The Corpse Candle - British Goblins CT021

The Corpse Candle

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 9

by

Wirt Sikes

Corpse Candles are ghostly candle lights that allow us to see through the veil, or seen as an omen of forthcoming doom. How the candle lights are not tricked and how they can be seen coming from the mouth of a corpse. Sikes tells us the story of Morris Griffith and the 'Light before the Burying' as well as how Corpse Candle lights can be seen on the surface of water and streams. He finishes off by discussing the origins of the phantoms of the spirit world which ends the last chapter of Book 2 of British Goblins.

• The Corpse Candle 0:55
  
• Its Peculiarities 2:12
  
• The Woman of Caerau 4:05
  
• Grasping a Corpse Candle 6:26
  
• The Crwys Candle 7:24
  
• Lights issuing from the Mouth 8:39
  
• Jesting with the Canwyll Corph 9:48
• The Candle at Pontfaen 12:18
  
• The Three Candles at Golden Grove 15:21
  
• Origin of Death-Portents in Wales 16:02
  
• Degree of Belief prevalent at the Present Day 17:28
  
• Origin of Spirits in General 19:34
  
• The Supernatural 19:56
  
• The Question of a Future Life 21:30

 

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Caerau
Crwys Candle
Canwyll Corph
Pontfaen
Aneurin
Llandovery
Cymry
Flambeau
Lledrith
Cardiff
Marquis of Bute
John Richards
'O wi! O Dduw!'
Jenny fach, Hach
Thomas Mathews
Liber Landavenis
St. Samson
St. Bubricius
William John
Lanboydi
Carmarthenshire
Morris Griffith
Pembrokeshire
Tre-Davydd
Llanferch-Llawddog
Mr. Higgon
Joshua Coslet
Heol Bwlch y Gwynt (Windgap Lane)
Llandilo Fawr parish
Prophet Jones
Golden Grove
Earl of Cawdor
St. David
King Arthur
Pelagian
Gwrach y Rhibyn
Cyhyraeth
Cambridgeshire
Evansville, Indiana
Feast
Tolaeth
Disraeli
Lothair
Plato
Aristotle

 

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released

Tolaeth Death Sounds - British Goblins CT020

Tolaeth Death Sounds

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 8

by

Wirt Sikes

The Tolaeth Death Sounds includes the strange sounds that foretell death, the story of John Clode and his wife who heard the coffin arrive in their home two days before their son died! Sounds of rapping, knocking, people moving are all commonplace. Sikes tells us the story of the railway accident at Pontypridd, and a couple living nearby heard ghostly footsteps upstairs in their house. Edward Lloyd heard a ghostly voice while lying ill in bed. We hear about the Goblin Funeral which can precede a real funeral by several days. The Cwn Annwn, or Dogs of Hell, howl through the air and the story of Pwyll. King Arthur and the Wild Hunt.

Running Order:

• The Tolaeth Death Portent 0:54
  
• Its various forms 1:40
  
• The Tolaeth before Death 1:53
  
• Ewythr Jenkin's Tolaeth 6:00
  
• A Modern Instance 7:54
• The Railway Victim's Warning 9:10
  
• The Goblin Voice 10:10
  
• The Voice from the Cloud 11:12
  
• Legend of the Lord and the Beggar 12:25
  
• The Goblin Funeral 14:02
  
• The Horse's Skull 15:13
  
• The Goblin Veil 16:24
  
• The Wraith of Llanllwch 17:19
  
• Dogs of Hell 18:32
  
• The Tale of Pwyll 19:46
  
• Spiritual Hunting Dogs 22:55
  
• Origin of the Cwn Annwn 22:28

 

