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 «
 
 thl: doom 
 
 OF 
 
 COLYN DOLPHYN, 
 
 A POEM; 
 
 WITH NOTES 
 
 ILLUSTRATIVE 
 
 OF VARIOUS TRADITIONS 
 
 OF 
 
 GLAMORGANSHIRE. 
 
 BY TALIESIN WILLIAMS. 
 
 "Saint Donnts I consider almost Sacred Ground." 
 
 Rev. J. M. Traherne. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 LONGMAN, REES, ORME, AND Co. ; 
 
 WHITE, ME«TMVR; BIRD, CARDIFF; WIl.M \MS, SWANSEA ; 
 
 AM) OTFIER BOOKSELLERS. 
 
 1837.
 
 PR 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MOST NOBLE 
 
 JOHN CRICHTON STUART, 
 
 MARQUIS OF BUTE, 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
 LORD LIEUTENANT AND CUSTOS ROTULORUM, 
 OF THE COUNTY OF GLAMORGAN, 
 
 THIS POEM, 
 
 RELATrNG TO THAT COUNTY, 
 
 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 BY HIS HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 8GS3S3
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The subjects that occupy the first Canto of 
 this Poem, were selected for the purposes of 
 elucidating Ancient British Mythologies, and 
 introducing- to public notice, the superstitions 
 that have prevailed in the Principality of Wales. 
 Such topics may not, by some, be deemed worthy 
 of consideration ; but the testimonies of most 
 learned writers concur in asserting that the cre- 
 dulities, ceremonies, and rites of nations, present 
 strong evidences of their comparative progression 
 in the arts and sciences of social order, and of 
 literature. Wales, so fertile in her records, and 
 oral remains of ancient usages, has, hitherto, 
 been almost entirely neglected by her Saxon 
 neighbours ; — nor have her own sons rallied, in 
 the best ardour of nationality, under the moul- 
 dering banner of her ancient lore. 
 
 However defective this little publication, now 
 presented, with unfeigned diffidence, to notice, 
 may be justly deemed, a cherished hope 
 brightens to my view that it will stimulate 
 abler pens to investigate the Legends and 
 Ancient History of the land of my Fathers. 
 
 The scene of the second Canto, opens on the 
 shore, a short distance westward of St. Donats'
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Castle; an ancient seat of great distinction, 
 situated contiguous to the Bristol Channel ; 
 and just opposite to Portlock Bay, in Somer- 
 setshire : it afterwards lies at the Castle ; and 
 ultimately, in the third Canto, immediately below 
 it, near the verge of the high cliffs that, there, 
 bound the Severn. 
 
 The circumstances of Sir Harry Stradling's 
 seizure at sea, by Colyn Dolphyn, his detention 
 there until ransomed ; and the shipwreck and 
 execution of that Pirate;— for no actual trial 
 appears to have taken place — must have occurred 
 a few years previous to 1477 ; — at which time, 
 that Knight went on a pilgrimage, to the Holy 
 Sepulchre; whence he never more returned 
 home. 
 
 From the Memoirs prefixed to the Notes, 
 which are partially sustained by Sir Edward 
 Stradling's account of his Family, written in 
 1572, — by the Records in St. Donats' Church, — 
 and by other coincident proofs; — it appears 
 that Colyn and all his surviving crew were sum- 
 marily hanged, immediately after their capture. 
 
 The Christmas Festival, at which the old 
 Huntsman relates his tale, is supposed to have 
 taken place soon after the Sir Edward just 
 mentioned came to the title and estates : — about 
 1552.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Canto I. — The Vase.— The Huntsman 9 
 
 - II.— The Shipwreck.— .The Trial 29 
 
 III. — The Execution 55 
 
 Explanatory Remarks 81 
 
 Memoirs of the Stradlings 84 
 
 Notes to Canto 1 105 
 
 II 148 
 
 III 153 
 
 Comparative View of Genealogies 158
 
 The Reader is requested to correct the following 
 
 ERRATA, 
 
 and any other that may have escaped the Author's observation. 
 
 Page 70, line 9, from bottom, for palid, read pallid. 
 71, — 2, from bottom, for when, read where. 
 
 NOTES. 
 
 Page 97, last line, /or All Saints', read All Souls'. 
 106, line 17, for attrocities, read atrocities. 
 123, — 7, from bottom, for Britains, read Britons. 
 152, — 13, /or decent, read descent.
 
 THE DOOM 
 
 OF 
 
 COLYN DOLPHYN. 
 
 CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 Efir ©asic*— Eitc ILjimtmnati* 
 
 The harp had poured its joyous chime 
 To many a tale of olden time ; 
 The Minstrel blind, whose skilful hand 
 Could music's sweetest tones command, 
 The chords to lofty strains had swept. 
 Of Bards who long in death had slept ; 
 The charms of ode and song had ceas'd. 
 And all had shared the generous feast 
 In Stradling's hall of ancient date ; — 
 Hall of the good, — the only groat, — 
 The hall that now is desolate ; —
 
 10 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto i. 
 
 Then, while the moments wing'd away 
 In radiant smiles and converse gay. 
 Sir Edward beckon'd ; — at his nod 
 The page, emburthen'd, cautious trod 
 The festive hall,. — and soon, well stored, 
 The Vase Paternal deck'd the board. 
 An ancient bowl with figures fraught. 
 By curious skill profusely wrought; 
 Emboss'd, the ample convex bore 
 Emblems of Cambria's history hoar ; 
 Fair portraits of her Chieftains bold ; 
 Symbols of deeds in triads told. 
 
 The storied surface first display'd 
 Two forms, in partial vests array 'd. 
 Beneath an oak : — unknown their date. 
 Their tale unknown, whate'er their fate. 
 Wearied with vain attempts to trace 
 Their course among the human race, 
 Conjecture, foil'd, its powers resign'd ; 
 Their record Time had left behind. 
 
 The next compartment brought anew 
 Primeval worship to the view.
 
 Cantoi.] the vase.— the HUNTSMAN. H 
 
 At high solstitial tide : 
 A circle rais'd for holy rite, 
 In face of day, and eye of light ; 
 Where Ancient Britain's Druids grey, 
 From sacred cromlech, pour'd the lay 
 
 To Peace and Heaven allied. 
 
 Next on the spacious vase appear 'd 
 The Chief to Britain most endear'd ; 
 Who tutor'd first her sons to wield 
 The amis of Agriculture's field. 
 Blest arms ! that win, in ways of peace, 
 The harvest's manifold increase. 
 Yes, there was seen, in fair relief, 
 Clas Merddin's patriarchal chief; 
 Even Hu the mighty's patriot form. 
 Who nobly brav'd the surge and storm. 
 In course advent'rous o'er the main, 
 From DefFrobani's orient plain ; 
 While on his generous arm he bore 
 The fertile plough to Cambria's shore. 
 
 Onward, in curious robe, was seen 
 Stern Rhitta Gawr's majestic mien;
 
 13 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPIIYN. [Canto 
 
 While Potentates, of beards despoil'd. 
 In useful arts obedient toil'd 
 At his command : — how quell'd their pride. 
 That, erst, had earth and Heaven defied. 
 
 In scene succeeding, pictured well. 
 The Champions of Delusion strong 
 
 Arose in view ; — by phantom spell 
 They led the wond'ring crowd along. 
 
 First of Delusion's trine, portray'd, 
 Appear'd, in rugged robe array'd. 
 Mysterious Math, — whose daring pore 
 Discern'd the fount of awful lore : 
 Who taught, in years of lengthen *d age. 
 While on the verge of mortal stage. 
 To Gwdion, theme of ancient lay, 
 Lord of the star-gemm'd milky-way, 
 The art terrific, which, to find. 
 Transmutes the powers of human mind . 
 
 Confederate stood, distinguish'd well 
 For art occult, and features fell, 
 Meny w, the marvel of his age, 
 Who own'd no earthly parentage :
 
 Canto i.] THE VASE.— THE HUNTSMAN. 18 
 
 Strange off^^pring of the shriekiiii^ sound 
 That thrice transpierc'd the Deep profound ; 
 Mcuy w, who taught his secret dread 
 To Uthyr of the dragon head. 
 
 Last of the mystic trine appear'd 
 Ruddlwmthe red, of grey-grim beard, 
 Whose form gigantic, fearful glare, 
 From paths he trod at once might scare 
 Earth's minor sons. — In cavern dark, 
 His frame distorted, visage stark. 
 Thro' years of long probation pent. 
 An ordeal dread he underwent. 
 Taught by the Dwarf, Perdition's heir, 
 Who liv'd but in mephitic air, 
 By science inarticulate. 
 He read the future rolls of fate. 
 
 The mind, opprest by gloomy thought, 
 The sixth, the last compartment sought ; 
 Where famed Cyfeiliog's Chief appear'd ; 
 His liberal hand the Hirlas rear'd, 
 While round the Prince, in order placed, 
 Bard, Judge, and Priest the banquet graced ;
 
 14 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto i. 
 
 And there the Cambrian minstrel grey 
 Struck the wild harp, and sang his lay. 
 
 Each side, beneath the storied zone, 
 A proud escutcheon fairly shone, 
 Finely portray'd by later hand. 
 Whereon the pleas'd beholder scann'd 
 Emblazon'd arms of high degTee, 
 That told of ancient chivalry. 
 Arms by the mighty Stradlings won, 
 Thro' high emprize, from sire to son ; 
 Arms sternly gain'd, in battle toil, 
 Beneath the cross, on paynim soil.' — 
 The motto, on their shield display 'd, — 
 (Sotr anl? cnonsft,** — their hope convey'd. 
 
 *^ 
 
 A Lion's form the bend supplied 
 To raise the bowl on dexter side ; 
 And, flexured o'er its costly brink. 
 The sylvan monarch fain would drink ; 
 But paus'd awhile, as if to view. 
 At concave base, the radiant hue 
 Of Sapphire bright, that charm'd the eye 
 With gleams of pure cerulean dye.
 
 Canto i.] THE VASE.— Til K HUNTSMAN. I/i 
 
 Confronting, rose a Dragon bold, 
 And, curving, form'd the other hold. 
 Startling his glare, and barb'd his tongue, 
 Which forth from mouth of fangs he flung. 
 
 Meet symbols these of Bacchus' power 
 
 In reason and in riot's hour. 
 
 Of generous might, the forest's lord. 
 
 In emblem, tells of Friendship's board, 
 
 Where Prince, and Sage, and tuneful Bard, 
 
 To sterling worth pay first regard. 
 
 The monster dire presents a sign 
 
 Of maddening broil, at midnight wine, 
 
 When, Reason fled, in fierce array. 
 
 Envenom 'd Rage assumes the sway. 
 
 Gilded within, the beamy shine 
 
 Blazed brightly thro' the purple wine : 
 
 So glows the soul that worth displays, 
 
 And such celestial virtue's rays. 
 
 An eagle's talon'd limb sustain'd 
 The fount nectareous, never stain'd 
 By hands impm-c, — that never gave 
 Its flood polluted lips to lave.
 
 16 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto i. 
 
 The ample claws, in tensive brace, 
 
 Had deeply piere'd a silver base ; 
 
 And thus in splendid hall, to grace, 
 
 With form superb, its festive place, 
 
 Stood the great vase, of rich design, 
 
 The gift of Cynfyn's lofty line. 
 
 Now wine, that blush'd like rosy morn, 
 
 And Cambria's mead, from Cambria's horn, 
 
 Inspir'd the mirth without alloy 
 
 That cheer'd the sumptuous hall of joy. 
 
 Then look'd the Knight, with anxious eye. 
 His ancient Huntsman to descry ; — 
 For never mirthful festival, 
 Thro' years long told, had graced that hall, 
 But Howel, there, still found a seat ; — 
 Boon soul ! of tale and song replete. 
 
 A man of legends wild was he. 
 
 And nurtur'd in credulity ; 
 
 Whose mind the tales of magic spell, 
 
 And cross-road ghosts, had treasur'd well. 
 
 Of fairies' dance, when found array 'd. 
 
 By midnight moon, in gloomy glade,
 
 Canto i.J THE V ASK.— THE HUNTSMAN. 17 
 
 And of their rings and music wild. 
 Well stored his memory, from a child : 
 Of phantoms grim, with eyes of wrath. 
 Haunting belated traveller's path. 
 Ere yet the morning chanter crew, 
 His earliest warning, much he knew. 
 
 Oft would he say that once he view'd, 
 Although by no weak fear subdued, 
 Gliding along from his own room. 
 The light that heralds to the tomb ; 
 While yet the doom'd, in health's career 
 But little thought of death so near : 
 And, brief the period ere his wife, 
 (So frail the thread of human life,) 
 Was laid, — no human aid could save, 
 From fever's fury, in the grave. 
 
 Such tales, congenial to his soul. 
 He cherish'd, — and believ'd the whole; — 
 For, tinged in superstition's hue, 
 From dreams of fancy facts he drew^ : 
 Nor would he deign n moment's heed 
 To him who doubted aught his creed.
 
 18 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto i. 
 
 But age's withering, freezing hand 
 What mortal vigour can withstand ? 
 It fades the bloom of manly grace ; 
 It ploughs the failing form and face; 
 Unstrings the nerve ; — nor does it spare 
 The human roof, but lays it bare. 
 
 Howel that icy hand had felt ; 
 Its morbid grasp had o'er him dealt 
 Prevailing torpor's influence dire; 
 For tho' of former ardour's fire 
 Some latent embers still remain'd. 
 That youth and manhood erst sustain'd, 
 Yet weak the flickering, ere it past ; 
 Like torch consum'd, that blaz'd its last. 
 
 Extreme his years ; — stern time had sped 
 Full twenty lustrums o'er his head ; 
 That head which seem'd, while vigour sway'd. 
 In locks exuberant array 'd ; 
 But, ere they ceas'd to meet the view, 
 Age long had changd their sable hue ; 
 And now, that hair, (so fades away 
 The grace of man by sure decay)
 
 Canto i.] THP: VASE.— THE HUNTSMAN. ly 
 
 In time's successive lapse, had gone 
 
 From black to white ; — from white to none ; — 
 
 Save that the eye mig:ht ken, with care, 
 
 A shrivell'd loiterer, here and there. 
 
 And had some friend he valued, when 
 He rose to strength, but seen him then, 
 He might, perchance, have deeply sigh'd 
 To view such wreck of manhood's pride : 
 But those who knew his youtii and prime 
 Had vanish'd on the stream of time. 
 
 Howel, absorb 'd in pensive mind, 
 To scenes of long lost years inclined. 
 With look demure, and drooping head. 
 Perchance bethought him of the dead. 
 Nor can we marvel that if fain 
 He would renew those scenes again ; 
 For all his lines of life were cast 
 'Mong liberal masters, to the last ; 
 And dear the strength'ning ties that bind 
 Man's nature to the good and kind. 
 
 The worthy Knight, with grief impress'd. 
 His generous sympathy exprcss'd,
 
 30 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto i. 
 
 As memory retrospective ran. 
 While thus he view'd the aged man. 
 Oh! he hadknown him hale and bold ; 
 Oi" form athletic, strong of hold ; 
 Free in the chase ; of ardour vast ; 
 Even when his better days had past. 
 But now, with grief, his frame he view'd ; 
 His stooping shoulders, time-subdued. 
 Where oft, a child, he lov'd to climb ; 
 Which oft, full oft, in boyhood's time. 
 O'er rapid stream, thro' brake and mire. 
 Had borne him ; — and had borne his sire. 
 
 And then he thought, in careless days. 
 When stray'd his feet to error's ways. 
 How Howel's zeal, tho' indiscreet. 
 Would shield him from correction meet : 
 Aye, oft, when due restriction came. 
 Would snatch him from the worthy dame ; 
 For she would chide, when err'd the youth. 
 To guide him in the paths of truth ; 
 And now, by wisdom's precepts led. 
 The rays of virtue crown'd his head.
 
 Canto i.] THE VASE.— THE HUNTSMAN. 31 
 
 Sir P'dward, thus, while ancient zeal 
 ClaimM all his soul, in strong appeal. 
 Brooded, and sij^h'd, that nought could save 
 Staunch Howel, gathering to the grave. 
 
 But, tho' his failing eye was dim, 
 Tho' feebly moved each tott'ring limb, 
 Still faithful Memory held her seat ; 
 Still would he stories wild repeat ; — 
 His amply store could still supply 
 The tales of ages long gone by. 
 
 Again the Knight the veteran scann'd, 
 And gently press'd his quiv'ring hand ; 
 Then, bending to his deaf'ning ear. 
 Kindly bespoke him word of cheer ; — 
 ** Good Howel, ever welcome here. 
 Gladly I fill thy horn once more ; — 
 Then quaff the mead to days of yore : 
 Thou saw'st, and now can'st well retrace, 
 Sir Harry's manly form and grace : 
 I'd give ray heritage to see 
 Him here on earth : — it may not be ; 
 Heaven grant I yet, among the blest, 
 May sec him in supernal rest.
 
 22 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto i. 
 
 Recall thy youthful years, — relate 
 The tale of Colyn Dolphyn's fate." 
 
 Old Hovvel rais'd his palsied head. 
 Received the horn, and drank the mead ; 
 But, ere he quaff'd, he gave the toast. 
 Thro' life's long years he valued most : 
 "To good Sir Harry's deathless name!" 
 And from his inmost soul it came. 
 
 Awhile the old man's tears were shed. 
 As on his staff he laid his head ; — 
 Anon, around a glance he cast ; — 
 Then paus'd, — and ponder'd o'er the past ; 
 Review'd old Chiefs, and trac'd their ways, 
 Thro' vista dim of early days : 
 And as they rose to life anew. 
 Associates numerous sprang to view. — 
 One feature strong, — like leader vain, 
 Marshall'd a thousand in its train ; 
 Then with them burst, from memory's gloom, 
 Colyn's dread crimes, and awful doom ! 
 And, thus replete with deeds of old. 
 His tale the centenarian told.
 
 Canto i.] THE VASE.— THE HUNTSMAN. 23 
 
 But ere the theme ciigross'd his mind, 
 To former habits still inclined, 
 While yet to fav'rite scenes he clung, 
 Excursive stray 'd the old man's tongue. 
 
 i^otoeriS Sale. 
 
 One Winter's noon, — I then was hale, 
 And little reck'd the piercing gale, 
 Tho' now, (why should I gi-ieve to share 
 The lot assign'd mankind to bear ?) 
 My blood inert, my senses quell 'd, 
 I shiver in the frost of eld : 
 Yet, tho' enveloped in decay. 
 Recall I still that stirring day ; 
 By memory well retain'd in view ; 
 The proudest day I ever knew, 
 When first, to fix my rural fame, 
 Sir Harry's huntsman I became. 
 Sir Hariy, good and kind ! to whom. 
 Returning from the Holy Tomb, 
 Distinguish'd Famagusta gave. 
 In sacred shrine, a pilgrim's grave.
 
 24 Till': DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN, [Canto i. 
 
 Yet, tho' this world his soiil has spum'd, 
 
 And his fine form to dust has turn'd, 
 
 These many years, I cherish, still. 
 
 His memory, with devoted will ; 
 
 And tho' the Christian, ever blest. 
 
 Reposes in celestial rest, 
 
 Still fancy gives him to my sight, 
 
 In thoughts of day, — in dreams of night. 
 
 Howe'er, — before the earliest ray 
 Broke forth, to warn the gloom away. 
 Of that remote, eventful day. 
 At sound of horn, with ardour high, 
 Muster'd the pack in jovial cry ; 
 And soon, — nor were our efforts vain, 
 The Knight and I, and all the train, 
 Chas'd many a stag o'er hill and plain. 
 
 Buan, Sir Harry's fav'rite hound, 
 Buan, whose feet scarce touch'd the ground, 
 Thrice swift o'er all the hunting train. 
 That never challenged aught in vain, 
 T^rged on, that morning, far a-hcad ; 
 Triumphant iirg'd, so well he sped.
 
 Canto I.] THE VASE.— THE HUNTSMAN. 25 
 
 Oh ! how it joy 'd my soul to trace 
 The devious windings of the chase ; — 
 Dashing, anon, in rapid race, 
 Adown the slope, thro' copse and glado, 
 Verging the forest's deeper shade ; — 
 Now thro' the wood, in chorus sweet. 
 Then bursting out, with flying feet, 
 And darting o'er each craggy steep, 
 They thread the dingle dark and deep. 
 
 But I have wandered, and I crave 
 Forgiveness, — ^hovering o'er the grave ! 
 
 One Winter's noon, — but, since that day. 
 
 Full eighty years have pass'd away ; 
 
 And all who saw the pirate's form. 
 
 Beside myself, and felt the storm 
 
 That rose in boom and thimder-roll. 
 
 To claim his breath, and wing his soul. 
 
 Have moulder'd in the clay-cold tomb, — • 
 
 Save old Gwenllian of the coomb. 
 
 Who still survives, to ponder o'er 
 
 The dark'ning past, with mental pore, — 
 
 She lives ;■ — but scenes of feat and glee 
 
 Poor time-Avom Gwen no more shall see : 
 
 D
 
 26 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto i. 
 
 Withdrawn from labour's active throng. 
 The couch of age has held her long. — 
 All ! all ! whom else in youth I knew. 
 Have bidden mundane friends adieu ; 
 Have past, — no more to earth allied. 
 The mystic bourn of human tide. — 
 Yet still I live, to pain consign'd. 
 Obtuse to converse,' — almost blind. 
 And to the nook of age confined. 
 
 A joyful chase, the other day, 
 
 Hard by the castle gate, they say, 
 
 Brush'd on, with manv a shout and cheer ! — 
 
 I heard it not, so deaf my ear \ 
 
 Grown almost senseless to the sound 
 
 Of huntsman's horn, or tuneful hound. 
 
 Ah me ! with health and vigour fraught. 
 In manhood's date, I little thought 
 The time would come, that all subdued. 
 The hand of keen decrepitude 
 Would crush me : — but I long have found. 
 While death's stern heralds gather round. 
 And more and more my strength decays. 
 Labour and sorrow's nerveless days !
 
 Canto I.] THE VASE.— THE HUNTSMAN. 27 
 
 Bewilder'd in the mazy tale, 
 
 The huntsman's memory seera'd to fail ; 
 
 For scarce a prying look he cast. 
 
 In mental vision, o'er the past. 
 
 Than, by his ruling passion svvay'd. 
 
 To hounds and horns his fancy stray'd. 
 
 The Knight, tho' much he wishd to hear 
 The tale pursued, express'd his fear 
 That aged Howel, time oppressed. 
 Had long required reviving rest. 
 
 An ancient Hirlas now he fiU'd, 
 Meantime his heart with kindness thrill'd. 
 And to the veteran's hand he held 
 The draught mellifluous, that dispell'd. 
 Awhile, of years the weary pain, 
 Somewhat renew'd exertion's reign. 
 And cheer'd the heart to joy again. 
 
 The high ton'd harp at once renews 
 Its swells extatic, that diffuse 
 A varied joy : — the vocal train 
 Advance, — ambitious to sustain
 
 28 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto i. 
 
 Their cherish'd fame ; and triplets rise. 
 Which well record the maxims wise 
 Of Cambria's Bards ; — which still impart 
 Precepts refined, to raise the heart. 
 
 While music thus bestow'd its zest. 
 Pleasure was high in every breast ; 
 And ladies fair, in health's high bloom, 
 Breath'd fragrant zephyrs round the room. 
 
 By kindness cheer'd, and genial rest, 
 Howel's rekindling glance exprest 
 A mind from languors pain releas'd; — 
 And soon the harp and singer ceas'd, 
 While, now renew'd, the tale was told 
 That seized the soul of young and old. 
 
 END or CANTO THli FIRST-
 
 THE DOOM 
 
 OF 
 
 COLYN DOLPHYN. 
 
 CANTO THE SECOND. 
 
 arhe fthtptotecft — arite arrtaU
 
 THE DOOM 
 
 OF 
 
 COLYN DOLPHYN, 
 
 CANTO THE SECOND. 
 
 Wit ^iitplDvccft*— ^lic ZB^mK 
 
 One Winter's noon, a dubious sail 
 Came on, impell'd by giistful gale : 
 North-east, in course oblique, she bore ; 
 And seem'd to seek Dunraven's shore. 
 With canvass reef'd, in rapid sweep. 
 She dash'd impetuous thro' the deep. — 
 The ruthless waves beset her course ; 
 Assailing with redoubled force : 
 The while, like tempest's plaything, sent 
 In frolic, to and fro she went.
 
