Brynley F. (Brynley Francis)
Roberts b. 3 February 1931–d. 14 August 2023
Works authored
Works edited
Contributions to journals
This article discusses Edward Lhwyd's visit to Cornwall in 1700, drawing on his correspondence to demonstrate the support he received from Cornish scholars and antiquarians, his itinerary and fieldwork methodology, his treatment of the Cornish language, and the manuscript materials available to him.
This article discusses Edward Lhwyd's visit to Cornwall in 1700, drawing on his correspondence to demonstrate the support he received from Cornish scholars and antiquarians, his itinerary and fieldwork methodology, his treatment of the Cornish language, and the manuscript materials available to him.
Edward Lhuyd's (1660-1709) Archaeologia Britannica (Oxford 1707), was intended to be a study of early British history together with copies of some of the original source material. The only volume to appear, entitled Glossography, printed glossaries and grammars of the Celtic languages and lists of Irish and Welsh manuscripts, and it set out the principles of phonetic changes and correspondences so that linguistic and written evidence for the relationships of the first (Celtic) inhabitants of the British Isles could be evaluated. The antiquity of the evidence was of prime importance. Lhuyd sought the 'very ancient' written sources which would bridge the gap between the post-Roman inscriptions and the medieval Welsh manuscripts which he had seen. Humphrey Wanley (1672-1726), the Old English scholar, drew his attention to the Lichfield gospel book and two Latin manuscripts at the Bodleian Library which contained Welsh glosses and Lhuyd himself discovered the Cambridge Juvencus manuscript. These were the oldest forms of Welsh which he had seen. He analysed the palaeography, the orthography and vocabulary of these witnesses, and although he was not able fully to comprehend these records, he was able to begin to describe the characteristics of the British insular hand and to define some of the features which distinguished Old Welsh from Middle Welsh.
Edward Lhuyd's (1660-1709) Archaeologia Britannica (Oxford 1707), was intended to be a study of early British history together with copies of some of the original source material. The only volume to appear, entitled Glossography, printed glossaries and grammars of the Celtic languages and lists of Irish and Welsh manuscripts, and it set out the principles of phonetic changes and correspondences so that linguistic and written evidence for the relationships of the first (Celtic) inhabitants of the British Isles could be evaluated. The antiquity of the evidence was of prime importance. Lhuyd sought the 'very ancient' written sources which would bridge the gap between the post-Roman inscriptions and the medieval Welsh manuscripts which he had seen. Humphrey Wanley (1672-1726), the Old English scholar, drew his attention to the Lichfield gospel book and two Latin manuscripts at the Bodleian Library which contained Welsh glosses and Lhuyd himself discovered the Cambridge Juvencus manuscript. These were the oldest forms of Welsh which he had seen. He analysed the palaeography, the orthography and vocabulary of these witnesses, and although he was not able fully to comprehend these records, he was able to begin to describe the characteristics of the British insular hand and to define some of the features which distinguished Old Welsh from Middle Welsh.
Contributions to edited collections or authored works
Brynley Roberts analyses the texts of 9 Welsh versions or redactions of HRB ranging from the early 13th c. to the 16th c. Many of these are amalgams and most appear to have been associated in some way with the Cistercian abbey of Valle Crucis in N.-E. Wales. The texts represent a creative response to HRB in changing social and political circumstances over a long period in a particular area of Wales.
Brynley Roberts analyse le contenu de neuf traductions galloises de l’Historia Regum Britannie qui ont été composées entre le début du XIIIe et le xvie siècle. Nombre de ces « Bruts », émaillés de lectiones communes, sont à mettre en relation avec l’abbaye cistercienne de Valle Crucis (N.-E. du Pays-de-Galles). Ils attestent les réactions créatives suscitées par l’Historia au cours de plusieurs siècles de changements sociaux et politiques dans cette région.
Brynley Roberts analyses the texts of 9 Welsh versions or redactions of HRB ranging from the early 13th c. to the 16th c. Many of these are amalgams and most appear to have been associated in some way with the Cistercian abbey of Valle Crucis in N.-E. Wales. The texts represent a creative response to HRB in changing social and political circumstances over a long period in a particular area of Wales.
Brynley Roberts analyse le contenu de neuf traductions galloises de l’Historia Regum Britannie qui ont été composées entre le début du XIIIe et le xvie siècle. Nombre de ces « Bruts », émaillés de lectiones communes, sont à mettre en relation avec l’abbaye cistercienne de Valle Crucis (N.-E. du Pays-de-Galles). Ils attestent les réactions créatives suscitées par l’Historia au cours de plusieurs siècles de changements sociaux et politiques dans cette région.
B. Roberts describes one of the three older versions of the Welsh Brut y Brenhinedd, found, among others, in the Llanstephan I manuscript (13th c.). In this version, the Lludd and Llevelys tale has been inserted. Its environment, the abbey of Valle Crucis, can be seen to have a measurable impact.
B. Roberts décrit l’une des trois versions anciennes du Brut y Brenhinedd gallois, conservée entre autres dans le manuscrit « Llanstephan I » (xiiie siècle). Dans cette version, où est interpolé le conte de Lludd et Llevelys, l’influence de l’abbaye de Valle Crucis est tangible.
B. Roberts describes one of the three older versions of the Welsh Brut y Brenhinedd, found, among others, in the Llanstephan I manuscript (13th c.). In this version, the Lludd and Llevelys tale has been inserted. Its environment, the abbey of Valle Crucis, can be seen to have a measurable impact.
B. Roberts décrit l’une des trois versions anciennes du Brut y Brenhinedd gallois, conservée entre autres dans le manuscrit « Llanstephan I » (xiiie siècle). Dans cette version, où est interpolé le conte de Lludd et Llevelys, l’influence de l’abbaye de Valle Crucis est tangible.
