Edmund Prys
Encyclopedia
Edmund Prys (c. 1544 – 1624) was a Welsh poet, best known for Welsh metrical translations of the Psalms
in his Salmau Can.
, and his wife, Sian (Jane), daughter of Owain ap Llywelyn. On 16 March 1565 he entered St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1568, in M.A. 1571, and was a Fellow in 1570. On 14 March 1573 he became rector of Festiniog, with its chapelry of Maen Twrog, and on 5 November 1576 archdeacon of Merioneth. About the same time, he became chaplain to Sir Henry Sidney, lord president of Wales. On 16 April 1580 there was added to the living he already held the rectory of Llanenddwyn with its chapelry of Llanddwywe, and on 8 October 1602 he was made a canon cursal (second canonry) of St Asaph Cathedral
.
He died in 1624, and was buried in Maen Twrog church. He was twice married: first, to Ellin, daughter of John ap Lewis of Pengwern, Festiniog, by whom he had two sons, John and Robert, and a daughter Jane; secondly, to Gwen, daughter of Morgan ap Lewis of Fronheulog (his first wife's cousin), by whom he had three sons, Ffoulk (Ffowc), Morgan and Edmund
(fl.
1586-1632), Siôn Phylip
, Waelod, and William Cynwal of Penmachno. The last encounter is known for its length (fifty-four poems on both sides), and the fact that the archdeacon's adversary died while it was proceeding. But Prys's reputation rests on his translation of the psalms into free Welsh verse, suitable for congregational singing. At least nineteen editions of the Salmau Can appeared, chiefly in editions of the Bible. A rendering of the psalms into the strict metres by Captain William Myddelton had been issued in 1603, and a freer translation of thirteen by Edward Kyffin had appeared in the same year. In 1621, however, to a new issue of the Welsh version of the Book of Common Prayer
was appended Prys's translation of the whole of the psalter. He rejected the bardic metres in order to adapt his work for popular use.
Prys is mentioned by Dr. William Morgan
as one of three who rendered him assistance in the preparation of his translation of the Bible (1588). Dr. John Davies
also addressed to him the preface to his grammar (Antiquae Linguae Britannicae, &c., 1621).
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
in his Salmau Can.
Life
He was born about 1544, son of Sion (John) ap Rhys of Tyddyn Du in the parish of Maen Twrog, MerionethshireMerionethshire
Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, a vice county and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...
, and his wife, Sian (Jane), daughter of Owain ap Llywelyn. On 16 March 1565 he entered St. John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1568, in M.A. 1571, and was a Fellow in 1570. On 14 March 1573 he became rector of Festiniog, with its chapelry of Maen Twrog, and on 5 November 1576 archdeacon of Merioneth. About the same time, he became chaplain to Sir Henry Sidney, lord president of Wales. On 16 April 1580 there was added to the living he already held the rectory of Llanenddwyn with its chapelry of Llanddwywe, and on 8 October 1602 he was made a canon cursal (second canonry) of St Asaph Cathedral
St Asaph Cathedral
St Asaph Cathedral is the Anglican cathedral in St Asaph, Denbighshire, north Wales. It is sometimes claimed to be the smallest Anglican cathedral in Britain.- History :...
.
He died in 1624, and was buried in Maen Twrog church. He was twice married: first, to Ellin, daughter of John ap Lewis of Pengwern, Festiniog, by whom he had two sons, John and Robert, and a daughter Jane; secondly, to Gwen, daughter of Morgan ap Lewis of Fronheulog (his first wife's cousin), by whom he had three sons, Ffoulk (Ffowc), Morgan and Edmund
Works
Prys composed in the strict Welsh metres, and took an active part in the bardic life of his time. He engaged in duels of satiric verse, crossing swords with his neighbours, Thomas PriceThomas Price
Thomas Price was a stonecutter, teacher, lay preacher, businessman, stonemason, clerk-of-works, union secretary, union president and politician...
(fl.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1586-1632), Siôn Phylip
Siôn Phylip
Siôn Phylip was a Welsh language poet from the Ardudwy region of Gwynedd. In 1568, Sion was ordained as a master poet at the second Caerwys Eisteddfod....
, Waelod, and William Cynwal of Penmachno. The last encounter is known for its length (fifty-four poems on both sides), and the fact that the archdeacon's adversary died while it was proceeding. But Prys's reputation rests on his translation of the psalms into free Welsh verse, suitable for congregational singing. At least nineteen editions of the Salmau Can appeared, chiefly in editions of the Bible. A rendering of the psalms into the strict metres by Captain William Myddelton had been issued in 1603, and a freer translation of thirteen by Edward Kyffin had appeared in the same year. In 1621, however, to a new issue of the Welsh version of the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
was appended Prys's translation of the whole of the psalter. He rejected the bardic metres in order to adapt his work for popular use.
Prys is mentioned by Dr. William Morgan
William Morgan (Bible translator)
William Morgan was Bishop of Llandaff and of St Asaph, and the translator of the first version of the whole Bible into Welsh from Greek and Hebrew.-Life:...
as one of three who rendered him assistance in the preparation of his translation of the Bible (1588). Dr. John Davies
John Davies (Mallwyd)
Dr John Davies, Mallwyd was one of Wales's leading scholars of the late Renaissance. He wrote a Welsh grammar and dictionary. He was also a translator and editor and an ordained minister of the Church of England....
also addressed to him the preface to his grammar (Antiquae Linguae Britannicae, &c., 1621).