A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES, 



feat, the Chief Bard, who had already 

 occupied it. This aflembly was uf iially 

 held at AberfFraw, the royal feat of the 

 ancient Princes of North Wales; in An- 

 glefea; or fometimes at Dinevawr, in 

 Caermartheumire,the caflle of the Prin- 

 ces of South Wales; or Mathraval, in 

 Montgomeryfhire, the royal palace of 

 the Princes of Powys. 



Before any perfon could be enrolled 

 in the Eifteddfod, the permiflion of the 

 Prince or Lord, within whofe jurif- 

 cli6tion he lived, was to be obtained. 

 If he defired to proceed to degrees in 

 poetry, he was obliged, at his prefenta- 

 tion, to explain the five metres of fong ; 

 and to ling them in fuch a manner, that 

 one of the principal Bards would declare 

 upon his confcience, that lie was com- 

 petent to be admitted. He then became 

 a pupil of fome one of the principal 

 Bards, whom he was obliged to attend 



an- 



