CYFFIN
,
ROGER
(
fl.
c.
1587-1609
),
a poet
about whom varying details are given — e.g.
Enwogion
(
Foulkes
) names him as
parson
of
Llanberis
in
1571
;
Panton MS. 58 (87)
, gives him as a
gentleman
from
Chirk
;
Llanover MS. B 2 (602)
contains a note in the handwriting of
Iolo Morganwg
, stating that he was a native of
Denbighshire
,
curate
of
Flemingston, Glam.
, and of somewhere in
Carmarthenshire
, and
parson
of
Llanberis
during the latter part of his life. No proof of the preceding statements remains, and only one of his poems refers to himself —
Mostyn MS. 147 (612)
. In it the poet bade farewell to his home in
Gartheryr
,
Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant
, and to that particular district of
Denbs.
Some misfortune had befallen him, he had sold his land, and was ready to leave for
South Wales
, to live under the patronage of
John
Vaughan
of
Golden Grove, Carms.
[see under
Vaughan
of
Golden Grove
family
]. Two of his free metre poems and a number of
cywyddau
and
englynion
are preserved in manuscript. The strict metre poems include eulogies, elegies, begging poems (to persons from North and South
Wales
), religious, moral, and love poems. Poetic controversies or
ymrysonau
took place between him and
Gruffudd Hafren
(q.v.)
(
Cwrtmawr MS. 206 (101)
),
Richard
Davies
,
bishop of S. Davids
(q.v.)
(
Cwrtmawr MS. 222 (28)
), and
Dafydd Llwyd
of
Dolobran
(see under
Lloyd
of
Dolobran
family
) (
Aberdare MS. 1 (578)
). He also wrote poetry on topical themes, e.g. a
cywydd
written in judgment on the
Gunpowder Plot
of
1605
and in praise of
king
James
I
(
Pen. MS. 112 (189)
), and an
englyn
giving advice to
William
Cyffin
on his departure for
Ireland
with the
earl of Essex
in
1599
(
Jes. Coll. MS. 18 (42)
). One holograph poem is found in
Christ Church MS. 183 (39b)
(
N.L.W. MS. 6494
is a photostat copy of this manuscript). It is not known whether he was related to
Morus
and
Edward
Cyffin
[Kyffin, qq.v.].
Bibliography:
-
Geirlyfr Bywgraffiadol o Enwogion
Cymru
, 1870
;
-
J. Jones (‘Myrddin Fardd’)
Enwogion Sir Gaernarfon
, 1922
;
-
Additional Manuscripts in the British
Museum
14880, 14898;
-
Cardiff Manuscripts
12, 13;
-
Cwrtmawr Manuscripts at the National Library of
Wales, Aberystwyth
21, 224, 312;
-
Jes. Coll. MS. at the Bodleian Library,
Oxford
18; Llanover MSS, B 1, B 2 (N.L.W.);
-
Llanstephan MSS. at the National
Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
11, 120, 122, 123, 125, 145, 155;
-
Mostyn MSS. at the National Library of Wales,
Aberystwyth
148, 161;
-
National Library of Wales
Manuscripts
278, 1553, 1559, 1674, 11816, 11993;
-
Pen. MSS. at the National Library of Wales,
Aberystwyth
72, 73, 87. 91, 93, 104, 144, 151;
- Plas Nantglyn MS. 4 (N.L.W.).
Author:
Miss Ray Looker, (Mrs Ray Morgan), Cardiff / Rhymni
