WATCYN CLYWEDOG (fl. c. 1630-1650), poet.
About fifty of his cywyddau are extant in manuscript, as well as numerous englynion. His literary patrons were spread throughout the counties of Anglesey, Caernarvon, and Denbigh, and included members of the families of Berth-ddu, Bodfel, Bodwrda, Hendre-fawr, Llannor, Llwydiarth, Plas-y-ward, and Saethon. The greater part of his poetry is elegiac, but he also wrote eulogies, soliciting, and reconciliatory poems according to the conventional manner. One of his elegies was written on the death of colonel Richard Bulkeley of Baron Hill, killed in a duel with Thomas Cheadle on Lavan Sands, 19 Feb. 1649/50. He also wrote a poem to a new house built by Dr. John Davies of Mallwyd (q.v.) in 1630. His poetry bears testimony to the persistence of bardic patronage in these shires.
Bibliography:
- Pen. MSS. 104, 151;
- Mostyn MSS. 112, 165;
- Cwrtmawr MS. 21;
- Brogyntyn MS. 4;
- Nantglyn MSS. 2, 3;
- N.L.W. MSS. 279, 431, 434, 5269, 5272, 6499, 8330;
- J. E. Griffith, P.A.C.F.;
- N.L.W. Swansea MS. 1;
- J. Fisher, Cefn Coch MSS.
Author:
Professor David James Bowen, M.A., Aberystwyth
