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diff --git a/old/53915-8.txt b/old/53915-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 137dde8..0000000 --- a/old/53915-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,16497 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales, by -Jonathan Ceredig Davies - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales - -Author: Jonathan Ceredig Davies - -Contributor: Alice Amherst - -Release Date: January 7, 2017 [EBook #53915] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK-LORE OF WEST AND MID-WALES *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by Cornell University Digital Collections) - - - - - - - - - FOLK-LORE - OF - WEST AND MID-WALES - - - BY - JONATHAN CEREDIG DAVIES - - Member of the Folk-Lore Society, Author of "Adventures in the Land - of Giants," "Western Australia," &c. - - With a Preface - - BY - ALICE, COUNTESS AMHERST. - - - "Cared doeth yr encilion." - - - ABERYSTWYTH: - PRINTED AT THE "WELSH GAZETTE" OFFICES, BRIDGE STREET. - 1911. - - - - - - - - This book is respectfully dedicated by the Author - - to - - COUNTESS OF LISBURNE, CROSSWOOD. - ALICE, COUNTESS AMHERST. - LADY ENID VAUGHAN. - LADY WEBLEY-PARRY-PRYSE, GOGERDDAN. - LADY HILLS-JOHNES OF DOLAUCOTHY. - MRS. HERBERT DAVIES-EVANS, HIGHMEAD. - MRS. WILLIAM BEAUCLERK POWELL, NANTEOS. - - - - - - - -PREFACE - -BY - -ALICE, COUNTESS AMHERST. - - -The writer of this book lived for many years in the Welsh Colony, -Patagonia, where he was the pioneer of the Anglican Church. He -published a book dealing with that part of the world, which also -contained a great deal of interesting matter regarding the little known -Patagonian Indians, Ideas on Religion and Customs, etc. He returned -to Wales in 1891; and after spending a few years in his native land, -went out to a wild part of Western Australia, and was the pioneer -Christian worker in a district called Colliefields, where he also -built a church. (No one had ever conducted Divine Service in that -place before.) - -Here again, he found time to write his experiences, and his book -contained a great deal of value to the Folklorist, regarding the -aborigines of that country, quite apart from the ordinary account of -Missionary enterprise, history and prospects of Western Australia, etc. - -In 1901, Mr. Ceredig Davies came back to live in his native country, -Wales. - -In Cardiganshire, and the centre of Wales, generally, there still -remains a great mass of unrecorded Celtic Folk Lore, Tradition, -and Custom. - -Thus it was suggested that if Mr. Ceredig Davies wished again to -write a book--the material for a valuable one lay at his door if -he cared to undertake it. His accurate knowledge of Welsh gave him -great facility for the work. He took up the idea, and this book is -the result of his labours. - -The main object has been to collect "verbatim," and render the Welsh -idiom into English as nearly as possible these old stories still told -of times gone by. - -The book is in no way written to prove, or disprove, any of the -numerous theories and speculations regarding the origin of the Celtic -Race, its Religion or its Traditions. The fundamental object has been -to commit to writing what still remains of the unwritten Welsh Folk -Lore, before it is forgotten, and this is rapidly becoming the case. - -The subjects are divided on the same lines as most of the books on -Highland and Irish Folk Lore, so that the student will find little -trouble in tracing the resemblance, or otherwise, of the Folk Lore -in Wales with that of the two sister countries. - - -ALICE AMHERST. - -Plas Amherst, Harlech, -North Wales, 1911. - - - - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -Welsh folk-lore is almost inexhaustible, and of great importance to -the historian and others. Indeed, without a knowledge of the past -traditions, customs and superstitions of the people, the history of -a country is not complete. - -In this book I deal chiefly with the three counties of Cardiganshire, -Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire, technically known in the present -day as "West Wales"; but as I have introduced so many things from the -counties bordering on Cardigan and Carmarthen, such as Montgomery, -Radnor, Brecon, etc., I thought proper that the work should be -entitled, "The Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales." - -Although I have been for some years abroad, in Patagonia, and -Australia, yet I know almost every county in my native land; and there -is hardly a spot in the three counties of Carmarthen, Cardigan, and -Pembroke that I have not visited during the last nine years, gathering -materials for this book from old people and others who were interested -in such subject, spending three or four months in some districts. All -this took considerable time and trouble, not to mention of the expenses -in going about; but I generally walked much, especially in the remote -country districts, but I feel I have rescued from oblivion things -which are dying out, and many things which have died out already. I -have written very fully concerning the old Welsh Wedding and Funeral -Customs, and obtained most interesting account of them from aged -persons. The "Bidder's Song," by Daniel Ddu, which first appeared -in the "Cambrian Briton" 1822, is of special interest. Mrs. Loxdale, -of Castle Hill, showed me a fine silver cup which had been presented -to this celebrated poet. I have also a chapter on Fairies; but as I -found that Fairy Lore has almost died out in those districts which I -visited, and the traditions concerning them already recorded, I was -obliged to extract much of my information on this subject from books, -though I found a few new fairy stories in Cardiganshire. But as to -my chapters about Witches, Wizards, Death Omens, I am indebted for -almost all my information to old men and old women whom I visited in -remote country districts, and I may emphatically state that I have not -embellished the stories, or added to anything I have heard; and care -has been taken that no statement be made conveying an idea different -from what has been heard. Indeed, I have in nearly all instances given -the names, and even the addresses of those from whom I obtained my -information. If there are a few Welsh idioms in the work here and -there, the English readers must remember that the information was -given me in the Welsh language by the aged peasants, and that I have -faithfully endeavoured to give a literal rendering of the narrative. - -About 350 ladies and gentlemen have been pleased to give their names -as subscribers to the book, and I have received kind and encouraging -letters from distinguished and eminent persons from all parts of the -kingdom, and I thank them all for their kind support. - -I have always taken a keen interest in the History and traditions of -my native land, which I love so well; and it is very gratifying that -His Royal Highness, the young Prince of Wales, has so graciously -accepted a genealogical table, in which I traced his descent from -Cadwaladr the Blessed, the last Welsh prince who claimed the title -of King of Britain. - -I undertook to write this book at the suggestion and desire of -Alice, Countess Amherst, to whom I am related, and who loves all -Celtic things, especially Welsh traditions and legends; and about -nine or ten years ago, in order to suggest the "lines of search," -her Ladyship cleverly put together for me the following interesting -sketch or headings, which proved a good guide when I was beginning -to gather Folk-Lore:-- - - - (1) Traditions of Fairies. (2) Tales illustrative of Fairy - Lore. (3) Tutelary Beings. (4) Mermaids and Mermen. (5) Traditions - of Water Horses out of lakes, if any? (6) Superstitions about - animals:--Sea Serpents, Magpie, Fish, Dog, Raven, Cuckoo, Cats, - etc. (7) Miscellaneous:--Rising, Clothing, Baking, Hen's first egg; - Funerals; Corpse Candles; On first coming to a house on New Year's - Day; on going into a new house; Protection against Evil Spirits; - ghosts haunting places, houses, hills and roads; Lucky times, - unlucky actions. (8) Augury:--Starting on a journey; on seeing the - New Moon. (9) Divination; Premonitions; Shoulder Blade Reading; - Palmistry; Cup Reading. (10) Dreams and Prophecies; Prophecies of - Merlin and local ones. (11) Spells and Black Art:--Spells, Black - Art, Wizards, Witches. (12) Traditions of Strata Florida, King - Edward burning the Abbey, etc. (13) Marriage Customs.--What the - Bride brings to the house; The Bridegroom. (14) Birth Customs. (15) - Death Customs. (16) Customs of the Inheritance of farms; and - Sheep Shearing Customs. - - -Another noble lady who was greatly interested in Welsh Antiquities, -was the late Dowager Lady Kensington; and her Ladyship, had she lived, -intended to write down for me a few Pembrokeshire local traditions -that she knew in order to record them in this book. - -In an interesting long letter written to me from Bothwell Castle, -Lanarkshire, dated September 9th, 1909, her Ladyship, referring -to Welsh Traditions and Folk-Lore, says:--"I always think that -such things should be preserved and collected now, before the next -generation lets them go! ... I am leaving home in October for India, -for three months." She did leave home for India in October, but sad -to say, died there in January; but her remains were brought home and -buried at St. Bride's, Pembrokeshire. On the date of her death I had -a remarkable dream, which I have recorded in this book, see page 277. - -I tender my very best thanks to Evelyn, Countess of Lisburne, for so -much kindness and respect, and of whom I think very highly as a noble -lady who deserves to be specially mentioned; and also the young Earl -of Lisburne, and Lady Enid Vaughan, who have been friends to me even -from the time when they were children. - -I am equally indebted to Colonel Davies-Evans, the esteemed Lord -Lieutenant of Cardiganshire, and Mrs. Davies-Evans, in particular, -whose kindness I shall never forget. I have on several occasions had -the great pleasure and honour of being their guest at Highmead. - -I am also very grateful to my warm friends the Powells of Nanteos, -and also to Mrs. A. Crawley-Boevey, Birchgrove, Crosswood, sister of -Countess Lisburne. - -Other friends who deserve to be mentioned are, Sir Edward and -Lady Webley-Parry-Pryse, of Gogerddan; Sir John and Lady Williams, -Plas, Llanstephan (now of Aberystwyth); General Sir James and Lady -Hills-Johnes, and Mrs. Johnes of Dolaucothy (who have been my friends -for nearly twenty years); the late Sir Lewis Morris, Penbryn; Lady -Evans, Lovesgrove; Colonel Lambton, Brownslade, Pem.; Colonel and -Mrs. Gwynne-Hughes, of Glancothy; Mrs. Wilmot Inglis-Jones; Capt. and -Mrs. Bertie Davies-Evans; Mr. and Mrs. Loxdale, Castle Hill, Llanilar; -Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd, Waunifor; Mrs. Webley-Tyler, of Glanhelig; -Archdeacon Williams, of Aberystwyth; Professor Tyrrell Green, -Lampeter; Dr. Hughes, and Dr. Rees, of Llanilar; Rev. J. F. Lloyd, -vicar of Llanilar, the energetic secretary of the Cardiganshire -Antiquarian Society; Rev. Joseph Evans, Rector of Jordanston, -Fishguard; Rev. W. J. Williams, Vicar of Llanafan; Rev. H. M. Williams, -Vicar of Lledrod; Rev. J. N. Evans, Vicar of Llangybi; Rev. T. Davies, -Vicar of Llanddewi Brefi; Rev. Rhys Morgan, C. M. Minister, Llanddewi -Brefi; Rev. J. Phillips, Vicar of Llancynfelyn; Rev. J. Morris, -Vicar, Llanybyther; Rev. W. M. Morgan-Jones (late of Washington, -U.S.A.); Rev. G. Eyre Evans, Aberystwyth; Rev. Z. M. Davies, Vicar -of Llanfihangel Geneu'r Glyn; Rev. J. Jones, Curate of Nantgaredig; -Rev. Prys Williams (Brythonydd) Baptist Minister in Carmarthenshire; -Rev. D. G. Williams, Congregational Minister, St. Clears (winner -of the prize at the National Eisteddfod, for the best essay on the -Folk-Lore of Carmarthen); Mr. William Davies, Talybont (winner of the -prize at the National Eisteddfod for the best essay on the Folk-Lore -of Merioneth); Mr. Roderick Evans, J. P., Lampeter; Rev. G. Davies, -Vicar of Blaenpenal; Mr. Stedman-Thomas (deceased), Carmarthen, -and others in all parts of the country too numerous to be mentioned -here. Many other names appear in the body of my book, more especially -aged persons from whom I obtained information. - - -JONATHAN CEREDIG DAVIES. - -Llanilar, Cardiganshire. -March 18th, 1911. - - - - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - PAGE. - - Dedication III. - Preface V. - Introduction VII. - I. Love Customs, etc. 1 - II. Wedding Customs 16 - III. Funeral Customs 39 - IV. Other Customs 59 - V. Fairies and Mermaids 88 - VI. Ghost Stories 148 - VII. Death Portents 192 - VIII. Miscellaneous Beliefs, Birds, etc. 215 - IX. Witches and Wizards, etc. 230 - X. Folk-Healing 281 - XI. Fountains, Lakes, and Caves ... 298 - XII. Local Traditions 315 - - - - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -LOVE CUSTOMS AND OMEN SEEKING. - - "Pwy sy'n caru, a phwy sy'n peidio, - A phwy sy'n troi hen gariad heibio." - - Who loves, and who loves not, - And who puts off his old love? - - -Undoubtedly, young men and young women all over the world from the -time of Adam to the present day, always had, and still have, their -modes or ways of associating or keeping company with one another -whilst they are in love, and waiting for, and looking forward to, -the bright wedding day. In Wales, different modes of courting prevail; -but I am happy to state the old disgraceful custom of bundling, which -was once so common in some rural districts, has entirely died out, -or at least we do not hear anything about it nowadays. I believe -Wirt Sikes is right in his remarks when he says that such a custom -has had its origin in primitive times, when, out of the necessities -of existence, a whole household lay down together for greater warmth, -with their usual clothing on. - -Giraldus Cambrensis, 700 years ago, writes of this custom in these -words:-- - - - "Propinquo concubantium calore multum adjuti." - - -Of course, ministers of religion, both the Clergy of the Church of -England and Nonconformist ministers condemned such practice very -sternly, but about two generations ago, there were many respectable -farmers who more or less defended the custom, and it continued to a -certain extent until very recently, even without hardly any immoral -consequences, owing to the high moral standard and the religious -tendencies of the Welsh people. - -One reason for the prevalence of such custom was that in times past -in Wales, both farm servants and farmers' sons and daughters were -so busy, from early dawn till a late hour in the evening that they -had hardly time or an opportunity to attend to their love affairs, -except in the night time. Within the memory of hundreds who are -still alive, it was the common practice of many of the young men in -Cardiganshire and other parts of West Wales, to go on a journey for -miles in the depth of night to see the fair maidens, and on their -way home, perhaps, about 3 o'clock in the morning they would see a -ghost or an apparition! but that did not keep them from going out at -night to see the girls they loved, or to try to make love. Sometimes, -several young men would proceed together on a courting expedition, -as it were, if we may use such a term, and after a good deal of idle -talk about the young ladies, some of them would direct their steps -towards a certain farmhouse in one direction, and others in another -direction in order to see their respective sweethearts, and this late -at night as I have already mentioned. - -It was very often the case that a farmer's son and the servant -would go together to a neighbouring farm house, a few miles off, -the farmer's son to see the daughter of the house, and the servant to -see the servant maid, and when this happened it was most convenient -and suited them both. After approaching the house very quietly, they -would knock at the window of the young woman's room, very cautiously, -however, so as not to arouse the farmer and his wife. - -I heard the following story when a boy:--A young farmer, who lived -somewhere between Tregaron and Lampeter, in Cardiganshire, rode one -night to a certain farm-house, some miles off, to have a talk with the -young woman of his affection, and after arriving at his destination, -he left his horse in a stable and then entered the house to see his -sweetheart. Meanwhile, a farm servant played him a trick by taking -the horse out of the stable, and putting a bull there instead. About -3 o'clock in the morning the young lover decided to go home, and went -to the stable for his horse. It was very dark, and as he entered the -stable he left the door wide open, through which an animal rushed -wildly out, which he took for his horse. He ran after the animal for -hours, but at daybreak, to his great disappointment, found that he -had been running after a bull! - -Another common practice is to meet at the fairs, or on the way home -from the fairs. In most of the country towns and villages there are -special fairs for farm servants, both male and female, to resort to; -and many farmers' sons and daughters attend them as well. These fairs -give abundant opportunity for association and intimacy between young -men and women. - -Indeed, it is at these fairs that hundreds of boys and girls meet -for the first time. A young man comes in contact with a young girl, -he gives her some "fairings" or offers her a glass of something to -drink, and accompanies her home in the evening. Sometimes when it -happens that there should be a prettier and more attractive maiden -than the rest present at the fair, occasionally a scuffle or perhaps -a fight takes place, between several young men in trying to secure -her society, and on such occasions, of course, the best young man in -her sight is to have the privilege of her company. - -As to whether the Welsh maidens are prettier or not so pretty as -English girls, I am not able to express an opinion; but that many of -them were both handsome and attractive in the old times, at least, is -an historical fact; for we know that it was a very common thing among -the old Norman Nobles, after the Conquest, to marry Welsh ladies, -whilst they reduced the Anglo-Saxons almost to slavery. Who has -not heard the beautiful old Welsh Air, "Morwynion Glan Meirionydd" -("The Pretty Maidens of Merioneth")? - -Good many men tell me that the young women of the County of -Merioneth are much more handsome than those of Cardiganshire; but -that Cardiganshire women make the best wives. - -Myddfai Parish in Carmarthenshire was in former times celebrated -for its fair maidens, according to an old rhyme which records their -beauty thus:-- - - - "Mae eira gwyn ar ben y bryn, - A'r glasgoed yn y Ferdre, - Mae bedw mān ynghanol Cwm-bran, - A merched glān yn Myddfe." - - -Principal Sir John Rhys translates this as follows:-- - - - "There is white snow on the mountain's brow, - And greenwood at the Verdre, - Young birch so good in Cwm-bran wood, - And lovely girls in Myddfe." - - -In the time of King Arthur of old, the fairest maiden in Wales was -the beautiful Olwen, whom the young Prince Kilhwch married after -many adventures. In the Mabinogion we are informed that "more yellow -was her hair than the flowers of the broom, and her skin was whiter -than the foam of the wave, and fairer were her hands and her fingers -than the blossoms of the wood-anemone, amidst the spray of the meadow -fountain. The eye of the trained hawk, the glance of the three-mewed -falcon, was not brighter than hers. Her bosom was more snowy than -the breast of the white swan; her cheek was redder than the reddest -roses. Those who beheld her were filled with her love. Four white -trefoils sprang up wherever she trod. She was clothed in a robe of -flame-coloured silk, and about her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, -on which were precious emeralds and rubies." - -A good deal of courting is done at the present day while going home -from church or chapel as the case may be. The Welsh people are -very religious, and almost everybody attends a place of worship, -and going home from church gives young people of both sexes abundant -opportunities of becoming intimate with one another. Indeed, it is -almost a general custom now for a young man to accompany a young lady -home from church. - -The Welsh people are of an affectionate disposition, and thoroughly -enjoy the pleasures of love, but they keep their love more secret, -perhaps, than the English; and Welsh bards at all times have been -celebrated for singing in praise of female beauty. Davydd Ap Gwilym, -the chief poet of Wales, sang at least one hundred love songs to his -beloved Morfudd. - -This celebrated bard flourished in the fourteenth century, and he -belonged to a good family, for his father, Gwilym Gam, was a direct -descendant from Llywarch Ap Bran, chief of one of the fifteen royal -tribes of North Wales; and his mother was a descendant of the Princes -of South Wales. According to the traditions of Cardiganshire people, -Davydd was born at Bro-Gynin, near Gogerddan, in the Parish of -Llanbadarn-Fawr, and only a few miles from the spot where the town -of Aberystwyth is situated at present. - -An ancient bard informs us that Taliesin of old had foretold the -honour to be conferred on Bro-Gynin, in being the birthplace of a -poet whose muse should be as the sweetness of wine:-- - - - "Am Dafydd, gelfydd goelin--praff awdwr, - Prophwydodd Taliesin, - Y genid ym mro Gynin, - Brydydd a'i gywydd fel gwin." - - -The poet, Davydd Ap Gwilym, is represented as a fair young man who -loved many, or that many were the young maidens who fell in love with -him, and there is one most amusing tradition of his love adventures. It -is said that on one occasion he went to visit about twenty young ladies -about the same time, and that he appointed a meeting with each of them -under an oak-tree--all of them at the same hour. Meanwhile, the young -bard had secretly climbed up the tree and concealed himself among the -branches, so that he might see the event of this meeting. Every one of -the young girls was there punctually at the appointed time, and equally -astonished to perceive any female there besides herself. They looked -at one another in surprise, and at last one of them asked another, -"What brought you here?" "to keep an appointment with Dafydd ap Gwilym" -was the reply. "That's how I came also" said the other "and I" added -a third girl, and all of them had the same tale. They then discovered -the trick which Dafydd had played with them, and all of them agreed -together to punish him, and even to kill him, if they could get hold -of him. Dafydd, who was peeping from his hiding-place amongst the -branches of the tree, replied as follows in rhyme:-- - - - "Y butein wen fain fwynnf--o honoch - I hono maddeuaf, - Tan frig pren a heulwen haf, - Teg anterth, t'rawed gyntaf!" - - -The words have been translated by someone something as follows:-- - - - "If you can be so cruel, - Let the kind wanton jade, - Who oftenest met me in this shade, - On summer's morn, by love inclined, - Let her strike first, and I'm resigned." - - -Dafydd's words had the desired effect. The young women began to -question each other's purity, which led to a regular quarrel between -them, and, during the scuffle, the poet escaped safe and sound. - -After this the Poet fell in love with the daughter of one Madog Lawgam, -whose name was Morfudd, and in her honour he wrote many songs, and -it seems that he ever remained true to this lady. They were secretly -married in the woodland; but Morfudd's parents disliked the Poet so -much for some reason or other, that the beautiful young lady was taken -away from him and compelled to marry an old man known as Bwa Bach, or -Little Hunchback. Dafydd was tempted to elope with Morfudd, but he was -found, fined and put in prison; but through the kindness of the men of -Glamorgan, who highly esteemed the Poet, he was released. After this, -it seems that Dafydd was love-sick as long as he lived, and at last -died of love, and he left the following directions for his funeral:-- - - - "My spotless shroud shall be of summer flowers, - My coffin from out the woodland bowers: - The flowers of wood and wild shall be my pall, - My bier, light forest branches green and tall; - And thou shalt see the white gulls of the main - In thousands gather then to bear my train!" - - -One of Dafydd's chief patrons was his kinsman, the famous and noble -Ivor Hael, Lord of Macsaleg, from whose stock the present Viscount -Tredegar is a direct descendant, and, in judging the character of the -Poet we must take into consideration what was the moral condition of -the country in the fourteenth century. - -But to come to more modern times, tradition has it that a young man -named Morgan Jones of Dolau Gwyrddon, in the Vale of Teivi, fell in -love with the Squire of Dyffryn Llynod's daughter. The young man and -the young woman were passionately in love with each other; but the -Squire, who was a staunch Royalist, refused to give his consent to his -daughter's marriage with Morgan Jones, as the young man's grandfather -had fought for Cromwell. The courtship between the lovers was kept on -for years in secret, and the Squire banished his daughter to France -more than once. At last the young lady fell a victim to the small -pox, and died. Just before her death, her lover came to see her, -and caught the fever from her, and he also died. His last wish was -that he should be buried in the same grave as the one he had loved -so dearly, but this was denied him. - -In Merionethshire there is a tradition that many generations ago a -Squire of Gorsygedol, near Harlech, had a beautiful daughter who fell -in love with a shepherd boy. To prevent her seeing the young man, her -father locked his daughter in a garret, but a secret correspondence -was carried on between the lovers by means of a dove she had taught -to carry the letters. The young lady at last died broken-hearted, -and soon after her burial the dove was found dead upon her grave! And -the young man with a sad heart left his native land for ever. - -More happy, though not less romantic, was the lot of a young man who -was shipwrecked on the coast of Pembrokeshire, and washed up more dead -than alive on the seashore, where he was found by the daughter and -heiress of Sir John de St. Bride's, who caused him to be carried to -her father's house where he was hospitably entertained. The young man, -of course, was soon head and ears in love with his fair deliverer, -and the lady being in nowise backward in response to his suit, they -married and founded a family of Laugharnes, and their descendants -for generations resided at Orlandon, near St. Bride's. - -The Rev. D. G. Williams in his interesting Welsh collection of the -Folk-lore of Carmarthenshire says that in that part of the county which -borders on Pembrokeshire, there is a strange custom of presenting a -rejected lover with a yellow flower, or should it happen at the time -of year when there are no flowers, to give a yellow ribbon. - -This reminds us of a curious old custom which was formerly very common -everywhere in Wales; that of presenting a rejected lover, whether -male or female, with a stick or sprig of hazel-tree. According to -the "Cambro Briton," for November, 1821, this was often done at a -"Cyfarfod Cymhorth," or a meeting held for the benefit of a poor -person, at whose house or at that of a neighbour, a number of young -women, mostly servants, used to meet by permission of their respective -employers, in order to give a day's work, either in spinning or -knitting, according as there was need of their assistance, and, -towards the close of the day, when their task was ended, dancing -and singing were usually introduced, and the evening spent with glee -and conviviality. At the early part of the day, it was customary for -the young women to receive some presents from their several suitors, -as a token of their truth or inconstancy. On this occasion the lover -could not present anything more odious to the fair one than the sprig -of a "collen," or hazel-tree, which was always a well-known sign of -a change of mind on the part of the young man, and, consequently, -that the maiden could no longer expect to be the real object of his -choice. The presents, in general, consisted of cakes, silver spoons, -etc., and agreeably to the respectability of the sweetheart, and were -highly decorated with all manner of flowers; and if it was the lover's -intention to break off his engagement with the young lady, he had only -to add a sprig of hazel. These pledges were handed to the respective -lasses by the different "Caisars," or Merry Andrews,--persons dressed -in disguise for the occasion, who, in their turn, used to take each -his young woman by the hand to an adjoining room where they would -deliver the "pwysi," or nose-gay, as it was called, and afterwards -immediately retire upon having mentioned the giver's name. - -When a young woman also had made up her mind to have nothing further to -do with a young man who had been her lover, or proposed to become one, -she used to give him a "ffon wen," (white wand) from an hazel tree, -decorated with white ribbons. This was a sign to the young man that -she did not love him. - -The Welsh name for hazel-tree is "collen." Now the word "coll" has a -double meaning; it means to lose anything, as well as a name for the -hazel, and it is the opinion of some that this double meaning of the -word gave the origin to the custom of making use of the hazel-tree -as a sign of the loss of a lover. - -It is also worthy of notice, that, whilst the hazel indicated the -rejection of a lover, the birch tree, on the other hand, was used as an -emblem of love, or in other words that a lover was accepted. Among the -Welsh young persons of both sexes were able to make known their love to -one another without speaking, only by presenting a Birchen-Wreath. This -curious old custom of presenting a rejected lover with a white wand -was known at Pontrhydfendigaid, in Cardiganshire until only a few -years ago. My informant was Dr. Morgan, Pontrhydygroes. Mrs. Hughes, -Cwrtycadno, Llanilar, also informed me that she had heard something -about such custom at Tregaron, when she was young. - -It was also the custom to adorn a mixture of birch and quicken-tree -with flowers and a ribbon, and leave it where it was most likely to -be found by the person intended on May-morning. Dafydd ap Gwilym, the -poet, I have just referred to, mentions of this in singing to Morfudd. - -Young people of both sexes, are very anxious to know whether they -are to marry the lady or the gentleman they now love, or who is to -be their future partner in life, or are they to die single. Young -people have good many most curious and different ways to decide all -such interesting and important questions, by resorting to uncanny -and romantic charms and incantations. To seek hidden information by -incantation was very often resorted to in times past, especially about -a hundred years ago, and even at the present day, but not as much -as in former times. It was believed, and is perhaps, still believed -by some, that the spirit of a person could be invoked, and that it -would appear, and that young women by performing certain ceremonies -could obtain a sight of the young men they were to marry. - -Such charms were performed sometimes on certain Saints' Days, or on -one of the "Three Spirits' Nights," or on a certain day of the moon; -but more frequently on "Nos Calan Gauaf" or All Hallows Eve--the -31st. of October. All Hallows was one of the "Three Spirits' Nights," -and an important night in the calendar of young maidens anxious to -see the spirits of their future husbands. - -In Cardiganshire, divination by means of a ball of yarn, known as -"coel yr edau Wlan" is practised, and indeed in many other parts of -Wales. A young unmarried woman in going to her bedroom would take -with her a ball of yarn, and double the threads, and then she would -tie small pieces of wool along these threads, so as to form a small -thread ladder, and, opening her bedroom window threw this miniature -ladder out to the ground, and then winding back the yarn, and at the -same time saying the following words:-- - - - "Y fi sy'n dirwyn - Pwy sy'n dal" - - -which means: - - - "I am winding, - Who is holding?" - - -Then the spirit of the future husband of the girl who was performing -the ceremony was supposed to mount this little ladder and appear to -her. But if the spirit did not appear, the charm was repeated over -again, and even a third time. If no spirit was to be seen after -performing such ceremony three times, the young lady had no hope -of a husband. In some places, young girls do not take the trouble -to make this ladder, but, simply throw out through the open window, -a ball of yarn, and saying the words: - - - "I am winding, who is holding." - - -Another custom among the young ladies of Cardiganshire in order -to see their future husbands is to walk nine times round the house -with a glove in the hand, saying the while--"Dyma'r faneg, lle mae'r -llaw."--"Here's the glove, where is the hand?" Others again would -walk round the dungheap, holding a shoe in the left hand, and saying -"Here's the shoe, where is the foot?" Happy is the young woman who -sees the young man she loves, for he is to be her future husband. - -In Carmarthenshire young girls desirous of seeing their future -partners in life, walk round a leek bed, carrying seed in their hand, -and saying as follows:-- - - - "Hadau, hadau, hau, - Sawl sy'n cam, doed i grynhoi." - - "Seed, seed, sowing. - He that loves, let him come to gather." - - -It was also the custom in the same county for young men and young -women to go round a grove and take a handful of moss, in which was -found the colour of the future wife or husband's hair. - -In Pembrokeshire, it is the custom for young girls to put under -their pillow at night, a shoulder of mutton, with nine holes bored -in the blade bone, and at the same time they put their shoes at the -foot of the bed in the shape of the letter T, and an incantation is -said over them. By doing this, they are supposed to see their future -husbands in their dreams, and that in their everyday clothes. This -curious custom of placing shoes at the foot of the bed was very -common till very recently, and, probably, it is still so, not only -in Pembrokeshire, but with Welsh girls all over South Wales. A woman -who is well and alive told me once, that many years ago she had -tried the experiment herself, and she positively asserted that she -actually saw the spirit of the man who became her husband, coming -near her bed, and that happened when she was only a young girl, and -some time before she ever met the man. When she was telling me this, -she had been married for many years and had grown-up children, and -I may add that her husband was a particular friend of mine. - -Another well-known form of divination, often practised by the young -girls in Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire, is for -a young woman to wash her shirt or whatever article of clothing she -happens to wear next to the skin, and having turned it inside out, -place it before the fire to dry, and then watch to see who should come -at midnight to turn it. If the young woman is to marry, the spirit -of her future husband is supposed to appear and perform the work for -the young woman, but if she is to die single, a coffin is seen moving -along the room, and many a young girl has been frightened almost to -death in performing these uncanny ceremonies. The Rev. D. G. Williams -in his excellent Welsh essay on the Folk-lore of Carmarthenshire, -mentions a farmer's daughter who practised this form of divination -whilst she was away from home at school. A young farmer had fallen -in love with her, but she hated him with all her heart. Whilst she -was performing this ceremony at midnight, another girl, from mere -mischief dressed herself in man's clothing, exactly the same kind -as the clothes generally worn by the young farmer I have mentioned, -and, trying to appear as like him as possible, entered the room at -the very moment when the charm of invoking the spirit of a future -husband was being performed by the farmer's daughter, who went half -mad when she saw, as she thought, the very one whom she hated so much, -making his appearance. - -The other girls had to arouse their schoolmistress from her bed -immediately so that she might try and convince the young girl that -she had seen nothing, but another girl in man's clothes. But nothing -availed. The doctor was sent for, but he also failed to do anything -to bring her to herself, and very soon the poor young woman died -through fright and disappointment. - -Another common practice in West Wales is for a young woman to peel -an apple at twelve o'clock, before a looking glass in order to see -the spirit of her future husband. This also is done on All Hallow's -Eve. Sowing Hemp Seed is also a well-known ceremony among the young -ladies of Wales, as well as England. - - - -THE CANDLE AND PIN DIVINATION. - -It was also the custom, at least many years ago, if not now, for a -young woman, or two of them together to stick pins at midnight in a -candle, all in a row, right from its top to the bottom, and then to -watch the candle burning and the pins dropping one by one, till the -last pin had dropped, and then the future husband of the girl to whom -the pin belonged, was supposed to appear; but if she was destined to -die single, she would see a coffin. - -Another form of Divination, was to put the plates on the dining-room -table upside down, and at midnight the spirit of the future husband -was supposed to come and arrange them in their proper order. - -Another custom resorted to in Cardiganshire and other parts in order to -see a future husband, or rather to dream of him, was to eat a hen's -first egg; but no one was to know the secret, and absolute silence -was to be observed, and the egg was to be eaten in bed. - - - -GOING ROUND THE CHURCH. - -This kind of divination was perhaps of a more uncanny character -than anything I have hitherto mentioned, and a custom which both -young men and young women very commonly practised, even within the -last 50 years as I have been told by old people. This weird practice -was to go round the parish church seven times, some say nine times, -whilst others again say nine times-and-half, and holding a knife in -the hand saying the while:-- - - - "Dyma'r twca, lle mae'r wain?" - "Here's the knife, where is the sheath?" - - -It was also the practice to look in through the key-hole of the church -door each time whilst going round, and many people assert to this very -day that whoever performed this mode of divination in proper order, -that the spirit of his or her future wife or husband would appear -with a sheath to fit the knife; but, if the young man or woman was -to die single, a coffin would meet him or her. Mr. John Jones, of -Pontrhydfendigaid, an intelligent old man of 95, with a wonderful -memory, told me that, when a boy, he had heard his mother giving -a most sad account of what happened to a young woman who did this -at Ystrad Meurig in Cardiganshire about the year 1800. She was the -daughter of a public house in the village, and the name of her mother -was Catherine Dafydd Evan. Mr. Jones's mother knew the family well; -some of them emigrated to America. - -This young woman was in love with one of the students of St. John's -College, in the neighbourhood, and being anxious to know whether he -was to be her husband or not, she resorted to this uncanny practice -of walking nine times round Ystrad Meurig Church. Around and round -she went, holding the knife in her hand and repeating the words of -incantation, "Here's the knife, where is the sheath?" And whilst she -was performing her weird adventure, to her great alarm, she perceived -a clergyman coming out to meet her through the church door with his -white surplice on, as if coming to meet a funeral procession. The -frightened young woman fell down in a swoon, almost half dead, as she -imagined that the one she met with a surplice on was an apparition -or the spirit of a clergyman officiating at the phantom funeral of -herself, which prognosticated that instead of going to be married, -she was doomed to die. - -It turned out that the apparition she had seen was only one of the -students, who, in order to frighten her, had secretly entered the -Church for the purpose. But the poor girl recovered not, and she died -very soon afterwards. - -I heard the following story from my mother when I was a boy. A girl -had determined to obtain a sight of her future husband by going round -the parish church nine times at All Hallows' Eve in the same manner -as the young woman I mentioned in the above story, but with more -fortunate results. This also happened somewhere in Cardiganshire or -Carmarthenshire. Just as the young woman was walking round the ninth -time, she saw, to her great surprise, her own master (for she was a -servant maid) coming to meet her. She immediately ran home and asked -her mistress why she had sent her master after her to frighten her. But -the master had not gone out from the house. On hearing the girl's -account, the mistress was greatly alarmed and was taken ill, and she -apprehended that she herself was doomed to die, and that her husband -was going to marry this servant girl, ultimately. Then the poor woman -on her death bed begged the young woman to be kind to her children, -"For you are to become the mistress here," said she, "when I am gone." - -It was also a custom in Wales once for nine young girls to meet -together to make a pancake, with nine different things, and share it -between them, that is, each of the girls taking a piece before going -to bed in order to dream of their future husbands. - -Another practice among young girls was to sleep on a bit of wedding -cake. - - - -WATER IN DISH DIVINATION. - -I remember the following test or divination resorted to in -Cardiganshire only about twelve years ago. It was tried by young -maidens who wished to know whether their husbands were to be bachelors, -and by young men who wished to know whether their wives were to be -spinsters. Those who performed this ceremony were blindfolded. Then -three basins or dishes were placed on the table, one filled with -clean water, the other with dirty water, and the third empty. Then the -young man or young woman as the case might be advanced to the table -blindfolded and put their hand in the dish; and the one who placed -his hands in the clean water was to marry a maiden; if into the foul -water, a widow; but if into the empty basin, he was doomed to remain -single all his life. Another way for a young maiden to dream of her -future husband was to put salt in a thimble, and place the same in her -stockings, laying them under her pillow, and repeat an incantation -when going to bed. Meyrick in his History of Cardiganshire states -that "Ivy leaves are gathered, those pointed are called males, and -those rounded are females, and should they jump towards each other, -then the parties who had placed them in the fire will be believed by -and married by their sweethearts; but should they jump away from one -another, then, hatred will be the portion of the anxious person." - -Testing a lover's love by cracking of nuts is also well known in West -and Mid-Wales. - -It was also a custom in the old times for a young girl on St. John's -Eve to go out at midnight to search for St. John's Wort in the light of -a glow worm which they carried in the palm of their hand. After finding -some, a bunch of it was taken home and hung in her bedroom. Next -morning, if the leaves still appeared fresh, it was a good omen; -the girl was to marry within that same year; but, on the other hand, -if the leaves were dead, it was a sign that the girl should die, -or at least she was not to marry that year. - - - -THE BIBLE AND KEY DIVINATION. - -The Bible and Key Divination, or how to find out the two first letters -of a future Wife's or Husband's name is very commonly practised, -even now, by both young men and young women. A small Bible is taken, -and having opened it, the key of the front door is placed on the -16th verse of the 1st Chapter of Ruth:--"And Ruth said, intreat -me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for -whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge; -thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God." Some take Solomon's -Songs, Chapter viii., verses 6 and 7 instead of the above verse from -the Book of Ruth. Then the Bible is closed, and tied round with the -garter taken off the left leg of him or her who wishes to know his or -her future wife or husband's initials. A person cannot perform this -ceremony himself; he must get a friend with him to assist him. The -young man must put the middle finger of his right hand on the key -underneath the loop, and take care to keep the Bible steady. Then -the man, who does not consult the future, repeats the above verse or -verses, and when he comes to the appointed letter, that is the first -letter of the future wife's name, the Bible will turn round under the -finger. I was told at Ystrad Meurig, that a few years ago, a young -woman, a farmer's daughter, tried this Bible and key divination; -and whilst the ceremony was going on, and her sister assisting her -to hold the key under the Bible and repeating the words, instead -of the book turning round as she expected, she saw a coffin moving -along the room, which was a sign that she was doomed to die single; -and so it came to pass! The farmhouse where this young woman lived is -situated in the neighbourhood of Strata Florida, Cardiganshire; but I -do not wish to name the house. I have myself once or twice witnessed -this divination practised, but I never heard of a coffin appearing, -except in the case of the young woman just mentioned. - - - -DIVINATION BY THE TEA-CUP. - -Tea-cup divination is also very much practised by young girls in -Wales in order to find out some future events concerning love affairs, -future husbands, etc. There was a woman, who only died a few years ago, -in the parish of Llandyssul, near a small village called Pontshan in -Cardiganshire, who was considered an expert in the art of fortune -telling by a tea cup, at least young women and young men thought -so, and many of them resorted to her, especially those who were in -love or intending to marry. There was another one near Llandovery -in Carmarthenshire, and there are a few even at present to whom the -maidens go for consultation. - -But Welsh women, who are so fond of tea, can find out many things -themselves by means of the tea cup without resorting to those who are -considered experts in the art. When several of them meet together to -tea they help one another in divining their cups, and tea drinking -or sipping is the order of the day among the females of Wales. After -having emptied the cup, it is turned round three times in the left -hand, so that the tea-leaves may cover the surface of the whole -cup. Then the cup is placed in the saucer, bottom upwards, to drain, -for a few minutes before inspection. If the leaves are scattered evenly -round the sides of the cup, leaving the bottom perfectly clear, it is -considered a very good sign; but on the other hand when the bottom of -the cup appears very black with leaves, it is a very bad sign: some -trouble or some misfortune is near. When the leaves form a ring on the -side of the cup, it means that the girl who consults is to marry very -soon; but if the ring is at the bottom of the cup, disappointment -in love awaits her, or she is doomed to die single. When the tea -leaves form a cross or a coffin, that also is considered a bad sign; -but as a rule, a horse, a dog, or a bird portends good. Two leaves -seen in close proximity on the side of the cup foretell a letter -bringing good news. When there is a speck floating on the surface -of a cup of tea before drinking, some people say it means a letter, -a parcel, or a visitor, but a young girl takes it to represent her -lover, and she proves his faithfulness by placing the speck on the -back of her left hand, and striking it with the back of her right -hand. Should the speck or the small tea leaves stick to the back of -the left hand and cling or stick fast to the right hand when striking -it, it means that the young man is faithful; but on the other hand, -should it happen that the tea still remain on the left hand where -it was first placed, especially after striking it three times, the -young man is not to be depended upon. Some women can even tell by -means of the tea-cup what trade their admirer follows, the colour of -their future husband's hair, and many other such things. - -A lily is considered a most lucky emblem, if it be at the top, or in -the middle of the cup, for this is considered a sign that the young -man, or the young woman who consults, will have a good and kind wife, -or husband, who will make him or her happy in the marriage estate, -but on the other hand, a lily at the bottom of the cup, portends -trouble, especially if clouded, or in the thick. - -A heart, especially in the clear, is also a very good sign, for it -signifies joy and future happiness. Two hearts seen together in the -cup, the young man, or the young woman's wedding is about to take -place. Tea-cup divination is well-known all over the Kingdom; and in -the Colonies, especially Australia, it is by far more popular than -in England. - - - -DIVINATION BY CARDS. - -Divination by cards is not so much known in Wales as in England, -and this is more popular in towns than country places. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -WEDDING CUSTOMS. - - -In times past, Wales had peculiar and most interesting, if not -excellent, Wedding Customs, and in no part of the country were these -old quaint customs more popular, and survived to a more recent date -than in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire. Therefore this book would -be incomplete without giving a full description of them. - -When a young man and a young woman had agreed together to marry "for -better for worse," they were first of all to inform their parents of -the important fact. Then in due time, the young man's father, taking -a friend with him, proceeded to interview the young woman's father, -so as to have a proper understanding on the subject and to arrange -different matters, especially concerning dowry, etc. I am writing -more especially of a rural wedding among the farmers. - -The young woman's father would agree to give with his daughter, as -her portion, household goods of so much value, a certain sum of money, -and so many cows, pigs, etc.; and the young man's father, on his part, -would agree to grant his son so much money, horses, sheep, hay, wheat -and other things, so that the young couple might have a good start -in the married life, "i ddechreu eu byd,"--to begin their world, as -we say in Welsh. Sometimes the young man's father on such occasions -met with opposition on the part of the young woman's father or mother -or other relations, at least we read that it happened so in the case -of the heir of Ffynonbedr, near Lampeter, long ago; for it seems that -when he tried to secure the daughter of Dyffryn Llynod, in the parish -of Llandyssul, as his bride, the reply was in Welsh rhyme as follow:-- - - - "Deunaw gwr a deunaw cledde, - Deunaw gwas yn gwisgo lifre, - Deunaw march o liw'r scythanod, - Cyn codi'r ferch o Ddyffryn Llynod." - - -Anglicised, this meant that she could not be secured without coming for -her with eighteen gentlemen bearing eighteen swords; eighteen servants -wearing livery; and eighteen horses of the colour of the woodpigeon. - -But such opposition was not often to be met with. - -After the parents had arranged these matters satisfactorily, the -next preliminary and important step was to send forth a gwahoddwr, -or Bidder, from house to house, to bid or invite the guests to the -Bidding and the Wedding. - -In connection with these old interesting customs, there were the -Bidding or invitation to the wedding; the Bidder, whose duty it was -formally to invite the guests; the Ystafell, or the bride's goods -and presents; the purse and girdle; the Pwython; and the Neithior. - -The Bidding was a general invitation to all the friends of the bride -and bridegroom-elect to meet them at the houses of their respective -parents or any other house appointed for the occasion. All were -welcomed to attend, even a stranger who should happen to be staying -in the neighbourhood at the time, but it was an understood thing that -every person who did attend, whether male or female, contributed -something, however small, in order to make a purse for the young -couple, who, on the other hand, naturally expected donations from -those whose weddings they had attended themselves. So it was to the -advantage of the bride and bridegroom-elect to make their wedding -as public as possible, as the greater the number of guests, the -greater the donation, so it was the custom to send the "Gwahoddwr," -or Bidder all round the surrounding districts to invite the neighbours -and friends about three weeks, more or less, before the wedding took -place. The banns were, of course, published as in England. - -The Gwahoddwr or Bidder's circuit was one of the most pleasant and -merry features of the rural weddings in South Wales in times past, -and he was greeted everywhere, especially when it happened that he was, -as such often was the case, a merry wag with fluent speech and a poet; -but it was necessary that he should be a real friend to the young -couple on whose behalf he invited the guests. This important wedding -official as he went from house to house, carried a staff of office in -his hand, a long pole, or a white wand, as a rule a willow-wand, from -which the bark had been peeled off. This white stick was decorated -with coloured ribbons plying at the end of it; his hat also, and -often his breast was gaily decorated in a similar manner. - -The Gwahoddwr, thus attired, knocked at the door of each guest and -entered the house amidst the smiles of the old people and the giggling -of the young. Then he would take his stand in the centre of the house, -and strike the floor with his staff to enforce silence, and announce -the wedding, and the names of bride and bridegroom-elect, their place -of abode, and enumerate the great preparations made to entertain the -guests, etc. As a rule, the Gwahoddwr made this announcement in a -set speech of prose, and often repeated a rhyme also on the occasion. - -The following was the speech of a Gwahoddwr in Llanbadarn Fawr, -Cardiganshire in 1762, quoted in Meyrick's "History of Cardiganshire," -from the miscellaneous papers of Mr. Lewis Morris:-- - - - "Speech of the Bidder in Llanbadarn Fawr, 1762." - - "The intention of the bidder is this; with kindness and amity, - with decency and liberality for Einion Owain and Llio Ellis, - he invites you to come with your good will on the plate; bring - current money; a shilling, or two, or three, or four, or five; with - cheese and butter. We invite the husband and wife, and children, - and man-servants, and maid-servants, from the greatest to the - least. Come there early, you shall have victuals freely, and drink - cheap, stools to sit on, and fish if we can catch them; but if not, - hold us excusable; and they will attend on you when you call upon - them in return. They set out from such a place to such a place." - - -The following which appeared in a Welsh Quarterly "Y Beirniad," for -July, 1878, gives a characteristic account of a typical Bidder of a -much later date in Carmarthenshire:-- - - - "Am Tomos fel gwahoddwr, yr wyf yn ei weled yn awr o flaen llygaid - fy meddwl. - - "Dyn byr, llydan, baglog, yn gwisgo coat o frethyn lliw yr awyr, - breeches penglin corduog, gwasgod wlanen fraith, a rhuban glas yn - hongian ar ei fynwes, yn dangos natur ei swydd a'i genadwri dros - y wlad a dramwyid ganddo; hosanau gwlan du'r ddafad am ei goesau, - a dwy esgid o ledr cryf am ei draed; het o frethyn garw am ei ben - haner moel; dwy ffrwd felingoch o hylif y dybaco yn ymlithro dros - ei en; pastwn cryf a garw yn ei ddeheulaw. Cerddai yn mlaen i'r ty - lle y delai heb gyfarch neb, tarawai ei ffon deirgwaith yn erbyn y - llawr, tynai ei het a gosodai hi dan y gesail chwith, sych besychai - er clirio ei geg, a llefarai yn debyg i hyn:--'At wr a gwraig y - ty, y plant a'r gwasanaethyddion, a phawb o honoch sydd yma yn - cysgu ac yn codi. 'Rwy'n genad ac yn wahoddwr dros John Jones - o'r Bryntirion, a Mary Davies o Bantyblodau; 'rwy'n eich gwahodd - yn hen ac yn ifanc i daith a phriodas y par ifanc yna a enwais, y - rhai sydd yn priodi dydd Mercher, tair wythnos i'r nesaf, yn Eglwys - Llansadwrn. Bydd y gwr ifanc a'i gwmp'ni yn codi ma's y bore hwnw o - dy ei dad a'i fam yn Bryntirion, plwyf Llansadwrn; a'r ferch ifanc - yn codi ma's y bore hwnw o dy ei thad a'i mam, sef Pantyblodau, - yn mhlwyf Llanwrda. Bydd gwyr y "shigouts" yn myned y bore hwnw - dros y mab ifanc i 'mofyn y ferch ifanc; a bydd y mab ifanc a'i - gwmp'ni yn cwrdd a'r ferch ifanc a'i chwmp-ni wrth ben Heolgelli, - a byddant yno ar draed ac ar geffylau yn myned gyda'r par ifanc - i gael eu priodi yn Eglwys Llansadwrn. Wedi hyny bydd y gwr a'r - wraig ifanc, a chwmp'ni y bobol ifanc, yn myned gyda'u gilydd i - dy y gwr a'r wraig ifanc, sef Llety'r Gofid, plwyf Talyllechau, - lle y bydd y gwr ifanc, tad a mam y gwr ifanc, a Daniel Jones, - brawd y gwr ifanc, a Jane Jones, chwaer y gwr ifanc, yn dymuno - am i bob rhoddion a phwython dyledus iddynt hwy gael eu talu y - prydnawn hwnw i law y gwr ifanc; a bydd y gwr ifanc a'i dad a'i - fam, a'i frawd a'i chwaer, Dafydd Shon William Evan, ewyrth y - gwr ifanc, yn ddiolchgar am bob rhoddion ychwanegol a welwch yn - dda eu rhoddi yn ffafr y gwr ifanc ar y diwrnod hwnw. - - "'Hefyd, bydd y wraig ifanc, yn nghyd a'i thad a'i mam, Dafydd - a Gwenllian Davies, yn nghyd a'i brodyr a'i chwiorydd, y wraig - ifanc a Dafydd William Shinkin Dafydd o'r Cwm, tadcu y wraig - ifanc, yn galw mewn bob rhoddion a phwython, dyledus iddynt hwy, - i gael eu talu y prydnawn hwnw i law y gwr a'r wraig ifanc yn - Llety'r Gofid. Y mae'r gwr a'r wraig ifanc a'r hwyaf fo byw, yn - addo talu 'nol i chwithau bob rhoddion a weloch yn dda eu rhoddi - i'r tylwyth ifanc, pryd bynag y bo galw, tae hyny bore dranoeth, - neu ryw amser arall.'" - - -Rendered into English the above reads as follows:-- - - - "I can see Thomas, in the capacity of a Gwahoddwr,--Bidder,--before - me now in my mind's eye. A short man, broad, clumsy, wearing a coat - of sky-blue cloth, corduroy breeches to the knee, a motley woollen - waistcoat, and a blue ribbon hanging on his breast, indicating - the nature of his office and message through the country which - he tramped; black-woollen stockings on his legs, and two strong - leathern boots on his feet; a hat made of rough cloth on his - half-bare head; two yellow-red streams of tobacco moisture running - down his chin; a rough, strong staff in his right hand. He walked - into the house he came to without saluting any one, and struck - the floor three times with his staff, took off his hat, and put - it under his left arm, and having coughed in order to clear his - throat, he delivered himself somewhat as follows:-- - - "To the husband and wife of the house, the children and the - servants, and all of you who are here sleeping and getting up. I - am a messenger and a bidder for John Jones of Bryntirion and Mary - Davies of Pantyblodau; I beg to invite you, both old and young, to - the bidding and wedding of the young couple I have just mentioned, - who intend to marry on Wednesday, three weeks to the next, at - Llansadwrn Church. The young man and his company on that morning - will be leaving his father and mother's house at Bryntirion, - in the parish of Llansadwrn; and the young woman will be leaving - that same morning from the house of her father and mother, that - is Pantyblodau, in the parish of Llanwrda. On that morning the - shigouts (seekouts) men will go on behalf of the young man to - seek for the young woman; and the young man and his company will - meet the young woman and her company at the top of Heolgelli, and - there they will be, on foot and on horses, going with the young - couple who are to be married at Llansadwrn Church. After that, - the young husband and wife, and the young people's company, will - be going together to the house of the young husband and wife, to - wit, Llety'r Gofid, in the parish of Tally, where the young man, - the young man's father and mother, and Daniel Jones, brother of - the young man, and Jane Jones, the young man's sister, desire that - all donations and pwython due to them be paid that afternoon to the - hands of the young man; and the young man, his father and mother, - his brother and sister, and Dafydd Shon William Evan, uncle of - the young man, will be very thankful for every additional gifts - you will be pleased to give in favour of the young man that day. - - "Also, the young wife, together with her father and mother, Dafydd - and Gwenllian Davies, together with her brothers and sisters, - the young wife and Dafydd William Shinkin Dafydd of Cwm, the - young wife's grandfather, desire that all donations and pwython, - due to them, be paid that afternoon to the hand of the young - husband and wife at Llety'r Gofid. - - "The young husband and wife and those who'll live the longest, - do promise to repay you every gift you will be pleased to give - to the young couple, whenever called upon to do so, should that - happen next morning or at any other time?" - - -The Bidder then repeated in Welsh a most comic and humorous song for -the occasion. - -Another well-known "Gwahoddwr," or Bidder in Cardiganshire was an -old man named Stephen, who flourished at the end of the eighteenth, -and the beginning of the nineteenth century. - -He was commonly known as Stephen Wahoddwr, or Stephen the Bidder, -and concerning whom the celebrated poet "Daniel Ddu o Geredigion," -wrote to the "Cambrian Briton," in March, 1822, as follows:-- - - - "There is an old man in this neighbourhood of the name of Stephen, - employed in the vocation of 'Gwahoddwr,' who displayed, in my - hearing, so much comic talent and humour in the recitation of his - Bidding-song (which he complained, was, by repetition, become - uninteresting to his auditors) as to induce me to furnish him - with some kind of fresh matter. My humble composition, adapted, - in language and conceptions, as far as I could make it, to common - taste and capacities, this man now delivers in his rounds; and - I send it you as a specimen of a Bidder's Song, hoping that your - readers will be in some measure amused by its perusal:-- - - - "Dydd da i chwi, bobl, o'r hynaf i'r baban, - Mae Stephan Wahoddwr a chwi am ymddiddan, - Gyfeillion da mwynaidd, os felly'ch dymuniad, - Cewch genyf fy neges yn gynhes ar gariad. - - Y mae rhyw greadur trwy'r byd yn grwydredig, - Nis gwn i yn hollol ai glanwedd ai hyllig, - Ag sydd i laweroedd yn gwneuthur doluriad, - Ar bawb yn goncwerwr, a'i enw yw Cariad. - - Yr ifanc yn awchus wna daro fynycha', - A'i saeth trwy ei asen mewn modd truenusa'; - Ond weithiau a'i fwa fe ddwg yn o fuan - O dan ei lywodraeth y rhai canol oedran. - - Weithiau mae'n taro yn lled annaturiol, - Nes byddant yn babwyr yn wir yr hen bobl, - Mi glywais am rywun a gas yn aflawen - Y bendro'n ei wegil yn ol pedwar ugain. - - A thyma'r creadur trwy'r byd wrth garwyro - A d'rawodd y ddeu-ddyn wyf trostynt yn teithio, - I hel eich cynorthwy a'ch nodded i'w nerthu, - Yn ol a gewch chwithau pan ddel hwn i'ch brathu. - - Ymdrechwch i ddala i fyny yn ddilys, - Bawb oll yr hen gystwm, nid yw yn rhy gostus-- - Sef rhoddi rhyw sylltach, rai 'nol eu cysylltu, - Fe fydd y gwyr ifainc yn foddgar o'u meddu. - - Can' brynu rhyw bethau yn nghyd gan obeithio - Byw yn o dawel a'u plant yn blodeuo; - Dwyn bywyd mor ddewis wrth drin yr hen ddaear, - A Brenhin y Saeson, neu gynt yr hen Sesar. - - Can's nid wyf i'n meddwl mae golud a moddion - Sy'n gwneuthur dedwyddwch, dyweden hwy wedo'n; - Mae gofid i'r dynion, sy'n byw mewn sidanau, - Gwir mae'r byd hawsaf yw byw heb ddim eisiau. - - 'Roedd Brenhin mawr Lloegr a'i wraig yn alluog, - A chig yn eu crochan, ond eto'n byw'n 'ysgrechog; - Pe cawsai y dwliaid y gaib yn eu dwylo, - Yr wyf yn ystyried y buasai llai stwrio. - - Cynal rhyw gweryl yr aent am y goron, - Ac ymladd a'u gilydd a hyny o'r galon; - 'Rwy'n barod i dyngu er cymaint eu hanghen - Nad o'ent hwy mor ddedwydd a Stephen a Madlen. - - Yr wyf yn attolwg i bob un o'r teulu, - I gofio fy neges wyf wedi fynegu; - Rhag i'r gwr ifanc a'i wraig y pryd hyny, - Os na chan' ddim digon ddweyd mai fi fu'n diogi. - - Chwi gewch yno roeso, 'rwy'n gwybod o'r hawsaf, - A bara chaws ddigon, onide mi a ddigiaf, - Caiff pawb eu hewyllys, dybacco, a phibelli, - A diod hoff ryfedd, 'rwyf wedi ei phrofi. - - Gwel'd digrif gwmpeini wy'n garu'n rhagorol, - Nid gwiw ini gofio bob amser ei gofol; - Mae amser i gwyno mae amser i ganu, - Gwir yw mae hen hanes a ddywed in' hyny. - - Cwpanau da fawrion a dynion difyrus, - I mi sy'n rhyw olwg o'r hen amser hwylus; - Ac nid wyf fi'n digio os gwaeddi wna rhywun, - Yn nghornel y 'stafell, "A yfwch chwi, Styfyn?" - - Dydd da i chwi weithian, mae'n rhaid i mi deithio - Dros fryniau, a broydd, a gwaunydd, dan gwyno; - Gan stormydd tra awchus, a chan y glaw uchel, - Caf lawer cernod, a chwithau'n y gornel." - - -The above has been translated into English by one Mair Arfon as -follows, and appeared in "Cymru Fu," Cardiff, August 9th, 1888:-- - - - "Here's Stephen the Bidder! Good day to you all, - To baby and daddy, old, young, great and small; - Good friends if you like, in a warm poet's lay - My message to you I'll deliver to-day. - - Some creature there is who roams the world through - Working mischief to many and joy to a few, - But conquering all, whether hell or above - Be his home, I am not certain; his name though is love. - - The young he most frequently marks as his game, - Strikes them straight through the heart with an unerring aim; - Though the middle age, too, if he gets in his way, - With his bow he will cover and bend to his sway. - - And sometimes the rogue with an aim somewhat absurd, - Makes fools of old people. Indeed, I have heard - Of one hapless wight, who, though over four score, - He hit in the head, making one victim more. - - And this is the creature, who, when on his way - Through the world, struck the couple in whose cause to-day, - I ask for your help and your patronage, too; - And they'll give you back when he comes to bite you. - - And now let each one of us struggle to keep - The old custom up, so time-honoured and cheap; - Of jointly, or singly, some small trifle giving, - To start the young pair on their way to a living. - - They'll buy a few things, with a confidence clear, - Of living in peace as their children they rear; - Stealing and content, out of Mother Earth's hand, - Blest as Cęsar of old, or the King of our land. - - I do not consider that riches or gold - Ensure contentment; a wise man of old - Tells us men in soft raiment of grief have their share, - And a life without wants is the lightest to bear. - - Once a great English King [1] and his talented wife, - Though they had meat in their pan, led a bickering life; - Were the dullards compelled to work, him and her, - With a hoe in their hands it would lessen their stir. - - The quarrel arose from some fight for the Crown - And at it they went like some cats of renown; - And although we are poor, I am ready to swear - That Stephen and Madlen are freer from care. - - Now let me impress on this whole family, - To think on the message delivered by me; - Lest the youth and his wife, through not getting enough, - Should say that my idleness caused lack of stuff. - - A welcome you'll get there I guarantee you, - With bread and cheese plenty, and prime beer, too; - I know, for I have tried it, and everybody there - Can have 'bacco and pipes enough and to spare. - - It delights me a jovial assembly to see, - For it is wiser sometimes to forget misery; - There are times for complaining and song, too we're told, - In the proverb of old, which is true as it's old. - - A bumping big cup and a lot of bright men, - Bring before me the jolly old times o'er again, - And I wouldn't be angry if some one now even - Would shout from some corner "Will you have a glass Stephen?" - - Good day to you now, for away I must hie, - Over mountains and hillocks with often a sigh, - Exposed as I am to keen storms, rain, and sleet, - While you cosily sit in your warm corner seat." - - -Another well-known Gwahoddwr about 50 years ago was Thomas Parry, who -lived at the small village of Pontshan in the parish of Llandyssul. A -short time ago, when I was staying in that neighbourhood in quest -for materials for my present work, I came across a few old people -who well-remembered him, especially Mr. Thomas Evans, Gwaralltyryn, -and the Rev. T. Thomas, J.P., Greenpark, both of whom, as well as -one or two others, told me a good deal about him. - -Like a good many of the Gwahoddwyr or Bidders, he seemed to have -been a most eccentric character, of a ready wit and full of humour, -especially when more or less under the influence of a glass of -ale. Mr. Rees Jones, Pwllffein, a poet of considerable repute in -the Vale of Cletwr, composed for T. Parry, a "Can y Gwahoddwr," -or the Bidder's Song, which song in a very short time, became most -popular in that part of Cardiganshire, and the adjoining districts -of Carmarthenshire. This Parry the Bidder, whenever he was sent by -those intending to marry, went from house to house, through the -surrounding districts, proclaiming the particulars, and inviting -all to the Bidding and the Weddings, and he was greeted with smiles -wherever he went, especially by the young men and young women, who -always looked forward to a wedding with great delight, as it was an -occasion for so much merriment and enjoyment, and where lovers and -sweethearts met. Food was set before the Gwahoddwr almost in every -house, bread and cheese and beer, so that it is not to be wondered at -that he felt a bit merry before night. He tramped through his circuit -through storms and rain, but like most Bidders, he was but poorly paid, -so he was often engaged as a mole trapper as well. - -On one occasion, he had set down a trap in a neighbouring field in the -evening expecting to find a mole entrapped in it next morning. Next -morning came, and off went the old man to see the trap, but when he -arrived on the spot, to his great surprise, instead of a mole in the -trap, there was a fish in it! The famous entrapper of moles could not -imagine how a fish could get into a trap on dry land, but he found -out afterwards that some mischievous boys had been there early in the -morning before him, who, to have a bit of fun at the expense of the old -man, had taken out the mole from the trap and put a fish in it instead. - -Thus we see that the modern Gwahoddwr was generally a poor man; but -in the old times, on the other hand, he was a person of importance, -skilled in pedigrees and family traditions, and himself of good family; -for, undoubtedly, these old wedding customs which have survived in -some localities in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire and other parts -of Wales even down almost to the present time, are of a very ancient -origin, coming down even from the time of the Druids, and this proves -the wisdom and knowledge of the original legislators of the Celtic -tribes; for they were instituted in order to encourage wedlock so as -to increase the population of the country, and to repair the losses -occasioned by plagues and wars. A chieftain would frequently assume -the character of a Bidder on behalf of his vassal, and hostile clans -respected his person as he went about from castle to castle, or from -mansion to mansion. - -Old people who well remember the time when the quaint old wedding -customs were very general throughout West Wales, informed me that -it was in some localities the custom sometimes to have two or more -Gwahoddwyr to invite to the wedding; this was especially the case -when the bride and bridegroom-elect did not reside in the same part -of the country; for it happened sometimes that the young man engaged -to be married lived in a certain part of Carmarthenshire, whilst his -bride perhaps lived some way off in Cardiganshire or Pembrokeshire. - -In such cases it was necessary to appoint two Bidders, one for the -young man, and another for the young woman, to go round the respective -districts in which each of them lived. - -An old man in Carmarthenshire informed me that many years ago a friend -of his, a farmer in the parish of Llanycrwys married a young lady -from Pencarreg, two Bidders were sent forth to tramp the country; -one going round the parish of Llanycrwys where the bridegroom lived, -and the other's circuit was the parish of Pencarreg, the native parish -of the bride. - -Another custom in some places, especially round Llandyssul and -Llangeler, which took place before appointing the Gwahoddwr, was for -the neighbours and friends to come together of an evening to the house -of the bride or bridegroom's parents, or any other place fixed upon -for that purpose. On such occasion a good deal of drinking home-brewed -beer was indulged in, "Er lles y par ifanc," that is, for the benefit -of the young couple. All the profit made out of this beer drinking at -a private house went to the young man and the young woman as a help -to begin their married life. At such a meeting also very often the -day of the wedding was fixed, and the Bidder appointed, and should he -happen to be an inexperienced one he was urged to repeat his Bidding -speech before the company present, in order to test him whether he -had enough wit and humour to perform his office satisfactorily in -going round to invite to the wedding. - -When the young people engaged to be married were sons and daughters of -well-to-do farmers, it was the custom to send by this Bidder in his -rounds, a circular letter, or a written note in English; and this -note or circular in course of time became so fashionable that the -occupation of a Bidder gradually fell to decay; that is, it became a -custom to send a circular letter instead of a Bidder. The following -Bidding Letter, which is not a fictitious one, but a real document, -appeared in an interesting book, entitled "The Vale of Towy," published -in 1844:-- - - - "Being betrothed to each other, we design to ratify the plighted - vow by entering under the sanction of wedlock; and as a prevalent - custom exists from time immemorial amongst "Plant y Cymry" - of making a bidding on the occurrence of a hymeneal occasion, - we have a tendency to the manner of the oulden tyme, and incited - by friends as well as relations to do the same, avail ourselves - of this suitableness of circumstances of humbly inviting your - agreeable and pleasing presence on Thursday, the 29th day of - December next, at Mr. Shenkin's, in the parish of Llangathen, - and whatever your propensities then feel to grant will meet with - an acceptance of the most grateful with an acknowledgement of the - most warmly, carefully registered, and retaliated with promptitude - and alacrity, whenever an occurrence of a similar nature present - itself, by - - - "Your most obedient servants, - William Howells, - Sarah Lewis. - - - "The young man, with his father and mother (David and Ann Howells), - his brother (John Howells), and his cousin (Edward Howells), desire - that all claims of the above nature due to them be returned to - the young man on the above day, and will feel grateful for the - bestowments of all kindness conferred upon him. - - "The young woman, with her father and mother (Thomas and Letice - Lewis), her sisters (Elizabeth and Margaret Lewis), and her cousins - (William and Mary Morgan), desire that all claims of the above - nature due to them be returned to the young woman on the above - day, and will feel grateful for the bestowments of all kindness - conferred upon her." - - -The following Bidding Letter I copied from an old manuscript in -possession of that eminent Antiquarian, the Rev. D. H. Davies, once -Vicar of Cenarth, but who lives at present at Newcastle Emlyn:-- - - - "To Mr. Griffith Jenkins. - - "Sir,--As my daughter's Bidding is fixed to be the Eighth day - of February next, I humbly beg the favour of your good company - according to custom, on the occasion, which shall be most - gratefully acknowledged and retaliated by - - - "Yours most obedient and humble Servant, - Joshua Jones. - - "Penrallt, - Jan. 23rd, 1770." - - -The following also is another specimen of such circular, a copy of -which came into my possession through the kindness of the esteemed -lady, Mrs. Webley-Tyler, Glanhelig, near Cardigan:-- - - - "February 1, 1841. - - "As we intend to enter the Matrimonial State, on Thursday, the - 11th day of February instant, we purpose to make a Bidding on the - occasion, the same day, at the young woman's Father and Mother's - House, called Llechryd Mill; When and where the favour of your good - company is most humbly solicited, and whatever donation you will - be pleased to confer on us that day, will be thankfully received - and cheerfully repaid whenever called for on a similar occasion, - - - "By your obedient humble Servants, - John Stephens, - Ann Davies. - - - "The young man's Father and Mother (John and Elizabeth Stephens, - Pen'rallt-y-felin), together with his brother (David Stephens), - desire that all gifts of the above nature due to them be returned - to the Young Man, on the said day, and will be thankful for - all favours granted.--Also the Young Woman's Father and Mother - (David and Hannah Davies, Llechryd Mill), desire that all gifts - of the above nature due to them, be returned to the young woman - on the said day, and will be thankful for all favours granted." - - -The day before the Wedding was once allotted to bringing home the -"Ystafell," or household goods and furniture, of the young couple; -but these customs varied considerably in different parts of the -country. The furniture of the bride, as a rule, consisted of a feather -bed and bed clothes, one or two large oaken chests to keep clothes in, -and a few other things; and it was customary for the bridegroom to -find or provide tables, chairs, bedstead, and a dresser. The dresser -was perhaps the most interesting relic of family property, and is -still to be seen in Welsh farm-houses, and is greatly valued as a -thing which has been an heirloom in the family for generations. It -consists of two or more stages, and the upper compartments, which -are open, are always decked with specimens of useful and ornamental -old Welsh ware, which are getting very rare now, and people offer a -high price for them as curiosities. - -It was also customary on the same day for the young man and the -young woman to receive gifts of various kinds, such as money, flour, -cheese, butter, bacon, hens, and sometimes even a cow or a pig, -also a good many useful things for house-keeping. This was called -"Pwrs a Gwregys"--a purse and a girdle. But these gifts were to be -re-paid when demanded on similar occasions; and, upon a refusal, -were even recoverable by law; and sometimes this was done. - -About a hundred years ago, and previous to that date, the day before -the wedding, as a rule, was allotted to the "Ystafell," or bringing -home of the furniture, etc.; but more recently it became the custom -to appoint a day for that purpose at other times in some districts, -that is, it took place whenever the young married couple went to live -at a house of their own; this would be perhaps three or six months -after the wedding. In Wales it is very common to see a young married -couple among the farmers remaining with the parents of the young man, -or with the young wife's parents until it is a convenient time for -them to take up a farm of their own. - -I have already noticed that these customs varied in different parts -of the country. In some districts, the day preceding the Wedding -was a great time for feasting, whilst in other localities people -came together to drink for the benefit of the young couple, and when -cakes were prepared for the Neithior which was to follow the wedding -on the next day. - - - -THE WEDDING DAY. - -At the present time, Welsh people marry on any day of the week, but -about fifty years ago Wednesday was a favourite day in some places, -and Friday in other places. I am writing more especially, of course, -of West Wales. Indeed, in some parishes old men informed me that when -they were young they did not remember any one marrying, except on a -Friday. This fact, undoubtedly, is likely to surprise many English -readers, who regard Friday as an unlucky day for anything. - -Meyrick, writing about one hundred years ago in his History of -Cardiganshire, says Saturday was the Wedding Day, and other writers -mention the same thing, and it is evident that Saturday was the day -on which most people did marry, except in a few districts, about three -generations ago, as well as in older times. Whether this day, that is, -Saturday, was commonly fixed upon from a belief that it was a lucky day -for marriage, or from the convenience of Sunday intervening between it -and a working day, is rather difficult to know, but it seems that the -following old English Marrying Rhyme was either unknown to the Welsh, -or that they did not give heed to it:-- - - - To marry on - - "Monday wealth, Tuesday for health, - Wednesday the best day of all; - Thursday for crosses, Friday for losses, - Saturday no luck at all!" - - - -THE HORSE WEDDING. - -The rural weddings in South Wales until very recently were Horse -Weddings; that is, it was the custom of the whole party, both men and -women to ride, and generally at full speed. Poor people generally -managed to obtain the loan of horses for the happy occasion from -their richer neighbours. On the wedding morning the invited guests, -both men and women, married and unmarried, came on their horses and -ponies, some of them from a long distance. The men proceeded to the -bridegroom's house, about a hundred or a hundred and fifty in number -and honourably paid their pwython; whilst the women at the same time -went to the house of the bride, and paid to her their pwython. - -"Pwython" was the term used in connection with these weddings to denote -the gifts presented to the young bride and bridegroom respectively, -in return for what the invited guests themselves had received on the -occasion of their own weddings from the young man and the young woman, -or their relations or friends. Of course, a large number of those who -gave gifts were young and unmarried, so that they were not all under -an obligation to give; but still they gave, and they were expected -to give to help the young couple, and by so giving, they were placing -the latter under an obligation to them in the future, that is, in such -cases, the giver gave under the expectation of receiving back gifts of -equal value, whenever his or her own, or one of his or her relations' -wedding took place, even should that happen on the very next day. - -After depositing their offerings and taking something to eat, it was -then the custom for ten, twelve, or sometimes even twenty young men, -headed by a bard, a harper, or some fluent speaker, to mount their -horses, and drive away full speed in the direction of the bride's -house to demand her in marriage for the bridegroom. But on the -morning of the wedding, the young woman, that is, the bride-elect, -was not to be got possession of without much trouble and argument, -and searching. When the bridegroom's procession halted at the house of -the bride's parents, the leader of the party, finding the door barred -against their entrance, would formally demand the bride, generally -in rhyme appropriate to the occasion, delivered something as follows:-- - - - "Open windows, open doors, - And with flowers strew the floors; - Heap the hearth with blazing wood, - Load the spit with festal food; - The "crochon [2]" on its hook be placed, - And tap a barrel of the best! - For this is Catty's wedding day! - Now bring the fair one out, I pray." - - -Then one of the bride's party from within made a reply as follows, -with the door still closed:-- - - - "Who are ye all? ye noisy train! - Be ye thieves or honest men? - Tell us now what brings you here, - Or this intrusion will cost you dear?" - - -Then the one from without rejoins:-- - - - "Honest men are we, who seek - A dainty maid both fair and meek, - Very good and very pretty, - And known to all by name of Catty; - We come to claim her for a bride; - Come, father, let the fair be tied - To him who loves her ever well." - - -The one within again answers:-- - - - "So ye say, but time will tell; - My daughter's very well at home - So ye may pack and homeward roam." - - -Again the one without exclaims in resolute tones:-- - - - "Your home no more she's doomed to share - Like every marriageable fair, - Her father's roof she quits for one - Where she is mistress; wooed and won. - It now remains to see her wedded, - And homeward brought and safely bedded. - Unless you give her up, we swear - The roof from off your house to tear, - Burst in the doors and batter walls, - To rescue her whom wedlock calls." - - -Another of the bridegroom's party then calls aloud, in a voice of -authority:-- - - - "Ho! peace in the King's name, here, peace! - Let vaunts and taunting language cease; - While we the bridesmen, come to sue - The favour to all bridesmen due, - The daughter from the father's hand, - And entertainment kindly bland." - - -The above rhyme appeared in "Adventures of Twm Shon Catty." There -are a good many such verses composed for, or at such occasion, still -extant in the Welsh language. - -The party without and the party within feigned to abuse one another in -such rhymes for an hour, more sometimes, till their wit was exhausted, -but the whole performance was nothing but innocent fun, and the doors -are opened in the end, and the bridegroom's party are admitted into -the house; but even then the trouble is not always over, for it was -the custom for the bride to hide herself, when search would be made -for her everywhere under the tables, beds, behind the doors and every -corner in the house, and at last found, perhaps, under the disguise of -a young man smoking his pipe, or of a "granny" knitting in the corner. - -Whoever discovered the bride received a pint of beer and a cake -as a prize in some places. All these things were done for fun or -amusement, but I heard of one young woman at least, who was hiding -in real earnest, and could not be found. - -An old farmer near Carmarthen, Griffiths, of Rhenallt, who is 96 years -of age, informed me about five years ago, that he once heard his father -mention of a man called "Dafydd y Llether," a butcher near Alltwalis, -who was disappointed in this manner. This happened about 100 years -ago. This butcher was engaged to be married to a farmer's daughter who -lived in the parish of Llanllwni, about eight miles off, and had made -all preparations for the wedding. When the wedding morning dawned, -Dafydd and his neighbours and friends, about one hundred in number, -mounted their horses at Alltwalis, and galloped away full speed to -Llanllwni, and having arrived at the house of the young bride's -parents, search was made for her everywhere, but she was nowhere -to be found. At last the young man and his friends had to return -home without finding her in great disappointment! The young woman's -parents had prevailed upon her not to marry the young man, "because" -added the old man to me "he was too much of a jolly boy." So they -had contrived between them to hide her where she could not be found -on the wedding morning. - -But, to proceed with our account of the old wedding customs, it -was the practice after finding the hidden bride, and partaking of a -little refreshments, for the wedding party to mount their horses, -and they were joined by the bridegroom and his friends, and made -their way towards the church. The young woman was mounted on a fine -and swift horse; but often she had to be content to be mounted behind -her father, or a brother or a friend; and when the latter was the case, -she had to sit on crupper without any pillion, and holding fast to the -man. Then the whole cavalcade would gallop off to church. But during -the procession the bride was seized suddenly by one of her relatives -or friends, stolen away and borne off to a distance. However, this -feigned attempt to run away with her was done only in sport. Then -a chase ensued, when the bridegroom and his friends drove after her -like madmen till they caught her and took her to church. The driving -was so furious on such occasions that legs and arms were sometimes -broken. Mr. D. Jones in his interesting Welsh book on the History of -the Parish of Llangeler, says that in the year 1844, at the wedding -of Dinah, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Jones, Saron, one James Evans, -the groom of the late Colonel Lewes, drove so furiously that his horse -struck against a wall with the result that both the animal and its -rider were killed on the spot, near Llangeler Church! In consequence -of such a melancholy event the Horse Wedding was discontinued in -that part of the country, through the influence of the Vicar, the -Rev. John Griffiths, who preached against the practice from II. Kings, -chap. IX. verse 20 ... "And the driving is like the driving of Jehu -the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously." - -The following account of a Horse Wedding appeared in "The Folk Lore of -North Wales" by the late Rev. Elias Owen, F.S.A., whose informant was -the Rev. Canon Griffith Jones, who witnessed the wedding, which took -place at Tregaron, Cardiganshire. We are told that "The friends of -both the young people were on horseback, and according to custom they -presented themselves at the house of the young woman, the one to escort -her to the church, and the other to hinder her from going there. The -friends of the young man were called "Gwyr shegouts." When the young -lady was mounted, she was surrounded by the "gwyr shegouts," and the -cavalcade started. All went on peaceably until a lane was reached, down -which the lady bolted, and here the struggle commenced, for her friends -dashed between her and her husband's friends and endeavoured to force -them back, and thus assist her to escape. The parties, Mr. Jones said, -rode furiously and madly, and the struggle presented a cavalry charge, -and it was not without much apparent danger that the opposition was -overcome, and the lady ultimately forced to proceed to the church, -where her future husband was anxiously awaiting her arrival." - -The Lord Bishop of Huron, a native of Cardiganshire, writing to me -from Canada, November 17th., 1909, says:--"I remember a wedding once -when all the guests were on horse-back and there was a hunt for the -bride. There could be no wedding till the bride was caught, and, -Oh the wild gallop over hill and dale till she was taken captive -and led to the altar! The last wedding of that kind to which I refer -took place about 45 years ago. The daughter of Mr. Morgan (I think) -of Maestir, near Lampeter, or his intended wife being the bride. A -very severe accident happened to the bride and that ended the custom -in that neighbourhood." - -Although such things as I have already said were done for sport, -yet I have heard of a few cases in which the bride was borne away in -earnest, and disappeared willingly in company of an old lover of hers, -to the intense astonishment and disappointment of the bridegroom, -who happened to be her parents' choice, and not her own. In this case, -the custom of a feigned attempt to run away with the bride had in some -respects served its original purpose; for, undoubtedly, the origin of -the custom of hiding, running away with, and capturing the bride could -be traced back to those barbarous times when marriage by capture was a -common practice. Thus in the Mabinogion, we find that when a King named -Kilydd, after being for some time a widower, wanted to marry again, -one of his counsellors said to him, "I know a wife that will suit thee -well, and she is the wife of King Dogel." And they resolved to go and -seek her; and they slew the King and brought away his wife. When his -son also named Kilhwch wanted a wife, he went to demand her from her -father Yspaddaden Pencawr, the Giant, and obtained her at last after -many adventures, and the help of Arthur and his men. It is probable -that when the Celtic Tribes had settled in Britain that they often -obtained a wife by capturing her from the Aborigines. - -This calls to mind the strategy of Romulus to secure wives for his -soldiers by directing them at a given signal to seize Sabine maidens -and run off with them whilst the men were busy in looking at the games. - -Another singular instance of wife snatching in ancient times is to be -found in the Book of Judges, for when the men of the tribe of Benjamin -were in difficulty in obtaining wives for themselves, their elders -commanded them to "go and lie in wait in the vineyards; and see, -and behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, -then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife -of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin,.... And -the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to -their number, of them that danced, whom they caught." Judges XXI., -verses 20, 21, and 23. - -It seems that some kind of Horse Weddings is in vogue among the -Calmucians, even at the present day, the young woman is first -mounted on her horse and drives off full speed, then the young man, -who is her intended, mounts and chases her, and when he catches her -he can claim her as his wife on the spot; but should she escape him, -he cannot claim her. I well remember when I lived in the Welsh Colony -of Patagonia, about 20 years ago, that it was a very common custom -for a young man and a young woman when in love, to mount their steeds -and take a long ride of 20 miles or more in each other's company, -and whilst driving along together in such manner words of love were -often whispered. Also when a wedding took place, the guests went to -it on their horses, but the old custom of driving after, and capturing -the bride was not observed. - -Horse Weddings were very general in West Wales about sixty years ago, -and even twenty years ago in some districts, but I doubt whether -the custom has been continued at the present day in any part of the -country. In the chase after the bride it was supposed that whoever -caught her would be married without doubt within a year from that date, -so it is not to be wondered at that young men drove so furiously on -such occasions. - -As soon as the marriage ceremony was over in church, it was once -the custom for a harper in the churchyard to play "Merch Megan," -"Mentra Gwen," "Morwynion Glan Meirionydd," or some other beautiful -old Welsh Air appropriate to the occasion. - -It was also customary in some places, especially in the Northern part -of Cardiganshire, for a certain number of young men to mount their -steeds immediately after the ceremony, and drive off full speed, -for the first who reached the house of the newly-married couple was -to receive a quart of beer and a silk pocket handkerchief, especially -if the young husband and wife were well-to-do. - -The ceremony at the Church being over, all the company joined and -returned to the young couple's house, where dinner was provided. On -their return journey again, as in going to Church, they drove -fast. Indeed, it was often the custom to have a regular horse race -on the way home from Church on the wedding day. - -The Rev. D. G. Williams gives the following amusing story of such a -race, in connection with a rural wedding which took place not far -from Newcastle Emlyn. There lived a genial old country gentleman -in the north-eastern part of Pembrokeshire, known as Mr. Howells, -Glaspant, who had sent three of his horses to the wedding referred to, -one of them was a pony, considered among the swiftest in the district; -but there was one drawback in connection with the animal. He would -go whichever way he pleased, especially when he was excited. The -wedding procession went along from a house called Gilfach Gweision to -Capel Evan, where the "knot was tied," and as soon as the ceremony -was over the homeward race began in real earnest. The Squire felt -confident that his "Comet," as the pony was named, would be sure to -prove victorious in the race, if the animal could be kept to follow -the road which led on to Cwm Cuch, instead of turning to another road -which led to Mr. Howells' own house, Glaspant. To make sure of this, -the enthusiastic old gentleman in due time, sent all his servants, -both men and women, with walking-sticks and brooms in their hands -to stand where the two roads met, so as to prevent the pony turning -to the one that led to the house. Onward came the wedding cavalcade -at last, the pony taking the lead as Mr. Howells expected, and when -"Comet" saw a rowdy crowd shouting with all their might, and with -brooms and sticks, the animal was glad to pass forward in the right -direction and soon proved himself the hero of the day, and the old -man felt as proud of his pony as the young husband was of his wife. - -Another common practice in connection with the weddings in Wales, and -still prevails in some places, was known as Chaining or Halting the -Wedding. As the young husband and wife were driving home from Church -at the end of the wedding ceremony they would find the way obstructed -by ropes stretching the road, covered with flowers, and ribbons, and -evergreens, or sometimes blocked up entirely by thorns. It is said -that this was intended as the first obstacle in married life. Ropes in -some cases were made of straw, and the young couple were not allowed -to pass without paying a footing to the obstructors, and then the -barrier was removed amidst a general hurrah. This chaining or halting -the wedding was known in many parts of West Wales as "codi cwinten," -or to set up a quintain. - -In ancient times Guintain seems to have been some kind of a game of -skill in vogue among several nations; it consisted of an upright post, -on the top of which a cross bar turned on a pivot; "at one end of the -cross hung a heavy sand bag, and at the other was placed a broad plank; -the accomplished cavalier in his passage couched his lance, and with -the point made a thrust at the broad plank, and continued his route -with his usual rapidity, and only felt the "gwyntyn," or the "air" of -the sand bag, fanning his hair as he passed.... The awkward horseman -in attempting to pass this terrific barrier was either unhorsed by -the weight of the sand bag, or by the impulse of the animal against -the bar found his steed sprawling under him on the ground." - -In some parts of the country, when the bride or the young wife reaches -home after the wedding ceremony, she buys some small trifle, a pin -or anything from her bridesmaid; and by taking the opportunity of -buying something before her husband has a chance, she'll be master -over him for life! Sometimes the young newly-married couple resorted -to a Wishing Well, and the first to drink the water became the master -in their wedded life! - -In Wales, it is considered unlucky to marry on a wet day. It was -considered unlucky for the wedding party to go and return from the -church exactly on the same path, so sometimes it was customary to go -out of the way a bit so as to avoid ill-luck. - -It is still customary to decorate the roads where the wedding party -is to pass with arches and bannerettes, bearing mottoes appropriate -to the occasion. This was done in February, 1906, at the wedding -of Mr. David T. Davies, of Penlan, Llanwrda; and at the marriage of -Mr. D. Barlett of Carmarthen in the same month, Llanboidy Parish Church -was tastefully decorated with palms and evergreens, and the village -was gay with bunting and festoons. Such decorations are very common, -especially in connection with a country gentleman's marriage, when -tenants adorn their houses with garlands, and children strew flowers -in the bride's path. It was formerly the custom to pelt the bride and -bridegroom with flowers, and it is still very general to throw rice -at them. I remember this rice-throwing three years ago at Llanilar, -Cardiganshire, at the wedding of a sister of Dr. Rees. Sometimes old -boots were thrown, and I have heard that grains of wheat served the -purpose once. Such things were done to ensure "Good Luck." - -In former times the bridal flowers were roses, gentle lady, lady's -fingers, lady-smock, pansy, prickles and furze, and, in order to -encourage the young wife in industry, red clover bloom was strewn in -her pathway. - - - -NEITHIOR. - -When the ceremony at the church and the horse racing which followed -were over, the guests proceeded to the young married couple's house -to partake of some food, and in the afternoon and the evening -they paid their "pwython" to the newly married couple, that is -those of the guests who had not paid already. Others again gave -fresh presents. There was much consumption of beer and cakes on such -occasions always, and the sale of which was a further source of income -to the young couple, so that between everything they were provided -with the means for a good start in their married life. Very often -such a large crowd attended the Neithior, that the house was often -too small to accommodate them all; so a party of the men resorted to -the barn or any other convenient place to drink beer. - -It was also customary for the young men to treat the young maidens -with cakes; so there was a good deal of love-making, and often of -rivalry, especially should there be a very pretty girl among the merry -company. Those young maids who were fortunate enough as to be in favour -with the young men had their aprons full of cakes and biscuits, etc., -to take home with them in the evening. Such festivities as a rule were -very merry and kept up till a late hour, and there was a good deal of -singing, harp-playing and dancing, for the Welsh were expert dancers -in former times; but at the present day dancing is almost unknown, -at least in country places. - -On such occasions, it was customary, as a rule, to secure the presence -of a harper, for the harp was from time immemorial a favourite musical -instrument among the Welsh people; for Giraldus Cambrensis writing -700 years ago, says:--"Those who arrive in the morning are entertained -till evening with the conversation of young women and the music of the -harp; for each house has its young women and harps allotted to this -purpose ... and in each family the art of playing on the harp is held -preferable to any other learning." During the last three generations, -however, the dear old instrument with its sweet and melodious sounds -gradually declined in popular favour in Wales, and at the present, -there are but very few who can play on the harp at all, indeed, -in many districts the instrument has entirely disappeared, giving -place to the modern piano. This is to be greatly regretted, and every -patriotic Welshman should do his best to encourage playing on the harp. - -It happened once that a "Neithior" or wedding festivities took place, -strange to say, without a wedding! This was about two generations ago -in the Parish of Llandyssul. A man of the name of B. T. Rees, in that -part of the country was engaged to be married to a young woman who was -known as Sally. Two Bidders had been sent round the country to invite -people to the wedding, and all other preparations had been made ready -for the joyful occasion, and everything appeared most promising. But -when B. T. Rees, a few days before the appointed time for the wedding -ceremony, went to visit his bride-elect, she would neither receive -him nor speak to him, but ordered him to depart immediately from -her presence, to the great astonishment and disappointment of Rees, -the bridegroom, and his friends. He endeavoured to reason with her, -but to no purpose. Afterwards some of his friends were sent to speak -to her, but nothing availed; it seemed as if she had suddenly made -up her mind to banish him entirely from her heart. - -The wedding was to take place at Henllan on a certain morning, and the -"Neithior" in the afternoon at Llandyssul. When that morning arrived, -the bridegroom and his friends, decided to seek the bride once more, -but she had hidden herself and could not be found anywhere. Rees and -his party were in a strange predicament, and did not know what to do; -but they returned to Llandyssul, and in the afternoon the wedding -festivities were kept up just as if the wedding had actually taken -place; and when night came, Rees had come into possession of large -sums of money from the sale of beer, and donations, or wedding gifts -and the sincere sympathy of the guests, but he had failed to secure -a wife after all! Rees and Sally were married ultimately, however. - -In the last century, the Neithior took place on the wedding day; in -former times, however, the festivities were continued on the Sunday, -which followed. Sir S. R. Meyrick, writing about one hundred years ago -says:--"Sunday being come, the bride and bridegroom's business is to -stay at home all day and receive good-will and pwython. This is called -"Neithior." They receive more money this day than Saturday, and all -are written down as before, whether fresh presents, or those repaid." - -It seems from what I have been informed by old persons, that such -doings on Sundays had almost disappeared, if not completely so, in -Meyrick's time, at least in most places, but it is evident that Sunday -observances of the kind were common about the middle of the eighteenth -century; and in the old Church Register of the parish of Llanfihangel -Geneu'r Glyn, in Cardiganshire, the following record is found:-- - -"11 June, 1745. Whereas the parish has been notorious hitherto -in upholding and continuing a wicked custom of keeping Biddings or -meetings upon the Sabbath day to the dishonour of God, and contempt of -religion, to prevent such irregularities for the future, it is this -day ordered by the consent of a vestry legally called and kept that -the said custom shall stop and be discontinued entirely hereafter, -and whosoever within our said parish encourages or practices and -obstinately refuses to obey this our order, we do unanimously consent -and join to punish him to the utmost rigour of the law.