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58

OF THE THREE MEMORIALS OF BRITAIN.

acts of the kings and nobility were collected, and all the battles recorded by them, and expressly remem bered in the Cerdd Voliant of fuch noble perfons as had performed fervices in the field, and in their Cerdd Varwnad; fo that there could be no perversion of truth, in composing histories from three years, to three years. There was, besides, a severe punishment inflicted by the law, upon the Bards, of long imprisonment, lofs of place, and dignity, befides great disgrace, if any of them should record, for truth, any thing but the truth, in any historical treatise whatsoever.

No man described any battle but such as had been an eye-witness thereof; for, fome of the chief Bards were marshals of all battles: they fat in council in the field, and were the king's, or general's intelligencers how the action went on; fo that they could not be ignorant of any circumstance, or thing, done in the field. They did not write of battles by hearsay, nor of affairs by relation, unless it were fome fudden, or unexpected fight or skirmish; for, in all battles of moment, they were prefent, as I shall prove at large in another place.

Our hiltories were not written by a school-master, that travelled no farther for his knowledge than a child's journey from his breakfast to his leffon; nor by any monk, that journeyed no farther than from mass to meat; nor by any apprentice, that had no other education than from shop to market; nor by any person of low birth, condition, or calling; but by Bards, nobly descended, barons, and fellows to lords and princes. King Arthur, and two of his knights, Sir Trystan, and Sir Llywarch, were Bards, as this verse testifies:

Arthur aefdwn a Thryftan,

A Llywarch ben cyvarch cân.

Arthur, with broken shield, and Trystan3 woo'd

The mufe; but Llywarch was the most belov❜d.

The Pen-bardd, or Bardd Teulu, was of fo high a vocation, that he fat at meals next to the pen-teulu, (who was called princeps familia,) and had such respect and honour done unto him, that it was the office, of the pen-teulu, who was the fourth person of the land, to present the Harp to him, when he performed a fong, in the presence of the king, at the principal feftivals of the year, Christmas, Eafter, and Whitfuntide. The chief Bards were very often of the king's council; and, the chief Bard in the land was befides. allowed a chair in the royal palace on festivals, when the king and his family fat in state. As a fymbol of this, at the commencement of the Bards, for their graduation, their chiefeft title was Pencerdd; and the head Pencerdd had a jewel in form of a chair bestowed upon him at his creation, or graduation; which he wore fufpended from his neck by a ribband or chain. He then was called Bardd Cadeiriawg, which is a chaired Bard, and he fat in a chair in the king's hall, or any where else, by virtue of his dignity as fupreme Bard; which it was not lawful for any other Bard to claim, but only the Bardd Cadeiriawg, who had won the chair upon disputation publicly before the king at commencement time, or at a royal wedding.

When the Bardd Cadeiriawg was dead, that formerly enjoyed the said jewel, it was fometimes yielded to the chief Bard of knowledge and worth by the others, without disputation, (if his fufficiency in his profeffion was known to furpafs all the reft; and fo he had it pro confeffo,) that he was the chief Bard of knowledge in that dominion. But, if any Bard whatsoever challenged to dispute for it, it could not be given him (pro confesso ;) but he disputed for it, and thereby accomplished the proverb, (viz. win it, and wear it ;) for, he could not wear it, unless he won it by a trial of skill, or was yielded unto him by all the other Bards, upon conviction of his pre-eminence, and fingular knowledge and worth, above all the reft; for, the dignity of a Bard amongst the ancient Britons was very houourable. The Bards were men of high descent, often of the blood royal, and called their kings and princes by the title of coufins, and fellows, as Blêddyn Vardd called Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, (whom the English style Leolinus Magnus,) Prince of Cambria, his coufin, in these verses:

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That was Llewelyn himself, and David, and Gruffyth, his fons; and Owain góch, Llewelyn, and David

the three fons of Gruffyth ab Llewelyn. So did Cynddelw, the great Bard, who called Madog ab Meredydd,

3

Sir Tryfan was fo eminent a performer on the Harp, that he charmed La Bel Isod, daughter of the king of Ireland. See Dr. Hanmer's Chronicle, p. 52; and pp. 12 and 14 of this work,

the

OF THE THREE MEMORIALS OF BRITAIN.

59

the Prince of Powys his lord and fellow, or fellow-lord, in his poem made in commendation of the faid Madog, viz.

Cyvarchav i'm rhi rad obaith

Cyvarchav, cyvarchais 6 canwaith;

Yn provi prydu o v’iaith-eurgerdd,

Ym arglwydd gydymaith.

I will greet my prince, hopeful in grace:

A hundred times have I greeted him

In effaying poetic lore, in my language of golden fongi

To my lord, and companion.

