B AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE ANCIENT BRITISH BARDS, AND DRUIDS, AND THEIR MUSIC, AND POETRY. Y the Roman invafion, and the more barbarous excurfions of the Saxons, the Danes, and the Normans, and the emigration of the Britons to Armorica '; by the frequent destruction of MSS, and the maffacres of the Clergy and the Bards, the Poetry and Music of Wales have suffered a loss, that has thrown a dark cloud over the history of those native arts, and for a long time threatened their total extinction. Yet from the memorials ftill extant, and the poetical and mufical compofitions which time has spared, we are enabled often to produce unquestionable evidence, and always to form a probable conjecture, concerning their rise and progress among us; fince there is no living nation that can produce works of fo remote antiquity, and at the same time of such unimpeached authority as the Welsh*. Blegywryd ab Seifyllt, the 56th fupreme King of Britain, who reigned 28 years, and died 2069 years after the Deluge, or about 190 before Christ, of whom it is recorded, that he excelled all before him in the Science of Mufic; was called, for his extraordinary skill in Vocal and Inftrumental Melody, The God of Mufic. Le Brut d'Angleterre, or Metrical History of Brutus, represents Gabbet, or Blegywryd, as the most able musician of his time, and specifies fix instruments upon which that monarch could perform. 'Little Britain, now Bretagne, in France, was called in Cæfar's time, Ar y-môr ucha', i. e. on the upper Sea, and afterwards inhabited by Britons, about the year of Chrift 384. A hundred thousand Britons, befides a numerous army of foldiers, went out of this Island under the command of Conan, Lord of Meriadoc, now Denbighland, to the aid of Maximus the Tyrant, against the Emperor Gratianus, and conquered the faid country of Arymor-ucha. For this fervice Maximus granted to Conan and his followers Ar'morucha, where the Britons drove out the former inhabitants, feated themselves, and erected a Kingdom, which lafted many years under feveral Kings, and where their fucceffors to this day speak the Welsh language, being the third remnant of the Ancient Britons. This Conan of Meriadoc, was Nephew to Eudaf King of Britain. See Drych y Prif Oefoedd, by Theophilus Evans. Caradoc's Hift. of Wales, by Wynne, p. 8, and Lewis's Hift. of Great Britain, p. 143. fol. The Cymry, or Welth, are. defcended from Gomer the eldest fon of Japheth, fon of Noah; whofe offspring were the origin of nations, and who divided on the earth after the flood. Genefis, Chap. 10. ver. 32. Dé (Leland fays, that King Belin, the fon of Dyvynwal, built the Tower of London, about 430 years before Chrift. Verunnius alfo records, that when Belin died, his body was burnt and put into a golden urn, upon the top of a tower that he had built, which was afterwards called by his name Belin's Gate; and from which is derived Billingfgate. He alfo built Caer-wyfg, now called Caer-lleon, on the river Utk. Stow's Survey of Great Britain.) During the infurrection of Owen Glyndwr, the MSS. then extant of the ancient British learning and poetry were so scattered and destroyed, "that there efcaped not one, (as William Salisbury relates) that was not incurably maimed, and irrecuperably torn and mangled." See Evan's Specimens of the Welb Poetry, p. 160. Gildas, the most ancient British author, who flourished about A. D. 58c, bemoans the lofs of records in thefe words; "The monuments of our country, or writers, appear not, as either burnt by the fire of enemies, or tranfported far off by our banifhed countrymen." Gildas's Epille. "The univerfity of Bangor is-Coed, founded by Lucius, king of Britain, was remarkable for its valuable library. It The Welsh nobles, who were captives in the Tower of Lon-continued 350 years, and produced many learned men. Condon, (formerly called the White Tower, part of which is ftill known by that name,) obtained permiffion that the contents of their libraries fhould be fent them from Wales, to amuse them in their folitude and confinement. This was a frequent practice, fo that in process of time the Tower became the principal repofitory of Welsh literature. Unfortunately for our history and poetry, all the MSS. thus collected were burnt by the villany of one Scolan, of whom nothing more is known. Gutto'r Glyn, an eminent Bard, who flourished in the 14th century, has in one of his poems the following paffage ; gelus, a holy man, who died A. D. 530, changed the univer lity into a monaftery, containing 1200 Monks. At the inftigation of Auffin the Monk, Ethelfred, king of Northumberland, maffacred twelve hundred of the British clergy of this monaftery; nine hundred, who efcaped, were afterwards flain by pirates. This happened in the year 603. See Humphrey Lloyd's Britannica Defcriptionis Commentariolum. Lewis's Hiflory of Great Britain. Folio, p. 107. And Rowland's Mona Antiqua, zd edition, p. 138, and 151. * See Guthrie's Hiflorical Grammar, and the fequel of this hiftory. There is a Catalogue of fome of the moft ancient Welfh manufcripts in Leges Wallica, fol. after the preface. And in Ed. Lhuyd's Archeologia Britannica, fol. p. 254, &c. and in P, 225, Alfo in the Harleian Library, and in many private Libraries in Wales. 