--W. Williams, -Clerk, etc." - -Such Sunday customs were by degrees discontinued entirely in every -part of Wales, and the Welsh have been for some generations now, and -to their credit still are, the most strict Sabbatarians in the world -with the exception perhaps of the Scotch. The Methodists Revivalists in -the eighteenth century, who greatly inveighed against Sabbath breaking, -contributed towards bringing about this satisfactory state of things. - -The curious old Welsh Weddings, which I have endeavoured to describe -in this book do not prevail now; the only surviving feature of them is -perhaps what is known in some parts as "Ystafell," and in other parts -as "Cwyro Ty." "Ystafell" is rather popular now in some districts, -especially between Tregaron and Lampeter, but instead of a Gwahoddwr -or Bidder an aunt or some other near relative of the bride goes round -the houses inviting the neighbours to bring wedding gifts so as to -give the young couple a good start in life. - -I have been informed that similar old wedding customs to those -of the Welsh were once in vogue in Cumberland, a county where the -Celtic element is very strong, and also in Brittany, another Celtic -province, and the present custom of wedding gifts which is so common -in connection with fashionable weddings at the present day, is only -a survival of the old Welsh customs. - -It seems that in China also it is customary for the friends -and relations of the bride and bridegroom to present them with -wedding gifts, and in Ancient Peru a dwelling was got ready for the -newly-married pair at the charge of the district, and the prescribed -portion of land assigned for their maintenance, and the ceremony of -marriage was followed by general festivities among the friends of -the parties, which lasted several days. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -FUNERAL CUSTOMS. - - -As the Wedding Customs differed, the Funeral Customs also differed, -and still differ in many respects in Wales from those of England. In -Wales funerals are public, and the day and the hour on which they are -to take place are always announced both in church and chapel, and in -some places the day was made known by sending a man or a woman round -the houses. One or two from almost every house in the neighbourhood -in which the deceased lived attend his funeral, so that funeral -processions are very large, even in districts where the population -is small and scattered. Both men and women come, many of them from a -long distance, the majority of them on foot, others in their traps, -and some on horses, and even wet and stormy weather does not prevent -them, for they have a profound reverence for the dead and death from -time immemorial; and the night before the funeral a prayer meeting -is held in the room where the corpse is lying, and pious appeals to -Heaven are made in which strong emotions are expressed, the deceased -is referred to in stirring sentences, and his death made a theme for -warning on the brevity of earthly life, and the importance of the -future life of the soul. - -This prayer meeting is called Gwylnos (wake-night), and it is the only -surviving feature of the various customs which were once in vogue in -connection with watching the corpse in the house, or keeping vigil -over the dead. - -In Wales in former times when any one died, candles were always -lighted every night in the room where the corpse was, and it was -customary for friends or relatives to sit up all night to watch it, -and even at the present day the custom is observed by some. Some are -of the opinion that this custom had its origin in pre-reformation -times. But it seems more probable to have been a Pagan custom, and -much older than Christianity. - -The original design of the lighted candles, undoubtedly, was to give -light to the spirit of the dead on its way to the other world. This -is done for that purpose at the present day in China. - -It was once the custom in some parts to open the windows when a person -was dying. Principal Sir John Rhys, Oxford, says that he well remembers -this done in the neighbourhood of Ponterwyd, in North Cardiganshire, -and that a farmer near Ystrad Meurig, in the same county, informed -him that when his mother (the farmer's) was dying, a neighbour's wife -who had been acting as nurse tried to open the window of the room, -and as it would not open, she deliberately smashed a pane of it; -and the learned Professor remarks that "this was doubtless originally -meant to facilitate the escape of the soul."--Celtic Folk-Lore. - -It was once customary in the neighbourhood of Llangennech, -Carmarthenshire, to cover with muslin the looking glass in the room -in which the corpse lay. But to return to the Wake Night, or keeping -vigil over the dead, I have already mentioned that the only feature -of the old customs in connection with it still observed is the Prayer -Meeting on the night before the funeral, and even this has been almost -discontinued in Pembrokeshire, though still popular in Cardiganshire -and parts of Carmarthenshire, but the custom is very injurious to the -health of those who attend these meetings, as people crowd together -in large numbers into the room--often a small one--where the coffin -is. It was once the custom for every person on entering the house to -fall devoutly on his knees before the corpse, and repeat the Lord's -Prayer, or some other prayer, and then a pipe and tobacco were offered -to him, but is not done now; but it was done in former times in many -districts before the commencement of the prayer meeting. - -The manner of conducting this prayer meeting also differs at the -present day to what it used to be once. In former times, before the -Nonconformists became strong in Wales, it was the custom for the -clergyman to read the common service appointed for the burial of the -dead, and at the conclusion of which Psalms were sung; but at the -present day the custom is, as a rule, for three or four persons to -offer extemporary prayers, and an address delivered on the melancholy -subject by the Clergyman of the Church of England or a Nonconformist -minister, and hymns are sung. And afterwards the crowd depart for -their homes. - -Formerly when it was customary to keep vigil over the dead, young men -and women were glad to volunteer their services to watch the corpse -during the night in order to enjoy the society of each other, and on -some occasions, it seems, from what I have been told by old persons, -some of the young men were rather merry before morning, and often -went as far as to drink beer, and in order to pass the time good many -stories were related about Corpse Candles, phantom funerals, etc., -but the old Welsh Wake nights were never so rowdy as the Irish ones. - -In Pembrokeshire, about hundred and fifty years ago there was a most -curious, strange, and mysterious custom performed during the Wake -Night, known as "Hir-wen-gwd" (long white bag, or shroud). The corpse -was drawn up through the chimney, and the process was as follows:--A -certain number of young men took out the corpse from the coffin and -moved it, clad in a long white shroud, to a convenient place near -the fire. Then a rope was tied round to the upper part of the body, -and when this was done securely, the other end of the rope was -passed up the chimney by means of a long stick for that purpose; -and the next step was for a party of the men to go up to the top -of the chimney from the outside of the house by means of a ladder, -and take hold of the rope which had been sent up inside, and when -they were ready for the ceremony, they gave a sign to those who were -inside the house with the corpse, by crying in Welsh, "Hirwen-gwd," -and those who were inside the house would answer by saying, "Chware'n -barod," or we are ready. Then the party who were on top of the house -pulled up the corpse slowly through the chimney by means of the rope, -and brought it to the very top and lowered it again, and eventually -re-placed it in the coffin. An aged person, named Mrs. Mary Thomas, -Bengal, near Fishguard, told me that she had heard a good deal from -her mother about this strange old custom, "Hirwen-gwd," and that the -last of such ceremonies took place at a house called Pantycnwch, in -the parish of Bridell, about a hundred and forty years ago. According -to Mrs. Thomas, it was customary to put a living man in the coffin -whilst the ceremony of drawing up the corpse through the chimney -was going on, and this was done in the case referred to at Bridell; -but when the party at the end of the game approached the coffin in -order to take out the living man so as to replace the corpse in it, -they found him dead. This sad incident caused people after this to put -an end of the old custom. When in Pembrokeshire, I enquired everywhere -from very old persons as to the origin and object of such strange and -mysterious ceremony, and in reply some of them informed me that it was -only a game indulged in by those who were keeping vigil over the dead, -to pass the time, whilst others said that there was once a superstition -that another death would soon follow the funeral in the family or -in the district unless the ceremony was duly performed. Hirwen-gwd, -whatever might have been the origin of it, seems to have been confined -to Pembrokeshire, at least I have not found any tradition of the -custom among the old people of Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, -except in one district in the latter county, situated on the very -border of Pembrokeshire. - -It is, however, possible that such custom was once known in other -parts of South Wales, but discontinued at an earlier date. - -In a series of spurious letters, known as "Llythyrau Anna Beynon," -bearing the date 1720, and pretending to give an account of the old -rural customs of two hundred years ago in the Parish of Llandyssul -and the surrounding districts, I found the following strange story -in connection with "Hirwen-gwd," but I cannot vouch for the truth -of the account, as it is evident that the "letters" referred to are -not authentic:-- - - - "GWYLNOS. - - "Fe fu farw Shann, Ty Clai yn ddiweddar, yn 90 oed. Nid oedd - ganddi yr un plentyn yn y byd i alaru ar ei hol, ond yr oedd Abel - ei hwyr, bachgen 18 oed, yn llefain yn dost ar ol yr unig ffrynd - oedd ganddo yn y byd. Fe fu yno ryw wylnos ryfedd ar ei hol. Cafwyd - cwrw yno o dafarn Nani Dan-yr-Allt, a buwyd yn adrodd hanes Twm - Shon Cati, ac yn yfed hyd haner nos. Yna gollyngodd rhyw rai raff - yn ddistaw i lawr trwy y simnau, tra yr oedd eu cyfeillion tu mewn - yn canu can 'Ysgyfarnog pen Crug y Balog.' Yr oedd Abel druan, - yn eistedd yn bendrwm yng nghornel yr aelwyd, a'i law dan ei - ben, ac yn llefain wrtho ei hunan, ac Evan Blaen Cwm ar ei bwys, - ac yn ei gysuro, a'i law dros ei gefn, gan dd'weyd, 'Paid llefan - Abel bach; yf lymaid eto; rhaid i ti ymroi i fod yn dawel, a ni a - wnawn ninau ein goreu drosof ti. Gwnawn nas cyffrwy i, Abel!' Ar - yr un pryd yr oedd yr hen andras yn cylymu y rhaff am ganol yr - hogyn tlawd. Yn y man dyna y cymdeithion o'r tu maes yn gwaeddi, - 'Hirwen gwd,' ac Evan o'r tu mewn yn gwaeddi, 'chwareu yn barod.' - - "Gyda hyny, dyna Abel yn araf esgyn i fyny i'r simnai, ac Evan yn - gofyn, 'Pa le yr wyt ti yn myned, Abel bach?' ac yntau yn ateb, - 'Wn i ddim b'le mae'r d----l yn myned a fi.' Tyn-wyd ef i maes - trwy y simnai. Hen lwfer gul ydoedd, yn llawn o huddugl, ac yr - oedd golwg ofnadwy arno wedyn.... - - "Mae nhad a'r dynion goreu yn teimlo i'r byw fod y fath beth - wedi cymeryd lle yn yr ardal, ac na fu y fath beth o'r blaen er - ys pymtheg mlynedd." - - -Translated into English the above reads as follows:-- - - - "WAKE-NIGHT. - - "Shann, Ty Clai died lately, at the age of 90 without leaving - a child to bewail her loss, except Abel, her grandson, a lad - of 18 years of age, who was crying sorrowfully after the only - friend he had in the whole world. There was there a very strange - Wake-night kept at the house. They got some beer there from - Nanny Dan-yr-Allt's Inn, and the time was spent until midnight - in telling stories about Twm Shon Catty, and in drinking. Then a - rope was let down secretly through the chimney by some fellows, - while their companions inside were singing 'Ysgyfarnog pen Crug - y Balog.' Poor Abel was sitting in the corner of the hearth in - sorrow, with his hand under his head, and crying by himself, - and Evan, Blaen Cwm, close by him comforting him and saying, - 'Don't cry, dear Abel; drink a drop more; you must try and be calm, - and we will do our best for thee. Yes, by jove, we shall!' At the - same time the old rascal was tying a rope around the poor lad's - waist. Then, suddenly, the party outside cried 'Hirwen-gwd,' - and Evan from within, cried, 'Chwareu yn barod.' - - "Almost instantly, Abel found himself being dragged up the chimney, - whereupon Evan asked 'Where are you going, dear Abel?' The latter - answered, 'I don't know where the d----l takes me to.' He was - pulled out through the chimney--a narrow old luffer as it was, - full of soot, and there was an awful sight on him afterwards.... - - "My father and the best men feel to the very life that such a - thing has taken place in the district, and they say that no such - thing has taken place before for 15 years." - - -It seems that many strange and mysterious events took place sometimes -at the Wake-nights in Pembrokeshire, if all the stories we hear are -true. Miss Martha Davies, Fishguard, informed me that her late uncle, -Mr. Howells, Cilgwyn, vouched for the truth of the following account -of an event which happened about a hundred years ago or more. Saith -she:--An old gentleman farmer, who was a notorious ungodly man, lived -at a farmhouse called Dolgaranog, in North Pembrokeshire. He at last -died, and was placed in his coffin, and the candles were lighted, and -people came together to the house and the 'gwylnos,' or wake-night went -on in the usual manner, according to the customs of those days. Some -of the young men and young maidens were talking together, whispering -words of love to each other, and were rather merry, it seems. As these -things went on, they were suddenly surprised by hearing the sound of -horses' feet, as if a large concourse of people were approaching the -house on horses and driving full speed. The next moment the sound of -men's footsteps was heard entering in through the door and into the -very room where the wakenight went on; but nothing could be seen. - -The invisible intruders, as they passed into the room where the dead -man lay, put out all the candles. At last the same sound of footsteps -could be heard departing from the house, and as this mysterious sound -passed out through the room, people heard the bustle, and even felt the -crush, and on leaving, the strange visitors re-lighted the candles, -but nothing was to be seen, but the sound of horses' feet was heard -as if a large concourse of cavaliers were driving away from the house, -in the same manner as they had approached it, and gradually the sound -died away. Then the relatives and friends and others who were present -at the 'gwylnos,' keeping vigil over the dead, were anxious to know -what this sound of invisible footsteps meant, and what had happened, -so they entered the room where the coffin was, and when they opened -it, to their great alarm, they found that nothing but an empty coffin, -for the corpse was gone, and was never found again. The people of the -neighbourhood really believed that the body was taken by the Devil, -or evil spirits, as the man had lived such a bad life. The coffin -was afterwards filled with stones and buried. - -Another strange old death custom, if it ever existed, was the -"Sin Eater." - -It seems that the first to refer to the subject was Mr. John -Aubrey, in 1686, who asserted that there was such a custom in -Herefordshire and also in North Wales, and at the annual meeting of -the Cambrian Archęological Association, which was held at Ludlow in -August, 1852, Mr. Matthew Moggridge, of Swansea, made the following -observation:--"When a person died, his friends sent for the Sin-eater -of the district, who, on his arrival, placed a plate of salt on the -breast of the defunct, and upon the salt a piece of bread. He then -muttered an incantation over the bread, which he finally ate, thereby -eating up all the sins of the deceased. This done, he received his -fee of 2s. 6d. and vanished as quickly as possible from the general -gaze; for, as it was believed that he really appropriated to his own -use and behoof the sins of all those over whom he performed the above -ceremony. He was utterly detested in the neighbourhood--regarded as a -mere Pariah--as one irredeemably lost." The speaker then mentioned the -Parish of Llandebie, in Carmarthenshire, where the above practice was -said to have prevailed to a recent period. Mr. Allen, of Pembrokeshire, -said that the plate and salt were known in that county, where also -a lighted candle was stuck in the salt, and that the popular notion -was that it kept away the evil spirit. - -A few years ago, one Rhys read at Tregaron an interesting paper -on that town and district, and after referring to the custom of -keeping vigil over the dead, he makes the following statement: "There -was also an old custom in the town (Tregaron) connected with the -'Sin-eater.' Where there was a corpse in the house the 'Sin-eater' -was invited. The relatives of the dead prepared him a meal on the -coffin, he was supposed to eat the sins of the dead man so as to make -the deceased's journey upward lighter." - -The late Chancellor D. Silvan Evans, and other well-informed Welshmen, -have denied that any such custom as that of the Sin-eater ever existed -in Wales, and Wirt Sikes, after diligent searching, failed to find any -direct corroboration of it, and I may add that, though I venture no -opinion of my own upon the subject, I have never come across in any -part of Wales any old persons, either men or women, who had heard any -tradition about it. On the other hand, the celebrated Welsh Novelist, -Allen Raine, informed me a short time ago, that she knew a man at -Carmarthen who had seen a "Sin-eater"; and the Rev. G. Eyre Evans -showed me a portrait of a man that had seen one long ago in the Parish -of Llanwenog. - -Perhaps the following, which appeared in Volume 15 of "Folk Lore," -may prove of interest in connection with the subject. The writer, -Mr. Rendel Harries, who had visited Archag, an Armenian village, where -he attended service, says as follows in his "Notes from Armenia:--"At -the evening service, to my great surprise, I found that when the -congregation dispersed, a corpse laid out for burial was lying in -the midst of the building. It had, in fact, been brought in before -we came, and was to lie in the Church in preparation for burial -next day. I noticed that two large flat loaves of bread had been -placed upon the body. Inquiry as to the meaning of this elicited no -other explanation than that the bread was for the Church mice and to -keep them from eating the corpse. I did not feel satisfied with the -explanation. Some months later, on mentioning the incident to some -intelligent Armenians in Constantinople, they frankly admitted that in -former days the custom was to eat the bread, dividing it up amongst -the friends of the deceased. Whether this is a case of Sin-eating, -I leave Mr. Frazer and Mr. Hartland to decide." - -The question of the alleged Sin-eater in Wales and the Borders has -several times been discussed in "Bye-Gones," Oswestry, and whether -there was at any time such strange custom in vogue in the country, -there are at least ample proofs that it was customary in Pembrokeshire, -if not in other parts of the country, to place a plate of salt on the -breast of the corpse, and it was believed by some that this kept the -body from swelling, and by others that it kept away the evil spirits. - -Pennant, a very keen observer, noticed a similar custom in the -Highlands of Scotland 140 years ago, where "the friends lay on the -breast of the deceased a wooden platter containing a small quantity -of salt and earth separately and unmixed; the earth an emblem of the -corruptible body; the salt an emblem of the immortal spirit." - -There are several superstitions in West Wales concerning salt, but -shall refer to the subject in another chapter. - -It was once the custom in Wales to make the sign of the cross on the -dead body or a cross was placed at or near his head; and though the -ceremony was discontinued long ago, we even now occasionally hear -the old saying, "Mae e dan ei grwys" (he is under his cross), when -a dead body is in the house. - -As a rule in West Wales, coffins are made of oak, but poor people -are satisfied with elm, and the corpse is placed in it, covered in a -white shroud, but good many are buried in their best clothes, both at -present and in the past, and a writer in "Bye-Gones," 1888, says that -in an old book in Tregaron Vestry, dated 1636, he found that it was -the rule of the Parish at that time to bury paupers without a coffin, -and they were to wear their best apparel, and best hat; the charge for -burial was two-pence; if any were buried in a coffin they also were -to don their Sunday best, and the charge for their burial was 2s. 6d. - -To bury the dead in their best clothes instead of a shroud is a custom -that has been continued in Wales till the present day by some, but -not without a coffin; but it seems to have been a common practice -to bury paupers, and those who were in very poor circumstances, -without a coffin till about 200 years ago and even at a later date, -as the registers of some of the old Parish Churches prove. It was also -customary in former times to "bury in woollen"--that is, in a shroud -made of woollen material, and the eminent Antiquarian, Mr. John Davies, -of the National Library, has found out "that this was the practice -in the Parish of Llandyssul in the year 1722. Undoubtedly, burying -in woollen was in vogue for some generations and a statute of the -time of Queen Elizabeth provided that it should be done in order to -encourage the flannel industry; and an Act of Parliament was passed -in the reign of Charles the Second to promote the sale and use of -English wool, and there was once a penalty of £5 for burying in a -shroud not made of wool. - -On the appointed day for the funeral, a large concourse of friends -and neighbours come together at the house of the deceased, and all -are welcomed to partake of food, as the Welsh people have always -been remarkable for their hospitality on melancholy as well as joyful -occasions. - -In former times great preparations were made, for the day of -the funeral was in reality a regular feasting day for those who -attended. Meyrick, in his "History of Cardiganshire," writing about a -hundred years ago, observes:--"A profuse dinner, consisting principally -of cold meat, fowls, tongues, etc., is spread on several tables, -and a carver placed at the head of each, whose sole business is to -carve for different parties as they alternately sit down. As the -company are too numerous to be all accommodated within, the poorer -people are seated on stools round the outside of the house, and are -presented with cakes and warmed ale, with spice and sugar in it." - -It was once customary to prepare a special kind of drink known as a -"diod ebilon," which contained the juice of elder tree and Rosemary, -in addition to the ordinary substances of ale. The custom of giving -beer and cake at funerals continued in some districts till very -recently, and the Rev. D. G. Williams, St. Clear's, says that this -was done at the funeral of an old gentleman farmer in the Parish of -Trelech, in Carmarthenshire, about 30 years ago. Though it is not -customary to give beer at the present day, but food, especially in -a way of tea and cake, is given to everybody in rural districts, -not only to those who have come from a distance, but even to near -neighbours. The nearest relations make it a point of sitting in the -death chamber, and before the coffin is nailed up, almost everybody -present in the house enters the room to see the body and look on it -with a sigh. Then Divine Service is conducted, at the close of which, -the body is borne out of the house, by the nearest male relatives of -the deceased, a custom introduced, undoubtedly, into Wales by the -"Romans during their residence in this country, for the coffins of -Roman citizens held in high esteem were borne by senators, but those -of enemies were borne on the other hand by slaves." - -According to Pennant's Tours in North Wales, there was formerly an old -custom to distribute bread and cheese over the coffin to poor people -who had been gathering flowers to decorate it. Sometimes a loaf of -bread was given or a cheese with a piece of money placed inside it, -and a cup of drink also was presented. Cakes were given in South -Cardiganshire to those who attended the funerals of the wealthy. - -I found that in Pembrokeshire in the present day, it is customary to -place the coffin on chairs before the door outside before placing it -on a bier. In most districts of West Wales, hearses have been until -a few years ago, almost unknown, and such is the case even at the -present day with few exceptions, except in those places adjoining the -towns, but no doubt they are continually becoming more general every -day. It is still the custom, especially in out of the way places where -the funeral procession wends its way graveward on foot, to bear the -corpse alternately, four men at the time, and sometimes even women -carry as well as men. - -In the old times when the roads were bad, especially in the mountainous -parts of the country, it was customary to make use of a what was known -as "elorfarch" (horse-bier). The elorfarch was carried by horses, -and it consisted of two long arms or shafts into which the horses -were placed, with transverse pieces of wood in the centre, on which -the coffin was placed. - -Before the funeral procession leaves the house, a hymn is sung, and -in former times it was customary to sing on the way, especially when -passing a house, and sometimes the singing continued all the way from -the house to the churchyard without ceasing; and this singing along -the lanes was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of all the old -Welsh funeral customs, and it is a pity that it has been discontinued. - -During my recent visit to St. David's, an old gentleman named Evans -informed me that he well remembered the funeral processions singing on -the way to the churchyard of St. David's Cathedral; and that it was -also the custom to march round the old stone cross, which I noticed -in the centre of the town, before entering the churchyard. - -When a funeral takes place at Aberystwyth, in Cardiganshire, it is -customary for the Town Crier to go through the streets tolling a -small hand-bell, a short time before the funeral procession. This -is a survival of a very ancient custom which was once very general -throughout Wales, and in pre-Reformation times this corpse-bell which -was known as "bangu," was kept in all the Welsh Churches, and when -a funeral was to take place, the bellman took it to the house of the -deceased. When the procession began, a psalm was sung, and then the -sexton sounded his bell in a solemn manner for some time, and again -at intervals, till the funeral arrived at the Church. - -Giraldus Cambrensis, writing 700 years ago, mentions of such bell at -"Elevein, in the Church of Glascwm, in Radnorshire; a portable bell -endowed with great virtue, called Bangu, and said to have belonged -to St. David. A certain woman secretly conveyed this bell to her -husband who was confined in his Castle of Raidergwy (Rhaiadyrgwy) -near Warthreinion (which Rhys, son of Gruffyth, had lately built), -for the purpose of his deliverance. - -"The keepers of the Castle not only refused to liberate him for this -consideration, but seized and detained the bell; and in the same -night, by divine vengeance, the whole town, except the wall on which -the bell hung, was consumed by fire." - -Formerly, in all parts of Wales, the Passing Bell was tolled for the -dying, just as the spirit left the body. In ancient times there was a -superstition among the Welsh people that the evil spirits were hovering -about the sick man's chamber, waiting to pounce upon the soul as it -left the body, but that the sound of a bell frightened away the fiends. - -According to "Cymru Fu," an interesting Welsh book published by -Hughes and Son, Wrexham, another old custom in connection with Welsh -funerals in former times, was to set down the bier and kneel and -repeat the Lord's Prayer, whenever the procession came to a cross -road. The origin of this custom, as given by the Welsh, is to be -found in the former practice of burying criminals at cross-roads. It -was believed that the spirits of these criminals did not go far away -from the place where their bodies lay, and in repeating the Lord's -Prayer was supposed to destroy and do away with any evil influence -these spirits might have on the soul of the dear departed. - -The Venerable Archdeacon Williams, Aberystwyth, informed me that he -was told by the late Principal Edwards, University College of Wales, -that there was once an old custom in the Parish of Llanddewi Brefi for -funeral processions to pass through a bog instead of proceeding along -the road which went round it. Those who bore the bier through the bog, -proceeded with much difficulty and often sank in the mud. The ceremony -of taking the corpse through the bog was, at least, in Pre-Reformation -times, supposed to have the effect of lessening the time or suffering -of the deceased's soul in Purgatory, but the custom was continued in -the said Parish for many generations after the Reformation, if not -until recent times. - -It was once customary at Rhayader, in Radnorshire, for funeral -processions to carry small stones which were thrown to a large heap -at a particular spot before arriving at the church. - -When the funeral procession was nearing the churchyard a hymn was -again sung. The custom was, and still is, for the clergyman, arrayed -in his surplice, to meet the corpse at the entrance of the churchyard, -as directed in the Prayer Book, and placing himself at the head of -the procession, they proceed into the body of the church, and the -bier is placed before the Altar. It was once customary for all the -relations of the deceased to kneel around it until taken from the -church to the place of interment. After the body has been lowered into -the grave, and at the close of the funeral service one or more hymns -are sung, generally those that were favourites of the deceased. When -the deceased who is buried in the churchyard of the Parish Church, -happened to have been a Nonconformist, it is sometimes customary -to have services both in chapel and in church; in the former first, -and in the latter before the interment. This was done in connection -with the funeral of the late Mr. John Evans, Pontfaen, Lampeter, -a few years ago, when I was present myself. - -It was once customary to give the shoes of the dead man to the -grave-digger, a vestry at Tregaron in Cardiganshire, about 200 years -ago passed that this should be done in that place. There is no such -practice at present in any part of Wales. There was once a curious -old custom known as "Arian y Rhaw" (spade money) which survived -in some districts of West Wales until a comparatively recent date, -especially in the Northern parts of Cardiganshire, and that part of -Carmarthenshire which borders Breconshire. - -Mr. John Jones, Pontrhydfendigaid, an old man of 95, informed me that -the custom was observed at Lledrod, a parish situated about nine -miles from Aberystwyth, about eighty years ago. It was something -as follows:--At the grave, the grave-digger extended his spade for -donations, and received a piece of silver from each one of the people -in turn. - -The following account of the custom by an eye-witness appeared in the -Folk-Lore Column of the "Carmarthen Journal," July 7th, 1905:--"It -was in the summer of 1887, if I remember well, that I had occasion to -attend the funeral of a young child at Llangurig Church, situated on -the main road leading from Aberystwyth to Llanidloes, and about five -miles from the latter. After the service at the graveyard, the sexton -held up an ordinary shovel into which all present cast something. The -cortege was not large, as the child buried was only eight months -old. When all had contributed their mites, and the sum had been -counted, the sexton in an audible voice, declared the amount received, -saying twenty-eight shillings and sixpence, many thanks to you all." - -Another curious old custom at Welsh funerals was the "Offrwm," or -Parson's Penny, which was as follows: After having read the burial -service in the Church, the Clergyman stood near the Altar until the -nearest relation went up first to him and deposited an offertory -on the table, then the other mourners, one and all followed, and -presented a piece of money, and the money received by the Parson in -this manner amounted sometimes to a very large sum, especially when -the mourners were wealthy. - -The Author of Cradock's account of the most romantic parts of -North Wales, published in 1773, makes the following observation -concerning the custom: "Many popish customs are still retained in -Wales; particularly offering made to the dead. These offerings must, -of course, vary according to the rank of the persons deceased, as well -as the affection that is borne to their memories. I was at a pauper's -funeral when the donations amounted to half-a-crown, and I met with a -Clergyman afterwards who had once received 90 guineas." This has not -been practised in Cardigan and Carmarthenshire within the memory of -the oldest inhabitant, but the custom was observed in former times, -we have not the least doubt, and it has survived even until the -present day in some form or other, in some parts of the Principality, -especially in parts of North Wales, as the following correspondence -which appeared in the "Oswestry Advertiser" in July, 1906, proves: - - - "OFFERTORIES AT FUNERALS IN WALES." - - "Sir,--A correspondent in your columns, about a fortnight ago, - called attention to this subject, and expressed disapproval of - the manner in which the offertories are taken in some Churches - at funeral services--by laying the plate on the bier near the - pulpit, and the congregation in a disorderly manner laying their - offertory on the plate. I regret to observe that this practice - is still pursued in two parishes in this neighbourhood, and I - should like to call the attention of the proper authorities to - the desirableness of changing the custom, and adopting the system - suggested by your correspondent, that the offertory should be taken - at the gate, or that two or more plates should be taken around - the congregation. The parish clerk, too, might be instructed not - to announce the amount of the offertory." - - -Undoubtedly, this custom has survived from Pre-Reformation times, -and was originally intended to compensate the Priest for praying for -the Soul of the departed in Purgatory, but at present it only means -a token of esteem towards the officiating Clergyman, or perhaps a -tribute of respect to the departed. It was formerly customary in -Wales to throw a sprig of rosemary into the grave on the coffin. The -custom has been discontinued now, but it was done in the Vale of Towy, -in Carmarthenshire as late as sixty years ago. - -An excellent old Welsh Magazine, the "Gwyliedydd" for May, 1830, -makes the following observation concerning the custom: "In ancient -times, it was customary for all who attended a funeral to carry each -a sprig of rosemary in his hand, and throw it into the grave as the -minister was reading the last words of the funeral service"; and a -writer in the Cambrian Quarterly Magazine, in the following year adds -that a custom analogous to this prevailed amongst the ancient heathens; -who used to throw cypress wood into the grave in the same manner. The -reason why they made choice of the cypress was, because its branches -do not bud when thrown into the earth, but perish altogether; it was -thus an expressive symbol of their opinion, that the bodies of the -dead would never rise again. On the other hand, the Christians threw -the rosemary into the graves of their brethren to express that hope -of a joyful resurrection with which their faith had inspired them. - -It was once customary to read the will of deceased over the grave. Sir -S. R. Meyrick mentions this in his History of Cardiganshire, a hundred -years ago, and the custom has been continued to a more recent date. The -Rev. T. D. Thomas, Vicar of Llangorwen, near Aberystwyth, informed me -that this was done by him at Llangadock, Carmarthenshire, about the -year 1897, when officiating in the absence of the Vicar of that Parish. - -There was also an old custom of burying one who had been murdered, -in a coffin covered with red cloth. The Rev. D. G. Williams, in his -collection of Carmarthenshire Folk-Lore, says that one William Powell, -of Glan Areth, Vale of Towy, was so buried in the year 1770. - -In Wales in pre-Reformation times, it was sometimes the practice to -bury a rich man in the garments of a monk, as a protection against -evil spirits; but this could not be done without paying large sums -of money to the priests. - -The custom of covering the coffin with wreaths is very generally -observed at the present day throughout West and Mid-Wales. The -coffin of the late Sir Pryse Pryse, Bart., Gogerddan, who was buried -at Penrhyncoch, Cardiganshire, April 23rd, 1906, was covered with -wreaths of most beautiful flowers, sent by Dowager Lady Pryse, Sir -Edward and Lady Webley-Parry-Pryse, Countess Lisburne, Viscountess -Parker, Lady Evans, Lovesgrove; Mr. and Mrs. Loxdale, and many other -relations and friends, as well as the tenants and servants. - -In times past the Welsh always carried the association of graves -and flowers to the most lavish extreme, and Shakespeare, alluding to -this in "Cymbeline," the scene of which tragedy is more especially -in Pembrokeshire, says: - - - "Arv. With fairest flowers, - Whilst summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele, - I'll sweeten thy sad grave. Thou shalt not lack - The flower, that's like thy face, pale primrose; or - The azur'd harebell, like thy veins; no, nor - The leaf of eglantine, whom not to slander, - Outsweeten'd not thy breath." - - -It is more generally the case at the present day to cover the coffin -with wreaths than with loose flowers, and occasionally the graves are -lined with moss and flowers. To decorate the graves of the departed -with flowers is a very old custom amongst the Welsh, especially on -Palm Sunday, which is known in Wales as "Sul y Blodau"--Flowering -Sunday. The custom is very generally observed even at the present -day in Glamorganshire, where the churchyards and other burial places -present a very beautiful appearance; but it is to be regretted that -in West Wales, during the last sixty years, the practice to a very -great extent has been discontinued, at least in rural districts. But -it is reviving at the present day, and likely to grow as years go -on. A correspondent from Aberaeron, in one of the papers noticed that -on Palm Sunday, of the year 1906, many of the graves of Henfynyw, in -that district had been cleaned and flowers placed upon them, whilst on -others flowers grew. Whilst staying for a short time in the Parish of -Cilcennin, about five years ago, I took particular notice, that the -planting of flowers and plants on the graves is renewed every year -about Easter or Spring time, and that they are kept blooming through -the loving care of the descendants of the departed. An old man named -Jenkin Williams, a native of Llangwyryfon, a parish in the same County, -who is 89 years of age, informed me that he well remembered the custom -observed in his native parish, about seven miles from Aberystwyth, -many years ago; but it is rarely observed at the present day. There -are many parts of the country nowadays, where the practice is unknown, -but there are evident signs that the beautiful old custom is reviving -in parts of Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, and Pembrokeshire. In -Glamorganshire, as I have already observed, the custom is very general. - -The custom of placing tombstones on the graves is very generally -observed, but very few of the stones are in the form of a -cross. Indeed, crosses are remarkable for their absence in Welsh -Churchyards. The Welsh people in rejecting what they consider as a too -Popish a practice, have gone into the opposite extremes of adopting -as monuments for their dear departed, the polytheistic obelisk of the -ancient Egyptians; the Greek and Roman urns, and the chest-stone of the -Druids. It has been the custom in some places to whitewash the small -inscribed stones at the head and feet of poor people's graves. Several -English authors who have written about Wales remark that in nearly -every churchyard in the country, the mountain ash is to be seen. It -seems to me that this is a mistake; for, as far as my experience is -concerned, it is rarely seen in Welsh churchyards, at least in the -present day, and I have seen a good many of the churchyards; but it -must be admitted that the Welsh have regarded the tree as sacred, -and there are a good many superstitions in connection with it, so -that it is possible that the custom of growing it in churchyards was -more common in former times. - -The most common tree in the churchyards of Wales is the Yew, and -the Welsh people from time immemorial, have always regarded the tree -with solemn veneration, probably owing to its association with the -dead. The Yew is famed in Welsh song, for the poets of Cambria in their -elegies for their dead friends, often mention "Ywen Werdd y Llan" -(the Green Yew of the Churchyard), and the poet Ioan Emlyn in his -"Bedd y Dyn Tlawd"--"The Pauper's Grave" says: - - - "Is yr Ywen ddu gangenog, - Twmpath gwyrddlas gwyd ei ben." - - -In former times the yew was consecrated and held sacred, and in funeral -processions its branches were carried over the dead by mourners, -and thrown under the coffin in the grave. With rosemary, ivy, bay, -etc., branches of the trees were also used for church decorations. The -following extract from the Laws of Howel Dda, King of Wales in the -tenth century, shows that the yew tree was the most valuable of all -trees, and also how the consecrated yew of the priests had risen in -value over the reputed sacred mistletoe of the Druids:-- - - - "A consecrated yew, its value is a pound. - A mistletoe branch, three score pence. - An oak, six score pence. - Principal branch of an oak, thirty pence. - A yew-tree (not consecrated), fifteen pence. - A sweet apple, three score pence. - A sour apple, thirty pence. - A thorn-tree, sevenpence half-penny. - Every tree after that, four pence." - - -The planting of yew trees in Churchyards in Wales is as old as -the Churchyards themselves; and it is probable that they were -originally intended to act as a screen to the Churches by their thick -foliage, from the violence of the winds, as well as a shelter to the -congregation assembling before the church door was opened. The first -Churches in Wales were only wooden structures, and needed such screens -much more than the comfortable stone Churches of the present day. - -Another important object in planting the yew was to furnish materials -for bows, as these were the national weapons of defence. The -Churchyards were the places where they were most likely to be -preserved, and some authorities derive the English word "yeoman" -from yewmen, that is, the men who used the yew bow. The yew bow was -very common throughout Wales in the old times, and skill in archery -was universal in the country; and as late as Tudor times, the Welsh -poet, Tudur Aled, asks, in lamenting the death of a squire:-- - - - "Who can repeat his exploits to-day? - Who knows so well the strength of yew." - - -In the memorable Battle of Cressy, three thousand five hundred Welsh -archers followed the Black Prince in the attack on France in the year -1346, and as many more came from the Welsh lordships, and bore such -distinguished parts, for the success of this war was due to the skill -of the Welsh Archers, and at the end of the battle the Prince adopted -the motto, "Ich Dien," which has been the motto of the Princes of -Wales ever since. - -Evelyn's opinion is "that we find it (the yew) so numerously planted -in Churchyards from its being thought a symbol of immortality, the tree -being so lasting and always green." There are at the present day in the -Churchyards of Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire, some fine specimens -of the yew tree, and some of them hundreds of years, if not nearly -a thousand years old. In former times when Churchyards were resorted -to for recreation, seats were fixed round the trunk of the tree. - -Many of the Churchyards in Wales in ancient times, before the -introduction of Christianity, had been Druidical circles. This is -evident from the oval form of the ground of many of them, which often -resemble small embankments, or mounds. Such is the case as regards -Tregaron Church, in Cardiganshire, Llanddewi Brefi also is on elevated -ground, as well as several other Churchyards. - -How early the practice of enclosures near the Churches or Monasteries -for burial of the dead began in Wales is quite uncertain. It seems that -the practice was introduced into England by Archbishop Cuthbert about -750; but the origin of Churchyards in Wales was of a much earlier date, -in all probability about two or three hundred years earlier than in -England. Some of the best authorities assert that a few (but few only) -of the Welsh Parish Churches and consecrated Churchyards can be traced -to the days of St. Garmon, or Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, who paid -two visits to this country about A.D. 429, and 447 respectively. It is -possible that there were few Christians in Britain even in the first -century; but Parochial Churches did not belong to the earlier ages of -Christianity, and the clergy lived in towns, and undertook missionary -journeys about the country, under the direction of their bishops. - -Prior to the introduction of enclosures round Churches for the purpose -of burial, it was customary (as it is in China to-day), to bury on high -places, such as hills and mountains. Cremation had also been practised -as it is evident from the urns for the preservation of the ashes of -the dead, which are being discovered in various parts of Wales, from -time to time. Perhaps the most recent and interesting discoveries -of such urns were those found near Capel Cynon, in Cardiganshire, -containing ashes and portions of small calcined bones. A labourer -named John Davies, came across them accidentally in an old mound on -a hill, whilst working for Evan Thomas, a contractor under the County -Council of Cardiganshire, in digging out stones for road-mending. (See -Archęologia Cambrensis for January, 1905.) - -The introduction of Christianity put an end to the practice of -cremation. - -Carneddau, or cairns, and tumuli, or mounds of earth, have been -preserved till the present day in different parts of Wales, but -it is to be regretted that many of these interesting monuments of -antiquity, which the Welsh in ancient times erected in honour of -their great men have been destroyed. That Wales has been celebrated -for its Carneddau, is evident from the words of Taliesin, the chief -poet of King Arthur's time, who calls the country "Cymru Garneddog" -(Cairn Wales), and one the most interesting "Carnedd" is what is -known as "bedd Taliesin"--Taliesin's grave, about eight miles north -of Aberystwyth, where, according to tradition, Taliesin himself -was buried. - -Such monumental heaps over the mortal remains of the dead were of two -kinds, according to the nature of the country. In stony districts, -a cairn of stones was heaped, but where stones were scarce, a mound -of turf of a circular construction, called tomen (tumulus), was -deemed sufficient. - -In ancient times this mode of burial was considered a most honourable -one, and in passing the tomb of a warrior or some great man, it was -customary for every passer by to throw a stone to the cairn, out of -reverence to his memory. There was a similar custom among the Indians -of Patagonia, which was still observed a few years ago. A Patagonian -Chief in passing the grave of an eminent chief or a great warrior, -would dismount from his horse, and search for a stone to throw on -the cairn. - -Monumental Cairns were also common in Scotland, for in Ossian's Poems, -Shibric, in Carricthura says: "If fall I must in the field, raise -high my grave, Vinvela. Grey stones, and heaped earth, shall mark me -to future times." To erect mounds seems to have been a very ancient -custom, for Herodotus, in giving a full and most interesting account -of the strange practices of the Ancient Scythians, in connection with -the burial of their Kings, observes amongst other things, "Having -done this, they all heap up a large mound, striving and vieing with -each other to make it as large as possible." - -When the custom of burying in churchyards became general in Wales, -in course of time, to bury in cairns and mounds, which formerly had -been an honourable practice, was discontinued, and even condemned, -as fit only for the great criminals; and, as Dr. Owen Pugh, observes: -"when this heap became to be disgraced, by being the mark where the -guilty was laid, the custom for every one that passed, to fling his -stone, still continued, but now as a token of detestation"; hence -originated the old Welsh sayings "Carn lleidr (a thief's Cairn), -"Carn ar dy wyneb." (Cairn on thy face). Even at the present day -throughout Wales, when any one is guilty of robbery or swindle, it is -customary to call such a man a "Carn leidr" (A cairn thief). In the -parish of Llanwenog, six miles from Lampeter, there is a spot called -"Carn Philip Wyddyl." an old farmer, named "Tomos, Ty-cam," informed -me that according to the traditions of the district, this Philip was -a "Carn leidr," or the ringleader of a gang of thieves, who, in an -attempt to escape, jumped down from Llanwenog Steeple, and broke his -leg. His pursuers stoned him to death, and buried him beneath a carn. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -VARIOUS OTHER CUSTOMS. - - -CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S DAY CUSTOMS. - -Christmas at the present day in Wales is not so important as it used -to be in former times, though it is still the beginning of a holiday -season, and also a regular feasting-day. Morning service is conducted -in the Parish Church, but is not so well-attended as in former -times. It is often the custom to have an Eisteddfod or a concert in -the evening in Nonconformist Chapels. In towns, the children hang up -their stockings the night before Christmas, expecting to find some -gifts in them next morning. Christmas is also an important day for -the young maidens to kiss and be kissed. A girl places a mistletoe to -hang over the chair in which a young man, whom she wishes to catch, -is likely to sit. Then when he comes under the mistletoe, she kisses -him suddenly, and whenever she succeeds in doing so, she claims from -him a new pair of gloves. - -The favourite observance for a young man to kiss a girl under -the branches is also well known, and it was once supposed that the -maiden who missed being kissed under the mistletoe on Christmas would -forfeit her chance of matrimony, at least during the ensuing twelve -months. These superstitions and favourite observances have come down -from the time of the Druids. - -The most interesting feature of Christmas in Wales in times gone by was -undoubtedly the "Plygain" which means morning twilight. The "Plygain" -was a religious service held in the Parish Church, at three o'clock -on Christmas morning to watch the dawn commemorative of the coming of -Christ, and the daybreak of Christianity. The service consisted of -song, prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, and there was at that early -hour a large congregation even in remote districts, as many came -from long distances, often three or four miles on a frosty night, -or through snow. It was customary for each family to take their own -candles with them to this early service. These candles were of various -colours, and should any remain after the service was over, they became -the property of the clerk. Carols were sung, and it was customary for -anyone who claimed to be a bard to compose a carol; indeed, a poet was -not considered a poet unless he could sing a carol. Some old people -informed me that in connection with these early services there was -a great deal of disorder on account of men under the influence of -drink attending the Church after a night of revelry, and that this -put an end to the "Plygain" in some places. In course of time the -hour was changed from three to four or five, and such service is -still continued in Llanddewi Brefi and other places in Cardiganshire. - -After beginning Christmas morning so devoutly with Divine Service -at early dawn, it was the custom in old times to spend most of the -day in enjoyment, especially hunting the hare, the woodcock, but the -chief sport was in connection with the squirrel. - -There was a custom once at Tenby, in Pembrokeshire, for the young -men of the town to escort the Rector, with lighted torches from his -residence to the Church to the early service on Christmas morning. They -extinguished their torches as soon as they reached the porch, and -went in to the early service in the Church, and at the conclusion -of it, the torches were re-lighted, and the procession returned to -the Rectory, the chimes ringing till the time of the usual morning -service. Lighted torches were also carried through the streets by a -procession on Christmas Eve, and cow-horns were blown, and windows -of houses were decorated by evergreens. - -In North Pembrokeshire the holidays commenced, especially amongst -the farmers, on Christmas Day, and were continued for three weeks, -viz., till Epiphany Sunday. The Rev. O. Jenkin Evans, writing in -"Pembrokeshire Antiquities," page 47, says:--"On the 25th day of -December, the farmers with their servants and labourers suspended -all farming operations, and in every farm the plough was at once -carried into the private house, and deposited under the table in the -'Room Vord' (i.e., the room in which they took their meals), where -it remained until the expiration of "Gwyliau Calan." During these -three weeks, parties of men went about from house to house, and were -invited into the "Room Vord," where they sat around the table, regaling -themselves with beer, which was always kept warm in small neat brass -pans in every farm-house ready for callers. But the peculiar custom -which existed amongst these holiday-makers was that they always wetted -the plough which lay dormant under the table with their beer before -partaking of it themselves, thus indicating that though they had -dispensed with its service for the time, they had not forgotten it, -and it would again, in due course, be brought out on the green sward -and turn it topsy-turvy. These bands of men would sometimes carry -with them the "Wren," singing simple popular ditties. On Christmas -Day, a sumptuous dinner was prepared at the principal farms in every -neighbourhood to which all the others, including the cottagers, -were invited. The repast consisted of geese, beef, pudding, etc." - -One of the most curious customs which was once in vogue about Christmas -time was the procession known as "Mari Lwyd Lawen" ("the Merry Grey -Mary"), which was a man wearing the skeleton of a horse's head decked -with ribbons and rosettes. - -The man was enveloped in a large white sheet, and proceeded round -the houses, followed by a merry procession, singing songs and playing -merry pranks, collecting Christmas boxes: - - - "Mari Lwyd lawen, - Sy'n dod o Bendarren," etc. - - (Merry grey Mary, - Who comes from Pendarren.) - - -When a real skeleton could not be got, it was customary to make one -of straw and rags. It seems that "Mari Lwyd" belonged more especially -to Glamorganshire, yet it was well-known in Carmarthenshire also, not -only in those places bordering on Glamorgan, but also in the Vales of -Towy and Cothy. Mr. T. Davies (Eryr Glyn Cothi), and others, informed -me that the "Mari" procession visited Llanegwad, and other places -between Llandilo and Carmarthen only a few years ago. The curious -custom was not known in Pembrokeshire, nor indeed in Cardiganshire, -though I was informed that "Mari Lwyd" on one occasion at least did -visit the latter county from Glamorganshire, and tramped across from -Llandyssul, in the Vale of Teify, to New Quay, on the sea coast, -calling at Lampeter and other places on the way. - -According to the excellent Magazine, named "The Cambrian Journal" -published 50 years ago, there was an old custom once at Tenby in -Pembrokeshire, sometimes before, and sometimes after Christmas Day, -for the fishermen to dress up one of their number, whom they called -the "Lord Mayor of Penniless Cove," with a covering of evergreens, -and a mask over his face; they would then carry him about, seated on -a chair, with flags flying, and a couple of violins playing before him. - -Before every house, the "Lord Mayor" would address the occupants, -wishing them "a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year." If his good -wishes were responded to with money, his followers gave three cheers, -the masquer would himself return thanks, and the crowd again give -"three times three," hip, hip, hurrah! - -There was also in vogue once the barbarous practice of "holly -beating." This was on the day after Christmas, St. Stephen's Day, -which consisted in a furious onslaught being made by men and boys, -armed with large bushes of the prickly holly, on the naked and -unprotected arms of female domestics, and others of a like class. - - - -NEW YEAR'S DAY. - -In Pembrokeshire, to rise early on New Year's morning will, it is -considered, bring good luck. On that morning also it is deemed wise to -bring a fresh loaf into the house as it is considered the succeeding -loaves throughout the year will be influenced by that performance. - -In most places throughout West Wales, even at the present day, people -are very particular as to whether they see a man or a woman the first -thing on New Year's morning. Mr. Williams in his "Llen-gwerin Sir -Gaerfyrddin," says that in parts of Carmarthenshire in order to secure -future luck or success during the coming year, a man must see a woman, -and a woman a man. And the Rev. N. Thomas, Vicar of Llanbadarn Fawr, -informed me that he has met people in his Parish who consider it lucky -to see a woman first. As a rule, however, the majority of people both -men and women deem it lucky to see a man, but unlucky to see a woman. - -Even now in various parts of the country, good many object to the -entrance of a woman before the in-coming of one of the other sex, -this is particularly the case in the central parts of Cardiganshire, -especially in the Parish of Llanddewi Brefi and surrounding districts -between Lampeter and Tregaron. This is also true of some parts of -Pembrokeshire. - -According to the late Rector of Newport, Pembrokeshire, the man -must needs bear one of the four lucky names--Dafydd, Ifan, Sion and -Siencyn. "Supposing the man was not called by one of these names, the -person first seen might as well be a woman, if she only bore one of -the lucky names--Sian a Sioned, Mair a Marged. Then all would go well -for that year at least. A hare or a magpie must not cross one before -twelve, and the cock must not crow before supper on New Year's Day, -or some dire calamity might befall one after all." - -There was everywhere a general desire to see "the Old Year out and -the New Year in." In South Pembrokeshire some danced the old year out; -some drank it out, and many walked it out. I was informed at Talybont, -that once those who desired to see "the New Year in "crowded to each -other's houses in North Cardiganshire to pass the time in story-telling -and feasting. The children especially, looked forward to New Year's -morning, with the greatest interest, as it was, and still is in some -places, customary for them to go about from house to house, asking for -"calenig," or New Year's gift. The children on such occasions often -repeated something as follows:-- - - - "Rhowch galenig yn galonog, - I ddyn gwan sydd heb un geiniog, - Gymaint roddwch, rhowch yn ddiddig, - Peidiwch grwgnach am ryw ychydig. - - "Mi godais heddyw maes o'm ty, - A'm cwd a'm pastwn gyda mi, - A dyma'm neges ar eich traws, - Set llanw'm cwd a bara a chaws. - - "Calenig i fi, calenig i'r ffon, - Calenig i fytta'r noson hon; - Calenig i mam am gwyro sane, - Calenig i nhad am dapo sgidie. - - "Chwi sy'n meddi aur ac arian, - Dedwydd ydych ar Ddydd Calan, - Braint y rhai sy'n perchen moddion, - Yw cyfranu i'r tylodion, - 'Rhwn sy a chyfoeth ac ai ceidw, - Nid oes llwyddiant i'r dyn hwnw." - - "Os gwelwch yn dda ga'i g'lenig?-- - Shar i 'nhad a shar i mam, - A shar i'r gwr bonheddig." - - -The following is from an old song for New Year's Day, heard at Tregaron -in Cardiganshire:-- - - - "Rhowch i mi docyn diogel, - Fel gallo mam ei arddel, - Neu chwech gael cwart, - 'Dwy'n hidio fawr, - Waeth fi yw gwas mawr Trecefel." - - -In the English districts of West Wales, such as South Pembrokeshire, -such verses as the following were repeated:-- - - - Get up on New Year's morning, - The cocks are all a-crowing; - And if you think you're awake too soon, - Why get up and look at the stars and moon. - - "The roads are very dirty, - My shoes are very thin, - I wish you a happy New Year, - And please to let me in." - - -The following is another specimen from North Cardigan:-- - - - "Mae rhew a'r eira yn bur oeredd, - Awel fain yn dod o'r gogledd, - Ambell gybydd oddi cartre, - Yn lle rhanu rhai ceinioge, - A rhai eraill yn eu caban, - Yn gwneyd eu cilwg ar Ddydd Calan." - - -When boys and girls knocked at the doors of misers who refused to -give anything, they went away disappointed, repeating - - - "Blwyddyn newydd ddrwg, - A llond y ty o fwg." - - "A bad New Year to you, - And a house full of smoke." - - -But as a rule the farmers were very kind to all comers, both in -Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire, unless they had -been disappointed by seeing a girl first that morning, which was, -as I have already observed, considered an unlucky omen. Even at the -present day this superstition is very strong in Llanddewi Brefi, -Cardiganshire, and, indeed, many other parts of Wales, for I have -taken particular notice that the first boy who comes to the door on -New Year's morning, if he happens to come before a girl is seen, -he is warmly welcomed into the house and even taken upstairs and -into the bedrooms so that those who are in their beds might have -the satisfaction of seeing a male the first thing on New Year's Day, -to secure good-luck. Before the boy departs some money is given him, -about sixpence as a rule at the present day, but in former times he -got a loaf of bread instead. At the present day boys and girls, and -occasionally a few poor old women continue to go round from house -to house from early dawn till mid-day collecting alms, when each -of the children receive a copper, in former times, however, it was -more customary to give them some bread and cheese, which they took -home to their parents in a bag which they carried on their backs, -or a basket under their arms. - -When the children had more than they could carry, they would leave -some of it at a certain house and return for it the following day. In -some places it was customary to keep on to collect alms in this manner -for two days, but only those who were in very poor circumstances were -allowed to go about on the second day. - -It was once customary to carry an orange, with oats stuck in it, -placed on a stick, round the houses. The visitors sang at the door -and expected something to eat and drink. - -Another interesting custom observed, especially in Pembrokeshire, -on New Year's Day was for children to visit the houses in the morning -about 3 or 4 o'clock in the morning with a vessel filled with spring -water, fresh from the well and with the aid of a sprig of evergreen, -sprinkled the faces of those they met, and at the same time singing -as follows:-- - - - "Here we bring new water from the well so clear, - For to worship God with, this Happy New Year; - Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine, - With seven bright gold wires, and bugles that do shine; - Sing reign of fair maid, with gold upon her toe, - Open you the west door and turn the old year go; - Sing reign of fair maid, with gold upon her chin, - Open you the east door and let the New Year in." - - -When the children entered into a house, it was customary for them to -sprinkle every one of the family even in their beds with this fresh -spring water, and they received a small fee for the performance. - -There was a ceremony among the Druids and others in ancient times, -of throwing spring water over the shoulder in order to command the -attention of elemental spirits. - -It is customary in some places, especially in parts of Carmarthenshire, -for young men to sprinkle the young girls with water in their beds, -and the young maidens in their turn sprinkle the young men, and this is -sometimes done when the one upon whom water is thrown is fast asleep. - -It is still customary for young men with musical instruments to visit -the palaces of the gentry at early dawn, and play some of the beautiful -old Welsh Airs, when they receive warm welcome and generous gifts. - -Among Twelfth Night Custom, none was more celebrated in Pembrokeshire -in the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth than -the "cutty wren," though there are hardly any traces of the custom in -Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire. The custom was something as follows: - -Having procured a wren, the bird was placed in a little house of -paper with glass windows, sometimes a cage or a lantern, or a box was -used for that purpose, and often decorated with coloured ribbons, and -"every young lady, and even old ladies, used to compete in presenting -the grandest ribbon to the "wren." - -The cage or the lantern thus decorated with the little bird in it, -was hoisted on four poles, one at each corner, and four men carried -it about for the purpose of levying contributions, singing a long -ballad or ditty such as follows on the following tune:-- - - - "Where are you going? says Milder to Melder, - O where are you going? says the younger to the elder; - O I cannot tell says Festel to Fose; - We're going to the woods said John the Red Nose. - We're going to the woods said John the Red Nose. - - "O what will you do there? says Milder to Melder, - O what will you do there? says the younger to the elder; - O I do not know, says Festel to Fose; - To shoot the cutty wren, said John the Red Nose, - To shoot the cutty wren, said John the Red Nose. - - "O what will you shoot her with? says Milder to Melder, - O what will you shoot her with? says the younger to the elder - O I cannot tell, says Festel to Fose; - With bows and arrows, said John the Red Nose, - With bows and arrows, said John the Red Nose. - - "O that will not do! says Milder to Melder, - O that will not do says the younger to the elder; - O what will you do then? says Festel to Fose; - With great guns and cannons says John the Red Nose, - With great guns and cannons says John the Red Nose. - - "O what will you bring her home in? says Milder to Melder, - O what will you bring her home in? says the younger to elder; - O I cannot tell, says Festel to Fose; - On four strong men's shoulders, said John the Red Nose. - On four strong men's shoulders, said John the Red Nose. - - "O that will not do, says Milder to Melder, - O that will not do, says the younger to the elder; - O what will you do then? says Fester to Fose; - On big carts and waggons, said John the Red Nose, - On big carts and waggons, said John the Red Nose. - - "What will you cut her up with? says Milder to Melder, - What will you cut her up with? says the younger to the elder; - O I do not know, saith Festel to Fose; - With knives and with forks, said John the Red Nose, - With knives and with forks, said John the Red Nose. - - "O that will not do, says Melder to Milder, - O that will not do, says the younger to the elder; - O what will do then? says Festel to Fose; - With hatchets and cleavers, said John the Red Nose, - With hatchets and cleavers, said John the Red Nose, - - "What will you boil her in? says Milder to Melder, - What will you boil her in? says the younger to the elder; - O I cannot tell thee, says Festel to Fose; - In pots and in kettles, said John the Red Nose, - In pots and in kettles, said John the Red Nose." - - -For more on this interesting subject see "Manners and Customs of the -People of Tenby" in "The Cambrian Journal," Vol. IV., page 177. - -I may add that I heard the above ditty sung in Welsh in several parts -of South Wales, especially when I was a boy. - -Another such custom was called "tooling," and its purpose was beer. It -consisted in calling at the farm-houses and pretending to look for -one's tools behind the beer cask. "I've left my saw behind your beer -cask," a carpenter would say; "my whip," a carter; and received the -tool by proxy, in the shape of a cup of ale. It was also customary -for the women to practice what was called sowling, viz., asking for -"sowl," that is cheese, fish or meat. - -It was also customary in parts of the counties of Pembroke and -Carmarthen for poor people to proceed round the neighbourhood from -house to house with their "Wassail bowls," and singing outside each -door something as follows-- - - - "Taste our jolly wassail bowl, - Made of cake, apple, ale, and spice; - Good master give command, - You shall taste once or twice - Of our jolly wassail bowl." - - -People who partook of the contents of the bowl were of course expected -to pay, so that the invitation to "taste our jolly wassail bowl," -was not always accepted. In such cases the bearer of the bowl sung -the following rhyme in disappointment:-- - - - "Are there any maidens here, - As I suppose there's none - Or they wouldn't leave us here, - With our jolly wassail bowl." - - -"The huge bowl was on the table, brimful of ale. William held a -saucepan, into which Pally and Rachel poured the ale, and which he -subsequently placed upon the fire. Leaving it to boil, the party seated -round the fire began to roast some of the apples that Pally had just -put upon the table. This they effected by tying long pieces of twine -to their stems, and suspending them from the different "pot-hooks and -hangers" with which the chimney corner abounded, twisting the cord -from time to time to prevent their burning.... By the time they had -all completed their trials the ale was boiling and the apples were -roasted. The tempting beverage went smoking hot into the bowl, and was -joined by the contents of a small, suspicious-looking, tightly-corked -bottle, which I strongly suspect, contained what the French call the -"water of life," and a very strong water it undoubtedly is. Next -there was a hissing and splutting greeting between the ale and the -roasted apples, which was succeeded by the introduction of some of the -"nices," with which Pally's table was covered. Different masculines of -the party added to the treat by producing packets of buns, raisins, -or biscuits, which they dropped singly into the bowl until it was -full to overflowing. With a sufficient proportion of spices and sugar, -the wassail bowl was finally prepared, and, as if by instinct, just as -it was completed, in popped three or four of Pally's ancient cronies, -all dying to partake of it. The cups and glasses were speedily filled, -when William proposed Pally's health, which was cordially drunk by -the whole party." (The Vale of Towey, pages 83-87). - -It was customary also, especially in parts of Carmarthenshire, on -"Calan Hen" (Old New Year's Day) to make a feast for those who had -helped them with the harvest. - -It was also once customary on Epiphany Night in West Wales to -visit the houses of those who had been married since the Epiphany -before. Those who went round the houses in this manner requested -admittance in rhyme and expected food and beer to be given to them by -the inmates. Epiphany, known in Wales as "Gwyl Ystwyll," was formerly -closely associated with Christmas. - -Many of the old customs and festivities in connection with the New -Year are of great antiquity; it was then that the Druids went to seek -the mistletoe on the oak. To the Druids the oak and the mistletoe -were objects of veneration; and one of the most imposing ceremonies -was the cutting of the latter, some days before the New Year, with a -Golden Knife, in a forest dedicated to the gods; and the distributing -its branches with much ceremony as New Year's Gifts among the people. - -On the day for cutting the mistletoe, a procession of Bards, Druids, -and Druidesses was formed to the forest, and singing all the while. The -Arch-Druid climbed the tree and cut down the mistletoe, the other -Druids spreading a sheet to receive it. - -This scene was enacted with great success at the Builth Wells Pageant, -August, 1909--(see illustration)--which I witnessed myself with -interest. - -The Romans had also their festival in honour of Janus and Strenia -about the same time of the year. It is interesting to add that in -England in the days of King Alfred a law respecting Feast Days was -passed, in which the twelve days after the birth of Christ were made -a season of holidays. - - - -ST. VALENTINE'S DAY. - -The custom of sending a pretty Valentine, or an ugly one, of love, -or from mere mischief, as the case might be, was very common once -in Wales. We do not hear much of Valentines at the present, however, -since the Picture Post Cards have become so common. - - - -ST. DAVID'S DAY. - -St. David is the Patron Saint of Wales, and strange to say the only -Welsh Saint in the Calendar of the Western Church (Canonized by -Calixtus II.) more than five hundred years after his death. - -His day is celebrated on the 1st of March throughout the world where -Welshmen are. In Wales there are in some places grand dinners, and -speeches are made and songs sung, and at present it is customary -to conduct Divine Service on the day even in St. Paul's Cathedral, -London. But perhaps the most characteristic feature of the day is -the wearing of the Leek, though it must be admitted that wearing -the Leek on St. David's Day is not very general in the country -districts of Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire at the present day, -but the interesting old custom is reviving, especially in the towns, -and every true-born Welshman ought to wear on the 1st of March the -Welsh National Emblem which is dedicated to St. David. - -The origin of the custom is not known, there are many who positively -assert that it originated in the days of St. David himself; that is, -according to some traditions, during a memorable battle against the -Saxons the Welsh obtained a complete victory over their enemies. During -the engagement the Welsh had leeks in their hats on the occasion for -their military colour and distinction of themselves, by persuasion -of the said prelate St. David. - -According to other traditions, the battle of Poictiers has been named; -also that of Cressy, when the Welsh archers did good service with the -English against the French, under Edward the Black Prince of Wales, -and Shakespeare alludes to this in Henry V.:-- - -Fluellen says to Henry: "If your Majesty is remembered of it, -the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, -wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps; which your Majesty knows, to -this hour is an honourable badge of the service; and, I do believe, -your Majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek on St. Tavy's Day." - -King Henry: "I wear it for a memorable honour; for I am Welsh, you -know, good countryman." - -It seems that there was a custom in London 250 years ago of hanging -effigies of Welshmen on St. David's Day; for Pepys says:-- - -(March 1, 1667). In Mark Lane I do observe (it being St. David's Day), -the picture of a man dressed like a Welshman, hanging by the neck upon -one of the poles that stand out at the top of one of the merchants' -houses, in full proportion and very handsomely done, which is one of -the oddest sights I have seen a good while. - - - -SHROVE TUESDAY. - -Shrove Tuesday, which is called in Welsh Dydd Mawrth Ynyd, was formerly -kept as a holiday; but not much notice is taken of the day now, except -that the old custom of pancakes eating still survives in most places. - - - "Deuwch heno, fy nghyfeillion, - Merched glan a'r bechgyn mwynion, - A chydunwn heb un gofyd, - Wneyd Crammwythau ar Nos Ynyd." - - Come to-night my friends, - Fair young maidens and gentle young men; - And let us join without sorrow - To make pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. - - -The day was once also noted for foot-ball kicking in some districts, -and also for throwing at cocks, that is hens which had laid no eggs -before that day were threshed with a flail as being good for nothing. - -Mr. Williams in his excellent Welsh essay on the Folk Lore of -Carmarthenshire, says that he had been informed by a middle aged -person of a curious old custom of playing with eggs. Mr. Williams's -informant when a child and other children with him, had been taught -by an old woman how to play some peculiar game with eggs on this day, -which was something as follows:--Eggs were boiled for two or three -hours till they were as hard as stones. The children used to colour -their eggs for the prettiest by boiling them in coffee with certain -herbs, etc., then for half of the day, they kept throwing the eggs at -each other. This curious kind of play reminds me of a similar practice -which I noticed in South America many years ago, more especially in -the Argentine Republic, where it was customary for the first half of -the day for people to throw eggs, water, etc., at each other, and this -was done even in the sheets of Buenos Ayres. The custom was known as -"El Carnival," that is giving way to the flesh before the beginning -of Lent or Fasting Time. - -In the North of England boys play with eggs on Easter Eve, and -centuries ago eggs were blest by the Priest and preserved as Amulates. - -It was once customary for the tenants of Nanteos, in North -Cardiganshire, to give to their landlord Shrove Hens and Eggs (ieir -ac wyau Ynyd). This was undoubtedly a survival of the old custom of -paying rent, or a portion of it, "in kind." - -To render in kind ducks and geese, loads of coal, etc., was continued -yearly, both in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire within living memory. - - - -LENT. - -There was an old custom once in Wales of taking an egg-shell, filled -with water, little meat, flour, etc., to a house of a neighbour, -and leave it on the outside of the window while all the family were -having their supper, and then run away, for if they were caught in -doing it, they were obliged to clean old shoes as a punishment. The -egg-shell used on the occasion was called "Crochan Grawys" (Lent -Cauldron). Some old people remember this in Carmarthenshire. - - - -PALM SUNDAY. - -I have already, in my Chapter on Funeral Customs, referred to the -beautiful old Welsh Custom of decorating the graves on Palm Sunday. - - - -GOOD FRIDAY. - -Good Friday in Welsh is called "Dydd Gwener Groglith (The Lesson of -the Cross Friday). - -Not much notice is taken at present day of the day, and the services -conducted in the Parish Churches in country places are as a rule -poorly attended. In former times there were many interesting customs -and strange superstitions in connection with the day, especially in -the South of Pembrokeshire, where there was once a custom called -"Making Christ's Bed," which was done by gathering a quantity of -long reeds from the river and woven into the shape of a man. Then -this was stretched on a wooden cross, and laid in a field. - -It is said that it was customary in that particular part of West -Wales, especially at Tenby, to walk barefooted to Church, and that -such Pre-Reformation custom continued till the close of the eighteenth -century, which was done so as not to disturb the earth! In returning -from Church the people regaled themselves with hot cross buns, and -after reaching the house they were eaten. But a certain number of them -were tied up in a bag, and hung in the kitchen, where they remained -till the next Good Friday, for medical purposes, for it was believed -that the eating of one of them cured diseases. They were also used -as a panacea for the diseases of animals, as well as serviceable to -frighten away evil spirits and goblins. These hot cross buns which -figured in such a peculiar manner in South Pembrokeshire, nothing is -known of them in the adjoining counties of Carmarthen and Cardigan, -among the country people; it is possible, however, that they were -known there prior to the Reformation or even after. But perhaps the bun -custom was unknown in those two counties, and it had been introduced -into South Pembrokeshire (where the people are not of Welsh origin), -from England or some other country. Some writers trace the origin -of hot cross buns to the cakes which the pagan Saxons used to eat -in honour of their goddess Eostre, and that the custom dates back to -pre-historic times, and that their connection with the Cross of our -Saviour is only by adoption. How far this is true it is impossible -to know with certainty; but it is evident that the early Christians -adopted many pagan rites and customs. According to Hone's Year Book, -the hot cross buns are the ecclesiastic Eulogiae or Consecrated Loaves -bestowed in the Church as alms, and to those who could not receive the -Host. It was once the custom in Wales to express abhorrence of Judas -Iscariot, and the curious custom of flogging him is still in vogue -in South America. In former times Good Friday was the day on which -rings were blessed by Kings and given away as remedies for the cramp. - - - -EASTER. - -It is deemed essential by many people to wear some new article of -dress, if only a pair of gloves or a new ribbon; for not to do so -is considered unlucky, and the birds will be angry with you. It is -probable that the origin of this custom is associated with Easter -baptism, when a new life was assumed by the baptised, clothed in -righteousness as a garment. In former times people had such respect -for this day that many kept their children unbaptised till Easter -Sunday, and many old men and old women went to Church to receive the -Communion who were hardly to be seen in the Lord's House on any other -Sunday during the year. - -There was once an old fancy in Wales that the sun used to dance for -joy when it rose on Easter morning, and great care was taken in some -places to get up the children and young people to see such sight of the -sun dancing in honour of the rising of our Lord. The sun was sometimes -aided in this performance by a bowl of clear water, into which the -youth must look and see the orb dance, as it would be dangerous to -look directly on the sun while thus engaged. The religious dance of -the ancient Druids is believed to exist in modern times in a round -dance wherein the figures imitate the motions of the sun and moon. See -"British Goblins," by Sykes, page 274. - - - -FIRST DAY OF APRIL. - -April fool, known in Wales as "Ffwl Ebrill," was observed as in -England, and still observed to a certain extent. - - - -MAY. - -The old customs and superstitions in connection with May Day are -unknown in Wales in the present day, once, however, May-day dances -and revelling were most popular, especially in Pembrokeshire, as -the following interesting account which appeared in the "Cambrian -Journal" proves:-- - -"On May-eve, the inhabitants would turn out in troops, bearing in their -hands boughs of thorn in full blossom, which were bedecked with other -flowers, and then stuck outside the windows of the houses. Maypoles -were reared up in different parts of the town (of Tenby), decorated -with flowers, coloured papers, and bunches of variegated ribbon. On -May-day the young men and maidens would, joining hand in hand, dance -round the May-poles, and "thread the needle," as it was termed. A group -of fifty to a hundred persons would wend their ways from one pole to -another, till they had thus traversed the town. Meeting on their way -other groups, who were coming from an opposite direction, both parties -would form a "lady's chain," and to pass on their respective ways." - -The May-pole was once most popular in Wales, but the old custom has -entirely died out, though we still hear occasionally of a May Queen -being selected in some places. - - - -A PRESENT-DAY WELSH QUEEN OF MAY. - -The May-pole in Wales was called Bedwen, because it was always made -of birch which is called in Welsh Bedwen, a tree associated with the -gentler emotions; and as I have already observed in another chapter, -to give a lover a birchen branch, is for a maiden to accept his -addresses. Games of various sorts were played around the bedwen. The -fame of a village depended on its not being stolen away, and parties -were constantly on the alert to steal the bedwen, a feat which, when -accomplished, was celebrated with peculiar festivities. This rivalry -for the possession of the May-pole was probably typical of the ancient -idea that the first of May was the boundary day dividing the confines -of winter and summer, when a fight took place between the powers of -the air, on the one hand striving to continue the reign of winter on -the other to establish that of summer. - -Here may be cited the Mabinogi of Kilhwch and Olwen, where it speaks -of the daughter of Lludd Llaw Eraint. She was the most splendid maiden -in the three Islands of the mighty, and in three islands adjacent, -and for her does Gwyn Ap Nudd, the fairy King, fight every first of -May till the day of doom. - -She was to have been the bride of Gwythyr, the son of Greidawl, -when Gwyn Ap Nudd carried her off by force. The bereaved bridegroom -followed, and there was a bloody struggle, in which Gwyn was -victorious, and he acted most cruelly, for he slew an old warrior, -took out his heart from his breast, and constrained the warrior's -son to eat the heart of his father. - -When Arthur heard of this he summoned Gwyn Ap Nudd before him, -and deprived him of the fruits of his victory. But he condemned the -two combatants to fight for the maiden Olwen henceforth for ever on -every first of May till doomsday; the victor on that day to possess -the maiden. - -In former times a fire of logs was kindled on the first day of May, -around which it was customary for men and women, youths and maidens, -to dance hand in hand, singing to the harp, and some of the men would -leap over the fire, even at the peril of being burnt. The origin of -such strange custom is undoubtedly to be traced to the "belltaine" -fires of the Druids. - -It seems these bon-fires were lighted in some parts of Wales on -Midsummer Eve, and the "Glain Nadrodd" (snake-stones) were also, -according to Welsh traditions, associated with the same time of -the year. - -It is called Glain Nadrodd from the old Welsh tradition that it is -made by snakes at some special gathering among them, when one of -their number is made a kind of sacrifice out of the body of which -they manufacture the stone. It is of a greenish colour and of the -size of an ordinary marble. To find a "Glain Nadrodd" is considered -a very lucky omen and they were anciently used as charms. It was -also believed in former times that the bon-fires lighted in May or -Midsummer protected the lands from sorcery, so that good crops would -follow. The ashes were also considered valuable as charms. - - - -ALLHALLOW'S EVE (NOS CALAN GAEA.) - -The Eve of All Saints is known in Wales as "Nos Calan Gaeaf," and -in former times there were many old customs in connection with it, -most of which have now disappeared. I have already given an account -of the Love Charms and spells which were performed on this eve, and -amongst other strange doings, the uncanny custom of going round the -Church in order to see the spirit of a future husband or wife. But -there was in some places another weird ceremony of going round the -church at midnight, and look in through the keyhole in order to see -the spectral forms, or to hear a spirit calling the names of all those -who were to die in the neighbourhood during the year; that is during -the coming twelve months from that date, which seems to suggest that -the new year began at this time once in old times. Many were afraid, -especially children, of going out on Allhallow's Eve as the night -among the Welsh was one of the "tair nos ysprydion" (three spirits' -nights) as it was supposed that the spirits were free to roam about, -and a demon at large in the form of a "Hwch ddu gwta" (black sow -without a tail) - - - "Nos Calan Gaea', - Bwbach ar bob camfa." - - (On Allhallow's Eve, - A bogie on every stile.) - - -On this eve it was formerly the custom to kindle a bonfire, a practice -which continued to a more recent date in the Northern part of the -Principality than in the South. - -Besides fuel, each person present used to throw into the fire a small -stone, with a mark whereby he should know it again. If he succeeded -in finding the stone on the morrow, the year would be a lucky one -for him, but the contrary if he failed to recover it. - -Those who assisted at the making of the bonfire watched until the -flames were out, and then somebody would raise the usual cry, when each -ran away for his life, lest he should be found last, and be overtaken -by the 'bogie.'