however, attending strictly to tune, and concluding precisely
together.
I have now noticed all the Airs in Volume I. of " A selection
of Welsh Melodies with appropriate English Words," many of
which it is intended to introduce at the Eisteddfod (or Congress
of Bards) at Wrexham in September next, when, I doubt not,
they will find admirers, not only among the natives of Cambria,
but among all lovers of national and characteristic harmony.
That Music was cultivated in Britain in very early times, we
learn from Julius Caesar, and also from Ammianus Marcellimis,
who flourished about 380 years before Christ, who says " The
" Bards sang, in well-made compositions, to the Lyra (com
monly translated ' a Harp'), the heroic acts of their great men."
What is meant by " well-made Compositions," I cannot learn ;
and, unless I were to see some examples of ancient counterpoint, I
cannot hazard an opinion on the subject. It is much to be lament
ed, that no specimens have yet been found, beyond the ancient
Notations in the Archaiology of Wales, which might throw a light
on this interesting subject. Let us hope, however, that the Cam
brian Literary Society, now forming in London, will be the means
of un-rol!ing many valuable MSS.
Mr. Shield, in his " Rudiments of Thorough Bass," in intro
ducing " Of a noble race was Sltenkin,, for three voices, says,
" Whether the laws of Counterpoint were known among the
ancient Hards is a very questionable point ; one of their histo
rians says, " the Welsh do not sing in unison, like other people,
but in many different parts, so that, when a crowd of singers
meet as usual in Wales, one hears as many different parts and
tones of voices as there are performers."
In a great measure this observation is correct, for the Welsh
in general possess what is called " an excellent ear for music."
—and I have often heard men, who were total strangers to the
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 417
science of Music, endeavouring' to vamp a bass or a counter-tenor
part in choruses. Hence the supposition, that our forefathers were
masters of Counterpoint.
Blegwryd, a King of Britain, about 190 years before Christ,
was a great master of In strumental Music, and on that account
called the " God of Harmony." That this Royal Minstrel was
considered a great master in those days is not to be wondered
at ; but it strikes me, that it was totally out of his power to mo-
dulate, beyond the Dominant and Sub-dominant, and not " so
far, without the assistance of a sharp 4th and a flat 7th*. And
how could these be produced on an instrument, consisting of only
a few strings turned on " Nature's scale?" To this day, in many
of the Scotch, and particularly the Irish Airs, a want of the sharp
4th is perceptible ; and the only way to account for it is, that the
Bagpipes were tuned according to a scale of the ancients, without
a leading note—i. e.—in G with the F natural instead of sharp.
Notwithstanding this violation of modern rules, there is something
exceedingly wild and pleasing in the sudden transition " without
preparation" from one key to another.
I shall now fulfil my promise by giving your readers a specimen
ofthe Notation used in the 1 1th century. There are not less than
175 pages of similar Notation in the 3d volume of the Archaio-
logy of Wales ; but hitherto very few have been deciphered.
" Can y Prophwyd Dafydd :" The Song of David the
Prophet.
Truble
e e e
c cic cic clddl
GDG|GDG|gDG|gG| Bass, &c. &c.
c
. e
CC
The above has been deciphered and inserted in page 62 of the
" Welsh Melodies." In the original the ancient characters were,
of course, used. It is a very simple melody, and confined to
very few notes, but these very regular, and the base appropriate.
I will trespass no longer on your pages now, but beg to say,
* In my first letter I promised to steer clear of technical phrases j but
here it could not be avoided. The Dominant is a 5th above the. tonic, or key
note ; the Sub-dominant a 5th below. A sharp 4th is necessary to morin
late to the former, and a flat 7th is required to pass to the latter.
Vol. I. 3 H
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
that in future Numbers, I shall (with your permission) enter into
the History of our Ancient Music, as well as notice the remaining-
Melodies, many of which would not discredit a Mozart or a
Handel. Mr. E. Jones has given the world a number of beautiful
Airs; but there are many, which have never been published,
which I intend to introduce in vol. 2 of" Welsh Melodies," with
English words adapted, after the manner of the Welsh, to give
strangers an idea of the mode of singing with the Harp, as prac
tised, from time immemorial, by the Ancient Britons.
I remain yours,
Jane 12, 1820. John Parry.
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
THE LATE REV. DAVID ROWLAND
[Concluded.]
Mr. Rowland, having become Curate of Carmarthen, dis-
< played the same anxiety and zeal for the spiritual concerns of his
parishioners, and the same assiduity and perseverance in supply
ing their wants, as he had heretofore done at Newfoundland, and
he had the happiness of observing, that his exertions were not
made in vain,—the church, which in general was very respectably
attended, having still larger congregations. But his strict and
constant attention to his more immediate pastoral duties was not
the only excellence to excite the admiration and regard ofall who
knew him. The Sunday Evening Lectures, established by him with
the sanction of his revered Diocesan, which were more particu-
cularly designed for the moral and religious improvement of those
who might not be able to attend at Morning Service, and which
have been so remarkably blessed in their spiritual benefit,—and
also the active part, which he took in the establishment of a Dis
trict Committee of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge
in the town,—proclaim, in addition to his pastoral care and kind
ness, his unwearied and beneficial exertions for the temporal and
eternal welfare of those committed to his care.
In the month of June, 1818, he visited his quondam parishioners
at Llanwnog, where, being taken with a violent fit of coughing
at Tyddin, he burst a blood-vessel, which occasioned his spitting
great quantities of blood, and brought his life into such imminent
danger, that for some time he had scarce any hopes of recovery.
With the idea ofhis never being able to officiate again among his
THE CAMBRO-RRITON. . 419
parishioners, he wrote a letter to a friend, as soon as he could put
pen to paper, from which the following is an extract :—" Tell
the good people of Carmarthen, that I very much regret the
sudden rupture of the connection, that subsisted between us. May
they have a Pastor after God's own heart, and may they follow
the Lord fully. I am convinced, that there is a reality in religion.
When apparently in the jaws of death, although sorry that I had
not served the Lord with more fidelity, yet I experienced such
an overflowing of happiness, that I could scarcely contain
myself."
Although brought extremely low by this severe illness, yet,
through the skill and attention of his medical attendants, he soon
got much better ; and, before his return to Carmarthen, entered
into the matrimonial state with Miss Matthews, daughter of Ed
ward Matthews, Esq. of the Park, a young Lady, with whom he
became first acquainted when he was Minister of the parish.
When he returned, he found his health improving, and he resumed
the duties of his curacy. His recovery, however, was far from com
plete, and he occasionally gladly availed himself of the assistance
of his friends in performing Divine Service. When the following
winter arrived, he experienced great inconvenience from the
severity of the season, and was under the necessity of confining
himself for the greater part of it within doors. In the succeeding
spring, however, he grew considerably better, and, though in a
weakly state, was sufficiently well to be actively employed at the
FAsteddfod at Carmarthen in the beginning of July.
In the course of the following month he visited Llandrindod
mineral waters for the restoration of his health, but, notwith
standing, continued weakly ; and when winter came on, the un
usual inclemency of the season, which was so severely felt by all
invalids, made a deep impression on his delicate frame, and
caused him to be seriously indisposed. At this period the kind
ness of his friends was particularly conspicuous, and nothing was
left undone towards promoting his recovery. His attentive Dio
cesan gave him the benefice of Tregaron, which adjoined his na
tive parish of Llanddewibrefi *, in hopes, that a removal to the
* On this occasion a friend of his wrote the following appropriate
Englyn :—
Tlhaghiniaeth helaeth yw hon, —i Row land,
Areilio plwyfolion,
Tir ei geramt Tregaron, ,
Uantl'lewibrefi ger bion.
420 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
district, which gave him his birth, would operate to his recovery ;
and he was likewise so much interested for his welfare as kindly
to collate him in his own house, and, that he might not suffer
inconvenience from travelling in winter, urged him not to think
of a removal until the season of the year became more genial.
But. alas ! the care and attention of friends, however great and
persevering, availed not to avert the stroke of death ; Mr. Row
land became gradually weaker and weaker, and finally closed his
eyes on the 29th day of February, 1820, in his 37th year, leav
ing an amiable widow to lament his loss, and an infant son about
the age of eleven months, doomed not to bear any remembrance
of his father, nor to have any knowlege of his talents and virtues,
except what he might in future procure from the report of his
friends and acquaintance. During his lengthened and afflicting
illness Mr. Rowland exhibited an example of the meekness, the
resignation, and the spiritual and heavenly temper of the true
Christian,—an example, which produced the deepest impression
on those friends who visited him. He was interred in the chancel
of St. Peter's church on Monday, March 6, when his remains
were attended by several of his friends both of the clergy and
laity ; and the influence of emotions, excited by the melancholy
event, could not be repressed. Indeed, scarcely a dry eye could
be perceived among the numbers of rich and poor, who were as
sembled on the occasion.
With respect to general character, Mr. Rowland was a warm
and sincere friend, and particularly for favours conferred. In
discharging the duties of his various relations in life he was emi
nently conscientious; his whole life being directed by the strictest
rules of probity and justice. As a Christian Pastor, his earnest
ness for the welfare of his parishioners was always conspicuous,
being ever anxious to discharge the duties of the sacred office in
the most appropriate and edifying manner. As a Preacher—his
voice being clear, and his enunciation distinct,—his manner evinc
ing a deep sense of the importance of the subject, and, his sermon
plain, instructive, and abounding in scriptural truths, he was
heard with delight and edification. Having in early life noticed
the effect of mcmoritcr preaching in drawing together large con
gregations, he adopted the method, and was gratified in seeing
his audience more numerous ; but afterwards, reflecting seriously
on the several evils attending it, he discontinued the practice from
conscientious motives.
His compositions, as a Poet, both in Welsh and English, have
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 421
great neatness, and are occasionally distinguished by elegance ;
and, were a collection made, it is expected that it would be found
to possess considerable merit. It is not known, that he ever
appeared before the public as an author ; but had he survived,
and become settled in his benefice, he would, most probably,
have produced something with credit to himself, and advantage to
his readers. While at St. John's, he was particularly requested
to publish a sermon, which had given great satisfaction in the
delivery ; and he intended to comply with the request, but, it is
believed, that it never appeared in print. With respect to those
persons with whom Mr. Rowland had intercourse, he was respect
ful, affable, and courteous, according to their several stations, and
always anxious, by deeds of kindness, to do them all the good in
his power ; while, with respect to himself, it was his constant aim
either to improve his mind by the attainment of knowlege, or to
prepare himself by acts of piety and devotion for that invisible
elate, to which, in the prime of life, and the midst of his days, it
pleased Providence to call him.
R.
TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
PARISH OF LLAN-S1LIN, IN THE COUNTY OF
DENBIGH.
[Continuedfrom the last Number.]
§. 9. Owain Glyndwr.—His Descent and Claim to the
Principality.—And, last of all, I trust I shall make it appear,
that our illustrious countryman, Owain Glyndwr, was an inha
bitant at least, if not a native, of this parish, Much obscurity
veils the history of our chieftain's ancestors, from the year 1270,
when Gruffydd, lord of Dinas Bran died, down to the year 1400,
when his descendant vigorously, though unsuccessfully, under
took to redress the galling grievances of his country. I shall,
therefore, endeavour to throw some light upon the gloomy pe
riod, before I attend lolo Goch, the bard of Llechryd, to the
halls of the lord of Cynllaith in this parish. The three points,
that I intend to discuss upon this occasion, are—
1st. The genealogy of Glyndwr;—in opposition to an erro
neous opinion entertained by Mr. William Maurice of Cevn y
Br&ich.
422 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
2nd. Glyndwr's natural right to the Principality of Wales, as
heir to Llywelyn, the last prince, slain in 1282, in opposition
to the assertions of the historians of Wales, Dr. Powell, Wynn,
and Warrington.
3rdly. The loco-position of the Sycharth of Glyndwr,—the
" Sycharth, buarth y beirdd," of Iolo Goch, and fully described
by him in his " Invitation poem,"' " Addewais it hin ddywy-
tvaith," &c. ;—in opposition to all, who have written upon the
subject ; the general opinion being, that Iolo Goch, in the above
mentioned poem, describes Glyndwr's seat in Glyndyfrdwy, three
miles below Corwen, on the Holyhead road. I shall proceed
with the points in order.
1. I shall subjoin two parallel sketches of the genealogy of
Glyndwr ; that marked A being the one commonly adopted, both
in manuscript books and printed history* ; the other, marked B,
is found in one MS. of the seventeenth century. Of this latter
Mr. William Maurice says, " Here is the true pedegree of Owain
Glyndwr, without including either Madog Gloff or Gruffydd
Varwn Gwyn, as they are in common books ; and this is grounded
upon the authority of Iolo Goch, in his Cywydd Achau O.
Glyndwr "
A. B.
Gruffydd Maelor, Gruffydd Maelor,
I I
Madog, Madog,
I I
Gruffydd, argl. Dinas Bran, Gruffydd, lord of Dinas Bran,
I I
Gruffydd Varwn Gwyn, Madog Vychan,
I I
Madog Gloff, Gruffydd o'r Rhuddallt,
I I
Madog Vychan, Gruffydd Vychan,
I I
Gruffydd Vychan, Owain Glyndwr.
Gruffydd Vychan,
I
Owain Glyndwr.
Unfortunately for Mr. W. Maurice, he produces his authority
by quoting the poem of Iolo Goch, which, contrary to his ;
* Excepting the Welsh account in the Grenl, No. I, which follows Mr.
William Maurice's opinion.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 423
lion, confirms the line marked A, and is, of course, incompatible
with his substitute B. Iolo Goch's authority is this :
Owain Gruffydd, Nudd in 'yw,
1. Ab Gruffudd llafn-rudd y llall,
Gryfgorff gymmen ddigrifgall ;
2. Gorwyr Madog ior mudeingl
Vychan yn ymseingian seingl;
3. Gorysgynydd Ruffydd rwydd
Maelawr gywirglawr arglwydd.
Explanation.
1. Owain Glyndwr, son of Gruffydd Vychan.
2. Owain Glyndwr, great grandson of Madog Vychan.
3. Madog Vychan, the gorysgynydd, or fifth in descent, from
Omffydd Maelawr.
This explanation cannot with propriety be applied to the novel
scheme. There are, moreover, several other arguments, that
militate against the validity of the innovation :—
1st. The books of pedegrees—the discarded links, Gruffydd
Varwn Gwyn and Madog Gloff, are always inserted as parts of
the genealogical chain, with their respective marriages, &c., which
would never have been applied to non-entities. As for instance,
Madog Gloff married Margaret, daughter of Rhys Vychan, great
grandson of the lord Rhys of Dinevawr, grandson of Rhys ab
Tewdwr, prince of South Wales.
2dly. In the adopted sketch (A) Madog Vychan is the son of
Madog Gloff: in the substituted scheme (B) he is the son of
Gruffydd, &c., which is contrary to the analogy of the times, as
it is worthy of observation, that, in those days, Vychan (little or
petty) was not assumed as a surname, save in cases where the
son took it, in order that he might be distinguished from his fa
ther of the same name ; as Gruffyd Vychan, son of Gruffydd o'r
Rhuddallt and Madog Vychan, son of Madog Gloff. The analogy
is general ; though there may be, as usual, some few exceptions.
Accept of a few instances by way of illustration.
1 . Rhys Vychan, son of Rhys Mechell, of South Wajes.
2. leuan Vychan, son of Ieuan Gethin, of Moeliwrch.
3. Gronwy Vychan, son of Gronwy, son of Ednyved Vychan.
4. Ithel Vychan, son of Ithel Llwyd.
5. Llywarch Vychan, son of Llywarch Goch, son of Llywarch
Holbwrch, &c. &c. &c.
Vychan did not become a permanent surname until about the
424 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
time that the Mostyns, Tanats, Glyns, Llwyd, Wynn, &c, be
came also permanent surnames.
The only difficulty in admitting the line of descent marked A
to be genuine is the number of generations between the year
1270, the death of Gruffydd of Dinas Bran, and the year 1364,
the date of the birth of O. Glyndwr. This difficulty may be ob
viated in the sequel. When Gruffydd, the un-national lord of
Dinas Bran, died, he did not leave his four sons in the state of
infancy, as was formerly supposed ; two of whom, according to
tradition, were drowned in the river Dee, under Holt bridge, by
the lords Warren and Mortimer. Those barons have cruelty and
injustice enough imputed to them, to have their names held in
execration to eternity, without this aggravation. Mr. Pennant,
from the Sebright MSS., collected by our countryman Lhuyd,
assures us, that he saw the deeds executed by thefour sons, after
their father's death, confirming, and even augmenting their mo
ther (Emma Audley)'s dower. This could not have been the
act of infants. There is, moreover, a deed published by Brown
Willis, by which Gruffydd, the third son, grants land in Llan
Degla to Anian, bishop of St. Asaph, and his successors, dated
February 1278. In this grant Gruffydd stiles himself—" Griffi-
" nius Vychan, filius Griffini ab Madog, Dominius de Yal." That
this Gruffydd was the son of the lord of Dinas Bran may be pre
sumed flom an item in the grievances complained of by Llywelyn,
the last Prince, to Archbishop Peckham, in the year 1231 ; the
6th article of which complains, " that, in the peace concluded
between the said Prince and Henry III., in 1277, it was stipu
lated that Gruflydd Vychan should do homage to the King for
the land in Yal, and to the Prince for the land in Edeyrnion :
but, notwithstanding this, the King's justices brought the lady of
Maelor* into the said lands of Edeyrnion; the knowlege of
which cause appertained only to the Prince, and not to the said
justices. And yet, for peace sake, the Prince did tolerate all this,
being at all times ready to do justice to the said lady."
