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Llymma ddewis bethau Gwr: nid amgen, Nai Vrenin yn gyviawn, a'i Arglwydd yn hâel; A'i Varch yn vawr, a'i Vilgi yn vuan, A'i Hebog yn chwannog; a'i Dír yn dirion, A'i Ychain yn gryvion, a'i ddevaid yn rhywiog, A'i Vôch yn birion: a'i Vwyd yn iachus, A'i Ddiod yn vain, a'i Dân yn oleu, A'i Ddillad yn glŷdion, a'i Dy yn ddiddos, A'i Wely yn efmwyth, a'i Wraig yn ddiwair; A'i Vorwyn yn lanwaith, a'i Was yn ddiwyd, A'i Vábyn gywir; a'i Gâr yn garedig, A'i Gymmydog yn ddidwyll; a'i Velin yn agos, A'i Eglwys ymhell; a'i Dád yfprydawl yn gall, A'i Dduw yn Drugarog.

Saith Gomp à ddylai vôd ar wr :

Bod yn Athraw yn ei Dy;

Bod yn Oen yn ei ftavell;
Bid yn Vardd ar ei Vwrdd;
Bód yn Dda yn ei Eglwys;
Bod yn Ddoetb yn ei ddadl;
Bod yn Llew yn y drín;
Bod yn Varch yn ei wely.

Deuddeg Gair Gwir:
Llawr y Ddaear, fydd galeta'.
Dau efgus Gwraig, fydd barodta'.
Tri chán Ceiliog, fydd foreua'.
Pedwar cornel y Byd, fydd bella'.
Pum' gorcheft Crift fydd ddyfna'.
Chwe Eidion-dú ufudd, fydd ufudda'.

Saith Seren firiol, fydd firiola'.

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These are the choice things of man: His King juft, his Lord liberal; His Horse active, his Greyhound swift, His Hawk full of defire; his Land fertile, His Oxen strong, his Sheep of a good breed, His Swine long his Victuals healthy, His Drink pure, his Fire bright, His Clothes comfortable, his House dry, His Bed eafy, his Wife chafte;

His Maid notable, his Servant industrious,
His Son faithful, his Kinsman affectionate,
His neighbour without guile; his Mill near,
His Church at a distance; his spiritual Father wise,
And his God merciful.

The Seven Excellencies which a man ought to poffefs.
To be an Inftructor in his House;
To be a Lamb in his Chamber;

To be a Bard at his Table;

To be Devout in his Church ;

To be Wife in Debate ;

To be a Lion in Battle;

And Manly in his Bed.

Twelve true Words:

The terreftrial Earth, is the hardest.

The two Excuses of a Woman, are the readiest.
The three Crowings of the Cock, are the earliest.
The four Corners of the World, are the farthest.
The five Miracles of Chrift, are the most profound.
Six docile black-Oxen, are the most teachable.
The feven chearful Stars, (orPlanets,) are the brightest
The eight Parts of Speech, or Dialects of the World
are the wisest †

The nine prolifick Trees, are the sweetest.

The ten Commandments, are the trueft.

The elev en Angels, are the most beautiful.

The twelve Apostles, are the fupreme Miffionaries.

Deuddeg Apoftol, fydd benna.

OF THE POETS, MUSICIANS, HISTORIANS, AND HERALDS.

ACCORDING to the Welsh, the Metrical Bards were divided into three Claffes; and the Subjects they treated of were as follows.

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To Satirize ;
To Ridicule, or Taunt;
To Mimick, or Takeoff;
To Sue for, or Intreat;
To Lampoon;
To Reproach.

"Two Clêrwyr ufually stood before the company, one to give in rhyme, at the other's Extempore, to excite mirth and laughter with their witty quibbles.".

The Seven Liberal Sciences.

