186 



and the happy medinm of temperature having contributed conjointly to the health 

 and enjoyment of the half-hundred who had been so bold as to partake in the 

 proceedings of this Ladies' day, during the long continued condition of drought. 



The traditionary exploits of John of Kentchurch are still kept in remem- 

 brance by the inhabitants of this district; not the least of which is the building of 

 the bridge over the Monnow in one night ! Mr. J. E. Southall writes in our local 

 newspaper, the Hereford Times, of November 11th, 1891, from Waterloo Road, 

 Newport, Monmouth : — "John Kent is no mythical being, but an historical person- 

 age. His name is usually written Sion (i)ronounced Shone) Cent by Welsh writers, 

 and he lived from about 130O — 1.3(58. He was a Churchman — i.e., a Eoman Catholic 

 priest', who was taken under the sheltering wing of the Scudaniores (then probably 

 a Welsh speaking family) at Kentchurch. He was a good man, and though 

 apparently attached to the Roman Catholic creed, in the early part of his life 

 attacked the immorality and errors of the Popish monks. Lollard opinions, we 

 have reason to believe, were strongly disseminated in West Herefordshire from 

 Deerfold Forest down to the Monmouthshire border, and it is not im)50ssible that 

 Sion Cent was a leader among their adherents. Gweirydd ap Rhys in his Hanes 

 Llenyddiaeth Gynireig (History of Welsh Literature), from 1300 to 1(530, published 

 recently in Liverpool, says that strange stories were circulated about him by 

 the Monks, and that they asserted he was in league with the Evil One, on 

 account of his writing against them. It was in fact a cry with mothers to quiet 

 refractory children, "Sion Cent is coming." Twenty -five poetical compositions 

 are reputed to belong to this author, but it is probable that some of them are by 

 later hands. One on " Y Byd a'i wau'edd " (" The world and its vanity ") is so 

 certainly, as it contains an allusion to Guy, Earl of Warwick, who played such 

 an active part in the Wars of the Roses." 



"I should be glad to have anj' information as to the past history of the Welsh 

 language between Longtown and Kerne Bridge. It is still living to a very small 

 extent, almost, though not quite, on a line between those two places." 



In reply to which we have the following information from Mr. James Davies. 



In the history of Cilgerran Castle and Parish, near Cardigan, by John 

 Roland Phillips (Ab. Geraint) the author states that all who have noticed Sion 

 Cent inform us that he was born in or near Cilgerran. He adds that according 

 to the "Eminent Wehkmen," he was an illustrious bard and divine, and flourished 

 between 1380 and 1420, but that according to the "Cambrian Biography" he lived 

 between 1420 and 1470. However, as it is stated in the lolo MSS., that he lived 

 in the time of Henry V., the former is more likely to be correct. According to the 

 "Myfyrian Archaeology," he was ordained, and served the Church of Newcastle 

 Emlyn, but was afterwards presented to the Vicarage of Kentchurch, where 

 he continued until his death. According to the "Cambrian Biography," 

 he was a Lollard, and wrote several treatises on Theological subjects in Latin, 

 and many poetical pieces in his native language. He was patronised by the 

 Scudamores of Kentchurch, where he was called Sion Cent, and Dr. John Kent. 

 In the History of the "Literature of Wales from the year 1300 to 1650," by 

 Charles Wilson, there is an interesting notice of this celebrated man, and a list of 