Gruffydd Vychan, it seems, was the' appellation assumed by
this lord himself; whilst at the same time, if not later, he was by
others designated by the title of Gruffydd y Barwn Gwyn, the
white or mild baron. And here I dare not venture to assert, that
• Lady Emma Audley's claim of dower.—Powell, p. 881. In the Latin
copy, in Wynne, 2d Edit. p. 36", the " lady of Maelor" is omitted.—
Why }
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 425
i - -
Cantrev y Barwn, consisting of the commots of Glyndyfrdwy,
Edeyrnion, and Dinmael, was not so called from him. The lord
ship of Yal, at that time, may not have been thought worth the
taking from Gruffydd Vychan either by the King or the Lords
Marchers: he was, however, in quiet possession of it in 1278,
when he made the grant to Bishop Anian. The lordship of
Glyndyfrdwy was added to his possessions by a grant from
Edward I., dated Rhuddlan, 12th of February, in the tenth year
of his reign ( 1282 *), It has already been shewn* that Gruffydd
was lord of Edeyrnion in 1277. But we hear nothing of the
lordships of his elder brother Madog-, nor of his marriage, nor of
his offspring. According to his father's will, he was to enjoy the
lordship of Bromfield Upper with the reversion of Moldsdale,
Hopedale, and Bromfield Lower, on his mother Emma's demise.
But all is silence about him ; which brings us again, though re
luctantly, to the suspicion of murder, the most base and ungrate
ful ; especially when we reflect that his possessions in Bromfield,
&c. were granted, by patent, to Earl Warren in the same year
( 10th of Edward I.) as the grant of Glyndyfrdwy had been made,
as a peace-offering to conscience, to Gruffydd Vychan f. It can
not be concealed, however, that opinions have been circulated,
that Gruffydd and Llywelyn, sons of this Madog, were the in
fants drowned under Holt bridge ^, and not their father and his
brother.
About the same time (ICth of Edward I.) as Glyndyfrdwy
was granted to Gruffydd Vychan, and almost the whole remain
ing- part of Powys Vaelawr to Earl Warren, it may be pre
sumed, that the lordship of Cynllaith was also given to the fourth
and youngest son of Gruffydd Dinas Bran. Earl Warren is
thought to have acted generously upon this occasion, as mediator
between Edward I. and Owain ; but, according to the proverb—
" Calon y Sais wrth Gymro §," the Earl first divided the lordship
of Cynllaith into moieties, the greater part whereof he retained
to his own use ; and it is still a separate manor, called Cynllaith
yr larll, and belonging to Chirk Castle : and the lesser portion he
permitted Owain to hold, which is likewise still a separate manor,
* Kotuli Walliae, 87.
+ See Camsro-Briton, No. 4, p. 139, in the Note.—Ed.
J See Memoirs of Owain Glyndwr, published by the Rev. J. Thomas, in
the year 1775, out of a MS. written by the Rev. Thomas Ellis, formerly
Rector of Dolgellau.
§ An Englishman's heart towards a Welshman.—E».
VOL. I. 3 I
426 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
attached to the Llan Gedwyn estate, and called Cynllaith Owain.
On the death of Owain, without issue, his portion of Cynllaith
devolved on his brother Gruffydd Vychan, in whose line it conti
nued until it was forfeited to the Crown by the insurrection of his
descendant Glyndwr.
We knowbut little more ofLlywelyn, the second son ofGruffydd
the Baron of Dinas Bran/ than we do of his elder brother Madog.
The Rev. Thomas Ellis, in his Memoirs before quoted, says,
* We read among the grievances of the Welsh, which were
delivered to Archbishop Peckham, how that Llywelyn ab Gruff
ydd ab Madog complaineth, that the King granted certain let.
ten .unto a bastard, called Gruffydd Vychan of Cynllaith, to law
with him for his whole Lordship and possessions.-'—" Qucere—
Whjether this Gruffydd Vychan were not son of Gruffydd Lord of
Dinas Bran, and half brother, by the father, unto the said Lly.
welyn V—I wish some Correspondent of the Cambro-Brito.n
would answer this question ; for my own part, I must confess,
that I am puzzled with it. By referring to the " Grievances" in
Powell's History, we are farther informed, that, " by the occa
sion of the King's letters above mentioned, Llywelyn was under
the necessity of spending 200 pounds sterling." Llywelyn far
ther complained, that three score of his men had been impri
soned, two of his Gentlemen hanged without trial, himself de
tained, his oxen stolen, and that a third part of the town called
Lledrod *, and his father's house, without any law, or right, or
custom of the country, had been taken from him, by the King's
Justices, and Roger Strange, Constable of Oswald's Cross,
&c. &c.
It is not improbable, that Earl Warren, when he got a portion
of Cynllaith granted to Owain, at the same time procured a
permission for his . brother Llywelyn to hold the other portion,
now called Cynllaith yr Iarll, for his life only, with reversion to
himself, the said Earl, and his heirs. This suggestion is some
what strengthened by the township of Lledrod (of which Llywelyn
complained that a third part had been taken from him) being at
this day included in the manor of Cynllaith yr Iarll, and no part
of it in that of Cynllaith Owain. The line of demarcation be
tween these two portions of Cynllaith is exceedingly arbitrary,
without having much attention paid to natural boundaries ; not
only townships, but farms, and even fields and roads being
* Lledrod, a township, in the parish of Llan-Silin.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
divided by it. How such a division could have taken place ori
ginally is a question of more curiosity than utility. The parish
of Silin is at present thus divided, in townships, and parts of
townships, between the two moieties of the original Lordship.
Cynllaith Owain : Cynllaith yr Iarll : .
1. Sycharth, L Lledrod,
2. Pri'bwll, 2» Bodlith.
3. Lloran.
Townships divided :
1. Rhiwlas,
2. Llys Dynwallawn,
3. Llan-Silin,
4. Moelfre ; with Tre' Llywarch, in
the parish of Llan Armon.
The chief-rent roll of Cynllaith yr Iarll, about the year 1690,
was as followeth :—
£. s. d. £. s. d.
In Llan Armon .19 0 Lledrod . . 4 10 9
—Tre Geiriog .2194 Rhiwlas . . 2 1 9J
Llys Dynwallawn omitted. Bodlith , . 2 18 7
Llan-Silin .422
Moelfre . . 0 10 4
[To be concluded in the next JVamiw.] IdKIS.
CRITICISM.
The Gododin and the Odes of the Months, translated from the
Welsh. 12mo. pp. 133. 4s. 1820.
[Concluded.]
When this new version of the Gododin was characterised in the
former Number as the most faithful, that had yet appeared of
that ancient poem, it was not meant to offer more than a quali
fied opinion of its merit, when placed in comparison with the
hypothetical paraphrase, that had preceded it. Yet, even with
the fullest allowance of its success in this particular, the transla
tion would still want the essential qualification of a popular
work, if it should fail to give some idea of the poetical spirit, that
breathes through the original. Surely, it is not enough merely
verbum reddere verbo in a case, where the excellence of the work
translated may depend on the pathos or sublimity, by which it is
animated, or where the poet's creative powers may have peopled
428 THE CAMBRO-BRJTON.
"i
his production with all the wild and fantastic forms of his enrap
tured imagination. It is not enough, that we are presented with;
the mere skeletons of these forms, uninspired and unanimated.
In works of history or philosophy, indeed, the translator ought
rigidly to discharge the duty of a Jidus interpret, by a close
and almost servile adherence to his original ; but poetry is a
sensitive plant, that shrinks from the rude touch, which would
thus, without any kindred feeling, attempt to approach it. To
be brief, the faithful translator of poetry is he, who gives us the
kindling expression, the glowing sentiment, and the towering
fancy of his prototype. He must translate his genius as well as
his words, he must seem to write as he wrote ; . in fine, he must
himself be a poet.
Yet, with reference to the work before us, it ought in fairness
to be admitted, that the writer himself appears to have been, in
some degree, aware of his failure. For, in some prefatory
observations he expresses his " regret, that he has not done his
author justice," and afterwards informs us, that in some cases
'• he has sacrificed the force and fire" of the original " to literal
accuracy, judging, that fidelity will be preferred by the anti
quarian, the historian, and the philosopher, though he is aware,
the poet will not be pleased."
We are not therefore, it seems, to estimate this as an attempt
to make us acquainted with the poetical beauties of the Gododin,
but merely as an effort to translate it for the benefit of " anti
quarians, historians, and philosophers." And, certainly, as the
Gododin is in one point of view an historical record, a success
ful accomplishment even of this design would be no mean praise;
although, for the reasons already submitted, it could have no
claim to the character of a legitimate version.
Want of room makes it necessary now to bring these intro
ductory remarks to a close, and to offer a few examples of the
success with which our translator has executed his task. The first
of those examples, in order to preclude all suspicion of unfair
ness in the selection, shall be the opening lines of the poem, and
which afford, in some respects, no unfavourable specimen of the
translator's manner. And, for the purpose of making a fair
comparison, the original passage will be opposed to the version;
though the practice can not in every case be adopted.
tf.-edw gwr oed gwas, Gredyv teas a manly youth,
• iwh vr yn dias : Daring in the tumult ;
Muiich ninth myngvras A swift thick-maned steed
Y tian mordhuyt mygyr was ; Carried the handsome youth :
RITON. 429
Ysguyt ysgafn llydan A shield light and broad
Ar bedrein mein buan ; Hurjg on the swift slender courser ;
Cledyvawr glas glan, His sword was blue and shining,
Ethy aur a phan. His spurs of gold and ermine adorned him.
Ny bi ev a vi It is not for me,
Cas y rhov a thi ; That I should envy thee;
Gwell gwneiv a thi More nobly I will act towards thee
Ar wawt dy voli. In the eulogy of thy praise.
Cynt i waet elawr Ah, sooner conies thy bloody bier
No gyt i neithiawr : Than thy nuptial feasting ;
Cynt y vwyd i vrein, Sooner will there be food for ravens
Hoc ar angynrein ; Than the pushing of the foremost spear
Cu cyveillt Euein, By the dear friend of Owain.
Cwl y vot y dan vrein: Perishing is the carcass (by ravaa)
March, ym pa vro Of the steed in the vale,
Ladd un mab Marco * ? Where the son ofMarcofell.
Arch, of Wales, P. 1, &c. P. 55— 6.
The critical reader will find two or three errors in the preced
ing passage, and particularly in those lines which are printed in
Italics. It is certainly rather unfortunate, that the translator
should have stumbled at the threshold, as he has done, in mis
taking the first word of the poem for a proper name. The line,
" Gredyv gwr oed gwas,"
implies merely—" In disposition a man, in age a youth;"—but
it appears probable, that the writer has, in this instance, adopted
Mr. Turner's version of the same line without sufficient inquiry
as to its accuracy. The youth, to whom the bard alludes, ap
pears to be Owain subsequently mentioned : at least there is no
other rational interpretation to be put on the passage. The
translator seems also to have misunderstood the last four lines,
as Mr. Turner had done before him. A metrical version of the
whole extract, in which the genuine meaning is attempted to be
given, will be found in a subsequent page.
The task of exposing errors is, by no means, an agreeable one ;
and the writer of this imperfect notice would gladly avoid it in
the present case, if he were not, by so doing, in some degree to
compromise the reputation of one of the most celebrated and ve
nerable relics of Welsh literature. For, it shou'id in justice bs
known, that, whatever the merits of this translation may be, it is
riot to be considered, according to the author's assumption, as
giving us the Gododin with " literal accuracy," even when de
prived of its " force and fire." It is right that this ancient poem
should be vindicated in this respect merely as an historical docu-
* The orthography of the original, as used in the Archaiolog-y, is here
strictly observed. The punctuation only :s added.—Rev,
430 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
ment. It becomes, therefore, necessary to adduce a few more'
instances of the author's failure in the only character, to which he
appears to have aspired.
Thus in the following passage,
" The warriors marched to Cattraeth, loquacious was the army ;
Pale mead had been their drink and became their poison :
Three hundred with arms came combating."
the word Trychant, in the last line, is mistaken for Trichcmt.
The original line is
" Trychant trwy beiriant yn catau."
They cut through embattled arms.
It is not to be supposed, that the warriors, who came to Cat
traeth, were only " three hundred." Indeed, the poet informs us
in the sequel, that the number amounted to several thousands.
And again, in page 63, the words gelorawr hir, which imply
literally " long biers," are, by a whimsical metamorphosis, con
verted into a hero. The passage is thus,—
" The sons of Godebog', perfectly common,
Made a rapid march to Gelorawr the Tall.
None of the words, printed in Italics, bear the sense of the origi
nal, which may be translated,
" And the sons of Godebog, a faithful band,
Are borne to the yawning grave on long biers."
Thus also in the enumeration of the forces, that went to
Cattraeth,
i " Tri llwry Novant,^
instead of being rendered the three " legions or bodies of the
Novantes," are translated
" Moving in three divisions."—P. 67.
And in the following passage we have
" Cynric and Cenon,
And Cynrain from Aeron,"
as the version of
" Cynric a Chenon
Cynrain o Aeron,"
properly
" Cynric and Ccnon,
Chief spearmen.from Aeron,"
which is justified indeed by a subsequent passage in the poem,
where the bard calls these two chieftains
" Dau gatci Aeron,"
which our translator has properly rendered
" The two dogs of war from Aeron."
All this is surely not being historically correct.
But a still more decided instance of misinterpretation will aji
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 431
pear in that part of the poem, 'where the bard celebrates the
fame of Cynon. The first four lines, with which the original
commences, viz
" Ni wnaethpwyd neuat mor diysig
Na Chynon lary vion, Glinion wledig,
Nid ev eisteddai yn tal Ueithig,
Y neb a wanai nid adweinid."
are thus rendered,—
" The hall was not made so lotting, ,
JVcr Cynon of gentle bosom, a magnificent prince,
He would not sit praying for a throne ;
Whoever he dismissed he recognized no more."—P. 79.
The following, however, is submitted as the true sense of the
passage :—
No one made the hall so exempt from caie
As Cynon of gentle bosom, sovereign of Clinion ;
He would not sit in the upper seat,
And nobady he had once noticed would he forget.
It is really surprising, that the translator should have so wo-
fully misunderstood these lines. The third, in his version, is
mere nonsense : and the last totally inconsistent with the second.
Several other instances might be selected to prove the justice
of a previous remark, that this translation is far from being " lite
rally accurate :" and one of the writer's faults in this respect
seems to be too strong a propensity to invent proper names,
where none exist in the poem, while, on the other hand, he has
also, in a few instances, deprived the genuine names of their
legitimate honours. Yet the principal cause of his failure lies
still deeper than this.
There are a few passages, however, in which the translator
seems to have caught the meaning of his author with some success;
though none can be selected, that are entirely exempt from
verbal inaccuracies. Some, perhaps, may be of opinion, that
there is no case, in which the critic ought to feel more disposed
to exclaim,—Non paucis off'endar maculis. For, undoubtedly,
the peculiar difficulty and obscurity of the Godociin require some
indulgence, and might, in the present instance, have been admit
ted as a plea fcr minor blemishes, if they should not be demanded
as an apology for transgressions of a more serious nature. They
cannot, however, excuse the perversion of historical facts, or the
suppression of poetical beauties.
The following passages may be noticed as amongst those, in
which the translator has been most successful. The first alludes
t& the cause of the disastrous issue of the Battle of Cattraeth.
432 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
" After carousing on sparkling mead before the combat,
No one regarded the feelings of his sire,
The warriors hastened, they were united in the charge,
Short their lives, drunk with the sweet mead distilled.
The host of Mynyddawg, abounding with gold in need,
The price of the carousal over mead was their lives :
Caradog and Madog, and Pyll, and Ievan,
Gwgawn and Gwiawn, Gwyn and Cynvawn*.
Peredur was armed with steel, gleaming the steel, and Aeddan
He saved in the front of battle : a hero of feeble shield
He preserved j—they were cut dowo, they were slaughtered,
None of them returned to their cultivated abodes."—P. 76.
" The warriors marched to Cattraeth, fighting in their might j
Strong were the steeds, the harness, and the shields,
Vigorous the pikes in the push, and keen the glancing lance,
And glittering the coats of mail and the sword.
He excelled, he pierced through the embattled army,
/ Five times five ranks fell before his blade,
Rhuvon the tall +! he gave gold to the altar,
And gifts and precious tokens to the minstrel."—P. 77.
The extract, that follows, which must be the last, gives an ac
count of the bard's liberation from captivity by Cenau, the son
of Llywarch Hen, who fought in this battle, as, it appears from
other parts of the poem, did also Gwen, Pyll and Madog, three
other sons of that venerable and unfortunate chieftain. Indeed
one would almost be justified, from a passage or two, in conclud
ing, that the aged warrior himself accompanied his sons on this
occasion. But this is not the place to institute the inquiry. These
are the lines alluded to :
" A brave man of the North effected it,
Of mild and generous bosom, unperceived.
He did not traverse the country, he did not abide with his mother X ,
Beautiful his features, strong his battling arms.
From the power of the sword, illustrious to defend,
From the cruel prison of earth he brought me,
From the place of death, from an unlovely region,
Cenau the son of Llywarch, magnanimous and bold."—P 83.
The " Odes of the Months," with which the volume concludes,
are rendered generally in an accurate and pleasing manner,
though partaking of the same unpoetical features as the transla
tion preceding them. These " Odes," as they are called, without
possessing the characteristics common to this species of poetry,
comprehend a series of natural sketches and moral sentiments
appropriated to each particular month, some of which, though de-
* Virgil has some lines like these two in his ^neid.—Rev.
f For a notice of Rhuvon, called also Rhuvon the Fair, sec the Triad
tra»slated in No. 6, of the Cambro- Briton, p. 205,—Rev,
I This line is not correct.—Re v.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 433
livered with singular brevity, possess no inconsiderable merit for
their truth and originality. The following descriptions of the months
of January and February are given as specimens without any
particular selection :
" Month of January—smoky is the vale,
Weary the butler, strolling the minstrel,
Lean the cow *, seldom the hum of the bee,*
Empty the milking fold, void of heat the kiln, ,
Slender the horse, very silent the bird,
Long to the early dawn, short the afternoon ;
Justly spoke Cynfelyn,
' Prudence is the best guide for man.'