And, in like manner, Iolo Goch claims kindred with Ithel ab Robert, of Coed y Mynydd, Tegengl, in his poem made to the faid Ithel, wherein he writes as follows:

Hŷd ar untro clo y clôd,

Er ún llwyth o Ronwy Llwyd,
Poft dievrydd, pais dryvrwyd;

A'n hen-veiftr gwys yn hanvod :
Cyd werfog Cov diweir-falm,
Vum ac ev yn dolev dalm.

1

Highest in the temple of Fame

Is the great grey-headed Gronwy;

A ftaunch pillar, clad in the close-woven coat of mail;

It is known, that we are of the fame ftock as our aged chief:
Often have he and Ifung together with the voice of gladness
Sweet to me is the remembrance.

Thus, we find, that the ancient Bards, in the time of the kings and princes, were their kinsmen ; and in the following age, after the princes, they were a-kin to the nobility of the country; as Iolo Góch to Ithel ab Robert, of Coed y Mynydd; and Llewelyn Góch ab Meurig Hên to the noble family of Nannau. Neither could any mean perfon, in the time of the Cambrian kings, prefume to study the learning, or profeffion of a Bard; but, when the princes were extinct, this limitation ceafed alfo, and men of inferior birth, having good qualities, were admitted to study the fcience of the Bards, and to proceed in their profeffion to their graduation; but under the title and vocation of Prydyddion, or Poets.

After the diffolution of the ancient government of Cambria, and the reduction thereof under Edward the First, that monarch, not refpecting the honour nor the dignity of the ancient British laws, antiquities, or rights, endeavoured to the utmost of his power, (as did all his fucceffors, until Henry the Seventh's time,) to destroy and extinguish both them, their fame, and antiquities *.

At this time the nobility and barons of Wales received fuch old Bards, after the death of the princes, as were then in being, into their protection; and encouraged them to take pupils that were fit and apt for that profeffion, and gave them all their stipend rights, privileges and entertainments, as fully as when the law was in force. But now, alas! the great knowledge of the Bards, their credit and worth, are altogether decayed, and worn out; fo that they are extinguished amongst us.

The Prydyddion, or Poets, at this time, likewife are of no estimation, for divers reasons : neither did the Bards continue their records, fince the law was extinguished by the death of the princes, whofe acts they were bound to preserve; so that there is no hiftory written by them fince the death of Llewelyn ab Gruffyth ab Llewelyn, the last Prince of Cambria; for, they had no princes of their own to set forth their acts, and all the worthy acts of the Welsh, fince the death of their princes, and their annexation to the crown of England, were all affumed by the English kings, under whom they served as fubjects: thus all the actions and deeds of the Cambrians were vailed over with the English title, and fhadowed by the English banner; as Virgil faith:

"Hos ego verficulos feci, tulit alter honores ;

"Sic vos non vobis," &c.

As for the acts of fome of our countrymen, fince the reign of our princes, I will (God willing !) another time, and in another place, fet them forth. And, in refpect to the language of the Britons, as that is one of the Tri Chov, and part of the antiquity of Britain, I intend to write concerning the fame, so that it may be more eafily read, and perfectly understood. I shall then proceed to the hiftory of the kings of Britain, and Cambria, as I have found it in fome of our ancient books; one whereof I have fet forth, at this time, as the foundation of a greater work hereafter, which must have its chief dependance on this book; and therefore, before I enter upon that of antiquity, which treateth of the acts and deeds of the Kings, and Princes of Britain, and Cambria, I will begin with the foundation of grammar, and treat of the letters and characters with their true and perfect found, tone and accent thereof, as they are used in our modern language".

• See p. 38 of this work: and Warrington's Hift. of Wales. s Hail, Bards triumphant, born in happier days. "It feems probable, that the preceding curious account, of the three Memorials of Britain, was written by Humffrey Lhoyd, the 7

Welb Hiftorian, who flourished A. D. 1560; or, by William Salisbury, Efq. of Cae Dû, Llanfannan, in Denbighshire, author of a Welsh and English Dictionary, Grammar, and one of the tranflators of the Bible into Welsh; he flourished A. D. 1547

OF

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THE

TLYSAU PENNILLION":

SEF,

MELYSBYNCIEU CYFEDDACH BEIRDD CYMRU:

THAT IS,

POETICAL BLOSSOMS; or FESTIVE SONGS,

EPIGRAMMATIC STANZAS, and PASTORALS, of the WELSH-BARDS.

"On themes alternate now the Swains recite ;

"The Mufes in alternate themes delight.”

