Cylchgronau Cymru

of early saints and princes, giants and magicians, fair heiresses and gallant warriors, fairies and goblins, strange animals and stranger birds. The Four Branches of the Mabinogi have preserved a number of tales associated with Dyfed-Pwyll the Pendefig, the tales of Math and Manawydan, relate to the families of Dimetian overlords, and in Branwen some of them appear again. The Nennian and other early genealogies contain several pedigrees of Dyfed's ruling houses, some of whom have definite Goidelic affinities. The ancient story of the Deisi further connects the land with Ireland, and there are several other indications of a more factual and historical nature connecting Dyfed with Ireland. In the triads there is reference to Aircol Lawhir, a sixth century ruler of Dyfed who is also mentioned in the Book of Llandaff. Asser, friend and counsellor of Alfred, records the misdeeds of another ruler, one Hemeid (Hyfaidd) ap Bledri who annoyed the ecclesiastical scribe by his tyrannical attitude towards the Church. In the later Middle Ages, northern Dyfed was the scene of stirring events-the battle of "Pullgudic" in 1078, the battle of St. Dogmael's in 1091 when Rhys ap Tewdwr slew Gruffudd ap Maredudd, and the imprisonment of the Lord Rhys in Nanhyfer castle in 1194. The early establishment of Norman lordships in Dyfed in the latter part of the eleventh century brought the district into touch with wider national events. The topographical setting was favourable to the genius of the cyfarwydd. In the north the grey and brooding mountains of Preseleu, over which the Twrch Trwyth ran part of his course, are flanked by the valley of the Teifi and by sequestered vales like Glyn Cuch where Pwyll made his hunting. The rolling woodlands of the south, and the townred of Narberth-the gateway to the eastern lands-were also favourable settings for tales of mystery and imagination. The rugged coastline with its island sentinels, and great waterways like the Cledde Wen and Cledde Ddu, were features which coloured many a stirring tale. The place-names preserve an echo of early associations-Tref Culhwch in Pencaer, Walwyn's Castle in Rhos, Porth Lisky and Clegir Boia in St. David's, Bedd yr Afanc and Croes Fihangel on Preseleu while Arthur is com- memorated in place-names in the parishes of Cilrhedyn, Mynachlog- ddu, Narberth, Newport, St. David's, and Llanllawer. Ogam stones have preserved the names of earlier inhabitants of this district, while the many forts, cromlechs, and standing stones are silent witnesses to an ancient way of life. It is in this county, particularly in the northern part, that the "Mabinogi" of Park-y-Pratt has its setting. (b) The Characters. The tales contained in Egerton MS. 2586 refer to the descendants of Gwynfardd, a somewhat shadowy figure dimly seen in the genea- logical mists of medieval Dyfed. Two great chieftains ruled in Dyfed, namely Gwynfardd of Nanhyfer and Cadifor Fawr of Blaen