Physicians of Myddfai
The Physicians of Myddfai were a succession of herbal physicians who lived in the village of Myddfai in Carmarthenshire, Wales. The first record of them is from the 13th century, when Rhiwallon the Physician and his sons Cadwgan, Gruffudd and Einion were doctors to Rhys Gryg, prince of Deheubarth. It is recorded that they treated Rhys when he was wounded in battle near Carmarthen in 1234, but they were unsuccessful in this case and he died of his wounds shortly afterwards at Llandeilo. The succession continued until 1739, when John Jones, the last of the line of physicians, died. Their instructions for preparing herbal medicine have survived in the Red Book of Hergest, which dates from the late 14th century, and in other, more recent, Welsh manuscripts.
Legend
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The origin of the lineage is connected with the legend of Llyn y Fan Fach. In the folk tale,[1] a local young man, son of a widow from Blaen Sawdde (near Llanddeusant) agreed to marry a beautiful girl who arose from the lake, with the condition that he would not hit her three times. He complied easily because the girl was so beautiful, and they were happy for years putting up a house in Esgair Llaethdy near Myddfai, and bringing up a family there. The girl had very special cattle, traditionally still kept at Dinefwr, Llandeilo,[2] and other animals. But over time the man did hit his wife three times, as gentle admonishments. Reasons for why he hit her vary, from the wife laughing at a funeral or crying at a wedding. Regardless, she had to go back to the lake according to the promise, taking the cattle with her. But the mother came back to them to help and instruct her sons, and in particular one called Rhiwallon (in some versions Rhiwallon is the name of the young man who marries the fairy girl). In due course Rhiwallon and the other sons went to the court of Rhys Gryg of Deheubarth, where they became famous doctors who are known today as the Physicians of Myddfai.
Manuscripts
The manuscripts of the Physicians of Myddfai are a collection of instructions concerning the diagnosis of diseases and healing of the sick. Although the legend has a special Welsh flavour, it is connected with the tradition common in Europe in the Middle Ages, a combination of traditional herbal medicine and contemporary ideas about healing the sick. From a linguistic standpoint, these manuscripts are an important source for medical terms and also the names of plants.