fought with the English in the 12th century,
by Owen Cyveiliog, prince of Powys, who composed the admired poem called
Hirlas, or the Drinking Horn, on the victory he obtained.

{75b} The battle of the Britons and Saxons at Bangor Is Coed, in the 7th
century.

{75c} "Before the prince himself there was vast confusion, havoc,
conflict, horrible consternation, and upon Tal Moelvre, a thousand
banners."--Panegyric on Owain Gwynedd. Evans's Specimens of the
Welsh Bards, p. 26.

{76} The captive Welsh nobles, either hostages or prisoners of war, who
were detained in the Tower of London, obtained permission that their
libraries should be sent them from Wales, to amuse them in their solitude
and confinement. This was a frequent practice, so that in process of
time the Tower became the principal repository of Welsh literature. The
present poverty of ancient Welsh manuscripts may be dated from the time
when the history and poetry of our country received a fatal blow in the
loss of those collected at London, by the villainy of one Scolan, who
burned them.

{77} The poet, and author of the elegy written in a country churchyard.

{81} Snowdon.

{86} This prophecy of Taliesin relating to the Ancient Britons is still
extant, and has been strikingly verified:--

"Their God they'll adore,
Their language they'll keep,
Their country they'll lose,
Except wild Wales."

{87a} _Ynys Cedeirn_, or Isle of the Mighty, an ancient name given to
Britain.

{87b} Uthyr Pendragon, King of Britain, supposed to have been the father
of Arthur.

{87c} The bard of the palace, under the ancient Welsh princes, always
accompanied the army when it marched into an enemy's country; and while
it was preparing for battle or dividing the spoils he performed an
ancient song, called "Unbennaeth Prydain," the Monarchy of Britain. It
has been conjectured that this poem referred to the tradition of the
Welsh, that the whole island had been possessed by their ancestors, who
were driven into a corner of it by their Saxon invaders. When the prince
had received his share of the spoils, the bard, for the performance of
this song, was rewarded with the most valuable beast that remained.--See
JONES'S _Historical Account of the Welsh Bards_.

{88} Ynys Prydain, the ancient name of Britain, signifies the Fair, or
Beautiful Island.

{91} This lady was born near the beautiful Breidden hills in
Montgomeryshire.

{92} The bards.

{