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28

OF THE IMMUNITIES OF THE WELSH BARDS.

fion of the last. He had his land free. Every young musician within the district, when he laid aside his Telyn rawn, or hair-ftringed harp, and become a graduate in the art, paid him a fine of XXIIII pence. Every woman upon her first marriage paid him XXIIII pence. The marriage fine of his daughter was CXX pence. His heriot money was CXX pence. The recompence for an affront given him, was fix cows and CXX pence. The compenfation or penalty upon whomfoever flew him, was CXXVI cows ". But what remains to be faid of the manner of his election, and the nature of his office, I must defer, till the institutes of Prince Gruffudd ab Cynan enable me to speak more largely, and with greater certainty, of this dignified perfon.

14

In these constitutions we discover the first account of the Clera, or triennial circuit of the Bards, as we before traced the origin of the Eisteddvod, their triennial affembly, in the annals of Cadwaladr. We likewise find that a vassal by the practice of Poetry and Mufic, which he could not adopt without the permiffion of his lord, or prince, acquired the privileges of a freeman, and an honourable rank in fociety". Nothing can difplay more forcibly the estimation and influence which the Bards enjoyed at this early period, than their remarkable prerogative of petitoning for prefents by occafional poems. This cuftom they afterwards carried to fuch an excefs, and fuch refpect was conftantly paid their requests, that in the time of Gruffudd ab Cyran, it became neceffary to control them by a law, which restrained them from asking for the prince's Horfe, Hawk, or Greyhound, or any other poffeffion beyond a certain price, or that was particularly valued by the owner, or could not be replaced. Many poems of the fucceeding centuries are now extant, written to obtain a horse, a bull, a sword, a chefsboard, a harp, a rich garment, &c.

It appears that Mufic and Poetry were infeparably united in the fame perfon, in the reign of Howel: nor is it clear at what period they were divided, till the time of Guffudd ab Cynan. Milton, elegantly fays: Bleft pair of Syrens, pledges of Heaven's joy, Sphere-born harmonious fifters, voice and verse,

Wed your divine founds, and mix'd pow'r employ !

About the year 1070, Bleddyn ab Cynvyn, Prince of North Wales, the author of another code of Welfa Laws, established fome regulations refpecting the mufical Bards ", and revifed and enforced those which were already made.

16

About the year 1100, the great Prince Gruffudd ab Cynan invited to Wales fome of the best, musicians of Ireland "; and being partial to the mufic of that island, where he was born, and observing with displeasure the disorders and abuses of the Welsh Bards, created a body of inftitutes for the amendment of their manners, and the correction of their art, and practice ". Accordingly I find in an old MS. of Welsh Mufic 13, in the library of the Welsh school, a curious account of fo remarkable a

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Leges Wallicae, p. 68, &c.

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[man's and Saxons, against Gruffudd ab Cynan. We might perhaps

Leges Wallicae, or Howel's Laws, p. 68, &c. We find the have been convinced of Cellan's great abilities in the arts, had fame refpect paid to the muticians, in other conftitutions. "Who- he lived, and alfo of the beauty of his eloquence, as he could ever shall strike a harper, who can harp in a public affembly,fhall have defcribed the brave exploits and warlike achievements compound with him by a compenfation of four times more than of his Prince, for which his fame was fignalized in Wales, Irefor any other man of the fame condition.” Leg. Ripuariorum land, the Danish Ilinds, and among other nations. A MS. et Wefinorum. Lindenbroc, Cod, LL. Antiq. Wifigoth. &c. A. D. Hiftory of Prince Gruffudd ab Cynan. 1613 Tit. 5. § ult.

12

Howel's Laws, p. 37. § 11. 12.

13 Howel's Laws, p. 307. 31 Triad.

14 Howel's Laws, p. 37. § 12.

Ibid. Alfo Powel's Hiflory of Wales, p. 115 and 191. Clarke's Preface to the Welth Laws, p. 25. and Rhydderch's Wellb Grammar, p. 177, &c.

18 Some part of this MS. according to a memorandum

Llewelyn's Bard had fuch a high opinion of his prince's gene- which I found in it, was tranfcribed in the time of Charles the rofity, that he exclaims,

"Were I to afk my prince a boon,

Even if it were the full-orb'd moon,

"He 'd give it-prince of gen'rous foul!

