Dafydd ab Ieuan was the patron of poem 69, where Guto asks the Rood of Chester to heal his patron. Dafydd’s identity is uncertain. Guto names him as Dafydd … Fab Ieuan … fab Llywelyn ‘Dafydd son of Ieuan son of Llywelyn’ (69.13–16), yet no mention is made of his locale. Three men are listed in WG1 who could correspond to him:

• Dafydd ab Ieuan ap Llywelyn from the tribe of Aleth in Maldwyn; Bartrum suggests that he was born c.1400 (WG1 ‘Aleth’ 8);
• Dafydd ab Ieuan Goch ap Llywelyn from the tribe of Elystan Glodrydd in Maesyfed, also born c.1400 (WG1 ‘Elystan Glodrydd’ 22);
• Dafydd ab Ieuan Gwyn ap Llywelyn Welw from the tribe of Einion ap Llywarch in Carmarthenshire, born c.1370 (WG1 ‘Einion ap Llywarch’ 13).

The form of the first Dafydd’s name corresponds more closely than the others to that of the text. Furthermore, he is located in Maldwyn, which was closer to Chester than Maesyfed and Carmarthenshire. It could also be significant that the saints who are called on, namely Melangell, Dwynwen and Cynhafal, are associated with mid and north Wales (69.45n, 46n, 51n). Possibly, therefore, it is this Dafydd who is meant, but it has to be admitted, unfortunately, that even if he came from the same region as the member of the tribe of Aleth noted by Bartrum there is no certainty that the two men represent the same person. Other possible Dafydds are noted in WG2. As for his dates, no more can be suggested than that he lived c.1450.