The Project Gutenberg eBook ofWelsh Folk-LoreThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: Welsh Folk-LoreAuthor: Elias OwenRelease date: December 12, 2006 [eBook #20096]Most recently updated: March 12, 2013Language: EnglishCredits: This eBook was transcribed by Les Bowler*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELSH FOLK-LORE ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Welsh Folk-LoreAuthor: Elias OwenRelease date: December 12, 2006 [eBook #20096]Most recently updated: March 12, 2013Language: EnglishCredits: This eBook was transcribed by Les Bowler
Title: Welsh Folk-Lore
Author: Elias Owen
Author: Elias Owen
Release date: December 12, 2006 [eBook #20096]Most recently updated: March 12, 2013
Language: English
Credits: This eBook was transcribed by Les Bowler
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WELSH FOLK-LORE ***
This eBook was transcribed by Les Bowler.
CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE
i
PREFACE
iii-vi
INDEX
vii-xii
ESSAY
1-352
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS
353-359
WELSH FOLK-LOREA COLLECTION OF THEFOLK-TALES AND LEGENDS OFNORTH WALESBEING THE PRIZE ESSAY OF THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD1887, BY THEREV. ELIAS OWEN, M.A, F.S.A.
To this Essay on the “Folk-lore of North Wales,” was awarded the first prize at the Welsh National Eisteddfod, held in London, in 1887. The prize consisted of a silver medal, and £20. The adjudicators were Canon Silvan Evans, Professor Rhys, and Mr Egerton Phillimore, editor of theCymmrodor.
By an arrangement with the Eisteddfod Committee, the work became the property of the publishers, Messrs. Woodall, Minshall, & Co., who, at the request of the author, entrusted it to him for revision, and the present Volume is the result of his labours.
Before undertaking the publishing of the work, it was necessary to obtain a sufficient number of subscribers to secure the publishers from loss. Upwards of two hundred ladies and gentlemen gave their names to the author, and the work of publication was commenced. The names of the subscribers appear at the end of the book, and the writer thanks them one and all for their kind support. It is more than probable that the work would never have been published had it not been for their kind assistance. Although the study of Folk-lore is of growing interest, and its importance to the historian is being acknowledged; still, the publishing of a work on the subject involved a considerable risk of loss to the printers, which, however, has been removed in this case, at least to a certain extent, by those who have subscribed for the work.
The sources of the information contained in this essay are various, but the writer is indebted, chiefly, to the agedinhabitants of Wales, for his information. In the discharge of his official duties, as Diocesan Inspector of Schools, he visited annually, for seventeen years, every parish in the Diocese of St. Asaph, and he was thus brought into contact with young and old. He spent several years in Carnarvonshire, and he had a brother, the Revd. Elijah Owen, M.A., a Vicar in Anglesey, from whom he derived much information. By his journeys he became acquainted with many people in North Wales, and he hardly ever failed in obtaining from them much singular and valuable information of bye-gone days, which there and then he dotted down on scraps of paper, and afterwards transferred to note books, which still are in his possession.
