Additional note to page ix. of the Introduction. Some of the earliest English Heralds have the epithet of Guyon added to their names; probably from the Welsh Bard called Gwion Bach, of Caereinion, in Powis, who flourished about A. D. 470; or from that of their being Heralds of Gwy, (the district of the Wye ;) or of Gwayn, in South Wales. Page xii. of the Introduction. The 14th line fhould be thus: "Now, good Cefario, but that piece of Song." Page xvi. line 36, read, previous to their being finally committed to the prefs. Page 5 of the text, in the 6th line of the notes, instead of eat, read ate. Addition to page 9. Salephilax, the Bard and Genealogift, flourished about A. D. 920. See Bale de Script. Brit. Cent. 2. Num. 29. Alfo Caius's Antiq. Cantab. Lib. 1. Addition to page 11. The Tomb of Gwrthmwl Wledig, near Tal-y-Llyn, in Merionethfhire. See alfo Genefis, chap. xxxv. ver. 8, and 20. 1 Chronicles, chap. x. ver. 12. Joshua, chap. vii. ver. 25, and 26, and chap. viii. 2 Samuel, chap. xviii. ver. 17, and 18. Page 16. The catch-word at bottom fhould be Ugnach. Page 20, in the 18th line, inftead of 516, read 452. Page 31, note 6; inftead of Cynllo, read Cynllaw, Bishop of Llanbifter, Radnorfhire. Page 47, in the 5th line of note 4, read grafp. Page 48, in the fecond line of number 5, read where ever. Page 49, near the bottom, read Ewyas, or Euas. Page 52, the laft line of the verfes, read it thus: A'r Saith, a rifodd y Ser. Page 57, and line 31; inftead of His refidence, read, This refidence. Page 49, after note 13, add the following: St.Wilfred's Needle, a hole (in a vault under Rippon Church, in Yorkshire,) through which a chafte woman only could país, feems alfo to be of a fimilar description. It appears, by thefe memorial Triads of the Bards, that the greatest kings and heroes amongst the Ancient Britons were emulous of acquiring the Bardic Accomplishments, and esteemed it an honour to be enrolled in this order. Nothing can display the estimation in which that clafs of men were held, in the early ages, fo much as the privileges, rewards, and honours conferred upon them; and there are many inftances of Bards having acquired the elevated fituation of princes, and rulers of dominions. Witnefs the following, who were Bards, and heroic fovereigns: Blegywryd, King of Britain, who flourished about 190 years before Chrift; Aneurin Gwawdrydd, Mychdeyrn Beirdd; i. e. Aneurin the Satirift, King of Bards, and Chief of the Gododinians, about A. D. 510; Llywarch Hen, Prince of Cumbria, &c. about A. D. 580; Owain Cyveiliog, Prince of Powis, A. D. 1160; Prince Howel, fon of Prince Owain Gwynedd, 1140, &c. The Scythians, who dwelt in the north-weft part of Europe, had also their poets, or warlike fingers, whom they called Singebardos; and their chiefs that delighted in mufic, Albardes, Dagobardos, and Rodtbardos. Holinfbed's Hift. of Brit. Vol. I. As a proof in what eftimation the Bards were held in the early ages, the ancient poet, Thamyris, was fo much admired by the Scythians, on account of his poetry, K.bapedia, that they chofe him their King. Conon. Narrat. Poet. cap. 7. edit. 'Gal. Virgil, the prince of the Latin poets, (who flourished about 35 years before Chrift), received from Octavia, the fifter of the Emperor Auguftus, ten fefterces for every one of his verfes in praise of her fon; the whole of which was equivalent to zoool, English money. When Amabæus, the Lyrift, fung in the Theatre at Athens, he was paid an Attic talent, or 1931. 15s. a day, for his performance. Athenæus, lib. 14. Archimelas, the Greek poet, who flourished in the reign of Hiero, King of Syracufe, about 136 Olympiad, made fome verses in praife of a prodigious large fhip, which Hiero had ordered to be built; and thofe verles were worth, to him, above five thousand quarters of corn, which the King fent him, to the Pyreum. Athenæus, lib. 5 p. 206, & 209. Admiral de Joyeufe is faid to have given an abbey to a poet, for a fong, as we are informed by Bayle. To come nearer to our own time, Jeffery Chaucer, the English poet, was a great favourite with King Richard the Second; who, in reward for his poems, gave him the manor of Newelme, in Oxfordshire.