264
NOTES AND QUERIES. [11 a in. APBIL 8. IL
the " Cymdeithias Lien Cymru," of which I ' Caniadau yn y mesuran Rhyddion '
Mr. John Bal linger, the Librarian of the pieces ranging from the fifteenth century to
National Library of Wales at Aberystwyth, the eighteenth. To this Mr. J. H. Davies,
is the honorary secretary. It was started who has edited the Blue and Red issues, pre-
by six persons, and the first idea was to fixes an elaborate introduction,
share the cost of printing and then distribute Of the Red series two only have yet
the copies among the members of the little appeared. The first contains a reprint of
society. This plan was modified, and that ' Contemplations upon these Times ; or,
now adopted is that the books are sold at The Parliament explained to Wales,' which
cost price and without pecuniary profit to was printed in 1646, and came from the pen
any one. This is, roughly speaking, the of John Lewis of Glasgrug, Llanbadarn
plan of the Early English Text Society and Fawr, the friend of Richard Baxter. It is
similar organizations. The Welsh Society a vigorous and characteristic defence of the
deserves wider support, and doubtless only Republican proceedings in the struggle with
needs to be better known in order to receive the King. The Oxford Parliament Lewis
many accessions to its ranks. dubs " a Jack-a-Lent." He is stoutly
The publications, which are fine speci- patriotic, and claims that St. Bridget and mens of typography from the press of Mr. St. Catherine of Siena are witnesses for the William Lewis of Cardiff, are in quarto form kingdom of God which he hopes to see in and divided into series, which, for con- these islands. He protests against non- venience, may be called by the colour of resistance in matters of conscience, defends the covers. the Solemn League and Covenant, and urges
The Blue series lead off with the ' Carolau ' the prohibition of the Book of Common of Richard Hughes, who was " Footman Prayer, declaring that some of the ministers Extraordinary " to Queen Elizabeth and " scarce can read it," and that in many places an annuity of 501. for his services. there is hardly a sermon once a year. On
The second issue contains ' Hen Gerddi the other hand he is delighted with the Gwleidyddol : 1588-1660,' and opens with more popular edition of the Welsh Bible and a poem on the Spanish Armada, and includes the prospect of a pocket New Testament. a Welsh " song made on the ransacking the Finally he suggests the establishment of a country in the time of Oliver Cromwell's college for the training of the ministry Protectorship" by John Griffith of Lland- a suggestion elaborated in a later publication, dyfnan, who relieved his feelings to the tune The second is a reprint of ' An Act for the of * The King shall enjoy his Own Again.' Propagation of the Gospel in Wales ' which There is also a Litany which includes a was passed in 1649. With this are given comprehensive petition for deliverance the proceedings of the Commissioners for from the Turk, the Scots, the Pope, the | North Wales of whom John Lewis was one
Presbyterians, and the Independents.
The third issue is a * Casgliad o Hen
the
Nortl
f rom a MS. in the Bodleian, and a vigorous
letter of Vavasour Powell in defence of their
Ganiadau Serch,' including some of the songs actions in the removal of "scandalous"
formerly attributed to Rhys Goch. and " malignant " ministers. These docu-
The fourth issue, the * Casgliad of Hanes- ments show the Puritan position, but it is
Gerddi Cymraeg,' is a curious evidence of intended to illustrate the " other side "
the eclectic spirit of the Welsh bards. There in later issues.
are seven ballads ; all but one are apparently A special series has been started in Buff
of extraneous inspiration. The story of the to deal with hymnology. Every editor of a
three sons of the king and the ' Crus Gwaed- hymn-book thinks himself entitled to alter
lyd ' appear in the ' Gesta Ro'manorum.' The the words of the author. Sometimes the
' Wraig o Ganaan Wlad ' is a variant of the author belonged to another sect, and laid too
wife of Bath. The ' Gleiniogwerth Synn- strong or too weak emphasis on the
wyr ' appears in an old French fabliau, doctrines which the editor desires to incul-
Another is a well-known story from Pliny, cate ; sometimes the changes are due merely
The * Blotyn Du ' relates to a Cornish to caprice and bad taste. It is therefore
murder. There are three versions of ' Yr desirable to have the original and unadul-
Hen Wr o'r Coed ' (' The Old Man of the terated texts of the great singers of sacred
Wood ' ), a Welsh form of the legend of Rip song. The first issue is a reprint of the
van Winkle which is discussed at length * Emynau ' of Morgan Rhys, printed in 1775
in Sir John Rhys's ' Celtic Folk-lore.' with the quaint title of ' Golwg o Ben Nebo
The fifth and sixth of the Blue series ar wlad ye Addewid ' (' A View of the Land appeared as a double number and contain | of Promise from the Top of Mount Nebo ' ).
