The Trioedd Ynys Prydein, or “Triads of the Island of Britain,” are a collection of medieval texts that compile fragments of Welsh folklore, mythology, and traditional history into sets of three. This rhetorical format groups items or characters triadically, with a common theme or heading, such as “Three things not easily restrained: the flow of a torrent, the flight of an arrow, and the tongue of a fool.”
These texts encompass references to a variety of figures, spanning from semi-historical characters like King Arthur, to mythological entities such as Brân the Blessed, and unequivocally historical figures like Alan IV, Duke of Brittany (referred to as Alan Fyrgan). They also include Iron Age characters like Caswallawn (Cassivellaunus) and Caradoc (Caratacus).
The triads vary in their composition; some offer simple lists of three characters linked by a common trait (e.g., “the three frivolous bards of the island of Britain”), while others provide more detailed narrative descriptions. Originating as a mnemonic tool for Welsh bards or poets to aid in composing their works, the triad eventually evolved into a characteristic literary device in Welsh literature. The medieval Welsh story “Culhwch and Olwen” notably incorporates numerous triads within its narrative structure.
The Welsh Triads (Red Book of Hergest, ca. 1425.)
Three Men Who Received The Might Of Adam:
Hercules the Strong, and Hector the Strong, and Samson the Strong. They were, all three, as strong as Adam himself.
Three Men Who Received the Beauty of Adam:
Absalom son of David; Jason son of Aeson; Paris son of Priam. They were, all three, as comely as Adam himself.
Three Men Who Received the Wisdom of Adam:
Cato the Old, and Bede, and Siblo the Wise. They were, all three, as wise as Adam himself.
Three Women Who Received The Beauty Of Eve in three third-shares:
Diadema, mistress of Aeneas White-Shield, and Elen the Magnificent, the woman on whose account was the destruction of Troy, and Polixena, daughter of Priam the Old, king of Troy.
When a Host went to Llychlyn.
An army (of assistance) went with Yrp of the Hosts to Llychlyn. And that man came here in the time of Cadyal of the Blows(?) to ask for a levy from this Island. And nobody came with him but Mathuthavar his servant. This is what he asked from the ten-and-twenty Chief Fortresses that there are in this Island: that twice as many men as went with him to each of them should come away with him (from it). And to the first Fortress there came only himself and his servant. (And that proved grievous to the men of this Island.) And they granted it to him. And that was the most complete levy that ever departed from this Island. And with those men he conquered the way he went. Those men remained in the two islands close to the Greek sea: namely, Clas and Avena. And the second (army) went with Elen of the Hosts and Maxen Wledig to Llychlyn: and they never returned to this Island. And the third (army) went with Caswallawn son of Beli, and Gwennwynwyn and Gwanar, sons of Lliaw son of Nwyfre, and Arianrhod daughter of Beli their mother. And (it was) from Erch and Heledd that those men came. And they went with Caswallawn their uncle in pursuit of the men of Caesar from this Island. The place where those men are is in Gascony. The number that went with each of (those armies) was twenty-one thousand men. And those were the Three Silver Hosts of the Island of Britain. Three Dishonoured Men who were in the Island of Britain: One of them: Afarwy son of Lludd son of Beli. He first summoned Julius Caesar and the men of Rome to this Island, and he caused the payment of three thousand pounds in money as tribute from this Island every year, because of a quarrel with Caswallawn his uncle. And the second is Gwrtheyrn [Vortigern] the Thin, who first gave land to the Saxons in this Island, and was the first to enter into an alliance with them. He caused the death of Custennin the Younger, son of Custennin the Blessed, by his treachery, and exiled the two brothers Emrys Wledig and Uthur Penndragon from this Island to Armorica, and deceitfully took the crown and the kingdom into his own possession. And in the end Uthur and Emrys burned Gwrtheyrn in Castell Gwerthrynyawn beside the Wye, in a single conflagration to avenge their brother. The third and worst was Medrawd, when Arthur left with him the government of the Island of Britain, at the same time when he himself went across the sea to oppose Lles [Lucius], emperor of Rome, who had dispatched messengers to Arthur in Caerleon to demand (payment of) tribute to him and to the men of Rome, from this Island, in the measure that it had been paid (from the time of) Caswallawn son of Beli until the time of Custennin the Blessed, Arthur’s grandfather. This is the answer that Arthur gave to the emperor’s messengers: that the men of Rome had no greater claim to tribute from the men of this Island, than the men of the Island of Britain had from them. For Bran son of Dyfnwal and Custennin son of Elen had been emperors in Rome, and they were two men of this Island. And they Arthur mustered the most select warriors of his kingdom (and led them) across the sea against the emperor. And they met beyond the mountain of Mynneu [the Alps], and an untold number was slain on each side that day. And in the end Arthur encountered the emperor, and Arthur slew him. And Arthur’s best men were slain there. When Medrawd heard that Arthur’s host was dispersed, he turned against Arthur, and the Saxons and the Picts and the Scots united with him to hold this Island against Arthur. And when Arthur heard that, he turned back with all that had survived of his army, and succeeded by violence in landing on this Island in opposition to Medrawd. And then there took place the Battle of Camlan between Arthur and Medrawd, and was himself wounded to death. And from that (wound) he died, and was buried in a hall on the Island of Afallach.
Here Begin the Noble Triads
Three Exalted Prisoners of the Island of Britain:
Llyr Half-Speech, who was imprisoned by Euroswydd, and the second, Mabon son of Modron, and third, Gwair son of Geirioedd. And one (Prisoner), who was more exalted than the three of them. This Exalted Prisoner was Arthur. And it was the same lad who released him from each of these three prisons- Goreu, son of Custennin, his cousin.
Three Fair Princes of the Island of Britain:
Owain son of Urien, Rhun son of Maelgwn, Rhufawn the Radiant son of Dewrarth Wledig.
