THE GLEN COLLECTION OF SCOTTISH MUSIC
Presented by Lady Dorothea Ruggles-Brise to the National Library of Scotland, in memory of her brother, Major Lord George Stewart Murray, Black Watch, killed in action in France in 1914.
28th January 1927. % i %
I
% /
1 9
' //f . y////**'/' .m/i ■/'/•. /ft /uhj x+fre//tq, 'f/ZmA /tot tr ■- //or/ //ti///t /'/‘otv //o /ftat/ //t/o/tay. t s/t /t/ //f/r/ty (//t //ivrtrtoj, ///sr/iy a /a/ »ur/x><<>.///ay, W/uJt /////// // // (/Da rt/ /u/// ( /ti/tte// //tony a
P RIM1TIVE BRITISH LITERATURE;
AND OTHER ADMIRABLE RARITIES ; FORMING THE SECOND VOLUME OF THE
jftflustcal, poetical, anti Historical 3kritriis
Clit WleteO jBartis anu Biutos DRAWN FROM AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS OF REMOTE ANTI$UITT; (WITH GREAT PAINS NOW RESCUED FROM OBLIVION,) AND NE TER BEFORE PUBLISHED : CONTAINING, THE BARDIC TRIADS ; HISTORIC ODES ; EULOGIES ; SONGS ; ELEGIES ; MEMORIALS OF THE TOMBS OF THE WARRIORS; OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS; REGALIAS; THE WONDERS OF WALES, ET CIETERA : WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS AND HISTORIC ILLUSTRATIONS: LIKEWISE, THE ANCIENT WAR-TUNES OF THE BARDS ; Fix. The Tjubanau ; Cjibbiganau; Blobau ; Ealajibonau ; ^oppebbau; Tlypau ; CDpynebbau; Hymns Paftorals ; Jigs; and Delights: TO THESE NATIONAL MELODIES ARE ADDED NEW BASSES; WITH VARIATIONS, FOR THE EIARP, OR HARPSICHORD ; VIOLIN, or FLUTE; {DEDICATED sr PERMISSION to HIS ROTAL HIGHNESS the PRINCE of WALES,)
BY EDWARD JONES, B-1R D TO THE PRINCE.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOnopooOOOOOOOOOOObooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOBOLet us now praife famous men. The Lord hath wrought great glory by them, through his great power from the beginning. .Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counfel bv their underftandmg, and declaring prophecies : ^ Leaders ot the people by their counfels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wife, and eloquent in their inftru£l:ions. r r > > Such as found out Mufical Tunes, and recited Verfes in writing. / All thefe were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times. Ecclesiasticus, Chap. xliv. ver. i, &c. “ Pojleri dies tejles funt Sapient 'ue Antiquorum: “ Inquirens, invenies non Rubum,fed Rofam.” OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OCQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQO LONDON: Printed by A. Strahan, Printer-Streety For the Author; ^ari-ToId at frfrP gj in Green Street, Near GrolWnor ■ (Price i/. 5J.) entered at ^tatfonm’ ^all. V
V'
«
' INTRODUCTION
T O
®)c partite fieUcfcs*
^jpHE primitive Britijh Bards conftituted one of the moft refpefted order of men in the ancient Britifh dates1 : they were the Fathers of Sciences* the national indruftors, muficians, legiflators, priefts, prophets, and often princes. They aduaged favage men to knowledge, with their oratory, and poliflied human nature by their Mufic and Poetry*, Thefe Beirddy or Bards, were afterwards a branch of the Druidical inditution in Britain, and in ancient Gaul j and were called Derwyddveirddy or Druid-Bards: they alfo kept an account of the defcent of families, and compofed Songs to commemorate the a&ions of the worthy and the brave j which they fang and accompanied on the Harp, and on the Crwth 4 j confequently they were the national chroniclers ; and from their Jongs our ancient Annals have been collected j and not only ours, but all ancifent hidories of all nations were gathered from a fimilar kind of materials *. According to the tedimony of Cafar, the inland parts of Britain were inhabited by thofe whom fame reports to be natives of the foil: and the inditution of the Druids is fuppofed to have originated in Britain, whence it pafled into Gaul; and fuch as were defirous of being perfeft in it, travelled thither for inftru&ion. He further fays, that the Britons had two orders of men, that were held in high degree of honour and edeem, and with whom all authority and didin&ions were lodged; thefe were the Druids, and the nobles: and that the Druids prefided in all matters of religion, decided controverfies, and had the direction and edu- cation of the youth, who were taught to repeat a great number of verfes by heart, and often fpent twenty years upon that inditution The Druids were divided into three different clafles, who applied to different branches of learning, and performed feparate parts in the offices of religion. Thefe-
‘ The ifonaV are juftly eftcemed the moft ancient order of people in and thefe were before the •Dm'*//, although in time the latter got the upper hand of the others in great efteem.” Samme's Britannia, pages 99 and 100. See alfo the Bardic Triads, in the following work. a “ Per beec loca bominibus paullatim exuhis, viguerefiudia laudabilium dodlr inarum, inchoaia per Bardos, et Eubages, et Druid as.” i. e. In thefe places, among th« rude unpolifhed people grew up the knowledge of Arts and Sciences, begun and fet up by Bards, Euvates, and Druids. Arnmianus Marcellinus, lib. xv. c. 9. Strabo, lib. iv. p. 197. 3 Cafar's Commentaries, book vi. c. 13. Pomponius Mela, lib. iii. c. 2. Athena us, iib. vi. c. 12. Tacitus, lib. xii. C. 34, 7. Dr. Brown’s Differtation on Poetry and Mulic, p. 157. and Leges tVallica, Lib. i. C. 10. li. “ And you, old Bards, who made it all your care, “ To fing of war, and men renown’din war; “ When peace returning rais’d your joyful tongue, “ Secure continu’d your immortal fong.” Lucan. 4 Diodorus Siculus, by Booth, book v. c. 2. p. 189.—Book ii. c. 3. p. 77, &c. Venantius Fortunatus, lib. vii. carm. 8^ Leges Wallica, or King Howel’s Laws, lib. i. t. 19; 45. and the Preface. Ammianus Marcellinus, lib. xv. c.9. * Origin of Law, &:.by Prefident de Goguet, vol. i. book 2, p. 28, &c. 5 “ The Druids (or Priefthood) never go to war, they are exempted from taxes and military fcrvice, and enjoy all manner of “ immunities. Thefe mighty encouragements induce multitudes of their own accord to follow that profefiion ; and many are fent " by their parents and relations. They are taught to repeat a great number of verfes by heart, and often fpend twenty years upon “ this iv INTRODUCTION.
Thefe three clafles were, the Bards, as before mentioned, who were the national Preceptors, Poets, and Muficians. The Ofyddion, (Offwyr, or Ovates,) compofed and performed facred and prophetic hymns, and were alfo natural philofophers, aftronomers, and magicians. The Druids were the priefts, moral philofophers, and phyfiologifts; which laft name, (Druids,) was frequently given to the whole order, and fometimes appropriated only to a particular clafss. From the great affinity in their civil and ecclefiaftical rites and cuffoms, the Druids, and the other branches of the facerdotal order, appear to have been originally a tribe of the firft Patriarchs7, and def- cended from Corner, the fon of Japheth ; and that hierarchal cuftom was continued by the Druids, Bards, and Ofyddion, in this ifland, until about the fevtnth century ; and much later than that, in the ifland of Bardfey, in the Ifle of Man, and in the Albudes, or Hebrides*. The Patriarchal was the moft ancient form of government amongft mankind and the foundation of the Monarchical, of the Eremitical, (or Britifh Saints,) and of the Monachal inftitution in Britain, and among other Celtic nations. ff Mufic and poetry were doubtlefs invented by the fages before the flood. Mofes particularly tells us, that JubalwiiS the firft inventor of mufic* ; and with refpedl to poetry, he has given us a fhort fpecimen of it, in the fpeech of Lamech to his two wivesf. Indeed man could not behold the beauties of nature with- out admiration j and the fight of the wondrous objedts of creation muft infpire him to return thanks to the great Author of his being, in the moft beautiful and pleafing words his mind could fuggeft. His raptures would have been but ill exprefled, had he ufed the common language; fomething more fweet and har- “ this inftitution : for it is deemed unlawful to commit their ftatutes to writing ; though in other matters, whether public, or private, “ they make ufe of Greek chara&ers. They feem to me to follow this method for two reafons: to hide their myfteries from the “ knowledge of the vulgar; and to exercife the memory of their fcholars. They teach likewife many things relating to the liars “ and their motions; the magnitude of the world and our earth, the nature of things, and the power and prerogatives of the im- “ mortal God.*' Cafar's Commentaries, Book vi. c. 13. 6 Strabo, lib. iv. Ammianus Marcellinus,lib. xv. c. 9. Pliny, lib. xvi. c. 44. lib. xxx. c. 1. Lucan’s Pharfalia, book 1. 449. Rowland’s Mona Antiqua, and Borlafe’s Hiftory of Cornwall. Befide the Druids, the Britons had DruUeJfes, who affifted in the offices of religion, and (hared in the honours and emoluments of the prielthood. The Druidefles of Gaul and Britain are faid to have been divided into three ranks, or claftes. Thofe of the full clafs vowed perpetual virginity, and lived together in fxfterhoods, very much fequeftered from the world. Thefe venerable veftals were great pretenders to divination, prophecy, and miracles; were highly admired by the people, who confulted them on all important occafions as infallible oracles. The fecond clafs confifted of certain female devotees, who were indeed married, but fpent the far greater part of their time in the company of the Druids, and in the offices of religion ; and converfed only occalionally with their hulbands, who perhaps thought themfelves very happy in having fuch pious wives. The third clafs of DruidefTes was the lowed, and confided of fuch as performed the mod fervile offices about the temples, the facrifices, and the perfons of the Druids. Mela, lib. n\. c. 2. Gruttes, p. 62. Rtlig. de Gaul, lib. i. c. 27. Tacit. Annul, lib.xiv. and Henry’s Hidory of England. The fpreading oak was held in the highed veneration by the Dernuyddon, or Oakmen, as well as among the Hebrew Patriarchs, and they never performed any religious ceremony without being adorned with garlands of its leaves; (as Pliny informs us, lib. xvi. c. 44, and JoJhua, c. xxiv. ver. 26.) The Romans likewife wore wreaths of oak in honour of Ceres, becaufe (he fird taught mankind the ufe of corn, indead of acorns. Virgil’s Georgies, lib. 1. 345. “ Strong knotted trunks of oak dood near, ** And artlefs emblems of their gods appear.” Rowe’s Lucan, book iii. ver. 4x2. “ The monarch oak, the patriarch of the trees, “ Shoots riling up, and fpreads by flow degrees : “ Three centuries he grows, and three he days ' “ Supreme in date ; and in three more decays.” Dryden. 1 Exodus, c. xxiv. Ezra, c. vii. ver. 24. 1 Chronicles, c. vi. xxv. 2 Chronicles, c. v.—Camden cites £<:*<«/, and fays that the fird fpeech ufed in Britain, was fuppofed to be the Hebrew. 8 “ When the religious men of Britain were fo miferably harafled and perfecuted by the pagan Saxons, they were forced to retire into places of moft difficult accefs for their own fecurity, and there they built churches fuitable to their condition, and lived very retired lives.” StillingfleePs Antiquities of Britijh Churches, c. I. page 287. See alfo note 4, in page 2 of this work; and note 2, in page 47. The jEbudce iflands acquired that name probably from the clafs of Druids called Eubates, or Ovates; as well as Bardfey ifland, from thofe of the Bards. * Genefis, c» iv. ver. 21. 4- Genefis, c. iv. ver. 23.—Lamcch was the father of Genefis, c. v. ver, 30. 4 momotis INTRODUCTION. v
monious, more lofty and fublime, was wanting to exprefs the ideas he had conceived of his Maker, and the thanks he owed him for fo many bledings : and hence he ranl'acked nature for exprefilons, and lively images; he formed to himfeif, as it were, a new language, and adorned it with numbers and cadence. This was undoubt- edly the origin of poetry; and it was long applied only to its proper obje£t, the celebrating the greatnefs 6f the Almighty, and the magnificence of his works*, which the ancientbards defcribed in the moft pompous, the mod majeflic, and the moft fublime manner that is pofiible to be conceived. The expreffions, the fentiments, the figures, the variety, the aftions, every thing is furprifing ! But this facred ufe of poetry and -mufic did not long continue ; the Heathens borrowed thefe arts, and ufed them firft in the fervice of their falfe gods, and afterwards, to record the afiions of their great men, and the founders ofempires.” Bardic SovgSy and hiftoric examples of our great and wife progenitors, have always been confidered as a moft ufeful and pleafing branch of polite literature. They inform us of the adtions, and cuftomsof mankind in former ages, bring the times pad into our prefent view, make us as it were co-eval with the celebrated heroes of former times, and naturally incite us to an emulation with them in glory. Natural affetftions ftir up every one’s curiofity to invertigate the lives and gallant deeds of his own anceftors ; for the virtues and honours of our fore-fathers form the moft interefting fubjedl of all others. I wifn I were equal to do adequate juftice to fo important a fubjeft : “ O, for a Mufe of fire, that would afeend “ The brighteft Heaven of invention -f 1” to delineate the Bardic Imre, and fountain of ancient Britifh mufic and conviviality in their true light. But, I cannot do better than refer my reader to the original fpecimens of poetry and mufic of the bards them- ftlvts, in the following flieets : ‘ “ Thefe venerable ancient fong-enditers * “ Soar’d many a pitch above our modern writers : * j. Chronicles, chap. xxr. ver.3.—Pfa!m xcii. and xevi. f Shakefpear’s Henry V. 9 Rowe’s Lucan, and Dr. Blair. IO 2. Timothy, c. iv. ver. 21. Martial, lib. viii. pars. z.Epig. xvii. et lib.\. Epig. 13.—Ujjirium Eccles. Primordiis, p. 10,11, II Gibfon’s Camden, 2d edition, Introduftion, Ixxvii. and Stillingfleet’s Antiquities of Britilh Churches, c. 1. p. 44. Claudia is faid to have been Car a flatus's daughter and the wife of Aulus Rufus Pudens, fenator of Rome, and hoftefs of St. Paul when he was there. Baleus makes mention of a Book of Epigrams which was written by Claudia, and an Elegy upon her hufband’s death, btfidcs other verfes. Alfo, fee Martial, lib. i. Epig. 32. and lib. iii. Epig, 20. For mountains, bridges, rivers, churches, fair Women, and wool, England is paft compare. b Here \ Vi INTRODUCTION. Here ybu have Claudia, a Britifli woman, and Linus her fon, both Chriftians, in the very dawn of chriftianity j and Linus was ordained bifbop of Rome, by the facred hands of the apoftle himfelf. Refpe&ing our Warriors, both of the Army, and Navy13, their fame is too well known from the earlieft ages, to need an illuftration: and as to the Bards, their hiftory will be found in my firft Book of Relicks, and in this volume. Thefe venerable remains of hiftory, poetry, and mufic of the aboriginal Britons, are perhaps unparalleled in any other country, in point of authenticity, as well as antiquity ; and if there were wanting farther proof to corroborate thefe ancient relicks, here we have the record of the tombs of the Britifh Warriors, Bards, Saints, and others, which are pointed out to us; and many of them ftill remain to this day, and the very places retain their names: likewife, there is another correfponding proof, in that of the tradition of the country. Thefe are rarities almoft unknown to the Englilh hiftorians, and fuch uncontrovertible documents I conceive would be of more efiential confequence in correcting, and illuftrating the ancient Britifti hiftory, than all the Monkifh legends and romances, which have fo frequently been recurred to by the Englifti hiftorians, for want of better. Now I {hall beg leave to infert here, the opinion of four of the moft refpectable Englifh literary characters, relative to the old Britons, in their own words : “ The Britons, or Welfh, were the firft poffefibrs ofthis ifland, whofe names are recorded,and are there- “ fore in civil hiftory always confidered as the predeceftbrs of the prefent inhabitants.” Dr. Johnfon s Hiftory of the Englifh Language. Milton fays, “ The ftudies of learning in its deepeft fciences have been fo eminent among us, chat writers “ of good antiquity have been perfuaded that even the fchool of Pythagoras, and the Perfian wifdom, took “ beginning from the old philofophy of this Ifland . “ Or if I would delight my private hours “ With mufic or with poem, where fo foon “ As in our native language can I find “ That folace ? all outlaw and ftory ftrow’d 13 T'.iis book may by chance fall into the hands of feme of our brave tars, therefore, for their amufement, I lhall beg leave to mention here, an account of a remarkable entertainment which was given, probably in confequence of foine naval vi&ory, in the reign of William and Mary.—ct On the fifth of Odtober, 1691, a bowl of punch was made at the houfe of the Right Honourable Edward RufTel, when he was Captain-general, and Commander-in-chief of his Majefly’s forces, in the Mediterranean fea. It was made in a fountain in the garden, in the middle of four walks, all covered over head with lemon and orange trees; and in every walk was a t^ble the whole length of it, decked with cold collations, &c. In the faid fountain were ufed the following ingre- dients : Four hogfheads of brandy, 8 hogfheads of water, 25,000 lemons, twenty gallons of lime juice, thirteen hundred weight of fine LWbon fugar, five pounds of grated nutmegs, 200 toafted bifeuits, and laftly, a pipe of dry mountain Malaga. Over the fountain was a large canopy, built to keep off the rain, and there was built on purpofe, a little boat, wherein was a boy belonging to the fleet, who rowed round the fountain, and filled the cups for the company; and, in all probability, more than 6000 people drank thereof.’’ • Milton, vol. i. p. 238. 410. -f Milton’s Paradife Regained. “ Antiquijfimz enim hi (viz. Druid#) apud Celias, dcftcres, et ipjis Gracia fapientibus excellentiores, quipoftea longo tevtporis decur/u/ecuti funt Druidarumfefiam.” \.e. The Druids have been famous from the moft remote antiquity ; long before Greece could boaft of her wife men, or philofophers, who were really beholden to the Druids, and copied them in many particulars. Elias Sched. De Diis Germanis : and Borlafe's Antiquities of Cornwall, p. 67. X Egbert, king of the Wefl-Saxons, to keep up the memory of his own nation, publifhed an edifl; wherein it was ordered that the whole heptarchy which the Saxons had poffefied themfelves of, fhould be called Englelond, i. e. the Land of the Angles: which was about the year 800; and hence came the name of England, and the Latin name Anglia.—Gibfon's Camden. “ the INTRODUCTION. Vu • Sir John Fortefcue de Laudibus Legum Anglia, publifhed with notes by Mr. Selden, c. xvii. p. 38, 39. Cafar de Bel. Gal. lib. vi. C. 13. Exodus, c. xxii. ver. 5, 6, 7, &c. Job, c. xxiv. ver. 2, &c. Dyvmval Moelmud's Laws, mentioned in Galfrid Monum, lib. ii. C. 17. Leges Wallica, lib. ii. cap. x. 12.— Lib. iii, and iv. Strabo, lib. iv. 1 Leges Wallica, EccleJiaJUca et Civiles Hoeli Boni, et aliorum IVallia Pnnciputn, quas ex •variis Codicibus Manufcriptis emit', tranflated into Latin, with notes, by Dr. William Wotton, and Mofes Williams3 printed in folio, London, 1730. a Leges lFallica,p. 8. 16, 17. 35, 36, 37, &c. 3 Leges Wallica, p. 68, 69, 70. 36, 37, and 14. 4 The following curious relique of our honoured Britilh hero, the father of Chivalry, I think worthy of a place here 3 he was the fon of Tgrrw, Dutchefs of Cornwall, by her hufband Uther Pendragon, King of Britain, a defeendant of Con/lantine: this is a letter from the faid King Arthur, (who was crowned King of Britain, about A. D. 516) to the Senate of Rome, in which he claimed his defeent as follows: «* Unbepptanb among you op Rome, that I am King Tipthuji op Bpitain, anbppeelyit holb, anb phall holb ; anb at Rome ** haptily pill I be: not to giue you tpuage, but to haue tpuage op you 5 pop Conptantine that pap pelenp pon, anb othep op “ mine anceptopp, conquepeb Rome, anbthepeop pepe (-mpepopp 5 anb that they hab anb helb 31 phall haue youpp, Lobbip “ Dpace.” Morgan’s Sphere of Gentry, Bookii. p. 102. King Arthur bore for his arms, “ Our Lady Banding by the crofs.” But, according to Holmes, he bore, “ Vert, a Crofs or in the firft quarter, a Madona and Child in the fecond." m The Monk of Malmelbury fays of him; “ This is that Arthur whom the Britons even to this day fpeak of, a man right “ worthy to have been celebrated by true ftory, not by falfe tales; feeing it was he that long time upheld his declining country, «* and even infpired martial courage into his countrymen.” Of King Arthur's conquefts of Norway, &c. about A.D. 517, fee Harkluyt’s Account of Navigation, and Voyages, vol. i. fol. Silas faylof s Hift. of Gavelkind, p. 55. Gibfon’s Camden, &c. battle, viii INTRODUCTION. \ v battle, hen cited and performed to them the animating fong, called Unbeniasth Prydain, or the Monarchy of Britain ; (which probably was to remind them of their ancient right, in praife of their brave anceftors, and to infpire them to hcroifm;) and for which fervice he was rewarded with one of the molt valuable things of the plunder. If he went with other Bards, upon a mufical peregrination, he was entitled to a double portion for his fhire. He held his land free. If the Bard defired any favour of the King, he was to per- form to him one of his own compofitions; if of a nobleman, he was to perform to him three; and if of a plebeian, he was to fet him to deep. Whoever flightly injured the Bard, was fined fix cows, and a hundred and twenty-pence : and whoever flew a Bard, was fined a hundred and twenty-fix cows5. When the King rode out of his callle, his royal retinue confifted of thirty-fix horfemen ; who were his nobles, his family, military officers, and five Bards; befides fervants0. In the ancient Hate of rude magnificence of the Britilh court, there was one officer whofc original occu- pation is now entirely difufed ; and that was, the Proediawg^ or footman, whofe office was to fupport the King’s feet, at Banquets; he was the footliool of his throne, and the guard of his perfon ; hence is derived the origin of footman7: T\\t Fencerdd, ox Cadeir-farddy the Head of Song, or Chaired-Bard, was one who had achieved his pre-eminence in a mufical and poetical conteft, in an Eijleddfod, or Seffion of the Birds, which was held triennially in the royal palace; (or in the Hall of the Lord;) this folcmnity was decided by the venerable judge of the pdace ; and as a reward, he received from the victorious Bard a bugle-horn, a gold- ring, and a cufhion for his chair ofdignity. But if the judge pronounced an unjult fentcnce, and the accufation was proved ; he was then forever deprived of his office, and condemned to lofe his tongue ; or to pay a confiderable ranfom for that member8. This Chaired-Bard, according to King Howel's Laws, was the Bard of a diftrift, or country, and chief prefident of mufic and poetry, within that precinfl; and in him was vefted the control of all the other Bards within that jurifdidtion ; he was alfo a teacher, and at Hated periods he prepared the undergraduates to take their degrees; which were ratified by the Seffioas of the Bards, every third year: and he alfo regulated and affigned to each of the other Birds their Clera circuits within his diftrifl. This Pencerdd Gwlad, or head Bard of the diftri£t, had his lands free; his per- quifites arofe from his fcholars, and he was alfo entitled to a fee from every bride, and the Amobr, or marriage fine of the daughters of all the inferior Bards within his diftridt. He was not numbered among the regular officers of the palace, but whenever he attended the king, he fat in the tenth place in the royal hall, next to the judge of the palace. His privilege of protection lafted from the beginning of his fiffi: fong in the hall of the palace, to the conclufion of the lad9. Every Pencerdd} or chief Bard that the Lord affigned privileges to, he was to find with mufical inflru- ments; that is, a harp to one; a erwth to another; and pipes to the third : and when the Bards died, thofe inftruments were to revert to the Lord ,0. The chancellor, (or chief magiftrate,) on entering into office received from the King a gold-ring, a harp and a chefs-board*, which he was never to part with. In the beginning of the tenth century, it was the office of the king’s domeftic chaplain to fay grace, before and after meals; to chant the fervice, and occafionally to be confulted on matter of confcience". He was alfo fecretary to the King: and during the King’s abfence, his chaplain, the judge, and fteward of the houfhold, fupported the royal dignity, and exerciled the authority annexed to it: in early periods, the duties of thofe officers were in the province of the Bard, Druid, andOvydd, as I have before intimatedf. Prior 5 Leges Wutlica, 35, &c.and 68, &c. 6 Leges Wallica, c. viii. p. if. 7 Leges Wallka, p. 58, and 13. - 8 Leges Wallica, c. xvi. p. 26. 168, &c. 9 Leges Wallica, and the firll vol. of the Relicks of the Bards, p. 27, Sc 28. 16 Leges Wallica, p. 68, & 69. • There is a very curious and beautiful Che/s-bcarcl, in the King’s mufeum, (or palace,) at Drefden ; with men of filver, and gold, and adorned with the heads, or portraits of the eledlor Auguftus, and other princes then living. "John Ludgate, the poet, calls Chefs, the Game Royal, and compares it to an amorous war ; and fhews the efteem he had for it, by dedicating one of his poems to the lovers of that game. ,l Leges Wallica, c. xiii. p. 18, &c. and 52, f We find, that whoever was raifed to the fituation of a judge, or chief, was commonly inverted not only with the prophetic, but the bard-like character; for we know, that the prophets generally fung their prophetic raptures to the Harp. (1 Samuel,c.\.wer. 5,6.— 1 Chronicles, c. xxv. ver. 1, 5. 6, 7, Sec. In after-times, when Saul was elefted king, he alfo affumed at once the prophetic and muftcal office. The fongs and bard-like powers of David, his kingly fucceflbr, are too well known to need an illuftration. The fame INTRODUCTION. lx Prior to the year uoo, it was the office of the Bard to praife virtue, and to cenfure vice: for he was required to poflefs learning and genius; a fkill in pedigrees and arms; metres of poetry; the art of finging, knowledge of harmony, and to be perfe<5l mailer of an inftrument: and according to C * I fliall mention here the form of the creation of three poets laureat, by the Chancellor of the Univerlity of Strafburgh, in the year 1621. «« I create you, being placed in a chair of Hate, crowned with laurel and ivy, and wearing a ring of gold, and the fame do *e pronounce and conftitute, poets laureate, in the name of the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. Amen.” War ton's Hijlory of Englijh Poetry, Second Vol. This feems to be fomewhat fimilar to the ancient ceremony of chairing the chief Bard, among the Wellh ; but in (lead of laurel wreaths, the Britons ufed thofe of oak, (or ever-green oak,) which was the emblem of valour, and virtue; alfo, we find the birch was in great eftimation among the Bards, in the time of Davyddah Gwilym, about A. D. 1380; there is a tradition that he wore a chaplet, made of birch twigs, ornamented with filver rings, and br,aided by his fweetheart. “ Eifteddwn lie i gweuwn gerdd, “ Dan Invyfwych Fedwen lafwerdd,*’"■ H. Machno. As early as the reign of Henry III. there was a court poet; Henry de Awancbes; “ Magijlro Henrico Virfificatorf or Matter Henry the Verfifier; who is mentioned in Madox's Hijlory of the Exchequer. Alfo it appears by a pipe-roll, Ann. 36, of Henry III. Richard, the King’s harper, was allowed annually a pipe of wine, and another for his wife, Beatrice. Sir John Gower, a native of Gwyr, or Gowerland in Glamorganlhire, was poet laureat to King Richard II. to whom he dedi- cated his works, about the year 1380. Dr. Johnfon, in his Introduftion to the Englitti language, fays, “ The firft of our authors, “ who can be properly laid to havt written Englilh was Sir JobnGo a wig, 20s.” In the accounts of the Lotd Harrington, who was in the fame office under James I. there is, “ Paid to T. Mawe for “ the diet and lodging of Tom Derry,her Majejiy's jejler, 13 weeks, lol.lSs, 6d.” Patch, and Archee were political charafters. The former, who had been Wolfey’s fool, and who, like wifer men, had lived in favour through all the changes of religion and folly with which four fucceffive courts had amufed themfelves, or tormented every body elfe, was employed by Sir Francis Knollys to break down the crucifix, which queen Elizabeth ftill retained in her chapel ; and the latter, I fuppofe on fome fuch inftigation, demolifhed that which Laud eredted at St. James’s, and which was probably the true caufe of that prelate engaging the king and council in his quarrel, though abufive words were the pretence.” Lord Orford's Anecdotes of Painting in England, vol. i. According to another account, the following is faid to have been the caufe. King Charles I. going to dinner when the chap- lain wasout of the way, told Archee, his jefter, to fay grace; which he immediately performed thus : “ All glory be to God on high, and/f/r/r Laud to the devil!” At which all the courtiers fmiled, becaufe it refledted on Laud, Archbifhop of Canterbury, who was a little man: the king told Archee he would give an account of him to his Grace the Archbifhop; “ and what would you do then ?” faid the King. ” O,” faid Archee, “ I’ll hide myfelf where he (hall never find me.” “ Where’s that f” afked the King. “ In “ his pulpit," faid Archee, “ for 7 am fire he never goes there." 1 See more ofjefters, in Jeffrey of Monmouth, book iii. p. 93—Silas Taylor's Hif. of Gavelkind, p. 9, &c. Selden's Titles of Honour. p. 524. And the words, Goliardus, Buffoon, Jefter, or Gefticulari, in the Law Didlionaries, and, in Shakcfpear’s King Lear, &c. * “ Count the proofs I have colledted, “To have my writings well protedted ; “ Thefe I lay by for time of need, “ And thou may’ft at thy leifure read,” Prior’s Alma, Tbef« xii INTRODUCTION, Thefe old Airs differ much in ftrufture from the modern mufic, and I found it very difficult to adapt regular Baffes to them, according to the rtridl rule of counterpoint, as their fundamental harmonics are often ambiguous, and even the keys are fometimes but obfcurely indicated by the wild modulation. However, as melody is the foul of mufic, and harmony a fecondary confideration, or an affiftant* ; I have generally preferred fleering by the original melody, and to aid it with a charafteriftic harmony, in its own native manner, and the conveniency of the Harp, in preference to that of a complicated modern bafs, too regularly managed; becaufe, that uneven tranfition, and abrupt flmplicity, feem belt calculated to convey their original bold charafter. t( Britain, whofe genius is in Song expreft, “ Bold and fublime, but negligently dreft." Where grandeur and fimplicity are united, either in fight, fenfe, or found, it naturally makes a molt awful, and pleafing impreffion on the mindf. Shakefpear feems to have felt a fimilar impulfe, by the following lines; u Now, good Celaro, ibut thatpiece of Song, “ That old, and antique fong we heard laft night, tc Methought it did relieve my paffion much ; “ More than light airs, and recolledted terms Several of thefe national Songs, and Tunes breathe the high fpirit of Lyric enthufiafm, and I think arc more interefting than any other, becaufe each of them records, or refers to fome particular event, and alfo conveys to us the genuine tafte, cuftoms, and manners of our brave anceftors, as well as hiflorical fads. They were the impulfe of nature, compofed by the Bards, at the very time when each circumftance happened ; and fung, or performed by them on the various occafions which they refer to. Anciently no Bard def- cribed any battle, unlefs he had been an eye-witnefs thereof: for, fome of the chief Bards were marlhals of battles; they fat in council in the field; and were the king’s, or general's intelligencers, how the adion went on '. Befides this, the authenticity of thefe ancient fongs and poems renders them the more valuable. For the Wellh laws ftridly forbade the Bards to introduce any fable, or perverfion of truth into their works i and if they did fo, they were feverely punilhed with fines, long imprifonment, and lofs of dignity*. Tacitus himfelf J confeffes, the ancient Britons zealoufly kept their language unmixedj and that their hiftory and annals, as well as thofe of other Celtic nations, were compofed in verfe, and fung to the mufic of the harp. Dr. Davies alfo fays, that the law of the Britons exprefsly forbade the Bards to introduce any new words into their rhymes*. It may not be amifs likewifc to mention here, how the Wellh fongs, and poems are fo well remembered; it is, becaufe they are fo admirably conftruded, and braided in fuch alliterative harmony by the Bards, that if any part of a fong be remembered, itisalmoft impofiible but that the reft of it muft naturally occur, by the concatenation of the poefy, fomewhat analogous to the following famous couplet of Shakefpear, on Cardinal Wolfey: tc Begot by butchers, but by bifhops bred, This art is called Cyfrinach y Beirdd, or Poetic Secret of the Bards4. . * See the Rev. Mr. Ma/on's EJfayt on Englijb Church Mufic, p. 81, and 87. Alfo Mr. William Jackfon's Obfcrvation on the prefent State of Mufic in London, p. 9, &c. •f “ Poetry if applied to its true ends, adds a thoufand charms to thofe fentiments of religion, virtue, generofity, and delicate at tendernefs, by which the human foul is exalted and refined.” Chapone's Let tert. 1 Manufcript in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, marked K K K, page 207, &c. 1 The laws of Prince GrufFydd ab Cynan, M.S, t In Fit. Agric. cap. it. 3 Dr. Davies's preface to his Britijh Grammar; and Nicholfon’s Engliflj Hifiorical Library, p. 24. «■ See Carte's Hifory of England, vol. i. p, 33, II Some INTRODUCTION. xiu <€ Some Beauties yet, no precepts can declare, “ For there’s a happinefs as well as care. Mufic refembles Poetry, in each ,f Are namelefs graces which no method teach, V “ And which a Mafier-handa\onz can reach.” 3 Pope. The immortal Milton likewife deferibes the melody of Mufic in a fimilar elegant manner, thus^ *c In notes, with many a winding bout “ Of linked fweetnefs long drawn out, Every country has a certain national ftyle of Mufic, peculiar to kfelf, and the natives of each are attached to their own melody, in preference to that of any other. The fentiment of a learned phyfician of this ifland, concerning the Italian Opera, is pertinent to my fubjedt, and I think worthy of being mentioned: he fays, “ We run mad, or rather foolifli, after this imported mufic ; while perhaps we have much better of our own. Moft of the modern Italian compofitions only trifle with the ear. The TVelJh, the Scotch, and the Irijh mufic reaches the heart. The productions of our prefent Italian mafters are thrummed over for a feafon, becaufe they are new; and forgotten for ever afterwards, becaufe when you have heard them twenty times; you find them ftill as infipid as at firft. The mufic, which charmed thefe iflands perhaps long before the boafted revival of this art in Italy, or rather in Flanders, is as eftablifhed as the ancient claffics; and thofe compofitions, (hort and Ample as they are, never become thread-bare, but give delight and rapture every time they are heard*.” “ Turn and twill it as you will, “ Nature will be nature ftill.” Thefe Cambrianf Tunes, and Songs, the afluagers of care among the natives of Wales, are ftill occafion- ally played on the harp, with fome mixture of plain unperplexed harmony, which fo powerfully enchants the natives, at Chriftmas, on Birth-days, at Wakes, Weddings, Hunts, and at other Feftivals. “ What notes in fwifteft cadence running, <£ Thro’ many a maze of varied meafure, " Mingled by the mailer’s cunning, “ Give the alarm to fcftive pleafure ? *c Cambria ! ’twas thus thy Harps of old, tc Each gallant heart’s recefs explor’d; *c Anouncing feats of chieftains bold, “To grace the hofpitable board J.” The moft folemn fongs, Cywyddoliaethau, or Hymns, were originally appropriated to facred ceremonies1. te But, now to forrow mull I tune my fong, fc And fct my harp to notes of faddeft woe.” The Galardonau, and Marwnadau,ot Lamentations and Dirges, were performed at the funeral folemnities of the dead1; and fuch elegies are ftill fung in Wales, at the Wylnos, bewailing-night, or condoling-night. Caf&r informs us, that all decifions and controverfies were decided by the Britifh Druids, or Druid-Bards,wYia were a branch of that inllitution. The ancient law of this land was adminiltered to the people upon the higheft, or moft convenient hill of the diftridl; and we find in King Hotel's Laws, p. 123. the Lord, or Judge is diretted to fit with his back to the fun and ftorm, fo that he might not be incommodedin his deliberation. Many of thofe ancient Gcrfeddau, or tribunal feats, ftill remain both in England and Wales, which tends to corroborate this faft, in the names of the following hills, and mounts; Bryn-gwyn, the fupreme tribunal, and Barnhill, or judgment hill, in Anglefey; Barr’s-Court,in Gloucefterftiire: Afo’/W™, or Mcel-varn, thehillofjudgment, in Worcefter- Ihire ; Moelburgh, or Marlborough mount in Wiltfhire: Tynwald hill, in the Hie of Man ; (probably derived from Dyfnwal Moelmud, the great law-giver :) Stanton Draw ; Bergmote Court, in Derby (hire ; Bryti-Barlwm, in South Wales ; Eijieddfa Gurig ; Parias i Cader Bronwen, upon Berwyn, in Meirionydd; Pen-bre ; Moel-fre ; Breiddin Hill, in Montgomeryftiire; and, Breon ; hence, probably is derived the Brean Laws of the Irilh. There are likewife a great number of Chriftian names, as well as of places, derived from the fame origin ; fuch as. Par ; Barri Bar-je/us; Bar-Jonah ; Bardus, thefon of Druis ; Barton ; Bardolph ; St.Baruch, and Barry IJland, in Glamorganftiire ; Bardney Abbey, in Lincolnfhire; Barbury Cajlk, in Wiltlhire ; Bardfield, in Elfex, a confiderable demefne, which formerly was the land of a Bard. Alfo, from Can, and Cell, comes Canghell, the finging room, or chancel of a monaftery, or church; and hence is derived Canghellawr, or Chancellor. Celtic Remains, by Mr. Lewis Morris ; Mr. Richards ; and Mr. Owen's excellent Dictionaries ; and fee more in Mr. Cleland's cur ious Etymological Vocabulary, * Dr. Armftrong’s Sketches, or Eflays on various Subjects, p. 27. f Cymbru, Cambria, or Wales, according to the Welfti Chronicles, had its name from Camber, one of the three fons of Brut, (or Brutus ah Silius, which hero is mentioned by Homer, to have conquered Aquitain :) the other two fons of Brut, were Locrin, whence came the name of Lloegr, (now England ;) as well as that of Albania, from Albanac, who polfelled Scotland.—Bruty Brenhinoedd. Bale likewife mentions Cambria Formofa, the fair Oracle, and daughter of Belin, or Belinus, King of Britain ; who is faid to have greatly promoted the building of cities and caftles ; fhe taught the women the attire of their heads ; Ihe taught them to fow flax and hemp, and to convert it into cloth : fhe was a prieftefs, as well as a princefs, and made the laws of the Sycambriatti; fhe flourifhed about 373 years before ChriH.—Lewis’s Hiftory of Britain, p. 51, &c. J From an Ode on Inftrumental Mufic, by the Rev. S. Bifhop. * 2 Chronicles, c. v. ver. 12, &c. Chap. vii. ver. 6. And, 1 Ejdras, c. v. ver. 59, 60, &c. 1 Samuel, c. X. ver. 5. Kebemiah, c. ix. ver. 4, &c. See the bottom of p, 9 of this work, A/nos, c, viii. ver, 3; m&Jermiuh, c. xlviii, ver. 38 and 39, which INTRODUCTION. xv which precedes the burial: all the neighbours ufually attend at the houfe of the deceafed, and the minifter, or in his abfence, the clerk of the parifh, comes and prays over the dead, and pflilms are fung fuitable to the mournful occafion j his monody is alfo compofed for the purpofe, and fung, or recited, by the poet; which ufually comprehends the moft remarkable incidents of bis life; ferving to commemorate him to pofterity •, and it is afterwards committed to writing, in the family record. The Triianau, and Erddiganau, or War-tunes, and Eulogies, or fongs of praife, were anciently performed to incite martial deeds3: 3 It was the office of the Bardd-hirgcrn, or thofe of the Priefthood, in the patriarchal time to blow the trumpets on folemn days, and to give the fignal of battle. “ And Jacob blew the trumpet, and the people returned from purfuing after Ifrael; for Jacob held back the people 2 Samuel, c. xviii. ver. 16. Numbers, c. x. JoJhua, c. vi. ver. 2, 3, 4. Exodus, c. xv. 1 Samuel, c. xiii. ver. 3. And 1 Efdras, c. v. ver. 59, 60, &c. 4 Of the duty of a mafter of a feaft among the ancients, fee EccleJiaJUcus, c. xxxii. 