--(See "Celtic Folk-Lore," by Sir J. Rhys, page 225.) - -When a boy, I well remember young men and boys who were full of -mischief, making a hollow inside a turnip, and having put a candle -in it, carried it about as a bogie to frighten timid people. - -Allhallow's Eve is known in many parts of West Wales as "Nos twco -fale," (apple snatching night), and the game of snatching apples, has -been continued in some districts until only a few years ago. Apples -and candles, fastened to strings, were suspended from the ceiling -and the merry-makers in trying to catch the apple frequently got -the candle instead, to the great amusement of those present. Another -amusing custom was to try to bring up an apple with the teeth from -a tub of water. - -In some parts of the country, especially Carmarthenshire, it was -customary to peel the apple carefully, and throw it, that is the peel, -back over the head. Then when this peel had fallen on the floor behind -one's back, particular notice was taken in what form it appeared, and -whenever it resembled a letter of the Alphabet, the same was supposed -to be the first letter of the Christian name of the thrower's future -wife or husband. - - - -HARVEST CUSTOMS, Etc. - -"Y Gaseg Fedi, or Harvest Mare." - -In West and Mid-Wales there have been various harvest customs, the -most interesting of which was probably the Harvest Mare, known in -Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire as "Y Gaseg Fedi, or Gaseg Ben-Fedi," -but in Pembrokeshire it was called "Y Wrach." This took place at the -end of the harvest. - -There was a large crowd of both men and women reaping on the last -day; and by working at the harvest in this manner small cottagers -and other poor people paid the farmer for the privilege of planting -a few rows of potatoes in the land, and for the loan of a horse and -cart, or for carting home coal, etc.. By working at the harvest poor -people paid their debt to the farmer, and still do so to a certain -extent. To each of the women who worked at the harvest was given a -candle to take home with her every evening, and to the men a little -tobacco was given to those who indulged in the bad habit of smoking. - -An old woman 98 years of age, who lived near Crosswood, Cardiganshire, -informed me about three years ago that she well recollected when a -child that a farmer who lived at Penllwyn, in the Vale of Rheidol, -used to give to each of the men and women a sheaf to take home with -them in the evening, and that this farmer was the only one in the -country who did this within her memory, and that he did it as he had -seen his father doing so. The old lady also added that the custom -had been general once. - -It was the custom once to "dwrn fedi" (fist reaping) a very laborious -work, for our forefathers had no scythes nor machines in former times, -so that the sickle was everything. It was customary once for a number -of farmers in the same district to arrange together not to cut their -fields on the same day so that they might be able to assist each -other. A few men would come together on an appointed day from each -farm in the district that they might be able to cut and bind all the -corn of one farm in a single day; and it is still the custom in many -places to do this in connection with hay as well as shearing sheep -on the mountains. - -The Gaseg Fedi (harvest mare) at the end of the harvest was a small -quantity of the last corn which was left standing in the field, and -tied up carefully; and great excitement existed, and much amusement -was created when the last standing was reached. There was a good -deal of fun in connection with cutting the mare. Each reaper in his -turn was allowed to throw his sickle at the corn until it was cut, -from a distance of about 15 or 20 yards. The most unskilful were -allowed to try first, at last some one would succeed in cutting it -down amidst cheers. After cutting it down, it was customary in some -places, especially in the North of Cardiganshire for one of the men -to take the mare to a neighbouring farm, where the harvest had not -been completed, and where the reapers would be still busy at work. The -man who took the mare in this manner was very careful to go, or crept -without being observed, and stealthily stationed himself over against -the foreman of his neighbour's reapers, he watched an opportunity, -when within easy distance of throwing it suddenly over the hedge into -his neighbour's field, and if possible upon the foreman's sickle and -at the same time repeating some insulting words and took to his heels -with all speed to escape the flying sickle of the reapers whom he had -insulted which were hurled after him, and sometimes he was in peril -of his life. In some districts in Carmarthenshire, it was sometimes -the practice to be as bold as to take the Gaseg even to the very house -of the neighbour, but this was considered more insulting if anything -than throwing it into his field. - -According to old people who remembered the custom in their younger -days, they informed me that it was not considered right to throw -the mare into the field of a farmer who lived in another parish, -or over a river or even a brook. I was also informed by some that it -was not allowable to bear it up hill to a field which stood on a more -elevated ground. It was often the custom especially in Carmarthenshire -and Pembrokeshire, instead of throwing it into a neighbour's field, to -convey it home to the house, that is to the house of the farmer himself -who had finished his harvest that day. The honour of bearing it home -in this manner belonged to the one who had succeeded in cutting it, -but the difficult part of it was how to take it into the house dry, -for it was absolutely necessary that it should be taken into the -house without being wetted. And this was not always an easy task as -the servant maids at the house carefully stored water in buckets and -pans ready to throw over the man and his Caseg Fedi at his entrance; -and sometimes he would have a pretty rough time of it. In order to -prevent this the man tried to appear as indifferent as possible so as -not to be suspected by the girls. Consequently, he carefully hid the -mare under his clothes, but in spite of everything he was sometimes -stripped of some part of his garment or deluged with water. But when he -could succeed in bringing it into the house dry and hung it up without -being observed, the master had to pay the bearer a shilling or two, -or to give him plenty of beer. But the master was spared to pay the -shilling if the girls could succeed in wetting the mare. These curious -old customs have been discontinued, but it is still the practice -with some to bring a handful of corn into the house tied up under -the name of the mare. At supper that evening there was a good deal -of fun. John Wright, Bailiff of Stackpole in Pembrokeshire, refers to -the custom as follows when writing to his master, Mr. Pryce Campbell, -August, 1736:--"Whilst I was abroad (he had been in Cardiganshire) -the harvest people cut the neck, and, notwithstanding all the -stones about the court (this house was being rebuilt), would have -a dance. The dance was the Three Shopkins. There was a noble feast, -the bill of fare was as follows:--Four quarters of mutton, a side of -bacon, a piece of beef weighing half a hundred-weight, twelve gallons -of Buding besides, cabotch and other greens. They seemed very well -pleased with their entertainment." It was customary in some places -to have a harvest queen attired in white gown decorated with ears -of wheat and roses. In other places a sheaf of wheat was decorated -with ribbons and taken home to the farm on the top of the last load, -when the horses were also very gaily decked. - -At the close of the harvest it was an universal custom to have a -harvest supper, and after the feast there was a merry time. The -Rev. D. G. Williams mentions "Chware Dai Shon Goch" and "Rhibo" -as favourite games on such occasions. - -"Chware Dai Shon Goch" was something as follows:-- - -Two young men, or two young women would put on some old ragged clothes -kept at the farm for that purpose, and thus attired would proceed -to the barn where a walking-stick was given to each of the two. Then -followed a most curious dance to the great amusement of the company -of beholders. At present, however, the Welshpeople in country places -know nothing of dancing; but it is evident that they were much given -to dancing in former times as well as singing to the harp. Owen Tudor, -the Welsh gentleman who became the grandfather of Henry VII., King -of England, was invited to dance some of the dances of Wales before -Katherine, the beautiful widow of Henry V. While the handsome young -Welshman was dancing one of his wild reels, it chanced that he fell -against the Queen, and the latter with a bewitching smile, said, -"that so far from offending her, it would only increase the pleasure -of herself and company, if he would repeat the same false step or -mistake!" Later on, Katherine and Owen Tudor were married. - -Another game on such occasions was "Rhibo" which was something as -follows:-- - -Six young men were selected for the performance, three standing face -to face to the other three, and each one taking hold of the hands of -the one who faced him. Then upon the arms of these six young men, -a young man and a young woman were placed in a leaning posture who -were thrown up and allowed to fall again into the arms of the young -men, and this ceremony continued for some time, and which appeared -to be rather a rough game, but it is not practised at the present day. - -In former times it was customary at some farms to blow the horn -at harvest time to call the reapers both to their work and their -meals. Such horn was made use of for that purpose until very recently -at a farm called Eurglodd, eight miles north of Aberystwyth in -Cardiganshire. - - - -CYNNOS. - -"Cynnos" was a practice among the farmers of West Wales, and -particularly Cardiganshire, of taking the corn to the kiln to be dried -on the night before the grinding; it was customary to sit watching it -all night and carefully attend to the drying operations, that is the -turning of the corn on the kiln, and the sweeping of it off, when -it had been sufficiently dried. The meaning of the word "Cynnos" -is unknown, according to some writers it is a form of "cynwys" -(contents)--that is the contents of a stack of corn; but according -to others it meant "cyn-nos" (the night before) that is the night -before the grinding. - -It is true that the farmers sent small quantities of corn to the mill -at any time of the year; but the big annual "cynnos" was prepared, -as a rule, about January or February. This "Cynnos" was a night of -great fun, especially for young people, as many of the friends and -neighbours of those who were engaged in drying the corn came together -in the evening. An old gentleman named Thomas Evans, Gwarallyryn in -the parish of Llandyssul, Cardiganshire, who well remembered the -old custom, gave me an interesting account of it. This meeting of -young men and young women and others at the kiln during the Cynnos to -enjoy themselves with games and story telling was known, said he, as -"Shimli," which often continued all night. Sometimes beer known as -"Fetchin," was sent for, and drank around the kiln fire. When the -flour was taken home, it was put in chests. Previous to the beginning -of the 19th century before kilns attached to the mills became general, -many of the farm houses had a kiln for drying the corn at home, but -of a very primitive sort. Mr. Price in his interesting little book on -Llansawel, in Carmarthenshire, says that the last kiln of the sort for -drying the corn at home in that parish was in use at a farm called -Cilwenau isaf, worked as late as 1845. He also adds that the shape -and the build of this primitive contrivance was something as follows:-- - -On a gentle-sloping ground a hollow, three yards long, two yards wide, -and two deep, was cut, and two planks placed at right angles to each -other, their ends resting on the surface outside the hollow. These -served to support the sticks which were placed regularly over the kiln -until covered. Over the whole clean straw was laid, upon which the -corn was placed to be dried. Underneath all this and at the lower -end of the kiln, the fire was placed, so that the heat and smoke -went under the straw contrivance above. About the month of May, -it was once customary in Pembrokeshire for farmers to bring their -"Benwent," that is, two or three loads of grain to the mill to be -ground and milled, and young men and young women came together on -such occasions, and indulged in a sport known as "Byng," or dressing -up a horse's head and carrying it about, not unlike "Mari Lwyd." The -Rev. Jenkin Evans, Pontfaen, in the "Pembrokeshire Antiquities," -also adds that it was customary on May Day for women and children to -go round the farmhouses with their basins to receive butter, which -enabled poor people to enjoy butter on their bread for some weeks. - - - -GLEANING. - -Within living memory, farmers in Cardiganshire allowed poor people -to glean in the fields at the seasons of harvest and ingathering, -and indeed this seems to have been a general custom once in all parts -of the Kingdom, and directed by the law of Moses. - - - -CWRW BACH. - -There was once an old custom in Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire, of -making what was known as "Cwrw Bach"; that is, people met at a house -on a certain evening to drink home-brewed beer, and indulge in games, -in order to give the profits from the sale of it to assist helpless -old people and others who were in real poverty. This is not done now, -but we still hear of some farmers in Pembrokeshire, making their own -beer for those who work at the harvest. - - - -PERAMBULATION. - -Beating the Bounds of a Parish was a very old custom in Wales; and -according to the Rev. George Eyre Evans, this was done at Bettws Ivan, -South Cardiganshire, as late as May 22nd, 1819, when Banners were -carried round the Parish on the Boundaries. - - - -SHEEP SHEARING CUSTOMS. - -The following extract which I translate from an introduction to a -volume of Welsh Poems known as "Cerddi Cerngoch," gives an interesting -account of Sheep Shearing customs in West Wales fifty years ago:-- - -"A great day at Blaenplwyf was the sheep shearing day, The sheep -were kept for the summer at Bronbyrfe, Llanddewi Brefi, with John -Jenkins. During Ffair Beder (Peter's Fair) July 10th every year there -was a "cnaif" (shearing). Good many were anxious to get the "fei." The -service of about half-a-dozen neighbours was secured to look after -the shearing. David Davies, Rhiwonen; John Davies, Pantfedwen; Thomas -Davies, Pencoed; Daniel Davies, Gelligwenin, had been doing it; and -my father, and my uncles of Trecefel, Pant, Penbryn and Clwtpatrwn, -were faithful year after year. To swell the company, others from time -to time took a day's holiday and enjoyment, and amongst many others, -Mr. J. E. Rogers, Abermeurig; Rev. Evan Evans, Hafod; Rev. John Davies, -Llandeloy; Thos. Thomas (Norton Brewery), Carmarthen; Ben. Jenkins, -solicitor; Aeronian, etc. - -Llwyd, Llundain, told me: "When my father failed going to the shearing, -my brother Shanco, or myself, was allowed to go, and we longed to go, -for it was the very thing for us. Little work and plenty of enjoyment, -and you know that not one of Shencyn Grufydd's family had any objection -to a thing of that kind. A start was made from Blaenplwyf at five -o'clock in the morning. At first it was customary to proceed on horses -through Llanfair and over the bog and meadow to Bronbyrfe. One or -two young women went to look after the wool. It was brought home on -horses. After that 'gist cart' and the 'long body' came in use, and -lastly the 'gambo.' When going over the mountain one time (1855), and -'Cerngoch,' to be sure, among the foremost of the mounted band, Shencyn -gave out the order to form into a rank as soldiers, and after getting -things into order, he said:--"Here we are now like cavalry attacking -the Russians." "Not quite so," said Cerngoch, "if we were in the -Crimea, you my little brother, would not be so far in advance of us." - -Timothy and Benjamin were in School of Parkyvelvet, under the -celebrated old tutor, Rev. Titus Evans, in 1855, and both of them -and their second cousin, Mr. Thomas, Myrtle Villa, Wellfield Road, -Carmarthen (now) had come on their holidays, and forming a part of -the company. As Mr. Thomas was a townsman, he was not acquainted with -the horse and the land, so the horse went out of the path, and into -the bog, and Cerngoch sang at once:-- - - - "'Roedd mab o dre Caerfyrddin, - Yn steilus iawn a'i ferlin; - Wrth dd'od ar 'mynydd yn y mawn, - Bu'n isel iawn ei asyn." - - -.... After reaching Bronbyrfe, those who were responsible went in for -the shearing; but the others scattered along the small brooks which -were close by in order to fish; each one with his favourite tackle, -hands, fly, hook and bait, etc. Hywel was by far the master. When -all the others had failed with the fly and bait, Hywel would have -a basketful. He was so clever with the fly--the bait according -to the colour of the water.... After eating the black nourishing -fish, and ending the shearing, it was customary to go home through -Llanddewi. The young men of Llanddewi knew when the Blaenplwyf shearing -took place, and were watching them on their homeward journey with great -excitement. Then (at Llanddewi) a game of ball was played on the corner -of the old chapel, near the Foelallt Arms since then. Not an air ball -as at present, but a ball of yarn carefully wound up, and covered with -leather as tight as possible. Four were the required number intended -to take part in the game, two on each side. "After drinking the health -of those who won, off goes the party, each one for the first making for -Bettws, about five miles nearer home. Then a game of quoits took place -on the commons, as the horses were having their breath, a good excuse -for the men to get a drop of "home-brewed" at the Derry Arms. Two miles -more, and they reach home at Blaenplwyf at 9 p.m., after a busy and -enjoyable day. A feast waited them, my grandmother having been busy -all day preparing--cawl--new potatoes--white cabbages--and gooseberry -tart. She could make delicious food and taught her daughters also to -do so." - - - -TAI UNNOS (ONE NIGHT HOUSES). - -In former times in Wales when the population was small, much of the -land in mountainous regions was a common, and the farmers and others -were at liberty to send their cattle and sheep there to graze, and -people obtained peat from such places to burn on the fire. But if a -poor family could succeed to erect a small rude house, or hut in one -night on the outskirts of a common, or a desolate spot on the mountain -side, or a dreary dingle, they claimed from ancient usage their right -to the spot. Such a house was called "Ty Unnos" (one night house). If -a man building a Ty Unnos of such kind was discovered in building it -during the night by one of his neighbours, people would come and throw -it down and scatter everything, to prevent him taking possession of a -place which they regarded as belonging to all. So that any one building -a Ty Unnos had to do it in one single night, and that secretly, -without being detected. I recollect such a house being built on the -mountain of Llanddewi Brefi many years ago when I was a boy. After -securing a house in this manner the next step was to add land to it, -taken and enclosed patch by patch from the surrounding common, so -that quite a farm of freehold property was created in course of time, -if the intrusion remained unnoticed. But it was necessary for a man -to show a great deal of shrewdness to secure a farm in this manner. - -In the parish of Llanarth, Cardiganshire, there is a spot known as -"Mynydd Shion Cwilt." According to tradition this Shion Cwilt was -a shrewd and eccentric character who built a Ty-Unnos, and secured -much land from Common. - - - -THE CEFFYL PREN. - -In former times, public sarcasm and derision did much to dispel vice -and reform offenders. - -In West Wales "Ceffyl Pren" was resorted to when a man was supposed -to have been unfaithful to his wife whom he had promised to cherish, -or a woman who had broken her marriage covenant. - -It was customary to make a straw man riding a straw horse, as an -effigy to represent the guilty. Such effigies were carried round the -most public places in order to make those who were guilty of breaking -the Seventh Commandment ashamed of themselves. The procession was a -very noisy one, and accompanied by men with horns and brass, etc., -and sometimes a song was composed for the occasion. - -Such procession went round the neighbourhood for about three weeks, -and sometimes a gun was carried to shoot the straw rider. - -At last the effigies were burnt before the house or houses of the -guilty, and then the crowd dispersed. - -It is supposed that such custom has come down from the time of the -Druids when it was customary to burn evil-doers in effigies of straw -as sacrifices to the gods. - -In some cases people were not satisfied in carrying an effigy, but -seized the guilty man and woman, and carried them publicly on a ladder -for miles round the country. - - - -THE EMPLOYMENT OF DOGS TO TURN ROASTING-SPITS. - -It was customary in former times to place a dog inside a wheel which -he turned with his fore-feet, the wheel being connected by a chain -with the wheel end of the spit. - -There was a dog employed in turning the roasting-spit in this manner -at Newcastle Emlyn about one hundred years ago. - - - -KNAPPAN. - -This ancient game takes its name from the ball used, which was some -hard wood, and well greased for each occasion and just small enough -to be grasped in one hand. Running with the ball was the chief method, -and the distance between the goals was several miles. - -George Owen, of Henllys, in Pembrokeshire, gives a full account of -Knappan, and how it was played in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and -it seems that the ancient game survived the longest in the northern -part of that county, and the South of Cardiganshire, and on Corpus -Christi Day there was a regular contest between the two districts, -when 2,000 came together, and some horsemen as well. The game was -regarded as the best training for war. - -It is thought that the great football contests between Llandyssul and -Llanwenog which were popular on Good Fridays about seventy years ago, -were the outcome of the ancient game of Knappan. - - - -THROWING THE BAR. - -"Cryfder dan bwysau," or displaying strength in hurling a stone, -or throwing a bar, which was one of the ancient Welsh games. - -Meyrick, in his "History of Cardiganshire," writing one hundred years -ago, says that casting of the bar was still continued in his time, -particularly in Cardiganshire, "where the people have a meeting -once a year at certain Chapels, Yspytty Ystwith, Yspytty Cenvyn, -etc., for this purpose. They remain in the Chapel all night to try -their activity in wrestling, all the benches being removed, and the -spectators, different from ancient regulations, are generally young -women, and old champions, who are to see fair play." - - - -SCHOOL CUSTOMS. - -In South Wales, especially Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, about -seventy or eighty years ago, most curious customs were in vogue, -which were intended to assist the Welsh children to learn English. - -In many Schools in those days, English was taught in rhymes, such -as follows:-- - - - "Hearth is aelwyd, fire is tān, - Cloth is brethyn, wool is gwlan, - Ash is onen, oak is derwen, - Holly tree is pren cerdynen, - House is ty, and mill is melin, - Fiddle is crwyth, and harp is telyn, - River is afon, brook is nant, - Twenty is ugnin, hundred is cant." - - - -THE WELSH "NOTE," OR "NOT". - -In order to enforce the use of the English language in Schools the -Schoolmasters of those days made use of what was called the Welsh -"Note," which was a piece of stick about three or four inches long, -with the letters "W.N." marked on it, and in some places it had the -following words in full: "Welsh Note, a slap for every time you speak -Welsh." This "Welsh Note" was in reality nothing but a devise to find -out the children who spoke Welsh, as it was then thought that unless -the mother tongue was banished from Schools, monoglot Welsh children -could not learn English. - -During the night-time, of course, the "Welsh Note" was in possession -of the Schoolmaster, who, when School began in the morning, gave -it secretly to one of the boys with directions to keep it until -he caught some one speaking Welsh, to whom he was to hand it over, -and this boy in his turn was to hand it over to another delinquent, -and so forth. The "Welsh Note" might during the day perhaps pass -through about twenty different hands; and at the close of the School -in the evening the Schoolmaster would call for it and the boy in whose -possession it was found got the first taste of the cane on his naked -hand; then he returned it to the boy from whom he got it, and he in -like manner was caned in his turn, and so on over the twenty, more or -less, each in his turn getting a taste of the cane, until the first -boy is reached, whose name is on the register. Then the "Welsh Note" -returns to the Schoolmaster, ready for use for the next occasion. - -There is no "Welsh Note" at the present day, and the Welsh language -is taught in many if not in most of the Schools. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG). - - - "In olde dayes of King Artour, - Of which the Bretons speken gret honour, - All was this lond fulfilled of Faerie; - The elf-quene with hire joly compagnie - Danced ful oft in many a grene mede. - This was the old opinion as I rede, - I speke of many hundred yeres ago; - But now can no man see non elves mo." - - --Chaucer. - - -A book dealing with Superstitions and popular beliefs would be -incomplete without assigning a prominent place to the Fairies, or -"Tylwyth Teg," as they are called in Welsh. It is true that in Wales, -as in other places, the Fairies have become things of the past; -but even in the present day many old people, and perhaps others, -still believe that such beings did once exist, and that the reason -why they are not now to be seen is that they have been exorcised. - -Many of the Welsh Fairy Tales date from remote antiquity and are, in -common with like legends of other countries, relics of the ancient -mythology, in which the natural and the supernatural are blended -together. - - - -ORIGIN OF FAIRIES. - -Concerning the imaginary origin of the Fairies, it was once a belief -in Wales that they were the souls of the virtuous Druids, who not -having been Christians, could not enter into heaven, but were too -good to be cast into hell! - -Another curious belief was that in our Saviour's time there lived -a woman whose fortune it was to be possessed of near a score of -children, and as she saw our Blessed Lord approach her dwelling, being -ashamed of being so prolific, and that He might not see them all, -she concealed about half of them closely, and, after His departure, -when she went in search of them, to her surprise she found they were -gone. They never afterwards could be discovered, for it was supposed -that as a punishment from heaven, for hiding what God had given her, -she was deprived of them; and, it is said, these, her offspring, -have generated the race of beings called the Fairies. - -As to the realistic origin of the Fairies, according to the theories -of the learned, they were either the ancient Aborigines, living -in seclusion so as to hide themselves from their more powerful -conquerors, or the persecuted Druids living in subterraneous places, -venturing forth only at night. Whether ancient Aborigines hiding from -their conquerors or the Druids who were persecuted by both Romans -and Christians the Rev. P. Roberts, author of "Collectana Cambrica," -observes that they used these means to preserve themselves and their -families, and whilst the country was thinly peopled, and thickly -wooded did so successfully, and perhaps to a much later period than -is imagined. - -There are dwelling at the present day on the river-banks of the -Congo, in Africa, tribes of dwarfs, whose existence, until Sir Harry -Johnston's recent discovery had been regarded as a myth; though they -must have lived there from time immemorial. - -They exist in caves, and in their ways recall the -fairies. "Undoubtedly," says Sir Harry, "to my thinking, most fairy -myths arose from the contemplation of the mysterious habits of dwarf -troglodite races lingering on still in the crannies, caverns, forests -and mountains of Europe, after the invasion of neolithic man." - - - -FAIRY NAMES. - -The Fairies are spoken of as people, or folk, not as myths or goblins, -and yet as spirits they are immortal, and able to make themselves -invisible. - -The most general name given them in Wales is "Y Tylwyth Teg," (the -Fair Family, or Folk); but they are known sometimes as "Bendith -y Mamau" (the Mothers' Blessing); and the term "gwragedd Annwn," -(dames of the lower regions), is often applied to the Fairy Ladies -who dwelt in lakes or under lakes. Sometimes such terms as "Plant -Annwn," (children of the lower regions); Ellyll an elf; Bwbach etc., -were applied to them, but such appellations have never been in common -use. They were also known as "Plant Rhys Ddwfn" in some parts of the -Vale of Teivy, more especially in the neighbourhood of Cardigan. But -the general term Tylwyth Teg, is known everywhere. - - - -FAIRY DRESS, DWELLING, ETC. - -The Fairies were small handsome creatures in human form; very kind -to, and often showered benefits on those who treated them kindly, but -most revengeful towards those who dared to treat them badly. They were -dressed in green, and very often in white, and some of their maidens -were so beautiful, that young men sometimes would fall over head and -ears in love with them, especially whilst watching them dancing on -a moonlight night; for the old belief was concerning the Fairies, -that on moonlight nights they were wont to join hands, and form into -circles, and dance and sing with might and main until the cock crew, -then they would vanish. - -The circles in the grass of green fields are still called "Cylchau -y Tylwyth Teg" (Fairy Rings). These circles were numerous in Wales -when I was a boy; and it was believed by many about forty years ago, -if not later that some misfortune would befall any person entering -these circles, for I well remember being warned to keep away from -them. At the present time, however, I do not know of any person who is -afraid of entering them; so it seems that the superstition respecting -the Fairy Rings has entirely died out during the last generation. - -As to their dwellings, the Fairies were "things under the earth," for -they were generally supposed to dwell in the lower regions, especially -beneath lakes, where their country towns and castles were situated; -and the people on the coasts of Pembrokeshire imagined that they -inhabited certain enchanted green isles of the sea. - -The green meadows of the sea, called in the old Welsh Triads Gwerddonau -Llion, are the: - - - "Green fairy islands, reposing, - In sunlight and beauty on ocean's calm breast." - - -A British King in ancient times, whose name was Garvan is said to have -sailed away in search of these islands, and never returned. Garvan's -voyage is commemorated in the Triads as one of the "Three Losses by -Disappearance." Southey after citing Dr. W. O. Pughe's article in the -"Cambrian Biography," goes on as follows:-- - -"Of these Islands, or Green Spots of the Floods, there are some -singular superstitions. They are the abode of the Tylwyth Teg, or the -fair family, the souls of the virtuous Druids, who not having been -Christians, cannot enter the Christian Heaven, but enjoy this heaven -of their own. They, however, discover a love of mischief, neither -becoming happy spirits, nor consistent with their original character; -for they love to visit the earth, and seizing a man, inquire whether -he will travel above wind, mid-wind, or below wind; above wind is -a giddy and terrible passage, below wind is through bush and brake, -the middle is a safe course. But the spell of security is, to catch -hold of the grass. In their better moods they come over and carry -the Welsh in their boats. He who visits these islands imagines on -his return that he has been absent only a few hours, when, in truth, -whole centuries have past away. If you take a turf from St. David's -Churchyard, and stand upon it on the sea shore, you behold these -Islands. A man once who thus obtained sight of them, immediately put -to sea to find them; but his search was in vain. He returned, looked -at them again from the enchanted turf, again set sail, and failed -again. The third time he took the turf into his vessel, and stood upon -it till he reached them." Wirt Sikes, in his "British Goblins," page 8, -says that there are sailors on the romantic coasts of Pembrokeshire, -and southern Carmarthenshire who still talk of the green meadows of -enchantment, which are visible sometimes to the eyes of mortals, but -only for a brief space, and they suddenly vanish. He also adds that -there are traditions of sailors who, in the early part of the 19th -century, actually went ashore on the fairy islands--not knowing that -they were such, until they returned to their boats, when they were -filled with awe at seeing the islands disappear from their sight, -neither sinking in the sea, nor floating away upon the waters, but -simply vanishing suddenly. In the account I have just given, a turf -from St. David's Churchyard to stand upon enabled one to behold the -enchanted lands of the Fairies; but according to traditions in other -parts of the country, it seems that a certain spot in Cemmes was the -requisite platform, to see these mythical beings who were known in -some parts as Plant Rhys Ddwfn (Children of Rhys the Deep). - -In the Brython, Vol. I., page 130, Gwynionydd says as follows:-- - -"There is a tale current in Dyfed, that there is, or rather that -there has been a country between Cemmes, the Northern Hundred of -Pembrokeshire, and Aberdaron in Lleyn. The chief patriarch of the -inhabitants was Rhys Ddwfn, and his descendants used to be called -after him the Children of Rhys Ddwfn. - -"They were, it is said, a handsome race enough, but remarkably small -in size. It is stated that certain herbs of a strange nature grew in -their land, so that they were able to keep their country from being -seen by even the most sharp-sighted invaders. - -"There is no account that these remarkable herbs grew in any other -part of the world, excepting on a small spot, a square yard in area -in a certain part of Cemmes. If it chanced that a man stood alone -on it, he beheld the whole of the territory of Plant Rhys Ddwfn; -but the moment he moved he would lose sight of it altogether, and it -would have been nearly vain to look for his footprints." - - - -FAIRIES MARRYING MORTALS. - -In some of the stories about Fairies, we find Fairy Ladies marrying -mortals, but always conditionally, and in the end the husband does -some prohibited thing which breaks the marriage contract, and his -Fairy wife vanishes away. The most beautiful Fairy Legend of this -kind is undoubtedly the - - - -LADY OF LLYN Y VAN VACH IN CARMARTHENSHIRE. - -Several versions have appeared from time to time of this story, -but the most complete one is the one which appeared in Mr. Rees, of -Tonn, in his interesting introduction to "The Physicians of Myddvai," -published by the Welsh Manuscript Society, at Llandovery, in 1861; -and this is also the version which was reproduced by Principal Sir -J. Rhys, of Oxford, in his great work on Celtic Folk-lore. - -About five years ago, I came across several old persons in the parish -of Myddvai, who could repeat portions of the story, but nothing new, -so I give the version of Mr. Rees of Tonn, which is as follows:-- - -"When the eventful struggle made by the Princes of South Wales to -preserve the independency of their country was drawing to its close -in the twelfth century, there lived at Blaensawdde, near Llandeusant, -Carmarthenshire, a widowed woman, the relict of a farmer who had fallen -in those disastrous troubles. The widow had an only son to bring up, -but Providence smiled upon her, and despite her forlorn condition, -her live stock had so increased in course of time, that she could -not well depasture them upon her farm, so she sent a portion of her -cattle to graze on the adjoining Black Mountain, and their most -favourite place was near the small lake called Llyn y Fan Fach, -on the north-western side of the Carmarthenshire Fans. - -The son grew up to manhood, and was generally sent by his mother to -look after the cattle on the mountain. One day, in his peregrinations -along the margin of the lake, to his great astonishment, he beheld -sitting on the unruffled surface of the water, a lady, one of the most -beautiful creatures that mortal eyes ever beheld, her hair flowed -gracefully in ringlets over her shoulders, the tresses of which -she arranged with a comb, whilst the glassy surface of her watery -couch served for the purpose of a mirror, reflecting back her own -image. Suddenly she beheld the young man standing on the brink of -the lake, with his eyes riveted on her, and unconsciously offering -to herself the provision of barley bread and cheese with which he -had been provided when he left his home. - -"Bewildered by a feeling of love and admiration for the object -before him, he continued to hold out his hand towards the lady, who -imperceptibly glided near to him, but gently refused the offer of -his provisions. He attempted to touch her, but she eluded his grasp, -saying:-- - - - "Cras dy fara; - Nid hawdd fy nala. - - Hard baked is thy bread! - 'Tis not easy to catch me." - - -and immediately dived under the water and disappeared, leaving the -love-stricken youth to return home, a prey to disappointment and -regret that he had been unable to make further acquaintance with one, -in comparison with whom the whole of the fair maidens of Llanddeusant -and Myddfai whom he had ever seen were as nothing. - -"On his return home, the young man communicated to his mother the -extraordinary vision he had beheld. She advised him to take some -unbaked dough or "toes" the next time in his pocket, as there must -have been some spell connected with the hard-baked bread, or "Bara -cras," which prevented his catching the lady. - -"Next morning, before the sun had gilded with its rays the peaks of -the Fans, the young man was at the lake, not for the purpose of looking -after his mother's cattle, but seeking for the same enchanting vision -he had witnessed the day before; but all in vain did he anxiously -strain his eyeballs and glance over the surface of the lake, as only -the ripples occasioned by a stiff breeze met his view, and a cloud -hung heavily on the summits of the Fan, which imparted an additional -gloom to his already distracted mind. - -Hours passed on, the wind was hushed, and the clouds which had -enveloped the mountain had vanished into thin air before the powerful -beams of the sun, when the youth was startled by seeing some of his -mother's cattle on the precipitous side of the acclivity, nearly on the -opposite side of the lake. His duty impelled him to attempt to rescue -them from their perilous position, for which purpose he was hastening -away, when to his inexpressible delight, the object of his search again -appeared to him as before, and seemed much more beautiful than when he -first beheld her. His hand was again held out to her, full of unbaked -bread, which he offered with an urgent proffer of his heart also, and -vows of eternal attachment. All of which were refused by her saying:-- - - - "Llaith dy fara, - Ti ni fynna'." - - (Unbaked is thy bread! - I will not have thee.) - - -But the smiles that played upon her features as the lady vanished -beneath the waters raised within the young man a hope that forbade -him to despair by her refusal of him, and the recollection of which -cheered him on his way home. His aged parent was made acquainted -with his ill-success, and she suggested that his bread should next -time be but slightly baked, as most likely to please the mysterious -being of whom he had become enamoured. - -"Impelled by an irresistible feeling, the youth left his mother's -house early next morning, and with rapid steps he passed over the -mountain. He was soon near the margin of the lake, and with all the -impatience of an ardent lover did he wait with a feverish anxiety -for the reappearance of the mysterious lady. - -"The sheep and goats browsed on the precipitous sides of the Fan; -the cattle strayed amongst the rocks and large stones, some of which -were occasionally loosened from their beds and suddenly rolled down -into the lake; rain and sunshine alike came and passed away; but all -were unheeded by the youth, so wrapped up was he in looking for the -appearance of the lady. - -"The freshness of the early morning had disappeared before the sultry -rays of the noon-day sun, which in its turn was fast verging towards -the west as the evening was dying away and making room for the shades -of night, and hope had well nigh abated of beholding once more the -Lady of the Lake. The young man cast a sad and last farewell look -over the water, and to his astonishment, beheld several cows walking -along its surface. The sight of these animals caused hope to revive -that they would be followed by another object far more pleasing; nor -was he disappointed, for the maiden reappeared, and to his enraptured -sight, even lovelier than ever. She approached the land, and he rushed -to meet her in the water. A smile encouraged him to seize her hand; -neither did she refuse the moderately baked bread he offered her; and -after some persuasion she consented to become his bride, on condition -that they should only live together until she received from him three -blows without a cause, - - - "Tri ergyd diachos." - (Three causeless blows.) - - -and if he ever should happen to strike her three such blows she would -leave him for ever. To such conditions he readily consented and would -have consented to any other stipulation, had it been proposed, as he -was only intent on then securing such a lovely creature for his wife. - -"Thus the Lady of the Lake engaged to become the young man's wife, -and having loosened her hand for a moment she darted away and dived -into the lake. His chagrin and grief were such that he determined -to cast himself headlong into the deepest water, so as to end his -life in the element that had contained in its unfathomed depths the -only one for whom he cared to live on earth. As he was on the point -of committing this rash act, there emerged out of the lake two most -beautiful ladies, accompanied by a hoary-headed man of noble mien -and extraordinary stature, but having otherwise all the force and -strength of youth. This man addressed the almost bewildered youth in -accents calculated to soothe his troubled mind, saying that as he -proposed to marry one of his daughters, he consented to the union, -provided the young man could distinguish which of the two ladies -before him was the object of his affections. This was no easy task, -as the maidens were such perfect counterparts of each other that it -seemed quite impossible for him to choose his bride, and if perchance -he fixed upon the wrong one all would be for ever lost. - -"Whilst the young man narrowly scanned the two ladies, he could not -perceive the least difference betwixt the two, and was almost giving -up the task in despair, when one of them thrust her foot a slight -degree forward. The motion, simple as it was, did not escape the -observation of the youth, and he discovered a trifling variation in -the mode with which their sandals were tied. This at once put an end -to the dilemma, for he, who had on previous occasions been so taken -up with the general appearance of the Lady of the Lake, had also -noticed the beauty of her feet and ankles, and on now recognising -the peculiarity of her shoe-tie he boldly took hold of her hand. - -"'Thou hast chosen rightly,' said her father, 'be to her a kind and -faithful husband, and I will give her, as a dowry, as many sheep, -cattle, goats, and horses as she can count of each without heaving or -drawing in her breath. But remember, that if you prove unkind to her -at any time, and strike her three times without a cause, she shall -return to me, and shall bring all her stock back with her.'" - -Such was the verbal marriage settlement, to which the young man gladly -assented, and his bride was desired to count the number of sheep she -was to have. - -She immediately adopted the mode of counting by fives, thus:--one, -two, three, four, five--one, two, three, four, five; and as many times -as possible in rapid succession, till her breath was exhausted. The -same procession of reckoning had to determine the number of goat, -cattle, and horses respectively; and in an instant the full number -of each came out of the lake when called upon by the father. - -"The young couple were then married, by what ceremony was not stated, -and afterwards went to reside at a farm called Esgair Llaethy, -somewhat more than a mile from the Village of Myddfai, where they -lived in prosperity and happiness for several years, and became the -parents of three sons, who were beautiful children. - -"Once upon a time there was a christening to take place in the -neighbourhood, to which the parents were specially invited. When the -day arrived the wife appeared very reluctant to attend the christening, -alleging that the distance was too great for her to walk. Her husband -told her to fetch one of the horses which were grazing in an adjoining -field. 'I will,' said she, 'if you will bring me my gloves which -I left in our house.' He went to the house and returned with the -gloves, and finding that she had not gone for the horse jocularly -slapped her shoulder with one of them, saying, 'go! go!' (dos, dos), -when she reminded him of the understanding upon which she consented -to marry him:--That he was not to strike her without a cause; and -warned him to be more cautious for the future. - -"On another occasion, when they were together at a wedding in the midst -of the mirth and hilarity of the assembled guests, who had gathered -together from all the surrounding country, she burst into tears and -sobbed most piteously. Her husband touched her on her shoulder and -inquired the cause of her weeping: she said, 'Now people are entering -into trouble, and your troubles are likely to commence, as you have -the second time stricken me without a cause.' - -"Years passed on, and their children had grown up, and were -particularly clever young men. In the midst of so many worldly -blessings at home, the husband almost forgot that there remained -only one causeless blow to be given to destroy the whole of his -prosperity. Still he was watchful lest any trivial occurrence should -take place which his wife must regard as a breach of their marriage -contract. She told him, as her affection for him was unabated, to be -careful that he would not, through some inadvertence, give the last -and only blow, which, by an unalterable destiny over which she had -no control, would separate them for ever. - -"It, however, so happened that one day they were together at a funeral, -where, in the midst of the mourning and grief at the house of the -deceased, she appeared in the highest and gayest spirits, and indulged -in immoderate fits of laughter, which so shocked her husband that -he touched her, saying: 'Hush! hush! don't laugh.' She said that she -laughed 'because people when they die go out of trouble,' and rising -up she went out of the house, saying, 'The last blow has been struck, -our marriage contract is broken, and at an end! Farewell!' Then she -started off towards Esgair Llaethdy, where she called her cattle and -other stock together, each by name. The cattle she called thus:-- - - - Mu wlfrech, - Mu olfrech, gwynfrech, - Pedair cae tonn-frech, - Yr hen wynebwen. - A'r las Geigen, - Gyda'r Tarw gwyn - O lys y Brenin; - A'r llo du bach, - Sydd ar y bach, - Dere dithe, yn iach adre! - - Brindled cow, white speckled, - Spotted cow, bold freckled, - The four field sward mottled, - The old white-faced, - And the grey Geigen, - With the white Bull, - From the court of the King; - And the little black calf - Tho' suspended on the hook, - Come thou also, quite well home." - - -They all immediately obeyed the summons of their mistress. The -'little black calf,' although it had been slaughtered, became alive -again, and walked off with the rest of the stock at the command of -the lady. This happened in the spring of the year, and there were -from four oxen ploughing in one of the fields; to these she cried:-- - - - "Pedwar eidion glas sydd ar y maes, - Deuwch chwithau yn iach adre! - - The four grey oxen, that are on the field, - Come you also quite well home!" - - -Away the whole of the live stock went with the Lady across Myddfai -Mountain, towards the lake from whence they came, a distance of above -six miles, where they disappeared beneath its waters, leaving no trace -behind except a well-marked furrow, which was made by the plough the -oxen drew after them into the lake, and which remains to this day as -a testimony to the truth of this story. - -"What became of the affrighted ploughman--whether he was left on the -field when the oxen set off, or whether he followed them to the lake, -has not been handed down to tradition; neither has the fate of the -disconsolate and half-ruined husband been kept in remembrance. But of -the sons it is stated that they often wandered about the lake and its -vicinity, hoping that their mother might be permitted to visit the face -of the earth once more, as they had been apprised of her mysterious -origin, her first appearance to their father, and the untoward -circumstances which so unhappily deprived them of her maternal care. - -"In one of their rambles, at a place near Dol Howel, at the Mountain -Gate, still called 'Llidiad y Meddygon,' (The Physician's Gate), the -mother appeared suddenly, and accosted her eldest son, whose name -was Rhiwallon, and told him that his mission on earth was to be a -benefactor to mankind by relieving them from pain and misery, through -healing all manner of their diseases; for which purpose she furnished -him with a bag full of medical prescriptions and instructions for the -preservation of health. That by strict attention thereto he and his -family would become for many generations the most skilful physicians -in the country. Then, promising to meet him when her counsel was most -needed, she vanished. But on several occasions she met her sons near -the banks of the lake, and once she even accompanied them on their -return home as far as a place still called 'Pant-y-Meddygon,' (The -dingle of the Physicians) where she pointed out to them the various -plants and herbs which grew in the dingle, and revealed to them -their medicinal qualities or virtues; and the knowledge she imparted -to them, together with their unrivalled skill, soon caused them to -attain such celebrity that none ever possessed before them. And in -order that their knowledge should not be lost, they wisely committed -the same to writing for the benefit of mankind throughout all ages. - -And so ends the story of the Physicians of Myddfai, which had been -handed down from one generation to another, thus:-- - - - "Yr hen wr llwyd o'r cornel, - Gan ei dad a glywodd chwedel, - A chan ei dad fy glywodd yntau, - Ac ar ei ol mi gofiais innau." - - "The grey old man in the corner - Of his father heard a story, - Which from his father he had heard, - And after them I have remembered." - - -The Physicians of Myddfai were Rhiwallon and his sons, Cadwgan, -Gruffydd and Einion, who became Physicians to Rhys Gryg, Lord of -Llandovery and Dynefor Castles, who lived in the early part of the -thirteenth century. Rhys "gave them rank, lands, and privileges at -Myddfai for their maintenance in the practice of their art and science, -and the healing and benefit of those who should seek their help." - -The fame of the celebrated Physicians was soon established over the -whole country, and continued for centuries among their descendants; -and the celebrated Welsh Poet Dafydd ap Gwilym, who flourished in -the fourteenth century, says in one of his poems when alluding to -these physicians:-- - - - "Meddyg, nis gwnai modd y gwnaeth - Myddfai, o chai ddyn meddfaeth." - - (A Physician he would not make - As Myddfai made, if he had a mead fostered man.) - - -Mr. Rees says that "of the above lands bestowed upon the Meddygon, -there are two farms in the Myddfai parish still called "Llwyn Ifan -Feddyg," the Grove of Evan, the Physician, and "Llwyn Meredydd Feddyg" -(the Grove of Meredydd the Physician). Esgair Llaethdy, mentioned -in the foregoing legend, was formerly in the possession of the -above descendants, and so was Ty-newydd, near Myddfai, which was -purchased by Mr. Holford, of Cilgwyn, from the Rev. Charles Lloyd, -vicar of Llandefalle, Breconshire, who married a daughter of one of -the Meddygon, and had the living of Llandefalle from a Mr. Vaughan, -who presented him to the same out of gratitude, because Mr. Lloyd, -wife's father had cured him of a disease in the eye. As Mr. Lloyd -succeeded to the above living in 1748, and died in 1800, it is -probable that that skilful oculist was John Jones, who is mentioned -in the following inscription on a tombstone at present fixed against -the west end of Myddfai - - - HERE - Lieth the body of Mr. David Jones, of Mothvey, Surgeon, - who was an honest, charitable and skilful man, - He died September 14th, Anno Dom. 1719, aged 61. - - JOHN JONES, SURGEON, - - Eldest son of the said David Jones, departed this life the - 25th of November, 1739, in the 4th year of his Age, - and also lyes interred hereunder. - - -These appear to have been the last of the Physicians who practised at -Myddfai. The above John Jones resided for some time at Llandovery, -and was a very eminent surgeon. One of his descendants, named John -Lewis, lived at Cwmbran, Myddfai, at which place his great-grandson, -Mr. John Jones, now resides. - -"Dr. Morgan Owen, Bishop of Llandaff, who died at Glasallt, parish of -Myddfai, in 1645, was a descendant of the Meddygon, and an inheritor -of much of their landed property in that parish, the bulk of which -he bequeathed to his nephew, Morgan Owen, who died in 1667, and was -succeeded by his son Henry Owen; and at the decease of the last -of whose descendants, Roberts Lewis, Esqr., the estates became, -through the will of one of the family, the property of the late -D. A. S. Davies, Esqr., M.P., for Carmarthenshire. - -"Bishop Owen bequeathed to another nephew, Morgan ap Rees, son of -Rees ap John, a descendant of the Meddygon, the farm of Rhyblid, -and some other property. - -"Amongst other families who claim descent from the Physicians were -the Bowens of Cwmydw, Myddfai, and Jones of Dollgarreg and Penrhock, -in the same parish; the latter of whom are represented by Charles -Bishop, of Dollgarreg, Esqr., Clerk of the Peace for Carmarthenshire, -and Thomas Bishop, of Brecon, Esqr. - -"Rees Williams, of Myddfai, is recorded as one of the Meddygon. His -great grandson was the late Rice Williams, M.D., of Aberystwyth, -who died May l6th, 1842, aged 85, and appears to have been the last, -although not the least eminent of the Physicians descended from the -mysterious Lady of Llyn y Fan." - -Sir John Rhys mentions of another Dr. Williams also a descendant of -the Lady of Llyn y Fan, who was living at Aberystwyth in 1881. - -It seems that there are several families in different parts of -Wales who are said to have fairy blood coursing through their veins; -and the noble Lady Bulkeley, who lived in North Wales, three or four -generations was supposed to be descended from a Fairy lady who married -a mortal. - -There is also a tradition that after the disappearance of the lady -the disconsolate husband and his friends set to work to drain the -lake in order to get at her, if possible; but as they were making -a cutting into the bank a huge monster emerged from the water and -threatened to drown the town of Brecon for disturbing him, saying:-- - - - "Os na cha'i lonydd yn fy lle - Mi fodda, dre Byrhonddu!" - - (If I get no quiet in my place - I shall drown the town of Brecon). - - -so they had to give up draining the lake. - -There are extant several versions of the Myddfai Legend. In the -"Cambro Briton" Vol. II., pages 313-315, we have a version in which -it is stated that the farmer used to go near the lake and see some -lambs he had bought at a fair, and that wherever he so went three -most beautiful maidens appeared to him from the lake. But whenever -he tried to catch them they ran away into the lake, saying:-- - - - "Cras dy fara, - Anhawdd ein dala." - - (For thee who eatest baked bread - It is difficult to catch us.) - - -But one day a piece of moist bread came floating ashore, which -he ate, and the next day he had a chat with the maidens. After a -little conversation he proposed marriage to one of them, to which -she consented, provided he could distinguish her from her sisters -the day after. Then the story goes on very similar to Mr. Rees' -version which I have already given in full. - -In another beautiful version of the story which is given by Sikes in -his "British Goblins," it is said that an enamoured farmer had heard -of the lake maiden, who rowed up and down the lake in a golden boat, -with a golden oar. Her hair was long and yellow, and her face was -pale and melancholy. In his desire to see this wondrous beauty, the -farmer went on New Year's Eve to the edge of the lake and in silence, -awaited the coming of the first hour of the new year. It came, and -there in truth was the maiden in her golden boat, rowing softly to and -fro. Fascinated, he stood for hours beholding her, until the stars -faded out of the sky, the moon sank behind the rocks, and the cold -gray dawn drew nigh; and then the maiden began to vanish from his -sight. Wild with passion, he cried aloud to the retreating vision, -"Stay! Stay! Be my wife." But the maiden only uttered a faint cry, -and was gone. Night after night the young farmer haunted the shores -of the lake, but the maiden returned no more. He became negligent -of his person; his once robust form grew thin and wan; his face -was a map of melancholy and despair. He went one day to consult -a soothsayer who dwelt on the mountain, and this grave personage -advised him to besiege the damsel's heart with gifts of bread and -cheese. This counsel commending itself strongly to his Welsh way of -thinking, the former set out upon an assiduous course of casting his -bread upon the waters--accompanied by cheese. He began on Mid-summer -Eve by going to the lake and dropping therein a large cheese and a -loaf of bread. Night after night he continued to throw in loaves and -cheeses, but nothing appeared in answer to his sacrifices. His hopes -were set, however, on the approaching New Year's Eve. The momentous -night arrived at last. Clad in his best array, and armed with seven -white loaves and his biggest and handsomest cheese, he set out once -more for the lake. Then he waited till mid-night, and then slowly -and solemnly dropped the seven loaves into the water, and with a -sigh sent the cheese to keep them company. His persistence was at -length rewarded. The Lake Lady came in her skiff to where he was, -and gracefully stepped ashore. The story then proceeds as in the -other versions. - -It was once a custom for people to go up to the lake on the first -Sunday in August, when its water was supposed to be boiling; and -Bishop Edwards, of St. Asaph, informed Professor Sir J. Rhys, that -"an old woman from Myddfai, who is now, that is to say in January, -1881, about eighty years of age, tells me that she remembers thousands -and thousands of people visiting the Lake of Little Fan on the first -Sunday or Monday in August, and when she was young she often heard -old men declare that at that time a commotion took place in the lake, -and that its waters boiled, which was taken to herald the approach -of the Lake Lady and her oxen."--Celtic Folk Lore--page 15. - - - -A STUDENT WHO HAD FAILED TO PASS HIS EXAMINATIONS TAUGHT BY THE -FAIRIES. - -Mr. John Jones, of Pontrhydfendigaid, an old man of over 95 years of -age, related to me the following story about seven years ago:-- - -In the 18th century there was a certain clergyman in North -Cardiganshire, who was supposed to have been educated by the Fairies. - -When he was a boy, his parents were very ambitious to see their son a -clergyman, but, unfortunately, the lad either neglected his studies, -or was a regular "blockhead," and always failed to pass his college -examinations, to the great regret and disappointment of his father -and mother. One day, however, when the boy was roaming about the -country (near the banks of the river Rheidol, as far as Mr. Jones -could remember the story), he suddenly met three boys, or rather -three little men who were not bigger than boys, who took him into -some cave and led him along a subterranean passage into the land -of the Fairies. The Fairies proved very kind to him, and when they -heard his story, they undertook to help him to learn his lessons, -so that in course of time he acquired a considerable knowledge of -the classics. After spending a certain number of years very happily -in Fairy Land, the young man returned to the world of mortals, and -to the great joy of his parents passed his examinations now without -the least difficulty, and in due time was ordained by the bishop, and -became a vicar of a parish north of Aberystwyth, either Llanfihangel, -Llancynfelin, or Eglwysfach. - -This tale seems to be a version of the Story of Elidorus, which -Giraldus Cambrensis heard in the neighbourhood of Swansea during his -"Itinerary through Wales," with Archbishop Baldwin in the year 1188, -which is as follows:-- - -"A short time before our days, a circumstance worthy of note occurred -in these parts, which Elidorus, a priest, most strenuously affirmed -had befallen himself. When a youth of twelve years, and learning his -letters, since, as Solomon says, "The root of learning is bitter, -although the fruit is sweet," in order to avoid the discipline and -frequent stripes inflicted on him by his perceptor, he ran away, and -concealed himself under the hollow bank of a river. After fasting -in that situation for two days, two little men of pigmy stature -appeared to him, saying, 'If you come with us, we will lead you into -a country full of delights and sports.' "Assenting, and rising up, he -followed his guides through a path, at first subterraneous and dark, -into a most beautiful country, adorned with rivers and meadows, woods -and plains, but obscure, and not illuminated with the full light of -the sun." All the days were cloudy, and the nights extremely dark, -on account of the absence of the moon and stars. The boy was brought -before the King, and introduced to him in the presence of the court; -who, having examined him for a long time, delivered him to his -son, who was then a, boy. "These men were of the smallest stature, -but very well proportioned in their make; they were all of a fair -complexion, with luxuriant hair falling over their shoulders like that -of women. "They had horses and greyhounds adapted to their size. "They -neither ate flesh nor fish, but lived on milk diet, made up into messes -with saffron. "They never took an oath, for they detested nothing so -much as lies. "As often as they returned from our upper hemisphere, -they reprobated our ambition, infidelities, and inconstances; they -had no form of public worship, being strict lovers and reverers, as -it seemed, of truth. "The boy frequently returned to our hemisphere, -sometimes by the way he had first gone, sometimes by another; at first -in company with other persons, and afterwards alone, and made himself -known only to his mother, declaring to her the manners, nature and -state of that people. "Being desired by her to bring a present of -gold, with which that region abounded, he stole, while at play with -the King's son, the golden ball with which he used to divert himself, -and brought it to his mother in great haste; and when he reached the -door of his father's house, but not unpursued, and was entering it in -a great hurry, his foot stumbled on the threshold, and falling down -into the room where his mother was sitting, the two pigmies seized -the ball which had dropped from his hand, and departed, showing the -boy every mark of contempt and derision. "On recovering from his fall, -confounded with shame, and execrating the evil counsel of his mother, -he returned by the usual track to the subterraneous road, but found no -appearance of any passage, though he searched for it on the banks of -the river for nearly the space of a year. "But since those calamities -are often alleviated by time, which reason cannot mitigate, and length -of time alone blunts the edge of our afflictions, and puts an end -to many evils, the youth having been brought back by his friends and -mother, and restored to his right way of thinking, and to his learning, -in process of time attained the rank of priesthood. "Whenever David -II., bishop of St. David's, talked to him in his advanced state of -life concerning this event, he could never relate the particulars -without shedding tears. "He had made himself acquainted with the -language of that nation, the words of which, in his younger days he -used to recite, which, as the bishop often had informed me, were very -conformable to the Greek idiom. "When they asked for water, they said -'ydor ydorum,' which meant bring water, for 'ydor' in their language, -as well as in Greek, signifies water, from whence vessels for water -are caller 'udriai'; and 'Dur' (dwr) also, in the British language -(Welsh) signifies water. - -"When they wanted salt they said, 'Halgein ydorum,' bring salt: salt -is called 'al' in Greek, and 'halen' in British, for that language, -from the length of time which the Britons (then called Trojans, and -afterwards Britons, from Brito, their leader), remained in Greece -after the destruction of Troy, became in many instances, similar -to the Greek.... "If a scrupulous inquirer asks my opinion of the -relation here inserted, I answer with Augustine, 'that the Divine -miracles are to be admired, not discussed.' "Nor do I, by denial, -place bounds to the Divine Power, nor, by assent, insolently extend -what cannot be extended. "But I always call to mind the saying -of St. Jerome: 'You will find,' says he, 'Many things incredible -and improbable, which nevertheless are true; for nature cannot in -any respect prevail against the Lord of nature.' "These things, -therefore, and similar contingencies, I should place, according to -the opinion of Augustine, among those particulars which are neither -to be affirmed, nor too positively denied." The above account is of -the greatest interest, as it was written 700 years ago, and it also -gives the opinion of one who lived in those days, of "these things, -and similar contingencies." It is possible that many of the Fairy -Tales throughout the Kingdom, if not throughout the whole of Europe, -have been founded on the story of Elidorus, the priest. - - - -THE SHEPHERD BOY AND THE FAIRIES OF FRENIFAWR. - -The following story appeared in the "Cambrian Superstitions," by -W. Howells, a little book published at Tipton in 1831:-- - -A stripling, of twelve or more years of age, was tending his father's -sheep on a small mountain called Frenifach, it was a fine morning -in June, and he had just driven the sheep to their pasture for the -day, when he looked at the top of Frenifawr to observe which way the -morning fog declined, that he might judge the weather. - -If the fog on Frenifawr (a high mountain in Pembrokeshire, 10 miles -from Cardigan) declines to the Pembrokeshire side, the peasants -prognosticated fair, if on the Cardiganshire side foul weather. - -To his surprise the boy saw what seemed a party of soldiers sedulously -engaged in some urgent affair; knowing there could not possibly be -soldiers there so early, he with some alarm, looked more minutely, -and perceived they were too diminutive for men; yet, thinking his -eyesight had deceived him, he went to a more elevated situation, and -discovered that they were the "Tylwyth Teg" (Fairies) dancing. He had -often heard of them and had seen their rings in the neighbourhood, -but not till then had the pleasure of seeing them; he once thought of -running home to acquaint his parents, but judging they would be gone -before he returned, and he be charged with a falsehood, he resolved -to go up to them, for he had been informed that the fairies were -very harmless, and would only injure those who attempted to discover -their habitation, so by degrees he arrived within a short distance of -the ring, where he remained some time observing their motions. They -were of both sexes, and he described them as being the most handsome -people he had ever seen, they also appeared enchantingly cheerful, -as if inviting him to enter and join the dance. - -They did not all dance, but those who did, never deviated from the -circle; some ran after one another with surprising swiftness, and -others (females), rode on small white horses of the most beautiful -form. Their dresses, although indescribably elegant, and surpassing -the sun in radiance, varied in colour, some being white, others -scarlet, and the males wore a red triplet cap, but the females some -light head-dress, which waved fantastically with the slightest -breeze. He had not remained long ere they made signs for him to -enter, and he gradually drew nearer till at length he ventured to -place one foot in the circle, which he had no sooner done than his -ears were charmed with the most melodious music, which moved him in -the transport of the moment, to enter altogether; he was no sooner -in than he found himself in a most elegant palace, glittering with -gold and pearls; here he enjoyed every variety of pleasure, and -had the liberty to range whatever he pleased, accompanied by kind -attendants beautiful as the howries; and instead of "Tatws a llaeth," -buttermilk, or fresh boiled flummery, here were the choicest viands -and the purest wine in abundance, brought in golden goblets inlaid -with gems, sometimes by invisible agency, and at other times by the -most beautiful virgins. He had only one restriction, and that was -not to drink, upon any consideration (or it was told him it would -be fatal to his happiness), from a certain well in the middle of -the garden, which contained golden fishes and others of various -colours. New objects daily attracts his attention, and new faces -presented themselves to his view, surpassing, if possible those he -had seen before; new pastimes were continually invented to charm him, -but one day his hopes were blasted, and all his happiness fled in an -instant. Possessing that innate curiosity nearly common to all, he, -like our first parents transgressed, and plunged his hand into the -well, when the fishes instantly disappeared, and, putting the water to -his mouth, he heard a confused shriek run through the garden: in an -instant after, the palace and all vanished away, and to his horror, -he found himself in the very place where he first entered the ring, -and the scenes around, with the same sheep grazing, were just as he -had left them. He could scarcely believe himself, and hoped again, -that he was in the magnificent fairy castle; he looked around, but the -scene was too well known; his senses soon returned to their proper -action, and his memory proved that, although he thought he had been -absent so many years, he had been so only so many minutes. - -This tale bears a strange contrast as regards the time the boy thought -he was away, to most of our fairy tales which represent those who -had the pleasure of being with fairies as imagining they had been -dancing only a few minutes, when they had been away for years. - - - -FAIRY MUSIC AND DANCING. - -The Rev. Z. M. Davies, Vicar of Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, told me that -he once heard an old man in the Vale of Aeron saying that when he was -out late one night, he heard the Fairies singing, and that their music -was so delightful that he listened to them for hours; and we find from -many of the Fairy Tales that one of their chief occupation in their -nightly revels was singing and dancing, and that they often succeeded -in inducing men through the allurements of music to join their ranks. - -The beautiful old Welsh Air, "Toriad y Dydd" (Dawn of Day) is supposed -to have been composed by the Fairies, and which they chanted just as -the pale light in the east announced the approach of returning day. - -The following "Can y Tylwyth Teg," or the Fairies' song, was well-known -once in Wales, and these mythical beings were believed to chant it -whilst dancing merrily on summer nights. - - - "O'r glaswellt glan a'r rhedyn mān, - Gyfeillion dyddan, dewch. - 'E ddarfu'r nawn--mae'r lloer yn llawn, - Y nos yn gyflawn gewch; - O'r chwarau sydd ar dwyn y dydd, - I'r Dolydd awn ar daith, - Nyni sydd lon, ni chaiff gerbron, - Farwolion ran o'n gwaith. - - "Canu, canu, drwy y nos, - Dawnsio, dawnsio, ar waen y rhos, - Yn ngoleuni'r lleuad dlos: - Hapus ydym ni! - Pawb o honom sydd yn llon, - Heb un gofid dan ei fron: - Canu, dawnsio, ar y ton-- - Dedwydd ydym ni!" - - "From grasses bright, and bracken light, - Come, sweet companions, come, - The full moon shines, the sun declines. - We'll spend the night in fun; - With playful mirth, we'll trip the earth, - To meadows green let's go - We're full of joy, without alloy, - Which mortals may not know. - - "Singing, singing, through the night, - Dancing, dancing, with our might, - Where the moon the moor doth light; - Happy ever we! - One and all of merry mein, - Without sorrow are we seen, - Singing, dancing, on the green: - Gladsome ever we!" - - - -MR. EDWARD JONES, PENCWM, LLANRHYSTID, AND THE FAIRIES. - -Mr. Edward Jones, Pencwm, who only died about 8 years ago, was coming -home from Lampeter one moonlight night, and when he came to the top -of Trichrug hill, he saw the Fairies dancing in a field close to -the road. When he was within a certain distance of them he felt as -if his feet were almost lifted up from the ground, and his body so -light that he could almost stand in the air. - -My informant, Mr. D. Morgan, Carpenter, Llanrhystid, added that -Mr. Jones was an intelligent and educated man, who had travelled, -and was far from being superstitious. - - - -A FARM SERVANT NEAR TREGARON, WHO SPENT A YEAR AND A DAY WITH THE -FAIRIES. - -The following story appeared in "Cymru" for May, 1893, a Welsh -Magazine, edited by Owen M. Edwards, M.A. It was written in Welsh by -the late eminent Folk-Lorist, Mr. D. Lledrod Davies, and I translate -it:-- - -The farm-house called "Allt Ddu," is situated about half-way between -Pont Rhyd Fendigaid and Tregaron. - -It is said that two servant men went out of the house one evening in -search for the cattle, which had gone astray. One of the men proceeded -in one direction and the other in another way, so as to be more sure -of finding the animals. - -But after wandering about for hours, one of the two servants came home, -but whether he found the cattle or not it is not stated. However, -he reached home safely; but the other man, his fellow-servant, came -not, and after anxiously expecting him till a late hour of night, he -began to feel very uneasy concerning his safety, fearing that the lad -had accidentally fallen into some of the pits of the Gors Goch. Next -morning came, but the servant came not home; and in vain did they long -to hear the sound of his footsteps approaching the house as before. - -Then inquiries were made about him, and people went to try and find -him, but all in vain. Days past and even weeks without hearing anything -about him, till at last his relations began to suspect that his fellow -servant had murdered him during the night they were out looking for -the cattle. So the servant was summoned before a Court of Justice, -and accused of having murdered his fellow-servant on a certain night; -but the young man, pleaded not guilty in a most decided manner, and -as no witness could be found against him, the case was dismissed; -but many people were still very suspicious of him, and the loss of his -fellow servant continued to be a black spot on his character. However, -it was decided at last to go to the "dyn hysbys," (a wise man, or a -conjurer)--a man of great repute in former days,--to consult with him, -and to set the case before him exactly as it had happened. After going -and explaining everything to the conjurer concerning the lost servant, -he informed them that the young man was still alive. - -He then told them to go to a certain place at the same time of night, -one year and a day from the time the man was lost, and that they -should then and there see him. One year and a day at last passed away, -and at that hour the family, and especially the servant, traced their -steps to the particular spot pointed out by the conjuror, and there, -to their great surprise, whom should they see within the Fairy Circle, -dancing as merrily as any, but the lost servant. And now, according to -the directions which had been given by the conjurer, the other servant -took hold of the collar of the coat of the one who was dancing, and -dragged him out of the circle, saying to him--"Where hast thou been -lad?" But the lad's first words were, "Did you find the cattle?" for -he thought that he had been with the Fairies only for a few minutes. - -Then he explained how he entered the Fairy Circle, and how he was -seized by them, but found their company so delightful that he thought -he had been with them only for a few minutes. - - - -THE SERVANT GIRL WHO WAS LOST IN THE FAIRY CIRCLE. - -The following is another of the tales recorded in "Ystraeon y Gwyll," -by the late D. Lledrod Davies:-- - -"There lived in an old farm house on the banks of the Teivy, a -respectable family, and in order to carry on the work of the farm -successfully, they kept men servants and maid servants. - -One afternoon, a servant-man and a servant girl went out to look -for the cows, but as they were both crossing a marshy flat, the man -suddenly missed the girl, and after much shouting and searching, -no sound of her voice could be heard replying. He then took home -the cows, and informed the family of the mysterious disappearance of -the servant maid which took place so suddenly. As the Fairies were -suspected, it was resolved to go to the dyn hysbys (wise man). - -To him they went, and he informed them that the girl was with the -Fairies, and that they could get her back from them, by being careful -to go to a certain spot at the proper time at the end of a year -and a day. They did as they were directed by the "wise man," and to -their great surprise, found the maid among the fairies dancing and -singing with them, and seemed as happy as a fish in the water. Then -they successfully drew her out of the ring, and they took her home -safely. The master had been told by the "Wise Man" that the girl -was not to be touched by iron, or she would disappear at once after -getting her out of the ring. - -One day, however, when her master was about to start from home, -and whilst he was getting the horse and cart ready, he asked the -girl to assist him, which she did willingly; but as he was bridling -the horse, the bit touched the girl and she disappeared instantly, -and was never seen from that day forth. - - - -THE LITTLE SERVANT BOY AND THE BARM. - -The following story was related to me by Mrs. Davies, Bryneithyn, -in the neighbourhood of Ystrad Meurig, where the tale is well-known:-- - -An old woman known as Nancy of Pen Gwndwn, kept a little boy servant, -whom she sent one evening to the neighbouring village with a bottle to -get some barm for her, and as he had to pass through a field which was -frequented by the Fairies, he was told by the old woman to keep away -from their circles or rings. The boy reached the village, got the barm, -and in due time proceeded on his homeward journey, but did not reach -home. Search was made for him in all directions, and people were able -to trace his steps as far as the Fairies' field, but no further, so -it was evident that the Fairies had seized him. At the end of a year -and a day, however, to the great surprise of everybody, the boy came -home, entered the house, with the bottle of barm in hand, and handed -it to the old woman as if nothing unusual had happened. The boy was -greatly surprised when he was told that he had been away for twelve -months and a day. Then he related how he fell in with the Fairies, -whom he found such nice little men, and whose society was so agreeable -that he lingered among them, as he thought, for a few minutes. - - - -A CARMARTHENSHIRE MAIDEN WHO GOT INTO A FAIRY RING. - -In the parish of Cynwil Elvet, there is a farmhouse called Fos Anna, -a place which was known to the writer of this book once when a boy:-- - -A servant girl at this farm once went rather late in the evening -to look for the cows, and, unfortunately, got into the Fairy ring, -and although she had been a long period without food she did not -feel hungry. - - - -IAGO AP DEWI AMONG THE FAIRIES SEVEN YEARS. - -A Carmarthenshire tradition names among those who lived for a period -among the Fairies no less a person than the translator into Welsh of -Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." - -"He was called Iago ap Dewi, and lived in the parish of Llanllawddog, -in a cottage situated in the wood of Llangwyly. He was absent from -the neighbourhood for a long period, and the universal belief among -the peasantry was that Iago got out of bed one night to gaze on the -starry sky, as he was accustomed (astrology being one of his favourite -studies), and whilst thus occupied the Fairies, passing by, carried -him away, and he dwelt with them seven years. Upon his return, he -was questioned by many as to where he had been, but always avoiding -giving them a reply." - -A district famous for Fairies long ago was the parish of Llanedi -in Carmarthenshire, and Mr. Williams, says in his "Llen Gwerin Sir -Gaerfyrddin," that an intelligent old man in that parish, named John -Rees, gave him the following story of - - - -A MAN WHO WAS FOUND AMONG THE FAIRIES AT CAE CEFN PANTYDWR. - -This story which is similar to some of the tales I have already given -as located in other parts is as follows:-- - -A certain man of Llanedi, on one occasion long ago, went away to -another neighbourhood, leading by the "penwast" (collar) a very -wild and unmanageable horse; and in order to be sure not to lose -his hold of the animal, the man tied the end of the collar round -the middle. So both man and horse went together and got lost. After -much searching the horse was found without the collar, but nothing -was heard of the man. After giving up searching for him as hopeless, -they at last consulted a "Dyn Hysbys," (a conjuror or a wise man). The -wise man directed them to go on a certain night into a field known -as Cae Cefn Pantydwr, about forty yards from the road where the -Fairies could be seen dancing, and the lost man among them, with the -"penwast" still around his waist, which would enable them to know him; -and the way to get him out of the Fairy Ring was to watch him coming -round in the dance, and take hold of the collar when an opportunity -offered itself, and drag the man out boldly. They did so, and the -man was rescued. Ever since then people dreaded going to that field -after dark, especially children. - -In some parts of Carmarthenshire, Fairy Rings are known as "Rings -y Gwr Drwg" (the rings of the Old Gentleman), suggesting that the -Fairies had some connection with the evil one. - - - -SON OF LLECH Y DERWYDD AND THE FAIRIES. - -The writer of the following tale was the late Rev. Benjamin Williams -(Gwynionydd), an eminent antiquarian, Folk-Lorist, and a bard, and -it is to be found in Welsh in Y Brython, vol. III., page 460. It is -evident that the scene of the story was West or Mid-Wales. Mr. Williams -heard the tale from old people who believed in the truth of it:-- - -"Yr oedd mab Llech y Derwydd yn unig blentyn ei rieni, ac hefyd yn -etifedd y tyddyn. Yr oedd felly yn anwyl, ie, yn ddau lygad ei dad -a'i fam. - -"Yr oedd y pen gwas a mab y ty yn gyfeillion mynwesol iawn, fel dau -frawd, ie, fel gyfeilliaid. Gan fod y mab a'r gwas y fath gyfeillion, -byddai gwraig y ty bob amser yn darpar dillad i'r gwas yr un peth yn -hollol ag i'r mab. Cwympodd y ddau gyfaill mewn serch a dwy ddynes -ieuainc, brydferth, ac uchel eu parch yn yr ardal, a mawr oedd y -boddineb yn Llech y Derwydd; ac yn fuan ymunodd y ddau bar mewn -glan briodas, a mawr fu y rhialtwch ar yr amser. Cafodd y gwas le -cyfleus i fyw ar dir Llech y Derwydd. Yn mhen tua haner blwyddyn ar -ol priodi o'r mab, aeth ei gyfaill ac yntau allan i hela; enciliodd -y deiliad i ryw gilfach lawn o anialwch, i edrych am helwriaeth; a -dychwelodd yn y man at ei gyfaill, ond erbyn dyfod yno, nid oedd modd -gweled y mab yn un man. Parhaodd i edrych o gwmpas am dro gan waeddi -a chwibanu, ond dim un arwydd am ei gyfaill. Yn mhen tro aeth adref -i Llech y Derwydd, gan ddysgwyl ei weled yno; ond ni wyddai neb ddim -am dano. Mawr oedd y gofid yn y teulu drwy y nos; ac erbyn dranoeth -yr oedd eu pryder yn llawer mwy. Aethpwyd i weled y fan lle y gwelodd -ei gyfaill ef olaf. Wylai ei fam a'i wraig am y gwaethaf. Yr oedd y -tad dipyn yn well na'i wraig a'i fam, ond edrychai yntau fel yn haner -gwallgof. Edrychwyd ar y fan olaf y gwelodd y deiliad ef, ac er eu -mawr syndod a'u gofid, canfyddasent gylch y Tylwyth Teg gerllaw y fan, -a chofiodd y deiliad yn y man iddo glywed swn peroriaeth hudoliaethus -iawn rywle ar y pryd. Penderfynwyd ar unwaith iddo fod mor anffodus -a myned i gylch y Tylwyth, a chael ei gludo ymaith na wyddid i ba le. - -"Aeth wythnosau a misoedd gofidus heibio, a ganwyd mab i fab Llech -y Derwydd; ond nid oedd y tad ieuanc yno i gael gweled ei blentyn, -ac yr oedd hyny yn ofidus iawn gan yr hen bobl. Beth bynag, daeth y -dyn bach i fyny yr un ddelw a'i dad, fel pe buasai wedi ei arlunio; a -mawr ydoedd yng ngolwg ei daid a'i nain. Efe oedd pobpeth yno. Tyfodd -i oedran gwr, a phriododd a merch landeg yn y gymydogaeth; ond nid -oedd gair da i'r tylwyth eu bod yn bobl hawddgar. - -"Bu farw yr hen bobl, a bu farw y ferch-yng-nghyfraith hefyd. Ar -ryw brydnawn gwyntog, ym mis Hydref, gwelai teulu Llech y Derwydd -henafgwr tal, teneu, a'i farf a'i wallt fel yr eira, yr hwn a dybient -ydoedd Iddew, yn dynesu yn araf araf at y ty. Hylldremiai y morwynion -drwy y ffenestr, a chwarddai y feistress am ben yr 'hen Iddew,' gan -godi y plant un ar ol y llall i'w weled yn dyfod. Daeth at y drws, -a daeth i mewn hefyd yn lled eofn, gan ofyn am ei rieni. Atebai -y wraig ef yn daeog, a choeglyd anghyffredin, gan ddywedyd, 'Beth -oedd yr hen Iddew meddw yn dyfod yno,' oblegid tybient ei fod wedi -yfed, onid e ni fuasai yn siarad felly. Edrychai yr hen wr yn syn a -phryderus iawn ar bob peth yn y ty, gan synu llawer; ond ar y plant -bychain ar hyd y llawr y sylwai fwyaf. Edrychai yn llawn siomedigaeth -a gofid. Dywedodd yr hanes i gyd, iddo fod allan yn hela ddoe, a'i fod -yn awr yn dychwelyd. Dywedodd y wraig iddi glywed chwedl am dad ei gwr -flynyddau cyn ei geni, ei fod wedi myned ar goll wrth hela; ond fod -ei thad yn dywedyd wrthi nad gwir hyny, mai ei ladd a gafodd. Aeth y -wraig yn anystywallt, ac yn llwyr o'i chof eisiau fod yr hen 'Iddew' yn -myned allan. Cyffrodd yr hen wr, a dywedai mai efe ydoedd perchen y ty, -ac y byddai raid iddo gael ei hawl. Aeth allan i weled ei feddianau, -ac yn fuan i dy y deiliad. Er ei syndod, yr oedd pethau wedi newid -yn fawr yno. Ar ol ymddiddan am dro a hen wr oedranus wrth y tan, -edrychai y naill fwy fwy ar y llall. Dywedai yr hen wr beth fu tynged -ei ben gyfaill, mab Llech y Derwydd. Siaradent yn bwyllog am bethau -mebyd, ond yr oedd y cyfan fel breuddwyd. Beth bynag, penderfynodd -yr hen wr yn y cornel mai ei hen gyfaill, mab Llech y Derwydd, -oedd yr ymwelydd, wedi dychwelyd o wlad y Tylwyth Teg, ar ol bod -yno haner can' mlynedd. Credodd yr hen wr a'r farf wen ei dynged, -a mawr y siarad a'r holi fu gan y naill y llall am oriau lawer. - -"Dywedai fod gwr Llech y Derwydd y diwrnod hwnw oddi cartref. Cafwyd -gan yr hen ymwelydd fwyta bwyd; ond er mawr fraw, syrthiodd y bwytawr -yn farw yn y fan. Nid oes hanes fod trengholiad wedi bod ar y corff; -ond dywedai y chwedl mae yr achos oedd, iddo fwyta bwyd ar ol bod yn -myd y Tylwyth Teg cyhyd. Mynodd ei hen gyfaill weled ei gladdu yn ochr -ei deidiau. Bu melldith fyth, hyd y silcyn ach, yn Llech y Derwydd, -o blegid sarugrwydd y wraig i'w thad-yng-nghyfraith, nes gwerthu y -lle naw gwaith." - - -The above tale translated into English reads as follows:-- - -"The son of Llech y Derwydd was the only child of his parents, and -also the heir to the farm. He was, therefore, very dear to his father -and mother, yea, he was as the very light of their eyes. The son and -the head servant man were more than bosom friends, they were like two -brothers, or rather twins. As the son and the servant were such close -friends, the farmer's wife was in the habit of clothing them exactly -alike. The two friends fell in love with two young handsome women who -were highly respected in the neighbourhood. This event gave the old -people great satisfaction, and ere long the two couples were joined -in holy wedlock, and great was the merry-making on the occasion. The -servant man obtained a convenient place to live in on the grounds of -Llech y Derwydd. - -"About six months after the marriage of the son, he and the servant -man went out to hunt. The servant penetrated to a ravine filled with -brushwood to look for game, and presently returned to his friend, but -by the time he came back the son was nowhere to be seen. He continued -awhile looking about for his absent friend, shouting and whistling -to attract his attention, but there was no answer to his calls. By -and by he went home to Llech y Derwydd, expecting to find him there, -but no one knew anything about him. Great was the grief of the family -throughout the night, but it was even greater next day. They went to -inspect the place where the son had last been seen. His mother and his -wife wept bitterly, but the father had greater control over himself, -still he appeared as half mad. They inspected the place where the -servant man had last seen his friend, and, to their great surprise -and sorrow, observed a Fairy ring close by the spot, and the servant -recollected that he had heard seductive music somewhere about the -time that he parted with his friend. - -"They came to the conclusion at once that the man had been so -unfortunate as to enter the Fairy ring, and they conjectured that he -had been transported no one knew where. Weary weeks and months passed -away, and a son was born to the absent man. - -"The little one grew up the very image of his father, and very -precious was he to his grandfather and grandmother. In fact, he was -everything to them. He grew up to man's estate and married a pretty -girl in the neighbourhood, but her people had not the reputation of -being kind-hearted. The old folks died, and also their daughter-in-law. - -"One windy afternoon in the month of October, the family of Llech y -Derwydd saw a tall thin old man with beard and hair as white as snow, -who they thought was a Jew approaching slowly, very slowly, towards -the house. The servant girls stared mockingly through the window -at him, and their mistress laughed unfeelingly at the 'old Jew,' -and lifted the children up, one after the other, to get a sight of -him as he neared the house. - -"He came to the door, and entered the house boldly enough, and -inquired after his parents. The mistress answered him in a surly and -unusually contemptuous manner and wished to know 'What the drunken -old Jew wanted there,' for they thought he must have been drinking -or he would never have spoken in the way he did. The old man looked -at everything in the house with surprise and bewilderment, but the -little children about the floor took his attention more than anything -else. His looks betrayed sorrow and deep disappointment. He related -his whole history, that yesterday he had gone out to hunt, and that -now he had returned. The mistress told him that she had heard a story -about her husband's father, which occurred before she was born, that -he had been lost whilst hunting, but that her father had told her that -the story was not true, but that he had been killed. The woman became -uneasy and angry that the old 'Jew' did not depart. The old man was -roused, and said that the house was his, and that he would have his -rights. He went to inspect his possessions, and shortly afterwards -directed his steps to the servant's house. To his surprise he saw that -things were greatly changed. After conversing awhile with an aged man -who sat by the fire, they carefully looked each other in the face, -and the old man by the fire related the sad history of his lost friend, -the son of Llech y Derwydd. - -"They conversed together deliberately on the events of their youth, -but all seemed like a dream. However, the old man in the corner came to -the conclusion that his visitor was his old friend, the son of Llech y -Derwydd, returned from the land of the Fairies, after spending there -fifty years. - -"The old man with the white beard believed the story related by his -friend, and long was the talk and many were the questions which the one -gave to the other. The visitor was informed that the master of Llech y -Derwydd was from home that day, and he was persuaded to eat some food; -but to the horror of all, when he had done so, he instantly fell down -dead. We are not informed that an inquest was held over the body; but -the tale relates that the cause of the man's sudden death was that he -ate food after having been so long in the land of the Fairies. His old -friend insisted on the dead man being buried with his ancestors. The -rudeness of the mistress of Llech y Derwydd to her father-in-law -brought a curse upon the place and family, 'hyd y silcyn ach,' and -her offence was not expiated until the farm had been sold nine times." - - - -TAFFY AP SION OF PENCADER AMONG THE FAIRIES. - -The following Fairy Legend appeared in "British Goblins," page 75:-- - -Taffy ap Sion, the shoemaker's son, living near Pencader, -Carmarthenshire, was a lad who many years ago entered the Fairy circle -on the mountain hard by there, and having danced a few minutes as -he supposed, chanced to step out. He was then astonished to find -that the scene which had been so familiar was now quite strange to -him. Here were roads and houses he had never seen, and in place of his -father's humble cottage there now stood a fine stone farmhouse. About -him were lovely cultivated fields instead of the barren mountain he -was accustomed to. - -'Ah,' thought he, 'this is some Fairy trick to deceive my eyes. It -is not ten minutes since I stepped into that circle, and now when -I step out they have built my father a new house! Well, I only hope -it is real; anyhow, I'll go and see.' So he started off by a path he -knew instinctively, and suddenly struck against a very solid hedge. He -rubbed his eyes, felt the hedge with his fingers, scratched his head, -felt the hedge again, ran a thorn into his fingers and cried out, -'Wbwb' this is no Fairy hedge anyhow, nor, from the age of the thorns, -was it grown in a few minutes' time! So he climbed over it and walked -on. 'Here was I born,' said he, as he entered the farmyard, staring -wildly about him, 'and not a thing here do I know!' His mystification -was complete, when there came bounding towards him a huge dog, barking -furiously. 'What dog is this? Get out you ugly brute! Don't you -know I'm master here?--at least, when mother's from home, for father -don't count.' But the dog only barked the harder. 'Surely,' muttered -Taffy to himself, 'I have lost my road and am wandering through some -unknown neighbourhood; but no, yonder is the Careg Hir!' and he stood -staring at the well-known erect stone thus called, which still stands -on the mountain south of Pencader, and is supposed to have been placed -there in ancient times to commemorate a victory. As Taffy stood thus, -looking at the long stone, he heard footsteps behind him, and turning, -beheld the occupant of the farmhouse, who had come out to see why -his dog was barking. - -Poor Taffy was so ragged and wan that the farmer's Welsh heart was at -once stirred to sympathy. 'Who are you, poor man?' he asked, to which -Taffy answered, 'I know who I was, but I do not know who I am now. I -was the son of a shoemaker who lived in this place, this morning; -for that rock, though it is changed a little, I know too well.' 'Poor -fellow,' said the farmer, 'You have lost your senses. This house was -built by my great-grandfather, repaired by my grandfather; and that -part there, which seems newly built, was done about three years ago -at my expense. You must be deranged, or you have missed the road; but -come in and refresh yourself with some victuals, and rest.' Taffy was -half persuaded that he had overslept himself and lost his road, but -looking back he saw the rock before mentioned, and exclaimed, 'It is -but an hour since I was on yonder rock robbing a hawk's nest.' 'Where -have you been since?' Taffy related his adventure. 'Ah,' quoth the -farmer, 'I see how it is--you have been with the Fairies. Pray who -was your father?' 'Sion Evan y Crydd o Glanrhyd,' was the answer. 'I -never heard of such a man,' said the farmer, shaking his head, 'nor -of such a place as Glanrhyd, either; but no matter, after you have -taken a little food we will step down to Catti Shon, at Pencader, -who will probably be able to tell something.' With this he beckoned -Taffy to follow him, and walked on; but hearing behind him the sound -of footsteps growing weaker and weaker, he turned round, when to his -horror he beheld the poor fellow crumble in an instant to about a -thimbleful of black ashes. The farmer, though much terrified at this -sight, preserved his calmness sufficiently to go at once and see old -Catti, the aged crone he had referred to, who lived at Pencader, -near by. He found her crouching over a fire of faggots, trying to -warm her old bones. 'And how do you do the day, Catti Shon?' asked -the farmer. 'Ah,' said old Catti, 'I'm wonderful well, farmer, -considering how old I am.' 'Yes, yes, you are very old. Now, since -you are so old, let me ask you--do you remember anything about Sion -y Crydd o Glanrhyd? Was there ever such a man, do you know?' 'Sion -Glanrhyd? O! I have a faint recollection of hearing my grandfather, -old Evan Shenkin, Penferdir, relate that Sion's son was lost one -morning, and they never heard of him afterwards, so that it was said -he was taken by the Fairies. His father's cottage stood somewhere near -your house.' 'Were there many Fairies about at that time?' asked the -farmer. 'O, yes; they were often seen on yonder hill, and I was told -they were lately seen in Pant Shon Shenkin, eating flummery out of -egg-shells, which they had stolen from a farm hard by.' 'Dir anwyl -fi!' cried the farmer; 'dear me! I recollect now--I saw them myself.' - - - -SHON AP SHENKIN SEDUCED BY FAIRY MUSIC. - -Another story very similar to the one I have just given is the legend -of Shon ap Shenkin, which was related to Mr. Sikes by a farmer's wife -near the reputed scene of the tale, that is the locality of Pant Shon -Shenkin, the famous centre of Carmarthenshire Fairies:-- - -"Shon ap Shenkin was a young man who lived hard by Pant Shon -Shenkin. As he was going afield early one fine summer's morning he -heard a little bird singing, in a most enchanting strain, on a tree -close by his path. Allured by the melody, he sat down under the tree -until the music ceased, when he arose and looked about him. What was -his surprise at observing that the tree, which was green and full of -life when he sat down, was now withered and barkless! Filled with -astonishment he returned to the farmhouse which he had left, as he -supposed, a few minutes before; but it also was changed, grown older, -and covered with ivy. In the doorway stood an old man whom he had never -before seen; he at once asked the old man what he wanted there. 'What -do I want here?' ejaculated the old man, reddening angrily; 'that's -a pretty question! Who are you that dare to insult me in my own -house?' 'In your own house? How is this? where's my father and mother, -whom I left here a few minutes since, whilst I have been listening to -the charming music under yon tree, which, when I rose, was withered -and leafless' 'Under the tree!--music!' 'What's your name?' 'Shon -ap Shenkin.' 'Alas, poor Shon, and this is indeed you!' cried the -old man. 'I often heard my grandfather, your father, speak of you, -and long did he bewail your absence. Fruitless inquiries were made -for you; but old Catti Maddock of Brechfa said you were under the -power of the Fairies, and would not be released until the last sap -of that sycamore tree would be dried. Embrace me, my dear uncle, -for you are my uncle ... embrace your nephew.' With this the old man -extended his arms, but before the two men could embrace, poor Shon -ap Shenkin crumbled into dust on the door-step." - -It is very interesting to compare this story of Shon ap Shenkin, under -the power of the Fairies, listening to the birds of enchantment, -with the warriors at Harlech listening to the Birds of Rhiannon, -in the Mabinogi of Branwen, daughter of Llyr. - -Bran Fendigaid, a Welsh King in ancient times, had a palace at Harlech, -and had a sister named Bronwen, or White Breast, whom Matholwch the -King of Ireland married on account of her wonderful beauty. After -a while, however, the foster brothers of Matholwch began to treat -Bronwen very cruelly till at last she found means to send a message to -her brother Bran, in Wales; and this she did by writing a letter of -her woes, which she bound to a bird's wing which she had reared. The -bird reached Bronwen's brother, Bran, who, when he read the letter -sailed for Ireland immediately, and during a fearful warfare in that -country he was poisoned with a dart in his foot. His men had been -bidden by their dying chief to cut off his head and bear it to London -and bury it with the face towards France. They did as they were bidden -by Bran previous to his death, and various were the adventures they -encountered while obeying this injunction. At Harlech they stopped -to rest, and sat down to eat and drink. - -While there, they heard three birds singing a sweet song, "at a great -distance over the sea," though it seemed to them as though they were -quite near. These were the birds of Rhiannon. Their notes were so -sweet that warriors were known to have remained spell-bound for 80 -years listening to them. The birds sang so sweetly that the men rested -for seven years, which appeared but a day. Then they pursued their way -to Gwales in Pembrokeshire, and there remained for four score years, -during which the head of Bran was uncorrupted. At last they went to -London and buried it there. - -The old Welsh poets often allude to the birds of Rhiannon, and they are -also mentioned in the Triads; and the same enchanting fancy reappears -in the local story of Shon ap Shenkin, which I just gave. - -Mr. Ernest Rhys in the present day sings:-- - - - "O, the birds of Rhiannon they sing time away,-- - Seven years in their singing are gone like a day." - - -In the region of myth and romance Rhiannon, the songs of whose birds -were so enchanting, was the daughter of Heveydd Hen, who by her -magic arts foiled her powerful suitor, Gwawl ap Clud, and secured as -her consort the man of her choice, Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed. In Welsh -Mythology several members of the kingly families are represented as -playing the role of magicians. - -It may be added that it is interesting to compare both the story of -Shion ap Shenkin, and that of the birds of Rhiannon, with Longfellow's -"Golden Legend," originally written in the thirteenth century by -Jacobus de Voragine, in which Monk Felix is represented as listening -to the singing of a snow-white bird for a hundred years, which period -passed as a single hour. - - - "One morning all alone, - Out of his covenant of gray stone, - Into the forest older, darker, grayer - His lips moving as if in prayer, - His head sunken upon his breast - As in a dream of rest, - Walked the Monk Felix. All about - The broad, sweet sunshine lay without, - Filling the summer air; - And within the woodlands as he trod, - The twilight was like the Truce of God - With worldly woe and care. - Under him lay the golden moss; - And above him the boughs of hemlock-trees - Waved, and made the sign of the cross, - And whispered their benedicites, - And from the ground - Rose an odour sweet and fragrant - Of the wild-flowers and the vagrant - Vines that wandered, - Seeking the sunshine, round and round. - - "Those he heeded not, but pondered - On the volume in his hand, - A volume of Saint Augustine, - Wherein he read of the unseen - Splendours of God's great town - In the unknown land, - And, with his eyes cast down - In humility he said: - 'I believe, O God, - What herein I have read, - But alas! I do not understand'? - - "And lo! he heard - The sudden singing of a bird, - A snow-white bird, that from a cloud - Dropped down, - And among the branches brown - Sat singing - So sweet, and clear, and loud, - It seemed a thousand harp-strings ringing; - And the Monk Felix closed his book, - And long, long, - With rapturous look, - He listened to the song. - And hardly breathed or stirred, - Until he saw, as in a vision, - The land Elysian, - And in the heavenly city heard - Angelic feet - Fall on the golden flagging of the street, - And he would fain - Have caught the wondrous bird, - But strove in vain; - For it flew away, away, - Far over hill and dell, - And instead of its sweet singing, - He heard the convent bell - Suddenly in the silence ringing, - For the service of noonday. - And he retraced - His pathway homeward sadly and in haste. - - "In the convent there was a change! - He looked for each well-known face, - But the faces were new and strange; - New figures sat in the oaken stalls. - New voices chanted in the choir; - Yet the place was the same place, - The same dusky walls - Of cold, gray stone, - The same cloisters and belfry and spire. - - "A stranger and alone - Among that brotherhood - The monk Felix stood. - 'Forty years,' said a Friar, - 'Have I been Prior - Of this convent in the wood, - But for that space - Never have I beheld thy face!' - The heart of Monk Felix fell: - And he answered with submissive tone, - 'This morning, after the horn of Prime, - I left my cell - And wandered forth alone. - Listening all the time - To the melodious singing - Of a beautiful white bird, - Until I heard - The bells of the convent ring - Noon from their noisy towers. - It was as if I dreamed; - For what to me had seemed - Moments only, had been hours!' - - "'Years!' said a voice close by, - It was an aged monk who spoke, - From a bench of oak - Fastened against the wall;-- - He was the oldest monk of all. - For a whole century - He had been there, - Serving God in prayer, - The meekest and humblest of his creatures, - He remembered well the features - Of Felix, and he said, - 'One hundred years ago, - When I was a novice in this place - There was here a monk, full of God's grace, - Who bore the name - Of Felix, and this man must be the same.' - - "And straightway - They brought forth to the light of day - A volume old and brown, - A huge tome bound - In brass and wild-boar's hide. - Wherein were written down - The names of all who had died - In the convent, since it was edified. - And there they found, - Just as the old Monk said, - That on a certain day and date, - One hundred years before, - Had gone forth from the convent gate - The monk Felix, and never more - Had he entered that sacred door - He had been counted among the dead! - And they knew, at last, - That such had been the power - Of that celestial and immortal song, - A hundred years had passed, - And had not seemed so long - As a single hour!" - - -In the stories I have already given those who fell into the hands -of the Fairies were rescued or returned from them after a certain -period of time; but I have heard some stories in which the victim -never returned. A woman at Pontshan, Llandyssul, in Cardiganshire, -related to me a story of a servant girl in that neighbourhood who was -captured by the Fairies and never returned home again. A few months -ago another tale of this kind was related to me at Llanrhystyd: - - - -A LLANRHYSTYD MAID LOST AMONG THE FAIRIES. - -Mr David Morgan, Carpenter, Llanrhystyd, informed me that some years -ago the maid servant of Pencareg Farm in the neighbourhood, went out -one evening to bring home the cattle which were grazing some distance -away from the house. A boy employed to look after the cattle in the -day-time known as "bugail bach," saw the Fairies dragging the maid into -their circle or ring, where she joined them in their dances. Search -was made for her everywhere, but she was never seen again. - - - -SHUI RHYS AND THE FAIRIES. - -"Shui was a beautiful girl of seventeen, tall and fair, with a skin -like ivory, hair black and curling, and eyes of dark velvet. She was -but a poor farmer's daughter, notwithstanding her beauty, and among -her duties was that of driving up the cows for the milking. Over this -work she used to loiter sadly, to pick flowers by the way, or chase -the butterflies, or amuse herself in any agreeable manner that fortune -offered. For her loitering she was often chided, indeed, people said -Shui's mother was far too sharp with the girl, and that it was for no -good the mother had so bitter a tongue. After all the girl meant no -harm, they said. But when one night Shui never came home till bed-time, -leaving the cows to care for themselves, dame Rhys took the girl to -task as she never had done before. 