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A Latin manuscript written on parchment in the second half of the thirteenth century and containing (a) ff. 1 recto-10 verso, the prose narrative generally known as Daretis Phrygii de Excidio Troiae Historia, and (b) ff. 11 recto-64 recto, a text of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae in eleven books, followed, f. 64 recto-verso, by a brief list of names (place-names, river-names, etc., beginning with 'Armorica') and their derivations. According to the colophon on f. 64 verso the scribe was William of Wodecherche, former lay brother of Robertsbridge [Abbey, Sussex] ('hanc hystoriam brittonum scripsit frater Willelmus de Wodecherche laicus quondam conuersus pontis Roberti cuius anima requiescat in pace. Amen'); there is an almost identical colophon in MS Bodl. 132. The manuscript has the red crayon pagination associated with Archbishop Matthew Parker, the numbering in this case being 1-127, and in Parker's time, and perhaps from the beginning, it appears to have been bound with Phillipps MS 26641 (William of Malmesbury, Gesta Regum Anglorum) and Phillipps MS 26642 (Giraldus Cambrensis, Topographia Hibernica, etc., and Edmund Campion, 'Two bookes of the histories of Ireland, purchased at Sotheby's by 3rd Earl Iveagh, and now Farmleigh Library, Dublin, Benjamin Iveagh Library, IV E 6). The text of the Historia Regum Britanniae is of the 'Variant Version' published by Jacob Hammer in 1951 (see 'Publications about Described Materials note). It should be added that the text includes the reading 'Que multa exercens ueneficia . . . haberet' (f. 36 verso), cf. Hywel D. Emanuel, 'Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britannie: a second variant version', in Medium Aevum, XXXV, pp. 103-10). The manuscript begins, f. 1 recto, 'Epistula cornelii ad Crispum salustium in troianorum hystoria. que in Greco a darete hystonographo facta est. Cornelius Gaio Crispo salutem' . . 'Explicit epistula. Narratio Daretis Trolani Excidii'; f. 10 verso, 'Explicit Troie Excidium. Incipit hystoria brittonum tracta ab antiquis libris brittonvm', with Geoffrey of Monmouth's prologue added in the margins in a sixteenth century hand ('Historla Galfridi Monumetensis. Cum mecum multa . . . interno gratulatur affectu'); f. 11 recto, the Geoffrey of Monmouth text, beginning 'Britannia insularum optima. . .', with running title 'hystoria brittonum' and a note, probably by Matthew Parker, 'hic liber multum variat a communi galfrido quamuis in multis concordant'; f. 64 recto, 'Explicit hystoria brittonum correcta et abbreuiata', followed by another note probably by Parker, 'et cum vulgari galfrido: non concordat' (a note in the margin of f. 63 verso, 'in hoc libro augustinus non habetur', is also probably by him). The divisions into books are marked and there is a lacuna in Book XI between ff. 62 verso and 63 recto (apparently by the loss of the two middle bifolia of the quire) although the pagination is continuous. On f. 64 verso William of Malmesbury's dedicatory letter to the earl of Gloucester has been inserted in a sixteenth century hand (cf. f. 10 verso).

Research papers of E. M. R. Ditmas, 1919-1980, including material on art history and on folklore, 1919-1980; bibliographical, topographical, personal and subject indexes on Arthurian and mediaeval studies; papers relating to the International Arthurian Society; typescript drafts of studies of the Tristan legend and Geoffrey of Monmouth, [1960s], and correspondence concerning their publication, 1960-1972.

