The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-16

called Lord Rhys in South Wales, dur
ing the latter part Of the same era.
! From the period now mentioned for
nearly three centuries we have no
particular records of the eisteddfOd.
But the conquest Of Wales by Edward
l., in the Thirteenth century and the
sanguinary events preceding and at
tending that epoch are sufficient to ac-
count for the temporary suspension Of
the practice. The ascendancy which
the bards had acquired over their coun-
trymen could not fail, besides, in rem
dering them objects of jealousy to so
| polite and ambitious a monarch as Ed
ward. He accordingly deprived them Of
the public privileges they had enjoyed
before and 1t was only after long In
terval that they recovered any SEM
| blance Of their ancient rites. The first
instance of the revival Of the national
usage under consideration, after the
conquest Of Wales. of which any me-
mortal has reached us occur about the
year 145O, when Gruffydd ap Nicholas.
q distinguished patron of the bards, OBJ
tained the sanction of Edward w. for
holding an eisteddfod at Carmarthen,
which has been called by way of emin-
ence, the great eisteddfod Of Carmar-
then. To this succeeded another one
in the reign of Henry VII, convoked
also under royal patronage, but Of
which no particular details are now
eXtant. The next in order appears one
to have been an eisteddfod that took
place at Caerwys, in FlinXshire, in the
year 1923, under the immediate auspices
of Richard alb Howell alb Ieuan Vychan.
Sir William Gruffydd and Sir Robert
Salisbury. and at which Tudur Aled and
many other distinguished poets were
present. After this another was con-
vened at the same place. on the 18th
May, 1867, by virtue of q command
granted by Queen Elizabeth to several
gentlemen of North Wales and the
Marches, most of whom attended on the
occasion.
Other congresses, also assembled dur
| ing the same century In South Wales
| under the patronage Of Sir Richard
Neville and William Herbert, earl of
Pembroke, for the express purpose Of
collecting and consolidating what yet
remained of the ancient bardic insti-
| tutes and traditions. In the year 1870
an eisteddfod also took place in the
same division Of the principality, un-
der the presidency of Sir Edward
Lewys,at which the collections just al
luded to were considerably augmented;
and these We're again thoroughly re-
vised and arranged at a congress which
took place at Bewpyr castle, In Glamor-
ganshire, in 1851. under the auspices of
Sir Richard Bassett. This appears to
have terminated the second stage OF
the bardic congress, or session, in which
for more than six centuries, even ac-
cording to our imperfect records. 1t had
continued the means of rescuing from
| oblivion the ancient ordinances and
traditions of the bards. Since the
period alluded to 1t has been regarded
more as festival for the encourage
ment of the national music, poetry, and
general literature. From the time OF
Sir Richard Bassett until the year 1873,
when the first meeting Of the Cambrian
society In Dyfed was held, the only eff
forts to revive the ancient custom ap-
pear to have been those that were made
under the patronage Of the Gwynedd-
igion at different places in North Wales,
where appropriate prizes were award
ed to the successful candidates in mu-
sic and poetry" Such Is the outline of
the history Of the eisteddfod from Its
earliest dawn until its late suspicious
revival. Originally, as already OBJ
served. the design Of this national
meeting, when existing under a differ
ent name, and under the auspices OF the
Druidical institution, was Of higher
nature than at present. 1t had for Its
various objects, In its primitive char
acter, the reformation of manners and
customs, the support of ancient privi-
leges, commemoration OF remarkable
occurrences. the maintenance of public
tranquility, and, finally. the general
promotion Of science. morality and re-
ligion. It was accordingly In the dis
tant ages to which this observation has
reference, connected in an integral
manner with the public welfare Of the
country. 1t was the great political en-.