Welsh Journals

242 BYE-GONE S. Dec, 1873. December 3, 1873. AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF RICHARD DAVIE S THE WELSHPOOL QUAKER. (Nov. 19, 1873.) In Merionethshire. " About the year 1675, we heard there was a severe persecution by informers in Merioneth¬ shire, especially in Penllyn, near Bala; in which time our meetings did increase there, and .many people came to them. A concern lay upon my friend Charles Lloyd and me to visit those meetings, where we had a meeting on the first day of the week at Cadwallader Thomas's, called Wern-fawr. There was abundance of people, more than the house could hold. Two informers came in, and staid all the meeting time; and a'ter Charles Lloyd and I had cleared ourselves by way of testimony, the people's understandings were very much opened in the things of God, and the way to His kingdom, in the Welsh language, in which I concluded the meeting, the Lord owning of us with His great power and presence, to our great comfort, and the satisfaction of the auditory. The two informers kneeled upon their knees with us, while I was at prayer, and one of them, called Robert Evans, did exceedingly tremble; and when I had concluded the meeting, the said Robert Evans took a paper out ot his pocket, and stood before us with much trembling and shaking, and could say nothing to us, but a warrant, a warrant, a war¬ rant. Friends stood quiet in the possession of that life and power that G-od had blessed them withal that day, and we said nothing to him, nor he to us, which was almost an amazement to the spectators ; for he was a spiteful, en¬ vious man, that had done much spoil upon Friends in those parts. At last I asked him, what he had there; he told me he had a warrant. I desired him to let us see it. He was not willing we should see it; but said, If we would come a little further on our way, we should see it. We told Friends we were not bound to follow him, and desired Friends to depart to their own habitations. But our loving, tender-hearted Friends would not part with us. Charles Lloyd and I had a great mind to see what the tenor of his warrant was, and who the justices were that did sign it. So we went along with him to the house, where he said we should see it; but the man of the house not being within, he was still loth we should see it. We told him he should have it safe again, and at last he let us see it: and we saw that Colonel Price of Rhiwlas, and Colonel Salisbury of Rug had granted it. We went that night to John Thomas's of Llaethgwm, and were concerned to go and visit these justices. In the first place we went to see whether we could speak with Price of Rhiwlas, to lay the sufferings of Friends, that were his neighbours and tenants, before him, for many of them were his tenants; but we could not see him, though we heard he was at home. Thence we went to Rug, where this Colonel Salisbury lived; and we enquired, before we came to the house, whether he was at home ; some told us he was ; but when we came there, they perceived we were those people called Quakers, by our habit and language, and he being conscious to himself what he had done, and what spoil was made upon Friends' goods, would not admit us to speak with him. We desired one of his servants to acquaint him, that we had come a great way to visit our suffering Friends in that county; and my friend Charles Lloyd bid him tell him who he was; for it seems he was his relation, and an old schoolfellow. From thence we went to John ap John's, near Wrexham in Denbighshire, and visited Friends there; and then came home to our families, where we found all things well; and the Lord was with us in our journey." QUERIES. DUDLESTON HEATH.—A youth from the dis¬ trict repeated in my hearing the other day— Dillusson Yeth, Where the devil was starved to death ; and he told me this was a common saying in the neigh- bourhood. Has it any origin in tradition ? Bonwm. BEETEN RING.—A few miles from Welshpool, on the Long Mountain, on the estate of Mr Naylor, of Leighton Hall, there is a large ring, or mound of earth, said to be the place from which Oliver Cromwell (sic) stormed Powis Castle. In the centre of this ring is a small hillock which, if jumped upon, sounds hollow, like a drum. Can any of your readers tell us how the ring and hillock came there ? Bkigantiad. THE CASTLE OF OSWESTRY.-There was a play under this title once performed by Stanton's company, and printed by Price. Will someone who may have a copy kindly lend it me for a few days? And I should also be extremely obliged to anyone who would lend me " The History of Oswestry, by Thomas Pennant, Esq.." a pam¬ phlet printed by Edwards. Askew Roberts. REPLIES. THE BAYONET A WELSH INVENTION (Sep. 24, 1873).—Were the Welsh engaged at Bosworth? asks A Welsh Fusiliee. Undoubtedly they were. Here are a few authorities' testimony on the subject:—" On August 6, 1485, he [Earl of Richmond] safely entered Milford Haven, and found Sir Rhys ab Thomas with 2,000 horse¬ men ready to accelerate his landing. The retainers of the Earl of Pembroke gladly increased the little army, and Henry, unfurling upon the Tewdur colours, white and green, the sanguine salient dragon of the ancient Cadwal- adyr, set forth upon his march, sir William Herbert brought the forces of Gwent to join him ; South Wales and North Wales welcomed his passage and swelled his ranks." —History of Wales, by Jane Williams, p. 467. " He [the Earl of Richmond] was at once joined by Sir Rhys with the forces of the three counties at his command—Cardigan, Carmarthen, and Pembrokeshire. At Carew Castle he received assurance of support from the present counties of Monmouthshire. Glamorganshire, and Breconshire, then the dominions of the families of Raglan, Tretower, and their connexions. From Carew, Henry proceeded through Cardiganshire and Central Wales, everywhere receiving fresh accessions, towards Shrewsbury. Sir Rhys, on the other hand, marched through South Wales to Brecon, giving an opportunity to the Herberts, Vaugbans, Games, and other influential adherents to join him. At Brecon a general review of the forces was held, and out of the whole of them 4,000 picked troops were selected for the advance into England."—Morgan's History, p. 227, &c. See also the "Life of Rice ap Thomas" in the first volume of the Cambrian Register, pp. 107-112; Eminent Welshmen, article "Rice (ab Thomas) Sir"; and "Historical Sketch of the Wars between the Rival Roses," prefixed to Lewis Glyn Cothi's Works, pp. xxxv, xxxvi, Tobfaen.