Three Frivolous Bards of the Island of Britain:
Arthur, and Cadwallawn son of Cadfan, and Rahawd son of Morgant.
Three Fortunate Concealments of the Island of Britain:
The Head of Bran the Blessed, son of Llyr, which was concealed in the White Hill in London, with its face towards France. And as long as it was in the position in which it was put there, no Saxon Oppression would ever come to this Island; The second Fortunate Concealment: The Dragons in Dinas Emrys, which Lludd son of Beli concealed; And the third: the Bones of Gwerthefyr the Blessed, in the Chief Ports of this Island. And as long as they remained in that concealment, no Saxon Oppression would ever come to this Island. And they were the Three Unfortunate Disclosures when these were disclosed. And Gwrtheyrn the Thin disclosed the bones of Gwerthefyr the Blessed for the love of a woman. That was Ronnwen the pagan woman; And it was he who disclosed the Dragons; And Arthur disclosed the Head of Bran the Blessed from the White Hill, because it did not seem right to him that this Island should be defended by the strength of anyone, but by his own.
Three Horses who carried the Three Horse-Burdens:
Black Moro, horse of Elidir Mwynfawr, who carried on his back seven and a half people from Penllech in the North to Penllech in Môn. These were the seven people: Elidir Mwynfawr, and Eurgain his wife, daughter of Maelgwn Gwynedd, and Gwyn Good Companion, and Gwyn Good Distributor, and Mynach Naomon his counsellor, and Prydelaw the Cupbearer, his butler, and Silver Staff his servant, and Gelbeinevin his cook, who swam with his two hands to the horse’s crupper – and that was the half-person. Corvan, horse of the sons of Eliffer, bore the second Horse-Burden: he carried on his back Gwrgi and Peredur and Dunawd the Stout and Cynfelyn the Leprous(?), to look upon the battle-fog of (the host of) Gwenddolau (in) Ar(f)derydd. And no one overtook him but Dinogad son of Cynan Garwyn, (riding) upon Swift Roan, and he won censure and dishonour from then till this day. Heith, horse of the sons of Gwerthmwl Wledig, bore the third Horse-Burden: he carried Gweir and Gleis and Archanad up the hill of Maelawr in Ceredigion to avenge their father.
Three Roving Fleets of the Island of Britain:
The Fleet of Llawr son of Eiryf, and the Fleet of Divwng son of Alan, and the Fleet of Solor son of Murthach.
Three Harmful Blows of the Island of Britain:
The first of them Matholwch the Irishman struck upon Branwen daughter of Llyr; The second Gwenhwyfach struck upon Gwenhwyfar: and for that cause there took place afterwards the Action of the Battle of Camlan; And the third Golydan the Poet struck upon Cadwaladr the Blessed.
Three Unrestrained Ravagings of the Island of Britain:
The first of them when Medrawd came to Arthur’s Court at Celliwig in Cornwall; he left neither food nor drink in the court that he did not consume. And he dragged Gwenhwyfar from her royal chair, and then he struck a blow upon her; The second Unrestrained Ravaging when Arthur came to Medrawd’s court. He left neither food nor drink in the court; And the third Unrestrained Ravaging when Aeddan the Wily came to the court of Rhydderch the Generous at Alclud [Dumbarton]; he left neither food nor drink nor beast alive.
Three Quests that were obtained from Powys:
The first of them is the fetching of Myngan from Meigen to Llansilin, by nine the next morning, to receive privileges from Cadwallawn the Blessed, after the slaying of Ieuaf and Griffri; The second is the fetching of Griffri to Bryn Griffri before the following morning, to attack Edwin; The third is the fetching of Hywel son of Ieuaf to Ceredigiawn from the Rock of Gwynedd to fight with (on the side of?) Ieuaf and Iago in that battle.
These Are the Noble Triads:
Three Great Queens of Arthur:
Gwennhwyfar daughter of Cywryd Gwent, and Gwenhwyfar daughter of Gwythyr son of Greidiawl, and Gwenhwyfar daughter of Gogfran the Giant.
Three Amazons of the Island of Britain:
The first of them, Llewei daughter of Seitwed, and Rore(i) daughter of Usber, and Mederei Badellfawr.
Three Noble Retinues of the Island of Britain:
The Retinue of Mynyddawg at Catraeth, and the Retinue of Dreon the Brave at the Dyke of Ar(f)dery(dd), and the third, the Retinue of Belyn of Llyn (in) Erethlyn in Rhos.
Three Great Enchantments of the Island of Britain:
The Enchantment of Math son of Mathonwy which he taught to Gwydion son of Dôn, and the Enchantment of Uthyr Pendragon which he taught to Menw son of Teirgwaedd, and the Enchantment of Rudlwm the Dwarf which he taught to Coll son of Collfrewy his nephew.
Three Chief Officers of the Island of Britain:
Gwydar son of Rhun son of Beli; and Cawrdaf son of Caradawg; and Owain son of Maxen Wledig.
Three Well-Endowed Men of the Island of Britain:
Rhiwallawn Broom-hair, and Gwal(chmai) son of Gwyar, and Llachau son of Arthur.
Three Unfortunate Counsels of the Island of Britain:
To give place for their horses’ fore-feet on the land to Julius Caesar and the men of Rome, in requital for Meinlas; and the second: to allow Horsa and Hengist and Rhonwen into this Island; and the third: the three-fold dividing by Arthur of his men with Medrawd at Camlan.
Three Diademed Men of the Island of Britain:
Gweir son of Gwystyl, and Cei son of Cynyr, and Drystan son of Tallwch.
