over that region as Bishop of Glasgow, which he held until his death. in 612. Before leaving Llanelwy he solemnly addressed the brotherhood, and, "with the unanimous consent of all, appointed S. Asaph to the government of the monastery, and by petition of the people, and by the canonical election of the clergy, successor of his bishopric. When the sermon was ended he enthroned S. Asaph in the cathedral seat, and again blessing and bidding them all farewell, he went forth by the North door of the church, because he was going forth to combat the northern enemy. When he had gone out that door was closed, and all who saw or heard of his going out or departure bewailed his absence with great lamentations. Hence the custom grew up in that church that that door should not be opened except once a year, on the festival of S. Asaph, that is, on the Kalends of May, for two reasons. First, in deference to the sanctity of him who had gone forth; secondly, because thereby was indicated the great grief of those who had bewailed his departure. Therefore, on the day of S. Asaph that door is opened, because when he succeeded the blessed Kentigern in the government their mourning was turned into joy. From that monastery a great part of the brethren, to the number of 665, being in no wise able or willing, so long as he lived, to live without him, went with him. Only 300 remained with S. Asaph.'

"1

S. Cyndeyrn must be regarded as the first Bishop of Llanelwy, as well as the founder of the religious establishment there. Jocelin says that in the church of the monastery he established the Cathedral Chair of his bishopric, the diocese of which was the greater part of the adjacent country, which by his preaching he won for the Lord." 2 A document, some centuries later, printed in the Iolo MSS., differs in that it makes S. Asaph "the first Bishop in Bangor Assaf." 3 S. Cyndeyrn's name has never been associated with the nomenclature of either cathedral or diocese, which were originally known, and still are by Welsh-speaking people, as Llanelwy, "the Church on the Elwy” (cf. Llandaff). The English name S. Asaph (never S. Asaph's) is not known to have occurred earlier than the beginning of the twelfth century, since which time both names have coexisted. In mediæval documents the bishops of the Diocese are variously styled. Episcopi

1 Metcalfe, ut supra, pp. 246–7.

2 Ibid., p. 232; cf. also the Red Book Vita, p. 45. Cathedralem constituit."

4.

Monasterium Sedem

3 P. 128. Another, p. 102, says that "his Church is Bangor Asaf." In eadem provincia [Tegenia] est Cathedralis ecclesia à nostratibus Lan Elguensis, ab Anglis Assaphensis dicta, inter Cluydam & Elguim fluvios fabricata." Humphrey Lhuyd, Commentarioli Britannica Descriptionis Fragmentum, f. 55b (Cologne, 1572).

Elguenses, Eluenses, Lanelvenses, Assaphenses, and Assavenses. S. Asaph's fame in time far eclipsed at Llanelwy that of his great master Cyndeyrn. The latter was a stranger, and his residence there was but short, circa 560-73. The great veneration in which S. Asaph's memory came to be held may be well accounted for by his connection with the immediate district, his eminent virtues and piety, and, possibly, munificent benefactions by his family to Llanelwy; but what must have contributed more than anything else was the fact that the cathedral church was the depository of his ashes. That his body in the thirteenth century lay there is certain, for in a letter of Edward the First, dated probably from Rhuddlan in 1281, proposing the translation of the Cathedral Church to Rhuddlan, where it would be more secure and better protected, it is said, “sed tanquam illa quæ in nullius bonis sunt, prædonum incursibus et latronum insidiis, una cum corpore sancti Assaphi gloriosissimi confessoris, subjacent periculis infinitis." 1 Whether the monastery was elevated or not to a Cathedral Church, and the See founded, in S. Cyndeyrn's or S. Asaph's time, the latter's name alone has become associated with the diocese, the limits of which, at some unknown date, were made conterminous with the principality of Powys. S. Asaph is supposed to have been succeeded by S. Tyssilio, but there is no really authentic record of the See until 1143, when Gilbert was consecrated bishop by Theobald of Canterbury.

The topography of Tegeingl, S. Asaph's probable native cantref, presents several places bearing his name. Besides the city name there are Llanasa (his Church); Pantasa (his Hollow or Glen), in the parish of Whitford adjoining, but now in the ecclesiastical parish of Gorsedd ; and Ffynnon Asa (his Holy Well), in the parish of Cwm. His name is coupled with S. Cyndeyrn's in the dedication of the parish church of S. Asaph, which, like most of the Vale of Clwyd churches, consists of two equal and parallel aisles, known as "Eglwys Gyndeyrn (north) and "Eglwys Asa" (south), respectively.2 Llanasa also has parallel aisles, which are said to be similarly dedicated. There appears to be some uncertainty as regards the dedication of the Cathedral Church, whether to the two Saints conjointly, or to S. Asaph alone. Browne Willis gives it as dedicated to S. Asaph alone, with Patronal Festival May 1.4 All the evidence goes to show that S.

1 Haddan and Stubbs, Councils, etc., i, p. 530; Willis, S. Asaph, p. 156. 2 Willis, S. Asaph, pp. 20, 126.

3 Thomas, History of the Diocese of S. Asaph, 1st ed., p. 293. Willis, however, in his Survey of Bangor, 1721, p. 357, gives the church as dedicated to S. Asaph alone. So Rees, Welsh Saints, p. 335. 4 Ibid., p. 357.

