The legend of the Physicians of Myddfai (pronounced: Muthviae)

 

This week I am honoured to welcome another guest blog from Gwenllian Williams, the best selling author of The Conjurer's Apprentice. For those of you who heard Mark Ellis at Bouchercon, try to read this in his accent!

The small town of Myddfai is in South Wales. Today it is just a pretty village with a bakery, shops, churches, chapels, and, of course, several good eating and drinking places. Walking the   streets and looking out at the rolling hills surrounding this hamlet, you would never know that this was the home of one of the most strange, mystical and skilled family in Welsh history – The Physicians of Myddfai.

The legend of the family is steeped in Welsh mythology and the story of a young man who fell in love with a beautiful woman who emerged from a magical local lake – Llyn y Fan Fach.

 

Gwyn, who was the son of a local widow, was walking by the lake looking after his cattle, when a beautiful woman emerged from the water. She appeared to be walking on the water and was combing her hair with a golden comb, using the water as a mirror. He knew she was not of this Earth, but fell hopelessly in love with her and called out to offer her bread. She came towards him, saw the bread, but shook her head saying it was, ‘too hard’ and dived below the surface.

Gwyn returned to his mother, spoke of his disappointment, and the old woman told him to return with soft dough. This he did and waited for hours. At last, the lady of the lake emerged above the surface and glided towards him, but on seeing the bread shook her head saying it was, ‘too moist.’

That night Gwyn thought again and, with his mother, made half-baked bread. The following day, he waited for hours and just as he thought all was lost, cows appeared on the surface of the lake and the lady followed. This time, she took his bread and allowed him to lead her out of the waters.

Gwyn was dazzled and asked her to be his wife. As he gazed at her, he noticed that she had one sandal, strangely tied onto her foot. At last, she agreed, but gave a condition - He was never to hit her and if he did so three times, she would walk back to the lake and back to her father. She then turned and dived below the waters.

Gwyn was devastated and stood on a rock ready to throw himself to a watery grave, when a shout came across the water. There were a group of majestic men beckoning to him, one of them was the father of the maid. With them were two maidens, exactly the same. But which was the one who had taken his bread? He was given the challenge to point out the maid who had stolen his heart. Only if he chose the right one could he have her as a bride. Gwyn was confused. But one of the maids moved her foot – it was fitted with a sandal strangely tied. He took her hand and the father consented. She would come to dwell above the waters and marry Gwyn, bringing with her a dowry of cattle, sheep and other animals which were to be kept at Dinefwr Castle in Llandeilo. There was one condition to her staying with him for the rest of his life. If he struck her three times, she would return to her father. Gwyn declared he would cut off his own arm before he did such a thing. He was told the woman’s name was Nelferch.

They married and were happy as they set up home-farm in a hamlet near Myddfai – a place called Esgair Llaethdy. The farm was successful and bountiful, being stocked with the magical animals from the lake. They were joyful and happy. Three sons were born – all healthy and strong. Life was good. Every day, Nelferch taught her sons about the herbs, the plants and the roots that would heal. They learned how to remedy all ailments using the bounty of the earth.

When their eldest son was seven years old, the family were invited to a wedding in a nearby village. Nelferch said it was too far to walk and demanded a horse. Gwyn agreed and went to get her gloves. When he returned to see she had not moved or called the horse, he playfully tapped the gloves on her arm and asked why she was so slow. She turned, eyes wide and whispered, ‘The first strike, husband.’

Years later, Gwyn and Nelferch were invited to a christening. But while all the guests revelled, Nelferch wailed. Gwyn took her shoulder and asked why she made such a noise. She turned crying louder, ‘because the babe will die and you have made your second strike.’

A few months later the baby died and the funeral was set. While all the mourners wept, Nelferch laughed. Gwyn was angry and took her arm asking why she behaved so badly. She started to weep and said, ‘because the babe is now safe in heaven, but you have made your third strike.’

That night, Nelferch walked to the pastures, called the cattle and the sheep and walked over the mountain to Llyn y Fan Fach. She walked beneath the waves and went back to her father.

Gwyn wept, mourned and never smiled again. It is said that one day, he could live no longer and threw himself into the cold waters of Llyn y Fan Fach. Her three sons went to the lake every day, calling for their mother. Sometime later, the eldest son, Rhiwallan, was searching alone when his mother emerged from the water. She told him that the destiny of her sons and their descendants were to be healers. She would return to teach them, but she would always go back below the water.

And so began the line of physicians that worked, healed and tended to the sick of Wales in Myddfai. Rhiwallon became a doctor to kings and his brothers and their sons followed. They were granted lands and titles and their fame continued for centuries. The family were still serving the community with healing in the late 1700’s

It would be easy to think this just a fairy tale, but no, The healing recipes of the Physicians of Myddfai were written down add exist to this day. The first recipes are written in down in The Red Book of Hengest, that is now owned by Jesus College, Oxford. The second manuscript is owned by the National Library of Wales.  So, are these the magical recipes of a fairy queen who came from beneath the waters of a magical lake and maybe still rises to the surface searching from her sons?

 Gwenllian