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THE HISTORY

OP THK

PARISH OF LLANGURIG.

EDWARD HAMER, Esq., and H. W. LLOYD, Esq. .. K

IS- ^- .'--l \^^

>:^\

LOlfDON:

FEINTED BT T. RICHABDS, OBEAT QUEEN STREET.

1875.

V«K

?%«^

T. BICHA.tDB, 37, GBBAT QUBJCM 8TBXKT.

;' I

INTRODUCTION.

The followiog Collection of Papers is taken partly
from the Montgomeryshire Collections, printed by the
Powysland Club, and partly from the Archceologia
Camhrensis. Having appeared in those publications
in the form of scattered notices, they are here, for
the sake of convenience, gathered into a single
volume. They all bear a more or less direct relation
to the History of the Parish of Llangurig, with the
exception of the descent during the three last cen-
turies of the family of Lloyd of Berth and of Kha-
gatt, through Cuhelyn of Pentre Cuhelyn, from
Tudor Trevor. This having been given in a cursory
and imperfect shape in one of the notes elucidating
the pedigree of families descended from Tudor
Trevor, it has been deemed desirable to complete it
to the present time from the date to which it had

IV INTRODUCTION.

been brought by the " Pennant Pedigrees". The
" Legend of St. Curig " has been added towards
the close of the volume, the previous historical
papers having left the origin and history of the
Devotion of the Parish to its Patron Saint in a
more or less mythical state of uncertainty.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PHT8IGAL FEATURES AND DESCRIPTION.

Name — Position and Boundaries — Extent — Divisions — Sur-
face — Geology : Mines — Drainage — Productions — Inhabi-
tants : Industrial pursuits .3

CHAPTER II.

ARCHiEOLOGICAL.

Ancient Roadways — Cameddau — Earthwork — Names implying

Military occupation — Coins — Hirlas horn — Y Clochfaen . 18

CHAPTER III.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

Patron Saint — "Mother Church** — The Church, Living and

Tithes — Registers— List of Vicars — Benefaction 25

CHAPTER IV.

LORDS OF LLANOURIO AND THE CLOCHFAEN FAMILY.

Glodrudd family — Cyfeiliog family — Cherletons and House of
Wynnstay — Descent of the Clochfaen family from Vorti-
gem : Tudor Trevor, Madog Danwr and his Descendants
— Claim of the Lloyds to the Abbey Cwm Hir Estates —
Alliance with the family of Plis Madog — Rev. Thomas
Yoiide— The late Mr. Ilinde's family . . 37

VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE PLAS MAD06 FAMILY.

Descent of the Trevors — Descent of the heiress of Plas Madog
from the Princes of Upper Powys — The Lloyds of Plas
Madog . . ... 64

Verbal blazon of the Arms of the Chevalier Lloyd, K.S.G. 79

CHAPTER VL

GENEALOGICAL.

Cefn yr Hafodau, Owens of Glansevem, and Upper Glandulas —
Cefn yr Hafodau — Cwm yr Onn, in the township of Cefh yr
Hafodau — Llangurig families — Esgairgraig — Crugnant
Llangurig — Llwyn yr Hyddod — Pont Rhyd Galed —
Pedigree of the Fowlers of Abbey Cwm Hir . 80

CHAPTER VII.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Rev. David Davies — Owen Davies — William Howel — Owens of
Cefn yr Hafodau ; Owen Owen ; Richard Owen ; Edward
Owen, M.A.; Capt. William Owen; Sir E. W. C. R. Owen,
G.C.B., G.C.H. j Vice-Admiral W. F. Owen; Sir Arthur
Davies Owen ; David Owen, M.A. ; William Owen, K.C. . 95

CHAPTER VIII.

FOLK LORE.

Old Superstitions — Conjurors — Sir David Llwyd — "Old Savage"
— R... J... — William Pryse — Charm for Cattle — Pal y
Geiniog — The Wakes — Arian y rhaw . .110

CHAPTER IX.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Nonconformity — Education — Roads — Fairs . .121

CHAPTER X.
Topographical Glossary of Names in the Parish 1 26

CONTENTS.

Vll

Bedd Gwrtheym — Pillar of Eliseg .145

Jenkjn Goch — Owen ab Maurice of Clochfaen— Colonel Hinde 146
Note on Whittington . .147

Note on Edward Uoyd of Pen y Ian — Corrections .148

WELSH POETRY ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE HISTORY OF

LLANGURIG.

MS. Welsh poetry in British Museum — leuan Tew — Huw Cae
Llwyd — Huw Arwystli — SionCeri — leuan Deulwyn's Elegy
on Davydd Vychan and leuan of Curig's Land — Llyfr
Ceniarth — Poem addressed to leuan — Elegy on Elen, wife
of Llewelyn ab Moiys Goch — Ode to the Four Brothers of
Uangurig — ^Ode to Llewelyn, the husband of Elen, by Cad-
waladr ab Rhys Trefiiant — Sketch of Huw Arwystli — His
Poem to Rhys ab Moiys of Aberbechan— His Poetical Cor-
respondence with Sir leuan of Camo — His Sonnets — Odes
to leuan and Gwenllian and leuan ab Morys of Clochfaen
— Ode to the Bridge over the Wye— Ode to Jenkjn ab
Morys of Clochfaen — ^Its Tenor and Object — Another to
the Same — ^Elegy on Owain ab Morys — Ode to Rhys ab
Morys ab Llewelyn of Llangurig — Encomiastic Lines on
Llangurig — Conclusion .149

HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.— PART II.

The Clochfaen Pedigree .231

Cefh yr Hafodau ..... 232
Glandulaa, Clochfaen, and Crugnant 233

Llangurig and Creuddyn .... 234

Pedigree of Mallt, wife of Jenkyn Lloyd of Clochfaen 235

Llanlloddian, Creuddyn .237

Hughes of Pennant y Belan .... 239
Rhuddallt . ' . .250

^hiwfabon .256

The Pedigree of Madog yr Athraw and the Bershams of

Bersham ..... 265

Lloyd of Bryn . .266

Rhiwabon Registers . . 269

Extracts from Miscellanea Historical relating to Llangurig 270

vm CONTENTS.

The Descendants of John Brereton of Esolusham . 273

Llanerohrugog .274

CaeCyriog . . . .280

Plas yn 7 Delf and Stansti .284

Pentre Cuhelyn in Nanheudwy and j Berth in Llanbedr 285

Coed y Uai in Gresford 286

Arms of Edward Lloyd of Pl&s Madog and Owain Brereton 287

Lloyd of the Bryn in the Parish of Hanmer 290

Y Berth . . .294

Llangurig ..... 303

Glyn Hafren in Llangurig .... 304

Elegy on Mr. Morgan Lloyd of the Clochfaen 305

The Legend of St Curig .311

Ode to John ab Rhys ab Maurice of Llangurig .331

Descent of John ab Rhys ab Maurice . * 336

The Lords of Maelienydd and Kerry 340

Elegies on Cadwallawn and Howel, sons of Madoc ab Idnerth ab

Cadwgan ab Elystan Glodrydd 346

Ipstone of Ipstone, in the County Palatine of Chester 359

Elegy on Ellen, wife of Llewelyn of Llangurig .361

The Four Brothers of Llangurig .363

Ode addressed to Sion ab Rhys, the son of Maurice . .364

Stanzas to Howel ab leuaf .... 367
Additions and Corrections to the Parochial Account . 368

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

EDWARD HAxMER.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

EDWARD HAMER.

CHAPTER I.

PHYSICAL FEATUKES AND DESCRIPTION.

1. Name. The name Llan-guAg is a compound word,
formed of the common Welsh prefix Llan, an inclosure,
a church, and Curig, the name of its founder and patron ;
so that the name may be rendered into its English equi-
valent — ^the Church of St. Curig.

2. Position and Boundaries. The greater portion of
this extensive parish formed a portion of tne ancient
Cwmmwd (commot) of Uwch-Coed (above the wood) in
the Cantref of Arwystli, which formerly belonged to the
lords of the district stretching between the Rivers Wye
and Severn, was subsequently conquered by the Princes
of the house of Cyfeiliog, and now constitutes the south-
western portion of the County of Montgomery.

It is boimded on the south by the parishes of St.
Harmon, and Cwm-dau-ddwr (ravine of the two waters),
both in Radnorshire ; on the south-west and west, by the
parishes of Gwnws and Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, (St.
Michaels Church in Creuddyn), both in Cardiganshire ;
on the north and north-east, by the parish of Llanidloes,
and on the east by the parish of Llandinam, both in
Montgomeryshire.

The boundaiT line which separates it from the two
parishes of Radnorshire forms part of the line of separa-
tion between that county and Montgomeryshire, while
the line which divides it from the two Cardiganshire

4 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

parishes constitutes part of the line of demarcation be-
tween the counties of Montgomery and Cardigan. The
Severn from its source to the point at which it receives
the waters of the Dulas (a distance of some ten miles)
forms the most considerable portion of the line which
separates it from the parish oi Llanidloes, while the rest
of the line which limits its bounds on the east is for the
most part artificial, and not defined by any well-marked
natural features.

3. Extent. The parish stretches from Eisteddfor
Cuing^ (Curig's seat) on the west, to its most easterly
point on the confines of Llandinam parish, for a distance
of eleven mUes; the length of a line drawn nearly at
right angles to this from Civm-Ricket on the north to the
baiiksof theRiver jKZan on the southmeasures about eight
miles. The whole extent within the above indicated
limits amounts, according to the Tithe Commutation
Survey, in roxmd numbers to 50,000 acres, thus divided :

Arable land . . . 3,125 acres.

Meadow or pasture
Common land
Wood land
Glebe land

9,375

37,000

100

99
)9

Total .... 49,604

These figures plainly indicate the nature of the land
in this extensive parish — one of the largest in Wales —
only about a fifteenth of it being under cultivation,
while only 100 acres of it are covered with timber.

> According to an old "Welsh englyn "whicli is still preserved (Gamh.
Quart., iii, 403,) Eisteddfa Carig formerly marked the south-west-
ern limit of Powjs-land.

*' O Oeyn jt Ais, dur-ais a drig, Gaer
I Eisteddva Gurig
O Gam G3Tinnll ar Conwy
Hyd y Rhyd Helig ar Wy."

" From Cefn-yr-Ais and from Chester to Eisteddfa-Cnrig And
from Cam Cyunnll on the R. Conway to Rhyd Helig on the R.
Wye."

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURTG. 5

Since the time of the survey, however, large quanti-
ties of the common land have been enclosed and culti-
vated, especially at two periods when Waeji Twrch and
Bryn Postig were shared by a mutual arrangement
agreed upon by the surrounding freeholders. Some of
the hills nave also been planted within late years.

4. Divisions. In the Tithe Commutation Survey of
this parish, the farms are not arranged under the re-
spective townships in which they are situated, nor is the
total acreage of each township given. The following
particulars respecting its six townships are gleaned from
the Rate Book : —

Townships. Estimated Gross Rental Rateable Value,

Glyn-Hafren 484 15

Glyn-Brochan 902 5 4

Glyn-Gynwydd 453 7 3

Cefn-yn-hafodan 711 19 9

Llan-y-fynu 1058 10

Llan-y-wared 971 15

4,582 12 4

«.

rf,

449

816

403

742

951

855

4,218

The townshiDS of Llan-y-fynu and Llan-y- wed form a
portion of the manor of Clas} the remaining part of
which is situated in the adioininff parish of St. Harmon,
which wa3 formerly included in tie old commot of Gwr^
thrynion. This commot, which comprised the parishes
of Nant-mel, Llaiifihangel - fach, Llanfair - yn - Rhos,
Bhaiadr, and St. Harmon, in the time of its early lords

^ Clas as a tract of land became appropriated chiefly to cbarcli or
abbey land ; clas-dir, glebe land. The English generally used the
derivatire glas, instead of clas ; hence so many names of places in
England : Glassie, Glasson, Qlansworth, etc. A bard in the thir-
teenth centnry has these words : " Woe be to him that infringes
npon the das,'* the cloistered or enclosed land of the church. In
Wales we have Clas ar Wy, or Glasbaiy in Radnorshire, Clas Ghir-
mon, the patrimony of St. Germanus, [the St. Harmon Clas] a lord-
ship belonging to the Bishop of St. David's. — QwaUh GwaUer
Mechain, iii, 474. This derivation of the term supports the old
tradition which asserts that a considerable portion of the parish
once belonged to Strata Florida.

6 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT ON LLANGURIG.

constituted a moiety of the lordship of ArwystlL In
the list of manors in the county of Radnor the manor is
styled Clas Garmon, proprietor the Bishop of St. David's,
and the lessee Perciva] Lewis, Esq.^ The Arwystli Clas
is distinct from that of St. Harmon, and is the property
of Sir Watkin Williams- Wynn, Bart., and its court leet
is held at Llangurig. The other four townships form
part of the manor of Arwystli Uwchcoed, the court leet
of which is held at Llanidloes. This manor is also the
property of Sir W. W. Wynn, whose ancestor is said to have
purchased it from the Crown in the reign of George HI.

5. Surface. With the exception of the level tracts
along the banks of the Wye and the Severn, and the
narrow picturesque valleys through which their tribu-
taries flow, the whole parish is either mountainous or
hilly. It may indeed be fairly termed mountainous,
being almost covered by some of the numerous offshoots
of the mountain mass of Plinlimmon, the skirts of which
extend within its north-western limit. These spurs form
a niunber of high moorland tracts, which are intersected
by numerous nants, or narrow ravines, down which flow
the mountain torrents. The slopes, and in some in-
stances the summits, of these elevated tracts, are dotted
with numbers of small farms, whose occupants maintain
a laborious but cheerful struggle to extort a subsistence
from Dame Nature, by the cultivation of the soil, or
more commonly by attending to extensive sheep walks.
The most important of the mountain spurs is that which
occupies the country between the Severn and the Wye,
aiid which only terminates at the junction of the Dulaa
with the Severn. Its crest forms the line of watershed
between the two principal Welsh streams, and is known
locally by various names, the most important being
Esgair- y - Maesnant, Bryn - ganxg - wen^ GiaSy Driwr
Maen, Allt-y-derWy and Pen-Cin-Coed.

Another similar, but higher and more barren, tract of
elevated ground stretches from the banks of the Wye on
the north-east to the banks of the Ystwith and its tribu-

^ Williams's Hist, of Badnorshire in Arch, Cam. for 1857, 242.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OP LLANGURIG. 7

taries on the west. It is known in ite northern part by
the name Esgair Ychioriy and by that of Esgair Cloch-
faen in its southern part.

Among the other hills of the parish may be mentioned
the foUowing :—

Foel gochy a short distance to the east of the village.
Bryn Mawr^ in the township of Celh-fodau, about two
and a half miles to south-west of Llanidloes, from which
place it is plamly seen. The view from its summit is
very fine and extensive. On its southern slope, near the
small farm of Nant-y-gwemog, is a small square enclo-
sure, known as the "Quaker s Garden," or burial ground.
The site was granted to the Friends by an inaentiu-e
bearing the date of 25th March, 1708, for the term of
2000 years, for the annual rent of a peppercorn. The
sect formerly flourished at Llanidloes.

Creiqiau Tylwch (Rocks of Tylwch), in the eastern
I^ oAhe paU rL abruptly Lm tie banks of the
river of the same name, and present a bare, rugged, and
precipitous front. They are a favourite haunt of hawks.
There are two legends attached to the name Tylwch,
which should perhaps be noticed here. The first states
that it received its name from one of the victorious
leaders in one of the numerous skirmishes which oc-
curred between the followers of the last Llewelyn and
Edward I, crying out Attaliwch (hold), or Tawelwch
(peace) — ^the name being a corruption of one of these
words ; the second tradition makes Oliver Cromwell its
hero, who, after a victory gained in the vicinity, per-
formed the feat of riding his horse over the rocks, his
charger leaving the impress of his hoofs upon the hard
rock. These old traditions and legends should not be
looked upon as inventions ; they generally turn out upon
examination to be founded upon facts. The wonder is,
that when we take into consideration the length of time
during which they have filtered orally through the rude
society of the past centuries, we are at all able to dis-
cover any clue to the circumstances in which they origi-
nated. The germ of the first may be discovered in the

8 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

faxjt that an engagement between the English and Welsh
took place m the vicinity, the attaliwch or tawelwch,
was a subsequent addition of the story teller, by way of
ornament, and obviously suggested by the name iteelf
which must have been in existence for centuries previ-
ously. The historian of Radnorshire, in his account of
the parish of St. Harmon,^ has the following statement:

'' On the moor which divides the parishes of St. Harmon
and Llangurig, or that separates the county of Montgomery
from that of Radnor, was slain in one of those bloody and
violent commotions which too often agitated the ancient in-
habitants of Wales, and contributed to ruin the country and
destroy its independence, Gwynne, the brave son of Llewelyn
ab lorwerth Prince of North Wales."

The writer does not give his authority for the above
statement, and I have failed to discover an allusion to
the action in any other work, but, as if to confirm the
truthfulness of the account which doubtless gave rise to
the legend, there is a small farm near the spot indicated,
about two miles from the hamlet Tylwch, called to this
day Lluest Llewelyn (Llewelyn's Camp), where the fol-
lowers of that prince are supposed to have encamped,
and at a short distance from it one of the ravines on the
eastern side of the same moor goes by the name of Cwm
Saeson (the Englishmen's Glen).

The second, and later tradition, connects the locality
with a victory obtained by Cromwell and his followers
over the Royalists. We may at once discard the account
of the wonderful feats performed by his charger as the
innocent romancing of the story teller, which doubtless
originated in the strong anti-Cromwellian spirit which
existed in the vicinity of Llanidloes during the period of
the Civil War, and try to discover the incident upon
which the tradition was founded. The foundation very
probably exists in the facts recorded in the following
extmct from the Penhedw MSS. printed in the first vol.
of the Cambrian Quarterly Magazine, p. 72 : —

'^ About the middle of August, Harry Lingen, Knight, of

1 Arch. Gamh,, for 1858, p. 547.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 9

Herefordshire^ came with horse and foot^ and advanced towards
North Wales, intending to join with the Anglesey men, but
being narrowly watched by the troops of the counties adjacent,
who gave General Horton (Parliamentarian) intelligence of
Lingen's design. Whilst they followed him, Horton came
from Pembrokeshire crosswise, and met Lingen's men near

Llanidloes, took Sir Harry, sore hurt, and — — prisoners.

The rest fled, whereof about thirty horse and some foot came
to Malloyd.*'

The tradition assists in identifying the site of this
action as being in the neighbourhood of Tylwch ;^ and
the victory gained by one of the Parliamentary generals
was, without greatly transgressing the license of oral
tradition, easily transferred to Cromwell himself. Should
these conjectures prove correct, they fiirnish an instance
of the valuable hints to be obtained from these old
stories which have been handed down from parent to
child for so many generations.

6. Geology. The general character of the soil in the
hUly and mountainous portions of the parish is that of
a light turbary varied by one of a ferny natiu-e. This
soil accumidates very rapidly on the substratum of slate
rock which is jfrequently crossed by dykes of trap and
grau wacke. Some of the hilly knolls are covered by a
gravelly soil known locally as roche. Peat was formerly
extensively raised, and formed not only the principal
article of fuel, but was carted off for sale to Llanidloes
in large quantities. The construction of the canal to
Newtovm struck the first blow to this traflBc, and the
introduction of railways into Mid- Wales has caused a
Llangurig peat cart to become a rarity in the streets
of Llanidloes. Some of the upper nants are studded
with boulders of trap and conglomerate.

The valleys are covered with an alluvial deposit, the
farmers of tLe low grounds being in general prosperous
and the land well cultivated.

Several mineral veins cross the parish, and yield abun-
dant supplies ol lead, together with copper in smaller
quantities. It is supposed that lead ore was first ex-

^ For the derivation of the word, consult the glossary.

10 PAROCHIAI. ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO.

tracted from the Uangurig hills shortly after the enter*
prising Sir Hugh Middleton infused fresh energy into
the mining operations of the adjoining Cardiganshire
parishes in the earlier half of the seventeenth century.
" Miners" are among the earUest trades mentioned in the
parish registers. The principal mines are —

1. Nant logo — on the stream of that name, a tribu-
tary of the Wye — ^yields lead and blend.

2. Nant-yr-eira^ or Snow Brook, which has been aban-
doned lately.

3. Siglen-laSy near the source of the Bidno, yields
lead.

4. Cwm Ricket, on the right bank of the Severn, about
six miles west by north from Llanidloes, is a very pro-
mising mine which has been lately discovered, yields lead
and copper.

5. Pant Mawr, on the left bank of the Wye, four
miles north-west of the village of Llangurig, was till
within late years a very productive mine.

6. Gias, at the foot of the mountain of the same name,
on the right bank of the Severn.

7. Brynpostig lead mine is situated two miles to the
south of Llanidloes. This mine was worked several
years ago and abandoned, then re-started, and after-
wards thrown into Chancery. Li 1865 a fresh lease for
twenty-one years was obtained by the present company,
whose prospects of success are very good ; yields at pre-
sent about fifty tons of ore per month.

8. Cwmfron mine is one mile to the south-west of the
latter. It yields lead, and though it has not been long
worked it promises to be productive.

It is the opinion of competent mineralogists that this
parish is rich in lead ore, and only needs capital and pro-
per working to prove highly remunerative. Mining
operations have, within the last few years, received a
fresh impetus which promises to develope rapidly the
mineral wealth of the locahty.

The parish contains several good stone quarries, among
which may be mentioned the one formerly worked at

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 1 1

Coed-cae, and that on the grounds of Tyn-y-fron^ which
furnished large quantities of stone for the erection of
the Public Rooms, National School, and Short Bridge at
Llanidloes ; those on the grounds of Ystradolwyn Fach,
Del/arch, and Critgnant, all of which yield excellent
stone for building purposes.

A celebrated chalybeate spring exists on the grounds of
a small tenement called Rhos-y-wrach, half a mile to the
north of the viQage. The small brook which discharges
its waters into the Wye, flows by the vicarage, and is
known by the name of Nant Shdn (Jane's Brook). In
former times this spring was much frequented by inva-
lids, who came to enjoy the benefits to be derived from
what in those days was regarded as the almost miracu-
lous properties of its waters. Tradition asserts that
numbers imable to visit it without the assistance of
crutches, were healed, and could dispense with them in
returning home. The spring is a very valuable one, and
if the people who reside in its vicinity had half as much
faith in its merits as their ancestors, it would perhaps
save them something in the shape of doctor's bills. On
the grormds of Bryn Mawr are situated in close proxi-
mity to each other two springs totally differing in the
nature of their waters ; me one is an ordinary spring of
clear fresh water, the other a saline, bearing a strong
resemblance to the celebrated one at Llandrindod.
Another chalybeate spring exists between the road and
the brook, near the third mile stone from Llanidloes.

7. Drainage. With the exception of a very limited
area on its western borders, the rivers Severn and Wye
receive the drainage of the whole parish. It will be
necessary to notice here only the right hand affluents of
the former, reserving a fuller description for the parochial
account of Llanidloes.

The Severn. The first considerable streamlet which
joins the infant Severn on its right bank, within thelimits
of the parish is —

a. A/on II ore, which rises near the boundary line be-
tween the counties of Montgomery and Cardigan, and

12 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

flowing at first south, then in an easterly direction
passes the Hore Farm, joins the Hafren (Severn) after a
course of three miles.

6. The Colwyn flows from Ffosydd-Llwydion m an
easterly direction, and after a course of about two miles
discharges its waters into the Hafren, a short distance
above Glyn-Hafren.

c. Nant-Bron-felen has its source within a quarter of
a mile of that of the Bidno (a tributary of the Wye,)
and runs in a north-easterly direction, joining the main
stream opposite the Old Hall. Length, two and a half
miles.

d. The Dulas, which drains the eastern portion of the
parish, is formed by the junction of A/on Tylwch and
Nant Cwm-JBelan. The former, which is the longer and
principal branch, rises in the neighbourhood of Lluest
Llewelyn, and flows in an easterly direction through the
parish of St. Harmon to Rhyd-Myherin, where its watera
are augmented on its right bank by a small stream
which, through its course of about two miles, forms a
portion of the boundary line between the counties of
Montgomery and Radnorshire. From this junction it
flows in a direction north-west by north, and for two
miles of its course forms the line of separation between
the counties mentioned above. Near the small hamlet
of Tylwch its waters are further increased by several
small streams. From this place it flows through a deep
narrow picturesque glen, round the base of Creigiau-
Tylwch to Fen-bont-preni, a little below which it is
joined by

Nant Cwm-Belan, This stream rises in the same tur-
bary as the Tylwch, but flows in a less circuitous route
by Bwlch-y-gar-eg and the hamlet of Cwm-Belan, and
after a course of about four miles mingles its waters with
those of the longer branch. The united stream, now
called the Dulas, flows due north for a distance of rather
more than a mile through a pleasant and fertile valley,
and is joined on its left bank by the

Brochan, which rises about a mile to the north of the

PAEOCHIAL ACCOUNT OP LLANGURIG. 13

.village of Llangurig, and flows in a northerly direction
for a mile and a half, when it is joined by the small
stream which drains 'Marsh's PooV Near Ehyd-yr-
onen it is joined by the waters of Nant-yr-Oerfa^ and
thence flowing in an easterly direction through the de-
lightful little vale to which it imparts its name, after a
course of about four miles joins the Dulas. The latter
then flows north for a few himdred yards and becomes
lost in the Severn. Its length by the Tylwch branch is
rather more than nine miles.
Tlie Wye—

" Plinlimmon's fairest child
The peerless Wye !"

has its source within the limits of the parish, in a marshy
slope on the eastern side of Plinliminon Fawr, half a
mile to the west of Cam Tarenig, and rather more than
two miles south-west by south from the source of the
Severn. At first it flows in a south-easterly direction
through a wild and desolate mountain tract for a distance
of five miles before it is joined on its right bank at Pont-
y-rhyd-galed by the

Afon Tarenig, a stream which is rather more than a
mile longer than the Wye. It rises at the foot of the
highest summit of Plinlimmon, within the limits of Car-
diganshire, three quarters of a mile to the west of the
source of the Wye, and flows first to the south, then to
the south-east past Eisteddfa-Gurig into the Wye. It
forms the boundary line between Montgomeryshire and
Cardiganshire for more than two miles of its course.

From Pont-y-rhyd-galed the Wye runs in a south-
easterly direction by Pant Mawr, its valley expandmg as
it advances. On its right bank it receives in succession
several small streams, such as Nant-^lu-bach, Nant Aber-
Trinant, and Nant Troedryr-Esgair, all of which flow
down the slopes of Esgair-Ychion. At Aber-Bidno it is
joined on the left bank by the

Bidno, which flows from Waun-goch by Lluest-Bidno
and Mynachlog^ (the history of both these places is lost),

^ Probably a cell attached to Strata Florida once existed here.

14 PAROCHIAL ACCX)UNT OF LLANGURIO.

in a south-easterly course till it is absorbed in the Wye.
Its length is about six miles.

From Aber-Bidno the Wye meanders genth^ through
a wide and open valley to the village of Llangurig,
which is situated on its left bank. Here it changes its
direction to the south, and receives successively on its
right bank Nant Clochfaen and the Demol. Tne latter
rises near Cam-y-groes and flows south-east through a
narrow valley for a distance of two and a half miles.
For the greater part of its course it separates Mont-
^mer^slSe from'^ Ead.ord,to. Thta «Um b men-
tioned as a boundary line as early as 1184 in the grants
to the Abbey of Strata Florida.^

Below the efilux of the Demol the Wye enters Ead-
norshire. Its length from its source to this point, in-
cluding its principal windings, is about fourteen miles ;
the village of Llangurig is situated about ten miles from
the source along the course of the stream.

The western boundary line of the parish is for a dis-
tance of four and a half miles formed by the

Afon Dilliw, a tributary of the Ystwith, which rises
on the northern end of Esgair-Ychion, and runs in a
south-easterly course, receiving the waters of the numer-
ous nants which drain the western slope of the Esgairs.
Near Craig-y-Uuest it is joined on its left bank by the
Ystwith-faes.

The iJlan, for about a mile of its course, separates the
parish on the south-west from Cardiganshire, and re-
ceives on its left bank the waters of Nant Mytalog.

Lakes. The pools of the parish are hardly large enough
to be dignified with the name of lakes. The most im-
portant is a beautiful artificial sheet of water covering
about seventeen acres, situated a mile and a quarter to
the north-east of the village, and three miles to the
south-west of Llanidloes. It was constructed and
stocked with fish by the late T. E. Marsh, Esq., in the
year 1852, and has been called by his name, ^Marsh's
PooV Since that gentleman's death the pool has been

Arch. Camlt.^ 1848, p. 196.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGXJRIG. 1 5

greatly neglected. Formerly it was a favourite resort of
numerous pleasure parties in the summer time. About
midway between the Pool and the town is Cefn-hwlch
Hill, from which may be enjoyed a most pleasing view
of the Vale of Llanidloes.

There are two other large pools situated on the hills
about a mile and a half to tne north-east of 'Steddfa,
marked on the Ordnance map, and called Trippau
Steddfa.

Productions. The (a) minerals have been already no-
ticed supra.

(b) Vegetables. The principal cereals raised are wheat
(in the low grounds), barley, oats, and rye ; the latter
being the more common. The rve is mixed with wheat
and forms what is locaQy known ^ muncom, from which
a pleasant, healthy bread is made. Of roots the Princi-
pe raised are potatoes, turnips, and on some farms
mangel wmrzeL

The parish is not well wooded, though of late years
plantations of fir are becoming more common on the hiU
sides. The principal trees are oak, ash, alder, birch,
black willow, moxmtain ash, sycamore, and the holly.
Very large sycamores and holly are to be found roimd
some of the farm houses. Near the Clochfaen there is a
holly-tree of immense size; the trunk having become
very much decayed, was earthed round about forty years
ago, which earned fresh branches of great size to shoot
^rtii, giving it the appearance of a cluster of trunks.
It has a girUi of 28 ft. 6 in., and is supposed to be more
than five hundred years old.^

On the hUls various species of peat and club mosses
are common — corn-carWy or stag's nom, being plentifut
Of ferns the principal varieties are the common brake or
bracken, which covers considerable portions of the lulls,

^ Thongh the spurs of Plinlimmon are now wholly destatnle of
trees, there exists some slight evidence to indicate that their sides
were formerly covered with timber. Near the janction of the Hore
and the Severn, at a place called Nant-y-tanlliw (fire coloured ravine)
the remains of several large fir trees have been discovered.

1 6 PAKOCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGX7RIG.

the male fern, various species of maiden hair, and the
hart's tongue. Golden furze, three or four varieties of
heath, and the cotton grass {sidan-y-waun) are also
abundant. Rushes, which are also plentiful, are largely
used for various purposes, chiefly as litter for cattle, for
thatching hay and corn-ricks, outhouses, etc., and the
best of them are peeled and dipped into grease and used
as rush-lights. Formerly large quantities of these
peeled rushes (pahwyr) were carried to the town of
Llanidloes, and sold to the inhabitants.

(c) Animals. The mountainous and hiUy districts
afford pasture to an immense number of sheep of a small
hardy kind, which, during the winter months, are re-
moved from the higher and more exposed hills to the
farms in the valleys and low grounds. HiU ponies are
also reared.

The only wild animals are the hare, rabbit, polecat,
hedgehog, weasel, and an occasional fox. . The principal
birds are the red grouse, partridge, woodcock, snipe,
wild duck ; buzzard, kestrel, sparrow hawk, owl, kite ;
the crane is a frequent visitor of the Wye, curlew, lap-
wing or pee-wit, the grey and golden plover ; the moun-
tain or missel thrush, fieldfare, ring ousel, thrush, black-
bird, starling, cuckoo ; sandpiper, kingfisher, and the
' white-breast dowker' or water ousel, wheatear and
whin-chat, goat sucker (deryn-y-corff^J, etc., etc.

The Wye is one of the most celebrated salmon streams
in the kingdom ; this fish has been killed even in the
small river Tarenig. The other fish foimd in the
streams are trout, samlet, minnows, and the silver eel.

Inhabitants. Industrial pursuits. The census returns
give the population in the various decades as follows : —

Year 1801. J811. 182]. 1831. 1841,(1851. 1861.

Pop. 1426. 1559. 1 1784. 1847. 1957. | 1802. 1641.

Showing a trifling but steady increase in the forty
years between 1801 and 1841 of 531, followed by a

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO.

decline during the next twenty years of 316. Taking
the area of the parish in roimd numbers at 50,000 acres,
we find that in 1801 there was one individual to every
35 acres, in 1840 one to every 25 acres, and in 1861 one
to every 30 acres, or a percentage of '03 persons per
acre. Additional particulars may be gleaned from the
subjoined table : —

1 Number of Houses. |

Males.

IS'AmalAfl 1

Tear. J d habited.

Uninhabited. | Building.

4X*CbAw9a ». <»■■»■»*%/».

laii

1851
1861

332
300

285

10
8

3
1
1

917

824

885
817

The decrease in the population is attributable to vari-
ous causes, the principal of which are, the depression
which formerly existed in the mining operations,
emigration, and in some degree to the fact that several
of the small tenements have been incorporated into small
farms. The returns of the next census, however, are
likely to exhibit a considerable increase in the popula-
tion, now that the mines are once more in fiill vigour.
A further increase would probably be the result of the
opening of the line of railway connecting the village with
Llanidloes, which has been constructed by the Man-
chester and MUford Railway Company.

Nearly the whole population is devoted to agricul-
tural and pastoral pursuits. The mines give employ-
ment to a considerable number, and there exist three
flannel factories with their accompanying fulling mills
within the limits of the parish — viz., at Cwmbelan, on
the Nant Belan ; in Glyn Brochan, on the banks of the
Brochan ; and at Cae-yn-y-coed, on the banks of the
Hafren, Factories also existed formerly on the banks
of the Bidno and Tylwch.

CHAPTER 11.

ARCH.«»LOGICAL.

Ancient Roadioays. A writer in the Cambrian Quar-
terly Magazine attempted to trace the route of an
ancient British roadway — ^in his opinion existing an-
terior to the invasion of the country by the Romans —
leading from the Isle of Wight to Anglesey. The
writer supposes it to have followed the upper valley of
the Wye — " fipom Rhaiadr Gwy, the Wye-fords in Rad-
norshire, to its source at the hill of Plinlimmon in Mont-
gomeryshire, probably a place of worship of the M6n
Druids. This being a great mining county, the road
seems to be divided here into several branches, as over
Saim Halen, or the Salt-causeway, at Llanbadam Odyn,
in Cardiganshire." The evidence brought forward by
the author of this paper in support of his theory is the
frequent use of the term ford, which he interprets to be
the Anglicised form of the ancient Celtic and modem
Welsh Jforddf so that Hereford becomes Hir or Hen-
fforddy the long or old road, and Rhaiadr Gwy, supposed
to mean the waterfall or cataract of Wye, is manipu-
lated into Wye-fords}

The learned and careful author of Salopia Antiquxi
has examined this theory, but the mass of evidence he
has accumulated goes to prove that the term ford indi-
cates traces of a^ Roman thoroughfare. " From finding
this word so continually on Roman roads, there is no
doubt that it is allusive to the position of the places
where it occurs, and that the modem acceptation of the
term is only employed in its secondary and lowest
sense." On the Wathng Street he enumerates eigh-
teen places into the construction of which the term ford

' Vol. iv, 373. 2 Salopia Antlqua, p. 238.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 1 9

enters ; on the line of Ermine Street he has discovered
eleven such places ; on Icknield Street nineteen ; on
Akeman Street eleven ; on Hay den Way five/ etc.

No vestiges, either monumental or traditional, of this
supposed roadway have been found within the limits of
the parish, but the remains of an ancient paved road-
way running in another direction, were discovered by
the late Rev. D. Davis on the summit of Esgair- Ychion ,
near the Cistfaen. Local tradition ascribes its con-
struction to the monks of Strata Florida, who served
the church of Uangurig until the time of the dissolu-
tion of the monastery. That they used it in their jour-
neys between Llangurig and the Abbey is more than
probable, but there is no evidence to show that they
were its constructors.

CaimeddaUy or Cams. Rather more than three miles
to the west of the vUlage, on the summit of Esgair-
Ychion, are the remains of a camedd, denominated on
the Ordnance map Caemu. Subsequent to the appear-
ance of the paper on Ancient Anuystli,^ the writer was
informed that this earn was not whoUy demolished.
Upon visiting the spot in the summer of 1868, he foimd
that three-fourths of the stones, which constituted the
upper portion of the camedd, were removed for the
purpose of building a rude shed— with a view to afford
shelter — only a few yards distant from the venerable
relic, which supplied the materials for its walls. Proba-
bly the farmers who undertook this partial work of des-
truction never for a moment thought that they were
desecrating a grave, and would shudder at the very
thought of entering a churchyard for a supply of stones
for a similar purpose. The inhabitants, to all appear-
ances, did not proceed far enough with the work of
demolition to reveal the remains concealed for so many
centuries. The base of the cam is forty yards in cir-
cumference.

^ Ibid., 262, 2G5, and Words and Places, p. 254 (ed. 1865.)
* Montgomeryshire Collections, i, 229,

20 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

Another camedd, known as Carn'Bivlch''y'Cloddiau,
lies half a mile to the south by west from the first. It
is a circular heap of stones about thirty-five yards in
circumference, tie stones in the centre of the mis being
piled up to the height of about six feet, while those
^ch form ite base Ire partially overgroM^i with grass.
It is situated upon one of the summits of the Esgair,
and commands a magnificent, extensive, and varied
prospect.

Cist faen. A mile and a quarter to the south-east of
the second cam, and about three miles and a half to the
south-west of the village occupying the crest of one of
the most western elevations of the Esgair, is a high
ridge several hundred yards long and between thirty
and forty broad, lying in the direction of north and
south. It appears to be the outcropping of a vein of
the mountaui stone, which, through exposure to the
eflfects of the atmosphere, has become disintegrated, and
covers the ridge with thousands of blocks of various
sizes. These blocks are in part overgrown with grass ;
some of them projecting out at the edges of the ridge
look very much like an artificial barrier of stones placed
edgewise, but which, no doubt, owe their position to
nat\u:al causes. Upon the crcHt of this ridge are two
cams, the larger one, not far from its southern extremity,
is about eighteen feet high, and about fifty-seven yards
in circumference at its base. Some of its stones have
lately been displaced, but not in sufficient quantities to
bring any remains to view. This displacement is evi-
dently the doings of individuals who did not understand
their work, and fortunately were tired with a couple of
hours' labour. Eighteen yards to the north of this is
the smaller cam, which is about five feet high and thirty-
seven yards in circumference at its base. Some of its
stones have also been displaced. A little further north
are a great number of loose stones of various sizes,
which to all appearances are the remains of a third cam.
Perhaps its removal led to the discovery of the Cist-facUy
which gave its name to these remains. From the

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 21

ridge are seen the Cardiganshire hills to the south-
west, Plinlimmon to the north-west, Llandinam hills
and the vale of the Severn to the east. Rather
more than a mile to the south-east like a landmark
appears

Cam-y-groes, situated on an eminence overlooking
the ravine of the Demol. The greater part of the cam
is low and covered with grass, but the stones in the
centre form a heap seven feet high, and about six yards
in circiunference. All the before-mentioned earns, as
well as Plinlimmon, Cader Idris, and the Llandinam
hills, are visible from the spot. A probable derivation
of the name is suggested in the following extract : —

" That the early Christians did actually perform divine wor-
ship in the bardic circles is pretty evident from the fact that
some of these still retain in their names and other circum-
stances^ clear marks of their having been used for evangelical
purposes. Such is Cam-Moesen or the Carnedd of Moses in
Glamorganshire. Carney' Groes in the same county, where a very
ancient cross stands ; and Ty-IUtud in Breconshire and many
others."

If a cross was ever raised upon this cam, the raised
stone work, which stiU remains, is at once explained.

Dovnen-y-Giw. Rather more than a mile to the north
of the village, on the crest of a high tract of moorland,
which here forms the line of watershed between the
tributaries of the Wye and Severn, is a tumulus known
locally as Domen-y-Giw. It is a low flat mound, about
sixty yards in circumference and about three yards in
elevation. From the vast extent of country which it
commands it was most probably used as a beacon station.
The view from it embraces the Plinlimmon Cameddau,
with Cader Idris in the dim distance on the north-west ;
to the north may be seen the Arran ; the horizon on the
east being bounded by a belt of moimtain masses stretch-
ing from the Arran to the Breidden Hill and Long
Mynd ; while the Kerry hills and Rhydd-Howell limit

1 EccleslasUcal AntupLUies of the Cymry, p. 71.

22 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

the view on the south-east. In front the town of
Llanidloes, nestling at the foot of Pen-rhiw, with the
sinuous Severn wiading through the valley, forms a
pleasant picture. To the south-west are the Esgairs with
their cams, and the beautiful Wye meandering plea-
santly through the cultivated valley at their feet.

The Earthwork on Rhyd-yr-onen. This interesting
and well preserved earthwork is situated on the grounds
of a small farm called Hhyd-yr-oneii, about two miles to
the north-east of the village, and three miles to the
south-west of the town of Llanidloes, in the upper part
of" Cwm-glyn-Brochan." It occupies a small triangular
plateau elevated some sixty feet above two deep rapid
brooks, which flank it upon either side, and whicn imite
their waters at its apex. These brooks form a natural
moat on two of its sides, and if dammed up near their
junction would materially aid in the defence of the posi-
tion. The third is defended by a deep, broad outer
ditch and a very strong rampart of earth, which stretches
from one edge of the plateau, in the direction of the op-
posite brook, for a distance of about 240 feet. The ram-
Eart a short time ago was covered with oak trees, which
owever, were marked for sale. At a distance of 150
feet from the outer ditch is another deep, broad fosse
which surroimds a large circular mound, which measures
520 feet in circumference at its base, and is between
forty and fifty feet higher than the ditch. On its top is a
flat space which covers about 200 square yards. The space
situated between the mound and the junction of the
brooks is occupied by two platforms separated from each
other by a deep, broad fosse ; the platform nearest the
moimd being some three or four feet higher than the
other. That portion of the work lying between the
outer agger and the mound, and marked D on the ac-
companying plan, is cultivated. An entrance (A) — ^to
all appearance modem — broad enough for carts to pass
through, has been made at this end of the work.

Local tradition states that the mound is a great bar-
row, but the conductors of the Ordnance survey held

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO. 23

another opinion, and in all probability the correct one,
when they pronounced it to be a moat. It appears to
be the site of one of those wooden castles, which were
erected on moimds of this description, and which figure
so prominently in the early history of the Principality.
There is much in its form and position similar to the
remains of Owen Cyfeiliog s Castle at Tafolwem, in the
parish of Uanbiynmair.

The farm was purchased a short time ago by Mr.
Edwards, of Brecknockshire, from the North and South
Wales Bank.

Names implying m^ilitary occupation. The situation
of the parish on the south-western confines of the prin-
cipality of Powys, with Cardiganshire on one hand, and
Radnorshire, in possession of the South Wales princes —
who erected a stronghold at Rhayader — on the other,
caused it in some degree to be a high way between North
and South Wales. Yet few well-marked traces of its
being a fighting or camping grotmd have been preserved
to add to those described in the preceding pages. The
following names probably indicate traces of a period
" when every man s house was in a literal sense his own
castle also." The term Castell is perhaps of greater an-
tiquity than that of lluesty the former originating proba-
bly during or immediately after the Roman occupation
being derived from the Latin Castellum.

1. Castelly the name of a small farm on the right bank
of the Severn, two and a half mUes west by south from
Llanidloes.

2. Castell Greido (Greido s Castle), a farm two and a
half miles north-west of the village of Llangurig, and
four and a half miles south-west by south from Llanid-
loes.

3. Khos-y-Castell (Castle-moor), a small tenement
situated a mile and a half north-west by north from the
village.

1 . Lluest-y-Bidno (encampment on the Bidno), a small
farm on the left bank of that stream, a mile and three-
quarters to the north-west of the village.

24 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO.

2. Lluest ' dol - gwial (encampment on the Mead of
Twigs), on the left bank of Afon Dilliw, four and a half
miles to the south-west of the village.

3. Graig-y-lluest (rock of the encampment), in the val-
ley of the same stream, a mile to the south-east of the
latter.

4. Lluest Llewelyn (Llewelyn's encampment) ; for the
probable history connected with this name, see supra.

Coins. Numbers of coins have been discovered at vari-
ous times in the fields in the neighbourhood of the
village, but none of them have been preserved. Lewis
Morris, the celebrated antiquary, writing about the year
1 755, states that " thirty-eight silver coins or shilfings
of Henry I [1099-1135] were foimd in a grave in this
churchyard (Llangurig) two years ago."^ In 1826 a rose
noble of Edward III was dug up.^ Numbers of the
same coins have been discovered in the neighbouring
town of Llanidloes.

Two other antiquarian relics are preserved at the
Clochfaen. The first is the family Hirlas or drinking
horn, which has been handed down as an heirloom fi-om
" time immemorial" It is made of a beautifully-polished
white horn, richly mounted with chased silver. It is
represented in the following cut, engraved from a photo-
graph taken by Mr. Owen, of Newtown : —

The length of the horn 15^ inches, diameter of the
opening at the mouth 2| inches. The Hirlas (long,
blue) is thus described in the spirited poem which very
appropriately bears its name, and which was written to
commemorate the deeds of the chieftains who took part
in the action of Crogen : —

1 Camh, Beg,^ vol. ii, p. 491.

2 Lewis Top. Die, art. Llangurig.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 25

" This hour we dedicate to joy,

Then fill the Hirlas horn, my boy,
That shineth like the sea ;

Whose azure handle, tipped with gold.
Invites the grasp of Britons bold.
The sons of liberty."^

Mrs. Hemans has also written a beautiful song to the
Hirlas, which is too long to quote at length; we must
content ourselves with the last stanza, which contains
an aJlusioii to the poem of the Prince of Cyfeiliog : —

" Fill higher the Hirlas ! forgetting not those

Who shared its bright draught in the days which are fled ;
Tho* cold on the mountains the valiant repose,

Their lot shall be lovely, renown to the dead !
While harps in the hall of the feast shall be strung.

While regal Eryri with snow shall be crowned.
So long by the bards shall their battles be sung.

And the heart of the hero shall bum at the sound ;
The ^e winds of Cambria shall swell with their name.

And Owain's rich Hirlas be fill'd to their fame !"

The second is a dressed stone in the form of an inverted
coflFee cup with its top hollowed out. It is nine and a
quarter inches high, eleven and a half inches in diameter
at its base, and seven and a half inches across its top.
It has a hole through it, and appears to be a rude imi-
tation of an ancient beU. This old relic is called *' Y
Cloch'faen" the stone bell, and the old people of the
neighbourhood confidently assert that from it the farm
derives its name.

CHAPTER III.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

1. Saint. The church was foimded by St Curig, or as
he is styled by the mediaeval bards, Curig Lwyd, or the
blessed, an appellation given him either on account of
his peculiar holiness or for the purpose of distinguish-
ing him from another saint of the same name, with

^ Lit of the Kymry, p. 40.

26 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

whom he is sometimes confused. Professor Rees ranks
him among the Welsh saints who flourished between
A.D. 664 and 700, and one of the lolo MSS. (p. 550)

E fives his parentage as "St. Curig, the son of Urien
Rheged] the son of Cynfarch. (In another copy, the
son of Arawn, the son of Cynfarch)." We are told by
Lewis Morris that he was a foreigner who landed at
Aberystwith, and that it was on the summit of the hill
called after him Eisteddfa Curig (Ciu-ig's Seat, or rest-
ing place), that he rested on his first journey inland, and
beheld the fine vale of the Wye before him, in which he
determined to build a church in a sheltered spot.* Llan-
gurig was the site selected for rearing the humble struc-
ture covered with reeds and straw, which we are told
was the kind of building adopted by the primitive
Welsh Christians.'

His missionary labours were ultimately rewarded
with a bishop s see, probably the adjacent one of Llan-
badarn^ — foimded by St. Padam in the previous cen-
tury, — ^which is supposed to have included within its
limits a considerable portion of Montgomeryshire.* Lewis
Morris, in his compilation of Bonedd y Saint, has the
following notice of nim : —

'' Kurig St., Eglwys yn Arwystli a elwir Llangurig. Un a
ddwg-Gurig Iwyd dan gwrr ei glog. Llangurig Arwystli.
Eglwys Hid a Churig, Morganwg. Eglwys Forth Gurig, Morg.
Capel Curig a'i fam Julita yn Arvon.''^

The compiler draws no distinction between the two
saints, but Professor Rees states that "Llanilid a Churig,
Glamorganshire, and Capel Curig a'i fam Julita, Car-
narvonshire" are dedicated to Juliet and Cyrique, but
that it is imcertain to which of the persons named Curig
the churches of Perth Curig, Glamorganshire, and
Eglwys Fair a Curig, Carmarthenshire, are dedicated. °
As regards " Perth Cirig," it is stated in the list of those
who foimded churches and choirs in Glamorganshiie,

1 Welsh Sainis, p. 307.

^ Camb. Beg,, ii, 491, Enwogion CymrUy art. Curig.

» Welsh Saints, p. 69. * Ibid. p. 216.

* Myf. Arch., p. 522 (Gee's Reprint.) • WeUh Saints, 307.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 27

that " St. Cirig founded Porth Cirig for the benefit of
the sailors' souls, and a port for them."* But Taliessin
Williams argues that neither of these saints founded the
port, but that it was the residence of a Silurian prince
of the name of Ceiri, its true name being Porth-Ceri?
Thus we find that the bishop can only lay undisputed
claim to be patron of one church — that of Uangurig.'
He has always been held in the highest estimation by
his countrymen. Giraldus tells us that —

" In this same province of Warthrenion, and in the church
of St. Germanas (St. Harmon) there is a staff of Saint Curig,
covered on all sides with gold and silver, and resembling in its
upper part the form of a cross. Its efficacy has been proved
in many cases, but particularly in the removal of glandular and
strumous swellings, insomuch that all persons afflicted with
these complaints, on a devout application to the staff, with the
oblation of one penny, are restored to health. But it happened
in these our days that a strumous patient, on presenting one
halfpenny, the humour subsided only in the middle ; but when
the oblation was completed by the other hal^enny, an entire
cure was accomplished. Another person also coming to the
staff with the promise of a penny, was cured ; but not ful-
filling his engagement on the day appointed, he relapsed into
his former disorder. In order, however, to obtain pardon for
his offence, he tripled the offering by presenting threepence,
and thus obtained a complete cure.'^^

The historian of Radnorshire informs us that this vene-
rable staff was committed to the flames at the time of
the Reformation.*

Two centuries later than the time of Giraldus we find,
from the works of Lewis Glyn Cothi, that he was still
a popular saint, for the poet, in ridiculing the custom
then prevalent among the mendicant friars of vending
the images of favourite saints as charms, etc., receiving
in exchange cheese, bacon, wool, com, etc. —

1 lolo MSS., 636. « Ibid., 345.

* The Hymns ^ven in the Cambro-Briiish Saints, pp. 609-611, are
those ascribed to the martyr Cjriqne.

* Hoare^s Qiraldus, i, 5.

* Arch. Camh., 1858, p. 548.

28 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

" Un a arw^in, yn oriog,
Gnrig Iwyd dan gwr ei glog ;
Gwas arall a ddwg Seiriol
A naw o caws yn ei g61 ;"^

" One bore by turns the blessed Curig under the skirts

of his cloak, another youth carried Seiriol, and nine

cheeses in his bosom." Traditions respecting Curig's

miraculous powers of healing are still prevalent among

several of the old people of the parish. His festival is

observed on the 1 7th of June.

2. Mother Church, There is one subject connected

with the establishment of the parish churches of Arwystli

that requires a few words, and this is perhaps the pro-

per place to make the observations. A belief has long

been prevalent in the neighboiu-hoodthatLlangurig is the

"mother church" of the other six churches of the deanery.

When and whence this notion originated cannot now be

determined. The earliest notice of it appears to be in

a letter of Lewis Morris, preserved in the Cambrian

liberty of quoting the humorous description of his visit

to Llangurig rather more than a century ago : —

'^ I also crossed on my road, near Llan-Gurig, the river Gwy
(Wye) which takes its rise in Pumlymmon Hill, or as pro-
nounced in that country, Plymhummon. Query whether it be
derived from Pen Luman, or Lummon, the hill of the banner ?
In this mountain are the sources of the Severn, Wye, and
Eheidiol. The small rivers Bidno and Blain fall into the Gwy
(Wye), and their junction is called Aber, as Aber Bidno, Aber
Elain ; so that word signifies not only the fall of a river into
the sea, but also that of a small river into a larger. The vicar
of the parish (Llan Gurig) who is a tolerably ingenious man,
(as he excels most mountain clergymen) could not inform me
what the word Curig meant ; he said some derived it from the
Scotch kirk, a^ Llan^Ghcri^ was a mother church, and might
have been so called by way of eminence. But I told him there
was a Welsh poem. (Mr. Morris here quotes the extract from
Lewis Glyn Cothi, given above.) The vicar was extremely
pleased to find that he had a saint to his church, as well as
his neighbours, and a grey one.^ (Lwyd) too ; he, therefore

^ Owaith Lewis Glyn Cotki, 280.

^ Mr. Morris gives grey as the equivalent of Lioyd ; but the old
bards woald not use the epithet in that sense when applied to the
Almighty, as they frequently do.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO. 29

spent his threepence for ale^ and after some discourse about
tithes we went to rest. We lodged at the sexton's, a fat, jolly
fellow, more like a parson than his master ; he is a relation of
Bennetts of Bangor, and like him. This Llan-Gurig is in Mont-
gomeryshire. I could find here a remarkable distinction for
the better between their Welsh and the inhabitants of Aberteivi
(Cardiganshire) . . I forgot to tell you that there is a good
proverb at Llan-Gurig. ' Pan fwrio gwr ei gywilydd, nid gor-
chest iddo i fyw '; i.e.. When a man is past shame, or has bid
adieu to modesty, what difficulty can he have to live, or do
well.'^i

To return to the subject. Malkin next helps to perpetu-
ate the dogma that has become one of the articles of the
creed of the inhabitants, for which they are prepai-ed to
do battle manfully. Apparently the only grounds
brought forward by them in its support are the facts,
that Curiff Lwyd was a bishop, and that the vicar still
continues to revive the tithes of one of the townships
of Llanidloes parish, and about j61 8 per annum from the
parish of Trefeglwys. If tested by the criterion of the
payment of tithes we shall find that Llandinam has far
tetter claims than Llangurig for appropriating to itself
the title of mother church, for it was formerly endowed
with the tithes of a district embracing the modem
parishes of Camo, Llanwnog, Llandinam, and consider-
ble portions of the parishes of Llanidloes and Trefeglwys.
The tithes of this district were retained up to the year
1685, when by an Act of Parliament they were divided
between the Dean and Chapter of Bangor and the seve-
ral vicars of the different parishes. This sufiiciently
proves the claim of Llandinam to be the first or oldest
foundation within the limits of the district defined
above. Again, if we appeal to chronology, and taking
Professor Kees as our guide, we find —

(a) That Llonioy the founder of Llandinam, and
GvrrJuiiy the founder of Penstrywed, flourished between
the years 500 and 542 A.D.*

(6) Gxiyynno or Gwynnog, the founder of Uanvniog,

» Camh, Ti^eg,, ii, 491. ^ ^y^j^j^^ Saints, pp. 221, 231.

30 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

himself a bishop hke Curig, flourished about a hundred
years before the latter ;* and

(c) Idloes, the founder of Llanidloes, belonged to the
generation preceding that in which the founder of Llan-
sniris flourished.^ If it be granted that the Professor
£ correct in his dates, then no other conclusion can be
arrived at than that Llangurig could not have been the
mother church of those four, which were evidently
founded before it.

3. The Church consists of a nave, chancel, and a small
narrow, north aisle. The nave measures internally 62 feet
by 24 feet, and is separated from the chancel (which mea-
sures 27 feet by 24) by a high chamfered pointed arch;
the aisle is separated from the nave by three low, plain,
stone pillars supporting pointed arches, all of which are
bmlt of ordinary rubble stone. On the north side of the
chancel are to be seen traces of a narrow winding stone
staircase which formerly led to the rood loft, which ex-
isted in the church previous to the year 1836. Re-
mains of " an elaborately-carved screen and rood loft are
still preserved," is the statement made in Lewis's Topo-
gi^aphiixil Dictioriary y^ published in 1833. Three years
later, when the chm-ch was repaired, the screen and loft
were taken down, and the churchwardens, who must
have been ignorant of its value, allowed anyone who
expressed a desire to become possessed of samples of the
tracery, to carry away specimens, so that literally bit by
bit it disappeared, and not a vestige of it was left when
Mr. Evans, the present vicar, was appointed to the living
in 1852. It was undoubtedly the principal object of
interest in the church, and its fate is a sad example of
the shameful neglect and utter indifference through
which so many similar relics have disappeared from the
churches of the neighbourhood. Fortunately the late
Rev. John Parker, of Llanyblodwel, visited tne church
in the summer of 1828, and his artistic and accuiute

1 WeUh Samts, 257. « Bid., 233.

' Top, Diet., art. Llangurig. * Sub voce Llangurig.

!^C

.«

\%\\

V jtViiii** L

?i.

Transferred
J689

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 31

pencil has preserved for us admirable drawings of the
screen, which, through the kindness of Sir Baldwin
Leighton, one of our members, we are able to reproduce.

The present contracted north aisle, which only disfigures
the building, was formerly several feet broader, so that
the church in its original form was similar iq its plan to
that of Llanidloes, but the old north wall having fallen
down about the year 1780, the present narrow aisle was
built. The vestry, situated to the north of the chancel,
appears to have formed part of the old aisle.

Only two of the windows — that at the east end and
the one which lights the vestry (see illustration) — have
any architectural pretensions. The former is divided
into three cinque-foliated lights with its head filled in
with tracery, the second is divided into three trefoliated
lights, and both are constructed of red sandstone. This
material must have been transported thither from a
considerable distance, or which perhaps is quite as pro-
bable, the windows may have formerly belonged to one
of the adjacent abbeys of Strata Florida, or that of
Cwmhir. The church had direct claims upon the former.

The font consists of an octagonal basin, measuring
1 foot 1 1 inches in diameter inside the bowl, and about
a foot in depth, resting upon a short shaft which con-
nects it with its base. Its total height is 3 feet 9
inches. The head of each compartment is filled with
tracery (see Mr. Parker s sketch in the view ot the in-
terior). Some ambitious Vandal has scratched his in-
itials and the date 1661 upon it.

The most ancient part of the building seems to be the
massy square tower at the west end, with strong angu-
lar buttresses at its comers. It is surmounted by a
smaU octagonal spire 16 feet high, including the vaL.
The height of the tower is 48 feet; its summit, together
with the spire, is constructed of wood work covered with
sheet lead ; a fact which explains a passage in the works
of Lewys Gljni Cothi, to whom the structure must have
been famihar. He has hit off its appearance in the
following Une : —

32 PABOCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

" Gloew sgwar val Eglwys Gurig."'
[Bright and sqiiare like the church of Carig.]

The epithet "bright" is apt to puzzle a stranger; but
anyone who has viewed the chiu*ch (as the old bard most
probably did in the course of hia wanderings in Ar-
wystli) from one of the many heights surroimding the
village, with the siui shining upon the spire, cannot fail
to perceive the accuracy of the old poet's description.

The ascent to the belfiy is by a narrow spiral stone
staircase ; it contains three bells, the second of which
has the date 1700, with the names of John Owen and
Adam Hatfield, the chiu-chwardens for that year.

The church is built of common rubble stone of the
neighbourhood, and is a rude specimen of early English
architectiu'e. The belfry doorway is surmounted by an
elliptical arch, the ellipse being formed by two large
stones (see illustration.) Tradition points out the spot
whence the buUding materials were obtained upon the
summit of the adjacent esgair, at a spot which still
bears the name, Cerrig waun-y-llan.

At the principal entrance to the chiu*chyard stands a
lich-gate, upon the wood-work of which may be seen
the following initials and date: — CD., S.H., 1740.
D.C., I.O. Formerly there existed a remarkably large
yew-tree, which was greatly admired, but latterly it had
become so decayed that it was necessary to have it re-
moved. The following two epitaphs are copied from
monuments in the churchyard : —

" O earth, O earth, observe this well —
That earth to earth shall come to dwell;
Then earth to earth shall close remain
Till earth from earth shall rise again."

" From earth my body first arose ;
But here to earth again it goes.
I never desire to have it more,
To plague me as it did before."

4. Living and Tithes. The living is a vicarage, and
was up to the year 1861 in the patronage of the Bishop

' Qwaith Leivis Qlyn Cothi, 21.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OP LLANGURIG. 33

of Bangor, but by an Order in Council, bearing the date
of the 25th of Jiily that year, it was transferred to the
Bishop of Llandaff, from whom it subsequently passed to
the patronage of the Crown.

Aa Llangurig was the only part of Arwystli which
belonged to the Abbey of Strata Florida, the following
entry in the Taxation of 1291, under the head, "In
DecanaL ArostlyJ' refers to the value of the rectory at
that date : —

" Beneficia Abb'is de Strata Florida . . . £16 0"

While the abbey existed the church of Llangurig was
served by its members. Shortly after its dissolution we
find that the rectorial tithes were in possession of Lady
Dorothy Devereux, daughter (by Anne his wife, daugh-
ter of Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham) of George
Hastings, Eisirl of Huntingdon, and relict of Sir Richard
Devereux, Knt., eldest son of Walter, Lord Viscoimt
Hereford, K.G., who died in 1558. Sir Richard died in
the lifetime of his father, leaving issue a son and heir,
Walter, Lord Viscoimt Hereford, who was created Earl
of Essex and Ewe. Subsequently the great tithes

Eassed into the hands of the family of Steadman (who
ad likewise possession of the Abbey of Strata Florida),
and thence to the Powells of Nanteos, who held them
as late as the year 1722. But before the year 1762
they were sold by the late Dr. Powell, of Nanteos, to
Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., and are now held by the
Baronet of Wynnstay.

From the Valor Ecclesiasticus of Henry VIII, we
learn that the vicarage was then rated at £9 9s. lOd.,
the soiurces of revenue, etc., being as follows: —

Tithes of corn and hay, per ann.

„ wool and lambs

Oblations (four in the year)
Value of glebe land, per ann.

Thence in reprisals : —
Yearly Procuration to the Bishop

at visitation

£1

10 2

12 2

34 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

Clear yearly value 9 9 10

Thence a tenth 19

At present the vicarial tithes are —

From Llangurig £177 £177

Llanidloes 106

Trefeglwys 18

301
Rectorial tithes 420 420

Total 597

5. Registers and List of Vicars. At present only two
volumes of registers are in existence. A third volume,
which existed thirty years ago, was accidentally destroyed
through the wilful carelessness of the parish clerk. The
entries in the older volume begin with the year 1 742 and
close with the year 1813, when the entries in the second
commence. The entries in these volumes call for no
special remark.

A complete Ust of the vicars can now only be com-
piled from documents preserved in the diocesan registry
at Bangor, no list of incumbents of the different livings
similar to those given in Edwards' edition of Browne
Willis' St. Asaph naving been printed. It is greatly to
be regretted that no one has undertaken for the diocese
of Bangor that which Mr. Edwards carried out in his
edition of the older antiquary's account of the diocese,
and which the Rev. D. R. Thomas is about to bring
down to the present time.

In the absence of a full and correct list the following
names may prove acceptable : —

From a return made by Bishop Meyrick we learn that
in 1561 " Thomas Lloyd Priest" was vicar, that he was
resident, kept house, and was licensed to preach.^ His
successor probably was

David Lewis, who is mentioned in the Add. MSS.
9865.* He was the son of Lewis of Llangurig (ab
Thomas ab Gwilym,a descendant of Cadivor ab Gwaeth-
fod), and Tangwystl, daughter of Jenkyn ab David. He

' Browne Willis' Bangor, 2G7, 2(10. 2 j^^f^^.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 35

married Margaret, daughter of Howell ab Philip, and
had a son, Jenkin, who was aUve in 1599.

It is very probable that the living was sequestered during
the domination of the Puritan party, for we find that the
adjacent living of St. Harmon, in possession of the Par-
liamentary commissioners in 1649,^ and in the neigh-
bouring parish of Llanidloes, there are no entries in the
registers from the years 1649 to 1660, a proof that the
mfniBters' duties 4ere suspended durmj those vea™.
That Llangurig was not exempted may be gathered
from the following extract from a pamphlet entitled,
" The Parhament explained to Wales," quoted in Rees'
History of Nonconformity ^ p. 8 1 : —

" In some places in Wales, the gospel doth already kindle j
and that — ^which our coanties can never too gratefully acknow-
ledge — ^by the worthy and godly endeavour of Mr. Gradock ;
and especially which is worth our notice, it begins to shine in
a place heretofore noted for untowardness, called Llangyrug in
Montgomeryshire, a place formerly of very sorry fame, but
now pointed at as the Puritans and Roundheads of Wales ;
and all this through the godly pains of some persecuted
ministers resorting thither through manifold discouragements
and dangers/^

At the close of the seventeenth century Thomas In-
gram, LL.B., was vicar. He was educated at Jesus
College, Oxford, and in 1703 he was made a Canon of
Bangor. He died about the year 1711.*

William Jones, B.A., was collated to the vicarage,
April 29th, 1698.

Thomas Pritchard, B.A., was collated to the vicar-
age, July 26th, 1712.

Edmimd Price was collated to the vicarage, April
27th, 1765.

Thomas Lewis, B.A., was collated to the vicarage,
October 23rd, 1788.

Maurice Anwyl, B.A., was collated to the vicarage.
May 27th, 1805.'

» Hist, of Badnorshire, in Arch, Camb., 1858, p. 548.

2 Browne Willis' Bangor, p. 172.

* The names of these five vicars, with the dates of their appoint-
ments, were supplied by the Ven. Archdeacon Evans, M.A., of
Llanllechid.

36 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGUBIG.

The first signature which occurs in the older of the
two volumes of the Registers is that of

John Jones, curate, who appears to have been curate
in charge for the year 1742 to 1780, as his name ap-
pears last in that year. Thomas Lewis' signatiu-e occurs
from 1788 to 1805, and that of Maurice Anwyl from
1807 to 1832. Mr. Anwyl was aUve after that date,
but the duties of the parish were discharged by the
curate, Evan James.

James James succeeded Mr. Anwyl as vicar. This
gentleman, who also held the curacy of Llanwnog, died
in 1841, when

Evan James, who was curate from 1831, became
vicar. He died on 17th June, 1852, and was succeeded
by the present vicar,

John Evans, who is in the commission of the peace
for the county, and chairman of the Board of Guardians
for the Llanidloes and Newtown Unions. To this gen-
tleman the writer is greatly indebted for much valua-
ble information, and for free access to the Registers and
other documents in his possession.

6. Benefaction. The Parhamentary returns of 1786
state that David Vaughan (date unknown) gave £10,
the interest thereof to be given to the poor.

This Sinn is now in the hands of a private individual
resident in the parish, who pays 10s. annually for the
interest, and it is distributed by the churchwardens in
small sums of money to the poor.

It was recommended that application should be made
for the principal, and that when received it should be
deposited in the savings' bank.^

The above suggestion does not appear to have been
carried into effect, and the principal nas been lost.

The church at present is in a dilapidated condition,
and the worthy vicar is actively engaged in raising a
fund for its reparation.

1 Charity Commissioners' Report.

CHAPTER IV.

THE LORDS OF LLANOUHIG AND THE CLOCHFAEN FAMILY.

Llasgueig appears from the most ancient times to
have been an integral portion of the lordship of Arwystli,
and to have passed tlu"ough the same vicissitudes which
the rest of die Cantref suffered. When the coxmtry was
portioned out into the five different principalities of
Gwynedd, Powys, Morgan wg, Fferllys, and Deheubartfa,
Arwystli was reckoned among the lordships of Elystan
Glodrudd, prince of the country between the Severn
and the Wye, It continued in the possession of the
descendants of Elystan for several generations, the last
of the family who appears to have been in actual pos-
session of the territory was Howel (ab leuaf ah Cad-
wgan ab Elystan), who is described as lord of Arwystli'
in 1157, who fought in its defence against Owen
Cyfeiliogin 1161, and was buried in the abbey of Strata
Florida in the year 1186. He bore jru/es, a lionram-
pant argent, crowned or.

Shortly after his death Arwystli passed into the pos-
session of the princes of the house of Cyfeiliog. This
' Montgomeryshire Collecliotie, i, p. 251.

38 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT ON LLANGURIG.

transfer of the Cantref from its original lords, is gener-
ally asserted by the Welsh heralds and chroniclers to
have been the result of the marriage of Gruflfydd (ab
Meredydd ab Bleddyn) with Gwerfyl/ daughter of Gwr-

feneu ab Howel ab leuaf, the issue of the marriage
eing Owen Cyfeiliog. It requires but a slight ex-
amination to prove this tmion to have been a fiction
created by the genealogists. Is it at all probable that
Gruffydd, who died in 1125 leaving two sons (who were
then minors), could have married the grandaughter of
a prince who died sixty years later (1186)? If this
usually received pedigree of the mother of Owen Cy-
feiliog be correct, then would history present the singu-
lar spectacle of a great-grandfather (Howel ab leuaf)
invading the territory and burning the castle of his
great-grandchild (Owen Cyfeiliog), and of that great-
grandchild retaliating and defeating his great-grand-
father in open battle at Llandinam in 1161, and of
those two relatives dying within a few years of each
other, both apparently in full years! Rejecting this
theory, the true one wiU be found in the weakness of
the descendants of Elystan, and in the restless and am-
bitious spirit of Gwenwynwyn, the young lord of Cy-
feiliog, who appears to have assumed the reins of power
during the declining years of his father s life. Gwrgeneu,
the son of Howel, being tmable to resist him, the Can-
tref was seized and kept merely by the right of the
strongest.

" . . Gwenwynwyn, sangninis hsDres
Ante obitum patris, totam subjecit Arustli.'*^

Shortly after his defeat at the battle of Crogen, King
Henry II, while passing through South Wales on his
way to Ireland in 1171,^ granted Arwystli to Prince
Rhys, overlooking the rights of its true lord Howel ab
leuaf, then alive. Henry was doubtless prompted to

^ Wynne*8 ed. of Powell, p. 182. Burke's Landed Oentry, article,
Morris of Hurst.

* Pentarchia^ qnoted in Boyal Ihihes, p. 71.
5 Wynne's ed. of Powell, p. 198.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 39

this step by the consideration that he was retahating
upon Owen Cyfeiliog for the important services which
he rendered the Confederates at Crogen, by placing such
a powerful prince as Rhys in possession of a lordship to
wnich Owen himself had some claim as its conqueror.
On the death of Rhys in 1197, Gwenwynwyn readily
accepted the overtures of Maelgwyn to assist him
against his brother Gruffydd (the successor of the de-
ceased Rhys), who was surprised and slain by the Con-
federates at Aberystwith. On his return from this ex-
pedition the Powysian prince " having got together an
army entered into Arwystli and brought it into his sub-
jection."^ It was probably at this time that Gwenwyn-
wyn rewarded the services of his faithful follower,
Madog Danwr,^ by granting him the Lordships of
Llangurig, which formed the south-western part of the
newly conquered territory, reserving for himself the
seignorial rights of the same. The greater part of this
parish is still in possession of Madog's descendant J. Y.
W. Lloyd, Esq., of dochfaen.

From the various documents illustrating the papers
on the Princes of Upper Powys and the Barons of
Powys' it appears that the manorial rights or suzerainty
of the parish of Llangurig were always possessed by
the lords of Arwystli, though the descendants of Madog
had possession of the land.

Arwystli was conquered by Llewelyn the last Prince
of North Wales, and therefore does not appear among
the lands of which Prince Gruffydd, son of Gwenwyn-
wyn, died seized of in 1286. But on the death of Owen,
son of the preceding Gruffydd, in 1293, " Langerik" is
mentioned among the lands which he held in capiie
from the English king, the profits received therefrom
amounting to £3 13s. 4d. per annum.

In 1310 B.post mortem inquisition enumerates Llan-
gurig among the lordships held by Gruffydd ab Owen,

1 Wyiine, p. 198.

^ Bnrke*s Landed Gentry, article, Owens of Glanscvem.

' Montgomeryshire ColleciionSy vol. i.

40 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANOURIG.

the last prince of the house of Cyfeiliog, who died a
minor in 1309.^

On the death of John de Cherleton — who had ac-
quired Powys-land by his marriage with Hawys, sister
and heiress to the preceding Prince Grufiydd — in 1353
he was seized of Arwystli.* His son John in 1360,
died seized of the same cantref, and in 1374 we find
John de Cherleton, third baron, dying in possession of
it.' Among the lands which John, the son of the pre-
ceding baron, and fourth of the name, died seized of, is
the "lordship of Llangarick," and Edward his brother
and successor died in 1421 possessed of the same lord-
ship/

From the Cherletons the manorial rights of Arwystli
passed by the marriage of Joyce, second daughter and
co-heiress of Edward de Cherleton to Sir John Tiptoft,
whose son and successor, John, was created Earl of Wor-
cester in 1449, and for his firm adherence to the cause
of Edward IV was beheaded in 1470. He died seized
of the "manors and advowsons of the churches of
Llanydlos, Arustile," &c.* Afterwards the Manor of
Arwystli passed into the possession of the Crown, and
it remained a Royal manor for a century, and sub-
sequently, after several devolutions, it became and still
remains part of the possessions of the House of Wynnstay.

THE CLOCHFAEN FAMILY. °

This family traces its descent from Gwrtheym Gtir-
theneu or Vortigem, lord of Erging, Ewias, and Glou-
cester, who, upon the assassination of Constans, was

1 MoftigonierysJdre Collections^ vol. i, p, 148. * Ihid,^ p. 277.

» Ihid., pp. 279, 280. 4 jft.^ pp. 283, 301.

^ Ibid,, 358.

• The pedigree of the Clochfaen family was drawn up in the first
instance by the late Mr. Joseph Morris of Shrewsbury. It was sub-
sequently collated by J. Y. W. Lloyd, Esq., with the Heraldic
Visitations preserved in the British Museum, more especially the
HarlMSS,, 4181, 1973, 2288, and Add. M8S., 9864, 9866. To
the information thus brought together, and to family papers, the
writer has been greatly indebted iu the compilation of this chapter.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 41

elected King of Britain, a.d. 425.^ In the yeax 448 he
was compelled by Aurelius Ambrosius to taJce refuge in
his fortress of Caer Gwartheym, whither he was accom-
panied by St. Germanus, who is said to have remained
with him to the last, imploring him to repent and make
his peace with God, Seeing that remonstrance was in
vain the Saint left the king and retired to Italy, where
he died at Ravenna, 25th July, in the same year.
Other accounts state that Vortigem did not perish in
this citadel, but that he escaped and died in obscurity
at Llanhaiarn in Carnarvonshire, where a tomb, in
which the bones of a man of large stature were found,
and which has always been designated as '* Bedd Gwr-
theym," the grave of Vortigem.

He was the son of Gwydodol, son of Gwydolin, son
of Glouiw Gwladlydan, the foimder of the city of Caer-
louiw or Gloucester. From the inscription on the
monumental cross erected by King Cyngen II to the
memory of his great-grandfather. King Eliseg, who died
A.D. 773, aud was contemporary with Offa, King of
Mercia, we find that Vortigem married Seveira,*
daughter of Maximus Magnus, Emperor of Rome, who
slew the Emperor Gratian. Maximus, who was put to
death by Theodosius near Aquileia, A.D. 388, married

! This is the date adopted in Haigh's Conquest of Britain by the
Saxons,

' The following is that part of the inscription which bears on the
text. It differs from that given by Llwyd — the additions are from
Mr. Haigh's Conquest of Britain by the Saxons^ p. 230.

. IL . E MONABCHUM

AIL MAXIMUS BRITANNU:

NN . PASCEN . . MAYI . ANNAN

BBi [g]ua[b]t[imee] filius guarthi[qbrni]*

QUE BEKED germanus QUE

. PEPERIT El SE[£]iRA FILIA MAXIMI
[re] GIS qui OCGIDIT REGEM ROMANO
RUM + CONMARCH PINXIT BOG

* Gwartheym Gwarthenen = Seveira, dan. of Maximns
or V ortigem j

I \ I

Gwartimer Fendigaid, Cyndeyrn Fendigaid Pasquen or Pascens
or Vor timer the blessed.

42 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

Helen Lluyddawg, only child of Eudaf or Octavius,
Duke of Cornwall, who was made governor of Venedotia
(Gwynedd) by the Emperor Constantine the Great.
Eudaf kept his Court at Segontium, where he died a.d.
385. At this place his daughter Helen Lluyddawg was
bom ; and there is still in the neighbourhood of Car-
narvon a place called Coed Helen, now the residence of
the ancient family of Thomas, also the possessors of
Trevor Hall.

Cyndeym Fendigaid, or CatigerUy the second son of
Vortigern, was the father of Rhvddfedel Frych, the
father of Rhydwf, the father of Pasgen, the father of

Cadell Deymllwg. He was Prince of Teymllwg, a ter-
ritory consisting of the Vale Royal and partof Powys-land.
By his wife Gwawrddyd, daughter of Brychan, he was
the father of a numerous family.^ He was succeeded
by his son Cyngan, the father of Brochwel Ysgythrog
(slain in the battle of Chester, 6 1 3), whose descendants
continued to be princes of Powys for many generations.*
The third son of Cadell was Tegid Foel, lord of Penllyn,
in Edeirnion, formerly a portion of Powys-land,« the

tndfather of Gwynllw Filwr, who was the father of
it. Cadoc and grandfather of St. Beimo.*

Ninth in descent from Ghvinfiw Frych, a younger son
of CadeU's, was

Ynyr, lord of Chirk, Whittington, Oswestry, Mae-
lor Gymraeg and Maelor Saesnaeg in Powys-land,
beiDg the son of Cadfarch ab Gwrgeneu ab Gwardd-
gar ab Bywyn ab lorddwyfyn ab Gwriawn ab Gwy-
lawg ab Gwynan ab Gwinfiw Frych. In the year 870
Ynyr built the Castle of Whittington, which continued
for many generations to be the chief residence of his de-
scendants.* By his wife Rhiengar, daughter and heiress
of Lluddocaf ab Caradoc Freichfras, lord of Hereford,
Gloucester, Erging and Ewyas (who bore azurCy a lion

1 Welsh Saints, p. 161, where a table of the descendants of the
two eldest sons will be found.

2 Ewiaogion Gymru, ^ Ibid.

* Welsh Saints, p. 170, and p. 268.

* Burke's La/nded Gentry, art. Owen of Woodhouse.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 43

rampant, party per fess, or, and argent in a border of the
third charged with eight annulets sable), Ynyr had issue
two sons, — Tudor Trefor, his successor, and Ynyr
Frych, Abbot of Abbey d'Or, in the Golden Vale, in
Herefordshire.

Tudor Trefor (so called because he was bom or
nursed at Trefor), Lord of Hereford, Gloucester, Erging,
Ewyas, Chirk, Whittington, Oswestry, and both Maelors,
was founder of the noble tribe of the Marches of Powys-
land. In A. D. 907^ he married Angharad, daughter of
Howel Dda, King of Wales. He bore party per bend
sinister, ermine and ermines, a lion rampant or, and
died A.D. 948, being the father of three sons : — (1)
Goronwy, who died in his father's lifetime, married
Tangwystl,* daughter of Dyfnwal ab Alan ab Alsar ab
Tudwall Gloff, son of Rhodri Mawr, King of Wales, by
whom he had issue an only daughter and heiress,
Rhiengar, who succeeded to her grandfather's lands in
Hereford, Gloucester, Erging and Ewyas. She married
Cyhelin ab Ifor ab Severus ab Cadifor ab Wenwynwyn,
lord of BuaUt, Radnor, Kerry, Maelienydd, Elfael and
Cydewain, who bore azure three open crowns in pale or.
By Cyhelin she was mother of Elystan Glodrudd, Prince
of Fferllys and founder of the fiftn Royal tribe of Wales.
He was bom in the Castle of Hereford in 927, and was
named after Athelstan, King of England, who was his
godfather. He was living in 1010, but was slain in a
civil broil at Cefti Digoll, in Montgomeryshire. (2)
Lluddocaf was Lord of Chirk, Whittington, Oswestry
and Maelor Saesnaeg, died in 1037, leaving by his wife
Angharad (daughter of lago ab Idwal, Prince of North
Wales) a son, Llywarch, wno by Lucy his wife, daughter
of Gwrstan ab Gwaethvod, lord of Cibwyr in Gwent (who
bore vert a lion rampant argent, head, paws, and tail
imbrued gules), had a son and heir, Ednyfed, who mar-
ried Janet, daughter and co-heiress of Rhiwallon ab

^ For a history of Whittington Castle in connexion with this
family, the reader is referred to an interestin^jp paper by the late
Joseph Morris, Esq., in the Arch, Carnh,, for 1852, p. 282, etc.

* Eyton Pedigree.

44 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGOBIO.

Cynfyn, Prince of Powys (who bore or a lion rampant
guhs on a canton azure a dexter hand couped ar<jent),
and was the father of Rhys Sais, lord of Chirt, Whitting-
ton, Oswestryand Maelor, Lluddocaf was also the ances-
tor of the families of the Mostyns, of Mostyn, Talacre,
and Segroid ; the Trefors of Biyncynallt, Plas-Teg and
Trefalyn; theWynnsof Eyarth; Lloyds of Leaton Knolls ;
the Youngs of Bryn-Yorkyn ; the Edwards of Sansaw
Hall ; the Trefors of Trefor Hall, now represented by
Trefor Lloyd, late of Plas Llanasaph, Esq., and the
family of Thomas of Coed-helen, the possessors of Trefor
HaU and Valle Crucis Abbey ; the Lloyds of Plaa Madog,
and of Berth, now of Khagatt ; the Eytons of Park
Eyton ; the Vaughans of Burlton Hall ; the Pennants
of Downing and Penrhyn Castle and the Dymoks of
Penley Hafl.

The third son of Tudor Trefor was Dingad, lord of
Maelor Gymraeg or Blomfield. He married Cecilia,
daughter of Severus ab Cadifor ab Wenwynwyn, lord
of Buallt, and had issue —

Wiiwallon, lord of Maelor Gymraeg, who died in
1040, and left by his wife Letitia, daughter of Cadwal-
ladr ab Peredr Goch of Mon, a son

Cynmrig ah Rhiwallon, who succeeded his father as

^ * T T

lord of Maelor Gymraeg. He was slain in 1074 during
an incursion of the Danes into Maelor, and was buried

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 45

in Wrexham Church. The stone lid of the coffin, on
which he was represented in armour, recumbent, with a
lion rampant sculptured on his shield, and with the
inscription Hic lACET cynvrig ab rhiwallon round
the verge of the stone, was seen by John Erddig,
of Erddig, Esq., affixed to the wall of the chinrchyard,
in 1660. He bore erminey a lion rampant sable, armed
and lanffued gules. From him the township of Chris-
tionydd Cynwrig takes ite name. By his first wife
Judith, daughter of Ifor H6n lord of Rhos (who bore
argent, a rose gules), he had five sons : — (1) Niniaf, the
eldest, was ancestor of the Jones-Parrys of Madryn Park,
and Llwyn-Onn ; the present head of this family,
Thomas Love Dimcombe Jones-Parry, of Madryn, Esq.,
is Chief of the descendants of Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon.
When the old church at Wrexham was destroyed by
fire in 1457 and the Pope gave instructions to have it
rebuilt as it now stands, the Llwyn-Onn family were
the first to respond to the injunctions of the Holy
Father ; their teams carried the first loads of stone for
the restoration of the present beautiful edifice, and it is
a very curious fact that this family alone, of all the
once numerous descendants of Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon
possess their lands by an unbroken male descent from
Cadell Deymllwg, — "They who honour me I will
honour," saith the Lord. The other families who descend
from Niniaf are the Lloyds of Llwyn-y-Cnotiau ; the
Robertses of Hafod-y-Bwch ; the Joneses of Croes-Foel,
Edward Jones of Plas-Cadwgan, who was attainted and
executed in 1586 ; Edwards of Sealyham, and Lord
Kensington ; Erddig of Erddig ; Traffords of Esclus-
ham ; Goronwy ab Hwfa of Hafod-y-Wem, now repre-
sented by Philip Davies Cooke of Hafod-y-Wem and
Owston, Esq. ; Madog yr Athraw ab Hwfa,of Plas Madog
and Erbistog ; the Bershams of Bersham ; the Wynns
of Gerwynfawr ; the Eytons of Eyton-Uchaf, and the
Sontleys, of Sontley. Anne, daughter and heiress of
Robert Sontley, of Sontley Hall, Burton Hall in Gres-
ford, and Plas Uchaf in Rhiwabon, was the second

46 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

wife of John Hill, of Rowley's Mansion in Shrewsbiiiy,
Esq., by whom she had a son and heir, Thomas Hill, of
Sontley, Esq., who by Matilda his wife, daughter of
Charles Elstob, D.D., Dean of Canterbury, had issue
two sons, John and Charles. John died unmarried in
1 755, and Charles died unmarried in 1 780. The estates
of Sontley, Burton, and Plas-Uchaf, then reverted to
their mother, at whose death the Sontley estates were
all sold. The Badies of Rhiwabon, now extinct, likewise
descended from Niniaf Awr ab leuaf ab Niniaf was the
ancestor of the J efferies of Acton, and also of the Lloyds
of Plas Madog, who are now represented by J. Youde
William Lloyd, Esq., of Clochfaen. Some heralds, how-
ever, say that this Awr was the son of leuaf ab Cyhelyn
of Trefor, which is also affirmed by Mr. Joseph Morris.

