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A journal, 1 June 1832 (not 1831 as written in the top left of the first page) - July 1836, with a few additional entries to 1841, kept by the Reverend W[illia]m Davies, Independent minister and schoolmaster, better known as Dr William Davies (1805-59), Ffrwd-fâl or Froodvale, Cynwyl Gaeo, Carmarthenshire. The writer was ordained 29 June 1832 and in a copy of a certificate of baptism, 1833, to be found in the volume he described himself as 'Independent Minister, officiating at Coverack, Prelow [sic] and Helford [Cornwall].' He left Cornwall 7 July 1834, sailing from Coverack, and returned home to Wales. Other entries record that he went to Froodvale 25 August 1834 and that he opened his grammar school near Froodvale on 2 February 1835. It appears that in the period 1837-41 he received annual payments from Crugybar Congregation for services performed monthly in the chapel. The journal also contains items of verse by William Davies, including a Welsh translation of the hymn by [Isaac] Watts 'How glorious is our heav'nly king' ('O mor fawr a gogoneddus ydyw Brenin daer a Nef'); lines composed by M. M., Coverack, Cornwall received in a letter from 'C. R.' dated 15 September 1834, the second stanza of which begins 'In search of health that boon of heaven For Wales his course does tend'; and lists of books, e.g. 'Books that I read since I came to Froodvale - Aug. 25, 1834' and ' The Books which I use in teaching children'.

A notebook bearing the name of 'R. Prys Morris ('Robyn Frych') Dolgellau, 1880' containing verses entitled 'Ymddiddan rhwng dau frawd [Henry a Morris] yn nghylch Priodi' (? written in another hand); extracts from Richard Clarke Sewell, A Treatise on the Law of Sheriff (London, 1842); cuttings from The Cambrian News, 1880-1, relating to the name 'Corris'; extracts by 'Robyn Frych' from two vestry-books belonging to the parish of Towyn, Merioneth, which came to light in 1880, including a series of cuttings from The Cambrian News, 1880-1, on the same subject; and a few pedigrees. At the reverse end is a transcript of a paper by Ma[t]thew Holbeche Bloxam on 'Sepulchral Monuments In Towyn Church, Merionethshire' (see Archaeologia Cambrensis, 1875, pp. 211-15). The following note has been written in pencil on the fly-leaf: 'Gofaler am beidio son mai mam Mari Jones aeth i mofyn y Beibl at Mr Charles i'r Bala, os gwelir cyfeiriad at hyny ym mhlith fy ysgrifeniadau i er mai felly fu R Prys Morris'.

A volume containing poetry ('cywyddau', 'englynion', etc.) and a few prose items transcribed by the Reverend Owen Jones (1833-99) from various manuscript and printed sources, chiefly NLW MS 644 ('Llyfr Robert Hwmffra'), NLW MS 560 (Celynog 34), which is referred to here as 'MSS D', Bangor MS 15599, referred to here as 'MSS B = S[iôn] P[owel]', and a manuscript referred to as 'Bodilan MSS'. The Bodilan manuscript appears to have been written by Robert Thomas, 1730, and the poets, instances of whose work have been transcribed from this source, include Iolo Goch, Dafydd ab Gwilym, Madoc ap grono gethin, Mredydd Brydydd, Dafydd Nanmor, John Cent, D[r] G[ruffudd] R[oberts], Hugh Arwystl, Howel ab Surr Mathew, William ab Sion Wyn, D. M,, Efan ab Ridsiard, Robert John Evan, E. Thomas, Edward Davies, [Siôn Tudur], John Philips, Dr. [?Sr] Gr. fain, Lewis Lloyd, E. ?M., Moris ab Robert or Bala, Lewis Sion, William Humphrey and Thomas Lloyd ienga o Benma(e)n. The prose items include 'Achau'r Cwrw ai fonedd ai Hanes ai Gyneddfau ai wrthiau' from an unnamed source. There is also a copy of 'Cywydd am Enedigaeth a dyfodiad ein Iachawdwr Iesu Grist i'r byd yn y Cnawd ...' by Huw Huws o Fon (source not given).

