LOST OLD IRISH MANU

SCRIPTS.

BY MR. P. A. GRIFFITHS, OSHKOSH, WIS.

Among some old Irish manuscripts known to be lost there is one named Cin Droma Snechta which, as it appears, was in existence in the later part of the 16th century, and in the possession of the Rev. Dr. Keating, a well-known author of the History of Ireland in the Irish language. The English of "Cin Droma Snechta," according to Irish writers, is "Vellum-Stane Book of Drom Snechta." My opinion, however, is that it means Tribe of Snowdon Mountain, or Cenedl Drum "Snawtyn" or Eryri in Welsh; and as there never was a mountain known as Drom Snechta in Ireland, perhaps it means Snowdon mountains in Wales. Mr. Ed. Llwyd, the learned author of the Arch. Britannica, in his Dictionary in the same volume, calls this M.S. "Leabhar Droma Sneachda, or book of Drum Sneachda or Snowdon said to be written before the time of St. Patrick." The title of this manuscript indicates that it belonged to the Goidelian Celts that once inhabitated Wales in early times. There is now in that country many remains of these people to be seen, such as the Cytiau'r Gwyddelod in Anglesea; round and long furrows called cryniau or gwrymiau Gwyddelig, and the names of some places, rivers, mountains, etc. In Druidical times Boar worship it is said was in vogue among the Celts of Ireland, and as there was a relationship between these and the Goidels of Wales, perhaps the origin of the Welsh term "Moch Mon" is traced to this source. In one old Welsh tale (Mabinogi Cilhwch ac Olwen) a chieftain of the same people in South Wales is termed "Twrch Trwyth," a Welshified form of the Irish Torc Triath which means Hog King.

"Pan ladawd namun un parchell o voch y Twrch Trwyth, gofynwys y gwyr y Arthur, beth oed ystyr yr hwch hwnw; ydywawt ynte brenhin yw.' (Cilhwch ac Olwen.)

Llwch Llawen Fawr and Cadivor Fawr, Lord of Cilsant, purely Goidelian names, were chieftains among these Goidels, in the later part of the 11th century. These people played an important part in the affairs and wars of South Wales. What favors also the opinion with regard to this Irish M.S., being connected with Wales is that it contained, according to Keating, the romance of Cuchulain (Cocholyn) which was known there when Taliesin Ben Beirdd wrote these lines:

Chwedlau am gwydir owir hytlawr
Kyfranc corroi a chocholyn
Lliaws eu teruysc am eu teruyn.—Marwnat
Corroi M.

earth

Tales will be known to me from skey to
Of the contention of Corroi and Cocholyn
(Cuchulain),
Numerous their tumults about their bor-

ders.

FOUR ANCIENT BOOKS OF WALES.

This manuscript cannot be as ancient as Ed. Lhwyd and the Irish writers think it to be. The word Sneacht (snow) or "Snechta" of the title is of Teutonic origin, came into the Irish language probably from the Lochlounach's, that is to say Danes and Norwegians who invaded Ireland, first about the beginning of the 9th century, and held and governed large portion of that island with firm hand for two centuries or more afterward.

There is another lost old Irish manuscript spoken of in other manuscripts that are now extant, concerning which the ancient scholars and poets of Ireland were in a quandary, and made an attempt to discover it. The name of this one is Cuilmenn, and said to be written in the first centuries of the Christian era. In one old M. S. called the "Brehon Laws," there is this reference to it:

"Druimcü is a man who has a perfect knowledge of wisdom, from the greatest book, which is called Cuilmenn, to the smallest book, which is called 'Ten Words. (O'Curry's Lectures in "The Gael," page 798, as monthly printed in New York.)

In another called "Book of Lein. ster," which is of the 12th century, there is this passage concerning the

same:

"The Files (poets) of Erinn were now (A, D. 580 it is said), called together by Senchan Torpeist, to know if they knew the Tain bo Chuailgne, (the Cattle plunder of Cuailgne) in full; and they said that they knew of it but in fragments only. Senchen then spoke to his pupils to know which would go into the countries of Letha to learn the Tain, which the Sai (professor) had t ken 'eastward' after the Cuilmenn. Ermine, the grandson of Ninine, and Muir en, Senchen's own son, set out to go to the east." (Ibidem.) *

Irish writers say that "the countries of Letha" here, to where this M. S. was taken, mean or allude to "Itali in general, and particularly that part in which Rome is situated."

This view in regard to the situation of the "countries of Letha" Irish writers are mistaken I think. Letha is the name of the country called, in Latin, Letavia, and in Welsh and old Cornish Llydaw and Ledon or Lezon respectively, which is Brittany in France. In ancient times this country was called Armorica and Brittania Minor; and it was then, sa it is now, divided into several Cantons or States, which are called "countries" in the lines quoted above. St. Patrick was an Armorican, born in the City of Tour, metropolitan seat of Brittany at that time. The following very ancient verse mentions it as St. Patrick birthplace:

"Genair Patraic i Nemthuur,
Asseadh adfet hi scelaidh,
Macan se mbliadhan dece,
An tan do breth fo dheraidh."
Patrick was born in Sacred Tour,
As the historian relates;

A youth was he of sixteen years,
When he was carried away captive.

