Welsh Journals

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Jan., 1875. BYE-GONES. 165 BYE-GONES FOR i875. NOTES, QUERIES, and REPLIES, on subjects interesting to Wales and the Borders, mus' oe addressed to ' Bye-gones,' Croeswylan, Oswestry. Reai names and addresses must he sent, in confidence, and the writing must be legible. Old news¬ papers, books, and ifS.S. carefully used and promptly returned. Oswestry Advertize^ Jan. 6, 1875. NOTES. EDW. III. NEVER PRINCE OF WALES.- It has been repeatedly asserted that Edward III., was created Prince of Wales in a Parliament at York, in the fifteenth year of his father's reign, but it is quite certain that he never held that dignity. No stronger proof need be ad¬ duced than that all the Welsh Minister's Accounts during the reign of Edw. II., are drawn in the King's name, which they never were when there was a Prince of Wales, and in no contemporary record during the reign of Edw. II., is a Prince of Wales referred to. W. INSCRIBED STONES IN MONTGOMERY¬ SHIRE.—In a communication to the current Dumber of the Archceologia Cambrensis, Mr J. Rhys has a paragraph relating to the inscribed stone at Llanerfyl, which he con¬ cludes in the following words:—" It is hard to believe that this is the only early incribed stone in Montgomeryshire, and it is to be hoped that the Powysland Club will keep on the look out for more." It is quite possible that other early inscribed stones still exist within the county, and are known to some of the readers of Bye-gones. If so, let us hope that their situation will soon be known in order that the attention of competent persons may be drawn to them. ClST-FAEN. QUERIES. BANHENIC.—" There was formerly a gentleman inPowys-land at a place called Banhenic, near the river, which at that time was called Sabrina, but at present is named in Welsh Havren, and in English Severn; and the name of the gentleman was Bugi, and his wife was named .geren, Such is the commencement of the Life of St. Keinoin the nambro British Saints, p. 299. Has Banhenic been identified ? if so, where is it ? H. MOVABLE MILESTONES, &c—An amateur dramatic performance was given in the Oswestry Theatre on the 15th of Feb., 1822, on which occasion Mr J. F. M. JJovaston, m the character of Sir Abel Handy, in the play d^ ??Peed,the Plough," caused unbounded merriment *• in M»»bmglua crazj and childish schemes; among his con¬ trivances many allusions were made to local projects, namely the Finger Posts and Movable Milestones on the Whittington and Oswestry roads, the Menai Hanging Bridge, Barnes's Apparatus for Cooking; and when speak¬ ing of his own medicines, a compliment was paid to Mr Cartwright, a professional gentleman of Oswestry." What were these movable milestones ? and was Barnes's invention a local one? The "colloquial prologue'' spoken was written by Mr W. Ormsby Gore. There seams to have be6n another prologue, which appeared in the newspapers at the time, which, I believe, was from the pen of Mr Dovaston. Was Mr Ormsby Gore's ever printed ? Jabco. • RIDING THE STONE HORSE.—An old sailor visiting Llandudno (then a collection or miserable huts) in 1769, speaking of the natives of Wales, says, '; When they have a mind to descend a mountain with speed, they fix their backs upon a flit kind of stone, holding the forepart fast with both the hand?, betwixt the legs; then giving a spring, away they go, at the rate of a mile in a minute or more, according as the descent is. This is called Riding the Stone Hone." Do modern Welshmen indulge in such hard riding ? G.G. CAVALRY CALL.—When I was a boy, and that gallant corps (alas now disbanded) called the North Shrop¬ shire Yeomanry Cavalry, used to enliven Oswestry for eight days every third May; during the early mornings of those eight days we were aroused by the sound of the trumpet calling the yeomen irom th'eir slumbers. We were told that the notes the trumpeters blew, put into words, would be as follows:— All ye that are able Go down to the stable And water your horses and give them some corn But if you're not able To go to the stable, Lie still in your beds and keep yourselves warm. Can any one tell me whether this is a local' reading' of the music, or one known all over the country ? Tell. REPLIES. • SIGNBOARDS (Sep. 23, 1874).—Speaking of Abergele, Mr Halliwell, F.R.S., says (writing in I860), "An old inn, the Ship, with its ancient penthouse, just such a one as Dogberry and his staff sheltered under, took my fancy the most; and it is hardly necessary to say that my nephew and myself went in to beer, when, in admiring its quaiatnessv the following irresistible invitation over the door, in English and Welsh, was seen in bold relief :— 4 In this place there is a vault; Such liquors is ever fixed: Water, hops, and malt, Ever better mixed !'" Nemo. 42