Humphrey Llwyd

A 1574 version of Humphrey Llwyd's 1573 map of Wales, Cambriae Typus. Another version of Humphrey Llwyd's map of Wales, Cambriae Typus, and possibly that of 1573. A Victorian-era monument honouring Humphrey Llwyd in St Marcella's Church, Llanfarchell.

Humphrey Llwyd (also spelled Lhuyd) (1527–1568) was a Welsh cartographer, author, antiquary and Member of Parliament. He was a leading member of the Renaissance period in Wales along with other such men as William Salesbury and William Morgan. His library, together with those of his patron, the Earl of Arundel and his brother-in-law, Lord Lumley, formed the basis of the Royal Collection of books; currently housed at the British Library. His motto was ("Fame lasts longer than wealth").

Life Llwyd was born at Foxhall, his family's estate in Denbigh, the county seat of the then county of Denbighshire. His father, Robert Llwyd, was descended from Harry Rossendale, henchman and grantee of the Earl of Lincoln. Einion Evell, Lord of part of Cynllaith, resided at Llwyn y Maen, in the parish of Oswestry. He and his twin brother, Cynwrig Evell, Lord of Y Glwyegl in Maelor Gymraeg, were the illegitimate sons of Madog ab Maredydd, Prince of Powys, by Eva, daughter of Madog (ab Einion Hael) ab Urien of Maen Gwynedd, ab Eginir ab Lies ab Idnerth Benvras, Lord of Maesbrwg.

As a young man, Llwyd was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford He is buried in St. Marcella's Church, known locally as Whitchurch or Yr Eglwys Wen in Welsh. The church and cemetery are on the Denbigh outskirts on the road to Llandyrnog.

Legacy In 2019, Llwyd was the subject of a major exhibition, "Inventor of Britain", at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

Works No copy exists of Llwyd's translation into English of Agostino Nifo's De auguriis; Llwyd's other work includes:

An Almanacke and Kalender, conteynynge, the daye houre, and mynute of the change of the Moone for ever, and the sygne that she is in for these thre yeares, with the natures of the sygnes and Planetes. The Treasury of Healthe Conteynyng Many Profitable Medycines Gathered out of Hypocrates, Galen and Auycen (after 23 August 1553 [Julian calendar]), a translation of a work by Peter of Spain (often said to be the same person as Pope John XXI) Cronica Walliae a Rege Cadwalader ad annum 1294 (1559 – English adaptation of Brut y tywysogyon) De Mona druidum insula … epistola (1568 letter to Ortelius, who published it in Theatrum Orbis Terrarum) Commentarioli Britannicae descriptionis fragmentum (1568). Coins the term "British Empire". Cambriae Typus (1568), map of Wales published in the Additamentum to Theatrum Orbis Terrarum) Angliae regni florentissimi nova descriptio (A map of England & Wales – also published in the Additamentum)

Llwyd also produced two known works in the Welsh language.

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