199

no

The name Nemthur here is a compound name, the first element of which is the Celtic word Nem or Neam, heaven, and Thur, the Irish form of Tur in the Latin word Turones, the most ancient name of the inhabitante of the City of Tour, from whom it derived its present name Tour. This city being the birthplace of St. Patrick, and very celebrate in its connection with the history of St. Martin, where his shrine was, doubt but that the early Irish Church beheld it with veneration as a place most sacred, while it attracted many saints, missionaries and learned men of that church to its vicinity as it were, carrying with them the order of St. Patrick or that of Columbanus, an Irish saint, into France and the neighboring States. In Brittany the rules of the Irish Church were in vogue in some religious houses as late as 818, for in that year abbot Matmonacus of Landevenec was commanded by Lewis le Debonnaire, king of France, to abandon the rules of St. Columbanus in his monastery, and to adopt those of St. Benedict in their stead, (see Appendice, page 444, in "L'Armorique Bretonne," by Dr. E. Halleguen.) This goes to show that in early times there was frequent, and perhaps close intercourse between Ireland and Brittany; and such being the case, undoubtedly this Irish manuscript was carried by the Irish missionaries into "Letha" which is Brittany and not Itali.

According to Rev. Thos. Price, (Carnhanwg) who visited Brittany about the year 1829, there are several old Irish manuscripts, about which the Irish literati seem to know but little, in the Bibliotheque at Rennes in the same country. In Mr. Price's "Literary Remains," Vol. I., page 26, the following remarks relating to them is found:

"I also made inquiries in the Bibliotheque

at Rennes, but found nothing there relating to Wales. But though I was not so fortunate as to Welsh remains, I was shown a very old and apparently valuable Irish manu script; and perhaps it may not be thought irrelevant to give here some account of this Celtic relic.

The work is in small folio, written on Vellum, in double columns, in the Irish language and character and contains 125 leaves. From a note at the beginning, in the handwriting of M. de Robien, who, as M. Maillet, the librarian, informed me, was president of the Breton parliament and died in 1749, this manuscript contains fragments of piety and morality, several Translations in prose and

66

CHAPTER X.-NAVAL ACTION OFF
THE HOLMS.

The spirit of your fathers
Shall start from every wave;

For the deck it was their field of fame,
And Ocean was their grave. - CAMPBELL.
IMMEDIATELY Owen and Griffith
Gam sought shelter on board Sir
Ivor Morgan's ship, after the defeat
at Cardiff Castle; the latter put to sea
with his little squadron, and took
Glendower to inspect his wonderful
Harfleur gun on the Island called the
Steep Holm. Here he resolved to
await the arrival of some French ves-
sels which had landed troops at the
mouth of the channel. and were
marching on Pembroke Castle.
While watching the appearance of
the foreign ships, a squadron of Henry
of England's vessels hove in sight,
and Sir Ivor resolved to contest the
psssage of the channel with his small
force, and a few guns which he could
spare from his vessels with which to
fortify the Holms in mid-channel.
When Owen Glendower saw the large
force of English vessels he counselled
Sir Ivor not to risk a fight, but to
sail down the channel and try to meet
the Frenchmen. The fiery Welsh

66

commander, however, would not hear of retreating, and told Owen that he was the best judge of naval matters, and that he intended crushing the English ships. Owen Glendower smiled at the high and confident tone of his trusty admiral and gave way.

"If we are taken prisoners," said he to Griffith Gam, "Farewell to Welsh independence. We shall die,. and my poor country will be crushed under the iron heel of Bolingbroke. God's will be done!" and he could not restrain his tears, which coursed down his cheeks in rapid succession.

The fight commenced. Sir Ivor's ship soon caught fire, and it required all the efforts of the crew to subdue the flames. Sir Ivor then ran his ship alongside one of the English vessels, and boarded her. Owen Glendower and Griffith Gam fought like lions to prevent themselves being captured, and their example animated the rest of the crew. After a sharp fight, they succeeded in capturing the ship, and a loud hurrah from the throats of a hundred men rent the In the meantime the other ships not been idle, and several Engvessels were burning, having

air. had lish

ventured too close to the Steep Holm, where the guns in position had fired into the rigging. A dozen vessels at this moment hove in sight, and the quick eye of Sir Ivor immediately recognised in them the long-expected French force. The Welsh sailors were now in position to prevent any escape of the English vessels; several were burnt to the waters' edge, and the unfortunate occupants were either drowned or were floating about on spars and pieces of burning wood. Owen Glendower advanced to Sir Ivor Morgan, and requested him to pick up some of the survivors by means of his small boats, but he hesitated, and told him that such a course would not please his men.

