Index of excerpts from Charlotte Guest journals relating to the Mabinogi/ The Mabinogion mainly up to 1855. (List of source publications indexed, at bottom of page).
…..CLICK “YEAR” at top of column to get date order.
…..QUOTING: wording is ONLY a quote if in ‘quote marks.’
| YEAR | Date | Keyword/s | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘I have affection for certain books and certain copies stronger than for any human beings’ | Guest, R & John 1989 pp. 7-8. | ||
| ‘the Cymric nation ... has strong claims to be considered the cradle of European Romance’’ | Guest. Everyman, 1906 p. xxiii. | ||
| 1812 05 19 | 19 May 1812 | Birth of Charlotte Elizabeth Bertie at Uffington, Lincs. | |
| 1822 | BEGAN JOURNAL 10yrs. She called it 'the Depository of my Dreams.' | Phillips 1921, p. 14./ The 'Depository' quote is Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 17. | |
| 1827 05 22 | May 22 1827 | 'At 1 o clock Mr. Martin came.' Her brothers; tutor was to be a strong inspiration, encouragement, and girlish passion. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 32 |
| 1832 04 30 | April 30 1832 | Charlotte Bertie left Uffington for London, a few weeks before 21 yrs. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 36. |
| 1832 09 00 -1833 05 | Sept 1832 - May 1833 | GAP in journal for 8 months. During this period Charlotte was focused on Martin. She later burned the pages to prevent hurt to her husband. | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 36. |
| 1833 06 17 | June 17 1833 | Charlotte Bertie met John Josiah Guest, ironmaster and MP Merthyr Tydfil. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 38. |
| 1833 07 29 | July 29 1833 | MARRIAGE Charlotte Elizabeth Bertie 21 yrs; married John Josiah Guest,48 yrs; who she calls 'Merthyr' in the journals. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 38. |
| 1833 08 15 | Aug. 151833 | Arrival Dowlais. 'The mellow evening light gave even an increase of beauty to the already lovely valley of the Taff through which our route lay. The mountains /not barren rock but beautifully wooded/ quite came up to my very wildest expectations . . . By the time we reached the house it was quite dark, and the prevailing gloom gave full effect to the light of the blazing furnaces which was quite unlike all I had ever before seen or even imagined.' | Davies S. 2004 p. 170, n. 80. From orig Journal. Also Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 43 impressions. |
| 1833 08 21 | Aug. 21 1833 | Met the local Rector, Evan Jenkins. | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 102. |
| 1833 08 24 | Aug. 24 1833 | First Welsh lesson with the Rector, Evan Jenkins. She expresses caution as to whether she will have time for it. | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 102. |
| 1833 08 28 | Aug. 28 1833 | CARNHUANAWC 'Another character at Llanover gave me pleasure – Mr Price – clergyman at Crickhowel. He seems to possess a sort of universality and was conversant on what ever subject was started, ... Mrs Hall [i.e. Lady Llanover] and he were praising Wales and the Welsh and maintaining the language as beautiful. Evelyn Waddington attacked.' | Davies S. 2004 p. 171. From orig Journal. (see longer quote) |
| 1833 09 27 | Sept 29 1833 | Guest trans. part of St.Matthew Chap X. | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 102. |
| 1833 11 14 | Nov 14 1833 | Guest plans ambitious study plan: Prichard's Celtic history, Welsh study, then Ariosto and Chaucer 'for relaxation.' Also Latin, Persian. | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 102. |
| 1833 11 22 | Nov 22 1833 | Cymdeithas Cymreigyddion Y Fenni/ Soc. Welsh Scholars of Abergavenny, founded. Guests, Price, Halls founder members. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 105. |
| 1833 ? | Guest expresses new confidence, and so powerful ambition, as she discovers companionship in her marriage. But she also struggles with the role of wife. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 44-46 | |
| 1833 ? | How her husband is 'peculiarly formed to shine' but 'Trade conveys a taint. I am determined to overcome the prejudice.' Especially for her children. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 44 | |
| 1833? | 'How deeply I have felt this inferiority of sex and how humiliated I am when it is recalled to my mind in allusion to myself! Knowing that most wives are but looked upon as nurses and housekeepers (very justly too) I have striven hard to place myself on a higher level – and dear Merthyr, who knows how sensitive I am on this point, and who really does think that some women are rational beings – has always aided and encouraged me' | Davies, S. 2004 p.177 quoted with more but no journal date given. From the orig. journal. / Guest R. and John 2007 p. 47 see also p. 48, and Nov. 1840. | |
| 1834 07 03 | July 3 1834 | Birth of dau. Charlotte Marie. (1st child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 242 Appendix 2. |
| 1834 07 24? | July 24? 1834 | Journal updated 3 weeks after childbed, noting she 'suffered about as little as possible.' | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 49 also pregnancy /childbed/ children's illness quotes - p. 52, and 103. |
| 1834 09 03 | Sept 3 1834 | '‘Baby leaves but little time for anything, and that time must be spent on Welsh’ | Davies S. 2004 p. 169 from orig Journal. |
| 1834 08 20-22 | Aug 20-22 1834 | Attended National Eisteddfod, Cardiff. Guest invited to platform to help officiate. Long quote. But also criticised it for unfairness and taming down. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 106-7. |