" Month of February—scarce are the dainties ;
Wakeful the adder to generate its poison ;
Habitual is reproach from frequent acknowledgment;
The hired ox has not skill to complain;
Three things produce dreadful evils,
A woman's counsel, murder, and way-laying.
Best is the dog upon a morning in spring;
Alas ! to him who murders his maid !"
To return for a moment' to the more important portion of this
publication, it may be remarked in conclusion, that the writer ap
pears to have entered upon this hazardous enterprize, this plenum
opus aleas, without having sufficiently studied the peculiar attri
butes of the early Welsh poetry. Above all, he seems not to
have been adequately prepared for that elliptical style of writing,
which throws such an air of obscurity over some of the more an
cient productions of tho Welsh Muse. His inattention to this
has given to many parts of his translation an unconnected and
disjointed appearance, which renders the passages, where it pre
vails, scarcely intelligible. We have the disjecti membra poetce
rather than the poet himself. This, indeed, is a fault, which ex
perience may remove; but there is, on the other hand, a quality,
which the translator of Aneurin ought to possess, and which, if he
have it not, no time can give. This is a poetical genius. Without
it, any attempt at a popular or faithful version were vain ; for the
spirit and manner of the bard should be conveyed to us, and not
his mere words. We can easily compromise with the translator
for them, if he will but give us, in their stead (to borrow the ap
propriate language of the writer before us), " the winged and
burning thoughts of the original f."
* *
* Ought not this to be " crow " ?—Rp.v.
f Sethis Observations on the " Peculiarities of the Poetry,'' f,r«nxctl to
the Transhticn,—P. H,—Rev.
TOL. I. 3 K
434 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
AWEN CYMRU.
A'lh rodd yw athrwydd Awen. Epit. Prys.
PENNILLION.
LVII.
Er melyned gwallt ei phen,
Gwybydded Gwen lliw'r ewyn,
Bod llawer gwreiddyn chwerw'n 'r ardd,
Ac arno hardd flodeuyn.
LVIII.
Ond ydyw hyn ryfeddod,
Bod dannedd merch yn darfod,
Ond, tra yn ei genau chwyth,
Nis derfydd byth ei thafod ?
LIX.
Pan fo haul yn t'wynu 'n wresog,
Y mae cyweirio gwair meillionog ;
Yn eich blodau, Gwen lliw 'r eira,
Y mae oren i chwitheu wra.
IX.
Main a chymhwys fal y fedwen,
Berth ei llun fal hardd feillionen,
Teg ei gwawr fal bore hafddydd ;
Hon yw nod holl glod y gwledydd.
CORONI SIOR IV. *
Duw cadwa erom ni,
Mewn fyniant, clod, a bri,
Ein Brenin Sior.
* It cannot fail to be observed in the following translation, or rather pa
raphrase, of God save the King, that, the writer has given a very happy
illustration of the capacity of the Welsh language for expressing the softest
tounds, as he has not made use of one double or harsh consonant through
the three stanzas. Indeed, his aim appears to have been to make his trans
lation such, as strangers to the language might read; and in this he has
succeeded, as well as in evincing the extraordinary qualities of the Welsh
tongue in this particular. Some readers, perhaps, when they have perused
this translation and the one that follows it from Don Juan, will be apt to
exclaim that this Idrison must be *' aut Erasmus, aut diabolus."—Eo.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON: 435
Hir yna o lesaad
Teyrnasa ar ei wlad,
Ein gobaith da, ein tad,
Ein haelav bor.
Ei syn elynion o
Bob man gan warth ar fo
Aent hwy i lawr ;
Dilea di mor iawn
Amcanion brad sy lawn,
Ac yna deua dawn
Daioni mawr
Mai haul o dirioii des
Tros BrydaiN taena les
Hir oes ein ior;
Ein breintiau, er ein ma el,
Areilied ev yn hael,
A delo mi gael
Oes hir i Sior !
Idrison.
THE MOON.
Translation from Don Juan.—Canto i.—cxm.
Machludai haul, a dwyrai hithai loer
Wenfelen : cartref diawl er drwg yw hon ;
Camenwid hi yn ddiwair, am mai oer
Ei gwedd ; can nad oes hafddydd hiraf llon
A wela hanner troiau mall a doer
Mewn awr neu ddwy gan wen y lleuad gron
J'lith daiarolion—eto hi mor wyl
Edrycha fal yn brysiaw ar ei hwyl.
Idris"ON.
ENGLISH POETKY.
Translation of the first Twenty Lines of the Gododin.
Lo ! the youth, in mind a man,
Daring in the battle's van :
See the splendid warrior's speed
On his fleet and thick-maned steedy
THE CAfcfBRO BRlTON.
At his buckler, beaming wide,
Decks the courser's slender side,
With his steel of spotless mould,
Ermined vest and spurs of gold '
Think not, youth, that e'er from me
Hate or spleen shall flow to thee ;
Nobler meed thy virtues claim,
Eulogy and tuneful fame.
Ah ! much sooner comes thy bier
Than thy nuptial feast, I fear ,
Ere thou mak'&t the foe to bleed,
Ravens on thy corse shall feed.
Owain, lov'd companion, friend,
To birds a prey—is this thy end '
Tell me, steed, on what sad plain
Thy ill-fated lord was slain.
TRANSLATIONS OF THE PENNILLION.
LVH.
Let Gwen know this, though she be fair,
And boast her bright and flaxen hair,
That bitterest roots are often found
With fairest blossoms to abound.
inn.
Now is not this a wonder grown,
That women lose their teeth so fast ;
Yet, while a breath remains, 'tis know n.
Their tongues will never find their last 1
LIX.
When Phoebus darts his sultry ray
The mower cuts the flowering hay :
'Twere best then, snow-white Gwen, that you
Should marry when you blossom too.
LX.
Her shapely form what charms adorn,
As birch-tree slim, as flow'ret neat !
Her dawn of life, like summer's morn ;
'Tis she, whom all the country greet.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 437
WALES.
METROPOLITAN CAMBRIAN INSTITUTION.—Th«
advantage of a Society in London for the purpose of co-operat
ing with those, so laudably formed in Wales for the cultivation
of our national literature, must be self-evident. Indeed, the
only matter of surprise is, that the plan was not immediately
adopted on the formation of the Cambrian Society at Carmar
then. For it is known, that the idea was then or soon afterwards
suggested and generally approved. However, be the accidents
what they may, that delayed the execution of this project, the
Principality may at length be congratulated upon its consumma
tion. . And, if it should fortunately experience the patronage it
so justly merits, there can be no doubt, that it will prove pro
ductive of all the benefits now contemplated. Butt it must not
be disguised, that, in order to ensure this desirable result, indi
viduals of rank and property in Wales should unite instantly
and heartily in the cause.
The following are all the material particulars connected with
the establishment of this Society.—On Saturday, the 24th of
June last, a meeting, which had been convened by public ad
vertisement, took place at the Freemasons' Tavern, in London,
for the purpose already noticed. Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart, was in-
the Chair : and Lord Dynevor and C. W. W. Wynn, Esq. M. P.
also attended. There was, besides, a numerous and respectable
assemblage of gentlemen, connected with Wales, resident in
London and its vicinity. The particular purpose of the meeting
having been explained by the worthy Chairman, the following
Resolutions were immediately adopted, as embracing the main
design of the projected Society.
" That the Welsh Language and Literature are eminently
worthy of cultivation, and that it is therefore highly desirable,
that a Literary Institution connected with this object be
established in London."
" That, accordingly, the Cymmrodorion Society, instituted
in 1751, be revived, and that the present Meeting do form itself
into such Society, under the designation of the' Cvmmrodorion;
or Metropolitan Cambrian Institution '."
" That this Institution be in connection with the Societies, a Iready
formed in the Provinces of Dyfed, Powys, Cwent, and Gwynedd,
438 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
having the same object in view, and that it be considered as form
ing a point of union between such Societies."
" That, for the furtherance of this object, it shall be the para
mount aim of this Institution to preserve and illustrate the ancient
remains of Welsh Literature, and to promote its cultivation in
the present day by every means in their power."
After resolving upon the particular means, whereby this object
was to be effected, the next proceeding was to appoint the Officers
of the Institution, upon which it was resolved, in the first place,
that an application should be made to his Majesty, to allow the
Institution to be established under his Royal Patronage.
' Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart, was then unanimously elected Presi
dent, on the motion of Lord Dynevor ; and the Presidents and
Vice Presidents of the Provincial Societies were declared to be
also Vice Presidents of the Cymmrodorion. Messrs. R. Edmunds
and W. O. Pughe were then appointed Librarians, and J. H.
Parry and Thos. Jones, Secretary, and Treasurer. A Committee
was afterwards selected with directions to proceed immediately in'
carrying into effect the objects of the Institution ; and their first
meeting was accordingly appointed to take place on Wednesday
the 28th ult. in St. James's-square, the President having obli
gingly offered the use of a room in his house for the occasion *.
Before the meeting separated annual sums, to the amount of 40/.
were subscribed ; and it may be hoped, that this is but an earnest
of the more liberal and extensive support, which the Institution is
destined to enjoy, and which is absolutely indispensable to its
prosperity.
It becomes now a duty in the writer of this account to observe,
that Wales is in a great degree indebted, for the formation of this
very praiseworthy Institution, to the zealous and indefatigable
exertions of a private individual during his late residence for a few
weeks in the metropolis. His unremitted endeavours, during that
period, to accomplish this purpose have at length, we may hope,
been crowned with success. The gentleman, alluded to, is the
Rev. W. J. Rees, of Cascob, near Presteign, whose very useful
services to the other Societies in Wales are too well known to be
here enumerated. He merits, on this account, the gratitude of his
country. *#*
* The late period of the month, when this Meeting was to take place, unfor
tunately precluded the possibility of giving any report of the proceedings in
the present Number. . :
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 439
WELSH JUDICATURE.—It was intimated in the last Num.
ber, that a Meeting took place in the county of Pembroke on
the 26th of May for the same purpose as that previously holden
in Carmarthenshire, in relation to the present system of adminis
tering justice in Wales. At this Meeting it was resolved to peti
tion the Legislature " either to abolish the Welsh Judicature al
together,'' or else to cause some legislative provision to be made
for its emendation. With this view, some suggestions were sub
mitted, of which the following are all, that differ from those before
proposed in the County of Carmarthen,
" To give us an efficient Court of Equity, so as to warrant the
confining of all Chancery business arising within the Principality
to that tribunal, and enable the Judges to change their circuits aa
they do in England.
" To recommend, that the source of the appointment of the
Judges shall originate with the Lord Chancellor, as is the case with
the English Judges, and not with the Treasury, as it is supposed
to be with respect to the Welsh Judges.
" To regulate the fees both in law and equity, or to vest a
power in the Judges of Wales of doing so.
" To remedy the evil and absurdity of moving for a new trial
before the same Judges a few hours after they have given the misr
direction to the Jury, upon which the application is founded.
" To remedy the inconveniencies arising from the Welsh As
sizes being held so late in Spring and Autumn as to interfere with
the seed time and harvest ; to remove the necessity of their conti
nuing for so long a period as six days, to the very serious injury
at those particular times to farmers, from which class the jurors are
generally selected, and also thereby to prevent as much as pos
sible their hearing the merits of any pending cause before they are
put into the jury-box."
It was then resolved, " That, if the Welsh Jurisdiction be con
tinued, terms and vacations be appointed in the Principality of
Wales, analogous to the present system in England for country
causes, during which pleadings shall be prepared and filed, and
causes put at issue and in perfect readiness for trial prior to the
Welsh circuits, in like manner as is done with respect to English
country causes prior to the trial thereof."
There is certainly much embarassment in this question ; and it
is not difficult to discern, that some of the propositions, already
suggested on the subject, are liable to considerable objection.
But there is no room for entering into the discussion here. All,
that can now be done, is to subjoin the names of the Members con
440 THE CAMBRO-BR1TON.
■tituting the Committee, which the House of Commons have ap
pointed to make the necessary investigation previous to some legis
lative enactment :—Hon. John Frederick Campbell, Lord "John
Russell, Sir J. Mackintosh, Mr. Allen, Mr. Chetwynd, SirW. W.
Wynn, Mr. Berkeley Paget, Sir T. Mostyn,Col. Wood, Mr. C.
W. Wynn, Mr. H. Clive, Mr. Wilkins, Chancellor of the Exche
quer, Attorney General, Sir J. Nicholl, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. E.
Barham, Mr. Wrottesley, Sir J. Owen, Mr. Davenport, Mr. W.
Courteney, Mr. J. Macdonald, Mr. P. Pryse, Mr. P. Corbet. %*
LAMPETER SCHOOL.—The late Rev. Eliezer Williams
having greatly raised the reputation of this school, while under
his superintendence, by his eminent abilities, and zealous exer
tions,, his death occasioned a vacancy, which could not be easily
supplied. The Bishop of St. David's, however, anxious for the
interests of his diocese, and at all times attentive to supply its
wants, lost no time in taking proper steps to procure a person
competent to the duties of the situation, and made an offer of the
mastership of the seminary to the Rqv. John Williams, second
son of the late Rev. John Williams, the highly respected master
of Ystradmeiric School. His Lordship was more particularly in
duced to take this measure on account of Mr. Williams being one
of the first class when examined at Oxford, and his afterwards be
coming an under master at Winchester School, and also of the
very respectable character he had since acquired ; and the pro
posal was the more especially gratifying to Mr. Williams, as it
came from one who had himself been educated at Winchester
School, and had attained such eminence in classical literature, as
to render him in no small degree well qualified to judge of merit.
ISlr. Williams having accepted the appointment, some months
elapsed before he could effect his removal, and undertake the du
ties of the situation ; in the beginning of the month of May, how
ever, he commenced his labours, and from his judicious regula
tions, and close attention to the improvement of his pupils, the
school will doubtless soon become eminent among the many re
spectable seminaries in the Principality. The school-house being:
rather in a dilapidated state, Mr. Williams has obtained permis
sion to keep the school in the Town-hall, until a new one is built.
It is also in contemplation to erect a new house for the master in
the course ofthe summer, a gentleman in the neighbourhood hav
ing promised to build one at his own expence, and vest it in the
hwnds of trustees for the use of'the master for the time beinc
R
• THE
CAMBRO-BRITON.
AUGUST, 1820.
NULLI QUIDEM MIHI SATIS ERUDITI VIDENTUR, QUldUS
NOSTRA IGNOTA SUNT. Cicero de Lcgibtu.
THE TRIADS.—No. X,
TRIADS OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN*
XLIX.
The three Arrant Traitors, who were the cause, by means
whereof the Saxons took the crown of the Isle of Britain from
the Cymry. One was Gwrgi Garwlwyd, who, after getting a
taste for the flesh of men in the court of Edelfled King of the
Saxons, liked it so much, that he would eat nothing but human
flesh ever after ; and, therefore, he and his men united themselves
with Edelfled King of the Saxons, so that he used to make secret
incursions upon the nation of the Cymry, and took male and
female of the young so many as he ate daily. And all the law
less men of the nation of the Cymry gathered to him and the
Saxons, where they might obtain their full of prey and spoil,
taken from the-natives of this Isle. The second was Medrawd,
who gave himself and his men to be one with the Saxons, for
securing to himself the kingdom against Arthur ; and by reason
of that treachery great multitudes of the Loegrians became as
Saxons. The third was Aeddan the Traitor, of the North, who
gave himself and his men, within the limits of his dominions, to
the Saxons, so as to be enabled to maintain themselves by confu
sion and anarchy, under the protection of the Saxons. And be
cause of those three Arrant Traitors the Cymry lost their land
and their crown in Loegria : and, if it had not been for such trea
sons, the Saxons could not have gained the Island from the
Cymry.
[This Triad, and the one, that' follows, contain the only notice,
* Arch, of Wale*, vol. H. p. 65. Tr. 45, 46.
"Vol. I. Si
441 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
that occurs in the perusal of British records, of cannibalism being-
known in the Island. The name of Gwrgi implies a cannibal ;
for Gvsrgi Garvilwyd is literally the rough brown dog-man.—
The reader is already acquainted with the history of Medrawd
from former Triads*.—Aeddan, here mentioned, is also re
corded in a Triad called the " three exterminating Slaughters,"
as having ravaged the territory of Rhydderch the Generous, the
chief of Alclwyd, the present Dunbarton. According to Merddin,
a battle was fought between Rhydderch and Aeddan at Arderydd
in Scotland, in ^which the former was victorious. This battle,
which has been fixed at A. D. 577, is called in the Triads one of
the " three frivolous battles," because it originated about a lark's
nest. The name of Aeddan occurs also in the Gododin.]
L. The three men, who were Bards, that achieved the three
good Assassinations of the Isle of Britain. The first was Gall,
the son of Dysgyvedawg, who killed the two brown birds of
Gwenddolau, the son of Ceidio, that had a yoke of gold about
them, and they devoured daily two bodies of the Cymry at their
dinner and two at their supper. The second was Ysgavnell, the
son of Dysgyvedawg, who killed Edelfled King of Loegria, who
required every night two noble maidens of the nation of the
Cymry, and violated them, and the following morning slew and
devoured them. The third was Difedel, the son of Dysgyve
dawg, who slew Gwrgi Garwlwyd, that was married to the sister
of Edelfled, and committed treason and murder conjointly with
Edelfled upon the nation of the Cymry ; and that Gwrgi killed a
male and female of the Cymry daily and devoured them ; and on
the Saturday he killed two, that he might not kill on the Sunday.
And these three men, who achieved the three good Assassina
tions, were Bards.
[Triad xlih, in No. 10, gives a farther account of these three
Bards. Triad xxvui of the second series in the Archaiology, page
13, says, that the birds of Gwenddofau guarded his treasures of
gold and silver, instead of the golden yoke. Gwenddolau is fre
quently mentioned by Merddin in his Afallannau, and appears
to have been the bard's patron. He fought on the side of Aeddaa
in the battle of Arderydd, above alluded to, and in which he was
slain.—There may be some improbability in the circumstances
detailed in this Triad ; but it does not therefore follow, that the
gross practice it records had no foundation in fact. The vices,
* No. 5, p. 171, and No. 6, p. 201.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON; 443
monstrous and barbarous as they seem, may have existed, though
the manner, in which they were displayed, has been exaggerated.]