A seventeenth century manuscript with a previous, brown-paper, ? upper cover bound in at the end. Ff. 1 recto-8 recto contain extracts from, and abstracts of sections of, a text of the Welsh translation of Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia Regum Britanniae', i.e., 'Brut y Brenhinedd'. These extracts and abstracts, according to the superscription to f. 1 recto, are 'O Lyfr manachlog dinas Basing a scrivenassai Guttun Owain, herwydd y dywedir, . . . ar llyfr me[m] brwn sydd eiddo Mr. Rob[er]t Dauies o Wisane yn sir y Flint' [i.e., the manuscript generally known as 'Llyfr Du Basing' ('The Black Book of Basingwerk'), which, at the time of compiling the present volume, was in the possession of Robert Davies, esq., of Gwysaney, co. Flint, and is now NLW MS 7006D]. Ff. 9 recto-14 verso contain extracts from, and abstracts of sections of, a text of the version of the Welsh chronicle 'Brut y Tywysogion' known as 'Brenhinedd y Saeson'. These, too, according to the superscription to f. 9 recto, are from the same manuscript source as the contents of ff. 1-8 ('Hyn sydd yn calyn (sic) a dynwyd o lyfr manachlog Dinas Basing wedi ysgrivennu yn deg ar vemrwn a flaw, herwydd y dywedir, Gutun Owain, yr hwn lyfr sydd eiddo Mr. Rob[er]t Davies, esqr., o Wisane yn sir y Pint'). The superscriptions and texts are in the hand of the Welsh antiquary Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt, co. Merioneth (see T. Jones (ed.): Brut y Tywysogyon . . . Peniarth MS 20 Version . . . (Cardiff, 1952), pp. xviii-xix). Ff. 15-18 are blank and the previous, brown-paper cover is inscribed in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') 'Copy of Llannerch MS. by Robert Vaughan, Esqr., of Hengwrt'. There are also a few marginal notes in Edward Williams's hand. The present volume is probably the item listed by William Maurice in his catalogue of the Hengwrt Library, 1658, as 'Membr. lxxxviii. Noates out of ye Booke of Basingwerke. O law Robert Vaughan. Folio Ten[au]' (see Wynnstay MS.10 in the National Library of Wales, f. 255). The volume was missing from the Hengwrt Library when Aneurin Owen compiled his catalogue in 1824 (see Transactions of the Cymmrodorion . . ., vol. II, 1828, pp. 403-16; and Archaeologia Cambrensis . . ., 1871, pp. 129-39). A transcript of the contents in the hand of Edward Williams is to be found in British Museum Add. MS 15003, pp. 1-51 (see T. Jones: op. cit., p. xxvi).

A manuscript containing Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae (pp. 1-148); and the Prophecy of John of Bridlington (pp. 149-176).

A manuscript containing a book of briefs (in Norman French) (p. 126); Glanville's Treatise on the Laws and Customs of England (pp. 179-217); and a copy of Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britannorum (pp. 1-178).

A volume containing three texts from the Alexander cycle, namely (a) the History of Alexander the Great in the abridged version of Julius Valerius ('Incipiunt Gesta Alexandri Magni') (ff. 1-17 verso); (b) Correspondence between Alexander the Great and Dindimus, king of the Brahmans ('Disputacio inter Alexandrum Inperatorem et Dindimum regem bragmanorum') (ff. 17 verso-32); and (c) 'Commonitorium palladii. Vita bragmanorum' (ff. 32-34 verso); together with an imperfect text of the Historia Regum Britanniae of Geoffrey of Monmouth ('Incipit hystoria britannorum') (ff. 34 verso-105). The volume was probably compiled in France. It is neatly written, with headings in red and initial letters in blue, green, red, and buff.

A volume containing texts of (a) the fuller version of 'Ystoria Dared' (pp. 1-40), translated by Peter Roberts in The chronicle of the Kings of Britain, 1811, (b) the so-called 'Brut Tysilio' or 'compiled version' of Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia Regum Britanniae' (pp. 41-198), also partly translated by Peter Roberts (op. cit.), and closely allied to the text of British Museum MS Cotton Cleopatra B.v., and (c) 'Brut y Saeson' to the year 1461 (pp. 199-308). Pp. 1-88 are in a late 14th century hand; the remaining pages are in the hand of Gutun Owain, the 15th century bard and herald associated with the abbey of Basingwerk. A note, dated 1630, by Robert Vaughan, Hengwrt refers to the misplacement of many pedigrees, and another note, dated 1809, by Peter Roberts refers to the identification of the volume by William Maurice, Cefn-y-braich.

