Welsh Journals

104 BYE-GONES. May 5, 1897. wish we could think this volume would be read by all the teachers in the land, and by all who have the selection of teachers. It would be an excellent discipline for County Governing Bodies and Managers of Intermediate Schools, and even the members of School Boards would be none the worse for tackling it. We want a great elevation o fthe view of education, and a firmer grasp both of its profound importance and of its true character. The work before us will do its part in the educational reformation, whether the opinions of the writers are accepted or not. MAY 5, 1897. NOTES. WILD PIGEON'S COOING AND TROUT FISHING.—There is a saying in Llanyblodwel parish that the time to begin troub fishing is when the wild pigeon begins cooing. The writer knows nothing of fishing, nor of the time when fish are in season, but he knows that the cooing is to be heard about the middle of April, and that it is not always heard on the same day. In any case it is worth recording this bit of folk-lore. E.O. OLD OSWESTRY TRADES.—I notice in the Burgess rolls for the past century Mie follow¬ ing trades :—Joseph Fox, Flax dresser, John Dickin, Pipemaker, Samuel Robinson, Periwigg maker, and Richard Paine, Glover, John Daw¬ son, Felt maker, Thomas Hughes, Weaver, John Boulton, Corvisor (shoemaker). The following are interesting extracts from the Burgess Rolls :— Charles Wicksteed of Oswestry Watchmaker was nemiDe contradicente elected Burgess of the sd Town upon the termes foil, (viz.) That he shall before he is sworn enter into bond with such security as shall be approved of by the house to take care of repair and kesp in good order att his own expense the markett house clock iD Oswestry for five yeares next ensuing the date above and putt a good weather cock upon the Top of the stl markett house (cords for the clock only excepted) he was afterwards sworn. Parry. 6th Jany., 1732 Reed. 5th Sept., 1740, of the Hond Watkin Williams Wynn Esqe the sume of Five Pounds two shillings & Ten pence half penny for a Silver Punch Ladle per me C. Wicksteed. 13th January, 1738-9. At a House meeting held this day & year aforesd It is agreed that the persons hereafter named shall be and are appointed to view the Goal in the town of Oswestry called Loft a Teer and to report the condition of the same. 22 September 1693 Ordered ye Crosse bee re¬ paired provided ye same bee substantially and not above six poundea bee laid for it in ye altering of ye same. 29 Aprill 1695 Ordered then by the Mayr. Aldermen & Com'on Councill y* y° Hall now in pos'sion of Richard Pope gent, bee entered upon by reason he had not paid y° rent for ye same & y* ye goods or part thereof bee distrained in order to satisfie ye rent for ye same since y° same was not made up by ye Company of Linnen Manufacturers. 2 Oct. 1713 Edwd Payne son of Marg* Payne of the Town of Oswestry upon producing his Ind're of Apprenti- ship with John Daniell Corviser dated yc 12 August 1713 ye sd Company of Shoemakers refusing to inroli him, ye said May'r Aldermen & Com'on Counsellmen ye day and yeare above Agreed to have him inrolled in ye Excheq'r in Oswestry w'ch is done accordingly Greene junior. J.P.-J. QUERIES. COW CALVING OF TWINS.—In some parts of Wales this is considered lucky, in others un¬ lucky. It would be very useful if each reader of Bye-Gones who knows of either of these beliefs would specify it and the locality in a note in this column. N.W.T. A WELSH HYMN.—Is it a fact that the well-known Welsh hymn, Tyr'd, Ysbryd Glan, i'n c'lonnau ni, A dod oleuni nefol, &c, is a translation by Archdeacon Prys of Merioneth, of the Latin Veni Creator Spiritus, &c. ? L.A. REPLIES. A PYE (Aug. 5, 1896).—The word " pye," quoted by " W.O." from Samuel Rogers is pro¬ bably derived from pioydd, a marriage gift. From the marriaee custom the word might easily be transferred to the practice of helping a poor person, as described by Rogers. This is not a reply to "W.O." but may be acceptable. Bonwm, PATRIOTIC OSWESTRY, 1798 (March 31, 1897).—The letter quoted by " J.P.-J." is given in a paper on " Shropshire Patriotism in 1798," con¬ tributed to the Shropshire Archceological Trans¬ actions (vol. 1, 1st series, p. 264) by the late Mr Askew Roberts. The Minister of Oswestry was doubtless the Vicar, the Rev. Turner Edwards. There was a general subscription throughout the county, and of course the country, towards the expenses of the war. W.O. CURRENT NOTES. The personalty under the will of Mr Homer- sham Cox is valued at £4,807. Mr F. C. Cobden has placed a large and valuable telescope on the summit of Snowdon, for the use of visitors. The death is announced at Glanartro,Llanbedr, of Mr David Griffith, a juscice of the peace, and the eldest son of the late Mr Griffith Griffith, of Cae'rberllan.