PREFACE.

To those who are acquainted with the history of

Wales, and with books particularly esteemed by its inhabitants, the title of this volume will sufficiently explain its contents. They will expect to find a selection of pieces from the Poems of the Rev. Rees Prichard, formerly Vicar of Llandovery; or the best parts of his work, called "The Welshman's Candle," in a modern dress. Such being the nature of the present performance, some account of the original Author and his work, with a few words on what is now offered to the Public, appear to be required in publishing an Improved Version.

Mr. Prichard was born at Llandovery, in the county of Carmarthen, about the year 1575, and the 21st of the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He received his early education in those parts, and at the age of eighteen was sent to Jesus College, Oxford. On the 25th of April, 1602, he was ordained Priest at Witham, in Essex, by

John, Bishop of Colchester, and took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in June following. · On the 6th of August, in the same year, the Vicarage of Llandovery was collated on him, by Anthony, Bishop of St. David's; and, in November, 1613, he was instituted Rector of Llanedy, on the presentation of James I. These two livings, both in the diocess of St. David's, he held by dispensation from the Archbishop; when he became Chaplain to Robert, Earl of Essex. In the following year, he was made Prebendary of the Collegiate Church of Brecknock, by the above-mentioned Bishop of St. David's; and in 1626, he took the degree of Master of Arts, and was made Chancellor of St. David's, by Dr. Laud, who had then become his diocesan.

It is to be regretted that so few authentic particulars can be collected of the life and labours of Mr. Prichard, the principal account hitherto published being that of Wood, in his “Athenæ Oxonienses;" of whom, as an Author, Bishop Burnet says, "That poor writer has thrown together such a tumultuary mixture of stuff and tattle, and has been so evidently employed by some of the Church of Rome, to reproach all the greatest men of our church, that no man, who takes care of his own reputation, will take any thing upon trust that is said by one who has no reputation to lose."* It appears, therefore, from authority, nearly as good as any that can

* Letter to the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry. p. 9.

now be obtained, that when Mr. Prichard came to reside at Llandovery, as minister of the parish, he was far from being qualified, in respect to personal religion, for the duties he had to perform. According to tradition, he was extremely gay, and addicted to drinking. His reformation is said to have been effected in the following very singular manner, He had a favourite goat, which used to ramble about the town, and was once enticed into a public house by some loose fellows, who, made it drunk with ale. After this the animal seemed: more disposed than its owner, to learn wisdom from past misfortune. It would never come near the tavern, and always retained a strong aversion to that intoxicating liquor, of which it had been made to drink. It would neither taste the deceitful draught, when offered it, nor even endure the smell of that which had proved so hurtful and inconvenient. This sagacious conduct of his goat so powerfully arrested the mind of Mr. Prichard, as to render him ashamed of the odious sin of drunkenness, while it led to a train of reflections which, under God, became the means of his conversion! This story is often related in a different manner, as to some of the circumstances; but the relation here given, is not only the most probable, but most honourable to the clerical character, and is what the author received from an intelligent friend, on whose accuracy he can rely. The account of Mr. Prichard's former habits is corrobor

ated, in some measure, by the following lines, in the poem on "Election and Efficacious Grace:"

"Call'd by a voice, distinct and loud,

I now forsake the drunken crowd,
My Father's child in truth to be,

And he the source of joy to me."

It is, however, certain, that after Mr. Prichard had been some time at Llandovery, he entered upon a more serious discharge of his ministerial duties; called the attention of his countrymen to the great doctrines of the gospel; exhorted sinners to repentance; and was very much in the habit of improving any national calamity, or more local dispensation of providence, with a view to promote true religion.

As a Preacher, he was one of the most zealous and popular in his day, and one of those who did not scruple to depart occasionally from ecclesiastical forms and usages, when he thought his usefulness might be thereby increased. "Such was his popularity," says Mr. Fenton," and so impressive his manner, that once when he came to keep residence at St. David's, he was obliged to have a temporary moveable pulpit in the church-yard, the nave of that cathedral, spacious as it is, not being large enough for his overflowing congregation; for which, such was the fanaticism of the times, he was libelled in the spiritual court.”* On this memo*Fenton's Pembrokeshire, p. 319.