"But," said Owen, "your victory will not be worthy of you if you do not strive to save those poor wretches now struggling between life and death in the water. Save them, and show the hated English that the Cymry are noble as well as brave."

Sir Ivor gazed at Owen as if to judge whether he was insane or not, and with a sullen air ordered the small boats out, and the enfeebled creatures were brought on board. Glendower immediately fetched some wine, and ordered Gam to give a little to each. The grateful look of the men more than repaid Owen's kindness of heart, and he called Sir Ivor to him to read him a lesson upon the event.

"Sir Ivor," he exclaimed, "these men, by fighting against us, are only doing their duty; we should always be magnanimous in the hour of victory. Our conduct this day will be heard of in many a chimney corner, and it may be in the power of these Englishmen to do us a good turn some day."

"But will they do it?" rejoined Sir Ivor, somewhat incredulously, "or, rather, will they not sting us at

201

the first opportunity? Your kindness of heart will never save the country."

"If I die this moment, Sir Ivor, "I shall die with a clear conscience. My country is dearer to me than all the world besides. We should always so frame our action in this world-especially in a time of war, when any moment may carry us into eternity-so as to be prepared to meet the Great Future with serenity. I would rather be Owen Glendower, a refugee on board this ship, than Henry of England, with his deep crimes upon him. Our stay here is but a short time when reckoned by untold ages which the past and future embrace. If, in the inscrutable designs of a great Providence, it should be His will that my country may be a mere appanage of England, the name of Owen Glendower will never cause a blush to rise to the cheek of any Welshman."

The superstitious sailors grouped around Glendower as he made the foregoing speech, and at the conclusion shouted "Long live Owen Glendower, Prince of Wales!" Sir Ivor Morgan held out his hand, and said he believed that Glendower had a charmed life, and was an instrument in the hands of the Almighty for driving the enemy out of the country.

"The French admiral, Count de l'Esterre, now came on board, and narrated to Owen Glendower the welcome intelligence of the capture of Pembroke Castle by his countrymen, who were marching eastward 1.500 strong. Owen immediately ordered Sir Ivor Morgan to land him and Griffith Gam at the nearest available point, so that he might rally his men who had survived the fight at Cardiff Castle, and march at the head of them to aid the French in their perilous enterprise. Sir Ivor now entered into an animated discussion with the

French Count as to the future command of the squadron, the Frenchman contending that he ought to have the chief command as he had brought 12 ships, while the Welshman have only six. Sir Ivor, on the other hand, contended that L'Esterre was sent by his sovereign to serve the Welsh, and that he ought not to endeavor to become their master.

"I cannot consent to obey a foreigner," said Sir Ivor; "I only know one superior in Wales, and that is Owen Glendower."

The Frenchman fired up at the thought of taking orders from a rough, common man like Sir Ivor, and vowed that he would sooner return to France to obtain instructions from his monarch than give way on the point.

"Let me be peacemaker between you," said Glendower, who saw in this rupture another blow against the independence of his country. "Sir Ivor is a brave and gallant seaman, who has retrieved the fortunes of Wales when they were at their lowest ebb. You, most noble count, are also a gallant gentleman, who arrived on the spot at a lucky moment to decide the fortunes of the day. Let each commander handle his own ships, but let there be a concerted action in all you undertake against the enemy. Each will then have command, and no humiliation will be suffered by anyone.

Sir Ivor's breast was animated at that moment by wicked design to fight the Frenchman and his ships; and thus endeavor to obtain supreme command. He eyed the little dapper, well-bred captain with supreme contempt, and felt half desirous of throwing him into the sea, and risking the result. But the presence of Glendower restrained him, and he gave an unwilling acquiescence to the plans of his prince.

Owen then took them aside, and gave them some excellent advice as to their future plans. He counselled them to proceed to the mouth of the channel, and endeavor to hold it, against all enemies. He thought he might then obtain a victory over the English in that corner of the principality, and march at the head of his army northward, so as to strike a blow in Cardiganshire before the English came up. He counted on Henry's periods of action and inaction, and rightly judged that after his victory at Cardiff Castle, the King of England would be content to rest awhile until he saw Glendower again gaining headway, and placing his crown in peril by his untiring efforts for the independence of his country.

CHAPTER XI-OWEN GLENDOWER MEETS HIS FAMILY.

That pretty Welsh Which thou pourest down from those swelling heavens I am too perfect in."-SHAKESPERE.

AFTER the capture of Caerphily Castle, Glendower had sent his wife and family to a place of safety in Carmarthenshire, far away from the point of danger, but their long absence weighed heavily upon him, and he longed for the moment when he should once more look upon their handsome faces, and embrace them with a father's tenderness and love. At Dryslwyn Castle resided an old friend, Sir Iltid Lewellyn, an old and honored Welshman, whose heart burned to take the field, but he was prevented by his extreme age from doing more than supplying men and money to Glendower. He resided at the castle surrounded by his sons and daughters and grand-children. His house formed a harbor of refuge for a large number, as it was a strong place, and the old man employed his whole time in training his men in the