Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
7 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
lip snt) Jaam tht Coast. ".....-"'.....""'''''''',........................"
lip snt) Jaam tht Coast. MERIONETHSHIRE MILITIA. In order to get rid of the difficulty now ex- perienced in obtaining recruits for the Merioneth- shire Militia I propose that the young swells of the county who have nothing to do should enlist all privates in the Company which Colonel Liddell is anxious to see formed. These young swells are very patriotic and think service in the mili till. an excellent thing. Let two hundred of them enlist and show that it is service and not rank they approve of. Perhaps the Nonconformist Ministers Of the country will adopt this suggestion, and give the necessary advice. THE FORCE BEHIND. What is called the North Wales Liberal Federa- tion has come into line on Home Rule and tithes with what is named, with equal absurdity, the South Wales Liberal Federation. A committee has been named to draw up a statement on behalf of the Executive, which feels that it has been grossly misrepresented. Who misrepresented the Executive of the North W,.1es Federation? Did not that body hang fire? Have they not tried to hold back the pioneers of Welsh Liberalism? Are they are not modifiers of Liberalism? Do we not know them as com- promisers ? There is a force behind the North and South Wales Federations that will brook no half-and-half policy. Wales is awake, and is gradually gathering herself together for action. That which is half- hearted and untrue and afraid will be cast out. Welsh Nonconformity is not dead, but is taking to itself new meanings; is grasping new purposes is embodying new principles of life and action. The command has gone forth into every valley in Wales, and is shouted from mountain to moun- tain, that the people must be tonie- £ o themselves —that they must respect aadLv[reverie themselves, and that they must havsivfSitb^ in themselves and in one another. £!S The man that seeks places of honour or .power for himself should be told to go and work for the people in obscure and humble service. Those who are very eager to lead should have given to them disagreeable duties—positions of danger and shame. Worship of mere wealth is a common form of idolatry. The wealthy man is pitchforked into Pailiament. He may be a fool, or a scoundrel, or a tyrant, but if hr l I, he is worshipped. Wealth is good, but Wales should send men, and Bot money, to Parliament. Wales should send her own children to the People's House of Commons. s I have recently seen people lick the spittle of a man they thought had become rich who were not even civil to him when he was poor. This spirit is the spirit of slaves and cowards and the men animated by it cannot save a nation. There is the force of vigorous national life behind the Welsh Liberal Federations. Those Federations may be guided by officials and would- be national leaders, but they must either utter the voice of the people, or the people will cast them aside and pat something else in their place. I would say to every Welshman and to every Welshwoman in Wales and out of Wales, form a high estimate of what is due to you as a citizen. 1 Let your view of your own obligations as a citizen be exalted. Realize that you have no superiors and no inferiors. What is due to any is due to you. What is due to you is due to all. You are free. Play the part of a free citizen. Only thirty men, and no women, can go to Parliament for Wales. There are, however, great and noble tasks in villages and on lonely mountain sides and in secluded valleys. Oppose the local tyrant struggle against the the local evil put down the local prejudice put your heel upon the local superstition. Do the work near to you. Never mind that the work is small, or unnoted. or transient. That is your work and you are lost if you do not do it. At the same time you may set your face towards some great goal—and wait. Their faces shine which are turned towards the sun. You may have long to wait before the call comes to more public service. No such call may ever come to you. Service is not high or low—all service counts equa whether it is in the van or in the rear—whether it is honoured or unhonoured—whether it is recognised or unrecognised. We must wait, we must fit ourselves for un- revealed duties faithful discharge of the duties already revealed. Pile on the apparently trivial service. Heap up the daily act. Pour out the true word. Have courage. Be patient. Live your own life. Let nothing daunt you. Do not seek to leave your obscure place for your own ease or gratification. Do not believe that the world is cursed. Have faith that seeming ill is good. Nurse a great trust that nothing wrong is eternal. Let nothing and nobody persuade you that the world is devil-governed, but rest assured that every true utterance goes ringing down the grooves of time unceasingly. There is force behind the North and South Wales Liberal Federation, Some day, my friends, there will surely rise above the solitudes of this beautiful land, the clear call of the inspired leader of the people, and only those will recognise his voice who have been true to themselves, and ouly tthose can obey this call who have waited in patience, and who have learnt how to be obedient in cheerfulness. There is force behind the Welsh Liberal Federa- tions—force that the officials do not understand and certainly cannot measure. NORTR CARDIGANSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The process of reviving this society is being watched with considerable interest. The last society died of a very mysterious disease with which poverty had nothing whatever to do. There is money in the bank to this day belonging to that society. The fanners of the district have the matter en- tirely in their own hands this time and they can do just as they please. The first object of an agricultural society is not to give everybody prizes, and the shows are not expected to be shows of fat stock. What the farmers about Lampeter can do well, the farmers about Aberystwyth ought to be able to do in some fashion. Even the attempts to form a society will do good, and farmers will be all the better for dis- covering what is meant by establishing and con- ducting a society of the kind it is proposed to establish. I am afraid during the existence of the last Society members did not think as muoh of the good they might reap as of the pecuniary advantage they might secure, and the farmer who did not win a prize decided that neither the Society nor the show was of any use to him. This was a mistake. We shall see what we shall see next Sep- tember The Coast. P.W.
sports attb <3lthkites.
sports attb <3lthkites. FOOTBALL. UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES V. ABERYSTWYTH. A competition under the Rugby Rules took place on Saturday afternoon. January 8th, between these teams before a fair sprinkling of spectators on the Aber- ystwyth Football Ground. As a rule Aberystwyth have great difficulty in mustering together a good team to play under the Rugby rales, but on this occasion the collection proved a rather strong one for the Collegians to tackle. The day was wet, and the ground, consequently, in a bad condition. The leather wended its way from one twenty-five to the other continually and ultimately a very interesting and keenly contested game terminated in a win for the Collegians by two goals (dropped), notched by Fowler, to nil.
