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Midleton, William, ca. 1550-ca. 1600 Poetics.
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Gramadeg y beirdd, etc.,

A composite volume containing miscellaneous transcripts, extracts, notes, etc., in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'). Pp. 1-60 contain a copy of the medieval Welsh metrical treatise or bardic grammar which is usually attributed to Einion Offeiriad and/or Dafydd Ddu o Hiraddug. In the present version which, according to a note on p. 61, was transcribed [by Edward Williams] from manuscript texts then in the possession of Mr. [Thomas] Richards of Llangrallo [co. Glamorgan] and the Reverend Thomas Evans of Brechfa [co. Carmarthen], the work is, however, attributed to Edern Dafod Aur. For the probable source of the present text, subsequent transcripts made of it, its attribution (probably by Edward Williams) to Edern Dafod Aur, and its connection with the version published in John Williams ('Ab Ithel'): Dosparth Edeyrn Davod Aur . . . (Llandovery, 1856), see the introduction to G. J. Williams ac E. J. Jones (gol.) : Gramadegau' r Penceirddiaid (Caerdydd, 1934), p. xv, and J. Morris-Jones: 'Dosbarth Edern Dafod Aur', The Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion, 1923 4, pp. 1-28. The other items in the volume include pp. 61-70, variant readings of the text of the above-mentioned treatise to be found in the two manuscript sources noted; 85-6, notes on Welsh poetic metres and on an 'eisteddfod' reputedly held at Marchwiail, co. Denbigh, circa 1350 or later in the fourteenth century; 87-8, a list of the contents of pp. 89-247 (previously paginated 1-161); 89-110, a version of the statute or code of rules for regulating the training and conduct of Welsh bards and musicians usually associated with the name of Gruffudd ap Cynan and here associated with the names of the said Gruffudd and Bleddyn ap Cynfyn ('. . . o Lyfr . . . Mr. Wiliam Wiliams o Landegai yn Arfon'); 110-13, notes on an 'eisteddfod' held by invitation of Rhys ap Gruffudd, lord of Dinefwr, at Cardigan (from the same source as the preceding item); 113-17, another shorter version of the above-mentioned statute with notes of subsequent confirmations by Rhys ap Tewdwr and his grandson Rhys ap Gruffudd ('O Lyfr Hywel Rhys o'r Faenor'); 118, a sketch plan showing the ? respective positions of the different grades of bards and musicians at an 'eisteddfod' and sketches of some musical instruments ('O Lyfr Hafod Ychtryd ysgrifen John Jones o'r Gelli Lyfdy'); 119-23, a further version of the abovementioned statute as reputedly confirmed at an 'eisteddfod' held at Caerwys [co. Flint], 1568 ('O Lyfr Mr. Cobb o Gaer Dydd'); 124-44, a treatise on Welsh poetic metres with the superscription 'Llyma Gyfarwyddyd Ar Fesurau Cerdd Dafawd a dynnwyd allan o Lyfrau Simwnt Fychan Bencerdd ag eraill . . .' and with a concluding note '. . . A myfi Wiliam Philip o'r Hendre Fechan yn Ardudwy a'i tynnais allan o waith yr awduron gorchestol a fuant o'm blaen . . .', transcribed from 'un o Lyfrau Mr. Cobb o Gaer Dydd yn . . . 1782'; 145-53, a further version of the statute of Gruffudd ap Cynan as confirmed at an 'eisteddfod' held at Caerwys in 1524 (recte 1523), with a list of bards and musicians licensed at the said 'eisteddfod', transcribed 'o No. 65, P.P., Yswain, Plas Newydd ym Môn' (i.e ., from Panton MS 65, now NLW MS 2031, of which see pp. 200-12] (see also NLW MS 13099B); 153-60, a list of the twenty-four Welsh strict poetic metres with illustrative examples [? transcribed from the aforementioned Panton MS 65, pp. 186-93] (see also NLW MS 13099B); 160- 64, notes on, and lists of, Welsh musical measures, etc., transcribed 'o Lyfr No. 65 Plas Newydd ym Môn' [i.e. Panton MS 65, of which see pp. 194- 200] (see also NLW MS 13099B); 164-70, anecdotes relating to