| 1834? | 'Why should we disregard our own traditions . . . because they have not been handed down in Greek or Latin? For my own part, I love the old Legends and Romances as they teach us so naturally the manners and opinions of those who were, in fact, much more nearly connected with us of the present day than were any of the heroes of Rome.' Visit to Warwick Castle. | Guest, R & John 2007 p. 103. Not dated. | |
| 1835 08 29 | Aug. 29 1835 | Birth of son Ivor Bertie. (2nd child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 242 Appendix 2. |
| 1835 10 | Oct 1835 | Guest met Elijah Waring, an English Methodist ‘I find he is somewhat acquainted with ancient literature ... He is the only person I have found so in this country except George Clark ..’ | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 102. |
| 1835 11 | Nov 1835 | Meeting Elijah Waring again, ‘our conversation turned much on the superstitions and legends of Wales - I think it might be desirable to make a collection of them. His love for ancient literature is quite refreshing to me who have been so long deprived of everything like fellow feeling in that respect.’ | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 102. |
| 1835 | Her education, languages, learning Welsh | Montague Guest 1911, Intro. | |
| 1836 01 | Jan 1836 | Asked Taliesin Williams, Iolo's son, to let copies be made of father's MSS but 'he is very avaricious of them.' | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 103. |
| 1836 10 29 | Oct 29 1836 | '‘Everybody went to church at Merthyr except myself and I walked alone to the Chapel here to hear Tegid preach in Welsh’ | Davies S. 2004 p. 169 from orig Journal. See also Nov. 5 1836. |
| 1836 11 05 | Nov. 5 1836 | 'Merthyr and I were at Welsh Services in the evening’ | Davies S. 2004 p. 169, n. 80. From orig Journal. |
| 1837 01 29 | Jan. 29 1837 | Birth of dau. Katharine Gwladys. (3rd child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 242 Appendix 2. |
| 1837 10 17 | Oct. 17 1837 | Abergavenny meeting. Arthur Johnes, barrister, promised to try to obtain Owen Pughe’s MSS and notes for Guest. | Davies, S. 2004 p.171, n. 87. From the orig. journal. /Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 103-4. |
| 1837 10 | Oct 1837 | Johnes, Price and Tegid have a meeting with Guest re Welsh MSS Society. | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 104. |
| 1837 11 03 | Nov. 3 1837 | Bosanquet lends copy Llyfr Coch via Tegid. | Phillips 1921, p. 19./ Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 104 gives Nov. 30. |
| 1837 12 04 | Dec. 4, 1837 | Read trans. Kilhwch and Olwen, by Justice Bosanquet, 'it pleases me much.' | Phillips 1921, p. 11./ Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 104 |
| 1837 12 04 | Dec. 4 1837 | Read Culhwch, potential for annotation. | Phillips 1921, p. 19. |
| 1837 12 08 | Dec. 8, 1837 | Guest intention to translate the stories herself. | Phillips 1921, p. 12. |
| 1837 12 08 | Dec. 8 1837 | Welsh Manuscript Society rivals, Guest resolved to publish herself. | Phillips 1921, p. 19./ Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 104 |
| 1837 12 08 | Dec. 8 1837 | Tegid takes Bosanquet copy to make modern orthography version one story at a time. | Phillips 1921, p. 19. |
| 1838 01 01 | Jan. 1, 1838 | BEGAN Guest began trans. Mabinogion text (Owein, chosen by Tegid) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 104. |
| 1838 01 06 | Jan. 6, 1838 | Difficult, ''being so little conversant with the Welsh' | Phillips 1921, p. 12, quote p. 19./ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 112. |
| 1838 01 09 | Jan. 9 1838 | Trans. before lunch. Intense cold day. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 01 12 | Jan. 12 1838 | Busy searching notes refs. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 01 18 | Jan. 18 1838 | 'After dinner I worked at my translation and finished all that I had received from Tegid. . . went to bed and slept soundly till near two oclock when I woke and 40 minutes from which time, and long before Mr ? could arrive, I was confined of my fourth child, I may almost say without pain.' 2nd son. More re childbed. | Davies, S. 2004, p. 162, from orig Journal. |
| 1838 01 18 | Jan. 18 1838 | Birth of son, Thomas Merthyr. (4th child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 243 Appendix 2. |
| 1838 01 23 | Jan. 23 1838 | 5 days after childbed '‘I got permission to set to work with my dictionaries on a fresh sheet of the Mabinogion which I finished.’ | Quoted Davies S. 2004 p. 162 from orig Journal. |
| 1838 02 05 | Feb. 5, 1838 | Carnhuanawc mentoring | Phillips 1921, p. 12. |
| 1838 02 05 | Feb. 5 1838 | Working hard for 2 days since 5th day after childbed, prep. for Price ('Carnhuanawc') visit. | Phillips 1921, p. 20 |
| 1838 02 05 | Feb. 5 1838 | Downstairs for the first time after childbed. | Phillips 1921, p. 20 |
| 1838 02 07 | Feb. 7 1838 | Price ('Carnhuanawc') visit, dinner, polishing work. Guest wishes '‘to keep very rigidly to the original’, but fears this will mean 'rather clumsy English’ | Phillips 1921, p. 20/ Davies 2004,p. 165 and 170, From orig. journal./ White 1995 p. 243 n. 8 p. 248 refs Phillips. |
| 1838 02 26 | Feb. 26 1838 | Up early. Wrote to Tegid.- frightens me talking of giving project to others. | Phillips 1921, p. 20 |
| 1838 03 03 | March 3 1838 | Tegid dined with us. | Phillips 1921, p. 20 |
