Ieuan Llwyd was a member of the Llawdden kin-group in Uwch Aeron. His genealogy is recorded in WG1 under 'Llowdden' 2 as follows: Ieuan Llwyd ab Ieuan Fwya ab Ieuan ap Rhys ap Llawdden ap Rhys ap Llawdden Hen. The family home was at Morfa Bychan just south of Aberystwyth, but Ieuan Llwyd's brother Ieuan Fychan resided there. (Dafydd y Coed sang to his grandson Gruffudd ap Llywelyn ab Ieuan later in the 14th century, GDC 2.) Ieuan Llwyd's home was in the commote of Genau'r Glyn, and it is noted in WG2 ('Llowdden' 2A) that descendants of his lived in the parish of Llanbadarn Fawr. 'Ieuan Lloyd ap Ieuan Voyaf' is named as one of those who gave surety for Howel ap Gronow when he was accused of stealing a silver cup from Robert le Northern in 1344, see B viii (1936), 145 (a list which also includes the name 'Ebowa baghan', see the document image in the Introduction). He was constable of Genau'r Glyn in 1332–3, and beiliff of the commote of Perfedd (between Genau'r Glyn and Morfa Bychan) in 1344–7, see PWLMA 449, 453, 529.
The seasonal references in the opening stanza echo some poems by the Gogynfeirdd, see J. E. Caerwyn Williams, 'The Nature Prologue in Welsh Court Poetry', SC xxiv/xxv (1989–90), 70–90. Compare in particular the first line of Dafydd Benfras's elegy to Llywelyn ab Iorwerth and his sons, 'Neud Mai, neud lleilai llif yn afon' (CBT VI, 31.1), and the first line of the awdl by Gwilyn Ddu of Arfon lamenting the imprisonment of Sir Gruffydd Llwyd, 'Neud cynechrau Mai, mau anhunedd' (GGDT 7.1). In both those poems the reference to the joyful season forms a counterpoint to the poet's sense of loss, and the effect is similar here since the poet is in Anglesey pining for his beloved patron in Ceredigion. Ieuan is described in the final line as the poet's tadmaeth (foster-father), and although that term is often used figuratively of generous patrons (e.g. 17.5 of Ifor Hael), bearing in mind that Ieuan Llwyd was a prominent nobleman in Dafydd's native region it is perfectly plausible that Dafydd may have been a foster-son at his court.
40. Huail Huail fab Caw from the Old North, see TYP 408–10, and cf. GC 1.22 and GGM I, 2.42.
45. Llŷr See 5.42n.