Miscellanea,

A volume containing miscellaneous items in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'). The contents, pagination in brackets, include a copy of an anecdote relating to the struggle between Caradawc ap Bran ap Llyr and the Romans and the building by Manawydan ap Llyr, his uncle, from the bones of those slain in the struggle, of a prison called 'Carchar Oeth ac Annoeth', all allegedly extracted from [a manuscript called] the 'Yniales' ( i-vii; for the Welsh text see Iolo Manuscripts, pp. 185-7, and for an English translation ibid., PP-pp. 597-600; for the 'Yniales' see TLLM, sub nomine in index); a transcript, with revision of orthography, by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' of f. 9 and part of f. 10 recto of Llanover MS B 15 now NLW MS 13074D, ff. 9 recto-14 verso of which 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' in the hand of Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt, co. Merioneth (xvii + 1-8; see NLW MS 13074D above); two lists of the sons of Seithinin, Brenin Cantref y Gwaelod, and Ithael Hael, and miscellaneous memoranda relating to Macsen Wledig, Cantre'r Gwaelod, Gwilym ap Gruff[udd of Penrhyn, co. Caernarvon, ob. 1431] and his son W[illia]m Gruff[udd], Urban, bishop of Landaff, early twelfth century, etc. (15-17); miscellaneous couplets, stanzas, and longer extracts from Welsh strict- and free-metre poems some unattributed and some attributed to G. Hiraethog, Llawdden, Siôn Brwynog, Rob[er]t Daf[ydd] Llwyd of Crymlyn, co. Anglesey, and Dicc Hughes, a short list of 'Prydyddion y Carolau yn Llyfr Mr. Davies o Fangor', brief notes relating to Rich[ar]d Huws, equerry to Queen Elizabeth and poet, and Siôn Brwynog, two triads, etc. (18-26); a chronicle of events in Wales, 1405-1417, connected with the revolt of Owain [Glyndwr] extracted from 'Loose paper[s] of Evan Evans at Mr. Panton's, Anglesea' (27-8; for the Welsh text see Iolo Manuscripts, pp. 67-8, and for an English translation, ibid., pp. 453- 5); a chronicle of historical events, natural phenomena, etc., mainly in Welsh and British history, A.D. 55 - A.D. 453, allegedly from 'Llyfr Watkin Pywel o Ben y Fai o Lyfr Caradawc Llancarfan' (29-38; for the Welsh text see Iolo Manuscripts, pp. 40-45, and for an English translation, ibid ., pp. 417-23); brief notes relating to Dyfnwal ap Dyfnwallawn, king of the North, King Edmwnd, and Prince Llywelyn ap Sissyllt in 877, and a brief note on the seizure of Gower in 966 by Einion ab Owain (41); incomplete notes relating to a feast at Castell Nedd in 1087 organised by Rhys ap Tewdwr and attended by Iestin ap Gwrgan (45-6); notes denoting the number of years between specified events or periods in time relating mainly to Britain and often involving mythological or pseudo-historical figures (e.g. from the coming of the Romans to Britain to the birth of Christ = 54 years, from the time of Beli Mawr, king of Britain, to the coming of the Romans = 75 years) (49-51); notes relating to figures such as Hu Gadarn, Prydain ap Aedd Mawr, and Beli Mawr and the dating of events from their time (57-8); notes denoting the length of various periods or epochs in early British and Welsh history up to the tenth century (e.g. from the time of Llyr Llwyd to the time of Prydain ab Aedd Mawr = 287 years, from the time of Prydain to that of Dyfnwal Moelmud = 29 years, etc .), the majority of the rulers whose reigns are noted as marking the beginning or end of a period being legendary kings, and a few, such as Rhodri Mawr and Hywel [Dda], historical, together with brief notes on events connected with some of the reigns noted (61-6; for the