5 See fome of thofe Pennillion in the firft'volume of the Relicks of the Bards, p. 62, &c. 6 Of early dances, fee Jeremiah, c. xxxi. ver. 4. Exodus, c. xv. ver. 20, 21. 1 Samuel, xviii. ver. 6. xv. ver. x I. And Judges, c. xi. ver. 34. Genejis, xxxi. ver. 27. Ntbemiab, c. xii. ver, 27, 1 Cbroniflfs, e, xxv. ver. 6. The Xvi INTRODUCTION. The fudden decline of the national Minftrelfy, and Cuftoms of Wales, is in a great degree to be attributed to the fanaticlc impoflors, or illiterate plebeian preachers, who have too often been fuffered to over-run the country, milleading the greater part of the common people from their lawful Church; and diffuading them from their innocent amufements, fuch as Singing, Dancing, and other rural Sports, and Games, which heretofore they had been accullomed to delight in, from the earlieft time. In the courfe of my excurfions through the Principality, I have met with feveral Harpers and Songfters, who actually had been prevailed upon by thofe erratic ftrollers to relinquifh their profcfhon, from the idea that it was finful. The confe- quence is, Wales, which was formerly one of the merriefl, and happieft countries in the World*, is now become one of the dulled. The grave Dr. Johnfon fays, that“ Mufic is the only fenfual pleafure without vice.” ~ Undoubtedly the mod innocent pleafures are the fweeted, the mod fenfible, the mod affciding, and the mod lading. Mufic is alfo recommended by the Wife in facred hidory ; as it is by feveral medical writers, for its great efficacy in various difordersf, and in prolonging lifrj. If I well remember, the Reverend Lawrence Sterne intimates in one of his works, that every happy fmile excited in a perfon’s face, adds an hour to the lamp of life. “ Mufic the fierced griefs can charm; c< And fate’s fevered rage difarm : <( Mufic can fofcen pain to eafe, te And make defpair and madnefs pleafe: “ Our joys below it can improve, “ And antedate the blifs above.” Pope. The favourable manner in which the firfi Volume of thefe Relicks was received by the Public ; the fane- tion of the illudrious Prince of the Country; the honour conferred on me by the Cymmrodorion Society^ who bellowed on me a gold medal, as a token of their approbation, for refeuing thofe remains from oblivion: all thefe flattering tedimonies have excited my further efforts, and induced me to colledl, arrange, and publifh thefe fupplementary documents in addition to the former volume, in order to make the work dill more worthy of fuch augud, and didinguifhed patronage. To conclude ; the Author has omitted nothing in his power to render the work complete. He has to make his acknowledgment to the Hon. Colonel Greville, a gentleman remarkable for his elegant tade in native pi&urefque feenery and codume, for the loan of his rural drawing, taken after nature, from a group of Welfh Peafants, finging in alternate theme around the Harp, with a didant view of Snowdon and Dolbadarn Cadle, in Caernarvonfliire ; and from which delineation, the Frontifpiece to this book was etched. His thanks are likewife due to the Reverend Richard Williams, of Vron, for his animated verfi- fication of four of the Poems. He has alfo availed himfelf of the friendly difpofitions of Mr. William Owen, didinguiflied for his critical knowledge of the ancient Welfh language ; and of R. C. Dallas, Efq. to whom the public are indebted for fome valuable tranflations from the French, and for fome original works; who, to oblige the Author, bothrevifed the following pages, previous to their being committed to the Prefs. To himfelf, confequently, mud an indulgent Public aferibe the various demerits of a performance fo very elaborate, and fo mifcellaneous. • “ Nor wanted tuneful harp, nor vocal quire, “ The Mufes fung, Apollo touch’d the Lyre.” Drjden. f " As David’s Harp, did Saul’s wild rage control, “ And tune the harfh diforders of his foul.”—i Samuel, c. xvi. ver. 23. King Alfred excelled in Mufic ; and he himfelf informs us, that it was Jhamefl to be ignorant of it. And, I am proud to add, that our prefent illuftrious and accomplilhed Prince, no lefs excels in this charming Art, both as a Perform er, and a Judge. Lord Bacon in his Advancement of Learning, b. 2. fays: " This variable compofition of man’s body hath made it as an inltrumen* “ eafy to diltemper; therefore the poets did well to conjoin mufic and medicine in Apollo, becaufe the office of medicine is but to “ tune this curious harp of man’s body, and to reduce it to harmony.” R. Bacon's Hijiory of Life and Death.—Galen de Placit. Hip.—Plat. lib. 9. and Plutarch. See alfo Willis's dnat. of the Brain,i. 17. “ Mufic can minifter to a mind difeas’d ; “ Pluck from the memory a rooted forrow; “ Raze out the written troubles of the brain, “ And, with its fweet oblivious antidote, “ Cleanfe the full bofom of that perilous fluff “ Which weighs upon the heart. ” J Pliny, lib. xx\x..fec. 5. and lib. iii. c. 10. * IO THE THE INDEX OF THE SECOND VOLUME, N. B. The Numerals refer to the Introdudion ; and the Figures to the Text of the Work. A. Page JPagc Privileges of the Bards, Introduction, viii. —5 ARTS and Sciences invented by the Bards, Druids, Fines for Injuries done to a Bard, Intro, viii. and Ovyddicn, - - Intrtduflion, iii. King of the Bards, Intro, x.—3—4 Authenticity of ancient Britifh Records; - Intro, vi.—xii. A Diftridt Bard, Intro, viii.—2—&c. Aneurin, the Bard, - 3—12—&c. Bard of the Palace, Intro, vii.—2, & notes. Of the Aevjsn, Intro, xii.— 4—and 24—25 and 26. The Herald Bards, Intro, ix.—2—3—4 Alfo, _ . . _ 6—and no The three golden Torques Bards of Britain, - 3 Alliteration, Aptnefs of, in Welfh Poetry, - Intro, xii. The three warlike Bards, - - - . - 3 Authors, who have written Rules of Britilh Poetry, &c. 9—&c. The three bloody fpeared Bards, - - 4 Albania, or Scotland, Origin of, - Intro, xiv. Bardic Cuftom on the Eve of Battle to infure Succefs, 23—note. Arbertb, a Cantred of Pembrokelhire, - 27—&c. The three golden-tongued Bards of Arthur's Court, - 23 Alanvn, Plennydd, and Gzvron, who tirit introduced the The three Memorials of the Baras of Britain, - - 4 Bardic Privileges and Cuftoms, " * 5 The Wood Memorial of the Bards, - 4—note 29 The three profound Aftrologers of the Illand of Britain, 7 Britain was twice School mifrefs to France, - 8 Alcuin, a learned Briton who inflructed Charlemagne, and Baron, Lord Chief-Baron, Barrifter, &c. derived caufed him to inftitute the Univerlity of Paris, - 8 from Bardd, - - Intro, xiii.—xiv.—note 6 Arnssydd-veirdd, or Herald-Bards, - Intro, ix.—4 Of Bardic Themes, and Learning, - Intro, xiii.—&c. King at Arms, - - - - Intro, ix. Separation of the Bardic Profeffion, - Intro, ix. Apparel of the Britilh Nobles, - - 3—note ig The Domeftic Bard of the middle Ages, or Jefter, Intro, x. The Drefs of King Arthur, - - 23—note J The Battle of Gar ant, by Talicfn, - - 14—15 The Hiltoryjof King Arthur, z—note 6—p.zo—21—22—&c. The Origin of the Name of Britain, - 5—6—note 35 A Dialogue between Arthur in his youth, and The Britons famous for three Things, - Intro, y. Gvuenb-uiyvar, - - - 20—21 A beautiful Britilh Lady celebrated by Martial, Intro, v. A Conflidt between Arthur and Huail, - 22—24, &c. A Poem on the ancient Britons, - - 60 A Letter of King Arthur, - Intro, vii.—note s\ Precepts, and Adages, of the ancient Britilh Sages, 57—&c. King /irthur, the Father of Chivalry, Intro, vii.—2 —23—&c. Bran, the Celtic Prince, and his Brother Beli, over-ran King Arthur's four-and twenty Knights, - 23 —&c. Italy, and took the City of Rome, - 52—note S King Arthur elected Emperor of Britain, 2—note 6—p- 24, 25 The Horn of Bran the Hardy, - - - 48 The Names of King Arthur's confecrated The three Battle Knights of Arthur's Court, - 23 Arms, - 25—note 4 The Tomb of Beli, Son of Benlli Gawr, - 10 King Arthur's Charter to Cambridge, - 22—note * The Boaft of Prince Howel, Son of Owen Gwynedd, ■ 37 Arion, a Poet and Mufician, the firit Beginner of The feven rural, and the feven liberal Arts, - 52 Dithyrambs, Satires, &c. - - - 3—note 18 Blodau Gwynedd, - - - 89 An Ode to the Abbot of Falle Crucis, - - 44 Blodau y Gogledd, - - - 76 Account of the Abbey of Liantony, - - 49 Blodauy Gorllewin, - - - 88 King Alfred excelled in Mulic, &c. - Intro, xiv.—note \ Y Brython, - - - - 93 Ancient Almanacks, or Staffordlhire Clogs, or Logs, 4—note 29 Y Bardd yn ei Aweh, - - - 11 o Archee, the Jefter, - - . Intro, x. xi. Ar.ni bropr, _ _ - - 82 Agoriad Cyzvair, _ - - 86—See. AfonElwy, - - - - I oi Cyntlru, Cambria, or Wales, had its name from Camber, a Son of Brut. - - - - Intro, xiv.—note f B. Cambria, the Daughter of King Belin, &c. Intro, xiv.—note. Caw 0 Frydain, the Lord of Cwm Cawlwyd, - 22 Bards, the Fathers of early Sciences, - Intro, iii.— 1 Cafnor Wledig, the illuftrious Son of Lud, King of The Bards affuaged favage Men to Knowledge, - Intro, iii. Britain, .... 27— The Bards were prior to the Druids, - Intro, iii. Claudia, faluted by St. Paul, - - Intro, v. The Bards commemorated the Adtions of the Brave, Intro, iii. “ Incantation,” - - 12—13—14 The primitive Bards were Prophets, and often Princes, viii.—1 The Tomb of Cod, the Son of Cunobeline, - xi The Etymology of Bard, - Intro. -Ant. —note 6—See. A Cromlech, or Druidical Altar, - - 60 Brenin Penbeirdd, or King and fupreme Bard, - 3 The Monument of Catteyrn, or Cattigern, - 60 Of Sovereign Bards, - - \ — note\—-p. 2—3—4 Cader-Idris, one of the Parnaffian Mountains of Wales, Beli. Mawr, a Sovereign and Bard, ' - 3 noted alfo for Aftronomy, - - 1—note 2 The three Primaeval, or Infhtutional Bards of Britain, - 5 Song of the Inundation of Cantrcv Gwaelod, - 17—.18 The Bardic Triads of the Ifland of Britain, 1—Sec. The Confolation of Prince Ephin, by Tahefn, - 31 The Bardic Drefs, of celejiial Hue, - Intro, xiii.—note 6 Cyhelyn, Son of Gwrgant, King of Britain, celebrated The three privileged Bards, or Family Recorders, - 3 for Mufic and Learning, _ . 7 The three principal Orders of Bards, or Songfters, - 4 The three Confervators of the Tribe of the Cambrians, - 5 The Bards were Preceptors, Poets, Muficians, and The Chefs-board oi the Northern Chief, Gwenddolau abCeidio, 49 Legiflators, - - - Intro, iii.—iv. A curious Chefs-board, - - Intro, viii.—note * The Bards underwent a Novitiate of twelve Years, ix.—note 2 The Origin of Chancellor, - - Intro, xiv.—notes. The Bards atchieved their pre-eminence by Skill, Intro, viit. The Origin of Chivalry, Intro, vii.—note 4—p 2—note 6—and The Chaired Bard, - - Intro, vii.—viii. /.23—25—47-&C. c Of xviii INDEX Page Page Of ancient Chivalry, - - 24—25—48 Of Fools, or Jefters, Introduflion, x. Chivalrous Rules obferved by the Knights of the The Origin of Footman, viii. round Table, - ' - - 26 Ffarwel Die Bibydd, 76 Courtefy of ancient Knights, - \G,note—21—note (k) Ffarwel Glanddyn, - 100 Coronation of King Fferdinando, 108 Arthur, - 2—note 6—20—note*—24—note [q)—&c. The three Coun/ellor Knights of Arthur’s Court, - 25 Single Combat fought between Arthur and Rhitta Ga-xvr, See. - 24—note(s)—25 Geraint ab Erbin, one of the three great Admirals of The Car, or Chariot of Morgan the Courteous, - 48 Britain, . _ . 2—note 6—Sec. The Cauldron of Dyrnog the Chief, - - 48 Gflwain, the Knight, - - 21—note {k) Charlemagne, King of the Franks, deferibed, - 8 Garter, principal Ring at Arms, - - Intro, ix. Conjlantine ufed to fay that Age appeared belt in four Gwalchmai ab Gwyar’sHomb, - - 12 Things, - '-59 Gwenbwyvar, Queen, three of that name, 21—note (lJ—&c. Cynddeliu, the Bard, fmgs to the Huntfmen of Prince Llywelyn, 40 Gwrgan Farvdrwch, a Warrior and Bard, and the Britifh Churches and Monafteries founded by the Britifti founder of Cambridge, - - 3—note 14 Saints, - - - 52—note 8 Gwyddon Ganhebou, the firft that made vocal Song, - 5 A Cryftal Gem, or Magic Gem, — . 8 Gwydion, the Son of Don, a Prince, and famous The Qualities of the Cock, - - 58 Aftrologer, - 7—10 Jeffrey Chaucer rewarded for his Poems with the Manor Gwyddehn, the firft Chieftain over the Irijh, - 3—note 14 of Evjelme, in Oxfordfhire, - - 1—note I Grujfydd ab Cynan fimplified the Profeflion of the Of Cardinal IVolfey, - - Intro, xii. Bards, _ . . Intro, ix.—&c. The Carver to the Queen, - - Intro, x. Sir John Gower, the Father of Englifh Poetry, x.—note 4 Dechreuad y Byd, - - - 66 Of Gildas, and why he omitted to mention King Caingc Danjydd Brophwyd, - - 7° —73 Arthur in his Epiftle, - - 22—notes. Caniad Pibau Morfudd, - - * 84 Song to Gwallog, or Galgacus, the Son of Lleenog, 33—&c. Cymro 0 b’le f - - * ' 95 The three Golden-tongued Knights, or Bards, . 23 The Cornijh May Song, - - 96—97—&c. Grifial Ground, - - - 76 Caniad Clych, - - 102—&c. T Gwr a’i Larch, - - 100 D. H. The Druids wrere Priefts, Philofophers, and Heralds originated in England from the kFelJh Phyfiologifts, • - Intro, iii.—iv. Bards, - - - Intro, ix—3—4 Druids originally a Tribe of the Patriarchs, - Intro, iv. Herald Bards, when firft introduced among the Englijh, Intro, ix. Three Claifes of Druids, - Intro, iii.—iv.— I—2 Heralds new named with a Bowl of Wine poured on Three Clafles of Druideffes, - Intro, iv.—notes. their Heads, - - Intro. In,—note 3 Druids famous for Learning prior to the Greeks, vi.—note f The Harp the moft ancient and expreffive Inftrument, Druids originated in Britain, - - 2 — note 4 the Symbol of Concord, and probably firft attuned to The Druid-Bards ftudied twenty Years, Intro, ix.— 1—note Harmony, ... Intro, xiii. Druidical Law, the Origin of the common Law of The Weljh Harp, faid to be invented by Idris England, ... Intro, vi.—See. Gawr, ... 1—Sic.—note 3 Druidical Law ftill retained in the Me of Man, 6—note 38 Of the moft renowned Player on the Harp in the World, 3 A Druidical Song, - - - The three Imperial Harpers of Britain, - 2, and notes. DyJfvvjal MoeUmud, the great Legiflator, and firft The Harper to the King was allowed annually a Pipe Britilh King that wore a Crown of Gold, 5—6—note 36 of Wine, - - - Intro, x.—note. The Difh of the illuftrious Rhydderch the Scholar, - 48 Hu .Gadarn was the firft who applied vocal Song to Defeat of the combined Fleets of Ireland, Denmark, preferve Memory, - - 5, and note 31 and Nornuay, - - - - 36 The If and of Hu, or Hy, - - 5—note 31 An Invocation to St. Dwyn-wen, by David ab G s. Page Page Triads of the Bards of Britain, - 1—2 3—4 5 6—7 Sepulchrals of th« Britifi Chieftains, - 9—10—11 —12 Tombs of the Warriors, Bards, and Saints, 9 —ic—11 — 12 18 Song called Unleniaeth Prydain, - - Intro, viii. Tournament ut-Caer-lleon, in Monmouthfhire, 24 -note (7) Solomon's Song*, a thoufand and five, - Intro, ix. Hiftory of Tydecho, the Saint of Llany Mavjddvoy, 45 &c. Strict Law concerning Bardic Songs, - Intro, xii. Of ancient Tribunal Seats, Intro, xiv. notes 18, notes. Songs of the Bards faithfully record the remarkable Events, xii. The Tally Office, Talifman, &c. 4—note 29 Secret of the Bard), - - xii. &c. Tunes in the minor Key, the Favourites of the Welfls, Intro, xv. The three One-head, or Supremacy of Song, - 4 riyfig, - - . - 84 The three Ftrf - Sonjhips of the Illand of Britain, - 6 Troiad y Draell, - - 89 Rural Songs caroled by the Swains, and Peafants, Intro, xv. Ton Jlarch, - - . _ 90 Salutation between Ugnach and Taiiefn, - 16 — 17 Tyb y Brenhin Siarles, - - _ _ 108 Snonvdon Mountain, the Parnajfus of Wales, - 50—note l The number Three, and Seven, were held in great V. Veneratidn by the ancient Britons, - 53 Three Things profper in the Sun, - - 5S Virgil, received two thoufand Pounds for fome of his The Seven Sleepers, - - * 53 1 Verfes, - - 1—note 1 The Seven Coufn Saints, - - 52 The Britifh Saints, Succeffors of the Druids in W. Divinity and Learning, - - 43—^52—note b The Svjord of Rhydderch the Liberal, King of Of Women, Warriors, and Bards, Intro, v. Cumbria, - \ - - 47—49—13 The War-w'eapons of King Arthur, 47 — note 4 The Svoord of Dignity of Odard, and that of Hugh The Whetftone, or Hone of Tudno Tydglyd, Lupus, - - - 48—49—notes — The Weel of Gvoyddno with the high Crown, 48 Will Somers, King Henry the Eighth’s Jefler, * Intro, x. The Wonders of North Wales. Sidancn, or the bilken-fair, - - 106—107 Wrexham Church, the moil beautiful Edifice in Wales, 50—note50 c St. Winfred's, Well, - - r0—note's, T. A Wedding decided by a public Exhibition of Adjivity, 56 * i Wild Animals, the wholefomeft Flefh, - - 58 Tydain, the Father of the Mufe, who firft reduced vocal Three Things which keep the World in order, - 58 Song to a Science, - - 5 — 6, 32—and/. 10 Dirges fung at the Wylnos, in Wales, - Intro, xiv. Taiiefn, Head of the Bards, - 4 8 —14—&c. Wyres Megen, - - - - ICI Account of Magic Art, - 19—&c.—31 Taliefin's Rhapfody on Tranfmigration,, - - 34 Y. Taliefn's Comminutions, - - - 35 Taliefin's Poems, _ - - gi —&c. T/nadavoiady Brenhin, 94 The Themes on which the Weljh Bards wrote upon, Intro, xiii. T Ty trvjfr ffienefi. 94 CORRECTIONS, AND ADDITIONS. Additional note to page ix. of the Introduction. Some of the and 20. 1 Chronicles, chap. x. ver. 12. Joffiua, chap. vii. ver. earlielt Englilh Heralds have the epithet of Guyon added to their 25, and 26, and chap. viii. 2 Samuel, chap, xviii. ver. 17, and 18. names ; probably from the Wellh Bard called G^tvion Bach, of Page 16. The catch-word at bottom Ihouldbe Ugnach. Caereinion, in Powis, whoflourilhed about A. D. 470 ; or from Page 20, in the 18th line, inftead of 516, read 452. that of their being Heralds of Gwy, (the diftridt of the Wye ;) Page 31, note 6; inftead of Cynllo, read Cynllavj, Biftiop of or of Gvuayn, in South Wales. Llanbifier, Radnorlhire. Page xii. of the Introdudlion. The 14th line fliould be Page 47, in the 5th line of note 4, rtuA grafp. thus : “ Now, good Cefario, but that piece of Song.” Page 48, in the fecond line of number 5, read vihere ever. Page xvi. line 36, read, previous to their beingcom- Page 49, near the bottom, read Evsyas, or Euas. mitted to the prefs. Page 52, the laft line of the verfes, read it thus : A'r Saith, Page 5 of the text, in the 6th line of the notes, inftead of a rifoddy Ser. eat, read ate. Page 57, and line 31 ; inftead of His refidence, read, This Addition to page 9. Salephilax, the Bard and Genealogill, refidence. flourifhed about A. D. 920. See Bale de Script. Brit. Cent. 2. Page 49, after note 13, add the following: Num. 29. A\Io Caius's Antiq. Cantab. Lib. I. St.Wiljrcd's Needle, a hole (in a vault under Rippon Church, in Addition to page 11. The Tomb of GvjrthmvA Wledig, near Yorklhire,) through which a chalte woman only could pals, Taly-Llyn, in Merionethlhire. See alfb Ganefis, chap. xxxv. ver.8, leems alfo to be of a fimilar defeription. THE BARDIC TRIADS. LITERALLY TRANSLATED FROM AN ANCIENT WELSH MANUSCRIPT I TO WHICH ARE ADDED, NOTES AND IL L U S T R AT ION S. LlTMA Drioeddy Eelrdd. TThESE are the Triads of the Bards. I'ri chyjefin Feirdd Tnys Prydain: The Three primitive Bards of the Ifland of Britain*: Idris Gawr, yr hynaf, ac ef a wnaeth Delyn gyntaf Idris the Champion, the mod Ancient 2, and he who Eidiol Gleddyfrudd, yr Arch Dderwydd j a firft made the harp3: Eidiol Gleddyfrudd, (or Eidiol Manogan Amber aw dry tad Beli Gawr. with the Ruddy-fword,) the Arch Druid4: and Ma- tiogan5 the Emperor, the father of Bcli the Great. Tri 1 It appears, by thefe memorial Triads of the Bards, that the the harp of a gentleman." Some of the Britilh princes were not un- greateft kings and heroes amonglt the Ancient Britons were fi nilar to the Emperor Kero, and Ptolemy Auletes, in priding them- emulous of acquiring the Bardic Accomplilhments, and eiteemed ielves in being Bards, more than in the diadem they wore ; which it an honour to be enrolled in this order. Nothing can difplay is not to be wondered at, becaufe the Britifh Bards poflefied ail the the eltimaiion in which that clafs of men were held, in the early learning in thofe early times: they were the preceptors to all the ages, fo much as the privileges, rewards, and honours conferred Britifh Nobles; they were highly revered by the people ; and upon them; and there are many inftances of Bards having acquired their perfons were deemed facred by the law. Even the Minfrels the elevated fituation of princes, and rulers of dominions. of the prefent day are extremely popular among the common people Witnefs the following, who were Bards, and heroic fovereigns: in Wales. See more in the firfl Volume of my Relicks of the Bards. Blegywryd, King of Britain, who flourifhed aoout 190 years be- 1 Idris Ga-wr,yr hynaf * or Jdris the Champion, the elder ; (or fore Chnlt; Ansurin G’wanvdrydd, Mychdeyrn Beirdd; i. e. Aneurin Senator:) which feems as if there had been two of the name. He the Satirill, King of Bards, and Chief ot the Gododinians, about was a chieftain of great power; “ Cawr Godrau Cader Idris-," or A. D. 510; Llywarch Hen, Prince of Cumbria, &c. about A. D. Lord of the borders of Idris Mountain ; which is the loftieft 580; Owain Cyveiliog, Prince of Powis, A. D. 1160; Prince mountain in Merionethlhire, and fecond in all Wales, and faid to Howel, fon of Prince Owain Gwynedd, 1140, &c. be 930 yards, perpendicular height, from the Green at Dolgelleuj The Scythians, who dwelt in the north-weft part of Europe, Cader Idris literally implies Idris’s Hold, or Chair ; where he is had alfo their poets, or warlike fingers, whom they called Singe- faid to have ftudied Aflrology : Edris is a name attributed to bardos ; and their chiefs that delighted in mufic, Albardos, Dago- Enoch, the founder of Aflronomy. Mr. Rowland, in his Mona bar dos, and Rodtbardos. Holinjhed’s Hiji. of Brit, Vol. I. Antiqua, fays, implies the City of the Learned; and As a proof in what eftimation the Bards were held in the early he mentions a place, in Anglefey, called Caer Edris. Alfo, Bed ages, the ancient poet, Ahamyris, was fo much admired by the Idris, or Idris’s Abode, or Manfion, in Yale, Denbighfhire ; Scythians, on account of his poetry, KiSapiJfo., that they chofe which ftill retains the name, as well as that of Llecb Idris, or the him their King. Conon. Narrat. Poet. cap. 7. edit. Gal. flicker of Idris, a farm fo called, at Trawfvynydd, in Meirionydd; Virgil, the prince of the Latin poets, (who flourifhed about 35 which alfo may imply the Grave of Idris. Idris flouriihed, pro- years before Chrift), received from Oclaaiia, the filter of the Em- bably, in the third, or fourth century; and his genealogy, from an peror Augufus, tenfefterces for everyone of his verfes in praife of her old manufcript, runs thus : “ Idris Gawr, ah Gwyddno, ah Cynyr ion ; the whole of which was equivalent to 2000I, Englifh money. Farfdrwch, ab Cadwaladr, ab Meirion of Meirionydd, ab Tibion, When Ammbaus, the Lyrift, fung in the Theatre at Athens, he ab Cunedda tVledig." Snowdon, and Cader Idris, were formerly was paid an Attic talent, or 193I. 15s. a day, for his performance. deemed to be the Parnaffian hills of Wales \ and none but good Athenaus, lib. 14. Bards could claim fuch an elevated feat. According to the old Archimelas, the Greek poet, who flourifhed in the reign of Hiero, adage, fhould any one fleep all night on the top of Coder Idris, he King of Syracufe, about 136 Olympiad, made fome verfes in would be either a poet, or a madman. Alfo fee page 5 of the firft Vol. raile of a prodigious large fli p, which Hiero had ordered to be 3 It appears, by the above record, that Idris the Champion, uilt; and thole verles were worth, to him, above five thoufand and Bard, invented the Harp; orotherwife, if the Gomerian Britons quarters of corn, which the King fent him, to the Pyreum. Athe- brought that inflrument with them when they firft inhabited this nians, lib. 5 p. 206, & 209. ifland, it feems to have been loft, or forgotten; zni Idris might proba- Admiral de Joytufe is faid to have given an abbey to a poet, for bly re-invent the harp ; or at leaft he made fome improvement upon a long, as we are informed by Bayle. it ; and perhaps his fame for performing might have gained him To come nearer to our own time, Jeffery Chaucer, the Englilh that reputation. But the Scripture informs us, that “ Juhal was poet, was a great favourite with King Richard the Second ; the father of all fuch as handle the or harp.” Genefis, who, in reward for his poems, gave him the manor of Newelme, chap. iv. v. 2?. See this fubjett fully exemplified in the firft Volume in Oxfordfhire —’Tis to be regretted, that merit meets with no of my Relicks of the Weljh Bards, page 90, &c. fuch encouragement now ; Venantius Fortunatus, (who wrote about A. D. 609,) plainly ‘‘ H-dl, Bards triumphant ! born in happier days; tells us, that both the Harp, and the Crwth, were the inftruments “ Immortal heirs of univerfal praife !” Pope. of the Barbarians, or Britons; “ Romanufque Lyra, plaudat iibi, Barbarus Harpa, In Leges Wallicce, (or King Howel’s Laws, page 301,) it is re- “ Gracus Achilhacd, Crotta Britanna canat." corded, that “ Three things noere indifpenfable for a Nobleman, or a And Lucan, (who flourifhtd about 50 years before Chrift,) where Baron ; namely, his harp, his robe, and his chefs-board.” Alfo, we he fpeaks of the Britifti Bards, fays, find, in r age 415, “ There nsjere three lawful harps : that is. The “ You, too, ye Bards ! whom facred raptures fire, harp of the King; the harp of the Chief Bard, (or Laureat j) and “ To chant your heroes to your country’s lyre; B “ Who 1 THE BARDIC TRIADS. 7W Amherodraidd Delynorion Tnys Prydain: The Three Imperial performers on the harp, of Arthur ; Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr; a the Ifland of Britain : King Arthur6-, Glewlwyd Gav- Chrella, Bardd Telyn Gruffydd ab Cynan. aelvawr1, (i. e. Brave-Grey with powerful-grafp;) and Crella'B, Bard of the Harp to Prince Gtiffith ab Cynan. Tri Dyn ynt Gogyfurdd: Three men are of equal rank: Brenin; Pelynior j a Bardd. A King ; a Harper ; and a Bard. Tri Gzvr pennaf yn y Lljs: The Three principal men of the Palace : Pelynior; EJgob a Bardd. The performer of the Harp j the Bilhop ; and the Bard. Pri Barnwyr Gwldd: The Three Judges of a country : Bardd Pelyn y Brenin ; The Harp-Bard of the King9; Bardd Pad y Brenin; ac The King’s father’s Bard ; and Arwyddfardd y Lljs. The Herald of the Palace ,0. « Who confecrate, in your immortal ftrain, That is, “ Brave patriot fouls in righteous battle {lain.” In Longborth was (lain, Geraint *, Rowe’s Lucan, b. i. v. 785. A valiant man, of the coaft of Devonfhire ; Plutarch, in his Treatife on Mufic, fays, “ The facred prefents They killed ; and were killed ; of the Hyperboreans were fent, of old, to Delos, accompanied with And in London were flain, by Arthur’s hardy men. flutes, pipes, and harps.” Pelloutier furnifnes a number of proofs Who hewed down with weapons of Heel: that the northern Cr//r not only had flutes, pipes, harps, trumpets, He was the Emperor, and leader of the toil of war. and other inftruments; but that they were the inventors of them. Arthur was the fon of Uthur Pendragon, and Eigyr was his mother. 4 Eidiol, the Druid, mufl: have lived very early : (The Ruddy- He was firft crowned at Sylcefler, in Hampfhire, in the 15th year of fword probably alludes to his being an Arch-Druid, who officiated his age, having then Ihewed uncommon marks of prowefs, ftrength, at the facrifices offered to the Deity. See the firft Volume, p. 4, &c. and {kill; and may truly be called, the mod glorious King of the Caius records, that the Druids began in Britain 1013 years before Britons. After his great victories, and conquefts, he was eledted Chrift, and continued here 179 years after Chrift. The Druids Chief, cr Emperor of Britain, and crowned a fecond time, by Du- were routed by the Romans, in Anglefey, in A. D. 61: and about briflus, (the Archbilhop,) at Caer-Lleon, upon the River Ufke, in the year 70, the Druidifii priefts forfook that Ifle of Mona, and Mjnmouthfhire ; which is recorded to have been celebrated with removed themfelves to the Ifle of Man ; to the Ifle of Bardfey ; the greateft munificence, pomp, and mirth ; and with harmony of to Ireland ; and to the Scottifh Ifles. vocal and inftrumental mufic: where, alfo, chivalry was highly The inftitution of the Druids is fuppofed to have originated in promoted ; and all public fports and games; fuch as Tilt, Tourna- Britain, whence it paffed into Gaul, according to Cafar's Commen- ment, and other exercifes of ftreng!h and adivity. Hence, pro- taries, book vi. chap. 13. bably, may be derived the origin of chivalry. This great King, There was Eidiol, the 4zd King of Britain ; and Eidol, Earl of after conquering feveral countries, defeating the Saxons in twelve Gloucefter, (a General under Emrys Wledigl) who made his efcape battles, and clearing his country of foreign invaders, died in the from Stonehenge, where 460 of the Britifh Nobles were treache- year 542. I refer the curious, who wifh for farther particulars of roufly maffacred by the Saxons, at an entertainment given by this renowned hero, to Nennius’s Britijh Hflory, Leland's Affertion Hengifl; and in confequence of fuch a breach of confidence, this of the Life of Arthur ; Frofard's Hiflory, H. of Huntingdon', William Eidol afterwards cut off Hengifl’s head with his fword, which was of Malmjlury; Giraldus Cambrenfs; 'Jeffrey of Monmouth ; Enderby’s about the year 490. Lewis’s Hiflory of Britain, p. 164, and 170 ; Cambria Triumphans ; Camden's Britannia ; and Carte’s Hflory of and Lambarde’s Dictionary, p. 313. England, vol. i. p. 203. 5 Manogan was chief King of Britain, and flouriflied about izo 7 Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was mafter of the ceremonies in King years before Chrift : (he was the fon of Cap-Bur, fon of Sawyl, Jon Arthur’s palace, and one of his Knights. Triad 85. of Rhydderch,fon of Rydyon.fon of Eidol.) Nennius fays, that Ma- 8 nogon conquered all the iflands in the Tyrrhene Sea; Sardinia, Crellan, the Bard, flouriftted about the year 1086; and was Corfica, &c. According to Lewis’s Hiflory, he was called Dyn killed in battle, when fighting under the banner of his Prince. Elfyd, the Man of Joy, or Element of Art; probably from his being 9 It appears that the primitive Bards were the Legiflators, who a Bard. There is a coin of Manogan Rex, defcribed among the publicly promulgated the law upon one of the higheft hills of the plates of ancient Britifh coins, by Dr. Stukeley. See alfo page 6, of diftrid. the firfl Volume of the Bards. “ There are three things in the Court, which muft be commu- 6 Paliefln, the Bard, in his poem of the Battle of Goddau, fays, nicated to the King, before they are made known to any other “ Derwyddon Doethur, Ye fapient Druids, perfon : every fentence of the Judge ; every new fong; and every “ Darogenwch i Arthur !” Sing praifes to Arthur ! hrft ca/k of mead.” Alfo, in Prince Llowarch Hen’s, Elegy on Geraint ab Erbin, (a The Court Bard, in King Howel’s time, (about A- D. 942,) Lord of Devonfhire,) who commanded the fleet of the Britons, at was, in rank, the eighth officer of the King’s Houfehold ; and he the fiege of London, (formerly called, The Haven of Ships,) fat at the Prince’s table, next to the Comptroller of the Houiehold. again ft the Saxons, about the year 530, where Arthur proved Leges Wallicre \ and fee page 27 of my firft Volume of the Bards. victorious ; which contains the following lines : But, in earlier periods, the Bard was ilil! of a much higher rank : “ Yn Longborth y lids Gereint, witnefs the above Triads. “ Gwr dewr 0 godir Dyfneint: ,0 See the firft Volume of the Welih Bards, p. to, 56, and 85. Yntwyyn Had git aslledeint ; “ Yn Longborth lias i Arthur, * This Genint ab Erbyn is called, in the Triads, one of the three Admirals of “ Gwr dewr cymmynt 0 dur, &c. Britain ; he was {lain at Billinfgate, where he fought to enter London from his “ Ammhtrawdyr Llywiawdyr llafur.” THE BARDIC TRIADS. 7W Bardd Caw y Jydd: The Three privileged Bards, or Family Recorders: Telynfardd; Cy wyddfardd j ac Arwyddfardd. The Harp Bard; the Poetic Bard; and the Genea- logical, or Heraldic Bard ‘I’ri Brenin afuant o Feirdd: The Three Sovereigns who were Bards 11: Belt Mawr; Beli the Great's-, Gwr-gdn Varvdrwch, (i. e. the ,4 ,5 Gwr-gdn Farfdrwch: ag Arthur. Bulhy-beard Songfter :) and King Arthur . Fri Rhyfelgar Feirdd Tnys Prydain: The Three warlike Bards, of the Bland of Britain: Merddin ab Morfryn j Merddin, the fon of Morvryn 16; Bran the Bleffed'1, Bendigeid-Frdn, ab Lljr ; a the fon of Lljr; and Plenydd'*, Bard to King Brutus. Phlenydd, Bardd Brytys. Tri Aurdorcbogion Beirdd Fays Prydain: The Three Golden Forqiles Bards, (that is, whofe Llywarch Hen, ab Eli dir Lydanwm ; a necks were adorned with the golden-chain,) of the ,s Brenin Penbeirdd, yr hwnfu enwoccaf Delynior o'r bjd-, Bland of Britain ’: ac Aneurin ab y Caw, Prince Llywarch Henla, the fon of Elidir Lydanwyn: Brenin Penbeirdd, (i. e. King, the Supreme of the Bards ;) who was the moft renowned player on the harp in the world : and Aneur in, the fon of Caw. 11 In another copy, I find it thus: “ There are three privileged Romifh Saints were permitted to be read without controul. Bur- perfons Tn aw/er Brenin Penbeirdd, yr aethant i eijiedd In the time of Brenin Penbeirdd, (or King, the ac i farnu ar Gerddorion o bob gradd a T’hri Supreme of the Bards,) they went to fit, and to de- rhyw Gerddor a raddwyd yn ogyfuch : y fef cide on Bards of every degree ; and Three orders of Telynior, am ei fod yn moli Duw ar gerdd dant; Songfters were feledled, and adjudged to be prefer- a Bardd Cywyddy am ei fddyn moli Duw able, and of a fuperior kind ; that is, the Harper, ar gerdd Dafavod j ac. becaufe he praifed God on a Stringed Inftrument**; Arwyddfarddy am ei fod yn moli Duw drwy gadw the Ode Bard, becaufe he praifed God inVocal Songs1*; Cof am weithredoedd Rhyfelwyry ac ereill a and the Heraldic Bard, for praifing the Deity in pre- wnaethant bethau tra-ardderchogion er lies y ferving the memorable Actions of Warriors ; and Bjd. other excellences worthy of commendation, for the good of the world16. The following additional documents refpedting the early Bards are extracted from a copy of Fhe Ancient Britifti Triads of the If and of Britain. Tri Chbf Beirdd Tnys Prydain. The Three memorials of the Bards of the Ifland of Britain. 2r C6f Clyw, Memorial of Tradition : 8 Cof Can; a Memorial of Song* : and 39 Chof Coelbren. Memorial of Letters . Fair unben Cerdd: The Three One-head 3°, or Supremacy of Song Tw Prydu; Is, to compofe poetry ; Canu Telyn j a To play on the harp; and be Chyfarwyddyd. Skilled in hiflories, or recitative fongs. 43 “ Gwaevjruddelyn implies a fpear dipped in the enemy’s blood. Tair Chof fydd ar Gerdd Dafod; Achau, Arfau, a Rbandir- 43 oedd: Three memorials, are contained in vocal fong: pedigrees, Of Taliejin, fee the firft Volume, page 18. arms, and divifion of lands. See more in the frjl Volume of this 4+ “ The fons of Jeduthun prophefied with Harps, to give Work, page 56. thanks, and to praife the Lord.” \fl Chronicles, chap. xxv. ver, 3. *9 Coelhreny Beirdd, or The Wood Memorial of the Bards, is what they formerly ufed to cut their memorandums upon ; Inch as the See jitts xvn. v. 28.—Pfalms ix. ver. 1. and 2.—Deutero- ancient wooden Almanacks lucre ; or Staffordjhire Clogg *, or Log. nomy, chap, xxxii.—Judges, chap. v. Hence originated the Log hook, which is ult d by the lailors. Alfo, 45 Nature, by a divine infpiration only, can acquire the Avsen, there is a fimilar thing called a tally, or a piece of wood cut with or Mufe; and therefore Ennius called the mufical poets holy, be- indentures, or notches, in two correfponding parts; of which, one caufe they were, by a fpecial prerogative, commanded tofing the was kept by the creditor, and the other by the debtor, as was for- praife of God to its. The Bard, Taliefin fays, merly the common way of keeping all accounts ; (and is ftill ufed by the brewers, and the milk-fellers). Hence, likewife, is derived, “ Rhygorugfy Awen The powerful Mufe infpires me Tf\tTally-Ofice, (of the Exchequer, in London ;) and a teller-, and “ 1/otify Rbeen” To praife the Lord ! probably, a Talifnan : from the W^Hh word, talu, to pay ; or from And the fublime Milton has the following lines: the French word, taille. See Rennet's Glojfary to his Parochial “ With joy and fhout Antiquities-, and Plot’s Hflory of Stafordjhire, page 418, and 420. “ The hollow univerfal orb they fill’d, 30 In the primitive ages, it was the province of the Bard to be “ And touch’d their golden harps, and, hymning, prais’d fkilled in three arts : That is. Poetry, Mufic, and general know- “ God, and his works ; Creator, him they fung, ledge. “ Both when tirft evening was, and when firft morn.” Alfo,fee the JirJl Volume of the Relics of the Bards, page 27, and 79. ■* The Sraffordjhire dogg feems to be a corruption of theWel/h word, cyfl'.g ; that is, wages, or hire ; which is ftill cuftomary among the labourers in Wales, t* 17 See Ceefar’s Commentaries, book vi» 13, mark every day’s work upon a flick. Trioedd 92. THE BARDIC TRIADS. S Trioedd 92. Triad 92. cTri Deifnogion Cerdd a Cheudawd Cenedly Cy'mry: The Three Minifters of Song, and Confervatora Gwyddon Ganhebon a wnaeth Gerdd Dafawd gyntaf ofdie Tiibe or the Cambrians . o'r B d Hu Gadarn a ddodes gyntaf nr Gerdd Daf- Gwyddon Ganhebon, who was the firfl: in the world awd gynnal Cof a Cheudawd; a Thydain Tdd Awen> that made vocal fong : and Hu 31, the Mighty, was a ddodes gelfyddyd gyntaf ar Gerdd Dafawd, a Dof- the firft that applied vocal fong to preferve Memor/ barth ar Geudawd; ac o'r a wnaethant y Tri-wjr and Thought: and Fydain, the Father of the Mufe^2, hynny,y cafad Beirdd, a Barddoniaeth a dodiyn hos- was the firft that reduced vocal fong to a fcience, barth Braint a Defawd y pethau hynny y gan y tri and formed rules of compofition. And from the Beirdd cyntefigion; nid am gen, Plennydd, ac Alawn, a progrefs which thefe three men had made, were Gwron. derived Bards, and Bardifm ; and thole things were afterwards put under privilege, and cuftom, by the three principal, or fundamental Bards; namelf, Plennydd, Alawn, and Gwron 33. Trioedd 58. Triad 58. Tri Chyntefigion Beirdd Tnys Prydain : The Three Primeval Bards of the Iflarid of Bri- Plennydd -, Alawn •, a Gwron: tain ; (which in another Copy of the Triads are fef oeddynt y rhai hynny, a ddychymmygafant y Brein- called, the Three Primitive Inftitmional Bards;) iau a'r Defodau y fydd ar Feirdd, a Barddoniaeth ; Plennydd-, Alawn-, and Gwrcn™: and they Were ac am hynny eu gelwir y Tri Chyntefigion: hagen ydd thofe who introduced the privileges and cuftoms* cedd cyn no hynny Beirdd, a Barddoniaeth ; ac nid oedd which regulate the Bards, and Bardifm ; and there- arnynt Ddofbarth drwyddedawg; ac nid oedd iddynt fore, are called the Three Primeval Bards : yet, na Breiniau, na Defodau, namyn a gaid 0 addwynder there were Bards, and Bardifm prior to them, a fyberwyd, yn nawdd Gwldd a Chenedl cyn nog amfer though they were not under any liberal diftinftion 3 y tri hyn : a rhai a ddywedant mai yn amfer Prydain nor had they either privileges, or cuftoms, except ab Aedd Mawr y buant -, ac eraill a ddywedant mai yn what was obtained through civility and courtefy, un- amfier Dyfnwal Mod- Mud, ei fab efy buant; ac yn rhai der the prote&ion of the Government and the Na- o'r hen Lyfrau y gelwir ef Dyfnfarth ab Prydain. tion, before the time of thefe three. Some fay, that they lived in the time of Prydain3i, the fon of Aedd Mawr, (ov Aedd the Great;) and others fay, they flotirifhed in the time of Dyfnwal Mod-Mud™, his fon, and who, in fome of the old manuferipts, is called Dyfnfarth ab Prydain. Trioedd 57, Antiquity furnifnes us with feveral emirtent men, of the much cafe, and was fo happy in the choice of good words, that he name of Hu, or Hierocles. The firft is, Hierocles, the brother of charmed all his hearers, and always feemed to enter the lift againll Menedes ; who was the firft of the Afiatic orators, in the time of Plato, to contend with him for the glory of the beauty of didion, Cicero. The fecond Hierodes, (is cited by Stephanas,) who and depth of thought.” There is alfo an ifland in the Ebudes, or wrote of the moft remarkable things he had feen ; and fpeaks of a Hebrides, which has been eminent for its fandity from the earlieft tizdon of Hyperboreans •, a people addidled tophilofophy, and who eat times, called Hy, (Hu,) or Iona-, and probably had its name from no manner of fiefh. Alfo, Diodorus, the Sicilian, Book II. chap. 3, the above Hu, who, perhaps, was Lord thereof. Hu, in Welfti, corroborates this account; and fays, the Hyperboreans inhabit an is a cap; and may imply epifcopal. In the fixth century there Ifland over againft Gaul, who are renowned for ftately groves, was an ancient feminary ; and alfo a monaftery in that Ifland, and temples, and dpdlo's priefts, &c. $ and that feme of the Gre- called St. Columb's Cell; of which Columba, the Apoftle of the cians palled over to them : likewife, that Abaris, a Hyperborean, Bids, was Abbot. It was famous for the refort of holy men, and travelled into Greece. See the JirJl Volume of the Bards, p. 93. efteemed the queen of all the monafteriesof Ireland and Scotland ; The third, Hu Gadarn, or Hierocles the Mighty, is mentioned by and the place of interment of the Scottilh kings. Bede's Ecdes. the Bard, lolo Goch, who informs us that he was Emperor of Hijl. 1. 