FOLK-LORE OF FOUNTAINS, LAKES, AND CAVES.
HOLY WELLS.
There is much Folk-Lore in connection with wells, in Wales, and
an interesting volume might be written on the subject. Holy Wells
were once much frequented by devotees in search of health, omens, or
prognostications of coming events; and even at the present day some of
them are made use of as wishing wells by young men and young women, who
throw a bent or a crooked pin into the well, and wishing at the same
time. In the old times when "Gwyliau Mabsant," or Saints' Fetes, were
in vogue in Wales, wells were sometimes the scenes of great merriment,
both before and even after the Reformation. According to an old writer
they were much frequented in the time of Queen Elizabeth. The habit of
tying rags to the branches of a tree close to the well was well-known
once in several places. This was done by people who were suffering from
maladies. The rag was first dipped in the water, and the afflicted
part of the body bathed with it. Afterwards before going away from
the well the rag was tied to the branch of a tree near it. It is also
worth mentioning that this ceremony is in vogue in Eastern Countries
as well, such as Arabia and Persia. As far as Wales is concerned, some
of the wells frequented in times past, possessed medicinal properties;
but it must be admitted that some of the superstitious ceremonies which
were performed at them, must have come down from pre-Christian times;
and it seems evident that water was once an object of worship, or at
least of veneration, and that offerings were made either to the water
itself, or more probably to the tutelary god of the fountain. This
was the opinion of the late Rev. Elias Owen, F.S.A., who had made a
special study of the subject all his life-time. That the inhabitants
of Great Britain were, in ancient times, given to the adoration of
fountains, is evident from the fact that in 960, King Edgar commanded
by Canon law "That every priest industriously advance Christianity
and extinguish heathenism and forbid the 'Worship of Fountains,
and necromancy and auguries."" But finding the worship of fountains
too strong to put down at once, the priest effected a compromise, by
transferring veneration from the tutelary god by dedicating the well
to a saint, and building a church on the spot, and baptised his flock
in the well; nevertheless many pagan customs of well worship lingered
on from generation to generation. At the present day in some places,
we find a village pump situated at the corner of the Churchyard,
which is not at all a good thing from a sanitary point of view. But
we must bear in mind that the well was there before the Churchyard,
and that in most of such cases the site of the Church had been fixed
upon because of the virtue and attractions of the well.
ST. TEILO'S WELL.
This strong spring rises within a short distance of the ruined church
of Llandilo Llwydiarth, near Maenclochog, in Pembrokeshire, and close
by, there is a farm-house in which a skull, traditionally called
"Penglog Teilo," (Teilo's Skull) is kept, and has been kept from
time immemorial. This skull is used for drinking water out of from
St. Teilo's Well. In former times St. Teilo's Well had a wide-spread
reputation as a healing well, and the sick from all parts of South
Wales resorted to it; but it was considered absolutely necessary
to drink the water out of the skull, which had to be dipped in
the well, and filled with water, and handed to the patient by the
hereditary keeper. The present keeper of the relic is Mr. Melchior,
an intelligent farmer, who informed me that his ancestors had been
keepers of the skull from time immemorial. How the skull first came
there, Mr. Gibby, of Llangolman, gave the following tradition:--When
St. Teilo was dying he bade a female servant take his skull from
Llandilo, in Carmarthenshire, to Llandilo, in Pembrokeshire, and that
if this was done, the skull would be a blessing to coming generations
of men who would have their health restored by drinking water out of
it. According to another tradition which I have heard, the skull came
from Llandaff Cathedral, where St. Teilo was Bishop, though born in
the neighbourhood of Tenby. If we believe the old legend, the miracles
he worked in death were marvellous; for, "on the night of his decease,
there arose a great dispute between the clergy of the three Churches
each asserting its authority and privileges for obtaining his body;
but at length, attending to the advice of discreet men, they had
recourse to fasting and prayer, that Christ, the great judge, who is
the true authority, and privilege of holy persons, should declare by
some sign, to which of them he would be pleased to commit the body
of the saint. And in the morning a certain elder, looking towards
the place where the body was, spoke with a loud voice, saying,
"Our prayer, brethren, has been heard by the Lord, who deprives no
one of his reward; arise, and behold what things have been done by
Christ the meditator between God and man, that our dispute might be
settled; and as in the life so in the death of the holy confessor,
Teilo, miracles should be performed." For, lo! they saw there three
bodies, to which there was the same dimensions of body, the same
beauty of countenance; they had the lineaments of the whole frame,
without any difference. So peace being restored, each with their own
corpse returned homewards, and they buried the different bodies in
those several places with the greatest reverence."
