Welsh Journals

230 BYE-GONES. May, 1875. MSS., and for encouraging the study of Celtic literature. In his letter M. Martin refers particularly to the Breton or Cymric branch, and says that Cymric bardism has a genius entirely sui generis, and it is extremely desir¬ able the work should be continued, of collecting the works and purifying the text, published hitherto in an incorrect form by men who had more of Zealand of patriotism than of science, but who have nevertheless merited the gratitude of all Cymric students. There are, in these works, he adds* historical, moral, and philosophical problems, which are much discussed, and which are of importance to the history of the human mind. And he adds that it is particularly desirable to regain all that it is possible to know of the tra¬ ditions of the School of Glamorgan, the Cadair Mor- ganwg, and "perhaps they may finish by putting their hands again on the MS. of Llewelyn Sion." M. Martin thinks that when the first book of the Barddas and the Tolume of Iolo's MSS. are studied, it is impossible to admit the supposition that the documents were composed in the 18th century. The erudite introduction by Mr Skene to the Four Ancient Books of Wales, and his exclusively his¬ torical interpretation of the bardic songs will re-open the discussions on the real sense of those compositions. M. Martin adds that it is open to one to maintain that the songs partake of a mixed character, mythological and historical. May Si, 1875. NOTES. ABRACADABRA.-—The following is a copy of the mystic cabala given by a noted Merionethshire professor in the occult sciences. It was alleged that the using and ■aying it would be effective to protect the person, the resi¬ dence, and the effects of such individual from the evil in¬ fluences and powers of all malignant spirits of witchcraft and the devil. The writer knew individuals nailing these mystic cabala to the doors of their premises, believing in their power to prevent any witch entering therein. " Say the following:— abracadabra O Lord Jesus BBACADABBA Christ grant BACADABba I beseech thee through AOADABBA the virtue of this 0 A D A B b a abracadabra A D A B B A healing charm to clear D A B B a all the evils of men and abba women and devils from your B B A faithful servant [G.— W.—] B A and all through Elk Elloi A Amen. Read the 7th Psalm every first Friday of the new moon, and the 6th chapter of the Ephesians, and believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost." T. W. Hancock. CORPORATION OFFICERS OF OSWESTRY (April 21, 1875).—My list this week is to be that of OORONEBS. 1616 John Gough and Richard Lloyd, 1673 Edward Owen, Edward Edmunds, 1842 Henry Hughes, 1848 John Miles Hales, , 1861 John Sides Davies. Under the provisions of the Charter of James I. the Bailiffs, after they had served in the chief office for twelve months, were to serve as coroners for the second year; and under the Charter of Charles II. (which gave us one Mayor for two Bailiffs) the mayor was to be coroner during hia second year of office. In Bye-gones Feb. 21,1872, Derwen asked how it was that the Borough Coroner did not now-a- days sit as a magistrate? It will be seen from the fore¬ going that he never was a magistrate in virtue of his office of coroner, but simply as ex-mayor or ex-bailiff. Our histories dismiss James's Charter in half-a-dozen lines, and omit to state who the coroner was named in Charles's Charter—before there was an ex-mayor to fill the office— so I have supplied the name. An outline of the Charter is given by Cathrall (page 78 of his History) which is correct as far as the names of mayor and aldermen are con¬ cerned, and it will there be found that the ihree senior aldermen were Sir John Trevor, Morgan Wynne and Ed¬ ward Owen; and these three were, respectively, Steward, Recorder, and Coroner. Mr Henry Hughes was appointed Clerk of the Peace at the same time as he had the office of coroner bestowed upon him. That office arose in conse¬ quence of the restoration of the privilege of holding Quarter Sessions; and it has been filled since by Mr Robert Simon appointed in 1848, and Mr W. I. Bull in 1858. Mr Henry Hughes was Manager of the Savings' Bank, and Deputy Town Clerk. Mr Edmunds was the solicitor honoured by a visit from De Quincey, and mentioned in that writer's Confessions. (See Bye-gones, Oct. 4, 1871). I fancy he must have entered on the office on the passing of the Municipal Reform Act in 1836. Jarco. QUERIES. THE GOLD CHALICE AT WELSHPOOL. - (July 10, Oct. 23,1872).—Mention has been made of the chalice of pure gold, presented to the parish of Welshpool by one Thomas Davies. I have been told that it was a common belief in the town last century, that Davies was a convict who made money abroad after his time of service expired. That the story is untrue may be assumed from the fact that the vessel has engraved on it the arms of some leading Montgomeryshire families. Was any such story ever in general circulation ? Blackpool. MORRIS LLWYD, GWERN EINION. - In West Merionethshire there have been several persons of this surname who have figured in local tradition, as famous conjurors, poets, or musicians, so that it is very easy to confound personages and incidents in their history. The same feats of conjuring are attributed to Hugh Llwyd, Cynfal, and y Parson Llwyd, ' Cwm Llychau,' or Llanaber. But the following was related to me as an incident in the life of a Morris Llwyd, of Gwern Einion, Ardudwy. I cannot be certain whether he was the one who resided there about 1720, some of whose productions appeared in a compilation entitled Blodeugerdd. He had a family con¬ sisting of wife and children. He used to go about by him¬ self as poets are wont to do, and one evening, not returning as usual, the family became uneasy about him. For several days and weeks assiduous researches were made, but no trace of him, dead or alive, could be found. After a long series of useless enquiries he was given up as drowned or murdered. He was known to be a great enquirer about foreign countries, and tried to become acquainted with their history, manners, and customs; however none of his relatives or neighbours suspected his having gone abroad. Many years elapsed before Mrs Llwyd ceased to entertain hopes of seeing him again. When his children were be¬ come young men and Mrs Llwyd had given up all hopes of her husband's return to his home, she thought it no dis¬ grace to accept a proposal of marriage. Arrangements were accordingly made for the wedding, a numerous com¬ pany were invited to the marriage feast according to thecus-