Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- [16-17 cent.] (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
46 ff. (ff. i-iv + pp. 1-84) ; 199 x 146 to 150 mm. Formerly ‘sewn in limp vellum’ [RMWL]. Rebound at NLW. A hole in the lower part of pp. 57-84 increases in size as the manuscript progresses; by p. 84 most of the lower half of pages are missing. Folio iv is a vellum wrapper of [19 cent.].
Context area
Archival history
On f. iv are notes on the manuscript by W.W.E. Wynne.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
A composite manuscript probably made up from unbound fragments, on different paper stocks. Comprising:
(i) pp. 1-2: A leaf containing on p. 1 a grammar in the hand of Siôn Cain.
(ii) pp. 3-56: A compilation on bardic grammar, evidently a personal draft, in the hand of Rhys Cain, largely corresponding to the grammars of Gutun Owain and Simwnt Fychan [Gramadegau’r Penceirddiaid, eds G.J. Williams and E.J. Jones (Caerdydd, 1934), p. lvi]; the section ‘Y beiau gwaharddedig’ (pp. 33-40) is printed from here in Gramadegau’r Penceirddiaid, pp. 194-6.
(iii) pp. 57-84: All in the later hand of John Davies of Mallwyd [not before 1617, since there are references to his collection of Lewys Glyn Cothi, London, British Library, Additional MS 14871]. Includes: quotations from the Cywyddwyr, classified to exemplify beiau and questionable cases (‘edrych y rhain’) (pp. 57-68); quotations from the Cywyddwyr exemplifying words, alphabetically arranged (pp. 69-77); further quotations (pp. 80-1); notes, with folio references, to his collections of poetry (p. 84). All leaves of this part have suffered damage by rodents.
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
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Welsh.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A detailed list of the manuscript's contents may be found in J. Gwenogvryn Evans, Report on Manuscripts in the Welsh Language, vol. I (London, 1898-1905), 947-948.
Description based on Daniel Huws, A Repertory of Manuscripts and Scribes c.800-c.1800 (Aberystwyth, 2022), I, 403.
Generated finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Digital version available https://hdl.handle.net/10107/6108196 (November 2023)
Available on microfilm at the Library.
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Formerly Hengwrt MS 267.
Note
Preferred citation: Peniarth MS 161 [RESTRICTED ACCESS].
Note
Title based on contents.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
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Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
October 2023.
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Description revised by Maredudd ap Huw.
Digital object metadata
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