+r Saith briv Addyfg; neu, Saith Vreiniol Gelwyddydau: Geiriaduriaeth, neu Llythyreg: Areithyddiaeth, neu Arawduriaeth: Grammar: Rhetoric: Logic: Mufic: Arithmetic : Geometry: Darbwylleg, neu Ddadlyddiaeth: Cerddoriaeth: Rhiwyddiaeth: and Astronomy. Meidroriaeth, neu Daear-vefuriaeth: Séryddiaeth.

*This fatyrical poet generally touched upon, and corrected, in fharp and invective verfe, the vices of men, and of the times; which is called Tmfennu, Dychan, or, Gogannu; i. e. Lampooning, and Cenfure. It is not only written, but is compofed extempore, with wonderful quickness, both of memory and genius, by the gymnastic, or controverfial poets of this kind. This is alfo called, by the common people, Canu Serthedd, a Brynti, a Mafwedd: to ridicule reciprocally, to fing colloquially, to mock, and to disgrace; vulgarly termed, to fing levities, or obscenities.

The

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OF THE METRICAL BARDS, MUSICIANS, HISTORIANS, HERALDS, &c.

The Teuluwr, Family Songster, or Bard To dwell with, and to folace his patron; that is, to divert and of Domestic Eloquence; whofe pro enliven the time by mirth and pleasantry. To infufe liberality, feffion required the following branches: to receive guefts, and to folicit, in a polite and becoming manner. *The province of the Domestic Bard is wit; he expreffes, in moft facetions verfe, thofe things in particular which excite laughter and delight beyond expectation, by some happy double entendre. It is commonly called Canu Digri-v-gerdd, a 'Theftynniaw trwy eirieu ammwys, ac ymddyvalu yn ddigriv gwers tra gwers; that is, to compofe fongs of mirth, to pun with equivocal words, and to characterize in dialogues. The poets of this clafs compofed as well extempore, as in writing. They alfo fang love fongs, or Amatory verfes, in every kind of metre, with delicacy and elegance, without giving offence; fuch as honeft arguments, tales of lovers, and married folks; and are called Canu Čerdd o gariad, neu Gordderch-gerdd; that is, to fing courteoufly, to fing of love, or to wooe.

Prydydd, a Bardd; or a Poet, and Bardt; whose occupation was verfifying, &c. to which appertained the following branches; viz.

Metaphyfical,

and that, either

To Teach aright:

To Sing aright:

And to Judge properly of things.

His three (To Satirize without ribaldry :

Excellences To Commend a married woman without obfcenity:
were; And to Addrefs a Clergyman fuitable to his calling.

Land

He was to commend a pleafant difpofition of mind; to praife Liberality; and to celebrate the Science of Mufic, and the Art of Poetry.

To delight his hearers; to oppose the bitter Invective of the Clerwyr ; and to avoid fatirizing any other perfon. To be obedient, liberal, chaste, and to make himself perfectly beloved.

He was to avoid steadily the seven deadly fins; which are, Extortion, Theft, Pride, Fornication, Gluttony, Indolence, and Envy; because these things destroy the Genius, Memory, Imagination, and fame of the Bard. Prophetic, confifting of verfes that foretel events, or foothfaying; and by those who, conceiving in their minds divine impulfes, think they foresee things that will happen, called Prophwydoliaeth, or Darogan. Such are the compofitions of thofe whom we call Myrddin Wyllt, Myrddin Emrys, Taliefin, chief of the Bards; Rhobin Ddu of Anglefey; Rhys, the Bard, &c.

Theology was alfo recited in every kind of verfe, whatever relates to God, and the knowledge of things divine. This is termed Canu i Dduw a'i Saint, ac o Ddaioni, ac yn erbyn pechawd; to fing of God and his faints, in praise of good, aud deteftation of evil; as are the Poems of John Cent, Cynddelw, Teilo, Taliefin, &c. Hiftory was recited in all kinds of verfe; and comprized the actions, together with the praife, or cenfure of noble perfons. Thefe poets are vulgarly called Pos-veirdd.

