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Edern Dafod Aur Bards and bardism.
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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.

Miscellanea,

Miscellaneous papers and home-made booklets containing material in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') bound together in one volume. The contents include pp. 1-10, an incomplete, alphabetical list (A - G only) of the names of Welsh bards with dates (floruit) and occasional notes, allegedly transcribed in the house of [David Thomas] 'Dafydd Ddu o Eryri' at Traeth Coch, Anglesey, in 1799 from a volume previously in the possession of the Reverend Dafydd Elis of Amlwch, Anglesey; 23, notes relating to bardism; 24-5, anecdotes relating to Ieuan Deulwyn and Antoni Pywel of Llwydarth incorporating 'englynion' by both; 27-9, notes relating to the bardic 'cadair Tir Iarll'; 39-42, notes headed 'Llyma Ddosparth ar Deilyngdawd y Beirdd herwydd pob un ei radd a'i swydd'; 45-7, notes on measures taken by Ceraint Fardd Glas, Rhys ap Tewdwr, and Gruffudd ap Cynan in connection with the Welsh strict poetic metres; 55-87, references to, and extracts from, the works of various Welsh poets mainly the 'cywyddwyr', with notes on some of the poets and/or poems and their contents; 88-98, notes on Dafydd Ddu o Hiraddug referring to his connection with the 'cywydd' measure, the bardic grammar associated with his name and that of Edeyrn Dafawd Aur, and the translation into Welsh of the Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and mentioning the possibility of identifying Dafydd Ddu Hiraddug with Dafydd Ddu Fynach 'o Fonachlog Nedd' and Dafydd Ddu Athraw of the parish of Pen Tyrch [co. Glamorgan]; 104, a philological note on the word 'Cymmry'; 105- 15, notes incorporating comments on the word 'Cymry' (Kimmeri) as a national appellative and the early development of the language of the Cymry, an attack on tendencies to introduce new rules of orthography into the Welsh language, a comment on the need for 'a good Dictionary . . . of the Langu[age] as well as a good Grammar', a suggestion for establishing a 'Welsh corresponding Academy for restoring to its pristine purity the Ancient British or Welsh Language', etc.; 116, a list of twenty literary and historical subjects headed 'Progress of literary taste for improvement in Eastern South Wales'; 117, copies of two alphabets described as 'The most ancient Irish Alphabet named Bobeloth' and 'Irish Marcomanic or Marcomanic Runes'; 119, notes on ? bardic and public alphabets; 121-2, further notes on the Cimbri, Cymmry, or Cimmeri and their language; 137-41, lists or groups of miscellaneous Welsh words or phrases; 153-68, a brief account of religious dissent in Glamorgan in the 16th and 17th centuries with mention of Thomas Llywelyn, the bard, preaching to congregations at Blaen Cannaid and Rhegoes and translating the Bible into Welsh, and references to Wm. Erbury, Walter Caradog, Morgan Llwyd's visits to Glamorgan, the congregation at Blaen Cannaid, Lydia Phelle, meetings at Mynwent y Cwacers, Samuel Jones of Brynn Llywarch, and chapels or congregations at Tref y Ryg, parish of Llantrisan, Cefn Hengoed, parish of Gelli Gaer, Cwm y Glo near Merthyr, Ynys Gou in Merthyr, Coed y Cymmer near Merthyr, Cwm Cynnon near Aberdare, Hirwaen Forgan, parish of Aberdare, and Cymmer yr Ystrad, parish of Llantrisaint, all under the superscription 'Mân gofion am rai pethau eglwysig a chrefyddol a gefais gan y diweddar Mr. Morgan Llywelyn o Gastell Nedd'; 185-209, groups of Welsh words, verse extracts, etc.; 215-17, two lists containing the names of authors (Geoffrey of Monmouth, Morgan Llwyd, etc.), individual literary or historical works (Mabinogion, Drych y Prifoesoedd, etc.), and categories of material (Achau'r Saint, Triads, etc.), the first headed 'Our Ancient [Welsh] Prose Classics' and the second 'Modern [Welsh] Classics in prose', with a brief note on the language, etc., of these authors or works and criticism of the language of works written by modern, Welsh Unitarian writers; 218-20, brief notes on the characteristics of Welsh poetry from the earliest times with mention of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Rhys Goch ap Rhiccert, and Dafydd ap Gwilym; 221-3, notes on the formation of compound words in Welsh; 236, a list of words headed 'Specimens of roughness or of rugged words in the English'; 241-4, extracts from the works of Wm. Cynwal, Iorwerth Fynglwyd, Gwilym ab Ieuan Hen, Meredydd ap Rhys, and Llywelyn ap Ednyfed under the heading 'Caethiwed y Beirdd wedi darfod y Tywysogion'; (continued)

