that purpose by the See of Rome. Llewelyn ap Iorwerth governed Wales
from A.D. 1194 to 1240, when he died; so that parish churches were
built between five and six hundred years before the time of this
prince.

"This Gelert, or Gilert, must, in all probability, have been some
old monk or saint of that name, who was interred here, and was
either the first founder of this church, or one to whose memory it
was dedicated, if built after his time. Bethgelert, before the
Reformation, was a priory. Lewis Dwnn, a bard of the fifteenth
century, in a poem (the purport of which is to solicit David, the
Prior of Bethgelert, to bestow on John Wynne, of Gwydwr, Esq., a
fine bay horse which he possessed) extols the Prior for his
liberality and learning. Hence we are led to suppose that this monk
was very opulent, and a popular character in his time."

The stories of a hunter killing his favourite greyhound (always a
greyhound) are common to many districts. The book quoted is said to
be written by a Mr. Williams, in 1800.



(9) ORIGIN OF THE WELSH.

Source: An old seaman, who avers he heard it on a ship, on the way
home from Calcutta. I look with suspicion on the story. However, the
Welsh always believed they were descended from the Trojans, and the
author of the book cited says on this point:--

"Elen was a very common name among the ancient British ladies, and