'Ysgwaetheroedd, Mami,' said Shui, -'I could not help it; it was the Tylwyth Teg,' (the Fairies). The -dame was aghast at this, but she could not answer it--for well she -knew the Tylwyth Teg were often seen in the woods of Cardigan. Shui -was at first shy about talking of the Fairies, but finally confessed -they were little men in green coats, who danced around her and made -music on their little harps; and they talked to her in language too -beautiful to be repeated; indeed she couldn't understand the words, -though she knew well enough what the Fairies meant. Many a time after -that Shui was late; but now nobody chided her, for fear of offending -the Fairies. At last one night Shui did not come home at all. In -alarm the woods were searched; there was no sign of her; and never was -she seen in Cardigan again. Her mother watched in the fields on the -Tair-nos ysprydion or three nights of the year when goblins are sure -to be abroad; but Shui never returned. Once indeed there came to the -neighbourhood a wild rumour that Shui Rhys had been seen in a great -city in a foreign land--Paris, perhaps, or London, who knows? but -this tale was in no way injurious to the sad belief that the Fairies -had carried her off; they might take her to those well-known centres -of idle and sinful pleasure, as well as to any other place." [3] - - - -FAIRIES COMING INTO THE BEDROOM OF A HOUSE NEAR ABERYSTWYTH. - -One Robert Burton, in his "History of the Principality of Wales," -published 215 years ago, says:--"John Lewes, Esq., a Justice of -Peace at Glankerrig, near Aberystwyth, in this county, in the year -1656, by several letters to Mr. B. A., late worthy divine deceased, -gives an account of several strange apparitions in Carmarthenshire, -Pembrokeshire, and this county (Cardiganshire), about that time, -confirmed by divers persons of good quality and reputation the -substance of whereof are as followeth. A man and his family being all -in bed, he being awake about midnight, perceived by a light entering -the little room where he lay, and about a dozen in the shapes of men, -and two or three women with small children in their arms following, -they seemed to dance, and the chamber appeared much wider and lighter -than formerly. They seemed to eat bread and cheese all about a kind -of a tick upon the ground, they offered him some, and would smile -upon him, he heard no voice, but calling once upon God to bless him, -he heard a whispering voice in Welsh bidding him hold his peace. They -continued there about four hours, all which time he endeavoured to -wake his wife but could not. Afterwards they went into another room, -and having danced awhile departed. He then arose, and though the room -was very small, yet he could neither find the door, nor the way to -bed again until crying out his wife and family awoke. - -"He living within two miles of Justice Lewes, he sent for him, being -a poor honest husbandman and of good report, and made him believe he -would put him to his oath about the truth of this Relation, who was -very ready to take it." - - - -A SERVANT OF PERTHRHYS, LLANDDEINIOL, AND THE WHITE FAIRIES. - -A very old man named John Jones, who lives at Llanddeiniol, about six -miles from Aberystwyth, informed me that many years ago, when he was a -young man, or a lad of 18, he was engaged as a servant at a farm called -Perthrhys, in that neighbourhood. One evening after supper he went to -the tailor who was making him a suit of clothes; but as the clothes -were not quite ready he had to wait till a late hour before returning -home, but it was a delightful moonlight night. As he proceeded along -a lonely path across a certain moor known as Rhosrhydd, and happened -to look back he was suddenly surprised by seeing two young men or -boys as he thought, coming after him. At first he thought they were -some boys trying to frighten him; but after they had followed him -for a short distance till they came within about 30 or 40 yards of -him, they turned out from the path, and began to jump and to dance, -going round and round as if they followed a ring or a circle just as -we hear of the fairies. They were perfectly white, and very nimble, -and the old man informed me that there was something supernatural both -in their appearance and movements; and that he is convinced to this -day that they could not have been human beings. When he arrived home -at the farm, and related his adventure, every one in the house was -of the opinion that the strange beings he had seen were the Fairies. - - - -NANCY TYNLLAIN AND HER SON SEEING FAIRIES ON HORSES. - -A man named Timothy in the parish of Llanarth, Cardiganshire, told -me that an old woman known as Nancy Tynllain and her son, Shenkin -Phillips, had seen the Tylwyth Teg (fairies) on one occasion. Nancy -died over sixty years ago. She and her son one day left home rather -early in the morning, as they were going to Cynon's Fair, and had some -distance to go. As they proceeded on their horses in the direction -of Wilgarn, they saw the Fairies, mounted on small horses, galloping -round and round as in a circle round about a certain hillock, and -Nancy took particular notice that one of the Fairy women had a red -cloak on. As the old woman and her son were looking on, watching -the movements of the Fairies, Nancy remarked, "That Fairy woman over -there rides very much like myself." This was at early dawn. - - - -ELIAS, FORCH Y CWM AND THE FAIRIES. - -Elias, Forch y Cwm, who was a servant man in the same neighbourhood, -was one day ploughing on the field, but when he happened to look about -he perceived the Fairies on Bank-Cwmpridd, and coming towards him. The -man ran home in terror from the field, and this was in broad daylight. - -The late Mr. T. Compton Davies, Aberayron, an eminent Folk-Lorist, -related to me the following two stories, and informed me that he -had already written them in Welsh for "Cymru," in which excellent -periodical they appeared, September, 1892, page 117. - - - -THE CARDIGANSHIRE PAINTER AND MUSICIAN, WHO PLAYED HIS FLUTE TO THE -FAIRY LADIES AND NEARLY SECURED ONE OF THEM AS A WIFE. - -About the year 1860, a builder from Aberayron, in Cardiganshire, was -erecting a Vicarage at Nantcwnlle, about nine miles from Aberayron, -not far from Llangeitho. There was a certain man there employed as -a painter, whose name was John Davies, a harmless and superstitious -character, who once had been an exciseman, afterwards a carpenter, and -at last became a painter, though he did not shine in either of the two -trades. He was however, a brilliant musician, and belonged to a musical -family. He was acquainted with the works of Handel, Mozart, Haydn, and -Beethoven, whilst one of his favourites was the song of the Witches -in "Macbeth," He also always carried his flute in his pocket. Whilst -this Nantcwnlle Vicarage was in course of construction, John was -sent one day on a message to Aberayron. He went there in due time, -and in the afternoon left the town and started on his return journey, -having the choice of two roads--either returning through the Vale of -Aeron, or across the hill--country of Cilcennin, The latter was a very -lonely route, but he chose it as it was about two miles shorter. So -John hurried on his journey so as to reach his destination before -night. When he came to the little village of Cilcennin, he had a good -mind to enter the public house known as the "Commercial," to see his -old friend Llywelyn, when he remembered that it was getting late and -that he had to pass by the ghosts of the moors and the Fairy circles -on the top of the mountain. After walking on again about a mile, he -arrived at another public house, known as "Rhiwlas Arms." He was now -within three miles to the end of his journey, and it occurred to him -that it would be a splendid thing to have one pint of beer to give -him strength and courage to meet the ghosts. So in he went into the -Public House, where he met with many old friends, and drank more than -one pint. After taking out his flute from his pocket, John obliged -the merry company with many of the old Welsh airs, such as "Ar Hyd y -Nos," "Glan Meddwdod Mwyn," "Llwyn on," etc. It was 8 o'clock p.m., -and in the middle of October. John started from the house, boasting -to those who were present that he was not afraid, but poor fellow, as -soon as he went out into the darkness and the stillness of the night, -his heart began to beat very fast. Nevertheless, he walked forward -from the cross-road towards Hendraws, and turned to a road which led -direct to Nantcwnlle. For a considerable distance, there was no hedge -except on one side of the road, and nothing but a vast open moor on -the other side. John knew that he was to pass a small cottage called -Ty-clottas, and expected every moment to see the light of the old woman -who lived there, who was known as Peggi Ty-clottas. Unfortunately, -John had somehow or other wandered away from the road into the bog; -but seeing light before him, he went on confidently. He followed the -light for some distance, but did not come to any house, and he noticed -that the light was travelling and giving a little jump now and again. - - - -At the early dawn next morning, old Peggi Ty-clottas, when she was half -awake, heard some strange music, more strange than she had ever heard -before. At first she thought it was the "toili" (phantom funeral), -which had come to warn her of her approaching death; for to believe -in the "toili" was part of Peggi's confession of faith. But when she -listened attentively, Peggi found out that the music was not a dead -march, but rather something light and merry. So it could not have -been the "toili." Afterwards she thought it was the warbling of some -bird. Peggi had heard the lark many a time at the break of day singing -songs of praises to the Creator. She had also heard the lapwing and -other birds, breaking on the loneliness of her solitary home; but -never had she heard a bird like this one singing, singing continually -without a pause. At last she got up from her bed and went out into -the moor in order to see what was there. To her great surprise, she -saw a man sitting on a heap, and blowing into some instrument, who -took no notice of Peggi. Peggi went quite close to the man and asked -him in a loud voice, "What do you want here?" Then the man stirred up -and ceased to blow, and with an angry look, said,--"Ah you,--you have -spoiled everything; it nearly came to a bargain." It proved that the -man whom Peggi came upon was John Davies, the painter, who had been -playing his flute to the Fairies, and had almost made a bargain with -them to marry a Fairy lady, when old Peggi came to spoil everything. - - - -When Mr. T. Compton Davies, heard about John among the Fairies he -went to him and begged him to tell him all about it; and he did -so. According to John's own account of his night adventure it was -something as follows:--When he got lost in the bog, he followed the -light, till presently, he came to a Fairy ring, where a large number -of little Fairy ladies danced in it, and to his great surprise, one -of them took his arm, so that John also began to dance. And after a -while, the Queen of the Fairies herself came on to him, and asked him, -"Where do you come from?" John replied, "From the world of mortals," -and added that he was a painter. Then she said to him, that they had -no need of a painter in the world of Fairies, as there was nothing -getting old there. John found the Fairies all ladies, or at least -he did not mention any men. They were very beautiful, but small, -and wearing short white dresses coming down to the knees only. When -he took out from his pocket his flute and entertained them by playing -some Irish, Scotch, and English airs, the Queen informed him that they -(the Fairies) were of Welsh descent. Then John played some Welsh airs -from Owen Alaw to the great delight of the Fairy ladies, and they had -a merry time of it. John soon became a great favourite, and asked for -something to drink, but found they were "teetotals." Then he fell -in love with one of the Fairy ladies, and asked the Queen for the -hand of the maiden, and informed her that he had a horse named Bob, -as well as a cart of his own making. The Queen in reply said that they -were not accustomed to mix with mortals, but as he had proved himself -such a musician, she gave her consent under the conditions that he -and the little lady should come once a month on the full moon night -to the top of Mount Trichrug to visit the Fairies. Then the Queen took -hold of a pot full of gold which she intended giving John as a dowry, -but, unfortunately, at the very last moment, when he was just going -to take hold of it, old Peggi TyClottas came to shout and to spoil -the whole thing; for as soon as the Fairy ladies saw old Peggi, -they all vanished through some steps into the underground regions -and John never saw them again. But he continued to believe as long -as he lived that he had been with the Fairies. - - - -TWO MEN WHO SAW THE FAIRIES IN CARMARTHENSHIRE DANCING IN BROAD -DAYLIGHT. - -Mr. Compton Davies, also informed me that there were two men in his -neighbourhood who had seen the Fairies about 45 years ago, and he -directed me to go and see them so as to hear everything from their -own lips. One of them, David Evans, Red Lion, lives at Aberayron, -and the other Evan Lewis is a farmer near Mydroilyn, in the parish of -Llanarth. I went to see both of them, and they gave me a full account -of what they had seen which was something as follows:-- - -In August, 1862, David Evans and Evan Lewis, went from the Coast -of Cardiganshire with their waggons all the way to Brecon for some -timber for ship-building, which was going on at New Quay. On their -return journey, through Carmarthenshire, they stopped for a short -time at a place called Cwmdwr on the road leading from Llanwrda to -Lampeter. It was about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and the two men -and their horses and waggons were standing opposite a farm known as -Maestwynog, where the reapers were busy at work in a wheat-field close -by. As they were looking in the direction of a hillside not far off, -David Evans saw about fifty small wheat stacks (sopynau bychain), as -he at first thought. On second sight, however, he noticed that they -were moving about, he took them for reapers. They were all dressed -exactly alike, and walked fast one after another up the hillside -footpath. David Evans now called the attention of his companion Evan -Lewis, whom he asked who the men could have been; but before he had -time to make any further remarks, the first of those who were climbing -up along the winding footpath had reached a small level spot on the top -of the hill. The others quickly followed him, and each one in coming -to the top, gave a jump to dance, and they formed a circle. After -dancing for a short time, one of the dancers turned in into the middle -of the circle, followed by the others, one by one till they appeared -like a gimblet screw. Then they disappeared into the ground. After -awhile one of them reappeared again, and looked about him in every -direction as a rat, and the others followed him one by one and did -the same. Then they danced for some time as before, and vanished into -the ground as they had done the first time. The two men, David Evans -and Evan Lewis were watching them from a distance of about 400 yards -and were more than astonished to see men, as they thought, acting in -such a strange and curious manner on the hill. They continued looking -for some time but the dancers did not appear again. At last the two -men proceeded on their journey till they came to an old man working -on the road whom they asked whether he knew anything about the men -they had seen dancing in a circle on the hill behind Maestwynog. The -old man replied that he had not the least idea, but had heard his -grandfather say that the Tylwyth Teg (Fairies) used to dance in his -time, at which explanation our two friends smiled. - -In the above account we see that the hill near Maestwynog was a special -haunt of the Fairies, even in modern days. There are certain spots -here and there all over Wales, pointed out by old people to this day, -as having been frequented in former times by the Fairies to dance -and to sing. An old man named James Jones, Golden Lion, Llanarth, -informed me that when a boy he heard from the lips of old men, many a -tale of Fairies seen on Bank-rhydeiniol; and that they were mounted -on horses, riding and playing; and the late Rev. J. Davies, Moria, -mentions that there were traditions of them appearing on Bannau Duon -in the same parish. In the northern part of Cardiganshire, the people -of Talybont showed me a spot a few miles to the east of that village, -where these supernatural beings appeared long ago, more especially to -dance. The neighbourhood of Aberporth, in the southern part of the -same county, was also a favourite spot according to an old woman in -the village. Pant Shon Shenkin in the neighbourhood of Pencader was -a famous place for Carmarthenshire Fairies, of which district we have -already given the reader more than one story. - -Gwynionydd in the Brython for 1860, remarks that in former times the -Fairies were fond of the mountains of Dyfed, and that travellers in -Cardiganshire, between Lampeter and the town of Cardigan often saw -them on Llanwenog hill; but after arriving on that spot they would -be seen far away on the mountains of Llandyssul, and expecting to -find them there, they would be seen somewhere else, both deluding -and eluding the traveller. - - - -THE FAIRIES OF CWM MABWS, SEEN DRIVING IN THEIR CARRIAGES. - -In the interesting small valley of Cwm Mabws, near Llanrhystyd, -nine miles from Aberystwyth, there is a rocky spot known as Craig -Rhydderch. Even within the memory of some who are still alive, the -caves of Craig Rhydderch were the favourite haunts of the Fairies, -where these mysterious beings were thought to dwell, or at least pass -through to the underground regions. The Fairies of this part were, -it was supposed, some kind of spirits or supernatural beings, and -were often seen in the Valley of Mabws going about in their phantom -carriages and horses. About fifty years ago when Fairies were still to -be seen in this neighbourhood, the eldest son of Penlan farm, and some -of the men servants one evening just before dark, took their horses -down to the little river which runs through the bottom of the valley -in order to give the animals water, as there was no water near the -farm-house which stood on high ground. As they were on their way to -the river they heard some noise on the road quite near them, and the -farmer's son said to the servants, "It is the noise of the Fairies -on their journey, and they are coming from the direction of Craig -Rhydderch; let us stand one side of the road to make room for them to -pass." And sure enough, just as he spoke, a number of Fairies appeared -on the scene and passed by as if they were on a journey. They were -little men with little horses and carriages, but my informant could -not tell me the colour of their dresses nor the colour of their horses - -After taking their horses to the water and turning them into a field, -the men went home to Penlan; and as soon as they entered the house and -related what they had seen, another son of the farm had just arrived -home from Aberystwyth with a horse and cart, and he also had seen -the Fairies, just as he was turning to the road which led up the hill. - -The above story was related to me by Mr. David Morgan, Carpenter, -Llanrhystyd, who vouches for the truth of the account as he was well -acquainted with the persons who saw the Fairies, and one of them was -a friend of his. - - - -FAIRIES AND FOOTBALLERS. - -There is a curious tradition that early one Easter Monday, when the -parishioners of Pencarreg and Caio were met to play at football, they -saw a numerous company of Fairies dancing. Being so many in number, -the young men were not intimidated at all, but proceeded in a body -towards the puny tribe, who perceiving them, removed to another -place. The young men followed, whereupon the little folk suddenly -disappeared dancing at the first place. Seeing this, the men divided -and surrounded them, when they immediately became invisible, and were -never more seen there. This was in Carmarthenshire. - -Other places frequented by Fairies were Moyddin, between Lampeter -and Llanarth, in Troed yr Aur, in Cardiganshire. - - - -FAIRIES MARKETING. - -It was formerly believed in some parts of West Wales, especially -by the people dwelling near the sea coast, that the Fairies visited -markets and fairs, and that their presence made business very brisk. I -have already referred to the "Gwerddonau Llion," or the enchanted -"Isles of the Sea," inhabited by Fairy Tribes. These Fairies, it was -believed, went to and fro between the islands and shore, through -a subterranean gallery under the bottom of the sea, and regularly -attended the markets at Milford Haven, in Pembrokeshire and Laugharne -in Carmarthenshire. ("British Goblins," page 10.) They made their -purchases without speaking, laid down their money and departed, always -leaving the exact sum required, which they seemed to know, without -asking the price of anything. Sometimes they were invisible, but they -were often seen by sharp-eyed persons. There was one special butcher -at Milford Haven upon whom the Fairies bestowed their patronage, -instead of distributing their favours indiscriminately. - -According to Gwynionydd in the "Brython," for 1858, page 110, these -Fairies also came to market to Cardigan, and it was thought they raised -the prices of things terribly whenever they came there. In that part -of the country they were known as "Plant Rhys Ddwfn." No one saw them -coming there or going away, only seen there in the market. When prices -in the market happened to be high, and the corn all sold, however, -much there might have been there in the morning, the poor used to say -to one another on the way home, "Oh! They were there to-day," meaning -"Plant Rhys Ddwfn," or the Fairies. These Fairies were liked by the -farmers who had corn to sell, but disliked by the poor labourers who -had to buy corn and give higher price for it. Gwynionydd also says -that: "A certain Gruffydd Ap Einon was wont to sell them more corn -than anybody else, and that he was a great friend of theirs. He was -honoured by them beyond all his contemporaries by being led on a visit -to their home. As they were great traders, like the Phoenicians of old, -they had treasures from all countries under the sun. Gruffydd, after -feasting his eyes to satiety on their wonders was led back by them -loaded with presents. But before taking leave of them, he asked them -how they succeeded in keeping themselves safe from invaders, as one of -their number might become unfaithful, and go beyond the virtue of the -herbs that formed their safety. "Oh!" replied the little old man of -shrewd looks, "Just as Ireland has been blessed with a soil on which -venomous reptiles cannot live, so with our land; no traitor can live -here. Look at the sand on the seashore; perfect unity prevails there, -and so among us." Rhys, the father of our race, bade us even to the -most distant descendant to honour our parents and ancestors; love our -own wives without looking at those of our neighbours, and do our best -for our children and grandchildren. And he said that if we did so, -no one of us would prove unfaithful to another, or become what you -call a traitor. The latter is a wholly imaginary character among us; -strange pictures are drawn of him with his feet like those of an ass, -with a nest of snakes in his bosom, with a head like the Devil's, with -hands somewhat like a man's while one of them holds a large knife and -the family dead around him Good-bye!" When Gruffydd looked about him -he lost sight of the country of Plant Rhys, and found himself near -his home. He became very wealthy after this, and continued to be a -great friend of Plant Rhys as long as he lived. After Gruffydd's death -they came to the market again, but such was the greed of the farmers, -like Gruffydd before them, for riches, and so unreasonable were the -prices they asked for their corn, that the Rhysians took offence and -came no more to Cardigan to market. The old people used to think that -they now went to Fishguard market, as very strange people were wont -to be seen there." - - - -FAIRY CHANGELINGS. - -Mr. B. Davies in the II. Vol. of the "Brython," page 182, gives the -following tale of a Fairy Changeling in the neighbourhood of Newcastle -Emlyn, in the Vale of Teifi, and on the borders of Carmarthenshire -and Cardiganshire:-- - -"One calm hot day, when the sun of heaven was brilliantly shining, -and the hay in the dales was being busily made by lads and lasses, -and by grown-up people of both sexes, a woman in the neighbourhood -of Emlyn placed her one-year-old infant in the "gader" or chair, as -the cradle is called in these parts, and out she went to the field -for a while, intending to return when her neighbour, an old woman -overtaken by the decrepitude of eighty summers, should call to her -that her Darling was crying. It was not long before she heard the old -woman calling to her; she ran hurriedly, and as soon as she set foot -on the kitchen floor, she took her little one in her arms as usual, -saying to him, "O my little one! thy mother's delight art thou! I -would not take the world for thee, etc." But to her surprise, he had -a very old look about him, and the more the tender-hearted mother -gazed at his face, the stranger it seemed to her, so that at last -she placed him in the cradle and told her sorrow to her relatives and -acquaintances. And after this one and the other had given his opinion, -it was agreed at last that it was one of Rhys Ddwfn's children that -was in the cradle, and not her dearly loved baby. In this distress -there was nothing to do but to fetch a wizard, or wise man, as fast -as the fastest horse could gallop. He said, when he saw the child -that he had seen his like before, and that it would be a hard job -to get rid of him, though not such a very hard job this time. The -shovel was made red hot in the fire by one of the Cefnarth (Cenarth) -boys, and held before the child's face; and in an instant the short -little old man took to his heels, and neither he nor his like was -seen afterwards from Abercuch to Aberbargod at any rate. The mother -found her darling unscathed the next moment. I remember also hearing -that the strange child was as old as the grandfather of the one that -had been lost."--"Celtic Folk-Lore" by Sir J. Rhys. - -There are many such stories in different parts of Wales and Scotland, -and in both countries Fairies were believed to have a fatal admiration -for lovely children, and credited with stealing them, especially -unbaptized infants. - -A Welsh poet thus sings:-- - - - "Llawer plentyn teg aeth ganddynt, - Pan y cym'rynt helynt hir; - Oddiar anwyl dda rieni, - I drigfanau difri dir. - - -The Rev. Elias Owen's translation of the above is as follows:-- - - - "Many a lovely child they've taken, - When long and bitter was the pain; - From their parents, loving, dear, - To the Fairies' dread domain." - - -Another popular mode of treatment resorted to in order to reclaim -children from the Fairies, and to get rid of ugly changelings was as -follows:--The mother was to carry the changeling to a river, and when -at the brink, the wizard who accompanied her was to cry out:-- - - - "Crap ar y wrach"-- - (A grip on the hag.) - - -and the mother was to respond:-- - - - "Rhy hwyr gyfraglach"-- - (Too late decrepit one); - - -Then the mother was to throw the changeling into the river, and then -returning home, where she would find her own child safe and sound. - -It was believed that the Fairies were particularly busy in exchanging -children on St. John's Eve. - - - -HOW TO DETECT CHANGELINGS. - -One way of finding out whether children were Changelings or not was -to listen to them speaking. If suspected children were heard speaking -things above the understanding of children, it was considered a proof -that they were changelings. This was a wide-spread belief in Wales. - -Fairies did not always come to steal children, however, for they -were believed in some places to enter the houses at night to dance -and sing until the morning, and leave on the hearth-stone a piece -of money as a reward behind them, should they find the house clean; -but should it be dirty, they came to punish the servant girl. The -good Fairies known as "Bendith y Mamau," were supposed to rock the -infant's cradle and sweep and clean the house whilst the tired mother -slept. And one way of securing their good luck was to leave a little -milk for them upon the kitchen table at night. - - - -FAIRY MONEY. - -An old man named Evan Morris, Goginan, informed me that a farmer -in the Vale of Rheidol one day found a sixpence on the top of a -gate-post. On the next day he found a shilling there, and on the day -after two shillings, the sum was doubled every day till the man was -beginning to get rich. At last, however, the farmer told his family or -his friends about his good luck, and after this he got no more money, -as the Fairies were offended that he did not keep the thing secret. - - - -FAIRY MOTHERS AND HUMAN MIDWIVES. - -The following story is to be found in Welsh in an interesting -little book entitled "Ystraeon y Gwyll," by the late Mr. D. Lledrod -Davies; and in English by Sir John Rhys in his great work "Celtic -Folk-Lore":--The locality of the tale is Swyddffynon, near Ystrad -Meurig, in Cardiganshire. - -"It used to be related by an old woman who died some thirty years -ago at the advanced age of about 100. She was Pali, mother of old -Rachel Evans, who died seven or eight years ago, when she was about -eighty. The latter was a curious character, who sometimes sang -"Maswedd," or rhymes of doubtful propriety, and used to take the -children of the village to see fairy rings. She also used to see the -"Tylwyth" (Fairies), and had many tales to tell of them. But her -mother, Pali, had actually been called to attend at the confinement -of one of them. The beginning of the tale is not very explicit; but, -anyhow, Pali one evening found herself face to face with the Fairy -lady she was to attend upon. She appeared to be the wife of one of -the princes of the country. She was held in great esteem, and lived -in a very grand palace. Everything there had been arranged in the -most beautiful and charming fashion. The wife was in her bed with -nothing about her but white, and she fared sumptuously. In due time, -when the baby had been born, the midwife had all the care connected -with dressing it and serving its mother. Pali could see or hear nobody -in the whole place, but the mother and the baby. She had no idea who -attended on them, or who prepared all the things they required, for -it was all done noiselessly and secretly. The mother was a charming -person, of an excellent temper and easy to manage. Morning and evening, -as she finished washing the baby, Pali had a certain ointment given -her to rub the baby with. She was charged not to touch it, but with -her hand, and especially not to put any near her eyes. This was -carried out for some time, but one day, as she was dressing the baby, -her eyes happened to itch, and she rubbed them with her hand. Then -at once she saw a great many wonders she had not before perceived; -and the whole place assumed a new aspect to her. She said nothing, -and in the course of the day she saw a great deal more. Among other -things, she observed small men and small women going in and out -following a variety of occupations. But their movements were as light -as the morning breezes. To move about was no trouble to them, and they -brought things into the room with the greatest quickness. They prepared -dainty food for the confined lady with the utmost order and skill, -and the air of kindness and affection with which they served her -was truly remarkable. In the evening, as she was dressing the baby, -the midwife said to the lady, "You have had a great many visitors -to-day." To this she replied, "How do you know that? Have you been -putting this ointment to your eyes?" Thereupon she jumped out of bed, -and blew into her eyes, saying, "Now you will see no more." She -never afterwards could see the fairies, however much she tried, -nor was the ointment entrusted to her after that day." - -There is a version of this story located in the neighbourhood of -Llanuwchllyn, Merionethshire, and indeed in several other parts -of Wales. - - - -FAIRIES PLAYING TRICKS WITH THE OVEN. - -Miss Evelyn Lewes, Tyglyn Aeron, in the "Carmarthenshire Antiquities" -says, "Should the dough not rise properly, but present a stringy -appearance, the Cardiganshire housewife announces that "Mae bara -yn robin," and forthwith orders the sacrifice of an old slipper, -presumably to propitiate the fairy folk who are inclined to play -tricks with the oven.... A native of Montgomeryshire tells me that -in her youth no loaf at her home was ever placed in the oven unless -a cross had been previously signed upon it." - - - -FAIRY GLOVES. - -Mrs. A. Crawley-Boevey, of Birchgrove, Crosswood, a lady who is -greatly interested in Folk-Lore, informed me that it is believed in -Gloucestershire that the Fairies live in Fox Gloves. I have not so -far discovered this belief in Wales, but Fox Glove is called in some -part of the Principality Menyg y Tylwyth Teg (Fairy Gloves). Also -Menyg Ellyllon (Elves Gloves). - - - -FAIRY KNOCKERS. - -Knockers were supposed to be a species of Fairies which haunted the -mines, and underground regions, and whose province it was to indicate -by knocks and other sounds, the presence of rich veins of ore. That -miners in former times did really believe in the existence of such -beings is quite evident from the following two letters written by Lewis -Morris (great grandfather of Sir Lewis Morris the poet) in October -14th, 1754, and December 4th, 1754. They appeared in Bingley's North -Wales, Vol. II., pages 269-272: - -"People who know very little of arts or sciences, or the powers of -nature (which, in other words are the powers of the author of nature), -will laugh at us Cardiganshire miners, who maintain the existence of -"Knockers" in mines, a kind of good-natured impalpable people not to -be seen, but heard, and who seem to us to work in the mines; that -is to say, they are the types or forerunners of working in mines, -as dreams are of some accidents, which happen to us. The barometer -falls before rain, or storms. If we do not know the construction of -it, we should call it a kind of dream that foretells rain; but we -know it is natural, and produced by natural means, comprehended by -us. Now, how are we sure, or anybody sure, but that our dreams are -produced by the same natural means? There is some faint resemblance -of this in the sense of hearing; the bird is killed before we hear -the report of the gun. However, this is, I must speak well of the -"Knockers," for they have actually stood my good-friends, whether -they are aerial beings called spirits, or whether they are a people -made of matter, not to be felt by our gross bodies, as air and fire -and the like. "Before the discovery of the "Esgair y Mwyn" mine, -these little people, as we call them here, worked hard there day and -night; and there are honest, sober people, who have heard them, and -some persons who have no notion of them or of mines either; but after -the discovery of the great ore they were heard no more. When I began -to work at Llwyn Llwyd, they worked so fresh there for a considerable -time that they frightened some young workmen out of the work. This was -when we were driving levels, and before we had got any ore; but when -we came to the ore, they then gave over, and I heard no more talk of -them. Our old miners are no more concerned at hearing them "blasting," -boring holes, landing "deads," etc., than if they were some of their -own people; and a single miner will stay in the work, in the dead of -night, without any man near him, and never think of any fear of any -harm they will do him. The miners have a notion that the "knockers" -are of their own tribe and profession, and are a harmless people who -mean well. Three or four miners together shall hear them sometimes, -but if the miners stop to take notice of them, the "knockers" will -also stop; but, let the miners go on at their work, suppose it is -"boring," the "knockers" will at the same time go on as brisk as can -be in landing, "blasting." or beating down the "loose," and they are -always heard a little distance from them before they come to the ore. - -"These are odd assertions, but they are certainly facts, though we -cannot, and do not pretend to account for them. We have now very -good ore at "Llwyn Llwyd," where the "knockers" were heard to work, -but we have now yielded the place, and are no more heard. Let who -will laugh, we have the greatest reason to rejoice, and thank the -"knockers," or rather God, who sends us these notices." - -The second letter is as follows:-- - -"I have no time to answer your objection against 'knockers'; I have -a large treatise collected on that head, and what Mr. Derham says is -nothing to the purpose. If sounds of voices, whispers, blasts, working, -or pumping, can be carried on a mile underground, they should always -be heard in the same place, and under the same advantages, and not -once in a month, a year, or two years. Just before the discovery of -ore last week, three men together in our work at "Llwyn Llwyd" were -ear-witnesses of "knockers," pumping, driving a wheelbarrow, etc.; -but there is no pump in the work, nor any mine within less than a -mile of it, in which there are pumps constantly going. If they were -these pumps that they heard, why were they never heard but that once -in the space of a year? And why are they not now heard? But the pumps -make so little noise that they cannot be heard in the other end of -"Esgair y Mwyn" mine when they are at work. We have a dumb and deaf -tailor in the neighbourhood who has a particular language of his -own by signs, and by practice I can understand him and make him -understand me pretty well, and I am sure I could make him learn to -write, and be understood by letters very soon, for he can distinguish -men already by the letters of their names. Now letters are marks to -convey ideas, just after the same manner as the motion of fingers, -hands, eyes, etc. If this man had really seen ore in the bottom of -a sink of water in a mine and wanted to tell me how to come at it, -he would take two sticks like a pump, and would make the motions of a -pumper at the very sink where he knew the ore was, and would make the -motions of driving a wheelbarrow. And what I should infer from thence -would be that I ought to take out the water and sink or drive in the -place, and wheel the stuff out. By parity of reasoning, the language -of "knockers," by imitating the sound of pumping, wheeling, etc., -signifies that we should take out the water and drive there. This is -the opinion of all old miners, who pretend to understand the language -of the "knockers." Our agent and manager, upon the strength of this -notice, goes on and expect great things. You, and everybody that is -not convinced of the being of "knockers," will laugh at these things, -for they sound like dreams; so does every dark science. Can you make -any illiterate man believe that it is possible to know the distance -of two places by looking at them? Human knowledge is but of small -extent, its bounds are within our view, we see nothing beyond these; -the great universal creation contains powers, etc., that we cannot -so much as guess at. May there not exist beings, and vast powers -infinitely smaller than the particles of air, to whom air is as hard -a body as the diamond is to us? Why not? There is neither great nor -small, but by comparison. Our "knockers" are some of these powers, -the guardians of mines. - -"You remember the story in Selden's Table-Talk of Sir Robert Cotton and -others disputing about Moses's shoe. Lady Cotton came in and asked, -'Gentlemen, are you sure it is a shoe?' So the first thing is to -convince mankind that there is a set of creatures, a degree or so -finer than we are, to whom we have given the name of "knockers" from -the sounds we hear in our mines. This is to be done by a collection -of their actions well attested, and that is what I have begun to do, -and then let everyone judge for himself." - -We do not hear of "Knockers" in Cardiganshire now; in Cornwall, -however, it is said that they still haunt the mines, and sometimes, -with a sound of knocking and singing, they guide a lucky miner to -find good ore. The "Knockers" were, it was once thought, "the Souls -of the Jews who crucified our Saviour." At least it seems that that -was the belief in Cornwall. Perhaps it would be of interest to add -that there were Cornishmen among the miners of Cardiganshire when -Mr. Lewis Morris wrote the two letters I have just given. - - - -A STORY OF PONT EINION (EINION BRIDGE) TREGARON. - -Mr. John Jones, Pontrhydfendigaid, who is now about 95 years of age, -related to me the following tale seven years ago:-- - -Long ago, when much of the land where now stand the farms of -Ystrad-Caron, Penylan, and Penybont, was a Common, a gentleman named -Einion, and his wife, came from Abergwaun (Fishguard) and settled in -the neighbourhood of Tregaron. Einion inclosed much of the land on -the banks of the river Teivy in that part, and built a fine mansion -which he called Ystrad-Caron, and soon became a most influential -man in the neighbourhood, especially as he was well-to-do, and had -generously constructed at his own expense, a bridge over the river -for the convenience of the poor people of Tregaron and the surrounding -districts. He also loved above everything his wife, and his harp, and -was considered one of the best players on that instrument in Wales; -but, unfortunately, as time went on, he failed to derive any pleasure -from his surroundings and soon became subject to "melancholia," -imagining that the place was haunted by some evil genius. - -At last, he was persuaded by his medical adviser to seek a change -of scenery by going to stay for a while in Pembrokeshire, his native -place. Soon after his arrival at Fishguard, he took a short sea voyage -from that port, but after some adventures, he and others of his fellow -passengers were taken prisoners by a French Man of War. - -After spending many years of his lifetime inside the strong walls of -a French prison, he at last succeeded to escape, and soon found his -way once more to the neighbourhood of Tregaron in Cardiganshire; but -to his great astonishment, as he neared his own house, Ystrad-Caron, -after so many years' absence, he heard some music and dancing. - -Clothed in rags he knocked at the back door, and pretended to be -a tramp. One of the maid servants took compassion on the "poor -old tramp," and allowed him to come in and warm himself near the -kitchen fire. - -"We are very busy here to-day," said she to him, "our mistress who -has been a widow for many years is about to get married again, and -the bride and bridegroom and a party of invited guests are now in the -parlour, but, unfortunately, not one of those present is able to tune -the harp, a fine old instrument which belonged to the lady's first -husband who went away from home and got drowned at sea many years -ago." "Please ask them to allow me to tune the harp," said Einion to -the maid. The girl then went to inform her mistress that there was -an old man in the kitchen who could tune the harp for them. - -Einion now entered the parlour, and to the astonishment of the bride -and bridegroom and the guests, soon tuned the harp; and as soon as -he began to play an old favourite tune of his: - - - "Myfi bia'm ty, a'm telyn, a'm tān," - (My house, and my harp, and my fire are mine). - - -The lady of the house recognised him at once as her husband. - -Then turning to the young bridegroom to whom she was engaged to be -married, addressed him thus:--"You may go now, as my husband has come -home to me once more." - -A short time after my visit to Mr. J. Jones, Pontrhydfendigaid, I -went to Tregaron, where I found out from Mr. Jenkin Lloyd (formerly -of Pant), and others, that the story of Pont Einion (Einion Bridge) -was well-known in the neighbourhood, but that Einion during the many -years he was away from home, was not in prison but among the Fairies. - -It seems probable that the above story is a modern local version -of a tale which is to be found in the Iolo MSS. entitled:--"Einion -Ap Gwalchmai and the Lady of the Greenwood," which I introduce here -for comparison:-- - -Einion, the son of Gwalchmai, the son of Meilir, of Treveilir in -Anglesey, married Angharad, the daughter of Ednyved Vychan. - -As he was one fine summer morning walking in the woods of Treveilir, -he beheld a graceful slender lady of elegant growth, and delicate -features; and her complexion surpassing every white and red in the -morning dawn, and the mountain snow, and every beautiful colour in the -blossoms of wood, field and hill. He felt in his heart an inconceivable -commotion of affection, and he approached her in a courteous manner, -and she also approached him in the same manner; and he saluted her, -and she returned his salutation; and by these mutual salutations -he perceived that his society was not disagreeable to her. He then -chanced to cast his eye upon her foot, and he saw that she had hoofs -instead of feet, and he became exceedingly dissatisfied. But she told -him that his dissatisfaction was all in vain. "Thou must" said she, -"follow me wheresoever I go, as long as I continue in my beauty, -for this is the consequence of our mutual affection." - -Then he requested of her permission to go to his house to take leave -of, and to say farewell to his wife, Angharad, and his son Einion. "I" -said she, "shall be with thee, invisible to all but to thyself; -go visit thy wife and thy son." - -So he went, and the Goblin; and when he saw Angharad his wife, he saw -her a hag-like one grown old, but he retained the recollection of days -past, and still felt extreme affection for her, but he was not able to -loose himself from the bond in which he was. "It is necessary for me" -said he, "to part for a time, I know not how long from thee Angharad, -and from thee my son Einion," and they wept together, and broke a -gold ring between them; he kept one half, and Angharad the other; -and they took their leave of each other, and he went with the Lady of -the Wood, and he knew not where; for a powerful illusion was upon him, -and saw not any place, a person, or object under its true and proper -appearance, excepting the half of the ring alone. And after being a -long time, he knew not how long, with the Goblin, the Lady of the Wood, -he looked one morning as the sun was rising upon the half of the ring, -and he bethought him to place it in the most precious place he could -and resolved to put it under his eyelid; and as he was endeavouring to -do so, he could see a man in white apparel, and mounted on a snow-white -horse, coming towards him, and that person asked him what he did there; -and he told him that he was cherishing an afflicting remembrance -of his wife Angharad. "Dos't thou desire to see her," said the man -in white, "get up on this horse behind me"; and that Einion did, -and looking around he could not see any appearance of the Lady of -the Wood, the Goblin; excepting the track of hoofs of marvellous and -monstrous size, as if journeying towards the north. "What delusion -art thou under?" said the man in white. Then Einion answered him and -told everything, how it occurred betwixt him and the Goblin. "Take -this white staff in thy hand," said the man in white; and Einion took -it. And the man in white told him to desire whatever he wished for. The -first thing he desired was to see the Lady of the Wood, for he was not -yet completely delivered from the illusion. And she appeared to him in -size a hideous and monstrous witch, a thousand times more repulsive -of aspect than the most frightful things seen upon earth. And Einion -uttered a cry from terror; and the man in white cast his cloak over -Einion, and in less than a twinkling Einion alighted as he wished on -the hill of Treveilir, by his own house, where he knew scarcely anyone, -nor did anyone know him. After the Goblin had left Einion, the son -of Gwalchmai, she went to Treveilir in the form of an honourable and -powerful nobleman elegantly and sumptuously appareled, and possessed -of an incalculable amount of gold and silver, and also in the prime -of life, that is thirty years of age. And he placed a letter in -Angharad's hand in which it was stated that Einion had died in Norway -more than nine years before, and he then exhibited his gold and wealth -to Angharad; and she, having in the course of time lost much of her -regret, listened to his affectionate address. And the illusion fell -upon her, and seeing that she should become a noble lady higher than -any in Wales, she named a day for her marriage with him. And there was -a great preparation of every elegant and sumptuous kind of apparel, -and of meats and drinks, and of every honourable guest, and every -excellence of song and string, and every preparation of banquet and -festive entertainment. And when the honourable saw a particularly -beautiful harp in Angharad's room, he wished to have it played on; -and the harpers present, the best in Wales, tried to put it in tune, -but were not able. And when everything was made ready for to proceed -to Church to be married, Einion came into the house and Angharad saw -him as an old decrepit, withered, gray-haired man, stooping with -age, and dressed in rags, and she asked him if he would turn the -spit whilst the meat was roasting. "I will," said he and went about -the work with the white staff in his hand after the manner of a man -carrying a pilgrim's staff. And after dinner had been prepared, all -the minstrels failing to put the harp in tune for Angharad, Einion -got up and took it in his hand, and tuned it, and played on it the -air which Angharad loved. And she marvelled exceedingly, and asked -him who he was. And he answered in song and stanza thus: - - - "Einion the golden-hearted, am I called by all around; - The son of Gwalchmai, Ap Meilir - My fond illusion continued long, - Evil thought of for my lengthened stay." - - "Where has thou been?" - - "In Kent, in Gwent, in the wood in Monmouth, in Maelor Gorwenydd; - And in the Valley of Gwyn, the son of Nudd, - See the bright gold is the token." - - -And he gave her the ring. - - - "Look not on the whitened hue of the hair. - Where once my aspect was spirited and bold; - Now gray, without disguise, where once it was yellow; - The blossoms of the grave--the end of all men. - The fate that so long affected me, it was time that should - alter me; - Never was Angharad out of my remembrance, - Einion was by thee forgotten." - - -And she could not bring him to her recollection. - -Then said he to the guests:-- - - - "If I have lost her whom I loved, the fair one of the polished - mind, - The daughter of Ednyved Vychan; - I have not lost (so get you out)-- - Either my bed, or my house, or my fire." - - -And upon that he placed the white staff in Angharad's hand, and -instantly the Goblin which she had hitherto seen as a handsome and -honourable nobleman, appeared to her as a monster, inconceivably -hideous; and fainted from fear, and Einion supported her until she -revived. And when she opened her eyes, she saw there neither the -Goblin, nor any of the guests, or of the minstrels, nor anything -whatever except Einion, and her son and the harp, and the house in its -domestic arrangement, and the dinner on the table, casting its savoury -odour around. And they sat down to eat; Einion and Angharad and Einion -their son; and exceeding great was the enjoyment. And they saw the -illusion which the demoniacal Goblin had cast over them. And by this -perchance may be seen that love of female beauty and gentleness is the -greatest fascination of man; the love of honours with their vanities -and riches, is the greatest fascination of woman. No man will forget -his wife, unless he sets his heart on the beauty of another; nor woman -her husband, unless she sets her heart on the riches and honour of -lordly vaingloriousness and the pomp of pride. And thus it ends." - -Ednyved Vychan, whose name is mentioned in the beginning of the -above story as Einion's father-in-law, was Lord of Brynffenigl in -Denbighshire, and flourished seven hundred years ago. He was a most -powerful chieftain, and from him descended in the male line Henry -VII. King of England, an ancestor to nearly all if not all the present -monarchs of Europe. - - - -MERMAIDS. - -It seems probable that the tradition of Mermaids is of the same origin -as that of fairies. - -In Campbell's Superstitions of the Scottish Highlands, it is stated -that a man in North Harris, caught a mermaid on a rock, and to -procure her release, she granted him his three wishes. He became -a skilful herb-doctor, who could cure the King's evil and other -diseases ordinarily incurable. This reminds us of the Fairy Lady of -Llyn y Fanfach in Carmarthenshire, revealing to her sons the medical -qualities of certain herbs and plants, thus enabling them to become -eminent doctors. - -In the Welsh tales the mermaid is described as half woman and half -fish: above the waist a lovely woman, but below the waist like a -fish. There are several mermaid stories on the west coast of Wales, -or perhaps, different versions of the same tale. - -It was believed that vengeance overtook those who showed cruelty to -these beings, and there is a tradition still extant in Carmarthenshire, -that a man who killed one of them in the neighbourhood of Pembrey, or -Kidwelly, brought a curse upon himself, his family and his descendants -until the ninth generation. - -In times gone by, it seems that Cardiganshire with a sea-coast of about -fifty miles, was noted for its mermaids; and according to Dryton, -at the Battle of Agincourt, the county had "a mermaid sitting on a -rock," as armorial bearings. - - - -THE MERMAID AND THE FISHERMEN. - -Mr. Lewis, Henbant, an old man who lives in the neighbourhood of -Llanarth, Cardiganshire, told me the following tale five years ago, -though I am indebted for some particulars to the Rev. D. Lewis, Vicar -of Llansantffread:--In times gone by a mermaid was often seen on a -rock known as Careg Ina, near New Quay. One day this sea creature -became entangled in the nets of some fishermen who were out fishing -some considerable distance from the land. She entreated the men to -disentangle her, and allow her to return to the water. Her request was -granted, and in gratitude the mermaid warned them of a coming storm, -and advised them to make for the shore without delay. This they did -hurriedly, and as they were nearing the land a terrific storm came -on suddenly, and it was with difficulty that they managed to land -safely. Other fishermen in another boat on the very same day, not -having the advantage of being warned by the mermaid, were caught by -the storm and met with a watery grave. - -I have also discovered a version of this story at Aberporth, a seaside -village some distance to the South of New Quay. - -It was formerly believed that there were mermen as well as mermaids, -though I have no Welsh tale of a merman. - - - -THE FISHERMEN OF LLANDUDOCH AND THE MERMAID. - -The following tale appeared in Welsh fifty years ago in "Y Brython," -Vol. I. page 73; and the writer was the late eminent Welshman -Gwynionydd, father of the present Vicar of Lledrod:-- - -"On a fine afternoon in September in the beginning of the last -century, a fisherman named Pergrin proceeded to a recess in the -rock near Pen Cemmes, (Pembrokeshire), and found there a mermaid -doing her hair, and he took the water lady prisoner to his boat. We -cannot imagine why the lady had not been more on her guard to avoid -such a calamity; but if sea maidens are anything like land maidens, -they often forget their duties when engaged in dealing with the oil -of Maccassar, and making themselves ready to meet the young men. We -know not what language is used by sea maidens ... but this one this -time at any rate, talked, it is said, very good Welsh; for when she -was in despair in Pergrin's custody weeping copiously, and with her -tresses all dishevelled, she called out "Pergrin, if thou wilt let me -go, I will give three shouts in the time of thy greatest need." So, -in wonder and fear he let her go to walk the streets of the deep and -visit her sweethearts there. Days and weeks passed without Pergrin -seeing her after this; but one hot afternoon, when the sea was pretty -calm, and the fishermen had no thought of danger, behold his old -acquaintance showing her head and locks, and shouting out in a loud -voice: "Pergrin! Pergrin! Pergrin! take up thy nets! take up thy -nets! take up thy nets!" Pergrin and his companion instantly obeyed -the message, and drew their nets in with great haste. In they went, -passed the bar, and by the time they had reached the Pwll Cam, the -most terrible storm had overspread the sea, while he and his companion -were safe on land. Twice nine others had gone out with them, but they -were all drowned, without having the chance of obeying the warning -of the water lady. - -A version of the above story is to be found also in Carnarvonshire, -North Wales. - - - -A MERMAID SEEN NEAR ABERYSTWYTH. - -The following tale appeared in the interesting Welsh Magazine "Seren -Gomer," for June, 1823:-- - -"Yn mis Gorphenaf, 1826, ffarmwr o blwyf Llanuwchaiarn, yn nghylch -tair milltir o Aberystwyth, ty anedd yr hwn sydd o fewn i 300 llath o -lan y mor, a aeth i wared i'r creigiau, pan yr oedd yr haul yn cyfodi -ac yn pelydru yn hyfryd ar y mor, a gwelai fenyw (fel y tybiai) -yn ymolchi yn y mor, o fewn i dafliad carreg ato; ar y cyntaf efe -o wylder a aeth yn ei ol, ond ar adfyfyriad meddyliodd na fuasai -un fenyw yn myned allan mor bell i'r mor, gan ei fod yr amser hwnw -yn llifo; ac hefyd yr oedd yn sicr fod y dwfr yn chwe' troedfedd o -ddyfnder yn y fan y gwelodd hi yn sefyll. Wedi meddwl felly, efe a -syrthiodd ar ei wyneb, ac a ymlusgodd yn mlaen i fin y dibyn o ba le -y cafodd olwg gyflawn arni dros fwy na haner awr. Wedi edrych digon -arni ei hun, efe a ymlusgodd yn ei ol, ac a redodd i alw ei deulu i -weled yr olygfa ryfeddol hon; wedi dywedid wrthynt yr hyn a welsai, -efe a'u cyfarwyddodd o'r drws pa fan i fyned, ac ymlusgo i ymyl y -graig fel y gwnaethai efe. Aeth rhai o honynt heb ond haner gwisgo, -canys yr oedd yn foreu, a hwythau ond newydd gyfodi; ac wedi dyfod i'r -fan, gwelsant hi dros o gylch deng mynyd, tra bu y ffarmwr yn galw ei -wraig a'i blentyn ieuangaf. Pan ddaeth y wraig yn mlaen, ni syrthiodd -hi i lawr, fel y gwnaethau y rhai eraill, ond cerddodd yn mlaen yn -ngolwg y creadur; eithr cyn gynted ag y gwelodd y For-Forwyn hi, -soddodd i'r dwfr, a nofiodd ymaith, nes oedd o gylch yr un pollder -oddiwrth y tir ag y gwelsid hi ar y cyntaf; a'r holl deulu, y gwr, -y wraig, a'r plant, y gweision, a'r morwynion, y rhai oeddynt oll yn -ddeuddeg o rifedi, a redasant ar hyd y lan dros fwy na haner milltir, -ac yn agos yr holl amser hwnw gwelent hi yn y mor, a rhai gweithiau yr -oedd ei phen a'i hysgwyddau oll y tu uchaf i'r dwfr. Yr oedd carreg -fawr, dros lathen o uchder yn y mor, ar ba un y safai pan welwyd hi -gyntaf. Yr oedd yn sefyll allan o'r dwfr o'i chanol i fynu, a'r holl -deulu a dystient ei bod yn gymwys yr un fath o ran dull a maintioli -a dynes ieuanc o gylch deunaw oed. Yr oedd ei gwallt yn o fyr, ac -o liw tywyll; ei gwyneb yn dra thlws; ci gwddf a'i breichiau fel -arferol; ei bronau yn rhesymol, a'i chroen yn wynach nag eiddo un -person a welsant erioed o'r blaen. Plygai yn fynych, fel pe buasai -yn cymeryd dwfr i fynu ac yna yn dala ei llaw o flaen ei hwyneb dros -oddeutu haner mynyd. Pan blygai ei hun felly, gwelid rhyw beth du, -fel pe buasai cynffon fer, yn troi i fyny y tu ol iddi. Gwnaethai ryw -swn yn fynych tebyg i disian, yr hwn a barai i'r graig i adseinio. Y -ffarmwr, yr hwn a gafodd gyfleusdra i edrych arni dros gymaint o amser, -a ddywedai na welodd ef ond ychydig iawn o wragedd mor hardd-deg yr -olwg a'r For-Forwyn hon. Y mae yr holl deulu, yr ieuengaf o ba rai sydd -yn un ar ddeg oed, yn awr yn fyw, a chawsom yr hanes hwn, air yn ngair, -fel ei rhoddir yma, oddiwrthynt hwy eu hunain o fewn y mis diweddaf." - -I have translated the above tale as literally as possible, almost -word for word, and in English it reads as follows:-- - -In the month of July, 1826, a farmer from the parish of Llanuwchaiarn, -about three miles from Aberystwyth, whose house is within 300 feet of -the seashore, descended the rock, when the sun was shining beautifully -upon the sea, and he saw a woman (as he thought) washing herself in -the sea within a stone's throw of him. At first, he modestly turned -back; but after a moment's reflection thought that a woman would not -go so far out into the sea, as it was flooded at the time, and he was -certain that the water was six feet deep in the spot where he saw her -standing. After considering the matter, he threw himself down on his -face and crept on to the edge of the precipice from which place he -had a good view of her for more than half-an-hour. After scrutinizing -her himself, he crept back to call his family to see this wonderful -sight. After telling them what he had seen, he directed them from the -door where to go and to creep near the rock as he had done. Some of -them went when they were only half dressed, for it was early in the -morning, and they had only just got up from bed. Arriving at the spot, -they looked at her for about ten minutes, as the farmer was calling -his wife and the younger child. When the wife came on, she did not -throw herself down as the others had done, but walked on within sight -of the creature; but as soon as the mermaid saw her, she dived into -the water, and swam away till she was about the same distance from -them as she was when she was first seen. The whole family, husband, -wife, children, menservants and maid-servants, altogether twelve in -number, ran along the shore for more than half-a-mile, and during -most of that time, they saw her in the sea, and sometimes her head -and shoulders were upwards out of the water. There was a large stone, -more than a yard in height, in the sea, on which she stood when she -was first seen. She was standing out of the water from her waist up, -and the whole family declared that she was exactly the same as a -young woman of about 18 years of age, both in shape and stature. Her -hair was short, and of a dark colour; her face rather handsome, -her neck and arms were like those of any ordinary woman, her breast -blameless and her skin whiter than that of any person they had ever -seen before. Her face was towards the shore. She bent herself down -frequently, as if taking up water, and then holding her hand before -her face for about half-a-minute. When she was thus bending herself, -there was to be seen some black thing as if there was a tail turning -up behind her. She often made some noise like sneezing, which caused -the rock to echo. The farmer who had first seen her, and had had the -opportunity of looking at her for some time, said that he had never -seen but very few women so handsome in appearance as this mermaid. - -All the family, the youngest of whom is now eleven years old, are now -alive, and we obtained this account, word for word, as it is given -here, from them themselves within the last month. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -GHOST STORIES. - - -The belief in the existence of Fairies in Wales has almost died out, -but we still find many people who are more or less superstitious -with regard to ghosts, spirits, etc., and the belief in death omens -is rather popular, even among educated people. - -The majority of the Welsh ghosts were supposed to be the spirits or -shades of departed mortals, re-appearing on account of some neglected -duty, and in many cases to point out some hidden treasure; for it -was thought that if a person dies, while his money (or any metal) -is still hidden secretly, the spirit of that person cannot rest until -it is revealed. It was also supposed that the spirits of the murdered -haunted the place where their unburied bodies lay, or until vengeance -overtook the murderer, "and the wicked were doomed to walk the earth -until they were laid in lake or river, or in the Red Sea." It was -also thought in former days, if not at present, that the evil one -himself appears sometimes in some form or other; but good spirits -are seen as well as bad ones. I have heard it said by some that -only those who have been born in the night time have the power to -see spirits; others say that spirits take more fancy to some persons -than others. It was also thought that if two persons were together, -one only could see the spirit, to the other he was invisible, and to -one person only would the Spirit speak, and this he would do when -addressed; for according to the laws of the Spirit world, a Spirit -or a ghost has no power of speech until first spoken to. - -"Its persistency in haunting is due to its eager desire to speak, and -tell its urgent errand, but the person haunted must take his courage -in both hands and put the question to the issue. Having done so, he -is booked for the end of the business, be it what it may. The mode -of speech adopted must not vary, in addressing a Spirit; in the name -of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, it must be addressed, and not -otherwise. Its business must be demanded; three times the question -must be repeated, unless the ghost answer earlier. When it answers, -it speaks in a low hollow voice, stating its desire; and it must not -be interrupted while speaking for to interrupt it is dangerous in the -extreme. At the close of its remarks, questions are in order. They -must be promptly delivered, however, or the ghost will vanish. They -must bear on the business in hand; it is offended if asked as to its -state, or other idle questions born of curiosity. Neglect to obey the -ghost's injunctions will lead to much annoyance, and eventually to dire -results. At first the Spirit will appear with a discontented visage, -next with an angry one, and finally with a countenance distorted with -the most ferocious rage." "British Goblins," page 148. - -Men sometimes were transported by the spirits through the air, and -the Fairies did this also as well as ghosts. About two years ago, an -old man at Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire, gave me a remarkable account -of the transportation of a well-known character who lived in that -parish some years ago known as "Evan y Gweydd" (Evan the Weaver). A -version of the story had appeared in Welsh twenty-five years ago, -in an interesting little book entitled "Lloffion Adgof," by T. Edwards. - - - -THE WEAVER OF LLANSADWRN TRANSPORTED THROUGH THE AIR BY A SPIRIT. - -One night Evan y Gweydd found himself speaking with a Spirit who -appeared to him in the form of a gentleman outside the house. The -gentleman asked him whether he would do one thing at his request. "Yes, -if I can," said Evan, in reply. "That is a promise which must be -kept," said the spirit, "and thou shalt have no peace until thou -hast performed it; name the time and sooner the better." Evan said, -"three weeks to to-night." "Very well," said the Spirit, and off it -went. Poor Evan by this began to feel very sorry for making such -a promise, and when the time came round when he was to fulfil his -promise, he barred the door of the house and went to bed; but he -was not there long before he was thrown down on the floor, and found -himself pushed out through the wide open door, unceremoniously, hardly -having time to put on his clothes. After going out he saw the same -gentleman as before, or rather the spirit which assumed the form of -a gentleman who ordered Evan to follow him without delay to a place -called Glan-ty-Bedw, where there was a very large stone, with an iron -chest concealed beneath it. Then the spirit ordered him to take hold -of the box and carry it and throw it into the Fanfach Lake many miles -away. On Sunday morning as they passed through the village of Myddfe -on their way to this lake, Evan noticed the people going to Church, -some of whom he knew, but it seems that they did not see him, and -his companion, or at least they did not seem to notice them. After -reaching the lake and throwing in the chest, there came thunder and -lightning, and Evan was carried through the air in a kind of half -trance. When he came to himself he found himself on the banks of -the river Towy, between that river and Llansadwrn, and not far from -his home. When he reached the house he went to bed, and was very ill -for some time. According to some versions of the story, the spirit -compelled him to throw an iron into the Cothy river near Edwinsford, -as well as a chest into the Fan Lake. - -In aerial journey of this kind, the spirit generally gives the mortal -the choice of being transported "above wind, amid wind, or below -wind." The man who chooses to go above wind is borne to an altitude -somewhat equal to that of a balloon, so high that he is in danger of -being frightened to death. But choosing the below wind is quite as bad -and even worse, for the hapless mortal is then dragged through bush -and briar. The safest way is always to remember to select the middle -course (amid wind), for this ensures a pleasant transportation at a -moderate elevation equally removed from the branches and the clouds. - -There was a certain man in the neighbourhood of Pontyberem, in -Carmarthenshire, to whom a spirit appeared almost every night, and -offered him an aerial journey of this description, giving him the -choice of above wind, amid wind, or below wind, and on one occasion -he was dragged by the ghost through bush and briar that his clothes -were all in rags. - - - -SPIRITS THROWING STONES. - -An old man named John Jones, who lives at Pontrhydfendigaid, informed -me that a ghost which haunted a farm between Pontrhydfendigaid and -Tregaron, was engaged in the dangerous game of stone-throwing to the -great discomfort of the family. There are several such stories in -different parts of the country. - -I found the following strange tale in an old Welsh book entitled, -"Golwg ar y Byd," written by the Rev. D. Lewis, Vicar of Llangattwg, -Glamorganshire, and printed at Carmarthen in 1725: - - - -CHWEDL AM YSPRYD. - -"Yn mhlwyf Llangeler, yn Sir Gaerfyrddin, Mai 21ain, 1719, y dechreuodd -yspryd yr hwn a barhaodd dros hir amser, i daflu ceryg at rhai oedd -yn y maes yno. Dydd Iau y Sulgwyn y dechreuwyd dyrnu, oddeutu wyth y -boreu, ac y dechreuodd yntau daflu ceryg. Un o'r dyrnwyr yn gyntaf a -welodd y gareg yn disgyn ar y llawr dyrnu. Yr ail gareg a ddisgynodd ar -glin morwyn y ty, nes ydoedd clais arni; ac yn mhen ychydig llanwasant -y llawr dyrnu a'r twyn oddiamgylch, yr hyn a wnaethant wedi hyny. Y -dyrnwyr a roisant heibio eu gwaith, ac a aethant i edrych pwy oedd -yn eu taflu hwynt, ond ni allasent weled neb. - -"Dydd Gwener,--Y forwyn, pan yn yr ardd, a darawyd dair gwaith. Tarawyd -amryw o'r plant, nes iddynt fyned allan o'r ty. Daeth llawer yn nghyd -i weled y rhyfeddodau hyn, ac yr oedd pawb ag oedd yn dyfod yn cael -gweled y ceryg yn disgyn. - -"Dydd Sadwrn,--Tarawyd y forwyn ac un o'r dyrnwyr. Yr oedd rhai ceryg -yn chwyrnu, ac megys cleisiau ar amryw o honynt. Y ceryg ni welid -nes byddent yn disgyn, a phan godid hwynt byddai eu hol ar y llawr, -megys pe byddent yno flwyddyn o'r blaen. Daeth pawl mawr yn groes i'r -ffenestr, heb neb gweledig yn dyfod ag ef. Rhai ni chredent nes danfon -cenadon i weled, ac i gyrchu rhai ceryg adref i'w tai. Cyfodwyd cyff -mawr o bren o'r croch i ben y ty, ac a ddisgynodd mewn man arall. - -"Dydd Sul,--Daeth llawer iawn yn nghyd i weled, ac amryw o -honynt yn tyngu ac yn rhegu, ac yn siarad yn gableddus ac yn -ysgafn. Disgynodd ceryg mawrion ar y lloft yn y ty, ond ni welwyd hwynt -nes disgynent. Tarawyd bar haiarn allan o'r ffenestr, a phlygwyd un -arall fel bach ysdarn; a'r ffenestr a dorwyd yn friwion man. Wedi'r nos -daeth ceryg i'r gwelyau, a chloriau'r ffenestri a aethant i'r llofft; -a gorfu ar dylwyth y ty gyfodi o'u gwelyau a myned i dy cymydog. Nid -oedd ond y ceryg yn llawn yn y ty ac oddiamgylch iddo. - -"Nos Fercher,--Llosgwyd yr ysgubor a'r llafur, a llawer o bethau -eraill; yr oedd ef bob dydd yn taflu ceryg, ond nid bob awr. Yr oedd -weithiau yn taflu mor gynted ag y gellid eu rhifo, a'r rhan fwyaf -o honynt yn geryg afon, a rhai o honynt yn chwech pwys neu ragor -o bwysau. - -"Daeth cymydogion yn nghyd un noswaith i weddio ar Dduw yn y ty, -ac ni fu yno fawr o stwr y noson hono. Llawer o bethau yn rhagor a -wnaeth efe, ond o'r diwedd efe a ddarfu ac a beidiodd." - -For the benefit of those who are unable to read Welsh, I give the -following translation of the above account:-- - - - -A STORY OF A GHOST THROWING STONES AT LLANGELER. - -In the parish of Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, May 21st., 1719, -a spirit, which continued for some time, began to throw stones at -those who were in the field. On Thursday in Whitsun week, at eight in -the morning, the thrashing began (at a farm) and at the same time he -(the spirit) began to throw stones. At first it was one of the men -who were thrashing that noticed a stone descending on the thrashing -floor. The second stone fell on the leg of the housemaid, wounding -her; and after this, very shortly, they filled the thrashing floor -and the place around. The men who were thrashing gave up their work, -and went to see who were throwing them, but could see no one. - -Friday.--The servant maid in the garden was struck three times. Several -of the children were struck till they went out of the house. A large -number of people came together to see these wonders, and all who came -were allowed to see the stones descending. - -Saturday.--The servant maid and one of the thrashers were struck. Some -of the stones were rattling, and something like marks on several of -them. The stones were not seen till they fell, and when they were -taken up marks of them were on the floor as if they had been there -from the year before. A large pole came right across the window -without any one visibly bringing it. Some people believed not, till -they sent messengers to see, and to bring home some of the stones -to their houses. A big stump of wood was taken up from the boiler to -the house top, and fell in another place. - -Sunday.--A large number of people came together to see, and several of -them cursing and swearing, and speaking lightly and blasphemously. Big -stones fell on the loft of the house, but were not seen till they -had descended. An iron bar was struck out of the window, and another -one bent as a packsaddle's hook; and the window was broken all to -pieces. After dark the stones came into the beds, and window frames -went to the loft, so that the family of the house were obliged to get -up from their beds and go to a neighbour's house. Nothing but stones -could be seen filling the house and surrounding it. - -Wednesday Night.--The barn and the corn as well as many other things -were burnt; he (the spirit) was throwing stones every day, though -not every hour. Sometimes the stones were thrown as fast as one could -reckon them, most of which were river stones, and some of them weighing -about seven pounds or more. Neighbours came together to pray to God in -the house, and there was not much noise in the house that night. Many -other things were done by the spirit, but he at last ceased. - -There was a troublesome ghost of this kind now recently in the Vale -of Towy, Carmarthenshire. - - - -SPIRITS AND HIDDEN TREASURE. - -In some of the places supposed to be haunted there are often traditions -of buried treasures in connection with such spots. In some of the -stories the ghost haunts some particular person only, and never gives -him rest till its purpose is accomplished. - -Mr. Hall, in his most valuable and interesting "Book of South Wales" -gives a tale of: - - - -A CARPENTER WHO WAS HAUNTED BY A "WHITE LADY." - -This man had no peace night or day, for the "White Lady" appeared -to him with an agonizing expression of countenance, at unexpected -times, and unexpected places. Once in a field to which there were -several entrances, she appeared and opposed his exit. Trembling, -he sought another, but there, too, was she. He fainted, and did not -leave the field, till he was found there by persons who happened to -pass. At last some considerable amount of jewels and other valuables -were found by the man, in the secret drawer of an old escritoir, -which he was repairing for a family that resided near. The valuables -were immediately handed over to the owner of the escritoir and the -"White Lady" did not appear afterwards. - -Another remarkable story of this class is told in the northern part -of Cardiganshire; and I found the following version of it in a "Scrap -Book" of Mr. William Davies, Talybont, an eminent Folk-Lorist:-- - - - -THE "WHITE LADY" OF BROGININ, OR A GHOST REVEALING HIDDEN MONEY TO -A YOUNG LOVER. - -Broginin is a farm house where the famous Welsh Bard, Dafydd -Ap Gwilym was born, and situated six miles from Aberystwyth in -Cardiganshire. Some years ago the respectable and industrious family -who lived there at the time, were often disturbed by some unearthly -being who generally made his appearance in the depth of night, -as it is the case with spirits. This unwelcome visitor aroused the -whole family by walking up and down the stairs, or from one room into -another. Sometimes he closed the doors behind him, making such noise -as to strike terror to the hearts of all in the house. At times, -he lighted up the whole house at once with gleaming light, and the -next moment vanished as suddenly as he came, leaving behind him -utter darkness. Occasionally, the same ghost was seen by some of the -servantmen, who had been out courting, walking across the farmyard in -the form of a "white lady," appearing as a tall handsome lady attired -in lustring white dress, and her face covered by silken veil. This -"White Lady" walked towards the young men, and suddenly disappeared -in a tremendous ball of fire. People were so terrified by such sights, -that several families, one after another moved away from the house. One -Sunday evening, however, about the beginning of winter, when all -the family as usual had gone to chapel, except the servant maid, -who did not feel well, her lover came to keep her company. Naturally, -the young man and the young woman began to talk about the ghost, and -Evan (for that was the young man's name) laughed, and boasted what -he was going to do should the disturber appear. But the next moment, -without the least notice, a lady in her white dress stood right in the -middle of the room, with her face uncovered, and her brown curly hair -down over her shoulders. She held in one hand a comb and in the other -a roll of paper, but she did not whisper a word. The servant maid, -and her young man who had just been boasting shuddered in terror, and -dared not move or utter a word. The "lady" walked round the apartment -several times; then suddenly stood; and having opened the door through -which she had entered without opening, beckoned the young man to follow -her. As he dared not disobey, he followed her up stairs, into a dark -back room, but which was now lighted up in some mysterious way. With -her finger she pointed out a particular corner under the low roof, -at which place the young man with his trembling hand found some hard -parcel carefully tied in an old woollen stocking. When he opened it -he found it full of money, and at the same moment the "White Lady" -vanished and never disturbed the house again. - - - -A GHOST REVEALING HIDDEN TREASURE TO A FARMER IN THE PARISH OF -LLANAFAN. - -Crosswood Park, the fine residence of my esteemed young friend the -Earl of Lisburne, is situated about nine miles from Aberystwyth. About -two miles from the Park is a bridge over the river Ystwyth, known as -Pont Llanafan (Llanafan Bridge). - -This bridge is supposed to be haunted, and I have been told that -a ghost has been seen there lately by a gentleman who lives in the -district. - -Mr. John Jones, an old man of 95, who lives at Pontrhydfendigaid, -informed me that the origin of this ghost is to be traced to some -former days when retired pirates lived in a house near the Bridge, and -who were supposed to have hidden some treasure in the spot. Mr. Jones -also gave me the following story of a farmer named Edwards, who -lived in a small farm house near the bridge two or three generations -ago:--The poor farmer worked very hard, but for some time he was -continually molested by a mischievous ghost day and night. In the -evening when Edwards sat down in the corner eating his supper, which -consisted of bread and milk, stones came down through the chimney, or -ashes were thrown into his milk by some invisible hand. At another time -the ghost was heard thrashing in the barn, or meddling with something -continually. One day when the man was engaged in making a new fence -round his field, the troublesome visitor from the other world kept -with him all day, and threw down both the fence and the gate. Edwards -at last decided to address the spirit in these word:--"Yn enw Duw, -paham yr wyt yn fy aflonyddi o hyd?" which means in English, "In the -name of God, why doest thou trouble me continually?" We are not told -what was the reply of the spirit, but it was generally believed by -the neighbours that he revealed to the farmer some hidden treasure -in an old wall not far from the house. Edwards took down this wall -and built a new house with the stones and greatly prospered. It was -also said that he had been comparatively poor once, but ever since -his conversation with the spirit, his cattle and his horses soon -increased and fortune and good luck smiled on him all round. About two -years ago when I related this story to a friend of mine who lives at -Pontrhydfendigaid, to my great surprise, his wife informed me that -the account is quite true. "Yes," said she, "and I got £500 of the -Ghost's money." The lady, strange to say, happened to be a descendant, -or at least a near relation of the Llanafan farmer to whom the ghost -revealed the hidden treasure. - -Not far from the same Llanafan bridge there is a rock known as -"Craig yr Ogof" (Rock of the Cave). Countess Amherst, (now Dowager) -informed me that there is a tradition in the neighbourhood that the -Romans buried treasures there. - - - -THE GLANFREAD FAWR GHOST REVEALING HIDDEN MONEY TO THE HOUSEMAID. - -Glanfread is a respectable farm house, but in former days it was a -mansion of some note, situated in the North of Cardiganshire. In -connection with Glanfread there is a ghost tale, and I found the -best version of it in a Welsh manuscript kindly lent me by Dr. James, -Lodge Park, Talybont:-- - -Once upon a time there lived at this house an old gentleman whose two -nieces on one occasion came to spend with him their Christmas holidays -at Glanfread. One evening, the two young ladies, who were sisters, -and the housemaid sat down late playing cards. As they kept on playing -till a very late hour, the fire was going out, and they began to feel -cold; so the maiden went out of the house for some firewood in order -to warm themselves before retiring to bed. For some reason or other, -however, she was very long in returning with the wood to put on the -fire, and when she did return, she fell on the floor in a swoon, -that they were obliged to carry her to bed. Next morning when they -asked what had caused her to faint, she declined giving any reply; -and even when her master, gun in hand, threatened to take her life -unless she confessed what had happened, she still persisted in keeping -all the mystery to herself. The fact of it was, the girl kept company -to one of the farm servants, if not engaged, and very soon they were -married, and took a very large farm--a farm which is well-known -in North Cardiganshire. All their acquaintances were very greatly -surprised how could a poor servant man and servant woman afford to -begin farming on such a large scale, when it was known that they -had but very little money to start on such an undertaking. And the -general opinion was that a spirit had revealed to the servant woman -some hidden treasure on the night she fainted. - - - -A GHOST APPEARING TO POINT OUT HIDDEN TREASURE IN RADNORSHIRE. - -There is a story in Radnorshire, that a palace not far from the -neighbourhood of Abbey Cwm Hir, was once haunted by a Spirit, which -appeared in various forms and made such terrible noise that no one -cared to live in the house for a long time. At last, however, a young -gentleman who had newly married had the courage to face the ghost, -and discovered most valuable treasures which had been hidden in the -ground near the house. The spot where the gold had been buried was -pointed out to the young man by the Spirit, and the house was never -haunted after this. - -It is a well-known fact that a Spirit revealed hidden treasure to a -Baptist Minister, who lived in a respectable old mansion somewhere -not far from Nevern in Pembrokeshire. I met with several persons at -Eglwyswrw and other places, who vouched for the truth of the fact. The -treasure had been hidden, so it is said, in the time of Cromwell. - -Some of the ghosts who reveal hidden money are not always -generous. According to the Rev. Edmund Jones, the ghost of one Anne -Dewy, a woman who had hanged herself, compelled a young man in the -Vale of Towy, Carmarthenshire, to cast into the river a bag of money -which had been hid in the wall of a house. Instead of keeping the money -himself, the young man obeyed the ghost against his better judgment, -and the sum concerned was "£200 or more." - - - -THE POWIS CASTLE GHOST STORY. - -The following ghost story is recorded in the autobiography of the -grandfather of the late Mr. Thomas Wright, the eminent Shropshire -antiquary:-- - -It had been for some time reported in the neighbourhood that a -poor unmarried woman, who was a member of the Methodist Society, -and had become serious under their ministry, had seen and conversed -with the apparition of a gentleman, who had made a strange discovery -to her. Mr. Hampson (a preacher among the Methodists about the end -of the 18th century) being desirous to ascertain if there was any -truth in the story, sent for the woman, and desired her to give him -an exact relation of the whole affair from her own mouth, and as near -the truth as she possibly could. She said she was a poor woman, who -got her living by spinning hemp or line; that it was customary for the -farmers and gentlemen of that neighbourhood to grow a little hemp or -line in a corner of their fields for their own consumption, and as -she was a good hand at spinning the materials, she used to go from -house to house to inquire for work; that her method was, where they -employed her, during her stay, to have meat, and drink, and lodging -(if she had occasion to sleep with them), for her work, and what they -pleased to give her besides. That, among other places, she happened -to call one day at the Welsh Earl of Powis's country seat, called -Redcastle, to inquire for work, as she usually had done before. The -quality were at this time in London, and had left the steward and his -wife, with other servants, as usual, to take care of their country -residence in their absence. The steward's wife set her to work, and -in the evening told her that she must stay all night with them, as -they had more work for her to do next day. When bedtime arrived, two -or three servants in company, with each a lighted candle in her hand, -conducted her to her lodging. They led her to a ground room, with a -boarded floor, and two sash windows. The room was grandly furnished, -and had a genteel bed in one corner of it. They had made her a good -fire, and had placed her a chair and a table before it, and a large -lighted candle upon the table. They told her that was her bedroom, -and that she might go to sleep when she pleased. They then wished her -a good night and withdrew altogether, pulling the door quickly after -them, so as to hasp the spring-snech in the brass lock that was upon -it. When they were gone, she gazed awhile at the fine furniture, under -no small astonishment that they should put such a poor person as her -in so grand a room, and bed, with all the apparatus of fire, chair, -table, and a candle. She was also surprised at the circumstance of the -servants coming so many together, with each of them a candle. However, -after gazing about her some little time, she sat down and took a -small Welsh Bible out of her pocket, which she always carried about -with her, and in which she usually read a chapter--chiefly in the -New Testament--before she said her prayers and went to bed. While -she was reading she heard the door open, and turning her head, saw a -gentleman enter in a gold-laced hat and waistcoat, and the rest of -his dress corresponding therewith. I think she was very particular -in describing the rest of his dress to Mr. Hampson, and he to me at -the time, but I have now forgot the other particulars. He walked down -by the sash-window to the corner of the room and then returned. When -he came to the first window in his return (the bottom of which was -nearly breast high), he rested his elbow on the bottom of the window, -and the side of his face upon the palm of the hand, and stood in that -leaning posture for some time, with his side partly towards her. She -looked at him earnestly to see if she knew him, but, though from her -frequent intercourse with them, she had a personal knowledge of all the -present family, he appeared a stranger to her. She supposed afterwards -that he stood in this manner to encourage her to speak; but as she did -not, after some little time he walked off, pulling the door after him -as the servants had done before. She began now to be much alarmed, -concluding it to be an apparition, and that they had put her there -on purpose. This was really the case. The room, it seems, had been -disturbed for a long time, so that nobody could sleep peaceably in it, -and as she passed for a very serious woman, the servants took it into -their heads to put the Methodist and Spirit together, to see what -they would make of it. Startled at this thought, she rose from her -chair, and knelt down by the bedside to say her prayers. While she was -praying he came in again, walked round the room, and came close behind -her. She had it on her mind to speak, but when she attempted it she was -so very much agitated that she could not utter a word. He walked out -of the room again, pulling the door after him as before. She begged -that God would strengthen her and not suffer her to be tried beyond -what she could bear. She recovered her spirits, and thought she felt -more confidence and resolution, and determined if he came in again -she would speak to him. He presently came in again, walked round and -came behind her as before; she turned her head and said, "Pray, sir, -who are you, and what do you want?" He put up his finger, and said, -"Take up the candle and follow me, and I will tell you." She got up, -took up the candle, and followed him out of the room. He led her -through a long boarded passage till they came to the door of another -room, which he opened and went in. It was a small room, or what might -be called a large closet. "As the room was small, and I believed -him to be a Spirit," she said, "I stopped at the door; he turned -and said, 'Walk in, I will not hurt you.' So I walked in. He said, -'Observe what I do.' I said, 'I will.' He stooped, and tore up one -of the boards of the floor, and there appeared under it a box with an -iron handle in the lid. He said, 'Do you see that box?' I said, 'Yes, -I do.' He then stepped to one side of the room, and showed me a crevice -in the wall, where he said a key was hid that would open it. He said -'This box and key must be taken out, and sent to the Earl in London' -(naming the Earl, and his place of residence in the city). He said, -'Will you see it done?' I said, 'I will do my best to get it done.' He -said, 'Do, and I will trouble the house no more.' He then walked out -of the room and left me. (He seems to have been a very civil Spirit, -and to have been very careful to affright her as little as possible). I -stepped to the room door and set up a shout. The steward and his wife, -and the other servants came to me immediately, all clung together, with -a number of lights in their hands. It seems they all had been waiting -to see the issue of the interview betwixt me and the apparition. They -asked me what was the matter? I told them the foregoing circumstances, -and showed them the box. The steward durst not meddle with it, but -his wife had more courage, and with the help of the other servants, -lugged it out, and found the key." She said by their lifting it -appeared to be pretty heavy, but that she did not see it opened, and, -therefore, did not know what it contained; perhaps money, or writings -of consequence to the family, or both. They took it away with them, -and she then went to bed and slept peaceably till the morning. It -appeared afterwards that they sent the box to the Earl in London, -with an account of the manner of its discovery and by whom; and the -Earl sent down orders immediately to his steward to inform the poor -woman who had been the occasion of this discovery, that if she would -come and reside in his family, she should be comfortably provided for, -for the remainder of her days; or, if she did not choose to reside -constantly with them, if she would let them know when she wanted -assistance, she should be liberally supplied, at his Lordship's -expense as long as he lived. And Mr. Hampson said it was a known -fact in the neighbourhood that she had been so supplied from his -Lordship's family from the time the affair was said to have happened, -and continued to be so at the time she gave Mr. Hampson this account. - -To touch or dig for buried treasures guarded by a ghost without -the ghost's consent always brings thunder and lightning. Such is the -tradition in connection with "Carreg y Bwci" on the top of Craig Twrch, -on the borders of Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. - -Many of the tales displaying the motive, on the ghost's part of a duty -to perform--sometimes clearly defining, sometimes vaguely suggesting -it, as in the story of Noe. - -The evening was far gone when a traveller of the name of Noe arrived at -an Inn in Pembrokeshire, and called for refreshments. After remaining -sometime he remarked that he must proceed on his journey. 