Three Red Ravagers of the Island of Britain:
Rhun son of Beli, and Lleu Skilful Hand, and Morgant the Wealthy. But there was one who was a Red Ravager greater than all three: Arthur was his name. For a year neither grass nor plants used to spring up where one of the three would walk; but where Arthur went, not for seven years.
Three Seafarers of the Island of Britain:
Geraint son of Erbin, and Gwenwynwyn son of Naf, and March son of Meirchiawn.
Three Chieftains of Arthur’s Court:
Gobrwy son of Echel Mighty-Thigh, and Ffleudur Fflam son of Godo, and Caedrieith son of Seidi.
Three Bull-Chieftains of the Island of Britain:
Adaon son of Taliesin, and Cynhafal son of Argad, and Elinwy son of Cadegr.
Three Chieftains of Deira and Bernicia, and the Three were Sons of a Bard:
Gall son of Disgyfdawd, and Ysgafnell son of Disgyfdawd, and Diffydell son of Disgyfdawd.
These Three performed the Three Fortunate Assassinations:
Gall son of Dysgyfdawd who slew the Two Birds of Gwenddolau. And they had a yoke of gold on them. Two corpses of the Cymry they ate for their dinner, and two for their supper; And Ysgafnell son of Dysgyfdawd, who slew Edelfled king of Lloegr; And Diffydell son of Dysgyfdawd who slew Gwrgi Garwlwyd (‘Rough Grey’). That Gwrgi used to make a corpse of one of the Cymry every day, and two on each Saturday so as not to slay on Sunday.
Three Savage Men of the Island of Britain, who performed the Three Unfortunate Assassinations:
Llofan Llaw Ddifro who slew Urien son of Cynfarch; Llongad Grwm Fargod Eidyn who slew Afaon son of Taliesin; and Heiden son of Efengad who slew Aneirin of Flowing Verse, daughter of Teyrnbeirdd–the man who used to give a hundred kine every Saturday in a bath-tub to Talhaearn. And he struck her with a woodhatchet on the head. And that was one of the Three Hatchet-Blows. The second (was) a woodcutter of Aberffraw who struck Golydan with a hatchet, on the head. And the third, one of his own men struck upon Iago, son of Beli, with a hatchet, on the head.
Three Battle-Leaders of the Island of Britain:
Selyf son of Cynan Garrwyn, and Urien son of Cynfarch, and Afaon son of Taliesin. This is why they were called battle-leaders: because they avenged their wrongs from their graves. [?]
Three Pillars of Battle of the Island of Britain:
Dunawd son of Pabo Pillar of Britain, and Gwallawg son of Lleenawg, and Cynfelyn the Leprous.
Three Generous men of the Island of Britain:
Nudd the Generous, son of Senyllt, Mordaf the Generous, son of Serwan, and Rhydderch the Generous, son of Tudwal Tudglyd.
Three Brave Men of the Island of Britain:
Gruddnei, and Henben, and Edenawg. They would not return from battle except on their biers. And those were three sons of Gleissiar of the North, by Haearnwedd the Wily their mother.
Three Arrogant Men of the Isle of Britain:
Gwibei the Arrogant, and Sawyl High-Chief, and Arnuawn Penyr the Arrogant.
Three Prostrate Chieftains of the Island of Britain:
Llywarch the Old son of Elidir Llydanwyn, and Manawydan son of Llyr Half-Speech, and Gwgon Gwron son of Peredur son of Eliffer of the Great Retinue. And this is why those were called ‘Prostrate Chieftains’: because they would not seek a dominion, which nobody could deny to them.
Three Enemy-Subduers of the Island of Britain:
Greidiawl Enemy-Subduer son of Envael Adrann, and Gweir of Great Valour, and Drystan son of Tallwch.
Three Slaughter-Blocks of the Island of Britain:
Gilbert son of Cadgyffro, and Morfran son of Tegid, and Gwgawn Red-Sword.
Three Gate-Keepers at the Action of Bangor Orchard:
Gwgon Red Sword, and Madawg son of Rhun, and Gwiawn son of Cyndrwyn. And three others on the side of Lloegr:
Hawystyl the Arrogant, and Gwaetcym Herwuden, and Gwiner.
Three Golden Corpses of the Island of Britain:
Madawg son of Brwyn, and Cengan Peilliawg, and Rhu(f)awn the Radiant son of Gwyddno.
Three Fettered War-Bands of the Islands of Britain:
The War-Band of Cadwallawn Long-Arm, who each one put the fetters of their horses on their (own) feet, when fighting with Serygei the Irishman at the Irishmens’ Rocks in Môn; And the second, the War-Band of Rhiwallawn son of Urien when fighting with the Saxons; And the third, the War-Band of Belyn of Llyn when fighting with Edwin at Bryn Edwin in Rhos.
Three Faithful War-Bands of the Island of Britain:
The War-Band of Cadwallawn, when they were fettered; and the War-Band of Gafran son of Aeddan, at the time of his complete disappearance; and the War-Band of Gwenddolau son of Ceidiaw at Ar(f)derydd, who continued the battle for a fortnight and a month after their lord was slain. The number of each one of the War-Bands was twenty-one hundred men.
Three Faithless War-Bands of the Islands of Britain:
The War-Band of Goronwy the Radiant of (Penllyn), who refused to receive the poisoned spear from Lleu Skilful-Hand on behalf of their lord, at the Stone of Goronwy at the head of the Cynfal; and the War-Band of Gwrgi and Peredur, who abandoned their lord at Caer Greu, when they had an appointment to fight the next day with Eda Great-Knee; and there they were both slain; And the War-Band of Alan Fyrgan, who turned away from him by night, and let him go with his servants to Camlan. And there he was slain.