5" Ac yn ol Seifillt y daeth Blegwryd yn frenhin, ac ni bu erided Gantor cyflal ag ef o Gelfyddyd Mufic, na chwarydd cyftal ag ef o budol, ac am hynny y gelwid ef Duw y Chwarau. A hwn a wladychawdd ar Ynys Brydein 28 mlynedd ag yna y bú farw : fef oedd hynny wedi diliw 2c69 o flynyddoedd." Tyffilio's Britth Hiftory, Before I enter on the account of the Druids, it is requifite to give a derivation of the names of the different claffes, by which they were formerly known. The Bardd, Derwydd, and Ofydd; or, as the English reader will better recognize them, the Bard, Druid, and Ovade, have been treated with great levity by etymologists; for they have been changed to almoft every thing, in order to prop a tottering system, or to haften the conception of a fanciful reverie. After making this remark, it will be neceffary to avoid incurring cenfure, and falling into the like error; which I hope to do, by giving the exact meaning of these words, strictly as they are found in British writings for twelve centuries past, and without torturing them by altering a single letter; a plan that should always be adhered to in a language like the Welsh, that springs and expands from a regular set of primitive. roots; otherwise it ends in mere conjecture; and in that case a fruitful brain may guess a very plausible idea, and yet be far enough from the truth. Bardd, fignifies primarily what makes confpicuous, or what elucidates; and fecondarily, à person of fcience and knowledge, or a philofopher, and teacher. It is derived from Bár, a top, or summit, which is alfo the root of Baron, Judgment'; Baru, a beard; and other words. Derwydd, implies abstractedly what is present with, or has cognizance; and in its common acceptation it denotes a priest; and is the origin of the term Druid in other languages. It is derived from Dấr, the abstract meaning of which is, what expands out; and it is the term for an Oak, in common with its inflected derivative Derw. The word Derwydd may therefore be compounded two ways, agreeing in a general acceptation; that is to fay, Der-wydd, and Derwydd: I rather adopt the first, because Gwyddon, or knowing-ones, is very frequently found in old writings in the fame acceptation as Derwyddon, or Druids. It is evident, from our ancient Chronicles, that the Bards were the original, or initiated system, from which the Derwydd, and Ofydd; or priest, and artist branched out. No one could officiate as a priest, or Druid, but fuch as belonged to the Bardic order; neither were any permitted to follow what the Britons called Celvyddyd Rydd, or Liberal Art, but the Ovyddion. So that the order of the Bards bore an exact analogy to the Levites under the Mofaic difpenfation; for according to the law of Mofes, the functions of the priesthood belonged exclufively to the Levites, in the fame manner as the Bards were the constitutional origin of the Druidical hierarchy". Hiftory, MS. Fabian alfo, fpeaking of Blegwryd, names him, [ 6 Dr. Burney's Hift. of Mufic, Vol. II. p. 353. "The moft Ancient order of people of Britain are juftly efteemed the Bardi, and these were before the Druids, although in time the latter got the start of the other in great esteem." Sammes Britannia, p. 99. The Bards, and Druids were alfo the judges of the country, fimilar to the Levites, and Priefts, Deu teronomy, chap. 17. v. 8, and 9.-See more in the Introduction of the 2d vol. of this work, page XIII. XIV. and pages 1, 2, and 6, of the Text. 8 At Llanidan, in Anglefey, formerly inhabited by the Druidical conventual focieties, we at this day find veftiges of Tre'-rDryw, the Arch Druid's manfion; Bod drudau, the abode of the inferior ones; and near them Bod-owyr, the abode of the Ovates; and Tre-r-Beirdd, the Hamlet of the Bards. MonaAntiqua, page 65, 236, and 239. Alfo, near Fishguard, in Pembrokeshire, there is a place called Fynnon Ofydd, or the Well of Ofydd. 