St. Teilo died in the year 566, and people of the present day hardly
believe that the relic at Llandilo Llwydiarth is the real skull of
this saint, though the skull in question is a very old one, and only
the brain pan now remains. About five years ago an old man named John
Griffiths, living in the village of Maenclochog, informed me that he
well remembered the time when people came to St. Teilo's Well, from all
parts of the country, for the alleviation of their ailments, "and were
cured" said he, "by faith." The same old man also told me that when a
boy, he and other two boys who were suffering from the whooping cough,
were sent by their mothers early in the morning to drink water from
the well out of the skull. They did so and got rid of their coughs
entirely. I was told by another person in the neighbourhood, that
about seventy years ago, a gentleman from Glamorganshire, drove his
consumptive son in a carriage all the way to Pembrokeshire, to try this
healing fountain of St. Teilo, but arrived home in Swansea without
feeling any better. He had drunk the water from the well, but not
out of the skull. His father took the boy all the way to St. Teilo's
Well a second time, and now made him drink out of the skull, and was
completely cured of his complaint. When I was spending a few weeks at
Maenclochog, some years ago, in quest of information, I accompanied
Mr. Melchior to the well one day, and drank out of the skull. But,
unfortunately, I did not get rid of my cold, from which I was suffering
at the time, but, perhaps, my faith was not strong enough.
THE PRIEST'S WELL.
"There is a well on the Picton Castle Estate, situated near the Red
House Cottages, called the Priest's Well, which the children are
(this was written thirty-five years ago) in the habit of decorating
with mountain ash (or as it is called "Cayer" in the district) and
cowslips on May Day. This is supposed to have the effect of keeping
the witches away from those families who get water from the well during
the year. The children sing over the well while decorating it "Cayer,
Cayer, keep the witches in May Fair."--Bye-Gones, December, 1874.
ST. LEONARD'S WELL.
This well, which is situated in the parish of Rudbaxton, in the
neighbourhood of Haverfordwest, was once much made use of for its
medical properties, especially by those who were suffering from sore
eyes. There was once a St. Leonard's Chapel a short distance from
the well, though St. Leonard was not a Welsh Saint.
The Chalybeate Wells, Gumfreston, Tenby, had a great reputation once
for their healing virtues.
WELLS OF THE FIVE SAINTS.
These are five wells or pools in the river, near Llanpumpsaint,
in Carmarthenshire, and I am indebted for the following tradition
concerning them, to old records in the possession of the Rev. Canon
Lloyd, B.D., Vicar of that parish. Llanpumpsaint, of course, means
the "Church of the Five Saints." According to the tradition the five
wells were made use of by the five Saints, and each particular saint
had his particular well. In former times on St. Peter's Day, yearly,
between two and three hundred people got together, some to wash in,
and some to see the wells. In the summer time the people in the
neighbourhood bathed themselves in the wells to cure their aches.
THE HOLY WELL OF LLANFIHANGEL GENEU'R GLYN.
This well is about four miles north from Aberystwyth, in
Cardiganshire. It is situated quite close to the eastern wall of
the Churchyard of Llanfihangel Parish Church. This well has been,
and perhaps still is, held in honour for its curative virtues. It is
surrounded by a small building and within a few years of the present
time, people in search of health took the trouble of coming from
long distances to drink from and to bathe in its waters. When the
Rev. Z. M. Davies, vicar of the parish, and myself, visited the spot
five years ago, a lady living quite close to the well, informed us,
that a short time previously, a crippled girl from Glamorganshire,
who had come there on crutches, was able to walk away without them,
and left them behind.
Ffynnon Francis, is also a well in the Parish of Llanfihangel
Geneu'r Glyn, on a farm called Penuchaf, and it seems that it was
once popularly esteemed, for there is a tradition at Talybont,
that its waters had the power of restoring sight to a blind old man
named Francis.
THE LLANCYNVELYN WELL.
The parish of Llancynvelyn is situated on high ground which juts
out into the bog called Gors Fochno not far from Borth, in North
Cardiganshire. Cynvelyn, to whom the Church is dedicated, was a Welsh
Saint, descended from Cunedda. Within the memory of many people who are
now alive, there was a holy well in the Churchyard of Llancynvelyn,
and the sexton, an intelligent old man, informed me a few years ago,
that its water was thought to possess health-restoring qualities,
and he himself noticed people resorting there to bathe their feet in
the well; and some came with bottles and carried some of the water
home with them as a household remedy.
