'The National Library of Wales was founded to preserve the material of the literary culture and history of Wales, hence the number of medieval English language manuscripts is relatively small, and the manuscript context for some English texts is one in which Welsh is the main language. The best known of the Middle English manuscripts in the NLW are Brogyntyn II.1 (Porkington 10) and the Hengwrt manuscript for Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'; however, the collection has been little explored for its Middle English holdings, and of the manuscripts listed here fewer than half are included in the 'Index of Printed Middle English Prose'. They contain a wealth of materials, most notably in historical writings, scientific texts, and prophecies; among the texts not previously recorded are the 'Davies Chronicle' and a version of the 'Elucidarius'.'

A collection of scholarly articles and lectures reflecting an articulate understanding of the Welsh manuscript tradition in its literary and historical contexts, together with detailed in-depth explorations of some well-known manuscripts by the leading authority in the field. Over 50 black-and-white illustrations of manuscript facsimilies. First published July 2000

The conquest of Wales by the medieval English throne produced a fiercely contested territory, both militarily and culturally. Wales was left fissured by frontiers of language, jurisdiction and loyalty - a reluctant meeting place of literary traditions and political cultures. But the profound consequences of this first colonial adventure on the development of medieval English culture have been disregarded. In setting English figurations of Wales against the contrasted representations of the Welsh language tradition, this volume seeks to reverse this neglect, insisting on the crucial importance of the English experience in Wales for any understanding of the literary cultures of medieval England and medieval Britain.