'Surely,' -said the astonished landlord, 'You will not travel at night for it is -said that a ghost haunts that road,' crying out, 'The days are long -and the nights are cold to wait for Noe. O, I am the man sought for,' -said he, and immediately departed; but, strange to say, neither Noe -nor the ghost was ever heard of afterwards. - -An old woman in Pembrokeshire informed me that the scene of the above -tale was a house in the neighbourhood of Letterston. - -Another story of this class appeared in an interesting little Welsh -book entitled "Ysten Sioned," published by Hughes and Son, Wrexham. - -There was a farmhouse in a certain part of West Wales, in which a -large and respectable family lived. But there was one room in the -house haunted by a troublesome spirit which often cried out in a -mournful voice, "Hir yw'r dydd, a hir yw'r nos, a hir yw aros Arawn" -(long is the day, and long is the night, and long is waiting for -Arawn). Things went on in this manner for a long time, and not one -hardly ventured to open the door of that room. But one cold winter -evening when every member of the family sat around the fire, before -supper, somebody called at the door of the house, and a stranger was -welcomed in to warm himself by the fire. The stranger asked for some -food and a bed for the night. He was told he was welcomed of food, but -that they were sorry they could not offer him a bed, as all the beds -were hardly enough for themselves, and that the only spare bed-room -in the house was haunted. Then the stranger begged to be allowed to -sleep in that room, as he felt sure that there was nothing to do him -harm there. The man appeared very tired, and spoke but little except -in reply to questions, and when it was found out that his name was -"Arawn," all the family looked into each's face in great surprise. The -stranger presently went to bed in the haunted room, and strange to -say everything was quiet in that room that night, that is, no spirit -was heard as usual crying and moving things about. When the family -got up next morning, the first thing was to find out what kind of -night the stranger passed in the haunted room, but to the surprise -of all the man was gone, and the ghost was also gone, for the room -was never haunted afterwards. - - - -THE SPIRIT OF A LIVING MAN. - -Good many people in Wales who laugh at the idea of a ghost, readily -admit the possibility of the appearance of a living man's spirit -(Yspryd Dyn Byw). - - - -THE SPIRIT OF A LIVING MAN APPEARING TO A LITTLE GIRL AT PONTSHAN. - -An old lady named Miss Pergrin, who lives at Pontshan, Llandyssul, -informed me about five years ago, that when she was a little girl -of about eleven years of age, a certain man who lived in that -neighbourhood had gone from home, for some months, and just about -the time when he was expected to return the little girl was one day -walking along the road near the village, about two o'clock in the -afternoon. She suddenly met the man coming home. He was coming along -the road towards her, and looked at her, and then suddenly disappeared -through a gate into an adjoining field. She was very much surprised, -as the man was not expected home till next day. The next moment two -sisters of the man appeared on the scene, and the girl informed them -that she had just seen their brother, and inquired whether they had -met him as they passed along the same road about the same time. But -they in reply positively affirmed that they had seen no sight of him -on the road or anywhere else since he left home, and that the girl -must have been dreaming or inventing some idle tale, for their brother -was not returning home till to-morrow. About 2 p.m., the next day, -the man did come home, and, strange to say, it was found out that -the day Miss Pergrin had seen him, he was far away from the district, -so it was concluded that she had seen his spirit, and that in broad -daylight. Miss Pergrin did not like to give the man's name. - - - -SPIRIT OF A LIVING WOMAN SEEN ON A MOONLIGHT NIGHT, NEAR LLANYBRI -IN CARMARTHENSHIRE. - -A woman named Mrs. M. Davies, who lives in the small village of -Llanybri, in Carmarthenshire, informed me that her mother when a -young woman, was going home one evening to Llanybri, on a moonlight -night. As she walked along, to her great surprise, she saw an old -woman known in the neighbourhood as Rachel Y Gweydd, or the weaver, -sitting by the roadside and busily engaged in knitting a stocking. The -young woman ran home as fast as she could and told her mother what she -had seen. "Och y fi" said her mother, "something strange is sure to -take place after this." Within a few days a man named Thomas Davies, -of Cwmllan-wybryn, died, and was buried at the Capel Newydd. As the -funeral procession passed along, there was Rachel Y Gweydd sitting -by the roadside, and knitting her stocking at the very same spot -where her spirit had been seen by the young woman on the moon-light -night. The old woman had gone to sit by the roadside in order to -watch the funeral procession passing. - -A sister of the above Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Weekes, of Llangynog, also -gave me the following account of her mother's experience of seeing -"Yspryd dyn byw." - - - -SPIRIT OF A REJECTED LOVER APPEARING TO A YOUNG WOMAN. - -Mrs. Weekes's mother, when a young girl, living with her parents -near Llanybri, Carmarthen, went out one evening to fetch some water -from a well close by, and she saw, as she thought, Thomas of Felin -Gwm standing near the hedge. "Thomas?" says she, "what do you want -here?" The man vanished into nothing all at once, and so she perceived -that it was his spirit she had seen. Thomas was in love with her, -but she had refused to have anything to do with him. - - - -TALE OF A DOCTOR. - -The following tale appeared in "Welsh Folk-Lore," page 296 by the -late Rev. Elias Owen, F.S.A., who had obtained the story from the -Rev. Philip Edwards:-- - -"At Swyddffynnon, in Cardiganshire, there lived a Mrs. Evans, who -had a strange vision. Mr. Edwards's father called one evening upon -Mrs. Evans, and found her sitting by the fire in company with a -few female friends, greatly depressed. On enquiring as to the cause -of her distress, she stated that she had had a strange sight that -very evening. - -"She saw, she said, in the unoccupied chamber at the further end of -the house, a light, and, whilst she was wondering what light it was, -she observed a tall, dark, stranger gentleman, who had a long, full -beard, enter the house and go straight to the room where the light was, -but before going in he took off his hat and placed it on the table; -then he took off his gloves and threw them into the hat, and without -uttering a single word he entered the lit-up room. - -"Shortly afterwards, she saw the stranger emerge from the room and -leave the house, and on looking again towards the room she saw that -the light had disappeared. It was, she said, this apparition that -had disconcerted her. - -"Some time after this vision, Mrs. Evans was in a critical state, -and as she lived far away from a doctor, my informant's father was -requested to ride to Aberystwyth for one. He found, however, that the -two doctors who then resided in that town were from home. But he was -informed at the inn that there was a London doctor staying at Hafod. He -determined, whether he could or could not, induce this gentleman -to accompany him to Swyddffynnon, to go there. This gentleman, on -hearing the urgency of the case, consented to visit the sick woman. - -"Mr. Edwards and the doctor rode rapidly to their destination, and -Mr. Edwards was surprised to find that the doctor did everything -exactly as it had been stated by Mrs. Evans. There was also a light -in the chamber, for there the neighbour had placed the still-born -child, and it was the providential help of the London doctor that -saved Mrs. Evans's life. - -"I may add that the personal appearance of this gentleman corresponded -with the description given of him by Mrs. Evans." - - - -SPIRIT OF A LIVING MAN IN A FIELD. - -I heard the following story in the neighbourhood of Llanddewi, about -my own grandfather, the late Mr. John Evans, of Gogoyan, who died -about fifty-five years ago. (The "Hiriaid Gogoyan" were descended -from Gruffydd Hir o Llanfair, great-great-grandson of Gwaethfoed); -so saith Gwynionydd, in his book on "Enwogion Ceredigion." But now -for the story:-- - -Mr. Evans one day had gone to Aberystwyth, either riding or driving -as this was in the days before the introduction of railways into that -part, the distance was over twenty miles. - -Early in the afternoon on the same day one of his servants who was -ploughing in the field, saw Mr. Evans walking about quite close to -him in the field. - -The servant was quite surprised at this, as he knew that his master -had gone to Aberystwyth early in the morning. When the master came -home that night from Aberystwyth, the servant told him that he had -seen him in the afternoon in the field. - -"Well," said Evans in reply, "if you saw me you only saw my spirit, -for I have been away all day; now to see the spirit of a living man -is not a bad sign." - -It is rather curious that a story very similar to the above is given -by Mr. T. Lloyd, Dinas Powis, in "Cymru Fu" ("Weekly Mail" reprints) -for November 16th, 1889, which is as follows:-- - - - -"YSFRYD DYN BYW. - -"Many years ago at a farm called Ystradteilo, near the pretty village -of Llanrhystyd in Cardiganshire, the servant girl was sent to the -field to fetch home the cows for milking, and while in the field she -saw her master doing something there. The master's name was Williams, -and he was a near relation to the eminent scholar Rev. E. Williams, -M.A., of Lampeter. When, however, the servant girl returned home, -she was astonished to find her master in the house. 'How in the world -did you come home so quick?' she asked. 'Just now I saw you in the -field.' He replied that he had not been from the house during the -afternoon, and added, 'look here, girl, that was not a bad sign at -all but if you will see me like that after my departure you may depend -that I shall be in a place of torture.' It was a general belief that -of the dead the ghosts of the wicked only were to be seen." - - - -SPIRIT OF A LIVING MAN THROWING STONES. - -Mr. Thomas Stephens, an intelligent old man in the neighbourhood of -Mydroilyn, in the Parish of Llanarth, Cardiganshire, informed me that -between 60 and 70 years ago his father, John Stephens, when a young -man, was coming home late one evening after spending a few hours of -pleasant time with the young woman of his affection at a neighbouring -farm. As he was walking along a lonely lane, to his great surprise, -he heard the sound of some one throwing stones about in a field which -he was passing by. When he looked around, he beheld the spirit of a -man of his acquaintance who was well and alive, throwing stones with -all his might in a field where stones were not to be found. - -Spirit of a living man was sometimes heard without being seen, of -this I was informed by an old man at Llanddewi Brefi. - -In some ghost stories we find the spirits of the departed appearing -to comfort the living. - - - -THE SPIRIT OF A DEAD MOTHER APPEARING TO HER BOY-SON AT LLANGYNOG, -CARMARTHENSHIRE. - -A very old man named Thomas Ticker, who lives at the small village -of Llanybri, gave me the following remarkable account:-- - -Many years ago when one William Thomas, Pengelly Isaf, Llangynog, was -a little boy of ten or twelve years of age, his mother died. One day -the boy in great sorrow went out into a field which was quite close to -the house, and wept bitterly, almost breaking his heart. Suddenly, -the spirit of his dead mother appeared to him in a white dress, -telling him not to cry, "because" saith she, "your crying gives me -pain, and you need not be in trouble about the future, as there is -plenty of food for thee." The child was on the ground when she spoke, -and when he looked up he beheld his mother vanishing suddenly. - -This W. Thomas who saw his mother's spirit, died when a comparatively -young man, but his son, from whom my informant obtained the account -of the vision, lived till eighty years of age, and died about sixty -years ago. - - - -THE SPIRIT OF A DEAD DAUGHTER APPEARING TO THE MOTHER. - -About ninety years ago one Mrs. D. Thomas, Llanfair, Llandyssul, -had a daughter who was very promising, and her mother was so fond -of her. She was sent to the well-known school of the celebrated -Mr. Davis of Castell Howell. Unfortunately, however, the girl died, -to the great sorrow of her poor mother who bewailed her loss day and -night. But one day when the old lady was out in the potato field, -the spirit of her dead daughter appeared suddenly to her, and spoke to -her mother with severe looks: "Don't cry after me, for I am in a much -better place." The above account I heard from the lips of Mr. Rees, -Maesymeillion, parish of Llandyssul, about three years ago, to whom -and his brother I am indebted for several other stories. - - - -THE SPIRIT OF A DEAD MOTHER APPEARING TO HER CHILDREN. - -The following story was related to me by Mr. Brutus Davies, who died -at Aberystwyth about two years ago, and who vouched for the truth of -the account:-- - -About seventy years ago a certain man who was working on the Estate -of Col. ---- in the parish of Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, had buried -his first wife and had married again. He had several children from -his first wife, but not one from the second. One particular day, -the children went out to play as they often did. When they came to -a certain spot which served them as a playground, they found some -small cakes on the ground, which were very tempting to children; -but just as they were going to eat them, the spirit of their dead -mother appeared on the scene and addressed them as follows:--"My dear -children, don't eat those cakes, for there is poison in them!" When -this strange occurrence became known in the neighbourhood, people -suspected the step-mother of having intentionally and secretly placed -the cakes on the children's playground. - -Sometimes we hear of the appearance of the ghost of a child, especially -if a baby has been ill-treated or murdered, and the following story -is well-known in the Northern part of Cardiganshire. - - - -ALLT Y CRIB GHOST, NEAR TALYBONT. - -About sixty years ago, the dead body of a little baby was found in -a hole or an old mine shaft, known till the present day as "Shaft y -plentyn" (the child's shaft), and as the people of the neighbourhood -of Talybont guessed who its mother was, there was a rumour that both -she and her family were haunted by the child's ghost. This ghost also, -it is said, wandered about at night, and its bitter crying disturbed -the whole neighbourhood, till many timid people were afraid to go -out after dark. My informant was the late J. Jones, Bristol House. - -There is a similar story of a child's ghost in the parish of -Troedyraur, South Cardiganshire. This spirit always appeared as a -child dressed in yellow clothes, and on that account the unearthly -visitor was known as "Bwci Melyn Bach y Cwm." - - - -THE GHOST OF PONT-Y-GWENDRAETH, NEAR KIDWELY IN CARMARTHENSHIRE. - -It was an old belief among the Welsh people in former times -that the spirit of a suicide was doomed to walk the earth as -a punishment. Several versions of the well-known Kidwely Legend -have already appeared, but a book of West Wales Folk-Lore would be -incomplete without it. - -Sir Elidir Ddu was a Lord of Kidwely. He had two sons, Griffith and -Rhys, and one beautiful daughter named Nest. - -The Crusades had been proclaimed, and this Elidir Ddu was preparing -to depart, and accompanied by his youngest son Rhys; but the eldest -son Griffith and Nest, the only daughter, remained at home in Kidwely -Castle, as well as another fair young lady whose name was Gwladys, -a niece of Sir Elidir, and cousin to Nest. Nest was in love with a -handsome young Norman named Sir Walter Mansel, her cousin Gwladys also -was in love with him, but the young man was true to Nest. Griffith -loved Gwladys, but she did not like him as she wanted Sir Walter -Mansel. This complicated matters very much. Nest's father before he -had left to the Holy Land, had forbidden the young Norman the house, -and now the young lady's brother, Griffith, guarded the place against -him; but the sanguine lover (Sir W. M.) found means of meeting the fair -Nest in the country round, and many stolen interviews were held. But -the jealous Gwladys watched Nest, and found out her place of meeting -with her lover, which was Pont-y-Gwendraeth, and she informed Griffith -of it. Griffith was in love with Gwladys, but she had snubbed him -hopelessly. Now, however, in order to use him as an accomplice in her -revenge, she flattered his hopes with feigned kindness, and wrought -him up to such a pitch of fury against the Norman, that he agreed to -join her to destroy the young lover by fixing upon a bad fellow called -Merig Maneg to carry out the evil deed. The next trysting place of the -lovers was, by some means ascertained to be a bridge over the tidal -portion of the Gwendraeth, and as Sir W. came forward to greet his -lady-love an arrow whistled from a reed bed and pierced his side. The -villain Merig, then rushed from his hiding place, and before the very -eyes of Nest, hurled Walter's body into the rushing tide. The young -lady overcome with horror, gave a wild shriek of despair and plunged -in after the hapless knight. After this, the villain Merig was haunted -by Nest's spirit, and on one occasion, she told him that her spirit -was doomed to walk the earth as a punishment for her suicide unless a -marriage should take place between one of her father's descendants and -a member of the Mansel family, and that until that did occur she would -appear on Pont-y-Gwendraeth to give warning of the approaching death -of every member of the family. From that day the Bridge became known -as Pont-yr-yspryd-gwyn, and for generations a white lady occasionally -appeared, giving utterance to a wild unearthly shriek and vanish. - - - -Mr. Charles Wilkins in his "Tales and Sketches of Wales," gives the -following sequel to the story:-- - -In 1775, Mr. Rhys, a lineal descendant of Rhys Ddu, of Kidwely Castle, -a magistrate, was returning one evening from Quarter Sessions when he -was startled by seeing a white figure flit rapidly across the Bridge, -and disappear over it into the water. His horse trembled and refused -to go on. Mr. Rhys thought of the Ghost Story and prediction, and -riding towards Kidwely, noticed a large crowd and heard that a shocking -murder had been committed upon a poor old woman. He entered the cottage -and discovered a small portion of a man's coat sleeve lying upon the -bed. By inquiry, found it belonged to "Will Maneg." Will was arrested, -confessed, and was hanged on Pembrey mountain, while as still further -to strengthen the prediction, Mr. Rhys was informed that day of the -death of his brother Arthur of the R.N., who was drowned at sea; -and also of his wife's mother's death, Lady Mansel, of Iscoed, who -was burnt to death at Kidwely. - - - -HAUNTED MANSIONS OF LLANELLY, CARMARTHENSHIRE. - -Mr. Innes, in "Old Llanelly," page 145, says:-- - -"The ghost of Lady Mansel 'walked' and haunted Old Stradey House," -and "Llanelly House probably had had ghosts for it is certain that -spirits may be found there even now; and an old man has recently -made a statement that when a boy he slept in the Stepney Mansion; -but as he ascended to his room he heard the rustling brocade of a -lady's dress in an apparently empty corridor. - -"This lady during the night played upon an organ built up in one of -the thick walls." - - - -A GHOST HAUNTING A YOUNG LOVER WHO WAS OUT LATE AT NIGHT, NEAR -ALLTWALIS IN CARMARTHENSHIRE. - -An old man named Griffiths, who is 96 years of age, and lives at -'Renallt Farm, near Carmarthen, gave me the following ghost story -concerning his own father. - -William Griffiths (my informant's father), when a young man, nearly a -hundred years ago, was engaged as a servant at a farm called Pontiauar, -in the Parish of Llanpumpsaint. William had been out late one night -to see the young woman of his affection, and having enjoyed the -pleasure of love for some hours, he returned home about three o'clock -in the morning. He had some miles to go through a lonely district, -and worse than that he had to pass the Haunted Red Gate of Glynadda, -a place famous for its ghosts in former times. - -On he walked as fast as he could, but to his great terror, when -he came to the Red Gate the ghost appeared in the shape of a big -man. William passed on and ran, but the Ghost followed him all the -way to the village of Llanpumpsaint, till the young man was terrified -almost to death. When he arrived at the house of Dafydd Llwyd, the -Blacksmith (who worked even at that early hour), he entered the house -or the Blacksmith's shop, and fell down near the fire half-fainting, -and they had to take him home to the farmhouse in a cart. - - - -A PEMBROKESHIRE GHOST HAUNTING A SHIP. - -Sometimes we hear of ghosts at sea, and the following account of a -Ghost on board H.M.S. "Asp," which was written by Capt. Alldridge, -R.N., Commander of that vessel, appeared in the "Pembroke County -Guardian," February 16th, 1901. - - -March 15th, 1867. - -My dear Sir,--I herewith readily comply with your request as far -as I am able, respecting the unaccountable "apparition" on board my -ship. Call it ghost or what you will, still I assure you that which I -am going to relate is what really did take place, and much as I was, -and am, a sceptic in ghost stories, I must confess myself completely -at a loss to account by natural causes for that which did actually -occur. Many years having elapsed since I retired from active service -I am unable to recollect all the dates with exactness, but I will -give them as far as I can remember them. - -In the year 1850, the "Asp" was given me by the Admiralty as a -surveying vessel. On taking possession of her, the Superintendent -of the Dockyard, where she lay, remarked to me, "Do you know, Sir, -your ship is said to be haunted, and I don't know if you will get any -of the Dockyard men to work on her." I, of course, smiled, and I said -"I don't care for ghosts, and dare say I shall get her all to lights -fast enough." - -I engaged the shipwrights to do the necessary repairs to the vessel, -but before they had been working in her a week they came to me in -a body and begged me to give the vessel up as she was haunted and -could never bring anything but ill-luck. However, the vessel was at -length repaired, and arrived in safety in the river Dee, where she -was to commence her labours. After my tea in the evening, I generally -sat in my cabin and either read to myself or had an officer of mine -(who is now master of the 'Magician') to read aloud to me: on such -occasions we used frequently to be interrupted by strange noises, -often such as would be caused by a drunken man or a person staggering -about, which appeared to issue from the after (or ladies') cabin. - -The two cabins were only separated from each other by the companion -ladder, the doors faced each other, so that from my cabin I could -see into the after one. There was no communication between either -of them and the other parts of the ship, excepting by the companion -ladder, which no one could ascend or descend without being seen -from my cabin. The evening shortly after our arrival in the Dee, -the officer I mentioned was reading to me in my cabin when all at -once his voice was drowned by a violent and prolonged noise in the -aft cabin. Thinking it must be the steward he called out "Don't make -such a noise, steward," and the noise ceased. When he began to read -again the noise also recommenced. "What are you doing, steward--making -such a--noise for?" he cried out, and taking the candle rushes into -the next cabin. But he came back quicker than he went, saying there -was nobody there. - -He recommenced reading, and once more began the mysterious noise. I -felt sure there was some drunken person there whom my officer had -overlooked, and accordingly rose and looked myself, and to my very -disagreeable surprise found the cabin empty! - -After this evening, the noises became very frequent, varying in kind -and in degree. Sometimes it was as though the seats and lockers were -being banged about, sometimes it sounded as though decanters and -tumblers were being clashed together. During these disturbances the -vessel was lying more than a mile off shore. - -One evening I and the above-named officer went to drink tea at a -friend's house at Queen's Ferry, near Chester, the vessel at the time -being lashed to the lower stage opposite Church's Quay. We returned on -board together about 10 p.m. While descending the companion ladder, -I distinctly heard someone rush from the after cabin into the fore -cabin. I stopped the officer who was behind me at the top of the -ladder and whispered to him, "Stand still, I think I have caught the -ghost." I then descended into my cabin, took my sword, which always -hung over my bed, and placed it drawn in his hand saying "Now ----, -allow no one to pass you; if anyone attempts to escape cut him down, -I will stand the consequences. T then returned to the cabin, struck -a light and searched everywhere, but nothing could I find to account -for the noises I had heard, though I declare solemnly that never did -I feel more certain of anything in my life than that I should find -a man there. So there was nothing to be done but to repeat for the -hundredth time, "Well, it is the ghost again!" Often when lying in my -bed at night have I heard noises close to me as though my drawers were -being opened and shut, the top of my washing stand raised and banged -down again, and a bed which stood on the opposite side of my cabin, -pulled about; while of an evening I often heard while sitting in my -cabin a noise as though a percussion cap were snapped close to my -head; also very often (and I say it with godly and reverential fear) -I have been sensible of the presence of something invisible about me, -and could have put my hand, so to say, on it, or the spot where I felt -it was; and all this occurred, strange to say, without my feeling in -the least alarmed or caring about it, except so far that I could not -understand or account for what I felt and heard. - -One night, when the vessel was at anchor in Martyn Roads I was awoke -by the quartermaster calling me and begging me to come on deck as -the look-out man had rushed to the lower deck, saying that a figure -of a lady was standing on the paddle box pointing with her finger to -Heaven. Feeling angry, I told him to send the look-out man on deck -again and keep him there till daybreak, but in attempting to carry my -orders into execution the man went into violent convulsions, and the -result was I had to go myself upon deck and remain there till morning. - -This apparition was often seen after this, and always as described -with her finger pointing towards Heaven. - -One Sunday afternoon while lying in the Haverfordwest river opposite -to Lawrenny, the crew being all on shore, and I being at church, -my steward (the only man on board) whilst descending the companion -ladder was spoken to by an unseen voice. He immediately fell down with -fright, and I found his appearance so altered that I really scarcely -knew him! He begged to be allowed his discharge and to be landed as -soon as possible, to which I felt obliged to consent as he could not -be persuaded to remain on board for the night. The story of the ship -being haunted becoming known on shore, the clergyman of Lawrenny called -on me one day and begged me to allow him to question the crew, which -he accordingly did. He seemed very much impressed by what he heard; he -seemed to view the matter in a serious light and said that his opinion -was that "some troubled spirit must be lingering about the vessel." - -During the years that I commanded the "Asp" I lost many of my men who -ran away on being refused their discharge, and a great many others I -felt forced to let go, so great was their fear, one and all telling -me the same tale, namely, that at night they saw the transparent -figure of a lady pointing with her finger up to Heaven. For many -years I endeavoured to ridicule the affair as I was often put to -considerable inconvenience by the loss of hands, but to no purpose. I -believe that when the officers went out of the vessel after dark none -of the crew would have ventured into the cabin on any account. One -night I was awoke from my sleep by a hand, to all sensations, being -placed on my leg outside the bedclothes. I lay still for a moment to -satisfy myself of the truth of what I felt, and then grabbed at it, -but caught nothing. I rang my bell for the quartermaster to come with -his lantern, but found nothing. This occurred to me several times, -but on one occasion as I lay wide awake a hand was placed on my -forehead. If ever a man's hair stood on end mine did then. I sprang -clean out of bed: there was not a sound. Until then I had never felt -the least fear of the ghost or whatever you like to call it. In fact -I had taken a kind of pleasure in listening to the various noises as -I lay in bed, and sometimes when the noises were very loud I would -suddenly pull my bell for the look-out man and then listen attentively -if I could hear the sound of a footstep or attempt to escape, but -there never was any, and I would hear the look-out man walk from his -post to my cabin when I would merely ask him some questions as to the -wind and weather. At length in 1857, the vessel requiring repairs, -was ordered alongside the dockyard wall at Pembroke. The first night -the sentry stationed near the ship saw (as he afterwards declared) -a lady mount the paddle box holding up her hand towards Heaven. She -then stepped on shore and came along the path towards him when he -brought his musket to the charge "who goes there?" But the figure -walked through the musket, upon which he dropped it and ran for -the guard house. The next sentry saw all this take place and fired -off his gun to alarm the guard. The figure then glided past a third -sentry who was placed near the ruins of Pater old Church, and who -watched her, or it, mount the top of a grave in the old churchyard, -point with her finger to Heaven, and then stand till she vanished from -his sight. The sergeant of the guard came with rank and file to learn -the tale, and the fright of the sentries all along the Dockyard wall -was so great that none would remain at their post unless they were -doubled, which they were, as may be seen by the "Report of guard" for -that night. Singularly enough, since that, the ghost has never been -heard of again on board the Asp, and I never heard the noises which -before had so incessantly annoyed me. The only clue I could ever find -to account for my vessel being haunted is as follows:--Some years -previously to my having her, the "Asp" had been engaged as a mail -packet between Port Patrick and Donaghadee. After one of her trips, -the passengers having all disembarked, the stewardess on going into -the ladies' cabin found a beautiful girl with her throat cut lying -in one of the sleeping berths quite dead! How she came by her death -no one could tell and, though, of course, strict investigations were -commenced, neither who she was or where she came from or anything about -her was ever discovered. The circumstances gave rise to much talk, -and the vessel was remanded by the authorities, and she was not again -used until handed over to me for surveying service. Here end my tale, -which I have given in all truth. Much as I know one gets laughed at -for believing in ghost stories you are welcome to make what use you -please with this true account of the apparition on board the "Asp." - - - -A SPIRIT ON HORSEBACK. - -Rhosmeherin, in the neighbourhood of Ystrad Meurig, in Cardiganshire, -was formerly well known for its ghost. An old man named John Jones, -who lives at Pontrhydfendigaid, informed me that when a boy he heard of -many belated persons who were terrified in passing the haunted spot -by seeing a ghost which appeared sometimes in the shape of a cat, -at other times as a man on horseback. - -Mr. Jones also added that a poor old woman had been murdered there -in the old times, which was supposed to account for the spot being -haunted. I have heard several ghost stories in connection with this -spot, but the best is the one which appeared in an interesting Welsh -book entitled, "Ystraeon y Gwyll," written by the late Mr. D. Lledrod -Davies, a promising young man, and a candidate for Holy Orders, who -died 20 years ago. Mr. Davies obtained the story from a person who had -seen the ghost; so I give a translation of the Belated's own words:-- - -"I was going home one evening from my work from Ros y Wlad, and had to -go through Rhosmeherin. "That place, you know is a terrible spot for -its ghosts. People say that they are seen there in broad daylight. As -to myself I did not see them in the daytime, but many a time was I -kept there all night by Jack-a-Lantern. - -I saw a ghost in the form of a cat there also, and when I began -to strike him he disappeared in a blazing fire. But now for the -gentleman. I was near the spot where I had seen the cat, when I heard -the sound of a horse coming after me. I jumped one side to make room -for him to pass; but when he came opposite me he did not go forward a -single pace faster than myself. When I went on slowly, he went slowly; -when I went fast, he went fast. "Good night," said I at last, but no -answer. Then I said it was a very fine night, but the gentleman on -horseback did not seem to take any notice of what I said. Then thinking -that he might be an Englishman (the man was speaking in Welsh), -I said in English "Good night," but he took no notice of me still. - -By this I was beginning to perspire and almost ready to fall down with -fright, hoping to get rid of him, as I now perceived that he was the -Devil himself appearing in the form of a gentleman. I could think from -the sound of the saddle and the shining stirrups that the saddle was -a new one. On we went along the dark narrow lane till we came to the -turnpike road, when it became a little lighter, which gave me courage -to turn my eyes to see what kind of a man he was. The horse looked -like a soldier's horse, a splendid one, and his feet like the feet of -a calf, without any shoes under them, and the feet of the gentleman in -the stirrups were also like the feet of a calf. My courage failed me -to look what his head and body were like. On we went till we came to -the cross-road. I had heard many a time that a ghost leaves everybody -there. Well, to the cross road we came. But ah! I heard the sound of -the ground as if it were going to rend, and the heavens going to fall -upon my head; and in this sound I lost sight of him (the Spirit). How -he went away I know not, nor the direction he went." - - - -A SPIRIT IN A CAVE. - -Sometimes we hear of haunted caves, where spirits are said to be seen -or heard. One of such places is the Green Bridge Cave, near Pendine, -Carmarthenshire. - -There is a story in the neighbourhood that long ago an old fiddler -entered once into this cave with his fiddle and a lighted candle to -see his way, and that his candle went out when he was in, so that -he failed to find his way out of the cave again. He is heard there -sometimes, so it is said, playing his fiddle. - - - -A SPIRIT IN A RIVER. - -Near Llandyssul, in Cardiganshire, and the borders of Carmarthenshire, -there is a pool in the River Teivi, known as the "Pool of the -Harper." When I visited the village a few years ago I was told that -it is said that an old harper was drowned there long ago; and that -it is still believed by some that on a fine summer afternoon, one -hears his spirit playing his harp in the pool. - - - -APPARITIONS OF GOOD SPIRITS. - -It is not, often we hear in Wales of Good Spirits appearing; but the -Rev. Edmund Jones in his "Relation of Apparitions," a curious old -book published some generations ago, gives the following narrative -of Apparitions of Good Spirits:-- - -----"There lived at a place called Pante, which is between Carmarthen -and Laugharne towns, one Mr. David Thomas, a holy man, who worship the -Lord with great devotion and humility; he was also a gifted brother, -and sometimes preached. On a certain night, for the sake of privacy, -he went into a room which was out of the house, but nearly adjoining to -it, in order to read and pray; and as he was at prayer, and very highly -taken up into a heavenly frame, the room was suddenly enlightened, -and to that degree that the light of the candle was swallowed up by -a greater light, and became invisible; and with, or in that light -a company of Spirits, like children, in bright clothing, appeared -very beautiful, and sung; but he recollected only a few words of it, -'Pa hyd? Pa hyd? Dychwelwch feibion Adda' (How long? How long? Return -ye sons of Adam.) Something like Ps. xc. 3. After a time he lost -sight of them: the light of the candle again came to appear, when the -great light of the glorious company was gone. He was immersed in the -heavenly disposition, and he fell down to thank and praise the Lord; -and while he was at this heavenly exercise the room enlightened again; -the light of the candle became invisible, and the glorious company -sung; but he was so amazed at what he saw and heard that he could -remember only the following words, 'Pa hyd? Pa hyd yr erlidiwch?' (How -long? How long, will ye persecute the godly Christians?) - -"After a while, they departed, and the candle light appeared. Any -Christian who enjoyed much of God's presence will easily believe -that D. T. was now lifted up very high in the spiritual life by this -extraordinary visitation from heaven." - - - -SPIRITS REMOVING CHURCHES. - -There are several legends in West and Mid-Wales, especially in -Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire, in which spirits or some other -mysterious powers, play a prominent part in the removal of Churches -from one site to another. - - - -LLANDDEUSANT (CARMARTHENSHIRE). - -I am indebted for the following to the Rev. H. M. Williams, Vicar -of Lledrod:-- - -There is a tradition in the parish of Llanddeusant, that the parish -church was to have been built at first at Twynllanan, in the centre -of the parish; but the stones that were put up during the day were -removed in the night, to the spot where the church now stands. - - - -LLANBISTER CHURCH (RADNORSHIRE). - -The Rev. Professor Tyrrell Green, St. David's College, Lampeter, -writes to me thus:-- - -"Jonathan Williams in his History of Radnorshire, p. 194, ed., 1859, -says that near Llanbister Church is a piece of land on which it -was originally intended to have erected the Church, but tradition -reports that the accomplishment of this design was prevented by -the intervention of supernatural agency. "The tradition that a -supernatural being carried away in the night whatever was built of -the church during the day, is still kept alive, because the warden -claims an annual rent of 2s. 6d. for the vacant and unconsecrated -site of the originally intended church." In the same book mention is -made of an old custom prevailing in this parish, viz., the payment -of a certain tax or tribute called "Clwt-y-Gyllell," or Knife Money, -imposed on a certain corner of a field on some estates, consisting -of a certain number of groats. - - - -PENBRYN CHURCH. - -For the following legend, I am indebted to Mr. Prys Williams, -Y. Wenallt, an eminent antiquarian in the southern part of -Cardiganshire:-- - -The intended original site of the Church of Penbryn, according to -tradition, was Penlon Moch, near Sarnau, where now stands St. John's -Mission Church; but all the materials they brought there, and built -in the course of the day, were removed during the night by invisible -hands to where it now stands. There is a similar tradition concerning -Bettws Ifan. - - - -LLANWINIO (CARMARTHENSHIRE). - -When the attempt was first made to build this church, everything put -up in the day fell down in the night, till at last the builder threw -his hammer into the air. - -The church was then built on the spot where the hammer fell and the -work progressed without further hindrance. - -In this story we do not hear of a spirit removing the material, but -it is evident that it was believed that the falling down in the night -of what was put up in the day, was caused by some supernatural agency. - - - -LLANGAN (CARMARTHENSHIRE). - -In the middle of the parish there is a field called Park y Fonwent, -where, according to local tradition, the church was to have been -originally built, but the stones brought to the spot during the day, -were removed by invisible hands during the night to the spot where the -present church now stands, accompanied by a voice saying, "Llangan, -dyma'r fan," (Llangan, here is the spot).--See Arch. Cam., 1872. - - - -MAROS. - -Not far from Pendine, Carmarthenshire, is a field called Church Park, -a short distance to the west from the church. In this field it was -intended at first to build the church, but invisible spirits during -the night removed both stones and mortar to the spot where the church -now stands. There is also a tradition that two giants were buried in -the field. - - - -LLANGELER CHURCH. - -Llangeler parish is in Carmarthenshire, and on the borders of -Cardiganshire. There is a tradition in the district that it was -at first intended to build Llangeler Church on a spot known as -"Parc-y-Bwci," but what had been built during the day, was transported -in the night to the site of the present church. There is no mention -here that the agency was a spirit; but the name of the spot is very -suggestive, for Parc-y-Bwci means the Goblin's Park. - - - -LLANFIHANGEL GENEU'R GLYN. - -The parish church of Llanfihangel Geneu'r Glyn, is situated about five -miles north of Aberystwyth, and it is seen from the train. About a mile -from the church and the village, there is a respectable farm house, -named Glanfread, or Glanfread-fawr which belongs to the Gogerddan -Estate. It is evident that Glanfread was a place of importance once, -and long ago gentry lived there, and it was the birthplace of Edward -Llwyd, the author of Archęoligia Britanica. It is also believed -that the house received its name from St. Fraed, a devout woman who, -according to local tradition, came over from Ireland to build a church -on the spot. - -There is a legend still extant in the neighbourhood that when the -work of erecting the church on the spot was actually commenced, the -portion built during the day was pulled down during each night. At -last a voice from the spirit world was heard to speak as follows:-- - - - "Glanfread-fawr sy fod fan hyn, - Llanfihangel yn ngenau'r Glyn. - - "Glanfread-fawr is to be herein, - Llanfihangel at Genau'r Glyn." - - -What the spirit meant by these words was that the church was to be -built at Genau'r Glyn, and that Glanfread-fawr farm or mansion was -to occupy the spot they were then trying to build the church; and -in accordance with the Spirit's direction the church was after this -built where it now stands instead of at Glanfread. - -The above tradition was related to me by Lady Hills-Johnes, of -Dolaucothy, an intelligent lady who has been a friend to me for nearly -twenty years. The late Bishop Thirwall wanted Lady Hills-Johnes to -write a book on the Legends of Wales. - -Llanfihangel, of course, is the Welsh for St. Michael, or rather -Michael's Church; but as the early Welsh Christians generally -dedicated their churches to Welsh Saints, it seems probable that the -ancient name of this church was Llanfread; and the name of the farm -Glanfread, where it was first intended to build the church seems to -suggest this. Perhaps the church was re-dedicated to St. Michael by -the Normans, for we know that William the Conqueror seized some lands -in the neighbourhood, and that particular part of the parish is known -to this day as "Cyfoeth y Brenin," (the King's wealth). - -St. Michael was a favourite patron of churches with the Normans, -as it was believed that an apparition of the Archangel had been seen -by Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, directing him to build a church on -Mount St. Michael in Normandy. - - - -LLANWENOG. - -From a paper read before the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, -by the Rev. J. Morris, Vicar of Llanybyther, I find that there is -a tradition still extant that Llanwenog Church was also removed by -supernatural agency from one site to another. - -These popular legends are, undoubtedly, very old, and are current -not only in Wales, but in parts of Scotland also as the following -from Sir Walter Scott's Notes to the Lay of the Last Minstrel prove: - -----"When the workmen were engaged in erecting the ancient church -of Old Deer, in Aberdeenshire, upon a small hill called Bissau they -were surprised to find that the work was impeded by supernatural -obstacles. At length the Spirit of the River was heard to say: - - - "It is not here, it is not here, - That ye shall build the church of Deer; - But on Taptillery, - Where many a corpse shall lie." - - -"The site of the edifice was accordingly transferred to Taptillery, an -eminence at some distance from where the building had been commenced." - -As to the origin of these legends or traditions of the mysterious -removal of churches, it is not easy to arrive at a correct -explanation. Some writers are of the opinion that they contain a -record, imaginative and exaggerated, of real incidents connected with -the history of the churches to which each of them belongs, and that -they are in most cases reminiscences of an older church which once -actually stood on another site. Others see in these stories traces of -the antagonism, in remote times, between peoples holding different -religious beliefs, and the steps taken by one party to seize and -appropriate the sacred spots of the other. - -That some of these tales have had their origin in primitive times, -even anterior to Christianity, is probable. - - - -APPARITIONS OF THE DEVIL. - -In many of the Welsh Ghost Stories, the spirit or ghost was supposed -to have been none other than the evil one himself. - -The visible appearance of his satanic majesty was quite as common -in Wales as in other countries, though, strange to say, he is often -depicted as an inferior in cunning and intellect to a shrewd old -woman, or a bright-witted Welshman, as the following two curious -stories show:-- - - - -THE LEGEND OF THE DEVIL'S BRIDGE IN CARDIGANSHIRE. - -The Devil's Bridge in the northern part of Cardiganshire is so called -from the tradition that it was erected by him upon the condition that -the first thing that passed over it should be his. The story which -is well-known is something as follows: - -An old woman called Megan Llandunach had lost her cow, and espied the -animal across the gorge. When bewailing her fate, the Devil appeared -and promised to build her a bridge over the gorge under the condition -that the first living thing which crossed should be surrendered into -his hand, "and be beyond redemption lost." Megan agreed, the bridge -was completed; she took from her pocket a crust of bread and threw -it over the bridge, and her hungry dog sprang after it. So the Devil -was balked in his design after all his trouble in erecting the bridge. - - - -PENTRE-CWRT FOLK AND THE DEVIL. - -Once upon a time the devil was offended with the people of Pentre-Cwrt, -in Carmarthenshire, and decided to drown them. One day in order to do -this mischief the Evil One was seen going along with a big shovelful of -mound; and when he came to the parish of Llandyssul in Cardiganshire, -which was only about two miles from Pentre-Cwrt, he met with a cobbler -who carried a very large bundle of old shoes. After saluting the devil -the cobbler asked him to where did he intend taking the shovelful -of mound? "To the mouth of Alltcafan," was the reply. "For what -purpose?" asked the cobbler again. "To dam the River Teivy so as to -drown the people of Pentre-Cwrt," said the devil. Now the cobbler was -a very shrewd man, and in order to frustrate the evil design of the -Old Gentleman, he told him that the place where he intended to dam -the river was very far away. "How far is it?" asked the devil. "I -cannot tell you the exact distance," replied the cobbler, "but in -walking from there I have worn out all these shoes." "If that is so," -said the devil, "it is too far, for I am already tired," and down did -he throw the shovelful of mould, and the shovelful which the devil -threw down is to be seen to this day, and known as Cnwc Coedfoel.--See -Hanes Plwyf Llangeler, gan D. Jones. - -Sometimes the devil manifests himself in a ball of fire, at other -times in the form of a pig, mouse, calf, dog, or headless horse, -and even as a gentleman on horseback, as we have already seen in the -Rhosmeherin ghost story. - -When I was in North Pembrokeshire a few years ago, I was told by -several old people in the village of Eglwyswrw that the Evil One -sometimes was to be seen at Yet Wen in that neighbourhood; occasionally -as a "white lady," but more often as a white cat. - -The people of the same village informed me that Yet Wen, Pen'rallt, -was also a favourite resort of the devil, and that a woman once in -passing the spot at night, shouted "Come out you d----l," and the -next moment a white cat appeared. - -Nags Head, in the same county was once haunted by the devil, as it -seems from the following story of long ago:-- - - - -THE EVIL ONE APPEARING AT NAG'S HEAD IN THE FORM OF A DOG. - -"As Mr. David Walter, of Pembrokeshire, a religious man, and far from -fear and superstition, was travelling by himself through a field -called the Cot Moor, where there are two stones set up called the -Devil's Nags, which are said to be haunted, he was suddenly seized -and thrown over a hedge. He went there another day, taking with him -for protection a strong fighting mastiff dog. When he had come near -the Devil's Nags there appeared in his path the apparition of a dog -more terrible than any he had ever seen. In vain he tried to set his -mastiff on; the huge beast crouched, frightened by his master's feet -and refused to attack the spectre. Whereupon his master boldly stooped -to pick up a stone thinking that would frighten the evil dog; but -suddenly a circle of fire surrounded it, which lighting up the gloom, -showed the white snip down to the dog's nose, and his grinning teeth, -and white tail. He then knew it was one of the infernal dogs of hell." - - - -"THE OLD GENTLEMAN" APPEARING IN PEMBROKESHIRE, AS A BLACK CALF. - -A black calf was supposed to haunt a stream that flowed across the -road that leads from Narberth in Pembrokeshire to the adjacent village -Cold Blow. People returning late that way were sure to get frightened -as they passed and, as a consequence, they would go a long distance -out of their way to avoid the haunted stream. One night, or rather -early morning, two villagers were going home from a fair caught the -terrible calf and took it home, locking it up safely with some cattle, -but it had vanished when morning came. - - - -A GHOST SEEN IN THE FORM OF A CALF IN CARDIGANSHIRE. - -Rhosygarth, between Llanilar and Lledrod, was a well-known haunted spot -in former times. This demon often appeared on the road to travellers -late at night in the form of a calf, but with a head much like that -of a dog. Many years ago, Mr. Hughes, of Pantyddafad, was going -home one night on horseback; but just as he was passing Rhosygarth, -the ghost appeared, and passed across the road right in front of the -horse. My informant, Thomas Jones, Pontrhydfendigaid, was a servant at -Pantyddafad, heard the old gentleman often speaking about the ghost he -had seen at Rhosygarth, and that Mr. Hughes was great-grand-father to -Dr. Hughes, of Cwitycadno, Llanilar. Mr. Jones also added that he knew -a young man who always laughed when people talked about seeing ghosts; -but one night, a man (as he at first thought), followed him for about -a mile, and after coming close to him, vanished into nothing. The -young man nearly fainted, and after this never doubted the reality -of the world of spirits. - - - -A DEMON ASSUMING THE FORM OF A HORSE. - -Sir John Williams, Bart, now of Aberystwyth, informed me that when a -boy in the neighbourhood of Gwynfi, Carmarthenshire, he often heard -some of the old people speak of a ghost which haunted the road in -that part of the country in former times. This ghost was known as -"Bwci," and always assumed the form of a horse. It is an old belief -of the Celts that demons assumed the form of horses, and one of these -mythic beings was the Water Horse, so well-known in North Scotland. It -was also known in Wales once. - - - -THE GWYLLGI, OR DOG OF DARKNESS. - -The Gwyllgi was a frightful apparition of a mastiff with baleful -breath and blazing red eyes. In former times, an apparition in -this shape haunted Pant y Madog, in the neighbourhood of Laugharne, -Carmarthenshire. A woman named Rebecca Adams, passing this spot late -one night, fell down in a swoon, when she saw the spectral dog coming -towards her. When within a few yards of her it stopped, squatted -on its hounchers, "and set up such a scream, so loud, so horrible, -and so strong, that she thought the earth moved under her." I was -informed at Llangynog five years ago, that Spectral Dogs still haunt -that part of Carmarthenshire; and more than one of my informants had -seen such apparitions themselves. - -A spirit in animal form was not always a demon; sometimes the Spirit -of a mortal was doomed to wear this shape for some offence. - -It was once believed that the Evil One, either from lust, or from -nefarious designs, assumed the form of a young man or a young woman. - -The following two stories, the first from South Pembrokeshire, and -the other from Gower, have reference to this belief. - - - -"A DEMON STEWARD." - -Giraldus Cambrensis in his Itinerary through Wales (Bohn's edition, -page 110) says:-- - -"In the province of Pembrock (Pembroke), another instance occurred, -about the same time, of a spirit's appearing in the house of Elidore -de Stakepole, not only sensibly, but visibly, under the form of a -red-haired young man, who called himself Simon. First seizing the keys -from the person to whom they were entrusted, he impudently assumed the -steward's office, which he managed so prudently and providently, that -all things seemed to abound under his care, and there was no deficiency -in the house. Whatever the master or mistress secretly thought of -having for their daily use or provision, he procured with wonderful -agility, and without any previous directions, saying, "You wished that -to be done, and it shall be done for you." He was also well acquainted -with their treasures and secret hoards, and sometimes upbraided them -on that account; for as often as they seemed to act sparingly and -avariciously, he used to say, "Why are you afraid to spend that heap -of gold or silver, since your lives are of so short duration, and the -money you so cautiously hoard up will never do you any service?" He -gave the choicest meat and drink to the rustics and hired servants, -saying that "Those persons should be abundantly supplied, by whose -labours they were acquired." Whatever he determined should be done, -whether pleasing or displeasing to his master or mistress (for, as -we have said before, he knew all their secrets), he completed in his -usual expeditious manner, without their consent. He never went to -church or uttered one catholic word. He did not sleep in the house, -but was ready at his office in the morning. He was at length observed -by some of the family to hold his nightly converse near a mill and -a pool of water; upon which discovery, he was summoned the next -morning before the master of the house and his lady, and, receiving -his discharge, delivered up the keys, which he had held for upwards -of forty days. Being earnestly interrogated, at his departure who -he was? he answered, "That he was begotten upon the wife of a rustic -in that parish, by a demon, in the shape of her husband, naming the -man, and his father-in-law, then dead, and his mother, still alive; -the truth of which the woman upon examination, openly avowed." - - - -A DEMON TEMPTING A YOUNG MAIDEN IN GOWER. - -For the following tale I am indebted to Mr. T. C. Evans (Cadrawd) -the eminent antiquarian and folk-lorist of Llangynwyd: - -"Once upon a time there lived a fair and gentle maiden in the -neighbourhood of the Demon's Rock, who often wandered out in the sunset -and balmy summer evenings to meet her lover, and would return with her -countenance radiant with joy, and the bright light of inexpressible -rapture beaming in her love-lighted eye. Evening after evening -would she stray out alone to the trysting place to meet her lover, -and seemed as happy as a bird that warbles its morning song when -the early sun gladdens the earth. However, it chanced that one of -her companions followed her one moonlight night--saw the maiden go -to a widespreading oak, and heard the whispering soft and low. She -was surprised that she could not observe anyone, neither could she -hear any reply to the maiden's sweet and loving voice. Affrighted, -she hastened back and said that a mysterious dread had crept over -her while listening and watching her companion; they kept it secret, -but questioned the maiden on her return. She said that her lover was a -gentleman, and that she had promised to meet him the next evening in -the same spot. The next evening they followed her again and saw her -addressing the empty air--they felt assured now that it must be the -Spirit of Darkness that was tempting the girl. Her companions warned -her and told her how she had been watched, and that they could not -see who or whom she spoke to. - -"She became alarmed, but yet could not refrain from meeting her lover, -(as she supposed), once again, as she had made a vow and bound -herself by a solemn promise to meet him in this valley in the dead -hour of the night. She was also bound to go alone. It was a fearful -trial. The night came, the moon hid itself, and dark clouds swept -hurriedly across the sky. With blanched cheeks and trembling steps -the maiden approached the appointed place. She held (firmly grasped) -in her hand a Bible, and as the traitor approached, a straggling gleam -of moonshine revealed his form; and oh! horrible to relate, she saw the -cloven hoof! With one long piercing cry for protection from heaven she -fled; at the same instant the valley was filled with wild unearthly -shrieks. The roar of the deafening thunder shook the hills to their -foundations; wild and blinding lightnings, together with yells and -howls from the legions of baffled fiends rushed by on the startled air. - -"The bewildered whirlwinds dashed through the woodlands, snapping the -oaks of a century like fragile reeds, or hurling them like feathers -down into the brook--now a boiling torrent that swept all before -it. In the morning a strange scene of devastation presented itself, -and the woods seemed crumbled up; the valley was a chaotic mass of -confusion, while in the centre of the hamlet was this huge stone which -they say the vengeful demon tore from its firm bed on the hillside, -and flung at the flying maiden as she evaded his grasp. It remains -in the spot where it was cast, and is known as the Demon's Rock." - -There is also a story all over Wales of the Evil One appearing to a -young man as a lovely young lady. - - - -SATAN AND SABBATH BREAKERS; OR THE "OLD GENTLEMAN" APPEARING IN MANY -FORMS TO A MAN WHO TRAVELLED ON SUNDAY. - -The late Rev. Elias Owen, "Welsh Folk-Lore," page 152, Vicar of -Llanyblodwel, received the following tale from his deceased friend, -the Rev. J. L. Davies, late Rector of Llangynog, who had obtained it -from William Davies, the man who figures in the story:-- - -"William Davies, Penrhiw, near Aberystwyth, went to England for -the harvest, and after having worked there about three weeks, he -returned home alone, with all possible haste, as he knew that his -father-in-law's fields were by this time ripe for the sickle. He, -however, failed to accomplish the journey before Sunday; but he -determined to travel on Sunday, and thus reached home on Sunday night -to be ready to commence reaping on Monday morning. His conscience, -though, would not allow him to be at rest, but he endeavoured to -silence its twittings by saying to himself that he had with him no -clothes to go to a place of worship. He stealthily, therefore, walked -on, feeling very guilty every step he took, and dreading to meet -anyone going to Chapel or Church. By Sunday evening he had reached -the hill overlooking Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, where he was known, -so he determined not to enter the village until after the people had -gone to their respective places of worship; he therefore sat down on -the hill side and contemplated the scene below. - -"He saw the people leave their houses for the House of God, he heard -their songs of praise, and now he thinks he could venture to descend -and pass through the village unobserved. Luckily, no one saw him -going through the village, and now he has entered a barley field, -and although still uneasy in mind, he feels somewhat reassured, and -steps on quickly. He had not proceeded far in the barley field before -he found himself surrounded by a large number of small pigs. He was -not much struck by this, though he thought it strange that so many -pigs should be allowed to wander about on the Sabbath Day. The pigs, -however, came up to him, grunted and scampered away. Before he had -traversed the barley field he saw approaching him an innumerable number -of mice, and these, too, surrounded him, only, however, to stare at -him, and then disappear. By this Davies began to be frightened, and -he was almost sorry that he had broken the Sabbath Day by travelling -with his pack on his back instead of keeping the day holy. He was -not now very far from home, and this thought gave him courage and on -he went. He had not proceeded any great distance from the spot where -the mice had appeared when he saw a large grey-hound walking before -him on the pathway. He anxiously watched the dog, but suddenly it -vanished out of sight. - -"By this, the poor man was thoroughly frightened, and many and truly -sincere were his regrets that he had broken the Sabbath; but on he -went. He passed through the village of Llanilar without any further -fright. He had now gone about three miles from Llanfihangel along the -road that goes to Aberystwyth, and he had begun to dispel the fear -that had seized him, but to his horror he saw something approach him -that made his hair stand on end. He could not at first make it out, -but he soon clearly saw that it was a horse that was madly dashing -towards him. He had only just time to step on to the ditch, when, -horrible to relate, a headless white horse rushed passed him. - -"His limbs shook and the perspiration stood out like beads on bis -forehead. This terrible spectre he saw when close to Tan'rallt, but -he dared not turn into the house, as he was travelling on Sunday, -so on he went again, and heartily did he wish himself at home. In -fear and dread he proceeded on his journey towards Penrhiw. The most -direct way from Tan'rallt to Penrhiw was a pathway through the fields, -and Davies took this pathway, and now he was in sight of his home, -and he hastened towards the boundary fence between Tan'rallt and -Penrhiw. He knew that there was a gap in the hedge that he could get -through, and for this gap he aimed; he reached it, but further progress -was impossible, for in the gap was a lady lying at full length, and -immovable, and stopping up the gap entirely. Poor Davies was now more -terrified than ever. He sprang aside, he screamed and then fainted -right away. As soon as he recovered consciousness, he, on his knees, -and in a loud supplicating voice, prayed for pardon. His mother and -father-in-law heard him, and the mother knew the voice and said, "It -is my Will! some mishap has overtaken him." They went to him and found -he was so weak that he could not move, and they were obliged to carry -him home, where he recounted to them his marvellous experience. The -late Rector of Llangynog, who was intimately acquainted with William -Davies, had many conversations with him about his Sunday journey, -and he argued the matter with him, and tried to persuade him that he -had seen nothing, but that it was his imagination working on a nervous -temperament that had created all his fantasies. He, however, failed -to convince him, for Davies affirmed that it was no hallucination, -but that what he had seen that Sunday was a punishment for his having -broken the Fourth Commandment. - -"Davies ever afterwards was a strict observer of the Sabbath." - - - -THE DEVIL AND LLANARTH CHURCH. - -A writer in the Arch. Cam., 1850, page 73, says:-- - -In the Churchyard of Llanarth, near Aberaeron, on the South side -of the Church, there is an inscribed stone (not hitherto published) -of the twelfth century. It bears a cross covering the stone with four -circular holes at the junction of the arms. The inscription is on the -lower limb of the cross; but as it is made of a micaceous sandstone, -part has been split off, and the inscription is much mutilated.... The -current tradition of the place concerning it is, that one stormy night, -some centuries ago, there was such a tremendous shindy going on up -in the belfry that the whole village was put in commotion. It was -conjectured that nobody but a certain ancient personage could be the -cause of this, and, therefore, they fetched up his reverence from the -vicarage to go and request the intruder to be off. Up went the vicar -with bell, book and candle, along the narrow winding staircase, and, -sure enough, right up aloft among the bells there was his majesty -in person! No sooner, however, had the worthy priest began the usual -'conjurate in nomine, etc.' than away went the enemy up the remaining -part of the staircase on to the leads of the tower. The Vicar, nothing -daunted, followed, and pressed the intruder so briskly that the latter -had nothing else to do than to leap over the battlements. He came down -plump among the gravestones below; and, falling upon one, made with his -hands and knees the four holes now visible on the stone in question. - -Another writer in "Y Brython" for 1859, says, that the Devil's -purpose in troubling Llanarth Church was to rob it of one of its -bells and carry it to Llanbadarn Fawr Church, near Aberystwyth, twenty -miles distant, as the latter, though once a cathedral, had only two -bells, whilst the former, only a parish church, had four. And an old -story still lingers in the neighbourhood of Llanarth that the Devil -whilst thus engaged in carrying the bell, put it down and rested and -re-arranged his heavy load at the very commencement of his journey, -and a particular spot between the church and the river on a road -known as "Rhiw Cyrff," is pointed out as the place where the D----l -put down the bell. Moreover, it is added that from that day forth, -the sound of Llanarth bells cannot be heard from that spot, though -it is only a few yards from the church tower. - -The Llanarth legend is the only story in Wales that I know of in which -the Spirit of darkness carries a church bell, as it was believed in -old times that the Evil One was afraid of bells, and fled away at -the sound of them. - -There are, however, traditions of churches troubled by the Devil in -other parts of Wales besides Llanarth, and in the old superstitious -times the north door of a church was called "Devil's Door." - -It was thought that as the priest entered the church through the -south door, the Evil Spirit was obliged to make his exit through the -north door. - -It might also be added that in former times no one was buried on the -north side of a churchyard, as it was known as the "Domain of Demons." - - - -HOW TO GET RID OF GHOSTS, SPIRITS, GOBLINS, AND DEVILS, ETC. - -In some parts, especially on the borders of Cardiganshire and -Carmarthenshire, it is believed that any one carrying a knife in his -hands, will never see or be troubled by a spirit, even when passing -a haunted spot in the depth of night. - -When staying for a short time in the parish of Llandyssul about five -years ago, I was told that there lived a few years ago a certain man -in the village of Pontshan in that parish, who, when coming home late -one night, saw a ghost on the roadside whilst passing a well-known -haunted spot in the neighbourhood. The man took out his knife from -his pocket, and the ghost vanished. After this, whenever he passed -a haunted place the man held a knife in his hand, and never saw a -ghost again. In South Pembrokeshire, a V-shaped twig of the mountain -ash was considered a protective against spirits. - -It was also believed once in all parts of Wales that to wear body-linen -inside out, and to nail a horseshoe against the door kept away both -evil spirits and witches. Even in the present day people all over the -world think that there is some "good luck" in finding a horseshoe, -and to a young girl it means a new lover. - -When a spirit troubled a house in Wales, it was sometimes customary -to call together the most godly persons in the parish to hold a -prayer-meeting; at other times a conjurer, or a priest was sent for, -for it was formerly thought that a clergyman had the power to "lay" -or exorcise spirits. There were particular forms of exorcising. When -the Devil was in the belfry of Llanarth Church, Cardiganshire, the -Vicar went to drive away the Evil One, with "Bell, Book, and Candle." - -Until the time of Henry VIII., it seems that it was customary to curse -mortals, as well as to exorcise fiends "with bell, book and candle"; -for in an old book called "Dugdale's Baronage," published in 1675, it -is said that in the 37th. year of Henry III., "a Curse was denounced -in Westminster Hall against the violation of Magna Charta, with bell, -book and candle." - -And in Fox's account of the ceremony of excommunication, we are told -that three candles were carried before the clergy, and that as each -candle was extinguished prayer was made that the souls of malefactors -and schismatics might be "given over utterly to the power of the -fiend as this candle is now quenched and put out." - - - -YSPRYD PENPOMPREN PLAS OR A SPIRIT "LAID" IN A BOTTLE. - -Penpompren Plas is a small mansion near Talybont in North -Cardiganshire. The late Mr. John Jones, Bristol House, informed me -that there was a spirit there once troubling the family, and the -servants, and especially the head servant who had no peace as the -ghost followed the poor man everywhere whenever he went out at night, -and often threw water into his face. At last the servant went to a -wise man or a conjurer. The Conjurer came with him to Penpompren Plas -to "lay" the Spirit, and transformed it into an insect, in a bottle, -which was securely corked. Then the bottle was thrown under the river -bridge close by. - -There are many such stories in different parts of the country; and -it is said that under the Monument Arch of Old Haverfordwest Bridge -in Pembrokeshire, a spirit has been laid for a thousand years, and -that at the expiration of that time it will again be free to roam -the earth to trouble people. - -About 60 years ago, a spirit which appeared in all forms, pig, mouse, -hare, etc., at Alltisaf, Llanfynydd, in Carmarthenshire, was "laid" -by the celebrated wizard, Harries, of Cwrtycadno. I was told of this -by two old men in the village of Llanfynydd about five years ago. - - - -THE "LAYING" OF THE HAVOD UCHTRYD GOBLIN. - -Havod Uchtryd is a large mansion a few miles from Devil's Bridge, -in Cardiganshire, and there is a tradition in the neighbourhood -that in the time of the celebrated Colonel Johnes about the -beginning of the last century the place was haunted by a mischievous -goblin. Fortunately, however, there happened to be a wizard nor far -off, and the squire, so it is said, sent for him to Havod to lay the -ghost. The conjurer came and when he arrived at the spot where the -haunting usually took place he surrounded himself with an enchanted -circle which the spirit could not break through. Then he opened a -book and went through various incantations to invoke the spirit, -which presented himself in various forms; first it appeared as -a bull, secondly as a bulldog; and at last as a fly which rested -on the wizard's open book. In an instant the enchanter closed the -book, and thus caught the evil one in a trap, and was only allowed -to go out under the conditions that he should betake himself to the -Devil's Bridge, and there with an ounce hammer and tintack cut off a -fathom of the rock. But notwithstanding this "laying" of the spirit -one hundred years ago, there is a rumour still throughout the whole -North of Cardiganshire, that Hafod is still haunted. - - - -THE MONACHDY GHOST DOOMED TO CUT THE ROCK NEAR LLANRHYSTYD. - -About 70 or 80 years ago, Monachty, a fine mansion in the neighbourhood -of Aberaeron, was rumoured to be haunted. My informant is an old man -named James Jones, Golden Lion, Llanarth. Jones said that when he was -a boy at Pantycefn, he often felt almost too terrified to go to bed, -as it was reported that the Monachty ghost was so small that it could -go through even the eye of a needle; and his father's humble cottage -was not without holes especially the window of his bedroom. - -At last, however, Students from Ystrad Meurig College were sent -for to Monachdy to lay the ghost, which they did, so Jones said, -and they doomed the unearthly being to cut a rock near Llanrhystyd, -which proves that students, as well as Clergymen and ministers, -had the reputation of being able to lay spirits. - - - -THE "LAYING" OF THE STACKPOLE GHOST. - -Stackpole Court, the beautiful residence of the distinguished Earl of -Cawdor, is famous for its legendary lore. "Seven hundred years ago, -Giraldus Cambrensis tells the story of Sir Elidur de Stackpole's -demon steward, whose name was Simon; and in the more modern times the -neighbourhood was haunted by the spirit of an old lady. This ghost -appeared in the form of a party consisting of two headless horses, -a headless coachman and a headless lady in her carriage. - -At last the ghost was "laid" by the Parson of St. Patrox, who doomed it -to empty a pond with a cockle shell for a ladle, so that the phantom -is not seen now. - -There are several versions of this ghost story, and Col. Lambton, -of Brownslade, who is much interested in Folk-Lore and Antiquities, -informed me that the headless lady was known as "Lady Mathias." - -The idea of giving employment to a spirit is most ancient, and in -Grecian and Roman Mythology we find that the Danaides, or the fifty -daughters of Danaus, who all, except one, slew their husbands on their -wedding night, were doomed in Tartarus to draw water in sieves from -a well until they had filled a vessel full of holes. - -It seems from the following story, which I obtained from the -Rev. J. Jones, Brynmeherin, near Ystrad Meurig, that a ghost will -not follow one through water:-- - - - -SHAN AND THE GHOST. - -About 35 years ago, there lived at Ynysfach, near Ystrad Meurig, -an old man and an old woman known as "Shon and Shan." - -Shon was working in North Wales, for he was a quarryman at the time, -but he came home occasionally to spend his holidays with his wife, -especially about Christmas time. - -On one occasion, however, when Shan expected her husband home the -day before Christmas as usual, Shon came not. Nine o'clock in the -evening she went out to meet him or to search for him and to prevent -him spending his money on beer at a public house which his friend, -a saddler kept at Tyngraig. But her husband was not at the public -house, nor was he seen anywhere, so the old woman had to return home -in disappointment. It was a cloudless moonlight night, almost as light -as day, but the road was lonely and the hour late, and when she had -walked some distance, to her great terror, she noticed a ghost in the -field making his way nearer and nearer to her till at last the strange -object came to the hedge on the roadside quite close to her. Frightened -as she was, she struck the ghost with the strong walking-stick which -she held in her hand, saying "D----l! thou shalt follow me no longer." - -When Shan struck the ghost her walking-stick went right through the -head of the strange object, but she did not "feel" that it touched -anything--It was like striking a fog; but the spirit vanished into -nothing, and Shan walked on. The ghost was now invisible, but the old -woman "felt" that it still followed her, though she could not see it; -but when she was crossing a brook she became aware that her pursuer -left her. - - - -TWO YOUNG WOMEN AND THE GOBLIN. - -Two young women, daughters of a farmer in the parish of Llandyssul, -were walking home one night from Lampeter Fair. After reaching the -very field in one corner of which the house in which they lived stood, -they wandered about this field for hours before they could find the -building, though it was a fine moonlight night. - -It seemed as if the farm house had vanished; and they informed me -that they were convinced that this was the doings of the Goblin, -who played them a trick. - -The Welsh word for Goblin is Ellyll. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -DEATH PORTENTS. - - -Among the most important of the superstitions of Wales are the -death portents and omens; and this is perhaps more or less true of -every country. About a generation or two ago, there were to be found -almost in every parish some old people who could tell before hand -when a death was going to lake place; and even in the present day -we hear of an old man or an old woman, here and there, possessing, -or supposed to possess, an insight of this kind into the future. - -Mrs. Lloyd, Ffynnonddagrau, Llangynog, Carmarthenshire, told me five -years ago that there lived at Ffynnonddagrau, an old man named Thomas -Harries, who always foretold every death in the parish as he possessed -second sight. John Thomas, Pentre, who worked about the farms, called -with my informant one day on his way home; he was in good health then, -but on the very next day he was very ill and soon died. Harries had -foretold the death of the poor man some days before he was taken -ill. He had also foretold the death of one Howells, who was buried at -Ebenezer Chapel, and of an old woman known as Rassie of Moelfre Fach, -as well as the death of one Thomas Thomas about 35 years ago. People -were almost frightened to see Harries as he so often foretold the -death of someone or other, and his predictions were always correct. My -informant also added that Harries only died about 20 years ago. - - - -THE "TOILI" OR PHANTOM FUNERAL. - -With the exception of Corpse Candle, the most prominent death -portent in West and Mid-Wales is the "Toili" or spirit funeral; -a kind of shadowy funeral which foretold the real one. In the -very north of Cardiganshire, such apparition is known as "teulu" -(family); but throughout all other parts of the county it is called -"toili." Toili, or Toeli is also rather general in Carmarthenshire; -in North Pembrokeshire, however, it is called "Crefishgyn." - -There are tales of phantom funerals all over the Diocese of -St. David's, and the following account of a Twentieth Century Phantom -Funeral in Pembrokeshire is interesting, as my informant himself was -the man who witnessed the strange apparition, or a foreshadowing of -a funeral which actually took place soon afterwards. - - - -A PRESENT DAY PHANTOM FUNERAL. - -A young man who lives in the Gwaun Valley, between Pontfaen and -Fishguard informed me in the beginning of November, 1905, that he had -just seen a phantom or a spirit funeral only a few weeks previously. - -A friend of his, a young porter at a Railway Station in the -neighbourhood of Cardiff, had come home ill to his native place in -Pembrokeshire, and his friend, my informant, one night sat up by his -bedside all night. About three o'clock in the morning the patient -was so seriously ill that my informant in alarm hurried to call -the father of the poor sufferer to come to see him, as the old man -lived in a small cottage close by. As soon as he went out through -the door into the open air, to his great astonishment he found -himself in a large crowd of people, and there was a coffin resting -on some chairs, ready to be placed on the bier; and the whole scene, -as it were, presented a funeral procession, ready to convey the dead -to the grave. When the young man attempted to proceed on his way, -the procession also proceeded, or moved on in the same direction, -so that he found himself still in the crowd. After going on in this -manner for about a hundred yards, he managed to draw one side from -the crowd and soon reached the house of his sick friend's father, -and nearly fainted. Three days after this vision the seer's friend -died; and on the day of the funeral the young man noticed that the -crowd stood in front of the house and the coffin resting on chairs -exactly as he had seen in the apparition. I may add that my informant -who had seen the phantom funeral was so terrified even at the time -when I saw him, that he was too much afraid to go out at night. It so -happened that I was staying in that part of Pembrokeshire at the time, -so I went to see the man myself, and a clergyman accompanied me. - -I obtained the following account of a phantom funeral from the -Rev. John Phillips, Vicar of Llancynfelyn, North Cardiganshire. The -scene of the story was Cilcwm, Carmarthenshire:-- - - - -A PHANTOM FUNERAL. - -Though more than thirty years have run their course since the incident -which is to be described here occurred, still the impression which -it left on the writer's mind was so vivid and lasting that he finds -not the slightest difficulty in recalling its minutest details at -the present moment. Some experiences are so impressive that time -itself seems powerless to efface them from the memory, and of such -the following appears to be an instance:-- - -It happened in the early Spring, just when the days were perceptibly -lengthening, and a balmy feeling was creeping into the air, and a -glad sense of hope was throbbing throughout the whole of nature. A -boy of ten, or may be a couple of years younger, tired out after a -hard day of play and pleasure, sat resting on a log near a lonely -house, in a sparsely populated district. As he sat, he gazed down a -long stretch of white and dusty road leading away past the house. As -a rule, few and far between would be the travellers who used that -unfrequented road. The sole exception would be on a Sunday, when -perhaps a dozen or more of the neighbours might be seen wending their -way, to or from the nearest place of worship. Intense, therefore, -was the boy's surprise, when on this week-day, his eyes discerned a -goodly company turning the corner in the distance, and proceeding -in an orderly procession along the stretch of straight road which -his vantage ground commanded. He watched it keenly, and wondered -greatly. Never had he before seen such a crowd on that particular -road. As the people drew nearer and nearer, something of solemnity in -their orderly and silent manner struck on the watcher's imagination, -but no sense of anything akin to the supernatural obsessed his mind -for a second, still he failed not to mark, that for so large an -assemblage, it was remarkably noiseless. Twenty yards, more or less, -from where the youthful watcher sat, a footpath leading over a piece -of wet and barren land joined the road. This path, which could be -traversed only in dry weather, terminated half a mile away, at the -door of a solitary cottage inhabited by a farm hand named Williams, -who dwelt there with his wife and several young children. When the -crowd arrived at the spot where the path ran on to the road, there -seemed to be a momentary hesitation, and then the procession left the -road and took to the footpath. The watcher strained every nerve, in an -effort to recognise some one or other in the crowd, but though there -was something strangely familiar about it all, there was also something -so dim and shadowy, as to preclude the possibility of knowing anyone -with certainty; but as the tail end of the procession curved round -to gain the path, something he did observe, which caused a thrill, -for the last four men carried high on their shoulders a bier,--but it -was an empty bier. Soon as the multitude was out of sight, the boy -rushed to the house, and related his curious experience. No thought -of anything weird and uncanny had so far crossed his mind, and his one -desire at the time was to gain some information as to where the people -were bound for. Neither could he just then understand the manifest -consternation, and the hushed awe, which fell upon his hearers as he -unfolded his tale. Amongst these there happened to be a visitor, an -old dame of a class well known in many parts of rural Wales in those -days. It was her habit to stroll from farm to farm along the country -side, regaling the housewives with the latest gossip. In return she -would be sure of a meal, and also something to carry home in her -wallet. Naturally, such a character would be shrewd and keen, knowing -well not only what tales would suit her company, but also the truth, -or otherwise, of any tales which she herself might be a listener -to. In addition, the old dame in question was generally supposed to -be immune from all fear, and cared not how far from home she might -be when the shades of night overtook her. On the present occasion, -although a few minutes before, she had been on the point of starting, -and was indeed only waiting to be handed her usual dole of charity, no -sooner had she heard the lad's strange tale, than she flatly declared -that no power on earth could move her to travel an inch further that -evening, and so at the expense of much inconvenience to the household -a bed had to be prepared for her. However, she started early on the -following morning, and long before noon, owing mainly to her assiduous -diligence, the news had travelled far and near, that a phantom funeral -had been seen on the previous evening. Her tale made a deep impression -throughout the country-side. Those prone to superstition,--and it -must be confessed, they were many,--lent a ready ear. A few,--and -these prided themselves on their commonsense,--doubted. The latter -class were not slow to point out, what they considered to be, a -fatal flaw in the evidence. The supposed funeral was travelling -in a direction, which led away from the churchyard. Had it been -going down the road instead of up, they argued, that there might -be something in it. Then again, it took the footpath, and it was -pointed out, not only that funerals kept to the high roads, but that -this particular path, could not by any stretch of imagination be said -to lead to any burial ground. This seemed a reasonable view to take, -and as one day succeeded another, without anything unusual happening, -the excitement cooled down. However, within a few weeks Williams, -who lived in the cottage across the marsh was taken ill. At first, -it was thought that he had contracted a chill, and it was hoped that -he would soon be well again. The nearest medical man lived six miles -away, and that caused further delay. On the fifth day the doctor came, -but he came to find that it was too late for his skill to be of any -avail. A glance at the patient had satisfied him that it was a case -of double pneumonia, and that the end was rapidly approaching. A few -hours later and Williams had drawn his last breath. Three days more -and the funeral took place. As is the custom in country places, the -neighbours from far and near attended, and on their way a group of -men called at the burial place for the bier. This group was joined -by others so that long before the house of mourning was reached -the procession was a large one. It travelled up the long stretch -of road where the lad had watched that mysterious crowd, in the -twilight six weeks before. The same lad watched again, and when -the procession reached the point, where the footpath branched away -across the fields, the man who acted as leader stopped, and raised -his hand, while the procession hesitated for a moment, then looking -at his watch, the leader spoke in low clear tones, "men," said he, -"it is already getting late if we go round by the road, it will get -very late; we will take the path." He led the way and as his followers -swept round the curve, the lad saw that the last four men carried on -their shoulders an empty bier. It was being taken to fetch the body. - - - -THE NEUADDLWYD "TOILI." - -John Jones, Coed-y-Brenin, near Neuaddlwyd, was going home one evening -from Derwen-gam; and as he walked along he found himself suddenly -in a phantom funeral, and was so pressed by the crowd of spirits -that he nearly fainted. At last he managed to escape by turning -into a field. He then noticed that the phantom funeral proceeded -towards Neuaddlwyd, and soon there was a light to be seen in that -chapel through the windows. A few weeks after this a real funeral -took place. The above J. Jones, who had seen the apparition only -died about twelve years ago. My informant was Mr. Thomas Stephen, -near Mydroilyn, in the parish of Llanarth. - - - -A HORSE SEEING A "TOILI" OR PHANTOM FUNERAL. - -The following tale was related to me by Mr. Jones, Bristol House, -Talybont:-- - -A farmer's wife, who lived in the northern part of Cardiganshire, -had gone to Machynlleth Market one day riding a pony. On her journey -home that evening she met a "toili" on the road. The pony was the -first to notice the spirit-funeral, and the animal refused to go -forward, but turned back and stood trembling under the shelter of a -big tree till the "toili" had passed. The woman was quite terrified, -and as soon as she reached home she rushed into the house and asked -her husband to go out and put the pony in the stable, and stated that -she felt unwell that night. Soon after this, one of the family died. - -Some persons have such clear vision of a phantom funeral, that they -are able even to recognise and give the names of the persons that -appear in the spectral procession. - -Owen Shon Morris, of Pant'stoifan, Llanarth, who died 85 years ago, -saw a "toili" passing his own house in the direction of Llanarth, -at 1 o'clock in the morning. He even discovered that among the crowd -was his own friend, Evan Pugh, the tailor, and a woman wearing a red -petticoat. When the "toili" had gone as far as a certain green spot on -the road, after passing the house, the tailor and the woman with the -red petticoat left the procession, and returned to their homes. Twelve -months after this a funeral took place, and in the procession were -the tailor and the woman with a red petticoat, both of whom returned -home after accompanying the crowd as far as the green spot. - -My informant was an old farmer, named Thomas Stephens, near Mydroilyn. - - - -SPIRIT FUNERALS CARRYING PEOPLE TO CHURCHYARDS. - -I obtained the following account from an old man in North -Pembrokeshire:-- - -About seven o'clock one winter evening, David Thomas, Henllan, -Eglwyswrw, went to the village shop to get some medicine for a sick -animal. When he was returning home, it was a fine moonlight night. All -of a sudden, however, he found himself in utter darkness, being -carried back to Eglwyswrw almost unknown to himself by a "Crefishgyn" -as such an apparition is called in North Pembrokeshire; and when he -got his feet on the ground once more, he discovered himself taking -hold of the iron bars of the Churchyard Gate. In his adventure with -the apparition he had passed a blacksmith's shop, where several men -were working, without seeing or noticing anything. - -A farm servant, named David Evans in the parish of Llandyssul, -Cardiganshire, had visited his brother who was ill one night, but -whilst going home at two o'clock in the morning, a "toili" carried -him all the way to Llandyssul Churchyard. My informant was Rees, -Maesymeillion. - -I have also heard of an old woman at Cilcennin, near Aberaeron, who -was also carried by force to the churchyard by a "toili," and there -are such tales all over the country. - - - -AN OLD WOMAN WHO SAW THE APPARITION OF HER OWN FUNERAL. - -Miss Martha Davies, a housemaid, at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, -informed me that her family possessed the peculiar gift of second -sight, and that her mother had seen the phantom of her own funeral -before she died. - -When she was out walking one night, the old woman was terrified by -seeing a funeral procession meeting her on the road and which passed on -towards Caersalem, a Nonconformist Chapel close by. The Rev. Jenkin -Evans, Vicar of Pontfaen, was walking behind the procession, and -she even took notice of his dress and what kind of hat he had on his -head. She was taken ill the very next day, and in a very short time -died, and every one in the neighbourhood believed that she had seen an -apparition of her own funeral. The deceased was buried at Caersalem; -and as her daughter, Martha, was at the time a maid-servant at Pontfaen -Vicarage, the Vicar accompanied the girl to her mother's funeral in -his carriage. When he arrived in the neighbourhood where the funeral -was to take place, he left his horse and trap at a public house, -and proceeded to the house of mourning on foot, as the distance the -funeral procession had to go from Melin Cilgwm to Caersalem burial -place was very short. Strange to say, when the funeral did proceed, it -so happened that the Vicar of Pontfaen walked behind the procession, -and his clothes, and even his very hat were in exact accordance with -the description which had been given by the dead woman of the vision. - - - -A PHANTOM TRAIN. - -A few years ago an old man named James, 75 years of age, living at -Nantgaredig, in Carmarthenshire, told me that he had seen a phantom -train on one occasion. - -Some years ago when he happened to be out about midnight once, he -saw a train passing, which came from the direction of Carmarthen, -and went towards Llandilo, and as no train was to pass through the -station of Nantgaredig at that hour he enquired of the Stationmaster -next morning what was the special train that passed at mid-night. In -reply, he was told he had been either dreaming or had seen the spirit -of a train, as no train had passed at that time of the night. - -A few days after this a special train passed through the station -conveying a large funeral from Carmarthen to Llandilo; and James and -his friend were convinced that the train he had seen in the night -was nothing but an apparition of the real train with the funeral! - - - -A "TOILI" SEEN IN THE DAY-TIME. - -Like every other apparition a "toili" is supposed to be seen in the -night time only; but according to the late Mr. Lledrod Davies, people -working at the harvest near Llangeitho many years ago, saw a "toili" -at mid-day in the churchyard of Llanbadarn Odwyn; and a funeral took -place soon afterwards. - -The following story of a phantom funeral in the day-time was related -to me by an old woman in Pembrokeshire, a farmer's wife in the Parish -of Llanycefn:-- - -An old man named John Salmon saw an apparition of a funeral in the -day-time, and he even recognised most of those who were in the -procession, but was surprised to find that the minister was not -amongst them. - -A few days after this the funeral took place, and the minister was -prevented from being present as he had been called away from home at -the time. - -Sometimes a "Toili" is heard without being seen. - -An old woman who lived in a little cottage at Dihewid, in -Cardiganshire, forty-five years ago, heard every phantom funeral -that passed her house; she could tell even the number of horses in -the apparition. - -An old woman who only a few years ago lived close to Llanafan -Churchyard, in the same County, heard from her bed one night the -Vicar's voice, the Rev. W. J. Williams, reading the burial service -quite distinctly, and soon after a funeral took place. - -The Vicar was informed of this by the old woman herself. - - - -SINGING HEARD TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE DEATH. - -About sixty years ago, the mother of one David Hughes, Cwmllechwedd, -was one day standing outside the house, when all of a sudden, she -heard the sound of singing. She recognised the voice of the singer -as the voice of the Curate of Lledrod, but when she looked round -she could see no one anywhere. The maid servants also heard the same -sound of singing. - -Twelve months after this her son, David Hughes, a young man of 22 years -of age died, and on the day of the funeral, the Curate of Lledrod, -standing near the door, gave out a hymn, and conducted the singing -himself, just as the funeral was leaving the house. - -My informant was Thomas Jones, Pontrhydfendigaid. - -A woman at Aberporth, informed me that she had heard a "Toili" singing: - - - "Gwyn fyd v rhai trwy ffydd, - Sy'n myn'd o blith y byw." - - -Three weeks before the death of her aunt. - -Mr. John Llewelyn, Rhos-y-Gwydr, somewhere on the borders of -Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, when he went to the door of -Rhydwilym Chapel one evening, he was surprised when he listened, -to hear his own voice preaching a funeral sermon. - - - -A DAY-DREAM. - -Another remarkable instance of second-sight seeing appeared in "Notes -and Queries" for July, 1858. The contributor, Mr. John Pavin Phillips, -gives the following account of what occurred to him himself in the -year 1818, upon his return home to Pembrokeshire, after many years' -absence:-- - -"A few days after my arrival, I took a walk one morning in the yard -of one of our parish churches, through which there is a right of -way for pedestrians. My object was a twofold one: Firstly, to enjoy -the magnificent prospect visible from that portion; and secondly, to -see whether any of my friends or acquaintances who had died during my -absence were buried in the locality. After gazing around me for a short -time, I sauntered on, looking at one tombstone and then at another, -when my attention was arrested by an altar-tomb enclosed within an iron -railing. I walked up to it and read an inscription which informed me -that it was in memory of Colonel ----. This gentleman had been the -assistant Poor Law Commissioner for South Wales, and while on one -of his periodical tours of inspection, he was seized with apoplexy -in the Workhouse of my native town, and died in a few hours. This -was suggested to my mind as I read the inscription on the tomb, -as the melancholy event occurred during the period of my absence, -and I was only made cognisant of the fact through the medium of the -local press. Not being acquainted with the late Colonel ----, and -never having seen him, the circumstances of his sudden demise had long -passed from my memory, and were only revived by my thus viewing his -tomb. I then passed on, and shortly afterwards returned home. On my -arrival my father asked me in what direction I had been walking, and -I replied, in ---- Churchyard, looking at the tombs, and among others -I have seen the tomb of Col. ----, who died in the Workhouse. 'That' -replied my father 'is impossible, as there is no tomb erected over -Colonel ----'s grave.' At this remark I laughed. 'My dear father,' -said I, 'You want to persuade me that I cannot read. I was not aware -that Colonel ---- was buried in the Churchyard, and was only informed -of the fact by reading the inscription on the tomb.' 