Elis Gruffydd

Who was Elis Gruffydd?

Elis Gruffydd, sometimes known as “The soldier of Calais”, was a Welsh chronicler, transcriber, and translator. He is known foremost for his massive chronicle Cronicl o Wech Oesoedd, which covers the history of the world from the beginning of Adam and Eve up to the year 1552 and contains the earliest text of the Tale of Taliesin. He is also well known for his eyewitness account of England’s 1543 war with France in his journal transcribed in Elis Gruffydd and the 1544 ‘Enterprise’ of Paris and Boulogue. His presence on the battlefield has given insight into the development of protests against the campaign. Thomas Jones says “despite his long years of service in France and London, [Gruffydd] was deeply interested in the oral traditions and written literature of his native land. He quotes Welsh englynion and proverbs, records a few folk-tales, and transcribes Welsh texts from such MSS as he had at his disposal”. Gruffydd is an excellent source in uncovering lost and obscure traditions and he serves as a harmonizer for Welsh traditions appearing in different ages by the same poet, such as Merlin and Taliesin.