Welsh Journals

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Sept. 5, 1894. BYE-GONES. 431 SEPTEMBER 5, 1894. NOTES. CURIOUS STORIES OF PLACE NAMES.— I was told the other day that the name Festiniog was derived from the Latin "Festina," and that the origin of it was an injunction to " Make haste, or the tide will overtake you !" How such a story came to be attached to a place 700 feet above the sea, and (now at any rate) some miles from it, 1 should like to know. Bee. ROGER, EARL OF CASTLEMAINE.—It is interesting to note that this nobleman, whose character is drawn by Macaulay in his History of England (Vol. II., pp. 47, 262-7), who is also described by Hepworth Dixon in Her Majesty's Tower (Vol. IV., p. 72), and who, when arraigned for high treason for acting as ambassador to Rome on behalf of James II., complained of his arrest " at a small corporation called Oswestree," should have re-visited that town in 1705. It is stated in Miscell. Gen. et Heraldica, pp. 105—110, " In the latter part of his life he lived rehired, and died at Oswestree in Shropshire, July 21st, 1705, in the 71 year of his age." J. MERRYMAKING AT OSWESTRY IN QUEEN MARY'S REIGN.—"Ano 1556, 26 July, was such tempest of raine and healestones in the parish of Llanrhaiadr that the like was never seen before, biger than tennis balls, and beate down the corne and brake the straw all to peeces that they have no good of the corne; in hope that God would give them corne next year after, for that yeare they had none, and the same day came the Lord Lumley and my lady his wife, daughter to Henry Earl of Arundell, to Whitting- ton, and the morrow after to the town of Oswes¬ tree and there did make merry all that day, beinge 2 and 3 of King Phillip and Mary."—Harl. MS. 1970. Field. ANCIENT WELSH DIVISIONS OF LAND, HOLDINGS, AND PAYMENTS TO THE CHIEF LORDS, &0. A Commot was the unit of local self-govern¬ ment. Each Cantref contained normally two Commots ............= 1536 acres A Commot consisted of twelve maenolydd [8Free 4 Bond] ... = 768 „ A maenol consisted of four trefi ... = 64 „ A tref had four tyddynau ......= 16 „ A tyddyn was allotted four erwau (acres)...............= 4 „ There were two supernumerary trefi allocated to each Commot ... = 32 acres Holdings. Tir Gwdyog, or family land, held by ucheJwyr divided in groups of Gwelyau. Tir Gaeth, or bond land. Tir Owelyog. From each Maenol was paid— 1. The gwestfa, a food rent (honey was an important element) commuted later into the punt dwngc—the pound of Silver which survives as the fealty or tunk rent. 2. Amobyr, a fee payable on the marriage of the Uchelwr's daughter. 3. Ebediw, or heriot, payable on the death of the Uchelwr. Tir Gaeth was held by Taeogion = Villani among whom were the Eillion (Advence), and Alltudion (Exults). As the Taeogion were not of pure Welsh blood, they had no family rights. The Taeog could not bear arms; was bound to grind at his Chiefs mill; was debarred from free sale ; was liable in his Maenolydd or trefi (separated from the maenolydd of the uchelwyr) to the summer and winter dawnau bwyd,or contributions to the Chiefs table, and to the Cylch, or support to the Chiefs household in his yearly progress. Below the taeogion were a class answering to the bordarii of Domesday, cottagers without oxen, and the Gaethion or slaves, the Villiens in gross. It would be interesting to know if any of these payments are still continued, though it may nob be by the same name. Chief Rent is still paid. What ancient payment does it represent? It is probable that these chief rents (unless redeemed) are still paid in every parish in the ancient Lord¬ ship of Kedewen,as well as in Kerry and Clun, by the freeholders to Lord Powis as Lord of the Manor. P. OSWESTRY MARRIAGES IN THE COM- MONWEALTH. — Subjoined are extracts from the Register of Marriages in the Parish Church of Oswestry. In order to explain them it should ba not6d that it was ordained by Parliament " That after the 29th of September, 1653, all persons who shall agree to be married within the common¬ wealth of England shall deliver in their names and places of abode, with the names of their parents, guardians, and overseers to the registrar of the parish where each party lives, who shall publish the banns in the church or chapel, three several Lord's days after the morning service ; or else in the market place, three several weeks successively, between the hours of eleven and two on a market day, if the party desire it. The registrar shall make out a certificate of the due performance of one or the other at the request of the parties con¬ cerned, .without which they shall not proceed to marriage. It is further enacted that all persons intending to marry shall come before the Justices of the Peace within the county, city, or town corporate where publication has been made as aforesaid with this certificate, and with sufficient proof of the consent of the parents if either party be under age, and then the marriage shall pro¬ ceed in this manner, &c." The Register Booke for the Toune and Parish of Oswald stree made in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred fif tie and six. Aprill 1656 Humphrey Griffith of Knockin and Elizabeth Williams of Brin Owen in the parish of Llanrhaiader weare three markett dayes published the first pub- iicacon ye 25th day & had a certificate.