| 1838 03 21 | March | Well enough to check proofs with 'Merthyr' [husband's] help. | Phillips 1921, p. 24 |
| 1838 07 05 | July 5 1838 | ' ‘Worked very hard at my book forgetting all that had to be done yesterday and giving all my attention to the Mabinogion, with that versability of mind which I have always found useful to me’ | Davies S. 2004 p. 170, n. 80. From orig Journal. |
| 1838 07 21 | July 21 1838 | Read Geraint, liked, will do this next. Forgot Dictionary, surprised she could understand. | Phillips 1921, p. 20./ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 112. |
| 1838 07 30 | July 30 1838 | Saw Longman, publisher. | Phillips 1921,p. 12; quote p. 20 |
| 1838 08 01 | Aug 1 1838 | Hurried for time, book to be published in her absence. | Phillips 1921, p. 20 |
| 1838 08 16 | Aug. 16 1838 | Zurich. Spent time copying Welsh. | Phillips 1921, p. 20 |
| 1838 08 22 | Aug. 22 1838 | Lausanne. Copying pencil trans. made in carriage. | Phillips 1921, p. 20 -21/ Referred Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 108. |
| 1838 08 29 | Aug. 29 1838 | her Dedication to her sons is dated Aug. 29 1838 Dowlais. Contradicts Phillips' dating. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 101, in full. |
| 1838 08 31 | Aug. 31 1838 | Milan. After tea I wrote Geraint. | Phillips 1921, p. 21. |
| 1838 09 15 | Sept. 15 1838 | Como. Wet day writing Welsh. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 09 30 | Sept. 30 1838. | Florence. Still much tired. Wrote Welsh. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 10 01 | Oct 1 1838 | I wrote a good deal of Welsh this evening. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 10 06 | Oct. 6 1838 | Florence. All week when not out, worked on Welsh. Anxious re inaccuracies, and publication date 9 Oct. | Phillips 1921, p. 20./ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 109. |
| 1838 10 09 | Oct. 9 1838 | PUBLICATION DATE First volume of The Mabinogion. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 11 02 | Nov. 2 1838 | Lyons. Read beautiful Breuddwyd Ronabwy yesterday read Ludd Llevelys. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 11 08 | Nov. 8 1838 | Paris. Checked booksellers and advert lists for her book, not found. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 11 11 | Nov. 11 1838 | Paris. Fatigued. I wrote a little Welsh. | Phillips 1921, p. 20. |
| 1838 11 17 | Nov. 17 1838 | Acquired first copy from Longmans, approves its format. | Phillips 1921, p. 21. |
| 1838 12 06 | Dec. 6 1839 | Tegid and Mr. Clark his friend visit. Brought Llyfr Coch. | Phillips 1921, p. 21. |
| 1838 12 10 | Dec. 10 1838 | Carnhuanawc visit, we glanced at Geraint notes. | Phillips 1921, p. 21. |
| 1838 12 11 | Dec. 11 1838 | Carnhuanawc returned Crickhowel fetch her trans. sent from abroad, left behind. | Phillips 1921, p. 21-22. |
| 1838 12 12 | Dec. 12 1838 | We [Carnhuanawc] began reading over quietly and correcting together. | Phillips 1921, p. 22. |
| 1838 12 13 | Dec. 13 1838 | Worked hard at translation today and Friday. | Phillips 1921, p. 22. |
| 1838 12 15 | Dec. 15 1838 | Mr. Price [Carnhuanawc] went home. Visit much disrupted so only corrected Geraint. | Phillips 1921, p. 22. |
| 1838 12 17 | Dec, 17 1838 | Villemarque visit 'agreeable' Breton, with Price [Carnhuanawc] . V. trans. Chevalier au Lion which she publ. as appendix. | Phillips 1921, p. 22./ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 109. |
| 1838 12 22 | Dec. 22 1838 | Mr. Price [Carnhuanawc] went home. | Phillips 1921, p. 22. |
| 1839 01 20 | Jan. 20 1839 | I finished the abstract of the French Geraint ah Erbin, Erec and Enide. | |
| 1839 01 23 | Jan. 23 1839 | Illness. Wrote part of a note on Breceliande. | Phillips 1921, p. 22 |
| 1839 01 27 | Jan | Little time and no energy for the book. Woodcuts not begun. | Phillips 1921, p. 22 |
| 1839 01 31 | Jan | Face ache, mentions 'suffering.' Note on Breceliande | Phillips 1921, p. 22 |
| 1839 01 31 | Jan | Villemarque's 'vile transcript' He insists on his name as author. Rees (publ.) annoyed. | Phillips 1921, p. 23/ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 109. more complete. |
| 1839 02 01 | Feb | Wrote much to-day. | Phillips 1921, p. 23 |
| 1839 02 05 | Feb | Three days on notes for Geraint. Notes on Enid, very interesting character. | Phillips 1921, p. 23 |
| 1839 02 08 | Feb | I had written hard all day. | Phillips 1921, p. 23 |
| 1839 02 17 | Feb | Almost every day several hours busy writing notes for 2nd vol. | Phillips 1921, p. 23 |
| 1839 02 22 | Feb | British Museum to make some refs. About two weeks work on notes, but not full time. | Phillips 1921, p. 23/ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 109 refers to 12 hour day. |
| 1839 02 28 | Feb. 28 1839 | Birth of son, Montague John. (5th child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 243 Appendix 2. |
| 1839 03 02 | March | Busy day. German version of the Chevalier au Lion for vol 2. Matches Chretien. | Phillips 1921, p. 23 |
| 1839 03 06 | March | Sent packet of Chevalier au Lion notes to Rees. | Phillips 1921, p. 23 |
| 1839 03 08 | March | Tried to begin Dream of Ronabwy for vol 3. 'Tiresome and difficult Welsh.' | Phillips 1921, p. 23/ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 112. |
| 1839 03 10 | March | Icelandic Sir Gawaine. | Phillips 1921, p. 23./ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 115. |
| 1839 03 10 | March | Except corrections and revisions vol 2 is done. | Phillips 1921, p. 24 |
