Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 34.djvu/7



LLWYD. [See also, , and .]

LLWYD, EDWARD (fl. 1328–1405), Welsh bard. [See Iolo Goch (DNB00).]  LLWYD, GRUFFYDD (fl. 1322), Welsh hero, is said to have been a son of Rhys, the son of Ednyved Vychan [q. v.], and to have been knighted by Edward I for bringing to him at Rhuddlan news of the birth of his son Edward at Carnarvon in 1284. According to the popular story, Gruffydd, after living long on good terms with the English, grew disgusted with their oppressions, and treated with Edward Bruce (d. 1318) [q. v.] in Ireland. This must have been before 1318, the year of Edward Bruce's death, but the story seems to put it in 1322. Failing in his negotiations with Bruce, Gruffydd rose in revolt, but was defeated by a great English army and taken prisoner and shut up in Rhuddlan Castle. This fact is proved by two poems addressed to him by Gwilym Ddu the bard (, Literature of the Kymry, pp. 443-9; Myvyrian Archaiology of Wales, pp. 276-6). Gwilym Ddu laments, in the usual exaggerated terms, the captivity of his chief. 'The summer is comfortless,' 'our country looks like Lent,' because of the imprisonment of the 'lion of Trevgarnedd.' Trevgarnedd in Anglesey was the name of Gruffydd's home, and the owners up to 1750 claimed descent from him. There is no further record of him, but he is an important figure with the later genealogists. The absence of any reference to him in the English authorities makes it probable that his political importance has been exaggerated by his panegyrists.

[Williams's Eminent Welshmen, pp. 290-1, summarises the ordinary account; other authorities are referred to in the text]  LLWYD, GRUFFYDD (fl. 1370–1420), Welsh poet, son of Dafydd ab Einion Llygliw, was family bard to Owen Glendower. Two poems by him, possessing considerable beauty, have been published. One, a spirited 'call to arms,' addressed to Glendower, appeared in an English translation, by the Rev. R. Williams of Vron, in Jones's ‘Welsh Bards, pp. 21-4, in Pennant's 'Tour in Wales' and later works. The subject of his other poem is the trial of Morgan Davydd Llewelyn of Edwinsford at the court of great sessions in Carmarthen, before Sir David Hanmer, on the charge of having killed Hanmer's predecessor on the bench. This is dated 1390; it was published with an English paraphrase in Iolo MSS. pp. 288, 679, and contains some valuable historical references to contemporary bards.

[Williams's Eminent Welshmen, s.v.; Hanes Llenyddiaeth Gymreig, by G. ab Rhys, pp. 185-191.]  LLWYD, HUGH or HUW (1533?–1620), Welsh poet, born about 1533, was the son of Owen (?) Llwyd of Ty obry Llanfrothen, by Lowry (Laura), daughter of Evan ab Gruffydd of Cynfael in the parish of Maentwrog, Merionethshire. He was well educated by clergymen at Dolgelly. He held for some time a commission in the English army, and saw some service abroad. A quatrain (englyn) which he wrote on his return has formed the basis of an English ballad introduced by Peacock into his work on 'Headlong Hall,' London, 1816, 12mo; 2nd edit. 1856, 8vo (see also Biographical Notes of T. L. Peacock, pp. 9-11). Settling at Cynfael, he obtained there a reputation for such extensive learning that he was regarded by many of his contemporaries as a magician. Numerous stories in which he figures in this Rh