It was his custom, after the labour of school inspection was over, to ask the clergy with whom he was staying to accompany him to the most aged inhabitants of their parish. This they willingly did, and often in the dark winter evenings, lantern in hand, they sallied forth on their journey, and in this way a rich deposit of traditions and superstitions was struck and rescued from oblivion. Not a few of the clergy were themselves in full possession of all the quaint sayings and Folk-lore of their parishes, and they were not loath to transfer them to the writer’s keeping. In the course of this work, the writer gives the names of the many aged friends who supplied him with information, and also the names of the clergy who so willingly helped him in his investigations. But so interesting was the matter obtained from several of his clerical friends, that he thinks he ought in justice to acknowledge their services in this preface. First and foremost comes up to his mind, the Rev. R. Jones, formerly Rector of Llanycil, Bala, but now of Llysfaen, near Abergele. This gentleman’s memory is stored with reminiscences of former days, and often and again his name occurs in these pages. The Rev. Canon Owen Jones, formerly Vicar of Pentrefoelas, but now of Bodelwyddan, near Rhyl, also supplied much interesting information ofthe people’s doings in former days, and I may state that this gentleman is also acquainted with Welsh literature to an extent seldom to be met with in the person of an isolated Welsh parson far removed from books and libraries. To him I am indebted for the perusal of many MSS. To the Rev. David James, formerly Rector of Garthbeibio, now of Pennant, and to his predecessor the Rev. W. E. Jones, Bylchau; the late Rev. Ellis Roberts (Elis Wyn o Wyrfai); the Rev. M. Hughes, Derwen; the Rev. W. J. Williams, Llanfihangel-Glyn-Myfyr, and in a great degree to his aged friend, the Rev. E. Evans, Llanfihangel, near Llanfyllin, whose conversation in and love of Welsh literature of all kinds, including old Welsh Almanacks, was almost without limit, and whose knowledge and thorough sympathy with his countrymen made his company most enjoyable. To him and to all these gentlemen above named, and to others, whose names appear in the body of this work, the writer is greatly indebted, and he tenders his best thanks to them all.
The many books from which quotations are made are all mentioned in connection with the information extracted from their pages.
Welsh Folk-lore is almost inexhaustible, and in these pages the writer treats of only one branch of popular superstitions. Ancient customs are herein only incidentally referred to, but they are very interesting, and worthy of a full description. Superstitions associated with particular days and seasons are also omitted. Weather signs are passed over, Holy wells around which cluster superstitions of bye-gone days form no part of this essay. But on all these, and other branches of Folk-lore, the author has collected much information from the aged Welsh peasant, and possibly some day in the uncertain future he may publish a continuation of the present volume.
He has already all but finished a volume on the Holy Wells of North Wales, and this he hopes to publish at no very distance period.
