A commonplace book of W. J. Roberts ('Gwilym Cowlyd'). The volume belongs to the period 1902-04 and consists largely of copies of letters and some press cuttings relating to the constitution and activities of the Institutional Order of Bards of Gair Ionydd (of which 'Gwilym Cowlyd' was Chief Bard Positive), with special emphasis on the election of Primary Elders, to the request for representation at the coronation of King Edward VIII, and to the election of English bards to membership of the Order. There is also correspondence relating to bardic awards made to [Rowland Williams] 'Hwfa Môn', to protests made by 'Gwilym Cowlyd' against the holding of an organ recital at St Grwst's Church, Llanrwst, and against the renovation of the altar, to a proposed singing festival ('Cymanfa Goffadwriaethol') organised by Llangollen Literary Society in memory of [Evan Evans] 'Ieuan Glan Geirionydd', to the acceptance by Llanrwst Urban District Council, as a nucleus of a free library, of the books stored by 'Gwilym Cowlyd' in a separated portion of the cellar at Llanrwst Town Hall, etc. The correspondents include [Rabbi J. Rosenzweig] 'Semeigydd', Bangor, Clarence Whaite ('Caerleon'), Conwy, William Jones ('Cyffdy'), B[laenau] Ffestiniog, Peter McIntyre ('Pedr Alban'), Llanrwst, Charles Robert Wynn-Carrington, 1st earl Carrington, Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th duke of Norfolk, Frederick Temple, archbishop of Canterbury, [Reverend] [John] J[oseph] Jones, Bwlch Vicarage, Oswestry, [Reverend John Morgan] 'Ioan Ceredig', Rectory, Llanrwst, Alfred George Edwards, bishop of St Asaph, [John Humphreys] 'Ioan Seion', D[avid] C[harles] Lloyd-Owen, Birmingham, [Reverend William Morgan] 'Penfro', St Ffraid's Rectory, Glan Conwy, William Jones, MP for Arvon, [John R. Jones] 'Teganwy', J. H. Davies, Cwrtmawr, Llangeitho, George Sholto Gordon Douglas-Pennant, 2nd baron Penrhyn, Llewelyn Nevill Vaughan Lloyd-Mostyn, 3rd baron Mostyn, Colonel Higson, Plas Madog [Llanrwst], W. B. Halhead [recte Halhed] Brynderwen [Llanrwst], [Dr T. E. Jones] 'Ogmor', Colonel [Charles, Arthur] Wynne Finch [Voelas, Betws-y-coed], [J. Jones] 'Dwdan', Betws Abergele, Joseph Chamberlain, Dr [Hermann] Adler [chief rabbi], Levi Roberts, Llangollen, Thomas Edwards, Chester, R. R. Owen, clerk, Llanrwst Urban District Council, etc. Among other items included in the volume are 'englynion' by 'Gwilym Cowlyd' and Evan Evans ('I. D. Conwy'), Llanrwst; newspaper cuttings, etc., 1902, relating to the Bangor National Eisteddfod and the Penrhyn Quarry dispute; a copy of an order, 13 July 1709, by the Quarter Sessions for Denbighshire, addressed to the high constable of the hundred of Isdulas, to levy the sum of £90-6-0 for the repair of bridges in the county; 'St David: the artificially dubbed Patron Saint of Wales', being a paper read by 'Gwilym Cowlyd' at a meeting of the Churchmen's Society, Llanrwst, 1903; 'The Calvinistic Methodists of Wales and their Allies. Mystic Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth', enclosed in a letter to Joseph Chamberlain, 1903; a list of books and manuscripts of Dd. Evans, Llanrwst, (which 'Gwilym Cowlyd' had purchased) remaining after someone had stolen most of the collection; 'Y Cymun Apostolaidd, gyferbyniol i'r Cymun Eglwys y Cenhedloedd'; etc.