'Whatever you may -say to the contrary' said my father, 'What I tell you is true; there -is no tomb over Colonel ----'s grave.' Astounded by the reiteration of -this statement, as soon as I had dined I returned to the Churchyard -and again inspected all the tombs having railings around them, and -found that my father was right. - -There was not only no tomb bearing the name of Colonel ----, but -there was no tomb at all corresponding in appearance with the one I -had seen. Unwilling to credit the evidence of my own senses, I went -to the cottage of an old acquaintance of my boyhood, who lived outside -of the Churchyard gate, and asked her to show the place where Colonel ----- lay buried. She took me to the spot, which was a green mound, -undistinguished in appearance from the surrounding graves. - -Nearly two years subsequent to this occurrence, surviving relatives -erected an Altar-tomb, with a railing round it, over the last resting -place of Colonel ----, and it was, as nearly as I could remember, an -exact reproducing of the memorial of my day-dream. Verily, 'there are -more things in Heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy.' - - - -THE CORPSE CANDLE. - -The "Canwyll Corph" or Corpse Candle, was another death portent often -seen in West and Mid-Wales, about a generation or two ago. Indeed there -are several persons still alive who have told me that they had seen -this mysterious light themselves. It was a pale light moving slowly -and hovering a short distance from the ground. Some could tell whether -a man, woman, or child was to die. The death of a man was indicated -by a red light, that of a woman by a white light, and a faint light -before the death of a child. If two lights were seen together, two -deaths were to take place in the same house at the same time. If the -light was seen early in the evening a death was to take place soon, -but if late it was not to take place for some time. - -Like the "toili" or phantom funeral, the Corpse Candle also was seen -going along from the house--where death was to take place--to the -churchyard along the same route which a funeral was to take, whether -road or path. - -Sometimes the light was seen carried by a spectral representation of -the dying person, and it was even thought possible to recognise that -person by standing near the water watching the apparition crossing -over it. Another way of recognising the dying person was to stand -at the church porch watching the candle entering the building. There -are some instances of people seeing their own corpse candle. - -There was an old woman living at Llanddarog, in Carmarthenshire, named -Margaret Thomas, who always saw every light or Corpse Candle going to -the churchyard before every funeral. She only died about 27 years ago. - -Another old woman who also saw the same death portents was Mary Thomas, -Dafy, who lived close to Llandyssul churchyard in Cardiganshire. She -was buried sixty years ago. - -There is a tradition that St. David, by prayer, obtained the Corpse -Candle as a sign to the living of the reality of another world, and -according to some people it was confined to the Diocese of St. David's, -but the fact of it is there are tales of corpse candles all over Wales. - - - -A CORPSE CANDLE SEEN AT SILIAN. - -Owen Evans, Maesydderwen, near Llansawel, Carmarthenshire, who is -over 90 years of age, gave me the following account of a Corpse Candle -which had been seen at Silian, near Lampeter. - -When Evans was a boy, his father lived in an old house close to the -churchyard walls, and kept the key of the church door. At that time -singing practice was often conducted in the church, especially during -the long winter evenings. One evening a certain young man entered -the churchyard with the intention of going to the church to attend -this singing-class, though it was a little too early; but he could -see light in the church through one of the windows. So on he went -to the church door thinking that the singing had commenced, or at -least that some one was in the church. But to his great surprise he -found the door closed and locked, and when he looked in through the -key-hole there was not a soul to be seen inside the church. The young -man then went to the house of Owen Evans's father and informed the -old man that there was light in the church, but that he did not see -anyone inside. "You must be making a mistake," said my informant's -father to the young man, "there cannot possibly be any light in the -church; no one could have entered the building to light it, for the -door is locked, and I have the key here in the house." "But I am -positively certain," said the young man again, "that there is light -in the church, for I took particular notice of it." Both of the two -men now went to the church together, and as they approached, they -noticed a light coming out from the church. This light moved slowly -towards a certain part of the churchyard, and the two men followed it -and watched it until it suddenly disappeared into the ground. That it -was a corpse candle they had no doubt in their minds. The young man -had a walking stick in his hand with which he made a mark or a hole -in the ground on the spot where the light had sunk. Soon after this -a death took place in the neighbourhood, and the dead was buried in -the very spot where the corpse candle had sunk into the ground. - -My informant told me also that he had seen a corpse candle himself -before the death of an adopted son of one Mr. John Evans, who lived -at Glandenis, in the same neighbourhood. - - - -A CORPSE CANDLE SEEN TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS AGO. - -There is a tradition at Llanilar that a young woman got drowned -long ago in attempting to cross the river Ystwyth during a flood; -and that a short time before the melancholy event took place, people -in the neighbourhood had seen a corpse candle hovering up and down -the river. According to the Rev. Edmund Jones, the young woman had -come from Montgomeryshire to see her friends at Llanilar. - -There is also a tradition in Carmarthenshire of a three-flamed corpse -candle which had been seen on the surface of the water near Golden -Grove a short time before three persons were drowned near the spot. - - - -A CORPSE CANDLE SEEN NEAR CONWIL. - -An old man named James, living at Nantgaredig in Carmarthenshire, -gave me an account of how he himself and his father and others had -seen a Corpse Candle in the parish of Conwil Elvet. - -When James was a boy, he was sent one day by a farmer's wife on a -message to Llanpumpsaint, about three miles off, to fetch a pair of -clogs from the blacksmith, and a few small things from a shop in the -village. When he arrived there he went first to the blacksmith, but -he had to wait there as the clogs were not ready. Then he went to the -village shop, but, unfortunately, the woman who kept the shop was not -at home, and he had to wait several hours; so that when he returned -to the farm with his message it was quite dark. But the farmer's -wife gave him plenty to eat and a present of a waistcoat. Then he -went home to Nantglas, where his father and mother lived. It was -now getting late in the evening, and he was only a boy going along a -lonely road. When he was between Yetyffin, and Cwmgweren, he noticed -some light coming after him nearer and nearer, and it even passed him -at last. It hovered within about two feet from the ground as it went -slowly along. The boy, who was a little bit frightened, now knocked -at the door of a house he was passing and called the attention of -the inmates to the strange light on the road. - -On he went again, and he even passed the light on the road; but when -he reached home and told his parents about it, his father would not -believe that he had seen a light. But the boy opened the door just -as the light was passing and he called his father to come out and -see it. The whole family now came out, and both his father and the -other children saw the light, but his mother and one of the children -did not see it--not possessing second sight. - -Soon after this, a child died at a house called Yet-y-ffin; and my -informant's father and his neighbours were convinced that the light -which they had seen was his corpse candle. - -Sometimes a corpse candle was seen coming into the chamber of the -person about to die. - -A woman, who was a native of Gwynfi in Carmarthenshire, told me about -five years ago that when her child was dying, she took particular -notice of a pale bluish light coming in through the window and standing -right over the bed. I have also heard several other persons saying -things of this kind. - - - -A PEMBROKESHIRE TALE OF A CORPSE CANDLE. - -The following story was contributed to the "Pembrokeshire County -Guardian," May 11th., 1901, by Mr. Joseph Davies, Glynderwen: - -"It happened not many miles from Tenby where a certain young school -mistress lodged at a farm house where she was very happy in every -respect. One night after retiring to rest, the light having been put -out, and she was lying awake, she suddenly noticed a peculiar greyish -light like a little star moving towards the foot of her bed from -the doorway. The light came to a stand-still by her bed and gently -lowered to her feet. Almost paralysed with fear, she called with all -her strength for help, and in a few minutes the whole of the household -were together in the room listening in amazement to the frightened -girl's story, and all sorts of means were used to pacify her and -to induce her to go to sleep, but without avail. She would not stay -in that room for the world, and her bed had to be removed and fixed -on a temporary bedstead in the room where the mistress slept. Time -passed, and the story spread abroad; some made light of it, and some -looked serious, and all tried to get the young lady to shake off all -thoughts of it. But to no purpose--let them laugh or chaff, she bore -the same sad expression, and said something would certainly follow -to clear up the mystery. About six weeks or so had passed, and one -night the mistress, who was a strong healthy woman, suddenly took -ill, and quite unexpectedly died. The young schoolmistress happened -at the time to be away on her holidays, and on hearing of the sad -news she hurried back to attend the funeral. When she arrived at the -house she was taken upstairs to see the body, she again became almost -paralysed on finding that the corpse had been laid out on the spare -bedstead on the very spot where she had six weeks previously pointed -out where the light had lowered and disappeared. No one had thought of -the incident until reminded of it. The body had been laid out there -for convenience at the time; no one ever thought of the young lady's -fright until she now pointed it out herself. - -"So after that it can be easily imagined the whole neighbourhood -became convinced that there was something in it after all, and the -old superstition got strengthened in the minds of the young people -that it remains to a great extent to the present time." - - - -A LLANGATHEN TALE. - -The following appeared in "Apparitions in Wales" by Rev. Edmund Jones, -and it is a story of long ago: - -"Some years ago one Jane Wyat, my wife's sister, being nurse to Baronet -Rudd's three children, and his Lady being dead, his house-keeper -going late into a chamber where the maid servants lay, saw five of -these lights together: while after that chamber being newly plastered, -a great grate of coal fire was kindled therein to hasten the drying -of it. At night five of the maid servants went there to bed as these -were wont, and in the morning were all found dead, and suffocated -with the steam of the new tempered lime and coal." - -This was at Llangathen, in Carmarthenshire. - - - -THE CORPSE BIRD. - -The most common death prognosticator throughout Wales in the present -day is a peculiar bird known as "Deryn Corph" (Corpse Bird)--a bird -flapping its wings against the window of the room in which there is -a sick person. This was considered an omen of death. Even in the -present day most people dread to see or hear a bird flapping its -wings against the window when there is a sick person in the house; -but every bird is not a corpse bird. - -An old woman in Pembrokeshire, Miss Griffiths, Henllan, near Eglwyswrw, -told me this bird is a little grey one and that it came flapping -against her own window before the death of her father, and also before -the death of each of her three uncles. - -I have met with people in almost every district throughout the country -who have heard the flappings of this mysterious bird before a death. - - - -A BIRD COMING INTO A HOUSE BEFORE A DEATH. - -Mr. Rees, Maesymeillion, Llandyssul, informed me that many years ago -there lived in that part of the country an old woman known as Nell -Gwarnant. The old woman at one time had an only son, a young lad who -was very dear to her. One day a certain bird came into the house quite -suddenly, and descended on the rim of the Spinning Wheel, flapping its -wings. The old woman feared that the bird was a precursor of death, -and to her great sorrow her only son soon died. A bird coming into -the house is also a sign of a storm. - -Birds as precursors of death seem to follow Welsh people to all -parts of the world. A few years ago a Corpse Bird appeared in Perth, -Western Australia, before the death of a Welsh lady in that city; and -this reminds me of a strange incident which happened in Patagonia, -30 years ago, when I was there. Two Welsh gentlemen, Mr. Powell, -who was known as "Helaeg," and Mr. Lewis Jones, a friend of the late -Sir Love Jones Parry, M.P., were returning to the Welsh Colony, from -Buenos Ayres, in a sailing vessel. When the ship came within a few -miles of the mouth of the river Chubut, the captain found it necessary -to remain in the open sea that day, as the tide was too low to enter -the river over the bar just then. Mr. Jones and Mr. Powell, however, -left in a small boat manned by Italian sailors; but when they were -within a certain distance of the land the sea was very rough, and a -certain bird appeared suddenly on the scene. Mr. Powell pointed out -the bird to his friend and said, "Do you see that bird, that's the -Bird of Biam! We shall be drowned this very moment." Just as he spoke, -the boat suddenly turned over, and the unfortunate speaker got drowned -on the spot. The other men were saved. Mr. Powell, who, unfortunately, -got drowned, was a gifted Welsh Roman Catholic gentleman, who knew -about twelve languages, and was a friend of the President of the -Argentine Republic. - -It was reported in the "Aberystwyth Observer" twenty-two years ago, -that before the death of Mrs. Fryer, Lady Pryse (now Dowager), noticed -a bird hovering around Gogerddan, and at times flapping his wings at -the windows. - - - -BIRD SINGING HEARD BEFORE DEATH. - -In the excellent Welsh Magazine "Y Brython" for January, 1860, page -40, the following remarkable incident is given in connection with the -death of the famous poet and clergyman, Tegid, which, being translated -is as follows:-- - -"In his absence from Church, when lying on his death-bed, in the -morning of the Lord's Day, whilst a neighbouring clergyman was taking -the service for him in Llanhyfer Church, the voice of the reader was -suddenly drowned by the beautiful song of a thrust, that filled the -whole church.... It was ascertained on leaving the church that at that -very moment the soul of Tegid left his body for the world of spirits." - - - -MUSIC OF ANGELS HEARD BEFORE DEATH. - -It is stated in the "Cambro-British Saints," page 444, that previous -to the death of St. David "the whole city was filled with the music -of angels." - -The Rev. Edmund Jones in his "Apparitions in Wales," says that at -the death of one Rees David in Carmarthenshire, "a man of more than -common piety," several persons who were in the room heard "the singing -of angels drawing nearer and nearer; and after his death they heard -the pleasant incomparable singing gradually depart until it was out -of hearing." - - - -CYHYRAETH: OR DEATH SOUND. - -The Cyhyraeth was another death portent. It has been described as -a wailing or moaning sound heard before a death, and it was thought -to be a sound made by a groaning spirit. This spirit was never seen, -only its sound was heard. - -According to "British Goblins" by Sikes, one David Prosser, -of Llanybyther, heard the Cyhyraeth pronouncing the words -"Woolach! Woolach!" before a funeral. - -According to the same book "this crying spirit, especially affected -the twelve parishes in the hundred of Inis Cenin, which lie on -the south-east side of the river Towy, 'where some time past it -groaned before the death of every person who lived that side of the -country! It also sounded before the death of persons 'who were born -in these parishes, but died elsewhere.' - -"Sometimes, the voice was heard long before death, but not longer than -a quarter of a year. So common was it in the district named, that among -the people there is a familiar form of reproach to any one making a -disagreeable noise, or children crying or groaning unreasonably was -to ejaculate 'Oh'r Cyhyraeth!' A reason why Cyhyraeth was more often -heard in the hundred of Inis Cenin, was thought to be that Non, the -mother of St. David lived in those parts where a village is called -after her name Llanon." - - - -THE TOLAETH. - -The Tolaeth is also a sound heard before death or a funeral. - -It is represented as superstitious rappings, or knockings, strange -noises, or sounds of footsteps or of carriages, etc. - -This superstition is common in all parts of the country at the present -day; and I have met and heard of many carpenters who always know -when they are to have an order for a coffin, as they hear strange -knockings in their workshops resembling the noise or knockings made -by a carpenter when engaged in coffin-making. An old lady who lives -at Pontshan, Llandyssul, told me three years ago, that when she was -a young woman, she and two other young women were on one occasion -sitting near the fire all night watching and nursing a sick old -woman of 80 years of age. About four o'clock in the morning, to their -great surprise, they heard the door open, and the sound of someone or -something entering the house and going about the room, but nothing -was visible, nor did the door open as a matter of fact. The aged -patient also heard the sound and enquired who had come in. At four -o'clock next morning the old woman died. The same woman also told me -that before the death of a prominent Esquire in Carmarthenshire, she -remembered hearing the sound of a carriage before the front entrance -of the mansion, when no carriage was near. - -Sound of carriages before the death of one of the gentry is a thing -that we often hear of even at the present day everywhere in West -and Mid-Wales. - -Sir Edward W. P. Pryse, Gogerddan, informed me that he was told -that people had heard the sound of carriages before the death of -his grandfather, who died in 1855, and was a member of Parliament -for Cardigan. Nanteos, another ancient family in the same county, -has, or had, not only a phantom coach, but even a tutelary guardian; -but whether this Welsh "Banshi" was a woman under enchantment, or a -fairy, is not known. - -It was formerly believed that the church bell was tolled by a spirit or -some other supernatural agency, before a death in certain families. I -wonder if the word "Tolaeth" is derived from toll? - - - -THE TOLLING OF BLAENPORTH CHURCH BELL BEFORE A DEATH. - -Several old persons living in the parish of Blaenporth, South -Cardiganshire, informed me that it is a fact that in former times -a death in certain families in that parish was always foretold by -the church-bell in the steeple tolling three times at the hour of -midnight unrung by human hands. One old woman gave me the following -tradition concerning the origin of this tolling:-- - -Once upon a time a spirit came at midnight and knocked at the door -of a farmhouse known as Tan-yr-Eglwys, which is close to Blaenporth -Church. "Who is there?" enquired the farmer from his bed. "Mair Wen -(white Mary) of Blaenporth," was the reply; "the silver communion -cup has been stolen from the church." Then the spirit begged the -farmer to get up from bed and proceed at once on a journey to the -town of Cardigan, as the man who had committed such sacrilegious -act was resting that night on a sofa in a certain public house in -that town with the silver cup under his waistcoat. The farmer went -to Cardigan, and when he arrived at the public house named by the -spirit, and entered a certain room, a strange man who was lying on -the sofa got up, and the stolen cup from under his waistcoat fell -to the floor. The farmer took it up in an instant, and returned with -all speed to Blaenporth, and placed the sacred vessel in the church -once more. For his kindness and trouble in thus restoring the sacred -cup, the good spirit or guardian angel of Blaenporth Church told -the farmer that the bell would toll three times before his death, -and before the death of his descendants till the ninth generation. - - - -A REMARKABLE ACCOUNT OF KNOCKING AND WAILING BEFORE DEATH. - -A few miles from Newcastle Emlyn there is a farmhouse called -Pen'rallt-hebog, which is situated in the parish of Bettws-Evan, -in Cardiganshire. - -Besides Pen'rallt-hebog there is also--or there was--another house -on the same farm known as Pen'rallt-Fach. And there lived at this -Penrallt-fach about 25 years ago a tailor named Samuel Thomas, and -his wife. - -About that time a very strange incident occurred, and the following -account of it was given me by Mr. S. Thomas himself an intelligent -middle-aged man who is still alive I believe. - -One morning, very early, Thomas beard a knocking at the door of his -bedroom, and he enquired from his bed "who is there?" but there was -no reply, and everything was quiet again. - -The next morning again he heard knocking at the door, though not the -bedroom door this time, but the front door of the house. My informant -exclaimed from his bed, "Alright, I am getting up now." But when -he did get up, and opened the door, not a single soul could be seen -anywhere. Thomas was quite surprised, and perplexed as to who could -have come to disturb him at five o'clock in the morning, two mornings -one after the other, and disappear so mysteriously. No voice had been -heard, nor the sound of footsteps, only a knocking at the door. After -this there was no further knocking for some time. - -Twelve months to the very day after this a brother of Thomas who lived -in some other part of the country came on a visit, and to spend a day -with him, and this was in the first week of January, 1883. Some day -during this week the two brothers went out with their guns to shoot -some game, but soon returned to the house again, and in the evening -Thomas went to his workshop to do some "job"; but as he was busily -engaged in making a suit of clothes, he heard a knocking at the window -quite suddenly--two knocks. He thought that some friend outside wanted -to call his attention to something; but when he looked at the window -there was no one to be seen After a while the knocking went on again, -and continued for about ten minutes. - -The second night the knocking at the window continued as the previous -evening between ten and eight o'clock, but nothing was to be seen. - -On the third night there was a knocking at the window several times, -and it was much louder or more violent than it had been on the two -previous evenings. The tailor and the young man who was his assistant -decided now to keep their eyes on the window, and as soon as they did -so there was no more knocking; but the moment they ceased looking -and resumed their work, the knocking was heard again. There were -several young men present in the room this evening, and they heard -the knocking, and even the wife heard it from another apartment of -the house. - -These "spirit knockings" had been now noised abroad everywhere, -and amongst others who went there in order to hear them was the -farmer on whose land the tailor lived. The farmer did not believe in -superstition, but when he heard the knocking he was convinced that -there was something supernatural about it. - -On the fifth night a very loud knock at the door was heard as if -some one attempted to break through; and on the sixth evening when -my informant went out for a short walk he heard such noise as if two -hundred horses were rushing by him. - -On the seventh and eighth evenings the knocking still continued; and -on the ninth evening, Thomas went out with a gun in his hand, and -found that there was no one to be seen anywhere, but he heard some -groaning voice in the air, and doleful wailing. The man returned to -the house quite frightened. - -There was no more knocking after this evening. - -In the beginning of January, 1883, at the very time when these strange -knockings, sound, and wailing were heard at Pen'rallt Fach cottage, -a woman whose old home had been this very house before she had left -her native land was dying in America; and her crying on her death-bed -in that far-off land was heart-rending, when she found that she was -too ill to return to Wales, to die at her old home in Cardiganshire, -and to be buried with her husband, who had died before she had left -for America. One Mr. Lloyd, from Newcastle Emlyn, happened to be at -her death-bed in America, when she was longing in vain to die in her -old home in Wales. This solves the mystery of the "spirit knockings," -and it also confirms the truth of the old belief that Death makes his -presence known by knocking at the door of the relatives of friends -of those he is about to strike. - - - -LLEDRITH--WRAITH. - -Lledrith is an apparition or the spectre of a person seen soon before -his death or about the time he is dying. - -A most remarkable tale of an apparition of this kind is given in "Ysten -Sioned," an interesting Welsh book written by the late Rev. Chancellor -D. Silvan Evans, and Mr. John Jones (Ivon). - -About seventy years ago a young French sailor at Aberystwyth in -Cardiganshire, had fallen in love with a servant maid in that town, -and she with him. One evening, when this young woman was preparing -to go to bed she heard her lover calling to her by her name. It -was a bright moonlight night, and when she went to the door there -she saw the young man approaching and offering his hand to her; -but to her great surprise he disappeared again without speaking a -single word. Soon after this, news came to the town that a ship from -Aberystwyth got lost on the coast of Spain, and that amongst others -of the crew, who were drowned, was the young Frenchman. The young -woman discovered that her lover was drowned on the Spanish Coast in -the very same hour that she saw his apparition at Aberystwyth! - -The young Earl of Lisburne ten years ago saw a wraith at Havod, on the -night his father was dying at Crosswood Park. Of this I was informed -by Mr. Inglis-Jones, Derry Ormond, and by his Lordship himself. - -It is well-known that the great Lord Brougham saw an apparition of -this kind when a friend of his was dying in India, about one hundred -years ago. - - - -TANWEDD. - -Another death portent was the "tanwedd," so called because it -appeared as a fiery light. The Rev. Edmund Jones says in his -"Apparitions".--"When it falls to the ground it sparkleth and -lightens. The freeholders and landlords upon whose ground it falls, -will certainly die in a short time after." - - - -GWRACH Y RHIBYN. - -Gwrach y Rhibyn was an ugly old hag with long flowing hair, glaring -eyes and face as gloomy as death itself. The shriek of the old hag -was supposed to foretell a death or some misfortune. She appeared, -as a rule, only before the death of a person who had lived a wicked -life; at least this is the saying in West Wales, especially in -Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire. - - - -CWN ANNWN--HELL HOUNDS. - -Cwn Annwn were supposed to have been supernatural hounds whose yelling -or howling on dark nights foreboded a death. If the howling was faint, -it meant that the pack was close at hand, if loud, the hounds were -only hunting at a distance. These hounds were supposed to watch for -the souls of notoriously wicked men about to die. - -An old farmer, named Mr. Thomas Stephens, Llwyncelyn, Llanarth, -Cardiganshire, informed me that his brother once heard the bark of -these hounds on the road near Bronwen. - - - -OTHER DEATH OMENS. - -The Cock.--It was once thought in all parts of Wales that the crowing -of a cock before or about midnight was a sign of death; but whether -one of the family or one of a neighbour's family was going to die, -it depended on the direction of the cock's head whilst crowing. - -The Hen.--A hen crowing like a cock is also supposed to indicate -a death in the family or some very near relation; or if not death, -some very bad luck. - -A hen laying two eggs in the same day was also a sign of death. A -hen laying a small egg was also a bad sign. - -An Owl persistently screeching near a house or a raven croaking -hoarsely also indicated a death. - -The Dog.--A dog howling, which is called in Welsh Ci-yn-udo, is a -sign of a death. - -The Death Watch.--A sound made by a small insect like the ticking of -a watch was once considered a sign of death. A few years ago a sound -of this kind was for a long time heard at a house in the parish of -Llanddewi Brefi; but as no one died in the house, the family was -cured of the superstition. - -The sound in the ear as of a bell, is a token of death in the family. - -Clothes Burning.--A farmer's wife near Aberystwyth, informed me that -a few years ago she placed a servant boy's wet trousers on a chair -to dry before the fire. Then she went out to milk the cows, but when -she returned to the house she found that the trousers was burnt. A -few days after this her mother died. - -The untimely blossoming of a tree is another sign of a death. - -Yarrow and Heather.--Bringing either yarrow or heather into a house -is a presage of death; white heather, however, is a sign of good luck. - -Death-pinch.--This is a mark that cannot be accounted for, appearing -suddenly on any part of the body, and is a sign of the death of one -of the family or a relative. - -A Funeral Procession moving too fast is a sign that another funeral -will soon follow. - - - -MISSING A BUTT. - -A writer in "Bye Gones" for 1892 says:-- - -"The other day in going through Mid-Cardiganshire on election business, -I observed one row of turnips growing in the middle of a field of -potatoes on a farm occupied by a Nonconformist minister. When asked -how it happened that that solitary row of turnips came to be there, -the minister explained that by accident the planters missed putting -down potatoes, and the idea prevailed in the district if the vacant -row was not filled in by sowing something in it, some one would die -in consequence in the neighbourhood." - -This superstition is also found in Carmarthenshire as well as in -Cardiganshire. - -I have met with many ministers of the Gospel, Professors of -Universities, and other enlightened and educated men who are convinced -that there are death portents. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -MISCELLANEOUS BELIEFS, WEATHER SIGNS, BIRDS, LORE, Etc. - - -To find a horse shoe on the road or in a field is considered extremely -lucky. - -To see a lamb for the first time during the season with its head -facing you is also lucky. - -When you see a newly-wedded couple throw an old pair of shoes at them, -for it means "good luck to them." - -This was done now at Llanilar, October, 1910, at the wedding of Miss -Jones, Bryntirion, by Mrs. Richards, Derwen-Deg. - -To drop your stick or umbrella on your journey is unlucky. - -When you have started on a journey, to turn back to the house for -something you have forgotten, means bad luck. - -To bring heather into the house is a sign of death: white heather, -however, is considered extremely lucky. - -It is unlucky to meet a white horse when on a journey, to change it -into luck spit over your little finger. - -If a young lady looks through a silk-handkerchief at the first new -moon after New Year's Day, she will be able to see her future husband. - -It is unlucky to find a coin on the road, but if the head and not -the tail happens to be up it is a lucky omen. - -To carry in one's purse a crooked sixpence, or a coin with a hole in -it is lucky. - -Spit on the first coin you get in the day, and you'll have luck for -24 hours. - -Never begin any new work on a Friday or Saturday. - -It is considered unlucky for a servant to go to service on a Thursday -or a Saturday. In Cardiganshire servants go to service either on a -Monday or Wednesday, which are considered lucky days. - -A woman near Narberth in Pembrokeshire told me that Tuesdays and -Thursdays are lucky days in that part. - -In some parts of Carmarthenshire, the most lucky days are Tuesdays, -Thursdays and Saturdays. - -But the fact of it is, I have discovered that the days which are -considered lucky in one part of the country are considered unlucky -in another part. - -Odd numbers, especially three, and seven, are said to be lucky numbers. - -Thirteen, however, is considered very unlucky, and it is thought that -if thirteen persons sit down to table, the last person who sits down -and the first to rise up, are those to whom the ill-luck will fall. - -It is considered unlucky by many to shake hands across a table; -and when two people are shaking hands, if two others of the company -attempt to shake hands across their hands it is a very unlucky sign. - -It is considered unlucky by some to baptise more than one child in -the same water. There is also the same superstition respecting one -man washing after another in the same water. - -In Cardiganshire, it is believed that he who dies on Sunday is a -godly man. - -Mr. Eyre Evans, Aberystwyth, informed me that he has just come across -some people in Montgomeryshire who consider it unlucky to pick up or -carry white stones in their pockets; and it seems from Sir John Rhys, -that Manx Fishermen do not like to have a white stone in a boat. - -Curious Belief about Salt.--When people remove into a new house it -is customary to take a bar of salt into the building before taking -in any of the furniture. This is supposed to secure good luck. - -When this salt ceremony is forgotten or neglected, some people, -especially women, are very much perturbed. - -I have discovered that this curious old belief about salt is very -common at present in the towns of Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, and Tenby, -and other parts of West Wales. - -To spill salt denotes quarrels. To serve another person with salt, -is to serve him with sorrow. - -When a white spot appeals on the nail of one of our fingers it means -a present. - -Never stir the fire in anybody's house unless you are a friend of -seven years' standing. - -To break a looking-glass signifies ill-luck for seven years. - -To put the bellows on a table is considered unlucky. There is also -the same superstition about boots all over Wales. - -Never mend your clothes while you are wearing them. - -If you see a pin pick it up to insure good luck. - -There is a saying in Welsh "Gwell plygu at bin, na phlygu at ddim," (It -is better to bend down for a pin, than to bend down for nothing.) It -seems that a needle, however, is not considered so lucky; for I once -overheard a woman who had quarrelled with her neighbour telling her -husband that her neighbour and herself were friends before she had -given her a needle. - -If a bramble clings to the skirts of a young lady some one has fallen -in love with her; and the same is said of a young man when his hat -goes against the branches of a tree. - -Welshpeople believe that those who have cold hands are very -warm-hearted; hence the saying "Llaw oer a chalon gynes," (A cold -hand and a warm heart). - -Two spoons in a saucer denote a wedding, or according to some that -you are to be married twice dining your lifetime. - -In West Wales it is considered unlucky to eat herring or any kind of -fish, from the head downwards; and in order to ensure good luck the -proper way is to eat the fish from the tail towards the head. This -superstition is also known in Cornwall. - -If in making tea you forget to replace the lid on the teapot, it is -the sure sign of the arrival of a stranger. - -David Evans, a millwright, of Llandilo, informed me a short time ago, -that one evening when he was staying in Lampeter, the woman of the -house who was preparing tea for supper at a late hour, forgot to -replace the lid on the pot. When she found it out, she exclaimed: -"A stranger is sure to come here to-night." The husband and wife, -and the millwright sat down by the fire till a late hour, but there -was no sign of a stranger; just as they were going to bed, however, -there was a knock at the door, and a stranger came in! - -Superstitions about Knives.--To cross your knife and fork is considered -unlucky; and crossed knives foretell some approaching disaster. - -To find a knife on the road or in a field is also supposed to be -a very bad omen. This superstition is very general in all parts of -Wales, and even in far off parts of the world as well. Many years ago -in Patagonia, South America, two friends of mine and myself met in a -field one morning by appointment, in connection with some particular -business. Each of us three had come from different directions, and -each of us had arrived at the spot the same time, and when we came -together, strange to say, we discovered that each of us had found -a knife on the way! The names of my two friends were Edwin Roberts, -and William James, one was a native of Flintshire, and the other a -native of Cardiganshire, both of them were no means superstitious; -but I well remember that they were very much perturbed on account -of the knives, and feared that some serious misfortune was going to -happen. As soon as we went home we heard the sad news that a young -man named Isaac Howells, was accidentally drowned in the river! - -It is also very generally believed at present, that it is unlucky to -receive a knife as a present. In such cases it is customary to pay -a penny for the knife. - -Wish whenever you get the first taste of the season of any kind of -food. It is also considered very lucky to taste as many Christmas -puddings as you can. - -It is considered unlucky to pass under a ladder. - -When walking a long journey if your feet are sore rub the feet of -your stockings with soap. - -A ringing in the right ear is a sign of good news; but a ringing in -the left one, unpleasant news. - -When the palm of your left hand itches, you are about to give away -some money, or some one is blaming you; but when the palm of you -right hand itches, it is a sign that you are about to receive money, -or that someone is praising you or writing a kind letter to you. - -When going on a journey, if the sole of your right foot itches, -the journey will be a pleasant one; but the contrary if the left -foot itches. - -A child born with a caul is supposed to be very lucky, and he will -always be safe from drowning. A caul is much appreciated among sailors -in West Wales, as it is believed that to keep one on board the ship -secures a safe voyage. - -In all parts of Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, it is generally -believed among women that it is unlucky to cut the nails of an infant -under six months old. The mother bites them off as they grow. - -Superstition about Whistling.--It is considered unlucky for a young -woman to whistle. Whistling is also, or at least was regarded, -as "Talking with the Devil." Mr. Ferrar Fenton in "Pembrokeshire -Antiquities," page 59, says, that many years ago he happened to -whistle one day whilst walking on the pier at Fishguard with a -young sea captain. The Captain seemed very much perturbed at the -whistling, and at last said to Mr. Fenton:--"I wish you would not -whistle here!" "Why? What harm does it do?" "Well, you know," he -said slowly, as if shy at his words, "We Welshmen and sailors are -superstitious over some things, and whistling as you now do, is one -of them." "Superstitious! Not you! But tell me about it: I love all -those old tales." "You see," he replied, "my mother and all the old -people told me when a boy that such kind of whistling was the way -Croignorian (Magicians) talk with the Devil, and sailors believe -something like it, and it always makes my heart start to hear it, -especially on the seashore." Then he added, "Look! how muggy it -is behind Pencaer. You'll bring a gale, and I always feel pity for -the sailors afloat when a sou'-wester rages in the channel behind -it." When the great Divine and Martyr, Bishop Ferrar, of St. David's, -was burnt alive at Carmarthen in 1555, amongst other pretences for -his destruction he was accused of being a Magician, and "teaching -his infant son to talk with the Devil by means of whistling." - -In the old days of sailing ships, wind was an agent of great value; -and sometimes sailors whistled for a wind, and this whistling was -considered a direct invocation to "the prince of the power of the air" -to exert himself on their behalf. I have heard of an old man who is -still alive who believes that the devil has some control over wind -and rain. - - - -THE MOON. - -There are still lingering in Wales many beliefs and practices with -respect to the moon. It is considered unlucky to see the new moon the -first time through the window, and many persons go out of doors to see -her and show her a piece of money to insure good luck while that moon -lasts. I was told by an old gentleman in Cardiganshire that he had seen -many taking off their hats and bowing to the new moon; some ladies -also make a curtsey to her, and it is considered very lucky to see -her over the right shoulder. If a person wishes anything when he sees -the new moon after New Year's Day, his wish will be granted to him. - -Putting a Hen to Sit.--A hen is put to sit so as to get the chick -out of the egg at the waxing, and not at the waning of the moon, -as it is believed that the young birds are strong or weak according -to the age of the moon when they are hatched. - -Sowing.--There are still many people who are very particular to sow -their seeds in their gardens and their fields during the first quarter -of the moon, owing to the idea that the seed will then germinate -quicker, and grow stronger than when the moon is on the wane. I knew -a farmer--a native of Llanfynydd, in Carmarthenshire--who was always -very careful to sow his wheat during the first quarter or the waxing -of the moon, and it is a well-known fact that he had always a good -crop at harvest time. - -There are also people who are very particular about having their -hair cut just before or about full moon so that it might grow better -afterwards. - -When a child, I was told that the dark object which is to be seen in -the moon is a man who was taken up there as a punishment for gathering -firewood on the Sabbath Day. - - - -WEATHER SIGNS, SEASONS. - -The cat sitting with her back to the fire is considered to be a sign -of snow. - -The cock crowing on rainy weather is a sign of fair weather for the -rest of the day. - -Sea-gulls flying seaward betoken fair weather; when they fly landward, -a storm is coming. - -When the crane flies against the stream, that is, up the river -towards its source, it is considered a sign of rain; but the same -bird going down the river, is a sign of fair weather. The same is -said of the heron. - -To see ducks and geese flap their wings and dive wildly about is a -sign of rain. - -Crows flying low portend rain; but if they fly high in the air it is -a sign of fair weather. The same is said of swallows. - -Other rain signs are the woodpecker's screech; and the cows running -wildly about. - -If the mountain ponies leave the low and sheltered valleys and return -to the mountains during hard weather, it is a sign of a change in -the weather. - -The sheep flocking together is a sign of rough weather. - -According to the old Welsh saying the rainbow appearing in the sky -in the morning portends rain; and in the afternoon fair weather:-- - - - "Bwa'r arch y bore, - Aml a hir gawode; - Bwa'r arch prydnawn, - Tywydd teg a gawn." - - Rainbow in the morning, - Frequent and long showers; - Rainbow in the afternoon, - Fair weather we shall have. - - -Ceredigion, in "Bye-Gones," August 2nd, 1905, says: "All along the -Merioneth and Cardiganshire Coasts farmers watch the sea carefully -in harvest time. If there be not a cloud in the sky; if the wind be -in a dry quarter; and if the sea be of cerulean blue, if the margin -be discoloured and muddy, the farmers know that rain is approaching -and will probably be on them before nightfall." - -If distant mountains are clearly seen, rain may be expected; but if the -mountains appear as if they were far off, it is a sign of fine weather. - -When the smoke from the chimney falls down toward the ground, instead -of rising upward, it is a sign that rainy weather will soon follow; -but if the smoke goes upward straight, it is a sign of fair weather. - -In the evening, when the horizon in the west is tinged with a ruddy -glow it is a sign that fair and dry weather will come. - -In the summer, when the atmosphere is dense and heavy it is a sign -of a thunder-storm. - -Rough weather may be expected when the wind blows the dust about, -and throws down people's hats. - -When the stone floors are damp and are long in drying after having -been washed is a sign of fair weather. - -It is also considered a good sign to see large numbers of white -butterflies. - -Another good sign of fine weather is the sun setting red and clear. - -Bread and butter falling on the floor upside down signifies "rain is -near," according to some folks. - -When the moon's horns are turned up, it is a sign of fine weather; -if they are turned down rain is coming. When the face of the moon is -partially obscured by a light thin vapour rain is coming. - -Welsh people in country places generally expect a change of weather -when the moon changes; and I have just been informed at Llanilar, -that a new moon on a wet Saturday, brings wet weather, but that, -on the other hand, a new moon on a fine Saturday, brings fine weather. - -By Christmas, the days are said to have lengthened "a cock's stride." - -The following Welsh weather sayings I often heard when a boy:-- - - - "Chwefrol chwyth, - Chwytha'r deryn oddiar ei nyth." - - (February's blast - Blows the bird from its nest.) - - - "Mawrth a ladd, - Ebrill a fling." - - (March kills, - April flays.) - - -If the hazel (collen) blooms well it is a sign of a fruitful year. - - - -"A NUTTY YEAR." - -In Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, it is believed that if nuts -will be numerous, many children will be born that year. - - - -A MILD WINTER. - -I have met many people all over Wales who think that a very mild -winter is not good, and they repeat the old saying:-- - - - "Gaeaf glas, mynwent fras." - - -which means that - - - "When the winter is green, many funerals will be seen." - - - -BIRDS AND BEASTS LORE. - - -THE CUCKOO. - -It is believed in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire by many, -especially old people, that the cuckoo does not go away from this -country in winter, but sleeps in some sheltered place. When a boy, -I often heard the following ditty:-- - - - "Amser y gwcw yw Ebrill a Mai, - A hanner Mehefin, chwi wyddoch bob rhai." - - (The Cuckoo's time is April and May, - And half of June, as all know, I daresay). - - -The cuckoo making its appearance before the leaves are on the hawthorn -bush is a sign of a bad year; and for the bird not to appear at its -usual time is also a bad sign; hence: - - - "Gwcw Glamme, - Cosyn dime." - - -When you hear the cuckoo for the first time in the season it is very -important to have money in your pocket in order to secure good luck -for the coming year. People turn the money in their pockets with -their hands, and sometimes toss a piece into the air. It is also -considered very lucky to hear this bird for the first time when you -are standing on green grass; but if you are on the road or on bare -ground, it is otherwise. - -I have met people who do not like to hear the cuckoo for the first time -before they get up from bed in the morning. To see the bird coming to -the door is also regarded as an evil omen by some. A woman in North -Cardiganshire informed me that a cuckoo came to the door before her -father died. The cuckoo is supposed to be accompanied by the wryneck -known in Welsh as Gwas-y-Gwcw. - -If we are to believe an old legend, the cuckoo in former times used -to begin to sing at Nevern, in Pembrokeshire, on the 7th of April, -patron day of that parish; and George Owen of Henllys, who lived in -the time of Queen Elizabeth, says, "I might well here omit an old -report as yet fresh, of this odious bird, that in the old world the -parish priest of the Church would not begin mass until this bird, -called the citizen's ambassador, had first appeared and began her -note, on a stone called St. Byrnach's Stone, being curiously wrought -with sundry sorts of knots, standing upright in the Church-yard of -the parish, and one year staying very long, and the priest and the -people expecting her accustomed coming (for I account this bird of -the feminine gender) came at last, lighting on the said stone, her -accustomed preaching place, and being scarce able once to sound the -note, presently fell dead." - -According to another old legend, this stone upon which the cuckoo -began her note, was at first intended by St. David for Llanddewi -Brefi, but St. Brynach prevailed upon him to leave it at Nevern. The -Rev. J. T. Evans, Rector of Stow, gives this legend in "The Church -Plate of Pembrokeshire." - - - -THE SWALLOW--Y WENNOL. - -Many superstitions which cluster round the Swallow, have descended to -us from remote antiquity; and among the Romans this bird was sacred to -the household gods and the family. In Wales, it was formerly believed -that the swallow, like the cuckoo, slept through the winter. This -bird is also supposed to bring good fortune to the house upon which -it builds its nest. If, however, the bird forsakes its old nest on a -house, it is considered a sign of ill-luck. It is also most unlucky -to break a swallow's nest. - - - "Y neb a doro nyth y wenol - Ni wel fwyniant yn dragwyddol." - - (Whoever breaks a swallow's nest, - Never, never shall be blest.) - - - -ROBIN REDBREAST. - -"Cursed is the man who kills a Robin," and ill-luck follows those -who take the eggs of this little bird. - -The following Carmarthenshire story about the robin appeared in Bye -Gones, vol. 1. p. 173:-- - -"Far, far away, is a land of woe, darkness, spirits of evil, and -fire. Day by day does the little bird bear in its bill a drop of water -to quench the flame. So near to the burning stream does he fly that his -dear little feathers are scorched; and hence is he named Bronchuddyn -(Qu. Bronrhuddyn), i.e., breastburned, or breastscorched. To serve -little children, the robin dares approach the infernal pit. No good -child will hurt the devoted benefactor of man. The robin returns from -the land of fire, and, therefore, he feels the cold of winter far -more than the other birds. He shivers in brumal blasts, and hungry -he chirps before your door. Oh, my child, then, in pity throw a few -crumbs to the poor redbreast." - -This old Welsh legend has been rendered into verse by the poet -Whittier. - - - -THE WREN--Y DRYW. - -It seems from the following Welsh rhyme that the wren was also a -sacred bird:-- - - - "Pwy bynag doro nyth y dryw, - Ni wel byth mo wyneb Duw." - - (Whoever breaks a wren's nest - Shall never know the Heavenly rest.) - - -It was once customary in Pembrokeshire to carry a wren round the -houses during the Christmas holidays. I have given a full account of -this custom in another chapter. - -How the wren became king of the birds, is related in the next -paragraph. - - - -THE OWL. - -The Owl is rather unpopular in Wales, and its hooting is considered -a sign of ill-luck, if not of death. This bird is also supposed to be -"hateful unto all birds." To account for the unpopularity of the owl -there are many legends. The following is given by Mr. H. W. Evans, -Solva, in the "Pembrokeshire Antiquities," p. 49: - -"At one time all the birds unanimously decided to elect unto themselves -a king; and (probably with an eye on the eagle) they resolved to crown -monarch the bird that would soar the highest. On a signal being given -they all started on their upward flight. After a very exciting contest -the eagle was seen considerably higher than all other birds. Having -reached the highest altitude possible he, in a loud voice, proclaimed -himself king. 'No, no, not yet,' said a wren which had perched on the -eagle's back and had now flown a few yards higher. 'Come up here,' -said the wren; but the eagle, having exhausted his strength, was -unable to raise himself, and so the wren became king. When the birds -beheld their king, they became very sad and sorrowful, and they cried -bitterly. Afterwards they met in solemn conclave, and decided to drown -their king in tears. So they procured a pan to hold their tears, and -the birds gathered and craned their necks over the pan and wept. But -the owl clumsily mounted the edge of the pan, thereby upsetting it, -and spilled the tears. The birds became enraged at this, and swore -vengeance against the owl, and ever since he has not dared to show -himself during the day, and is obliged to seek his food at night, -when all other birds are asleep." - -According to another version of this tale which is extant in -Carmarthenshire, the wren in the contest for the kingship fell to the -ground and hurt himself. The birds in compassion, prepared healing -broth to cure the little bird--each bird putting something in the pot -towards making this broth--the owl through his clumsiness was guilty -of upsetting this pot containing the healing broth. - -According to the Mabinogion, (see Math the son of Mathonwy) a woman -named Blodeuwedd, for her wickedness towards her husband was turned -into an owl; "and because of the shame thou hast done unto Llew Llaw -Gyffes, thou shalt never show thy face in the light of day henceforth; -and that through fear of all the other birds.... Now Blodeuwedd is -an owl in the language of this present time, and for this reason is -the owl hateful unto all birds." - - - -THE RAVEN. - -To see one raven crossing the road when a person starts on a journey, -is a bad omen; two ravens, however, are considered lucky. - - - -THE MAGPIE. - -I know many people in country places who are pleased to see two or -three magpies going together from left to right when a person starts -on a journey, as they regard it an omen of good luck. But to see a -magpie crossing from the right to the left means ill-luck. Fortunately, -however, a person can make void this bad luck by making a cross on the -road and spit in the middle of it. A raven crossing after the magpie -also makes void the bad luck, according to some; but the superstitions -about the magpie and the raven are very similar. - -Should a magpie descend on the back of a cow on the evening the -animal is taken into the cow-house for the winter, it is a bad sign; -but should this occur when the cow is taken out from the cowhouse -for the summer, it is a good omen. - -An old woman at Yspytty Ystwyth, informed me that the magpie was a -bird of evil omen; for on the very day before her husband was killed -at the mines, she saw three magpies close to the window. - - - -THE MAGPIE AND THE WOOD-PIGEON. - -"The Magpie, observing the slight knowledge of nest building possessed -by the wood-pigeon, kindly undertook the work of giving his friend -a lesson in the art, and as the lesson proceeded, the Wood-pigeon, -bowing, cooed out:-- - - - Mi wn! Mi wn! Mi wn! - I know! I know! I know! - - -The instructor was at first pleased with his apt pupil, and proceeded -with his lesson, but before another word could be uttered, the bird, -swelling with pride at its own importance and knowledge, said again:-- - - - I know! I know! I know! - - -The Magpie was annoyed at this ignorant assurance, and with bitter -sarcasm said: 'Since you know, do it then,' and this is why the wood -pigeon's nest is so untidy in our days. In its own mind it knew all -about nest building and was above receiving instruction, and hence its -clumsy way of building its nest. This fable gave rise to a proverb, -"As the wood pigeon said to the magpie: 'I know.'" Iolo MSS., page 567. - - - -THE PIGEON. - -It is said that if a sick person asks for a pigeon's pie, or the flesh -of a pigeon, it is a sign that his death is near. There is also a -superstition that people cannot die in ease if there are pigeon's -feathers in their pillows. A writer in "Bye-Gones" refers to the -case of a woman who died in 1803 at a farm-house called Southern -Pills in the Parish of Lawrenny, Pembrokeshire, and states that on -her death-bed the nurse snatched the pillow from under her head. - - - -THE BEES. - -The bees understand Welsh; for a woman on the borders of Cardiganshire -and Carmarthenshire informed me that they have a Queen, who leads, -and that they follow, when she bids them to come in these words:-- - - - "Dewch, Dewch, Dewch." - - (Come, come, come.) - - -There are many superstitions about bees. There was a custom once of -telling the bees of a death in the family, and they were even put in -mourning. It was once considered by some very lucky to find that a -strange swarm of bees had arrived in the garden or tree; if, however, -they alighted on a dead tree it was an ill omen. - - - -THE BEES AND ST. DAVID. - -"Modomnoc, a disciple of St. David, went to Ireland, and a large -swarm of bees followed him, and settled on the prow of the ship -where he sat. They supplied him with meat during his Irish Mission; -but he, not wishing to enjoy their company by fraud, brought them -back to Wales, when they fled to their usual place, and David blessed -Modomnoc for his humility. Three times the bees went and returned, -and the third time holy David dismissed Modomnoc with the bees, and -blessed them, saying that henceforth bees should prosper in Ireland, -and should no longer increase in Glyn Rosyn. 'This,' adds Rhyddmarch, -'is found to be the fact: swarms forthwith decreased at David's; -but Ireland, in which, until that time, bees could never live, is -now enriched with plenty of honey. It is manifested that they could -not live there before; for if you throw Irish earth or stone into -the midst of the bees, they disperse, and, flying, they will shun -it.'--"Pilgrimage to St. David's." - - - -THE COCK. - -It is very curious that some people think that it is very lucky to -possess a white cock and a black cat, whilst others look upon them -with extreme disfavour. - - - "Na chadw byth yng ynghylch dy dy, - Na cheiliog gwyn na chath ddu." - - (Never keep about thy house, - A white cock, nor a black cat.) - - -A cock crowing in the day-time before the door announces the visit -of a friend; but should he crow at night before or about midnight, -it is considered a sign of death. - -Cock-fighting was once common in Wales, and spots have been pointed -out to me here and there, in Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire where -such fights took place. - - - -THE CAT. - -In some parts of the country a black cat is looked upon with extreme -disfavour; in other parts again people say that a black cat keeps -trouble out of the house. "Cath ddu yn cadw gofid ma's o'r ty." - -It was thought that cats born in May bring snakes into the house. - -If the cat washed her face, strangers might be expected. - - - -FLYING SERPENTS--GWIBEROD. - -The Welsh name Gwiber means a flying snake, or a flying serpent, -an imaginary creature supposed to be a kind of dragon. There are -traditions of these dangerous creatures in several parts of Wales; and -it was formerly believed that a snake, by drinking the milk of a woman, -became transformed into a flying serpent. This superstition was very -common in the southern part of Cardiganshire until very recently. A few -years ago when staying for a short time at Talybont in the northern -part of the same county, a rocky spot was pointed out to me, about a -mile from the village, where, according to tradition, a Gwiber which -attacked people, had a lurking place in former times. There is also -a tradition in the parish of Trelech, Carmarthenshire, that a Gwiber -lurked in that neighbourhood once upon a time. At last the creature -was shot. - - - -A FLYING SERPENT AT NEWCASTLE EMLYN. - -The most remarkable story of this kind is the well-known tradition -of the appearance of a gwiber or Flying Serpent in the neighbourhood -of Newcastle Emlyn, in the Vale of Teivi. This interesting small -town boasts of a fine old castle, or at least the ruins of one, -and it was upon the top of this castle the flying serpent or dragon -alighted and rested. According to some, this took place as late as -the eighteenth century, on a fine summer day. The flying creature was -seen about mid-day, and as there was a fair at Newcastle Emlyn that -day the town was crowded with people. The appearance of the "Gwiber" -or dragon terrified the people, both old and young, and they feared -that their lives were in jeopardy. The strange creature's skin was -covered by a hard and stony substance or shell, except the navel. The -people were afraid of attempting to kill this flying monster, and -did not know what to do. Fortunately, a valiant soldier who had -been fighting for his country on land and sea, volunteered to put -an end to the life of this strange and terrific creature, or die -in the attempt. So taking off all his clothes, except his trousers, -he proceeded with his gun in hand and stood right in the river. He -then took a good aim at the creature's navel which was the only part -of its body not covered with shell. As soon as the soldier fired, -in order to escape an attack from the flying serpent, he left a red -flannel on the surface of the water, whilst he himself dived into -the river and, at last, by swimming against the current, succeeded -to land safely on the bank on the other side. The serpent fell or -rushed into the river and began to attack the red flannel, but it -was soon discovered that the creature had been mortally wounded, -for the water of the river was coloured with its blood. - -A version of this story appeared in "Y Brython," fifty years ago, -and another version of it written by the Rev. W. Eilir Evans, appeared -in a Welsh book called "Hirnos Gauaf," published in 1899. - - - -CATTLE. - -Many of the farmers are very much perturbed when a cow brings forth -two calves. A few years ago a farmer's wife in the parish of Llangybi, -near Lampeter, informed me that one of the cows had twin calves, and -that she was very anxious to sell the animal as soon as possible, as -such an incident was considered an omen of ill-luck or a very great -misfortune to the family or the owner. This superstition is very -general in Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire; but I have heard that -in some parts of North Wales a contrary view is taken of such an event. - -When the first calf of the season happens to be a male one, it is -a sign of a successful year to its owner, but the contrary, if the -calf is a she one. - -If the new born calf is seen by the mistress of the house with its -head towards her, as she enters the cowhouse to view her new charge -and property, it is a good omen. It is also considered a good sign to -find the cattle wild and difficult to manage on the way to the fair; -for you'll sell them to your advantage. - - - -THE MILK-WHITE MILCH COW. - -The milk-white Milch Cow gave enough of milk to every one who desired -it; and however frequently milked, or by whatever number of persons, -she was never found deficient. All persons who drank of her milk, -were healed of every illness; from being fools they became wise, and -from being wicked, became happy. The cow went round the world; and -wherever she appeared, she filled with milk all the vessels that could -be found; leaving calves behind her for all the wise and happy. It was -from her that all the milch cows in the world were obtained. After -traversing the Island of Britain, for the benefit and blessing of -country and kindred, she reached the Vale of Towy; where, tempted by -fine appearance and superior condition, the natives sought to kill and -eat her; but just as they were proceeding to effect their purpose, -she vanished from between their hands, and was never seen again. A -house still remains in the locality, called Y Fuwch Laethwen-Lefrith, -(the Milk-white Milch Cow).--Iolo M.S.S., page 475. - -There is a version of this well-known legend of the mythic cow, -located near Aberdovey. According to the Aberdovey tale, the cow -was of Fairy origin, and disappeared into Barfog Lake when a farmer -attempted to slaughter the animal. - - - -THE ASS. - -I was told when a boy that the stripe over the shoulders of this -animal was made by our Lord when He rode to Jerusalem. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -WITCHES, WIZARDS, PROPHECIES, DIVINATION, DREAMS. - - -WITCHES. - -The popular belief in witchcraft, is often alluded to by -Shakespeare. In times gone by witches held dreaded sway over the -affairs of men, perhaps more or less in almost every country; for they -were suspected to have entered into a league with Satan, in order to -obtain power to do evil, and it was thought that they possessed some -uncanny knowledge which was used by them to injure people, especially -those whom they hated. It was also believed that they could cause -thunder and lightning, could travel on broomsticks through the air, -and even transform themselves and others into animals, especially -into hares. A good many other imaginary things were also placed to -the credit of witches. - -In the beginning of last century, and even up to the middle of -it, witchcraft was very strongly believed in in many parts of -Pembrokeshire, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, Radnorshire, and -Montgomeryshire. Even at the present time, there are some who believe -that there is in it something more than a mere deception. I have met -several who still believe in it. Many well-known characters were proud -of being looked upon as witches and conjurors; because they were feared -as such and could influence people to be charitable to them. Many -an old woman supposed to be a witch, took advantage of the credulity -of the people, went about the farm houses to request charity in the -way of oat-meal, butter, milk, etc., and could get almost anything, -especially from the women, from fear of being witched; for it was -believed that these witches could bring misfortune on families, -cause sickness, and bring a curse on both men and animals; so that -many used to imagine that they were bewitched whenever anything went -wrong, even a slight mischance. Unfaithful young men would soon fulfil -their promise when they found out that the girl they had slighted -was consulting a witch, so that there was some good even in such a -foolish superstition as witchcraft. - - -WITCHES SELLING THEMSELVES TO THE DEVIL. - -In order to become witches it was believed in Cardiganshire that -some old women sold themselves to the Father of Lies by giving to -His Satanic Majesty the bread of the Communion. The following story -I heard about three years ago, and my informant was Mr. John Davies, -Gogoyan Farm, a, farmer who had heard it from old people:-- - -Sometime in the beginning of the last century, two old dames attended -the morning service at Llanddewi Brefi Church, and partook of the -Holy Communion; but instead of eating the sacred bread like other -communicants, they kept it in their mouths and went out. Then they -walked round the Church outside nine times, and at the ninth time -the Evil One came out from the Church wall in the form of a frog, to -whom they gave the bread from their mouths, and by doing this wicked -thing they were supposed to be selling themselves to Satan and become -witches. It was also added that after this they were sometimes seen -swimming in the river Teivi in form of hares! - -According to Cadrawd, there was an old man in North Pembrokeshire, who -used to say that he obtained the power of bewitching in the following -manner:--The bread of his first Communion he pocketed. He made pretence -at eating it first of all, and then put it in his pocket. When he -went out from the service there was a dog meeting him by the gate, -to which he gave the bread, thus selling his soul to the Devil. Ever -after, he possessed the power to bewitch. - - - -A SERVANT MAID WITCHED IN A CHAPEL. - -An old woman of about eighty years of age, named Mrs. Mary Thomas, -Bengal, near Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, informed me about four -years ago, that when she was a young girl, the Gwaun Valley in that -county was full of witches, more especially of the descendants of -one particularly malicious old woman who in her time had proved a -terror to the neighbourhood. On one occasion, a well-known family -who practised the black art and were guilty of witchcraft, wanted to -become members of the Baptist Chapel at Caersalem, and at last they -were admitted; but after being received as members of the chapel, they -were ten times worse than before. One witch during Divine Service, -even on the very day she became a communicant, witched a young woman -who was a fellow servant of my informant at a farm called Gellifor, -near Cilgwyn. The witch was sitting behind, and in the very next -pew to the young woman she witched, which caused the unfortunate -girl to rush out from the chapel, and was seen running about the -road almost wild and mad. After she had been wild and ill for some -time, and every remedy having failed to recover her, her father at -last went to Cwrt-y-Cadno, over forty miles away in Carmarthenshire, -to consult Dr. Harries, a well-known wizard and a medical man. The -conjurer informed the man that his daughter had been witched in chapel -by an old woman who was a witch, and he showed him the whole scene in -a magic mirror! In order to unwitch the girl, and to prevent further -witchcraft, the wizard gave the father some paper with mystic words -written on it, which the young woman was to wear on her breast. - - - -A GIRL WHO WAS BEWITCHED BY THE GYPSIES, NEAR CARMARTHEN. - -About fifty years ago there was a young woman very ill in the parish -of Llanllawddog, Carmarthenshire, but no one could tell what was the -matter with her, and the doctor had failed to cure her. At last, her -mother went to consult the local wizard, who at that time kept a school -in the neighbouring parish of Llanpumpsaint, and lived at a place -called Fos-y-Broga. At the woman's request the conjurer accompanied -her home to see her daughter. After seeing the girl he entered into a -private room alone for a few minutes, and wrote something on a sheet -of paper which he folded up and tied it with a thread. This he gave -to the woman and directed her to put the thread round her daughter's -neck, with the folded paper suspending on her breast. He also told -the mother to remember to be at the girl's bedside at twelve o'clock -that night. The young woman was put in bed, and the wizard's folded -paper on her breast. The mother sat down by the fireside till midnight; -and when the clock struck twelve she heard her daughter groaning. She -ran at once to the poor girl's bedside, and found her almost dying -with pain; but very soon she suddenly recovered and felt as well in -health as ever. The conjurer had told the girl's mother that she had -been bewitched by the Gypsies, which caused her illness, and warned -the young woman to keep away from such vagrants in the future. The -Conjurer's paper, which had charmed away her illness was put away -safely in a cupboard amongst other papers and books; and many years -after this when a cousin of the mother was searching for some will -or some other important document, he accidentally opened the wizard's -paper and to his surprise found on it written: - - - "Abracadabra, - Sickness depart from me." - - -My informant, whose name is Jones, an old farmer in the parish of -Llanpumpsaint, vouches for the truth of the above story, and that -the young woman was a relation of his. - -Another old man, named Benjamin Phillips, who lives in the same -neighbourhood gave me a similar tale of another girl bewitched -by the Gypsies, and recovered by obtaining some wild herbs from -a conjurer. Such stories are common all over the country. Certain -plants, especially Meipen Fair, were supposed to possess the power -of destroying charms. - - - -A CARDIGANSHIRE GIRL WHO HAD BEEN WITCHED. - -I obtained the following story from David Pugh, Erwlwyd, -Carmarthenshire, an old farmer who is over 90 years of age:-- - -A woman from Cardiganshire whose daughter was very ill and thought -to have been bewitched, came to the Wizard of Cwrt-y-Cadno, in -Carmarthenshire to consult him. The wise man wrote some mystic words -on a bit of paper, which he gave to the woman, telling her that if -her daughter was not better when she arrived home to come to him -again. The woman went home with the paper, and to her great joy found -the girl fully recovered from her illness. My informant knew the woman, -as she had called at his house. - - - -ANOTHER CARDIGANSHIRE WOMAN WITCHED. - -An old man living in the parish of Llangwyryfon, seven miles from -Aberystwyth, named Jenkin Williams, told me the following story six -years ago when he was 89 years of age, and vouched for the truth of the -account:--A certain woman who lived in that parish was supposed to be -a witch, and it was said she had a brother a wizard: Her husband was -a shoemaker. Another woman who used to go back and fore to the town -of Aberystwyth, with a donkey-cart, refused on one occasion to bring -some leather to the supposed witch and her husband. Soon after this, -the woman was taken ill, and the shoemaker's wife was suspected of -having witched her. The son of the sick woman went to Cwrt-y-Cadno -in Carmarthenshire to consult the "Dyn Hysbys." The conjurer told -the young man to go home as soon as possible, and that he should see -the person who caused his mother's indisposition coming to the house -on his return home. When the son reached home who should enter the -house but the supposed witch, and as soon as she came in she spoke -in Welsh to his mother something as follows:--"Mae'n ddrwg genyf eich -bod mor wael, ond chwi wellwch eto, Betti fach." (I am sorry you are -so unwell, but you will get well again, Betty dear). The sick woman -recovered immediately! - - - -A FARMER'S DAUGHTER AT WALTON EAST, IN PEMBROKESHIRE BEWITCHED FOR -FIFTEEN YEARS FOR REFUSING ALMS TO AN OLD HAG. - -Mrs. Mary Williams, Dwrbach, a very old woman, informed me, that about -55 years ago, there was a well-known witch in the neighbourhood of -Walton East, and that on one occasion two young women, daughters of -a farm in that part of the country, were taken ill quite suddenly, -and were supposed to have been witched by this old woman. The mother -of the two young women went to the witch and rebuked the old hag, -saying: "Old woman, why did you witch my daughters? Come and undo thy -wickedness." The old woman replied that she did not do anything to -them. But the mother still believing that she was guilty, compelled -her to come along with her to the farmhouse and undo her mischief. At -last, she came, and when they reached the door of the farmhouse, the -witch pronounced these words in Welsh: "Duw ai bendithio hi." (God -bless her). Any such expression pronounced by a witch freed the -bewitched person or an animal from the spell. One of the two sisters -(both of whom were in bed in another room), overheard these words of -the old woman, but her sister did not hear or at least did not catch -the words. The young woman who heard the supposed witch saying "Duw -a'i bendithio hi," got well at once, but her poor sister who missed -hearing, instead of recovering went worse, if anything, than before, -and continued to keep to her bed for fifteen years. And during all -these years she was so strange, that even when her own mother entered -her room, she would hide under the bed clothes like a rat, and her -food had to be left on her bed for her, for she would not eat in -the presence of anybody. At last, the old woman who was thought to -have witched the young woman, died, and as the the mortal remains of -the witch were decaying in the grave, the girl began to get better, -and she soon fully recovered and became quite herself again after -fifteen years' illness. My informant added that after recovering, -the young woman got married and received £1,500 from her parents on -her wedding-day, and that she is still alive (or was very lately) -and a wife of a well-to-do farmer. My informant also said that she -was well acquainted with the family. - - - -MEN WITCHED BY AN OLD LLEDROD HAG. - -About sixty years ago Thomas Lewis, Garthfawr, between Llanilar and -Lledrod, was for some time suffering from almost unbearable bodily -pain, and did not know what to do. The general belief was that he had -been bewitched by an old woman who was a terror to the neighbourhood; -and at last a man went to Llangurig, in Montgomeryshire, to consult a -wise man about it. It was found out soon afterwards that as soon as the -conjurer was consulted, the sick man fully recovered from his illness, -got up from bed, dressed himself, and came down from his bedroom and -felt as well as ever, to the very great surprise and joy of all his -family and friends. My informant, Thomas Jones, of Pontrhydfendigaid, -who knew the man well, vouches for the truth of this story. - -Mr. Jones also gave me an account of another man who was witched by -the same old hag. The wife of Rhys Rhys, Pwllclawdd and her sister were -churning all day, but the milk would not turn to butter. Rhys, at last, -went to the old witch and asked her to come and undo her mischief, -as she had witched the milk. She was very unwilling to come, but Rhys -compelled her. When Mrs. Rhys and her sister saw the old witch coming, -they ran to hide themselves in a bedroom. The hag took hold of the -churn's handle for a few seconds, and the milk turned to excellent -butter at once; but poor Rhys who had always been a strong man till -then, never enjoyed a day of good health after; for the old hag witched -the farmer himself in revenge for compelling her to unwitch the milk. - - - -A HORSE WITCHED. - -Thomas Jones, an old man who is 85 years of age and lives at -Pontrhydfendigaid, informed me that about sixty years ago, the old -witch was greatly feared by the people of the neighbourhood, as it -was generally believed that the hag cursed or witched those whom she -disliked. On one occasion, when her neighbour's horse broke through -the hedge into her field, she witched the animal for trespassing. The -horse was shivering all over and everything was done in vain to cure -the poor animal; but the very moment John Morgan, the Llangurig -conjurer was consulted, the horse fully recovered, and looked as -well as ever. My informant vouches for the truth of this, and says -he had seen the horse, and that the man who consulted the conjurer -was a friend of his, and, that he even knew the conjurer himself. - - - -CATTLE WITCHED. - -At Mathry in Pembrokeshire, there was a celebrated witch, and people -believed that she was often guilty of witching the cattle. On one -occasion when a servant maid of a farm-house in the neighbourhood had -gone out one morning to milk the cows, she found them in a sitting -posture like cats before a fire, and in vain did she try to get them -to move. The farmer suspected the witch of having caused this. He -went to her at once, and compelled the hag to come and undo her evil -trick. She came and told him that there was nothing wrong with the -cows, and she simply put her hand on the back of each animal, and -they immediately got up, and there was no further trouble. - - - -HORSES KILLED BY WITCHCRAFT IN RADNORSHIRE. - -Mr. Theophilus, a blacksmith, at Cilcwm, in Carmarthenshire, 80 years -of age, informed me that he well remembered a Radnorshire farmer who -had lost two horses, one after the other, and as he had suspected -that the animals were "killed by witchcraft" he decided to go all -the way to Cwrt-y-cadno to consult the wise man about it. The man -travelled all the way from Radnorshire, and in passing the small -village of Cilcwm, where my informant lived, begged the blacksmith -to accompany him to the conjurer who lived in another parish some -distance off. The wizard told him that it was such a pity he had -not come sooner, "for," said he, "if you had come to me yesterday, -I could have saved your third horse, but now it is too late, as the -animal is dying. But for the future take this paper and keep it safely -and you will have your animals protected." - -I was also informed that farmers came all the way from Herefordshire -to consult the wise man of Cwrt-y-Cadno. - - - -SHEEP KILLED BY AN OLD WITCH. - -Mrs. Edwards, an old woman who lives at Yspytty Ystwyth, in -Cardiganshire, informed me that she knew an old witch who lived in the -neighbourhood of Ystrad Meurig. One day, this hag saw two shepherds -passing her cottage on their way to the mountain with some sheep. The -old woman espied one particular lamb and begged one of the shepherds -to give the animal to her as a present, but the young man refused -her request. "Very well," said the witch, "thou wilt soon loose both -the lamb and its mother, and thou shalt repent for thus refusing -me." Before reaching the end of the journey to the mountain, the -sheep and her lamb died, and it was all put down to the hag's account, -for it was believed that she had witched them to death in revenge. - - - -A SHIP WITCHED. - -On a particular occasion nearly sixty years ago, a large number of -the leading gentry and others from all parts of Pembrokeshire went to -witness the launch of H. M. Ship "Cęsar," at Pembroke Dock. Among the -crowd there was an old woman named "Betty Foggy" who was believed to -possess the power of witching. When Betty noticed a lot of gentry going -up the steps to the grand stand, she followed suit with an independent -air; but she was stopped by the police. She struggled hard to have her -way, but was forced back. She felt very angry that she had to yield, -and shouted out loudly: "All right, the ship will not go off," but -the old hag's threat was only laughed at. The usual formalities were -gone through, and weights dropped, and amidst cheering the ship began -to glide away--but not for long, for the "Cęsar" soon became to stand -and remained so till the next tide when she got off by the assistance -of some ships afloat, and other means. The old witch was delighted, -and people believed that she was the cause of the failure to launch -the ship. - - - -MILK THAT WOULD NOT CHURN AND THE WITCH. - -Many believe, and some still believe, especially in Cardiganshire, -that when milk would not churn that witches had cursed it. An old -woman at Ystrad Meurig, who was supposed to be a witch, called one -day at a farm house and begged for butter, but being refused she -went away in a very bad temper. The next time they churned the milk -would not turn to butter, and they had to throw it out as they were -afraid of giving it to the pigs. When they were churning the second -time again the milk would not turn to butter as usual. But instead -of throwing out the milk as before, they went to the old woman and -forced her to come to the farmhouse and undo her spell. She came -and put her hand on the churn, and the milk successfully turned to -butter. My informant was Mrs. Edwards, Ysbytty Ystwyth. - - - -ANOTHER CARDIGANSHIRE STORY OF MILK THAT WOULD NOT TURN TO BUTTER. - -The following account was given me by Mr. Jenkin Williams, -Llangwyryfon:-- - -There was a man and his family living at a cottage called Penlon, a -small place just enough to keep one cow. The name of the man was John -Jones; and on one occasion when he and his wife were trying to churn -they failed to do so, or in other words the milk would not turn into -butter. At last J. Jones went to Cwrt-y-Cadno, in Carmarthenshire to -consult the "Dyn Hysbys." The wizard as he often did, gave the man -a bit of paper with some mystic words on it, and told him not to -show it to anybody, as the charm could not work after showing the -paper to others. As he was passing on his way home through a place -called Cwm Twrch, he met with a woman who accosted him and asked -him where he had been to. The man was rather shy, but at last he -admitted that he had been to Cwrt-y-Cadno to consult the conjurer, -and he told the woman everything. "I well knew," said the woman, -"You had been to Cwrt-y-Cadno, for only those who go to the conjurer -pass this way; show me the paper which he gave to you, for I am a -cousin of the conjurer." And the man showed it to her. "The paper is -alright," said she, "Take it home with you as soon as you can." He -went home with great joy, but unfortunately the churning still proved -a failure. Instead of undertaking another journey himself again, -J. Jones went to his neighbour Jenkin Williams, and begged him to -go to the conjurer to obtain another paper for him, and at last -J. Williams went. The conjurer, however, was not willing to give -another paper without £1 cash for it; but he gave it at last for a -more moderate price, when my informant pleaded the poverty of his -friend. When Williams asked the wise man what was the reason that the -milk would not churn, the reply was that an enemy had cursed it by -wishing evil to his neighbour. When this second paper was taken home -(which was not shown to anybody on the road), the milk was churned -most successfully, and splendid butter was obtained. - -In some places a hot smoothing iron thrown into the churn was effective -against the witch's doings. - - - -BURYING THE CHARM. - -In some of the stories I have already given a paper obtained from -a conjurer in the way of charm was considered very effective to -undo the witch's evil doings; but from the following story, which -I obtained from David Pugh, Erwlwyd, it seems that it was necessary -in some cases to bury this bit of paper in the ground. It was also -thought a few generations ago, that a letter hidden under a stone -was a good thing to keep away both witches and evil spirits and to -secure good luck to a house. - -Many years ago in the neighbourhood of Llandilo, Carmarthenshire, -a young farmer was engaged to be married to a daughter of another -farmer; but a few days before the wedding-day the bride and bridegroom -and their families quarrelled, so that the wedding did not take -place. After this, ill-luck attended the young farmer day after day; -many of his cattle died till he became quite a poor man very depressed -in spirit. The young woman who had been engaged to him was a supposed -witch so she was suspected of having caused all his misfortunes. His -friends advised him to consult a wizard, and he did so, as there -was a "dyn hysbys" close by at Llandilo, in those days, so it was -said. The wizard informed the farmer that he and his friends were -right in their suspicions about the young woman, and that his losses -had been brought about by her who had once been engaged to be married -to him. Then the wizard wrote something on a sheet of paper and handed -it to the young farmer directing him to bury this paper down in the -ground underneath the gate-post at the entrance to his farmyard. The -young man went home and buried the paper as directed by the wizard, -and from that time forth nothing went wrong. - - - -PROTECTIVES AGAINST WITCHCRAFT. - -Mrs. Mary Thomas, Bengal, near Fishguard, informed me that it was -customary when she was young to counteract the machinations of witches -by killing a mare and take out the heart and open and burn it, having -first filled it up with pins and nails. This compelled the witch to -undo her work. Mrs. Thomas also added that when the heart was burning -on such occasions the smoke would go right in the direction of the -witch's house. - -Another old woman near Fishguard, informed the Rev. J. W. Evans, -a son of the Rector of Jordanston, that she remembered an old woman -who was thought to be guilty of witching poor farmers' cattle. At -last she was forced to leave the district by the people who believed -her to be a witch. But soon after she left a cow died, and even her -calves were ill. People took out the cow's heart and burnt it, which -forced the hag to return to heal the calves. - - - -A FISHGUARD WITCH DISCOMFITED. - -Another way of protecting oneself from witchcraft was to keep a nail -on the floor under the foot when a witch came to the door. Mr. David -Rees, baker at Fishguard, told me a few years ago that there was -once a particular witch in that town who was very troublesome, as -she was always begging, and that people always gave to her, as they -were afraid of offending her. She often came to beg from his mother, -who at last, as advised by her friends, procured a big nail from -a blacksmith's shop. She put the nail under her foot on the floor, -the next time the old witch came to the door begging. The old hag -came again as usual to beg and to threaten; but my informant's mother -sent her away empty handed, saying, "Go away from my door old woman, -I am not afraid of you now, for I have my foot on a nail." She kept -her foot on the nail till the witch went out of sight, and by doing -so felt herself safe from the old hag's spells. - -Nails or a horseshoe or an old iron were considered preservatives -against witchcraft. - - - -A CILCWM STORY. - -Mr. Theophilus, the old blacksmith, at Cilcwm, in Carmarthenshire, -told me that when he was a boy the cattle had been witched by an -enemy. They would not touch the grass in the field of their own -farm; but whenever put in any field of another farm they would -graze splendidly. My informant's mother could not understand this, -and she felt very much distressed about it. At last she took the -advice of friends and went to consult the Wizard of Cwrt-y-Cadno, -who informed her that an enemy with whom she was well acquainted, -had witched her cattle. Then he advised her to go home and buy a -new knife, (one that had never been used before), and go directly -to a particular spot in the field where a solitary "pren cerdinen" -(mountain ash) grew, and cut it with this new knife. This mountain -ash, and some of the cows' hair, as well as some "witch's butter" -she was to tie together and burn in the fire; and that by performing -this ceremony or charm, she should see the person who was guilty of -witching her cows, coming to the door or the window of her house. My -informant told me that his mother carried out these directions, and -that everything happened as the wizard had foretold her. After this, -there was nothing wrong with the cows. - - - -WITCHES AND THE MOUNTAIN ASH. - -Of all things to frustrate the evil designs of witches the best was a -piece of mountain ash, or as it is called in Welsh "pren cerdinen." The -belief in mountain ash is very old in Wales, and the tree was held -sacred in ancient times, and some believe that the Cross of our -Lord was made of it. Witches had a particular dread of this wood, -so that a person who carried with him a branch of "pren cerdinen" -was safe from their spells; and it is believed in Wales, as well as -in parts of England, that the witch who was touched with a branch -of it was the victim carried off by the devil when he came next to -claim his tribute--once every seven years. - -I was told a few years ago at Talybont, that many in that part of -Cardiganshire grew mountain ash in their gardens, and that a man -carrying home a little pig was seen with a branch of this wood to -protect the animal from witchcraft. In South Pembrokeshire many carry -in their pockets a twig of the mountain ash when going on a journey -late at night; and a woman at Llanddewi Brefi, in Cardiganshire, -Miss Anne Edwards, Penbontgoian, informed me about seven years ago -that when she was a child the neighbourhood was full of witches, but -nothing was so effective against them as the mountain ash; no witch -would come near it. A man travelling on horseback, especially at night, -was very much exposed to the old hags, and the horse was more so than -even the man riding the animal; but a branch or even a twig of the -mountain ash carried in hand and held over the horse's head, protected -both the animal and the rider against all the spells of witches. The -same woman informed me that on one occasion, the servant man and the -servant girl of Llanio Isaf, in that parish, were going to the mill -one night, but all of a sudden they found both themselves and their -horse and cart right on the top of a hedge. This was the work of the -witches. After this, they carried a mountain ash, so as to be safe. - -Another old woman in Pembrokeshire, named Mrs. Mary Williams, Dwrbach, -informed me that a notorious old hag who was supposed to be a witch, -was coming home on one occasion from Haverfordwest fair, in a cart with -a farmer who had kindly taken her up. As they were driving along the -road between Haverfordwest and Walton East, they happened to notice -three teams harrowing in a field, and the farmer who was driving the -cart asked the witch whether she could by her spells stop the teams? "I -could stop two of them," said she, "but the third teamster has a piece -of mountain ash fast to his whip, so I cannot do anything to him." - -Mrs. Mary Williams also informed me that when she was a little girl -her mother always used to say to her and the other children on the -last day of December: "Now children, go out and fetch a good supply -of mountain ash to keep the witches away on New Year's Day," and -branches of it were stuck into the wall about the door, windows and -other places outside. Then witches coming to beg on New Year's Day -could do no harm to the inmates of the house. - -In Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, and North Pembrokeshire, the -mountain ash is called "pren cerdinen," but it was once known in the -South of Pembrokeshire, where the people are not of Welsh origin, as -"rontree"; and the name "rowan" is still retained in some parts of -England, which is derived according to Dr. Jameson, from the old Norse -"runa," a secret, or charm, on account of its being supposed to have -the power to avert the evil eye, etc. - - - -DRAWING BLOOD FROM A WITCH. - -Drawing blood from a witch by anyone incapacitated the old hag, -from working out her evil designs upon the person who spilt her -blood. Many years ago a farmer from the neighbourhood of Swyddffynon, -in Cardiganshire, was coming home late one night from Tregaron, -on horseback. As he was crossing a bridge called Pont Einon (once -noted for its witches), a witch somehow or other managed to get up -behind him on the horse's back; but he took out his pocket-knife with -which he drew blood from the witch's arm, and he got rid of the old -hag. After this, she was unable to witch people. My informant was -Mr. John Jones, of Pontrhydfendigaid. - - - -THE TRANSFORMATION OF WITCHES. - -Witches were supposed to transform themselves into animals, especially -that of an hare. And this belief is a very old one, for Giraldus -Cambrensis seven hundred years ago in his "Topography of Ireland," -(Bonn's edition) says: "It has also been a frequent complaint, from -old times as well as in the present, that certain hags in Wales, as -well as in Ireland and Scotland, changed themselves into the shape -of hares, that, sucking teats under this counterfeit form, they might -stealthily rob other people's milk." Tales illustrative of this very -old belief are still extant in Wales, and John Griffiths, Maenclochog, -in Pembrokeshire, related to me the story of: - - - -A WITCH WHO APPEARED IN THE FORM OF AN HARE EVERY MORNING TO A SERVANT -MAID AT MILKING TIME. - -Griffiths informed me that when his mother was young, she was engaged -as a servant maid at a small gentleman's seat, called Pontfaen, in the -Vale of Gwaun. But whenever she went out early in the morning to milk -the cows, an old witch who lived in the neighbourhood always made her -appearance in the form of an hare, annoying the girl very much. At -last she informed her master of it, and at once the gentleman took -his gun and shot the hare; but somehow, the animal escaped, though -he succeeded in wounding and drawing blood from her. After this, the -young woman went to see the old hag who was supposed to be a witch, -Maggie by name, and found her in bed with a sore leg. - - - -A WITCH IN THE FORM OF AN HARE SHOT BY A FARM SERVANT. - -The following tale was told me by a Mrs. Edwards, Ysbytty Ystwyth, -in Cardiganshire:-- - -An old witch who lived at Tregaron, went to Trecefel, a large farm in -the neighbourhood, to beg for the use of a small corner of a field to -grow some potatoes for herself. The farmer himself was away from home -at the time, but his wife was willing, as she was afraid of offending -the witch. The head servant, however, refused her request, and sent -her away, which naturally made her very angry, and in departing she -used threatening words. One day, soon after this, the same servant -was out in the field, and he noticed a hare in the hedge continually -looking at him, and watching all his movements. It occurred to him at -last that this creature was the old witch he had offended, appearing -in the form of a hare, and somehow or other he had not the least doubt -in his mind about it, so he procured a gun and fired, but the shot -did not inflict any injury on the hare. In the evening, when he met -some of his friends at a house in the village, the man servant told -them everything about the hare and of his suspicion that she was the -witch. One of his friends told him that ordinary shots or bullets were -no good to shoot a witch with, but that it was necessary for him to -load his gun with a bent four-penny silver coin. He tried this, and -the next time he fired the hare rolled over screaming terribly. Soon -after this, people called to see the old woman in her cottage, and -found that she had such a wound in her leg that she could hardly -move. Dr. Rowland was sent for, and when he came and examined her -leg he found a fourpenny silver coin in two pieces in it. "You old -witch," said he, "I am not going to take any trouble with you again: -death is good enough for your sort," and die she did. - -The possibility of injuring or marking the witch in her assumed form -so deeply that the bruise remained a mark on her in her natural form -was a common belief. - - - -A WITCH IN THE FORM OF A HARE HUNTED BY A PEMBROKESHIRE SQUIRE'S -HOUNDS. - -The following tale was told me by Mrs. Mary Thomas, Bengal, near -Fishguard:-- - -The Squire of Llanstinan, was a great huntsman, but whenever he -went out with his hounds, a certain hare always baffled and escaped -from the dogs. He followed her for miles and miles, day after day, -but always failed to catch the animal. At last the people began to -suspect that this hare must have been a witch in the shape of a hare, -and the gentleman was advised to get "a horse and a dog of the same -colour," and he did so. So the next time he was hunting he had a -horse and a dog of the same colour, and they were soon gaining ground -on the hare; but when the dog was on the very point of catching the -animal, the hare suddenly disappeared through a hole in the door of a -cottage. The Squire hurried to the spot and instantly opened the door, -but to his great surprise the hare had assumed the form of an old -woman, and he shouted out: "Oh! ti Mari sydd yna." (It is you Mary!) - - - -A WITCH IN THE FORM OF A HARE HUNTED IN CARDIGANSHIRE. - -Mr. Rees, Maesymeillion, Llandyssul, told me the following tale which -he had heard from an old woman in the neighbourhood:-- - -Once there was a Major Brooks living in the parish of Llanarth, who -kept hounds and was fond of hunting. One day, he was hunting a hare -that a little boy of nine years old had started; but the hare not only -managed to elude her pursuers, but even to turn back and attack the -hounds. The hunting of this hare was attempted day after day, but with -the same results; and the general opinion in the neighbourhood was, -that this hare was nothing but an old witch who lived in that part, -with whom the huntsman had quarrelled. - -An old man in Carmarthenshire informed me that an old woman known as -Peggy Abercamles, and her brother Will, in the neighbourhood of Cilcwm, -in that county were seen running about at night in the form of hares. - - - -THE FAMILIAR SPIRIT OF A WITCH SHOT IN THE FORM OF A HARE. - -From the following story which I heard at Talybont, in North -Cardiganshire, it seems that witches did not always transform -themselves. In some cases it was thought that the hare was not the -witch herself, but the old hag's Familiar Spirit assuming the shape of -a hare in her stead; but the life of the witch was so closely connected -with the Familiar, that when the Familiar was shot, the witch suffered. - -The tale is as follows:-- - -There was an old woman at Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, who was supposed -to be a witch. One day a man in the neighbourhood shot a hare with -a piece of silver coin. At the very time when the hare was shot, -the old woman who was a witch was at home washing, but fell into -the tub, wounded and bleeding. It was supposed by the people of -the neighbourhood that the hare which was shot was the old hag's -familiar spirit. - - - -MEN CHANGED INTO ANIMALS. - -It is said that an old witch near Ystrad Meurig, in Cardiganshire, -turned a servant man of a farm called Dolfawr, into a hare on one -occasion; and into a horse on another occasion and rode him herself. - -In the Mabinogion we have the Boar Trwyth, who was once a King, but -God had transformed into a swine for his sins. Nynniaw and Peibaw -also had been turned into oxen. And in the topography of Ireland, -by Giraldus Cambrensis, mention is made of a man and a woman, natives -of Ossory, who through the curse of one Natalis, had been compelled -to assume the form of wolves. And while speaking of witches changing -themselves into hares the same writer adds: "We agree, then, with -Augustine, that neither demons nor wicked men can either create or -really change their nature, but those whom God has created can, to -outward appearance, by His permission, become transformed, so that -they appear to be what they are not." - -If learned men, like Augustine and Giraldus Cambrensis and others, -believed such stories, it is no wonder that ignorant people did -so. I am inclined to believe, like the late Rev. Elias Owen, that -the transformation fables that have descended to us would seem to -be fossils of a pagan faith once common to the Celtic and other -cognate races. - -The belief in transformation and transmigration has lingered among some -people almost to the present day. Mr. Thomas Evans, Gwaralltyryn, in -the parish of Llandyssul, informed me that he was well-acquainted with -an old Ballad singer, who was known as Daniel Y Baledwr. Daniel lived -near Castle Howel, and sang at Llandyssul fairs, songs composed by -Rees Jones, of Pwllffein. This ballad-singer told my informant that he -was sure to return after death in the form of a pig, or of some other -animal; and that an animal had a soul or spirit as well as a man had. - - - -WIZARDS. - -There were many conjurers in Wales in former times, and even at the -present day there are a few who have the reputation of practising -the Black Art; for we still hear occasionally of persons taking long -journeys to consult them, especially in cases of supposed bewitched -cattle, horses, pigs, etc. I have already given stories of conjurers -counteracting the machinations of witches, and delivering both -people and animals from their spell. But they were accredited with -the power to do many other things beside. They could, it was thought, -compel a thief to restore what he had stolen; could also reveal the -future and raise and command spirits. - -The possibility of raising spirits, or to cause them to appear, was -once believed in in Wales, even in recent times; and Shakespeare in his -Henry the Fourth, Act III., S. 1., makes the Welshman, Glendower say:-- - - - "I can call Spirits from the vasty deep." - - -Wizards and others who