3, c. 4. and lib, 1, c. 13. Gibfon's Camden-, and Lewis’s Conftantinople, and that he held the plow, and would eat no bread Hiftory. but from corn of his own raifing.—Probably this was Hierodes the 31 grammarian, who has given a Treatife of the Empire of Conftan- Tydain buoys, Fad Auien bur. Huw Did.—Query, Whether tinople. But the above Hu, or Hierodes, mentioned in the text, this was the fame with Fitan, or Fytdn, a Celtic prince, and ne- poffibly was the Phiiofopher, and author of the Commentaries on phew of Saduorn ? The fignification of the word in the Britifli, is^ the Golden Verfes of Pythagoras \ a Treatife on Providence and the houfe of fire ; i. e. Fy-tdn : for which reafon he is taken, by the Fate, &c. who flourilhed about A. D. 480. Saidas fays, “ The Romans, for Hyperion, or the fun. Celtic Remains, by Lewis Morris ; Philolopher Hierodes, he who, by his fublimity of ftyle, and by his a manufeript. See more on the fubjecl in page 10, where his tomb is eloquence, has rendered fo famous the School of Alexandria, mentioned. joined to conftancy and greatnefs of foul, a beauty of wit, and 33 There is a place called Oran's, Chapel, in the Ifle of Man- fluency of expreffion beyond all imagination. He fpoke with fo Sir William Glynn, a poet of the middle ages, fpeaks of two C of 6 THE BARDIC TRIADS Trioedd 57. Triad 57. 'Tydain 'Tad Awen, a wnaeth Drefn a Dojbarth Tydain Tad Awen, (or Tudain, the Father of th6 gyntaf ar Gof, a Chadw Cerdd Dafawd, ad pherthyn- Mufe;) who firft eftablifhed fyfterrij and order* afau ; ac o'r drefn homo, y dychymmygwyd Breiniau, refpedling the tradition, and record of vocal fong* a Defodau dojbarthus ar Feirdd, a Barddoniaeth Tnys and things appertaining thereto : and out of that Prydain gyntaft fyftem were invented the regular privileges, and cuftoms relative to the Bards, and Bardifm of the Ifland of Britain. Trioedd 93. Triad 93. STW Chyn-febydd Tnys Prydain : The Three Firft-fonlhips37, of the Ifland of Bri- Tydain Tdd-Avoen; Menyw Hen ; a Gwrhir, Bardd tain * Tydain, the Father of the Mufe; Menyw3*, Teilaw, yn Plan Ddf: a thri meib Beirdd oeddynt. the Aged; and Gwrhir39, Bard to Teilaw, (the Bi- fhop of Landaff, about A. D. 514 5) and they were three fons of Bards. Tricedd 89. 3 of the before-mentioned Bards in a forcible manner, thus: 7 Cyn-febydd probably implies the firft.born fon of the mother; or, the fon of a firjl fon : (and perhaps the above were Bards from “ Ptunnydd, ag Oron plannant their earlieft infancy, and by inheritance, as the Levites were in “ O’ipltvy ddy/geidiaeth i’w plant /”—i. e. the patriarchal time.) See Genefes, chap, xlviii. v. 18 ; Deutero- Plennydd and Oron implanted, in their progeny, learning ; and nomy, xxi. v. 17; and Hebrews, chap. i. that again defeended to their offspring.—Thefe Bards flourifhed 38 before Chrill, according to Bale. Of /Hawn, I can find no Menyw, the Aged, I can find no account of: but the Setf account; but it implies, to abound, or the power of flowing ; of St. David’s, in Pembrokdhire, was called Menew, or Mynyw, and perhaps he was of the Hierarchal order ; for there is a place, and fometimes Menew hen, (or Old Menew;) and'in Latin, Me- in Anglefey, called Alaw'r Beirdd. nenAa', which originally was a famous nurfery of learning, where 3 Afer Menevenfs, John de Erigena, and many others were educated; * “ The names of Plennydd, and Oron, are not only unknown and it is not improbable but this Menyw was the founder of that to the vulgar, but are almoll unheard of. The caufe muft be, I ancient Seminary of Menevia, about the fifth century. The Ifle Should fuppofe, the great deftruflion of all monuments of antiquity of Man, likewife, is called, by the WeKh, Menaw ; which was by the Fids, Scots, Saxons, &c. The only remedy for fuch an one of the famed feats of the Druids, and where fome of their evil, is, a diligent fearch into the few libraries now left us. As I cuftoms are ftill retained by the legiflators in that ifland; which was making this fearch, I met with Lilius Gregorius Gyraldus, Per- are fo remarkable, that I cannot refrain introducing here the rarienfis, the great Antiquarian, a man well verfed in every art ancient mode of promulgihg the law to the people, which origi- and language that can adorn a fcholar. In the fecond part of his nally was done in the fame manner in the Ifland of Britain. poetical hillory, he allows much praife and glory to Britain, in the This Court is held fub Dio, after the ancient manner of all the following w ords: northern nations, where the Lord is placed on the top of a circular “ Britain, although divided from the reft of the world, has mount, or barrow, furrounded by his people, who, with an awful “ always been partial to Bards ; among the moft celebrated of filence, wait the future fate of their nation in the promulgation of “ whom are to be reckoned, Plennydd, Oron, and Gildas." Gy- their laws, which, from the birth of time, had been locked up in raldus has done well in mentioning thus much of them, although, the breafts of their magiftrates. Firft, therefore, they declare to I wiflr he had thrown more light on each feparate author.— him the orders of the affembly, which I fliall give you from the Leland's Scriptoribus Britannicis, chap. x. Vol. I. ; aifo, Ponticus original record in the ancient Englifti of that age. Virunnius, lib. i, makes mention of thefe three celebrated Bards. “ Our doughtful and gracious Lord, this is the conftitution of And fee the Jirfl Volume of the Bards, page 13. old time, the which we have given in our days, how ye Ihould be 35 Prydain is mentioned in one of the hiftorical Triads, which govern’d on their Tynwald day. Firft you fhall come thither in is a very curious fragment, that records the three moft ancient your royal array, as a King ought to do by the prerogatives and names of Britain-, therefore I fliall give it here at length: royalties of the Land of Man, and upon the hill of Tynwald fit in a “ Vri henw yr Tnys hon : Chair, covered with a royal cloth and Cuftiions, and your, vifage Y Cyntaf, cyn ei chyfannedduy gchvid hi Clas Merddin, {Meitin :) unto the Eaft, and your fword before you, holden with the point Wedi ei chyfannedduy gelwid hi y Fel Ynys : upward ; your Barons in the third degree fitting befide you, and A g-iuedi ei gorefgyn 0 Brydain, tnab Aedd Mawr, y dodes ami Ynys your Benefced men, and gour Desmfters before you fitting ; and your Prydain. ’ ’ Clerks, your Knights, Efquires, and Yeomen about you in the third z. e. The three names of this ifland : degree, and the worthiett men in your land to be called in before your Deemjlers, if you will afk any thing of them ; and to hear the The firft, before it was inhabited, it was called the fea-girted ver- government of your land, and your will, and the Commons to ftand dant fpot: after it was inhabited, it was called the Honey If.and: without the Circle of the hill, with three Clerks in their furplices; and after us fubjedlion to Prydain, the fon of Aedd Mawr, he and your Deemjlers fhall make call in your coroner of Gianfaba, and gave it the name of The If and of Prydain, he (hall call in all the coroners of Man, and their yardes in their 35 Dyfnwal Moel-mud was chief Monarch of Britain about 430 hands, with their weapons upon them, either fword, or ax ; and years before Chrift ; and he is faid to have been the firft King of the Moars, that is to wit, of every Jheading : then the chief coro- Britain that were a crown of gold. This Dyfnwal was the great ner, that is, the coroner of Gianfaba, fliall make a fence upon regiflator and author of the Moelmutian laws, which were tranflated pain of life, or lymme, that no man make any difturbance, or ftir by Gildas, into Latin. This King began four public ways acrofs in the time of Tynwald, or any murmur, or rifing in the King's the Ifland of Britain, and gave them privileges; and his fon Beli prefence, upon pain of hanging and drawing : and then (hall let afterwards preferibed the bounds, and perfected them. Alfo, your Barons, and all other, know you to be King, and Lord-, and Dyfnixal gave privileges to temples, cities, and ploughs, and to what time you were here, you receiv’d the land as heir apparent highways leading to the fame, that whofoever had need thereof, in your father’s days, and all your Barons of Man, with your wor- might repair thither and be fafe. (To this period, in all proba- thieft men, and Commons, did you faith and fealiie; and in as bility, we may date the ougin of the Bardic privileges, which are much as you are, by the grace of God, now King, and Lord of fo often mentioned in the Triads.) Silas Taylor's Hifory of Ga- Ma?i, ye will now that your Commons come unto you, and (hew velkind, p. 154; and Lewis's Hijt. of Great Britain, p. 39. their charters how they hold of you, and your Barons that made no faith OF EARLY LEARNING AMONG THE ANCIENT BRITONS. 7 Trioedd 89. Triad 8 9. 7W Gwynn Seronyddion Tnys Prydain : The Three white, or profound Afixologers of the 40 4 Idris Gawr ; a Gwydion mab Don; a Gwyn ab Nudd: Ifland of Britain: Idris, the Champion ; Givydion “, a chan faint eu gwybodau am y Ser a'u hanianau a'n the fon of Don ; and Gwyn, the fon of Nudd : and on hanfoddau, y darogenynt a chwennychid ei wybod hyd account of their great knowledge concerning the ftarsj yn nydd brawd. and their nature, they were able to foretell whatever was wanted to be known, until the day of judgment. faith nor fealty unto you, that they make now ; and if any of your mentioned thus : “ Gwrfavur ah Cadien, ah Cynatt’,y Gzvas feil- Barons be out of the land, they lhall have fpace of forty days, aw, 0 Went.” after that they are called in to come and Ihew whereby they hold 40 Cauur ar wyr, Carnxi ar-dvraidd !” T. Aled. and claim lands, and tenements within your land of Man, and to i. e. The Champion of Men, and Stag of Heroifm i make faith and fealty, if wind and weather ferve them ; or elfe to 41 Gnuydion, the fon of Dan, was a Prince of Ar-Gonwy, in feize their temporalities into your hands; and then to proceed in Caernarvonfhire, and an eminent Philofopher of the fifth century. your matters whatfoever you have there to do in fellony, or treafon, “ Givdion mab Don ar Gon-ivy, cr other matters that touch the government of your land of Man.” “ Hfid lath ni bu o’i fathpivy !” Ddd. ab Gwilim. TinwaU, or Din'-uoald, is the name of the hill, on which their Gtvydion, the fon of Don, of the banks of Conway, laws are promulged on Midfummer-day, &c. which is raifed, or Of magic wand—there never was his equal! encircled w'ith feveral afcents, for the different orders of the Pliny alfo allures us, that the Britons were famous for the art people, and is a great curiofity. Magic. Gibfott's Camden, firft ed. page 70 ; and the firft Volume N. B The Deemfters, or Doomfers, I prefume, were originally of the Bards, page 13, & 79. the Druids, or Bards, who fat as Judges, with the four-and- In the time of King Vortigern, and that of his fon Vortimer, twenty Keys, to advife with, in-cafe any new matter arofe; who lived Meugant, or Meugantius, a famous Philofopher, and Ma- were the reprefentatives of the country, and in fome cafes, ferved thematician of the Univerfity of Caerlkon, in Monmouthfhire, as the grand-inquelt of the nation. where there was 200 Students in Philofophy, who lludied Aftro- Thelfle of Man was never in pofleffion of the Romans; and logy, and diligently obferved the courfe of the Bars, and prog- its inhabitants retained them primitive fimplicity. Their original nofticated the deftinies of men ; in which fcience Meugant excelled government was Druidical, admirably adapted to the good of all others: he flourifhed about A. D; 460. Leland's Scriptoribus mankind ; and fo mixed with the prince and prieft, that the State Britannicis, cap. xxviii ; and Lewis's Hi/lory of Britain. and religion had but one united intereft. This was the patriarchal There was one Meugan, a Bifhop of Silcheller, in Hampfhire, government, to which virtue, not birth, was the befl title, and is in King Arthur’s time ; and Llanrhudd church, in Denbighfhire, fuppofed to have continued here until the end of the fourth cen- is dedicated to this Saint. tury. Sacbeverell’s Account oj' the IJls of Man. “ Meugan ab Cyndaf, gnvr or Ifrael.’ ’— Achau Saint. Proba- ^9 Gv.rhir, implies a tall man. In a MS. pedigree, I find him bly, a man from Paleftine, or of the order of Paleftine. - OF EARLY LEARNING AMONG THE ANCIENT BRITONS. Sarcn, fon of Magus, the third king over the Britons and Celts, p. 12 j ; and Mona Antigua, p. 163 ; UJher dc Primord. Eccles. who reigned about the year of the world, 2006. He loved learn- Brit. c. 8. and Ponticus Verunnins. ing ; and to reftrain the fiercenefs of his people, he is faid to have El-van, and Medd-vin, men of high reputation, would have been the firft who founded public fchools.or feminaries among the pafled totally unknown to us, had not mere chance fnatched them Britons ; and of this Saron, the ancient town of Sarum, or Salifbury, from oblivion. About three years ago, or more, at the requeft had its name, as we are informed by Camden, and Lewis's Britijh of a friend, i went to an auftion of old books, where I found trea- Hifory, page 6, and 23. fures upon treafures. Among the reft, a Britijh Hijlory of Gal- CVn.w records, that Britain (as witneffeth Cdr/2?r, De Bello Gal- fredus Monumelenfs fell into my hands; to that was added another lieo, lib. 6,) produced the firft muficians', whom, in time paft, little book, without any mention of the author’s name, in which I they called Beirdd, or Bards of the Cymbri, (or Aborigines,) yet read thefe words; fo called them, of one Bardus, the fifth king of Britain, about “ A. D. 156, Lucius, King of Britain, fent El OF ANCIENT BRITISH P 0 E S T. The following is extrafled from an old Britifh manufcripf, intitled, “ Grammatical Rules of Weifrt Poetryand as it gives much information refpe&ing the period, and the inventors of various WelCb metres, I thought it worthy to be given here literally tranflated. “ This is the way to know, and to underdand the meafures of “ The Modulation, fbng, fome of which were improved from the Latin, through the The Encomiafiic, learning of Einion the Pried; and Dr. Dafydd Ddu gave autho- The Long Heroic, rity to the metres, fo formed by him, and by others before, who The Short Metric, had begun to praife God, from the time of Enos, fon of Seth, And the Short Impulfon : the fon of Adam ; the fird man who praifed God, and invented And fome call them the Five Tribunals of Vocal Song. figure, which in Latin is called fisura. The time when this “ Afterwards, four oth^r metres were invented ; namely. began, was about 600 years after the time of Adam-, and from The Long Encomiafic, that time, to the birth of Chrid, the prophets carried it on, im- The Metre of Nine Syllables, proving it, in prophefying of *• We obtained it through 1 he Short Verfe with Modulation, the Holy Ghod, in our language, when we received the faith in And the Rugcfity, which is called the mode cf Gynddelw, the Bard, Chrijl ; and calling on the Holy Spirit, promoted the Mufe; which vanifhes through the commidion of fins, and dourifhes " Since that period. Dr. Dafydd Ddu, of Hiraddug, invented through the guidance of fciences, and holinefs. three other metres ; namely, the Recurrence, with a trail; the Long and Melting Verfe ; and the Soft Concatenated Incurf-ve, * Second Book of<< Peter, chap. i. ver. 21; and Ecclefiadicus, chap. xhr. “ Einion, the Prieft of North Wales, alfo invented the metre Yr oedd am wawd arwydd mawl, called the Long Impulfon. “ Yn Adda yn Awen yddawl.” Ed. Prys. “ DavyddabEdmwndmventeA two metres, inliead of the Ancient « Concerning the pillars, or canons of poefy, and their number : concatenated Verfe ; and the Warrior’s Triplet : namely, the Gorcheji The fhort metre—and its meafure is four fyllables. y Beirdd, or Majierpiece of the Bards ; and the Cadwyn Byrr, or The white metre—and its meafure is five fyllables. Short Catenation. The blue metre—and its meafure is fix fyllables. “ Of the G or chef y Beirdd, the following is a fpecimen ; The confined metre—and its meafure is feven fyllables. The crofs metre—and its meafure is eight fyllables. Awen hynod. The rough metre—and its meafure is nine fyllables. Bur wen barod, The long and equal metre—and its meafure is ten fyllables. Glirwen glaernod, Eglurnerth : *c From thefe feven canons were formed the twenty-four metres Claerdeb clirder, of vocal fong, which are ufed and compofed upon by the Bards of D’weir deb dewrder, the Ifle of Britain. Gloywdeb glewder, Goludwerth ! Gwilym ab lenan. There v/ere five metres in general ufe, and moft approved of for For farther account of the Welfh poetry, I refer my reader to Odes, compofed by Taliefn ; which were formerly denominated the firft Volume of the Relics of the Bards, page 29, &c. and the Five Pillars, or Canons, of the Song of Taliefin ; namely, page 83, &c. The OF POETS AND GRAMMARIANS. p The following is a Lift of Poets and Hiftorians, who have written Rules of Bricifh Poetry, Rhetoric* and Grammar, and who compiled Dictionaries. 'Tudain Tad A MEMORIALS of the TOMBS of the IVA R R 10 RS. And Jeremiah lamented for Jofiah: and all the Tinging men, and the finging women fpake of Jofiah in their lamentations to this day; ri and made them an ordinance in Ifrael: and behold, they ate written in the Lamentations.” II Chronicles, chap, xxxv, v. 25. The following ancient fepulchral verfes commemorate the Heroes of Britain, who had fignalized them- felves prior to the middle of the feventh cent-ury : they are written in the ancient Metre, called Englyn Milwr, or the \v arrior’s Song of triplet ftanzas, and are attributed to Taliefin ; but fome of them evidently appear to be much older, as they record fome Chiefs who flouriftied in the third century; and feem to have been compofed by different Bards, and at different periods. They give an account of about two hundred Heroes, and a few diftinguifhed Bards, &c. who are often mentioned in fragments of our hiftory : therefore, I have feleffed fcveral ftanzas of them, and given a literal tranflation in Errglifh, as a fpecimen of one of the many valuable, and authentic documents ftill preferved in the Welfh language, which would have greatly tended to elucidate Camden's Britannia, had he been more acquainted with our Welfh antiquities. Thefe oracular memorials appear to have been apart of thofe Oral Traditions which anciently were recited by the Bards, at the public Gorfeddau, Tribunals, or provincial Congreffes: “ But heed, ye Bards, that for the fign of onfet “ Ye found the ancienteft of all your rhymes, ** Whofe birth tradition notes not, nor who fram’d " Its lofty {trains,” Mafon's Qaraffacus, D Which > to MEMORIALS OF THE TOMBS OF THE WARRIORS. Which cuftom, of celebrating the worthieft heroes, &c. has been handed down to us from the remoteft time} and when writing became more general, thefe traditional verfes were committed to writing by the fucceeding Bards, and others. Englynion y Beddau. Memorials of the Tombs of the Warriors. Bedd Tydain Tad Awtn, The Tomb of Tudain, Father of the Muse, Tngwarthaf Bryn Aren: On the fummic of Bryn Aren \ Yn i gwna Ton tolo The wave breaks on the territory of Iolo; b c Bedd Dylan yn Llan-beuno. The grave of Dylan lies in Llan Beuno . Bedd Gwydion ab Don The grave of Gwydion the fon of Don, Yn Morfa Dinllaen dan faen dyfeilliori In the marlh of Dinlleu e, under (tones Garanawc y Gerifyl meinnon. Enveloped with trefoils: lateral pillars Support his fine*formed limbs! Piauy Beddyny Maes-maw/, He whofe grave is in Maes-mawr f. Baleb ei law ar ei lafnawr Proud was his hand in grafping the wrathful blade } Bedd Belt, ab Benlli Gawr. It is theTomb of Belis, fon ofBENLLi, the Prince*. Piau y bedd pedryfal, To whom belongs the fquare grave. A 7 bedwar main amytal; With the four (lately (tones on its corners ? Bedd Madog Marchog dywal t It is the grave of Madoc the fierce knight. Gwedi gwrwm, a choch, a chain, After the murky flowing of gore, after exultation. A gorwyddawr mawr min-rhain, And great triumphs with the (harp-edged fpears Yn I.lanheledd bedd Owain. In Llanheledd, is Gwain’s grave. Bedd Alun Dyfedyn y Drefred The grave of Alun of Demetia1", is at Trevred •, Draw ni chiliai o galed; He would not retreat from the battle : Mab Meigen, mad 'pan aned. The fon of Meigen, his birth was a bleffing. a Bryn Aren, I believe, is at the bafe of Aran Benllyn, near ' called Bryny Beili. Taliejtn makes mention of fome Chief, whofe Bala, in Meirionydd : there is alfo Arrennig Va^wr, which is not name was Beli, in the following words : far from the other, whofe height is 740 yards above Llyn Tegid, “ Eryr Beli bann ei lefThe eagle Beli, loud is his voice. The palace of Maclguon Gwynedd, in Creuddyn, Caernarvonihire, There was one Belyn of Lleyn, who fought a battle with the was alfo called Bryn Euryn, about the year 560. Saxons, at Bryn Ceeieun Rhos, about A. D. 620 ; where the fight b There was one Dylan ail-ton; probably, of Orichcn, in was fo obflinate, that^/y«’s men fettered themfelves two and two, Shropfliire ; or that in Herefordfhire. being refolved to die, or to conquer. Triad^9. • St. Beuno’s tomb ftill remains at Clynnog Church, in Caer- * On the mountain, between Idl and Yjlrad Alun, juft over the narvonshire, where he founded a Monaftery, and was Abbot ford, called Rhydy Gyfarthfa, in Denbighlhire, there was a terri- thereof, about the year 616. He alfo built cells, the one at ble battle fought, between Meirion, and Beli, the fon of Benlli the fTrefdraeth, and the other at Aberffraw, in Anglefey. The Great; in which Beli was killed : and Meirion afterwards eredted churches of Berri T Tri beddy' Nghefn Celfi, The Three graves on the heights of Celvi, Awen at dywawd imi> The Awen tells me, are the torribs Bedd Cynon garw ei ddwyaet, Of Cynon with the rough eye-brows ; Bedd Cynfael, Bedd Cynfeli! The tomb of Cynvaelj and the tomb of CynyelITo Gwedi gweli a gwaedlan, After wounds and bloody tumults j A gwifgo Jeirch a meirch cany And after arraying the fquadrons of white fteeds; Neud ef hwn bedd Cynddylan. This is the grave of Cynddylan Bedd milwr mirain, gnawd celain The grave of a beautiful Warrior, by whofe hand O’i law cyn bu taw o dan fain Fell many a combatant, ere he became filent beneath Llechau mab Khun y' Nglyn Cain. the ftones; Llachau, the fon of Rhun, is in theVale of Cain m. Piau y beddyn yr Allt drawy He whofe grave is on yonder cliff; Gelyn i lawer ei law3 His hand was the foe of many ! it is Parw Prin j trugaredd iddaw ! TarwTRiNnj (the bull of conflid:) mercy be to hi®l Piau y bedd yn Llethr y Bryn j The grave on Llethr y Bryn, Llawer ni’s gwyr, ai gofyn ; Many that do not know, afk to whom it belongs; Bedd i Coel mab Cynfelyn. It is the grave of Coel, the fon of Cunobelin. Bedd gwr gwawd urddyn The grave of one of magnanimous fame Yn Uchel Tyddyn j Is in the high Tyddyn ■, Yn ifel g welyddyn; Low is his dank bed : Bedd Cynon mab Clydno Eiddyn. ’Tis the grave of Cynon •, fon of Clydno Eiddyn ?! 1 Cynddylan was a Prince of Powis, which included the prefent Y Meini Hirion, or the lofty pillars, which are about a mile county of Salop, Montgomery (hire, and a part of Denbighfhire, from the top of Penmaenmaudr, in the panfh of Dwy-gyfylclii, about the clofe of the fixth century. There is an Elegy on this Caernarvonfhire, (land the rnoit remarkable monuments in all Prince, by Llywarch Hen, now extant. Snowdon. A circular entrenchment, of about 26 yards diameter, * The Vale of Cain is probably at the end of Sala Lake, in with about ten pillars above eight feet high, and thofe encom- Meirionydd. paffed with a (lone wall. Not far from them, there are feveral " Tarnu Brin is an epithet given to a warrior ; his real name is carneddau and graves; and the tradition is, that there was a battle uncertain. It is probable that he was (lain in the overthrow the fought there between the Romans and Britons. The Britons Britons received in oppofing the landing of Ida, King of Nor- getting the day, buried their dead under thofe heaps of ftones, to thumberland, as he is often mentioned in the Gododin. fecure them from the wild boars, and partly as a memorial to ° Cynnon was (lain at Cattraeth. See the firji Volume, page 16. pofterity. Edward Llwyd'% Notes on Camden. Alfo Buarth Arthur, P Clydno Eiddyn, means Clydno of Edinburgh ; who was one of or Meini Gwyr ; (the Circle of Arthur, or Monuments of Men,) the principal Chieftains in the battle of Cattraeth, where he and is on the top of Cil y maen Llwyd, where there are feveral (tone all his followers were (lain. Seethe firji Volume of the Bards, p. 17. monuments arranged in a circular form. The mod remarkable (lone monuments are thofe of Beddau TheTomb of Ffrymden, is in Llan Nefydd, Denbighfhire, and Gnvyr Ardudivy, which are on a mountain called Micneint, near an yew-tree grows upon it, within about ten yards of the Church- Rhyd yr Halen, within a quarter of a mile of Sam Elen, in the yard. county of Meirionydd. \_Micneint is the name of a river, and The Sepulchre of Brachan, is in the idand called Ynys Brachan, alfo the name of one of the three commots of Penllyn, near Bala.] which is near the Hie of Man. Thofe monuments are about 30 in number ; every grave is about Cedrych, the ion of Brachan, lieth inTowyn Meirionydd. two yards long, and has a fquare (lone pillar in each of its four The Grave of Rein, the fon of Brachan, is in Llandevailog. corners, which are about three feet high, and nine inches broad. The Tomb of Cynauc, is at Merther, in Brecknocklhire. Mr. Llwyd, in his Notes on Camden, fays, “ The tradition is, TheTomb of Anlauch, is before the church door, in Llanyfpythyd. that they are fepulchral monuments of fome perfons of note flain Brdchari had three wives, that is to fay, Prauf, Ribraujl, and here, in a battle between the men of Dyffryn Ardudwy, and fome Proifri, — Gwawr, or Gwawr ddydd, who was honored at Towyn, men of Denbighfhire ; but when, or by what perfons (lain, is was thedaughter of Brachan,wile 10Llydanwin, and mother toPrince wholly uncertain.” Lly warch hen. St. Berwin, the (on of Brycban, lies in Cornwall, This cuftom appears to be extremely ancient ; for we find, in Bedd Elen, ar Mynydd Mihangel; the Grave of Elen, is on the Gene/ls, C. xxxv. v. 20, that ‘Jacob fet a pillar upon Rachel'% grave. mountain of Mihangel, in Armorica, or Britany. From a WeKh manufeript of Britilh hiftory [ have tranferibed Maes Carnedd, where Prince Owain Gwynedd was buried. the following, which probably may give fome light refpedting the Bedd Petrual, a wnaed i Fronwen ferch Lljr, ar lan Alaw, ac yno above Tombs. claddwyd hi. See in Richard's Dictionary, Petrual. “ King Gwrlheyrn (or Vortigern, who reigned in the beginning Maeny Chwyfan, a carved monumental pillar, on Mofyn moun- of the fifth century,) had twelve principal Bards ; and on fome tain, in Denbighfhire, fuppofed to be the tomb of the Saint of tha? occafion he thought they had deceived him, refpeiiding fome pro- name, to whom the church of Llan-Gwyfan is dedicated. phecies : confequently, he ordered them to be put to death ; and King Uther Pendragon, and Aurelius Ambrofus, were interred in the hiftory farther fays, that their graves are to be feen to this the grave of the Barons: another copy expreffes it, within the day, and are called Beddeu y Dewiniaidor the Tombs of the circle of Stonehenge. The latter, probably, was buried at Prophets. IV'IJh Manufeript Chronicle. Mount Ambri, or Ambrefbury. 7* Y Bedd ti MEMORIALS OE THE TOMBS OF THE WARRIORS. ¥ Beddyn gorfynyd^ Yonder gfave, on the mountain’s brow. A liwiajfau luojjydd, Is his who led the armies to glory : Bedd Hyrmail hael fab Hywlydd. The Tomb of Hyrmael the generous, fon of Hywlydd. Bedd Elidir Mwynfawr ynglan The grave of Elidyr, the courteous, Mawr rineweddus fawt brydus briodawr Magnificent in profperity the Chieftain Gwenefwr gzvr gwrddyn ngawr. Of Gwenevwrt with glory crowned, the mighty hero of the fhout. Bedd Owain ab Urien mhedryael bid TheTombofOwtfi/z’, the fonof Urien^ is girted with Dan weryd Elan Morfael e- Four Hones, at Llan-Morvael: ¥n Abererch Rhydderch Hael. And in Abererch lies Rhydderch the Generous1. Bedd y March ; beddy Gwythur : The grave of the horfe; and that the Hero’s grave: Bedd i Gwgawn Gleddyfrudd: Yonder is the Tomb of Gwgawn, with Ruddy-fword*: Anoeth bid bedd i Arthur, Unknown is the Tomb of Arthur, Bedd Gwalchmai yn Mheryddoni The grave of Gwalchmai, in Peryddon Tr dylif y deunawton : Where flows, by intervals, every ninth wave— Yn Elan Badarn bedd Cynon. In Llan Badarn is the monument of Cynon. Kielleu don drom dr a thywazvd. Hear, yon wave of heavy murmur, dafhing on Am fedd Difcyrnin Difcyfeddawdj The grave of Dyjgyrnin'1, fon of Dyfgyveddod; Aches trwm anghwres pechawd. Sorrowful the bofom, from the weight of fin. Bedd An ap Elian yn Euas The Tomb of /In ap Llian# in the mountain of EuasL Fynydd lluagor Hew Emrais, The furious lion of battle, Ambrofius w. Prif ddewin Merddin Emrais. Had for chief Diviner, Merddin Emrais \ Hengiji, the Saxon king, was buried by order of Aurelius, and a Crown. Arthur, on being informed of it, returned with a part heap of earth raifed over his body, according to the cuftom of the of his army to Britain ; and in landing at Richborough, near Sand- Pagans. wich, in Kent, he was oppofed by the traitor, Modred, with a. Afan Buellt, (who was Coufin German to St. David, the firft confiderable army of confederates; in which conflift, the above Arch-Bifhop of Menevia,) was buried at Llan-afan, where his Gwalchmai ab Gwyar wa (lain, whofe body, King Arthur caufed tomb-ftone (lill remains with the infcription. to be honourably interred. Lewis's Hijlory of Britain, p. 191. t Owain was a prince of Reged, in the fixth century ; he was and 188 ; and William of Malmfbury. alfo one of King Arthur’s generals, and famous for his exploits u Dyfgyrnin was a Deirian, or a Bernician, who dourilhed about in war. 'Triad 3. A. D.540. t Rhydderch Hael was king of the Ifie of Man. v Suppofed to be a miftake for Anhapy Lleian, or the mifchance 1 Gwgan Gleddyfrudd is called, in the Triads, One of the Three of the Nun ; as Merddin is faid to have been the fon of a Nun, by Stubborn Ones of Battle. an unknown father. £ When King Arthur was pursuing his wars in Gaul, when it w Aurelius Ambrofius was interred at Stonehenge; or, more was invaded by the Romans, under Lucius Hiberus, Modred was probably,x at Ambreibury. left Governor of Britain during his abfence, and he ufurped the See the hrii Volume of this work, page 23, CUNOBEEINE'S INC ANYA T10 N. The following Ode is a fpecimen of the poetical Incantations fung by the Bards, to infuie fuccefs to their heroes in the day of battic. Though it be the production of the lixth century, it conveys, molt probably, a jult idea of the nature of fuch compolitions in the druidi- cal ages ; and is a proof that the Britons, at that period, had not been fo thoroughly renovated by the Chriltian Revelation, but that they ftill retained many of their ancient notions; and particularly that they relied on the myllic efficacy of the Gorchanau, which was the name given to their poetical charms; implying, as they were meant to be—Songs of Infpiration, and Protection, Taliejin compofed this, and two other pieces of the fame kind ; being excited by an emulation to excel the Gododin, on which Anea- rin, his rival for fame, principally relied his merit. He accomplilhed his defign, in the opinion of the fubfequent Bards, by con- denfing the prolixity, without loling the ideas of his opponent; that is, by celebrating and recording the number of warriors flain at Cattraeth ; to accomplifh which, the Gododin has fo many ftanzas of various conftrudlions, as there were heroes to celebrate, who were in number, “ three and three fore and three hundred, whofe necks were adorned with the Aur Dorchau, or golden chains,” CtJNOBELINE’S INCANTATION. *3 We find, from a curious note affixed to this Incantation, in the old MS., that the plan of the Gorcbanau was confidered, by the Order of the Bards, as the only perfect one to adhere to in their contentions for the chair of fame : from the fame note, we learn the pecuniary value of thefe poems—“ One penny was the price of each ftanza of the Gododin, confidering its merit merely in the light of a poetical llrife ; fo that each of the Gorcbanau equalled the whole in value,’1 being three hundred and fixty-three pence ; which was a confi- derable fum, confidering the rate of money at that early period. Poffibly the perfon for whom this charm was Compofed, might have been the fame as is in the Triads called Cynfelyn Driu/gl, or Cynvelyn the weighty, one of the three pillars oj battle f the ijle of Britain, a prince of a diflridt in the fouthern parts of Scotland at that time. Gorchan Cynfdym The Charm of Cunobeline. Pei mi brydwn, Should I, enrapt, in myftic numbers fing, the Pei mi ganwn, potent buds of magic fpells would fpring; like thofe Tarddai war chan—gorchegin, produced by the circle and wand of Twrch Trwyth: Gwelgin torch Twrch Prwyth } we Ihould have had a kine brought us, furpaffing his Cyrchefid yn fon rarities : Cam Gaphan would burft through thekoofy Cyn noi geinion: ranks of Rhiw-Rhon, of the breed of Elwogion, with Pyllai Gam Gc.phan—rhag carnau fhort legs, and fhorter riders: Gylvach would burft Rhiw Rhon, rhyw Elwogiorti through the teazer of exulting manhood i—fury in Pfyrn-fyr fyrach farchogion: a torrent Ihall flow againft the Angles—daughter is Pyllai Tlfach juft—our heaps of flain are the ravens’ duet Gwrhyd gofurthiach; 'R.hyd gwyn rhag Eingl, iawn lladd, lawn frain yn frynial. Rhag canhwynawl can, Before him who is naturally endowed with fong* Llwg yr dwg dyfel light unfolds the myftery of the power of defcending Pifgynial allel to every bold enterprizej through bolt, through I bob dewr dyfel, fnare, through trap-covered cleft, and gold-be- Prwy hoel, trwy hoenen, ftrewed path; and bearing woe he Ihall return, his Prwy gibclawr agen, glittering yellow cup befmeared with gore, hiding Ac aur ar drain •, the froth of the yellow mead : alike fliall it be en-» A galar dwyn dyfyd, circled with gore from the battles of Cynvelyn, Ei wynafedd felyn Ei grau di gylchyn, Celedig ewyn Medd melyn: Ail crau oi gylchyn Rhag cadau Cynfelyn.-— - Cynfelyn gafnar, Cynvelyn, the anger-bearing chief, the uplifted TJgwn bryffwn bar, pillar of wrath, by whom the birds are beglutted Gcberthiad adar, with prey, and the enricherof the divining magician, Ar dewin dwyar, whofe fpell ftiall be as powerful as the form of Mo- Cyrraith grad Forion: rion—Under the thighs of the generous ones, in A dan forddwyd haelon equal pace, Ihall run the fprites of the gloom, flam- Cyfred cerdd wyllion, ming along the pleafant hills. The king of the land Ar weling dirion. of harmony, mine is the lot to lament him: till the Teyrn tud an aw, day of filence came fought he the haunt of the foe Ts mau i gwynaw, with the ample-grafped fpear. Tn y fwyd y dydd taw, Gomyn dyad gelyn, Ehangfaid erwyn. Gorchawn cyrdd ceinmyn The fuperior of the prize- contending fongs is the Ew gw arch an Cynfelyn: guardian fpell of Cynvelyn: it fings the fafety of Cyn- Gorchan Cynfelyn cylwy wylad. velyn the beloved chief, from whom bleflings flow. Edwyn gwr gwnedd Gwynedd ei wlad} The honoured man of Gwynedd knows his country Ttychianawr dewr dychiangad. well: the bold toiler with the firm-grafping hand, of E Eiddyn THE CHARM OF CUNOBELINE. Eiddyn Gaef, Eiddyn'% Caftle, blue-towered, familiar in alarms. Gleifion glaer Precious is thy ruddy gem, to which the flowing Cyferchryniad. panegyric, mead, or (lately deeds, are but dtf- Cain dy em ruddy graceful things.—The humble furze-bufla, (hall it Yn ys gwarthrudd—folawd, fedd} ineirch! not be obfeured by the (lately tree ? Eithinyn mud gudd blenydd ? —— Gwarchan Cynfelyn, The guardian fpell of Cynvelyn, on the plains of Ar Odod'm, neus gorug Odyn! Gododin, (hall it not prevail over Odyn l Satiated Dogn gymmhwyllaidy with enterprize, his heavy fpear, with gold adorned, T wayw drwm oreuraid, he bellowed on me—Be it for a benefit to his foul! A'm rhoddes: poed er lies i'w enaidl His fon degvan (hall be honoured at numbering and Edmygir ei fab degfany at partitioning, the nephew of. the fiery Galvan. Wrth rify ac wrtb ran, When weapons were flung over the hoftile field by Wyr Calf an graid: wolves, quick he ran to the call of the day of necef- Pan fyrywyd arfau fity. dr os ben cad o fleiddiatty , / Buan dau er dydd rhaid. - dry-wyr, a thrygaint, a thrychanty Three, and three fcore, and three hundred heroes J freithell Gattraeth ydd aethant s flocked to the variegated banners of Cattraeth j but O'r/awlyd gryfio/ant of thofe who hanened from the flowing mead-gob- Uch fedd fenejlri lets, fave three, they returned not: Cynon and Cat* Namyn tri, nid atcorafant: traeth with hymns they commemorate and me for Cynon a Chattraeth d chathlau a gadwanty my blood they mutually lament. To the fon of the A minnau o'm crau dychiorant. funeral fire they made my compenfation of pure gold, Mab coelcerth fy ngwerth a wnaethant (leel, and filver ; but from the heavenly power they O aur pur, a dur, ac ariant. found no refuge. With the fuperior prote&ing-fong Efnyfed nid nodded y cawfanty of Cynvelyn they would have glided fafely together. Gw arch an cyrdd Cynfelyn cyfnofant* The above poem is a faithful tranflation, by Mr. Owai/i, of Meimn, OF A BAf’TLEy BY ‘TALIESIN* The following poem is a literal tranflation, and line for line* which may weaken the force of expreflion a little; but the inducement was, to render it eafier to thefe who may be inclined to compare it with the original. The ode has no title in the MS. from whence it was copied ; but I have given it that which is prefixed, from a fuppofition that it was compofed on account of a battle fought in the vale of Garant, Gwaith Dyffryn Garant* The Battle of the Vale of Garant. deithi edmygant Extolled fhall be the illuftrious deeds Yn NyffryH Garant.— of the Yale of Garant.— Gallawg gallwgyd anckwant The fons of (laughter, from the undeflrable reeking Sybwllfymudanfy plain, will depart Ban erddefel tanty when the firing of harmony refoUnds, Neu nos cudd dyfydd, or when the (hades of night approach Cudd dirgel rhag dydd. the hidden retreat from day. A wyr cerdd gelfydd The learned in the myflery of fong Py gel CaUofyddy find a fafe refuge with Callofyddy Am dyro anide: who beflows on me fplendid garments j O'r porth pan ddwyre, in afeending from the gate. OF A BATTLE. Py ddyddug llyw gauafi in winter’s ftormy feafon, when the chief appears, Py gyd ddechrau lief. they commence the voice of melody.