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A composite volume containing transcripts of prose and verse items in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'). Pp. 1-80 contain transcripts of Welsh poems, almost entirely 'englynion', by, or attributed to, Llywelyn ab Rhosser 'o Sainffag[an]', Dafydd Llwyd Mathew, Dafydd ap Siencyn Fynglwyd, Richd. Watcins, vicar Llanellen, Thomas Llywelyn 'o Regoes', Llywelyn Thomas, Edwd. Dafydd 'o Fargam', Siôn y Cent, Siôn Morys 'o Lanfabon', Thomas Lewys 'o Lechau', Rhys Brychan, Hywel Bwr Bach, Huw Cae Llwyd, Dafydd Benwyn, Iorwerth Fynglwyd, Morys Cyffin, Hopcin Thomas 'o Faglan', Rhaff ab Rhobert, Siôn Tudur, Gwerfyl Mechain, Rhobert Cludro, Tudur Aled, Dafydd ap Edmwnd, Hywel ap Syr Matthew, Bleddyn Siôn 'o Lancarfan', Hywel Llwyd, Dafydd ap Gwilym, Siôn Philip 'o Hendrewaelod', Lewys Morys, Dafydd, abad Margam, Dafydd Dafies 'o Gastell Hywel', Iolo Morganwg, Huw Llwyd Cynfel, Siôn Cydewain, Llawdden, Syr Lewys Mochnant, Lewis Môn, Roger Cyffln, Syr Ifan o Garno, Wiliam Byrchinsha, Ednyfed Fychan, Cwnin Brydydd, Twm Siôn Catti, Lewys Morganwg, Rhys Brydydd, ? Lewys Glyn Cothi, Dafydd Nanmor, Jenkin Richards 'o Flaenau Gwent', Ieuan Gethin ab Ieuan ab Lleision, Siôn Brwynog, William Cynwal, Richard Huws, Dr. Morgan, esgob Llanelwy, Lewys Powel, William Middelton, Hopcin Tomas ab Einiawn, Elis Drwynhir, Harri ap Thomas ap Wiliam 'o'r Ddiserth', Grufydd Hiraethog, Morys Dwyfech, Owain Gronw, Hywel ap Rhys, Syr Lewys Gethin, Richard Cynwal, Roger y Gwydd, Edmwnd Prys, Dr. R. Davies, esgob Ty Ddewi, Rhys Cain, Huw Roberts Llun, Rhisiart Iorwerth 'o Langynwyd', ? Huw Ednyfed, Einion ap Dafydd Llwyd, Rhydderch Roberts, Syr Lewys y defaid, Syr Lewys Anwyl, Robert ab Han, Syr Ieuan Brydydd, Syr Owain ap Gwilym, Catherin ferch Howel, Wiliam Llyn, Owain Gwynedd, Dafydd Alaw, Evan Llwyd Sieffre, Morgan ap Huw Lewys, Robert Dafydd Llwyd, Wiliam ap Hywel ap Tomas, Morys Parri Llen, Ifan Siôn 'o Wedir', and Sils ap Siôn, and other unattributed poems. The inscriptions on p. 81 and p. 83 and the note on p. 82 appear to indicate that they were intended as cover and 'title-page' respectively for a home-made booklet containing a corpus of 'englynion' by Jenkin Richards of Blaenau Gwent, co. Monmouth, extracted mainly 'o Lyfrau Harri Siôn o Bont y Pwl a Llyfr ym Meddiant Rhys Thomas, Argraffydd o'r Bont Faen ym Morganwg', but only four 'englynion', presumably meant to be attributed to this poet, follow on p. 84. Pp. 91-198 contain miscellaneous items including 91-2, notes headed 'On the oldest places of Christian Worship in Wales'; (continued)