TRIADS OF WISDOM*.
lxxI. Three things to which success cannot fail, where they
ihall justly be : discretion, exertion, and hope.
lxxiI. Three things that will be produced by merited and li
beral recommendation : the occupation easy, the intellect inven
tive, and the hope strong.
Lxxm. Three things very good to be possessed of: a house
of inheritance, a scientific trade, and privilege from native
ancestry.
lxxiv. Three things better than the foregoing : a healthy body,
praiseworthy acquirements and qualities, and liberty by claim.
lxxv. Three things better than all those : energetic reason,
patient courage, and a clear conscience.
lxxvI. The three demonstrations of the usefulness of knowlege :
wisdom, piety, and tranquillity.
lxxviI. Three persons whom it would not be discreet to believe
implicitly in what they might say : a man from a distance, a man
older than his neighbours, and a man that is volatile and su
perficial f.
lxxviiI. Three things that appertain to truth : that it signifies
, not what it may be that ought to be spoken ; that it signifies not
as to the time, place, or occasion, when it shall be spoken; and
that it signifies not what may follow from its being spoken.
Lxxix. Th8 three chief unconcealable traits of a person, and
by them he shall be known : the glance of his eye, the pronun
ciation of his speech, and the mode of his self-motion.
lxxx. Three things that shall not be obtained by loving and
coveting them overmuch : praise, easy life, and wealth.
TRIADS OF THE SOCIAL STATE +.
i. The three fundamental principles of a social state are pri
vilege, possession, and mutual compact.
* Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. p. 210.
f The original has this clothed in the proverbial phrase of " maen drot
iacn" or a stone over a sheet of ice.
\ These are the commencement of the. Institutional Tiiads of Dyvnwal
Moelmud, to which allusion was made in the Sth Number, p. 234. The
originals may be seen in the ArchaioVgy of Wales, vol. iii. p, 284, and «e
II. The three fundamental principles of a social compact are
protection, punishment, and pre-eminence, so far a* each is bene
ficial to country and clan.
iif. The three privileges and protections or asocial state : secu
rity of life and person; security of possession and dwelling ; se
curity of national right.
IV. Three things, that dissolve the social state : affection, fear,
and connections foreign to it.
v. Three things, that confirm the social state : effectual security
of property ; just punishment where it is due ; and mercy tem
pering justice where the occasion requires it in equity.
vI. Three things, that utterly destroy the social state : cruelty
instead of punishment ; mercy perverting justice through partia
lity ; and fraudulent judgment where a native or a stranger is
debarred of his right.
viI. The three pillars of a social state are sovereignty, the law
of the country, and distribution of justice.
vm. Three duties attached to each of these three pillars : justice
to all ; privilege and protection to all ; and competent regulations
for the benefit of the community as to instruction, information, and
record.
IX. The three elements of law are knowlege, national right, and
conscientiousness.
x. The three ornaments of a social state : the learned scho
lar, the ingenious artist, and the just judge.
XI. The three proofs of a judge: knowlege of the law; know
lege of the customs which the law does not supersede; and
knowlege of its times, and the business thereto belonging.
XII. Three things, which a judge ought always to study : equity
habitually ; mercy conscientiously ; and knowlege profoundly
and accurately.
in number 248. The translations, here given, »re a part of those left by
that distinguished scholar, the late Rev. Peter Roberts, of whom a Memoir
appeared in the Second Number of this work, and which he probably in
tended to produce at the Caermarthen Eistedvodd, if his life had been spar
ed so long. This collection will, perhaps, be published under the auspices
of the Institution receutly formed in London. The title, given them by Mr.
Roberts, was " Law Triads ;"—but the original name, Trkdd Gwladoldtb a
Chywladoldtb, means, in a liberal sense, Triads of the Social State. There
are other Triads of Dyvnwal, called Triodd y Cltalau, more curious, perhaps,
than these in their references to the ancient condition of society in this coun
try. These arc designed for insertion hereafter.—-Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
THE WISDOM OF CATWG*.
—«ess,—
ORIGIN OF KNOWLEGE.
There is no knowlege but from art :
There is no art but from system :
There is no system but from understanding :
There is no understanding but from exertion :
There is no exertion but from inquiry :
There is no inquiry but from a cause :
There is no cause but from want :
There is no want but from necessity :
There is no necessity but from God :
Therefore there is no knowlege but from Go».
ORIGIN OF VIRTUE.
There is no virtue but from love :
There is no love but from affection :
There is no affection but from pleasure :
There is no pleasure but from sympathy :
There is no sympathy but from meetness :
There is no meetness but from kind :
There is no kind but from sense :
There is no sense but from motive :
There is no motive but from advantage :
There is no advantage but from goodness :
There is no goodness but from God :
Therefore there is no virtue but from Gop.
BARDISM.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE INSTITUTION.
No correct notion can possibly be formed of the early state of
society in this island without previously understanding the nature
of that singular institution, generally known under the appella
tion of Druidism, but on which that of Bardismf may more
accurately be bestowed. The members of this institution were
at once the conservators of the literature, the laws, and the reM-
* Arch, of Wales, vol. iii. 27, 28.
f The Welsh name is Bnrdias.
THE CAMBRO-BKiTON.
gion of the country : they were its poets, its philosophers, and
its priests. And we are, moreover, indebted to them for such
authentic memorials, as still remain to us, of the history of
those early ages, in which the system prevailed in its primitive
purity. On every account, then, an investigation of the princi
ples and regulations of the Bardic Institution, as they are to be
collected from the Triads, and the concurrent testimony of an
cient writers, cannot fail to be interesting, and is, besides, con
nected, in a peculiar manner, with the design of this work.
The subject has, indeed, already undergone a very satisfac
tory elucidation * ; yet the real nature of Bardism is still far from
being generally understood. For the most part a bard is consi
dered as being merely a poet, though, in fact, his ancient
office was, more properly, that of supreme instructor. Yet,
as his maxims, whether ethical or theological, w'ere generally
delivered through the medium of song, poetry became an indis
pensable qualification : and hence the terms, poet and bard, grew
in time to be synonymous However, there was, in reality, this
essential distinction between them, that while the former was, as
the etymology of the name indicates f, a mere inventor of
fiction,—truth, and truth only, was the constant guide of the
latter. Poets, again, in all countries, and in all times, have
been subject only, in their effusions, to their own arbitrary ca
price, bound by no laws and unconnected by any mutual ties;—
but the bards, from the remotest period, were governed by a
uniform system of rules and discipline, to which, not only in the
operations of their mind, but in all the actions of their lives,
they were obliged 'to conform, as will appear from the summary
view, intended to be here taken, of the general principles of
the institution.
Of the origin of this ancient system it is impossible to form
any decided opinion, so much is it concealed in the mysterious
darkness of antiquity. But in the absence of all positive testi
mony there has been no deficiency of conjecture. Some have
considered Bardism to be coeval with the Pythagorean Philoso
phy in Greece, and others have not hesitated to trace its founda-
* The best treatise, that has yet appeared on the subject, is that by Mr.
' W. O. Pughe, prefixed to his Translation of Llywaroh Hen. There are also
many valuable notices in Mr. E. Williams'* " Lyrical Poems," published in
1794. The Dissei tatio de Bardis, by the Rev. E. Evans, may hkewise be
consulted.
f From the Greek TfJis:;, to make.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 44T-
tiort to the Patriarchal ages *. And, while the doctrine of Me
tempsychosis, which formed an essential part of the old bardic
creed, seems to justify the first supposition, the primitive simpli
city of the system in general appears more particularly to favour
the last. And, if it be true, that the oak was ever an object of
veneration among the Druids f, the peculiar regard, in which the
same tree was holden by the Patriarchs, and especially in the
time of Abraham \, serves to point out a conformity of custom,
that can hardly be considered as accidental. However, without
presuming to determine this point, it is unquestionable, that the
egtablishment of Bardism amongst the ancestors of the Cymry
was of very high antiquity. Some of the Triads of Dyvnwal
Moelmud §, noticed in a preceding page, as well as the Bardic
Triads, comprehending the laws and principles of the institution,
collected from the most ancient traditions, are a sufficient proof
of this. And, when the authorities adduced by foreign writers
are also considered, there can be no doubt, that the foundation
of Bardism in Britain was long antecedent to these times, which
are commonly called historical.
Among the writers of Greece and Rome, who make any par
ticular mention of the Bardic or Druidical Institution, are Caesar,
Diodorus Siculus, Strabo, Pliny, and Ammianus Marcellinus :
and of these Caesar must be regarded as the most authentic, from
having had the advantage of some degree of personal observa
tion. Yet, even Caesar does not take that full and satisfactory
view of the Institution, which a more intimate acquaintance with
the languages spoken in Britain and Gaul might have enabled
* Amongst these is Mr. Davies, the author of the " Celtic Researches,"
vho has offered some very judicious remarks in support of the hypothesis.
f The sacred character of the oak amongst the Druids, is particularly no
ticed by the elder Pliny.—Lib. 16, c. 4. The misletoe is also mentioned bv
the same author to have been holden in veneration, because usually found
in oak groves. Ovid allu'les, likewise, to this in the following line.
" * Ad viscum Druidaj', Druidae clamare solebant."
% Allusion is here made to the oaks of Mamre and Beersheba.—See Gen.
eh. xiit. v. 18, and eh. xxi. v. 33. The English version, however, which give*
us "plain" in one of these instances, and "grove" in the other, is not
considered to be an exact translation of the Hebrew. Oaks were also
in particular veneration amongst the Heathens. Witness Jupiter's Grove of
Dodona, the oaks of which were called pXJfJWU $pve(, or prophetic oaks.
See No. 7, of the Cambro-Beiton, p. 243, in the Note.
§ For some account of this ancient legislator, see No. 8, p. 4", and
No. 8, p. 284. A specimen of the T»iads, ascribed to him, also appears in
the present number.
448 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
him to do. This is apparent from his entire silence with respect
to the Bards, whom he altogether confounds with the Druids,
who formed, however, only a component part of the same system.
Yet he evidently assigns to the latter some characteristics, whicb
particularly belonged to the former. In this respect Strabo an'
Ammianus appear to have had more accurate information, from
the distinction which they draw between the respective orders.
Yet Ceesar's account, whatever may be its defect in particulars,
is, undoubtely, the most valuable for its general correctness.
It now becomes necessary to give a summary account of the
main design and fundamental principles of this venerable system,
as they are to be collected from the Institutional Triads already
adverted to*. And whatever correspondence may present itself
between these and the classical writers will be noticed, as such
an agreement must, in a historical view, be considered pecu
liarly valuable. But it ought to be premised, that this Insti
tution, which, according to the ancient documents of the Cymry,
was of a nature extremely simple, has been so enveloped by au
thors, ancient and modern, in mythological obscurity, so con
fused and so mysticised,—that the genuine form is hardly to be
recognised through the extraneous drapery, with which it has been
encumbered. One object of the following brief sketch is to restore
the portrait to its original simplicity.
Bardism, according to the Triads, was composed of three or
ders, Bardd, Ovydd and Derwydd, or, as the words may be ren
dered in English, Bard, Ovate, and Druid f. To each of these
orders was assigned its peculiar province : to the Bard to super
intend and regulate, to the Ovate to act from the impulses of ge-
* These institutes have bet n preserved traditionally amongst the Bards
from time immemorial. They were first formed into one collection in the
16th century at several General Meetings or Congresses held for that pur
pose. But the final revisal did not take place till 1681, when, at a Congress
at Bewpyr, under the patronage of Sir Richard Bassett, the Collection, be
fore made, was declared to be a complete illustration of Bardism, as anci
ently established in Britain.
f Various etymologies of these words have been offered ; but none of
them have yet been received as indisputable. Mr. Owen Pnghe derives
Bardd from Bar signifying elevated or conspicuous : aud Derwydd he con
siders to be formed from Dar and Gnydd, meaning " before or in presence."
Hence tbe place of bardic assembly was, sometimes, called Gnyddfa, or
the Place of Presence. Gnydd is, probably too, the root of Ofydd, which
may be a corruption of Go and Gnydd.—The Bard, Ovate, and Druid wore,
respectively, blue, green, and white robes, which are said to have been,
severally, emblems of truth, nature, and purity. The Ovate was, particu
larly, the poet or sage of the institution.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 449
nius, and to the Druid to instruct. The same orders are describ
ed by some ancient writers, both Greek and Latin, who use pre
cisely the same names*, although they do not exactly follow the
Welsh memorials, in the duties which they appropriate to them.
However, the mere conformity of the names is sufficient to vindi
cate the authority of the Triads ; and from which we farther learn,
that the Bards, by which general term all the members of the In
stitution are here implied, were entitled " Bards according to the
rights and institutes of the Isle of Britain f," first, because Bar-
dism originated in Britain, secondly, because it was never well
-understood elsewhere, and, thirdly, because it could only be pre
served by the particular customs and institutes adopted by the
Bards of the Isle of Britain. In conformity with this notion,
Caesar tells us, that Druidism had its foundation in this country,
from whence it was transported to Gaul J.
With respect to the great objects of this Institution we are in
formed, that " the three ultimate intentions of Bardism are to
reform morals and customs, to secure peace, and to praise all that is
good and excellent §," or, in other words, the general diffusion of
•benevolence and tranquillity. And, as a necessary consequence
.of those principles, it was incumbent on every member of the Insti
tution to possess, among other qualifications, irreproachable mo
rals, and also scrupulously to abstain from the use of arms unless
in cases of the most imperious necessity ||. To both these pecu
liarities Caesar bears witness ^J, where he says (to translate his
words), that " those, who are interdicted from the Institution, are
reckoned the most profligate of mankind, and whose company all
men avoid as if it were some contagious disorder ;" and shortly
* Strabo, Diodorus, and Pliny may be consulted on this point.
•)• There are not wanting instances in the present day of the assumption
of this ancient title. But, when the substance has so long disappeared, the
wisdom or propriety of thus attempting to retain the shadow may reason
ably be questioned. Genuine Bardism has been extinct for ages.
J Bell. Gall. Lib. 6, c. 13.
§ When no authority is mentioned for a quotation, it must be understood,
as in this instance, to be taken from the Triads.
|| This peculiarity of the Bardic Institution, united indeed with some
others, has occasioned a supposition, that the Society of Friends or Quakers,
might have originated with the Bards. And the circumstance of two Welsh
men being employed by George Fox, in the formation of his system, has
given a countenance to this conjecture, in addition to which it has even been
said, that a similar sect was previously known in South Wales under the
name of " Seekers."
f Bell. Gall. Lib. 6, c. 11 et 14.
VOL. f. 3 m
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
afterwards he observes, that " the Druids are exempt from all
military payments, and are excused from serving in wars." It
is clear, therefore, that the primitive design of Bardism was in the
highest degree praiseworthy. It was, indeed, the promotion of
charity and good will amongst men, for which reason it has been
very plausibly represented as an edifice reared on the basis of the
Patriarchal religion, " for the purpose of superseding the neces
sity of a recourse to arms, in the contentions of independent
states, and of restraining the excesses of individuals without the
aid of penal statutes*."
With a view to the attainment of these laudable ends of the
Institution there were certain principles, particularly cultivated
by its members, some of which deserve to be here noticed. The
most remarkable was a strict adherence to truth, which was so
zealously observed, and especially in their poetical character,
that even satire was prohibited, or accounted as one of their
" three necessary and reluctant duties" in cases of extreme ne
cessity. Hence " pure truth, pure language, and pure manners"
were regarded as the " three indispensable purities of poetry."
And, so paramount was this principle considered, that Y Gwir
yn erbyn y Byd, or Truth against the World, was the invariable
motto and rule of the Institution.
Next to this may be mentioned the free and full investigation
of all matters, relating to knowlege and wisdom, that fell beneath
their inquiry. With reference to this it was an unalterable
maxim amongst the Bards, coeliaio dim a clioeliaw pob peth,
literally, to believe nothing, and to believe every thing, but, in
a more ample sense, to believe nothing, that had not the support
of reason and truth, and to believe every thing, that had this test
in its favour. And such a maxim must be admitted to have been
particularly conducive to the establishment of useful knowlege on
a firm and durable basis.
The publicity oftheir actions, another principle adopted by the
members of this system, was also particularly regarded. Hence,
it became a rule, that their meetings were always to be holden in
the open air, in a conspicuous situation, and while the sun was
above the horizon, or, according to the Bardic maxim, yn wyneb
haul, a Uygad goleuni, in the face of the sun, and in the eye of
light. The place, usually selected for this purpose, was as central
at possible, a circumstance, to which Caesar also alludes in the
* Celtic Researches, p. 1T1.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 451
following passage *, in reference to the Druidioal assemblies in
Gaul.—" At an appointed period in every year they have a ge
neral meeting in the territory of the Carnutes, which lies about the
middle of Gaul,, in a grove f consecrated for the occasion. To this
place all persons resort, who have any controversies to be deter- .
mined, and where they submit to the judgment, delivered by the
Druids."—At these public assemblies, called in Welsh Gorseddau,
it was always necessary that the Bardic traditions should be re
cited ; and, as this custom is supposed to have been regularly
continued until the extinction of Bardism, it accounts for the
veneration, in which the songs and aphorisms of the Bards have
ever been esteemed in Wales. It also stamps on, these produc
tions a character for authenticity, far superior to that of most
ancient compositions, and must have proved, moreover, an infal
lible security against their falsification, since they were always
published, according to the emphatical language of the Welsh
maxim, " in the face of the sun and in the eye of light J,"
Such were the most prominent features of this very singular esta
blishment. Originating, as it did, in a period of the most remote
antiquity, it appears to have been reared on a basis at once simple
and, in the last degree, durable. Its objects were of the purest,
indeed of the noblest, description,—the advancement of morality
and peace, and the celebration of excellence ; while, for the pro
motion of these great ends, the means employed were both natural
* Bell. Gall. Lib. 6, c. 13 et 14.
f It is questionable, perhaps, whether the word, in the original, ought in
this place to be luco or loco. The edition, from which this translation is
made, adopts the former, which is, accordingly, preserved in the English.