 32 THE DOOM OFCOLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ii. 
 
 Peril approachd,, in frightful form. 
 Confederate of the sea and storm : 
 Terrific storm ! that knew no pause ; 
 While spurnd the ship her rudder's laws. 
 And ocean's thousand, rabid jaws 
 
 Rear'd madly to devour. — 
 Now robed in surf, — now forward flung, — 
 That bark was seen the waves among, 
 
 Beyond the pilot's power. 
 
 Anon — with sail and cordage riven, — 
 On Tuscar's lurking sea-rocks driven, 
 A widely scatter'd wreck, she gave 
 Her crew to feed the gorging wave. — 
 The men, on ocean's mercy cast. 
 To drifting yard and spar held fast ; 
 Some, thus befriended, sought the shore j 
 And some, engulphed, were seen no more. 
 
 Wigmore's high point Sir Harry gain'd ; 
 Bulwark by nature well ordain'd 
 
 To brave the daring main ; 
 Whose waves have warr'd, from age to age. 
 Against its front, in ruthless rage ! 
 
 Have warr'd, — but warr'd in vain.
 
 CA>rro II.] THE SHIPWRECK.— THE TRIAL. 33 
 
 From this high station, could he view 
 The hapless, fast decreasing crew, 
 In struggle hard, — and, prompt to save. 
 Celestial Mercy's mandate gave, 
 
 Thus, to his faithful band :• — 
 Urge! urge I your steps thro' surf and gale, 
 To seize from death, — if aid avail, — 
 
 Yon seekers of the strand : 
 To those afar your boats be sent ; 
 These near, — the welcome line be lent : 
 Nor pause, — for bitter is the strife ; — 
 And keen the pang of parting life. 
 
 Dewryn, alert at every call. 
 
 In day of need, the friend of all. 
 
 Was vamvard in the start : 
 Tho' small his form, yet nature kind 
 Gave him the boon, of yore assign'd 
 To Ifor of the mighty mind, — 
 
 A noble, generous heart. 
 
 The Knight, whatever might betide. 
 Found Dewryn ever at his side ; 
 And oft his faith harl well hern tried, 
 
 V.
 
 34 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto n. 
 
 in weal, and eke in woe: 
 A better man he never knew ; — 
 In peace, he serv'd his interest true ; 
 
 In danger, faced his foe. 
 
 Tho' forward all, with ardour keen, 
 First in the wave was Dewryn seen ; 
 Aye, first, with helping hand, beside 
 The foremost in the hostile tide. 
 Whose brawny arm, and ample chest, 
 Impell'd him far beyond the rest.' — 
 Closely he view'd the man immense ; 
 Giving him all his visual sense ; 
 For, as this victim of the storm 
 Rear'd, in the wave, Herculean form, 
 And stood erect, in ample view, — 
 Fierce Colyn Dolphyn well he knew, — 
 Good cause, in sooth ,«— for he had lain. 
 Thro' weary months of want and pain. 
 Till ransom came, in durance dark, 
 A captive in the pirate's bark. 
 
 In calm, — in storm, — still Dewryn's mind 
 Was to sarcastic wit inclined ;
 
 Canto «.] THE SHIPWRECK.— THE TlilAL. 36 
 
 Nor could he now, midst scenes of woe, 
 His mucli-loved jeering joke forego ; 
 So, even in storm and ocean swell. 
 He thus address'd the Pirate fell : 
 
 Ho! Colyn! Satan's tough compeer. 
 
 At last his victim, art thou here? 
 
 Bear up, Old Dreadnought ,• hail ! what cheer ? 
 
 Come ! clear this pool — nor fume nor fret ; 
 
 Exalted fate awaits thee yet. 
 
 Scarce had the taunt sa,rcastic staid. 
 Than Colyn furious effort made 
 To meet the scoif, and to repay 
 The tongue that haifd his evil day. 
 
 Like monster fell, of deadly fang. 
 To gripe his prey, in wrath he sprang : 
 For, though assailed by spar and block, 
 Dash'd by the waves against the rock, 
 A shatter'd man, in piteous plight. 
 Yet, rage supreme rencw'd his might ; 
 And, but that comrades interpos'd, 
 Dewryn's career had there been clos'd.
 
 so THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ii. 
 
 The Boa thus, on torrid soil, 
 Darts fiercely forth from ambush'd coil. 
 And, arm'd with force constrictive, holds 
 The Tiger in its hopeless folds. 
 
 By force superior quell'd at last, 
 And held in iron bondage fast, 
 Along the dell their charge they led, 
 Where streamlet pure its hollow bed 
 Had deeply worn, in rapid course. 
 To join Sabrina's billows hoarse ; 
 
 Monknash its source salubrious knows. — 
 Now pass'd they gardens, — orchards sweet. 
 Where rich Pomona takes her seat, 
 Breathing pure fragrance o'er the plain, 
 In bounteous Autumn's fruitful reign ; 
 
 The reign that Nature's wealth bestows. 
 But then, beneath hoar Winter's air. 
 Nor fruit, nor odorous breath, was there. 
 
 Thro' Marcross on, — ^its House of Prayer 
 They pass'd, (and fell the Pirate's glare ! ) 
 Just as the Priest, with mournful mind. 
 Of youth had dust to dust consign'd.
 
 Canto n.] THE SHIPWRECK.— THE TRIAL. 37 
 
 The rural concourse, thither led 
 
 To pay sad duties to the dead, 
 
 Shrunk, shuddering, from the Pirate's path : 
 
 His darkened brow of gathering wrath ; 
 
 Shunning the wretch who hurried by 
 
 The chancel with averted eye : — 
 
 For sacred altar, — holy rite, — 
 
 Were scenes abhorrent to his sight. 
 
 Sir Harry's towers, as on they prest, 
 Arose in front, for welcome rest : — 
 The warder noAv, the train in view. 
 The heavy portal open threw ; 
 And then they bore, at twilight deep. 
 Their captive to the castle-keep. 
 
 Colyn, by no disaster quell'd, 
 Audacious threats of rescue held : 
 Spoke of confederates on the sea ; 
 Comrades he ween'd, who still might play. 
 To grace Sir Harry's Christmas sport, 
 A merry pastime in his Court ; 
 And hoped, tho' then by hosts beset, 
 To lead their lively gambols yet.
 
 38 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ri. 
 
 But, lest the threat, — which futile seem'd, — 
 
 Should in disaster be redeem'd, 
 
 And ruin rush, in reeking guise,— 
 
 The Knight, — to obviate such surprise — 
 
 Held, in the guard-room, council wise. 
 
 That fierce marauders ranged the sea,— 
 Fair order's outcasts, — prone to prey ; 
 A ruthless, crime-devoted race, 
 AVho gave no mercy, — craved no grace ; 
 In blood and plunder callous grown. 
 Was long, from sad experience, known. 
 And such, mayhap, in period brief, 
 Might sally, like nocturnal thief. 
 In vengeance, to release their chief. 
 
 Admonish'd, thus, by prudence grave. 
 The Knight his final mandate gave ; — 
 That only one revolving sun 
 Should in its course diurnal run. 
 Ere, by tribunal just arraign'd. 
 For laws of God and man disdain'd, 
 Colyn should freely plead his cause,— 
 And stand the test of Howel's laws.
 
 Canto II.] THE SHIPWRECK.— THE TRIAL. 39 
 
 Revolving soon, in rapid flight. 
 Morn, noon, and eve declin'd to niffht ; 
 And gloomy night again gave way 
 To radiant dawn, the source of day. 
 
 As morn arose, in blushing grace, 
 Beaming her rays o'er Nature's face, 
 Around the castle rang the jar 
 Of bolt withdrawn, and yielding bar : 
 
 The javelin men, at trumpet-call, 
 Were rang'd around the spacious hall : — 
 Then met the Coui't, in solemn state ; 
 Urgent the cause ; the duty great : 
 The judgment seat Sir Harry gi'aced ; 
 Below, the legal train were placed. 
 
 Then to the Court was Colyn led ; — 
 Fierce Colyn, of resounding tread, 
 Whose frame athletic, stature tall, 
 Like Saul in Israel, tower'd o'er all. — 
 And soon the criminal was seen 
 Full at the bar : — his scornful mien 
 Defiance told : — his burly form 
 Bore impress hard of many a storm.
 
 40 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ii. 
 
 Stranger alike to shame or awe, — 
 In seat confronting, tliere he saw 
 The Knight ; — and with malignant pore 
 Survey 'd him : — they had met before- 
 
 The course by ancient laws ordain'd 
 "Was by the Steward well sustain'd ; 
 Who, deeply skill'd in legal lore, 
 Prescribed by right and usage hoar, 
 Accusing read a fearful roll 
 Of crime, that aw'd the sternest soul. 
 
 Successive told the record long, 
 Sustain'd by attestation strong. 
 Of sire bereav'd ; — of orphan child ; — 
 Of Church despoil'd ; — of widow, wild 
 For husband slain by torture dire. 
 And peaceful home consigti'd to fire ; — 
 Of merchant plunder'd on the deep ; 
 Whose tale the ocean's archives keep. 
 
 Now paus'd the Court ; — and silence reign'd ; 
 Silence — that scarce a breath profaned ! 
 Silence — that granted kind relief 
 From sad recitals ; — tales of grief.
 
 Canto ii.] THE SHIPWRECK.— THE TRIAL. 41 
 
 While grateful for the brief repose 
 
 Appear 'd the Court, the Knight aro.se ; — 
 
 And every eye his aspect caught. 
 
 Ere yet he spoke, to read his thought. 
 
 Even Colyn's varying feature's proved 
 
 His ruthless soul was inly moved ; 
 
 Albeit his glance, in fury's fire, 
 
 Seem'd kindling with redoubled ire. 
 
 Sir Harry. 
 
 Colyn ! — thy conscious ears have heard 
 
 A crimson course of crime preferr'd 
 
 Against thy life : — Justice alone 
 
 Rules here : — Eternal Truth her throne : — 
 
 If thine the shield of innocence, 
 
 Then triumph. — What is thy defence? 
 
 Colyn. 
 
 Sir Harry Stradling! — here I stand. 
 
 Well gyved by thy supreme command ; — 
 
 My faithful crew, — my comrades bold, — 
 
 Are safely pent in prison hold ; 
 
 Save those, more blest, who found repose, 
 
 In ocean's couch, from toil and woes ; 
 
 And, by the rocking surge caress'd, 
 
 Were cradled to eternal rest. 
 
 F
 
 42 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto n. 
 
 Then what avails this pompous train ? 
 This specious form how very vain !— 
 Foredoom'd by thee, whatever my fate. 
 No brief delay would I create 
 By futile plea : — ^but friends have I, 
 Of fearless front ; — avengers nigh : — 
 Friends who may bid thy terrors cease 
 In death ; for numbered are thy days. 
 
 Tho' now thy dungeons dank detain 
 IVIy dauntless rovers of the main ; 
 Debarr'd the beaming eye of light,. — 
 Thine are they not by warrior might : 
 Prostrate, with scarce of life a gasp, 
 The tempest gave them to thy grasp : 
 The grasp that seiz'd them in the surge. 
 Senseless : — but fruitless all I urge. 
 To gain their freedom, — gallant crew ! 
 Whose equal leader never knew : 
 I may as well invoke the dead :- — ■ 
 Foreboding Prudence bids thee dread ! 
 Aye, dread the woe that might betide. 
 Were they at large thy towers beside.
 
 Canto ir.j THE SHIPWRECK.— THE TRIAL. 43 
 
 Why should they mar, puissant Knight ! 
 That goodly form so richly dight? 
 That face which tells of wine the power ? 
 Those eyes equipp'd for lady's bower ? 
 And it were sad they should deface 
 Those spangled bands of gold and lace ; 
 Thy doughty legion, valour fraught. 
 Who muster'd might, and stoutly fought. 
 By thee, redoubted champion, led, 
 Against the drowning and the dead. 
 
 A fair defence belongs to me ; — 
 Grant it, — or cease thy mockery. — 
 I crave, — who never craved before, — 
 Freedom to wield my brand once more : 
 Well has it cleared my course through life ;. 
 In peril oft, and dubious strife, — 
 And I would fain, ere cease my breath. 
 That it should pave my path to death. 
 
 Wouldst thou, from knighthood's chivalry 
 To this right hand, — from fetters free, — 
 Once more my trusty blade consign, — 
 Stern arguments would, then, be mine.
 
 44 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ii. 
 
 Now came the jurors on, — and gave 
 Their just resolve, in accents grave : — 
 And thus the sentence.. — Colyn ! list ! — 
 We doom thee to the wind and twist ;— 
 To writhe, — thou wolf of callous heart, — 
 Until thy soul and body part ! 
 
 When Colyn heard the sentence given. 
 Within his breast no string was riven ;-— 
 No nerve of latent hope was wrung ;— 
 No chord of social tie unstrung ; — 
 For generous thought was ne'er his own ; 
 Nor fibre fine, of tuneful tone. 
 
 The fate proclaim'd, — Sir Harry rose 
 To name the pirate's parting time ; 
 
 The final hour, that here should close 
 His dark career of crime. 
 
 Nor silent Colyn ; — he whose wrath 
 
 On mountain guilt was based ; 
 Who never sought the peaceful path 
 
 By Christian precept traced ; 
 Who now, — by no compunction pain'd, 
 A bitter colloquy sustain'd.
 
 Canto ii.] THE SHIPWRECK.— THE TRIAL. 46 
 
 Sir Harry. 
 
 Swift ! swift ! have been thy hands, to shed 
 The blood of man ; — the guiltless head 
 Has sunk beneath thy sword ; — thy thrust 
 Has sent all asres to the dust. 
 
 "o* 
 
 Thou, — in thy lust for blood elate, — 
 The young, the fair ! didst immolate ; — 
 Nay, e'en, — in rampant crime's excess, — 
 Didst slay from very wantonness : 
 Here stays thy course ; — thy guilt is o'er 5 — 
 And, — Colyn ! thou shalt slay no more, 
 
 COLYN. 
 
 Bravely ! Sir Harry ; — but when last. 
 On yonder wave, our converse past. 
 Composed, no grievous accents rung. 
 Denouncing, from thy courteous tongue. 
 
 If true the charges now preferr'd, 
 
 Thy sway would long have been deterr'd ; — 
 
 For, when a captive thou didst cower, 
 
 All quailing, to my ruling power. 
 
 Thine would have been, to quell thy pride, 
 
 A spacious grave in ocean wide ;—
 
 46 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ir. 
 
 Then would the lands, and lordships fair, 
 In ransom paid, have blest thy heir : 
 But thou didst cling, with coward hold, 
 To life ; — and I was poor in gold. 
 
 Sir Harry, 
 Wolf of the land, — of waveg the shark, — 
 What tongue can tell thy purpose dark ! — 
 But Truth in vain her powers employ 
 To him whose guilt is all his joy. 
 
 Still fresh, — 'preserved in memory's roll, — 
 
 The deed that gladdens now thy soul : 
 
 And never shall its record fail. 
 
 While mental energies avail. — 
 
 Still present seems the hapless day 
 
 That doom'd my pinnace for thy prey, 
 
 While bearing towards the English strand ; 
 
 By two domestics only mann'd, 
 
 To ply the oar : — ^but thou couldst boast. 
 
 Of swords and spears, a gleaming host. 
 
 Encounter'd, thus, in hopeless fight. 
 
 We could not, — did not brave thy might 5— 
 
 Yet, faithful Owen felt the blow 
 
 Thai sent him to the gulph below.
 
 Canto ii.] THE SlIirWRECK.-THE TRIM.. 47 
 
 COLYN. 
 
 Audacious he to bear away, 
 And baulk me of my golden prey : 
 Then, if I smote, 'twas but to stay 
 His servile arm ; — and such thy fate, 
 Had not thy gold prolonged thy date. 
 
 Sir Harry. 
 Unknown to Truth thy tale : — I spoke. 
 And Owen ceas'd his vigorous stroke ; 
 Nor longer vain resistance made, 
 Ere yet was rais'd thy murderous blade : 
 Still down it came, with wrathful force : 
 Its victim fell, a lifeless corse. 
 His blood th' ensanguin'd billow bore, 
 When he had sunk, to rise no more : — 
 As roll'd the crimson wave away, 
 I burn'd for retribution's day. 
 
 The ransom paid, I hoped, in time, 
 Thy life should answer for the crime. 
 How just that hope — I need not state : 
 Witness thy now impending fate. 
 
 Yet here untold had been the wrong, 
 Now blazon'd by thy daring tongue,
 
 48 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ji. 
 
 But for thy choice ; — nor shall it, still, 
 Assist thy cup of guilt to fill. 
 
 What vails exhorting voice ; — e'en now, 
 Of all thy crimes exultant thou : 
 Treading alas ! with fiendful glee, 
 The threshold of Eternity. — 
 Or dost thou still adhere to hope. 
 That vainly dreams of longer scope 
 To thee on earth ? — It must not be ; — 
 For, were I now to set thee free. 
 The blood, thy future course might shed. 
 Would call for vengeance on my head. 
 
 Thy day is come : — that vigorous frame, 
 And wrathful eye, shall soon be tame. 
 Not long that impious tongue shall hold 
 Its converse ; — motionless and cold. 
 Cold as the bones, on many a strand. 
 Of those who fell beneath thy hand ; 
 Its sound shall cease of rage or glee : — 
 But, when from earthly suff 'ring free, 
 A sterner reckoning thine shall be ; 
 Unless thou seek, with contrite heart, 
 Heaven's mercy ere thy soul depart.
 
 Canto ii.j THE SHIPWRECK.— TliE TRIAL. 49 
 
 COLYN, 
 
 Go, recreant Knight, of prostrate mind. 
 To bigot creed thro' life resign'd, 
 When bears the breeze my parting knell. 
 On craven knees thy beads to tell. 
 
 Wliat if yon gallows be the meed 
 Assign'd me by thy Christian creed ? — 
 To perish, now, in manhood's prime. 
 Or lengthen life to future time. 
 Claims not my care : — nor in my face 
 Shalt thou the signs of terror trace ; 
 Nor do I now my fate deplore ; 
 The pangs of death will soon be o'er ; — 
 Nor meanly for thy mercy plead ; — 
 Fve led the life 1 still would lead; 
 For Colyn o^vns no future trust ; 
 Nor hope, nor fear, beyond the dust. 
 Such creed 1 ever would avow ;— 
 Confronting death, I hold it now. 
 
 Sir Harry. 
 Monster! for thee, of callous soul. 
 Nor prayer shall rise, nor bell shall toll. — 
 Before the Just, who reigns on high, 
 AVhom thy foul deeds would fain deny, 
 
 G
 
 50 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ii. 
 
 Soon shall thy guilty soul appear : — 
 
 All human mercy ceases here. — 
 
 Brief be thy shrift ! Heaven's blessed light 
 
 No other day shall greet thy sight. — 
 
 At darkest hour of midnight gloom, 
 
 Go, — Heaven arrested, — to thy doom. 
 
 COLYN. 
 
 I Ve news. Sir Harry, to impart, — 
 
 Glad tidings to a Father's heart ; 
 
 Ere first our ship sustained the shock 
 
 That rent it on dark Tuscar's rock, 
 
 A sail I sent to yonder strand. 
 
 To greet thy Son : — my stern command 
 
 Is ever well obey'd : — thy heir 
 
 Has known, ere now, my comrade's care. — 
 
 No more shall he thy face descry ; 
 
 No longer bless a Father's eye : 
 
 His blooming face, and ringlets fair. 
 
 No more shall need a Mother's care. — 
 
 Sir Harry's Dame will banish grief; 
 
 From cares maternal find relief. 
 
 Sir Harry. 
 Fiend ! thou art foil'd : — Heaven's guardian care 
 Has shielded well St. Donats' heir. —
 
 Canto ii.] THE SHIPWRECK.— THE TRIAL. 61 
 
 The demon ship, despatched by thee. 
 Has known a fearful destiny ! 
 No more her prow shall break the curl 
 Of rippling wave ; — the sail to furl 
 Her crew no more shall rise : — at last. 
 Her final anchor has been cast. 
 
 They found a speedier course to wealth 
 
 Than ransom, murderous deed, or stealth : 
 
 In full content, their bodies heap 
 
 The coral caverns of the deep : 
 
 And, thus, with ocean's treasures blest. 
 
 They crave no more, — but are at rest. 
 
 COLYN. 
 
 The tale thy visions wild create, 
 
 Is false !— Who told thee of their fate ? 
 
 Sir Harry. 
 Who told the tale avails thee not ; 
 Nowli — Colyn, — calmly hear their lot: 
 They steer'd, — the tempest at the helm, — 
 Where mountain breakers overwhelm ; 
 Bore down beneath the light of day, — 
 Engulphing billows knew their way,— 
 And found a port, not named by thee ; 
 A harbour in Eternity.
 
 52 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPllYN. [Canto n. 
 
 COLYN. 
 
 That tale, sleek Knight, thy bosom cheers. 
 Lights up thy brow ; — allays thy fears. — 
 I joy thee ! then, of Fancy's theme ; 
 Nor would I mar Delusion's dream ; 
 Which yet, transform'd, may show to thee 
 Sad scenes of dire reality. 
 
 Sir Harry, 
 Good Time will tell : — but, come what may, 
 'Twill not be thine to see the day. 
 
 Here rose the Court. — The sentinel 
 Led Colyn, guarded, to his cell. 
 
 No more the voice of lengthen'd age 
 Could in the tale prolong'd engage. 
 Without repose : — and Howel's head, 
 Pillow'd by friendly hands, was laid 
 On oaken staff: — and hard respired 
 His breast; with strong exertion tired. 
 
 The Knight, — of sympathy the soul. 
 Zealous with weakness to condole,
 
 Canto ii.] THE SIIIPW11ECK._THE TRIAL. 53 
 
 And prompt to deed humane, once more 
 
 Arose, to serve his servant hoar. 
 
 A cup he held of generous wine, 
 
 The juice of fair Campania's vine, 
 
 To greet his hand ; — but held in vain ; 
 
 The Huntsman, would his master deign, 
 
 Preferr'd his native mead ; — and when 
 
 The flowing Hirlas gave again. 
 
 Nectar of Britain's honied isle. 
 
 His lips rcsum'd their wonted smile. 
 
 While grasp'd each hand the horn, he quafF'd ; 
 
 Breath'd ; paus'd awhile ; renew'd the draught j 
 
 And took his rest:^ — then converse kind, 
 
 Enhanc'd by sentiment refined, 
 
 Prevail'd around : — but need 1 say 
 
 What spoke the glance of lovers gay, 
 
 Enforc'd by courteous grace, 
 To lovely nymphs, in rich an-ay. 
 
 Of beauteous form and face ? 
 And mortal tongue may ne'er impart 
 
 The deep revealings of the eye ; 
 The sympathy of " Heart to Heart ;" 
 
 The tale of sigh to sigh . 
 Such there the tale, — the silent vow, — 
 The Beings bright : — where are they now !
 
 M THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto ii. 
 
 To ardour's energy restor'd, 
 
 Old Howel rais'd his head ; 
 And, craving pardon kind, deplor'd 
 
 His tale so long delay'd, — 
 His strength gone by, — his memory frail : 
 Then ponder'd, — and renevv'd the tale. 
 
 END OF THE SECOND CANTO.
 
 THE DOOM 
 
 OF 
 
 COLYN DOLPHYN. 
 
 CANTO THE THIRD. 
 
 JE^Ue QBvttxitwn.
 
 THE DOOM 
 
 OF 
 
 COLYN DOLPHYN 
 
 CANTO THE THIRD. 
 
 ^fic 6):ccuttOtt» 
 
 In good Sir Harry's generous heart 
 
 Kind Mercy well sustained hor part ; 
 
 For, there, resentment's transient sway 
 
 To kind forgiveness soon gave way. — 
 
 Such now the change :- — though passion burn'd, 
 
 For one brief moment in his breast. 
 Soon native sympathy return'd. 
 
 And each vindictive thought suppress'd. 
 For, though denounced, in face of day, 
 To sate revenge, the rufiian's prey ; 
 
 H
 
 58 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto hi. 
 
 Tho' e'en, perhaps, an hour's delay 
 
 Might other bands bring on. 
 Whose swords and spears, in bloody fray. 
 