-'Tis to be regretted, that merit meets with no fuch encouragement now: Hail, Bards triumphant! born in happier days; "Immortal heirs of univerfal praile!" Pope. In Leges Wallice, (or King Howel's Laws, page 301,) it is recorded, that " Three things were indifpenfable for a Nobleman, or a Baron; namely, his harp, his robe, and his chefs-board." Also, we find, in page 415, "There were three lawful harps: that is, The harp of the King; the harp of the Chief Bard, (or Laureat ;) and THESE are the Triads of the Bards. The Three primitive Bards of the Inland of Britain': Idris the Champion, the moft Ancient, and he who first made the harp3: Eidiol Gleddyfrudd, (or Eidiol with the Ruddy-fword,) the Arch Druid: and Manogan' the Emperor, the father of Beli the Great. Tri the harp of a gentleman." Some of the British princes were not unfimilar to the Emperor Nero, and Ptolemy Auletes, in priding-themfelves in being Bards, more than in the diadem they wore; which is not to be wondered at, because the British Bards poffeffed all the learning in thofe early times: they were the preceptors to all the British Nobles; they were highly revered by the people; and their perfons were deemed facred by the law. Even the Minstrels of the prefent day are extremely popular among the common people in Wales. See more in the first Volume of my Relicks of the Bards. Idris Gawr, yr hynaf; or Idris the Champion, the elder; (or Senator:) which feems as if there had been two of the name. He was a chieftain of great power; " Cawr Godrau Cader Idris;" or Lord of the borders of Idris Mountain; which is the loftieft mountain in Merioneth fhire, and fecond in all Wales, and faid to be 950 yards, perpendicular height, from the Green at Dolgelleu. Cader Idris literally implies Idris's Hold, or Chair; where he is faid to have ftudied Aftrology: Edris is a name attributed to Enock, the founder of Aftronomy. Mr. Rowland, in his Mona Antiqua, fays, Caer-Idris implies the City of the Learned; and he mentions a place, in Anglefey, called Caer Edris. Alfo, Bód Idris, or Idris's Abode, or Manfion, in Yale, Denbighshire ; which ftill retains the name, as well as that of Llech Idris, or the fhelter of Idris, a farm fo called, at Trawfvynydd, in Meirionydd; which alfo may imply the Grave of Idris. Idris flourished, probably, in the third, or fourth century; and his genealogy, from an old manufcript, runs thus: "Idris Gawr, ab Gwyddno, ab Cynyr Farfdrwch, ab Cadwaladr, ab Meirion of Meirionydd, ab Tibion, ab Cunedda Wledig." Snowdon, and Cader Idris, were formerly deemed to be the Parnaffian hills of Wales; and none but good Bards could claim fuch an elevated feat. According to the old adage, fhould any one fleep all night on the top of Cader Idris, he would be either a poet, or a madman. Alfo fee page 5 of the first Vol. 3 It appears, by the above record, that Idris the Champion, and Bard, invented the Harp; or otherwife, if the Gomerian Britons brought that inftrument with them when they firft inhabited this ifland, it feems to have been loft, or forgotten; and Idris might probably re-invent the harp; or at least he made fome improvement upon it; and perhaps his fame for performing might have gained him that reputation. But the Scripture informs us, that "Jubal was the father of all fuch as handle the kinnor, or harp. Genefis, chap. IV. v. 21. See this fubject fully exemplified in the first Volume of my Relicks of the Welsh Bards, page 90, &c. Venantius Fortunatus, (who wrote about A. D. 609,) plainly tells us, that both the Harp, and the Cruth, were the inftruments of the Barbarians, or Britons; "Romanufque Lyrá, plaudat tibi, Barbarus Harpâ, "Græcus Achilliaca, Crotta Britanna canat. And Lucan, (who flourished about 50 years before Chrift,) where he speaks of the British Bards, fays, B "You, too, ye Bards! whom facred raptures fire, "To chant your heroes to your country's lyre; "Who "Who confecrate, in your immortal strain, "Brave patriot fouls in righteous battle flain." Rowe's Lucan, b. 1. v. 785. Plutarch, in his Treatife on Mufic, fays, "The facred presents of the Hyperboreans were fent, of old, to Delos, accompanied with flutes, pipes, and harps." Pelloutier furnishes a number of proofs that the northern Celts not only had flutes, pipes, harps, trumpets, and other instruments; but that they were the inventors of them. 4 Eidiol, the Druid, muft have lived very early: (The Ruddyfword probably alludes to his being an Arch-Druid, who officiated at the facrifices offered to the Deity. See the first Volume, p. 4, &c. Caius records, that the Druids began in Britain 1013 years before Christ, and continued here 179 years after Chrift. The Druids were routed by the Romans, in Anglesey, in A. D. 61; and about the year 70, the Druidish priests forfook that Ifle of Mona, and removed themselves to the Ifle of Man; to the Isle of Bardfey; to Ireland; and to the Scottish Isles. The inftitution of the Druids is fuppofed to have originated in Britain, whence it paffed into Gaul, according to Cafar's Commentaries, book vi. chap. 13. There was Eidiol, the 42d King of Britain; and Eidol, Earl of Gloucefter, (a General under Emrys Wledig,) who made his efcape from Stonehenge, where 460 of the British Nobles were treacherously maffacred by the Saxons, at an entertainment given by Hengift; and in confequence of fuch a breach of confidence, this Eidol afterwards cut off Hengift's head with his fword, which was about the year 490. Lewis's Hiflory of Britain, p. 164, and 170; and Lambarde's Dictionary, p. 313. 