practised magical arts were supposed to be -able to summon spirits at will; but it seems that some could not -control the demons after summoning them. An old man at Llandovery, -named Mr. Price, who was once a butler at Blaennos, informed me that -an old witch at Cilcwm, named Peggy, found it most difficult to control -the spirits in the house, and sometimes she had to go out into a field, -and stand within a circle of protection with a whip in her hand. - -Conjurers possessed books dealing with the black art, which they -had to study most carefully, for it was thought that according to -the directions of magical books the spirits were controlled. It -was considered dangerous for one ignorant of the occult science to -open such books, as demons or familiar spirits came out of them, -and it was not always easy to get rid of such unearthly beings. An -old woman at Caio, in Carmarthenshire, informed me that the great -modern wizard Dr. Harries, of Cwrtycadno, who lived in that parish, -had one particular book kept chained and padlocked. The old woman -also added that people were much afraid of this book, and that even -the wizard himself was afraid of it, for he only ventured to open -it once in twelve months, and that in the presence and with the -assistance of another conjurer, a schoolmaster from Pencader, who -occasionally visited him. On a certain day once every twelve months, -Dr. Harries and his friend went out into a certain wooded spot not far -from the house, and after drawing a circle round them, they opened the -chained book. Whenever this ceremony was performed it caused thunder -and lightning throughout the Vale of Cothi. My informant vouched for -the truth of this, and stated that her husband had been a servant -to Harries. - -A wizard in Pembrokeshire, named William Gwyn, of Olmws, Castell Newydd -Bach, with his magic book invoked a familiar spirit. The spirit came -and demanded something to do; William commanded him to bring some -water from the River in a riddle! - -In the 18th century a well-known wizard in the same county was -one John Jenkins, a schoolmaster. But the greatest wizard in the -beginning of 19th century was Aby Biddle, of Millindingle, who was -in league with the evil one or at least many of the people in South -Pembrokeshire believed so. Aby Biddle's real name was Harries; but, -of course, he was not the same person as Harries of Cwrtycadno, in -Carmarthenshire. There are still many most curious stories concerning -him in South Pembrokeshire, and as typical of other tales, I give the -following story which appeared a few years ago in "The Welsh Tit Bits" -column of the "Cardiff Times:"-- - - - -THE PRIESTS AND THE HORNETS. - -In the winter of 1803 there was an evening gathering at the ---- -Vicarage, which consisted chiefly of clerics, and Aby Biddle was -of the number of the guests, having been invited as a source of -pastime to help beguile some of the long hours of that forsaken -spot. Seldom did he go beyond the solemn dingle, but he had been -prevailed upon on this occasion. Much merriment was expected, nor was -the expectation misleading, save that it was entirely at the expense -of the clerics. The hours glided along gently on the wings of fairy -tales. The party remained until the small hours of the morning, -singing, merry-making, and tale-telling in turn. The conversation -now furtively drifted in the direction of occult science. Aby Biddle -sat near the window. Every now and again as he listened to the words -magic and witchcraft and various opinions respecting them, he pulled -back a corner of the blind and the pale light of the moon flickered -on his countenance, revealing the lines of a retreating smile. - -A loquacious young cleric interposed a caustic remark at this point and -fanned the fire into flame, and the discussion was like to have taken a -somewhat lively turn had not a broad-browed divine on whose head rested -the snow of full three score winters and ten, sternly rebuked the young -priest. This divine denounced sorcery and conjuration in unmeasured -language. Another aged divine of Puritanic air nodded his assent. - -Aby Biddle said nothing, though some of the company invited him to -speak, but played carefully with the fringe of the curtain. During a -momentary lull in the conversation, he rose suddenly, paced the room -for a minute or two, and disappeared into the lawn. He was not gone -many seconds before he returned with three small rings in his hands. He -held these up and remarked, "Gentlemen, we'll see whether conjuring -is possible or not." He placed the rings on the floor, at a distance -of about a yard apart, and hurriedly left the room, taking care to -turn the key in the lock on the smooth side of the door. The priests -turned their gaze intently in the direction of the rings. Suddenly -there appeared in one of the rings a fly flitting and buzzing. The fly -grew. In half a minute or less it had grown into a monster hornet. No -sooner had this metamorphosis taken place than it frisked into one -of the other rings, and another fly appeared in its place. This one -also developed into a hornet, giving way, when fully formed, to a -third fly. Each ring was now occupied, and the clerics wondered what -next would happen. Little time had they for musing, for the third -fly quickly accomplished its transformation, when the first one left -the ring and flew through the room. New hornets appeared in quick and -quicker succession. The guests became now thoroughly alarmed. Priestly -amusement gave way to pallid amazement. More and more came the dreaded -hornets, louder and louder their droning hum. They filled the room, -they darkened the whitened ceiling, and insinuated themselves into the -hoary locks of the Puritanic divine so that he yelled hoarsely. It -was utter confusion, and all were rushing wildly here and there for -refuge or escape, when the conjuror reappeared with a merry laugh, -and a loud "Ho! is conjuring possible now, gentlemen?" The Cloth was -soon pacified, the hornets dismissed to their sylvan home, and the -reputation of the Aby Biddle established as a mighty magician in the -minds of some noted parsons of Pembrokeshire. - - - -SIR DAFYDD LLWYD, YSPYTTY YSTWYTH. - -About two hundred years ago there lived in the neighbourhood of Ysbytty -Ystwyth, in Cardiganshire, a wizard and a medical man, known as Sir -Dafydd Llwyd, who had been a clergyman before he was turned out by -the Bishop for dealing in the Black Art. According to "A Relation -of Apparitions," by the Rev. Edmund Jones, it was thought that he -had learnt the magic art privately at Oxford in the profane time -of Charles II. Like other wizards Sir Dafydd also had a Magic Book, -for the Rev. Edmund Jones tells us that on one occasion when he had -"gone on a visit towards the Town of Rhaiadr Gwy, in Radnorshire, -and being gone from one house to another, but having forgotten his -Magic Book in the first house, sent his boy to fetch it, charging -him not to open the book on the way; but the boy being very curious -opened the book, and the evil Spirit immediately called for work; the -boy, though surprised and in some perplexity, said, "Tafl gerrig o'r -afon,--(throw stones out of the river) he did so; and after a while -having thrown up many stones out of the river Wye, which ran that way, -he again after the manner of confined Spirits, asking for something -to do; the boy had his senses about him to bid it to throw the stones -back into the river, and he did so. Sir David seeing the boy long in -coming, doubted how it was; came back and chided him for opening the -book, and commanded the familiar Spirit back into the book." - - - -SIR DAFYDD DEFEATING A RIVAL WIZARD. - -According to the stories still extant in North Cardiganshire, this -Sir Dafydd Llwyd had a most wonderful control over the demons. - -The following tale was told me by Mr. D. Jones, Bryntirion, Llanilar: - -A rival wizard who lived in the neighbourhood of Lampeter, on one -occasion challenged Sir Dafydd to a contest in the black art, in order -to prove to the world which of the two wizards was the cleverest in -controlling the demons. On the morning of the appointed day for the -contest between the two experts in the black art, Sir Dafydd sent -his boy to an elevated spot to have a look round if he could see a -bull coming from the direction of Lampeter. The boy went, but ran -back immediately to inform his master that a most savage bull was -approaching. Off went Sir Dafydd to Craig Ysguboriau, and stood on -the spot with his open magic book in his hand. The bull, or rather -a demon in the form of a bull, fiercely attempted to rush at him, -but Sir Dafydd compelled him to return whence he came. The animal -returned to Lampeter and rushed at once at the Lampeter wizard, -and killed him. So Sir Dafydd defeated and got rid of his rival. - -Another story I heard at Ysbytty Ystwyth was that one Sunday morning -when Sir Dafydd went to Church, he sent his boy to keep away the crows -from the wheat field; but when he came home he found that the boy had -collected all the crows into the barn. Sir Dafydd at once discovered -that the boy had learnt the Black Art. - -There is a tradition in the neighbourhood that the body of Sir Dafydd -lays buried under the wall of Yspytty Ystwyth Churchyard, and not -inside in the Churchyard itself, and people still believe that this -is a fact. The story goes that the wizard had sold himself to the -devil. The agreement was that the arch-fiend was to have possession -of Sir Dafydd if his corpse were taken over the side of the bed, -or through a door, or if buried in a churchyard. In order to escape -from becoming a prey to the Evil One, the wizard on his death-bed -had begged his friends to take away his body by the foot, and not -by the side of the bed, and through a hole in the wall of the house, -and not through the door, and to bury him, not in the churchyard nor -outside, but right under the churchyard wall. So that his Satanic -majesty, who had been looking forward for the body of Sir Dafydd, -was disappointed after all. - -That it was formerly believed that the devil could be out-witted or -deceived is evident from the fact that in the Middle Ages it was often -customary to bury an ungodly rich man in the garb of a Monk. This -could be done by paying the Monks a certain sum of money. - -There is a story very much like the one I have just given, to -be found in the South-Western part of Montgomeryshire. In the -Montgomeryshire version, however, the wizard is not Sir Dafydd Llwyd, -but Dafydd Hiraddug, who had charged his friends, that on his death, -the liver and lights were to be taken out of his body and thrown on -the dunghill. They were then to take notice whether a raven or a dove -got possession of them; if a dove got possession of them, he was to -be buried like any other man in the churchyard; but if a raven, then -he was to be buried under the wall, and under the wall he was buried, -as a raven got possession of the liver and lights. - -The devil in disappointment cried out:-- - - - "Dafydd Hiraddug ei ryw, - Ffals yn farw, ffals yn fyw." - - (Dafydd Hiraddug, ill-bred - False when living, false when dead.) - - -The dove and the raven play their part in many of the wizards tales. An -old man from Llandilo, named David Evans, informed me that the wizard -of Cwrtycadno asked his friends to throw his heart on the dunghill. If -a dove came for it first, he had been a good man; but a raven, a sign -that he had been a bad man. - -The appearance of a dove at the time of a death or a funeral was -regarded as a sure sign that the deceased had been a good man. The -Rev. Edmund Jones in his "Apparitions," referring to the death of -a certain godly man, says that "Before the body was brought forth, -a white dove came and alighted upon the bier." - - - -WIZARDS RIDING DEMONS THROUGH THE AIR. - -In the present day we hear a great deal about airships; but if we are -to believe some of the old folk-stories, magicians travelled through -the air in days long before anyone had ever dreamt of a balloon. In -former times it was believed by the ignorant that a wizard with his -magic book could, and did, summon a demon in the shape of a horse, -and travelled on the back of the fiend through the air. It is said -that Sir Dafydd Llwyd of Ysbytty Ystwyth, employed a demon for that -purpose; and one night when he was riding home from Montgomeryshire -on a demon in the shape of a horse, a boy who rode behind him on the -same horse lost one of his garters on the journey. After this the -boy went to search for his garter, and to his great surprise saw it -on the very top of a tree near the church, which convinced him that -the wizard and himself had been riding home through the air! - -There was also at Llanbadarn Fawr, in the same county, about seven -hundred years ago, a Knight named Sir Dafydd Sion Evan, who was -supposed to be taking journeys through the air on a demon-horse. This -Sir Dafydd was at times absent for weeks; and when he returned he was -often wet with foam and covered with seaweed, or his head and shoulders -sprinkled with snow, during the heat of summer. At other times he -was blackened with smoke and smelling strong of sulphureous fire. On -one occasion when Sir Dafydd had mounted this "devil-born" horse, -and had gone up a considerable height into the air, the horse turned -his head and said, "How I have forgotten Sir Davy Sion Evan; I asked -not of the course of thy travel; art thou for steering above wind, -or below wind"? "On Devil-born!" said Sir Davy, "and stint prate." - -Such tales of wizards riding through the air on demons are to be -found in Scotland as well as Wales, and Sir Walter Scott in his -Notes to the Lay of the Last Minstrel, gives the following story -concerning Sir Michael Scott, who was chosen, it is said, to go upon -an embassy to obtain from the King of France satisfaction for certain -piracies committed by his subjects upon those of Scotland. Instead -of preparing a new equipage and splendid retinue, the ambassador -retreated to his study, opened his book, and evoked a fiend in the -shape of a huge black horse, mounted upon his back, and forced him -to fly through the air towards France. As they crossed the sea, the -devil insidiously asked his rider what it was that the old women in -Scotland muttered at bedtime? A less experienced wizard might have -answered that it was the Pater Noster, which would have licensed the -devil to precipitate him from his back. But Michael sternly replied, -"What is that to thee? Mount Diabolus, and fly!" When he arrived -at Paris, he tied his horse to the gate of the palace, entered, -and boldly delivered his message. An ambassador with so little of -the pomp and circumstances of diplomacy was not received with much -respect; and the King was about to return a contemptuous refusal to -his demand, when Michael besought him to suspend his resolution till -he had seen his horse stamp three times. The first stamp shook every -steeple in Paris, and caused all the bells to ring; the second threw -down three of the towers of the palace; and the infernal steed had -lifted his hoof to give the third stamp, when the King rather chose -to dismiss Michael with the most ample concessions than to stand to -the probable consequences. - -It seems that in Eastern countries also, there are traditions of -magicians riding through the air, for in the "Arabian Nights," we -have the story of the Enchanted Horse. - -An old carpenter, named Benjamin Phillips, Bronwydd Arms, Carmarthen, -informed me the Wizard of Fos-y-Broga, often caused a demon to appear -at night in the form of a white bull, on the road near Llanpumpsaint. - - - -THE HARRIESES OF CWRTYCADNO, THE POPULAR MODERN WIZARDS. - -The most popular and greatest wizards of modern days were undoubtedly -the Harrieses of Cwrtycadno, in Carmarthenshire. - -John Harries lived at Pantcoy, Cwrtycadno, in the Parish of Caio, -and died in the year 1839. His sons were also popular conjurers, -one of whom only died about 45 years ago. - -Harries was a medical man, an astrologer, and a wizard, and people -came to enquire of his oracle from all parts of Wales, and from the -English borders, especially Herefordshire, and his name was familiar -through the length and breadth of the land. It is said that he had a -wonderful power over lunatics; could cure diseases; charm away pain; -protect people from witches, and foretell future events, etc. Good many -stories are told of him by old people, and I have already introduced -his name in my account of witches. - -I was told by an old man, Mr. David Evans, a millwright from Llandilo, -that the popularity of Harries as a wizard originated as follows:--A -young woman somewhere in that part of the country was lost, and could -not be found after searching for her everywhere; at last her relations -and friends went to Cwrtycadno to consult Dr. Harries. The wizard -informed them that the girl had been murdered by her sweetheart, and -that he had hid her body in the earth, under the shades of a tree, -in the hollow of which they would find a bee's nest. The tree stood -alone near a brook. The searching party at last came across the spot -indicated by the conjurer, and here they found the young woman's body -buried, as the wise man had told them. The young man who had murdered -the girl was found, and confessed the crime. When the authorities of -the law became aware of these facts, the wizard was brought before -the magistrates, at Llandovery, where he was charged with knowing and -abetting of murder, otherwise he could not have known she was murdered, -and where she was buried. He was, however, discharged. According to -the "History of Caio," by F. S. Price, an interesting book presented -to me by Lady Hills-Johnes, the wizard told the magistrates (Lloyd, -Glansevin, and Gwyn, Glanbran), that if they would tell him the hour -they were born, he would tell them the hour they would die! - - - -CWRTYCADNO CONJURER AND SPIRIT RAISING. - -I did not hear any stories of Dr. Harries riding demons through the -air like Sir Dafydd Sion Evan and others; but it was believed, and -it is still believed by many, that he could and did summon spirits -to appear. A few years ago when I was allowed to search what is left -of the Library of Harries, which is still to be seen at Pantcoy, -where he lived, I found a large number of medical books, and Greek -and Latin works, I also found several books dealing with astrology, -magic art, charms, etc.; but the much talked of padlocked volume full -of demons was last I was told though amongst other curious things I -found the following "Invocation":-- - - - -HOW TO OBTAIN THE FAMILIAR OF THE GENIUS OR GOOD SPIRIT AND CAUSE -HIM TO APPEAR. - -"After the manner prescribed by Magicians, the exorcist must inform -himself of the name of his Good Genius, which he may find in the Rules -of the Travins and Philermus; as also, what Chonactes and Pentacle, -or Larim, belongs to every Genius. After this is done, let him compose -an earnest prayer unto the said Genius, which he must repeat thrice -every morning for seven days before the Invocation.... When the day -is come wherein the Magician would invocate his prayer to Genius -he must enter into a private closet, having a little table and silk -carpet, and two waxen candles lighted; as also a chrystal stone shaped -triangularly about the quantity of an apple which stone must be fixed -upon a frame in the centre of the table; and then proceeding with -great devotion to Invocation, he must thrice repeat the former prayer, -concluding the same with Pater Noster, etc., and a missale de Spiritu -Sancto. Then he must begin to consecrate the candles, carpet, table -and chrystal, sprinkling the same with his own blood, and saying: -I do by the power of the holy Names Aglaon, Eloi, Eloi Sabbathon, -Anepheraton, Jah, Agian, Jah, Jehovah; Immanuel, Archon, Archonton, -Sadai, Sadai, Jeovaschah, etc., sanctifie and consecrate these holy -utensils to the performance of this holy work, in the name of the -Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Which done, the Exorcist must say -the following prayer with his face towards the East, and kneeling with -his back to the consecrated table:--O thou blessed Phanael my angel -guardian, vouchsafe to descend with thy holy influence and presence -into this spotless chrystal, that I may behold thy glory, etc. This -prayer being first repeated towards the East, must be afterwards said -towards all the four winds thrice. And next the 70th Psalm repeated -out of a Bible that hath been consecrated in like manner as the rest of -the utensils, which ceremonies being seriously performed, the Magician -must arise from his knees and sit before the chrystal bareheaded with -the consecrated Bible in his hand and the waxen candle newly lighted -waiting patiently and internally for the coming and appearance of -the Genius.... Now about a quarter of an hour before the spirit come, -there will appear great variety of apparitions within the glass; as -first a beaten road or tract, and travellers, men, and women marching -silently along. Next there will be rivers, wells, mountains, and seas -appear, after that, a shepherd upon a pleasant hill feeding a goodly -flock of sheep, and the sun shining brightly at his going down; and -lastly, innumerable flows of birds and beasts, monsters and strange -appearance, and which will all vanish at the appearance of the Genius. - -"The Genius will be familiar in the stone at the performance of -the wizard." - -The following story of this Welsh wizard's spirit summoning was -related to me a short time ago by a clergyman who is a native of -Carmarthenshire, the Rev. J. Phillips, vicar of Llancynfelyn: - - - -THE FARMER WHO CONSULTED THE CONJUROR; OR THE FAMILIAR SPIRITS AND -THE LOST COWS. - -A farmer who lived in the Southern part of Carmarthenshire, lost three -cows. Having searched in vain for them everywhere, he at last went to -Cwrt-y-Cadno, though he had a very long journey to go. When he arrived -there and consulted Dr. Harries, the worthy wizard told him that he -could not give him any information concerning his lost cows till next -day, as he wanted time to consult his magic books. The farmer was a -little disappointed, as he wanted to go home that evening; but under -the circumstances there was nothing to be done but try and get a bed -for the night at some farm in the neighbourhood. So he left the wizard -for the night with the intention of returning to him again in the -morning, when he hoped to hear something of his lost cows. But after -going out of the house, he noticed a barn close by, which he entered, -and found in a corner a heap of straw where he thought he could lie -down and sleep comfortably till next morning. This he did unknown to -the wizard, who took for granted that the farmer had gone to stay for -the night at some house in the neighbourhood. He slept comfortably -in the barn for a while, but about one o'clock in the morning, he was -awakened by the sound of the wizard's footsteps entering the place at -that untimely hour, with a lantern in his hand. The disturbed farmer -could not imagine what he wanted in the barn at this time of the night, -and he was afraid of being discovered. Presently, however, he noticed -the conjurer drawing a circle around himself in the middle of the room; -that is the well-known Wizard's Circle. Then he stood right in the -middle of this circle, and having opened a book, he summoned seven -demons or familiar spirits to appear, and in an instant they came -one after another and stood outside the circle. Then he addressed or -called out to the first spirit something as follows:--"Tell me where -are the farmer's lost cows"? But the demon answered not. He repeated -the question two or three times, but the Familiar was quite dumb. At -last, however, it shouted out, 'A pig in the straw' but this was no -reply to the wizard's question. - -Having failed with the first spirit, the wizard addressed the second -one, and then the third, and so on till he had given the question -to each one of the familiars except one, without any result; the -spirits seemed very stupid on this occasion, and would not give the -information required. Fortunately, however, when the question was given -to the seventh and last of the demons, it shouted out, 'The farmer's -cows will be on Carmarthen Bridge at 12 o'clock to-morrow.' Then the -wizard left the barn and went to bed well pleased. - -The farmer who was hiding in the straw heard everything, and made -up his mind to travel to Carmarthen at once, so as to be there in -time to find his cows on the Bridge. So off he went to Carmarthen, -and reached the Bridge just at 12 o'clock, and to his great joy the -cows were there. Then he drove them home, but when he had gone about -half-a-mile from the Bridge, the cows fell down as if half dead on -the roadside, and in vain did he try to get them to move forward any -further. So he had to go all the way to Cwrt-y-Cadno again, so as to -consult what to do. When he arrived there "Serve thee right," said -the wizard to him, "I have cast a spell on thy cattle for running -away secretly last night from the barn without paying me for the -information obtained from the spirits." - -Then the farmer gave the wizard a certain sum of money and returned -to his three cows which he had left on the road half-a-mile from -Carmarthen Bridge; and to his great joy the cows went home without -any further trouble. - - - -A FAMILIAR SPIRIT IN THE SHAPE OF A DOG AND THE LONELY NIGHT TRAVELLER. - -On one occasion a certain man from Cilcwm, was on a visit in the -neighbourhood of Cwrtycadno. When he started to return home it was -getting rather late, and he had a long journey to go through a lonely -mountainous country. The wizard, Dr. Harries, asked him if he was -afraid of such a journey over the mountain in the depth of night. The -man confessed that he did not like such a journey at that late hour -without a single soul to accompany him, but that he was obliged to -go home that night without fail; and so he proceeded on his way. As -he journeyed along, the darkness of night overtook him on his way -over the mountain, but to his great surprise, when he looked around -him, he noticed a black dog following him, or rather walking by his -side. The dog was very friendly, and the lonely traveller felt glad -of the animal's company. So on they went together; but when they -were nearing his home the dog vanished suddenly into nothing. The man -was quite convinced that the dog was nothing but a familiar Spirit, -in the shape of a dog, sent by the wizard to bear him company in his -lonely night journey. - -The above story was related to me by the Rev. J. Phillips, vicar -of Llancynfelyn. - - - -CONJURERS AND LUNATICS. - -About one hundred years ago there lived in the neighbourhood of -Pencader, a wizard, named Phillips, who was very successful in curing -lunatics. On one occasion, an old woman from Tregroes, near Llandyssul, -took her son to him who had been insane from his birth. The wise man -blew into the young man's face, and informed his mother that he would -be sane for twenty years, and so it happened; but after twenty years -he became insane again as the wizard had predicted. - -My informant was Mr. Rees, Maesymeillion, in the parish of Llandyssul, -whose father's uncle remembered the lunatic. - -The wizard of Cwrt-y-Cadno was also very successful in curing -lunatics. He would take the insane to the brink of the river and -fire an old flint revolver which would frighten his patient to such -a degree that he fell into the pool. - - - -WIZARDS REVEALING THE FUTURE. - -It was believed that conjurers could tell fortunes, or reveal the -hidden future, and a good many, especially young people, consulted -them. - -The following is a copy of a card which Harries of Cwrt-y-cadno -distributed:-- - - - -"NATIVITY CALCULATED." - -In which are given the general transactions of the Native through life, -viz:--Description (without seeing the person), temper, disposition, -fortunate, or unfortunate in their general pursuits; honour, riches, -journeys, and voyages (success therein, and what places best to travel -to, or reside in); friends, and enemies, trade, or profession best -to follow; whether fortunate in speculation, viz: Lottery, dealing -in Foreign Markets, etc., etc., etc. Of marriage, if to marry.--The -description, temper, and disposition of the person, from whence, -rich or poor, happy or unhappy in marriage, etc., etc. Of children, -whether fortunate or not, etc., etc., deduced from the influence of -the Sun and Moon, with the Planetary Orbs at the time of birth. Also, -judgment and general issue in sickness and diseases, etc. - -By Henry Harries. - -"All letters addressed to him or his father, Mr. John Harries, -Cwrtycadno, must be post paid, or will not be received." - - - -A CONJURER SHOWING A YOUNG MAN HIS FUTURE WIFE. - -Harries, Cwrtycadno, had a magic glass, so it is said, into which -a person looked when he wished to know or see the woman he was to -marry. A young man named Phillips, once had gone from the parish of -Llanllawddog, to Cwrtycadno, to show Dr. Harries some of his father's -urine, which he took with him in a small bottle, as the old man was -very ill. Harries examined it, and told the young man that his father -would never get well again. The young man now decided to return home as -soon as he could through Abergorlech, and Brechfa, where he intended -staying for the night, as the journey was a long one. Just before -he departed, however, Harries asked him, "By the way young man, -would you like me to tell your fortune? I'll do it for 2s. 6d."; -and so it was agreed. The conjurer had a large looking glass, the -Magician's Glass, which was covered with a large board. He took off -this covering, and told the young man to look into the glass. so as -to see his future wife. He did look stedfastly as he was directed, -and saw in the glass the form of a young woman passing by. Meanwhile, -the wizard himself had entered alone into a little side room, where -he was speaking loudly to a familiar Spirit, or something; but he -soon returned to the young man and asked him, "Did you see anything -in the glass?" "Yes, I saw a young woman." "Did you know her?" "No. I -had never seen her before: she was a perfect stranger to me." "Well," -said the conjurer, "whether you have met her or not, that young woman -you saw in the glass is to be your future wife." - -Sometime after this, the young man and his brother, both being -carpenters, were one day working on the roof of a house which had -been damaged by a storm, and it so happened that some woman and -her daughter, who were passing by, came to speak to them. When the -women had gone away out of hearing, the young man, who had been to -Cwrtycadno, said to his brother in surprise: "That young girl was -the very one I saw in the Wizard's Magic Glass." This was their first -acquaintance, and by and by they were married. My informant was their -own son who is a carpenter, and lives about a mile from Bronwydd Arms -Station, in Carmarthenshire. His name is Benjamin Phillips. - - - -ANOTHER SIMILAR TALE. - -About sixty years ago, Isaac Isaac, Tyllain, Llanarth, in -Cardiganshire, went to Harries, Cwrtycadno, to consult him about -something. The wise man was at the time busy with his harvest, -and he asked Isaac to be as kind as to help him a little for -telling his fortune, and he did so. As they were working together -on the field. Harries asked the young man if he intended going to -London? Isaac said, no, but that he had a letter in his pocket he -wanted to forward to London. Then Harries took the young man to the -house and showed him his future wife in a magic glass. He recognised -her at once as the young woman to whom he was already engaged, -and whom he finally married, though much against the wishes of the -young lady's parents. My informant was Mr. Watkin Evans, Blaenpark, -an old man who lives in the parish of Llanarth. - - - -THE WIZARD OF CWRTYCADNO FORETELLING THE FUTURE DESTINY OF A NEW -BORN CHILD. - -Owen Evans, Maesydderwen, near Llansawel, Carmarthenshire, an old -man of 90 years of age, informed me about four years ago that on -one occasion, long ago, when a baby, a girl, was born to him and -his wife, he went to Dr. Harries, Cwrtycadno, to consult him about -the future destiny of the child. The conjurer spoke to him something -as follows:--"I hope you will not be distressed when you hear what -is going to happen to your dear child; but the truth of it is, she -will have a very narrow escape from drowning at the age of four, -and death awaits her at the age of twenty!" My informant then went -on to tell me with tears in his eyes, that everything took place -exactly as Harries told him. His dear girl at the age of four one -day, whilst playing and running along the river side (River Cothy), -fell over the banks into the water and nearly got drowned. After this, -she never enjoyed good health, and at the age of twenty she died! - -Owen Evans informed me that when he went to Cwrtycadno, several other -men accompanied him there, and one of them was named John Lloyd, who -was a perfect stranger to Dr. Harries. But the wise man through his -knowledge of the occult science, was able to tell this stranger that -he had a mole on his head, and had met with an accident on his leg, -which was true. My informant also added that the wizard "set great -importance on the Planet under which a man was born." - -Mr. Thomas Davies, Penybont, Llanddewi Brefi, over 90 years of age, -vouched for the truth of the following account:--Many years ago, -Wiliam Davies, Pistill Gwyn Bach, Llanddewi Brefi, in Cardiganshire, -had lost some money, and could not find it, so he went to Cwrtycadno, -to consult Dr. Harries about it. The Conjurer told him where to find -the money, and warned him to keep away from fairs, lest some accident -should befall him. Wiliam was very careful for a time, but at last a -son of his got married, and persuaded him to accompany him to a fair -at Lampeter. He went, and was thrown down by a horse, and died in a -few days. - -It is said in the neighbourhood of Caio that Dr. Harries had foretold -the death of the Late Lamented Judge Johnes, of Dolaucothy, about -thirty years before it took place. Mr. Johnes, who was highly -respected, was cowardly murdered by a native of Ireland in 1876. - -Mr. D. Owen (Brutus), in his book "Brutusiana" which was published -in 1840, condemns the wizard for his fortune telling: - - - "The first day of winter. - Severe is the weather, - Unlike the first Summer, - None but God can foresee what is to come." - - Druidical "Warrior Song." - - - -PREDICTION CONCERNING THE DEATH OF HIS LATE MAJESTY KING EDWARD. - -According to Mr. Arthur Mee, Cardiff, in the "Western Mail," May, -1910, astrologers who make a study of national forecasts, had predicted -the death of the late King. - - - -SIR RHYS AP THOMAS CONSULTING A WIZARD CONCERNING KING HENRY VII. - -When the Earl of Richmond (afterwards Henry VII.) was about to land -in Wales from France on his way to Bosworth, Sir Rhys Ap Thomas, -consulted a well-known wizard and prophet, who dwelt at Dale, as to -whether the Earl would be successful to dethrone Richard III. After -much hesitation, and at the urgent demand of Sir Rhys, the Conjurer -on the next day prophesied in rhyme as follows:-- - - - "Full well I wend, that in the end - Richmond, sprung from British race. - From out this land the boare shall chase." - - -The "Boare" meant Richard III. See "Life of Sir Rhys Ap Thomas," -by M. E. James, page 49. - - - -THE CONJURER AND THE LOST OX. - -Mr. Thomas Jones, Brunant Arms, Caio, gave me the following account of -what took place about 55 years ago, when his father lived at Penlifau, -in the parish of Cilcwm, on the mountain side, and near the road which -leads over the mountain from Cilcwm to Cwmcothi. A young farmer who -lived at a place called Foshwyaid, Cwm Du, near Talley, has taken some -cattle to Caio fair, in the month of August. Somehow or other, one of -his oxen went astray from the Fair, and could not be seen anywhere -in the neighbourhood. The young farmer and others went in every -direction in search of the animal, but returned disappointed. At last, -the man went to Cwrtycadno, to consult the "Dyn Hysbys." The wise man -informed him that his ox had wandered away from the Fair, at first in -a northernly, and afterwards in an easterly direction, "and" said he, -"if you take the road leading from here over the mountain to Cilcwm, -you will meet a man (the conjurer gave a description of the man) -who is likely to know something, or at least give you some clue to -your lost animal." - -The young farmer then went on his way, and after proceeding for some -distance, he did meet a man as the conjurer had told him, and he told -him all his troubles. Now this very man happened to be my informant's -father who lived close by. Mr. Jones sympathised very much with the -young farmer, and though a stranger, invited him home with him to -get something to eat, and he accordingly went, and at the house, -they talked together for some time. At last, the young farmer had -to proceed again on his journey, rather disappointed, as his new -friend who had showed every kindness, could give him no information -about his lost ox. Jones went with him for a short distance, just to -show him a path (a short cut) leading from the house to the road; and -after bidding each other farewell, they parted. But before the young -farmer had gone far, Jones called him back, and informed him that he -had just recollected hearing some men, when coming home from Cilcwm -Church last Sunday, talking together about some new ox which they had -not noticed before in the field or yard of Tim. Davies, Gweungreuddyn -(a path from the Church went close by T. D.'s farm). When he heard -this bit of news from Jones, off he went at once as fast as he could -go to Mr. Timothy Davies; and to his great joy, when he arrived -there, found his stray animal quite safe in the "ffald." The local -authorities had discovered the ox wandering about the country; but -before the young farmer was allowed to take his animal home with him, -the sum of seven shillings was to be paid for faldage. The young man -went back to Jones, obtained the loan of seven shillings which he -repaid honestly after arriving home with his ox. - -My informant also added that the conjurer had addressed the same young -farmer as follows:--"My poor fellow, you are in great sorrow," "No" -said the farmer, "Yes" said the conjurer again, "you have buried your -mother a few weeks ago." The man then confessed that this was quite -true. The wise man added, "A more melancholy event still awaits you -at the end of twelve months." And at the end of twelve months the -young farmer himself died! - -Watkin Evans, Blaenpark, informed me that a farmer in the parish of -Dihewyd, Cardiganshire, found a harrow which he had lost by consulting -a conjurer. - -One John Evans, of Llanddarog, in Carmarthenshire, 85 years ago, lost -a bull, but he found the animal at Morfa, Kidwelly, by consulting -a conjurer. - - - - -THE CONJURER AND THE LOST HORSE. - -An old farmer, Mr. David Pugh, Erwlwyd, near Caio, Carmarthenshire, -told me the following story a few years ago, and vouched for the -truth of it:-- - -A friend of Mr. Pugh had lost a horse, and after searching in -vain for the animal for a whole fortnight, he was at last advised -to go to consult the "Dyn Hysbys." He rather hesitated at first, -but he, however, went. The man was a farmer in the neighbourhood of -Llandovery, but my informant did not wish to mention his name. The -Wizard, Harries, of Cwrtycadno, consulted his oracles, but did not -know what reply to give to the farmer at first about his animal. "Do -tell me" said the farmer most earnestly, "what has become of my horse, -or who has taken away the animal? It is such a loss to me to lose such -a fine steed." Presently, the wizard informed him that a certain man -(whom he described) had found the horse on the road, and caught the -animal and tied him to a tree which was close by. After a while, this -stranger took him home quietly and closed him in his own stable, fully -making up his mind to sell the horse at the first opportunity. "And -I am almost certain he'll succeed in doing so," added the conjurer, -"I am afraid you'll never see your horse again." "Can you do something -to prevent the thief selling my horse"? asked the farmer. "Yes," -replied the wizard. The wise man then took some paper or parchment -on which he inscribed some magic word, or words, and gave it to the -farmer, telling him that so long as the parchment was kept safely -in his pocket, the thief could not succeed in selling the horse at -the fair. "But what can I do to find my stolen horse"? "Watch on the -road next Friday, near Glanbran, and I feel almost certain that you -will And your horse before the day is over, grazing on the roadside -somewhere in that neighbourhood." - -The farmer then departed with the magic paper safely in his pocket, -and when Friday came, he watched on the road, and to his great joy -and surprise, he found the horse near Glanbran. Just as he mounted the -animal to go home, a young man who passed by, told him that a few days -ago, he had seen this very horse offered on sale at Rhayader fair, -but that the man who was trying to sell him failed to do so! - - - -A LLANFAIR CLYDOGAU WIZARD. - -Mr. Walter Evans (Pentre-Richard), in the Parish of Llanddewi Brefi, -informed me a few years ago, before he died, that some years ago, -when he lost some sheep, a conjurer who lived on Llanfair mountain, -directed or pointed out to him where to find them, and that they were -found two days afterwards in some water nearly drowning as the wise -man had said. This Llanfair Clydogau conjurer only died about nine -years ago, and until he died people consulted him from the surrounding -districts of Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire. - -The best service rendered by conjurers to society was to help people -to discover thieves, and the superstitious often restored what they -had stolen through fear. - -On one occasion a man who was often losing potatoes from the field went -to Harries, Cwrtycadno, who was a terror to thieves. The conjurer -showed him the thief in a magic glass, which enabled the man to -discover who the culprit was. In another potato tale, the wise man, -by means of his magic art forced the thief to appear at his house -and confess his guilt. - - - -THE WIZARD OF LLANPUMPSAINT AND THE DUCKS OF ALLTYFERIN. - -Mr. Griffiths, of 'Rhenallt, an old farmer near Carmarthen, informed me -about six years ago that long ago when he was a young man, he was once -a servant at Alltyferin. Ducks were continually lost at the farm, and -his master who suspected a neighbour as the thief, sent Griffiths with -a letter to a conjurer who lived at Fosybroga. The wise man sent a note -in reply giving a full description of the thief, and he was caught. - -A woman in Pembrokeshire, who had lost a most valuable picture, -consulted a well-known wizard, who showed her a picture of the thief -in a magic glass. She recognised the culprit at once as one of her -intimate friends. The wizard then wrote the name of the thief on a -piece of paper, and pierced it with a needle, and informed his client -that if the picture was not restored to her within half an hour the -thief would be eaten up of a strange disease. - - - -WIZARD MARKING THE CULPRITS. - -It was believed in Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, that Harries, -Cwrtycadno, could mark out thieves, and also persons who had an -"Evil Eye," by causing a horn to grow out of their foreheads. A man in -Tregaron had witched a woman, but the conjurer marked the mischievous -person by putting a horn on his head. - -A farmer from the parish of Llangwyryfon, in Cardiganshire, whose -cattle had been witched by a neighbour who had an evil eye, went to -Llangurig in Montgomeryshire, to consult, a well-known conjurer who -only died a few years ago. The Wizard for the payment of 10s. showed -a picture of the offender in a magic mirror, and offered to cause -him to die of a strange disease. The farmer begged the conjurer not -to do that; that he did not desire to kill his enemy, only to punish -him, and he was punished. My informant was a farmer who lives near -Talybont, Cardiganshire. - -This Llangurig wizard was continually consulted by clients from -Montgomeryshire, Cardiganshire, Radnorshire, and other counties. Not -long ago, there was also a conjurer at Llanidloes, in the same county -(Montgomeryshire), who was consulted on all cases of cursed fields, -bewitched cattle, horses, pigs, churns, backward lovers, bewitched -women, etc. - - - -A WIZARD AND THE YOUNG MAN WHO HAD BEEN CURSED. - -An old man named Evan Morris, who lives at Goginan, near Aberystwyth, -informed me that about 60 years ago, a young man in that neighbourhood -was struck dumb all of a sudden, that he could not utter a word. As he -had neither been ill nor met with an accident it was suspected that -he had been witched by some neighbour. So his father at last went -over the mountain to Llangurig, about twenty miles off, to consult a -well-known wizard named "Savage." The wizard opened his magic book, -from which out came a big fly, buzzing or making a humming noise, -boom, boom, boom, near the conjurer's face, who exclaimed, "What is -the matter with this old fly?" The wise man then struck the insect -with his hand and commanded it back into the book, and closed the -volume; but he opened it again at another page, and out came another -fly of a different colour. This fly again was buzzing till the wizard -commanded it back into the book, which he now closed altogether; and -addressing the man who had come to consult him, said to him: "You have -suspected a certain man in your neighbourhood of having witched your -son; but you are wrong; another man whom you do not suspect is the -guilty. But your son has not been witched at all; he is under a curse." - -Welsh conjurers made a distinction between witchcraft and a -curse. Thomas Jones, of Pontrhydfendigaid, informed me that a conjurer -at Llangurig, named Morgans, told him once, that some men who were -born under certain planets, possessed an inherent power of cursing, -"and their curse," said he, "is worse than witchcraft itself." - -When the man returned home from the conjurer, to his great joy and -surprise, he found his son able to speak. My informant vouches for -the truth of the story, and added that this conjurer was so deep in -the Black Art that he could do almost anything. - - - -MERLIN. - -I have in the preceding pages given some instances of modern and -medięval magicians or wizards; but divination astrology and magic -in this country are of very ancient date. The names of Idris Gawr, -Gwyddion, the Diviner by Trees, and Gwyn, the son of Nud, have come -down to us from prehistoric times. So great was these three's knowledge -of the stars, that they could foretell whatever might be desired to -know until the day of doom. In Welsh Mythology, several even of the -kingly families are represented as playing the role of magicians, -especially Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd Hen. Math Ap Mathonwy, -King of Gwynedd, could form a maiden out of flowers, and transform -men into deers and wolves, etc. But, perhaps, the greatest of all the -wizards was Myrddin, or Merlin as he is known among English readers, -who lived about the beginning of the sixth century. Myrddin was born -in the neighbourhood of Carmarthen, or at least so it is believed; -and it is also believed that the meaning of Carmarthen is Myrddin's -town, and the people of Carmarthen to this day feel proud of such -a famous prophet who was born in their town. Merlin (or Myrddin)'s -fame spread throughout all the Western parts of Europe, if not to -other parts of the world, and his mighty magic adorned the tales -of romance, and in the tenth century one eminent scholar on the -Continent, went as far as to write, a commentary on his prophecies -or prognostications. But to confine ourselves to Welsh writers, -we have some account of Merlin by Nennius in the eighth century, -and by Geoffrey of Monmouth in the twelfth. - -Geoffrey says:--"Vortigern, after the infamous treachery of the long -knives, retreated to Mount Erir--which is Eryri, or snowden--and here -he ordered the building of a great tower of defence, whose foundations, -however, were swallowed up by the earth as fast as they were filled -in." The Magicians, on hearing this, said he must procure the blood of -"a youth that never had a father," and sprinkle it on the stones and -mortar. Vortigern, accordingly, sent messengers to different parts of -the country in search of such a youth; and "in their travels they came -to a city, called, afterwards, Caermerdin, where they saw some young -men playing before the gate, and went up to them; but being weary -with their journey, they sat them down there.... Towards evening, -there happened on a sudden a quarrel between two of the young men, -whose names were Merlin and Dalbutius. In the dispute, Dalbutius said -to Merlin, 'As for you, nobody knows what you are, for you never had -a father.' At that word the messengers looked earnestly upon Merlin, -and asked who he was. They learnt it was not known who was his father, -but that his mother was daughter to the King of Dimetia, and that -she lived in St. Peter's Church, among the nuns of the city." - -Merlin and his mother at the request of the messengers accompanied -them from Carmarthen to Snowdon to the presence of King Vortigern; -and when the boy was asked who was his father, his mother in reply -gave a very peculiar account of the birth of her son, whose father she -declared was a supernatural being, and so had no human father. Then -the King said to Merlin, "I must have thy blood." And when the youth -asked the King what good could his blood be more than the blood of -any other man, he was informed in reply that the twelve wise men -or bards had suggested the blood of a youth in order to make the -building stand. Then Merlin asked the bards or magicians what was -the real cause that the building of the tower was not a success? But -they could give no answer. Young Merlin now upraided them for their -ignorance and the cruelty of their suggestion. He then gave orders to -dig the ground, and when this was done a lake was discovered. Merlin -drained this lake, and at the bottom, as he had predicted, a stone -chest was discovered in which there were two sleeping dragons. These, -whenever they awoke, fought with each other, and their violence shook -the ground, thus causing "the work to fall." When the King commanded -the stone chest to be opened the two dragons came out and began a -fierce battle. One of these dragons was white and the other red. At -first the white dragon drove the red one to the middle of the pool, -then the red one, provoked to rage, drove the white one thither in -turn. When the King asked what this should signify, Merlin exclaimed -as follows:--"Woe to the red dragon for her calamity draws nigh, -and the white dragon shall seize on her cells. By the white dragon -the Saxons are signified, and the Britons by the red one, which the -white shall overcome. Then shall the mountains be made plains, and -the glens and rivers flow with blood. The Saxons shall possess almost -all the island from sea to sea, and afterwards our nation shall arise, -and bravely drive the Saxons beyond the sea." Nennius, chap. 43. - -The old King Vortigern then left the neighbourhood of Snowdon, and -removed to South Wales, and built a fort or a Castle on a spot known -to this day as Craig Gwrtheyrn, or Vortigern's Rock, near Llandyssul -and Pencader. - -The white and the red dragons respectively symbolised the Celtic and -Saxon races, and Merlin's prophecy concerning the final overthrow of -the Saxons by the Britons made a deep and lasting impression on the -minds of the Welsh people for ages, and even nearly nine hundred -years after Merlin's time. Owen Glyndwr found these prophecies -highly instrumental in his favour when fighting against the -English. According to a little book which I have in my possession -entitled, "Prophwydoliaeth Myrddin Wyllt," (Merlin's prophecy), one -Owen Lawgoch, who is tarrying in a foreign land, is to drive out the -Saxons, and become King under the title of Henry the ninth. Welshmen of -the present day, however, believe that Merlin's prophecy was fulfilled -in the year 1485, when Henry VII., a Welshman leading a Welsh army -to Bosworth Field, became King of England. - -There are also many prophecies here and there attributed to Merlin; -some of which have been fulfilled, and others to be fulfilled in the -future. He had foretold even of the railway train running along the -Vale of Towy, which prediction has proved true: - - - "Fe ddaw y gath a'r wenci ar hyd Glan Towi i lawr; - Fe ddaw y milgi a'r llwynog i Aberhonddu fawr." - - "The cat and the weasel shall come down along the banks of Towy; - The greyhound and the fox shall come into the town of Aber honddu," - - (Brecon). - - -It is believed that the train has fulfilled these sayings. - -In the Vale of Towy, near Abergwili, there is a large stone in a -field belonging to Tyllwyd farm. I went to see it myself, and several -people in the neighbourhood informed me that a young man was killed -when digging under this stone in search of hidden treasure, and that -Merlin had prophesied about this. - -According to another prophecy of Merlin a fearful catastrophe awaits -the town of Carmarthen:-- - - - "Llanllwch a fu, - Caerfyrddin a sudd, - Abergwili a saif." - - (Llanllwch has been, - Carmarthen shall sink, - Abergwili shall stand). - - - "Caerfyrddin, cei oer fore, - Daear a'th lwnc, dwr i'th le." - - (Carmarthen, thou shalt have a cold morning, - Earth shall swallow thee, water into thy place). - - -The people of the neighbourhood even to this very day, more than -half believe that Carmarthen is to sink. At the end of a long street -in that town there is an old tree known as Merlin's Tree, in a very -withered condition. Every care is taken to protect it from falling, -as Merlin had prophesied that when this tree shall tumble down, -the town of Carmarthen shall sink. - - - "When Merlin's Tree shall tumble down. - Then shall fall Carmarthen town!" - - (A Prophecy of Merlin). - - -According to another prophecy attributed to the same ancient wizard, -Carmarthen is to sink when Llyn Eiddwen, a lake in Cardiganshire, -dries up. - -It is said that Merlin had predicted that a bull would go right to -the top of the tower of St. Peter's Church, Carmarthen, and that a -calf fulfilled this prophecy. - -My cousin, the Rev. Joseph Evans, the Rector of Jordanston, in -Pembrokeshire, informed me a few years ago that one mile from the -town of Fishguard, there is a farm called Tregroes, respecting which -Merlin prophesied that it would be in the middle of the town some -day. There are now signs that this ancient prophecy is likely to be -fulfilled. September 4th, 1909, the Royal Mail Ship, Mauretania, the -finest and fastest liner afloat, inaugurated the new Transatlantic -Service from New York to Fishguard, so that there is a great future -before the place as indicated by Merlin of old. It is also interesting -to note that the captain of the Mauretania was a Welshman (Pritchard), -and the first passenger to land was also a Welshman, named Mr. Jenkin -Evans, brother to the Rector of Jordanston. - -I have been informed that a relation of the Chancellor of the -Exchequer, lives at this very house respecting which Merlin had -prophesied. - -General Gwynne, a fine old gentleman I met a short time ago at the -house of my genial friend, Col. Gwynne-Hughes, of Glancothy, wrote -to me as follows respecting another remarkable prophecy of Merlin -and its fulfilment:-- - - - "Glancothy, Carmarthenshire, Oct. 12, 1909. - - Dear Mr. Davies,-- - - - I have heard you are writing a book on the Folk-Lore of - Wales. Perhaps the following may be of use to you. - - Some time in the forties, when I was at the College at Llandovery, - my sister, Madam ---- speaking of our old property Glanbran, - at that time mortgaged, said, there is an old Welsh saying - attributed to Merlin to the effect that the Gwynnes should be at - Glanbran until a man standing at Dover could speak to another at - Calais. Years after, when I was in India, about the year when the - telephone or telegraph was perfected between France and England, - a document was sent out to me for my signature, which was my - final release to the Glanbran Estate as the youngest son of the - late Col. Sackville Gwynne of Glanbran Park. - - - Yours sincerely, - NADOLIG GWYNNE. - - -According to Giraldus Cambrensis, Merlin had prophesied that a -King of England and Conqueror of Ireland, should die in crossing -"Llechllafar," a stone of great size which was placed across the -stream dividing the cemetery of St. David's from the north side of -the Church to form a bridge. When Henry II. passed over it on his -return from Ireland a frantic woman called upon Llechllafar to kill -him according to Merlin's prophecy. - -"The King, who had heard the prophecy, approaching tie stone, stopped -for a short time at the foot of it, and, looking earnestly at it, -boldly passed over; then, turning round, and looking towards the stone, -thus indignantly inveighed against the prophet: 'Who will hereafter -give credit to the lying Merlin?' A person standing by, and observing -what had passed, in order to vindicate the injury done to the prophet, -replied, with a loud voice, 'Thou art not that King of whom Ireland -is to be conquered, or of whom Merlin prophesied!'" - -According to an ancient tradition, this stone spoke or groaned once -when a corpse was carried over it. - -I was informed by many persons who live in the neighbourhood of -Abergwili, near Carmarthen, that Merlin was such a giant that he -could jump over the Vale of Towy. - - - -MERLIN'S FATE. - -The end or final fate of Merlin is surrounded by mysteries. A few years -ago when I was staying in the neighbourhood of Carmarthen, Merlin's -Hill (Bryn Myrddin) was pointed out to me where the great magician -still lives (so they say) in a cave in that hill, and held there in -imprisonment by an artful woman who contrived his disappearance from -among human beings. Moreover, it is added, that if you listen in the -twilight, you will hear his groans, and also the clanking of the iron -chains which hold him bound. Others say he is heard working in this -underground prison. - -It seems from Spenser's "Faerie Queen," however, that according to -another ancient tradition, Merlin's place of confinement is, or was, -a cave near Dynevor, in the neighbourhood of Llandilo: - -"And if you ever happen that same way to traveill, go to see that -dreadful place. It is an hideous hollow cave (they say) under a -rock that lyes a little apace emongst the woody hilles of Dynevowre -(Dynevor), etc." - -Some stories describe Merlin as being held spellbound in a bush -of white thorns in the woods of Bresilien in Brittany. Others say -that he died, and was buried at Bardsey Island. But according to the -Triads he went to sea and sailed in a house of glass, and was never -heard of any more. In this voyage, Merlin took with him the thirteen -curiosities of Britain, which were:-- - -1. Llen Arthur (the veil of Arthur), which made the person who put -it on invisible. - -2. Dyrnwyn. - -3. Corn Brangaled (the horn of Brangaled), which furnished any -liquor desired. - -4. Cadair, neu car Morgan mwynfawr (the chair or car of Morgan -Mwynfawr), which would carry a person seated in it wherever he wished -to go. - -5. Mwys Gwyddno (the hamper of Gwyddno), meat for one being put into -it, would become meat for a hundred. - -6. Hogalen Tudno (the whetstone of Tudno), which would sharpen none -but the weapon of a brave man. - -7. Pais Padarn (the cloak of Padarn). - -8. Pair Drynog (the caldron of Drynog), none but the meat of a brave -man would boil in it. - -9. Dysgyl a gren Rhydderch (the dish and platter of Rhydderch), -any meat desired would appear on it. - -10. Tawlbwrdd (a chess board, or, rather backgammon board), the ground -gold, and the men silver, and the men would play themselves. - -11. Mantell (a robe). - -12. Modrwy Eluned (the ring of Eluned), whoever put it on his finger -could make himself invisible. - -13. Cyllell Llawfrodedd,--which was a kind of knife with which the -Druids killed their victims for sacrifices. - -"The story of Merlin and Vivian as told in Brittany," translated from -the French-Breton magazine "L'Hermine," edited by M. Tiercelin, is -given in Part X. of the Transactions of the Carmarthenshire Antiquarian -Society, from which I give the following short extract--Viviane, -the love-making temptress, had enchanted the enchanter (Merlin). He -sleeps, says the legend, in the forest of Broceliande, vaulted -by an impenetrable hedge, on the bank of the fountain of love, -his head resting on the knees of Viviane; the enchanter enchanted; -and nobody has yet awakened the Celtic Orpheus from his eternal -slumber. "Ne onques puis Merlin ne issit de ceste tour, oł sa mie, -Viviane l'avait mis." - - - -PEMBROKESHIRE WOMAN'S PROPHECY FULFILLED. - -The following appeared in the "Pembrokeshire County Guardian":-- - - - "About one hundred and sixty years ago, there lived on a farm near - Spittal in Pembrokeshire, a man of the name of David Evans. He - had a family of five children: Thomas, the eldest, was born - on November 3, 1756, and married Sarah Bevan, of Martel Mill, - on Sunday, November 14, 17--, and they lived on a small farm - near Trefgarn Rocks, called Penyfeidr. This Sarah Bevan, or - Mrs. Evans was, like her husband, noted for her piety, and among - her neighbours was possibly more noted for her visions and her - ability to foresee and foretell coming events, of which there - are many reliable records still existing and talked of in the - district to this day. Entering the house one day, she told those - present that she had just seen a most remarkable sight below the - house in Trefgarn Valley, and described it as a large number of - heavily laden carts or waggons going very fast one after the other, - and no bullock or horses drawing them, but the first one appeared - from the smoke she saw, to be on fire. George Stephenson was the - first to introduce steam locomotive power into practical use in - the year 1825. So we may state with certainty that the rustics - of Pembrokeshire had no idea or knowledge whatever of the railway - train at the time that Mrs. Evans saw the vision. About 54 years - ago the railway was brought into Pembrokeshire, and the scheme - of the great engineer, Brunel, was to extend it to the sea shore - near Fishguard. With this in view, much work was accomplished in - cuttings and embankments in Trefgarn Valley, which are now to be - seen there. The country people were jubilant, expecting soon to - realise the prophetic vision. But strong influence was brought to - bear on Brunel, and finally he abandoned that route and took the - line to New Milford instead. And the vision and prophecy came to - nought. Afterwards the old people looked forward to the joining - of Fishguard and Goodwick with the main line, and believed the - truth of the story. But, alas! when the branch line was made, - it was many miles to the North of Trefgarn, and the old lady and - her vision were once more ridiculed, and apparently, there were - no further grounds for hoping that the prophecy would be fulfilled. - - "When the project of the G. W. Ry. Co. got matured, it was found - that the old loop line via Letterston was not suitable for a fast - and direct service from Goodwick to London. So it was decided - to make a new line from Goodwick through Trefgarn Valley,--thus - re-adopting Brunel's original scheme. And last week I actually saw - 'a large number of heavily laden carts or waggons going very fast, - one after the other, and no bullocks or horses pulling them, but - the first one appeared from the smoke I saw, to be on fire.' Just - as described, and in the very spot indicated by Mrs. Evans about - 100 years ago. - - - "H.W.E. - - "Solva, December 26th, 1905." - - -The people of Pembrokeshire have been remarkable for their insight -into the future; navvies were heard making railway cuttings many years -before the introduction of steam locomotive power into practical use. - -I have been informed that the sound of a railway engine, whistling, -was heard at Llanilar, in Cardiganshire, fifty years before a railway -was constructed through the neighbourhood; and it is also said that -the sound of blasting was heard at Tyngraig, between Ystrad Meurig -and Llanafan, where afterwards a tunnel was made. My informants were -Mrs. Lloyd, the Vicarage, Llanilar, and Mr. Jones, Tyncoed. - - - -THE CRIMEAN WAR SEEN IN THE SKIES. - -About six months before the outbreak of the Crimean War, in 1853, John -Meyler, Cilciffeth, saw a strange mirage in the sky. He was returning -home late from Morville, and when nearing Penterwin he saw the image -of armies in the skies. There were several battalions at first, -and they increased in number till they spanned the heavens. There -were two opposing forces, and he could distinctly see the image of -men falling and of horses galloping across the firmament, and the -clashing of great masses of men. He was so terrified that he called -at Penbank and called the attention of Mr. James Morris, who lived -at that place at that time, and he saw the same thing. This strange -phenomenon appeared for about two hours. - -The above account of this strange vision in the skies appeared -in the "Cardiff Times," a few years ago, sent to that paper by -Cadrawd. Pembrokeshire has always been known as the land of phantasm. - - - -A REMARKABLE FULFILMENT OF A CONDEMNED MAN'S PREDICTION. - -In the Churchyard of Montgomery is a grave where the grass refuses -to grow, though it is in the midst of luxurious vegetation. The -unfortunate man named John Newton, who was buried there in the year -1821, had predicted this as a proof that he was innocent of the charge -brought against him at the Assizes, when he was condemned to die on -the evidence of two men named Thomas Pearce, and Robert Parker, who -charged him with highway robbery. On being asked at the trial why -judgment should not be passed upon him, he said before the judge: -"I venture to assert that as I am innocent of the crime for which -I suffer, the grass, for one generation at least, will not cover my -grave." The poor man's prediction proved true, for the grave to this -day remains a bare spot. - -One of the condemned man's accusers became a drunkard, and the other -"wasted away from the earth," and a curse seems to follow every one -who attempts to get anything to grow on the spot. At the head of the -grave is the stem of a rose tree, and it is said that the man who put -it there soon fell sick and died. I had heard of this grave even when -I was a boy, and some account of the story respecting it has appeared -in the papers from time to time. - - - -SHOULDER-BLADE DIVINATION. - -Giraldus Cambrensis, seven hundred years ago, speaking of the Flemings -of South Pembrokeshire, in his "Itinerary through Wales," says:--"It -is worthy of remark, that these people, from the inspection of the -right shoulder of rams which have been stripped of their flesh, -and not roasted, but boiled, can discover future events, or those -which have passed and remained long unknown. They know, also, what is -transpiring at a distant place, by a wonderful art, and a prophetic -kind of spirit. They declare also undoubted symptoms of approaching -peace and war, murders and fires, domestic adulteries, the state of -the King, his life and death. It happened in our time, that a man -of those parts, whose name was William Mangunel, a person of high -rank, and excelling all others in the aforesaid art, had a wife big -with child by her own husband's grandson. Well aware of the fact, he -ordered a ram from his own flock to be sent to his wife as a present -from her neighbour; which was carried to the cook and dressed. At -dinner the husband purposely gave the shoulder bone of the ram, -properly cleaned, to his wife, who was also well skilled in this -art, for her examination; when, having for a short time examined the -secret marks, she smiled, and threw the oracle down on the table. Her -husband dissembling, earnestly demanded the cause of her smiling -and the explanation of the matter; overcome by his entreaties, she -answered, 'The man to whose flock this ram belongs has an adulterous -wife, at this time pregnant by the commission of incest with his own -grandson.' The husband, with a sorrowful and dejected countenance, -replied, 'You deliver indeed an oracle supported by too much truth, -which I have so much more reason to lament, as the ignominy you -have published redounds to my own injury.' The woman thus detected, -was unable to dissemble her confusion, betrayed the inward feelings -of her mind by external signs; shame and sorrow urging her by turns, -and manifesting themselves, now by blushes, now by paleness, and lastly -(according to the custom of women), by tears. - -The shoulder of a goat was also once brought to a certain person -instead of a ram's, both being alike when cleaned, who, observing -for a short time the lines and marks, exclaimed 'Unhappy cattle -that never was multiplied! Unhappy likewise the owner of the cattle, -who never had more than three or four in one flock!' - -Many persons, a year and a half before the event, foresaw by -the means of the shoulder bones the destruction of their country -after the decease of King Henry the First, and selling all their -possessions, left their homes, and escaped the impending ruin. In -our time, a soothsayer, on the inspection of a bone, discovered not -only a theft, and the manner of it, but the thief himself, and all -the attendant circumstances; he heard also the striking of a bell, -and the sound of a trumpet, as if those things which were past were -still performing. It is wonderful, therefore, that these bones, -like all unlawful conjurations, should represent by a counterfeit -similitude to the eyes and ears, things which are past as well as -those which are now going on." - -It is evident that the Celts, as well as the Flemings, knew something -of Shoulder-bone Reading, for J. G. Campbell, in his "Superstitions -of the Scottish Highlands," an interesting book presented to me by -Countess Amherst, states that this mode of divination was practised, -like the augury of the ancients, as a profession or trade; and Pennant, -in his "Tours in Scotland," 150 years ago, says that when Lord Loudon -was obliged to retreat before the Rebels to the Isle of Skye, a -common soldier, on the very moment the battle of Culloden was decided, -proclaimed the victory at a distance, pretending to have discovered -the event by looking through the bone; and Sir S. R. Meyrick, in his -"History of Cardiganshire," writing one hundred years ago, says that -the remains of this custom still existed in Cardiganshire in his time; -"but the principal use made of the bone is in the case of pregnant -women. The shoulder bone of a ram being scraped quite clean, a hole -is burnt in it, and it is then placed over the door of the apartment -in which the pregnant woman is, and she is told that the sex of her -offspring will be precisely the same as that of the first person who -shall enter the room." - - - -DREAMS. - -A dream was a common way of making known the will of God to the -prophets of old. We know from the Bible that important dreams took -place in the early ages of the world, and Welsh people, like other -nations, believe in the importance of these mysterious night visions, -and of their power of forecasting the future, and there are both -men and women all over the country who can give instances of dreams -which came true. There are, undoubtedly, some persons whose dreams, -as a rule, are reliable; whilst the dreams of others are not to be -depended on. It is also said that morning twilight dreams are more -reliable than other dreams; and it is believed that a dream which is -repeated is more to be relied on than that which occurs only once. I -have had most striking dreams myself; indeed almost everything that -happens to me has been presaged by a dream. About nine years ago -I dreamed that I was delivering a lecture to a large audience, and -speaking most fluently. On awaking, I had a distinct recollection of -every word I had uttered; and I am now very sorry that I did not write -down next morning the lecture which I had delivered in my dream. The -most remarkable fact is this: Previous to my dream I had no knowledge -whatever of the subject on which I lectured, as I had never studied -the subject in my life, and as a psychological curiosity I may mention -that by means of my dream I had become possessed of knowledge on a -particular subject which would have taken me at least a whole month's -hard study to acquire. (I am, of course, used to public speaking). - -I have taken notes of few of my latest dreams, and perhaps it would -not be out of place to record here a remarkable dream which I dreamt -just before this book was going to press: - -One night in January, 1910, I dreamed that I was walking near -St. Bride's, the country seat of Lord Kensington, in Pembrokeshire, -and I met Lord Kensington himself, who spoke to me thus: "Go into -the house, Lady Kensington is home, and I'll be with you in a few -minutes." Then I went to the door and rang the bell, and the butler -took me into the drawing-room. After waiting in the room alone for -some time without seeing anyone, all the household servants came -to me in a group, dressed in their holiday attire, and informed me -that Lady Kensington was not home after all, but that her Ladyship -had gone away and had got lost somewhere in going about, and that -Lord Kensington was seeking in vain for her everywhere, but failing -to find her anywhere. When I awoke from my dream I felt certain that -something had happened to one of the Kensingtons. A day or two after -my dream I was surprised to read in the papers that a cable-gram was -received in London from Calcutta, announcing the death of Dowager -Lady Kensington in India. I discovered that her death took place -on the very date of my dream, and that a few days previously Lord -Kensington had hurriedly left for India, having received news of the -Dowager's serious condition. - -In order to add to the interest of the dream, I may state that the very -day before I dreamt, I expected every moment to hear of the Dowager's -return to England, as her Ladyship knew one or two interesting -"traditions of Bridget of Ireland, known as St. Bride," which she -intended to write down for me in order to record them in this book, -to which she was looking forward, as she was greatly interested in -Welsh traditions, especially those of Pembrokeshire. - -One night, about seventeen years ago, when I was spending a few days at -Penmachno, in North Wales, where I had delivered a lecture, I dreamt -that I was receiving a letter; and when I looked at the envelope, -I recognised the handwriting at once as that of Lady Hills-Johnes, -of Dolaucothy. I then opened the letter and read it all through, and -found it was from her Ladyship; and when I awoke up from my sleep I -remembered every word of its contents. In the morning as soon as I went -down for breakfast, the landlady of the house delivered me a letter -which had come by post. I looked at the envelope as I had done in my -dream; it was from Lady Hills-Johnes; and when I read it, I discovered -that I knew every word of its contents beforehand from my dream. - -When I was in Australia ten years ago, I had another remarkable dream -about Dolaucothy, just when Sir James Hills-Johnes was leaving home -for South Africa, to see his friend Lord Roberts, during the War; -but I have been asked by Lady Hill-Johnes not to publish the dream. - -A remarkable fulfilment of a dream was reported in the "Aberystwyth -Observer" in the year 1888, in relation to the sudden death of the -late Colonel Pryse, an uncle of Viscountess Parker, and Great-uncle -of Sir Edward Webley-Parry-Pryse, Bart., of the ancient Family of -Gogerddan:--"It was not considered safe to break to Viscountess -Parker the news of her uncle's death for some days, and Mr. Fryer -went up to London to convey to her the information. On his arrival at -her residence, in Montague Square, a maid announced to her Ladyship -his arrival. 'Mr. Fryer!' she said, 'I know what it is. My uncle is -dead. He died on a lane leading from Rhiwarthen to Penwern. I have -dreamt four times in four years that this would happen, and the last -time was the night before baby was born. I have tried many times to -keep him from going that way. Ask Mr. Fryer to come up.' She afterwards -said that she meant the road leading to Penuwch which is in the same -direction, and that she would know the spot." - -The editor of "Blackwood" gives authenticity to the following -dream:--A young man, engaged in a china manufactory at Swansea, -about the beginning of the last century, dreamed that he saw a man -drowning in one of their pools; he dreamed the same a second time, -and a third time, and then could not resist making an effort to rise -and satisfy himself that it was not so. He did rise, went to the spot, -and found the man drowned. A man in the neighbourhood of Newcastle -Emlyn, dreamed a similar dream in the 18th century. - -The late Rev. J. E. Jenkins, Rector of Vaynor, in Breconshire, in -his interesting book on that parish gives the following account of -a girl saved by a dream:-- - -"The Rev. Williams Jones, afterwards Canon Jones, was curate in sole -charge here in 1822, and for many years afterwards. The Old Rectory -House and the Glebe land was at that time occupied by a man named Enos -Davies and his family. The Rev. W. Jones also had rooms at the Rectory. - -"One morning at the end of May in that year, about two o'clock Enos -had a remarkable dream. He dreamt the Church was on fire. He suddenly -awoke, and in great excitement jumped out of bed and knocked at the -bedroom door of Mr. Jones, and cried:--'Master! Master! come down -at once, I have dreamt the Church is on fire.' The worthy divine -laughed at him, and told him to go back to bed, and not to give heed -to foolish dreams and nightly visions. Enos obeyed, but could not -sleep. During the day Mr. Jones walked down to the Church, and found -everything in the usual order, safe and uninjured. The following -morning, at the same hour, strange to say, Enos had the same dream, -and again disturbed the peaceful slumbers of his good master. 'Come -down to Church, Master,' said he, 'there must be something wrong, -I have again dreamt the Church is on fire.' 'All right Enos,' said -Mr. Jones; 'I will come with you, it is a fine morning.' By the time -they reached the Church it was half-past three. Coming-down the Lych -Gate, which was close by the little brook--the old entrance--they -were struck with a great awe and a terrified feeling came over them, -for they heard a peculiar sound coming, as it were, from the direction -of the Church. They stood, listened, and looked at each other in mute -astonishment, and Enos's hair stood on end. The sound became plainer: -it was like the sound of a sexton digging or opening a grave inside -the Church, as was often the custom in those days. Enos trembled, -and became as pale as death; whilst the clergyman, who was a tall -strongly built man, entered the churchyard, and stealthily went to -listen at the west door. He could distinctly hear a man digging a -grave. Mr. Jones soon found that an entrance had been made into the -Church through one of the north side windows. Re-tracing his steps to -Enos, who was still standing on the road by the brook, his attention -was directed to a young girl coming down the steep pathway over Cae -Burdudd--'the field of carnage'--the field where the mound is. She came -running down merrily, and in a pleasant manner, said--'good morning, -Mr. Jones, you are here before me.' 'Yes, my girl,' said the curate, -'where are you going so early?' 'Coming to be married, to be sure;' -was her joyous reply. The curate took in the situation in a moment and -told her:--'You have made a mistake as to the time. You must wait till -eight o'clock; I cannot marry you before eight. Go up to the Rectory -to Mrs. Davies and get some breakfast; we shall come after you in -a short time. We will wait here until John comes, and will bring -him up.' The innocent girl departed as requested, but had not gone -far when the south door of the church was opened from within by her -treacherous lover. He was at once apprehended by the courageous curate -and Enos, and was made to stand over the grave he had prepared for the -girl he had shamefully deceived and ruined, and whom he had intended -murdering. He pleaded hard for mercy, and, ultimately, in order to -avoid public scandal, on his promising to leave the neighbourhood -immediately, and never again to return to Vaynor, he was allowed to -depart. He was a native of Herefordshire, and was at this time in a -service at a well-known farm in the parish. He left at once, and was -never heard of afterwards by anyone from this parish. The curate, in -a calm, gentle way, partly detailed to the maid the evil intentions -of her base lover, and stated how God, in his good providence by the -means of a dream, had preserved her from an untimely death. - -"The young girl was terribly shocked, and fell unconscious into the -arms of the curate. She lost her health, and after a time was taken -home to the neighbourhood of Knighton, and in a few months later -news reached Vaynor that the poor girl had died of a broken heart, -and the curate was asked to go up to bury her, but failed to go. The -above account was given me by my predecessor, the Rev. Rees Williams, -and was confirmed by the testimony of the late Mrs. Thomas, formerly -of Cwm and others. Mrs. Evans, late of Pengellifach, however, added -that the would-be murderer was handed over by Mr. Jones to the charge -of the Parish Constable, and was afterwards released. It should be -remembered that there were but few, if any, fixed pews in the Old -Church, only movable benches. Neither was the floor paved or boarded." - - - -CONVERSING WITH THE DEPARTED IN A DREAM. - -The following appeared in the "Weekly Mail," Cardiff, for June 18, -1910:--"The Rev. Hugh Roberts, Rhydymain, Dolgelly, discoursed on -"The Intermediate State" on a recent Sunday, and in the course of the -sermon related the substance of a conversation which he had had with -departed friends. "Recently in a dream," he said, "I conversed with an -old deacon friend who has been in the intermediate state for some time, -and was assured by him that he was not in a state of inertia by any -means. It is a 'country' where everybody has something to do--where -one and all contribute to make each other happy. However, they pine -even in the intermediate state--some are longing for the circles -which they left on earth, others pining for their bodies. But all -longing will cease when the Spirit has completed the heavenly bodies." - -Welshpeople believe that if a young girl dreams that she has a long -hair, that she will marry a very wise man. - -To dream of being well-dressed is a sign of wealth and prosperity, -especially if you are dressed in silks. - -If a person dreams that he is going to get married, it foretells -sickness. - -If a man dreams that he is surrounded by pigs, some one will come to -him to ask him for some money. - -To dream of a horseshoe is a sign of good news. - -Welshpeople generally believe that it is not good for any one to dream -that he is losing his teeth, and that it means either a death or the -loss of friends. - -To dream of bacon is also considered bad. - -If a young man dreams of a full barn, it means that he will marry a -wealthy young woman. - -Those who are interested in the interpretation of dreams must consult -dream-books, as I am not expected to enter fully into such subject -here. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -THE HEALING ART; OR HOW TO CHARM AWAY DISEASES, Etc. - - -CHARMS FOR WARTS. - -There were and there are still, many charms in use for the purpose of -removing warts; and the writer can prove from experience that there -are cases of complete cures through the instrumentality of charms. - -I remember once when I was a boy I had the misfortune of having -two big warts right under my foot, which caused me a great deal of -discomfort in walking. As I was complaining about this to my mother, -she advised me to go and see a lady friend of hers, who was the wife -of a very prominent gentleman in the neighbourhood. I went to the -woman and told her everything about the warts. She told me to go home -and take a small bit of flesh meat and rub the warts with it. Then -I was to go out though the back door, the meat in one hand, and a -spade in the other, and after proceeding to the middle of a field, -dig a hole in the ground, and bury the meat in it. Perfect silence -was to be observed during the ceremony, and everything to be done -in secret, for if detected in the act of burying the meat, the charm -lost its efficacy. I did everything as I was directed by the woman, -and strange to say within two or three days the warts had disappeared. - -Major Price Lewes, Tyglyn-Aeron, informed me that when he was a boy -at Llanllear, an old woman in the neighbourhood charmed away warts -from his hands. - -A woman in the neighbourhood of Ystrad Meurig informed me that she -got rid of her warts by washing her hands in the water in which the -blacksmith cools iron. - -Another way of charming away warts is to pick up small white stones -from a brook,--one stone for each wait--and rub the warts with -them. Then the stones are to be tied up in paper, and the person -who has the warts is to go to the nearest cross roads, and throw the -stones over his shoulders, and whoever picks up the parcel gets the -warts. A young woman in the parish of Llanarth, in Cardiganshire, -did this, and got rid of her warts. Soon after this an old woman who -lives in the neighbourhood, passed by, and picked up the parcel of -stones, thinking it contained some biscuits or sweets which one of -the school children had lost on the way home from school. But to her -great surprise, when she opened the paper, she only found small white -stones! After this the old woman found her hands covered with warts; -but she in her turn charmed them away by washing them with spittle -from the mouth. My informant was the old woman herself. - -Another charm for warts is to cut a slip of an elder tree, and make -a notch in it for every wart. Rub the elder against each wart, and -burn or bury it, and the warts will disappear. - -In former times Holy Wells were much resorted to by those who desired -to get rid of their warts, when a pin was dropped into the well, and -a rag with which the warts had been rubbed, hanged on the nearest tree. - - - -ROSEMARY CHARM FOR TOOTHACHE. - -Many people still believe that toothache is caused by a worm in the -tooth, and it was once thought that to burn a Rosemary bough until -it becomes black and place it in a strong linen cloth, and anoint -the teeth with it would kill this worm. - -According to the old Welsh Magazine, "Y Brython," vol. 3, page 339, -there were many charms performed with Rosemary. - -Rosemary dried in the sun and made into powder, tied in a cloth around -the right arm, will make the sick well. - -The smoke of Rosemary bark, sniffed, will, even if you are in gaol, -release you. - -The leaves made into salve, placed on a wound, where the flesh is dead, -will cure the wound. - -A spoon made out of its wood will make whatever you eat therewith -nutritious. - -Place it under the door post and no snake nor adder can ever enter -thy house. - -The leaves placed in beer or wine will keep these liquids from becoming -sour and give such a flavour that you will dispose of them quickly. - -Place a branch of rosemary on the barrel and it will keep thee from -fever, even though thou drink of it for a whole day. - - - -"SLIME" OF TROUT AS MEDICINE. - -In West Wales once a freshly caught trout was placed in a pan of milk -in which it would swim, and after it was supposed that the fish had -passed the milk through its gills and left some of its slime in the -milk, the milk was supposed to have been given the necessary medicinal -powers for the cure of whooping cough and other illness. - - - -CHARMS FOR FITS AND FOR QUINSY. - -There is a belief in some parts of West Wales that fits may be cured -by wearing round the neck a band made of the hair from the crop of an -ass's shoulder. Hair cut at midnight from the shoulder of an ass and -applied to the throat was also thought to be efficacious in curing -the quinsy. - -Charm for Rheumatism.--Carry a potato in your pocket. - -A charm for the Ague.-- Ague was charmed away by tying on the breast -a piece of cheese; and after keeping it there for a time, throw it -away back over the head. - -Charms for Whooping Cough.--Drink the milk of a female ass; or buy -a penny roll, drape it in calico, bury it in the garden take it up -next day, then eat the roll until it is consumed. - - - -ABRACADABRA. - -One of the most famous and popular charms in the central parts of -Wales--especially Cardigan and Carmarthenshire--was the magic and -mysterious word Abracadabra, which was obtained from wizards by paying -a certain sum of money for it. The word was inscribed on a paper or -parchment, line under line, repeating the same, but with one letter -less in each line till it ended in A, as follows:-- - - - A B R A C A D A B R A - A B R A C A D A B R - A B R A C A D A B - A B R A C A D A - A B R A C A D - A B R A C A - A B R A C - A B R A - A B R - A B - A - - -There are many people even at the present day in West and Mid-Wales who -keep this mystic cabala in their houses as a most valuable treasure. It -is called "papur y Dewin" (the wizard's paper). It was considered a -protection against witches and the "evil eye," as well as all other -evil influences; and an antidote against fevers. It was effective to -protect both persons and animals, houses, etc. Sometimes it was worn -round the neck, or on the breast, at other times carried in the pocket, -and kept in the house. It was also the custom to rub the charm over -cattle or to tie it round their horns, especially when witchcraft -was suspected. - -This mysterious word, Abracadabra, to which the superstitious -attributed such magical power was, according to some, invented by -one Basilides, and that he intended the name of God by it. Others -say that it was the name of an ancient heathen deity worshipped in -Syria, or in Assyria. Dr. Ralph Bathurst is of the opinion that the -word is a corrupt Hebrew: dabar is verbu, and abraca is benedixit; -that is verbum benedixit. - -As the charm appears very much like a pyramid (though upside down), -perhaps that has something to do with the superstition concerning its -magical power: anything in the shape of a pyramid is considered very -lucky, quite as much as--if not more so--than a horse-shoe. - - - -THE PENTACLE. - -Cadrawd, in the "Welsh Tit-Bits" column of the "Cardiff Times," -speaking of South Pembrokeshire, says:-- - -The pentacle, or pentalpha--a figure consisting of five straight lines -so joined and intersected as to form a five-pointed star--is still -regarded in Fleming-land as a physical charm and the repository of -Talismanic power. This credulity is identical with the traditions of -the Greek Christians, who used the figure as a mystic sign in astrology -and necromancy. The figure was held in veneration by medięvalists, -and was known as the "Pentacle of Solomon." Sir William Jones, the -great Oriental scholar, in his work on "Folklore," observes that "it -is worthy of remark that at the present time the magical pentalpha -in the western window of the southern aisle of Westminster Abbey is -one of the emblems which still exist and speaks to the initiate that -the black monks who once chanted in the choir were deeply read in -occult science." - -Some years ago, when on a tour in quest of lore, a Pembrokeshire -gentleman tells us that he remembers being puzzled by the appearance -of a number of pentacles being cut into the bark of several oak trees -near the solitary dwelling of a charmer. He addressed the Solon a few -questions on the meaning of these strange figures, but was cut short -with the reply, "They be signs." On Cresswell Hill, near Lady's Well, -there grows a row of tall beeches, on one of which may be seen the -figure of a pentacle. It stands about 15 feet from the ground, and -the wound was evidently made well nigh a century ago, judging by its -appearance. There is a tale that many years ago the "White Ladies" -were charmed away or banished from the vicinity of the Lady's Well, -of Cottage Dingle, by means of several pentacles being cut into the -bark of trees growing near by. - - - -CHARMS FOR CATTLE AND PIGS. - -An old man named Evan Morris, Goginan, near Aberystwyth, informed me -that he had several times consulted a conjurer in cases of bewitched -cows and pigs. The conjurer, said my informant, took a sheet of paper -on which he drew a circular figure very much "like the face of a -clock." Sometimes he made more than one figure, which he filled in -with writing. In fact, the paper was covered all over with writings -and figures and symbols; and it took the wise man about half-an-hour -to do this. This paper or charm, the conjurer gave to my informant, -and charged him to rub the bewitched animal's back with it, "all -over the back right from the ears to the tail," and at the same time -repeating the words, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son and -of the Holy Ghost." Morris added that this charm never failed. His -sister-in-law once had a sow which refused to take any food for -nine days; a farrier was sent for, but when he came, he could do -nothing. At last, my informant went to a conjurer and obtained a charm, -with which his sister-in-law, after some hesitation, rubbed the sow, -repeating "In the name, etc." and to their great surprise the sow -fully recovered and began to eat immediately, and soon ate up all the -food intended for two fat pigs. When I asked my informant to show -me one of the papers he obtained from the conjurer, he stated that -he never kept such paper longer than twelve months. I next asked him -if he had read one of the papers, and what were the words written on -it? He replied that he could not decipher the conjurer's writing. - -Mr. Hamer, in "The Montgomeryshire Collections," vol X., page 249, -states that a paper or charm in his possession opens thus:-- - -"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen -... and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ my redeemer, that I -will give relief to ---- creatures his cows, and his calves, and his -horses, and his sheep, and his pigs, and all creatures that alive be -in his possession, from all witchcraft and from all other assaults -of Satan. Amen." - -Mr. Hamer also states that "at the bottom of the sheet, on the left, -is the magical word, "Abracadabra," written in the usual triangular -form; in the centre, a number of planetary symbols, and on the right, -a circular figure filled in with lines and symbols, and underneath them -the words, 'By Jah, Joh, Jah?' It was customary to rub these charms -over the cattle, etc., a number of times, while some incantation was -being mumbled. The paper was then carefully folded up, and put in -some safe place where the animals were housed, as a guard against -future visitations." - -In West Wales, there was once a kind of charm performed upon a cow -after calving, when some fern was set on fire to produce smoke, over -which a sheaf was held until it was well-smoked. Then it was given -to the cow, to be consumed by the animal. - - - -THE CURE OF RICKETS. - -The complaint which is called in West Wales "llechau" means rickets, -a complaint to which children are subject. It was thought that it could -be cured by cutting a slit in the lobe of one of the child's ears. The -practice was once common in Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire and other -parts; and Mr. H. W. Williams, of Solva, mentions in "Cambrian Notes -and Queries," for January 11th., 1902, of a man in the Rhondda Valley -who had recently cut the rickets. He was a Cardiganshire man. - - - -HOW TO CURE A DOG THAT HAS BEEN BITTEN BY A MAD DOG. - -Write down on a bit of paper the words "Arare, cnarare, phragnare," -in three lines as follows: - - - Arare Charare Phragnare. - Phragnare Cnarare arare - Arare cnarare phragnare. - - -Also write down in addition the name of the dog. - -Having done this, put the paper in a piece of bread and give to the -dog to eat. About the middle of the last century, when mad dogs were -common, this "prescription" was considered "a sure and certain cure"; -or at least, so says my informant, an old farmer in the neighbourhood -of Ystrad Meurig, who also added that the mountain farmers obtained -this charm from Dr. Harries, the wizard of Cwrtycadno. - - - -HEALING STONES. - -There is at the present day preserved at Gilfachwen, Llandyssul, -by D. J. Lloyd, Esq., a small white stone, not quite the size of an -egg. The stone is comparatively soft, and was supposed to possess -healing power to cure people bitten by mad dogs. A little substance of -the stone was scraped off, and mixed with milk and given as a dose to -the patients. In years gone by--though not now--people believed so much -in this stone that some travelled long distances to Gilfachwen; but how -many of them were cured I have not been able to discover. The stone is -called Llaethfaen, and when I visited Gilfachwen about five years ago, -Mr. Lloyd showed me the interesting relic, and a few weeks afterwards I -received from the same gentleman, the following communication by post, -with an enclosed copy of his late brother's MS. concerning the stone:-- - - - Gilfachwen, - Llandyssul, - Cardiganshire, - Feb. 20th, 1905. - - Sir,-- - - - I send you, as promised, a copy of all my late brother knew about - the Llaethfaen. He died in 1889, but the paper was written many - years before his death. There is no record of where the stone - was found, or how it came to the Rev. D. Bowen's hands. - - - I remain, - Yours truly, - D. J. LLOYD. - - -The following is a copy of the paper written by the late Mr. John -Lloyd:-- - - - -LLAETHFAEN. - -I know very little about this stone or what curative power it has or -was supposed to have. I only know that it was very much in request -many years ago. It came to my father's possession on the death of his -uncle, Rev. David Bowen, of Waunifor about the year 1847. In those -days and for many years afterwards, mad dogs were very "fashionable," -a summer never passing without one hearing of a great many people -having been bitten, and, consequently, a great many people called at -Gilfachwen for a dose of the Llaethfaen, and whether it had curative -or preventive powers or not, none of the patients were ever known -to be attacked with hydrophobia. People who had been bitten would -travel immense distances in order to get the stone. I remember a -whole family, father, mother, and four or five children, who had -been bitten by the same dog, arriving at Gilfachwen early one summer -morning, before anyone was up, having travelled all night in order -to be treated with the stone cure; they went away very happy and -relieved in mind, after each had received a dose. It has not been -used now for many years. The last instance I recollect was this: two -men employed in a Brewery at Llanon, on the Cardigan coast, had been -bitten by the same dog, supposed to be mad, arrived here on a Sunday -afternoon; poor fellows, they looked utterly miserable and wretched; -they had spent nearly a week enquiring for the stone, and meanwhile, -had been advised by some old woman who was supposed to be learned in -some ailments, not to eat any food; this advice they very foolishly -followed, and when they arrived here, they were truly in a terrible -plight. After giving each of them a dose of the Llaethfaen and a good -meal they went away happy and never heard of them since. - - -JOHN LLOYD, Gilfachwen. - - -It is rather interesting that Iolo Morganwg saw a stone of this -kind in the year 1802, in the neighbourhood of Bridell, North -Pembrokeshire. The following extracts from Iolo's Diary appeared -in "Young Wales," June, 1901:--"Leave Cardigan, take the road to -Llanfernach. Bridell Church.... Meet a man who carries a stone about -the country, which he calls Llysfaen. Scrapes it into powder with a -knife, and sells it at about five shillings an ounce as an infallible -remedy for the canine madness. He says that this stone is only to be -found on the mountains after a thunderstorm, that every eye cannot see -it. He showed me the stone, and when I assured him and a little crowd -that had gathered about him, that the stone was only a piece of the -Glamorgan alabaster, the poor fellow was confounded and seemed very -angry; but I was surprised to hear many positively assert that they had -actually seen the Hydrophobia cured in dogs and man with this powder -given in milk, and used as the only liquid to be taken nine days, -and the only food also.... The name by which this fellow named his -stone is obviously a corruption of Cleisfaen, from its blushy white -colour, veined or spotted with a livid or blackish blue colour like -that of a bruise (clais)." - -The excellent old Welsh Magazine "Y Gwyliedydd" for the year 1824, -page 343, gives an account of two other such stones, one of them -preserved at Maes y Ffynon, Maelienydd, and the other at Llwyn Madog, -Breconshire. How these two stones were discovered the following story -is given:--A man attacked with hydrophobia wandered away one day and -slept on a hill, where he dreamt that a remedy for his disease was to -be found in the ground under his head, where he was sleeping. After -digging the ground, two white stones were discovered. - -A healing stone supposed to have descended from the sky was discovered -on a farm called Disgwylfa, in Carmarthenshire. - - - -THE PHYSICIANS OF MYDDFAI. - -The following extracts from the book of remedies of The Physicians of -Myddfai, will not be irrelevant, as those celebrated Physicians were of -Fairy origin, having been furnished with medical prescriptions by their -supernatural mother, the Fairy lady of Llyn y Fan, in Carmarthenshire. - - - -TO EXTRACT A TOOTH WITHOUT PAIN. - -"Take some newts, by some called lizards, and those nasty beetles -which are found in ferns during summer time, calcine them in an -iron pot and make a powder thereof. Wet the forefinger of the right -hand, insert it in the powder, and apply it to the tooth frequently, -refraining from spitting it off, when the tooth will fall away without -pain. It is proven."