TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION H. 807 



while these metal articles were found in the outer layer, which, from its contents, 

 is evidently of later date and superadded to the original inner barrow. 



5. On Comparison of Ancient Welsh Customs, Devices, and Commerce, with 

 those of Contemporary Nations. By Dr. Phenk, F.S.A. 



It was pointed out that the present age, which is one enriched from commerce, 

 science, and the arts, has, to a great extent, ceased to be influenced by heraldry, 

 which is naturally connected with military advancement. But that, as a matter 

 of history, the great influence it once had on the progress of civilisation in securing 

 victory or averting defeat made it a subject well worthy review. 



Though no written code of heraldic law is known to have existed in ancient 

 times, yet the customs of different people in connection with their banners and 

 ensigns indicate the important part they bore among conquering nations. 



It is shown from the writings of Sidonius ApoUinaris and others, that the 

 Romans worshipped the image of the Emperor, which was attached to the staff" of 

 the standard eagle and other devices ; and Oonstantine, taking advantage of this 

 fact, and abhorring such profanity, placed the emblem of the new faith which he 

 upheld in the place previously so occupied. It is impossible to imagine a more 

 imperative call to conquest. The contempt with which the Romans at first treated 

 the subject, by elevating a tuft of straw on a pike as an ensign, was no doubt 

 changed on finding that the nations they combated elevated the objects they 

 worshipped, and became obstinately brave around them. These being conquered 

 and amalgamated with the Roman soldiers would be allowed either to carry their 

 own banner or would see it at the head of their legion, thus preventing desertion 

 and ensuring allegiance. The eagle was the standard of the legions, but each 

 cohort carried a banner with a serpent woven on it called dracbn (the dragon),* 

 which was carried by the draconarius. The Gauls and all the Gallic tribes are 

 shown to have borne the dragon, distinguishing their tribes by the colour of their 

 banner. Drayton gives the colour of the dragon of Wales to be red, and the 

 dragon of England white. The Bayeux tapestry shows the banner of William the 

 Norman to be the old Norse dragon, and he is also surrounded with dragon ensigns 

 of the Keltic people, whose alliance he hoped for, or had already secured. When 

 England and Scotland were at war, the great Scotch seals always exhibit the 

 dragon as supporters in the various reigns ; there are always more than one indi- 

 cating the alliance with Wales, Ireland, and sometimes with Scandinavia. 



The subject is of Oriental origin. Agamemnon had three dragons emblazoned 

 in brilliant colours on his breast-plate. The Trojans also used the serpent for a 

 device, it being sacred with them. When the two serpents from Tenedos had 

 killed the Trojan priest, Laocoon, who had offended Apollo, they calmly retired to 

 the shrine of Minerva, whose emblem was a serpent. She being the goddess of 

 wisdom, it is not improbable that the term ' wise as serpents ' arose from this. 

 The Gallic dragon and the Roman eagle occupy equally the grand summit of the 

 old papal mint at Avignon. 



Dragon ceremonies still exist in several parts of Europe, and till recently were 

 in use on the great main roads leading to Wales. On these roads are also vast 

 di-aconic simulations. There is a cave of worship at Sarphle, near Llangollen in 

 Denbighshire, beneath the head of a vast natural outcrop of white quartz, which 

 assumes the undulations of a huge serpent. The name of the spot is ' The Place 

 of the Serpent ; ' the traditions attached to it are extraordinary. The late Welsh 

 poet ' Ceii-iog ' adopted his name — his family name being Hughes — from what he 

 called the inspiration given him at this place — the stream Ceiriog running at the 

 foot of the hUl on which the serpent reclines. 



This information was privately given to Dr. PhenS, who now — the poet being 

 dead — considers it the property of the Welsh bards, it being, as it were, an 

 inspiration from the Pythian Apollo of Parnassus. 



■ Also called textilis unguis. 



