Meurig Dafydd (–95) was a Welsh

bard In Celtic cultures, a bard is a professional story teller, verse-maker, music composer, oral historian and genealogist, employed by a patron (such as a monarch or chieftain) to commemorate one or more of the patron's ancestors and to praise t ...

, genealogist and historian, at one time one of the leading literary figures in Glamorgan. However, his poetry was formal and uninspired.

Life

Meurig Dafydd was born at

Llanishen Llanishen (Welsh Llanisien ''llan'' church + ''Isien'' Saint Isan) is a district and community in the north of Cardiff, Wales. Its population as of the 2011 census was 17,417. Llanishen is the home of the former HMRC tax offices, the talles ...

near Cardiff around 1510. He studied under

Lewys Morgannwg Lewys Morgannwg ( fl. 1520–65) was a Welsh language poet from Morgannwg, south Wales. He lived at St. Bride's Major Lewys was one of the foremost poets of the sixteenth century. Most of his poems that have survived are eulogies and elegies ...

, a much livelier poet, and became a professional bard. He was a convinced Roman Catholic. He married Joan Mathau, granddaughter of Sir Christopher Mathew of

Llandaff Llandaff (; cy, Llandaf ; from 'church' and '' Taf'') is a district, community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It was incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, whose ...

. For forty years he was the family bard of the Lewis family of

Van, Caerphilly Van ( cy, Y Fan) is a suburb and community in Caerphilly county borough in Wales, situated in the east of the town of Caerphilly. It contains the vast housing estate of Lansbury Park and the estates of Porset Park, Castle Park, Mornington Meadows ...

. He was also a genealogist and historian and acted as a "herehaut" to the Ludlow court. Meurig Dafydd periodically left the Lewis's to tour the houses of the gentlefolk of

Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Motto ...

, Gwent and south

Brecknock Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the count ...

. He died in 1595.

Work

In his day Meurig Dafydd was a leading literary figure in Glamorgan. However, his poetry was cold and conventional, composed in strict metres. It is said that he once presented a praise poem to William Bassett, lord of

Old Beaupre Castle Old Beaupre Castle ( cy, Hen Gastell y Bewpyr; also known as Beaupre Castle, Old Beaupre Manor, or simply Beaupre) is a ruined medieval fortified manor house located in the community of Llanfair, outside Cowbridge in Wales. It is known in histor ...

. Basset read the poem, confirmed that it was the only copy, paid the bard, rebuked him for his unsatisfactory work and threw the manuscript into the hall fire, saying, "By my honestie I swere yf there bee no copie of this extante, none shall there ever bee."

Edward Stradling (1528/29–1609) Edward Stradling may refer to: * Edward Stradling (1528/29–1609), MP for Steyning 1554, MP for Arundel 1557–58 * Sir Edward Stradling, 2nd Baronet (1601–1644) * Sir Edward Stradling, 3rd Baronet (''c'' 1624–''c'' 1660) of Cardiff Castl ...

bore the expense of the publication of

John Dafydd Rhys John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

's Welsh grammar ''Cambrobrytannicæ Linguæ Institutiones'' (London, 1592). Meurig Dafydd addressed a ''

cywydd The cywydd (; plural ) is one of the most important metrical forms in traditional Welsh poetry (cerdd dafod). There are a variety of forms of the cywydd, but the word on its own is generally used to refer to the ("long-lined couplet") as it is b ...

'' to Stradling and Rhys on the publication of the grammar, and referred to the former as a master of seven languages. According to

Iolo Morganwg Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg (; 10 March 1747 – 18 December 1826), was a Welsh antiquarian, poet and collector.Jones, Mary (2004)"Edward Williams/Iolo Morganwg/Iolo Morgannwg" From ''Jones' Celtic Encyclopedi ...

he once said, "The Druid and the Domestic Poet are the same thing, and of the same kind of grade." This saying may well have been a fiction invented by Iolo. The bard and antiquary John Llywelyn of Llan Gewydd, near

Bridgend Bridgend (; cy, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the Old Bridge, Bridgend, medieval bridge ...

, Glamorganshire studied under Meurig Dafydd and Thomas Llewelyn.

Notes

Sources

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dafydd, Meurig 1510 births 1595 deaths Welsh poets 16th-century Welsh writers