SION BRWYNOG (d. 1567?), poet;
son of William ap Llywelyn ap Iorwerth. He lived at Brwynog, in the parish of Llanfflewyn, Anglesey, from which farm he took his surname. He belonged to the lesser squirearchy and, as a strolling poet, had wandered over many parts of the country, writing poems for the aristocracy of Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Merioneth. There was a brief exchange of flyting poetry between him and Gruffudd Hiraethog on the subject of the merits of Anglesey and Tegeingl. He addressed poems to Henry VIII and Mary, and mentions Edward VI, but does not refer to Elizabeth at all. He was a staunch papist who had no love or use for the new religion. His name is not included in the list of bards who attended the two eisteddfodau at Caerwys — perhaps he was too young in 1523 and that by 1567 he had become too frail or was dead. He m. Jane, daughter of Owen ap Ifan ap Madog of Ucheldre, Llanfflewyn, and they had a son, William Brwynog. Siôn Brwynog was buried in Llanddeusant churchyard.
Bibliography:
- W. J. Gruffydd, Llên Cymru, 75-6;
- U.C.N.W. Gaianydd papers, 21, ‘Cywyddau Siôn Brwynog’;
- P.A.C.F., 79;
- Pen. MS. 122 (123).
Author:
Dr Enid Pierce Roberts, M.A., D.Litt., Bangor