A composite notebook labelled 'Gwaith Wiliam Elias, &c.' containing transcripts by John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd') of 'englynion', 'cywyddau', etc. largely by or relating to William Elias (1708-87) [Plas-y-glyn, Llanfwrog, Anglesey]. The poets represented in addition to William Elias are D(afydd) Parry, Michael Prichard, J. R. ('Englynion i annerch Owen Gruffydd', etc.), Ed. Morus, Owen Gruffydd and Thomas Edwards ('Cywydd Marwnad i'r Canmoladwy a'r Anrhydeddus ddiweddar William Elias'). There is also a note on Peniarth MS 201 ('Allan o Ysgriflyfr Peniarth [i.e. Hengwrt]. -Rhif 188'). Loose papers comprise a copy of the gravestone inscription of William Elias and his wife, 'Cerdd i Ddiolch i Fachgen o Landwrog am Fenthyg Llyfr Notes', together with some 'englynion' (in pencil), and a leaf from Eurgrawn Mon, 1825, pp. 14[7]-8 (see The Letters of Goronwy Owen, ed. J. H. Davies (Cardiff, 1924), pp. 203-4). Another loose item, a folio from an eighteenth century manuscript, has been restored to its place at the beginning of Wynnstay MS 7.

An incomplete copy in the author's hand of some of the items of verse contained in D. Silvan Evans, Telyn Dyvi (Aberystwyth, 1898). There are some minor differences between this and the printed copy.

A notebook bearing the number '1' containing transcripts by John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd') and some press cuttings of poetry by Sion Roger 'o Raianog yn mhlwyf Clynnog', Michael Prichard, Llanllyfni, Morus ab Ifan ab Einion o Leyn, Owen Davies ('Bardd Llechog'), Huw Lleyn, [David Thomas] 'Dafydd Ddu Eryri', John Thomas (S[iôn Wyn o] Eifion), Peter Jones ('Pedr Fardd'), [John Roberts] 'Sion Lleyn', Lewis Morys (beginning wanting), Richard [Davies] Esgob Dewi, Syr Roger y Ffeiriad (Roger Cyffin), Syr Rhys Cadwaladr, Sr Dafydd Trefor, Cadwaladr Cesail, Gruffydd ap Tudyr ap Howel o Fôn, Huw Machno, J. Jones (Pyll) Llanrwst, Gutto'r Glyn, Wm Williams, Ty'n y Nant, Maentwrog ('Englynion i Fron Mair', 1817), Edm[wnd] Prys, H. Roberts (Syr Huw Roberts lên), Gruffydd Hiraethog (extract), George Twissleton, Lleyar, Gruffydd Phylip and Richard Jones, Caerau, yn Lleyn (see Y Traethodydd, 1892, p. 463, Rhif 672). One press cutting contains 'Cywydd - Marwnad y Parchedig Mr Sionach Risiard Curat Llann Engan, Lleyn, 1783' by an unnamed poet. Other items are a note on John (Siôn) Cain Jones ('Siôn Ceiriog') and press cuttings, etc. concerning the Reverend John Owen (Ty'n llwyn) Penyberth (1808-76), also referred to as John Owen y Gwyndy.

Two notebooks, bound as one, containing transcripts by John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd') of 'cywyddau', etc. by Robin Ddu and of 'Cywydd Marwnad Robin Ddu' by Ieuan Môn. There are also some press cuttings containing material relating to both Robin Ddu and Robert Parry ('Robin Ddu Eryri'). Loose papers consist of a note on [John Mortimer (d. 1736)] and an envelope addressed to 'Myrddin Fardd, At:- Mrs. Prices, The Fairs, St. Michael's Hamlet, Liverpool' containing a note on Ellias Morys, Llwyndyrys and William Elias the poet headed 'Mrs. Pierce, The Friars, St. Michael's Hamlet, Liverpool', with an 'englyn' by Owain Lleyn on the reverse side (in pencil).