Three Fettered Men of the Island of Britain:
Cadwaladr the Blessed, and Rhun son of Maelgwn, and Rhiwallawn Broom-Hair. And this is why those men were called Fettered: because horses could not be obtained that were suited to them, owing to their size; so they put fetters of gold around the small of their legs, on the cruppers of their horses, behind their backs; and two golden plates under their knees, and because of this the knee is called ‘knee-pan’.)
Three Bull-Spectres of the Island of Britain:
Three Spectre of Gwidawl, and the Spectre of Llyr Marini, and the Spectre of Gyrthmwl Wledig.
Three Wild Spectres of the Island of Britain:
The Spectre of Banawg, and the Spectre of Ednyfedawg the Sprightly, and the Spectre of Melen.
Three Unrestricted Guests of Arthur’s Court, and Three Wanderers:
Llywarch the Old, and Llemenig, and Heledd.
Three Faithful Women of the Island of Britain:
Arddun wife of Cadgor son of Gorolwyn, and Efeilian wife of Gwydyr the Heavy, and Emerchred wife of Mabon son of Dewengan.
Three Red-Speared Bards of the Island of Britain:
Dygynnelw, bard of Owain son of Urien, and Arouan Bard Selen son of Cynan, and Afan Ferddig, bard of Cadwallawn son of Cadfan.
Three Exalted Prisoners of the Island of Britain:
Llyr Half-Speech, who was imprisoned by Euroswydd, and the second, Mabon son of Modron, and third, Gwair son of Geirioedd. And one (Prisoner), who was more exalted than the three of them, was three nights in prison in Caer Oeth and Anoeth, and three nights imprisoned by Gwen Pendragon, and three nights in an enchanted prison under the Stone of Echymeint. This Exalted Prisoner was Arthur. And it was the same lad who released him from each of these three prisons- Goreu, son of Custennin, his cousin.
These Are the Triads of the Horses:
Three Bestowed Horses of the Island of Britain:
Meinlas [Slender Grey], horse of Caswallawn son of Beli, Melyngan Gamre [Pale Yellow of the Stud], horse of Lleu Skilful-Hand, and Lluagor [Host-Splitter], horse of Caradawg Strong-Arm.
Three Chief Steeds of the Island of Britain:
Tall Black-Tinted, horse of Cynan Garrwyn, and Eager Long Fore-Legs, horse of Cyhored son of Cynan, and Red… Wolf-Tread, horse of Gilbert son of Cadgyffro.
Three Plundered Horses of the Island of Britain:
Karnaflawc [Cloven-Hoof], horse of Owain son of Urien, and Long Tongue, horse of Cadwallawn son of Cadfan, and Bucheslom, horse of Gwgawn of the Red Sword
Three Lively Steeds of the Island of Britain:
Gwineu Gwdwc Hir [Chestnut Long-neck] horse of Cei, and Grei horse of Edwin, and Llwyd [Grey] horse of Alfer son of Maelgwn.
Three Adulterers’ Horses of the Island of Britain:
Fferlas [Grey Fetlock] horse of Dalldaf son of Cunin, and Gwelwgan Gohoewgein horse of Caradawg son of Gwallawc, and Gwrbrith [Spotted Dun] horse of Rahawd.
Tri penn uarch ynys brydein dugant y tri marchlwyth y mae eu henwen dracheuyn.
Three Powerful Swineherds of the Island of Britain:
Pryderi son of Pwyll, Lord of Annwfn, tending the swine of Penndaran Dyfed his foster-father. These swine were the seven animals which Pwyll Lord of Annwfn brought, and gave them to Penndaran Dyfed his foster-father. And the place where he used to keep them was in Glyn Cuch in Emlyn. And this is why he was called a Powerful Swineherd: because no one was able either to deceive or to force him; and the second, Drystan son of Tallwch, tending the swine of March son of Meirchyawn, while the swineherd went with a message to Essyllt. Arthur and March and Cai and Bedwyr were (there) all four, but they did not succeed in getting so much as one pigling – neither by force, nor by deception, nor by stealth; And the third, Coll son of Collfrewy, tending the swine of Dallwyr Dallben in Glyn Dallwyr in Cornwall. And one of the swine was pregnant, Henwen was her name. And it was prophecied that the Island of Britain would be the worse for the womb-burden. Then Arthur assembled the army of the Island of Britain, and set out to seek to destroy her. And then she set off, about to bring forth (?), and at Penrhyn Awstin in Cornwall she entered the sea, and the Powerful Swineherd after her. And in the Wheat Field in Gwent she brought forth a grain of wheat and a bee. And therefore from that day to this the Wheat Field in Gwent is the best place for wheat and for bees. And at Llonion in Pembroke she brought forth a grain of barley and a grain of wheat. Therefore, the barley of Llonion is proverbial. At the Hill of Cyferthwch in Arfon she brought forth a (wolf-cub) and a young eagle. The wolf was given to (M)ergaed and the eagle to Breat, a prince of the North: and they were both the worse for them. And at Llanfair in Arfon under the Black Rock she brought forth a kitten, and the Powerful Swineherd threw it from the Rock into the sea. And the sons of Palug fostered it in Môn, to their own harm: and that was Palug’s Cat, and it was one of the Three Great Oppressions of Môn, nurtured therein. The second was Daronwy, and the third was Edwin, king of Lloegr.
Three Favourites of Arthur’s Court, and Three Battle-Horsemen: they would never endure a penteulu over them. And Arthur sang an englyn:
These are my Three Battle-Horsemen:
and Lludd Llurugawc [of the Breastplate],
and the Pillar of the Cymry, Caradawg.
Three Golden Shoemakers of the Island of Britain:
Caswallawn son of Beli, when he went to Rome to seek Fflur; and Manawydan son of Llyr, when the Enchantment was on Dyfed; and Lleu Skilful-Hand, when he and Gwydion were seeking a name and arms from his mother Ar(i)anrhod.
