326 SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE 



Under the patronage of king Henry VII., the 

 Cambro-britifh mufe was once again rellored. This 

 monarch re-eftablifhed the eifteddfods, which for 

 many years had been difcontinued ; and the firft 

 employment, given to the bards was that of making 

 out from their authentic records the pedigree of the 

 king. 



A long interval of anarchy enfued, which was 

 in fome meafure clofed by queen Elizabeth, who 

 appointed commiffioners to affemble an eidcddfod at 

 Caerwysin the year 1568. The perfons thus em- 

 powered by her had inftruftions to advance, at this 

 meeting, the ingenious and fkilful to the accu domed 

 degrees, and to reftore to the graduates their ancient 

 exclufive privilege of exercifing their profelTion. 

 The reft were by this commiffion commanded to 

 employ themfelves in fome other labour, to which 

 they were equal, on pain of being apprehended and 

 punifhed as \^gabonds. 



Soon after this time the bardic meetings again 

 dwindled, till at length they almoft ceafed to exift. 

 A fociety inllituted in London, called the gwyncddi- 

 gion, or North Wales men, have within thefe few 

 years attempted to raife the art once more from 

 oblivion. To this end they convened annual meet- 

 ings in fome village or town in North Wales, and 

 affigned fubjeds for candidates to write upon, with 

 honorary medals to fuch as were fuccefsful. One 

 of the firft of thefe meetings was held about eight 

 years ago at Corwen, ia Merionethfnire. In aa 



eiftedd- 