CANNA'S WELL (CARMARTHENSHIRE).
The parish of Llangan is not far from Whitland. The holy well there,
known as Canna's Well, was much resorted to in former times, as its
water was supposed to cure ague and intestinal complaints. After
throwing a pin into the well, and drink of the water or bathe in
it, it was customary for the patient to sit down in "Canna's Chair"
for a certain length of time and try to sleep. "Canna's Chair" is a
stone. In former times the superstitious believed it had a peculiar
virtue in connection with the well.
ST. ANTHONY'S WELL.
St. Anthony's Well, at Llanstephan, Carmarthenshire, was formerly
famous for its curative virtues; and it is rather popular at the
present day as a "Wishing Well." Young men and young women resort
to the spot to wish, and are in the habit of throwing a pin into the
well as an offering to its deity or to St. Anthony, its patron saint.
THE "WISHING WELL" OF CAREG CENEN CASTLE.
About four miles to the east of the town of Llandilo, in
Carmarthenshire, are the remains of a remarkable old castle called
Careg Cenen, which stands on the summit of a solitary rock. This rock
is about 300 feet high. The most noted feature in connection with
the Castle is its underground gallery. In one part of the building
a passage terminates in a flight of steps leading down to a dark
subterranean cave of about 200, or perhaps, 250 feet long, and at the
end of this passage or cave, there is a well which is still used as a
"wishing well," more especially by young people. When I went to see the
remains of the Castle a few years ago, I also visited the subterranean
cave. After lighting a candle and descending the flight of steps, I
proceeded along this dark and marvellous passage slowly and cautiously,
as there was water in some places. After going on underground in this
manner about forty yards, to my great surprise, I heard the sound of
human voices, and saw a light in front of me; and all of a sudden I
came upon three young ladies, one from London, and two from Ammanford,
who informed me that they had intended going on as far as the well,
but turned back before reaching it, as they were afraid of proceeding
any further into the interior of such a dreary dungeon. However, when
I offered to take the lead, they followed me with joy, and at last we
reached the Wishing Well at the far end of the cave. Before we left
the spot, each one of the three young ladies threw a bent pin into the
well, wishing, I suppose that she might have her heart's desire. We
found many pins at the bottom of the well, which had been probably
left there by young people given to the practice of amorous spells.
There is also a well in the neighbourhood of Llandilo, called
Ffynon-fil-feibion (thousand men's well), respecting which tradition
states that 1,000 men fell near it.
ST. MARY'S WELL, RHAYADER.
In the "History of Radnorshire" it is stated: "On the western extremity
of the common called Maes-y-dref, is a most excellent spring of pure
and limpid water, namely, St. Mary's Well. It was heretofore a custom
for the young people of Rhayader, of both sexes, to resort hither on
Sunday evenings, during the Spring and Summer seasons, to drink this
salutary beverage sweetened with sugar."
PILLETH CHURCHYARD WELL (RADNORSHIRE).
The water of this well was once considered beneficial in ophthalmia and
other diseases of the eyes. There are in Radnorshire numerous springs
for the cure of various diseases, and in this county also is the
celebrated and well-known health resort of Llandrindod. Builth Wells,
Llangamarch, and Llanwrtyd (Breconshire), are also on its borders.
LLANNON (CARMARTHENSHIRE.)
There is a holy Well in this parish dedicated to Non, mother of
St. David. Tradition also says that Non herself got water from
this well.
LLANELLY.
In former times there was a Holy Well in the neighbourhood of Llanelly,
known as "Ffynnon Elli," supposed to possess medical qualities.
HOLY WELL AT LLANGYBI.
Llangybi is about four miles from Lampeter, in Cardiganshire. The
Vicar, the Rev. J. N. Evans, informed me that there is a well in
this parish known as "Ffynon wen," formerly supposed to possess
healing powers; and that there is a tradition in the neighbourhood
that St. Gybi himself lived at a house which is still called "Llety
Cybi." Mr. Evans also adds in the Transactions of the Cardiganshire
Antiquarian Society, Vol I., that within a quarter-of-a-mile of the
Holy Well, there used to be a large stone called "Llech Gybi," which
the invalids who came to this well for healing were required to touch.
