The Four Ancient Books of Wales (Black Book of Carmarthen, Book of Taliesin, Book of Aneurin)

fate overtook two of these later collections, which had become the property of Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, and were preserved .at Wynnstay, but which were likewise destroyed by fire. Other collections passed into the British Museum, and the principal collections of Welsh MSS. are now the Hengwrt collection at Peniarth, those in the British Museum, the MSS. at Jesus College, and those belonging to Lord Mostyn, Mr. Panton of Plas Gwyn, and others. In the Hengwrt collection were preserved three ancient MSS., termed the Black Book of Caermarthen, the Book of Aneurin, and the Book of Taliessin, con- taining a considerable collection of Welsh poetry bearing marks of antiquity ; and in the library of Jesus College is a MS. which contains similar poems, termed the Red Book of Hergest. These poems are some of a historic character, and others not so, and are attributed, either by their rubric, by the title of the MS., or by tradition, to four bards termed Myrddin, Aneurin, Taliessin, and Llywarch Hen, who are supposed to have lived in the sixth century. THE POEliS CX)NTAINED IN THE FOUB BOOKS. 3 Two of these MSS. are still in the Hengwrt collection, and of one of them we know the history : the Black Book of Caermarthen belonged to the Priorj of Black Canons at Caermarthen, and was given by the Treasurer of the Church of St.…