A notebook labelled 'Mannoethwy' containing a few miscellaneous press cuttings followed by material relating to Owen Jones ('Manoethwy'; 1838-66), brother of John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd'), including a biographical account described as being 'Allan O'r Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol, gan y Parch. O[wen] J[ones] Llandudno' and 'englynion' by Ellis Owen, Cefnymeusydd and J. H. Griffith, Gorseddau, ger Tremadog (press cutting). The hand is probably that of 'Myrddin Fardd'.

Transcripts by the Reverend Owen Jones (1833-99), Llansanffraid [-ym-Mechain], Montgomeryshire of items of poetry printed in the almanacs [Tymmhorol ac wybrenol Newyddion, neu Almanac Newydd] of Gwilim Howel, Llanidloes, 1769-72, and Cain Jones [Glyn Ceiriog], 1777-8. The poets whose work is represented are Hugh Jones o Langwm, Gwilim [Howel], Llanidloes, Sion Powel o Lansannan, Lewys Hopcin o Landyfodwg, David Jones o Drefriw ('Dewi Fardd'), Jack Rhees o Lanrhaiadr ym Mochnant, John Jones Llywelun o Gaer Einion, D. M. 'Bardd anadnabyddus', Dafydd Griffydd, Saer-Maen o Lanbadarn fâch yn Sir Aberteifi, 1769, Huw ap Huw (Mr Hugh Hughes o Lwydiarth Escob yn Sir Fôn ... y Bardd Coch), John Edwards, Clochydd Manafon, Ioan Siencin o Aberteifi, Wiliam Cynwal, Dafydd Efan, John Edwards, Glyn Ceiriog, Owen Gwynedd, Dafydd Benwyn, Da. Lloyd, Brynllefrith, 1777, Daniel Jones, etc. At the end of the volume are some miscellaneous papers, including 'Penillion diolchgarwch i'r Parchedig David Rowlands am ei anrheg o geirch i Robert Thomas i borthi Jack' by Robert Thomas (two copies, one in the autograph of O[wen] J[ones], 1862.

A collection of notebooks and unbound leaves and fragments containing poetry in strict and free metres and prose writings by and largely in the hand of Rhys Williams ('Manod Wyllt'; 1841-67), of Hendre, Blaenpennal, Cardiganshire. Such of the compostions as are dated belong to the period 1857-65. Some of the verses are covered by letters to [Richard Davies] 'Mynyddog', 1864, [Hugh Parry] 'Hywel Glan Cefni', 1864, [John Lewis] 'Ioan Mynyw', undated, etc., and others are annotated in the hand of Benjamin Williams ('Gwynionydd'), who anonymously edited Caniadau Manod Wyllt, gyda Chofiant o'r Awdur (Aberystwyth, 1867). The prose writings consist of essays, lectures and expository notes on scripture and among the titles are 'Meddwdod a'i Effeithiau', 'Dylanwad Cymdeithas ar Fasnach a Chelfyddyd', 'Darlith ar Nodweddiad Cynulleidfaol y Cymru', 'Santeiddhad a Ffrwythau' ('Un o Destynau Cyfarfod dau fisol yr ysgolion yn Ysbytti, Mawrth 20 1861'), 'Darlith ar y Myglys', 'Anniweirdeb', 'Na chymer enw Duw yn ofer', 'Cariad', 'Meddwl', etc. One volume was originally an account book, 1845-65, of ?a local (Blaenpennal area) Women's Friendly Society and was subsequently used as a scrap book for cuttings from Baner ac Amserau Cymru, 20 September 1865, recording proceedings at the Aberystwyth National Eisteddfod of that year. Among a few related items in the collection is a holograph list of literary prizes entitled 'Cofrestr o'r Gwobryon a Enillais', 1862-3.

A volume in the hand of J. H. Davies containing transcripts of four 'cerddi', one by Rhys y Geiriau Duon, one by Cynffon yr Esgob, and two by Thomas Edwards ('Twm o'r Nant').

