Manuscripts of Wales

Wales has produced a number of manuscripts over the centuries. Although most were written in Middle Welsh or Old Welsh, some were also written in Latin. In some of the more recent manuscripts it is not uncommon to have texts in Welsh, Latin, French and English in the same volume. However, some of the most important medieval manuscripts were written in Latin only, e.g. the Cyfraith Hywel.

Collections

There are several compilations of Welsh manuscripts. The most important, from a Welsh-language literature standpoint, are:

• National Library of Wales General Manuscript Collection
  • Cwrtmawr Manuscripts, in the National Library of Wales collection
  • Llansteffan Manuscripts, in the National Library of Wales collection
  • Peniarth Manuscripts, in the National Library of Wales collection

Individual manuscripts

• Hendregadredd Manuscript (National Library of Wales); circa 1300-1330s
• Juvencus Manuscript (Cambridge University Library; 9th-10th century)
• Book of the Anchorite of Llanddewibrefi (Bodleian Library, Oxford)
• Book of Aneirin
• Book of Bicar Woking
• Book of Red Asaph
• Red Book of Hergest (Jesus College, Oxford; 14th century)
• Red Book of Nannau
• Red Book of Talgarth
• Black Book of Basingwerk
• Black Book of Carmarthen (National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth; 13th century)
• Black Book of Chirk
• Black Book of Tyddewi
• White Book of Corsygedol
• White Book of Hergest
• White Book of Rhydderch (around 1325)
• Book of Llandaf
• Lichfield Gospels
• Book of Taliesin (Peniarth 2)
• Peniarth 6 (National Library of Wales; second half of the 13th century perhaps)
• Peniarth 20
• Peniarth 28 (National Library of Wales; 13th century)

Bibliography

• Daniel Huws, Llyfrau Cymraeg 1250-1400 (National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, 1993). Lecture of Sir John Williams.