Welsh Journals

with such annuall devotion. Polemon when he died at Athens was once in three yeares honoured with a solemn Celebration, and that was acknowledged to be a most famous deed. It was likewise accounted an eminent act, when * 'assiodorus was twice remem¬ bered solemnly after his Funerall. But neither of these can be reputed to be so glorious, as that of S. David; for his day is not only once every year duely observed, to the memory of his immortall Fame: but successively continueth without any praetermission. Yet one thing I cannot omit, viz., their custome in wearing a green Leek on their hats here that day likewise : and here (Gentle Header) give me leave to expatiate my self awhile, to see whether I can scrutably, and in a credible probability search the meaning and cause of the same: Some report, that they wear this Leek, because of their generall affection unto it: others affirm the cause to be, because of the numerous multitude of Leekes that grow in their : but either of these are fallible; for it is more credibly declared that S. David when hee always went into the field, in martiall exercise, he carried a Leek with him ; and once being almost faint to death he immediately rememberd himself of the Leek, and by that means not onely preserved his life, but also became victorious: hence is the mythologie of the Leek derived, and hence it was that they ever since continued respectively the investigation of the same, to the sempiternal Honour of their Champion St. David. There is also a common Proverb in Wales that St. David is as bright as the Moon ; yet I confesse I have often¬ times presumed to wonder at their similitude in comparing him to the Moon, unlesse be the cause thereof, that the moon was made of green Cheese, at whose bright splendor perhaps they may have the curtesie to toste it. But be more clement, reader, whosover thou beest, and think not that I speak this in a ludibrious jeer, or abuse to the countrie, for I speak altogether in praise and commendation of it: yet however according to the Poet: Interpone tuts, interdum gaudia curis. If I have been barren in expressions for the honour of St. David, you must excuse the brevitie of time, wherein it was composed: and what remains I will consummate in a merry Hymn, or Panygerick. Come quaffe off your sherry, and let us be merry, All you that look to be saved : Then toss off your bowles, and be merry souls For this is the day of St. David. This is a good week, when we wear a Leek, And carouse in Bacchus fountains : We had better be here, than in poor small beer, Or in our country mountains. Then be merry boyes, and leave off your toyes And care not for drossie wealth, We'll swagger in Sack till our purse-strings crack To St. David lie drink a health. Let those that are civill, now go to the Devill, Let us be as busie as Bees : Those rebels we'l beat, that offer to eat Our Leekes, or tosted cheese. A pox of all ale, which makes the cheeks pale, Come let's be merry in Sack, For that's very good to cherish the Blood, And for to strengthen the back. Drink you to him, till both your brains swim, In this Nectarian liquor : Let him drink to me and He drink to thee, 'Twill make our tongues run the quicker. Come cast away grief, we need no relief, We'll drink, we'll be merry and play : We'll sing and we'll laugh, we'll our liquor quaffe, For this is St. David's Day. QUERIES. THE WELSH "SIN EATER."—I have been told that this old custom used to obtain in some parts of Breconshire. Didn't one of the Awbreys (possibly John, the antiquary) write something about the "Sin Eaters?" What did it all mean, and where did it take place ? Llangobse Eel. MRS. CANNE'S WELSH BIBLE.—I have been told that a Bible called " Mrs. Canne's," was printed at Trefecca College in the last century. Can anyone give par¬ ticulars ? Tal. A BRECON NOVELIST.—I have been told on good authority that a Mrs. Myddelton Powell (closely related to the old family of Wynter, of Brecknock) published one or two novels in the first quarter of the present century. I shall be thankful if " G.E.F.M." or " F.S.A." or " Jarco II.," or anyone well versed in Breconshire lore, can give the titles of the novels in question, and when and where they were published. Book-Worm. REPLIES. "DRYCH Y PRIF OESOEDD."—If your correspondent " Book-Worm " will consult Rowland's Cambrian Bibliography, he will find that the first edition of " Drych y Prif Oesoedd " was printed at Shrewsbury in the year 1716. Llanwrtyd. B.C. [We have traced all the Welsh editions of this work up to 1800. Notes of the various editions published this century, English, Welsh, and American, will be esteemed.—Ed.] THE CYMANFA AT MAESYBER- LLAN (April 29th).—In reply to " A.B.C.," he will find an account of the Maesyberllan Cymanfa, at which the afterwards celebrated Christmas Evans was present, in the late Rev. David Rhys Stephen's Memoirs of Christmas Evans, published in 1847, pp. 22—30. Christmas Evans was then in his 23rd year only, and he was selected to go to Lleyn, in Carnarvonshire, where he was ordained early in 1790. The " Cymanfa " therefore must have been held in 1789, and not 1790, as your correspondent states. Christmas was born in 1766, and died in 1838. The Editor.