"He'd give his faithful Bard the whole !"

Firt, by Robert ap Huw of Bodwigen, in the ifle of Anglefey, from
William Penllyn's book" Dr. Burney's Hiftory of Mufic; Vol. II.
p. 110..
William Penllyn is recorded among the fuccessful candi-
dates on the harp, at an Eifteddvod at Caerwys,in 1568. where he
was elected one of the chief Bards and Teachers of inftrumental

Dr. Rhys's Grammatical Inftitutes of the Welsh Language, fong. Pennant's Tour to North Wales, printed 1778, p. 438. p. 295.

This MS. Dr. Burney informs me," contains pieces for the harp

16 Dr. Powel, in his notes on Caradoc, informs us, that either that are in full harmony, or counterpoint: they are written in our Mufic came hither with Prince Gruffudd's Irish musicians, or a peculiar notation, and fuppofed to be as old as the year 1100. was compofed by them afterwards, Mr. Wynne, the other at leaft. Such is the known antiquity of many of the fongs editor of Caradoc's History, mistaking this passage in Dr. Powel, mentioned in the collection." Hiftory of Mufic, ibid. and not distinguishing inftrumental mufic from inufical inftru The 24 meafures of Mufic are here annexed from the MS, in the ments, hath misled his readers by afferting that the Harp and original Welfh, for the purpofe of affifting future enquiries, and Crwth came from Ireland, See Wynne's Hiftory of Wales. edit fhewing, by the variety of its technical terms, what perfection 1774, p. 159 Further information may be feen in the next page. the art had formerly acquired. As they have never been exIt is recorded, in the life of Prince Gruffudd ab Cynan, that plained, I forbear attempting a tranflation, from apprehenfion Cellan, Pencerdd Telyn, his chief musician of the harp, fell in a of mistake, and misleading the reader.

battle which was fought in Anglefey between the invading Nor.

Alfarch

revolution, beginning with these words :-Here follow the Four-and-twenty Meafures of Intrumental Mufic, all conformable to the laws of harmony, as they were fettled in a Congrefs by many Profeffors, skilful in that science, Welsh, and Irish, in the reign of Gruffudd ab Cynan, and written in books by order of both parties, princely, and principally, and then copied, &c.

This grand reformation of the Bards was effected by dividing them into claffes, and affigning to each class a distinct profeffion and employment. We have hitherto viewed them in a very various and extenfive sphere. It was their office to applaud the living and record the dead: they were required to poffefs learning and genius, a skill in pedigrees, an acquaintance with the laws and metres of poetry, a knowledge of harmony, a fine voice, and the command of an inftrument. This diverfity of character is well expreffed by Drayton, in the fixth song of his Polyolbion :

"Mufician, Herald, Bard, thrice may'st thou be renown'd,

"And with three feveral wreaths immortally be crown'd!"

Such variety of excellence was unattainable by human capacity. The Bards were now therefore diftributed into three grand orders, of Poets, Heralds, and Muficians; each of which again branched into fubordinate diftinctions.

Neither of these orders or diftinctions was any longer compatible with thofe with which it had been connected, or with any other profeffion.

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According to a more minute arrangement, there were of regular Bards, proceeding to degrees in the Eisteddvod, fix claffes: three of Poets, and three of Muficians.

The first class of the Poets confifted of historical, or antiquarian Bards, who sometimes mixed prophecy with their inspiration: they were also critics and teachers: and to them belonged the praise of virtue and the cenfure of vice. It was their duty to celebrate the gifts of fancy and poetry. Of them it was required to address married women without the air of gallantry, and the clergy in a serious strain suitably to their function, to satirise without indecency, and without lampooning to answer and overthrow the lampoons of the inferior Bards.

