KADWALADR
(
CADWALADR
),
SION
(
JOHN
,
SIONYN
)
,
fl.
1750-1765
,
writer of ballads and interludes
;
b., according to
Ioan Pedr
(q.v.)
in
N.L.W. MS. 2629
, in
Llanycil parish, Mer.
In his interlude, ‘
Gaulove
,’
Siôn
describes himself as ‘
a sad creature, without brother or sister, stubborn, and always poor
’; and a ballad of his (
Bibliog. of Welsh Ballads
no. 73), together with his interlude ‘
Einion
’ and a
marwnad
(
N.L.W. MS. 2629
), testifies that he was transported for seven years to
America
— for stealing half-a-crown, says
Ioan Pedr
. His interludes appear to have been written after his return; they are: (1) ‘
Einion a Gwenllian
’ (
N.L.W. MS. 522
), written
c.
1756
— the suggestion that it was written jointly with
Huw
Jones
(q.v.)
may be dismissed; (2) ‘
Gaulove a Clarinda
’
between 1756 and 1762
(
N.L.W. Cwrtmawr MS. 39
); (3)
Y Brenin Dafydd a Gwraig Urias
, published at
Chester
c.
1765
, written jointly with
Huw
Jones
. The scenes are lively and the satire keen, and the author stands high in the second class of 18th cent. interludists. He should not be confused with the
John
Cadwaladr
, whose ballads
Sir
O. M.
Edwards
printed in
Beirdd y Berwyn
.
Bibliography:
-
G. G. Evans
, ‘Yr Anterliwd Gymraeg’ (University of Wales M.A. dissertation,
1938
).
Author:
Gruffydd Glyn Evans, M.A., Newtown, Maldwyn
