Cylchgronau Cymru

Oct. 7, 1891. BYE-GONES. 177 RE-OPENING OP BALA THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE. For many years the College founded at Bala has done great service in the preparation of candi¬ dates for the Calvinistic Methodist ministry in Wales, but since the death of Dr Lewis Edwards in 1887, the principalship has been placed in commis¬ sion in the very capable hands of the Rev Pro¬ fessor Ellis Edwards and the Rev Professor Hugh Williams. The late Principal's son, the Rev T. C. Edwards, D.D., who has been Principal of the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth since its foundation in 1872, was by common consent indicated as the successor to his father in the Prin¬ cipalship of Bala College, but it was not until this year that any active steps were taken to fill the vacancy. The voting of the constituent bodies of the North Wales Calvinistic Methodist Association was practically unanimous in favour of the appointment of Dr T. C. Edwards, and, diffi¬ cult as was the choice he had to make, he decided to accept the invitation. He stipulated, however, that he should be allowed a free hand in the de¬ velopment of the College as an undenominational theological college, that the large sum of £20,000 should be raised for the purpose of improving the equipment of the College,and that a chair of Old Testament exegesis shouldjbefounded.theoccupantof which should not of necessity be a Calvinistic Methodist. The re-opening of the College in these circumstances was looked forward to with the greatest interest in all parts of the Principality, and the re-opening ceremonies, which took place on Monday and yesterday, re-called to the mind accounts of the enthusiasm which has generally characterised religious revivals in Wales. The meetings held in Capel Tegid, a very large build¬ ing, the capacity of which is increased by galleries running round three sides of it, were crowded al¬ most to suffocation, and Bala itself was crowded as it has not been crowded since the visit of the Queen. OCTOBER 7, 1891. NOTES. A LLANFYLLIN WATCHMAKER.—The Cambrian, July 15, 1805, says :—" A self-taught clock and watchmaker is now living at Llanfyllin in Montgomeryshire, who, though in his ninety- third year, about a fortnight ago executed one of the most ingenious parts in a watch (the new verge) by a file only. The name of this antiquated mechanic is E. Price." Llanelly. Arthur Mek. DR. OWEN PUGHE'S DICTIONARY.—Most of the readers of Bye-Gones, doubtless, are aware that the first edition of Dr Owen Pughe's Welsh and English Dictionary (pub. 1793—1803) was brought out by E. and T. Williams, of the Strand ; at least, the imprint on the first part bears the names of both the Williamses. But on the title-page of the work as finished in 1803, we have the imprint: —" London : Printed for E. Williams, 11, Strand, bookseller to the Duke and Duchess of York, and Vol. II. successor to the late Mr Blamire, 1803." But perhaps it is not so well known that Dr Pughe presented the publisher with the manuscript, which cost him twenty years work, and that he neither got, nor expected, a penny for it. Not¬ withstanding this, when he sent to the publisher for a copy of the work to present to a friend, he received it accompanied by a bill for the full amount. This anecdote was related by Dr Pughe to the late Mr Thomas Gee, of Denbigh, and by the present Mr Thomas Gee to Canon Silvan Evans, of Llanwrin, from whom I had it, and I think it is worth preserving. C.A. FREMOND OF WENLOCK.—In the year 1294, Edward I. issued a writ directing that all the priories " de terra et potestate Regi Fi*an- ciaV in the kingdom, together with all their lands, tenements, goods and chattels " should be taken into the King's hand, and that in the case of the Isle of Wight priories the priors and these monks should be removed into the interior of the country." In the account rendered by Richard of Afton, of one of these priories, that of St. Helen's, are several curious items. This diminutive estab¬ lishment supported a vicar to serve the parish Church and an English monk with his boy, "_garcio." The wages of this monk amounted to 17s. for seven weeks and two days, being at the rate of 4d. a day. His name was Fremond. He was of Wenlock Abbey in Shropshire, and appears to have had a great capacity for running the priory into debt. He had pledged a piece of cloth of gold, " baudekinum deauratum," to the Vicar of St. Helen's for 60s., " ad commodum domus Sanctae Helenas "; and was also indebted to Roger, the parson of Brading, for a quarter of wheat, two quarters of pulse, a quarter of barley, and one of vetches, and 15s. to John le Saglier of Southampton, for wheat bought of him. (The above is taken from a paper on the Alien Priories in the Isle of Wight, and their seizure by Edward the First, by Canon Venables, printed in the Archaeological Journal about 1873.) Is anything further known of this monk of Wen- lock ?—who, we read further on, went to Caris- brooke and did not return to Shropshire. The Prior of St. Helen's went to France, 13s. 4d. being paid him for travelling expenses. He was probably an alien and had to quit the realm, but the Eng¬ lish monk Avith his garcio remained in the king¬ dom. Henry Ash, Clerk and Writer. querTes. the rev. john evans, headmaster OF OSWESTRY SCHOOL. - In Salisbury's "Border Worthies," Vol. 1, p. 58, he notices a John Evans, who was born at Great Sutton, in Shropshire, and went to Balliol College, Oxford, for his education. He was ordained in 1648 by Bishop Mainwaring, but soon after left the Church of England, and became a Nonconformist. He be¬ came successively master of the free schools of 23