him to consult his brother, the King of France, who was renowned for his wisdom. Yet where could they meet where they would not be heard? Lludd had an idea. He set sail across the English Channel and arranged to meet his brother half-way. Their ships met and the brothers embraced. Before they discussed their plans, Llevelys had a long bronze horn made and they spoke through this, but whatever was said came out the contrary. Wisdom became folly; love became hate. Llevelys perceived there was a devil frustrating them and knew what to do. A good, strong wine was poured through the horn to flush the devil out, so only truth could be heard. In vino veritas indeed!
Now they could plan without hindrance. Llevelys had heard of the Three Plagues and knew what to do.
‘First take these insects and let them breed; then mash them together with water. Then summon together the Corannyeid and all the people of his realm under the pretence of making peace with them. Then you must scatter the water over the whole crowd and this will drive the enemy out but leave your own people unhurt.’
Then Llevelys explained the cause of the Second Plague: ‘The terrible scream is caused by two dragons fighting one another – a native and an invader: red, the British; Saxon, the white. Here is how you remedy it. Measure the length and breadth of the land and where you measure the exact centre dig a pit, fill it with mead, cover it with silk, and wait. The scent of the mead will draw the dragons out. Changing shape, they will fight over it until they grow exhausted, turn into two pigs, then they’ll fall into the mead pit, drink the mead and fall asleep. Wrap the pigs in the silk, place them in a stone chest and bury them in the strongest place on the island. As long as they remain there no plague shall befall Britain.’
‘As for the Third Plague – it is caused by a mighty magician, who places everyone under a sleeping spell and carries off the food and drink. Place a vat of cold water close by and if you grow sleepy step into the vat. This will keep you awake long enough to catch your culprit.’
Lludd thanked his wise brother and set off back to Britain to heal his kingdom of these Plagues.
Without wasting time he summoned all of his people and the Corannyeid together to broker peace. Meanwhile, he mashed the insects up, mixed them with water, and hid the contents. When everyone had gathered he threw the contents over the entire assembly. As it hit the Corannyeid, they squealed in pain for the mixture was poisonous to them. They fled. And his people were left unharmed. Result!
Next, he set about measuring the length and breadth of the land and he found the exact centre to be Oxford. Here, he had a pit dug and filled it with his finest mead. A piece of silk covered it. And the trap was set. Then the red and white dragons appeared, changing shape in a furious battle until, exhausted, they turned into pigs and plummeted into the mead-pit. There, they drank themselves to sleep. The sound of dragons snoring is a terrible thing! Lludd quickly gathered them up in the silk and placed them in a stone chest. Without sparing the horses, they were taken to the strongest place on the island, under Eyri in the north of Wales, Dinas Emrys, where they were buried. And there they remained, safe and sound.
Finally, Lludd ordered a great feast to be prepared and a vat of cold water placed next to it – he himself standing guard, armed with weapons. There was much feasting and fine entertainment and come the third watch of the night he grew drowsy, but he immersed himself in the icy water, which soon woke him up! In the middle of the night, an armoured giant with a basket on his back stole into the hall and starting helping himself to the feast, carrying off all the food and drink. Lludd marvelled that the basket could hold so much. He set off after the feast-thief, crying, ‘Stop! Stop!’ Lludd challenged him to a fight there and then, shirking not at the
Now they could plan without hindrance. Llevelys had heard of the Three Plagues and knew what to do.
‘First take these insects and let them breed; then mash them together with water. Then summon together the Corannyeid and all the people of his realm under the pretence of making peace with them. Then you must scatter the water over the whole crowd and this will drive the enemy out but leave your own people unhurt.’
Then Llevelys explained the cause of the Second Plague: ‘The terrible scream is caused by two dragons fighting one another – a native and an invader: red, the British; Saxon, the white. Here is how you remedy it. Measure the length and breadth of the land and where you measure the exact centre dig a pit, fill it with mead, cover it with silk, and wait. The scent of the mead will draw the dragons out. Changing shape, they will fight over it until they grow exhausted, turn into two pigs, then they’ll fall into the mead pit, drink the mead and fall asleep. Wrap the pigs in the silk, place them in a stone chest and bury them in the strongest place on the island. As long as they remain there no plague shall befall Britain.’
‘As for the Third Plague – it is caused by a mighty magician, who places everyone under a sleeping spell and carries off the food and drink. Place a vat of cold water close by and if you grow sleepy step into the vat. This will keep you awake long enough to catch your culprit.’
Lludd thanked his wise brother and set off back to Britain to heal his kingdom of these Plagues.
Without wasting time he summoned all of his people and the Corannyeid together to broker peace. Meanwhile, he mashed the insects up, mixed them with water, and hid the contents. When everyone had gathered he threw the contents over the entire assembly. As it hit the Corannyeid, they squealed in pain for the mixture was poisonous to them. They fled. And his people were left unharmed. Result!
Next, he set about measuring the length and breadth of the land and he found the exact centre to be Oxford. Here, he had a pit dug and filled it with his finest mead. A piece of silk covered it. And the trap was set. Then the red and white dragons appeared, changing shape in a furious battle until, exhausted, they turned into pigs and plummeted into the mead-pit. There, they drank themselves to sleep. The sound of dragons snoring is a terrible thing! Lludd quickly gathered them up in the silk and placed them in a stone chest. Without sparing the horses, they were taken to the strongest place on the island, under Eyri in the north of Wales, Dinas Emrys, where they were buried. And there they remained, safe and sound.
Finally, Lludd ordered a great feast to be prepared and a vat of cold water placed next to it – he himself standing guard, armed with weapons. There was much feasting and fine entertainment and come the third watch of the night he grew drowsy, but he immersed himself in the icy water, which soon woke him up! In the middle of the night, an armoured giant with a basket on his back stole into the hall and starting helping himself to the feast, carrying off all the food and drink. Lludd marvelled that the basket could hold so much. He set off after the feast-thief, crying, ‘Stop! Stop!’ Lludd challenged him to a fight there and then, shirking not at the
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