A collection of manuscripts, [12 cent.]-1909, from the library of Peniarth, Merionethshire, the core of the historic collection being that of the library accumulated at Hengwrt, Merionethshire, by Robert Vaughan during the seventeenth century. The collection includes many of the most important Welsh language manuscripts, including the Black Book of Carmarthen (Peniarth MS 1), the Book of Taliesin (Peniarth MS 2), the White Book of Rhydderch (Peniarth MSS 4-5) and Brut y Tywysogion (the Chronicle of the Princes) (Peniarth MS 20), as well as important manuscripts in other languages such as the Hengwrt Chaucer (Peniarth MS 392), the Law of Hywel Dda (Peniarth MS 28), Beunans Meriasek (Peniarth MS 105) and Bede's De natura rerum (Peniarth MS 540B).
A collection of Welsh poetry, compiled by one scribe during the mid-thirteenth century, containing verse composed at various times during the period between the eighth and thirteenth centuries. The volume includes triads (p. 27), religious and vaticinatory poetry, eulogies, elegies and numerous poems relating to the Myrddin Legend.
The Romance of Charlemagne written down by [?Gruffudd Ddu] in the mid 14th century; and a collection of poetry of Gruffudd ap yr Ynad Coch, Guto'r Glyn and others compiled in the 15th - 16th centuries. The first folios include fragments of indentures and on f. 26b is a representation of Christ on the Cross.
Poems of Tudur Aled, Lewys Morgannwg and Hywel Dafi ap Ieuan ap Rhys in the hand of Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt. Also included is the text of the Fifteen Tribes of North Wales; and a letter, 1645, from Jane Davies, widow of Dr Davies, Mallwyd, addressed to Robert Vaughan (pp. 241-242).
Poetry of Guto'r Glyn, William Llyn, Hywel Cilan and others in several hands, [c. 1570]. A few entries are in the hand of William Penllyn. There are extensive marginalia in contemporary and later hands.
The text of the Cornish drama Beunans Meriasek, written by Master Nad Ton in 1504. The drama was edited and translated by Whitley Stokes and published by Trübner & Co. (London, 1872).
An interlude in Welsh of Troilus and Cressida, based on Chaucer's text and in the hand of John Jones, Gellilyfdy. Pp. 1-135 were written before 14th February 1613 (p. 119) and the remainder of the manuscript was written in 1622 (pp. 160, 231).
The Welsh version of the Grail legend, translated from the French. One of the best preserved of medieval Welsh manuscripts. The text comprises: ‘Y keis’, derived from La Queste del Saint Graal (ff. 1-109 verso), printed from this manuscript in Ystoryaeu Seint Greal, ed. Thomas Jones (Cardiff, 1992), followed by the Welsh version of Perlesvaus (ff. 110-280 verso). The junction is recorded on f. 109 verso: ‘Ac uelly y teruyna y rann gyntaf or greal. nyt amgen nor keis. Bellach dywedadwy yỽ o rann gwalchmei. ac o anturyeu y milwyr ual y kyfaruu ac ỽynt’. The only lacuna in the text is in quire 18 (see collation). The text of both parts is printed in Y Seint Greal: Selections from the Hengwrt MSS, ed. Robert Williams (London, 1876). All written in the hand of Hywel Fychan ap Hywel Goch, no doubt for his patron, Hopcyn ap Tomas, probably earlier than Jesus College Oxford, MS 111 (datable post-1382), since the awdl by Dafydd y Coed in that book refers to Hopcyn’s book of the Greal.
'Cywyddau' of Tudur Aled and others, including Iolo Goch, Siôn Cent and Guto'r Glyn. Pp. 19-24, 283-296 and a loose leaf are in later hands, as are the titles of poems and the marginalia. The hands of William Salesbury (pp. 73, 153, 154), Siôn Mawddwy (pp. 144-5, 146-7), and [Siôn] Tudur (p. 266) appear in the marginalia.
A compilation of poetry and prose from the Black Book of Carmarthen (see Peniarth MS 1) and the White Book of Rhydderch (see Peniarth MSS 4, 5) in the hand of John Jones, Gellilyfdy. The texts were copied from other copies of the originals made by William Salesbury, Roger Morris and RIchard Langford, and from a manuscript in the hand of Sir George Owen Harris.
A collection of cywyddau gathered from various sources by John Jones of Gellilyfdy. Sources include manuscripts in the hands of Dafydd ap William, Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd and Wiliam Thomas ap Edward o Bodfari. The manuscript was written in three stages: from 1609 to 1610, at a later period but prior to 1619, and finally 1621.
Poetry copied by John Jones of Gellilyfdy while he was detained in the Fleet Street prison (p. 63). The contents are divided into three parts and are numbered accordingly.
Poetry in a single 17th century hand mostly addressed to Lewis Gwynn (d. 1552), constable of Tref Esgob. Also included are the Gwehelyth of Brycheiniog, Arwystl and Morgannwg; the Lapidari; and Marwnadau Ieuan ap Hywel Swrdwal.