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All kinds of Printing and Bookbinding done quickly and chtaply at the Cambrian News Printing Works Aberystwyth.
ABERYSTWYTH. I
ABERYSTWYTH. I RURAL SANITARY AUTHORITY.—A special meeting of the Rural Sanitary Authority was held at the Clerk's Office on Monday last, there being present I The Rev J. T. Griffiths, Llanilar (vice-chairman), pre- siding, Mr J. G. F. Hughes Bonsall, Glanrheidol. Mr W. Beauclerc Powell, Nanteoo, Mr Thomas James, Llwyniorwerth, ex-officio, Mr Thomas Evans. Traws- nant, Mr Hugh Hughes, clerk, Mr David Davies, assis- tant clerk, aud Mr John Rowland, inspector.In the absence of Mr Thomas Johnes, who had given notice to bring the matter forward at the previous meeting. Mr Hughes Bonsall proposed that the Inspector should be re-appointed for one year at a salary of EIOO.-Tiie proposition was carried unanimously.—The Clerk pro- mised to look into the question of the Llanbadarn tawr water supply by the next meeting. The CIVIL CHAIR.—Mr Griffith Williams, mayor, has presented the Corporation with a suitable chair to be placed at the head of the table in the Council Chamber. PUBLIC LIBRARY.—Mr Rhys Davies, (Llew Llywel), Brecon, through Mr vv. J. Watkins, North Parade, has presented the Public Library with his "Sketches in Wales," and the Lord Mayor of London a copy of the report of artizans appointed to visit the Paris Exhibi- tion. OBITUARY.—As was briefly announced last week Mr J. R. Jones, of the Talbot Hotel, died at the age of fifty-seven after a somewhat lengthened illness, and the remains were interred in Aberystwyth Cemetery on Monday morning last. The deceased was the son of the late Mr Jones, of Nantcellanfawr, who married Miss James of Llwyniorwerth. After serving his apprenticeship as a draper, he commenced business at the sign of the Hat Fawr in Great Darkgate-street; but subsequently marrying Mrs Clayton of the Talbot Hotel he left the drapery business and assisted in the carrying on of the hotel. He became a member of the Town Commissioners and afterward of the Town Council He farmed land in the neigbourhood of the town, and always took considerable interest in all questions affecting the agricultural interest. He was one of the founders of the English Congregational Church in Portland-street. The Rev Mr Saunders, formerly Congregational minister of the Welsh Church, was in the habit of holding an English service in the small chapel iu Lewis-terrace now used as a warehouse; and subsequently Mr Matthew Henry Davis, Mr John Jones, Bridge-street, and Mr J. R. Jones were appointed to select a site for the erection thereon of a Congregational Chapel. The result of their efforts was the erection of the commodious cfyapel now standing in Portland-street. Mr Jones continued to the end of his days an active supporter of the Congregationalists and his loss will be greatly felt. The funeral took place on Monday morning when the large number of town and country j people who attended bore evidence to the great respect in which the deceased was held. Shops were closed and the blinds of houses drawn. The chief mourners were Mrs Pugh, 55, Miss Kate Lloyd, Baker-street, Mrs Rowlands, Cefncoed, Mrs Jones, Tylli-.vd. Mrs Morn", Jones, Mrs Thrown, Mrs Inomas, ljianrja.^iU-i^u, owlands, Bangor Cottage, Mrs R. R. Jones, Llanbadarn-road, Mrs Jones, 10, Terrace, Mr Richard JonfS, Mr Stevens, near Shrewsbury, Dr Morris Jones, Mr James Jones, Tyllwyd, Mr R. R. Jones, Captain David Lloyd, Miss Pugh, 55, Miss Polly Lloyd, Miss Morris Jones and nephews from Tyllwvd and Church-street. In the procession were the Mayor of Aberystwyth (Mr Griffith Williams) and other members of the Town Council, borough magistrates, members of the Free- masons Lodge, and the principal inhabitants of the town. The Rev T. A. Penry, minister of the Church in Portland-street, officiated at the house as well as at the grave. On the coffin, which was of polished oak, was the inscription—" J. R. Jones. Born April, 1832 died 16th January, 1890." The funeral arrange- ments were undertaken by Mr Richard Morgan Great Darkgate-street.
THE STORM.
