Welsh Journals

400 BYE-GONES. July 2, 1890. tones state that Oswestry Castle was built by Warin, the Norman Sheriff of Shropshire, in the time of William the Conqueror, others give it a still earlier date ; but its connection with the Fitzalan family is without doubt, and to quote Sir Walter Scott, ' Walter, the descendant of Alan, who ob¬ tained from William the Conqueror the castle of Oswestry in Shropshire, was the father of an illus¬ trious line of English nobles by his first son William and by his second son Walter, the progenitor of the Royal Family of Stuart.' So that without doubt the present Royal House traces its ancestry from the owners of Oswestry Castle. The Castle re¬ mained in the hands of the Fitzalans (afterwards incorporated with the Arundel family), and finally by marriage passed into the Norfolk family. The Duke of Norfolk still retains as one of his minor titles that of ' Baron of Oswaldestre,' although Oswestry has ceased to be territorially connected with the family since 1590.' That is three centuries ago is it not; but that time has not sufficed to blot out from the heart of the present holder of the tithe, the Duke of Norfolk, the memory of the former connection of his family with this town. His Grace gave a handsome donation towards these grounds, and the other day, when I wrote to him—perhaps somewhat pre¬ sumptuously—and informed him we were about to raise new municipal buildings, with accommodation as you know for a Free Library and Science and Art Classes, I had in reply a most kind letter from his Grace, in which he stated he would have much pleasure, in consideration of the former connection of his family with the town, in giving us a cheque for £50. (Cheers). It was a most generous gift, and I wrote and thanked his Grace in my own name and on behalf of all the ratepayers of the town. (Cheers). "On the 22nd June, 1644, the Castle was besieged and captured by the Earl of Denbigh and Colonel Mytton, the leaders of the Parliamentary party. It appears to have been dis¬ mantled and finally fell into ruins, and in 1673 the burgesses agreed that there should be ' placed and kept the Swine Market on the hill or void space where the Castle is.'" I think we may congratulate ourselves that the Swine Market does not stand here now. (Laughter). " In this state it continued until the commencement of the present century, when the Corporation enclosed it as it now stands and built the present boundary wall." The statement proceeded to give the history of the Castle Bank subsequent to 1852, which we have given above, and his Worship proceeded :—I am sure you will all feel as I do, that a great debt is due to Mr Councillor Hughes for the way in which he has worked. (Cheers.) Now I thought I had reached the end of my remarks, but since I entered these grounds I have again looked at the beautiful key which was handed to me at the gate. It is so far in excess of anything I had thought of, it is so beauti¬ ful in its workmanship, and is really such a very handsome present, that I must thank you again most heartily, and assure you of the value with which it will be regarded by Mrs Corrie and myself. (Cheers.) Other speeches were delivered and the proceed¬ ings closed with a vote of thanks to the Mayor. The key presented to his Worship is a beautiful piece of workmanship. It is of gold, and about four inches in length; the head bears on one side the borough arms, and on the other the inscription, " Presented to the Mayor of Oswestry, A. Wynne Corrie, Esq., on the occasion of the opening of the Oswestry Castle Grounds, June 24th, 1890." The key was supplied by Mr A. C. Minshall, jeweller, Oswald-road, Oswestry. The Volunteer Band, by permission of Captain C. H. Bull, gave their services, and during the after¬ noon played a programme, including " The Con¬ queror " March, and a selection, " Welsh Melodies." Later in the evening it played for dancing, in which a large number took part. At dusk the shrubs were very prettily illuminated with Chinese lanterns, and the iron railings around the summit of the Bank with fairy lights. On each side of the entrance the royal cypher was formed in fairy lights, on the Powis Hall the imperial crown was represented, and on the Savings Bank the Prince of Wales's feathers. The Band played the National Anthem at ten o'clock, and a little later a quantity of fireworks were discharged. JULY 2, 1890. NOTES. DISCONTINUANCE OF WELSH IN THE CHURCH SERVICES AT NEWTOWN—1720.- On the occasion of a presentation to the Rev. John Williams, rector of Newtown, by the teachers and scholars attending the Newtown Church Sunday Schools, the rev. gentleman in his reply mentioned a fact which the writer thinks is deserving of being recorded in Bye-Gones. He said, " In looking over the old registers, he made a rather curious discovery. Of course many of the houses in and around Newtown bore Welsh names such as 'Brynairare,' ' Cefnairare,' and many others, and some were occupied by Welsh people. It was stated in the Register bearing date 1720 in the days of old Sir John Pryce that a Vestry meeting was held on Easter Monday. In those days the second lesson was read in Welsh and a Welsh sermon preached on Good Friday. The Vestry came to the conclusion that as there were but few Welsh speaking people in Newtown it was not necessary to read the second lesson in Welsh, nor was it necessary to preach a Welsh sermon on Good Friday. From that day the lessons had been read and the sermons preached in English." Nemo. KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS AT HALSTON AND YSPYTTY IVAN.—The following is a copy and translation of an old manuscript in my S)ssession. It is a lease given by the Knights ospitallers at Halston of the Church, &c, of Yspytty Ivan, near Cerrigydrudion, in the reign of Edward the Third. '" T. Pateat universis per prsesentes quod nos Frater Robertus de Normanton custos de Halstan conces- simus et dimisimus Heylyn ap Rees ap David ap