Peniarth 51 is a Welsh medieval manuscript, in the hand of the poet

Gwilym Tew Gwilym Tew (fl. 1460 – 1480) was a Welsh-language poet and manuscript copyist from Tir Iarll, Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeNa ...

, written in the period 1460–1480. Although it is known that Tew wrote other manuscripts, Peniarth 51 is the only entire manuscript that can be proven to have been his work. It is kept in the

National Library of Wales The National Library of Wales ( cy, Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru), Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales and is one of the Welsh Government sponsored bodies. It is the biggest library in Wales, holding over 6.5 million boo ...

, Aberystwyth, as part of the

Peniarth Manuscripts The Peniarth Manuscripts, also known as the Hengwrt–Peniarth Manuscripts, are a collection of medieval Welsh manuscripts now held by the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. The collection was originally assembled by Robert Vaughan (c. 159 ...

collection. The texts contained in the manuscript include a poetic vocabulary compiled by Tew, drawing on sources such as the

Book of Aneirin The Book of Aneirin ( cy, Llyfr Aneirin) is a late 13th century Welsh manuscript containing Old and Middle Welsh poetry attributed to the late 6th century Northern Brythonic poet, Aneirin, who is believed to have lived in present-day Scotland. Th ...

, which he possessed at the time, and ''Bwystori Serch'', his own translation of the French text ''Bestiaire d'Amour'' by Richart de Fornival. During the 16th century the manuscript was the property of the poet and genealogist

Gruffudd Hiraethog Gruffudd Hiraethog (died 1564) was a 16th century Welsh language poet, born in Llangollen, north-east Wales. Gruffudd was one of the foremost poets of the sixteenth century to use the cywydd metre. He was a prolific author and gifted scholar. Tho ...

, who may have acquired it from his friend and teacher

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 ...

. The signature of poet Roger Kyffin (c.1587 - 1609) from Denbighshire is in the manuscript. It became part of Robert Vaughan's Hengwrt Library and then the Peniarth library.

References

*Graham C. G. Thomas, ''A Welsh Bestiary of Love'' (Dulyn, 1988), tt. xviii-xix. Welsh manuscripts Peniarth collection National Library of Wales collections