9 I am indebted to my ingenious friend Mr. William Owen Pughe, (the Johnfonian of the Welth language,) for the above etymology of the Bard, and Druid. Mr. Mr. Mafon, in his Caractacus, has adopted the ancient diftinction of three orders of Druids, in fo elegant and descriptive a manner, that I am induced here to quote the passage : Thy footsteps prefs on confecrated ground: In yonder fhaggy cave, dwells the Seer! Poffefs the neighb'ring cliffs. On the left Refide the Sages fkill'd in Nature's lore: Of the Bards, however, and of their poetry and mufic, at thofe remote periods, little more than a faint tradition is preserved, and that little we either derive from the poetical remains of the British annals, or glean where-ever it is scattered over the wider field of Roman history. There is no account indeed of Britain in any writer preceding Cæfar. But as it is incredible that its ancient arts sprung up under the oppreffion of the Roman yoke, and as it has never been pretended that any part of them was borrowed from the conquerors, whatever mention of them is found in the Greek and Roman authors, who fucceeded the first invasion, may fairly be produced as in some measure descriptive of their state before it. Those nations could not surely be rude in the construction of their poetry and mufic, among whom, as Cæfar declares ; the fupremacy, and omnipotence of the gods was acknowledged, the immortality and tranfmigration of the foul was believed ", opinions were formed concerning the motion of the planets and the dimensions of the world, and whose youth was inftructed in the nature and philosophy of things. In all the Celtic nations we discover a remarkable uniformity of manners and institutes. It was the custom of the ancient Germans, when they marched to battle, to animate themselves with finging verses, prophetic of their success, which they called Barditus ". It was the honourable office of the Bards of Britain to fing to the harp, at the nuptials and funeral obfequies, their games and other folemnities, and, at the head of their armies, the praises of those who had fignalized themselves by virtuous and heroic actions "3. This entertainment made a deep impreffion on the young warriors, elevated some to heroifm, and prompted virtue in every breast. Among the Celts, fays Diodorus Siculus, are compofers of melodies, called Bards, who fing to inftruments, like lyres, panegyrical, or invective strains: and in fuch reverence are they held, that when two armies, prepared for battle, have caft their darts, and drawn their fwords, on the appearance and interpofition of the Bards, they immediately defift. Thus, even among the rude barbarians, wrath gives place to wisdom, and Mars to the Muses ". an author cited by Athenæus in his battle with them people whom they their praises, either before the crowd Pofidonius of Apamea, who flourished about 30 years before Chrift, fixth book, has the following paffage; "The Celts always carry to maintain as Parafites. These companions of the table celebrate which is affembled together, or before any individual who may be interested in these Eulogies. Their Singers they call Bards, that is to fay, Poets, who publish the praises of Eminent Men with Songs "6", 16 99 worthy men, compofed in heroic verfe. But the Ovades, fearching into the highest altitudes of Nature's work, endeavoured to lay open and declare the fame. Among thefe, the Druids of an higher wit and conceit, according as the authority of Pythagoras decreed, being tied into focieties and fellowships, were addicted wholly into queftions of deep and hidden points, and they, defpifing all human things, pronounced that men's fouls were immortal." Ammianus Marcellinus's Hift. by Holland, 15th Book, and Chap. 9th. 14 Εςὶ καὶ παρ ̓ αὐτοῖς καὶ ποιηταὶ μελῶν, ως ΒΑΡΔΟΥΣ ὀνομάξεσι, ὗτοι δὲ μεῖ ὀργάνων ταῖς λύραις ὁμοίων ἄδολες, ὃς μὲν ὑμνᾶσι, ὡς δὲ βλασ nuo. H. Steph. edit. 1559. p. 213. Diodorus Siculus, Book 5. and Chap. the 2d. 15 Didorus Siculus de Geft. Fabulos. Antiq. I. vi. See alfo the notes on the fixth fong of Drayton's Polyolbion. 16 Τὰ δὲ ἀκέσματα αυ]ῶν εἰσὶν οι καλέμενοι ΒΑΡΔΟΙ. ποιηταὶ δὲ ἔτος ruyxávos mil won's itaires Aéyories. Pofidonius apud Atheneum, τυγχάνεσι με ᾠδῆς ἐταὶνες λέγοντες. lib. 6. A fragment 4 HISTORY OF THE BARDS AND DRUIDS. A fragment of Pofidonius, preferved in Athenæus ", enables us to exhibit the only specimen of the genius of the Bards, that can be ascribed with certainty to that early period. Describing the wealth and magnificence of Luernius, Pofidonius relates, that ambitious of popular favour, he frequently was borne over the plains in a chariot, scattering gold and filver among myriads of the Celts who followed him. On a day of banqueting and festivity, when he entertained with abundance of choice provisions and a profufion of coftly liquors, his innumerable attendants, a poet of the Barbarians, arriving long after the reft, greeted him with finging the praise of his unrivalled bounty and exalted virtues, but lamented his own bad fortune in fo late an arrival. Luernius, charmed with his fong, called for a