The author has endeavoured in all instances to give the names of his informants, but often and again, when pencil and paper were produced, he was requested not to mention in print the name of the person who was speaking to him. This request was made, not because the information was incorrect, but from false delicacy; still, in every instance, the writer respected this request. He, however, wishes to state emphatically that he has authority for every single bit of Folk-lore recorded. Very often his work was merely that of a translator, for most of his information, derived from the people, was spoken in Welsh, but he has given in every instance a literal rendering of the narrative, just as he heard it, without embellishments or additions of any kind whatsoever.
ELIAS OWEN
Llanyblodwel Vicarage,St. Mark’s Day,1896.
Aberhafesp, Spirit in Church of
169
Angelystor, announcing deaths
170
Æschylus’ Cave-dwellers
113
Annwn,Gwragedd
3134
Annwn, Plant
3
Antagonism between Pagan faiths
160161181
Animal Folk-Lore
308-352
Ass
337
Bee
337-340
Birds Singing
310
Flocking
310
Blind worm
352
Cat
321323340-342
Cow
129-137342
Crow
304314-315
Crane
321
Crickets
342-3
Cuckoo
317-321
Cock
310321
Duck
321
Eagle
321
Flying Serpent
349
Frog
281
Fox
193
Goose
304305312
Goatsucker
322
Haddock
345
Hare
343-345
Heron
321323
Hen
305322
Hedgehog
345
Horse
346
Jackdaw
324
Ladybird
347
Magpie
324-327
Mice
348
Mole
348
Owl
304327
Peacock
327
Pigeon
327
Pigs
348
Raven
304328
Rook, Crow
304314316316
Robin Redbreast
329332
Seagull
329330
Sawyer, Tit
331
Snakes
348-350
Slowworm
352
Sheep
351
Swallow
330331
Swan
331
Swift
331
Spider
351
Squirrel
351
Tit-Major
331
Woodpigeon
333-336
Woodpecker
336
Wren
331-333
Yellowhammer
337
All Hallow Eve, Nos Glan Gaua
95
Spirits abroad
138-9168-70
Divination on
280-1286288-9
Apparitions
181-209293-297
Applepip divination
290
Arawn
128
Avanc
133
“Bardd Cwsg,Y”
144284285
Baring-Gould—Spirit leaving body
293
Piper of Hamelin
307
Beaumaris spirit tale
293
Bell, Hand, used at funerals
171-2
Corpse
172
Passing
171-2
Veneration for
172
Devil afraid of
171
Ringing at storms
173
Spirits flee before sound of
173
Bella Fawr, a witch
223
Betty’r Bont, a witch
236240
Belief in witchcraft
217
Bennion, Doctor
216
Bees, Buying a hive of
337
Swarming
338
Strange swarm
339
Deserting hive
339
Hive in roof of house
339
Informing bees of a death
339
Putting bees into mourning
340
Stolen
340
Bendith y Mamau
2
Bible, a talisman
151245248
Bible and key divination
288
Bingley’s North Wales—Knockers
121
Birds singing in the night
305
before February
310
Flocking in early Autumn
310
Feathers of
310
Blindworm
352
Boy taken to Fairyland
48
Brenhin Llwyd
142
Bryn Eglwys Man and Fairies
36
“British Goblins,” Fairy dances
9497
“Brython,Y,” Fairies’ revels
95
Burne’s, Miss, Legend of White Cow
131-2
Burns, Old Nick in Kirk
168
Nut divination
289
Canwyll Corph, see Corpse Candle,
Canoe in Llyn Llydaw
28
Card-playing
147-151
Cat, Fable of
323
Black, unlucky, &c
321341
indicates weather
340
Black, drives fevers away
341
May, brings snakes to house
341
Witches taking form of
224
Cæsar’s reference to Celtic Superstitions
277310343
Careg-yr-Yspryd
212
Careg Gwr Drwg
190
Caellwyngrydd Spirit
214
Cave-dwellers
112-13
Ceffyl y Dwfr, the Water Horse
138-141
Cetyn y Tylwyth Têg
109