Welsh text see Iolo Manuscripts, pp. 36-40, and for an English translation, ibid., pp. 412-17); miscellaneous genealogical data relating to, inter alios, the Gawntlo family of Tregawntlo [co. Glamorgan], Robert Rhaglan of Llanilltud fawr, Tudur Aled, Iolo Goch, Risiart Davies, bishop of St. David's, and descendants of Ednyfed Fychan and Einion ap Collwyn, mentioning as sources 'Llyfr Tew Watcin Williams o Langanna', 'Llyfr Twm o'r Nant', 'Hafod MS.', 'Llyfr G. Hiraethog', and 'Llyfr Mr. Vaughan' (71-4, 81-5, 91); an extract [from a Panton MS] relating to the codification of the [Welsh] laws [by Hywel Dda] and instructions to Blegywryd to reduce them to writing (95; for the Welsh text see Iolo Manuscripts, p. 87, and for an English translation, ibid., pp. 478-9); (continued)
Notes relating to Einiawn Offeiriad, his son Thomas, and his grandson Hopkin ap Thomas, attributing to Thomas 'Llyfr y Greal' and 'Llyfr y Mebinogi', and to Hopkin 'Marwnad D[afydd ap] G[wilym]' and 'Yr Yniales', etc. (96-7; see TLLM, tt. 9-14 and other references sub nominis in index thereto); genealogical miscellanea ? from 'Llyfr Llanganna' (103-05); genealogical data relating mainly to South Wales (107-21); a list of the names of one hundred and ten kings [of Britain] from the time of Brytys to the time of Cydwaladr (listed as No. 108) with Henry VII and Henry VIII added as Nos. 109-10 (122-4); a genealogy tracing the descent of Henry VIII from Adam (125-6); references to the poets Gwynfardd Brycheiniog and Madawc ap Gwallter and an anecdote relating to the seizure of Taliesin Ben Beirdd by Irish pirates, his escape, and his service at the courts of Urien Rheged, Gwyddno Garanhir, and King Arthur (131-3); an anecdote relating to an Irish raid on the coast of South Wales, the capture of Saint Patric from Bangor Dewdws, and the saint's subsequent conversion of the Irish, etc. (133); transcripts of a fifty-seven stanza free-metre poem entitled 'Cân i'r Ffanaticiaid' allegedly written by an Anglican clergyman ('offeiriad eglwysig', see stanza fifty-six) in the year 1629 (see stanza fifty-seven), the present copy said to be 'o Lyfr Joseph Jones, Hoeliwr o Gaerdyf', a forty-three stanza free-metre poem entitled 'Cân i'r Gau broffwydi' allegedly written by Morgan Siencin of the village of Tresigin [near Llantwit Major, co. Glamorgan] (see stanzas forty and forty-one) in 1643 (see stanza forty-two ), the present copy said to be from the same source as the preceding poem, and a 'cywydd' entitled 'Cywydd y ffanaticiaid' or 'Cywydd cwyn Eglwys Loeger a Sen i'r Ailfedyddwyr a'r Iddewon difedydd' allegedly written by Edward Dafydd of Margam circa 1645 (135-63; for the text of the third poem see Cymru, cyf. XXI, tt. 218-19, and Seren Gomer, 1902, tt. 169-72; these three poems deal with the Puritans in South Wales in the first half of the seventeenth century and for an analysis of their contents, etc., with the opinion that they are partly, if not entirely, the creation of Edward Williams, 'Iolo Morganwg', himself, see IM, tt. 254-63, and TLLM, t. 128; for the 'cywydd' see also Thomas Richards: Religious Developments in Wales, 1654-62, pp. 188-91); a transcript of a twelve-line 'Epitaph uppon ould Dotard Wroth' [? William Wroth, Puritan, cleric, 1576-1641], being a slightly variant version of the same poem to be found in NLW MS 13072B (Llanover B. 12), p. 155 (164); a transcript of two 'englynion' attributed to Jenkin Richards being a slightly variant version of the two 'englynion' on p. 155 of the aforesaid NLW MS 13072B (164); a transcript of four 'Englynion I Hopcin y Pengrwn bregethwr' attributed to Jenkin Richards these again