Society for the Publication of Ancient Welsh

Manuscripts.

Patroness,
HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA.

Patronized also by
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE ALBERT,

AND
HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.

President,
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE EARL OF POWIS.

Vice-presidents,
His Grace The DUKE OF BEAUFORT, K.G.
His Grace The DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, K.G.
His Grace the DUKE OF SUTHERLAND, K.G.
The Most Noble The MARQUESS OF LANSDOWNE, K.G.
The Most Noble The MARQUESS OF CAMDEN, K.G.
The Right Honourable The EARL OF SHAFTESBURY
The Right Honourable The EARL OF DUNRAVEN
The Right Honourable The EARL OF CAERNARVON
The Right Honourable The EARL OF CAWDOR, F.R.S.
The Right Honourable VISCOUNT EVERSLEY
The Rigbt Honourable VISCOUNT FEILDING
The Right Reverend The LORD BISHOP OF St. David's
The Right Reverend The LORD BISHOP OF ST. ASAPII
The Right Reverend The LORD Bishop of LLANDAFF
The Right Reverend The Lord BISHOP OF BANGOR
The Right Honourable LORD DYNEVOR
The Right Hononrable Lord CARBERY
The Right Honourable LORD Say and SELE
The Right Honourable LORD MOSTYN
The Right Honourable LORD LLANOVER
The Honourable T. LL. Mostyn, M.P.
The Right Honourable ConseiLLER JOUKOVSKY
Sie WATKIN WILLIAMS Wynn, Bart. M.P. Wynnstay
Sir CHARLES SALUSBURY Bart., Llanwern
SIR STEPHEN GLYNNE, Bart. Hawarden Castle, Flintshire
Sir EDWARD Bulwer LYTTON, Bart. M.P. Knebworth, Hertfordshire
Sir Thomas PHILLIPPS, Bart., F.R.S., F.S.A. &c., Middle Hill
BERIAH BUTFIELD, Esq. M.P., F.R.S., F.S.A., &c., Norion Hall
WILLIAM ORMSBY Gore, Esq. M.P. Porkington
OCTAVIUS MORGAN, Esq. M.P., F.R.S., F.G.S. Friars, Newport
W. W. E. WYNNE, Esq. M.P. Peniarth, Merionethshire
SIR GARDINER WILKINSON, F.R.S., D.C.I..
W. A. WILLIAMS, Esq. of Llangibby Castle, Monmouthshire
His Excellency Mons. VAN DER WEYER, Belgian Minister
His Excellency BARON BENTINCK, Netherlands Minister

Committee,
The Right Honourable Lord Llanover, Chairman
Octavius Morgan, Esq. M.P., F.R.S., F.G.S., Friars, Newport
J Bruce, of Dyffryn, Esq. Cardiff, Glamorgan
J. Arthur Herbert, of Llanarth, Esq.
The Rev. Illtyd Nicholl, M.A. of Ham, Cowbridge, Glamorgan

1

Editors, Translators, and Collators of Manuscripts,
The Rev. J. Williams Ab Ithel, M.A. Rector of Llanymowddwy*
The Rev. E. Owen Phillips, M. A. Warden, Welsh Institution, Llandovery*
The Rev. Hugb Williams, M.A. Chancellor of Llandaff*
Rev. T. Briscoe, B.D. Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
The Rev. Robert Owen, B.D. Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford
John Pughe, Esq. F.R.C.S. Penhelyg, Aberdovey
William Rees, Esq. of Tonn, Llandovery *

Those marked thus. are also Members of the Committee.

Corresponding Members,

WALES.
The Right Hon. Lady Llanover, (Gwenynen Gwent) Llanover, Abergavenny!
Lady Charlotte Schreiber, Dowlais, Glamorganshire
George Grant Francis, Esq. F.S.A. Cae'r Baily, Swansea
Major Herbert, Llansanffraed, near Abergavenny
Rev. Dr. James, (Dewi o Ddyfed,) of Pantèg, Monmouthshire
Arthur James Jobnes, of Garthmyl, Esq. Judge of Local Courts, North Wales
John Johnes, of Dolaucothy, Esq. Judge of Local Courts, South Wales
Rev. T. Jones, M.A. Llanengan, Caernarvonshire
The Very Rev. Dr. Lewellin, Dean of St. David's, & Principal of St. D.C.L.
Rev. R. H. Lloyd, M.A. of Danyrallt, Caermarthenshire
Thomas Wakeman, Esq, The Graig, near Monmouth
W. W. E. Wynne, Esq. M.P. Peniarth, Merionethshire
Rev. Sir Charles Salusbury, of Llanwern, Bart.
Miss Angharad Llwyd, Tŷ-yn-Rhýl
Miss Williams, of Ynyslâs, Glamorgan, South Wales
Miss Jane Williams, of Ynyslâs, Glamorgan, South Wales.

ENGLAND, &c.
Rev. A B. Clough, B.D., F S.A., &c. Braunston, Northampton
Rev. Robert Jones, M.A. All Saints Rectory, Rotherhithe, London
J. Whitefoord Mackenzie, Esq. F.R.S., F.S.A. &c. Edinburgh
L. Hayes Petit, Esq. W.S., F.R.S., F.S A., &c. London
Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart. F.R.S. Middle Hill, Worcestershire
The Lady Charlotte Schreiber, Roehampton, Middlesex
P. B. Williams, Esq. India Board, London

Secretary,
Mr. William Griffith, 4, Sidmouth Place, Gray's Inn Road, London,
HONORARY FOREIGN SECRETARY FOR GERMANY.—Mr. J. G. Sauerwein

Asiatic Society's Office, London.
HONORARY FOREIGN SECRETARY FOR FRANCE.--Mons". Rio, Paris.