Ceridwen
234
Cerrig-y-drudion Spirit Tale
294
Cerrig-y-drudion, Legend of Church
132
Ceubren yr Ellyll, Legend of
191
Changelings, Fairy
51-63
Churches built on Pagan sites
160
Mysterious removal of
174-181
Chaucer on Fairies
89
Charms
238-9258262276
Charm for Shingles
262-3
Toothache
264-266
Whooping Cough
266
Fits
266
Fighting Cocks
267312
Asthma
267
Warts
267-8
Stye
268
Quinsy
268
Wild wart
268
Rheumatism
269
Ringworm
269
Cattle
269-272
Stopping bleeding
272
Charm with Snake’s skin
273
Rosemary
273-4
Charm for making Servants reliable
272
Sweethearts
281
Charm of Conjurors
239-254
Charm for Clefyd y Galon, or Heart Disease
274
Clefyd yr Ede Wlan, or Yarn Sickness
275
Christmas Eve, free from Spirits
192
Churns witched
238
Clefyd y Galon
274
Clefyd yr Ede Wlan
275
Crickets in House lucky
342
Deserting house unlucky
343
Crane, see Heron
Coblynau, Knockers
112-121
Coel Ede Wlan, or Yarn Test
283
Corpse Candle
298-300
Cock, unlawful to eat
343
Devil in form of
310
Offering of
311
Crowing of, at doors
311
Crowing at night
298
Crowing drives Spirits away
311
Charm for Fighting
312
White, unlucky
321341
Crow
304314315
Conjurors
251-262
Charms of
239254258-260
Tricks of
255257260-1
Cow, Dun
129131137
Legend of White
131
Freckled
130-1
Fairy Stray
134-137
Witched
243
Cyhyraeth, Death Sound
302
Cynon’s Ghost
212
Cuckoo Superstitions
317-321
Cwn Annwn
125-129
Dancing with Fairies
36-39
Davydd ab Gwilym and the Fairies
324
Death Portents
297-307
Deryn Corph, Corpse Bird
297
Devil
143-192
Devil’s Tree
185
Bridge
190
Kitchen
190
Cave
191
Door
170
Destruction of Foxes
193
Dick Spot
212255256
Dick the Fiddler
84
Divination
279-290
Candle and Pin
287
Coel Ede Wlan, or Yarn Test
283
Frog stuck with Pins
281
Grass
288
Hemp Seed
286
Holly Tree
288
Key and Bible
288
Lovers’
289-90
Nut
289
Pullet’s Egg
286
Snail
280
St. John’s Wort
280
Troi Crysau, Clothes Drying
285
Twca, or Knife
284
Washing at Brook
285
Water in Basin
287
Dogs, Hell
125127
Sky
125127
Fairy
498183125
Dwarfs of Cae Caled
97
Droich
113-121
Dyn Hysbys
209259
Drychiolaeth, Spectre
301302
Eagle, Superstitions about
263-4321
Erdion Banawg
131
Ellyll
34111191
Dân
112
Ellyllon,Menyg
111
Bwyd
111
Elf Dancers ofCae Caled
98-100
Stones
110
Shots
110-11
Elidorus, the Fairies and
32-35
Epiphany
285-6
Evil Eye
219
Fable of Heron, Cat, and Bramble
323
Magpie and Woodpigeon
335
Robin Redbreast
329
Sea Gull
329
Famous Witches—
Betty’r Bont
236240
Bella Fawr
223
Moll White
229232
Pedws Ffoulk
242
Fabulous Animals, see Mythic Beings
Fairies, Origin of
123536
Chaucer’s reference to
89
Shakespeare’s reference to
729697
Milton’s reference to
86
Fairies inveigling Men
36-44
Working for Men
85-87
Carrying Men in the air
100-102
in Markets and Fairs
108
Binding Men
112
Children offered to Satan by
63
Love of Truth
35
Grateful
72
Fairy Animals
81-3124-5129-132
Dances
87-97
Tricks
100-103
Knockers
112-124
Ladies marrying Men
5-24
Changelings
51-63
Implements
109-112
Men captured
104-107
Mothers and Human Midwives
63-67
Money
82-84
Riches and Gifts
72-81
Visits to human abodes
68-71
Families descended from
628
Fetch
294
Fire God
152
Fish, Satan in
153
Flying Serpent
349
Foxglove
111
Frog Divination
281
Fuwch Frech
129-132
Gyfeiliorn
129134-137
Ffynnon y Fuwch Frech
130
Elian
216
Oer
223
Gay, Nut divination
