Ffeil 265E. - Llyfr Hir Mair Richards,

A manuscript consisting largely of transcripts and memoranda by Mary Richards and Thomas Richards of Darowen. The volume appears originally to have been used as an account book of receipts and disbursements in respect of the farms of Llwyn, Cafnmaelen and Byrthlwydd [parish of Dolgellau, Merioneth], 1799-1802, and also to record biographies of [James Crichton, 'The Admirable'], Sir Francis Walsingham, Sir Francis Drake and William Cecil, Lord Burghley. The additions made by the Richards family consist of contemporary and some near-contemporary poetry in both strict and free metres by Walter Davies ('Gwallter Mechain'), Robert Parry (Eglwysfach, Denbighshire), [Morris Jones] 'Meurig Idris', Robin Ddu o Fôn, David Richards ('Dewi Silin'), Sion Pryse (Penant Mowddwy), [John Jones] 'Myllin', Dafydd Ellis (Mowddwy), William Owain (1822), [Thomas Edwards] 'Twm o'r Nant', John Roberts (Herseth), [Hugh Jones] 'H[uw] Erfyl', Evan Evans ('Ieuan Glan Geirionydd'), William Jones ('Cawrdaf'), David Rees (1785), John Morgan ('o Lanfread Ceredigion'), Hugh Moris, Robert Davies ('Bardd Nantglyn'), Evan Evan ('o Arwydd yr Arth'), H. Griffith ('H[arri] Goch'), Robt Parry (Darowen), Robert Richard ('mab Hugh Richard Tailiwr Darowen'), [William Williams] 'Gwilym ab Iorwerth' (Darowen), Richard Richards [Meifod], William Pugh, J[ohn] H[ughes], Pontrobert, [John Jones] 'Ioan Tegid', Robert Dafydd ('o Fowddwy'), [Daniel Evans] 'Daniel Ddu o Geredigion', Edward Taliesin Llwyd (Tal y bont, swydd Gaerdigan'), John Athelystan [sic] Owen ('Bardd Meirion'), John Blackwell ['Alun'], John Morris ('Y Wern Philyp, Llanbadarn'), David Morgan (1743), Dafydd Morris (Llanfair Caer Einion), [Robert Williams] 'Robert ap Gwilym Ddu', W. Jones (Llanerful), ? Morris Jones (Towyn), ? Lewis Richards ('Person Llan Erful'), Thomas Williams (Llanfihangel) ['Eos Gwynfa', or 'Eos y Mynydd'], Evan Williams (Darowen), Dafydd Thomas ('Dafydd Ddu Eryri'), [William Edwards] 'Gwilym Padarn', John Williams (Dolgelley), Dafydd William (Llandeilo fach), Thomas Ellis (Caerwys), etc., and anonymous compositions; transcripts and extracts from earlier manuscripts, consisting largely of 'cywyddau', 'awdlau', etc. by Ifan Llwyd, Edward Urien, Huw Mathew, Leilin [recte Heilin] Fardd, Rys Cain, Davydd ap Gwilim, Dafydd Nanmor, Lewis Trefnant, Efan Tew, Mathew Bromfield, Syr Owen ap Gwilim ('Persson Owen'), Owen Gwynedd, William Llyn, Huw Arwystl, John Philip, Rissiart Philip, Sion Cent, Evan Llwyd Owain Erigain [recte 'o waun Einion'], Morus ap I[eu]an ab Einion [Morus Dwyfech], Lewys Glyn Cothi, Edmund Prys, Owain ap Rhys ap Sion ap Howel Koetmor, Sion Tudur, Ystyffan Bardd Teiliaw, Thomas Lloyd Iangaf ('o Penmaen'), Thomas Pryse (Plas Iolyn), Gwilim ap Ieuan hen, William Cynwal, Syr Rhys Carno, Dafydd Llwyd Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, Meredydd ap Rhys, Llywelyn ap Guttun, Sr Huw Jones ('Bicar Llanvair Ynyffryn Clwyd'), Taliesin, Howel ab Reinallt, Sion Brwynog, Iorwerth Fynglwyd, Gutto'r Glyn, Huw Penant, Gruffudd D'd ap Howel, Howel Cilan, Dafydd ap Einion, Gruffudd ap Jenkin ap Llywelyn Vychan, Gruffudd Hiraethog, Deicin Kyfeiliog, Ifan Tudur Owen, Huw Kollwyd [recte Kollwyn], Iefan Brydydd hir, Iolo Goch, etc. and anonymous compositions; letters from W[alter] D[avies] ['Gwallter Mechain'] to T[homas] Richards, Berriew School, 1824 (inscriptions on medals), John Davies, Llanbryn Mair to Mary Richard, Darowen, 1828 (a request for a carol), Dafydd Richards ['Dewi Silin'] to his brother Richard Richards, undated (an appointment), William Tolman, Carnarvon, to [Mary Richards], 1826 (engraving on silver cups presented to Llanbeblig Church), John Blackwell to D. Richard ['Dewi Silin'], Llansilin, undated (enclosing 'englynion'), and Robert Nanney [Llwyn, Dolgelley], Dartmouth to [Thomas] Richards, Llan y Mowddwy, 1793 (the writer's tithe); 'Gofrestr or Tansgryfwyr at y Cwpanau Arian a gasglwyd yn y flwyddyn 1823'; notes on excavations of cairns in Darowen and Cemes; a treatise, being 'a Preface to a Book composed by me L[ewis] M[orris] Entitled Y [swe]lediad byr or holl Gelfyddydau a gwybodaethau Enwogaf yn y Byd June 1729' (extracted from Cwrt Mawr MS 200; see Y Gwyliedydd, 1837, 85-6 et al, and Cymru XII (1897), 261-4: a note on page 185 verso states that 'Trysor Gell Barddoniaeth ... Gan Lewis Morris' (Cwrt Mawr MS 200) was then in the possession of Mrs Watkin, Moel Cerni, Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn, Cardiganshire, and that she also possessed several other manuscripts. Mrs Watkins' father, Mr Morgan 'o Lanfread' is stated to have been a friend of Lewis Morris); 'Grwgnachrwydd yr Oes. Sef Traethawd byr ar un o destynau Eisteddfod Tal y Cafn ... y 30ain o Hydref 1823. Gan Ednyfed', pedigrees (eg Dr John Davies, Mallwyd and Thomas Jones, Esgir Evan, Llanbryn Mair); medical recipes; memoranda and diary entries; cut-out autographs; press cuttings, etc. The volume is lettered 'Llyfr Hir Mair Richards'.