Ednyfed, the second son of Cynwrig, who bore ermine
a lion statant guardant gules , was ancestor of the
Broughtons of Broughton and March wiail ; the Powells
of Alrhey and the Ellises of Alrhey and Wyddial Hall,
in Hertfordshire. Cynwrig's third son was Gruffydd,
the fourth Bleddyn, and the fifth Hoedliw of Chris-
tionydd.

Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon married secondly, Agnes, or
Annesta, daughter of Idnerth Benfras, lord of Maesbrug
or Maesbrook (who bore argent a cross flory engrailed
sahle, inter four Cornish choughs, ppr., on a chief azt^/Y',,
a boar's head, couped argent)^ by whom he had issue a
sixth son, David of Maelor, of whose descendants we
shall speak presently ; (7th) Hwfa; (8th) Llewelyn, who
was ancestor of David Burd Hen, Esq., who married
Efa, daughter and heiress of Gruifydd ab Llewelyn
Fychan ab Llewelyn ab Goronwy, of Pentre Madog, in
Duddlestone, Esq., fom^h son of Sir Roger de Powys,
Knight, Lord of Whittington (who bore vert, a boar,
07'), by whom he had issue Philip Bride or Burd of
Pentre Madog, Esq., who by Alice, his wife (daughter
of John ab Richard ab Madog of Halchdyn in the parish
of Hanmer) had an elder daughter and heir, Margaret,
who married James Eyton ab John Eyton (youngest son

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGDRTG. 47

of William Eyton, of Eyton, in the parish of Bangor-
Iscoed) ancestor of the Eytons of Pentre Madog.' (9th)
Eioion, (10th) Iorwerth,(llth) leuaf and (12th) Bledrws
together with a daughter Jane, third wife of Madog ab
Cadwgan, lord of Nannau, by whom she had issue Rhi-
wallon, ancestor of the Gwynns of Llanidloes ; the
Joneses of Trewythen in the parish of Llandinam, and
several other Montgomeryshire families now extinct.

David the sixth son of Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon was
the father of Meredydd, the father of Madog, whose son
leuan was the father of

Madog Danwr (" Ignifer"), or, as he is called in some
MSS., Madog Danwy Trefor, lord of Llangurig. He
was a brave soldier and a faithful servant of Gwen-
wynwyn. In a pedigree drawn up by the late Rev,
Walter Davies,^ who was assisted by the late Joseph
Morris, Esq., of Shrewsbury, we are told respecting
Madog that "the Prince of Powys knew his value in
that age of perpetual warfare, and accordingly stationed
him as a guardian of his frontier, on the border of South
Wales, by granting him the parish of Llangurig on the
skirts of Phnlimmon, Here he settled and became the

progenitor of many families in the hundred of Arwystli
and its vicinity. The same prince, as an honorary

' For a farther acconnt of this family, see Lewie Dwnn, i, 324.
' Ex. inf. A. J. Johnes, Esq., of Garthmyl.

48 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

reward for his faithful services, gave Madog the privi-
lege of bearing a new shield of arms in augmentation of
his paternal coat."^ These new arms were a border gules
charged with eight mullets argent'^ He married a
daughter of Idnerth ab Meredydd Hen, lord of Buallt
(who bore gules, a lion rampant regardant, or), by whom
he had three sons, Meredydd, his successor, Idnerth,
and Gruffydd, of Cefh-yr-Hafodau. Madog was the
first member of the family who settled at the Clochfaen,
and in allusion to his being the founder of so many fami-
lies in the district, an old bard of the neighbouring
parish of Trefeglwys has the following lines : —

" Danwr hael yn dwyn rheolaetli
Hen ben haeddol boneddig
Ai brig ar Gurig i gyd/'

[Danwr the generons, the bearer of rule

The noble, meritorions, ancient stock

Whose branches are spread over the whole of Llan gurig.]

Meredydd, of Llangurig, lord of Aberhafesp and
Dolfachwen, married Arddun, daughter of Einion ab
Llewelyn ab Meilir Grug, lord of Tregynon and West-
bury, descended from Brochwel Ysgythrog, King of
Powys (quarterly, first and fourth sahU, three horses'
heads, erased argent, Brochwel Ysgythrog ; second and
third, party per pale, or and gules, two lions rampant,
addorsed countercharged for Brochwel ab Aeddan of
Llanerchbrochwel, lord of Cegidfa (Guilsfield), Broniarth
and Deuddwr); by whom he had issue four sons : — (1)
lorwerth, (2) Llewelyn of Clochfaen; (3) Gruffydd and
(4) Philip. lorwerth was ancestor of David Lloyd, of
BerthUoyd, in the parish of Llanidloes (who bore ermine,
a lion rampant, sable in a border gules, charged with
eight bezants), whose only daughter and heir, Gwen-
hwyfar, married to Philip ab leuan Bwl ab leuan ab
Meredydd ab Madog ab leuan ab Gwyon ab Trahaiam
ab lorwerth, lord of Garthmul (who bore argent, three
lions passant in jxile gules), by whom she had a son,

' Burke's Landed Gentry, article Owen of Glansevem. Supra.
» Eer. Vis., by Holmes and Chaloner, EaH. M88., 1973.

PAEOCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO. 49

leuan, ancestor of the Uoyde, of Berthlloyd. lorwerth
was likewise tlie ancestor of GwenlUan, daughter and
and heir of leuan ab Gruffydd Goch, and wife of leuan
ab GmSydd, of Cloehfaen.

Llewelyn, the second son of Meredydd, was of Cloeh-
faen in this parish, and was the father of

Ifowel Lloyd, of Cloehfaen, whose son

Gruffydd of Cloehfaen ; married Ahce, daughter of
Rhys ab Meredydd ab Owain, lord of Towyn in Cardi-
ganshire (who bore gules a chev. inter two fleurs-de-lys
in chief, and a Hon rampant in base, or). He left issue
two sons, leuan and Rhys Ddfl, of Pon1>y-rhydgaled,
ancestor of the Richardses of Llangurig,

leuan ab Gruffydd succeeded his father at Cloehfaen,
and married first, GwenUian, daughter and co-heir of
leuan ab Grufiydd Goch ab PhUip ab lorwerth ab
Mere<^dd ab Madog Danwr, by whom he had issue two
sons, Jenkyn Goch, his successor, and Llewelyn, of Llan-
guiTg, leuan married, secondly, GwenUian, daughter of
Rhys ab David ab leuan ab Rhys ab Llewelyn, by whom
he had one daughter, Goleubryd, wife of David ab Rhys
ab Adda ab Howel, of Henfaes, in Kerry, descended
from Einion ab Cynfelyn {azure, a lion passant argent.)

Jenkyn Goch, of Cloehfaen, bore ermine, a hon ram-
pant aable, in a border gules charged with eight annulets

or. He miuried Catherine, daughter and heir of

50 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANOURIG.

Maurice Fychan ab Maurice ab Madog ab Einion, of
Kerry and Mochdref, second son of Tudor ab Einion^
Fychan, lord of Cefiillys, descended from Ifor, eldest
son of Idnertb ab Cadwgan' ab Elystan Glodrudd. By
this lady he had issue a son, Maurice, who succeeded
him, and four daughters : — (l) Catherine, the wife of
leuan Wynn ab JenKyn, of Cefii-yr-Hafodau, descended
from Cadifor' ab Dyfnwal, lord of Castle Howell and
Gilfachwen, Cardiganshire; (2) Angharad, wife of
Llewelyn Lloyd, of Llanidloes, Esq., descended from
Eiaion ab Cynfelyn, lord of Manafon, ancestor of the
Gwynns of LJanidloes ; (3) Deilu, who married leuan
Goch ab Maurice ab Rhys ab Cadwgan ab Llewelyn ab
y-Moelwyn Mawr, lord of Buallt, by whom she had an
only daughter and heiress, Deilu, who became the wife
of Thomas, of Aber-Magwr, in the parish of Llanfihangel-
y-Creuddyn, younger son of Maurice Vaughan, of Traws-
coed, county of Cardigan, Esq. ; (4) Annie, the wife of
Morgan ab leuan ab Dio ab David, of Creuddyn, de-

^ This Einion ab Howel of Mochdref married Agnes or Annesta,
daughter and heir of Adda ab Mearig ab Adda ab Madog, Lord of
Kerry, who was one of the hostages for Llewelyn ab lorwerth put
to death by King John, 1213. This unfortunate chief was the son
of Maelgwyn, lord of Maelienydd and Kerry, son of Cadwallon, the
second founder of Abbey Cwm Hir, in the year 1143, which he in-
tended for the accommodation of sixty monks. He was slain in
1179, and was buried in the church of the abbey. Cadwallon was
the son of Madog, lord of Malienydd and Kerry (who died 1139)
second son of Idnerth ab Cadwgan. — Lewis Dwnn,

* Prince Cadwgan was the first founder of the Cistercian monas-
tery of Abbey Cwm Hir, and also the founder of three churches
which he dedicated to St. Michael ; one in Kerry, one at Cefnllys,
and the other on Bryn Ty leuan, near Newbridge on Wye, which
was restored and re-opened in 1868.

* " The arms of Cadivor ab Dyfnwal are : sdbls, a spearhead
argent embrued between three scaling ladders of the second, two
and one ; on a chief gules a tower triple- towered, ppr. These are
the true arms not the absurd ones given in Clarke. The legend is,
Cadivor was deprived of his castle by Fitz Stephen, a Norman.
Collecting his retainers he divided them into three pai*ties, and
having surprised the castle by night, stormed it and retook it with
great slaughter, killing Fitz-Stephen himself with his spear." Notes
and Queries^ 4th series, ii, 54 L.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 5 1

scended from Uowddyn, lord of Uwch-Aeron, who bore
gules, a griffin segreant, or.

Maurice, of Clochfaen, married Margaret, daughter
of Llewelyn ab Rhys Lloyd, of Creuddyn, ab Gruffydd
ab leuan ab Llewelyn ab Rhys ab GrujBydd ab Rhys ab
lorwerth ab Cadifor ab Gwaethfod, lord of Cardigan,
who bore or, a Uon rampant regardant sable. Mau-
rice left issue, (1) Evan, of Crugnant, of whom pre-
sently ; (2) Owain, who married Tangwystl, daughter of
Morgan (ab Maurice ab Thomas) by Catherine his wife,
daughter of David ab leuan ab Maurice, of Llwyn
Newidion, in the parish of Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn,
county of Cardigan; (3) Jenkyn, who succeeded at Cloch-
faen ; and (4)^ William, who died unmarried ; and four
daughters : — ( 1 ) Elen, wife of Llewelyn ab Maiuice ab
Rhys, of Uangurig, descended from Einion ab Cynfelyn ;
(2) Goleubryd ; (3) Margaret, second wife of Thomas ab
David D^g, of Camo, descended from Einion ab Seisyllt,
lord of Mathafam ; and (4) TangwystL

Jenhjn, of Clochfaen, who succeeded his father Mau-
rice, married Catherine, daughter of Morgan (ab Rhys
ab Howel, of Llangurig, ab David ab Howel Fychan,
of Gilfachwen, county of Cardigan, Esq., descended from
Cadifor ab Dyfiiwal, lord of Castle Howel, Gilfachwen
and Pant Streimon), by whom he had issue two sons,
David Lloyd, his successor, and Evan, of Clochfaen
Issaf, who married and had one son, Edward ab leuan,
of Clochfaen Issaf, together with a daughter, Catherine,
the wife of Owain Gwjmn ab Morgan Gwynn, of Llan-
idloes, Esq.

David Lloyd JenTcyn, of Clochfiien, married Catherine,
daughter of Evan ab David ab leuan ab Gutto ab
Gruffydd, of Creuddyn, ab Meredydd ab Rhys ab leuan

1 Huw Cae Llwyd, an old bard, who flourished from 1450 to 1480,
has lefl behind in MS. an ode to these four brothers, the sons of
Manrice, which will be given in extenao in the appendix to this
paper. The poet speaks highly of them as warriors, and describes
them as^

" Four comrades are they who one and all
Have been found mighty to oppose deeds of wrong."

52 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

ab Rhys ab Llowddyn, lord of Uwch-Aeron, who bore
gtiles, a griflBn segreant, or. Her mother was Tangwystl,
daughter of Evan Wynn, of Dolbachog, Esq., descended
from Cadifor ab Dyfhwal. By this marriage David
Lloyd had issue, Evan, his successor, and Jenkyn, who
married Elizabeth, daughter of Owain Blaeney, of
Ystymgwen, Esq., descended from leuan Blaeney, of
Gregynog, and one daughter, Elen, wife of Jenkyn ab
Maiuice ab Rhys, of Llangurig, descended from Madog
DanwT.

Evan ah David, of Clochfaen, whose name is on the
list of jurymen summoned for the Assize held at Llan-
idloes in 1606, married Elizabeth (or according to other
authorities Mallt), daughter of David Lloyd Blaeney, of
Gregynog, in the lordsnip of Cydewain, Esq., and Mary
his second wife, daughter of Richard ab Maurice, of
Rhiwsaeson, in Llanbrynmair, Esquire. The Blaeney
family is now represented by Cadwaladr Davies, twelfth
baron of Castle Blaeney, descended from Edward, second
son of David Lloyd Blaeney, who accompanied the Earl
of Essex to Ireland in 1598, and was elevated to the
peerage of Ireland, 29th July, 1621. The arras of the
Blaeney family were quarterly, first and fourth sable,
three horses' heads erased argent ; second and third
per pale two lions rampant addorsed countercharged.
By his marriage Evan had issue : — (1) Rhys, his
successor ; (2) David Lloyd, together with a daughter,
Gwenhwyfar, the wife of John, second son of Morgan
Glynn, of Glyndywedog, in the parish of Llanidloes,
Esq., descended from Aleth, King of Dyfed, who bore
azure three cocks argent crested and wattled, or.

Rhys Lloyd, of Clochfaen, the successor of Evan ab
David, was a staunch royalist, and was obliged to com-
pound for his estate with the Parliament by a payment
of "£011 000s. lOd." as appears from a book^ in the

^ See also Montgomeryshire Collections^ i, 474. Some idea of the un-
settled state of the county at this time may be gathered from a
perusal of two papers — the one printed in the Camh, Quart., i, pp.
60, 74, the other in the Arch, Camh., i, pp. 33, 42.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 53

library of the College of St. Beuno at Tremeircliion, *
which contains a list of the nobility and gentry who
had to compound with the rebels for their estates. He
married (1626) Margaret, daughter of Jenkyn Lloyd, of
Berthlloyd, Esq., high sheriff of Montgomeryshire, in
1588 and 1606, and seneschal or steward imder James I
and Charles I, of the lordship of Arwystli, and Dorothy,
his first wife, daughter of Edmund Walter, of Ludlow,
Esq., Chief Justice of South Wales. In Ludlow Church
there is a handsome altar tomb of white marble, display-
ing the recumbent effigies of the chief justice and his
lady ; on the front are figures representing their issue.
The following is the inscription : —

" Heere lye the bodies of Bdmond Walter, Esqvier, chieffe
justice of three shiers in Sovth Wales, and one of His Majes-
tie's Councill in the Marches of Wales ; and of Mary, his wife,
davghter of Thomas Hacklvit, of Eyton, Esqvier, who had
issve three sons named James, John, and Edward, and two
davghters named Mary and Dorothy. He was bvried the 29th
day of January, anno domini 1592."^

Arms, sable a fesse indented inter three eagles displayed
argent membered gules ; impaling argent on a bend
collised gules three fleurs-de-lys or ; of the children
mentioned in the inscription the second son was Sir
John Walter, of Sarsden, county Oxon, Knight, Lord
Chief Baron of the Exchequer ; Mary, me eldest
daughter, married Sir Edward Littleton, of Henley,
county of Salop, Knight (chief justice of North Wales,
who died 1621 and was buried at Llanfair, in Denbigh-
shire), by whom she had issue seven sons, two of whom
were Fellows of AH Souls College, Oxford ; but all died
without issue, with the exception of the eldest. Sir
Edward Littleton, Knight, Lord Keeper of the Great
Seal of England, who was created Lord Littleton of
Mounslow, by Charles I, 1635, and was married to
Sydney, daughter of Sir William Jones, of Castell
March, in Lleyn, Knight. Dorothy, the second daughter
of the chief justice, married Jenkyn Lloyd, of Berth-
lloyd, Esq., who died 1627, and was the mother of Mar-

* Wright's History of Ludlow^ p. 468.

54 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

'garet, the wife of Rhys Lloyd, of Clochfaen, whose
eldest son Edward died without issue. The second son
was

Jenhyn Lloyd y who succeeded his father at the Cloch-
faen, and married Mallt, daughter of Morgan ab David,
of Llanbrynmair (ab leuan ab David Gethyn ab Gruf-
fydd ab David ab Madog, second son of Llewelyn, ab
lorwerth, of Abergwidol, in the parish of Darowen, ab
David ab Howel, of Darowen, ab PhUip ab Uchdryd ab
Edwyn Goronwy, Prince of Tegaingl who bore argent
a cross flory engrailed sable inter four Cornish choughs,
ppr., chief of one of the sixteen noble tribes of North
Wales and Powys) by whom he had issue eight sons : —
(1) Rhys, his successor; (2) Morgan, who married
Bridget, daughter of Richard Morgan, of Caelan, in
Llanbrynmair, descended from Ednowain ab Peredur
lord of Dolgellau {gules three snakes ennowed in triangle
argent), by whom he had issue one son, Littelton Lloyd,
of Caelan, a clergyman of the Established Church, who
died without issue ; and one daughter, Sarah, the wife
of Edward Pritchard, of Ceniarth, Esq. , descended from
Y Llyr Craff, of Meifod. Morgan Lloyd s will bears the
date of the 13th November, 1702 ; by it he bequeathed
a " tenement in the parish of Trefeglwys, called Cefn-y
Cloddiau ^ to the poor of the parish of Llanbrynmair,
the rents, issues and profit thereof to be distributed at
the discretion of the vicar and overseers of the poor of
the said parish."^ Part of the rent is applied to the
maintenance of the parish school. An old local bard
named David Manuel, whose residence was in the neigh-
boiu-hood of Cefn-y-Cloddiau, wrote an elegy on the
death of Mr. Lloyd, which is given in the appendix.
His wife Sarah seems to have died before him, for the
same poet composed some lines upon her death, which
bear the date of 1696 ; (3) John, of the parish of St.
Harmon ; (4) David, of Darowen ; (5) Jenkyn ; (6)
Evan ; (7) KyflSin ; and (8) Richard. Of the daughters,

^ Montgomeryshire Collections^ i, p. 222.

* Charity Comiuissioners Report for Montgomeryshire, p. 279

PAKOCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 55

Mabel was the wife of Humphery Williams, of Pentre
Cynddelw, in the parish of Llanbrynmair, descended
from Elystan Glodrudd.

Rhys Lloyd succeeded his father at the Clochfaen.
He married Mair, daughter of John Thomas, of Belan
Deg, in the parish of Manafon, and of Llanllodian in the
parish of Llanfair Caereinion, high sheriff of Mont-
gomeryshire in 1681. Mr. Thomas became possessed of
the estate in Llanfair in right of his wife Margaret,
daughter and heir of John Owen, of Llanllodian, Esq.
Arms, first and fourth sahle^ three horses' heads, erased
argent ; second and third Brochwell ab Aeddan. Rhys
Lloyd was buried at Llangurig, 11th December, 1699,
and wafi succeeded by his eldest son,

Jenhjn Lloyd, of Clochfaen, who was bom in 1681,
married at Llangurig, 21st February, 1698, was mayor
of Llanidloes, 1 705, and high sheriff for Montgomery-
shire in 1713. His wife was Rachel, sister and co-heir
of Edward Fowler, of Abbey Cwmhir, in the county of
Radnor, high sheriff for that county in 1 715, and daugh-
ter of John Fowler, of Abbey Cwmhir and Brondrefawr,
Esq., high sheriff for Radnorshire in 1690. He was
yoimger son by Margaret his wife (daughter of Richard,
Lord Newport, of High Ercall, and Rachel his wife,
daughter of John Levison, of Haling, in Kent), of
Richard Fowler, of Harnage Grange, in the coimty of
Salop, Esq., high sheriff for R^adnorshire in 1655,
eldest son of William Fowler, eldest son of Richard
Fowler, of Harnage Grange, in the county of Salop, Esq.,
high sheriff of Radnorshire in 1600^ by Mary, eldest
daughter of Sir Edward Littleton, of PUlaton Hall,
county of Stafford, Knight, and Margaret his wife,
daughter and co-heir of Sir William Devereux, Knight,
youngest son of Walter, Lord Viscount Hereford, K.G.,
who died 1558. John Fowler, who inherited Abbey
Cwmhir from his father, made an immense fortune as a
merchant, and purchased several other large estates.

1 The dates of the Bheriffs are taken from Williams' History of
Radnorahire,

56 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

He died in 1697, and was buried at Llanbister. By
his will, which was proved the following year at Doctor s
Commons, he left all his lordships, manors, estates, and
hereditaments in the several counties of Radnor, Here-
ford, Salop and Montgomery, to his three children,
Edward, Rachel, and Jane. Edward died unmarried
in 1 722, and was buried at Llanbister. He entailed
the Abbey Cwmhir estate upon his sisters and their
heirs, appointing his cousin. Sir Richard Fowler, of
Hamage Grange, Bart., to be trustee. In the Llan-
bister parish registers the names of John Fowler and
Edward Fowler nave been nearly erased and those of
Sir Richard Fowler and Sir William Fowler written
over them upon the erasure. Jane, the second daughter
of John Fowler, married George Robinson, of Brithdir,
in the county of Montgomery, Esq., of the family of
Nicholas Robinson, Bishop of Bangor, and died without
issue. The arms of the Fowler family are : 1. Azure, on
a chev. inter three lions passant gardant, or, three
crosses moline sable ; 2, barry of six gules and argent,
on a chief or, a lion passant azure (Englefield, of Rycote
and Lanynton Gemon, county of Oxford) ; 3, Azure
two bars argent over all a bend compony or and gules
(Leigh, of Morpeth).^

^ The Fowler family was one of great antiquity before the reign
of Richard I, when the then representative of the family, Sir
Richard Fowler of Foxley co. of Backs, Knt., accompanied that
warlike monarch to the Holy Land with a body of archers raised
among his own tenantry. At the siege of St. Jean d'Acre, 1190,
an attack of the Saracens npon the Christian camp by night was
frustrated by a white owl, which, being disturbed by their approach,
flew into the tent of Sir Richard Fowler and awoke him. He soon
became acquainted with the threatened danger, and hastily arousing
his men, immediately engaged and defeated the enemy. King
Richard rewarded his fidelify by knighting him upon the scene of
the engagement, and changed his crest, which was the hawk and
lure, to the vigilant owl. Subsequently in the reign of Henry IV,
his descendant Sir William Fowler of Foxley, Kt , became possessed
of Rycote co. Oxon, by his marriage with Cecilia daughter and heiress
of Nicholas Englefield of Rycote and Lanynton Gernon co. of Ox-
ford, Esq., who died 1414, as we learn from his epitaph.

" Here lieth Nicholas Englefield, Esq., some time Comptroller of

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 57

Jenkyn Lloyd died in 1 722, and was buried at Llan-
gurig, December 11th : his wife Rachel survived him,
and dying in 1749, was also buried at Llangurig, leav-
ing issue three sons and three daughters :— (1) Rhys,
of Clochfaen ; (2) John, born 1 702, and who died s.p.
in 1766, leaving his estate of Llwyngwyn to his sister
Jane ; (3) Edward, who died s,p. ; (1) Anne, born in
1701, became the wife of Charles Richards, of Penglas,
county of Cardigan, Esq., whose family is now repre-
sented by George Griffiths Williams, of Rhoscellan,
county of Cardigan, Esq.; (2) Jane, bom in 1702,
became the wife of the Rev. Richard Ingram, rector of
Cemaes in 1 74 7 {ermine, on a fesse gules three escallops
or), by whom she had an only daughter, Mary Ingram,
heiress of Llwyngwyn, who married David Owen, of
Glyngynwydd, who persuaded his son, Evan Owen,
when he came of age to cut the deed of entail, and the
estate passed by mortgage to their relative Sir Arthur
Owen, of Glansevem, county of Montgomery, Knight.
The third daughter Mary, was bom in 1707, and mar-
ried first to Lingaine Owen, of Bettws HaU, in the
county of Montgomery, Esq. {argent a lion rampant
and canton sable) ; secondly to John Gethyn, of Vaynor,
Esq. (or, a cross moline pierced inter four lozenges
azure), which family is now represented by Robert
Devereux Harrison, Esq., coroner of Montgomeryshire,
eldest son of Sarah, who was only surviving daughter
of Robert Griffiths, of Welshpool, Esq^ and rehct of
the late George Devereux Harrison, Esq., brother of
Major Harrison, of Caer Howel and LlandysiUo Hall.
Mrs. Gethyn died in 1797, leaving issue by her first

the Honse to King Richard II, who died 1st of April in the year of
grace m.ccc.xiy., whose soul iesu pardon Amen, Amen, Amen."

He was the third son of Sir Philip de Englefield, Lord of Englefield,
the head of an ancient family, which, according to Camden, takes
its name from the town of Engle6old in Berkshire, of which place
they were stated to have been the proprietors in the second year of
Egbert's reign, 803. (For a full account of the Fowler and Engle-
field families, see Wotton and Kimber's Baronetage, and Burke's ^.r-
tinct Peerage.)

58 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

husband one son, Pryce Owen, of Bettws, Esq., and four
daughters ; Elizabeth, married to William Jones, Esq.,
of Newtown ; Mary, who became the wife of the Rev.
Mr. Morgan ; Rachel, married to Roger Pryse, of Cae
Howel, Esq., and Jane.

Rhys Lloyd, of Clochfaen, was baptized at Llangurig,
March 10th, 1699, and was married the 20th December,
1723, to Sarah, daughter and heir of William Piatt, of
Rhydyronen, in Llanynys, county of Denbigh, by Mary
his wife, eldest daughter and co-heir of Thomas Hughes,
of Pen-y-nant, in the parish of Rhiwabon, descended
from Robyn ab Gruffydd Goch, lord of Rhos {azure on a
chevron inter three escallops argenty three leopards
faces gules, Piatt ; 2nd or, a gnflSn segreant guUs,
Hughes). The Abbey Cwmhir estates were the pro-
perty of Mr. Lloyd's mother, who in her old age became
imbecile, affording an excuse for the trustee, Sir Richard
Fowler's, retaining the management of the property, and
he at his death, in 1 737, transmitted it to his son Sir Wil-
liam Fowler. Rhys Lloyd was high sheriff of Mont-
fomeryshire in 1743, and dying in 1748, was buried at
llangurig the 1 5th of July, in that year. His wife, who
was bom in 1696, survived him and was buried at
Llangiu-ig, 10th of January, 1781 ; the issue of the
marriage was three daughters : — Mary, who died s.p, ;
Rachel, appointed Maid of Honour to Caroline, wife of
Frederick, Prince of Wales (mother of George III), and
afterwards housekeeper of Kensington Palace, who died
in 1793, and was buried at Llangurig ; Sarah, bom in
1728, wife of John Jones, of D61-y-Myneich, county of
Radnor ; and one son,

Jenkyn Lloyd, who succeeded his father at the Cloch-
faen in 1748. He was born in 1724, and married
April 30th, 1743, at Erbistog, to Elizabeth, daughter
and heir of Edward Lloyd, of Pl^ Madog, in the county
of Denbigh, Esq., lineally descended from Tudor Trefor,
and by heirs female from Margaret, eldest daughter
and co-heir of David, fifth son of Gruffydd ab Gwen-
wynwyn. Mr. Lloyd was appointed high sheriff of

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 59

Montgomeryshire in 1 755, and shortly after the death
of his grandmother, Rachel Fowler, which took place at
Llangnrig in 1749, he commenced a law-suit for recover-
ing the Abbey Cwmhir estates, which were then re-
tained by Sir William Fowler. To meet the expenses
Mr. Lloyd had to sell a considerable portion of the
Clochfaen estates. The suit was progressing favourably
up to the Christmas of 1765, at which time, Mr. Lloyd
not feeling very well, proceeded to Shrewsbury to con-
sult his medical adviser. At Shrewsbury he had an
interview with Sir William Fowler, and in a few days
afterwards (January 6th, 1766) he died suddenly from
the eflfects of poison which is supposed to have been
administered to him in his medicine. He was buried
at Rhiwabon, February 5th, 1 766.

Acting upon the advice of his friends, Sir William
very shortly afterwards left England in a ship bound
for Calcutta, which foundered at sea, and all on board
perished. His son and successor. Sir William Fowler,
made a summary attempt to bring the litigation respect-
ing the Cwmhir estates to an end, by trying to carry
off the young heiress of Plas-Madog and Clochfaen from
a boarding school at Chester. But, owing to the vigi-
lance of her friends, he failed in carrying out his design,
and for this and some other misdeeds he was compelled
to quit the country, never to return. He died unmar-
ried at the Hague, leaving three married sisters, who
had children then living, none of whom, however,
claimed the abbey, which was allowed to remain with-
out an owner until Sir Hans Fowler, uncle of the pre-
ceding Sir William, who had been serving in the army
of Frederick the Great, returned to England and suc-
ceeded to the title and estates. To pay the expenses
of the heavy lawsuits in which he was engaged before
obtaining possession, he sold large portions of the estate,
and reduced it to the comparatively small property now
belonging to the abbey. He died without issue in 1 771,
and, although he left three married nieces, daughters
of his elder brother. Sir William, he was succeeded at

60 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT ON LLANGURIG.

Abbey Cwmhir by his sister Sarah, who had married
Thomas Hodges, a colonel of the guards, by whom she
had issue a son, and a daughter, Sarah. Sarah, in 1769,
became the wife of Lieut. -Col. George Hastings, of
Lutterworth, in the county of Leicester, by whom she
had issue four sons, the youngest of whom, Hans
Francis, eventually became eleventh Earl of Hunting-
don, in 1819. His son, the present Earl, lays claim to
Abbey Cwmhir. The son, Thomas Hodges Fowler,
succeeded his mother at the Abbey, and dying in 1820,
left issue by Lucy, his wife, daughter and co-heiress of
Thomas Hill, of Court-Hill in the county of Salop,
Esq., an only daughter and heiress, Sarah Georgina,
wife of the Rev. Durant Baker, of Christ's College,
Cambridge, son of Thomas Baker, Esq., of Ashurst
Lodge in Kent. On Mr. Fowler s death, however, tlie
Abbey became the property of the late Mr. Fauntleroy,
who was hung for forgery. His agent, Mr. WUson, was
the next possessor. He went to Botany Bay, where he
died, and his creditors, in 1837, sold the estate to Mr.
Phillips of Manchester, whose son is the present pos-
sessor. Leaving this digression, giving the details of
the sad history of the Fowler family, we return to

Sarah, the heiress of Clochfaen and Pl&s-Madog, who
was bom February 19th, 1746. In her person the line
of Gwenwynwyn again came into possession of the
greater part of the parish of Llangurig. In 1768, she
married her first husband, John Edwards of Crogen
Iddon (in Glyn Ceiriog), Gallt-y-Celyn and Plas lolyn
(in Yspytty-Ieuan,) Esquire, lord of the manor of
Yspytty-Ieuan, and descended from Edwyn Prince of
Tegeingl. By this gentleman, who died in 1771, she
had no issue. She married secondly, in 1773, the Rev.
Thomas Youde, B.C.L., of Brasenose College, Oxford,
eldest son of Thomas Youde, of Ruthin, son of Francis
Heude (or Youde) a French gentleman, who was sent
by the court at St. Germains on a poUtical errand to
Sir Gruffydd Jefferies, of Acton, near Wrexham, in 1711.
Here he became acquainted with Mary, eldest daughter
and co-heiress of John Hill, Esq., of Rowley's Mansion

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 61

in Shrewsbury, by his first wife, Priscilla, daughter and
heiress of Seth Rowley, of Rowleys Mansion {argent
on a bend sa. inter two Cornish choughs, ppr, three
escallops of the field.) John Hill was on the 1 7th
March, 1684-5, appointed to be an alderman of Shrews-
bury by James II, but on account of his favouring the
cause of the Prince of Orange, was deposed 1st Jan.,
1687-8. In 1689, he was elected Mayor of Shrewsbury,
was Justice of the Peace for the county, and High
Sheriff of Denbighshire, in 1697. He refused to give
his consent to his daughter's marriage vdth Mr. Youde,
on account of the latter s political opinions, and hoping
to prevent the union, removed her from Acton, the re-
sidence of Sir Gruffyd Jefferies, to his own house in
Shrewsbury. Miss Hill, however, contrived to escape
her father s vigilance, and was married to Mr. Youde.
Her father, who never forgave her, died on March 29th,
1731, and was bimed with his second wife, the heiress
of Sontley, (who died in 1693) in the chiurchyard of
old St. Chad s, Shrewsbury. Mr. and Mrs. Youde,
hoping to avert the effect of his anger, did open penance
in white sheets in that church.^

The mother of the Rev. Thomas Youde (who was
buried at Rhiwabon in 1806, at the age of 78) was
Dorothy, daughter of John Jones, of Ualchog, near
Ruthin (who had considerable property in the parishes
of Evenechtyd, CyfeUiog, Clocaenog, Uanrhudd, Llan-
fwrog, and Llanfair-dyflGtyn-Clwyd) and Mary, his wife,
sister of Eubule Thelwall, of Jesus College, Oxford, and
daughter and heiress of Edward Thelwall, of Ruthin,
son of Thomas Thelwall, son of Edward Thelwall,
second son of John Wynn Thelwall, of Bathafarn Park,
Esq. The arms of the Youde family are (1) argent, a
lion rampant az,, charged on the shoulder with a fleur-
de-lys or ; (2) ermine on a fess sa., a castle arg. Hill ;
(3) Vert a stag trippant arg. attired or. Jones of Cal-
chog ; (4) gules on a fess or between three boars' heads
couped arg. three trefoils sable ThelwaU. The pro-

' Owen and Blakeway's Histoi-y of Shreivshury.

r»2 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

perty acquired from his mother was sold by Mr. Youde's
trustees.^

Mrs. Sarah Youde died December 20th, 1837, and
was buried at Rhiwabon. By her second husband
she had issue : 1, Thomas Watkin, bom 1775, who suc-
ceeded to the Clochfaen and P14s Madog estates, on
the death of his father in 1806. He served the office
of high sheriff of Montgomeryshii'e in 1816, died un-
married, at Cheltenham, and was buried at Ehiwabon
in 1821. 2, Edward Youde, bom in 1781, who suc-
ceeded to the property at the death of his mother,
sold Rowleys Mansion, and dying at Ostend, was
buried at the village of Ghistalles, near that town, in
1846. He married Mary, sister and heiress of Charles
Greenaway of Barrington, co. of Oxon., Esq., and late
M.P. for Leominster, by whom he had one daughter,
Mary Jane Youde, now of Burford Priory. 3. Charles
Madog, who died unmarried in 1797.

Mrs. Youde had also three daughters ; 1 , Sarah,
who died unmarried in her eighteenth year, and was
buried at Rhiwabon, 1798; 2. Juha Elizabeth, who
was born 29th May, 1793, succeeded to the Clochfaen
and Plsls-Madog estates, on the death of her brother
Edward, and dying tmmarried 19th September, 1857,
was biuied at Llangurig; 3. Harnet, who was bom
30th March, 1787, in 1815 became the wife of the late
Jacob William Hinde, Esq., formerly of the 15th
Hussars, deputy-lieutenant for Middlesex, and son of
Charles Hinde, Esq., of Langham Hall, county of Essex,
and Deputy-Lieutenant for the counties of Essex
and Middlesex. Mr. Hinde died at Heffleton House
in the county of Dorset, 24th October, 1856, and was
buried at Llangurig. Her husband died July 1st, 1 868,
and was the father of three sons :

1. Jacob Youde William, who was bom in 1816, on
the 12th December, 1868, received Her Majesty's license
and authority to assume the name of Lloyd of Cloch-

^ Judge Lloyd, of Berth, and Mr. Wynne of PlAs Newydd, now
P14s Heaton in Hcnllan parish.

/6^y./^ W/V/^/ft^/f^-^//,

^/^.^^/^y. {r-:YL/r.,/y/y'',Y''

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 63

faen, in lieu of that of Hinde, and also to bear the
arms of Lloyd. By this act, the name and memory
of the oldest family in the parish will enter upon a new
lease of existence. The Plas Madog estates, with the
tithes of the townships of Christionydd-Cynwrig, and
Bodylltyn in the parish of Rhiwabon, which once be-
longed to the Cistercian monastery of Valle Crucis,
passed in 1857 into the hands of G. H. Whalley, Esq.,
M.P. for Peterborough, who had a mortgage upon the
property. Mr. Lloyd is a private in the Pontifical Zouaves.
The second son, Charles Thomas Edward, born at Plas-
Madog in 1 820, entered theserviceof the East India Com-
pany in 1840. In 1 853, he volunteered his services to Omar
Pasna, commanding the Turkish army on the Danube,
and was appointed a lieutenant-colonel under the name
of Beyzad Bey. Shortly afterwards he acted as adju-
tant-general to the force under General Cannon (Bairam
Pasha) which was dispatched from Shumla for the re-
lief of Silistria. He took part in the defence of the
latter town, and was lying side by side in an embrasure
at Redoubt Kale with the late Captain O. Butler, at
the time he received his death- wound. In July of
1854, he took an active part in the passage of the
Danube and the battle of Guirgevo. He accompanied
the army of the Danube to Bucnarest, thence to Eupa-
toria, and was present at various skirmishes before
Sebastopol in the years 1855-56. From the Crimea he
accompanied the force of Omar Pasha to Mingrelia, and
was present at the passage and battle of the Ingur.
For these various services he received the English
Crimean medal, the Turkish medals for Silistria, Danube,
and the Order of Medijee, together with his brevet
majority, and honorary lieutenant-colonelcy. He re-
turned to India in 1857, and was at once appointed to
a command in the state of Rewah, where he raised and
organised a force of 80Q men, and at their head in
January 1858, opened the grand Deccan road by cap-
turing six forts with forty guns and two mortars from
the mutineers, for which service he received the thanks

G4 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

of the Governor-General in Council. Twice more during
the mutiny he received the thanks of the Governor-
General of India in Council. He was promoted to the
rank of colonel in 1867. By his wife Harriette
Georgina, only daughter, of the late Captain Souter,
he has issue an only daughter Harriet Julia Morforwyn,
married in 1866 to George Hope Verney, Esq., of the
Rifle Brigade, second son of Sir Harry Verney, Bart., of
Claydon, in the county of Bucks.

The third son Edward died in his infancy. Of the
three daughters, the eldest, Harriet Esther Julia, mar-
ried Daniel Todd, Esq., of Buncrana Castle, county of
Donegal, J. P., and deputy-heutenant for that county ;
she died without issue, 16th December, and was buried
at Torquay, where her husband had been previously buried.
2. Juha Sarah, died at Aberystwith, 11th August, 1843,
and was buried at Llangurig. 3. Mary Cliarlotte.

CHAPTER V.

THE PLAS-MADOG FAMILY.

Having in the previous chapter given an account of
the Clochfaen branch of the family, we will now pro-
ceed to give a sketch of the descent and history of
that branch of the house of Tudor Trefor, which set-
tled at Plas-Madog in the parish of Bhiwabon. The
Plas-Madog family claims for its ancestor

Rhys ab Ednyfed ab IJywarch ab Lluddoccaf ab
Tudor Trefor, more commonly known as Rhys Sais,^ be-
cause he had acquired a knowledge of the English lan-
guage. He succeeded his father in possession of Chirk,
Whittington, Oswestry, and Maelor Saesnaeg, and by
his wife Efa, daughter and heiress of Gruffydd Hir, a
descendant of Tudor Mawr, Prince of South Wales, he
had issue three sons and one daughter; 1, Tudor, his
successor; 2, Elidir, lord of Eyton, Erlisham, and

^ Supra,

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 65

Borasham, (bore ermine a lion rampant az.) married Agnes
or Annesta, daughter of Lies ab Idnerth Benfras, and
was the father of Meilyr Eyton, ancestor of the once
distinguished family of the Eytons of Eyton ; 3, Iddon,
lord of Duddleston, in the lordship of Chirk (bore arg.
a chev. inter three boar's heads, couped gu,\ ancestor
of the Vaughans of Burlton Hall, and the Heylins of
Pentre-Heylin ; Generys married Ednowain ab Ithel,
lord of Bryn in Powys-land, who bore arg. three grey-
hounds courant in pale sa. Rhys Sais apparently came to
a fiiendly arrangement with the Norman conquerors of
the Marches, for in 1170 he divided his possessions
among his sons.^

Tudyr or Tudor ^ the eldest son of Rhys, succeeded to
his fathers lands in Whittington and Maelor, which he
appears to have held rnider Roger de Montgomery, to
whom he paid a chief-rent of four pounds, five shil-
lings, according to the entry in the Domesday Book,
under " Wilitone." He married Janet, daughter of
Rhys Fychan ab Gruflfydd ab Rhys ab Tudor Mawr, by
whom he had issue four sons ; 1, Bleddyn, who, at his
father s death, became lord of Chirk and Maelor Saes-
naeg, was by his wife, Agnes or Annesta, daughter of
Llewelyn ab Idnerth ab Meredith H^n, lord of Buallt,
descended from Elystan Glodrudd, ancestor of the
Joneses of Brynkynallt ; Wynns of Eyarth ; Lloyds of
Leaton Knolls and Domgay ; Lloyds of Talome and
Halchdyn ; Lloyds of the Bryn, now represented by
Lord Kenyon and J. Y. W. Lloyd, Esq., of Clochfaen ; the
Youngs of Brynyorkyn, in the parish of Hope,^ the

^ Tbe late Joseph Morris, Esq., Arch. Camh., 1852, p. 284.

' A younger branch of the Yonngs, of Brynyorkyn, eventaally
settled at West Kam, in the c5ounty of Lincoln, shortly after the
Reformation. On the death of John Yonng, Esq., in the year 1707,
the parish register of West Ram cnrioasly records that the incum-
bent testified to his death and burial upon oath before a magistrate.
His successor, John Young, of West Ram, died in 1719, and shortly
after his burial a flight of bees descended and settled upon his
grave. The simple villagers regarded this as a good omen, prog-
nosticating the future prosperity and exaltation of the family of the
deceased gentleman. By his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of — Thom-

66 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

eldest branch of which is now represented by William
Shipley Conway of Bodrhyddan and Brynyorkyn, Esq. ;
the Mostyns of Talacre and Segrwyd ; the Edwardses of
Chirk ; Trefors of Brynkynallt, Plas-teg and Trefalyn ;
Pennants of Downing, and of Penrhyn Castle, and the
Dymokes of Penley Hall. 2. Goronwy, or as he is some-
times called Goronwy Pefr (i.e., Ranulphus the Smart,
or handsome) married Maud, daughter of Ingelric, a
noble Saxon (who had previously borne a son, William,
of whom the Conqueror was the father) and by her was
the father of three sons, Hamon, William, and Payne. ^
By another wife, Goronwy had Roger, known after-
wards as Sir Roger de Powys, (so-called from his estate
being in Powys-land) Sir William de Powys and Jonas
of Llanerch Banna. 3. Cyhelin, of whom presently.
4. Meurig, ancestor of David, abbot of Valle Crucis,
bishop of St. Asaph from 1500 to 1503.

Cyhelin, the third son of Tudor, had lands in the
parishes of Llangollen and Chirk. Pentre Cyhelin
takes its name from him. He was the father of

lenaf, who married Mallt, daughter of Llywarch ab
Trahaiam, lord of Cydewain, and was the father of

Aior of Trefor {i.e., Tref-awr) in the parish of Llan-
gollen. He had two sons ; 1 , Adda of Trefor, who
married Tangwystyl, daughter of lorwerth (ab Ednyfed
ab MeUyr Eyton, lord of Eyton) by whom he had a
son leuaf, who, by his wife, Myfanwy (descended from
HoedHw, fifth son of Cynwrig ab RhiwaQon) was an-
cestor of Robert Trefor,^ of Trefor Hall, and Valle

bnrgb, Esq., of Kendal, he left issue two sons, 1, John, who mar-
ried Jane, daughter of J)t. Vavasour, brother of one of the baronets
of Hazlewood Castle, county of York ; 2, David Young, Esq., of
Nomanby-le-wold, county Lincoln, who had issue one son and five
daughters, one of whom, Elizabeth, became the wife of John Wil-
liams, Esq., father of the He v. Edward Williams, of St. Beuno's
College, Tremeirchion, Flintshire.

^ Miletta, sister and heiress to this Payne Tefr, or Peverell, be-
came the wife of Fulk Fitz-Warine, by which marriage the Warines
claimed Whittington, etc. — Arch. Camh., 1852, p. 284.

2 Mary, only daughter and heiress of Robert Trefor, married
Thomas Lloyd, of Glanhafon, in the county of Montgomery, high

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 67

Crucis Abbey, which was purchased by his ancestor,
John Trevor, Esq. leuaf and his wife were buried in

sheriff for that county in 1716, and was the mother of two daughters,
co-heiresses, Mary and Margaret. Margaret, the younger, married

(1) Edward Lloyd, of PlS.8-Madog, Esq., who died s. p. 1734, and

(2) Arthur Meares, of Plas Benion. The eldest daughter, Mary,
became the wife of Edward Lloyd of Pentrehobyn, county of Flint,
Esq., descended from Goronwy, Prince of Tegeingl, and was the
mother of five sons, Robert, Thomas, John, Edward, and Trevor
Lloyd, (all of whom died without issue) and two daughters, Mary
and Margaret, co-heirs of their brother Trevor, who was high-sheriff
of Montgomeryshire in 1787. Mary, the eldest, married Thomas
Mather, of Ancoats, Esq., by whom she had issue an elder son,
Samuel Lloyd Mather, who was the father of an only son, Thomas,
(who died a midshipman) and one daughter, Mary Palmer, the wife
of Robert Baldwin Lloyd, of Plis-Llanassa, by whom she had issue
one son, Trefor Lloyd, Esq., and two daughters, Margaret Baldwin
and Mary. Margaret, the second sister, and co-heiress of Trefor
Lloyd, Esq., married Rice Thomas, Esq., of Goedhelen, in the
county of Caernarvon, and left issue five daughters ; 1, Margaret,
the wife of Thomas Trevor Mather, Esq., of Pentrehobin ; 2, Jane ;

3, Anne, who married John Browning Edwards, Esq., of Nanhoran ;

4, Trevor ; 5, Pennant, who in 1808 married William Ironmonger,
Esq., of Wherwell Priory, county of Hants, who became owner of
Trefor Hall, Valle Crucis Abbey, and the other estates (Burke's
Landed Gentry, art. Ironmonger ; Arch, Camb., vol. i, p. 21.) The
Lloyds of Rhagatt likewise descended from Adda ab Awr. David
Lloyd, the first of the family who assumed the surname of Lloyd,
settled at Berth, near Ruthin, about the year 1600. He was the
son of Thomas ab Tudor ab Robert ab Meredydd ab Gruffydd ab
Adda ab Llewelyn ab leuaf ab Adda ab Awr, of Trefor. His de-
scendant, the late Edward Lloyd, Esq., of Rhagatt, in the county of
Meirionydd, who died October 1859, had issue by his wife Frances
Lloyd, daughter of John Madocks, of Fron Iw, county of Denbigh, Esq.
1, John Lloyd, married, 1847, Gertrude, daughter of the late Philip
Lake Godsal, Esq., of Iscoed, in the county of Flint ; 2, Edward,
married, 1855, Mary Eliza, daughter of the late John Madocks, Esq.,
of Glanywem, county of Denbigh ; 3, Howel William, married in
1850 to Eliza Anne, daughter of the late George Wilson, Esq., of
Nutley, county of Sussex ; 4. Charles Owen, Ensign in 8th N.I.,
E.I.C.S., who was killed at the age of nineteen in the battle before
Moultan, 12th September, 1848, by a Sikh, whose life he had saved
a few moments before; of the daughters, Frances, the eldest,
married, in 1835, the late Sir Robert Williames-Vaughan, of Nannau,
who succeeded his father. Sir Robert, the second baronet, in 1843,
died 28th April, 1859; Charlotte became the wife of the late
Richard John Price, Esq., son and heir of the late Richard Watkin
Price, Esq., of Rhiwlas, co. of Meirionydd ; Jane Margaret, wife of

68 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

the nave of the church of the Abbey of Valle Crucis.
The lids of the stone coffins m which their bodies are
deposited, with the inscriptions upon them, are still to
be seen. Adda bore party per bend sinister ermine
and ermines in a border gules. 2. The second son was

lorwerth ah Awr. He married Margaret, daughter
of Ednyfed ab lorwerth ab Meilyr Eyton, by whom he
had issue,

lorwerth Fychan (junior) of Trefor, who was living
in 1332, and married first Agnes or Annesta, daughter
of Hwfa ab lorwerth ab Gruffyd ab leuaf ab Niniaf
ab Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon {gules two lions passant arg.)
by whom he had issue, Howel of Trefor, whose only
daughter and heiress, GwenUian, married Llewelyn ab
leuaf ab Adda, of Trefor. lorwerth married secondly,
Margaret, daughter of Madog^ ab Llewelyn ab Gruffyd,
lord of Eyton, Erlisham, and Borasham) by whom he
had issue one daughter, Lucy, third wife of Madog
Llwyd, lord of Iscoed, descended from Tudor Trefor,
and one son,

Ednyfed Lhvyd, Esq., who married the sister and
heiress of Ednyfed ab lorwerth ab Madog, of Horslli in
the parish of Gresford, Esq.,^ descended from Sanddef
Hardd, who bore 1st, vert, seme of Bromoslips, a lion
rampant or ; 2nd, or, a lion rampant az. ; 3rd, vert, three
eagles displayed in fess or. By this lady, Ednyfed had
issue, Lleweljni (his successor) GruflFjrd, and a daughter,
Elen, who became the wife of Llewelyn Fychan, of
Pentre-Madog in Duddleston, Esq., son of Llewelyn ab
Goronwy ab Sir Roger de Powys {supra.)

Lleivelyn ah Ednyfed married Angharad, daughter
of Adda, second son of Llewelyn ab leuaf ab Adda ab

the Yen. Archdeacon Ffonlkes, of Llandjssul; Eliza Blackburne
married Meredith Vibart, Esq., late captain in E.I.C.S., and adju-
tant of the Edinburgh Artillery Volunteers; Mary Charlotte,
of Hengwrt, Harriet Frances Julia Ann, died at the age of twelve
years ; besides seven other children, who died in infancy.

1 Madog died 1331, and was buried upon the Feast of St. Mat-
thias, in the north aisle of G^resford Church, with his wife's family.
His tomb still remains in the church.

■ Ab David Hen ab Goronwy Hen of Burton ab lorwerth ab
Howel ab Moreiddig ab Sanddef Hardd.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 69

Awr of Trefor, and niece of John Trefor, bishop of St.
Asaph, by whom he had issue, 1. David, his successor.
2. Gruffyd. 3. Madog. 4. lorwerth Goch of Chris-
tionydd-Cynwrig, who was killed in the year 1490.

David ah Llewelyn, who was living in 1497, became,
jure uQcoris^ of Plas-Madog, having married Margaret,
daughter and sole heiress of David ab Hwfa, of Plas-
Madog. But before proceeding further with the account
of the issue by this marriage, it will be necessary here
to deduce the descent of the heiress of Plas-Madog
from the Princes of Upper Powys.

Owen Cyfeiliog, on ms death in 1197, was succeeded
by his son Gwenwynwyn, after whom Upper Powys was
thenceforward known as Powys-Gwenwynwyn. Allu-
sion has already been made to his conquit of the can-
tref of Arwystli, a considerable portion of which he
bestowed on his follower, Madog Danwr,^ another moiety,
with his accustomed liberahty to the religious houses in
his territories, was wanted to the neighbouring Cister-
cian monastery of Abbey Cwmhir ;* he also confirmed the
grant of lands to the church of St. Michael at Tref-
eglwys and the Abbey of Haghmon in Shropshire.'*
Dying about the year 1218, he left by his wife Mar-

faret, a son Gruffydd (who ultimately succeeded to all
is father's lands), together with a natural son, Madog.
The latter received the lordships of Mowddy and Caer-
einion, which at his death reverted to his brother
Gruffydd, Madog having left no male issue. His
daughter Efa, married first lorwerth ab Owen Brogyn-
tyn, and secondly Owen ab Bleddyn, lord of Chirk.
Gruffyd, the son of Gwenwynwyn, who was a minor at
his father's death, in 1242, married Hawys, daughter of
Sir John le Strange of Ness, and by her had issue
six sons and one daughter, Mabel, who became the
wife of Fulke Fitz-Warine, lord of Whittington. The
sons were, 1. Owen, who, by the t/Crms of his father's
wiU, received for his share of the territories, Arwystli,
Cyfeiliog, Ystrad Marchell (with the exception of the

^ Supra. ^ Rees' Account of Abheij'Cxvmhir, p. 30.

8 Arch. Camh., 1860, p. 331.

70 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

township of Hirgyngrog, which was settled upon his
mother for the term of her life.) 2, Llewelyn, who re-
ceived Tal-y-bont, Olerton-de-Hope, and Dau-ddwr. 3,
John, who was a secular priest, received for the term of
his natural life the township of Blaen-y-coed-talog, Uys-
wenan, and Llangadfan. 4, William, had Mowddy
(with the exception of Llandybo, which was settled
upon his mother). 5, David, from whom the heiress of
Plas-Madog traces her descent, received Pentyrch, Celli-
caswallon, Penarth, and Rhiwhirarth. 6, Gruffyd Fy-
chan, the youngest son, had Mochnant.

In his valuable paper on the Princes of Upper Powys,
{Montgomeryshire Collections, i, 59, 75) and in the
pedigree prefixed to the same article, Mr. Bridgeman
has asserted that David was a priest. He admits it is
true that he was not in holy orders at the time of his
father s death, for the terms of the latter's will do not
support him in his inference. Prince Gruflfyd in that
document grants a portion of his estate to his son John,
(the Rector of Pool) " to have and to hold for the whole
time of his life"^ A plain indication that he had no
lawful male issue, but in speaking of the lands be-
queathed to his son David, the father plainly declares
" which we have assigned to our son David and the heirs
of his body lawfully begotten,'' in precisely the same
terms as are employed in the bequest to his sons
Llewelyn and William, who are admitted to have had
lawful male issue. Had David been trained for the
priesthood, the father could never have spoken of him
in these terms, but, on the contrary, from the phraseo-
logy of the will it can fairly be inferred that if no
heirs had been bom to David at the time it was
drawn up, there was then in existence no lawful im-
pediment to his being the father of such. Llewelyn,
William, and Gruffyd nad sons, yet the father wills in
their case, as in that of David, that their portions in
the event of their dying " without issue lawfully be-
gotten," should revert to their elder brother, Owen. So

' Montgomeryshire CoUectivns, i, 41.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGTJRTG. 71

that in the will itself there is no distinction in the con-
ditions upon which these four brothers were to enjoy
the lands which they inherited at the death of their
father.

Neither is there aught in the terms of the documents^
which record the family compact between David and
his elder brother, Prince Owen, which justifies the in-
ference that the former was an ordained priest at the
time of the final concord in 1290. But these docu-
ments are in accordance with the statements of all the
manuscripts which assert that David wa^ married, but
left no male issue. And as his two daughters could
not inherit by gavel kind, but would have a claim ac-
cording to the English law, which was beginning at
this time to gain ground in Powys, the elder and
stronger brother, to secure the reversion of the lands to
the head of the family, induced the younger to relin-
quish all claims to it on the part of his children. As
David had no son to succeed him, he would the more
readily agree to the conditions imposed upon him, which
limited him to a Kfe interest in the lands. Here we
see enacted over again what occurred at the death of
Madog, the natural son of Gwenwynwyn, who was not
a priest. The strained inference of Mr. Bridgeman is
thus proved to be weak in itself, and can have no
weight at all, as it is contrary to the direct evidence
afibrded by the oldest and most authentic pedigrees,^
which expressly state that David was married, and left
two daughters. An unsupported inference of this de-
scription. particularly wfien the circumstances from
which it arises can be explained quite satisfactorily on
other groimds, should not be drawn, more especially in
this case, as it has a tendency to cast dishonour upon
the priestly character, and to discredit pedigrees which
have every appearance of authenticity.

Whatever value the " old tradition" relating to the
contention between Hawys, the niece of David, and

^ Montgomeryshire Collections, i, 132-4.

« Earl M8S,, 4181, 2299, 173. Add, MSS., 9864, 9865.

72 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

her uncles, and the imprisonment of the latter in Har-
lech Castle, may possess, and, whoever its author may
have been. Dr. Powel was not its originator,^ for it is
to be found in an old MS. in the British Museum, (a
transcript of which appeared in the Brython, iii, 124-127)
which was compiled, or copied, in the year 1498,^ eighty-
six years before the appearance of the first edition of
the History of Wales.

Prince David married Elina, daughter and heiress of
Howel, third son of Madog ab Grufiydd Maelor, lord
of Castell Dinas-Bran, and Prince of Powys Fadog,
founder of the Abbey of Valle Crucis, by whom he had
issue two daughters, co-heiresses: 1, Margaret, who was
married to Howel Grach, of Bodylltyn, in the parish of
Rhiwabon, third son by Gwenllian, his second wife,
(daughter of Owen ab Trahaiam ab Rotpert, lord of
Cydewain) of Llewelyn ab Gruflfyd ab Cadwgan, lord of
Eyton, descended from Tudor Trefor. By this marriage
she had issue an only daughter, Angharad, who mar-
ried Madog yr Athraw, of Erbistock, and, in right of his
wife, possessor of landt* in Bodylltjm, where he built
the house which was called in honour of him Plas-
Madog. 2, Mary, the second daughter, married Cara-
dog ab CoUwyn ab y Llyr Crach, of Meifod, ab Mere-
dydd ab Cynan, a yoimger son of Owen Gwynedd,
Prince of North Wales. This Meredydd was driven
from his territories by his uncle David ab Owen, Prince
of North Wales in 1173, and took refuge with Owen
Cyfeiliog, who gave him the lordships of Rhiwhiraeth,
Neuadd Wen, Llyssin, and Coed-Talog. He bore gii.
and arg. four lions passant guardant counterchanged.
The last heir male of this line, leuan ab Owen ab
Meredydd, of Neuadd Wen, had an only daughter and
heiress, Margaret, who married, first Howel ab Gruffydd
ab Jenkyn, of Llwydiarth, descended from Celynyn, (of
Llwydiarth, who killed the Mayor of Carmarthen) who

^ Montgomeryshire Collections, i, 58.

^ This date seems too late for Gutyn Owen. The number and
class of MSS., from which the transcript is made, are not given in the
Brython,

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 73

bore scuy a he-goat arg., armed, etc., or, and was de-
scended from Aleth, King of Dyfed. Mary married,
secondly, Rhys ab David Lloyd of Newtown Hall,
Ksquire of the body to Edward IV, who fell at Ban-
bury, 1469, and was descended from Elys tan Glodrudd,
By Rhys she had issue an eldest son and heir, Thomas
Pryse, of Newtown Hall, ancestor of the baronet family
of that place. The representative of Mary is the right
heir of the late Sir Edward Manley Pryse, the seventh
baronet, who died without legitimate issue in 1791.
Margaret married, thirdly, Gnifl^dd ab Howel ab David.

Madog yr Athraw was the youngest son by Efa, his
second wife (daughter of Llewelyn ab Ynyr of Isll) of
Hwfa ab lorwerth, of Hafod-y-Wem (who bore sa.
three lions pass, in pale arg.) ab leuaf ab Niniaf ab
Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon. By Angharad, his wife, Madog
was the father of a son and heir,

HwfoLy who succeeded him at Plas-Madog. He mar-
ried Agnes, daughter of Madoch Goch, of Lloran
Uchaf (descended from Einion EfeU, Lord of Cynllaith,
who bore paxtv per fess m. and arg., a lion rampant
counterchanged),and was the father of

leiiaf, of P14s-Madog, who by his wife Agnes,
daughter of Gruffydd ab Cynwrig (ab leuaf ab Cas-
wallon ab Hwfa ab Ithel Felyn, Lord of 141, who bore
sa, on a chev. inter three goat s heads erased, or, three
trefoils of the field), was the father of

Hwfa, of P14s-Madog. This gentleman married
Gwenllian, daughter of leuan Llwyd, and was the
father of

David, the father of Margaret, the heiress of Plas-
Madog, who became the wife of David ab Llewellyn,
who was living in 1497 {swpra). The issue of this mar-
riage was four sons, John, Gniflfydd, David Fychan, and
lorwerth, together with one daughter, Gwenllian.

John ab David married Margaret, (daughter by Phi-
lippa, his first wife daughter of Sir Randle Brereton,
of Malpas, Knight), of Howel ab leuan ab Gruffydd, of
Bersham, descended in the male line from Ednyfed,

74 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

second son of Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon, and by heirs
female from Llewelyn, the second son of Gruflydd ab
Gwenwynwyn, Prince of Upper Powys. Arms — 1,
ermine, a lion statant guardant gu. Ednyfed ab Cyn-
wrig — 2, arg. on a chief gu.^ three fleurs-de-lys, or.
Madog of Hendwr — 3, or, a lion rampant, gules. By
his wife, John had issue one daughter, Angharad, wife
of Madog ab David, descended from Cynwrig ab Rhi-
wallon, and one son,

Randle ah John, of Plas-Madog, who by Angharad,
his wife, daughter of John ab leuan ab David ab Dio,
of Llanerchrugog, had a son,

John Lloyd, of Pl&s-Madog, who was living July
5th, 1563. He married Janet, daughter of Geoffrey
Bromfield, of Bryn-y-Wiwair, in the parish of Rhiw-
abon, descended through lorwerth Benfras, Lord of
Maesbrook {armQ, supra), from Edwin ab Goronwy,Lord
of Tegeingl, founder of one of the sixteen noble tribes
of North Wales and Powys. ^ John was succeeded at
Plas-Madog by his son,

William Lloyd, who married Catherine, daughter of
Owen Brereton,* of Borasham, Esq. (high sheriff of

^ The Bromfields of Bryn-y-Wiwair became extinct in the male
line at the death of Edward Bromfield, Esq., whose only daughter
and heiress, Elizabeth, was married to Sir Gerard Eyton, of Eyton,
in the parish of Bangor-is-y-Coed, Knight.

^ The Breretons of Borasham deduced their descent from Wil-
liam, second son of Sir Handle Brereton, of Malpas, Knight, by his
wife, Alicia, lady of Ipstans, only daughter and heiress of William
Ipstans, lord of Ipstans, son and heir of Sir John Ipstans, Knight,
lord of Ipstans, in the county palatine of Chester, who died a.d.
1394, and Elizabeth, his wife, daughter and sole heiress of Thomas
Corbet, of More ton Corbet and Wattlesborough (Harl, M8., 1396.)
Sir Randle Brereton was fifth in descent from Sir Randolphus de
Brereton, Knight, lord of Brereton, in Cheshire, and the lady Ada,
his wife, relict of Henry de Hastings (who in her right was one of
the claimants of the crown of Scotland), and fourth daughter and
co-heiress by Maud, his wife, daughter of Hugh Cyfeiliog, Count
Palatine of Chester, of David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother of
Malcolm, and William the Lion, kings of Scotland, and third son
of Henry, crown prince of Scotland, who died in the lifetime of his
father King David I. Margaret, the eldest daughter and co-heiress
of David, Earl of Huntingdon, was grandmother of John Baliol,

PAROCHIAL^ ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 75

Denbighshire in the years 1581 and 1588), and Eliza-
beth, his wife, only sister of the unfortunate Thomas
Salusbury, of Llyweny, who was executed in 1586 for
his connection with Babington's conspiracy. By his wife
Catherine, Mr. Lloyd had issue five sons and two
daughters — 1, Edward (his successor). 2, Owen, who
married Jane, relict of John FfachmaUt, of Ffachmallt,
in the county of Flint, Esq., second daughter and co-
heiress (by Margaret, relict of Robert Empson, of Lon-
don, and daughter of Hugh Wynn, of Wigfair, in
Meiriadog, Esq.) of John Brereton,^ of Esclusham, Esq.,
who died 24th of January, 1622, and was buried at
Wrexham ; (arms — 1 arg.^ two bars sa, — Brereton, 2
arg., a chev. inter three crescents, gules. — Ipstans, 3
or, two ravens, ppr. — Corbet of Wattlesborough, 4, an
escarbimcle of eight rays, or. Tirret.) By this lady,
Owen Lloyd had issue one son, Thomas, a merchant,
who died without issue at Hamburg, and one daughter,
Elizabeth, wife of Edward Lloyd, of Plas-Madog.) 3,
Richard. 4, John. 5, Roger. Catherine, the eldest
daughter, married Hugh (ab John Wynn ab John ab
Robert of Rhiwabon,) and Mary, the second daughter,
became the wife of Humphrey Lloyd, of Llwyn Ynn,
Esq., descended from Edwyn ab Goronwy, Prince of
Tegeingl.^

Edward Lloyd, of Plas-Madog, who was living in
1620, married Anne, daughter of John Eyton, of Lees-
wood, in the county of Flint, and Jane, his wife,
daughter of John Lloyd, of Bodidris, in I&l, Esq., and
had issue — 1, Edward, who succeeded his father; 2,
Piers, of London ; 3, Thomas ; 4, John ; 5, Owen ;

King of Scotland, and John tbe Bed Comjn, lord of Badenoch,
who was killed in the convent of the Minor Friars, 1806, by Bobert
Bmce, grandson of Isabel, the second daughter and co-heiress
of Earl David. (For an acconnt of the Brereton family, who were
lords of Brereton in Cheshire, consult Ormerod's History of Cheshire^
and Lewie Dwnn's Vvdiatioris,)

^ John Brereton, of Esclusham, was the second son of Owen
Brereton, Esq., and Elizabeth, his first wife.

« Earl M8S,, 1969.

76 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

6, Matthew ; together with two daughters, the eldest
of whom, Jane, married Owen Bady, the son of Roger
Bady, Esq., of Rhiwabon, descended from Cynwrig ab
Rhiwallon, while Elizabeth, the second daughter, be-
came the wife of John Lloyd, the son of John Uoyd of
Coed Christionydd (who was living in 1620) ab Richard
Lloyd ab Ellis Lloyd of Llwyn Ynn.

Edward Lloyd, of Eglwysegl, M.A., died, in his
father's life-time, in Cambridgeshire, leaving by Re-
becca, hia wife, daughter of the Rev. Mostyn Piers, of
Cambridge, two yoimg children — Catherine, who was
subsequently married to John Powell, of Rhuddallt,
eldest son of Daniel Powell, son of David Powell, D.D.,
Vicar of Rhiwabon, the celebrated Welsh historian, a
lineal descendant of Llewelyn Aiu:dorchog, and one
son,

Edward Lloydy who succeeded his grandfather at
P14s-Madog. He married Elizabeth, only daughter
and heiress of Owen Lloyd ab William Lloyd,^ by
whom he had issue — 1, John, of Plas-Madog, a captain
in the royal army, who in 1660 was one of the seven
Denbighshire gentlemen deemed fit and quahfied to be
made a Knight of the Royal Oak. At that date his
estate was valued at £800.* He was living in 1667, but
was killed in London with Sir Evan Lloyd, of Bodi-
dris. 2, William, who died without issue. 3, Samuel,
who succeeded at P14s-Madog ; and one daughter,
Anne, married to William Lloyd, of Pl&s-Benion and
Tref-y-Nant, in the parish of Rhiwabon, descended
from Edwin ab Goronwy.

Samuel Lloyd, of Pl&s-Madog, married Sarah, second
daughter and co-heiress of Luke Lloyd, Esq., of the
Bryn, in the parish of Hanmer, descended from Tudor
Trefor, by whom he had issue, beside a yoimger son
Luke who died without issue, an elder son,

Edtvard Lloyd, of Pl&s-Madog, who died August,
8th, 1760, having married Anne, second daughter and

^ See preceding page.

^ Gicaith Givalter Mecham, ii, 192.

PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OP LLANGURIG. 77

oo-heireBS of William Lloyd, of Pl&s-Benion and Tref-
y-Nant, second son of Joseph Lloyd, of Castle Lyons,
in Ireland, second son of Jolm Llovd, of Coed Chris-
tionydd, descended from Edwin ab Goronwy. Mrs.
Lloyd died September 23rd, 1745, leaving issue one
son and five daughters —

Edward Lloyd, who married Margaret, second
daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Lloyd,' of Trevor
Hall, and Glanhafon, high-sheriff for Montgomeryshire
in 1716, and Mary, his wife, but died without issue
in 1734, aged eighteen.

1, Ehzabeth was the first daughter. The eldest
daughter, Elizaheihy who was bom April 31st, 1718,
was married at Erbistog, April 30th, 1743, to Jenhyn^
Lloydy Esq., of Clochfaen, in the parish of Llangurig
{supra).

2, Mary married Edward Williams, who assumed
the name of Lloyd upon his succeeding to the estate
of Pen-y-lan,' in the parish of Rhiwabon, and had
issue an only dau^ter, Mary Lloyd, heiress of Pen-
y-lan, who married Koger Kenyon, Esq., of Cefii, brother
of Lloyd, first Lord Kenyon, and son of Lloyd Kenyon,
Esq., by whom she had issue Edward Lloyd, who suc-
ceeded at Pen-y-lan, George, Thomas, Jane, and Anna
Maria.

3, Anne, who received for her share of the property
Plas-Benion and Tref-y-Nant, married John Rowland,
Esq.

4, Margaret became the wife of Robert LiCTam, Esq.,
of Neuadd Glyn-Hafren, in the parish of Llanidloes,

* Thomas Lloyd, the high sheriff in 17L6, was the eldest son of
Oliver Llojd, Esq., by Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Robert
Lloyd, Esq., of Glanhafon, high sheriff for Montgomeryshire in
1685 (see note, supra^ p. 289.)

« Supra, p. 280.

' The Lloyds of Pen-y-lan, in the parish of Rhiwabon, were a
yonnger branch of the Lloyds of Ceiswyn, in the parish of Tal-y-
Llyn, in the connty of Merionydd, who were descended from
Gwaethfoed, lord of Cardigan, who bore or, a lion rampant regardant

78 PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

(grandson of Kichard Ingram, Esq., of the same place,
high-sheriif for Montgomeryshire, 1680) and had issue
Edward, the father of the late Robert Ingram, a dis-
tinguished captain in the Royal Navy, who sold the
old fanuly residence ; Robert and Mary : arms,
ei^mine on a fess gules ^ three escallops or.

5, Bennette, married to Lewis Lewis, of Rhud-
dalt.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

CorUinucd from voL ii, p. 300.

The following verbal blazon of the arms of J. Y. W. Lloyd,
Esq. (see Engraving opposite p. 62^ etc.)^ was unintentionally
omitted from chap. v.

1. Qaarterly : Ist and 4th, party per pale, erminois and ermine, a lion
ramp, sa., between two flanches gu., charged with three annulets or ; 2nd
and 3rd party per bend sinister ermine and ermines, a lion ramp. or. Lloyd
of Clochfaen.

2. As., a lion ramp, party per fess or and arg., in a border of the third
charged with eight annolets <a. Lladdocaf ab Garadoc, Earl of Hereford.

3. Qaarterly : 1st and 4th gu., a lion ramp, regard, or ; 2nd and Srd a/rg.,
three boars' heads conped sa., tasked or. Maarice Yychan, of Kerry and
Mochdref.

4. Sa., three g^yhounds conrant in pale a/rg., in a border indented or.
Angharad, wife of Howel, second son of Tudor ab Einion Fychan (lord of
Cefo-y-llys), and d. and h. of Llewelyn ab Madog ab Banulph of Mochdref.

5. As 3. For Annesta, wife of Einion ab Howel ab Tudor of Mochdref, and
d. and h. of Adda ab Meirig ab Adda of Kerry.

6. Az., on a chevron arg., between three lions passant guardant or, three
crosses moline sa. Fowler, of Abbey Cwmhir.

7. Barry of six pieces gu. and arg., on a chief or, a lion passant as. Engle-
field, of Bycote, Oxfordshire.

8. Az., two bars arg., over all a bend compony or and gu. Lee, of Morpeth.

9. Per bend sinister ermine and ermines, a lion rampant or.. Lloyd, of
Plis Madog.

10. Lluddocaf ab Garadoc. (See 2.)

11. Veri, sem6 of broomslips, a lion rampant or. Sandde Hardd, lord of
Morton.

12. Or, a lion rampant eu. Gadwgan, lord of Nannau.

13. Vert, three eagles displayed in fess or» David ab Owen, Prince of
North Wales.

14. 8a., three lions passant in pale arg. Madoo yr Athraw, of PUs Madog.

15. Ermine, a lion rampant as. Howel Orach ab Llewelyn of BodyUtyn.

16. Or, a lion rampant gu. David ab Oruffydd ab Qwenwynwyn, loid of
Gaereinion.

17. Lloyd, of Plds Madog. (See 9.)

18. Arg., two bars sa. Brereton, of Borasham.

19. Arg., a chevron inter three crescents gu. Ipstans, of Ipstans.

20. Or, two ravens proper. Gorbet, of Wattlesborough.

Crests.

1. On a wreath or and sa. a lion ramp, sa., a fleur-de-lys issuing out of his
mouth, and supporting an antique shield gu., charged with three annulets
interlaced or. Lloyd, of Glocbfaen.

2. On a wreath or and gu. a lion ramp, regardant or. Maurice Fychan.

3. On a wreath or and az. an owl arg. crowned or. Fowler.

4. On a wreath arg. and sa. a demi lion rampant sa. holding a wreath of
laurel proper. Lloyd, of Pl&s Madog.

A PABOCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANOURIQ.

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A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO. 95

CHAP. VII. — BIOGRAPHICAL.

Davies, Eev. David was the son of Mr. Davies of
Clochfaen Issa in this parish, where he was bom in the
year 1823. He received the elements of his education
in the village school of Llangurig, then conducted by
Mr. Edward Kees, the parish clerk, and was subse-
quently placed in the office of the late Mr. T. E. Marsh,
solicitor at Llanidloes. His strict integrity, industry,
and careful business habits commended him to the notice
of his employer, who in a short time made him his head
clerk. His parents were anxious that he should adopt
the law as his future profession, but a more intimate ac-
quaintance with his employment, however, only created
in him a distaste for it, and he felt a strong inclination
to enter the church. The late Rev. Evan Pugh, B.A.,
then Vicar of Llanidloes, encouraged him in his predi-
lection, and gave him some excellent advice regarding
his studies and preparation for his future calling. His
parents reluctantly consented to his entering St. David's
College, Lampeter, through which he passed with credit,
having gained Hannah Moore's scholarship.

In 1848 he was ordained deacon, and appointed to the
curacy of Llan wnog by the Bishop of Bangor. The vicar,
Mr. James, who was previously connected with Llan-
gurig, was advanced in years, so that the burden of the
parochial work fell upon the young curate, who foimd
plenty of employment to call forth the whole of his ener-
gies. He laboured zealously to improve his parishioners
both morally and intellectually ; was the means of es-
tablishing the present excellent National school, having
previous to its opening maintained a night school. The
neighbouring hamlet of Caersws seems to have inspired
him with a strong love for archaeology, and having turned
his attention to the study, he employed his leisure in
investigating the antiquities of the district. His name

96 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

first appears on the list of the members of the Cambrian
Archaeological Association in 1853, when he was ap-
pointed one of the local secretaries for Montgomeryshire.
At the general meeting of the society held at Ruthin in
September 1854, Mr. Davies read a paper on "the Roman
remains discovered at Caersws," and also exhibited some
fragments of pottery discovered there, which were de-
posited in the temporary museum. He subsequentlv
rendered further valuable service to the cause of Welsn
archaeology by conducting to their completion the exca-
vations at Caersws : a aetailed account of them has
already been submitted to the members of the club.
While at Llanwnog he was appointed diocesan inspector
of schools for the deanery of Arwystli, was a contributor
to the English Journal of JEducation, and was also a fre-
quent writer to the Welsh newspapers and periodicals.

Mr. Davies in 1856 was collated by the Bishop of St.
Asaph to the incumbency of the newly-formed ecclesiasti-
cal district of Dylife, worth about £200 a year. A hand-
some commodious church had been erected in this flou-
rishing mountain mining village, at the cost principally of
the lord of the manor, and the proprietors of the mines.
No sooner was Mr. Davies appointed than he turned
his attention to providing means for educating the chil-
dren of Dylife. He was enabled in a short time to have
a substantial National school erected. A comfortable
parsonage was the next desideratum which claimed his
energies, and this also he managed to get built. But he
very imprudently took up his residence in his new house
before it was thoroughly dried and well aired. The
natural consequence was that he caught a severe cold,
which brought a painful lingering illness which termi-
nated fatally. He died at the Trewythan Arms Hotel,
Llanidloes, on his way to the Clochfaen, February 12th,
1865. His remains were interred in Llangurig church-
yard.

Davies, Owen, a well known character in this and
the neighbouring parish of Llanidloes, affords a striking
example of perseverance and industry triumphing over

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 97

difficulties in realising an ample fortune. His parents
were in very humble circumstances ; he was bom in
1777, and passed his youth as a farm servant at the
Belli, before he entered service at Llanidloes in the
capacity of a labourer, at the New Inn. Here he
manifested a very strong inclination for mechanics, es-
pecially clock and watch work, which seemed to possess
a peculiar fascination for him. After some practice, he
procured an old watch, which, after his day's work
was done, he was in the habit of taking with him to the
hay-loft, and there take it to pieces and rebuild it. By
these means he thoroughly familiarised himself with the
mechanism of a watch, and obtained a good insight into
clock-work. Like most self-taught mechanics, he evinced
more than ordinary skill in constructing tools out of the
most unpromising materials ; for he was not in a position
at first to buy even the simplest appliances needed.
When Ids skUl became known to his neighbours, he was
allowed to clean their clocks, the money thus gained
being carefully expended upon the most useful tools.
He was soon enabled to quit his calling of labourer for
the more congenial one of clock-cleaner, eking out his
time by glazing. By means of the most rigid economy
he raised himself to the position of an employer of
labour, and opened a fresh business as an ironmonger,
and soon became known far and wide by his superior
goods, especially in the cutlery department. Unfortu-
nately the love of money proved stronger than the love
for mechanics, and the latter part of his life was devoted
wholly and solely to its acquisition. Even when he was
a large landed proprietor, and the possessor of thousands,
he lived in the same simple unpretending style, never
indulging in the slightest luxury of food or dress, would
not even pay for the services of servant or housekeeper
to keep his house clean and cook his food, so that nis
eccentric manners passed into a proverb among those
that knew him. He died October 17th 1862, in the
eighty-sixth year of his age, and was buried in Llan-

N 2

98 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

gurig churchyard. The bulk of his property he left
among his poorer relatives ; he was never married.

HowEL, William (Gwilym Hywel), was a native of
this parish, but spent the greater portion of his life at
Llanidloes. He was bom in the year 1705. We have
no record of his early life or of his education, but we
have ample proof that the latter was not neglected, and
that it was supplemented by extensive reading and
careful study up to the very last year of Mr. Howels
life. He held the post of steward upon the Berthlloyd
estate in the neighbourhood of Llanidloes, and was
chosen by his fellow-townsmen to be mayor of the
borough.

He was not only a poet himself (several of his pro-
ductions being published in his almanacks) but was a
loving and industrious collector of the works of the old
bards, and of those of his contemporary poets. One of
his especial favourites was Eos Ceiroig (Huw Morris),
lolo Morganwg states that Mr. Howel had collected
about three hundred of the productions of that prolific
writer, doubtlessly with a view to publication. The late
Rev. Walter Davies (Gwallter Mechain) made a more
extensive collection, and published it in two volumes
in 1828, and there is reason to believe that he availed
himself of Mr. Howel's labours.

His fame, however, rests chiefly upon his astronomical
abilities, and as the publisher of a series of Welsh alma-
nacks, which in their day enjoyed great popularity. The
old Welsh almanacks of the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries may be regiirded as the precursors of the
monthly magazines and other periodicals now so plenti-
ful in the Welsh language, and were a kind of medium
for the literary intercommunication of those days, being
conducted ana compiled by men of considerable literary
pretensions. The series of annuals were kept up by a
succession of different editors from the appearance of
the first in 1680 up to the year 1 780. But in the year
1 770 the first Welsh magazine, the Eurgrawn Cymraeg,
appeared, and deprived the old almanacks of some of

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 99

their prominent characteristics. The first almanack
compiled and published by Mr. Howel was issued in
the year 1 766 from the press of Eddowes of Shrewsbury ,
where the whole series — ^ten in number — were printed.
Some notion of their contents may be formed from the
following translation of the title page of that for the
year 1770 :

" The Intelligencer of the Heavens or the Seasons,
or a New Almanack for the Year of the World 5719,
Year of Our Lord 1 770, the 1 8th year of the New Style,
the 10th year of the reign of George III, the 5th year
of publication, and the 2nd year after leap year. Con-
taining a correct calender for the twelve months of the
year, showing the time of sunrise and sunset, phases
of the moon, appointed feasts, aspects of the planets,

etc Chronicles, lists of the M.Ps. and Sherifis,

fairs and markets of Wales, an^ excellent elegy composed
in the twenty-four metres, carols, new stanzas, etc.
Collected by Gwilim Howel." Then follows an extract
from the Bible, Eccles. xviii, 7, 8, and a list of the towns

^ Among the principal poems published in the series may be
mentioned — In No. 2. A pastoral poem, {Bugeilgerdd,) by Edward
Richards of Ystrad-meirig, written in 1766 ; a Christmas carol by
Sion Powel of Llansannan. In No. 3. An elegy on the death of the
celebrated antiquary, Lewis Morris, written by Evan Evans in 1765,
with valuable explanatory notes appended in English. In No. 4.
An elegy written by Evan Evans on the death of another Welsh
antiquary, Robert Davies of Llanerch ; a carol by Sion Powel ;
stanzas on the new bridge at Pont-y-pridd, written by Lewis Hop-
cyn. In No. 5. Qoronwy Owen's celebrated elegy on the death of
Lewis Morris, written in the 24 metres, 1 767 ; a carol by David
Jones of Trefriw. In No. 6. Another elegy on Lewis Morris from
the pen of Huw Hughes (Bardd Coch), and a carol by John Edwards
clerk of Manafon. In No. 7. The Bard's Confession, by William
Cynwal, 1580, and various poems by Dafydd Evan, Huw Hughes,
and Rice Jones. No. 8 contains poems by leuan Brydydd Hir (the
elder), Huw Hughes, John Rhys, loan Siencin, etc., and an account of
the £^steddfod at Llanidloes. No. 9. An ode in praise of Richard ab
Sion (Bhisiart Sion Greulon), by Sion Tudor, 1580, with English ex-
planatory notes by Mr. Howel. It was this poem that suggested to
the Dean of St. Asaph the idea which he worked out in his Legend
of Captain Jozies, In No. 10. An elegy on the death of William
Morris, by Evan Evans, 1764 ; carol by David Jones of Trefriw.

