CYNWAL
,
WILLIAM
(d.
1587
or
1588
),
poet
,
of
Ysbyty Ifan, Denbs.
, disciple of
Gruffudd Hiraethog
(q.v.)
, and
graduate
of the
second Caerwys eisteddfod
(
1568
). A large number of his poems, written chiefly in strict metre,
remain, and many of them are in holograph (e.g.
Mostyn MS. 111
). They consist of eulogies, elegies, and begging-poems to various members of the North Walian
gentry
, and poems of religion, love, satire, and controversy — the best-known of his bardic controversies is the long one between
Edmwnd
Prys
(q.v.)
and himself. He also produced works of heraldry (e.g.
Bangor MS. 5943
), a chronicle (
Pen. MS. 212
), a grammar (
Cardiff MS. 38
), and part of a dictionary, extant in the hand of
Edward
Williams
(
Iolo Morganwg
) (
N.L.W. MS. 13142
). A copy of his will, made shortly before his death, is kept at
N.L.W.
He was buried at
Ysbyty Ifan
, and an elegy on him was written by
Edmund
Prys
.
Bibliography:
-
Heraldic Visitations
of Wales and Part of the Marches
, 1846
, ii, 278;
-
Peniarth Manuscript in the National Library of
Wales
128 (680);
-
Llanstephan Manuscript at the National Library of
Wales, Aberystwyth
137;
-
Llechid Jones MS. 10 (
National Library of Wales
Manuscripts
6495-6);
-
Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol o Enwogion
Cymru
;
-
O. G. Jones
,
Gweithiau Gethin sef casgliad o holl
weithiau barddonol a llenyddol
, Llanrwst, 1884
;
-
Y Llenor
, x, 122;
-
Reports on Manuscripts in the Welsh
Language
. Historical Manuscripts Commission,
1898–1910
, ii, 718;
- Christ Church MSS. in Oxford;
-
[
T. R. Roberts
's
Edmwnd Prys, archddiacon Meirionydd
traethawd bywgraffyddol a beirniadol
, Caernarfon,
1899
,
1899
, prints the controversial
cywyddau
exchanged by Cynfal and Prys].
Author:
Miss Ray Looker, (Mrs Ray Morgan), Cardiff / Rhymni
