THE MATTER OF BRITAIN: - damowords

* It has been noted that the Welsh word for shoulder (ysgwyd) is
very similar to the one for shield (ysgwydd), which actually makes
more sense in a battle situation. Here is WM’s attempt at
clarifying the situation;
Upon his shoulders, moreover, did he bear the shield that was
named Priwen, wherein, upon the inner side, was painted the
image of holy Mary, Mother of God, that many a time and oft did
call her back unto his memory.
Giraldus Cambrensis says, ‘the image of the Virgin was fixed on
the inside of Arthur's shield, that he might kiss it in battle.’
** See Appendix C for Arthur's visit to the Holy Land
*** Cai’s slaying of nine witches, & that satanic sisterhood being
the traditional foes of Christ, gives credence to the religious
nature of the battle. I suggest they were some kind of female
Pictish pagan-figure, fighting alongside their brave menfolk in the
same way Irish Druids cast spells during their own Dark Age
battles.
**** This translation error has a precedence. There is a town in
South Wales called Llantrisant, the Parish of the Three Saints -
being St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St Dyfodwg. A settlement has
existed on this site from at least the beginning of the 6th century,
when the translators insist the poet Aneurin wrote of 'the white
houses of Glamorgan,' when referring to Llantrisant. Surely the
‘blessed houses’ would be the better description.
***** Bogle is Scots for ghost, or perhaps it derives from the
Norwegian dialect word for an important man -bugge.
8
CALEDON WOOD
The seventh battle was in the forest of Celidon, that is Cat Coit Celidon.