The second class was formed of domestic, or parenetic Bards 3, who lived in the houses of the great, to celebrate their exploits, and amiable qualities: they fung the praises of generofity, contentment, domestic

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ability of each being confonant to one another towards forming it with correctneis. The names of the four chief muficians the fong, to preserve it in memory, to perform, and to explain were, Alban ab Cynan, Rhydderch the Bald, Matholwch the Gwythelian, and Alav the Song fter. The audience were Henry Redback, Carfi the Harper, and many others, affilting with their advice and scientific knowledge. And by the counfel of thofe learned men, the skill of the Doctor of Mufic, and the four feffors of the art, and by the unanimous agreement of all, were made the twenty-four measures; and to give ftability to thofe, the Laventy four Canons were formed. They were made for three reafons: the firft, for compofing a piece; the fecond, for

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In the fame MS. are preferved the five principal Keys of Welsh knowing the merits of it; and the third, for preferving it in

Music, established by the fame authority.

Is gywair, the Low Key, or Key of C.

Crás gywair, the Sharp Key, or D.

Lleddo gywair, the oblique Flat Key, or F.

Go gywair, the third above the Key-note is flat.
Bragod gywair, the Mixt, or Minor Key.

A manufcripts belonging to Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, contains fome curious information respecting the Welsh Mufic; which I have given here, literally tranflated.

Cerdd Dannau.

"This book is called the Prefervation of Inftrumental Mufic; that is to fay, the Harp, and Cwrth, within the three principalities

memory; as their names follow further on, in the Welth and Hibernian language. And Marchan the Gwyddelian was Lord of Ireland at that time; by whom they were confirmed in a place called Glyn-Achlach, through his power and offices; and he further decreed, that every person thould fanction them."

That was about the year 1096, when Gruffydd ab Cynan, and Cadwgan ab Bleddyn, were retreated to Ireland: Hugh, Earl of Chefler, and Owen ab Edwyn, having taken poffetlion of their lands, and of the Ifle of Anglefey.

2

Prydydd, or Pofvardd.

3 Teuluwr, or Family Bard.

When the king rode out of his castle, his attendants were 36

of Cambria; formed of the fcience of Mufic, through the know-men: that is to fay, the 24 officers, and 12 guests, befides his ledge and invention of a Doctor of Mufic, affifted by four chief family, his gentlemen, and his Bards. Leges Wallica, p. 11. profeffors of the Harp, and Cwrth; and the good will and "We find the King had always a civil judge to attend him,

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and

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happiness, and all the focial virtues and thus eminently contributed to enliven the leisure of their patrons. It was also their province to request prefents in a familiar eafy vein, without importunity.

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The third class, though last, was probably not least in esteem, was the Arwyddveirdd, which confifted of Herald Bards, who were the national chroniclers, were also well versed in pedigrees and blazonry of arms, and the works of the primary Bards, such as Taliefin Pen Beirdd, Myrddin Emrys, and Myrddin ab Morvryn. According to the account of them which Giraldus has given in the fucceeding century, they were admirably qualified for Poetry, if invention be one of its principal requifites: for he affirms that they could trace back the descents of their princes and nobles, not only to Roderic, but to Beli, Sylvius, Eneas, and even to Adam himself. But their Poetry was of an humbler kind: it was usually confined to fubjects of jocularity, mimickry, invective, and reproach.

Of the mufical Bards, the first class was appropriated to the performers on the Harp. Athraw, a Doctor, or Master of Mufic fhould know the 3 excellent Mwchwl, which were deemed equal to 4 Colovn ; and each Colovn was equivalent to 10 Cwlwm. The 3 new Mwchwl were ranked equal to the 4 Cadair; and the 4 Cadair were 5 Cwlwm each. Concerning the musicians, the reader may collect further information in pages 32 & 84 of this history, and from an account of the Welsh mufical inftruments further on in this volume. The second contained performers on the fix-ftringed Crwth; concerning whom alfo I refer the reader to the fame places for information.

The third confifted of fingers, whofe employment was to fing to the harps of others, the compofitions of the poetic Bards; but from whom a variety of other qualifications were expected. "A finger, faid the Laws, should know how to tune a Harp, or Crith, and to play several effays and embellishments, two preludes, a cwlwm, a caniad, and the 13 principal tunes with all their flats and sharps. He should understand likewise the 13 principal ftyles of expreflion, and to execute them with his voice, &c. in several fongs; he should know the 24 metres of Poetry, and the 24 measures of Mufic, and be capable of compofing in two of the Engyln, metres and in one of the Cywydd metres. He should read Welsh with propriety, and write it with exactness, and be skilful in correcting and restoring any old poem or song that has been corrupted by transcribers."