Heraldic, which defcribes the pedigrees and genealogies of noblemen and gentlemen, together with the arms and bearings upon their dreffes and ftandards; what different actions they have themselves performed, and the quarterings received from others; that the rewards of their merits, after the custom of the ancients, which were heaped upon them as ornaments of praise and glory, or on account of their own valour, or that of their ancestors, may be known and afcribed to their respective owners. The poets that record this fubject, and bestow these rewards, are called Arwydd-veirdd, or Heraldic Bards; who fhould be well skilled in the genealogies of kings, and in the hiftories of the three primitive Bards of the island of Britain.

Elegiac, mournful, or Songs of Lamentation, or Sorrow, in which the Welth, at their funerals, lament the lofs of the deceafed. This is commonly called Cerdd Marwnad, and Cywydd, neu Awdl Marwnad, neu Alar-gerdd. Epitaphical, is alfo placed on the monuments of the dead, to commemorate, or as an encomium on them; and that is called Bedd-gerdd, or epitaph. Ethic, and Gnomologic, in which not a few moral precepts, or laws are written by the Bards, in rhyming verfes.

Mathematical, in which many things relating to Geometry, Music, Arithmetic, Aftronomy, and Aftrology, are celebrated by the Welsh Poets, and Bards.

Phyfiological, in which difcourfes are made of nature, in Welsh poetry: not a few of our countrymen have handled these matters in their native tongue, which are commonly called Cerdd anianarul.

Georgical, in which many of our poets have treated of fishing, hunting, agriculture, together with the times, and seafons of country matters; and of Mechanical employments.

Neither have there been wanting among the Welsh, ancient poets in the comic, tragic, buffoon, and medical, line; many of whofe works are ftill preserved by our countrymen in ancient manufcripts. They have alfo written innumerable works of Welsh poetry not to be despised, many of which still remain among us.

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Hanefydd, an Hiftorian.

Three things are the effects of an edifying fong: it cherishes the mind; increases the memory and affec tion; and suppresses evil thoughts.

There were three frivolous (Clerwr, the low Itinerant Minstrel :

ly

Songsters, Pfeudo Bards, or Bardd y Blawd, the Meal Minstrel :
Minstrels:

Hûdawl, the Juggler, or performer of Legerdemain.

And the consequences of these trifling Songsters, or Minstrels were; their fongs being vulgar, and defective of sense, tended to corrupt morals and increase fin.-Translated from Dr. J. D. Rhys's Welsh and Latin Gram. of

8

There were eight orders of Muficians: viz.

Of the Various Degrees of Bards, Muficians, &c *.

The four
Graduated
orders of
Bards: viz.

The four

Inferior or

ders, Non-
Graduates,

or Minstrels,
viz.

Prydydd, neu Bardd Caw; a hwnw o dri rhyw; fev Telynawr ; Crythawr ; Datceiniad :

That is,

The Poet, or
Invested Bard;

of which there

were 3 kinds:

viz. the Harpift;
the Crwthist ;

and the Singer.

Priv-vardd; the Primitive order, Inventive, or Chief Bard;
Pos-vardd; the Diplomatic, or Modern Bard:
Arwydd-vardd; the Enfign, or Heraldic Bard. Whoever
would be a herald Bard, fhould be well verfed in the Hif-
tories and Genealogies of Kings, and Princes; and entirely
acquainted with the excellencies of our three Primary Bards;
fuch as, Myrddyn Emrys, Myrddyn ab Morvryn, and Taliefin
Pen Beirdd; and in the science of Heraldic Bardism, or per-
fect skill with respect to the enfigns, arms, families, and
noble deeds of the princes, and nobility of Wales.

