This eBook was transcribed by Les Bowler.

WELSH FOLK-LORE
a collection by the Rev. Elias Owen, M.A., F.S.A.

CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i
PREFACE iii-vi
INDEX vii-xii
ESSAY 1-352
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS 353-359

WELSH FOLK-LORE
A COLLECTION OF THE
FOLK-TALES AND LEGENDS OF
NORTH WALES
BEING THE PRIZE ESSAY OF THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD
1887, BY THE
REV. ELIAS OWEN, M.A, F.S.A.

PREFACE

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 the Cymmrodor.

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 aged

inhabitants 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 of

the 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.

INDEX

Aberhafesp, Spirit in Church of [169]
Angelystor, announcing deaths [170]
Æschylus’ Cave-dwellers [113]
Annwn, Gwragedd [3] [134]
Annwn, Plant [3]
Antagonism between Pagan faiths [160] [161] [181]
Animal Folk-Lore [308]-352
Ass [337]
Bee [337]-340
Birds Singing [310]
Flocking [310]
Blind worm [352]
Cat [321] [323] [340]-342
Cow [129]-137 [342]
Crow [304] [314]-315
Crane [321]
Crickets [342]-3
Cuckoo [317]-321
Cock [310] [321]
Duck [321]
Eagle [321]
Flying Serpent [349]
Frog [281]
Fox [193]
Goose [304] [305] [312]
Goatsucker [322]
Haddock [345]
Hare [343]-345
Heron [321] [323]
Hen [305] [322]
Hedgehog [345]
Horse [346]
Jackdaw [324]
Ladybird [347]
Magpie [324]-327
Mice [348]
Mole [348]
Owl [304] [327]
Peacock [327]
Pigeon [327]
Pigs [348]
Raven [304] [328]
Rook, Crow [304] [314] [316] [316]
Robin Redbreast [329] [332]
Seagull [329] [330]
Sawyer, Tit [331]
Snakes [348]-350
Slowworm [352]
Sheep [351]
Swallow [330] [331]
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]-9 [168]-70
Divination on [280]-1 [286] [288]-9
Apparitions [181]-209 [293]-297
Applepip divination [290]
Arawn [128]
Avanc [133]
Bardd Cwsg, Y [144] [284] [285]
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 [236] [240]
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 [151] [245] [248]
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 [94] [97]
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 [321] [341]
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 [277] [310] [343]
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 [238-9] [258] [262] [276]
Charm for Shingles [262]-3
Toothache [264]-266
Whooping Cough [266]
Fits [266]
Fighting Cocks [267] [312]
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 [321] [341]
Crow [304] [314] [315]
Conjurors [251]-262
Charms of [239] [254] [258]-260
Tricks of [255] [257] [260]-1
Cow, Dun [129] [131] [137]
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 [3] [24]
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 [212] [255] [256]
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 [125] [127]
Sky [125] [127]
Fairy [49] [81] [83] [125]
Dwarfs of Cae Caled [97]
Droich [113]-121
Dyn Hysbys [209] [259]
Drychiolaeth, Spectre [301] [302]
Eagle, Superstitions about [263]-4 [321]
Erdion Banawg [131]
Ellyll [3] [4] [111] [191]
Dân [112]
Ellyllon, Menyg [111]
Bwyd [111]
Elf Dancers of Cae 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 [236] [240]
Bella Fawr [223]
Moll White [229] [232]
Pedws Ffoulk [242]
Fabulous Animals, see Mythic Beings
Fairies, Origin of [1] [2] [35] [36]
Chaucer’s reference to [89]
Shakespeare’s reference to [72] [96] [97]
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]-3 [124]-5 [129]-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 [6] [28]
Fetch [294]
Fire God [152]
Fish, Satan in [153]
Flying Serpent [349]
Foxglove [111]
Frog Divination [281]
Fuwch Frech [129]-132
Gyfeiliorn [129] [134]-137
Ffynnon y Fuwch Frech [130]
Elian [216]
Oer [223]
Gay, Nut divination [289]
Giraldus Cambrensis [27] [32] [182]
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 [5] [97]
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 [38] [55] [257] [259]
Gwyddelod [80]
Gwyll [4]
Gwylliaid Cochion [4] [5] [6] [25] [26]
Haddock, why so marked [345]
Hag, Mist [142]
Hare [227]-230 [236] [343]-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 [321] [323]
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 [4] [97]
in Mines [112]-121
Ladybird, Weather Sign [347]
Lady Jeffrey’s Spirit [199]
Lake Dwellers [27] [28]
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, or Y 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 Goch Spirit [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 [90] [91]
witnessing a Fairy dance [90] [93]
taken away by Fairies [32] [36] [37] [101]-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 [229] [232]
Meddygon Myddvai, Physicians [6] [23] [24]
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 [125] [127]
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 [95] [138]-9 [168]-170 [280] [281] [286] [288]-89
Ogof Cythreuliaid Devils’ Cave [191]
Ogwen Lake, Tale of Wraith [292]
Old Humpbacked, Mythic Being [142]
Omen, see Divination [279]-290
Owl [304] [327]
Pan, prototype of Celtic Satan [146]
Passing Bell [171]-2
Peacock, Weather Sign [327]
Pedwe Ffoulk, a Witch [242]
Pellings, Fairy Origin [6] [13]
Pentrevoelas Legend [8]
Physicians of Myddfai [6] [23] [24]
Pig Superstitions [154] [348]
Pigeon Superstitions [327]
Pins stuck in “Witch’s Butter” [249]
Places associated with Satan [190]-1
Plant Annwn [3] [4]
Poocah, Pwka, Pwca [121]-124 [138]-40
Raven [304] [328]
Rhamanta, see Divination, [279]-290
on Hallow Eve [281]
Rhaffau’r Tylwyth Têg, Gossamer [112]
Rhys Gryg [24]
Robin Redbreast [329] [332]-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 [148] [150]
and Churches [160]-170
outwitted [157]-160
playing Cards [147] [148] [149]
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 [219] [220] [221]
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 [164] [199] [200] [210] [212]
allowed to visit the earth [168]
sent to the Red Sea [193] [209] [210] [214]
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 [52] [95] [168] [280]
St. David [299] [307]
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 [254] [262] [263]-4
Taboo Stories [6] [8]-24
Tegid [306]
Tit-Major, Weather Sign [331]
Tolaeth [303]
Tobit, Spirit tale [182] [210]
Torrent Spectre [141]
Transformation [227] [234]-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 [84] [88]
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 [292] [294] [308]
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

THE FAIRIES.