 Should reek, ere day be done ; 
 Or in his own heart's blood be dyed ; 
 And Colyn's threats be verified ; 
 
 No thought for self had he. 
 To claim his care : — his feeling mind 
 Was to the sinner's weal confined :— 
 
 His long eternity. 
 
 The Knight humane, ere rest he knew. 
 Gave to the warder strict command 
 
 Compassion's dictates to pursue. 
 
 By soothing word, and conduct bland ; 
 
 That welcome rest, and treatment kind. 
 
 Might calm the convict's raging mind. 
 
 Absorbed in beatific thought ! 
 
 The pious Priest, in fervour, sought 
 
 The ward where Colyn lay, 
 Heav'ns Word of Promise to impart ! 
 Soften to penitence his heart ;— 
 
 Beside his couch to pray.
 
 Canto hi.] THE EXECUTION. 59* 
 
 When came the Holy Man, with fear 
 He view'd the furious Buccaneer, 
 Transfix'd ! — He saw the demon glare ! 
 And felt how vain his presence there ! 
 But, borne by duty to the spot,— 
 Still would he hope, — where hope was not. — 
 Beseeching eye he rais'd, at length. 
 To Heaven, and felt renewing strength. — 
 Approach'd he, then, the felon's bed. 
 With heart misgiving,. — cautious tread. 
 And hail'd him, thus, with voice benign. 
 While held his hand Salvation's sign : 
 
 Priest. 
 To cheer thy soul with hope of gi-ace, 
 A Brother Sinner seeks thy face : — 
 Heaven's healing peace be thine ! — Repose 
 Thy trust on Him, whose mercy knows 
 No end ! — then rend thy contrite heart. 
 Ere from this scene thy soul depart ! 
 
 COLYN. 
 
 And who art thou, whose voice assails. 
 The dungeon's rest, with piteous wails ? 
 Has good Sir Harry here thee placed 
 Beside nic, lest of sleep I taste ?
 
 60 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPFIYN. [Caoto hi. 
 
 Or was he, peradvcnture.. loath 
 My shatter'd frame should harbour sloth ? 
 In thunder speak ! or whining cease : 
 Give me storm ! — or give me peace ! 
 
 Priest. 
 To give thee Peace ; — surpassing all 
 That can, beside, to man befall, 
 If thou, with suppliant heart, repent, 
 I come ! — by GOOD Sir Harry sent, 
 
 COLYN. 
 
 The boon. Sir Harry good would grant, 
 Accept I gladly : — Peace ! — avaunt ! 
 
 With tearful eye, the trembling Priest 
 His fei*\ ent supplication ceas'd ; — 
 And hurried out: — the convict, then. 
 So lately rous'd, reclin'd again ; — 
 Not to repose : — despite his pride. 
 He shudder'd at the strenuous stride 
 Of Death mysterious ! — yet, his scorn 
 Would fain deny his state forlorn. 
 At last, — from all intrusion free. 
 He spoke in sad soliloquy !
 
 Canto in.] THE EXECUTION. 01 
 
 " In calm, and storm, and frequent strife, 
 I've led a dark, remorseless life ! 
 Life that, in retrospective view. 
 Seems, e'en to me, of horrid hue ! — 
 Life soon to cease ! — Its verge I tread ! — 
 Bourn twixt the living and the dead ! — 
 'Twere well if so : — but — thoughts intrude, 
 Unknown before, — or soon subdued ; — 
 Vefiement thoughts ! — that name to me — 
 Judgment ! — and Immortality ! — 
 Hereafter — haunts my soul ! — I hear 
 Its louder voice, as Death draws near. 
 So scathed my breast ! — my view so drear ! 
 I cannot hope : I will not fear ! 
 And mine no wish : — unless it be- 
 That I had perish'd on the sea : — 
 Given to the gale my parting breath : — ■ 
 The deep my home— in life or death. 
 
 Would that the ocean's wildest rave 
 
 Had scoop'd me out a yawning grave ! 
 
 That hurricane, and raging seas. 
 
 Had minister'd my obsequies ; 
 
 Then would the storm have luU'd my sleep ; 
 
 My rest — the tumult of the deep"
 
 62 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto m. 
 
 The sounds that eas'd his fever'd breast 
 Spoke not Contrition's voice distressed ; 
 But hard reflection, that betray'd 
 A mind that could not retrograde :— « 
 And something in his mood was there 
 That sank repentance in despair : 
 Not the despair that quakes the knee, 
 From abject imbecility. 
 But that despair, — from fear apart, — 
 That owns the indurated heart : 
 The heart that braved, in rapine's hour, 
 Terrestrial and supernal power : — 
 The sear'd despair, beyond redress : 
 The blank of utter hopelessness. 
 
 When ceas'd his utterance, Colyn's mind 
 To thoughts intense was still consign'd ; 
 Till reason, if its ruling might 
 Was ever his, forsook him quite : 
 Then ran his mental power, depraved. 
 Adrift on madness ; — and he raved .' 
 
 Now solemn vespers had been sung ; 
 The curfew long its peal had rung ;
 
 Canto hi.] TIIK EXKCUTION. 63 
 
 The fox resumed nefarious prowl ; 
 The kennel yell'd, in dismal howl ; 
 And hooted oft the omen'd owl. 
 
 The raven hoarse was heard to croak. 
 On restless wing, from oak to oak ; 
 And scenes around, from Winter's thrall. 
 Like Colyn's heart, were barren all. 
 
 Streamlets, which erst, in Summer's reign, 
 Nourish'd the verdure of the plain. 
 Fondled the lotus on their breast ; 
 Brighten'd the dingle's varied vest. 
 And cheer'd the ruminating flock. 
 Had ceas'd to flow, — and turn'd to rock. 
 
 Intense the blast : — the moon was high ; 
 And clouds, foreboding, hurried by. 
 In fearful haste : — the beach below 
 Rumbled in discord, to and fro. 
 As rose or fell the sea, whose wave 
 Had enter'd, now, Tresilian's cave ; 
 Where nymphs and swains resort, to see 
 Fair Dwynwen's bow of D-estiny ;
 
 64 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto in. 
 
 And, by athletic feat, to know 
 Their near, or distant marriage date ; 
 
 Their path prescribed by love below ; — 
 Their course inviolate. 
 
 For all on earth, or young or old, 
 
 Would fain the book of fate unfold. 
 
 Hard by — old Gwerydd's holy tower 
 Stood meekly, in umbrageous bower ; 
 And Cynthia's beams 'twixt waving boughs. 
 Illumed the fane of sacred vows ; 
 While painted glass, to font and tomb. 
 Sent varied hues through midnight gloom. — 
 And, thus, while silent as the grave 
 Seem'd all around, — the trumpet gave 
 Its sudden blast ! The echoing glen. 
 With sounds recruited, rang again ; 
 
 The noon of night was near at hand ; 
 And, well array'd, the Castle band 
 
 To court interior came ; 
 Lest lurking ship, from creek or bay. 
 Should Colyn's comrades yet display. 
 
 His respite to proclaim.
 
 Canto in.J THE EXIX'UTION. 65 
 
 Then warning tone of mufHed drum 
 Told that his final hour was come. — ■ 
 
 From battlement, and court, and mound, 
 A hundred flambeaus blazed around ; 
 And, by their light, with needful guard, 
 Sir Harry sought the Pirate's ward. — 
 As onward pass'd the jav'lin men, 
 Bold Dewryn led the way again ; 
 Again confronted death ; — for lo ! 
 The Pirate aim'd a furious blow. 
 With shackled arms, of iron power. 
 Full at his head ; — his final hour 
 Had not arriv'd : aside he sprang ; — 
 The manacles and fetters rang 
 Against a column old, and prone 
 
 The maniac fell, with force immense ! 
 Prostrate he breathd ; — but gave no groan ; — 
 
 Dormant was every sense. 
 
 Unconscious, from the crushing jar. 
 They rais'd him to the funeral car ; 
 Then to the place appointed past. 
 In solemn march : 'twas Colyn s last.
 
 66 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto in. 
 
 As on the dense procession sped, 
 Sudden the felon rais'd his head ; 
 And accents from his lips arose. 
 That augur 'd ill for his repose. — 
 Once more the Priest, with motive kind, 
 Approach'd the man of troubled mind ; 
 And fain, impress'd with sacred views, 
 Would Faith and blessed Hope infuse ; 
 Then sought to sooth, by word and sign ; — 
 Mercy his theme ; his voice benign ; 
 But sought in vain ; — the wretched man. 
 With glare ten'ific, seem'd to scan 
 Some fearful form, whose stern control 
 Absorbed his thought, and claim'd his soul. 
 A form by Colyn seen alone : 
 But oft was heard, the awful tone 
 Of spirit fell, from bliss debarred ; 
 Whose voice bespoke a master hard ;■ — 
 Exacting, from the man of crime. 
 Some compact dark of former time. — 
 So deem'd the crowd in horror's height ; — 
 In shudder cold ; — so deem'd the Knight: — ■ 
 And e'en the Holy Father said, 
 That Colyn, as he fateward sped. 
 Held with the Fiend communion dread.
 
 Canto III.] THE EXECUTION. 67 
 
 The dark procession halted, now, 
 Beneath an oak's extended bough. 
 To which the fatal rope was tied, 
 And, then, to Colyn's neck applied. 
 Now, whether by the Fiend impell'd. 
 Or that his boastful heart was quell'd. 
 Remains in gloom, — he coil'd, at length, 
 For one fell effort all his strength : — 
 One fiendlul act, his fate to shun : — 
 But, ere the purpos'd deed was done, 
 While crowds, transfix'd, withheld their din. 
 He thus invoked the Sire of Sin : 
 
 " Oh thou ! full well whom I have serv'd ; 
 From whose commands I never swerv'd ; 
 To help thy faithful follower speed ! 
 Nor stand aloof in hour of need ! 
 
 By years that bade remorse adieu ! 
 By deeds that ue'er repentance knew ! 
 By murder'd infant's parting breath ! 
 By pleading Mothers, dash'd to death ! 
 By hands, thro' life, in blood imbrued I 
 And bv mv soul I with thee imbued !
 
 68 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto hi. 
 
 Come to ray aid ! avert this fate ! 
 Our compact told a longer date. 
 Thine am I ! pledg'd by deed and vow ! 
 Supreme of Darkness ! nerve me now 1" 
 
 No more was heard : — but, while on high 
 Fierce thunder roll'd, and scowl'd the sky, 
 He flung his hands apart ! — the stroke 
 Fetter and chain asunder broke. 
 
 " God ! and enough," exclaim'd the Knight, 
 
 I" 
 
 " That was not done by mortal might ! 
 The crowd receding at the sight, 
 
 Exclaim'd, — " the Foe prevails ! 
 Who, tho' evading mortal ken, 
 Governs the doom of evil men ; — 
 
 The parting soul assails." 
 
 And now, while mov'd the car along, 
 Colyn sprang up with effort strong ; 
 Grasp'd with one hand the rope above. 
 While, — vain attempt ! the other strove 
 Its tie to loose ; — but Dewryn's brand 
 Instant obey'd his Chief's command ; 
 And soon appcar'd the sever'd hand
 
 Canto hi.] THE EXKCUTIO\. 09 
 
 In useless grasp ; — the crowd below 
 Saw Colyn pendant to the bough. 
 
 Then ! then ! the fearful struggle came 
 Of tortured soul in mortal frame ! 
 For oh ! what agonies assail'd 
 His frame, ere victor Death prevail'd ! 
 Each nerve convulsive sprang in throes ! 
 The bleeding arm still quiv'ring rose ! 
 Distortive heav'd his lab 'ring breast ! 
 As if to bursting swell 'd his chest ! 
 At last, in Death's excruciate toil. 
 Life found release from mortal coil : — 
 And Colyn's soul-forsaken mould 
 All haggard hung ; — grew stiff and cold 
 
 The spirit, — lost to senseless clay. 
 Took to the storm, and past away ; 
 For loud the deaf'ning tempest blew. 
 And fierce the wild tornado grew. 
 Their maniac forks the light'nings fling. 
 And demon hosts are on the wing ; 
 The warring winds assail the deep ; 
 The waves infuriate upwards leap ;
 
 70 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto hi. 
 
 The beetling cliffs, in frequent crash. 
 Hurl downwards with impetuous dash ; 
 Fierce thunderbolts the forests rend. 
 And all the elements contend. 
 
 Annwn's gaunt hounds, from lurid lair. 
 Burst fiercely forth thro' tainted air. 
 On fiendful scent ! — and woe betide 
 The soul such onset must abide ; — 
 
 I've heard all sounds of mortal pain : — 
 
 The love-lorn swain's despairing strain : 
 
 The shout of horror ! — fever's moan ; 
 
 And varied torture's every groan : 
 
 The craving voice when Famine speaks ; 
 
 The drowning seaman's gurgling shrieks. 
 
 When lost to strength, with palid face, 
 
 He quiver'd in the flood's embrace ; 
 
 And call'd, — while onward ! onward driven ! 
 
 In last appeal to man and Heaven. 
 
 But such were music's sweetest quire 
 To ears who heard the bowlings dire. 
 When guilty Colyn's worried soul, 
 Freed from the body's gross control,
 
 Canto ni.] TJIE EXECUTION. 7l 
 
 Bade earth adieu : — and sped along/ 
 Pursued by Annwn's hell-hound throng, 
 To region hopeless, — where, alone, 
 Essential Anguish holds her throne. 
 Dewryn alone was tranquil here ; — 
 Come foe, come fiend, he knew no fear ; 
 But windward gaz'd, with tranquil eye, 
 While peal'd the thunder thro' the sky ; 
 And, when its rage still louder rose, 
 Observ'd, — nor fail'd his calm repose, — 
 " A stirring breeze the demon blows." 
 When roar'd the sky, and swept the blast. 
 The curious crowd diminish'd fast. 
 And gladly sought their homes of rest ; 
 Save one — whose course of life, unblest. 
 
 From social scenes refrain'd : 
 A beldame strange, — of magic fame,— 
 Unknown her race, — her real name, — 
 
 Or how she lii'e sustain'd. 
 
 She came, while peal'd the thunder shower, 
 And raved the storm, at midnight hour. 
 In days remote; — but when she drew 
 Her infant breath, no mortal knew.
 
 72 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto in. 
 
 Her visage, when she first appear'd, 
 Was keenly wrung, and deeply sear'd ; 
 And Time, that wears the human frame, 
 Assail'd her not ; — for still the same 
 Each feature seem'd : — Her evil eye 
 Was never rais'd to gi-eet the sky. — 
 She never sought the mirthful plain ; 
 Nor moved in joyous Hymen's train ; 
 But mutter'd oft, in voice morose ; 
 And peasants call'd her — Mallt-y-Nos. 
 To gloomy dell, or cavern deep, 
 By day, the beldame fell would creep ; 
 But night was hers ; — and then, 'tis said, 
 Her witching spells were deeply laid. 
 
 She was not seen the crowd among. 
 When moved the midnight mass along ; 
 When pray'd the Priest she was not seen ; 
 Nor saw they yet her fearful mien 
 When stayed the car : — but when, at last, 
 Colyn his hands asunder cast. 
 And rent, beneath the destin'd tree. 
 His heavy shackles, — there was she !
 
 Canto hi.] THE EXECUTION. 73 
 
 'Twas deem'd that, when the demon chase 
 Careering swept etherial space, 
 Exulting in tlieir transient sway, 
 She join'd her kindred, — and away ; 
 For Mallt-y-Nos was ne'er again 
 The hag, on earth, of wood or glen. 
 
 Now toll'd litutus' bell : — the sound 
 Swell'd thro' the urgent storm around, — 
 Fatal to Satan's fleeting power : — 
 Responsive, — every martyr tower, 
 From fair Gorwennydd's western line, 
 To pious Tcilaw's crozier shrine. 
 Sent forth, unrung by mortal hand, 
 The peal no demon might withstand. — 
 At once the tempest's roar assuaged ; 
 Nor thunder roll'd, nor light'ning raged. 
 
 Man, — prone to plaint, — thro' every stage 
 
 Of transitory life, 
 With changeful aim, from youth to age. 
 
 Encounters care and strife. 
 
 To be what he is not ; — to feel 
 
 The dint of Disappointment's heel. 
 
 K
 
 74 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto m. 
 
 Sleep bless'd the eyes of peasants low : 
 
 With undisturbed repose ; 
 (For toil and health together go ; 
 
 In rest their efforts close) 
 Unless Sir Harry's lofty state 
 Might envy for their dreams create. 
 
 The Knight return'd, in musing deep, 
 
 Encompass'd by his train, 
 To seek the soothing balm of sleep : — 
 
 To seek, — ^but not to gain ; 
 For still his mind would ruminate 
 On Colyn's woe-foreboding fate: 
 And, pensive thus, till twilight grey, 
 A weary night he pass'd away. 
 
 At last the day's effulgence broke. 
 And all the village sought the oak ; 
 To view, once more, the face that wore 
 Such wrath a few short hours before. 
 
 There, — breeze impell'd, — the felon hung : 
 The sever'd hand, contracted, clung
 
 Canto hi.] THE EXECUTION. 75 
 
 Still to the rope; — the mantle bore. 
 In frequent gouts, his clotted gore. 
 
 Scath'd was the tree, e'en to the core ; 
 Yet long it stood ; — but never more 
 The branch arrayd in verdure bore. 
 
 The beach they trod : — Destruction, there. 
 
 Had stamp'd his footsteps ev'ry where. — 
 
 Above, — below, — were strown along 
 
 The fragments of a vessel strong. — 
 
 Here- — helm and shatter'd masts were seen ; — 
 
 There — lay the hull, the rocks between, 
 
 With upward keel, and crag-rent side, 
 
 Thro' which had pass'd the refluent tide : 
 
 And, all around, appear'd in view 
 
 The bodies of a numerous crew, 
 
 AVhose course was run : — confederates sent; 
 
 Well arm'd, on Colyn's rescue bent. 
 
 But, ere they reach'd the rugged strand. 
 
 To ply the dirk, and light the brand, 
 
 •Tustico ordain'd they should abide 
 
 The tempest's ordeal ; — and they died !
 
 76 THE DOOM OF COLYN DOLPHYN. [Canto in. 
 
 Whether they sued for human aid, 
 Or for theu' Maker's mercy pray'd, 
 Can ne'er be known : — the furious gale 
 Reserv'd no voice to tell their tale. 
 But sadly spoke the feature flushed 
 How to the brain the blood had rush'd ; 
 And fractured limb, and gash, and gore. 
 Told of the bufFetings they bore. 
 Vengeance their aim ! — But now suppress'd 
 Their rage ; — and there they lay at rest. 
 
 No bosom heav'd with vital breath ; — 
 On every tongue the seal of death 
 Was press'd. — But, if in anguish keen. 
 Ere lost to them each earthly scene. 
 They rais'd the bosom's contrite wail 
 To Him whose mercies never fail. 
 That stilly orison, — we pray ! 
 Was heard ere past their lives away. 
 
 Here ceas'd the tale. — From central tower 
 The clock proclaim'd protracted hour : — 
 From Stradling's hall the guests depart ;. — 
 But leave it with reluctant heart.
 
 Canto hi] THE EXECUTION. 77 
 
 Sir Edward, — gone his grateful train, — 
 Turned to the Huntsman once again ; — 
 Again his aged hand he press'd ; 
 Bade him good night! and gentle rest; — 
 And hoped, to aid their Christmas cheer. 
 He 'yet might see another year: — 
 But, ere that year, revolving, fled, 
 Howel was in his narrow bed. 
 
 END OF THE POEM.
 
 NOTES.
 
 EXPLANATORY REMARKS. 
 
 Among the authorities lioro advanced, are the accounts of tiic 
 winning of the Lordship of Glamorgan, by Sir Edward Stradlinj;, 
 of St. Douats' Castle, and by Kir Edward Mansel, of Margam, botii 
 of whom wrote much about the same period (1573) ; the Ciironiclc 
 of Caradoc, of Llancarvan, written about 1 150, a good copy of 
 vfliich is inserted in the Mi/vyrian Jrchaiology of Wales, vol. 2d.; 
 and the writings of my late Father, Edward Williams (lolo 
 Morganwg). The credibility due to the testimonies of those 
 authors has, I trust, been satisfactorily ascertained in the notes to 
 my former little Poem on Cardiff Castle. Other important 
 auxiliaries are now adduced, whose evidences require also to be 
 verified. Of these, the Reverend Edward Gamagc, formerly 
 Rector of St. Athan, in the County of Glamorgan, claims especial 
 attention ; his Genealogy of the Stradlings being, independent of 
 its copiousness, continued nearly to the extinction of that family. 
 This Gentleman was a branch of one of the most ancient, and 
 
 L
 
 82 EXPLANATORY REMARKS. 
 
 respectable families of the County ; and all his connexions appear 
 to have been equally high. Being descended from one of the. 
 Sisters of the last male issue of the Turbervilles, of Coetty, the 
 most powerful family of all the Normans that settled in Glamor- 
 gan, and connected, by former marriages, with the family that 
 prominently appear in this Poem, he was well qualified, iu every 
 respect, to compile a faithful account of them. 
 
 He appears to have been a good Antiquarian ; and to have read, 
 and studied, Welsh Manuscripts rather extensively. His own 
 writings and collections sufficiently establish his national ardour, 
 and literary taste. I have, in my Father's hand, copies of his 
 extracts from our ancient Bards, his Memoirs of the Stradlings, 
 and his Introductory History of Glamorganshire; a transcript of 
 which was, I believe, in the possession of the late William 
 Vaughan, Esq., of Lanelay, a Gentleman of great Genealogical 
 information. All these productions are in Welsh. The original 
 manuscripts are, I fear, like many more, lost. I saw some of 
 them in 1801. 
 
 Soon after the death of Edward Stradling, Esq., son of Sir 
 Edward Stradling, and elder brother to Sir Thomas Stradling, the 
 last of the name, at St. Donats, a person named Llewelyn ab 
 Ifan, of Coychurch, then about composing an Elegy to his 
 memory, applied to Mr. Gamage for historical notices of the 
 family ; and his request was liberally complied with. The good 
 Rector, having first consulted his own numerous documents, went 
 to Saint Donats, where he had ample access to the ancient and 
 extensive library of the Castle, (alas! that it is gone) which he 
 examined minutely; extracting, as he proceeded, every particular
 
 EXPLANATORY REMARKS. 83 
 
 relating to the object of bis researcb. He transmitted, in a com- 
 munication dated 1726, tbo result of bis assiduity to the Poet. 
 
 Some allusions arc made to several other Historical Records of 
 different periods ; but as such can justly be considered only as 
 varieties of Caradoc's Chronicle (some of them presenting ampli- 
 fications, others continuations,) they require no further notice. 
 
 The Triads of the Island of Britain, sustained by various 
 extracts from ancient Bards, are occasionally quoted, in support 
 of the Mythologies of the Poem. Copies of these, varying in 
 extent, arrangement, and subjects, are still extant ; but the most 
 important of them appear to have been unnoticed, for some inter- 
 vals of considerable duration. They generally refer to persons 
 and circumstances that appertain to authentic history; but several 
 incidents, stated in some of them, are mystically interwoven with 
 the superstitions of the aboriginal Britons ; and with Druidic 
 notions. Having been frequently recompiled from widely scattered 
 manuscripts, in different districts, at various and distant dates, 
 they are destitute of chronological arrangement. Some of them, 
 seemingly, allude to events prior to the arrival of the Cymmry in 
 this island. 
 
 Robert Vaughan, Esq., the great Antiquary of Hengwrt, had 
 a copy of them, containing ninety-one triads, which he collated, 
 some time about 1660, with several others of greater antiquity. 
 This copy appears in the 3Tyv. Jrch., vol. 2. 
 
 Thomas Jones, of Tregaron, (Twra Sion Catti) the reputed 
 Robin Hood of Wales, made a collection of them, extending to 
 126 triads, in 1601 ; and subjoined to it the following observa- 
 tions : —
 
 81 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 
 "Thus end six score and six of the Triads of the Island of 
 Britain." 
 
 " These triads were transcribed from the book of Caradoc, of 
 Llancarvan, and from the book of Icuan Brechva, (John of 
 IJrccliva, circ. ann. 1480) by me, Thomas Jones, of Tregaron ; 
 and these are all that I could recover of the three hundred." 
 
 This copy is also printed in the Myv. Arch., and is the one here 
 used. It remained long quite unknown ; but was at hist dis- 
 covered, brought to light, and translated into English, by my 
 Father. 
 
