Y Drych Cristianogawl

"Y Drych Cristianogawl" is an example of an early Welsh Catholic book and was the first book to have been printed on Welsh soil.

Books printed in the 16th and 17th centuries as part of the Counter-Reformation movement had to be printed abroad or on secret presses in these islands since Catholic printing was prohibited. Welsh Roman Catholics of the period endeavoured to print and publish a small number of Welsh language books to supplement their missionary activities. The first Catholic book from a Continental press was Morys Clynnog's "Athrauaeth Gristnogaul" (Milan, 1568) whilst the first of a tiny handful of secret press books was "Y Drych Cristianogawl" (The Christian Mirror). This title was printed on a press located in a cave on the Little Orme's Head near Llandudno.