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aLOSSAEY OF TKBMS

USED FOR i">| ' 'l:- P^ -V

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ABTICLES^

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUE.

EEV. JOHN WILLIAMS (Ab Ithel), M.A.,

RICTOa or UUUmiOWDDWT, mbkiombthibiab.

i LONDON:
W. PICKERING, 177, PICCADILLY.

TENBY: R. MASON.

1851.

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PEEFACE.

A PORTION of the Glossary originally appeared in the
pages of the ArcJuBohgia Cambrensis for the year 1849 ;
and through the same channel would the whole have
been conveyed to the notice of the public, had not a
change been effected meanwhile in the status of the
Journal. A New Series was started, and the continua-
tion of the list was thus rendered incompatible with its
purpose, which supposed no connexion with the former
volumes. There remained then, generally, but two ways
in which to meet the wishes of friends, with whom the
design of the Glossary had found favour; — either to
reprint in the New Series what had already appeared,
and proceed regularly according to the first intention
until the whole should be completed, or else to publish
it entire and in a separate form. The latter was adopted
under the impression that such a form rendered it a
more convenient and accessible manual for the purposes
of reference than any other. At the same time the

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IV PREFACE.

Annual Volume of the Association suggested a favour-
able modification of this plan, whereby the work might
be brought into a more direct contact with the several
Members, for whose benefit it was especially intended.
It has accordingly been incorporated into that volume.

It is hardly necessary to state that the object of the
present work is not to furnish an accurate or detailed
account of the costume, military or domestic, of our
British ancestors. Such an inquiry would have de-
manded a critical investigation into Ae early histoiy of
the island — the origin, settlement, and relative position
of the several tribes — ^their mode of government — their
usual pursuits — the political changes which from time to
time befell their common country — and their subjection,
whether voluntary or otherwise, to the influence of alien
domination. All these subjects tend, each in its degree,
to define the national Dress and Armour, and therefore
the question cannot be fully and properly discussed,
without taking cognizance of them.

On the other hand, however, the Glossary merely
classifies alphabetically the several names which our
British forefathers applied to the difierent portions of
their garments and military weapons — supplies the reader
with their English synonyms — and, in the case of the
majority, cites corroborative passages from documents in
which the original terms occur.

PREFACE. V

As the bulk of Welsh literature begins with the sixth
century, the allusions to earlier times are necessarily few.
It is requisite, moreover, that due caution should be
observed in reference to alleged Druidical records, such
as the Laws of Dyfiawal Moelmud, and a portion of the
Historical Triads, which for many generations were
banded down orally, for it is possible that some of their
contents became tinged with the prevEiiling notions of
subsequent ages.

The same remark will apply, even in a stronger degree,
tO' the heroes of Romance. Though the costume of these
might, in some instances, bie peculiar to their own times,
the information relative thereto having been derived tra-
ditionally, y6t in general it will be found to tally, in its
several details, with the mode which obtained only in the
days of the compiler.

The poetical effusions are not attended with this diffi-
culty. Truth being an essential element of the system
of the Bards, we may safely receive their descriptions of
men and manners as faithful portraitures of the age to
which they are intended to apply. Nor are these few in
number, or sparingly expressed; on the contrary, the
allusions even to the particular subject under considera-
tion are abundant, and at times especially minute and
vivid. In illustration of our statement, we will here
subjoin a series of stanzas, in which Llywarch Llaetty,

IV PREFACE.

It is hardly necessary to state that the object of the
present work is not to furnish an accurate or detailed
account of the costume, military or domestic, of our
British ancestors. Such an inquiry would have de-
manded a critical investigation into the early history of
the island — the origin, settlement, and relative position
of the several tribes — ^their mode of government — their
usual pursuits — the political changes which from time to
time befell their common country — and their subjection,
whether voluntary or otherwise, to the influence of alien
domination. All these subjects tend, each in its degree,
to define the national Dress and Armour, and therefore
the question cannot be fiiUy and properly discussed,
without taking cognizance of them.

PREFACE. V

As the bulk of Welsh literature begins with the sixth
century, the allusions to earlier times are necessarily few.
It is requisite, moreover, that due caution should be
observed in reference to alleged Druidical records, such
as the Laws of Dyfiawal Moelmud, and a portion of the
Historical Triads, which for many generations were
handed down orally, for it is possible that some of their
contents became tinged with the prevEiiling notions of
subsequent ages.

The same remark will apply, even in a stronger degree,
tOr the heroes of Romance. Though the costume of these
might, in some instances, bie peculiar to their own times,
the information relative thereto having been derived tra-
ditionally, yet in general it will be found to tally, in its
several details, with the mode which obtained only in the
days of the compiler.

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PEEFACE.

A PORTION of the Glossary originally appeared in the
pages of the ArchcBologia Cambrensis for the year 1849 ;
and through the same channel would the whole have
been conveyed to the notice of the public, had not a
change been effected meanwhile in the status of the
Journal. A New Series was started, and the continua-
tion of the list was thus rendered incompatible with its
purpose, which supposed no connexion with the former
volumes. There remained then, generally, but two ways
in which to meet the wishes of friends, with whom the
design of the Glossary had found favour; — either to
reprint in the New Series what had already appeared,
and proceed regularly according to the first intention
until the whole should be completed, or else to publish
it entire and in a separate form. The latter was adopted
under the impression that such a form rendered it a
more convenient and accessible manual for the purposes
of reference than any other. At the same time the

IV PREFACE.

It is hardly necessary to state that the object of the
present work is not to furnish an accurate or detailed
account of the costume, military or domestic, of our
British ancestors. Such an inquuy would have de-
manded a critical investigation into the early history of
the island — the origin, settlement, and relative position
of the several tribes— their mode of government— their
usual pursuits — the political changes which from time to
time befell their common country — and their subjection,
whether voluntary or otherwise, to the influence of alien
domination. All these subjects tend, each in its degree,
to define the national Dress and Armour, and therefore
the question cannot be fully and properly discussed,
without taking cognizance of them.

PREFACE. V

As the bulk of Welsh literature begins with the sixth
century, the allusions to earlier times are necessarily few.
It is requisite, moreover, that due caution should be
observed in reference to alleged Druidical records, such
as the Laws of Dyfiawal Moelmud, and a portion of the
Historical Triads, which for many generations were
banded down orally, for it is possible that some of their
contetits became tinged with the prevailing notions of
subsequent ages.

The same remark will apply, even in a stronger degree,
to the heroes of Romance. Though the costume of these
might, in some instances, bie peculiar to their own times,
the information relative thereto having been derived tra-
ditionally, yet in general it will be found to tally, in its
several details, with the mode which obtained only in the
days of the compiler.

IV PREFACE.

It is hardly necessary to state that the object of the
present work is not to furnish an accurate or detailed
account of the costume, military or domestic, of our
British ancestors. Such an inquiry would have de-
manded a critical investigation into the early history of
the island — the origin, settlement, and relative position
of the several tribes — ^their mode of government — their
usual pursuits — the political changes which from time to
time befell their common country — and their subjection,
whether voluntary or otherwise, to the influence of alien
domination. All these subjects tend, each in its degree,
to define the national Dress and Armour, and therefore
the question cannot be fully and properly discussed,
without taking cognizance of them.

PREFACE.

As the bulk of Welsh literature begins with the sixth
century, the allusions to earlier times are necessarily few.
It is requisite, moreover, that due caution should be
observed in reference to alleged Druidical records, such
as the Laws of Dyfiiwal Moelmud, and a portion of the
Historical Triads, which for many generations were
banded down orally, for it is possible that some of their
CO(ntetits became tinged with the prevailing notions of
subsequent ages.

The same remark will apply, even in a stronger degree,
tOr the heroes of Rotilian6e. Though the costume of these
might, in some instances, bie peculiar to their own times,
the information relative thereto having been derived tra-
ditionally, yet in general it will be found to tally, in its
several details, with the mode which obtained only in the
days of the compiler.

VI PREFACE.

1290-1340, presents Llywelyn apMadawg ap Meredudd,
Prince of Powys, to our view, as a warrior faUy equipped
for battle : —

Does any one ask — Concerns it not men to know,

Ere the steel armour be stained with blood.

What youth is he that wears the blue armour, , .

Who is the proud hero that leads the van?

Exalted chieftain, with discriminating skill endowed.
It is none else that wears it.
The ruler, powerful, brave, to peace unknown,
Llywelyn, the foe of Gwynedd.

Whose is the shield, the quickly moving shelter of foremost course.

With the shining lance in front thereof;

Who is the valiant lion with the furious ire of war.

That holds it by its two-fold handle pf wood ?

It is the shield of Llywelyn, guide of the privileges of the region,
With which he asserts his claims :
A shield with a shoulder in it,
A shield with terror before it.

Whose is the sword, that is incessantly wielded.

The sure inflictor of wounds ?

Great is its fame — not falsely is it reported

In his right hand to have caused the work of death.

He that wields it is the protector of dwellings.

As he hews down, with the fall of slaughter.

The heroes of the rampart in the day of battle : —

He is the hero of Mechain, the supreme praise of the country.

Whose is the ruddy helmet, conspicuous on the field of war.
Surmounted with battle wolves ?
Who is the energetic one on his powerful white steed.
What is his name ? how renowned his rank !

PREFACE. Vll

He is called liywelyn the Long-handed^

Ardent leader of the turmoil of the land below ;

Very loud is the martial shout of his men ;

Consumer of Lloegr^ a man of truths and without reproach.

Whose are the arms, appropriate, unyielding,
That will not retreat until death ?
Who is the man, descended from noble chieftains.
In the presence of all — ^what is his origin ?

He is the celebrated lord and commander.

He is brave and bloody-handed ;

Illustrious, with a massive spear, stem in the tumult.

Is Madawg the son of Maredudd.

Whose is the war-horse that ventures to the front of battle,

Boldly intent on victory ?

And the chieftain, by his men respected.

And the lance of unsaluted thrust?

He is tlie renowned supporter, '

Whilst God is at his side ;

Conqueror of men, mighty, and of wide-spread fame,
A hero before the people of Tysiliaw.

Myo. Areh»f v« i., p. 416.

We would, in conclusion, direct the attention of such
as may be disposed to consult the following pages, to
the singular importance of the information derived from
the Laws of Hywel Dda, in which the exact value of
several articles of Dress and Armour is mentioned.

LLANTMOWDDWT,
Lbmt, 1861.

A GLOSSAEY, &c.

AcHEN — A coat of anns. It has a particular reference
to the lineage of the bearer.

"The long-mane dragon's achen we view,
And see the bri^tening silver hue."

lolo Goch, 1370-1420, relative
to the arms of Mortimer.

AcHRE — A raiment peculiar, as it would appear from
the etymology of the word, to a person of gentle birth.

AcHRis — This seems to be a similar description of cover-
ing.

Adfach — ^The beard of a dart, or hook.

Adoew, called also Gotoew — a spur. Llywarch Hen,
in the sixth century, speaking of the battle of Llong-
borth, in which Geraint ab Erbin was slain, says that
he saw there the " quick-impelling gotoew ;" and he
relates of one of his own sons that he wore " the golden
gotoew." lolo Goch describes Mortimer as having
"golden gotoew r and 0. ab LI. Moel, 1430-1460,
compliments some one by saying that he " ought to
have golden gotoew.''

Aerbar — The spear of slaughter.

2 GLOSSARY, OF T^MS, FOB

Aerwy — A collar or chain. In ancient times it was a
badge of distinction, worn by warriors.

" A golden aerwy will be sent to some slau^ter,
On hig goodly neck, bright and fresh."

6. ah leuxm Heriy a.i). 1460.

In the institution of the Round Table, established by
Rhys ab Tewdwr in the eleventh century, the ribbon,
which the bards wore on their arm, just below the
shoulder joint, indicative of their several degrees, was
designated aerwy and also amrwy. The armlet of the
Druid-bard was white ; that of the Privileged-bard
sky blue; and that of the Ovate green; whilst the
aspirant or disciple wore one iwhich exhibited a com-
bination of these three colours. When the bards had
abandoned the general u^e of their official robes, the
aerwy was " considered of equal value, and represen-
ting the same honour with the entire dress." — {lolo
MSS., p. 633.)
Aeb — ^A buckler or target, carried in the left hand, or on
the left arm, which were hence denominated, respec-
tively, " Haw aswy," and " braich aswy," i, e., the
shield hand or arm. The heroes of the Gododin are
represented by Aneurin as " armed with the aes."
From that poem we also learn that the aes was some-
times made of wood : —

" When Cydy wal hastened to battle, he raised the shout^
With the early dawn he dealt out tribulation,
And left the splintered aesatvr scattered about."

The original is " aesawr dellt.'' It is not quite clear
whether the expression refers to the formation of the
aes as being composed of laths, or merely to its shat-

BRMSH" 'biltfeS AND AHMOUR. 3

tered condition ; neither view, however, would militate
against the fact of its material being wood. But we
find that it was also made of steel. Thus Prydydd y
Moch, 1160-1220, says of Gruffydd ab Cynan that

'^ He formed the sudden conflict in the protection of an
(les of steeV^

Nor was it always light; for the Prydydd Bychan,
1210-1260, speaks of Meredydd ab Owain as armed
with

" A broken^ red, heavy aes^

The aes was doubtless the same with the aspis^ which
both Herodian and Dion Cassius represent as being
used by the BriWns. .
Albrys — The catapulta, or the cross-bow.

" Send through him from the albrys another wound."

Bafydd ah Gwilym, 133(X-1370.

In the Armorican dialect this instrument is similarly
called " albalastr ;*' and as there was no extensive
intercourse between the Welsh and Bretons subse-
quently to the sixth century, we may fairly date
words, this among others, which are common to the
languages of both people, at least as early as that era.

Alfarch — A spear.

Amadrwy — A purfle about a woman^s gown ; the train
or trail of a gown.

Amaerwy — A hem, a skirt, a border, welt or guard
about a coat or gown, a fringe of a garment, a sel-
vedge. Taliesin, in the sixth century, speaks of a
" silver amaerwy.^'

Ambais — ^A safeguard ; a kind of woman's riding dress.