And of the above, he that is called Cadeirvardd, or Pencerdd, (i. e. Chaired Bard, or Chief Bard,) is fuch as wears on his breast the Ariandlws; which is in the form of a chair of gold, or filver, or a jewel of a harp, (the reward of merit,) as a token of diftinction of his being a graduated Teacher, or a Doctor of Mufict; of which, fee a delineation of two of them in page 89.

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And the fee of each of thefe four Minstrels was a penny, and they were to perform ftanding.

* Cambrobrytannica Cymraecave Lingua Inftitutiones, by Dr. John David Rhys, pp. 146, 147, and 303.

+ Michael Drayton, in Song the IVth of his Poly-olbion, elegantly and faithfully records the various perfonages concerned in
the Eifteddvod, or Congrefs of the Bards, where they contended for the prize

'Mongft whom, fome Bards there were, that in their facred rage
Recorded the Defcents and Acts of every age.

Some with their nimbler Joints that ftruck the warbling String;

In fingering fome unfkill'd, but only us❜d to fing

Unto the other's Harp; of which you both might find
Great plenty, and of both excelling in their kind,
That at the 'Steddva oft obtain'd a Victor's Praise,
Had won the Silver Harp, and worn Apollo's Bays:
Whofe verfes they deduc'd from those first golden times,
Of fundry forts of Feet, and fundry fuits of Rhimes.
In Englyn's fome there were, that on their Subject strain ;
Some makers that again affect the Loftier Vein,
Rehearse their high conceits in Cowydd's; other-fome
In Awdl's theirs exprefs, as matter haps to come;
So varying ftill their Moods, obferving yet in all,
Their Quantities, their Refts, their Ceafures metrical:

For, to that Sacred Skill they most themselves apply;
Addicted, from their Births, fo much to Poëfy,

That, in the Mountains, those who scarce have feen a Book,
Most skilfully will make, as though from Art they took.—

From the Druids, Bards, and Ovyddion, the above various Orders originated; which again were corrupted, particularly among the English, and branched into a variety of other profeffions; fuch as Minstrels, Jefters, Buffoons, Magicians, Conjurers, Fortune-tellers, and Witches,

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86

FRANCHISES OF THE BARDS.

The following were the Fees, or Donations, appointed by the Statute of Prince Gruffydd ab Cynan, about A. D. 1100, to be given to all the Bards, and Muficians, according to their different degrees, by all his Subjects and Vaffals who poffeffed an estate by inheritance of Five-pounds a year, and upwards. In another MS. I find it was regulated, that only One should go to a person whose domain was Ten-pounds a year, and Two to a Yeoman, who had Twenty-pounds a year; and, according to that proportion, to a perfon of a higher rank.

Pencerdd, neu Vardd. Head Bard, Chief Bard, or Prefiding Bard of the district:

Difgybl Penceirddiaidd ; Primary Student, or a Candidate for the degree of a Pencerdd:

Fees at each of the three
great Festivals; viz.
Christmas, Eafter, and
Whitfuntide.

XL pence, and
fome gift extraor
dinary.

Fees at Royal
Weddings.

XL perice; and if
appointed Cyff Cler
his fee was doubled.

Fees at common Wed-
dings, Wakes, and Cylch
Clera, or Clera Circuits,
once in three years.

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XII pence, his
Clera fee.

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II pence;
but if he
knew the pedigree
of only one of
them, a penny, and
the bounty of the
guefts.

Y Clérwyr, the Provincial, or Itinerant Bards, were to have a Penny for every plough; that is, for every day's tilling that a layman did on his farm: and, where money could not be had, they were to recover by distress of goods.