being slightly variant versions of 'englynion' found on pp. 148 + 170 of NLW MS 13072B (165); a transcript of a series of eight unattributed 'englynion' headed '1648' (166); excerpts from, or transcripts of, poems by, or attributed to, Aneurin, Taliesin, Llywarch Hen, Myrddin, Dafydd Benwyn, Sim[wnt] Fychan, Tudur Aled, Elaeth, Philip Brydydd, Gruff. Grug, Prydydd Bychan Deheubarth, H[ywel] ab O[wain] Gwynedd, William Middleton, Gwalchmai, P[rydydd y] moch, Cyndd[elw], Iorwerth Fynglwyd, Mabwaith Hengrys o Ial, Ieuan ap Rhydderch ap Ieuan Llwyd 'o Enau'r Glynn yn Sir Aberteifi', Dafydd y Coed, Edward Dafydd, Dafydd Llwyd Mathew, Gwilym Tew, Dafydd Ddu, Wiliam Egwag (sic), Y Cwtta Cyfarwydd, Iolo Goch, and Rhys Nanmor, extracts from 'Englynion y Beddau' [ from the Black Book of Carmarthen], etc., ? to exemplify poetic metres or metrical patterns (167-220); four lists containing names of persons or names or locations of property and headed 'Depopulation St. Athan', 'Houses at present in St. [Athan] Parish', 'Flimston in ruins', and 'Houses at Present [? in Flimston]', and comments on depopulation in the Boverton and Lantwit area [co. Glamorgan] (233-8); transcripts of free-metre unattributed Welsh verse including traditional 'hen benillion', and of two unattributed 'englynion' (241-54); a note on Twm Bach or Thos. Pritchard of Coyty [co. Glamorgan], 'the Orpheus of his age', ob. 1597, with a transcript of an 'englyn' to him allegedly written jointly by Hugh Griffith and Rhys Cain (255); (continued)
A list of the twenty-four Welsh strict poetical metres with English equivalents of the Welsh names (256); a collection of free-metre verse under the general designation 'Pennillion Sathredig Ym Morganwg', a few of the stanzas being attributed to Edward Matthew of Llangrallo [co. Glamorgan], grandfather of Edward Williams (see IM, tt. 87-8), 'Dau lengcyn o Ystrad Dyfodwg', Wm. o'r Ydwal, Llywelyn ab Ifan, and Siencyn Lygad Rhawlin (257-306; included are stanzas on p.293 subsequently associated with the name of Wil Hopcin for which see TLLM, tt. 251-9); transcripts of 'englynion' attributed to Dafydd Nicolas, Edward Evan, Dafydd Thomas, Lewys Hopkin, Thos. Williams 'o Bont y Ty Pridd', and Taliesin ab Iolo Morganwg, the one attributed to the last named being in English (317-20); notes relating to coal strata in certain locations in Glamorgan (321-2); extracts, etc., from the English Old and New Testament (331-5); miscellanea including a stanza of English verse by E[dward] W[illiams], a list of the titles of twelve English poems headed 'Pieces by E[dward] Wms. in a MS. which Anstey took', a brief list of Welsh proverbs, references to the death of Edmund Prys, Essex Chapel, and the London Unitarian Society, etc. (337-41); a copy of the inscription on the tomb of Lydia Phell, ob. 11699, in the Quakers' Yard near Newbridge, co. Glamorgan, with a description of the said Yard and a note on its connection with the Quakers (344, 354); lists of Welsh words and expressions (346, 351-2, 357, 359, 366, 383-6); a copy of an 'englyn' by [ Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' (347); transcripts of free-metre stanzas attributed to Rhys Hywel Lewys 'o'r Faenor' and 'englynion' attributed to Edward Evan alias Iorwerth ap loan (348-9, 351); a copy of a declaration dated at Carmarthen, August 1801, in which the persons who had subscribed (fifteen signatures including that of [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg' are reproduced) declared their intention of forming a religious society to be known as 'Cymdeithas Undodiaid Gristnogol Deheubarth Cymru (The South Wales Christian Unitarian