Amdawd — Raimeat. ■ '•-••, ••"I M-'/m-M/.

'^ He was the stately Owaitt^ sore pledge, of baptism.
Wearing an amdoMid of cerulean hue^" , i .

Gwakhmai, 1160-1190.

Amde — ^A covering. It seems to have been a maxk ? of

honour ; for Taliesin thus alludes to it :• —

'^ He that knows the ingenious art • m-

Which is hid; by the discreet ovate, . « •

Will give me an qmde^
When he ascends from the gate."

And elsewhere he represents the prince of Hheged as
" The chief of jnen, ^d the , amde of warriors."
Amdo— A covering on ajl ^ides* . It |goni,paonly signifies
; a shrpud or wiuding-sheet . : ,
Al«i>9JacH — :An encircling ;^reatb.
Amdrws — ^A garment that covers all round, from "trw?/'

a trouse. -., ,/\

Amglwm — A clasper . , , i . . /

Amlaw — A glove. / , ,

"A steel amlaw round the shaft of his dart"

Lewis Man, 1480^1520.

Amo»chu3>d^ — ^A cover on all aides.

Amrwym — A bandage.

Amvte — A selvedge, or skirting.

Amwisg — ^A covering ; it commonly signifies a shroud.

"The gallant chief, not unconspicuous
Was his steel amwisg, among the brave."

D. ab JSdmundy a.d. 1450.

Archen — A shoe.

" In the month of December dirty is the archen.
Heavy is the ground — ^the sun seems drowsy."

ATteurin, 610-560.

BRlT19H"ftABSS 'AND AMfOUR. 5

Archenad — The same as the preceding. '= /

** In the mottth of May,
Merry is the old man withoat ttrtiienad.'^' ^ ^

' Aneurin.

From this extract it appears that out ancestors occaA
sionally, in the summer at least, went about without
shoes. In the Laws of Hy w^I Dda, it is decreed that
the chamber-maid of the palace should have, amongst
other things, the queen^s old archenad. The same
laws provide, moreover, that the watchman and the
woodman should' be supplied respectively with 6jrcA-
eriad at the king's ei^ehse. Kilhwch, one of the
heroes of the Mabinogion, is described as haying
" precious gold, of the value of three hundred kine,
upon his archenad, and Upon his stfrnips, 'fifomi'his
knee to the tip of his t66.'' ' ' '"^ ' ^

Archre — Raiment ; clothes.

Archro — Clothes ; dress.

Arf — ^A weapon. ' ^ /

"There are three lawful ar/htt; a sword, a spear, and a
bow with twelve arrows in a quiver. And every man of family
is required to have them ready, with a view'to withstand any
invasion which may be caused by the forces 6f the bordeir
country, or of aliens, and other depredators. And arfau are
not to be allowed to any one who is not a native Cymrp, of
an alien in the third degree, for the purpose of preventing
treason and waylaying. — Laws of Dyfnwal Moelmvdy B.C. 430.

Arfeilyn — Sashoons, a kind of leather bandages for
the small of the leg, used for preserving . boots irovx
wrinkling.

Arfwll — The name of the sword of Trystan, a chieftain
of the sixth century.

6 GLOSSARY Of ttii'iiis 'for

Arglwyddwi ALEN — A Pod of dominion ; a sceptre. Hence
a feme covert is said in the Welsh Laws to be under
a " matrimonial arglwyddwialen.^*

Arlen — ^A covering veil.

Arlost — The stock or shaft of a weapon ; the butt end.

"The knight passed the arlost of his lance through the bridle
rein of my horse."— Xarfy of the Fountain, p. 49.

Arolo — ^A covering, or a shroud.

" I also hastened with arolooedd (shrovds) for the Angles ;
Lamentations were in Lloegria along the path of my hand."

Gwalchmai, 1160-1190.

Arwisg — Upper garment.

Arwydd — An ensign, banner, or colours ; a tabard ;
Arm. " Argoedd.*' Hywel Foel, 1240-1280, describes
Owain Goch's colours as of fine linen, " bliant arwydd-
ion." In the " Dream of Rhonabwy*' we read of
a troop of men having " arwyddion (banners) which
were pure white with black points." And in " The
Lady of the Fountain," a knight is introduced with an
" arwydd (a tabard) of black linen about him."

Arwylwisg — Mourning dress.

AsAFAR — A shield, or buckler. " There were asafeiriaid
(shield bearers) and infantry innumerable." — JET. Car.
Mag, — Mabinogion.

AsANT — A shield.

AsETH — ^A kind of small darting spear.

Attrws — A second dress, or garment.

Attudd — A second cover, or casing.

BRJTl^H^ P^^S ANP ARMOUR. 7

Balawg — The tongue of a buckle ; a fibula ; the flap of
the breeches; an apron. In the "Mabinogi" of H.
I^eredur we read of " a knight bearing the armorial
badge of a balawg (a fibula)." Likewise, in the
"Dream of Rhonabwy," a knight is described as
having on his belt " a clasp of ivory, with a balawg of
jet black upon the clasp;" another, as having "a jet
black balawg upon a buckle formed of the bone of the
sea-horse ;" and a third, as having " a balawg of yel-
low gold upon a clasp made of the eyelid of a black
sea-horse."

Baner, or Baniar, from ban, (high or aloft) — A banner or
ensign, on which the chieftain's arms were emblazoned.

"When the generous of the line of Llewelyn com^s,
With his baner of r^d and of yellow,
Eager to destroy and to conquer,
He shall in truth possess the border land of Cynfyn.''
• Goronwy Ddu, 1320-1370.

The Herbert banner is thus described by Lewis Glyn
Cothi, 1430-1470:—

** Three lions argent are upon his baner y
Three rampant on a field of the rule of R.^
Bundles of arrows, numerous as the stars.
Form his badge of honour."

The banner was sometimes hoisted on a proper stafi*
called manawyd, mentioned in the " Gododin," and
sometimes also on a lance called paladr, as we find in
the " Dream of Rhonabwy."

1 J. e., red or gules.

8 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

Bangaw — ^The bandage of honour.

Barddgwccwll — ^A hood of sky blue, which the privi-
leged Bard wore on all occasions that he officiated, as
a graduated badge or literary ornament. This habit
was borrowed firom the British Bards by the Druids
of Gaul, and from them by the Romans, who called it
BardocucuUus or the Bard's Cowl. — (See James*
Patriarchal Religion, &c., p. 75.)

** Gallia Santonico vestit te hardocuadlo,
Cercopithecoram penola nuper erat."

MarLy 14, 128.

Barf — ^A beard. The Ancient Britons are said to have
worn their beard on the upper lip only. The harf
was looked upon as a sign of manliness, hence Lly-
warch Hen observes, —

" Cynddylan, thou comely son of Cyndrwyn,
It is not proper that a &arf should be worn round the nose
By a man who was no better than a maid.''

^^gy o^ Cynddylan ab Cyndrwyn.

And of such importance was it to preserve the honour
of the beard, that " to wish disgrace upon his harf^
was one of the three causes for which the Welsh Laws
empowered a man to inflict personal castigation upon
his wife. Llywarch Hen thus alludes to the disgrace
of beards : —

" When God separates from man,
When the young separates from the old,
Forgive to the flyer the disgrace of harfauJ'

Barfle — The crest of a helmet, or beaver.

" And behold Grwrlas, prince of Cornwall, with his legion
drawing near to them, and dispersing the Saxons ; and what

BRirrsH iiHEss and armour. 9

did Eidol then do, under such encouragement, but took Hen-*
gist by the begrfle of his helmet, and brought him amongst his
legion, and cried twith all his might, ^ Bear down the S^ons
under f99t.' "-TTT^fr^^oi -4r^i^n . ;

BARYipLEN, or BARYWLEN-^The upper part of a shield.
Gy^n, in the " Lady of the Fountain/' thus describes
' the mode whereby he protected himself from a terrible
shower of hailstones :—

" I turned my horse's flank towards the shower, and placed
the beak of my shield over his head and neck, while I held the
barywlen over my own head; and thus I withstood the
shower." - )

Ber— A spear, or ^ pike. This is frequently mentioned
hf Aneurin as one of the weapons of the heroes of
Gododin. It was regarded as something 'similar to
the lance alluded to in St. John, xix., 34 ; for Taliesin,
in his " Ode <wa the Day of Judgment," represents
our Saviour as addressing his crucifiers thus :-'

'^ To you there will be no forgiveness,
'J For piercing me with her^naP .

BAra^s-^A buckler ; a short shield.

BerJlysg — A truncheon. According to the Welsh Laws,

the usher of the hall had to carry a herllysg, in order

to clear the way before the king.

'^ The door-keeper ought to clear the way for the king with
his berllysg, and whatever man he may strike at arm's length
with his berllysg, should such seek for redress, he ought not
to have it."

The etymology of the word intimates that his official
wand was but of a short size.
Bliant — Fine linen, as cambric or lawn. This word is

10 GLd66ARlr 6F TfiMfS VOti

of frequent occurrence in the poems und Md)inogiaii.
Thus we read of " a table cloth of bliantj'' tad of d
" gown or ooat of blianC* Prydydd y Moch, 1 160-
1220, thus speaks of Llewelyn ab lorwerth : — -

" A nuui resistrng" reproach, powerfid fai opposing Uoegr* - ^ *
Is Llewelyn, when he is about to march .w *i \\\(\

/' i Before the coyering of the shower of royalty, - ■ • i w i
. / Clad in greeo and white ifianl/V I

Bltf — A warlike engine to shoot stones out of ; a eata-

pnlta.

** Battering widi Ae hUf^ like^a torrent,
The stones of the gloomy walls of Berwick Castle."

lolo to Edward III.

BopmwvH-nA ring wbm on (the thumbs ns^ we infer from

the etymology of the word, viz., bawd-rhwif.
Boasir^A boas»

^The man Who was in the stead of Arawnstruck Ha%an
. : on the centre of the bogd of his c^ld, so that it was cloven
in twain.''— Jf«J. PwyUprhiceirf Dyfed.

BoGLWM — Id.j " Boglwm tarian/' the boss of a shield.
BoLLT — A bolt, dart, or quarrel, shot out of an engine.

BoREiJWi8G^-A porning dress.

Bqi;as —A buskin ; also a boot. The value of hotasau

cynnyglog^ (plaited greayes,) is estimated in the Laws

of Hy wel Dda at fourpence.
^OTWM —A button ; a boss. Dafydd ab Gwilym calls

hazel nuts —

'^ The pretty botymau of the branches of trees.''

Both*— The boss of a buckler.
Bras — ^A cross-bow.

^* The swift comes from tfcef lras!*^^Adage.

Pi^ATtToiV cVwJjt.ot rag. Pwyll, wheu disguised ae a

'■ ^^SS^fy V^^ ^d "^^' heavy bratiaUy and wore large
clumsy shoe^ .upQn his teeU'' ^PwyU prince qf JDjjifed.
BRBiCvEipiLwa — An ornament for tl3ije,arjflLiJL bracelet-
Breichled — Id. !« ,; ,

Breichledr— A bracelet ; a leather band for the arm.
It seems to have been worn by bowmen, for Lewis
f (Byn Cothi, in describing the kin^ of bow he should
wish to have, and the manner in which he should
handle it, adds ia^eoinnexion therewith,—

*^ I wiH'^ W^r^a* breidiledrf if I con,

:\\.\ - . \ Of>giJld or of silver."— p. 374.

BtiBicHttWY— ^A bracelet; worn ; by distinguiihed p^sons

of botheeXeS.'-'A^:-"- - ■■- ,:/.-/^ ■■' \r* /l";;..?.:- > • JC'

" JBreichrwj/au of gold were round his arms, '4 profufekm^f'

vtiig^^Miiif rings non his handaiy ami a wreath of gold cQUnd his

fi:fi€^]f.yS»d A frontlet of gold on; his head, keeping yp his hair^

and he had a magnificent app^tance." — Dream qf Maaen

WU^ig.. MaHmgion.

Greatly am I made to blush by her that is the colour of th^

"iwirling eddies of the wave,
When her breast receives the reflection of the hrdchrwy**
'■"-'■■' Oynddelwy 1 150-1200, to JEfa, daughter of

^ ' Madawg prince ofPowys.

Brdchrwy was another name for the bardic armlet,
which, in the Institutes of the Round Table, was called
amrwy and aerwy, — (See Aerwy.)

In the Laws of Hy wel Dda there is no fixed value
attached to the breichrwy, but it is directed that it
should be appraised upon oath.
Breninwisg — ^A royal robe.

12 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

Brethyn — Cloth ; woollen cloth. Mention is made in
the " Dream of Rhonabwy," of a " page having two
stockings of thin greenish yellow hrethyn upon his
feet;" and in " Pwyll prince of Dyfed," of a "horse-
man upon a large grey steed, with a hunting horn
about his neck, and clad in garments of grey hrethyn^
in the fashion of a hunting garb."

Brethynwisg — ^A woollen garment. According to the
Laws of Hywel Dda, the oflScers of the royal court
were to receive their brethynwisg from the king at the
festivals of Christmas, Easter, and Whitsunday.

Brithlen — ^Arras.

Brondor — A breast-plate; also a shield. Cynddelw
represents Owain Cyfeiliog as having a hrondor in
both senses of the word.

" A strong brondor (breast-plate) has the over-daring one, who
habituates the packs of wolves
To tread upon the dead carcases of the plain.*'

" Terror arises from the din of the blue sea, and a tumult
From the brave with the quick moving brondor (shield)."

Broneg — A breastplate ; a stomacher.

Bronfoll — Id.

Brongengl — A corslet ; a poitrel or breast-leather for a
horse. The brongengl^ as a part of horse-gear, is
mentioned in the Laws of Hywel Dda.

Bronglwm — A breast-knot.

Brwg — A covering.

Brycan — A rug, blanket, or coverlet ; also a clog,
brogue, or large shoe, to wear over another. The fol-
lowing extracts refer to it in its former acceptation : —
" The three essentials of a genuine gentleman ; a brycan^ a

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 13

harp^ and a cauldron ; and they are his prime portion." — Laws
of Dyfnwal Moelmvd.