Miscellaneous papers and home-made booklets containing transcripts, notes, lists, jottings, etc., in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') bound together in one volume. The contents are extremely varied. Prose items include items such as a brief note on Dafydd ap Gwilym (40), notes relating to Gruffudd ap Cynan and the 'eisteddfod' at Glyn Achlach in Ireland (41-2), a list of 'Constellations in Glam[organ]' (46), a list of 'Rhannau'r Dydd' (47), a version of the tale of Elphin and Taliesin at the court of Maelgwn Gwynedd copied 'Ex 37 P.P.' (i.e. Paul Panton MS 37 now NLW MS 2005, of which see ff. 26 verso-48 verso) (75-96), a list of Welsh bards, 11th - 15th cent., with occasional notes (104-05), an anecdote relating to Owain Glyndwr taking refuge in Syr Lawrens Berclos' s castle (106), genealogies of Iestyn ap Gwrgant, lord of Morgannwg, 1091, Meuric, lord of Gwent, descendant of Iestyn, and Syr Rhaph Rhawlech (107- 10), an anecdote relating to Owain Cyfeiliawc (112), a note on the descendants of Iestin ab Gwrgant (114), a note on Richard y Fwyalchen sef Syr Richard Williams, fl. 1590-1630 (116), extracts from [Dauid] Powel [: The Historie of Cambria now called Wales, 1584], pp.191-2, relating to the Welsh bards and minstrels (123-5), genealogical notes on members of the Cecil family from the time of Sir Rotpert Sitsyllt, late 11th cent., to the time of Sir William Cecill, Lord Burghley (127-33), a brief note on the computation of time and on 'Elinor Goch o dir Iarll' (140), notes relating to Welsh bardic grades (149-54), extracts from the review of The Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales which appeared in The Monthly Review, July 1802 (159-60), a list of Welsh proverbs (161-3), a note relating to, and extracts from, Thomas Jones [: Carolau a Dyriau Duwiol, 1696] (165-6), a list headed 'Deuddeg Prifgampau Gwybodau Gwrolion' (169-71), a section headed 'Mangofion am yr hen Brydyddion a hen gerdd dafawd' containing notes and triads relating to Welsh bardism and more particularly the 'bardd teulu' and 'cerdd deuluaidd' (175-85), a copy of the bardic oath ('Adduned neu Dynghedfen Bardd') (191), notes commencing 'Pum Cenedl gynhwynawl a wladychant Ynys Prydain' (207-08), a note relating to Gilbert y Clar (ob. 1295) and his son (ob. 1313) (223), triads (224-5), brief notes on the five stages in the development of ? the Welsh bardic alphabet ('Pumoes Llythyr') (226), notes relating to Gruffudd ap Cynan's flight to Ireland, 1096, and his organising of a meeting of bards and musicians at Glyn Athlach (227), a note on 'Cadair arddangos Tir Iarll' (228), notes headed 'Glamorgan School (Poetry)' containing references to Rhys Goch ab Rhiccert, Norman literary influence in South Wales, Walter de Mapes, D[afydd] ap Gwilym, translations into Welsh, 'Saith Doethion Rhufain', 'Ystori Siarlymaen', the 'Mabinogion', and Walter, archdeacon of Oxford and the original of Geoffrey of Monmouth's 'Historia', and an anecdote relating to Rhys Goch Eryri, etc. (245-7), notes headed 'Bardism lost in North Wales' relating to the state of bardism in North and South Wales from circa 1400 onwards with comments on the restoration of the Welsh language in which Dr. John Davies [of Mallwyd] is referred to as 'the saviour of our language, its regenerator . . .' (253-7), a list of words and phrases ? from [Hugh Lewys:] Perl mewn Adfyd (263-4), a note on translating (295-6), a version of a conversation between teacher and disciple concerning creation, the nature of created matter, the first man, the first three letters, etc., with a note by Edward Williams on the word 'manred' (? the substance of created matter) (307-09), notes relating to the three bardic brothers Madawc, Ednyfed, and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd of Marchwiail [co. Denbigh], an 'eisteddfod' held at Maesaleg [co. ], ? temp. Edward III, another 'eisteddfod' at Marchwiail, temp. Edward III, Gwilym Tew and an 'eisteddfod' at the monastery of Penn Rhys in Glyn Rhodni [co. Glamorgan], an 'eisteddfod' at Caerfyrddin, N.D., successive re-organising of the rules and regulations relating to bards and bardism and musicians in the time of Morgan Hen, prince of Morgannwg, and his brother Ceraint Fardd Glas [10th cent.], of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn [11th cent .], of Rhys ap Tewdwr, lord of Dinefwr (with references to a quarrel between the said Rhys and lestyn ab Gwrgan, lord of Glamorgan, because the latter had carried off 'Rhol y Ford Gronn'), of Gruffudd ap Rhys ap Tewdwr, and of Gruff. ap Cynan, and the patronage of the bards by the squirearchy after the fall of the princes (311-16), rules of the bardic order headed 'Llymma ddosparth y Ford gronn ar Feirdd a phrydyddion a gwyr wrth gerdd Dafawd yn Llys yr amherawdr Arthur . . .', with a note on the disappearance of 'Dosparth y Ford Gronn' and its subsequent restoration by Rhys ap Tewdwr (323-32), another ? incomplete list of regulations for the bardic order headed 'Llymma Hen Ddosparth ar Freiniau a defodau Beirdd a Phrydyddion a phob gwrth (sic) wrth Gerdd Dafawd o Hen Lyfr Watkin Powel o Benn y Fai' (333-5), a version of the gorsedd prayer ('Gweddi Talhaiarn neu weddi'r orsedd') with an English translation (337), a short list of miscellaneous Welsh triads (343), brief notes on the saints Elli and Twrog and 'Llyfr Twrog' (360) (continued)