 I have many mixed collections in my possession, containing 
 numerous triads tliat strongly resemble those of the Island of 
 Britain ; and that were, I am confident, included in the original 
 three hundred. 
 
 The notes that refer to the introduction of the Gospel into 
 Siluria, and to the founders of some of our primitive Christian 
 Churches, depend, in a great measure, on ancient Welsh docu- 
 ments, called " Achau Saint Ynys Prydain, fcc." ; (Genealogies 
 of the British Saints, &c.) but the learned, and highly important 
 work on this subject, just published by Professor Rees, of St. 
 David's College, a work that every British Antiquary ought to 
 possess, will amply vindicate my authorities on this subject. 
 Several allusions to it are cursorily introduced. 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 Mr. Gamage's account presents an ample narrative, that pre- 
 cludes, in many instances, the necessity of enlarged notes. It 
 was evidently compiled both from various notices and memoirs,
 
 ff 
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS, 85 
 
 then avniliiblc, and from traditions prevalent in tliu ntujjhbour- 
 iiood. It commences with high encomiums on tbe subject of the 
 Elegy ; a succinct account succeeds of the wars between Rhys ap 
 Tcwdwr and lestyn ap Gwrgan, which terminated in the subju- 
 gation of Glamorgan, by tlie mercenary Normans, under Sir 
 Robert Fitzhamon and his twelve attendant Knights, and tlie 
 consequent seizure, by them, of its most fertile parts; — after 
 which, the Genealogy required is thus given: — 
 Extract of a letter from the Rev. E. Gamace, to Llewelyn ab 
 
 Ifan, Nov. 23, 1726. 
 The Genc.ilogy of the Stradlings is as follows : Their original 
 name was Esterling, and continued so for a few generations. 
 
 I. To Sir William Esterling, the twelfth Knight, was given 
 the Castle and manor of St. Donats. He married 
 liowisia, or Hawys, daughter, and heiress, of Sir John 
 Talbot, by a daughter of Cynvyn ap Gwerystan, Prince; 
 of Powys ; and by her had a son, 
 II. Sir John Esterling, Knight, who married Matilda, or 
 Mallt, the daugliter, and heiress, of Sir Robert Corbet, 
 Knight ; and by her had a son, called— 
 
 III. Sir Moris Esterling, Knight, who had a son by his Lady, 
 
 /Cecilia, daughter, and heiress of Sir Pigot do Say, 
 Knight ; the name of the son was — 
 
 IV. Sir Robert Stradling, Knight, who was the first who wrote 
 
 the name in that manner. He married Howisia, daugh- 
 ter of Sir Hugh Brin, Knight ; a chieftain of Welsh 
 blood, by his Mother's side ; who was the lawful heiress, 
 from failure of male issue, to the Castle and manor of
 
 86 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 
 Llanddunwyd, or St. Donats. Through her, the Strad- 
 lings acquired a rightful title, by just heirship, to their 
 estate ; and the family were not a little proud on that 
 account. The same feeling has, ever since, existed 
 among them ; for they have successively continued to 
 enrol their names ns Welshmen, according to the rights 
 of just heirship, in high descent. They have been, at 
 all times, through long ages, kind patrons to our primi- 
 tive language ; and in this disposition they remain to 
 this very day. Sir Robert, by his Lady, Howisia, had a 
 son, whose name was — 
 V. Sir Gilbert Stradling, Knight, who married a daughter of 
 
 Sir John Saint Owen, Knight; his son, by her, was — 
 VI. Sir William Stradling, Knight, who married Cecilia, 
 daughter of Sir Hugh Cornwallis, Knight ; and by her 
 had a son, named — 
 VII. Sir John Stradling, Knight, who married Ann, daughter 
 of Sir Hugh Mainford, Knight. In his time a great 
 earthquake occurred in Glamorgan and Somersetshire ; 
 occasioning immense injuries. In consequence of this, 
 large portions of the sea cliffs, near St. Donats, fell, 
 with thundering noise; acres of land were lost, and 
 some injury sustained by the Castle; to repair which, 
 considerable expense was incurred. He had a son, 
 named — 
 VIII. Sir Peter Stradling, Knight, who married Johanna, the 
 daughter, and heiress of Sir Thomas Itawey, Knight, in 
 the time of Edward the First. With her he had two
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 87 
 
 manors in Somcrsotsliirp, called Cwm Hawey, and 
 Hawey ; and another manor in Dorsetshire, (Caer Gorwy) 
 called Compton Hawey. The last manor was sold, not 
 very lonj? since, says Sir Edward Stradiiiig, (1572) the 
 fifth of that name, from whose roll of pedigrees I have 
 taken this account; but the manors of Hawey and Cwm 
 Hawey still remain in tlic inheritance of his descendants. 
 Sir Peter's son was — 
 
 IX. Sir Edward Stradling, the first of that name, wlio quartered 
 the family arms of Hawey with those of tlie Stradlings. 
 He married Eleanor, the daughter and heiress of Gilbert 
 Strongbow, Knight, of Caldicot Castle, in Monmouth- 
 shire. The wife of this Gilbert was the only daughter, 
 and heiress, of Richard Garnon, Esq. With her this Sir 
 Edward Stradling had two manors in Oxfordshire. Their 
 son was — 
 X. Sir Edward Stradling, the second of that name, Knight, 
 who married Gwenllian, one of tlie sisters, and the 
 heiress of Sir Laurence Berkrolles, Knight, of New 
 Castle, St. Athan (Llandathan) otherwise the Castle of 
 East Orcliard, as it is called in English. Their son 
 was — 
 
 XI. Sir William Stradling, Knight, who married Isabel, 
 daughter, and heiress, of Sir John Saint Barb, Kniglit; 
 but he received, with her, neither lands in inheritance, nor 
 in descent; because the estates of that family were 
 entailed on male issue. This Sir William journeyed to 
 Jerusalem ; and was made a Knight, according to the
 
 88 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINOS. 
 
 forms and order of the Holy Sepulctire. This occurred 
 in the reign of Richard the Second, about the year of 
 Christ 1380. His son was — 
 XII. Sir Edward Stradliiig, the third of that name, Knight, 
 who, being sole heir to the above Sir John Saint Barb, 
 quartered the arms of Saint Barb witli his own. In the 
 year 1412, that is, in the 13th year of the reign of Henry 
 the Fourth, the inheritance of the Berkrolles, of New 
 Castle (East Orchard), St. Athan, fell to this Sir Edward; 
 and, with that, a claim to the fourth part of the lands and 
 hereditaments of Turberville, Lord of Coetty. A law- 
 suit ensued, in the King's Bench: at last, that fourth 
 part was adjudged to the Lord Gamage ; because Sir 
 Laurence Berkrolles had not a male heir of his own 
 body, when he died. This Sir Edward, also, in addition 
 to the arms of St. Barb, quartered the arms of Berk- 
 rolles; and with them, the arms of the Turbcrvillcs, and 
 those of lestyn ap Gwrgan. He assumed the arms of 
 lestyn ap Gwrgan, because the only daughter, and heiress, 
 of Howel ap Madoc ap lestyn, Lord of Ruthyn, was tlie 
 wife of one of the first seven Knights of his family ; 
 but I have not, hitherto, been able to find out her name ; 
 nor, indeed, the name of her husband ; one of the first 
 Knights ; because of the defect in the manuscript, from 
 rottenness and antiquity. This Sir Edward married 
 Jane, daughter of Henry Beaufort; who, afterwards, 
 became a Cardinal. She was a daughter horn to him of 
 Alice, one of the daughters of Richard, Earl of Arundel,
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 89 
 
 before he was orflaincd. About the beginning of the 
 reign of Edward the Fourtli, or towards the end of the 
 reign of Henry the Sixth, Ijo took a journey to Jerusa- 
 lem, and was there made a Kniijht, according to the 
 order of the Holy Sepulchre. On his return, he brought 
 with him, from Italy, a man of skilful hands in stone 
 carving, who made the ornamental columns that we see 
 even to this day, facing us, in the walls of the Castle of 
 St. Donats. This Sir Edward had a brother, named Sir 
 John Stradling, Knight, who married the daughter, and 
 heiress, of one Dauncey, in Somersetshire, and had a son 
 called Edmund, who had two sons, John and Edmund, 
 from whose descendants there are many families in 
 England, in various places. This Sir Edward had another 
 brother, named William, from whom the Stradiings of 
 Ruthyn, and others, are descended. 
 XIII. Sir Harry Stradling, Knight, (son of the above) married 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Thomas, of Raglan 
 Castle, and sister to Sir William Herbert, Earl of 
 Pembroke; by her he had a son, named Thomas Strad- 
 ling, and two daughters j one of whom married Miles 
 ap Harry, from whom Mrs. Blanch ap Harry, her brothers 
 and uncles, are descended. The second daughter married 
 Mr. Fleming, of Monkton, in the vale of Glamorgan. 
 This Sir Harry, in the sixteenth year of the reign of 
 King Edward the Fourth, journeyed, like others of his 
 ancestors, to Jerusalem, where he was honoured with 
 the order of Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, like his 
 M
 
 90 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 
 Father, Grandfather, and others. This Sir Harry died in 
 the Island of Cyprus, on his return homewards, in the 
 city of Famagusta, and was buried there. His boo ii of 
 travels is to be seen, to this day, in the study of St. 
 Donats' Castle; remarkable for an account of the events 
 of the journey, and the views he had of the countries, 
 cities, towns, lands, and customs of the inhabitants of 
 the nations, and various places he journeyed through ; 
 together, with the condition of Jerusalem, as he saw it. 
 In addition to this, it contained four superior Poems 
 to the Holy Sepulchre; one in Latin, another in 
 French, another in Welsh, and the fourth in Italian ; 
 a language, with its books, much respected at St. 
 Donats' Castle ; for, in the principal schools of Italy, 
 were the sons of this family brought up in learning, from 
 very distant generations. 
 
 This Sir Harry, returning once by sea to St. Donats' 
 Castle, from his house in Somersetshire, was taken 
 prisoner by that notorious sea-thief, Colyn Dolphyn, a 
 native of Brittany, in France; and, for his release, was 
 obliged to pay 2,200 marks ; to raise which sum, he was 
 compelled to sell two manors, in Oxfordshire, and the 
 manor of Tre-Gwilym, in the parish of Bassaleg, in 
 Monmouthshire; together with the manor of Sutton, in 
 Glamorgan. After this event, he caused to be erected 
 the watch-tower, in the new park of St. Donats, in which 
 arms were placed, aiid men to watch, at night, for the
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS, 91 
 
 sea-thief, Colyv Dolphy.v, wLo too frequently cruised 
 along tlic Severn Sea, on ship-robbing intent. 
 
 On one long winter's night, the watch-tower being in 
 full liifht, CoLYN DoLPHYN drcw towards it; mis- 
 taking it for Dunraven place ; and struck on the Nash 
 sands, until his ship went to pieces; but he and his men 
 were taken, hanged, and buried under the hillocks that 
 are to be seen on a spot on the brink of the sea, near 
 the Castle. For this, however, Sir Harry Stradling, 
 it cannot well be devised why, was bitterly pursued 
 at law, by Henry the Sixth. 
 
 This Sir Harry was the last of the family that visited 
 Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre ; but it has been said 
 in their house, and in the neighbourhood, from father to 
 son, that many of them, besides these recorded, have 
 visited that highly famed city ; but their books were not 
 carefully attended to, and consequently lost. The son 
 of this Sir Harry was Thomas Stradling, Esq. 
 XIV. Thomas Stradling, Esq., called Sir Thomas Stradling 
 by the Bards, who sang in his time ; but who, possi- 
 bly, did not know that the order of Knighthood 
 was not hereditary, particularly after the incorporation 
 of England and Wales, but only a gift from the prero- 
 gative and will of the King; until the time that shall be 
 mentioned before I conclude these memoirs of the 
 family. 
 
 Thomas Stradling married a daughter of Thomas 
 Mathews, of Radyr, Esq., named Jennet, by whom he
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 
 had two sons;— Edward, the eldest, and Harry; and 
 also a daughter, named Jane. This Thomas Stradling died 
 before he was twenty-six years oM ; and his widow 
 afterwards married Sir Rhys ap Thomas, a very distin- 
 guished man, from Caermarthensliire, a Knight of the 
 Garter ; and the man, of all other Welshmen, who placed 
 King Henry the Seventh on the throne of the kingdom 
 of England, Harry, the Second son of Thomas Strad- 
 ling, married the daughter, and heiress, of Thomas Jubb, 
 Esquire, a man extremely learned in the law. By her 
 he had three children ; but I know the name of neither 
 of them, except Francis Stradling, of St. Georges, near 
 Bristol; who was alive in 1572. Jane, daughter of 
 Thomas Stradling, Esq., married Sir William Gritfyth, 
 of Caernarvonshire, in North Wales; and it was in 
 St. Donats' Church they were married. Upon their 
 return to North Wales, Sir William took with him one 
 named David Rhys, to be his gardener ; and his wife, 
 Jane Stradling, took also her handmaid with her. This 
 David Rhys was brother to Richard ap Rhys, the Bard, 
 of Mcrthyr Mawr; who was the tutor of lorwertb, 
 Fynglwyd, the Bard, of Craig-yr-eos, in the parish of St. 
 Brides ; and one of the domestic Bards of St. Donats' 
 Castle. This David Rhys and the handmaid of Jane 
 Stradling, the lady of Sir William GrifTyth, married ; 
 her name was Annes, or Agnes. They had a son, whose 
 name was John David Rhys ; who was the author of the 
 Latin and Welsh Grammar: and of all the Welsh
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 98 
 
 Grammars that ever were written, tliis, in my opinion, 
 is the best ; and tbe best, by far, with regard to its 
 instructions to Welsh Bards. David ap Rhys died, and 
 soon after that, Sir William Griffy th and his lady. Agnes, 
 with her little son, was obliged to return to St. Donats ; 
 walking all the way from Anglesea to Glamorgan. She 
 and her husband had land allotted to them, at Llanfaeth- 
 lu, in Anglesea, but they were obliged to turn out of 
 it, on the death of Sir William Griflyth. The little boy, 
 John David Rhys, was too young to walk, consequently 
 his mother was obliged to carry him in her arms, and on 
 her back, the greater part of the way. By the time she 
 arrived at St. Donats she was extremely ill, and 
 died of the sickness. Sir Edward Stradling took t\n'. 
 little boy to him, to the Castle ; and placed him under the 
 same tutors as his own son, named Thomas. The two 
 boys became, reciprocally, great friends, being unwilling 
 to separate, or be without each other. After the 
 domestic schoo lof the Castle, the two young men were 
 sent to the College of Sienna, in Italy, where they were 
 brought uj) well, in all the learning of the place and age. 
 After their return home, Sir Thomas married, had a son 
 named Edward, and John David Rhys was appointed his 
 tutor in the Castle. Ona certain time, as the young heir 
 walked along the sea-shore, bordering the Castle, he 
 inadvertently remained on a place that was higher than 
 the rest, until the influx of the tide surrounded him too 
 deeply to walk tinough it. lie screamed out, and his
 
 94 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 
 voice was heard to tlie Castio ; horsemen went to his 
 immediate relief; but no horse could be prevailed on to 
 take the water, against the waves white with foam : 
 whereupon, casting off his upper clothes, John David 
 Rhys went boMly into the water, against all the waves, 
 and brought the young heir, uninjured, to land. For 
 this, if great his respect before in the family, a thousand 
 times more was it now. In the course of time, the 
 young heir was sent to the same school in Italy that his 
 father had attended before him ; and John David Rhys 
 accompanied him, as his principal tutor. They remained 
 there for some years, and John David Rhys became so 
 highly famed for his great knowledge, that he graduated 
 there. Doctor of Medicine; but in process of time he 
 returned to Wales, a Papist, from education ; but now a 
 monk; and because the monasteries had been entirely 
 suppressed, he purchased a small property at a place 
 called Clun hir, on tlie margin of Cwm llwch, at the 
 foot of the mountain Bann-uwch-denni, called in English 
 the Breconshire Beacons. At this place he studied and 
 wrote his masterly Grammar ; and Sir Edward Stradling, 
 whose life he had saved, supported him in money, 
 and every other requisite; showing him, additionally, 
 unbounded respect. In his old age, and very old he was, 
 lie removed to Brecon town ; where he ended his days, 
 about fourscore years old, in the time of King James 
 the First, (1609). Thus, according to all that I could 
 understand from all records, letters, and other commemo-
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADiMNGS. 95 
 
 rating authorities, oral and written, that I either saw or 
 heard of in St. Donats, should we believe, and that as 
 long as the world shall continue, respecting the real 
 history of that great scholar, Doctor John David Rhys ; 
 and not give credence to the idle tales of the country, 
 which relate that no one knew anything of his Father ; 
 but that he and liis Mother wandered and begged about 
 the country, and were taken into the Castle, where the 
 parent died;— although, from that circumstance forward, 
 the account thus related of him generally corresponds 
 witli what I have already stated. It is highly probable 
 that the tongue of Envy was busy against him, on 
 account of the great respect shown to him by Sir Edward 
 Stradling, whose life he rescued from the vortex of the 
 wave. This Sir Edward printed his Grammar, at his own 
 expense. 
 
 Conceiving that you would be glad to have a me- 
 moir of this good man, who, to the present day, is the 
 cinef tutor of all the Welsh Poets, I have, for awhile, left 
 the genealogy of the family at rest, to record the account 
 you here see of John David Rhys. 
 
 I must now recur to the pedigree, where I broke off; 
 that is, to Thomas Stradling, Esq. 
 
 Jane, his daughter, as already said, married Sir Wil- 
 liam Griffyth : they had three sons and seven daughters. 
 The sons were,— Sir Rhys Griffyth, Edward Griffyth, 
 and John Griffyth. The eldest daughter married a 
 person named Stanley, of a place called Houghton ; the
 
 96 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 
 second, to Sir Riclmrd Bulkley, Knight ;— the third, to 
 one named Lewis; but I have not, hitherto, learned 
 his Christian name, nor his i)lace of residence;— the 
 fourth, to a chieftain of the Mostyns; — the fifth, to a 
 son of another branch of that family, called Pierce 
 Mostyn;— the sixth, to Simon Thelwal, Esquire;— and 
 the seventh, to one Philips. 
 
 Edward Griifyth, son of Sir William Griffyth, mar- 
 ried Jane, daughter of Sir John Pulston, Knight; and, 
 by her, had three daughters;— one, named Jane, became 
 the wife of Sir William Herbert, of St. Julians, near 
 Caerleon, on the Usk ; another daughter, named Catha- 
 rine, married Sir William Herbert, of Swansea; and 
 another daughter, whose name I have not ascertained, 
 was married to Sir Nicholas Bagnol, Knight. I have 
 heard, and read, that families innumerable, in North 
 Wales, are descended from the sons and daughters of 
 Sir William Griffyth and Jane, the daughter of Thomas 
 Stradling, Esq. 
 XV, Sir Edward Stradling, the son and heir of Thomas 
 Stradling, Esq., married Elizabeth, one of the three 
 daughters of Sir Thomas Arundel, Knight, of Lanhey- 
 ron, in Cornwall, called, in Welsh, Cernyw. Tiiey had 
 four sons; — Thomas, Robert, Edward, and John. Ro- 
 bert married the daughter of Watkin Lychor, of Tytheg- 
 ston ; Edward married the daughter, and heiress, of 
 Robert Raglan, of Lantwit Major; and John entered 
 into Holy Orders. This Sir Edward Stradling had two
 
 MEMOIRS OF TILE STflADLINGS. 07 
 
 d.uightcrs : Jaiio, married to Alexiinder F^opliam, of 
 Somorsetsliirc ; and from tliem arc descended several 
 highly respectable families; Catharine, married to Sir 
 Thomas Palmer, of Sussex, who had a son by her, named 
 William. 
 XVI. Sir Thomas Stradling, son of the last Sir Edward Strad- 
 ling, married Catharine, the eldest daughter of Sir 
 Thomas Gamage, of Coctty Castle, Knight, whose wife 
 was Margaret, daughter of Sir John Saint John, Knight, 
 of Blcdso, in England. This Sir Thomas iiad two sons, 
 Edward and David, and five daughters; — Elizabeth, 
 Thomasinc, Jane, Joicc, and Gweiillian. 
 XVII. Sir Edward Stradling, son of the above Sir Tliomas 
 StradliHg, Knight, married Agnes, second daughter of 
 Sir Edward Gage, of Sussex, Knight, and died without 
 issue. Me left his patrimony to John Stradling, grand- 
 son to Harry Stradling, second sou to Thomas Stradling, 
 Esq. Tliis Harry Stradling, married the daugliter, and 
 heiress of Thomas Jubb, a very learned attorney, and had 
 a son, named FrauLis Strandling, Esq., who lived at St. 
 Georges, near Bristol, and married Mary, iliugliter of 
 Bartholomew Mitchel, Esq. by vvhom he had a son, 
 named John ;— that is — 
 XVni. Sir John Stradling, Knight. He was created a Knight, 
 by King James the First; and by the same King, 
 subsequently, a Baronet. He was the fifth Daronct 
 created. Before he came to the estates, iii' was 01-c 
 of the Fellows of All Saints' College, Oxford. He 
 N
 
 98 xMEiMOlRS OF THE STKADLINGS. 
 
 published a volume of English compositions, called 
 "Divine Poems;" and was, in 1720, Sheriff of Gla- 
 morganshire. He married Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Edward Gage, Esq., son of Sir Edward Gage, of Sussex, 
 whose daughter was the Lady of Sir Edward Stradling, 
 who gave the estates to his cousin, this Sir John Strad- 
 ling, who had ten children ; and who made the new 
 park, and planted it with trees. He planted also many trees 
 in the old park, and rebuilt, in a great measure, the old 
 tower, that had fallen into decay. This tower was origi- 
 nally erected by Sir Peter Stradling, the eighth of the 
 name, to give light to his galley, at nights, when the 
 family returned from Cwm Hawey to St. Donats. They 
 occasionally resided in Somersetshire, but mostly at 
 St. Donats. 
 
 A report has gone abroad that the principal motive for 
 erecting and lighting this tower was, to decoy vessels to 
 the dangerous rocks that extend along the coast, for some 
 miles, east and west of St. Donats' Castle: but this 
 kind-hearted, and charitable family were far indeed from 
 entertaining any such intention. It is, however, said 
 that the light in the tower, led some vessels astray, that 
 were ultimately lost on the bordering rocks; but so far 
 were the Stradlings from plundering the cargoes of such 
 wrecks that, instead, they preserved and protected them, 
 to the utmost, for the rightful owners ; affording, also, 
 every succour to the crows. Finding, notwithstanding, 
 that such accidents resulted, the light was thenceforth
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 99 
 
 discontinued; and the tower fell into dilapidation: but 
 it continued to stand until the time of Queen Elizabeth, 
 when it was blown down by a tremendous storm, that 
 likewise threw down many of the large old trees in the 
 park; besides producing severe injuries in the country. 
 When this tower became generally known, it served as 
 a beneficial beacon, for upwards of two hundred years, 
 to warn vessels oflF the dangerous Severn coast ; so, for 
 one ship that was lost through it, at first, scores were 
 ultimately preserved, that would, otherwise, have in- 
 evitably been destroyed. This consideration induced Sir 
 John Stradling to renew it, strictly forbidding, however, 
 the use of any light. Thus restored, it remains until 
 the present period. 
 XIX. Sir Edward Stradling, Baronet, eldest son of Sir John 
 Stradling, succeeded his father, and married Mary, the 
 daughter of Sir Thomas Mansel, of Margam, Baronet. 
 This Sir Edward, at the commencement of the great 
 civil war, in the time of Charles the First, raised a 
 regiment of men, amounting to one thousand and fifty- 
 five, gave them arms, from his own Castle, clothed all 
 the common soldiers at his own expense, and led them 
 to battle, in defence of Charles, to Edge-Hill ; where he 
 was taken prisoner, and conveyed to Warwick Castle. 
 He died at Oxford, and was buried in the Chapel of 
 Jesus College, where he was educated. He, it is said, 
 was the first of the family that was brought up at an 
 English Univnsity. I cannot however help thinking
 
 100 MKMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 
 that tliis is a mistake, arising I'rom tiic error of common 
 report. 
 