" Three things which are not to be shared with another ; a
sword, a knife, and a hrycan ; for the owner will keep them by
right of law." — lb.

In case of separation between man and wife, when
the property is to be divided, the husband is, by the
Laws of Hywel Dda, entitled to the hrycan. In the
same code the hrycan of a freeholder is valued at sixty
pence.

In the " Dream of Rhonabwy," we are presented
with this description of a couch in a peasant's house : —

" It (the couch) seemed to be made but of a little coarse
straw full of dust and vermin, with the stems of boughs
sticking up therethrough, for the cattle had eaten all the straw
that was placed at the head and the foot ; and upon it was
stretched an old russet coloured hrycaUy threadbare and rag-
ged ; and a coarse sheet, full of slits, was upon the hrycan ;
and an ill-stuffed pillow, and a worn out cover, upon the
sheet."

Brych — A rough, streaked, or spotted covering ; a tar-
tan, or plaid.

" Apud plures extat authores Gallos vestimentis quibusdara
usos fuisse, quae JBrachas patrio sermone dixerunt; haec et
nostris Britannis communia fuisse docet Martialis versiculus, —
' Quam veteres JBrachce Britonis pauperis.' "

Camden.

Brysyll, or Brysgyll — A truncheon ; a mace, or sceptre.
A hrysylly in the hands of a religious man, appears as
one of the most primitive objects which the Britons
used to swear by ; thus we are informed in the Laws
of Dyfnwal Moelmud that —

14 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ^,

• <>■ ■ 'inn n^T

"There are three relics to swear by; iihe hrysyll of the
minister of religion (golychwydwr), the name of God, and
hand joined in hand ; and these are called h^nd irelics.' Iliere
are three other modes of swearing ; a declaration u^Mi'cin-
science, a declaration in the &ce of the sun, aiid aiiitrong
declaration by the protection of God and His truth.*'w^TWarf,
219. ,' //

In the same Laws we also have the following :-^ *

" There are three blowB which a lord may administcir up^S
his subject in the exercise of hj3 rule ; one with his . fy^yf^^
viz.. his official rod, one with the flat of his sword, aad-^one
with the palm of his hand." — Triads 202,

The hrysyll was also one of the insignia of the bar^s,
and "it denoted privilege; and whete there was a sit-
ting in judgment, it was npt right to bear s^ny insignia
except the brysyll'^ — lolo MSS.j p, 634.^
BwA — ^A bow. (See Arf^ ' i

" Better the use of the sickle than the 6t£?a." — AneurinK

The value of a bwa^ with twelve 9,i:rows,, is estinp^ted
in Hywel Dda'& Lawa at fourpence. T^e.^^wfj ."ffjas
generally made of yew ; yet we read in the " Lady of
the Fountain" of "an ivory bwa, strung with, the
sinews of the stag," aijid in Lewis Glyn Cothi of *^ steel
bwaauJ^ In a tale, written apparently in the four-
teenth century, Gwgan the Bard longs to have " a bow
of red yew in his hand, ready bent, with a tough tight
string, and a straight round shaft, with a compass-
rounded nock, and long slender feathers fastened on
with green silk, and a steel head, heavy and thick,
and an inch across, of a green blue temper, that would
draw blood out of a weathercock." (See Lady of
the Fountain. Notes.)

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 15

• N V ' '. *' '

|t yas customary to gild bows in the fourteenth
ceptury, as the following lines of Dafydd ab Gwilym
testjify: —

<* The vilest bwa that e'er was framed of yew,
That in the hand abruptly snaps in two,
When all its faults are varnished o'er with gold,
Looks strong, and fair, and faultless, and — is sold." — Ibid.

BwocLBD — ^A buckler. Arm. Bouclezer.
BwVEiL^— An axe, or hatchet. There were several sorts
tif hivyell ; such as hwyell lydan^ a working hatchet ;
hwyell hvTy and hwyell gynnudy an axe to fell timber ;
hwyell arfy arf-fwyelly and hwyell ennillegy a battle-
axe.

In the Laws of Hy wel Dda the hwyell lydan is valued
at fourpence ; the hwyell cynnud at twopence ; the
hwyell arfy or hwyell ennilleg at twopence ; and the
hwyell fechan (small axe) at one penny.
' ' TTie^ king's woodman was entitled to protection as
far as he could throw his hwyell. — Welsh Laws.
*' Thel socket of a hwyell cynnud was one of the three
thitigs which the palace smith was obliged to make
gratuitously for the use of the royal household. — Ihid.

The king could demand a man, a horse, and a
hwyell to make tents with, from every township under
villain soccage tenure. — Ihid.

In the division of goods between man and wife, the
former claimed the hwyell cynnudy and the latter the
hwyell lydan. — Ihid.

That the hwyell vras used as a weapon of war in the
sixth century, appears from the following triad : —

'^ The three accursed bwyellawd (battle-axe strokes) of the

16 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

Isle of Britain ; the hwyellawd of Eiddyn on the head of
Aneurin, the bwyellawd on the head of lago the son of Beli,
and the bwyellawd on the head of Golyddan the bard,"

The hwyell is reckoned as one of the insignia of the
Bards : —

" The bwyell is the symbol of science and of its improve-
ment ; and the bards of Glamorgan bear it through privilege
of the chair : and the bwyell has privilege, viz., the person who
bears it by warrant of the judgment of the chair, is authorised
to show improvement in knowledge and science before the
chair and gorsedd ; and he has precedence in that, and his
word is warranted." — loh MSB., p. 633.

Cadach — A piece of cloth; a kerchief; a swaddling
clout.

" Caeo is famous for its thorny hedges.
Its clamour and fleas, and the prosecution of thieves,
The selling of goats upon credit, its trees.
And its variegated cadachau."

Characteristics of parts of Wales (Mediaeval).
Apud Myv. Arch., i., p. 641.

Cadas — A kind of stuff, or cloth.

" A robe of silk and cadas." — D. ab Crwilym.

*^ Not in precious gold, nor cadas,
A troublesome load, but in a pale covering."

a. Ceri, 1620.

Cadbais — A coat of mail; a corslet. Llyv^arch Hen
represents Caranmael as wearing the cadbais of Cyn-
ddylan on the field of battle.

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 17

" When Caranmael put on the cadbais of Cynddylan,
And lifted up and shook his ashen spear^
From his mouth the Frank would not get the word of peace."

Elegy on Cynddylan.

Cadfan — ^The martial horn ; from cad (a battle) and
han (loud).

Cadfwyell — A battle-axe. See Bwyell.

Cadgorn — The horn of battle. It would appear from
the following passage that drinking-horns were, occa-
sionally at least, used as such : —

" A baron —
The shrill blower of cadgyrn, the ample mead horns."

Llyw. Ben Twrch, 1450-1480.

Cadseirch — War harness. One of the chiefs of Gododin

'* Supported martial steeds, and cadseirchy
Drenched with gore on the red-stained field of Cattraeth."

Aneurin.
Cadwaew — A war lance.
Cadwen — ^A chain ; a bandage.
Cadwy — A rug ; a covering.

Cadwyn — A chain. It was of gold, and worn by war-
rior chiefs. Thus Llywarch Hen describes Cynddylan
prince of Powys, as —

" Cjoiddylan, eminent for sagacity of thought,
Cadwynawg (wearing the chain), foremost in the host,
The protector of Tren, whilst he Uved."

Elegy on Cynddylan.

Cae — ^A ring ; a necklace ; an ornamental wreath. Some

of the chiefs of Gododin were decked with a cae.

*^ Caeog (adorned with his wreath) was the leader, the wolf of
the holme.
Amber beads in ringlets encircled his temples." — Aneurin.

14 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ^_,

"There are three relics to swear by; the hrt/syll of the
minister of religion (golychwydwr), the name of God, and
hand joined in hand ; and these are called hand irelics. There
are three other modes of swearing ; a declaration ujiiii''c6n-
science, a declaration in the face of the sun, aiid a* strong
declaration by the protection of God and His truth."^-*t^THarf,
219. yn

In the same Laws we also have the following :-^ ^

" There are three blows which ta lord may administer vapftH
his subject in the exercise of hi3 rule ; one with his . fy'Vfl^fi
viz., his official rod, one with the flat of his sword, aad .one
with the palm of his hand.'* — Triad, 202,

The hrysyll was also one of the insignia of the bar^s,
and "it denoted privilege; and where there was a sit-
ting in judgment, it was upt right ^;o bear £^ny insignia
except the brysylW — lolo MSS., p. 634.^
BwA — ^A bow. (See Arf^) v

" Better the use of the sickle thaa the bwa." — Ansurin*
The value of a bwa, with twelye^ro ws„ ^ estippated
in Hywel Dda's Laws at fourpenqe. Thejbwfi y^as
generally made of yew ; yet we read in the " Lady of
the Fountain" of "an ivory bwaj strung withjihe
sinews of the stag," ai;id in Lewis Glyn Cothi of "steel
bwaau.^' In a tale, written apparently in the four-
teenth century, Gwgan the Bard longs to have " a. bow
of red yew in his hand, ready bent, with a tough tight
string, and a straight round shaft, with a compass-
rounded nock, and long slender feathers fastened on
with green silk, and a steel head, heavy and thick,
and an inch across, of a green blue temper, that would
draw blood out of a weathercock." (See Ijady of
the Fountain. Notes.)

BRinSH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 15

It yas customary to gild bows in the fourteenth
century, as the following lines of Dafydd ab Gwilym
testify : —

" The vilest btoa that e'er was framed of yew,
That in the hand abruptly snaps in two,
When all its faults are varnished o'er with gold,
Looks strong, and fair, and faultless, and — ^is sold." — Ibid.

BwochUD — ^A buckler. Arm. Bouclezer.
BwVtell — ^An axe, or hatchet. There were several sorts
6f hwyell ; such as hwyell lydan^ a working hatchet ;
hwyell Mr J and hwyell gynnud, an axe to fell timber ;
hwyell arfy arf-fwyell^ and hwyell ennilleg^ a battle-
axe.

In the Law^s of Hy wel Dda the hwyell tydan is valued
at fourpence ; the hwyell cynnud at twopence ; the
hwyell arfy or hwyell ennilleg at twopence ; and the
hwyell fechan (small axe) at one penny.

Th^ king's w^oodman was entitled to protection as

&r as he could throw his hwyell. — Welsh Laws.

'* The socket of a hwyell cynnud was one of the three

things which the palace smith was obliged to make

gratuitously for the use of the royal household. — Ihid.

The king could demand a man, a horse, and a
hwyell to make tents with, from every township under
villain soccage tenure. — Ihid.

In the division of goods between man and wife, the
former claimed the hwyell cynnud^ and the latter the
hwyell lydan. — Ihid.

That the hwyell was used as a weapon of w^ar in the
sixth century, appears from the following triad : —

'' The three accursed hwyellawd (battle-axe strokes) of the

18 GLOSSARY OF TEEHa FOB.

One of the Mabinogion, describing Elen, daughter of
Eudaf, and sister of Cjnian Meiriadog, says of her^ —

*^ The maid was clothed in robes of white silk, and het
bosom was decked with caeau of ruddy gold."— -Zh'tfai of
Maxen Wledig.

In another of these tales the dress of Owain, the son
of Urien, is thus described : — . ; '^

''The next day at noon Owain arrayed himself in a coat,
and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, upon whidi was
a broad band of gold lace ; and on his feet were high shoes
of variegated leather, which were &8teaed by golden caeau in
the form of lions."— Xocfy of the Fawmkan.

A Cm was to be valued on oath. — Myv^ d.rch.j iii., p.
424.

Caead — ^A clasp. A young page in the Tale of " Kho-
nabwy" had " over his hose, shoes of parti-coloured
leather, fastened at the insteps with golden caeadau/*
—P. 407.

Caerawg — This epithet, applied to a particular kind f&i
cloth, signifies " kersey-woven," and is so used because
of the similitude of the texture to the work in stone
walls, the primary meaning of caerawg being mural.
Lady Charlotte Guest has, in the subjoined passage,
translated it by the term " diapered," which she con-
siders as more appropriate in reference to satin, and
which Warton (JEng. Poe., ii., 9, 1824) believes pro-
perly to signify " embroidering on a rich ground, as
tissue, cloth of gold," &c,

" On Whit Tuesday, as the king sat at the banquet, lo !
there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and a
surcoat of caerawg satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 19

neck, and law shoes of leather upon his teet^-'^CfermiU ab

GALCft— Enamelled armour. It is a word of frequent
occuitence in the Welsh poems, e. g. : —

** Sweetly sang the birds on the fn^rant blossomed apple tree,
'''" ' Ov^'th^ head of Ghven, before he was covered with sod.
He used to fracture the ccLlck of old liywarch !''

LL Hen an Old Age.

** lliey shattered the cakh on the £au:es of Cyndrwynwyn*s sons.'*

Meigant, 600-^0.

'^ The wrathful Uade would slay,
The azure tinted ca2c^ would gleam."— Qriidid^.

Calchdo, and Calchdobd — ^An enamelled covering;
painted armour.

*^ Violent was the destruction of the flank and front of thd
towii%
And the breaking of the cahhdoedd of the land on the third
day after." Meilyr, 1 120-1 160.

Ca*-^A cap.

Cafan— A C5ap, or hat. Myrddin Wyllt (530-600) thus

addresses a person bearing the name of Yscolan, {q. St.

Columha?):—

^ Black is thy steed — ^black thy capccnj
Black thy head — thyself art black,
1 •:. Black thy pate — art thou Yscolan?"

Myv. Arch., i., p. 132.

We read in the Welsh Laws that

^'The kiug gave to the church of Menevia two choral
capanoM of velvet."

Also,—

'' The head groom is entitled to the king's pluvial capanau,

20 GLOSSARY OP TERMS FOR

and his old saddles of the colour of their wood^ and his old
cast off bridles, and his old cast off spurs."

In the same Laws we find that a capan dinesig (a civil

cap) is valued at twenty-four pence.
Carai — A bandage, or lace ; a thong. Carai JEsgidy a

shoe-latchet. JEsgidiau Careiawg^ or shoes having

latchets, are estimated in the Laws of Hywel Dda at

twopence.
Carddagl — A skirt.
Carn — The haft, or hilt of a weapon.

