Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Llwyd, Hugh
LLWYD, HUGH or HUW (1533?–1620), Welsh poet, born about 1533, was the son of Owen (?) Llwyd of Ty obry Llanfrothen, by Lowry (Laura), daughter of Evan ab Gruffydd of Cynfael in the parish of Maentwrog, Merionethshire. He was well educated by clergymen at Dolgelly. He held for some time a commission in the English army, and saw some service abroad. A quatrain (englyn) which he wrote on his return has formed the basis of an English ballad introduced by Peacock into his work on 'Headlong Hall,' London, 1816, 12mo; 2nd edit. 1856, 8vo (see also Biographical Notes of T. L. Peacock, pp. 9-11). Settling at Cynfael, he obtained there a reputation for such extensive learning that he was regarded by many of his contemporaries as a magician. Numerous stories in which he figures in this character are still current in the parishes of Ffestiniog and Maentwrog, and a tall column of rock in the middle of the river Cynfael, where he is believed to have spent much of his time, is still known as 'Hugh Llwyd's pulpit.' His best-known production is a 'Poem on the Fox' ('Cywydd i'r Llwynog'), printed in 'Cymru Fu,' i. 357. Among the Peniarth MSS. is a transcript of a medical work by him, and a few of his poems are also at the British Museum (Add. MS. 14974). He is said to have died at Cynfael in 1620, and was buried at Maentwrog. Edmund Prys [q. v.], who was rector of the parish, and whose name is associated with Llwyd's in many of the local traditions, composed on the occasion an 'englyn,' which is printed in 'Hanes Plwyf Ffestiniog.' Llwyd was either grandfather or uncle to Morgan Llwyd [q. v.]
[Cymru Fu, i. 174, 357; G. J. Williams's Hanes Plwyf Ffestiniog, pp. 222-3 ; Palmer's Older Nonconformity of Wrexham, p. 11; Gossiping Guide to Wales, ed. 1892, pp. 104-5.]