a list of 'Words collected in Blaenau Morganwg, anno 1770' (361-2), a list of eight ? chapter headings under the superscription 'Dissertation on the Welsh Language' (364), copies of, and a note on, inscriptions 'on Ffynon Illtud near Neath', and on a tombstone in Margam Abbey (371), a note on the institution of 'Y Ford Gronn' by the Emperor Arthur (372), anecdotes or notes relating to twelve Welsh saints (385-8), an anecdote relating to a quarrel between Dafydd ap Gwilym and Gruffudd Grug (389), notes on the fifteen tribes of Gwynedd ('Pymtheg Llwyth Gwynedd o Drefn y Brenin Alfryd ac Anarawd ap Rhodri Mawr . . .') (391-402), ? extracts from the letters of Goronwy Owen with comments by Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg') (409-15), a list of the names of authors of carols in a volume belonging to 'Mr. Davies o Fangor' (417-18), a note on the bard Llawdden (418), notes under the heading 'Eisteddfodau Gwynedd' referring to 'eisteddfodau' at Marchwiail (14th cent.), Nant Gonwy (15th cent.), Croesoswallt, Caerwys (16th cent.), and Bala (late 17th cent.), Gruffudd ap Cynan's visit to an 'eisteddfod' at Castell Dinefwr and his introduction of the bardic regulations formulated there into North Wales, etc. (included is an 'englyn' attributed to Dafydd Llwyd 'o Fathafarn') (418-22), an anecdote relating to the bard Llawdden and Gruff. ap Nicolas and the convening of an 'eisteddfod' at Carmarthen, 19 Henry VI (428-9), brief notes referring to 'cynghanedd' usage prior to the 'eisteddfod' at Caerfyrddin in 1451, changes inaugurated by Llawdden with regard to 'cynghanedd' and the strict metres, etc- (431-2), notes headed 'Llyma gyfarwyddyd parth ag am y Naw cwlm cerdd a fuant yng ngherdded Oesoedd amrafaelion ar arfer gan Feirdd a Phrydyddion Cymru' (433-4), notes on 'poetical talent' in the family of Meilir Brydydd, the Gower family in Glamorgan, the family of Einion ap Collwyn, and the 'Avan Branch of the House of Iestin ap Gwrgan', and general observations on the possibility of the development of poetic taste and ability in an individual, etc. (435-40 ), an ? incomplete list of triads headed 'Trioedd y Ford Gronn yn Nhir larll' (453-5) a note relating to 'cerddi teuluaidd' found in manuscript volumes in Glamorgan (463), a note on a bardic 'cadair arddangos' (464), an anecdote relating to Ifor Hael, Llywelyn ap Gwilym, and Dafydd ap Gwilym and a bardic convention at Gwern y Cleppa circa 1330 (466), a note on the bard-brothers Siôn, Wiliam, and Richard Philip of Ardudwy (467), a short list of three triads headed 'Trioedd Cadair Morganwg' (468), notes relating to an 'eisteddfod' at Nant Gonwy, 1 Edward IV, where the strict- metre poetic system devised by Dafydd ap Edmwnt at the 'eisteddfod' held at Carmarthen, 9 Henry VI, was ? officially accepted ('breiniwyd'), incorporating 'englynion' attributed to Dafydd ap Edmwnt and Twm Tegid of Llan Gower in Penllyn (479-81), a list of Glamorgan proverbs ('Diarhebion Morganwg Cymmysg') (499-506), two sets of outline notes headed 'Ancient British Literature' and 'Characteristics of ancient Welsh Literature in its several ages or periods' (507-10), a list of English proverbs headed 'Lantwit and Gower proverbs. The Devil's name in every one of them' (513), miscellaneous triads headed 'Trioedd Cymmysg' (515-16), two