289
Giraldus Cambrensis
2732182
reference to Witches
233-236
Ghost, see Spirit
Ghost in Cerrigydrudion Church
132
Aberhafesp Church
169
Powis Castle
204
revealing Treasures
202
at Gloddaeth
193-4
Nannau Park
191
Tymawr
195
Frith Farm
196
Pontyglyn
197
Ystrad Fawr
197-8
Ty Felin
198
Llandegla
199
Llanidloes
199-200
Llawryglyn
348
Clwchdyrnog
202
Llanwddyn
212
David Salisbury’s
201
Cynon’s
212
Squire Griffiths’
200
Sir John Wynne’s
211
Raising
215
Visiting the Earth
192
Glain Nadroedd
350
Goat-sucker
322
Goblins, different kinds of
597
Golden Chair
77
Goose flying over House
304
laying small egg
305
egg laying
312
Gossamer
112
Gwiber, Flying Serpent
349
Gwion Bach
234
Gwragedd Annwn
3
Gwrach y Rhibyn
142
Gwr Cyfarwydd
3855257259
Gwyddelod
80
Gwyll
4
Gwylliaid Cochion
4562526
Haddock, why so marked
345
Hag, Mist
142
Hare
227-230236343-345
crossing the road
230
Cæsar’s reference to
343
Giraldus Cambrensis on hags changing themselves to hares
233
Man changed to a
236
Witch hunted in form of
230-233
Witch shot in the form of
228
S. Monacella, the patroness of hares
345
Harper and Fairies
91
Hedgehog sucking Cows
345
fee for destroying the
346
Hên Chrwchwd, a humpbacked fiend
142
Hen laying two eggs
305
March Chickens
322
Sitting
322
Hindu Fairy Tale
6-8
Heron, sign of weather changing
321323
Fable of
323-4
Horse, Water, a mythic animal
138
White, lucky
346
Headless
155
Shoe Charm
246
Huw Llwyd, Cynfael, and Witches
224-227
Huw Llwyd and Magical Books
252
Hu Gadarn and the Avanc
133
Ignis Fatuus
112
Jackdaw considered sacred
324
Jack Ffynnon Elian
216
Knockers, or Coblynau
497
in Mines
112-121
Ladybird, Weather Sign
347
Lady Jeffrey’s Spirit
199
Lake Dwellers
2728
Llanbrynmair Conjuror
258-9
Llangerniew Spirit
170
Llandegla Spirit
199
Llanddona Witches
222-3
Laying Spirits
209-215
Laws against Witches
218
Llyn y Ddau Ychain Banawg
132
Legends—
Careg Gwr Drwg
190
Ceubren yr Ellyll
191
Fairy Changelings
51-63
Dafydd Hiraddug
158-160
Devil’s Bridge
190
Freckled Cow, orY Fuwch Frech
130
Fairy Marriages
5-24
Fairies inveigling Mortals
32-50
Fairies and Midwives
63-67
Flying Snake
349
Removal of Churches
174-181
Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr
10
Ghosts, see Ghost
Spirits, see Spirit
Satan or Devil, see Satan
Lledrith, or Spectre
303
Llysiau Ifan, St. John’s Wort
280
Llyn y Geulan GochSpirit
162-166
Llyn Llion
133
Magpie teaching Wood Pigeon to make Nest
335
Superstitions
324-327
Magician’s Glass
255
Marriages, Fairy
44-48
Man dancing with Fairies
9091
witnessing a Fairy dance
9093
taken away by Fairies
323637101-102
turned into a Hare
236
turned into a Horse
236
May-day Revels
95
Evil Spirits abroad
168
Mermaids
142
Monacella, S.
345
Moles, Weather Sign
318
Moll White, a Witch
229232
Meddygon Myddvai, Physicians
62324
Mythic Beings—
Avanc
133
Ceffyl y Dwfr, Water Horse
138
Cwn Annwn, Dogs of the Abyss
125
Cwn Bendith y Mamau, Fairy Dogs
125
Cwn Wybir, Sky Dogs
125127
Dragon, or Flying Serpent
349-50
Fairies, see Fairy
Fuwch Frech, Fairy Cow
129-134
Fuwch Gyfeiliorn
134-137
Gwrach y Rhibyn, Mist Hag
142
Knockers, see above
Mermaids and Mermen
142
Torrent Spectre
141
Ychain Banawg
130-133
Y Brenhin Llwyd, the Grey King
142
Mysterious removal of Churches—
Llanllechid
174
Corwen
174
Capel Garmon
175
Llanfair D. C.