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Tolaeth
Ewythr Jenkin
Llanllwch
Pwyll
Cwn Annwn
Blaenporth, Cardiganshire
Teulu
Gwenllian
Jenny
Llynwent, Radnorshire
Pontypridd
Mary
Edward Lloyd, Llangurig
'Y mae nenbren y ty yn craccio' (the upper beam of the house cracketh)
'Fe dor yn y man' (it will presently break)
'Dyna fe yn tori' (there it breaks)
John, son of Watkin Elias Jones, Mynyddyslwyn
Iolo MSS
Rees Thomas, Carmarthenshire
Rhiw Edwst, near Capel Ywen
'Rhys bach, pa fodd yr y'ch chwi?' (My dear Rhys, how are you?)
Rev. Howel Prosser, Aberystruth
Edmund Jones, the Prophet Jones
Isaac William Thomas, Hafodafel
llanhiddel
Llanllwch Church
Cwn y Wybr
Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed
Pembroke
Narberth
Glyn Cych
Arawn
Thomas Phillips, Telech
Thomas Andrew
River Ebwy
Le Grand Veneur
Fontainebleau, France
Hackelberg, Germany
Britain, King Arthur
Mr. Baring-Gould
Odin
William Henderson
Hermes
Devonshire
River Styx
Indra

 

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released

Welsh Death Omens - British Goblins CT019

Welsh Death Omens

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 7

by

Wirt Sikes

Welsh Death Omens includes the Welsh Banshee or Gwrach y Rhibyn, crying spirits, the groaning spirits as well as corpse candles and the chirping of a bird at the door of a person about to die. Taliesin predicted the frightful monster known as the Fad Felen which comes from the marsh with hair, teeth and eyes like gold and brings death in its wake. Sikes also talks about the frightful female spectres, banshees and black maidens familiar across the Celtic World as harbingers of death.

Running Order:

• Cambrian Death Portents 1:33
  
• The Corpse-Bird 2:48
  
• The Tan-Wedd 4:00
  
• Listening at the Church Door 6:12
  
• The Lledrith 7:27
  
• The Gwrach y Rhibyn 9:22
  
• The Llandaff Gwrach 12:08
  
• Ugliness of this Female Apparition 15:03
  
• The Black Maiden 15:13
  
• The Cyhyraeth, or Crying Spirit 16:45
  
• Its Moans on Land and Sea 17:55
  
• The St. Mellons Cuhyraeth 21:22
  
• The Groaning Spirit of Bedwellty 23:05

 

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Tan-Wedd
Lledrith
Gwrach y Rhibyn
Llandaff Gwrach
Cyhyraeth
St. Mellons Cuhyraeth
Bedwellty
The Banshee
Mr. Baring-Gould
Tolaeth
Cwn Annwn
Cwn y Wybr
Canwyll Corph
Teulu
Aderyn y Corph
Warwickshire
Mr. Davis to Mr. Baxter
Walter Watkins
Neuadd, parish of Brecknockshire
Taf Fechan Chapel
Llewelyn Sion of Llangewydd
Fad Felen
Rhos Church
Maelgwyn Gwynedd
Taliesin
Mallt y Nos
Rev. D. R. Thomas
Archaeologia Cambrensis
Croker
Ceffyl heb un pen
Marw coel
Y mae mor salw a Gwrach y Rhibyn
Fy ngwr (my husband)
Fm ngwraig (my wife)
Fy mlentyn bach (my little child)
Och Dduw!
Cardiff
Cow and Snuffers Inn
Benshi
Sir Walter Scott
Hermes
Black Maiden
Caerleon
Peredur
Avagddu
Glamorganshire
Prophet Jones
David Prosser, of Llanbyther Parish
'Woolach!'
Joshua Coslet
Towy
Carmarthenshire
Inis Cenin
Non, mother of St. David
Llan-non, Church of Non
Monmouthshire
Mary Morgan
Crumlyn Bridge
'O Dduw, beth a wnaf fi?' (O God, what shall I do?)
Meredith Thomas
Thomas Edward Morgan
Anthony Aaron
William Harry Rees

 

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released

Medieval Devil in Wales - British Goblins CT018

The Medieval Devil in Wales

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 6

by

Wirt Sikes

The Medieval Devil in his customary form in Wales. How Sion Cent tricked the Devil and kept his soul and how he was tricked by an old Welshwoman at the Devil's Bridge. We learn about the Devil's Bridge as well as about how to avoid Pacts with the Devil. Sikes tells us of the few visits by angels to Wales as well as the Bardic Tradition of the Creation.

