GWILYM DDU O ARFON (fl. c. 1280-1320), poet,
it is said that he lived in the place called Muriau Gwilym Ddu (Enwogion Sir Gaernarfon). A little of his work remains in manuscript and this includes two poems in praise of Sir Gruffydd Llwyd of Tregarnedd (q.v.) and written while Gruffydd was imprisoned in Rhuddlan castle, and an elegy to Trahaearn Brydydd ap Goronwy, or Trahaearn Brydydd Mawr — Jes. Coll. MS. 1 and ‘Llyfr Coch Hergest’ (1225, 1229). An englyn on the coronation of king Edward II in 1307 is also attributed to him (Enwogion Sir Gaernarfon). It is stated that he was poet to prince Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (Edward Jones, Relicks …) but no examples of his poetry to Llywelyn have yet been found.
Bibliography:
- Cymru (O.J.);
- Edward Jones, Musical Relicks;
- Gweirydd ap Rhys, H. Llen. Gym. (Gweirydd ap Rhys), 137;
- J. Jones (‘Myrddin Fardd’), Enw. Sir Gaern..
Author:
Miss Ray Looker, (Mrs Ray Morgan), Cardiff / Rhymni