 Tbomas, the second son, was Lieutenant-Colonel in 
 bis brother's regiment, and died childless; — 3d, John, 
 was a Captain in the expedition sent by Charles the 
 First against the Isle of Rhe, in France, and fell there ; 
 — 4th, Edraond, died a young man at Oxford ; — 5th, 
 Sir Harry, created a Knight, for his fidelity, by Charles 
 the First, was Captain of one of the King's ships ; but 
 after the Parliament obtained possession of the navy, he 
 .gaveup his ship; and returned to Pembroke Castle, atthat 
 time in the hands of theRoyalists ; and when Cromwell's 
 party took the Castle from Poyer and Lagharne, he was 
 driven from his native country to Ireland, where he died, 
 in the city of Cork ; and was buried there, in the Church 
 of the Holy Trinity; — 6th, Francis, was a Captain of 
 Infantry, in Ireland, and died there before the civil war 
 broke out ; — 7th, Donat, died, a young man, in London ; 
 — Sth, George, Doctor of Divinity, and Dean of 
 Chichester, had many children; — 9th, Jane, married 
 William Thomas, Esq., of Wenvoe; — 10th, Elizabeth, 
 
 married Jennings, Esq., of Essex. This Sir 
 
 Edward, the eldest son of Sir John, had nine children. 
 XX. Sir Edward Stradling, Knight, eldest son of the above, 
 whom Charles the First created a Knight, married 
 Catharine, daughter of Sir Hugh Perry, Alderman, of 
 London. After his death, she married Bussey IVlansel, 
 Esq., of Briton Ferry. This Sir Edward, also, led a
 
 MEMOIRS OF TIIR STRADLINGS. 101 
 
 body of Foot to Newbury, in support of Cliarlos the 
 First. When the King lost the day, he returned to 
 Oxford, where he died, before his Father ; but his body 
 was brought to St. Donats, to be buried with his ances- 
 tors. The second son, John, Major-General under 
 Charles tlie First, was at the battle of St. Fagans (May 
 8, 1648); taken prisoner, and conveyed to Windsor 
 Castle; where he died; — 3d, Sir Thomas Stradliiig, 
 who was Colonel of Infantry, in the reign of Charles the 
 Second, and was appointed a Captain in the Guards, by 
 James the Second. He died at Merthyr Mawr ; — 4th, 
 Mansel Slradling, Esq., who married — ^— _^ ; — 5th, 
 Jane, who married Thomas Carue, Esq., of Nash ; — 6tli, 
 Dorothy, who ni;irricd Hairy Hill, Esq., of East Orchard, 
 St. Athan; — 7tli, Joan, who married David Mathews, 
 of Llandaff, Esq. ;— 8th, Anne: — 9th, Elizabeth, wlio 
 married Edward Turbcrvillc, Esq., of Sutton; after 
 wliose death, she married Lewis Thomas, Esq., brother 
 of Sir Robert Thomas, Baronet, of Llanmihangel. This 
 Sir Edward had three children: 
 XXI. First, Sir Edward Stradling, Baronet, who married Eliza- 
 beth, daughter of William Hungerford, Esq., of Farley 
 Castle, Somersetshire; — 2d, Catharine, who married Sir 
 William Waller, Knight;— 3d, Jane, who married 
 George Bowen, Esq., of Kettle-Hill, in Gower. This 
 (last named) Sir Edward Stradling had six children ; 
 namely : — 1st, William, the eldest, who died a child ; — 
 2d, Edward, who inherited the estate and honours; —
 
 )0> MEMOIRS OF TifEJ STIIADLINGS. 
 
 3d, Tlungerford, who died at Cowbridge school ;— 4tb, 
 Rachael, who died a child ; — 5th, Edmond, who died a 
 child; — 6th, Thomas, who died at sea, in one of King 
 William's ships. 
 XXII. Sir Edward StradJlng, Baronet, second son of the last Sir 
 Edward, and heir to the estate and honours, married 
 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Mansel, of Margam, 
 Baronet; and had two sons: — 1st, Edward Stradling, 
 Esq., born March 3, 1699, and died Oct. 3, 1726;— 2d, 
 Thomas Stradling, Esq. born July 24, 1710; in which 
 year, his Father was High-Sheriff of Glamorganshire, 
 and was, also, elected Member of Parliament for Cardiff, 
 for which place he had been Member before ; but in the 
 year 1732, he resigned his seat ; and his son, Edward 
 Stradling, Esq., was elected in his stead; and continued 
 a Member to his death. 
 
 It is remarkable that no Esquire of the family in- 
 herited the estate but one, — Thomas Stradling, whose 
 great grandson. Sir John Stradling, was the first Baronet 
 among them, and the fifth, as you have already heard, 
 that was raised to that order; according to the following 
 list;— 
 
 1. Sir Nicholas Bacon. 
 
 2. SiK MoLINEAUX. 
 
 3. Sir Thomas Mansel. 
 
 4. Sir Shirley. 
 
 6. Sir John Stradling. 
 
 EDWARO GAMAGE. 
 
 Saint A than, Nov. 23, 1836.
 
 MEMOIRS OF THE STIIADLINGS. 103 
 
 The following conclusion of tlie Pedigree is extracted from a 
 roll, under tlie liead of " Descent of the Stradlings ;" kindly 
 arranged, and written out for lue, by J. Johnson, Esq., Surgeon, 
 now of Cowbridge, wlio, altbough ncitiier a native of Wales, nor, 
 1 believe, descended from Welsh parentage, lias acquired a greater 
 linowledge of the Antiquities and Genealogies of Glamorgan, 
 than, with rather limited exceptions, its resident families : — 
 
 XXIII. Sir Thomas Stradling (second son of the last Sir Edward) 
 died at Montpellier, in France, Sep. 27, 1738; and was 
 buried at St. Donats, the 19th of March following. The 
 estates were settled, by Act of Parliament, as follows : 
 St. Donats and Sully fell to Sir John de la Fontaine 
 Tyrwhit ; Merthyr Mavvr and Monknash to Hugh Bowen, 
 Gent.; Penlline, Llamplicy, and Cwni llawcy, in 
 Somersetshire, to Bussey Mansel, Esq., by virtue of a 
 will made by Sir Thomas; and St. Atiian was sold to 
 pay the lawyers. 
 
 Mr. Gamagc's Memoirs diflfcr, in several places, from tiie ac- 
 counts given by Sir Edward Stradling, (the l7th in descent) and 
 others, of this ancient family. In some instances liis deviations 
 appear to have been correctly based ; in other cases, he may 
 possibly, have been led into some degree of error. But such 
 discrepancies will be again successively considered, in a compara-
 
 104 MEMOIRS OF THE STRADLINGS. 
 
 tive view of tlic Genealogies liere consulted The great superi- 
 ority of his account is, that it embraces several historical and 
 biographical features of importance, that have not been recorded 
 by others; consequently the extract introduced, has undergone no 
 compression. His style is strongly idiomatic, a peculiarity that 
 may, pcrliaps, be occasionally noticed in the translation. 
 
 I
 
 NOTES TO THE FIRST CANTO. 
 
 " A circle raised for holy rite 
 
 In face of day and eye of light." — p. 11. 
 That the British Druids exercised considerable influence, civil, 
 as well as religious, in their country, has not been disputed ; tliat 
 their uncontaminatcd principles were essentially pacific, has also 
 been truly asserted by the historians of various nations, and that 
 they acknowledged One Supheme Being, and believed in a future 
 state, are points that have been declared, even by Roman writers ; 
 who, notwithstanding, liavc, inconsistently enough, accused tiiem 
 of a considerable portion of the incongruous polytlieisni main- 
 tained by their own nation; and of abhorrent rites that appertained 
 also, in truth, to themselves. But tiie testimonies of the Romans 
 against the Druids are deemed quite oracular by persons who would 
 depreciate the tenets of those ancient ministers of worsiiip. 
 Pagan authors are quot;jd with a degree of implicit credit, little 
 
 siiort of that bestowed on Holy Writ, in confirmation of opinions 
 
 O
 
 iOG NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 unjustly attributed to tliom, from long prejudice: but, 'when the 
 very same authorities are advanced against Christianity, their 
 evidence is discarded at once, and altogether. That the Romans 
 calumniated the benign precepts of the Gospel, and pursued its 
 Professors, with the hand of desolation, is well known ; and the 
 sufferings thus inflicted never fail to excite feelings of intense 
 sympathy and regret. He, however, who, having closely examined 
 ancient British documents, together with other concurrent evi- 
 dences, may have the courage to exhibit the Druids in their real 
 character, is, too frequently, considered a disbeliever in Revela- 
 tion, and an adherent to exploded error. A dispassionate exami- 
 nation of the real case, however, would, I am persuaded, qualify 
 the objections of sincere minds. 
 
 That the principles of Druldism, in numerous instances, are 
 comparatively inefficient, when confronted with Christian purity, 
 will be at once readily conceded : but does it thence follow, that 
 all the attrocities attributed to the Druids must necessarily be 
 declared undeniable. The theologies and superstitions of nations, 
 generally are to be traced out in the works of their own authors, 
 where such exist ; and the repugnant maxims, asserted to have 
 been disseminated by the Druids, would, also, be discovered in 
 our ancient British authors, had they ever been maintained. That 
 they do not appear is, then, a cogent proof that they never existed. 
 The Cynfeirdd, (Primitive Bards) in a few instances, and several 
 classes of ancient triads, still extant, present numerous cases of 
 irrational credulity, and strong superstition, prevalent among the 
 early Britons ; but they arc quite destitute of the opinions and 
 fallacies charged to them by Anti-Cirabric authorities. When
 
 NOTES TO CANTO FHE FIRST. 107 
 
 the Hebrews, at. difforcnt periods, succeeded in suppressing various 
 idolatries, that had successively increased among them, the objec- 
 tionable places of worship were demolished with unsparing hands: 
 Nay, even in this country, at an era of considerable knowledge, 
 when Popish opinions were repudiated, and the Protestant creed 
 established; zeal ran into such wild fanaticism, that the fine 
 altars, splendid crosses, and imposing decorations of our Churches 
 were sadly demolished and effaced. But did a similar manifesta- 
 tion occur against tiie Druids and their worship at the introduc- 
 tion of the Gospel? Facts shall reply :—Tlie first Christian 
 Churches, in this kingdom, were founded either on the sites of 
 Druidic Temples, (Llannau; — and the ancient terra "Llann" is pre- 
 fixed to such,) or contiguous to them. Llanilid and Llangewydd, 
 in Glamorganshire, among many others, are corroborative in- 
 stances. At Llanilid the old Druidic Oratory ((iwyddfa), still 
 remains, nearly perfect ; reverently spared by Papist and Protes- 
 tant. The Church that once stood at Llangewydd, was founded 
 about the year 500 ; but removed, as Caradoc informs us, in 1111, 
 by one Lalys, to a place since called, from his name, Lalyston. 
 Not a vestige of the old Church at Llangewydd remains, except 
 that the boundaries of the church-yard, appearing higher than 
 the rest of the field, (still called, Cae'r Hen Eglwys), may be 
 traced, and that bones arc occasionally turned up ; but two large 
 stones, apparently the remains of a Cromlech, j'n'or to Christianity, 
 yet stand there. May we not conclude from these, and similar 
 circumstances, that the Druid ie Theology was deemed a desirable 
 and consistent basis for the glorious superstructure of Christianity. 
 The question, then, that imperatively arises, is — M-ould our primi-
 
 lOS NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 tive places of Christian worship have been so zealously attached 
 to the Altars of Druidism ; had the precepts of the latter been 
 so diametrically opposed, as stated by many authors, to the prin- 
 ciples of the former ? The reply is obvious. 
 
 When the Romans invaded Britain, they were in the full pride 
 of almost unlimited dominion; and, certainly then, unequalled 
 in Literature. They designated all other nations as Barbarians; 
 and, in their self-complacent superiority, they would not dream of 
 conceding to any other people a degree of attainment that might, 
 in the extremes! distance, be favourably compared with their own. 
 But, "Great is the Truth, and it will prevail ;" despite of all 
 unworthy exertions : While in one place they represent the 
 aboriginal Britons as wild, painted savages of the wood, imme- 
 diately they describe their war-chariots in terms that would almost 
 confer credit on modern mechanism. They liltewise truly assert 
 that the use of letters was known to the Druids. Tljese, surely, are 
 conflicting accounts ; still they are, altogether, implicitly relied on. 
 Had the Romans, having first acquired a correct knowledge of 
 Druidism, delineated it in its real features, the wretched absurdities 
 of their own Theology must immediately have shrivelled into 
 nonentity before its superior purity. The horrid observances which 
 they attribute to the Druids, such as divination from entrails, &c. 
 appertained, in fact, to their own rites. " What can we reason 
 but from what we know." 
 
 The following particulars, relating to Bardic Institutes, ex- 
 tracted from Edward Williams's manuscript " History of the 
 Bards," may in many instances seem to correspond closely with 
 Mr. Owen's (afterwards Dr. Owen Puglie) Preface to his English
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FlRSr. 109 
 
 translation of " Llywarch Hen's Heroic Elegies ;" but, to rescue 
 my Father's name from any unjust accusation of plagiarism, I 
 must here, in duty, observe that he communicated to Mr. Owen 
 all the information appertaining to Bardism, contained in that 
 interesting Preface. To whatever extent I may differ from Dr. 
 Pughe respecting the rules of orthography, and other principles of 
 the Welsh Language, 1 am anxious to present hero, my tribute 
 of sincere regard to his memory, for his strenuous exertions, 
 from early life to old age, in the cause of ancient British Lite- 
 rature. 
 
 " The Institution of the Bards originated in Britain ; hence they 
 are emphatically called Beirod Ynys Phydain. They were 
 primarily a Priesthood ; nor have they, even yet, relinquished 
 that character; although they now only exercise Bardic rites and 
 duties. They had among them the following orders : — 
 
 Firstly, — Awenyddion; secondly, — Bardd Trwyddedog, Bardd 
 Braint, or simply Bardd ; thirdly, — Derwyddfardd, or simply 
 Derwydd ; fourthly, — Ofyddfardd, or Ofydd, The three first were 
 eallcd the Regular Orders; the fourth was an honorary one. 
 
 AwENYDDiov were those who, appearing to have a genius for 
 poetry, and other branches of knowledge, were admitted as dis- 
 ciples. They were obliged to pass through a tedious probation, 
 and to sustain unimpeached morals. During progression, they 
 were taught the rudiments ,of the Welsh Language, the laws of 
 verse, and the principles of the Bardic Institution. They exer- 
 cised themselves in the composition of Poems, acquired others by 
 heart; and were finally {initiated into the mysteries of Religion
 
 no NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 and Philosophy. Having acquired a proper Ivnowlcd^c of these 
 things, they were admitted to the graduated order of — 
 
 Baudd Braint, Bardd Thwyddedog, or Trwyddedog 
 BnAiNT ; (i.e. Privileged Bard, Graduated Bard, or Privileged 
 Graduate), they were deemed, now, capable of being employed as 
 teachers of youth; of admitting disciples, aud of conferring the 
 honorary degree of Ofydd on those that were possessed of the 
 requisite qualificntions. They were not permitted to bear arms ; 
 passed in safety from one country to another ; and, when in their 
 Bardic robes, which had the effect of flags of truce, they appeared 
 between contending armies, hostilities were instantly discontinued. 
 Of a B.ird it was said— "gair ei air ef ar bawb" (his word was 
 paramount over every other testimony). The robes of tlic Bard 
 were sky blue, emblematic of Celestial Peace and Amity ; and 
 unicoloured, as a symbol of Truth. If called upon to officiate as 
 Prif-fardd, (Chief, or acting Bard) who had a temporary supremacy 
 over all others, of whatever order, he was entitled to assume the 
 order of — 
 
 Derwvud, or Derwyddfahdd, (i.e. Druid^ or Druid-Bard,) 
 and wore an unicoloured white robe : white, as emblematic of 
 Wisdom and Sanctity; and unkoloured, as of Truth. In this 
 capacity, however, he was not vested with any superior, or even 
 new power; but was considered the immediate and most appro- 
 priate Minister of Religion ; though not exclusively so; for the 
 other orders were qualified to officiate in Religious matters. When 
 chosen Prif-fardd (i.e. Arch Bard, or, as some write it, Arch- 
 Druid,) he laid aside the white, aud resumed the shy-hluc robe,
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. m 
 
 which he always wore, when he presided at a Oorsedd, or Supremo 
 Congress. 
 
 The Opvdd-pardd, or simply Ofydd, was an honorary degree, 
 or order. He could be admitted arbitrarily, by a Bardd Braint, on 
 his own Icnowlcdge of the candidate; or on the recommendation 
 of a Judge, and other competent authorities. The colour of the 
 Ofydd was green; emblematic of advancing knowledge; and the 
 vigorous ardour of young aspirants. 
 
 The Bards and Druids, (terms that are synonymous, except from 
 peculiar circumstances, rather tlian actual distinctions) always 
 held their meetings, or Gorseddau, in the open air, at conspicuous 
 places, while the sun was above the horizon, that the rites and 
 solemnities to be observed might take place "IN THE FACE 
 OF THE SUN, AND IN THE EYE OF LIGHT." 
 
 The place was set apart, by forming a circle of stones, with a 
 large stone in the centre ; cither beside, or on, which stood tiie 
 presiding Bard. This circle was termed Cylch y Cyxgraih, or 
 Conventional Circle; the stones that formed it were called, 
 Meini Gwynnion, or Holy Stones; the central stone was named 
 Maen Gorsedd, Presidial Stone ; Maen llog, Stone of Remu- 
 neration ; and Crair Gorsedd, the Altar of Congress. 
 
 The regular periods for holding a Gorsedd, are the two Solstices, 
 and the two Equinoxes ; although subordinate meetings might 
 be held on every new and full moon ; and, also, at the quarter 
 days. Regular meetings are summoned by Proclamation ; which 
 announces a period of a year and a day that must intervene before 
 the Gorsedd can be held. Present and absent Bards, the living 
 and the dead, are included in tiie announced attendance."
 
 112 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 The tlircc primitive Bards of the Island of Britain, — Plennydd, 
 Alawn, and Gwrox, are declared to be present at every Gorsetld. 
 Tliey are thus recorded in the Triads of the Island of Britain : — 
 
 " The three primeval Bards of the Island of Britain, Plennydd, 
 Alawnt, and Gvfron. These are the three first inventors of the 
 rights and usages of the Bards, and of Bardibm; for whom, and 
 which, there had not previously been any legally established sys- 
 tem of sustenance, immunities, and usages : For this reason 
 these are called the three primeval Bards. However, Bards and 
 Bardism had existed before their times ; but they were not sup- 
 ported by any legally established system, nor by any other means 
 provided for, than those of courtesy and civility ; and the patron- 
 age of the country and nation previous to the time of these 
 three. Some say that it was in the time of Prydain, the son of 
 Aedd, the Great, they lived; according to others, it was in the 
 time of Dyfnwal Moelmud, his son ; who, in some of the old 
 books, is called Dyfnfarth ap Prydain." — Triad 58. (Copied, as 
 well as others of the same class here given, from Edward 
 Williams's translation.) 
 
 These Mythological characters are frequently mentioned by the 
 Bards, and in various classes of Triads. Their periods of exist- 
 ence, and tlicir parentage, are seldom or never recorded alike in any 
 two instances of the immerous notices we find of them, in many 
 cases, they are mentioned as persons of unknown date, in other 
 instances, they are stated to have lived in the reigns of certain 
 Rulers of very distant periods. Upon mature reflection, however, 
 
 am strongly disposed to view them in no other light than as 
 personifications cf the three requisites of Poetic Genus : namely,
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. lis 
 
 — An Eye that can sec Nature,— a Heart tint can feel Nature,— 
 and a Resolution that dares follow Nature, 
 
 Plenxydd (Irradiator) is a name that seems to be nearly syno- 
 nymous with Ysplennydd (I)rilliant), and honce, ctymolofjicaUy 
 symbolic of Visual Perception, or " The Eye that can see Nature." 
 Alawx, apparently formed from llawn (full) and the augmenta- 
 tive prefix. A, may be fairly conceived to represent Plenary 
 Animation, a principle essentially requisite to that high ardour 
 which capacitates the " Heart fully to feel Nature :" — and Gwron 
 (literally— Hero) in conclusion, personifies " the Resolution that 
 dares follow Nature " 
 
 " Clas MerddirCs patriarchal chief; 
 Even Hu the mighty' s patriot formy — p. 1 1. 
 
 The following extracts from the Triads of the Island of Britain, 
 convey adequate explanations : — 
 
 " Three names were primevally given to the Island of Britain. 
 Before it was inhabited it was called Clas Merddin ; (sea-girt 
 land) after it became inhabited, it was called Y Pel Ynys ; (the 
 Isle of Honey) and after it had been subjugated to Regular 
 Government, by Prydain, son of Aedd the Great, it was called 
 the Island of Prydain ; (Britain) and to it none but the nation of 
 Cymmry have any just claim ; for il was first colonized by them ; 
 for, before that time, it was not inhabited by men, but abounded 
 with bears, wolves, beavers, and hunch-backed oxen (buflfaloes, 
 or bisons; possibly the TJri of Caesar.)— (TriacZ 1.^ 
 
 "Tne three pillars of National Compact of the Island of 
 
 Britain : — First, Hu the Mighty, who originally conducted the 
 
 P
 
 114 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 Cymrary nation into the Island of Britain: and it was from the 
 country of Summer, otherwise called Deffrobani, where now 
 Constantinople is, they came ; over the Hazy Sea (German Ocean), 
 into the Island of Britain, and to Llydaw, (Letavia, or Bas 
 Bretagne). The second was Phydain, son of Aedd the Great, 
 who first instituted Government and National Compact in tlie 
 Island of Britain; before which time there was no regular order, 
 except what might take place from courteous gentleness; nor 
 any law, but that of superior force. The third was Dyfnwal 
 MoELMUD, who first reduced to order the Laws and Ordinances, 
 the Rights and Immunities, of the nation and country. For 
 these reasons they were called the Three Pillars of the Nation of 
 Cymmry." — {Triad 4.) 
 
 " The three Pacific Colonies of the Island of Britain : the first 
 -were the Cymrary, who came with Hu the Mighty, into the 
 Island of Britain ; for he did not desire to possess a country 
 through force and violence; but in peace and according to 
 justice." — {Triad 5.) 
 
 The other two Pacific Colonies were the Lloegrwys (Ligurians) 
 ■who came from Gascony, and the Brython from Llydaw (Letavia). 
 "The three force-resisting defenders of the Island of Britain : 
 Hu the Mighty, who conducted the nation of Cymmry into the 
 Island of Britain, from Summerland, (Gwlad yr Haf) otherwise 
 called Deffrobani ; Prydaiv, son of Aedd the Great, who insti- 
 tuted Government and Patriarchal Jurisdiction, in the Island of 
 Britain ; and Rhitta the Giant, who made for himself a large 
 robe of the beards of those Kings who were by him degraded to 
 vassalage, for their tyrannies and depredations."— (Trzarf 54.)
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 115 
 
 "The three establishcrs of the Cymmry Nation : First, Hu ths 
 Mighty, who, whilst they were yet in the Summer country, where 
 Constantinople now stands, first taught the best method of culti- 
 vating the ground to the nation of the Cymmry : this was before 
 they came into the Island of Britain: — secondly, Coll, sou of 
 CoLLVREWf, who first introduced wheat and hurley into the Island 
 of Britain, where, before, there were only oats and rye: — and 
 thirdly, Illtstd (Ututus), the Equestrian, (Knight and Saint of 
 the College of Thcodosius), who improved the arts of agriculture ; 
 and taught the Cymmry a better way of ploughing than they had 
 before known ; giving them the method now practised. Before 
 the time of Illtyd the ground was ploughed only with a mattock 
 and tread-plough, in the same manner as still practised by the 
 lv\s\\r— {Triad 56.) 
 
 "The three primary Civilizers of the Nation of Cymmry : 
 First, Hu the Mighty, who first instituted the systems of the 
 caravan, and of social compact, amongst the Cymmry. — Secondly, 
 Dyfnwal Moelmud (Dunwallo Maelmutius), who first established 
 a regular System of Laws, and of the Rights and Usages of the 
 country and nation. — Thirdly, Tydain, Father of Poetical Genius ; 
 who first systematized the principles of Memory and Record 
 appertaining to the Art of Poetry (literally, of Vocal Song) and 
 its relatives : and from his system originated the invention of the 
 Regulations, Immunities and Customs of the Bards and Bardism 
 of the Island of Britain." — (Triad o7-) 
 
 In Triad 92, Hu is associated with Gwyddon Ganhcbon (Gwy- 
 ddon of Song utterances) and Tydain, Father of Poetic Genius, 
 as the three analyzers of Song and Intellectuality.
 
