the fact that one version is more finished than the other does not really prove anything, because it is clear that Salesbury himself translated the printed version of 1567, while it is equally clear that the Gwysaney MSS. text was the work of Bishop Davies.

It is idle, therefore, to form conjectures on this point, and Archdeacon Thomas has wisely refrained from discussing the question at length. Nevertheless, we are not sure but that the unearthing of this particular MSS. may not help us to solve another very perplexing question.

We refer to the translation of the Bible and the Apocrypha into Welsh by Bishop Morgan. It has always been a mystery how the learned Bishop succeeded in completing his difficult task within so short a space of time. He was only forty-seven years old when it was published. Is it probable that one man unaided succeeded in carrying through this immense task within a space of not more than twenty years?

Sir John Wynne tells us that Bishop Davies and Salesbury were busily engaged for two years in translating books into the Welsh language; and the Bishop himself, in the Epistles to the Welsh People which precedes the New Testament of 1567, states that they were working upon the translation of the Old Testament.

The existence of the Gwysaney MSS., though it points more directly to a recension of the 1567 version of the New Testament, may in the face of the above facts, have been part of an attempt by Bishop Davies to translate the whole Bible. It is not merely that Bishop Morgan succeeded in carrying through his great undertaking within so short a space of time, but we must also consider the excellence of the translation and the purity of the language.

In spite of the introduction by Morgan of many idioms foreign to Welsh, his translation of the Bible is admitted on all sides to be a masterly example of pure and idiomatic Welsh.

This leads us to ask whether Morgan had the aid of Bishop Davies's MSS. translation of the Old Testament. At present there is no evidence that he ever saw Davies's MSS. translation, but it is within the range of probability that this MSS. may some day be discovered, and we shall then be able to apportionate the credit to the two men, or to continue to marvel at the industry and ability of Bishop Morgan.

Archdeacon Thomas has done a distinct service to Welsh literature by bringing together in his book all that is at present known of the first translators. The book is well printed, and its get-up reflects great credit on the printers: The Caxton Press Co., of Oswestry.

J. H. DAVIES.

ABERYSTWYTH, ITS COURT LEET, ETC., 1690-1900. By GEORGE EYRE EVANS, Welsh Gazette Office, Aberystwyth.

THIS handsome and beautifully-printed work reflects great credit upon the author and upon the publisher. Mr. Evans has edited the various documents embodied in the work with most commendable care and accuracy. From the lists which he gives, together with his annotations, it is possible to construct a very satisfactory history of the town of Aberystwyth during the last two centuries. Moreover, we obtain, especially with the aid of a description of Aberystwyth Castle by Mr. Harold Hughes, a valuable insight into the mediaval condition of the town and neighbourhood. One of the most valuable lists in the book is that giving an account of the books printed from time to time at Aberystwyth. There is also a list of the chief events connected with Aberystwyth in the nineteenth century; but this list is not so uniformly complete as it might have been. The work contains much interesting information, as, for instance, that Lewis Morris (Llewelyn Ddu o Fon), of Penbryn was presented as a burgess in 1760. We learn also that in 1799 eleven jurymen were unable to write their names. The valuable revenue which Aberystwyth derives from its leases is traced to the foresight of a Mr. Job Sheldon, a Scotchman, who became Mayor of the Borough. Those interested in apparent references to Irishmen in Welsh place-names will welcome the name Wig y Gwyddyl, given in a map by Lewis Morris to a part of Aberystwyth Beach, opposite the Queen's Hotel. There is also an interesting account of the "Corpse Bell" rung by the bellman through the streets of the town before funerals, a custom still existing in Machynlleth, and also, until lately, found at Carnarvon. Mr. Evans duly chronicles the visits of distinguished men, such as Edward Irving, Keble and Tennyson, to Aberystwyth. Among the most interesting sections of the work are the accounts of punishments now obsolete, and the history of religious movements in the borough. The work appears to be singularly free from inaccuracies, but a few minor blemishes occur here and there. For example, in a note on p. 62, Lithfaen should be Llithfaen, while 'Meylltyrn-yn-Lleyn' has apparently been taken to be the full name of a farm the name of the farm is simply Meylltyrn, or Meillteyrn, and the words should read "Meylltyrn in Lleyn." Capel y Groes should be given as "The Chapel of the Cross" not "The Chapel of Cross." On p. 75, "homiletic" is wrongly written as "homeletic," and on p. 102 Bagelators" is given for "flagellators." "Mawddwy" is also given as "Mawddy." "Clorianneu Eur" should be rendered "Golden Scales." In the list of subscribers the name "J. Mortimore Angus" should read "J. Mortimer Angus." It is to be hoped that Mr. G. Eyre Evans will continue his investigations into the history of Aberystwyth and the neighbouring districts, and that others will follow his example in publishing records of other towns and districts which are still unedited.

