Welsh Journals

June 5, 1895. BYE-GONES. 107 five capitals of very distinctly French type, and shewing Romanesque character, intended tor detached shafts surrounding a central pier. To which portion of the building these belong it is now impossible to say; they are not apparently intended for any part of the work in the nave, and possibly they may have belonged to the earlier Church. Among the fragments of sculpture I would particularly wish to draw your attention to the head now built into the terrace wall at Abbey Cwmhir ; it is so evidently a portrait of the period of the 13th century that we may reasonably suppose it is intended for one of the founders, if not intended for the head of the King. The ram's head is also interesting, the principal wealth of Cwmhir Abbey consisted of its nocks and its herds, and the carver no doubt wished to per¬ petuate that fact; there is a similar head which has been used as a roof corbel in Llanidloes Church. And now, in conclusion may I appeal to all Welshmen and lovers of ancient art to assist in preserving what little is left to us of this great Monastic Church.the burial place of our last native prince; his bones have probably long ago mouldered into dust, the exact place where he was laid may never be discovered ; but surely some memorial may be erected in this secluded and beautiful spot that will perpetuate to future generations that here was laid in consecrated ground all that re¬ mained of the gallant Llewelyn ap Gruffydd. " His bones are dust, His good sword rust, His soul is with the saints we trust." —The paper was most cordially received, and Mr Williams was warmly thanked for the work he had already accomplished in the course of his investi¬ gations at Cwm-hir.—On the proposal of Lord Bute, seconded by Principal Rhys, it was unani¬ mously resolved that the best thanks of the Cym- mrodorion Society be tendered to Mrs Phillips, the owner of Cwm Hir Abbey, for her kindness and courtesy in permitting Mr Williams to make exca¬ vations and to take drawings, &c, for the pur¬ poses of the lecture.—It is proposed to reproduce the drawings, which are by Mr Worthington G. Smith and Mr Williams, as illustrations to the completed paper when it appears in the current year s " Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion." JUNE 5, 1895. NOTES. GUESSING IN WALES.-The custom of putting a coin or other desirable article in one hand and nothing in another is well-known and observed in England, but I have never heard any doggerel made use of during the process. While in Merioneth the other day I put half a sovereign in one hand and sixpence in the other and gave the choice to a native of the county. Touching alternately each hand, ateach word, he then said— Dewis, dewis dau ddwrn, Fa 'r un ai hwn ai hwn. The result was that the hand containing the half sovereign was teuched. In Cardiganshire, I am told, the couplet runs— Dewis, dewis dau ddwrn, Os dewis di un dewisa hwn. Mkieion. A STRAY BRASS MEMORIAL.—Some few years ago I saw a brass memorial in the posses¬ sion of the late Mrs Sarah Thomas of Llwyny- grug, Dinas Mawddwy (widow of Mr David Thomas of Dolgelley,known by the bardic name of " Dewi Wnion"). I copied it at the time, and I have just found the copy amongst my papers. I believe Mrs Thomas informed me that she had the plate from a strangerwho lodged with them for some time. I think the " Iohannes Elis Oxoniensis S.S. Theologias Doctor " referred to must have been Dr. John Ellis, who was born in the parish ol Llandecwyn, Merionethshire, in 1599, and Rector of Dolgelley 1647-1665. Dr. John Ellis published three or four Latin books. C.A. M. S. Lowria3 verch Kan foemina? piee, prudentis, probse, eleemosynis.alijsqz bonis operibus plenae, Elisei Iohannis Generosi, Ex illustri Davidis ap I6an ap Einion familia oriundi, et postea Humfredi Richardi De Llandeckwyn, uxoris fidelissimse Ex priore Marito primogenitus et unigenitus filius eius Iohannes Elis Oxon¬ iensis S. S. Theologise Doctor, et huius Ecclesise Rector, Monumsntum hoc cum lachrymis, et suspirijs posuit. Vixit annos circiter lxxx, et obijt 6% Decembris, Anno Salutis 1647. Memoriae patris materni.viri optimi,EvaniDavidis Merici, de Gwylen in Maentwroc hoc etiam consecrat idem. I. F. QUERIES. ASCENSION DAY.—The workmen at Bethesda again stood idle on Ascension Day, fearing a calamity if they worked. Does this curious superstition prevail elsewhere ? And can any suggestion be offered a9 to the origin of the superstition ? Bonwm. PECULIAR CUSTOM AT PWLLHELI.—A writer in Bye-Gones (March 13, 1895) quotes from a book published about 1826 an account of the custom of saying the Lord's Prayer before bathing at Pwllheli. Is there any trace of this custom—among the children, for example —still surviving ? W.O. REPLIES. THE BOTFIELD FAMILY OF SHROP¬ SHIRE (Jan. 30, 1895). — " W.F." should consult Stemmata Botevilliana : Memorials of the Families of De Boteville, Thyime, and Botfield. Also " An Historical Account of the Family of Thynne, otherwise Botfield," by Joseph Morris of