A volume containing transcripts of Welsh verse in strict metre (consisting mainly of 'cywyddau') transcribed, October [18]89 - February [18]90, by I[saac] F[oulkes] [newspaper proprietor and publisher]. Many of the poems are annotated to indicate that they were copied out of a volume in the possession of 'W.J.' of Llangollen, and the whole work appears to be an incomplete transcript of NLW MS 670D, which itself consists of a collection of Welsh poems transcribed by William Jones ('Bleddyn'), antiquary, local historian, etc., of Llangollen. The poets whose work is represented include Gwerfil Mechain, Howel Dafi alias Hywel ap Dafydd ap Ieuan ap Rys (Bardd Raglan), Sion ap Phelppot, Robert ap Dafydd Llwyd, Iorwerth Fynglwyd, Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (o Fathafarn), John ap Howel ap Tudur, Huw Cae Llwyd, Lewys Daron, Bedo Brwynllys, ? Gruffydd ap Ieuan Fychan, Syr Rhys o Garno, Morus ap Hywel ap Tudur, Gruffydd Hiraethog, Huw Llwyd Cynfael, Ifan Tew, Dafydd Nanmor, Cadwaladr Cesail, Huw Ifan ap Huw (o'r Bryn bychan), John Ifan, Rhisiart Cynwal, Huw Machno, Syr John Leiaf, Huw Pennant, Rhys Nanmor, Sion Dafydd Penllyn alias Sion Dafydd Las alias y Bardd Meddw (o Nannau), Syr Dafydd Owain, Gruffydd ab Ieuan ab Llewelyn Fychan, Hywel Cilan, Lewis Môn, Hywel Gethin, Efan ab Gruffydd Leiaf, Watkyn ab Risiart, Hywel ap Reinallt, Mathau Bromffield, Watkyn Clywedog, William Lleyn (Bencerdd), William Cynwal, Simwnt Fychan (Bencerdd), Euan Llafar, Thomas Prys (o Blasiolyn), William Vaughan, Huw Arwystli, Sion Phylip, Richard Phylip, Ifan Dyfi, Lewis Menai, Dafydd Owen, and Llewelyn ap Gutyn. A note on p. 123 indicates that three 'englynion' by [Thomas Edwards] 'Twm o'r Nant', which were to be found at this point in W[illiam] J[ones]'s volume [NLW MS 670D], had not been copied by the transcriber, as he intended including them in a proposed new edition of that poet's works, to be published by him in 1889. A second note on the same page indicates that, similarly, fourteen 'cywyddau' by Tudur Aled had not been transcribed in the present volume, but had been copied into another book, with the intention of publishing these and other poems by the same bard, together with poems by Guto'r Glyn and Sion Tudur. In fact, fourteen 'cywyddau' and four other poems by Tudur Aled, and all of the poems by Guto'r Glyn and Sion Tudur, which appear in NLW MS 670D, have been omitted from the present volume, the presence of poems by the two latter bards in NLW MS 670D being usually indicated by the transcriber by quoting the title, or title and first line, of such works. A note on p. 153 states that eighty ' cywyddau' by Dafydd ap Gwilym [which appeared in William Jones's book, i.e ., NLW MS 670D, pp. 149-263], had been used to correct the published edition of that poet's work ('Yma daw LXXX Cywydd o waith Dafydd ab Gwilym, y rhai a ddefnyddiwyd i gywiro ei waith argraffedig'). These eighty poems, and also five retaliatory poems composed by Gruffydd Grug, in a poetic contention with Dafydd ap Gwilym, and found interspersed among the eighty 'cywyddau', have been omitted from the present volume. A further note on p. 264 states that the last three 'cywyddau' [in NLW MS 670D] had not been copied, as the transcriber believed the text to be so corrupt, that they did not merit transcription. A fly-leaf is marked 'Bk i', and this possibly connects the volume with NLW MS 19313, which, marked on a fly-leaf 'Bk ii', consists of a similar volume of Welsh verse transcribed, March - April [18]90, by I[saac] F[oulkes], again, by inference, from a book in the possession of W[illiam] J[ones].
Isaac Foulkes.