Society)' (350); extracts from the Bristol Mercury, August 1816, re the death of Jane Miles of Swansea aged 106 and the fall of an aerolite near Glastonbury (354); three stanzas of English verse copied from 'Moore's Sacred Melodies' (356); a transcript of a stanza of Welsh verse attributed to Thos. Dafydd Meils, Dyffryn Aberdar, a brief extract from [George] Crabbe's poem '[The] Borough', a copy of the title-page of J[eremiah] Joyce: The Subserviency of Free Enquiry . . . (1816), a list headed 'Errata in Salmau I.M.', an extract from Baldwin's Journal, December 1806, etc. (360-63); extracts on poetry from 'Joyce and Carpenter's Systematic Education, vol. I', and brief notes headed 'Welsh Literary Dialect and Style' (367-8); sketches of, and brief notes relating to, an inscribed stone on Margam mountain and another in the tower of Llanelldeyrn chapel [co. Glamorgan] (369-71); brief notes relating to the traditional boundaries of Morgannwg and Gwent (371-2); a historical note relating to the orthography of the Welsh language (373); notes stressing the importance of preserving the orthography of ancient manuscripts and printed books when reproducing them 'in written transcripts or in printed copies' and deprecating William Owen [Pughe]'s orthographical innovations ( 374-5); notes referring to the 'MS. Tract' relating to the regulations for musicians associated with the 'Glyn Achlach musical sessions' circa 11098, the possible Italian influence on the music of the time of Gruffudd ap Cynan, and the place of the harp and 'crwth' in Welsh musical and bardic tradition, with adverse comments on the ideas of 'Humstrum Ned' [? Edward Jones, 'Bardd y Brenin'], etc. (377-811); notes criticising the theories that the Druids had inhabited caves or underground dens (382); a list of sayings headed 'Welsh proverbial Piety Glam.' (402); extracts from the parish register of the parish of Lanmaes [co. Glamorgan], late 16th-18th cent. (407-22); a list headed 'Enwau Rhai a fuant fyw yn hen iawn ym Morganwg' containing the names of, or copies of memorial inscriptions to, persons in Glamorgan who, from the period of the saints to the nineteenth century, had lived to be octogenarians, nonagenarians, or centenarians ( 425-31; a few items added by Taliesin Williams); an anecdote relating to an old man from Glamorgan whose mare had been stolen by [Oliver] Cromwell's soldiers (434 this appears to be in the hand of Taliesin Williams); further examples of, or notes relating to, instances of longevity in Glamorgan (435-9); two brief lists headed 'Dynion hynod am rym Corph ym Morganwg' (two items added in the hand of Taliesin Williams) and 'Hynod am ysmalhewch'’ (440); a list of ? Glamorgan bards, 15th-18th cent. (441 + 444 ); extracts from Brown Willis: Survey of the Cathedral Church of Landaff relating to Dubricius, bishop of Landaff, ob. 522, Herewald, bishop of Landaff, ob. 1113, and Edward Davies, rector of St. Brides, ob. 1672, all three being examples of longevity (445-6); a copy of a Latin memorial inscription to the Reverend Edward Pritchard, rector of the parish of Flimston [co. Glamorgan], ob. 1742, in the parish church, with notes and anecdotes relating to him (447-50; see IM, tt. 97-8); and further notes relating to, and names of, nonagenarians and centenarians ? all of Glamorgan (451-4, 465-71; one additional note m the hand of Taliesin Williams).

Title based on contents.

Formerly known as Llanover C. 65.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 13152A.

The description is also available in the Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, Volume IV (Aberystwyth, 1971).

Published