FIVE HISTORICAL ESSAYS ON

CHRISTIAN UNION.

SECOND EDITIONS, ONE SHILLING EACH.

I.

The Sure Hope of Reconciliation.

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED,

PROPOSALS FOR CHRISTIAN UNION.

II.

Claims of the Church of Rome,

CONSIDERED WITH A VIEW TO UNITY.

III.

Principles of Protestantism,

CONSIDERED WITH A VIEW TO UNITY.

IV.

Eastern Churches.

V.

The Greek Church: a Sketch.

Supplement to “The Greek Church, a Sketch."

PRICE FOURPENCE.

"It would be difficult to treat Church History in a more popular, attractive, and intelligible style, than he has contrived to do."-Daily

News.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FIRST EDITION.

THE following sketches have been-I hope I may say without presumption-carefully drawn up, from the best authorities within my reach. I have tried to give Welsh proper names correctly; but as I have not the happiness to be acquainted with the primitive and beautiful language of the Cymry, I trust that my readers of the Principality will kindly overlook errors in this respect.

October 25, 1851.

E. S. A.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION.

IN the first edition errors in proper names were my misfortune, as I knew no better. Should any similar mistakes be found in the present edition, they will be my fault, since a venerable Welsh scholar has condescended to aid me in their correction. To all kind friends who have smiled on my new undertaking, and especially to the Public and the Press in and connected with the Principality, my acknowledgments are due, and gratefully paid.

January 14, 1852.

E. S. A.

CONTENTS.

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CHAPTER I.

BARDISM.

The Deluge-The Triads-When collected-Hu Gadarn-Ceridwen-

Bull Demons-Theological Triads-Doctrine of Transmigration of

Souls-Testimony of Julius Cæsar, of Diodorus, and Strabo-Bardic

Student Bardd-Caw- Full Bard-Institutional Triads-Canons

of Poetry-Gwyddfa-Druidic Sermons-Idea of Equality-Arch-

Druid Druidical Remains-Law Triads - Arch-Druid, robes of

Office-Ovydd-Philosophical Triads-Triads of Language—Ancient

Detective-Astronomers of Old-Cader Idris-Beneficent Artisans-

Druidesses

Page 1

CHAPTER II.

BARDISM.

The Gorsedd-Circle of Convention-Bardic Devotion to Science-Druidic

Circles-Cromlech-What was done at a Gorsedd-Court of Arch-

Druid-Explanation of Arch-Druid's Robes of Office-Divination-

Glain Neidr-Excommunication - Capital Punishments-Mode of

Execution-Erroneous Judgments-Religious Festival-Legend of

Llyn Savaddan-Sacred Island-Saxons-The black Beaver-Legend

of Hu's Oxen-Bardic Procession-Rites of Initiation-Sarn Badrig-

The Sacred River-Consecration of the Oak-The Mistletoe-The

Hedge Hyssop-The Vervain-The Birch-Fires on All-Saint's Eve-

Bardic Customs at Marriage-Ancient Welsh Games-Invasion of

Suetonius Paulinus-Tacitus-Druids vindicated
17

CHAPTER III.

BARDISM.

Nationality-Roman Attempts to extinguish Bardism-Latin Altars to the

British God-Christianity favourable to Bardism-No change of the

Priesthood - Christianized Circles - Christian Ideas expressed in

Druidic Language-Pelagius-His Opinions consonant with Bardism—

Regulations of Beli-Chief of Song-Domestic Bard-Family Bard-

People's Bard-Degeneracy of Bards-Bardic Revival-Taliesin, his

Birth-History-Poems-Aneurin-His History-Poems-Llywarch

Hen-His History-Poems-Geraint Bardd Glâs-His "Choice

Things"-Owain Čyveilioc-His Reign-The Hirlas

36

CHAPTER IV.

THE KINGS OF WALES.

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-

-

The Cymry the primitive Settlers in Wales-State of Civilization-Arch-

deacon Williams's "Claudia and Padens" quoted-Dyvnwal Moelmud

-His Character-Actions-Laws-Caractacus- His heroic Defence

-His noble Speech before the Emperor Claudius Dunraven, re-

sidence of Caractacus Carausius -Native of St. David's - Early

Distinctions-Admiral of the Fleet-Assumes the title of Augustus-

Defeat of Maximinian-Glorious Reign of Carausius-His Assassin-

ation - King Arthur - Birthplace -Elected King of Britain - His

Coronation-Battle of Badon-Arthur's Court-Loses and recovers

his Queen-Treachery of Medrod-Death of Arthur-Discovery of his

Tomb at Glastonbury
Page 55

CHAPTER V.

THE KINGS OF WALES.

Howell the Good-He designs a Reformation of Welsh Laws-Visits Rome

-Convenes an Assembly of the Nation on his return-The new Laws

made and confirmed — Papal Sanction — Laws relating to the great

Officers of State-Miscellaneous Laws-Relative Price of Animals-

Death and Character of Howell the Great-Llywelyn the Great-

Tribute to the Crown of London-Edgar-Harold-William the

Conqueror-Feudal Tenures-Robert Fitz-Hammon-Death of Rhys

ap Tewdwr-
Normans partition Glamorganshire - Norman Barons

divide South Wales-Jorwerth, father of Llywelyn-Llywelyn recovers

the Throne from his uncle David-Llywelyn's Constitutional Ideas-

Does Homage to King John of England-Summons a Convention of

all Wales-Gwenwynwyn absent-No Freedom of Speech-Llywelyn

in Powys Llywelyn married to Joan, daughter to King John-Lly-

welyn retaliates on the Earl of Chester-King John invades Wales—

Retreats-Returns-Llywelyn makes his Peace-The Pope's Nuncio—

Llywelyn convenes an Assembly of the Princes and Chieftains of

Wales-His eloquent Appeal-The Consequences-The Pope ex-

communicates Llywelyn unjustly-Llywelyn King of All Wales

Accession of Henry III.-Earl Pembroke-Interview between Pope's

Legates and Llywelyn at Gloucester-Llywelyn relinquishes his advan-

tages-His value as an Auxiliary-His Domestic Life-His Death and

Character-Davydd Benfras's Poem-Beautiful Translation by Maurice

70

Roberts

CHAPTER VI.

THE WELSH CHURCH.

Conflicting Accounts- -Cause, want of Christian Union-The Triads-

Bran, father of Caractacus - Bishop Stillingfleet - Bishop Burgess-

Arwystli Hen-Claudia and Pudens-King Lucius and Pope Eleuthe-

-