| 1839 03 13 | March | Worked very hard. Annoyed Tegid copied MS Peredur for Villemarque, who was trying to forestall Guest's version. Decided to publish Peredur next after Geraint now at press. | Phillips 1921, p. 24 |
| 1839 03 27 | March | Completed Peredur transcript. Arranged first two woodcuts for it. | Phillips 1921, p. 24 |
| 1839 03 28 | March | Gave birth to 5th child/ 3rd son and completed Peredur trans. 'I was all day quite well but woke about 3 o’clock the next morning (Good Friday) in a little pain. And within half an hour had the pleasure of giving birth to my fifth child and third boy, with less suffering than I believed possible.' Grosvenor Squ. | Phillips 1921, p. 24/ Quoted Davies 2004 p. 162 from orig Journal. |
| 1839 03 31 | March | On the sofa, wrote several letters re printing Peredur asap. 'Merthyr' [husband] v. kind. | Phillips 1921, p. 24 |
| 1839 04 01 | April | Finish correcting proofs. | Phillips 1921, p. 24 |
| 1839 04 09 | April | Nethercliff brought facsimile of Bosanquet's Peredur. | Phillips 1921, p. 24 |
| 1839 04 09 | April | W. Landell beautiful sketch for woodcut for Peredur. | Phillips 1921, p. 25 |
| 1839 04 09 | April | Having another copy made of her transcript, to work from. Researches being done at British Museum. | Phillips 1921, p. 25 |
| 1839 04 27 | 27 April 1839 | PEREFECTIONISM 'I cannot endure anything in a second grade. I am happy to see we are at the head of the iron trade. Otherwise I could not take pride in my house in the City and my Works at Dowlais, and glory (playfully) in being (in some sort) a tradeswoman. Then again, my blood is of the noblest and most princely in the Kingdom, and if I go into Society, it must be the very best and first. I can brook no other. If I occupy myself in writing, my book must be splendidly got up and must be, as far at least as decoration and typography are concerned, at the head of literature' | Phillips 1921, p. 15./ Davies, S. 2004 p.170. From the orig. journal. See also 5 July 1838./ White 1995 p. 245 n. 12 cites Bessborough. |
| 1839 05 04 | May | 'All this time my book occupied me much, but made little progress. ' | Phillips 1921, p. 25 |
| 1839 05 06 | May | City [London] proof sheets to correct. | Phillips 1921, p. 25 |
| 1839 05 10 | May | Peredur 'languished' now much done trans in pencil. | Phillips 1921, p. 25 |
| 1839 05 11 | May | The Cabin. I had a long sleep, much trans. | Phillips 1921, p. 25 |
| 1839 05 15 | May | Mr. Price, of Crickhowel, came to-day. Looked over trans. (long quote) | Phillips 1921, p. 25/ Davies S. 2004 p. 168 from orig Journal. |
| 1839 05 15 | May | Peredur ready for press except a few pages. All done at great speed in 7 weeks. | Phillips 1921, p. 25 |
| 1839 06 15 | June | I wrote for my book till late after 'Merthyr' left. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 07 17 | July | Visit from Tegid. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 07 29 | July 29 1839 | Triumphant having beaten Villemarque on publication of Peredur. See descr. of her childbed, little Merthyr ill immense hard work, etc. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 109. |
| 1839 07 30 | July | Col. Vaughan called yesterday ((who lent me his fragment MS. of Geraint ah Erhin to get a facsimile from it) | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 07 30 | July | Rec'd first copies of Peredur ah Evrawc | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 07 31 | July | Lord Mostyn promised to lend his copies of the Mabinogion. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 08 05 | Aug | Busy day. Visited British Museum. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 08 29 | Aug | Preparing Culhwch for vol 4. Wrote some Welsh eve. Geraint vol 3 is in press. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 11 20 | Nov. | A little Welsh to-day. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 12 12 | Dec. | A good deal towards revising Geraint notes today and Fri. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 12 18 | Dec. | Mr. Layard's absence, read notes with Mr. Price. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1839 12 19 | Dec. | Remainder of notes with Mr. Price. | Phillips 1921, p. 26. |
| 1840 01 31 | Jan. | Took ' Merthyr ' to House of Commons then 'writing my poor neglected Mabinogion' | Phillips 1921, p. 26 |
| 1840 02 27 | Feb. | 'Merthyr ' out. Read over her printed Peredur comparing Cymmrodorion MS. little difference. | Phillips 1921, p. 26 |
| 1840 02 29 | Feb. | Mr. Price went away early. | Phillips 1921, p. 26 |
| 1840 03 22 | Mar. | Saw Dr. Locock, very unwell indeed. Postponed printing till after Easter. | Phillips 1921, p. 26 |
| 1840 03 22 | Mar. | Martin [brother's ex-tutor] sent notes re origins Romantic fiction but no use for book. | Phillips 1921, p. 26-27. |
| 1840 04 20 | April | Trans. Cuhwch for 4 days though extremely ill. Unable to enjoy warm weather. | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 04 25 | April | But little Welsh delicious weather 'Merthyr' took her out in his gig. | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 05 02 | May | Very ill and languid on sofa, a little Culhwch. | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 06 22 | July | Finished Ronabwy on Thurs with 3 more days work. | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 06 22 | July | Fri. a great deal to do with accounts. Sat.copied a considerable portion of her Culhwch trans. | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 06 27 | June | Busy morning correcting proof sheets | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 06 29 | July | Mr. Price finished reading her Percival to her, and other matters. | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 06 31 | July | Prepared notices of foreign compositions to follow Peredur. | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 08 01 | Aug. | Employed till midnight on a kind of abstract of English Percival for Peredur. The MS. in parts is rather difficult to copy from. She considers making a new transcription. | Phillips 1921, p. 27. |
