I'm sure as heck not going to argue with Trefor Owen's research, but I tend to go with the Levee Dieu idea. The area of Pembrokeshire where this was noted is known as "Little England Beyond Wales" - generally the southern parts which lie below what we call the Landsker Line. It's a very interesting area and there are still a few old timers who speak Pembrokeshire English. The Flemish / French historical connections would lend some weight to the Levee Dieu explanation, although Llef i Dduw makes some sense. Still, I don't think it was a tradition which was found beyond South Pembs and Southwest Carmarthenshire.

sian