— Tn dewis eichiawg In ftriving for the pre-eminence Ffyfg ffdus ffodiawgy the fortunate will run with fpecd. Ef dihun bunawg. The fleeper will awake. Ef gobryn Carawg Carog would wifh to purchafe Cymru carneddawg •, Cambria's ftony regions j T tad Garadazugy the fire of Car adog j Dear Meneifon, the bluftering Meneivians3 Pear mynawg M6ny fair Mona's tumultuous fhores, Mawr erch anudon and the mighty horribly-perjured Cwenhwys gwallt-hirion. long-haired Gwentians. Am Gaer Wyrangon For Caer PEyrangon r P-wy a dal y ceinon ? who offers the precious price ? Ai Maelgwn o Eon ? Is it Maelgwn of Mon ? Ai dyfydd o Aeron ? or fhall it come from Aeron ? Ai Coely ai genazvon ? Is it Coely with his wily whelps ? Ai Gwrweddzv, aifeibicn? or is it Gwrweddw, and his fons ? Ni anchwardd ei alon The foes fhall not exult O Tnyr wyftlcn: by having hoftages from Tnyr: Ef cyrch cerddorion, the Bards of fong were afiembled, Sefyberw Jeon; geniufes of bounteous pafiions; Neu'r dierfeis i rin3 but their poetic charms difarmed not the chiefs, as Tm mordai Uffm, in the water-dwellings of Uffin, Tm moroedd Gododin. on the Gododinian Teas. Ts geirfrith cyfrenin If true, the boding words of myfterious lore, Bran bore ddewin, foretold from the morning raven, JVyf carddenin hen> I am a captive in the bands of age, JVyf cyfrau lazven I am a treafure of joy, A thaw y dygen, and the appeafer of wrath; Man molawd Uriet:. ’tis mine to proclaim Urien's praifc. Eirian eirices Beautifully fplendid were the Llyminazvg llumoes movements of the hofl of Llyminog Rhuddfedel aphzvys : on the red-reaping fteep: Rhuddyn ai llunwys It was Rhuddyn that formed Cad yn Harddnenzvys: the battle in Harddnenwys: Tnyr ai briwys; it was Tnyr who fcattered it i Cant cal an cynnwys Vvho, to a hundred feftivals welcomes a Cant car amyfzvys. hundred friends pafiing round the caroufing cup, Gwelais wyr gorfaztor^ I faw the warriors of dread appearance, A ddygyrchynt aw'r: rufhing together to the fhout of war; Gwelais waed ar llawr I faw the ground ftrewed with blood, Rhag rhuthr cleddyfawr ‘ from the conflift of the men of fwords: Glefynt efgyll gwawr they tinged with blue the wings of the morning, Efgorynt yn waywawr when they poured forth their afhen mefiengers of pain,' Trichant calan cyman clodfawr In three hundred feftivals will be fung the high fame Tnyr ar dir yn wir cochawr. of Tnyry whofe feats are feen on the crimfon-tintedearth. The above poem was compofed by TaJiefn, feemingly when he was under the patronage of Urien Rtged, prince of Cumbria; but as it is not immediately addreffed to his patron, it appears probable that the hero of the poem was Tnyr, king of Gwent. I believe this is the fame Tnyr as we find mentioned in the Triads, to be king of Gwent, which was a diftridl that comprehended parts of the prefent counties of Glamorgan, Monmouth, and Gloucejier. The Triads fay that the Severn was difcoloured with blood, from the great daughter made in a battle, in which Maelgwn Gwynedd bore a part againft Iddon, the fon of Tnyn and perhaps (hat might have been on account of the diiputf fpoken of in this poem : Tranfated by Mr. Owain of Meirion. r Worcefter, Tmddiddau i6 THE SALUTATION BETWEEN TALIESIN AND UGNACH. Ymddiddan rhwng Ugnach ab Mydno, o Gaer- The Salutation z between Ugnach, the fan of 1 Seon j a Thaliesin, o Gaer-Deganwy. Mydnoy of Caer-Seon j and Taliesin* of Caer* Deganwyb, in Caernarvdnjhire; about A. D. 540. (Both celebrated Bard?.) Taliefin, Taliefin. Marchawg, a gyrch y Dinar, Thou Knight, that goefl towards the city. A 'i gwn gwynion a'i gym brds- j With white dogs, and large hunting horns : Ni'th adwaen niw ryth welasl I know not thee, nor ever faw thee 1 Ugnach. Ugnach. Marchawg a gyrch i'r Abet, Thou knight, that goeft towards the harbour Sy ar march cadarn cdd-ffer; on the ftrong horfe of war j Dabre genhyf ni'm gwater ? Come with me, I will not be denied l Taliefin. Taliefin, Mi nid afyna yn awr, I will not now come; Goddef gwaith y godricawr ; the loiterer will fuff'er : Elid bendith Nef a llawr, The bleffing of heaven and earth attend thee ! Ugnach. Ugnach. T gwr ni'm gwelas beunydd, Of a ftranger, whom I have not ufually feen ; T tebyg y gwr dedwydd: Thou look’d like a happy man: Ba hjd ei di, a phan doydd? How long doll day, and when return ? Taliefin. Taliefin. Ban deuaf 0 Gaer-Seon When I come to Caer-Seon, O ymladd ac idewon; from fighting with Jewsj Tdaw i Gaer-Llew a Gwydion. I (hall go to Caer-Llew with Gwydion*! Ugnach. Ugnach. Dabre di genhyf ir Ddinas^ Come with me, to the city : Athwyd medd a ry-phellas, Thou dialt have mead, if thou dayed, Ac aur cceth ar dy wanas. and pure gold to clafp thy girdle ! Taliefin. Taliefin. Mi nid adwaen y gwr by, I know thee not, brave man ; A meddu tan a gwely ; thou poffeflbr of fire, and bed ; Tig a chweg y dywedi, Fair and delecdable thou fpeaked ! 2 Salutation originated in the days of Chivalry, from the event happened near Degamvy, or at Caer-Seon, clofe to Caer- Knights taking off their helmets before the ladies. The hood of narvon. the cloak, or cowl, was then moll commonly worn. Hats or When mufic and poetry were made feparate profeflions, it bonnets were firft worn in England in the time of Henry the feems that the muficians ufually prevailed at the public contefts Eighth : and high-crowned hats firft worn by the men, in Eliza- of fkill j confequently, the above king, Cafs’wallon, by way of beth’s reign. encouraging the poets, and probably for the fake of humour, * Sion was an ancient Britilh fort, on the top of a mountain, adopted that mode, to decide in favour of the poets, who north of Conwy town, called Gaer-Siion •, or, in the Englilh or- feemed to lofe ground, when put in competition w ith the muli- thography, Seeon t which was the feat of Gnvalcb Gorfedd, where cians. King Maelgvjn (or, as others fay, his father Ca/swallon,) went b King Cad-van, the fbn of I ago, held his court at Degan-ivy ; to judge between the poets, and the muficians, in the fixth century. and fo did Maelg’wn, Cad’wallon, and Cad’walader; which city, He lived at Diganwy, in Creuthyn; and he caufed the poets and about A D 8'6, in tne time of Conan Iyndaetb’ivy, was burnt bv harpers to fwim the river Conwy. The harpers’ and crwthers’ lightning : and Conwy was afterwards built on th; oppofite fide of inftruments were fpoiled ; therefore, the poets, whofe tools could the river, with the ruins thereof. Lewis’s Britijh Hjiory., not be damaged, carried the day. Sec a poem ’whichgives an ac- count of this circumjlance, by Jorwerth Belt, to the Bijhop oj page 214. Bangor, and ’written about A. D. iz^Q. Query whether this • Sse the firft Volume of the Bards, p. 79, &c. T aliefio. dialogue between TALIESIN AND UGNACH. 17 Ugnach. Ugnach, Dabre genyf im tyno, Come with me to my habitation. Atbwyd gwin goryfgello: Thou (halt have the bed wine I can give 1 Ugnach yw fy henw, mab Mydno. My name is Ugnach, fon of Mydno ! Taliefin. Taliefin, • Ugnachy bendith Vth orjedd, Ugnach, a blefling on thy Seat j Athro rhdd ac enrhydedd; Teacher of grace, and glory : 'Taliefin wyf innau talaf iti dy wledd. 1 am Taliefin, and will return thy feaft ! Ugnach. Ugnach. Taliefin pennaf o’r gwjr ; Taliefin, the firft of Men ; Beiddad yn ngherdd cyfergyr; Challenger in fongs of conteft : Trigyma h d dyw-merchyr. Stay here till Wednefday. * Taliefin. Taliefin. Ugnach mwyafy alafy Ugnach, with the mighty power; Athro rhdd y gwldd pennaf; Mafter of grace, and chief of his country : Ni haeddaf cabyly ni thrigiaf! Til not deferve blame, I muft not day 1 The original Wellh of this curious relick was tranfcribcd from (O'r Llyfr dif o Gaerfyrddin.) one of the oldeft Wellh manufcripts, called, Y Llyfr du, o Gatr- fyrddin; or. The Black Book of Caermarthen ; which appears to be the hand-writing of the eighth century, and delineated upon goat-fkin: and the additional part, at the end of the Book, is written by Cynddelwi the famous Bard, who flourilhed in the be- ginning of the twelfth century : which raanufcript now belongs to Hengwrt Library, in Meitionyddlhire. Caniad pan aeth y Mor dros y Cantref Gwaelod; The Song of the Inundation of Cantrev Gwaelod, allan o’r Llyfr Du. o Gaerfyrddin. out of the Black Book of Caermarthen\ a Manufcript. [A Fragment tranflated from the Wellh.] The original Wellh of this Poem is fuppofed to have been written by Taliefin above 12 hundred years ago : but the ftyle rather refembles that of the Bard, Llyivarch Hln, who fiourilhed near the fame period. Seithenin, to whom the Poem is addrefled, and whofe fate it portends, feems to have been a prince of a defpicable difpofitioni Cantrev Giuaelod, or the Lowland Canton, now covered by the fea, extended from the fouth-eaft borders of Caemarvonfipre, along the coafts of Meiriony and Cardiganjhire. The ruins of the feveral embankments, mounds, and fences, which once fecurdd the extenfive champaign country from the havoc of a wide-wafting Ocean, are now called by the feveral names of Sarn-Badrig, Samy Biuch, &c. d SEITHENINy fafde all an} SEITHENIN come forth. Ac edrych werydre faranrhesy And behold the land of warriors: Mbr, mass Gwiddno rhydces. The ocean hath o’erwhelm’dthe plains of Gwyddno*. ^ Seitbenin F renin 0 Faes Gvjjddno, a orefgynodd morel dir" Where Cantref Gwuelcd was, is now the great Bay, between Achan Saint. That is, Seithenin the king, from the land of Lleyn and Aberyftwyth ; called, by failors, Cardigan Bay: And Gvyddno, which was overflowed by the fea. Lives of the according to tradition, there were feveral towns and villages Saints. which were all inundated by the fea; fuch as Caer Gviyddno, or * “ Uchenaid Gvtyddno Goronh'W, the Caftle of Gvoyddno ; which was between Sarn Badrig, and “ Fan dreesy donn dros ei dir."—G. Glyn. That is^ Aberyftwyth, &c. Caer Cer.edir, or the fortrefs of Cenedir, it is not now known where it was. There is a tomb-flone in Abergeley The groans of Gvoyddno, with the high crown. church-yard, which lies very near the fea ; that has the following When the feas overwhelm’d his territory infcription, which alludes to a great tradtof country having been Which is fuppofed to have happened about the year 500. Ac- overflowed by the fea : cording to the Britilh r/vWr, the port of King (father Yma mae'n gorivedd Here lieth. of Elpbin ) in North Wales, was one of the three principal har- Ym monvoent Mihangtl; In the church-yard of St. Michael, bours of Britain: and Cored H’yddno is in the mouth of Conway Gdiir oedd a'i annedd, A man whofe dwelling was river. Dair milltiryny gogledd. Three miles to the northward. Boed iH THE SONG OF THE INUNDATION OF CANTRE’R GWAELOD. Boed emendigaidy morfin n Curfed be Morfin> A'i hellyngodd gwedi gwin, V Who, after wine, let in the well of Gwenejlr; Ffynnon wenejlr mor terjin. J The boundary of the feaf. Boed emendigaidy fachtaith Curfed be Machtaith, A'i hellyngodd gwydy gwaith: Who, after the battle, let in the well of Gwenejlr ; Ffynnon wenejlr mor diffaith. A wild burfting ocean. Diafpad fererid y ar far caer, - The forrowful cry of Mererid from the brow of Caer, Hydar Duw y do dir y Is raifed to God: oppreffion is generally followed Gnawd wedi traha, tranc hir. Ey a long ferics of ruinous calamities. Diafpad fererid y ar far caer, The forrowful cry of Mererid from the brow of Caer, Heddiw hyd ar Dduw y dadolwch, Is this day raifed to God, in votive prayer : Gnawd gwedi traha, attregwch. The progrefs of oppreffion is generally checked. Diafpad mererid y ar gwinau, The forrowful cry of Mererid is raifed from Gwinau: Cadair Cedawl Duw a'i gorau : God has overthrown the Chair of CedawD, Gnawd gwedi gormod, eifiau. Excefs is generally followed by want. Diafpad mererid a'm gorfydd, The furrow ful cry of Mererid ov tv ccrcnts me this night: Heno, ac nim hawddgorewydd, And I am not eafily incited to mirth : Gnawd gwedi traha, tramgwydd. Oppreffion is generally fuccetded by a fall. Diafpad mererid a'm cymmell, The lamentable cry of Mererid compels me Heno y wrth fy yjlafell, This night to go from my chamber: Gnawd gwedi traha, tranc pell. Oppreffion is generally fucceeded by a boundlefs deftruttion. Y mae yr Englyn canlynol ymyfg Englynion Fhe following Jlanza is taken from the Record of the Beddau MilwyrYnys Brydain. Tombs of the Britifh IVarriors. Bedd Seithenin, fynwyrwan, The grave of Seithenin'*' of feeble wit. Rhwng Caer Cenedir a Gian,. Is between Caer Cenedir and the fhore j Mor mawrhydig cynrhan. He that was of an illuftrious Tribe. f Sam Badrig is the moft wonderful work of the fort, perhaps, cumftance ; that is, Moel'varn, or the Hill of Judgment. And, in Britain ; yet hardly noticed hitherto. It is & wall built of according to the Triads, there was a Bard whole name was Cadeir, ftone, about eight yards thick, found to reach 21 miles into the in the fifth century. Likewife, there was one Howdy Gadair, fea, from Mocbras into Cardigan Bay ; fome of which is dif- or Howel of the Chair. cernible at low water. The other wall, called Sarny Bwch, runs “ Formerly there were three privileged tribunals: The tribu- from Trnxiyn Celynin, in a north-well direilion, and joins the point nal of a King ; the tribunal of a Bifnop; and the tribunal of an of the former. Abbot : for each of them had a right of holding a particular tri- It appears that the flood-gates were left open in confequence bunal of his own.” K-ing Bowel's Laws, page 303 ; and in the of drunkennefs. prefaces. s The chair of Cedaixl was probably near Cars y Gedol, in In Dyfneint, the deep vallies, or Devonlhire, there are fome re- Merionethfhire ; (or, perhaps, the very domain that is Hill called mains of the primitive mode of the ancient Bmifh Parliament; Ccrs y Gedol-, which now belongs to Sir Thomas Mollyn). that is, “ There are four flannaries, or jurifdi£lions, with as many There was alfo a Saint, called Cedol. Cadeir Cedawl, flannary-courts, and towns of coinage; viz. Plympton, Tavillock, or the Chair of Cedol, Is fuppofed to have been an elevated Afhburton, and Chegford. By thefe are chofen, from time to_ mount, or tribunal feat, where the Lord of the dillri£t, or time, at the diredtion of the Lord-warden, certain Jurates to his principal magillrate, promulgated the law. There are fe- meet in general feflion of Parliament, at Croekern-Torr, a high veral elevated places of that kind in Wales, &c. which are dillin- hill in the midil of Dartmore.” Gib/on's Camden, Vol. I. p. 30. guilhed by fuch names as Cader Sidi; Cader Idris ; Coder Arthur-, and 35. See alfo note 38, in page 6, of this work. Coder Berwyn-, Cader Dinmael-, and Mynydd Coder. Malvern h King Seithenin was the father of Tudno, the founder of the Hill, in Worcellerlhire, alfo derives its name from a ftmilar cir- village called Llandudno, in Creuthyn, Caernarvonlhire. A SOME / [ >9 ] SOME ACCOUNT OF TALIESIN. Of magic numbers, and perfuafive found.” TALIESIN fung and prophefied in the time of King Maelgwn Gwynedd, but was originally patronized by Elpbin, fon of Gwyddno Garanhir, Lord of Cantrev Gwaelod, about the end of the fifth century. Maelgwn kept his court at Dyganwy ; Gwyddno lived fome time in the neighbourhood, and had a fa- mous wear there, which, to this day, is called Gored IVyddno, or Gwyddno’s Wear: and now belongs to Bodyfcailen. Elphin was always at Court, where he exhaufted his finances fo much, that he was conftrained to be a petitioner to his father, for the benefit of the wear, for one night only, as a temporary relief to his pocket. He obtained his fuit j but the only fifh he found in the wear was Taliefin: how he came there, is too long and romantic to relate : however, the poem tranflated by the Reverend E. Evans, entitled Dyhuddiant Elphin, relates to this event. The author then proceeds to inform us how Maelgwn was furrounded by all his courtiers, and his 24 Bards and Heralds, &c, in the Chriftmas holidays, all ftriving who fhould flatter the king the moll. They agreed that he was the handfomeft, the wifeft, and the mofi; power- ful monarch in the world ; and that his queen, in beauty, wifdom, and chaflity, &c, furpaffed all the ladies in the kingdom: in fiiort, that his troops were the braveft ; his horfes and dogs the fleeteft; his Bards the beft, and wifeft in the world. Elphin very modeftly faid, “ That nobody fhould enter into comparifon with a king, but a kingotherwife, he would affirm, that his own lady, in point of chaftity, might vie with any in the land : and that he had a Bard who excelled all his majefty’s Bards, &c. When the king heard this, he ordered Elphin to be bound, and thrown into prifon, till the truth of thole aflertions fhould appear j and then dilpatched his own fon Rhun, a noted debauchee, to try the chaftity of his lady: fhe being in- formed of thefe things by Taliefin, and likewife advifed by him, drefled one of her maids in her own fine cloaths, and put all her rings and her hufband’s upon her fingers, &c, whilft fhe aflumed the charafter of the maid, and waited at fupper. The prince, who had been immediately introduced to the parlour, fupped with the metamorphofed maid, entertained her with a great deal of indecent difcourfe, and after the reft were withdrawn gave her a fleepy potion, and accomplifhed his wifhes. After that, he cut off her little finger, upon which was Elphin's own ring and fignet, which he had a little while before fent to his lady as a token, &c. The prince left the maid afteep, and haftened to his father with the ring and finger, in evidence of his fuccefs. The king fends for Elphin out of prifon, and firft upbraids him for his credulity refpeding his wife’s chaftity; and when he finds him perfevering in it, fhews him the ring and finger, and affures him that the perfbn who had brought them had lain with his lady the night before. Elphin acknow- ledges the ring; but, upon examining the finger, proves that it never belonged to his wife, by feveralftrong arguments: firft, from the fize of the finger ; here he obferves, that the ring could fcarce be forced over the middle joint of the little finger in queftion ; and affures the king that the ring was a great deal too large for his lady’s thumb : fecondly, he takes notice that the nail of this finger had not been cut for a month paft, at lead; whereas his lady never negleded cutting her nails conftantly every Saturday : thirdly, he obferved that whoever owned the finger, had made ufe of it very lately in baking rye bread ; and affures the King, that his lady had never done fuch a piece of drudgery fince fhe had been his wife. Poor Elphin is now deemed incorrigible, and remanded back to prifon for his obftinacy and credulity, with orders never to be releafed until he could fairly prove, what was deemed impofiible, the chaftity of his wife, and thefupe- riority of his Bard. Taliefin now refolvesto fet his patron at liberty: in order to this, he goes toMaelgwn’s court, where he was not known ; and by his fuperior (kill, alfifted, however, by a little forcery, he over- comes all the laureats of the palace ; afierts his lady’s chaftity ; proves her innocence ; and does fome other wonders, which reftores his patron to his liberty, and the favour of his prince, &c. Taliefin, after this, advifes Elphin to lay a wager with the king, that he had a horfe that was fleeter than all his majefty’s horfes: upon this, a courle was marked out on Morfa Rhianedd, and the king brought there twenty-four of the fleeted horfes in his ftud, which were every one beat by Elphin % horfe, alfifted, however, by a little of Taliefin'?, magic. Moreover, Taliefin ordered the boy that rode his patron’s horfe to drop his cap on the ground, upon the place where Afae/g«?»’s horfe fhould ftumble, which he accordingly did. After the race was over, Taliefin took Elphin to the fpot, and direded it to be dug into; where they came to a large cauldron, full of gold. 8 Then 20 OF TALIESIN THE BARD. Then the Bard addrefied his patron, and faid to Elphin, “ here is your reward for taking me out of the wear, and for rearing me from that day.” This fpot is now called Pyllbair, or the pool of the Cauldron *. N. B. There is probably fome truth in the above curious account about Maelgvjn Gwynedd, Elphin, &c; as fome of TalieJIn's poems, or, at lead, what pafs for his, relate to fome of the events mentioned. Probably Taliefin cauled an artificial Bog to be made in fome particular part of the courfe, which the rider of Elphin'% horfe had fpecial charge to avoid ; and by that means, poffibly, he beat all Maelgwn’s horfes, and Elphin won a confiderable lum of money. in fome of Taliefin’s Daroganau, or Prophetic Poems, a place called Y Felallt is mentioned ; where a battle was to be fought, and eleven thoufand of the Saxons to be deftroyed. The Annotator fays, that Felallt is Beeilon Caftje, in Chefliire. See more cfTalie/ln in the jirjl Volume, pages 18. and 21. * From John Jones of Gelli Lyfdy’s Manufcript; and extrafled by the Reverend E. Evans, whofe colleftions are now at Pias Gwyn, in Anglefey. ' PEE HISTORY OF ARTHUR* The Hiftory of King Arthur, whofe name is fo diftinguilhed in the Britifh Annals, is fo enveloped by the romancers, that it is now difficult to come at the truth, except from a few authentic documents ftill pre- ferved, in ancient Welffi manuferipts, and other records; which 1 ffiall endeavour to give here, with an Englith tranflation. Nennius, the old Britiffi hiftorian, who wrote about A. D. 620, informs us, that Arthur was the fon of Uther Pendragon, was born at Tindagel Cattle, in Cornwall, about the year 516 ; (where tradition cor- roborates this account, in thtir ftill retaining there the very fpot where his hall ftood, his bed, his way to church, and the like.) Arthur was a filter’s fon of King Aurelius Ambrofius ; under whofe banner he ferved in his younger days. Nennius alfo records, that Arthur was the chief Commander of the Britilh forces, and was always vi<5torious. He fought twelve great battles with the Saxons, in concert wrh other Britifh princes. This magnanimous conqueror reigned twenty-fix years; and with the affittance of his fkil- fukjenights, and fuccefsful armies, he preferved his country from all foreign invaders; and, by his great achievements, had feveral foreign kings tributaries to him *. Arthur received his death-wound at the battle of Camlan, or Camelford, in Cornwal, in the year 542 ; where his antagonifi: was flain. This puilfant prince is numbered among the nine worthies. The Bard, Taliefin, records fome of his battles: alfo Merddyn, the fon of Morvryn; Prince Llowarch Hen; and Ciraldus Cambrenfs, cjl record his fame Ymddiddan rhzvng Arthur Frenin, yn ei ieuenclid, A Dialogue between King Arthur, in his youth, a'i ail wraig Gwenhwyfar. Hon oedd y Ferch a and his fecond wife, Gwenhwyvar. This was the lady ddygoedd Melwas, Tywyfog o'r Alban, whom Melwas, a prince of Alban, afterwards Hole away. Arthur. Arthur. Hu yw fy march a da dana', Black is my Heed, and bears me well; Ac er dwr nid arfwyda; Nor will he the water fhun ; A rhag ungwr ni chilia! And for no man will he retreat 1 Gwenhwyfar. Gwenhwyvar. Gldsyw fy march 0 liw dail j Bright is my Feed of nature’s hue : Llwyr ddirmygid mefl mawrair : May the boafter always be defpifed ; Nid gwr ond a gywiro ei air, He only is a man, who makes good his word ! Pzvy a ferchyg ac a Who will ride, and will be firm ? Ac a gerdd ymlaen y dr in ? Who will march in the front of battle ? [Sevin. Nid deil ond gzvr e. Cat hir ab Sefn. None but a hero, can overcome Cai the Tall, fon ol * The names of the foreign kings and princes who were tribu- of Cenomania ; Cai, Duke of Angieu ; Guitard, Duke of Poitieu ; taries to King Arthur, and who were at his triumphal feaft, given alfo the Twelve Peers of Gaul ; and Geraint Garanwys, Earl of after his conquefts, at Caer-Lleon, on the river Ulk, in Mon- Charters, (whom Vitus calleth Verinus Carnmenjis,) Hoiuel, King mouthlhire : Gillamer, King of Ireland ; Malvajius, King of Ice- of Little Britain, &c. See more in page 3 of this work; alfo in land ; Doldan, King of Gothland ; Gwinwas, King of Orkney ; Jeffrey of Monmouth's Britifh Hijlory ; Enderbie's Cambria Yrium Llew ab Kynfarch, {ox Lottho,) King of Norway; Eckel, King phans1 ; and Langtoft’s Chronicle. of I)enmark: and out of France, Holden, King of the Ruthenians; Alfo, IVilham of Malmjbury, De Gejlis Regum dngliet, lib. I. Leodegar, Earl of Bolein ; Bedver, Duke of Normandy; Borellus, Stilling feet'% Church Hijlory; and Gibfon's Camden. Arthur, 31 A DIALOGUE BETWEEN ARTHUR AND GWENHWYVAR. Arhur. Arthur, Myfi a ferchyg, ac a fai; 1 will ride, and I will be firm ; and will Ac a gerdda yn drwm geulan trai: March with fpeed along the bank of the ebbing tide: Myfi y gwr a ddaliai Gai! I am the man who will overcome Cai! Gwenhwyfar. Gwenhwyvar. Hold, youth ! it is ftrange to hear thee, Dyd was ! rhyfeddyw dy glywedt Onid wyd amgen, noth weled; Unlefs thou art more than thy appearance; k Ni ddelit ti Gai ar dy ganfed. Thou couldft not overcome Cai with a hundred in thy train ! Arthur. Arthur, Gwenhwyfar olwg eirian, Gwenhwyvar, of beauteous look. Na ddifrawd fi; cyd bwyf bychan. Deride me not; though fmall I feem, Mi d ddaliwn gant fy Inman! I would, myfelf, a hundred take 1 Gwenhwyfar. Gwenhwyvar. Dyd! was, o ddu a melyn ! Ha ! thou youth, in black and yellow garb! Wrth hir edrych dy dremyn; From having fiedfaftly viewed thy form, Tybiais dy weled cyn no hyn ! Methinks I have feen thee before ! Arthur. Arthur. Gwenhwyfar olwg wrthroch; Gwenhwyvar, with fweet looks of mildnefs. Doedwch itni, os gwyddoch, Inform me, (if thou knoweft,) Tn mha le, cyn hyn ym gwelfoch ? Where didfl thou fee me before ? Gwenhwyfar. Gwenhwyvar. Mi welais wr, graddol o faint, I faw a man, of moderate ftature. Ar fwrdd Mr Celliwig, yn Dyfnaint; At the long table of Celliwig, in Devonlhire, Tn rhannu, gwin i'w geraint. Diftributing wine, to his friends around him. Arthur. Arthur. Gwenhwyfar barabyl digri'! Gwenhwyvar, charming in difcourfe ! Gnawd o ben gwraig air gwegi: From woman’s lips, we look for idle talk : Tno y gwelaiji di fi! There, truly, thou haft feen me1! When k The following curious note, extrafted from Aubrey's Mifcella- Mr. Thinne, in his explanation of the hard words in Chaucer, nies, fecondedition, page 28, alludes probably to the above Cai, writes thus: Ga’wyn, fol, 23, p. 1. “ This Gawy# was a filter’s fon or Gai, who was one of King Arthur’s chief officers; to Arthur the Great, King of the Britons; a moll famous man in war, and in all manner of civility ; as in the adts of the Britons “ The family of Gaicen have long been at Norington, in the we may read.” parifh of Alvidefton, in Wiklhire. It was fold by Gatuen, “ In the year 1082, in a province of Wales, called Rhos, was. Efq. to Sir IVadham Windham, one of the Judges of the King’s his fepulchre found. Chaucer, in the Squire's Tale. Bench, about 1665. They continued in this place four hundred “ This llrange knight, that came thus fuddenly fifty and odd years. Then, alfo, was fold their eftate in Broad- - All armed, fave his head, full royally chalk, which they had as long, or perhaps longer : Salued the King, and Queen, and Lords all. “ On the fouth down of the farm of Broad-chalk, is a little bar- By order as they fitten in the hall. row, called Gawen’s barrow; (which muft be before ecclefiaftical With fo high reverence and obeifance. canons were conllituted; for, fince, buiials are only in confecrated As well in fpeech, as in countenance. ground.) King Edgar gave the manor and farm of Broad-chalk That Gawain, with his old courtefie. to the nuns of Wilton Abbey, which is 900 years ago.” Though he came again out of fairie. (N. B. The above was written in 1721.) He could him not amend of no word.” 1 King Arthur had three wives, lucceffively, of the name of G'wenh'wy'var: the firll was the daughter of Gwythyr ab Greidianul, probably a North Briton. The lecond was daughter of Ga’voryd Ceint, which feems to have been a Loegrian Briton, of Kent. The third was a daughter of Ogyrfan Gawr, a Cambro-Briton. Triad 59. My reafon for thinking the firft was a North Briton, is, that Arthur, when he followed his conquelts in the illands, left her at home ; and (he having a former intimacy with Melxuas, a prince of North Britain, they fo contrived it, that (he, with her maids of honour, went into the wood a maying, where Melwas was to lie in wait for her among the bulhes, with a fuit of cloaths on him made of green leaves ot trees : when the queen and her maids came to the place appointed, Mehuas darted up, and carried the queen away in his arms to his companions; and all the maids of honour ran away in a great fright : they took him to be a fatyr, or wild man of the wood. He conveyed the queen to Scotland, and kept her for a while. Our Englilh writers, (Milton, &c.) wonder how a little prince could take away, by force, the queen of fuch a valiant king as Arthur is faid to be; but the wonder ceafes, when it is confidered that the king was abroad in his wars, and the queen willing to be embraced by an old acquaintance. See Caradoc’s Life of Gildas. <11 KING ARTHUR When Arthur had overcome his enemies in the North of England, he retired into North Wales, and had feveral contefts with the then king of Mora\t who had at that time a bridge over the Menai, at Boly Donn, (from Caernarvonfliire to Anglefey,) guarded by a number of armed men. The author refers, for farther particulars in this, and many other things relating to Arthur, to a book entitled Sangreal. He inftances fome of his hero’s amours, whofe fcenes are in this country ; therefore, I will briefly relate them : Caw o Frydain, (or Caw of North Britain,) and Lord of Cwm Cawlwyd, who then lived in Edeyrnion, or its neighbourhood, and had two Tons m ; the eldeft was the famous Gildas, the querulous hiftorian, an ex- cellent fcholar; the fecond was Hu ail, a perfect libertine. Arthur becomes jealous of the latter’s having an intrigue with one of his miftreffes;—refolves to go privately armed, to watch his going to her houfe: he foon appeared; and after a fhort converfation, they drew, and fought. After a long conflict, Huail had the good fortune to wound Arthur terribly in the thigh : upon this, the conteft ceafed, and a reconciliation took place, upon condition that Huail, under the penalty of loflng his head, fliould never upbraid the king with this advantage he had over him, &c. Arthur retires to his palace, which was then at Caerwys, in Flintfhire, to be cured of his wound: he recovered ; but it occafioned his limping a little ever after. As foon as he got well, he fell in love with a lady at Rhuthin, in Denbighfhire ; and, in order to carry on his intrigue more privately, he drefled himfelf in female attirement; and, as he was dancing with her and her companions, Huail happened to fee him, and knew him on account of his lamenefs ; and faid, tc this dancing might do very well but for the thigh.” The king overheard him, and withdrew, and fent for Huail, and after upbraiding him with the breach of his promifeand oath, ordered him to be beheaded upon a ftone, which lay in the flreet of the town, which was, from this event, denominated Maen Huail, and which it retained in the author’s time". (It is ftill to be feen at Ruthin.) About that time, Arthur erefted a palace at a place that is called Nannerch ; it bore the name of Elys Arthur in the author’s time, and it was faid that the church of Nannerch, in Flintfhire, which was formerly called Ca^el y Gwiail, was a chapel belonging to it *. Copied from Edward Lhuyd's manuferipts, which was tranferiled by him from a W°ljh MS, of the hand~writing of John Jones of Gelli Lyfdy, in Flintjhire, dated June 27, 1611. f Probably King of Murray, in Scotland. Fat Melwas yn a Glds glog. d . a b g vvi l y m . The following curious note corroborates the before-mentioned circumftance: “ Queen Gwenhwyvar, wife to Arthur, King of the Britons, about the year 500, falling into difgrace on fufpicion of adultery, was condemned to be torn by dogs; but efcaping, (he fled into Scotland : afterwards died on the hill of Stormont, (where Ihe had lived fome time,) and was buried at Meigle, in Perthjhire. About three miles from the hill where Ihe is buried, there is a ftone, higher than a man, with her pidture carved, and dogs tearing her on one fide ; and on the other, men purfuing her. There is alfo another grave-ftone, where her fervants were buried.” Edward Llwyd’s tranfeript from the Kirckwood manufeript of Highland Rites and Cufoms. “ According to an old genealogical book. Caw had a very numerous family, and the following were the names of his children : Dirmyc Caw ; luftic ; Etmic ; Angawdd ; Ofan ; Chelin ; Chomyn ; Mabfant; Gwyngat; Llwybyr ; Choth ; Melic ; Chynwas; Ardwyat ; Ergyryat; Neb; Gildas; Chalcas; Hueil.” See more in the fir ft Volume, page 17. " In Caradoc's Life of Gildas Albanus, it is recorded that the twenty-three brothers of Gildas rebelled againft Arthur, and that Hueil ab Caw, the eldeft, a famous warrior, obeyed neither Arthur nor any other king. He often made delcent from Scotland on Arthur’s fubjedts: Arthur, the fupreme king, hearing of this, made war on him from place to place, and at laft killed him at Mynaw, or Anglefey, in A. D. 501;. Upon this, Gildas came from Ireland, and pacified King Arthur with his tears, and with petitions of all the Britifh Clergy. [fJJher fays, that Gildas had a great fchool in Ireland, and places him from A. D. 425, to 512 died eighty- feven years old.) There is a place that commemorates this circumftance, called Cerrig Hywel, or Crug Hywel; i. e. the Stones of Hywel, or Barrow of Hywel, the fon of Caw, and brother to Gildas-, which was the caule of Gildas's omitting the name of Arthur in his Epiftle; where he rails bitterly againft one of the Britifti princes, under the name of the Ifland Dragon : and, as the caufe of his inveteracy happened in the Ifland of Anglefey, and Arthur having borne a golden dragon in his ftandard ; therefore, it feems probable that he alludes to Arthur. Giraldus’s Cambria Defcriptio ; Sir John Price's Defence of the Britijh Hifiory ; Rowland's Mona Antiqua; and the Celtic Remains, by Lewis Morris. * KING ARTHUR’S CHARTER. “ Carta Arthurs Regis de Immunitatibus Unrverfitati Cantabrigian concejfis." *c Arthur relying on the regal power received from God to all his fervants greeting : For as much as Almighty God, through the mercy of his clemency, without any antecedent merit, has bellowed on me the feeptre of a King, I willingly return to him fome part of what he has given. Being therefore inftrudled by his grace, for the love of the heavenly country, and the health of the fouls of my predeceflbrs. Kings of Britain ; for the advancement of the public weal of my kingdom of Britain, and the fpiritual benefit of the fcholars continually ftudying at Cambridge, by the advice and confent of all and Angular the Prelates and Princes of the fame king- dom, with licenfe of the Apoftolic See, I, by this prefent writing, enadt, and firmly decree, that the aforefaid City of Scholars, in which, hitherto, my predeceflbrs, through the grace of the Founder, have received the brightnefs of knowledge, and the light of learning, be exempt from public taxes and burdenfome works, that the dodlors and fcholars there may adhere to the ftudy of literature undifturbed, as the glorious King of Britain, Lucius, decreed, embracing Chriftianity by the preaching of the dodlors of Cambridge \ wherefore the fcholars and dodlors of Cambridge are to remain in perpetual tranquillity, fafe, and defended by regal privileges, with their families and eftates, from all fecular fervitude, as alfo from regal taxes, great or fmall. This charter was written in the year from the incarnation of our Lord, 531, on the 7th of April, in the city of London. And for the more fecurity. King Arthur tranfmitted the aforefaid Charter to Kynot, the redtor of the fchools of the aforefaid city, by his ne- phew Walwan, of known integrity.” King Arthur had appointed Kynot, a provident man, Rcdlor of Cambridge, in the year ofour Lord, 529 ; and afterwards he granted him the before-mentioned privilege. The above Charter is alfo mentioned in another of a later date, granted to the fcholars of Cambridge by King Cadwalader; which mentions King Lucius, Afclepiodotus, Conftantine, Uther Pendragon, and Arthur. The above is extradied from the Hifiory and Antiquities of Cambridge, by Nichola Cantelupe, and Richard Parker i where a copy of the original Charter, in Latin, may be found in page 16 of that Book. 15 ” Marchogion t KING ARTHUR’S KNIGHTS. 23 Marchogion y Brenin Arthur. King Arthur’s Knights. The following WelHi manufcript was tranfciibed by Sim'ivnt Vychan, the Bard, who flourifhed about A. D. 1570; an^» fronn his tranfcript this was copied on the 2d day of February, 1640, by John Jones, of Gelli Lyfdy. The hiftory of thefe Knights is alfo to be found in the Ancient Book of ’The Britijh Triads of the If and of Britain ; which manufcript Mr. Vaughan of Hengwrt, the great Antiquary, conjeftured, was written about feven, or eight hundred years fince. Likewife, the account of thefe Knights is in the Llyfr Coch of Hergef, (or the Red Book of Hergefl,) in Jefus-college Library, at Oxford, which is faid to have been written about 500 years ago. Pedwar marchawg ar hugain oeddyn Ll\s Arthur, There were four-and-twenty honourable Knights, 0 Farchogion urddolion yn aros yn wafiadol: a chyn- continually attending in King Arthur's Court, who neddfau naturiol 0 orcheft ydoedd ar bob iin 0 naddynt had extraordinary natural qualities peculiar to them- mwy nag ar eraill. felves, wherein each of them excelled all others. * Jri marchawg aurdafodiazvg oedd yn Llys Arthur : Three golden-tongued Knights were in King Ar- nid amgen, Gwalchmai ab Gwyar; Drudwas ab thur’s Court: Gwalchmai, the fon of Gwyar, (Lord ‘Tryjjin; ac Eliwlod ab Madog ab Uthur : Canys nid of Pembrokelbire;) Drudwas, the fon of Lryffin^ oedd na Brenin, na I aril, nag Arglwydd ag i delai yr and Eliwlod, the fon of Madog, fon of Uthur. Thefe rhain attynt nas gwrandewynt arnynt 0 Jlaen ereill; three heroes were fo wife, fo candid, and eloquent* a pha neges bynnac a geifent hwy, yntwy ai mynnynt, and poflefling fuch power of language, that neither a naill ai 0 fodd, ai 0 anfodd j am hynny i gelwyd nhw King, nor a Lord they went to, but would give them yn aur—dafodiawg. audience before any others j and whatever bufinefs they went upon was attended with fuccefs, which they never failed of obtaining, by fair means, or otherwife. Their oratory dropped as gold from their tongues : therefore, they were called the Three golden-tongued Knights Tri Marchawg gwyry, oedd yn Llys Arthur: nid Three immaculate, (or unblemifhed) Champion amgen j Galath, ab Llaunfelot dy Lac; Peredur ab Knights, were in Arthur’s Court: Bwrt, the fon of Efrog, larll a Bwrt ab Bwrt, Brenin Gajgwyn: Bwrt, King of Gafcoyn j Peredur, fon of the Earl of fa le bynnag i delai y rhain, lie na bei na chawr, na Evrawc; and Galath, the fon of Lanjelot du Lac *: Gwyddan, neu ryw beth anysbrydol er cadarned vai where ever thefe men came, if there was either a eu harfeu, a dded vai eu Calonneu ni ellynt ddim ou giant, a witch, or an enchanter, they could not en- bar os,- dure, either of thefe pure Knights L Lri chad Farchawg oedd yn Llys Arthur: Cadwr, Three Battle Knights, (orGenerals ofHorfe) were larll Cernyw Llawnjelot dy Lac; ac Owain ab in King Arthur’s Court: Cddwr, Earl of Cornwall j Urien Reget: Cynneddfau y rhain oedd, ni chilynt Lancelot du Lac-, and Owen, the fon of Urien, Prince nag er Gwayw, nac er Saeth, nac er Cleddyf, ac ni of Reged. They had this quality, they never gave chafas Arthur gy wilydd mewn brwydyr y dydd i caffai way for fear of a fpear, fword, or arrow j nor was efweledeu hwynebeu, ac am hynny i gelwit hwynt Cad- Arthur ever put to fhame in battle, if he faw their varchogion. faces that day in the field j and therefore, they were called the Knights of Battle. t It is recorded in the Britilh Hiftory, that Dubrifcius, the 0 There is a village in Flintfiiire called Peny Ldc\ the Head, Archbifhop of Caerlleon, delivered an oration on a hill before (or principal place) of Lac. Arthur and his foldiers, and gave them his benediction, prior to P The three knights of Arthur’s Court, who obtained the a battle with the Saxons: (which was the ancient Bardic cuiiom, Great: Galath, the fon of Lancelot Du Lac ; Peredur, fon of the to infure fuccefs on the eve of battle.) Alfo, it defcribes the Earl of Evroc ; and Bort, the fon of King Bort. The two firlt drefs of Arthur, which is as follows; “ Arthur put on a coat of were chafte of body; and the third was continent, for he never mail, fuitable to the grandeur of fo potent a ki.tg ; fitted his golden committed carnal fin except once, and that through temptation, helmet upon his head, which was adorned with the figure of a when he begat , by the daughter of Brangor, fiery dragon ; and on nis Ihoulder his Ihield, called Prydwen, who was emprefs at Conftantinople j and from whom came the upon which was fculptured the Virgin Mary : then girding on moft numerous generation in the world. The above three were his Caledf'vulch, which was an excellent tempered Heel fword, defeended from the line of Jofeph of Arimathea, and fo up to made at Avallon, or Glaftonbury ; he graced his right hand with David the Prophet, as is teftified in the books of the Great.