"She opened a wooden casket, and drew forth a razor,
whose cam was of ivory, and upon which were two rivets of
gold." — Lady of the Fountain.

Carnial — ^A shoe sole.

Carp — ^A clout, a rag. In reference to our blessed

Saviour's nativity, Madawg ap Gwalter (a.d. 1250)

observes, —

" Instead of fine linen
About His bed, were seen carpiau.'^

Myv, Arch, i., p. 406.

Casmai — A set of ornaments.

" Around him were casmai.
And the flowers of the charming branches of May."

D. ab Chvilym,

Casul — A casula, or chasuble; the priest's vestment.
Taliesin, probably in his character of Druid, says of
himself, —

" I have been the weigher of the falling drops,
Dressed in my casul, and furnished with my bowl."

Myv. Arch., i., p. 31.

Caw — ^A band, or wrapper. Cawiau — Swaddling clouts.

BRITIBH DRBSS AND ARMOUR. 21

^' The bard's armlet is worn on the arm, below the shoulder
jomty and m Gwynedd it was anciently called Caw^ as also in
Deheubarth, and oflen in Glamorgan it was so called likewise ;
therefore the bard was called the Bard Caw [or the Bard of
the band], after he had received the order of the Pen Cerdd
[or the Chief of Song], and the three Beirdd Caw included
the Privardd [Chief Bard], the Ovydd [Ovate], and the Der-
wyddvardd [or the Druid Bard], otherwise called Privardd,
or Bardd Glis, Arwyddvardd or Gwyn Vardd, [the Bard of
the Sign, or the White Bard,] and the Bargadvardd and
Cylvardd."— /ofo MSS.^ p. 632.

Cedaflen — A napkin.
Ceitlen — A smock frock.

Cethrawr — ^A pike. It was a weapon used in the battle
of Cattraeth, in the sixth century.

" The envious, the fickle, and the base.
Would he tear and pierce with a cethrawr J^ — Qododin,

It cannot be the same as the " brevis cetray' which,
according to Tacitus, formed a part of the armour of
the ancient Britons, and which is described as a shield
or target made of leather, very light, and of a circular
form. A cethrawr is valued in the Welsh Laws at
fourpence.

Cewyn — ^A small bandage ; a clout.

CiGWAiN — A flesh-fork ; also a spear used for hunting
purposes. Thus we read of one of the heroes of
Gododin, —

" As many as thy father could reach.
With his cigwain,
Of wild boars, lions, and foxes,
It was certain death to them all, unless they proved too
nimble." Aneurin.

22 GLOSSARY OP TEIIMS V&EL

It was likewise used as a military weapon. For in-
stance, Cynddelw thus observes of Owain Gwynedd, —

" A prosperous lord, ruddy was his cigroain"

The domestic cigwain of a king was estimated at
twenty-four pence; that of a freeholder at twelve
pence.
Cledd, Cleddeu, and Cleddyf — ^A sword. The cleddyif
was one of the three lawful arms (see Arf). In the
old Law Triads, the value of a white-hilted cleddyf is
twenty-four pence ; if it be brittle-edged (hardened),
sixteen pence ; and, if it has a round handle, twelve
pence. According to the code, which was revised and
settled by Hywel Dda, a brittle-edged cleddyf is
valued at twelve pence ; a round-hilted one at sixteen
pence ; and the white-hilted one at twenty-four pence.
In Roman times the northern Britons used very large
swords, ingentes gladii. — See Tadttis.

Lewis Glyn Cothi has written a poem to beg a
cleddyf from Dafydd ab Gutjni, from which we may
learn what were looked upon in his days as the essen-
tials of a good sword. The following are the lines
which bear more immediately upon the subject ;' and,
as it would be difficult to convey the full and precise
meaning of the author through the medium of a trai^-
lation, we shall give them in their original dress : —

** Y mae 'n ei gylch, er mwyn ei gil,
Dwm byr mor dum a baril ;
Y mae pais o'r gamais gwyn,
A chramp mal cylch ar impyn ;
Mae gwregys flTorchog gogam,
A chrys o goed a chroes gam ;

' \

BRITI3H - PRfiSS AND ARMOUR. 23

Wrth y groeSy wedi'r weithiaw,
Y xnae yn lied I'm no llaw ;
Mae blaen amo fo yn fain
Fal nodwydd neu fiaen adain ;
Blaea yw &1 diflaen y dart,
Dur awchus yw o drichwart;
Croes wen rhag rhyw was annoeth,
Croes naid, o'i uncrys yn noeth ;
\ . ' '^ '^ ' Llain las wrth ddarllen ei liw,

I 1

* ' Lien wydr ikl ellyn ydyw ;

Golea yw hwn fal bagl hir,
A gloew ydyw fal glodir ;
I . Ileiddiad fal cyllell luddew,

A thra llym fal ysgythr Uew." — ^V. iii.
^e read in the "Mabinogion" of a "three-edged
, cU^dxjfy— Dream of Rhonabwyy p. 407.

, The cleddyf hung on the left side of the bearer ;
li^e^c^ the word cledd signifies both a sword and the
left hand ; also, the north, from its being on the left
, qf ^ P^i^on looking eastward, even as the deheu, or
^ soutl^y is on his right.
Clos — A pair of breeches.
Clwpa-7-A club.

'* Geraint followed the giants, and overtook them. And
each of them was greater of stature than three other men, and
a huge clwpa was on the shoulder of each/' — Oeraint ab
Erbin, p. 130.

Dau wr a chlwpa, the play of cat and trap.
Clwt — ^A clout ; a piece of cloth.

" A clwt is better than a hole." — Adage.
Cnap — A boss ; a button.

" A little way from them, I saw a man in the prime of life,
with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a mantle of

24 G:^.9?3ARX OF T^^JfS.^fpft

yellow satin; and round the top of his m^a,tl^ w.^^.a l^^d
of gold lace. On his feet were shoes of variegated lea^^r,
fastened by two cnapatC ^(&old.^' — Zady of the Fountain.

Cob — ^A eloak ; a mantle ; Ihcope* " ' • i

CocHL — A mantle, probably, as we infer fronv the j?t;yuw^«-i
logy of the word, of a red colour. .,//..>

Cop — ^A bag, or pouch ; a wrapper. , : . . { ,

" If thou shouldest go to the region of the south, < .
Thou wilt be like the b^^dger in a cod,'' — D. ab-Gtoifjffft.^

The origin of the game of "Badger in the Cod^' is)
described in the Mabinogi of Pwyll prince of Dyfed.

CoESARN — A boot. ;

CoLER — A collar. .

CoRDWAL — Leather. It occurs in the Mabinogion, and
is there evidently intended for the French Cbrdouan
or Cordovan leather, which derived its name from
Cordova, where it was manufactured.

" On his feet were shoes of variegated cordwaV

See Lady of the Fountain.

Corn — A horn; a trumpet.

" There are three trumpet progressions ; the gathering of a
country according to the heads of families and chiefs of clans,
the corn of harvest, and the corn of war and battle against
the oppression of adjoining countries and aliens." — Laws of
Dyfnwal Moetnmd,

CoRON — A crown. The following passage from Brut y
Tywysogion {Myv. Arch.^ ii., p. 481), seems to imply
that the coron was not used by the Welsh as a regal
badge previous to the reign of Rhodri Mawr, in the
ninth century : —

"These (Cadell, Anarawd and Merfyn) were called the

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 25

three diademed princes, because they, contrary to all that pre-
ceded them, wore frontlets about their coronau, like the kings
of other countries ; whereas, before that time, the kings and
princes of the Welsh nation wore only golden chains."

CoRONiG — A bandlet ; a coronet.

CowYLL— A garment, or cloak, with a veil, presented by

the husband to his bride on the morning after marriage.

— See Ijttws of Hywel Dda.
Crib — A comb. It is valued in the Laws at one penny.
Crimogau — Greaves, or armour for the legs.

'' He was arrayed in a coat of armour, with crimogau round
his legs and his thighs." — Mabinogion.

Crud — ^A cover ; a case ; armour.

" The three warriors of the isle of Britain that wore golden
crttrf."— See Triad 124.

" A stream of blood upon his crudy
The crud of the victorious sovereign, chief of the country."

Cynddelw to Hywel son of Owain,

Crys — A loose, or flowing garment ; a shirt, or shift.
Uy warch Hen carried the head of Urien in his crys.

" I bear in my crys a head ; the head of Urien,
That governed a court with mildness.
And on his white bosom the sable raven doth glut."

Elegy on Urien Rheged.

And Golyddan (560-630) says of the few Cimbrian
soldiers who once returned from the field of battle, —

" They told a tale of peace to their wives,
Who smelled their crysau full of gore."

Myv. Arch.f i., p. 157.

In the tale of the " Lady of the Fountain," Cynon,

26 OLOS8ART OF TEllMS FOR

in narrating one of his adventures, thus alludes to
the treatment which he received from certain young
ladies: —

''The fourth six took off my soiled garments, and placed
others upon me, namely, a crySy and a doublet of fine Knen,
and a robe, and a surcoat, and a manfle of yellow satin, with
a broad gold band upon the mantle.'^

The handmaid of the queen was, according t6*l!hc(
Laws of Hy wel Dda, entitled to the cast-off crysM of
her royal mistress. The same Laws gave a freeholcler's
wife full permission to give away her mantle, her crj/Sy
her shoes, her head-cloth, and her meat and drink, as
as well as to lend all her furniture. '

A crys and trowsers together were valued at tWenty-f
four pence.
Crysbais — ^Waistcoat ; an under vest. ' '

Cryslain — The opening, or bosom, of a shirt. '
CuNNELLT — ^Weapons of war; firom cun (a cMef), fetad

dellt (splints).
CuRAN — A boot, a buskin.

" Should any man strike a slave, he must pay him twelve
lawful pence ; — ^that is to say, six for three cubits 6f white
home-spun cloth, wherewith to make him a coat in which to
cut gorse ; and three for trousers ; and one for curanau and
mittens ; and one for a hedging bill ; and one for a rope,
twelve 'cubits long, or for an axe, if he be a woodman.*' —
Wekh Laws.

CuRAS — ^A cuiras, or a coat of mail. In the middle ages
the men of Tegeingl were remarkable for their awk-
wardness in the euros.

" Common in Tegeingl is the awkward in a euros

BHj^IipIi.,|X|lBpS ANPr ARMOUR. 27

, At all tunes ; — and nobles in city

. And plain continually without substance, without grace."

Myv. Arch,, i., p. 641.

CwcwLL — A cowl. The men of Powys are described by
Cynddelw as —

. , ; ^f Scattering in the battle, harmless before a cwcwlL"

Myv, Arch,, i., p. 266.

CwFi^-A hood, or cowl.

. ^' Bla^k s thy cwfl, thy note is good.

Likewise thy robe, thqu bird of harmonious language."

D. ab Qwilym to a Bhchbird,

CwFLEN— A cap or hat ; a hupting cap.

CwLBREN — A bludgeon.

Cwx.£if — ^A hat. .

CwNSALLT — A military garment; a general's robe; a
cloak, or cassock, worn over armour ; a military cloak
on which were set the arms, badges, or cognizance of

J,,, the geiieral or soldiers ; the cloak of an herald-at-arms.

" The maid gave to Peredur armour, and a cwnsallt of fine
red over the armour ; and he was called the knight of the red
cwnsallt" — Hanes Peredur. Mabinogion.

^* A cwnsallt of yellow diapred satin was upon the knight,
and the borders of the cvmsalU were blue." — The Dream of
Rhotujbwy,

" There was a cwnsallt upon him, and upon his horse, divided
in two parts, white and black, and the borders of the cwnsallt
were of golden purple. And above the cwnsallt he wore a
sword, three-edged and bright, with a golden hilt." — Ibid.

In the Llyfr Meddygon Myddfai (a.d. 1230) the
leaves of the asparagus, as well as the fennel, are said
to resemble the cwnsallt.

S8 t^Ldd&AKT^OF Tt^MSi^Fdlt 'i

CwRAN — 8ame as CtTRAW. " ■■■■'.-. /-i- .■■'

"The chief huntsman, if he is not arrested before hfe getting
out of bed, and the patting on his cwranaUf ought not to
answer to any one with respect to a daim that may be de-
manded of him." — Laws of Hywel Dda. , . «

Cyfegydd — ^A pickaxe. r»

Cyflegr — ^A gun. Its etymology cyd (together) and
llegr (that braces or clasps) would of course (imply
sonaething very diifferent to the modern gun. . j
Cyfrau — Ornaments, jewels.

'' Glittering are the tops of the cresses; warlike is the steed' ;»
Trees are fair cyfrau of the ground ; . . r

Joyful is the soul with the one it loves." — Llywarch Hen.

Cyfrwym — ^A bandage.

Cylchwy — ^A shield, or buckler; as the name implies, of
a circular or round shape. This word is of frequent
occurrence in the compositions of the early bards ;
e. g. :—

" His cylchwy was winged with fire for the slaughter."

Aneurin a;pud Godddmv

" The army of Cadwallon encamped on the Wy*,
The common men, after passing the water,
Following to the battle of cylchwy.*^ — Llywarch Hen.

" With the circle of ruddy gems on my golden cylchtoy,"

Taliesin.

" On the ridge of Llech Vaelwy they shattered the cylchwy/^

iMd.

"Gleaming is my sword, swift as lightning it protects the
brave.
Glittering is the gold on my cylckwy^^^Crwalchmai"

Cyllell — A knife. It would seem from TaUesin that

BIUrn9EU:D|t«8S AND ABMOIJR. 29

in his day the cyllell was regarded as an inferior
weapon of war, for he says, —

*^ The swords of the men of conflict will not stab the puny
cylleUaiwr (dagger drawer).

In the romance of " The Lady of the Fountain/* men-
tion is made of

" Ctflleill with blades of gold, and with the hflts of the bone
^ ' itf the whale."

In the Laws of Hyw^el Dda, a cyllell glun^ or a dagger,

is valued at one penny.
Cykfas — A sheet of cloth ; a bed sheet.
Chwarel — A dart, a javelin.