--Physicians of Myddfai. - - - -FOR THE BITE OF A MAD DOG. - -"Seek some plantain, and a handful of sheep's sorrel, then pound -well in a mortar with the white of eggs, honey, and old lard, make -it into an ointment and apply to the bitten part, so that it may be -cured."--Physicians of Myddfai. - - - -FOR PAIN IN THE EYE. - -"Seek the gall of a hare, of a hen, of a eel, and of a stag, with -fresh urine and honeysuckle leaves, then inflict a wound upon an ivy -tree, and mix the gum that exudes from the wound therewith, boiling -it swiftly, and straining it through a fine linen cloth; when cold, -insert a little thereof in the corners of the eyes, and it will be a -wonder if he who makes use of it does not see the stars in mid-day, -in consequence of the virtues of this remedy."--Physicians of Myddfai. - - - -HOLY BREAD AS A REMEDY. - -"Black or Holy Bread is that which has been made on Good Friday and -kept for twelve months. It is stored in the cottage-roof where it -keeps dry and becomes black, and is consumed on Good Friday only. This -bread is here said to be an excellent remedy for people and cattle -suffering from certain complaints."--The Church Plate of Radnorshire -by the Rev. J. T. Evans, page 15. - - - -HOW TO CURE A "FOUL FOOT." - -"If a hoofed animal is found to be suffering from "Foul Foot" it must -be taken to a field, or sward, and the impression made on the ground -by one of its hoofs must be carefully cut out and placed upside down -on a hedge or bush; when the turf has withered the animal will be -cured."--Church Plate of Radnorshire, page 16. - - - -PILLS OF DEAD MEN'S BONES. - -Pentrevor, in the "Pembroke County Guardian," says:--I have a valuable -recipe for quack doctors. Mr. George Williams, knows of a young -lady who was one day cleaning a window when a flash of lightning -so frightened her that she became subject to fits. As an infallible -cure, someone suggested that a dead man's bone be procured. Llanwnda -Churchyard was visited for the purpose, while a new grave was being -dug, and dead men's bones were thrown up by the spade. A bone was -found and cleaned, ground into powder and made into pills, which the -patient took, and was completely cured. - - - -GWELLA CLEFYD Y GALON, OR HEART DISEASE, A LOVE SICKNESS. - -A writer in "Cymru Fu" an interesting reprint from "The Weekly Mail," -says:-- - -It is a well-known fact that "clefyd y Galon," or love-sickness is a -very prevalent complaint in Wales, especially among young females who -have been jilted, or have failed to win the affection of the young -man whom they admire best. The lamented Talhaiarn knew all about it -when he penned the line in one of his love songs:-- - - - "Minau'n ceisio caru Gwen, a hithau'n caru Roli." - - -A cure of this disease has been for centuries, and still is, a secret -of great value in the Principality, and there are many old women, -and some young men, now living, who are making splendid profits out -of the secret they have in their possession. An old wag called "Ned -y Wain," who resided near Aberystwyth; Harries, Cwrtycadno; and a -shrewd old woman in the neighbourhood of Ystumtuen, Cardiganshire, -practised the "cure" as a part of a professional conjuring, and -many excellent but ridiculous stories are current anent the visits -of young females, especially the "Ladies of Borth," to the chambers -of the enchanters. The "secret" came into my possession thirty-eight -years ago in the following manner:-- - -When a young lad at home, I had the privilege of visiting a farm house, -the last on the borders of Cardiganshire, adjoining Montgomeryshire, -where resided a wealthy young widower now living. The landlady of -the adjoining farm on the other side of the River Llyfnwy, during my -stay, used to cross the river frequently to visit the young widower, -with whom she spent hours closeted in the parlour. The frequency of -her calls, and the great secrecy observed at her coming and going, -drew my attention, and provoked my curiosity, and I began to twit the -young widower, who was a local preacher, of something he could not -very well relish, and in order to clear himself of all suspicion, -he told me that the woman visited him only to cure Clefyd-y-galon; -and handed over to me the cherished secret, which I now divulge as a -relic of the dark days of Wales, and for the amusement of the readers -of "Cymru Fu." - -The MS. was in Welsh, of which the appended is a translation:-- - -1st.--Ask the name of the person, and the surname, and the age; -and take a double threaded yarn and measure it with your naked -arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger three times, -naming the person, and saying the age, in the name of the Father, -the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Then put a mark on the thread, and if -it is on the person the thread will shorten, but it not, the thread -will lengthen. For example, say thus--I am Joseph, thirty-six years -of age in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost; and -measuring, and say it each time while measuring; and do not cut the -thread until you have measured three times. It is necessary that the -thread should be scoured white wool. Take care not to put the age of -the person more than it is. Then put it round the neck of the person, -and leave it there for three nights; then take it from the neck and -bury it under the ashes in the name of the Trinity. Put a knot on one -end of it after cutting it. It is necessary to look several times if -the person is recovering or not. Should the thread shorten above the -middle finger, there is but little hopes of his recovery; nevertheless, -many recover when it shortens the finger's length. It is necessary -to keep the whole affair as secret as you possibly can. Again, take -notice, it is necessary to measure three lengths from the elbow to -the tip of the middle finger; then put a mark on the spot, or let -anyone take hold of it; then begin to measure the same way again, -naming as said before until you have measured three times, and take -notice, as said before if the thread shortens. - - - -THE MEDICINE. - -Six penny worth of gin, or quart of beer, four penny-worth of best -saffron; give them a boiling on a slow fire, and take them for seven -mornings, after putting red hot steel in to warm it. - - - -TOUCHING; OR THE CURE OF THE DISEASE KNOWN AS "THE KING'S EVIL." - -In the new and valuable History of Radnorshire (p. 321), published by -Davis and Co., Brecon, appeared the following transcript of a printed -paper, now in a decayed state, which was pasted on a board and placed -in a conspicuous part of the Church of Diserth, in that County:-- - -"At the Court of Whitehall, the 9th of January, 1683. - -"Whereas by the Grace of God, the King and Queen of this Realm, -by and for many years past, have had the happiness by their sacred -touch, and invocation of the name of God, to cure those who are -afflicted with the disease called the King's Evil; and His Majesty -in no less measure than any of his royal predecessors, having had -success therein, and in his most gracious, and pious disposition, -being as ready and willing as any King or Queen of this realm ever -was in anything to relieve the distresses and necessities of his good -subjects; yet in his princely wisdom, foreseeing that in this (as in -all other things) order to be observed, and fit times are necessary -to be appointed for the performance of this great work of charity, -his Majesty was therefore this day pleased to declare in Council his -royal will and pleasure to be that (in regard heretofore the usual -times of presenting such persons for this purpose have been prefixed -by his royal predecessors) from thenceforth be from the Feast of All -Saints, commonly called All Hallowtide to Christmas until the first -of March, and then to cease till Passion Week, on account of the -temperature of the season, and in respect of contagion, which may -happen to his Majesty's Sacred person. And when his Majesty shall -at any time think fit to go, any progression, to appoint such other -times for healing as shall be convenient. And his Majesty doth order -and command that from the time of publishing this his Majesty's order, -none present themselves at his Majesty's Court to be healed of the said -disease, but only at, or within the times for that purpose appointed -as aforesaid. And His Majesty was further pleased to order that all -such as shall hereafter repair to the Court for this purpose, shall -bring with them certificates under the hands and seals of the ---- or -minister, and of both, or of one of the Churchwardens of the respective -parishes whereto they belong, and from whence they come, testifying -according to the truth, that they have not at any time before been -presented to the intent of being healed of that disease. And all -ministers and Churchwardens are ordered to be careful to examine -into the truth before they give certificates, and also to keep and -register the names of such persons, to whom such certificates they -shall from time to time give. And to the end that all His Majesty's -loving subjects may be informed of His Majesty's command, His Majesty -was pleased to direct that this order be published in all parish -churches, and then to be affixed to some conspicuous place there; -and that to that end a convenient number of copies be sent to the -Most Reverend Father in God, the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, and -the Lord Archbishop of York, who are to take care that the same be -distributed to all the parishes in their respective provinces." - -The above proclamation was issued in the Reign of Charles II. - - - -HOLY RELICS. - - -THE NANTEOS CUP. - -There is preserved at the mansion of Nanteos, near Aberystwyth, a -sacred healing cup known in Welsh as the "Phiol," which interesting -relic was shown me a few years ago by Mrs. W. B. Powell, to whom, and -to the genial Squire, I am indebted for much kindness and respect. In -the same week an intelligent and wealthy Roman Catholic lady--an -invalid--came all the way from London, as she had such faith in the -efficacy and healing virtues of the Sacred Cup. - -The Cup is of a very dark wood and supposed to have been formed from -the wood of the true Cross, and it seems to have been preserved in -the Abbey of Strata Florida. At the time of the Dissolution, the -Abbey, lands and goods, were given to the Stedman family, who also -carefully preserved the relic, and from that family it passed over -to the Powells as well as the demesne. - - - -THE HEALING CUP. - -Until a few years ago it was usual for people who were ill, especially -those suffering from hemorrhage to send to Nanteos for the loan of -this healing cup, as it was supposed to possess healing power which -could only be called miraculous, and there are many instances of -cures believed to have been effected by taking food and medicine or -wine out of the cup. It is a great pity that this interesting relic -is now in an unshapely condition, having been considerably damaged -by some of the patients who were not content with drinking from it, -but tried to bite away parts of the cup itself. - -It is quite possible that this holy relic was the chalice therein -our Lord consecrated the wine and water at the institution of the -Eucharist, and in which was said to be preserved some of the blood -which fell from the Saviour's wounds as he hung on the cross. - -In an interesting little book written five years ago, by Miss -Ethelwyn M. Amery, B.A., entitled "Sought and Found," the writer, -after giving the story of the the Holy Grail, concludes. "Not far -from the sea-side town of Aberystwyth, in Mid-Wales, stands the -House of Nanteos, the country seat of the Powells. The family is an -ancient one; it was ancient in the days of the Reformation, and is -possessed of all the traditions of antiquity, including a phantom -coach, which foretells death. To this house came, one summer's day, -a party of holiday-makers from Aberystwyth--ordinary twentieth century -people, with all the most up-to-date ideas--and to them was shown -the house and its treasures. There was old armour in the hall, old -china in the gallery, a wonderful carved arch in the drawing-room, -and many other things which attract the sightseer, attracted one and -another of the party. But there were a few who had no eyes for these -things; to them the centre of interest was found in a small glass, -carefully covered with silk, which was brought out to the lawn from -its home in the library, so that all might more easily see it. Now -those who looked at this case wondered what this treasure could be -which was thus carefully guarded, and when the cover was withdrawn, -the astonishment of many more than equalled their previous curiosity, -for in this case was a fragment of wood, at first sight shapeless and -worm-eaten (and many saw no more than this), but those who looked -more closely saw that this worm-eaten fragment was shaped like a -wooden bowl about five inches high, of which one side was broken -nearly down to the foot, and the other part was roughly held together -by two rivets. Many having seen this were satisfied, and went away, -but some listened to what their hostess told them concerning the cup, -and this is the story she told: - -"'Many years ago, when Henry VIII. was destroying the Monasteries, his -servants came into Wales, and hearing of an ancient Monastery among the -hills, where only seven old monks remained to guard their treasure, -he determined to destroy the Abbey and seize their goods. But the -monks were warned by friendly neighbours, and fled by night, bearing -their treasure with them. Their journey was long and dangerous for -such old men, but they reached the House of Nanteos in safety, and -deposited the treasure they had suffered so much to save. One by one -the old monks died, and at the point of death he entrusted the treasure -to the owner of the house that had sheltered them, until the Church -should once more claim its own. But the Church has not yet claimed it, -and it is that treasure of the monks which you now see.' - -"And again some were satisfied and went away, only wondering that -the old monks risked their lives for so small a thing. But those -who remained heard further, that the monks had regarded this cup -as sacred. Many reasons were given for this: one was that it had -a Communion Chalice, another that it possessed miraculous power of -healing, but the true reason is told only to the few who press closely -for it, and it is thus:-- - -"Not for its healing properties alone was this cup treasured, not -because from it the Monks had received the Communion wine; the cup -was older than the Monastery--indeed, the Monastery had been built -to receive it; it had been handed down from Abbott to Abbott through -the ages, and in each age its secret was told to one or two, that -they might guard it the more carefully, for this cup is none other -than the one from which our Lord drank at the Last Supper--the cup so -eagerly sought for by King Arthur's knights; found and handled by many, -who, because of their blindness were unable to perceive the treasure -which was before them; seen and realized by the pure knight Galahad, -and then hidden from common touch and sight during the sinful days -which followed, but preserved carefully through them all, and powerful -even yet to give to those who will wait for it, a faint--alas! very -faint--glimpse of Galahad's vision, and to remind them that even yet -'The pure in heart shall see God.'" - -Just as I am sending this to the press, Mrs. Powell of Nanteos, -showed me a letter which she had just received from a noble French -lady begging her to send to her in a letter, an handkerchief, or ever -a rag, which had been tied round this Healing Cup for 24 hours. - - - -THE STAFF OF ST. CURIG. - -In the Church of St. Harmon, Radnorshire, was once preserved a pastoral -staff supposed to have belonged to St. Curig, the founder of Llangurig, -in Montgomeryshire. Giraldus Cambrensis says that this staff was -"covered on all sides with gold and silver, and resembling in its upper -part the form of a cross; its efficacy has been proved in many cases, -but particularly in the removal of glandular and strenuous swellings." - - - -PENGLOG TEILO (TEILO'S SKULL.) - -A relic known as "Penglog Teilo" is still preserved at Llandilo -Llwydiarth, Pembrokeshire. I give a full account of it in my chapter -on Holy Wells. - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -FOLK-LORE OF FOUNTAINS, LAKES, AND CAVES. - - -HOLY WELLS. - -There is much Folk-Lore in connection with wells, in Wales, and -an interesting volume might be written on the subject. Holy Wells -were once much frequented by devotees in search of health, omens, or -prognostications of coming events; and even at the present day some of -them are made use of as wishing wells by young men and young women, who -throw a bent or a crooked pin into the well, and wishing at the same -time. In the old times when "Gwyliau Mabsant," or Saints' Fetes, were -in vogue in Wales, wells were sometimes the scenes of great merriment, -both before and even after the Reformation. According to an old writer -they were much frequented in the time of Queen Elizabeth. The habit of -tying rags to the branches of a tree close to the well was well-known -once in several places. This was done by people who were suffering from -maladies. The rag was first dipped in the water, and the afflicted -part of the body bathed with it. Afterwards before going away from -the well the rag was tied to the branch of a tree near it. It is also -worth mentioning that this ceremony is in vogue in Eastern Countries -as well, such as Arabia and Persia. As far as Wales is concerned, some -of the wells frequented in times past, possessed medicinal properties; -but it must be admitted that some of the superstitious ceremonies which -were performed at them, must have come down from pre-Christian times; -and it seems evident that water was once an object of worship, or at -least of veneration, and that offerings were made either to the water -itself, or more probably to the tutelary god of the fountain. This -was the opinion of the late Rev. Elias Owen, F.S.A., who had made a -special study of the subject all his life-time. That the inhabitants -of Great Britain were, in ancient times, given to the adoration of -fountains, is evident from the fact that in 960, King Edgar commanded -by Canon law "That every priest industriously advance Christianity -and extinguish heathenism and forbid the 'Worship of Fountains, -and necromancy and auguries."" But finding the worship of fountains -too strong to put down at once, the priest effected a compromise, by -transferring veneration from the tutelary god by dedicating the well -to a saint, and building a church on the spot, and baptised his flock -in the well; nevertheless many pagan customs of well worship lingered -on from generation to generation. At the present day in some places, -we find a village pump situated at the corner of the Churchyard, -which is not at all a good thing from a sanitary point of view. But -we must bear in mind that the well was there before the Churchyard, -and that in most of such cases the site of the Church had been fixed -upon because of the virtue and attractions of the well. - - - -ST. TEILO'S WELL. - -This strong spring rises within a short distance of the ruined church -of Llandilo Llwydiarth, near Maenclochog, in Pembrokeshire, and close -by, there is a farm-house in which a skull, traditionally called -"Penglog Teilo," (Teilo's Skull) is kept, and has been kept from -time immemorial. This skull is used for drinking water out of from -St. Teilo's Well. In former times St. Teilo's Well had a wide-spread -reputation as a healing well, and the sick from all parts of South -Wales resorted to it; but it was considered absolutely necessary -to drink the water out of the skull, which had to be dipped in -the well, and filled with water, and handed to the patient by the -hereditary keeper. The present keeper of the relic is Mr. Melchior, -an intelligent farmer, who informed me that his ancestors had been -keepers of the skull from time immemorial. How the skull first came -there, Mr. Gibby, of Llangolman, gave the following tradition:--When -St. Teilo was dying he bade a female servant take his skull from -Llandilo, in Carmarthenshire, to Llandilo, in Pembrokeshire, and that -if this was done, the skull would be a blessing to coming generations -of men who would have their health restored by drinking water out of -it. According to another tradition which I have heard, the skull came -from Llandaff Cathedral, where St. Teilo was Bishop, though born in -the neighbourhood of Tenby. If we believe the old legend, the miracles -he worked in death were marvellous; for, "on the night of his decease, -there arose a great dispute between the clergy of the three Churches -each asserting its authority and privileges for obtaining his body; -but at length, attending to the advice of discreet men, they had -recourse to fasting and prayer, that Christ, the great judge, who is -the true authority, and privilege of holy persons, should declare by -some sign, to which of them he would be pleased to commit the body -of the saint. And in the morning a certain elder, looking towards -the place where the body was, spoke with a loud voice, saying, -"Our prayer, brethren, has been heard by the Lord, who deprives no -one of his reward; arise, and behold what things have been done by -Christ the meditator between God and man, that our dispute might be -settled; and as in the life so in the death of the holy confessor, -Teilo, miracles should be performed." For, lo! they saw there three -bodies, to which there was the same dimensions of body, the same -beauty of countenance; they had the lineaments of the whole frame, -without any difference. So peace being restored, each with their own -corpse returned homewards, and they buried the different bodies in -those several places with the greatest reverence." - -St. Teilo died in the year 566, and people of the present day hardly -believe that the relic at Llandilo Llwydiarth is the real skull of -this saint, though the skull in question is a very old one, and only -the brain pan now remains. About five years ago an old man named John -Griffiths, living in the village of Maenclochog, informed me that he -well remembered the time when people came to St. Teilo's Well, from all -parts of the country, for the alleviation of their ailments, "and were -cured" said he, "by faith." The same old man also told me that when a -boy, he and other two boys who were suffering from the whooping cough, -were sent by their mothers early in the morning to drink water from -the well out of the skull. They did so and got rid of their coughs -entirely. I was told by another person in the neighbourhood, that -about seventy years ago, a gentleman from Glamorganshire, drove his -consumptive son in a carriage all the way to Pembrokeshire, to try this -healing fountain of St. Teilo, but arrived home in Swansea without -feeling any better. He had drunk the water from the well, but not -out of the skull. His father took the boy all the way to St. Teilo's -Well a second time, and now made him drink out of the skull, and was -completely cured of his complaint. When I was spending a few weeks at -Maenclochog, some years ago, in quest of information, I accompanied -Mr. Melchior to the well one day, and drank out of the skull. But, -unfortunately, I did not get rid of my cold, from which I was suffering -at the time, but, perhaps, my faith was not strong enough. - - - -THE PRIEST'S WELL. - -"There is a well on the Picton Castle Estate, situated near the Red -House Cottages, called the Priest's Well, which the children are -(this was written thirty-five years ago) in the habit of decorating -with mountain ash (or as it is called "Cayer" in the district) and -cowslips on May Day. This is supposed to have the effect of keeping -the witches away from those families who get water from the well during -the year. The children sing over the well while decorating it "Cayer, -Cayer, keep the witches in May Fair."--Bye-Gones, December, 1874. - - - -ST. LEONARD'S WELL. - -This well, which is situated in the parish of Rudbaxton, in the -neighbourhood of Haverfordwest, was once much made use of for its -medical properties, especially by those who were suffering from sore -eyes. There was once a St. Leonard's Chapel a short distance from -the well, though St. Leonard was not a Welsh Saint. - -The Chalybeate Wells, Gumfreston, Tenby, had a great reputation once -for their healing virtues. - - - -WELLS OF THE FIVE SAINTS. - -These are five wells or pools in the river, near Llanpumpsaint, -in Carmarthenshire, and I am indebted for the following tradition -concerning them, to old records in the possession of the Rev. Canon -Lloyd, B.D., Vicar of that parish. Llanpumpsaint, of course, means -the "Church of the Five Saints." According to the tradition the five -wells were made use of by the five Saints, and each particular saint -had his particular well. In former times on St. Peter's Day, yearly, -between two and three hundred people got together, some to wash in, -and some to see the wells. In the summer time the people in the -neighbourhood bathed themselves in the wells to cure their aches. - - - -THE HOLY WELL OF LLANFIHANGEL GENEU'R GLYN. - -This well is about four miles north from Aberystwyth, in -Cardiganshire. It is situated quite close to the eastern wall of -the Churchyard of Llanfihangel Parish Church. This well has been, -and perhaps still is, held in honour for its curative virtues. It is -surrounded by a small building and within a few years of the present -time, people in search of health took the trouble of coming from -long distances to drink from and to bathe in its waters. When the -Rev. Z. M. Davies, vicar of the parish, and myself, visited the spot -five years ago, a lady living quite close to the well, informed us, -that a short time previously, a crippled girl from Glamorganshire, -who had come there on crutches, was able to walk away without them, -and left them behind. - -Ffynnon Francis, is also a well in the Parish of Llanfihangel -Geneu'r Glyn, on a farm called Penuchaf, and it seems that it was -once popularly esteemed, for there is a tradition at Talybont, -that its waters had the power of restoring sight to a blind old man -named Francis. - - - -THE LLANCYNVELYN WELL. - -The parish of Llancynvelyn is situated on high ground which juts -out into the bog called Gors Fochno not far from Borth, in North -Cardiganshire. Cynvelyn, to whom the Church is dedicated, was a Welsh -Saint, descended from Cunedda. Within the memory of many people who are -now alive, there was a holy well in the Churchyard of Llancynvelyn, -and the sexton, an intelligent old man, informed me a few years ago, -that its water was thought to possess health-restoring qualities, -and he himself noticed people resorting there to bathe their feet in -the well; and some came with bottles and carried some of the water -home with them as a household remedy. - - - -CANNA'S WELL (CARMARTHENSHIRE). - -The parish of Llangan is not far from Whitland. The holy well there, -known as Canna's Well, was much resorted to in former times, as its -water was supposed to cure ague and intestinal complaints. After -throwing a pin into the well, and drink of the water or bathe in -it, it was customary for the patient to sit down in "Canna's Chair" -for a certain length of time and try to sleep. "Canna's Chair" is a -stone. In former times the superstitious believed it had a peculiar -virtue in connection with the well. - - - -ST. ANTHONY'S WELL. - -St. Anthony's Well, at Llanstephan, Carmarthenshire, was formerly -famous for its curative virtues; and it is rather popular at the -present day as a "Wishing Well." Young men and young women resort -to the spot to wish, and are in the habit of throwing a pin into the -well as an offering to its deity or to St. Anthony, its patron saint. - - - -THE "WISHING WELL" OF CAREG CENEN CASTLE. - -About four miles to the east of the town of Llandilo, in -Carmarthenshire, are the remains of a remarkable old castle called -Careg Cenen, which stands on the summit of a solitary rock. This rock -is about 300 feet high. The most noted feature in connection with -the Castle is its underground gallery. In one part of the building -a passage terminates in a flight of steps leading down to a dark -subterranean cave of about 200, or perhaps, 250 feet long, and at the -end of this passage or cave, there is a well which is still used as a -"wishing well," more especially by young people. When I went to see the -remains of the Castle a few years ago, I also visited the subterranean -cave. After lighting a candle and descending the flight of steps, I -proceeded along this dark and marvellous passage slowly and cautiously, -as there was water in some places. After going on underground in this -manner about forty yards, to my great surprise, I heard the sound of -human voices, and saw a light in front of me; and all of a sudden I -came upon three young ladies, one from London, and two from Ammanford, -who informed me that they had intended going on as far as the well, -but turned back before reaching it, as they were afraid of proceeding -any further into the interior of such a dreary dungeon. However, when -I offered to take the lead, they followed me with joy, and at last we -reached the Wishing Well at the far end of the cave. Before we left -the spot, each one of the three young ladies threw a bent pin into the -well, wishing, I suppose that she might have her heart's desire. We -found many pins at the bottom of the well, which had been probably -left there by young people given to the practice of amorous spells. - -There is also a well in the neighbourhood of Llandilo, called -Ffynon-fil-feibion (thousand men's well), respecting which tradition -states that 1,000 men fell near it. - - - -ST. MARY'S WELL, RHAYADER. - -In the "History of Radnorshire" it is stated: "On the western extremity -of the common called Maes-y-dref, is a most excellent spring of pure -and limpid water, namely, St. Mary's Well. It was heretofore a custom -for the young people of Rhayader, of both sexes, to resort hither on -Sunday evenings, during the Spring and Summer seasons, to drink this -salutary beverage sweetened with sugar." - - - -PILLETH CHURCHYARD WELL (RADNORSHIRE). - -The water of this well was once considered beneficial in ophthalmia and -other diseases of the eyes. There are in Radnorshire numerous springs -for the cure of various diseases, and in this county also is the -celebrated and well-known health resort of Llandrindod. Builth Wells, -Llangamarch, and Llanwrtyd (Breconshire), are also on its borders. - - - -LLANNON (CARMARTHENSHIRE.) - -There is a holy Well in this parish dedicated to Non, mother of -St. David. Tradition also says that Non herself got water from -this well. - - - -LLANELLY. - -In former times there was a Holy Well in the neighbourhood of Llanelly, -known as "Ffynnon Elli," supposed to possess medical qualities. - - - -HOLY WELL AT LLANGYBI. - -Llangybi is about four miles from Lampeter, in Cardiganshire. The -Vicar, the Rev. J. N. Evans, informed me that there is a well in -this parish known as "Ffynon wen," formerly supposed to possess -healing powers; and that there is a tradition in the neighbourhood -that St. Gybi himself lived at a house which is still called "Llety -Cybi." Mr. Evans also adds in the Transactions of the Cardiganshire -Antiquarian Society, Vol I., that within a quarter-of-a-mile of the -Holy Well, there used to be a large stone called "Llech Gybi," which -the invalids who came to this well for healing were required to touch. - -There is a Holy Well of St. Gybi in Carnarvonshire also, to which -it was once customary for young women to travel long distances, -in order to find out their lover's intentions at the forthcoming -fair. A pocket handkerchief was thrown on the surface of the water, -and "if it floated to the South there would be great joy and delight, -but if to the North, the girl would be an old maid." - - - -THE HOLY WELL OF ST. GWENOG. - -St. Gwenog's Well is close to the graveyard walls of the Church of -Llanwenog, which is situated about six miles from Lampeter, and two -from Llanybyther. The well was once much resorted to, even within -memory of people who are still alive, as its water was considered -very beneficial, especially to wash children whose backs were weak. - - - -THE LLANLLWNI WELL. - -In the parish of Llanllwni, Carmarthenshire, there is a well called -Ffynon Garedig, which seems to have been famous once. There is an old -saying that if you hold your two arms in this well for a certain length -of time, you will find out whether you are healthy or unhealthy. If -one's arms are red when taken out of the water, it is a sign of good -health, but if white, a sign of bad health. - - - -THE PWLLFFEIN WELL. - -Mr. Rees, Maesymeillion, Llandyssul, Cardiganshire, informed me, -that there was once a famous well for its healing virtues, on the -side of the river Clettwr, known as "Ffynon Pwllffein." An old man -who is now dead, informed him that this well was much resorted to -about the first part of the last century, and pins were once found -at its bottom. The well has been destroyed by the river now. - -Ffynon-Ddewi, or St. David's Well, near Alltyrodyn, in the same -parish, was also much resorted to once, even within living memory, -as it was popularly esteemed for its cures of whooping-cough. - - - -THE LLANDYSSILIO WELL. - -In the parish of Llandyssiliogogo, Cardiganshire, a well, known as -Ffynon Blaenglewinfawr, was once popularly esteemed for its cures of -bad legs and other physical troubles. It is said that some who went -there on crutches were cured. - - - -FFYNON Y GROES (WELL OF THE CROSS). - -This well is in the parish of Llangranog, Cardiganshire, and was famous -once, for tradition, says that in former times, pilgrims rested here -to quench their thirst and to make the sign of the Cross. This parish -has also its Ffynon Fair, or St. Mary's Well. - - - -FFYNON Y PISTYLL. - -This well, which was once celebrated for its healing virtues is in -the neighbourhood of Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire, and its water -cured sore eyes. - - - -THE WELL OF FFOSANNA. - -This well is also in Carmarthenshire, in the parish of Cyuwil -Elvet. There was hardly a well in the county more celebrated in former -times than "Ffynon Ffosanna," and there are traditions still extant -in the neighbourhood, that many of the cripples who resorted here, -went home healed. - - - -FFYNON BECCA. - -Another well-known well of great repute in Carmarthenshire, is -Becca's Well, between Newcastle Emlyn and Llandyssul. This well is -still thought by many to possess health-restoring qualities, and its -water cured both gravel and diseased eyes. It was much resorted to -within living memory. - - - -ST. NON'S WELL, NEAR ST. DAVID'S. - -This famous holy well, dedicated to Non, the mother of St. David, -Patron Saint of Wales, is situated near the remains of St. Non's -Chapel, near St. David's, and was formerly much resorted to for -many complaints; and Fenton in his History of Pembrokeshire says: -"In my infancy, as was the general usage with respect to children at -that time, I was often dipped in it, and offerings, however trifling, -even of a farthing or a pin, were made after each ablution, and the -bottom of the well shone with votive brass.... At the upper end of the -field leading to Non's Chapel there appears the ruined site of a house, -probably inhabited by the person deputed to take care of the spring, -most likely a lucrative employment in more superstitious times." - -When I visited the neighbourhood a few years ago, an old man at -St. David's informed me that he remembered diseased persons coming -to the well, and returning home completely restored to good health, -and that without doubt there must be healing virtues in the water -of this sacred spring. The old man also believed that St. David was -baptised in the well. Pembrokeshire people firmly believe that the -Patron Saint of Wales was born in the neighbourhood which bears his -name. The Welsh name for the cathedral and the town of St. David's -is Ty Ddewi, which means the House of David. - - - -ST. EDREN'S WELL. - -St. Edren's is situated about half way between Haverfordwest and -Fishguard. According to a local tradition there was once a most -famous sacred well in the Churchyard, much resorted to for the cure -of many complaints, especially hydrophobia; but one time, a woman -washed her clothes in this well on Sunday, which caused the spring -to dry up as a curse for breaking the Sabbath. Fortunately, however, -for poor patients, the healing propensities or virtues of its water -were miraculously transferred into the churchyard grass. So people -took some of the grass to their homes to eat it with their food, -which cured them of their ailments. There was a hole in the church -wall to receive the offerings of those who came to procure some of -this grass. One old man informed the Vicar, the Rev. J. Bowen, who -is an enthusiastic antiquarian, that the sacred well had been closed -in order to drain the graveyard, but that there is still a spring in -a field outside the wall. - - - -THE LETTERSTON WELL. - -Another Pembrokeshire well supposed by some to possess curative -properties is called "Ffynon Shan Shillin," at Letterston, about five -miles from Fishguard. Some say that the water of the well was once -so valuable that it was sold for a shilling a bottle. - - - -THE LLANLLAWER WELL. - -A well near the Church of Llanllawer, in the neighbourhood of -Fishguard, had once the reputation of possessing medical properties, -and was much frequented in the old times. - -There is a Rocking-Stone also in this neighbourhood, perhaps once -used in divination. - -There was also a well near Moelgrove, between Nevern and Cardigan, -which was resorted to once, and pins were discovered at the bottom -of it. - - - -RHOSCROWTHER. - -"Down in a hollow beside the stream stands the ancient Parish Church, -dedicated to St. Decumanus, patron of Springs and Wells, who in old -times was held in high esteem for the cures effected at the bubbling -rill hard by."--"Nooks and Corners in Pembrokeshire," page 82. - - - -ST. KEYNAN'S WELL (LLANGURIG.) - -According to the late Rev. Elias Owen, F.S.A., this well granted the -wish of the first who drank it; and every married couple endeavoured -to first drink the water, for the one did so became the master in -their wedded life. - - - -LAKES. - - -LLYN MOEL LLYN. - -This is a lake in the parish of Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, North -Cardiganshire. There is a saying that every bird that attempts to -fly over this lake, falls into it dead. There is also a tradition in -the neighbourhood that when an attempt was made to drain the lake, -terrific thunder and lightning compelled them to give up the attempt. - - - -TREGARON LAKE. - -There is a small lake near Tregaron, between Lampeter and Aberystwyth; -and there is a tradition in the neighbourhood that the village or -town of Tregaron was once situated on the spot which is now occupied -by the lake, but that it sunk, and some fancy they can see some ruins -or remains now at the bottom of the lake. - - - -PENCARREG LAKE. - -Pencarreg Lake is not far from Lampeter, but lies on -the Carmarthenshire side of the river Teivy, and near -Llanybyther. According to an old tradition in the district, a village -once stood on the spot where now the lake is; but the village was -swallowed up, and the lake is now known as the "bottomless." - - - -TALLEY LAKES. - -Talley Lakes are close to the remains of the fine old Abbey, and not -far from Edwinsford, the country seat of Sir James Drummond, Bart., -Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire. Respecting these lakes also there -is a tradition that a town lies beneath their waters. - -Such traditions of towns lying buried beneath lakes are common to -many lakes, both in Wales, and other countries. Such traditions have -probably come down from pre-historic times, when people dwelt in lake -habitations, and in caves, for safety from the beasts of the forest as -well as from human foes. Traces of lake dwelling have been discovered -in Switzerland and in other countries. - - - -LLYN LLECHWEN. - -Llyn Llechwen, or Llyn Llech Owen, lies on the top of a hill near -Gorslas, in Carmarthenshire. According to a local tradition there -was only a small well once on the spot now occupied by the lake. The -well had a stone cover which had to be removed by those who came to -obtain water, and to be carefully replaced after obtaining it. But -once upon a time a certain farmer in the neighbourhood sent a boy -almost every day to the well to water his horse. Whenever the boy -returned the farmer always asked him, "Did you put back the stone -over the mouth of the well, my boy?" The boy answered "Yes." One -day, however, when in a hurry, the lad quite forgot about replacing -the stone, and the consequence was that the water of the well burst -forth till it formed a lake. The above story was told me by an old -man named John Jones, who lives in the small town of Llangadock, -who added that he had heard it from his mother when a boy. - -According to another tale respecting the spot, it was one famous -warrior known as Owen Lawgoch, and his men, who forgot to replace the -cover; but when he found the water bursting forth both he and his men -entered a cave in alarm, and fell asleep which is to last till it is -broken by the sound of a trumpet and the clang of arms on Rhiw Goch, -then to sally forth to conquer. - - - -LLYN Y FAN FACH. - -This lake is known to all lovers of Welsh Fairy Lore. It lies on the -Black Mountain on the borders of Carmarthenshire and Breconshire. It -has been customary from time immemorial for people from all parts to -throng the banks of this lake on the first day of August to see the -Fairy Lady of the Lake appearing on the surface of the water to comb -her hair. For account of this lady see Fairies in this book. - - - -LLYN EIDDWEN, LLYN FANOD, AND LLYN FARCH. - -These are a group of lakes in which the river Aeron, in Cardiganshire, -rises. There is an old story that wild cattle used to come out of -Eiddwen, and rush back when disturbed. Mr. David Rees, Glynwern, -Llanilar, informed me that according to an old prophecy attributed -to Merlin, when Llyn Eiddwen dries up the town of Carmarthen will -sink! There is also a story about Llyn Farch that, once upon a time, a -most wonderful animal came out of its waters, and was shot by a farmer. - - - -SAVADDAN LAKE (BRECONSHIRE). - -This celebrated lake which is known by several names, such as -Llangorse Lake, Lake of Brycheiniog, etc., occupies a spot where, -according to ancient tradition, once stood a large city, which was -swallowed up by an earthquake. Camden once thought that the supposed -city was the ancient Loventium of the Romans; but Loventium stood, -in all probability, in the parish of Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire. - -This lake was once celebrated for its miracles, and Giraldus Cambrensis -seven hundred years ago, says:--"In the reign of King Henry I., -Gruffydh, son of Rhys ap Theodor, held under the King, one comot, -namely, the fourth part of the cantred of Caoc, in the Cantref Mawr, -which, in title and dignity, was esteemed by the Welsh, equal to the -southern part of Wales, called Deheubarth, that is, the right-hand -side of Wales. When Gruffydh, on his return from the King's Court, -passed near this lake, which at that cold season of the year was -covered with waterfowl of various sorts, being accompanied by Milo, -Earl of Hereford, and Lord of Brecheinioc, and Payn Fitz-John, Lord of -Ewyas, who were at that time secretaries and privy counsellors of the -King; Earl Milo, wishing to draw forth from Gruffydh some discourse -concerning his innate nobility, rather jocularly than seriously thus -addressed him: 'It is an ancient saying in Wales, that if the natural -prince of the country, coming to this lake, shall order the birds to -sing, they will immediately obey him.' To which Gruffydh, richer in -mind than in gold (for though his inheritance was diminished, his -ambition and dignity still remained), answered, 'Do you therefore, -who now hold the dominion of this land, first give the command'; but -he and Payn having in vain commanded, and Gruffydh, perceiving that it -was necessary for him to do so in his turn, dismounted from his horse, -and falling on his knees towards the East, as if he had been about -to engage in battle, prostrate on the ground, with his eyes and hands -uplifted to Heaven, poured forth devout prayers to the Lord: at length, -rising up, and signing his face and forehead with the figure of the -cross, he thus openly spake: 'Almighty God, and Lord Jesus Christ, -who knowest all things, declare here this day Thy power. If Thou hast -caused me to descend lineally from the natural princes of Wales, -I command these birds in Thy name to declare it;' and immediately -the birds, beating the water with their wings, began to cry aloud, -and proclaim him. The spectators were astonished and confounded; and -Earl Milo hastily returning with Payn Fitz-John to Court, related -this singular occurrence to the King, who is said to have replied, -'By the death of Christ (an oath he was accustomed to use), it is -not a matter of so much wonder; for although by our great authority -we commit acts of violence and wrong against these people yet they -are known to be the rightful inheritors of this land.'" - - - -RIVER LEGENDS. - - - "Hafren ag Wy, hyfryd eu gwedd - A Rheidol fawr ei hanrhydedd." - - (How beautiful are the Severn and Wye - And Rheidol is held in honour they say.) - - -The Severn, the Wye, and the Rheidol rise on Plinlimon Mountain. These -rivers, which are called three sisters, agreed to make a visit to -the sea in the morning. Severn rose up very early, and took compass -through Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. Wye rose -later and took her journey through the counties of Radnorshire and -Hereford, falling in with her sister near Chepstow, and went hand in -hand to the ocean. Rheidol indulged in her dreams and lay so late that -she was forced to take the nearest road to Aberystwyth. According to -another version of this legend five sister fountains are mentioned, -namely, Wye, Severn, Rheidol, Llyfnant and the Dulas. - -There is another interesting old legend having close connection with -the Severn, the following version of which is given by Milton in his -History of Britain:--"After this Brutus in a chosen place, built Troja -Nova, changed in time to Trimovantum, now London; and began to enact -laws (Heli being then High Priest in Judea); and having governed -the whole isle twenty-four years died, and was buried in his new -Troy. Three sons--Locrine, Albanact, and Camber--divided the land -by consent. Locrine had the middle part, Loegria; Camber possessed -Cambria or Wales; Albanact, Albania, now Scotland. But he in the end, -by Humber, King of the Hums, who, with a fleet, invaded that land, -was slain in fight, and his people driven back into Loegria. Locrine -and his brother go out against Humber; who now marching onward was by -these defeated, and in a river drowned, which to this day retains his -name. Among the spoils of his camp and navy were found certain maids, -and Estrilidis, above the rest, passing fair, the daughter of a King -in Germany, from whence Humber, as he went wasting the sea-coast, -had led her captive; whom Locrine, though before, contracted to -the daughter of Corineus, resolves to marry. But being forced and -threatened by Corineus, whose authority and power he feared, Gwendolen, -the daughter, he yields to marry, but in secret loves the other; and -ofttimes retiring as to some sacrifice, through vaults and passages -made underground, and seven years thus enjoying her, had by her a -daughter equally fair, whose name was Sabra. But when once his fear -was off by the death of Corineus, not content with secret enjoyment, -divorcing Gwendolen, he makes Estrilidis his queen. Gwendolen, all, in -rage, departs into Cornwall; where Pladan, the son she had by Locrine, -was hitherto brought up by Corineus, his grandfather; and gathering -an army of her father's friends, and subjects, gives battle to her -husband by the river Sture, wherein Locrine, shot with an arrow, ends -his life. But not so ends the fury of Gwendolen, for Estrilidis and -her daughter Sabra she throws into a river, and, to have a monument -of revenge proclaims that the stream be thenceforth called after the -damsel's name, which by length of time is changed now to Sabrina or -Severn." The Poet in his "Mask of Comus" makes the nymph Sabrina "that -with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream" the goddess of the -river, but still retaining her maiden gentleness, and the shepherds, -at their festivals, "Carol her goodness loud in their rustic lays, -and throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream of pansies, pink, -and gaudy daffodils. And, as the old swain said, she can unlock the -clasping charm, and thaw the number spell, if she be right invoked -in warbling song; for maidenhood she loves, and will be swift to aid -a virgin, such as was herself, in hard-besetting need." In the year -1634 when this "Comus" was presented at Ludlow Castle before the Lord -President of Wales, the President's own daughter, Lady Alice Egerton, -when only a little girl, acted in it; and it is an interesting fact -that this same Lady Alice, some years afterwards, became the wife of -the Earl of Carbery, Golden Grove, Carmarthenshire, who entertained -Jeremy Taylor during the time of the Commonwealth. - - - -CAVES. - - -OGOF MORRIS (MORRIS'S CAVE). - -Near Tre'rddol in North Cardiganshire, there is a cave known as Ogof -Morris. According to a tradition I heard in the neighbourhood, this -Morris was a notorious robber who lived in this cave, and went about -to steal hens and sheep; but at last he was caught and hanged at -Cardigan. According to the eminent antiquarian, Mr. Barnwell, there -was a robber of the name also in Pembrokeshire, who had a little dog -trained to fetch the arrows shot at unfortunate wayfarers. At last he -was killed and buried at a spot where there is a stone still called -"Bedd Morris" on the highway from St. David's to Newport. - - - -BLOODY CAVE. - -There is a cave at Pendine, in Carmarthenshire, in which according to -tradition a gang of most desperate and murderous robbers once made -their headquarters. At last, these scoundrels were attacked by the -people of the neighbourhood, and put to death for murdering a woman -for her money. - - - -PLANT MAT'S CAVE. - -According to tradition "Plant Mat," or "Plant y Fat," were two sons -and a daughter of one Matthew Evans, who kept a public house at -Tregaron in the seventeenth century. These persons became highway -robbers and lived in a cave near Devil's Bridge. The entrance to the -cave admitted only one person at a time and this enabled the robbers -to keep out hundreds when they were attacked. It seems that they had -some notion of honour, for it is said that if either had a friend, -he gave him his glove, which served as a passport when stopped by the -others. They lived for some years in this cave, but at last they were -executed for murder. One of them was captured near Hereford, just -as he was giving out the well-known hail of "Deliver or die." These -robbers are also credited with the attributes of the fairies. - - - -TWM SHION CATTI'S CAVE. - - "Mae llefain mawr a gwaeddi, - Yn Ystradffin eleni; - Mae'r ceryg nadd yn toddi'n blwm, - Rhag ofn twm Sion Catti." - - (In Ystradffin a doleful sound - Pervades the hollow hills around; - The very stones with terror melt, - Such tear of Twm Shion Catti's felt.) - - -This cave, which is near Ystradffin, on the borders of Carmarthenshire -and Cardiganshire, was once, says tradition, the stronghold of Twm -Shion Catti, or to give him his proper name Thomas Jones. This -Thomas Jones, or Twm Shion Catti, lived at Tregaron in the time -of Queen Elizabeth. It seems that he had been in his younger days -a freebooter, but reformed and became a celebrated bard, antiquary -and a genealogist. The legends which have gathered round the name of -this eminent man, are still retained in the memory of the people in -Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, and the late Mr. T. J. L. Prichard, -of Llandovery, made him the hero of a most popular romance, into -whose book the stories have been introduced, and embellished. - - - -OWEN LAWGOCH'S CAVE. - -This cave is in the limestone rock of Dinas, Llandebie, in -Carmarthenshire, respecting which there is a story that a great -warrior named Owen Lawgoch and his men fell asleep in it, but who -are some day to awake and sally forth. A version of the legend is -given in the Brython for 1858, page 179, by the late Gwynionydd, -and an English translation of the same story is given by Sir John -Rhys in his "Celtic Folk-Lore." - -"Not the least of the wonders of imagination wont to exercise the -minds of the old people was the story of Owen Lawgoch. One sometimes -hears sung in the fairs the words:-- - - - 'Yr Owain hwn yw Harri'r Nawfed - Sydd yn trigo 'ngwlad estroniaid, etc.' - - (This Owen is Henry the Ninth - Who tarries in a foreign land, etc.) - - -But this Owen Lawgoch, the national deliverer of our ancient race -of Brythons, did not, according to the Troed yr Aur people, tarry -in a foreign land, but somewhere in Wales, not far from Offa's -Dyke. They used to say that one Dafydd Meirig of Bettws Bledrws, -having quarrelled with his father left for England. When he had -got a considerable distance from home, he struck a bargain with a -cattle dealer to drive a herd of his beasts to London. Somewhere on -the corner of a vast moor, Dafydd cut a very remarkable hazel stick; -for a good staff is as essential to the vocation of a good drover as -teeth are to a dog. So while his comrades had had their sticks broken -before reaching London, Dafydd's remained as it was, and whilst they -were conversing together on London Bridge a stranger accosted Dafydd, -wishing to know where he had obtained that wonderful stick. He replied -that in Wales he had had it, and on the stranger's assuring him that -there were wonderful things beneath the tree on which it had grown, -they both set out for Wales. When they reached the spot and dug a -little they found that there was a great hollow place beneath. As -night was spreading out her sable mantle, and as they were getting -deeper, what should they find but stairs easy to step, and great lamps -illuminating the vast chamber! When they reached the bottom of the -stairs, they found themselves near a large table, at one end of which -they beheld sitting a tall man of about seven foot. He occupied an -old-fashioned chair and rested his head on his left hand, while the -other hand, all red, lay on the table and grasped a great sword. He -was withal enjoying a wondrously serene sleep, and at his feet on the -floor lay a big dog. After casting a glance at them, the wizard said -to Dafydd: 'This is Owen Lawgoch, who is to sleep on till a special -time, when he will wake and reign over the Brythons. That weapon in -his hand is one of the swords of the ancient Kings of Britain.' Then -they moved slowly on, gazing at the wonders of that subterranean -chamber; and they beheld everywhere the arms of ages long past, and -on the table thousands of gold and silver pieces bearing the images -of the different Kings of Britain. They got to understand that it -was permitted them to take a handful of each, but not to put any in -their purses. They both visited the cave several times, but at last -Dafydd put in his purse a little of the gold bearing the image of one -of the Owen's ancestors. But after coming out again they were never -able any more to find Owen's subterranean palace." - -This story of Owen Lawgoch and his sleeping warriors is a version of -the well-known Welsh tradition of the enchanted sleep of King Arthur -and his Knights. - -According to an old Welsh ballad, Owen Lawgoch does not sleep in a -cave in Wales, but "tarries in a foreign land"; and Dr. O. T. Lewis, -of the University College, addressing the Cardiganshire Antiquarian -Society, November 30th, 1910, stated that the garrison at Aberystwyth -"was increased in 1369, when Owen Lawgoch with his French auxiliaries -were expected from beyond the seas." - - - - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -LOCAL TRADITIONS, Etc. - - -LLANDDEWI BREFI. - -This parish is celebrated for its legendary lore; and no wonder for -it is a spot of great historic interest. - -There is a tradition current in the neighbourhood to the effect that -it was originally intended to build the Church of Llanddewi Brefi in a -field on Godregarth farm, and that the work was actually commenced on -that spot, but the attempt to build there was constantly frustrated, -for that which was set up during the day was pulled down in the night -by a Spirit, and all the material removed or carried to the spot where -the Parish Church now stands. The field pointed out by tradition is -about a mile away from the village, and yew trees are still to be -seen there. - -According to another most ancient tradition, when the Church was -in process of construction, two oxen known as the "Ychain Bannog" -were employed to draw the stone required for the building. The load -was so heavy that one of the two oxen died in the attempt to drag -it forward; but before falling down dead he bellowed nine times, -and so powerful was the echo that the hill, which before presented -itself as an obstacle, divided or split in two. The other ox alone -was then able to bring the load unassisted to the site of the Church. - - - "Llanddewi Brefi fraith, - Lle brefodd yr ych naw gwaith, - Nos hollti craig y Foelallt." - - (Llanddewi Brefi the spotted, - Where the ox bellowed nine times, - Till Foelallt rock split in two.) - - -According to another version of the story, it was the ox which survived -was the one that bellowed, and not the one that died. According to -another story given in Meyrick's History of Cardiganshire, these -two Bannog Oxen were on one occasion used to draw "away a monstrous -beaver dead"; but this is only a version of a legend which is to be -found in several parts of Wales, and is founded on the older story -of Hu Gadarn, or Hu the Mighty, who, with his Bannog Oxen, drew to -land the avanc out of Llyn Llion, so that the lake burst out no more -to deluge the earth. See "Legend of Llyn y ddau Ychain" in Folk-Lore -of North Wales, by the late Rev. E. Owen, page 132. - -The two Ychain Bannog of Llanddewi were sometimes called "dau ychain -Dewi" (St. David's two oxen). In a poem written in the Twelfth Century, -the Welsh Bard Gwynfardd Brycheiniog alludes to the old tradition -as follows:-- - - - "Dau ychan Dewi, deu odidawe, - Dodyssant eu gwar dan garr kynawe, - Dau ychen Dewi ardderchawe oeddynt." - - -There used to be preserved at Llanddewi Church a remarkable fragment -of a horn called "Madcorn yr Ych Bannog," that is, the core of the -Bannog Ox's Morn, which, according to tradition, had been kept there -as a valuable relic ever since the time of St. David. This horn is -now at Llidiardau, Llanilar, kept privately. It has been pronounced -by Professor Boyd Dawkins to have belonged to "the great urns (Bos -Primigenius) that Charlemagne hunted in the forest of Aachen, and -the Monks of St. Galle ate on their feast days." - -When St. David was preaching at Llanddewi at the great Synod, in -the year 519, it is said that the ground on which he stood rose up -and formed a hillock under his feet. Cressy recounts the miracle in -the following words:--"When all the fathers assembled enjoined David -to preach, he commanded a child which attended him, and had lately -been restored to life by him, to spread a napkin under his feet; and, -standing upon it, he began to expound the Gospel and the law to the -auditory. All the while that this oration continued, a snow-white -dove, descending from Heaven, sate upon his shoulders; and, moreover, -the earth, on which he stood raised itself under him till it became -a hill, from whence his voice, like a trumpet, was clearly heard and -understood by all, both near and far off, on the top of which hill -a church was afterwards built, and remains to this day." - -The people of Llanddewi Brefi told me that there is another tradition -still extant in the neighbourhood, which says that as St. David -was preaching on this great occasion, a nightingale appeared on the -spot, and sang. The music of the bird was so sweet, that the people -listened to the nightingale's song, instead of continuing to give -their attention to the sermon. Seeing this, the Holy Saint David -rebuked the congregation, and informed them that the nightingale -should never again sing in the neighbourhood; and from that day -till now the bird has never been heard there. According to the -great historian George Owen, there is a different version of this -story in Pembrokeshire. "St. David, being seriouse occupied in the -night tyme in his divine orizons, was so troubled with the sweete -tuninges of the nightingales, as that he could not fasten his minde -upon heavenlie cogitacions, as at other tymes, being letted (hindered) -by the melodie of the bird, praied unto the Almightie, that from that -tyme forward there might never a nightingale sing within his Dioces, -and this saieth our women (old wives' fables), was the cause of -confininge of the bird out of this country." - -At Llanio Isaf, in the parish of Llanddewi Brefi are the remains -of Loventium, which was a large Roman city. About half a mile from -Gogoyan, in the same parish, was once a holy well called Ffynon Ddewi, -or St. David's Well, the water of which, according to tradition, -flowed up miraculously when St. David restored to life the son of a -widow. The well has now been closed up, and a house stands on the -spot. There is another "Ffynon Ddewi," on the road-side between -Aberaeron and Cardigan. - - - -CAIO (CARMARTHENSHIRE). - -In the parish of Caio, there is a gold mine which in ancient times -was worked by the Romans. It is on the estate of Dolaucothy, and the -spot is known as the "Ogofau," or caves, and part of it is a height, -hardly a mountain, that has been scooped out like a volcanic crater by -the Romans during their occupation. In this hollow or basin it is said -that the five saints named Ceitho, Gwyn, Gwynno, Gwynnoro, and Celynin, -who flourished in the sixth century, had retired in a thunderstorm -for shelter. They had penetrated into the mine and had lost their -way, and taking a stone for a bolster had laid their heads on it and -fallen asleep. And there they would remain in peaceful slumber till the -return of King Arthur, or till a more godly bishop than has hitherto -been should occupy the throne of St. David. When that happens, Merlin -himself is to be disenchanted and restore to liberty the dormant -saints. An inquisitive woman named Gweno, who, led by the devil, -sought to spy on the saintly brotherhood in their long sleep, was -punished by losing her way in the passage of the mine. She, likewise, -remained in an undying condition, but was suffered to emerge in storm -and rain, and in the night, when her vaporous form might be seen about -the old Ogofau, and her sobs and moans were heard and frightened many. - -Mr. F. S. Price, in his interesting "History of Caio," says that -another legend is that one of these saints appears to have a special -commemoration, but under a female appelative in "Ffynon" and "Clochdy -Gwenno," the latter an isolated rock standing up in the midst of the -great gold excavations, and marking their depth in that particular -place. The well had, in good old times, a high reputation for healing -virtues, and that "on an unfortunate day, Gweno was induced to -explore the recesses of the cavern beyond a frowning rock, which had -always been the prescribed limit to the progress of the bathers. She -passed beneath it and was no more seen. She had been seized by some -superhuman power, as a warning to others not to invade those mysterious -'penetralia,' and still on stormy nights, when the moon is full, the -spirit of Gweno is seen to hover over the crag like a wreath of mist." - - - -ST. GOVAN'S. - -About seven miles from Pembroke, and a mile from Bosheston, there -is a small chapel of rude masonry half way down the cliff known -as St. Govan's Chapel. It is a seaside building, perched across a -fissure in the side of the cliff, and a long flight of steps leading -down to it from above. There is a popular belief that these steps -cannot be numbered by anyone correctly, or "counted by none both ways -alike." I visited the spot myself in October, 1909. In the east wall -of the Chapel a doorway admits into a cleft of the rock in which is a -marvellous cell or crevice, "that enables the largest person to turn -round therein, and at the same time quite filled by the smallest." This -cavity has been regarded by the superstitious as a miraculous cell, -and according to a legend Our Lord on one occasion, when pursued by -His enemies, the Jews, sought safety in this neighbourhood. "Passing -through a field where men were sowing bailey, He ordered them at -once to go for their reaping hooks, and, if any passed that way -and inquired after Him, to say that they had seen such an one, but -it was in sowing time. The men although they knew not who it was, -did as they were bid, fetched their hooks, and lo! on their return, -the field was waving with ripe corn. Whilst engaged in the reaping, -a band of men accosted them, as was expected, who, having received the -appointed answer, gave up the chase in despair. The Lord, meanwhile, -had been concealed in this crevice, which had opened to receive Him, -and still bears a faint impression of His person." - -According to another tradition which is still extant in the -neighbourhood it was St. Govan (Sir Gawain), one of King Arthur's -knights, that took shelter in this cell when he was pursued by his -pagan persecutors. The cell has been used from time immemorial as a -"wishing place," and it is said that "all who turn round therein, -and steadfastly cling to the same wish during the operation will most -certainly obtain their wish before the expiration of the year." It -is still resorted to I believe by young people. - -A few yards lower down in the ravine is a holy well, once much resorted -to for the cure of diseases. This well was frequently visited seventy -years ago, and, it is said that its water was so efficacious that -some who came there on crutches were able to walk away without them. - -There are, or at least were, somewhere in this part, three upright -stones, about a mile distant from each other. The tradition is, -that on a certain day these stones meet to "dance the Hay," at a -place called Saxon's Ford, and when the dance is over, travel back -and resume their places. - -The late Mr. Thomas, Greenpark, informed me that there was a moving -stone of this kind in the parish of Llandyssul, Cardiganshire. - - - -TREGARON. - -At a distance of about three miles from Tregaron there is a ridge -running east and west separating Upper and Lower Tregaron. It is called -"Cwys yr Ychain Bannog," the Furrow of the large-horned Oxen. Tradition -has it that the "Furrow" was made by two Bannog Oxen dragging along -the ground the carcass of a huge reptile which had been killed by the -people of the neighbourhood in ancient time. (For more about Tregaron -see Lakes.) - - - -CRUG MAWR. - -The Rev. Peter Roberts, in his "Cambrian Popular Antiquities," says -that Crug Mawr, or Pentychryd Mawr, is a lofty hill in Cardiganshire, -situated in the Vale of Aeron, mentioned in Giraldus, where he says, -"there is an open grave, which fits the length of any man lying in it, -short or long." Hence arose the ancient tradition, that a powerful -giant, kept his post on this hill, and was endowed with the genius of -the Aeron Vale. He had a lofty palace erected on the hill, and used -occasionally to invite the neighbouring giants to a trial of strength -on the top of it. At one of these meetings coits were proposed and -introduced, and, after great efforts, the inhabitant of the spot won -the day, by throwing his coit clear into the Irish shore, which ever -after gave him the superiority over all other giants in Ceredigion, -or the land of Ceredig. - -Gwynionydd in the First Volume of the "Brython," 1859, mentions two -places known as "Crug Mawr," one near Cardigan, and the other in the -Vale of Aeron. - -Near the road leading from Newcastle Emlyn to Lampeter, is "Crug -Balog," where a warrior or giant of the name of Balog was buried. - - - -CANTREF Y GWAELOD; OR THE LOST LOWLAND. - - - "Ochenaid Gwyddno Garanhir, - Pan droes y don dros ei dir." - - (The sigh of Gwyddno Garanhir, - When the waives swept over his land.) - - -There is a well-known tradition in Cardiganshire, and indeed all over -Wales, that what is known to-day as Cardigan Bay was once dry land. The -country was known as Cantref y Gwaelod, or The Lowland Hundred. It -had sixteen cities, and in the beginning of the sixth century the -district was governed by a king named Gwyddno Garanhir. As the land -was below sea-level, dykes had been built to check the encroachments -of the sea. One day, however, Saethennyn Feddw, that is, Saethennyn -the Drunkard, son of the King of South Wales, opened the sluices, -and the sea flowed in, but the people fled to the uplands. - -One of the ancient Welsh Triads commemorates the inundation as -follows:-- - -"The three abandoned drunkards of the Isle of Britain were, first, -drunken Geraint, King of Siluria, who in the paroxysm of a fit of -intoxication set fire to the standing corn; the conflagration in -consequence of which rash act spread so violently, that all the corn -of the country, to an immense distance, was totally consumed, and a -destructive famine ensued." - -"The second was Vortigern, surnamed the wry-mouthed, who when -intoxicated gave Horsa, the Saxon chief, the Isle of Thanet, for -permission to have an illicit connection with his daughter Rowena; -and further promised, that her son, the fruit of that amour, should -succeed to the Crown of England; which proved productive of treachery, -and a sanguinary massacre of a prodigious number of the chieftains -of the Cambrian race. - -"The third was drunken Seithinyn, the son of Seithyn Saidi, King -of Dimetia; who when in a state of intoxication suffered the sea -to overflow Cantref y Gwaelod, where lands and habitations the most -beautiful in all Wales, excepting only Caerleon or Usk, to the number -of sixteen cities and towns, were in a short period inundated and -ruined. The lowland hundred was the property of Gwyddno, surnamed -longshanks, King of Ceredigion (Cardiganshire). This event happened -in the reign of Emrys Wledig. The inhabitants who escaped from that -inundation landed in Ardudwy, and ascended the mountains of Snowdon, -which had never been inhabited before that period." - -There is a poem on this inundation in the ancient Welsh book "Llyvr -Du Caerfyrddin" (Black Book of Carmarthen). - -Near Wallog, a few miles to the North of Aberystwyth, a causeway -called Sarn Cynfelyn, extends several miles into the sea. According -to local tradition this is supposed to have been a main road leading -into the submerged country, and it is said that there was a royal -palace in this part. Other places which traditions associate with the -Lowland Hundred are Sarn Cadwgan and Sarn Ddewi, further South, near -Aberayron, and Sarn Badrig, in North Wales. So much has been written -on this subject, both in prose and verse, that it it not necessary to -dwell further on it here. But it is of interest to add that there is a -tradition, which is still extant that between Borth, in Cardiganshire, -and Aberdovey, in Merionethshire, there once stood a town at a spot -which is now covered by water. There is also a well-known story of -the chimes of bells being heard at the bottom of the sea. - -Dwellers near Ramsey Sound, in Pembrokeshire, also hear the chimes -of bells in the sea, and this reminds us of the Story of Grallon, -in Brittany, who reigns beneath the waves. - - - -LLANFIHANGEL YSTRAD. - -There is a tradition in the Vale of Aeron that some generations -ago, a man from the neighbourhood of Ystrad, was sentenced at the -Cardigan Assizes, to be hanged for sheep-stealing, or some other such -offence. The sentence, however, was not carried out, as the criminal -was a useful man, particularly so to the Squire who happened to be -the High Sheriff that year. But before the Squire's year of office -had elapsed, urgent inquiries came down from the Government as to the -execution, of which no report had ever reached them. The Squire was so -frightened at the Government's inquiries, that he had the unfortunate -man, who was out in the fields at the time, seized, bound and hanged -on a birch tree. One of the Squire's servants entered a small cottage -and begged an old woman for the loan of her apron, but concealing from -her what he was going to do with it. When the old woman discovered -that her apron was made use of to blindfold the poor man who was so -unceremoniously hanged, she pronounced a curse on the Squire and his -descendants. After this everything went wrong with that Squire. - - - -A STRANGE CARMARTHENSHIRE TREE LEGEND. - -There is a fine old mansion in Carmarthenshire, with a very strange -tradition in connection with it. I am not permitted to mention the -name of the place. - -Once upon a time there was a certain tree, or rather a bush, in a -field, or in the Park, which bloomed with flowers every Christmas -morning. Christmas after Christmas, when putting forth its blossoms, -the bush made a strange noise, which attracted to the spot large -crowds of people from all parts of the country. At last the selfish -Squire cut down this sacred bush, in order to put a stop to the people -damaging his park; but by doing this rash act he brought upon himself -and his descendants a curse, and his offence has not been expiated -till this day. - - - -MAESYFELIN. - -The most popular tradition associated with Lampeter is that known -as the "Curse of Maesyfelin." Maesyfelin was a stately mansion -on the banks of the river Dulas, on the east side of the town of -Lampeter. It was once a place of consequence, and an ancient family -of Lloyds lived there. About the beginning of the 17th Century the -famous Vicar Pritchard of Llandovery, author of "Canwyll y Cymry" -had a son named Samuel. Tradition has it that this young Samuel -was an intimate friend of Sir Francis Lloyd, Knight of Maesyfelin, -who was a wicked man. At last, so the story goes, the two quarrelled -over some love affair, and young Samuel was stifled to death between -two feather beds. The body, tied in a sack and placed on horse-back, -was conveyed over the mountain in the depth of night and thrown into -the river Towy in Carmarthenshire. When the body of his lamented son -was discovered in the river, the broken-hearted father pronounced a -curse on Maesyfelin in the following words:-- - - - "Melldith Duw ar Maesyfelin-- - Ar bob carreg, ar bob gwreiddyn-- - Am daflu blodau tref Llan'ddyfri - Ar ei ben i Dywi i foddi." - - (The curse of God on Maesyfelin! - On every stone, and root therein, - For throwing the flower of Llandovery town - To Towy's water, there to drown.) - - -People believe to this day that the judgment of God fell on -the family and mansion of Maesyfelin. The palace delapsed and no -longer exists. Materials from its ruins were carried away to repair -Ffynonbedr, another mansion in the neighbourhood; but that place is -also in ruin now, so that it is believed that the curse of Maesyfelin -followed the material to Ffynonbedr. - - - -TENBY (PEMBROKESHIRE). - -In former times Tenby was so celebrated for its fishery and it was -known as Dinbych-y-Pysgod, that is Tenby-of-the-Fish. There is a -tradition in the neighbourhood of some extraordinary bank or rock, -at sea, called "Will's Mark," on which codfish in great abundance -were formerly taken. The spot is no longer to be found, and the loss -is said to have been occasioned as a curse which the inhabitants of -the town brought upon themselves by their barbarous usage of a deaf -and dumb man, who had come into the town begging. - - - -CWM KERWYN (PEMBROKESHIRE). - -In this locality is a huge stone or rock, which, according to -tradition, was thrown there by King Arthur of old; and somewhere in -the same neighbourhood is "Bedd Arthur," Arthur's Grave. - - - -LLANSTEPHAN CASTLE (CARMARTHENSHIRE). - -It is popularly supposed that there is an underground passage from -this old Castle to the mansion, known as Plas Llanstephan. Tradition -has it that many an attempt was made in former times to go through, -but always in vain, as a spirit extinguished the candles of all who -entered the passage after proceeding a certain distance. - - - -CWMYREGLWYS (PEMBROKESHIRE). - -According to Pentrevor, in "The Pembroke County Guardian," March, -1903, a "Fairies' Town" has been seen in the sea occasionally in -this neighbourhood. He also adds that there are on the extreme -point of Dinas Head, some steps in the rock called "The Devil's -Footprints." There are also "Devil's Footprints" in a rock, to be -seen in Cardiganshire, between Llanwenog and Llanarth. - - - -MESUR Y DORTH (MEASURE OF THE LOAF). - -Between St. David's and Fishguard is an object not unlike a milestone, -upon which is rudely traced a cross within a circle: the irregular -disc being about a foot in diameter. This is known as "Mesur y Dorth," -(Measure of the Loaf); and the tradition is, that St. David caused -these figures to be made in order to regulate the size of the loaf -of bread in times of scarcity. - - - -ABERGWILI. - -Near the Bishop of St. David's Palace, Abergwili, is a pool in the -river Towy, called "Pwll y Coach" (the Coach's Pool). The tradition is -that in the old Coaching Days the "Great Coach" fell into this pool, -and was never seen again. - - - -CAE POETH (HOT FIELD). - -In the parish of Llanon, Carmarthenshire, is a field called "Cae -Poeth." Tradition says that images which were in the Church before -the Reformation were burnt at this spot. - - - -CRAIG GWRTHEYRN (VORTIGERN'S ROCK). - -Craig Gwrtheyrn is in the neighbourhood of Pencader, in -Carmarthenshire. According to an old legend, the disreputable old -British King Vortigern, built a castle here in the fifth century; -but he and his castle were destroyed by fire from heaven. There is -also a story that Owen Glyndwr sleeps in a cave here. - - - -BRYNBERIAN (PEMBROKESHIRE). - -Near Brynberian, in North Pembrokeshire, there is a grave known as -"Bedd yr Afanc," or the Avanc's Grave. According to an old tradition in -the neighbourhood, this Avanc was a most dangerous beast or monster, -which at last, after much trouble, was caught in a pool in the river, -and buried with pomp and religious rites on a spot which still bears -the name "Bedd yr Afanc." - - - -LLANON (CARDIGANSHIRE). - -Non was the mother of St. David. The Vicar, Mr. Lewis, informed me -that there is a tradition in the neighbourhood that the Patron Saint -was born here, and owned much land here, including all the flats -known as Morfa Esgob--The Bishop's March. It is said that St. David -divided the land into small portions which he gave to the fishermen -of the place. There was a stone on the exterior wall of the ruins -of St. Non's Chapel, on which was carved the face of a woman with a -child in her arms, traditionally reputed to be that of Non and her -child David. There is also a tradition that the Saint was educated -at Henfynyw. See more about this in Mr. Eyre Evans' interesting book -on the Antiquities of Cardiganshire. - -Some three miles from Llanon, says Mr. Horsfall-Turner in his -"Wanderings in Cardiganshire," legends have been busy with a huge -stone pillar which marks, perhaps the grave of some long-forgotten -hero. "During the building of Devil's Bridge, we are told, his Satanic -majesty wished to employ this monolith and carried it away, his finger -marks may still be seen--leaving another impression. He sat so long -and thought so deeply, that at the crowing of the cock, he was startled -and vanished so rapidly that the stone was so completely forgotten." - - - -TYNYCASTELL (DEVIL'S BRIDGE). - -According to the Rev. John Griffith, Llangynwyd, there is a version -of the well-known legend of Arthur or Owen Lawgoch and the Sleeping -Warriors attached to this place; but as I have already given a version -of this story in connection with Owen Lawgoch's Cave, near Llandebie, -I shall not repeat it here. King Arthur figures rather prominently -in North Cardiganshire. Between Devil's Bridge and Llanafan is a farm -belonging to the Earl of Lisburne called "Maen Arthur"--Arthur's Stone; -and in the parish of Llanbadarn-fawr there is a "Llys Arthur"--Arthur's -Court, a legendary residence of the renowned King. - - - -BEDD TALIESIN (TALIESIN'S GRAVE). - -About eight miles north of Aberystwyth is an ancient grave known as -Bedd Taliesin. According to a local tradition, Taliesin, Chief Bard -of the Island of Britain was buried on this spot. The grave, which -is composed of stones, is in the centre of a large heap of earth or -mound surrounded by stone circles, and some generations ago bones, -and even a human skull, were found in it, which probably were the -remains of the great ancient poet. There is a superstition respecting -Bedd Taliesin that should anyone sleep in it for one night, he would -the next day become either a poet or an idiot. There is a similar -popular belief in connection with Cader Idris, in Merionethshire, -where an eminent bard once tried the experiment. Taliesin's Grave -is in the Parish of Llanfihangel genau'r Glyn, and in the adjoining -parish of Llancynfelin there is a village bearing the name of Taliesin; -and, according to the "Mabinogion," the great poet was born somewhere -between the Dyvi and Aberystwyth. The people of North Cardiganshire -believe to this day that Taliesin was both born and buried in their -district. The origin of his birth, which was supposed to be very -miraculous, and other legends which cling to the memory of this great -man are to be found in the Mabinogion. - - - -CRUGIAU'R LADIS (CARMARTHENSHIRE). - -On the mountain above the village of Caio, there are two peculiar -heaps of stone known as Crugiau'r Ladis, concerning which there is the -following curious tradition:--Two ladies from London were exiled from -their homes, and lived in this district. The change of town life to -country was so great, that they set to work and gathered heaps of -stone together to build a Babel heavenward, from the top of which -they could see London from the land of exile. - -I heard a story when a boy that Derry Ormond tower, near Lampeter, -was also built in order to see London. - - - -EURGLAWDD. - -In a field called Llettyngharad on this farm, which is in the parish -of Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, there are two stones respecting which -an ancient prophecy says that when the third appears, the end of the -world will be at hand. At Llwynglas, in the same parish, there was once -preserved a long knife, which, according to tradition, was used by the -Saxons in the time of Vortigern, at the treachery of the long knives. - - - -TRAETH SAITH (CARDIGANSHIRE). - -Tradition says that Traeth Saith--the Seven's Shore--had its name from -the seven daughters of a king who were wrecked there, having been put -by order of their father into a vessel without sails or oars. A poem -commemorates this tradition. - -Probably the place is named from a brook. - - - -LLANILAR. - -The present vicar, the Rev. J. F. Lloyd, remembers hearing from -an old lady, that when she was a little girl, it was customary for -the women of the parish to curtsy to an oil painting of the Blessed -Virgin Mary, on entering the church. It seems that there was a holy -well once known as Ffynnon Drindod not far from Llanilar. - - - -LLANGADOCK. - -An old man, named John Jones, informed me that Llangadock was a -large town in ancient times; but that a part of it sunk. According -to tradition, a church stood once where Pwll y Clychau--the Pool of -the Bells--is now, and the old man added that people still hear the -sound of the bells at the bottom of the pool. There is a stone in -the river Sawdde, known as Coitan Arthur, respecting which there is -a tradition that it was thrown down from the top of Pen Arthur--about -a mile distant--by Arthur the Giant. - - - -ABERMARLAIS. - -At the entrance gate of Abermarlais Park there is an interesting stone, -near which, according to a tradition related to me by Mrs. De Rutzen, -the Welsh Princes held a council of war. I was also informed by people -in the neighbourhood that the spot was once haunted by the ghost of -a lady in white. - - - -OYSTERMOUTH CASTLE (GOWER). - -It is said that in an underground dungeon of Oystermouth Castle is, -or there was, a large pillar known as "The Wishing Post," around which -young men and young women, when wishing for a lover or sweetheart, -were in the habit of walking nine times, and at the same time sticking -a pin in the pillar and looking on the wall, when they were supposed -to see "a lady in white." - - - -OXWITCH (GOWER). - -Near the Bone Caves is a cromlech known as Arthur's Stone. According -to tradition, St. David split it with a sword in proof that it was -not sacred. - - - -CAE HALOG (NORTH CARDIGANSHIRE). - -"Cae Halog," at Llanbadarn-fawr means "Desecrated Field." The tradition -in the neighbourhood is, that in former times people met together at -this spot to indulge in games and contests on Sundays, thus breaking -the Sabbath. - - - -MOUNT AND VERWICK (CARDIGAN). - -It was customary in former times for the people of this district to -meet together on the First Sunday after New Year's Day, called by them -"Sul Coch" (Red Sunday), when wrestling, football, etc., took place, -to commemorate a victory over the Flemings. - -In the neighbouring parish of Llangoedmore, is St. Cynllo's Cave, -where, according to ancient tradition, the holy Saint prayed, and -where marks of his knees are to be seen in the rocks. - - - -MAENCLOCHOG (PEMBROKESHIRE). - -It is said that this parish received its name from a stone which -sounded like a bell. An old man named John Griffiths, informed me -that he remembered this stone, which was a very large one, and that -people broke it up in order to see what caused it to sound. - - - -HIGHMEAD (CARDIGANSHIRE). - -There are old traditions that an ancient Welsh King, named Pryderi -Ap Pwyll, had a palace here, somewhere on the river side, on a spot -known according to the Mabinogion, as "Rhuddlan Teivi." The present -mansion is the country residence of Colonel Davies-Evans, the worthy -Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire, who informed me that Sir John Rhys, -Oxford, has been trying to discover traces of Pryderi's palace. - -I dealt with this subject in a paper which I read at Highmead, June, -1910, before the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society, and which is to -be published in the Transactions of that Society. I may also add that -the Lord Lieutenant and Mrs. Davies-Evans are among my best friends -in South Wales, and I have made much use of their valuable library. - - - -GOGERDDAN (NEAR ABERYSTWYTH). - -The late John Jones, Bristol House, Talybont, informed me six years -ago, that there is a tradition in the neighbourhood that Henry -VII. called at Gogerddan when on his way through Cardiganshire to -Bosworth Field. Henry had been entertained at Wern Newydd and Llwyn -Dafydd in the south of the county. Gogerddan is the ancient residence -of the genial baronet, Sir Edward Webley-Parry-Pryse. - - - -LLANGYNLLO (CARDIGANSHIRE). - -There is a tradition in this parish, that in ancient times, the -Romans put to death a young woman in the neighbourhood of Gernos, -and that her spirit haunted the spot for generations. At first, -she appeared as a cat, and afterwards as a "White lady." - -There is a tradition that a son of Howell Dda, King of Wales, lived -in the neighbouring district of Dyffryn Cerri. - - - -LLANGWYRYFON (CHURCH OF THE VIRGINS). - -Tradition says that this parish received is name from eleven thousand -Welsh virgins, who were massacred by barbarians on the coast of -Germany. The virgins were on their way to Brittany. - - - -PENBRYN (CARDIGANSHIRE). - -According to my friend, the Rev. Prys Williams (Brythonydd), there -is a farm in this parish called "Perth Geraint"; and it is probable -that Geraint, one of King Arthur's knights was buried somewhere in -this neighbourhood, as tradition locates in the parish of Penbryn, -the "Battle of Llongborth," at which Geraint was killed. This is -the Geraint who figures in the Mabinogion, and in Tennyson, as the -knight who married the young Lady Enid, who is described as "comely -and graceful." - -There is a stone near Troed-y-Rhiw, which, according to tradition, -was an ejected pebble from the clog of a giant who lived in the -district in ancient times. - - - -CILGERRAN (PEMBROKESHIRE). - -It is said that the spot where the remains of the Castle now stand, -was known in ancient times as "Dyngeraint," so named from Geraint, one -of King Arthur's Knights. This is the Geraint I have just mentioned -above in connection with the traditions of Penbryn, Cardiganshire, a -parish which is only about seven miles distance from Cilgerran. Arthur -and his Knights figure prominently in the traditions of Pembrokeshire, -and there is a legend of a battle fought by Arthur's sons in the -neighbourhood of Precelly. - - - -GORSYGEDOL (MERIONETHSHIRE). - -Lady Enid Vaughan, daughter of Countess Lisburne, and sister of the -young Earl of Lisburne, informed me that there is a tradition in -the neighbourhood of Harlech that Charles I. during the Civil War, -was at one time hiding at Gorsygedol, and that the bedstead in which -he slept is still to be seen there. Near the same old mansion is a -large stone known as "Coeten Arthur"--Arthur's coit. - - - -NICK-NAMES, OLD AND POPULAR SAYINGS. - - - "There is one-half of him in Penboyr." - - -"Angylion Ceinewydd, Gwartheg Llanarth, Hwrddod Cilcennin." (New -Quay's angels, Llanarth's cows, Cilcennin's rams.) - - - "Gwyr Llanddeusant, capan crwyn, - Lladron defaid, mamau'r wyn." - - (Llanddeusant men, skin caps, - Sheep stealers, lambs's mothers.) - - "Moch Sir Benfro." - (Pembrokeshire pigs.) - - -It is probable that Pembrokeshire was the particular part of Britain -into which pigs were first introduced. In the Mabinogion, Gwydion tells -Math, son of Mathonwy, Lord of North Wales, that Pryderi, Lord of the -South, had some beasts called pigs. Pryderi, though he had a palace -at Rhuddlan Teivi, in Cardiganshire, was a Pembrokeshire Prince, and -it would seem that his chief palace was still at Narberth, and that -he introduced some of his pigs from Pembrokeshire into Cardiganshire. - - - "Esmwyth yw Cwsg cawl Erfin." - (Easily sleeps turnip broth.) - - -In the "Cambrian Notes and Queries," reprinted from the "Weekly mail," -March, 1902, I.H.A. says: "There were two families living in two small -cottages somewhere in a secluded spot on one of the slopes of the Black -Mountain, Carmarthenshire, both in very straitened circumstances. The -paterfamilias' names were John and David. John found a way out of -the difficulty of rearing a family upon the salary earned by farm -labourers in those days by stealing a sheep now and then from the -mountain flocks. His family very often had mutton broth and plenty of -meat for supper while David's family had to sup upon a piece of coarse -bread and turnip broth. Upon a certain night David had enjoyed his -usual repast and gone to bed. Mrs. David had gone to the "next door" to -view the feast, when suddenly two constables of the old fashion, made -their appearance to demand the body of friend John, his depredations -having been found out. Mrs. David was frightened and ran into her -own house. She then called her husband. 'David! David! Come down at -once; they are going to take John of the next door to prison.' 'No,' -says David, 'I will sleep on'-- - - - "Esmwyth y Cwsg cawl erfin." - (Easily sleeps turnip broth.) - - -The above saying is well-known all over Wales, but in the northern -part of the Principality people say, "Esmwyth y cwsg potes faip." What -is known as "Cawl erfin" in South Wales, is known in North Wales as -"potes faip." - -Another similar saying which I have heard many a time is "Esmwyth -cwsg cawl dwr"--easily sleeps water broth. - -Mr. John Davies, of the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, in the -"Cambrian Notes and Queries," says: "'Esmwyth cwsg cawl dwr' is an old -saying in Cardiganshire, especially in the parish of Llandyssul. About -the year 1830 my grandfather was constable of the parish, 'Lladron -Defaid' (sheep stealers) were very popular at that time; so old Siams -Isaac, of Pantrhedynen, was called from his bed one winter night to -take a prisoner to Cardigan Gaol, who was caught red-handed in the -act of killing the sheep in his house. On the road going from Horeb -to Newcastle Emlyn the constable and prisoner went into a public -house and called for a pint of beer and bread and cheese each. After -resuming their journey for about a hundred yards, the landlady of the -public house called after them that the man had stolen a knife from -the house. A search was made, and the knife was found in the pocket -of the 'Lleidr Defaid.' After the usual compliment of a few rounds of -old-fashioned boxing, he was taken safely to a place of correction, -and never returned to Tregroes. So the old woman who happened to live -next door always said to John, her husband, 'Esmwyth cwsg cawl dwr -John bach,' (water broth, easy sleep, John dear). - - - -"CYNGHOR GWRAIG HEB EI OFYN." - -(A Woman's advice without asking for it). - -When King Henry VII. (then Earl of Richmond) was on his way through -Wales to Bosworth Field, he consulted Dafydd Llwyd of Mathavarn, as -to the final issue of the coming struggle with Richard III. Dafydd -was a country gentleman, a bard, a wizard, and a prophet. On this -occasion, however, he did not know how to prophecy, and was greatly -perplexed. Fortunately, his wife was a very shrewd woman, who, having -discovered her husband's embarrassment or trouble of mind, secretly -advised him to tell Henry that he would be successful in dethroning -Richard III. and in making himself King. She assured her husband that -if the prediction failed of its fulfilment, he would hear no more on -the subject, but that it would make his fortune if confirmed by the -event. Henry went on his way to Bosworth, rejoicing, and we know that -the prophecy became true. Hence originated the proverb, "Cynghor gwraig -heb ei ofyn," which implies that it is always a good thing to follow -a woman's advice, when she gives you an advice without asking for it. - -In an old book entitled "The History of the Principality of Wales, -etc.," by Robert Burton, published as early as the year 1695, the -writer when speaking of Cardiganshire says:--"They have a proverb -'Bu Arthur ond tra fu'; that is, 'Arthur was only whilst he was.' It -is honourable for old men if they can say, 'We have been brave -fellows.' They have another proverb, 'Ni thorres Arthur nawdd gwraig,' -that is, 'King Arthur never violated the refuge of a woman.' For -the King was the mirror of knighthood. By the woman's refuge we may -understand her tongue, (and no valiant man will revenge her words -with his blows)." - -The above sayings mentioned by Robert Burton 200 years ago have fallen -into disuse now, but I have occasionally heard, "Ni thorres Arthur -nawdd gwraig." - - - -CHALKING THE DOOR-STEP. - -The following appeared in the "Western Mail," December 3rd, 1910:-- - -According to a work just published on South Pembrokeshire, the custom -prevailing in that part of the country of chalking the door-step dates -back to Druidical times. The object of this chalking was to keep evil -spirits out of the house. The patterns run round the slated steps, -and, elaborate as they often are, the essential thing is that there -should be no gap in them, because the evil spirits could enter into -the house through the gaps. Does this custom prevail in all parts -of Wales? It undoubtedly does in Carmarthenshire, Cardiganshire, -Glamorgan, and Pembrokeshire. - - - -WAKES IN RADNORSHIRE. - -The following account by an eye-witness of a Wake at Disserth, on -July 9th, 1744, will prove of interest:-- - -"At the end of a mead, by this river side (the R. Ieithon), -were a company dancing in a barn. They were about nine couple, -genteely dressed, and all people of fortune and fashion, and I may -with security say, the best and most active country dancers I ever -saw. We observed that the men were gay and genteel, handsome, and -well shaped; the women were genteel without pride, modest without -affectation, beautiful without art, and free without fondness. The -generous hand of nature appeared in every face, unspotted with the -artful follies of this degenerate age. It gave me a strong idea -of the happiness and simplicity of the ancient Britons before the -Roman and other corruptions overwhelmed the now refined part of the -island (as we are pleased to term it). But these zealots for liberty -maintained their independency long, and under this happy government -they continue (and they never end) their innocent customs, manners -and recreations. A favourite dance (Bumpers Squire Jones) I saw -them perform with the greatest spirits, order and exactness ... the -churchyard, which, though large, was filled with people of almost all -ages and qualities. Near this, was a little house, where we put off our -riding coats, etc. The church is a strong building, and pretty large, -against the tiles of which were a dozen lusty young fellows playing -at tennis, and as many against the steeple at fives. They played very -well, but spoke (as almost every one else did) in the Welsh tongue. On -one side of the church were about six couples dancing to one violin, -and just below three or four couples to three violins, whose seat was a -tombstone. We saw common games of ball played against the sacred pile, -and there also music playing over the bones of the deceased. We were in -the middle of a merry, noisy throng, without knowing their language, -or indeed almost anything they said."--Church Plate of Radnorshire, -by J. T. Evans, quoted from "Pryse's Handbook." - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] King George and Caroline. - -[2] A pot for cooking. - -[3] "British Goblins," page 67. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales, by -Jonathan Ceredig Davies - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOLK-LORE OF WEST AND MID-WALES *** - -***** This file should be named 53915-8.txt or 53915-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/9/1/53915/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously -made available by Cornell University Digital Collections) - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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