Captain Rowland Vaughan of Caer-gai, Merioneth ^{1 2 3 4}

  Research Notes:

Eldest son of John Vaughan and Ellen Nanney.

From Snowdonia National Park (http://www.eryri-npa.co.uk/page/index.php?nav1=enjoying&nav2=9&nav3=22&lang=eng&view=graphic&contrast=1) :

"In 1645 during the Civil War, Rowland Vaughan, a famous poet and royalist lived in Caer-gai, approximately a mile from this spot. One day, some of the local inhabitants saw Oliver Cromwell's knights on their way to Caer-gai, and in an attempt to stop them they gathered some yew leaves, which is very poisonous to horses, and threw them in the stream knowing that the knights would stop there so the horses could drink. That is exactly what happened and the horses became ill, and since then the stream is known as Nant Gwenwyn Meirch (stream of horses' poison). Despite the effort of the inhabitants, the knights made it to Caer-gai and the mansion was burnt to the ground. A large farmhouse was built in its place which still stands today."

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Welsh Biography Online ( http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-VAUG-ROW-1590.html ) :

VAUGHAN, ROWLAND (c. 1590-1667), of Caer-gai , Merioneth , poet, translator, and Royalist; the eldest son of John Vaughan and his wife Ellen, daughter of Hugh Nanney of Nannau, Merioneth ; was b. about 1590. He was a descendant (see J. E. Griffith , Pedigrees, 3) of the Vaughan family of Llwydiarth in Montgomeryshire (q.v.) , and it appears that it was his grandfather, of the same name as himself, who was the first of the family to live at Caer-gai (B.M. Harl. MS. 1973). He spent some time at Oxford, although there is no record that he graduated there. He m. Jane, daughter of Edward Price, Tref Prysg, Llanuwchllyn, and according to Hugh Cadwaladr 's elegy (N.L.W. MS. 9), he was survived by three sons and three daughters: JOHN, who matriculated from Hart Hall (now Hertford College), Oxford, in 1635, aged 18, m. Catherine, daughter of William Wynne of Glyn, Merioneth , and became sheriff of Merioneth in 1669-70; EDWARD, who matriculated from All Souls College, Oxford, in 1634, aged 16, graduated B.A. there in 1637/8, and M.A. from Jesus College in 1640, and became vicar of Upchurch, Kent (1642), and Llanynys, Denbs. (1647), and rector of Llangar (1662), Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog (1662), and Mallwyd (1664); WILLIAM; ELLEN; ELSBETH; and MARGARET. Harleian MS. 1973, however, and later sources give the names of his sons as John, Edward, Arthur, and Gabriel, and in addition to the three daughters named above a fourth daughter, Mary, is included, who m. Peter Price, Cynllwyd, fourth son of Thomas Prys (q.v.), Plas Iolyn, Denbs.

In accordance with family tradition Rowland Vaughan played a prominent part in the public life of the county and, like his father, who was sheriff of Merioneth in 1613/4 and 1620/1, he was appointed sheriff in 1642/3. He was a staunch Royalist and it is said that he fought as a captain at the battle of Naseby. Englynion by William Phylip show that he certainly took some active part in the Civil War (Pen. MS. 115) and Caer-gai was burnt down by Cromwell's soldiers on their way from Montgomeryshire in 1645. Vaughan himself was imprisoned at Chester by the Cromwellians in 1650 and his estate given to a kinsman, but after the end of the Civil War and after some years of litigation he recovered his estate and rebuilt Caer-gai.

Many of his englynion and other poems contain references to his political beliefs and to his sufferings at the hand of the Cromwellian party and many of them relate to the topics of the day. He also wrote a number of carols and other poems of a religious nature and translated several hymns from English and Latin into Welsh. The Welsh versions of the hymns in the Book of Common Prayer are generally attributed to him (see Thickens , Emynau a'u Hawduriaid and Llyfr Gweddi Gyffredin, 1664). He also wrote several elegies on the death of eminent Merioneth men. Some of his poems were published in Carolau a Dyriau Duwiol, 1729, Blodeu-Gerdd Cymru, 1759, and other anthologies, and many of them are to be found in contemporary manuscripts, some of them being in his autograph (for an example of his autograph, see illustration between 142 and 143 in N.L.W. Jnl., i).