But the bardic traditions make no allusion to meetings in groves, but are,
on the contrary, as has just been seen, in direct variance with such a practice.
However, there is no doubV that groves were used by the Pagans, from the
earliest ages, as temples ; and, so general was the custom, that the words
became at length synonymous. Accordingly, Strabo tells us, that all sacred
places were called groves. AAoT] KaXovffi ra itpa, tfavra.—Geogr. Lib. 9.
In this sense too the word occurs sometimes in Scripture, as in 1st Kings,
ph. xv, v. 13. A vast fund of curious learning may be collected on this
subject.
J This practice of publicly reciting the bardic traditions may serve to ex
plain another passage in Caesar, more than once alluded to in the' progress
of this work, in which he speaks of the disciples of the Institution " not be
ing allowed to commit to writing what they were taught." This was, most
probably, in the first place, to maintain oral tradition in its original purity,
and,- as an object necessary to this, to encourage, according to Caesar's just
remark, a ret^ntiveness of memory, which the habit of tt listing to written
documents could not have failed to impair.
452 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
and peculiarly efficacious. Hence it was that wisdom and sound
knowlege were successfully cultivated amongst the ancient
Bards, and history, in a great measure, secured from those
forgeries and corruptions, which have, in the early career of other
nations, perverted its aim and made its utility problematical *.
But, after all, much caution is necessary in the examination of
this ancient system, so as, on the one hand, to divest it of the
mythological characteristics, which have been ignorantly assigned
to it by some, and to disentangle it, on the other, from the meta
physical perplexities, in which a few of its too zealous admirers
have involved it. Yet, notwithstanding the obvious hazard of
the task, an attempt will, hereafter, be made to investigate th6
religious and poetical nature of the Bardic Institution, as well as
to take an historical view of its establishment in this country ; and
to which the present account may be considered as introduc
tory.
• **
BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIRS.
THE LATE REVEREND ELIEZER WILLIAMS.
The Rev. Eliezer Williams, A.M. Vicar of Lampeter, Car
diganshire, and Head Master of the Licensed Grammar School in
that town, was the eldest son of the late Rev. Peter Williams of
Carmarthen. lie was born in the parish of Llandevegley in that
county, about the year 1754, and after, having been well ground
ed in the rudiments of the Latin grammar under the late Rev. J.
Williams, at that time Curate of St. Ismael's, he was sent, when
about eleven or twelve years of age, to the Carmarthen Free
Grammar School, which was then ably conducted by that eminent
classic and excellent scholar the late Rev. W. H. Barker, A. M.
Vicar of Carmarthen. Here he soon made considerable progress
in his studies, and was noticed by his master as a boy of very
considerable parts and uncommon talents. He continued under
the care of this able instructor, beloved by him and caressed by
his schoolfellows, and frequently giving proofs of his future emi-.
* One of the most effectual means adopted, under the Bardic system, for
preserving history in its genuine purity was the form of the Triad, upon the
general advantages of which a few observations were offered in the first
Number ef this publication. See also No. 6, p. 424.
THE CAMBRO-BPJTON. 458
nence, until he was of age to be removed to the University, when
he became a member of Jesus College, in Oxford.
While he was at school he assisted his father in the publication
of his Annotations on the Welsh Bible, and of his Concordance,
which was the first ever published in that language ; and the He
brew words and explanatory notes on the proper names in the latter
were exclusively his own. These two books have since under
gone several editions, and have been of incalculable benefit to the
natives of the Principality. About the year 1770, that distin
guished Welsh scholar and bard, the late Rev. Evan Evans {alias
Prydydd Hir), author of " Specimens of Ancient Welsh Poetry"
and various other publications, was in the habit of making fre
quent visits to his father, during which time Mr. Eliezer Williams
contracted an intimate acquaintance with him, and in consequence
cultivated a particular knowlege of his native language, to which
he became greatly attached. About this time also his father pro
moted the publication of a Welsh Magazine, denominated
" Eurgrawn Cymraeg." This was the first periodical work that
ever appeared in that language ; it was chiefly conducted by him
and one Evan Thomas, a Welsh poet from Montgomeryshire, then
resident at Carmarthen. This Magazine contained, first, Brut y
Tywysogion, or History of the Welsh Princes ; 2dly, Disserta
tions and Remarks on various Subjects ; ' 3dly, Poetry ; 4thly,
News, foreign and domestic. The poetical department contained
some of the compositions of Ieuan Brydydd Hir, Hugh Hughes,
and Robert Hughes of Anglesey, John Thomas and his son
Evan Thomas, of Montgomeryshire, Iorwerth ab Gwilim alias
Iolo Morganwg, and many others. Here also some of our
young poet's first effusions made their appearance ; and it seems,
that he had acquired such a perfect knowlege of his native lan
guage at this time, and was so thoroughly grounded in its struc
ture and rudiments, that, although he never resided in Wales,
and indeed very seldom even visited the Principality from the
time he left Oxford until he was fifty years of age, he could both
speak and write it as correctly as when he first quitted his native
county.
Soon after he left Oxford, he became Assistant Master of the
Free School at Wellingford in Berkshire, under Mr. Burges, and
was Curate of Mongewell near that town, where the present
venerable and amiable Bishop of Durham (Dr. Barrington, then
Bishop of Salisbury) frequently resided, who attended his minis
try, and in a most friendly manner invited him frequently to his
4.14 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
house, conversed with him most familiarly on various subjects,
and soon discovered, that he was a young man of great informa
tion and uncommon abilities. And, when his Lordship was exalt
ed to his present distinguished situation in the Church, he very
kindly proposed to take Mr. Williams along with him, and to
make him one of his Chaplains, a proposal which Mr. William*
ever afterwards regretted that he had not accepted. He had,
however, at this time other objects in view, having an inclina
tion, like most young men, to see a little of the world ; and, a
war with France having commenced, an offer was made him,
which just suited his wishes, viz. that of becoming Chaplain on
board the Cambridge man of war (Admiral Keith Stewart), and
of being tutor to the present Earl of Galloway, then Lord Garlies.
He accepted this appointment with pleasure, and continued some
years at sea, and was with Lord Howe at the relief of Gibraltar,
and on other occasions. At the request of the late Lord Galloway
he quitted that situation, and became tutor to his Lordship's chil
dren at Galloway House, where he resided upwards of eight years ;
during which time he was, through the interest of his Lordship,
presented by the Lord Chancellor Thurlow to the vicarage of
Caio in Llansawel, in the county of Carmarthen When he was
at Galloway House, he became acquainted with a French Refugee
Lady (Miss Anne Adelaide Grebert, a native of Nancy in Lor*
raine), whom he married in London about the year 1792. This
Lady died in the year 1796, and was buried, with a fine little
boy, in the Cannongate, Edinburgh, where Mr. Williams was
then resident, being employed by Lord Galloway to search for
papers, in order to make out some part of the Stewart pedigree;
and he was so far successful in these researches, that his Lordship
was soon afterwards, in consequence of his claim being made ap,
parent, created an English Peer.
In the course of a few years the subject of this brief memoir
went to London, and became Secretary and Chaplain to an
elderly gentleman of considerable property ; and it was here he
became acquainted with his second wife, Jane Amelia Nugent,
daughter of St. George Armstrong, Esq. of Drumsna, in Ireland,
then holding a commission in the Westmoreland Militia. Unfor
tunately for him, this Lady had been expensively brought up,
though without any independent fortune, and had been accus
tomed to indulge in fashionable gaiety and "dissipation ; in con
sequence of which she soon involved him and his family in such
difficulties and embarrassments, that, with all his prudence, inde-r
THE CAMBRO-BR1TON. 455
fatigable exertions, and application to the drudgery of a school,
he was never afterwards able to extricate himself. Soon after
his last marriage, he took lodgings in Rathbone-place, Oxford-
street, and served several Curacies in and about London. Here
Captain and Mrs. Armstrong not only visited him frequently,
but continued to live with him some time ; and, in order to gratify
their taste for amusements and dissipation, he was imprudently
prevailed upon to plunge into all the expense of such a mode of
life. Being at length, however, aware of his error, he retired to
Chadwell, near Grays, in Essex, which Curacy he served for
several years, and where two or three of his children were born.
Yet here he was not able to retrench, or to live more economi
cally, owing to the thoughtless extravagance already alluded to;
and, as he perceived that he was involving himself in fresh diffi
culties, he came to the resolution of going to reside upon his
small living of Caio, in Carmarthenshire, from which he had
never received more than 130/., after deducting his Curate's
salary and all other expenses.
About this time, 1805, the Vicarage of Lampeter, in Cardi
ganshire, became vacant, to which he was presented by the pre
sent worthy and excellent Bishop of St. David's, and here he
continued to reside until the time of his death ; and it would be
desirable, that some of his friends in that part of the Principality
would supply you with an account of this latter period of his life.
It is reported, that his pupils have it in contemplation to erect a
monument to his memory ; and it may be hoped, that this plan
will soon be carried into execution.—A very handsome subscrip
tion has already been commenced for the relief of his children,'
who have been left in very distressed circumstances. '
Maridunensis.
TOPOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
PARISH OF LLAN-SILIN, IN THE COUNTY OF
DENBIGH.
[Concluded.]
§. 9. Owain Glyndwr.—His Claim to the Principality.
—2. The second point to be discussed is the claim, that Owain
Glyndwr had to the Principality of Wales, as being descended
from its lawful and acknowleged Princes.
456 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Dr. Powell says *, " By these pedigrees it is evident that the
title which Owain Glyndwr pretended to the Principality of
Wales was altogether frivolous ; for he was not descended of the
house of North Wales by his father, but of a younger brother of
the house of Powys." Again :—" I know none, which are law
fully descended from Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, but such as are
come out of the house of Mortimer ; in the which house, by or
der of descent, the right of the inheritance lieth."
From such assertions as these Dr. Powell appears to have been
a Vicar of Bray, as well as the Vicar of Rhiw-Vabon f. He
might have known, that some of the oldest and best genealogists
maintain, that Gruffydd, son of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, was not
base born, and that Davydd ab Llywelyn, his half brother, suc
ceeded his father in the Principality, to the exclusion of Gruffydd,
owing entirely to his superior interest with his uncle Henry III.,
king of England. Then, Gruffydd being legitimate, his son
Llywelyn must have a claim paramount to that of the Mortimers
descended from Gwladus, the sister of Gruffydd. Catherine,
daughter of the last Llywelyn, by Eleanor, daughter of Simon
de Montfort, married Philip ab Ivor, lord of Iscoed, in Cardigan
shire, and had issue Eleanor Goch, who married Tomas ab Lly
welyn, a lineal descendant of Rhys ab Tewdwr, Prince of South
Wales, and had issue Helen, who married Gruffydd Vychan,
lord of Glyndyfrdwy and Cynllaith, who had issue, among others,
Owain Glyndwr.
When Owain Tudur married Catherine, widow of Henry V.,
much declamation was used to vilify his descent. Even, in later
times, Rapin says—" It is pretended, that this gentleman was de
scended from the ancient kings of Wales ; but I do not know
whether his extraction be well made out." His translator,
Tindal, adds—" It is likewise said, that he was the son of a
brewer." To mend the matter a little, Tindal goes on—" but
the meanness of his extraction was made up by the delicacy of
his person, being reckoned the handsomest man of his time J."
It seems, that these historians knew nothing of the commission
issued by Henry VII., and directed to the Abbot of Llanegwest,
Dr. Owen Pool, Canon of Hereford, and others, to search dili-
* Hist, of Wales, let edition, p. 318.
f Commonly pronounced and spelt Ruabon.—En.
% Edit. 8vo. 1729, vol. v. p. 806.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 457
gently the archives of Wales, that he might know who his grand
father was. The commissioners made a full return, which has been
published in an Appendix to Wynn's History of Wales : they
did not find, it is true, that Owain Tudur was descended from
the Great Mogul, or from the Khan of Tartary ; but they found
him of higher descent—from persons of the most exalted rank,
princes and kings of their own country. A higher descent than
this no son of Adam can boast.
What pedigrees were honourable to Owain Tudur were equally
so to Owain Glyndwr ; for they were near relations, as is appa
rent from the following sketches.
Edwin, the sixth among the fifteen tribes of Wales, was stiled
prince or king of Englefield. He was great grandson of Hywel
Dda, Prince of Wales, and had his residence at Llys Llan Eur-
gain *, about the year 1041. From him descended Ithel Vychan,
son of Ithel Llwyd.
Ithel Vychan.
3.
4.
2.
Tudur,
Gronwy,
Meredydd,
2. Gruffydd o'r Rhuddallt,
I
3. GrufTyyd Vychan,
4. Owain Glyndwr.
Owain Tudor.
'omas= Eleanor Goch, grand-daughter of Llywelyn,
Prince of Wales.
* Northop, in Flintshire.
VOi-. J. 3 N
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
111.
Three Royal Tribes centering in Owain Glyndwr.
t. 2. 3.
Bleddyn ah Cynvyn, Rhys ab Tewdwr, Gruffydd ab Cynan,
of Powys.
Meredyd,
I
Madog,
I
Gruffydd Maelor,
of S. Wales.
Gruffydd,
I
Arglwydd Rhys,
1
Rhys Gryg,
of N. Wales.
Owain Gwynedd,
I
lorwerth Drwyndwn,
I
Llywelyu,
i i i
Madog, Rhys Mechell, Gruffydd abLlywelyn
I 1 , I
Gruffydd, dinas Bran, Rhys Vychan, = Gwladus.
I
Gruffydd Vychan,
I
Madog Gloff, Margarpl
I
Madog Vychan,
I
Gruffydd o'r Rhuddalll,
I
Gruffydd Vychan,
I
Owain Glyndwr.
More might be added ; but these three are enow. Though
Glyndwr descended maternally from the Princes of North and
South Wales; yet, as the Salic law was never acknowleged in
Britain, his natural right to the Principality was valid, in default
of superior claims by collateral descendants in the male line.
3. We come now to the third point to be discussed, the loco-
position of the " Sycharth, buarth y Beirdd," of Iolo Goch ;
which undoubtedly was a mansion of Owain Glyndwr. Mr-
Pennant, in the Index to his Tour of Wales, has " Sycharth,
the seat of Owain Glyndwr ;" and, in following his reference to
the page, we find him describing it as situate in' the valley of
the Dee, three miles below Corwen ; and he makes no hesitation
in concluding, that there the spirited chieftain was visited by his
devoted bard.
In the year 1792 I had the curiosity to visit this spot in Glyn-
dyfrdwy, and also another place called, and universally known
by the name of, Sycharth, in this parish of Silin : and, when I
returned to Mr. Pennant's volume, I entered in the margin,
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
opposite the name Sycharth—" Sycharth, the seat of Owaiii
Glyndwr, described by Iolo Goch, in his Invitation Poem, is iri
the parish of Llan-Silin, about twelve miles to the south by east
of Glyndyfrdwy —and I am still more and more confirmed in
this opinion.
However, to bring this point to an issue, let us appeal to the
written testimony of the 14th century, which is to be found in
the poem by Iolo Goch. This visit by the bard was several
years before the insurrection of 1400, as Glyndwr's children are
described, in the Invitation Poem, as infants and half-grown,
introduced in pairs, by their mother, to the venerable stranger ;
•whereas, during the conflict, which commenced in 1400, some of
the daughters were married, and the sons were of age and cou
rage to take the field, and to fall, in their father's cause.
Let us examine the Invitation Poem, &c. part by part.—;
1. The name of the mansion :—In one poem the place is called
" Sycharth, buarth y beirdd."—i. e. " Sycharth, where bards
throng." In the poem in question occurs,—" Na syched fyth yri
Sycharth :"—i. e. " Thirst is a privatipn unknown in Sycharth."
. As Owain was baron of two lordships, no one will deny his hav
ing a seat in each ; one on the Dee in Glyndyfrdwy, the other
on the Cynllaith in this parish. The only question to be de
cided is—in which of the two mansions the chieftain resided,
when he was visited by the veteran bard, who wrote the poem,
so fully descriptive of the house and its appendages. The scite
of his seat in Llan-Silin has been called Sycharth time out of
mind, and is not now known by any other name. The whole
township is called Sycharth, in every court-leet, and in every
parochial document. The scite of his residence in Glyndyfrdwy,
or the moat surrounding it, is called Pwll Eingl *. Since the
publication of Mr. Pennant's Tour of Wales, arid the Poem by
Mr. Rhys Jones, both in the year 1773, the idea may have been
considerably circulated, that this spot at Pwll Eingl must have
been the Sycharth described by Iolo Goch ; as it was never sus
pected, not even by the eagle-eyed and correct Mr. Pennant,
that the illustrious chieftain had any other baronial mansion than
that in the valley, which gave him his surname of Glyndyfrdwy,
and contractedly Glyndwr.
2. " Ty pren glan, yn nhop bryn glas."
" A fair house of wood, on the summit of a green hillock."
• I am obliged to the Rev. Mr. Beans, who resides near the spot, for
much information on the subject under discussion,
460 THE CAMBRO-BtUTON.
. —j
At both places the scite is surrounded by a moat. On the
Dee the area, enclosed by it, is forty-six paces by twenty-six :
" it is not on a tumulus, but the ground is a little raised." At
Sycharth the scite is a circle of thirty paces diameter ; on the
summit of an artificial tumulus, which is surrounded by the
moat, six yards wide, and about the same in depth from the top
of the mound. To the west, bordering on the moat, is a pro-'
pugnaculum in the form of a lunette, about three hundred paces
from point to point, and about thirty over, for the purpose of
defending the bridge over the moat, when necessary: the
whole on the summit of a natural round hillock, shelving on all
sides. The bard has been very particular in describing the plan
of the house, and its outbuildings, chapel, dove-house, &c. A
person, well acquainted with the varieties of ancient architecture,-
might favour the. readers of the Cambro-Briton with an ichno-
graphy and elevation of the mansion, from the helps afforded'
by the bard in this poem.