Treasurers,
Messrs. Bailey, Gratrex & Co., Bankers, Abergavenny.

Publisher,
Mr. D. J. Roderic, Llandovery, South Wales.

Has been formed for the purpose of transcribing and printing the more important of the numerous Bardic and Historical Remains of Wales, still extant in the Principality, and other parts of the world, that have hitherto been allowed to continue in a state of obscurity, without any effective measures being adopted to lay their contents before the public, and secure them from the various accidents to which they are liable. In addition to the general decay which, from their perishable nature, these venerable relies have been for ages undergoing, whole collections have, within a short space of time, been destroyed by fire; and of those MSS. dispersed throughout the country, numbers known to bave existed a few years ago, are now no where to be found.

Besides the interest which these ancient documents possess, as objects of antiquarian curiosity, and as contributing to the elucidation of British History, they have a claim to attention of a far more general character, as being intimately connected with the origin and progress of modern European Literature; for it is among the legends and traditions of the Welsh that many of the materials are to be found, which supplied the nations of the Continent with their earliest subjects of composition, and produeed those highly imaginative works that continue to exercise so powerful an influence to the present day.

A great mass of Historical information, relating to the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries, is contained in the unpublished Poetry of Wales ; from wbieb an intimate acquaintance with the state of society during those periods may be obtained ; the Welsh Bards being the Chroniclers of the times in which they lived, and their Poems chiefly addressed to the leading men of the day. Besides Poetry, there is still existing unpublished a large collection of Prose, both Historical and Legendary ; persons of affluence are therefore solicited to contribute larger Donations and Subscriptions, than are required by the Rules of the Society, in order to enable the Committee to proceed with greater rapidity in carrying on the publication of Manuscripts.

The first Work that was published by this Society, was the Liber LANDAVENSIS, or LLYFR Teilo, comprising nearly 700 Royal 8vo. pages; gratuitously edited and translated by the late Rev. W.J. Rees, M. A., F.S.A. &c. Of this Work only a few Copies remain to persons becoming Members of the Society at £1 ls. Od.

The second Work of the Society consisted of a MISCELLANEOUS SelectiON OF ANCIENT Welsh MSS. in prose and poetry, from the originals col. lected by the late Edward Williams, (Iolo Morganug) for the purpose of forming a continuation of the Myvyrian Archaiology, and afterwards proposed to be used as materials for a New History of Wales. Edited with Notes and Translations, by his son, the late TALIESIN AB Iolo, of Merthyr Tydvil. This work is of the same size and price as the Liber Landavensis, and a few copies remain still in the hands of the Publisher.

The third Work, The HeralDIC VISITATIONS OF WALES AND ITS MARCHES, Temp. Elizabeth, and James I. in two Imperial 4to. Volumes was printed under the gratuitous and able superintendence of its Editor, the late SIR SAMUEL Rusu MEYRICK, K.H.,LL.))., F.S A, &c., of this work only 240 copies were published which were all engaged by Subscribers; it is therefore out of print and has become extremely scarce.

The LIVES OF CAMBRO British Saints, was next published, from Ancient Welsh and Latin MSS. in the British Museum and elsewhere, comprising 680. pages Royal 8vo., and was gratuitously edited and translated by the late Rev. W.J. REES, M.A., F.S.A., &c. Some copies of this work are still to be bad of the Publisher, price £1'1s. Od. to persons becoming Members of the Society.

TH ANCIENT WELSH GRAMMAR made by EDEYRN Darop Aur, by the command of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, (prince of Wales from 1254 to 1282,) Rhys Vychan lord of Dynevor and Ystrad Towy; and Morgan Vycban, lord paramount of Morganwg,-together with Y Pum LLYFR KERDDWRIAETH, or Rules of Welsh Prosody, by Simwnt Vychan, in the 15th Century. Edited with Translations and Notes, by the Rev. John Williams Ab Ithel, M.A. A few copies only remain on hand to be sold at £1 ls. Od. each.

En the Press, BARDDAS; OR BARDISM, a Collection of Original Documents, illustrative of the Theology, Discipline and Usages, of the Bardo-Druidic System of the Isle of Britain, with Explanations and Translations, by the Rev. J. Williams Ab Ithel, M.A, Rector of Llanymowddwy. The Work will be accompanied with an English Translation.

The curious matter brought to light for the first time in this Volume, cannot fail to attract the particular attention of scholars, and to open a new and interesting era in

the History of Welsh Literature, It is intended henceforward to bring out a Volume of about 400 pages every Twelve months, to be supplied to Members of the Society only.

Recommended for Publication. The inedited matter of the LLYFR Cocu o HERGEST, in the Library of Jesus College, Oxford.

Ancient Records, Temp. Edward III. belonging to the Manor Court of Ruthin.

And also, curious and valuable Manuscripts on DRUIDISM and BARDISM.
WELSH CHARTERS.
Y DAROGANAU, or Vaticinations of the middle ages.
A complete and correct edition of the Bands of the 6th and 7th centuries.
Y DIARHEBION CYMREIG, or Welsu PROVERBS.
The HISTORICAL Triads.
The Life of GRUFFUDD AB Cynan.
The GREAL ; in the Hengwrt Collection.

Rules of the Society.