Llyfr Gwyn y Berth-ddu

A volume of cywyddau, awdlau and a few englynion, including sections devoted to the works of Guto'r Glyn, Tudur Aled and Sion Cent. The contents of this MS are listed in Mostyn 112, pp. 631-654; there the MS is described as 'llyfyr kowydde sydd a chayad gantho o barsmant gwyn'. The works of Guto'r Glyn and Tudur Aled appear in roughly the same order as in (Bangor) Gwyneddon MS 4, which suggests that those sections were drawn from a similar source. The works of Guto'r Glyn, ff. 78 verso-109, 122-141, 195 recto-verso, and 199-201, have apparently been transcribed by the compiler of Mostyn 1 [NLW MS 3021F], pp. 559-606 and the works of Tudur Aled, ff. 153 verso-156 verso, 44-45 verso, 156 verso-177, 147-151, and 151 verso-153 verso, have been transcribed in the same way to Mostyn 1, pp. 799-826.
The MS is in five main hands: ff. 6-38 verso, 41-69, and ?221-223 verso, a hand also found in Mostyn MS 161 [NLW MS 3057D], pp. 670-674, 677-683, and possibly that of the poet Richard Cynwal (ob. 1634) [this hand is not dissimilar to that of Wmffre Dafis]; ff. 38 verso-40 verso and 226-231 verso, also found in Mostyn 161, pp. 529-654; ff. 69 verso-78, 90-114, 203 verso-204 verso, ?220 verso-221 verso, 231 verso-238, and 239 verso-243 verso; ff. 1-5, 78 verso-90, 114-203, and 245 verso-253 verso; it is the same hand as Mostyn 161, pp. 987-994 and Mostyn 112, part II, [NLW MS 3031B], pp. 632-654. This hand adds many marginal notes; and ff. 205-220, 224-225, 238 verso-239, 243 verso-245 verso, and 253 verso-257, with f. 258 probably in the autograph of the poet Sion Dafydd Las [John Davies, dec. 1694].

Access to the original manuscript by authorised permission only. Readers are directed to use surrogate copies.

Paper, mainly bearing a pot watermark with the letters DRC, the pot being surmounted with what appears to be an inverted crescent. The additional leaf, f. 258, has a horn watermark which appears to be the same as no. 2686 in Edward Heawood, Watermarks, which in turn confirms the date 1683 found on that folio and proves the paper to be of English origin.

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 21248D [RESTRICTED ACCESS].

The poems in the volume are indexed on-line in the Index to Welsh Poetry in Manuscript (MALDWYN). http://maldwyn.llgc.org.uk/ (viewed November 2009).

Available on microfilm at the Library.

Many leaves cut out, mostly apparently blank. Four quires cut out after f. 223, their stubs not included in the 1975 binding.

Mostyn MS 148 [NLW MS 3051D] was the property of the Wynn family of Y Berth-ddu, Dyffryn Conwy, cf. Mostyn 148, p.19). We see from Mostyn 161 that 'Hugh Winne' was its owner in 1647 (p.173) and the third part of that MS especially contains a great body of praise to the Berth-ddu family. It is probable therefore, since our MS is listed together with the two above- mentioned MSS in Mostyn 112, part II, and contains praise to the Wynn family of Berth-ddu and Bodysgallen, that it was also owned by and written for the same family, possibly at Y Berth-ddu. The name of Hugh Wynne appears here on f. 257 verso. Other names found in the MS are those of Thomas Johnes (XVI/XVII c.) and William Wynne (XVI/XVIIc.), f. 76 verso, and 'Harry Moris est Libro vel', f. 257 verso (XVII [1] c.). It is likely that the MS became the property of the Mostyn family on the marriage of Margaret Wynn, sole heiress of Bodysgallen, to Sir Roger Mostyn, bart., on 12 May 1776, (cf. J. E. Griffith, Pedigrees ... p.184). Part of lot 1504 in the Mostyn sale at Christie’s, 24 Oct. 1974.

Published