There is a Holy Well of St. Gybi in Carnarvonshire also, to which
it was once customary for young women to travel long distances,
in order to find out their lover's intentions at the forthcoming
fair. A pocket handkerchief was thrown on the surface of the water,
and "if it floated to the South there would be great joy and delight,
but if to the North, the girl would be an old maid."
THE HOLY WELL OF ST. GWENOG.
St. Gwenog's Well is close to the graveyard walls of the Church of
Llanwenog, which is situated about six miles from Lampeter, and two
from Llanybyther. The well was once much resorted to, even within
memory of people who are still alive, as its water was considered
very beneficial, especially to wash children whose backs were weak.
THE LLANLLWNI WELL.
In the parish of Llanllwni, Carmarthenshire, there is a well called
Ffynon Garedig, which seems to have been famous once. There is an old
saying that if you hold your two arms in this well for a certain length
of time, you will find out whether you are healthy or unhealthy. If
one's arms are red when taken out of the water, it is a sign of good
health, but if white, a sign of bad health.
THE PWLLFFEIN WELL.
Mr. Rees, Maesymeillion, Llandyssul, Cardiganshire, informed me,
that there was once a famous well for its healing virtues, on the
side of the river Clettwr, known as "Ffynon Pwllffein." An old man
who is now dead, informed him that this well was much resorted to
about the first part of the last century, and pins were once found
at its bottom. The well has been destroyed by the river now.
Ffynon-Ddewi, or St. David's Well, near Alltyrodyn, in the same
parish, was also much resorted to once, even within living memory,
as it was popularly esteemed for its cures of whooping-cough.
THE LLANDYSSILIO WELL.
In the parish of Llandyssiliogogo, Cardiganshire, a well, known as
Ffynon Blaenglewinfawr, was once popularly esteemed for its cures of
bad legs and other physical troubles. It is said that some who went
there on crutches were cured.
FFYNON Y GROES (WELL OF THE CROSS).
This well is in the parish of Llangranog, Cardiganshire, and was famous
once, for tradition, says that in former times, pilgrims rested here
to quench their thirst and to make the sign of the Cross. This parish
has also its Ffynon Fair, or St. Mary's Well.
FFYNON Y PISTYLL.
This well, which was once celebrated for its healing virtues is in
the neighbourhood of Kidwelly, in Carmarthenshire, and its water
cured sore eyes.
THE WELL OF FFOSANNA.
This well is also in Carmarthenshire, in the parish of Cyuwil
Elvet. There was hardly a well in the county more celebrated in former
times than "Ffynon Ffosanna," and there are traditions still extant
in the neighbourhood, that many of the cripples who resorted here,
went home healed.
FFYNON BECCA.
Another well-known well of great repute in Carmarthenshire, is
Becca's Well, between Newcastle Emlyn and Llandyssul. This well is
still thought by many to possess health-restoring qualities, and its
water cured both gravel and diseased eyes. It was much resorted to
within living memory.
ST. NON'S WELL, NEAR ST. DAVID'S.
This famous holy well, dedicated to Non, the mother of St. David,
Patron Saint of Wales, is situated near the remains of St. Non's
Chapel, near St. David's, and was formerly much resorted to for
many complaints; and Fenton in his History of Pembrokeshire says:
"In my infancy, as was the general usage with respect to children at
that time, I was often dipped in it, and offerings, however trifling,
even of a farthing or a pin, were made after each ablution, and the
bottom of the well shone with votive brass.... At the upper end of the
field leading to Non's Chapel there appears the ruined site of a house,
probably inhabited by the person deputed to take care of the spring,
most likely a lucrative employment in more superstitious times."
When I visited the neighbourhood a few years ago, an old man at
St. David's informed me that he remembered diseased persons coming
to the well, and returning home completely restored to good health,
and that without doubt there must be healing virtues in the water
of this sacred spring. The old man also believed that St. David was
baptised in the well. Pembrokeshire people firmly believe that the
Patron Saint of Wales was born in the neighbourhood which bears his
name. The Welsh name for the cathedral and the town of St. David's
is Ty Ddewi, which means the House of David.
ST. EDREN'S WELL.
St. Edren's is situated about half way between Haverfordwest and
Fishguard. According to a local tradition there was once a most
famous sacred well in the Churchyard, much resorted to for the cure
of many complaints, especially hydrophobia; but one time, a woman
washed her clothes in this well on Sunday, which caused the spring
to dry up as a curse for breaking the Sabbath. Fortunately, however,
for poor patients, the healing propensities or virtues of its water
were miraculously transferred into the churchyard grass. So people
took some of the grass to their homes to eat it with their food,
which cured them of their ailments. There was a hole in the church
wall to receive the offerings of those who came to procure some of
this grass. One old man informed the Vicar, the Rev. J. Bowen, who
is an enthusiastic antiquarian, that the sacred well had been closed
in order to drain the graveyard, but that there is still a spring in
a field outside the wall.
