Layamon (fl. 1190-1220) was a poet and a cleric, and he is best known as the author of 16,095-line Middle English poem the
Brut(c. 1189-1216), which is extant in two manuscripts: British Library, Cotton MS Caligula A.ix and British Library, Cotton MS Otho C.xiii. He is commonly known as “Laȝamon” (Caligula) or “Laweman” (Otho), which are often modernised as “Layamon” and “Lawman”. In the Caligua
Brut, Layamon reveals various biographical details in his prologue:
An preost wes on leoden; Laȝamon wes ihoten. he wes Leouenaðes sone; liðe him beo Drihten. He wonede at Ernleȝe; at æðelen are chirechen. vppen Seuarne staþe; sel þar him þuhte. on-fest Radestone; þer he bock radde. (Caligula, ll. 1-5) [There was a priest in the land who was called Laȝamon; he was
1960 words
Citation: Shirley, Victoria. "Layamon". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 July 2022 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2650, accessed 15 June 2025.]