Three Kings who were (sprung) from Villeins:
Gwriad son of Gwrian in the North, and Cadafel son of Cynfeddw in Gwynedd, and Hyfaidd son of Bleiddig in Deheubarth.
Three Defilements of the Severn:
Cadwallawn when he went to the Action of Digoll, and the forces of Cymry with him; and Edwin on the other side, and the forces of Lloegr with him. And then the Severn was defiled from its source to its mouth; The second, the gift of Golydan from Einiawn son of Bedd, king of Cornwall; And the third, Calam the horse of Iddon son of Ner from Maelgwn…
The Welsh Triads (Peniarth MS 54)
Three tribal thrones of the Island of Prydain.
Arthur the Chief Lord at Menevia, and David the chief bishop, and Maelgwyn Gwyned the chief elder. Arthur the chief lord at Kelliwic in Cornwall, and Bishop Betwini the chief bishop, and Caradawg Vreichvras the chief elder. Arthur the chief lord in Penrionyd in the north, and Cyndeyrn Garthwys the chief bishop, and Gurthmwl Guledic the chief elder.
Three generous ones of the Island of Prydain.
Nudd Hael, son of Senyllt; Mordaf Hael, son of Servan; Rhydderch Hael, son of Tutwal Tudelyt.
Three fair lords of the Island of Prydain.
Run son of Maelgwyn; Owen son of Urien; Ruawn Pefyr son of Deorath Guledig.
Three naturalists of the Island of Prydain.
Gwalchmei son of Gwyar; and Llachau son of Arthur; and Rhiwallawn Gwallt Banadlen.
Three pillars of battle of the Island of Prydain.
Dunawd son of Pabo pillar of Britain; and Gwallawc son of Lleenawc; and Cynfelyn Drwsgl.
Three bulls of battle of the Island of Prydain.
Kynvarch Cat Caduc son of Kynnwyt Kynwytyon; and Gwenddoleu son of Coidyaw; and Uryen son of Kynvarch.
Three bull-princes of the Island of Prydain.
Elmwr son of Cadeir; and Cynhafal son of Argat; and Afaon son of Taliessin. Three sons of bards were these.
Three Humble Princes of the Island of Prydain.
Llywarch Hen son of Elidyr Lydanwyn; and Manawydan son of Llyr Lledyeith; and Gwgawn Gwrawn son of Peredur son of Eliffer Gosgordvaur.
Three princes of the Court of Arthur.
Goronwy son of Echell Fordwyten; and Cadreith son of Porthfaurgaddu; and Fleidur Fflam.
Three princes of Deira and Bernicia.
Gall son of Desgyfedawdt and Ysgafnell son of Disgyfedawt; and Diffydell son of Disgyfedawt. Three sons of bards were these three.
Three ruddy-speared bards of the Island of Prydain.
Tristvardd bard of Urien; and Dygynelw bard of Owen; and Mainferdic, bard of Cadwallawn, son of Catfan; and they were sons of Morgant.
Three supreme servants of the Island of Prydain.
Caradawc son of Bran; and Caurdaf son of Caradawc; and Owen son of Maxen Guledic.
Three fleet owners of the Island of Prydain.
Gereint son of Erbin; and Gwenwywnwyn son of Naf; and March son of Meirchiaun.
Three strong-crutched ones of the Island of Prydain.
Rineri son of Tangwn; and Tinwaed faglaw; and Pryder son of Dolor of Deira and Bernicia.
Three fettered ones of the Island of Prydain.
Cadwaladyr the blessed; and Run son of Maelgwyn; and Rhiwallawn wallt Banadlen.
Three cavaliers of battle of the Island of Prydain.
Caradawg freichfras; Menwaed of Arllechwedd; and Llyr Lluydauc.
Three hostile ovates of the Island of Prydain.
Greidiawl Galovyd, son of Enfael Adran; and Gweyr of great manliness; and Trystan son of Tallwch.
Three red-spotted ones of the Island of Prydain.
Arthur; and Run son of Beli; and Morgant Mwynfawr.
Three front leaders of battle of the Island of Prydain.
Trystan son of Tallwch; and Huil son of Caw; and Cei son of Cynyr Cynfarfawc and one person was supreme over these three: Bedwyr son of Pedrawt was that one.
Three arrogant ones of the Island of Prydain.
Sawyl penuchel; and Pasgen son of Uryen; and Run son of Einiaun.
Three obstructers of slaughter of the Island of Prydain.
Gilbert son of Catgyffro; and Morfran son of Tegid; and Gwgun of the ruddy sword.
Three powerful swineherds of the Islad of Prydain.
Trystan son of Tallwch, who kept the swine of March, son of Meirchiawn, while the swineherd went on a message to Essyllt to desire a meeting with her, and Arthur desired one pig by deceit or by theft, and could not get it; and Pryderi son of Pwyll, who kept the swine of Pendaran Dyfed in Glencuwch in Emlyn; And Coll son of Collfrewy, who kept the ancient sow of Dallweir Dalben, who went burrowing as far as Penryn Awstin in Cornwall, and there going to the sea, landed at Abertorogi in Gwent Iscoed, and Coll son of Collfrewy having his hand on her bristles, wherever she went on the sea or on the land, and at Maes Gwenith in Gwent she dropped wheat and bees, and from henceforth there is the best wheat there, and from thence she went to Lonwen in Penbro, and there she dropped barley and bees, and from thence there is the best barley in Lonwen, and from thence she proceeded to the Riw Cyferthwch in Eryri, and there she dropped a wolf-cub and an eagle, and Coll son of Collfreuy gave the eagle to Brynach Gwyddel of the north, and the wolf he gave to Menwaed fo Arllechwedd, and these are the wolf of Menwaed and the eagle of Brynach, and thence going to Maendu in Llanfare, in Arvon, and there she dropped a kitten, and Coll son of Collfrewy threw the kitten in the Menai, and she became afterwards the Paluc cat.