Dafydd ap Edmwnt and the 'eisteddfod' held at Carmarthen [circa 1450] in the presence of Gruffudd ap Nicolas (according to the superscription 'Ex Vol. XVII, P.P. Plas Newydd, Môn' [i.e. Panton MS.17 now NLW MS 1986A], but, according to a note on p. 170, copied from an old manuscript at Plas Newydd and compared with versions in another manuscript there and a manuscript in the Hengwrt Library in the hand of J[ohn] Jones of Gelli Lyfdy [this last possibly now Peniarth MS 267 in the National Library]); 171-94, an account of the revision of the regulations relating to the Welsh bards and musicians, the rules of 'cynghanedd', and the twenty-four strict metres undertaken in connection with, or at, the aforementioned 'eisteddfod' held by Gruffudd ap Nicolas at Carmarthen, anecdotes relating to Dafydd ap Edmwnd and the said 'eisteddfod', etc., taken 'O Lyfr Iago ab Dewi yn awr gan Mr. Thomas Evans o Frechfa' (for the text of pp. 171-94 see Y Greal . . ., 1805-1806, tt. 49-61, 97-103, 151-4, and for an evaluation of the contents G. J. Williams: 'Eisteddfod Caerfyrddin', Y Llenor, cyf. V, tt. 94-5; see also IMCY, tt. 86-95); 195-9, further anecdotes relating to Dafydd ap Edmwnd and the aforesaid 'eisteddfod' at Carmarthen and an 'eisteddfod' at Nant Gonwy, notes relating to the date of the 'eisteddfod' at Carmarthen, a list of four 'eisteddfodau' held at Carmarthen, Abermarlas, and Castell Gweblai, 1452-1486, etc.; 201-35, a version of the treatise on Welsh bardic craft published by William Midleton in 1593 [Bardhoniaeth neu brydydhiaeth y llyfr kyntaf . . . ( Llundain, 1593)] with additions and variations, which are probably to be attributed to Edward Williams himself, inserted in, or appended to, the text of the original treatise (see the introduction to G. J. Williams (gol .): Barddoniaeth neu Brydyddiaeth gan Wiliam Midleton . . . (Caerdydd, 1930), more particularly tt. 42-4); 235-40, further notes on Welsh poetic metres; and 241-6, further notes relating to two 'eisteddfodau' held at Carmarthen, ?1451 and ?1461.

'Llyfr barddoniaeth Gwilym Canoldref', etc.,

A composite volume, the contents being: ff. 1 recto-26 verso , 'Llyfr Barddoniaeth. sef y Gelfyddyd o ganu Cerdd Dafawd yn dda. O waith Gwilym Ganoldref. O Wynedd', i.e. William Midleton (the transcript, which is in the hand of 'Iolo Morganwg', is said on f. 25 verso to be copied 'o Lyfr Ieuan Tir Iarll, sef Sion Bradford', and appears to be similar to that found in NLW MS 13096B (Llanover C. 9.), pp. 201-35; there are references to the text published in Dafydd Lewys, Flores Poetarum Britannicorum . . . (Mwythig, 1710), pp. 59-80, on ff- 3 recto and 7 recto; 'Iolo Morganwg' dates his 'Rhagysbysiad' on f. 2 recto as follows: 'Trefflemin ym Morganwg Chwefror yr ail, 1806', and a note on f. 1 recto, 'For Mr. Wm. Owen', suggests that the text was to be sent to William Owen [-Pughe]; for confirmation see NLW MS 13221E, pp. 139 & 143, and also NLW MS 21282E, no. 370; ff. 27 recto-59 verso, & 62 recto-verso, 'Llyma Gadwedigaeth Cerz Davawd This is the Institute of the science of Language', being Welsh and English versions of a bardic grammar in the hand of William Owen [-Pughe]; f. 60 recto- verso, a transcript of a 'Toddaid Taliesin' with notes by 'Iolo Morganwg'; f. 61 recto-verso, 'Cywydd i Syr Walter Vicar Brynbuga ag i'r chware Miragl a wnaeth ef yno', attributed to Meredydd ap Rhosser, beginning 'Pwy'n Athro call wrth Allawr . . .', in the hand of 'Iolo Morganwg', who claims to have copied it from 'Llyfr Mr. Lewys o Ben Min'; ff. 63 recto-66 recto, vocabularies; f. 67 recto, memoranda by William Owen [-Pughe] dated 1807; and f. 68 recto, printed proposals for printing Dosparth neu Gramadeg yr laith Gymraeg . . . o Gasgliad R[obert] D[avies] o Nantglyn. At ba un y chwanegir, Rheolau Barddoniaeth Gymraeg, gan D[avid] T[homas] o'r Waun Fawr yn Arfon.

