Notes

The heath–cock or grouse is addressed in the first part of this poem, and the description is based on detailed knowledge of the bird and its customs. The bird is likened to a priest, a bishop, an abbot and a friar on account of its colour, and several terms connected with vestments are employed to convey the bird's appearance. The white feathers found under the wings of the bird are mentioned (ceseilwyn 'with white armpits' line 8); the bird's habit of displaying its feathers to attract a mate and its diet of birch twigs also forms part of the description. Having introduced the bird, the poet in the second part seeks its services as messenger. Its commission is to approach the unnamed girl and ask her to meet the poet who declares that no living soul will hear of this arrangement.

Four groups of manuscripts can be identified. The copies in H 26, Bl e 1, BL 14969 and M 146 correspond closely and derive either directly or indirectly from the Vetustus. Although the Pen 49 version is identical in several respects, it does contain several unique readings, some of which are superior to those found in the Vetustus group. This new edition follows the line order of Pen 49; the position of one couplet differs in the Vetustus group.

The poem is attributed to Dafydd ap Gwilym in all manuscript copies but Thomas Parry argued on the basis of its style and cynghanedd (the relatively low occurrence of cynghanedd sain) that it could not have been composed by him.