Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [1561 x 1568] (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
327 ff. (ff. i-vi + pp. 1-642) ; 210 x 152 mm. Rebound in 1857: laid down inside the upper cover of the present NLW binding is one old calf cover of the pre-1857 binding (with a note on its origin attached); this, blindtooled, including an armorial stamp, was cut from what must originally have been the cover of a large folio book bound in [16 cent.]. Formerly ‘strongly bound in calf’ [RMWL], presumably the 1857 binding; rebound at NLW.
638 pp. : paper
Context area
Archival history
Additions in the italic hand of Humphrey Llwyd occur on pp. 202-3 and 310-15, including his own and his wife’s pedigrees. On p. 515 is an englyn signed by Wyllyam Jones, [16 cent, second ½], [father of John Jones of Gellilyfdy], and, in his hand, an addition to the text on p. 194. Other inscribed names of [16 cent., second ½] are John ap William [perhaps Siôn ap Wiliam ap Siôn] (p. 641) and Richard Jhons (p. 642). On p. 516 are englynion added by another hand of [16 cent., second ½]. A name on p. 143 is added in the hand of John Jones and on p. 370 is his copying mark; the hand of Robert Vaughan occurs on pp. 95, 462 and 479; there are a few notes in other hands of [16-17 cent.] (e.g. pp. 16, 156, 194, 274). Laid down on f. i is the library ticket of Robert Williames Vaughan; on ff. v and vi are notes on the manuscript by W.W.E. Wynne and J. Gwenogvryn Evans.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
A well laid-out but unstructured collection of Welsh pedigrees, predominantly north-east Welsh, on the pattern of achau’r mamau, with decoration in red and green, in the excellent hand of Thomas ap Llywelyn ab Ithel of Bodfari. Written not before 1561 [see Peniarth MS 139ii, p. 403, once part of our manuscript] and not later than 1568 (there are additions in the hand of Humphrey Llwyd who died that year). Apart from some corrections and additions made by the scribe, it is otherwise little annotated. In addition to illustrative englynion (e.g. pp. 170, 348, 558) and short genealogical tracts it includes: an armorial, blazon in Welsh (pp. 98-112); annals, in Welsh, 1468-1551 (pp. 243-9); Y Tri Thlws ar Ddeg (p. 370); ‘llyma hen gymraec’ (pp. 495-503). The scribe’s foliation i-cclxxxxix survives on pp. 23-607; his index, the beginning wanting, is on pp. 1-21 (it includes references up to f. cccxiiii). The ink on some pages is faded and the upper edges of some leaves towards the end are damaged. Sections in Peniarth MS 139i and 139ii that are in the hand of Thomas ap Llywelyn but without his foliation appear to belong to the end of Peniarth MS 138.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to the original manuscript by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Welsh.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A detailed list of the manuscript's contents may be found in J. Gwenogvryn Evans, Report on Manuscripts in the Welsh Language, vol. I (London, 1898-1905), 867-879.
Description based on Daniel Huws, A Repertory of Manuscripts and Scribes c.800-c.1800 (Aberystwyth, 2022), I, 395-396.
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Available on microfilm at the Library.
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Formerly Hengwrt MS 111.
Note
Preferred citation: Peniarth MS 138 [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
Note
Title based on contents.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
March 2024.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Description revised by Maredudd ap Huw.