Welsh Journals

Our examination seems to show, then, that the manuscript used by Wotton was not written by George Owen, but more probably by some one living at St. Davids who had first-hand knowledge of the country round about it. And it is probable that Wotton's conjecture that the writer was a Vicar Choral will prove correct. To the reasons which Wotton gave for his conclusion much could be added. We notice that though somewhat disdainful of the little city, the anonymous writer delights in its ancient remains. The cathedral fascinates him, and, like the typical 16th century antiquarian that he is, he proceeds to blazon its heraldry. We notice that in addition to the special interest in all matters affecting the Vicars Choral which Wotton noticed, the writer shows himself intimately acquainted with the life of the Cathedral and can tell us much of its traditions. He can recall that the College of Priests which belonged to the Vicars Choral in Edw. VIth's Time, was dissolv'd, and (as it was said) was betray'd by one Green, Sub-Chantor, and Master of the College at that Time. It is now altogether ruinous (Survey, p. 49). He is well acquainted with the inner working of the Cathedral. He can tell us exactly what happened to the offerings which the numerous pilgrims made at the Chapels near the sea (St. Nun's, Capel-y-Pistyll, Capel Stinan, Capel Patrick, and Capel-y-Gwrhyd) which were placed there, he says, 'to draw the Devotion of the Sea-Men and Passengers, when they first came Ashore; other Pilgrims us'd likewise to come to them. What was there offer'd was carry'd to the Cathedral, and divided every Saturday among the Canons and Priests. Some yet living, that belong to the Church, can remember since the Offering-Money was brought on Saturdays to the Chapter-House, and there divided by Dishfuls, the Quantity not allowing them Leisure to tell it' (Survey) pp. 54-5). He knows that of two little islands lying to the south of Ramsey one belongs to the Chantor (i.e., Precentor) the other to the Archdeacon of Carmarthen. He knows too, which are the bishop's lands, and what payments he receives for them. He can tell us that Twelve Years Revenue of the Bishopric will not repair the part of the Bishop's Palace still left uncovered from the time of Henry VIII and Edward VI, when Bishop Barlow stripped it for the sake of the money which the sale of its lead brought in. Everywhere, in fact, we seem to find confirmation of Wotton's conjecture. If we accept it, it may even be possible to identify the actual writer. One of the Vicars Choral at St. Davids between 1 565-1 594 was Thomas Tomkins, a man who, from what we know of him, must have been in many ways remarkable. Tomkins came of a Cornish family long settled at Lostwithiel. His father, Ralph Tonkin,-the son appears to have changed the name to Tomkins on leaving Cornwall- was a man of some property, as may be gathered from a Lay Subsidy of Lostwithiel for the year 1543/4. According to the pedigree of the family, given in the 1683 Visitation of Hereford and Monmouth, the St. Davids Tomkins sold his estate in Cornwall before coming to St. Davids. In after years Tomkins was to become the father of a long and distinguished family. We first come across his name in St. Davids records as a witness to a deed dated 28 July, 1565.1 He was then a Vicar Choral, whether priest or lay vicar is not known. But by 1573 he was possibly in Orders, for 1 West Wales Historical Records, 1916, p. 11.