 116 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 It is, thus, in several Triads, asserted that Hu conducted the 
 Cymmry from " the Country of Summer, otherwise called Deflfro- 
 bani, where now Constantinople stands" into Britain. Tlie nearest 
 name that I can find to Deffrobani is Taprobane (Ceylon) ; but 
 Constantinople and that Island are situated so distantly from each 
 other, that the identity of the latter place with the former can in 
 no wise be sustained. It is almost conclusive, by inferences drawn 
 from ancient history, tliat the Cymmry were originally an Eastern 
 nation ; and Asia Minor has, by many writers, been mentioned as 
 the country they possessed. Taliesin, Chief of the Bards, is, by 
 lorwerth Fynglwyd, in his impressive Elegy to the memory 
 of his preceptor, the gifted Llawdden, called — 
 " Taliesin teula Asia." 
 Taliesin of the household of Asia. 
 In triad 57, Hu the Mighty is named as the first that established 
 the system of the Caravan, and of Social Compact. There is a 
 series of very ancient triads, called " Trioedd y Cludau" (Triads 
 of Carrying Vehicles, or Caravans). These triads are said, by 
 several old British authorities, to have formed the basis of 
 Dyfnwal Moelmud's Jurisprudential Triad=, upon which the laws 
 of Howell the Good are expressly said again to have been formed. 
 The caravan system, attributed to Hu, was possibly the origin of 
 Trioedd y Cludau; which describe modes of existence that 
 belonged to very remote ages. These courses of triads are included, 
 with many others, in the Mrjv. Arch., vol. 3. They were copied 
 by Edward Williams, from manuscripts written by Thomas ab 
 levan, of Tre Bryn ; who transcribed them from the old books of 
 Sir Edward Mansel, of Margam, in 16S5; books that were
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. II7 
 
 probably collected by the Sir Edward Maiisel noticed in the 
 " Explanatory Remarks." 
 
 At the conclusion of a short Preface to his collection of Triads, 
 Thomas ab lovaii, whose memory should be revered by every 
 Welsh antiquary, thus characteristically observes ; — addressing 
 his reader, — 
 
 '* Heaven to the souls of the good Old Men who formerly pre- 
 served in memory, and on record, tiiese things: but if it was 
 through such conduct they attained Heaven, I greatly fear that 
 they never will see TTiany of their descendants in the place where 
 they arc. Mayest thou be vigorous, healthy, and wise. God be 
 with thee! — and his Heaven to thy soul !" 
 
 No mythological character is more frequently noticed by the 
 Poets than Hu Gadarn; and the terms in which they generally 
 allude to him are so very mysterious, that he cannot, in many 
 instances, be viewed in any other light, than as a super-human 
 being. Indeed bis names, Hu and Hlon, are appellations applied 
 to the Almighty, when His attribute of Supreme Energy is 'hAto- 
 duced. The Druids called the Sun Hua.v, as the sublimest 
 emblem of the God of Light and Life ; the only Deity they, in 
 recdity, acknowledged and worshiped. 
 
 Plennydd is by some called the son of Hu. 
 
 " Mae Plennydd, mab Hu Lawnwaith?" 
 " Where is Plennydd, the son of Hu of exuberant operation ?" 
 
 says Archdeacon Edmund Prys, in his poetical controversy with 
 William Cynwal, But this expression only supplies an additional
 
 118 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 argument for my opinion, already advanced, respecting the " Three 
 primitive Bards." 
 
 Hu Gadarx, Por boyw givvdawd ; 
 Brenin a roi'r gwin a"r gwawd : 
 Amherawdr tir a moroedd; 
 A bywydd oil i'r byd oedd. 
 
 Hu the Mighty, Sustainer of an active nation ; 
 A King, who bestowed wine and praise: 
 The Emperor of land and seas; 
 Who was entire life to the world. 
 
 lolo Goch (Circ. ann. UQO) 
 in his Poem to the Husbandman. 
 
 Bid gan Hu Gadarn arnynt 
 
 Ei gerdd o Nef ;— Gyrddion ynt. 
 
 Gwihjm Tew 
 i blant Emwnt Malffawnt. 
 
 May Hu the Mighty impart to them 
 
 His song from Heaven, for powerful are they. 
 
 Gwilijn Tew (about 1440^ 
 to the children of Edmund Malephant. 
 
 These, out of innumerable instances, shall sufBce. 
 
 ^^ Stern Rhitta Gawr's majestic mien. — p. 11. 
 " Is there anything where it may be said,— See this is new ? 
 It hath been already of old times. — There is no new thing under 
 the sun," — said the wise King of Israel ; nor can we gainsay the 
 assertion. Burke and other incarnate fiends have, in our own 
 immediate days, quenched the lives of many unsuspicious wretches, 
 by a species of inventive infernality that was inconsiderately 
 deemed quite novel ; but the Royal Benhadad of old was simi- 
 larly burked by iniquitous Hazael. Our modern Ultra-Radicals 
 have been hastily deemed the offsprings of our present age; but 
 here step forth Rhitta Gawr and his confederates, of uniinown
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 119 
 
 antiquity, to extinguish their claim to originality : and it must, 
 at once, be confessed that the Royal Radicil establishes, most 
 indisputably, a prior right to the designation. 
 
 THE LEGEND OF RHITTA GAWR. 
 
 ( Translated from the Welsh.) 
 "There were two Kings, formerly in Britain, named Nynniaw 
 and Pcibiaw. As these two ranged the fields, one star-light night, 
 — ' See,' said Nynniaw, ' what a beautiful, and extensive field I 
 possess!' ' Where is it?' said Peibiaw; 'the whole Firmament,' 
 said Nynniaw, ' far as vision can extend.' ' And do thou see,' 
 said Peibiaw, 'what countless herds and flocks of cattle and 
 sheep 1 have depasturing thy field.' ' Where arc they ?' said 
 Nynniaw ; ' why the whole host of stars which thou seest,' said 
 Peibiaw ; ' and each of golden effulgence ; with the Moon for their 
 shepherdess, to superintend their wanderings." ' They shall not 
 graze in my pasture,' said Nynniaw ;— ' They shall,' said Peibiaw ; 
 ' They shall not; said one ;— ' They shall; said the other, repeatedly, 
 in bandied contradiction ; until, at last, it arose to wild contention 
 between them -. — and from contention it came to furious war ; 
 until the armies and subjects of both were nearly annihilated in 
 the desolation. Rhitta the Giant, King of Wales, hearing of the 
 carnage committed by these two maniac Kings, determined on 
 hostility against them; and, having previously consulted the laws 
 and his people, he arose and marched against them, because they 
 had, as stated, followed the courses of depopulation and devasta- 
 tion, under the suggestions of phrenzy. He vanquished them, and 
 then cut off their beards. But, when the other Sovereigns,
 
 120 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 included in the twenty-eight Kings of the Island of Britain, heard 
 these things, tliey combined all their legions to revenge the degra- 
 dation committed on the two disbeardcd Kings; and made a fierce 
 onset on Rhitta the Giant and his forces; — and furiously bold was 
 the engagement. But Rhitta the Giant won the day.— 'This is 
 my extensive field,' said he, then, — and immediately disbearded 
 the other Kings. — When the Kings of the surrounding countries 
 heard of the disgrace inflicted on all these disbearded Kings, they 
 armed themselves against Rhitta the Giant and his men; and 
 tremendous was tlie conflict; but Rhitta tiie Giant achieved a 
 most decisive victory, and then exclaimed : ' This is my immense 
 field !' — and at once the Kings were disbearded by him and his 
 men. Then pointing to the irrational Monarchs, ' these,' said he, 
 'are the animals that grazed my field ;— but I have driven them 
 out: they 'shall no longer depasture there.' After that, betook 
 up all the beards, and made out of them a mantle for himself, that 
 extended from head to heel; — and Raitta was twice as large as 
 any other person ever seen." 
 
 It is a fi;ature strongly in favour of the antiquity of Welsh 
 Literature, that most of the prominent characters found in old 
 English and French Romances and Ballads, are borrowed from it. 
 Even the seats of Government, under British Princes, previous to 
 the Saxion dominion, such as Carlisle, Caerlleon, &c., are selected 
 as scenes of action. — King Arthur, Queen Gucncver (Gwenhwy- 
 far). Sir Kay (Cai hir), Glaskcrion (Glas-Geraint), or, Ceraint 
 fardd Glas, or Gadair (Ceraint the Blue Bard of the Cliair), 
 Mordred (Medrod), and many otiiers, figure in frequent recurrence, 
 in those compositions. Even redoubtable Rhitta Gawr has been
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 121 
 
 pressed into English service. In tlie third volume of Percey's 
 " Reliques of Ancient English Poetry," page 25, a song appears, 
 called "King Ryence's Challenge." 
 
 The following is entirely extracted from that volume : — 
 
 "KING RYENCE'S CHALLENGE." 
 
 This is more modern than many of those which follow it, but is 
 placed here for the sake of the subject. It was sung before Queen 
 Elizabeth, at the grand entertainment at Kenilworth Castle, in 
 1575; and was, probably, composed for the occasion. In a letter, 
 describing those festivities, it is thus mentioued : — " A Rlinstrell 
 came forth with a sollem song, warranted for story out of K. 
 Arthur's Acts, whereof 1 gat a copy, and is this : — 
 " So it fell out on a Pentecost, &c." 
 
 After the song, the narrative proceeds : — " At this the Minstrell 
 made a pause, and a curtezy for Primus Passus. More of the 
 song is thear, but I gatt it not." 
 
 The story in Morte Arthur, whence it is taken, runs as follows : — 
 
 "Came a messenger hastily from King Ryence, of North Wales, 
 
 saying, that King Ryence had discomfited and overcome eleven 
 
 Kings, and everiche of them did him homage, and that was this : 
 
 they gave him their beards cleanc flayne off. Wherefore the 
 
 messenger came for King Arthur's beard ; for King Ryence had 
 
 purfeled a raantell with Kings beards, and there lacked for one a 
 
 place of the mantell, wherefore he sent for his beard, or else he 
 
 would enter into his lands, and brenn and slay, and never leave till 
 
 he have thy head and thy beard. Well, 'said Arthur, thou hast 
 
 said thy message, which is the most villainous and lewdest message 
 
 Q
 
 122 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 that ever man heard sent to a King. Also thou mayest see my 
 beard is full young yet for to make a purfell of, but tell thou the 
 King that — or it be long he shall do me homage on both his 
 knees, or else he shall leese his head." 
 
 The Welsh Legend conveys a just reflection on the turbulence 
 of Ambitious Might, that has so frequently, in all ages, involved 
 countries and nations in misery, and utter devastation, from pre- 
 texts that appertained merely to personal vanity, caprice, revenge, 
 or inordinate ambition, rather than to the least advantage intended 
 for mankind: but the English version of it is a mere tissue of 
 incongruity; displaying Ryence in the position of the turbulent 
 Kings whom Rhitta had reduced to order. 
 
 Number 50, of the Triads of the Island of Britain, may here be 
 appropriately introduced : 
 
 "The three foolish battles of the Island of Britain: the battle 
 of Goddeu, on account of a bitch, a roe, and a lapwing; and in it 
 seventy-one thousand men were killed ; — the battle of Arderydd, 
 a lark's nest was the cause, in which eighty thousand of the nation 
 of Cymmry were slain;— and the battle of Cumlan, between 
 Arthur and Medrod, wherein Arthur was killed, and with him a 
 hundred thousand men, &c." 
 
 The old Ballad of " The Boy and the Mantle," the first poem in 
 the same volume of the Reliques, is based on Welsh romance. Of 
 this composition the learned compiler of that work says : — " The 
 incidents of ' The Mantle and the Knife' have not, that I can 
 recollect, been borrowed from any other writer," He knew 
 nothing, probably, of the Welsh language, or its literature.
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 123 
 
 A transcript in my possession, enumerates tbe "Thirteen 
 Treasures of the Island of Britain :" amongst them, No. 4, is the 
 following: — " Mantell Tegau Eurfron a; guddiai wraig ddiwair, 
 ag nis gwnai'r anniwair, ag a guddiai eirwir, ag nis gwnai'i 
 anwir." 
 
 "The Mantle of Tegau Eurfron (Beauty of the golden breast) 
 that covered a chaste wife, but would not an unchaste one; that 
 would cover a truth-teller, but not a liar." 
 
 I And the following extract among ray Father's papers. It 
 seems, by the subjoined query, that he had not seen any similar 
 passage before. 
 
 " Ex loose papers — Place Gwynn. 
 A tharaw o Rhitta Gawr y llawr a'i droed yny chrynai'r ddaear ; 
 yny chrynai wybrenoedd, yny chrynai'r ser, ynyd aeth y cryn drwy'r 
 holl fydoedd hyd eithafoedd annwn." 
 
 E. Evans, Ex. V. Hengwrt. 
 Query —From wtiat work in MSS ?— (E. W.) 
 Then Rhitta Gawr struck the ground with his foot, till the 
 earth trembled ! till the skies trembled '. till the stars trembled ! 
 till the tremor ran through all the worlds unto the uttermost 
 depths. — (Trans, by Ed. Williams.) 
 
 But, because these Mythologies and Superstitions prevailed 
 among the Ancients Britaius, does it follow that the Personages or 
 Beings thus mysteriously mentioned, were worshiped by them, or, 
 indeed, that they even constituted a part of Druidic Mythology. 
 As well, then, may it be said, that English, Scottish, Irish, and 
 Welsh Superstitions are included in the religious creeds of thoso 
 nations ; or that the Flying Dutchman is adored, from fear or love, 
 by sailors.
 
 124 MOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 " The champions of Delusion.'''' — p. 12. 
 "The three Actors of Delusion and Phantasm, of the Island of 
 Britain: — Math ab INIathonwv; and he taught his Delusion to 
 GwYDioN, the son of Don ;— Menyw, the son of the Three Shouts 
 (or Loud Utterances), who taught his Delusion to Uthyr Pen- 
 DRAGON (Uthyr of tlio dragon iiead) ; — and Rhuddlwm the 
 Giant, who was taught his Delusion by Eiddilic, the Dwarf, and 
 Coll (Perdition), the son of Collfrewi." — {Triad 90.) 
 
 *' Mysterious 3Tath, ^c."— p. 12. 
 
 " Whatever the arts of Math ap Mathonwy were, they were 
 termed deceptions, or delusions ; and phantoms, or sham repre- 
 sentations. As such, they were abhorrent to the eyes of the 
 Bards; and obviously not practised by them. But a good con- 
 jecture, on warrantable authorities, may be offered respecting 
 those delusions and phantoms. It is probable that they were 
 Dramatic Representations, rather in imitation of the Roman 
 Dramas, that must have been familiar to the Britons. We are 
 told by Caradoc, of Llancarvan, {Myv. Arch. vol. 2, page 558) that 
 GrufFyddab Rhys held a splendid feast at Dinevor Castle, in 1135. 
 At this grand festival, which lasted forty days, he says, that all 
 the plays of Delusion and Phantom were performed, for the enter- 
 tainment of the guests. 
 
 " In many manuscript tracts on Musicians and Minstrels, or 
 Reciters,* Chware, Hiid a LledritK {PXay'mg Delusion and Phantom') 
 is expressly said to be the same thing as AnterluwV (Interludes). 
 — (Extracted from Edward JVilliams''s papers.)
 
 NOTES TO CANTO TllK FIRST. 125 
 
 " Menyw, the marvel of his age, 
 fVfuj owri'd no earthly parentage.'''' — p. 12. 
 
 Menyvt, son of the Three Loud Utterances has been already 
 noticed. 
 
 There were three persons, or rather Beings (for in most instances 
 super- human attributes are imputed to tliera) that were named 
 Menyw. The followins triad (translated from the Triads of the 
 Genii) enumerates them : — 
 
 " The three Genii of Agricultural Colonization of the Island of 
 Britain;— Menyw, the son of Merddin Clas (Sea-girt Island), 
 called Menyw, son of the Three Shouts;— Menyw the Old, called 
 also Menyw the long, of North Wales; and Meuyw, son of 
 Menwaed, from Arl'on, who enforced the Arts on the Irish (or the 
 ierm^Gwyddyl will also imply woodmen), of Anglesea and Arfon, 
 in the time|of Gwrgan, of the thick beard, King of the Island of 
 Britain, Ireland, and the Island of Orkney." 
 
 These three are, however, frequently confounded one with 
 the^other. The Orkneys, in one of the triads, arc said originally 
 to have formed but one Island, but that an immense convulsion 
 reduced them to their present disconnected appearance. The 
 above triad alludes to the primary state. 
 
 Uthyr Bendragon (literally. Wonder of the Dragon-head) was 
 the eighty-fifth King of Britain, and reigned from the year 500 
 
 to 617. 
 
 Mr. Owen (Dr. W. O. Pughe) in his Cambrian Biography 
 (p. 340) says :— " The appellation Uthyr, or Wonder, was cer- 
 tainly an adopted one to create an enthusiasm for the emergency
 
 126 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 of the time; but the real name of this hero probably was Meirig 
 ab Tewdrig, who certainly was the Father of his illustrious 
 successor, Arthur, or the Bear exalted." 
 
 It may, however, be fairly conjectured that the appellation, 
 Utbyr (Wonder), was given to this Sovereign on account of the 
 awful mysteries asserted, by a triad already quoted, to have been 
 communicated to him by Meny w. 
 
 It would require an extensive development of Ancient British 
 Mythology to exhibit Meny w, son of the Three Shouts, in all the 
 offices attributed to him (in terms of high imagery) by various 
 triads, and other Welsh records of ancient lore. 
 
 There is an old Welsh poem addressed to some " Sir Walter," 
 Vicar of Bryn Buga, (Usk) to which is appended the following 
 explanation : — 
 
 " Composed by Meredydd ap Rhosser, to the miracle performed 
 by Sir Walter, at Bryn Buga; (Usk) which miracle is, in Welsh, 
 called Hud a Lledrith"' (Illusion and Phantasm). 
 
 The poem displays a considerable degree of imaginative energy, 
 blended, however, throughout, with strong superstition. Sir 
 Walter's Miracle consisted, according to this poem, in the exercise 
 of that degree of extreme magic, which ultimately reduced the 
 Prince of Darkness, himself, to strict bondage. The rampancy of 
 the Evil Spirit, who, it is said, had most iuveterately laid siege 
 to the town and neighbourhood, and the awful spells practised by 
 Sir Walter, to counteract his operations, are mentioned in the 
 poem, with fear and trembling. The followhig are curious 
 instances :
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 127 
 
 " Pwy, wrtli fuclicdd riiiwcddol, 
 O n'ln Dysg, a rwym y Diawl ?" 
 
 Wlio, of virtuous conduct, 
 
 By strcngtli of Learning', can bind the Devil ? 
 
 The reply is, — Sir Walter. 
 
 " Dawngais mawr, dangos miraifl ; 
 Drygau inyrdd, a'u ffyrdd yii ffagl ! 
 Gwclais, yii boo, i'r ■^waclod, 
 Gylch dry^au bciau sy'n bod ; 
 A'u diwedd ; — gwae ! o'u deall." 
 
 What an exertion of gift ! to exhibit a miracle ! 
 Ten thousand crimes, and tliuir courses, all in flaming' fire. 
 Have I seen tlirough its means; and, to the very bottom, 
 The circle of the depravities and errors that exist; 
 And also their fate. Woe betide the knowledge ! 
 
 '* Amlwg i'm golwg fe gaid 
 Athrylith y Cythreuliaid."' 
 
 Fully manifested to my view appeared 
 The intuitive Genius of Devils. 
 
 Magic is evidently the Delitsion and Phantasm attributed here 
 
 to Sir Walter's Miracle. 
 
 -" Gwydion, theme of ancient lay, 
 
 Lord of the star-gemm'd milki/-way." — p. 12. 
 
 Gwydion, the son of Don, to whom Menyw, the son of the 
 Three Utterances, revealed his mystery, is thus not'ced in the 
 Triads of the Island of Britain : — 
 
 "The three Provincial Herdsmen of the Island of Britain, Benren, 
 the Herdsman in Gorwennydd, who kept the herds of Caradoc, son 
 of Bran (Caractacus) and his clan; and that herd consisted of 
 twenty-one thousand milch cows: — secondly, Gwydion, son of 
 Don, who kept the cows of the clan of Gwynedd (Venedotia) 
 above the Conway, and in that herd there were twenty-one 
 thousand: — thirdly, Llawvrodedd, the bearded, who kept the
 
 128 NOTES TO CANTO THR FIRST. 
 
 cattle of Nudd, the libera!, son of Scnyllt; in whose herd there 
 were twenty-one thousand milch cows." — {Triad 85.) 
 
 "The three Blessed Astronomers of the Island of Britain: 
 Idris, the Great, — Gwj^dion, son of Don, — and Gwyn, son of 
 Nudd. So great was their i<nowIedg'e of the stars, and of tiieir 
 natures and influences, that they could foretel whatever any one 
 might wish to know till the day of Judgment." — {Triad 89.) 
 
 In triad 124, he is mentioned in "The three Golden Equipments 
 of the Island of Britain." The first was that of Caswallon 
 (Cassivellaunus). Tlie second that of Manawyden (Brother of Bran). 
 And the tliird, that of Llew Llawgyffes, when he went with 
 Gwydion, son of Don, to receive his name and destiny from 
 Rhianon (primitive parent) his mother. 
 
 Caer-Gwydion (tiie Fortress of Gwydion) is a frequent appella- 
 tion among old Welsh writers for the Galaxy. 
 
 Taliesin, Chief of the Bards, (circ. ann. 620) says that Gwydion 
 ap Don was the first who used parchment (plagawd). 
 
 "Gwydion ap Don 
 
 A ritiiwys Gorwyddawd y ar plagawd." 
 
 Gwydion the son of Don 
 
 First formed literature on parchment. 
 
 (See "Kadeir Keridwen," Mijv. Arch. 
 vol. I. p. G6.) 
 
 In a manuscript collection of " Miseellaneous Extracts," the 
 following legendary notice is included : — 
 
 "Blodeuwedd (Blossom-aspect), the wife of Fluan (the Sun), for 
 deceiving her husband, was transformed by Gwydion, into an owl ; 
 (TwYLLHUAN ill the Welsh note — literally, the Deceiver, or Evader
 
 NOTES TO CANTO TflE FIRST. I29 
 
 of the Sun) and after he had travelled over the Worlds in search 
 of her, he constructed Caer-Gwdlon" (tbc Galaxy). 
 
 " Ruddlwm the red, of grey-grim beard.'" — p. 13. 
 
 Rudcllwm (Red-bare) the Giant, is less noticed, in old documents, 
 than tlie two other Champions of Delusion. He is said to have 
 learned his mystery from Eiddilic (Phantom) the Dwarf, and 
 Coll (Perdition), son of Collfrewl 
 
 Tlie following well-compressed notices of Eiddilic and Coll are 
 extracted from " Mr. Owen's Cambrian Biography." 
 
 "Eiddilig the Dwarf, a mythological personage, who, with 
 Menw and Math formed a triad of those who had the power of 
 being visible and invisible at pleasure. Eiddilig was also one of 
 the three stubborn men, who could not be diverted from their 
 purposes: the other two were Gwair and Trystan. — (Camh.Biog, 
 p. 104.) 
 