Here follows, a part of The Statute of Prince Gruffydd ab Cynan †, by the confent of the fovereign of the kingdom, with full licence, namely, that there should be privileges for the profeffion of Vocal Song, and for Inftrumental Music of the Harp, and of the Crwth, to enjoy Five free acres, which are called Pump erwrydd Beirdd a Chantorion. (By erw, here is not meant an acre of land, &c. but the appropriated time wherein the Bards were to go about their Clera, or Mufical Circuit, and is called ewr-rydd, because they were at liberty of fo doing within the limited time :) viz. 1ft, ewr-rydd, from Christmas-day to the Purification of the Virgin Mary: 2d, from Eafter day to Afcenfion-day: 3d, from Whitfunday to Súly Creiriau, or the Sunday of Relicks: 4th, when a gentleman built a manfion-house, he was to give fees to all the Bards within his province, according to their degrees; but this building-fee was afterwards annihilated by confent of the gentry, and another, at their annual Wake, conftituted in its place: 5th, at Weddings, or the gift of a Virgin ; and, if he married a fecond time, then the musicians received no fee.”

And of the three sciences above-mentioned, namely, Vocal Song, Harp Mufic, and Crwth Mufic, there are three degrees in each; that is to fay, Graduated, or highest order; the Discipline; and the loweft, or Inferior Minstrelfy.

It will be neceffary to obferve, that the comparative value [gue Inflitutiones, a very rare book, written by Dr. John Davydd of a penny, in the year 1100, was equivalent to 10 pence now. Rhys, of Llanvaethlu, in Anglesey, printed in 1592, and page + It was incumbent on every teacher to have a copy of 295. He took his Doctor's degree at Sienna, but was educated this regulation, containing the Laws of the Bards, to fhew at Oxford. He returned to his own country, where he prac to his difciples, when they came to receive his inftruction in tifed with great fuccefs. At the request of Sir Edward ŜtradLent, &c. Prince Gruffydd ab Cynan, the law.giver and re-ling, of St. Donat's, he compofed his book. He tells us, he former of the abuses of the Bards, died A. D. 1137, (accord- wrote the first part at Mr. Morgan Maredydd's, in Radnorfire: ing to Caradoc of Llancarvan's History of Wales.) after he had the reft at a place of his own in Brecknockshire, as he fays, at reigned above fifty years.-The above extracts of the Statute the age of feventy, and under the fhade of a hawthorn grove. of Prince Gruffydd ab Conan aretranflated from a parchment roll Vide his Preface, and Pennant's Tour in Wales.-See farther in the Afhmolean Mufeim, Oxford; from a manufcript in particulars of the renenue of the Bards, in the preceding my collection; and from Cambrebrytannica Cymraecave Lin- page 27, &c.

The

The following curious and concife memorandums of feveral of the Bards, and of what they have written, were transcribed from a manufcript at Mr. Evan 'Bowen of Pen yr Allt, in the parish of Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, and now first translated into English. The original appears to have been written by the celebrated Herald Bard, Rhys Cain, about A. D. 1570. "Richard Brocleton, one of the council for the Marches of Wales, wrote the History of all Britain; fearching the records in the Tower of London for what was loft amongst the Bards. George Owen Harry, Lord of Kemeys, in Pembrokeshire, (or Montgomerythire,) wrote a Hiftory of Britain. Fl. ab. 1604. John Lewis, efq. barrister at law, wrote the Hiftory of Great Britain, from the first inhabitants thereof, till the death of Gadwalader; and of the kings of Scotland to Eugeneu, or Owen, &c. which work was printed in a folio volume in A D. 1529 Ieuan Llwyd, ab Davydd, ab Siôn, efq. wrote of all Britain. Thomas Jones, of Tregaron, wrote of Great Britain. John Mills, of Trê 'r Delyn, gent. wrote the History of all Britain.

Thomas ab Llywelyn, ab Ithel, of Bôd-Vary, Denbighshire, wrote the Hiftory of all Britain.

John, ab William ab John, gent. of the fame county, wrote the Hiftory of Britain,

Of the county of Glamorgan :
Sir Edward Manfel, knight, wrote the History of the Island

of Britain, and other countries.

Sir Edward Stradling, knight, wrote the Hiftory of Great Britain, &c, about 1500; and I received from it much infor

mation.