A notebook partly in the hand of Mary Richards containing miscellaneous material e.g. Welsh and English verses, one series being by 'R[ichard] Richards Vicar Meifod', 1820; medical recipes; 'A List of Subscribers towards paying Rents for Rooms to keep a Charity School in the Parish of Berriew in 1819 -1820' (blank); and 'Enwau y rhai a fu yn ym weled a Theulu P. T. Richard Darowen pan ddaethant o Feifod i Lan Erful'.

A scrap-book compiled, with a holograph introduction and table of authors, by David Evans, Llanrwst containing press cuttings, largely from Llais y Wlad, 1875-?81, of 'cywyddau' and 'awdlau', with annotations. The poetry consists mainly of the flyting 'cywyddau' of Edmwnd Prys and William Cynwal ('Yr Ymrysonfeydd rhwng Edmwnd Prys, Archddiacon Meirionydd, a William Cynwal, Prydydd ac Arwyddfardd') and 'cywyddau' ('Cyfansoddiadau') by Dafydd Llwyd ab Llywelyn ab Gruffydd Fychan. Other poets represented in the volume are John Williams ('Athraw Ysgol Trawsfynydd') (1779), Huw Arwystl, Gruffydd Rys (1706) ('Benjamin Simon a'i 'sgrifennodd'), Rhaph ab Conwy, Tudur Penllyn, Hywel ap Daf[ydd] ap Ieuan ap Rhys (1450), Thomas Prys (Plas Iolyn), Ieuan Môn, Simwnt Fychan, Gruffydd Llwyd ap D[afydd] ap Einon, Hywel Dafi, William Llŷn, William Phillip, Ffowc Prys ('Offeiriad Celynog'), John Owens (1671), Thomas Derllysg, Ieuan Dyfi, Ieuan o Gydweli, Dafydd Elis ('o Griccieth'), Gwerfil Mechain (1400), Harri Howel(l) (1661), [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' (1799), Sion Brwynog, Sion Tudur, Lewis Morganwg, Sion Ceri, Hywel ap Syr Mathew, Huw Lleyn, Dafydd Nanmor, Lewis Morris ('Llywelyn Ddu o Fôn'), Morus ap Ifan ap Einion [Morus Dwyfech], Dafydd Hopkin ('o'r Coed-du') (1735) and Mathew Owen ('Llangarwgwyn, swydd Feirionydd').

Miscellaneous notebooks and unbound papers from the library of, and largely in the hand of, Owen Jones (1833-99), Calvinistic Methodist minister, man of letters, book collector and bibliographer, of Liverpool and Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain, Montgomeryshire. They include a fragment of a late eighteenth century manuscript containing 'Carol Plygain' by John Cadwaladr, verses by Ellis William, Llwunc[y]nfal, etc. ('Howel Jones his Book ... 1792,' 'Howel Jones Llwyncunfal ... ber 1792'); a volume of poetry including three libretti entitled 'Samson (Cyfieithiad o waith [John] Mil[ton]', 'Deborah' ('Finis May 4th 1861') and 'Y Cread' ('11/3/62'), and Welsh and English originals and translations, 1860-3 (e.g. 'The Hymns of A[nn] G[riffiths] rendered into English', 'Gray's Elegy'); a draft list of 'Hen Ddiarhebion' [old Welsh proverbs] rendered into Welsh verse (nos 1-540; one section dated 3 March [18]63); copious draft bibliographies of prose and poetry works by individual Welsh authors; etc. The material was originally tied in a brown paper wrapper inscribed by J[ohn] B[allinger], 'Library of the late Rev. Owen Jones, notes lent to Mr J. H. Davies by Miss Janet Jones, & by him deposited in the N[ational] L[ibrary of Wales]. 15-12-[19]09'.