| 1840 08 02 | Aug. 8 1840 | Very busy transcribing the English MS. of Percival a unique version in English. 2288 lines poem. May add to Peredur vol. | Phillips 1921, p. 27 -28. |
| 1840 08 10 | Aug.10 1840 | Transcript of Culhwch. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 08 12 | Aug. 12 1840 | Birth of her sixth child. | |
| 1840 08 12 | Aug. 12 1840 | Birth of son, Augustus Frederick. (6th child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 243 Appendix 2. |
| 1840 08 17 | Aug.17 1840 | Began trans. Amlyn and Amyc as I lay in bed. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 08 18 | Aug.18 1840 | Morning trans. Miss Rudeour 'puts on paper' in eve. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 08 20 | Aug.20 1840 | Decides to study Mabinogion costume to determine date. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 08 31 | Aug.31 1840 | Altering copy for the notes to Peredur. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 09 11 | Sept. 11 1840 | 'I always rally when I have plenty of work to do.' Business cheques and Mabinogion proof sheets. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 09 19 | Sept. 19 1840 | Sat alone in the library doing the Geraint notes. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 09 24 | Sept. 241840 | Pleasant day at home colouring some facsimiles for the Mabinogion in the morning. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 10 06 | Oct 61840 | Vol. 3 Mabinogion out, shown at Taff Vale Railway opening, Mr. Price speech. Bishop of St. David's [Dr. Thirlwall] praised work which gratified Guest. | Phillips 1921, p.-28. |
| 1840 10 11 | Oct 1840 | Villemarque 'delicately insinuated that I did not write the book myself.' (competition essay) Implies V. trans. from Welsh. | Phillips 1921, p.-29./ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 110 (but dates differ)/ White 1995, p. 248, n. 1. |
| 1840 11 8 | Nov 28 1840 | A little of Amlyn and Amyc. | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1840 11 16 | Nov 16 1840 | Transcribing for No. 4. 'We were quite alone today.' | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1840 11 20 | Nov 20 1840 | 'Breakfast over ..library ... .copying out my English translation of Kilhwch.' | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1840 11 21 | Nov 21 1840 | Finished transcript of Culhwch late in the evening. | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1840 11 24 | Nov 24 1840 | 'I wrote some Welsh, but felt idle and dispirited.' | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1840 11 24 | Nov. 24 1840 | Dislike of Sully. 'The change to me from Dowlais to this place is dreadful.' Follows a melancholic description of the beach. | Davies, S. 2004 p.173. From the orig. journal. |
| 1840 11 | Nov 1840 | Despondent at the limits placed on her as a woman. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 48. |
| 1840 | Guest notes 'Pwyll' previously in Cambrian Register, and in Jones's Welsh Bards. | Guest Vol. Ill, p. 72/ Guest Everyman ed. 1906, p. 287. | |
| 1841 01 04 | Jan 4 1841 | Mr. Clark to dinner, criticisms on her MS. translation of Cuilhwch. | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 0116 | Jan 16 1841 | Trans Amlyn and Amyc. Not very interesting. | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 0118 | Jan 18 1841 | 'Wrote some Welsh very industriously.' | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 0128 | Jan 28 1841 | No. 4 goes on very slowly.' | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 02 12 | Feb 12 1841 | 'Writing Welsh till near midnight' after school business. | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 02 24 | Feb 24 1841 | 'Finished Amlyn and Amyr about which I have been so long occupied.' | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 02 26 | Feb 26 1841 | Studied Culhwch and 'commenced translating Pwyll Pendevig Dyved.' | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 03 23 | Mar 23 1841 | Trans. Branwen. | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 03 26 | Mar 26 1841 | 'Very poorly all day.' Branwen. | Phillips 1921, p.-29. |
| 1841 08 03 | Aug 3 1841 | Worked hard at Culhwch, hardly stirred out. | Phillips 1921, p.-30 |
| 1841 08 07 | Aug 7 1841 | 'The same routine of assiduous note writing on my part continued uninterruptedly.' | Phillips 1921, p.-30. |
| 1841 08 14 | Aug 14 1841 | ' I worked very hard. . . I sat up late this evening, and had the pleasure of entirely finishing my Kilhwch notes before going to bed. I need not say how glad I was to have completed this lengthy task, yet, per- haps, hardly any portion of my life has passed more agree- ably than the days which I have spent working hard with them. ' | Phillips 1921, p.-30. |
| 1841 08 17 | Aug. 17 1841 | Birth of son, Arthur Edward. (7th child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 243 Appendix 2. |
