File Llanstephan MS 120 [RESTRICTED ACCESS]. - The Book of Jaspar Griffith,

The 'book of Jaspar Griffith', containing poetry by Dafydd ap Gwilym, Rhys Fardd, Iolo Goch, Taliesin, Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffudd [Dafydd Llwyd, Mathafarn] and others. Item 1 is a series of complaints between several parties 'fel y maent yn scrifennedic o Law Gyttyn Owein'. Items 2-15, 17-46 contain a series of englynion 'o hen lyfr oedd gyd a S. Trefor Trefalun'. There is a note at item 128 possibly in the hand of Dr John Davies, Mallwyd. A note at Item 201 states: 'Hyn sy yn canlyn a dynnais i allan o'r Llyfr Du o Gaerfyrddin'. The first line of item 264 is given by some as the first line of Item 263, which forms a second half of this cywydd. For Items 266 and 270, where Huw Pennant and Dafydd ab Edmwnt are here given respecitvely as the authors of the works, a later insertion claims authorship as being that of Dafydd Llwyd ap Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Dafydd Llwyd, Mathafarn).
Jaspar Griffith at one time had in his care or possession Peniarth MSS 1 and 53, both of which are largely copied in this manuscript. The style of the handwriting resembles certain of Griffith's marginalia in Peniarth 1 and 53 so it is inferred that this manuscript is also in his hand. The paper used for this manuscript was originally designed for what looks like a Latin vocabulary; however, one line only was written at the top (now the bottom, inverted) of the page. Items 159-172 are as in Peniarth MS 53 (pp. 1-29, 34) but more complete here. Cf. Peniarth MS 50 (pp. 222b-236, 304). Items 175, 176, 177, 180, 181, 182, 183, 190 occur also on pp. 15, 54, 112, 88, 91, 126, 99, 68 respectively of Peniarth MS 53. The text at items 203-236, 271-274 corresponds with Peniarth MS 1. Inserted at Item 237 is a transcript 'verbatim out of a printed book now supposed to be in the custody ... of Hugh Bevan ... of Llanwnen', which describes the 'Characters' of the gentry of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire during the Protectorate. The note is signed 'O. P. Maridunensis'.