Note {87c} — PART III. THE PATRIOTIC.

The bard of the palace, under the ancient Welsh princes, always accompanied the army when it marched into an enemy’s country; and while it was preparing for battle or dividing the spoils he performed an ancient song, called “Unbennaeth Prydain,” the Monarchy of Britain. It has been conjectured that this poem referred to the tradition of the Welsh, that the whole island had been possessed by their ancestors, who were driven into a corner of it by their Saxon invaders. When the prince had received his share of the spoils, the bard, for the performance of this song, was rewarded with the most valuable beast that remained.—See Jones’s Historical Account of the Welsh Bards.