" When the bones shall receive the pang
Of death, with his swift chwarelaUy
Then will life be at awful paiise."-^i). ab Gwib/m.

Dart— A dart.

" Illtyd Farchog bore for his arms, argent, three masts,
three castle tops, or, and six darts, or. The three masts for
the three schools, and the three castle tops for the three col-
leges of saints, and the six gold darts for the six churches,
which he founded for teaching the Christian religion." — lolo
MSS., p. 656.

A poet, supposed to be Dafydd Nanmor, a.d. 1460,
prays that Henry VII. might be protected, among
other things, from

** A stone out of a tower, and the edge of a dart,^

Again, —

30 GU)6SARY f OF TERHS> FOR 1 *

'^ From a leopard, a daarty and the teeth of a ftjk>nster."

/Wd., PR, 313, 314. ,

DiDDosBEN — Head-covering.

DiFLAEN — ^The beard, or beard -point of a dart,: or, arrow.
Lewis Glyn Cothi says of the point of the sword,
which he wished to receive from Dafydd ab Gutjn,
(see Cledd) —

" It has a sharp point,
Like that of a needle, or the point of a wing ;
A point like the diflaen of a dart."

Dill AD — Apparel, or clothes. It is similarly called in
the Breton dialect Dillat, and in the Cornish, JDUU
adzhas.

« NobDity will lead,
Dillad will shelter." — Adage.

DiLLYN — A jewel ; an ornament.

DuRDORCH — The ring of an habergeon. ^ .

*' Who would make a track, when there should be oc^lision.
For the coats of durdyrch ?"

O. ah Llywelyn Moely a.d. 1450.

DwGAN — A trull, a drab.

Dyrnflaidd — A kind of iron club having spikes on the
striking end ; a halbert. Dafydd Nanmor (as is sup-i
posed) says in reference to Henry VII. : —

" Fine is his head, which a whirler or bow, I

Or battle-axe, or dyrnflaidd^ will not dare to strike."

/ofoibTS/S., p. 313.

Dyrnfol — A gauntlet, or splint ; mitten ; hedging mit-
ten. This is the word which we have translated mittens
in the extract from the Welsh Laws, suh voce Curan.
Lewis Glyn Cothi speaks of

BRmSH'SRISS AND ARMOUR. 31

^' Dyrnfolau of the combat, made of steel/'

Dysgiar — A spear. From this comes the term dysgiawr
(a levelling or slicing), used by Aneurin in the fol-
' IbWrng line of the Gododin : —

" It was the dysgiawr (levelling) of privilege to kill him on
the "breach.'^

EiDDOED — ^A banner, or a standard. The word is used
by Taliesin—

" Urien, lord of the cultivated plain, answered again,
If there be, a meeting because of kindred.
We will lift up an eiddoed above the mountain."

The hatth of Argoed Llvyjffan.

" Humble and trembling that saw Llwyfenydd,
• - With a conspicuous eiddoed in the second place ;

A battle in the ford of Alclyd, a battle at the confluence."

Ode to Urien.

EiGRAu — Stockings without feet. They are otherwise
callied bacsauj and hosanau pen geist.

EiferoNYN — A border ; the list of cloth ; the edge or sel-
vedge ; any border set on for ornament ; a ruflie.

Em — A jewel ; a gem. Some of the heroes of Gododin
were decked with gems.

" The warriors marched to Gododin, their leader laughed
As his em army went down to the terrific toil." — Aneurin.

Taliesin speaks of a wreath of ruddy emau (rubies) —

" Rhudd em fy nghylchwy." — Cad Ooddeti.

32 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

Enhudded — ^A coYering.

" Our lord, of a race liberal of treasure,
Comes to day under the enhudded"

Gr. ab Chveflyny a.d. 1400.

Ergyrwaew— A thrusting spear ; an impeUed, or flying
spear.

" A vehemfent ergyrwaew before his shield."

O. CfjfeiUawg, 1160.

EsGiD—Cor. " Esgiz." A shoe.

" Three makers of golden shoes, of the isle of Britain ;
Caswallawn the son of Beli, when he went as far as Gkscony
to obtain Flur the daughter of Mygnach Gorr, who had
been carried thither to Caesar the Emperor, by one called
Mwrchan the Thief, king of that country, and friend of Julius
Caesar, and Caswallawn brought her back to the isle of
Britain ; Manawyddan the son of Llyr Llediaith, when he was
as far as Dyfed laying restrictions; Llew Llaw Gyffes, when
he was along with Gwydion the son of Don, seeking a name
and arms from Arianrod, his mother." — Triad 124.

Manawyddan, m the " Mabinogion," bought the
leather ready dressed ; and he caused the best gold-
smith in the town to make clasps for the shoes, and
to gild the clasps. See Manawyddan the son of Llyr ,
p. 169. Probably mynawyd (an awl) receives its
name from this celebrated shoemaker.

According to the Laws of Hywel Dda, the queen's
handmaid was entitled to the old esgiduiu of her royal
mistress.

Ethy — A spur. The first chieftain celebrated in the
Gododin wore a " golden eihyy

EuRDALAETH — ^A gold fillet, or coronet.

BRnmH wmsBB and armour. 33

EuRDORCH — ^A golden collar, being an ornament of dis-
tinction worn by the ancient warriors of Britain.

'' Of those who went to Cattraeth, bdng eurdorckogion (wearers
of the golden chain),
Vjpop the message of Mynyddawg^ soyereign of the people.
There came not honourably, in behalf of the Brython,
To Gododin, a hero from afar, superior to Cynon."

Aneurin.
^ Fonr-and-twenty sons I have had,
Eurdorchawg (wearing the golden chain) leaders of armies;
Gwen was the best of them." — Uywarch Hen.

EuREM — ^A golden jewel.

EuRFODRwy — A gold ring.

EuRooRON— A gold crown.

EtTRLiN — ^The raw silk.

EtjRRWY — ^A gold ring.

EtJRYSGWTO — A gold shield. Several of the British
chieftains are represented as wearing gold shields in
the sixth century. Thus Lly warch Hen, —

'* A second time I saw, after that conflict,
Awr ysgwyd on the shoulder of Urien.''

And Aneurin, speaking of Ceredig, says that —

'^ His y$gwyd awr dazzled the field of battle."

Ffal — The heel of a shoe.
Ffaung — ^A mantle ; a cloak.

" Like the Irishman for the ffalingy — Adage.
" Guto made a cotton ffaling."

ChUo y Qlyuj a.d. 1450.

34 GVOSBASY OF TERMS FOR

Ffedawg — An apron. The word is evidently a con-
traction of arffedatcg, which comes from arffedj the lap.
Ffedawwex — ^A neckcloth, or cravat.
Ffil — ^A quick dart.
Fflaw — ^A dart ; a banner.

** A hn^t fflaw f from every battle obtaining hostages.''

Cywrysedd Gwjftudd a Ddkam.

Ffoh — ^A staff, or stick; a cudgel. Ffan ddwyhig, a

quarter-staff.
Ffonwaew — ^A javelin.
Ffunen — ^A band ; a lace ; a riband ; a head-band.

^' Through the window give me ihe ffunen
Of thy generous mother, to cover my head.**

D. db Edmumtj a.d. 1450.

The legal value of a ffunen was fourpence. — H. Dda.
Ffunenig — ^A bandlet, or a lace.
Ffvd — Coverings, or garments.

'* Envious also, divested of his ^ J
Is the bishop ; miserable the reflection."

Dr. 8. Cent, 1420-1470.

Gaflach — ^A barbed or bearded spear. Peredur struck
a knight ^^ with a sharp pointed gaflachj and it hit him
in the eye, and came out at the back of his neck, so
that he instantly fell down lifeless." — Peredur ah
Efrawg. This weapon however seems to have been
more peculiar to the Irish, who were hence denomi-
nated Owyddyl gaflachawg. See suh voce Glaif.

BRITISH DRE9S AXD ARMOUR. 35

Gardas and Gardtb — A garter ; fitx>m gar the shank, or

lower part of the thigh.
Gefyn — ^A fetter ; a gyre ; a manacle ; a shackle.
Gem — A gem ; a jeweL

''Theie is abroche in theyoRof his girdle."

Tmdmr Aled, aj>. 1490.

See also Em.
Glaif — ^A crooked sword ; a scimitar ; a glaive. Accor-
ding to the Laws of Djfhwal Moelmud, ^* the three
essentials of a Tassal were a fireside, a glaif , and a
trough." — Myv. Arch., iii., p. 316. But the glaif w^s
not confined to yassals, at least in more recent times,
for we have Einiawn ab Madawg Rhahawd, 1230-
1270, thus speaking of Gruffydd ab Llywelyn : —

** Usual to thee to have the red and dashing gUdf over the
mane of the steed.'' — Myv. Arck.^ L, p. 392.

The Gwyneddians, or men of North Wales, who fought
under Grufiydd ab Cynan, were distinguished for their
use of the glaif and tarian, as appears from the fol-
lowing extract : —

** The kings, therefore, began to retreat, when they beheld
the multitude of yictorioas bands, and the camps of King
Grroffydd, and his banners displayed against them, and the
men of Denmark with their two-edged axes, and the dart-
bearing Gwyddelians with their iron bails fiill of spikes, and
the Gwjrneddians gleiJUtwc (with scimitars) and shield-bearing."
— Myv. Arch., iL, p. 593.

Glain — ^A jewel; a bead. Glain nod, a prime jewel.
Glain nadron, transparent stones, or adder stones,
worn by the difierent orders of bards, each haying its
appropriate colour; the blue ones belonged to the

36 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

presiding Bards, the white to the Druids, the green
to the Ovates, and the three colours blended to the
disciples. Pliny believed them to have been produced
by the blowing of snakes. The truth seems to be,
however, that they were glass beads, formed by the
fusion of sand and natron by means of the blowpipe,
which in shape resembled a serpent. This latter cir-
cumstance, together with the close agreement in sound
between natron and nadron evidently occasioned the
mistake as to their production and real nature.
Glasgaen — A blue covering, or armour. As early as
the time of Julius Caesar the Britons knew how to
dye blue; and it is supposed from the term glastenneu,
as applied to the holm, or scarlet-oak, that the oak
dust and apple formed the colouring material to which
Caesar applied the term glastum.

" Who is the youth that wears the fflasgaen ;
What hero is he that proudly leads the way ?''

Elegy on Llewelyn op Jtfadawg,
A.D. 1290-1340.

Gleindorch — A circlet of beads ; a bead necklace.
GoDRE — A skirt, border, or edge.
GoDRWY — ^A wreath ; a chain.

" Adorned with a wreath was the leader, the wolf of the holme.
Amber beads godrwyawr (in ringlets) encircled his temples."

Gododin.

GoL — ^A covering.

" The opposing party reply, claiming a contrary turn,
The same is Rhodri, liberal oi goloddJ^

Gwakhmai, 1160-1190.

GoLOED — A covering ; a vestment.

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 37

'' GmflBirdd of a fiery disposition.
And the bold fiune of Hj^Krel with a conspicuous goloed^
And for whom I bear the longest affection." — Id.

GrORBAis — Upper coat.
GoRDUDD — An outer covering.

GORDUDDED— An OVCF COVCT.

GoRDD-DORCH — ^A collar; a chain, or torque for the neck.

''Eudaf, as seen by Maxen Wledig in his Dream, had a
golden gcrdd-dorch about his neck." — Mabvaogi.

GoRTHORCH — A superior wreath; a torque; a collar.
Myrddin Wyllt wore a golden gorthorch in that battle
where his patron Gwenddoleu fell.

'^ In the battle of Arderydd of gold was my gorthorch^

Mgrddin 530-€00.

GoRWTSG — ^An outer garment.

GoTOEW — ^A spur. Llywarch Hen speaks with pride of
one of his sons as wearing golden gotoew.

** Whilst I was of the a/ge of yonder youth,
That wears the golden ottoewy
It was with velocity I pushed the spear."

Elegy on Old Age.

Gra — The down, nap, or frieze of cloth ; cloth with nap

upon it.

ITie bed which the maiden in the "Lady of the

Fountain" prepared for Owain, " was meet for Arthur

himself; it was of scarlet, and gra, and satin, and

sendall, and fine linen." — P. 57.
Grain — ^A ring. Grain-fys, the ring-finger.
GwAEDLAiN — A bloody blade. One of the heroes of

Gododin

38 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

" Gwyalfain the son of Eilydd widded a gwaedlainJ'

Aneurin.

GwAEDLEN — A blood Veil ; a bloody veil.

" He was seen —
With a gwaedlen conspicuous round his head^
And there was blood and food for crows,
And the raven on the corpse,
And the foes were of hope bereft."

LI. P. Mock to Llywelyn I.

GwAEG — A fibula ; a clasp ; a buckle ; the tongue of a
buckle. Cynon, narrating an adventure in the " Lady
of the Fountain," says, —

" I approached the castle, and there I beheld two youths,
with yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his
head, and clad in a garment of yellow satin ; and they had
gold gwaegau upon their insteps." — P. 41.

GwAELL — A lance. A knight in the " Dream of Rhon-
abwy" had "in his hand a blue-shafted gwaell, but
from the haft to the point it was stained crimson-red
with the blood of the ravens and their plumage." —
P. 411.

GwAEW — A spear, lance, or pike ; a javelin. Also the
rod of the apparitor, which he used in summoning
persons to appear.

According to the Laws of Dyfnwal Moelmud, the
gwaew was one of " three legal weapons" which it was
required of every head of family to provide himself
with. See Arf. The gwaew head was one of the
three things for which the court smith was to receive
payment. The value of the gwaew in Hywel Dda's
Code was fourpence. — Myv. Arch., iii., 423. The

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 39

length of the apparitor's gwaew was to be three cubits ;

two of which were to be behind, and one before him. —

Ibid.y p. 374.
GwAEWFFON — A javelin. Same as ffonwaew.
GwAEWLORF — The staff or shaft of a lance.

** Rhys, the best son of the champion of Mon,
With the hasty gvxiewlorfy of Uywelyn's race.*'

T.Aled.

GwAEWSAETH — ^A dart, or javelin.

