Welsh Journals

CORRESPONDENCE. 141 CUSTOM ON NEW YEAR'S DAY IN PEMBROKESHIRE. To the Editors of the Archceologia Cambremis. Gentlemen,—In the southern part of Penbrokeshire, (and possibly elsewhere,) on New Year's morning, as soon as it is light, it is customary for the children of the peasantry to salute one another, and those especially among the higher orders from whom there is a prospect of receiving a small gratuity, in the following manner : — Having provided themselves with some spring water, drawn that morning fresh from the well, they carry this about in a small tin or earthenware cup, and with a sprig of some evergreen, generally box, and sprinkle the faces of those whom they meet. This ceremony of sprinkling with New Year's water, is accompanied with a song or ballad, the words of which (taken down from the lips of some of the children themselves) are subjoined. The sound of the words being the only guide to correct orthography, the lines afford ample opportunity to the antiquarian critic for the display of his ingenuity and the application of his antique lore. " Here we bring new water from the well so clear, For to worship God with this happy New Year : Sing levy dew, sing levy dew, the water and the wine, With seven bright gold wires, and bugles that do shine. Sing reign of Fair Maid with gold upon her toe, Open you the west door and turn the Old Year go; Sing reign of Fair Maid with gold upon her chin, Open you the east door and let the New Year in." Line 3, levy dew. — Is this Lief ar Dduw? or Levez Dieu? or neither? Lines 5, and 7, reins.—Rains ? reign ? Lines 5, and 7, Fair Maid. — Is this the Virgin, or (more probably) Aurora? The idea of Aurora's feet being gilded with the beams of the setting sun, and her head by those of the rising, is not destitute of poetry, nor without parallel. Line 6, turn — go. — This is a complete provincialism. A horse, when taken to a field, as soon as the gate is opened, is " turned go," in the ordinary language of the lower orders. I remain, &c. Tenby, March 8th, 1849. J. Boys Smith. THE LORDS MARCHERS. To the Editors of the Archceologia Cambrensis. Gentlemen,—The extraordinary powers exercised by the great Lords of the Marches of Wales, although attested by many of our historians, would be incredible were their statements not corroborated by existing records and documents of undoubted authenticity. The early Norman sovereigns of England were in the habit of rewarding the services of their rapacious followers by grants, in general terms, " of all that they could conquer from the Welsh." Several of these roving commissions are extant among the public records of those times, and in point of fact, were no less than royal licences for spoliation, robbery, and murder; of which, the grantees were not slow to avail themselves, nor over particular as to the means employed to attain their ends. Whenever one of these adventurers had succeeded in plundering an unfortunate Welshman of his