100 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

(embracing the most important in the principaUty) where
the work might be obtained. " Printed and sold by
J. Eddowes near the market-house, Shrewsbury, price

The instruments necessary for carrying on the study
of astronomy were very costly, and in those days difficult
to be procured in the centre of the principality. This
difficulty Mr. Howel overcame to a considerable extent
by turning his mechanical ingenuity (which was of no
mean order) to the best accoimt m constructing the
more simple of the instruments which he needed in
taking his observations. Some of these were for several
years preserved at the Green, Llanidloes. In 1772 he
succeeded in establishing annual local Eisteddfods, the
first being held at the Ked Lion Inn, Llanidloes. He
died iQ 1775, and lies buried under the branches of the
yew-tree at the entrance of the Llanidloes churchyard.
An englyn (stanza) of his composition, which appeared
in the last of his almanacks, has been engraved upon
his tombstone.

Owens of Cefn-yr-hafodau. In a parochial accotmt
of Llangurig it would not be just to the distinguished
members of this family to pass them over without a
fuller notice (however brief and imperfect) than that
which is conveyed in the pedigree of the family, given

Previously. To the last, the representatives of the elder
ranch of the family asserted their connexion with the
parish by styling themselves '* of Glyngynwydd."

I. David Owen, who died in 1777, by his wife,
Frances, was the father of a remarkable family of four
sons. The eldest,

Owen Oiven, who was born in the year 1723, in 1745
married Anne Davies, daughter, and eventually heiress,
of Charles Davies, Esq., of Llivior, in the parish of
Berriew (Aber-rhiw). Mrs. Owen's mother was Sarah
Evans, daughter and heir of Edward Evans, Esq., the
last male representative of the family of Evans of
Rhyd-y-Carw, in the parish of Trefeglwys, who were
descended from Llewelyn Aurdorchog. By his mairiage

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 101

Mr. Owen acquired the estates of Rhyd-y-carw, Glaii-
rhiw, and Ty n-y-coed. He removed to the last about
the year 1760. In the year 1766 he served the oflSce
of high sheriff of Montgomeryshire, and died in 1789,
leaving a family of three sons and two daughters.

2. Richard Owen, the second son, upon his marriage
in 1 757 to Elizabeth, the yoimgest daughter of Maurice
Stephen, Esq., of Neuadd-Llwyd, in the parish of
Llandinam, and grand-daughter of Athelustan Hughes,
Esq., took up his residence at Upper Glandulas, which
was settled upon him by his father, and became the
founder of the family settled there for the last himdred
years. Glandulas was formerly part of the Clochfaen
estate, but early in the last century was in possession
of the Rev. Richard Owen of Iford, who had sold it
in or before 1740 to his cousin, David Owen, for in
that year the latter gentleman received a grant of a
pew in Llanidloes Church from the Bishop of Bangor,
as owner of Glandulas. Richard Owen left a numerous
family, whose names appear in the pedigree. The
present representative of the family is J. B. Owen, of
Upper Glandulas.

3. Edward Owen, M.A. The following notice of this
gentleman is taken from Mr. Marsh's sketch of the
History of Warrington in tlie Eighteenth Century :
" In connexion with the literary history of Warrington,
it is impossible to omit the name of the Rev. Edward
Owen, who became master of the school (Botchers
Free Grammar School) in 1757, and subsequently
rector of the parish, each of which offices he retained
till his death in the year 1807. His principal claim to
a niche in our temple is as the translator into English
verse of the Satires of Juvenal and Persius. The work
has had a fair share of reputation, and was published in
two vols., 12mo., 1785. This, and a Latin Grammar, pub-
lished in 1770, and the sermon I shall notice presently,
and a controversial tract, which I alluded to in my
notice of Samuel Fothergill, are the only productions

102 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGUEIG.

of Mr. Owen's pen with the existence of which I am
now ax5quaintea. On the personal character of Mr.
Owen I need not dwell. As a schoolmaster, he secured
the respect of his pupils, who in after life were accus-
tomed to speak with almost enthusiasm of his classical
taste, and the delight with which he regarded any in-
dication of a similar taste having been communicated
to his scholars. As an author I need only quote the
character given to him by so competent a judge as Mr.
Wakefield, who says that "for propriety, perspicuity and
elegance of expression, Mr. Owen had not many equals
at a time when good writing had become so general."
As a townsman he was not regardless of the literary
interests of the community among which he was placed,
and in promoting objects of this nature he was forget-
ful of those religious and political prejudices which too
often obstruct the progress of useful institutions. He
was the president of the Warrington Library, in the
management of which he was associated with so many
of the eminent men whom we have already had occa-
sion to mention. Indeed, he seems to have Uved on
terms of agreeable intercourse with the circle to which
I allude, and is noticed with much respect by Mr.
Gilbert Wakefield, who speaks of him as his "respected
friend Mr. Owen, a man of most elegant learning, un-
speakable suavity, and peculiar benevolence of heart."
He spent a large srun of money in improving the
school house and premises, and by his will, dated the
8th February, 1806, he left £600 for the use of the
organist of Warrington parish church. He died in the
year 1807, and was buried in Warrington church,
where a white diamond shaped marble dab formerly
marked his grave. This unfortunately was destroyed
during one of the many alterations which the church
has undergone since the time of his interment. For-
timately the inscription had been previously copied,
and through the kindness of Mr. Beaumont, of War-
rington, a copy is here given.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 103

Qais

Hie sepaltus est

Fortasse

Cito obliviseentur superstites

Flocci facient posteri ;

Qaantam yero omnibus

Quibuscunqae poterat

Studuerat vivns inservire

Jndicet Christus.

Interea (postquam hujus eeclesiaa ann' XL Rector

ct L scholad magister commoratus fuerat)

lit sua placide quiescant ossa^

Locum quo obtecta jacent.

Hoc marmore parvnlo designari

Voluit, moriens

Anno aetatis suaa lxxix
Annoque Christi mdcccvii.

Edwakdus Owen, A.M.,

Cambro.

Britannus.^

4. William Owen. He entered the Royal Navy
when very young, and in the year 1760, when he was
a midshipman, greatly distinguished himself at the
taking ofPondicLrry from the^French, losing his right

^ (Translation hy Mr, Beamoni,)

Who

Here lies buried

mayhap

the survivors will soon forget

and posterity count at nought.

But how, to the extent of his utmost power,

he had in life tried to serve all,

let Christ be the Judge.

Meanwhile (after he had been rector of this church XL years,

and master of the school l years),

that his bones might rest in peace,

he wished this place where they lie

to be covered with this marble.

Dying

in the Lxxixth year of his age,

and in the year of Christ, mdcccvii.

Edward Owen, A.M.,

A Cambro-

Briton.

104 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

arm in the action. He was a lieutenant in 1769, and
was shortly afterwards promoted to the command of
H.M.S. Cormorant, in which he again distinguished
himself. Captain Owen was bringing home dispatches
when he lost his life by an accident at Madras in 1778.
He was the father of two distinguished sons, Admiral
W. F. Oiven, and

Sir Edward William Camj)hell Richard Owen,
G.C.B., G.C.H. The latter gentleman died October
8th, 1849, at his residence, Windlesham House, Surrey,
at the advanced age of 78. We are indebted to the
Gentlemuns Magazine for the following summary of the
principal incidents in the life of this gallant sailor. He
entered the Royal Navy August 11, 1775, became a
lieutenant November 6th, 1793, and post captain No-
vember 30th, 1798. After the peace of Amiens he
was stationed, with several sloops and smaller vessels
imder his orders, on the coast of France, and by his
activity and zeal kept the enemy in a constant state of
alarm, at one time driving their ships on shore, and at
another bombarding the towns of Dieppe and St.
Valery. Subsequently, in 1806, Commodore Owen
(having then hoisted a broad pendant) superintended
a very successful attack on Boulogne, and in 1809
accompanied the expedition to WaJcheren, where he
gained warm commendation for the ability and energy
he displayed in the arduous duties imposed upon him.
In 1815 he was honoured with the insignia of a Knight
Commander of the Bath; in 1821 appointed a colonel
of Marines; and in 1825 advanced to flag rank. From
1828 to 1832 he held the chief command on the East
India station, and from 1841 to 1845 that in the
Mediterranean. He was made a Grand Cross of the
Hanoverian Guelphic Order in 1832, and of the Bath
in 1845. Sir Edward was member of Parliament for
Sandwich from 1826 to 1829; became Surveyor-General
of Ordnance in 1827; was a member of the Council of
H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence when Lord High Admi-
ral, and held office again in 1834-5, as Clerk of the

A PAROCHLA.L ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 105

Ordinance. He married in 1829 Selina, daughter of
the late Captain J. B. Hay, R.N.

Vice-Admiral William Fitzwilliam Owen^ bom in
1773 at Manchester, was the younger brother of Sir
Edward Owen, and was educated with him at the cele-
brated Hanway School, Chelsea. The following notice
of him is taken from the nineteenth volume of the
Monthly Articles of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Aft^r akining theVst ..nlf at that semina^, he el
tered the Royal Navy in the summer of 1788, on board
the Culloden, of 74 guns, commanded by his relation.
Sir Thomas Rich. By this officer he was from time to
time placed in several ships, of different rates, for the
purpose of acquiring knowledge in his profession; but
he rejoined the Culloden so as to be present at the great
battle fought on the 1st June, 1794. Shortly after that
glorious conflict Mr. Owen sailed in the Ruby, 64, for the
Cape of Good Hope, where he witnessed the captiu-e of
a Dutch squadron of three sail of the line and six frigates
and sloops in Saldana Bay, in August 1796. Returning
to England after this exploit he joined the London, 98,
bearing the flag of Admiral Colpay^ with whom he
quitted that ship during the alarming mutiny at
Spithead in May, 1797; for his firm conduct on that
trying occasion he was promoted in the following
month to the rank of lieutenant, and at the same time
placed in command of the Flamer gunbrig. In this and
other vessels he experienced much active and harassing
channel service till the close of the first French re-
volutionary war. At the commencement of hostilities
Owen was among the foremost to tender his services,
in consequence of which, in July, 1803, he was ap-
pointed to command the Sea Flower, a brig of 14
guns, and very shortly afterwards sailed for the East
Indies, on which station he was employed upon various
missions by the Commander-in-chief. In 1806 he
captured Le Charle, a mischievous French ketch, and
explored several of the channels between the eastern
islands, to the great improvement of the charts. To-

106 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

wards the close of that year he piloted Sir Edward
PeUew's squadron through an intricate navigation into
Batavia Koads. Here his bravery and skill were
conspicuous in the command of a division of armed
boats at a successful attack on a Dutch frigate, seven
men-of-war brigs and about twenty armed vessels, for
which he obtained a very honourable mention in the
Gazette. In the following year he contributed to the
capture and destruction of the dockyard and stores of
Griessik in Java, together with all the men-of-war re-
maining to Holland in India, consisting of the Revolu-
tion, Pluto, and Kortenaar, of 70 guns each, with the
Riistoff frigate, and a flotilla of gunboats. In 1808
Lieutenant Owen had the misfortune of being forced to
surrender the useful little Sea Flower to a couple of
French frigates in the Bay of Bengal. The brig was
soon retaken, and commissioned by Lieutenant George
Stewart ; but Owen was carried prisoner to the Isle of
France, where he was detained till June, 1810, when he
was exchanged. While preparing to depart, he play-
fully told the French Governor that perhaps they might
soon meet again; at which General de Caen laioghed —
albeit not often in that mood — and hoped that he
would be brought to Port Louis in a vessel more
worthy of capture than his last was. The badinage
proved to be rather predictive of coming events.

Meanwhile Owen had been made a commander, by a
commission dated in May, 1809, and on his return to
India was occupied in assisting the authorities at
Madras with his opinions, and in superintending the
transports for the expedition against the Isle of France,
which fell in December, 1810. Our officers next ap-
pointment was to the Barracouta, an eighteen-gun
ship-of-war, which he joined in time for aiding at the
blockade of Batavia, previous to the invasion of Java.
On the arrival of the forces under General Sir Samuel
Auchmuty and Commodore Broughton, he assisted in
the debarkation of the troops at ChiUingching, and con-
tinued attached to the army until after the surrender

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 107

of Batavia, in August, 1811. He had been advanced
to post-rank in May of the same year, and after acting
in command of the Piedmontaise a short time, he was
appointed a captain of the Cornelia, of thirty-two gims.
In this frigate he sailed from Batavia Roacis in March,
1812, with a small squadron, consisting of the Phcenix,
Bucephalus, and other vessels under his orders, to take

Possession of the commissariat depot at the mouth of the
^alembang river, at the eastern end of Sumatra. Having
achieved this object he returned to England, in charge
of a valuable convoy from China, in Jime, 1813.

After paying unceasing attention to the hydrography
of the East during his cruises, Captain Owen had ren-
dered very material assistance to his friend, the late
Captain Horsburgh, in the compilation of his well-
known Oriental Navigator*, and he moreover employed
his half-pay leisure in correcting charts, and in making
a translation of Franzini's Sailing Directions from the
Portuguese. At length, in March 1815, he was ap-
pointed to the surveying service on the Lakes of Canada,
where he opened the line of operations which has since
been so ably completed by his eldue, the present Rear-
Admiral Bayfield. In August, 1821, he was appointed
to the Leven, twenty-four, in which corvette, with the
Barra^outa, he was for upwards of four years employed
in an examination of the west and east coits of Afrii-
an arduous duty carried on in the face of malignant
fever and deadly casualties. In the Ashantee war he
was able to render an effective co-operation to General
Turner, as was acknowledged by the latter in the
London Gazette.

On his return from this mission. Captain Owen's re-
presentations were so strong that the Island of Fer-
dinando Po, in the Bight of Benin, would not only prove
more healthy than Sierra Leone, but would also afford
greater facilities for the suppression of the slave trade,
that he was commissioned in February 1827 to the
Eden, of twenty-six guns, for the purpose of forminff a
settlement there and to complete his surveys. On this

108 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUXT OF LLANGURIG.

duty he was occupied till the close of 1831, when he
retired to half-pay, but not to idleness, for his charts,
remark books, and attention to improving the means
of maritime surveying, ftdly occupied his time. In
this society he worked on our council ; and he presented
us with two specimens of his professional ingenuity in
a double reflecting circle, and quadruple reflecting
sextant.

The island of Campo Bello, in Passamaquoddy Bay,
New Brunswick, belongs to the Owen family, and had
descended to the subject of our notice and his brother :
and as William evinced a desire to settle there. Sir
Edward surrendered his portion to him. Here he had
full occupation for a time in getting it in order, and in
establishing his family, consisting of a wife and two
daughters. Soon after his arrival he was elected member
for that locaUty in the House of Assembly at Frederic-
ton, where he brought to light various abuses, and
involved himself in the cares of a staunch reformer.
As he was still zealous in the cause of hydrography.
Sir Francis Beaufort procured an appointment for him
in a fine steam-vessel, the Columbia, of 100-horse power,
to survey the Bay of Fundy, and the coast of Nova
Scotia. Beiag superseded on his promotion to flag rank
in December 1847, he continued the rest of his life on
half-pay.

In conduct and bearing our excellent admiral was at
once firm and kind, shrewdly sensible and imostenta-
tious, with a manner bordering on the eccentric ; on
service he was authoritative without being at all tyran-
nical, a man of steady resources and imremitting zeal.
In speech he was fluent and blunt. When a ministerial
peer made him a proposal which he considered as not
quite proper, he replied : " My lord, I may be poor, but
still I am proud." On the Admiralty forwarding him
a complaint which they had received from the Marquis
Palmella, relative to some differences at Mozambique,
he closed his explanations with, he "trusted that the
word of a captain in the British navy was as good as

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 109

that of a Portuguese marquis." He built a church at
Campo Bello, which he endowed, and after considerable
trouble prevailed on the provincial bishop to appoint a
clergyman of the Church of England to it. This gen-
tleman regularly officiated until one Sunday the admiral
gave him notice that he wished to occupy the pulpit
himself that day ! So singular and abrupt a hint led
to an altercation, and as Owen declared that he would
take possession, if necessary, by force, the clergyman re-
signed the Kving, and the Admiral for a time regularly
performed the clerical duties — the congregation attend-
ing even more regularly than before.

Vice- Admiral Owen, whose faculties had been declin-
ing for some time, died at St. John's, New Brunswick,
on the 3rd of November, 1857, at the advanced age of
eighty-four years. He had been very long a Fellow of
the Society, which he regularly attended while in town.

The three sons of Owen Owen, the high sheriff of
1766, were

1. Sir Arthur Davies Owen, knight, of Glyngynwydd
(in the parish of Llangurig) and Glansevera. Was a
lawyer by profession, one of the deputy-lieutenants for
the coimty, an active magistrate, and for many years
chairman of the Quarter Sessions. In 1814 he was
appointed high sheriff of the county, and, from the for-
mation of the troop to the time of his death in 1816,
was second in command of the Montgomeryshire Yeo-
manry Cavalry. He was buried in Berriew Church.

2. David Oiven, M.A. He entered Trinity College,
Cambridge, and was senior wrangler of that university
in the year 1777. He became feflow of his college, and
subsequently was ordained priest. He died unmarried
in 1829, at Campo Bello, in New Brunswick, and, in
accordance with his own request, his remains were con-
veyed across the Atlantic, and deposited in the family
vault in the church of Berriew.

3. William Owen, K.C., was bom in the year 1758,
educated at the Free Grammar School at Warrington
under his uncle, and thence proceeded to Cambridge.

110 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

In the year 1782 he took his degree of B.A. at Trinity
College, and was fifth wrangler. Among the members
of his own college who graduated at the same time
were Professors Porson and Hailstone, Drs. Raine
and Wingfield. Mr. Owen and these four gentlemen
were afterwards chosen fellows of Trinity College. He
subsequently became a member of Lincoln's Inn,
and eventually a bencher of that society. After at-
tending the Oxford and Cheshire circuits for several
years, he confined his practice chiefly to the Courts of
Chancery and Exchequer. He was a Commissioner of
Bankrupts until he was advanced to the rank of King's
Counsel. About the year 1821 he quitted his profes-
sion, and retired into the country, where he acted as
magistrate and deputy-lieutenant, taking an active part
in aU the pubUc business of the county, and generaUy
presiding L chairman of the Quarter Sessions. Mr^.
bwen was instrumental in abolishing the system of
Welsh judicature, and took a leading part in the par-
liamentary reform agitation previous to the passing of
the Reform Bill of 1832, the county of Montgomery
being the first to petition in support of it. In 1823
he married Anne Warburton, only child of Captain
Sloudiiter, and relict of the Rev. Thomas Coupland, of
the Friory, Chester, and died without issue 10th of
November, 1837, aged 79. He was buried in Berriw
Church, where a nandsome marble monument was
erected in his memory by his widow, who still survives.

CHAP. VIII. — FOLK LORE.

As many of the old customs, superstitious beliefs, legen-
dary lore, etc., which fall imder the title placed at the
head of this chapter are common to most of the Arwystli
parishes, a fuller notice of them is reserved for the pa-
rochial account of Llanidloes. Llangurig has, however,

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. Ill

from time immemorial been locally famed for its con-
jurors" (gwyr-hysbys), its manner of keeping the wakes,
and for retaining the old custom of Arian-y-rhaWy and
therefore deserves a passing notice here.

The parish, from its very situation, in the centre of
the mountain fastnesses of the principality, far distant
from the great centres of civilisation and progress, with
a sparse scattered agricultural population, few of whom,
until of late years, enjoyed any advantages of a good
education, or intercourse with the outer world, seems
to have been admirably adapted by its physical and
social Lsolation for keeping alive the smouldering fire of
the old superstitions which in times past prevailed in
every valley of Wales. Sufficient vestiges of this wide-
spread and firmly-rooted species of mythology still exist
to enable the curious to trace its characteristic features,
and to form a conception of the influence it obtained
over the minds of the majority, and the important part
it played in almost every action of their daily lives. It
recognised the existence of a number of noxious spirits,
who were the supernatural authors of the greater part
of the "ills which human flesh is heir to," whose
earthly devotees and agents were pre-eminently the
witches. Some of these were supposed to have sold
themselves body and soul, like Sion-y-Cent (the Welsh
Faust), to the devil, to obtain his aid the more effectually
to carry out their purposes. There were, however,
various grades of guilt and power of working mischief
among them. To counterbalance this principle of evil^
and, as it were, to make their mythological creed dually
perfect, the existence of beneficent spirits, who had the
well being of humanity at heart, was acknowledged.
The fairies, or, as they are called among the Welsh
hills, Tylwydd Teg (fair family), were generally classed
among the good spirits; but this principle in human
form manifested itself in those very important person-
ages whose calling was hardly dignified enough to en-
title them to be styled astrologers, but who were well
known as Conjurors. Low and sordid as their motives

112 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

were, their special province was to do battle with the
spirit of evil in its most common form — ^that of witch-
craft — or by granting spells, charms, and foretelling the
future, to avert the ill which would otherwise have be-
fallen those who placed implicit reliance upon them.
Some of the lower class of these " cunning-men " were,
it is true, believed to have been the familiars of the
spirits of darkness, but the better sort were known to
be men who, in addition to a " gift " for their special
calling, qualified themselves by a study more or less
thorough of the works of Michael Scott, Lily, and other
expounders of the mysterious craft, and professed to be
able to hold the devil himself in subjection. Add a
profound belief in ghosts, corpse-candles, deryn-y-corph
(the corpse bird), jack o' the lanterns, etc., and some
notion may be formed of the secular creed prevalent in
the parish in the •' good old days " which are past.

The key-stone of the whole undoubtedly was the be-
lief in witchcraft, which held its ground till within a
late period, and cannot even yet be said to be wholly
eradicated. Formerly its existence was regarded as a
necessary deduction of the truthfulness of Holy Writ.

" Had his Majesty King George II read the History of
Witchcraft, and known as much as we do in some parts of
Wales, he would not have called upon his Parliament to deter^
mine that there are no such things as witches, and his Parlia-
ment would hardly have complimented him therein. If they
say there never was (sic) such things as witches in the world,
the Scripture is against them, both the Old and the New
Testament, for there were witches in the days of Saul and in
the days of Paul.^'i

This is the quaint language of a nonconformist minister
of the last century, and it may fairly be taken as the
typical stock argument used upon all occasions by the
believers in witchcraft when a doubt was expressed as
to the power of witches. The following extraxst from the
same author of " ghostly memory " illustrates another
phase of superstition prevalent in the parish in the last
century :

^ AppaniionSj e/c, in Wales, by the Rev. Edmund Jones, p. 25.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 113

Edward Lloyd, in the parish of Llanp^arig, being very ill,
those that were with him heard the voice of some person very
near them; they looked aboat the house, bnt could see no
person ; the voice seemed to be in the room where they were.
Soon afler they heard these words, by some thing {»ic) nn-
seen,/T mae nenbren y ty yn craccio* {'the uppermost beam
of the house cracketh^) ; soon after, ' Fe dorr yn y man'
('there it breaks') ; he died that moment, which much affected
the company/'^

To the same industrious writer in this peculiar branch
of literature we are indebted for a short notice of the
first recorded conjuror who resided in the vicinity. One
Sir David Uwyd, who lived not far from Yspytty Yst-
vdth, in the adjoining Cardiganshire parish, appears to
have been a " curate likely of that church, and a phy-
sician, but being known to deal in the magic art, he
was turned out of the curacy, and obliged to live by
practising physic. It is thJught that le learnt th4
magic art privately in Oxford in the profane time of
Charles the Second, when many vices greatly pre-
vailed." "Sir'' David was in the habit of regularly
visiting the neighbouring market towns of Llanidloes
and Rhayader, passing through Uangurig on his way
to and from the former. Our author relates several
instances of his extraordinary skill. On one occasion
his Satanic majesty was in the habit of visiting a drunken
tailor, vdshing to have a suit of clothes made. The
terrified tailor appealed to Sir David, who soon sent
the unwelcome visitor about his business-

^^ Another time, being at Llanidloes town, in Montgomery-
shire, twelve miles from home, and as he was going home
very late in the evening, seeing a boy there of his neighbour-
hood, offered him to ride behind him if he was for going
home, which the boy accepted, and they came home in about
two hours. The boy had lost one of his garters in the journey,
but, seeing something hang on an ash tree near the church,
climbed up to see what it was, and, to his great surprise, he
found it was his garter which he had lost ; which shows they
rode home in the air.^'^

^ Apparitions, eic,^ in Wales, p. 56. * Ibid., pp. 66-7,

114 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO.

Unfortunately for the history of Welsh folk lore, the
mantle of old Jones does not appear to have fallen upon
anyone. To judge from the tales related by the old
people of the parish, there is every reason to believe
that the line of conjurors from Sir Davids time to the
present has been unbroken. One of the best known of
his class in the latter part of the last century, and in
the early part of the present, was Edward Savage, who
was born in the year 1 759. He resided at Felin Fawr,
and subsequently at Troed-y-lon. During his long life
he was consulted " far and wide" upon the mysteries of
the magic art. He was a small farmer, a herb doctor,
and gun-smith, but derived his chief source of income
from his more superstitious fellow-mortals, who made
pilgrimages to Llanguria from the neighbouring coun-
ties, that they might have the benefit of the great
man's advice.

The following incident, related by a highly respectable
and trustworthy person as a " remarkable coincidence
which I cannot explain," wiU show the nature of the
old conjuror's method of procedure, and the means by
which he earned his money and his fame. The father
of the narrator had lost one valuable pig from disease,
and a second was purchased in his place, which was
suddenly taken ill, and for days would eat nothing.
Some of the credulous neighbours at once suggested
that human agency had something to do with the pig's
illness, in fact, that it was "witched." The young man
resolved to secretly visit " Old Savage," and elicit his
opinion, with no great faith in the result. Carrying his
resolution into effect, he arrived at the conjuror s house
and stated his errand to the wise man, who at once con-
sulted his books, wrote out a charm, and gave him some
herbs to mingle with the pig s food. He also gave him
particular directions regarding the charm, and aescribed
its immediate effect upon the patient, and further stated
that the cause of his sufferings resided between the
young man's home and the north, and that she should
not rest during the night if his advice was carefully

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGUllIG. 115

attended to. Savage's directions were duly carried out,
the paper upon whicn the charm was written was iiibbed
over the pig from head to tail the prescribed number
of times, and then placed for his further protection in a
crack in the wall of his cot. Some of his bristles were
then taken, placed between two flat irons, and put on
the top of the fire, where they remained all night. On
the following morning, to the utter astonishment of tlie
operator, a neighbour who lived only a few doors to the
north came into the house as the family were at break-
fast, and complained that she had not rested during the
night, having suffered acutely from tooth-ache. The
spell was broKcn, the pig recovered, and knew no more
suffering till placed in the hands of the butcher.

The old man, like other great men, was no hero among
his immediate neighbours. He prided himself upon his
facidty for detecting thefts and tracing stolen goods. A
humorous story is related of the means adopted by a
number of young men for destroying the old man s pres-
tige in this respect. Watehing their opportunity, they
entered his house one Sunday morning wnen no one was
within, took down a dried ham that was hanging up,
hid it very carefully, and then spread a report that it
had been stolen. Of course the news created a sensa-
tion, and upon his return Savage at once missed the
bacon, and shortly afterwards heard of the visit which
had been paid to his house during his absence. He
vowed to punish the thieves with the most terrible
visitations his art could inflict upon them ; horns should
grow upon their heads, they snould be smitten with
blindness in one of their eyes, etc., if they did not im-
mediately restore the pilfered bacon. His threate, how-
ever, were uttered in vain, his vaunted books were
powerless, the thieves met him with taunts — " Savage,
where 8 your ham ?" " Who stole your bacon. Savage?"
The conjuror had met with his equals in cimning, for they
completely baffled his art for days. His wife was more
successful, for in changing the straw beneath the paliasse
of their bed she found the missing ham, and in a plaintive

116 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGUHIG.

voice informed her husband of the discovery. The old
man, who was consulting his books at the time, cried
out exultingly, " Well done the old books, they never
failed me yet !'' After serving his generation in his own
peculiar manner, he died in the year 1849, having at-
tained the patriarchal age of ninety years; his wife, who
lived to be eighty-five, survived him one year. Both
lie buried in IJangurig churchyard, where a head-stone
marks their graves.

One R J was a contemporary of old Savage.

He resided nearer Llanidloes, was a freeholder, and con-
sidered a well read, enlightened man. Yet he could
not resist the temptation of making: a gain out of the
creddity of his Zj. ,„pe«atio^«>& He ate

f)retended to be a doctor, and professed to be particu-
arly skilful in counteracting tne influence of witches,
in layinff the evil spirits who visited the earth in the
form of Ihosts, and^in giving speUs or charms for cocks.
Before the brutal sport of cock-fighting was put down
by the legislature some twenty years ago, it was oft;en
customary for the owners of game-cocks to pay a sum
of money to a conjiu-or to obtain a spell, which was
written upon a small strip of paper, to be securely
fastened round the bird s leg with the view of rendering
him invincible. One of these spells, which was pre-
served for a long time, was found to be taken from

Ephesians vi, 1 6. J had, for a man of his position

and education, a valuable library.

Another conjuror of extended fame was one William
Pryse, of Pen-cin-coed, whose principal visitors were
residents in Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Radnorshire,
who must have had great faith in the man s abilities
before they imdertook such distant pilgrimages, for this
was long before railways were introduced into Mid-
Wales. Pryse 8 reputation locally was not very high,
for some one had stolen his watcn, and he was never
able to discover the thief, nor regain possession of the
lost property.

The mantle of old Savage, with a double portion of

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 117

the old man's skill, shrewdness, and intelligence, has
fallen upon his grandson, who resides at the family resi-
dence, Troed-y-lon, and enjoys a comfortable income
from his various callings of herb-doctor, gxmsmith, and
conjuror. He is no niggard in his manner of living,
being what is generally styled a " free jolly fellow," and
strongly addicted to the sports of coursing and shoot-
ing. Among his neighbours he is known as one who
is ever ready to assist in doctoring patients, whether
human or farm stock, and many are the cures with
which he is justly credited, for he possesses very con-
siderable knowledge of herbs and their medicinal pro-
perties. The higher pretensions of his art are reserved
for more distant admirers, who call upon him regularly
at appointed places of meeting at Llanidloes, Newtown,
and Welshpool. One of the most ordinary manifesta-
tions of witchcraft is the inability of the " chumer " to
convert the cream into butter, and is the frequent cause
of a visit to the wise man. Respectable farmers from
a great distance either go or send messengers to Llan-
gurig in order to have the spell broken. Another sub-
ject which leads to frequent consultations is the illness
of farm stock, in which case the conjurors knowledge
does him good service. One example out of many that
could be giveit will suffice to show the general modus
operandi in these cases. The following anecdote was
related to the writer by a thoroughly original character,
who had imbibed the belief in witchcraft with his
mothers milk, and who brought it forward with the
intention of making a convert. A well-to-do and re-
spectable farmer in an adjoining parish, who was a
deacon of his chapel, was desirous that the Llangurig
conjuror should be consulted, as his calves were very
unweU. But the farmer was anxious not to appear in
the matter, so he asked a second person to employ the
individual who related the facts, who readily imdertook
the necessary journey to visit the wise man. Arrived
at his house, his errand told, the conjuror at once re-
tired to his sanctum to consult his books, while some

118 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIGT

one remained in the kitchen to watch the clock, and
give him the correct time when he required it. The
ceremony gone through, the charm and simples were
handed to the messenger, and the necessary directions
given as to the use of the same. But they did no good.
One of the calves died, and on the following week the
same man was again sent to Llangurig, in the hope that
the second journey would prove more beneficial to the
surviving calves. When informed of the death of the
calf the conjuror said that the failure was to be at-
tributed to a mistake in giving him the correct time on
the occasion of the first consultation. Once more the
inner room was entered, and the same ceremony re-
peated, more herbs and another charm was handed to
the messenger, and very careful directions as to their
use were given. Arrived at the cow-house, the herbs
were administered, and each calf was duly rubbed with
the charm^ from head to tail nine times, and the name of
the Trinity invoked. This done the charm was placed
in a hole in some of the timber- work of the ceiling of
the " bay " to avert future misfortune. The calves, of
course, recovered.

At a considerable distance in the profession — as for-
tune-teller — came one of the weaker sex, an old lady
whose proper name was Mary Evans, but who from the
habit of telling fortunes and making forecasts for the
small charge of one penny, was familiarly known as
Pal-y-geiniog (Penny Maty). Her mode of looking
into futiirity was very simple. It consisted in pouring
tea-grounds into a cup, which were turned round rapidly
and then allowed to settle in the bottom of the cup.

^ My informant could not say what was written upon the paper
which oonntituted the charm, but Mr. Baring Gould gives the fol-
lowing one which was used upon a similar occasion.

" A charm for cattle —
Our Lord Jesus Christ went over the land,
With His staff in His hand,
The Holy Qhost in His mouth.

In the name, etc.
And the sign of the crobs is made nine times over the cuttle."

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LL AKGURIG. 1 1 9

From the disposition of the tea-leaves the old dame
used to read her prognostications. She was also fre-
quently consulted by persons who were about making
trading ventures, purchases, or upon their undertaking
long journeys. She resided in a small cottage on Rhos-
y-wrach (Hag's Moor), and often upon a fine Simday
afternoon in the summer numbers of ladies, some of
them upon horseback from a considerable distance,
would visit the old woman to have their fortimes told.
She was in the habit of charging the " upper-class "
visitors half-a-crown. A short time before her death
she abandoned the practice of fortune-telling, and be-
came a member of tne church.

The Wakes (Gwylrmab-santJ. This holidav originated
in the religious ceremony observed upon the day com-
memorating the dedication of the church by Curig
Lwyd to his patron saint, St. Cyrique. This day falls
upon June 1 6th, and the wake generally began on the
Sunday following the saint's day, the anniversary being
regarded by the parishioners as the great feast and
holiday of the year. In the time of the Stuarts there
is evidence to show that in the neighbouring parish of
Llanidloes the usual games and sports were carried on
upon Sunday, in which respect Llanguiig most probably
was not behind its neighbour, — a custom which perhaps
tended to obtain for it from the followers of Vavasour
Powell the character of being " noted for untoward-
ness." In the early part of the present century,
Llanguriff wakes possessed sufiicient attraction to col-
lect m tne village the " choicest spirits" and athletes
of the neighbouring parishes, who took an active part
in the various games that were going on, in the fun
and froUc which were the usual concomitants of the
holiday, which, whUe it lasted, converted the small
village into a fair. Unfortunately, the feasting, drink-
ing, etc., were oflen prolonged for days in succession,
the visitors and parishioners gradually returning to
their homes as their pockets grew lighter, and the
wakes were frequently brought to a close when the

120 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

participators in the various pastimes had spent all their
money in one of the two inns of the village. Sometimes
drunkenness and party fights disgraced the proceed-
ings. This caused right-minded persons to exert their
influence in putting an end to such scenes. Their efforts
were successful, and latterly the athletic games and
out-door sports so prevalent in the parish in olden
times gradually became neglected, and the wakes itself
to be considered among the things of the past.

Arian-y-rhatv (Shovel-money). At all funerals which
take place at Llangurig, when the coflSn has been lowered
into the grave, the parish clerk holds a shovel over the
open grave, upon w\ich he receives the contributions
from the relatives and friends of the deceased. This
custom is a reUc of the times when the Roman Catholic
religion prevailed in the principality, and it was custom-
ary to pay money to the priest for offering masses for
the souls of the dead. The money placed upon the
shovel is called Arian-y-rhaiv , and is the clerk's fee. As
it is regarded as a mark of respect and esteem towards
the deceased to contribute, and as nothing but sUver^ or

^ In connexion with the custom of contributing only silver or
gold coins, the following incident was related to the writer. An
eccentric character, who was a confirmed lover of his beer, named
Richard James, a glazier at Llanidloes, on one occasion accompanied
a funeral to Llangurig. Arrived at the village and examining his
pockets he found himself the possessor of a solitary silver sixpence,
his mite for Arian-y-rhaw. His five miles walk had not tended to
allay his customary thirst, and the state of his funds provoked a
mental debate. Should he have his beer, or should he practise self-
denial P It was very difficult to carry out the latter suggestion ;
his mouth watered at the very thought of his favourite beverage :
yet he was too proud to leave the churchyard without contributing,
and too dignified to enter the inn moneyless. A happy thought
occurred to him which he at once carried out. He entered the
church in the iuneral cortege^ and when it came to his turn to place
some piece of money upon the extended shovel, he gravely deposited
six copper pennies upon it, for which he had exchanged his sixpenny-
piece. Observing the act, old George Bennett who then officiated
as clerk, quietly addressed him in Welsh.

"I am greatly obliged to you, Richard James, but no copper
coins are received at this offering."

"I am very much obliged to you, my dear George," was the

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO. 121

gold is received, it frequently happens that the clerk
collects a large sum. If in addmg up the money
an odd sixpence occurred, it was formerly deemed an
omen that another funeral would take place shortly.

CHAP. IX. — MISCELLANEOUS.

1. Nonconformity. — ^When the parochial clergy were
expeUed from their livings, by virtue of the "Act for
the better propagation and preaching of the Gospel in
Wales," which was passed February 22nd, 1649, their
successors appear to have made some progress in bringing
over the people to their views, for Llangurig was neld
up as an example of their influence (vide supra, chap, iii,
§ 5). But their authority, as far as can be ascertained,
appears to have terminated at, or very shortly after,
the Restoration.

Early in the last century the influence of the great
Welsh Methodist revival penetrated into this remote
district; one Richard Tibbot, who in the year 1743
was appointed to report upon the "state of the Church"
in Montgomeryshire to an association in South Wales,
made the following statement : —

" Society in Llangurig. — The members resident here
go to the Tyddjna and join that society."^

The Tyddyn farm house alluded to is in the adjoining
parish of Llanidloes, seven miles distant from the village

ready response; "onr good friend, Evan Davies" (landlord of the
lower inn) " will'gladly receive them." James picked up the money,
and wended his way to Ty Cutig (the inn).

The George Bennett referred to above died in the year 1817 at
the age of 69. He was landlord of the Bine Bell, or npper inn, and
was sncceeded as clerk by his son, Samuel Bennett, who held the
post for a g^eat number of years. After his death it was filled by
Edward Rces, who was also the village schoolmaster. His successor
was Evan Jones, the present clerk.

^ Methodisiiaeth CymrUj i, 173.

122 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO.

of Llangurig, and was one of the earliest places in the
neighbourhood which afforded shelter to the persecuted
Methodist preachers of those days. The Rev. Peter
Williams visited the district in 1746, and others of the
great revivalists — Daniel Rowlands, of Llangeitho, and
Howel Harris visited Llanidloes more than once in the
following years, and the short distance between Llan-
gurig and Llanidloes offered no obstacle to people who
were in the habit of walking between forty and fifty
miles to receive the communion at the hands of Daniel
Rowlands.

The preachers were generally treated at first with
ridicule, scorn, and persecution. Sometimes their lives
were in danger. But they also occasionally met witli
gentlemen wno made efforts to get the people to allow
them to preach in peace. An example of this more
humane disposition is quoted in Methodisiiaeth Cymric
(iv, 357). As the incident affords a glimpse at the state
of society in the district in those days, a translation of
it is here given.

^' On one occasion a number of the leading men of the town
(Llanidloes) and the neighbourhood were collected together in
one of the inns at the time that the old Reformers (the Re-
vivalists) began preaching in the vicinity. These strangers,
who were going about the country agitating and disturbing
the peace of their neighbours^ became the subject of their dis-
cussion^ and the greatest readiness was evinced, not only to
treat them with ridicule by styling them Caradocs^ and Round-
heads, but to punish them if it could be done safely. There
happened to be among them an elderly gentleman, who was
highly respected, of the name of Jenkyn Lloyd, Esq. (of
Clochfaen). This gentleman was a justice of the peace, and to
him nearly the whole town and country resorted to seek ad-
vice upon matters relating to the law. After the other gentle-
men present had delivered themselves of their strong opinions
about the preachers, styling them unruly and hateful wanderers,
Mr. Lloyd rose and addressed them to the following effect :-^
* Well, gentlemen, you know very well the manner in which
our clergymen discharge their duties — the vicar of Llangurig,
so and so, the vicar ot Llanidloes, Llandinam, Tref-

^ The name was given them as followers of Wulior Caradoc.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 123

eglwjs, Carno, Llanwnog, Penstrowed'

depicting their irregular style of living and theirutterindifference
for the spiritual welfare of their parishioners. 'And what
wonder/ he continued, ' if these strangers, who are anxious to
save men's souls, should come among us and tell ns the naked
tinith about our behaviour/ Having heard this address without
being able to gainsaj it^ they held their peace and let these
men alone/'

For a long period the Nonconformists were neither
numerous enough nor in a position to erect suitable
edifices in which to conduct their services, but held
them from house to house, chiefly in some of the more
commodious farm-houses in the neighboiu-hood of the
village, and in other centres of population, such as
Cwm-belan, Glyn-Brochan, etc., where chapels were
subsequently built. Early in the present century each
of the great sects had established themselves in the
parish, and began building chapels in the more ponulous
distncte. At present there are nine dissenting ckpels
within the limits of the parish.

The Calvinistic Methodists have three, viz., 1, Demol
Chapel, built about the year 1 825 ; 2, Capel Ucha (Upper
Chapel) ; 3, a chapel in the village of Llangurig, enlarged
and re-opened in 1866.

The Wesleyans have three chapels, situated 1, in the
village ; 2, in Cwm-belan ; 3, on Pen-cin-coed.

The Baptists have one, called Zioriy in Cwm-belan,
buat in 1827, re-built 1837, and enlarged in 1860.

The Independents have two chapels, one in Glyn-
Brochan, the other in Glyn-Hafren, in the neighbour-
hood of the Old Hall.

2. Education. — As far as can be ascertained no
regular and well-conducted school appears to have
existed in the parish, although for the last forty years
a school has been kept for a considerable portion of the
year at the church, either in the vestry or the gallery.
It was first established by Mr. James, the vicar of the
parish, in 1832, and shortly after its opening numbered
some sixty scholars, forty-three of whom were paid for
by annual subscription, every subscriber of ten shillings

124 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANOURIG.

being allowed to send a child for one year, the rest
being instructed at the expense of their parents.^ This
school was conducted for a number of years by the late
Mr. Edward Rees, who also discharged the duties of
parish clerk. He was a well-informed and intelligent
man, and the school while under his care was above
the average of country schools conducted by untrained
teachers. Since his death the school has occasionally
been carried on in the winter months by the letter
carriers from Llanidloes.

It is greatly to be regretted that the inhabitants
have not long ago bestirred themselves, and, following
the example of the other Arwystli parishes, established
a well conducted day school under the care of a compe-
tent teacher. Perhaps Llangurig, of all the Arwystli
paiishes, suffers most from the evils of absentee land-
owners. Taking the Eate-book of 1869 as our guide,
we find the gross estimated rental of the parish given
as £5,740; four-seventJis of this property is in the
possession of half a dozen proprietors, all of whom are
absentees. The backwardness of the parish in educa-
tional matters may to a great extent be attributed to
this cause, but it is one that is likely to be remedied by
the new educational bill.

Small private schools have at various periods been
established in different parts of the parish, more espe-
cially in the hamlets of Cwm-belan, Glyn-Brochan,
Glyn-Hafren, &c.

The number attending Sunday schools in the parish
amounted to 376 in 1831, and tne numbers at present
attending have been estimated at from 300 to 350.

3. Roads. — This section was unintentionally omitted
from the first chapter.

The old road formerly connecting the village with the
town of Llanidloes went hy Pen-y-^roesau, Rhos-y-iurach,
Blaen-y-glyn through Glyn-Brochan^ and entered the
town over the Short Bridge. Another old line of road-
way connecting Llanidloes with Aberystwith led over

^ Lewia's Top, Dictionanjf art. Llangurig.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 125

the moTintains to the north of the village. Both routes
appear to have fallen into disuse before the close of the
last century.

The road connecting the village with Rhayader was
constructed in 1830, and placed the village on the great
coach route between London and Aberystwith via
Hereford. This route continued to be used by coaches
until the opening of the Cambrian system of railways.

The late Rev. Walter Davies writing to a friend in
the year 1813, respecting a journey through the village,
has the following passage in his letter : —

'' May 26. — ^Went to Llangurig by six o'clock ; proceeded
through the desert of Pumlumon, through which Mr. Johnes
had the vanity to suppose that an iron railroad would cause
plenty to smile over the forlorn waste."^

The Manchester and Milford Company have con-
structed a line of " iron railroad" between Llanidloes
and Llangurig, but it has never been opened for traffic.

4. Fairs. — Two fairs are held annually in the viUage,
one in the month of April (first held April 23rd, 1869)
and the other in October. The latter is called " Sheep
Fair." From a paragraph m a local paper it appears
that upwards of two thousand sheep were penned in
the fair of 1868.

^ Gweithiau Gwalter Mechain^ iii, 383.

126 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANO URIG.

CHAP. X. — ^A TOPOGRAPHICAL GLOSSARY OF NAMES IN

THE PARISH.^

ABB&ETIATIOKS.

f. farm. t. tenement. o. owner. t.p. township.

Adkr, defined by Llwyd as " the fall of a lesser water into a greater."
According to K Llwyd, Arch, Brit.y p. 50, Aber-=: " Cymmer, Lat.
confiuvium, a place where two or more rivers meet." So Isaac
Taylor in Words and Places^ " a confluence of waters, either of two
rivers or of a river with the sea, in which sense it = also the Gaelic
* Inver.' From the fact that 'Inver* (sitelt Ynver) occurs in two
poems ascribed to Taliessin, and that * Aber' occurs in places in Ire-
land, as well as in Wales and parts of Scotland inhabited by the
Picts, as well as by the Britons, Mr. Skene, {Four Ancient Books
of WaleSy i, lW-4,) concludes that both words were at one time
common to the three languages, and that all three were formed
from an old word * ber', signifying water. To such a word there
appears a resemblance in the Irish ' bir/ aqua, noted by K Lluyd,
Arch, Brit J Til ii, p. 3." H. w. LU

Cymmer = oonflux, confluence. In a cymmer both streams ought
to lose their name. The term is never used of a river falling into
the sea. d. s. e.

Aber-bidno, the confluence of the Bidno (with the Wye) : a f. of 28
ac., t.p. Llanifynu, part of the Clochfaen estate.

Aber-Gynwtdd, the confluence of the Gynwydd (with Afon Tylwch) :
the united stream is afterwards known as the Dulas. In a deed
of the year 1757, Aber- Gynwydd is the name by which the present
Pen-pont-bren mill is described. This old deed gives us the original
name of the stream now called Nant Cwm-Belan, and shows that
the farm of ^/y?i-Gynwydd ought more properly be called Glan-
Gynwydd ; the township lying along the banks of the stream retains
its proper appellation, 6^/^n-Gynwydd.

Aber-tri-nant, the confluence of the three ravines or brooks, name of
a small t. in the t.p. of Llanifynu, o. Mr. John Morgan. C. f. Aher-
tri'dwfyr in Glamorganshire and Aber-dau-nant in the parish of
Llanidloes.

Aber-ucha, the upper Aber (so called to distinguish it from Aber-
Bidno), a f. of 35 ac. in the t.p. of Llanifynu.

Afon (Avon) the Welsh for a river. It is never used in Welsh as a
proper name, but as a common name prefixed to the designations

■ The compiler gratefully acknowledges the assistance which he has re-
ceived from the followinj; gentlemen :— the Revs. D. S. Evans and R. H.
Jones, H. W. Lloyd, Esq., and J. C .Hughes, Esq., all of whom kindly perused
the MS. before it was placed in the printer's hands. Some of their notes,
with their initials attached, have been inserted.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 127

of the various streams, and is more especially used when the dis-
tinctive proper name is also the appellation of some other object,
as Afon Uor^^ A fan Tylwch^ etc.

Allt-y-derw, slope of the oaks, name of a hill three miles to the
N.w. of the village. Its sides now are destitute of trees, but the
name preserves the memory of the time when its sides were covered
with timber.

Baili or 6£iLi. Baili is defined by Dr. Pugh to be a court before
a house, and synonymous with huarthy a fold. This is the general
meaning of the term in South Wales. In Irish the term is equiva-
lent to an abode, synonymous with the Welsh tre {Words and
PlaceSy p. 484). It is the name of a farm of 84 ac. in the t.p. of
Glyn-Hafren, o. C. J. Elwell. There is a cluster of three fs. of this
name in the adjoining parish of St. Harmon.

Bel AN. Various conjectural meanings of this term have been given.
The late Rev. Walter Davis has the following observations upon it :

" I once thought that the derivation was from Bel-Ian (Llan-Bel),
the enclosure of Bel, Belinus, Baal, etc. We have Belan-deg (fair
Belan) in Manafon, Belan-ddu, Belan Wydd, Belan-las, Belan
Argae in the parishes adjoining, but I never witnessed any remains,
stone or earthen, which might favour the idea that they were places
consecrated to any kind of worahip. A rounded hill^ a frustum of
a cone might have been denominated Belan from its shape ; but
some of our Belans lie on flat ground.

'* That a heathen deity was o^^ce idolized in Britain is proved by
the inscription on the altar found in the country of the Brigantes,
which exhibited in Roman characters, * Beo Marti Beta tu Cadra?
The last word is evidently Welsh — Bely Duw Cadr; Bel the Potent
God. The Romans persuaded the colonized Britons that the
British Bd was identified in their Mars, hence Deo Marti of the
inscription. In the British language hela and rhyvela is to wage
war. Belgoe^ warlike Gauls in Caesar, etc., emigrated to Britain
and Ireland ; hence the Fir-hdg of the latter. Their fires on the
eve of the first of May, still called Beal-teine (the fire of Baal),
savours of a Phoenician origin."^

The author of Words and Place»^ sees in the word vestiges
of an ancient cultus, showing some original connexion between
the Syrian Baal and the Celtic Bel. Baal, according to Professor
Nilsson,-'^ has given his name to many Scandinavian localities, e. g,
the Baltic, the Great and Little Belt, Belteberga, etc.

In Llwyd's Arch, Brit, tit. i, p. 33, is found the following : —
" A Berry or Barrow [a hillock], Bern ; Twyn, bellan, brynkyn.
As the modern * 11 ' is invariably written *lh' by Llwyd, it is evident
that his ' bellan ' = the modem * belan,' and that it meant a hil-
lock, mound, tumulus, or barrow. h. w. lu

' Collected Works of OwalUer Mechain, iii, 514.

2 P. 325 (ed. 1865). See also Arch, Camb., 1848, pp. 21, etc.

3 Quoted in Prehiatorie Times, p. 71, 2iid ed.

128 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

Mr. Silvan Evans thinks there can be no doubt about tlie term
being descriptive, and most probably is a diminutive of hdl, a hill,
a peak. Both the Llangurig Belans are situated on hills, and the
ravine at the foot of one of these hills is known as Cwm-belan.

Bod talog, see Mytalog.

BoL-HAUL, rotundity facing the sun, the converse of CU-hatd (where
the sun does not shine), a name given to the southern slope of
Cefn-hir-brisg.

Blaen, a generic term which enters largely into the composition of
Welsh topographical names. It signifies literally a pointy end, or
extremity, and when applied to streams indicates their sources.

Blaen-Bythigion, the source of the Bythigion, the name of a small
f. of 14 ac. in the t.p. of Glyu-Hafren, o. John Morgan.

Bythigion, the plural of Bythig, never failing streamlets. R. h. j.

Blaen-t-cwm, the end of the hollow, or dingle, the name of a f. of
42 ac. in the t.p. of Llaniwared, part of the Clochfaen estate.

Blaen-y-glyn, end of the glen, a mountain f. of 126 ac., t.p. of
Glyn-Brochan, o. Mr. Williams.

Blaen-Twrch, source of the Twrch. Twrch is a common name of
Welsh streams.

Blue-bell Inn, one of the two inns of the village, has a f. of 11 ac.
attached, part of Clochfaen estate in 1771, now the property of
Mrs. Jane Bennett.

Brith-dir, variegated land, a name which it probably received when
the furze or heath was in full blossom ; a small f. of 13 ac, t.p. of
Llaniwared, o. Mr. Williams.

Brochak, noisy, foaming, a trib. of the Dulas (see p. 1 2).

Bron-felen, the yellow knoll, a f. of 92 ac, t.p. Glyu-Hafren, o.
Mr. Williams.

Bron-haul, the sunny knoll, af. in the tp. Glyn-Brochan.

Bryn, hill.

Bryn-cyllau, pronounced q/lle, probably derived from cyllen or cyllan,
the diminutive of cyll, the plural of collen, the hazel-tree. If this
derivation be accepted it means the hill of the hazel-tree. r.h.j.

Dr. Pugh, 8. V. cyll, plural cyllau, gives as the meaning a separa-
tion, what separates, so that it may mean the hill of separation.
H.W.LL. It is the name of a f. of 39 ac, t.p. Llanifynn, part of
the Clochfaen estate. One of its fields is called Givar-y-castelL

Bryn-daith, the hill of flame, or the blazing hill, probably derived
from the old custom of burning the furze, heath, etc., on the hill
tops. By the laws of Howel Dda this operation was restricted
under a penalty to the month of March. ^ Llywarch H6n alludes
to the custom in his poem to Geraint Feib Erbin, stanza 1 4.

» My/Areh., p 1066 (Gfte'fl Reprint).

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 129

"Twrnf goteith ar diffeith mynit."i
A noise like that of the conaaming fire on a wild mountain].^
" Drwy*r aweddwr, drwy'r oddaith."'
|_Through the rapid stream, through the blazing heath].

This hill is situated between Nant lago and Nant-y-Cawrdy.

Bryn-du, black hill, elevated land on the eastern confines of the
parish, also the names of several holdings on its slopes.

Brtn-Dulas, hill of the Dulas, a small f. of 17 ac. on a rising knoll
on the right bank of the Dulas, t.p. Ccfn-yr-hafodau, o. Mrs.
Phillips, Abeiystwith.

Bryn-mawr, large hill, a high hill in the t.p. of Cefn-yr-hafodau, from
the summit of which there is an extensive and pleasant view.

Bryn-y-oarreg-wen, hill of the white stone, situated to the south of
Maes-nant.

BwLCH, a generic term signifying a hollow, gap, defile, or pass. There
is a farm of this name in the township of Llanifynu, o. Mrs. Owen
Glansevem.

BwLCH-HAFOD-Y-GOG, the hollow of the cuckoo's summer abode, a f. of
74 ac., t.p. Glyn-Gynwydd, o. Mrs. Phillips

BwLCH-Y-GARREO, the pass of the stone, a f. of 118 ac., t.p. Cefn-yr-
hafodau, o. Mrs. Owen ; formerly part of the Clochfaen estate.

Mr. J. C. Symons, in a paper* on the Permanence of Jidces, quotes
a letter from a correspondent, which mentions this farm as the
residence of a descendant of the notorious (rwilliaid Cochion of
Mawddwy. " I w^as fortunate enough to find out some descendants
of the * Gwilliaid * on the maternal side, and those in my native
parish of Llangurig. When these Welsh Caffirs were sent from
Mallwyd, they wandered here and there, and some of the females
were pitied by the farmers and taken into their houses and taught
to work. One of these was married to a person not far from this
place, and their descendants live at Bwlch-y-garreg, Llangurig. I
knew the old man quite well. There certainly was something
peculiar about him; he was seventy when I was a boy of fifteen ; he
had dark lank hair, a very ruddy skin, with teeth much projecting,
and a receding brow. I never heard his honesty questioned, but
mentally he was considered much below the average ; the children,
also, are not considered quick in anything." Descendants of the
* Gwilliaid ' are also to be found in Mawddwy to this day.

BwLCH-Y-PRiDD, hoUow or pass of the loose earth, a f. in t.p. of Llani-
fynu, o. Mrs. Owen.

BwLCH-Y-siGL EN-LAS, pass or defile of the green bog or quagmire, about
5 m. to the w. of Llanidloes.

1 Skene's Four Ancient Books of Wales, ii, 38.

' Thid.f i, 26H; see also Owen's Llywarth Hen, p. 9, note a.

» Lewis Olyn Cothi's Works, p. 432, line 20.

* In the Arch. Comb, for ]R54, p. 12<».

P 2

130 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURTCx.

Cae-crwn, round field, a small f. of 9 ac., t.p. Glyn-Brochan.

Cae-mawr, large field, a f. of 40 ac, t.p. Llanifynu, o. Mrs. Owen of
Glansevern.

Can'coed, a contraction of Cae-yn-y-coed, field in the wood, a f. of
35 ac, t.p. Gljn-Brochan, o. Mr. Williams. Also the name of a
small hamlet on the banks of the Hafren, 1 ^ mile w. of Llanidloes,
consisting of a factory, fulling mill and several cottages.

Can'fedw (Cae-yn-y-fedw), field in the birch grove, a f. of 98 ac, t.p.
Glyn-Brochan, o. Mrs. Marsh.

Carn-bwlch y-cloddiau, cam of the defile of the ditches (noticed
p. 20).

CarN'Y-groes, cam of the cross (p. 21).

Carreg-Bwla, ^Bwla*s stone, a f. of 18 ac, t.p. Llaniwared, o. Mr.
Williams.

Castell, castle, a small t. with 6 ac. of land attached, t.p. Glyn-
Brochan.

Castell-greido, Greido or Grido (as it is pronounced) may be a proper
name, but Mr. R. H. Jones thinks that it is Montgomeryshire cor-
ruption of the word gwaredog, if so the name would mean castle of
refuge. Fields belonging to the Old Hall farm are known by the
names of Hafren Grido and Y-Grid^. Castell Greido* is a f. of 42
ac, t.p. Glyn-Hafren.

Ca8Tell-y-dail, leafy castle, a f of 32 ac, t.p. Glyn-Hafren, o. Mr.
Williams.

Cefn literally means back, applied to a ridge in topography. Apart
from being a generic term it is also the name given to several
farms in this and the adjoining parishes.

Crfn-brwyn, the rushy ridge, a f. of 65 ac, t.p. Llanifynu, lately
purchased by Sir W. W. Wynn. A lead mine has lately been dis-
covered upon this farm ; it is called Bdl-miner.

Cefn-blwch, a corruption of Cefn-bwlch, ridge of the hollow, name
of a hill (see p. 15) and a f of 52 ac, formerly the property of the
late T. E. Marsh, Esq. ^

Cefn-beidiog, the ivy-ridge, a f. of 58 ac, t.p. Glyn-Brochan, part of
Clochfaen estate.

Cefn-cownen, ridge of the reed grass, a small mountain of 18 ac,
t.p. Llanifynu.

Cefn-hafod-wen, ridge of the fair summer abodes, the hill situated
to the north of the Beili.

Cbfn-hir-brisg, ridge of the long copse, the hill situated to the n. of
the village.

1 Bwla may be a proper same, but Mr. D. S. Evans points out that it
also is applied in South Wales to a gelt ball, and that " Gwellt-y-bwla" is a
cofirse monntain grass.

A PAROCHLAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 131

CEFS-FODt (Cefn-yr-hafouau), ridge of the summer abodes, the
name of one of the townehips, and of a f. of 121 ac, formerly part
of the Clochfaen estate, and long the residence of one of the old
Llangurig familieB, see pp. 80-82.

Cebbig-waen-t-llan, stones of the church Moorland, the name of a
large level tract on the summit of E^air, Clochfaen; for the tradi-
tion connected with it sec ii. p. 32.

CiLGWROiN, (Jwrgnn's retreat or hiding place, the names of twofs. in
the tp. of Llaniwared, the lesser has an area of 20 ac. ; part of
Clochfaen estate ; the greater (/airr) 58 ac. ; o. Mr. Prj'se, Pant-drain.

CiLGWTN, the white or fair nook or retreat, a f. of 50 ac., in the tp.
of Cefo-jT-hafodau, o. Mr. ^Villianls.

t;iK-coED, ciu may be a corruption of Ce/it, ce'n ; in which case the
word would mean the ridge of the wood. It is the uamc of a hill
in the t.p. of Olyn-Brochan, and also of several small fa. and teiie-
meuts on its slopes.

Oloch-faes. This is the ortliography of the word for the last three
centuries, and it means literally ft stone bell. As if to confirm this
interpretation of the term, a stone relic called Y clock-faen (the
stone bell) is still preserved at the present farm which has been
erected on the site of the old mansion. This old stone {see
p. 25), which is here figured in two positions, appears to have
been intended when finished for the upper stone of a quern, though
it DOW presents uo traces of its having been iised for the purpose
of grinding com.

The author of the E^det. Autiq. of Uie Cymry (p. 188) sUtes
" That the word Cloeh would seem to imply that a hard slate or
flat stone was originally used by the Cymry to answer the purpose
of a bell."' Is this name a relic of the times when such stone
bells were usedl Maeo -cloche^, a parish in Pembrokcsliire, accord-
ing to Fenton (p. 348), obtained its name from " Maen-clochog, the
' "From the authoiB of thoaa times it however appears that the njnum wob
not a bell, and elotea was a wooden board having knockers affixed to it, as
still used in the Eastern churches, where the u»e of bells was unknown till

132 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGUKIG.

Welsh for ringing stone, from two large stones that lay near the
road side about a bowshot from the church to the south-west,
possessing that property, now broken and removed."

Another theory as to the origin of the word is that it is derived
from Clochi, to bubble, and /aw, a place, the place of bubbling
w^ater. There are numerous springs of excellent water in imme-
diate proximity to the farm. An old well formerly in the kitchen
of the old mansion still exists, and its water is used by the present
residents.

Cnuwch, a bush, or according to another explanation it is a corrup-
tion of Cefn-t/ch (ridge of the ox) : its pronunciation (as if written
cnuch) favours the latter theory. It is the name of a f. 53 ac., t.p.
Llani wared.

Coed-cab, brushwood or wood for fencing, a detached portion of Lower
Glan-Dulas farm, lately reclaimed ; formerly a favourite haunt of
the lads of Llanidloes in the nutting season.

CoED-cocHiON, red wood (the name probably given in the autumn), a
f. of 46 ac., t.p. Glyn-Gynwydd, o. Dr. Davies.

CoED-YR-EXRESS may be either the wood of the heiress, or it may be
a corruption of eirww, burning cinders, in which case it would
mean the wood that w-aa cut down to be converted into charcoal.
A small holding of 7 ac, t.p. Glyn-hafren, o. C. J. El well.

CoLWYN, a bantling, a whelp, a trib. of the Severn (see p. 12). Two
other Montgomeryshire streams are known by this name, one flows
into the Taranon in Llanwnog parish, the other in the Vimwy
near Ystym-Colwyn.

Craig-las, blue rock, a f. of 22 ac., t.p. Glyn-Brochan, o. Mrs. Matthews.

Croes-ty, cross house, a f . of 23 ac, t.p. Llaniwared now joined to
Tau-yr-allt ; part of Clochfaen estate.

Crug-nant, heathery ravine, a f. of 18 ac, t.p. Llaniwared, o. Mr.
Pryse, Pant-drain.

CwM, Dr. Pugh (Diet. «u6 voce) defines it to be " a piece of ground
between two hills when the sides come together in a concave form,
whereas the sides of a glyn approach in a convex form."^ Another

A.D. 8G6, when a belfry was first attached to St. Sophia according to Bona.
In fact clocca is a Celtic name for the instrument with which the ancient
Druids called the Irish to congregate together (O'Conor's BibL Stowensis,
App., pp. 31-2). Thus, in process of time, according to the pi-actice of the
early Christians, the name of a Pagan instrument was transferred to its re-
presentative in the ceremonies of the Christian Church." Arch. Comb, for
1848, p. 307.

On the above Mr. Harries Jones remarks " Cloch — clock, Bussian kolokol,
is undoubtedly a Teutonic word and not Celtic. The Welsh verb clochi, to
bubble, is formed from cloch-dw/r, a bubble or water-bell, and therefore
proves nothing."

^ A glyn has sides or slopes running parallel or nearly so, while a cwm has
uiuro of the resemblance of a milk-pan. When there is no outlet a lake
will bo found at its bottom. D. a. k.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGUKIG. 133

authority defines it as a hollow between two hills open at one end
only. It is frequently used as the name of a farm, but it is more
commonly employed as a generic term, and it enters largely into
the composition of names throughout the principality. Sometimes
it is used in conjunction with the term glyn, as Cwm Glyn-Brochan
and Cwm Glyn-HafreUy etc., and in some instances we find it
repeated, in the same appellation as in Cwni-hyT-gwrn^ affording
what the author of Words and Places (p. 211) calls the redupli-
cation of synonyms.

It is the name of a f. of 76 ac, tp. Cefn-yr-hafodau, o. Hugh
Davies.

Cwm-Belan, the hollow of the Belan, the name of a hamlet on the
road side which leads from Llanidloes to Llangurig, two miles from
the former. It is situated at the foot of the hill on the summit of
which is Belan farm, and contains a factory for the manufacture of
flannel, two chapels, two inns, a smithy, and several cottages ; t.p.
(Jlyn-Oynwydd.

CwM-CocH, the red hollow, a small holding of 5 ac, t.p. Glyn-
Brochan.

CwM-DuLAS, hollow of the Dulas, a f. of 102 ac, t.p. Cyfn-yr-
hafodau, o. Rev. Mr. Jacob.

CwM-FRON, a corruption of Cwm-yr-onn (ash hollow), which is the
orthography of the old Herald's visitations (p. 83). A f. of 160
ac, tp. Cefn-yr-hafodau, o. Mrs. Mears.

CwM-RiccET, Riccett*s hollow, a f. of 36 ac, t.p. Glyn-hafren, o. Mrs.
Marsh. Two mines, the one yielding copper, the other lead, have
been discovered lately upon this property.

CwM-PKN-LLYDAN, the hoUow with the open end, a mountain f. of
37 ac, t.p. Glyn-Brochan, o. Edward Powel.

CwM-YR-HENORB. Ueiigrt is either a corruption of hendrey the old
habitation, or derived from ken and grCy a flock or herd, most
probably the former. It is the name of a small f. of 7 ac, t.p.
Glyn-Hafren, o. Mr. Williams.

Del-parch. March seems to signify a deep dingle or glen, and Del-
farch may possibly mean the leafy dingle (d. s. r), or it may be a
corruption of Dol-fach, the little mead. The name of two fs., the
lower 150 ac, o. James Hamer; the upper 79 ac. o. Mr. Williams,
both in tp. of Llaniwared.

Dernol, oaklands (?), a f. of 87 ac, tp. Llaniwared, o. Mr. Williams.

Deildref, the leafy homestead, the name of two fs. in the tp. of
Llanifynu, formerly part of the Clochfaen estate.

DiLiw, Afon, the colourless river (see p. 14).

DoL-GORS, mead of the bog, a small t, tp. Cefn-yr-hafodau.

A glyn, generally speakings is a long narrow defile, a cwm a more expan-
sive hollow, but short. R. h. j.

134 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

Drain-byrrion, short thorns, a f. in the t.p. of Glyn Hafren, o. Rev.
H. Herbert.

Drim-Maen, stony ridge. Drum (Anglicised Drini) is a mutation of
Trum, a ridge, — trum-y-ty, ridge of the house ; the name of a high
hill between the Bidno and the Colwyn. Drim is also the name of
another hill above Cefn Brwyn.

DuLAS, dark blue, a tributary of the Severn (see p. 12).

EsGAiR, literally a shank, a leg, but applied in topographiciU designa-
tions to a long ridge, a steep or precipitous slope, corresponding to
the Cumberland Scaw, and the Lancashire Scar. As a generic term
it enters largely into the names of Welsh hills. Among those of
Llangurig may be mentioned Esgair-Clochfaen (the long ridge of the
Clochfaen),^«^at>-//jy« (berry bearing ridge), Esgair-maes-vant (ridge
of the field of the ravine), Esgair-rhugog (the heathery ridge), Esgair-
wen (the fair ridge), Esgair-ycfiion (ychion, probably a corruption of
ychain, oxen). Esgair-hir (the long esgair), a f. of 22 ac., t.p.
Cefn-yr-hafodau, o. Mrs. Owen.

Farm, the, a f. of 154 ac., t.p. Glyn-Brochan, part of the late T. E.
Marsh's property.

Feuw-Ddu, the dark birch grove, a f. of 40 ac., t.p. Cefn-yr-hafodau,
o. Mrs. Owen.

Felix-dre, the generic term tref (mutated into dre), in this word and
in Pen-tre is often interpreted to mean a town. According to the
laws of Howcl Dda, the term tref was a portion of land equivalent
to four gavels or holdings, t. e. containing 26Q Welsh acres ; the
size of a Welsh acre, according to Aneurin Owen being 4,320 English
square yards. The same authority gives vill as synonymous with
tref when used in the sense of a territorial division {Myf, A rdi.
1042, 1040, 1070, Gee's reprint). Subsequently tref signified an
abode or dwelling place, and when used in this sense it enters into
the composition of the words car -tref (the abode that is dear to us —
home), hen-dre (the old abode or permanent residence), and perhaps
in the term pen-tre ; and latterly tref was applied to a collection uf
abodes as in tref-lan (a village with a church in it), and tref a
town. The tref or tre in the name Felindre appears to refer to the
territorial division, and the name to signify the " mill of the vill."
Attached to the mill, whose motive power is supplied by the Severn,
is a f. of 123 ac, t.p. Glyn-Brochan, o. Mr. Hunter.^

2FoEL, bald hill, calvary, the name of a liigh hill on the left bank of
the Wye, half a mile to the n.e. of Cefn -brwyn.

^FoEL-GoCH, the red bald hill (chap, i, sec. 5). On the western slope
of this hill is a f. of 81 ac. called Y-Foel, part of the Clochfaen
estate.

* There are melindres where no mill ever existed. The term is derived
from milein-dref = the dwelliog of the milain or villein of feudal' times. —

D. 8. E.

^ Foel is a mutation of Moel, Fron of Bron, and Fuches and Baches, and
ou^ht therefore to be preceded by T (the), which has been omitted in the
Glossary.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 135

Frankwell. Part of the village goes by this name, which, according
to Mr. Wright {Arch, Cam.^ 1864, p. 171) is a corruption of Frank-
ville. He says, **the feudal princes and the great barons of the
Middle Ages soon learnt to appreciate the value to their treasuries
of encoiutiging commerce on their domains. . . . Hence they tried
to draw merchants to their lands by establishing little towns with
freedom and privileges, either commercial or municipal, by which
they might be attracted, and such places were usually denominated
in France by the name of dk francheville or free town. In England
where the Anglo-Norman dialect and the English were oddly inter-
mixed, the form which the name took was Frankville or Frankton."
The name is common in Montgomeryshire, portions of Llanidloes,
Llawr-y-glyn, and Newtown being so designated.

Frox-goch, the red slope, af. of 61 ac., t.p. Glyn-Brochan.

FccHES-MoRGAN, Morgan's cattle-walk, the land where his cows
grazed ; the name of a small t. in Llanifynu.

Gelli-aur, the golden grove, a f! of 41 ac., t.p. Cefn-yr-hafodau, o.
Hugh Davies.

Gelli-fawr, the large grove, two fs. in t.p. of GljTi-Glynwydd, the
one of 45 ac, o. J. B. Owen, and the other of 78 ac., part of the
Clochfaeu estate.

Geu-fron, the enclosed hill, a portion of this f. (67 ac.) situated on
the right bank of the Hafren, is within the limits of the parish ; t.p.
Glvn-Hafrcu, o. David Davies.

Glan-Bidno, banks of the Bidno, the name of two fs. in the t.p. of
Llanifynu ; the upper has an area of 24 ac., the lower 23 ac.

Glax-dulas, banks of the Dulas, name of two fs. ; the upper is 85 ac,
j)artly situate in Glyn-Brochan and partly in Cefn-yr-hafodau, and
formerly part of the Clochfaen estate, now the property of J. B.
Owen. Some of the fields are known by the names of RJios-y-
cwno (moor of the ale), Sugar field, Pickerin field, and D6l-ganu
(mead of song). Of the Lower Glandulas 175 ac. is in the t.p, of
Glyn-Brochan, o. Col. Hunter.

Glax-gwy, banks of the Wye, a f. of 65 ac, t.p. Llanifjnu.

Glan'-rhyd, banks of the ford, a small f., t.p. Glyn-glynw}'dd.

Glas-cwm, the verdant cwm, a f. of 75 ac, t.p. Lani wared.
Glyn-Brochan, glen of the Brochan (chap, i, sec. 6). This glen gives
its name to one of the townships of the parish, and to two farms.

1. Upper Glyn-Brochan^ 97 ac.

2. Lower Glyn-Brochan^ 123 ac.

One of the fields on the former farm is known by the name of
Cae oddiar Cwm Gwyddel (the field above the Gael's ravine). The
readers of the Vestiges of the Gael in Gwynedd are acquainted with
the theory first propounded by Tilwyd relating to the early occupa-
tion of Wales by the Gael. Archdeacon Jones' chief argument in
support of the theory is founded upon the frequent occurrence of

136 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

the name GwyddU Dol Gwyddell in the parish of Trefeglwys appears
in the Archdeacon's book and the remains in its neighbourhood have
been already noticed, but this Cwm Gwyddel and another Dol Gwy-
ddel in the immediate vicinity of Llanidloes were unknown to him.
It is only just to mention that those who oppose the above theory
give another interpretation to the term Gwyddel, viz., that it means
"of, or belonging to woods, woody, and like the corresponding
Silvester or Silvaticus, in a figurative sense, wild or savage." If
this explanation be accepted then Cwm Gwyddel simply means the
woody ravine.

Gltn-Gynwydd, glen of the Gynwydd, which gives its name to a
township and a f. of 173 ac., t.p. Cefn-yr-hafodau, o. Mrs. Owen,
Glansevem. (See Aber-Gynwydd.)

Glyn-Hafren, glen of the Hafren (Severn), name of a township in
this parish and that of another iji Llanidloes, also the name of a
f., 179 ac. of which are in Llangurig, o. C. J. Elw^ell.

Good-ground, a small f. of 15 ac, 6. Mrs. Owen.

Gwern, defined by the Rev. Walter Davies (Works, iii, 513) as "the
aldery, or rough meadow or pasture, natural to the springing up of
aiders;" name of a small holding, t.p. Glyn-Gynwydd.

Gwern-tyfin, the aldery of the tenement, a f. of 67 ac., t.p. Cefn-yr-
hafodau, o. Mrs. Phillips.

GwY (Wye), water (described chap, i, sec. 7). This generic term

occurs frequently in the names of Welsh streams, e.g, Vim-iry,

Ban i^y (]Banw), Colun-w^y (now Clun), Cyn-wy (Conway), Myn-uy

(Munnow), Eb-w?y, El-wy, 0\-wy, Trog-wy, Clwyd, etc., etc. Under

its Latin name Vaga} it is frequently alluded to by the poets.

'< Meander, who ia said so intricate to be.
Has not so many turns and crankling nooks as she/'

Dbatton's PolyolMon.

" Pleased Vaga echoes through her winding bounds,
And rapid Severn hoarse applause resounds." — Pops.

Hafod is thus explained by Llwyd, " Hafod is doubtless so calPd quasi
Bod'Iiaf, which word is at present used, and I suppose was anciently
appropriated to signify a summer hut up in ye mountains, made
use of onely that time of the year, for makeing butter and cheese,
as they doe at present not only about Snowdon and Cader-Idris,
and elsewhere in Wales, but likewise in Switzerland and many
other places amongst ye Alps." (Arch, Camb.y 1848, p. 244).

1 Gwy has been Latinised etymologically into " Vaga/' the Latin mean-
ing of which subsequently drew attention to the meanderings^ from which
it was erroneously supposed by persons ignorant of Welsh to have derived
its name. C. f. the somewhat similar transmutation of the names (1)
Glastonbury (originally Ynys Wydryn, the Watery Isle, from Gv>y : — lolo
MS., p. 344); (2) Abbey lyOr, in the original Welsh written Dwr, water,
thence by the English Dore, explained by a confusion of meaning as D'Or,
hence by translation of the latter the valley in which the Abbey was
situated became the Golden Vale, which again, by re -translation into
Welsh, became the Dyffryn Aur, Lib. Landav., 319. h. w. ll.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 137

Hafod-feddgab, the Hafod favourable to the pix>ductioD of mead, as
if the Hafod liked it or loved it ; a common figure of speech
(d. s. e.). a f. of 132 ac., t.p. Glyn-Hafren, o. Mrs. Marsh.

Hafod-fraith, the variegated Hafod, a mountain f. of 92 ac., t.p.
Glyngynwydd, o. Mrs. Owen.

Hafod-wen, the fair Hafod, a mountain f. of 92 ac. t.p. Glyn-Hafren,
o. J. C. Elwell, Esq.

Hen-dre, old or permanent habitation, as opposed to Hafod, the
summer or temporary residence. A f. of 138 ac., t.p. Llanifynu, o.
Mr. Williams.

Hendre-aur^, the golden Hendre, a f. of 89 ac., tp. Cefn-yr-hafodau,
part of the Green estate.

Hen-dy, old house, a f. of 14 ac., t.p. Llanifynu, part of the Cloch-
faen estate.

Hen-faes, old field, a f. of 100 ac., t.p. Llanifynu, o. Mr. J. Hughes

HiR-BBiSG, the long copse or brushwood, a small f. of 17 ac., t.p. Glyn-
Brochan, part of Clochfaen estate.

HiR-GOED, long wood, a small f. of 15 ac., t.p. Llanifynu, o. Sir W. W.
Wynn.

HoRE, the name of one of the minor elevations which form part of
the mountain mass of Plinlimmou, the smaU river which flows
round its base (chap, i, sec. 7), and of the mountain on its left
bank. The farm has 38 ac. of enclosed land attached to it, which
however only produces coarse hay, its value depending entirely
upon its extensive sheep walk ; o. Sir W. W. Wynn.

On the summit of the mountain there is a large erect stone,
called by the people of the neighbourhood Mae^i-gwyn (white stone).
Its position is given on the Ordnance Map, where it is styled Car-
rey Wen. Its dimensions are 7 ft. 2 in. high (above ground), 4 ft.
3 in. broad, and 2 ft. 2 in. thick.

Down one of the ravines of the mountain flows NaiU-yr-eira
(Snow-brook), a tributary of the Hor6. Ou the banks of the former,
quarter a mile above Hor6 house, are to be seen traces of Roman
mining operations. The action of the mountain torrent appears
to have revealed the lode, the course of which for a short distance
is nearly identical with that of the stream. This the Roman
miners followed for several hundred yards, carrying their operations
to a great depth by means of a series of narrow parallel platforms.
The old work was cleared out some years ago by Mr. Reynolds, a
mining agent, when two or three smidl picks and wedges were dis-
covered in a good state of preservation. They were sent to Sir
Hugh Williams of Bodelwyddan, who presented them to the
Duke of Northumberland. The modem mine has for some time past
been abandoued.

H(xre appears to be derived from Uor-au ; all the plural termina-

> y Act, a battle, the Uendre of the battlc-ficIJ. u. h. j.

138 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

tions in u are in the Powysian dialect corrupted into e, Hor is a
rotundity, a round hill; /tor-au corrupted into hor« as above are
the round hills, moel-ydd,^ R. H. J.

If the Ilore is a roaring or noisy stream, I would derive it from
rhawr^ a roar. The disappearance of the initial r may be accounted
for Y Rhorwy (rhawi^wy), then by corruption Yr Uowry^ Horwyy
Bore.'' D. 8. E.

^Llan-i-fynu, the upland enclosure, nnme of one of the townships.
It includes the highest and most sterile land in the parish.

^Llan-i-wared, the enclosed or cultivated lowland, name of another
township ; these appear to have been named in contrast to each
other. The church and village are situated in Llan-i-wared.

Llanerth, a corruption of Llanerck, a glade or open piece of level
ground.

Llanerch-Brochan, glade of the Brochan, a f. of 99 ac., t.p. Glyn-
Brochan, o. Mr. Matthews.

Llechwedd-hir-goed, slope or declivity of the long w^ood. 1 1r-(/oed,
the greenwood slope (r. h. j.). An elevation between the Wye and
Tarenig.

Lluest, encampment, a small t. in Llani wared t.p.

Lluest-Bidno, encampment on the Biduo, a mountain farm of 203
ac. (chiefly pasture land), t.p. Lanifynu, formerly the property of
Lord Mostyn, now of Mr. Morris, of Oxon, Shrewsbury.

Lluest-dol-gwiail, encampment of the mead of twigs, a f. 45 ac.,
t.p. Llanifynu, part of Clochfaen estate.

Lluest-las, green or verdant encampment, a f. of 15 ac, t.p. Llani-
fynu, o. Mrs. Marsh.

Lluest-Llewblyn, Llewelyn's encampment (chap, i, sec. 5, and
chap, ii, p. 24.)

Llwyn-gwyn, the white grove or copse, a f. of 1 85 ac., t.p. Llaniwared,
o. Mrs. Owen.

Llwyn-iar, hen's grove, or laur, golden, af. of 26 ac., t.p. Lanifynu,
o. Mr. Whalley, M.P.

Llwyn-yr-hyddod, stag's grove, a f. of 153 ac., t.p. Lanifynu, o. Mr.
Hugh Lloyd (chap. vi).

Mae8-hocyn, Hokyn's field, a f. of 32 ac, t.p. Cefn-yr-hafodau, o.
Mr. Hugh Davies.

Maes-y-rrynar, field of the fallow, a f. of 48 ac, t.p. Glyn-Hafren,

i "It is a phonetic law between Latin and Celtic, that words beginning
in the former with pi are in the latter II. The word planum in Latin signi-
fying any cultivated spot, in contradistinction from a desert spot, becomes
in Celtic Llan" (Four Ancient Books of Wales, i, 159). Later it came to
mean an inclosure only, without reference to the nature of the thing en-
closed, until compounded with another word, as cor -Ian, ber-llan, corff-lan,
which latter gave rise, by the omission of the first syllable, to the use of the
word in its tertiary sense of church. h. w. ll.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 139

o. Mr. Charles. The remains of an old hostelry, which was known
as Tavam yr Hwch (Sow Inn), still exists on the grounds of this
farm. When the old road connecting Llanidloes with Llangurig
which passed over this mountain was used, the inn was greatly
frequented.

Maes-y-pfin, field of the boundary, 8 ac of this f. are in the t.p. of
Cefn-yr-hafodau. The f. is situated on the boundary between the
parishes of Langurig and St. Harmon.

Malgwyn, probably so called in honour of the man who built the
f house ; af. of 117 ac., t.p. Glyn-Hafren, o. Mr. T. F. Roberts.

Mynachlog, monastery (chap. i. sec. 7), a f. of 40 ac., t.p. Glyn-
Brochan, o. Mr. R. H. Morgan.

Mytaloo, a corruption of Bod Talogy Talog's abode, a mountain f. of
44 ac., t.p. Llani wared, formerly part of the Clochfaen estate, now
in the possession of Mr. H. Williams.

Nant, a generic term which enters very largely into the composition
of Welsh names, denotes primarily the^ ravine or hollow through
which the stream flows ; secondarily, and more commonly, the
stream itself.

Nant-aber-tri-nant, a ravine or hollow which receives the waters of
three other ravines (chap, i, sec. 7).

N ant-Bessy, Bessy's ravine or brook, gives its name to a small f. of
9 ac., t.p. Glyn-Brochan.