A composite volume lettered on the spine 'Church-Rates' and bearing the name of 'Wm Thomas, Bwlchnewydd 1860' [i.e. the Reverend William Thomas (1823-99), Congregational minister first at Capel Isaac then at Bwlchnewydd and Elim, Carmarthenshire, afterwards living at Parc-glas near Carmarthen]. It contains a number of printed items, viz. four tracts of the British Anti-state-church Association, New Series, Nos. 1, 5, 4 and 6 (1850-51); three publications of the Society for the Liberation of Religion from State-Patronage and Control (The New Burial Acts, as they affect Dissenters ..., fourth edition, enlarged [1857], Practical Directions to the Opponents of Church-Rates, Part I, third edition [?1857], and Illegal Church-Rates: being practical directions to the opponents of church rates, Part II [1856]); 'Y Dreth Eglwys yn mhlwyf Cynwyl Gaio' by 'Ap Gryphydh', i.e. W[illia]m Thomas, Bwlchnewydd, reprinted from Y Diwygiwr, 1857, pp. 377-80, with some marginal notes by William Thomas; Y Bugail; neu flaidd yn rhith dafad ... gan awdwr y "Whigs a'r Tories", &c. Y trydydd argraffiad (Caernarfon, Josiah Thomas Jones, 1835); Y Parchedig Gecryn Penchwiban; neu ddrych y bugail drwg ...gan awdwr y 'Whigs a'r Tories', y 'Bugail', &c. (Caernarfon, argraffwyd dros yr awdwr, gan Josiah Thomas Jones); Mihangel's Valentine for the 'Old Mother' in Carmarthen; or Carmarthen brought to tune [1854]; and three items of verse ('Cwyn yr Offeiriad', 'Hanes y Tories' by 'Clochydd Glas', and 'Cyffes yr Offeiriad'), all three described by William Thomas as having been composed by the Reverend W. Davies, PhD, Froodvale, the original manuscript of each being in the possession of William Thomas. At the beginning of the volume, in manuscript, are a note of 'The position of the Church Rate Question in the H. Cns. from 1853 to 1861 inclusive' and 'A List of the Pamphlets the volume contains ...', and at the end of the volume, also in manuscript, by William Thomas, are 'Extracts & Notes. Braintree Church Rate Case' and 'Notes & correspondence on the Church Rate in the Parish of Cayo'. Loose in the volume is an incomplete copy of Y Parchedig Gecryn Penchwiban.

'Periglor Wakefield', a Welsh translation by 'Edeyrn Dafod Aur' [probably the Reverend J. Myrddin Thomas (1838-1914), Mold] for the Wrexham Eisteddfod, 1876, of The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith. With the translation is a letter, 1876, from 'Edeyrn Davod Aur' to the adjudicator. Also included are some sheets of a draft copy with poetry, extracts transcribed in another hand from Y Gwyliedydd, 1829-30, and a fragment in yet another hand referring to the discovery of an urnfield in the parish of Llanfachraith [sic, Merionethshire], 1875.

Autograph letter to Principal Davies, 1907, from Owen Eilian Owen; autograph letter to Thomas Jones, Amlwch, 1833, from John Foulkes; English translation of Iolo Goch's 'Owen Glyndwr'; lines on the death of the Earl of Powis, 1848, by 'Ieuan Cadfan'; autograph letter to the Reverend Thomas Richards, Llanymowddi from 'Llewelyn Ioan'; autograph letter to the Reverend Thomas Richards, Darowen, 1835, from Edward Morgan; autograph letter to the Reverend H[enr]y Jones, Northop from I. Clarke; autograph letters to the Reverend Thomas Richards, Darowen from D. Davies, Canon of Darowen, 1800, and John Jones, Llanlligan, 1786' autograph letters to the Reverend Thomas Richards, Llanymowddwy from David Jones, 1790, and Catherine Richards, 1793; letter of sympathy to J. H. Silvan Evans on the death of his father, 1903, from Walter Spurrell; letters (typescript) to J. H. Silvan Evans, 1902, from Walter Spurrell; letters to the Reverend Chancellor D. Silvan Evans re. proofs of Dictionary, 1902, from Walter Spurrell; autograph letters to Silvan Evans concerning address to be presented to the Rt Hon. A. J. Balfour re. a memorial to Silvan Evans for his work in Welsh literature, 1897, from J. H. Davies; autograph letter to the Reverend Walter Davies, Manafon, 1825, from Hannah Walter; pedigree notes; autograph letter to the Reverend Robert Williams, Conway, 1834, from W. A. Vaughan; fragments of Welsh poetry by various authors written on papers belonging to the Reverend Thomas Richards, Darowen.