— his fpear, named Rhon, which was hard, broad, and fit for Triad 61. (laughter : after this, having placed his men in order, he boldly attacked the ranks of his enemy, &c.” Jeffrey of Monmouth's Britijh Hifory, Book ix. Chap 4. Lri 24 KING ARTHUR’S KNIGHTS, Tri Lledritkiog farchawg oedd yn Lljs Arthur: Three Magical, or Necromantic Knights, were nid amgen, Menw ab Aeirgwaedd-. Ary ft an abAallwch-, in King Arthur’s Court: Menw, the fon of Aeir- Eiddilig Gorr-, (neu Cai hir ab Cynyr farfog:) canys gwaedd ; Aryftan, the fon of Aallwch-, and Eiddilic ymrithio a wneynt yny rhith i mynnynt> pan vai galed Gorr-, for they could metamorphofe themfelves into arnynt, ac am hynny ni allai neb eu gorfod, rhwng eu what lhape or charafter they pleafed, and aft ac- cryfder, a'u dewrder, a'u hud a'u lledrith. cordingly, when they were reduced to extremity; and therefore, no man could overcome them. Ari Brenhinawl farchogion oedd yn lljs Arthur: Three Royal Knights were in Arthur’s Court: nid amgen., Nafiens, mab Brenin Demnarc; Medrod Nafiens, fon of the King of Denmark; Medrod, the ab Llew ab Cynfarch ; a Howel ab Emyr Elydaw, fon of Llew, fon of Cynfarch, King of the Pifts; Brenin Bryttayn, ac nid oedd nag ammerawdyr, na and Howel, the fon of Emyr, King of Armorica. Brenin, a ballei o'u neges i'r rhai hynny, o achos eu Their qualities were, that in time of peace, no King, tecced, a'u doethineb, pan ddelynt mewn heddwch ; a nor Emperor in the world, could deny them what hefyd, nid oedd na milwr, na rhyfwr a allai eu haros they demanded, for their extraordinary comelinefs, pan .ddelynt mewn rhyfel er daed vai eu harfau, ac am and wifdom : and in war, no foldier, nor champion, hynny i gelwid hwynt yn farchogion brenhinawl. be his arms ever fo good, could withfland them; and therefore, they were called the Royal Knights’. Ari chyfiawn Farchawg oedd yn llys Arthur, Blaes Three Juft Knights were in Arthur’s Court': mab larll Llychlyn ; Cadawg ab Gwynlliw filwr; Blaes, fon of the Prince of Scandinavia, (or Nor- Pedrogl paladr-ddellt: cynneddfau y rhai hynny pwy way ;) Cadawc, the fon of Gwynlliw the Warrior; bynnag a wnelai gam a Djn gwann, pwy by mag vai, and Pedrog Paladr-ddellt, (or Pedrog Break-fpear,) hwynt a ymleddynt yn nghweryl y cyfiawnder ac er ca~ fon of Clement, Prince of Cornwall. Their qualities darned vai hwynt a'u gorfyddynt, canys ymroddi a were, that they fought in defence of Juftice againft •wnaethae iddynt i gadw cyfiawnder a'r dm gwann, hwy anyperfon that wronged the fatherlefs, the widowed, a'u helpynt ymhob un or tair cyfraith, nid amgen, or the poor, and killed the wrong-doer, were he ever Blaes yn y gyfraitb fydol; Cadawc o gyfraith Eglwys-, foftrong; for thefe Three Knights had made a refo- Pedrogl o gyfraith arfau : am hynny i gelwit hwynt lution to maintain Juftice in every kind of Law : that Ari chyfiawn farchawg.—— is, Blaes in the Civil Law; Cadwg in the Ecclefiaf- tical Law ; and Pedrog in the Law of Arms; and therefore, they were called Juft Knights'. *> At the coronation of King Arthur, (at Cacr-Lkon, on the Vol. II. has a beautiful fragment of an old poem, that mentions river UJke, then in the diftrift of Morganwg, and now in Mon- the royal palace of Snowdon ; which is not only highly fentimen- mouthfhire,) a tournament is defcribed as exhibited in its higheft tal, and expreffive of poetical feelings, but ftrongly imprefles on fplendour. “ Many knights,” fays our Armoric fabler, “ famous the mind an image of the romantic magnificence of ancient times, “ for feats of chivalry, were prefent, with apparel and arms of fo remote from the ftate of modern manners. “ the fame colour and fafliion. They formed a fpecies of diver- Adiew, fair Snowdoune, with thy touris hie. “ fion, in imitation of a fight on horfeback ; and the ladies being Thy chapell royall, park, and tabille rounde * ! “ placed on the walls of the caftles, darted amorous glances on May, June, and July, wald I dwell in thee. “ the combatants. None of thefe ladies efteemed any knight War I one man, to heir the birdis found “ worthy of her love, but fuch as had given proof of his gallantry Quhilk doth againe thy royal rocke rebound ! “ in three feveral encounters. Thus the valour of the men en- * Round table ; tournaments. “ couraged chaftity in the women, and the attention of the women * In the days of chivalry, Rhitta Gawr, a great prince, men- “ proved an incentive to the foldiers’ bravery.” Here is the tioned in Brut y Brenhinoedd, who feems to have been a free- prattice of chivalry under the combined ideas of love, and mili- booter, or pillager, on the marches towards Scotland. The hif- tary prowefs, as they feem to have fubfifted after the feudal con- tory is, he had a cap, or a veil, made of the beards of the princes, llitution had acquired greater degrees not only of liability, but of or great men he had conquered, which he had flayed and fewed fplendour, and refinement. IVartm's Hiji. of Englijh Poetry, Vol. I. together ; and had left room for the beard of Arthur to add r The Britijh Hijlorical Triads farther inform us, that “ the to it, as being the chief of Kings. So, in a bravado, he fent a three principal palaces of King Arthur, were at Caerlleon on the meffage to Arthur to fend him his beard, or elfe to come and fight river Ulk, in Monmouthlhire; Keltinuig, in Cornwall, or Devon- him in a fengle combat, and whoever fhould get the day, fhould Ihire ; and Penrhyn Rhianedd, in the North of Britain.” have the other’s beard and cap; accordingly, Arthur accepted of There were other places where Arthur is faid to have occafion- the challenge, and gained the prize. There is a place near ally refided : he kept his Chriftmas at Caerebrauc, or York, with Towyn, in Merionethfhire, called Rbiwy Barfau, of the Hill of great royalty and banqueting ; and repaired the churches that the Beards, where, according to tradition, King Arthur flew were deftroyed by the Pagans. Alfo at Camalot, (or Cwmaled,) Gawr, the Champion, or Giant where anciently there was a famous caftle on a hill, to the fouth Arthur fought in a Angle combat, with Flavius Pollio, or Frollo, of Gadbury church, in Somerfetlhire. “ Arthur was at his the Roman Tribune of Gaul, (under Leo, the Emperor,) and court, called Camalot, on Saturday, the eve of Whitfunday, in killed him. Lewis's Britijh tlijiory, p. 186. ' the year of our Lord, 454-” Lhvyd’s Archaolagia Britannica, Alfo Cnute, the King of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, pages 262. and 265. Likewife at Caer-gwent, or Winchelter, fought EdmundIronfide, the Saxon, in fight of both their armies. Arthur is faid to have refided, and where his round table is ftill And a challenge of this nature has been in the time of Henry the preferved, in the hall - Warton’s Hiltory of Englilh Poetry, Eighth, between the King of France and the Emperor of Germany. Ari KING ARTHUR’S KNIGHTS. *5 Tri Gwrtbnifiad farcha wg oedd yn Lljs Arthur : Three Obtaining, and Contrafted Knights, were iiid amgen, Morfran ab ‘Tegid; Sanddef bryd Angel y in King Arthur’s Court: Morvrany the fon of Tegid-, a Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr: cynneddfauy rhain ceddy gwr- Sanddevy the Angel-faced; and Glewlwyd with the tbwyneb oedd tri gan neb ballu uddunt fa neges bynnag great-grafp. Their qualities were, that it was con- ag a geijynt: Sanddef rbag ei deced Morfran rhag ei trary to every body to refufe them any thing they hacred; a Glewlwyd Gafaelfawr rhag ei faint a’i gryf- defired: Sanddevy on account of his beauty; Morvrany ed; ac am hynny ni 'wyddiad neb beth oedd oreu a'i for his uglinefs and defoimity; and Glewlwyd, for rhoiy q'i fallu uddunty neges a geifynt ac am hynny his gigantic fize, ftrength, and civility j and there- i gelwid hwynt gwrthwyneb farchogion. fore, they were called the Obtaining, and Contrafted Knights. There is alfo another remarkable thing: thefe Three Warriors efcaped from the battle of Camlany where all their fellow-foldiers were flain. Llyma enwan arfau Arthur: Rhongymynian, ei Thefe are the names of Arthur’s arms: Rhbngym- waywCaledfwlch, ei Gleddyf ■, Cumwennan, ei ynian3 hisfpear; Caledfwlchy his hard-notched fword; ddager; a Prydwen, ei Darian. Carnwennany his white-handled dagger 3 and Pryd- wen, his glittering ftiield. Ac fal hyn a efcrifenais i o law Sim ’The Ceremony of making Knights, (about the Year 516,) ‘when King Arthur reigned in Britain. “ In that age, a prince determining to make a Knight, did command a fcaffold, or ftage, to be erefted in fome cathedral church of his kingdom, or other fpacious hall near unto it. Thither the gentleman was brought to receive that honour ; and being come, was forthwith placed in a chair of filver, adorned with green filk. Then was demanded of him if he was healthy of body, and able to endure the travell required in a foldier : alfo whether he were a man of honell converfation, and what witneiTes, worthy of credit, could he produce fo to affirm. That being done, the Bilhop, or chief Prelate of the church, took the bible, and holding it open be- fore the Knight, in the prefence of the King and all others, fpake thefe words: ‘ Sir, you that defire to receive the Order of Knight- hood, fwear before God, and by this holy book, that ye ffiall not fight againft this mighty and excellent Prince, that now beftoweth the Order of Knighthood upon you, unlefs you fhall be commanded fo to do, in the fervke of your own king and natural prince ; for in that cafe, having firft yielded up the coller, device, and other enfigns of honor now received, it fhall be lawful for you to ferve againft him, without reproach, or offence to all other companions in arms : but otherwife doing, ye fhall incur infamy ; and being taken in war, fhall be fubjeft to the pains of death. Ye fhall alio fwear, with all your force and power, to maintain and defend all ladies, gentlewomen, orphans, widows, women diftreffed and abandoned. The like muft ye do for wives, being 'defired, and fhun no ad- venture of your perfon, in every good war wherein ye happen to be. This oath taken, two of the chief Lords led him unto the King, who prefently drew forth his fword, and laid the fame upon the gentleman’s head, and faid, ‘ God, and Saint David,’ (or what other Saint the King pleafeth to name,) make thee a good Knight. Then came unto the Knight feven noble ladies, attired in white, and girt a fword to his fide. That done, four Knights of the moft honourable in that prefence put on his fpurs. Thefe ceremonies part, the Queen took him by the right arm, and a Dutchefs by the left, and led him unto a rich feat made on high, and thereupon fet him, the King fitting down on the right hand, and the Queen on the other. After the King and Queen were thus feated, and the new Knight between them, all the reft of the Lords and Ladies fat dovya upon other feats prepared for them, three defeents under the King’s feat. Every Lord and Lady being thus placed, thither were brought a follemn collation, or banquet of delicate meats, whereof the Knight, the King, the Queen, and the whole company did eat. And fo the ceremony ended.” “ The Knights of the Round Table vowed to obferve the following articles : “ Firft, that every Knight fhould be well armed, and furnifhed to undertake any enterprife, wherein he was employed by fea, or land, on horfeback, or foot. “ That he fhould be ever preft to aflail all tyrants and oppreflbrs of people. “ That he fhould protect widows and maidens; reftore children to their right; re-poflefs fuch perfons as were, without juft caufe, exiled ; and with all his force maintain the Chriftian faith. “ That he fhould be a champion for the publick weal, and, as a lion, repulfe the enemies of his country. “ That he fhould advance the reputation of honor, and fupprefs all vice; relieve people afflided by adverfe fortune ; give aid to the Holy Church, and proted pilgrims. " That he fhould bury foldiers that wanted fepulchre; deliver prifoners; ranfom captives; and cure men hurt in the fervice of their country. “ That he fhould, in all honourable adions, adventure his perfon, yet with refped to juftice and truth ; and, in all enterprifes, proceed fincerely, never failing to ufe his uttermoft force of body, and valour of mind. “ That after the attaining of any enterprife, he fhould caufe it to be recorded, to the end that the fame of that fad fhould ever live, to his eternal honour, and renown of the Noble Order. “ That if any complaint were made at the Court of this mighty King, of injury or oppreffion, then fome Knight of the Order, whom the King fhould appoint, ought to revenge the fame. “ That if any Knight of foreign nation did come to Court with defire to challenge, or make fhew of his prowefs; (were he fingle. Or accompanied,) that then thefe Knights ought to be ready in arms to make anfwer. “ That if any lady, gentlewoman, widow, maiden, or other opprefled perfon did prefent a petition, declaring they were, or had been, in this, or other nation, injured, or offered difhonour, they fhould be gracioufly heard, and without delay, one, or more Knights fhould be fenttotake revenge. “ That every Knight fhould be willing to inform young Princes, Lords, and Gentlemen, in the orders and exercifes of arras; thereby not only to avoid idlenefs, but alfo to increafe the honour of knighthood and chivalry. “ Divers other articles, inciting to magnanimous adtions of honour in arms, thefe Knights were fworn to obferve.” Of the Degradation of Knights in ancient Days. If any Knight at that time had been corrupted with money by his prince’s enemy, or committed any other notable faft againft: loyalty and honour, the other Knights forthwith made humble fuit unto the King that he might be punifhed. Which requeft being granted, they apprehended the offender, and caufed him to be armed from head to foot, and in fuch fort as if he were going to the field. Then they led him up to an high ftage made in a church for that purpofe, where thirty prielts hung fuch pfalms as are ufed at burials, as though the Knight had lain dead at their feet. At the end of every pfalm they took from him one piece of armour. Firft, they took off his helmet, as that which defended his traitorous eyes; then his gauntlet on the right fide, as that which covered a corrupt hand ; then his gauntlet on the left fide, as from a member confenting, and by piecemeal delpoiled him of all his arms, as well offenfive as defenfive, which, one after another, were thrown to the ground : and at the inftant when any piece of armour was caft down, the King of arms firft, and after him all other heralds, cried aloud ; faying, “ this is the head-piece of a difloyal and mifereant Knight;” then was brought thither a bafon of gold, or filver, full of warm water ; which being holdenup, the heralds, with a loud voice, faid, “ what is the Knight’s name?” the purfuants anfwered that which, in truth, was his name. Then the chief king of arms faid, “ that is not true, for he is a mifereant and falfe traitor, and hath tranfgreffed the ordinances of Knighthood.” Thereunto anfwered the Chaplains, “ let us give him his right name.” Then ipake the trumpets, “ what fhall be done with him ?” To which word the King anfwered, “ let him, with diftionour and fhame, be banifhed my kingdom, as a vile and infamous man, that hath offended the honour of Knighthood.” So foon as the King had fo faid, the King of Arms, and other heralds, caft the warm water upon the difgraded knight’s face, as though he were new baptized; faying, “ henceforth thou (halt be called by thy right name—Traitor.” 'I hen the King, with twelve other Knights, put upon them mourning garments, declaring forrow: and coming unto the Knight difgraded, put him down the ftage, not by the flairs he mounted up when he was made a Knight, but threw him down, tyed to a rope. Then, with great ignominy, he was brought to the altar, and there laid grovelling on the ground ; and over him was read a pfalm full of curfes. Extracted from Sir William Segar's Book of Hor.our, Military, and Civil’, and Enderbie's Cambria Triumpbans, page 195. MABINOGJ. [ *7 1 M A B 1 N O G 1. PART THE FIRST. CONTAINING ‘The Juvenile Adventures^ and Exploits of Pwyll, Prince of the Seven Cantreds of Dyved, (Demetia,) or Pembrokefhire; who was the Jon of Cafnor Wledig, the illuftrious Jon of Lud *, King of Britain^ and flour ifoed about 50 years before Chrift, There are feveral romantic narratives, or ancient hiftories of this kind, preferved in old Welih manufcripts, which are called Mabinogion, or Juvenile Adventures, or Amufements: Hen TJloriau, or Old Stories : and Hen Chwtdlau, Ancient Talcs, or Narrations. Some of the latter are ftill retained in memory, by the common people in the principality of Wales, and are ufually told in winter’s evenings for entertainment; fome of them are of the moral and devout kind, and perhaps intended for youthful inftruftions, and as an incentive to imitate them. The oldeft Weljh Interludes were alfo of this nature, all founded upon real his- tories, (though perhaps fomewhat embellilhed,) defcriptive of the exploits of famous men ; and are very interefting, becaufe they convey to u* the romantic magnificence, cultoms, and incidents of times, which were as remote from the period, as the Hate of modern manners. ON a certain time, when Pwyll was at his royal palace of Arberth and being inclined to take the diverfion of hunting, he feledted lome of his vaffals to go and hunt \nGlyn Cuchz ■, fo leaving Arberth that evening, he came to the top of Llwyn Diarwya*, where he tarried that night. Next morning he rofe early, and proceeded to Glyn Cuch, there blew the horns to call the dogs together to the chace, and let them loofe below the woods. While following the hounds,, he miffed his companions; and whilft he was liftening to their cry, he heard another pack, different from his own, coming a contrary way. Soon he perceived an open valley in the midft of the woods: as his hounds were entering it on one fide, he faw the other pack in purfuit of a (lag, which they killed in the middle of the valley. Pwyll obferved the dogs at a diftance, and was certain he had never feen their equal in the world. Their bodies were of the brigheft white, and their ears were red, which made a beautiful contraft of the colours. With that, he came up to the dogs, drove them off, and fet his own dogs upon the flag. While he was bufy in doing this, he faw a Knight mounted upon a tall, grey fteed, riding after the dogs, with a bugle horn aboutjiis neck, dreffcd in a kind of brown hunting fuit, who immediately came up, and accofted him thus: 1 King Lud had four Tons; that is, Avarivy, or Androgius; Earl of Ferlex, or Hereford, and one of the fifteen Royal Tribes (and called by Caejar. in the ffth bock of his Commentaries, of Wales, who poffefled all the land between the Wy and the Se- ch. 16, &c. Mandubratius,') who was the caufe of the Romans vern ; and Aflech was the fourth fon of Lud. Fifty-third book of conquering Britain : (it is alfo recorded, in the ancient Hif- Dion ; Jeffrey of Monmouth's Briii/h Hiftory, book iii. chap. 20— torical Triads, .that this “ Avarnx'y, Vortigern, and Modred, were iv. 8. and 9 ; and Ponlicus Viruunius. deemed the three plagues of Britain.”)—Tenevan, or Tenantius, Duke of Cornwall, and afterwards King of Britain, was the fe- * Arberth implies, above the wood, or brake ; alfo, the name cond fon of Lud. Cafnar’iuledig was the third fon ; of whom de- of a Cantred in Pembrokefhire. fcended Elyjlan Glodrydd, (the Commendable for Liberality,) 3 i. e. The Valley of Cuch. 4 The Grove of Diarviya. “ But,” 28 mabinogi. “ But,” faid the other, ec what direflions fhall I have to meet with this man ?” “ This night twelve* month there is an agreement between us to meet at a ford; be you fure to be there in my (lead ; for, by one Tingle blow you give him, he fhall die : he will entreat you, however, to give him another: be fure to rcfufe him, let him defire it of you ever fo much ; for, as many as I gave him, he would fight me next day as courageous as ever.” “ What fhall l do as to my own dominions i” faid Pwyll. “ 1 will manage mat- ters,” laid Arawn, “ that neither man nor woman fhall know but that I am yourfelf: I will be in your ftead.” “ With all my heart,” faid Pwyll; “ and [ will go forward.” “ Nothing” faid Arawn} “ will hinder or moleft you on the way ; I will be your guide till you arrive in my dominions.” So he guided him till they came in view of the royal palace and other houfes. “ There is the palace, and my pofTeflions,” faid Arawn“ go in ; no one will difcover you; and by the fervice you will meet with, you will know the rules obferved in it.” When he entered, he law grand halls, elegant bed-chambers, rich furniture, and fuch fuperb buildings, as he had never feen before. Having entered the room to undrefs himfelf, pages, and other young men came to afiifl him ; and each, as he approached, made his obeifance to him. Two knights took off his hunting drefs, and clothed him with a rich fuit of filk, trimmed with gold. The hall being laid out, the family entered with the grandeft and gayeft retinue he ever faw. The queen, who was in the midft, far excelled the reft in beauty, and in the grandeur of her glittering garments of filk and gold. After they had wafhed, they approached the table, and fat in this wife : the queen on his right hand, and an Earl, whom he liked beft, on his left. Difcourfing with the queen, he found her to be the difcrceteft, and gentleft woman he ever converfed with. Thus they fpent the time in eating and drink- ing, in fongs, and feftivity. Of all the royal palaces of the earth that he had feen, this had the greateft plenty of viands and liquors, golden utenfils, and royal ornaments. When it was time to retire, he and the queen went to bed : when he was in bed, he turned his face to the wall, and his back to the queen, and faid not a fyllable to her all night. Whatever fondling and chat paffed between them in the day-time, they paffed the night as at firft. Thus he fpent the year, in banqueting and jollity, in hunting, and in company with jolly companions. Every man in his dominions well remembered that night’s agreement. Pwyll, accompanied by his nobles, arrived at the place of meeting: when he was come to the ford, a knight rofe up and fpoke as follows: “ Friends,” fays he, “ liften attentively to the two kings, between whom this meeting is: each of them claims the other’s lands and poffcffions; wc may fit idle and be fpec- tators, and leave it to be decided between them perfonally.” With that, the two kings approached each other in the middle of the ford, to engage: and the man who was inftead of Arawn, with the firft blow, fmote the other’s fhield, cut it in twain, penetrated through his armour, and threw him the length of his arm and lance over his horfe’s crupper, with a mortal wound. “ Ah ! Prince,” faid Hafgan, “ what right had you to my death ? I demanded nothing of you ; and I know no reafon you had to kill me ; and for God’s fake, fince you have begun, finifh me.” “ Prince,” faid the other, “ perhaps I may be forry for what I have done to you; you muft procure another to kill you, for I will not.” “ My faithful nobles,” faid Hafgan, (c bear me hence, for death hath laid hold upon me j lam not in a condition to uphold you any longer.” “ And my faithful nobles,” faid he that perfonated Arawn, »\ An Epigram, ajeribed to Julius Caesar *: or to EngHJhed by the late George Colman, E/q. i cjth of Caius Germanicus C/esar. July, 1785. Thrax puer adri&o glacie dum ludit in Hebro, On Hebrus froze, a Thracian boy at play Frigore concretas pondere rupit aquas j Felt, from his weight, the treacherous ice give way $ Dumque imte partes rapido traherentur ab amne His limbs beneath the glafiy furface dropp’d. Abfcidit Heu ! tenerum lubrica teda caput, His little head was from his body lopp’d: Orba quod inventum mater dum conderet urna. That found ; when in the fun’ral urn Hoc peperi dammis, castera dixit, aquis. The childlefs mother laid, to burn; She figh’d, and thus fhe faid: “To thy dear limbs a briny grave " The waters gave ; “To dames I give thy head!” The following is faid to be the firjl Englifh Epigram; and attributed to * The above narrative is a faithful tranflation from a Welfh manufeript in the Author’s colleflion ; and a great part of the Britifti original may likewife be found in the Red Book, in the archives of Jefus College Library, Oxford. » I had the above epigrammatic relique from the portfolio of a gentleman, who was an intimate friend of the late Mr. Colman. See alfo Ovid’t Fafi; and PbilUts'f Tbmrm Pm;arm-. r DEHUDD- [ 31 3 \ DYHUDDIANT ELPHIN. The Confolation of Prince Elphin, by Taliesin : Literally tranflated from the Welfh; which ought to have been previoufly inferted in page 19. This poem is fuppofed to have heenontof Taliefns firft Eflays when a boy. See, alfo, the JirJl Volume, page 18. and 21. Fair Elphin^ ceafe thy weeping; let no man be difcontented with his fortune : defpondency will not avail thee ; man fees not his fupporter. Kynllo'%k prayer will not be fruitlefs; God will never break his promife* There never was found in Gwyddno's wear fo goodly a prize as at prefent. Fair Etyhin, wipe off thy tears ! over much forrow brings no relief: though you think you had no profit j certainly too much afflitflion avails nothing. Miftrufl not Gc^’s providence ; though I am little, I am endowed with genius. . From feas, and from rivers, God fends wealth to the good and happy. Good-natured Elphin, thy difpofition is not cruel; although I am feeble and tender, on the brink of the foaming fea ; I fhall be a more valuable acquifition in time of need than three hundred falmon*. T ou need not complain fo bitterly ; God’s providence is better than bad prognoftications. Elphin, poflrfled of rare qualities, be not difpleafed with your fortune : although I am weak and proftrate, my.tongue is inlpired. While I am in your cuftody, you deed not be in any fear ; if thou craveft the affift- ance of the Erinity, nothing can overcome thee. 6 Cynllo was one of the primitive Wellh Saints: whence is derived Llangynllo, a village in Cardiganlhire. 7 When the prodigal Elphin was bewailing his misfortune, the fifhermen efpied a coracle in the wear, with a child in it, enwraped in a leathern bag, whem they took up, and brought to the young prince, who ordered it to be taken care of, and had him liberally educated ; which proved afterwards to be the treafure of knowledge, Ealiefin, who lived to recompence his benefaftor, by the magte of his long. Site more in the JirJl Volume of the Ih'eljh Bards, page 18, & c : and in page 19 of this Volume. Awdl Fraith Ealiefin. Ehe Hifloric and Predidial Ode, by Taliesin*. ‘‘This Poem was tranllated into Latin Sapphic, from theWellh, The following literal Profe Tranflations of four of the Poems by the Reverend Dd. Jones, Minilfer ol LLnvair Dyffryn Clwyd, by Taliefin are extremely curious ; becaufe they convey to us fome in Denbighlhire, about A. D. 1580. of the Primitive Hiftory, as well as the Myftical Notions of the Druids, and of the Tranfmigration of the Soul; of Taliefin’s Be- lief of the Deity, and Religion ; of his Comminations; and Pre- di&ions. (Taliefin wrote from the latter end of the fifth, till about the middle of the fixth century.) “ Bapt into future times the Bard begun” Cundla cum rerum fapiens Creator; Panton formed the human body in the Tandy vale Vi fui verbi, ex nihilo creafiet; of Hebron) Ex luto format Adami caducum Corpus in Ha:bron. Quinque centennos ibi manfit annos, With his own fair hand, where it lay five hundred Valle defpedfum fine cuku et arte, years before it was endued with a living foul. Antequam vitalem animam perennem Traxerit ore. Ne foret folus, fociam juvantem And, that Man might not be alone in Paradife> Elohim fecit, fpeciofa Virgo, God, of the left rib of the body, made a beautiful Prodit e cofta Paradifo in alma, Female. Quam fibi duxit. Quern locum feptem tenuere last!, They occupied the garden but feven hours before Ambo vix horas* fceleratus hoftis they were accofted by Satan, the agent of hell* Donee opprefiit Satanas, qui ad ima Tartara ducit. * I have orMtted the original Welfh of thefe poems, as they are to be found among feveral colleflions of ancient TVelJh Manuferiptt i 'viz. at Griffith Vaughan's, Efq. of Hengwrt, in Merionethfhire ; at Paul Panton's, Efq„ in Anglefey; at Thom* J ohms's, Efq. of Havod, in Cardiganfhire ; at the Wdjh Sthwl, in London; and among roy own colleSUou?, fit?, Poftca 32 HE HISTORIC AND PREDICTAL ODE, BY TALIESIN. PolLa fjcidi Paradifo ab alto From ILradife they were driven to get their living Sunr, et in terram (Icrilem rctrufi, in cold and anxiety : Frigus hie nudi mireie tt labores Corporc paffi. Procreat feetus, robolel'que ludln, And to procreate Tons, and daughters, in pain and Eva, ncc partu vacua eft dolore, fatigue i to be fupported by the produce of Afia. Mas he auc lexu mulicr propago, Afiee in oris. Quando grandcEva et fragilis, triginta Nine hundred and eight years they laboured to A'que nongentos rupereflet annos, propagate a commixion of males and females. Vincitur fatis, moriturque, pulchra Prole bcata. Nam pater juftum genuiflet Abel, In the firft place, sfM was brought forth j and Virgines pulchras, generatque natas, after him, Cain, the man-flayer. Et gravem iu&um peperat parentum, C. in homicidam. Mox Adae font! rigidae ligonis To Adam and his partner a fpade was given, to Notus eft ulus, fociaeque charae, till the earth, in order to get bread j Frangit eftbftas, tenuerque glebas, Dente ligonis. Triticum mandat Ccreale fulcis. And clear wheat to fow, and to be food for man- Quo fanaem meftb rabidarn repellat j kind, until the laft day. Et fuim extinguat rutilante fruiftu, Vitis amoenje. Angelos rniftiis volucris fuperno An angelical meflenger from the heavenly Father Patre, portavit genitale fernen, brought vegetative feeds to Eve. Ponit, ut juffus, gretnio nocentis Nuncios Evte. Muneris partem cecimam fed inde But fhe fecreted the tenth part of the prelent, fo Abftulit Tecum pofui que in area, that all tire tillage was not Town: Clam viro, et femen opera polito, Defuit agro. Cumque fenfiflet fcelus hoc vir, ilia And where the hidden feed was afterwards fown, Protinus femen retulit, quod agro as witnefleth Daniel the prophet; Seminat, fed fit malus hinc filigo, Ttfle propheta. Priftinam perdit fpeciem atque formam Blackifli rye was reap’d, inftead of wheat, to ma- Triticum, pro quo fterilis filigo nifeft the atrocioufnefs of fraud and theft. Nafcitur, fraus ut pateat nefanda, Turpeque furtum. Unde perfolvi ftatuit per omne For this heavy offence, a tenth muft be paid to Seculum, partem decimam bonorum God, till Doom’s-day. Omnium, quse tu renovas quotannis, Summe Creator. Tritico ex puro, rutiloque vino, From the pure wheat, and rubicund wine, is made Fit facerdotis prece, corpus illud the body of Chrijl, the fon of Alpha. Myfticum Chrifti racrofanfftumJefu, Filii et Alpha. Panis aharis caro confecrata eft, The wafer is the flefh, and the wine is the blood, Et merus fanguis pretiofus, atque confecrated by the words of the Trinity, Trinitatis fanefto operante verbo Sunt benedida. Angelus HISTORIC AND PREDICTAL ODE, BY TALIESIN. Angelas libros Raphael difertos, Books of all myfteries, from Immanuel were Artium, plenofque fcientiarum, brought to Adam} by the angel Raphael ■, Detulit, dextra bonitate larga Emanuelis; Quos Adse mifit veteri, precati When he was up to his chin in the water of Jor- Sortein et humanam mifere dolenti, dan at his devotion. Morbidus cum fe falubri lavaret Jordanis unda. Quatuor primes gradibufque fummis Four Angels, and twelve Saints, were fent by Angelos mifit Dens, ut bis fex Eleefon to Adam's habitation. Akeros puros, et honore claros, iEdibus Evse; Utviam ignaros doceant falubrem, To demonftrate his power to fuccour the progeny Atque virtutem fuperare donent. of Eve, in all tribulations and imbecilities. Si quid adverfum veniat quod acre Anxiat ullos. Trike erat cundlis, animoque inanes, Great were the care and fear of all mankind, before Prre metu flabant homines in orbe, they received figns, and promifes of falvation. Antequam Chrifti miferantis eflent Signa favoris. Quindecim triftium decies dierum, An hundred and fifty days did the ruinous flood Affluit magnos fuper unda colies, bear up the ark, above the tops of all the hi^heft Qum Noe daram fapientis olim, hills. D Suftulit arcam. Per Noam vires virides, colorum The cinnabar-coloured vine, and the white, were Omnium vinum venit uva prefium, fuccefsfully planted and cultivated by Noah. Sunt humo pingui pofum, et vigebant Candida vina. Tres Deus virgas redimens periclis, Mofes had three rods on the Lord’s day, againfi a Tradidit Mofi, quibus ille plebem time of great necefllty. Liberam fecit tumido tyfanno, ut Sabbatha fervet. Rex pius claro genitore natus, Solomon had all the arts, and mykeries of the ark of Arce difeebat Babylonis omnes the covenant, from the Tower of Babel. Myfticas artes, Salomon difertus, Foedera et arcae. Sic libris artes ego Jiberales I likewife had in my Bardic books, all the myfteries, Bardulis cunftas didici per orbem. and knowledge of the countries of Europe. Preterit quicquid fcio, et omne libris Nofco futurum. Hei mihi! fufis lachrimis ocellis. O Lord God ! how grievous and miferable will be Trike quam fatum fcio luduofum, the fate of the Trojan race. Faetui Trojre properat venire, Omine certo. Tigris immanis fera (torquefrada, A wily, proud, and cruel German ferpent with her Sasva, trux, frendens, animofaque ales armed train. Pander armatas) foboles ferox, Germaniae agrekis, 111a vi, et dira fuperabitaftu, Will over-run all South Britain, and the Lowlands Lloegriam terram Britonum vetukam of Scotland, from the German Ocean to the Severn. A freto Llychlyn populabit agros, Ufque Sabrinam. L Tunc 34 TALIESIN’S RHAPSODY, ON TRANSMIGRATION. Tunc erunt vindi celebres Britanni, Then will Britons be held, like captives, in the Saxonum faftu, quafi carcerati power of aliens from Saxony. Inter umbrofos habitando colles, Et mare vaftum. Attamen regem proprium colentes. Their God will they worfhip, their language will Rite fervabunc idioms linguae; they retain, and their land will they lofe, except the Walliam prster gelidam, relinquent wildernefs of Wales: Hoftibus arva: Donee oblongum veniat fuba6tis Until fuch time, after long fuffering, that the fins Tempus, atras poft miferafque clades, of both be had in equal balance. Quando libratus trutina utriufque eft Faftus iniquus. Tunc fuam tandem in ditionem atroces Then ftiall Britons recover their territories and Hoftibus, regnum redigent Britanni, Crown, and the ftrangers fhall dwindle away. Exterus marcet populus, corona Denuo parta. Horum ego multos didici labores, I know their ways, and manner of living; their Atque fortunam variantem, et a TALIESIN'S RHAPSODY, ON TRANSMIGRATION. I am Elphin's chief Bard ; I was in the Ark with Noah, and Alpha : My primitive refidence was in the land of Cherubim: I faw the deftruftion of Sodom and Gomorrhat John the loothfayer called me Merddin: I was in Africa before Rome was built: Henceforth all kings ftiall name me Taliejin. I came here to the remnant of the Trojans. I was with my Lord, in the heavenly regions* I was in the White Tower, the court of CyNYELyN": When Lucifer fell into ihe depth of hell: I was chief Bard of the Harp, toLeon the Norwegian: I bore the banner before Alexander: I fuffered hunger for the Ion of a virgin’s fake ; I know the number of the ftars, from North to South. And was chained to a block a year and a day. I have been in the milky way with Tetragrammaton * : I was with my Lord in the afs’s manger: I conduced the rulers into the vale of Hebron: I fupported Mofes through the waters of Jordan: 1 was in the land of Canaan when Abjalom was flain : I was above the ikies with Mary Magdalen : ,z I was in the palace otDon before Gwydion9 was born. I had a vein of poetry from Gridwen the aged. I was a meflenger to Elias, and Enoch : I was confpicuous in the region of the Trinity : I have been in the place where the fon of God fuffered : I know the learning and poetry of all the world : I was a Captain at the building of Nimrod's tower: I fhall be on the face of the earth till doom’s clay ; I was three feafons in the city oi Arianrhod™. And it is unknown whether my body is fieih, or fifii. * A term to exprefs the Lord, ©so;, or Dens. 9 Gwydion, the fon of Don, was a prince of Ar-Gonwy, in Caernarvonfitire, and famous Magician of the fifth century. 10 Taliejin feems to retain the idea of tranfmigration of the foul, as the Druids did. So Pythagoras remembered to have been JEthalides, the fon of Mercury ; to have been affifting the Greeks during the Trojan war, in the character of Eitpborbus; and that his foul recollefted many exploits which had been done while it animated that Trojan’s body : he remembered to have been Hermotimus ; afterwards a fiiherman ; and lait of all, Pythagoras.