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Llanover Manuscripts Dafydd Llwyd Mathau, fl. 1601-1629
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Barddoniaeth; doethineb Catwg Ddoeth,

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.

Barddoniaeth, etc.,

Miscellaneous papers and home-made booklets containing transcripts, lists, notes, memoranda, etc., in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') bound together in one volume. Pp. 1-64 contain transcripts of Welsh strict-metre poems attributed to Dafydd Benwyn, Siôn Ieuan ap Rhys Fychan, Llywelyn ap Hywel ap Ieuan ap Gronw 'o Lantrisant Misgyn', Iorwerth Hen, Dafydd Llwyd Mathau, Ieuan Du'r Bilwg, Owain ap Llywelyn ap y Moel y Pantri, Dafydd Hopcin 'o Blwyf y Coetty', Siôn Bradford, Rhys Morgan 'o Ben Craig Nedd', Gutto'r Glynn, Bedo Brwynllys, Syr Rhisiart Lewys, Siôn ap Hywel Gwynn, Rhisiart Iorwerth, Rhys Goch 'o Eryri', Ieuan Dyfi, Hopcin ap Thomas ab Einion, Dafydd ap Gwilym, and Hywel ap Dafydd ap Ieuan ap Rhys, with occasional notes on the poet and / or the poem attributed to Siôn Bradford. Preceding p. 1 are two, brown- paper leaves one of which is inscribed 'Englynion, Awdlau, a Chywyddau o Lyfr Ieuan Bradford a'i synniadau ef arnynt'. Other Welsh verse items transcribed include sequences of 'Englynion y misoedd' attributed to Merfyn Gwawdrydd and Madawg ab Merfyn Gwawdrydd (77- 85, 95-8), 'englynion' attributed to Gruff. ab Daf. ab Tudur (93), Rhisiart Iorwerth (93), Dafydd Nicolas, Aberpergwm (99), Cadwgan ap Rhys ( 99), Thos. Lln. Regoes (99), Llawdden (100), Ieuan Brydydd Hir (101), Siôn ap Dafydd (207), [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' (216, 257), John Jones ' o Fôn' (218), D. Edmwnd (282), Tudur Aled (359), Edmwnd Prys (438), Gruff. Philip (438), and D[afydd ap] G[wilym] (470), a 'cywydd' attributed to Robert Huws 'o Fôn' (101-03), three poems entitled 'Buarth Beirdd', 'Canu y byd mawr', and 'Canu y byd bychan' [from the 'Book of Taliesin'] (105-10), a sequence of 'Englynion y coedydd a gant y Beirdd yn eu Cadair gân yn Llangynwyd', the 'englynion' being attributed to Edward Dafydd, Dafydd Edward, Charles Meredydd, Siams Thomas, Hywel Rhys, Dafydd Rhys, William Lidwn, Hopcin Thomas, Siôn Padam, Mathew Llwyd 'o Gelli Gaer', Llywelyn Thomas, and Harri Lleision 'o Lancarfan' (121-3), an 'awdl' and a sequence of eleven 'englynion' attributed to Edward Evans (125-30), extracts from the works of the Cynfeirdd as published in The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales, vol. I, here transcribed under the superscription 'Assonances of the school of Taliesin or of the 6th century' (149-63), ten stanzas with the title 'Cân i'r llaw' attributed to Siôn Wiliams 'o Landathan' (181-4), further extracts from the works of the Cynfeirdd as published in The Myvyrian Archaiology, vol. I, under the superscription 'Cynghanedd unawdl. Consonance of rhime the only consonance that was systematically required by the Bards of the ancient school' (202-04), four stanzas with the title 'Darnau o Gân y Mab o'r Dolau Gleision' (209), further extracts from the works of the Cynfeirdd as published in The Myvyrian Archaiology (210-12), extracts from 'Y Gododdin' (374-85), and three stanzas attributed to Mabclaf ap Llywarch (489). (continued)

