Welsh Journals

was inundated by the sea in a single night, and when Taliesin, the Chief of the Bards of Britain consoled the heart of the unfortunate Prince Elphin with poetry and song. Llanbadarn Fawr, the name of the parish wherein we are now standing, is linked to the same period, for the name is derived from the dedication of) the church and naturally suggests a picture of Padarn, the saint and bishop who came to Wales with his cousin St. Cadvan about the year 516, and who is referred to in the Welsh Triads as one of the Three Blessed Visitors," and who founded here an Episcopal See, of which he became bishop. In the seventh century Llanbadarn lost its Episcopal privileges as a result of the evil behaviour of the inhabitants who murdered their bishop, the unfortunate victim being, it is generally supposed, Bishop Idnerth, buried at Llanddewi Brefi. In 987 the church was destroyed by the Danes. This was the age of the tribute of the Black Army, when Meredith, Prince of Wales, was forced to pay these dreaded invaders a penny for every person within his dominion, so it does not seem unlikely that these foreigners may have constructed some of the old camps in this neigh- bourhood. Again, in 1038, Llanbadarn suffered violence when Gruffydd ab Llewelyn fought for its possession and wrested it from Howel ab Edwin. The eleventh century also reveals the figure of Gwaethfoed Fawr, Prince of Ceredigion and Lord of Cibwyr, who is celebrated in the Triads as one of the three Haulogion Teyrnedd," Bandwearing Princes," who like the primitive Kings of Britain, wore bands instead of crowns. Gwaethfoed Fawr was descended from Gwyddno Garanhir, the sixth century Prince, who lost his domaine when the sea swept over the Cantref of GAvaelod. One of the sons of Gwaethfoed became lay-abbot of Llanbadarn Fawr, and in 1188 entertained Baldwin and Giraldus when they were on their celebrated tour through Wales, being himself at that time a very old man. The name of Gwaethfoed is of especial interest to-day because the family of Pryse of Gogerddan descends from that Prince of Ceredigion, and still bears the coat of arms of Gwaethfoed, namely, the familiar black lion rampant on a golden shield. The name Gogerddan appears to have been originally Gogarthan. In William Owen Pugh's Welsh and English Dictionary the meaning of the word gogarth is given as a little buttress or ridge, therefore, it may have come from Gogarth. a ridge, and a fortified hill; both words suggesting that long years before the oldest mansion of Gogerddan was even thought of a gogarth, or fortified place, of some importance must have existed near here. In support of this theory we have the old camp on the hill, opposite the house, which some authorities adjudge to be of British origin, whilst others incline to the belief that it is a relic of the Roman occupation or the work of the Danish invaders of the tenth century; an interesting question which we must leave the more learned members of the Antiquarian Society to solve satisfactorily. A special feature in connection with this fortification is the mound, which is outside the actual camp, and about four hundred yards from the old shelter trench, and which may very possibly be the burial place of some chieftain of the ancient castell,