^——Life of Pythagoras \ and Ovid's Metamorphofes, lib, xv. v. t6o. 11 The Tower of London; the ancient part of it, called The White Totver, is a fquare irregular building, fituated in the center, on which are the watch towers, and obfervatory ; faid to have been originally built by Ccnfiantine the Great. i1 “ Meirion, the fon of Gridion, after the deceafe of his father, had all his inheritance in Cambria, and ruled the fame many years.” G. Qvoen Harry's Genealogy. Gwridwen Uaiver a gredynt, Gwraig Tegid foel ar gcelgynt; A •venaeth ga vjl unwaiih Gwen, 0 goel wiw i gad Awen, William Cymval. TALIESIN'S * "V E 1 rjUESWS CREED. A LITERAL TRANSLATION. ChriJ? Je/us of heaven, in thee I believe, that thou art Three in One; and am certainly in the right* Worthily art thou called a moft gracious and bountiful FatherTruly art thou called a Son; the chief Bilhop of Adam's pofterity;—Really art thou called a Spirit, and my righteous Lord:—Juftly art thou denominated a Creator, and higheft Emperor Defervedly art thou called a Judge, and a moft liberal Benefadlor And verily a true Man, and true God Supreme. Thou didft arife to life, from the earthy graveThou haft delivered mankind from the bondage of Satan. When thou doft attain to the full age of three tens over and above fifteen hundred, moft virtuous Holy of Elolies, thou wilt deliver the Britons from their opprefled fituation; and wilt replant the Trojan roots in their own gardens. Happy times will come in confequence of this revolution* Then (hall the lands in the kingdom of Britain be allotted ;—then let my moft kind Lord be heard:—then Ihall Britons become wife, and politic. TL he ftocks of the Germans fhall be eradicated and forgotten ;—the country will be diftrefied by treachery and violence. Then fhall that bright gem, Owain1*, come forth to avenge on the Saxons their long-continued rapine and infolence : then fhall the country of Cambria fing Haklujah, 13 Probably Qzvain ab Urien, a prince of Reject, in the North. TALIESIN'S CO MMIN AT10 NS. Woe be unto him that is converted and baptized, and leads not a Chriftian life. W oe be untothofe rulers whofe tyrannical inftitutions are full of arrogance. W oc be unto the dumb prieft that does not correct errors, and will not preach. Woe be unto the fhepherd that does not guard his fold, and tends not his flock. Woe be unto him that defends not his fheep againft Romilh wolves, with a clubbed ftaff. Woe be unto him that fpends his life here in tyranny and oppreftion. W oe be unto the odious diflembler, that does not fincerely pray and worfhip God. Woe be unto that mortal who commits fins, and will not confefs and repent. Woe be unto him that eats his bread in idlenefs, and will not work. Woe be unto him that fpends his life in heaping up riches through oppreftion and injuftice. W^oe be unto him at the Day of Judgment that does not reprefs the lufts of the flefh, and pray. W oe be unto him that believes not in the Trinity, and is void of charity, and without compaftion* W oe be unto him that bereaves the widow, and fatherlefs of their patrimony, without reftitution. Woe be unto him, that fhall opprefs and rob the helplefs, unlefs he makes fatisfaftion. Woe be unto him that bears malice in his bofom to his friend, and hates him. W°e be unto the wealthy mifer, that will not pity and clothe the poor, and naked. W oe be unto the ill-natured man that will not lympathize with the thirfty, and relieve him. Yv oe be unto him that will not vifit and relieve the fick, and prifoners. W oe be unto him that will not fupply pilgrims with lodging and vidluals. Woe be to him, that is born, whofe ill deeds fhall bring him to hell. W oe be to thofe furies who fhall be hereafter confined in eternal torments j A place, where there are bowlings, cries, and multitudes of plagues; A place where are burnings and groanings, without hopes of any deliverance : Where there is no expiation by repentance, to all eternity: Where there is fhivering and quaking, for the coldnefs of froft and fnow : A place where there are cries and bowlings, world without end. [ ^ 3 The EULOGY c/Owaim Gwynedd, Prince of North Wales; who fucceeded his Father, Griffith ab Cynan, about A. D. 1137. This battle was fought in the year 1157. OWEN’s praife demands my fong, In glitt’ring arms and glory drefl, Owen fwift, and Owen ftrong; High he rears his ruby creft: Faireft flow’r of R.odric'% ftem, There the thund’ring ftrokes begin. Gwynedd's 14 (hield, and Britain’s gem. There the prefs, and there the din; Fie nor heaps his brooded (lores. Tal Moehre's rocky (hore Nor on all profufcly pours Echoing to the battle’s roar. Lord of ev’ry regal art, Check’d by the torrent-tide of blood. Lib’ral hand, and open heart. Backward Menai rolls his flood; While, heap’d his mailer’s feet around, Big with hods of mighty name, Proftrate warriors gnaw the ground. Squadrons three againft him came j Where his glowing eye-balls turn, This the force of Erinli hiding; Thoufand banners round him burn; Side by fide as proudly riding, Where he points his purple fpear, On her fhadow, long and gay, Hally, hafty rout is there ; Lochlin 16 plows the wat’ry way j Marking with indignant eye. There the Norman fails afar. Fear to Hop, and Shame to fly : Catch the winds, and join the war: There Confufion, Terror’s child. Black and huge along they fweep. Conflict fierce, and Ruin wild; Burthens of the angry deep. Agony, that pants for breath ; Dauntlefs on his native fands Dcfp ir, and honourable Death. The Dragon-fon 11 of Mona (lands; The original Welfh of the above poem was the compofition of Gwalchmai, the fon of Met Hr, immedi- ately after Prince Owen Gwynedd had defeated the combined fleets of Ireland, Denmark, and Norway, which had invaded his territory upon the coalt of Anglefey. This fpirited verfification is from the pen of the late Mr. Gray. There is likewife another poem, which defcribes this famous battle, written by Prince Bowel, the fon of Owen Gwynedd-, who was a celebrated warrior, as w as a Bard, and who feems to have been in the adlion. I (hall give it here with a literal tranflation : Hywel ab Owain a’i cant. A Song, compofed by Bowel, the Son of Owen. Pan fai lawen frain-, -pan fryfiai waed-, The ravens rejoice, when blood is haftening; Pan wyar wariai; when the gore runs bubbling; when the war doth Pan ryfel; pan ruddid ei thai rage ; when the houfes redden in Ruddlan -, when the Pan Ruddlan, pan rudd lys lofgai red hall is burning; when we glow with wrath : the Pan ruddam, rhudd-flam flemychai hyd nef, ruddy flame blazes up to heaven ; our abode affords Ein addef ni noddai; no Ihelter; and plainly is the bright conflagration Hawdd gweled goleu-lojg arnai, fcen from the white walls upon the fhore of Menai.— O gaer wen geir ymyl Menai.-— There perifhed, on the third day of May, three Trengyfant trydydydd, 0 fai, trichan-Hong hundred fhips of a fleet roving the ocean: and ten Yn llynges fcrdai: hundred times the number the oppofing weapon A degcant cyman a'u ciliai would put to flight, leaving not a Angle beard on Cyfarf heb un farf ar Fenai. Menai *8. *4 North Wales. ‘S Ireland. 16 Denmark. *7 The red Dragon was the device of Cadvvalader, which all his defendants bore on their banners. *s Menai is the name of an arm of the fea, which divides Anglefey from Caernarvonftiue.——It appears thatthefe invaders (hared a fimilar fate with that of the French fleet at Aboukirfew returned to tell the tale. Gorhojfed C 37 ] Gorboffedd Hywel, fab Owain Gwynedd; e bun at Cant: or, The Boaft of Howel, the fon of Owen, Prince of North Wales j compofed by himfelf. This princely Bard, Howel, the fon of Owen Gwynedd, who flourifhed about A. D. 1150, wrote eight pieces of poetry, which are ftill preferved in old VVelfh manufcripts, &c. ; and as they are ftiort, and elegantly defcriptive, I Hull beg leave to infert here, a literal tranflation by Meirion of four or five of them, as a fpecimen of that Chieftain’s mufe; who feems to have been particularly devoted to Love, and War; they convey to us, likewife, fome idea of the cuftoms of thofe times; therefore I efteetn them curious. In this firft poem the Bard defcribes Wales, and enumerates his favourite lovers, who were then the moft cele- brated beauties of that country. Fair foam-crowned wave, fpraying over the facred tomb of Rhuvon the Brave, the chief of princes, behold this day. I hate England, a flat and unenergetic land, with a race involved in every wile. I love the fpot that gave me the much defired gift of mead, where the feas extend in tedious conflidt; I love the fociety, and numerous inhabitants therein, who, obedient to their Lord, diredt their views to peace; I love its fea-coafb, and its mountains, its city bordering on its foreft, its fair landfcape, its dales, its waters, and its vales; its white fea-mews, and its beauteous women. I love its warriors, and its well-trained fteeds; its woods, its ftrong holds, and its focial domicil. I love its fields, clothed with tender trefoils, where 1 had the glory of a mighty triumph. I love its cultivated regions, the prerogative of heroifm ; and its far- extended wild; and its fports of the chafe, which. Son of God ! have been great and wonderful. How fleck the melodious deer, and in what plenty found ! I atchieved, by the pulh of a fpear, an exalted deed, between the chief of Powys and happy Gwynedd•, and, upon the pale-hued element of ever-ftruggling motion, may I accomplilh a liberation from exile ! I will not take breath until my party comes: a dream declares it, and God wills it fo to be, fair foam- crowned wave fpraying over the grave. Fair foam-crowned wave, impetuous in thy courfe, like in colour to the hoar when it accumulates, 1 love the fea-coafl: in Meirionydd, where I have had a white arm for a pillow; J love the nightingale upon the privet-brake in Cymmer Deuddwr, a celebrated vale. Lord of heaven and earth, the glory of the bleft, though fo far it is from Cert to Caerlliwelydd, I mounted the yellow fteed, and from Maelienydd reached the land of Reged between the night and day ! Before I am in the grave, may I enjoy a new blefling from the land of Eegyngyl of faireft afpeft. Since I am a love-wight, one inured to wander, may God diredt my fate ! fair foam-crowned wave of impetuous courfe ,9. I will implore the divine Supreme, the Wonderful in fubjugating to his will, as king, to create an ex- celling mufe, for a fong of praife to the women, fuch as Merddin fung, who have claimed my bardic lore fo long, who are fo tardy in difpenfing grace. The moll eminent of all in the weft I name, from the gates of Chejler to the port of YJgewin *: the firft is the nymph, who will be the fubjedt of univerfal praife, Gwenllianty whofe complexion is like the fummer’s day. The fecond is another of high ftate, far from my embrace, adorned with golden necklace, fair Gweirvyl, from whom nor token nor confidence have 1 obtained, nor has any of my race; though I might be flain by two-edged blades, flic, whofe fofter-brother was a king, Ihould be my theme. And next for the handfome Gwladus, the young and modeft virgin, the idol of the multitude—I utter the fccret figh ; I will worlhip her with the yellow blofibms of the furze. Soon may I fee my vigour roufed to combat, and in my hand my blade, bright Leucu, my companion, laughing, and whole hufband laughs not, from anxiety. Great anxiety opprefles me, makes me fad; and longing, alas! is habitual for fair Neft, for her who is like the apple-tree bloflbm; and for Perwevr, the centre of my defire; for Generys, the chafte, who grants net a fmile for me—may continence not overcome her! For llunydd, whofe fame will laft till the day of doom ; for Hawis, who claims my choiceft eulogy. On a me- morable day I had a nymph; 1 had a fecond—more be their praife ! I had a third, and a fourth, with prof- perity ; I had a fifth, of thofe with a fkin white and delicate; I had a fixth, bright and fair, avoiding not the temptation, above the white walls did fhe arreft me; I had a feventh, and this was fatiety of love; I had eight, in recompence for a little of the praife which I fung:—-but the teeth muft opportunely bar the tongue. 15 This paffage cannot be well underftood, but by fuppofing it to allude to the departure of his brother, Madog, out of Wales, at the time when he is faid to have difeovered land far in the great fea of the weft, which lublequent fads point out to have been America. See more on this jubjtcl in page 37 of the 'firjl Volume. * According to the anzwnl Britijbdriads, the following were the three principal harbours of the Ifland of Britain: viz. “ the port ofl/gewyn, in Monmouthlhire ; the ponof Gwygyr, in Anglefey ; and the port of G'wyaVw, in North Wales.” M The' [ 38 ] 'The CHOICE; Jung by Prince Howel, a Son of Owen Gwynedd. My choice is a lady, elegant, flender, and fair, whofe lengthened white form is feen through the blue thin veil; and my choiceft faculty is to mufe on fuperior female excellence, when fhe with diffidence utters the becoming fentimentj and my choiceft participation is to become united with the maid, and to ffiare mutual confidence, in thoughts, and fortune.—1 choofe the bright hue of the fpreading wave, thou who art the moft difcreet in thy country, with thy pure Welffi fpetch.—Chofen by me art thou : what am I without thee ? How! doft thou refrain from fpeaking, whofe filence even is fair!—I have chofen a maid, fo that with me there fliould be no fufpence :—it is right to choofe :—choofe, fair maid ! Hn ODE; Jung by Howel, the Son of Owen Gwynedd. Tranjlated. I love the white glittering walls, on the fide of the bank, clothed in freffi verdancy, where balhfulnefs loves to obferve the modeft fea-mew’s courfe. It would be my delight, though I have met with no great return of love, in my much defired vifit, on the fieek white fteed, to behold my fifter, of flippant fmile; to talk of love, fince it is come to my lot; to reftore my eafe of mind ■, and to renew her flighted troth with the nymph as fair as the hue of the fliore-beating wave. From her country, who is bright as the coldly-drifted fnow upon the lofty hill, a cenfure has come to us, that I ffiould be fo treated with difdain in the Hall of Ogyrvan. Playful, from her promife, was newborn expe&ation ■,—fhe is gone with my foul away: I am made wretched! Am I not become, for love, like Garwy Hir\, to the fair one, of whom I am debarred in the Hall of Ogyrvan ? f Garivj Hir wa« a warrior, who ferved under Arthur, and is often celebrated by the Bards for the conflancy of his love for Creirwy. A SONG; by Howel, ab Owen Gwynedd, A TRANSLATION. I have harnefied thee to-day, my fteed of fhining grey ; I will traverfe on thee the fair region of Cynlas1®; and I will hold a hard difpute before death ftiall cut me off, in obftrudting deep, and thus obftru&ing health ; and on me it has been a fign, no longer being the honoured youth, the complexion is like the pale blue waves. Opprefled with longing is my memory in fociety ; regret for her by whom I am hated ! Whilft I confer on the maid the honoured eulogy, ffie, to profper pain, deigns not to return the confolation of the flighteft grace 1 Broken is my heart! My portion is regret, caufed by the form of a flender lady, with a girdle of ruddy gold. My treatment is not deferved : (he is not this day where my appointed place was fixed.—Son of the God of heaven ! if, before a promife of forbearance ffie goes away, woe to me that I am not flain ! *° Cynlas, is in the parilh of Llanddervel, in Merionethfture. VERSES comfojed by Howel, the Son of Owen Gwynedd. I A TRANSLATION. I love the time of the fummer ; then the gladly-exulting fteed of the warrior prances before a gallant chief; the wave is crowned with foam ; the limb of the a&ive more quickly moves; the apple-tree has arrayed itfelf in another livery; bordered with white is my ffiield on my ffioulder, prepared for violence, I have loved, with ardency of defire, the objeft whom I have not obtained I—* --Ceridwen, VERSES BY PRINCE OWEN CYVEILIOG. 39 -Ceridwen, fair and tall, of flowly-languid gait, her complexion vies with the warm dawn in the evening hour; of a fplendid, delicate form, beautifully mild, and white-hued prefence; in ftepping over a rufh, nearly falling fcems the little tiny fair one, gentle in her air; flae appears but fcarcely older than a tenth year infant. Young, fhapely, and full of gracefulnefs, it were a congenial virtue that fhe fhould freely give j but the youthful female does more embarrafs good fortune by a fmile, than an exprefilon from her lip checks impertinence. A worlhipping pilgrim, (he will fend me to the celeftial prefence ! How long fhall I worfhip thee ?— Stop, and think of thine office !—If I am unfkilful, through the dotage of love, JeJus ! the well-informed will not rebuke me ! Englynion a gant teulu Owain Cyveiliog, i Gylchau Cymru : or, Verfes, fung by the Family of Prince Owen Cyveiliog to the Circuits of Wales. Owen Cyveiiiog was a Prince of Powys, from about the year 1171, to 1x97: he was like the laft-mentioned Chieftain of Wales, diltinguifhed for his warlike exploits, for being a Poet, and a great patron of the Bards. But 1 believe there are only two of this princely Bard’s compofitions preferved : his animated poem called the Hirlas Owen, has already been given, in the firft Volume of this work, page 118, &c. ; and the other is given here, which is on the cuftom of the WeKh princes making their periodical circuits at the three great feftivals of Cbrijimas, Eajler, and Wbitfuntide. Thefe circuits conftituted one confiderabls means of fupport to them, as the different officers of their eftablifhments were alfo entitled to be received, according to their ranks arnongft the vaflals, as may be feen by the various regulations in Leges JVaUica: and refpedting the Bards, Jee the firji Volume of this work, page 27. 53. and 86. A TRANSLATION. Family of Owen the mild, whom the reftlefs hofls of violence frowardly threaten on the paths of fongs and focial feafts, which way fhall we repair to Mortun ? Go, youth, quickly, without greeting the good man there, take thy courfe, penetrate through it; fay that we fhall come to Ceri. Go, youth, from Ceri, we requefl of thee, for fear of our wrath, and the end we have in ftore to bring upon thee ; fay that we come to Arwyftlu MefTenger, be fetting off, before an illuftrious band, to the confines of Ceredic take thy courfe wildly on an arrow’s wing; fay that we fhall vifit Penwedic. Go from Penwedic, meflenger of honourable toil, fince no difgrace belongs to thee -, range, and, with encreafed eloquence, fay that we Hull vific Meirion. MefTcnger, be fetting off, approaching the green ocean dream, bordered with loud tumult j take a courfe, the third of the journey is done, fay that we fhall vifit Ardudwy. Mefienger, be fetting off along the fair borders of the country, which Mervyn fwayed; go and be a gutft with Nefs of Nevyn ; fpeak of our coming to Lleyn. Meffenger, be fetting off, drawing near a mild leader of magnanimous heart] go, armed knight, and traverfe Arutw ; fay that we vific Mon. Family of Owen the bounteous, to whom belongs the ravage of England, abundant in fpoils, will meet with a welcome after a tedious journey : fhall we abide one night at Rbos ? Young man, go from me, and no one greet, unlefs it be my miftrefs j fweep along on the fleet bay deed ; fay that we vifit Llannerch. Meffenger, be fetting off, over the drong region of a tribe deferving mead out of the horn, and traverfe 'Tyno Bydwal-, and fay that we vifit Idl. Pafs onward to its extremity, heeding not the gallantry of its men with the long yellow fpears ; take thy courfe, on the firfi day of January, fay we vifit Maelor. Go, youth, and linger not, let not thy progrefs be half complete ; to dop thee is no eafy tafk j from tedious Maelor take thy way ; make known we vifit Cynllaith. Young man, go with diferetion, announce not our troop as of forry tribes j take thy courfe, with the fleetnefs of a dag thy tidings bear j fay we vifit Mechain. The family of Owen, the chief, withdood kingdoms, may the regions of Heaven be our retreat! A range altogether pleafant, altogether profperous, with united pace, the circuit of Wales we have taken. The places mentioned in the foregoing verfes are all well known at the prefent time ; they are points which nearly deferibe a circle round North Wales. jirwyjlli, and Ardudwy, are diftridls in Meirion, or Merionethftiire : Caredic is in Cardigan- Ihire : Nevyn, and Lleyn, are diftrids of Arvon, or Caernarvonffiire : Mon is Anglefey ; Rbos, and Idl, are diftrids of Denbigh- Bare : Maelor, a diltnd in Flintfhire : and Cyntlaitb, Ceri, and Mecbain, are in Montgomerylhire. Dau 40 TWO VERSES, &c. Dau Englyn, a gant Cynddelw, i Gynyddion Lwo Verjes, Jung by Cynddelw", the Bard, to the Llywelyn ab Madawc ab Meredydd, ac i’w Cyrn j Huntjmen of Llywelyn, the Jon of Madog ab Mare- o achaws rhoddi iddaw y Carw a laddaflcnt yn ymyl dydd, Prince of Powys, and to their horns; on the ci Dy ef. occafion of their prefen ting him the flag, which they > I had chaced, and killed near his houfe. Batch ei fitgunawr ban nefawr ei lef Grand are the echoing peals, uplifting to Heaven! Pan ganer Cyrn cydawr; When the refounding horns of acclamation join! Corn Llywelyny Llyw lluyddfawrt The horn of Llywelyn, the leader of mighty hofts: Bon ehangy blaen hang, bloedd fawr ! Wide is the circle of its bafe, and flender the iflue of its awful blaft ! Corn wedi lladd, Corn llawen; , The horn after the death, a joyous horn ! Corn llugynor Llywelyn; The war-affembling horn ot Llywelyn ! Corn gwyd gwydr a'i can. The horn that calls through the dale, and woodlands! Corn rhueinell yn 61 Gellgwn, The ihrill-founding horn of the flag.-hounds! O Lyfr C6ch o Hergeft. Taken from the Red Book of Hergcfl ai Cynddelw had an epithet to his name. The Great Bard; he flouriftied about the year 1150. The SONG of EVA, Daughter of Madawc, the Son of Maredydd, the laft Prince of Powys by Cyn- ddelw : written about A. D. 1160. (Tranflation from the Wclfh, A Fragment.) I bear a ftrong refentment againft her whom now I am going to celebrate, and whom I have formerly celebrated. She now equals in whiteneis the foam of water when ruffled by the ftormy wind She who fpeaks with a gentle accent, who dwells in the palace of the vale j She who is bright as the dawning of the early-rifing morn ; Who is in colour equal to the whiteft fnow that falls on the lofty Eppynt: The maiden of fofr, and gentle manners, of a bright afpeft: This is the cruel Fair who makes no account of me; although noble maids refpe&cd, and Told her that they admired the fong in praife of Eva. They palled along the plains of Powys in due order, with downcaft look. When I got there, they faw me in the day through glafs windows ******* An ODE to Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, for Llywelyn the Great;) written by the Bard, David Benvras, about A. D. 1240.—Verfified from Mr. Evans's Specimens of Welfls Poetry, by the Reverend Rd. Williams, of Vron. Creator of yon glorious fun, Teach me, fweeted Bard, to ling Grant that my gemrous verfe may run Venedotia'% warlike King. As bright, as llrong as his meridian fire i Great Aneurin, lend thine aid ; Yet chafte as Dian's filver beams. Hear, oh hear me, awful fflade ; That dance on Alyn's curling dreams. Who whilom dull'd in Celtic lays, Merddin my mufe infpire ! Didd fire the foul with martial praife. Oh touch thy magic lyre, Well did thy majedic verfe, That I may catch th’ indruftive fong, Cattraeth's dubborn fight rehearfe. Whild I Llywelyn's praife prolong : To ODE TO LLYWELYN THE GREAT. To Gwynedd's Prince my lays belong; Had I the gift of Prophecy, Cambrian-Mufe inipire my fong. Or charm of ancient Poefy, How happy liv’d the Cambrian Twain My verfe unequal to the talk would prove. Under his aufpicious reign ! To paint thy virtues, and thy country’s love. Noble, gen’rous, great and good, Rife, old Taliefin, from the dead, Sprung from lorwerth's royal blood ; With oaken wreath, and hoary head; King of Battles! his bright fpear Chief of Bards! arife, and fins: Flam’d like a meteor to the air: Venedotia's warlike King. Z/o^r’s-King before him fled ; None, but thy foul-commanding lyre. Far, and wide the battle bled ; Speaking rapture, breathing fire, Princes were number’d with the dead : Shou’d to fuch high themes afpire. With Saxon blood his fword was dy’d; O King, or e’er thy courfe be gone. Thoufands fell wounded by his fide, Or e’er thy earthly race be run ; And gnalh’d their teeth with pain. Many and happy be thy days, Hark ! hark ! I hear the battle rave ! Full of glory, full of praife 1 And fee old Offa's crimfon wave, E’er the green herbs, upon thy tomb. O’erwhelm’d with warriors flain ! Or grateful flower, begin to bloom; Far as Pumlumon cafts his (hade; Or e’er the bone-beftrewed grave Far as Sabrina, Royal Maid, Llywelyn's'* royal reliques have ! Extends her cryftal flood; Worker of miracles, proted: So far Llywelyn's might is known; T he Prince, the Hero !—-Saints eled. So far his angry fhafts have flown ; Bear on your feraphic wings And ting’d their points with blood. The pride and ornament of Kings. Oh ! ever honour’d, ever mourn’d, Hear, and applaud his noble ftory; The lad who Cambria's Throne adorn’d : And crown him with eternal glory ! 8 011 116 He marr;ed 0an John, intheyearizo+ran/Xd^ner^^nlff^y^s^an^a ’^ ^ ^ mem 7 r/> thein thedaughter abbcy off CKingn way, in A. D. J24o. See Carat's Weljb CbroJcl: ^ ° ’ ° ° ' An ELEGIAC ODE to NEST, the Daughter of Howel {Son of Prince Owen Gwynedd-,) by Einion ab Uwalchmai, about the year 1240. Tranflated from the Wellh. The Spring returns; the trees are in their bloom; T’eivi 1 I paffed with mufing fleps, and flow; T he blackbird carols all the live-long day ; Eeivi re-echo’d to my plaintive drains. But JSeft lies with’ring in her wint’ry tomb. O Nejl, thou fource of never-dying woe. Nor heeds th’ invigorating fmiles of May. Whilom the glory of Dyfynni's plains! Though fmooth the fea, and foft the zephyrs blow, What tho’ a thoufand poets fang her praile; The charms of Nature bring me no relief; The fair Elivri was outflione by thee ; Alas! my tears will never ceafe to flow ! Then let thy fpirit liften to my lays, Fruitlefs my pray’r, immoderate my grief! Whilfl: 1 attempt to fing thy Elegy. Have I not feen, on Beli’s rocky ftiore. When on Dyfynni's banks, in filk array’d, The foaming billows of the angry deep ? Confpicuous far, the pride of Cadvan* flood; Have I not heard the raging tempefts roar. Chance brought me where enraptur’d I furvey’d When in defpair I laid me down to weep ? Her graceful form refleded by the flood. 93 Teimi, a river in Cardiganfhire. a+ A river near Towyn, in Merionethfhire. * Cadvan, the Saint of Towyn. N What 42 AN ELEGY, ON THE DEATH OF PRINCE LLYWELYN, THE LAST. What fweet fimplicity was in her face! Weary, and melancholy are my days ! What innocence her artlefs fmiles exprefs’d 5 Like fad Pryderi inwardly I moan j Where ev’ry virtue tempered ev’ry grace* The heavy burthen on my vitals preys. And drove diflimulation from her bread* Since thou, my pride, my patronejs, art gone. But now, in everlafting filence laid. Can I forget the black and envious veil. Beneath yon rock her mould’ring reliques lie j That hid thy beauties from the gazer’s view ? In yon cold habitation reds her fhade. The gloomy Ihroud, that did thofe charms conceal. The fource of many a tear, of many a figh. As fnowdown bright, or winter’s early dew. Her eagle-eye her anceftors proclaim’d ; O holy David! tutelary pow’r Yet was fhe gentle as the turtle dove j Of Cambria) liden to a Cambrian’s pray’r; Far o’er the hills of Venedotia fam’d, On the fair maid thy choiced bleflings pour. Her country’s ornament, her country’s love. And be her virtues thy peculiar care ! From thee, fair Princefs of the tuneful drain. Receive my Princefs in thy blefs’d abodes. No difappointed fuitor e’er return’d; Thou great Creator of earth, fea, and heaven I To thee no Bard, or Mindrel play’d in vain. Rank her with Martyrs, Angels, Saints, and Gods; Oh Nefi l for ever honour’d, ever mourn’d! And be her fins (if (he have finn’d,) forgiven 1 Long may my ineffectual forrows flow ; Verfified by the Rev. Rd. Williams. Thy grave bedew’d with many a fruitlefs tearr Stern fate regardeth not the voice of woe. And fcorns the importunity of pray’r. An ELECT) on the Death of Llywelyn ab Gruffyddj written by his Bard) Gruffydd, the Son of the Red Judge, in A. D. 1282. Frequent is heard the voice of woe; Hark 1 how the fullen tempeds roar ! Frequent the tears of forrow flow; See ! how the white waves lalh the fliore ! Such founds, as erd in Camlan heard. See ! how eclips’d the fun appears ! Rous’d to wrath old Arthur's Bard. See ! how the dars fall from their fpheres ! Cambria’s warrior we deplore ; Each awful, Heav’n-fent-prodigy, Our Llywelyn is no more. Ye fons of infidelity. Who like Llywelyn now remains, Believe, and tremble ; guilty land, To (hield from wrong his native plains ? Lo ! thy dedruCtion is at hand ! My foul with piercing grief is fill’d; Thou great Creator of the world. My vital blood with horror chill’d : Why are not thy red light’nings hurl’d ? Nature herfelf is chang’d ! and lo! Will not the fea, at thy command, Now all things fympathize below ! Swallow up this guilty land ? Hark, how the howling wind, and rain. Why are we left, to mourn in vain In louded fymphony complain I The Guardian of our country flain ? Hark ! how the confecrated oaks, No place, no refuge for us left. Unconfcious of the woodman’s drokes. Of home, of liberty bereft: With thund’ring crafh, proclaim he’s gone; Where (hall we flee ? to whom complain. Fall in each other’s arms, and groan ! Since our dear Llywelyn's flain i Tranflated from Mr. Evans** DiJJirtatio dt Bardis, page 88. by the Rev. Rd. Williams, of Vron, in Flint (hire. CYWTDD [ 43 ] C21F2‘DD to MORVUDD: an Ode, written about 430 Tears ago, by David ab Gwilym, who has been denominated the Ovid of Wales ■}■. A literal Tranflation* I have feleded this Cy When the Druidical, or Bardic Hierarchy began to decline in Britain, it was fucceeded by the Hermitical, and Monaftical Injiitutionwhich, like the former, afterwards became the Nurfery of Learning, and the grand Repofitory of Mufic and Poetry, and of the Britifh Bards, and Records, until the reign of Henry the Eighth, (filled iboDread Sovereign,) who abolifhed the Monafleries, in 1537. Prior to this period, our greater Monafleries, kept Bards and Minflrels of their own in regular pay. So early as the year 1180, in the reign of Henry the Second, Jeffrey, the Harper, is recorded to have received a corrody, or annuity, from the Benedidtine Abbey of Hide, near Winchefter15; undoubtedly on condition that he fhould ferve the Monks in the profefiion of a Mufician, on public occafions. Davydd ab Gwilym is faid to have been Bard to the Monaflery of 'Strata-Florida, in South Wales : I am not certain whether it was the Poet, who flourifhed about 1380; or the Harper of that name, who flourifhed about 1480. Gutto o'r Glyn was Poet to Llan Egwejll, or Valle Crucis Abbey, in Denbighfhire, about A. D. 1450. lorwerth Vynglwyd was the Poet to Mar gam Abbey, in Glamorganfhire, about 1460: and Guttyn Owen was the Hiflorian, and Herald-Bard to Bafmgwerk Abbey, in Flintfhire, and to TJlrad-Ffiur Monojlery, in South Wales, about the year 1480 *6. The records of thefe Abbeys were compared together every third year, when the Bards belonging to thofe houfes went their ordinary vifitations, which was called Clera, and every thing remarkable that occurred was regiflered ; and that cuftom was continued until about the year 1270, or a little before the death of the lafl Prince Llywelyn. *? Madox’s Hi dory of the Exchequer, p. 251. *5 Caradoc’s Wellh Chronicle, the preface; and the firft Volume of the Bards, page 16, & 26. An [ 44 ] An ODEy on Abbot 0/Valle Crucis Abbey, in Denbighjhireby Gruffydd Hiraethog* who fiourijhed in the 14/^ Century. In the beautiful Britifh Original of this Poem the Bard is warmly grateful, and defcriptive of the monaftic hofpitality and feftivities, peculiar to the Chriftmas feafon among our beneficent anceftors. “ HIL yr Haul ar Fervjyn gnvyn, “ T Beirddfy'n byvj o ddeutu ’r bryn." G. H. Born of Heav’n, and Cambria’s pride. And ye too, Bards, of raiment bare. Or fnowy Berwyn's*'' various fide. That meet the winter’s angry air, Or holy Derfel's18 happier dale. That wade the Dee, the mountain climb, Shares the drain, or hears the tale : That ftarve on food, yclep’d divine, Afibciates of the Nine, behold That quaff the ftream from melted fnow. Yon facred fymbol’s 19 glitt’ring gold ; Where rills Caftalian never flow ; (Thy buttrefs, Hope—thy bane, Defpair) Hear me, comrades, come along, Lo, I pafs my Chriftmas there. — - Join the feaft, and fwell the fung. Where joy forbids the ken of care. Hail! all hail ! thou happiefi: place, Come and pafs your Chriftmas there. ■— » The fmile that ev’ry heart has won; The righteous Abbot’s rofy face Now Mufe divine, let endlefs joy Is fair Glyndyfrdwy's ,0 other sun, The promis'd boon thy powers employ ; Whofe rays give forrow’s clouds to fly, See, fee beneath inclement fkies. And chafe the fhower from woe’s wet eye. The valley’s fpotlcfs Lilly rife; The clouds difperfe, the heav’ns difclofe, Even verfe in vain defcribes the place. All healing Sharon’s infant Rofe ; That mundane Heav’n, and favour’d race, Strains of triumph, comrades, bring, Where prayer is frequent, praife is loud, Egweft'% ambient rocks fhall ring; And bleflings ftill incefiant croud; Your Harps to notes of rapture raile, When Berwyn rears his creft of fnow, And let the grateful theme be praife. — (The herald of a feafon’s woe) When every region pours its poor. Affociates of the tuneful tide. Wide is Egweftl’s31 welcome door; Or lofty Berwyn's various fide. 3 The loaded boards are wider fpread. Or humbler Corwen's * fertile vale, And bend beneath the Abbot’s bread. Plears the fong, or owns the tale ; Awhile now quit each haplefs home. Ye wights forlorn that wayward roam, To fee the Abbot’s cwrw 33 foam; (To whom the Fates deny a home) A feafon’s feftive fcenes to fhare, T There draw ye nigh, and throng to (bare The Lord of Egweft calls, repair, L A father’s blefling—father’s care; Come and pafs your Chriftmas34 there. J His open arms extend redrefs. He leans to hear, and longs to blefs; Verfified from the Welfh, by Mr. Rd. Llnuyd. Then draw ye nigh, and fpurn defpair, Come and pafs your Chriftmas there. *7 A mountain near Corwen. teen covers, or more, of the moft coftly dainties: Thefe, he tells 1! Llandderfel, in the vale of Edeirnion, Merionethlhire. us, were drefled with the moft exquifite cookery, to provoke the 29 The Gilt Crofs, upon the Abbey of Valle Crucis. appetite, and pleafe the tafte. He alfo fpeaks of an exceffive 30 The Vale of Glyndyfrdwy, extending from Corwen to Llan- abundance of wine, particularly claret; mulberry wine, mead, ale, gollen, formerly the refidence of Owen, from thence Glyndwr. and other ftrong liquors. In what manner the laity feafted in 31 Llanegweftl, the Britifh name of the Abbey of Valle Crucis, thofe days, John of Salijbury has given us a fhort defcription. He near Llangollen, in Denbighfhire, built in 1200. fays, the houfes, on fuch occafions, were ftiewed with flowers; 31 The Town of Corwen, in Meirionydd. and the jovial company drank wine out of gilded horns, and fung 33 The Britifh beverage—ale. fongs when they became inebriated with their liquor. Lord Little- 34 In the year 1176 a fplendid Caroufal was given by Prince Ion's Hijlory of Henry the Second, Book II. Rhys ab Gruffydd, King of South Wales, who, at Chriftmas, This fubjeft recalls to my mind a pertinent Epigram, from Di- made a great feaft in his Caftle of Cardigan, then called Aberteivi, ogenes to Arijlippus; which perhaps may not be unacceptable to which he ordered to be proclaimed over all Britain. Rowel's my reader: Hijlory of IVales. “ Cloy’d with ragous, you fcorn my fimple food ; We have in the treatifes of Giraldus Cambrenjis a defcription of “ And think good-eating is man’s only good : the table which was kept by the Monks of Canterbury, in the “ I afk no more than temperance can give ; reign of Henry the Second ; and which confifted regularly of fix- “ You live to eat; I only eat—to live.” 4 The [ 45 ] The LEGEND of TYDECHO, the Patron Saint of Llan y Mawddwy, in Meirionethfliire j by Da- vydd Llwyd, ab Llywelyn ab Gruffydd, who wrote about the year 145° ; with fome explanatory Notts, by the lace Antiquary, Lewis Morris, Efq. in 1761. Cywydd i Tydecho Sant, yn amfer Maelgwn Gwynedd. Mae gwr llwyd yma ger-llaWy He that put this legend in rhyme was Davydl Lhvyd ab Lly- 1. Llymma TR I- THL JVS- AR -DDEG o FRENHIN Here are the THIRTEEN RARITIES of DLTSEU TNTS PRTDAIN: Y rhai a gedwid KINGLY REGALIA, of the ISLAND of BRI- yn Nghaer-Lleon ar Wyfg; ac a aethant gyda Myrd- TAIN ; which were formerly kept at Caerlleon *, on din ab Morfran, i’r Ty Gwydr, yn Enlli (Eithr the river UJke, in Monmouthjhire. ‘Thefe Curiofities mae rhai awdwyr yn yfcrifcnnu mai FaUefin Ben went with Myrddin, the fon of Morvran, into the Bcirdd a’u cafas hwynt.) hou/e of Glafs, in Enlli, or Bardfey IJland*: It has alfo been recorded by others, that it was Taliefin, the King of the Bards, who pojfejfed them. Thefe Royal Regalia, or Curiofities, were held in high eftimation in the Sixth Century: They are rather hyperbolically defcribed ; but they convey to us fome original heroic traits, of the manner of promoting Chivalry, and of ancient Liberality, and Hofpitality. It appears that this Mufeum of admirable Rarities was kept at Caerlleoh, in King Arthur’s time; and upon the diffolution of that place, it was carried by Myrddin, the Caledonian Bard, to the famous Monaftery of Enlli, in the Ifland of Bards. « Myrddin aeth, maw daawi ai nxedd, i. e. Myrddin went, greatly to his praife, for his good intention, “ Menjun Gauydr, er mwyn ei gydwdd.”Dyfi, Into the Houfe of Glafs, for the fake of prefervation. The ancient Monaftery of Bardfey was one of the Druidical and Bardic conventicles, founded in the beginning of Chriftianity, where Myrddin ftudied, and where he ended his days and was buried, about A. D. 570. Dubriciut, the Archbilhop of Caerlleon, and many other religious men, retired to the Monaftery of Bardfey about the year 522. Giraldus’s Itinerary of Wales mentions this Mo- nadic inftitution, bv the name of Cnjufau Duon, or Black Cowls; a College of Lay Monks: and Martial calls them Bardo cucullus, or Bardic Cowls. The Metropolitan See of Caer Lleon, in Monmouthlhire, was removed to Menevia, in Pembrokelhire, about A. D. 447; which, • ever fince, has been called Ty Dew, or St. David’s. 1. Llenn Arthur, yn Ngherniw: pwy bynnag elai 1, The Veil, or Maflk of King Arthur, in Corn- dani a welai bawb, ac ni welai neb fo. wall : whoever look’d from under ir, could fee every body, and no one could know him 3. 2. Dyrnwyn gledd, neu Gleddau Rbydderch Had; 2. The Sword of Rhydderch the Generous: who- pwy bynnag a’i tynai o'r wain, (endy neb ai piau,) ever drew it out of the fcabbard, (except the ef a ennynai yn fflam dan yn i law ef. owner;) it would appear a gleaming flame of fire in his hand \ * According to an old Weljh Chronicle, Beli ab Dyfnnual, a chief King of Britain, about 400 years before Chrift, built a city on the river Ulke, (where there had been the Caftie of Lleon-,) which afterwards was the principal city in all Britain, becaufe there the King refided, and the Parliament of the country was held, about 65 years before Chrirt. s When the Britons were no longer able to defend their country againft the Saxons, and others, in the time of Egbert, about A. D. 750, (or 800,) there was a proclamation, that all the Britons fhould depart out of England within fix months, upon pain of death. This was probably after the great overthrow of Caredic, when the Pagan Saxons razed the Britifh churches to the ground ; at which time Theon, the Archbifnop of London, and Tadioc, the Archbiftrop of York, removed with their relicks of Saints, books, and ornaments, and fled into Wales, into the adjacent iflands, and feme into Britany, and many priefts with them. Lewis's Ancient Hijlory of Britain, page 208 : and Gibfon's Camden. “ Thefe are the haunts of meditation, thefe “ The (cenes where ancient Bards th’ infpiring breath, “ Extatic felt, and from this world retired.” -Thomfon. 3 It is reccrded, that great military officers anciently wore hoods, or helmets, to obfeure their faces during the time of battle. See in page 23, note I : Ailo, Sir William Dugdale's Ancient Ufage of Arms, page 1. 4 Rhydderch, fon of Tudnxal, furnamed Hael, or the generous, King of Cumbria, who lived at Alclnvyd, now Dumbarton, in Scot- land and was alio King of the Kle of Man. He was efteemed the mod liberal, and one of the greateft warriors of his time ; he fought the famous battle of Arde ydd, in A. D. 577, againft Atddan Vradog, and Guuenddolau ab Ceidianxi, in which Rhydderch gained the vidtorv, and Gwnddolau was flain, with a great number of his followers. See Carte's Hijtory, Vol. I. p, 210. The name of Prince Rhydderch’s !