Prose items include a note on a 'vellum, very ancient' manuscript of the 'Laws of Dyfnwal Moelmud and other ancient Laws antecedent to those of Hywel Dda' allegedly to be found amongst the Hengwrt MSS in the late seventeenth century (93-4), triads (133-4, 136, 279), an account of 'wear and tear expences, daily expences on my [? Edward Williams's] Tour thro' South Wales in 1802' (167), a list of 'Names of Places in N[orth] W[ales]' (168-9), notes on Gruffydd ap Cynan's connection with the Welsh bardic laws (177-80), a brief note on Welsh vernacular dialects (180), a brief genealogy of Syr Rhys ap Thomas (187), a brief account of 'schools' of Welsh poetry, viz. the Ancient or Primitive school, the schools of Taliesin, Gruffydd ap Cynan, Tir Iarll or Rhys goch ap Rhiccert, and Llawdden, the Northwalian school, the schools of Nature, Gronwy Owain, Glamorgan, and the Gwyneddigion, the modern Southwalian school, and the school of the Jumpers including 'William Williams, the hymn carpenter' (258-9, 188-91, 196-9, leaves misplaced), two lists headed 'Naw Cyhydedd' and 'Corvannau' (201), a brief note on 'cynghanedd lusc', assonant terminations, and initial and complex alliterations (205), a brief pedigree of George Owain (206), a list with the superscription 'Letters and Essays of Iolo Morganwg' (219, 235), lists of caps and wigs which would be sold 'at the Annual Fair' on All Fool's Day (222-3), a list of 'Gwyr Cwm y Felin' (224; see NLW MS 13121B above ), two medicinal recipes for the cure of cancer (227-8), a statistical table showing average rainfall in various parts of the British Isles (228), a similar table showing the population of various South Wales towns [? circa 1800, see IM, t. 5] (230), a ? introductory note to an intended collection of Welsh proverbs and aphorisms (231), extracts from The Crit[ical] Review, June 1803 (233-4), lists of rare plants, various kinds of stone, clay, etc., castles, abbeys and monasteries, ancient houses in the Gothic style, other ruins, [gentlemen's] seats, British and Roman camps, and Druidical monuments, ? all in Glamorgan (240-52), a list of Glamorgan exports (253), a list of 'Fish in Ogmore River' (255-6), a brief pedigree of Oliver Cromwell (280), a list of Welsh families who derived their surnames from their place of residence (393-4), a list of North Wales poets whose names were derived from place-names and a list of South Wales poets (395-6), notes headed 'Peculiarities of the North Walian dialect' (405-09), a list of 'Barbarous names of places in Anglesea' (413), ? extracts from 'Adam Littleton's Latin Geographical and Historical Dictionary, Anno 1678' (429-31), a note on Llanfachreth church [co. Merioneth] (438), a list of the commissioners at the 'eisteddfod' held at Caerwys [co. Flint], 9 Elizabeth I, and of some of the bards licensed at the said 'eisteddfod' (453), two lots of notes on agriculture headed 'Ffermyddiaeth hen' and 'Hen ffermyddiaeth' (455-7), and biographical or genealogical notes or data (sometimes very brief) relating to Llywelyn Brenn, Ifor ap Einon, Llywelyn Bren Hen and Llywelyn Bren Ieuanc (165), Rhys Pritchard (176), Walter Lollard, Dafydd Ddu Hiraddug, John Stow, [John] Gower, and [Geoffrey] Chaucer (193), John de Ecclescliff, Lleibiaw, Ceraint Hir, Nicholas ap Gwrgant, and John Pascall, all bishops of Llandaff (192 + 200), Ifor Hael (200 + 235), Thos. Wilkins, rector of Lanmaes, ob. 1699 (200), Edward Davies, rector of St. Brides, ob. 1672 ( 201), members of the Berkrolls family (217), Gwynfardd Dyfed (235), and Wm. Llyn (487). Also included in the volume are lists or groups of Welsh words (sometimes with English definitions), extracts of varying length from the works of Welsh bards and poets (sometimes to provide examples of specific words, phrases, or names, e.g. Hu Gadarn), and notes or memoranda on a variety of subjects.

