Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

aforesaid, to these presents has put to my seal of office at Herefford(west) beforesaid, and the other witnesses abovenamed have likewise put our seals severally to these presents the day and year abovesaid. So ends the document. The identity of the alleged heir, "Perot", remains unsolved. He could have been the "Sir Thomas Perot of Haverfordwest" who fought on the Lancastrian side at Mortimer's cross, and was buried on 13 April 1461 in the Carmelite Friary at Bristol; or it could have been his son Thomas Perot who died on 23 June 1474. It is not unlikely that these depositions were taken as a result of a claim made by later Perrots, for the Haroldstone family was notoriously acquisitive. The description of Thomas ap Owen as "Lieutenant" of Haverfordwest may mean that he was the prepositus (chief officer), for the official title of mayor was not used in 1518. Among others who listened to the deposition, were men bearing the names Vougler, Longman, and Moore, names well-known in the annals of the town. The Revd William Stradling, who had been presented to the rectory of Castlebythe by Sir Owen Perrot of Haroldston, was appointed Chancellor of St. Davids in 1511, an office he held until his death in 1539. The abbreviated name of the town, "Harford" and "Haford" is still used, and many years ago when I dwelt there, the jolly soubriquet "Honey Harfat" was often heard. Perhaps the most interesting item contained in the document is the reference to "Ynglond be yond Walys" which shows that it was well-known beyond the confines of the Principality. This is the earliest known example of the use of the denomination in English, although it had appeared earlier in Latin form. It is somewhat ironic that it should have been an Englishman who corrected the minstrel's verbal slip. By today the difference between the Welsh and English of Pembrokeshire is linguistic rather than racial. The one has respected the other's individuality, resulting in amicable co-existence for many centuries, and it seems a pity that the arrangements whereby this special relationship was achieved should be disturbed. I speak as one who has kinsfolk in both the north and south of the county. There is room for the bard Dafydd ap Gwilym and the minstrel William Messenger in our joint culture.