CYNWAL, WILLIAM (died 1587 or 1588), poet

Name: William Cynwal
Date of death: 1587
Gender: Male
Occupation: poet
Area of activity: Poetry
Author: Ray Looker

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

Published date: 1959

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

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