Hakluyt’s account is that Prince Madog, “prepared certain Ships with Men and Munition, and fought Adventures by Seas, sailed West.  That he returned to his own Country, and declared the pleasant and fruitful Countries he had seen without Inhabitants; that he got together, a number of Men and Women to go with him; that he took leave of his Friends, and returned to his Companions, whom he had left behind.”  Llwyd and Hakluyt agree in saying that Madog arrived in that Western Country in the Year 1170, and returned back, and went the second time with Ten Sailes.”  The Authors of the Universal History seem to have mistook Hakluyt.  Besides Hakluyt says, he received this account from Guttun Owen; from whom Llwyd also received his Information; it is not therefore likely that Hakluyt should differ so materially from his Authorities.

In page 51, it is observed that when the Romans invaded this Island, the Ancient Britons used the Greek Alphabetical Character in writing.  This is expressly said by Julius Caesar.  The Welsh tongue on this Day bears a strong resemblance, in Words and Letters to the Hebrew and Greek.  Instances may be seen in a Pamphlet, published in 1783, entitled, Thoughts on the Origin of Language, &c.  The Gutturals in the three Languages are founded much alike.  The [Illustration], Hebrew, the X, Greek. and the Ch. in Welsh are pronounced exactly alike.  The English, make very little, if any difference in pronunciation, between the Greek X, and the K, both are sounded like the English K. but they have a very different sound; of which no Idea can be conveyed, but by articulation.  It is very familiar to the Welsh, and to the Scots, Irish and Germans.

The, w Omega, Greek, in the Welsh, is the O long, and of the same figure, and sound.  Thus in English, “good” in Welsh is written, “gwd.”

There can hardly be any doubt but that the Roman Characters were introduced by the Romans; and, as more simple, soon became general.  The Greek, of consequence, gradually declined.  However the Britons seems to have preserved the sound, though not the Form of their Alphabetical Characters.

It may however be thought probable, as hath been above observed, that the Scriptures were written in the Welsh Language, but in Greek Characters.

* * * * *

Published by the same Author.

Thoughts on the Origin of Language, and on the most rational and natural manner of teaching the Languages. p. 2s.

A free Enquiry into the Authenticity of the first and second Chapters of St. Matthew’s Gospel. &c. 2d Edition.  Much enlarged p. 4s.