| 1841 09 27 | Aug 27 1841 | 'I wrote some Welsh after the children had gone to bed, and felt desolate beyond expression.' | Phillips 1921, p.-30. |
| 1841 09 30 | Sept 30 1841 | 'Welsh in the evening.' | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 10 01 | Oct 1 1841 | 'Some Welsh in the evening.' | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 10 04 | Oct 4 1841 | Finished trans. Branwen. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 10 05 | Oct 5 1841 | Mr. Price arrived late, 'we read over some of my Kilhwch notes after the late dinner.' | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 10 06 | Oct 6 1841 | Mr. Price read aloud more of my notes, criticising them as he went on. .' | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 10 08 | Oct 8 1841 | Read over notes until evening. After dinner 'Merthyr ' assisted by copying etc. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 10 17 | Oct. 17 1841 | Birth of dau Constance Rhiannon. (9th child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 244 Appendix 2. |
| 1841 10 | Oct. 1841 | Copy Taliesin supplied by Taliesin Williams. | Phillips 1921, p. 12. |
| 1841 11 06 | Nov 6 1841 | Trans. Dammeg yr hanner Dyn for Culhwch. Felt she had completed the present vol. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 11 19 | Nov 19 1841 | Began trans. Math ab Mathonwy. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 11 21 | Nov 21 1841 | Wrote a certain amount of Welsh. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 12 02 | Dec 2 1841 | 'I was much engaged with my books. ' | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 12 03 | Dec 3 1841 | 'I wrote until dinner, and had just finished my translation of the Mabinogi of Math ab Mathonwy when, to my surprise, dear ' Merthyr ' returned. ' | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 12 28 | Dec 28 1841 | I sat up upstairs correcting proofs, etc. I felt weak and poorly. ' | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 12 30 | Dec 30 1841 | Very busy correcting proofs. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 12 31 | Dec 31 1841 | Morning, corrected proof sheets. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 18 08 | Oct 18 1841 | 'I have been well but sometimes rather tired, yet I have not given way.' Culhwch in eve after children to bed. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 26 08 | Oct 26 1841 | Taliesin Williams visit discuss Taliesin imperfectly printed in Cambrian Quarterly. He provided correct script to put in the series. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1841 27 08 | Oct 27 1841 | Began trans. Manawyddan Mab Llyr. | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1842 01 18 | Jan 18 1842 | 'Merthyr' in town, alone at the inn, read Mabinogi of Bown, the Sir Bevis of English celebrity. Dull. 'not improved in its Welsh dress.' | Phillips 1921, p. 30 |
| 1842 01 19 | Jan 19 1842 | Newport Packet. Visit to Caerlleon, old Roman Amphitheatre, known as Arthur's Round Table. Guest sceptical. | Phillips 1921, p. 31-32 |
| 1842 02 22 | Feb 22 1842 | 'No. 4 of my Mabinogion is published.' A great relief as correcting notes v. tedious. | Phillips 1921, p. 32 |
| 1842 03 11 | Mar 11 1842 | To Williams about the woodcuts for No. 5 for Breuddwyd Rhonabwy now at press. | Phillips 1921, p. 32 |
| 1842 03 17 | Mar 17 1842 | Tried to do notes on Rhonabwy not very successful. | Phillips 1921, p. 32 |
| 1842 03 24 | Mar 241842 | ' Merthyr ' went out. A calm enjoyable day on Rhonabwy. | Phillips 1921, p. 32-33 |
| 1842 05 20 | May 20 1842 | George Clark came, discussed Villemarque's 'Contes Bretons' plagiarism. Guest v. upset, felt ill. Husband sent kind notes from House of Commons | Phillips 1921, p. 33/ White 1995, p. 242 quote .taken from Phillips.. |
| 1842 06 08 | June 8 1842 | Rio called yesterday disgust re Villemarque. | Phillips 1921, p. 33 |
| 1842 06 28 | June 28 1842 | Mr. Lockhart undertook to publish review in the Quarterly of Guest's M. to counter Villemarque. G. Clarke to write it. | Phillips 1921, p. 33/ White 1995 p. 243 ref. n. 4 p. 248. See Clarke, Monthly Review April 1843. |
| 1842 07 22 | July 221842 | Lepsius brought Schulz trans. Mabinogion into German, v. different to Villemarque. | Phillips 1921, p. 33 |
| 1842 07 28 | July 281842 | George Clark here. Villemarque praised in Athenaeum. Letter 'concocted' to explain. | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 08 01 | Aug 1 1842 | Rhonabwy notes until very late. | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 08 02 | Aug 2 1842 | Busy all day with notes, but did not accomplish much. | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 08 03 | Aug 3 1842 | Notes again. Later read notes on train. | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 08 05 | Aug 5 1842 | Notes busily all day, did not go out. | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 08 11 | Aug 11 1842 | 'Merthyr' to Cardiff, writing notes all morning. | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 08 19 | Aug 19 1842 | Finished Rhonabwy (groundwork). | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 08 20 | Aug 20? - Nov. | Touring in Germany (est. dates) | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 11 14 | Nov 14 1842 | 'Notes for the Mabinogion occupied most of my time.' | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 11 15, 16 | Nov 15, 16 1842 | 'I may give a similar account.' | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 11 21 | Nov 21 1842 | 'Merthyr' early to Sully, tempted to go but.'as cheerfully as I could to my dull Mabinogion notes.' | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 11 23 | Nov 23 1842 | 'To-day I wrote notes till the last moment.' | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 11 28 | Nov 28 1842 | 'I did not go out, but I worked hard and sent off a vast number of notes.' | Phillips 1921, p. 34 |