Running Order:

• The Evil Spirit in his customary Form 1:36
  
• The stupid Medieval Devil in Wales 1:53
  
• Sion Cent 3:43
  
• The Devil outwitted 4:26
  
• Pacts with the Fiend and their Avoidance 4:49
  
• Sion Dafydd's Foul Pipe 5:28
  
• The Devil's Bridge and its Legends 8:34
  
• Similar Legends in other Lands 10:10
  
• The Devil's Pulpit near Tintern 11:50
  
• Angelic Spirits 13:03
  
• Welsh Superstitions as to pronouncing the Name of the Evil Spirit 16:03
  
• The Bardic Tradition of the Creation 17:12
  
• The Struggle between Light and Darkness and its Symbolization 18:49
  

 

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Sion Cent
Sion Dafydd
Cardiganshire
Polyphemus
Hercules
Cacus
Odysseus
Peredur
Mabinogion
Gambrinus
der Teufel
Jack the Giant Killer
Norse Jotuns
Arabian Genii
Monmouthshire
Maenol
Pope Benedict IX
Rev. John Kent
Cymric
Grosmont Fair
Monnow, near Grosmont
Diawl
Carmarthenshire
Hills of Arfon
Sion Dafydd
Llanfair-Fechan
Rhiwgyfylchi
Ach! tw! tw!
Main at Frankfort
Switzerland
St. Gothard
Andermatt
Hafod
Tintern Abbey
Cistercian monks
degage (e acute)
Llandogo
Prophet Jones
David Thomas
Pantau
Laugharne
Pa hyd? Pa hyd? Dychwelwch feibein Adda!
Pa hyd? Pa hyd yr erlidiwch y Cristnogion duwiol?
Ress David
Whitlands
Pont y Gwr Drwg
/|\ (Welsh Bardic Name of God)

The Three Rays

Hindus
Brahma, VBishnu
Siva
Einigan Gawr
Genii/Jinns
Ahriman
Vritra
Indra
Ormuzd

 

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

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The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released

Familiar Spirits - British Goblins CT017

Familiar Spirits

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 5

by

Wirt Sikes

Familiar Spirits are known to often throw stones, especially when at Preachers trying to exorcise them! We also hear about the familiar spirits of Magicians and others who deal in the Black Arts. Sikes tells us the legend of the Lady of the Wood, and how she bewitched those around her with illusions. The Devil himself can be seen as a form of familiar, and can transform himself into a huge black mastiff, a black calf or even a round bowl! Finally, we learn how to both summon and exorcise familiars, and how the terrible tailor of Glanbran was asked to summon the Devil.

Running Order:

• Familiar Spirits 0:55
  
• The Famous Sprite of Trwym Farm 2:10
  
• Was it a Fairy? 6:40
  
• The Familiar Spirits of Magicians 7:35
  
• Sir David Llwyd's Demon 7:43
  
• Familiar Spirits in Female Form 10:26
  
• The Legend of the Lady of the Wood 13:40
  
• The Devil as a Familiar Spirit 21:15
  
• His Disguises in this Character 22:41
  
• Summoning and Exorcising Familiars 26:12
  
• Jenkin the Pemrokeshire Schoolmaster 26:50
  
• The Terrible Tailor of Glanbran 29:00
  

 

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Trwym Farm
Sir David Llwyd
Pemrokeshire
Glanbran
diawl
Job John Harry
Mynyydyslwyn
Pwca'r Trwyn
Ellylldan
Thomas Evans
Pwll y Gasseg
Morris Roberts
William Reilly
Blanch y Byd
Dos yn iach ('fare thee well')
Crumlyn
Abercarne
Californian
Bwbach
Cardiganshire
Oxford
Rev. Mr. Thomas Lewis, Landdw & Tolachdy
Radnorshire
'Tafl gerrig o'r afon' (throw stones out of the river)
River Wye
Giraldus
Caerleon, Monmouthshire
Melerius
Lower Gwent
Iolo MSS
Einion
Gwalchmai
Treveilir
Angharad
Kent
Monmouthshire
Maenol
Gorwenydd
Gwyn
Nudd
Ednyved Vychan
Gruddydd ab yr Ynad Coch
cythraul
dera
diafol
Hermes
Vavasor Powell
Pemrokeshire
Narberth
Henry Llewellyn
Ystrad Defoc
Glamorganshire
Marquis of Bute
William Jones
Risca village
Merthyr Tydfil
John Jenkin
Glanbran, Carmarthenshire
Mr. Gwynne

 

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released

Grotesque Ghosts - British Goblins CT016

Grotesque Ghosts

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 4

by

Wirt Sikes

We hear about the grotesque ghosts of Welsh folklore, the story of the minister and the phantom horseman, Anne Jenkins and the giant ghost with the long black tongue. Sikes also tells us about dark or black men in the Mabinogion, spinning or whirling ghosts as well as those that play tricks on people. He leaves us with the story of the Tridoll Valley ghost and its many antics with stones, pilchards and the maid's bed-clothes!