175
Llanfihangel Geneu’r Glyn
176
Wrexham
177
Llangar
179
Denbigh
180
Names given to the Devil
191-2
Nightmare
237
North door of Churches opened at Baptisms
171
North door of Churches opened for Satan to go out
170
North side of Churchyard unoccupied
171
Nos Glan Gaua
95138-9168-170280281286288-89
Ogof CythreuliaidDevils’ Cave
191
Ogwen Lake, Tale of Wraith
292
Old Humpbacked, Mythic Being
142
Omen, see Divination
279-290
Owl
304327
Pan, prototype of Celtic Satan
146
Passing Bell
171-2
Peacock, Weather Sign
327
Pedwe Ffoulk, a Witch
242
Pellings, Fairy Origin
613
Pentrevoelas Legend
8
Physicians of Myddfai
62324
Pig Superstitions
154348
Pigeon Superstitions
327
Pins stuck in “Witch’s Butter”
249
Places associated with Satan
190-1
Plant Annwn
34
Poocah, Pwka, Pwca
121-124138-40
Raven
304328
Rhamanta, see Divination,
279-290
on Hallow Eve
281
Rhaffau’r Tylwyth Têg, Gossamer
112
Rhys Gryg
24
Robin Redbreast
329332-3
Rook, see Crow
Rooks deserting Rookery
316
building new Rookery
316
Sabbath-breaking punished
152-157
Satan, see Apparitions and Devil
afraid of Bell-sounds
171
appearing to Man carrying Bibles
183
appearing to a Minister
184
appearing to a Man
185
appearing to a Sunday-breaker
152-3
appearing to a Sunday traveller
153
appearing as a lovely Maid
186
appearing to a young Man
188
appearing to a Collier
189
appearing to a Tippler
156-7
carrying a Man away
187
in form of a Pig
166
in form of a Fish
153
disappearing as a ball or wheel of fire
148150
and Churches
160-170
outwitted
157-160
playing Cards
147148149
snatching a Man up into the air
150
Sawyer Bird, Tit-Major
331
Seagull, a Weather Sign
329-30
Seventh Daughter
250
Son
266
Shakespeare’s Witches
219220221
Sheep, Black
351
Satan cannot enter
351
Sir John Wynne
211
Slowworm
352
Snakes
348
Flying
349
Snake Rings
350
Spells, how to break
244-251
Spectral Funeral
301-2
Spirit, see Ghost
Spirit laying
209-211
Spirits laid for a time
164199200210212
allowed to visit the earth
168
sent to the Red Sea
193209210214
sent to Egypt
211
riding Horses
202
Spirit ejected from Cerrig-y-drudion Church
132
Llanfor Church
152-166
Llandysilio Church
166-7
Spirit in Llangerniew Church
170
Aberhafesp Church
169
Llandegla
199
Lady Jeffrey’s
199-200
calling Doctor
294
St. John’s Eve
5295168280
St. David
299307
Spiritualism
290-297
Spirit leaving body
291-293
Spider
351
Squirrel hunting
351-2
Swallow forsaking its nest
330
Breaking nest of
331
Swan, hatching eggs of
331
Swift, flying, Weather Sign
331
Swyno’r ’Ryri
254262263-4
Taboo Stories
68-24
Tegid
306
Tit-Major, Weather Sign
331
Tolaeth
303
Tobit, Spirit tale
182210
Torrent Spectre
141
Transformation
227234-237
Transmigration
276-279
Tylwyth Têg, see Fairies
Van Lake Fairy tale
16-24
Voice calling a Doctor
294
Water Horse
138-141
Water Worship
161
Welsh Airs
8488
Aden Ddu’r Fran
84
Toriad y Dydd
88
Williams, Dr. Edward, and Fairies
97
Witches
216-251
Llanddona
222-3
transforming themselves into cats
224-226
transforming themselves into hares
227-235
hunted in form of hare
230-233
killed in form of hare
228
in churn in form of hare
229
cursing Horse
242
cursing Milk
238-9
cursing Pig
238
how tested
250-1
Spells, how broken
244-250
Punishment of
243
Laws against
218
Wife snatching
29
Woodpecker, Weather Sign
336
Woodpigeon
333-336
Wraith
292294308
Wren, unlucky to harm
331-2
Hunting the
332
Curse on breaker of nest
333
Wyn Melangell
345
Ystrad Legend
12
Yarn Sickness
275-6
Test
283-4
Yspryd Cynon
212
Ystrad Fawr
197-8