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and one of the chief lords to confult with upon all emergenHe had a Bard to celebrate the praises of his ancestors; a Chronicler to regifter his actions; a Phyfician to take care of his health, and a Mufician to entertain him. Thefe were obliged to be always prefent, and to attend the King whitherfoever he went. Befides thefe, there were a certain number of heroic men called Milwyr, who attended him, when he went on his progrefs, or marched out with his army, and were refolved to ftand by him, even at the expence of their lives." Owen's History of the Ancient Britons, p. 21 and 22.

4 Clerwr, Arwydd-vardd: Itinerant or Circuit Bard, or Herald. 5 Cambria Defcriptio, cap. 3..

"These technical terms of Welfh mufic are very obfcure, and are too unintelligible to admit of a pofitive tranflation. If I fhould hereafter be able to decypher the notation of the ancient and very curious MS. which I have quoted before, much light

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At would be thrown on this intricate fubject. Till that defirable object is accomplished, the candid reader will accept the following imperfect attempt to explain it.

Cwlwm, a melodious air, or song with words. Colovn, fundamental fubject, or part of a piece of mufic. Cydgerdd, harmony, mufic in parts, or accompaniments. Cadair, a mafterly piece of mufic, I conjecture, by the performance of which the musical Bards rofe to the fuperior degrees, and to the chair; whence it probably took its name. Caniad, a tune, or fong.

Gofleg, a prelude, or overture.

Deivr, a diverting air, or divertisement. Query, whether this was a fpecies of National Melody, fo called from the county of Durham?

Machal, this fcientific piece of mufic, it feems, was acquired only by a pencerdd, or Doctor of Mufic of the Harp.

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At the nuptials of the prince, or any of the princely blood, the finger attended on the illuftrious Bride, and at thofe entertainments was expected to carve dextrously every kind of fowl that might come before him. Such, and fo various, were the regular Bards, who by a noviciate and probation of an appointed term of years, and the performance of poetical and mufical exercifes, acquired degrees in the Eifteddvod. As that venerable affembly exifted long before the period I am defcribing, a defcription of it ought, perhaps, to have been already exhibited but I chose to wait till, under the aufpices of a prince to whom our. Poetry and Mufic are for ever obliged, I am enabled to display it to the eyes of the curious in its most perfect form.

The Eifteddvod was a triennial assembly of the Bards, (usually held at Aberffraw, the royal feat of the Princes of North Wales, formerly fituated in Anglefey; likewife Dinevawr, the royal caftle of the Princes of South Wales, in Caermarthenshire; and Mathravael, the royal palace of the Princes of Powis, in Montgomeryfhire;) for the regulation of Poetry, and Mufic, for the purpose of conferring degrees, and of advancing to the chair of the Eifteddvod, by the decifion of a poetical, and musical conteft, fome of the rival candidates; or establishing in that honourable feat the Chief Bard who already occupied it.

Wishing to convey to my readers a clear idea of this important fubject, I annex an extract, faithfully tranflated, from the statute of Prince Gruffudd ab Cynan, concerning the manner of holding an Eisteddvod. When the congrefs hath affembled, according to notice and fummons previously iffued, at the place appointed, they fhall choose as umpires twelve perfons skilled in the Welsh Language, Poetry, Mufic, and Heraldry; who fhall give to the Bards a fubject to fing upon, in any of the 24 metres; but not in amabean carols, or any fuch frivolous compofitions. The umpires fhall fee that the candidates do not defcend to fatire, or personal invective, and shall allow to each a fufficient interval for compofing his Englyn, or Cywydd, Mufic, or other task that they shall affign. They shall moreover take down the names of the feveral Bards prefent intending to exbibit, that every one may be called by his name, in order, to the chair to perform his compofition. The unsuccessful candidates, shall acknowledge in writing that they are overcome, and shall deliver their acknowledgment to the chief Bard, that is, to him who fhall obtain the honour of the chair: and they all fhall drink health to the chief Bard, and all shall pay him fees: and he shall govern them till he is overcome in a future Eisteddvod.

