John Gwynneth

Who is John Gwynneth?

John Gwynneth, was a Welsh Catholic divine and musician.

Gwynneth was the son of David ap Llewelyn ap Ithel of Llyn, brother to Robert ap Llewelyn ap Ithel of Castelmarch, Carnarvonshire, ancestor of Sir William Jones, knight. He was educated at Oxford, and being a poor man he was, says Wood, 'exhibited to by an ecclesiastical Mecænas,' in the hope that he would write against the heretics. In due course he was ordained priest, and on 9 December 1531 he supplicated the university for leave to practise in music and for the degree of doctor of music, as he had composed all the responses for a whole year 'in cantis chrispis aut fractis, ut aiunt,' and many masses, including three masses of five parts and five masses of four parts, besides hymns, antiphons, and divers songs for the use of the church. This request was granted conditionally on his paying to the university twenty pence on the day of his admission, and he was forthwith licensed to proceed. He was presented by the king to the provostship or rectory sine curd of Clynog fawr upon the death of Dr. William Glyn.