A collection of press cuttings, mostly Welsh poetry, compiled by 'Myrddin Fardd'.

Miscellaneous Welsh poetry by William Roberts ('Clochydd Llannor'), Robert Parry ('Robin Ddu Eryri'), John Jones ('Myrddin Fardd') and others; and a report on the Sunday schools of Penygroes.

A composite volume consisting of a number of home-made booklets containing miscellaneous items in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') bound together. P. 31 is inscribed 'Gwallter Dymapys ar Drin Tir'. Pp. 37-52 contain a short treatise in Welsh on agricultural husbandry with the superscription 'Llyma Lyfr Gwallter Demapys [Walter Map or Mapes, the medieval author, fl. late twelfth century] sef cynghorion hen wr megis y dysgai ac y cynghorai ei ab ynghylch llafuriaw Tir a threfnu ysgrublaid fal hynn'. According to an end note (p. 52) the treatise was copied 'O Lyfr Mr. Richards o Langrallo', but for the opinion that it was compiled by Edward Williams himself and attributed to Walter Map see TLLM, t. 3. P. 53 contains a note, allegedly taken from Thomas Truman of Pant Lliwydd's book of pedigrees, linking Walter Map and his family with the village of Trewallter and parish of Llancarfan, co. Glamorgan, but for the falsity of this claim which is probably an Edward Williams forgery see again TLLM, t. 3. Pp. 54-68 contain a further treatise in Welsh on agricultural husbandry with the superscription 'Cyngor yr Hen Gyrys Megis yr oedd ynteu yn cynghori ei fab fal hynn'. This, according to a note on p. 68, was copied from a volume in the possession of the Reverend Thomas Evans of Brechfa in 1800. For the connection between this and the treatise on agriculture which is to be found in the 'Red Book of Hergest' and which was published in The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies, vol. II, pp. 8-16, see TLLM, t. 3. Pp. 69-196 (previously a separate booklet paginated 1-126) contain (pp. 69-116) genealogical and historical data relating to the saints of the island of Britain described (p. 69) as 'Achau Saint Ynys Prydain o Lyfr Thomas Hopcin o Langrallo a hwnnw yn un o Lyfrau Thomas ab Ifan o Dre Brynn yn yr un Plwyf a ysgrifenwyd gantho ynghylch y flwyddyn 1670', and (pp. 117-82) further genealogical and historical data relating to the said saints described (p. 117) as 'Achau a Gwelygorddau Saint Ynys Prydain o Lyfr Hir Thomas Truman o Bant Lliwydd Plwyf Llansannwr yin Morganwg' and with a concluding note (p. 182) 'O Lyfr hir Tomas Truman o Bant Lliwydd a fuassai yn un o Lyfrau Thomas ab Ifan o Dre Brynn'. Pp. 197-232 contain miscellaneous items including notes relating to 'Cadair Tir Iarll', aspects of Welsh bardism, 'cerddi arwest', the revision by Benwyll arwyddfardd of rules relating to rank and armorial bearings, etc., a few triads, references to 'Cadair Llanfihangel Glynn Afan', 'Cadair Llangynwyd Tir Iarll', 'Cadair y Wennarth', and 'Cadair Cefn Gorwydd', and anecdotes relating to Antoni Pywel and Ieuan Deulwyn. Pp. 233-300 form a booklet inscribed on the outer, upper cover (p. 233) '1808 Prydyddiaeth Cymmysg Iolo Morganwg' and containing (pp. 235-57) free- and strict-metre Welsh poems by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' himself. Pp. 301-32 form another booklet with a 'title-page' inscribed 'Anreg Beirdd Ynys Prydain I blant bychain Cymru . . . Argrafwyd (sic) yn Llundain, 1794. Pris 2d', and with the contents consisting of a list of Welsh proverbs or popular sayings headed 'Glam[organ] proverbs'.