Asaph was regarded as the Patron of the Diocese-consequently of its Cathedral Church. In his fragmentary Life he is styled, "Gloriosissimus Confessor et Pontifex Asaph Patronus noster." Bishop Llywelyn ab Madog of S. Asaph, in his will, dated 1373, says, "Imprimis, confisus meritis & precibus Sanctissimi Asaph Episcopi & Confessoris, Patronique mei, lego animam meam Deo," etc.;1 and Bishop Bache in his will, dated 1394, commits his soul "Deo & Beato Asapho Confessori glorioso & omnibus Sanctis." 2

There is a modern church dedicated to S. Asaph in Birmingham, the parish of which was formed in 1868.

66

There is a cottage near the village of Rhuallt, in the parish of Tremeirchion, adjoining that of S. Asaph, which bears the name of Onen Asa (S. Asaph's Ash-tree). Within comparatively recent years there was a well-known spot in the High Street at S. Asaph where the schoolboys used to shew a mark on a black stone, in a pavement of the street, about the middle of the hill betwixt the two churches, which they said was the print of S. Asaph's horse-shoe, when he jumpt with him from Onnan-Hassa, which is about two miles off." 3 A similar legend appears to have been associated with two other Welsh Saints, Einion Frenhin and Cynllo, for Ol Troed March Engan, at Llanengan, and Ol Traed March Cynllo, at Llangoedmore, are represented to be their horses' hoof-prints. So with Carreg Carn March Arthur (the stone with the impress of the hoof of Arthur's steed), under Moel Famma.+ With the name Onen Asa may be compared that of the place-name, still in use, Daniel's (or Deiniol's) Ash, in the parish of Hawarden. Both may have been preaching stations.

Ffynnon Asa is a natural spring remarkable for the great volume of water it throws up from the limestone rock, and for its extreme coldness. It is considered the second largest well in Wales, next to S. Winefred's, and is said to yield no less than seven tons of water per minute. The stream, some forty yards from the spring head, turns a large mill-wheel, and forms a fine waterfall at Dyserth, about a mile and a half from the well. Dr. Johnson, when he paid a visit to the waterfall, says that the well was "covered with a building," 5 which has now disappeared; and Pennant describes it as being in his day "inclosed with stone, in a polygonal form." Its water was considered

1 Willis, S. Asaph, p. 241. 2 Ibid., p. 212. S. Asaph is the only Welsh Cathedral that escaped Norman re-dedication. The Cross Keys, now the arms of the See, and suggestive of a Petrine dedication, are a modern blunder for a key and crozier in saltire. Edward Pugh, Cambria Depicta, p. 11 (London, 1816). Diary of a Journey into North Wales in the year 1774, p. 77 (London, 1816). • Tours in Wales, ii, p. 113, ed. 1883.

3 Ibid., pp. 134-5.

to be beneficial in rheumatic and nervous complaints, and people used to bathe in it. In a field belonging to Llechryd, in the parish of Llannefydd, is another well called Ffynnon Asa. It forms the source of the brook Afon Asa, which runs into the Meirchion, a tributary of the Elwy. The field, as "Kae ffynnon Assaphe," is mentioned in an indenture dated February 16, 1656. S. Asaph has another Holy Well, in the Vale of Conway. In a will dated 1648 mention is made of a meadow called "Gweirglodd Ffynnon Asaph," in Erethlyn, in the parish of Eglwys Fach, Denbighshire.1

The year of S. Asaph's death is generally given as 596,2 but this is manifestly too early. He died on May 1, which occurs as his Festival in but very few of the Welsh Calendars the Iolo MSS. one (from a MS. written circa 1500), that in the Welsh Prymer of 1633, and the one prefixed to Allwydd Paradwys (1670); also by Nicolas Roscarrock. In the Martyrology of Aberdeen his Festival is observed on the same day : "Kl' Maii. In Vallia Sancti Aseph discipuli Sancti Kentigerni de quo ecclesia cathedralis in eadem prouincia cujus pacientia et vite sanctitudo illius regionis incolis viuendi normam egregiam et fidei constantiam admonuit.' " 4 To this it may be added that "the only trace of his cultus in Scotland is in the parish of Strath, in the Isle of Skye, in which there is a chapel called Asheg. . . . There is no doubt that it was primarily dedicated to S. Asaph. . . . Among the excellent springs with which this parish abounds one is considered superior to all, and is called Tobar Asheg, or S. Asaph's Well." 5

A fair, long since discontinued, was held at S. Asaph on his Festival. The confirmation of the fair-to be held on the vigil, day, and morrow of the Festival of SS. Philip and James-was obtained by Bishop Dafydd ab Bleddyn in 1321.6 It was a source of revenue to the Dean and Chapter, who received the tolls of the same. Willis adds that the regard had to the day in his time "appeared from appointments of payments of money, and other orders relating to usages and customs in this Church (the Cathedral), which commenced on this Festival."?

1 Arch. Camb., 1887, p. 158.

2

E.g., Pennant, supra, ii, p. 128; Willis, S. Asaph, p. 35.

3 The 1st May as his Day is in Wilson's Martyrologie, 1st ed. 1608, and 2nd 1640. Curiously, not in Whytford. But he is in the modern Roman Martyrology, and Pope Pius IX, by a Rescript, ordered the Sunday following May 1 to be observed as a double of the Second Class.

4 Forbes, Kalendars of Scottish Saints, p. 130. For his Proper see Dr, Stevenson, The Legends and Commemorative Celebrations of S. Kentigern, his Friends and Disciples, from the Aberdeen Breviary and the Arbuthnot Missal, Edinb., 1874, PP. 24-5.

5 Forbes, op. cit., p. 271.

Willis, S. Asaph, pp. 51, 184.

7 Survey of Bangor, p. 339.