File NLW MS 21248D [RESTRICTED ACCESS] - Llyfr Gwyn y Berth-ddu

Identity area

Reference code

NLW MS 21248D [RESTRICTED ACCESS]

Title

Llyfr Gwyn y Berth-ddu

Date(s)

  • [17 cent., first ½] (Creation)

Level of description

File

Extent and medium

258 ff. (no early foliation. Gathered regularly in twelves) ; 300 x 190 mm.

The MS as suggested in Mostyn 112, pp. 631 and 651, was bound in a white vellum covering (hence the name now given to it). The first 40 folios were loose and in 1975 it was re-bound at NLW in white vellum. The original binding, with wooden stiffeners across the spine, looked professional work; this, taken with the regular quiring and the blank leaves later cut out, suggests that the book was supplied blank and not bound after compilation. The original covers and endpapers are preserved.

Context area

Name of creator

Name of creator

Archival history

Mostyn MS 148 [NLW MS 3051D] was the property of the Wynn family of Y Berth-ddu, Dyffryn Conwy, cf. Mostyn 148, p.19). We see from Mostyn 161 that 'Hugh Winne' was its owner in 1647 (p.173) and the third part of that MS especially contains a great body of praise to the Berth-ddu family. It is probable therefore, since our MS is listed together with the two above- mentioned MSS in Mostyn 112, part II, and contains praise to the Wynn family of Berth-ddu and Bodysgallen, that it was also owned by and written for the same family, possibly at Y Berth-ddu. The name of Hugh Wynne appears here on f. 257 verso. Other names found in the MS are those of Thomas Johnes (XVI/XVII c.) and William Wynne (XVI/XVIIc.), f. 76 verso, and 'Harry Moris est Libro vel', f. 257 verso (XVII [1] c.). It is likely that the MS became the property of the Mostyn family on the marriage of Margaret Wynn, sole heiress of Bodysgallen, to Sir Roger Mostyn, bart., on 12 May 1776, (cf. J. E. Griffith, Pedigrees ... p.184). Part of lot 1504 in the Mostyn sale at Christie’s, 24 Oct. 1974.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

A volume of cywyddau, awdlau and a few englynion, including sections devoted to the works of Guto'r Glyn, Tudur Aled and Sion Cent. The contents of this MS are listed in Mostyn 112, pp. 631-654; there the MS is described as 'llyfyr kowydde sydd a chayad gantho o barsmant gwyn'. The works of Guto'r Glyn and Tudur Aled appear in roughly the same order as in (Bangor) Gwyneddon MS 4, which suggests that those sections were drawn from a similar source. The works of Guto'r Glyn, ff. 78 verso-109, 122-141, 195 recto-verso, and 199-201, have apparently been transcribed by the compiler of Mostyn 1 [NLW MS 3021F], pp. 559-606 and the works of Tudur Aled, ff. 153 verso-156 verso, 44-45 verso, 156 verso-177, 147-151, and 151 verso-153 verso, have been transcribed in the same way to Mostyn 1, pp. 799-826.
The MS is in five main hands: ff. 6-38 verso, 41-69, and ?221-223 verso, a hand also found in Mostyn MS 161 [NLW MS 3057D], pp. 670-674, 677-683, and possibly that of the poet Richard Cynwal (ob. 1634) [this hand is not dissimilar to that of Wmffre Dafis]; ff. 38 verso-40 verso and 226-231 verso, also found in Mostyn 161, pp. 529-654; ff. 69 verso-78, 90-114, 203 verso-204 verso, ?220 verso-221 verso, 231 verso-238, and 239 verso-243 verso; ff. 1-5, 78 verso-90, 114-203, and 245 verso-253 verso; it is the same hand as Mostyn 161, pp. 987-994 and Mostyn 112, part II, [NLW MS 3031B], pp. 632-654. This hand adds many marginal notes; and ff. 205-220, 224-225, 238 verso-239, 243 verso-245 verso, and 253 verso-257, with f. 258 probably in the autograph of the poet Sion Dafydd Las [John Davies, dec. 1694].

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to the original manuscript by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • Welsh

Script of material

Language and script notes

Welsh.

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Many leaves cut out, mostly apparently blank. Four quires cut out after f. 223, their stubs not included in the 1975 binding.

Finding aids

The poems in the volume are indexed on-line in the Index to Welsh Poetry in Manuscript (MALDWYN): ​https://www.library.wales/index.php?id=12888 (viewed March 2023).

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Available on microfilm at the Library.

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Note

Paper, mainly bearing a pot watermark with the letters DRC, the pot being surmounted with what appears to be an inverted crescent. The additional leaf, f. 258, has a horn watermark which appears to be the same as no. 2686 in Edward Heawood, Watermarks, which in turn confirms the date 1683 found on that folio and proves the paper to be of English origin.

Note

Title based on contents.

Note

Preferred citation: NLW MS 21248D [RESTRICTED ACCESS].

Alternative identifier(s)

Virtua system control number

vtls004937014

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related subjects

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places

Physical storage

  • Text: NLW MS 21248D [RESTRICTED ACCESS]; $q - Many leaves cut out, mostly apparently blank. Four quires cut out after f. 223, their stubs not included in the 1975 binding; $z - Access to the original manuscript by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies..
  • Microform: $h - MEICRO NLW MS 21248D.