THE MANNERS, ETC. OF THE WEL5H. 245 



and interefting features, from the mofl remote p3- 

 riods of their hiitorv. Their own referved difpofi- 

 tions, orimnatin? in a natural v/ant of confidence in 

 thofe from whom they had experienced only injuries 

 and opprellion ; and the mountainous nature of their 

 country, entirely fecluded them from all commerce, 

 and prevented them from fettling any amicable con- 

 nexions with their neiehbours. • They therefore re- 

 tained their own inftitutions, and their own peculiar 

 cufloms, for many fucceeding centuries. ' An ac- 

 count of fome of thefe have been tranfmitted to us 

 by their bards, and of others by their -hiilorians. 



Gerald Barry, (better known as Giraldus Cam- 

 brenfis,) archdeacon, and afterwards bifliop of St. 

 David's, travelled through Wales, his native coun- 

 try, in 1187, Vv'ith archbifhop Baldwin, to preach 

 the crufades, and convert the unenlightened Welfli*, 

 He has left us, though mingled with much fuper- 

 ftition, and with many incredible ilories, a minute, 

 and, as it is generally beheved, an accurate detail of 

 the charafter of this people. 



He informs us that the pride of anceflry was car- 

 ried amongft them to the greateft lengths ; and that 

 this fpirit was fo deeply rooted, that even the lowed 

 of the peafantry could re^te from memory the names 



* Their difcourfes were entirely in Lat'in, notvvithftmdinp 

 v.'liich they made multitudes of profclytes ! Baldwin and Gi- 

 ihldiii have not inaptly been compared to Don Quixote and his 

 fquirc Sanclio Panga. 



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