Nant-bryn-owannon, ? from g^oynnxyti^ dry sticks, or from gwaen-onn^
ash meadow.

Nant-crug, the heathery hollow or ravine.

Nant-du, the dark ravine, or Nant-ty, the house in the ravine, a
large mountain farm (chiefly pasture) of 323 ac, t.p. Lannifynu, o.
Mrs. Owen.

Nant-gwernoo, the hollow abounding in alders, a f. of 79 ac., in the
t.p. of Cefn-yr-hafodau, part of Clochfaen estate.

Nant-owyllt, wild brook.

Nant I ago, James's brook (chap, i, sec^ 6).

Nant-lled-cwm, ravine or brook of the wide hollow.

Nant Mytalog, or Bod-Talog (see Mytalog).

Nant Rhys, Rhys' ravine, 401 ac. of this extensive sheep f. is in the
t.p. of Llanifynu, formerly the property of the Duke of Newcastle,
now of Mr. Chambers.

Nant Tidnbrth, Tiduerth's ravine or hollow, a f. of 31 ac., t.p. Llani-
fynu, o. Miss Lloyd.

Nant-yb-eira (see Hore),

Nant-y-geipr, goat's ravine, a f. of 34 ac., t.p. Glyn-Brochan, o. Mr.
Daniel Rowland.

^ Nant is more extensive in its meaning than ravine. Every ravine may
be called a Nant ; but every Nant is not a ravine. d. s. e.

140 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG.

Nant-yr-qorlan, ravine of the sheep fold. Its waters flow into Afon
DiUiw.

Nant-yr-hebog, hawk's ravine, a f. of 87 ac, t.p. Glyn-Brochan, o.

Mr. Tiece.
Nant-yr-hendy, ravine of the old house, a f. of 79 ac., t.p. Llaniwared,

o. Mr. Thomas Lewis.

NANT-YR-OERFA,1from oer-fan, cold-place, or from aer-fa^ battle field.
Its waters flow into the Brochan.

Ole-ddu, dark ravine, name of two small fs. in Cefn-yr-hafodau, called
Upper and Lower Ole-ddu.

Pant-clyd, the sheltered hollow, a small t., 5 ac., t.p. Llanifynu.

Pant-drain, the thorny hollow, a f. of 127 ac., t.p. Laniwared, o. Mr.
Pryse.

Pant-mawr, great hollow, a f. of 84 ac. t.p. Llanifynu, o. Mrs. Owen
Glansevem (chap, i, sec. 6).

P.VNT-Y-BENT (ord. sur.), Pant-y-Beni, pronounced Pant-y -benny by
the people of the neighbourhood. " This word appears to be a
corruption of VQnt-dihyni or dibeni, the hollow at the end or teniii-
nation of a ridge" (j. c. h.), which is descriptive of the situation of
the house. It is a small mountain of 31 ac., t.p. Llanifynu, o.
Lewis Owen.

Pant-y-llidiardau, hollow of the gates, a small f., t.p. Glyn-Brochan,
o. Mr. Snead.

Pant-y -RHEDYN, ferny hollow, a small f. of 21 ac, t.p. Llanifynu.

Pant-yr-esgyr (csgair), hollow of the esgair, small t., t.p. Gl^^n-
Hafren.

Pen-hyle, corruption of Pen-tyk, top of the acclivity or ascent, name
of two fs. in the t.p. of Glyn-Gynwydd, the larger is 61 ac., the
smaller 31 ac. in extent.

Pen-issa'r-llan, lower end of the enclosure, a f. of 48 ac., t.p. Llani-
wared, part of Clochfaen estate.

Pbn-tre, head or end of the vill, or the chief tref or abode (see
Felindre), a f. of 25 ac., t.p. Cefn-yr-hafodau. It is also the name
of a small hamlet on the side of the road leading from Llanidloes
to Llangurig, a mile and a quarter from the former. Its name was
probably taken from the farm.

Pen-bont-pren, end of the wooden bridge, or foot bridge, name of
two fs., the larger in the t.p. Cefii-yr-hafodau, o. Mrs. Owen ; the
other of 81 ac., t.p. Llanifynu, o. Mr. Bull.

Pen-planwydd, top of the plantation, a f. of 45 ac, t.p. Cefn-yr-
hafodaii, o. Mrs. Owen.

Pen-y-bank, top of the hill, a f. of 105 ac, t.p. Cefn-yr-hafodau, o.
Rev. Mr. Jacob.

Pen-y-cincoed, top of the branching wood (]), name of a hill and of

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 141

several holdings on its slope and summit, situate in the t.p. of

Glyn-Brochan.
Pen-y-clap, top of the hill, a small t in the t.p. of Glyn-Hafren.
Pen-y-crugyn, top of the mound, a f. of 39 ac., t.p. Llanifjnu, part

of Cochfaen estate.

Pen-y-croesau (probably derived from cross roads), name of a small

t. in the t.p. of Llani wared.
Pen-y-geulan, top of the shelving bank, a f. of 91 ac., t.p. Lanifynu,

o. Mr. Whalley, M.P.

Pen-y-rhos, end of the moor or plain, small t., t.p. Llanifynu.

PoNT-BREN-LWYD, grey foot bridge, a f. of 34 ac., t.p. Llanifynu.

PoNT-DuLAS, Dulas bridge, a small f of 13 ac., t.p Cefn-yr-hafodau.

PoNT-RHYD-GALBD, bridge of the ford with a hard or firm bed, name
of two fs. in the t.p. of Lanifynu, one of 66 ac., o. Sir W. W.
Wynn, the other of 103 ac., o. Mr. D. Hamer.

Prys-sylwidd, from Pry*, a covert of sylwidd of the watchman, the
watchman's ambush, c. £ Llanfihangel-din-sylwidd {dirty fortification
of the watchman), close to Beaumaris. r. h. j.

Another suggestion is that it is a corruption of Preswylydd^ the
abodes. It is the name of a farm of 80 ac., tp. Glyn-Gynwydd,
part of the Clochfaen estate.

PwLL-owiNE, ?the wine coloured pool, a small t, t.p. Glyn-Brochan.

Rallt, Yr AlU, the cliff or ascent, name of two small fs., t.p. Glyn-
Haf^en.

Rhiw-fron-gelli, the slope or ascent of the grove hill, a f. of 134 ac.,
t.p. Glyn-Brochan, o. J. C. Rowley, formerly part of the Clochfaen
estate.

Rhiw-las, green ascent, a small f., t.p. Llanniwared, part of the
Clochfaen estate.

Rryd-yr-onen, ashford, sometimes called Rkyd-ar-Darwen (the ford
on the Darwen), a f. of 59 ac., t.p. Glyn-Brochan, o. Mr. Edwards.
One of its fields is known as Caer Castdly probably that adjoining,
or the one within the limits of the earthwork described on p. 22.

Rhos, Welsh for a moor, or waste coarse upland, name of a small f. in
the t.p. of Cefn-yr-hafodau, part of the Green estate.

Rhos-ooch, the red rhos, a f. of 28 ac, t.p. Llanifynu.

Rhos-wen, the fair rhos, a f . of 12 ac., t.p. Lanifynu.

Rh68-y-ca8TELL, rhos of the castle, a f. of 19 ac, t.p. Llanifynu.

Rh6s-y-wrach, the hag's rhos, a small t, t.p. of Glyn-Brochan.

Tan -Y -BERTH, below the bush, a f. of 99 ac, t.p. Llani wared, o. Mr.
Williams, formerly part of Clochfaen estate.

Tan-y-llwyn, below the grove, a f. of 98 ac, Lp. Llani wared, o. Mr.
Hughes, formerly part of Clochfaen estate.

Tarenig, ? diminutive of Taranon. Mr. Silvan Evans suggests that

142 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURTG.

Trinig is the proper name, derived from tren^ impetuous, furious.
It is the name of a tributaiy of the Wye (chap, i, sec. 7).

Tan-yr-allt, below the allt, af. of 41 ac, part of the Clochfaen
estate, t.p. Llani wared.

Troed-yr-esgair, foot of the esgair, a f of 37 ac., t.p. Lanifynu, o.
Mr. Whalley, M.P., part of the Clochfaen estate up to 1857.

Ty-cerrig, stone house, a f. of 5Q ac., t.p. Llaniwared, part of the
Clochfaen estate.

Ty-gwyn, white house, a f. of 42 ac, t.p. Gljm-Gywydd, part of the
Clochfaen estate.

Ty-Lucas, Lucas' house, a f. of 13 ac., part of the Clochfaen estate.

Tylwch. Since the appearance of the first portion of this paper, the
writer has paid Cwm-Saeson (chap, i, sec. 5) and the vicinity a visit
with the view of searching for evidence to confirm the tradition
mentioned in connexion with the word Tylwch. It may, perhaps,
be of interest to state very briefly the result. In the bottom of the
vale, on the left bank of the little stream, which is known a little
lower down as Afon Tplwchy is a low circular tumulus, about 25
yards in diameter, and about 6 feet high in its centre. The field
on which it is situated was enclosed within the memory of living
persons and was cultivated for years by the farmer who now lives
on the adjacent farm, which rejoices in the name of Babylon. On
one occasion when he was ploughing the field the ploughshare
brought several small pieces of bones to sight, which so excited the
farmer^s curiosity that it caused him to dig deeper into the barrow,
which he found to be " made soil," very stiff and difficult to remove.
Having dug to the depth of a few feet without finding anything
but an occasional small piece of bone, he desisted, and the mound
has not been disturbed since, except by the ploughshare, which
lowers it year after year.

In the next field, about 100 yards due north from the centre of
the tumulus is a large erect stone, similar to the one on the FJin-
nant field, near the Roman trackway, in the parish of Trefeglwys,
but of larger dimensions and softer material. Its height above the
ground is 7 ft. 6 in., its breadth 3 ft. 6 in., and its thickness
2 ft. 3 in. Letters are said, by the farmers of the neighbourhood,
to have formerly existed upon the stone, but there are no traces of
them at present. Its base was formerly surrounded by a circle of
smaller stones placed in the ground edgewise, but as they interfered
with the cultivation of the field they were, as a matter of course,
removed. In past times the remains in this valley were regarded
with a superstitious dread, to which no doubt we owe their preserv-
ation ; wonderful stories are related of fearful storms, accompanied
by thunder and lightning, which caused various persons to abandon
their search for treasures supposed to be hid under the stone and
concealed in the mound. But the days of credulity of this description
are passed away, and it needs the constraining hand of the landlord
to preserve them for future generations.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OP LLANGURIG. 143

Ninety yards n.w. by w. from the erect stone, in the adjacent
field, are to be found remains, which look like a short alignment
in the direction of e. and w., measuring thirty yards, and consisting
of seven erect stones, some of which have been partially destroyed.
The largest and best preserved is 6 ft. 9 in. above the ground,
and 3 ft. 8 in. broad. In a field upon the opposite side of the
brook the present tenant of the farm, while constructing a fence,
discovered an old sword, which he presented to a neighbouring
blacksmith. If not destroyed, the weapon would materially assist
in determining the. date of the skirmish or battle which appears to
have been fought in the valley.

Higher up the stream, about 40 yards from its left bank, is another
erect stone, 6 ft 3 in. high, 7 ft. broad, with an average thickness
of about 1 ft. 8 in.

All these remains are just within the limits of the parish of St.
Harmon, which in the eleventh and twelfth centuries formed part
of the cantref of ArwystlL None of them are marked on the
Ordnance map.

Lewis Morris gives it as his opinion that Tylwch originally was
Du-llwch^ Uwch or Icmgh being the Irish word for lake (Camb. Reg,
ii, 493). The word is pure but very old Welsh. Llwch^ now
obsolete, in the time of Taliessin, and even later, was synonymous
with lake, and in this sense occurs in the Four Ancient Books of
WaleSf ii, p. 154, and again in the same book, p. 204, we have

" Kein gyfedwch
Y am deulweh
Llweh am pleit."
[A bright festivity. About the two lakes. The lake on my side.]

A striking instance of how entirely obsolete this old word has
become is given by Mr. Wynn in the Camb, Rtg.y ii, 154. "There
is," he states, "a parish in Caermarthenshire called Llan-llufch.
Llwch is a veiy old word for lake, which being now unintelligible, the
very lake or llwch itself, from which the consecrated ground origin-
ally took its name, is now called from the church or village Ll^
Zlan-lliffch." Again we have a similar reduplication in the name
of a lake in Brecknockshire, Llyn Cvrm-y-llwch, In Tal-Uychau
(the name of an abbey and parish in Caermarthenshire) is another
instance of the old word Uyehau being the plural of Uwch^ and Tal
(which suggests the original form of the Tyl in Tylwch) meaning
the end or head (of the lakes) which is exactly descriptive of the
situation of the old abbey. We may, therefore, pretty safely con-
clude that the modem Tylwch is a corruption of Tal-llwch^ being
synonymous with Pen-y-llyn and Tal-y-Uyn, head of the lake.
But no lake exists at Tylwch now ; yet the word affords undoubted
evidence that a lake once existed in the immediate vicinity, perhaps

1 C. f. TaUcMdu, in Brecknockshire ; tol (the head), Alvoch (lake), Ddu
(black) ; Loklwch, in Anglesea ; Maesltcc^, in Badnorahire ; Ynys-pen-ltrcA,
in Glamorganshire. See also Word* and Placet, pp. 219, 227.

144 A PABOCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIO.

in the neighboorhood of the preaent factory, which is once more in
fuU work. The prospects of the little hamlet look very encourag-
ing at present, owing to the mines being in active operation.

Ty-mawr, large house, a f. of 68 ac. t.p. Llanifjnu, o. Mr. Williams.

Ty-Newydd, new house, a small f. of 9 ao., t.p. Glyn-Brochan, o. Col.
Himter.

Ty'n-y-cobd, house in the wood, two f&,one of 58 ac.,t.p.Glyn-Brochan,
another 65 ao., t.p. Ccfn-yr-hafodau.

Ty'n-y-cwm, house in the hollow, a f. of 40 ac., t.p. Llanifjnu.

Ty'n-y-ddol, house in the mead, af. of 171 ac., t.p. Llanifynu, part of
the Clochfaen estate.

Ty'n-y-fron, house on the slope, a f. of 77 ac., t.p. Glyn-Glynwydd,
o. Dr. Davies.

Ty'n-y-m AES, house in the plain or field, a f. of 1 72 ac, t.p. Llani wared,
pcu-t of Clochfaen estate.

Ty'n-y-rh6s, house in the rhos, (see Rhos), a f. of 88 ao., t.p. Llani-
fjnu, o. Mr. Hugh Llojd.

Ty'n-yr-hbndrb, house in the old ville, a f. of 25 ac., t.p. Gljn-
Brochan, formerlj belonged to Lord Mostjn.

Tyn-yr-wtra, house in the lane. Formerlj there existed two small
fs. of this name, but thej are now united, and form a farm of 90
ac., t.p. Gljn-Hafren, o. C. J. El well, Esq.

Ystrad-Olwyn, various explanations of this name suggest themselves.
If derived from Stratay we should have OlwyrCs Street^ but there are
no traces of a street or paved roadwaj in the neighbourhood ;
neither are the farms situated in a vallej, so that we have to fall
back upon (1) Ystrad-olwyiiy the circular plat, in the form of a
wheel, or (2) Ygtrad-y-ddl-weny the plat of the fair mead, both of
them descriptive of the situation. The latter is the suggestion of
Mr. J. C. Hughes, and I am inclined to think it to be the true
meaning. The two fk which bear this name are in the tp. of Gljn-
Gjnwjdd — ^the larger (fawr) is 89 ac., o. Mrs. Owen ; the smaller
(fach) is bb ac. in extent, and forms part of the Clochfaen estate.

Warrbn-houbb, a f. of 20 ac., t.p. Llanifjnu, o. Mrs, Owen.

Wabn (a mutation of Gwaen) is defined as "a flat marsh j tract "by
the late Rev. W. Davies (Works iii, 537), and as "a meadow, a down,
a plain,** in the latest edition of Dr. Pugh*s Dictionary, It is the
name of a f. of 20 ac., t.p. Gljn-Brochan, o. Mrs. Owen. A large
marahj tract in the t.p. of Cefn-jr-hafodau is known as Waen-
Cilgwyuj deriving its name probablj from the farms so called.
Waen goch (the red down) forms part of Esgair Maesnant.

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OF LLANGURIG. 145

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.

Bedd Gwrtheijni (p. 41). One of the names of the
traditional burial places of Vortigem is thus preserved
in stanza xl of the collection entitled the " Verses of
the Graves," or the " Verses of the Warriors," in the
Black Book of Caermarthen : —

'^ Ebet yn ystyuachen,
Y mae paup yny amheu/
Bet gurtheyrn gurtheneu."

Four Atident Books of Wales, ii, 32.
'^ The grave of Ysty vachau.
Which everybody doubts.^
The grave of Gwrtheym Gwrthenau."

Ibid., i, 314.

Pillar of Eliseg (p. 41). Below is a specimen of
the inscription on this important monument — so valu-
able to the future investigator of the early history of
the Principality of Powys — as given by Edward LI wyd
in his Arch. Bnt, tit. vi, p. 229. This pillar, or monu-
mental cross, was erected at a place formerly called
Maes-yr-y chert, but subsequently Pant-y-groeSy about a
quarter of a mile distant from the abbey of Valle Crucis,
by Cjmgen, or Concenn, Prince of Powys, in or before
the year 850 (for he was slain at Rome that year), in
memory of his great grandfather, Eliseg. Cyngen was
the son of Cadell (who died in the year 804), the son of
Brochwel, the son of Prince Eliseg, sixth in descent
from Brochwel Ysgythrog,

— BEf»Ed— gEnmcC^'qj' qt[z — bened — germanus que

— PEPERIC EI rE..IROC FI- — PEPEBIT EI 8E . . IRA PI-
LI GC mCCZIM I LIA MAXIMI

J^^S^r q?! 0CCl4lC REgEin EEGI8 QUI OCCIDIT BEGEM
^J^^gCC'*^ ^ t. EOMANO

Rqm*cof.maRchpi/*xiC ^^^ ^ conmaech pinxit
hoc ^

CHiRosROCFif RESE ruo

POrCEptE CHIBOGEAPU EEGE BUG

COnCEKM * &C. P08CENTB

^ CONCENN ^ ETC.

1 or, The grave in Ystafachau,

Which everybody suspects to be,
The grave of Gwrthcym Gwrthenau.

146 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OP LLANGURIG.

Mr. Haigh {Conquest of Britain by tlie Saxons y p.
230) reads the first part of it thus : " Giiarthimer whom
Germanus blessed, the son of Guarthigem whom Severa
bare to him, the daughter of King Maximus, who killed
the king of the Romans." Nothing is known of the
Cynfarch, or Conmarch, who carried out the design of
King Cyngen.

Jenhjn Goch (see pp. 49-50) is stated to have
maiTied Catherine, daughter and heir of Maurice Fy-
chan of Kerry. Some doubt has been cast upon the
accuracy of this statement. The authorities for it are :

1. Add. MS. 9865, one of the vols, of that celebrated
genealogist John Davies, of Rhiwlas, to whose labours
the editor of Dwnn's Visitations is indebted (i Intro.,
pp. xxix,-xxx, Lhjfryddiaeth, 311). This MS., which
contains a fully drawn out tabular pedigree of the
descendants of Elystan Glodrudd, asserts that Catherine
was heiress to Maurice Fychan.

2. Harl MS., 1973, p. 96 (Heraldic Visitations, by
Randle Holme) also states that Catherine was daughter
and heir of Maurice Fychan.

Owen, son of Maurice of Clochfaen (p. 51), married
Tangwystl, daughter of Morgan (ab Maurice, younger
son of Thomas ab Maurice Fychan, of Aber-Magwr, in
the parish of Llanfihangel-y-creuddyn, descended from
Einion ab CoUwyn ab Tangno, lord of Eifionydd and
Ardudwy), by whom he had one daughter, Mallt. He
died on the evening of January 7th, 1500, and his Marw-
nod (or elegy) has the name of Huw Arwystl attached
to it. In it the writer describes him as a " soldier of
the sea," and laments that the festival should have been
saddened by his death.

Note to x>p. 63-4. — Colo7iel Ilinde died at Brus-
sels on the 15th of May, 1870, and was buried at Ucle,
near that city. The following is the inscription upon his
tomb : —

A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OP LLANGURIG. 147

Cabolub Thomas Edwabdus Hikdb

Lboionis BENaALiENSis Tbibtjnus

Obiit Idibus Maii mdocclxx ^tatis bvm An L^

Requiescat in pace.

Note to p. 66. In addition to the information pre-
viously given respecting the castle and lordship of
Whittin|ton, we take the foUowing aJlusion to the
matter from the Add. MS. 9865 : —

'* The township of Trefor was divided between Cuhelyn and
Menrig^ the third and fourth sons of Tudor ab Rhys Sais. The
second son of Tudor was Goronwy^ sumamed Pefr^ who was
the Wrennoc of the early romances^ and had the lordship of
Whittington for his portion. By his first wife he had (I) Sir
Roger, of whom presently ; (2) Sir William de Powys, Knt.
{Llywih Ovoydd y Benven) ; he had an only daughter, named
Miletta, who became the wife of Sir Fulke Fitz- Warren, son
and heir to Sir Warren de Weauz, a nobleman of Lorraine ;
(3) Jonas of Penley {Llywth Llanerck Banna), who bore az.
three boars passant in pale or. The Penley estate passed by
marriage into the family of Dymoke, who still possess it (p.
66).

*' The eldest son. Sir Roger de Powys, lord of Whittington
(Blancheville) was a knight of Rhodes, and bore vert a boar or.
In a note at p. 13, vol. ii of Dwnn's Heraldic Visitations there
is the following notice of him : ' In an Anglo-Norman life of
Fulk Fitz- Warren lorwerth (Drwyndwn) it is said 'dona a
Rogier de Powys Blancheville e Maylour,' and, after his death,
' Morys le Fitz Rogier de Powys' became ' Seigneur de
Blancheville e Maylour,' and when he died we are told that
Llewelyn ab lorwerth regretted his death, ' par ce que Morys
fat son Cousyn.' Sir Roger married Cecilia, daughter of Hwfa
ab lorwerth ab Gruffydd ab leuaf ab Niniaf {gules two hons
passant arg, for lorwerth ab Gruffjrdd) by whom he had issue :
J . Sir Maurice or Meurig Llwyd, lord of Whittington, who was
slain by Sir Fulk Fitz Warren, who took possession of the
castle and lordship of Whittington, and had it confirmed to
him by Henry III. 2. Sir Roger de Estwick, heir to Sir
Meurig Llwyd, by an estate of settlement made by Llewe-
lyn ab lorworth. Prince of Wales, and confirmed by Henry
UI of England. He had issue a son Meredydd. 3. Roger
Fvchan, whose only daucfhter and heiress Gwerfyl, married to
Sir Philip KynastoB, anLtor of the Kynastons of Hardwicke
(Dwnn, i, 326). 4. Owain: he had an only daughter and heiress,
Gwerfyl, married to Einion ab Gwilym, which Gwilym was an
illegitimate son of Gruffydd ab Gwenwynwyn, Prince of Powys.

148 A PAROCHIAL ACCOUNT OP LLANGURIG.

5. Goronwy, ancestor of the families of Pentre Madog in Dnd-
dleston and the Estwicks of Estwick."

Note to Edward Lloyd of Pen-y-lan (p. 77).

Mary Lloyd, heiress of Pen-y-lan, married Roger
Kenyon, Esq., of Cefti, brother of Lloyd, first Lord
Kenyon, and was mother of

Edward, bom 1771, who assumed the name of Lloyd
and subsequently that of Williams. He married Anna-
bella (bom 5th April, 1777), eldest daughter and co-
heiress of the Rev. Philip Puleston, D.D., and heiress to
her uncle, Watkin Williams, Esq., of Penbedw (son of
Richard Williams, Esq., youngest brother of the first
Sir Watkin), M.P. for Montgomeryshire, and afterwards
for the Flint Boroughs ; the youngest daughter and co-
heiress, Elizabeth, married William Wynn, Esq., of
Peniarth, and was mother of the present W. W. E.
Wynne, Esq, of Peniarth. Mr. Edward Lloyd Williams
died without issue, and his widow married secondly
Major General Molyneaux, who assumed the additional
name of Williams and is now living (1870).

Corrections :
On illnfitration facing p. 22 for " Rhyd-yn-onen," read "Rhyd-yr-

onen."

On p. 42, line 16 from top, /or " Gwawrddyd," read " Gwawrddyd^/."
" p. 43, „ 4 „ bottom, for " Gwrstan ab Gwaethhvod,'' read
" Gwrystan ab Gwaeth/otfrf/*

On p. 50, note 1, instead of " son of Maelgwyn, lord, etc.," read '* son
of Meredydd ah Maelgwyn, lord, etc."

On p. 50, line 1 from top, for *' Einion of Kerry," read ** Einion ah
Howd of Kerry."

On p. 51, line 6 from top, /or " Gwaethfod," read " Gwaeth/o^rf."
" p. 52, „ 7 „ bottom, for " Glandywedog," read '* Glanc^y-
wedog."

On p. 53, line 17 from bottom, /or " collided," read " co^riaed."
„ p. 54, „ 10 „ top, for *' Edwyn Goronwy," read " Edwyn ah
Goronwy."

On p. 59, line 15 from top, after 1766, insert^ leaving an otdy daughter
and heiress^ Sarah.
On p. 61, line 12 from bottom, /or " Cyfeiliog," read '* Cyffyllio^r
" p. 68, „ 9 „ „ for " bromoslipe," read " irooiwslipB."

„ p. 74, „ 7 „ „ fcr " lowerth,^' read " IdneHh:'

„ p. 74, note 2, line 11 from bottom, /or " Corbet of Moreton Corbet,"
read " Corbet of Wattlesborough, son of Sir Robert Corbet of Moreton
Corbet and Wattlesborough."

On p. 75, line 15 from top, after 4, insert " sable."
In the Glossary, for '•'' Nant Tidnerthy''^ read ** A'ant Idnerthj*^ and was
probably so called from Idnerth ap Madog Danwr.

149

WELSH POETKY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE
HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

By HOWEL W. LLOYD.

It was to be expected that the district of Arwystli,
abounding no less in pictiu-esque scenery, than in his-
torical associations, lying in and about the majestic
Plinlimmon, the cradle of Severn, Wye, and other
illustrious streams, should have given birth to poets,
^hose genius, fired no less by tSe gmndeur of thek
native scenery than by the love of country, always con-
spicuous in the breasts of mountaineers, should have
left to posterity memorials worthy of such sources of
inspiration. Accordingly we find several whose works,
few of which have hitherto been committed to the press,
are scattered among the manuscript collections in the
principality, in the British Museum, and elsewhere.
Research has brought to light some poems among them
which are not a little interesting in connexion with the
local history of Llangurig, whether regarded from a
social, religious, or historical point of view. These it
is now proposed to introduce to our readers, together
with translations, a<)Companied by such preliminary
matter as may be requisite for the purpose of eluci-
dating the sense, which is not unfrequently obscure,
and also their relation to the special subject of our
history.

ITie first in chronological order, with the exception,
perhaps, of the author of a poem or two of tmcertain
date, which wiU be referred to presently more fully, is
leuan Tew, called leuan Tew H6n, or Hynaf, who was
bom at Llanidloes, and is known to have presided at a
" Gorsedd," or session of bards, held at Glamorgan in

150 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

1420.^ Twenty-four of his compositions are enumerated
in the catalogue of the Britisn Museum as extant in
that collection, none of which, however, appear to
relate to the subject of this paper. The next is Huw
Cae Llwyd, said to have flourisned from 1450 to 1480,
and known to have presided at the Glamorgan Gorsedd
in 1470,^ eight at least of whose poems are preserved
in the British Museum. The third is Huw Arwystli,
whose poems are exceedingly numerous, and whose
period, though not yet precisely settled, would appear
to have extended from the latter part of the reign of
Henry VIII to nearly the close of that of Elizabeth.
And lastly, we have his contemporaries, Sion Ceri, and
Sir leuan of Camo, who, though not apparently natives
of Arwystli, were denizens of its neighbourhood, and
maintained intimate relations with its inhabitants. Of
these we have one poem by Sion Ceri, another by Huw
Cae Llwyd, and several by Huw Arwystli, most of which
however have unfortunately reached us in a mutilated
state, in which is presented a life-like picture of some
of the principal features of the social and religious life
of Llangurig in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Prior to any of these in order of time is the following
by leuan Deulwyn, a poet who flourished from about
1460 to 1490, and is known to have presided at the
Gorsedd of Glamorgan in 1480.^ It is entitled "an
Elegy on Dafydd Fychan of Curig's Land,'* and relates
apparently to an incident of warfare, which, if the period
ascribed to the author be correct, must have occurred
considerably later than the battle of Mortimer's Cross,
fought in February, 1461, when Sir Owen Tudor, grand-
father of Henry VII, was slain, and his half-brother,
Henry VI, lost his crown. Perhaps it is to be referred
to the revolt of Clarence and Warwick, 1465-70, which
ended in the battle of Bamet, and in the course of

^ Williams's Dictionary of E win en t Welsh-fnen, p. 241.
* If the poem of The Four Brothers is correctly ascribed to him,
he must have been living as late as the rei^ of Henrj VIII.
s Williams's Dictionary of Eminent Welshmeiiy p. 120.

OP THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 151

wluch was fought the battle of Danesmore, near Ban-
bury, at which the Sir Richard Herbert, whose elegy
by our bard is also extant,^ was taken prisoner, and
beheaded by the Lancastrians, together with his brother,
Sir William, who, after the surrender of Harlech Castle,
had been created Earl of Pembroke by Edward IV.
As the poem has already been printed in Welsh,^ it is
imnecessary to reproduce the original here. Davydd,
with his brother leuan, are referred to as having fallen
victims to an ambuscade on the Wye, and one of them
is stated to have been biuied in the churchyard of
Llangurig.

Elegy on Davydd Vychan and leuan of Gurig's Land»

In tears for whom is Powys found.
And all the south, the country round?
I mourn, when I would rouse the chase.
On bank of Wye, in glen of Euas ;
Woe's me ! a host is come and gone,
Where two youths came, now come not one.
From Maelor one, too well I wist ;
From Curig's Land another missed !
Mine office brings me nought but pain.
On moor and glen I call in vain.
For two — our best — ^we stay forlorn;
They come not — ^we may wait and mourn.
As Mary moum'd, so I their loss.
Her Son's fell wounds beneath the cross.
She from her eyes wept tears of blood.
May mine weep, too, a kindred flood I
I can no more than turn my gaze.
Wistful, on yonder upland haze ;
Long tho' I wait, there comes not one.
From moor to dell — both, both are gone !
Sole remnant from the slaughter, I,
Since when Siac TJwyd doth yonder lie;
I call — nought boots me to complain —
For gen'rous Davydd Vychan's slain !
For both drear sorrow chills my bones,
Llewelyn also heaves my groans.

^ Printed in Bice Jones's GorchesHon y Beirddy p. 185, Edition
1773.
' Ibid,y p. 189. See also Montgomeryshire GoUectionSy vol. i, p. 890.

152 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

For Davydd and for lenan vent
Two thousand hearts their one lament.
For these two tribes are sunk in grief.
For these two lands find no relief;
In Llinwent's^ mansion sorrow reigns.
And all Saint Idloes' town complains.
I, too — whom Llinwent led — complain
For Llinwent*s chief, by ambnsh slain.
Deep laid the plan — thro' foul deceit —
He gave his hand — his fate to meet.
So was he slain — O shameful deed !
As tho' 'twere Arthur's self to bleed.
His wont was never to appear,
When raged the combat, in the rear;
In battle he the first to meet
The foe, the hindmost in retreat.
The rear that he should cover, I
Lamented, on the bank of Wye.
To quit their post, to break their troth.
Were false of him and leuan both.
Twain brethren of devoted mind —
It stirred them sore to stay behind.
Two lands diverse are reft of joy.
For leuan's land hath sprung from Troy-
Fair Curig's church is wrapped in gloom.
There lies the lion in the tomb.
FalFn is that ancient line fuU low.
Glides HowePs stream with weakened flow.
Like land of court and church bereft
Is Powys without leuan left.
Vengeance in flood burst forth of yore.
For greater now the need is sore ;
My heart would never broken be.
Such deluge for such men to see.

We now revert to the poems already glanced at as of
uncertain date, and so far as onr present knowledge will
carry us, also of nameless authorship. In the MS.
volume, indeed, from which they have been extracted,
the name of Huw Arwystli is subscribed to them, pro-
bably by a conjecture of the transcriber. The first poem
is an eulogium upon a person named leuan, the son of
Gruifydd, of Clochfaen, together with his wife GwenUian,

^ This is a mansion in the parish of Llanbister in Radnorshire.

OF THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 153

and Jenkyn Goch, their son.^ Huw Arwystli, whose
life extended late into the sixteenth century, was a con-
temporary of the grandsons of this Jenkyn Goch, who
is known to have been living in 1470. It cannot there-
fore be supposed that he could have been living early
enough to celebrate the virtues of Jenkyn's parents
during their lifetime, as this would imply that his own
life was protracted for as much as fifty years beyond
the ordinary span. It may be as well to premise that
this, and most of the following poems, are taken from
a MS. collection, called the " Llyfr Ceniarth," from the
fact of its preservation at a place of that name in Mont-
gomeryshire, to the kindness of whose owner, Mr. D.
Gilbertson, we are indebted for the liberty to copy them.
The original compiler of the collection has not been
ascertained with certainty; but there is reason to be-
lieve that the poems in it relating to Clochfaen may
have been transcribed from the original (which were
preserved at that place until its destruction by fire in
1 760) by Mr. Morgan Lloyd, son of Mr. Jenkyn Lloyd,
of the Clochfaen, who settled at Llanbrynmair towards
the close of the seventeenth century. The MS. may
have come into the possession of the Ceniarth family
through his daughter Sarah, who was married to
E. Pritchard, Esq., of that place. ^ The style and
orthography of the MS. are the same as were in vogue
at the commencement of the eighteenth centiur. Several
of the leaves have been lost, and the volume has others
wise suffered from exposure to damp ; many of the
compositions, therefore, have come down to us in a
deplorably fragmentary state. From the violation of
the rules of consonancy in several instances, incon-
ceivable in the composition of bards of such high repu-
tation among their contemporaries, it is to be inferred
that the text has undergone additional mutilation from
the carelessness of the transcriber, or his ignorance of
the rules of " cynghaneddJ'^ As none of these have

^ Montgomeryshire Collections, vol. ii, p. 271. * Ibid., p. 276.

^ i. e. Alliterative consonancy. The Cijwydd deuair, in which

154 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

been hitherto printed, so far as is known, it has been
thought proper to insert them here in the original text,
as well as in the necessarily imperfect form of a prose
translation.

COWYDD I HENAFIAID Y CLOCHFAN.

Duw a'i roi gynt, nid ar gam,
Drwy Ebrwy Dir [i] Abram,
Dyfawd iddo'r blaid [uf] ydd
O'i gordd, cyn amled a 'r gwydd.
Bhoed [ganj Dduw i rwyd dwyrain,
I'w rhwysg deuddegUwyth y rhain.
I ddawn Abram ddoen' Ebryw,
A'i rodd a ddiolchodd ei Dduw.
Py rodd innau, 'nghefn^ yr haf,
I Ddaw eilwaith a ddiolchaf :
Mae Duw 'n rhoi i ni dy'n rhydd,
Rhwng gwar min Grwy a'r mynydd;
Mab Gwilym Gam, ddinam, ddoetb,
A gae leuan iV gyfoeth.
Myfi'r haf, mwy yw fy rhan,
Yw gwr y ty ar Gwrt leuan :
Mwyn, brud yr wyf mown bord rydd,
Mawl a^i hyder mal hedydd,
Cywydd a wna ef, hedydd haf,
Yn fwrw' n ochr y fron uchaf ;
Cerais, ar hynt cwrs yr hydd.
Felly i fwrw fy lleferydd.^
Gwych, tiym, oedd iach iV tramwy,
Clochfan &wrt cylch afon Gwy
. . gynnes gwar mynydd
. . . d iach frig dy dydd
Ba le bynag y bai 'r nod,
By w yno y mae'n benod.
. . a geiff enwog wedd
Morys [ar] ol a mawredd.
Mab y w, ni bydd i'm dydd dig,
Mur ceraint? ymro Curig,

most of tbese poems is composed, consists of rhyming couplets,
each verse of which contains seven syllables, and is divided into
two clauses, in the last of which must be repeated consecutively
three of the consonants contained in the first.

1 Cefn, pars superior, Dr. Davies's Pic^., 8. v. ' "E. lly ei" in MS.

' In MS. 2W Coraint The metre requires a word beginning
with m.

OP THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO. 155

Corflf Bolant Siancyn ffriwlwyd

Goch hil Uin gwych Howel Llwyd.

C&r Rhys Llwyd accw rboes Ian

Cr»ig ruddaur Ceri Crenddjn.

Llawn ei bord Wenllian bydd,

Hwynte rywl [iant] mewn trefydd.

Tstyried Is y Daren

A wna hi wrth wan a hfin.

6ras a rboes gwir lesu i'w rhan,

Syn i ran synwyr lenan.

Araf yw'r gwycha' o'r gwyr,

Araf yw hedfa'r eryr.

At genedl pan fo'r gynhen^

Oni bydd Pont, ni bydd Pen.

Bhain geidw gweilch hengoed gynt

Heb wanh&n neb o honynt :

Cad[ar]na'r corner coed allt,

I'w ennyn ar war wen'r allt.

Ond da yw yntan lenan,^
Gy] da' i' droed gadw 'i ran.*
]Tra fydd ei r] hwysg, llew'r trefydd

Arwystli fawr ar ei ol fydd.

[Nid] dyn fn* mwy yno

[Yn ei fam] leuan tra fo,

[Ni bydd] gwaed heb unben gwyr.

•«> « # * #

Translation.

God, of old time, granted not nnjustly

To Abraham, thro' the Hebrew land.

The coming to him of the obedient people.

By his impulsion, numerous as the forest.

God gave the east to be taken as in a net.

By the onslaught of their twelve tribes.

To the endowment of Abraham came the Hebrews,

And for his gifl he gave thanks to God.

For my gift, too, in the height of summer.

To God in my turn will I give thanks.

It is God who freely gives us a house.

Between the slope of Wye's bank and the mountain.

The son of Gwilym (Jam, blameless and wise,

^ The MS has " d da in gnlan Icnan.*' The reading, as amended,
is conjectural only.

* The original has " waed," and " a'i ran" in the next line.

* Dynm in MS.

156 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

Possesses leuan for his weal.

I, myself, in the summer — the greater is my portion —
Am goodman of the house over leuan's court :
Courteous and free am I at the generous board.
In praise whose boldness is like the lark's.
A strain he utters —he, the lark of summer.
Throwing his breast askant in its ascent.
I have loved, in following the chase of the hart.
In like manner to pour forth my voice.
Gay, trim, and pleasant to frequent,
Is Clochfaen Court on the winding of the Wye.
. . Warm is the slope of the hill.
And wheresoever my lot be cast.
To live there is best of ail.
Morys^ shall gain distinguished rank
And greatness in the future.
A youth who will never be angry with me,
A wall of strength to his kindred in Curig's land
IsJenkynGoch,of pale complexion — a Roland' in stature-
Scion of the noble line of Howel Lloyd,
Kinsman of Rhys Lloyd* yonder, who gave him
The rock of Ceri, Creuddyn,* red as gold.
Pull will the table of Gwenllian be,^
They also shall rule in towns.
Consideration beneath the oak
Will she entertain for the weak and old,
Grace verily hath Jesus given for her portion,
Marvel at the understanding allotted to leuan.
Deliberate is the noblest of men —
Deliberate is the flight of the eagle.
In the Tribe when strife hath arisen.
No Head will there be, except there be a Bridge.
These shall preserve the hawks of the ancient forest.
Not one of them shall be made weak.
In the strongest comer of the wooded upland
To incite them* on the crown of the smiling hill.
But leuan also is well able

^ Perhaps the son and successor of Jenkyn Goch, and grandson
of leuan, is the person alluded to. Moiit. Coll., vol. ii, p. 273.

2 The hero of romance, and nephew of Charlemagne.

3 Probably his uncle, Rhys Lloyd, of Pont y Rhyd Galed, ancestor
of the Richardses of Llangurig.

* One of the three comots of Cantref Penwedig in Cardiganshire.

^ An allusiou to the words of the Psalm, " Thy children like the

olive branches round about thy table." * The MS. text has swyr.

e H7

OF THE HISTOKY OF LLANGUKIG. 157

With his foot to hold his ground.

So long as his lion's career shall last^

Shall the towns of Arwystli be great at his back.

There no man has been greater than he.

. . . . so long as leuan shall live.

Its men shall not want a chieftain of their blood.

The next poem, although in the MS. subscribed with
the words and date, ** Huw Arwystli ai kant, 1503/' has
been, but perhaps with less reason, referred to the
same category of doubtful date and authorship as the
last. The title runs thus; Coivyddy neu Englynion
Marwmid Men, gwraig Howel oh Morys Goch o Lan-
gurig yn Uwchgoed, i. e. " A Poem, or Elegiac Stanzas
on EUen, wife of Howel, son of Morys Goch of Llan-
gurig, in Uwchgoed." No such connexion as " Howel"
is, however, to be found in any of the Llangurig fami-
lies. The statement probably has arisen from a mis-
take of the transcriber, who, in his ignorance of the
descent of the dochfaen family from an ancestor of
that name, concluded hastily that the " Howel" re-
ferred to in the third and fifth stanzas, could have
been no other than her husband. It is strange that he
should have overlooked the fact that the latter is more
fitly represented by "Llewelyn," who, in the sixth
stanza, is designated by the title of "Llyw Ael-
wyd," the " Lord of the Hearth," an expression appa-
rently equivalent to the prosaic one of " Head of the
Family." It is in Llewelyn, therefore, that the hus-
band of EUen must be sought. Accordingly, we find
that a lady of that name, a daughter of Maurice ap
Jenkjm Goch, and great granddaughter of leuan, the
subj^ of the last poem, was married to Llewelyn ab
Morys ab Rhys of Llangurig.^ She was a sister of the
" Four Brothers of Llangurig," whose fame has been
preserved in the curious poem by Huw Cae Llwyd,
which will be presented the next in succession to our
readers ; both poems, therefore, must be assigned to
the same period. The name of one of this lady's bro-
thers, Evan of Crugnant, appears as sixth on the grand

1 X'ontgomery shire Collections, vol. ii, p. 273.

158 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

jury, A.D. 1546. We shall not be far wronff in as-
iding to them, therefore, a somewhat eaxlier^date,-
not too early, however, to have been actually composed
by the poet indicated in the MS. as its author.

ENOLTNION^ SEP IfABWNAD ELEN^ GWSAIO LLEWELYN^ AB HOBTS

OOCH O LANOURIQ YN UWCHQOED.

Mair ! pond du ein arddelydd — ^bla

Blin yw gwaith elorwydd :
Mair I Mair ! ni chawn ddial lawnddydd ;
Mwy lie i minaa maen mynydd.

Oer fydd blaen mynydd, blin i *m yw — mlila

Am Elan dda ei wyth ry w :
Nid braendod ond b&r un Daw^
Ni henwyd fath bono 'n fyw 1

Difyw* brig bro Cirig o'r cerydd — hil^ Hon

Howel Lloyd nis gorfydd :
Dodau'r dull dyn o^r dydd.
Da rew'n glwyd ar ein gwledydd.

I'r gwledydd trist troes Duw faith — bla

Pn blino nosulgwaith :
Hwyr fydd i 'n byw, Duw, o'r daith ;
I wan esgor y nosgwaith.

N8s glaf a fu'n anaf i fonedd — ^Howel

Tynnu'n hoU ymgeledd :
Nid k, a ni *n byw dan nenn bedd
Wraig rywogach o^r gwragedd I

Cai bedd pen gwragedd Creuddyn* pan gadd

Pen gwaed Curig breuddyn ;
Alaeth oedd ar dylwyth hyn,
A Llyw aelwyd Llewelyn.

1 The MS. has " Howel." « The MS. has "Dewrw."

8 " Bill" in MS.

* " Ai gryn" in MS. I have ventured to restore "Creuddyn,"
which satisfies both context and metre.

OF THE HISTORY OF LLANGUfilG. 159

[Aelwyjd bywyd torri bon — y pren

Adfyd prudd ei dylodion ;
A rhoi anaf ar weinion^
Le ymlaen fa'r glan blant bon.

Glan feibion gwychion'n rhoi gawr — *n dost

Yn dwyn derwenllawr ;
Ni chwardd na thylawd na chrythawr,
Weled roi lied gwlad i'r llawr !

Aetb wlad i ddwyn cwyr iwch canol — ^llo

Lie 'r k 'r byd olynol ;
Ond rhoi gair da rhagorol,
Ei cho' yw hwn — serch i'w hoi.

10.

Elen yn ol pen He 'i poenwyd^ — ni than

Ac ni thyrr yr anwyd ;
Llwyr o'r cwyn yn ei^difwynwyd.
Lie bu ar ben llwybr roi bwyd.

11.

A m o 'i bwyd a gladdwyd Llysgelyddon^ — ^braf

Lie bn briflTordd tylodion ;
Mawr y w 'r anap ar weinion,
Mair ! bydd hwyr marw bath hon 1

ELEGY ON ELEK^ WIFE OF LLEWELTN^ SON OF MOBBIS
GOCH OF LIANOUBIO IN UWCHOOED.

Mary I how black is onr gloom ; a grievous

Affliction is the work of the bier :

Mary I Mary I a day of full vengeance may I not have ;

For me were a stone on the mountain a fitter abiding-place.

^ This line seems cormpt, nor can I do more than guess at its
meaning.

' Llys Gelyddon. 1 know not if this place is named in other
Welsh writings, or whether it is here referred to as Elen's burial-
place ; or, with greater probability perhaps, as connected in some
way with her beneficence to the poor.

160 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

Cold is the mountain-peak, painful to me is my sorrow.
For Elen, noble thro' her eight descents :
God alone is the cause of dissolution !
Her living like hath ne'er received a name.

Lifeless is the Upland of Curig because of the chastisement.
The gentle race of Howel Lloyd will not endure it :
Like the outspread of a black forest over our lands
Is the closing of the day to her mortal form.

God on our sorrowing lands hath laid a lasting grief,
To afflict us with vigils :

Wearisome, God I will be the travel of our life.
Unto the faint outbreak of the dawn from the night.

A night of sickness and of pain to the noble stock of Howel,
Calling for all our care :

While we live shall not one more amiable among women
Go under the roof of the grave.

The grave hath gained possession of the first of Creuddyn's

women ; when it was found
That the best blood of Curig could perish,
Then upon the family came mourning.
And upon Llewelyn, the Lord of the Hearth.

The Hearth whose life — the trunk of the tree — has been cut

off;—
A sore calamity to its poor,
A wound also to the sick.
In the land where the foremost were her fair children.

Her fair and gallant sons uttering a bitter cry.
As they bear the oaken bier ;
Neither poor nor crowder make merry.
To see half the land laid low.

OF THE HISTORY OF LLANGTJRIG. 161

Gone is the land to make mourning^ in your midst.

Where all that is human shall follow ;

But the best of naroes^ and the love

That she leaves behind her — that is her Memorial !

10.

To Elen's suflFerings there is an end, — ^now

Nor heat nor cold shall hurt her ;

The spot only mourns its bereavement of her.

Where she was wont to distribute food at the end of the path.

11.

She who gave of her food is buried ; a brave sight

Hath Llys Qelyddon been, with its highway thronged by poor;

Great is the calamity to the sick !

Maiy I far off is the day ere her like shall die I

By the aid of the little glimmering of light shed
upon it by the grand Jury list of 1546, we see no
reason to doubt that this little poem was actually in-
dited by the bard of Arwystli If so, it is not impro-
bably the earhest of his eitant compositions ; notvdth-
standing that the supposition may appear somewhat
ra^h, wLn it is coni^aered how many of these have
stiU to be disinterred from the volumes of decayinj
MSS., in which they he mouldering away. To our mine
there is evidence of youthful poetic aspiration in the
simple, but genuine, pathos that peeps out in some of
the lines through the difficulties and imperfections of
the text. Some of these may be attributable to the
practical inexperience of the bard in the art of weaving
the metric lay, of which he since became recognised as
a master. And it must be admitted that the life-like
picture presented to us, in a few gentle touches, of the
Lady of Creuddyn, borne to her grave by her own
sobbing children, followed with the tears and lamenta-
tions of the whole coimtry-side, to whom she had en-
deared herself by her humble and tmostentatious
charity to the sick and poor, carries with it a certain
foreshadowing of his future pre-eminence.

^ *' Dwyn cwyr," to bear wax tapers in the faneral procession.

162 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

From this elegy on Eleo, their sister, we are led on
by a natural tiunsition to the poem addressed to her
brothers by Huw Cae Llwyd, a bard who, though
partly his contemporary, belonged to the foregoing
generation. It were to be wished that some more pro-
saic record would reveal to us fuller particulars re-
specting these gentlemen, for which our appetite is
decidedly whetted by those derived from the poem.
But unfortunately we have none, save their names,
leuan, Owen, Jenkyn, and WiQiam, connected with
the few facts recorded in their pedigrees, and enu-
merated in the second volume of this work ;^ also that
already adverted to respecting leuan, viz., that he sat
sixth on a grand jury in the last year but one of Henry
VIII ; and last, not least, the one which, but for their
" vates sdcer" would have been consigned to oblivion,
that they were known and regarded with more than
ordinary respect in their day, as having earned by their
character and conduct, exhibited in distinctive traits,
the title par excellence of " The Four Brothers of Llan-
gurig."

CYWYDD T PEDWAS BEODYE O LANOUBIG.*

Pwy a rydd peunydd aur pwys ?
Piau hoU iachau Powys ?
A'r soldau gorau a gaid ?
Pond wyrion penawduriaid ?
Piau 'r glod pwy ar gwledydd.
Pa frodyr yn filwyr fydd ?
Pedwar cymar, rhag camwedd,
Cedym iawn y caid yr un wedd.
leuan, tarian anturwyr,
Torri y'mlaen tair mil o wyr,
Owain ddewr, yn y ddwy ran,
Awdr yw ni edy ei ran :

1 P. 273. See also Arch. Camh. for 1867, p. 26.
^ From the MS. in the British Museum called " Y Melynhir,"
and numbered Additional MSS. UllL^s. The last twenty lines are

1 fl 7 •

found also in the " Llyfr-Ceniarth," tacked on to the fragment of
another poem, ascribed to Huw Cae Llwyd, containing park of the
Legend of S. Cnng.

OF THE mSTORY OP LLANGURIG. 163

Siancyn, roddwin wreiddwych,

A Hew dinam^ Wiliara wych :

Meibion Morys, fur awchys frig,

Llyna geirw Llangurig,

Ag wyrion enwog eryr ;

Siancin, a roe win i wyr,^

Gwych a gadam y 'th famwyd,

A hael y w llin Hywel Llwyd.

Gwaed Padog, enwog o wr,

Gwaed Einion, ag o Danwr,^

Coed Rhys, yn cadw 'r oesoedd,

Cawr o wr, Llwyd, car larll oedd.

Caid o hil coed wehelyth,

Caterw fydd coetir fyth.

Caid anian yn cadw ynys,

Cawn roddion gorwyrion Rys.

Ond haelion, gwychion, y w^r gwyr ?

Ond tewrion, ac antarwyr ?

Ond tyfeilch yn eu tyfiad,

I rannu 'r tir, o 'r un tad ?

O dderwen fawr, o 'r ddar flfon,

Y cadeiriodd coed irion :

Ceingiau yn golofnau gwlad ;

Ceirw a 'u hofn a 'u cariad ;

Cyd tyfu y caid hefyd,

Cyd fiynnu a'u earn i gyd ;

Curig, o, fewn y cnras,

A'u cryfed, cadwed rhag cas !

Cyd treulio y caid rheolwyr,

Cyd gildio, cyd gostio gwyr :

Cyd henaint y caid^ en heinioes,

Cyd rhannn hwnt,* cyd rhoi 'n en hoes ;

Cyd gam* 'r Cymm y caid ;

^ This wine mnst have been imported direct from France to the
neighbouring port of Aberystwyth. This passage, and one in an-
other poem, in which Llaognrig is described as noted for the ex-
cellence of its wine, furnishes a curious proof of the existence of a
trade with France in wine on the Welsh coast at that early period.

^ Madoc Danwr, the immediate founder of the Clochfaen family.
See his History, Mofit. Coll., vol. ii, p. 269.

* Y caid. The LI. Oeniarth has " cadwo."

* Cyd rhannn hwnt. The LI. Cen. has " Cydran himp."

^ Cyd gam. This is the reading of LI. Cen. The British Mu-
seum MS. has '' ffynnn," probably repeated by mistake from the
seventh line above.

164 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

Cyd gynnal^ cadw gweiniaid ;

Cadw meirch ar frasgeirch fry^

Cadw gwyr, a 'a cyd garu,

Cadw eu gwlad mal eu tadau,

Cadwasant naw cant yniaa.^

Os gwyr yn garwyr a gaid^

Oes gerddiant yn esgweiriaid.*

Tyfasant at twf asen,

Mal ar hyd y milwyr hen.

Tri wyr o 'r nn bortreiad,

Tri maen, gwn, tryma 'n y gaad ;

Tri ag un a fydd unair.

Tri chapten, tri phen y ffair.

Teiroes oil i 'r tri sydd,

Tedeiroes i 'r pedwerydd.

Huw Cae Llwyd a 'i c&nt.

THE FOUB BBOTHEBS OF LLANOUBIG.

Who gives daily gold by weight ?

Who possesses all the descents of Powys ?

And the best soldiers that are found ?

Is it not the grandsons of chieftains ?

Who possess renown over all lands ?

What brothers are they who are warriors f

Four comrades^ who, against wrong.

Alike have been found mighty.

leuan, the shield of daring men.

Would rout three thousand men before him ;

Stout Owen, in the two divisions.

Will suffer none to quit his post.*

Jenkin, the noble wine-giver.

And gallant William, the spotless lion.

These are the sons of Morys, a bristling rampart.

These are the Stags of Llangurig,

And the grandsons of an Eagle of renown.*

Thou, Jenkin, who givest wine to thy men,

Art deemed to be a man noble and powerful ;

^ Yniall. LI, Cen, The British Museum MS. has "nosan," which
is noD sense.

2 The British Museum MS. has "gerddiant ysgweireriaid."

* I doubt the soundness of the text in this line. The meaning,
anyhow, is far from clear.

* See the pedigree of Jcakyn Goch and of Catherine his wife.
Vol. ii, p. 272.

OF THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 165

And generoas is the Line of Howel Lloyd^

Of the blood of Madoc ;^ a hero of renown.

From Einion^ and from the Fire-bearer,

Comes a perpetual forest of scions of Rhys Lloyd,

A gigantic hero, and kinsman to an Earl.

From that line hath proceeded a forest of descendants :

Wide-spreswiing for ever will that forest-land be ;

In defending the Island hath its spirit been proved.

From the great grandsons of Rhys* shall we receive gifts;

Are they not men generous and gallant ?

Are they not men resolute and daring ?

In their increase are they not proud,

As sons of one father, to share the land between them ?

From a vast oak, from the stock of a female oak.

Hath spread forth a flourishing wood.

Whose branches are pillars in the land.

Stags are they alike feared and beloved.

They have been found both to grow together.

And all to prosper together in love.

May Curig, beneath their cuirass.

Strengthen them, and keep them from hate I

As rulers have they been proved to spend together.

Together to raise, and to pay their men,

Together hath their life attained its prime.

Together do they share in their life, together bestow.

Together have they been found to love the Cymry,

Together to maintain and support the sick.

To keep their tall steeds on finest oats :

Together to maintain, and love their men.

And preserve their country, as their fathers

Preserved it, with nine hundred energies.*

As their men have been found to love them.

So have they led the Ufe of esouires.

They have grown to the growth of a rib,*

Like the warriors of old in stature.

Three of the heroes are framed on one pattern, —

^ The great-grandson of Madoc Danwr. Though no special ex-
ploits or characteristics are connected vrith his name, yet, from
the frequency of reference to it, it would seem to have been asso-
ciated in the minds of the bards with somewhat more noteworthy
than the single quality of birth.

* Rhys Lloyd of Greuddyn was the great grandfather of these
brothers.

* J. 6., With courage and spirit inexhaustible.

* I. e., to a nicety.

106 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE

Three rocks, the heaviest I know to be found.
The three and one will hold one language.
Three captains, three presidents at the fair.
The three will have three lives ;
The fourth will have a fourth life.^

The extract, of which the following is a translation,
is from a poem by Cadwaladr ab Rhys Trefnant, who
is stated in Enwogion to have flourished about the
middle of the sixteenth century. In it are celebrated
the virtues of Llewelyn, the husband of Elen, the sub-
ject of the above elegy ; and her own praises are soimded
in the closing lines, although she is not actually named
in them. The poem is entitled, " An Ode to solicit
the loan of a Bull for the Lady of Peutyn,^ from Lle-
welyn, son of Morris, son of Rhys, son of Adam, of
Llaiigurig."

Who is the man of renown, of pure virtue.

Resolute and gallant, of a bearing free from vanity ?

It is the Lion of Battle called Llewelyn,

The falcon of the hill-country of fair Curig,

Of bright aspect, sign of a pure heart.

In steel mail, quick as Dervel with his staff.^

A gallant wine-giver is Jenkin,*

Morris* is noble for his humility of speech ;

A man to draw the yoke of Rhys

Lloyd, like to a tawny lion.

Thou art the angel of the blood of Howel

Lloyd, the soul of all goodness ;

A man the best offspring of Griffith,

The pure progeny of highest descents.

With noble increase from the blood of David

Tabam, mayst thou grow to be an Earl ;

If thine eight sires be reckoned.

Thy pedigrees become numerous ;

1 J. e., The life of each brother will be quadrupled, as it were, by
its perfect unison with that of each of the other three.

^ A place in Radnorshire.

3 The patron Saint of Llandderfel, in Edeymion. See his History
in Enwogion.

* The third of the "Four Brothers," and Llewelyn's brother-in-law.

^ The name of the fathers of both Elen and Llewelyn.

OF THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 167

Uncorrupt are thy four lines of descent,

Of no vile or base extraction is thine ancestor.

If thine ancient blood be stirred up.

No better blood exists in distant lands.

Than that which a sweet significance

Bespeaks in thy delicate features.

The blood of Rhys is a rampart, with his vast forest' yonder.

To prosper together with the Blood of Llawdden.

A wide-spread forest is the Blood of Trevor.^

Pure are thy degrees of afimity wherever the language is

spoken.*
Mighty Mathavam, with its men.
Is a portion of the fruit of the ancient warriors.

******
From Urien came a privileged line of descent,
Degengl, a scion of branches many and illustrious ;
Gwaithvoed, a stag whose work is of excellent fashion.
Came— together with thy kindred that loved thee —
Came from Rhys. Good are thy roots :
The veins of Gethin's roots are one with theirs.
This does not touch
The sixth part there of what is yours ;
On you, as on Ivor,* hath God bestowed
The greatest store of wealth ;
How true is it that, with a brave hearty
By wealth is gained the world 1

Who doth not love thee, thou Chief over the multitude,
Thou Falcon yonder, circling round the cultivated land ?
Thy Spouse — worthy of praise is she^
Llewelin^s Lily, bright as the moon,
A Gwenhwyvar, a second Avarwedd.
In manj virtues is she perfected.
Savoury messes are in her pantries.
Rampart of thy Tribe ! may Mary uphold it !
Thou art one to distribute — thy fame shall endure.
Like that of the hero Bran, in the Upland of Curig.

With this poem we do not yet lose sight of the Fotir
Brothers. The Llyfr Ceniarth contains others addressed

^ A forest, in Welsh poetry, often means a host of kindred or
clansmen.

* Tudor Trevor.

* Literally, " throughout the language."

* Ivor Hael.

168 WELSH POETEY OF LLANGURIG.

respectively to three of their number, as far as may be
gathered from internal evidence, for their titles in the
MS. speak only of their being written in honour of " the
Clochfaen Family;" a circumstance which, together with
the numerous gaps and corruptions or mutUations of the
text which occur in them, tends greatly to obscure their
meaning. In the MS. they are aU (one by Sion Keri
excepted) subscribed with the name of Huw Arwystli,
with the addition of dates, which, however, are either
too early or too late to be calculated to do otherwise
than mislead ; one being fixed at 1570, and the others
so far back as at, or about, 1500. As many of these
poems have, with more or less appearance of proba-
bility, been ascribed to Huw ArwystU, who is thus,
pernaps, more than any other, entitled to the appella-
tion of " Bard of Llangurig," it may be fitting to intro-
duce them with an epitome of the few scattered notices
which we have been able to collect of his career.

169

WELSH POETEY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE
HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

By HOWEL W. LLOYD.

Part II.*

Sketch op Huw Arwystli.

The latest oral tradition relative to Hugh Arwystli,
still, perhaps, current in some districts of Wales, is
that he was remembered as a very old man and a
cripple, who had no fixed abode, but was to be seen
now at one place, now at another, chiefly at the man-
sions of the gentry, with whom he was wont to ingra-
tiate himself, and to requite their hospitality, after the
manner of the ancient bards of his country, by the com-
position of poems addressed to some member of the
family, generally its head, in which its praises were
sounded in a somewhat high-flown strain of panegyric.
Such poems were usually commenced by a reference to
the antiquity of the family-stock, traced up to the ninth
degree. This was followed by details connected with
the pedigree, deduced in the male, and, if possible, also
in the female line, from some British hero, the foimder
of a royal or noble tribe, or failing that, of one of its
collateral branches ; concluding with a special encomium
on the character of its existing representative, in which
bravery, generosity, noble bearing, and last, not least,
hospitality, were ever the conspicuous features. To
this were generally added allusions to the profusion of
his banquets and the excellence of his cellar; the former
presidea over by the lady of the house, whose beauty,

1 70 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

grace and birth were surpassed only by the inexhaustible
resources and economy of her mSnage, as weU as bounty
to the poor. Occasion for such effusions was furnished
by any current event of domestic importance, as a birth,
a wedding, or a funeral — especially the latter — so far as
may be inferred at least from the predominance among
their extant compositions of poems bearing the title of
Marwnad, or " Elegy on the Dead."

Respecting the birthplace of Huw Arwystli we pos-
sess, liifortunately, but little or no infomation. His
surname, however, may be itself accepted as evidence
that it was somewhere' in the hundred of Arwystli ;
and this is confirmed by the circumstance that, in the
heading of a poem assigned to him in the British Mu-
seum, he is called Huw Arwystli of Tref Eglwys, in
that district, as well as by the familiar allusions to this
village which occur in his poems.\ Some evidence,
moreover, is afforded by the compositions, now for the
first time printed, that part of his early life was passed
in the village, or at least within the parish of Llan-
gurig. It would lie beyond the scope of this paper to
examine the question minutely ; but, as tending to
such an inference, may be instanced his perfect acquaint-
ance with, and affection for, the locality — ^its ancient
church, its bright and lovely Wye, its sacred and war-
like traditions ; together with his intimate acquaintance
with all its principal households, and the most intimate
details of their several connexions and relationships ;
the heartfelt interest which he displays in even their
most trivial concerns, particularly of Clochfaen, which
he sets forth to us as the fountain-head of the rest of
the same descent from Madoc Danwr, or the " Fire-
bearer," and more remotely from Einion, and Tudor
Trevor. His devotion to Curig, its patron saint, springs
manifestly from some pecuHar tie, which he feels to be
binding on him personally. There is a passage in which
he alludes mysteriously to his own residence within the
parish at some prior, and seemingly very early period
of his existence ; and, in another, the strain rises sud-

1 " Cywydd y Benglog,'' in Add. M88., 14,875, British Museum.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 1 7l

denly from its commonplace alliterative style to one
simply and unaflfectedly poetical, when adverting epi-
sodically on the one hand to the picturesque features,
and on the other to the well-remembered faith and de-
votion of his own beloved " Bro Gurig/'^

A traditional story, in which is depicted the manner
in which the peasantry loved to believe that their coun-
tryman came by his " Awen/' or poetical genius, is pre-
cious for the characteristic morsel embodied in it of the
old Welsh folk-lore, the spirit of which is now to all
appearance extinct. It tells how a poor despised cripple,
Hugh Arwystli by name, was Wont upon occasion when
a wayfarer through Montgomeryshire, and in want of a
night's lodging, to turn aside into the church of Llan-
ddinam and there compose himself to sleep. It chanced
one May eve that, in this sacred refuge, he fell into a
deep slumber, when he beheld a vision as of one who
approached him, and made a sign as it were of causing
somewhat to enter into his brain. On the morrow he
was awoke by the merry voices of a bevy of maidens
who came tripping by with their laps full of fresh-gath-
ered may. One of these tossed to mm a branch through
the windQw^under which he had reposed, remarking
playfully tocher companions, "I wUl bestow on this
poor cripple some may, as none of you wUl give him
any.'' Thereupon Huw, who had heretofore never com-
posed, or learnt to compose, a single stanza, improvised
a sonnet of thanksgiving to the maiden for her gift.
From that day forward he was able to compose poetry,
and attained to such excellence in the art, that he
maintained himself in high favour with the Welsh
gentry by means of it throughout the rest of his life.
The last fact is abundantly certified by the number and
diversity of the compositions ascribed to his pen, many
of them addressed to persons of rank in almost every
part of the Principahty. The tale ends simply with
the explanation that what he had seen entering his
brain was the " Awen,'' in which, it is added, in proof

1 Gang's Land.

T 2

1 72 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

of the estimation formed of him by his countrymen, not
one of his contemporaries surpassed him. Of this no
slight corroboration is found in the Visitations of Lewis
Dwnn, the Welsh herald,^ who places the names of
" Huw Arwystli and Morgan Elvael, chief musicians",
among those " of the generation which I saw aged and
grey-headed, who were perfect poets, duly authorised,
and all graduated," And it is confirmed by the testi-
mony of William Lleyn, the " Poet Laurel," as John
Rhydderch terms him, in Elizabeth's reign, who, reply-
ing to some stanzas sent by Hugh to felicitate him on
his escape from drowning at the hands of a man who
had thrown him into the Dovey at Penal, writes

" Arwystli ! to thy poet Huw
Both Lore and Art belong ;
And Nature liath inspired him too.
To weave the sprightly song/^^

It would scarcely, however, be fair, with our present
limited knowledge, to attempt a critical survey of his
poetical merits. The remarkable fecundity of his muse
is testified by the number of his extant compositions.
Sixty-six of his poems are enumerated in the " Cymm-
rodorion Catalogue" in the British Museum, and fifty-
five more which appear to be in his handwriting (be-
sides some in other MS. volumes), are bound up with
others in a single quarto volume of the Hengwrt
Library, now at Peniarth. If to these be added thirty-
three, the first lines of which are given in the famous
** Repertorium" of Moses WUliams,^ omitting to reckon
three poems, which are found also in one of the above
lists, and one ascribed, in " Gorchestion y Beirdd," to
Howel ab Rheinallt, together with one in the collec-
tion of the late Rev. Walter Davies : the sum total of

1 Vol. i, p. 8.

* Djsg ag addysg go weddol — o gy wydd

Ag awen ysbrydol ;

Odid tm nad ydyw 'n ol

Huw Arwystl ntLtuviol— Add, M8S,f 14,892.
' British Musuum Catalogue, No. 872, 1. 4.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 1 73

his compositions will amount to no less than one
hundred and fifty-five. Of these, perhaps from twenty
to thirty may be dispersed in different collections, and
thus are more or less known to the poetical public of
the Principality. Into them a considerable number of
errors have crept in the process of frequent transcrip-
tion, increased doubtless also, in many instances, by
the fact that his handwriting is extremely difficult to
decipher. It would be necessary, therefore, that his
works should be carefully collected, and edited in a
scholarlike manner, to enable the public to form a
sound judgment on the question of their average merit.
Still the remark may be hazarded, in arguing from the
known to the imknown, that it is unlikely that many
of these would be classed in the highest rank of classical
Welsh compositions — at least in the condition in which
they have reached us. Not a few of the poems best
known to us bear the appearance of having been in-
dited with facility, indeed, and with a considerable
admixture of humour, but hastily, on the spur of
the occasion, and (with certain exceptions) with no
great regard to the rules of metrical symmetry, or
even of grammatical construction. In regard to the
former, indeed, so frequent are the instances of laxity
as to suffffest the idea that the author must have
declined, on some preconceived principle, to suffer him-
self to be trammelled by the more stringent require-
ments of his art ; unless it is rather to be supposed
that they were loosely put together in the first in-
stance with a view to revision and amendment at some
future opportunity, which in fact never arrived. Be
the explanation what it may, it is a fact that, in the
quarto volume at Peniarth already mentioned, the
compositions, which are in Huw's handwriting, but
unattested by his signature, are for the mopt part
penned in so cramped and attenuated a character as
to puzzle even a practised eye to decipher ; and, in
one of them, a copy of which has been kindly furnished
to the writer by the owner, who was unwilling, how-

1 74 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

ever, tx) certify fully to the correctness of the transcript,
these seemingly characteristic defects of composition
appear largely to prevail. They cannot, therefore, be
wholly accounted for on the hypothesis of carelessness
or ignorance on the part of transcribers, or even by
the seeming impracticability of determining, in every
passage, the words which the author actually wrote.
It is strange that the text of the copies of some of his
works in the British Museum which, from the fre-
quency of their transcription, would seem to have been
most popular, should be in so defective a state as to
lead naturally to the inference that their very tran-
scribers must have failed to understand them, or at
least to appreciate their beauties ; whence it may, per-
haps, further be inferred that we owe their preserva-
tion rather to the inherent passion in our nature for
heaping together a collection, rather because it is a
fashion, than because its contents will improve or
bfenefit ourselves.

In a few, however, as, for instance, the " Cowyddau
Mab y Ffalsder a Chywirdeb," there is a certain appear-
ance of finish and elaboration which is lacking to many
of his compositions ; whence it is natural to conclude
that they were the favourite offspring of his fancy, upon
which he bestowed an amount of labour and thought
which he scarcely cared to expend upon lines that ori-
ginated merely with some jovial occasion, or were jotted
down at once in the very shape which they first assumed
in his teeming imagination, excited after a merry-
making with the desire to glorify some hospitable host,
or glowing with the frankness and abandon of a satirical
correspondence in verse, with an appreciative and kin-
dred spirit, like Sir leuan, the jovial and rollicking
minister of the village of Camo in Arwystli, who would
be slow to mark trifling inaccuracies of composition
while enjoying and reciprocating his humour, even when
too freely lavished at his own expense.^ This sense of

^ There is a passage in one of Sir lenan's poems which tells in
act the other way, in which, while deferring to his antagonist's

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 1 75

humour in his character was largely intermingled with
practical g5od sense and knowledge of the world, such
as peep out in the following lines, translated, or perhaps
more correctly speaking paraphrased, from the remark-
able poem addressed to Rhys ap Morys of Aberbechan.*
These qualities would probably be far more often appa-
rent in the works of Huw, and of other Welsh poets,
if not lost in the obscurity of tacit allusions to social
habits and modes of thought now become almost unin-
telligible because obsolete. It may be added that the
poem in question would seem to nave been composed
on the occasion of the young man s attainment of his
majority, or entry into public life, an event which must
have occiured in the reign of Henry VIII. It is re-
markable for a certain tacit assumption of the old bardic
authority to inculcate instruction and instil counsels
of wisdom into the minds of young men of rank and
position. In the palmy days of the bards, such counsel
was far from being resented by its recipients; an|i,
even at this later period, the language of the poem in
question is a sign that the old social landmarks had not
as yet become whoUy effaced. * There are, however,
expressions in it which go far to show that 1-he privi-
lege, though still to a certain extent claimed and ac-
corded, had need to be cautiously exercised ; and any
offence which might naturally have been taken at sucn
freedom in the person of one who, albeit a graduated
bard, was, in point of social position, but a poor wan-
dering minstrel, is ingeniously obviated by the delicate
way in which words of warning are rather insinuated
than outspoken by the poet, who contents himself,
moreover, with glancing indirectly at certain defects of
character in their object, the mischievous tendency of
which to mar an otherwise promising career he plainly

marked superiority to himself as a poet, he complains that Hnw is
unmercifnlly hjpercntical in his judgment of his own petty faults
of composition.

* For the original, and a prose translation of the former part of
the poem, see MoiU, Coll.f vol. iii, pp. 395, 397.

1 76 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

foresees, unless subjected to the timely counteraction
of a powerful self-control.

" Thou dealest justice, lovest truth.
Sewer ^ and Squire,^ a gallant youth I
As grows thy favour, be discreet.
So shalt thou rise, yet keep thy seat.
The shoot that springs from deep ploughed land.
With earliest wheat shall fill thine hand ;
From rays that warm the spring-time shower.
Will sprout in tufts the primrose flower ;
And of the noon-day heat is bom
The fructifying ear of com.
So, with thine auburn locks, at length,
Thou'lt ripen to thy prime in strength.
Well shall it be with thee, if wise.
Thou suffer not thy wrath to rise.
Of men uncouth thou canst but deign
To slacken, as thy steed^s, the rein.
Rhys ! be not proud. Man's haughty ways
6od will not speed to length of days.
Thou needst it not ; yet I bestow
On thee the Seer's full mind to know.
Thus also. Heir and Lord I twofold.
Thy counsel shall to fools be told.
No double tongue should e'er presage
An office from thy patronage.
The double-faced will overreach ;
Unjust is he of double speech.
No ill-considered judgment give.
Confirmed by learning's page, 'twill live.
Nor rail — thine ignorance to hide —
Ere judgment given on either side.

* By an error of the press the word " sener" in the Welsh poem
has been translated " receiver," on page 394 of vol. iii, for " sewer,"
an office, the qature of which has been described in note 2 to the
Welsh original, page 398. The name is derived from the old French
esculier, or the scutellarius, i, e., the person who had to arrange the
dishes, in the same way as the acuteUery (scnllery) was properly the
place where the dishes were kept. Domestic Architecture, v. 3, p. 80,
n., quoted in a note to John BusselVs Boke of Nurture, p. 162, of
Manners and Meals in Olden Time, published for the Early English
Text Society, Triibner, 1868.

^ Possibly an esquire of the body to the reigning sovereign. See
the notice of Edward Herbert, vol. iii, p. 356.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 177

Temper thy too impetuoas fire.

Nor lose thyself thro' treacherouR ire.

By sound discretion wind thy ball.

Discretion will nnravel all.

Whatever may hap, gaze npward still ;

When yokes of oxen climb the hill.

The sober, even-temper'd beast.

Will longest last, and saffer least.

In framing honest oath be nice.

Nor ever frown for prejudice.

Tho' folly thwart thee, do not strike,

And sleep upon no man's mislike.

Of kith and kin uphold the brood,

'Tis thine — why weaken, then, thy blood ?

The poetical correspondence, if it may be so termed,
between Huw Arwystli and Sir leuan of Camo, above
alluded to, is suffffestive of another quality inherent in
the muse if our^led bard, » Jy. a ^un^nt vein
of satire, which is readily discernible under its outer
integument of a rich, but not always delicate, humour.
The actual circimistances which occasioned it are pro-
bably lost to history ; they are partly traceable, how-
ever, through the medium of the somewhat obscmre
allusions to them in the course of the poems. The first
of the series is a " cywydd'' or ode,^ in which a young
lady is urged to exert upon the too susceptible Sir
leuan the influence of her charms, yet not to the extent
of incurring risk to herself, for the purpose of restrain-
ing him from following the bard into Pembrokeshire to
" Castell Gv^rys,"* or Wiston Castle, the mansion of Sir

1 Commencing thus :—'

" Y ddyn sad, wych, ddawnos, deg,
Ag ael fain, a gloyw &Tieg.''

In a copy taken from a MS. by the Rev. D. Ellis of Gricaeth, in
CaernarvoDshire, it is entitled " Cy wydd i Ferch i ddymnno ami i
ddenn Syr lenan rhag canljn y Bardd i dy Mr. Wg^on o Grastell
Gwys vn Sir Benfro." There is another copy in the British Mu-
seum (Add. M88., 14,874).

* " Rhyfig praff sy'm iV gafiael,

Ym mnriau cwrt marchog had,
CofiV da lie 'r ceifT Huw V dewis
Cistiau He 'r gwn Castell Gwys."

1 78 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OP

John Wogan, the then representative of the Wogan
family.^ To Huw the consequences of her failure would
be serious ; the wine and the gold that would form his
proper guerdon would fall, in part at least, to the share
of the rival bard ; and so enamoured, in fact, would the
"reverend prelate" become of Sir John Wogan's hos-
pitable entertainment that, once enthralled by its allure-
ments, he might never thereafter be prevailed upon to
quit them.*

It is difficult to imagine how a poor wandering cripple
could be serious in attributing to the beneficed clergy-
man the intention of rivalling him in minstrelsy for the
favours of the great ; and we should simply be left to
imagine that, beneath the semblance of such a charge
was veiled a real compliment to the excellence, qxialify-
ing him for success in the imaginary competition, of the
ecclesiastic s poetical powers, did not the appeal to the
power of feminine charms^ over the impressible temper-
ament of the supposed rival, lead to the suspicion that
more is intended than actually meets the eye. To this
poem, as there is no rejoinder from Sir leuan, so should
we be left to the merest conjecture on the subject, were
it not that Huw has twice again reverted to it, and
that in a manner which leaves us ultimately little room
to doubt of his ulterior meaning. To tne object of
attack, in fact, was conceded, in the first instance, no
interval for reply ; for this was at once followed up by
another of a similar character,* though somewhat vary-

1 " Rhwystr i 'r lieu, rhy ystor lanwych,

Flas gwln Syr Sion Wgon wych."

2 " Nad S. 'r Prelad parchadwy,

Barfog, o dai 'r marchog mwy."

3 " Addaw *n deg, e ddaw *n d' ogylch,

W ad i *th gael, nawdd Duw i *th gylch,
Dy lun, Gwen, delw neu gauwyll,
Dy liw byth a' i deil o' i bwyll."

* This appears, from the nse of the word " ddoe" (yesterday), in
the following lines of the " Ode to the Blackbird" : —

" O Dduw mawr ! fu ddoe 'mwriad,
I 'w rwystro i Ben fro heb wad ;
Da fyddai na fedrai fo,
I dai 'r Wgon i drigo."

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 1 79

ing in form. It is entitled "An Ode,* wherein a
blackbird is sent to Rhys of Camo (Aberbechan) to in-
duce him to withdraw his protection from Sir leuan of
Camo, and send him away." After apostrophising the
bird with some poetical compliments to his character-
istic features, qualities, and plumage, he bids him speed
with a letter to Rhys ab Morys,^ on whose mansion,
spacious and wealthy, he skilfully introduces an enco-
'"mium, and requests him to cease entertaining this dig-
nified (urddawl) clergyman at the wine-banquet, nor
suffer him to remain at Camo, where, though of acknow-
ledged learning and eloquence, unless Rhys were at hand,
he would be fain to deprive his flock of both matins
aad even song, in his haste to seek him at Aberbechan ;
nay, on one occasion, he had left for that purpose as
many as nine of his sick parishioners bereft of ex-
treme unction.^ The priest, moreover, would insist
upon following Huw throughout the Principality, divert-
ing to lus own behests the presents that were his per-
quisites as bard, and had even possessed himself of the

[0 great Gk)d ! but yesterday I purposed
Undonbtedly to keep him away from Pembrokesliire ;
Well woald it be that he should be nnable
To go and stay in Wogan's mansion.]
^ Beginning : —

" Yr edn a' i big is gwig gwydd,
A fflam awch, a ffla mnchydd."

* " Draw mae'n rhaid, was byrfras big,

Danfon llythyr dan fin llithrig ;
Marcia di, ym mro Cydewen,
Orsedd barch wr sydd ben,
Glymais ddoe 'nghyd gwynfyd gof,
Gerdd at Rys, cerdda drosof."

3 " Ni erys yng Ngamo dirion,

Oni cheir Rhys yn ochr hon ;
A' i geisio, didro, dendroed,
Plygain i Gydewain dod,
Ki cheir Gosber, nid erys,
On 'd eir i 'w ol i dai Rh3rs.
Caiff, sy 'n dal clwyf o' i blwyfwyr
Gam, na ch&n' gymmnn, och ! wyr :
A meirw fydd, mwy rhyfeddir,
Heb Clew, naw o' i blwy 'n wir."

180 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

parlour appropriated to his use in Rhys's house. For
such enormities the poem ends with a suggestion that
the only remedy was to send him wandering for the
remainder of his days, as an incorrigible vagrant, from
Camo, it might be, to Cornwall.

To these effusions a reply from Sir leuan is extant,^
in which he seems partly to affect to regard them in
the light of ironical compUments, parrying, at the same
time, in a sort of mock-serious tone, the seeming attacks
upon his conduct. Calling the blackbird again into re-
quisition, in a strain in which Huw's previous descrip-
tion of him is elegantly paraphrased and amplified, he
desires him to return to Rhys ab Morys, and, with
encomiastic speech,^ outvying even that of Huw, to
plead his cause before hun. Adroitly ignoring the
young lady, to whom Huw s first poem was addressed,
the priest limits his defence to the justification of his
visits to Wiston and Aberbechan, enlarging upon " the
Nightingale of Arwystli's" proneness to exaggerate, not
these faults only, but those of his poetical compositions.^
If a service or two had been missing in his church on a
Sunday, this had been simply owing to a necessity
for the administration of extreme imction to some of
his sick parishioners, an office, he significantly adds,
which he would never fail to perform for any one of
Rhyss fine. As for Huw's complaints, "chief bard"
{hrifardd) as he is, they arise from an excessive appe-
tite, which he would do weU to restrain, for the good
things of this world ; and adds that, while himself en-
titled to share the liberality of the great, his advanced

1 Commencing: —

" Yr edn sy 'n dwyn, gwych, mwyngall,
T&n o'r llwyn tew iawn, i *r Hall."
s See tlie translated extract from this poem in Mont, Coll., vol. iii,

pp. 396, 396.

8 «* Mae bai ar fardd gloywfardd glyd,

(Awydd yw 'r bai ar dda V byd,)
Ac ni chair nn gair angerdd
Fan, yn y gwaith o fewn y gerdd ;
Na cbai *r ddwyran, mab anfodd,
Eos Arwystl a sorodd."

THE HISTORY OP LLANOURIG. 181

age might have sufficed to secure him from the envy of
one so young.

From the tenor of Arwystli's rejoinder, we may gather
either that the poet felt himself piqued into acrimony,
or that, agreeably to his original plan, he was now to
immask his battery, and commence in earnest a fire
more calculated to produce a serious eflfect than volleys
of mere playful irony on his opponent. Be that as it
may, the style of this, his last attack, seems bitter, even
to virulence ; still, however, there is an overflow of
exaggeration and hyperbole about it, which seems to
prove that he by no means intends the charges intro-
duced into it to be taken as hterally true. The poem
is addressed to a certain " Philip Goch,* an appellation
to which that of " the Fowler" is added by Sir leuan in
his rejoinder. This Philip is clearly reierred to as a
person of considerable wealth and influence, but in so
vague a manner as to furnish a very slight basis for
identification. His physical courage is compared to
that of " Svr Ffwg" (Fulk Fitzwarine,); the hero of
Welsh Border romance, and the constant theme of the
Welsh bards. He is compUmented, also, for the cou-
rage and pertinacity evinced by him in the extermina-
tion of vagrants,' and it is in this special capacity that
his aid is invoked by the poet.* Sir leuan, a reverend

^ The opening lines are : —

" Y dyn ay 'n dwyn, er *8 enyd,
Draw 'n i balf draian byd,
Ffarf Syr Ffwg, flTerf surian ffon,

Ffilip, gyflymwip fflowmon ;
Cur Biolan beilcfa Uaer Sialed,

Y gwreng rhydd, gorau ynghred ;
Dean, Arfon, Meirionydd,

Dwy Went, a' n sel, danat sydd."