THE STORM. A VESSEL IN DISTRESS. On Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday a severe storm of wind and rain prevailed at Aberystwyth in common with other parts of the country. On Tues- day in particular the wind blew a gale and rain fell almost without interruption throughout the day and in the afternoon there were several vivid flashes of lightning and startling peals of thunder. In the even- ing the water rose in the neighbourhood of the railway station, but subsided on the going down of the tide. On Wednesday morning, the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol overflowed and lowlying lands on the borders were flooded. Between Borth and Glandovey when the tide reached its height between eight and nine in the morning, Cors Fochno was flooded for miles, and the 1 Cambrian line at Glandovey Junction was submerged to such a depth as to delay traffic. The uptrain from Aberystwyth had to wait in the Junction for over half I an hour until the tide had partially subsided. Then the line was cleared of pieces of timber and accumula- tions of grass and rushes and the train proceeded, though the water was half way up the wheels. It is understood that no damage has been done to the per- manent way of the line. At Machynlleth the meadows bordering the Dovey were deep under water, and the road leading to Pennalimpassabletofootpassengerseven along the elevated footpaths used a few years ago. The tide at Aberystwyth on Wednesday morning was not only very high but a strong gale from the south-west blew the waves far on the esplanade and heavily against the sea wall at Victoria-terrace. The sight was remarkably grand. Unfortunately, the masonry forming the slipway near the Queen's Hotel gave way and subsequently a large hole was washed in the sea wall, but the wind veered toward the north and the tide began to ebb before the wall was damaged as seriously as it was damaged a few years ago. Never- theless it will cost about 9100 to repair the damage done on Wednesday morning. There can be no doubt that the work done on Wednesday at the breach made by the sea in the Terrace wall saved the houses. The sea which quieted down somewhat on Wednesday increased in fury to- wards Thursday morning and the planks chained across the breach were positively driven in by the impact of the waves. Slowly the planks at the out- side of the breach were washed away but those inside stood and the work, as we have already stated undoubtedly saved the property from destruction. Between nine and ten o'clock on Thursday (yester- day) morning the weather, which had moderated considerably, began to be more tempestuous again. The wind rose and blew in fierce gusts. The sea, which had been troubled for days, began to roll in with great crested breakers, some of them rising when they struck the wall above the tops of the houses. The Terrace shuddered under the repeated blows, and every now and then the spectacle was grand beyond the powers of description. About eleven o'clock a strange steamer was seen in the bay, but of course nothing was done until the vesel displayed a flag of distress. The Rev John Williams, local secretary of the Lifeboat Association was promptly on the spot and Mr Tom Williams the Coxswain, aided by scores of willing hands, soon got the Lifeboat out. It was exactly twelve o'clock when the boat was at the top of the slip. Spectators, looking through glasses at the steamer, said she had lost her funnel, but what she was or where she came from could not be known. Several persons were of opinion that the steamer belonged to Aber- ayron, In less than five minutes the lifeboat was success- fully slipped from her carriage into the stormy sea, and the work of pulling her out by the fixed line proceeded without difficulty. The excitement on shore was very great, and hundreds mounted the railings of the Promenade Pier and watched the I proceedings of the lifeboat crew from that spot. The steamer was anchored and held her ground. By a quarter past twelve the lifeboat got to the end ) of the fixed line, and in another five minutes the erew were at the oars pulling to the south. Notwithstand- ing the rough sea they made fair headway, and after about half an hour's laborious toil. during which time several seas broke over them, they were in a position to put up the sails and tack. At twenty minutes to one the masts were put up, the sails were hoisted, and the lifeboat got some way on her. She sailed to the north considerably to the Borth side of the Promenade Pier when she tacked. After some clever practice the lifeboat was brought alongside of the steamer which turned out to be the Ananda, of Greenock, 191 tons register, Mr Abraham, master, bound from Workington to Swansea with a cargo of pig iron. The casualty happened at 4.30 on Wednesday morning whn the vessel was struck by a terrific sea which carried away the bulwarks, the funnel, and did other serious damage. Fortunately, none of the crew was injured, and at three o'clock the master of the vessel and all the crew jwere landed at Aberystwyth by the lifeboat, the Elizabeth Lloyd, and taken to the Belle Vue Hotel, where they received much-needed refreshments. The lifeboat, which behaved splendidly, was man- ned by the following crew Messrs Tom Williams, coxswain David Williams, second cox- swain Tom Williams, junr Morgan Jones John Davies Evan Daniel John Pugh John Humphreys John Edvrards Evan Jones Richard Jones, senr Richard Jones, jun and David Jones. We hope this list is correct. We did all that was possible to obtain a full list. The Master of the Ananda says that the vessel will stear and that the engines are uninjured. There can be little doubt that the safety of the vessel is very largely due to the fact that one of the crew is the son of Mr Edward Edwards, butcher, Little Darkgate- street. a Royal Navy Reserve man, under whose advice the vessel was anchored in the safest possible spot iu the bay. Mr Tom Williams undertook to put the Master and his crew back oa the vessel if the weather abated, and bring the vessel into the harbour. The interest caused by this incident was very great, and large crowds were waiting to receive the lifeboat on its return from the Ananda.
THE HISTORY OJb OAiiuIuAN-SHIRE.