*ord was Dyimvyn, or the white grafpf; and from the above defeription it was probably highly polifhed, and not dtflimilar to the elegant account given of the Grecian army, when marching againft the Trojans : “ As on fome mountain, thro’ the lofty grove, “ 1 he crackling flames afeend, and blaze above, “ The fires expanding as the winds arife, “ Shoot their long beams, and kindle half the fkies : “ So from the polifh’d arms, and brazen fhields, “ A gleamy fplendor flafh’d along the fields. Pope's Homer. King Arthur's exploits were fo great, during the reign of King Henry the Second, fays Lord Lyttelton in his hiftory of that Monarch, that afword, luppofed to have been King Arthur's, was prefented in the year 1191, loTancred, King of Sicily, by Richard the Firft, King of England, as a valuable gift. The fwords of heroes in thofe days had names given them, and this was called Caled^wrn, or Caicd'invlch, that is, hard handled, or hard-notched. (See the previous pages, 23 & 25.) How Richard got it, and whether it was found in the Abbey of Glaftonbury, together with the body, or in fome other place, we are not told; but I prefume, when that Monarch took it with him out of England, he intended to ufe it himfelf, in the war againft the infidels. It was the cuftom among other warlike nations to give names to their fwords; but the Ancient Britons took a particular pride in adorning their fwords, and making them polifhed handles of the teeth of fea animals; (fee Solinus Poly-hiflor, c. 25 :) And their warlike difp fition and love of the fword was fuch, that it was the cuftom for the mother of every male child to put the firft vidtuals into the child’s mouth, on the point of his father’s fword, and with the food to give her firft bleffing, or wifh to him, that he might dip no other death than in war, and arms. Sol. Pol. Hijl. and Seldens Mare Clau/um, 1. z, c. 2. and 10. 2 3, Mwys, 4* THE THIRTEEN RARITIES OF KINGLY REGALIA. 3. MwySj (neu Bwlan>) Gwyddno Garanhir ■, 3. The Budget, Bafket, (or Weel,) of Gwyddni bwyd i ungwr a voidynddi, a bwyd i garinwr a gaid with the high Crown: if provifion for a fingle perfon ynddi pan egorid, were put into it to keep, a fufficiency of victuals for a hundred perfons would be found in it when opened*. 4. Corn Bran Galed, o'r Gogledd-, y ddiod a ddy- 4. The Horn of Bran the Hardy, of the North : munai ynddo, fo ai did can gynted ag i dymunid. The drink that might be defired in it, would appear as foon as it was wifhed for". Carr, neu Gadair mud Morgan Mwynfawr ; 5. The Car, or Chariot of Morgan the Courteous: pwy bynnag a eijleddai ynddi, a fyddai lie i dymunai whoever fat in it, would find himfelf wherever he ef i fod. wifhed to be 7. 6. Hogalen Tudno Tydglydjjyr bon a lymhdi 6. The Whetftone, (or Hone,) of Tudno Pyd- gleddau pob dewr, ac a bylhai arf pob llwrf: (neu glyd: which would fharpen the fword of every hero yr arf a hogid ami pwy by nag a dorr id ei groen, a fydd- immediately ; and always defiroy the weapons of ai farw yn y man.) a coward8: (in another manufcript it is exprefl thus: whoever fhotld be wounded with the arms that are whetted thereon, would foon die.) 7. Pais Padarn Beifrudd, ni allai un gwr gwreng 7. The Purple Caffock of Padarn Beifrydd-, i gwifgo heb farw: (neu, ni weddai i neb, ond i Ba- no perfon of ignoble birth could wear it, without darn ei hum) dying®.—— 8. Pair Dyrnog Gawrj os rhoid ynddo gig Vw 8. The Cauldron of Dyrnog, the Chief, or Prince : ferwi i wr llwfr, ni ferwai b\th -, ond bwyd i was if flefh fhould be put into it to boil for a cowardly dewr, fo ferwai ddigon yn y man. man, it would never be done : but if it was for a hardy hero, it would foon be boiled enough10. 9. Lliain, (neu Dyfgl Rhiganed) Rhydderch Yf- 9. The Table-Cloth, (in another MS. called golhaig ; y bwyd a chwenychai, fe fyddai arm, (neu the Difh,) of the illuftrious-born Rhydderch, the ynthi,) fo a'i caidyn y man. Scholar: whatever victuals and drink were wifhed thereon, were inflantly obtained ", (Mz/Vhad a fword of dignity, like his kinfman, FIug2> Lupus, which formerly was kept at Dutton, in Chelhire, as an heirloom of the family ; and in the year 1665, was the property ot Lady Kilmorey, foie daughter and heirefs of 'Thomas Dutton, of Dutton. This fword of dignity is ftill preferred in the Britijh Mufeum : it is four feet long ; the blade is two edged, and with this infeription upon it; Hugo Comes Cejiria. “ Hugh Lupus received the Earldom of Chelier from William the Conqueror, who gave him the whole county of Chelhire, to hold to him and his heirs, as freely, by the fword, as the King held the Crown of England.’' See Sir Peter LeiceJlePs Hijiory of Chejhire. 5 Gwyddno Garanhir was a King of North Wales, about the end of tne 4th, and in the beginning of the jth century. His budget was probably fome kind of veflel, or bafket; and perhaps ufed to carry victuals in, by the perfon who went to the wear to take up the nets; and in lieu of the vi&uals therein, which he eat, and filled the bafket, or pannier, with the fifh caught in the wear, to bring home : or probably the Weel was baited with raw meat to entice the fiih into it. Mvjys Gnuddno is often mentioned by the poets as the moll famous wear in the country, which was fomewhere about the mouth of Conway river. See pages 17. 19&31. 6 Bran the Hardy was a northern prince, of the fifth century, and diflinguiihed for his generefity. His drinking horn was probably a general horn, for the ufe of his hall, to fupply all ftrangers with what drink they chofe; or it might have been a magic cup, fo contrived as to convey liquors through fecret pipes into it. According to the ancient Welp laws, there were three locia! horns allotted for the ufe of the Lord, or Prince; that is, his banqueting horn, his war horn, and the horn for the chace: but thefe latter were made of the horns of the Bugle, or wild Ox ; and formed in a femicircle, and occafionally ufed both for founding, and for drinking. See a Delineation of one in the mujical trophy, in the firjl Volume of this work, page 89, and a full defeription in the account of the mufhal infru- ments of the Weljh, page 117, ffc. 7 Morgan Mwynuiawr was a valiant king of Gla’morgan, from whom that county derives its name. Morgan was born about the year 872 ; he married Elen, the daughter of Roderic the Great; and lived to be a hundred years old; and on that account he was called Morgan hen, or the Aged. He is alfo honourably recorded in the Ancient Hiflorical Triads, as follows: The three Hearers of Great Britain from invaders were. King Arthur', Rhun, the Jon of Beli\ and Morgan the Gracious atid Great. It feems that his Car was a common and free chariot, kept by this popular prince, for the ufe of his friends, or fomething of that nature. Cafar, in the \th Book, and chapter zg, of his Commentaries, fays, that the Britons were fo expert in their war chariots, that they often broke his ranks. s Tudno Tydclyd, the fon of Ithel Hael, of Armorica. There was a Welfh Saint of this name, the founder of Llan-Dudno, on Trwyny Gogarth; on which hill formerly flood the ancient city of Diganwy, near Conwy, in Caernarvonshire. 9 Padarn Beifrudd, the fon of Tegid ab lago, was a Britifh Bifhop, and a reputed Saint, founder of the Monaftery of Llan-ba- darn-vawr, (or the Church of Padarn the Great,) befide fifteen other churches, in Cardiganfiiire, and in other places. He was a great friend with St. David, and St. Teilo, and with whom he made a pilgrii.iage to Jeruialem. According to Britannia Sanfia, Padarn’s name is lound fubferibed with Samfon, the Bilhop of Vannes, to the third Council of Paris, about A. D. 560. It is faid he was origi- nally a native of Little Britain, and that the inhabitants of Bretagne formerly kept three days to the honour of this Saint, and the 1 jth of April was the laft of them. Padarn's purple robe, or fhort caffock, became no man fo well as Padarn himfelf. Dyrnog Gawr was a Cambrian prince, in the time of the Romans in Britain. It feem? his pot, or boiler, was intended only for the Hero, and not for the Coward ; and probably meant as an encouragement to warlike enterpriies. 11 King Rhyddercb, the Generous, who probably kept an open houfe ; and I fuppofe this was his common hall dilh, which was kept in memory of his munificence, where there was nothing refufed that was defired. This hero is recorded in the ancient Britijh Triads, as follows; The three liberal Princes oj' the If and of Britain’, Rbydderch Hael, the fon of Tudwal Tytglyd’, Moraav Hael, the fon of Servan ; and Nudd Hael, the Jon of Senyllt. Rhydderch Hael lived to the age of 85 ; died in the year 6oi, and was buried at Abererch, (St, Courda'i Church.J Britifn Sandla, p. 34. See more in the previous note (4.) . 10. Tawl- THE THIRTEEN RARITIES OE ROYAL REGALIA, See. 49 10. 'Tawlbwrdd, (neu Gwyddbwyll,) Gwenddol- 10. The Chefsboard, (or Draughtboard) of au fab Ceidio : o gojodidy gurr arno, nhwy chward- Gwenddolau, the fon of Ceidio: if the men were ent eu gwaith eu hunain: y pvjyntiau oedd aur, a’r placed upon it, they would play of themfelves. The gxv/r oedd arian. chequers were of gold, and the men were of filver 11. Mantell Tegau Eurfron ; ni allai neb wifgo 11. The Mantle of Tegau Eurvrcn : no one could moni a fyddai wedi torri priodas, na morwyn ifanc a put it on who had dilhonoured marriage ; nor a ordderchafai: (ac hi a guddiai wraig ddiwair b d at young damfel who had committed incontinence ; but y llawr.) it would cover a chafte woman from top to toe*3. 12. Maen Modruoy Eluned; a dynnodd Owain ab 12. The Stone of the Ring of Eluned■, which Urien .... rhwngyr og a’r mur : pwy bynnag a gudd- liberated Owen, the fon ot Urien, from between the iai y maen, fe ai cuddiai y maen ynteu *. portcullis and the wall. Whoever concealed that (tone, the (lone or bezil, would conceal him ,+. 13. Cyllell Llawfrodedd Farchog-, yr hon a was 13. The Knife of Llawvrodedd, the Knight: anaethai ar bedwar gwr ar hugain, o'r llaw bwygil. which would ferve four-and-twenty perfons, from ydd, erbyn y byddai raid wrthi. one hand to another, as the occafion might be ,s. Ed. Lhvyd a yferifenodd, 0 hen Femr'wn Cymracg. MS. The original Weljh account of the above Regalia was tran- feribed from a tranfeript of Mr. Edward Llwyd, the Antiquary; * Mewn Hyfr arall, y mae fel hyn ; Cebyftr Cludno ; y March who informs us that he copied it from an old parchment manu- a ddymunai ei fdd ynddo, fe fyddai. feript: and I have collated this with two other manuferipts. 11 Gwenddolau ah Ceidio was a northern chief. It is faid of his chefsboard, that when the men were arranged upon it, they would play of themlelves ; which feems to be a figurative allufion to the famous battle of Arderyddt fought about the year 577, by Aeddan the Treacherous 2LX\&Gwenddolau, againft Rhydderch Hael, where Gwenddolau was (lain, notwithftanding which, his men continued fighting and Ikirmilhing for fix weeks afterwards: therefore, they are called in the Triads one of the three loyal aimies of Britain. See tliac battle mentioned in Myrddin's poem of the Orchard, in page 24. of the firft Volume of this work. Tegau Eurvron, the wife of Caradog with the Jirong arm, who is celebrated by the Bards as a model of female virtue and chaftity, as Penelope \s deferibed by Homer: fhe is recorded in the Britijh Triads as one of the three noble and excellent ladies of King Arthur’s Court. She had three rarities, which befitted none but herlelf; and theie were, her mantle, her golden goblet, and her knife . and in another Triad file is mentioned thus : There are three things, no one knows their colour : the feathers of the peacock's tail when expanded ; the mantle of Tegau Eur-vron •, and the mifer's pence. Probably her mantle was a Blotted filkof various colours, and perhaps a novel thing at that time. Tegau Eurojron, was the caughter of Nudd, the Liberal hand. King of the North. The ftory of her Mantle is copied from the Weljh by the Enghjh Minjlrels, in the old Enghfh Ballad of The Boy and the Mantle, as well as that of the Knife, and the Cup. Likewife, the Horn, occurs in the old French Romance of Morte Arthur, &c. See Dr. Percy's Reliques of ancient Englijh Poetry. '14 Eluned was the daughter of Brychan, yngors ebawl, or Crug Gorfeddawl, and the lover of Owen ab Urien : the Bezil of Eluned’s ring had the virtues of Gyges's ring. When Owen, Prince of Reged, was confined in prifon, Eluned gave him her ring, which rendered him invifible ; (perhaps it might be given to the jailer, and by that means he efcaped from priion.) It is faid, in old tinKs, when two perfons were married, the young couple uled to prefentone another with a ring-key, as an emblem of fecrecy ; whence fome derive the word wedlock. The wearing of rings appears to be of great antiquity ; among the Hebrews, Gen. xxxviii. where Judah, Jacob’s fon, gives Tamar his ring, or fignet, as a pledge of his promife : but rings feem to have been ufed at the fame time among the Egyptians, Genefis xli. where Pharoah put his ring on Jofeph's hand as a mark of the power he gave him. Of the Regalia of Fiance, a coflly ring was prefented by a King of France to St. I homas of Canterbury, and worn afterwards by King Henry the Eighth. The circumftance of Queen Elizabeth fending her ring to fave the Earl of Effex is too well known to need a repetition. 15 Llawvrodedd, the Red Knight, or Ruddy horfeman, who had a famous knife, which probably was his carving knife, that ferved all his company^ The Bretons of France likewife, had formerly but one knife for each company, and that was chained to the table The following addition to the previous note 4, in page 47 : “ Shall 1 fear, that have this trufty and invincible fword by my fide f—- For, as King Arthur’s fword was called Caledvwlch \ as Edward the Con*elTor’s Curtanat, as Charlemagne’s Joyeufe-, Orlando’s Durindanat, Rinaldo’s Fujberta-, and Rogero’s Baljarda: fo Piflol, in imitation of thefe heroes, calls his fword Hiren. 1 have been told, Amadis deGaul, had a fword of this name: Htrtr, or Hirian, in the Britilh, fignifies a long fwafhing fword.” M. Wefmondf- terienfs, page 98 ; and Stephens’ Edition of Shakfpeare's Henry the IVth. Second Part, the Notes, to Ad the Second. Farther addition to note 10, in page 48 : f he Cauldron of Dyrnog the Chief, was probably a fimilar kind of veflel to that of the Porridge Pot, of Guy, Earl of Warwick, which is an immenfe kettle, or cauldron, flill preierved at Warwick Caftle. An Account of The ABBEY of LLANTONY. 1 cannot refill the pleafure of giving here Giraldus Cambrenfs's happy defeription of the romantic fituation of the Abbey of Llantony, in Monmouthlhire: “ In the deep vale of Ewyas, which is about a bow-fhot over, and enclofed on all fides with high mountains, ftands the Abbey Church of St. John* a ftrutture covered with lead, and not unhandfomely built for fo lonefome a fituation : on the very fpot where formerly flood a fmall chapel dedicated to St. David, which had no other ornaments than green mofs and ivy. Ft is a fituation fit for the exercife of religion; and a religious edifice was firft founded in this fequeftered retreat, to the honour of a foli- tary life, by two hermits, remote from the noife of the world, upon the banks of the river Hondy, which winds through the midft of the valley. The rains which mountainous countries ufually produce are here very frequent, the winds exceedingly tempeftuous, and the winters almoft continually dark; yet the air of the valley is fo happily tempered as fcarcely to be the caufe of any difeafes. The monks fitting in the cloifters of the abbey, when they chufe for a momentary refreftiment to caft their eyes abroad, have, on every fide, a pleafing profpeft of mountains afeending to an immenle height, with numerous herds of deer feeding aloft 01 the higheft extremity of this lofty horizon. The body of the fun is not vifible above the hills till after the meridian hour, even when the air is moll clear. Giraldus’s Itinerarium Cambria •, (written about the year 1 187, when he accompanied Baldwin, the Archbifhop of Can- terbury, into Wales, to preach the Crufade.) And Warton's Hijlory of Englijb Poetry. P SAITH t 5° 1 SJiT'H RHTFEDDODJU GPFTNEDD. The SEVEN WONDERS of NORTH WALES. The firft four of thefe wonders may properly be called the natural beauties; and the three lalt, the artificial beauties. They have never yet been regularly given to the world, although commonly enumerated by the natives; (if they had, the modern tounfts would have retailed them without mercy, or acknowledgment, in their ufual illiberal way :) therefore, I will endeavour to defcribe them, as they are worthy of being recorded. 1. Mynyddy IVyddfa. Snowdon mountain in Caernarvonfhire. 2. Fiftyll Rhaiadr. The great water-fall, or cafcade of Llanrhaiadr % in Denbighlhire* 3. Ffynnon Gwenfrewi. Saint Winifred’s Well, or Holy-Well*, in Flintlhire. 4. Mynwcnt Owrtin. Overton Church-yard4, in Flintfhire. 5. Clochdy Gwrecftatn. Wrexham Church5, in Denbighfhire. 6. Clochau Cross-ffordd. Gresford bells®, in Denbighfhire. 7. Pont Llangollen. Llangollen Bridge7, in Denbighlbire. 1 Snowdon was held in great veneration by the ancient Britons, as the mountain of ParnaJJ'us was by the Greeks, and mount Ida by the Cretans. Snowdon commands a wonderful, extenfive, and variegated profpedt; from its (ummit may be feen, in clear weather, a great part of Wales, Cheihire, Shroplhire, Yorklhire, and part of the north of England, Scotland, Ireland, the Ifle of Man ; and fear, and lakes. 1 doubt whether fo extenfive a circular profpedl is to be feen in any part of the terraqueous globe. The height of Snowdon, according to the furvey of Colonel Roy, is 1192 yards above the level of the fea ; and according to Mr. Flamflead'o meafurement, it* perpendicular height is 1240 yards. All its range of mountains were formerly called the foreft of Snowdon. This Britifh Alps is famed for rare plants: and irs lakes for Chare, and other fifh. See Pennant's Journey to Snowdon, page 326. There is a view of Snowdon mountains by Mr. kVil/on, the painter, (who was a native of Wales,) and engraved by Woollet; and another fine view by the fame Artift, of Cetder Idris, and engraved by Rooker. See alfo, a dijtant nsiew of it in the frontifpiece. . , 2 Pijlyll Rhaiadr, or the Spout of Rhaiader, is the nobleft cataradl in Wales: it defeends from the mountain of Berwyn, and divides the counties of Montgomery, and Denbigh; it is about three miles from the village of Llanrhaiadr in Mochnant, to which it gives its name, together with the rivulet, which runs from it. The water-fall defeends a perpendicujar height of 240 feet. There was a good prim of it publilhed fome years ago, and drawn by the late Mr. Evans, of Llwyn y Groes •, wno alfo has publifhed an excellent M^p of North Wales. 3 St.//7»(/Vrd”s Well, or Holy Well, in Flintlhire, is a fountain of great antiquity, and confecrated to the memory of St. Wini- fred, a Chrilhan Virgin, whofe purity being dearer to her than life, fubmitted to be beheaded near that place, rather than yield to the lull of Caradoc, a Heathen prince, about the commencement of the feventh century. A neat gothic chapel is built over the head of the fpring, and the water gulhes out of the rock in fuch a rapid ftream, as to fupply feveral mills within a Ihort diltance. It is faid, that the ipiing rifes about one hundred tons of water every minute. The water is extremely cold ; the depth of the bafon is about five feet, and fo tranfparent, that a fmall piece of money, or a pin, may be feen at the bottom. The prefent edi- fice was eredted in the time of King Henry the Seventh. In a window of the chancel hereof was formerly to be feen the portraiture of the faid Virgin, with the memorials of her life and death. All the miraculous powers of healing attributed to thefe waters are aferibed to their patronefs, St. Winifred-, and fo great is the veneration in which Ihe is held, by thofe of the Romilh perfuafion, that they to this day perform pilgrimages to Holy-Well. Thofe that wilh a farther account of St. Winifred, 1 mull beg to refer to her Legend, written by Robert, the Prior of Shrewsbury, afterwards Bilhop of Bangor; and alfo, to her life and miracles which were publilhed in 1713, odtavo. * Overton Churchyard is famed for being furrounded with twenty-five jew-frm, that grow in an admirable manner: and formerly, it is faid there was an yew-tree that grew on the church lleeple. liiityew-tree being fo univerfally planted in church- yards was, doubtlefs, from its being thought a fymbol of immortality ; the tree being fo lalting, and always green.-—In the days of Archery, fo great was the demand for the wood of the yew-tree, that the bowyers were obligedby ftatute, to import Haves of it for making of bows. 5 Wrexham Church is the mcll magnificent building of the kind in Wales. Brown Willis, in his furvey of St. Afaph, page 73, fays, “ that the (lately gothic tower of Wrexham Church, fo much admired for its elegant architedlure, is exceeded by very few in England.” ft was begun to be rebuilt in A. D. 1501, and finilhed in 1507. The lleeple is a fine tower, richly ornamented with lofty fpires of the gothic order, and its four fides adorned with three pilatlers containing Saints placed in rich gothic niches one above another; among them is Saint Giles, the patron Saint of the Church, with the hind, which miraculoully nourilhed him in the defan. An old Bard deferibes tnis beautiful church in the following elegant Englyn : Clochdy twt, Hoeldy taldeg, Corwyndy Cryn-dwr hir cywreindeg ; Eglwys-dy wnaedyn glws-deg, Monwent Hardd, a meini teg ! There was a print of Wrexham Church publilhed fome years ago, by Mr. Boydell. 6 Gresford Church is noted for the fweet melody and variety of its bells, as well as for its pidlurefque fituation, being feated on the brow of an eminence, over a beautiful little valley, whofe end opens into the vail expanfe of the Vale Royal of Cheihire. The church is extremely bandlome, but lefs ornamented than that of Wrexham, though built in the fame reign ; the tower is adorned wi h images of the Apollles; and cn one fide, in a niche, is the figure of Henry the Seventh. 7 The bridge over the Dee, at Llangollen, is alfo numbered among the Tri Thlws Cymry, or one of the three beauties of Wales; but I think it more remarkable for its lovely fituation than llrudlure: it confilts of five arches, the widell of which does not exceed 2$ feet in diameter j but the view around is wonderfully pidlurefque, and exceeds moll things of the kind. Some Wellh poet has deferibed the bridge in the following Englyn : Pont Itofog pen Tlyfau, pent union, Pont enwog, bentanau ; Pont gaerog, pwyntiau gorau, Pont tew gldg, pen taeog glau ! Llangollen Bridge was built by John Trevaur, Bilhop of St. Afaph, about A. D, 1350, according to Brown Willis's furvey of that See , page 52, and 285 ; and Pennant's Journey in Wales. The natives of Derbylhire, alfo, like Wales, have their Seven Wonders of the Peak ; on which Colley Cibber wrote the following facetious couplet: “ Seven famous daughters Derby’s Peak can boall; ‘‘ Six are grim jades — but Chatworth * is a toall.” Lelattd, calls that admirable workmanlhip, Henry the Vllth's Chapel, the wonder of the world : and Dr. Johnfon fays, “ Salijlury Cathedral, and its neighbour Stonehenge, are two eminent monuments of art and rudenefs, and may Ihew the firll elfay, and the lalt perfedtion, in architedlure.” * The feat of the Duke of Devonlhire. q " Lhe ! [ 51 ] ?he ELECT to LLEUCU LLWTD. iThis lady was reckoned a great beauty, and was a native of Penial, in the county of Meirionydd. She was greatly beloved by Llywelyn Gocb, ab Meurig Hen, of Nannau ; and died when he was gone on a journey to South Wales: upon his return he cotnpoled this Elegy : 1“ Nid oes yn Ngnvynedd beddynu, ' " Hallow, iia llevoych, nalhnxi, ifc.” How is Gwynedd1 bereft of its bright luminary ! how its heaven is enveloped with darknefs, ever fincc the full moon of beauty has been laid in the filent tomb ! Mournful deed ! O lovely fair in the oaken cheft, my fpeech can find no utterance fincc thou art gone. O thou of fhape divine, lamp of Gzbynedd, how long haft thou been confined in the gloomy grave ? Arife, thou that art dearer to me than life ; open the difmal door of thine earthly cell! Leave, O fair one ! thy fandy bed ; (bine upon the face of thy lover : here, by thy tomb, generous maid, of noble defeent, Hands one whole mirthful days are paft, whofe countenance is pale, with the lofs of thee ; even Llywelyn Goch} the celebrater of thy praife, pining for the love of thee* helplefs and forlorn, unequal to the talk of fongi 1 heard, O thou that art confined in the deep and difmal grave, nought out of thy lips but truth, my fpeechlefs fair ! nought, O thou of flately growth, faireft of virgins fair ! but that thou hadft promifed, now unfeeling to the pangs of love, to Hay till I came from South Wales, lovely filk-fhrouded maid ! The falfe dellinies fnatched thee out of my fight; it nought concerns me to be expofed to the flormy winds, fince the agreen ent between thee and penfive me is void ! Thou, thou lovely maid, wert true I was falfe, and now fruitlefsly bemoan ! From henceforth I will bid adieu to fair Gwynedd. It concerns not me whither I go; I mull forego my native foil for a virtuous maid, whom it were my happinefs to love, were fhe alive ! O thou whofe angelic face was become a proverb, thy beauty is laid low in the lonefome tomb ! the whole world, without thee, is nothing; fuch anguifh do I fuffer ! I, thy penfive Bard, ramble in dif- trefs, bewailing the lofs of thee, illuflrious maid ! Where, O where, (hall I fee thee, thou of form divine, bright as the full moon! Is it on the mount of olives, lovelieft of women ? Ovid's love was nothing in comparifon to mine. Lovely thy form was worthy of heaven, and my voice hath failed in invoking thy name : alas! woe is me, fair maid of Penial \ it founded as a dream to me to hear that thy charms were laid in the dull, and thofe lips, which I oft have praifed, excelled the utmoft efforts of my mule. O my foul, whiter than the foam of rapid ftreams, my love, I have now the heavy tafk of compofing thy Elegy ! Lovely Virgin, how are thy bright Ihining eyes clofed in everlafting fleep, in the ftony tomb ! Arife to thy penfive Bard, who can fmile no more, were he poffeffed of a kingdom ; arife in thy filken veil, lift up thy countenance from the difmal grave I tell no untruth; my feet are benumbed by walking around thy dwelling place, O Lleucu Llwyd, where heretofore, bright lamp of Gwynedd, I was wont to celebrate thy beauty in fine flowing verfe, where I was wont to be merry in praifing thy delicate hand, and tapering fingers, ornamented with rings of gold, lovely Lleucu, delicate, fweet-tempered I.leucu, thou wert far more precious than reliques to me ! The foul of the darling of Meirionydd is gone up to God, its original author ; and her fair body is depo- fited in the fanfluary of holy ground, far, far from me, in the filent tomb! The treafure of the world is left in the cuftody of a haughty black man ; longing and melancholy dirges are the portion of my lot. I la- ment, with faultering accents, over thee, lovely Lleucu, whiter than the fleaks of driven fnow ! Yefterday I poured down my cheeks fhowers of tears over thy tomb ; the fountains of my head are dry ; my eyes are ftrangers to fleep, fince thou art gone ; thou, fair-formed fpeechlefs maid, haft not deigned to anfwer thy weeping Bard. How I lament, alas, that earth and ftones Ihould cover thy lovely face ; alas ! that the tomb fliould be made fo fall;—that duft fhould ever cover the paragon of beauty ;—that ftony walls and a coffin ffiould feparate thee and me ;—that the earth fliould lock thee faft in her bofom ;—that a ffiroud ftiould enclofe a beauty that rivalled the dawn of the morn;—alas! that ftrong doors, bolts, and (lately locks, fliould divide us for ever \ Llywelyn Gocb ab Meurig Wn, circa A. D. 1390. * Gwynedd is the WeHh name for North Wales. 1 “ / liaradwys i brydu, “ IV aeth e'r Fair lor Uthr fu : “ Gnvai/b hoff gan Ddeifydd Brojfwyd, “ Datganu cerdd Lleucu Llwyd ; “ Anniwair fu yn ei oes, “ Y careidd fardd, ceryddfoes % “ Puro Telyn par teulu, ‘ ‘ Serchog; edifeiriog fu. ’ ’— ■ - O Gywydd Marwnad Lin. Gdch ab Meirig Hen, 0 Nannau ; 0 gant lolo G6ch< r SAITH C Si ] r SAITH GELFTDDTD IVLADAIDB. THE SEVEN RURAL ARTS, 1. Garddwriaeth. Agriculture, and Gardening. 2. Saeryddiaeth. Carpentry, and Building. 3. Gofaniaeth. The art of a Smith, or Handicraft. 4. Nyddiaeth, Spinning, and Weaving. 5. Milwriaeth, Defence, or the art of War. 6. Longwriaeth. Navigation, or the Maritime art. 7. Meddyginiaeth. The Efficacy of Plants, or Phyfick.* • The above are a lift of the primitive rural arts, which apparently were the foundation of fciences. Agreeable to the old adage, ** neieffity is the mother of invention-,” and there can be no doubt but food, raiment and comfort, were the firft confiderations of man j and according as the mechanic art gradually improved, when mankind became more enlightened, thefe branched again into feven Others, which are the feven liberal arts ; that is, grammar, logick, rhetorick, mufc, arithmetic, geometry, and afronomy; and thefe again branched into various fubdivifions. See of Ancient Britijh Poejy, in the previous page 8 ; of the Tvsenty-four Ancient Britijh Games, in the firjl Volume, page 36 ; and of Mujic, and Poetry, in pages 29 and 30 of the fame Volume. r sAirn gefnderjv saint, the seven cousin saints. Dewi, a Chybi, achubant bob d^n bennydd, David,1 and Cybif will fave every man, A dwyn Beuno yn warant: And bring Beuno1 as a pledge : Cadfan, Cynfarch a bar chant, Cadvanf and Cynvarchf do honour. Deinioel, gyda Seiriol Sant! And Deiniol? with Seiriol1 the Saint. LlymaW Saith, eurfaith arfer, ganfeuduiy, Thefe are the feven, a permanent golden rule j Gwynfydic bob amfer j A Hermit is at all times blefs’d. A fyny maen graen grynder, Who obtains the round grain’d ftone*: AW Saith, a weles y Ser. And the Seven contemplated the Stars. * St. David, the Archbifhop, and Patron Saint of Wales, who founded the Cathedral Church of St, David, in Pembrokelhire, about A. D. 447. a St. Cybi, the founder of Caer-gybi, or Holyhead, in Anglefey. 3 St. Beuno, the Abbot, and founder of Clynnog Monafery, &c. in Caernarvonlhire, about A. D. 616. Seepage 10. 4 St. Cadvan, an Abbot of the Monaftery in Bardfey Ifland j and there was another, the founder of Tovoyn Church, in Merioneth- fhire, where his tomb ftill remains. 3 Cynvarch, the 27th King of Britain. * St. Daniel was the firft Biftiop of Bangor in Caernarvonlhire, and flourilhed about A. D. 516, and died in the Illand of Bardfey, in the year 544. 7 There is a little ifland, on the coaft of Anglefey, which lies about a mile and half from the priory, called Tnys Seiriol, or St. Seiriol’s Ifland, but is moft commonly named in Englilh, the Brief holm If and-, which was an ancient fan&uary for Priefts. It is alfo famous in fummer for a great number of birds, called Pufins, which emigrate at the beginning of winter. 8 The above roundfione probably alludes to the Altar-Stone, or to thofe who were qualified to prefide, after taking Prieft’s orders; or it may allude to the Druids, whoufed to have a Cryftal-Gem, or a Magic-Gem, which was about the fize of a large watch ; one of which I have got. (See Woodward on Fojf Is.) The Druids were alfo great aftronomers. See page-j. The Britilh Saints were the founders of moft of the Britilh Churches and Monafteries, and were, as we may fay, the fucceflbrs of the Bardic-Druids, fo far, that they pofieffed, like the former, all the learning and philofophy of their time, as I have already mentioned in page 43, but with this difference, the Bards adhered minutely to truth, as their laws were very fevere in fine, and im- prifonment, if they deviated from it. The Monks, I believe, were not conftrained ; they intermixed fuperftition and fable among their records,, therefore, are not altogether to be depended upon, fo much as the former; however, we are indebted to them for what information they have left us. St Kentigern founded feveral Churches, and was efteemed a very learned divine. He wrote a Manual of his Minif cries; of the Death of St. David; of the Obedience of Man ; an Epifle to King Rbydderch Had; of Mutual Charity ; of Peace; of Ho/pitality ; of Reading-, and of Praying not written, &c. Kentigern had a college of 365 fcholars, and was the firft Bifliop of Llandwy, in Den- bighfhire, about the year 540. He ftri&ly obferved the form of the primitive church, and lived with great abftinency. Kentigern wore a robe made of goat Ikins, and a long white garment with a ftraight hood. He lived to the remarkable age of 185 years, and was buried at St. Afaph's cathedral, and by whom he was fucceeded. Boneddy Saint, and Achau V Saint Ttnys Prydain, or the Noble Defcent, and Genealogies of the Britifti Saints of the Ifland of Britain, which would be a moft valuable work if it were tranflated and publifhed. I ought not to omit mentioning here one of our primitive Britifh Cattles, which ftands upon a pleafant contck hill, in viewof Langollen Bridge before-mentioned, in page 50, called Cafell Dinas Bran, from Bran, latinized Brennus, the fecond fon of Dyfnwal Moelmud, the famous law-giver; and whofe mother’s name was Cornwen, whence the town of Corwen derives its name. This Bran married a prin- cefs of the Galli Senones ; and by the help of his brother Bell, Belinus, (or Belgius,) King of Britain, he overran Italy, took the city of Rome, and kept pofTcflion of it feven months, which was about 390 years before Chrift, and 364 years after the building of Rome. See Plutarch's Life of Camillas. Strabo calls him Bren-, and Poll bins 2. and Jufin 25. c. 2. corroborate the Britilh Hiftory of ’T’yfilio, in this point. Cafell Dinas Bran, or the Caftle of the City of Bran, near Llangollen, in Denbighfhire, is laid to have been founded by the faid Bran, or Brennus-, and there is alfo a Lordfhip adjoining theretc^ralled to this day Dinbren. Dinas Bran Caflle was in repair, and inhabited by Gruffydd ab Madog, who was Lord thereof in the time of Edward the Firft. r SAITH [ S3 ] T SMTH CTSGADUR: or THE SEVEN SLEEPERS. After the number Three1, the number Seven feems to have been held in the greateft veneration by the and is fometimes called the holy number, the prophetic number, or the myftical number. rX he greateft part of the ancient facrifices were by Sevens. “ In the beginnings of your months ye Hull offer burnt offering unto the Lord j feven lambs of the fiift year without fpot.” Numbers, chap, xxvni. v. ii. " Sev’n bullocks, yet unyok’d, for Phoebus chufe, «« And for Diana Sev’n unfpotted ewes.” Dryden. The world confifteth of the harmony of the Seven unities, natural, conjugal, regular, perfonal, effential, ecclefiaftical, and political The age of the world is ufually divided by fevens, as well as the feven ages of man ; the feVen days of the week ; the feven wonder* of the world. The fon of a feventh fon was efteemed a prophet. The animals which entered the Ark of Noah were by fevens. “ Of every clean beaft thou Jbalt take to thee by /evens" “ Of fovils alfo of the air by _/eve«r.”-Genefis, chap. vii. “The num- ber 7 has a wonderful property ; a right-angled triangle is conflituted of the fides three, four, five ; but three, and four contain the right angle, which is perfedtion itfelf, and therefore their fum feven* mull as a number, be moll perfedh Every adtive body has three dimenfions length, breadth, and thicknefs, and thefe have four extremes, point, line, furface, and folid, and thefe together make up the number feven.” The Lyre of Orpheus, and Amphion had only feven firings. Fhe feven diatonic notes of mufic ; the fevent prifmatic colours, analogous to the feven notes in mufic; the feven trumpets; the feven planets; the feven liars: the feven in- ward parts of man ; the feven exterior parts; the feven objedls of fight ; the feven wife men of Greece ; the feven wife mailers, and the feven wife millreifes of Rome ; the feven champions of Chriflendom, and the feven excellences of man. Our druidical anceflors appear to have been well acquainted with NaturalHiltory, as well as with Botany, and other fciences, (fit the firft volume of this work, page a,, 8, and 84,^ as may be feen from their minute obfervations of the progrefs of animals in the following traditional memorial, of the leven fleepers, which I have never feen mentioned in any Book, therefore 1 lhall briefly relate it. 1. Y Pathew. The Dormoufe. 2. Y Draeog. The Urchin, or Hedge-hog. 3- Crogen granc, The Land Tortoife. 4* YNeidr. The Snake. 5* Y Llyffant, The Toad. 6. YJlym. The Bat. 7- Yr Arth, The Bear \ * See the Triads, and the firfl volume of this work. 1 The Bear, the Beaver, the Wolf, &c. were common in this ifland formerly. There is a place In Cardiganfhire, and in Pem- brokelhire, called Aber-Arth, or the Bear’s Brook. Some reckon the Swallow one of the feven fleepers, but it is more probably one of the emigrating birds, or birds of paflage; fuch as the Woodcock, the Redoing, the Fieldfare, the Cuckoo, the Stork, the Crane, the Nightingale, the Quail, the Puffin, the Black-cap, the Wheat-ear, the Fly-catcher, the Martin, the Stone chat, the Whin-chat, the White-throat, the Butcher-bird, &c. Milton, in his Paradife Loll, has exprefled the migration of birds, in the following elegant manner: “ Thus they, rang’d in figure, wedge their way, “ Intelligent of fealons, and let forth “ Their airy caravan, high over leas “ Flying, and over lands with mutual wing “ Eafing their flight: fo fleers the prudent crane ** Her annual voyage, borne on winds ; the air “ Floats as they pafs, fann’d with unnumber’d plumes.” — “ Of every bead, and bird, and infedt fmall, “ Came fevens, and pairs.” Milton, “ The Stork in the Heaven kneweth her appointed times, and the Turtle, and the Crane, and the Swallow, obferve the time of their coming." Jeremiah viii. v. 7. Refearches into the fprings of natural bodies, and their motions, Ihould awaken us to admire the wonderous wifdom of our Creator in all the works of nature. S ' AUTHENTIC DOCUMENTS OF ANCIENT BRITISH HISTORY. The Poem from which this is tranflated is one of the moll ancient of any that are preferved ; and on that account is rather obfeure in many paflages; and it is feledted from an idea that it will be more interelling than fome others of greater merit, becaufe addrefled to an illullrious charadter, whofe name is familiar to the enlightened hillorian. It celebrates the battles of Galgacus, the chief of the Northern Britons, who fo eminently lignalized hinifelf in oppofing the Roman legions, mdet Agricola, about A. D. 83. The Bri- tilh Triads, and this poem are the only memorials, that I can find, of Galgacus, which are preferved amongll his countrymen : the former tells us, that Gwallawg ab Lleenog, Dunawdab Pabo, and Cynfelyn Drwfgyl, were the three pillars of battle of the ifle of Britain. CAN 1 WALLAWG AB LLEENAJVG. A SONG TO GWALLOG, OR GALGACUS, THE SON OF LLEENOG *. In the name of the potent Ruler of Heaven, the fupporter of his friends fhall keep his dwellings in peaceful fecurity, with his glittering princely fpear. Warring chieftains, ruthlefs and fierce, are fupported by the fair dale of Lleenog; they fhiver afhen (hafts reeking in its defence. Long will they remain confpi- cuous in Britain’s fair memorials.