THE LETTERSTON WELL.
Another Pembrokeshire well supposed by some to possess curative
properties is called "Ffynon Shan Shillin," at Letterston, about five
miles from Fishguard. Some say that the water of the well was once
so valuable that it was sold for a shilling a bottle.
THE LLANLLAWER WELL.
A well near the Church of Llanllawer, in the neighbourhood of
Fishguard, had once the reputation of possessing medical properties,
and was much frequented in the old times.
There is a Rocking-Stone also in this neighbourhood, perhaps once
used in divination.
There was also a well near Moelgrove, between Nevern and Cardigan,
which was resorted to once, and pins were discovered at the bottom
of it.
RHOSCROWTHER.
"Down in a hollow beside the stream stands the ancient Parish Church,
dedicated to St. Decumanus, patron of Springs and Wells, who in old
times was held in high esteem for the cures effected at the bubbling
rill hard by."--"Nooks and Corners in Pembrokeshire," page 82.
ST. KEYNAN'S WELL (LLANGURIG.)
According to the late Rev. Elias Owen, F.S.A., this well granted the
wish of the first who drank it; and every married couple endeavoured
to first drink the water, for the one did so became the master in
their wedded life.
LAKES.
LLYN MOEL LLYN.
This is a lake in the parish of Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, North
Cardiganshire. There is a saying that every bird that attempts to
fly over this lake, falls into it dead. There is also a tradition in
the neighbourhood that when an attempt was made to drain the lake,
terrific thunder and lightning compelled them to give up the attempt.
TREGARON LAKE.
There is a small lake near Tregaron, between Lampeter and Aberystwyth;
and there is a tradition in the neighbourhood that the village or
town of Tregaron was once situated on the spot which is now occupied
by the lake, but that it sunk, and some fancy they can see some ruins
or remains now at the bottom of the lake.
PENCARREG LAKE.
Pencarreg Lake is not far from Lampeter, but lies on
the Carmarthenshire side of the river Teivy, and near
Llanybyther. According to an old tradition in the district, a village
once stood on the spot where now the lake is; but the village was
swallowed up, and the lake is now known as the "bottomless."
TALLEY LAKES.
Talley Lakes are close to the remains of the fine old Abbey, and not
far from Edwinsford, the country seat of Sir James Drummond, Bart.,
Lord Lieutenant of Carmarthenshire. Respecting these lakes also there
is a tradition that a town lies beneath their waters.
Such traditions of towns lying buried beneath lakes are common to
many lakes, both in Wales, and other countries. Such traditions have
probably come down from pre-historic times, when people dwelt in lake
habitations, and in caves, for safety from the beasts of the forest as
well as from human foes. Traces of lake dwelling have been discovered
in Switzerland and in other countries.
LLYN LLECHWEN.
Llyn Llechwen, or Llyn Llech Owen, lies on the top of a hill near
Gorslas, in Carmarthenshire. According to a local tradition there
was only a small well once on the spot now occupied by the lake. The
well had a stone cover which had to be removed by those who came to
obtain water, and to be carefully replaced after obtaining it. But
once upon a time a certain farmer in the neighbourhood sent a boy
almost every day to the well to water his horse. Whenever the boy
returned the farmer always asked him, "Did you put back the stone
over the mouth of the well, my boy?" The boy answered "Yes." One
day, however, when in a hurry, the lad quite forgot about replacing
the stone, and the consequence was that the water of the well burst
forth till it formed a lake. The above story was told me by an old
man named John Jones, who lives in the small town of Llangadock,
who added that he had heard it from his mother when a boy.
According to another tale respecting the spot, it was one famous
warrior known as Owen Lawgoch, and his men, who forgot to replace the
cover; but when he found the water bursting forth both he and his men
entered a cave in alarm, and fell asleep which is to last till it is
broken by the sound of a trumpet and the clang of arms on Rhiw Goch,
then to sally forth to conquer.
LLYN Y FAN FACH.