THE HISTORY OJb OAiiuIuAN- SHIRE. On Wednesday evening, January 15th, Mr Evan Evans, solicitor, Aberystwyth, delivered a lecture on the History of Cardiganshire at the Tabernacle school- room in connection with the Welsh Literary Society. The Rev. T. Levi occupied the chair, and after shortly referring to the subject, called upon Mr Evans to deliver the lecture. He said there are two Welsh names given to the county, namely, Aberteifi and Ceredigion. The first is the more general name among Welshmen, but the latter, viz., Ceredigion, is the proper name of the county. Aberteifi means the mouth or fall of the river Teify and it may be right to call the old county town by that name, inasmuch as it stands on the banks of the river Teify, near the spot where it discharges into the sea, but it cannot be said that the whole county is situate at the mouth of the river Teify. Ceredigion means the land or country of Caredig, and this name is strictly accurate, as the whole county at one time was the property of a chief- tain named Caredig. Prior to his time this part of the principality was called Tynococh, or the Red Valley. Caredig was the son of Cynedda Wledig, one of the old Welsh Kings, who lived in the fifth century and who succeeded, it is said, to drive the Irish from Wales. As a reward for the important aid given to him by his son Caredig, Cynedda gave to Caredig thai portion of the principality which comprises this county. At that time, however, the country was no1 divided into counties or shires. The only division.5 recognised by the Welsh were Cantrevs, meaning a district inhabited by one hundred familes, anc Commots, which was a smaller division than th< Cantrev. As Ceredigion, the history of the count) dates from Caredig, the son of Cynedda Wledig. Il was known for a long period prior to the time 01 Caredig. There is reliable history concerning Cardi ganshire in the time of the Romans. Julius Caesar as we all know, lauded in Britain at the end of the yeai 55 before Christ, and the Roman occupation ex tended over a period of 400 years. The country became first known to the Romans by means of the mines, with which the county abounded, and a larg< trade was carried on between the inhabitants 6; Western Britain and par;s of Europe for a very lonr period prior to the Roman Conquest i). rin,, the Roman occupation the trade was extendec and it is unquestionable that several o: the lead mines now worked in Cardiganshire hav< also been worked by the Romans. For the purpos< of carrying on the mining trade as well as other pur poses the Romans constructed several large and impor tant roads in the country, and the remains of some oi them are even now to be seen in certain localities One such road, namely, the Great Western Road went through this county. It touched Lampeter Lledrod, Llanfihangel, and passed over the hills to i place near Machynlleth. Traces of this road were seer until recently in Llanfihangel. On this road th< Romans had an important station at Llanio, neai Ponttlanio Station. Some of the ruins of the buildingi have been seen in this locality, aud Roman coins anc articles have also been dug up in certain fields in th< neighbourhood. The Great Western Road was callec Sarnuelen, Sarn means road and Helen, it is surmised was the name of Constantine's wife, who was th< Emperor at the time when the road was constructed There were also numerous smaller roads across th< county terminating in the Great Western Road, anc this accounts for many places in this county with th< word Sarn connected with them, such as Talsarn, Pensarn, Bwlchsarnau, Sarnau and Pensarnddu. Wt are also familiar with Sarncynfelin, Sarnbadrig and Sarnddewi, which, according to tradition, were roads from the Main Land to the celebrated Cantref Gwaelod. Caredig, like his father, was king, though his king dom only extended over three cantrevs. Welsh king at the time were numerous. In the early history oi the country we find the inhabitants divided into separate tribes and each tribe possessed a chief or king. Roman historians inform us that kings ruled in Kent alone, and we may suppose that the whole country resembled Kent in this respect, and assume that in Wales there 2xisted both before and after the Roman occupation, several chiefs and kings. Caredig became one of these shortly after the Roman occupation ceased. There is now some evidence of ancient royalty in the names given to certain districts in the county- one township not far from Aberystwyth, is still called Cyfoethybrenin, which means "the King's Land," This township comprises Borth and some of the adjoin- ing district. The old Welsh Chief or King held a Court in every Cantrev to determine disputes between the different families, and it is rather significant tLat the township next to that of Cyfoethybrenin, is called Henllys, which means the old Court," and on the boundary between these townships is a farm called Brynllys. Often the Courts were held in the open air, and it is just possible that the Court of the Cantrev named Penwedig, which com- prised the uI per part of this county, was held in or about the farm of Brynllys. In addition to the Court of the Cantrev, some Welsh authorities maintain that large assemblies were occasionally held for more important purposes to which every freeman, whc wore a beard, was invited. Even women were not excluded and again it was worth remarking that the township next to Cyfoethyoremn and Henllys is called to this day Cynnullmawr, which means the large assembly. We cannot assert with any degree 01 certainty, but it is just possible that the large assemblies of Penwedig were held in the neighbour- hood of Cynnullmawr. It is, however, certain thai the seat of the king of Ceredigion was for generations situate in the upper part of the county, and that lega" ceremonies and powers were exercised in districts which lie within a few miles from the town. Aftei Caredig, the line of kings continued for centuries. Sometimes it happened that the chiefs or kings oi Ceredigion ruled also other parts of the Principality. One celebrated king, named Rhodai Fawr, succeeded in extending his dominion over the whole Principality, He ascended the throne of Ceredigion by virtue of his marriage with the daughter of Gwgan in the year 843, and after the death of Gwgan, Rhodai Fawr governed the whole of Wales until his death, which happened in 877. He, on his death, divided his kingdom between his three sons. To his son Cadell he gav( Deheubath, apart of South Wales, which comprised this county and other adjoining districts. Cadell was the last king of Ceredigion. After his death in the year 900, the rulers of Ceredigior were not called kings, as they acknowledged one of the princes of South Wales as sovereign. It is impossible to trace all the kings and lords 01 Ceredig