HESE have been tranfmitted to us by oral tradition from time immemorial, and still are the domestic and colloquial Poetry of the natives of Wales; a people uncommonly awake to all the impreffions of "Love, Hope, and Joy, fair Pleasure's smiling train ;

"Hate, Fear, and Grief, the family of Pain."

Pope.

The memorial verfes, which in the time of Cafar' were never committed to writing, and which the Druidical Disciples employed so many years in learning, were Pennillion, conveyed in that most ancient metre called Englyn Milwr.

When the Bards had brought to a very artificial fyftem their numerous and favourite metres, those which they rejected were left for the dress of the Ruftic Muse, the Awen of the multitude. When Wales became an English province, Poetry had been generally diffused among the lower claffes of the people. From that period they forgot their former favourite subjects of war and terror, and were confined to love, and the paflions which are nearly allied to it, of pity, and of forrow; so these fort of Pennillion were naturally retained, and admired, on account of the tender beauties contained in them.

At length, towards the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the constitutional system of the Bards became almost extinct in Wales 10; and the only Poetry that furvived was poured forth in unpremeditated Pennillion around the hearths of husbandmen, and in the cots of fhepherds. What contributed to keep alive, under every discouragement of foreign oppreffion, the poetical vein of the Welsh peasantry, was their primitive fpirit of hospitality" and social mirth; which affembled them to drink mead, and fing, and dance, around the harmony of the Harp, Crwth, and Pipes; and what has preserved from very distant times many of

The word Pennill is derived from Pen, a Head: because thefe ftanzas flowed extempore from, and were treasured in the Head, without being committed to paper. Pennill may alfo fignify a brief head, or little fubject.

See Cæfar's Commentaries: De Bello Gallico, lib. VI. c. 13. Y rhai hynny sy iroddi teftun i'r Beirdd i ganu arno, naill ai men Englynion, Unodl union, Cywydd, neu ryw un o'r pedwar Mefur ar hugain, ac nid mewn Dyri, Carol, neu ryw wael gerddi, 3 rhai ni vu wiw gan y priv veirdd gynt gymmaint a'i crybwyll, o berwydd nad oes Rheolau perthynafol iddynt." Statud Gruffudd ab Cynan ynghylch cadw Lifteddvod. And fee pp. 28. & 30. This proves that Pennillion were then frequently compofed

and admired.

year 1730, under the fanction of the late Lord Chancellor Talbot. And, about 18 years ago, I revived this ancient custom of the congrefs of the Bards; I gave a medal to the best Poet; a medal to the best Singer with the Harp; and another for the best collection of Pennillion; which meeting was held at Corwen, in Meironethfbire. Since that time it has been continued annually at different towns in North Wales: viz. at Bala, Dolgelley, St. Afaph, Llanrwf, and at Denhigh. These meetings have fince been judiciously patronized by the Gwyneddigion Society; and by fome few of the gentry of Wales.. Likewife, we held a Gorfedd, folemn-meeting, or Supreme Congress of the Bards of the Ifle of Britain, according to the ancient form of a Druidical Affembly, for the fake of recovering fomething of the Druidical Mythology, and Bardic Learning. This meeting was held on Primrofe-hill, near London, September 22, 1792.

See fome account of it in the Gentleman's Magazine, vol. LXII. p. 956. See alfo pp. 38. and 46. of this work.

10 There have been meetings of the Bards held in different parts of Wales, fince the reign of Elizabeth, although perhaps, not by royal proclamation. One Eifteddvod was held at Caermarthen about the year 1460. Another Eifteddvod was held in 1570, under the auspices of William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke. ""Among this people there is no beggar to be found: the Another was held at Beaupré Caffle, in South Wales, in 1681, houfes of all are open for the welcome reception of all comers. under the authority of Sir Richard Baffet. Another was held Munificence they efteem beyond all virtues; and the genius of at Machynllaith, is Montgomeryfbire, about the year 1700; and hofpitality is fo well understood, that the ceremony of offeran account of it was written by Jago ab Dewi. Another meeting entertainment to ftrangers, and of asking it, is here uning was held at Trad Twain, in Glamorganshire, about the known." Giraldus Cambrenfis.

these

thefe little fonnets, is their fingular merit, and the affection with which they are remembered. Some of theold English fongs, which have been a thousand times repeated, ftill continue to please; while the lullaby of the day is echoed for a time, and is then configned to everlasting oblivion. The metre of thefe ftanzas are various; a stanza containing from three, to nine verses; and a verfe confisting of a certain number of fyllables, from two, to eight. One of thefe metres is the Triban, or Triplet; another the Awdl Gywydd, or Hên ganiad, The memorial Ode of the ancient strain; another, what in English Poetry would be called the Anapaftic. There are several kinds of Pennill metres, that may be adapted and sung to most of the following tunes; and fome part of a tune being occafionally converted as a fymphony. One set of words is not, like an English fong, confined to one air, but commonly adapted and fung to several.