This lake is known to all lovers of Welsh Fairy Lore. It lies on the
Black Mountain on the borders of Carmarthenshire and Breconshire. It
has been customary from time immemorial for people from all parts to
throng the banks of this lake on the first day of August to see the
Fairy Lady of the Lake appearing on the surface of the water to comb
her hair. For account of this lady see Fairies in this book.
LLYN EIDDWEN, LLYN FANOD, AND LLYN FARCH.
These are a group of lakes in which the river Aeron, in Cardiganshire,
rises. There is an old story that wild cattle used to come out of
Eiddwen, and rush back when disturbed. Mr. David Rees, Glynwern,
Llanilar, informed me that according to an old prophecy attributed
to Merlin, when Llyn Eiddwen dries up the town of Carmarthen will
sink! There is also a story about Llyn Farch that, once upon a time, a
most wonderful animal came out of its waters, and was shot by a farmer.
SAVADDAN LAKE (BRECONSHIRE).
This celebrated lake which is known by several names, such as
Llangorse Lake, Lake of Brycheiniog, etc., occupies a spot where,
according to ancient tradition, once stood a large city, which was
swallowed up by an earthquake. Camden once thought that the supposed
city was the ancient Loventium of the Romans; but Loventium stood,
in all probability, in the parish of Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire.
This lake was once celebrated for its miracles, and Giraldus Cambrensis
seven hundred years ago, says:--"In the reign of King Henry I.,
Gruffydh, son of Rhys ap Theodor, held under the King, one comot,
namely, the fourth part of the cantred of Caoc, in the Cantref Mawr,
which, in title and dignity, was esteemed by the Welsh, equal to the
southern part of Wales, called Deheubarth, that is, the right-hand
side of Wales. When Gruffydh, on his return from the King's Court,
passed near this lake, which at that cold season of the year was
covered with waterfowl of various sorts, being accompanied by Milo,
Earl of Hereford, and Lord of Brecheinioc, and Payn Fitz-John, Lord of
Ewyas, who were at that time secretaries and privy counsellors of the
King; Earl Milo, wishing to draw forth from Gruffydh some discourse
concerning his innate nobility, rather jocularly than seriously thus
addressed him: 'It is an ancient saying in Wales, that if the natural
prince of the country, coming to this lake, shall order the birds to
sing, they will immediately obey him.' To which Gruffydh, richer in
mind than in gold (for though his inheritance was diminished, his
ambition and dignity still remained), answered, 'Do you therefore,
who now hold the dominion of this land, first give the command'; but
he and Payn having in vain commanded, and Gruffydh, perceiving that it
was necessary for him to do so in his turn, dismounted from his horse,
and falling on his knees towards the East, as if he had been about
to engage in battle, prostrate on the ground, with his eyes and hands
uplifted to Heaven, poured forth devout prayers to the Lord: at length,
rising up, and signing his face and forehead with the figure of the
cross, he thus openly spake: 'Almighty God, and Lord Jesus Christ,
who knowest all things, declare here this day Thy power. If Thou hast
caused me to descend lineally from the natural princes of Wales,
I command these birds in Thy name to declare it;' and immediately
the birds, beating the water with their wings, began to cry aloud,
and proclaim him. The spectators were astonished and confounded; and
Earl Milo hastily returning with Payn Fitz-John to Court, related
this singular occurrence to the King, who is said to have replied,
'By the death of Christ (an oath he was accustomed to use), it is
not a matter of so much wonder; for although by our great authority
we commit acts of violence and wrong against these people yet they
are known to be the rightful inheritors of this land.'"
RIVER LEGENDS.
"Hafren ag Wy, hyfryd eu gwedd
A Rheidol fawr ei hanrhydedd."
(How beautiful are the Severn and Wye
And Rheidol is held in honour they say.)
The Severn, the Wye, and the Rheidol rise on Plinlimon Mountain. These
rivers, which are called three sisters, agreed to make a visit to
the sea in the morning. Severn rose up very early, and took compass
through Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. Wye rose
later and took her journey through the counties of Radnorshire and
Hereford, falling in with her sister near Chepstow, and went hand in
hand to the ocean. Rheidol indulged in her dreams and lay so late that
she was forced to take the nearest road to Aberystwyth. According to
another version of this legend five sister fountains are mentioned,
namely, Wye, Severn, Rheidol, Llyfnant and the Dulas.