' Vide Lewis's Olyn Cothi^ p. 216, note to line 55 ; also Arch,
Camb,, iii, new series, p. 282.

* " Byrh& 'r hwaran, briw 'r herwyr,

Brinara gig bronnau gwyr."

* " I'm rhan, fy Nghymro hoynwyf,

Bnost erioed, bostio 'r wyf ;

182 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

dignitaiy. a man of learning, whose praise is in pedi-
grees, follows Huw everywhere throughout the Princi-
pality, from Mona to Aeron, from Aeron to the two
Gwents, playing (the harp ?) as he goes, gaining fame
as a second leuan Deulwyn, or lolo Goch, and this
partly by plagiarising the verve of Huw's own verses,*
so that, like tne celebrated eagle, though

Keen were his pangs, 'twere keener far to feel.
His own the pinion that impelled the steel/'

Hence results a popular distaste for the poor crippled
bard's poetry. He finds himself completely* ' cut out," as
it were, by an imauthorised intruder, and, as a natural
consequence, his bardic guerdons of hoimd, hawk, and
gold,^ — nay, more, the smiles of the fair, henceforward
are lost to him. " Thomas^" would maintain him ; but
there again at his side, " like his shadow," is the rev-
erend greyheaded gentleman. He concludes, therefore,
with a humorous appeal to Philip to come to his rescue.
The prelate must be brought to reason, or he will leave
him no room in the land. He must be driven forth by
threats, and (if these suffice not) by the actual applica-
tion of staff and spear. Let his hair be torn out oy the

Y mae nrddawl, a mawrddjsg,

Yn iachau inawl, yn eich mysg,
Mae i 'm cerdd csskd i 'th wlad Ian,
Oes, o ryfig Syr lenan.
• • . ■

Lie 'i bo, cerdd ni ehaf dafod,

Lie *i bwyf, er hyn, e fyn fod ;
Ni tbroediais, ni fedrais fan,
Bowys, na bai lenan."
^ Upper and Lower, called also Nether and Blaenan Gwent. — E.H.
2 " Dwyn fenrnerth, barcb, Dnw 'n famwr,

Am enro' i gerdd, y mae'r gwr."

^ *' Ni ehaf, ni cheisiaf na chi,

Yn Nehenbarth, na hobi,
Na marcho gaetb meircb hirwen,
Nag anr, er llwnc y gwrllen.
* Perhaps Thomas Mce, son of Rhys of Aberbechan, whose
mother, Gwenllian, was danghter of " Tudor Rhydderch." Vol. iii,
p. 393, n. 5.

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURia. 183

roots, and his body belaboured with buffets, till nought
be left of the old " crane" {sic) but his crown.^

In all these attacks there would seem to be too much
of an assumed appeai^ce of levity and of hyperbole to
admit of the hypothesis that they were meant to be taken
literally. Sir leuan, indeed, in his reply, consisting of
a hundred and twenty verses, so affects to deal with
them ; but he must inwardly have felt that a some-
thing was implied by the author, the expression of
wS in wori he cieftiUy studied to avoid. Their
positions were essentially different. The poet, a poor
wandering cripple, albeit a graduated bard, depended
upon his talents for his bread. The ecclesiastic was
comfortably established in the world, and basked in the
simshine of its favours. Putting a bold front on the
matter, he begins by demanding, "Who is this that
projects alliance with a gallant gentleman ? Let him
not meddle with powder and fire. A tall man, the very
prince of fencers, with his long lance, ready to disperse
whole cart-loads of vagrants, is the noble Philip Goch
the Fowler. Woe to the vagabonds if they await his
eagle's swoop !"* Then launching into the midst of his

Dithan, Ffilip, doeth, glan, goch,
Tris dwjs, chwym, trustiais amoch,
Par reoli y Prelad,

Ni &d le i 'm yn dy wlad.
Bwriwch ef hynt o 'ch bro cbwi,

Bygythiwch bigo ei wythi,
Ag, oni ffy gan y flTon,

Trwy'r Hen tro 'r gwaew Uinon.
Yng Ngwynedd ni gai awen,

Ymlyn k V palf ymlew *r pen,
Yngbyd & 'r gnawd, dygnawd ddyn,
Na ad garan ond ei goryn."

" Pwy 'n bwrw alvums paan brenlan ?

Peidier k thi powdwr a thin !
Gwr hir, k *r ben gwara 'r byd,

A gwaew anian hir genyd,
Gyrr williaid, fenaid, ar ffer,

Gwych Ffylip Goch y Ffowler.
Gwae 'nhwy i 'th arcs, gnith eryr,

Genyd k gwaew i gwnidio gwyr ;
Gwnewch olwg, (gwae ni chiliai !)

Gwiber gpvyllt, ffoi gwibwyr rai.

184 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

subject, lie complains that his poetical powers have
subjected him to the assaults of a malice not inferior to
that of Melwas, the ravisher of Gwenhwyvar, King
Arthur's celebrated Queen. Praised though Philip
might be by any number of bards, Huw would ima^ne
himself superior to them all, from Tudiu- Aled to lolo
Goch, not omitting Davydd ab Gwylim/ He would
not, if he could, suffer bard, singer, or beggar to ap-
proach him but himself. He proceeds to express his
amazement that Huw should desire to interdict him the
presence of Thomas,* who had honoured him with his
affection, as well as his gold. Were Huw to be credited.
Sir leuan would leave him not a single steed, hawk,
hotmd, nor yet a pretty lass in South Wales ; but the
fact was that, when the latter received the horses, dogs,
and rich vestments, and the former glory and gold, uie
profits were fairly divided.* In sober earnest, however,
the land was not large enough to hold Arwystli. He
would chase all the bards away from it. He would un-
dertake to decide for Sir leuan what part of the globe
he was to live in. Did he so much as cast a look towards
Powys, presto 1 Huw's harp was on his shoulders to fol-
low him thither. Southwards did he cross the Dovey,
Huw was off straightway to Gwent. Did he so much
as cast his eye towards the Herberts' border, this clerical
opponent must at once be got rid of, and, in default of

Gwr wyt a gwg ar dy g4s,
A geidw 'r dwfr gjdl 'r denfras."

^ " Eithyr mae yn athro mawr

I'th foliannn fyth, flaenawr ;

Euryd cerdd i*th wryd cai,

A Hnw Arwystli a' i haerai ;

Od & 'r feirdd, awdwr yw fo,

Wedi Aled i lolo,

Nid yw 'n yr iaith dano rym,

Heb gael Dafydd ab Gwilym.'*
* See vol. iii, p. 396.
^ "0 chawn y meirch, a chwn mawr,

A *r trwsiad gwych ar trysawr,

A gair mawr, ag aur melyn,

Ynte eu cae— *on 'd teg hyn ?"

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG. 185

other means, cudgelled to death. The poem concludes
with a spirited appeal to Philip Goch to stay his hand,
and with a warning that he who wrongf'ully slays
another shall die " the death of a Jew/'^ Malice for
the nonce may gain its end, but has brought thousands
of those who practise it to their graves.

The subject of this correspondence has been dwelt
upon at some length, as not only illustrating the per-
sonal character and genius of our poet, but also as fur-
nishing a glimpse of the social habits, feelings, and
modes of thought of our countrymen at the period of
its occurrence. Probably," as has been already inti-
mated, much is significantly referred to in the poems,
which, dark and mysterious to us after the lapse of
three centtuies, would be readily intelligible to the
parties inmiediately concerned, and to their respective
sympathisers. The clue to this, so far as it can now be
imravelled, must be sought in the religious and political
circumstances of the time.

To ascertain, however, with precision, what these
circumstances are, is a matter of no little difficulty.
No reliable date, in the first place, has been assigned to
the poems themselves. Still they contain certain, notes
of time whereby their composition may be fixed within
a definite period of years.

1. They were written during the lifetime of Rhys ab
Morys, for allusion is made to him throughout, and we
know that Rhys died in or about the year 1568.^

2. Huw was then a yoimg man, and Sir leuan an
old one, for their ages are contrasted in the concluding
lines of the latter s first poem.''

^ "A laddo yn llywio yn Hew,

Efe a leddir fal laddew ;
Malais a bair bedd miloedd,
Malais Haw am ei les oedd ;
Malais i 'th ddwjn i 'r hoenyn :
'Mop^el, Huw, y magi er hyn."

^ Supra^ vol. iii, p. 395.

5 " G&d na all, i gyd yn un,

Wr ifanc i warafun,

186 WELSH POETEY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

3. Sir leuan was then vicax of Camo, a benefice of
which Rhys was the patron, and probably also lay im-
propriator, having received a grant of the revenues of
that parish on the dissolution, in the year 1540, of the
Knights Hospitallers, to whom they had previously be-
longed,^ doubtless in consideration of the acknowledg-
ment on his part of the title and authority of Supreme
Head imder God of the Church of England, assumed
by King Henry VIII.

4. Rhys was at this time, probably, a man of advanced
e, since he had apparently a son, or son-in-law,

omas, who was of age to support a separate esta-
blishment, as a member of which, in Huw's opinion, he
would be able to maintain Sir leuan.

5. The use of the words ^^Flyqain" and *' Gosper"
for the morning and evening sendee, together with the
complaint of neglect to administer the Catholic Sacra-
ment of extreme unction to the sick parishioners, points
to a time when, although the use of Protestant formu-
laries had been enjoined on the clergy, that of the rites
of the ancient Faith had not yet been discontinued.

The poetical altercation, then, could not have taken
place so early as during the reign of Henry VIII, nor
yet in that of Queen Mary, when the only public offices
of religion were those of the Catholic Church. The
only remaining periods that can be assigned to it are
the short reign of Edward VI, and the first few years
of Elizabeth, prior to the penal enforcement of the revived
innovations on the public offices of religion. Of these
two periodfi the probability lies, perhaps, in favour of
the former, for reasons, the discussion of which would
scarcely be warranted by the scope of this pubUcation.
It is sufficient to remark that the vigorous protestations
of our bard against the interference of the vicar of Camo
with his own bardic peregrinations and their customary

Er hjnnj, gan wr hen oed,

O chaffo ei ran, na cbyffroed."
^ See nnder " Commandeiy of Hawston," GamoOy in Valor of
Henry VIII, supra^ vol. ii, p. 104. See also Collier's Ecclesiastical
Hist.f vol. ii, p. 179.

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIO. 187

emoluments, would not unnaturally have originated at
either period in the troublous vicissitudes of the times.
Either bard, both the clerical and the lay, may have
weakly felt it expedient, as so many others are known
to have done, to conform outwardly to changes against
which their hearts revolted, consoling themselves fondly
with the hope and belief that the new state of things
would expire with the removal of the causes that had
led to it. If the mind of Huw Arwystli were preoccu-
pied by such feelings, it is easy to conceive that it
would have been deeply scandalised by the conduct of
an ecclesiastic, who degraded the character of his min-
istry, and exposed it to obloquy by the assumption of
that of one of the wandering minstrels, or clerwyr, as
they were called, who did not in all cases bear the best
of reputations. We may readily believe, therefore, that
he was far from desiring to impute literally to this
" grave and learned ecclesiastic," as he terms him, the
actions which he seems to insinuate ; nor, in their re-
spective positions, could he venture to depreciate openly
the employment by Sir leuan of his time in a manner
unworthy aUke of Ins sacred calling, and of the dangerous
crisis to religion. He seems, accordingly, to have at-
tempted to divert him from his perilous course by
veiling his real intent under the semblance of personal
antagonism, and conveying to him some timely warn-
ings in the guise of irony and satire. It is true, in-
deed, that Sir leuan, in lus replies, to all outward
seemiDg. ha« dealt with these criticisms aa though meant
to be literally imderstood. But it must be remembered
that we possess now no means of judging how far they
may have affected his subsequent conduct ; nor would
it be a fair argument against the goodness of their pxn:-
pose if they proved eventually to have been thrown
away upon their object.

This view would appear to derive not a little con-
firmation from a remarkable couplet in one of the anti-
thetical poems ^ already referred to, entitled "Cywyddau

* The one commencing : —

188 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

o Achau Ffalsder a Chywirdeb" (The Pedigrees of the
Child of Truth and the Child of Falsehood). In the
British Museum copy/ the date assigned to the latter,
A.D. 1550, agrees very nearly with that attributed above
to this poetical passage of arms.

After contrasting the virtues and excellencies of .the
one with the vices and mischievous propensities of the
other, he suddenly bursts forth into an exclamation ex-
pressive of amazement and sorrow that truth should
have perished out of the land : —

" Rhyfedd na welir hoywfab,
Mewn rhinweddau, parthau 'r Fab"

It is wonderful that no gallant youth is seen.
In [possession of] virtues, on the Pope's side.

The sentiment is one of protestation against the time-
serving spirit of the day, which preferred present worldly
gain and prosperity to the risk which might be incurred
by earnest and single-minded advocacy of the Faith
once delivered to the Saints, with the expression of his
own stedfast adherence to which he proceeds to the con-
clusion of the poem.^ Whether our bard remained true
to the end of his days to that Faith, to the feelings
animated by which in his earlier compositions he gives

" Ffalsedd, fab anwiredd nerth,
Fab ffol udonol dinerth."
The other :^

" Fab cywirdeb, fab hoywdeb hedd»
Fab gw&r iawn, fab gwirionedd."
1 Add. M88,, 814, 972.
^ " Wychlan diogan digoll,

A chwi o waed ncha' oil ;
Och ! anamled yw 'ch nawmlwydd,
Eich trasau, a 'r hyntan rhwydd ;
Rhyw annedd clod, rhinwedd clan,
Er hyn gara 'i hwn goran.
Cyn dyddgwyl cwyn diwedd cnawd,
Fy ngobaith fydd drwy Ffydd ffawd.
Na bydd gradd yn y bedd gro,
Un doeth, gwar, ond a 'th garo.
Na bo enwi neb aned,
Ond yn g&r i Vch un dan gred."

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 189

such simple and pathetic expression, would be an inte-
resting subject of inquiry, but one for which the material
is not now forthcoming. There is, however, nothing,
80 far as the writer has had opportunity of judging, in
any of his compositions relating more immediately to
religion, to* warrant a different conclusion.

Although Huw Arwystli seems to have been far from
aiming at the sublime, or indulging in lofty flights of
fancy in his poetry, still there are ever and anon pas-
sages to be met with in his compositions which snow
that he was not only a true worshipper of nature, but
that he possessed the faculty of expressing his devotion
to her with vividness and pathos. Of this remark, the
following lines ascribed to him in Dr. Owen Pughe's
" Welsh Dictionary,"^ but not hitherto foimd in any
collection of his poems, may serve for an illustration : —

" Llwydlas edn^ call odliad,
Gofion sercli cyfanerchai,
Cofl mab, dan frig cwfi Mai.^'

The grey bird, with skilful melody.

Would bring recollections of love with reciprocal greeting

To the bosom of the youth under the skirts of the veil of May.

And the follovnng sweet little sonnet : —

'' Gwych natur dymur dymunaf— o 'r deuddeg
Yw dyddiau Orphenaf :
Gwisg 'r /wen ei g^^sg or^f,
Dydd o hyd, hyd ddiwedd haf.*'

The conception in which is perhaps partially conveyed
in the following paraphrase :—

" Of all the twelve I love the most

The month of bright July ;
Then genius fires the poet^s lay.
Then is no night, but one long day.

Till summer's self shall die.*'

Huw possessed also pre-eminently the faculty, cha-
racteristic of most Welsh poets, of expressing apo-
phthegms in alliterative verse with terseness and ele-
gance, as in the couplet : —

^ ». v., " Cyfanercha."

190 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

'' A fo 'n gam ni fyn y gwir,
A fo 'n iawn ni fyn anwir."

Honest men love Tmth with zest^
Wlio do not are not honest.

The period during which Huw Arwystli lived an
wrote has not hitherto been precisely determined, Ii
Enwogion he is stated to have "flourished betwee
1540 and 1570." Both Dr. Davies in his Dictionary^
and Edward Lhuyd in the ArchcBologia Britannicaj
give the year 1550 as his acine. Yet, if the poems in
the Llijifr Ceniarth} have been truly assigned to him by
its compiler, at least one of them must have been com-
posed in the early part of the reign "of Henry VIII.
There is a note by Eichard Morris, m one of the Peni-
arth MSS., to the effoct that he died in 1583. If,#
however, the elegy, still extant, on Eichard ab leuai.
Lloyd, of Nant y MyneicV in the parish of Mallwyd,
be correctly ascribed to him, he must have been livmg
so late as the year 1594, as it is stated by Lewis Dwnn'
that he received the sum of five shillings from this
Eichard ab leuan Lloyd on the 1 5th of July in that
year. That he attained to a great age is not only
attested by the local tradition above mentioned, but
appears also from a passage in one of his poems, in
which he laments the decay of the poetic fire within
him by reason of his age. According to a notice in a
MS. in the British Museum* he was buried in St.
Asaph ; whether in the cathedral or parish church is,
however, not stated.

Next to the poem addressed to "The Four Bro-
thers " collectively, those wiU naturally follow which are
intended to honour them individually. The subject of
the first of these is manifestly leuan of Clochfaen, the

^ The writer desires to express his acknowledgments to Mr. N.
Bennett, of Olan yr Afon, near Llanidloes, for his kind permission
to make use of his yaJnable transcripts from that MS. for the pur-
poses of this paper.

2 Add. MSS., 14,989.

•^ Vuitaiion of Wales, vol. ii, p. 244.

* Quoted in the " Brython" for 1860, vol. iii, p. 137-8.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 191

eldest of the four, according to the pedigrees. We learn
from it a fact on which they are silent, — ^that leuan was
married to a lady named Gwenllian, whose origin is,
however, left in obscurity. This, and the subsequent
poems, are assigned in the Ceniarth MSS. to Huw
ArwystU, with the addition of the suspiciously early
date of the 12th of July, 1501, in the case of the two
first. Though of no great intrinsic merit, they are
valuable for the glimpse of light which they let in upon
the social and domestic manners of the period. The
scene of the first appears to be a fair, or a festival,
perhaps the annual wake of Uangurig, held in honour
of its patron saint, in which leuan is represented as
maintaining order by means of his own personal prowess
and that of his retainers, while his wife Gwenlhan dis-
tributes alms and hospitality to the poor.

CowTDD I RAi o Hbnafiaid t Clochfan Lanqubio tm

Mhowys.

" Pwy, yn lew trin ar fyddin fawr, *

Pan fai lewnach, pwy *n flaenawr
Pwy draw 'n cael y powdri .
Palfau cawr gwych . . .
Plad^ a dyrr, plaid a dery
Post ar frig y Pwysdir^ fry ?
Ifan, flFurf ei* ewin a' i ffon,
Tn square ac* yn seyrion
Milwr gwrdd, mal a gwyddynt,
A mawr wayw square Morys gynt.
Coed gwin o Siancyn sydd
Cyd genedl i goed . .
Rhoen' wyr 'r hen ....
flaen y Ueill . . .
Llwyn Ue derw ....
Llewod hil Howel Llwyd hen.
Dwyn d^ enau fawr dan dy fys
Dy wain y bioedd dwy Bowys,
Crwn i d[r]oi wyr Ceri /n d' ol,

pawb olynol.

' Plat in MS. ^ Qy. for Powysdir — Powys-land.

3 i in MS. * ai in MS.

192 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF |

Pedair llinell ar goll.

oded yn ddidaw
allan draw

cftrydwyd,
a gwych cefho^ wyd ;
un cadarn yw ein ceidwad

wedi eich tad
dy gar wyf
ffwrdd ydwyf
bam i
haelioni

Pob rhai ddaw, pob rhyw ddyn^
At dy deir bort i 'w derbyn :
Dy wraig, Ifan, dragywydd
I 'r byd rhoddai bwydau 'n rhydd,
Ni bydd gwyl Heb weddi *r gwan
Nac yn llaw wag Wenllian :
Ni lanwai o lawenydd

Heb weini dewr o ben y dydd,
I^ w dylawd hen, o deled hwyr,
Ifan addwyn weinyddwr ;

dewr

gweision

Dy ran a phwys dwm a ffon
Hwn drwy havog^ a rhyfel

Tair llinell ar goll.

Ni bu erioed^ heb angaa
Far Owain frod Einion frau :
Trwm o* i gedym train* gydiwyd
Du aros llew dewr Rys Llwyd.
Dy wenith pur down i'th [barth]
Ydyw hoiew barch Deheabarth.
Da yw *r achau^ glan [odduchod],
Dichwyn yw dy achau ynod,
Dy les yn dy lys ennyd
A gaen' y Beirdd, gwyn eu byd,
Da lea oedd dy lys iddyn*,
Saig y wraig a wisg siwgr gwyn ;
Gwell y doe gwellhad i 'r gwan
ganllawiaeth Gwenllian :

* Angl., havock. ^ Tried in MS.

* Angl, train. * Dowchar in MS.

THE HISTORY OF LLAN0UBI6.

193

Gair mawr hyd gwrr m8r aeth,
Ag ei djg eu gwaedogaeth ;
Fe roP i 'r milwyr aur melyn^
Ifan ei tliad a wnaeth hyn ;
Dyn wyd a fydd dyn difalch,
A dant ar bob dyn taerfalch.
Ei arwam i ben trwyn 7 bangc,
Nawdyn cryf a dynn a crafangc,
Nid ae dyn^ o[n]d oedd annoeth^
Ae ran draw dyn chwym dewr doeth^
Ni bu ddewr hael ni bydd y rhawg
• • • • •
na ddyg o wynt
wr distaw diwynt
nid hwynt a fid hwy
edwyn ^r adwy
dyn olwyn oes
am dy einioes
draw bin . et tra balch

ifan ni ddygid ' *
Bonyn bach o ran neb yd,
Nid oes wr o[n] d ei sorri
Na cbryno chais i 'ch ran chwi
O red ar y iad orie
Waed nnLu ddaS, od ei yn ddig,
Ac ni ddwg dim yn ddig di
Ond ai eithei 'n dywcliwi.
Cwynion bod cynnen ni bydd
TJwch y Ian, o chei lonydd.
Ni ddy^i law 'n dy ddagarr,
Oni red y gwaed ar dy warr ;
Nid da aros hwynt orig
Dan dy ddwm o ei 'n dy ddig ;
Chwym wr wyd, chwymia 'r adwen ;
Chwarddwn bawb eich rhoddi 'n ben/'

Hugh Arwystl ai c&nt, Gorphena y 12ed., 1501.^

Ode to Ieuan and Gwenllian of Clochfaen.'

" Who is the valiant arrayer of the mighty host f
When its complement is fall, who is its leader f

^ The date is doubtless as apocryphal in the case of this as of the
other poems to vrhich dates have been afi^ed, probably from con-
jecture only, bv the compiler of the Ceniarth MS.

' In the MS. this poem is entitled merely " An Ode to some of
the Ancestors of the Clochfaen of Llangurig, in Powys/'

194 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OP

Who is it yonder holds the powder . . ,

With the hands of a stately hero 7

Who will shatter a plate [of armour]^ who will strike its side^

A pillar on the' topmost height of Powys-land?

It is lenan — ^in frame, g^^sp^ &Qd staff.

Square-built and impetnous,

A vigorous soldier, as they well know.

With the huge square spear of old Morris.

From Jenkyn there comes a forestful of wine.^

JP(mr imperfect lines.

Lions of the lineage of old Howel Lloyd.
Bring but thy potent lips beneath thy finger.
And the two Powyses are subject to thy scabbard.
To turn the men of round Ceri behind thee
all in succession

A gap of four miaaingy and four imperfect lines,

A mighty one is our g^rdian,

. Five imperfect lines.

All — every sort of person will come
To thy three ports to be received ;
Thy wife, leuan, for ever

. Would be fireely distributing meats to all the world.
No festival will there be without the prayer of the poor.
Nor will Gwenllian be empty-handed,
leuan, a courteous server.
Would not fill (his cup) for joy.

Without ministiaring constantly, from the close of day.
To his old and poor one, if he come late ;

Two imperfect lines.

Thy portion with weight of fist and staff.
He, thro^ havoc and war

Three imperfect lines.

Never at any time has Owen's' spear.

Fervent with Einion^s onset been without death.

A heavy train of his strong men were joined together

To await the black bold lion, Rhys Lloyd,*

Thy pure wheat, if we come thy way.

Is the [object of] the lively respect of South Wales.

^ Viz., the wine-giver ; so named from his supplying his soldiers
with Bordeaux wine, thence brought by sea direct to a Welsh port,
probably Aberystwith. Vide supra, vol. iv, p. 70.

« The second of the " Four Brothers."

* Of Creuddyn, his grandfather.

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIO. 195

Good are thy pure pedigrees from their source,

Faaltless are thy pedigrees in thee^

Thy bounty in thy mansion for a while

Would the bards obtain^ happy they !

A good profit to them was thy mansion^

The lady's dish was covered with white sugar ;

Yeiy soon would the sick begin to mend^

From the ministration of Gwenllian ;

The great reputation hath reached the (extreme) comer of

the sea^
That her illustrious blood hath brought her ;
She bestows on the soldiers yellow gold^
leuan, her father, bath caused this ;
Thou art one who will be a man free from pride.
With a fang on eveiy man obstinate in his pride ;
Nine strong men shall drag him in their grasp.
And shall lead him to the farthest end of the bench.
No man would go unless he were unwise.
When yonder man impetuous, resolute and wise bears his

part.
There hath not been — ^there will not be hereafter one resolute

and generous

A line wa/rdmg.

Seven imperfect linss.

A line wanting.

• . . . By leuan hath not been taken

The least grain of any one's share of com ;

There is not a man but it would be worse for him

Who would not quake at an inquiry on thy part.^

If there flow upon the cheek but for a little while

The blood of one or two, thou wilt become angry ;

And when thou art angry, no one will take anything in thy

wrath.
But should he have decamped, will bring it back.
Complaints tho' there be, dissension there will be none
Over the hill, if thou hast thy way ;
Thou wilt not lay hand on thy dagger.
Unless the blood run on thy neck ;
They had better not remain an instant
Under thy fist, if thou get angry ;

Thou art an energetic man, the most energetic that I know.
We shall all be merry, now that thou art made our head/'

^ (Or) an attempt upon thy share.

196 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OP

CowYDD I Ieuan ab Mobts ab Siancin Goch o 'b Cloohfajen

TN LlANQUBIO.*

'* Da faw Duw^ a difai dyn I
Ai at rediad y tri dya^
Ifan ; tri chant ar eich ol
A ddaw yn geraint dyn gwrol ;
Pen wyt heddyw pont iddyn',
Palf cawr gwych, plwy' Curig wyn ;
Doeth, iraidd^ a da y 'th riwyd,
Dewr a i wynt* erioed wyd ;
. dwyn ^r 6d yna 'r ydych
Dau tkr dwm, Edn Forys wych.
. mae 'r anian mawr ynoch^
Eres Ian gwr, wyr Siancin Goch.
Coed da Ifan cyd tyfant
At hen ryw gweilch Tanwr gynt.
Hil o wydd Howel oeddych^
Hael Hew dewr Howel Lloyd wych.
. . yw» elw dwy 'n ol di
. . . cawr f&r Cerri*
. . fawr bar edn Forys,
. . bawb dan nn bys.^'*

Ode to Ieuan^ Son of Mobts, Son of Jenktn Goch

OF Cloghfaen in Llanoubiq.

God has been good, and man blameless.

Thou goest to the course* of the three men,

Ieuan ; at thy back come three hundred

As kinsmen of a valiant man;

To-day thou art at the head of the bridge for them —

The people of Blessed Curig — with thy gallant giant's palm.

Wise, vigorous and well bred art thou,

Resolute ever art thou . . .

. . there thou bearest the palm.

With a spear in thy two fists, thou chick of noble Morys I

. • great is the nature within thee.

Thou marvellous man, grandson of Jenkyn Goch 1

I The title id the MS. is " Cowydd i 'r Clochfan" only.

^ Sic ; the line seems corrupt.

» iw in MS. * Corn in MS. « bos in MS.

* Rhediad, literally, a rnnuing. Perhaps a foot-race is meant.

€€

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 197

To lenan shall a noble forest of sons grow up together
To, the old breed of hawks of the *' Tanwr"* of yore.
Prom the wood of Howel were ye sprung —
The generous, resolute, gallant lion, Howel Lloyd."

The neadfour lines are imperfect and untranslateable.

Ccetera desunL

The following "Cywydd" would appear to have
been written in the time of leuan of Clochfaen, with
whom, as well as with his wife Gwenllian, it shows the
author to have been on terms of intimacy.

COWYDD I BONT GWT.

'' Amcenais,^ yma ei cwynaf,
Mewn dull dewr myn 'd lie nesaf.
Trist&u 'r wyf am Iwy brau i lys
Ifan, fawredd hen Forys :
Ymrydd* i 'w dy mawr ydoedd,
lachau da ^leni uwch dol oedd,
Blysais fod Ue bai loewsaig
Ifan ireiddlan, a ^i wraig :
Tynu tros* Wy He tramawdd
At hwn i 'r Clochfaen nid hawdd :
D'rysdawdd i 'm llif dd'rysglawdd draw,
(Rhwydd lef Gwenllian rhoddaw),
Ffurf daer lif rhydaw redeg
Ffwrdd a dam o 'm ffordd deg ;
Bwriodd Gwy i lawr bruddgolwaith
Ben trwyn y bont ar lyn waith ;
Y Bont-goed bu hwnt gadarn,
A wnai ddoe ddwr yn ddau ddam,
suo . bryn wasgfa.

dam gan Wy ddaeth.

Iwyd wedi 'r wlaw

am anreithiaw

osod rhyfalch

punt feddw hynt^ falch

* t. e., Madoc, snmamed " Tanwr," or Firebearer, the founder of
the. Clochfaen family.

' Ymcenais in MS.

^ Third person future indicativo of the verb ymroi used as a
noun ? * Dros in MS.

6 Hunt in MS.

198

WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

. . fwlith ganafloer

goledda i ^m gwlaw oer

gynilwraig y nant

arglwydd o 'r comant

yw harferodd fan
gwpl a gipian
Pont rhyfedd gwnai 'r dialedd dig
'Does garw yn ymyl drws GurigJ
Cyfodwch hon, cyfion ei caid.
Coedio dwyn cardod enaid.
Er hyd aros, rhoi dirwy.
I mendio gwaith garw daith Gwy
Caf gan Dduw hoyw flfordd loywl&n
O 'r diwedd i dy Ifan,
O wnewch er fy mwyi achwynwr,'
Godi 'r dam aeth gyd& 'r dw'r.
Trwsiwch hi, am gael, trwy Jesu,
WeU y bont ar Wy He bu/'

Huw Arwystli, ai cant, 1570.'

Ode to the Bbidoe op the Wye.

" I purposed^ — ^here will I lament it —
In resolute gnise to go the nearest way,
I am sad for (want of) paths to the court
Of Evan,^ who possesses old Maarice's greatness.
There was a vast gathering to his honse.
Good families this year were above the dale ;
I longed to be where was the rich broth of Evan and his wife :
To draw^ across the Wye, where it is wide-spread^
Towards Clochfaen to him is not easy :
A tangled dyke impeded the flood before me,
(The iree speech of Gwenllian urged the gifl^).
In impetuous fashion the flood rushed on unheard^

^ Eight syllables in this line. Perhaps the second y in " ymyl"
is not reckoned. ' Achwymyr in MS.

' This date, of course, like the preceding, is an anachronism, as
leoan, the eldest of "The Pour Brothers,'' is referred to in the
poem. The compiler, doubtless, confounded him with leuan ap
David of Clochfaen, the grandson of his brother Jenkyn. Vide
eupra^ vol. iii, p. 274.

* leuan, eldest son of Maurice of Clochfaen.

^ The meaning seems to be that Gwenllian was herself moved by
an impulse of her will to give the dyke, or that she persuaded some
one else, her husband, perhaps, to give it.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGTTRIO. 199

And carried away a piece of my fine road.
The Wye threw down the projecting earth-work.
The end of the bridge's nozzle, with its water-work.
Of the wooden bridge^ — hitherto its wood was strong —
The water yesterday made two pieces.

Twelve imperfect lines.

The vengeance of wrath made a strange bridge.*

Is it not cruel, close to Curig's door ?

Raise it up again ; to bring wood for it

Would be found just. 'Twould be alms for the soul.

Against long delay, to grant a rate

For mending the work of the rough onset of the Wye.

I shall obtain of God a brisk, clear, and clean road

At last to the house of Evan,

If, for the sake of me, the complainant.

Ye will replace the piece that is gone with the water.

Repair it, that so we may, through Jesu^,

Have a bettei: bridge where it has bpen over the Wye."

The poem to be now introduced to our readers con-
tains several expressions which, together with certain
obscure references to historical events, render it matter
for regret that it has not reached us in a more complete
form. It commences with a panegyric upon Siancryn,
the third of the " Four Brothers" of Llangiuig, after
which it would seem to launch out into an encomimn
on them all collectively, were it not that, in the twenty-
third stanza, the reference to two only appears to sig-
nify that this was the number of the survivors at the
time it was written.

Enolynion I Genedle Clochfaek.^

" Hir iechyd, sadfyd, i wr syth— cry'
Crafanc hawl o 'r gwalnyth ;
Hir garw hael o 'r gwehelyth ;
Hir hoedl, boed hwyr dy ail byth !

^ The bridge destroyed appears to have been near the church.

' The precise meaning of these lines, following close upon an im-
perfect one, is not apparent.

^ The vagueness of the title shows that it was devised at a late
period, by a person who was unable to comprehend with certainty
what persons were referred to in the poem, or what was its subject.

200 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

€€

Byth bro Curig at ragor — ^hil Hon
Howel Lloyd a Threfor ; ^
Byrdde i'th barth, beirdd a 'th^ borthor,
I V byrdde 'stent^ beirdd a 'u stor.

Mae 'n feirdd fel dy gael gelwyr— dawn
Duw *n dy ran, gobeithir ;
Dan dy adael, donian d'wedir,
Siancin^ wyr Siancin,^ wers hir.

" Ffurf g^ryf Siancin tyst ti wyd — ^i 'th [rhan]
lach Danwr a Rhys Llwyd ;*
Pfriw 'n ganllaw hoflF raen gwynll [wyd] ,
Ffurf gwr a' i faint ffyrf gryf wyd.

" Carw Moras* ffarf gryf cydgyfiawn — dy wg
Dithau 'n gadarn coffhawn ;
Ceri fyth gwaith cryf y *th cawn,
Carai^ fi^niant ceirw cyff Einiawn.

" Gwalcb Einiawn gloewddawn glewddwys-— cadarn
Da genym dy gynwys ;
Byw mal y *ch cawn, bacli, ddawn[ys],
Tn ddigamwedd^ oedd gymwys.

'' Dyn* He rhof y 'cb caf i 'ch cyfan — . .
Catrin^^ hael Mercb Morgan ;
. da iwch iach Fort^^ lydan,
• • • . Dnw 'n eicb rhan.

* See vol. ii, pp. 215, 271. » Breyddeath in LI. C.

' This word would seem to be a cormption of the Latin " ex-
tentns." ^ See vol. ii, p. 274.

^ Bhys Lloyd of Crenddyn.

« The father of the "Four Brothers," vol. ii, p. 274.

7 Care, LI. Gen. ^ Digainwedd, LI. Cen.

^ The Don-repetition of a word from the Isiat line of the preceding
stauEa shows an hiatus here.

^^ This Siencyn married Catherine, daughter of Morgan ab Bhys
ab Howel. In the Glochfaen pedigree, in the Wynnaiay M88., it is
stated that this lady's mother was Catherine, daughter of Bedo ab
Bhys ab Llewelyn ad Dafydd Chwith of Cynwyl Gaio in Caermar-

" Fort, i, e., bord.

THE HISTOKY OF LLANGURIG. 201

" , . . gw!n . gwenllys — j Clochfan

moethus;

. Iln mawr gl&n Hew Morus
. adolym yn dy lys.

" . i'th nod amod yma — yw Uadd y bai ;
Lladd y byd y mae traha ;
Nid aeth yn^ dy waith yna,
Yn dy oes dim onid sy dda.

10.

'' Bjrv 'n dda draw i endiaw i gytundeb — Duw
Ydyw dull cyfiawndeb ;
Byw ^n ddrwg y w trin trawsineb ;
Byw y wneist heb gynwys bai neb.

11.

'' Apia' n fyw d' wythryw o dreth wyd — ^y gwg
Pen fa *r gwaith diarswyd ;
Apia' gwaed palfog ydwyd,
Apia' grym palfau gwr wyd.

12.

'' Dyn draw, wyd canllaw da i ei caid — egni sad
Gynwys help gwirioniaid ;
Da 'n gynwys hyd wyn gweiniaid,
Dyn heb nn plyg> da 'n ben plaid.

13.

" Ni phlygest, onest, union, — gyfiawn swydd
Ni byw o 'r bolchwydd neb o 'r beilchion ;
Ni roddest, ddurfrest ddewrfron,
I ddinas er torddynion.

thenshire, descended from Selyf (Solomon), King of Dyfed (Dime-
tia), son of Sawl Hir Felyn, Lord of Hwlffordd, King of Dyfed, ab
Tegwas of Abergweyn ab Gwyn ab Alan ab Alsar ab Idwal or
Tndwal, Prince of Dyfed, fourth son of Rhodri (Roderic) Mawr,
King of Wales. The armorial bearings of this family, as also of
the Williamses of Llwynrhyddod, in the parish of Llangurig, were,
quarterly, 1st and 4th «a6^, a wolf argent^ his head and claws (Gwyn-
edd) gtUes, for Meurig Goch, Lord of Oil y Cwm ; 2nd and 3rd
ermine,& chevron or, on a chief argent, a lion passant gtdes, for Gadi-
for ab Selyf, Lord of Gil y Gwm. For a further account of this
family, see supra, " History of Llangpirig," vol. iii, p. 243.
1 Ond. LI. Gen.

202 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OP

14.

" . rydd gynydd i gweinion — ^neb^ awr
A Uawr dy weddillion ;
. . . . tan tylodion,
Gael weddus Llys Gelyddon.

There is here a considerable hiatus in the M8.
Some stanzas probably are wanting.

15.

'' Chwerw 'stad fres wiad nid ....
. Ar helw Harri Wy th ;
Y rhain oedd oil o 'r un llwyth,
Caent rediad cyn troi adwyth.

16.

" Cirig adwyth y daethom — ^moes
— Moes^ Wynn, gyrru 'n halon :
Bod, ar dyrfa, haeldra hon,
dref Idlos draw, fodlon.

17.

^' Boed brig plwyf Cirig o 'i cyd — ^hyna [fiaeth] *
Yn odiaeth ar heidyd :
Da 'n Hafren ydyn' hefyd'
Glewon a gwyr glsLn i gyd.

The following ten lines must have belonged to two' or more

different stanzas.

18.

'^ Glewder Hid i 'w casau^ glewder Uewod . .
Wyr a glewder milwyr ar glod yr amaelant^
Glew iawn rym difeiaidd, glew [on ynt] er modd[iant]
Glew a neb o feddwl, glew i 'n byw a fyddant,

19.

" Glewon, myn Mair, y ceir, carant Idlos^ beunydd,
GlS,n eu* deaau gynydd, glewon er digonant,
Tylodion gofal cAs erioed nis dygasant,
Cirig a *i r&s Uuddiodd, Cirig a roes [Uwyddiant],
Gair i V coflywenyd . . Cirig foliant,
Cirig a 'i lAd iddyn^ Cirig anrhydeddant.

» Heb, LI. Can.

^ This reading seems required by the rhyming word "odiaeth"
in the next line.
8 Idis, LI. Cen. * Ei, LI. Gen.

i€

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG. 203

20.

Gwyr a geir, [my]n Mair, a mynant — wrth ei alw

Cwyr, ag yna' i ddelw, Cirig Wyn addolant,

Am Cirig a' i ddelw yma . . 'r ymgroesant/

Cirig a 'i groeso,« pawb Cirig a garanb,

Cirig lor ei hunan accw*r gwr a . .

Cirig hoiew Dduw lesu^ Cirig [a] wed[diant].

21.

An hiatus of four lines,
[Cirig . . wyr iw 'r bryd i gyd a gadwant^
[I 'r Nefjag un negeswr Cirig Wyn a [4nt].

22.

t€

gwmpaniant,

waed reiol gytun iawn a t'rawant,
yniol wiwddysg, gytun 'r ymladdant^
howaidd welion, gytun 'r heddychant.

23.

[Nid y] dynt ffwl, nis dull na dall chwant — na dwl
Caid hwn un feddwl^ cytun iawn a fyddant ;
Cytun eu caid Eleirch, cytun a* cwerylant,
Cytun yw *r hoiew garwyr, cytun a rhagorant^
Cytun hap ar fywyd, cytun eu pyrfeiant,
Cytun eu gwiw hoiewddysg^ cytun eu gwahoddant.

24.

Cytun bod dan ^r gwyliau y galwant — ger bron

Cytun y caid haelion, cytun y cyd-talant,

Pen difai waed oeddyn', pendefo[d] a wyddant^

Pen aig ydyn', ie, ymadrodd penna' i gyd a medrant,

Penna' Uu trwy olud^ penna' oil eu treblant,

Penna' n y bwlch anfeddwl^ pen beilchion a fyddant.

25.

" Pennaf y caid Meistraid Mwstreant — hyd ym Mynyw ;
Penna' fiTelof* heddyw, penna' fydd eu llwyddiant.
Pen gwraidd wiw gamp, pen y gair a ddygant,
Pen eu gwlad 'n holla wl, pen y glod ynnillant.
Pa le fwy Ian hoiewlin, aplaf a gynhaliant,
Pa le fwy gwres a phenaeth,*^ plwyf & gras a ffyniant.

^ Mgroesmaent, LI. Cen. * Gros, LI. Cen. * Bi, LI. Can.
^ Tbjs word is unintelligible as it stands. The poet may have
written " Pennaf helynt," or " Penna 'n hollawl."
s Peneath, LI. Cen.

204 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Odb to Jbnkyn ab Mobys of Clochfabn and anothbb of

THE FOUB BbOTHEBS.

" Long and lasting be thy health and life, thou upright man !

the privilege
Of the strong-taloned bird from its sheltered nest is thine !
Thou art the tallest, the most generous gentleman of thy

race !
Thine be it long to live, and late may thy son succeed thee I

" May scions of the line of Howel Lloyd and Trevor,
In the land of Curig be ever on the increase I
Tables hast thou — thy porter ushers in bards —
For bards are the tables outspread with cheer.

" They who are invited are bards, to the end that thou mayest
As it is hoped, a gift from God in thy portion ; [obtain.

At parting with thee are recited the virtues
Of Jenkyn, grandson of Jenkyn, a long narration.

" To Jenkyn's powerful frame art thou witness, to thy portion
Thou hast the pedigree of the Fire-bearer,^ and of Rhys

Lloyd :^
Thy mien bespeaks his character, amiable and holy ;
The hero's form and stature reappear in thy powerful frame.

^ Madog Danwr.

2 Rhys Lloyd of Creuddyn. His pedigree is given in Mmit. Coll.,
vol. iii, p. 237. In vol. iv, p. 62, in a poem addressed to leuan ab
Gruffydd ab Howel Lloyd of Clochfaen, another Rhys Lloyd is men-
tioned, likewise of Creuddyn. This, in all probability, was Rhys
Lloyd of Llanfihangel y Creuddyn, son of leuan ab Khys ab lor-
werth ab Cadifor ab Gwaethfoed, Lord of Cardigan, who bore or, a
lion rampant regardant, sable. He married Gwladys, daughter of
lenan ab Madog ap Gwenwys of Cawres or Cause, in the parish of
Worthyn, by whom he had two daughters, coheiresses, one named
Gwladys, who married Rhys Goch ab Icuan ab Rhys Ddii, and had
the estate of Aberpylli in Llanfihangel for her portion, where her
descendants were living a.d. 1583 (Lewis Dwnn, vol. i, p. 48). The
other, in all probability, was married to Gruffydd ab Howel Lloyd of
Clochfaen, the grandfather of Jenkyn Goch of Clochfaen, who is
expressly stated in the poem to have been possessed of lands in
Creuddyn by the gift of Rhys Lloyd.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 205

"A Stag of Morys* powerful framOj and as just ; vividly
Shall we recall thy stem aspect :
Thou lovest toil, we find thee strong ;
The Stags of Einion's^ stock love success.

•' Brave progeny of Einion, bright is thy genius, sturdy thy
courage ; in thy strength
We are joyful to possess thee :
It befits us that we live to enjoy thee,
The gifted one we love, who hast no guile.

" A man whom, when I give him away, I will have him all
back again . .
Catharine, the generous daughter of Morgan,
. good for you is a solid broad table,
. . . . God in your portion.

" • . . wine . the bright mansion of the Clochfaen,

luxurious;

The great host of the noble lion, Morys,'
. we worship in thy mansion.'

" The note of thy covenant here is the destruction of evil ;
Arrogance is destroying the world :
In the work of thy life there has been done
Nought save that which is good.

10.

" Rectitude of life will lead to union at last : God
Is the Exemplar of justice :
To live wickedly is to encourage iniquity ;
Thy life has been such as to uphold vice in none.

^ Who this Einion was is an obscure point. He is frequently
referred to as a patriarch in the family.

2 Morys ab Jenkyn Goch of Clochfaen.

' This seems to refer to a time when the monks of Strata Florida,
who had the cure of sonls in the parish of Llangurig (see supra, vol.
ii, p. 255), having been ejected from their monastery, the offices of
religion had to be secretly solemnised in the house of Clochfaen,
the " mansion of Jenkyn," son of the " noble Lion Morys." Tanner
informs us from the Benet MS. that " the prior and seven religious
had pensions, a.d. 1553." The monastery therefore had been sur-
rendered some years prior to that date (see Arch, Camb,^ vol. iii, p.
126).

206 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OP

11.

'' Of thine eight generations thine estate is the greatest ; in
aspect
Thou art fearless when there is work to be done :
Of a talented race thou art the ablest ;
The ablest of men in the strength of thy hands.

12.

'' man^ to him who finds it thou art an excellent prop ; thy
firm energy
Undertakes the aid of the innocent :

Well dost thou maintain the cause of the guiltless and weak^
Thou man that swervest not, well dost thou head thy
followers !

13.

" Honest and true, thou hast not swerved; just in thine office.
The proud ones shall not live by their arrogance ;
Thy dauntless breast, thine heart of steel hast thou not given
To a city, for all its men of high stomach.

14.

*^ . . will give increase to the weak ; at no time
Does the floor receive thy remnants :
. . . . that the poor should obtain
Fire is befitting to Llys Gelyddon.^

An hiatiis of several stanzas,

15.

'' A bitter condition

. for the gain of Harry the Eighth ;
These were all of the same tribe ;

Ere our affliction can be reversed, they must run their
course.

16.

" Curig ! we have come to affliction — give,
Give us. Blessed One I to drive away our foes ;
Such beneficence will greatly rejoice
The populace in yonder town of Idloes.

^ This is clearly the same place as that named in the eleventh
stanza of the elegy on Llewelyn ab Morys (s^ipra, p. 67). At pre-
sent no trace of auy such place is to be found. The last word,
" Gelyddon," would seem to be identical with " Celyddon, in Coed
Celyddon," the forest refuge of the bard Merddin Wyllt (Merlin)
after the battle of Ardderyd in the sixth century. Can it be that
some exile from North Britain so named it in association with the
land of his childhood, on the same principle that one is reminded,
for instance, of Shakspeare by a river and town called Avon and
Stratford-on- Avon in the midst of the '* bush" in Australia ?

i€

€€

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 207

17.

May the uplands of Cnrig's parish, of its ancient people
Be superabundant in population ;
On Severn also are they good
Brave and pure men all.

18.

Men are they animated with the bravery of wrath against

their enemies — the bravery of lions ;
With the bravery of soldiers do they grasp at glory ;
Very brave is their blameless strength, brave are they to my

heart's content.
Braver than thought can reach, brave will they be during

life.
Brave men, by Mary, are they found, daily do they love

Idloes ;
Pure is the increase of both for the satisfying of brave men ;
Never have they deemed distasteful the care of the poor.
The favour of Curig hath prevented it, Curig hath brought

prosperity ;
A word to the memory, . . praise of Curig,
Curig do they honour — Curig for his favour towards them.

19.

Men, by Mary, are they, who, in invoking him.

With wax tapers worship Blessed Curig in his image ;

For Curig and his image here . . . they sign themselves

with the Cross,
Curig do they welcome, they all love Curig.
The Lord Himself .... the man Curig yonder.
They earnestly pray to Curig, the energetic [servant] of

Jesus our God.

20.

An hiatus of four lines,

. . . all men bear Curig in remembrance.

One — the Blessed Curig — is their conductor to Heaven.

21.

An hiatus of two lines and a half

they accompany,

. . . . of royal blood they strike very harmoniously

together
. • . concordantly with surpassing vigour and skill do

they fight,
concordantly do they make peace.

208 WELSH POETRY OF LLANGURIG.

22.

" They are not irrational, they follow blindly no phantom of
passion or judgment ;

If one have a thought, they agree well together :

Like swans are they in harmony, concordantly do they
quarrel,

Concordantly are they ardent lovers, concordantly they excel ;

Concordant are their chances in life, concordant their pur-
veyance.

Concordant are their energy and skill, concordant their in-
vitations.

23.

'' Concordantly do they both* invite to festivals, in public
Concordantly are they generous, concordantly do they pay :
Of a blameless race are they the head, they have learnt the

best manners.
They are the heads of society, yea, as to speech they are the

best informed of all ;
By their wealth they are heads of the host, at the head of all

is their shout,
Heading the ambush in the pass, of proud ones are they

the head.

24,

''Chief masters are they of musters' — even so far as St.
David's ;

Chiefest in their career to-day, theirs is the chiefest pros-
perity :

The chief roots of noble achievements, they bear the chiefest
fame ;

The chief of all their country, they gain the chiefest praise ;

The purer and livelier the blood, the abler the upholders of
their line ;

Proportionate to the fervour of their rulers is the favour and
fortune of the people.

* Viz., the two surviving brothers.

209

WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE
HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

By HOWEL. W. LLOYD.

Part IIL

In the last poem we have seen that, while the virtues
of two of the four brothers of Llangurig are commemo-
rated, those of Jenkyn are the most fully and promi-
nently dwelt upon. It appears from the genealogies
that William, the fourth brother, died unmarried, and
that the second brother Owen, though married, is not
known to have left any surviving issue. Thomas, the
eldest son of leuan of Clochfaen, having been provided
with an inheritance at Crugnant, Owen would natu-
rally have been succeeded at Clochfaen by Jenkyn, the
third brother. Which of the three, together with
Jenkyn, siunnved the other two, does not appear, as his
name is not foimd in ajiy extant portion of the poem.
If an inference may be drawn from the fact that the
one was unmarried, and the other left no heirs, that
they died early in life, leuan must have been the other
survivor. It has been already remarked, how deeply to
be regretted is the fact, that a poem so interesting from
its political and social allusions should have come down
to us in so very dilapidated and fragmentary a state.

This is to be lamented the more, oecause, more than
any other of the poems, it furnishes contemporaneous
evidence not only of the high estimation in which the
Clochfaen family and its kindred branches were held at
that time in their own immediate neighbourhood, and
far and wide beyond it ; but also of tiie causes which
occasioned their being regarded by the classes below
them, as in a peculiar and special manner their patrons

210 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

and defenders. The devotion and affection rendered
them did not spring from mere feelings of clanship, nor
were these wholly uie fruit of the ordinary service paid
in those days by inferiors to their superiors in education
and worldly position. This is shown especially in stanzas
8 to 16, wherein not only are the virtues ascribed to
Jenkyn particularised in a way that differs pointedly
from the common-place generalities of Welsh enco-
miastic poetry ; but facts and events are referred to
as having become special occasions for their exercise.
Paraphrased in plain prose, these stanzas are very sig-
nificant, and may, without much risk of error, be
referred to the year 1549, when the celebration of the
Mass was abolished throughout the kingdom by Act of
Parliament. By a slight amplification of the text he
seems to say, "In thy mansion — the bright mansion of
the Clochfaen — O Jenkyn, son of Morys, by thy favour,
and under the protection of thy men-at-arms, are we
driven to solemnise in the privacy of thy mansion the
holy rites of our ancient faith, deprived as we are of
our parish church. To thee do we look to put down
the evil that has come upon us. Thus will the recti-
tude of thy life be eventually rewarded by God, and
the wickedness of the evil-doers be brought to nought.
In thy talent, energy, constancy and goodness lies,
under God, our strength. Thou hast not oppressed
us, like others, in the pride and arrogance of their
hearts, nor abandoned thy faith m the hour of trial and
danger at the beck of the proud nobles of Edward s
court. The poor, who suffer elsewhere from the
plunder of the religious houses, and the enclosure of
the abbey lands, on which every poor family had been
privileged to graze its cow, are fed daily from thy
table. To a bitter condition, in sooth, has the country
been reduced for the mere gain of Henry VIII and his
profligate and unprincipled courtiers. Still we have no
hope that this wretched state of things will be reversed
till their madness has run its course. And thou, too,
Cyricus, holy martyr, and patron of our district, who

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 211

reignest with Christ in heaven, bestow on us thy bless-
ing, and aid us with thy powerful prayers ! So shall
we be strengthened to endure with fortitude the assaults
upon our holy religion with which it has pleased God
to try our faith, in patience waiting for the time when
this tyranny shall be overpast, and the consolation we
shall obtain by the restoration of our rites and altars."

The Qochfaen and Uangurig families were content
to dwell in comparative obscurity among their own
people, at the head of whom they held themselves in
readiness to place themselves at the call of duty. Driven
from their parish church, their mansion became, as it
were, a church in the catacombs among the mountains
of Plinlimmon, for all those who loved the ancient ways
and walked in the old paths. ^

In the poem now to follow Jenkyn alone is com-
memorated, whether because he was at the time the
sole survivor does not appear from any of the lines now
extant. The poem is unhappily fragmentary, and the
text frequently doubtful ; stUl suflScient remains from
which to obtain, in this nineteenth century of omts, a
curious and interesting glimpse of the social customs of
our forefathers in the fifteenth and commencement of the
sixteenth, which might otherwise have escaped notice.
The occasion for its composition would seem to have been
the annual "wake," or feast of St. Curig, the patron saint
of the village, which was kept on the 1 6th of June, and
continued, perhaps for some days, during the whole or
part of the octave. It would seem that Jenkyn, as

^ Strype significantly relates that the Protector's friend, Sir
William Paget, advised him, among other things, " To appoint the
Lord Ferrers and Sir William Herbert to bring as many horsemen
out of Wales as they dared tnisV* — Eccles. Mem,, Edward VI, 1549,
edit. Oxford, 1822, vol. ii, book 1, part 1, p. 265. But we learn
from Holinshed that the 1000 Welshmen, who had been landed at
Bristol, '* came too late to the fraie, yet soon enough to the plaie."
For the city of Exeter, having been already taken by siege, " the
whole countrie was then pat to the spoile, and euerie soldier fought
for his best profit ; a just plague,*' as onr chronicler naively adds,
'* upon rebels and disloiall persons." — Chron., vol. iii, p. 10j5, edit.
1587.

212 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

head of the chief family of the place, unless it were in
a magisterial or other official capacity, presided at the
fair, and considered it his prerogative at least, if not
his duty, to arbitrate at the games, to prevent or extin-
guish brawls, and punish disorderly conduct of the kind
which subsequently, for want of such a check, brought
into discredit the pastimes which were otherwise calcu-
lated to provide the peaaantry with harmless recrea-
tion, and led to their discontinuance. His also was the
place at the head of the festive board, to which, as well
as to the drinking-bout after the banquet, all contri-
buted their quota, called the "gild." On the occasion
in question a dispute would seem to have arisen with
regard to a second contribution, and the discretion of
Jenkyn in promoting its peaceable settlement, appa-
rently by assuming the responsibility of the whole of
the payment, is made a special subject of encomium.
Obscure as is the passage, a ray of light is thrown
upon it by a usage which is said still to subsist at
Llangurig. On every rent-day it is customary for the
landlord to allow as much liquor as he may deem
proper for the consumption of the guests at the tenants'
dinner. If more than this allowance be required, the
additional expense is defrayed by the subscription of
all the guests.

We Team from the genealogies that Jenkyn was
married to Catherine, daughter of Morgan ab Khys ab
Howel of Llangurig, ab Davydd ab Howel Vychan of
Gilvachwen, CO. Cardigan, Esq., descended from Cadi-
vor ab Dyfnwal, Lord of Castel Howel, Gilfachwen,
and Pant Streimon. It is this lady, with "mind on
hospitable thoughts intent," who is commemorated in
the poem. In the manuscript the latter is entitled
vaguely, like most of the others, A Poem to the Family
of Clochfaen in Llangurig. From the fact that there
are no titles prefixed to the poems in Huw Arwystli s
autograph in the quarto volume at Peniarth,^ it may
be inferred that those in the Llyfr Ceniarth were not

^ Peniarth Gaialogue, No. 250.

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG. 213

copied by the transcriber from the originals before him,
but supplied from his own resources, an hypothesis
which accounts sufficiently for their general looseness
and inaccuracy.

Ctwydd I Gbkedl y Clochpabn yn Llanoubio.

Gwr & maint a grym yntaw,
Y'th mentor^ wrfch y maint draw,

. tan y fron
Uwyd winan 'n^ He dynion,
ystry w' yw dy wraidd,
Siancyn wyr Siancyn* iraidd ;
Breuddewr wyd, o bai ryw ddig,
Breugy w eryr Bro Gurig ;
Mur ranwydd mawr yr hen weilch,
Mawr yw 'r balf am warrau beilch ;
Llia edn^ Howel, Uawn odiaeth,
Llwyd, trwy waed leirll, draw y daeth ;
O daw rhywiau® da i *r heol,
Edn i edn Tanwr wyt — aent ar ol.
Duw a *i rhodd, Ffwg^ dewriad flfon,
Doraeth® hynod wrth Einion.

Gerri dau' gwraidd wyd,
Craig yn ol carw gwinealwyd.^o
DewT o ddymod oedd amynt

ly arcs, llid gweilch Rhys Llwyd gynt.
o' th wobrwyaety^ briawd,

1 ddai Rent,** lea iddyn', tylawd.
Cathrin l^n cydranai wiedd

I' th fyw, Eryr, a' th fawredd.
Porthiant ^d i 'th parth hwnt oedd,
A mawr, sad, o 'r Mars ydoedd.
bob peth i *r wyneb wych

^ *' Menter" is sot found in the dictionaries. An ancient Welsh
melody, still in nse, bears the title of Mentre Owen, It would seem
to be a corruption of the English word " venture," itself perhaps
corrupted from the Welsh " antur ;" pace Dr. Johnson, who deduces
it from the French " avanture." But whence comes this last, unless
from the Celtic ? * 'r, L. C. ^ ystriw, L. C.

* t. e., Jenkyn Goch. ^ eow, L. C. * rhiwiau, L. C.

7 fwg, L. C. ® doreth, L. 0. ; ynod, L. C. ^ dai, L. 0.

1*^ gwinelwyd, L. C. ^^ obrwayth, L. C.

1* For " y deuai Rhent."

214 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Ni roed, eumer wyd arnyn'.
Win, fedd, er anfodd un.
Triniwr^ beilch dy ran o 'r bri,
I was gwaedwyllt nis gadewi ;
Ni fagech law fwg awch[lym]
Yn y ffair, on 'd pherid[grym] ;*
Gwr [h]ynod a gyrr wenwyn,
Cadwed yr ael gyd& i drwyn.
Ni thynwyd arf o' th wain di,
Heb roi bar obry i 'w beri.

rhoed hwynt far, rbaid hwyn' fu,
Erchi 'r enaid, a chrynu.

Ni thrwsiwyd, o' th nawfed acli

Un a chalon uchelach.

I' th dai odiaeth diodydd^

A bwyd i bawb, o daw bydd.

Braidd^ a' u nych, a 'r breuddyn chwyn*

Etto i yfed i 'r terfyn.

Troi gwirod traw ag agos^

Yn rhawiau [w]naen 'r hyd y nos ;

Ai da hyn, wedi hynny,

Roi i gytild^ gwraig y ty ?

Talwyd un gild,^ dyled yw 'n gwaith,

1 gael talu gild^ eilwaith ?
Da genyd ei digoni,
Dalu dy hun ei dyled hi,

Ni chawdd® gair, iechyd ffwerin

I V addoli ar dy ddeulin^

Gwr ni ddwg graen weddw wych

odiaeth
ar warr dy waith
08 dymunwn

aur ar dwn.

Huw Arwystli ai cant, Mehefin Ibed,, 1600.®

A TriDiwr, L. C.

' The last two syllables are supplied from conjectnre.

' Beirdd, L. C. ; ai, L. C.

^ chwyrn, L. C. The sense of this conplet is obscnre.

* tild, L. C, and " gilt" in next line.

• hi chawd, L. C ^ dai lin, L. C.

® This date is clearly apocryphal. David Lloyd of Glochfaen,
Jenkyn's son, was Mayor of Llanidloes, Escheater, and Justice of
the Peace in 1574. See supra, vol. ii, p. 1U4>.

THB HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 215

Ode to Jenktu ab Mobys of Clochfaen in Llanguetg.

Man of statnre^ and of strength^

Thy daring is proportionate to thy size^

Three imperfect lines.
Jenkyn, thon grandson of Jenkyn the Sturdy,
Thou art ready and resolute, if there be any provocation.
Thou spirited fledgling of the Eagle of Curig's Land.
Thou huge rampart of the domain of the ancient Falcons.
Mighty is thy talon's clutch of the necks of proud ones.
Wondrously perfect is the line of Howel
Lloyd, that hath come down from afar, through the blood of

Earls.^
If families of high birth enter the street
Thou art a pullet of the Fire-bearer'ia* pullet — let them g^ve

place.
Thy staff hath the stoutness of Fulk's* — ^it is God's gift.
Distinguished on Einion's side is thy race.
From Kerry thou possessest two roots.
Who art a rock in the path of a tawny stag.
Stout, if a blow from thy fist fell upon them.
Would be those who await thee, whose wradi is that of Rhys

Lloyd's falcons of old

by thy special donation
Has rent come to the poor for their benefit.
The fair Catharine* hath distributed the banquet.
For thy support, O Eagle, and for thy greatness.
There was provision of corn for thy party yonder.
And great and powerful was it over the March,
everything fair to the view.

An hiatus of two lines.
There hath not been given — so bountiful a lord art thou over

them —
Wine or mead to the discontent of any one.
A marshaller of proud ones, thou wilt not leave

^ Tudor Trefor, Lladdoccaf, and Garadog, who were successively
£(irls of Hereford and Gloucester.

* Madog Danwr.

* Sir Fulke Fitz Warren, a Lord Marcher, son and heir of Sir
Warren de Weaux, a nobleman of Lorraine. He attacked, defeated,
and slew Sir Meurig Llwyd, Knt., Lord of Whittington, and took
possession of his castle and lordship, which were confirmed to him
by Henry UI.

* For the pedigree of Catharine, wife of Jenkyn Goch, see vol.
ii, p. 271.

z 2

216 WELSH POETRy, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Thy meed of honour to a hot-tempered servant.
Thou wouldst not support a hand as sharp as smoke
In the fair, wert thou not compelled to it :
A man of mark will dispel mischief;
Let such a one use his nose to guard his eyebrow.
Never hath weapon been drawn by thee from its sheath.
Save when necessitated by offence given from below.
If they have given thee offence, of necessity they must
Tremble, and beg for their lives.
Never was equipped, since thy ninth ancestor.
One of higher mettle than thou art.
At thy mansion is the very best of drink.
And of meat, for all who enter it.

Scarcely will it pain them, when the gallant gentleman urges it,
Again to drink on to the end.
They would toss off the liquor, far and near.
In shovelsfull, all the night long.
Is it a decent thing that, after this.
All should pay their quota to the good wife ?
One contribution^ has been paid ; is it a duty on our part
To have to pay a contribution a second time ?
Thou wert pleased to satisfy her.
By paying her due thyself.

There is no offence in a word — the weal of the pojiulace
Is to be worshipped on both thy knees.
A man who will not bear a smart widow's temper

The poem concludes with one hlanh, and three rmperfect, and
(in their present state) unintelligible lines.

The next poem appears in the Llyfr Ceniarth in the
shape of two disjointed fragments, the latter of which
is found tacked on to that printed above,' commencing

" Da fu Duw, a difai dyn,"

and relating to leuan of Clochfaen, the eldest of the
" four brothers." Its concluding lines prove it to be
part oi an elegy on Owain, the second brother. The
other fragment, which terminates abruptly in an hiatus,
is as plainly the commencement of an elegy on the
same Owain. Taken together, the two fragments be-

^ "Gildio, compotationum expensas persolvere, — Davies's Dvct^
» P. 7Q.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG- 217

come intelligible, and form a tolerably harmonious
whole. Gwenllian, the wife of leuan, appeara as
Owain's sister, and swoons away with grief for her
brother-in-law. The fragments which may have origi-
nally formed but one elegy, or may be separate portions
of two by different authors, are here thrown together
under the title of one of them, viz. : —

Cywydd Mabwnad Owain [ab Mobys] ^ ab Siancyn Goch o

Llanqubiq.

Gwae ninnau. Daw gwyn ! o'n dig,

Gae 'r bryn cwyr ger bron Curig,

Du oedd wyneb dydd lonawr

I gwyno mab Gwinai mawr.

Doe fa torn daear a phren,

Bhoi daear ar iad Owen :

Yn ol y corph wylo y caid,

Dydd angladd deaddeng wlad ;

Oerodd y wlad ar ddwy lys,

Heddyw i farw hydd Forys ;

E fai tres ar* fSr trosoch^

Wars gan gwymp wyr Siancyn Goch :

Oeriai 'stlP grSf Arwystl gron

O frig Ceri i fro Caron.*

Gwae 'r Creyddyn I garw ceryddwyd !

Gwae drasaa llin gwaed Rhys Llwyd !

Pan edrychwyd paan drechach ?

Pa an oedd well pan yn iach ?

Mentrai wyneb y trinoedd,

Mwy na deg mewn adwy oedd.

Ni ddoe Arthur oddiwrthaw.

Ban fai drin heb anaf draw^

Nid ae gawr ond a garwyd^

Dan hawl law edn Howel Llwyd.

Cyn o' i farw cae nea fdr oeddj

Adwy fry wedi ei farw ydoedd.

chladdiad wych laddwr
well ag arf yn He gwr.

^ The bracketed words are omitted in L. C.
« Tressai, L. 0. » ADglic^, " steel."

^ t. e., from Kerry in Montgomeryshire to Tregaron in Cardigan-
shire.

218 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Bydd waeth-waety oes byth weithian^

Gladda glaif^ neu gleddan glan,
Iwyddiant y flwyddyn,
leinw hap ymlaen hyn.
fod gwlaw E brill tawel,
aid a' i ffrwd cyd y ddel

E ddaw rad oedd sor hoywdeg,

O flaen twrf oleuni teg ;

Anian 'r heulwen, yn rhylew,

Aiaf garw hwnt a fag rew ;

Cynnydd ai, cyn ei ddiwedd,

Ar Owain wyrch yr un wedd :

T dyn oedd a dawn iddaw,

A' i olud tros y wlad draw,

Ar hoel ddoe 'r haul oedd wen,

A niwl yno'^ 'n ol Owen.

Galw ar ei fedd gwelir fi,

Ynte Owen yn tewi.

Gwae ^r tir isod, gwae 'r trasoedd,

Gwae wlad gwalch goludog oedd,

Gwae dri brawd a goidw 'r brodir,

Gwae 'r tir o hyd agor tir ;

Gwae ninnau 'n llwyr gynne 'n Uaa

Gwae erioed gweled gwr dulas ;

Mawr weled [y] mor-filwr

Mwy bo 'n gael meibion y gwr.

Mor oor [i ^n] ucho, Mair won !

Here a leaf is torn out of tlie MS,
Oer oedd unllef roe ddoe [wan]
Yn ei He wig Wenllian.
Car gwiw hael, carw Gwehelyth,
Tra* chwaer oedd fyw, ni chwardd fyth.
Merched hyd nef yn llefain :
Mae 'r ia neu^ rew ymronnau rhain.
Och I heb wleddoedd chweblwydd[yn]
Och ! brydded, och ! briddo dyn ;
Och I oferedd, och I farwn ;
Roi ar Dduw^ Saint air dros hwn ;
Och I drymed ucho dramwy ;
Och ! mwy nag ym min*^ Gwy.

1 Wyth, L. C. 2 V glais, L. C. » Tw 'n ol, L. C.

* Na, L. G. ^ Ne, L. C. « Deany, L. C.

7 Ymin, L. C.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 219

Och ! yngan ; och ! a gwynwn,

A mwy fyth am y fath hwn !

Och Dduw 'n glain wych duai glew nerth I •

Och^ drom am na chaid ei worth !

O 'r Uif pa well, er lies pen,

Na chrio oni cheir Owen ?

Aed — bu ewyllys Duw bellach —

Owen i nef wen yn iach.

Hmw Arwystli a' i cciut, lonawr Sed.j 1500.

The Mowing is an attempt at a metrical paraphrase,
rather than a translation of the foregoing poem. Care,
however, has been taken to adhere to the substance of
the original by avoiding, as far as possible, the intro-
duction of new ideas. It may serve, by comparison with
the prose translations, to convey a notion to the English
reader of the extent to which the genius of our bards
has been cramped by the strictness of their metrical
rules.

Elegy on Owain ab Morys ab Jbnkyn Goch op LiJiNauEio.

Woe to us, blessed God ! because of thine anger towards us.
Bearing is all the hill-side sad tapers of wax before Curig.
Lo ! the January day hath dight its visage in blackness —
Mourns the day itself for the son of Gwinai the mighty ! *
Yesterday hath there been cutting of earth and of wood for

the laying
Over the temples of Owen the earth, as he lay in his coffin.
Full twelve lands made wailing that day, as they followed his

body.
In cold sorrow is steeped the country for two of its mansions,*
— Sorrow that death hath snatchM the noble scion of Morys.
Now should the ocean chant a funeral dirge for Owen,
" Fall'n is the grandson of Jenkyn the Red'' should be its

burden.
Cold is the heart of steel that beat high for the round Arwystli,
From the heights of Ceri as far as the region of Caron.^
Woe is Creiddyn now ! chastised hath she been severely !

1 This may be the name of an ancestor ; or it may mean " the
excellent auburn-haired youth," if the word be read as " gwinau."
* Clochfaen, namely, and possibly, Llya Gelyddon.
3 Literally, " hart.''

220 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

Woe is the line of Rhys Lloyd's blood, and all of his kindred !
When hath there ever been seen upon earth a more powerful

gallant? ^
What man better than he^ when whilom in health and in

vigour,
Boldly the hero would face the foe when arrayed for battle ?
Not ten men in a pass, if they met, could overmatch him ;
If King Arthur himself had fought him in single combat.
Not King Arthur himself had ridden scatheless after.
Surely a giant were worsted, if giant had dared to attack him.
Under the process^ made by the hand of Howel Lloyd's pullet.
Like to a fortress or rampart was Owen before his departure ;
Now is the rampart a breach, for Owen lives no longer !

Two imperfect lines,-
Worse shall the world wax now, for the bright blade of Owen

is buried !

Four imperfect lines.
Then shall that which was gloom be changed into lively en-
joyment.
Just as the light serene oft-times is foreshadowed by tempest ;
'Tis the bright sun's nature, by anticipation, to nurture
With its pervading force, the frost of the rugged wii^ter ;
So, overcasting the time, in similar manner, hath increase
Haply befallen Owen for a season before his departure,
Owen gifted with talents, of wealth far and wide the possessor.
Yesternoon on the street the sun with its rays fell brightly ;
Owen is gone, and to-day it is buried in gloom for Owen !
Lo, I am here, on his grave, and calling — but Owen is silent.
Woe to the earth beneath, woe, woe to his kindred above it !
Woe to the country around, that rejoiced in the wealth of the

rich man I
Woe to the Brothers Three, the defenders now of the district !
Woe to the earth itself, for the earth it is constantly opened !
Woe to us all beside, for we all have been slain with sorrow !
Woe that we e'er should have gazed on the livid corpse of the

hero !
Great have we seen the soldier by sea, may his sons be yet

greater !

Hiatus of one y or three Unes,
Mary, blest Virgin Mother I how grievous it is to bewail him !

Here follows an hiatus of several lines, and a leaf

^ The word " hawV seems to be here a figurative expression do-
rived from a process of law.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 221

has been torn from the MS. The last line has cer-
tainly the appearance of being a closing one, and if so,
the above Unes must have formed a separate elegy, and
the following fragment have been part of another. In
that case, probably, each was composed by a different
author.

Faintly Gwenllian hath uttered a cry, ere she swooned in her
sorrow.

Cold on our hearts hath it struck, — that cry of sorrow for Owen !

Owen, the pride of his race, her noble and generous brother ;

Ne'er will his sister smile, while she bides in the land of the
living.

Up to the Heaven above hath ascended the wailing of
maidens, —

Frozen with grief are^ their bosoms I six years are we left
without banquets.

Woe for the burial ! Woe the world's vanity I Woe is the
Baron I

May the Saints offer their prayers for the peace and repose of
his spirit I

Woe for the greatest on Wye that we heavily make lamenta-
tion I

Woe for the tidings abroad I and the grief that it daily grows
greater I

Woe to us, God I that the lustre which shone in our jewel is
darkened.

Woe to us ! heavy the grief that its worth is departed for
ever.

What, for the loss of our Owen, save rivers of tears can con-
sole us ?

And — to the Will divine sith nought now is left save submis-
sion,

Speed him to Heaven with prayers that God may receive him
to glory. ^

The statement appended to this poem that it was
composed by Huw Arwyslli on the 8th January, a.1).
1500, would seem to be possibly entitled to greater
respect than others of a similar character. It is scarcely
conceivable that so circumstantial a date should have

1 This, perhaps, may refer to the eldest of Owen's sons, who
may at this time have wanted six years of his majority, and nofc
have lived to attain it.

222 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OF

been the deliberate invention of the transcriber : hence
it is reasonable to infer that he found it in the original
manuscript from which he copied. But it is by no
means equally probable that the author's name likewise
was subscribed there ; it does not therefore follow that
Huw Arwystli wrote it, and it is almost inconceivable
that he should have done so at a date so exceedingly
early. It is reasonable, then, to conclude from this
date that Owen died at an early age ; a fact which is
supported by the internal evidence of the poem, since
it is stated broadly that his threfe brothers survived
him. It is clear, however, from the context that he
had attained to the vigour of manhood, and had even
achieved some exploits by land, and also by sea, if as
much may be inferred from the strange epithet " sea-
soldier" (mor-filwr) which is applied to him. This he
would probably have done in the service of Henry VII,
before and during the expedition which led to the vic-
tory on Bos worth Field, and the expression would
seem to point to his having been engaged confidentially
in the service of that monarch when an exile on the
Continent, and aided him perhaps secretly to visit from
time to time, as he is known to have done, his adhe-
rents in the Principality. The wish expressed with
regard to Owen's sons seems at variance with the gene-
alogies, which represent him as dying without issue.
They may, however, have lived for some years, yet
have failed to attain their majority, as seems to be im-
plied in the words : " Six years are we left without
banquets !" Again, Owen must have survived his wife,
of whose name all mention is omitted, while that of his
sister-in-law Gwenllian is introduced. The vast wealth
of Owen and his brothers, so frequently referred to in
the poems, may be partly accounted for by the fact that
they all held the Clochfaen property in common, instead
of sharing it between them agreeably to the old Welsh
custom of gavelkind. It would be interesting to know
whether this arrangement was the effect of their father's
will, or of the spontaneous abandonment by each of
their distinctive rights.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 223

Of the remaining poems in the Ceniarth manuscript
relating to Llangurig, three only, two of which are
mere fragments, contain any direct reference to the
families of the resident gentry. The others were written
in. honour of Saint Cyricus, its patron saint, and, con-
taining as they do some curious information calculated
to throw considerable light on the vexed question of the
origin of the ancient devotion to that martyr and his
mother Juhtla in the principality, which extended to
a far greater portion of it than the mere confines of
Plinlimmon, they may . appropriately form the subject
of a separate article. Of the three former poems, the
only complete one, subscribed by Huw Arwystli, con-
tains eighty-six lines, and bears the title of ** A poem
{Cywydd) addressed to the families... in Curigs Parish.''
But, as in the midst of these occur more than one
hiatus^ and the latter part, commencing from the forty-
first line, is encomiastic of a parson of Darowen, Sir
Lewis by name, with the view to obtain of him the
gift of a horse, it is probable that they are no more
than the " disjecta membra" of two separate composi-
tions. The. poem commences thus : —

" ApW yw lie cerdd plwy' [Curig.]"
The parish of Curig is the seat of most skilful song.^

The only important lines which it contains germane
to our subject are the following : —

_ •

*' Ni adawodd Daw nn dydd dig
Wahanu 'r ceirw yii nhir Curig.
Glana' gwaed He 'r gl&n gwawdyr,
Ceirw 'n gad yn crynhoi gwyr.
Liu 'n glwyd fs^ref yn llanw gwlad gron,
Llewod unoed Llwyd^ union ;
Gwyr oil yn bwrw gair well-well,
Gwyr, mi wn, da, ni goreuwell.'^

" God hath not suffered a single day of wrangling
To disunite the stags of Curig's land.
Purest is the blood where the panegyrists are pure ;

^ Or " grisly lions.*'

224 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTATIVE OF

Stags [are they] who array their men in battle.
A host like a strong round shield^ filling the land^
Lions in even line are the Lloyds^ equal in age^
Men all growing ever in public esteem^
Men so good, that none I know are better/'

Of the two more fragmentary poems one breaks off
in the middle, consequently the author's name is mis-
sing. It bears the title of " An Ode to the Families
of Clochfaen." As much of its contents differ little in
substance from those already given, an extract or two
from it will suffice. In the first wiU be found an allu-
sion, which it could be wished were less obscure as to
its time and object, to an aid in men given to " the
Saxon" by the family of Morys, i. e. probably the Four
Brothers. It begins, in its present shape, thus : —

" Un agwedd, wrth fynegi,
A Mursen feinwen wyf fi ;
Chwer[th]in, a thro[i] mln i 'r medd
Wylo blin y 'r ail blynedd.
E ^yr Duw y roed leuan
Ymwrw 'n oed dydd ym mron t&n ;
O lawer swydd hen flTordd yw lys,
Gair mawr a gai dir Morys,
Am ei roi i Sais mawr les wyr
leuan worth tri o wyr.^'

" I bear a likeness, if the truth be told.
To a fair coquettish dame.
Who laughs, and puts her lips to the mead.
Yet weeps wearily in the second year.^
leuan, God knows, was given
To place himself, as the day waned, before the fire ;
To many an office^ is his mansion the ancient road.
The land of Morys hath gained a high repute
For its gift to the Saxon of a large aid in men.
leuan the worth of three men.*'

The next extract appears to relate to the choir of
the Church of Llangurig, for which it was perhaps in-

^ As this seems to have reference to a preceding passage, these
lines can scarcely be the true commencement of the poem.
* Or, "from many a shire."

THE HISTORY OP LLANGUEIG. 225

debted to the monks of Strata Florida, of which it was
a vicarage. From the allusion to its wealth and libe-
rality it may be inferred that the date of the poem is
prior to the commencement of the Reformation troubles :

*' C8r gloew Nef cwrr glan afon^
Gardd i hoU gerddwyr yw hon.
Ami yw 'n gwln am Ian ganiad^
Ami an gael aur ymlaen gwlad.
le trym i dylawd dramwy,
teg yw i mi deatu Gwy/'
" A resplendent choir of Heaven is in a nook of the river's
bank^
A garden for all minstrels is this.
Abundant is oar wine for the sacred song,
Many a one obtains gold in sight of all the land,
a spot delightful for a poor man to traverse^
fair to me are both sides of the Wye."

The following extract is from a poem which is inter-
esting for more reasons than one, It furnishes the
solitary instance of a poem by Huw Arwystli, addressed
to a member of the Clochfaen family, which has been
found elsewhere than in the Ceniarth MS., being taken
from No. 250 of the Collection of W. W. E. Wynne,
Esq., of Peniarth, to whom the writer is indebted for
the kindness of copying it. And it furnishes a con-
temporaneous proof of the correctness of the pedigree
(published in the ArcluBologia Camhrensis, vol. for 1867,
3rd series, p. 27,) of the person to whom it is addressed,
viz. Rhys ab Morys ab Llywelyn of Llangurig, who was
the younger brother of Jenkyn Goch of Clochfaen, and
therefore great uncle of the Four Brothers " of that
ilk." Morys, the son of Llywelyn, and father of Rhys,
seems to have been the first of the family to settle in
Mowddwy, having married Mahallt, daughter and
possibly heiress of Howel Mowddwy, Esq. The object
of the poem is to solicit the gift of a horse, which it
would seem, though the passage is somewhat obscure,
was to be ridden by the poet to Arwystli, where he
proposed to apply it in some way, which is not made
apparent, to the payment of his debts. Of the animal

226 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OP

no more need be said than that, to judge from the
qualities of shape, speed, mettle, and trotting and leap-
ing powers ascribed to him by the bard, he might have
shamed all competitors in the hunting-field, if ne could
now be brought out for a day with the Cheshire, or
with Sir Watkin. Surely the bards must have deemed
themselves seised of some poetical copyhold, entitling j

them to claim as a heriot for their verse the very pride
of the stable.

Cywydd I Rys ap Morys ap Llbwblyn o 'b Clochpaen ym

Meo Cubig, I ofyn mabch.

Y Hew Ir braf oil o 'r brig,

Brau a gerir bro Girig.

Braich a chledd, amgeledd gwlad^

Rhys, aer Forys, ir fyriad. .

Wyr Llywelyn, dir yn rhodd,

Penaeth gw^r, pwy ni 'th garodd ?

Gwr yn ara', od aeth grym, ydwyd,

Gl&n fettel Hew How el Llwyd. d

O 'r ach Benwyn wych benaeth,

Natur ir ynot yr aeth ;

Llwythau 'r gwydd pob Ueithigaur,

Gwaed Trefawr yn goed hen aur ;

Gwaed Philip iwraib aeth

Fychan, tarian antariaeth.

O Gydewen gwiw dywys

Llwyth Blaenau trasau it^ Rhys ;

Tref a gwlad marchnad am Wy,

Aig meddiant Howel Mawddwy.

Dy briod eigyr obrwyawl,

Ammhech,^ a gyd ffydd a mawl ;

Lloer Siancyn, tryff i 'n at ras, !

Nid o wr a hardder ei hurddas ; i

Wyr Rhys Llwyd hardd i fardd fydd,

0* i law win a llawenyd.

Tbanslation.

Thou lion, brave and vigorous, for thy activity
Art thou beloved by all on the upland.

^ This word is doubtful. As copied from the original it is
" awmech."

THE PARISH OF LLANGURIO. 227

Thine arm and thy sword are thy country's protection,

Rhys, heir of Morys, thou hast a powerful arm.

*****

Grandson of Llewelyn, unwearied in bounty,

Chieftain of men, by whom art thou not beloved ?

*****

A man of deliberation, when force hath assailed thee,

A lion of Howel Lloyd's pure metal.

A noble chieftain from the race of Benwyn.

An energetic nature hath entered into thee ;

A tribe whose every scion hath a golden seat.

Of the blood of Trevor, a forest of ancient gold.

Of the blood of Philip ....

Fychan, a very shield in daring.

Thy descent, Rhys, is nobly deduced

From the tribe of Blaenau of Cydewen,

From the town and land of merchandise on the Wye,

Is the fount of the possession of Howel of Mowddwy.

« « ♦ * *

Thy bride was a maiden who requited thee.

Faultless in virtue and fidelity.

As from the moon is her favour turned towards us.

Her dignity is not enhanced by that of Jenkyn her father.^

The grandson of Rhys Lloyd will be liberal to the bard.

From his hand come wine and gladness.