GwAiN — ^A scabbard ; a sheath. In the " Dream of
Rhonabwy" we read of a page who " bore a heavy
three-edged sword with a golden hilt, in a gwain of
black leather tipped with fine gold." — P. 407. Also,
of another, who had " in his hand a huge, heavy,
three-edged sword, with a gwain of red deer hide,
tipped with gold." — P. 408. Again, of one who " had
upon his thigh a large gold -hil ted one-edged sword,
in a gwain of light blue, and tipped with Spanish
laton." — P. 411. The gwain of another was of " red
cut leather." — P. 412. Some gweiniau were made of
wood. Kai addressed Gwmach the giant in "Kilhwch
and 01 wen," after this manner : —

" It is thy gioain that hath rusted thy sword ; give it to me,
that I may ^ke out the wooden sides of it, and put in new
ones."— P. 296.

GwALC — ^The cock of a hat. Het waldawg^ a cocked

hat.

^^ When the men shall be walciawg,
And the women high crested,
And the youths with flaunting wings
And light steps, will all this be."

Grmw Dduy 1400.

40 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

GwALD — ^A hem ; a welt. Gwald esgidy a shoe welt.

GwALDAs and Gwaltes — Idem.

GwALLT — The hair of the head. The Bards and Druids
in ancient times wore their hair short. — James' Patri-
archal Religion^ p. 75. With the people it was
otherwise, " capilloque sunt promisso," says Ceesar. —
De Bel. Gal., v. Tacitus describes the Silurians as
having, for the most part, curiy hair, — "torti ple-
rumque crines." Taliesin speaks of the people of
Gwent, in the sixth century, as being long-haired,
" gwallthirion.'*

" Greatly fearful the perjury
Of the Gwenhwys with the long hair.'*

Giraldus Cambrensis says of the Welsh in the twelfth
century, that the men and women cut their hair close
round to the ears and eyes. In the succeeding cen-
tury, however, the fashion was altered ; for we are
informed that Dafydd ab Gwilym, and the young
men of his day, wore their hair long. In the eighth
century, it was the custom of people of consideration
to have their children's hair cut the first time by
persons for whom they had a particular honour and
esteem, who, in virtue of this ceremony, were reputed
a sort of spiritual parents, or godfathers -to them. In
the Mabinogi of "Kilhwch and Olwen," this same
custom appears. " Arthur is thy cousin," said Kilydd
to his son ; " go, therefore, unto Arthur, to cut thy
gwallt, and ask this of him as a boon." — P. 252. It
would seem from the Mabinogion that gwalU iftfi-a
yellow colour was the favourite in mediaeval times.
The Early British Ecclesiastics shaved their hair

BRmftH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 41

from ear to ear across the front of the bead, which
fashion they probably borrowed from the garland and
tiara of the Druids, and not, as was imputed to them
by the Romanists, from Simon Magus. — JSccles. Ant.
of the Oymry^ p. 310.

GvASGAWD— A waistcoat.

QwASGRWirM — ^A bandage ; a girdle.

GwDDWGEN — ^A neckcloth ; a cravat.

Owe— A web of cloth.

GwEFR — ^Amber. Amber beads were borne by military
chieftains in tiie sixth century. See Godrwy.

GwENTAS — A high shoe; a buskin. In the "Lady of
the Fountain" a person is described as having " on his
feet two gwentasau of variegated leather, fastened by
two bosses of gold." — P. 42. Two youths seen by
Maxen Wledig in his Dream, "had on their feet
gwentasau of new Cordova leather, fastened by slides
of gold." — P. 279. The legal value oi gwentasau was
one penny. — Myv. Arch., iii., p. 424.

GwENWiSG — A white garment ; a surplice.

". Clad in a shroudy wenwisg."

D. ab Owilym, 1400.

GwiSG — A garment ; apparel ; dress.
GwiSGAD — Habiliment.
GwLANEN — A flannel.
GwRDDWAEW — A javelin.
GwRDDYN — ^A dart ; a javelin.

'' Braint Hir came amongst a group of the mendicants, in
ih« place where the diviner was haranguing them; and without
any hesitation, when he got an opportunity for his aim, he
lifted B, gwrddyn,,SLBd wounded the diviner." — Gr. ab Arthur.

42 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOU

GwREGYs — ^A girdle. So in Cor. Arm. " Gouris."

Helen the daughter of Eudaf, as seen by Maxen im
his Dream, had a " gwregys of ruddy gold around h»J'
— Dream of Maxen Wledig^ p. 280. A knight in the
" Dream of Rhonabwy" had " a sword, the fftoregys or
belt of which was of dark green leather with golden
slides and a clasp of ivory upon it, and a buckle of jet
black upon the clasp." — P. 411. ' !•

A gwregys of gold or silver was, according to- the
Laws of Hy wel Dda, to be appraised ; if not of those
materials, its value was one penny. A trousers gwregys
is likewise estimated at one penny.

GwRTHFACH — Tlic beard or returning point of a weapon.

GwRYDD — A wreath

" An angePs covering of yellow hair,
In a gtorydd of gold round the maid's shouldet.V \

D. ab GipUym.

Haen — ^A plait, or fold.

^^ One haen is not shelter enough,
Without another haen of stiff hairs like arrow-points."

lolo Goch.

Haiarnblu — The iron scales used in armour. lit. iron

feathers.

Haiarngaen— A covering of iron ; iron armour.

" Does any one ask — Concerns it not men.
Ere the haianyaen be reddened,
What youth is he that wears the blue armour, ^

What hero is the haughty one in front ?

99 ■'*\

Llywarch Uaety, 1290-1340.

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 43

Hatr, Hatriad— a covering.

Hbd^^A hat.

Helm — A helmet. The following descriptions of a helm
occur in the " Dream of Rlionabwy :" — " A helm of
gold, set with precious stones of great virtue, and at

1 tia^ top of the helm the image of a flame-coloured

I ; leopard, with two ruby-red stones in its head." — P.
411. "A golden helmj wherein were set sapphire

• 'Stones of great virtue; and at the top of the helm the

' f^nre of a flame-coloured lion, with a fiery-red tongue,

. issuing above a foot from his mouth, and with vene-
mous eyes, crimson-red, in his head." — P. 412. "A
bright helm of yellow laton, with sparkling stones of
crystal in it, and at the crest of the helm the figure of
a griflSln, with a stone of many virtues in its head." —
P. 414.
' It would appear that the helm is not identical with
the penffestin, for it is said that " Peredur attacked a
sorceress, and struck her upon the head with his sword,
so that he flattened her helm and her penffestin like a
dish upon her head," — {Peredur ah Efrawg, p. 323) ;
and that a knight " overthrew Kai, and struck him with
the head of his lance in the forehead, so that it broke
his helm and the penffestin,^' — {Lady of the Fountain,
'' p. 67), as if they were two distinct things.

Hem — A hem, or border.

Heulrod — A sun cap ; a cap to keep off the sun.

" I have a heulrod of the skin of a fish ; with that on my
. ^oadj I will stand before Hu, when he is dining ; and I will
» eat with him, and I will drink, without any notice being taken
/.:of me/' — jBT. Can Mag. Mabinogion,

44 OLOeSABY OP TBIUfS VOR

Hod — A hood, or cap.

HoNFAs — A chopping knife. Its value was one penny.
-^Myv. Arck.^ iii., 424.

HoNF^sT — ^A ttmi6. It was an expensive article of dress,
being valued at twenty-ftmr pence. ' ■

Hos, HosAN — ^A hose, or a stocking. We read in the
** Dream of Rhonabwy" of " two hosan of thin greenish
yellow cloth," p. 406; also, of "two hosan of fine
white buckram," p. 408 ; and again, of " two hoMn of
fine Totness," p. 409. Hasdnau mawr are legally
valued at eightpence. The groom of the reign was
entitled to the king's old hosanau. — 3fyv. Arch., iii.,
p. 373.

HosANLAWDR — A pair of pantaloons.

HoTAK, HoTYN — ^A Cap. The word occurs in " liber
Landavensis." Hotyn esgidj the part of a shoe dol-
ing over the instep.

HuAL — A fetter, gyve, or shackle. So in Arm. ^

*^ The three aurhudlogion (gdden banded chiefs) of the isle
of Britain : Rhiwallon Wallt Banhadlen, Rhun the son of
Madgwn, and Cadwaladr the Blessed ; they were so called
because it was granted to them to wear bands of gold round
their arms, knees, and necks, and were therefore invested with
regal privilege in every country and dominion in Britain." —
Triad 2%.

Taliesin speaks of " the steel blades, mead, violence,
and hualau of the men of Cattraeth." — Myv. Arch.,
i.j p. 21.

In the Laws nn iron hual is valued at one p€Wi|^ ;
a wooden hual at afardiing. — Myv. Arch., iii., p. 424.1
Hug — ^A loose coat, or cloak.

BRITIBH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 45

" Reynard, I pray thee, stop the leap,
And tear a comer of the golden hug**

R. G, Eryri concerning the Peacoch,

A.D. 1420.

HuGAN and Hugyn, dim. — Idem.
HwsAN — ^A hood.
Hychwabw — ^A pushing spear.

*' When his sight was darkened the monster became furious ;
and as the wild boar rushes upon the hychwaew of the hunts-
man, so did he rush at Arthur upon the point of the sword.''
— Gr. ah Arthur.

Irai — A sharp point ; a goad.

" Samgar — smote of the Philistines six hundred men with
an ox irai** — ^Judges, iii., 31.

IsARN — ^A bill, scythe, or sickle; a long hatchet; a
battle-axe.

" Cutting off her head —
With an isam at one stroke." — D. ab Gwilym.

Ll.

Llachbren — A cudgel. Cudgelling is the common di-
version among the people of Caermarthenshire, hence
djiey are nicknamed Llachwyr, or cudgellers.

Llaesbais — A loose trailing <;oat. In " Ymarwar Lludd,"
{Myv. Arch.j i., p. 76,) mention is made of a people

46 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

" amlaes eu peisiau** (in long robes) as invaders of the
isle of Britain.

" Men from a country in Asia, and the region of Capys ;
A people of iniquitous design : the land is not known
That was their mother. They made a devious course by sea.
Amlaes eu peisiau, who can equal them ? "

Llafn — ^A blade ; a slide.

> < . •

; » • \ ^

*' They had daggers with llafneu (blades) of gold^ and with
hilts of the bone of the whale." — Lady of the Fountain, p. 42.

** Buskins of new cordovan leather on their feet^ fastened
by llafneu (slides) of red gold.'* — Dream ofMaxen Wledig, p.
279.

Llafnawr — -4^5T* Bladed weapons ; spears used by
the Britons, ^bput seveq feiet long, nearly three of
which length was a blade, ,lik^ that of a sword. This
weapon is frequejatly mentioned, by the earliest , bards ;
for instance, Taliegin observ^s,-f-

J' Exalted is Rheged of warlike chiefs; i i .i
They brandished the llafnawr of battle^; .
Under the round shield of the shout.
The light of which displayed a pale corpse."

Bronze llafnawr were used in Wales as late as the
time of Owain Glyndwr, as several of them have been
found in places where he fought his battles.
Llain — ^A blade ; a sword.

" Heroic suffering, the voice of pain, and a blue llain on the
thigh,
Will be heard of in Britain."— CywrfrfeZu?, 1160-1200,^

Llarp — A shred ; a rag ; a clout.

Llath — ^A rod. Eudaf was seen by Maxen Wledig in

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 47

.his I)rQam " with a chessboard of gold before him, and
a llath of gold, and a steel file in his hand/* — P. 279.
Llawban — Felt. Brethyn llawban, felt cloth.
Llawdryfer — ^A hand harpoon ; a hand dart.

, . ,. /' The foam will guard thee against the llawdryfer of a river
thief." — jD. aJ Gwilym to the Salmon.

Llawdr — Trowse, trowsers, or pantaloons ; breeches. In
the " Lady of the Fountain," Cynon observes of six
' damsels whom he met with at a certain castle : — " They
took off my soiled garments, and placed others upon
me ; namely, an under vest, and a llawdr of fine linen,
and a robe, and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow
satin, with a broad gold band upon the mantle." — P.
43. The llawdr IS generally joined with the crys^ or
under vest ; and, in the Laws of Hywel Dda, they are
Valued together at twenty-four pence, a high price. —
{Myv. Arch, iii., p. 424.) In the Triadic Laws, it is
enjoined that a knife, a sword, and a llawdr, if lost in
behalf of a house should not be paid for. — Myv. Arch.,
iii., p. 323.

The apparitor was entitled at the assize in November
to a new coat, under vest, and a llawdr, but therje was
to be no shalloon in his llawdr. His clothes were to
reach to the tie of the latter garment. — P. 374.

In Cornish lodr (pi. lydrau) means stockings ; *^ and
this has happened," saith E. Lhwyd, . " because the
old trouse was breeches and stockings in one garment,
which is still retained in the Highlands of Scotland,
and in several other countries." Arm., lowzr and
laurec; and lawrega, or laureaff, to put on one's
breeches.

48 GUX98ART OP ISAH^ M^t

Llawes — ^A sleeve ; from Uaw, a hand. v»jt r; » •^ / .- v - 1 . . I
LLAWFWYAjuii^ — J^. ha«4 lialiehet ; v^ed in the Laws at

one penny-// ./ .- /•».-.; .r.. • ■ ■. ^ ♦«,. I ti^- .-ih.'.-.^
Llen — ^A veil, a pla|d, or^a flcatf. Girafabis Cttifafenns
says that the Welsh women '^f ii^ idayxddfirered .theic 1
heads with a large white veil, folded.itogeAer .in.tliel
form of a crown, aft^* the mzjos^x oftfatoiPaMhians.!
In the ^^ Dream of Rhonabwy/' we i^ead of a yoQtkl
who had ^^a lien (a ac^) with ydlow: bhHrd£Sife. —
P» 376. Also ^ ^'a troop» whereof every cme of the
men had a Urn of white satui, with jet bkck hdrdei^^"

Llengel — ^A veiL (jb*ii%4d ab Meradydd^ JuD. 1310-
1360, referring to the dioiath of Tii4ur ap; Goroswy^ \
says, — ..,..: / / ' .. ■ . I

^ ^ Alti^therwd thft^cipamitoBl *'

• Aaikiit etyv^riDg ifefifej
HkleB tbe^pepsi^xsh^^r. ,.ii;/l lol -

Llian — ^A web ; linen-*elath. Llian cri, unHle6ch0A''<5l<Mh J ■
lUan hrMi cnn^seHd^^;^ llim ftwiuy fin^ linen t' llian
brithj check-cloth ; llian amdoj a Bhrond ^ol^l' '' ' ■

Several of iha officers. of the oonrt were, by Hywel
Dda's Laws, entitled to l^eir llian from the king or
the queen.