Three chief-gleaming ones of the Island of Prydain.
Coll son of Collfrewy; and Meniw son of Teirgwaed; and Drych son of Kiwdar.
Three primary illusions of the Island of Prydain.
The illusion of Math son of Mathonwy; and the illusion of Uthyr Pendragon; and the illusion of Gwydelen Gor.
Three loyal households of the Island of Prydain.
The household of Catwallaun son of Cadfan, who were seven years in Ywerdon with him, and in that time demanded no pay nor compensation from him; and the household of Gafran son of Aedan, who went to sea with their lord; and the third the household of Gwendoleu son of Ceidyaw at Arderyd, who maintained the contest forty-six days after their lord was slain. The number of the households each one of their warriors one hundred men and a score.
Three disloyal households of the Island of Prydain.
The household of Goronw Pebyr of Penllyn who refused to stand in place of their lord to recieve the poisoned darts from Lew Law Gyffes in Lech Goronwy in Blaen Cynfael; and the household of Gwrgi and Peredur, who deserted their lords at Caer Greu, when there was appointment for battle next morning against Eda Glinmaur, and they were both slain; and the third, the household of Alan Fyrgan, who returned back by stealth from their lord, on the road at night with his servants at Camlan, and there he was slain.
Three pass retinues of the Island of Prydain.
The retinue of Mynydawg of Eidyn; the retinue of Melyn son of Cynvelyn; and the retinue of Dryan son of Nudd.
Three warriors who made the three good assassinations of the Island of Prydain.
Gall son of Dysgyfedawt, who slew the two birds of Gwendoleu, who had a yoke of gold about them, and devoured two bodies of the Cymry at their dinner and two at their supper; and Ysgafnell son of Dysgyfedawt, who slew Edelfled king of Lloegyr; and Diffedel son of Dysgyfedawt, who slew Gwrgi Garwlwyt, and this Gwrgi a male and female of the Cymry, and two on Saturday that he might not kill on Sunday.
Three atrocious assassinations of the Island of Prydain.
Eidyn son of Einygan, who slew Aneiryn Gwawdrud, the supreme of bards; and Llawgat Trumbargawt, who slew Afaon son of Taliessin; and Llovan Llawdino, who slew Urien son of Kynvarch.
Three atrocious axe-strokes of the island of Prydain.
The axe-stroke of Eidyn on the Head of Aneiryn; and the axe-stroke on the head of Godlan the bard; and the axe-stroke on the head of Iago son of Beli.
Three combined expeditions that went from this island and never returned.
The first went with Helen Luydawg and Cynan her brother.
The second went with Yrp Luydawc, in the time of Cadyal son of Erynt, he came to ask assistance, and he asked not from each city, but the same number he should bring with him and there came with him to the first only one youth, and he obtained one given him. He was the greatest levier fo an expedition that went from this island, and none of the warriors returned. They went on an invasive expedition, these warriors, to two islands in the sea of Greece. These are teh two islands, Gals and Avena.
The third host went with Caswallaun son of Beli, and Gwenwynwyn, and Gwanar sons of Lliaws son of Nwyure, and Aranrot daughter of Beli, was their mother, and from Arllechwed were these wariors, and they went with Caswallawn, their uncle, against the Cesariot over the sea, and these warriors are now in Gwasgwyn. There went with each of these hosts one thousand and twenty. These are the three silver hosts. They were thus called, for they took the gold and silver of the island with them, as much as they could.
Three oppressions came to this Island, and did not go out of it.
The nation of the Coranyeit, who came in the time of Llud son of Beli, and did not go out of it; the Oppression of the Gwyddyl Fichti, and they did not again go out of it. The third, the oppression was the Saxons, and they did not again go out of it.
Three closures and three disclosures of the Island of Prydain.
The blessed head of Bran son of Llyr, which was buried in the Gwynfryn in London, and while the head remained in that state, no invasion would ever come to this island. The second, the bones of Gwerthefyr the blessed, which are buried in the principle ports of this island; and the third, the dragons which Llud son of Beli buried in Dinas Emreis in Eryri.
The North Britain Triads
Three Niggardly [Miserly] Stocks:
The first is Madog son of Mabon; the second is Cantelli the Irishman; and the third is Osbwrn the Irishman.
Three who were raised to the Nobility:
the Short Bone, Tegwared son of Cynrig, and Moel of the Boasting.
[Elsewhere in the same codex:]
King Mwrchath had three Sons, and they were the three men of greatest fame in Ireland in their time, and they were the swiftest men in Ireland. These were their names: Dwnchead who was king in Munster, and Sitrig who was king in Dublin, and Moel Kelin (== Maelsechlainn) who was king in Meath.
Kynyr or Kevyr (by another name) and Meilir and Yneigr, sons of Gwron ap Cunedda, who were all three with Cadwallon Lawhir their cousin when he drove the Gwyddyl Ffichti from Mên. And then they destroyed them (the Gwyddyl Ffichti) completely, when Cadwallon Lawhir slew Seregri Wyddel (=the Irishman) in Llan y Gwyddyl at Caer Gybi (=Holyhead) in Mon.
These are the three times when the Lordship of Gwynedd went by the Distaff:
One of them was Stratweul daughter of Cadfan ap Cynan ab Eudaf ap Caradog ap Bran ap Llyr Llediaith; and this Stratweul was wife of Coel Godebog. She was the mother of Cenau ap Coel and the mother of Difyr. Others say that she was called Seradwen daughter of Cynan ab Eudaf ap Caradog.The second was Gwawl daughter of (Coel) Godebog, mother of Cunedda Wledig and wife of Edyrn son of Padarn Peisrudd.And the third was Essyll(t) daughter of Cynan Tindaethwy, mother of Rhodri Mawr and wife of Merfyn Frych.
