David's tide. 61 



MARCH 1. St. David, archbishop, patron of 



Wales, A.D. 544. 



St. Swidbert the Ancient, b. c. 



St. Albinus, bishop of Angers, conf. 



St. Monan, martyr. 



Obs. St. David, celebrated this day, and styled Patron of 

 Wales, was Bishop of St. David's, in which office he died in 544. 

 He founded many monasteries and religious houses, and formed a 

 hermitage and chapel in the vale of Llanthony, near the Black 

 Mountains. 



Description of St. David's Hermitage. 

 A little lowly Hermitage it was, 



Down in a dale, hard by a forest's side. 

 Far from resort of people, that did pass 



In travell to and fro : a little wyde 

 There was an holy chapelle edifyde. 



Wherein the Hermit dewly wont to say 

 Kis holy things each morn and eventyde ; 

 Therebye a christall streame did gently play, 

 .Which from a sacred fountaine welled forth alway. 



Leek Albim porrum worn. 



This plant is recorded as being in leaf, and to have been from 

 time immemorial worn by the Welsh on this day. There is some- 

 where a Latin poem written " InJ'estum S. Davidis site in Porrum." 

 The origin of the Welsh wearing Leeks is described by writers thus : — 

 " On the day of St. David their patron they formerly gained a victory 

 over the English, and in the battle every man distinguished himself 

 by wearing a Leek in his hat ; and ever since they never fail to wear 

 a Leek on that day. The King himself is so complaisant as to bear 

 them company." 



From The Diverting Post, Iso. 19, from February 24 to March 5, 

 1705, we extract the lollowing : 



On St. David's Day 

 Why, on St. David's Day, do Welshmen seek 

 To beautify their hats with verdant Leek, 

 Of nauseous smell? " For honour 'tis," they say, 

 " Dttlce et decorum est pro patria." 



The Russia Company have for many years had a great feast at 

 the London Tavern on St. David's Day. And the Welsh used to 

 observe the annual custom of a dinner at the same place, each 

 Welshman wearing a Leek. 



With IMarch we may expect variable weather : in the Calenda- 

 rium Naturale it is called Versatilis, from the changes of the air in 

 this month, and there is a very old proverb, "March hack ham 

 comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb.'' 



G 