There is another interesting old legend having close connection with
the Severn, the following version of which is given by Milton in his
History of Britain:--"After this Brutus in a chosen place, built Troja
Nova, changed in time to Trimovantum, now London; and began to enact
laws (Heli being then High Priest in Judea); and having governed
the whole isle twenty-four years died, and was buried in his new
Troy. Three sons--Locrine, Albanact, and Camber--divided the land
by consent. Locrine had the middle part, Loegria; Camber possessed
Cambria or Wales; Albanact, Albania, now Scotland. But he in the end,
by Humber, King of the Hums, who, with a fleet, invaded that land,
was slain in fight, and his people driven back into Loegria. Locrine
and his brother go out against Humber; who now marching onward was by
these defeated, and in a river drowned, which to this day retains his
name. Among the spoils of his camp and navy were found certain maids,
and Estrilidis, above the rest, passing fair, the daughter of a King
in Germany, from whence Humber, as he went wasting the sea-coast,
had led her captive; whom Locrine, though before, contracted to
the daughter of Corineus, resolves to marry. But being forced and
threatened by Corineus, whose authority and power he feared, Gwendolen,
the daughter, he yields to marry, but in secret loves the other; and
ofttimes retiring as to some sacrifice, through vaults and passages
made underground, and seven years thus enjoying her, had by her a
daughter equally fair, whose name was Sabra. But when once his fear
was off by the death of Corineus, not content with secret enjoyment,
divorcing Gwendolen, he makes Estrilidis his queen. Gwendolen, all, in
rage, departs into Cornwall; where Pladan, the son she had by Locrine,
was hitherto brought up by Corineus, his grandfather; and gathering
an army of her father's friends, and subjects, gives battle to her
husband by the river Sture, wherein Locrine, shot with an arrow, ends
his life. But not so ends the fury of Gwendolen, for Estrilidis and
her daughter Sabra she throws into a river, and, to have a monument
of revenge proclaims that the stream be thenceforth called after the
damsel's name, which by length of time is changed now to Sabrina or
Severn." The Poet in his "Mask of Comus" makes the nymph Sabrina "that
with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream" the goddess of the
river, but still retaining her maiden gentleness, and the shepherds,
at their festivals, "Carol her goodness loud in their rustic lays,
and throw sweet garland wreaths into her stream of pansies, pink,
and gaudy daffodils. And, as the old swain said, she can unlock the
clasping charm, and thaw the number spell, if she be right invoked
in warbling song; for maidenhood she loves, and will be swift to aid
a virgin, such as was herself, in hard-besetting need." In the year
1634 when this "Comus" was presented at Ludlow Castle before the Lord
President of Wales, the President's own daughter, Lady Alice Egerton,
when only a little girl, acted in it; and it is an interesting fact
that this same Lady Alice, some years afterwards, became the wife of
the Earl of Carbery, Golden Grove, Carmarthenshire, who entertained
Jeremy Taylor during the time of the Commonwealth.
CAVES.
OGOF MORRIS (MORRIS'S CAVE).
Near Tre'rddol in North Cardiganshire, there is a cave known as Ogof
Morris. According to a tradition I heard in the neighbourhood, this
Morris was a notorious robber who lived in this cave, and went about
to steal hens and sheep; but at last he was caught and hanged at
Cardigan. According to the eminent antiquarian, Mr. Barnwell, there
was a robber of the name also in Pembrokeshire, who had a little dog
trained to fetch the arrows shot at unfortunate wayfarers. At last he
was killed and buried at a spot where there is a stone still called
"Bedd Morris" on the highway from St. David's to Newport.
BLOODY CAVE.
There is a cave at Pendine, in Carmarthenshire, in which according to
tradition a gang of most desperate and murderous robbers once made
their headquarters. At last, these scoundrels were attacked by the
people of the neighbourhood, and put to death for murdering a woman
for her money.
PLANT MAT'S CAVE.
According to tradition "Plant Mat," or "Plant y Fat," were two sons
and a daughter of one Matthew Evans, who kept a public house at
Tregaron in the seventeenth century. These persons became highway
robbers and lived in a cave near Devil's Bridge. The entrance to the
cave admitted only one person at a time and this enabled the robbers
to keep out hundreds when they were attacked. It seems that they had
some notion of honour, for it is said that if either had a friend,
he gave him his glove, which served as a passport when stopped by the
others. They lived for some years in this cave, but at last they were
executed for murder. One of them was captured near Hereford, just
as he was giving out the well-known hail of "Deliver or die." These
robbers are also credited with the attributes of the fairies.
TWM SHION CATTI'S CAVE.