245-6, extracts from [? Henry] Hunter: Sacred Biography [London, 1783]; 247, brief notes headed 'Traddodiadau Morganwg am Owain Glyn Dwr'; 265-6, extracts from [Richard] Baxter: Poetical Fragments [London, 1681]; 269, extracts from Wm. Forbes: [An Account of the] Life of [James] Beattie [1807]; 269, an anecdote relating to Owain Glyndwr and an ash tree on Sterling Down [co. Glamorgan]; 270, brief notes headed 'Meteorology of Glam[organ]'; 271, a transcript of six stanzas of English verse headed 'Old song commonly sung in Glamorgan]'; 273, a transcript of three 'englynion' attributed to Rhisiart Tomas of Pen y Bont ar Ogwr, with a note thereon by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg'; 274-5, a list of names of saints with churches founded by them in cos. Glamorgan and Monmouth allegedly from a volume in the possession of Siôn Bradford; 283, a note on an 'eisteddfod' held at Ystrad Ywaen [co. Glamorgan], ? 1603; 283-4, a note relating to the preservation of traditions, historical memorials, etc. in Wales; 285-7, a list of miscellaneous Welsh words with English or Latin definitions; 287, copies of four 'englynion' by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg'; 301-?92, extracts from ? [J. Pinkerton:] Walpoliana; 393- 415, extracts from The Monthly Review, 1790, vols. 1 and 2, ibid., 1807, etc.; 415, a transcript of two 'englynion' to the Baptist meeting house at Maeshaleg [co. ] attributed to Harri Siôn of Pont y Pwl; ? 422 + 423, a short list of Welsh maxims headed 'Agricul[t]ural Maxims in Glamorgan]'; 424, four Welsh proverbs described as 'Glam[organ] proverb]s'; 424, specifications of 'Buarth mawr in Wick, a large Ruin, an Armory of the Dutchy of Lancaster ait Thos. Truman'; 428-9; a list of invaders of Britain ('Llyma son ysbysbwyll am yr Estroniaid a ddaethant i Ynys Prydain yn ormes yn erbyn Braint Cenedl y Cymry'); 429-37, miscellaneous groups of Welsh words, miscellaneous memoranda, and two stanzas of Welsh verse attributed to Siôn William; 438-40, suggestions in Welsh concerning matters for discussion at an annual meeting of Unitarians ('y Dwyfundodiaid') [to be held] in Aberdare [co. Glamorgan], N.D.; 441-56, miscellaneous memoranda, a brief note on the difference between North Wales and South Wales dialect, extracts from The Monthly Review, 1807, a transcript of a brief letter, 1807, from J. Franklen from Lanmihangle to Mr. Hooper, ? concerning a right of way, a brief note on Chinese methods of propagating fruit trees, extracts from speeches by Napoleon, etc.; 461- 4, a transcript of a sequence of thirty 'Englynion y Gorugau' attributed to Y Bardd Glas o'r Gadair; 465, a short list of Welsh triads ('Trioedd Amrafaelion'); 466, a note on Hugh Lupus, earl of Chester, ob. 1107; 468, a transcript of six more 'Gorugau' stanzas; 470, an anecdote relating to Ieuan fawr ap y Diwlith 'o Gil Fai'; 471, brief notes headed 'Llyma son am Glymau Cerdd dafawd herwydd y mesurau'; 472-3, 476 lists or groups of Welsh words; 477, notes with the incipit 'Llyma'r modd y nottaynt yr hen athrawon hyspysu cof amseroedd'; 478, a list of Welsh poetic measures headed 'Hen Ddosparth Tir Iarll', and a brief note commencing 'Llyma ddosparth y Corfannau a wnaeth Hopkin Thomas o Gil Fai . . . '; 479, rules relating to the training of bardic trainees or disciples; 480, a note relating to 'mesurau profest'; 480-85, pseudo-historical notes relating to the Welsh strict metres and the bardic system with mention of Rhys ab Tewdwr, Gruffudd ap Cynan, Llawdden Fardd, Dafydd ap Edmwnt, 'eisteddfodau' at Carmarthen 1450 and 1460, etc.; 486, a list of Welsh words ending in - ur with English definitions; 488, an anecdote relating to Sir Edward Stradlin and Dr. John David Rhys; 491, a short list of Welsh proverbs headed 'Diarhebion Morganwg'; 493-6 a brief note on the appearance of double and alternate rhymes in South Wales and on the form of the verbal termination for the third person singular past tense in the works of medieval Welsh poets, and miscellaneous Welsh word or phrase lists; 514, a short list of Welsh words with, in some instances, English or Latin definitions or equivalents; 519, notes on financial contributions headed 'Dwyfundodiaid, 1813, Gelli Onnen'; 521-9, miscellaneous notes noting, inter alia, archaeological remains, remains of abbeys, 'edifices by Inigo Jones' and repairs effected by him, various plants, fruit, trees, minerals, rocks, etc., to be found in various locations in co. Glamorgan; 531, brief notes on Dunraven Castle, Boverton Castle and Place, and Hays Castle in Lantwit and the remains of a camp adjacent to it; 532, a biographical note on John Hopkins 'versifier of the Psalms', ob. 1541; etc.