Proverbs,

A composite volume containing series of Welsh proverbs, popular sayings, idiomatic expressions, etc., in the hand of Edward Williams ('Iolo Morganwg'). The first series (pp. 5-98), arranged in alphabetical order, is preceded by a 'title-page' (p. 3) inscribed 'Hen Ddiarhebion Cymreig a gasglwyd o hen Lyfrau amrafaelion and yn bennaf o Lyfrau Joseph Jones o Gaer Dydd, Mr. Siams Thomas o'r Maerdy Newydd, y Parchedig Mr. Thomas Evans o Frechfa, Edward Lewys, Esqr., o Ben Llin, Thos. Philip o Dre O's, Esaia Powel o Lansanffraid ar Ogwyr, ag eraill gan Iolo Morganwg', and by notes (p. 4) on the sources of the series, some of the names which appear here differing from those noted in the aforementioned 'title-page'. At the end of the series (p. 98) is the date 'Mehefin y 14, 1800' and a copy of an 'englyn' by [Edward Williams] 'Iolo Morganwg'. A second series (pp. 113-64), again in alphabetical order, was transcribed according to a note on p. 108 dated 10 May 1804) by Edward Williams from a manuscript once in the possession of [the Reverend] Moses Williams, rector of Dyfynog, co. Brecknock, and then in 1804 in the possession of the Earl of Macclesfield who had sent it to London on loan 'mal a'i argreffid ef'. This is the collection of proverbs associated with the name of Gruffudd Hiraethog and the manuscript referred to is probably Llanstephan MS 52 now in the National Library of Wales of which see pp. 85-124. The collection as it appears in the present volume is preceded (pp. 109-12) by versions of the introductory letters to the series written by the said Gruffudd Hiraethog (see Llanstephan MS 52, pp. 81-4). Other series in the volume bear the superscriptions 'Llyma chwaneg o ddiarhebion o Lyfr arall eiddo Mr. Dafies o Fangor a gasglwyd fal y tebygir gan Ruffudd Hiraethog' (pp. 165-71), 'Diarhebion eraill damweiniol' (p. 172), 'Diarhebion Tywyddawl Morganwg' (pp. 179-84), 'Diarhebion Morganwg chwanegol' (pp. 195-?203), 'Chwanegiadau at Ddiarhebion Morganwg' (pp. 211-? 23), 'Diarhebion ag ymadroddion diarhebol arferedig ym Morganwg yn eglurhau Dafydd ap Gwilym' (pp. 227-?52), 'Silurian words, idioms, etc.' ( pp.259-60), 'Diarhebion ag ymadroddion addurn Morganwg' (pp.267-70), 'Diarhebion yr Aniales' (pp.275-6), and 'Welsh idioms, Silurian' (pp.295-9).

Title based on contents.

Formerly known as Llanover C. 50.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 13137A.

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

Published