Rhys Ambeuryg, of Cottrel, gent. wrote concerning all Britain; his book is one of the fairest and most intelligent works in Wales; and he communicated much to me.

Anthony Powel, of Tîr Iarll, gent. wrote of all Britain, and other places; he was a learned Poet, and a Chief Bard. Hywel Swrdwal, Mafter of Arts, and a chief of Song, wrote the Hiftory of the Three Principalities of Wales, from Adam, to the first king, in a faír Latin volume; and from Adam to the time of king Edward the I.: alfo, he wrote a Welsh Chronicle, which is now with Owain Gwynedd, Chief Batd, and

a teacher of his fcience.

Lewis Morganwg, Chief Bard, wrote the Hiftory of the Three Provinces of Wales, in a liberal manner. And Meyryg Davydd, and Davydd Benwyn, Bards, of Glamorgan, had his books, which were valuable, and well written.

Howel Davydd ab Ieuan ab Rhys, M. A. a Poet, and chief Bard, wrote the Hiftory of all Britain, in Latin; and of the Three Principalities of Wales, in Welsh; and his books were well written, and valuable.

Tepan ab Hywel Swrdwal, A M. wrote a fair book in Welfh, of the Three Principalities of Wales, from the time of Cadwalader, to that of king Henry the VI.; and was a Primitive Bard of transcendent merit.

Iolo Gôch, A. M. and Chief Bard of North Wales, wrote of the Three Principalites of Wales. He was one of the moft celebrated Bards, of the Primitive Order, that ever was known. Guttýn Owen, Chief Bard, of Maelawr, wrote an account of the Three Principalities; and thofe are very perfect, and fairly written.

John Wyn, ab Griffri, of Montgomeryshire, gent. wrote the Hiltory of all Wales; and his books are, as far as they go, good authorities to all Wales; I have fome of them that may be feen. Robin Iachir, or the Genealogift, of North Wales, about A. D. 1610, wrote of the Three Principalities of Wales; he was a good recitative Poet, good vocal Songfter, and well. verfed in Antient Poetry.

Morys ab Bacyn, ab Rhys Trevor, of Bettws, in Cydewain, gent. wrote a History of all Wales; his books are in my poffeffion, to be feen at this day." Rhys Cain. Cetera defilerantur.

There are feveral Welfh manufcripts of Bonedd y Saint, ac Achau'r Saint Ynys Prydain, or the noble defcent and genealogies of the Saints of the British Isle, who were the original founders of Churches, and religious houfes in Britain, which ftill go by their names. There is alfo a Latin manufcript of the Lives of the Welsh Saints, in the Cotton Library, marked Vefparian, A. XIV which is faid to be written by Rythmarch, archbishop of St. David's, the son of bishop Sulien, about the year 1090. He was a man of the greateft piety, wisdom, and learning, that had flourished a long time in Wales, excepting his father, under whofe tutelage he was educated

r Greal, which implies a Mifcellany, or a Collection. St. Gregory, and others, call it Sain Greal, or St. Grëal. This Holy Collection of Legends, was an ancient Book of divers Anecdotes, or Stories, written in Welsh; which I have formerly 'een, (fays my author Lewis Morris,) at Hengwrt Library, in Meirioneth/bire, very fairly written on vellum, containing 560 pages in 4to. And there is another copy of the fame book in Sir Roger Moftyn's Library. Vincentius, in his Specul. Hift. mentions the fame book of hiftories, and fays it was called Greal from a Gallic word, (Welfh, I fuppofe, Gradalis, or Gradale, fignifying a little difh, where fome choice morfel was put; and that it was not to be found in Latin, but common in Gallic. Dr. Davies, in his Dictionary, fays, Greal is a certain Historical Book, containing various Hiftories; and that it was very difficult to be got, because it was so scarce." On all the parchments of Emrys, room could not be found for all the information of this man; his reports were to us in Iâl, like thofe of the Greal, &c." L. M. the Bard, fays this to Eliffe ab Gr. ab Einion, who was uncommonly verfed in hiftory In Mr. Edward Lhwyd's Archeologia Britannica, p. 262, it is titled Tftoriae Saint Greal; and in the British Triads, No. 61, it is called floria y Greal. In an ancient table, once belonging to Glaftonbury, this work is quoted: Ac deinde fecundum quod legitur in libro quo dicitur Graal. Joseph ab Arimathea, &c. Uber prima, p. 16, Dublin edition. Capgrave, in the Life of Jofeph of Arimathea, quotes a book: Qui fan&um Graai appellatur, &c.