on from the time of Caredig down, even the names of some of them are not knoun. The fol- lowing are a few of the names Arthen, Meurig, Gwgan, Cedifor, Caradog, Gronw, Cadwgan, Hy well. Maelgwyn, Meiedith, Rhys, Madog, and Iorwerth. It several other names are known aud those I have named did not rule in the order in which their, names are given. I simply name these because they are more familiar to us than others and we often meet with them as well as the names of other Welsh princes and lor. is attached to different localities. The Welsh names which are found in Cardigansnire are very sug- gestive of its history. The names of its princes and; lords are linked to certain stones, hills, wells, streams, and valley, for instance the names of all the princes I have already named are met with other places which might be named, the following farms :— Rhiwarthen, Brynmeurig, Ciegwgan, Ffynon Caradog. Llwyngronw, Caregcadwgan, Llwynhywel, Llwyn- mcredi.h, Llwynrhys, and Llwyniorwerth. For centuries after the time of Caredig recorded, the chief event in the history of this county consist of wars and engagements. During this period the Danes arrived and after them the Normans, and many a bloody engagement has taken place in this county during this exoiting period. Sometimes we read of the Welsh fighting against the Danes and Normans (or Pagans as they are styled in old books) and much too often we find the different Welsh princes fighting against one an- other. Certain cantrevs in this county were the scenes of many of these wars, which may ac- count for the numerous military terms which attached to the names of farms and dis- tricts in Cardiganshire, one of such terms is the word Caer, which means a fort. There are now many farms in the county with this word attached to them, such as Caergowydd, Caerhedyn, &c. Maes is a similar word which often means a battle field, and there are again farms with this word affixed to the name, such as Maesbangor, where a celebrated battle was waged. Castell is another military term. Near Llanshystyd there is a farm called Pencastell, and we have also heard of Bron- castell, Broncastellan, and Dyffryn Castell names which suggest castles, and as a matter of fact castles have stood at or near each of them. Castles were built in this county by the Normans. They erected one at Aberrheidol, near the present Broncastell, at Ystrad Peithyll, near Broncastellan, at Castellawlter, Ystrad Meurig. Llaurhystyd, as well as at Aber- ystwyth and other places. Each of these castles have been burnt and restored, razed to the ground and re- built on several occasions. It is impossible to give a detailed account of all the events which occurred in connection with each of these castles, and other con- nections, for the simple reason that in the olden times it was not customary to keep a record of events as they occurred. The bards were the ancient historians and they committed history to memory only, and re- cited it in the presence of the populace at their chief assemblies. Caesar tells us that when he first became acquainted with this country he was surprised that so little writ- ing was practised by the inhabitants, and he was in- formed that the reason was that the bards feared that writing would impair the memory. The first attempt to record national events in writing was made in the year 954. For the following two hundred years no attempt whatever was made to preserve the history or literature of the country. After the expiration of two hundred years a man named Caradog took to the work of compiling a chronicle of the usuat important National events from the year, 681, down totheyear 1156, whenhe died. Atthistimetwoimportant institutions had been established in Wales one at Conway, and the other at Strata Florida, namely, two abbeys, in each of which there were persons well qualified to write the history of the 'country and to them were committed the task of continuing the chronicle begun by Caradog. Every three years it appears to have been the practise for the Boards of the two abbeys to meet in order to compare and correct their respective records and we are chiefly indebted to the monks and bards of Strata Florida for an accurate history of Wales for a very long period. The chronicle which is called the Chronicle of the Welsh Princes terminated in the year 1282. Strata Florida Abbey stood and the monks lived there for over two hundred years after that date. Several attempts have been made to arrive:at the reason why the monks ceased a work so important and honourable as to chronicle the events as they were occurring in Wales. The best explanation seems to be that Wales at thedate last mentioned in the chronicle lostherindepen- dence. Edward I had at thisJ time succeeded to scatter the Welsh forces and to slay the last Welsh Prince. Consequently if any record was to be subse- quently kept it must have necessarily registered the successes of the English Kings and the actions of their greedy lords against the Welsh and rather than to do so, the mOi:1ks considered it better to close the book so 1 that silence might conceal as much as possible of the I history of their country. If this be the explanation 3 and it is as as well if not,better than any other which r has been offered the patriotism of the monks deserves the respect of every Welshman. The following is a f short resume of wha.t is recorded in the chronicle. About Ceredigion That in the year 893, the county i waS devastated by Anarawd that in 952 it was r devastated by the sons of Idwal; in 991, by Eclis, a Saxon Prince in 1072 was devastated twice by the r French in 1091 that it vas entirely possessed by the 3 French, and that in order to maintain such possession, 3 they began to build castles in different parts of the f county. William II. reigned at this time, and in the following year he was obliged to go over to Normandy with a large army, and a few only of his followers remained in possession of Cardiganshire. The Welsh f took advantage of the absence of the King's men and 3 destroyed every castle which had been previously built 3 and made the whole county a perfect waste. Under the Feudal System, introduced by the Norman kings into the county, the land belonged to the king, and f the holders held it as his tenants in the year 1100. This system was applied to Cardiganshire and Henry > I. granted the whole county to one of the Welsh » Princes, called Iorwerth-ab-bleddyn, together with 1 other parts of the Principality. Iorwerth 1 shortly afterwards granted the county of of Cardigan to his brother Cadwgan. Seven years r subsequently we find this Prince Cadwgan in treaty s with the king for the holding of Cardiganshire direct 1 under him, and ultimate a gr »nt was made by the king to Cadwgan for £100, but on condition that Cadwgan I was not