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From this injunction it appears, that the duties which upon this occafion, in the reign of Howel, belonged to the judge of the palace, were afterwards held in commiflion.

What served greatly to heighten the emulation of the Bards, if they wanted any additional incitement, was the prefence of the prince, who usually prefided in these contests. Their compofitions delivered upon thefe occafions are frequently upon historical subjects, and are valuable for their authenticity; for it was the business of the Eifteddvod, not only to give laws to Poetry and Mufic, but to extinguish falsehood, and establish certainty, in the relation of events. "A cuftom fo good (fays Drayton) that, had it been judicioufly observed, truth of flory had not been fo uncertain: for there was, we fuppofe, a correction of "what was faulty in form, or matter, or at least a cenfure of the hearers upon what was recited. Of which "course some have wifhed a recontinuance, that either amendment of opinion, or change of purpose in publishing, might prevent blazoned errors 1o.

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Before any perfon could be enrolled in the Eifteddvod, the permiffion of the prince, or lord, within whose jurisdiction he lived, was neceffary. If he defired to proceed to degrees in Poetry, he was obliged at his presentation to explain the five Englyn Metres, and to fing them in fuch a manner, that one of the principal Bards would declare upon his confcience that he was competent to be admitted. He then became the pupil

Of all thefe Metres, fpecimens are exhibited by Dr. Rhys, John Junrivalled luftre." Walter's Differt. on the Welsh Language, Rhydderch, and the Rev. Mr. Gronw Owen, (fee Beirdd Mon, by p. 51. Hugh Jones, 18mo. London, 1763) alfo in the conftitutions of the Society of Cymmrodorion, reprinted 1778. There are other metres, now accounted obfolete and irregular; fuch as Triban or Englyn Milwr, the Warrior's Song; Englyn o'r hen ganiad, the Song of the Ancient Strain; Englyn gar-hir, the Song of the Long Thigh; Englyn cîldwrn, the Song of the Clinched Fift.

The 24 Metres were probably antecedent to the 24 meafures of Mufic, for the latter feem to have been adapted to, and founded upon them.

"The Cambro-British Mufe hath, at the inftance of her votaries, condefcended to put on various other garbs wherein the hath appeared not only not ungraceful, but even with fome degree of dignity and eafe; yet the robes fhe hath ever gloried in, are the Twenty four celebrated ancient British Metres, unknown to every Mufe belides, and wherein the hath always fhone with

Roderic the Great, King of all Wales and the Isle of Man, changed the royal refidence from Caer Segont, in Caernarvonhire, to Aberffraw, in Anglesey, about the year 870. He divided his dominion into three principalities, which he left to his three fons. Groynedd, Venedotia, or North Wales; Debenbarth, Demetia, or South Wales; and Mathraval, or Powis ; which, before the year 793, the royal refidence was kept at Pengwern Powis, or Shrewsbury. Afterwards there were Five Royal Tribes of Wales: Prince Griffith ab Cynan, of Aberfraw, in Anglefey, A. D. 10 0; Prince Rhys ab Tudor, of Dinevawr, Caermarthenfhire, 1080; Prince Bleddyn ab Cynwyn, of Mathraval, in Montgomeryshire, 1070; Elyftan Glodrûdd, of Maes yved, Radnorfhire, Prince of the Marches; and Prince Ieflyn ab Gargant, of Dindryval, Glamorganfhire, 109o.

9

John Rhydderch's Welsh Grammar, p. 188, 189.
To Notes on the Fourth Song of the Polyolbion.

of

32

THE STATUTE OF PRINCE GRUFFUDD AB CYNAN.

of fome one of the principal Bards, whom he was obliged to attend annually in Lent, without whofe approbation he could make no compofition public; and during three years, that is, till the next Eifteddvod, remained a non-graduate, and was called Difgybl Ypas cerdd davod, a probationary student of Poetry.

At the next Eisteddvod, three years having expired, Difgybl Ypas was examined for the degree of Difgybl Difgyblaidd, or Bachelor of the Art of Poetry, and was required to be verfed in the five Englyn Metres, the four Cywydd Metres, and three Awdl Metres; and to produce, in a scholar-like manner, compofitions of his own, free from the 15 common errors.-After the fame interval, the Bard took the degree of Difgybl Penceirddiaidd, or Master of the Art of Poetry, for which he was required to understand the rules of Grammar and Rhetoric, and analize and explain the alliterative concatenations of the language; to efcape all the errors; and to fing melodioufly, in parts, 21 of the metres.