Running Order:

• Grotesque Ghosts 0:53
• The Phantom Horseman 1:44
• Gigantic Spirits 6:08
  
• The Black Ghost of Ffynon yr Yspryd 8:11
  
• Black Men in the Mabinogion 9:54
  
• Whirling Ghosts 11:42
• Antic Spirits 13:31
• The Tridoll Valley Ghost 16:10
• Resemblance to Modern Spiritualistic Performances 23:17
  
• Household Fairies 25:45

 

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronunciations right for you.

Rev. John Jones, Holywell, Flintshire
Heinrich Zschokke
Bala, Merionethshire
Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire
Llanuwchllyn
Edward Frank
Thomas Miles Harry, Aberystruth
Abergavenny
Thomas Lewis, of Llan-haran, Glamorganshire
Anne
Herbert Jenkins, Trefethin
Rhiw-newith
Ffynon yr Yspryd
Mabinogion
Peredur
Carn
Sindbad the Sailor
Cynan
Polyphemus
Odysseus
Prophet Jones
Lewis Thomas
Bedwellty
John Jenkins, Abertillery
Jeremiah James
Abertillery Household
Thomas Andrew
Llanhiddel
Llanllechid, Carnarvonshire
Bangor
Edward Roberts, Llangunllo, Radnorshire
Knighton
William Thomas
The Tridoll Valley Ghost
Williams Evans
Rev. R. Tibbet
Montgomeryshire
Cawnen
Allen
Akron, Ohio
Michael Metzler
Mrs. Knoss
Rochester
Bwbach
Hoibgoblin
Nis
Brownie
Kobolds
Kobold Hinselmann
Grimm
Feldman
Woo, 'Che-wan-luk'

 

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released

Spectral Animals - British Goblins CT015

Spectral Animals

British Goblins: Welsh Folk Lore, Fairy Mythology, Legends and Traditions (1881)

Book 2 Chapter 3

by

Wirt Sikes

We hear abut ghostly hounds, as well as the Gwyllgi or the Dog of Darkness with the gleaming eyes, about how horses can see terrifying spectres. Sikes tells us the story of Old Anthony and the Dog of Darkness ad that of Rebecca Adam who saw and heard its terrible screams..

Running Order:

• Spectral Animals 00:55
• The Chained Spirit 3:02
• The Gwyllgi, or Dog of Darkness 4:28
  
• The Legend of Lisworney-Crossways 5:15
  
• The Gwyllgi of the Devil's Nags 7:32
  
• The Dog of Pant y Madog 8:48
• Terrors of the Brute Creation at Phantoms 10:08
• Apparitions of Natural Objects 13:27
• Phantom Ships and Phantom Islands 14:31

 

Names Used in this Section

All proper names, and words in Welsh or other languages, are recorded here in the show-notes and we've done our best to get the pronounciations right for you.

Rev. Mr. Hughes
Anglesea
Amlwch Village
St. Elian Church
Gwyllgi
Yspaddaden Pencawr
Mousiad
Lisworney-Crossways
Mr. Jenkin
Old Anthony
David Walter, of Pembrokeshire
Cot Moor
The Devil's Nags
Rebecca Adams
Laugharne Castle, Carmarthenshire
Pant y Madog
Indiana
Andrew Jackson Davis
Auguste Comte
Mauthe Doog
Isle of Man
Shock of the Norfolk Coast
Cwn Annwn

 

British Goblins can be found on Archive.org

You can find out more about Wirt Sikes on Wikipedia.

Try the Celtic Myth Podshow for the Tales and Stories of the Ancient Celts at http://celticmythpodshow.com or on Apple Podcasts.

Our theme music is "Gander at the Pratie Hole" by Sláinte.  You can find their music on the Free Music Archive.

 

The next Chapter from Celtic Tomes has been released