66

E. ANWYL.

Archaeological Notes and Queries.

THE INSCRIBED PILLAR OF SAMSON AT LLANTWIT MAJOR, GLAMORGANSHIRE. The dividing of the words of the inscription on this stone, given by Mr. Westwood and Messrs. Haddan and Stubbs, leaves two words in it quite meaningless, and also destroys the construction of the words immediately preceding them.

Mr. Westwood reads it thus:—

"In nomine Dî summi incipit crux Salvatoris quae preparavit Samsoni apati pro auima sua et pro anima Iuthahelo rex et pro Artmali tecan (?)."

Messrs. Haddan and Stubbs have read it in the same way, except that they have correctly left out the word pro before Artmali, following the inscription, and have made the last word tecain. By reading the whole sentence, which on the stone runs on throughout without any spaces between the words, in the way suggested below, a better sense is made out of it, and the meaning of two words in it is shown, which, according to the other dividing, have no sense at all. I therefore believe it should thus be read:

"In nomine Dî summi incipit crux Salvatoris quae preparavit Samson íapati pro anima sua et pro anima Iuthahelo rex et Artmal i tecaon."

The words put in italics, in this suggested reading of the inscription are, I believe, exactly the Early Welsh words, i apat, for the Modern Welsh Yr abad (the abbot), and i tecaon, Y deacon (the deacon), which we would expect to see used in Samson's time, in the ninth century. It may be objected to the last words i tecaon (the deacon), that the i should belong to Artmal to mark its oblique case. I cannot see that any of the proper names in the inscription has the terminal sign of oblique case, and the nominative farm of the word rex joined to Iuthahelo, goes far to prove the entire disregard of this in the inscription. With this suggested dividing of the inscription, I would read it thus in English :

"In the name of the Most High God, the Cross of the Saviour was begun, which Samson the abbot, for his soul prepared, and for the soul of luthahelo the king, and Artmal the deacon."

The word for, put into italics in my translation of it, is put on the stone twice, evidently through the negligence of the carver, by i in Welsh, and pro in Latin.

JOHN DAVIES.

EXCAVATIONS PROPOSED TO BE CARRIED OUT AT ABERYSTWYTH CASTLE. -In July last, on the advice of Dr. Henry Owen, I had the honour of being invited to inspect the Castle at Aberystwyth, with the view of reporting to the Mayor and Corporation as to the advisability

of carrying out excavations, the general lines to be followed, and the added interest in the buildings to be expected therefrom.

With my report I submitted a plan (here reproduced). The walls visible above the ground are indicated in block. The probable positions of the remaining portions are drawn with hatched lines.

The following, taken from my report, dated July 22nd, 1902, will give an idea of the work at present visible, and my recommendations with regard to the question of carrying out excavations.

"The Castle consisted of an inner ward contained within an outer. The containing walls of each ward formed a slightly irregular four-sided lozenge-shaped figure, the longest diameter lying north and south. At the north, west, and south angles of the inner ward were drum towers, probably three-quarters exposed on the outside. The great gatehouse occupied the eastern angle. The gatehouse and towers were connected by curtain walls. On the north-west and south-west sides were intermediate towers, the former containing a small second gatehouse. Of the large gatehouse, much is visible. The buildings on the north side of the entrance-way have been excavated to a great extent, probably in 1845. On the southern side, however, large portions of the walls are covered over, and the interior is filled up with débris. The northern and southern buildings of the gatehouse each contains the remains of a turret staircase. The work in situ shows that the gateway was defended on the outside by a portcullis and doors, and on the inside by doors. The gatehouse in the north-west wall still exists with indications of a threefold defence a loop extending vertically, the full width of the passage, to the working chamber of the portcullis above, the portcullis itself, and the inner doors. Of the other towers, only a small portion of the western is visible in situ. There are, however, numerous large masses of masonry scattered around, which prove, with a certainty, the existence formerly of towers in the positions I have indicated. The appearance of these masses is quite in harmony with the statement that the Castle was blown up by the Parliamentary forces about the year 1646. I will briefly enumerate the data proving the existence of the various towers and curtain walls. Around the position I have indicated for the northern tower are numerous masses of masonry. To the north of the tower is a large block with the outer face worked to a curve, the inner faces being straight-sided. This evidently formed a portion of an outer wall of a tower. To the north-west is another large mass with inner and outer faces straight, the angles apparently being those of an octagonal figure. Within the mass is contained a portion of a circular staircase. Besides the small portion of the western tower visible in situ, on the east is a mass containing a fragment of a circular staircase. A mass in the centre of the tower combines the fragment of the well of a staircase with the internal and external faces of a tower; while a mass to the west evidently forms a portion of the same structure, though its exact position is not