corwen to bala. 1 87 



Derfel Gadarn. 



The church once contained a vafl wooden image 

 of this, its patron faint, which was formerly held in 

 fuch fuperftitioLis veneration, that people from very 

 diftant parts made pilgrimages to it, and on thefe 

 occafions offered not only money, but fometimes 

 even horfes or cattle. The Welfh people believed 

 that Derfel Gadarn had the power of once refcuing 

 each of his votaries from the torments of hell. On 

 the 5th of April 1537, the feftival day of this faint, 

 no fewer than betwixt five and fix hundred perfons, 

 fome of them from a great diftance, came to Llau- 

 derfel to make the accujRiomed offerings. — ^The letter 

 from Elis Price, commiffary^general of the diocefe 

 of St. Afaph, to Cromwell the vicar-general, of 

 which the following is a copy, was the firft caufe of 

 this very lucrative antique being deftroyed, to the 

 great difpleafure, no doubt, of the monks, who 

 rioted in the produce of its coffers : 



" Right honorable, and my fyiigular good lorde and mayfter, 

 ^U circumftanncys and thankes fett afide pleafithe yt yowre good 

 lordefhipe to be aduiHd that where I was conftltute and made by 

 yowre honorable defire and commaundmente comiffarie generall 

 of the dyofefe of Sayhte Afaph, I haiie done my diligens ^nd 

 dutie for the expulfinge and takynge awaye of certen abufions 

 fuperfticions and ipocryfes iifid withyn the faidc dyofefe of Saynte 

 AiTaph accordynge to the kynges honorable rules and injunftions 

 ^herein made, that notwithftandinge, there ys an image of Dar^ 

 veil Gadarn withyn the faide diofefe in whom the people have fo 

 gveate confidence hope and trufte that they come daylye a pill- 



gramagc 



