The Burning of Gwylfryn


Centuries ago, just inside the Welsh border, existed a small village known as Gwylfryn.

In those days, folk didn’t have names, but used what they did and where they came from as their ‘name’.

One villager, Gwylfryn Hunterre, was the hunter. So proud a marksman was he, only one bird defied his arrows; the great and mystical Phoenix.

Determined to mark the final notch on his bow, he set off early one morning and spotted the fiery creature flying above the huts in the village.

The bird didn’t stand a chance. Hunterre’s aim was perfect. The bird fell from the sky like a rock and landed on one of the rooftops, causing it to burst into flames. The fire spread, and soon the whole village was alight.

The villagers scurried around, saving what they could, but most was destroyed, including Hunterre’s reputation who was renamed Gwylfryn Foolle, the village idiot.

10 responses to “The Burning of Gwylfryn”

  1. http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com avatar

    Excellent story, beautifully told. A good lesson for pride going before …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      I think so, Viv! Thanks for commenting! 🙂

      Like

  2. prenin avatar

    And, of course, the Pheonix rose from the ashes! 🙂

    God Bless!

    Prenin.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Of course it did, Prenin… you can’t keep a good Phoenix down for long!

      Like

  3. colonialist avatar

    … and his fee for that bit of hunting was nix!
    Good story.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      It was indeed, Col. Although he did get more than he bargained for, I suppose…

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Diane Henders avatar

    Oops. Hate when that happens… Great story!

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Diane… things certainly didn’t go as expected that day!

      Like

  5. Andra Watkins avatar

    Love the story, and the Welsh names.

    Like

    1. Tom Merriman avatar

      Thanks, Andra… the thing is, I made them all up. I then discovered that there is a place in Wales called Gwylfryn…

      Liked by 1 person

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