Welsh Journals

the time. Yet as he appealed to the heads of clans the position of his family becomes a question of great importance. The myth of the modest origin and doubt- ful antecedents of the Tudors has already been exploded and need not be touched on here. The contemporary poem which follows not only confirms beyond doubt the belief in Henry's exalted lineage but illustrates the strength of the national sentiment which centred round him. It is remarkable also because, unlike the great majority of the vaticinations, it is in the awdl and not the cywydd form. The title-Owdl Badrig-is curious it may be that the name Patrick is used to typify Henry or, more likely, that the word is a form of Patricius — a designation of nobility in the middle ages. THE PATRICK ODE.2 Noble Lion, wherever thou comest thou art the avenger of the weak, even as an Emperor; and a higher honour, beloved man, was thine from the blood of Tewdwr. The Tewdwr3 of thy nation, of the stamp of the fathers of our hosts like lions or wolves thy father and thy mother were surely ever the most excellent of mates. Thy grace like Mehvas, thousands seek thee and come to thy courts. Compared to thy mansions and thy towns the great city of Troy was but a hamlet. The towns of Man are under seal to thy possession, eight armies from battle-the towns of Kil-wri openly [for thee], and the towns of the North without travail. A highway was made to the north in dignity, earl with the golden cuirass, of handsome bearing; a lion in the chase and a father to all in thy kingdom. 1 See The Union of England and Wales, by W. Llewelyn Williams (Trans. Cymmrodorion Soc., 1907-8). 2 For text see Appendix I. 3 The use of Tewdwr (Lat., Theodorus)— not Tudur (Lat., tutor) — is significant and is, no doubt, an appeal to the South. Henry could claim descent from Rhys ap Tewdwr, King of Deheubarth, through the marriage of Gwenllian, great grandaughter of Rhys, with Ednyfed Vychan. The reference, too, was the more appropriate because it recalled the story of Rhys's exile in Brittany.