The skill of the Pennill-fingers in this is admirable. According to the metres of their penillion, they ftrike into the tune in the proper place, and conduct it with wonderful exactness to the fymphony, or the close. While the Harp to which they fing is perhaps wandering in little variations and embellishments, their finging is not embarraffed, but true to the fundamental tune. This account explains the state of our Mufic, and Poetry, described by Giraldus, as they exifted in his time; when the Welsh were a nation of Muficians and Poets; when Cór's, or Musical Bards, were frequent among them; and when their children learnt from their infancy to fing in concert'.

In his time it was ufual for companies of young men, who knew no profeffion hut that of arms, to enter without distinction every house they came to. house they came to. There they enjoyed the free converfation of the young women, joined their voices to the harmony of the Harp, and confumed the day in the most animated feftivity. Even at this day, fome vein of the ancient minstrelfy furvives amongst our mountains. Numbers of perfons of both fexes affemble and fit around the Harp, finging alternately Pennillion, or stanzas, of ancient or modern compofitions."

"With charming fymphony they introduce

"Their pleafing fong, and waken raptures high;

"No voice exempt, no voice but well can join
"Melodious part."

"The young people usually begin the night with dancing; and, when they are tired, affume this fpecies of relaxation. They alternately fing, dance, and drink, not by hours, but by days and weeks; and meafure time only by the continuance of their mirth and pleasure. Often, like the modern Improvisatori of Italy, they fing extempore verfes; and a perfon, converfant in this art, readily produces a Pennill oppofite to the last that was fung." Many have their memories stored with several hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Pennillion 3, fome of which they have always ready for answers to every fubject that can be proposed; or, if their recollection should ever fail them, they have invention to compose something pertinent and proper for the occafion. The fubjects afford a great deal of mirth: fome of these are jocular, others fatirical, but most of them amorous, which, from the nature of the subject, are best preserved. They continue finging without intermiffion, never repeating the same stanza, (for, that would forfeit the honour of being held first of the fong,) and, like nightingales, support the contest through the night. The audience usually call for the tune: sometimes a few only fing to it, and fometimes the whole company. But, when a party of capital fingers affemble, they rarely call for the tune; for, it is indifferent to them what tune the Harper plays. Parishes are often opposed to parishes ; even counties contend with counties; and every hill is vocal with the chorus *. In these rural ufages, which are beft preferved in the mountainous counties of Merionydh, and Caernarvon ; we have a diftant pleafing glimpse of ancient innocence, and the manners of a golden age, enjoying themselves with Metre, Mufic, and Mead.

Mannau mwyn am wîn a médd,

Tannau miwfig tôn mafwedd!

Places of joy, for Mead, and Wine,
Soft maple-found, of ftrings Divine *.

Whoever confiders the unaffected sense, and unadulterated paffions conveyed in these fine little pieces of antiquity-fentiments which all would hope, but few are able, to imitate-together with the sweet and foothing air of our musical compofitions, which are mostly in the Lydian measure, will not wonder that

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62

POETICAL BLOSSOMS, or PASTORALS, and EPIGRAMMATIC STANZAS.

like our national proverbs, they have been fo long preferved by tradition, that the fame ftanzas are remembered in all the counties of Wales, and that the natives are so enamoured with them, as to be constantly chanting them whenever they meet with a Harp, or Grwth. Nor will he blame my prefumption, when, for an effusion of tender fimplicity, I place them in competition with the affecting tales of the Scots Ballads, and the delicate apλa of the Greek Epigrams.

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* Every language has peculiar beauties. The thoughts and words of thefe Pennillion are fo uncommonly fimple and expreffive, that I do not prefume to offer the annexed English ftanzas as an adequate tranflation, but merely (for the fake of the English reader) as an imperfect sketch, and idea of them. At the fame time, I muft not omit my grateful acknowledgments to the Rev. James Lambert, and the Rev. R. Williams, of Vron, for their poetical affistance in several of the following English verfes. Few have been fo happy in the concife ftyle of writing as my countryman Mr. John Owen, of Plás Dû, Llanarmon, near Pwllheli, Caernarvonfbire, the noted Epigrammatift, and Poet Laureat to Queen Elizabeth; who died A. D. 1622, and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral, London: he wrote feveral books of Latin Epigrams, which are much admired for their brevity, and sterling wit.

"How does the little Epigram delight,
"And charm us with its miniature of wit!
"While tedious authors give the reader pain,
"Weary his thoughts, and make him toil in vain ;
"When in lefs volumes we more pleasure find;

"And what diverts, still best informs the mind."

Talden.

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