The famous white witch Huw Llwyd born in Blaenau Ffestiniog in the early part of the fifteenth century ended his days in Rhyd Ddu, between Caernarfon and Beddgelert. His little house was at the foot of one of the more difficult Snowdon climbs called Y Grib (Coxcomb). He had the power during his lifetime to make all black female witches harmless, but nothing suggests he had the same power over male black witches. Huw had travelled Wales, lifting curses and curing people, including rendering the Cat sisters of Betws-y-coed harmless. Now at well over a hundred years old he knew his life as drawing to a close. He was tired, but knew he could not die before getting rid of his two huge books of magic. They had to be returned to their magical donor, as no one else had been given the right to use them. One morning he said to his youngest daughter “I want you to take my books to the little Llyn Pont Rhyd Ddu (The black ford bridge lake) and throw them as far out into the lake as you can. My time is fast running out, dry your tears and do as I ask you faithfully.” The woman promised to do as she was asked and headed off to the lake carrying the heavy books, and with the intention of obeying her father’s wishes. At the lakeside though as she stood ready to throw the heavy books into the water she paused and thought to herself “What a pity to destroy such valuable magic books, I will take them home and hide them from my father”. When she got home Huw asked her “Did you throw my books into the water as I asked daughter?” “Yes “ replied the woman. “Oh! And what did you see there” asked her father. “Nothing unusual father” she answered. Sorrowfully he said to her “Then you did not do as I asked. Go again now and do so. This is my last request” The woman was very tired, but when she looked at her father, looking so frail and agitated, she decided to go to the lake and this time really throw the books in to the deep waters. He had been a goo and kind father to his children. She owed him this at least. She walked slowly to the lake once more carrying the heavy books, stopped at the water’s edge and threw both books as hard as she could one after the other. Before the first book had hit the water a hand came out of the lake and caught it. The second book sank near the spot where the hand had caught the first one. A strange gurgling noise came from below the surface of the lake. Feeling a little nervous she set off quickly for home, as it was getting dark by this time. Her father whispered “What did you see my daughter”? When she told him about the hand coming out of the lake he gave a sigh of contentment. “Good girl” he said, and fell into a deep sleep from which he did not wake. The daughter was comforted for she realised that he had died secure in the knowledge that his books of magic were safe forever, and what a great wizard her father had been.
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