PROGRAMME OF THE SESSION 1892-93. 1892. DEC. DEC. 1893. JAN. MAR. 6th.-Annual Dinner of the Society, at the Hôtel Métro- 11th.-Joint Meeting of the Cymmrodorion and Folk-Lore Societies. Address by Professor John Rhŷs, on "Sacred Wells in Wales." Chairman, Mr. D. Brynmôr Jones, Q.C., M.P. 8th.-Paper on "Welsh Bards and English Reviewers," by Mr. Ernest Rhys. Chairman, the Rev. G. Hartwell Jones, M.A. APRIL 12th.-Paper on "The Celt and the Poetry of Nature," by Mr. W. Lewis-Jones, M.A. (University College of North Wales). Chairman, Mr. Ellis Jones Griffith, M.A., LI.M. APRIL 26th.-Address on "Science as a Relaxation," by Mr. W. H. Preece, F.R.S. Chairman, Sir Owen Roberts, F.S.A. MAY 17th.-Paper on "Welsh Secular Music," (with Musical Illustrations), by Mr. Peter Edwards (Pedr Alaw). Chairman, Dr. Isambard Owen, M.A. N.B. As the interest of this paper depended very largely on the Musical Illustrations given by a selected choir, it has not been found practicable to include it in the Transactions. JUNE 13th.-Paper on "The Legends and Tales of the Vale of Clwyd," by Mr. Isaac Foulkes. Chairman, Mr. T. Marchant Williams. JUNE 28th.-Annual Conversazione of the Society, held (by special permission) in the Hall of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, Mincing Lane. The Council desire it to be known that they do not accept any responsibility in respect of the statements or the opinions expressed by the writers of the papers read before the Society. TRANSACTIONS OF THE Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, SESSION, 1892-93. SACRED WELLS IN WALES.1 WHEN I suggested, some time ago, that I did not know that the habit of tying rags and bits of clothing to the branches of a tree growing near a holy well existed in Wales, I was, as I have discovered since, talking in an ignorance for which I can now find no adequate excuse. For I have since then obtained information to the contrary; the first item being a communication received last June from Mr. J. H. Davies of Lincoln College, Oxford, relating to a Glamorganshire holy well, situated near the pathway leading from Coychurch to Bridgend. It is the custom there, he states, for people suffering from any malady to dip a rag in the water, and to bathe the affected part of the body, the rag being then placed on a tree close to the well. When Mr. Davies passed that way, some three years previously, there were, he adds, hundreds of such shreds. on the tree, some of which distinctly presented the appear 1 Read before a joint meeting of the Cymmrodorion and Folklore Societies, held in the Cymmrodorion Library, Lonsdale Chambers, Chancery Lane, W.C., on Wednesday, January 11th, 1893. B ance of having been placed there very recently. The well is called Ffynnon Cae Moch; and a later communication from Mr. Davies embodies his notes of a conversation which he had about the well, on the 16th of December, 1892, with Mr. J. T. Howell of Pencoed, near Bridgend, which notes run thus:-" Ffynnon Cae Moch, between Coychurch and Bridgend, is one mile from Coychurch, 1 from Bridgend, near Tremains. It is within twelve or fifteen yards of the high road, just where the pathway begins. People suffering from rheumatism go there. They bathe the part affected with water, and afterwards tie a piece of rag to the tree which overhangs the well. The rag is not put in the water at all, but is only put on the tree for luck. It is a stunted, but very old tree, and is simply covered with My next informant is Mr. D. J. Jones of Jesus College, Oxford, a native of the Rhondda Valley, in the same county of Glamorgan. His information is to the effect that he knows of three interesting wells in the county. The first is situated within two miles of his home, and is known as Ffynnon Pen Rhys, or the Well of Pen Rhys. The custom there is that the person who wishes his health to be benefited should wash in the water of the well, and throw a pin into it afterwards. He next mentions a well at Llancarvan, some five or six miles from Cowbridge, where the custom prevails of tying rags to the branches of a tree growing close at hand. Lastly, he calls my attention to a passage in Hanes Morganwg, 'The History of Glamorgan,' written by Mr. D. W. Jones, known in Wales as Dafydd Morganwg. In that work the author speaks of Ffynnon Marcros, 'the Well of Marcros,' to the following effect:"It is the custom for those who are healed in it to tie a shred of linen or cotton to the branches of a tree that stands close by; and there the shreds are, almost as |