Llieinwisg — ^A linen garment. The sasne observmtion
will i^ply here.

LuNOK — ^A shaft.

Joy to the arm, and the hard llinon ;

Let him kill ; let liim silence the motiey rabble."

T. Penllyn, a.d. 4460.

BRinSH DRB8S AND ARMOUR. 49

LuNYN— A String.

Cynon, in the "Lady of the Fountain," describes two
youths, who had each *^ an ivory bow, with llinynau
made of the sinews of the stag." — P. 42.
Llodryn — Dim. of Uawdr.
LiiOOXLL — ^A pocket.
Llop — A buskin ; a boot.
IdLOPAK — ^A sort of high shoe ; a sock.

Pwyll, in the guise of a mendicant, " was clad in
coarse and ragged garments, and wore large llopanau
upon his feet." — Pwyll P. of Dyved^ p. 55.

In an old medical work it is stated that " the ashes
of old llopanau are good against proud flesh."
Llost — ^A spear ; a lance ; a javelin.
LLuckwAEW — A missive dart ; a javelin.

Yspyddaden Penkawr threw three poisoned lluch-
waew after the messengers that asked his daughter
Olwen for Kilhwch the son of Kilydd. — Kilhwch and
Olwen, p. 277.
Llummah — A flag, ensign, banner or standard.

The word is used by Golyddan, 560-630, in his
" Destiny of Britain,"

" The sacred Uumman of Dewi will they raise."

Myv. Arch., i., p. 168.

Llummanbren — The staff of a banner, or of a standard.

Llummanig — A banderol.

Lluryg — A lorica ; a brigandine ; a coat of mail. In
the battle fought under Boadicea, the Britons, we are
told, had no loricae. — Hanes Cymru, p. 85. They used
the same, however, in the sixth century, for Aneurin
thus describes the heroes of Gododin : —

50 GL088ABY OF TEAMS FOR

^ Tlie heroes went to Cattraetfa with matahalled array and

shout c^war,
With powerful gteeds, and dark brown harness, and with

shields.
With njdifted javelins, and piercing lances,
Witl^ glittering UurygaUy and with swords.**

The w onj also occurs in the poems, of Lly warch Hen
and Taliesin. According to Hywel Dija's Laws the
lluryg was to be yalncid pr appraised upon oath^ —
Myv.^ 4^ch.f iii.^ 423. . ... ;
Llymwydden — A wooden spear.

■«

•^ • ■•' .!f'lM''( ''''^•^•. ■;...-.>.;. /

• ' ■ • . . . ■ •
Maenfan — The beasil of .a ring. , j : . . . ^

Malen — ^A shield.

» /

: ■ / .-. .-..1/

** A golden apple on the qouvex of the ffrnfen^
■, And then a spike on the top/'

, T. Akd, A^. 1490, to a BufiJer.

MANAWYD-^The staff of a banner, or standard.

^' There was ^ confident impelling forward of tb6 mimawyd
of Ihe rariegated standard.** — Oododin.

Maneg — A glove, probably of Roman origin^

" I will not wear any strait menyg
Made of sheep skin." — D. ab Ghmlym.

Mantell — A mantle, or cloak. It was proverbially
regarded as the best covering.

'^ Goreu un tudded mantelV*

Cynon, in the " Lady of the Fountain," saw " a

•li i

BRITISH miESS AND ARMOUR. 51

man in the prime of life, Tfith his beard newly shorn,
clad in a robe and a mantell of yelloir satin ; and
round the top of his mantell was a band of gold lace."
—P. 42.

In the time of Hywel Dda, the chief falconer was
entitled to the mantell in which the king rode on the
.three principal festivals. A mantell of a dark brown
colour, or of superfine quality, was estimated at twenty-
four pence. — Myv. Arch.^ iii., 424.
Marchawgwisg — ^A riding habit ; a riding dress.

'^ Gwenhwyvar and all her women were joyful at her coming,
and they took off her marchawgwisg j and placed other garments
upon her." — Geraint ab Erbin, 129.

Meilyndorch — ^A sashoon. From meilwn, the small of

the leg, and torcky a coil.
Meilynwisg — /rf., called also arfeilyn.
MoDRWY — A ring.

^Delightful again is the maid with a modrtoy"

Taliesin.

^ Bracelets of gold were upon his arms, and many modrwyau
upon his hands." — Dream of Maaen Wledig, p. 279.

According to Hy wel Dda's Laws a modrwy was to
be appraised upon oath. — Myv. Arch., iii., p. 424.

Moled — ^A piece of cloth, forming a part of a woman's
dress, to cover the head and shoulders ; a muffler ; a
kerchief.

MwGWD — ^A mask, a vizard.

" Mead will pull off the mwgwdJ* — Adage.
" In vino Veritas."

MwN — The upper part of the shaft of a weapon, next to
the head.

52 GLOSSARY OF T^MS i^lOlt

'^ Peredur beheld two youiha enter tb&ifaaUy aad gtroqeed lup
to the dbamber, bearing a spear of mi^ity siz^^mth lA^ee
streams of blood flowing from the Mtm.to the gri^uad^M —
— Peredur ab JEfrawg.

MwNDLWs — ^A neck ornament ; a necklace^ .. ;./ j ri i()
MwNDORCH — A collar ; a wreath for the iieck. , /( > ,-0
Mynwor — ^A collar, properly of draught h«i:n^^y.,,..,.j'j

" Like yellow gold round the foam of the sea, '
Are the delicate tresses over her mynwor^'

D. ab Gwilym to Morfydd^s hair.

Mynygldlws — ^A neck ornament.
Mynygldorch — ^A collar or wreath for the neck.
Mynyglwisg — ^A neck -kerchief ; a neck-cloth.
Myrierid — Pearls.

" The spreading of my songs before thee,
Be it not like casting myrierid before swine.^

LI P. Mock, 1 10(U122O.

' ' I

Nais — ^A band, or tie.
Neisiad— A kerchief.

Oferdlws — ^A vain ornament, or jewel ; a jewel merely
ornamental.

" The judge of the palace claims oferdlysau, when his office
is pledged to him, namely, a chessboard of whalebone from

BRinfiir 'f>BL£BS AND AltMOUR. 53

tlie king, land tt> gold rhi^ frcMd the que(^», and ^tnothfef from
the domestic balKl ; and these o^£%^cm he ought neither' to
give^ nor to sell wfaikt he lives.- -r-TTtfbA JUawsi

Offerengrys — A cope ; a sacerdotal vestment.
Offerenwisg— /rf. . > : '

On, Onen — A spear with an ashen shaft; There is vei^

frequent allusion in the Welsh poems to this weapoh ;

e. g., Lly warch Hen says-r-*

" Let the gore be aptly clotted on the on.**

' '. ' ■ '

And again, —

" When C^irajapaael p|it on the cprslet ofCynddylauji . . ,
And lifted up find shook his onen. . . ,

From his mouth the Frank woiild not get the word of peace."

And later, Cynddelw, in his Elegy on Ithel son of
Cadifor, —

"The ruddy often yio^A. kill from his grasping hand."

From this word is formed ongyr^ an aggregate of spears.

" Bold in slaughter, the swift one went with the gleamings of
the OTtgyTy
The eagle of magnificent gift in the moving tents."

Prydydd JSr^Mow, 1300-1360.

Paeled — A skull cap.

" They gave one another blows so boldly fierce, so frequent,
and so severely powerful, that their helmets were pierced, and
their paeUdau were broken, and their arms were shattered, and
the light of their eyes was darkened by sweat and blood." —
Geraint ab Erbin, p. 123.

54 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

Pais — ^A coat. The pais formed from an early period
one of the principal articles of a person's dress, and was
of various materials, colours and sizes. In " Peredur
ab Efrawg," we read of a knight with an "ironjoaw." —
P. 243. Kai told Gwalchmai that " whilst his speech
and soft words lasted, a pais of thin linai would be
armour sufficient for him." — P. 327. Two youths, in
the " Lady of the Fountain," wore each a ^^ pais of
yeUow satin/'-P. 3. TaUesin speaks of a British tribe
that wore " \on^ peisiauJ' — Myv. Arch.y i., 76. And
in the " Dream of Rhonabwy" we read of a young
man " clad in a pais of yellow satin, falling as low as
the small of his leg, and embroidered with threads of
red silk."— P. 408. By the Laws of Hywel Dda, the
apparitor of the court was entitled at the November
assize to a new pais, under- vest, and trousers. — Myv.
Arch., iii., 374.

Paladr — ^A spear-staff ; the shaft of a javelin. Accor-
ding to the Triadic Laws, " pren peleidvy' or a tree
whereof to form spear shafts in the king's cause, was
regarded as one of " the three free trees in the royal
forest."-^— il/yv. Arch., iii., p. 322. The paladr is
mach spoken of in the sixth century, e. g., Aneurin
thus writes,—

^' The heroes marched to Cattraeth with marshalled array and

shout of war,
With powerful steeds, and dark brown harness, and with

shields,
With uplifted peleidyr, and piercing lances."

Sometimes a flag was attached to the point of the
paladr. Thus we read in the " Dream of Rhonabwy"

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 55

of a youth who had in his hand '^ a mighty paladrj
speckled yellow, with a newly sharpened head ; and
upon ^epaladr a banner displayed." — P. 409.
Paled — A shaft ; a javelin ; a dart. Gware pahdy a
• tilting match.

^ After we had completed every thing which appertained to
the gods, there happened between two nephews a dispute about
the victory at 2l gware paledJ^ — Gr. ah Arthur.

Pau — Satin, or velvet ; but its exact signification is not
tjuite obvious, as it sometimes seems to imply the one,
and sometimes the other, according to the rank of the
persons who are represented as wearing it. There is
mention in Ae Mabinogion of Pali caerawg^ which is
translated "diapered satin;'' also of pali melyngochj
"yellow red satin," which seems to imply that the
mediaeval weavers of Britain were acquainted with the
art of making what are usually called shot silks, or
silks of two colours predominating interchangeably.

Pall — ^A mantle ; a pall. Owain Cyfeiliog wore a

" Pall coch:'—Myv. Arch., i., p. 222.

Pan — Fur ; ermine. One of the heroes of Gododin
wore

" Golden spurs and pan"

Par— A spear.

" Splintered shields about the ground he left,
And parau of awful tearing did he hew down."

Oododin.

Parfaes — A shield.

Pelyd — The legs of stockings with the feet cut oflf ; also
called bacsau.

56 GLOSSARY OF T£RMS FOR

Penawr — A headpiece ; a helmet.

" The blades glittered on the hrigbi penawr.*'

Tcdietin.
Pendel — A head ornament, or chaplet.

" Brutus put ^peTidel of vine leaves on his head."

Srut y Srenhinoedd.

Penffestin — A helmet.

" FfroUo struck Arthur on his forehead^ so that the sword
was blunted on the rings o( his penffestin " — Gr. ab Arthur.

See also sub voce Helm.
Penguwch — The fore part of any head-covering ; a bon-
net ; a cap.

" Owain struck the knight a blow through his helmet^ head-
piece, and the crest of his pengvwch** — Lady of the Fountain^
64.

" A y^ovf penguwch used to be worn by a woman newly
married." — Hen Ddefodau.

The legal value of a penguwch was a penny. — Myv.

Arch., iii., p. 424.
Penlliain — A head-cloth. It was valued at eightpence.

— Ihid.
Penllinyn — ^A head-band.
Penon — A pennant.
Penre — ^A woman's coif or cowl, or hair-lace to truss up

the hair.
Penrwym — Id.
Pensel — A great standard.

" The choicest token with the Irish
Are yellow and red in the front of onset ;
Do thou consecrate the pensel of Llywelyn ;
Do thou lead them on with these two colours."

loh Goch to O. Glyndwr.

•d«

PEinnj — A

''A q^'gJlg ^^r^TOg KL

An Izak/oTBtf ic rv^^

PiCELL — Adait: ajartim.
PicFFOs — ^A pike-^taff.
Pn-As — ^A «pear.
Piles — A firiiige. or bofder.
PiLWRx — ^A dan.

PiLTx — ^A dout ; a lag ; a pKce of any textme used as
a coTering or garmeiit. Pifym gwddf^ a neck-kerchieC.
PiLYKBAWD — ^A oorenng, faabilimeiit, garment, or restnie.
PiLTS — ^A coTering or robe made of skin ; a pelisse.

^Blnta the giant made a jwiys of the aa^ of the beuds
of kings."— 6t. ab AtOobt.

PiLYsnr — A robe ; a pdisse.

PLETHLnmr — ^A plaited cord, or bobbin.

Plu, Plcf, Pluawr — Plumes ; feathers. That military
men, as early as the sixth century, wore feathers of
particular colours as distinctive badges, is evident from
the testimony of the poets of that age. Thus Uy-
warch Hen says of himself, —

'< After the sleek tractable steeds, and garments of ruddy hue,
And the yellow pluawr ,
Slender is my leg, my piercing look is gone."

And Aneurin, of the heroes of Gtododin, —

*^ Redder were their swords than their plwxwr.*^

58 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

Pyrchwyn — ^The crest of a helmet. It was to be ap-
praised upon oath. — Myv. Arch., iii., 423.
Pyrgwyn — Id. See Penguwch.

Rhac — The wrest of a cross-bow.
Rhactal — A frontlet; a forehead cloth.

" I beheld two youths with yellow curling hair, each with a
rhactal of gold upon his head." — Lady of the Fountain, 41.

Rhagwisg — ^A fore-garment ; a prior dress.
Rhaidd— A spear.
Rhain — Lances, spears.