lists headed 'Deg Peth ni thalant ei hachub o'r Tan' and 'Deuddegpeth drwg a drwg fydd eu diwedd' (531), a list of 'Mesurau cerdd dafawd Cyffredin', which, according to a note at the end, were also known as 'Mesurau arwest' and 'mesurau cerdd deulu' (536-9), a note on poetical works which appeared in Wales circa 1350 and later in the same century and were attributed to Taliesin and other bards (540), notes referring to 'eisteddfodau' at Caerfyrddin in 1451 and 1460, Nant Conwy [temp. Tudur Aled], and Caerwys, temp. Henry VIII and temp. Elizabeth, with references to changes introduced in the bardic rules and regulations and incorporating an 'englyn' attributed to Ieuan Tew Ieuanc (541-3), and a brief note on the bardic 'Cadair Tir Iarll' (543). Verse items include transcripts of poems, largely 'englynion', or sections of poems attributed to D[afydd] ab Gwilym (40), Taliesin, Iolo Goch, and Llywelyn Goch ap Meyryg Hen (49), Y Bardd Glas o'r Gadair (97-8, 134-7), Caradawc Llancarfan (99), Gwgan Farfawc 'o Landathan' or Gwgan Fardd (100-04), Edward Rhisiart 'o Lan Fair y Bont Faen' (113), Dafydd y Blawd (115), Rhys Meigen (117), Thomas Morgan 'o'r Tyle Garw' (118-20), William Davies or Gwilym Tir Ogwr (122), Siôn y Cent (126), Elis Wynn 'o Las Ynys' (144-5), Edmund Prys, Ficar Clynog Fawr ('mab yr hen archiagon') (145-6), Siôn Morys 'o Lanfabon' (148), lorwerth ap y Gargam (223), y Parchedig D. Dafis, 'gweinidog Llwyn Rhyd Owain' (353-5), Daf. Benwyn (378), Dafydd Nicolas, Aberpergwm (390, 426), Dafydd Alaw (403- 04), Siôn Brwynog (405-06), Llawdden (406, ? 426, 428), Wiliam Cynwal (408 ), Richard Philip (408, 467), Wm. Llyn, Dafydd ap Edmwnt, Robert Clidro, Howel Bangor, and Cadwgan ap Rhys (425), Thos. Llewelyn 'o Regoes' (426), Gruff. ap Maredydd ap Dafydd, Rhisiart Iorwerth, and Siôn Tudur (427), Gruff. ap Dafydd ap Tudur (428), Tudur Aled and Huw Llwyd Cynfel (430), Prohl (with a note 'Einon offeirad, Bardd Syr Rhys Hen o Abermarlais, a elwid y Prohl . . .') (461-2), [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' (467, 507 ), and Dafydd o'r Nant (481). Also included are lists or groups of Welsh words sometimes with English definitions, excerpts from the works of Welsh poets, these sometimes to illustrate specific words, miscellaneous genealogical data, notes relating to Welsh grammar and etymology, miscellaneous memoranda, extracts from a variety of printed sources, etc.

An incomplete essay on 'Monmouthshire Worthies'. The list of subjects begins with Geoffrey of Monmouth and ends with Sir Thomas Phillips, barrister, of Newport.

A manuscript, 1773-1774, in the hand of Evan Evans (Ieuan Fardd) containing notes on a Welsh chronicle from Adam to Cadwaladr Fendigaid (ff. 1-62), originally written, with notes, by John Jones, Gellilyfdy, in 1622 (see f. 1), and which seemingly includes Hanes Taliesin (ff. 26-48) (cf. Peniarth MS 111, p. 1); an account of a Latin manuscript of Brut Tysilio, etc., (ff. 63-72) 'which now belongs to Doctor Treadway Nash, near Bevere, Worcester, 1773, bought out of the library of the late Mr. Lewis Morris of Penbryn in Cardiganshire' (see f. 63); a copy of an Edward Lhuyd letter, including the inscription on the Eliseg stone (ff. 73-77); and various other extracts (ff. 78-95 verso). On f. 97 is a note by D[afydd] Ddu.