5 Manogan was chief King of Britain, and flourished about 120 years before Chrift: (he was the fon of Cap-Aur, fon of Sawyl, Jon of Rhydderch, fon of Rydyon, fon of Eidol.) Nennius fays, that Manogon conquered all the islands in the Tyrrhene Sea; Sardinia, Corfica, &c. According to Lewis's Hiftory, he was called Dyn Elfyd, the Man of Joy, or Element of Art; probably from his being a Bard. There is a coin of Manogan Rex, defcribed among the plates of ancient British coins, by Dr. Stukeley. See alfo page 6, of the firft Volume of the Bards. 6 Taliefin, the Bard, in his poem of the Battle of Goddau, fays, Ye fapient Druids, "Derwyddon Doethur, "Darogenwch i Arthur!" Sing praises to Arthur! Alfo, in Prince Llowarch Hen's Elegy on Geraint ab Erbin, (a Lord of Devonshire,) who commanded the fleet of the Britons, at the fiege of London, (formerly called, The Haven of Ships,) against the Saxons, about the year 530, where Arthur proved victorious; which contains the following lines: "Yn Longborth y llás Gereint, "Gwr dewr o godir Dyfneint: "Yntwy yn llad git aslledeint; "Yn Longborth llas i Arthur, "Gwr dewr cymmynt o dûr, &c. "Ammherawdyr Llywiawdyr llafur." That is, In Longborth was flain, Geraint *, A valiant man, of the coaft of Devonshire : They killed; and were killed; And in London were flain, by Arthur's hardy men, He was the Emperor, and leader of the toil of war. Arthur was the fon of Uthur Pendragon, and Eigyr was his mother. He was firft crowned at Sylcefter, in Hampshire, in the 15th year of his age, having then fhewed uncommon marks of prowels, ftrength, and kill; and may truly be called, the most glorious King of the Britons. After his great victories, and conquefts, he was elected Chief, or Emperor of Britain, and crowned a fecond time, by Du. briftus, (the Archbishop,) at Caer-Lleon, upon the River Ufke, in Monmouthshire; which is recorded to have been celebrated with the greatest munificence, pomp, and mirth; and with harmony of vocal and inftrumental mufic: where, alfo, chivalry was highly promoted; and all public fports and games; fuch as Tilt, Tournament, and other exercises of strength and activity. Hence, probably, may be derived the origin of chivalry. This great King, after conquering feveral countries, defeating the Saxons in twelve battles, and clearing his country of foreign invaders, died in the year 542. I refer the curious, who wifh for farther particulars of this renowned hero, to Nennius's British Hiftory; Leland's Affertion of the Life of Artbur; Froffard's Hiflory; H. of Huntingdon; William of Malmbury; Giraldus Cambrenfis; Jeffrey of Monmouth; Enderby's Cambria Triumphans; Camden's Britannia; and Carte's History of England, vol. i. p. 203. 7 Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was master of the ceremonies in King Arthur's palace, and one of his Knights. Triad 85. 3 Crellan, the Bard, flourished about the year 1086; and was killed in battle, when fighting under the banner of his Prince. 9 It appears that the primitive Bards were the Legislators, who publicly promulgated the law upon one of the highelt hills of the diftri&t. "There are three things in the Court, which must be communicated to the King, before they are made known to any other perfon every fentence of the Judge; every new fong; and every firft cafk of mead." The Court Bard, in King Howel's time, (about A. D. 942,) was, in rank, the eighth officer of the King's Household; and he fat at the Prince's table, next to the Comptroller of the Household. Leges Wallica; and fee page 27 of my first Volume of the Bards. But, in earlier periods, the Bard was ftill of a much higher rank: witness the above Triads. 10 See the first Volume of the Welsh Bards, p. 10, 56, and 85. In another copy, I find it thus: "There are three privileged persons who frequent palaces: The Enfign, or Genealogical Bard; The Bard of the Harp; and the Bard of the Crwth." 12 It should seem as if kings, or princes only, were let into the arcana, or myfteries of the Druidical Bards. And according to the fyftem of Pythagoras, a king muft, before-hand, have been admitted into the Order of Priesthood. They believed this fecrecy to be recommended to them by the example of their gods themselves. See the Life of Pythagoras. 