John Leland and the Welsh language

Abstract

This paper attempts to establish the scope of John Leland’s knowledge of Welsh. There is no direct evidence of his mastering the language, although the early biographers noticed Leland’s command of various idioms of the British Isles alongside his deep knowledge of Latin. This study of Leland’s writings, and particularly of his travel itineraries in Wales in the late 30s of the sixteenth century, makes it possible to come to certain conclusions and establish a range of sources contributing to his, as it turns out, quite limited, knowledge of the Welsh language. Nevertheless, his legacy remains extremely important not only for Welsh history and topography, but for the history of the Welsh language.