93-7, 105-06, notes, generally derogatory, on the character and literary and metallurgical activities of Lewis Morris; 100- 04, notes on 'Welsh Ideas of Celibacy'; 122-8, a transcript of thirty 'englynion' entitled 'Ymatreg Llywelyn a Gwrnerth' attributed to Tysiliaw fab Brochwel Ysgithrawc; 130, a note relating to an 'eisteddfod' held at Y Pil (Pyle, co. Glamorgan), 1740; 131- 41, notes relating to 'singing to the harp', the 'bardd telyn', carol and 'alsain' verse, the adapting of verse to music, etc.; 147-62, transcripts of 'englynion' attributed to Rhobert, Tywysog Norddmanty, Morys Kyffin, Wm. Byrchinsha, and Gutto'r Glyn, extracts from the works of various Welsh poets, etc.; 167, a version of William Midleton's introductory epistle [to his Bardhoniaeth neu brydydhiaeth, y llyfr kyntaf (Llundain, 1593)] copied 'Ex Vol. 40. Mr. Panton' [i.e. Panton MS.40 now NLW MS 2008]; 168-9, five stanzas of a hymn tune attributed to Elis Wynn; 169, a transcript of two 'englynion' attributed to Dr. [John] Davies; 171, a list of the commotes and hundreds of Glamorgan copied from '68. P.P.' [i.e. Panton MS 68 now NLW MS 2034]; 175-88, an alphabetical list of Welsh bards 'o Lyfr D'dd Ddu o'r Eryri'; and 188-98, miscellanea including transcripts of 'englynion' attributed to Siôn Mawddwy, Ieuan Tew, William Philip, and D[afydd] ab Gwilym, miscellaneous triads, genealogical data relating to various Welsh bards and Syr Rhys ap Thomas, etc. Pp. 207-390 (previously paginated 1-184) contain a collection of maxims, proverbs, triads, sayings, etc., attributed to Cattwg Ddoeth and described on a 'title-page' to the section ( p. 199) as 'Llyma Ddoethineb Cattwg Ddoeth o Lancarvan' and in a concluding note (p. 390) as 'Llyfr y cyntaf y Gwyddfardd Cyfarwydd'. In a note on the aforementioned 'title-page' (p. 199) Edward Williams claims to have transcribed this collection in 1799 from a manuscript in the possession of Siams Thomas of Maerdy Newydd, co. Glamorgan. Preceding and following the actual text of the collection are transcripts of a prefatory letter dated 1685 (pp. 201-06) and of the concluding note already referred to (p. 390) both of which are attributed to the Glamorgan scribe and copyist Thomas ab Iefan of Tre Bryn as compiler of the manuscript from which Edward Williams was allegedly copying (see TLLM, t. 172; IM, tt. 291-4). Pp. 391-477 contain a transcript of a collection, in alphabetical order, of over three thousand Welsh proverbs attributed to Cattwg Ddoeth ('Llyma Ddiarhebion Cattwg Ddoeth . . . sef yw hwnn Ail Lyfr y Gwyddfardd Cyvarwydd'). This collection, according to the aforementioned note at the end of the preceding section (p. 390) attributed to Thomas ab Iefan, had been compiled by the said Thomas from various sources and formed a continuation of the previous section. Edward Williams's claim with regard to the Siams Thomas volume is probably intended to apply to the contents of pp. 391-477 as well. The contents of pp. 199-390 have been published in The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales . . ., vol. III (London, 1807), pp. 1-99.

