pp 89 1999 Demy 8vo paperback
ISBN 0-7083-1515-1
‘This short book in the Writers of Wales series deserves the attention of recusant scholars everywhere.’ (Recusant History)
The word recusant was originally used to describe those
Catholics whose names were entered on registers because of their refusal to attend
Anglican services during the reign of Elizabeth I, but the term 'recusant writings' covers
writing by Catholics, whether open or covert. For more than a hundred years after the
accession of Elizabeth in 1588, the publication of Catholic books was prohibited by law.
Geraint Bowen's book is the first to be published on writing by Welsh recusants.
Welsh recusant writing, published abroad, on secret presses at home, or, as was often the case, remaining in manuscript, was not confined to works of Catholic devotion and dogma. The Tudor period witnessed important and far-reaching developments in Welsh scholarship and literature, and the first contributions to this development were made by exiled Catholics. The enforced residence abroad, particularly in Italy, of men like Morys Clynnog, Gruffydd Robert, Siôn Dafydd Rhys and Owen Lewis gave them access to Renaissance learning and to the knowledge and enthusiasm of its most notable exponents. The humanist belief that the vernacular could be elevated to the status and dignity of the classical languages led the exiles to attempt to achieve that standing for the Welsh language.
`Heb amheuaeth, bydd y gyfrol hon yn cael ei chroesawu gan lawer, a hynny am amrywiol resymau. I rai bydd yn bwrw goleuni ar gyfnod arbennig o hanes ein cenedl; i eraill bydd yn ychwanegu at eu dealltwriaeth o’u traddodiad crefyddol eu hunain. Bydd yn sicr yn arf yn nwylo rhai i addysgu a diwyllio cenhedlaeth arall, ond uwchlaw popeth bydd yn fodd i ddangos unwaith eto fod i ni, y Cymry, ein hanes ein hunain, a bod yr hanes hwnnw yn rhan o’r ddrama ehangach sydd wedi bod yn digwydd dros y canrifoedd ar lwyfan eang cyfandir Ewrop.' (Cristion)