13 King Beli the Great, fon of Madogan, reigned over all Britain, about the year of the World, 3910. It is fl ghtly intimated, in record, that this Beli formed a code of regulations respecting the Bards, wherein feveral deviations from the original inftitution were discernible; and probably their right to the priesthood was amongst the articles omitted. Lewis's Hiftory of Britain, p. 71; and the firft Volume of the Bards, p. 6. 14 Gwrgan, the Bushy Beard, was a British King, who flourished about 35 years before Chrift. He first built the city of Cambridge, and called it after his own name, Caer-Gwrgant, or the city of Gurgant, which was his regal feat, and alfo of his fon, Gwythelin, after him. The Dacians refufed to pay this Gargant a tribute, which had been usually paid to his father, Beli; in confequence of which, he mustered a strong a my, fet fail for Denmark, and conquered that kingdom. On his return home, he met at fea a fleet of fhips, with a colony, which came from Spain, to seek a new place of habitation; and they requested of him to grant them fome vacant country to inhabit as his fubjects; on which, he fent them to Ireland, at that time depopulated by a plague: and, probably, Gwrgan fent his fon Gwyddelin as Chieftain over them; for the Welsh call the Irish Gwydaetod to this day. Lewis's Hift. of Britain, p. 52; and Cambria Triumphans, by Enderbie, p. 57. 15 King Arthur flourished in the beginning of the fixth century; he is faid to have modified fome of the laws refpecting the Bards. See alfo the first Volume of this Work, page 37, and 80. 16 Myrddin, the fon of Morvran, was a celebrated Bard, in the beginning of the fixth century: See his Poem of the Orchard, in the first Volume, page 24. The other, Myrddin Emrys, or Merlin, whofe prophecies were, (by the Council of Trent,) prohibited to be printed, read, or fung; and enacted by the statute of the 5th of Elizabeth. Robert Burton's Hift. of Wales, p. 139; and Humphrey Llwyd's Hiftory. Likewife, Jeffrey of Monmouth's British Hiftory was prohibited by the Pope, whilft the lying legends of Prince Llywarch Hên 20, the fon of Elidir Lydanwyn: Brenin Penbeirdd, (i. e. King, the Supreme of the Bards ;) who was the most renowned player on the harp in the world and Aneurin, the fon of Câw. Romish Saints were permitted to be read without controul. Burton's Hiftory of Wales, p. 171. 17 Brân, the son of Lljr, was a hero of the third century; a Duke of Cornwall, and afterwards King of this Island : Un aflonydd yn flaenawr, (Ieuan,) Bendigeid Frân Gawr. H. Reinallt. From the epithet, bleffed, being given to this Prince, I prefume he was a great promoter of Chriftianity. It is recorded that he was buried in the White Tower of London, where an urn, containing his head, was preferved with great veneration by the Britons. Triad 45, &c. 18 Plenydd, and Oron, were Bards, before Chrift, as we are informed by Bayle; and Lewis's British History, p. 9. In the above Triadical record, Plenydd is faid to have been bard to King Brutus. Brutus, the fon of Sylvius, (and grandfon to Afcanius,) obtained the Sovereignty of Britain, about the year of the World 2855; or about 1110 years before Chrift; and reigned 24 years. Brutus Darian-lás, that is, Brutus Blue Shield, the fon of Evrog Gadarn, reigned about the year of the World 3019, and ruled 13 years: but to which of the two this Plenydd was Bard we are not informed. Richard's Dictionary mentions Peredeus, a Bard to King Brutus, which probably was the fame with Plenidius. And the British History alfo mentions Gerion, the augur, or footh-fayer to Brutus, the fon of Sylvius. Jeffrey of Monmouth's British History, Book the ift, chap. 11th; and Owen's Hiftory of the Ancient Britons, p. 44. There was one Orry, King of the Isle of Man. Alfo, Arion, a Lyric Poet, and Mufician of Methymna, in the Ifland of Lesbos, who flourished in the 38th Olympiad, as Suidas affirms; and is faid to have been the firft beginner of dithyrambs, fatyrs, and of the chorus in tragedy. Phillips's Theatrum Poetarum. 19 The apparel of the British Nobles was very coftly, and fingular; for they wore chains of gold about their necks, rings on their fingers, and bracelets on their arms: their garments were dyed of a party colour, and embroidered with gold and their habitations and dwellings were no lefs ftately; the heads of them refided in the best cities of Britain, and their manfions were converted, after, to be Archbishops, and Bishop's palaces. Gildas informs us, that there were twenty-eight principal cities, in the time of the Old Britons.--Cambria Triumphans, by Enderbis, page 65. 20 See the firft Volume of the Bards, page 21. 21 Aneurin, King of the Bards, flourished about A. D. 510. See more in the firft Volume, page 16, &c. 5 Tri |