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DAVIES, HUMFFREY ('Wmffre Dafydd ab Ifan'; fl. 1600?-64?), poet

Name: Humffrey Davies
Gender: Male
Occupation: poet
Area of activity: Poetry
Author: Menai Williams

Sometimes described as sexton and sometimes as parish clerk of Llanbrynmair, Montgomeryshire. It is sometimes said that William Phylip wrote his well-known 'Cywydd y Bedd' after visiting the grave of Wmffre Dafydd at Llanbrynmair; it is possible, however, that the Llanbrynmair bard survived the author of 'Cywydd y Bedd' (who died 1669). Richard Williams (Montgomeryshire worthies ) quotes this record from the parish register of Llanbrynmair: 'Humphredus filius D. D. Evan sepultus fuit 8vo. die Julii Anno Dom. 1687' but suggests that this may refer to the burial of some child and that the bard died before 1663; it should, however, be noted that one piece by Wmffre Dafydd may belong to the year 1664. He began to write c. 1620 (e.g. poems to Dr. John Davies, Mallwyd). The bulk of his work is of a religious and didactic nature; it is in the form of cywyddau, englynion, carols, etc. He has one poem and about 150 englynion against war.

Author

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/

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