A manuscript consisting of a number of ? home-made note-books or booklets containing material in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') bound together into one volume. P. 1 (which with pp. 2, 47-8 formed the covers of booklet 1) is inscribed 'Cymreigyddyn Rhif I, Silurian Words and others, miscellaneous'. The contents of pp. 3-24, 45-7 (other pages blank) of this booklet consist almost entirely of groups or lists of miscellaneous Welsh words with, variantly, English or Welsh equivalents or definitions, explanatory notes, phrases or poetic extracts to illustrate usage or meaning, etc. Also included is a list of words and phrases illustrating differences of usage in the Silurian and Venedotian dialects. P. 49 (which with pp. 50, 67-8 formed the covers of a second booklet) is inscribed 'Cymreigyddyn Rhif II. Casgliadau Llythyregawl' and (in the hand of Taliesin Williams) 'Poets and Poetry appertaining to Merthyr Tydvil Promiscuously inserted Mai 13, 1831', but the booklet is blank except for p. 68 which contains a note on the language and style of the Gogynfeirdd and the probability that such a poetic style had been introduced into Welsh poetry through Gruffudd ap Cynan's connection with Icelandic sources. P. 69 (which with pp. 70, 119-20 formed the covers of a third booklet) is inscribed 'Cymreigyddyn Rhif V (To go with the Salmau London proof paper)' and (in the hand of Taliesin Williams) 'Bannau'r flwyddyn. Tynghedfen Taliesin'. Most of this section is blank but pp. 71-5, 78-9 contain material similar to that which is found on pp. 3-24, 45-7, and also some verse attributed to Taliesin. P. 121 (which with pp. 122, 169-70 formed the covers of a fourth booklet) is inscribed 'Cymreigyddyn Rhif VI', but the section is blank except for pp. 122-9 which contain material similar to that on pp. 3-24, 45-7, 71-5, 78-9. P. 171 (which with pp. 172, 221-2 formed the covers of a fifth booklet) is inscribed 'Extracts from E. Llwyd's MS. in Mr. Nichol's possession', 'Topographical Anecdotes of Glamorgan, & c.', 'Gallia Togata, Celtica, & Braccata from Littleton. Last page of this book', and (in the hand of Taliesin Williams) 'Pit Falls and Subterranean Rivers in Glamorgan'. The greater part of this section is blank but pp. 173-9, 181-5 contain lists or groups of Welsh words with notes such as those noted in the preceding sections (some being associated with specified areas) and of names of dwellings or topographical features in specified parishes or counties in Wales, a sketch plan relating to a cross in Cowbridge churchyard, a brief note relating to Edward Llwyd, and a geological note, pp. 187-8, notes headed 'Topographical Anecdotes of Glamorgan', and pp. 220-21, a list of Latin proper names, etc., relating to Gaul, the Celts, the Cimmeri, etc., 'from Littlelton's Dictionary'. Frequently interspersed amongst the material on pp. 173-9, 181-5 is the name of Edward Llwyd and this material may have been extracted from one of his manuscripts as indicated on the cover to the section (p. 171). P. 223 ( which with pp. 224, 271-2 formed the covers of a sixth booklet) is inscribed '1. Extracts from Ystatut Rhuddlan. 2. Extracts from Hywel Dda end of this book reversed. 3. Historical Fragments from various MSS. Welsh'. The greater part of the section is blank but pp. 226-30 contain legal words, phrases, and extracts from a Welsh version of the Statute of Rhuddlan and ? other sources with English equivalents or definitions of the words and phrases, and pp. 269-70 miscellaneous extracts naming early, some legendary, Welsh poets, etc., and a transcript of the explicit of a copy of a version of the laws of Hywel Dda transcribed by 'Dafydd sgrifennydd i Iorwerth vab Llywelyn vab Tudur' giving the pedigree in direct line of the said Llywelyn. Pp. 273-84 (without previous covers) contain extracts from, or comments on statements in, [Theophilus Jones: A History of the County of Brecknock, vol. 1, Brecknock, 1805]. P. 285 (which may have been one of the covers of the booklet now paginated 293-340) is inscribed 'Philology - Bardism. Historical Anecdotes, &c., a few proverbs Glam. Gwasgargerdd Iolo Morganwg. Criticisms by E. Wms.', and (in the hand of Taliesin Williams) 'Pennillion Arwest. cynghanedd copied but not the pennillion (several)'. The greater part of the section is blank but pp. 292-308 contain Welsh words with notes of a varying nature thereon, poetic extracts to illustrate some of these words or quoted in connection therewith including transcripts of 'englynion' attributed to Raff ab Robert, Gwerfyl Mechain, Syr Siôn Gruffydd, and Thomas Llywelyn, a list of Welsh words which in Monmouth usage had an initial G but which in Glamorgan were used without this initial consonant, notes on stones called variously Maen Meian, Maen Gorchest, Maen Ambor, Maen Gobaith, and Gwal y Filast, seven four-line stanzas of Welsh free-metre verse by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg', further stanzas of Welsh free-metre verse, brief notes relating to mutations in Welsh compound words, etc.