The next and last extract is from the last part of
a long poem, in which is related the Legend of S.
Curig, to which it does not seem properly to belong.
The state in fact of the whole of these poems is sug-
gestive of fire, mice, moth, everything in short that
could have rendered the work of the copyist one of
extreme labour and difiiculty. The lines are so genuine
an outburst of love and aflfection for the spot tnat, in-
dependently of the other evidence already adduced for
the fact that the birthplace of our bard was in its im-
mediate neighbourhood, the language is so far removed
from the dry conventionalism ordinarily characteristic
of Welsh encomiastic verse, as to have left no room for
doubt, if any had previously existed : —

^ " Rhys was married to Margaret, daughter of Jenkyn ap Rhys
Lloyd of Llangurig," — Arch. Camb,^ 18G7, p. 27.

228 WELSH POETRY, ILLUSTRATIVE OP

" PMe well un plwy' ni elHr,
Plwy' Cirig nid tebyg tir ;

Hiatus of a line and a half.
Fy nhir eisoes, fy nhrysor,
A 'm maes ^d gynt, a^m 'stor,
Py lluniaeth, a 'm llawenydd,
Fy lies erioed, fy llys rydd,
Fy ami win, fy melynaur.
Fry yn mhwrs fy arian a 'm aur ;
Fy llun, fy mhob peth, fy lies,
Fy hoU iechyd, fy lloches.
* * * *

Llaw Dduw, a 'i barch llwyddo y bydd
Liu ein genedl yn llawn gwinwydd ;
Ni aned neb ond unwr

o waed Himp y Tanwr.
Canwaith, fel y cae weiniaid,
Yr aeth fry i help wrth fy rhaid.
Fy helpu 'n rhydd, rhag dydd dig,

Y ceir carwyr cor Curig :
Na ddont i lawr, ydynt l&n,

Y gair da a gai rodd leuan/

" Nowhere can there be a better parish.
There is no land like the parish of Gurig.
Long since ray own land — my treasure.
My cornfield, and my storehouse in time past.
My maintenance and my joy.
My gain since time began, my free mansion.
My abundance of wine, my yellow gold.
My silver and gold laid up in my purse.
My picture, my profit, my all.
My whole safety, and my retreat.
♦ * * ♦

The hand of God, because we revere Him, will prosper
The host of our race, as prolific as the vine ;
Yet not a man, save one, hath been born
A true graft on the blood of the Fire-bearer !
A hundred times, when he knew us to be poor.
Has he come to help me in my need.
My generous helpers, against the day of wrath.
Are the lovers of the choir of Curig.
Let them not be brought low, for they are pure,
'Tis leuan's gifts that bring him good repute.^'

A few remarks may be added in conclusion on the

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 229

frequent occurrence in these, and most others of the
Welsh poems of the same period, of the blemish in
poetical composition known as confusion of metaphor.
From a comparison of the heroes of the poetry with
oaks or vines, we are stimned by the suddenness and
rapidity with which they appear again as stags, falcons,
eagles, swans, or lions, and this occasionally in the
midst of actions grotesquely incongruous with the re-
presentative qualities of the birds, trees, or quadrupeds
with whose nomenclature they happen to be associated.
In such cases a covert allusion might be suspected to
the science of heraldry, and to the armorial bearings of
the respective families, but this when it happens to
occur is by way of rare exception rather than the rule.
Yet from the high repute attained by the authors of
these apparent monstrosities it would seem that the
literary palate of the contemporary Welsh "public"
was rather tickled than offended by them. The ex-
planation would seem to lie in the fact that the sensi-
tiveness of both reciter and recipient became deadened
by constant repetition. The discordant epithets thus
in process of time came to be regarded as synonyms, a
certain number of which appeared necessary to the per-
fection of every panegyric ; and the ideas which would
be naturally appropriate to each figure of speech,
though lost in the outward framework of the words,
were found to be sufficiently suggested to the mind by
a species of mental reservation. As a necessary but
lamentable consequence it was forgotten, in process of
time, that metre and alliteration are but secondary
adornments of poetry, admissible only in strict subor-
dination to originality of conception clothed in appro-
priate imagery. Hence, by a not unnatural transition,
the former in too many instances have been found
gradually to usurp the place of the latter, and at length
to supersede them altogether, while skill in alliterative
consonancy came to be pursued as the end rather than
as a means for the conveyance of poetical force and
beauty. Thus the original play of fancy and imagina-

A A

230 WELSH POETRY, ETC., OP LLANOURIG.

tion, for which the Cymric mind had abundantly shown
its capacity in the works of the earlier bards, became
cramped and exhausted, until the very existence of the
art became imperilled by its ultimate reduction to the
mere study of alliterative surprises and a paltry play-
ing upon words.

THE HISTORY OP LLANOUEIO.

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HUGHES OF PENNANT Y BELAN
In the parish op Rhiwfabon in Maeloe Gymraeg.

Cae Cyriog MSS.

Bleddyn, the eldest son of Tudor ab Rhya Sais,' Lord
of Chirk, Nanheudwy, and Maelor Saesneg (refer to
the accoxmt of PlAs Madog), married Agnes, daughter
of Llewelyn ab Idnerth, Lord of Buallt, son of Mere-
dydd H^n ab Howel ab Seisyllt, Lord of Buallt, son
of Cadwgan ab Elyatan Glodrudd, Prince of Fferlis, by
whom he had issue Owain, Lord of Chirk, Nanheudwy,
and Maelor Saesneg, who married Eva, relict of lor-
werth ab Owain Brogyntyn, Lord of Edeymion, and
daughter and heiress of Madog Goch, Lord of Mawddwy
and Caer Einion, an illegitimate son of Gwenwynwyn,
Prince of Upper Powys, by whom he had issue five
sons: 1. lorwerth Hen, his successor; 2. Owain
Fychan. ancestor of the Dymokes of Penley Hall in
Maelor Saesneg ; 3. Thomas, ancestor of the Pennants

> Ehjs Sftis died a.d. 1070.

240 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURTO.

of Downing and Penrhyn Castle ; 4. Cynwrig Sais ;

and, 5. Rhirid, and a daughter named Elen. ^

lorwerth Hen, the eldest son of Owain, was Lord of
Chirk, Nanheudwy, and Maelor Saesneg, and married
Angharad, eldest daughter and coheiress of Gruffydd,*
third son of Meilir Eyton, Lord of Eyton Erlisham and
Borasham {ermine, a lion rampant azure), by whom he
had issue an elder son,

lorwerth Fychan, Lord of Chirk, Nanheudwy and
Maelor Saesneg. He married Catherine, relict of
Meredydd of Rhiwfabon, second son of Madog ab
Gruffydd Maelor, Prince of Powys Fadog, and daughter
of Gruffydd ab Llewelyn ab lorwerth. Prince of North
Wales, who bore quarterly gules and or, four lions
rampant countercharged, by whom he had a son and
heir,

lorwerth Foel (Llwyth Nanheudwy), Lord of Chirk,
Nanheudwy and Maelor Saesneg. Roger Mortimer,
Lord Paramount of Chirkland or the Swydd y Waun,

f ranted lands in the townships of Gwem Osbern and
^en-y-Clawdd to lorwerth Foel on payment of twenty
pounds sterling per annum. The witnesses to the
grant were, leuaf ab Adda,* Llewelyn his son," Owain,

^ Omfiydd married Angbarad, daughter and heiress of Llewelyn
ab Meorig ab Caradog ab lestyn ab Gargant, Prince of Glamorgan,
who bore gules, three chevronels argent

* lenaf ab Adda ab Awr of Trefor. He married Myfanwy,
daughter of Madog ab Cynwrig Fychan ab Cynwrig ab Hoedliw
of Christionydd Cynwrig, fifth son of Cynwrig ab Bhiwallon, by
whom he had issue five sons : 1. David. 2. Howel, ancestor of the
Trefors of Trefor Hall, Joneses of Frondeg, Lloyds of Trefor, and
Llangollen, Joneses of GBirthgynan in Llanfair Dyfiryn Clwyd, and
Roberts of Eglwyseg, Lloyds of Pentre Cuhelyn, and Lloyds of
Berth and Bhagad. 3. Llewelyn, who witnessed the charter. He
married Susanna, daughter and coheiress of Llewelyn ab Madog ab
Einion ab Rhirid ab lorwerth of Ik], son of Meredydd ab Uchdryd
ab Edwyn, Prince of Tegeingl, by whom he had issue four sons :
1. Madog, for whose descendants see page 11 ; 2. leuan or John
Trefor 1 : S.T.B. Bishop of St. Asaph, who built Llangollen Bridge,
and died in a.d. 1352 ; 3. Adda ; and 4. David, ancestor of the
Lloyds of Plas leuaf in Trefor. leuaf ab Adda, and his wife, My-
fanwy, are both buried in the church of Yalle Cruds, where their

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 241

son of Grufiydd Foel, and the Lord Hwfa, his brother;
Llewelyn ab Cynwrig ab Osbem ; and Madog, son of
Cynwrig Foel ; and attached to the deed was the seal
of Roger Mortimer, with his coat of arms, and around
it the inscription "Sigillum Mortuo Mare." Roger
Mortimer got possession of the lordship of Chirk by
grant from Edward I, October 7th, a.d. 1282, and was
imprisoned in the Tower of London in a.d. 1332, where
he died in a.d. 1336.

lorwerth Foel married Gwladys, daughter and co-
heiress of lorwerth ab Gruffydd ab Heilin of Frongoch,
now called Celynog in Mochnant, Esq., ab Meurig ab
leuan ab Adda Goch of Mochnant ab Cynwrig ab
Pasgen, Lord of Cegidfa and Deuddwr. lorwerth ab
Gruffydd of Frongoch, bore (1) sablCy three horses'
heads erased argent; and (2) argent^ a chev. inter
three rooks with ermine in their beaks sable ; and
married Alice, daughter of Hwfa ab lorwerth ab Gruf-
fydd ab leuaf ab Niniof ab Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon. Gules
two Uons passant argent^ for lorwerth ab Gruffydd.
By his wife Gwladys, lorwerth Foel had issue, five
sons.

1. Madog Lloyd of Bryncunallt, who bore the arms
of Tudor Trefor in a bordure gules. He married Mar-
garet, daughter of Llewelyn ab leuaf ab Adda ab Awr
of Trefor, by whom he was ancestor of John Wynn^ ab
John of BryncunaUt, who married Catherine, daughter
of Richard ab Rhydderch ab David of Myvyrion,
descended from larddur. Lord of Llechwedd Isaf and
Creuddyn, by whom he had two daughters coheirs, the

tombs are still to be seen ; tbeir fourth son, lenaf Llwjd, died with-
out issue ; their fifth son, Adda Goch of Trefor, bore the arms of
Tudor Trefor in a border g^bonated argent, and gvles pellatj, and
married Angharad, daughter of David ab Adda ab Meurig ab leuan
ab Adda Goch ab Cjnwrig of Mochnant, ab Gwyn ab Gruffydd,
Lord of Cegidfa. Llewel jn ab Cjnwrig ab Osbern Fitz Gerald, was
of Corsygedol in Merionydd.

' John Wynn of Bryncunallt, was the son of John ab Thomas ab
John Lloyd ab Madog ab Gruffydd ab Rhys ab Gruffydd ab Madog
Lloyd of Bryncunallt, eldest son of lorwerth FoeL

242 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

eldest of whom married Wynn of Tower ; and the

second, who married Richard Lloyd of Whittington,
died without issue. John Wynn ab John of Bryncu-
nauUt sold that estate to Sir Edward Trevor, Knight,
High Sheriff for Denbighshire, in a.d. 1622. The
Wynns of Eyarth and the Lloyds of Seaton Knolls
descend also from Madog Lloyd.

2. Gruffydd of Maelor Saesneg, ancestor of the
Lloyds of Tal y Wem and the Lloyds of the Bryn in
the parish of Hanmer.

3. Morgan of Maelor Saesneg, ancestor of the
Yonges of Bryn lorcyn, now represented by the Con-
ways of Bodrhyddan and Bryn lorcyn, and the Yonges
of Croxton.

4. Ednyfed Gam, of whom presently ; and,

5. leuan of Llanfechain.

Ednyfed Gam, the fourth son of lorwerth Foel, had
Pengwem, in the parish of Llangollen, in the comot
of Nanheudwy, for his share of the territories of his
ancestors ; he married Gwladys, daughter and coheiress
of Llewelyn ab Madog ab Einion ab Rhirid of 141, son
of lorwerth ab Meredydd ab Uchdryd ab Edwyn ab
Goronwy, Prince of Tegeingl, argent a cross flory inter
four Cornish choughs ppr. ; by whom he had issue six
sons, and a daughter Margaret, the wife of Gwilym ab
Madog Lloyd.

1. lorwerth Ddu, the eldest son of Ednyfed Gam, of
whose line we shall treat presently.

2. David, who married, first, Gwenllian, daughter of
Adda Grocy ab leuaf ab Adda ab Awr of Trefor in Nan-
heudwy, by whom he had a son named Edward or lor-
werth, of whom presently ; and, secondly, David married

, daughter of Gruffydd Fychan ab Gruffydd of Rhud-

dallt, and sister of Owain Glyndwr, by whom he had a
daughter Margaret, who married, firat, Robert Lloyd
ab Gruffydd ab Goronwy ; and, secondly, Howel ab
Llewelyn of Llwn On, in the parish of Wrexham,

^ Adda Goch of Trefor, bore the arms of Tador Trefor, in a bor-
der gobonated argent^ and gules pellaty, counterchanged.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGQRIG. 243

ancestor of the Jones-Parrys of Madryn and Llwyn
On. Edward, the son of David ab Ednyfed Gam,
married Angharad, daughter of Robert PnlestQn of
Emerall, and Lowry his wife, sister of Owain Glyndwr,
by whom he had issue three sons : 1. Robert Trefor,
Steward of Denbighshire, Sheriff of Flintshire, Justice
and Chamberlain of North Wales, who died unmarried
in A.D. 1492, leaving an illegitimate son. Sir William
Trefor, Chaplain to John ab Richard, Abbot of Valle
Crucis, predecessor of David ab John ab lorwerth ab
leuan Baladr^; 2. John Trefor HSn; and 3. Richard
Trefor, who married Agnes, daiighter of Meredydd
Lloyd, by whom he had a son Edward Trefor, Con-
stable of Oswestry Castle, who married Jane, daughter
and heir of Richard Westbury.

John Trefor Hen, who died a.d. 1493, married Agnes,
daughter and coheir of Sir Piers Cambray or Cambrea
of Trallwng, knight, by whom he had fqur sons :
1. Robert Trefor of PlAs T6g, who died in the lifetime
of his father in A.i>. 1487, and was buried in VaUe
Crucis Abbey. He married Catherine, daughter and
heiress of Llewelyn ab Ithel of PlAs Teg in Yr Hob, by
whom he had a son John Trefor, ancestor of the Trefors
of P148 Teg. 2. Edward Trefor, Constable of AVhit-
tington Castle, who died in a.d. 1537. He married
Anne, daughter of Geoflfrey Cyflyn H6n, Constable of
Oswestrv Castle, by whom he had two sons, John
Trefor Goch of Wignant, who was ancestor of the
Trefors of Bryncunallt ; and Thomas Trefor, ancestor of
the Trefors of Treflech, near Oswestry. 3. Roger
Trefor of Pentre Cynwrig, who married Gwenllian,
daughter of Rhys IJoyd of Gydros, son of Gwilym ab
Einion, by whom he had Roger Trefor of Pentre
Cynwrig, who, by Angharad his wife, daiighter of
David Lloyd ab John ab Edward of P14s Is y Clawdd,
had a son, John Trefor of Pentre Cynwrig, ancestor of
the Trevors of Bodynfol and Trawscoed. 4. Richard,

1 Ilarl MS. 4181.

244 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

who married Mallt, daughter and heiress of lenkyn* ab
David ab Gruffycld of TrefalAn, by whom he had a son,
John Trefor of TrefalAn, ancestor of the Trefors of that
place.

3. leuan ab Ednyfed Gam, ancestor of the Joneses
of Weston Rhyn, in St. Martin's.

4. Meredydd ab Ednyfed Gam, fourth in descent
from whom was William ab Reignallt ab David of
Carreg Hwfa, whose daughter and heir, Margaret,
married Robert Lloyd of Bryngwyn.

5. Gruflfyd ab Ednyfed Gam, who was ancestor of
the Pughs of Ty Cerrig in Llanymyneich.

6. Llewelyn of Halchdyn in Maelor Saesneg, who
the Harl. MS., 4181, states to be the eldest son of
Ednyfed Gam. He married Anne, daughter of Sir
Roger Puleston of Emerall, knight, by whom he had a
son, Madog of Halchdyn, ancestor of the Lloyds of
Halchdyn.

lorwerth DdA of Pengwem, the eldest son of Edny-
fed Gam, according to the Cae Cyriog and other manu-
scripts, married Angharad, daughter of Adda Goch ab
leuaf ab Adda ab Awr of Trefor, by whom he had issue
four sons: 1. Adda; 2. Goronwy; 3. Tudor; 4. leuan,
who was a bishop ; and three daughters : 1. Margaret,
who married Madog ab leuan ab Madog, Lord of
Eyton, in Maelor Gymraeg ; 2. Mvfanwy, who married
Goronwy ab Tudor ab Goronwy of Penllyn, ab Gruffyd
ab Madog ab Rhirid Flaidd ; and, 3. Eva, a maiden
lady, who lived with her sister Margaret at Eyton, and
built Overton Bridge.

Adda of Pengwem, the eldest son of lorwerth DdA,
married Isabel, sister of Owain Glyndwr, and daughter
of Gruffydd Fychan ab Gruflfyd of RhuddaUt, fifth

^ lenkyn ab David ab Grnffydd ab David ab Llewelyn ab David
ab Goronwy ab lorwerth ab Howel ab Moreiddig ab Sanddef Hardd,
Lord of Morton in Gresford. Vert, semy of broom slips, a lion
rampant or, lenkyu married Angharad, d. and heiress of leuan ab
Einion ab lolyn ab lorwerth ab Llewelyn ab Gruffydd ab Cadwg^n
ab Meilir Eyton, Lord of Eyton. Ermine^ a lion rampant azure.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 245

Baron of Glyndyfrdwy, by whom he had issue three
sons : leuan, Hhys, and Meredydd.

leuan of Pengwem, the eldest son, married Angharad,
daughter and heiress of Ednyfed ab Tudor ab Grufiyd,
Lord of Tre Castell in M6n, son of Tudor H6n ab
Goronwy ab Ednyfed Fychan, Lord of Brjuffisinigl, by

whom he had three sons: (1) leuan Fychan, (2) ,

and (3) lorwerth or Edward, of whom presently. One
of his daughters, named Isabel, married Gruflfydd ab
leuan ab Einion, son of Gruflfydd ab Llewelyn of Corsy-
gedol.

leuan Fychan of Pengwem and Tre Castell, mar-
ried Angharad, daughter and heiress of Howel ab
Tudor of Mostjrn in Tegeingl, son of Ithel Fychan of
Mostyn and Ewlo Castle, who bore azure , a lion passant
argent, and did homage for his estates in a.d. 1300.
Ithel Fychan was the son of Ithel Llwyd ab Ithel Gkim
of Mostyn, ab Meredydd ab Uchdryd ab Edwyn ab
Gronwy, Prince of Tegeingl, by whom he had a son,
Howel of Mostyn Pengwem and Tre Castell, the
ancestor of the Lord Mostyn of Mostyn, Sir Pyers
Mostyn of Talacre, Bart.; Mostyn, Lord Vaux of Har-
rowden ; and the Mostyns of Llewesog and Segroed.

lorwerth or Edwaid, the third son of leuan ab
Adda of Pengwem and Tre Castell, had Plsts Newydd,
in the Lordship of Chirk, for his share of the property.
He received the name of Yn lawn, or the lust, and
married Catherine, daughter and sole heir of Llewelyn
ab Madog ab Ueweljna of Trefor, third son of leuaf ab
Adda ab Awr of Trefor,^ and relict of David Trefor ab

1 Llewelyn, the third son of lenaf ab Adda ab Awr, married
Susannah, daughter and coheiress of Llewelyn ab Madog ab Einion
ab Rhirid of I&l, son of lorwerth ab Meredydd ab Uchdryd ab
Edwyn ab Ooronwy, Prince of Tegeingl, by whom he had issne, be-
sides a daughter, Margaret, wife of Madog Lloyd of Bryncunallt,
four sons : (1) Madog, who married Catherine, daughter of Hwfa ab
leuaf ab Hwfa ab Madog yr Athro of Plas Madog in Bodylltyn, by
whom he was father of Llewelyn, who married Lucy, daughter of
Sir David Whitmore of Cilcen, ab David ab Ithel Fychan ab
Cynwrig of Ysgeifiog and Llaneurgain ; (2) leuan or lohn Trefor,

246 THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG.

lorwerth ab Teuaf ab Adda Goch of Trefor, by whom
he had issue two sons, John ab Edward, and Ednyfed
ab Edward, and a daughter, Angharad, wife of lenkyn
Deccaf

lohn Edwards H6n of PlAs Newydd, the eldest son,
was Receiver of Chirkland from 2 July, 13 Henry
VIII, to 22 Henry VIII, and died in a.d. 1498. He
married Gwenllian, daughter of Elis Eyton of Watstay
in Rhiwfabon, by whom (who died in a.d. 1520) he
had issue three sons : 1. William Edwards of Plas
Newydd,^ Constable of Chirk Castle, Keeper of
Black Park, and one of the body-guard to King Henry
VIII, who granted him permission to have the vizor of
the helmet over his coat of arms up, so that the face
could be seen, and also gave him permission to bear
the motto " A fynno Duw derfydd. ' He died in a.d.
1532, having married Catherine, daughter and sole
heiress of John Hookes of Aberconwy, Esq. (argent,
achev. inter three owls azure), by whom (who died in
A.D. 1532) ; he was ancestor of the Edwardses of P14s
Newydd and Cefn y Wem. 2. John Wynn of Llanddyn
in Nanheudwy, who, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter of
Hugh Lewys of Anglesey, had issue two daughters,
coheiresses : (1) Catherine, who married John Lloyd ab
Madog of Bryncunallt ; and (2) Margaret, the wife of
.Thomas Lacon ab John ab Thomas ab Sir Richard
Lacon of Brogyntyn, knight. 3. David Lloyd of Pl^s
Is y Clawdd, of whom presently. Besides these three
sons, John Edwards Hen had three daughters : (l)Cathe-
rine, who married, first, Tudor Lloyd of Bodidris in
I&l, and, secondly, Robert Powel of Whittington Park,
ab Howel ab Gruffydd of Abertanat, ab leuan Fychan
ab leuan Gethin ab Madog Cyflfyn ; (2) Jane, the wife

Bishop of St. Asaph, who bnilt Llangollen Bridge, and died
A.D. 1857; (3) Adda; and (4) David, ancestor of the Lloyds of
P1&8 lonaf in Trefor.

* His eldest son, John Edwards of Plas Newydd, was High Sheriff
for Flintshire in a.d. 1546, and for Denbighshire in a.d. 1547, and
married Jeioe, daughter of Sir George Calverloy of the Lee in
Cheshire, knight.

THE HISTORY OF LLANOCJRIG. 247

of Llewelyn ab leuan ab Howel ab leuan Fychan of
Moeliwrch, fourth son of leuan Gethin ab Madog
CyflPyn of Lloran ; and (3) Margaret, Arglwyddes y
Fan tell a Fodrwy (Lady of the Mantle and Ring), who
married, first, Richard Lloyd of Llwyn y Maen, and,
secondly, Thomas Salter.

David Lloyd of Plas Is y Clawdd, in the parish of
Chirk, the third son of John Edwards Hen of P14s
Newydd, Esq., married Gwenllian, daughter (by Mar-
garet his wife, daughter of Harri Goch Salusbury of
Llewesog, Esq.) of Robert ab Gru%dd ab Rhys of
Maesmor in Llangwm in Dinmael, by whom he had
issue two sons, Robert and Roger, and five daughters :

(1) Angharad, wife of Roger Trefor of Pentre Cynwrig ;

(2) Maude, wife of John Wynn ab Meredydd ab Howel
ab Grufiydd Fychan ; (3) Gwenllian, wife of Thomas ab
Richard of Trewem; (4) Gwenhwyfar ux. Thomas
Hanmer of Pentrepant,^ near Oswestry ; and (5) Jane,
ux. Howel ab Adda.

Robert Lloyd of Pl^ Is y Clawdd, the eldest son of
David Lloyd, married Catherine, daughter of Edward
Pryse of Eglwyseg, Esq., ab Rhys ab David ab Gwilym
ab lorwerth ab leuaf ab Alio ab Rhiwallon Fychan of
Trefnant in Caer Einion, by whom he had issue two
sons : ( 1 ) Edward Lloyd of Plas Is y Clawdd, who
married Grace, daughter of Owain ab John Wynn ab
leuan ab Rhys of Bryn Cynwrig, by whom he was
ancestor of the Lloyds of Plas Is y Clawdd; and
(2) leuan Lloyd. •

leuan Lloyd, the second son of Robert Llovd of Plis
Is y Clawdd, was of Glyn Ceiriog. He married Gwen-

^ Thomas Hanmer of Pentrepant, was the son (by Catherine, his
wife, daughter of John Hanmer of Lee, ab lenkjn Hanmer) of
Richard ab David ab Howel Goch ab Meredydd ab Madog Heddwch
ab Meilir ab Tangwel ab Tudor ab Dolphjn ab Llewelyn Eur
Dorchog, Lord of lal. His eldest son, David Hanmer of Pentre-
pant, married Elizabeth, daughter of Roger Kynaston of Mortyn,
son of Humphrey Kynaston, by whom he had issue three sons :
Thomas, who died S.P. ; John Hanmer, D.D., Bishop of St. Asaph,
who died S.P. ; and Richard Hanmer of Pentrepant.

D D

248 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

hwyfar, daughter of David ab Meredydd, by whom he
had two sons, John Lloyd and Edward of Glyn.

Edward of Glyn, the second son of leuan Lloyd, was
the father of Hugh of Glyn, who had two sons : (1) Ed-
ward ab Hugh of Glyn ; and (2) John ab Hugh of
Rhiwfabon. Edward ab Hugh of Glyn had a son,
Hugh Edwards of Glynn, whose only daughter and
heiress, Jane, married Richard Wy nn, of Aber Cy nllaith,
descended from Idnerth Benfras ; both Richard
Wynn and Jane were living in 1697.

Johnab Hugh of Rhiwfabon married Elizabeth,
daughter and heiress of John ab leuan ab Howel of
Pen y Nant y Belan, in the parish of Rhiwfabon, by
whom he had two sons, (1) Thomas Hughes and
(2) Gruffyd Hughes, who, by his will dated a.d. 1706,
left to the poor of Rhiwfabon lands adjoining Pentre
Isa farm, the annual rent of which, in 1828, was £21.

Thomas Hughes of Pennant y Pelan, Receiver of the
King's Rents in the greatest part of Maelor and other
places, A.D. 1697. He married Sarahi, fourth daughter
and coheiress of Edward ab Rondle of Rhuddallt in the
parish of Rhiwfabon, son of John ab John ab Madog ab
leuan ab Madog ab leuaf ab Madog ab Cadwgan DdA
ab Cadwgan Goch ab Y Gwion ab Hwfa ab Ithel
Felyn, the eldest son of Llewelyn Aurdorchog, Lord of
lal, and Prime Minister of GrufFydd ab Llewelyn ab
Seisyllt, King of Wales. By this lady, Thomas Hughes
had issue three daughters, coheirs : —

1. Mary, who married William Piatt of Rhydonen,
in the parish of Llanynys in DyflTryn Clwyd, son and
heir of Richard Piatt of Pantglas, near Ruthin, and
Mary, his wife, daughter and sole heiress of John
Edwards of Rhydonen. By his wife, Mary, William
Piatt had issue an only daughter and heiress, Sarah,
who married at Llanynys on the 20th December, 1723,
Rhys Lloyd of Clochfaen, in the parish of Llangurig,
High Sheriff for the county of Montgomery in a.d. 1 743.
Mrs. Sarah Lloyd died at the age of 85, and wiis buried
at Llangurig, January lOth, a.d. 1781. Her only son,

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO. 249

lenkyn Lloyd of Clochfaen, Esq., High Sheriff for
Montgomeryshire in 1755, married at Erbistog, April
30th, A.D. 1743, Elizabeth, eldest daughter and heiress
of Edward Lloyd of PlAs Madog, in the parish of Rhiw-
fabon, Esq. Elizabeth Lloyd, the heiress of PlAs Madog,
was born April 10th, and baptised at Rhiwfabon, May
10th, A.D. 1718, and died at Christionydd, aged 40,
and was buried at Rhiwfabon, December 12th, A. D. 1758.
By her said husband, she had one only daughter, Sarah,
the heiress of Clochfaen, P14s Madog, and Rhydonen,
who was bom February 19th, and baptised March 2nd,
A.D. 1746. The account of her marriage and her
descendants have been ffiven in the former part of this
History.

2. Phoebe, the second daughter and coheir, married
David Lloyd of Llangollen, second son of Edward
Lloyd of Llangollen, who died in the lifetime of his
father, and was the son and heir of John Lloyd of
Trefor, who died in a.d. 1686, son of Edward Lloyd ab
Edward Lloyd ab John ab Madog ab Edward of Trefor,
second son of Howel ab leuaf ab Adda ab Awr of
Trefor.

3. Rebecca, the third daughter and coheiress of
Thomas Hughes, married John GriflSth, eldest son and
heir of John Griffith of Cae Cyriog, Esq., the author of
the folio volume oi Heraldry and Genealogy , from which
this account is taken. John Griffith, junr., of Cae
Cyriog, in right of his wife, Rebecca, became possessed
of Pennant y Belan, and took up his residence there.
He was the ancestor of the present Thomas Taylor
Griffiths of Wrexham, Cae Cyriog, and Pennant y
Belan, Esq., F.R.C.S., of whose descent an account will
be given in a future page.

Thomas Hughes of Pennant y Belan, by his will
dated a.d. 1715, left £15 to the poor of the parish of
Rhiwfabon.

250

RHUDDALLT, in the parish of rhiwfabon.

Cae Cyriog MS.

Llewelyn Eurdorchog, Lord of lal and Ystrad Alun,
in the principality of Powys Fadog, the Prime Minister
of Grufiydd ab Lleweljm ab Seisyllt, King of Wales,
was lineally descended from Sanddef Bryd Angel, the
son of Llywareh H6n, Prince of the Strath Clyde
Britons in the sixth century.^ He bore azure, a lion
passant gardant, his tail between his legs and reflected
over his Dack or; and married Eva, sister of Bleddyn
ab Cynfyn, Prince of Powys, by whom he had issue six
sons who were legitimate : (1) Ithel Felyn, of whom
presently; (2) lorwerth; (3) Idris, who was the
ancestor of the Owens of Scrwgan and the Hanmers
of Pentrepant in the Lordship of Oswestry, and the
Lloyds of Llangollen Fechan, and the Owens of Tref
Geiriog in Nanheudwy ; (4) Dolphyn;* and (5) Ednowain,

^ Llewelyn Eurdorchog was the son of Coel ab Gweryd ab Cynd-
delw Gam ab Elgud ab Gwrisnadd ab Dwy wg Llythyraur ab Tegawg
ab Dyforfrath ab Madog Madogion ab Sanddef Bryd Angel ab
Llywareh Hen. Lewys Dwnn, ii, p. 242.

* Dolphyn or Dolphwyn had a son, Llewdyn, whose only daughter
and heiress, Eleanor, married Eunydd, Lord of Dyffryn Clwd and
Trefalun. Earl MS. 1972.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 251

the ancestor of Ednowain ab Peradwen or Brad wen,
Lord of Dolgellan, who bore guleSy three snakes
ennowed in triangle argent And Llwyelyn Fychan,
who was the ancestor of Trahaiarn ab lorwerth, Lord
of Garthmul, who bore argent, three lions passant in
pale guleSy armed and langued azure, the ancestor of
Madog y Twppa of Plas y Twppa in Bettws Cydewain,
and of the Lloyds of Berthlloyd in the parish of
Llanidloes. Llewelyn Eurdorchog had two other sons,
Ithel Goch and lorwerth Fychan, who were illegitimate.

Ithel Felyn, the eldest son of Llewelyn Eurdorchog,
was Lord of ISA and Ystrad AlAn. His possessions
were the townships of Uys y Gil, AUt y Gymbyd,
Bodanwydog and Coedrwg in lal ; the townships of
Llwyn Egryn and Gwemaffyllt, and Y Gil Rhydin, in
the township of Hendre Biffa in Ystrad Alun ; the
townships of Gaerfallwch and Hendre Fygillt ; Pentre-
hyfaid, and Gastell Meirchion, in Tegeingl ; Nantclwyd
and Garth y Neuadd in DyflFryn Glwyd ; Traian in the
Lordship of Whittington ; Aman Mab in the Lordship
of Oswestry ; a great part of Glyndwfrdwy, and some
lands in Cynllaith and Maelor Gymraeg. He bore
sable, on a chev. inter three goats heads erased or,
three trefoils of the field ; and married Lucy, daughter
and heiress, of Howel ab Brochwel ab Bledrws, who
bore sable, three roses argent,^ by whom he had issue
three sons, Hwfa, Llewelyn, and Ystwg.

Hwfa, the eldest son of Ithel Felyn, Lord of 141 and
Ystrad Alun, married Elen or Alswn, daughter of
GruflFydd ab Cynan, king of Gwynedd, by whom he had
issue six sons : 1. Y Gwion, of whom presently. 2. Gas-
wallon of Llys y Gil, whose son lorwerth of Llys y Gil,
was one of the witnesses to a Gharter of Prince Madog
ab Gruffydd Maelor, confirming a grant of lands to the
monastery of Valle Grucis in a.d. 1202, and was father
of Gynwrig of Llys y Gil and Y Fanechtyd in DyflFryn
Glwyd, who married Janet, daughter of Henry de Laci,
Earl of Lincoln and Lord of Denbigh, by Joanna his

1 Harl MS. 1972.

252 • THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG.

wife, daughter of William Martin, Baron of Cemeis in
South Wales.^ By this lady, Cynwrig had issue a son
named Goronwy of Y Fanechtyd, who had issue one
daughter Annesta, wife of leuaf ab Hwfa ab Madog yr
Athro of Pl&s Madog in Bodylltyn, and two sons :
(1) Madog, ancestor of Tudor ab leuan ab Tudor of
I&l, and of John Wynn of Y Fanechtyd, Esq., who was
living in A.D. 1598 ; and (2) Goronwy Gethin ab
Goronwy, who was ancestor of Richard Davies, Bishop
of St. David's a.d. 1567; 3. lonas ab Hwfa ab Ithel
Felyn ; 4. Goronwy ab Hwfa ; 5. Howel Foel ab Hwfa,
who had Castell Meirchion, and was father of Einion of
Maes y Groes, father of Madog, father of Dai, father of
leuan of Maes y Groes, whose son, Gruffydd of Maes y
Groes, sold Castell Meirchion to Tudor MAI Hen of
Ruthin, who had married his sister Margaret f and,
6. leuaf ab Hwfa, who was ancestor of several families
in Cymmo and Bryn Eglwys and of David Powel,
D.D., Vicar of Rhiwfabon, the Historian.

Y Gwion, the eldest son of Hwfa ab Ithel Felyn,
married the daughter (and heiress)' of Meredydd ab
Cadwgan of Nannau, by whom he had issue Cadwgan
Goch, who married Dyddgu, daughter of Ithel ab
Howel ab Moreiddig ab Sanddef Hardd, Lord of
Morton in Gresford, by whom he had issue two sons :
1. Cadwgan DdA, of whom presently ; and (2) Cadwgan
Frych, who had Y Gaerddin, in the parish of Rhiw-
fabon, and was generaUy called Y Brych of Gaerddin.*
His descendant, John Thomas of Gaerddin, who was
living in A.D. 1680, was the son of Thomas ab John ab

^ Earl MS, 1972. « Golden Orove MS, » Ibid.

* Cadwgan Frych of Y Gaerddin had a son Madog of Y Gaerddin,
"whose line ended in an heiress named Gwerfyl, the daughter of
Howel ab lenan ab Howel ab Cynwrig of Y Gaerddin, son of the
before-named Madog ab Cadwgan. This lady married Meredydd
ab Deicws ab Madog ab Adda Llwyd of Ystrad Alan. Ermine a
lion rampant azure, by whom she had an only daughter and heiress,
Angharad, who married John ab lenan Goch ab David Qoch ab Y
Bady of Bhuddallt, by whom she had a son named Roger, father of
John llogcrs who was living at Rhuddallt in a.d. 1620.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 253

Edward ab leuan ab David Goch. This John Thomas
sold his lands of Gaerddin to Eubule Lloyd of Eglwyseg,
brother of Ellis Lloyd of Penylan, Esq., who bmlt a
new hall there.

Cadwgan Ddu, the eldest son of Cadwgan Goch,
married Mallt, daughter of Sir GruflFydd Lloyd,^ by
whom he had issue three sons : (1) lorwerth, ancestor
of the Bithels of Llwyn Eeryn, the Evanses of Llwyn
Egiyn. Griffiths of Hendrf Biffa, and several othere in
Ystrad Alun and 141 ; 2. Madog of Rhuddallt, of whom
presently ; and (3) Einion, the mther of Einion Fychan,
the father of Bleddyn, who married Angharad, daughter
of David ab David ab leuan ab lorwerth ab Goronwy,
by whom he had two sons : (1) Madog of Coed y Llai
in Ystrad Alun, whose daughter and heiress, Mali,
married Llewelyn ab David ab Goronwy of Gwysanau,
Esq.; and (2) Gruffydd ab Bleddyn, who married
Gwerfyl, daughter of Howel ab Tudor ab Goronwy ab
Gruffydd ab Madog ab Rhirid Flaidd, Lord of Penllyn,
by whom he had a son, Reinallt ab Gruffydd ab
Bleddjni of the Tower, in the township of Broncoed in
Ystrad Alun, a.d. 1465, and a daughter Alice, wife of
David Lloyd of Iscoed ab Madog Lloyd ab Gruffydd of
Maelor Saesneg, second son of lorwerth Foel. Madog
of Rhuddallt, the second son of Cadwgan Ddu, married
Margaret, daughter of lorwerth ab David Hen ab
Goronwy Hen of Llai, in the parish of Gresford, son of
lorwertn ab Howel ab Moreiddig ab Sanddef Hardd,
Lord of Mortyn in Gresford parish, by whom he had
issue a son and heir, leuan ab Madog of Rhuddallt, who
married Angharad, daughter (by Gwerfyl his wife,
daughter and sole heir of Roger Fychan ab Sir Roger
de l*owys, knight. Lord of Whittington) of Philip
Kynaston of Stoke, near EUesmere, ab Gruffydd
Kynaston of Stoke and Cae Howel, and of Gaer y
Dinlle, Esq., by whom he had issue one son, Madog, of
whom presently, and two daughters : (1) Angharad,
wife of Deio ab Madog Lloyd of Bodyllty n, ab Gruffydd

1 Golden Orore MS.

254 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

of Maelor Saesneg, second son of lorwerth Foel, Lord
of Chirk and Nanheudwy ; and (2) Margaret, wife of
leuan Bach ab leuan ab Einion Gethin of Christionydd
ab Einion ab leuan ab Gruffydd ab Cynwrig Efell, Lord
of Eglwyseg.

Madog of Rhuddallt, the son of leuan ab Madog,
married Angharad, daughter of Madog, third son of
Llewelyn ab Ednyfed Lloyd of Plas Madog, by whom
he had a son and heir.

John ab Madog ab leuan of Rhuddallt, married,
first, the daughter (by Agnes his wife, daughter of
Tudor ab Howel ab leuan, third son of Ednyfed Gam of
Pengwem) of Robert Tegin of Fron Deg, ab David Tegin
ab Tegin ab Madog ab lorwerth Goch ab Madog ab leuaf
ab Niniaf ab Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon, by whom he had
two daughters : (1) Margaret, wife of Grufiydd ab
leuan ab John of Blaen I&l ; and (2) Catherine, wife of
Roger ab John ab leuan Goch ab David Goch ab Y
Badi of Rhuddallt, ab Madog ab lorwerth Goch, fourth
son of Madog ab Llewelyn, Lord of Eyton. John ab
Madog ab leuan married, secondly, Margaret, daughter
of Howel Puleston ab Edward Puleston of P14s Isaf in
Christionydd, second son of Madog Puleston of Bers,
who bore argent , on a bend sable, three mullets of the
field, by whom he had issue three sons: (1) John;
(2) Gruffydd ; and (3) Madog, who died without issue,
and three daughters, Catherine, Gwenhwyfar, and
Margaret.

John ab John ab Madog of Rhuddallt, married
Catherine, daughter (by Anne, his wife, daughter of
Edward Puleston of Trefechan in Christionydd, third
son of Howel ab Edward Puleston of P14s Isaf in Chris-
tionydd, second son of Madog Puleston of Bers) of
John ab Howel of Cefn y Bedw in Christionydd
Cymwrig ab Edward ab Y Bady Llwyd ab lorwerth ab
leuan ab Einion Gethin of Christionydd in the manor
of Esclusham, and in the parish of Rhiwfabon, son of
Einion ab leuan ab Gruffydd ab Cynwrig Efell, Lord
of Eglwysegl, who bore gules, on a bend ar^en^, a lion

THE HISTORY OF LLANGCTRIG. 255

Eassant sahle. John ab John ab Madog died a.d. 1599,
aving had issue by his wife Catherine two sons :
(1) Rondle ab John ; and (2) John ab John.

Rondle ab John of Rhuddallt married Margaret,
relict of John Byimer, and second daughter (by Jane
his wife, daughter of John Edwards of P14s Newydd in
the parish of Chirk, High Sheriff for Denbighshire in
A.D. 1547) of John Ellis of Alrhey, third son, but
eventual heir, of Elis ab Richard of Alrhey, Standard
Bearer to Owain Glyndwr in a.d. 1404. Ermine a
lion stata.nt gardant gules, for Ednyfed, Lord of
Broughton, second son of Cynwrig ab Bhiwallon.
Rondle ab John died in a.d. 1599, in the same year as
his father, leaving issue a son and heir,

Edward ab Rondle of Rhuddallt. He married
Anne ; daughter (by Catherine his wife, sister of John
Roger Broughton of Dinynlle Isaf, in the parish of
Rhiwfabon, and daughter of Roger Broughton of that
place) of John ab John of Dinynlle Isaf, a native of
Chirk parish, by whom he had issue four daughters,
coheirs.

1. Catherine. She purchased her other sisters' por-
tions of their fathers estate, and married, first, David
ab Edward of Trefor, by whom she had two children,
Hannah, who died young, and one son, Richard Davies
of Rhuddallt and Trefor, living 1697, who married
Anne, daughter of John Barnes of Warrington in Lan-
cashire, by whom he had issue Edward Davies and
John Davies.

2. Mary, who married Edward Williams of Morton,
in the parish of Gresford.

3. Elizabeth, the wife of David Jones of Llansilin, son
of John ab David of Glyn.

4. Sarah Edwards, who married Thomas Hughes of
Pennant y Belan.

E E

RHIWFABON.

The manor of Rhiwfabon is one of the seventeen
Beignorial manors of the Lordship of Maelor Gymraeg,
and is divided into the three eeignorial tovmships of
Rhiwfabon, Marchwiail, and Tref y Rfig or Rhwytyn.
The parish of Rhiwfabon is divided into twelve town-
ships, viz., Hafod, Bodylltyn, Rhuddallt, Belan, Coed
Christionydd and Christionydd Cynwrig, both of which
lie in the seignorial township of Oiristionydd Cynwrig,
in the manor of Esclushara, Mortyn Uwch y Clawdd,
alias Mortyn Wallicorum, which Res in the manor
of Eglwyeeg, Mortyn Is y Clawdd, alias Mortyn Angli-
corum, which is in the manor of Fabrorum, Dinhinlle
Uchaf and Dinhinlle Isaf, both of which are in the
manor of Dinhinlle, and Tre Robert Lloyd.

The greatest part, if not all, of the townships of
Hafod, Bodylltyn, Rhuddallt and Bclan, which ibrni the

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIQ. 257

seignorial township of Rhiwfabon, appears to have
belonged to the princes of Powys Fadog, and were
given by Madog ab GmflFydd Maelor, Prince of Powys
Fadog, the Founder of the Monastery of Valle Crucis,
who died in a.d. 1236, to his second son, Meredydd,
who was styled Meredydd of Rhiwfabon from that cir-
cumstance. Meredydd took up his residence at Wat-
stay, now called Wynnstay, and married the Princess
Catherine, daughter of GruflFjrdd ab Llewelyn ab lor-
werth. Prince of Wales, who bore quarterly gules and
or, four lions rampant coimterchanged. By this lady,
Meredydd had issue one only daughter and heiress,
named Angharad, who had her father's landed estate,
part of which was the ancient camp called Caer-Ddin,
and vulgarly Gardden, and a farm called Cae Cuwppa
adjoining it, which remained in the Eyton family till
the late Mr. Eyton Evans of Watstay exchanged them
with his father in law. Sir Gerard Eyton of Eyton, for
some other compensation. Angharad married Llewelyn
ab Gruffydd ab Cadwgan, Lord of Eyton, ErUsham,
and Boresham, and who thus, in right of his wife, be-
came possessed of the Watstay Estate, and of whose
family it vrill be requisite to give a short account.

Elidur, Lord of Eyton, Ernsham and Borasham, the
second son of Rhys Sais, Lord of Chirk, Nanheudwy,
Maelor Saesneg, and Whittington, who died in a.d. 1 070.
He married Aimesta, daughter of Lies ab Idnerth
Benfras, Lord of Maesbrwg, in the Lordship of Oswes-
try, by whom he had issue eight sons: (1) Madog
Warwyn ; (2) Meilir Eyton, of whom presently ;
(3) Morgan ; (4) lorwerth ; (5) Cynwrig ; (6) Madog
Sutton, Lord of Sutton^ and Gwersyllt, who was ances-
tor of the Buttons and Lewises of Gwersyllt f the estate
of Gwersyllt Isaf remained in the Sutton family till

^ The manor of Iscoed in Maelor Cymraeg contains the townships
of Sutton, Button Difaeth, Button y Brain, Gaecaedatton, Borasham
Hwfa, Borasham Buffri (Gruffydd), Gwrtyn, Bees ton and Erli sham.

' The manor of Burton in Maelor Gymraeg, contains the town-
ships of Trefalun or Alynton, Gwersyllt, and Gresford.

258 THE HISTORY OF LLAjNGURIG.

A.D. 1660, when it was sold by Captain Sutton, an old
cavalier, who was ruined in the royal cause, to Colonel
(afterwards Sir Geoffrey) Shakerley of Shakerley in
Lancashire ; (7) Sanddef, who bore ermine, a lion
rampant in a bordure azure ; he had lands in Erlisham
and Marchwiail, and was ancestor of the Lloyds of
Crewe, Erlisham of Erlisham, John Wynn Kenrick of
Marchwiail, Lewys of Galchog in Tegeingl, and Hum-
phries of Cilystryn ; and (8 J Matthew Rhwytyn, who
had the township of Rhwyton, in the parish of Bangor
Is y Coed, but in the manor of Rhiwfabon, the township
of Seswick in the manor of Pickill, and the township
of Bedwal in the manor of Fabrorum. He was ancestor
of the Deccafs of Rhwytyn, Tyfod,Parcau, Rhydybenni,
and Erbistog.^

Meilir Eyton, the second son of Elidir ab Rhys Sais,
was Lord of Eyton, Erlisham, and Borasham, and from
him Pentre Meilir takes its name. He married, and
had issue five sons : (1 ) Cadwgan, of whom presently ;

(2) Ednyfed, the father of lorwerth, who married
Angharad, daughter of leuaf Fychan ab leuaf ab Niniaf
ab Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon, by whom he had an only
daughter, Tanegwystl, wife of Adda ab Awr of Trefor ;

(3) Gruffydd, who married Angharad, daughter and
heiress of Llewelyn ab Meurig ab Caradog ab lestyn
ab Gwrgant, Prince of Glamorgan, who bore gules^
three chevronells argent^ by whom he had issue four
daughters coheirs : (1) Angharad, wife of lorwerth H6n
ab Owain ab Bleddyn, Lord of Chirk, etc. ; (2) Gwladys,
who married, first, Howel ab Moreiddig ab Sanddef
Hardd, Lord of Mortyn, in the manor of Burton, and,
secondly, she married Cynwrig, Lord of Christionydd
Cynwrig,^ the son of Hoedliw ab Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon ;
(3) Angharad Fechan, who married Cadwgan y Sae-
theth of Mochnant, Lord of Henfachau, who bore argent
a chev. guleSy inter three pheons pointed to the centre

1 The manor of Abenbury in Maelor Gymraeg, contains the town-
Bbips of Abenbury, Eyton, Erbistog, and Sonlli.

* The manor of Esclusham in Maelor Gymraeg contains the town-
ships of Esclusham, Bersham Brymbo and Christionydd Cynwrig.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 259

scible ; and (4) Gwenllian. The fourth son of Meilir
Eyton was Madog ; and (5) lorwerth, who had two
sons : (1) Ednyfed ab lorwerth, who had two daughters
coheirs — first, Myfanwy, wife of Madog Ddu ab Gruf-
fydd ab Cynwrig Efell, Lord of Eglwysegl,^ in Maelor
Gymraeg, who bore gules, on a bend argent, a lion
passant sable, and, second^ Margaret, wife of lorwerth
ab Awr ab leuaf ab Niniaf, ancestor of the Lloyds of
P14s Madog in Bodylltyn ; and (2) GruflFydd ab lor-
werth, who had a daughter and heiress, Efa, who mar-
ried Ithel ab Eunydd, Lord of Trefalun and Gresford
in the manor of Burton — 1, azure, a lion salient or\
2, azure, a fess or, inter three horses' heads erased
argent, for Rhys ab Marchan, Lord of Dyffryn Clwyd.

Cadwgah, the eldest son of Meilir Eyton, was Lord
of Eyton, Erlisham, and Borasham ; he married My-
fanwy, daughter and coheir of Ednydd ab Llywarch ab
Br4n, Lord of C wmmwd Menai, who bore argent a chev.
sable, inter three rooks ppr., with an ermine spot in
their bills, by whom he had a daughter dementia, wife
of Ithel ab Howel ab Moreiddig ab Sanddef Hardd, or
the Handsome, Lord of Mortyn, vert, sem6 of broom-
slips a lion rampant or, and a son and heir.

Gruffydd ^b Cadwgan, Lord of Eyton, Erlisham, and
Bordfiham ; from him the township of Borasham Ruffri
takes its name. He married Janet, daughter of Sir
Fulke Fitz Warren, knight. Lord of Whittington, son
and heir of Sir Warren de Weaux, a nobleman of Lor-
raine, quarterly and per fess indented gules and argent,
in the dexter chief a canton chequey or and azure, by
whom he had issue one son, Llewelyn, his successor, and
three daughters : (1) Margaret, who married Gruffydd
Fychan, *'Y Barwn Gwyn", Lord of Glyndj^rdwy, lal,
and half of Cynllaith, third son of Gruffydd ab Madog,
Lord of Castell Dinas Bran, and Prince of Powys Fadog,
palii of eight argent and gules, a lion rampant salient ;
(2) Agnes, wife of lorwerth ab Hwfa Llwyd ab Gruffydd

^ The manor of Eglwysegl contains the townships of Trefechan,
Broaghton, Stansti Villa, Acton, Morton Uwch y Clawdd, aXiaa
Morton W alii coram, and Erddig.

260 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

Goch ab David ab Tegwared of Traian in the Lordship
of Whittington — sable^ a chev. inter three spears' heads
argent, imbrued gule ; and (3) Elen, wife of Llewelyn
ab Gruflfydd ab lorwerth of LlansantfFraid and Drewen.

Llewelyn ab Cadwgan, Lord of Eyton, Erlisham, and
Borasham, married, first, Angharad, daughter and sole
heiress of Meredydd of Rhiwfabon, second son of Madog
ab Gruffydd Maelor, Prince of Powys Fadog ; paJii of
eight argent and ffules^ a lion salient sable, by whom,
according to the Coe Cyriog MS., he had four sons :
(1) Madog, his successor; (2) lorwerth, who had lands
in Bwras or Borasham and Bhuddallt, and was ancestor
of William Bwras of Bwras and others ; (3) Gruffydd,
who had lands in Bodylltyn ; and (4) Howel Grach, who
had lands in Bodylltyn, and four daughters : (1) Lucy,
wife of David ab lorwerth. Baron of Hendwr, ab Madog
ab Gruffydd ab Owain Brogynt3ni, Lord of Edeymion,
argent a lion rampant sable, debruised by a baton
sinister gules, by whom she was mother of Madog, Baron
of Hendwr, who bore argent, on a chev. gules, three
fleurs-de-lys or; (2) Margaret, wife of Madog ab
Ednyfed Goch of Bers or Bersham, ab Cynwrig ab
Gruffydd Fychan, descended from Ednyfed, Lord of
Broughton, who bore ermine, a lion statant gules, the
second son of Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon ; (3) Angharad,
wife of Gruffydd ab leuaf ab lorwerth, descended from
Eunydd ab Gwernwy, Lord of Trefalun, azure, a lion
saUent or.

Other authorities, however, state that Llewelyn,
Lord of Eyton, married a second wife, Gwenllian,
daughter of Owain ab Trahaiam ab Ithel ab Eunydd,
Lord of Trefalun and Gresford ; and that Howel Grach
and lorwerth were her sons ; but as Howel Grach had
his share of lands in Bodylltyn, which did not belong
to the Lords of Eyton, but belonged to the estate of
Angharad, the first wife of Llewelyn, it is not probable
that if he had been the son of Llewelyn by his second
wife, that he could have had any of the lands belonging
to his first wife. Owain ab Trahaiam was one of the

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 261

witnesses to the charter of Prince Madog ab Gruffydd
Maelor to the Abbey of Valle Crucis in a.d. 1202.

1. Madog, the eldest son of Llewelyn ab Gruffydd,
had Eyton Watstay, Erlisham or Erlys, alias Eurlys,
and Borasham or Bwras. He married Angharad,
daughter of David H6n ab Goronwy H6n ab lorwerth
ab Howel ab Moreiddig ab Sanddef Hardd, Lord of
Morton ; and dying in a.d. 1331, was buried, on the
Feast of St. Matthias, in the north aisle of Gresford
Church, leaving issue four sons and five daughters :
(l)Ieuan, who had Eyton and Watstay, who was ancestor
of the Eytons of Eyton, Watstay, and Pentre Madog
in Dudleston ; (2) David Uoyd of Hafod y Bwch had
lands in Borasham, which were forfeited by his grandson,
Howel ab leuan ab David Lloyd, to the King of Eng-
land, for joining Owain Glyndwr. These lands, and the
old house of Borasham, were purchased from the Lord of
Bromfield, on the attainder of Howel ab leuan ab
David Lloyd, by Thomas de Weild or Wylde of Holt,
son of Jenkyn de Weild, ab Richard de Weild ab
David de Weild ab Richard de Weild ab John de
Weild or de Wylde of Holt in Maelor Gymraeg. Argent^
a chev. sable, on a chief of the second three martlets of
the field. Catherine, the eldest daughter and coheir of
Thomas de Weild, married William Brereton, second
son of Sir Randle Brereton of Malpas, in Cheshire,
knight, who thus, jure uxoris, became possessed of
Borasham. (3) Howel ab Madog ab Llewelyn. (4) Ioi>
werth Goch, who had lands in RhuddaUt. He married
Lucy, daughter of Goronwy ab Tudor ab Goronwy ab
Ednyfed Sychan, Lord of Tref-Castell in M6n, by
whom he had a son named Madog, who was the
ancestor of John Rogers of Rhuddallt, who was in pos-
session of his lands there in a.d. 1620 ;^ and of Roger
Gruflfydd of Rhuddallt, who had also possession of hia
lands there in 1620 ; but, in 1697, his lands passed into
the possession of Cynwrig Eyton of Eyton, Esq.

The daughters of Madog ab Llewelyn, Lord of Eyton

^ Norden's Survey of Bromfield afid Idl,

262 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

and Watstay, were : (I) Erddylad or Erminallt, the
wife of Tudor ab Ithel Fychan, Lord of Mostyn and
Ewlo Castle, who bore azuy^e, a lion passant argent, by
whom she had a son and heir named Howel, Lord of
Mostyn and Ewlo Castle, whose only daughter and
heiress Angharad, married leuan Fychan ab leuan ab
Adda ab lorwerth DdA of Pengwern in Nanheudwy,
the ancestor of the Mostyns of Mostyn, Talacre, and
Llewesog ; (2) Gwenhwyfar, wife of Gruffydd ab lor-
werth ab Einion of Soulli, ancestor of the Sontleys of
Sonlli — ermt?ie, a lion rampant sable ; (3) Angharad,
wife of Llewelyn ab Gruffydd ab Meredydd ; (4) Lucy,
wife of Llewelyn ab Madog Foel of March wiail —
ennine, a lion rampant in a bordure azure ; and (5) Mar-
garet, the wife of lorwerth Fychan ab lorwerth ab
Awr, by whom she had a son, Ednyfed Lloyd, the
father of Llewelyn, the father of David, who was living
A.D. 1467 (7 Edw. ivy and who married Margaret,
daughter and heiress of Dio ab Hwfa ab Madog yr
Athro of Plas Madog in Bodylltyn, by whom he had a
son named John, the ancestor of the Lloyds of PlAs
Madog.

2. Gruffydd of BodyUtyn, the second son of Llewelyn
ab Gruffydd, Lord of Eyton, was the father of Ednyfed
of Bodylltyn, whose only daughter and heiress, Lucy,
was the second wife of Madog Lloyd of Iscoed, the
eldest son of Gruffydd of Maelor Saesneg, the second
son of lorwerth Foel, Lord of Chirk, by whom she had
a son, Deio of Bodylltyn, whose line ended in an heiress,
Gwenllian, who married Roger Eyton, a younger son
of John ab Elis Eyton of Watstay, Esq., ancestor of the
Ey tons of Bodylltyn.

3. lorwerth, the third son of Llewelyn ab Gruffydd,
had lands in Borasham and Rhuddallt. He married
Margaret, daughter of lorwerth ab David ab Goronwy
ab lorwerth ab Howel ab Moreiddig ab Sanddef Hardd,

^ Proceedings before the Commissioners appointed by the Lords
of Bromfield and Yale, at the great court of those lordships held at
Holt Castle 7 Edward IV, a.d. 1467.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 263

Lord of Mortyn, by whom he had a son, lolyn of
BwvBB or Borasham, the father of Einion, the father of
John, the father of William Borasham, the father of
William Bwras or Borasham of Borasham, who had an
only daughter and heiress, Angharad, who married
Lewys Sutton of Sutton, Esq., ab Robert Sutton.

4. Howel Grach of BodyUtyn, the fourth and
youngest son of Llewelyn ab Gruffydd, Lord of Eyton,
married Margaret, eldest daughter and coheiress of
David, Lord of Pentyrch, Colli Caswallon, Penarch, and
Ehiwarch in Caer Einion, the fifth son of Gruffydd ab
Gwenwynwyn, Prince of Upper Powys, who died in
A.D. 1289, and was buried in the church of the Fran-
ciscan Monastery, or Grey Friars, in Shrewsbury. Her
mother was Elen, daughter and heiress of Howel, third
son of Madog ab Gruffydd Maelor, Prince of Powys
Fadog.^ Quarterly first and fourth or, a lion ramp.
gules, for Gruffydd ab Gwenwynwyn ; second and third
or, a lion's gamb erased gules, for Gwenwynwyn.* By
this lady, Howel Grach had issue an only daughter and
heiress, Angharad, who married Madog yr Athro, who,
according to the Ilaid. MS. 4181, and Mr. Joseph
Morris of Shrewsbury, was the son of Hwfa ab lorwerth
of Hafod y Wem. Sable, three lions passant in pale
argent ; but according to the Cae Cyriog and the Harl.
MSS. 2299, a^ also the Add. MS. 9864-5, he was the
son of Hwfa ab lorwerth ab Gruffydd ab leuaf ab
Niniaf ab Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon. Gules, two lions
passant argent, for lorwerth ab Gruffydd. By his wife
Angharad, Madog yr Athro became possessed of the
lands in BodylltjTi which formed uie Plas Madog
estate, where he built the house now called P14a
Madog. Lewys Dwnn, however, in hia account of the
Lloyds of Plas Madog, calls this place Pl&s Madog
Warwyn,' from Madog Warwyn, the eldest son of
Elidir ab Rhys Sais, Lord of Eyton ; so Madog yr
Athro may have only rebuilt it. By his wife Angharad,

» Golden Grove MSS. « Harl MSS. 1978, p. 4.

» Cae Cyriog MS.

264 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

Madog yr Athro had issue a son, Hwfa of P14s Madog,
who married Agnes, daughter of Madog Goch of Lloran
Uchaf in Cynllaith, the son of leuaf ab Cuhelyn ab
Rhyn ab Einion Efell, Lord of Cynllaith, who bore
party per fess sable and argent, a lion rampant counter-
charged, by whom he had issue two sons : (1) Hwfa ;
and (2) Dio or David, who must have had Plas Madog,
and not David ab Hwfa ab leuaf ab Hwfa ab Madog
yr Athro, as the following pedigree will clearly prove.

Hwfa ab=F lorwerth? Llewelyn ab Graffydd,^
lo rwerth | ab Awr | Lord of Eyton ^|

I I iBt wife. I I 2nd wife. | |

Madog yr 7 Agnee 7 lorwerth 7 Margaret. Madog, Howel Grach^

Athro

Fychan,

living

1332.

ob.
1331.

Hw faT Howel. lena f. Ednyfe d Lloyd T Angharad, ux. Madog yr Athro.

leoafTAgneB, d. of Davids Llewelyn
Grufiydd ab |

Cynwrig ab

Angharad, d. of Adda ab Howel
ab leuaf ab Adda ab Awr of
Trefor.

leuaf ab 1 I j j T

Caswallon Margaret 7 David, Gruffydd. Madog

ab Hwfa ab
Ithel Felyn.

living
July
1469.

Hwfa^Gwenllian, | 1

lorwerth

Goch,

killed in

A.D. 1490.

daughter of John of PlAs Madog. Angharad, nx. Madog ab lenan

leuan ab Madog of Ehuddallt, ab

Llwyd ab Cadwgan DdA ab Oadwgan Qooh, ab Y Gwion

leuan ab ab Hwfa ab Ithel Felyn.

Gruffydd

Foelab
Gruffydd, descended from Cynwrig ab BhiwaUon.'

Madog Lloyd. David, who is stated to be the father of Margaret, the

wife of David ab Llewelyn ab Ednyfed Lloyd in ahnost
all the MSS., but all likewise give David as a son of Hwfa
ab Madog yr Athro.

1 John Salosbury of Erbistog.

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THE HISTORY OF LLA.NGURIG. 269

EHIWABON REGISTERS.

Piers, son of Edward Lloyd, was baptised Jan. 5, a.d. 1601.
Edward Lloyd of Plas Madog, Esq., was buried Jan. 1, 1637.
Anne, wife of Edward Lloyd of Plas Madog, was buried

August 22, 1636.
Elizabeth, wife of Edward Lloyd of PlUs Madog (daughter

and heiress of Owain Lloyd), was buried Oct. 28, 1676.
Mrs. Anne Lloyd, wife of WiUiam Lloyd of Pl^ Benion, was

buried March 21, a.d. 1700.
Samuel, son of Edward Lloyd of Pl&s Madog, Esq. (and

Elizabeth, his wife), was baptised June 1, 1633.
Mrs. Sarah Lloyd, wife of Samuel Lloyd of Pl&s Madog, was

buried June 7, a.d. 1699.
Samuel Lloyd of Pl^ Madog, Esq., was buried May 2,

A.D. 1701, aged 63.
Edward, son of Samuel Lloyd, gentleman, was baptised Dec.

A.D. 1686.
John, son of Samuel Lloyd of Pl&s Madog, Esq., was buried

Dec. 28, 1694.
William, son of Ditto, was buried Dec. 1, 1698.
Charles, son of Ditto, was buried Dec. 16, 1698.
Samuel Lloyd of Pl&s Madog was buried Sept. 2, 1 723.
Mrs. Anne Lloyd, wife of Edward Lloyd of Pl&s Madog, Esq.,

was buried Sept. 26, 1 745.
Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Lloyd of Pl&s Madog, Esq.,

was baptised May 10, a.d. 1718.
Elizabeth Lloyd de Ghristionydd Cynwrig (wife of lenkyn

Lloyd of Clochfaen) was buried Dec. 12, a.d. 1758, aged 40.
Edward Lloyd of Pills Madog, Esq., was. buried Aug. 11,

A.D. 1760, aged 74.
Madog infans de Plils Madog (son of lenkyn Lloyd and Eliza-
beth his wife) was buried Jan. 22, a.d. 1774.
Sarah, daughter of lenkyn Lloyd and Elizabeth, his wife, was

baptised March 2, a.d. 1746.
lenkyn Lloyd of P14s Madog, Esq., was buried February 5,

A.D. 1766, aged 42.

Edward Lloyd of PMs Madog, Esq., by his will dated
A.D. 1757, left to the poor of the parish of Rhiwabon £150,
to be distributed in coals, schooliug for three boys and two
girls, from the Township of Ghristionydd and Coed Ghristionydd,
secured by a rent charge on lands in Wcstyn Rhyn in the
Parish of St. Martin's, co. Salop. These lands wore purchased
from the Lloyd family by Mr. Kenyon of Penylan.

270 THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG.

Anne Lloyd of Pl&a Madog, by will^ date unknown^ charged
a small farm called Caer Llwyn, in the parish of Gwytherin,
with the yearly payment of £1. This money is to be distribated
on St. Thomas's Day. The proprietor of Oaer Llwyn is now
Mr. Fitzhugh of Plfts Power, near Wrexham. Report of the
Charity Commissioners.

Colonel Charles Thomas Edward Hinde became Major-
General in Feb. 1870, and died on the 15th May in the same
year.

Mr. I. Y. Wm. Lloyd of Clochfaen was created a Knight of
the Order of St. Gregory the Grreat, in September 1870, by
His Holiness Pope Pius IX.

FROM THE MISCELLANEA HISTORICA.
By the Rev. W. V. Lloyd, M.A., P.R.G.S.

Grand Jury,

4 James I, 1606.

Evanns David de Clochfaen, gen.

lenkinus Mores ab R^s de Llanywored,^ gen.

Hoellus ap Stephen de Llangerick, gen.

lenkinus Mores ap leun Lloyd de Glynhaveren, gen.

David ab Rhys ab lenkyn de Glynbrochan, gen.

9 James I, 1611.
lenkinus David de Llangerick, gen.'

20 James I, 1622.
Evanus David de Llangirrick, gen.^

1 Charles I, 1625.

Evanus David de Llangerig, gen. (on the list, but not on the

Grand Jury.)
Morgan Evans de Llangerig, gen. (on the list, but not on

the Grand Jury.)

^ lenkyn ab Maurice ab Rhys ab Maurice ab Llewelyn of Llany-
wared, second son of lenan ab Gruffydd ab Howel Lloyd of Cloch-
faen. He married Elen, daughter of David Lloyd ab lenkyn ab
Maurice of Clochfaen.

' lenkyn, second son of David Lloyd ab lenkyn ab Maurice ab
lenkyn Goch of Clochfaen and brother of Evan ab David of Cloch-
faen. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Owain Blayney of Ystym-
gwyn, ab Howel ab Owain ab Howel ab leuan Blayney of Gr^gynog.

' Evan David of Clochfaen.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 271

10 Charles I, 1634.
MorganuB Evans de Glinbrochan^ gen.
Evanus ab lenkin ab Rees de Llanywared^ gen*^

11 Charles I, 1635.
EdVas JBvans de Clochvaine issa, gen.'

14 Charles I, April 29, 1638.
EdVns Evans de Clochvaine issa, gen.

2 Charles II (2nd of Commonwealth, 1650).
David Lewis ab lenn Lloyd, gen., Maior de Llanidloes,
fiicens Lloyd de Llanywored,* gen., on Grand Jury List for

Llanidloes Hundred, but not selected for Grand Jury.
David lenkin Mores de Glynhafren, gen., on same.

Tinder presentments.

12 Charles II, 7th Oct., 1661.
The presentments of Arthur lerman, one of the Chief Con-
stables of the hundred of Llanidloes, the seventh day of
October, 1661. I doe p'sent Evan Lloyd of Llangirrick* in the
sd. countie, gen., for absenteing himself from his p'ishe Church
of Llangerrick afores'd ev'y Sunday from the 21 day of July in
the yeare aforsM. I doe p^sent Edd. Lloyd, gen., of the same
for the like.^' xx. The m'ke of Arthur + lerman.

13 Charles II, 26 July, 1662.

David lenkyn Morris de Llangericke, gen.,** on Llanidloes
Hundred of Grand Jury List, but not selected.

14 Charles U, 16 Oct., 1663.

lenkinus Lloyd de Llaniwared, gen.,^ and Edwardus Lloyd

^ Evan ab lenkyn ab Rhys ab Maurice ab Llewelyn ab lenan ab
Grnfiydd ab Howel Llwyd. He married Margaret, daughter of
Thomas ab John ab Howel.

^ Edward Evans of Clochfaen Isaf, was the son of Evan of Cloch-
faen Isaf, second son of lenkyn ab Maurice ab lenkyn Goch of
Clochfaen.

* Rhys Lloyd of Clochfaen, in the Township of Llanywared. He
mamed, A D. 1626, Margaret, daughter of lenkyn Lloyd of Berth-
Uoyd.

* Evan Lloyd of Bwlch y Gareg, third son of Rhys Lloyd of
Clochfaen.

^ David ab lenkyn ab Maurice ab Rhys ab Maurice ab Llewelyn
ab leuan ab Graffydd ab Howel Lloyd.

' lenkyn Lloyd of Llanywared was the second son of Rhys Lloyd
of Clochfaen, and Margaret his wife. He succeeded to the Cloch-
faen Estate in consequence of his eldest brother, Edward Lloyd,
having no issue.

272 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

de Glyngynwyd/ gen., on Grand Jury list of Llanidloes
Hundred. . Edward Lloyd was not, however, for the following
sufficient reasons (as a recusant) selected.

Presentments before the Orand Jury,

'^ Item, the said Jurors upon their oaths present that Evan
Lloyd of Bwlch y Garreg, in the pMsh of Llyngerick in the said
county, gent.,* and Mary his wife, for not frequenting their
p'ish Church of the said p'ish or elsewhere ; contrary to the
statute.

" Item, Edd. Lloyd, gen., of the same parish, and Margaret
his wife for the like.

15 Charles II, 16 April, 1664.
Apud Dom. mansional Bicei Beamond de Trefegloes in com
Mont., gen., Coram Maurice Lloyd, gen., uno Coronator, etc.,
bailed David lenkyn Mores, gen., et Evan Lloyd de Glyn-
havran in die Com. gener de morte comis Ricei ab Richard de
Glynhavren. At the same time, " Mores Bowen daGlynhavran,
gen.," bailed " Evanus Lloyd nup* de Glynhavran Uwchcoed in
com pred, gen.''

15 Charles II, 7 Oct., 1664.

"Edrus Evans de Llangirick, gen.,'' on the Grand Jury list
of Llanidloes Hundred, for the Assizes held at Llanfyllin, but
not selected.'

^ Edward Lloyd of Glyngynwydd must have been the eldest son
of Rhys Lloyd of Clochfaen, as we have no knowledge of any other
person bearing that name in Llangurig parish at this time.

* Evan Lloyd of Bwlch y Garreg must also have been one of the
sons of Rhys Lloyd of Clochfaen, as Bwlch y Garreg XJchaf is men-
tioned as one of the farms belonging to the Clochfaen Estate, in the
marriage settlements of Rhys Lloyd and Margaret, daughter of
lenkyn Lloyd of Berthlloyd in a.d. 1626.

' Edward Evans of Clochfaen Issa.

THK HISTORY OP LLANGUKIG.

273

The descendants of JOHN BEEEETON of Esclusham, Esq.

Earl. MS. 1971-1972.

let wife.
Elizabeth, only daughter of John 7 O win Brereton 7 Catherine, daughter of

Boraeham^

Salufibnry of Lleweni, Esq.,
Chamberlain of Denbighshire,
and M.P. for Denbigh in 1554,
and Catherine, hia wife,
daughter and heiress of Tudor
ab Sobert Fychan of Berain,
Esq. Qvlet, a lion rampant
argent, duoilly crowned or,
inter three crescents of the
second.

of Boraeham^ Harri Goch Salusbury

Esq., High of Llewesog in Llan-

Sheriff for Den- rhaiadr Duffiyn Clwyd,

bighshire 158i« Esq., and relict of John

and 1588. Lloyd of Bodidris in

I&l, Esq., High Sheriff

for Denbigl^hire in

1551.

I 2nd son.
John Brere- 7 Margaret,

ton of Esclu-
sham, Esq.,
ob. Jan. 24,
A.D. 1(122.
Buried at
Wrexham.

daughter
of Hugh
Wynn of

Wigfair

in Meria-

dog. and

reuct of

Bobert
Empsonof

London.
Veri three
eagles dis-
played in

fess or.

I Ist son. ,

Edward 7 Anne, daughter Catherine t William
Brereton of John Lloyd Brereton.

of Bora-
sham,
Esq.,
held an
Eistedd-
fod in
A.D. 1597.
High
Sheriff
for Den-
bighshire

A.D. 1598,

in which

year he

died.

of Bodidris, in

I&l, High

Sheriff for

Denbighshire

in 1551.

Lloyd of

P14s
Madog

in Bo«
dylltyn.

Edward Lloyd of Owain Lloyd.

PUs Madog Esq.

Buried at Uhiw-

fabon, Jan. 1,

A.D. 1687.

I 1st coheir.
Elizabeth 7 Thomas
Brereton, Bulkeley

ob. of Coe-

Feb. 26, dan in
A.D. 1656. Angle-
sey, Esq.

I 2 coheir. | 3

John Ffach-=F Jane =f Owain Lloyd, Dorothy.

second son of

William

Lloyd of PlAs

Madog and

Brere-
ton.

boar'

nallt of

Ffacbnallt,

CO. Flint,

Esq.
Argent a
chev. inter three
s heads couped argent.

I
I
S. P.

Elon.

Catherine
Brereton,
his wife.

Thomas Lloyd, a

Merchant, died

at Hamburg.

S. P.

Eli:

Edward Lloyd of =f Elizabeth Lloyd, only daughter and
Plds Madog, ob. heiress. Buried at Shiwfabon,
A.D. 1692. August 28th, a.d. 1676.

Besides the Lloyds of Plas Madog there were several
other families of the House of Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon
who had estates in the parish of Rhiwfabon, the chief
of whom were the Hugheses of Llanerchrugog, the
Grifl&ths of Cae Cyiiog, and the Badys of P14s yn y
Delf, of whom a short account will now be given.

LLANERCHRUGOG, in the parish of ehiwfabon.

Cae Cyriog MS.

CirNWBia ab Rhiwallon, who was slain in battle in
A.D. 1073, married Judith, daughter of Ifor Hen, Lord
of Rh63, by whom he had issue nine sons : (1) Niniaf,
of whom presently ; (2) Ednyfed, ancestor of the
Broughtons of Broughton and Marchwiail, and the
Eilises and Powels of Alrhey ; (3) Gruffydd ; (4) Bled-
dyn, ancestor of Hugh Jones of Bershani,' John Roberts
of Ty Cerig, in the parish of Rhiwfabon,* Edward John
Tudor of Bersham, now Mr. Power's house in Beraham ;'
(5) Hoedlin of Chrlstionydd Cynwrig, ancestor of
Gruffydd ab David of Christionydd Cynwrig, whose
daughter and heiress, Margaret, married, first, John

• Hagh Jones was the eon of John Jones, who was living in
A.D. 1620, ab John ab Edward ab David sb leuan ab lenkyn ab
Llewelyn ab Ithol Goch nb Llewelyn ab Madog ab Einion ab Madog
ab Bleddyn ab Cynwrig' ab Rhiwallon.

^ John Boberts of Ty Cerjg, a.d. 1G82, ab Robert ab Jenaa ab
Thomas, of the parish of llhiwfaboa, ab leaan (or John) ab lenkyn
ab Llewelyn ab Ithel Goch, etc.

> Edward Tndor of Ty Bulots and of BettwB y Mhers, in Bers or
Bersham, waa the son of John ab Tudor ab leuan (or John) ab lenkyn
ab Llewelyn ab Ithel Goch; ho was liring in ICOO, and married
Mary, daughter of John Gwilym. Ty Belots is now called Pl&s
Power, from the Power family ; it now belongs to Mr. Fitshngh.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 275

Thomas of Caernarfon, and, secondly, . William Price,
gent. ; (6) Bledrws ; (7)Einion, ancestor of David Bird
of Eastwick, in the parish of Ellesmere ; (8) Llewelyn ;
and (9) David, ancestor of Howel Lloyd of Llangurig ;
and a daughter, Gwenllian, the wife of Rhirid Flaidd,
Lord of Penllyn.

Niniaf or Niniau, the eldest son of Cynwrig ab
Rhiwallon, married, and had issue a son,

leuaf ab Niniaf, who had Llwyn On, Sonlli,
Eyton Uchaf Frondeg. Enidig, Esclys or Esclusham.
Hafod y Bwch, Hafod y Wern, Llwyn y Cnotiau and
Abenbury, and part of Rhiwalo. He married Eva,
daughter of Einion ab Howel ab leuaf, Lord of Arwystli.
Argent y a lion rampant sahle^ crowned or, by whom he
had issue nine sons : ( 1 ) lorwerth, of whom presently ;
(2) Gruffydd, ancestor of Madog yr A thro, and the
Bershams of Bersham ; (3) Einion, who had Sonlli and
Eyton Uchaf, ancestor of the Sontleys of Sonlli and the
Eytons of Eyton Uchaf; (4) leuaf Fychan; (5) Awr,
ancestor of the Jeflfries of Acton, Lloyds of P14s Madog,
and Robert ab William of Trefynant ; (6) Llywarch ;
(7) Howel, ancestor of lenkyn ab leuan ab David
Lloyd ; (8) Ednowain ; and (9) Madog, ancestor of
Richard Tegin, Sergeant at Arms,^ Owain Badi of Delf,
near Llanerchrugog, and Jones of Frondeg.*

^ Bichard Tegin, Sergeant-at-Arms, was the son of Robert Tegin
of Frondeg, son of David ab Tegin ab Madog ab lorwerth Goch, ab
Madog Ooch ab leaaf ab Niniaf ab Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon.

' Edward Jones of Frondeg was the eldest son (by GwenHian,
his wife, daughter of David ab Llewelyn ab Ednyfed Llwyd of Pl&s
Madog) of John ab leuaf ab lolyn of Frondeg ab David ab Dcicws
ab leuaf ab lolyn Foel ab Madog Goch ab Madog ab leuaf ab
Niniaf, etc., by whom he had a son, Edward Jones of Frondeg, who
married Janet, second daughter of Roger Deccaf ab David Deccaf
of Rhwytyn, in the parish of Bangor Is y Good, descended from
Elidir, Lord of Eyton, by whom he had an only daughter and
heiress, Janet, who married John Edwards of Statisti, Esq., descended
from Edwyn ab Goronwy. Of this family were also John Roberts
of Esclusham, a.d. 1600, and his brother, Richard Roberts of Din-
hinlle Uchaf in Chrisfcionydd, who were the sons of Robert ab
Richard ab David ab Richard ab lolyn ab leuan Foel ab Madog
Goch ab Madog ab leuaf ab Niniaf. Uarl. MSS. 1972, 2299.

276 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

lorwerth ab leuaf, the eldest son, had Llwyn On,
and much land in Wrexham, Gresford, March wiail,
Holt, Erbistog, and Bangor Is y Coed. He married
Margaret, daughter of Cynwrig Fychan ab Cynwrig ab
Hoedliw of Christionydd Cynwrig, ermine a lion
rampant sable, by whom he had issue three sons :

(1) (xruflEydd of Llwyn On, had much lands in March-
wiail, Bangor and Erbistog; he married Mar^iret,
daughter of Rhys Fychan ab lorwerth ab Rhys Grug,
son of the Lord Rhys, Prince of South Wales, by whom
he had a son and heir, lorwerth of Llwyn On, the
ancestor of the Jones Parrys of Madryn and Llwn On ;

(2) lorwerth Fychan, of whom presently ; and (3) Hwfa
ab lorwerth of Hafod y Wem,^ and a daughter,
Gwenllian, wife of Owain Wan, Lord of Caerlleon,

lorwerth Fychan, the second son of lorwerth ab
leuaf of Llwyn On, had lands in Erddig, Esclusham,
Hafod y Bwch and Cadwgan. He married, and had
issue, a son and heir,

GruflFydd, who had his father's lands. He married
Lucy, daughter of leuaf ab Llewelyn ab Cynwrig Efell,
Lord, of Eglwysegl — gules, on a bend argent, a lion
passant sahle — ^by whom he had issue four sons :
Madog Ddu ; (2) David Goch, of whom presently ;
Howe! of Croes Foel, who married Dwgws, daughter
of Madog Lloyd of Iscoed, eldest son of Gruffydd ab
lorwerth Foel, Lord of Chirk, by whom he had a son,
Gruffydd of Croes Foel, who was the ancestor of the
Joneses of Croes Foel and the Joneses of Pl&s Cadwgan ;
and (4) Llewelyn, who was the ancestor of the Erddigs
of Erddig, and the Traffords of Treffordd in Esclusham.

David Goch, the second son of Gruffydd ab lorwerth
Fychan, had Hafod y Bwch ; he was the father of
Madog, alias Y Badi of Hafod y Bwch, who had two
sons: (1) David; and (2) lorwerth, who married

^ nw& ab lorwerth of Hafod y Wem, bore $ahle, three lions
passant in pale argent. His family is now represented through heirs
female, by Philip Davies Cooke of Hafod y Wern and Owston,
Esq.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGCJRIG. 277

Annesta, daughter of leuaf ab Hwfa ab Madog yr
Athro of Plas Madog.

David, the eldest son of Madog ab David Goch, had
Hafod y Bwch ; he married, and had issue two sons :

(1) Gruffydd of Hafod y Bwch; and (2) Dio of
Llanerchrugog.

1. Gruffydd of Hafod y Bwch, married Margaret,
daughter and coheir of leuan Fychan ab leuan ab
Howel y Gader of Cader Benllyn, son of GruflFjrdd ab
Madog ab Bhirid Flaidd, Lord of Penllyn — vert^ a chev.
inter three wolfs heads erased argent, langued gules
— by whom he had issue a son and heir, Robert of
Hafod y Bwch, who married Margaret, daughter and
heiress (by Janet his wife, daughter of Richard Young
ab Maurice ab Jenkyn Young of Biyniorcyn in Yr Hdb)
of Howel ab leuan, third son of Robert ab Gruffydd ab
Howel ab Gruffydd ab Howel of Croes Foel, by whom
he had a son, John Wynn Roberts of Hafod y Bwch,
Sergeant at Arms, ancestor of the Robertses of Hafod
y BwcL

2. Dio of Llanerchrugog, the second son of David ab
Madog ab David Goch, married Angharad, daughter of
Meredydd ab Llewelyn DdA ab Gruflfydd ab lorwerth
Foel ab lorwerth Fychan, second son of lorwerth ab
leuaf of Llwyn On, by whom he had issue a son,

Deicws ab Dio of Llanerchrugog, who married Lucy,
daughter of Tegin ab Madog at) lorwerth Goch* of
Frondeg ab Ednyfed Foel ab leuaf Fychan ab leuaf ab
Niniaf, by whom he had issue three sons : (1) leuan ;

(2) Madog ; and (3) David of Cae Cyriog, in the parish
of Rhiwabon.

leuan of Llanerchrugog, the eldest son, married
Gwenhwyfar, daughter of leuan ab Llewelyn ab Gruf-
fydd, second son (by Lucy his wife, daughter and co-
heiress of leuan* ab Philip ab Meredydd ab Gruffydd

1 The Earl M88. 1972 and 2299 state that lorwerth Ooch was
the son of Madog ab lenaf ab Niniaf.

' lenan ab Philip married Myfanwj, daughter and coheiress of
David Fjchan of Manafon ab David ab lorwerth ab Einion ab Cyn-
feljn. Her mother was Margaret, d. of David ab Elissau ab lor-
werth ab Owain Brogyntyn.