3. " Gerllaw 'r llys
Pawr ceirw mewn pare arall."
" The deer graze in another park, adjoining the palace."
" On the Dee, adjoining the scite of the palace, are two in
cisures ; one is called Pare Isa, the other, Pare. The Pare Isa
is small, but the other Pare is from seventy to eighty acres."
In Cynllaith, the next house to Sycharth, on the south-east,,
is a place called Pare Sycharth, with a farm attached to it.
This is at the southern end of an extensive wood, which occupies
the escarpment of a rocky hill, also called Pare Sycharth, and
may have been the Pare Owning (the rabbit warren) of the
bard. At the northern end of the same wood are a few houses
called Pentre y Own, where the master of the buck, hounds to his
barony and his assistants resided.
4. " Melin deg, ar ddifreg ddwr."
" A fair mill on a perennial stream."
There are no vestiges of such an appendage oh the Dee. At
Sycharth there is, on the perennial rivulet Cynllaith, close at
the foot of the hillock, whereon the palace stood, a mill, formerly
called Melin Sycharth; but owing to the grist-mill being lately
converted into a fulling-mill, it is now called Pandy Sycharth.
5. " Pysgodlyn."
A fo rhaid i fwrw rhwydau."
" A fish-pond to cast nets into." a
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 461
" On the Dee, there are no traces of fish-ponds." At Sy
charth, between the palace and the wood (the " pare owning")
the ichnography of two fish-ponds, one above the other, is still
visible ; though now much filled with an accumulation, in a state
of transition from aquatic vegetables into an imperfect peat.
This matter is several feet deep on the original base of the
ponds. The water could not be very abundant; and what
formerly supplied the ponds has now been diverted into other
channels, by the operation of draining. The fish, which stocked
the ponds, the bard informs us, were pike and whiting ; each
species probably separate, the whiting, says Mr. Pennant,
from Bala Lake; •
6. u Dwyri blaenffrwyth cwrw Amwythig."
Among a variety of beverages enumerated by the bard,
" Shrewsbury Ale" is included. That town, in former times,
was much commended for its excellent mode of brewing. Even
now its malt is in request in distant parts—" o Lundain i Iyn
Cawellyn." Cwrw Amuythig could be conveyed with greater
facility to Sycharth than to Glyndyfrdwy. At the latter mansion
the bard would have had occasion, probably, to chaunt the enco
mium of Cwrw Caer Lleon *.
I trust, that it will now be conceded by our neighbours on the
banks of the Dee, that Owain Glyndwr was, at least, an inhabitant
of Cynllaith ; especially at the time he was visited by the cele
brated bard Iolo Goch, who in after times, by his war-songs,
roused the hero and his countrymen to arms.
A glossary on these war-songs, by Iolo and others, would be
curious and interesting ; and, for want of such a key, many pas
sages in them are dark and inexplicable.
How long his mansions stood, at Glyndyfrdwy and Cynnlaith,
after the fall of their owner, is not now known. As they were of
timber, and not inhabited, they must soon have fallen to decay.
There are now no vestiges at either place. The scite at Sycharth
has of late been ploughed many times, without having any relics
discovered. A few nails, and fragments of stones, bearing the
* But perhaps I may be mistaken on this point, as Chester Ale was not
famous in former days. Hear a good judge on the subject:— ' •
" Naws eidralf meddal, yn rneddwi—Saison
Naws eisin a bryntni;
Naws tair afon ts trefi,
Nawj cwrw Caer—ni's car ci !"
Sion Tudur, 1370.
f Ground-ivy.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
marks of ignition, are the only remains that I saw. It is not
probable, that the house was burned, as the ploughed soil contains
no fragments of charcoal.
Glyndwr's first act of open hostility was on the 20th of Sep
tember 1400, when he sacked and burned the town of Ruthin.
Henry IV., on the 8th of November following, escheated all his
estates in Wales, and made a grant of them to his own brother,
John, Earl of Somerset *. Glyndwr, at this time, thought such a
grant as preposterous as if his Majesty had granted his brother
an estate in the moon. However, the predictions of the bards
deceived, and fortune at length forsook, our hero. His posses
sions for a time continued in the hands of the Somersets. Thirty-
three years after the grant was made in their favour, in the 1 1th
of Henry VI., Sir John Scudamore, of Kent-Church, Knight, in
right of Alicia his wife, daughter and heir of Owain Glyndwr,
brought an action at law for the recovery of the manors of
Glyndyfrdwy and Cynllaith, which was opposed by the Earl of
Somerset, son of the grantee, then a prisoner in France*, and,
• Rymei's Fcedera, viii. 163.
* This Earl of Somerset had been taken prisoner by the Earl of Buchan
at the unfortunate action at Beauge, in Prance, 3d of April, 1421; and
was not released till the year 1433, when he was exchanged for the Earl
of Eu, of the house of Artois, who had been a prisoner in England since the
battleof Agincourt, in 1415. Among the slain at Bauge, on the side of the
English, were the Duke of Clarence, brother to Henry the 5th, the Earl of
Kent, the Lord Ross, and the Lord Grey of Powys. There is extant, in
MS., a well written Elegy, in Welsh, on the death of this Lord of Powys, by
an anonymous bard. The poem begins—
" Gwae wlad oer, gwilio derwen,
Darffo i wynt dori 'i phen !" &c.
I should be obliged to some brother correspondent for the name of the au
thor, who must have been either one of the cavalry at the battle of Bauge,
or present at the funeral of Lord Grey at Welshpool j for he says—
** Och ban fum uwch ben ei fedd,
Rhoi fy nhroed ar Panrhydedd ! "
As the Earl of Salisbury came up in time to rescue the body of the Duke of
Clarence from the Scots, which he sent to the King his brother in England,
it is possible that the body of the Lord Grey might have been sent at ths
same time, to be entombed at Welshpool ; and the bard seems to insinuate
as much, when he mentions his lady's distress upon the occasion, who was
Joan, daughter and co-heiress of the last of the Charltons of Powys.
Iarlles fro Went, ar llys fraith,
Ac mor wan—a'i marw unwaith ;
Arlloes floedd, a'rllais flwng,
Hyd trwy allor y Trallwng.
It seems by this, that the Lord Grey was buried in the chancel of Pool
Church.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
as might be expected, considering the quality and circumstances
of the respective parties, with success.
The Duke of Somerset was attainted the 1st of Edward IV., in
1461—pardoned in 1462—and, for joining Margaret the Queen
of Henry VI., beheaded in 1463. Edmund his brother, then
Duke of Somerset, fled beyond the seas. In the same year, Ed
ward IV., having in vain offered a pardon to all the friends of the
house of Lancaster, who would make their submission, and swear
allegiance' to him by a given time, confiscated their estates. It
was at this time, most probably, that the possessions of Owain
Glyndwr, hitherto in the hands of the Somersets, were alienated,
- —the Lordship of Cynllaith Owain, in this parish, to the owner
of the Llangedwyn estate, now the property of Sir W. W.
Wynn, Bart. ; and the Lordship of Glyndyfrdwy to Robert Sa
lisbury, Esq. of Rug,—and from him, and the succeeding Salis-
burys—the Pughes of Mathafarn in Montgomeryshire—the Pryces
of Gogerddan in Cardiganshire—to the present Lord of Glyn
dyfrdwy, Gruffydd Hywel Vychan, Esq. of Rug. Mr. Yorke, in
his Royal Tribes, p. 64, may have been mistaken in saying, that
these lordships were sold by Henry IV., as, for the reasons above
given, it is more apparent, that they were disposed of by Edward
JV. in the confiscation of the Somerset possessions in 1463.
. " • Omitting, for the present, any further anecdotes relative to
• pur parishioner Glyndwr—the modes of incitement made use of
by the bards to rouse their " Maby Darogan" to action—and to
prevail upon him to continue the struggle for national liberty,
even when but faint hopes of success remained—
" Na weinia gledd—Owain y Glyn," &c.
J shall conclude this account of him, and of the parish where he
occasionally resided, with only noticing the discrepancies of
writers respecting the time of his death, some dating it earlier,
pthers later. Rapin says, " It is certain that he lived till the year
1417." We must prefer Welsh authority upon this point ;
which is, that he sunk under a pressure of anxiety and disap
pointment at the house of one of his two daughters, Scudamore
or Monington, in Herefordshire, on the eve of St. Mathew, Sept.
20, 1415. A Welsh Englyn preserves the year of his rising, as
■well as the year of his death, without scarcely a possibility of
mistake, thus—
Mil, a phedwar-cant, nid mwy—cof ydyw
Cyfodiad Glyndyfrdwy ;
A phymtheg, prafF ei saflwy,
Bu Owain hen byw yn hwy.
464 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
APPENDIX A.
Some Memoranda of the Civil War in North Wales, written
at the time, by Mr. Win. Maurice, of Llan-Silin, extracted from
the Wynnstay Manuscripts.
1644.
Nov. 29. " The Parlm" burnt Mathavarn, in Mountg", and
made that part of the country conformable to the rest.
1645.
Aug. 2.—" The Montgomeryshire forces invaded Meirionydd-
shyre, and lay for a time at Dolgelle. The same day the
King's forces burnt Ynys y Maengwyn lest the Parlm"
should find any harbour there.
" The same clay E. V. fortified a new garrison * at
Aber Marchand.
Aug. 21. " The Montgom" forces invaded again Meirionydd-
shyre, and lay for a week at Bala, until they were driven
out of the country by Sir John Owen and the North
Wales men.
" In this voyage the Parlm" burnt Caer Gai f.
Sept. 21. " The King passed through Mountgomeryshyre, and
lay that night at Llan Fyllin. The next day, the 22d
Sept., the King marched from Llan Fyllin by Brithdir,
where he dined, and gave proclamation among his soul-
diers, that they should not plunder any thing in Denby-
shire, and thence through Mochnant toCevn hirFynydd,
and so along the tops of the mountains to Chirk Castle.
The rest of the forces marched to Llan-Silin. The next
day after, being Tuesday, the King advanced towards
- ' Chester.
Sept. 24. " Being Wednesday, the King's forces were routed
by the Parlm" army in a place called Rowton Moor.
" From Chester the King retreated to Denbigh Castle,
and, having layed there two or three nights, retourned
to Chirk Castle. The next morning, viz. 29 7bris, he
advanced from thence with his army through Llan-Silin,
and quartered that night in Halchdyn J, and so passed
through Mountgomeryshyre towards Ludlow.
* The house, then fortified, is still called by the name of Y Garr'u; it is
in the parish of Llanwdddyn, opposite Cynon isa.
.f Caer Gai, supposed to have been a Roman station, was at this time the
seat of Rowland Vychan, Esq. a staunch loyalist, who suffered much in the
royal cause.—See Cambro-Briton, No. 6, p. 231, Note.—En.
t Halchdyn is in Deuddwr, between the rivers Havren and Vyrnry, and
star Llandrinio. The name of the place has been anglicised into HaughtoB
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
1616
Feb. 23. " The Montgomeryshire forces began to fortifie Llan-
Silin Church for the straightninge and keepinge in of
Chirk Castle men, where Sir John Watts was Govnoure ;
who, shortly after, deserting the Castle, and marchinge
towards the King's army with all his garrision, were
taken by the men of Montgomery Castle after a hotte
bickeringe in Church Stoke Churche, the first day of
Marche, 1646."
Idris.
THE MISCELLANIST.—No. VI.
It may be proper to mention, that the following picturesque
description of the practice of burning the furze and heath on the
Welsh mountains forms part of a work, designed for publication,
as before noticed in the Cambro-Briton *, under the title of
" Cambrian Sretches," and to the writer of which the
" Sketches of Society " and the " Miscellanist " have been in
debted for many interesting contributions.
* *
FURZE-FIRING.
The fire, when kindled by our shepherds, moves
Through the dry heath, before the fanning wind.
Douglas.
It is customary in Merionethshire, as it is in other parts of
the kingdom, to remove, at a certain season of the year, the
furze and stunted heath, with which the hills are so plenteously
covered, in order to provide for the cattle a more salutary and
acceptable winter pasture. Their removal is effected by fire, and
in Wales the season for consuming them is generally about No
vember or December. It is by no means a custom of modern
date, nor is its use peculiar to our country ; for we find that
it is practised in Italy, and precisely under similar circumstances.
" They still use the method of burning the stubble" (we are in
formed), " especially in the more barren fields, in most parts of
Italy, and about Rome in particular, where there is so much bad
ground f." It is evident that the Italians inherit this custom from
their ancestors, the Romans ; and it is perhaps equally clear,
* No. 7. p. 279.
f Holdsnorth, Author of the Mustipula.
Vol. I. 3 0
466 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
that the Britons became acquainted with it by the same means.
Virgil, in his Georgics, has described the practice as it existed
among the Romans, and the following is the description alluded
to:—
Ssepe etiam steriles incendere profuit agros,
Atque levem stipulam crepitantibus urere flammis.
Sive inde occultos vires et pabula terrae
Pinguia concipiunt : sive illis omne per ignem
Excoquitur vitium, atque exudat inutilis humor :
Seu piures calor ille vias, et caeca relaxat
Spiramenta, novas veniat qua succus in herbas: . .
Seu durat inagis, et venas astringit hiantes :
Ne tenues pluvise ; rapidive potentia solis
Acrior, aut Bores penetrabile frigus adurat.
Gbohg. Lib. i. v. 84 et seq.
Long practice has a sure improvement found,
With kindled fires to burn the barren ground;
When the light stubble, to the flames resigned,
Is driven alpng, and crackles in the wind.
Whether from hence the hollow womb of earth
Is warmed with secret strength for better birth ;
Or, when the latent vice is cured by fire,
Redundant humours through the pores expire ;
Or that the warmth distends the chinks, and makes
New breathings, whence new nourishment she takes,
Or that the latent heat the gaping ground constrains, -
New knits the surface, and new strings the veins, ,
Lest soaking showers should pierce her secret seat,
Or freezing Boreas chill her genial heat,
Or scorching suns too violently beat.
Drvden's Translation.
Furze-firing, I well remember, was a favourite pursuit of mine,
when a boy, and roving amongst the wild hills in the south-western
part of Merionethshire. In the dark and gloomy winter nights
I was accustomed, with two or three of my young friends, and
under the care and guidance of an aged and experienced shep
herd, to sally forth for the purpose above specified. We had
generally the clearing of one particular hill in view, and, if the
wind was favourable, we accomplished our task without much toil
or difficulty. There is something extremely grand and beautiful
in a scene of Furze-firing. The flames at first scarcely rise
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 467
above the surrounding heath-bushes ; but, as they gather strength
and brilliancy from an augmentation of fuel, they burn brightly,
illuminating rock, mountain, and valley, with their red and glow
ing glare. Now the light diminishes to a small and scarcely
discernible speck; now it spreads before the wind with asto
nishing rapidity, brightning and enlarging in its progress, the
broad bickering flame rendering the adjoining objects distinctly
visible, till they are consigned to utter darkness by its complete
and final extinction.
Oh ! 'tis a scene sublime and dire,
> To see the billowy sea on fire,
Rolling its fierce and flaky flood
O'er mountains high and tangled wood !
Nor are the persons of the incendiaries without their share of inte
rest in the scene. To a distant spectator they seem like disem
bodied spirits, as their shifting figures slide along the ridges of the
mountains, now bronzed by the reflection of the flames—now en
veloped in smoke, or partially obscured by the surrounding dark
ness. Often have I assisted in a scene like this, and, although
then but a child, its wild and magnificent splendour made so
forcible an impression on my mind, that my memory still retains
the remembrance with fond, and, perhaps, lasting fidelity.
Mervinius.
The following curious Anecdote, with respect to the celebrated
Ceubren yr Ellyll, can not fail to be interesting ; and the Editor
feels much obliged to Sir Richard Hoare for the communication.
THE NANNAU OAK.
To the Editor of the Cambro-Briton.
Sir,—Observing, at page 226 * of your work, an account of the
celebrated Nannau Oak, I beg leave to correct an error in your
description of its downfalf. During a visit to Sir Robert Vaughan,
in the summer of the year 1813, this aged tree, mentioned by
Mr. Pennant, attracted my notice ; and on the morning of the
13th of July I made a drawing of it, in one of the most sultry
days I ever felt. The succeeding night was equally hot, and on
that same night this venerable Oak fell to the ground.
* No. 6.—Ed.
f This is described, in the place alluded to, to have taken place during a
violent storm, which, however, it appeals fri>m this account by Sir Richard
Hoare, waj not correct.— Ed.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Wishing to perpetuate its memory, I put the drawing into the
hands of Mr. George Cuitt, at Chester, who has made a most
-spirited etching from it, which may be procured either from him,
at Chester, or from Mr. Colnaghi, printseller in London. By the
favour of Sir Robert Vaughan I have obtained a sufficient por
tion of the original wood to make an appropriate frame for ,the
drawing.—I am, Sir, yours, &c.
Stourhead. R. C. Hoare.
THE VIGNETTE ON THE TITLE-PAGE *.