| 1842 12 24 | Dec 24 1842 | 'disagreeable game of whist, after which I sat up writing Mahinogion notes till very- late.' | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1842 12 29 | Dec 29 1842 | 'Mary [Miss Pegus] and I amused ourselves colouring one of the Percival tracings to Mob. No. 3.' | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1843 02 06 | Feb 6 1842 | All week at home 'never ceased working at the Mahinogion notes for the future numbers.' | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1843 02 18 | Feb 18 1842 | Reading vol 1 to Ivor & Maria, eldest children. 'I never saw anything equal to their deight. ... sufficient to repay me for all time and trouble ...' (more) | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1843 02 18 | Feb 18 1842 | 'I have been reading the first number of my Mabinogion ... to Ivor and Maria, and I never saw anything equal to their delight. ' | Davies, S. 2004, p. 171, from orig Journal. / Guest R. & John 2007 p. 101 quotes part of this. |
| 1843 03 03 | Mar 3 1842 | Finished trans. Maxen Wledig enjoying fine weather by open window. | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1843 03 06 | Mar 6 1842 | Busy day 'yet I found time for some Welsh.' | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1843 03 07 | Mar 7 1842 | 'Again very busy; a little Welsh' eve. | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1843 03 08 | Mar 8 1842 | 'I have to-day finished all that is in my power to do towards the Mabinogion.' Long entry. | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1843 03 08 | Mar 8 1842 | Branwen, Manawyddan, Math ab Mathonwy, Taliesin, Maxen Wledig,now in MS. trans. and their notes. Topographical notes await local scholars help. Long entry. | Phillips 1921, p. 35 |
| 1843 03 08 | Mar 8 1843 | Wrote 2 months ago to Col. Vaughan to beg loan of MS (The Gral?). To exclude Amlyn and Amic, Seith Doethion, Bown o Hampton, as trans. Norman originals, poss. Welsh appendix. Long entry. | Phillips 1921, p. 36 |
| 1843 03 08 | Mar 8 1842 | Rhonabwy and Pwyll are now nearly through the press. Long entry. | Phillips 1921, p. 36 |
| 1843 03 08 | Mar 8 1842 | To do: 'introduction and a preface, which I am more or less appalled at.' Long entry. | Phillips 1921, p. 36 |
| 1843 03 09 | Mar 9 1842 | 'And now that my seven babies are growing up and require so much attention, it is quite right that I should have done with authorship. I am quite content with what will have been done when the present work is concluded, and I am sure if a woman is to do her duty as a wife and mother, the less she meddles with pen and ink the better. I shall feel very glad when the last number is out of the press; as it is, the respite is a great relief. With much to do on my hands it was near midnight before I got to bed, and soon after six I was called to prepare for the journey.' (Long entry) | Phillips 1921, p. 36 gives Mar 8/ Davies S. 2004 p. 163 (given as Mar 9 from orig. journal |
| 1843 03 24 | Mar 24 1842 | 'I had letters to write this morning, and also proofs to correct..' | Phillips 1921, p. 36 |
| 1843 06 01 | June 1 1843 | 'Maria's lessons occupied this and the next two days almost incessantly, but I have begun a transcript for the press of Math ab Mathonwy, for which I have managed to find some spare moments.' | Phillips 1921, p. 36 |
| 1843 06 06 | June 6 1843 | 'I transcribed Math ab Mathonwy most assiduously.' | Phillips 1921, p. 36 |
| 1843 06 17 | June 17 1843 | 'I took advantage of Maria's afternoon walk to finish entirely the notes to Math ah Mathonwy ... I felt the greatest satisfaction in having got through.' | Phillips 1921, p. 36-37 |
| 1843 06 21 | June 21 1843 | These two days trans. Lludd and Llevelys, finished this afternoon. | Phillips 1921, p. 37 |
| 1843 06 28 | June 28 1843 | 'In every interval during the day I employed myself upon my Welsh' Transcribed Maxen Wledig for the press. | Phillips 1921, p. 37 |
| 1843 06 29 | June 29 1843 | I have begun copying Sir Degrenance from Thornton MS., but do not get on very quickly with it.' | Phillips 1921, p. 37 |
| 1843 07 11 | July 11 1843 | Birth of dau. Mary Enid Evelyn. (8th child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 244 Appendix 2. |
| 1843 07 22 | July 22 1843 | Youngest baby Enid 4 weeks old today. 'Enid is such a favourite character with the elder children (as well as with myself) that they begged hard that she might be called so. Besides, as being born in Wales, it is fitting she should have a Welsh name to mark her origin. All our Welsh-born children have except Augustus, whom, however, I always call Geraint ...' | Phillips 1921, p. 37. / Briefer quote Davies 2004,p. 164, n. 48. |
| 1843 07 22 | July 22 1843 | 'Enid is such a favourite character with the elder children (as well as with myself) that they begged hard that she might be called so.' | Davies 2004,p. 164, n. 48. From orig. journal./ Cited Guest R. & John 2007 p. 101. |
| 1843 | 1843 | Guest recalls finding solace in her journal as a child. | Guest, R. and John. 2007 p. 17. |