Rowland Vaughan is better remembered, however, as a translator of religious works, in particular of works supporting the Established Church. The first and most important of these to be published was Yr Ymarfer o Dduwioldeb, a translation which appeared in 1630 of Lewis Bayly (q.v.) , The Practice of Piety. Several later editions of this translation appeared within the following century. This first translation was followed in 1658 by Yr Arfer o Weddi yr Arglwydd (John Despagne), Pregeth yn erbyn Schism (Jasper Mayne), Prifannau Sanctaidd, together with Ymddiffyniad Rhag Pla o Schism (William Brough), and Prifannau Crefydd Gristnogawl, together with Y Llwybraidd-Fodd Byrr (James Ussher). His last published translated work, Evchologia (John Prideaux), appeared in 1660. The translations show not only the meticulous care with which he worked but also his masterly command of an extensive vocabulary and a fluid style of writing. His introductions and dedicatory letters to these works contain numerous allusions to contemporary historical events as well as his own fortunes and family.

Vaughan also translated one other important work, although his translation was never published. Among the Brogyntyn manuscripts deposited in the National Library of Wales some years ago by lord Harlech was found a hitherto unknown portion of Vaughan's translation of Eikon Basilike or The King's Book, together with his dedication addressed to lord Harlech 's ancestor, colonel Sir John Owen (q.v.) ; for this, see N.L.W. Jnl., i, 141-4.

Rowland Vaughan d. 18 Sept. 1667 and the Caer-gai estate passed to his eldest son, John, whose great-granddaughter, Mary Elizabeth (b. 1709), wife of the Rev. Henry Mainwaring, rector of Etwall, sold it, together with Tref Prysg, to Sir Watkin Williams Wynn , about 1740.

The above article on Rowland Vaughan deals with the most notable member of this family and refers to some of his forbears and descendants. The object of the present note is to draw attention to some literary and historical references to the family, and particularly to Rowland Vaughan, in the poems of 'Phylipiaid Ardudwy' (qq.v.) . Rhisiart Phylip , who was 'family bard' at Nannau , near Dolgelley, for a period, wrote an elegy on the death of Annes, daughter of Rhys Fychan, Nannau - she was the wife of Hugh Nanney and grandmother of Rowland Vaughan, who also wrote englynion to her and to his grandfather on the occasion. When Ellen Nanney, Rowland Vaughan's mother, d. in 1617, Rhisiart Phylip wrote an elegy in her memory. Amongst englynion by Rhisiart Phylip is one written in 'reply' to one by Rowland Vaughan; he also wrote two englynion when the news came that Vaughan had received judgement in his favour in respect of Caer-gai in 1637. There are also three englynion by Rhisiart Phylip in 'reply' to three by Vaughan in regard to a poem by the former respecting Rhiwedog, near Bala . Rhisiart Phylip composed two cywyddau gofyn ('request poems') of Caer-gai interest: one to Rowland Vaughan, requesting an exchange of greyhounds, whilst in the other the bard asks John Vaughan to give a greyhound to Lewis Gwyn, Dolau-gwyn , near Towyn. Six englynion praising the translator, and written by Gruffydd Phylip , nephew of Rhisiart Phylip , are printed at the beginning of Yr Ymarfer o Dduwioldeb, 1630, Rowland Vaughan's translation of Lewis Bayly 's well-known work, The Practice of Piety. In the article on 'Phylipiaid Ardudwy' in Cymm., xlii, is quoted the account given by Walter Davies (Gwallter Mechain, q.v.) in the introduction to Eos Ceiriog (1823) of the friendship in the time of the Civil War between Rowland Vaughan and William Phylip , who lived at Hendre Fechan, Ardudwy. When Griffith Vaughan, brother of Rowland Vaughan, d. 1638, William Phylip wrote two elegies upon the occasion. Besides others which he wrote are two referring to the burning of Caer-gai and Ynysmaengwyn in 1645. Later, John Vaughan, the heir of Caer-gai (the son of Rowland Vaughan), wrote a 'cywydd yr adar,' to which William Phylip replied (in Cardiff MS. 64).

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From The History of the Princes, the Lords Marcher, and the Ancient Nobility of Powys Fadog, Vol. 6, by J. Y. W. Lloyd, London, 1887, p. 115:
"Rowland Vaughan of Caer-gai, High Sheriff for co. Merioneth, 1642-3. In August 1645, Caer Gai was burnt by the Parliamentary forces, and he himself was taken prisoner by them in 1650. Jure usoris of Trev Brysg. He was Captain in the Royal Army."

Much more is available from this book.

  Noted events in his life were:

• High Sheriff, 1642-1643, Merioneth, Wales. ⁵

• Caer Gai was burned: by Parliamentary forces, Aug 1645.

• Taken Prisoner: by Parliamentary forces, 1650.

• Jure uxoris: of Trev Brysg.

• Captain: in the Royal Army.

Rowland married Jane Price Heiress of Trev Brysg, daughter of Edward Price of Tref Prysg, Llanuwchllyn and Lowry Lloyd. (Jane Price Heiress of Trev Brysg was born in Coed Pryng, Wales.)