Cylchgronau Cymru

MAR., 1878. THE CAMBRIAN REMEMBRANCER. 39 Buckingham in the Isle of Rhe ; indeed, the entire history of hia house is made up of very worthy men who in divers ways did good service to the State and added to the fame of theitcouutrynien, the Welsh. A Cambbian. Welsh Jesters.—It is generally believed that every " gentleman of consequence " in North Wales, in the early part of the last century, retained a jester or fool, whose business it was to make merriment for his employer and friends, and Mr Pennant tells us, in his account of Mostyn Hall, how one Billy Bangor filled that office at Mostyn. He had seen a portrait of him there in " half-length with a pipe in his hand; his looks savours not of folly,but is full of sly gravity," yet this in somehow for he must be, and he adds that " his sayings and his pranks are to this day much talked of." That was written more than eighty years ago, and we may fairly conclude there have been no jesters at Mostyn since that time, but so true is it that traditions will outlive his¬ tory, that even now " the old people " repeat Billy Bangor's sayings as pat as if Billy himself had spoken them, and if you venture to doubt their statements they exclaim, " Yn enw'r anwyl, y mae'r cwbl mor wir a'r Pader." These sayings, often full of wisdom, are sun ly deserving of record, if we ceuld but meet with a writer who would do it Amados. MARCH 2nd, 1878. Welsh Wobthies.—There are a number of very eminent men, natives of North Wales, of whom English readers know nothing. The late Rev John Hughes, of Liverpool, has mentioned several of them in his admirable work upon Welsh Methodism. To say that they were poor and uneducated is no discredit to them, but far otherwise indeed, for they became eminent in spite of their disadvantages, and their memories should be cherished and magnified accordingly. The "Cambrian Remembrancer" is the fitting column for this much needed work, and I make bold therefore to call attention to the subject, and to implore the young men at Aberystwyth and Bala colleges to turn their attention to it, and to supply us with short notices of these worthies. Armados. Aber.—The railway has rather spoilt the look of this place, but so long as the remembrance of Llewelyn and Joan is kept alive, its interest will never fail. It was here Llewelyn received the summons to deliver up the Principality to the crown of England. I have an impression that the river which runs into the sea at this spot is the one referred to in " Cotton's Complete Angler," 1676, p. 21, where one of the English (!) speakers asks if the river Dove " is the one we saw at the foot of Penmaenmawr," and who innocently adds, " It is a much finer river here!!" The following taken originally out of " Hutton" I imagine, is worth preserving in your '* Cambrian Remembrancer" column:— At Aber the torrents three bridges had dropt, Which again put an end to our course, and we stopt,— To a tragical incident let us remove, Of deception, and conquest, destruction and love But why bring four evils to be our undoing, When any one singly a nation can ruin? At Aber resided a prince of high state, His moat is yet standing, Llewelin the Great, In his wars with the English success was his doom He took a knight prisoner, and kept him at home. A friendship succeeded, companions they were— Whatever the prince eat, the knight had a share j The captive had beauty, the princess knew this, She wished his embraces, he longed for a kiss. When sentiments harmonize, 'tis but a door Which quickly will open and introduce more. If a private connection ensued, I profess I'll give no opinion, but leave you to guess. Although the Prince wanted to have him in sight, And the princess wished now to possess the dear knight, Yet a ransom was sent, and the knight must re¬ turn Though the prince should regret and the lovers should mourn. Soon after they parted some acts came to light Between the fair princess and the late captiv'd knight, Llewelin a letter determin'd to send To invite back to Aber his late worthy friend. Arriving, the dungeon must hide him from day Till a gallows was built in full view by the way : Where, on a small eminence, down in the dell, Six score yards from the castle—I know the spot well, The valiant knight suffered ! what heart would not move — The victim of treachery, the victim of love. While hanging, the prince to his lady apply'd, Then on towards the window he took her aside, And while in sarcastical smile you'd discover Ask'd " what she would give for a sight of her lover V When we'd viewed with great wonder the charming cascade, The sore devastations the river had made, Beheld a small field, where good barley had stood But three days before, nsw destroy'd by the flood, Land, barley, and bridges were quite swept away And they, with the pebbles, gone into the sea; Soon that spot became, which before held the grain, The bed of a river, and so will remain, We saddled our horses, and with a light heart Arrived at Caernarvon—here ends the first part." Glan-abeb. ODDS AND ENDS. Offa and Watt's Dvkes.—The ignorance of the great mass of people in relation to notorious questions affecting their own country is marvellous.