278 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

ab Madog Danwr of Llangurig) of Ednyfed ab Gruflfydd
ab lorwerth ab Einion Goch ab Einion, Lord of Sonlli
and Eyton Uchaf, son of leuaf ab Niniaf ab Cjmwrig
ab Rhiwallon, by whom he had issue a son and heir,

John ab leuan of Llanerchrugog, who married
Catherine, daughter of Howel ab Gruffydd ab leuan
Ddu of Bersham, ab Howel ab Hwfa ab lorwerth ab
Grufiydd of Bersham, second son of leuaf ab Niniaf ab
Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon — gules^ two lions passant in pale
or^ for lorwerth ab Gruffydd of Bersham — ^by whom he
had issue a son and heir, Hugh, and four daughters :

(1) Elizabeth, wife of William Lloyd of Plds Uwch y
Clawdd,^ in the parish of Bhiwfabon, descended from
Rhys Gr6g, Lord of Llandovery, who bore argent^ a
lion rampant sahle, armed langued and crowned gules ;

(2) Angharad, wife of Randle ab John ab David ab
Llewelyn of Plas Madog ; (3) Mat*sli, wife of John ab
John ab Robert ab Gruffydd ab Howel of Croes Foel,
by whom she had a son, Hugh Jones of Croes Foel,
father of Richard Jones of Croes Foel, in the parish of
Wrexham ; and (4) Alice, wife of Edward ab Howel of
Trefechan in Christionydd, second son of Edward ab
Madog Puleston of Christionydd ; argent, on a bend
sable, three mullets of the field for Madog Puleston.

Hugh of Llanerchrugog, the son and heir of John ab
leuan, married Catherine, daughter of John Eyton of
Watstay, Esq., ab John ab Elis Eyton, by whom he

^ William Lloyd of P148 Uwch j Clawdd was the twin brother of
John Lloyd of Pl&s y Badda in Mortyn Is y Clawdd, and son of
David Lloyd of Pl&s Uwch y Clawdd and Plas y Badda, ab Deicws
ab Madog ab Ithel ab Ednyfed ab Gh*affydd ab David ab Rhys
Fychan ab Rhys Gmg, Lord of Ystrad Tywi, who bore argent, a
lion rampant sable, armed langued and crowned gtdes. John Lloyd
of Plas y Badda was father of John Wynn Lloyd, the father of
Robert Lloyd, who was living in a.d. 1600, and sold Fika y Badda
to Sir Thomas Middleton H^n of Chirk Castle, who built a new house
there, now called Plas Newydd or New Hall. William Lloyd of
PlSis Uwch y Clawdd, was father of John Lloyd, the father of
Thomas Lloyd, whose four daughters, eventual heirs of their brother
John Lloyd, sold Pl&s Uwch y Clawdd to Sir Thomas Middleton
H6n of Chirk Castle.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 279

had issue (1) John, of whom presently ; (2) Roger ab
Hugh, who married Myfanwy, daughter of John, second
son of Edward ab Meredydd of Christionydd and of
Frondeg, in the parish of Wrexham, son of Gruffydd ab
Adda ab Howel of Trefor, by whom he had issue,
David, Charles, Alice, Elen, and Catherine ; (3) Owain^
ab Hugh, who married Elizabeth, daughter of John
Bersham of Bersham ab William ab Howel ab Gruffydd
ab leuan Ddu of Bersham — gules, two lions passant in
pale argent ; and (4) Richard ab Hugh, who married,
first, Elizabeth, daughter of John ab Edward, by whom
he had issue John and Gwen ; he married, secondly,
Alice, daughter of Rondle ab David, by whom he had
issue three sons, Edward, Thomas, and George, who
were all living in a.d. 1607, and six daughters, of
whom Margaret, the eldest, married Lancelot Lloyd of
Gorsedd Goch, Hugh ab John ab leuan of Llanerch-
rugog, had likewise two daughters, Catherine, wife of

Edward Erddig ab John Erddig of Erddig, and ,

wife of Hugh Wynn of Bryn Owen, son of John ab
William of Bryn Owen, third son of David Eyton of
Eyton Uchaf, ab Llewelyn ab Ednyfed ab Gruffydd,
Lord of Sonlli and Eyton Uchaf or Trefwy.

John ab Hugh of Llanerchrugog, the eldest son,
married Gwenhwyfar or Gwenllian, daughter of John
Erddig of Erddig, ab David Goch ab Howel ab leuan
ab Llewelyn ab Gruffydd ab lorwerth Fychan ab lor-
werth ab leuaf ab Niniaf, by whom he had issue one
son, Richard Hughes, and four daughters : (1) Cathe-
rine, wife of Randle Davies ; (2) Elen, wife of Walter
Panton, Vicar of *Tirveccan in Ireland ; (3) Mary, who
married, first, John ab Edward, and, secondly, Gruflfydd
ab Edward ; and (4) Jane, wife of Richard Lloyd, third
son of William Lloyd of P14s Madog.

Richard Hughes of Llanerchrugog, the eldest son,

' Owain had a daughter and heiress, Marslli, who married John
Sonlli ab John Sonlli of Frondeg, fourth son of Robert Wynn
Sonlli of Sonlli ab Morgan Sonlli of Sonlli, Esq., by whom she had
one son, Robert Sonlli.

H H

280 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

married Jane, daughter (by Jane, his third wife,
daughter of Meredydd ab Goronwy ab Gruffydd of
Dyftryn Aled) of David ab Matthew Wynn ab David of
Trefor, ancestor of the Trefors of Trefor Hall, by whom
he had two daughters, Elizabeth, and Margaret, who
married Lancelot Hughes of Gorsedd 'Goch in Maelor,
and a son and heir,

Edward Hughes of Llanerchrugog, who married his
cousin Jane, daughter of Richard Hughes of Cadwgan
Fechan, by whom he had issue two sons, Roger
Hughes, who died s. p,, and Richard Hughes, who
went to Virginia, and, on his return, married Maig,
daughter of Lancelot Lloyd of Gorsedd Goch,^ and
relict of John Rathbone of Chester, by whom he had
no issue, and one daughter, Pamel Hughes, the heiress
of her brothers Roger and Richard Hughes. She mar-
ried John Payne of Morton in Flintshire, Attomey-at-
Law, and, dying in a.d. 1696, left an only son and
heir, John Payne of Llanerchrugog, who married a lady
in London, but whether they had any issue is imknown.

The Llanerchrugog estate now belongs to a family of
the name of Jones, but by what title is unknown.

CAE CYRIOG, IN THE PARISH OF RHIWFABON.

John of Cae Cyriog, son and heir of David of Cae
Cyriog, who was living in a.d. 1560, son of leuan of
Cae Cyriog, who was living in a.d. 1500, son of Lle-
welyn of Cae Cyriog, who was living in A.D. 1480, the
son of David of Cae Cyriog, the third son of Deicws ab

* Lancelot Lloyd of Gorsedd Goch in Maelor, living in a.d. 1604,
was the son (by Margaret his wife, daughter of Lancelot Bostock
ab Robert Bostock of Churton in Cheshire) of Thomas Lloyd of
Gorsedd Goch, ab Lancelot Lloyd ab William Lloyd ab Graffydd ab
lolyn Lloyd ab David ab lenaf Lloyd ab Howel Fychan ab Howel
Wyddel ab lorwerth ab Einion ab Ithel ab Eanydd ab Gwernwy,
Lord of Trefalan and Gresford. Azure^ a lion salient or.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 281

Dio of Llanerchrugog, married, first, Elizabeth, daughter
and coheiress of Robert ab John ab Robert of Synder,
by whom he had issue three sons, the youngest of
whom was Gruffydd, of whom presently. John ab
David married, secondly, Jane, daughter of GeoflBrey
Bromfield^ of Bryn y Wiwer, in the parish of Rhiwfa-
bon, Esq., and relict of John Lloyd ab Randle ab John
of P14s Madog, by whom he had issue two sons,
William, who died in London s. p., and Gruffydd, and
a daughter. Ermine, who married Edward Fowler of
Bryn-y-fallen. John ab David of Cae Cyriog died, and
was buried at Rhiwfabon, Feb. 20, 1619, and was suc-
ceeded by his third and only surviving son,

Gruffydd of Cae Cyriog. He married, first, Jane,
Brochtyn (Broughton), daughter of John Brochtyn ab
David Brochtyn of Rhiwfabon, ab John Brochtyn, alias
John ab John ab Tudor. This Jane was sister of
Edward Broughton or Brochtyn, whose son William
sold his ancient patrimony, and died without issue in
Ireland. By this lady, Gruffydd had issue three sons :
John GriflBth, of whom presently ; Roger and Edward ;
and two daughters, Mamaret and Mary, at whose birth
the mother died. Gruffydd married, secondly, Gwen,
daughter of David ab David of Llan y Cafn, in the
parish of Overton Madog, by whom he had David
Gruffydd and Catherine ; and, thirdly, he married the
widow of Gruflfydd Goch of Cefn.

John Griffith of Cae Cyriog, son and heir of Gruffydd
ab John ab David, married, first, Elizabeth, daughter
(by Joice, his vrife, daughter of John Eyton of Bodyll-
tyn, ab Edward ab Roger Eyton of Bodylltyn) of
William Eyton, second son of Cynwrig Eyton of Eyton,

^ Geoffrey Bromfield, who was descended from Idnerth Benfras,
Lord of Maesbrwg, was one of the valets of the King's Bedchamber,
and was appointed Ranger for life of the Little Park near the Camp,
in the Lordship of Chirk, 30 Heniy VIII (a.d. 1539), Patent Rolls,
part 7, m. 2 (30). He married ifargaret, daughter of Thomas ab
lenan ab lenkjn of Rhiwfabon ab Llewelyn ab Ithel Goch ab Lle-
welyn Sais ab Madog ab Einion ab Madog ab Bleddyn, foarth son
of Cynwrig ab Rhiwallon.

282 THE HISTORY OF LLANGCJRIG.

Esq., and Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Sir Richard
Brooke of Morton in Cheshire, knight. John GriflSth
married, secondly, Alice, daughter of Thomas ab David
of Rhiwfabon; she died a.d. 1675; and, thirdly, he
married Jane, relict of Robert Wynn, jun., of Trefechan
in Christionydd, and daughter of Owain Lloyd of Pl^
y Drain, ^ in the Township of Mortyn Uwch y Clawdd,
in the parish of Rhiwfabon, son of David Lloyd of
Pentre Clawdd, the son of John ab Robert ab David ab
John, descended from Ithel Felyn, Lord of 141. This
David Lloyd sold Pentre Clawdd to Cynwrig Edisbury
of Stryt yr Hwch. The above John GriflSth died
May 26, a.d. 1688, leaving issue by his first wife Eliza-
beth, three sons, John, Roger, and Peter.

John Grifl&th of Cae Cyriog, the eldest son and heir of
John ab GruflFydd ab John, was the author of a folio
volume of Heraldry and Genealogy, from which this
account is taken. He had a large and excellent library,
which contained, among other valuable works, the
Black Book of Basingwerk Abbey, by Guttyn Owain,
which is still in the possession of his great great grand-
son, the present Thomas Taylor Grifl&th, Esq., of Wrex-
ham and Pennant y Belan. He married Catherine,
daughter (by Margaret, his wife, daughter of . . . Venables
of Ysgeifiog) of Hugh Piers^ of Penbedw, son of Piers

^ Owain Lloyd of PlSis y Drain, now called Llwyn Owain, married
Barbara, daaghter of Henry Williams ab William Williams ab
William ab William of Cwchwillan, co. Caernarfon, Esq. This Henry
Williams sold Cwchwillan to the Earl of Pembroke. He married
Jane, daughter and heiress of Thomas Salnsbnry, third son of Sir
John Salnsbnry of Llyweni, and his mother was Barbara, daughter
of George Lumley, and sister and heir of John, Lord Lumley, and
relict of Humphrey Lloyd. Earl, M8S. 1969, 4181. Wynnstay
MS. Owain Lloyd was buried at Rhiwfabon, July 19, a.d. 1671.
His mother was Catherine, daughter of Howel ab Edward ab Badi
Lloyd ab lor worth ab leuaf ab Einion Gethin of Christionydd ab
Einion ab leuan ab Gruffydd ab Cynwrig Efell, Lord of Eglwyseg.

* The mother of Hugh Piers of Penbedw was Catherine, sister of
William Dolben, Esq., High Sheriff for Denbighshire in a.d. 1632,
and daughter of Robert Wyhn Dolben of Denbigh, Esq., and Jane,
his wife, daughter of Owain ab Reigpiallt of Llynllugwy, Esq. For
an account of the family of Hugh Piers, v, Lewys Dwnn^ vol* ii, art.
Diserth in Tegeingl.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 283

ab Hugh ab Piers ab William of Diserth in Flintshire,
Esq., by whom he had issue one son, John Griffith, and
one daughter, Margaret. He died Oct. 31, A.D.' 1698,
aged 44, and was succeeded by his only son,

John Griffith of Cae Cyriog, who was bom in
February 1678, and married, Jan. 13, a.d. 1701,
Rebecca, daughter and coheiress of Thomas Hughes of
Pennant y Belan, Esq., by which marriage he became
possessed of Pennant y Belan, which he made his
residence. By Rebecca his wife, who died in a.d. 1724,
he had issue two sons, John and Thomas, and, dying in
September 1 763, was succeeded by his eldest son,

John Griffith of Pennant y Belan and Cae Cyriog.
He was born in a.d. 1 702, and subsequently went to
Jesus College, Oxford, and became Vicar of Nannerch.
He married Miss Jones of Park Side, and, dying with-
out issue, was succeeded by his brother,

Thomas Griffiths of Pennant y Belan and Cae Cyriog,
who was born March 25, a.d. 1711. He married Mary,
relict of Mr. Williams of EUesmere, and, dying in April,
A.D. 1808, aged 97, was succeeded by his eldest son,

Thomas Griffith of Wrexham, Pennant y Belan, and
Cae Cyriog, baptised August 28, 1753, married Mary,
daughter and coheiress of William Tandy of South
Littleton House, near Evesham, Esq., the eldest son of
John Tandy, Esq., and Elizabeth his wife, eldest
daughter and coheiress of Francis Taylor of South Lit-
tleton, son and heir of the Rev. William Taylor, or, as
it is written in the Register, Taylour, who married
Judith Chaslett, daughter of John Chaslett of Crop-
thome, CO. Worcester, D.D., Prebendary of Worcester
Cathedral in 1607. Thomas Griffith died in Septem-
ber, A.D. 1847, aged 93, and was succeeded by his
second son, who survived him, the present

Thomaa Taylor Griffith, Esq., F.RC.S., of Wrexham,
Pennant y Belan, Cae Cyriog, and South Littleton.
He married Mary, eldest daugnter of Captain Robert-
son of Keavel in Fifeshire, descended from Robertson
of Stuean, by whom he had issue : (1 ) Thomas Llywelyn

284 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

Griffith, Rector of Deal, born Feb. 1828, married
Mary Moncrief, daughter of Captain Whitmore, R.E.,
eldest son of General Sir George Whitmore, RE., by
whom he has issue Thomas Llywelyn G. Griffiths ;
(2) James Drummond Griffith, bom July 22, 1829, of
BaJiol College, Oxford, Barrister-at-Law ; and one
daughter, Elizabeth, born July 24th, 1832, who died
September, a.d. 1839.

PLAS YN Y DELF AND STANSTI.

Harl MSS. 1972, 2292. CoAi Cyriog MS.

John ab David ab leuan ab Bady ab leaan Foel ab Mado^f Goch ab?
Madog, eighth son of lenaf ab Ninaf ab Cynwrig ab Bhiwallon. j

1
Bobert Bady 7 Margaret, daughter of Roger Deccaf ab David Deccaf of

of Stansti. Bhwytyn in Bangor Ih y Cc^, Esq. Ermine a lion rampant

atsure,

Boger Bady of Stansti =F Jane, daughter of Edward Brereton of Borasham,
and Plis yn y Delf in I Esq., High Sheriff for Denbighshire in a.p. 1598.
B hiwfabon, 16i)0. | Argent, two bars table,

Owain Bady of Bhiwfabon, a.d. 1680. 7 Jane, daughter of Edward Lloyd of

He sold PlAs yn y Delf to Sir
Thomas Middletyn Hen of Chirk
Castle, knight.

PlAs Madog, Esq., and Anne, his
wife, daughter of John Eyton of
Leeswood, Esq.

Bobert Bady of 7 , daughter of John Edwards of Pl&s Newydd in Chirk,

Esq., and Catherine, his wife, daughter of Bondle Brough-
ton of Broughton, Esq.

Chirk, 1697.

Timothy Bady. Edward Bady. John Bady.

THE HISTORY OF LLANOTJRIG.

285

PENTRE CUHELYN IN NANHEUDWY,
AND Y BEETH IN LLANBEDR.

Cae Cyriog MS. Earl. MS. 2299.

GBTirFTDD, second son of Adda^
ab Hovrel ab leuat* ab Adda
ab Awr of Trefor.

Angharad Fechan, daughter of Llewelyn
ab Owain ab Gniffydd ab Owain ab Bled-
dyn ab Owain Brogyntyn, Lord of Dinmael
and Edeymion.

I 3rd son.
Bobert of Pentre^ Jane, daughter

Cuhelyn. He, to-

g ether with his
rother Edward,
went and settled
in Llanfair Dyff-
lyn Clwyd.

of David ab

Meredydd ab

Llewelyn

Chwith,

descended from

Edwyn ab

Qoronwy,

Prince of

Tegeingl.

|1
Meredydd, ancestor of

the Joneses of Fron-

deg in Christionydd.

' loLV

ancestor of

Y Badi of

I&l.

Edward, ancestor of the Lloyds of Trefor,
the Joneses of Garthgynan in Llanfair
DyflEryn Clwyd, which last family bore,
gules, a cross of Calvary mounted on
three steps or, and the Matthews of
Goedladd in Bhiwfabon parish.

Gr nffydd of Pentre Cuhelyn = f

lenan Lloyd of=F Simon 7
Pe ntre Cnhelyn. j Lloyd. |

Hugh Lloyd of? leuan
Pe ntre Cnhelyn. | Lloyd.

Lowry, heiress of Pentre
Cnhelyn, married John
Matthews, who in her right
became possessed of Pentre
Cuhelyn, and was living in
A.D. 1067, by whom she had
a son, John Matthews of
Pentre Cuhelyn.

Catherine, daughter of William
ab Grnffydd ab lenkyn ab f
Bhys ab Tudor. rpjj,

udor^

oma8=F

David Lloyd of Llanbedr, 7
buried July 7, a.p. 1620. j

Thomas Lloyd of T Berth in Llanbedr, ^
b uried Feb. 2, 1648.

I
John Lloyd of Berth ^p

Edward Lloyd of Berth, 7
Uving in ▲.D. 1682.^

^ He was ancestor of the late Judge Lloyd of Berth, who bought the
Bhagad Estate in Edeymion, the father of the late Edward Lloyd of Bhagad,
Esq., of whose family an account has been given in a previous chapter.
Howel William Lloyd, Esq., the youngest son of Edward Lloyd of Bhagpeul,
Esq., is the accomplished translator of the Welsh Poems illustrative of the
History of Llangurig, which had been most kindly sent him by Nicholas
Bennett of Glanyrafon, near Llanidloes, Esq.

286

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG.

COED Y LLAI IN GRESFORD.

Harl MSS. 4181.

2nd wife.
lOBWiBTH Fychan ab lorwerth^A^nes, daug^hter of Hwfa ab lorwerth ab

ab Awr ab leuaf ab Niniaf.
lorwerth Fychan was living
8rd of Edward III. Cae Cyriog
M8. Wynnstay M 88.

leuaf =F Lucy, danghter of Howel ab
Ednyfed ab lorwerth ab
Einion Goch of Kyton Uchaf
and Sonlli. Ermine a lion
rampant scU>le.

Gruffydd ab leuaf ab Niniaf. GuUm, two
lions passant in pale argent, for lorwerth
ab Gruffydd.

Howell N'esta, danghter of Madog
Dda ab leuan Goch ab
lorwerth ab Einion.

Gwenllian, ux. Llewelyn ab Adda
ab Howel of Trefor.

Howel 7 AngharadfUz. Einion Lucy, uz.

Coedy

Llai.

ab leuaf Goch ab leuan ab
Llewelyn ab leuaf ab Gruffydd
Llewelyn ab Cynwrig of Blaen
Efell,Lordof£glwy. Ul.

segl. GuUt, on a
bend argent, a lion
paasant eahle.

Ev^a,uz.

Catherine,

Isabel,

leuan

uz. Deicws

uz.

ab lor-

Einion

DeicwB

werth of

ab leuaf

Bangor

Wrex-

Isco^.

Madog

ham.

Eglwy-

segL

Llewelyn of Coed y Llai?

David.

Janet.

Angharad.

leuaf of T , daughter of John ab leuan of Pengwem in Ffestiniog, son

Coed y of Einion ab Gruffydd ab Llewelyn ab Cynwrig ab Osbern Fits-
Llai. gerald of CorsygedoL Ermine, a saltire gules, a crescent or for
difference. leuan ab Einion was one of the Jurors on an Inquisi-
tion held at Bala, Oct. 6, 1427. His eldest son, David, was the
gallant defender of Harlech Castle.

kbel.

Isabel, heiress 7 David ab Edward ab Edward of Esdusham, ab David

of Coedy Llai.

ab Madog ab Llewelyn ab Gruffydd ab lorwerth Fychan
ab lorwerth ab leuaf ab Niniaf ab Cynwrig ab Bhiwallon.
This David was brother of Robert ab Edward of Tref-
fordd in Esdusham, ancestor of the Traffords of Treffordd or
Trafford.

THE HISTORY OP LLANGCTRIG. 287

Arms of Edward Lloyd of P14s Madog, Esq., 1667,
according to John Salusbury of Erbistog, Esq., and the
Cae Cyriog MS.

1 • Ermine, a lion rampant, sable, armed and langaed, gules.

2. VeH, semy of broomslips, a lion rampant, or.

3. Or, a lion rampant, azure.

4. Vert, three eagles displayed in fess, or.

5. Party ber bend sinister, ermine, and, ermine, a lion

rampant, or}

6. Azure, a lion rampant party per fess, or, and, argent, in a

border of the third charged with eight annulets, sable.

7. Argent, a chev., gules, inter three boards heads couped,

sable.'^

8. Ermine, a lion rampant, azure.

9. Or, a lion rampant, gules.

Crest. — A demi lion rampant, sable, in a dacal coronet, or.

Arms of Owain Brereton of Borasham, Esq., as they
appeared in the Hall at P14s Madog, a.d. 1689.

1. Argent, two bars, sabh, for Brereton.

2. Argent, a chev. inter three crescents, gules. Ipstans of

Ipstans.

3. Or, two ravens ppr., Corbet of Wattlesborough.

4. Argent, a chev., sable, on a chief of the second three

martlets of the field. De Weild of Borasham.

5. Ermine, a lion rampant in a bordure, azure, for David

Lloyd of Crewe.'

6. Argent, a chev. inter three boar's heads couped, sable.^

•

1 This coat is for Madog yr Athro.

' This coat is for Eva, daagbter and coheiress of Blettrws ab
Ednowain Bendrew, v, page 24, for the pedigree of Madog yr
Athro, and also page 265.

' David Lloyd of Crewe was the son of David Lloyd ab Thomas
ab Rhys ab Uwfa QrHig ab Hwfa ab Sanddef ab Elidir ab Rhys
Sais. Lncy, the daughter and heiress of David Lloyd of Crewe,
married Jenkyn de Weild.

* This coat is for Margaret Wen, wife of John Brereton of
Borasham, and daughter and heiress (by Jane, his wife, daughter
and heiress of William Olegg of Gay ton, in Cheshire, Esq.) of
Richard ab leuan of Llaneurgain ab David ab Ithel Fychan of
Llaneurgain ab Cynwrig ab Rotpert ab lorwerth ab Rhirid ab lor-
werth ab Madog ab Ednowain Bendew of Llys Coed y Mynydd, in
the parish of Bodfari, in Tegeingl, and Chief of one of the Noble
Tribes of Gwynedd.

I I

288 THE HISTORY OF LLANOURIQ.

7. Vert, three eagles displayed in fess, or}

8. Vert, a stag tripp. regard., argent, attired, or, for Cynwrig

Fychan of Wepra.*

9. Party per pale, or and gules, two lions rampant addorsed

counterchanged, between them a hymmock or phi,
'argent, for Ithel Anwyl of Northope.*

10. Argent, a cross flory engrailed, sable, inter four Cornish

choughs ppr.

11. Sable, two lions connterpassant, argent, collared, gules,

Glegg of Gayton.

12. Ermine, a lion rampant in a bordnre, azure, Madog Foel

of Marchwiail,^ in the Lordship of Rhiwfabon.^

* For Angharad, wife of Ithel Fychan of Llanenrgain or Northope,
and daughter and heiress of Robert ab David of Holt, Esq., son of
Howel ab David ab Gmffydd of Ystymcedig.

* For Angharad, wife of David ab Ithel Fychan of Northope Hall,
and daughter and sole heiress of Cynwrig Fychan of Wepra, ab
Cynwrig ab Madog ab lorwerth ab David ab Cadwgan Llwyd of
Wepra, ab Gwgan ab Cynan ab Ithel Llwyd ab Cadwgan ab
Lly warch Fychan ab Llywarch Goch ab Llywarch Holbwrch, Lord
of Rhos and Rhufoniog, who bore vert, a stag trippant, argent, attired
and nngaled or.

* For Gwladys, wife of Cynwrig Fychan of Wepra, and daughter
and beiress of Ithel ab Cynwrig of Monachlog Rhedyn in Llanenr-
gain, ab Bleddyn ab Ithel Anwyl of Ewlo Castle, and one of the
Captains of Tegeingl, son of Bleddyn, a yonnger son of Ithel Llwyd
ab Ithel Gam, Lord of Mostyn, son of Meredydd ab Uchdryd ab
Edwyn, Prince of Tegeingl.

^ For Margaret, wife of William Glegg, Esq., and daughter and
heiress of William ab Madog ab Llewelyn ab Madog Foel of March-
wiail, son of lorwerth ab Bwfa Fychan ab Hwfa Grug ab Hwfa ab
Sanddef ab Elidir, Lord of Eyton.

^ The Lordship of Rhiwfabon is divided into three manors, viz.,
Rhiwfaboii, Tref y Rug, and Marchwiail. The parish church of
Rhiwfabon, which was at first a chapel of ease to the mother church
of Llangollen, and dedicated to St. CoUen, and the festival kept on
May 2 1 , is in the manor of Rhiwfabon. '* Kappel Kolhen a gal-
want gae lie mae Kroes ymhwy Rhiwabon : Ei gwyl raabsant a gad-
want dhydh gwyl Golhen dair wythnos o bar". — K. Lhuyd. History
of the Diocese of St, Asaph, by the Rev. D. R. Thomas, M.A. The
church is now dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary ; and the fes-
tival is kept on August 15, the feast of her Assumption. The
change of the dedication may probably have been made in a.d. 1238,
when Hugh, Bishop of St. Asaph, made *' Concessio totius Ecclesie

de Llangollen domui de Yalle Crucis, — reservata institutione

« *• fi
VI cam.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 289

Folkestone, Nov. 4>, 1873.
Mt deab HaxiBj

I have written the Appendix to your History of
Llangurig, as it gives some facts that were obtained after the
histoiy was published^ and also that I might be able to correct
some erroneous statements that I sent jou, relative to the
Glochfaen pedigree. The first was relative to the pedigree of
Mallt^ the wife of lenkyn Lloyd of Clochfaenj) and daughter of
Morgan ab David of Llanbrynmair. The pedigree that I sent
you of this lady, and which you have published, was taken from
the pedigree of Jones of Esgair Evan, in Sir Bernard Burke^s
County Families, I now give another pedigree of Morgan
David, taken from the Harl MSS. 1969 and 2299, which you
will find at page 4, and which differs very much from the one
previously sent. The second mistake I made was relative to
the arms that I have assigned to the family of Pritchard of
Ceniarth. I was led into this mistake by finding in Lewys
Dwnn, vol. i, the pedigree of a family descended from Meredydd
ab Cynan, who bore quarterly, gules, and, argent, four lions
passant counterchanged, headed Ceniarth, whereas it ought to
have been Henia/rth, and I did not discover the mistake till too
late to correct it. A third wrong statement I made was, that
the arms of Thomas Hughes of Pennant y Belan in the parish
of Rhiwfabon were, or, a mffon segreant, gules, which are the
arms of Bobin ab Gruffydd Ooch, Lord of Bh6s and Rhufoniog.
My reason for making that statement was that Mr. Hughes
signed all the Deeds and Documents that I have seen of his,
and sealed them with a seal bearing or, a griffin segreant, gules,
which led me to suppose that he was of the family of the
Hugheses of Cefn y Oarlleg, who descended from Grruffydd
Goch ; and it was not until Mr. Thomas Taylor Griffith of Pen-
nant y Belan most kindly lent me his valuable Book of Pedigrees
that I discovered who he really was and to what house he
belonged. I have to make you a thousand apologies for
causing you to publish these mistakes, but you will now per-
ceive how it was that I gave you wrong information. The late
Mr. Jones, Curate of Barmouth, who was a son of Mr. Jones
of Esgair Evan, shewed me the Esgair Evan pedigree in manu-
script, previous to its being sent to Sir Bernard Burke ; and,
to the best of my recollection, he told me that it had been
drawn up by the late Rev. Walter Davies of Mechain, and
probably from some MSS. in his possession, together with
what information the family could give him. Hoping that the
Appendix may contain no erroneous statements,

I remain, my dear Hamer, yours very sincerely,

J. Y. Wm, Lloyd, K.S.G.
To Edward Hamer, Esq.

LLOYD OF THE BRYN, in the pabish of hanmee.'

loBWiBTH Foil, Lord:f Oirladya,' dun. and coheiresB of lorworth kb Qrof-
of Cbirli, Nanheadwy, j fydd ab HciliD of Fron Goch in MoeliBBnt, »b
and Moelor Saenieg, Meurig&b leuuiab Adda nb Cynwrig abPBseea,
called by Reynolds Lord of Cenidfa and Deuddwr. 1. Sable, t£rae
"Barode Holcbdyu." I horaeB* heads eraaod, argent. 2. Argent, n chev-
ron labU, inter threo Cornish choughs, each with
a ipot of ntnint in their bills, ppr.

OniSyddof Haelor^Owerfjl, dan, and coheireaa of Madofr ap Meredydd ab

Saeeneg. I Llewelyn Pychan ab Llewelyn ab Owain Fychan ab

Owain, Jjjrd of Mecliain Is y Coed, aecond son of

Mado^ ab Meredydd, Prince of Powjh Fadw. At.

j gent, a lion rampant «ail<, in a border indented !rut«j.

j Gwerfyl was heiress of Aber Tanad and Treflodwel.

I Her elegy was compoaadby Outlo'rGlyn.

Madog Lloyd of 7 Catherine, dau. of Owain Barton of Cheshire, first wife,
la y Coed.' |

la J Coed. I

Oocb ab T Owion ab Hwfa ab Itbel Felyn, Lord of lal
and Yatrad Alun. 8dbU, an a chev, inter three goats
heads erased or, tbtee trefoils of the field.

■ The parish of Hanmer contains six townshifiB, Hanmer, Bettisfield,
BroninKton, Ty Broit^hton, Willington, and Halchdyn.

' QwTadys was buned in Hanmer church, where her tomb yet remaina
with this inscription :—Ric jacbt wladtb tzob ixbwebth totl. okiti,
p. BA.," round the verge of the coffin lid. Within the inscription is a very
fine floriated cross, almost identical with that described by Camden, i, 1^
as being at St. Buriens in Cornwall {Eev, M. H. Lee, vicar of Hanmer).

* la y Coed is a manor partly in Maelot Gymraeg and partly in Uaelor
Saesneg in the paiish of Halpaa.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

291

lenkyn Lloyd of 7 , dan. of Maurice Ton^^e of Bryn loroyn in the

Isy Coed.

David Lloyd of:
Is y Coed.

parish of Llaneetyn in Tr Hob, ab lenkyn Ton^^e ab
Morgan Tonge ab lorwerth ab Morgan of Maielor
Saesneg, third son of lorwerth Foel, Lord of Chirk.

Gwen, dan. and heiress of John Lloyd ab Tomlin Lloyd of
Oswestry, second son of Madog Lloyd of Llwyn y Maen,
lineally descended from Mearig Lloyd, who became pos-
sessed of Llwyn y Maen and Llanfordaf by his marriage
with Agnes, daa. and coheiress of leuaf Fychan of Llwyn
y Maen and Llanfordaf, Constable of ^ockyn Castle,
son of leuaf ab Cuhelyn ab Bhun ab Einion Efell, Lord of
Cynllaith. Argent, an eagle displayed with two necks,
table, for Meurig lAwyd.

John Lloyd of =f Alice, dan. of Bandle Lloyd ab Gruffydd Lloyd of Tal y

the Bryn in
Halchdyn.

Wem, ab Madog Lloyd of Willington, ab David Lloyd of
Is y Coed, ab Madog Lloyd ab Gruffydd ab lorwerth FoeL

>Dert

Bobert Lloyd of the^Elen, dan. of David Lloyd of Plas yn lal, seventh son

Bryn, one of the
guard to Queen
Elizabeth, oh. a d.
1589. Buried at
Hanmer, March
11th, l&b9.

of Elissau, second son of Oruffydd ab Einion ab
Gruffydd ab Llewelyn ab Cynwrig ab Osbem 'Wyd-
del of Cors y Gedol. Ermine, a salier gvles, a cres-
cent or for difference. The motber of Elen was
Gwenhwyfar, dau. of Bichard Lloyd ab Bobert
Lloyd of Llwyn y Maen.

Bobert Lloyd of =f Margaret, dau. and heiress Dorothy, lur. Thomas Lloyd
the Bryn. | oC Bobert Sefton of Mol- of Plas Dwch y Clawdd in

lington, CO. Chester. the parish of Bhiwfabon.

Luke Lloyd of 7 Catherine, dan. of Thomas Whitley of Aston, in the parish

the Bryn,
bapt. Oct.
22, A.D. 16!>8;
oh. Mar. SI,
▲.D. 1695,
aged 86.

of Hawarden in Merffordd, argent, on a chief gules, three
garbs or, and Dorothy, his wile, dau. of Thomas Biavens-
croft of Bretton in the same parish, ab George Bavens-
crott, son and heir (by Catherine his wife, tmrd dau. of
Bichard Grosvenor of Eaton, co. C^hester). of Thomas
Bavenscroft ab George Bavenscroft ab Balph Bavenscrotl
ab Karri Uavenscrott, and .... his wife, dau. and sole
heir of Balph Holland of Bretton and Bose his wife, dau.
and heiress of John Skeffington of Bretton.

Luke Lloyd T Esther, dau. of James Betton of Shrewsbury, D.D.. which lady

of the
Bryn.

(having eventually survived her two brothers and all her
sisters, with her nephew, James Betton and his sister, the
children of her eldest brother, James) became the sole heir
of this branch of the Betton family. Argent, two pales
saJbU, each charged with three crosslets, fitchee or.

1st coheir.
Catherine Lloyd, heiress of
the Bryn, married Thos.
Kenyon of Peel Hall. co.
Lancaster, Esq., ances-
tor of the Lords Kenyon.

2nd coheir.
Sarah Lloyd, married to Samuel Lloyd -of
Plas Madoff, Ksq., ancestor of the Che-
valier Lloyd of Clochfaen and Plis Mad-
og, Knight of the Order of St. Gregory
the Great. Mrs. Lloyd died at Plis
Madog, and was buriod at Bhiwfabon,
June 7, A-D. 1699.

292 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

Philip Henry thus alludes to the death of Luke
Lloyd the elder : —

" Lnke Lloyd, Esq., of the Bryn, in Hanmer parish, my
aged and worthy friend, finished his course with joy, March
81, 1695, being Lord^s Day. He was in the 87th year of his
age, aod had been married almost 69 years to his pious wife
(a daughter of Mr. Whitley of Aston), of the same age, who
still survives him. He was the glory of the little congrega-
tion, the top branch in all respects of our small vine, and my
friend indeed. When he made his will, under the subscription
of his name he wrote. Job zxx, 25, 26, 27.

'^ Luke Lloyd had been in his youth a staunch Cromwellite,
and had served with some distinction in the Revolutionary war.^
His sword is kept at Oredington. The carved oak pulpit in
Hanmer church is noticed by the Duke of Beaufort in 1 684,
bearing these inscriptions in gold letters, ' X^^ est Agnus Dei
qui toUit peccata mundi.' ' Be swifte to heare.' ^ Take heed
how ye heare,' and the name ' iesus,' with the date of its being
given, 1627. The story told about it is that Luke Lloyd
forbad the clergyman of that day praying for the king, and
when he persisted, threatened him with his stick. As com-
pensation for this brawling in church he offered, and gave the
pulpit.*

" A.D. 1666, Aug. 15. Mr. Luke Lloyd, jnn., indited at the
assizes at Flint for disturbing Mr. H(ylton), vicar of Hanmer,
in the time of the administration of ye Lord's Supper. Wit-
nesse sworn deposed that Mr. H(ylton) refusing to give him^
the sacrament in his pew, as he had been used to do, after the
blessing was pronounced, and the people dismissed and gone,
he came up to him to know the reason, but that Mr. H. and
some few of his friends were then at the table, eating and
drinking what was left of the consecrated elements ; which
(being appointed reverently to be done by the rubrick) the
judge declared to be part of the sacrament, though the clerk
deposed that Mr. H. was talking with R. E. when Mr. Lloyd
came up to him. The jurjr brought him in not guilty, but
were sent out again by the judge, and the second time brought
him in guilty, and he was fined.'' ^

In Sir John Hanmer's Memorials of Hanmer Parish,
p. 67, there is a letter from Sir Thomas Hanmer to Sir
Job (Judge) Charleton on the subject, March 12, 1665.

* Life of Lord Kenyon, by G. K.

* Rev. H. M. Lee, Vicar of Hanmer. ' Philip Henry's MSS.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 293

The following is the inscription on the tomb of
Luke Lloyd : —

" Here lyeth the body of Lake Lloyd of the Bryn, gent.,
and Katherine his wife^ who lired in the marriage state toge-
ther 68 years. He died the thirty-first day of March^ 1695,
being 86. She died January 12, 1701, aged 91."

This branch of the Lloyd family were settled in Is y
Coed before they came to the Bryn, and Philip Henry
bought from them Eastwick's tenement, now belonging
to Jos. H. Lee, Esq.*

The following inscription is likewise in Hanmer
Church : —

" Here lies in peace Mary, the wife of Roger Kenyon of
Cefn, daughter and heiress of Edward Lloyd of Pen y Ian,
Esq., by Mary, daughter and coheiress of Edward Lloyd of
Plas Madoc, Esq. She was great niece of Ellis Lloyd of Pen
y Ian, Esq., and to William Lloyd, Lord Bishop of Norwich,
one of those prelates who, having sworn fidelity to King
James II, refused taking the oath to his successor, choosing
rather to be deprived of his bishopric than let go his integrity.

''Filial piety, connubial affection, parental tcDderness, a
steady attachment to her friends and benevolence to all, were
eminently united in her character. She died in childbed,
leaving her disconsolate husband, three sons, and two daughters,
Feb. 4, A.D. 1781, aged 30.''

^ Bev. Matthew Henry Lee.

Y BERTH. See page 285.

David Lloyd, of Berth, was son of Thomas, son of
Tudor, second son of Robert of Pentre Cuhelyn in
Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, whither he and hia brother
Edward had migrated (temp. Henry VII.) from Pentre
Cuhelyn in Llangollen, in the lordBnip of Chirk,' where
their ancestor, Cuhelyn, third son of Tudor-ab-Rhys
Sais, fourth in descent from Tudor Trevor, through hia
second son, Lluddoccaf, had inherited lands from his
father.' The last-named Pentre Cuhelyn is said to
have been recently a farm, the ruins of which are still
extant, on the Pengwem estate in the pariah of
Llangollen.* Tudor, tne grandfather of David, had an
elder brother, Gruffydd of Pentre Cuhelyn, who mar-
ried Catherine, daughter of William ab GruflFydd ab
Rhys ab Tudor, hy whom he had two sons, leuan of
Pentre Cuhelyn, in Llanfair Dyfiryn Clwyd, and Simon,
and a daughter named Angharad or Gwenllian, who
married Lewis, son of Sir Evan Lloyd, Kt. of Bodidris

^ Cae Cyriog M8.

> Barl. MS., 2299 ; Add. MS., 98645.

• " BjegoneB", in Otwestry Advertiser, August 1873.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 295

in IkU Simon had a son named leuan, of whom no
further mention is made. leuan of Pentre Cuhelyn
married Margaret, daughter of Rowland ab John ab
Ithel,^ by whom he had a son, Hugh Lloyd of Pentre
Cuhelyn in Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd, who left an only
daughter, Lowry, the heiress of that place.* On whom
this lady bestowed her band and fortune the pedigree
does not say, but ends abruptly with the name of her
son, John Matthews, living 1667. This Pentre Cuhelyn
is now a farm on the Berth estate, but it does not
appear when or how it became so.

Among the family deeds is one " made between
David Lloyd ap Thomas, of the Parish of Llanbedr in
the county of Denbigh, gentleman, and Edward ap
Harry of Garthkynan, in the said county, gentleman,
of the one part, and Edward ap John ab David of
Lloyneth (Llwynedd) and Riscoke (Rhyscog) in the
said county of Denbigh, gentleman, and Edward ap
John Lloyd of Llanruad in the said county, gentleman,
of the other part covenanting for a recovery to be suf-
fered " before John Thelwall, Esquier, Steward of the
said Lordshippe or Manor of Lloyneth and Ryscocke or
his Deputie," for the conveyance of a messuage or tene-
ment, then inhabited by Edward ap John to David
Lloyd ap Thomas and Edward ap Harri for the use of
the said Edward ap John. The deed bears the date of
20th December, 1609, 6th James L

According to Harleian MS. No. 2299, David Lloyd
was marriecL to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Lloyd of
Llangwyfan, Denbighshire. But in the pedigree of the
Lloyds of Llangwyfan, in Add. MSS., 9864, fol. 4, she
was the fourth daughter of Edward Lloyd of Llangwy-
fan and his wife Mary, daughter of leuan Wyn ab
Cadwalader of Voelas. In Llangwyfan Churchyard
is a i-aised monument of this family in freestone, bear-

^ Robert Vaughan's (of Hengwrt) Book of Pedigrees, in Peniarth
Library.

' Gruffydd Hiraethog's do in do.

^ Cae Cyriog MS., in possession of Dr. Griffiths.

K R

296 THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIO.

ing the following inscriptions: — 1. "Anno Domini,
1615. Ego Thomas Lloyd in domo dormivi XXVII
Decemb : ao : supra sculpt : cujus corpus supter (sic)
hunc lapidem a. h. sepultum ao ejus setatis [illegible/']

2. '* Hie etiam reponuntur reliqua Edward Lloyd
de Llangwyfan Gener : qui extremum confecit diem
Martii quinto Anno Domini 1660. iEtatis suae 43 (or
48)."

3. " Here lyeth the Body of Edward Lloyd, son and
heir apparant of Thomas Lloyd, of Llangwyfan, gent,
who married Elizabeth, daughter of John Madockes,
gent., by Jane his wife, heiresse of Vron Iw, who dyed
without issue at Ty Gwyn in Llanhychon ous {sic for
house) and rens {sic) Anno Domini, 1630, iEtatis suaa
24."

After the erection of the new church at Llanbedr,
some inscribed tombstones of the Berth family in the
old church were discovered by the removal of the stone
steps in front of the Communion Table. On the oldest
of these (of freestone) is this inscription : — " Here
lieth the Bodi of David Lloyd, Gent. Buried the
seaventh {sic) Day of July, Anno Dom. 1620."

David Lloyd was succeeded by his son, Thomas Lloyd,
of Berth, of whose marriage nothing is recorded in the
pedigrees. He had a daughter named Anne, who,
some years previous to 1639, became the wife of
Thomas Edwards, Esq., of Brynpolin, in the parish of
St. Asaph, descended from Rhodri Mawr, and from
Hedd Molwynog, chief of one of the fifteen noble tribes
of North Wales. Her husband died on the 17th
December, 1663, at Llandaff, and is buried in the
Cathedral there. Her son, Richard Edwards, became
possessed of the estate of Old Court, in the county of
Wicklow, in right of his wife, Elizabeth Kynaston,
daughter and heiress of Colonel John Kynaston, who
had served against the king in an expedition for the
reduction of North Wales to the obedience of the
Parliament, and captured Rhyddlau Castle, of which
he became Governor. On the 7th June, 1647, he

THE HISTORY OF LLAJiGURIG. 297

landed in Ireland from Chester, with his Welsh Regi-
ment of Foot, "after four days' plying at sea," accom-
panying the Commissioners from the Parliament, who
had come to treat with the Marquis of Ormond, the
Lord Lieutenant, for the surrender of Dublin. After
his death in 1649, a grant of land, of which Old Court
formed a portion, was made to his widow by Oliver
Cromwell.^ In the Churchyard of Llanbedr is a tomb
with the following inscription : — ** Underneath lie the
remains of John Brabazon, second son of John Edward
Edwardes, of Old Court, county Wicklow, Kingdom of
Ireland, Esq., of a family originating from this Vale.
He died 23rd September, 1793, aged eleven years.''
Thomas Lloyd was buried at Llanbedr in February,
1648, as appears from a second inscription on his
father's tombstone, cut so as to face the first : ** — Here
lieth the body of Thomas Lloyd, Gent. Buried the
second day of February, Anne Dom., 1648. He left
also a son."

John Lloyd of Berth, of whose marriage also no
record has been found. From extracts made from the
parish registers, it appears that he died about three
years before his father, on the 17th April, 1645. He
had a family of five daughters, viz., Elizabeth, born
1628, died 1656, married to John Conway, by whom
she had a daughter, Lucy, bom 1655; Anna, born
1633 ; Katherine, bom 1634, died 1641. Maria, bom
1639 ; Jane, bom and died 1642, and a second Jane,
bom 1644; and five sons, viz., Thomas, born and died
1642; Edward, bom 1631 ; Trevor, bom 1635, died
1641 ; Simon, bom 1637, died 1653 ; John, born 1640.
He was succeeded by his eldest surviving 9on,

Edward Lloyd, of Berth, who would seem from the
mention made of the name in his son's marriage settle-
ment, to have married a lady named Margaret ,

living a widow in 1680. His family consisted of four
daughters, Maria, bom 1654, • died 1664, buried
January 25th, at Llannefydd ; Elizabeth and Magdalene

* Burke's Landed Gentry, ed. 1863.

298 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

(twins), born and died 1658 ; Martha, born 1661 ; and
three sons, viz., John, born 1655; Trevor, born 1657;
David, born 1659. The date of his death does not
appear from the register, but he must have been living
in 1660. His eldest son, John Lloyd, of Berth,

married (in 1680) Elizabeth, daughter of and Alice

Mostyn, of Hendrefegillt, county Flint, as appeara
from a deed in which a capital messuage called " Y
Berth " is settled upon her. She died in 1689. 2ndly,

Elizabeth , died in 1700. He had six daughters,

three of whom, Alice, born 1685, died 1694 ; Elizabeth,
bom and died 1700 ; and Lettice, born 1687, died in
infancy; Jane, her twin sister, born 1687; Catherine,
born 1684; and Sidney, born 1689; and two sons,
Robert, the younger, born 1686, and the elder, bap-
tized January 1681, his successor, viz., Edward Lloyd,
of Berth, married to Anne, eldest daughter of Maurice
Lewis, Esq., of Trysglwyn (or Treslwyn) in Anglesey, as
inscribed in her tombstone, in the old Church of
Llanbedr : — " Here lyes interred Anne Lloyd, of Berth,
widow and relict of Edward Lloyd, Esq., who dyed on
the 17th January, 1746, aged 58. She was," &c., as
above. Below the inscription is a coat of arms, appa-
rently ermine^ a lion rampant arg. crest, a unicorn s
head within a coronet, over a helmet. Their family
consisted of two daughters, Susanna (if not of a pre-
vious generation, her baptism not being registered) died
7th November, 1706 ; and Elizabeth, born 1709, living
in 1741, and five sons. Edward, the eldest son, died
a few months after his father, and was buried in the
same grave with him in the aisle. Their tombstone is
inscribed : — " Here lyes {sic) interred the bodyes of
of Edward Lloyd, the father, and Edward Lloyd, the
sone. Both of Berth, who dyed the one on the 2nd day
of January, 1721, aged 44, and the other on the 7th day
of October, 1722, aged 14." David, the third son, born
1711, is described in a deed, dated 20th September,

^ This place is mentioned in the Record of Carnarvon, temp,
Edward I.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 299

1770, as of Llany Myneich, county Montgomery, clerk,
and one of the Trustees named in his brother Hugh
Lloyd's will; Trevor, born and died 1713; Maurice,
bom 1714 ; Robert, bom 1716. He was succeeded by
his eldest surviving son

HoGH Lloyd, of Berth and of Fumivars Inn, mar-
ried to Ursula, second daughter of Howel Lloyd, Esq.,
of Wigfair, county Flint, by his wife Phoebe, second
daughter of Hedd Lloyd, Esq., of Havod Unos, by
whom he had six sons : — 1, John, bom 1743, died 1744,
buried in Chester Cathedral ; 2, Edward, bom 1 744,
died 1 744 ; 3, John, of whom presently ; 4, Thomas,
bom 1746, living in 1766, went to sea ; 5, Howel, bom
1747, went to sea in 1761, living in 1768 ; 6, Hedd,
bom 1749, settled in Chester; and two daughters, 1,
Ursula, bom 1751, died 1751 ; 2, Phoebe, bom 1754,
married in 1790 to the Hon. John Campbell, Lord
Stonefield, in Argyleshire, one of H.M. s Justices of
the Court of Session in Scotland. Hugh Lloyd was
buried in the old Church of Llanbedr, where, on a stone
in the aisle is inscribed : — " Here also lyes the body of
Hugh Lloyd, gent., who became the eldest son of the
above Edward and Anne Lloyd, and dyed in September,
1756, leaving John Lloyd, his eldest son, and other
children." On the tombstone of Anne Lloyd is
also inscribed: — "Here lie the remains of Yrsula
Lloyd, of Berth, Esq. She died the 28th September,
1795, aged 75." That she was a handsome old lady
appears from a picture of her at Rhagatt, bearing a
strong family likeness to some of her descendants.
Was succeeded by his eldest surviving son

John Lloyd, of Berth, of Gray's Inn and the Middle
Temple, a King s Counsel, and Chief Justice of the
Caermarthenshire Circuit, of whom a short account is
given in Williams' ' Eminent Welshmen.' He married
Margeret, youngest daughter of Josiah Morrall, Esq.,
of Plas lolyn, county Salop, by Margaret, his wife,
daughter of John Lloyd, Esq., of Pontriffith. In her
marriage settlement she is described as Margaret

300 THE HISTORY OF LLANQURIG.

Morrall, of Pengwem, Spinster, niece of Edward Lloyd
of Pengwem, who would seem tx) have been also her
guardian, as her fortune of £3,500 was paid by him.
Judge Lloyd was educated at Ruthin School, and was
distinguished as well by the strength of his memory as
by the soundness of his judgment. His extensive prac-
tice enabled him to add considerably to the family pro-
perty by the purchase of the I&l,* Rhagatt and
Llanynys estates. He was also an excellent sportsman,
and a tree is still shown in which a hare was once seen
to take refuge from the pursuit of his harriers. When
another was observed to be sinking after a long chase,
he is said to have exclaimed — " Nothing can save her
now but a Cardiganshire jury !" The issue of his mar-
riage was two daughters, Margaret, died at Cheltenham,
immarried, A.D. 1841, and is buried there at the Parish
Church. She was possessed of great mental capacity,
and a sparkling humour which never failed her, despite
a distressing asthma, from which she suffered during
the greater part of her life. She also delighted in fly-
fishing, and was an excellent horsewoman, often tra-
versing the Berwyn Hills from Bodvach in Mont-
gomeryshire, where in her early days she resided, to
visit her brother's family at Rhagatt ; 2, Francis, mar-
ried to Richard Watkin Price, Esq., of Rhiwlas, co.
Merioneth ; and two sons, John, the yoimger, a captain
in the Royal Navy, was lost at sea 1814. Judge Lloyd
died on the 9th September, 1806, and was succeeded
by his elder son,

Edward Lloyd, of Berth, county Denbigh, and
Rhagatt, county Merioneth, bom 1778, was educated
at Westminster School, and at Brazenose College,
Oxford. He was called to the Bar, and was for fifty
years Chairman of Quarter Sessions for the latter
county. His portrait, by Eddis, R.A., purchased by

' Among the farms purchased in lal was Hafod yr Abad, in the
township of Maes yr Ychain, in the parish of LlandysUio. This
place is situate at the foot of the western slope of Rhiwfelyn, on the
brook called Nant Morwyuion. The whole township of Maes yr
Ychain belonged to the monastery of Valle Crucis.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 301

public subscription, in recognition of his services, is in
the County Hall of Dolgelly. Mr. Lloyd was possessed
of considerable literary acquirements, and was distin-
guished by his wit and humour in society. He was
also an excellent sportsman, and possessed, of a breed
of greyhounds highly prized by coursers for their ex-
cellence and fleetness. He married Francis, daughter
(by Frances, daughter of Sir Richard Perryn, Knight,
Baron of the Exchequer) of John Edward Madocks, of
Vron Iw, Esq., descended from Sir Robert Pounderling,
Knight, Constable of Dyserth Castle, county Flint,
temp. Edward II, whose monument is in Tremeirchion
Church, and from Edward I, King of England, through
Emma (or Ermin) daughter of Thomas Puleston, of
Picill, Esq. (Pickhill) married to David Madocks, Esq.,
of Vron I w, living in 1676, son of John Madocks, of
Bodffari, Esq., married to Jane Williams, heiress of
Vron Iw, descended from March weithian, chief of one of
the fifteen noble tribes of North Wales. Seventeen
children were the issue of this marriage, of whom
eleven were daughters, viz. : — Francis Margaret, bom
Oct. 20, 1810, died 1857, married to Sir Rober Wil-
liames Vaughan, of Nannau, county Merioneth, Bart.,
who died without issue in 1858 ; 2, Margaret Charlotte,
bom 1813, died 1815 ; 3, Charlotte Ursula, bom May
30, 1815, died Dec. 18, 1815; 4. Mary Charlotte,
bom January 23, 1819, unmarried; 5, Charlotte, bom
February 20, 1820, married to Richard John Price, of
Rhiwlas, county Merioneth, Esq., who died 1842 ; 6,
Harriet, born 1821, died 1825 ; 7, Jane Margaret, bom
August 30, 1822, married to the Ven. Henry P.
Ffoulkes, Archdeacon of Montgomery ; 8, Eliza Black-
burn, bom January 6th, 1824, married to Meredith
Vibart, Esq., late Captain, E. I. C. S., and Adjutant of
Edinburgh Volunteer Artillery ; 9, Harriet, bom July
25, 1826; 10, Ursula, bom Oct. 18, 1827, died February
2, 1828 ; 11, Julia Anne, bom 1831, died 1841 ; and six
sons — 1, John, bom Sept. 25, 1811, of whom presently ;
2, Edward (married to M., daughter of John Madocks,

302 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

of Glan y Wem and Vron Iw, Esq., M.P. for the Denbigh
Boroughs) bom Oct. 26, 1812, died 1864, leaving a
daughter, Sophia, and a son, Edward, of whom pre-
sently ; 3, Howel Wilham, bom Aug. 27th, 1816, mar-
ried to Eliza Anne, daughter of George Wilson, of
Nutley and Brighton, county Sussex, Esq., by his wife,
Elizabeth Smallpiece, decended froin Kobert Smallpiece,
of Hockering, in Norfolk, to whom arms were granted
by patent of Queen Elizabeth, in 1574 {sable, a chevron
engrailed argent between three rosettes of the 2nd,
crest, an eagle with wings erect ppr. (Add MSS. 1 4297 —
179 B.); 4, Charles Wynn, bom Nov. 30, 1817, died
April 17, 1818; 5, Owen, bom June 6th, 1825, died
Aug. 20, 1825 ; 6, Charles Owen, bom December 23,
1828, fell in action before Moultan, in the East Indies,
Sept. 12th, 1848. Mr. Lloyd, died Oct. 14th, 1859,
and was succeeded by his eldest son,

John Lloyd, of Berth and Rhagatt, educated at
Westminster, and Christ Church, was an excellent
amateur painter, and also possessed considerable skill in
photography. He wrote, also, some humorous poetical
pieces. He married Gertrude Jane Mary, daughter of
Philip Godsal, Esq., of Iscoed, co. Flint, and grand-
daughter of the first Lord Wyndham. He died with-
out issue. May 22nd, 1865, and is to be succeeded (after
his widow) by his nephew, on his attaining his majority.

Edward Lloyd, a minor, educated at Eton, &c.

On a piece of family plate is a coat of arms, the his-
tory of which is unknown, in which the arms of Tudor
Trevor are impaled argent a cross flory gules between
four Cornish choughs ppr. On dexter chief a canton
azure.

On a seal belonging to the family are the arms of
Tudor Trevor impaling gules a lion rampant reguardent
argent. Crest, a unicorn's head within a coronet argent.
The history of this seal is also unknown.

On another family seal are engraved the arms of Tudor
Trevor only, with a crest, a imicom s head erased. Its
history is likewise unknown.

THE HISTORY OF LLANOURm.

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THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

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305

CYWYDD MARWNAD MR. MORGAN LLOYD^
O^R CLOCHFAEN, LLANGURIG.

Och fy awen, oer fy achwyn,

Beth a geni, beth o g^yn ?

Och ! weithian Caelan ceula,

Digrif wyf, dwfr ag i& :

Gwn y bydd glenydd k gwlaw,

A diliw rhwng ei dwy law ;

Gwag y w'r plwyf, mwy am y mawl^

Unig iawn, anigonawl ;

Adwy a ddaeth, wedi dydd^

Adwy lydan, hyd wledydd,

Adwy am wr oedd dymems,

Ym mhob llan^ ag ymhob llys.

Daw a ddel^ a da ddylai

Ebwch hir^ a'i fab uwch ai^

Gyd& ei Iwydd, i gadw ei le^

O fawl antar, fel ynte.

Torri cyf* wna o'r cyfion,

Twrw oer torri gau ffon,

Twrw mawr gwynt,' torri 'n un gant^

Torn pen teuau'r Pennant ;

Torri angel ymgeledd^

Torri nod glain, torri enaid gwledd.

Poen dorri pan darawyd^

Mawr egin Ilon^ Morgan Lloyd.

Ni thorir aneth^ arail^

^ The following pedigree illustrates the elegy : —

Bichard Morgan of Caelan =¥= Sarah, d. of John Jones of
in Llanbrynmair. j Cawg in Llanbiynmair.

Morgan Lloyd, second son of Jenkyn^Bridget, heiress of Caelan.
Lloyd of Cloohfaen, ^j

Rev. Littleton Lloyd, oh, s. p. Sarahs Edward Pritchard of Ceniarth.

Rowland Pritchard of Caelan.

For earlier portion see p. 54.

* For " cyff ", metri graiid.

^ So I read for " mam gwedd" in the MS., but the line is cor- ,

mpt, haying a syllable in excess.
* Anethy for "annedd", metri graiid.

306 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

Is derm ei oes dro mo'i ail ;
Hydd arafy call rhoi ced,
Llew gwrol, llaw agored ;
Lluniwr hedd^ yn Uenwi rhad,
Llawen cywrain, Uawn cariad^
Ei fonedd hafaidd hyfryd,
Os da barch, er ys dyddiau byd ;
Trefor had, trwy fawrhydi,
larll Henfordd, briffordd ei bri ;
O hil Fadog friw, enwog fraith,
Danwr hael, yn dwyn rh.eolaith,
HSn ben haeddol boneddig,
A'i brig ar Gurig i gyd.
Yna^r hen dad dyladwy,
Bodd plaid, a bioedd y plwyf ;
Imp o rinwedd yw'r anian
Enwog Llwyd,^ or Berth-lwyd Ian.
Hen anrhydedd yn rhedeg
O fonedd wlad Wynedd deg.
Llin Hywel at rhyfel tref,
Gwych a mwythus, goch a Mathef.
Mwyna' rhyw, yn mynnu' r'hol.
Da, diddig, a dedwyddol.
Ochi iV lys boenua beunydd,
Fod heno ro ar ei rudd,
Ai roddi yn wr iraidd oed
Y'nghul arch, y'nghanol oed ;
Pa alar, hap, o heli,

g\Vyn fawr a ganafi,

1 gysuro ei gii seren,
Rywiog, wych, ei gwraig wen ?
Daw un a'i dwyn i anerch

IV guaf fab, ag i'w ferch,
AV ifangc, un wyr o fun,
. . . eidadyma .^

Mae*r cerain', mawr eu cariad,

Yn rhoi lief, yn^r hoU wlad ;

Noeth ywV plwyf ei weniaith plaid,

Pan dynai Duw ei enaid.

Da fyddai mewn defosiwn,

Pa ddygai Dduw heddyw hwn ?

Dwyn gweiniaid, trueiniaid, tro.

Engioed in MS. ^ Probably, ymofyn.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 307

•

Yn gafod gydag efo.

Trwm weled Uymed pob llys

Amdano^ wyneb daionas.

Hael a fa yn ei dy da^

Ag o'i fir, ag o*i fara ;

Trugarog, arlwyog lys,

A chu erioed, a chariadus.

Duw a godo, lie ei grodwyd,

Etto yn Uwyr Littleton Llwyd,

A Sarah, hyd yn des hir acfa,

Hir oes bery Bees Lloyd bach.

O ran cyweirio, ^r un cariad,

I^r ail 16, ar 61 y tad,

Amynedd am ei enaid,

Ym mhob plwyf, ag ym mhob plaid,

Ei geraint, a braint ei brig,

O Gorwen i Langurig ;

A hir oes heb loes, heb ludd,

A Uu wyn a Uawenydd,

A gras Duw yn eirias don,

IV plant hwy, ac iV hwyrion.

Mil seithgant, dwesant,* a dwy,

Brudd oedd a barodd adwy :

Rhoi pen mwyn mown pwn meini,

Oni fo lais nefol la :

" Cod, fwyn wr, cwyd i fyny !

Dapydd Manuel, 1702.

» For " dywedant'\

308

ELEGY ON MR MORGAN LLOYD OP THE
CLOCHFAEN, LLANGURIG.

By David Manuel, 1702.

Alas, my Muse ! woeful is my wail.

What sorrowful song shalt thou sing ?

Curdled, alas, is Ceulan's water

With ice, and yet I am merry !

Assuredly her banks will be hereafter

In flood between their two sides.

Empty is the parish, henceforth, of praise,

AH desolate, and not to be comforted ;

From that day forth a gap is made,

A wide gap, o'er all the land ;

A gap made by a man of perfect temper.

In every village, and in every mansion.

May God bring, — ^well would it requite

Our long groaning — ^his son to mount into

And keep his place, with his prosperity,

With a reputation like his for boldness.

Sadly is it felt that the staff of the just

Should be broken in twain like a bent stick ;

There is a stir as of a strong wind

For in one are cut off a hundred ;

Gut off is the head of the house of Pennant,

Cut off is its Guardian Angel,

Cut off is its primest jewel, cut off is the soul of

the banquet.
Painful was the blow, when struck down
Was Morgan Lloyd, the strong yet gentle sapling !
The support of the dwelling, who succeeds him.
Shall not be cut off ere his course be run ;
A gentle Hart is he, who well knows how to

give gifts,
A Lion brave and open-handed,
An ensuer of peace, one who freely fills.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 309

Merry, ingenious, full of affection.

In nobleness cheerful, like summer.

Worthy of respect, if any such ever has been.

A scion of the majestic line of Trevor,

Earl of Hereford, chiefest in honour ;

Of the race of Madog Danwr of varied fame.

Liberal, and bearing rule,

As the ancient head of a noble stock.

With his descendants, over all Curig's Land.

Then the ancient meritorious sire.

By service done to his cause, acquired the parish.

By nature ever a virtuous graft upon these

Are the Lloyds of fair Berth Lwyd.

Their ancient honour flows

From the stock of the land of fair Gwynedd,'

Of the line of Howel, a warlike bouse,

Fair and delicate, red as Mathew,

A most courteous race, willing to be questioned.

Good, without anger, and cheerful.

The mansion will mourn with daily pain.

That the gravel this night is on his cheek.

That he, a man of vigorous age.

In the prime of life, is laid in the narrow chest ;

What lament — ^haply with salt tears —

What loud plaint shall I sing.

To console the gentle star.

His fair wife, kmdly and noble ?

One shall come, and bring her to salute

Her dearest son, and his daughter,

And her young and only grandson,

. . . his father.

The relatives, deep is their affection.

Are uttering a cry in all the land ;

The parish was bereft of his winning speech.

When his soul was taken by God.

Passing devout was he,

^ The Lloyds of Berth Lwyd were descended in the male line
through Trahaiam, Lord of Garthmael, from Llewelyn Enrdorchog,
Lord of lal and Ystrad Alan, which were anciently in Powys
Fad6g ; bnt in the reign of Henry VIII they were added to the
counties of Denbigh and Flint, which were in Gwynedd. This
family descended by heirs female from Madog Danwr, and assnmed
his arms.

310 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

Why did God take him to-day ?

Many a time woald he take in a shower

The weak and the wretched with him.^

'Tis heavy to behold how moumfal is every

mansion
For him, with his kindly countenance.
Liberal has he been, in his good house.
Of his beer as well as his bread ;
A charitable, well -provided mansion,
And one ever liberal and compassionate.
May God still, on the spot where he was interred.
Highly honour Littleton Lloyd,
And Sarah, proportionately to their long descent.
And long be the life of the little Rees Lloyd,
And may he cultivate the same affection •
To the second generation, after his father.
For his soul let there be patience
In every parish, and in every society
Of his relatives, and those he exalted.
From Corwen even to Llangurig.
And long be their life, without hurt or hindrance.
And a host be it blest with gladness ;
And may the grace of God, in waves of fire.
Descend on his children and grandchildren.
One thousand seven hundred and two, they say.
Was the sorrowful year that made the gap.
When 'neath a pile of stones was placed his

gentle head, to remain
Till the voice of the heavenly host shall come : —
'^ Arise, thou gentle man, and mount aloft!"

^ I.e., Would give them a lift in his carriage.

311

THE LEGEND OF ST. CURIG.

At a period of great antiquity, not later than, and
possibly anterior to, the seventh century, a person of
foreign appearance, and habited in the garb of a pilgrim,
disembarked from a ship that had brought him to a spot
near to that on which stands the modern town of Aber-
ystwyth. He tarried not at the point of landing, in
the vale of the Ystw3rth river, — then, doubtless, a tan-
gled wild of marsh and thicket to the water s edge, —
but straightway bent his steps up the steep and path-
less ascent towards the heights of Plinlimmon. Reach-
ing at length the summit, and weary with his walk, he
sat on a rock, and scanning the surrounding prospect,
he espied on the bank of the Wye a spot which he
deemed eligible for his future resting-place. There, the
work doubtless of his own hands, uprose first a humble
hermitage and chapel, and afterwards a church, which,
though not of spacious dimensions, became celebrated
for the beauty of its architecture and the elegant carv-
ing and desigfn of its massive oaken roof The rock
wf ereon the pil^m sat beaxa to thia day the name of
"Eisteddfa Gung", or Curig's Seat. The church on
Plinlimmon, adjacent to the highest point of the mac-
adamised mail-road from Aberystwyth to Hereford, still
bears testimony to its founder by its name of " Llan-
gurig," the Church of St. Curig. Moreover, a crozier
or pastoral staff, stated by Giraldus to have belonged
to him, and to have been endowed with a supernatural
healing power, was for centuries preserved with a loving
veneration for his memory in the church of St. Har-
mon's on the Radnorshire border : a proof that he be-
came a bishop (perhaps of Llanbadam Fawr, hard by
the scene of his landing), or else the abbot of a religious
community, which in that case must have been founded
by himself.

Such is the legend of Curig Lwyd, which has led to

M M

312 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

the hypothesis adopted by Professor Rees, that he was
not only the original founder of the church of Llan-
gurig, but also its patron saint, — an hypothesis to which
a certain additional colour would be given by the tradi-
tional appellation of " Curig Lwyd'', or " the Blessed",
by which he was popularly known. A wider investi-
gation, however, of the subject will lead unavoidably to
the inference that the Professor, critically accurate and
cautious as he usually is in his surmises, was somewhat
premature in thus determining the question ; and this
is the more surprising inasmuch as he has himself fur-
nished us with a list of churches in Wales, the dedica-
tory titles of which alone might have led him to doubt
the soundness of such a conclusion. In his Essay on the
Welsh Saints^ he tells us that the churches of Llanilid
a Churig, Glamorganshire, and Capel Curig, Caernar-
vonshire, are dedicated to Juliet and Curig together ;
and that Juliet is also the saint of Llanilid Chapel,
under Defynog, Brecknockshire. There are also two
other churches, those, namely, of Perth Ciurig, Glamor-
ganshire, and Eglwys Fair a Chxurig, Carmarthenshire,
of which the Professor states that it is uncertain to
whom they are dedicated. The festival of Juliet and
Cyrique, he adds, is June 1 6th. If these churches were
dedicated to the martyr St. Cyricus or Quiricus, whether
jointly or otherwise with his mother Juliet, the proba-
bility would lie, primd facie, in favour of the hypothesis
that Llangurig was so too. Nor is there anything, in
fact, to oppose to it, save the existence of the legend,
and the analogy of other churches in Wales believed
to have derived their names from those who respect-
ively founded them, and who, from that act alone, were
afterwards, in the popular estimation, honoured with
the title of Saints. In such a case, moreover, it would
appear not a little remarkable that one bearing the
name of the infant martyr should have landed on our
island, and have devoted the remainder of his life in it
to the special service of religion in so wild and remote

1 Page 307, and note, p. 82.

THE HISTORY OF LLANO URIG. 313

a region therein, unless, indeed, a positive connection
existed between the peculiar devotion introduced by
him and the saint whose name he bore, and under whose
patronage he may have held himself to be in virtue of
that name : an early instance, perhaps, of a practice
which gradually became general in the Church. That
this was really the case will appear highly probable from
a comparison of the history of the saint and of his mar-
tyrdom with such notices as have come down to us of
the cultus actually rendered to him in Wales during
subsequent centuries ; and if we add to this the narra-
tive of the migration, so to speak, of that cultus from
the eastern to the western churches, the probability will
be changed into certainty.

It is stated by Ruinart^ and by the Bollandists that
various " acts'' of these saints had been published in
ancient times, one of which, included in the list of apoc-
ryphal works of Pope Gelasius, is printed by the New
Bollandists* in Greek and Latin. Another account, be-
lieved by them to be genuine, is also to be found there,
together with a statement as to its origin, from which it
appears that Pope Zosimus (a.d. 417), who had seen an
edition of their acts which appeared to him to be spurious,
wrote to a bishop of Iconium named Theodorus, request-
ing to be furnished with such genuine particulars of the
martyrdom of SS. Cyricus and Julitta as could then be
obtained on the spot where it took place, during the
tenth persecution of the Christians under Diocletian,
somewnat more than a centiuy before. In the course
of his inquiries, Theodorus was referred to an old man
who claimed kinship with these saints, and wrote a
letter to the Pope addressed " Domino Fratri et Co-
episcopo Zosimo' , containing a narrative written in a
very sober and matter-of-fact style, and free from the
numerous extravagances which disfigure the spurious
acts. The narrative of the martyrs' suflferings given by
the Rev. Alban Butler {Lives of the Saints , June 16 th)
is abridged from the bishop's letter, which is printed in

^ Ed. Ratisbon, 18(59. ^ e^i. p^ris, 18G7.

314 THE HISTORY OF LLANGUEIG.

full by Ruinart and the BoUandists, and is in substance
as follows : — *' In the year A.D. 305, Julitta, a lady of
rank and property, left her native city of Iconium in
Asia Minor, with her . son Cyricus and two maids, to
escape the persecution then raging in that city under
Diocletian the Roman emperor. She went first to Se-
leucia, but on finding that Alexander, the governor of
that city, was a persecutor, she felt it unsafe to remain
there, and proceeded to Tarsus. Here, however, Alex-
ander happened to be at the very time of her arrival ;
she had no sooner reached the place, therefore, than
she was apprehended and brought before him, together
with her infant. Her maids forsook her and fled, while
she, to all the governor s queries, made no answer than
this : — * I am a Christian.' The governor ordered her
to be cruelly scourged with thongs, but, struck with
the noble appearance of her child, he resolved to save
him, and took him on his knee, endeavouring to soothe
him with kisses. The child, however, stretching out
his arms towards his mother, cried out after her in the
same words, 'I am a Christian,' and, in struggling to be
free that he might run to her, scratched the governor's
face. The latter, enraged, threw him to the ground
from the tribunal, and dashed out his brains against the
edge of the steps, so that the whole place was bespat-
tered with his blood. His mother, far from lamenting
his death, made thanksgiving to God, as for a happy
martyrdom. Then they proceeded to lacerate her sides
with hooks, and on her feet they poured scalding pitch.
When called upon to sacrifice to the gods, she persisted
in answering, * I do not sacrifice to devils, or to deaf and
dumb statues, but I worship Christ, the only-begotten
son of God, by whom the Father hath made all things.'
Thereupon, the governor ordered that her head should
be struck off, and that the body of her child should be
thrown into the place where the bodies of malefactors
were cast. The remains of both mother and son were
afterwards buried secretly, by the two maids, in a field
near the city. Subsequently, when peace had been

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 315

restored to the Church under Constantine the Great,
the spot was made known by one of them. Their tombs
were visited by a great concourse of the faithful, who
vied with each other, as it is related, in striving to
secure, each one for himself, a portion of their sacred
relics " for a protection and safeguard".

From this time forward the devotion to these holy
martyrs spread widely over the East. A panegyric is
still extant in their honour, written by Metaphrastes,
or more probably by Nicetas the rhetorician, as is sup-
posed, in the ninth century, the facts in which were
fumitfhed by Bishop Theodore s letter. Offices in their
honour were sanctioned by St. Germanus and Anato-
lius. Patriarchs of Constantinople, a.d. 449-58, while
others are known to have existed at Byzantium and
Mauroleum. A complete office, with canon, by Jose-
phus the hymnographer, a.d. 883, contains some verses
commencing thus :

St. Joseph speaks of their tomb as being bedewed with
the grace of the Holy Spirit, and of cures being wrought
there ; but is silent as to its locality. The reason for this,
as we shall shortly see, was in all probability the circum-
stance that the bodies themselves had, at a much earlier
period, been conveyed away, and treasured up as pre-
cious relics in certain churches of the West. The story
of their removal is thus given in an ancient MS. disco-
vered at Rome,^ as related by Henschenius the Bolland-
ist, in his commentary for tne 1st May, on the Life of
St. AmatOTy a Bishop of Auxerre, who lived from a.d.
344 to 418, and was consecrated a.d. 388. This Life is
said to have been written a.d. 580.

"After the. lapse of many years from their gaining
the crown of martyrdom, St. Amator, Bishop of Antis-
siodorum, accompanied by the most illustrious Savinus,

1 The MS. commences thus : *' Incipinnt miracala SS. Qairici et
Jalittse, qaae Teterius Sophisfca, eomm servns, edidit, de corponbas
eomm i S. Amatore AntiochieB repertis."

316 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

travelling through the territory of Antioch, by the grace
of Christ found their most holy bodies, and on his return
brought them, with great devotion, to Gaul. On reach-
ing the city of Autnce (Chartres) he so far yielded to
the entreaties of Savinus as to bestow on him one of
the boy's arms, which appears to have been deposited
in the church at Nevers. The other remains he caused
to be entombed a second time in the very house 'where
the Bishop, powerful by the glory of his merits, is yet
venerated by the faithful'. Whether the city of Antioch
visited by St. Amator was that in Pisidia or in Syria,
or more probably another of that name, near Tarsus,
the scene of the martyrdom, is not stated. From the
Nevemais the arm of St. Cyricus was removed by Abbot
Hucbald to his monastery of Elno * in Hannonid\" ^
In the Galilean Martyrology, by Saussaye, it is stated
that considerable portions of the relics were distributed
among different churches in Gaul, "whereby a great
devotion was stirred up everywhere towards the mar-
tyrs themselves, so that many churches, monasteries,
and other ' trophies' (as they were then called), were
erected in their honour. Among them Toulouse, Aries,
Camot, and Auvergne, are specially named. The devo-
tion also extended itself to Spain, where, at Burgos, an
office with nine lections is known to have been recited
in their honour. In France, Cyricus became known
indifferently by the names of St. Cyr and St. Cyrique ;
and the name of ' Cir Ferthyr , once attached to the site
of a ruined chapel in Lleyn, Carnarvonshire, may pos-
sibly be a translation of the former."*

From the foregoing account it will not be difficult to
explain how, in early times, a Gaul inspired with the
prevalent devotion to these martyrs may have been
called by the name of one of them ; may have landed
on the coast of Wales, bringing with him, mayhap, a
small but treasured portion of the relics in his own

^ Perhaps St. Amand's in Flanders, of which Hainanlt is a pro-
vince.

2 Rees' Welsh Sawif^, p. 332 ; Arch, Camh., 4th Ser., v, p. 87,

THE HISTORY OF LLANGUIUG. 317

country esteemed so precious ; may have built in honour
of this, his patron saint, a humble chapel, enlarged sub-
sequently into a church, with its monastic establishment
adjacent ; and taken precautions for the preservation,
after his death, of the memory of the acts and sufferings
of one whom he himself held in such tender venera-
tion, by translating some narrative of them in his own
possession into the language of the people to whom he
had been the means of introducing the knowledge and
cultus, as saints, of himself and his martyred mother.

That such was actually the fact is not obscurely inti-
mated in several scattered notices which are to be found
in the manuscript works of Welsh bards and elsewhere.
In a fragmentary poem on St. Curig in the Lljjfr Cen-
iarihMS.j a Book of his Life is referred to as extant in
the author s time. Other fragments of poems in the
same MS., by Sion Ceri and by Huw Arwystli, relate also
certain circumstances of the martyrdom, in all probabi-
lity derived from this traditionary biography. And lastly,
some curious "emynai^'*, or hymns, in the Welsh language,
are found in the volume of Lives of Cambro-British
Saints, published by the Welsh MSS. Society, compris-
ing a "Lectio" evidently intended for the instruction of
the people on the annual festival, together with some
collects, which leave no doubt as to the identity of the
saints whose actions are referred to with those whose
acts were recorded by Bishop Theodore for the informa-
tion of Pope Zosimus.

With these fragmentary notices is connected another
question of no little interest relative to the genuine-
ness and authenticity of the acts of these martyrs tradi-
tional in the Principality. Was the narrative contained
in them substantially identical with that furnished by
the Bishop of Iconium to the Pope ? Or did it rather
savour of inspiration drawn from the spurious writings
referred to in the Bishops letter as "containing over-
boastful and inconsistent sayings, and trivialities foreign
to our Christian hope", and which are ascribed by him
to the " machinations of Manichees and other heretics

318 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

who make a mock of, and endeavour to create a con-
tempt for, the great mystery of godliness"? It would
be natural to supnose tLt from the time of the pubU-
cation of the autlientic Acts, the spurious ones would
have speedily ceased to obtain currency, and have fallen
into oblivion. So far, however, from this being the
case, we find them incurring the condemnation of Pope
Gelasius (a.d. 492-6), " having been brought, together
with their relics, from the East". We are left to infer,
therefore, that Bishop Theodore's account, when for-
warded to Rome, was either not at all, or but partially,
circulated in Asia : hence St. Amator, when carrying
away with him the bodies of the martyred mother and
son, must have taken with him also the apocryphal
account of their death. And this inference is confiirned
by the fact that these apocryphal Acts were edited by
Hucbald, who, as we have seen, was presented with the
arm of St. Cyricus at Nevers, and who died in the year
930. And again, a.d. 1180, they were edited by Philip,
an abbot of the Premonstratensian Abbey of Bona Spes,
for John, the abbot of the church of St. Amandus at
Elno. John, it would appear, furnished Philip, in the
first instance, with a copy of the apocryphal Acts, toge-
ther with Hucbald s work, for we find him stating in a
letter to John that he had made in them considerable
corrections, and had omitted much that appeared to
him profane, irrelevant, or absurd.

If these were the Acts brought by St. Amator into
Gaul, it would follow almost of course that they alone
would have been known to Curig Lwyd, and by him
disseminated in Wales. The Welsh fragmentary notices
will be found amply confirmatory of this view ; and as
they and the foregoing account are reciprocally illustra-
tive of one another, we propose now to allow them to
speak for themselves. The first of these notices is that
in the Emynau Curig (Hymns of St. Curig), as the de-
votions printed in the Lives of the CambrO'-British
Saints already mentioned are strangely called. The
third of these is as follows : " The holy martyr Curig

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 319

was discreet from his childhood. He suflFered martyr-
dom, and was very wise, and a teacher of heavenly
things, and opposed the cruel commandment of Alexan-
der the king, and rejected a lordly Ufe, from a pure
heart and the wisdom of a perfect man. He desired
not the vain things of this world, but that he might
obtain the joys of Paradise ; and suffered for the triune
God and one Lord severe persecution from men, and
for love to Christ the King he endured the torments of
fire on his body and on his arms ; and through faith in
the Trinity he persevered in faith and in prayer to
God, so tU the faithful might escape the pains of
Hell, and obtain the joys of the heavenly kingdom, by
the words of the Catholic faith, and become no less per-
fect in Christ than that martyr. Therefore we piously
call on the undefiled Curig, our helper in Heaven, that
by his prayers we may obtain and deserve the very
glorious reward which he is said to enjoy with the hosts
of angels for ever and ever. Amen.*'^

This EmyUy or lesson, furnishes a remarkable coinci-
dence with the apocryphal life published in the Acta
Sanctorum of the Bollandists. It represents the mar-
tyr as speaking: and acting as an adult, whereas the
liter dlrib«Vo«. though an intot, aB speaking
with the words of a full-grown man, and as reproving
Alexander for his idolatry and cruelty, and even chal-
lenffinff him to inflict on him strange and unheard of
tortur^ of his own devising, through which he passes
in succession unhurt, by the power of God. With these
the allusions, obscurely thrown out in the following
fragments of Welsh poems, mainly agree. The first is
attached m the MS. to a portion of Huw Cae Llwyd's
poem on the Four Brothers, of Uangurig, who was bom,
and probably passed his life, in the neighbourhood of
that place, but need not, therefore, be his.^

1 Lives of the Gamhro-British Saitds^ pp. 276 and 610.

^ The language of Hnw Cae Llwyd proves that he was a South
Wallian writer ; but Llangnrig is on the borders. The poems in
the text, at least in the state in which they are here presented, can-
not, we think, be the prodaction of that accurate prosodian and
mellifluous poet. — Ed. Arch, Camb,

320 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

THE FIRST FRAGMENT.

Llnrig fendififedig wjd,
Ceidwad [in*] a'r Ffrainc ydwjd,
Mae i'th wlad, fel j wnaeth [wedd]
Dj achan, a lljfr dy facl)e[dd]
Mae*n rhan, o bed war ban byd,
Dy wyrthiau, rhaid yw wrthyd !
Da fyd fii ar d^ feudwy,
A4 leian gynt ar Ian Gwy.