'Iolo Morganwg' and William Owen-Pughe.

Miscellanea,

A volume containing notes of a very miscellaneous nature in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') except for a few pages in the hand of Taliesin Williams, his son. Included, pagination in brackets, are a brief note relating to the 'short and simple and thence natural account of the Welsh Saints' and a reference to the possibility of the existence of documents relating to 'British Ecclesiastic history' at the Vatican (1); notes headed 'Llyma Enwau Swrn o Wyr Enwogion o Genedl y Cymry . . .' being notes on figures of Welsh mythology presumably extracted (see note on p. 5) from Welsh School Collection MS No. 43 ( listed as missing when the Welsh School Collection was presented to the British Museum in 1844, see B.M. Additional MS 14955) (7-12); genealogical and historical or pseudo-historical data relating to Welsh saints or reputed saints, notes relating to figures such as Macsen Wledig, Seithenin Frenin, and Meyric, Brenin Dyfed, lists of the children of Caw o Dwr Celyn, Brychan Brycheiniawc, and Seithenin ab Seithin, etc. (21-37); a brief note relating to the bardic brothers Cynfrig and Ieuan ap Gronw, and the son, grandson, and great-grandson of the said Ieuan, all being bards ( 57); notes relating to Urnach Wyddel, who led twenty thousand 'Gwyddelod' into Gwynedd, and his sons Syrigi and Daronwy (58); brief notes on Arianrod ferch Don, Ugnach Wyddel and his son Culfardd, Cadvan ap Eneas, Cadvan ap Iago, and Cadwallon ap Cadvan (59); an incomplete list headed 'Mythological characters ex Cambrian Biography' (61-2); genealogical data tracing the descent in direct line of figures such as Coel Godebawc, Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Gruffudd ap Cynan, Maxen Wledig, Iestin ap Gwrgan, Cynedda Wledig, Cadell Deyrnllwg, Llywarch Hen, etc., and a list of the children of the last-named (65-71); a note relating to 'Saer Wyddel o Gor Illtyd' (71-2); notes relating to Hywel Dda, his establishing of the privileged 'pymtheg llwyth' in Gwynedd and the 'pedair gwelygordd ar hugain' in Pywys, and his instructions for the keeping of records of genealogies, etc., in Gwynedd and Pywys (72-3); a brief genealogy tracing the direct descent of Elystan Glodrydd from Beli Mawr and brief notes on the sons of Cynfarch ap Meirchion (78); a brief genealogy giving the lineal ancestors and descendants of Gruffudd Gwyr (80); variant lists of the names of the children of y Caw Cawllog or Caw o Brydyn with brief notes thereon (81-3); miscellanea including a list of the names of the seven bishops who debated with 'Awstin, Escob y Saeson, ar lann Hafren' (? St. Augustine), a brief note on [the monastery of] Bangor is y coed, a list of the sons of Goronwy o Wareddawc, a list of ? saints linked with specific areas, a note relating to Saint Illtud, a list of saints associated with Morgannwg and Gwent, other lists, and miscellaneous data (83-8); a copy of an inscription relating to the contents and the compiler of 'Llyfr Twrog' (89); a list of thirteen saints with the locations of churches or cells founded by them and occasional additional data relating thereto (93-5); a list of the names of five of the children of Brychan (98 ); a list of names of saints with the locations of cells founded by them or of ? their sphere of activity (99-100); a list of ten Welsh manuscript or printed volumes (e.g. 