Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Guto y Glyn
GUTO Y GLYN (fl. 1430–1468), Welsh poet, was a native of Llangollen in Denbighshire. He was domestic bard to the abbot of Valle Crucis, or Glyn Egwestl (whence his name), near Llangollen. Gutyn Owain and Dafydd ab Edmwnt were among his contemporaries. According to Dr. W. O. Pughe, 119 of his poems are extant in manuscript, chiefly in the British Museum. Wilkins gives the titles of more than ninety of these, as well as translations of two. From one of these two Iolo Morganwg adduced what he considered substantial proof of the genuineness of the alleged ancient British alphabet called 'Coelbren y Beirdd.' Two poems are addressed to his patron, and contain particulars respecting the abbey not obtainable elsewhere; two are published in the Iolo MSS., and three more in the records of Denbigh. One of these to the Lord Herbert was composed about 1468, when Denbigh was burnt, and another describes 'how it was' (sut y bu) in the battle of Malmesbury (Mambri). Another interesting poem is that in which he seeks to borrow 'The Book of the Holy Grail' from Trahaearn of Waunllwg for the abbot of Valle Crucis. 'His celebrity as a man of genius made him a welcome guest when he made the usual triennial circuit through the Principality. The publication of his poems would be a valuable introduction to the social history of Wales' (Williams, 'Eminent Welshmen).
[Stephens's Lit. of Kymry, 1876, p. 418; Lewis Glyn Cothi's Works, p. 259; Wilkins's Lit. of Wales, pp. 80-91; Williams's Eminent Welshmen; Gweirydd ab Rhys's Llenyddiaeth y Cymry, 1888; Archæologia Cambrensis, 1876.]