List of Welsh-language Poets (6th Century To C. 1600) - 16th Century

16th Century

Most of the earlier poets here are very much in the Beirdd yr Uchelwyr tradition. Traditional patronage dwindled in the late 16th century but a handful of bards still received patronage from the gentry into the 17th century. Free verse by individuals composing "freelance" gradually took over from the mid-16th century onwards. The free verse and strict metre poets sit rather uneasily together in this list.

• Tudur Aled (c. 1465–1525)
• Lewys Môn (fl. 1485–1527)
• Gruffudd ap Ieuan ap Llywelyn Fychan (c. 1485–1553) - poet and official at the Caerwys eisteddfod in 1524.
• Siôn Ceri (fl. early 16th century
• Ieuan ap rhys ap Llywlyn (fl. beginning of 16th century) - whose surviving work includes a poem composed on an outbreak of smallpox.
• Matthew Brwmffild (fl. 1520–1560) - whose poems in praise of nobility are recorded in one of the Peniarth manuscripts.
• Lewys Daron (fl. 1520–1539) - who is best known for his elegy on the death of Tudur Aled.
• Lewys Morgannwg (fl. 1520–1565)
• Siôn Tudur (1522–1602)
• Dafydd Trefor (died 1528) - whose work includes cywyddau on religious themes and an elegy on the death of Henry VII.
• Powys Lewis (fl. c. 1530) - whose poems in praise of nobility are recorded in one of the Peniarth manuscripts.
• Simwnt Fychan (c. 1530–1606)
• St. Richard Gwyn (c. 1537–1584) - who composed a number of odes in defence of Catholicism, while jailed.
• Alice ferch Gruffudd ap Ieuan Fychan (fl. 1540–1570) - whose surviving poems include musings on the type of man she desired to marry and on her fathers’ second marriage.
• Catrin ferch Gruffudd ap Ieuan Fychan (fl. 16th century) - whose surviving poem is on a theme of religion.
• Morus Dwyfach (fl. 1540–1580)
• Rhys Cain (c. 1540–1614)
• Llywelyn Siôn (c. 1540–1615)
• Siôn Phylip (1543–1620)
• Edmwnd Prys (c. 1543–1623)
• Robin Clidro (1545–1580)
• Dafydd Alaw (fl. 1550) - whose surviving work includes an elegy to Lewys Môn and poems in praise of the nobility of Anglesey.
• Wiliam Midleton (c. 1550 – c. 1596)
• Dafydd Benwyn (1550–1600) - who composed poems to the nobility of Glamorgan.
• Morris Kyffin (c. 1555–1598)
• Catrin ferch Gruffudd ap Hywel (fl. c. 1555) - who composed a poem in praise of Jesus Christ.
• Gwilym Gwyn (fl. c. 1560–1600) - whose surviving work includes a cywydd to St. Elian Geimiad.
• Dafydd ap Ieuan ab Owen (fl. c. 1560) - who composed poems in praise of the town of Harlech and an invective against the world inspired by the loss of his land.
• Gruffudd Hiraethog (died 1564)
• Tomos Prys (c. 1564–1634)
• Edward Maelor (fl. 1567–1603) - who composed poems to the nobility of north Wales.
• Rhisiart Gruffudd (fl. c. 1569) - whose surviving work includes a poem seeking reconciliation between Sir Richard Bulkeley of Anglesey with his second wife, Agnes, who had been accused of poisoning her husband.
• Huw Llwyd (c. 1568 – c. 1630) - a soldier, poet and rumoured wizard whose poems on hunting are recorded in one of the Peniarth manuscripts.
• Edwart ap Raff (fl. 1578–1606) - whose surviving work includes a poem about the Battle of Saint Quentin in 1557.
• Rhys Prichard (1579–1644)
• Elis Cynfrig (fl. 1580–1620) - whose poems on themes of religion and love are recorded in some of the Peniarth and British Museum manuscripts.
• Cadwaladr ap Rhys Trefnant (fl. 1600) - whose surviving poems in praise of noble families of Montgomeryshire are recorded in some of the Peniarth and Mostyn manuscripts.