THE BRITISH TRIADES, OR THE TRIADES OF THE ISLE OF BRITAIN, TRANSLATED BY LEWIS MORRIS, FROM MR. VAUGHAN OF HENGWRT'S COPY, IN HIS OWN HAND, IN THE YEAR 1745; AND NOW TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LATE REV. EVAN EVANS'S COPY, BY THE REV. PETER WILLIAMS, RECTOR OF LLANRUG AND LLAN BERIS, CAERNARVONSHIRE. No. 1.THE three names of this island; first, before it was inhabited, it was called Clâs Merdin. Secondly, after it was inhabited, it was called Y Fel Ynys, that is, the Honey Island; or according to others, Bell's Island. Thirdly, after it was conquered by Bryt, he called it, Ynys Bryt, that is, Brut or Brutus's Island. In some other books thus, and after it was conquered by Prydain, the son of Aedd Mawr, that is, Aedd the Great, he named it Ynys Prydain, or Prydain's Island. No. 2. The three principal parts or districts of the Isle of Britain, Lloegr, Cymru, and Alban; that is, Loegria, or England; Cambria, or Wales; and Albania, or Scotland. The length of this island from the promontory of Blathaon, in Prydyn to the promontory of Penwaeth in Kernyw (Cornwall) is 900 miles; and its breadth from Crûghyll in Anglesey to Shoreham 500 miles, and it is held under one crown. The crown is worn (i. e. he resides) in London; and one of the coronets (princes) is at Penrhyn Rhianedd (the Virgin's Promontory) in the North; the second, is at Aberffraw, in Mona; and the third in Cornwall. No. 3. Its principal adjacent islands; are Ork, (the largest of the Orcades) Manaw, or the Isle of Man; and the Isle of Wight. It has likewise sixtyseven other adjacent islands, and fourteen principal wonders. No. 4. The three principal rivers of the Isle of Britain, are the Thames, Severn, and Humber. And it contains one hundred and forty-three Abers (or falls of small rivers into large ones; or of large rivers into the sea.) And fifty-four chief ports or harbours; and twenty-eight fortified towns or walled cities, which are the following. 1st. Caer Alclud. 2. Caer Evrawc, York. 3. Caer Geint, Canter- . bury. 4. Worcester. 5. London, 6. Lirecester or Leicester. 7. Coln Chester. 8. Gloucester. 9. Ser Chester. 10. Winchester. 11. Venta Silurum. 12. Canterbury. 13. Dorchester. 14. Caear Laydcoet, Lincoln, q. 15. Caer Vyrnack, supposed to No. 5. The principal harbours of the Isle of Britain. 1. Porth Iskewin * in Gwent, Monmouthshire. 2. Porth Wigir in Anglesey. 3. Porth Wyddro; either Glasgow or Edinborough in the north. No. 6. The three archbishopricks of the Isle of Britain. The first is London, the second York, the third Caerleon on the Usk. Other books read thus, 3. 1. Canterbury. 2. York. Menevia or St. David's. And no people or nation have any Porth Iskewin, is called by Camden, Porth Skeweth; and by Marianus, Porth Sketh. Camden in Monmouthshire. + Gwygur River comes to Cemmaes in Anglesey, and is a very poor harbour; so that I take Porth Wyggur to be the old name of Beaumaris, and Porth LEWIS MORRIS, Iskewin, may be the old name of Portsmouth. right in this island, except the Cymri or Cambrians whose ancestors came from Troy. No. 7. The three royal tribes of the Isle of Britain. 1. Arthur, chief of kings of Caerleon upon Usk. 2. St. David, chief of bishops; and 3. Maelgwyn Gwynedd, chief of senators. In other manuscripts thus, 1. Arthur, chief of kings, at Celliwig in Kernyw or Cornwall. 2. Betwini, chief of bishops; 3. and Caradoc Vriechvras, chief of senators. In others thus, 1. Arthur, chief of kings at Penrhyn Rhionedd in the north. 2. Kyndeyrn Garthwys, chief of bishops; and 3. Gwrthmwl Wledig, chief of senators. No. 8. The three liberal or munificent of the Isle of Britain. 1. Rhydderch the liberal, son of Tudwal Tudclyd. 2. Morday the liberal, the son of Servan. 3. And Nudd the liberal, the the son of Senyllt the beautiful or blessed. No. 9. The three beautiful or rather blessed princes of the Isle of Britain. 1. Rhun, the son of Maelgwn. 2. Owen, son of Urien. 3. and Rhuväon Pevyr (the fair) the son of Deorath Wledig. P No. 20. The three admirals of the Isle of Britain. 1. Geraint, son of Erbin. 2. Gwenwynwyn, son of Nav; 3. and March, son of Meirchion. No. 21. The three lame ones, who went on crutches, and yet distinguished themselves for their bravery. 1. Rineri, or Ringeri, son of Tangwn; 2. and Tinwaed Vaglawg; 3. and Pryder, son of Dolor, of Deira and Bernicia. No. 22. The three golden fettered, or shackled, of the Isle of Britain. 1. Rhiwallon Wallt Banhadlen (or the broom-haired.) 2. Rhun, the son of Maelgwn; 3. and Cadwalader the blessed. The reason why they were so called, was because no horses could be got large enough for them, and therefore they used golden fetters or chains, about the small of their legs, which came over their horses' backs, and two pans of gold under their knees, from which circumstance the pan of the knee had its name. No. 23. The three knights of battle of the Isle of Britain. 1. Caradawg Vreichvrag (with the brawny arm.) 2. Menwaed of arllechwedd; 3. and Llyr Lluyddawg. No. |