Three Cousins were:
Rhirid Flaidd and Cynddelw ap Gwgan and Iarddwr ap Dinwrig; and their mothers were three daughters of Cynfyn Hirdref.
Three daughters of Cynfyn Hirdref by Haer daughter of Gillin son of the Red Wolf:
One of them was Sannant mother of Cynddelw ap Gw(g)on of Llyn, the second was Perwevyr wife of Dinwrig mother of Iarddw ap Dinwrig, and the thir was Generys wife of Urgenei Collwyn son of an uchelwr from Mochnant, mother of Rhirid Flaidd. And because he was a grandson to Haer daughter of Gillin son of the Red Wolf he was called Rhirid Flaidd.
Three sons of Hedd ap Molynoc ap Greddyf.
Neutur and Gwyllonen and Gwrgi (or Gwrgi (M)eutur from Cwll in Môn). From Neutur come the men of Llanfair Dalhaiarn. From Gwyllonen come the men of Dyffryn Elwy. From Gwrgi come the men of Nant Aled.
The children of Meirchiawn ap Gorwst Ledlwm (== Half Bare):
Cynfarch ap Meirchiawn ap Gorwst ap Cenau ap Coel, and he was called Meirchiawn G~l Q= the Lean) ap Gorwst Ledlwm. And because of Cynfarch ap Meirchiawn they were called the Three Hundred Swords of the sons of Cynf arch. And from Cynwyd Cynwydion there came the Three Hundred Shields of Cynwydion. And from Coel they were called the Three Hundred Spears of the sons of (Coel). Whatever quest they went upon together, they never failed.
Five Plebeian Tribes of Wales.
The Red Wolf of Gest in Efionydd in Gwynedd, Adda the Great in Deheubarth, Gwenwys and Alla and Heilyn Ystailforch in Powys.
The Twenty-Four Knights of Arthur’s Court
Twenty-four ordained Knights were in Arthur’s Court dwelling continuously, and each one of them had an inflate peculiarity of achievement beyond other people.
Three Golden-Tongued Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Gwalchmai son of Llew son of Cynfarch, and Drudwas son of Tryffin, and Eliwlod son of Madog son of Uthur: and there was neither king nor lord to whom those came who did not listen to them; and whatever quest they sought, they wished for and obtained it, either willingly or unwillingly.
Three Virgin Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Bwrt son of Bwrt King of Gascony, and Peredur son of Earl Efrog, and Galath son of Lanslod Lak. Wherever those came, where there might be giant or witch or fiendish being—(such) could not withstand one of those Three Virgin Knights.
Three Knights of Battle were in Arthur’s Court:
Cadwr Earl of Cornwall, and Lanslod Lak, and Ywain son of Urien Rheged. The peculiarities of those were that they did not flee for fear of spear or sword or arrow; and Arthur was never shamed in battle on the day that he saw their faces in the field. And therefore they were called Knights of Battle.
Three Enchanter Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Menw son of Teirgwaedd, and Trystan son of Tallwch, and E(i)ddilig the Dwarf; since they changed themselves into the form they wished when they were hard-pressed, and therefore no one could overcome them.
Three Royal Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Nasiefn son of the King of Denmark, and Medrod son of Llew son of Cynfarch, and Howel son of Emyr Llydaw. The peculiarities of those were that there was neither king nor emperor of the world who could refuse them, on account of their beauty and wisdom in peace; while in war no warrior or champion could withstand them, despite the excellence of his arms. And therefore they were called Royal Knights.
Three Just Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Blaes son of the Earl of Llychlyn, and Cadog son of Gwynlliw the Bearded, and Pedrog Splintered-Spear, son of Clement Prince of Cornwall. The peculiarities of those were that whoever might do wrong to the weak, they contended against him who did him wrong in the cause of justice; and whoever might do wrong they slew, however strong he might be. For those three had dedicated themselves to preserve justice by every Law:
Blaes by earthly Law, Cadog by the Law of the Church, and Pedrog by the Law of arms. And those were called Just Knights.
Three Offensive Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Morfran son of Tegid, and Sanddef Angel-Face, and Glewlwyd Mighty-Grasp. The peculiarities of those were that it was ~repugnant to anyone to refuse them anything: Sanddef because of his beauty, Morfran because of his ugliness, and Glewlwyd because of his size and his strength and his ferocity. And therefore they were called Offensive Knights.
Three Counsellor Knights were in Arthur’s Court:
Cynon son of Clydno Eiddyn, and Aron son of Cynfarch, and Llywarch the Old son of Elidir Lydanwyn. And those three were Counsellors to Arthur: whatever hardship came pon him, they counselled him, so that nobody could overcome him. And thus Arthur triumphed over everyone, and in every eat, and over every nation in the world; through the strength the powerful spirit and the faith and hope that were in his eart towards those men, and through the sacred weapons at God had given him: Rhongomiant his spear, Caledfwlch a sword, and Carnwennan his dagger.
Bardic Triads Peniarth 20
There are three primary musical forms, namely:
string music; bellows music; and music of the tongue.
The three primary forms of string music, namely:
court music, harp music, and drum music.
The three primary forms of bellows music, namely:
organ, and pipes, and music of the bag.
The three primary forms of singing:
poetry, recitation, and singing with the harp.
Other Triads
Three Fair Womb-Burdens of the Island of Britain:
Urien son of Cynfarch and Arawn son of Cynfarch and Lleu son of Cynfarch, by Nefyn daughter of Brychan Brycheiniog their mother;
The second, Owein son of Urien and Mor(fudd) his sister who were carried together in the womb of Modron daughter of Afallach;
The third, Gwrgi and Peredur and Ceindrech Pen Asgell (‘Wing Head’), children of Eliffer and the Great Warband, who were carried together in the womb of Efrddyl daughter of Cynfarch their mother.
