Ellis Wynne facts for kids

Lasynys Fawr, where Ellis Wynne was born.

A plaque on the house at Lasynys Fawr, remembering Ellis Wynne.

Ellis Wynne (born March 7, 1671 – died July 13, 1734) was a Welsh clergyman and writer. He is best known for writing one of the most important and famous books in the Welsh language.

Ellis Wynne's Life Story

Ellis Wynne was born in a place called Lasynys Fawr, near Harlech in Gwynedd, Wales. He was a very good student and went to Jesus College, Oxford in 1692. It's not clear if he finished his degree there. Local stories say he was studying law, but a friend, Humphrey Humphreys (who later became a Bishop), convinced him to become a priest instead.

Wynne got married for the first time in 1698. He became a priest in December 1704. After that, he worked as a clergyman in several churches, including Llandanwg, Llanbedr, and Llanfair.

His Famous Book: Visions of the Sleeping Bard

The very first edition of Ellis Wynne's book, Gweledigaetheu y Bardd Cwsc, published in 1703.

Even though Ellis Wynne was a respected priest and translated other works, he is most famous for his own book. It's called Gweledigaetheu y Bardd Cwsc, which means Visions of the Sleeping Bard. This book was first published in London in 1703.

The book is a Welsh version of a Spanish story by Francisco de Quevedo, which was translated into English by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Wynne's book describes strong and vivid pictures of the bad things happening in society at the time. It is considered a classic in Welsh literature. Many people believe it's one of the best examples of "pure" Welsh writing, meaning it wasn't influenced by English writing styles yet.

The book was very popular. By 1932, it had been printed at least 32 times, and it was translated into English at least three times. The first edition's title page said "The First Part," which made some people think Wynne wrote a second part about a "Vision of Heaven." However, it's said that he destroyed this second part because he was wrongly accused of copying the first part. Today, these accusations of copying are not believed to be true.

Later Years and Legacy

Not much is known about Ellis Wynne's life after his famous book was published. He was buried under the altar at Llanfair church, which is near Harlech. His book continues to be an important part of Welsh literature.