_Twm Shawn Cattie_ (No. 24, p. 383.).--The following extract from
Cliffe's _Book of South Wales_, furnishes a reply to this Query.
In describing the beautiful mountain scenery between Llandovery and
Tregaron, he says:--
"High in the rock above the fall yawns a hole, hardly a cavern,
where once lurked a famous freebooter of Wales, Twm Sion Catti:
the entrance to this cave is through a narrow aperture, formed
of two immense slate rocks, which face each other, and the space
between them is narrower at the bottom than the top, so {456}
that the passage can only be entered sideways, with the figure
inclined according to the slanting of the rock.
"The history of Twm Sion Catti (pronounced Toom Shone Catti),
alias Thomas Jones, Esq., is very romantic. He was a natural son
of John ap David Moethe, by Catharine, natural daughter of
Meredydd ap Ivan ap Robert, grandfather of Sir John Wynne, of
Gwydir (see _The Heraldic Visitations of Wales_, published by
the Welsh MSS. Society), and is said to have died in 1630, at
the age of 61. In early life, 'he was a notorious freebooter and
highwayman,' and levied black mail on the country within reach
of his mountain abode, with the aid of a small band of
followers. He soon reformed, married a rich heiress, was then
created a justice of peace for Brecon, and ultimately became
sheriff of that county and Carmarthenshire. He was, observes Sir
S.R. Meyrick, esteemed as an antiquarian and poet, but is more
known for the tricks attributed to him as a robber."