to take under his protection his son, Owain. > The son appears to have been a brave warrior and to 3 have giveu great trouble to the king's forccs, which is the explanation for the imposition of the condition in 3 the grant to Cadwgan. Owain, however, resolved to I return to his father heedless of the con- sequences and tidings of his return reached the ears of the king, who immediately afterwards sent 3 a message to Cadwgan to the effect that as he was un- l able to keep his promise the king would grant the lands of Ceredigion to a man who would faithfully fulfil his pledges, and the man who the king favoured was Gilbert Fitz Richard, whose name was loathed by | the whole country. Henry addressed Gilbert one day as follows: "You always requested me to give you a portion of the Welsh country. Take the land of Cadwgan ab Bleddyn and conquer it." The report states that Gilbert took it joyfully, came to Cardigan and built two castles, one at or near Aberystwyth, and the other at Cilgerran. In 1114 Gruffydd ab Rhys, with a large force, fought Gilbert, and was successful in the upper part of the county. He took the castle of Ystrad Peithyll near Gogerddan, but was defeated in a great battle which was fought in the neighbourhood of Aberystwyth. In 1135, according to the chronicle, two sons of a North Wales prince came over against the Normans. Their names are Cadwaladr and Owain. They are said to be two honourable and kind princes, two strong lions, two eloquent orators, two wise men, two defenders of the poor, two protectors of the church, and men who were determined to uphold their country as against the Normans. They came over with a large force of 6,000 foot soldiers and 100 horsemen. They fought valiantly and soou succeeded in gaining the Cantref Penwedig, the castle of Castell Gwalter and Aberystwyth and ultimately succeeded in gaining the whole county. It happened after their successes, as on other occasions, that the brothers quarelled, one claiming the land of the other and the result was much blood was lost in the wars between them. In 1150 two sons of Gruffyd ap Rhys, a South Wales Prince named Caddell and Meredith appeared here and soon succeeded in gaining the whole county into their hands except one castle called Pengwern, in Llanfihangel f The younger of the two brothers named Meredith died two years afterwards and immediately after his death we find Ceredigion in the hands of the Normans Roger, Earl of Clare under a grant from Henry II s took possession of it and restored the castles, but in I the very same year they were all destroyed by Meredith's biother named Rhys or Rhys-ap-Gruffydd, a man celebrated in the annals of Cardiganshire. He very soon succeeded in gaining the whole county. In f 1171 we find him in treaty with Henry II for the land and sending to the king to Pembrokeshire where he l was then staying eighty-six horses as a gift The king accepted thirty-six and returned fifty to the Welsh Prince. The county was held by this prince until 1196 when he died. He left two sons named Griffith and Maengwyn Griffith was the eld' st son I and as such was entitled to hold his father's position. I The other, however, was unwilling, and again we • have an instance of the W elsh leaders fighting against lone another until the year 1205 when Llewellyn prince of North Wahs, came over, intervened between I the brothers and divided the county between them. I Edward I. shortly afterwards succeeded to take I possession of the county. The great Llewelyn was the only prince who had sufficient forces to resist the f Kngli'h Army and he succeeded in doing so success- sfuJlyon several occasions. The King, however, ulti- mately prevailed, and :n 1277 peace was arranged, and a castle built at Aberystwyth to enforce the terms of ) uch peace. By such peace the bloody warfare between. he Welsh and the Normans came to an end and the I county of Cardigan henceforth became bound to the conqueror. I cannot Within the time allotted to me give eiien a brief acconnt of the subsequent history of our county. Some localities have a very interesting history One of thfse is Llanbadarn. This name is kcu from Pat^rnus, a celebrated saint, who came over from Brittany in the year 516 and remained here twenty-one years. He was the first to evangelize the inhabitants of Mid Wales, and lie did for that part of the country what his friend St, David did for South Western Wales. During his stay in this country a church was built at Llanbadarn and eventually Llanbadarn became a bishopric. He also built several other churches with the assistance of his disciples, one of whom was Afan, from whom the parish ot Llanafan is named and to this day there are several churches and parishes in the county with the name Llanbadarn such as Llanbadarn Trefeglwys, and Llanbadarn Odwyn, but the chief of the churches was Llanbadarn Fawr. A large tract of land was held in connection with the Bishopric and une of the town- ships in this County is still called 'fyrymynach, namely the monks land. This name was probably givtn to the township because it comprizes part of the land attached to the Bishopric of Llan Fa" r. The church was burnt in 987 by the Danes and this was not the only occasion on which the church was burnt, although it is said that when the whole county was devatasted the Llanbadarn Church was spared on several occasions. One incident is related in the Welsh chronic'.e in connection with Llanbadarn in the year 1114 when Griffith-ap-Rhys was contending against the Normans. After taking the castle of Ystrad Peithyll, near Gogerddan, he had to move onward against the castle which had been built in or near Aberystwyth, but was obliged to encamp for a night at Plas Crug. In going down the valley from the Ystrad Peithyll the prince noticed a number of cattle grazing on the church land and the supply being at the time very short, his men seized the cattle to satisfy their hunger, in which they incurred the sore displeasure of the Llanbadarn clergy. Llanbadarn was not only a bishopric but a town also. Several references are made in old history to the town of Llan- badarn, and to this day the land between the village and Aberystwyth is called Issayndre, namely, below the town and the land on the upperside of the village is still called Uwchayndre, or above the town. Another locality of peculiar interest is Strata Florida. Much discussion has taken place over the founder of Strata Florida. Some authorities assert that it was founded by a prince called Rhys at Tudor, whereas others claim Rhys ap Gruffydd, already named, to be its founder the best opinion seems to be that the abbey, the ruins of whieh remain at present, is the second abbey built in this couuty that the first was founded by Rhys ap Tudor in the same locality, but some distance from the side