Anian, bishop of Bangor, about the year 1291, procured a commiffion from Chancery, to enquire into the tenures of the Ieuan Brechva, of Deheubarth, in South Wales, wrote a well-bifhoprick: which furvey is called The Bishop's Extent Book, authenticated Hiftory of the Three Provinces; and his books I have feen with Hugh ab Davydd, of Kidwelly, gent. and I received in them, from that gentleman, a great deal of valuable information. May God bless him!

Davydd ah Edmund, who won the Bardic Chair of South Wales, in a Royal Congress of Bards; he was a native of Hanmer, and wrote an account of the Three Principalities, as appears by his books.

Gutto 'r Glyn, Chief Bard, and one of the Bards of William Herbert, earl of Pembroke, wrote liberally of the Three Principalities, which was well approved.

Davydd ab Howel, ab Horvel ab Evan Vychan, Chief Bard, wrote of the Three Principalities; and his books are fair and valuable. (Probably this was Prydydd Brycheiniog, who flourifhed about 1440.)

Howel ab Sir Mathe, wrote a Hiftory of all Britain, and his books are to be feen with me, (Rhys Cain ;) they are fair, valuable, and intelligent.

Gruffyd Hiraetbog, chief Bard, and deputy Herald at Arms; for all Wales, under Garter; wrote a Hiftory of all Britain, and other countries. Among his difciples were. Simwnt Vychan, chief Bard; Wiliam Llyn, chief Bard; Wiliam Cynwal, chief Bard; and John Philip, chief Bard. I have his Books, which are fair, and valuable.

John Braynog, chief Bard, of the isle of Anglefey, wrote the Hiftory of the Three Principalities; and his books are fair and perfect.

and is ftill in being. He alfo drew up, as I judge by agreement of his clergy, (that feeming to have been part of the acts confented to, and determined at his ecclefiaftical fynod, held at Llanvair Garth Branan,) a Miffal, or Pontifical, for the fervice of his church and diocefs; which Miffa I take to be one of thofe diverfities or ufes in finging, heretofore obferved and practifed in our church, and taken notice of in the Preface, or Order, which follows the Acts of Uniformity, printed before our Liturgy, or Common Prayer Book. This Mial was loft in the troubles in Wales, in the reign of Henry IVth; and again in the time of the great Rebellion; afterwards it was happily recovered, and reftored to the church, where it ftill remains. This Pontifical, or Liber Bangor, is a small folio of a moderate thickness, and contains 32 offices, and has abundance of Anthems, with mufical notes to them for finging.

The generous care and industry of Sir William Gruffydd, or Penrhyn, knight, and chamberlain of North Wales, about the year 1523, who preferved the ancient records from perifhing, by collecting as many of them as he could retrieve from moth and corruption; and then caufed thofe fcattered rolls and fragments to be fairly written by one Jenkyn Gwyn, in two large volumes of parchments, for the information of pofterity. One whereof, is that book kept always in the Chamberlain's office, called, The Extent of North Wales; and the other he tranimitted into the Auditor's office at London, where it is preferved to this day., Alfo, Sir John Wynn, of Gwydr, had formerly a copy of The Extent of North Wales.--E. J. 6

The

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