Mael gad, pan geisiodd Maelgwn
Lnnio hud i leian hwn,
Ei feirch, a'i gewyll efo,
A arwe[i] niodd wr yno ;
Trigo'r Haw wrth y cawell,
Yngl^n, ni wnai Angel well ;
A*i w^r aetb ar ei ol
A lynant bawb olynol ;
Hwjmthwy oedd[ynt] amat ti
Yn dy gaddigl di 'n gweddi ;
Drwy dy nerth, Gnrig Fertbyr,

Y rboddai yn rbydd ei w^ ;
A*i gwyrthian, 'n ael gortbir,
A wnaeth Duw o fewn i*th dir ;

Del wan o gwyr, rhwng dwylaw Gwen,
A Innioedd leian lanwen ;

Y rhith, ae nid anrheithwyd,
Dinbych [Llan] Elidan Lwyd :
A'i delw, nid o hndoliaeth,
Rhoi lief ar Dduw Nef a wnaeth ;
A'i gradd, fel y gweryddon,
Gyd& Sant a gedwais hon.
Maelgwn aeth, mal y gwn i,

Ei delwaith i addoli ;
Hwn a roddais, yn bresent,
Glasdir at glos, da ei rent,
Hysbys y w bod Uys a llan,
A theml i chwithau y man.
Ni bn rwydd rhag Arglwyddi
Daro dyn wrth dy wyr di ;
Chwithau a fu'n dadleu 'n deg,
Ar UstuB gynt ar osteg :
Ar fraich deg oedd faich dy fam
Silits a roes hwyl . am
HoU feddiand Alexander
A fu megis gattiau gir.
Fob cwestiwn gan hwn o hyd
Wrth ddadl di a gwrthodyd.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGUKIG. 321

THE SECOND FRAGMENT.

Plwyf hardd sydd, brif fibrdd a bryn,

Lie rhed Gwj 'r hyd.dwfr a glyn ;

Plwy' heddy w aplaf hoy wddyn,

Pa le ceir gwell, plwyf Curig Wyn ?

Garig, fab gwar, Uafar, Ueo,

Yw'n tad, a*D porthiant, a'n pen.

Cam hwn, creda' i, cai radoedd mawlgerdd,

Y trwbl a ddug, teirblwydd oedd,

Bilain dordyn aeth i'w dwrdio,

Alexander oedd falch dro.

Silit ddinam, ei fam fo,

Wen a welad yn wylo ;

Ofer gwelad ! Na id Gurig

Wr garw o'i ferth 'rolddig ;

Dewai 'n fy w, dyna alaeth,

Dewai 'n gnawd gwyn, ag nid gwaeth ;

Ni thyfodd, fe garodd gwr,

Ar ei dir erioed oerwr.

Nerthwr 'n yw *r gwr a garwyd,

Gwych iawn, ac a chwyr addolwyd ;

Yma a tbraw a wellhawyd

I garwr glan Onrig Lwyd.

Daw Lwyd cynhenwyd gwenwynig — i'w traia

Tros fy anwylyd foneddig.

Ghwerw i doe chwarae dig

Dichwerwedd Daw a Chnrig.

Tra dewr o natnr ydwyd,
Trig ar y gair, trugarog wyd ;
Treni'r dewr walch trymai ;
Taer, dewr wyt, Daw, ar dy rai.

THE THIRD FRAGMENT.

Pwy a aned er poeni,

Pwy'n deirblwydd no'n Harglwydd ni ?

Carig bob awr y carwn,

Oorea help oedd gam hwn.

Poen oedd i'w wedd pan oedd iaa,

Pen Merthyr poen a wethiaa.

Pob gweinied pawb a geiniw

Bonedd Ffrainc beanydd a'i firiw.

Perlen a glain parch naw gwlad,

Plwy' Cnrig, pa le fwy cariad ?

I rwydd Saint a roddais i
Anrheg amom rhag oemi.

322 THE HISTORY OF LLANCiUllIO.

THE FOURTH FRAGMENT.

Ni bu wan yn byw ennyd

Nid ofbai 'i groen boen o'r byd.

Alexander oedd herwr

Ar Dduw, ftc oedd oerddig wr.

Id dew o'r faingc oedd ar fai

Amhorth oer a'i merthyrai.

Efo k Uid, a'i fam Ian,

I'r pair aetb, wr purlan ;

Ni ddarwena 'i ddwr annoer

At hwynthwy mwy naV nant oer.

Teirblwydd a fu 'n arglwydd 'n hyn

Tri mis lai, Duw, a'i rwymyn*;

Yn fab iacb yn fyw y bu,

Ac & maen i*w gymynu.

Yn llndw ei dd^th a'n lludtodd,

Ac yna fab gwyn i'n Toedd.

Ag oerddrwg y g^wr drwg draw

E fa asiaeth i'w feisiaw ;

Troes Duw hwynthwy tros dyn teg

Trwy'r astell draw ar osteg ;

Torrai Iddew trwy wddwg

Ni'm dorwn draw am dyn drwg.

04 esgidian nadau a wnaed,

Yno fal anifeiliaid.

Crist yw'n rhan, croeso Duw'n rhodd,

Curig a'i fam a'i carodd.

Saith angel rhag bodd oedd,

Sel at y saith Silits oedd.

Mab a fu'n gwledychu'n gwlad,

A merch ir, mawr o'i chariad,

digariad gorynt

O Ian Gwy, a'i leian gynt.
Ac arall, mab Rhyswallawn,
Feddwl oer, a fu ddwl iawn ;
Meddylio, cyn dyddio'n deg,
Am oludau, em loywdeg ;
A Churig [Wyn] ni charai,
Dwyllo neb un dull a wnai ;
Ei addoli ef ar ddau lin,
Ar war bryn a wna'r breniu ;
Cwympo yma, camp ammharcfa,
Colli o'i wyr a chylla ei farch ;
A Churig, fab gwych hoywrym,
A ddiddigiodd wrth rodd rym :
A diddan nid oedd anodd,
A glowson' roi glas yn rhodd.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 323

Tyredig swmp a roid seth
Mai eardrefn, ami ardreth ;
Tri thir, mal traeth enraid,
Tri yn nn cylch, tri yn un caid.
Caer fy arglwydd, Ue'i ceir fawrglod,
Cwmpas dy glai, er dy glod ;
Llangnrig, pob lle'n gywraint,
Llawer hyd braff, He rhad brain t ;
Troell wen hardd, tri liiw'n hon,
Tir Curig at tair coron,
P*le well un plwy ni ellir,
Plwy Gang nid tebyg tir.

TRANSLATION.

A coat of mail art then

To us, and to the French, too, a guardian.

Thy country possesses, as it made it, the form

Of thy descent and the Book of thy Life.

The portion of the four quarters of the world

Are thy miracles. Great is our need of thee !

Happy has been the Hermitage,^

With its nun, of yore on the bank of the Wye.

When Maelgwn, mailed for battle, sought
To practise a deception on the nun of this spot,
His coursers and his baggage
Were brought there by the man.
To a hamper his hand cleaved ;
It was held tight ; no angel could make it more so.
Also his men who followed him
Were held fast, — all, one afber the other.
When these made earnest prayer
To thee in thy chapel.
By thy power, O martyr Cyricus,
He set his men free.

And God wrought, on the brow of the upland,
His wonders within thy territory.
The nun, pure and holy.

Fashioned figures of wax between her fair hands :
The likeness, and it was not disfigured.
Of blessed Elidan of the church of Denbigh ;'

^ Curig Lwyd's Hermitage probably is meant, on the spot where
the church was aflerwards built. The nun would seem, from the
context, to have occupied it afber his death.

^ Llanelidan, five miles from Ruthin.

324 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

And her image, by means of no deception,

Uttered a voice to the God of Heaven ;

And, like the youths, she maintained

Her position with the saint.

Maelgwn went, as well I know,

To the figure thus made to worship,

And for an offering he gave

Pasture land of great price to the sacred enclosare.

Well known to fame are now

Your glebe house, churchyard, and temple.

Thy men are not free to strike a man

In presence (or for fear) of their lords.

Well hast thou pleaded also

Of yore, before a judge, in open court,

When a burden on the fair arm of thy mother

Julitta, who gave thee example ;

In whose eyes the possessions of Alexander

Were all but as worthless things.

By thee was each question of his

Refuted in disputation.

The resemblance to the apocryphal Acts in these last
lines is imquestionable. The preceding ones seem as
clearly to contain the substance of a tradition referring
the foundation of the church of Uangurig to Maelgwn
Gwynedd, whose repeated injuries to religion, and sub-
sequent reparation of them, as told by the contemporary
Gildas, seem to have procured for him the privilege of
being made the typicsd representative of such legends :
at least he is found similarly figuring in the Life of St.
Bi^nach and others. The adoption of the legend by
the Welsh bard is valuable so far as it proves that the
foundation of the church of Llangurig was referred, in
or about the fifteenth century, to a period dating so
far back as the sixth ; and that it could not, therefore,
have been built for the first time by the monks of Strata
Florida, to whom it seems afterwards to have apper-
tained as a vicarage. The next is a fragment of a poem
by Sion Ceri, a bard certainly of the fifteenth century.

Beautiful is the parish, on highway and hill,

Where flows along the vale the stream of Wye,

The parish to-day of one energetic and powerful,

Than the parish of Blessed Ourig, where will yoa find a better?

Curig, a youth gentle, eloquent, and learned,

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURTG. 325

Is onr father, our head and our sapport,

Mj belief is that to love him brings down g^raoes ; the trouble

He endured, when three years old, ought to be praised in

song.
The tyrant Alexander, proud of temperament,
And of a high stomach, proceeded to menace him.
His guileless mother, the blessed Julitta,
Was seen to weep.

A fine spectacle ! It had no power to restrain
The murderous wrath of the cruel wretch towards Curig.
While he lived he held his peace, — therein lies the sorrow.
In his holy flesh he was silent^ and unconcerned.
The man of cold heart who loves him not
Ne'er hath prospered in his territory.
It is our beloved saint who strengthens us ;
Highly exalted is he who is honoured with tapers of wax.^
Everywhere have favours been received
By pure lovers of the holy Curig :
On behalf of my beloved and exalted one
Was God aroused to wrath by violence stirred by venom.
Bitterness comes of bandying strife
With the loving-kindness of Gbd and of Curig.
By nature thou art exceeding firm,
Dwell on the word — thou art merciful ;
Fuiy will weigh down the steadfastness of the biuve :
Thou, O God, art merciful to thine own.

Defects in the metre, as well as the sense, prove the
corruptness of several of these lines. The identity of
its legend, however, with the apocryphal Acts is evinced
by the epithet of " eloquent" ascribed to the martyr,
when only three years old, whose deeds are magnified
apparently at the expense of the mother, whose Chris-
tian heroism seems to be tacitly ignored. The remaining
fragments are from the pen of Huw Arwystli, who is
emphatically the poet of Llangurig, as shown by his
recently published poems on the principal families of
that place.^ In these, notwithstanding the vexatious
mutilation of the text, some striking coincidences of

^ This seems irreconcilable with the previous statement as to his
eloquence.

^ It is still a common custom on the Continent to bum a wax
taper as an offering before the statue of any saint whose prayers are
desired to obtain some special favour from Heaven.

^ In Montgomeryshire CoUeetions, vol. iv, p. 64.

326 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

the Welsh legend with the apocryphal Acts are plainly
discernible.

Who is it was bom to saffer pain,

Who but our patron, when three years old ?

Not a moment passes but we love Cnrig,

There is no better help than to love him.

Tortared was his frame in his infancy,

To the person of a martyr pain was befitting.

Illustrious is his merit, noble was his birth.

Gentle his demeanour ; let all daily serve him.

Where does love exist, if not in the parish of Curig,

The pearl and the gem revered by nine lands ?

To the beneficent saint have I given

Gifts to secure us against cruelty.

The beginning of the next is wanting.

Ne*er in the world for long hath lived a weak one.
Who dreaded not pain of body.

Alexander was a despoiler of Gt>d,
When angered, a cruel man was he.
In guilt a very Jew — from the seat of judgment
With monstrous cruelty he martyred him.
He, with his pure mother, indignantly
Entered the cauldron — the pure and bright one.
The water heated for him bubbled not
More than would a cold stream.
Three months short of three years old
Was our patron when thus they bound him.
When a child, and in perfect health,
By a stone was he dashed to pieces.
His passage through ashes hath angered us.
To us, therefore, he is a blessed saint.
Through that wicked and cruel man,
A framework of boards was to be ventured upon ;
These were turned by God to the advantage of the saint,
For, thro' the boards, in sight of all,
The Jew^ fell, and broke his neck.
For that wicked man I feel no pity.
On the spot, from his shoes, issued
Yells, like those of brute beasts.

Christ is our portion, may God receive graciously our gift,
Curig and his mother loved Him,
Seven angels were filled with delight,
Julitta was a spectacle for the seven.

A youth there was — one who ruled the land,
And a young maiden, greatly beloved,

* Jew is used here as a terra of opprobrium.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGCJRIO. 327

[hiatttt'} were without a£Eeoiion

For the Wye's bank, and its nan of old time,

And another, the son of Bhyswallon,^

Was cold of heart) and doll of understanding,

Before the day dawned his thoughts would run

Upon riches, and brilliant gems ;

And he loved not holy Curig ;

He would cozen any one in any way.

On both his knees is the king

Worshipping him on the slope of the hill ;

Here a shameful mischance befals him.

He loses his attendants, his steed breaks away.

And Curig, a saint as generous as powerful,

Was appeased by virtue of an offering,

And was readily induced to console him.

We have heard that the gift of a close was given him.

An eminence, steep and towering, was bestowed,

Like a pile of gold, an ample tribute ;

Three lands like a golden strand.

Three in one ring, iJbree in one were obtained.

The enclosure, my patron, wherein thou art greatly honoured,

Of Llangurig, each spot exactly measured.

Encircles thy soil, for thine honour.

Many a good length is there, where there is free privilege,

A bright and beautiful circle,' wherein are three colours.

In the land of Curig, with a prospect of three crownsj

Better parish can there not anywhere be

Than the parish of Curig, no other land is like it

There are three or four passages in these two frag-
ments in striking conformity with the spurious Acts.
Such are the incident of the caldron or cdcabvs, that of
the shoes out of which issued horrible yells, the seven
angels who descend from heaven, and the age of the
chud, exactly two years and nine months. There is
some variation in the details* In the Acts the caldron
is Med with burning pitch ; in the poem, with boiling
water. In the former, the shoes, on the Governor's
demanding a sign, become alive ; nay, more, eat and
drink ; and finally are transformed into a bull, out of
whose neck springs a he-goat, instead of being left, as

^ This may be a false reading for Gaswallawn, the fiftther of Mael-
gwn G-wynedd, who is the subject of the legend as told in the poem
attached to that of Huw Cae Llwyd.

^ Or " wheel". Can this mean a corona or chandelier P

328 THE HISTORY OP LLANGUBIO.

in the nursery tale, after the dissolution of the Governor s
body by fire ; and the seven angels appear for the pur-
pose of restoring to life a thousand persons, who embrace
Christianity after being beheadecT by tlie Governor's
order. On the other hand, the martyr's death, by being
dashed against a stone, would seem to have been derived
from the gfenuine Acts; unless, indeed, the passagfe,
which is (Srtainlv obscure, is rather to be refirr^to
an incident in the spurious work, in which a space is
scooped out of a large stone, capacious enough for the
two martyrs to sit £, the sides of which are Afterwards
filled with molten lead. The whole, in fact, bears marks
of an attempt to reduce the narrative of the spurious
Acts within credible dimensions by the elimination of
its absurdities ; a theory borne out by the statement in
the EmynaUy that Cyricus was an adult who from his
childhood had been distinguished for his piety and
ability ; and also by the statement that the Li/e pub-
lished by Hucbald, and obtained, doubtless, by him
from Nevers, underwent a similar process of cakiiation,
first by himself, and a second time, subsequently, by
his editor. Abbot Philip.

The most remarkable feet connected with the history
of these Acts is, perhaps, this, that the genuine narra-
tive furnished by Bishop Theodore to JPope Zosimus
within a century after the event, never succeeded in
superseding them in popular estimation. It affords a
stLge confirmation Jf 'the saying, which ha« almost
passed into a proverb, "Give a falsehood a start of
twenty-four hours, and the truth will never overtake
it." Father Combefis, a Dominican, by whom Bishop
Theodore s letter in the original Greet was exhumed
from among the MSS. in the King's Library at Paris in
1660, expressed a hope that the public reading of the
apocryphal Acts proscribed by Pope -Gelasius, already
suppressed at Nevers, might be put down by authority
also at Ville Juif (a corruption of Villa Julittse), a town
six miles south of Paris, where they were read annually
from a pulpit to a great concourse of people. And

THE HISTORY OP LLANQURIG. 329

Father Poree, a Premonstratensian, writing in 1644,
states that the use of these, which had thus usurped
the place of the genuine Acts, was in his time widely
disseminated throughout France. So difficult is it to
eradicate a popular usage, especiallj when calculated
to gratify the love of the marvellous, so deeply rooted
in our nature. It is instructive, moreover, to learn from
Bishop Theodore's letter, that these, and similar extra-
vagances in legendary saints' lives, do not necessarily
owe their origin to motives of gain or self-interest on
the part of those who may be made the xmconscious
means of handiBg them down to posterity, as has
often been erroneously supposed. In this instance, we
have seen that they were actually due to the malice of
enemies of the Christian faith, on which it was sought
to cast discredit by the substitution of false for true
narratives of the deeds of those whose lives and death, if
recorded simply and without such exaggeration, would
have fiimished the strongest testimony to the truth of
their behef

In conclusion, an anecdote may not be out of place
which may possibly serve to illustrate the simple faith of
the villagers of Llangurig in the power of their patron
saint to obtain them favours from heaven. A traveller
by the Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth mail, not many
years back, while beguiling the tedium of the journey
by careless gossip with the coachman, was informed by
him, as an extraordinary fact, that the finest crops of
wheat in the county of Montgomery were said to be
grown in the parish of Llangurig, despite the appa-
rently unsuitable nature of the land and climate for
that object. Can this have been a remnant of the old
belief long after the memory of the saint, and the popu-
lar devotion to him, had faded from the popular mind ?
The apocryphal Acts of Cyricus close with a prayer by
him for those who should honour him hereafter, that
they might obtain their petitions according to their
necessities, one of which was that they might be blessed
in their wine, oil, com, and all their substance. Whe-

330 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

ther attributable or not to this passage in his legend,
the published Welsh poems^ in his honour teem with
expressions of such a belief in the power of his prayers,
and of belief also in the reception of tangible tokens
without number of his protection and favour.

H. W. Lloyd.

^ In Montgomeryshire CoUeetioiMf' vol. v, p. 49, and vol. vi, p. 224.

331

COWYDD I SIGN AB RHYS AB MAURICB.^

Mae o Einion ymwanwr^
Mynnn'r gamp mae'n oreu gwr,
Sfae hwy arfau'r mab hirfawr,
Mae Hun gwych fal Lleon 6awr.

Y mae grym y gwr yma,
O dywaid^ hwn ei dad da.

Mae gwayw Sion mwy a'i g&d ef,
Mynn ei waithdrafn mewn wyth dref.
Mae cledd da yn gyrru^n gwaith^
Mentr teilwng mewn tair talaith.
Ep So dewrion lie bon' byth,
Na chwilio gwych wehelyth.
Ni S^ Sion, hoflFyw ei swydd,
Er gwarau gwr a gorwydd ;
Gwas dewrwych, a gais daraw,
A'i gweryl aeth gar ei law.
Gwr yw Sion a srorai saith,
Gwr kam, gam, diweniaith,
Ni roi gefh er ei gyfarcb,
Sein ar ^r mai Sion y w 'r arth.
Owr yw Sion gorau y sydd,
Argofion & 'r gwayw efydd ;
Llew gl&n o Elystan Llwyth^
Ue'i daliodd M k'i dylwyth.
Lliw gwyn o Frochdyn a i frig,
Lie mae arwydd llew Meurig.
Sarff y w g&s, Syr Ffft^g o wr,
Os am ynys ymwanwr ;
Dyged o Garbed y gair.
Draw Parwn, byth drwy fawrair.

Y Mochdref mae ef am waed
At ais a gwrdd t'wysogwaed.*
Trig ar f wng trwy Geri fawr

1 From Add, MSS. U,901, No. 12, in the British Musenm.

^ Mochdref, a parish adjoining Llandinam, and near Newtown.

332 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

Traws flin-walch teiroes flaenawr.

Nid enyll neb o'i dynion

Am droi swydd i'm daro, Sion :

Ni fyn Sion nnion anair^

E fyn &'r flF^nn ofni'r Ffair ;

£ fyn gael fo iawn i gyd ;

A fynodd, a fu enyd.

Ef yw'r b^ i fawr a bach ;

Heb ochel ni bu weliach.

Dewr yw Sion^ a dyrys y w,

Drwy gedyrn fel draig ydyw.

Oen diddig oni ddigier,

Obry'n niysg hravm a m6r.

Ei wraig a rydd rywiawg ran *

O'r gorau aur ac arian.

Ei bwyd rhoes heb w&d yn rhydd

Odidawg, a'i diodydd.

Gwen^ gu, l&n, gan galenigy

Gwen bdr-ddoeth, gwn, heb awr ddig.

Lloer Siancyn gwreiddin graddol,

Llirddynt had, llwyddiant i'w hoi.

[Gwraig] Sion g^yrael Llangnrig

Lloer i bro, lliw aur i brig,

I g^d hefyd g&d, Dofvdd,

Gwen a Sion dau c&n oes hydd,

A'i gwr 61 o'i gwerylon,

Ag y sydd goran, Sion.

Ni bu Rys wynebwr well

Yn eich hoedl oedd na Ghadell,

Na Morys yn ei mawredd.

Nag Einion wych, gwn, un wedd,

Nag Elystan aig Iwys dad,

Na deunaw gynt yn y gdid.

Y Nudd yw Sion oedd Tw serch,

Addaw^ rhoddion ail Rhydderch,

North Einion wrth ei ynys,

A fu ^m mhob braich Sion mab Rhys.

North Dduw i Sion, wyrthiau'r Saint,

I'w d4l hynod 61 henaint.

Sion Ceri a*i Cant,

» Adaw in MS.

333

AN ODE ADDRESSED TO lOHN AB RHYS AB

MAURICE/ OP LLANGURIG.

By John, thb Baed op Kerry.

A tilter comes of Einion's rsuce,

None better loves the game,

A youth stout and tall — ^his arms are taller still.

Noble is his form, like that of Lleon Gawr.*

The strength of our hero

Is said to equal that of his doughty father.

Greater still hath the spear of John been proved.

In eight towns is the effect of its thrust desired.

•In battle he drives his black sword

With a worthy daring in the three principalities.'

From where they stand to the last, though brave men fly.

His noble tribe will never yield their ground.

Fly will not John, his duty is dear to him.

In the play of horse and horseman.^

A youth stout and mettlesome, who will strive to strike.

When his quarrel has come to his hand.

John is a hero who can beat seven,

A hero void of offence, rough, no flatterer.

Who, though he be courted, will not cringe, —

The bear is the sign that the man is John.

A hero is John, possessed of the best

Reminiscences, with the brazen spear.

A pure-bred lion of Elystan's tribe,*

Where with his people he avenged himself on a host.

Of the white hue of Broughton and its branch,*

^ Maurice ab Madog ab Einion ab Howel of Mochdref, Esq., son
of Tudor ab Einion Fychan, Lord of Cefn y Llys, descended from
Elystan Glodrudd, Prince of Fferlis. He married Tangwystl,
daughter and coheiress of Gmffydd ab Jenkyn, Lord of Broughton,
who bore, sable, a chev. inter three owls, argent. 'By this lady,
Maurice had issue six sons : (1) leuan Lloyd ; (2) Rhys ; (3) David ;
(4) Llewelyn ; (f5) Maurice Fychan, whose daughter and coheiress
Catherine, married Jenkyn Goch of Clochfaen ; and (6) leuan
Gwyn.

' A king of Britain, according to the Bruts, who built Chester,
called to this day Caer Lleon Gawr, the fortress of Lleon the Giant.
Williams's Eminent Welshmen, p. 276.

* Of Gkrynedd, Powys, and Dyfed. * The tournament.

^ Elystau Glodrydd. * Perhaps an allusion to the family coat

334 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

Where is the symbol of the lion of Meurig.

He is a hateful serpent^ a Sir Falke of a man^^

If called to combat for the Island.'

Derived from Corbet was the epithet,* —

The Baron yonder, for a perpetual fame.

To Mochdref does he owe his blood —

The blood impulsive in the breast of princes.

For three generations there dwells a chieftain

To trouble the perverse and vain throughout the extent

of Kerry.
Not one of its men shall be free
To strike me, John, for exercising my calling.*
The upright John will not allow abuse :
He will have the Fair awed by the staves (of the officers).
He will have justice dealt to every one.
And what he wills at once has come to pass.
He is a terror to great and small ;
Beware him those who would keep a whole skin !
John is both stout and formidable.
He is a dragon amidst the strong ;
A gentle lamb, if he be not angered ;
Then he descends upon them with his brawn and marrow.
A goodly share will his wife bestow
Of the best of gold and silver.
Her provision she distributes without stint.
Which is excellent, as also her liquor.
She is fair, kindly, and pure, lavish in gifts.
Fair, and very wise, to my knowledge, and never angry.
Bright as the moon is she, sprung from thoToot of Jenkyn,
May her seed shoot forth, and m^ her posterity prosper.
The arched eyebrow of John's wife is to Llangurig
As the moon to the land, radiant as gold o'er the hill.
On John and his lady bestow then, O God,
To live together the hundred years of the Hart,

* Sir Falke Fitzwarren. * I.e., of Great Britain.

^ Madog ab Einion ab Howel of Mochdref, married Anne,
daughter of Piers Corbet, Lord of Lee or Leigh, Juxta Cans,
descended from Roger Corbet, Lord of Leigh, who bore, or, two
ravens ppr., in a border engrailed, guiea^ second son of Robert Fitz
Corbet, Baron of Cans ; Harl. MS. L396 ; Lewys Dwrm, vol. i, p. 814.
Einion married Nest, daughter and heiress of Adda ab Meurig ab
Adda ab Madog ab Maelgwyn, Lord of Kerry and Maelienydd.

* I.e., of a Clerwr, or Minstrel. They were sometimes sabjected
to legal measures in consequence of their erratic habits of life.

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG. 335

And may her hasband John come forth

From his quarrels however is best ;

Rhys was no better opponent^

In your lifetime, nor was Cadell^

Nor Maurice in his might.

Nor the noble Einion, I ween, in any way ;

Nor Elystan, the father of the pure race,

Nor twice nine of any of those of yore.

A very Nudd is John to those he loves.

He promises gifts like a Bhydderch.^

To his country Einion's strength

Is John the son of Rhys in both his arms.

May John gain strength from God, and miracles wrought

by the Saints,
To uphold him until he be old and full of renown.

Rbydderch Hael, or the Generous.

F P

336

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340

THE LORDS OF MAELIENYDD AND CERI OR

KERRY.

Earl. MS. 2,291.

Madog, the eldest son of Idnerth ab Cadwgan ab
Elystan Glodrudd, had the Lordships of Maelienydd,
Ceri, and Elfael. In 1136 he took part with Owain
and Cadwaladr, the sons of Gruffydd ab Cynan, King
of North Wales, in their victorious attack upon the
Normans in Cardiganshire, in which the latter were
defeated with great slaughter, and their encroachments
for the time successfully checked.^ Madog married
Rheinallt, daughter of Gruffydd ab Cynan, but, accord-
ing to some authors, he married Jane, daughter of
Drumbenog ab Maenyrch, Lord of Cantref Selyf. He
died in 1141, leaving issue — 1, Cadwallon, of whom
presently ; 2, Einion Clyd, Lord of Elvael ; he lived at
Aber Edw, in the Comot of Llech Ddyfnog, in Elvael,
where are still the remains of an ancient castle, near
the confluence of the Edw with the Wye, and bore
gules, a lion salient argent in a border of the second,
charged with ogresses or pellets. He gave the lands
now called Tir y Mynach, in the parish of Clyro, in
Cantref y Clawdd, to the Abbey of Cwm Hir. Toge-
ther with his brother Cadwallon, he joined his forces,
with Owain Gwynedd and the other Welsh princes,
against Henry II, at the battle of Crogen in 1165.^
About the year 1177-8 Einion Clyd was treacherously
slain by the Normans, who lay in ambush to kill him.
His death was avenged by the Lord Rhys ab Gruffydd,

1 Mo7}L Coll., vol. i, pp. 236, 237. ^ Brut y Tjwysogion.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 341

Prince of South Wales, who ravaged their lands in
Maelienydd, and built the Castle of Rhaiadr Gwy.
This castle was dismantled and totally demolished
during the civil wars, and not a vestige now remains
except the foss. Einion left issue, Walter Fychan,
Lord of Elfael and Dunreven, who was living in 1215.
Gervase and Meredydd, who were addressed by Prince
Llewellyn ab lorwerth, amongst other chieftains residing
in the neighbourhood of Ceri, in a letter deprecating
injury or violence to the Priory of Rattlinghope, which
must have passed between the years 1199 and 1211.^

The other sons of Madog ab Idnerth were Meurig,
Rhys,Howel, Meredydd, Cadwgan, David, andGruffydd
Foel, the ancestor of the Pryses of Mynachdy, in the

?arish of Bleddfa, in the comot of Is Mynydd, in Elfael.
'his family of Pryse bore azure, on a bend inter six
lions rampant or, armed and langued gules, three cross
crosslets of the third. Madog had also three daughters,
Maud, ux. Llys ab Idnerth Benfras, Lord of Maesbrwg ;
Elen, ux. Adda ab Gruffydd ab Madog ; and Dyddgu,
who married first, Robert, Lord of Cedewain, and
secondly, CoUwyn ab Tangno, Lord of Efionydd and
Ardudwy.

Cadwallon, the eldest son of Madog, succeeded his
father as Lord of Maelienydd, which contains the co-
mots of Ceri, Glyn leithon, Rhiw Abwallt, and Swydd
Ygre.* He re-founded the Cistercian monastery of

^ Mont. Coll, vol. i, p. 239.

^ lo the parish of Llanddewi Ystrad Ennan is an ancient camp
called The Oaer, which occupies the summit of a high hill impend-
ing over the Yallej of the leithon, of an oval form, defended by
two parallel entrenchments, and almost inaccessible on the leithon
side. On a hill opposite is Bedd Ygre, or the Grave of Ygre, a
large mound or tumulas of earth enclosed in a small moat, but
evidently erected in commemoration of a British chief. Two miles
hence, on a slight elevation, stood Castell Cymaron, of which not
a fragment of the superstructure now remains ; the site and moat
are only visible. This is supposed to have been erected by the
Normans, and destroyed soon after by the Welsh ; but again re«
built by Hugh, Earl of Chester, in 1142, when all Maelienydd be-

342 THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIO.

Cwm Hir, which he intended for sixty monks, in 1143.
In 1165 he joined his forces with those of the princes
of G wynedd and Po wys against Henry II at the battle
of Crogen/ In 1175, he and his brother Einion Clyd,
Lord of Elfael, and Einion ab Rhys, Lord of Gwrthrei-
nion, in the Cantref of Arwystli, and other Welsh lords
who had been in arms against the king, were taken by
the Lord Rhys ab Gruffydd to the king's court at
Gloucester, and received to the kings peace, after
which they returned peaceably to their lands.* Cad-
wallon resided at Castell Dinbaeth, which is situate on
an almost inaccessible rock, in a narrow defile, and over-
hanging the river leithron, in the parish of Llananno,
in Elfael.

Cadwallon was waylaid and murdered on Septem-
ber 22nd, 1 179, by the retainers of Roger, son of Hugh
de Mortimer, in returning from the king's court, and
while under the king's guarantee of safe conduct.
Diceto tells us, says the Shropshire historian, of the
hatred and fear which existed between Cadwallon and
the English ; also how his miu-derers were punished.
Some who were proved guilty were put to the rack,
and forfeited all their worldly possessions ; others, who
were suspected, were forced from the pale of society.
But Diceto does not teU us who was the principal
offender, namely, Roger de Mortimer, who suffered two
years' imprisonment and forfeiture in consequence.
During this period, probably on February 26, 1181, his
father Hugh de Mortimer died ; and in 1182 the sheriff
of Herefordshire, balancing his account for the year
1181, is allowed a sum of money for the custody of the

came subject to him. It was often an object of contest between
the Welsh and the Normans, and was afterwards possessed bj the
Mortimers in 1360, in whose posterity it continued for ages. — The
Rev. M. Price, Vicar of Llanddewi. This parish is partly in the
Gemot of Is Mynydd (now called the Hundred of Cefn y Llys) and
partly in the Comot of Uwch Mynydd (now called the Hundred of
Knighton), in the Cantref of Elfael. — Carlisle's Die. Top,
* Brut y Tywysogion. ^ Ibid,

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 343

castle of Camerium (Cymaron), which was iu the king's
hands by reason of Mortimer's disgrace.^ This casfle
had been built by Roger de Mortimer in the year 1 143,
after expelling the brothers from the territory. The said
sheriff in 1179 charges two and a half merkb for taking
the prisoners, who were accused of the death of Cade-
will (Cadwallawn), to the court at Windsor and to Wor-
cester as the king had ordered.*

Cadwallawn married Eva, daughter of Philip ab Ma-
dog ab Adda, by whom he had issue : (1) Maelgwn, of
whom presently, and (2) Howel, who was one of the
hostages hanged by King John in 1213 ;' (3) Madog,
and (4) Owain. Howel had issue : Morgan, Lord of
Ceri, and Meredydd and Owain, who both did homage
to Henry III, August 16, 1241 ; Cadwallawn had also
four daughters, Joan, ux. Meredydd Bengoch ab Howel
ab Seisyllt, Lord of Buallt; Eva, ux. Meredydd ab
Gruffydd, Lord of Gwentlwg or Tredegar ; Morfudd,
ux. Idnerth ab Llewelyn Ddiried, son of Rhys Grug,
Lord of Llanymddyfri ; and Nesta, ux. Ifor ab Llewelyn,
Lord of St. Clear's, descended from BledrL

Maelgwn, the eldest son of Cadwallawn, succeeded
his father as Lord of Maelieiiydd. He married Janet,

daughter of Morgan ab Howel, Lord of , by whom

he nad issue : (1) Madog, of whom presently ; (2)
Meredydd, Lord of Ceri, in 1250.* He married Anne,

^ This castle soems to have been built on lands belonging to the
Abbey of Cwm Hir, for which other lands were given in exchange.
" Concedimns etiam eis (monachis, scilicet) terras de Maysegragur,
et Kajrweton, et Brennecrojs, venditas pro Castro de ELaminamm."
— CarL<t 16 Henry III, mem. 6, printed in Dugdale's ifofuw^., Lond.,
Bohn, 1846.

2 Mont Coll, vol. i, p. 239.

^ Howel is stated in the Charter already cited, to have given
Foxton to the Abbey: "Terram de Foxton, qnam habent de dono
Howel, filii Cathwalan.'* — Ibid,

* This Meredydd appears also to be referred to in the above
Charter as the donor of lands to Abbey Cwm Hir : — " Omnes terras
qnas habent de dono Mereduc filii Mailgnn (here follows a list of
twenty-three places) et commnnam pastuamm per totam Melemd"
(Maelienydd).

344 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

daughter of Sir John Scudamore, Knight, by whom he
had issue: (1) Madog,Lord of Ceri in 1278 (6 Edward I) ;
(2) Llewelyn, whose son Howel was one of the Lords of
Ceri in 1278 ; (3) lorwerth, and (4) Adda Moel.

The third son of Maelgwn waa Cadwallawn, Lord of
Maelienydd, who died at Cwm Hir in 1234; the fourth
son was Adda. Maelgwn, who died in 1197,^ had like-
wise a daughter named Gwerfyl, who married Rhys
Gloff, Lord of Cymyt Maen in Lleyn.

Madog, Lord of Ceri, the eldest son of Maelgwn, He
was one of those to whom Llewelyn ab lorwerth. Prince
of North Wales, wrote on behalf of Ratlinghope Priory.
It had been represented to the prince, who was at this
period recognised as superior Lord of Ceri and Cede-
waen, that Katlinghope and Cotes, places consecrated
to God and to pious uses, were so near to the land of
Ceri as to be exposed to the occasional raids and forays
which agitated the border. In the cause of religion he
accordingly writes to the chieftains of N brth Wales and
all others resident there, whether personally known to
himself or not. He promises them the best of his aid
and counsel in all their wants and just requests. He
shows them that it is their interest not less than his
own to foster and protect religion, its possessions and
its shrines. He commands all whom his commands can
bind, that as they love his person and his honour, they
wUl protect and assist Walter Corbet (an Augustinian
canon who has acquired these lands for pious uses) in
his designs. He threatens, on the other hand, the loss
of his friendship to any one who is disobedient to his
wishes. Lastly, he addresses Madog, the son of
Maelgwn in particular, reminds him how he had
brought him up and promoted him. He conjures him
not to return evil for good, but to protect the prince's
honour, as he, the prince, would thereafter consult for
and succour the said Madog.*

* B^nit y Saeson rmd Tywysogion, Ed. Aberpergwm.
2 Mont, Colhy vol. i, p. 241,

THE HISTORY OF LLANQURIG. 345

Madog, Lord of Ceri, was one of the three hostages
for the Prince Llewelyn ab lorwerth, who were so cruelly
put to death by John, King of England, in 1213. He
married Rose, daughter of Sir Roger Mortimer, by
whom he had issue, Adda of Ceri, who married Jane,
daughter of Hugh ab Llewelyn ab Hugh of Payne (by
Eleanor his wife, daughter of Robert Mortimer). By
this lady Adda had several children, of whom Meurig
of Ceri was the father of Adda of Ceri, whose only
daughter and heiress, Nesta, married Einion ab Howel
ab Tudor of Mochdref, as before stated.^

^ According to Hanes Cymru^ the true name of the kingdom of
Eljstan Glodrjdd is Fferyllwg, or Fferllwg, of which those of
Fferlljs, Fferleg, Fferex, and Fferreg are corruptions. It was
sometimes called also '* Y wlad rhwng Qwy a IlafretC\ the country
between Wye and Severn. The author adds that some persons re-
gard the country now between those rivers as the original territory
of Fferyllwg, together with a portion of Herefordshire. Mr. Price's
own opinion was, that the nucleus of the kingdom of Fferyllwg was
the district called by the Saxons " Dena", or the Forest of Dean,
noted by Giraldus as "trans Vagam, citraque Sabrinam". The
word '* Fferyllwg", he says, expresses the distinctive character of
the country, and, in his opinion, is derived from "Fferyll*', a worker
in metals, or rather in iron. Fferyllwg, then, is '* the land of iron-
work", which is to this day a speciality of the Forest of Dean. It
was described by Giraldus as " ferro fertilem atque ferina". Again,
Mr. Williams, in his History of Badnorshire^ states that Fferllys was
originally a part of the territory of the Silures (Essyllwg), and that
this territory had continued to be governed by its own "reguli"
during and since the Boman occupation up to the period of its con-
quest by Elystan Glodrydd ; Hereford, the capital, being previously
called Ffcrley. Of the body of Ethelbert, assassinated by Offa, it

was written —

" Corpus tandem est delatum,
In Fferleii tumolatam".

If this be so, the origin of the names " Silures" and '' Essyllwg" is
easily accounted for. The inhabitants of Fferyllwg would have
been called in Cymric " Fferyllwys*\ as those of Lloegr "Lloegrwys".
These names the Romans corrupted into '^ Silures" and '* Siluria",
whence the Cymry again formed " Essyllwg". The name of Here-
ford may have been a Saxon or Norman corruption of Fferyllwg,
originating in unsuccessfal attempts at pronunciation of the word.

346

ELEGIES ON CADWALLAWN AND HOWEL,

SONS OF MADOC^ AB IDNERTH AB CADWGAN

AB BLYSTAN GLODRYDD.

Bt the Babds Cynddblw and Lltgad Gwb.

Translated by HOWEL W. LLOYD, Esq.

The petty kingdom of Fferllys, or Fferyllwg, preserved
its integrity but for a brief period after its conquest by
Elystan Glodrydd The parts of it comprised within
the counties of Hereford and Gloucester, including the
Forest of Dean, were wrested by William the Con-
queror from his son Cadwgan, whose son, Idnerth,
appears as lord only of the lands forming his father's
paternal inheritance.* Nor was he left in undisturbed
possession of these ; for William Rufus made a grant
of them to Ralph de Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, one
of the Norman invaders of England, with power to
conquer them for himself. For more than a century
of warfare, however, the Mortimers do not appear to
have succeeded in acquiring more of the territory from
the descendants of Elystan than lay in the immediate
neighbourhood of the castles which they erected in it,
and garrisoned with their retainers. To this feud, and
to the dissensions in the family itself, are to be traced
the misfortunes of which there are incidental notices
in the Chronicles, and which ended in the ultimate
transfer to the Mortimers of the chief portion of the

^ In Myvyrian Archaeology ^ pp. 159 and 255, Ed., Denbigh.

^ Mr. Jonathan Williams, in his History of Radnorshire, states that
Radnor also, or Maesyfed, was seized by William I, who made it a
royal demesne, whence it was called *' the Honour of Radnor*'.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGUKIG. 347

territory. Idnerth, the eldest son of Cadwgan, had
twelve sons, of whom Madoc, the eldest, succeeded
only to the Lordships of Maelienydd, Ceri, and Elvael.
To his eldest son, Cadwallawn, he bequeathed the two
former ; and Elvael, the remaining Lordship, to his
second son, Einion Clyd. In the year 1159, the brothers
Cadwallawn and Einion Clyd were at variance ; for we
find that the former was made prisoner by the latter,
and given up to Owain Gwynedd, who in turn de-
livered him into the hands of Henry II of England,
by whom he was imprisoned at Worcester ; whence, by
the aid of his friends and foster brothers, he contrived
to escape.* Another notice of Einion Clyd is in An-
nales CambricBi — "Annus mglxx . . . EynaunClut vul-
neratus est a filiis Lewarchi filii Denawal (Dywal, C.)
scilicet Meiler (Meilir, C.) et Ivor," p. 52. And in the
Confirmation Charter of Henry III, already referred
to, he is said to have been the donor to Abbey Cwm
Hir of certain lands, " terram de Camaff (Camo ?) cum
nemore quod vocatur Coedeirenis" (the Wood of Aeron).
The first elegy, of which the following is an attempt
at a metrical version, is by the celebrated bard, Cyn-
ddelw. He was in high favour with most of the Welsh
princes, his contemporaries, in the twelfth century, in
whose praise several of his poetical compositions are still
extant, and are printed in the original among those of
the " Gogynfeirdd'', in vol. i of the Myvyrian Archceo-
logy of Wales. Among them is this poem, interesting
not only for its poetical power, but also for the relation
it bears to a family remarkable for its singular accumu-
lation of misfortunes. Its hero, Cadwallawn, was the
eldest of several sons of Madoc, the son of Idnerth,
and he and his brother Einion Clyd lost their lives in

^ Brut y Saesofij p. 679 ; Brut y Tywysogion, Aberpergwm Edit. ;
p. 713 oC Myv. Arch,, Edit., 1870. In Annates Camhrice, the account
of this event is reversed: — ''a.d. 1161. Cadwalann filius Madanc
Eynann Clyt fratrem sanm tennit, et Owino Grifini filio carceran-
dam tradidit : qaem Owinus Francis dedit : sed per collectaneos et
familiares sues de Wigornia libcratas, noctc evasit," p. 49.

348 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

the manner already related, the former by the stroke
of a pole-axe, not without a desperate struggle with
his assassins, so far as may be gathered from the elegy,
in which a prudent discretion would appear to have
been observed by the poet in his use of obscure and
guarded language in reference to the event.

It is remarkable that the Welsh Bruts, Annales
Cambrice not excepted, are silent as to the manner of
his death, though one of them. Brut y Tywysogion,
states the simple fact that he was slain. '^ a.d. 1179.
Ac yna y lias Kadwallawn". From this silence, and
from the record of the death of his brother Einion
Clyd, who had been similarly waylaid less than two
years before, it might be supposed that the two events
had been confounded, were it not that the French
Chronicle of the Mortimers, allowed by Eyton to be
authentic,^ and the contemporaneous chronicler, Radulph
de Diceto, who was Dean of London in 1181, actually
mention " Cadwallon" by name as the person who was
waylaid and murdered in returning from the king's
court, and whilst under the king's guarantee of safe-
conduct. As the latter appears to supply the fullest
account extant, albeit hostile and prejudiced, of the
event, and as the judgment exhibited therein of Cad-
wallawn's life and character contrasts strangely with
that passed on him by his countrymen as displayed in
the elegy, a translation of the whole passage is here
subjoined : —

"a.d. 1179. Cadwallan, a person holding some Princedom
in South Wales, often transgressed the limits defined of old
time between the English and the Britons,^ and by making
violent inroads into the March, and panting open-mouthed for
massacres of men, studied to pass the whole course of his life
in frequent plunderings and maraudings. Dragged^ at length
before the King, and assailed by the crios of many persons,

«
1 Hist, of Shropsh,, iv, pp. 205-6.

^ *' Fines inter Anglos etBritones limitatos antiqnitos ssepe trans*

gressus est/' Offals Dy ko must be the boundary here rcfciTed to.

» "Tractus.**

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 349

wheHj althongh then and there safe from the King under the
condnct of the King himself, but always admonished in pro-
portion to the enormity of his crimes^ he had gone on his way
back homeward^ being casnally intercepted by an ambuscade
of the enemy, he was slain on the 22nd of September. Now,
because this redounded greatly to the injury of the King^s
Majesty, Cadwallan, who so often before pnght justly to have
been awarded hanging for his deserts in accordance with pub-
lic law, out of reverence for the King, from whose Court he
was returning, ought, to the end that public law might not be
outraged, to nave had a safeguard from public law, until he
should have betaken himself within the boundary predeter-
mined for his full security by the indulgence of the Prince.
Now, if any one be alarmed by the example of this unwonted
event (although nothing like it has occurred in our own days,
and although the King has not left this unpunished, though
in avenging it the punishment exceeded due bounds^), if he
should have been summoned' to the King's Court, let him
approach it without fear. For the Welsh may mutually con-
sole each other that the death of one of their countrymen
has received, in the deaths of many of the March-men, obse-
quies grievous to the English and odious to the Normans.
Therefore, those privy to the murder, and become suspected
from concurrent report, and proved liable by a public investi-
gation, were involved in a heavy sentence, some being tortured
on the rack,^ and condemned in confiscation of goods, and
others compelled to lead a wretched life in the hidden recesses
of the woods.*'*

It never could have occurred to the worthy dean,
although, from the permission accorded to Cadwallawn
to return home with no worse treatment than a warn-
ing, it seems to have suggested itself to Henry II and
his advisers, that the Welsh may have had some
foundation of justice for their reprisals in the gratui-
tous grant of their hereditary territories to the Morti-
mers by the Red King, solely by the paulo post futu-^
mm title of their conquest of it bv the sword ; to say
nothing of the previous assassination of no fewer than
four of his brothers, Meredydd, Howel, Cadogan, and

^ " Dum iu alciscendo poonae modnm ezcesserit.*'

« "Vocatns." « "Patibnlo."

* Diceto's Yniagines "HUtoriarum^ in Twysden's X Scriptores.

350 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG.

EinioD^ at the hands of these same enemies, the Morti*
mers. Cadwallawn could not have been "dragged"
against his will to the court, or he would have been
entitled to no safe-conduct. Nor could his conscience
have reproached him with any crime, the proof of
which, in the king's court, would have forfeited his
safe-conduct, and placed him in the power of those
who, he well knew, thirsted for his blood. Nor could
the king, without shame, have suffered the great ag-
gressors, the Mortimers, to escape scot-free after the
Eerpetration of so atrocious a deed. He must have
een aware that the real object of this, as of the
foregoing assassinations, was to establish that family
for ever in the possession of the remaining property
of those whom tney had already violently ousted from
its largest and richest portion, and which they had
little prospect of securing for themselves, as long as
the brave and warlike princes lived, and had sons to
follow their footsteps, in defending it. The perpetra-
tion of such deeds was certainly far from atoned for by
mere deprivation and imprisonment for a year or two ;
and this shadow of justice, which Diceto naively pro-
nounces excessive, would be one proof more, if such
were needed, of complicity in the judge.

The second elegy is one of the five extant compo-
sitions of Uygad Gwr, a bard who flourished in the
next generation to Cynddelw.

According to the " Llyfr Coch Hergest" edition of
the Brut y Tywysogion, Howel and his brother, sons
of Madoc ab Idnerth, were slain, how and wherefore
is not stated, nor the name of the second brother.
In the Bnit y Saeson^ the name of the second brother,
Cadwgan, is given, with the addition that they were
slain in a quarrel, "yn ymryson". In the Aberpergwm
edition of the Brut y Tywysogion these statements
are supplemented by the addition that there was a
quarrel between Howel and Cadwgan, sons of Madoc
ab Idnerth, and that they fratricidally killed each
other: — "Oed Crist 1140...y bu ymryson rwng Hy-

THE HISTORY OF LLANGCTRTG. 351

wel a Chadwgan meibion Madawc ab Idnerth, ac y
lladdasant y naill y UalL" This, however, appears to
have been copied from the Annales CanibricB, under an
amusing misapprehension of the meaning of the words
" de se". " A.D. 1142. Howel et Kadwgaun filii Madauc
filii Ydnerth occiduntur, machinante Elya de se — " i.e.,
Howel and Cadwgan, sons of Madoc, son of Idnerth,
are slain by the contrivance of Elias de Say, whose
father, Hugh de Say, with Roger Mortimer, was
worsted by Rhys ab Gryflfydd in an attempt to defend
Radnor in 1 144. Elias was sixth in descent from Picot
de Say of Stokesay. He and his brother Robert died
without issue. His sister Margaret married Hugh de
Ferrers, and secondly Robert de Mortimer, by whom
she became mother of Hugh de Mortimer ; by whom
Meredydd ab Madoc, another brother, was slain in 1146.*
Again, Meuric ab Madoc, the last brother, was slain by
his own men in the same year.* Thus, of nine royal
brothers, six at least died violent deaths — a sad and
striking illustration of the turbulence of the times!
Cadwallawn ab Maelgwn ab Cadwallawn, the last Welsh
lord of Maelienydd, died in 1234, at Abbey Cwm Hir,
where he had previously taken the religious habit.'
His brother Maelgwn built the Castle of Trefflan.*

ELEGY ON CADWALLAWN, SON OF MADOC.

By Ctnddblw.

May God pour forth to me the gift assured
Of poesy, the varied lofty ode.
That 1 with honour meet may celebrate
A man, like ocean lashing up his ire.
That so I may compose, with language just,

^ Brut y Saeson,

' "Menric, filins Madanc, it suis dolo interfectus est." — Ann,
Camhr, Ed. C.

' " Katwalan filins Mailgon sumpto religionis habitn apud Cumhyr
obiit." — Ann. Camhr,, p. 80.

R R

352 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

And studied force, Cadwallawn's elegy^

Like Einiawn's elegy by Morvran^ framed.

What could I love, I, by my lord beloved.

Save honour, mead, and shaggy-coated steeds ?

Stand not my tears in heaps, since he is dead.

Of chiefs my chiefest pleasure and delight I

Gome suddenly upon me is the day

Of parting from the flesh that teemed with life,

Cadwallawn's fix'd, predestinated time.

The favours I declare of gracious lords

Dispensing happiness. An ardent flame

Of passion would I stir when I shall sing

The home of mournful, but erst comely bards.

Of one who brings ua ionging would f speak ;

My tears are trickling for an eagle's might.

In sadness for the slaughter of my chief.

Now that the potent lord, the Cymry's prop.

First in the war-shout, of overbearing course,

Is gone. The fruitful earth is eloquent !

Who will maintain Cadwgan's generous seed,

A stalwart rampart raised around the fort.

Around the beverage they brew from com ?

Who will rush now where spears are thrust to slay ?

From shafts now slackened, where the blue-edged wound ?

Who on the war-path shall direct the fray ?

What lion brave, with cruel blade, advance ?

What courtly host, in wealthy palaces,

Shield, and imbue with force, the British bard ?

Will alms be giv^n, when heaps are wasted all ?

What harmony of worship will be tuned.

Now that the stranger hath cut off its life ?

What warrior supreme shall warriors meet ?

Who, as Cadwallawn erst, shall lavish gifts —

Cadwallawn, Ehodri's^ gracious progeny ?

To him th' affray was as a chord attuned.

And dreadful blows on Beli's lifted shield.'

His loss I know, — he showered down splendid gifts ;

Have I not lost a lord who freely gave r

His sons on me red silken robes bestowed.

Within me do not stirring memories rise f

With wrathful indignation am I stirred ;

To me his palm unclosed with gracious gifts ;

^ Morvran Ail Tegid, a bard of the sixth century.

* Rhodri Mawr, or Roderick the Great.

^ I.e., his shield was like that of Beli Mawr.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 353

Unstinted, overflowings nndisgiiised.

I was an Ovate by his grace endowM^

As all may know^ so good a lord was he !

My golden tints and vessels have I seen

In mansions, where his love requited mine,

In tramp of hosts^ in halls^ mid songs at feasts.

In trodden courts, and gates, mid bardic lore,

What time I was beloved by Ceri's lord.

The love-compelUng prince of lands renowned.

His dinted target I must love perforce.

He loved my welfare, loved me in his house.

But since the prince of warriors is gone.

Who kept me well, but made nor heap nor store.

Silent am I. Too long I hold my peace —

I will be mute no more, — 'tis not my part.

For great Cadwallawn, manhood's glorious light,

A chain with bars the Southerners prepared.^

Cadwallawn's bounty it is mine to praise ;

Whenever generosity was praised,

Mono were a third so generous as he.

His onset, as a flood o*erspreads the shore.

Forced its way foremost in the rush of war.

The glades of Powys did my chief revere

For qualities that gain a man respect ;

Like Madoc, ever generous in will ;

Stem to mow down his foes, yet kind withal.

Not Owain* brooded more o'er Britain's care,

Yet slaked his thirst of vengeance in the fight :

A man to fell men never fell'd before,

A man of manliest courage in distress,

A man who laid an ambuscade when pressed,

A mighty tow'r of strength, a noble king,

A man who made the Gymry seem disgraced,

A man who took their manliness away,

A man who caused St. David to withdraw

From them his patronage, tho' England's foe.*

A man who reddenM with a gushing stream

Of gore his blade, and Teivi's plain once fair,

And stainM with mingled gore the azure sea.

Great is the day, to mark the love we bore

Our hero, for the joys he bless'd us with.

Against a host when valiant in the van.

* An allnsion, probably, to his imprisonment at Worcester. See
above, p. 346. - Owen Cy veiliawg F

^ By his prowess casting theirs into the shade.

354 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

Not Tain oar love ; his life of precioas toil^

When fighting for our hearths, subdued our hearts.

His heaving steel he stain'd with crimson-red.

When, in the fiery conflict, death was rife.

By foes encompassed in the combat's fray.

Lavish of alms, protector of the song.

His death that came of devastating war

Supremely hath afflicted me ; my smile

Perforce is stay'd : woe's me, my lord is lost !

Doth not earth's bosom hold him in the grave 7

Light of the battle's skirts, he yet was mild.

Slain is the king of bounty — ^grief is come !

As he hath seen me, would I saw him now !

Begret assails me, bitter is my pain !

Huge was his blade, and heavy with its tip

Of many-tinted brass ; the cavity

In his shield's centre waver'd not ; he took

Pride in his feats of valour, ere he fell.

Where'er he went his fame had gone before.

With twenty pounds he gifted me unask'd.

He never bade me from his sight depart;

May God ne'er part him from the realms of bliss !

A king's encroachment is a tyranny ;

As he hath stood by me, so I by him.

What happ'd before will hap again ; all die !

Much, from the noble impulse of my soul.

The leader by my song will I extol.

Who loved to dare the venture of a wolf.

Who gifted bards with noble maintenance,

Himself their pattern of a perfect life,

Shelt'ring the winged tribe of flutt'ring birds,*

Slaying a foe who erst had left his side.

The crows' provider ne'er could bear reproach ;

The crows of Brynaich never wanted loads ;

Reproach was none that he could o'er deserve. .

He was not one to store up heaps of grain.

Nor yet was he so far reduced in wealth,

But bards wayfaring would resort to him.

Whate'er he had to give was gain to all.

The soil was honoured where he slew a foe.

Where'er he was, that spot was not disgraced.

He would not turn aside to do a wrong,

But, where he saw oppression, would oppress.

^ i. c.f the bai'dti who flitted like birds from place to place.

THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIG. 355

Too lofty-minded he to sknlk from foes ;

Not one would dare so mach as rouse him up.

As falcons are self-confident^ so he^

Faultless, in pride of courage venturesome^

With brittle spear uplifted, battered shield ;

So was the mounted son of Madoc armed.

The glorious warrior, mead-fed, on the shore,

Freely as Mordaf ^ on me did bestow

Gifts lavished on me, ta'en from vagabonds ;

Ah ! scarce can I again pour forth my lay :

For so to nurture bards he used his wealth. *

Around the Border he would Saxons fell.

His rage Gwynogion's^ jurisdiction ruled.

And, let who would oppose, a hero he.

Who kings resist with force deserve not peace.

Angles he mangled, — and, when mangled, left.

The Lloegrians hear the fame of ravage still,

Though he be slain — ^the lion dire in fight, —

In wrath protecting all. Exists to-day

No warrior now as heretofore. To-day

No peace is left for me, but still the wound

Within my bosom doth distress me sore.

For my chiefs crimson sword am I distressed.

With deep affliction. God deliver me !

Since fallen on me is this seeming shame.

To the sad measure of my moamful lot.

And to the measure of his bounty great.

Proportionate a poem have I framed

Of doughty struggles — various the lay.

My skill hath brought me importunity, —

Hath brought me wealth — falcons of plumage light,

Alike in colour, and in speed alike,

A gilded saddle, splendid, proudly gay,

From the majestic knight of coursers fleet.

Taken to-day — ^^tis this that maddens me !

For his disti*acting loss I smart with pain.

Defending Elfael, when, in autumn, he

» The third of the " Three Generous Ones" of the Triads,
^ " Swydd Gwynogion", the original name of the second of the
three Gemots of the Cantref of " Y Clawdd" in Maesyfed (Radnor),
corruptly spelled " Swyddinogion" in Parthaa Cymry, Myv. Arch,,
p. 736, Denbigh Edition ; and Swydd Wynogion in Jon. Williams's
HisL of Badnorshire^ p. 69. The term "Swydd" implied the office
of justice attached to the freeholder. " Glossary on Laws of Howel
Dda," JUijv, Arch., p. 1069.

356 THE HISTOBY OF LLANGURIG.

Drench'd wiih his blood his coantry*8 gory soil.

None greeted me with deferential gift;

They came to meet me, but they spared me not ;

Fell back each coward then, till he was slain>

Rushed on each hero then, till he was felt ;

From head to foot the tumbling helmets fell,^

WhUe kin from kin sought succour ev'iy ona

Slain is the hero, fiery to behold.

Like a grim wolf, whose lair might lose its prey.

Gentle Cadwallawn's hand was open aye

To the world's pale ones' use, open his court.

Where strangers went for hospitality :

In life the bards were fostered in his breast.^

While lived the country's high-escorted king.

Of gain and wealth they found the daily use.

High-trotting steeds, tall-flank'd and grey were theirs.

A wolf was he, the root of manly strength.

In fight his valiant sword-strokes, wolf-like, fell.

Of EithonV fortress'd land the sov'reign chief.

Of Clyd^ and Aeron^ prince famed far and wide.

When tried in the discourse of speakers wise,

Cynddelw I,— my friends are never lost, —

Of speech harmonious ever, while I live.

My verse discussion gains in gentle speech.

In competition my encomium wins.

As scholars win, when grammar's in debate.

With vigour will I sing, as I know how.

As our disciples who have learning know.

After Cadwfidlawn, bounteous to bestow,

Muaiiicently shining as the star

Seen in the dawn, a blessing to the poor, —

The suppliants of Britain, — and to bards.

No empty-handed one shall promise gifts.

His lance bath memories of mourning left,

^ Or, " Head over heels the stumbling chieflains fell."

^ Literally ** folded", like sheep in a fold.

^ Qlyn leitkon. The Comet was S\vydd Glyn leithon or Swydd
leithou. Parthau "Cymry, Myv, Arch.y pp. 736 and 738.

* Clyd, then, reverted to him ou the death of his brother Einion,
A.D. 11 77-8. Or Einion may have held Elvael under him.

^ This cannot have been Aeron in Cardiganshire. Cwm Aeron,
corruptly written Cymaron, where Roger Mortimer built a castle,
must be meant. The river Aron, probably Aeron originally, rans
through the " Cwm" or Glen. Hi^L of Eadnorehire, by Jou> Wil-
liams, p. 60. For " Coedeirenis" (Coed Aeron ?), see p. 346.

THE HISTORY OP LLANOURIG. 357

And crimson gashes oozing ont with gore.

The fiery prince hath left behind him sons.

Themselves would leave blood-tricklings in their foes.

Three^ whelps of leaders bold to thrnst the spear.

In fray of lances eager eagles three.

Privy to conflicts three, and sword-cnts dire,

Accordant three to minstrels, and to gifts.

Three diligent to aid at Saxons' gates.

Three bold, and fearless, mighty to avenge.

Three generonsly banded, close as one,

To bar dispersion, and the scare of throngs ;

Three native hawks, high-famed, of purest breed.

Stout youths, who wash their cheeks fix>m stain of war.

Since now, by stroke of battle-axe cut down.

Our princely lion-monarch is laid low,

A chief supreme, from ancient sovereigns sprung ;

Since our dispenser is in truth no more.

Lord God ! may he be guiltless in Thy sight.

Should wrath betide the friend of all the poor.

Pillar of Britons, and their sheltMng shield.

Then, in the realms of light. Lord of the poor,

Let angels guard him to Heaven's bright abode !

ELEGY ON HOWEL, SON OF MADOC.

By Lltoad Gwr.

Dreadful the loss 1 my God, oh, woe is me,
Since none can save, that left me desolate.
Made many poor, laid Song and Music low.
When died my Lord, whose habitation lay
Mid peopled dwellings, on a golden plain.
The mighty hero's height is sunk to naught.
Who out-topp'd heroes with his haughty gait.
Of men the fearless pillar, when a path
He cleared thro' foes encompassing a town.
Woe is the world without his lavish .hand.
Sad that its gen'rous Guardian 's ta'en away !
I, too, must mourn, since now I clearly view
The course of things confused upon the earth.

^ The names of four of Gadwallawn's sons are g^ven in the pedi«
gree (suprOj p. 343), Maelgwn, Howel, Madoc, and Owain. One,
therefore, could not have survived his father.

358 THE HISTORY OF LLANGURIO.

It is not good that Howel, Madoc's son,

A light that shone with glorious majesty^

Is laid within the bosom of the ground.

Eternity is long ! Long will the time

Appear without him now ; and trouble too

With consternation mingles our regrets.

Their trappings round him warlike throngs displayed.

And with his valour grew his nation's fame.

His wealth enrichM the crowds who filled his court.

Draining the mead-horns in the banquet's cheer.

Fair token was it of the gifts to come,

When reckoned were his hundred dignities.

The gate of Heaven open may he find ;

His lot be at the Son of God's right hand !

Unwise is he whose faith hath not been fix'd

Upon the Man, the best that e'er was bom I

Our refuge He from Death when on the wing,

From all our tribulation, and our grief;

Firm is our faith in Christ, made sad for us.

Woeful our wail for wrong— no hidden wrong,

That smote the Hero as a falcon brave :

To feel his loss hath made our blood run cold ;

No marvel is it if we g^roan aloud.

Does not reproachful memory arise,

For the loved Leader with his crimson'd sword.

Who knew no guile, was pure from all deceit ?

If I am low, then is not mine the loss ?

With fervour all sincere he praised his bards.

Is not the mourning dol'rous, is 't not dull.

To huge Hirddywel from far Berwyn's fells,

Because the fiery leader hath been ta'en.

With turmoil, like the herd's upon the hill.

Whose spear was blood-red, like a blast of blood 7

Oh, for the wounded warrior's gilded sword !

Oh, for the Flood to come — I care not when !

Oh, for his clarions that red harvests reap'd !

Oh, for his prowess, proof against the strong!

So brave in battle, oh that he is gone !

How long, alas I and he will ne'er return !

Oh, Mary I Michael 1 can then nought be done ?

O, God I that HowePs taken to Thyself,

Who ne'er drew back, hero of heroes he I

Of justice now be his the sure reward I

A lord revered, may he ascend on high.

Borne by the Prince of Angels up to Heav'n.

359

IPSTONE OP IPSTONE IN THE COUNTY PALATINE

OF CHESTER.

Harl MSS., 1396, 5529, fo. 31; 6128, fo. 60.
Lewys Dicnn, vol. ii, p. 353.

Sib John de

Ipstone, Lord

of Ipstone,

Ipstones, or

Ipstans, o6.

▲.D. 1394.

I
William Ip- :

stone. Lord of

Ipstone, ob.

1, H. IV, A.D.

1399.

Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Thomas Corbet of Wat-
tleshorough, eldest son and heir of Sir Bobert Corbet of
Mor^n Corbet and Wattlesborongh, knight. Thomas
Corbet died a.d. 1375. He had two younger brothers,
Folke, whose only daughter and heiress married John
Lord of Mawddwy, son and heir of William Lord of
Mawddwy, fourth son of Gruifydd ab Owenwynwyn, Prince
of Upper Powys ; and Sir Boger Corbet of Morton Cor-
bet, knight, ancestor of the Baronet family of Corbet of
Morton Corbet.

Maude, daughter and heir (by Elizabeth his wife, daughter
and heir of Sir Nicholas de Becke, knight) of Sir Bob«rt
de Swinnerton, knight, son and heir of Sir Bobert de
Swinnerton, in Com. Stafford, knight. Maude married
first. Sir John Savage of Cheshire, knight; secondly. Sir
Piers Leigh ; thirdly, William de Ipstones; and, fourthly,
Bicbard Feshall.

I
William

Ipstone

died

issueless.

Christian. Alice, Lady ^p Sir Banulph or Bandulphus Brereton

of Ipstans
or Ipstones.

de Malpas, Knt., second son of Sir
William Brereton de Brereton, Knt.,
Lord of Brereton. Argent, two bars

sabU.

I 2nd son.
William Brereton ^ Catherine, daughter and coheir of Thomas de Wylde of
of Borasham, Borasham, Esq. Argent, a chev. sa^le, on a chief of

Esq., 1450. the second, three martletts of the field.

S S

360

THE HISTORY OP LLANGURIG.

Idwe

let wife. 2nd wife.

Edward =f EI izabeth, d. of JoHn Boydon of Pulford, =f Dorothy, d. of Richard
Esq., and ... his wife, dau. of Thomas Hanmer, and sister
Hanmer of Llys Bedydd or Bettisfield, of Sir Thomas
Esq. Vert, three roebuck's heads Hanmer, who was
erased in bend or, in dexter chief a knighted at the
rose of the second. taking of Terwin

and Toumev.

Brereton

Borasham,

Esq.

Thomas Brere- =F Marga^ Eliza-

ton, Rector of

Northope, 1639;

of LlantJrinio,

1557; and of

Gresford, 1566.

ret, d. of beth, uz.
Ithel ab James
Gruffydd Eyton of
abBelyn.^ Eyton«
Esq.

Joanna,

ux. Cyn-

wrig ab

Richard

of Pena-

chlech.

Cathe-
rine, ur.
Lancelot
Lloyd of
Tref
Alun.

John Brere-
ton of Boras-
ham, Esq.

Margaret, d. and heiress of Richard ab leaan ab David ab
Ithel Fychan of Llaneurgain, Esq.,* descended from Edno-
wain Bendew, chief of one of the noble tribes of Wales.
Argent, a chev. inter three boar's heads couped sable.

1st wife. 2nd wife.

Owain Brereton 7 Elizabeth, d. of John Salusbnry,? Catherine, d. of Hani

of Borasham,
High Sheriff for
CO. Denbigh, 1580
and 1588.

Esq., heir of Lleweni, M.P.
for Denbigh 1554 ; and Cathe-
rine his wife, d. and heiress of
Tador ab Robert Fychan of
Berain, Esq.

Gk>ch Salusbuxy of
Llewesog, Esq., and
relict of John Lloyd
of Bodidris, Esq.

|1 21

Edward Brereton of Borasham, High Sheriff John Brereton of Esclu-
for CO. Denbigh 1598, in which year he died. sham. See page 273.

1 Belyn settled at Nercwys, in Tstrad Alun, and was one of the sons of
David ab Cynwrig ab leuan ab Qruffydd ab Madog Ddu of Copa'r Goleuni
in Tegeingl, who bore Palii of six pieces, argent and aahle. Madog was the
son of Rhiryd ab Llewelyn ab Owain ab Edwin, Prince of TegeingL

■ Ithel Fychan of Llaneurgain, Esq., was the son of Cynwrig ab Rotpert
ab lorwerth ab Rhirid ab lorwerth ab Madog ab Ednowain Bendew. He
married Angharad, daughter and heiress of Robert ab David of Holt, Esq.,
son of Howel ab David ab Gruffydd of Tstym Cedig, Esq., (k^scended from
Owain Gwynedd (see pp. i87 and 288). The mother of Ma^aret, wife of
John Brereton, was Jane, daughter and heiress of William Ulegg of Gayton,
in Cheshire, Esq. (see pp. 287 and 288).

361

APPENDIX.

The following is a metrical version of three of the
foregoing poems, by Mr. H. W. Lloyd, the originals of
which, with literal prose translations, are on pages 156,
159, 162, 164, above.

ELEGY ON ELLEN, WIFE OF LLEWELYN OF

LLANGURIG.

Ascribed to Huw Arwystli.

1.
Mary ! the gloom of night hath as overspread,

The bier's unwelcome work hath made us weary,
Ah, Mary ! vengeance boots not for the dead ;

The hill-side crag for me were home less dreary.

For Ellen^ noble thro' her eight degrees,

Cold is my hearty as blast upon the mountain :

By God's command alone the spirit flees —

Ne'er hath her like been born of honour's fountain.

A Lady's form hath vanished from the light.
And Curig*s Land is lifeless in its sorrow,

As when with blackening frost its face is dight;
The joy of Howel's race hath found its morrow.

4.
With weak'ning vigils are our people worn,

God on our land hath laid a long affliction ;
Mute will our travail be until the mom,

O God ! that dawns upon our dereliction.

362 APPENDIX.

5.
A night of safifering hath befairn the line

Of Howel Lloyd and all its scions noble ;
Ah ! never, while we live, within a shrine

Shall lie entomVd a woman less ignoble.

6.
Fled from his land is Curig's purest blood,

Of Creuddyn's best the grave hath gained possession.
And moarning on the house hath bural in flood,

Its lord, Llewelyn, boots not intercession.

7.
The hearth is stricken — trunkless is the tree —

To sick and poor alike their hope is blighted.
The land where chiefest would her children be,

Is wounded sore by stroke on her that lighted.

8.
Her fair and gallant sons bear forth the shroud.

Upon its oaken bier, with bitter wailing ;
Sound merrily no more or harp or crowd,^

Naught save the sobs are heard of poor and ailing.

9.
Borne by the hands of all the country-side.

Dim tapers these in slow procession follow ;
The name she leaves behind her will abide,

Memorial in all hearts that is not hollow.

10.
Behind her Ellen^s place of pain is left.

Nor heat nor cold can reach her blissful mansion ;
The poor her smiles and bounty mourn bereft.

Upon the path that knew their sweet expansion.

11.
In Llysgelyddon, whither throng'd the poor.

Buried is she who gave of her provision ;
Woe is the sick despoiled of all her store !

Mary I how long her like shall fail our visipn.

^ The " Crwth*', a mnsical instrument, the player on which was,
by the English, called a Crowder, whence the name Crowdero in
Iliulihras,

APPENDIX. 363

THE FOUR BROTHERS OF LLANGURIG.

By Huw Cab Llwtd.

Who daily scatter weighty gold ?
Whose veins the blood of Powys hold ?
Whose soldiers are the best in fight ?
The grandsons they of chiefs of might.
What brothers they — well known to fatne^
Since every land hath heard their name ?
Four comrades these, in force full strongs
To ban the boldest deeds of wrong.
In fronts lo I leuan shields the rash^
Three thousand dare not wait his dash.
Braver than all — in either host —
Never will Owain quit his post ;
The gentle Siancyn gives the wine ;
William ^s the lion of his line ;
Four sons of Morys, noble all.
These are Llangurig's ward, and wall.
In war their grandsire was renowned,
Noble and valiant was he founds
Siancyn^ who gave his men the wine^
(For lavish is grey HoweFs line),
Madoc, the Fire-bearer's blood,
A man renown' d, of Einion's brood,
Kin to an earl ; grey Rhys, of old —
All these the brothers' forbears bold.
A forest ever will they be.
Wide-spread is Rhys's progeny.
His grandsons' sons our island guard.
Their precious gifts are our reward.
How noble they — their hands, how free !
How mettlesome their chivalry I
How stately in their mien they stand.
Sharing alike their father's land I
A mighty oak, on every side.
Hath spread abroad its branches wide ;
Those branches are their country's stay,
Its pillars loved and feared are they.
Together are they seen to grow.
Their love and wealth together go ;

3r)4 APPENDIX.

Saint Curig ! shield them well from wrong.

Encased in mail^ oh ! make them strong.

Together they maintain the host.

Together feast, and share the cost.

Givers together in their time,

Together may they pass their prime.

The Cymry they together love.

The sick and poor their pity move.

On finest oats their steeds are fed,

By love their gallant men are led.

They guard their land, as did their sires,

With strength, like theirs, that nothing tires.

The men that true and loyal prove,

As squires shall reap the fruit of love.

Their stature to a rib is told.

Measured as mighty men of old.

As three vast rocks they stand secure,

The three bear all one portraiture.

The three have, one consentient word.

They rule the fair with one accord.

Three lives, I ween, have all the three,

As four, then, may the fourth life be !

AN ODE ADDRESSED TO SION AB RHYS, THE

SON OF MAURICE.

By John, the Baud op Kerry.

A Spearman comes of Einion's race.
None better loves the game ;

Of stature tall, with taller arms.
As Lleon^s, huge his frame.

In strength is John his father^s peer.
If true what old men say ;

His lance is mightier in fight,

Eight towns would crave its sway.

In north, and south, and Powys too,
His sword drives o'er the field ;

Tho' back brave combatants may fall,
His clansmen never yield.

APPENDIX. 365

To Jolm is honour ever dear,
In horse and horseman's play ;

He aims to strike, ne'er thinks to .flee,
When heated in the fray.

John, tho' but one, can beat full seven ;

Tho' rough, ne'er gives offence,
Yet scorns, when others cringe, to make.

With flattery, defence.

The Bear^ gives sign the man is John,
By spear of brass he's known ;

A lion of Elystan's line,

His men will hold their own.

He blazons Broughton's argent coat.

With Meurig's lion crest ;
For country, as Sir Fulke, he holds

His dragon-spear in rest.

From Corbet hi^h descends his name.
And Mochdref's Baron brood.

His prowess and his mettle prove
He comes of royal blood.

A chief, thro' Ceri's wide extent.

All troubling spirits fear,
John cows them all — not one may dare

To strike me, far or near.

John's upri«;ht ways are fain to fill
Each baser tongue with awe ;

He will do right to one and all.
And what he wills is law.

As the moon's gold, with crescent brow.
So shines John's gentle wife,

God grant both, o'er Llangurig's heights,
The hart's full length of life.

So may her lord, in every fight.

The happy victor prove ;
No doughtier combatant was Rhys,

Nor Cadell, when they strove :

' John may have been a Lanca.stnan, and if ho, iiiny have bonic
llio Bear and Ragged Staff', tlic Badge of Warwick.

366 APPENDIX.

Not noble Einion e'er, I ween,

Nor Morys in his might.
Not all Elystan's regal brood.

Stood stauncher in the fight.

A very Nudd, to all he loves,

Is John, his gifts abound
As Rhydderch's ; in his country's cause,

His blows, like Einion' s, sound.

May saintly aid obtain the strength
From God, for Rhys's son,

To end in age with fame the life
Thus in renown begun.

•

367

STANZAS!

Addressed by Cynddelw to Howel, son of leuaf, son of Owain,
son of Cadwgan, son of Elystan Glodrydd, Prince of Fferljs.
Howel was the last independent Lord of Arwystli, of the Royal
House of Elystan Glodrydd.

Bheiddin a'm rhoddes Hywel,
Rheiddiawg, feiniawg, fanawg fil ;
Cefais, gan dreth orddethawl,
Tarw teg Talgarth yngwarthawl.

Lief a gly waf gloew eilyrth.
Lief eilon yn eilwydd ferth,
Lief ban com blaen cad ehorth,
Llais garw^ a lief tarw Talgarth.^

Translation.
1.

To me, with lavish lips hath Howel giv'n
A sleek and monstrous beast that tears the ground ;
A contribution choice have I received,
Talgarth's fair Bull, in bountiful exchange.

I hear a startling sound of Music clear,

Of perfect and harmonious melody,

A horn loud sounding in the van of War,

A deep-toned sound, and that from Talgarth's BuU.^

* From the Myvyrian Archceology of Wales, The orthography is
here modernised.

2 Howel ab leuaf lived at Talgarth, in the parish of Tref Eglwys
in Arwystli, a place which subsequently became the property of a
family named Lloyd, descended from Brochwel Yegythrog.

^ From the abrupt termination of the last stanza it would seem
that a part of this composition has been lost.

T T

368

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.

Chap. i. — Inhabitants. The census retarns for 1871 gave
the population of the parish as consisting of 897 males, and
804 females, making a total of 1|701 ; the number of inhabited
houses was 302, uninhabited 10^ and in building 3.

Chap. hi. — List of Vicars. In addition to those already men-
tioned as holding the living in the sixteenth century, should be
added the name of John Ghuynn, M.A,, son of Owen Gwynn,
Esq.^ of Llanidloes^ Sheriff of Cardiganshire in the year 1551^
who^ according to the MSS. of the late Joseph Morris, Esq.^
was '' parson of Llangurig and Llanidloes^'.

Canon Ingram is stated to have died in 1711. In that
year, however, he was collated to the rectory of Cemaes, his
successor to that living being appointed in the year 1 71 2.

Mr. Morris's MSS. furnish the name of another Vicar of Llan-
gurig. Jane (born 1702), daughter of Jenkyn Lloyd of Cloch-
faen and Rachel Fowler, married '' Bichard Ingram, Vicar of
Llangurig, son of Robert Ingram of Llanidloes, Esq.'' Richard
Ingram was appointed rector of Cemaes in 1747.

Chap. iz. The passing of the '' Elementary Education Act
of 1870'', which led to the establishment of a School Board in
the parish, has placed elementary education within the reach of
all the children of the parish. In the formation of a Board,
the expense of a contested election was wisely avoided, the
following five members being chosen : Messrs. John Hughes,
Henfaes (Chairman) ; J. B. Owen, Bryndulas (Vice-Chairman) ;
Abraham Davies, Tynymaes (Treasurer) ; D. Davies, Penhyle ;
and Richard Owen, Glyn-Brochan. They met for the first time
April 27th, 1871 ; and, finding that they had to provide accom-
modation for about 400 children between the ages of 3 and 13,
they at once entered into negotiations with the trustees of the
school already in existence in the village. Some twenty months
of the Board's existence was wasted in a fruitless attempt to
come to some satisfactory arrangement regarding this school,
or obtaining land upon which another might be erected. Ulti-

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 369

mateljx Mr. Watkins consented to sell a small close in the vil-
lage for £105 ; and Mrs. Ow^n of Glanseyem liberally presented
to the Board a convenient site in the hamlet of Cwmbelan. A
third site was selected in the npper part of the parish near
Ty'n y Cwm, which cost the Board £16.

Schools, with teachers' residences, have been built at Llanea-
rig and Cwmbelan, and were opened in the early part of 18V4.
When the three schools are in operation they are intended to
accommodate the children of the whole parish, with the excep-
tion of those living in the valley of the Severn, where a school
for the joint accommodation of the parishes of Llanidloes and
Llangurig is being bailt near the Old Hall, the cost and manage-
ment of which will be shared by the Boards of the t^o
parishes. To enable it to carry out its scheme, it was neces-
sary for the Llangurig School Board to borrow about £2,600
from the Public Works Loan Commissioners.

From a Parliamentary return made up to June 1874, we
glean the following particulars regarding the Llangurig School
Board : Cost of first election, £1 10s.; cost of election to fill
vacancies, £4 2s.; cost of establishment, £27 14s. 2^d.; cost
of ejection of schools, £1,507; cost of maintenance of schools,
£15 5s. 2|d.; other expenses, £68 9s. 4d.; total expenditure,
£1,624 Os. 9d.; rateable value of the district, £6,360; gross
amount for which precepts have been issued, £91 16s. 6d.;
annual amount per £ in rateable value, l*ld.

P. 76. — John Lloyd, eldest son of Edward Lloyd of Pl&s
Madog, who served in the Boyal Army, was a captain in the
regiment commanded by Col. Robert Ellis, of Y Groes Newydd,
near Wrexham. In the engagement which took place at Mid-
dlewich, March 13th, 1643, Col. Ellis and Captain Lloyd were
taken prisoners, the former continuing in custody until the fol-
lowing September (Phillips, Civil War in Wales, i, 142-5, ii,
62). Captain Lloyd subsequently took part in the attempt
made by Lord Byron to relieve Beeston Castle, when six men
of his company were taken prisoners January 18th, 1645, by
the Parliamentarians under Sir William Brereton {Ibid,, ii, 227).

Col. Ellis was descended from Llewelyn ab Ynyr, lord of
Gelli Gynan in lal, and purchased the estate of Croes Newydd,
which subsequently fell into the possession of F. B. Price of
Bryn y Pys, Esq., by whom it was exchanged for some other
property with Thomas Fitz Hugh of Plas Power, Esq.

P. 251. — ^Trahaiam, lord of Garthmul, was the son of lor-
worth ab Einion ab Rhys Goch ab Llewelyn Fychan ab
Llewelyn Eurdorchog (p. 250). For his bravery in battle, the
Prince of Powys gave him the lordship of Garthmul and a new

370 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.

coat of arms, viz.^ argent, three lions passant guardant, gules.
He married Agnes^ daughter of l^an ab Madog ab Einion ab
Cynfelin^ lord of Manafon^ by whom he had issue four sons :
(I) lorwerth, lord of Garthmul, who married Elen, daughter of
Madog Fychan^ by whom he had issue Rhys, lord of Garthmul,
anoestor of the Walcots of Walcot, co. of Salop, Howel, and
lorwerth Pychan, who was the father of Madog y Twppa of
Plas y Twppa in Bettws y Coed, ancestor of David ab Owain
of Llanwyddelan j (2) leuan, ancestor of the Lloyds of Berth*
lloyd ; (3) Meredydd, ancestor of the Jones of G^rthmul ; and
(4) Gwion, according to some genealogists, the ancestor of the
Lloyds of Berthlloyd.

P. 251. — For Cynwrig of Llys y Oil and Y Fanechtyd, read
Cynwrig of Llys y Oil.

P. 252. — For Goronwy Y Fanechtyd, read Goronwy.

P. 277 Gine 23).— For Meredydd ab Llewelyn Ddu ab Gruf-
fydd ab lorwerth Foel ab lorwerth Fychan, second son of lor-
werth ab leuaf of Llwyn On, read Meredydd ab Llewelyn Ddu
of Aber Tanad and Blodwel ab GrufTydd of Maelor Saesneg,
second son of lorwerth Foel, lord of Chirk, Nanheudwy, and
Maelor Saesneg.

T. BICBABD8, PBItTTBt, 37, OBBA.T QUBBK BTJiZtt.

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Full text of "The history of the parish of Llangurig, by E. Hamer and H.W. Lloyd"

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