'Salmau Capten Middleton yn ysgrifenedig', 'Egluryn Ffraethineb yn ysgrifenedig', 'Salmau Middleton - Print') headed 'Ystrad Meyryg 1799' and followed by a note stating that when the compiler of the list visited [Ystrad meurig] three years later the last item on the list was missing (101); three bardic triads 'o Ramadeg Simwnt Fychan' (102 ); an incomplete list of triads headed 'Trioedd a ddangoswyd yng Nghadair Garth Moelwg gan Willim ap leuan Hen a elwir Gwilym Tew Brydydd o Dir Iarll' (103-04); notes, sometimes date of death only, or anecdotes relating to forty-four persons who flourished from the ?first to the seventeenth century, e.g. Constantine the Great, St. David, St. Patrick, Geoff[rey] of Monmouth, Syr Rhys ab Thomas [ob. 1525], Richard Nevil, earl of Warwick, ob. 1471, Dav[id] Jenkins of Hensol [co. Glamorgan], and Sir Edw[ard] Carne of Weny, co. Glamorgan [ob. 1561], and to one family, viz. the Morgans of Pencarn, Monmouthshire (109-19); a note relating to, and brief extracts from, 'Llyfr Twrog' (121-3); brief extracts relating to 'Pair Cariadwen', 'Pair Ogyrfan Gawr', and 'Pair Dadeni', with an extract from the work of Cynddelw and a transcript of an 'englyn' attributed to Casnodyn illustrative of the word 'pair / peir' (129-30); notes relating to Saint Illtud, the monastery and school founded at Llanilltud, and the abbots of the said monastery, all under the superscription 'July 19th 1729. The Antiquities of Lantwit Major, Com. Glamorgan' and being allegedly transcribed by Edward Williams from a manuscript account compiled by David Nicholls in 1729 (see also NLW MSS 13114B, 13116B above) (149-70); a list of the abbots of the monastery at Lantwit [Major] compiled from the account given on pp. 149-70 with brief general comments relating thereto ( 171-3); (continued)

Notes relating to a field called 'the Halls hay' which, according to the aforementioned Mr. Nicholls and tradition, was the site of the old abbey, the stones of the new church possibly taken from ruins unearthed at Halls hay, the town hall, the tithe barn, the granary of the tithe barn 'said to have been the Gate of the Monastery', the rectory house, the 'Chantery house', and abbot's rents in the aforesaid town and parish of Lantwit Major (174-8); a list of old Welsh words (179); a list of Welsh manuscripts headed 'Llyfrau Tho. Edwards, Dinbych' (197-8); a list of eight 'Welsh MSS. with Revd. Richd. Davies at Bangor' (199); extracts from 'Vol. 63. P.P.' [i.e. Paul Panton MS No. 63 now NLW MS 2029B, of which see ff. 90 verso-92 recto] relating to the location of certain Welsh manuscripts (200); very brief notes referring to some of the items to be found in some of the 'MSS. at Mr. Panton' [i.e. the Panton MSS now NLW MSS 1970- 2068] (201-02); a transcript of the beginning of the tale of Einion ap Gwalchmai and Rhiain y Glasgoed (209); a list of Welsh words with English definitions or comments thereon (210-11); a short list of Welsh words or phrases and a bardic triad (212); extracts from poems attributed to Gutto' r Glynn (215); lists of compound Welsh words containing instances of D + D or D + T > TT as in 'Cyttun < Cyd-dynn', of D > T 'when preceding G', etc. (217-19); copies of memorial inscriptions in the churches of Penarth and Landough [juxta] Penarth [co. Glamorgan] (220-25; in the hand of Tal[ies] in Williams); brief extracts from 'Llyfr Siôn Hywel Gwynn' defining the terms 'Alban Elfed', 'Alban Arthan', 'Alban Eilir', and 'Alban Hefin' and the three divisions of the year (226); miscellaneous jottings including an extract from The Independent Whig, 25 December 1808, a brief genealogical note referring to Thos. Vaughan of Hergest [co. Hereford, ob. 1469], his son and grandson, and a copy of the inscription on the tomb of the Reverend Edward Gamage, ob. 1734, in St. Athan's churchyard [co. Glamorgan ] (229-30); a brief note on Nicholas ap Gwrgant, bishop of Landaff in 1149, extracted from Brown Willis [: A Survey of the Cathedral Church of Landaff ], etc. (232); a note referring to the establishing of the bardic 'Cadair Tir Iarll' by Robert, son-in-law of Rhobert ab Ammon [late 11th cent.] (233); a short list of Welsh proverbs with English translations of some (234); two groups of Welsh words the first exemplifying 'Deudneudian mutilation' and the second 'Diphthongs with a diaresis' (235); a brief note on the poet Robert Langland, fl. 1369, and a list containing the names of three Glamorgan centenarians who were alive in 1812 and of one who had died in 1809 (237); a transcript of five 'englynion' attributed to John Miles of Pencoed, Llanilid [co. Glamorgan], 1812 (238); extracts from certain clauses of the 'New Toleration Act finally passed July 29th 1812' [ i.e. 