The drawing, from which the wood-cut in the Title-page of this
work has been taken, represents the entrance of the Circle of
Abury, in Somersetshire, looking out of the Circle, having Til
bury in the distance by the right hand stone, and introducing
•also in the distance, between the two entrance stones, a view of
the eastern avenue leading to the Circle. As Abury was, un
doubtedly, in ancient times, the metropolitan place of meeting for
the Bards or Druids of Britain, and perhaps of Gaul, there will
necessarily be occasion to say a good deal about it in the progress
of this work. At present there is barely room to notice the great
error, that has been committed by antiquaries and tourists, in al
ways considering Stonehenge as the principal remains of this
nature, while the stupendous work of Abury, pure in its form
according to the Bardic or Druidical system, is scarcely ever
brought to our view. Yet it appears, from Stukeley's description
of it, that its diameter was above 1400 feet, while that of Stone
henge was but 99 feet. In the time of Stukeley the Circle of
Ahury was nearly entire, comprising an area of 22 acres, so that,
around the vallum isself, there was probably room for 200,000
spectators. Behind this, again, rises an amphitheatre of beautiful
hills, where millions might have stood to see the ceremonies per
formed in the Circle. There were also two avenues of stones,
each about half a mile, leading into it from opposite sides, which
Stukeley considered to be the head and tail of a serpent, and the
Circle its coil in the middle. Some of the stones were about a
hundred tons in weight, and the heaviest at Stonehenge is only
about thirty. The Gothic feelings of the Lord of the Manor,
who has suffered most of these to be demolished for building ma
terials, ought not to pass without notice.
* **
* The Editor is indebted to his friend Mr. Owen Pughe, to whom he al
ready owes so much, for this drawing, which Mr. P»she took on the spot be.
tween twenty and thirty years ago. . i
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.' 469
AWEN CYMRU.
A'ih rodd yw atkrwydd A-xen. Edm, Prys.
A W D L
A GANT
DAVYDD BENVRAS I LYWELYN AB IORWERTH *.
Gwr a wnaeth llewych o'r gorllewin,
Haul a lloer addoer, addef iessin,
A'm gwnel radd uchel rwyf cyfychwin
Cyflawn awen awydd Fyrddin,
I ganu moliant, mal Aneurin gynt,
Dydd y cant Ododin.
I foli Gwyndawd Gwyndyd werin,
Gwynedd bendefig, ffynedig ffin j
Gwanas deynas deg cywrenhin,
Gwraidd teyrnaidd, taer yn mwydrin ;
Orawl ei fflamdo am fro Freiddin.
Er pan oreu Duw dyn gysefin,
Ni wnaeth ei gystal, traws arial trin,
Gorug Llywelyn, orllin teyrnedd,
A'r y brenhinedd braw a gorddin,
Pan fu' n ym brofi a. brenhin Lloegr,
Yn llygru swydd Erbin,
Oedd breisg weisg ei fyddin,
Oedd brwysg wysg rhag y godorin,
Oedd balch gwalch golchiad ei lain,
Oedd beilch gweilch gweled ei werin,
Oedd clywed cleddyfau finfin,
Oedd clybod clwyf yn mhob elin,
Oedd briw rhiw yn nhrabludd oi drin,
, Oedd braw saw Saeson Clawdd y Cnwckin,
Oedd bwlch llafn yn llaw gynnefin,
Oedd gwaedlyd penau gwedy gwaedlin,
* Arch, of Wales, vol. i. p. 30S. Davydd Benvras was a poet of the
twelfth century. There are twelve of his poems preserved in the Archaio-
logy. Llywelyn ab Iorweth, to whom the Ode here extracted is addressed,
was Prince of North Wales from 1194 to 1240. He has been highly cele
brated by the bards of that period for his bravery aad many other good
qualities. A translation of this Ode will be found in the neKt page.—Eo.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
Rhyw-yn rhedeg am ddeulin ;
Llewelyn etn llyw cyffredin,
Llywiawdr berth hyd Borth Ysgewin ;
Ni ryfu gystal Gwstennyn ag ef
I gyfair pob gorllin,
Mi i'm byw be byddwn dewin
Yn marddair mawrddawn gysefin,
Adrawdd ei ddaed, aerdrin, ni allwn,
Ni allai Daliesin.
Cyn adaw a byd gyd gyfrin,
Gan hoedl hir ar dir daierin,
Cyn dyfnfedd ysgyrnwedd ysgrin,
Yn daiar dyfnlas ariesin :
Gwr a wnaeth o'r dwfr y gwin,
Gan fodd duw, a diwedd gwirin,
Nog a wnaethbwyd trais anwyd trin
Yn mhresent yn mhrysur orllin,
Ni warthaer hael am werthefin nos
A nawdd saint boed cyfrin.
ENGLISH POETRY.
TRANSLATION OF THE ODE BYDAVYDD BENVRAS *.
Creator of that glorious light,
Which sheds around his vivid rays,
And the pale moon, which rules the night,
O deign to animate my lays !
O may my verse like Merddin's flow L
And with poetic visions glow.
Great Aneurin, string my lyre,
Grant a portion of thy fire !
* This translation is the production of the late Mr. Maurice Roberts, son
of Mr. Thomas Roberts, of Llwynrhudol, who died some years ago at the
early age of twenty-one. It was written when he was about seventeen, and
it will be found to evince talents of an uncommon character, and which
might have made him an ornament to his country, if it had pleased H eaven
that they should come to maturity. Several other effusions of his Muse are
preserved, most of which, like this, are dedicated, with a patriotic ardour,
to the cause of our national literature. Some of these will be published
hereafter in the Cambf.o-Briton : aud it may be remarked of the specimen
now given, that it does not appear to have been designed fur a mere literal
version.—E». •
\ .
THE CAMBRO-BRITON. 4T1
That fire, which made thy verse record
Those Chiefs, who fell beneath the sword
On Cattraeth's bloody field ;
O ! may the Muse her vigour bring
While I Llywelyn's praises sing,
His country's strongest shield.
Ne'er was such a warrior seen,
With heart so brave, and gallant mien ;
From a regal race descended,
Bravely he the land defended :
Kings have learnt his pow'r to dread,
Kings have felt his arm and fled.
Loegria's King, with conquest flush'd,
Boldly to the battle rush'd ;
Then was heard the warlike shout,
(Signal of th' approaching rout) j
Great Llywelyn rag'd around,
Bravest Chieftains press'd the ground ;
None his valour could withstand,
None could stem his furious hand ;
Like a whirlwind on the deep,
See him through their squadrons sweep.
Then was seen the crimson flood,
Then was Ofla* bath'd in blood,
Then the Saxons fled with fright,
Then they felt the Monarch's might.
Far is heard Llywelyn's name,
Resounded by the trump of fame;
Oft the hero chas'd his foes
Where Sabrina smoothly flows.
Could I poetic heights attain,
Yet still unequal were my strain
. Thy wond'rous deeds to grace.
E'en Taliesin, Bardic King,
Unequal were thy praise to sing,
Thy glories to retrace.
Long and happy may he live !
And his hours to pleasure give,
Ere his earthly course is sped,
And he lies number'd with the dead ; -
* Offa's Dyke.—fd.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
And, ere upon his honour'd tomb
Herbs shall rise and flow'rs shall bloom,
May the Redeemer intercede,
And unto God for mercy plead !
And, when the judgment-day shall come,
When all attending wait their doom,
Then may Llywelyn, warrior brave,
In glory live beyond the grave.
O, may the hero's sins be then forgiv'n,
And may he gain a seat with blessed saints in Heav'n !
WALES.
METROPOLITAN CAMBRIAN INSTITUTION.—There
is every reasonable prospect, that this Society, the formation of
which was noticed in the last Number, will proceed with a spirit
worthy of the interesting objects, for which it was established.
Since the last account several Noblemen and Gentlemen, con
nected with the Principality, have added their names to the list
of its members, and have brought a consequent accession to the
funds of the Institution. In conformity with a Resolution,
adopted at the first meeting, application has been made for his
Majesty's patronage, which has been graciously granted, as will
appear by the following letter from Sir Benjamin Bloomfield to
the President :—
" My dear Sir,
" I have had the honour to submit your request to the King,
" and am commanded by his Majesty to express his disposition
" not only to give his Royal protection to the revival of any
" Society for the cultivation of the Welsh language and litera-
" ture, but to add, that whatever project may be calculated to
" give benefit to the Principality cannot fail to receive his
" Majesty's best support.
" I have the honour to be,
" My dear Sir,
" Your faithful and obedient Servant,
" B. Bloomfield."
" Sir W. W. Wvnn."
In addition to the Meetings of the temporary Committee, of
which there were three, a General Meeting of the Institution took
THE CAMBROlBRITON?
place on Tuesday, the 18th of July, at the Freemasons' Tavern,
when the President was in the Chair. Several Resolutions,
comprehending the principles and objects of the Society, were
then adopted, among which the most important were, that a
Council should be appointed for the purpose of carrying into"
effect the intentions of the Institution by the purchase of books,
MSS., and periodical publications, connected with Wales,—that a
Correspondence should be immediately opened not only with the
Provincial Societies, acting in concert with this, but also with the
Celtic, Highland, and Hibernian Societies, with reference to the
objects contemplated by the Cymmrodorion,—and also that Me
moirs of the Institution should be occasionally published, com
prising such Original Compositionsi as -might -be produced, as well
as a selection from the Correspondence already noticed. It was
also resolved, that the ordinary Meetings of the Institution should
take place on the first Saturday in every month; that there
should be an Anniversary on the 22d day of May ; and that the
Council should meet every Saturday. Accordingly, the first
meeting of the Council took place on the 22d ult., when several
measures were adopted, of a nature to expedite the laudable de
signs of this patriotic Society. And, as there can not possibly be
any diversity of sentiment on this subject, it may be confidently
hoped, that there will speedily be a general and effectual co
operation towards the promotion of a cause, already dear to
Wales, and which may be rendered interesting to the world.
***
WELSH CHURCH IN LONDON.—Two attempts have
already been made in this publication * to draw the attention of
the Gentry and others, connected with Wales, to the absolute
necessity of having a place of worship for such of their fellow-
countrymen, resident in the Metropolis, as may be of the Esta
blished Church, and may not be sufficiently versed in the English
language. There must, no doubt, from the constant influx of the
lower orders of Welsh into London, and especially from South
Wales for the purpose of working in the gardens, be many per
sons of this description, who have now no alternative between
the total relinquishment of their religious duties and an apostacy
from the Church. It is not the object of these remarks to'cast
any imputation on the numerous sects of Dissenters, who are to
* No. 2, p. 74v No. 5, p. 193.
Vol. I.
THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
be found in this great city,—but merely to place the lower classes
of Welshmen, living here, who may be of the Established Church,
on the same footing with their countrymen of any other per
suasion. Yet, every one must know, that this is by no means
the case at present : the consequence of which has been, that the
Church of England has lost many of its members, and a national
evil has grown out of a private grievance. The remedy, how
ever, if proper exertion be used, may yet be applied. The fol
lowing extract from the " Constitutions" of the old Cymmrodo-
rion Society will shew, that the sentiments, here expressed, were
anticipated seventy years ago. ***
. " As the Protestants of all nations in Europe (the Ancient
Britons excepted) have particular churches in this Metropolis for
the worship of God in their own language, the Society have also
an earnest desire to build, purchase, or hire a place of worship,
and to support an able Minister to perform divine service therein
weekly, according to the established usage of the Church of
England, in the ancient British language—a foundation greatly
wanted and wished for by a numerous body of industrious useful
people, of a truly religious disposition and firm attachment to his
Majesty and this Government in Church and State. The So
ciety have the greater reason to hope for assistance in this good
work, when they reflect on the noble and truly Christian Spirit
which is universally diffused through the nation,—on the extra
ordinary encouragement given to Public Charities, such as have
not been known in former ages*."
DIOCESE OF ST. DAVID'S.—On Monday, July 12, the
Committee of the Church Union Society, in this Diocese, con
sisting of the Rural Deans within the same Diocese, held a meet
ing at the Palace at Abergwilly ; upon which occasion seventeen
premiums were adjudged to scholars of the several licensed
grammar schools of Brecon, Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Ystrad-
meirig. On the following day the Members attended divine
service at St. Peter's Church, in Carmarthen, in order to cele
brate the Anniversary of the Society, when an appropriate sermon
was preached by the Rev. Mr. Morgan, Vicar of Lampeter-Velfroy .
The objects of this excellent Institution cannot be too extensively
known :—they consist, generally, in the establishment of Schools
for the use of the poor,—the distribution of Bibles, Prayer-books,
* Constitutions of the Cymmrodorimi, page 22.
THE CAMBRO-BRlTON. 47fr
and religious tracts,—the foundation of Libraries for the benefit of
the Clergy within the Diocese, and the general promotion of the
means of instruction for young men destined for Holy Orders.
The funds of the Society exceed 14,000/.—The Professional
Members of the Royal Bath Harmonic Society have been, for'
some time, engaged in the exercise of their talents in South Wales,
for the benefit of the superannuated Curates, and of the Widows
and Orphans of poor Clergymen in the Diocese of St. David's.
The Rev. John Bowen, President of the Harmonic Society, who
has evinced the most praiseworthy zeal on the interesting occa
sion, accompanies the party on this Tour of Charity : and it is
no more than common justice to add, that, in the application of
the profits of the various musical entertainments, which have
been attended with considerable success, the utmost disinterested
ness and liberality have been displayed. The first Concert took
place at Brecon on the first of last month, and the last will take
take place on the 4th inst. at Swansea.
V
CLERICAL PREFERMENTS.—The Lord Bishop of St.
David's has been pleased to institute the Rev. Wm. Morgan, Vicar
of Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire, to the Consolidated Vicarage of
Cayo and Llansawel, on the presentation of the Lord Chancellor,
vacant by the death of the late Rev. Eliezer Williams :—also to
license the Rev. Daniel Rowlands, Perpetual Curate of Llanllwch,
in the borough of Carmarthen, to the Perpetual Curacy of Llany-
cefn, Pembrokeshire, on the presentation of the Right Hon. Lord
Milford :—also to collate the Rev. John Jenkins, B. A. Vicar of
Kerry, Montgomeryshire, and the Rev. W. J. Rees, M.A. Rector
of Cascob, Radnorshire, to Prebendal Stalls in the Collegiate
Church of Brecknock, and also the Rev. Daniel Bowen, of
Waun-lfor, Cardiganshire, to a Prebendal Stall in the Cathedral
Church of St. David's.—The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells,
Vicar General of the Diocese of St. David's, has also been pleased
to appoint the Rev. W. J. Rees to the office of Surrogate within
the said Diocese of St. David's.—The Rev. James Evans, B.D.
Minister of Bonvillestone, and late Fellow of Jesus College,
Oxford, has been instituted to the Vicarage of Penarth, with
Lavernock annexed, near Cardiff, on the presentation of the
Right Hon. the Earl of Plymouth.—The Rev. B. Jones, of
Lanishen, has been inducted to the living of Lisvane and Lan-
ishen, on the presentation of Mrs. Tynte, of Cefnma'bly.
470 THE CAMBRO-BRITON.
LITERATURE.—Anew edition is in preparation ofthe " Ana
lysis of the Medicinal Waters of Llandrindod, in Radnor
shire, with observations on the diseases, to which they are ap
plicable, and directions for their use, to which is prefixed a
Topographical Account of the Place, by Richard Williams,
Resident Surgeon at Aberystwith."
OBITUARY.
May.—At Haverfordwest, the Rev. Thomas Phillips, A. M.
rector of Haroldston and Lambston, Pembrokeshire, and chap-
Iain to the Lord Bishop of St. David's. He also held the Golden
Prebend in the cathedral church of St. David's. He was much
distinguished both as an able preacher and a classical scholar.—
15th. Rev.Ezekiel Hainer, Rector of Hirnant, Montgomeryshire,
father of 21 children.—24th. At Plas yn Llan, near Ruthin, aged
81, Mrs. Jones, relict of Edward Jones, Esq. of Llangynhafal,
Denbighshire.—30th. At . Neston, Cheshire, Elizabeth Agnes,
wife of C. B. Trevor Roper, Esq. of Plas-teg, in the county of
Flint.—'June 16th. At Denbigh, aged 64, the Rev. Thomas
Jones, many years a respectable Minister in the Calvinistic per
suasion of that town, and previously resident at Bala and Mold.
He was much esteemed for the mildness of his manners and the
benevolence of his disposition. He deserves also to bo mentioned
as the author of several works, particularly an English-Welsh
Dictionary, in his native tongue. He was likewise a good general
scholar.—20. Matthew Davies, Esq. ofCwmcynfelin, in the county
of Cardigan, aged 86, one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace
for the said county, and for many years senior chief burgess of
Westminster.
END OF vol. I.
ERRORS CORRECTED.
No. 11.—P. 402, (2d Note) I. 4, for " distinct" read different.
410, (Note) I. 3, for " idomatal" read idiomatal.
413, I. 11, for " Danadudd" read Dadanudd.
416, 1. 21, for '' before Christ" read after, &c.
43.5, I. 16, f,,r " Aereilied" read Areilied.
Ib. I. 3 of " The Moon," for " di" read hi.
LONDON: PRINTED BY RHYND AND MILLS.
INDEX.
A At PAGE
GRICULTURAL Societies — 79
All Saints' Eve — — 351
Aneurin, Memoir of — 91
Aregwedd Voeddawg — 169, 203
Argoed, Situation of (note) 288
"ArhydyNos" — 95
Arrant Drunkards, the Three 361
Arrant Traitors, the Three 201, 441
Arthur, Notices of — 204, 249
—, Englyn by — 248
Aserius Menevensis, Notices of, 284, and
(note) 329.
Assassinations, the Three good — 442
Assize Intelligence — 78, 358Avane, Tradition concerning the 128
Avarddwy Bras, Treachery of 171, 201
—the same as Mandubratius, — 171
Awful Events, the Three — 1*6
B.B, the Letter, Mutations of — 404
Banded Tribes, the Three — 247
Bandlet-wearing Kings, the Three 364
Bard, Etymology of the word (note) 448
Bardic Letters, Account of — 241
Representation of ib.
Bardic Notices — — 208
Bardic Poems described (note) — 216
Bardic Triads — — B0
Bardism, its Influence on Welsh
Poetry — — 215
, General Principles of 445-52
Battle Princes, the Three — 204
Baxter Mr. Notice of (note) — 57
Bible Associations — 80
" Blodau >r Grus " — 174
Bran, Notices of — 169, 282
- h, probable introduetion of Chris
tianity by — — 283
Brave Sovereigns, the Three 203
** Breuddwyd y Frenhines " — 332
Britain, Ancient names of — 8
, Primary divisions of ib.
