Welsh Journals

Feb. 4, 1891. BYE-GONES. 31 Watkin was quoted as an almost parallel instance. He had a sort of sentimental liking for ancient houses and ancient families, and he received with as much heartiness as anybody the assurance that the line of Wynnstay was about to be perpetuated in direct descent. He was old enough to remember when this gentleman's grandfather, " Old Sir Watkin," as he was always called until lately, used frequently to come lolling in his barouche into the town with a pair of horses, his daughter by his side, and he had never been in the town ten minutes but the bells rang. One could hardly see such loyalty as that resumed, but the sphere was a good deal wider over which Sir Watkin might exercise his good nature and his disposition to do public good, and let them hope that he might always act up to the height of his great fortuneand his illustrious descent, and to the high expectations and the good wishes of his neighbours. (Cheers.) The motion was unanimously carried. FEBRUARY 4, 1891. NOTES. LLYWARCH HEN.—I see that that great work, the "Dictionary of National Biography," is to contain " Llywarch Hen, nourished 630." It is unfortunate that such an error should be perpetu¬ ated in a work of this character. I suppose it is pretty well established that the author of the poems ascribed to Llywarch Hen could not have lived before the 14th or loth century. w.o. SHROPSHIRE WORDS.—FINAGUE.— Hartshorne gives this word, which I do not find in the Shropshire Word Bool: He fsays (Salopia Antiqua, 1841, page 425) " Finague, v. to omit or cease playing trumps. Ex. ' He's finagued shute ' (suit). In spite of this peculiar specimen of card table concinnity, I am disposed to think that the word comes from the Fr. finer, to which amongst other meanings, Roquefort assigns those of mourir and cesser." But I have heard another version of the word. At Worthen, if you trump a suit which you still have in hand, they say that you " Fernague suit." This seems to be a transi¬ tion between Finague and Renege, a word which has lately attracted attention, and which is thus noticed by G. A. Sala in the Sunday Times for 7th December, 1890 :— The reporters seem to have made a desperate stumble over a word used by Mr Parnell in his speech at the meeting of the Irish party on Monday. The member for Cork spoke of the late Isaac Butt as having formerly " reneged" him. The Times spells the word correctly, but places it between in¬ verted commas, as though it were an unwelcome little stranger. The Telegraph has " renaiged"; the Standard "renagued"; the Daily News "renaigred"; and the Post " reneagued." Of course " renege " is a legitimate Shakesperiau word of Latin derivation, meaning to deny, disown, or renounce. See "Antony and Cleopatra,' Act I. scene i.:— His captain's heart Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast reneges all temper. The reporter in the Morning Post may, however, defend his orthography on the ground that Charles Knight's " Shakespeare " has " reneagued." Shrewsbury. R.E.D. [It isstated that " Renague" is the word used in Ireland for " revoke "at cards.—Ed.] QUERIES. Y DYNOLYDD.—In a reprint of Johnes's "Causes of Dissent," 1870, p. 158, I find the fol¬ lowing note :—" It is a highly interesting circum¬ stance that a prospectus was issued about the same time of a monthly periodical for the diffusion of general knowledge, to be entitled Y Dynolydd, or The Philanthropist: the author has since learned that its projectors were a few labouring men employed in the ironworks in South Wales." I shall be glad of any information respecting this periodical: when did the first and last number appear ? Who was the editor ? And I should like a copy of the title-page. Glyx Trefxant. FUNERAL CUSTOMS.—In the well-known Welsh novel, " Rhys Lewis," the writer describes a custom observed at the funeral of " Seth y bachgen gwirion," to the following effect :— " Shortly before turning out to proceed towards the churchyard two men came in from the adjoin¬ ing room, bearing pewter vessels, not far unlike the goblets used now-a-days in the administration of the Lord's Supper, except that they were larger. The handles of these vessels were ornamented with lemon peel. One contained what was styled the 'cwrw brwd,'or mulled ale, the other the ' cold ale,' both being highly spiced. As soon as these vessels made their appearance the company all drew their hats off; and amid the most profound silence, like the grave, the two men went round to administer the two species of drink, just as the Lord's Supper is administered, and almost with the same reverence. What this meant I knew not, and I have not to this day ascertained. When the ceremony was over, the company replaced their hats on their heads, and renewed the chat " (which, I should have mentioned, had preceded the cere¬ mony, together with a free use of bread and cheese and ale). Does this custom still prevail in any part of Wales ? And what was the meaning of it ? I have occasionally seen something akin to it, different kinds of wine, however, being substi¬ tuted. --------- T.H.J. REPLIES. THE AUTHOR OF A WELSH DICTIONARY BEFORE 1771 (Jan. 14, 1891.)—On the 4th of February, 1772, John Morgan was instituted to the living of Llanover, co. Monmouth. His pre¬ decessor was Francis Lewis, who had held the living since October 12, 1744. And he was suc¬ ceeded by John Williams, who was instituted the