CYNWAL, WILLIAM (died 1587 or 1588), poet

Of Ysbyty Ifan, Denbighshire, disciple of Gruffudd Hiraethog, 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. NLW MS 3030B ). 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 and himself. He also produced works of heraldry (e.g. Bangor MS. 5943), a chronicle (Peniarth MS 212 ), a grammar (Cardiff MS. 38), and part of a dictionary, extant in the hand of Edward Williams (Iolo Morganwg) (NLW MS 13142A ). 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.

Author

• Ray Looker

Sources

• Heraldic Visitations of Wales and Part of the Marches between the years 1586 and 1613, under the authority of Clarencieux and Norroy, two kings at arms (Llandovery 1846), ii, 278
• NLW Archives: Peniarth MS 128: Llyfr Edward ap Roger (680)
• NLW Archives: Llanstephan MS 137: Transcripts
• Llechid Jones MS. 10 (NLW MS 6495D, NLW MS 6496C)
• Josiah Thomas Jones, Geiriadur Bywgraffyddol o Enwogion Cymru (Aberdâr 1867-70)
• O. Gethin Jones, Gweithiau Gethin sef casgliad o holl weithiau barddonol a llenyddol (Llanrwst 1884)
• Y Llenor: cylchgrawn chwarterol dan nawdd cymdeithasau Cymraeg y colegau cenedlaethol, x, 122
• Reports on Manuscripts in the Welsh Language (Historical Manuscripts Commission 1898–1910), ii, 718
• Christ Church MSS. in Oxford
• T. R. Roberts, Edmwnd Prys, archddiacon Meirionydd: traethawd bywgraffyddol a beirniadol (Caernarfon 1899), prints the controversial cywyddau exchanged by Cynfal and Prys

Additional Links

• VIAF: 33533592
• Wikidata: Q4220725

Published date: 1959

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