of the present abbey. There is still a farm called Henfonachlog or Old Abbey iu the neighbourhood and that the present abbey was founded by Rhys ap Gruffydd. In the Chronicle of the Welsh princes it is stated that in the year 1164 a number of monks by the will of God and the guidance o the Holy Spirit came to Ystradffiur, whichisthe Welsh name for Strata Florida (the Latin name). Rhys ab Gruffydd was in power at this date, and he was practically the founder of the abbey. He granted large tracts of land for its use, and his successors enlarged the estate, so that at one time the estate of the abbey reached as far as Llanwrtyd in Breconshire, Llangerrig in Montgomeryshire, the river Elan in Carmarthenshire, as well as a large portion of this county, and, in addition to this large estate, there belonged to the abbey numerous houses and hospitals, which accounts for thelname of Monachdy being con- nected with so many farms, as well as Ysbytty Cen- fyn, Ysbytty, and Ystrad Meurig. It may be difficult for us who are accustomed to Welsh places of worship and to the simple services of Nonconformists to appre- ciate the splendid building which stood in our county for over 400 years, and the services of the Latin church which was conducted there during the whole of that period. As to the splendour of the building, we need only inspect the ruins, as they now appear, to be convinced that there was no building to equal it in the whole of the Principality, and for generations it was in a small degree to Wales what Westminster Abbey is to the English. There the princes, the lords, and the bards of the whole country were buried, and it was considered the greatest honour that could be conferred upon the celebrities of the country to deposit their remains in Strata Florida Abbey. A remark- able incident took place there in the year 1237, when Llewelyn, the last Welshprince,summonedallthe lords and barons of Wales to meet him before the altar to acknowledge him as the Prince of all Wales and to swear to be faithful to his son David after him, to fight their battles against the English forces. Often we find the monks interviewing on the part of the Welsh Princes with the English King and endeavouring to relax the strong measures which the Lords of the Marches practised against the Welsh people. On one occasion we re-wl of the Monks of both Strata Florida and Conway Abbeys interceding with the King on behalf of Llewellyn. On that occasion the Abbot of St. Florida somewhat hastily promised the king that Cardiganshire would make the homage which lie required and both time and peace were appointed for the purpose. The abbot however failed to induce the people to do so, and the king in order to revenge upon the abbot for his disapointment ordered the abbey to be burnt, and shortly afterwards the building was in flames. The king, however, regretted that such orders were given for he shortly afterwards made a grant of jE78 towards the restoration of the building, this sum was promised only on condition that the monks would keep the road of the county in repair and destroy the timber growing here. After the great battle between Edward and Llewellyn on the River Wye in the year 1282, St. Flor began to wane. Strangers from time to time encroached upon its estates, and in the 16th century the abbey was dis- solved by Henry VIII. and the lands granted by him to his courtiers. Aberystwyth also possesses features of some interest. The first notice we have of Aberystwyth is a reference to a number of small houses near the river Ystwyth, it is impossible to point out the exact locality in which they stood, but it is plain that they were not built on the site of the present tOWA. The present town was first known by the name of Llanbadarn Gaerog. In the old charters Llanbadarn only is the name given to it, and the word Gaerog was added to distinguish it from Llanbadarn Fawr-Gaerog means fortified, and walla were originally built around the town with two gates called Dark Gates leading into the town, one of the gates stood at the bottom of Great Darkgate street, and the other at the bottom of Little Darkgate-street. After the old charters the next authentic record of the town is that it was sold by a man named Richard Steele. His title cannot be traced at the present time. It is, however, a fact that on the 11th October, 1658, Richard Steele, of Newtown, sold the towns of Cardigan and Aberystwyth together with the right to sell and buy within the same to James Lewis and Heptor Phillips for EIOO and twenty tons of lead. The right to grind corn in the old mill appears to have been excepted trom the sale as it then belonged to the Crown. Two years afterwards the town of Aberystwyth alone was again sold to one Margaret Jones. She was the mother of John Jones, who was the grand father of the fir&t Powell, of Nant Eos. The oldest build- ing in the town is the Castle, but the present Castle is not the first castle built. The first castle was erected by Gilbert Fitz Richard and it is said to be built opposite the town of Llanbadarn which description cannot answer to the site of the present castle. There is another reference to the first castle in the old chronicle of the Welsh Princes during the battle already referred to between Gruffydd-ap-Rhys and the Norman Forces. After encamping during the night at Plascrug, Gruffydd is reported to have marched with his men from Plascrug by Ystrad Antaron towards the castle. Antaron, as we all know, is some distance from the site of the present castle and according to the description the first castle was built on the other side of the river Ystwyth, opposite to the chapel and cottage at Tynlone. At this spot there is a farm called Tancastell, and it is highly probable that the first castle built in this locality stood on the hill above the farm of Tancastell The present castle was erected by Edward I in the year 1277 and was destroyed in 1647. The only other event recorded in connection with Aberystwyth in the chronicle of the princes-an event which in the opinion of the monks of Strata Florida was of sufficient importance to have a place amongst national events of Wales is that a large quantity of fish was caught here in the year 1206. This is the record given under that year :—Fe rodes Duw amylder o byscot yn Aber Ystwyth yn gymaint ac na feu y kyfryw hynno hyny. I have necessarily only given you a small intalment of the history of the county. It is very unfortunate that in times past little or no attention was paid to the ancient history of the county. The researches that have been made have almost entirely been made during the present century, and the result of such researches shows that places and names with which we are most familiar possess a history which ought to be highly interesting to us at the present time.