"Mae llefain mawr a gwaeddi,
Yn Ystradffin eleni;
Mae'r ceryg nadd yn toddi'n blwm,
Rhag ofn twm Sion Catti."
(In Ystradffin a doleful sound
Pervades the hollow hills around;
The very stones with terror melt,
Such tear of Twm Shion Catti's felt.)
This cave, which is near Ystradffin, on the borders of Carmarthenshire
and Cardiganshire, was once, says tradition, the stronghold of Twm
Shion Catti, or to give him his proper name Thomas Jones. This
Thomas Jones, or Twm Shion Catti, lived at Tregaron in the time
of Queen Elizabeth. It seems that he had been in his younger days
a freebooter, but reformed and became a celebrated bard, antiquary
and a genealogist. The legends which have gathered round the name of
this eminent man, are still retained in the memory of the people in
Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, and the late Mr. T. J. L. Prichard,
of Llandovery, made him the hero of a most popular romance, into
whose book the stories have been introduced, and embellished.
OWEN LAWGOCH'S CAVE.
This cave is in the limestone rock of Dinas, Llandebie, in
Carmarthenshire, respecting which there is a story that a great
warrior named Owen Lawgoch and his men fell asleep in it, but who
are some day to awake and sally forth. A version of the legend is
given in the Brython for 1858, page 179, by the late Gwynionydd,
and an English translation of the same story is given by Sir John
Rhys in his "Celtic Folk-Lore."
"Not the least of the wonders of imagination wont to exercise the
minds of the old people was the story of Owen Lawgoch. One sometimes
hears sung in the fairs the words:--
'Yr Owain hwn yw Harri'r Nawfed
Sydd yn trigo 'ngwlad estroniaid, etc.'
(This Owen is Henry the Ninth
Who tarries in a foreign land, etc.)
But this Owen Lawgoch, the national deliverer of our ancient race
of Brythons, did not, according to the Troed yr Aur people, tarry
in a foreign land, but somewhere in Wales, not far from Offa's
Dyke. They used to say that one Dafydd Meirig of Bettws Bledrws,
having quarrelled with his father left for England. When he had
got a considerable distance from home, he struck a bargain with a
cattle dealer to drive a herd of his beasts to London. Somewhere on
the corner of a vast moor, Dafydd cut a very remarkable hazel stick;
for a good staff is as essential to the vocation of a good drover as
teeth are to a dog. So while his comrades had had their sticks broken
before reaching London, Dafydd's remained as it was, and whilst they
were conversing together on London Bridge a stranger accosted Dafydd,
wishing to know where he had obtained that wonderful stick. He replied
that in Wales he had had it, and on the stranger's assuring him that
there were wonderful things beneath the tree on which it had grown,
they both set out for Wales. When they reached the spot and dug a
little they found that there was a great hollow place beneath. As
night was spreading out her sable mantle, and as they were getting
deeper, what should they find but stairs easy to step, and great lamps
illuminating the vast chamber! When they reached the bottom of the
stairs, they found themselves near a large table, at one end of which
they beheld sitting a tall man of about seven foot. He occupied an
old-fashioned chair and rested his head on his left hand, while the
other hand, all red, lay on the table and grasped a great sword. He
was withal enjoying a wondrously serene sleep, and at his feet on the
floor lay a big dog. After casting a glance at them, the wizard said
to Dafydd: 'This is Owen Lawgoch, who is to sleep on till a special
time, when he will wake and reign over the Brythons. That weapon in
his hand is one of the swords of the ancient Kings of Britain.' Then
they moved slowly on, gazing at the wonders of that subterranean
chamber; and they beheld everywhere the arms of ages long past, and
on the table thousands of gold and silver pieces bearing the images
of the different Kings of Britain. They got to understand that it
was permitted them to take a handful of each, but not to put any in
their purses. They both visited the cave several times, but at last
Dafydd put in his purse a little of the gold bearing the image of one
of the Owen's ancestors. But after coming out again they were never
able any more to find Owen's subterranean palace."
This story of Owen Lawgoch and his sleeping warriors is a version of
the well-known Welsh tradition of the enchanted sleep of King Arthur
and his Knights.
According to an old Welsh ballad, Owen Lawgoch does not sleep in a
cave in Wales, but "tarries in a foreign land"; and Dr. O. T. Lewis,
of the University College, addressing the Cardiganshire Antiquarian
Society, November 30th, 1910, stated that the garrison at Aberystwyth
"was increased in 1369, when Owen Lawgoch with his French auxiliaries
were expected from beyond the seas."