" Support each other against them with ruddy rhain"

Taliesin.

Rhefawg — A bandage.

" They twisted four rods, and made four rhefawg to bind
OUver with." — H. Car. Mag. Mabinogian.

Rheiddyn — ^A dart. In the Gododin, war seems to be
personified under the name "mam rheiddyn/' the
mother of the lance.

Rhestrawg — ^A plaited target, or buckler.

Rhethren — ^A pike ; a lance. Taliesin, in his Ode to
Gwallawg, says, —

" Splendid his commanding rhethren."

Rhodawg, Rhodawr — ^A chariot ; a shield. The ancient
Britons possessed war chariots of a peculiar construc-
tion, having scythes attached to the wheels, calculated
to cause no inconsiderable annoyance to the enemy.

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 59

Some idea may be had of the force in chariots which
they could bring into the field, from Caesar's account
of the number which Cassivellaunus, even when de-
feated, was able to retain in his service. " Dimissis
amplioribus copiis, millibus circiter quatuor essedari-
orum relictis.'' — Cces. de Bell. Gall., 1. v., c. 19. At
what time the use of these martial vehicles was discon-
tinued we cannot tell. Dr. 0. Pughe implies that
they were used in the battle of Cattraeth, translating

" Twll tal ei rodawr,"

by the words " the front opening of his chariot/'
There are other expressions made use of by the poets
of a much later date, which convey still more clearly
the idea that some of the Welsh chieftains appeared in
a chariot on the field of battle. Thus Cynddelw
observes in reference to Owain Cyfeiliog, prince of
Powys, 1160-1197,—

" Ready in his rhodawg to range amid armies.*'

Myv, Arch. J i., p. 221.

The word "rhodiaw," here translated to range^ but
which means literally to walk^ is evidently more appli-
cable to a chariot than to a shield. Again, Llywarch
Llaetty, 1290-1340, in a poem addressed to Madog
ab Meredydd, prince of Powys, inquires as follows, —

" To whom belongs the rhodawg of the crimson face of the
field of slaughter ;
And who its desolating wolf on its front j
Who deals wounds above the white prancing steeds ;
What his name, whose lot is so glorious?" — P. 416.

He had before inquired respecting his shield.

The chariot was called Rhodawg, or Rhodawr, from

60 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

JRkody a wheel; and in like manner the term was
applied to a shield, on account of its orbed or circular
shape. A shield is evidently meant in such passages
as the following : —

" The brave and haughty hero with a notched rhodawg"

Cynddelw.
" The scattering of the wolf of slaughter with the golden-
bossed rhodawff" — LI. P. Mock.

Rhon — A pike, or lance.

Rhuchen — A coat ; a leathern jerkin. In the Mabinogi
of " Kilhwch and Olwen" there is mention made of

" A swineherd with a rhuchen of skin about him."

Rhuddbar — A ruddy spear.

Rhuwch — A rough-fringed mantle or garment. Lly-
warch Hen wore one : —

" Though light some may deem my rhuwch*'

According to the Laws of Hy wel Dda, a free tenant's
rhuwch was valued at sixty pence, and that of a villain
at thirty pence. — Myv. -4rcA.,.iii., p. 424.

Sachliain — Sackcloth.
Sachwisg — Sackcloth covering.
Sae — A kind of woollen stuflf, say : —

" A robe has been sent to thee,
Beneath the leaves, of black saeJ' — D ab Choilym.

Saeth — ^An arrow. According to the old Welsh Laws,
every master of a family was required to possess a

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 61

" bow with twelve saeth in a quiver ;" and have the
the same in readiness against " the attacks of a foreign
army, and of strangers, and other depredators/' Their
legal value was fourpence.

It is not very clear whether the tela, which, accor-
ding to Caesar, the Britons used in their first engage-
ment with the Romans,

" Alii ab latere aperto, in universes tela conjiciebant."

were arrows, or some other missiles. That the word,
in its primary acceptation, referred to the former, is
evident from the Laws of Justinian : —

" Telum autem [ut Caius noster ex interpretatione legum
duodeeim tabularum scriptum reliquit] vulgo quidem id appel-
latur, quod ab arcu mittitur. Sed et omne significat quod
manu cujusque jacitur."

In the "Lady of the Fountain" we read of two
youths whose " saethau had their shafts of the bone of
the whale, and were winged with peacock's feathers."
— P. 42. In the tale cited, suh voce Bwa, the mes-
senger from the court of North Wales expresses his
desire to have " a bow of red yew in his hand, ready
bent, with a tough, tight string, and a straight round
shaft, with a compass-rounded nock, and long slender
feathers, fastened on with green silk, and a steel head,
heavy and thick, and an inch across, of a green blue
temper, that would draw blood out of a weathercock."

Giraldus Cambrensis states that the people of Gwent
excelled as archers, and he gives two or three extra-
ordinary examples in proof of his assertion.
Saffar — A spike, a spear.

62 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

"They will tremble at their rage, serpents with saffar of
reproof." — Cynddelw.

Saffwn — ^A beam, or a shaft.

"A saffwn of ample wrath is its spike." — Cynddelw,

Saffwy — ^A pike, or lance. This weapon was used in the
battle of Cattraeth.

" He would not say but that Cynon should see the corpse
Of one harnessed and saffwyawc (holding a pike), and of a
wide-spread fame."— Gorforfm.

Said — ^That part of any tool which goeth into the haft ;

the hilt, haft, or handle. Cleddyf crynsaid^ a sword

with a round handle.
Saled — An helmet, or headpiece.

" If William will give a steel saledy
To fasten the temples comfortably."

G. Glyn, a.d. 1450.

Segan — ^A covering, a cloak.

" The love segan of the ladies ;
Guto the panegyrist, a lodger midst mead,
Ejiow that the garment is mine."

leitan ap Hywel Swrdwaly 1460.

Sidan — Silk; satin.

SiDER — Lace; fringe.

SiNDAL — Sindon; fine linen; cambric. The word was

used by the old writers to signify a thin kind of silk,

like cypress.

"The couch which the maiden had prepared for him
(Owain) was meet for Arthur himself; it was of scarlet, and
fur, and satin, and sirulal, and fine linen," — L<zdy of the
Fountain,

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 63

Gwynfardd Brycheiniawg, 1160-1220, in his Ode on
St. David, describes him as being robed in sindaL

" Dewi son of Sant with a sindal vest/*

SwcH — ^A soc ; a point ; the boss of a shield.

" He bore a heavy three-edged sword with a golden hilt, in
a scabbard of black leather, having a swch of fine gold on the
point (i. e.y being tipped with fine gold)." — Dream ofRhonabtvy,
p. 407.

To hold the swch of a shield upwards was regarded
as a signal of peace.

" Behold one of the ships outstripped the others, and they
saw a shield lifted up above the side of the ship, and the swch
of the shield was upwards, in token of peace."— Branwen, p.
104,

Sychyn — ^A soc.

" Impelled are sharp weapons of iron — gashing is the blade.
And with a clang the sychyn descends upon the pate."

Gododin.

Tabar — ^A tabard. The word was known in the sixth

century, as it is mentioned by Taliesin.
Taladdurn — A front ornament.
Talaith — Properly a head-band, such as that wherewith

a nurse ties the head of a little child ; also, a crown,

a coronet, a diadem.

" The three taldthiawg cad (diademed warriors) of the isle
of Britain ; Trystan son of Tallwch, Huail son of Caw, and
Cai son of Cynyr the handsome knight; and one was tateith-

64 GLOSSARY OF TERMS FOR

iawg over the three, namely, Bedwyr son of Pedrog." — Truzd
69. Third Series.

The sons of Rhodri the Great were likewise styled
" the three taleitkiawg princes, by reason that each of
them did wear on his helmet a coronet of gold, being
a broad head-band indented upwards, set and wrought
with precious stones." — Vide Wynne's Hist, of Wales,
p. 34. Hence also the word came to signify a princi-
pality, or a province,

Taleithig — ^A fillet, a bandlet.

Targed — ^A target.

Tarian — ^A shield. Gwrgan the Freckled, the fiftieth
king of Britain, " enacted a law that no one should
bear a tariany but only a sword and bow ; hence his
countrymen became very heroic.'' — lolo MSS., p. 35 1 .
Ancient writers represent the tarianau of the Britons
as very small ; to which description the specimens
which occasionally come to light exactly agree. They
seem to have been borne in the hand, rather than on
the arm.

A simple tarian was valued at eightpence; but should
it be of blue or gold enamel, its value was twenty-four
pence. — Myv. Arch., iii., p. 423.

Tasel — ^A bandage ; a sash ; a fringe ; a tassel.

Teddyf — ^A socket ; a hollow for receiving a handle, or
the like.

" The smith of the palace ought to perform all the jobs of
the palace gratuitously, except three things ; those are particu-
larly the rim of a pot, the edge of a coulter, and the teddyf of
a hatchet and of a spear head." — Welsh Laws.

Teisban — A piece of tapestry ; a quilt ; a hassock.

BRITISH DRESS AND ARMOUR. 65

Teyrndlws — A jewel, or part of the regalia. The ancient
teyrndlysau of Wales, among which were the croes
naidy adorned with gold and silver and precious stones,
and the crown of King Arthur, were, after the defeat
of Dafydd ab Gruffydd, conveyed by Edward I. with
magnificent pomp to Westminster Abbey. " Et sic
Wallensium gloria ad Anglicos, licet invite, est trans-
lata." — Annal. WaverL Matth. Westm.

Teyrnwialen — A sceptre.

TiNBAis — A petticoat.

Tlws — ^A jewel. ,^

Torch — ^A torques ; a collar ; a wreath. The nobility
and great commanders among the ancient Britons
wore golden tyrck about their necks, as did also their
neighbours in Gaul. Tacitus mentions the ti/rch among
the British spoils exhibited at Rome with the noble
captive Caractacus ; and Dion Cassius, in his descrip-
tion of Boadicea, tells us, " she wore a large golden
torques," &c. — Hist. Horn., 1. 62. Frequent allusion
is made to the torch by the bards of the sixth century ;
and even as late as the close of the twelfth century we
meet with a lord of lal wearing the golden chain, and
hence denominated Llewelyn aurdorchog.

ToRON — A mantle, or cloak.

ToRYN — A mantle ; a cope ; or sacerdotal vesture.

" I will not be a carrying toryn^ nor pluvial cap." — Adage.

Trws — A covering garment ; a trouse, dress, or habili-
ment.
Tryfer — A forked spear, or harpoon.

" And the tryfer of battle and tumult." — lolo Goch.

66 GLOSSARY OF TBRMS FOR

TuDDED — A covering.

" The groom of the chamber is entitled to all the old clothes
of the king, except his Lenten tudded." — Wekh Laws.

TuDDEDYN — A covering.

" Every town-wrought tuddedyriy its value is twenty-four
pence; every home-spun tuddedyn, eightpence." — Welsh Laws.

TuL — A shroud.
TviA—Id.

TwLi — Buckram ; stiff cloth.

TwYG — A garment ; a toga. Merddin seems to refer it
to the monks in the following lines :—

" I wiU not receive the communion from accursed monks,
With their twygau on their knees,
May I be communicated by God Himself."

Tytmwy — A loop ; a clasp ; a buckle.

" Derbyniad pen cengl, modrwy yn dal pwrs wrth wr^ys."
— J. Daviesy D.D.y 1630.

" It was a tytmwy on a gap,
The string of the wood, across a dingle.
Strong was the briar." — D. ab Ovnlym.

Tywel — A cloth ; a towel.

YsGARLAD — Scarlet. See Sindal.

YsGiN — A robe made of skin with the for on ; a pelisse.
Rhita Gawr, who lived beyond the historical era of the
Britons, is said to have made for himself an ysgin from
the beards of the princes that he reduced to the rank of

BRinBH DRBSS AND ARMOUR. 67

shaved ones, or slaves, on account of their oppression.
— Triad 54. Third Series. O. ah Arthur.

The legal worth of an ysgin belonging to the king
was one pound ; also to the queen one pound ; if it
belonged to a freeholder or his wife, 120 pence. — My v.
Arch.y iii., 424. It was thus a very expensive article
of dress.
YsGiNAWR — A robe. Llywelyn Prydydd y Moch de-
scribes Lly welyn ab lorwerth as invested with

" An ample ysgmawr
Of scarlet, the hue of the gaming of flames."

YsGWYD — A shield ; a target. The early bards make
frequent use of this word in their description of heroes
and battles. Urien Rheged had a gold ysgwyd.

" Aur ysgwyd ar ysgwydd Urien.^* — lA. Hen.
YsGWYDAWR — A shield ; a target.

" Have I not been presented by Rhun the magnificent,
With a hundred swarms, and a hundred ysgioydavxr?"

LL Hen,

YsGWYDRWY — The rim of a shield.

" My wreath is of ruddy gem,
Gold my ysgwydrwyT — Taliesin.

YsGWYDDLiAN — A shouldcr scarf ; an ephod.

YSGWYDDWISG Id.

YsNODEN — A fillet, band, riband or lace ; a head-band ;
a hair lace. Ysnoden gomi, rhwymyn^ a swaddling
band.

" I saw a man in the prime of life, with his beard newly
shora, clad in a robe and a mantle of yellow satin, and round

68 GLOSSARY OF TERMS, ETC.

the top of his mantle was an ysnoden of gold lace." — Lady of
the Fountain.

YsNODENiG — ^A bandlet.
YsPAR — A spear, or pike.

" O Graid, son of Hoewgi,
With thy ysperi .
Thou causest an effusion of blood." — Gododin.

YsPARDUN — ^A spur. According to Hywel Dda's Laws,
the head groom of the palace was entitled to the king's
old yspardunau. In the same Code also yspardunau
of gold are valued at fourpence; of silver, at two-
pence ; of tin or brass, at one penny.

YspicELL — A dart. -

YsTOLA — ^A scarf; an ephod ; a wrapper; a loose gown;
a stole.

" They beheld a young man sitting on the right side, being
clad in a shining ystola^-^W. Salisbury.

YsTRAiG — ^A buckle.

THE END.

R. Mason, Printer, High Street, Tenby.

•3*L