purfe of gold, and threw it to the Bard; who, animated with gratitude, renewed the encomium, and proclaimed, that the track of his chariot wheels upon the earth was productive of wealth and bleffings to mankind. ΔΙΟΤΙ ΤΑ ΙΧΝΗ ΤΗΣ ΓΗΣ (ΕΦ ΗΣ ΑΡΜΑΤΗΛΑΤΕΙ) ΧΡΥΣΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΣΙΑΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΙΣ ΦΕΡΕΙ. The disciples of the Druidical Bards, during a noviciate of twenty years, learnt an immense number of verses, in which they preferved the principles of their religious and civil polity by uninterrupted tradition for many centuries. Though the use of letters was familiar to them, they did not deem it lawful to commit their verfes to writing, for the fake of ftrengthening their intellectual faculties, and of keeping their mysterious knowledge from the contemplation of the vulgar. The metre in which these oracular inftructions were communicated to the people, was called Englyn Milwr, or the Warrior's Song; and is a kind of Triplet Stanza. To give the English reader an adequate idea of their conftruction, I have caused them to be verfified into the fame number of lines as the original, and have endeavoured to preserve the fenfe as near as the confined limits of the metre would allow. The two firft lines of each ftanza do not feem to have much connection with the laft; however, there appears to have been no small degree of art employed in their compofition. In the first lines, the Druid describes either actions that are familiar to every one, or the appearance of visible objects; he then concludes with a precept of morality, or a proverbial fentence; and by annexing it to undoubted fact, artfully implies, and engages the mind to receive the truth of the moral maxim, as equally clear and well established as the identity of material objects ". Marchwiail Bedw briglás; A dyn fy nhroed o 'wanas Nac addef dy rîn i Wâs. DRUIDICAL VERSES 20. Beneathe the Birch-tree's holy tear, Marchwiail, "See the Rev. Mr. Evans's Specimens of Welsh Poetry, in precious a boon. Of the Mifsleto, thus gathered, they made a Differt. de Bardis, p. 65, and 66. 18 Cæfar de Bello Gallico, 1. vi. Hail, British-born! who, laft of British race, The fignal oak which the Druids made choice of, was fuch a one, on which Misleto did grow; by which token, they conceived that God marked it out, as of fovereign virtue. Under this tree, on the fixth day of the moon, (wherein they began their year), they invocated their Deity, with many other ceremonies. When the end of the year approached, they marched with great folemnity to gather the Mileto, in order to prefent it to God; inviting all the world to affift at the ceremony in thefe words: The New Year is at hand, gather the Mileto. The facrifices being ready, the priest afcended the Oak, and with a golden hook cut off the Milleto, which was received in a white garment fpread for that purpose. This part of the ceremony being ended, the victims, two white bulls that never had been yoked, were brought forth and offered up to the Deity, with prayers that he would profper those to whom he had given fo potion, which they administered as an antidote to all poifons; and used it as a remedy to prevent barrennefs, (probably the berries.) And from this, the old cuftom of faluting the girls under the Mifsletoe bush at Christmas, originated. "At Mileto tide, comes the New-year's Bride." In fome parts of Wales, the Mileto is called Oll-iach, Allheal; Pren Awyr, the Celestial tree; and Uchelwydd, the lofty Shrub. Befides the Milleto, the Druids ritually gathered the Selago, or Firr Club-mofs; and the Samolus, or Round-leaved Water Pimpernal; both which they applied to medicinal purpofes. Pliny's Nat. Hift. XVI. C. 44-And Evelyn's Sylva, with notes by Dr. Hunter. Sir John Colbatch, a Phyfician, has published a curious Differtation on the Efficacy of the Milleto; in the year 1725, Octavo, 6th edition. Likewife, Dr. Marx, has published a book on the Virtues of Acorn Coffee. See the mode of making it, in the Annual Regifter for 1779, p. 122. of the 2d part. Printed by Dodfley. "The weeping Brich was formerly in great eftimation amongst the Bards, as appears by the number of Poems ftill extant that are written in its praife: it is faid that the celebrated Bard, Davydd ab Gwilym, who flourished about the year 1350, ufed to wear a wreathed chaplet made of Birch twigs, entwined with filver rings, and adorned with feathers of various colours. The Birch was probably the Laurel of the Bards, as well as the Oak. A May-pole likewife is ufually made of the Birch; and the small branches are still used by the Schoolmasters to correct their diforderly Scholars with: alfo, the Welsh formerly used to tap that tree to make Birch-wine of. |