 "Coll, son of CoUvrewi, ranked with Hu the Mighty, and 
 
 llltyd, to form a triad of those who bestowed supreme blessings 
 
 to the Cymmry. Coll obtained this high distinction, for having 
 
 introduced wheat and barley into the island, where there were 
 
 ti'.l then only rye and oats. This event, in another triad, is 
 
 mythologicaliy allegorized, under the title of the tliree strong 
 
 swine herds, who were Coll, Trystan, and Pryderi. In this. Coll 
 
 is represented as guarding the sow of Dallwaran Dalben, which 
 
 came in its progress to the promontory of Penwedic, in Cornwall ; 
 
 and then proceeded to sea ; and where she came to land was 
 
 Aber Tarogi, in Gwent ; Coll having liold of her bristles wherever 
 
 she went, whether on sea or by land. In Wheatfield, in Gwent, 
 
 R
 
 130 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 she deposited three grains of wheat, and three bees, and Gwent 
 has been famous ever since for wheat and honey ; from Gwent she 
 proceeded to Dyved, and there deposited a grain of barley and a 
 pig, and from that time Dyved has excelled in barley and swine ; 
 afterwards she proceeded to Ar von, and in that part called Lleyn 
 deposited a grain of rye, since which time Lleyn and Eivionydd 
 have excelled in rye ; and on the side of the declivity of Cy ver- 
 thwch she deposited a wolf-cub and an eagle chick. Coll gave 
 the eagle to Brynach the Gwyddelian, of Dinas Faraon ; and the 
 wolf he gave to Menwaed, of Arllechwedd ; and various are the 
 reports concerning the Eagle of Brynach and the wolf of Menwaed, 
 Then she proceeded to Black Rock, in Arvon, where she deposited 
 a young cat, which Coll threw into the Menai, and this was the 
 Palug Cat, which became a molestation afterwards in Mona. 
 Under this extraordinary recital seems to be preserved a record of 
 the appearance of a strange ship on the coasts under the appella- 
 tion of a sow, and probably a Phoenician one, which imported the 
 various things mentioned into the Island. This, probably, was 
 the cause for classing Coll with Menw and Drych ail Cibddar, as 
 the three who could render themselves visible or invisible at 
 pleasure." — {Camh. Biog. pp. 63 54.) 
 
 Mr, Owen's account of the adventures of Coll is communicated, 
 almost verbatim, in the translated expressions of the 101 triad 
 {Tri. I si. Brit.) His terminating observation is judicious and 
 applicable.
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 131 
 
 " Where famed Cyfciliog^s chief appear'' d 
 His liberal hand the Hirlas rear''d." — p, 13. 
 
 Descending from the regions of mythology, I now come to 
 review a character of well authenticated liistory ; — Owain 
 Cvfeiiiog;— but his distinction arises more from his poetic genius, 
 which certainly was of a high order, than from his warlike restless- 
 ness. 
 
 Owain, Lord of Cyfeiliog, was the son of Madoc, sonof Mared_vdd, 
 son of Bleddyn, son of Cynfyn, Prince of Powys ; a Principality 
 in North Wales, under the ancient divisions. Cwramwd Cyfeiliog 
 (the Commot of Cyfeiliog) according to Myv. Arch. vol. II. pp. 
 617 618, contained Machynllaeth, Y Wirn, Cemmaes, Darowen 
 Penegos, and Llan-bryn-Mair, places now included in the hundred 
 of Machynllaeth, Montgomeryshire. 
 
 Owain is frequently mentioned in history both as a warrior 
 and a poet. His poem, "Hirlas Owain" (the long blue Horn of 
 Owain) is a composition of powerful thought, and splendid descrip- 
 tion ; but it perpetuates scenes of desolation that are very 
 repugnant to the pacific principles of Druidism. He appears to 
 have commenced his warlike career about the year 1 160. Caradoc 
 says : — 
 
 "Oed Crist 1160, bu ymladd a diffeithiaw cydtiroedd, &c." 
 
 " In the year of Christ 1 160 there were reciprocal skirmisliings 
 and wasting of each other's territories, between Owain np Madoc, 
 Lord of Cyfeiliog, and Howel ap Cadwgan, Lord of the territories 
 of Elystan Glodrydd; without any great advantage, or victory, on 
 either side."
 
 132 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 The very next record, however, relieves the mind, and is 
 creditable to Glamorganshire. It is thus : (translation)—" In the 
 year of Christ 1161 were renewed the Rights and Franchizes of 
 those who cultivated the ground in Glamorganshire, for the pur- 
 pose of raising corn. Soon afterwards, the same regulations were 
 adopted in North Wales, South Wales, and Fowys ; and the King 
 (Henry II.) was prevailed upon to extend his protection to all 
 who tilled the ground ; so that lands under corn should not be 
 wasted in times of war." 
 
 Owain, in 1172, entered into war with Rhys ap GrufiFydd, 
 Prince of South Wales. " Rhys brought his forces to the field 
 against him, and, going to Cyfeiliog, defeated him. Rhys, how- 
 ever, was not disposed to desolate the lands of the Welsh nation; 
 but took hostages from Owain ; leaving iiim in full possession of 
 his territories, and returned to YstradTywi."— (if^/t). Arch.) 
 
 " The Hirlas was, in days of yore, a most necessary appendage, 
 
 " About 1160, Owain Cyvciliog, one of the most distingnished 
 princes of Fowys, flourished ; he was a great warrior raid an 
 eminent poet; several specimens of his writings are given in the 
 " Archaiology of Wales." His poem called the Hirlas Horn (the 
 long blue horn), is a masterpiece. It used to be the custom of 
 the prince, when he had gained a battle, to call for the horn, fill it 
 with methcglin, and drink the contents at one draught, then sound 
 it to show that there was no deception ; each of his officers fol- 
 lowed his example." — {Cambrian Quarterly Magazine, vol. I. 
 p. 118.) 
 
 The following Song to Owain's Hirlas Horn, is from the pen of 
 the Siren — Mrs. Hemans. It is here introduced, as applicable to the
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 133 
 
 subject under consideration: but tlie splendid poetry it presents 
 would justify its insertion, independent of due connection. To 
 object to its false views of merciless war would, perliaps, be 
 deemed an invidious exception; now that the Charmer, whose high 
 genius imagined it, is, alas! no more. It would grace a far better 
 Poem than that which is now presented to public indulgence, 
 
 THE HIRLAS HORN. 
 
 I. 
 
 Fill high the blue llirlas, that shines like the wave, 
 
 When sunbeams are bright on the spray of the sea ; 
 And boar thou the rich foaming mead to the brave, 
 
 The dragons of battle, tlic sons of the free! 
 To those from whose spears, in the shock of the fight, 
 
 A beam like Heaven's lightning, fliish"d over the field, 
 To those who came rushing as storms in their might, 
 
 Who have shiver'd the helmet, and cloven the shield ; 
 The sound of whosc^ strife, was like oceans afar. 
 When lances were red from the harvest of war. 
 
 ir. 
 
 Fill high the blue Hirlas! O, cup-benrer, fill ! 
 
 For the Lords of the field in their festival's hour, 
 And let the mead foam, like the stream of the hill. 
 
 That bursts o'er t!ie rock in the pride of its power; 
 Praise, j)rnise to the mighty, fill high the smooth horn 
 
 Of honour and mirth, for the conflict is o'er; 
 And round let the golden-tipp'd Hirlas be borne, 
 
 To the lion defenders of Gv/ynedd's fair shore. 
 Who rush'd to the field where the glory was won, 
 As eagles that soar from their clitTs to the sun. 
 
 in. 
 
 Fill higher the Hirlas ! forgetting not those 
 
 Who shar'd its bright draught in the days which are fled ! 
 Though cold on their mountains the valiant repose. 
 
 Their lot sliall be lovely — renown to the dead ! 
 While harps in the hall of the feast shall be strung. 
 
 While regal Eryri with snow siiall be crown'd; 
 So long by the Bard shall their battles be sung. 
 
 And the heart of the hero shall burn at the sound; 
 The (rec winds of Maelor shall swell with their name, 
 And Owain's rich Hirlas be fill'd to their fame !
 
 J34 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 Owain, having experienced repeated disasters, was at last re- 
 establisbed in his Principality, through the assistance of the 
 Normans and Saxons. 
 
 The desperate, and indeed treasonable, expedient of having 
 recourse to foreign aid, in extremities, brought on by unjustifiable 
 aggressions, has almost invariably proved destructive to the 
 national independence of the countries so temporarily assisted. 
 The faithful chronicle of Caradoc, records many such occurrences; 
 and the consequences that thence accrued, too constantly sub- 
 stantiated the baneful eflects of the policy that could suggest 
 remedies of so dangerous a nature. In every instance, the Saxons 
 and Normans, whose co-operation had been obtained, availed 
 themselves of the decreasing strength of the belligerent petty 
 states ; and, advancing their own influence, by throwing succes- 
 sive coils around them, ultimately extinguished the independence 
 of the dominions within their fatal protection. So it has been : 
 let us entertain a " sure and certain hope" that so it will not be 
 again. 
 
 Rather than a source of regret, it is a circumstance of joy, that 
 our country has been brought under the rule of one Supreme 
 Head ; to the suppression of inconsiderable states, whether apper- 
 taining to the Ancient British Government, the Saxon Heptarchy, 
 or to the former Scottish and Irish realms; but it is an occur- 
 rence of deep regret to every Cambrian, that the energetic Welsh 
 Language has been excluded from the Bench ; and, until recently, 
 to a very great extent, from the Pulpit. To the latter circum- 
 stance may be justly attributed much of the original, and the 
 subsequently continued dissent, in Wales, from the Established
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 135 
 
 Church. The former case would admit of great improvement, 
 were Judges and Barristers only admitted into the Welsh circuits, 
 who were acquainted witli the vernacular language of tiie natives. 
 Evidences are frequently so misconstrued, by inadequate in- 
 terpreters, as to pervert often, to an injurious extent, the 
 testimonies given by Welsh witnesses. To obviate this antici- 
 pated defect, English depositions have occasionally been peremp- 
 torily required from persons so defective in that language, as to 
 misrepresent, through its medium, their own ideas. The remedy, 
 thus efifected, is like that of running into Charybdis, by endeavour- 
 ing to avoid Scylla. 
 
 Notwithstanding some expressions that have, unadvisedly 
 escaped the Bench, on this subject, to cast the most distant 
 reflection on, or in anywise to disparage the patient and merciful 
 conduct of our Judges, who now preside, successively, in the Welsh 
 Courts, is diametrically opposite to the object of these remarks, 
 A difficulty, however, exists, that requires impartial consideration. 
 But I have digressed already too far. 
 
 " Emblazori'd arms of high degree. 
 That told of ancient chivalrr/. 
 The motto, on their shield displayed, — 
 "@otj! antJ CSltOligll/' — their hope conveyed:'— p. U. 
 The original shield of the Stradlings, presenting a rather unusual 
 field, I applied, not relying implicitly on ray own acquaintance 
 with heraldry, to Richard Rees, Esq., of CardiflF, a gentleman 
 extremely well versed in Genealogies, and Antiquities generally, 
 for a proper blazoning of the arras; and received the following
 
 13(i NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 through the medium of my ingenious friend, and the former 
 staunch friend of my Father, — Elijah Waring, Esq,, of the same 
 place. 
 
 " Paly of six, — argent and azure. — On a bend, 
 Gules, three cinquefoils, — or. 
 
 " Duw! A DiGON," (God ! and enough,) the motto, — was 
 probably, either that which belonged to the maternal ancestors, 
 who were Welsh, (see No. V. in descent, in the Memoirs) of St 
 Robert Stradling"s Lady, or to some of the Powysian Princes, 
 with whom, it is said, perhaps on doubtful authority, (from a 
 seeming anachronism in the account), that the first Sir William 
 was connected by marriage. 
 
 There are some old oaken boards in the aisle of the Stradllngs, 
 in St. Donats' Church, on which Sir Harry Stradling and his Lady, 
 together with other male and female branches of the family, are 
 painted in devotional postures. On these boards, the original 
 arras, together with others of alliance, are also represented ; with 
 the motto, at greater length, in antique orthography ; — thus — 
 "Heb Dhyw heb Dhym — Dyw! a Digon." 
 Without God, without everything: — God ! and enough. 
 
 The escutcheon mentioned in the poem, is supposed to have con- 
 tained bearings that appertained to the order of the Holy Sepul- 
 clirc, an order conferred, according to the Memoirs, and other 
 concurrent testimonies, on several Knights of this family.
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 137 
 
 ** A Liorisform the bend supplied 
 To raise the bowl on dexter side; 
 
 # * * * • 
 
 At concave base, the radiant hue 
 Of Sapphire bright, 
 
 • * * * • 
 
 Confronting, rose a Dragon bold. 
 And, curving, formed the other hold, 
 
 * % * * % 
 
 An eagle's tulon'd limb sustained 
 The fount nectareous." — pp. 14 15. 
 
 The vase of the Stradlings is supposed to have been presented 
 to the first Sir William, by Cynfyn, because that Knight, 
 according, to Mr. Ganiage's account, (which, here, admits of great 
 doubt, for reasons already stated) had married the daughter of 
 Gwerystan, Prince of Powys, who was, also, Cynfyn's Father. 
 
 It is to be considered only as an imaginary vessel, introduced 
 merely as a vehicle for British Mythology. The figures, supposed 
 to be represented on its central convexity, have been selected as 
 the characters best adapted to blend poetical amplification with 
 recorded fiction. A fair scope to fancy will be allowed, in the 
 first instance ; but the latter case should be well sustained by 
 documentary authorities. The figures that form the handles, the 
 concave appearance, and the eagle-clawed supporter of the vase, 
 have been, in some measure, borrowed from a poem, composed by 
 Gwilym Tew, (1440) in praise of the family cup, or bowl, 
 
 of Sion ap Rhys, of Aberpergwm ; a distant ancestor, in tha 
 
 S
 
 13S NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 hereditary line, of William Williams, Esq., the present possessor 
 of that ancient, and beautifully situated mansion. The Aberper- 
 gwm, or Glynn Nodd Family ; liave, through successive ages, been 
 eulogized by the Welsh Bards, as the liberal chieftain descendants 
 of the united Houses of Einion ab Coll wyn and Icstyn ap Gwrgan • 
 two Princes, whose pedigrees are traced retrospectively, through an 
 uninterrupted lineage of Royalty, to the earliest periods of British 
 History. 
 
 The radiant vest of the Awex has fallen on several members of 
 this Ancient Family. Rhys Godi ap Riccert, a grandson of 
 Einion, was a very superior Bard, who flourished from 1140 to 
 1170. Many of his compositions are still preserved, and may be 
 reckoned among the oldest specimens extant of Lyric Welsh poetry, 
 leuan Gethin ap leuan ap Lleision, (about 1440) a member of the 
 Llanfaglan (Baglan) branch, was an extensive author, of great 
 merit. His poems display a lucid and vigorous genius ; and his 
 chronological writings are in the purest Silurian style. Other 
 branches of this house might be included among the votaries of 
 the Muse. Nor will justice allow me to omit the present Repre- 
 sentative of the Family, whose diffidence alone keeps his harmo- 
 nious talent in restriction. His elegant verses to the River Neath 
 will amply sustain this opinion. 
 
 The following quotations from Gwilym Tew's poem to the cup 
 
 of Sion ap Rhys, are the portions imitated. 
 
 " Gwarr draig, gwahoddrwraig, yw honn, 
 Glynn Nedd, gwyliau newyddion : 
 Gweilgi'n rhagori gwerin ; 
 Gwrid mel ag aur hyd i min." 
 
 Of dragon shoulder, this (the cup) is the inviting matron 
 Of Glynn Nedd, at the New Festivals :
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 13^^ 
 
 An Ocean, invigoratiiii? a host ; 
 
 Having tlic blusL of Honey and Gold to its very briak. 
 
 " Ffiol vawr, a ft'alf eryr." 
 A great cup, with an Eagle's claw. 
 
 " Melyn i bronn, am lynn bras ; 
 Mewn i gwaelod maen golas." 
 
 Yellow is its breast, surrounding rich liquor, 
 And at its bottom a blue-tinged stone. 
 
 ** Llew uwch benn; nyd llechu bydd." 
 With a Lion surmounting ; and not couchant. 
 
 The following descriptive lines of this Welsh poem are, also, 
 worthy of notice. 
 
 '* Pob llymaid d'enaid a dal." 
 Every drop of its contents will remunerate thy soul. 
 
 " Ymovynnynt am v'enaid 
 Wrth ymyl honn ; — werth mel haid." 
 
 Let them seek for my soul 
 At the brink of this cup, that contains the essence of the honey 
 of a whole swarm. 
 
 " Wrth wyr bwrdd Arthur i bu." 
 It has been before the men of Arthur's Round Table. 
 
 " Fal dau Iwyth ffiolaid lawn 
 Fy'r dyiincll ar vord Einiawn." 
 
 Twice as capacious as a full bowl, 
 Appeared this tun, on the board of Einion. 
 
 " Yr un braich orau yii bro 
 As y wann dan bwys honno." 
 
 The very strongest arm in our country 
 Is weak under its weight. 
 
 Unless the zeal of the Bard led him into great extravagance, 
 this vessel was not only the Patera of Aberpergwm, but likewise 
 a Royal heir-loom ; having descended from Arthur's Round Table, 
 through successive Princes, to the board of Einion ab Collwyn ;
 
 140 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 and, thence, to Sion ap Rhys ; after whom, no subsequent notice is 
 found of it. 
 
 Mr. Williams, however, has procured a cup similarly formed, 
 from the Bard's description. 
 
 It appears to have been a frequent custom, in former times, to 
 fix some precious stone at the bottoms of cups and bowls. The 
 amethyst, perhaps, was generally selected, from its being deemed 
 a preventive of drunkenness. 
 
 Rhys Meurig, of Cottrel, in his account of the Le Soores, of 
 
 Peterston super Ely, relates an anecdote to the fallowing effect : — 
 
 Dafydd ab Gwilym, the highly-gifted Bard of Ifor Hael, (Ivor 
 
 the Liberal, an ancestor of the present Sir Charles Morgan, of 
 
 Tredegar) in one of his perambulations, called, late at night, at 
 
 the Castle of Sir Mathew Le Soore (the last of that family) and 
 
 being a most popular character, was readily admitted. In the 
 
 course of conversation, it was observed to him, that he could 
 
 hardly spare time, from his devotion to Ifor Hael, to call at a 
 
 proper hour, any where else; but, that the bottom oi one of Sir 
 
 Mathew Le Soore's cups was worth more than Ifor Hael's cups 
 
 altogether. I do not know, as to that, replied the Son of Song, 
 
 for I have never yet seen the bottom of Ifor Hael's cup: and, 
 
 extempore, added — 
 
 " Dewr, a digrif, yw Ifor ; — 
 Sais y w Sir Mathew Le Sor." 
 
 Bold and cheerful is Ivor ; 
 
 But Sir Mathew I^e Soore is a Saxon,
 
 NOTKS TO CANTO THE FIRST, 141 
 
 *' Whose mind, the tales of magic spell. 
 And cross-road ghosts, had treasured well" — p. 16. 
 
 The popular superstitions, relating to Magic, have been noticed, 
 and minutely described, by so many writers on tbe subject, that 
 any detailed account of them, here, would justly be deemed 
 superfluous. They prevail through all European countries ; with- 
 out any material variations. 
 
 The former practice of burying persons, who had committed 
 suicide, in cross-roads, an usage far " more honoured in the breach 
 than in the observance," has been long known in this country. 
 Whether this custom, from long suflFerance, had become recog- 
 nized as a feature of our Common Law, or that it was one of the 
 many instances of Vulgar Error, that have, for ages, prevailed, is 
 not a topic for present consideration. The recent, and very 
 salutary changes in our Criminal Code, have effectually abolished 
 all such remains of darker ages. A remark may still be allowable. 
 
 Were the various laws of the ancient kingdoms of the Saxon 
 Heptarchy carefully collected, and, together with the Welsh 
 Code of Howel D6a,—Howel the Good (published in 1730, by Dr. 
 Wotton, in Latin and Welsh columns, collaterally,) studied, with 
 due care ; it is highly probable that the result would identify the 
 maxims, now deemed vulgar errors, with principles acknowledged, 
 and enforced, by those remote, and now exploded institutions. 
 
 Persons interred in cross-roads were placed face downwards; 
 and secured there, by stakes driven through their bodies. 
 
 My Father, about 50 years ago, composed an " Elegy on the 
 death, whenever it should happen, of ," who had
 
 142 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 unjustly withheld a document, placed in his hands, for the recovery 
 of about .^TOO. The monody had no visible effect on the earthly 
 locoraotion of its object; for he extended it to some additional 
 thirty years. But the Bard considered the Lament a fair set off 
 against his claim, so unblusliingly outraged; and, poor as he was, 
 never after sought for redress. 
 
 The following stanza, alluding to the obsolete practice men- 
 tioned, is a specimen of the Elegy: — 
 
 With downward face, now mark him well. 
 As if to view his native hell ! 
 
 Naird fast with knotty stakes : — 
 Where cross the roads they dug liis grave ; 
 There liowls his ghost !— unlucky knave, 
 
 Till each old woman quakes ! 
 
 " Of fairies dance, when found arraifd. 
 By midnight moon, in gloomy glade.'''' — p. 16. 
 
 The belief superstitiously entertained respecting fairies, is not 
 limited to particular districts; but prevails, like the common 
 notions about magic, in most countries : and the modes of exis- 
 tence and operation, imputed to these imaginary beings, are not 
 very variously described. 
 
 The following, contains the opinion prevalent in many parts of 
 Wales : — 
 
 "The Welsh idea of Fairies is,— that they are the souls of 
 departed human beings ; not suflBciently depraved to be severely 
 punished; neither are they so divested of evil, as to be admitted 
 into Bliss; but must remain in their present state of .existence, 
 till the last day ; when they will be received into Heaven. They 
 are considered to be benevolently disposed towards all virtuous
 
 NOTES TO CANTO Till: FIRST. US 
 
 men; but vico, especially lyiiiij and sluttisliness, they abominably 
 bate; and tliey are supposed to punish, invisibly, all that aro 
 addicted to such habits."— (E. W.) 
 
 Fairicsare called, in Welsh "Y TylwytbTe^," (the Fair People, 
 or Household), '' Bendith eu Mammau," (their Mothers' Bless- 
 ings), &c. These names, or epithets, convey no unfavourable 
 chara(;teristics ; and when we consider tlie merry lives of, dance 
 and concert, they are said to lead ; in addition to the high privilege, 
 that — " death visits them never" they may be viewed as Beings 
 of an exalted order. 
 
 Their existence here, then, seems to furnish a notion of earthly 
 purgatory;— an exclusion from celestial bliss, rather than a state 
 of hopeless suffering ; — an idea, however unreal, that imparts a 
 benign conception of punishment. 
 
 " The light that heralds to the tomb.'''' — p. 1 7. 
 The superstition of " Canwyll Gorph," ("Cor/jse-cawd/cj is said 
 to be confined, not only to Walts, but, exclusively, to the Diocese 
 of St. Davids. I have, however, heard the peculiar claim of 
 Dimetia to this luminous portend of Death, strenuously contested, 
 in the vale of Glamorgan ; where they maintain, in full confidence, 
 that the privilege was first conceded to the ancient See of 
 Caerlleon, in Gwent, when St. David presided there; and that it 
 was not translated, with the tutelary Saint, to St. Davids. Leav- 
 ing so abstruse a point to the decision of those who have eyes to 
 see this light of fatal omen, (for all it seems, are not gifted with 
 such extraordinary powers of vision) I shall here introduce a few 
 extracts respecting it.
 
 144 NOTES TO CANTO THK FIRST, 
 
 The Rev. Edmund Jones may justly be styled the champion of 
 this belief. The scornful compassion which he extends to Sceptics 
 and Infidels, on these momentous apparitions, fully attest his own 
 conviction of their reality. This is his testimony : — 
 
 "Tlioy are chiefly women, and men of weak and womanish 
 understandings, who speak against the accounts of spirits and 
 apparitions. In some women, this comes from a certain proud 
 fineness, excessive delicacy, and a superfine disposition, which 
 cannot bear to be disturbed with what is strange or disagreeable 
 to a vain spirit. But why should the daughters of Mother Eve 
 be so severe to hear of their great adversary Satan, with whom 
 she first conversed, and whom she first believed, and was deceived 
 by him." 
 
 The Rev. Advocate seems to be very wroth, indeed, with the 
 Ladies, for their hardened infidelity, as to the existence of " spirits 
 and apparition ;" and transgresses all propriety, in his denouncia- 
 tion of their "superfine" dispositions. But our author unflinch- 
 ingly proceeds with the subject in question; adducing a variety of 
 instances. 
 
 "One Walter John, belonging to the people called Quakers, 
 went to live where one Morgan Lewis, a weaver, had lived before 
 him, and after death, bad appeared to some, and troubled the 
 house, saw one night, while in bed, a light come up stairs ; and 
 expecting to sec a spectre, in fear, endeavoured, but in vain, to 
 awake his wife." The spectre " that came with a candle in his hand, 
 &c." proved to be no other personage, than the aforesaid turbulent 
 Morgan Lewis, who had come there, again, on account of " some 
 bottoms of wool."
 