—From the regions of Maw, and Eiddyn, they would not accept of an in- tercourfc. • Lkenog is a name which the father of Galgacus moft likely acquired for his learning ; which the word implies, Q. Friendly t 54 1 Friendly was the aid of Clydwyn, fupplied in abundance was his fleet with the glittering fhafts of tumults— ambition provides for every one a grave ! Galgacus fatiated the devouring jaws of battle; better is the food of violent flaughter than the bear; the battle of Agathes, by fame protedled, filled the hungry mouth of her brother. There was a battle in the region of Bretrwyn—amidft the heat of violent fire the ambitious fhews himfelf politic. There was the battle of fry in well conduced order; there was the battle in Aeron-, the trembling conflift; the battles in Arddunioriy and Aeron proclaim reproach to the fons of men. At a battle in the woods of Beid, ruddy be the ipear! thou didfl not confider thy foes! From the battles near Llydawdoly and Mabon, he who records to other times tells of none that efcaped ; at the battle in Gwenjleriy to bring Lloegria low* the hafty fpears were fhivered; at the battle on the plain of Terra, with the dawn, the death-dealing blows fent their fleet meflengers of pain, on firft uttering the (bout of war, by chiefs delighting in tumultuous flaughter. Men who made hoftile inroads for the lowing herds were Haearnddur, and Hyvaidd, and Galgacus; and Owain of Mona, with iron-guarded head*, wont to proftrate low the men of fpears. At the end of the foreft of fwords lay ftrewed the bodies which flieathed the blades, and in wild confufion the ravens hovering over. It is acknowledged in Prydain, and in Eiddyn, in Gavran, and in the out-poflof Brycheiog, clad in the armour of terror, fcouting in the path of war, none will fee a hero who faw not Galgacus. Could the fituation of the places mentioned in the above piece be traced out, one might form a probable conje&ure in what part of North Britain lay the territory of Galgacus. One place mentioned is well known, and that is Eiddyn, or Edinburgh ; and there is reafon to fuppofe, from hints in other ancient pieces, that Aeron lay farther South, either in, or near Northumberland. I have little doubt bnt that a perfon, having a knowledge of the Southern parts of Scotland, and the North of England, would be able to recognize feveral places mentioned by the bards who were natives of thofe diUriels. O-uoain o Feiricn, See mure, in thejirjl Volume of Carte’s Hijlory of England, page 124. AN INVOCATION TO THE WIND. A literal Tranjlation from a Poem by David ab Gwilym. The Welfh Bards of the middle ages had a dafs of poetical compofitions, which may be peculiarly called their own, confiding of pieces, wherein fome being, real, or imaginary, was invoked to be the meflenger of the Popt’s commands; and which generally re- lated to love fubjefts; and fometimes the mefl'age was addrefled to a patron, requefting a favourite gift. The fubverfion of the ancient government, by the conqueft of Edward the Firit, was the caufe of great alterations even in the li- terary eompofitions of the Wellh; and in that period it was that thefe mejfage poems became very conusum and'popular in the country. Wind of the firmament, of ready courfe and ftrong of voice, in ranging far away ! A terrible being art thou, uttering founds mod hoarfe ; the bravado of the world, without foot, or wing : it is a wonder how awfully thou haft been placed, from the ftorehoufe of the fky, without any one fupport; and now how fwiftly doft thou run over the hill 1 Tell me, my never-refting friend, of thy journey on fome northern blaft over the dale. Ah, friend, go from Aeron f brightly fair, with a clear note; ftop thou not, nor goflip ; fear not becaufe of little Hunchback J. A complaint of impeachment ferving ill-nature! My country and its bleffings are a prifon to me !—Soon thou wouldeft ftrip the bufli when thou art bufied in fcattering leaves: no one will queftion thee, none will ftop thee, nor arrayed hoft, nor deputed hand, nor the bine blade, nor flood, nor rain : inadvertently thou wilt not be hindered by a mother’s Ion : fire will not burn thee; thou wile not be weakened by deceit; drown thou wilt not, through lack of any warning; thou wilt not get en- tangled, for thou art without an angle ; the fwift fteed is not wanted under thee, nor bridge over the ftream, nor boat; no catchpole will arreft thee, nor the power of a clan, in thy day of triumph, thou that winnoweft the feathered tops of trees. No eye can ken thee on thy vaft naked couch ; a thoufand fhall hear thee, neft of the pouring rain : thou art God’s bounty along the earth, thou roaring and irritating breaker of the top of the oak, thou fhouter, in the morn of day, on high ; thou wafter of the heap of chaff, gruff of voice! Thou comeft a tempeft on a calm of the fea; a fickle youth on the land bank’d * This will bear another conftruftion—following the cuflom of Maelguun : a common name among the Britons, that means, wearing a helmet. •j-On the banks of the river in Cardiganfhire. J Literally, the Little Bow, the common epithet, which the poet gave to his fortunate competitor for fair Morvudd; his real name was Rys Gwgan, who was a captain in the Englifh army at the celebrated battle of CreJTy. 1 water: [ 55 1 water: an eloquent and enticing thief art thou ; the fcatterer, and heaper of the fallen leaves. Thotl pri* vileged impeller, the wafter of the hill, thou ruthlefs lord of the firmament, that flyefi: over the whole bofom of the briny ocean to the extremities of the world ! Storm of the hill be above to night! Wretched am I, that I fliould have placed my affeftion on Morvudd, a gentle and fpleridid maid ! A nymph who made me a captive!—Run on high towards her father’s houfej ftorm the door, and caufe it to be opened, before the day appears, to receive my melTage j and find a way to her, if that can be, and utter the note of my figh. Thou that comeft from the far-extending figns, fay thus to my fincere and ge- nerous one—£C Whilft in the world I remain, I fhall be a faithful lover: and woe is to my face without her, if true that fhe is not unfaithful!” Go high ! thou fhalt fee the fair one—Go low ! choofe a courfe, thou running element! Go to the yellow-haired -Profperous be thy return !—Farewell thou friendly gale ! AN INVOCATION ADDRESSED TO ST. DWYNWEN*. The following i& a Literal Tranllation of a poem, fele&ed from the works of David ab Gnviljrri, printed in Welfli, at London, in I789, edited by MelT. O. Jones and W. Owen. This Bard flourilhed about the middle of the thirteenth century. He has always been a great favourite with his countrymen, and is generally denominated the Ovid of (Valesi. Dwynwen, fair as the hoary tears of morning, thy golden Image in its choir, illumed with waxen torch* well knows the pains of yonder crofs-grained mortals how to cure ! A wight that watches within thy choir, bleft is his happy turn, thou fplendid beauty! with ailings, nor with tortured mind, none fhall return from Llanddwyn -f. Thy extended guardianlhip I crave, within thy holy diftri ANECDOTE [ 56 ] ANECDOTE OF EINION, THE BARD, of the ancient Houfe of TREVEILIR, in the parijh of ’Trefdraeth, in ANGLESEY; who flourifhed about A. D. 1166 : now thefeat of Charles Evans, Efq. Eingian, (or Einion,) was the fon of Gwualchmai, the fon of Meilir, and lord of Tre Veilir, in Anglefey : He was an intrepid war- rior, an excellent mufician, and poet. There are five pieces ftill preferved of his poetry, in old Welfh manufcripts; he was lineally defcended of Bards, from age to age. His coat of arms was, “ Argent, 3 ^war-fadles, Jiirruped Or.” Tradition informs us, that Ednyfed Vycban, had a beautiful daughter, (by Neft, the daughter of the illuftrious, Llywarch ab Bran,) whofe name was Angharad. This young lady had many fuitors, and in confequence of the number of felicitations which had been made to the father, to obtain his daughter ; he at laft propofed to her the following rural mode, which fhould decide her fate, in a hufband: and that was, which ever of her admirers, proved to be the bell leaper over Aber-nod'wydd, Ihould be pofleffed of her; which was agreed to by Angharad', (knowing her favourite Einion was eminent in the 24 Britijh Games, which were then very much in vogue in Wales:) confequently, a day was fixed upon, and publicly announced for the trial of fkill, in the Britifh Olympick, wherein Einion, the fon of Gnualcbmai, won the lady at that exhibition of a&ivity, by leaping the immenfe dirtance of fifty feet; at hop, ftep, and jump, over the brook, called Abernodwydd ; and in commemoration of which, three Hones, at thofe intervals, were immediately erefted on the fpot, and where they Hill remain to this day, in a dingle called Naid-Abernod-wydd, or the leap of Abernodwydd, near the domain of Plds-G Pwy wyti ? Who are you ? Eingian am galwan', fo'm gw eft r, amgylch, Einion, I am of Meilir's, noble race. Fab Gwalchmai ab Meilir The fon of Gwalchmai*, hero of renown : Swrn-ehud, fiwrnai o-hir, In foreign climes I (laid fo long a fpace. Drwgyw 'nhjb, 0 drigo 'n hir: That now, my friends no longer will me own. Pa le buoft ? Where hajl thou been ? Bum yn Ngwent, yn Nghent, yn nghudd, yn mynnau, In Kent, in Monmouth, and in Alpian plains; Bum yn Maenol Dafydd, In David’s fruitful meads, and blefl: abode; Bum yn Nyjfryn gwyn y gwydd And to convince you, ftill with me remains Aro, mae gan i arwydd. A mark, which from my childhood firft I bore. Fe edrychai ei wraig arno, ac ynteu a ddywedai ■, His wife obferving him more narrowly, hefaid; Nag edrych Angharad dan odryn fy ngwallt Look not, Angharad, on my filver hair. Lie bu wyllt fy nrhemyn; Which once fhone bright of lovely funny hue : Llwyd heb gel, lie bu felyn, Man doth not laft like gold; he that was fair. Nid fel yr aur da, V a'r d\n, Will foon decay—though gold be frelh and new^ Er gweled blaened i'm blino, madws My weary wand’ring thus fo dearly bought. A 'mydyn newidio; Since home I quitted for an adverfe lot; Angharad ni red 0 nghof Atgharad yet has never left my thought; Eingian aeth i ti'n anghof. But Einion with you, is too foon forgot. Os collais Angharad, wych eirian ei rhyw, If I have loft Angharad, lovely fair. Rhodd Ednyfed Fychan; The gift of brave Ednyfed, and my fpoufe; Ni chollaf, ewch chwi allan, All I've not loft, all muft from hence repair. Na'm gwely, na'm ty, na'm tan. Nor bed, nor board, nor yet my ancient houfe, Neidiais, a bwriais heb orwydd danaf, I once have leap’d, to (hew my attive power, Wei dyna feiftrolrwydd! A leap which none could equal, or exceed ; Naidfawr, deiliw gw awry gwydd, The leap o'ev Aber-Nodwydd, which thou, fair flow'r Ar naid tros Aber-nodwydd. Did once fo much admire—thyfelf the meed. Deg-troedfedd, haelwedd hylwydd, a deugain, Full fifty-feet, as ftill the truth is known. A digon 0 w'rantrwydd; And many witneftes can ftill atteft. A'r rhodd a fu ddigon rhwydd How there the prize I won, thyfelf muft; own. Amy naid tros Abernodwydd. This a&ion ftamptmy worth within thy breaft. Eingian fab Gwalchmai, at Cant. • Gwalcbmai, as well as Meilir, were celebrated Bards, the f< er was Lord of Malltraetb, and the latter was Lord of Trt-veilir, in Anglcfey, AN AN ADDRESS TO OWEN GLYN-DWR, containing a DESCRIPTION of his MANSION and GROUNDS; Written about A. D. 1390, By the Bard, IOLO GOCH. A literal Tranflation from the Welfh. I have repeatedly given mv word and promife to pay this vifit: every man fhould be always mindful to fulfil his engagement! It is a nice point; ’tis juft ; it is a matter of great confequence : it is a propitious vow, to go to Owen's palace. There lhall I go forthwith, and there (hall I make my abode, to be refpect- fully entertained with him, and his honourable companions. My noble Lord, the Cler's benefa£tor, will deign to receive a decrepid bard : Poefy is loud in praife of his liberality to the aged. To a palace fur- rounded with water I go; of hundreds, the moft excellent: a Baron’s palace, the manfion of generofity, the refort of Bards for their benefit. The magnificent habitation of the chief lord of Powis, and the hope of deferving petitioners. This is its defeription, and fituation ; encircled with a moat filled with water. The entrance into this goodly edifice, is by a coftly gate, on a bridge over the pool. Gothic arches, adorned with mouldings, every arch aichwife alike. A tower of St. Patrick, in the elegant antique order, like the cloifter of Weft- minfter. Ev ry angle united together with girders, a compacft, noble, golden chancel, concatenated in linked order, like an arched vault, all conjoined in harmony. A Neapolitan building of eighteen apartments, a fair timber ftrufture, on the fummit of a green hill, reared towards Heaven, on four ad- mirable piiafters. On the top of each of thefe firm wooden fupporters, is fixed a timber floor, of curious architefture : and thefe four pleafant and elegant floors, conntdled together, and divided into eight chamber-lofts ; every part, and ftately front, covered with (hingles; and chimneys to convey away the fmoke. Nine halls of fimilar conftrudlion, and a wardrobe over every one. Neat, clean, commodious, well furnifhed warehoufes, like (hops in London. A quadrangular church, well built, and white-wafhed. Chapels well glazed. Plenty on every fide; every part of the houfe a palace : an orchard, and vineyard well fenced. Yonder, below, are feen herds of flags feeding in the park: the rabbet-warren of the chief Lord of the nation. Implements; mettlefome deeds ; and fair meadows of grafs, and hay ; well ordered corn fields; a good corn-mill on a clear ftream ; and a ftone turret for a pigeon houfe. A deep and fpacious fifii-pond for the cafting of nets, where may be found pikes, and gwyniad, or mearlings, in plenty. Three tables well furnifhed with the beft breed of peacocks and cranes. All m ceflary tools, and inftruments for every kind of work. The beft Salopian ale, cho\cc wajfail, and braggets\ wines, and all kinds of liquors, and manchets; and the Cook with his fire in the noble kitchen. His refidence is an encampment of Bards; every one finds there a lodging. His wife, the beft of wives; I am blefied with her politenefs, with wine, and mead. A charming female of a noble extraftion, liberal, and of an honourable family. His children come in pairs; a beautiful neft of chieftains. A lock, or a latchet, is feldom feen within his manfion, or a door keeper, or porter : refrefhments are never wanting; hunger, thirft, want, or reproach, are never known in Sycharth : the proprietor of this demain is hardy and valiant, and the beft of Britons: a tall, adlive, accomplifhed gentleman owns this moft delightful palace*. See tnore in thefirjl •volume, page 39. * O-wen ab Griffith Vaughan, Baron, and Lord of Glyndyfrdwy, died in A. D. 1415 ; and his eftate now belongs to Colonel Salijlury Vaughan, of Bug, in Merionethfhire. Aboui this period, the Britifh Nobility lived in a princely ftatfe, as appears by the rules fettled by Llywelyn de Bromfeld and his Council, forttie management of his houfhold. He had the following officers ; a fteward of his houfhold, chamberlain, chaplains, al- moner, uffier of the hall, gentlemen of the horfe, butler, cook, baker, door-keeper of the chambers, porter, groom of the horfe, appa- ritor, with their affidants. One part of the marffial of the hall’s duty was, every day after dinner was over, to deliver with an audible voice, what the expence of the table amounted to, and at the fame time, to admonifh toceconomy. When his Lordlhiorode out, he was attended by all his officers, and by about a dozen Efquires. From Llyfr Cich Afaph ; written about A. D. 1315. TRAETHAJVD O APHRONDDTSG PHILOSOPHICAL OBSERVATIONS, PRE- CTMRAEG. CEPTS, AND ADAGES, OF THE ANCIENT BRITISH SAGES. Nerth Eryr yn ei gylfin. The Eagle’s ftrength is in his beak. Nerth Unicorn yn ei gorn. The Unicorn’s ftrength is in his horn. Nerth Sarph yn ei chloren, The Serpent’s ftrength is in its fling. Nerth Hwrddyn ei ben. The Ram’s ftrength is in his head. Nerth Arth yn ei breichiau. The Bear’s ftrength is in his paws. Nerth Earw yn ei ddwyfron. The Bull’s ftrength is in his breaft. Nerth Ci yn ei ddant. The Dog’s ftrength is in his teeth. Nerth Pwrchyn ei aflach. The Boar’s ftrength is in his bridles. Nerth Tfguthanyn ei hadanedd. The Queeft’s ftrength is in her v/ings. Nerth Llew yn eigynffon. The Lion’s ftrength is in his tail. Nerth Gwraigyn ei thafod. A Woman’s ftrength is in her tongue. R There 58 PRECEPTS, AND PROVERBS, OF THE ANCIENT BRITISH SAGES. There is alfo, an elegant Ode by Anacreon, which is not diffimilar to the foregoing idea: “ Nature to every creature is a friend " Nature to man lias given ftrong-fenfe in ftore, “ Horns arm the bull) and hoofs the horfe defend; “ But not to women, they have fomething more : “ Hares toefcape, have fwitt and tender feet; " Beauty they have, to which all things mull yield, “ Lions have horid teeth, their foes to meet. “ Beauty, which ferves them, both for lance and ftiield ; “ Fifties are form’d with fins, thro’ feas to glide; “ Light arm’d with this, they nothing more require, “ And birds to fly have pinions at their fide. “ It ferves inllead of fwords, inftead of fire.”—— Llyma Rinweddau y Ceiliog. THESE ARE THE QUALITIES OF THE CHANTICLEER. T Ceiliog Jydd Organ y nos—Rhingyll y djdd— The cock is the organ of the night—the herald Barddy tywyllwch—Tarfwry/brydion drwg—Meddyg of the day—the bard of darknefs—the fearer of y cleifion—Gobaith y carcharion—Cyfarwyddyd y evil fpirits—the phyfician of the fick—the hope of cyfeiliorn.—Rhybuddiwr gwasanaethwyr Duw, a'r the prifoners—the guide of the wanderer—the hwsmyn, a'r trafaelwyr \ Ceryddwry cysgaduriaid.— warner of the fervants of God, and of the hufband- Arvoyddyw ei ganiadymlaen yjbryd dd; a chyny cam ef nien, and the travellers; and the reprover of the a giir ei yfilys deirgwaith a'i adenydd, mol wrth argy- fleepers. His fong is a fignal before a good fpirit; hoeddi Petr am wadu eiArglwydd, I ddihuno ei galon i and before he crows he flaps his fides three times erchi nawdd Dduw, gan dderchafu ei ben tu a'r with his wings, (as he did to rebuke Peter for de- Nefoedd a phan ddijgyno i'r llawr, aphan welo ef ei nying Chrift,) to awake his heart to feek the protec- luniaeth ef a gdn i ddiolch i Dduw, ac a eilw ei gymmar, tion of God, by lifting up his head towards heaven; a'i gyd-etifeddion atto, i ddangos eu lluniaeth iddynt, then when he defeends to the ground, and beholds his cyny treulio ddim ei him, yn arwydd gras, a chywirdeb. food, he crows, to thank the Deity, and he calls his partner and his family to him, to flaew them their food, before he takes any tiring himfelf, as a token of virtue andjuftice.* # The Romans fixed their Vigils from the Crowing of the Cock: and in Heathen mythology, the Cock is facred to Mars, Apollo, and Aijculapius. lachaf cig llwdn gw jilt, Iwrch. The wholefomefl: flefli of wild beads, is the Roe-Buck. lachaf cig llwdn dof Twrch. Of tame beads, the Hog. lachaf cig edn gwdlt, Petris, Of wild fowls, the Partridge. lachaf cig edn dof Idr. Of tame fowls, the Hen. lachaf pyfgod mbr, Llythi. Of fea fifh, the Flounder, or Hat fidi. lachaf fyfgod dwr croyw, Brithyll. Of frelh-water fifh, the Trout. Llyfr Medd. See more of Animals in page 53. Dfgyn graff awelych-, Learn diligently what thou feed; Cadw yn graff a ddyfgych ; Keep diligently what thou learned; Adrodd y peth afedrych. And rn^ke known what thou knowed. Tri pheth fyn cadw y Bxdyn ei IS: The three things which keep the world in order: Cof-, d Chyfrif; a Mefur. Remembrance ; Reckoning ; and Meafure. Campau uwchlaw Cammau; Excellencies in the fuperlative degree : i Haelioni, a Chydfod, a Chywirdeb. Liberality; Concord; and Integrity. i Tri pbeth a ffynna ar des: Three things profper in the Sun; 7 Gwenith ; Gwenyn ; a Me.s. Wheat, Bees, and Acorns. 3 Tri pheth a geiff y Cybydd am ei dda: Poen yn Three things the mifer gets for his riches: pains ei gasglu; Gofal yn ei gadw ; a thriftwch yn ei golli. in heaping; anxiety in keeping ; and forrow in lofing. Tri Rhwyflr pen ffordd; The three delays on the highway : 7 Cneuen ; Merck wen ; a Gwiwair. A nut; a fair maid; and a fquirrel. 5 Nid Marchog, heb ffonn. No horfeman without his lance. Nid Peddeftr, heb fwa. No pededrian without his bow. Afgre lan, diogel ei pherchen. A clean bofom, is a found blefiing. Clywid Corn, cyny gweler. A horn is fooner heard, than feen. Gwafgu V haid cyn no'i cherdded. Be handy with the hive, ere the fwarm depart. Melys pangaer, chwerwpan daler. Sweet when had, and dear when paid for. Mel a'i gola. Honey dained with a ding. Nidy bore y mae cammol diwrnod teg. Praife not a fair day, until night. Malyfaf y gwellt nefaf i'r ddaear. Swceted the grafs, neared the ground. Goreu ANCIENT BRITISH PROVERBS, (fa 59 Goreu cyfgcd, cyfgod tlr, Earth is the beft (belter, ^ A goreu gair yw gair o ivlr. And truth the bed buckler. £ Chwarae ac na frkvi cellwair ac no, cbywilyddia. Play, but hurt not; jeft, but fhame not; Cennad bwyr, drwg el neges. A late meffage indicates bad news. Gnawd gwtn yn llano wledig. The wine in a feaft firft fits the founder. Mdb cof, gkr a'tb gof. The man remembereth the boy. Ni bu Arthur, end tra fu. Arthur himfelf had but his time. Lkvyd oc ynfyd ni ddigymmyddi. The wild, and the gray, ne’er agree. Da y w cof Mdb. Man’s wrong, is remembered long. Gnawd yn 61 dryghin, hindda. After (bowers, Phabus (bines. Gwell goddeu na gofal. Better patient, than paflionate. Haws gweuthur bebog o far cut, no marcbog o daiog. Eafier to make a falcon of a kite, - Than of a knave a knight. J Hhr gnif beb efgor lludded. Long grief, yields no relief. Lower gwir drzeg ei ddy wedyd. Many a truth is better untold. Gwelly wialen a blygo, no'r bon a dorrot Better the rod that bends, than breaks. Gwelly tynn mercb nd rbdff. A rope draws ftrong, but a maid draws (Ironger. Ni wicb Ci er ei daro ag asgzvrn, The dog fqueaks not when ftruck with a bone. Nid adwna Duw a wnaetb. "What God made, he never marrs. Hid anghof Brodyrdde. Fields got, are feldom forgot. Nid bwyd rhyfedd i ddiriaid. Strange di(bes antic, make men frantic. Nid neges beb farcb. No fpeed, without a deed. Nid dewr, ond Gwr. No valour equal to man’s. Nid glzuth, end mulfrant No glutton equal to the cormorant. Nid llyfeuwraig ondgafr. No herbahd equal to the goat. Nid rbywieg ond March. Nothing fo tra&able and (lately as the deed. Nid ferchog end Eos. No melody fo pleafant as the nightingale’s. Nid trais ond tan. No ravage equal to that of fire. Nid rhwyjlr end dwr. No obftruflion equal to that of water* Nid ysgafn ond wybr. No lightnefs equal to air. Nid trwm ond daiar. No weight equal to earth. Nid anfeidrol, ond dim. No infinity equal to nothing. Nid dim, ond Duw. Nothing good, but God. Conflantine the Great, the firft Chriftian Emperor of Britain, who fl- uriflied about D. 320, ufed to fay* that age appeared beft in four things: old wood to burn ; old wine to drink ; old friends to truft; and old authors to read. ODE, in Praife ^/Robert ab Meredith, by Rys Goch of Eryri, a Snowdonian Bardwhofourifhed about A. D. 1400 : [tranflated from the Welfh ; and v erf fed by the Rev. Rd. Williams.) Long had Gruffudd from afar. Cambria’s boafl:, and Conan's pride. Heard the horrid din of war; To Royalty itfelf allied. His bloody fpear, and glitt’ring fword. Loudly let the trump of fame Lay idle near their hoary Lord ; Tell the gallant hero’s name ; While lion-like he dormant lay, Alexander s praife be told. With age, and with misfortunes, gray. Wife in peace, in battle bold. His enemies with impious hands Try fan's golden crown fball grace Wrapt in fire his native lands. The faired flow’r of Conan's race. Yet ftart not at the tragic tale ; “ Rapt into future times,” I fee He faw the hoftile flames prevail. The Baron plum’d with vi&ory, He faw his forefis blazing round, Severn's filver dreams between ; His caflles hurled on the ground; And Gartbcn's bank, for ever green. And trembled not. From him (ball rife There (hall he meet his haughty foe, An offspring, lovely, brave, and wife 3 And tear the laurels from his brow. Tho’ [ 6o ] Tho’ fell detraction's breath impure This, this is he, great Conan's heir. His fhining merit wou’d obfcure j Comely, valiant, ftrair, and fair. Caution, avaunt! inglorious fear. ’Spight of envy, Tpight of fcorn. Hence ! avaunt! and come not near ! My Mufe his triumphs (hall adorn. Truth, guide my honeft pen to praifc And no ignoble trophies fpread The hero in dcfervcd lays. Around his ever-honour’d head. ON THE ANCIENT BRITONS. .■... ■. Stretch’d out in length. Their wives, their mothers all around, Where Nature put forth all her ftrength. Carelefs of order, on the ground In Spring eternal, lay a plain, Breath’d forth to Heaven, the pious vow, Where our brave fathers us’d to train And for a fon’s, or hufband’s brow. Their fons to arms, to teach the art With eager fingers wreaths they wove. Of war, and fteel the infant heart. Of oak clip’d.from the facred grove; Laboury their hardy nurfe when young. Planted by Liberty they find. Their joints had knit, their nerves had ftrung; The brows of conquerors to bind. Abjlinence, foe declar’d to death. To give them pride and fpirits, fit Had, from the time they firft drew breath. To make a world in arms fubmit. The beft of doClors, with plain food, What raptures did the bofom fire Kept pure the channel of their blood j Of the young, rugged, peafant fire. Health in their cheeks bade colour rife. When, from the toil of mimic fight. And glory fparkled in their eyes. Returning with, return of night; The inftruments of hufbandry. He faw his babe refign the breaft. As in contempt, were all thrown by. And, fmiling, Rroke thofe armsinjefi. And flattering a manly pride. With which hereafter he lhall make War’s keener tools their place fupply’d: The proudefl heart in Gallia quake 1 Their arrows to the head they drew ; Gods! with what joy, what honefi pride. Swift to the point their jav’lins flew; Did each fond, wdfhing, ruflic bride,' They grafp’d the fword, they Ihook the fpear ; Behold her manly Twain return ! Their fathers felt a pleafing fear. How did her love-fick bofom burn 1 And even Courage, {landing by, Tho’ on parades he was not bred, Scarcely beheld with Ready eye. Nor wore the livery of red. Each Rripling, leflbn’d by his fire. When, pleafure height’ning all her charms. Knew when to clofe, when to retire; She Rrain’d her warrior in her arms. When near at hand, when from afar And begg’d, whilR Love and Glory fire, To fight, and was himfelf a war. A fon, a fon juR like his fire ! Dr^wn on ti e (pot, by Edward Jones: and Engraved by J. An- derTi n. t his Cromlech (Druidical Attar ; or a Sepulchral Monument,) Hands near Lligwy.in the Pari!h of Penrhos.in Anglefey ; and is now erroneoufly called by the common people, Coeten Arthur, or King Arthur’s Qjoit ; as is alio that monument near Avlesford, in Kent, by the name of Kits-Ccity ; from Catteym, or Cattigern, (a brother of King V onimer,) the Britilh Chieftain of Kent, who fell in a battle with the Saxons, about the year 455 ; in which conflift Horfa was flain, and a fimilar memorial was erefted over his grave at Horjltd-, whence, that place derived its name. Printed by A. Strahan, S Printers.vtrtet, Lonaoxk. / „ 61 G o rh offe dd O wai n Cyfe i 1 i og* . LDc /"> i/n j u'e 'Onicrt^/yy/Vx w/cf WithDi^nity. Yr hen Gymraes. v/d ta/n/’r'ran a/nc MS Me® £ Yr hen Erddig'an.__ fJ/vestJz/rtctMzt: <%??*rrw7vy. 6*4 nd Caing-c Llywelyn. ' y. See Grays Uardj’vorso the 2 St _ . . 1.Variation #-«-*-=uH F*\-+ * * ~ m Solemn n o^r The above Air probably alludes to Prince Llywelyn ab Gruffy*ld, uho flourished about A.D. ,12^ . See his -Elegy, in Page 42. 65 / 66 c o/ t/ie cI/l/o? '££ '. Dechreuady By,d. t jzaj^ p—p ——?—"tS Jiyg #—•■ & Majestic-®- -®- -p- -p- /.7 £ it >*■*' t i The earliest Interludes among the Ancient Britons were Sacred Dramas. There is a Cornish manuscript play in the Bodleian Library, called The Creation of the World. See more in the first Volume of this work page 6S — 67 Repeat the Subject . Daughter of Prince Khys ab Griffith, of South Wales, and ^ife of F.dnyfed \’ychanj who is mentioned in Povels History of Wales, to have exceeded all other Women of her time, both in beauty and at complishments, and died greatly lamented, in the year 1190 The title of the Tune feems to imply it to he, the JLull;.by, that was played to sooth this Princefs to sleep • which was not an unusual custom among the old liritons. Nee the first A'olume of the Welsh Bards, p*ge 27, Azc . 2. Oh l how charming is the blifs Of thy aromatic kifsl Happy he,who twice a day. Thus can tafte his life away; Who with each returning morn. After walking o’er the lawn. And at night again can sip S Indias fragrance from thy lip. Purer joys by far he knows, .. Than from frantic Bacchus flows: Fit for who’s a flame of mine. Fit for Bronwen. tnaid divine . . The words which are set to this Air are modern . Ni. Tea was first brought into Europe in the beginning of the 17V1 Century;and sold for 60S.per pound. 70 Caingfc Dafydd Brophwyd ^ t'/hctyufie, t/u c /^'o/i/tel-: , Ee i a i m ■ m m hi — 7.3 Can Dafydd Brophwyd. APfim of David the Pi-ophei pr, .i . las. mm _/ f)O givetrive thanks nnun to the Lord; for he is good: and his » mercy en _ - tern ‘Majestic. ~ i jr.d£±=-.——~\~f^ -l—'i^-V [—1 4-ii dnreth for e_ver. O give thanks un.to the God; O give thanks unto the God of Gods>for his mercy. i $ r- '•'—K - Ns — # (m** for his merry en _ dureth for e _ _ver. O thank theLord.O thank the Lord of all Lords: 0 1’ a-^ iCZHZE -K-w^S- I O 6- ?jr|’r J ? ;,.7^-(L'i-[-r~r'i? T ? • 7- ^ ^ cJ^ ~Z--^ ^ ^ m £ .r ^ l * f r f ^ ^ r ^ r f for his mercy en dureth for e _ ver. Who only doth great wonders;\vhowondersjwho onlyonlvdothgn doth g^reat ^2m T^.rT^-rtiA I I 74 Mwynen Gwynedd iz: FpiP Slow 8c Graceful. * =(S=f= This Cel^braii-d Air is •very Amientj and recorded to be a production of" the Seventh Century. See Cambro- Rritautiica? Cyntraecae, by T>^.T; I5avid Rhys, printed in lS9Hi and the first volume of my Relicks of the Welsh Bards,. pa,»;e 26,'Second Bdition . ~ 76 Blodau yr Gogledd . £/Ju.'j&we/r ±=± Grisial Ground. 07ie Ort /'oun Ffarwel Die Bibydd. w? % ¥ m VL :t yp-p f 4^ PP ypr =^= ±E a -•-*—*-T N / / n m •0 —0- m The Seer \> horn na _ tiTFes o _ _ pen pag-e, and me _ di _ _ ta _ _ tion TV .IJ ' jJ-ik——r- f f r =£ h EESEE^EETEEE^ 9=3 TT ■»■ ^eefeeI fT , ' ren^dertr" sag-e; Tie _ _ neath the Oak’s wide spreading- shade, In_ _struc , tion SEE *31 k f-r-*- y~rT~ ga-j?v fEE^ v r - » #■—^f HP -<^ to the crowd convey’d, !ni struc _ tion to the crowd con vey’d. srasx 3 r Chorus, ii , •. E Hail, all hail to the Mifsle _ toe, hail! hail, all hail to the Mifsle_toe, hail! |p|lTjE^ TTtf Hail, all hail to the Mifsle _ toe, hail! hail, all hail to the Mifsle _t5Te, hail! jA r • Hail, all hail to the Mifsle. toe, hail! hail, all hail to the Mifsle. toe, hail! I 79 / *—. 8 y. leaves of Oak they bind. hail him Druid, friend of hu _ _ man 80 Meillionenf or Sir Watkin’s Delight. Tht-r*1 is an old mansion called Meillionen, ^iear Beddgel«‘rt,in C’aernarvonshirejandthisTune Mas formerly called^Consd Harmonic Sound rmm ' 82 /.hVar: -:j/ ' ■ • ' ■ • 'So 1 Llwyn-onn: The ■name of M . Jones's Mansion , near 'Wrexharn in D< nhii,; hi re. MwynenMaclmo. r?& Cheerful. /j i uaj'~r f Machno, is a parish in Caernarvonshire 84 hS Yr Helyg' Gan.. &/ic£yfic n'tocerv aty/mn.{ft/)// Plaintive and Slow. (/ Pfalm. 137. N K ^ a-r p '■' ^Tg s _ •*! J. — ■ - tr—f— |_u ‘-'1 Bv the rivers of Ba_ bylon, there we sat down, yea, we vs-ept, yea, +cH ^ rr w_ ^r— i tx- S f hanged our Harps up _ on the wil_lbws, up—on the willows, up — on the willows in ft iEfe p ■ » il 35=5 53 How shall we sing the Lords Song, in ftrange land? If £ -P =1- /TS N= «-9- i -J-u-lr i ' ’I <• < .j#^L ^^—' - — W 5=»=#” r -p . I for_get thee, O Je_ru_s*a_ Jlemj let my right hand for_ get . TTl^her cunning. "w- m /'Ts 1 'EE= LL?^ 5^ f HG A&'oriad Cy\vair. /.. m:m f r » ( ^.p m±. pTy " : r I /’ s: T.1 Variation. gfepqjg^iV1 J j |J'j ^ 3 £j_i_ f° -J>#- fegy*-* #_.JL Sljzj i Qj m S7 /T\ f i^-^. M'S | J @ JC : f f- a^fes# # i SO Blodeu Gwvnedd.-—€^~±y\ • ancient Troiad y Drqell yDroell. so Ton A]arch. Vcfa. 91 Pant corlan yr wyn: neu Dafydd or Garreg'-las. Qj/ieUu rrUtt/eldv Va/c : or ^/Ja t 'u/ -jtarie/. Sion IJafydd L>as,js said to have been a native of Cefn-gwyn Llaii-trwchllyn, in the distrivt of I’fNl.lAN, Merionethshii ••jand flourished about 1690. —He was an archetype of the ancient Bards,both a I’oet ami ll.ir|n r of some einiueiutj.ind was rt tained n that capacity by HurIi Nanney,Fsqf of Nanney. 02 Y Brvthon. y//w . / £?4 I , 1 Nos Fercher. ^t-A ig/tf . ’ o^ > V'*-^nesday,bei,lg the nr, day of J.**nt# Ymdawiad y Brenhin. ^ h*Ax Qt/iartusr&cf the , &dcng* E ■i mm- Sorrowful. p i i re P f'l pfP m ig Z7 f 0—0 ^rfr IOl m~r m p h~* -—ItJR. is difficult to fix the date of the above Tune: hut WF&Zn probably, it alludes to the departure of KING C AT)W A1 ^ATIK^ when a plague and famine raged in his dominiouVhe failed to Brittany to his cousin Alan, about the year 665 . Or it may allude to the departure of KING RICHARD the first (called Coeur de Leon,) when he embarked on the Cru_ -sade expedition in 1190. t|, ?ppi— Or .it may refer to the victorious HLNRY the V. on.hisleav_ _ing TCngland to go to the battle of Agincourt,in the year 14-15. Y Ty trwyV ffenest t/hcSAti •U ’je t/vrtnuj As tAPAAAru/mrv. af1i> The inhabitants of Cornwall,being- a remnant of the Ancient t-n-r.wijnr -rt-W- tln-y: ftilj fetain some of their ancient cujstoms, as the Welsh do. This old traditional Ballad is the fource of convivia _ -lity of the inhabitants of the Town and neighbourhood'of llclston, in Cornwall, where it is always Surg, and universally danced by them, on the eighth of May, when they hail the Summer with peculiar rejoic- ings; rural revelry, feftivity, and mirth. The common people call the ceremony Ffynnu, and Ffodi; whkh implies prosperity, and happinefs: and others call it. Flora-day. This custom seems to have ori- ginated from the Druids; because, the fruits of the earth aie then tender; and to avert their being blast- -ed, it was usual to return thanks to God for his infinite blefsings, and to rejoice at the flourishing prospect of the produce of the Earth; which wras generally celebrated on the sixth day of the new moon^ The custom now is .this: at break of (Jay, the commonalty of Hflston go into the fields and woods to gather al! kinds of flowers, to decorate their hats and bosoms,to enjoy the flowery meads,and the che_ ruping of the birds: and during their excursions, if they find any person at work,they make him ride or a pole,carried on men’s shoulders, to the river, over which he is to leap in a wide place, if he can; if he cannot,he must leap in, for leap he must, or pay money. After this rustic sport is over, they then re- turn to the Town and bring their flowery garlands, or Summer home,(Hawthorn houghs?Sycamore,&c.j. Then they form themselves into various dancing groups, with the laises, and they jig it, hand in hand a over the town; claiming a right of dancing through any persons house, in at one door, out at the olher and so through the garden: thus they continue their FFODI, or prosperous song, and dance,until it is. dark. Hail bounteous may, that dost inspire Mirth and youth, and warm desire; > Woods and groves, are of thy drel'sing; Hill, and dale, doth boaft thy blefsing. Thus we salute thee with our early Song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. Milton. In the afternoon, the gentry of the place, take their May excursions in parties, and some go to the farm-houses in the neighbourhood to drink Sillabubs, Cider, Tea, Jkc; and afterwards, they return to the Town in a Morrice-dance; both the Ladies and Gentlemen elegantly drefsed in their summer attiremEUt, and adorned with nosegays, and accompanied with Minftrtls-,who play for the dancers this traditional May-Tune; so they whisk it along all through the ftreets,and after a fewT dancing efsays, each gentleman leads his partner into the Afsembly-room, where there is always a Ball that Evening; and fuch Bevies of fair women, in their native simplicity, as are rarely to be seen. There they enjoy their happy dance un- til supper time; when they repair to their festive houses to their convivial repasts; thus, the nigjit is crown- ed with harmony, as well as the day. The inferior clafses of the people pass their evening in similar merriment at the public houses, and at other places; which is continued until midnight,with the greateft hilarity and decorum . To welcome the summer was a very ancient custom among the old Britons, by the number of May- Carols,which are still preserved among the Welsh; and indeed, it is an univfersal custom anvong most na- tions. The month of May, among the ancient Romans, wras consecrated to M.viA,the daughter of Atlas, and mother of Mercury . Halls Chronicle mentions King Henry the eighth, and Queen Catherines go- ing a maying, from Greenwich to the- high ground of Shooters-hill, accompanied with many Lords and Ladies. *■ . , . . ■ r • -vf *Pfalm 81. Verses 1,2,3. —And Pfaltn 149. V. 3 zS/ie Grmu)/v ^onp. D7 t tj i} ' ^13Bo. /-v _ bin Hood ando-kirl TLit—tie if f 1 John,T*iV*r» they both oare to g-oneorr\t-»o tr\to" Fair O; Cres’^^1 'T Chorus the 2.time. PPg=g #—9- Summer is a come_o; And winter is a1 g-one o: with Halan to sing' merry O. — _ 1 l' p'" # ^ a ^ i m P—a , 0 n m ^ >H. H Al. vn, or R vi i v , ntentioned above is the Calends of '*■<*', or of anv other month:and To,is what they c all,a large bunch o 'Mowers, 'which is carried or. a pole om - •: •• s sti< uldrrs. rl nrn o»t/ .98 r TW.^, , , ,„mr„ ,„at such T^st,,l,ey shlTl' ..a ,~X^^^=^5 (—-.-fe-r p—1 i—■——=—■ --F-^—^—rf we will eat !Sp ^ — i the roast _o:/'Sinsr Ha 1J, *a j v - lan to, and mer_ ry O. SzEirS^sfcT-sc. • k ; . 1^“ ^ P i r^L • j J”"jl 3: ' ' r^. - j^jL. J l-^T—^ a|.3-i Of all the king, i„ Christ.en - dcra^g Genrjy^ if t ;;; -T^—>■ I—i > Chorus - . f—p*-, , I* I r f |,~i'rt~il I r^TTlT i ^ j ^ eVr "'P S^X Halan «! atf G^r-gT o <^7 Hal ^ —m 0 m 0 m 0 hlalan to and Geor_g\ 0, Probably the before-going Ballad is only a part of the original Cornish May Song, the remainder is now forgotten; some of it evidently appears to be ancient, and part modern; that is, some verses have been added at different periods, according to the circumftances of the times, like those of God save the King. Aunt Mary, mentioned in the ftanza, may probably allude to Queen Mary,in whose reign, the war was not alltogether succefsful: Also, according to tradition there was an old Lady at Helston, whose name was Mary, who used to give libations of liquor to the inhabitants, on the eve of Flora-day, thinking she was remembered in their Song. The Town Arms of HEi.sTON,is S*. Michael, slaying the Dragon, The common tradition is,that I a fiery-Dragon in days of old, threatened deftruction to the Town: but that the goddefs Flora, having collected such powerful odours of flowers, whose perfumes filled the air, the moni'ter kept aloof,and by that means,the place was preserved. “Take itupon this condition ; “it holds credit by tradition.” Merry MlCliAEl.,the celebrated Cornish poet, who flourished about the year 12.50, wrote against Henry of ' AvRANCHES, poet Laureat to King Henry the third,(who had play’d upon the Cornish-men,as the fag-end I of the world,) in defence of his Country, has these verses; . .. • ■ , - ’Twere ncedlels to refcount their wondrous store, “Vast wealth and fair provisions for the poor; l • “in Fish,andTinn,they know no rival shore.” r The Cornwallians are also famous for wrestling, and hurling. And in King Arthurs time,,they were I 1 ' r.v'* . honoured with the post of honour, of being placed in the front of Battle. I Ffarwel Glanddyn. ^Ac^/ovia/y ^tzren’f///. z1 firm £ r^ ezzii s J This Tune is usually danced in Y Gwr ai Farch. y'brje a ml L/acAct/ \ North Wales,by five persons, 102 Caniad Clych. '^ht'nuny C ■ See page AO^note 6. id & 0—m a ijna t A grand Th eme, m o-^ st . . 1. Variation 9 1 tv -«* — ¥ * £# m^Ea^gS^Ei vi' r ii 104 Dyfyrwch leuan Delynor D all> te of (yuan t/ieMinct m S3 Slow. r a £ Szi^ ie=F Ned y Go. Y Dyddcyntaf o Awst.-*^^ tyhv&ofi/f^u^d* This Turn' is commonly danced inWah-s as aHompip' 3—h izac: ■=¥=¥ • i -< A Hornpipe.' * ri? —I SZ-,—v~ i 1 LammaS Day. or the First of August is supposed to ble so called, bet ause formerly on that day Otii^anccs- _tors offered bread made 'of new wheat and anciently E- tnosethose tenants that held lands of the Cathedral church of York,were byhy Tenure to bring a lamb alive into Church at high mafs.’ Dyehes Dictionary. It is still a custom in Wales for the parochial Clergy to collect their tythes in JLambs on the first of Auguft. ii ^ See Denteronomy, Chap* XVI. *06' ('/1 /f alludes to Om-en Elizabeth , v ho is jid to have been Sidanen. C7^//u'/i ~/tcur'. ^ the first -who ^ore Silk-stoc kin SEE ±=±=*I i?:zr i? ffi ./• /J lE _^l_ 5 a S3ES* m ; Cros.do 108 Fferdin andof 10 T- Pompous.. i=ff 525 I I"jhtr# 1=^= /7 p-& EE? i ,f m SE C A—#. 3 Wi /Tn. \k On: /r l>»-oba'bly this w as Ferdinando, the fifth .Ear! of Derby, who had an estate in TVales, and was L.ord of tJie Js!^ of Man, about A.D. 1594-. F==^ O-^- Tyb yjirenhin Siarles^.—- ^u>t^ '^//ta-r/e.JtJ C^’an/'y.^ » »• i pgtt£r ' Rather 'Slow.*^ «—•- 9 .«_.. i »-5- I j f- i l*zt f-p*. £ f Formerly, there -wrere ancient Tunes called AAV EX A^ R 1.1 j AAVK NT OLiEFTDDYN; and AAVFN-.GOI-ETJDDYDIA I.that is^AVrlxs Inspiration^ Oletrddyn’s Inspiration; and Goleuddydds Inspiration ■which were so called after the names, of their Com — poser s, who probably were celebrated Bards; but the latter name Goleuddydd, appears to .have been a female Bard. •V