Three Lovers of the Island of Britain:
Cynon son of Clydno (for Morfudd daughter of Urien);
and Caswallawn son of Beli (for Fflur daughter of Ugnach(?) the Dwarf);
and Drystan (son of Tallwch, for Essyllt, the wife of his uncle March).
Three Stubborn Men:
E(i)ddilig the Dwarf,
and Gwair of Great Valour,
and Drystan.
Three Peers of Arthur’s Court:
R(a)hawd son of Morgant,
and Dalldaf son of Cunyn Cof,
and Drystan son of March.
Three who could not be expelled(?) from Arthur’s Court:B Uchei son of Gwryon,
and Coledawg son of (Gwynn),
and (C)erenhyr son of Gereinyawn the Old.
Three Men of the Island of Britain who were most courteous to Guests and Strangers:
Gwalchmai son of Gwyar,
and Cadwy son of Gereint,
and Cadrieith (Fine Speech) (son of) Saidi.
Three Violent Ones of the Island of Britain:
Heledd,
and Llywarch,
and Llemenig.
Three Wanderers of Arthur’s Court:
Heledd,
and LLywarch,
and Llemenig.
Three Beautiful Maidens of the Island of Britain:
Creirwy, daughter of Ceridwen,
and Ar(i)anrhod daughter of Don,
and Gwen daughter of Cywryd son of Crydon.
Three Skilful Bards were at Arthur’s Court:
Myrddin son of Morfryn,
Myrddin Emrys,
and Taliesin.
Three Lively Maidens of the Island of Britain:
Angharat Tawny Wave (?), daughter of Rhydderch Hael,
and Afan, daughter of Maig Thick-Hair,
and Perwyr, daughter of Rhun of Great Wealth.
Three Faithless Wives of the Island of Britain:
Three daughters of Culfanawyd of Britain:b Essyllt Fair-Hair (Trystan’s mistress),
and Penarwan (wife of Owain son of Urien),
and Bun, wife of Fflamddwyn.
And one was more faithless than those three: Gwenhwyfar, Arthur’s wife, since she shamed a better man than any (of the others).
Three Saintly Lineages of the Island of Britain:
The Lineage of Joseph of Ar(i)mathea,
and the Lineage of Cunedda Wledig,
and the Lineage of Brychan Brycheiniog.
Three Kindreds of Saints of the Island of Britain, by a Welsh mother:
The Offspring of Brychan Brycheiniog,
and the Offspring of Cunedda Wledig,
and the Offspring of Caw of Pictland.
Three Blessed Visitors of the Island of Britain:
Dewi,
and Padarn,
and Teilo.
Three Bodies which God created for Teilo:
The first is at Llandaff in Morgannwg,
the second at Llandeilo Fawr,
and the third at Penalun in Dyfed, as the History tells us.
Three Futile Battles of the Island of Britain:
One of them was the Battle of Goddeu: it was brought about by the cause of the bitch, together with the roebuck and the plover;
The second was the Action of Ar(f)derydd, which was brought by the cause of the lark’s nest;
And the third was the worst: that was Camlan, which was brought about because of a quarrel between Gwenhwyfar and Gwennhwy(f)ach.
This is why those (Battles) were called Futile: because they were brought about by such a barren cause as that.
Arthur’s Three Principal Courts:
Caerleon-on-Usk in Wales,
and Celliwig in Cornwall,
and Penrhyn Rhionydd in the North.
Three Principal Festivals at the Three Principal Courts:
Easter, and Christmas, and Whitsun.
Three Knights of Arthur’s Court who won the Graal, and it brought them to Heaven:
Galaad son of Lawnslot of the Lake,
and Peredur son of Earl Efrawg,
and Bort son of King Bort.
And the two first were virgin of body. And the third was chaste, for only once had he committed bodily sin; and that, through temptation, at the time when he won … daughter of King Brangor, who was Empress in Constantinople, and from whom was descended the greatest race in the world. All three were sprung of the race of Joseph of Arimathea, and of the lineage of the Prophet David, as the History of the Graal testifies.
Three Splendid Maidens of Arthur’s Court:
Dyfyr Golden-Hair,
Enid daughter of Earl (Y)niwl,
and Tegau Gold-Breast.
Three Things which conquered Lloegr:
Receiving Strangers,
Freeing Prisoners,
and the Gift of the Bald Man.
Three Perpetual Harmonies of the Island of Britain:
One was at the Island of Afallach,
and the second at Caer Garadawg,
and the third at Bangor.
In each of these three places there were 2,400 religious men; and of these 100 in turn continued each hour of the twenty-four hours of the day and night in prayer and service to God, ceaselessly and without rest for ever.
Three Fearless Men of the Island of Britain:
The first was Gwalchmai son of Gwyar,
the second was Llachau son of Arthur,
and the third was (Peredur) son of Earl Efrog.
Three Elders of the World:
The Owl of Cwm Cowlwyd,
the Eagle of Gwernabwy,
and the Blackbird of Celli Gadarn.
Three Men who specified their sufficiency from Arthur as their Gift:
Culhwch son of Cilydd son of Celyddon Wledig,
and Huarwor son of Aflawn,
and Gordibla of Cornwall.
Three People who broke their hearts from Bewilderment:
Branwen daughter of Llyr,
and Caradog son of Bran,
and Ffaraon Dandde.
Three Wives whom Brychan Brycheiniog had. Their names were:
Eurbrawst,
and Rybrawst,
and Peresgri.
And his Offspring are one of the Three Kindreds of Saints of the Island of Britain. The second is the Offspring of Cunedda Wledig, and the third is the Offspring of Caw of Pictland