| 1844 02 03 | Feb 3 1844 | 'The carriage went in early to-day to meet the packet in case 'Merthyr' should return by it. I was consequently in a considerable state of excitement. I took care to keep myself incessantly employed, and before four o'clock I had finished transcribing Lludd and Llevelys for the press.' | Phillips 1921, p. 37 |
| 1844 02 03 | Feb. 3 1844 | 'I have finished the story of Pwyll to the children this evening after tea. They delight in these Mabinogion readings.' | Davies 2004,p. 171, From orig. journal. |
| 1844 02 08 | Feb 8 1844 | Copied Thornton MS. Sir Degrenance. Very busy happy day. | Phillips 1921, p. 37 |
| 1844 02 09 | Feb 9 1844 | 'I did not go out, but occupied myself almost incessantly with my transcript of Sir Degrenance.' | Phillips 1921, p. 38 |
| 1844 02 16 | Feb 16 1844 | ''Merthyr' went to the House. I made an effort, and sat up and finished copying Sir Degrenance' Thornton MS. to be returned to Mr. Pretyman next day. ' | Phillips 1921, p. 38 |
| 1845 10 21 | Oct 21 1845 | 'steadily in correct ing the proof sheets of the Welsh Taliesin - the Mabinogi I have now in press, and about which I have been very idle for some time.' | Phillips 1921, p. 38 |
| 1847 08 25 | Aug. 25 1847 | Birth of dau. Blanche Vere. (10th child) | Guest, R. and John, 2007 p. 244 Appendix 2. |
| 1848 07 | July 1848 | PUBLICATION DATE 3 vols edition 'The Mabinogion.' | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 110. |
| 1848 08 29 | Aug. 29 1848. | Guest dates her Introduction to this day, at Dowlais. | Guest, Intro. p. 5 -9. Everyman 1906. |
| 1848 | Thomas Stephens eisteddfod winner. Relationship with Guests begins. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 111. | |
| 1849 | Thomas Stephens 'Literature of the Kymry' financially sponsored and promoted by Guests. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 111. | |
| 1850 | Tennyson 'Enid' inspired by Guest. | Montague Guest 1911, Intro. | |
| 1850 | Lady Hall snubbed Guest due to her new marriage. Long quote. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 106. | |
| 1852 | 1852 | Guest widowed. | |
| 1855 | 1855 | Guest married Charles Schreiber. | |
| 1856 08 29 | Aug. 29 1856 | Ivor Guest comes of age. Charlotte (Guest) Schreiber left Dowlais for a new life. | |
| 1857 04 18 | April 18 1857 | Met Tennyson at Little Holland House. he told her his new unpublished poem was based on her Geraint and Enid. | Bessborough, 1952, p. 68. /Davies, S. 2004, p. 162, from orig Journal. |
| 1859 -1863 | GAP in journal. | ||
| 1862 05 23 | May 23 1862 | Death of son, Augustus Frederick, 21 yrs student, of rheumatic pericarditis. | Guest, R. and John. 2007 p. 243. |
| 1877 | 1877 | Tennyson's Idylls, Enid has created demand for more popular edition of her work. | Guest, Preface. 1877 2nd ed. condensed./ Guest, R. and John. 2007 p. 117. |
| 1880 | Dec., 1880 | Visited Wales: Margam with Schreiber. | Phillips 1921, p. 16-17. |
| 1880 | Her Whig politics, mixed family politics. | Montague Guest 1911, quoted Phillips 1921, p. 17. | |
| 1895 01 15 | 15 Jan 1895 | Death of Charlotte Elizabeth Schreiber, formerly Charlotte Guest; nee Bertie. | |
| 1921 04 | April 1921 | Western Mail 'Ap Dowlais' | Phillips 1921, p. 9. Refers to 'a few days after' April 21./ Bromwich 1987 mildly supports the charge./ White 1995 p. 243/ Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 111 and p. 117. |
| 1921 | 1921 | BOOK JOURNAL EXCERPTS | Phillips, David./ |
| 1849 | 1849 | SECOND EDITION Self deprecating Preface. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 111. |
| 1837 | 1837 | Letter in Welsh shows limited knowledge in Welsh. | Guest, R. and John 2007, p. 112. |
| 1877 | 1877 | Guest's Preface refers to her 'learned" readers. | White 1995 p. 245 n. 13 p. 249. |
| 'I feel it rather hard to have now to try and take up again the occupations which I have been led to abandon. But everything is for the best and all these little mortifications are good for one who as a woman must expect suffering and humiliation.' | Bessborough 1950 p. 64/ quoteed White 1997 p. 166. |
SOURCES (NOT a formal bibliog, see bibliog page)
* Bromwich, Rachel., ‘Lady Charlotte Guest and the Mabinogion.’, Trans. of the Hon. Soc. of Cymmrodorion, 1987, 127–41.
* Davies, Sioned. “A Charming Guest: Translating the Mabinogion’.” Studia Celtica. (2004): 157–178. Recommended as quotes taken direct from the journal.
* Guest, Charlotte. ‘The Mabinogion‘ Everyman series, 1906. Some items from her Introduction, or Notes.
* Guest, Charlotte, Lady Charlotte Schreiber. Extracts from Her Journal, 1853-1891. Bessborough 1952. Guest’s second marriage, a few relevant items. Compiled from Montague Guest poorly typed edition 1911.
* Guest, Charlotte, Lady Charlotte Schreiber. Extracts from her journal, 1853-1891. Bessborough (1952). Guest’s first Welsh marriage, but compiled from Montague Guest poorly typed edition 1911.
* Guest, Charlotte, Lady Charlotte Schreiber’s Journals ed. by Guest, Montague John,(1911). A few relevant items.
* Guest, Revel; and John, Angela V. Lady Charlotte Guest: An Extraordinary Life. 2007 [1989].
* Johnston, Judith., ‘Victorian Appropriations: Lady Charlotte Guest Translates The Mabinogion.’, in Studies in Medievalism, ed. by Shippey, Tom and Arnold, Martin, 2001, xi, 145–66.
* Phillips, David Rhys., Lady Charlotte Guest and the Mabinogion; Some Notes… with Extracts from Her Journals. (1921)
* White, Donna Rae., ‘The Crimes of Lady Charlotte Guest.’, Proc. Harvard Celtic Colloquium, 15 (1995), 242–49
*White, Donna Rae., ‘The Further Crimes of Lady Charlotte Guest.’, Proc. Harvard Celtic Colloquium, 16 -17 (1997), 157–66