To the Pencerdd, or Profeffor of Poetry, who obtained his degree at the end of the fame period, belonged the whole mystery of the art. He knew to fing in harmony, or concord, and was well verfed in tranfpofed alliteration. Among his qualifications are enumerated, fertility in poetical subjects, a store of matter and invention, authority of decifion, and a facility in compofing in praise of the great, what would be heard, or read with most delight, and longest retained in memory.

If a Difgybl, or difciple of any degree, was discovered in taverns or fecret places playing for money at dice, or any other game, any person was authorised to take from him whatever money was found in his purse. For mockery and derifion, and the invention or propagation of falfehood, the difciples were also punished with fines, and imprisonment. For, fay the laws, the Bards fhall be eafy and peaceful in their manners, friendly in their difpofitions, and humble in their fervices to the prince and his adherents.

Those Bards alone who had acquired the degree of Pencerdd were authorised to teach: nor were more than a fingle pupil allowed to each Pencerdd. The pupils were exprefsly enjoined to refrain from ridiculing their teachers, for that abfence and inattention which is natural to a contemplative mind. But the most valued privilege of the Penceirddiaidd was their exclufive right to the chair of the Eisteddvod. All those among them who aspired to the honour of prefiding over the Bards, came forward (as the statute prescribes) at the triennial affembly, and contested it with each other, and with the Chief Bard who already poffeffed it. The fuccefsful candidate was feated in a magnificent chair, and was hence called Bardd Cadeiriawg, the Chair-Bard. He was at the fame time invefted with a little filver, or gold chair, which he wore on his breaft as the badge of his office. As his rank was high, his emoluments were confiderable: they arose from the Difgyblion, or students, when they laid aside the hair-strung harp, at the expiration of three years study, and were admitted to the practice of their art; from brides on their nuptials; and the marriage-fine of the daughters of all the Bards within his jurisdiction, &c.

Whoever defired to proceed to degrees in Mufic, was prefented to the Eisteddvod by a mufical Pencerdd, who vouched for his capacity. During his noviciate of three years, he was called Difgybl Ypás heb râdd, a probationary student of Mufic without a degree: and, if he learnt to play the harp, was only fuffered to use that inftrument ftrung with horse-hair, that he might not (as I conjecture) by his rude attempt at harmony, torment the ears of the principality, and might pursue his studies with greater diligence, incited by the hope of relinquifhing it for one furnished with strings of a more audible and pleafing found.

His next step, after three years study, was to the degree of Difgybl Yfpás graddol, a graduate probationary student of Music, for which he was obliged to know ten cwlwm, one colovn, five cwlwm cydgerdd, one cadair, and eight caniad, or Songs.

His fecond degree, after fix years study, was Difgybl Difgyblaidd, or Bachelor of Mufic, but was previously required to be master of twenty cwlwm, two colovn, ten cwlwm cydgerdd, two cadair, fixteen caniad, and the twenty-four measures of Mufic; and to play them with facility and correctness.

At the expiration of nine years he became Difgybl Penceirddiaidd, or Master of Mufic, a degree which implied a preparatory knowledge of thirty cwlwm, three colovn, fifteen cwlwm cydgerdd, three cadair, twenty-four caniad, and four gosteg; and skill in defining them properly, and distinctly.

The fourth degree, he was admitted Percerdd, Athraw, or Doctor of Mufic*, and was obliged to know forty cwlwm, four colovn, twenty cwlwm cydgerdd, four cadair, thirty-two caniadau, and four gofteg; to underftand all the laws and modifications of harmony, efpecially the twenty-four Meafures of Mufic, and * According to another manufcript, a Pencerdd might challenge any other to perform, or to fing for the prize, after giving a year and a day's notice. If he fucceeded, he carried it off; if not, he lost his degree; and the victor kept the prize for life, but was obliged to produce it triennially at the Eifteddved, or Congrefs of the Bards.

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