, Primary islands of — 9
, Principal rivers of — ib.
, Privileged ports of — 8
Brychan ISrycheiniog, Notice of 170
Brython, Settlement of in Britain 47, Etymology of the name 48
MMCaradawg, Notices of 169, 203, 204
Caswallawn, Notices of — 87, 169
Catwg theWise, Notices of 11 & (npte) 5a
, his Wise Sayings, 52,90,
129, 205, 251, 285, 328, 411, 445.
Cavaliers of Battle, the Three 248
Celtae, Etymology of — 373
Celyddon, Etymology of — 48
Ceubren yr Ellyll — 226, 467
Charitable Donations — 23«
Church Union Society in St. David's 235
Cimbri, Etymology of — 373
, False etymologies of (note) ib.
Clerical Preferments — 475
" Codiad yr Haul " — 253
"CodiadyrHedydd" — 173Coelbren y Beirdd described 245
Coelcerthi — — 172
Coll Gwynfa, Criticism on 23, 97
, Meaning of the term
(note) — — mi
Colonization of Britain, Triads relat
ing to — —
Combined Expeditions, the Three
" Consolation of Elphin " —
Constantine the Blessed —
Conventional Monarchs, the Three
Coraniaid, Settlement of in Britain
" Coroni Sior IV." —
Cumbria described (note) —
Cwyn Cam Groes —
Cwyn Torr Croes —
Cwn Wybir, Account of —
" Cyfarch i Gyhoeddwr y ' Cambro-
Briton'. " — —
Cyhiraeth, Account of —
Cyjch Clera, Account of (note)
Cymmrodorion Society, the Old,
Establishment of
C, the Letter, Remarks on (note) 374
' , Mutations of — 404
Cadoxton Church, Inscriptions in 213—4
Cadvan, Monument of — 15
Cadwaladr, Notice of — 248
Cailum, Etymology of — 374
Carmarthen Eisteddfod — 35
Cambrian Society in Dyfed, Account of 7 1
——————Prize Compositions
for 1820 — 116
Resolutions of 153
Cambrian Society in Gwynedd 117
Cantrev y Gwaelod, Triad relating to 361■ , Observations on 362
< , Curious hypothesis
concerning (note) — 362
Canwyll Corph, Account of 350
" Can y Prophwyd Davydd " 417
41
86
30
201
281
49
434
287
413
ib.
350
190
350
209
234— General heads of, 315, 355, 395
Cymmrodorion Society in Powys,
Establishment of — 113
———— Resolutions of — ib.
Farther account of 31T
Cymreigyddion Society, Account of 152
Cymreigyddion Society in Liverpool 276
Cymry, Etymology of — 47
Cynan Meiriadog, Expedition of 87
" Cynghan Sail Cymru " — 254
Cynvelyn Wledig, Notice of — 204
D.D, the Letter, Mutations of — 404
" David Gam" — 393
Davies (Dr.) his Letter to Sir Siinonds
D'Ewes about Welsh Proverbs 131
Davies (Rev. Edw.) his Remarks oil
primitive Sounds (note) — 263
Davydd ab Edmwnd, Notice of 210
Davydd Benvras, Ode by — 469
, Translation of 470Davydd Llwyd ab Llewelyn, Notice
of — — 310, ib.
" Davydd y Gareg Wen " 53, 174
Deluge, Account of the Triads con-
cerningthe — 126-7
, Observations on this account 121
Derwydd, Etymology of (note) — 448
Dcwi (St.) Notice of — 170
INDEX.
PACKDiocese of St. David's — 474
Double Letters, Progressive use of
in Welsh (note) — 324
*' Dowch i'r Frwydr " — 254
Draig Prydain — — 126
Dreadful Pestilences, the Three ib.
Dwyvan and Dwyvach — 127
Dyvnwal Moelmud, Notices of 47, 284
Edmund Pry?, Notice of — 212
Education in Wales, Intelligence re
specting — — 236
- , Remarks on the system 76
Egypt, Etymology of — 374
Election (the General) Account of in
Wales in 1820 — 318
Elementary Sounds, Comparative Scale
of (note) — — 165
English, Prejudices of concerning
Welsh Literature — 388
" Eoglyn en Pwll Ceris " — 130
" on a Rock falling in the Vale
Neath" — — 110
———, English Paraphrase of 112
:' Englynion t Gaer Gai " — 231
" Epitaph In St. John's Church-yard,
Swansea" — — 192
* Erddigan Cacr Waen " 415
Errors corrected, 200, 240, 280, 360, 480
" Eryn Wen " — — 333
Etymology, Essay on — 367
, Use of theWelsh tongue in 368
Evans (Rev. Evan) Notice of (note) 133
F.
Fairies, the Welsh notion respecting 347
Fair Princes, the Three — 204
Fetter-wearing Kings, the Three 363
Foreign Kings, the Three — 364
Foulk Prys, Notice of — 212
Furze-tiring, Account of — 465
G, the Letter, Mutations of 404
Gafis, Remarks on its situation 47
Galofydd, Remarks on the word 250
Gavran ab Aeddan — 124
Gchelin (M. de) Remarks of, on t he pri
mitive Language (note), 81—un ele
mentary Articulation (note), 8o—on
primitive Words, 85—on the Analysis
of Languages (note), 161—on the In
vention of Writing (note), 241.
Generous Princes, the Three 2 la
Geramt, Aphorisms of — 329
" Glan Meddwdod Mwyn " 96
Gudodin, General characteristics of 94
, Character and subject of 389
, Criticism on a Translation
of — — 387, 427
, Mr. Davies'sTranslation of 390
, his Etymology of the ward
(note) — — 591
.— , MetricalTranslation of the
first 20 lines — 435
Golden-banded Ones, the Three 247
Greek Words, Remarks on thcir
Mutations (note) — 402
Groves. Sacred character of (note) 451
G ruttydd Hiraethog, Notice of 211
Gruffydd (Mr. R.) Original Letter of 17
Guests of Benign Presence,the Three 170
Guto y Glyn, Notice of — 209
G walchmal.Ode of to OwainGwynedd 229
, Observations upon (note) ib.
, Inquiry as to the subject (note) 231
, Dr. Percy's Remarks on 175
, English Translation of 231
Gwent — — 168
Gwriad, Notice of — 205
Gwr Lledrithiawg — 126
Gwrtheyrn Gwrthenau, Treachery
of- — — 171, 201
Gwyddelian Invasian — 50, 126
Gwyddon Ganhebon, Tablets of — 129
Gwydir Family, Sir John Wynne's
History of — — 318
——— Various Editions of (note) ib.
Gwylliaid Cochion Mawddwy 184, 26fi
Gwyndyd — — 168
Gwynedd, Etymology of — 17
Gwyneddigion Society, Account of 34
——, their Annual Festival 195
, their Eisteddfod for 1819 115
, same for 1820 — 357
H.
Hallowed Princes, the Three — 282
Harp, Ancient Welsh (note) — 54
Hebrew Language, Remarks on 42
— , when it ceased to
be a living tongue (note) — 82
" Hob y Deri Dando " — 253
Holy Families, the Three — 169
Homilies, Welsh Translation of 187
Hostile Ovates, the Three — 250
Hu Gadarn, Notice of — 46
, Remarks on his Oxen 128
Humble Princes, the Three — 362
Huw Machno, Notice of — 212
Hywel ab Owain, Biographical no
tice of (note) — 311
, His poem " Y Dewis " ib.
, English Translation of 312
I and J.
Iestyn ab Gwrgant, Notice of (note) 213
Jesus College Association 36, 276
leuan Deulwyn, Notice of — 210
" Impromptu on the Birth of au Heir
to the Houseof Wynnstay " 394
Introductory Address —. 1
Invading Tribes, the Three — 4», 69
lolo Goch, Notice of — 209
Jones (Dr.) Reply to respecting the
Madogwys — — 57
Jones (Mr. Owen) Memoir of — 19
K.King George III. Observations on his
Character and Urign — 274
Knockers, Account of — 360
Lampeter School — 410
Language, Remarks on the original 41
Ltttets, the modem Welsh 321-8
i
INDEX.
PACE
Lewis Glvn Cothi, Notice of 810
Literary Notices, 118, 157, 338, 279,
319, 360, 398, 470. .
Llanbeblig Church, Inscription in 206
Llandnv Gospel (note) — 321
Llansilin Parish—Name. Sec. 3nl—Situa
tion and Extent, 303—Soil, Sec. 304—
Roads, 338—Water, 340—Mountains,
ib.—Ancient Monuments, 341—Ancient
Houses, 343. 378—Owain Glyndwr, his
Descent and Claim, &c. 421, 455
Llawdden, Notice of — 210
Lledwigan Thresher — 204
Lleirwg, Notice of — 283
Llwyd (Rev. Edw.) Original Letters
Of — — 14, 55, 5fi
Llwyd, Sir Gruffydd, Notice of (note) 138
" Llwyn Onn " — — 96
Llywarch Hen, his Life and Writings 287
Llvwydd of the '* (Cambrian Society,"
Verses addressed to — 311
Local Miscellaneous Intelligence,
78, 117, 155, 197, 238, 277, 359.
Loegrians, Settlement of in Britain 47
— , Etymology of the name ib.
Losses by Disappearance, the Three 124
Loyal Meetings in Wales — 154
M.M, the Letter, Mutations of — 404
Madawg ab Owain Gwynedd — 125
Madawg Mill — — 203
Madogwys — — 57Maes y Groes, Inscription at 55
" Maldod Arglwddes Owen " 253
March Malen — — 185
Margaret Verch Evan — 186
" Marwnad Dylan Ail Ton " 150
Massacre of the Bards, Remarks upon
(note) — — 135
Mead and the Muses (note) — 33
Mediolanum, Remarks on its site 339
Medrawd, Treachery of 201, 171-2
Menai Bridge, Account of — 37
. i .' , Lines on — 39
" Merch Megen " — 253
Merddiu Emrys, Notice of — 124
Meredydd ab Rhys, Notice of 210
Meredith Lloyd, Letter of to Robert
Vaughan — — 411
Metropolitan Cambrian Institution,
Establishment of — 437, 472
Mill (Dr. John) Notice of (note) 55
Milton, Character of his Poetry ia
, Translators of — 24
Miscei.LANiST, 105, 145, 224, 267, 30S,
465.
Mold Church, Inscription in 297
Mold Parish—Name, Extent, and Situa
tion, 136—General History, 137—Par
ticular Events, 139—Church Concerns,
141—Population and Parochial Con
cerns, 179—Nattirai History, 180—
Agriculture and Planting, 183—Mines
and Manufactures, 257—the Town, 258
—Family Seats, 260—Supplemental
Notices, 298.
Monaichs of Deivr and Brvnnich,
the Three — —' 302
I PACK
" Moon," the, Translation from Don
Juan — — 435
" Morfa Rhuddlan" — 53,95
Morgan the Courteous — 349
Muscles, Account of a bed of them
discovered in Mold Parisk 181, 199
Music, Association of with the love
of Virtue (note) — 33
, Ancient, Remarks on — 416
Mutable Consonants in Welsh,
Scheme of — — 404also in Breton, Cornish,
and Irish (note) — ib.
Table of in Welsh 405
Mutations of Initial Consonants in
Welsh — — 401-10Examples of in various
languages — — 407-9
" Mynen Gwynedd " — 41S
N.
Nan nan Oak — — 467
National Pillars of Britain, the Three 45
Nevydd Nav Neivion — 127
" Nos Galan " — — 35*
Notation, Ancient Remarks on — 416, Specimen of — 417
O.
Oak, Sacred character of (note) 447
Oaks of Mamre, &c. (note) — ib.
Obituary, 80, 160, 199, 239, 280, 320,
399, 476.
Obstructors of Slaughter, the Three 250
Ode on the Death of Sir Thos. Picton 111
< Welsh Translation of 109
Odes of the Months, Translation of. 433
" Of noble Race was Shenkin " 53, 228
Ofydd, Account of (note) — 250, 448
Oppressions of Britain, the Three 125
Oricinal Letters, 14, 55, 133, 175, 2*5,
329, 411.
Ossian, Remarks on his Poems (note) 388
Ottadini, Notice of (note) — 91
Owain Glyndwr, Genealogy of 482-7
, Pedigree of — 457
Owain Tudur, Pedigree of — lb.
P.
P, the Letter, Mutations of — 404
Padarn (St.) Notice of — 171
Peithynen described (note) — 345
Pendaran — — 168
PeNNtLUON, 29, 68, 109, 149, 189, 330,
272, 352, 392, 434
, their origin and nature 70
, Translations of, 32, 70, 110,
150, 191, 233, 273, 353, 392, 436
"PenRhaw" — — 332
Percy (Dr.) Letters of 133, 175, 256, 329
Pillars oftheCommonwealth.tbeThree 123
Plebeian Princes, the Three — 30a
Plot of the Long Knives — 171-2
Poetry, Early Progress of — 314
, Distinction between epic and
lyric — — 176
-, Welsh, General character of, 86,
814-18.
INDEX
Prichard (Humphrey), his Remarks
i onWelsh elementary Sounds(note) 83,
169.PrimaryGreatAchievements,theThreel27
PrimaryTribrt ortheCymry,theThree 168
Prophecy, an Old — 310
Proverbs, Remarks on the Welsh MO
Prydain, Notice of — 282
Public Meetings — 196
Pughe (Mr. Owen), Arrangement of
lus Dictionary (note) — 86, his Comparative Scale of
elementary Sounds (note) — 165, his Estimate of the same in
Welsh (note) — 84
Pwll Ceris, Englynion on — 270
Q.Quakers, Presumed Origin of (note) 44»
PACE
Torques, Golden, Custom of wearing
(note) — — 292
Traeth y Lafan — — 271Treacherous Invasions, the Three 50
Treacherous Meetings, the Three 17 1
Trees, their connection witn Letters
in early times (note) — 243Triad, Prevalence of it in nature and
art — — 224—, Examples from Aristotle — il>.
Triads, Welsh, Origin and nature of 5
Triads op the Isle or Britain, 8, 45, 86,
128, 168, 201, 247, 281, 361, 441.
Triads of the Social State — 443
Triads op Wisdom, 9, 51, 89, 172, 251,
284. 364, 443.Tribes, Britain originally formed of
several — —
, Triads relating to
1 Trichant o Bunnau "
47-9,
Radical Words, Remarks on (note) 164
Ray (Mr.) Notice of (note) 57
Refuge-seeking Tribes, the Three 48
Revelations, New Welsh Version of a
Chapter in — — 398
Rhaith Qwlad — — 124
Rhuvon Bevr, Notice of — 205
" Rhyfelgyrch Cadpen Morgan " 174
" Rhyfelgyrch Harlech" — 95
Rhys Goch o Eryri, Notice of 209
Roberts (Rev. Peter), Memoir of 62
, Account of his Works 67
Rowland (Rev. David), Memoir of, 334,
37*, 418.
Rowland Vyehan, Notice of (note) 231
Ruddy-spearcd Bards, the Three 363
S.
Salusburye (Mr. Thomas), Letter of. Its
— Notice of (note) ib.
Saxons, their first use of Letters (note) 322
Scotish and Welsh Manners — 143 1
Scythae, Etymology of — 374
Secret Treasons, the Three — 203
" Shenkin," Dryden's Ballad of — 146
, Translations of in Greek,
Latin and Welsh — 147-8
Sion Brwynog, Notice of — 212
Sion Tudor, Englynion by — 270
Sretches op Society, 143, 184, 264, 347
Social Tribes, the Three — 47
" Soliloquv of a Bard on Snowdon" 31
" Song of the Sons of Madog" — 354
Sovereigns by Vote, the Three — 168
Stanza from E. Richards's Pastorals 272
Translation of — 273
"SuoGan" — — 332
Supertitions of the Welsh — 347-9
Supreme Servants, the Three — 363
System-formers, the Three 284
Tudnr Aled, Notice of
" Twll yn ei Boch "
Twm Sion Cati, notice of
2R1
1G3
416
'ill
25*
212
T.
T, the Letter, Mutations of —
Taliesin, Memoir of —
.Criticism on a passage of
Teilaw, Notice of —
Thomas Prys, his Poetry —
" Toriad y Dvdd " —
U and V.Urb Lluyddawg — 50, 86, 8S
Vaughan (Robt. Esq.) Noticeof (note) 4 1 1
Verheysen (Dr.) his Epitaph (note) 142
Victoria Alleluiatica, 139 and (note) 262
Vignette, Description of the — 468
Visit to Vanner — 306
Vortigern, Notice of — 51
W.
Welsh Character mistaken by Eng
lish writers — — 145
Welsh Charity School — 317
Welsh Church in London 473, 74, 193
Welsh Dispensary — 397
Welsh Judicature — 396, 439
Welsh Lasguace, Essays on, viz.
Preliminary Observations — 41
Elementary Character — 81
Elementary Analysis — 161
Bardic Letters — — 241
Modern Letters — 321
Mutation of Initial Consonants 401
Welsh Lines, Translation of some 313
Welsh Literature, Remarks on ' 207
Welsh Music, Letters on, 13, 52, 95,
173, 252, 332, 415.
Welsh Poetry, General Character of 214
Welsh Proverbs, 130, 207, 295. 305.
Welsh Translations, Remarks on 186, 269
William Lleyn, Notice of — 211
Williams (Rev, Eliezer), Memoir
of — — — 452Wisdom op Catwg, 52, 90, 129, 205, 251,
285, 328, 411, 445.
Words, the most ancient — 372
Writing, Origin of — 241
Emblematical styles of 242
Wynne (Dr.), his Epitaph — 142
404
10
414
171
171
333
-^Sigfs—
Wynne (Sir John), Noticeof (note) 218
Yellow Plague of Rhos
" Y Stwflwlt." —
126
174