'Places of Religious Worship Act, 1812'] (239-40); miscellaneous genealogical data relating to South Wales (245-51); genealogical data centred on the poet Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffydd of Mathafarn [co. Montgomery] (253); the words and music of a song headed 'Irish song in the Register office by Mr. Moody' (254 + 259); transcripts of strict-metre stanzas attributed to Risiart Twrbil and Dafydd Benwyn (255); an extract from '?Mrs. Robinson's Monody to the memory of the Queen of France', etc. (256-7); an incomplete list (two names only) of 'Subscribers to Poems by E[dward] W[illiams], 2nd edit., 1813' (258); brief genealogical notes centred upon Ifor Petti [Ifor Bach, fl. 1158] of Seinghenydd [co. Glamorgan] (258); five stanzas of Welsh religious verse (260); brief notes headed 'Glamorgan 1806' containing brief observations on the progress of the wheat crops and the abundance of sainfoin 'in the Vale', 1-11 June, and on the soil, the amount of clover, and wychelms, etc., in the 'Vale of Miskin', and a copy of an inscription at Llanelldeyrn (271-2); a copy of an inscription 'On the Tomb of Monce de Lundres in the Abbey Church of Ewenny' (273); miscellanea including a note on the budding and flowering of trees and privets in the St. Athan area, April 1809, and on the comparative lightness of snowfalls in the southern part of the Vale of Glamorgan in the winter of 1808-1809, and extracts from 'Baldwin's London and Weekly Journal' relating to a storm in the London area in May 1809 and a snowstorm in the ? Bath area in April 1809 with notes contrasting conditions in Glamorgan on the same dates (274-5); a list of ? market towns in Glamorgan, 1809 (276); medicinal recipes (277-8); brief notes on the countryside between Landaff and Llantrisent [co. Glamorgan], 23 June 1810 (279); extracts from 'Bald[win's] Journal', July 1809, and [Anthony Florian Madinger] Willich: The Domestic Encyclopaedia [London, 1802] (281- 3); incomplete lists of 'cromlechau', tumuli, [stone] circles, and ruined chapels in co. Glamorgan (285-90); notes relating to the Lantwit Vairdre and Newbridge areas [of co. Glamorgan] (291-5); two examples of rotations of crops ? practised in Glamorgan (296); notes on the crossing of breeds of sheep in Glamorgan (302); brief notes ? from Dugdale's Baronage relating to Roger Mortimer of Chirk [ob. 1326], William Zouch of Mortimer [ob. 1337], and Hugh, earl of Chester, late 11th cent. (307-08); a list of Welsh words headed 'Deudneudiaith' (315); a transcript of a stanza of Welsh verse attributed to Guttyn . . . Gnwppa, two triads, a copy of an 'englyn' by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg', a formula for making ink, and an extract from a 'cywydd' attributed to T[udur] Aled (317); an account of Wiliam Dafydd Powel Ierwerth of the parish of Tre Gaian, co. Anglesey, ob. 1582, and his forty-three children (318-19); a tale relating to two families from Gwern Howel near Ysbytty and Rhyd y creue or Cil cenys [? co. Denbigh] (319-21); transcripts of two three-line stanzas of Welsh verse attributed to Ddd. Thomas, circa 1600, and one stanza of a Welsh carol (321); copies of eleven stanzas of Welsh verse headed 'o hen garol ar Salm 130' and two further stanzas headed 'Llyma ddechreu'r carol rhagflaeniedig. Y De profundis. Psalm 130' (322-4); brief notes relating to events in Wales and Ireland, 1648-9, based on or extracted from [John] Banks [: A Short Critical Review of the Political] Life of Oliver Cromwell [1739] (325-7); and other miscellanea.