 NOTES TO CANTO TflE FIRST. 14a 
 
 A clergryman's son is next cited in testimony. He saw a candle 
 advancing towards abridge, as he returned home from " adebauch." 
 After some trouble and dread, tliis young man discovered tliat 
 the bridge had been displaced, and that the candle, consequently, 
 could not go over: He replaced the bridge, but when the candle 
 approached, to pass, he courageously " struck it," " but the 
 effect was strong, for he became dead (only pro tempore, it after- 
 wards turns out) on the place." Mr. Jones then moralizes thus : — 
 " Such is the power of the spirits of the other world, and it is ill- 
 jesting with them." 
 
 The Divine proceeds : — 
 
 "Joshua Coslet, a man of sense and knowledge, told rae of 
 several Corpse-candles ; — that some dark shadow of a man carried 
 the candle, holding it between his three forefingers over against 
 his face. Others have seen the likeness of a candle carried in a 
 skull. One William John, of Llanboydi, going home one night, 
 somewhat drunk, and bold (it seems too bold), saw one of the 
 Corpse-candles. He went out of his way to meet it. It was a 
 burying, and a corpse upon the bier ; the perfect resemblance of a 
 woman in the neighbourhood, whom he knew, holding the candle 
 between her forefingers, who dreadfully grinned at him." 
 
 The following remark of this narrator, recalls to mind the 
 ** scoundrel" who almost periled the veracity of Baron Munchau- 
 sen's Travels, by exaggerating the incidents recorded in them. 
 
 " Some have said that they saw the shape of those who were 
 to be at the burying. I am willing to suspend my belief of this, 
 as seeming to be too extravagant, though their foreboding know- 
 ledge of mortality appears to be very wonderful and undeniable." 
 
 T
 
 146 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 
 
 Corpse-candles are always considered as forerunners of funerals. 
 They pursue the exact courses to be taken by the bodies, whose 
 last journeys, and final places of earthly repose, they are supposed 
 to trace and determine. 
 
 Various are the limits prescribed to their influence, and periods 
 of accomplishment. Some say that the deaths, thus anticipatingly 
 illustrated, must take place before the termination of the year in 
 which the candles occur ; others either extend or circumscribe such 
 limits. The colour and size of the candle are, however, considered 
 quite decisive of the age and sex of the doomed. A red candle 
 goes before the funeral of a male, and a pale one before that of a 
 female; a large one before a full-grown person, a small taper 
 before a child, and so in proportion, for intermediate ages. A 
 man cut off in the full vigour of health and strength, is preceeded 
 by an immense flambeau. 
 
 These candles are said to proceed from the chambers of the 
 persons whose deaths are thus prognosticated, to their graves ; and 
 their undulations represent the irregular motions of the biers; for 
 they are subject to all the obstructions the ensuing funerals are 
 to undergo. 
 
 Such is the system to which these luminaries have been reduced ; 
 and he is an infidel indeed, in the estimation of many, to this very 
 day, particularly in agricultural districts, and in deep mountain 
 ravines, who would have the hopeless hardihood to deny their 
 existence.
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE FIRST. 147 
 
 ^^ Full twenty lustrums o'er his head.^' — p. 19. 
 The Census, or Survey of the Roman Citizens, and their 
 Estates, was introduced by Scrvius Tullius, the sixth King ; who 
 performed the duty of Censor hirasulf. In process of time, it was 
 found necessary to appoint a Magistracy for that employment; 
 and two Censors were created. Their office was to continue five 
 years ; because, every fifth year, the General Survey used to be 
 performed. After this survey and inquisition into the manners of 
 the people, the Censors made a solemn lustration, or expiatory 
 Sacrifice, in the name of all the people. The sacrifice consisted of 
 a sow, a sheep, and a bull. This ceremony they called Lustrum 
 condere; and, upon this account, the space of five years came to 
 be signified by the word Lustrum" — (Basil Kennetfs Roma 
 Antiqwe Notitia. 3d Ed., pp.112, 113, 114.) 
 
 •' The tale of Colyn Dolpkyn'sfate."—p. 22. 
 See the Memoirs;— XIII. -pp. 90 91. 
 
 " Distinguished Famagusta gave, 
 
 In sacred shrine, a pilgrim's grave.^' — p. 23. 
 See the Memoirs;— X 11 1.— p. 90.
 
 NOTES TO THE SECOND CANTO, 
 
 " And seemed to seek DunraverCs shore." — p. SI. 
 
 It will be seen, by the Memoirs, — XIII. p. 91, that the pirate 
 CoLYN Dolphvn's vessel struck on the Nash sands; where the 
 Frolic steam-packet was recently wrecked, when her crew, and 
 numerous passengers, all perished. The Tuscar is a dangerous 
 rock to the west of these sands, and would be quite in the way of 
 any vessel destined to the creek of Dunraven, in boisterous 
 weather; even though the master, or captain, should be well 
 acquainted with the coast. 
 
 " Dunraven Castle stands on a small peninsula, jutting into the 
 Bristol Channel, and is in the parish of St. Brides Major, in the 
 county of Glamorgan." — (E. W.) 
 
 This fine seat, with the extensive estates attached to it, belongs, 
 now, to the Earl of Dunraven, whose Lady is the daughter, and 
 heiress, of the late Thomas Wyndham, Esq., Member of Parlia- 
 ment for the county of Glamorgan, for many years. Mr. Wynd-
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. 140 
 
 ham was a most amiable gentleman ; possessing a benevolence of 
 mind, and goodness of heart, that prompted him, tuiougb life, to 
 acts of beneficence. His memory " blossoms in the dust." 
 
 "The ancient Welsh name of Dunraven is — Dindryfan, — which 
 signifies the triangular fortress ; and its situation is, in accordance 
 with the designation, rudely triangular; being formed on the 
 laud side, by a triple entrenchment, from one side of the 
 peninsula to the other ; — and the other two sides are described by 
 steep sea cliffs ; so that this place must have been a situation of 
 considerable strength, and secure defence. Of all the houses in 
 the Island, that are noticed in history, this is, by far, the most 
 ancient. It was the principal residence of the ancient Princes of 
 Silurla; and particularly of Briin ap Llyr, and his renowned son, 
 Caradoc ap Bran (the great Caractacus). It is occasionally men- 
 tioned, in a very old Manuscript, called " Boiiedd y Saint," a 
 document that gives, as its name imports, brief memoirs of the 
 Primitive British Christians."— (E. W.) 
 
 " Monk-nash its source salubrious knows, 
 Where rich Pomona takes her seat." — p. 36. 
 
 Monk-nash is a small parish contiguous to St. Donats, and 
 bordering the Severn. 
 
 Sir Edward Mansel, speaking " of the manner that the wealth" 
 of Glamorgan was divided, by Fitzhamon, among his Knights, 
 says : — " To Sir Richard Greenvill he gave the Castle and Town 
 of Neath, with its land and mannor ; and he had also the mannor of 
 Monk-nash for his granary and provisioas, where he planted fair 
 orchards, and built many fair houses for the Welsh franklens, to 
 whom he gave lands of six marks a year to keep his Court."
 
 laO NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. 
 
 " The course by ancient laws ordained,'''' — p. 40. 
 After relating the various allotments, made by Sir Robert 
 Fitzliamon, Sir Edward Mansel says: — "It behoveth here to 
 speak of the order of Rule and Governance that Sir Robert set 
 up, and of such laws as were settled upon." He, then, enumerates 
 the Lordships of Glamorgan, " which were twelve," and continues, 
 thus: — "Now of these Lords, before the time of Robert Fitz- 
 hamoi), there was one chief Lord of Glamorgan, whose were the 
 high Royaities, and he assembled the other Lords every month to 
 his Court, where all matters of Justice were determined and 
 finally settled. These Lords sat in judgment on all matters of 
 law, with twelve freeholders from every Lordship, to give opinions 
 after what came to their knowledge, and the Bishop of Llandaflf 
 sat in the High Court as a Councillor of Conscience, according to 
 the Laws of God. This Court was formed, they say, by Morgan, 
 who was Prince of the country after King Arthur, in the manner 
 of Christ and his twelve Apostles; and this form of law was 
 kept by Sir Robert Fitzliamon, according to the old usage of the 
 county. After the High Com-t was held, which lasted three days, 
 the Courts of the twelve Lordships were held in turn, and from 
 them an appeal might be made to the High Court of the county. 
 Tiie Lord and his Yeomen in the same form and manner as in the 
 High Court." 
 
 Mentioning other manors "besides the Royal Cantred," he 
 says : — " In each of these mannors were held once in the fortnight 
 mostly, Courts of Frank-pledge, where sat the Reeve of the 
 Manner as Judge, and with him tho freeholders of the samn
 
 NOTES TO CANTO I'HE SECOND. 151 
 
 mannor. The tenants .and freeholders in those mannors were under 
 the High Court witli respect to matters of law. After winning 
 the county, Sir Robert Fitzhamon took to him his twelve Knights 
 to supply the places in his courts of the lawful and right Lords of 
 the twelve Lordships, which caused discontent, inasmuch that the 
 Welsh Lords took arms under Pain Turbervllle and Caradoc ab 
 lestyn, and Madoc his brother." 
 
 Fitzhamon was vanquished, and constrained to restore tlic 
 ancient laws ; but tliey were, again, perfidiously violated. The old 
 Welsh Institution, which they had at first adopted, was of too 
 free and impartial a nature to suit the Feudal Tyranny of the 
 Normans. 
 
 Rhys Meurig, in his " History of Glamorgan," says, that from 
 the very hostile opposition made by the Welsh to the Norman 
 mode of Government, it was found necessary to reconstruct the 
 Judicial Courts, on principles better calculated to allay the com- 
 plaints of the country ; and that, in consequence of such altera- 
 tions, the presiding Lords had little or no controul in the proceed- 
 ings. The Welsh tenants sat with the freeholders, in deciding all 
 cases. Criminal prosecutions, as well as Civil actions, came under 
 their cognizance; and judgments were delivered in Welsh: a 
 proceeding that resembled, in some features, the course prescribed 
 by Howel the Good's legal institution. 
 
 " We do'jm thee to the Wind and Twisty — p. 44. 
 
 In cases of capital conviction, sentence of death was thui 
 
 pronounced, by tenants, sitting as Benchers :— 
 
 " Gwynt, — Gwyden, — a Phen blaidd, — 
 A chrogi nes marw."
 
 15-2 NOTES TO CANTO THE SECOND. 
 
 Wind, — noose, — and a Wolfs head; — 
 And hanging to death. 
 
 Or, varied, thus : — 
 
 " Crogi ncs naarw :— Gwynt, a Gwyden, a Phen blaidd." 
 Hanging to death: — Wind, Noose, and a Wolfs head. 
 
 These terms, although they may sound somewhat uncouthly to 
 modern ears, are not only descriptive of the manner of execution, 
 but, also, of the savage (Wolf) ferocity of the person thus con- 
 demned. 
 
 " While bearing towards the English strand." — p. 46. 
 
 " A sail I sent to yonder strand.''^ — p. 50. 
 See the Memoirs ; under XVHI., in decent— p. 98. 
 
 Heart to Heart." — p, 53. 
 
 The Bards, from very distant periods, have adopted certain 
 mottos for their several Chairs. 
 
 The paramount Chair of the Bards of the Island of Britain had, 
 for its motto, — Gwir yn erbyn y Byd ; (Truth against the 
 World). The Chair of Glamorgan, including Gwent, or rather, 
 originally, that of Silurla, — Duw a phob Daioni ; (God ! and 
 all Goodness). The Chair of Dyfed, (Diraetia) which is also 
 frequently called the Chair of South Wales, (Deheubarth) — Calon 
 WHTH Galon; (Heart to Heart). The Chair of Powys, — A 
 LADDO A LEDDiR ; (who slays shall be slain) — and the Chair of 
 Gwynedd, (North Wales, or Venedotia),— Iesu (Jesus).
 
 NOTES TO THE THIRD CANTO. 
 
 Tresilian^s cave. 
 
 • * * 
 
 Fair DwynwerCs bow of Destiny.'''' — p. 63. 
 Tresilian is a short, but rather abrupt dingle, that opens to the 
 Severn, between Llantwit Major and St. Donats; about a mile 
 from each place. It has high cliffs on each side. Immediately on 
 the western side, an immense cavern, of great height and breadth, 
 fronts the sea ; and its extent inwards is considerable. But its 
 most remarkable feature is a natural arch, formed by portions of 
 a rocky substratum that extends across, from side to side, a little 
 below the general roof, which consists of lime-stone rock, horizon- 
 tally stratified. The strata that intervened between this arch and 
 the present roof, having been worn away by the perpetual action of 
 tides, a considerable vacancy occurs there.— Dwynwen, the daugh- 
 ter of Brychan Brychciniog, who flourished about 450 ; — Dwyn- 
 wen, whom the Cambrian votaries of Love supplicate, ~sti:l 
 presides in this cave. Her Bow of Destiny is hung there; and 
 many are those who consult its oracular powers. 
 
 U
 
 154 NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. 
 
 Persons who visit this place, take up some of the smalt pebbles 
 thiit bestrew its floor, which is rather higher than the outward shore, 
 and strive to throw them over the arch; so as to descend on the 
 opposite side. It requires no small exertion to accomplish this 
 athletic foat ; the cavern being very high. The number of fruit- 
 less efforts made, before the arch be surmounted, is supposed to 
 denote tlie period of years that must intervene before the essaying 
 person, if single, be married ; or, if married, bo released by 
 Death from existing ties, for another choice; for fair Dwynwen 
 discountenances celibacy. 
 
 It is a source of no small mirth, to notice old and young, — the 
 lame,— and I had almost said, the blind, (for all must fain have 
 a fling) at this portending exercise; and when the cave is pretty 
 full, it requires a sharp look up, to escape the impending hard 
 shower. No contest for the "Siller Gun" ever afforded such 
 hearty sport. 
 
 " Old Gwerydd's holy iower." — p. 64. 
 The ancient name of St. Donats was Llanwerydd. The Church 
 of this parish was, originally, dedicated to Gwerydd, one of the 
 Welsh Primitive Christians, or Saints, as they were at first 
 denominated. Gwerydd is thus briefly noticed in " Achau Saint 
 Ynys Frydain," (the Genealogies of the British Saints) " Saint 
 Gwerydd, son of Cadwn, son of Cynan, son of Eudaf, of the 
 family of Bran, the blessed; — at Llanwerydd, in Gwent, now 
 called St. Donats." Professor Rees says, that the Church is 
 dedicated to Dunwyd, and his authority is not to be hastily 
 questioned ; but I am much disposed, unless good evidence be
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. 15» 
 
 adduced, to attribute the dedication of every Cburcli to the Saint 
 whose name it bears. 
 
 My very respectable friend, John Bruce Bruce, Esquire, whose 
 assistance 1 have received, in numerous instances, says, that he 
 saw a print in France, that represented Donatus (Dunawd, or 
 Dunwyd), as presiding over seamen in distress. St. Donats is 
 situated on a very dangerous shore; and the Church was, probably 
 re-dedicated to Dunwyd, in consequence of the supposed influence 
 be exercised in favour of mariners in peril. 
 
 " AnnwrCs gaunt hounds,''' ^c. — p. 70. 
 
 " Cwn Annwn," the Dogs of the Abyss, or the Dogs of Hell,. 
 were, according to Welsh superstition, infernal spirits that, in the 
 semblance of hounds, (by some described as very large and gaunt, 
 — by others, as small) awaited the departing spirits of the wicked ;. 
 and hunted them to their destined place of torment. 
 
 Miss Jane Williams, of Abcrpergwm, who supplied Mr. T. 
 Crofton Croker with most of the interesting tales relating to 
 Wales, which his publication on " Fairy Legends and Traditions" 
 contains, gives the following description of Cwn Annwn, as com- 
 municited to her by an old Cwm Neath man, who firmly asserted 
 their existence: — "They are small dogs, that howl in the air, 
 with awildsortof lamentation." Their colour has been variously 
 given ; — sometimes as being black, with red spots ; and again, as 
 red with black spots, &c. The Rev. Edmund Jones, of ghostly 
 memory, enlarges much on this subject ; adducing many instances ;, 
 and clenching every tale with an assurance of the great respecta- 
 bility, and veracity, of his informant. " The nearer these dogs
 
 156 NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. 
 
 wero to man," says he, "the less their voice was, like that of 
 smjiU beetles ; and the farther, the louder; and sometimes like 
 the voice of a great hound, or like that of a blood-hound ;—' a 
 deep hollow voice.' " 
 
 " Now toWd Iltutus' bell;' ^c— p. 73. 
 
 The Bell of Iltutus is, perhaps, the oldest now in the kingdom. 
 It attracted particular notice, in the time of Edgar. Hollingshed 
 thus speaks of it:— "Towards the latter end of King Edgar's 
 dales, the Welshmen moved some rebellion against him. Where- 
 upon he assembled an armie, and entering the countrie of 
 Glamorgan, did much hurt to the same, chastising the inhabitants 
 vcrie sharplie for their rebellious attempts. Amongst other 
 spoils taken on those parties at that time by the men of war, the 
 bell of Saint Ellutus was taken away, and hanged about a horsses 
 necke, and (as hath been reported) in the afternoone, it chanced 
 that King Edgar laid him down to rest, whereupon in sleepe there 
 appeared one unto him and smote him on the breast with a speare. 
 By reason of which vision he caused all things that had beene 
 taken away to be restored againe. But within nine dales after 
 the King deed."— (Book VII., c. 53, p. 161.) 
 
 After having sunk into oblivion, for centuries, on repairing 
 the public clock of Lantwit Major, an ancient town, called in 
 Welsh Llan-Illtyd, (the Church of Iltutus), this bell was discovered, 
 in 1814, by the following inscription, which it bears, in very ancient 
 characters : — 
 
 " Ora puo nobis Sancte Iltute." 
 
 It was noticed by the Rev. Robert Nichol, of Dimlands, an 
 excellent antiquary; whose son, Nichol, Esq., of the Inner
 
 NOTES TO CANTO THE THIRD. 157 
 
 Temple, obligingly copied for ine the above extract respecting it. 
 Tliig gentleman's younger son also traiisinitted to me some informa- 
 tion respecting the Castle. While thus acknowledging my 
 obligations, I must here notice again, the particular kindness of 
 John Bruce Bruce, Esq., of Oyffryn, Aberdare, who, with his 
 characteristic ardour, and disinterestedness, exerted himself, 
 zealously, during a temporary residence at St. Donats, to collect 
 for rac the traditions and reminiscences still lingering there. My 
 kind friend, and former pupil, Edward L. Ricliards, Esq., of 
 Lincoln's Inn, also furnishel me with a valuable paper on the 
 Geology of the district mentioned in the Poem : but the un- 
 expected extent of the notes precludes the insertion of these 
 interesting communications. 
 
 Among the many charms attributed to bells, is the following :— 
 "The fiends of Hell I do dispel." 
 
 " Frcnn fair Garwennijdd^ s western line, 
 To pious Teilaw's crosier sArine."^p. 73. 
 
 Gorwennydd was the western division of ancient Gwent. "The 
 name," says my father, "implies Utter Gwent,— or uttermost of 
 the Gwents." 
 
 The parishes now enumerated in the Deanery of Groneath, in 
 the Diocese of Llandaff, a corruption of Gorwennydd, constitute 
 the places included in that ancient division, which is frequently 
 mentioned in Caradoc's Chronicle, — Achau y Saint, &c. &c. 
 
 By Teilaw's crosier shrine, is meant the Cathedral Church of 
 Llandaff; a place of great antiquity, that, in the old Liber Landa- 
 vensis, is called " Lan Telau maur."
 
 168 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF GENEALOGIES. 
 
 The martyr towers alluded to, are those of Mertbyr Mawr, 
 (the great Martyr), Mertliyr Dyfan, (Dyfan the Martyr), and 
 Merthyr Tydfil, (Tydfil the Martyr). It was, originally, my 
 intention to notice these places particularly ; but the Rev. R, 
 Rees's Essay on the Welsh Saints will amply repay the perusal 
 of it by any persons interested, either in the ancient Ecclesiastical 
 History of Wales, or in its antiquities generally. 
 
 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF GENEALOGIES. 
 
 The Genealogies consulted for this publication are, — the account 
 given of his own Family, by Sir Edward Stradling, the seven- 
 teenth in descent, under the following designation : — " William 
 le Esterling, alias Stradling, his Petegree ;" which terminates in 
 1572; the " Memoirs of the Stradlings," written by the Rev. E. 
 Gamage, ending in 1726; and the " Descent of the Stradlings," 
 drawn out by Mr. Johnson, which includes the whole line. 
 
 Sir Edward, and Mr. Johnson, write the family name — Le 
 Esterling,— for the first four Knights, — and then, — Stradling; but 
 Gamage sinks the Le altogether. (Caradoc writes it — Destcrlin.) 
 
 Mr. Gamage introduces a " Sir Gilbert," the second of that 
 name, after Sir Peter, the eighth in descent : but mentioning no 
 marriage, he says that he died childless. My transcript, in this 
 place, has an erasure; for which reason, and because of the
 
 COMPAIIATIVE VIEW OF GENEALOGIES. 169 
 
 silence of all other authorities respecting him, I have omitted the 
 name. A peculiar, and apparently inconsistent statement is also 
 made by him, respecting Sir Edward, the nineteenth in descent, 
 whom he merely terms a Knight, observing that Charles (he First 
 created him so; bat that he died before his father: still he ranks 
 him in the line of family succession. 
 
 The following oihcrdiscrcpr.ncies are unimportant: — Sir Edward 
 mentions no marriage for the first Knights, until the seventh ; — 
 when he says :— " It doth not appearc in what stocke or sirname 
 anie of these seven Knights above named did marrie : but tho 
 christian names of the wives of William the first, Robert, and 
 John thL' second, were Howisia, Mathilda, and Cicilia." 
 
 Gamage and Johnson concur in the names of the three first 
 Ladies, but the fourth is called by the latter (erroneously perhaps) 
 Havila ; by the former — Howisia. Gamage omits the name of 
 the fifth; but Johnson supplies it — Eleanor: both call the Lady 
 of the seventh — Ann; — Sir Edward, — Cicilia. Sir Edward and 
 Johnson call the Lady of the eighth, — Julian ; — Gamage, — 
 Johanna. Under the ninth descent, Gamage says Gilbert Strong- 
 bow, — Knight; — the others,— Gilbert Strongbow, — a younger 
 brother. Under the eleventh, Gamage says, Sir John St. Barbe, 
 — Knight ; —the others, — John St. Barbe. Sir Edward says, that 
 Sir Edward, the twelfth in descent, went to Jerusalem in the 
 reign of Henry the VII. Gamage, — about the beginning of that 
 of Edward the IVth., or the end of Henry the Vlth. In the 
 thirteenth, Johnson says that the Lady was the daughter of Sir 
 William Thomas Herbert, Lord of Ragland, by Gwladys, his 
 wife, daughter of Sir David Gam. Sir Edward and Gamage say
 
 160 COMPARATIVE VIEW OF GENEALOPxIES. 
 
 that she -was the sister of Sir William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. 
 Gamage says that Sir Harry's ransom was 2300 marks; Sir 
 Edward and Johnson — 2000. Under the twenty-first, Gamage 
 says,— William; — Johnson, — AntJwny Ilungerford. 
 
 Annexed to a Pedigree of the Stradlings, transcribed, by my ^ 
 Fatiier, from the Harleian Manuscripts, I find the following : — 
 
 "Conradus le Estcrlinge, so called because he came out of 
 the Este Contrie, from the citie of Danske, was the firste of that 
 name that came into this Realme of Englande, with Swannes 
 Kinge of Denraarke ; that conquered Englande, the yeare of our 
 Lorde 1000; and notwithstandinge that aboute a 30 yeres after, 
 all the Danes were driven out of Englande, yet the saide Conrade 
 and his issue remayned in Englande untiil the yere of our Lorde 
 1090, that a nobleman named Robert Fitz llaraon wente with his 
 12 knights into South Wales to conquere Glamorgan shire." 
 
 SANDFORD FOX, PHINTER, MERTHYR TYDFIL.
 
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