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J ABERARTH ) Mr John Williams? c builder..|Ji BORTH ) Mr R. P. Roberts, G#1 House. BOW STREET Sold in the Village j. CAPEL BANGOR Mr Blackwell, post 0 CARDIGAN (Assizetown, Mr D. Lloyd, saddleI' Municipal Borough, and f 14, Pendre. seaport.) t CELLAN Mr T. Davies, Pent^ CWMSYMLOG Mr Morgan, P.O. d DIHEWID Mr James Williams, GLANDOVEY Mr J. Andrew. et LLANARTH Mr J. C. Jones, LAMPETER (Municipal^ Mr. J. W. Evans, Borough. St. David's J- Hall. College is here.) J Mr. D. Rees, LLANDDEWI BREFI. } Mr Wilham JenklllS, { allt Arms LLANBADARN FAWR Mr Simon, Post LLANFIHANGEL ) Mr Gough, LlanfibaJI GENEU'RGLYN J- LLANGEITHO Mr. Stephen Jones, P1 framer LLANILAR Mr Thomas Evans. J LLANON Mr. Daniel Jones, LLANFARIAN. MrJ. W. Jones, P. ø LLANYBYTHER MrJ.E Evans,LlaO*L LLANGYBI ) Mr W. Pritchard, v Ormond Arms A LLANDYSSUL t Mr T. Evans, '['t ( Board School. 0 MYDROILYN Mr D. J. Evans,Po«l^ NEW QUAY Mr James Williams, PENTRE BRUNANT ) Mr Abraham Olivet, J Office. A PONTERWYD (Water- i Mr. William Cl falls and lead mines in >- Gogerddan Arm9, neighbourhood.). JM PONTRHYDFENDIGAID Mr John James, nØ PENCADER MrT.T. Davies, poB SWYDDFFYNNON Mr John Jenkins. A TALIESIN (Lead mines) Mr A. Pughe, Post TALYBONT (Lead mines) Mr John Pritchad. TREGARON (A markets Mr. Evans, cheroi8** town where large fairs >- are held.) J YSTRAD Mr. D. Jones, Fe^(| BANGOR Messrs. W. H. Son, Railway CRICCIETH (A pleasant^ Mr J. W. Bowe*f watering place, with fine J- seller and statio" mountain views.) .J .ijjl PORTMADOC (Terminus\ Mr D. Lloyd (Pa°J of the Festiniog Railway I Office of the An important shipping! News.) H port; a growing town. >MrR. G. Humphrey I seller, Tne ReP.tij1 I Messrs W. H. SmJt Son, bookstall. PWLLHELI t Mr R. Owen, ø ) High-street. suf ABERDOVEY (A seaport | Mr W. Williams, and watering place.) House. A B E R GA N OLW YNj Mr Edwards, roc (Great slate quarries in draper. the neighbourhood.) J jj BALA (The Calvinistic^ Mr Edwards, age? L(f and Independent Col- >- street leges are situated here.) J of the Cambria* U BARMOUTH (One of the Mr John Evans. favourite watering places ( Glanymor House.'t|j of Wales.) £ Messrs W. H. ) Son, BookstJ1 CORRIS Mr D. If or Joneg; 0 Mr Evan Ed war s, j don. j COR WEN (A market t Messrs W. H. SØ1 town.) I Son, Bookstall- d jjj* D I N A S MAWDDWY Messrs Evans aP (Terminus of the Maw- ddwy Railway.) J jft, DOLGELLEY (Assize and\ Mr H. Morris, cbfd Quarter Sessions held Mr George Arnne here. One of the head dwr House.ij^ quarters of Tourists. Mr E. Ylltyr WI) p Manufacture — Welsh Mrs Owen ReeS, Tweeds.) f and bookseller- I Mr W. Hughes, ™ I 0ffice- aj I Messrs W. H. SIP J Son, Bootstall- DYFFRYN Mr Williams, po FESTINIOG (The great Mr Ellis slate district of Wales seller, FourCa Terminus of the Festin- J Mr R. J. ThoJJ1)J iog Railway. A very seller, New populous place.) I place, Four >Messrs Jones and j (1 Rhedegydd I Mr D. Roberts; 1 terrace, Festio' I Messrs W. H. U Son, Bookstall- s1 HARLECH MrL.T.Edwards, j* LLANBEDR Messrs Evans ? I LLANDDERFEL ) Mrs E. M. Da*1* A ) Shop. 081 LLWYNGWRIL Mr T. Griiffths, in MAENTWROG ) Mr Thos. Robert" I ) and grocer. Spo PENNAL Mr E. Rowlands,i/L PENRHYNDEUDRAETH Mr H. Hughes, TALSARN Mr D. Davies. B" f TALSARNAU Mr John JonvS, u Trefor-place. eS; TOWYN (Favourite wa- i Mr R. W. Joø tering place.) ) seller. dr-pet. CEMMES M- Mr D. Evans, d A LLANIDLOES Mr J. H. Mills. Jutt LLANBRYNMAIR Mr J. Edwards, MACHYNLLETH (Mar-) Messrs Smith iSlef ket town. In the neigh- f Railway Boo*^0 il bourhood are several £ Mr E. Jones, bo° mines.) f P' PENBRYN Mr Nicholas, 9 y NEWTOWN Messrs Smith »"' J WELSHPOOL ) Messrs Smith { Railway Boofy L NEWCASTLE EMLYN i Mr D. J. D»v ( Street. TREORCHY ) Mr Isaac íJJj i seller, &c. V f TON PENTRE ) Mr Llewel'ly^uf^1 ( bookseller, CVV PONTYPRIDD Mr W. H. KeYllje YNYSHIR | Mr William px tf* J Ynyshir R0 A TONYPANDY j Mr W. 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