Miscellanea,

Miscellaneous papers in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') bound together in one volume. The contents include pp. 11- 36, a draft version of the essay 'A short review of the present state of Welsh MSS.' which appeared as a preface to The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales . . ., vol. I (London, 1801), the present version being a much fuller one than that actually published (see also NLW MSS 13089E, 13104B above); 39-57, transcripts of Welsh poems attributed to Rissierdyn, Iorwerth Fynglwyd, and Huw Dafydd; 68-121, a transcript of a sequence of seventy-two 'englynion' ('Englynion y Clyweit') and poems attributed to Meredydd ap Rosser, Rhys Brychan, Dafydd Llwyd Matheu, Ieuan Rhydd, Siencyn Rissiart, In. Risiarts, Siôn Tudur, Wiliam Cynwal, William Llyn, ? Huw Arwystli, Rhisiart Davies, Esgob Mynyw, Robert Gruffudd ab Ifan, Bartholomew Jones, Huw Llyn, Elis ap Rhys ap Edward, R. Hughes 'o Fôn', D[afydd ap] G[wilym], William Elias, [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg', and Gronwy Ddu (or Hopkin ap Thomas ap Einion), miscellaneous extracts, lists of the children of Llywarch Hen, Urien Rheged, etc.; 125, a note on the poet Siôn Cent; 127-8, genealogical notes on the descendants of Rhys ap Tewdwr headed 'Morganiaid Tredegyr'; 129, memoranda ? relating to the parish of St. Mary, Cardiff; 140-41, a transcript of an incomplete English poem described as an 'Old Poem on Glamorgan. English'; 147-8, extracts from Patrick Symson: The Historie of the Church . . . (London, 1634); 150, an incomplete transcript of a 'cywydd' attributed to Wm. Egwad; 153-4, incomplete notes headed 'History of Dunraven Castle'; 165, a list of people who had attained to a considerable age in Glamorganshire; 166, a transcript of a fragment (end portion) of a letter, December 1726, from Edward Gamage, [rector of] St. Athan, which appears to have contained information relating to the Stradling family of St. Donats (see NLW MS 13100B above); 167-8, ? an outline scheme or chapter headings for a proposed 'History of the Lordship of Glamorgan'; 179-80, notes headed 'Bonedd ag Anfonedd' [from Panton MS 63 now NLW MS 2029B]; 180, transcripts of 'englynion' attributed to R. Nanmor, Iorwerth Fynglwyd, and Iolo Goch; 181-2, a list headed 'Llyma enwau Celloedd Cor Illtyd'; 184, notes relating to the descent of the Rev. John Williams, Sevenoaks, Kent, circa 1800, from the Cogan family; 185-6, a list of markets and fairs [in co. Glamorgan]; 187, a note relating to the reform of parliamentary representation; 192-3, chapter headings for a proposed 'History of the British Bards'; 194, a list of old castles in co. Glamorgan; 198 + 203, an account between Edward Williams and Thomas Williams relating to the tuition of the former's children Margaret, Ann, and Taliessin, 1796-1803 (verso used for writing notes); 200-01, a list of literary topics headed 'Testunau gwastadol a sefydledig Beirdd Cadair Morganwg a Gwent ac Euas ac Ergin ac Ystrad Yw . . . derbyniedig bob amser a ganer arnynt . . .'; 204, an anecdote relating to a blind man; 204, three stanzas of Welsh verse by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg'; 208-09, a copy of the inscription on the tomb of the Reverend Daniel Walter, master of Cowbridge School, ob. 25 August 1787, and his brother William, ob. 8 October 1789; 220-21, a short French - English - Welsh vocabulary; 223, an 'englyn' by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg'; 227-9, notes relating to Hindustani prosody, etc.; 230, a brief note on Welsh bards and minstrels; 233 + 240, extracts from [Nicholas Owen:] Caernarvonshire, a sketch of its history . . . [London, 1792]; 236-7, a list of 'Barbarisms in Walter Davies' Translation of [Thomas] Gisborne [A Familiar Survey of the Christian Religion . . .]'; 238 + 235, rules of a scheme for collecting subscriptions for a proposed ? emigration, ? 1797; 243-4, a list of titles of ninety-five Welsh poems, mainly 'cywyddau', headed 'Celfyddydau, moesau, ag arferion'; 246-7, descriptive notes on co. Glamorgan; (continued)

249-52, notes on the waste lands ? of Radnorshire with suggestions relating to inclosures; 255-8, notes on the production of wine in Germany with suggestions re vine growing in Britain; 261, a note on three wells in the lordship of Newton Nottage; 263-6, a list of 'Druidical maxims'; 265, a draft title-page for a second edition of Edward Williams: The Fair Pilgrim, a poem translated from Dafydd ap Gwilym; 268, a note on 'Brut y Saeson'; 269-71, medicinal recipes and other extracts from ? the Annual Register; 273-85, 335-8, religious and philosophical notes or observations; 290-92, notes on heraldic terms, etc ., ? from the Encyclopaedia Britannica; 293-4, ? extracts from [Thomas] Maurice: Indian Antiquities; 299-304, notes headed 'Eastern District of the County of Radnor' (topography, soil, the possibility of coal deposits); 312-13, a transcript of a 'cywydd' attributed to Gutto'r Glyn; 318-19, notes headed 'History of the Bards' referring to Ll[ewely]n Siôn's treatise on bardism; 321-2, notes headed 'Llymma Reithiadur Cerdd'; 341, extracts from Esdras II, chapter XIV; 344, notes on 'Trefn yr Albannau'; 348-9, a list of 'remarkable instances of longevity' ? extracted from the General Magazine, September 1789; 352-3 a 'Table of the fifteen Diationick Chords of the system of the antient'; 355, notes on 'Rheol bwrw pris', 'Y Cant hir', the burning of lime ? in Anglesey, etc.; 356, two lists of rules headed 'Hyn a wna wr yn hiroesawg ag yn iachus', and 'a Fyrhaant einioes dyn ac a'i heneiddia'; 357-9 a list headed 'Llyma rai o Gweiriau Cerdd dant'; 360, notes headed 'A Comparison of the pronounciation of the letters in the Welsh or British tongue to the Greek and Hebrew letters'; 361, notes headed 'Gogwyddor i ddallt y pricciad yn Llyfr Robert ap Hugh y Telynior'; 361 (2), extracts from Sion Rhydderch: Grammadeg Cymraeg [1728]; and 368, a few triads, a few Welsh proverbs, a note relating to Lewys Morys, and a note on the 'Wenhwyseg' as the language of Welsh literature to circa 1300. Interspersed amongst the above items are miscellaneous Welsh verse, lists or groups of Welsh words often with English definitions or explanatory notes, grammatical or etymological notes, etc. In one instance notes have been written on the blank sides of an incomplete copy of Herbert Croft's printed proposals, 1792, for publishing an English dictionary based upon that of Samuel Johnson, and in another on the blank verso of a broadsheet containing a copy of a Latin inscription found in the parish of Gelligaer, co. Glamorgan, with a Welsh translation thereof.